World's Second-Oldest Person Dies

The world's second-oldest person has died on the Georgia coast. The Guinness Book of World Records lists Beatrice Farve of Brunswick as the world's second-oldest person at 113 years old. Her family says she died Monday. Farve was born Beatrice Scarlett in Camden County, Ga. Her family says she sold beauty products until she was 100.

(Associated Press)

Georgia sports roundup--Monday, Dec. 15th

NFL/Atlanta Falcons--

The Falcons scored a key victory and remain firmly in the thick of the chase for a NFL postseason spot. On Sunday inside the Georgia Dome, the Falcons beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13-10 in overtime. With the win, Atlanta improved their record to 9-5 with 2 games remaining on the regular season schedule. Jason Elam's 34-yard field goal was the difference in OT. For the afternoon, running back Michael Turner had another strong effort with 152 rushing yards. Defensive end John Abraham stoked the Atlanta defense with 3 sacks. The Falcons next week travel to Minnesota.

High School football championships--

Georgia's high school football season ended over the weekend with the five class championship games played inside the Georgia Dome. The winners:

Class 5A: Camden County--defeated Peachtree Ridge 21-14
Class 4A: Tucker--scored the win over Marist 15-3
Class 3A: Cairo--the turnback of Flowery Branch 28-14
Class 2A: Buford--defeated Calhoun 45-21
Class A: Wesleyan--the victory over Emmanuel County Institute 33-21

Budget cutbacks close Atlanta firestation

Atlanta residents are feeling the pinch of municipal cutbacks that stir concerns about fire and police protection.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran has announced plans to close Fire Station 23, located on Howell Mill Road near I-75, and will shut down a firetruck stationed near Candler Park starting Christmas Day.

At a public meeting, Berkeley Park Neighborhood Association president Michael Wagoner says closing Fire Station 23 is unacceptable.

Meanwhile, nearly all departments at City Hall now are closed on Fridays as Atlanta tries to save money to close a projected budget shortfall of at least $50 million. Sales taxes, building permit fees and other city revenues are down by nearly 13 percent so far this budget year.

Mayor Shirley Franklin has made four rounds of layoffs since May.

In related budget cutbacks statewide, Camden County Sheriff-elect Tommy Gregory has sent notices to 27 employees in the department telling them they no longer will have jobs on January 4th. Gregory says there were initially 45 employees on the list he considered firing.

The departures will include most of the command staff.

(AP)

Click here for more GPB News coverage about the economic downturn in Georgia.

Jailbreak in southeastern county

Two brothers are on the loose after escaping from a southeast Georgia jail. Nineteen-year-old Justin Kyle McIlrath and 22-year-old Matthew Robert McIlrath escaped from the Camden County Sheriff's Office substation at Saint Marys on Saturday. Police say the men cut through a fence using bolt cutters shortly after the last head count. Both men are charged with burglary and criminal interference with government property.

Furloughs for entire sheriff's staff

State budget cuts mean an unpaid week off for workers at a coastal Georgia sheriff's department. Camden County Sheriff Bill Smith is ordering all of his 130 employees to take the furloughs. That includes deputies and jailers. Camden County voters have called for a new sheriff to replace Smith. Tommy Gregory will take office in January.

(Associated Press)

Friday school closings

Southeast Georgia counties are preparing for bad weather from Tropical Storm Fay. Today McIntosh and Camden counties closed schools. Lowndes County Schools and Valdosta City Schools will be closed tomorrow due to weather conditions. The LHS football scrimmage scheduled for 7:00 Friday evening against Thomas County Central is rescheduled for Saturday at 6:00 pending weather. LHS Summer Graduation for Saturday morning has been canceled.

'Fay' closes two SE Ga school systems

Schools in Camden and McIntosh counties were closed Thursday, ahead of expected heavy rains and wind in southeast Georgia. Tropical Storm Fay continues to threaten Georgia's entire 100-mile coastline--a flood watch is in effect for counties in southeast Georgia through late Friday. Current predictions are for 3-6 inches of rain. The storm could also bring strong winds, causing localized flooding and power outages. As of Thursday morning, Fay was nearly stationary in the Atlantic off Florida's coast near Daytona. Forecasters expect the storm to eventually move west-northwest during the day.

Camden County sheriff sued

Camden County’s sheriff is being sued by county commissioners—-at issue is confiscated drug money that he refused to give control to, and which commissioners say he spent unlawfully. A civil petition has been filed against Sheriff Bill Smith, asking for an order to transfer complete control over all seized asset accounts to commissioners. The petition is also asking for an order to prevent Smith from spending any money from the accounts. Money in the accounts totaled 1.6 million dollars last year. The sheriff has 30 days to respond in court.

New veterans clinics to open

Two new VA clinics are coming to Georgia.

Veterans can expect an outpatient clinic to open this year in Stockbridge in Henry County south of Atlanta, and in Camden County south of Brunswick.

With the new clinics Georgia will have nine VA outpatient clinics around the state.

A 10th is expected to open in Rome later this year.