See complete stories and more in this week's print edition

From the front page:

City to sell old water tanks

By Rachel Dean
Herald Staff

Two city water tower tanks and the property on which one of them sits have been declared surplus property and will be sold.

In exchange for the removal of two unused water tanks (at Drake Lane and South College Street, 150,000 and 300,000 gallons respectively), the highest bidder will receive a 50’ x 200’ lot on South College Street. The property is zoned B-2 (business). There is no minimum bid set.

County is updated on aid to flood victims

By Debbie Jenkins Cook
Herald Staff

The Mercer County Fiscal Court heard an update Tuesday from Shawn Moore, executive director of the local zoning commission, on assistance given to recent flood victims in the county.

Moore, who serves as flood plain coordinator for the county, said it has been “a long row to hoe in the Palisades area” where about 36 homes were severely damaged by recent floods.

Foundation receives $40,000

By April Ellis
Herald Staff

In March, the Mercer County Foundation for Education’s executive director, Becky Holt, received a phone call that more than got her attention. Jeff Schultz, Human Resources manager for Fluor, contacted Holt about the possibility of his organization making a sizable donation to the Foundation.

Eager to jump through the hoops and cut some red tape, Holt has worked for the past three months finalizing the details and paperwork to secure a $40,000 donation from Fluor.

After addiction can be redemption

By Rianna Robinson
Herald Staff

(The following story is the fourth in a series of four, telling the story of Terry Dunn, a former crack cocaine addict. In the final installment, Dunn talks about how he has turned his life around after getting clean and sober.)

After 12 years of drug abuse and three attempts at substance abuse treatment, Terry Dunn was able to break away from drug use and has been drug free and sober for more than four years.

Chamber planning changes

By Debbie Jenkins Cook
Herald Staff

The Mercer Chamber of Commerce is seeking input from all Chamber members as the Board of Directors plans to chart a new course.

“Many things have changed over the last several years and adjustments need to be made to make the Chamber all it should be,” Perry Dressler, Chamber past president, said Tuesday.

Schools prepare to welcome students back

By Rianna Robinson
Herald Staff

Children in Mercer County are preparing to head back to school next week, and the superintendents of both the Mercer County and Burgin Independent schools say big things are in store for the coming school year.

Both districts will begin rolling out the state’s new common core content for language arts and math this year and will start developing curriculum around those standards. “Schools today are somewhat similar to the schools parents and grandparents went to, but because our society has changed so much and we’ve become so much more technologically advanced, learning needs have changed,” Mercer Supt. Chuck Hamilton said.