CLASS IS IN

Children and their parents walk hand-in-hand into Blakeney Elementary School Tuesday morning. Burke County Public Schools welcomed children back Tuesday for the first day of school. Cars lined up in front of the schools as parents dropped off eager youngsters, while a few moms and dads opted to accompany their little ones to class. Burke County Public Schools spokesperson Amy Nunnally reported "an exceptionally smooth first day of school." At right, Symphony Cates walks with her daughters Jamia, 4, and Janiya, 10, up the front walk to BES.