By SIMONE JOINER

NATCHEZ — Retired veteran Tony Johnson said a young grandson and a spunky terrier help keep the spring in his step.

When The Dart landed on Miller Avenue on Monday morning Johnson was about to go for a walk with his dog, Bernie.

Bernie, a scruffy and hyperactive wire-haired terrier mix was playing rambunctiously at Johnson’s feet while he reminisced about time he has spent with his furry companion and his 4-year-old grandson, James Johnson.

Both are full of energy and keep Johnson busy from sun up until sun down.

Johnson said he adopted Bernie two years ago from the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society animal shelter.

“Bernie is hyper just like James,” Johnson said. “Both of them are wired up.”

Johnson said James attends the local Head Start program that works with him to learn skills in preparation for elementary school.

He is part of a program called the “Upstart Program,” which includes the use of a laptop computer at the house to improve his reading skills.

“He uses it 20 minutes a day, five days a week,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the laptop is not the only tool that has helped his grandson with learning.

“One of my favorite things is reading books to James,” Johnson said. “His attention span has increased quite a lot since we started. Now he likes to focus.”

Some days Johnson said he takes James and Bernie to the bluff or to Duncan Park where they walk and those with two legs sometimes ride bicycles.

Johnson said both James and Bernie keep him active and give him something to do.

“I walk around the whole block and everybody knows me,” Johnson said. “They know Bernie, and they know James.”