Georgia news for Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Wednesday Mar 10, 2010 - Atlanta Journal ConstitutionTeen attitudes on meth are surprising
Andria Simmons reports that a third of Georgia teens see little to no risk in trying methamphetamine, and a fifth of them say it's easy to get. The alarming statistics come from a new statewide survey released this week by the Georgia Meth Project, a public education campaign aimed at preventing first-time use.
Mar 10, 2010 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Georgia endured its 6th-coldest February
Kristi E. Swartz reports that you probably don’t need any scientific data to tell you it was cold in February. But here it is anyhow. Georgia had the sixth-coldest February on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Mar 10, 2010 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Forsyth County grand jury indicts members of assisted suicide network
Rhonda Cook reports that a Forsyth County Grand jury said four members of the right-to-die group, the Final Exit Network, operated a criminal enterprise that helped people die. An indictment returned Tuesday charges the Final Exit Network along with co-founder Thomas "Ted" Goodwin, 64, of Kennesaw and Punta Gorda, Fla.; Claire Blehr, 77, of Atlanta; and Dr. Lawrence Egbert, 82, and Nicholas Alec Sheridan, 61, of Baltimore with violating Georgia’s RICO Act, assisting a suicide and tampering with evidence. The indictment is the first of its kind in Georgia.
Mar 10, 2010 - Augusta Chronicle
Plea deal could get thrown out as Georgia Supreme Court weighs child molestors case
Walter C. Jones reports that Tuesday's arguments before the Georgia Supreme Court in the appeal of a man arrested in Augusta for child molestation included a unique twist: Lawyers on both sides agreed on nearly everything. They agreed that a new Georgia law requires that judges who are about to accept a guilty plea make sure anyone who isn't a U.S. citizen understands that deportation is likely. They disagreed, however, on whether failure to warn a defendant is a mistake that can only be fixed by throwing out the plea or whether it was a harmless foul.
Mar 10, 2010 - Athens Banner-Herald
Count on receiving a census form soon
Merritt Melancon reports, during the 2000 census, about 65 percent of Northeast Georgians responded to surveys delivered to their mailboxes. But, as forms go out this week for the 2010 count, officials are hoping that a combination of public outreach efforts and a shorter survey will yield better response rates this time around.
Mar 10, 2010 - Augusta Chronicle
GPS use grows, but some areas remain uncharted
Sarah Day Owen reports that Stephanie Lipecky has lived in her 3-year-old house in Evans for two years, but according to online maps and Global Positioning System units, her street doesn't exist. Lipecky's Riverwood Plantation home is in a high-tech map black hole. It's an odd place to be in a time when GPS navigation is growing so fast.
Mar 10, 2010 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Milledgeville a reluctant character in Roethlisberger story
Christian Boone reports that perception and reality have often clashed when it comes to Milledgeville, home of the state's largest mental health hospital and to literary icon Flannery O'Connor, the grande dame of Southern Gothic. Now, as the setting of a scandal involving a Super Bowl-winning quarterback from Pittsburgh and a coed from metro Atlanta, Milledgeville finds itself assuming a familiar defensive posture.
Mar 10, 2010 - Cherokee Tribune
Friends repair flooded farm for soldier during his deployment
Kristal Dixon reports that a Cherokee County soldier on Tuesday evening received a welcome-home present he never will forget. Friends and family of Sgt. Rusty Midkiff of southeast Cherokee County surprised him by repairing damage to his 10-acre horse farm sustained during the September flooding.
Mar 10, 2010 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Lottery grows as recent winners celebrate
Ty Tagami reports that the jackpots in two big Georgia Lottery games are growing. Winning even a much smaller prize, in the tens of thousands of dollars, is "certainly a life-changing thing," lottery spokeswoman Tandi Reddick said. By way of example, lottery officials are telling the stories of two recent winners, both of them students who say the money will help pay for their educations.
Mar 10, 2010 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
A look back at the memorable state championship team
Mike Tierney reports that The 1986 film "Hoosiers" movingly depicted the state title season of a rustic Indiana boys high school team in the mid-1950s. Georgia, though hardly a comparable basketball hotbed, had its own rural dribble-mad town then that regarded championships as a civic prerogative: The Perry Panthers.
Mar 10, 2010 - Clayton News Daily
Librarians celebrate ‘Library Day in Georgia’
Curt Yeomans reports that approximately 300 librarians from across Georgia will converge on the State Capitol in Atlanta today to do something with state legislators that they would almost never allow anyone in their libraries to do too loudly — talk. Today is “Library Day in Georgia,” an annual event in which librarians and school media specialists, go to Atlanta to raise awareness among state legislators of the importance of libraries to local communities.
Mar 10, 2010 - Athens Banner-Herald
Take to the Skies
Chris Starrs reports, since its opening in 1984, the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins has welcomed more than 10 million visitors from all over the world, including more than 800,000 children who have participated in its various educational programs. Touted as the second-largest Air Force museum in the country, the MOA has an impressive outreach program for Georgia’s students, providing state-certified curriculum ranging from “Wonder Wings” (for pre-K and kindergarten students) to Starbase Robins (for fourth- and fifth-graders) to a host of post-secondary education programs.
Mar 10, 2010 - Milledgeville Union-Recorder
Attorneys for alleged victim issue statement
Staff reports that attorneys hired to represent a young woman who claims Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was involved in a sexual assault committed against her early Friday morning have issued a statement on behalf of their client. Attorneys Lee Parks and David Walbert of Parks, Chesin & Walbert said their client was a victim in the alleged assault and that Roethlisberger was involved.
Mar 10, 2010 - Augusta Chronicle
MCG president meets regents
Morris News Service reports that Medical College of Georgia President Ricardo Azziz received his formal introduction today at the monthly meeting of the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents. He said, "We are in a bit of a crisis right now, but in a crisis lies the seeds of opportunity. The future of the Medical College of Georgia is rich, and it's going to be proud."
Mar 10, 2010 - Macon Telegraph
Mercer wins green honors
Phillip Ramati reports that Mercer University earned an ‘A’ letter grade for its transportation efforts in the 2010 Sustainability Report Card, part of the Green Report Card’s Web site. Mercer is one of 12 schools featured among the transportation leaders, and one of 105 to earn an ‘A.’
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Mar 10, 2010 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Tech, Emory partner on bike share program
Laura Diamond reports that Georgia Tech received a $50,000 grant from the Ford Motor Company Fund Tuesday to develop an innovative bike share program with Emory University.
Mar 10, 2010 - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Clark Atlanta event features Savannah mayor
Laura Diamond reports that Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson will deliver the keynote address during a March 18 ceremony at Clark Atlanta University. The speech is part of the college's Founders Day, which honors the institution's history. The university was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Atlanta University, founded in 1865, and Clark College, established in 1869. Clark Atlanta currently enrolls about 4,000 students.
Mar 10, 2010 - Athens Banner-Herald
Looking to grow, Athens Tech wants Walton building
Lee Shearer reports that Athens Technical College may get a permanent home for its expanding Walton County programs when the Walton County Board of Education closes a nontraditional high school in Monroe next year.
Mar 10, 2010 - Gainesville Times
Top student moves to regional competition
Jeff Gill reports that an accounting student at Lanier Technical College’s Forsyth County campus has been named the college’s top student for 2010. Annette Shutters was honored Tuesday during the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership luncheon sponsored by the Gainesville Lions Club and the school’s Student Government Association.
Mar 10, 2010 - Augusta Chronicle
Columbia County might lose teaching positions
Donnie Fetter reports that Columbia County might lose more teaching positions next school year even as enrollment is projected to grow. Tentative plans approved Tuesday by the school board call for eliminating more than 11 teaching positions because of a lack of state funding. The cuts would save the system about $750,000 in payroll expenses, Superintendent Charles Nagle said.
