Five-year-old Addie Saylor is coming home to Summerville this weekend from a hospital in Ohio after she suffered second-degree burns from a hot plate of food that was accidentally knocked from a microwave into her lap, according to Jerry Collins of the Rome Shrine Club.

Addie was visiting her grandmother’s home in Rome with family when the incident occurred on Wednesday. The Rome Shrine Club is covering all of the expenses of the treatment and transportation for follow-ups, at no cost to the family, which Collins estimated at approximately $65,500.

Her mother, Neci Saylor, said Addie is now feeling better, although she will require further follow-ups in South Carolina starting next week. She was initially treated at the Shriner’s burn hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

“She’s in pain, but she’s doing well,” said Saylor. 

Addie is having trouble walking with the injuries but on Thursday was in good spirits. Collins reported that she was playing in a safe playplace at the hospital. 

“She has made that much improvement,” said Collins.

A planetarium is set to open soon in Chickamauga.

James A. Smith is an educator at former teacher at Rossville High School. He opened the Smith Planetarium in Rock Spring, Georgia in 1967. It closed in 1998, but due to SPLOST funding of nearly $600,000 a new one will open soon in Chickamauga and it will again bear his name. Smith wants to continue teaching youngsters about their home–the universe.

A state of the art digital projector will replace the old one. The domed ceiling will show a 3-D image of the universe. The images could only been seen from Earth in the past, but will now feature much more stellar views from other vantage points like the surface of Mars or other planets.

Smith also says he hopes to add iPads and other 21st century devices to the experience.

There is also a telescope on the property, thanks to two of Smith's former students who are astronomers at NASA. The telescope is operated remotely from Huntsville, Alabama, and points to the sky during just the right phases of the moon to catch shots of meteorites shooting across the sky.

The school board approved the new facility in 2005 it was dedicated in May, 2011. The plan was to begin hosting school groups in September of 2011, but a severe storm in June damaged the adjacent building. As the stars align, everything should be in place for the planetarium to be back in business this coming September.

The planetarium  which is on Pond Springs Road, will be open to groups not only from Walker County schools but from neighboring counties as well. Two schools have already expressed interest in taking the field trip this September.

For more information regarding the facility and reserving your spot call 706-638-7958.

       GEORGIA NORTHWESTERN BASKETBALL HAS SIGNED A STAND-OUT FROM TRION HIGH SCHOOL… HUNTER IVESTER.  HE'S A 6' 1" GUARD… SELECTED TO SEVERAL ALL-AREA, COUNTY AND REGION TEAMS IN HIS HIGH SCHOOL CAREER.
    THE GEORGIA NORTHWESTERN "BOBCATS" COMPETE IN NJCAA'S REGION 17 – IN VARSITY BASKETBALL.

A MENTONE, ALABAMA RESIDENT WON A NEW CADILLAC, PLAYING THE GEORGIA LOTTERY.  VICKIE BLACKBURN, WHO WORKS AT A STATE PARK IN ALABAMA… BOUGHT HER WINNING "CADILLAC RICHES" TICKET JUST ACROSS THE STATE LINE IN CLOUDLAND, GEORGIA.
    SHE GOT THE KEYS TO HER NEW RIDE FRIDAY, AT THE STORE WHERE HER WINNING TICKET WAS PURCHASED.  SHE AND HER HUSBAND, ALBERT, HAVE TWO GROWN CHILDREN. 

              JUST ACROSS THE ALABAMA LINE, PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY FAILURE – CAUSED BY SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA.  IN DEKALB AND CHEROKEE COUNTIES, AT LEAST 30 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.   VICTIMS RANGE IN AGE FROM 15 TO 33.
    HEALTH OFFICIALS THINK THE SYNTHETIC POT MAY HAVE CONTAINED PESTICIDES OR HERBICIDES THAT CAUSED THE KIDNEY PROBLEMS… ACCORDING TO DEKALB COUNTY SHERIFF, JIMMY HARRIS.
    ALABAMA HAS A NEW LAW THAT BANS THE SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA PRODUCTS… BUT THE SHERIFF SAID CALLED-IN TIPS ALLEGE THAT SOME STORES ARE SELLING THE PRODUCTS "BEHIND THE COUNTER". 
    GEORGIA ALSO RECENTLY PASSED A LAW BANNING SYNTHETIC POT PRODUCTS.

Roman Roast on the River barbecue competition and festival takes place today May 11) and Saturday at Ridge Ferry Park in Rome. Today from 6 to 9 p.m. visitors can enjoy a performance by Molly Hatchet. Ticket price is $21 at rfpra.com/RomanRoastontheRiver.html. On Saturday, admission is $5 for adults and free for kids 10 and younger.