Crash on I-285 Claims Life of Riverdale Man

A 20-year-old resident of Riverdale was killed early Saturday after his car broke down on I-285 and he was hit by a tractor trailer.

According to Sandy Springs police, Charles Edward Stephens Jr. of Riverdale was on the side of the freeway after his car had broken down in the right eastbound lane at the DeKalb County line shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday. Moments later, a tractor trailer impacted the scene, killing Stephens.

Witnesses reportedly told police that the car's tail lights were not working when the accident took place.

UGA Kinesiology Head Receives Award

Kirk Cureton, professor and head of the department of kinesiology at the University of Georgia, received a Citation Award from the American College of Sports Medicine this past week.

The Citation Award is given for outstanding scientific and scholarly contributions to sports medicine and/or the exercise sciences throughout a career.

Cureton’s research in applied exercise physiology has focused on metabolic determinants of youth fitness, effects of body composition on physical performance, sex differences in responses and adaptations to exercise, cardiovascular and metabolic responses to exercise in the heat, and ergogenic effects of sports drinks.

A member of the UGA faculty since 1976, Cureton has served as head of the department of kinesiology since 2005 and as head of the department of exercise science from 1991-2004. He has been a member of ACSM since 1972 and has served as associate editor of the organization’s primary research journal, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, as president of the Southeast chapter, as a member of the board of trustees and as vice president of the national ACSM.

Cureton has written or co-written several book chapters and scores of articles on his research in referred journals during his career. He has received numerous recognitions for his work including being named Distinguished Alumni Lecturer (2007) and Distinguished Alumni (1998) by the department of kinesiology, University of Illinois. He received the Scholar Award, from the Southeast chapter of ACSM (1994) and the Mabel Lee Award, from the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (l983).

Cureton was recognized at ACSM’s 2009 annual meeting in Seattle this past week.

Cafe 458 Brunch Helps Samaritan House of Atlanta

Start a new Sunday morning tradition…brunch at Café 458! Located in the Historic Sweet Auburn District, Café 458 offers gourmet meals created by Atlanta’s favorite chefs.

At the invitation of his fellow CIA Alums, this Sunday celebrated Chef Joe Truex of Repast Restaurant will be transforming the kitchen with his signature flavors of Creole-influenced New American cuisine with a metropolitan flair.

While Cafe 458 is open to the general public for brunch and dinner, it also serves as the city’s only restaurant for homeless individuals during weekday mornings. The idea of opening a restaurant for the homeless originated with co-founders A.B. Short and Bob Freeman; their vision was to create a warm, caring environment that fostered a sense of dignity and respect among the men and women who ate there.

All proceeds from Café 458, including tips, go directly to support Samaritan House of Atlanta, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to help homeless men and women achieve self-sufficiency – It’s truly a delicious cause!

Cafe 458 is managed by Samaritan House of Atlanta, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to transform lives by helping homeless men and women achieve self-sufficiency through personalized employment readiness and life-stabilization programs.

Annually, Samaritan House of Atlanta offers services to over 700 men and women through two core programs: Cafe 458, a life stabilization program and restaurant for disabled homeless men and women; and The EDGE (Earning Dignity...Gaining Employment), with employment readiness programs that support homeless individuals in their efforts to find full-time permanent employment. Samaritan House also manages the Clean Street Team, a transitional employment and training program which engages homeless men and women in various beautification, grounds maintenance and cleaning projects throughout the metro Atlanta area. For more information about Samaritan House of Atlanta and our programs, visit Samaritan House.

Café 458 is an award-winning restaurant offering gourmet menu selections on Sundays for brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit Café 458.

Chef Joe Truex is a celebrated Atlanta Chef. Dine at Repast Restaurant Monday – Saturday to sample experience a true Southern talent! For more information visit Repast Restaurant.

GPS Releases Memorial Day Accident Counts; 15 Die on Roads

According to the Georgia Public Safety Department, there were 2, 974 crashes, 752 injuries, 15 fatalities and 14 fatal crashes over the Memorial Day holiday weekend in the state.

Fatal crashes were reported by the Putnam Co. Sheriff's Department, Savannah-Chatham Metro, DeKalb Co. Police, Fulton Co. Police (2), Hinesville Police, and the Georgia State Patrol posts in Athens, Blue Ridge, Conyers, Cuthbert, Dalton, Hinesville, Jasper, and Lafayette.

The holiday traffic count is a joint safety initiative of the Georgia State Patrol and the Crash Reporting Unit of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The holiday count is updated every six hours during the holiday periods for Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

MARTA Looks to Hike Fares, Trim Services

If MARTA has its way, fares for using the transit system will go up while services would be cut according to budget approvals the agency's finance committee signed off on last week.

According to the panel, the vote was to hike basic fares by $.25 starting in the new fiscal year of July 1, while parking charges for nine lots would also be increased $1.

MARTA is also looking to halt trains from running after midnight, along with eliminating non-productive bus routes.

Public hearings on the proposed fare hikes and service cuts are set for June 16 and 17.

Falcons Offensive Tackle Charged in Fight on Facebook

An Atlanta Falcons player was charged with battery in connection with a reported fight with his wife over a Facebook friend.

Gwinnett County police took offensive tackle Quinn Ojinnaka, 25, into custody earlier this week at his residence in Suwanee.

According to authorities, Ojinnaka fought with his wife and allegedly spat at her regarding an incident over a female friend of his on Facebook.

Ojinnaka, who posted bail and was released from Gwinnett County Jail, reported his wife allegedly tried to stab him with a pen.

She claims he threw her on some stairs and tossed her out of the residence.

Fulton County Residents Can Enjoy Art

On the first Saturday of every month, the High Museum of Art welcomes Fulton County residents to the Museum for free.

Fulton County residents who show proof of residency and students of schools, colleges and universities located inside Fulton County may view the current special exhibitions as well as the Permanent Collection.

This offer is available for walk-up ticket purchases only.

Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of Fulton County Arts Council.

Gov. Perdue Unveils Be Work Ready Program

In tough economic times, it is more important than ever for unemployed Georgians to embrace life-long learning opportunities and improve their core job skills.

With that in mind, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced the launch of Be Work Ready, a program designed to help unemployed Georgians jump start their job search, develop confidence and gain a competitive advantage in the job market.

Be Work Ready is a one-of-a-kind initiative providing unemployed Georgians a monetary incentive for either earning a Work Ready Certificate or improving their skills through free, online Work Ready skills gap training. Funding for the initiative is provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

When an individual earns a bronze, silver or gold level Work Ready Certificate, they are eligible for a $50 incentive; those who earn platinum are eligible for $100. When an individual improves their Work Ready Certificate level in any way, they are eligible for a $100 incentive. The incentive, in the form of a pre-paid card, can be used to offset job search expenses.

Be Work Ready is available to those age 18 or older who are currently unemployed and have earned a Work Ready Certificate and/or improved their Work Ready Certificate level through skills gap training. Those who have earned a Work Ready Certificate since Sept. 1, 2008 are also eligible to apply. Individuals answer a short questionnaire and fill out an application form at

www.begaworkready.org to qualify.

Job seekers can also post their Work Ready qualifications at www.begaworkready.org and select a target industry where employers throughout the state will be able to access this information and contact candidates about available jobs.

A Work Ready Certificate, powered by ACT’s nationally accredited WorkKeys® assessment system, validates an individuals’ skill and knowledge levels to potential employers. Individuals take the free assessment and earn a certificate at one of four levels – platinum, gold, silver and bronze. Free, online skills gap training helps individuals improve their Work Ready Certificate level.

McDonald's Drives in With Savings on June 3 on Ga. 400

Thanks to the guys with the golden arches, the toll on Ga. 400 will be free from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 3.

To highlight the launch of its new line of McCafe beverages, the Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association will provide commuters with free toll payments and free specialty coffees.

McDonald’s owner/operators will get the tab for drivers driving through Ga. 400 toll booths and will hand out free “Be Our Guest” cards for complementary McCafe coffees at Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Restaurants.

The gift cards can be redeemed for a free small hot McCafe coffee or a free medium iced McCafe coffee.

“Just as our new McCafe beverages offer an escape from the daily grind, we’re offering a free pass for commuters eager to get to their destinations Wednesday afternoon,” said John Tamasi, president of the Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association, in a prepared statement. “We want to thank our guests with free toll payments during those two busy hours on Wednesday and invite these commuters to our hundreds of local restaurants to enjoy an iced or hot McCafe beverage.”

Pizza Delivery Man Comes to Rescue of Kidnap Victim

It is not every day a pizza delivery man gets to rescue a kidnapped woman.

According to authorities, Snellville resident David Jansen is behind bars for allegedly kidnapping a 24-year-old Atlanta woman and taking her to a remote cabin in Tennessee. Jansen reportedly tied the woman to a couch and raped her.

Not long after, Jansen reportedly ordered a pizza and that is when the delivery man showed up and saw the woman tied up. The woman reportedly mouthed to the man to call 911, which led to her rescue.

Jansen, who was later arrested by Tennessee authorities, allegedly kidnapped the woman in her Atlanta neighborhood on Tuesday before transporting her across state lines.

UGA Licenses New Bermuda Grass

An internationally recognized turfgrass researcher from the University of Georgia has developed a new Bermudagrass that thrives in sun, but also produces healthy turf in areas with less than half the light normally required for healthy Bermuda grass.

The new Bermudagrass, licensed by the University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc., to New Concept Turf, will soon be available to homeowners for planting lawns; to developers for recreational facilities, sports complexes and golf courses; and to urban area landscapers.

TifGrand was developed by Wayne Hanna, professor of plant breeding and genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

“Although TifGrand produces a beautiful turf in full sun, its major contribution will be the production of nice turf in areas with reduced light—up to 60% less light than is normally required for healthy Bermudagrass growth,” said Hanna.

Hanna is a world-renowned plant breeder. During his 37-year career, Hanna has developed winter-hardy, pest-resistant Bermudagrasses able to handle high traffic. These grasses now grow on golf courses around the world and in major sports stadiums. Hanna has spearheaded the screening of Bermudagrass for hybrids that naturally deter mole crickets, the No. 1 lawn and turf pest in the Southeast. He and his research team have been awarded seven patents.

New Concept Turf, a Georgia-based company specializing in marketing new turfgrasses, has contracted The Turfgrass Group of Ft. Valley, Ga., to exclusively handle licensing of TifGrand for sod production. TifGrand will be licensed to a selected number of growers beginning in summer 2009; it is expected to be available in the general market in 2010.

For more information on TifGrand and licensing opportunities, contact Bill Carraway, vice president of marketing for The Turfgrass Group, (770) 207-1500, or visit www.theturfgrassgroup.com.

Cobb Co. Residents Can Review Tax Assessor Info

Cobb County residents can review the schedule for tax assessor site visits for the next two months.

Georgia law requires property owners and occupants be provided reasonable notice prior to a site visit conducted by or on behalf of the Cobb County Tax Assessors.

For a list of properties and subdivisions scheduled for a site visit within the next 60 days, visit the Web site cobbassessor.org or the office at 736 Whitlock Ave., Marietta.

Gov. Perdue Notes Master Teacher Honorees

Gov. Sonny Perdue recently announced the names of 112 new teachers who have earned the “Master Teacher” certification, a designation based on appreciable gains in student achievement.

“There are now 466 Master Teachers in Georgia who have demonstrated their expertise in helping our children achieve at higher levels,” said Gov. Perdue. “They are masters at inspiring students to learn, and I am proud to recognize their tireless efforts and collective success in improving student achievement.”

Georgia’s Master Teacher Certification Program was championed by Gov. Perdue during the 2005 legislation session and is coordinated by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC). It provides statewide recognition to certified public school teachers in Georgia who have at least three years of teaching experience and who consistently demonstrate instructional excellence through student achievement.

Master Teachers are eligible to automatically renew their teaching certificates as long as they continue to qualify for Master Teacher status.

For more information on the Master Teacher program, visit

http://www.gamasterteachers.org or send an email to MasterTeachers@gapsc.com.

Duo Face Charges Involving Teen Dancer at Strip Club

A pair of adults are facing charges after police said they found a teenager dancing at a Lilburn bar.

According to Gwinnett County authorities, Lucky Billiards on Indian Trail-Lilburn Road was a front for an illegal strip club.

Undercover officers said they were looking into drug and prostitution complaints when they found the 15-year-old dancer working inside. The girl had reportedly been dancing at the establishment for nearly six months.

Police took into custody the bar's owner, Jay Kim, 45, of Norcross, and a dancer, Whitney Blackburn, 21, of Acworth, on misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

UGA Doctoral Student Named Kellogg Health Scholar

Shelly Hovick, a doctoral student in speech communication at the University of Georgia, has been chosen as one of eleven recipients nationwide to receive a Kellogg Health Scholars Fellowship. The award is given annually to individuals engaging in health disparities research.

Hovick, the second UGA student to receive this fellowship, will pursue her research at the Center for Research on Minority Health at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The Kellogg Health Scholars Program seeks to develop new leadership in the effort to reduce and eliminate health disparities and increase access to services vital for achieving healthy communities. Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and managed by the Center for the Advancement of Health in partnership with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, the program supports each scholar with an annual stipend of $60,000 and a $10,000 annual research fund during the two-year fellowship.

When Hovick completed her master’s degree in organizational communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2001, she initially anticipated a career as a corporate trainer. However, her direction changed after working as a community educator for the Hunger Task Force, an anti-hunger advocacy organization and food bank in Milwaukee, Wis.

The experience sparked an interest in health communications, particularly as a vehicle to improve health and reduce health disparities that exist between high- and low-income groups.

Hovick’s scholarly endeavors as a research assistant in UGA’s Southern Center for Communication, Health and Poverty have since focused on how to close these health and information gaps. She has been involved in research aimed at understanding the degree to which low-income people feel susceptible to a variety of health risks ranging from chronic illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease, to more controllable risks such as car accidents, HIV/AIDS and drug addiction.

Hovick’s doctoral dissertation builds on this further by exploring the factors that help and hinder communication of family health histories, which can identify genetic susceptibilities and can be used as a guide to health protective behaviors.

UGA Notes Speaker for Summer Commencement Aug. 1

Suzanne Yoculan, retiring head coach who has led the University of Georgia’s women’s gymnastics team to 10 NCAA championships—the most in NCAA history—will be the speaker for the university’s summer commencement exercises Aug. 1.

In her 26 years at UGA, Yoculan’s team has also produced 16 Southeastern Conference titles, 21 NCAA Regional crowns, 37 individual NCAA champions, 306 All-America citations and 836 career victories. She guided her team to the nation’s top three in 20 of the last 21 years.

In 19 of her 26 years, Yoculan led Georgia to an SEC title, an NCAA title or both. She was chosen as the National Coach of the Year five times and the SEC Coach of the Year eight times. Under Yoculan, only three gymnasts have left UGA without their degrees, and no gymnast has ever transferred from UGA’s program.

The UGA gymnastics program has grown during Yoculan’s tenure. In 1983, less than 200 fans attended most gymnastics meets. Today, that number reaches nearly 10,000. Georgia’s meets also are televised regionally and nationally several times throughout the year.

Yoculan fostered the growth and ever-increasing support of the Ten-0 Booster Club, which is the largest gymnastics booster club in the nation with more than 800 members.

She is a motivational speaker, traveling throughout the country to convey her experiences in such topics as team chemistry, reaching one’s full potential, sports promotion, leadership and personal growth.

Additionally, she serves numerous community organizations, including Special Olympics, the Athens United Way, Habitat for Humanity and the Athens Regional Medical Center’s Breast Health Center. She and her team have been recognized many times for their community service endeavors.

The number of students eligible to receive degrees will not be known until the conclusion of final exams on July 31.

Cobb County, Kennesaw Development Authority Purchase Land

Cobb County and the Kennesaw Development Authority recently acquired almost 10 acres of land in downtown Kennesaw.

This wooded property includes a stream and has historical ties to Camp McDonald, a Confederate army training facility during the Civil War. The county's portion of the land, about seven and a half acres, will be used for a public park.

The Hamby property off Watts Drive was recommended by the Citizens Advisory Committee and purchased as part of the 2006 parks bond program.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

GOATLANTA will return with news and more updates on Tuesday, May 26. In the meantime, have a fantastic Memorial Day!

Gwinnett County Restores Collins Hill Stream

A severely eroded stream adjacent to Collins Hill High School has been restored to protect water quality in the Upper Yellow River Watershed, improve aquatic habitat and keep erosion from washing out a nearby trail. The project location is also near Collins Hill Aquatic Center and Collins Hill Park

In a joint project, Gwinnett County’s Water Resources Department worked with Parks and Recreation and the Board of Education to restore the stream buffers.

“This work has resulted in an ideal area for public access, nature study, and bird watching in addition to reducing turbidity and sediment in the stream,” said Pete Wright of the County’s Stormwater Management Utility.

Appalachian Environmental Services completed the work that supports several different permit requirements. Gwinnett commissioners approved a change order lastTuesday that reduced the project cost by $71,511.

The $1.2 million project was paid from stormwater utility and water/sewer fees.

UGA President, Vinson Institute Employee Honored

Michael Adams, president of the University of Georgia, and Mary Stakes, a retiring senior public service associate from the Carl Vinson Institute of UGA, recently received 2009 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities and were honored at the 24th Governor’s Awards in the Humanities luncheon, in Atlanta.

Adams received the award for his dedication to humanities based programs and projects at the University of Georgia and in the state. He was recognized for his leadership in historic preservation of the UGA campus and the impact that preservation has had in the campus culture and in the broader community. Stakes received the award for her continuing efforts to educate classroom teachers about Georgia history, government and civics.

Adams has been a champion for a variety of humanities activities since arriving in Athens in 1997 to serve as the president of UGA. He has revived the intercollegiate debate program, supported UGA’s involvement in the development of the New Georgia Encyclopedia and emphasized writing as critical to the undergraduate curriculum.

He has guided the development and implementation of a Campus Master Plan that emphasizes historic preservation and the creation of a learning environment that promotes intellectual curiosity. Under his leadership, restored buildings and green spaces serve as teaching tools for history, architecture, landscape design and related disciplines. Students, faculty, staff and visitors see Georgia’s history through these facilities.

For 30 years, Stakes has organized learning opportunities and summer teacher institutes for Georgia Teachers. She has obtained grant funding to enable teachers to attend conferences, such as “The Carter Presidency: Lessons for the 21st Century.” She has volunteered with the Georgia Council for the Social Studies and for the past five years has coordinated the Center for Civic Education’s “We the People: Project Citizen” program. She also is the co-author of The Georgia Studies Book, a textbook for the 8th grade, now in its third edition, and has published many teaching manuals, lesson plans and multimedia resources to assist teachers in meeting curriculum standards.

Adams and Stakes were among 10 award recipients. A complete list of recipients is available at http://www.georgiahumanities.org/programs/gov/awards.html.

Gwinnett County Offices Closed for Memorial Day

All Gwinnett County government offices, with the exception of those operations required for the comfort and safety of the citizens of the county, will be closed May 25 for the Memorial Day holiday. All offices will resume regular working hours on May 26.

A Magistrate Court judge will be available at the Gwinnett County Detention Center.

Cobb County Breaks Ground on Courthouse

Cobb County dignitaries gathered recently to break ground on the new courthouse in Marietta.

The design is reminiscent of the old courthouse, complete with a clock tower. The 229,000 square foot building will have 11 courtrooms, combining all of the county’s court services on one campus and allowing Juvenile Court to move to downtown Marietta.

The new building will also provide state-of-the-art security and a larger jury assembly room. The "green" courthouse will be constructed according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification standards, saving energy and operational costs.

SPLOST funds of $63 million are funding the project and the building is slated for completion in spring 2011.

UGA College of Public Health Holding Forum on Flu

In an effort to engage the Athens community as a partner in prevention, the University of Georgia College of Public Health is hosting a community forum on the influenza virus. The forum will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 28 in room 175 of the Paul D. Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences.

Two physicians and a veterinarian epidemiologist will lead the forum, which is free and open to the public.

Dr. Christopher Whalen, professor of epidemiology in the College of Public Health, is a physician who is board certified in infectious diseases and internal medicine. He is also a member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and will provide information on preventing illness and current treatment methods.

Dr. Steven Valeika, an infectious disease epidemiologist and veterinarian in the College of Public Health, studies the transmission of diseases that affect animal and human populations. He is especially interested in the processes that allow an infection to jump from animals to humans, as has happened with the new strain of Influenza A (H1N1), also known as “swine flu.” Valeika is a co-author on two recent articles about avian influenza.

Dr. Claude Burnett, a preventative medicine physician, is the Georgia Department of Human Resources Northeast Georgia District Health Director and an adjunct faculty member in the College of Public Health. As District Health Director, Burnett oversees and manages the operational plans for the entire health district that includes Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe and Walton counties.

At the forum, Whalen, Valeika and Burnett will provide a brief overview of the current H1N1 flu outbreak and answer questions from the community.

The symptoms of the influenza can seem mild, and individuals often go to work with a headache, muscle aches, a cough or a runny nose. Yet, in the United States alone, 36,000 people die from influenza-related complications each year.

The current H1N1 virus outbreak is an example of how quickly influenza is capable of mutating and how easily new strains of the virus can emerge.

Eddie's Attic Hosting Top Show May 23

On Saturday, May 23, at 8 p.m., Eddie's Attic (515-B N. McDonough Rd., Decatur) will present an amazing evening of music featuring Ken Will Morton (pictured), The Corduroy Road and Vigilanties of Love. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. For information on Eddie's Attic, call (404) 377-4976.

Morton's music has been compared to Westerberg, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Tom Waits, Springsteen and Dylan. The Atlanta Journal said “Morton’s rootsy pop-rock should find favor with fans of Paul Westerberg or the Old 97s.” He is an extremely engaging performer. Check out this great live review of Ken's BMI showcase on April 6 in L.A. from that ran on the Yahoo blog, Who's Next (written by the former W. Coast Editor of Billboard).
http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/whosnext/2420/ken-will-morton-will-get-your-head-right/

The Corduroy Road has melded roots in Americana, folk rock, and old-time country with the rawest of live performances. They are quickly gaining a reputation in Athens as one of the most popular bands in town, sharing the stage with such notable bands including The Avett Brothers, Paleface, The Packway Handle Band, Ian Thomas, Langhorne Slim, Drakkar Sauna and more. Mule Train Records just released the “Just One Drop” EP on April 9 that was produced by renowned producer John Keane (Widespread Panic, REM, BR549, Uncle Tupelo). Its CD is already receiving great reviews and airplay on Americana radio.

Vigilanties of Love surely needs no introduction to the press. Paste Magazine, in a poll conducted by both writers and artists, listed Bill Mallonee as 65 in their "100 Greatest Living Songwriters Poll." Mallonee, the lyrical and musical source behind the late Vigilantes of Love, started playing music in Athens in the late 80's. Mallonee has released 25 albums over his 17 year career to much critical acclaim. Musically, his songs tend towards a very broadly defined Americana, embracing Folk-rock, Brit-pop, psychedelia and troubadour folk. There is a new live VOL CD available on their Web site, www.vol.sounds.com.

More info:

www.myspace.com/kenwillmorton
www.myspace.com/thecorduroyroad
www.myspace.com/billmallonee
www.volsounds.com

UGA Conference to Host Top Latino Educators

Several of the nation’s top scholars in Latino education will speak at the University of Georgia next fall in the first Triennial Conference on Latino Education and Immigration, hosted by UGA’s Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education.

The national three-day conference, titled Setting the Policy and Research Agenda, will focus on the Latino education achievement gap and ways to address the problem in the classroom as well as in legislatures and school boards. It is scheduled for Oct. 26-28 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel.

Speakers include Sylvia Mendez, longtime Latino civil rights leader; Alejandro Portes, professor of sociology at Princeton University and member of the National Academy of Science; Kris Gutierrez, professor at the University of California at Los Angeles and director of the Center for the Study of Urban Literacies; and Luis Moll, professor at the University of Arizona and one of America’s best known researchers on the connection between culture, psychology and education, especially as it relates to the education of Latino children in the United States. Registration for the three-day conference is $25 and available online at www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/conferences/2009/Oct/26/triennial.phtml.

More information on the conference can be found at www.coe.uga.edu/clase/conference/index.htm.

Gwinnett County to Lease Stone Mountain Tennis

Gwinnett commissioners agreed this week to lease Stone Mountain tennis facilities that were built for the 1996 Olympics.

The Stone Mountain Memorial Association (SMMA) owns the facilities, which are located in Gwinnett County. The 50-year, $1 per year lease agreement covers a 24.5-acre site at 5525 Bermuda Road and includes 15 outdoor tennis courts and support facilities. The existing tennis stadium on the site is not included in the agreement.

More than 300 citizens signed a petition asking the County to lease the property for a public park after it was closed recently.

“This is a great opportunity to use existing facilities and open them back up for public use,” said District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau, who credited the strong citizen support for the move. “This is a vital gateway to our County. Much of the credit goes to Brett Harrell and the Evermore CID for working behind the scenes with the SMMA to make this day a reality.”

The County plans to make improvements and renovations beginning next year with completion by mid-summer 2010.

UGA: Lower Legal Drinking Age Adds to Poor Birth Outcomes

Amid renewed calls to consider reducing the legal drinking age, a new University of Georgia study finds that lower drinking ages increase unplanned pregnancies and pre-term births among young people.

“Our findings suggest that a lower drinking age increases risky sexual behavior among young people, and that leads to more unplanned pregnancies that result in premature birth and low birth weight,” said study author Angela Fertig, assistant professor in the UGA College of Public Health. “The take-home message is that when it’s easier for young people to get alcohol, birth outcomes are worse.”

Fertig, who is also a public service assistant in the university’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, co-authored the study with Tara Watson, assistant professor of economics at Williams College in Massachusetts. Their results appear in the May issue of the Journal of Health Economics.

The team examined birth records and survey data on alcohol use for the years 1978 to 1988, a period when state minimum drinking age laws were in flux. Fertig said the consensus among researchers is that a higher minimum drinking age reduces fatal car crashes and alcohol consumption among young adults, but there is little data on how drinking age laws influence infant health.

The researchers found that a drinking age of 18:

* Increases prenatal alcohol consumption among 18- to 20-year-old women by 21 percent;
* Increases the number of births to 18- to 20-year-olds by 4.6 percent in white women and 3.9 percent in 18- to 20-year-old African-American women;
* Increases the likelihood of women under age 21 having a low-birth weight baby by 6 percent (4 percent for white women and 8 percent for African-American women); and
* Increases the likelihood of premature birth by 5 percent in white women under age 18 and by 7 percent in African-American women under age 18.

Fertig noted that in many cases the impact of a reduced drinking age disproportionately falls on African-Americans. The researchers found that a drinking age of 18 increases the probability of an unplanned pregnancy by 25 percent for African-American women, for example.

The team’s analysis revealed that the negative birth outcomes associated with a lower drinking age aren’t the direct result of prenatal alcohol consumption on fetal health. Instead, a lower minimum drinking age results in more unplanned pregnancies, which are known to be associated with poorer infant health outcomes.

“Teenagers who get pregnant unexpectedly are less likely to receive good prenatal care and may not take as much interest in the child as someone who tried to get pregnant,” Fertig said. “As a result of these behaviors on the mom’s part, the child ends up with worse outcomes.”

Last year, a group known as the Amethyst Initiative comprised of more than 100 college and university presidents and chancellors signed a statement encouraging discussion about lowering the legal drinking age. Fertig said her study broadens the debate by adding a new dimension that until now has not been considered.

“There are consequences to lowering the drinking age beside traffic fatalities,” Fertig added. “There’s this potentially big effect on birth outcomes, and to me that argues that we should leave the minimum drinking age where it is.”

Gwinnett County Water Lines to be Flushed

Gwinnett County will flush some of its water lines in the coming months to remove sediment, test fire hydrants, ensure water quality in low-usage lines, and ensure safe, clean water after repairs or maintenance.

With Lake Lanier still about five to six feet below normal, water conservation is still an issue. “We only discharge water when necessary for customer health and safety,” said Lynn Smarr, acting director of Gwinnett’s Water Resources Department. “Last year’s outside watering restrictions are still in place except that soaker-hose use is now allowed one hour per day on an even/odd schedule.”

Line flushing may cause brief, temporary pressure drops in the water supply or discoloration from dislodged sediment in the pipes. Smarr said it usually does not pose a health hazard and should clear up after the water runs a few minutes. She recommends doing laundry after 5 p.m. and letting the water run a few minutes to ensure clarity before drinking or cooking in areas where flushing work is being done.

Residents should call the Department of Water Resources at (678) 376-7000 if they have continued problems with discoloration or pressure.

Marketing Assistance Needed for Atlanta Blog

GO ATLANTA is looking for freelance marketing assistance for our blog.

We provide the news items daily and we need someone on the ground in the greater Atlanta area to market the blog. In return, you will earn half the profits from each advertisement sold.

This is a great chance to make some additional money and spread the word about a news source that wants to provide people in the Atlanta area with a variety of informational items.

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UGA Alumni Career Fair Set for June 3

The University of Georgia Career Center is hosting its fourth annual UGA Alumni Career Fair Wednesday, June 3, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Gwinnett Center Ballroom, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway.

This event is exclusively for UGA grads with all levels of experience and academic backgrounds. To sign up, see www.career.uga.edu. ; Walk-ups also are welcome, so bring your resume.

Employers can showcase their companies at the career fair and recruit top talent from the state’s flagship university. To register a business, see www.hireuga.com.

Last year, more than 600 grads and nearly 100 employers participated in the Alumni Career Fair.

For information about the Alumni Career Fair or the résumé-writing clinic, contact Alumni Career Director Nicole Lechene at (404) 266-2622 or nlechene@uga.edu.

Diabetes Self-Management Class Available at Cobb Extension

Learn about managing your diabetes during the Diabetes Self-Management Program 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, May 22.

Certified diabetes educators from the Diabetes Association of Atlanta will teach the class at the UGA Cobb County Extension Office, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta. The program is for individuals recently diagnosed, for those who need a refresher and for pregnant women with diabetes. A registration fee is required. Some insurance and Medicare is accepted.

To register or for more information, call (404) 527-7150 Ext. 114.

Montgomery Gentry to Kick Off Summer Series

Montgomery Gentry will kick off the summer concert series at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre Friday, May 29.

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry make up the country duo who have had more than 20 charted singles and hit the top of the charts three times, with "If You Ever Stop Loving Me," "Something To Be Proud Of" and "Lucky Man."

The show begins at 8 p.m. and ticket prices range from $20 to $49.75. Tables in front of the stage that seat four are available for $300.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, call (770) 819-7765, visit the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre box office in the Cobb Civic Center or visit mablehouse.org.

Commission to Hold Public Hearings on Proposed Tax Increase

The Gwinnett County Commission today announced plans to conduct a series of public hearings on a proposed increase in the county’s property taxes.

The public hearings will be held at 4:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. on May 26 and at 10:30 a.m. on June 2 in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center (GJAC) at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. Citizens are also encouraged to attend public information forums that will be conducted one hour before each hearing. The commission is expected to act on the proposal following the final public hearing on June 2.

The commission’s consideration of the tax increase follows its adoption earlier this year of a $1.7 billion 2009 budget that reflected needed increased staffing in the county’s police, fire and emergency services departments, efficiency in government service and long-term financial stability. Over the past 12 years, the Board of Commissioners has rolled back property taxes by a total of 3.98 mills. The rollback was possible in part because the county’s rapid growth generated sufficient tax revenues to cover the cost of expanding service needs. In recent years, however, the county’s growth rate has begun to slow.

“We are undergoing a natural and unavoidable transition from high growth to maturity, and that change holds implications both for the services we provide and the way we pay for them,” said County Administrator Jock Connell. “We have been projecting for several years that 2009 would be the year when service demands would exceed revenues produced by natural growth in our tax digest. I should add that the current economic situation compounds our challenges, but it is not a primary cause.”

The County’s situation is complicated by the fact that the Service Delivery Strategy negotiations with Gwinnett County’s 15 municipalities will require the county to dramatically alter its millage rate and accounting structures. The new rate structure will add four new service districts in order to segregate funding for municipal and unincorporated EMS, fire and police services. The 2009 tax structure will decrease the general fund levy, but an increase in the recreation levy, coupled with the new funds, will result in a 2.87 – 3.31 mill increase depending on where in the county a property is located.

“We recognize that the increase is significant and that it comes at a difficult time economically,” said Connell. “But we would also point out that even with this proposed increase, the owner of an average $200,000 home in Gwinnett County would be paying about $2.50 a day for the full array of county government services, including police, fire and EMS protection; transportation; parks and recreation; libraries; the sheriff’s department and county courts; and health and human services.”

The millage increase to be decided on June 2 applies only to the county government’s portion of the property tax bill, which is slightly less than one-third of the total bill. The remaining two-thirds of the bill that funds Gwinnett County Public Schools will be unaffected by the proposed increase.

At each of the public hearings, Gwinnett County citizens will be given an opportunity to express their views about the proposed tax increase.

UGA Alumni Association to Launch 100 Top Bulldog Businesses

The University of Georgia Alumni Association is collecting nominations for 100 Best Bulldog Businesses, a new program created to spotlight fast-growing companies owned or operated by UGA alumni.

The top 100 businesses will be revealed at the program’s inaugural event Jan. 30 in Atlanta. Nominations are being taken now through Sept. 30. For information on entering a business, see

www.uga.edu/alumni/100bbb.

To be considered in the program, an organization must have been in business for five years, have revenues of $100,000 or more for the last calendar year, and be owned or operated by a former UGA student. The program will recognize the fastest-growing businesses regardless of size by focusing on a three-year growth rate average.

The Atlanta CPA firm Gifford, Hillegass and Ingwersen LLC is a charter sponsor and will interview the nominated businesses. For other sponsorship availabilities, contact Atlanta Alumni Center Director Meredith Carr at (404) 266-2622 or

mcarr@uga.edu.

For other information about the UGA Alumni Association, including how to join, call (706) 542-2251 or see

www.uga.edu/alumni.

Woodstock High Teacher, Paraprofessional Charged with Abusing Student

Police arrested a Cherokee County high school teacher and her paraprofessional Monday for allegedly duct taping a special education student to a chair.

Authorities allege Woodstock High School teacher Laurie Peavy and her paraprofessional, Nancy Cheek, duct taped a special education student to a chair in 2008. During the investigation, police report another allegation came out that Peavy subdued another student beneath a desk in the classroom.

Peavy, 44, was charged with two counts of false imprisonment and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree. Cheek, 49, meantime, was charged with one count of false imprisonment and one count of cruelty to children in the first degree.

The Gambler Comes to Cobb County June 20

Country singer Kenny Rogers will replace saxophonist Kenny G. for a June 20 concert at the Mable House Amphitheatre. Kenny G. cancelled because of a scheduling conflict.

Instead, Rogers will be performing with the Cobb Symphony Orchestra on that date. Those who want refunds can call (770) 819-7765 or get details at the Web site mablehouse.org.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, call (770) 819-7765 or visit the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre box office in the Cobb Civic Center.

UGA Creating Strategic Plan for Next Decade

The University of Georgia has embarked on a long-range planning exercise to envision what it might look like in the year 2020.

As part of its decennial reaccreditation process, the university has formed a strategic planning committee to determine top institutional goals and priorities for the next 10 years and recommend ways to achieve them. The committee’s report will help guide decisions on academics and research, public service and outreach, student recruitment, resource allocation, physical growth and UGA’s leadership role in Georgia and the nation in the second decade of the 21st century.

UGA must create a new strategic plan every 10 years as part of seeking renewal of its accreditation by its chief accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. SACS accreditation was last renewed in 2000 and UGA will seek reaccreditation in 2010.

Arnett Mace Jr., senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, appointed the 30-member strategic planning committee and named William Vencill, professor of crop and soil sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, as chair. Vencill is working in Mace’s office this year in an administrative fellowship program.

Rob Hoyt, head of the department of insurance, legal studies and real estate in the Terry College of Business, is vice chair.

The committee already has begun seeking input for the plan with a survey distributed to faculty this month, Vencill said. Committee members will meet over the summer to begin broadly outlining the plan, and will hold a series of forums in fall semester to gather additional ideas from faculty, staff and students. Suggestions also can be made on a strategic planning Web site that will include minutes of committee meetings and documents and materials the committee is using.

“We want to be as transparent as possible and to get as much input as possible from faculty, staff and students,” Vencill said. “We want everybody to have a chance to participate.”

The committee will refine the plan early in 2010 and submit it to the University Council Strategic Planning Committee next spring with a goal of having a final plan approved by September 2010, the SACS deadline, Vencill said.

UGA’s current strategic plan, adopted in 2000, centers on three major themes—building the new learning environment, maximizing research opportunities and competing in a global economy. Vencill said it’s too early to know exactly what direction the new plan will take but he expects it will focus on the same broad areas as the current plan, perhaps adding some refinements and a few new initiatives.

The plan will likely maintain an emphasis on enhancing undergraduate education, Vencill said. It will probably also call for increasing graduate student enrollment, expanding research, strengthening public service and outreach, extending campus environmental and sustainability efforts and bolstering the university’s role in Georgia’s economic growth.

One area likely to get greater attention in the new plan is UGA’s growing leadership in medical research and education—a role barely mentioned in the 2000 plan. “A lot of exciting things have happened here in the last 10 years in public health and our partnership with the Medical College of Georgia to train new physicians,” Vencill said. “We want to emphasize UGA’s relevancy to the state in meeting health needs.”

While the new plan should reflect the university’s hopes and aspirations, Vencill said, the committee is working under some constraints. “We understand the budgetary, economic and political climate and we know this must be a realistic plan,” he said. “It can’t be top-down from the administration, or bottom-up from the faculty and staff. We have to meet somewhere in the middle.”

Gov. Perdue Signs $18.6B Fiscal Year 2010 Budget

Gov. Sonny Perdue announced that House Bill 119, the state’s FY 2010 budget, has been signed into law. The FY10 budget year begins July 1, 2009.

The $18.6 billion FY10 budget is $2.5 billion less than the original FY 09 budget passed during the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Gov. Perdue began reducing agency spending in the FY09 budget last summer, and submitted significant budget cuts in both the Amended FY09 and FY10 budgets to the legislature in January. The Governor revised the revenue estimate during the session, accounting for further reductions in tax collections and the availability of stimulus funding in certain state programs.

The FY10 budget includes $23 million for trauma funding, the first consistent funding of state’s trauma network approved. Increased fines on dangerous driving behaviors will finance the first sustainable source of funds for trauma in the state budget. Major reforms of state government passed this year, including the transformation of the Department of Human Resources, the creation of an Aviation Authority, and the first major alteration to the way that the Department of Transportation does business in decades – all are revenue neutral and will result in better service for taxpayers.

The Governor also signed 13 bills this year that either extend current tax exemptions or provide additional tax savings to citizens and businesses in Georgia. Many of these bills were already evaluated and calculated into the FY2010 revenue estimate.

Gov. Perdue also issued three line-item vetoes and 12 agency directives to ignore intent language included in the budget. The budget is an appropriations act, not general law, and therefore intent language is non-binding. As the language is non-binding, the Governor may authorize agencies to utilize funds subject to non-binding intent language in accordance with the overall purpose of the appropriation and within their general law authority. Vetoed items and messages regarding non-binding information language to disregard are included below.

Military Appreciation Luncheon Set for Monday

The Atlanta Regional Military Affairs Council is hosting its 58th annual Military Appreciation Luncheon on Monday, May 18, at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta.

Military personnel based in the metro Atlanta area will join business leaders for the event which includes lunch and special guest speaker Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, Jr., Chief of Air Forces Reserve. Tickets are $40 per person and $400 for a table of 10.

Tickets are available by calling the Cobb Chamber of Commerce at (770) 980-2000 or visiting cobbchamber.org.

Zinkhan's Body Claimed; Murder Suspect to be Cremated

The family of murder suspect and former University of Georgia professor George Zinkhan, who police say gunned down three people late last month, claimed his body today. Zinkhan was discovered dead of a self inflicted gun shot wound on May 9.

Zinkhan, whose body had been housed at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation medical examiner's office in Decatur since his discovery, will reportedly be cremated.

Zinkhan is accused of killing his wife, Marie Bruce, Tom Tanner and Ben Teague back on April 25 not far from the UGA campus. Zinkhan and Bruce were reportedly in the middle of a divorce at the time of the shootings.

General Mills to Locate New Distribution Center in Social Circle

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue announced this week that global food company General Mills plans to locate a new distribution center in Social Circle, investing $42 million and creating 112 jobs.

General Mills will contract with a third-party logistics provider to staff and run the 1.5 million-square-foot distribution center, which will be located along Hightower Road in Walton County. The facility will distribute the General Mills family of products throughout the Southeast.

The distribution center will be built to meet LEED certification, an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building or community performs across the following metrics: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. This will make it one of the largest buildings in the country to meet LEED certification standards.

General Mills has been an employer in Georgia since 1989, when the company opened a manufacturing facility in Covington. Gov. Perdue visited the General Mills facility in Covington in September 2008 to recognize the plant’s reduction in water usage after the company installed a $6 million treatment plant that trimmed the plant’s water usage by an average of 46 percent – or about 5.3 million gallons per month, enough to supply about 1,000 homes.

For the new distribution center, the company will use the services of the Georgia Department of Labor to solicit applications and Georgia Quick Start to train employees. Permanent job hiring will not occur until early 2010.

Special Education Expert, Consultant Highlight June Event

University of Illinois special education professor Lisa Monda-Amaya and educational consultant Ron Walker will be the keynote speakers at the first Communication Sciences and Special Education Summer Institute June 8-9 at the University of Georgia.

Nearly 200 early interventionists, speech-language pathologists and special educators from around the state are expected to focus on topics such as intervention and treatment skills, working with children and families of diverse backgrounds and collaboration.

“By connecting research and practice, this inaugural event will provide cutting edge information pertinent to an interdisciplinary audience of professionals interested in individuals (ages birth through school-age) with developmental disabilities and special needs,” said Laura Clark, project coordinator for UGA’s SPECTRUM (Special Education Training and Mentoring on the Web) program.The conference’s break-out sessions include topics such as Strengthening Partnerships: Effective Collaboration and Co-teaching; Stimulating Language in Bilingual Infants and Toddlers; The New Wave: What Special Educators Need to Know about the Law; and Teaching the Many, While Disciplining the Few.

Monda-Amaya, an expert in strategies to keep students with disabilities in the general classroom, has coordinated teacher preparation programs in the department of special education for nearly 18 of her 20 years at the University of Illinois and has published her research in journals such as Exceptional Children and Special Education.

She has been heavily involved in teacher preparation and certification activities at the state level and has worked to influence policy decisions in Illinois. She has served as an officer on the National Board of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children for four years and in the Illinois Teacher Education Division for 14 years.

Walker is president of Walker Educational Consulting Inc., which is the educational consultant for the National Professionals’ Consortium on Attention Deficit Disorders. Walker’s career in education spans three decades and began in the classroom where he taught at both elementary and secondary levels. He was an administrator at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, where he directed a program for college-bound learning disabled students; he was a middle school principal; and he directed both day and boarding programs for the DePaul School in Louisville, Ky. Walker has spent the last 15 years working with more than 700 school districts in more than 30 states, giving workshops, providing school consultation and speaking at conferences.

The two-day conference, a special College of Education Centennial event hosted by the department of communication sciences and special education, will be held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel.

Registration costs $275 and the deadline is June 1. For more information or to register, see

www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/conferences/2009/Jun/08/csse_summer.phtml.

UGA Education Professor Wins Pair of Awards

University of Georgia education professor Roger Hill was named the 2009 Technology Teacher Educator of the Year and received the Wilkinson Meritorious Service Award at the annual conference of the International Technology Education Association.

Hill, a professor and head of the College of Education’s department of workforce education, leadership and social foundations, is known for his research on technology education and work ethic. He is also an affiliate member of UGA’s faculty of engineering.

During the last five years, Hill has been the author of seven chapters in edited books, eight refereed publications in professional journals, nine published technical reports, 16 funded grant proposals, 38 presentations at international, national and state professional conferences and editor of one book.

He is past-president of the National Association of Industrial and Technical Teacher Educators, current co-chair of the Leadership Development Initiative by the Council on Technology Teacher Education and serves as senior personnel for the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education, a $10 million project funded by the National Science Foundation.

Hill was also the coordinator for the curriculum committee responsible for developing Georgia Performance Standards for Engineering and Technology Education and has served annually as a professional educator with the National Training Institute of the National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee since its creation in 1990.

In addition, Hill has served as a member and chair of the editorial boards for three professional journals including ITEA’s The Technology Educator. He has received 17 national and international recognitions for outstanding achievement from three independent professional associations, including ITEA and the Association for Career and Technical Education.

Before joining the UGA faculty in 1993, Hill taught at Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh, N.C., and was professor of technology education and coordinator of academic computing at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn.

The recognition came from the Council on Technology Teacher Education and the ITEA at the latter’s 71st annual conference last month in Louisville, Ky.

Chrysler to Close 15 Georgia Dealerships

With Chrysler eliminating nearly 800 of its dealerships nationwide, the metro Atlanta area and Georgia as a whole will be impacted.

Three metro Atlanta dealerships and 12 others across Georgia will lose their affiliation with the automaker.

Nalley Chrysler Jeep in Roswell and John Cullen Dodge and Southtowne Motors, both located in Newnan, are on Chrysler's list of dealers it is eliminating. A number of dealerships will remain open, but sell other makes of vehicles.

The list also includes Premier Chrysler Jeep-Dodge in Decatur, but that dealership had already been closed.

The other Chrysler dealerships targeted across the state include:

-- Augusta Dodge in Augusta
-- Childre Chrysler Plymouth Dodge in Milledgeville
-- Courtesy Dodge in Dalton
-- DJ Mack Claxton Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Claxton
-- Duvall Chrysler Jeep in Clayton
-- Family Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Cleveland
-- Harry Lewis Chrysler Plymouth in Jackson
-- Justin Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Calhoun (already closed)
-- Savannah Dodge in Savannah
-- Thomaston Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Jeep in Thomaston

Initial Jobless Claims Grow 63.4% in April

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that 84,346 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits in April, an increase of 63.4 percent from April of 2008. By comparison, March’s year-over-year increase was 126.3 percent, continuing a trend of “triple-digit” monthly increases in 2009.

The metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of increase in claims from April 2008 to April 2009 are Gainesville, up 164.9 percent; Athens, up 143.2 percent; and Augusta, up 117.6 percent. The areas with the smallest increase in claims are Dalton, up 18.6 percent; Warner Robins, up 24.6 percent; and Macon, up 49.7 percent.

Most of the state initial claims were filed by laid-off workers in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and administrative and support services. And, the number of jobless workers receiving unemployment insurance benefits rose 107.8 percent over the year, from 80,830 in April of 2008 to 167,981 in April of 2009.

Also, in April, the GDOL processed 18,936 first-time claims for Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits, bringing the total to 180,933 since the federal program began in Georgia in July of 2008. Federal extended benefits are available to eligible jobless workers who have exhausted regular state unemployment compensation.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond urges all Georgians to watch the Georgia Department of Labor’s 15th annual televised job fair which will be broadcast statewide on Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) Sunday, May 17, from 2-4 p.m. The live broadcast, entitled Job Fair 2009 – Preparing For Recovery, will originate from Atlanta, Albany, and Macon. In addition to GPB’s nine station network of television stations, the broadcast will be simulcast over WALB-TV Channel 10 in Albany and WMAZ-TV Channel 13 in Macon.