Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Barkley Pulled Over for Suspected DUI

Former NBA star Charles Barkley, a commentator for Atlanta-based TNT, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol early Wednesday in Arizona.

According to authorities, an officer with a task force that focuses on drunken driving witnessed Barkley run a stop sign about 1:30 a.m. Barkley was in Scottsdale's Old Town area when he was pulled over.

Authorities reported that Barkley failed field sobriety tests after the officer smelled alcohol on him, and he was arrested. Barkley turned down a breath test but was given a blood test.

Barkley, who played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets, was cited and released. His car was impounded and Barkley departed in a cab.

Tigers, Yellow Jackets Ring in the New Year Tonight

For the LSU Tigers, ending up in the Chick-fil-A Bowl was probably not at the top of their wish list when the college football season began. Now, however, the Tigers will look to end a disappointing season on a high note when they tangle with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets tonight.

The Tigers, the defending NCAA champions, will meet home town team and 14th ranked Georgia Tech at 7:30 p.m. EST at the Georgia Dome. The day's final college bowl game will be televised on ESPN.

LSU (7-5) started the campaign 4-0, but then saw its season start to demise with a 51-21 blowout loss to Florida. Another debacle against Georgia, and a loss to rival Alabama knocked the Tigers out of any New Year's Day bowl considerations.

Georgia Tech (9-3), meantime, enters tonight's contest fresh-off a win over rival Georgia, its first in seven years in the series.

The Yellow Jackets compiled 409 rushing yards out of their triple-option offense against the Bulldogs en route to a 45-42 victory.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Hoschton Police, GBI Seek Clues in Teen Girl's Death

Police in Hoschton, along with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, are seeking answers in the death of 14-year-old Brittane Nicole Brown.

Brown's body was discovered over the weekend in a friend's residence on White Street. Hoschton is located in Jackson County, less than 40 miles from Atlanta.

According to investigators, Brown's body was moved on to a state crime lab for forensic testing in hopes of finding the manner of death.

Visitation Today for Heil at Woodstock Funeral Home

Family and friends will remember Victoria Heil this evening during a visitation at the Woodstock Funeral Home.

Heil, 18, a cheerleader at Woodstock High School, was killed early Sunday morning in a one-vehicle crash on I-575 at Town Lake Parkway.

The visitation tonight will begin at 5:25 p.m., with funeral services slated for Wednesday morning from Saint Michael The Archangel Church.

UGA Hosting Competition for High School Students

Georgia high school students will have an opportunity to participate in a unique learning experience when the University of Georgia hosts a Junior Engineering Technical Society's TEAMS competition on Thursday, Feb. 19.

TEAMS, which stands for Tests of Engineering, Aptitude, Mathematics and Science, brings math and science to life for students, fostering creativity, critical thinking, teamwork and problem solving, according to John Mativo, an assistant professor in the College of Education's department of workforce education, leadership and social foundations; and member in the faculty of engineering. Mativo will be working with Chi Thai, an associate professor in the department of biological and agricultural engineering, which is co-sponsoring the project.

The one-day competition will feature high school students (grades 9-12) participating in teams of four to eight members, using real-world applications of math and science to solve some of today's greatest engineering challenges. The TEAMS 2009 theme is "Behind the Scenes: Theme Parks."

There are two parts: a 90-minute, 80 multiple choice question session and a 90-minute, open-ended, four-question session.

The competition benefits students by showing them why math and science matters in the real world. Its academic rigor challenges students with new academic topics and presents new ideas. In addition, participants get inside information about college scholarships and could win great prizes, said Mativo.

More than 14,000 students across the country compete annually in TEAMS competitions. Questions are aligned with national education standards. UGA is one of three sites hosting the competition in Georgia. Other sites are Atlanta University Center and Savannah State University.

Although space is limited, there is still time to register. The deadline for registration is Jan. 22. Schools already registered to participate include: A. R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School, Cross Creek High School, Grayson High School, Hephzibah High School, Lucy C. Laney High School and The Academy of Richmond County.

To register or see more information, see www.jets.org/teams/index.cfm.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Collins High Girls Basketball Coach Arrested

Tracey Michelle Tipton, girls basketball coach at Collins High School in Suwanee, was arrested early Sunday morning after Gwinett police reportedly spotted her car weaving on I-85.

According to authorities, Tipton is facing driving under the influence of alcohol charges. Tipton, who agreed to a breath test, reportedly recorded 0.166, double the legal limit (0.08).

Tipton, who coached the Screaming Eagles to state titles in 2005-06 and 2006-07, reportedly told the arresting officer at the time she was pulled over that she had a few drinks at a holiday party.

Heil, Weiss Killed in Car Accidents


GOATLANTA wishes to extend its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Victoria Heil, 18, (left photo) and Brittany Weiss, 19, who were killed in Christmas holiday car accidents (see stories on this site).

If you have any information regarding funeral services for either of these young ladies, email information to: eastcoastdt@aol.com and we will provide the information for our readers.

If you want to leave information for sending sympathies to either family, etc. email us the information too.

Brittany Weiss photo from www.myfoxatlanta.com

Christmas Holiday Crashes Claim 24 Lives

Traffic crashes across Georgia over the 102-hour Christmas holiday travel period claimed the lives of 24 people. The holiday period began Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. and ended at midnight Sunday.

The final holiday period count was 3,325 traffic crashes, 868 injuries, and 24 traffic deaths. There were 24 fatal crashes. The estimates for the weekend had been for 2,945 crashes, 1,494 injuries, and 19 deaths.

For the second straight holiday travel period, drizzle over parts of the state kept roads wet and contributed to a higher than expected number of traffic crashes.

The next holiday travel period is the 102-hour New Year's period that begins at 6 p.m. New Year's Eve and ends at midnight Sunday Jan. 4, 2009.

The Georgia State Patrol holiday traffic counts are conducted each year for the Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's holiday travel periods.

Will the U.S. Collapse in Late 2010?

According to a Wall Street Journal report, for a decade now, Russian scholar Igor Panarin has been forecasting that the United States will fall apart in 2010.

As Panarin sees it, "There's a 55-45 percent chance right now that disintegration will occur." "One could rejoice in that process," he added. "But if we're talking reasonably, it's not the best scenario — for Russia."

Panarin, a former KGB analyst, is dean of the Russian Foreign Ministry's academy for future diplomats.

According to Panarin, mass immigration, economic decline, and moral degradation will trigger a civil war next fall and the collapse of the dollar. Around the end of June 2010, or early July, he says, the U.S. will split into six pieces — with Alaska reverting to Russian control.

For Georgians, Paranin sees the state becoming part of the Texas Republic and being under Mexico's influence.

To view the article, visit: online.wsj.com/article/SB123051100709638419.html

Car Accident Claims Life of Cherokee County Teen

A second teenage girl from Cherokee County has died in a car accident in less than a week.

According to authorities, Victoria Heil, a cheerleader at Woodstock High, died when her SUV hit a guardrail and overturned Sunday morning on I-575. The single-vehicle accident was reported shortly after midnight.

Police say that Heil, who was reportedly not wearing a seat belt, was headed north on I-575 near Towne Lake Parkway when her 2002 Jeep Cherokee ran off the road, struck a guardrail and came to rest on its right side.

Early last Friday morning, 19-year-old Brittany Weiss of Canton was killed when her vehicle was struck by a driver who was reportedly fleeing police (goatlanta-ga.blogspot.com/2008/12/former-cherokee-high-student-killed-in.html).

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Former Cherokee High Student Killed in Accident

Family and friends continue to share the good memories they had of a loved one who was killed by an alleged drunk driver early Friday morning.

According to authorities, Brittany Weiss, 19, a freshman at Gordon College and former student at Cherokee High School, was killed when the car she and a passenger were riding in was struck by a minivan driven by Stephen Wauschek of Canton. Wauschek, who remains in Cherokee County Jail, was reportedly trying to evade police shortly after midnight on suspicion of DUI and an expired tag when he struck Weiss' Toyota broadside.

According to police, Wauschek was arrested back in September by Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputies on charges of DUI, hitting a fixed object and attempting to elude.

Weiss, who resided in Canton, was pronounced dead at the scene. Kassandra Aileen Carman, 19, a passenger in the Toyota,was injured and taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, where she was in critical but stable condition.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Police Department's SOS Receives Grant

The Atlanta Police Department Special Operations Section has been awarded a grant from the State of Georgia that will assist in making the highways a safer place to travel.

The grant is in the amount of $239,400 and will be used through Sept. 30, 2009. The grant is to assist the Department's SOS Division with a traffic safety initiative and to strongly enforce driving under the influence.

APD has a Highway Enforcement Aggressive Traffic Unit (HEAT) that is responsible for traffic safety and the enforcement of driving under the influence. The HEAT Unit has made a significant impact as they made over 1,200 DUI cases as well as an additional 16,000 traffic cases last year. The officers in the unit have specialized training in the field of traffic enforcement and driving under the influence.

The APD HEAT Unit was named HEAT Unit of the year in 2005 as well as 2007. They have also been recognized on the state and national levels as a unit within the past five years by receiving numerous awards. Several officers have been recognized with officer of the year awards in addition to the awards received by the unit.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Thanking the Troops for All They Do

Many of us take for granted the freedoms we enjoy here at home.

For those of us who are able to celebrate Christmas today with loved ones, we ask that you stop for a moment and remember the many brave men and women in our armed forces.

Stationed in dozens of countries that include Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Japan, Germany and more, thank you to all of our service personnel who not only keep us safe at home, but offer freedom to millions around the world. For this, we say THANK YOU!

If you have not already, we encourage you to take a moment and send a card, care package, etc. to our troops overseas. Getting a gift from home is a wonderful reminder of all this country has to offer.

Sites such as www.uso.org can direct you to how you can support our troops.

To all troops here at home and abroad.....Merry Christmas.

Will Falcons Fly Off to Doraville?

Are the Atlanta Falcons set to fly off to Doraville down the road?

According to reports, a developer wants to construct a new stadium for the Falcons at the closed General Motors plant in Doraville. Sembler Developers, in a proposal for the Doraville City Council, is talking about a 90-acre, retractable roof stadium for the site at a cost of around $1 billion.

The Falcons, who clinched at least a wild card berth last weekend in the upcoming NFC playoffs, have a lease with the Georgia Dome through 2020.

There has also been talk of a new Georgia Dome being built near the area of the current one, which the Falcons have called home since 1992.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Alleged Gang Member Has Run-In with Santa Claus

EDITOR'S NOTE: This item came via our sister site at: gocalifornia.blogspot.com .

An alleged California gang member got more than a lump of coal for flashing gang signs in a photo he took while sitting on Santa's lap.

Uriel Oliva, 18, was arrested recently after visiting with Santa at the Village Mall in Orange, Calif.

According to police, Oliva was under a court order not to associate with members of his street gang, engage in gang activity or hang out at the Village Mall when the photo was taken last Tuesday.

The photo showed Oliva and two other members of the Orange County Criminals gang. Oliva's probation officer reportedly noticed the photo on a keychain during a probation check.

Oliva, who will have a pre-trial hearing next month, has pleaded not guilty on three misdemeanor counts of violating court orders. He faces up to 18 months in jail.

Chick-fil-A Parade, Bowl Game Set for Dec. 31


Football fans and parade lovers will have plenty to keep them occupied next Wednesday, Dec. 31, as the annual Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade and Chick-fil-A Bowl Game take place.

The parade, which runs from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., will conclude at the Georgia World Congress Center, with some 30 bands, classic cars, floats and more filling the streets. The event works its way down Peachtree St. to International Blvd., then through downtown to Centennial Olympic Park, eding at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Hours later, the attention turns to the Georgia Dome where the 14th ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will meet the defending NCAA champion LSU Tigers. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the contest will be televised on ESPN.

Mother, Boyfriend Arrested in Death of Toddler

A pair of arrests have been made in the death of a 2-year-old boy in Fulton County.

According to authorities, the mother of the boy and her boyfriend, who allegedly killed the baby, were jailed after being arrested.

Authorities reported that Mario Cunningham and Gloria Singleton were residing in a room at the Travelodge near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport when the alleged crime took place. The little boy was taken to South Fulton Medical Center where he died.

Cunningham, 20, faces charges of felony murder, cruelty to children, and providing a false name, while the boy's mother, 23-year-old Singleton, is accused of child cruelty.

Unemployment Numbers Creep Up in Metro Atlanta

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported that the unemployment rate in the metro Atlanta area rose to a preliminary unadjusted rate of 7.0 percent in November, up 2.9 percentage points over the year from November of 2007.

The jobless rate in metro Atlanta rose three-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 6.7 percent in October. Meanwhile, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent in November, the highest rate since July 1983 when it was also 7.5 percent. The jobless rate was up 3.0 percentage points from 4.5 percent at this same time last year. The November unemployment rate was up six-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 6.9 percent in October. The state rate remained above the national rate of 6.7 percent for the 10th straight month. At present, 365,244 unemployed Georgians are looking for work.

“My Christmas Wish is that all Georgians will embrace the true meaning of this holiday season,” said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. “During this unprecedented economic crisis, we should remember to give the gift of love and encouragement to unemployed family members and friends. It is also important to reassure those facing economic uncertainty that expensive gifts they can ill-afford to purchase are not expected or needed.”

Thurmond encouraged jobseekers to take advantage of the employment services offered by the Georgia Department of Labor. The department’s Web site www.dol.state.ga.us includes easily accessible listings of current job openings, as well as information about job search, career planning, and education and training opportunities. A complete listing of all 53 career centers is also provided.

In addition, Thurmond called on Georgians to consider upgrading their skills and employability by enrolling at one of the state’s two-year colleges and technical colleges.

Over the last year, the number of payroll jobs in Georgia decreased 94,400 or 2.3 percent. Manufacturing, construction, and trade, along with administrative and support services, including temporary employment agencies, were the hardest hit industries. In metro Atlanta, the number of jobs in November dropped 67,800, or 2.7 percentage points, from 2,489,800 to 2,422,000. From October to November, the number of jobs in metro Atlanta declined 11,700.

The local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Monday, December 22, 2008

State Troopers Target Unlawful Drivers

Impaired driving and the lack of seat belt use top the list of violations Georgia State Troopers will be targeting during the upcoming Christmas holiday travel period. The 102-hour travel period begins Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. and ends at midnight Sunday, Dec. 28.

The Georgia State Patrol and the Crash Reporting Unit of the Georgia Department of Transportation are estimating as many as 19 traffic deaths on Georgia roads during the holiday period. Additionally, the estimates are for 2,945 traffic crashes and 1,494 injuries across the state. Last year during the 102-hour Christmas holiday travel period, Georgia recorded 18 traffic deaths, 3,039 crashes, and 1,158 injuries.

Colonel Bill Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, noted that eight of the 18 traffic deaths last year involved an alcohol or drug impaired driver, and six of the 14 fatalities in passenger cars were not wearing seat belts.

"Remember also, you can help law enforcement officers keep our roads safe by reporting suspected impaired drivers to the nearest Georgia State Patrol post by calling Star G-S-P (*477) on your cell phone," Hitchens said.

The highest number of traffic deaths during the Christmas holiday travel period occurred in 1971 when 36 people were killed, and the lowest was in 1982 and 2002 when five fatalities were recorded.

Police Discover Woman's Nude Body in Car Trunk

Police continue their investigation into the discovery of a woman's body Sunday night in the trunk of a car in northwest Atlanta.

According to authorities, the deceased was found inside the trunk of an abandoned car close to a park.

Both the woman's manner of death and her identity were not known as of Sunday evening.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Search Continues for Metro Atlanta Area Robbers



Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, is requesting the public's assistance in identifying a violent group of associates believed responsible for at least four armed bank robberies in Metro Atlanta over the last two weeks.

On Monday, Dec. 8, 2008, around 12:30 p.m., three unidentified black males entered the lobby of the Wachovia Bank located at 6756 Covington Highway in Lithonia. Two of the robbers controlled the customers in the lobby, while the third robber jumped the teller counter and took an undisclosed amount of cash.

On Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at approximately 3:20 p.m., three unidentified black males, believed to be the same as those who robbed the Lithonia Wachovia, entered the lobby of the Wachovia Bank located at 3615 Flat Shoals Road in Decatur. Again, two of the robbers stayed in the lobby area while a third jumped the teller counter and took an undisclosed amount of cash. While leaving the bank, one of the robbers fired a single shot, which did not strike any bank employees or customers.

On Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, the same group robbed the Suntrust Bank located at 3590 Club Drive in Duluth, using the same method of operation.

OnWednesday, Dec. 17, 2008, the same group struck again, this time at the Bank of America located at 3040 Panola Road in Lithonia. As with the previous robberies, two of the robbers controlled customers in the lobby while the third jumped the teller counter and took an undisclosed amount of cash. As the robbers were leaving the bank, they were briefly confronted by an off-duty Dekalb County Police Officer, who identified himself as such. One of the robbers fired a single shot in the direction of the officer, and the officer fired a single shot in return. The officer was not struck; it is unknown if any of the robbers were hit by the shot fired by the officer. The robbers fled the bank on foot in a Southbound direction, and may have shortly thereafter left the area in a white vehicle.

The alleged robbers took steps to conceal their identities prior to entering the bank, but before doing so, they visited a business nearby, where excellent photographs of their faces were recorded on the business' security system

The public is asked to closely review these photographs, and report any information concerning the robbers' identity immediately to the FBI at (404) 679-9000. The female featured in one of the attached photographs is believed to be an associate of the robbers, and may have been the getaway driver in the most recent robbery.

The public can also review information concerning these and other bank robberies at www.georgiabankrobbery.com, an interactive site which provides bank robbery details, photographs, and the opportunity for the public to provide information to the FBI via the Internet. The FBI considers these alleged robbers armed and dangerous, and cautions the public not to take any action other than to notify the FBI's Bank Robbery Squad.

Atlanta Boat Show Sails into Town Jan. 14-18

The 47 th Annual Atlanta Boat Show will be sailing into town Jan. 14-18 at the Georgia World Congress Center (Hall C).

The Show, ideal for novice and experienced boaters alike, offers five days of boating fun, filling 500,000 square feet of space with the best in boats and marine accessories in addition to activities for the whole family.

At the state’s largest boating event, visitors will find hundreds of the latest pleasure boats, fishing boats, ski boats, personal watercraft and marine accessories at the best deals of the year, not to mention an array of fishing and boating seminars, kids’ activities, special attractions and prize giveaways. More than 250 exhibitors are expected to participate in the 2009 Show. On opening day, Jan. 14, the Atlanta Boat Show will offer a special $5 admission all day.

Additionally, visitors can register to win a $1,000 gift certificate from Boater’s World by completing an entry form in the Show lobby. The 2009 Atlanta Boat Show takes place: Wednesday - Friday, Jan. 14-16: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

“There is no other boating event like the Atlanta Boat Show. The Show features special off-season pricing for inventory reductions and new model debuts, and with hundreds of boats to choose from, dealers can help guests find the right boat at the right price for any age or lifestyle,” said Show Manager Larry Berryman.

In addition to the boats, the 2009 Show will have something for everyone. Features will include: Miss GEICO, the world’s fastest offshore racing boat; the “Let’s Go Fishing Center” featuring demonstrations at the live fish tank and special catch-and-release fishing for little ones at the trout pond; the Discover Boating Center, an educational stop for new boaters which has an array of boating information and unbiased advice from boating experts; the all-new boating affordability area showcasing boats that cost as little as $250 per month; the Boardwalk, where visitors can take part in sailing seminars, browse through marine art by local artists, enjoy activities in the kids area, or relax and unwind at the Boater’s Lounge.

Advance e-tickets went on sale Nov. 24 at AtlantaBoatShow.com and include $2 off if purchased by Jan. 11. Adult tickets are $9; youth tickets (ages 13-15) are $5; and children 12 and under are admitted FREE. Opening day tickets are $5 all day. Show tickets go on sale at the Georgia World Congress Center beginning Jan.14. Use your Show ticket for a free hot dog at The Varsity (with purchase of fries and drink), or visit metro-Atlanta Subway® restaurants for $2-off coupons, good for Jan. 15-18.

For Show information, call (954) 441-3220 or visit AtlantaBoatShow.com.

Visitors to the Show should park in the blue and yellow lots at the Georgia World Congress Center or take MARTA to the Georgia Dome/Georgia World Congress Center/Philips Arena/CNN Center or Vine City stations.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Murder Victim Discovered in Pierce County Woods

The body of Wendell Bruce Connell was found in a wooded area off of Clark Road adjacent to a residence in Pierce County earlier this week.

Connell, 52, was discovered by friends searching for him after he was reported missing on Monday to the Blackshear Police Department. The Pierce County Sheriff's office contacted the GBI Douglas office to assist in the death investigation.

The victim lived in Blackshear and the investigation at this time indicates that he was last seen on Saturday, Dec. 13.

An autopsy performed by the GBI State Crime Lab revealed that the victim's death is a homicide; however the cause of death is not being released at this time.

No one has been charged with murder at this time and the investigation is still on-going.

The GBI and Pierce County Sheriff's Office, along with assistance from the Blackshear Police Department and Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit, are working the case.

If anyone has information pertaining to the investigation, contact the Pierce County Sheriff's Office at 912-449-2011 or the GBI Douglas Office at 912-389-4103.

UPDATE: Bridge Collapse Kills 1; Injuries Reported

A bridge collapse Friday morning at the Atlanta Botanical Garden has left one person dead and more than a dozen people injured.

According to authorities, initial reports claimed that at least 17 construction workers were injured and were being transported to area hospitals. At least seven victims were reportedly in critical condition.

The construction workers were in the middle of pouring concrete on a canopy area of a pedestrian bridge at the gardens when the bridge collapsed.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

XL Insurance Opens New Atlanta Office

XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Capital Ltd., announced the opening of a new regional office in Atlanta.

Located in the Buckhead District at 3525 Piedmont Road, 7 Piedmont Center, the new office will provide insurance agents, brokers and their clients in the area with local access to XL Insurance's property, casualty, professional and specialty insurance coverages both in the U.S. and abroad.

According to Gary Bakalar, XL Insurance's regional executive, "Atlanta is an important economic center for the Southeast of the U.S. and home to many Fortune 1000 and 500 companies. These businesses require access to domestic and international risk management expertise. Now, with our new Buckhead location, we can offer them a closer, more convenient way to access XL Insurance's resources to support their risk management programs."

At XL Insurance's new office, Diann Jones is joined by Senior Property Underwriter Kevin Holmes, Senior Claims Counsel Matthew Ford and XL Global Asset Protection Services' (XL GAPS) Regional Account Leader Joseph Lynch, who manages risk engineering services for XL Insurance and other businesses in the area.

The Atlanta office is one of more than 20 XL Insurance offices throughout North America.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Muslim Woman Arrested in Head Scarf Incident

A Muslim woman was arrested in Douglsaville Tuesday after reportedly refusing the order of a judge to remove her head scraf at a security checkpoint.

According to authorities, the judge ordered Lisa Valentine, 40, to serve 10 days in jail after she reportedly violated a court policy that prohibits people from wearing any headgear in court.

According to Valentine's husband, the woman was accompanying her nephew to a traffic citation hearing Tuesday when officials stopped her at the metal detector and told her she would not be permitted in the courtroom with the head scarf, known as a hijab.

Valentine, an insurance underwriter, reportedly told the bailiff that she had been in courtrooms before with the scarf on and that removing it would be a religious violation. When she turned to leave and reportedly said an expletive, a bailiff handcuffed her and took her before the judge.

According to Valentine, who had recently moved to Georgia from Connecticut, the incident reminded her of stories she'd heard of the civil rights-era South.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations is urging federal authorities to look into the incident as well as others in Georgia.

'Death Map' Plots Where Most Fatalities Could Occur

This probably will not come as a shock to many living in the South along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, but those residents have a greater likelihood of dying from a natural hazard compared to residents in the Great Lakes area and the urbanized Northeast.

Those findings come from a new map plotting deaths from forces of nature, revealing where Mother Nature is most likely to kill you.

And while intense hurricanes and tornadoes steal headlines for their intense winds and overall destruction, the new map reports what other previous studies have found, that everyday hazards, such as severe winter and summer weather, and heat account for the majority of natural hazard deaths in the United States.

"This work will enable research and emergency management practitioners to examine hazard deaths through a geographic lens," said researcher Susan Cutter of the University of South Carolina, Columbia. "Using this as a tool to identify areas with higher than average hazard deaths can justify allocation of resources to these areas with the goal of reducing loss of life."

Cutter and Kevin Borden, also of the University of South Carolina, Columbia, analyzed nationwide data from 1970 to 2004.

Along with the South having high mortality from natural hazards, other risky areas included the northern Great Plains region where heat and drought were the biggest killers and the Rocky Mountain region (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico) with winter weather and floods as top killers. The south-central United States is also a dangerous area, with floods and tornadoes posing the greatest threats.

Cutter and Borden discovered that of the natural hazards, some were deadlier than others over the years.

"It is the chronic hazards like severe summer weather and severe winter weather and heat that are contributing the majority of the hazard fatalities, not fatalities associated with things like earthquakes or hurricanes," Cutter told LiveScience. She added that people and officials tend to be more prepared for big hurricanes and tornadoes, which could partly explain the lower mortality from these storms compared with everyday occurrences.

The natural hazards research, which will be detailed in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Health Geographics, was supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Arson Investigation Continues at Palin's Church

EDITOR'S NOTE: This item was taken from our sister site at: dailyinsurer.blogspot.com)

Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are working with other agencies on an arson investigation at the Wasilla, Alaska Bible Church after a costly fire gutted parts of the building last Friday night.

The ATF is now the fifth agency to join in the investigation at Gov. Sarah Palin's church in Wasilla, along with the Central Mat-Su Fire Department, Anchorage Fire Department, Wasilla Police Department and the State Fire Marshals Office.

An on-site investigation discovered that an ignitable accelerant had been poured on and around the the Wasilla Bible Church, including at its main entrance, according to the ATF.

The blaze was set while a small group, including two children, were inside the church, but no one was injured.

Damage to the 2 1/2-year-old church building is thought to be at around $500,000.

Palin, who was recently in Georgia to campaign for re-elected Sen. Saxby Chambliss, said she hoped her membership in the church was not a factor in the arson.

Haven Trust Bank Seized by Regulators

Yet another bank has hit rock bottom.

Haven Trust Bank outside Atlanta has been seized by state and federal bank regulators, marking the fifth failure in Georgia this year.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based BB&T Corp., which is the fourth largest bank in the metro Atlanta area, takes over all deposits from Haven Trust, which compiled total assets of $572 million and total deposits of $515 million as of Dec. 8.

BB&T, which plans to acquire Haven Trust's three branches, noted total metro Atlanta deposits of $5.3 billion as of June 30, 2008.

Georgia 2009 Economic Forecast Sluggish

About 1,000 Atlanta executives, government leaders and University of Georgia alumni recently attended the Georgia Economic Outlook luncheon in Atlanta.

The 26th annual economic forecast luncheon was hosted by UGA’s Terry College of Business. Speakers included UGA President Michael Adams, Gov. Sonny Perdue, Forbes magazine publisher Steve Forbes and Terry College Dean Robert Sumichrast.

The Georgia and U.S. economic forecasts summarized here were prepared by the Terry College’s Selig Center for Economic Growth.

The Georgia Forecast

At a Glance – The Selig Center forecast offered a grim assessment of the Georgia economy, predicting a recession that will be “severe rather than mild and prolonged rather than short,” according to Dean Robert T. Sumichrast of UGA’s Terry College of Business. “I believe that the first and second quarters of 2009 will be dreadful. Just how dreadful depends on when, and to what degree, the credit markets thaw.” Noting that recessionary periods historically average about 10 months, Sumichrast said he anticipates this recession lasting 18 months. “It will be the longest downturn since the Great Depression.” But he stopped short of calling the current economic cycle a depression.

“That’s largely because the policy responses by the Federal Reserve, the Treasury Department and the FDIC have been massive, targeted and very timely,” Sumichrast said. “The Feds have pulled out all the stops to prevent a depression. We are about halfway through the really bad stuff. This is not the time to lose your nerve or to panic. The main takeaway from my remarks is that this is the time to plan and soon it will be time to act. You can take advantage of the economic recovery that is coming in 2009.”

Where’s the Bottom of the Trough? “Given what we know today, the most likely scenario is that the economy bottoms out in the third quarter of 2009,” Sumichrast said. “Until the upswing begins, we are going to see very sharp pullbacks in spending by consumers and businesses. The aftershocks of the financial panic will continue to be felt. People and companies have lost assets. Many are truly less well off. And the wealth that has been lost will not easily be rebuilt. So, even though the economy is likely to bottom out in two more quarters, it will be very slow to recover.”

By the Numbers – For the year, Georgia’s economy is expected to grow just 1.0 percent in 2008, after adjusting for inflation. And in 2009, the state’s gross domestic product is forecast to shrink 1.4 percent. Georgia’s economy will slowly begin to turn around in the third quarter and will accelerate to about 2.5 percent growth by mid-2010. “That’s on par with the average rate of economic growth in Georgia over the past 10 years,” Sumichrast said.

Unemployment Will Double – The period of declining employment in Georgia is forecast to last for 17 months – through July 2009. But when hiring resumes in the third quarter of 2009, job growth will be too anemic to keep pace with the growth of the labor force. Consequently, Georgia’s unemployment rate will keep rising throughout 2009. “It will peak at about 9 percent in early 2010,” Sumichrast said. “That will be the highest unemployment rate since the current data series began in 1976.” Georgia’s jobless rate was 4.4 percent in 2007, rising to 6.0 percent this year.

Contrasts with 2001 Recession – “Our last recession was in 2001. Georgia’s gross state product will decline much more sharply in this recession than it did in 2001, but the job losses will be only moderately greater this time,” Sumichrast said. “We anticipate a loss of 175,000 jobs in this recession, as compared to the loss of 150,000 jobs in the 2001 recession. The main reason job losses will not be significantly worse is that many businesses entered this recession with very lean staffing. So the job losses associated with this downturn will mostly reflect substantial declines in demand, rather than overstaffing or overdue restructuring. That contrasts sharply with the excessive spending on technology and staffing that preceded the 2001 recession.”

Housing in Freefall – New housing permits in Georgia have dropped about 75 percent since their peak in the first quarter of 2006. “That is a freefall,” Sumichrast said. “Georgia’s single-family housing starts are at their lowest level since the 1981 recession when our population was about half of what it is today – almost 10 million. Relative to the size of the economy, today’s housing downturn really is much, much worse than the 1981 retraction.” The Selig Center forecasts that the steep drop in single-family home sales will bottom out by April. Two months later, new home construction should hit its low point and begin to change course.

Commercial Construction Retreating – Conditions in nonresidential construction will worsen dramatically in 2009, and an upturn in this sector will not happen before midyear of 2010. “The pipeline of projects is being completed, and the credit crunch is severely limiting the development of new projects,” Sumichrast said. “In addition, there is a lot of vacant commercial space.”

Why So Slow to Rebound? “The wealth destruction of this recession has been intense, and it has done much more damage to middle class households than is typical. That’s because the losses this time are in residential real estate, as well as in equities,” said Sumichrast. “Middle-income consumers are likely to come out of the starting gate much more slowly in the second half of 2009 than they did in previous recessions. That’s one reason why the first two quarters of the upturn will be anemic.”

Have Cash? Be Bold – Sumichrast suggested that this may be a good time to start or expand a business, if you can get access to cash or financing. “Rents are depressed. Talent is available. And established businesses are cutting back on promotions,” he said. “It will be hard for startups to get bank loans, but some of you will get loans; others of you will be able to convince your families and friends to invest in your venture.” It’s also a great time to build, if you have the capital, need the space and are ready to stop renting. “Many contractors will cut their normal profit margins to keep their crews busy,” he said. “But the best deals will be had when the recession is at its absolute worst. Think second quarter of 2009.”

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Former Pebblebrook High Teacher Surrenders

A former Pebblebrook High School teacher has turned himself in to face charges of enticing a child for sex.

Corey L. Grayson, 32, of Duluth, is accused of soliciting a 15-year-old student in the schools bleachers last week, according to the warrant. Grayson, who recently resigned his job post at the school, reportedly asked the student to write down what she wanted him to do to her on a piece of paper and put her number and address on it, according to the arrest warrant.

According to the schools Web site, Grayson was a member of the Mableton High Schools physical education department, coached freshman basketball and was an assistant volleyball coach.

Grayson was booked and released after posting a bond of $1,313.

GSU: Georgia Ranks High for Uninsured Residents

Georgia has the sixth highest number of residents without health insurance in the United States and ranks 11th in its percentage of the population lacking coverage, according to a new report from the Georgia Health Policy Center and the Center for Health Services Research at Georgia State University.

In 2007, about 18 percent of all Georgians and 20 percent of those under age 65 (approximately 1.66 million people) were without health insurance — roughly the same number reported in 2005 and 2006 but higher than the national average of 15 percent (45.7 million Americans).

Nationally, the number of uninsured Americans decreased from 46.9 million in 2006 to 45.6 million in 2007 while Georgia’s number of uninsured remained constant.

The report is a combination of data from the U.S. Census Current Population Survey (CPS) and an independent Georgia Population Survey of more than 15,800 people commissioned by the Georgia Department of Community Health. The Georgia Population Survey was conducted between February and April 2008.

Though the overall number of uninsured Georgians remains relatively unchanged over the past few years, the share of the population with employer-based private insurance has declined over the past eight years while the share with publicly funded health plans (Medicaid, PeachCare) has edged upward. Between 2000 and 2007, the percentage of Georgians with private health insurance coverage dropped by about eight percentage points. And from 2000-'06, the percentage of uninsured non-elderly Georgians rose from 16 percent to 20 percent. All Georgians 65 or over are eligible for Medicaid and are therefore not included in the report.

According to the report, roughly half of Georgia’s uninsured live in a family headed by someone who works for a small business with fewer than 100 employees.

And while the majority of Georgians have private insurance through companies large enough to provide it, the economic slowdown could leave thousands without coverage. More than 90 percent of Georgians with private health insurance have employer-based health plans, the report finds.

According to the report, only one in five individuals living below poverty have private insurance and nearly 38 percent are uninsured.

In addition to employees of small businesses and those in poverty, other groups at particular risk for being uninsured include those in families headed by a part-time or part-year worker and young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, according to the report. And while those aged 45 to 65 were once the least likely to be uninsured, they’re the only age group to see an increase in the percentage of uninsured over the past two years.

Georgia’s men are also at risk – they’re more likely than women to go without coverage, but women are more likely than men to have public coverage.

As in past years, residents of Georgia’s rural areas, who are more likely to have low incomes and work for small firms, were also found to be more likely to lack health insurance than those living in urban/suburban areas. When grouped by public health district, about 22 percent of residents in Southeast and South Central Georgia health districts are uninsured; 21 percent in Southwest Georgia; 20 percent in North Georgia; and 19 percent in West Central, Northwest and Northeast Georgia districts.

By contrast, metro Atlanta has a significantly lower percentage of uninsured (though greater in its total number of uninsured due to its larger population). Only 12 percent of residents in the East Metro Georgia health district (including Gwinnett) are uninsured, 13 percent in Fulton, and 15 percent in the Cobb-Douglas and DeKalb districts. The only exception, according to the report, was Clayton County, in which 24 percent of residents are uninsured.

To see the full report, visit the Georgia Health Policy Center Web site at www.aysps.gsu.edu/ghpc.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Delta Offering Voluntary Severance Payouts

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines announced Friday that it will offer voluntary severance payouts to a large number of the 75,000 employees at Delta and Northwest's mainline operations as part of a plan to eliminate an unspecified number of jobs.

Chief Executive Richard Anderson and President Ed Bastian reported in a memo to employees that the program is similar to one earlier this year that Delta used to cut approximately 4,000 jobs. Northwest had already trimmed jobs of its own before being acquired by Delta on Oct. 29.

According to executives, the cuts are needed because Delta will be reducing systemwide capacity next year by 6 percent to 8 percent as the weak economy has eroded demand for seats on airplanes.

The entire company, including regional subsidiaries Comair, Mesaba and Compass, fields approximately 85,000 employees. The 12,000 pilots of Delta and Northwest and a number of management and administrative employees do not qualify for the voluntary severance programs.

According to the company, the voluntary severance programs, to be offered next month, include one for employees with 10 or more completed years of service, whose completed years of age and service add up to at least 55. The second program is an early-out program to be offered to those employees who do not qualify for the first program but who are frontline/contract ground and flight attendant employees with five or more years of service and merit/salaried employees hired before the first of next year.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Nichols Escapes Death Penalty, Gets Life

The man responsible for killing a judge and three other people three years ago escaped the death penalty on Friday, instead looking at a life sentence behind bars.

As jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision on the sentence, it in turn means Superior Court Judge James Bodiford must sentence Brian Nichols to life, only having to decide whether that will include the possibility of parole. A hearing was slated for Saturday morning.

Prosecutors had urged jurors to sentence Nichols to death after he was convicted in November of murder and dozens of other counts in the 2005 killings.

The 37-year-old was on trial for rape when he seized a guard's gun and fatally shot the judge, a court reporter and a sheriff's deputy in the courthouse.

Nichols fled and gunned down a federal agent in an Atlanta neighborhood.

Vick Dogfighting Home Returns to Auction Block

While he waits to get out of jail, there is a good chance suspended NFL QB Michael Vick will never step foot in his infamous Virginia home again.

The residence that served as the headquarters for Vick's famed dogfighting operation in Surry County, Va., is once again on the auction blocks.

Motley's Auction and Realty Group is in charge of the sale of the five-bedroom house in Surry County. The company's Web site reports that the bidding Friday was to start at $590,000.

Developer Wilbur Ray Todd Jr. purchased the home from Vick for $450,000.

A year ago at auction, he rejected a bid of $747,000, which is the assessed value of the property for tax purposes. The house was placed on the market but has not sold.

Vick, meantime, who once quarterbacked the Atlanta Falcons, is serving a 23-month sentence for a dogfighting conspiracy.

Vick's former team is currently 8-5 with QB Matt Ryan leading the way.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Indictment Returned for 1986 Murder

Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Lee Darragh announced today that the Dawson County Grand Jury has indicted Manford Bruenn for the March 1986 murder of Donald Wade Smith.

The investigation into the murder has been an ongoing effort by agents from the Cleveland Office of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Dawson County Sheriff's Office and the Cobb County Police Department.

The 1986 investigation determined that Smith was kidnapped in Cobb County and taken to Dawson County where he was killed. At that time, Cobb County Police arrested three people for the kidnapping, all of whom were later convicted.

Bruenn was also charged with kidnapping Smith by Cobb County Police, but he disappeared and his whereabouts are unknown. Bruenn has family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and may have been hiding over the past 20 years in the New York City and Washington, D.C. areas.

GBI forensic artist Marla Lawson composed a sketch (see picture) of what Bruenn may look like now.

Anyone with information on Bruenn is asked to call the GBI tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477).

Oops....We Raided the Wrong House

A Lawrenceville couple got quite a surprise Wednesday when the police came knocking.

According to Gwinnett County police officials, they mistakingly raided the wrong home during a drug raid in Lawrenceville yesterday. According to the homeowner, he and his wife were kept at gunpoint for several minutes before officers noted their mistake.

Gwinnett County Police reported they planned to execute a no knock search warrant at a home at 2934 Valley Spring Drive in Lawrenceville, which is an unincorporated area of Gwinnett County. One small problem was investigators mistakenly went to the wrong home.

The search warrant was served as a result of a three month drug investigation, as Efrain Pedruza, 31, was nabbed without incident. The search warrant yielded approximately 24,000 dollars in cash.

Police officials blamed the mistaken raid on human error.

Unemployment Benefit Claims Down From October

If there is a silver lining to the current economic crisis, it came from the Georgia Labor Department today.

According to the GLD, statewide unemployment benefit claims increased nearly 55 percent in November from the same month of 2007. The November increase was less than October’s 75 percent jump, snapping a string of three consecutive months in which claims rose by 70 percent or more.

The GLD noted that 74,480 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for all of November, including 10,310 in metro Atlanta, where monthly claims jumped 58.5 percent.

Dalton was hardest hit with claims jumping 147 percent, while Augusta saw the smallest jump at 23 percent.

New Law Impacts Consumer's Auto Premiums

InsuranceQuotesUS.com reports a sudden rise in auto insurance rates in the state of Georgia.

According to the company, auto insurance premiums have gone up almost 7 percent on average in Georgia due to a new law that does not require insurance companies to get state approval before changing auto insurance rates.

A vast majority of Georgia residents have reportedly seen their rates jump. Some auto insurance premiums have even doubled for certain drivers viewed as high risk, including the elderly and teen drivers.

"InsuranceQuotesUS.com is urging consumers to shop around for the best rates. Although many have increased auto insurance rates in the state of Georgia, there are still some carriers who have not changed their underwriting criteria and premium rates. Also, some companies have only minimally increased there auto insurance rates while others have gone for the maximum auto insurance rate increase," states Eric Oster, CEO of InsuranceQuotesUS.com.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Sex Scandal is Subject at Augusta Middle School

Apparently there was more going on than just reading, writing and arithmetic at an Augusta middle school.

According to authorities, seven Richmond County educators are being punished after school officials uncovered a sex scandal involving teachers, coaches and even the principal of the school.

School Superintendent Dana Bedden reports that seven Spirit Creek Middle School faculty members have been implicated in a number of incidents that included daytime sexual encounters on an inflatable mattress in the school's public safety office.

No students reportedly took part in any of the encounters, which came to light after a former teacher sent an e-mail about the allegations to school system leaders.

Denise Ogden resigned last month after her reported involvement in a love triangle that also cost former Principal Sharon McAlevy and former school board public safety officer Ronnie Collins their employment in the district.

Multi-jurisdictional Stolen Truck Ring Busted

The GBI and Houston County Sheriff’s Office culminated a yearlong investigation today by serving search warrants and arrest warrants at a Macon County trucking company. The trucking company is located at 2524 Drayton Road, Montezuma, Ga.

While running a trucking business, the group reportedly stole tractor trailer trucks and took them to the business where employees would disassemble the trucks and sell the parts to different venders.

Some of the stolen parts were sold in Bibb, Jones, and Houston Counties. A truck was recently stolen from Nebraska and was recovered by Ft. Valley Police Department during a traffic stop after it reportedly left the Freeman property. Other trucks were stolen from Houston County, Dooly County, Quitman, and Montezuma.

Fletcher Freeman, Sr; Fletcher Freeman, Jr; Sean Benard Freeman, and Timothy Tookes were arrested and charged with Theft by Receiving Stolen Property. Additional charges are pending.

Insurance Commissioner Issues Claims Directive

State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has issued a directive informing automobile insurance companies statewide regarding the proper handling of diminished value claims.

Oxendine's order makes it so all auto insurers cease using any language that implies that the Georgia Insurance Department has endorsed or approved a particular formula for determining diminution of value in physical damage automobile claims.

Diminished value is the loss of value in a vehicle that suffers damage and is then repaired. The commissioner had previously issued a directive seven years ago regarding the Georgia Supreme Court ruling that set precedent for diminished value claims. In the present, Oxendine wants to be sure that companies understand there is no single formula for determining the amount of diminished value to be paid in a particular claim.

"There seems to be some misunderstanding in the industry that a particular formula exists for diminished value," Oxendine said. "I want to clarify the matter by reminding insurers that my office has never issued any regulation requiring the use of a specific formula for determining diminished value, so each claim should be evaluated on its own merits."

For further information, visit www.gainsurance.org/

Rain, Rain Go Away

The weatherman can assure local residents of one thing - your grass and plants will be nice and wet.

Heavy rains continue in the local forecast as a flood watch is in effect for the majority of the metro Atlanta region and northern Georgia through tomorrow.

Weather officials have also issued a tornado watch for north Georgia today, to include metro Atlanta as severe storms come through the area.

Heavy rain is forecast to continue into the day tomorrow, before tapering off by late Thursday evening.

See the full Atlanta forecast on the right side of the blog for more information.

Mega Millions Amount Continues to Rise for Friday

If you are looking for a little extra holiday cash, plan on stopping by a store in the coming days that sells lottery tickets.

Tuesday night's Mega Millions drawing produced no major winner, therefore resulting in an estimated jackpot of $207 million for Friday's drawing.

Tuesday's winning numbers were 11, 12, 26, 31, 33 with the Mega Ball being 27. One ticket purchased in Georgia did produce five of the numbers, but not the Mega Ball. The end result is someone is $250,000 richer.

Mega Millions is played in Georgia, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Passenger Gets 'Hung Up' at Hartsfield-Jackson

Chalk this one up as a different way to smuggle drugs through an airport. Or at least attempt to do such.

Authorities at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport arrested a passenger Monday evening who reportedly tried to sneak cocaine through in coat hangers.

According to authorities, Julio Alejandro Almonte, 28, was arrested and charged with felony drug trafficking when U.S. Customs agents noticed something unusual in one of his bags.

A set of wooden hangers was lying on top of his clothes, which prompted officials to do a secondary check. When checked a second time, it was discovered the hangers had been altered and filled with cocaine.

Almonte had flown into Atlanta from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with a final stop planned to LaGuardia International Airport in New York City.

Needless to say, Almonte missed his next flight and was being held in the Clayton County Jail in Jonesboro.

Fighter Plane Crash Claims 4 Victims, Pilot Safe

Editor's note: This information provided by our sister site at: gocalifornia.blogspot.com

Authorities in San Diego today discovered the fourth victim of yesterday's deadly F/A-18D plane crash in the city's University City section.

At approximately noon (PST) yesterday, a distressed fighter plane that had taken off from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln crashed onto a street in the UC community after the pilot reported engine problems. The pilot safely ejected from the plane shortly before it went down.

Three bodies were found in one home, while a second home was apparently empty when it was destroyed by the crash and ensuing fire. The plane crash-landed on a street and plowed into the two homes, setting off a massive fire. Six other homes suffered damages from the crash and fire.

The deceased victims in the home were identified as a 36-year-old Korean woman, her daughter, and the child's grandmother. The fourth victim, a baby girl, was located in the home early this afternoon.

View home video at:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Home_Video_from_the_Crash_Site_San_Diego.html