It sounded more like shop class than a beginning beekeepers’ class Thursday night, with hammers tap-tapping away to assemble new apiaries, but it was hard to deny that Tallapoosa County is buzzing about bees.

Over the past few weeks, members of the beginner beekeeping class sponsored by the Tallapoosa County Extension Service have learned the basics of attracting bees, how to harvest the wax and honey and how to use smokers and protective shrouds to keep stings at a minimum.