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May 9, 2008 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Web site to help Georgians make decisions about health care
Bill Hendrick reports that the Georgia Department of Community Health has awarded a $5.2 million contract to the IBM Corp. to build a Web site for state consumers of health care that will help people make more informed decisions. The Web site, to be operational in October, will provide a "one-stop" resource, offering information about hospitals and where various procedures are performed, said Dena Brummer, a spokeswoman for the DCH.
May 9, 2008 – Athens Banner-Herald
Preservationists planning to dig into river site's past
Adam Thompson reports that land along a short stretch of the Oconee River once was the edge of the nation's frontier, and for years it's been a history-filled lockbox. Now, though - after a failed real estate deal and a recently announced private grant - preservationists in Oconee County and Athens hope they may yet find the key to the area's potential. Ruins of a century-old thread mill still stand at the site, hundreds of acres off Old Barnett Shoals Road near the Clarke County line, amid vestiges of a now-extinct mill town identified on early maps as Rutherford and later called Barnett Shoals.
May 9, 2008 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Next Georgia execution scheduled
Bill Rankin reports that an execution warrant was signed Thursday for death-row inmate Samuel David Crowe, who is now scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection 7 p.m. on May 22. Crowe, 47, was condemned to die for the March 2, 1988, murder of 39-year-old Joseph V. Pala, the retail manager at Wickes Lumber Co. in Douglasville. This would be the second execution in Georgia this month. Tuesday, William Earl Lynd was the first inmate executed nationwide since September, when a de facto moratorium was put in place until the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of lethal injection.
May 9, 2008 – Calhoun Times
Male teachers a rare breed across state
E. K. West reports that Danny Lowrance, fourth grade teacher at Belwood Elementary, is among the few and the proud male teachers of Georgia. He doesn’t need statistics or demographics to tell him that his role as a teacher is an endangered one. He is one of only four male teachers in his school and daily sees the importance of being a positive role model for his students. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that only 9 percent of elementary school teachers are male.
May 9, 2008 – Atlanta Business Chronicle
Study: Atlanta best place for singles to move
Staff reports that Atlanta is the best large metropolitan city in America for relocating singles and the 16th best for relocating families, according to a survey published by Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocation. The two companies examined several factors for its rankings for relocating singles, including percentage of the population that is unmarried (ages 25-34), the ratio of single men and single women, commute times, tax rates, fee and occupancy rates for temporary housing and mini-storage, and quality and quantity of collegiate and professional sporting events and fun, fan-friendly venues
May 9, 2008 – Athens Banner-Herald
Future Perspectives -- Alternative fuels: Valuable work
Julie Phillips reports that we're feeling the squeeze. Fuel prices have hit record highs and there seems to be no end in sight. When it comes to oil prices, that is. But for Dan Geller, who's been researching alternative fuels at the University of Georgia for more than 10 years, it's something he and his colleagues aren't seeing in quite the same way as the rest of us.
May 9, 2008 – Savannah Morning News
Church-based initiative aims to keep parolees out of prison
Eric Curl reports that Georgia's short-staffed parole board can't successfully transfer the 18,000 parolees released each year on its own. So community members are being asked to help. City officials on Thursday morning learned how Savannah's local churches may be able to aid in the effort. "The faith-based community is in the best position to walk on the side of parolees," said Garland Hunt, chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. "As opposed to getting $25 and a bus ticket, they need the support of the community."
May 9, 2008 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Nichols' lawyers argue for judge's removal
Steve Visser reports that Brian Nichols' lawyers argued Thursday that the new judge in his case should be removed because he once called the 2005 Fulton County Courthouse shooting of a colleague a "brutal murder." But Superior Court Judge Jim Bodiford testified that, while he regarded slain jurist Rowland Barnes as a friend, their relationship was "professional" rather than personal and that he can still be fair to Nichols.
May 9, 2008 – Macon Telegraph
Susan Long named new director of Allman Brothers Band Museum
Phillip Ramati reports that when the chance to work for something associated with The Allman Brothers Band came along, Susan Long knew she had to take it. "I think if I didn't take the job, my family would have disowned me," she said, chuckling. The Big House Foundation has tapped Long to be executive director of The Allman Brothers Band Museum. The museum will be located in The Big House, the band's former Vineville Avenue home. Work on the museum already is under way.
May 9, 2008 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
State: Manager steered contracts
James Salzer reports that state investigators say a former manager at the Georgia Building Authority steered a food services contract to a friend's company. The contract paid about $1.8 million in less than three years. The investigation by the Office of Inspector General also found that many of that company's employees also worked for the building authority and that it was hard to determine if the state was being double-billed for their work.
May 9, 2008 – Augusta Chronicle
Ex-dean talks education, reform
Tom Corwin reports that Darrell G. Kirch is the president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which represents all of the medical schools in the country. He was also the dean of the Medical College of Georgia's School of Medicine from 1994 to 2000. Dr. Kirch came back to Augusta this week to be the keynote speaker for MCG's commencement today. On Thursday, he sat down with MCG School of Medicine Dean D. Douglas Miller to talk with Science and Medicine Reporter Tom Corwin and Editorial Page Editor Michael Ryan.
May 9, 2008 – Athens Banner-Herald
New school zones urged to cut costs
Ryan Blackburn reports that the Clarke County School District may need to consider shrinking elementary school attendance zones to save money as bus fuel tops $4 a gallon. The way current policy works, buses transport students from the same neighborhood to as many as five different schools. And that's eating up the already-stretched fuel budget, Interim Superintendent James Simms said.
May 9, 2008 – Augusta Chronicle
$13.4 million school budget shortfall expected
Greg Gelpi reports that a projected $13.4 million budget shortfall will likely affect Richmond County school employees, but exactly how isn't known yet, school board members were told Thursday night. The preliminary budget deficit was presented to board members with no decisions being made as to how best to handle the situation. "To get this kind of money, we're going to look at personnel," Superintendent Dana Bedden said after the meeting, but he declined to speculate what that could mean. The school system has nearly 5,000 employees, who account for nearly 90 percent of the budget.
May 9, 2008 – Macon Telegraph
Students at new Bibb high school to wear uniforms
Julie Hubbard reports that Howard High School students will set a new fashion trend for Bibb's public high schools this fall: They'll be the first ones required to wear school uniforms. The Bibb County school board voted 7-0 in committee Thursday to adopt a uniform policy for Howard High students, after Howard's school council recommended them.
May 9, 2008 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
State grants middle school math waivers
Laura Diamond reports that gifted eighth-graders taking high school math classes this year will have their work count toward graduation through waivers the state Board of Education approved Thursday. The state already permits middle school students to take high school courses and school districts may count students' work in these classes toward graduation requirements. But waivers were needed this year because of the new curriculum and graduation rules.
May 9, 2008 – Rome News-Tribune
Gas prices continue climbing
Staff reports that gas prices jumped nearly 3 cents Thursday to a new national record of nearly $3.65 a gallon, and some prices in Rome were even higher. It’s widely expected the average price of gas will soon rise as high as $4. Motorists in many areas, including parts of California and Hawaii, are already paying that much or more.
May 9, 2008 – Gainesville Times
Hall County administrator to resign
Stephen Gurr reports that Hall County Administrator Jim Shuler is resigning his post effective June 30 after reaching an agreement to cut short his current one-year contract by three months, officials announced during a regular county commission meeting Thursday. Shuler, Hall County’s top appointed official since 2000, came under fire this year for a compensation package that totaled $330,000 a year.
May 9, 2008 – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wedding favors tie hearts to cause
George Chidi reports that Kimberly Jackson says she's not really a tattoo person, but the 40-year-old wedding favor designer has two bright pink ribbons inked into her left ankle now, one for each time she survived breast cancer. Now she has a new way to help people remember. Jackson designs for Kate Aspen, a Norcross-based wedding design and manufacturing wholesaler. Kate Aspen on Thursday released a set of breast cancer awareness-themed favors for wedding guests.
May 9, 2008 – Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Mayor to unveil Allen findings
Chuck Williams reports that Mayor Jim Wetherington has called a news conference for 11 a.m. today to discuss a nearly five-month investigation into the city's handling of a crash by an on-duty Columbus firefighter who tested positive for cocaine in a post-accident drug test. Wetherington in December called for the investigation by the Columbus Police Department's Office of Professional Standards after the Ledger-Enquirer reported firefighter Zachary Allen, while driving a hazardous materials truck, hit two cars at the intersection of Interstate 185 and Macon Road en route to an emergency call.
May 9, 2008 – Macon Telegraph
Robins commander leaving for Ohio
Gene Rector reports that Air Force officials announced late Thursday that Maj. Gen. Tom Owen will be leaving his position as Warner Robins Air Logistics Center commander to become director of logistics for Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Owen, who has been commander of the host unit at Robins Air Force Base since August of 2006, will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer, director of resource integration, office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support at the Pentagon.
May 9, 2008 – Rome News-Tribune
Witness: Redstrom was caught in middle
John Bailey reports that the prosecution rested its case Thursday in the federal drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy case against Kevin Redstrom. The first witness, Lonnie Merren, stated that he and Redstrom were stuck in the middle of a power struggle between the moneyman Mario Armas and admitted drug dealer Jimmy Collins. While Merren testified that he and Redstrom knew, or at least suspected, where Collins got his money, they were attempting to get out.
May 9, 2008 – Gainesville Times
20 rabies cases now confirmed in Hall County
Staff reports that the number of confirmed rabies cases in Hall County has increased to 20. A domestic cat reportedly made contact with a raccoon Tuesday in the Lula Road area of North Hall. The Georgia Public Health Lab in Decatur reported on Thursday that the raccoon tested positive for rabies, according to Hall Animal Control. With 18 rabid animals in just the first four months of 2008, Hall County has had triple the number of cases it usually has each year.
May 9, 2008 – Clayton Daily News
Clayton water is 'best tasting' in metro region
Joel Hall reports that during the recent Spring Conference of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) in Columbus, Ga., the Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) took away several awards, including having the best-tasting tap water in the metro Atlanta region. Last month, Clayton County water beat out water from the counties of Henry, Gwinnett, DeKalb, Cobb, and Fulton, as well as the City of Atlanta, in taste, odor, and clarity.
May 9, 2008 – Rockdale Citizen
City OKs money for arts center
Colin M. Stewart reports that Conyers City Council members on Wednesday evening approved a plan to provide the Conyers-Rockdale Council for the Arts with $25,000 in seed money to launch the operation of an arts center in Olde Town. The Council for the Arts has asked the Conyers and Rockdale County governments to put up $25,000 and $50,000, respectively, to help it open and operate an art gallery and education center from the D. Morgan Gallery building on Commercial Street in Olde Town.
May 9, 2008 – Cartersville Daily Tribune
Bartow County foreclosures up 36 percent
Danielle Swanson reports that while still having the lowest total in the 13-county metro-Atlanta area of foreclosure notices indicating houses in the process of being repossessed, Bartow County still experienced a 36 percent increase from April 2007 to April of this year. According to reports from EquityDepot.net, Bartow County had 69 foreclosure notices in April 2007. The number was up to 94 last month.
May 9, 2008 – Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Father walks to grieve for his children
Brad Barnes reports that Walk it off. That's what a coach might tell a football player who got the wind knocked out of him or suffered a stinger on the field. And that's what Lee Wagner's doing. He's going from his home in Peachtree City, Ga., to Bethesda, N.C., trying to walk off the sting of death. His son is dead. So is his daughter. Both died in a freak single-car accident four years ago in LaGrange, Ga.
May 9, 2008 – Atlanta Journal Constitution - COLUMN/BLOG
Political Insider: Barr schedules announcement
The Political Insider reports that former Georgia congressman Bob Barr has scheduled a Monday press conference in Washington “to discuss his future plans and the 2008 election.” Obviously, a Libertarian run for the presidency is a natural topic.
May 9, 2008 – Athens Banner-Herald - OP-ED
Greenways: A healthy investment in a community's future
Dr. Mark Ebell, chair of the Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission and the Clarke County Board of Health, writes, Everyone knows that obesity is epidemic in the United States. Georgia has among the highest rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease in the nation. These three diagnoses are connected - obesity leads to diabetes, and the most common cause of death among diabetics is heart disease. Studies have shown that regular physical activity can help people maintain a healthy weight and is more effective than medication at preventing diabetes in those who are at risk. Unfortunately, in the U.S. we have traditionally planned our cities around the automobile, making it difficult to incorporate physical activity into daily life.
May 9, 2008 – Savannah Morning News - EDITORIAL
Tough choices
The editorial board writes, In lean economic times, it is imperative for public agencies to live within a budget or risk even greater hardship. For the Savannah-Chatham County School System, that means sticking to its core mission of educating students, and paring away those extras that school administrators might like to provide, but do not directly impact the central task of teaching the curriculum.
May 8, 2008 – Georgia Times Union Thursday
New reactors to mean higher utility bills
Jake Armstrong reports that Georgia Power said on Wednesday that its customers' bills would rise $12 a month starting in 2018 if the utility gains state and federal approvals to build two new 1,100 megawatt nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro.
May 8, 2008 – Cartersville Daily Tribune
Georgia Power celebrates operation of Bowen scrubber
Danielle Swanson reports that Bartow residents cannot only breathe easier, but also cleaner now that additional sulfur dioxide is being removed from the air. Representatives from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division, local officials and business leaders joined Georgia Power employees Wednesday in celebrating the first of Plant Bowen's four flue gas desulphurization systems -- also known as scrubber units -- to come into commercial operation, which occurred this month.
May 8, 2008 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Rise of a "Green Cemetery": Rest amid nature
Rosalind Bentley reports that on his 66th birthday last May, Harry E. Echols learned he had esophageal cancer. The prognosis was grim enough that Echols decided against treatment that might only slow the inevitable. With the help of his sister, Janet Ferguson, the Atlanta man began putting his affairs in order and arranging his funeral. Echols read an article about "green" cemeteries. In stretches of meadow and forest, remains are interred without formaldehyde, cement vault, even coffin (if that was the deceased's wish), ultimately becoming part of the soil. To Echols, it sounded like a good way to start eternity.
May 8, 2008 – Brunswick News
Wildfire threat remains
Emily Stranger reports that Jason Harris, a forest ranger with the Georgia Forestry Commission, is worried that Southeast Georgia could suffer the same dry conditions that sparked record breaking wildfires in the region last year. "It's getting pretty dry right now," he said this week. "On a (drought index) scale of 0 to 800, with 0 being totally saturated and 800 being the driest, we're at 469 right now, which is about mid-way."
May 8, 2008 – Georgia Times Union, Savannah Morning News
Coalition takes on education
Brandon Larrabee reports, at the request of the state Board of Education, a coalition of business and education groups are putting together a task force that will take a broad look at how local school boards in Georgia operate.
May 8, 2008 – Brunswick News
Dig turns up 3,000-year-old pottery shards in mayor's yard
Brandee A Thomas reports that Brunswick Mayor Bryan Thompson may have a little history in his backyard at 805 Albany St. At least that's what the archaeologists digging there think. And they may be right. In a recent survey of Thompson's property, a team of archaeologists found pottery shards they say are 3,000 years old. It's something Fred Cook, an archaeologist who's more than just a little familiar with Brunswick, has suspected for decades.
May 8, 2008 – Georgia Times Union
Ancient pottery shards found on Brunswick mayor's property
Terry Dickson reports that Brunswick Mayor Bryan Thompson has figured out a way to escape yardwork: Let archaeologists dig up his lawn. Fred Cook and two volunteer assistants dug a series of "shovel test" holes in Thompson's backyard Wednesday and came up with pieces of pottery possibly produced thousands of years ago. Judging from markings imbedded into the pottery before it was fired, Cook estimated the sooted pottery was from around A.D. 600 and the other pieces from about A.D.1200.
May 8, 2008 – Savannah Morning News
New trial ordered for Savannah murder convict
Teresa Stepzinski reports that a judge has ordered a new trial for a Savannah man sentenced to death more than 20 years ago in the brutal slayings of three members of a Wayne County family during a home invasion and robbery. Larry Lee, 47, has been on Georgia's death row since his sentencing in December 1987.
May 8, 2008 – Atlanta Journal Constitution
Fulton to increase water rates 15 percent
D.L. Bennett reports that Fulton County officials praised county water users Wednesday for their success at conservation —- then socked them with a 15 percent rate increase for their effort. The conservation penalty the County Commission adopted Wednesday 6-0 matches the increase Atlanta utility officials asked to impose earlier this year but which the City Council so far has resisted. The average water/sewer bill should increase nearly $9 per month to about $68 per month, water officials said.
May 8, 2008 – Moultrie Observer
Colquitt County’s ‘most seasoned nurse’
Lori Glenn reports that at 98, Nadine Caldwell is still a spitfire. Caldwell was honored Tuesday night at Colquitt Regional Medical Center’s Nurses Day Celebration at Moultrie Technical College as the county’s “most seasoned nurse.” And she’s the spicy sort, not hesitant to dole out a barb or two to get her point across.
May 8, 2008 – Moultrie Observer
Is ABAC pulling out of project
Lori Glenn report that worried by the possibility that ABAC on the Square might not use the Friedlander Building for its expansion, the Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority is showing the historic cornerstone of downtown to other prospects. The authority bought the Friedlander Building explicitly for the purpose of supporting the growth of education in Colquitt County and more specifically ABAC’s expansion into the building to accommodate more students.