What an honor to welcome the Youth Leadership Class of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, the best and brightest from Cleveland and Bradley County. Representing all three high schools, Cleveland High School, Bradley Central High School and Walker Valley High School, students joined members of the state delegation in committees, conferences and a luncheon on Capitol Hill. It was an honor to welcome Chelsea Gregg, Abbie Hinkle, Taylor Kiser, Amanda Teague, Gabby Earby, Elliott Good, Jennifer Griffith, Morgan Isom, Emily Johnson, Catherine Jordan, Ben Murphy, Ayesha Rock, Erica Tipton, Devon Vaughn, Lindsay Belk, Cody Burrell, Robby Caldwell, Chelsea Gondek, Jessica Harper, Olivia Howard, Hannah Ingram, Mack Suits and William Zierenberg.

2010 Census forms to be mailed mid-March

Every ten years the federal government counts every resident in the United States as required by the United States Constitution. The census data is used for many different purposes, including identifying certain communities for funding and the redistricting of legislative and congressional seats. Every household in the United States and Puerto Rico will receive a census form that residents are asked to fill out and return. If a household does not return the form, a census worker is then dispatched to the household to gather the needed information.

The Census Bureau has sent out information recently regarding the types of questions that will be asked, and warning citizens to be on alert for people posing as census workers. When a census worker visits a home, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Citizens can refuse to take part, but the most important question is simply regarding the number of people who live at the address. Citizens should know that a census worker will never ask for any information such as a social security number, bank account number, or credit card numbers and will never solicit a donation. The Census Bureau will also never send out an E-mail to communicate with citizens.

The federal government has advised the census forms will be mailed mid-March, and ask that the forms be returned by April 1, 2010. For more information on the 2010 Census, please visit 2010.census.gov.

In Brief

House Bill 3105 passed out of the House Education Committee this week and would require local boards of education to give preference to a parent’s request in classroom placement of multiple birth siblings.

A bill that would prohibit physicians who are on the sexual offender registry from treating children under the age of 18 years old passed out of the House Judiciary Committee this week. House Bill 3063 will now be heard in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee.

The House was treated to a presentation on Monday evening from Little Jimmy Dickens as they honored him for his extensive career in country music. House Joint Resolution 244 lauded his country music career of more than 60 years, and paid homage to his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983.

House Bill 2768 moved out of the House Judiciary Committee and will next be heard in the House Budget Subcommittee. The bill would require certain DUI offenders to have an ignition interlock device placed on their vehicle.