Free Republic

Two students were recognized Friday, Aug. 11 for earning their high school diplomas and college certificates simultaneously through the Athens Technical College Academy. Malachi Byrum of Madison County and Zachary Wood of Morgan County participated in the Dual Achievement Program through the Academy. Wood took courses locally in Madison and the ATC Elbert campus, earning the diesel engine service technician and diesel electrical/electronic systems technician technical certificates of credit. He plans to continue his education at ATC to earn a diploma in diesel equipment technology. Byrum took courses at the main campus in Athens and received TCC’s in gas metal...

He got a round of applause for this at last night’s debate but it’s a silly claim when you think about it. His point is that there are good livings to be had in vocational training without any of the debt or fascism that come with today’s university experience. True enough, but the cultural bias towards college grads in hiring means that even a lowly philosophy major with a B.A. probably stands a better chance of higher earnings out of school than the average welder does. According to Bloomberg, despite comprising just 34 percent of the total work force,...

Bryan, Texas SNIPPET: "As the situation eased, officials scaled back the number of mandatory evacuations. As of 8:50 p.m., only about 1,000 people were affected by the evacuations." SNIPPET: "John Carver with El Dorado Chemicals reports the plant on Highway 21 is a "typical dry blend fertilizer" facility. He reports a crew was welding in an empty ammonia nitrate storage bin when a spark started a small, smoldering fire. Two workers were in the building at the time of the fire; both escaped uninjured. Firefighters quickly responded to the scene only to discover they could not use water to battle...

CAMP DHI QAR — Throughout Iraq, Coalition and Iraqi Soldiers have been training side by side in military operations. This partnership has been enhancing the Iraqi’s technical skills in areas ranging from engineering to maintenance operations. One such partnership took three young, technically proficient welders/machinists from the Forward Support Company, 14th Engineer Battalion (currently stationed on COB Adder in Southern Iraq) to adjacent Iraqi Camp Dhi Qar to work alongside Iraqi Army maintenance personnel. There, they helped them construct a covered maintenance facility in their motorpool. Over the course of five days, the three FSC Soldiers trained eight IA mechanics...

The new Bay Bridge is riddled with defective welds, 15 welders told the Oakland Tribune in a nine-month investigation - allegations that could lead to criminal fraud charges. The welders' claims have prompted an FBI investigation. In the worst case, the federal probe could lead to tearing apart the bridge to see if it is structurally sound or needs to be rebuilt. The FBI began investigating allegations in February that welders were "encouraged or instructed to save time by producing substandard welds," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Mershon of the bureau's San Francisco division. The bureau is investigating...