Ringgold drill team wins back-to-back state championships

The Ringgold Tiger Guard Drill Team did two things this year that has never been done in Catoosa County Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) history: They won back-to-back state championships and they were selected “Two Years in a Row” to represent Georgia and 6th Brigade at the Army National Drill Competition in Louisville Kentucky.

Sergeant First Class Larry Sisemore, the army instructor at Ringgold and the drill team head coach, says the difference over the past few years has been because of three things.

1. The addition of his assistant community coach and professional driller Eric Cromwell (who is a former Tiger Guard member)

2. The involvement of professional drillers Matt and Kirsten Wendling from the company Drill Dynamics out of San Antonio, Texas.

3. The cadets’ willingness to buy into the fact that just because we are a small drill team from a small school doesn’t mean we can’t compete with and beat the biggest and best in the country.

The state champs were recognized by Catoosa County Superintendent of Schools Denia Reese on April 10 at the From left: Cadet SSG Louis Crumley, Cadet CSM Joe Langston, Cadet SSG Spencer Milobourn, Cadet SSG Steven DiGanci, Cadet CPL Cameron Landry, Cadet Colonel Trinity Canales, Cadet 1st Lt. Nik Clay, Cadet MSG Justin Smith, and Cadet 1st Lt. Kaleb Rutherford. Not shown: Coach SFC Larry Sisemore and Coach Eric Cromwell. school board meeting.

The team went to Kentucky on April 13 to compete at Army Nationals against Appointments for

can be made between 2-5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, at

dental screening

Second Baptist Church in LaFayette.

County residents can schedule appointments to see a dentist April 26-28 at the church. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Appointments are made on a first come first served basis! Once all appointments slots are gone, a waiting list will be prepared. Only the individual who will be screened can make an appointment, no one can sign up for another.

Only patients over the age of 10 will be seen, and a parent or legal guardian MUST be present for anyone under 18 years of age.

No appointments will be accepted over the telephone — you must be physically present to schedule an appointment.

Thursday, April 26

COMMUNITY · The effects of a cancer diagnosis often continue even after treatment has been completed.

CHI Memorial Rees Skillern Cancer Institute

a Survivorship Empowerment class

will host

free

on Thursday, April 26, at 5 p.m. The free class is open to all cancer survivors, regardless of where they received treatment, and their care givers. For more information, and to register for this free class, call 423-495-7778.

MEETING ·The

Cherokee Regional Library Board of Trustees

will meet on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 4 p.m. in the Dade County Public Library. the best and biggest JROTC programs in the country. They were not only competing in the events at the two biggest drill

Saturday, April 28

Heritage Pointe Baptist Church,

CHURCH ·

60 Dyer Bridge Place, Ringgold, invites everyone to a

Spring Fling Craft & Vendor Event

(craft vendors and direct sales representatives will have stations selling their clothing, skin care, home goods, crafts and other products, food booth for drinks, snacks and lunch as well) from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on

Saturday, April 28. No admission

is charged to this children and youth summer camp FUNdraiser.

Monday, April 30

ENTERTAINMENT

The Colonnade Players auditions for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

· will hold

on April 30 and May 1, from 7-9 p.m. The play is being directed by

James Ogden and Terry Sanford

and will be presented mid-July.

Tuesday, May 1

COMMUNITY · A second public meeting to allow regarding changes to

public input

Walker County’s Animal Control ordinance

is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, at the Walker County Civic Center. Suggestions from the first meeting included making owners responsible for not securing their dogs, limiting the number of animals allowed in residential areas and changing the rabies vaccination rule to recognize the three-year shot. Formal public hearings regarding changing the ordinance will take place at 6 p.m., prior to the Commissioner’s regular scheduled meetings, on May 10 and May 24. competition in the country, but they had member of the team, Lexi Sisemore, the coaches’ daughter, who sang the National Anthem at both events.

SFC Sisemore said he is very proud of his team and fully expects to “three-peat” next year.