East- and west-side bus routes changed

Several east-side and west-side Metro bus routes are changing effective today.

The east-side routes are 24, Mount Washington-UC and Anderson-UC; 30, Beechmont Express; 75, Amelia Express and Amelia-UC Express; and 81, Mount Washington Express.

For the west side, routes are 10, Western Hills-Price Hill; 32, Delhi-Price Hill; 33, Western Hills-Glenway, and Bridgetown-Glenway; and 77, Delhi Express.

For bus schedules and information, call MetroCenter at 621-4455, 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays or 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, or go online at www.sorta.com.

Drake levy increase is topic for hearing

A public hearing seeking comments about a proposed tax increase for the Drake Center in Hartwell will be held Tuesday. The session begins at 5 p.m. at the Hamilton County administration building, 138 E. Court St., downtown. Citing rising costs, Drake seeks a 31 percent increase in a five-year tax levy that covers about 20 percent of the rehabilitation and nursing center's budget. But county commissioners have set a goal of holding special levy increases to about 2 percent, or close to the general rate of inflation. If a levy request is approved, voters would decide the issue in November.

Church's building plans on council agenda

MASON - Residents have a chance to tell city council their opinions on Sword Deaf Baptist Church's plan to build a college dormitory.

A public hearing on a rezoning request for the 9.68-acre site on Mason Road will be held during council's 7 p.m. meeting June 14.

The church wants the property rezoned so it can build a nearly 15,000-square-foot church addition, a 30-unit dormitory and an 1,800 square-foot single-family residence.

The planning commission recommends approval of the rezoning and the proposed planned unit development.

Work begins soon on firefighter statue

ANDERSON TWP. - Construction of the first phase of a firefighter memorial is to begin this summer at Beech Acres Park.

The Anderson Township Fireman's Association has been struggling to raise money since 2001 for a seven-foot-tall bronze statue to honor fallen firefighters and those who have worked for the township's fire department since it was established in 1941.

So far, firefighters, businesses and community volunteers have raised $70,000 of the needed $200,000 for the project, said Mark Owens, an Anderson firefighter who chairs the committee.