Plant shutters doors to keep afloat

The recession is hitting a south Georgia wood paneling manufacturer. Norbord Inc. in Cordele says it's shuttering operations for three weeks to help slow production. The factory began its shut down Monday. It will begin production again Jan. 5. A spokesperson says none of the plant's 200 employees will lose their jobs once it reopens.

(Associated Press)

Hunter nabs largest 'gator ever caught in Ga.

A west Georgia hunter has wrestled his way into the state's hunting record books.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials say Shane Wilson of Cataula near Columbus caught a 13-foot, 680-pound alligator last month while hunting in the Flint River near Cordele. State officials have confirmed the reptile as the largest alligator ever caught in Georgia.

Each year, the state awards alligator hunting permits by lottery for the season which began Sept. 6 and ended last weekend. Each hunter is allowed to take one alligator per season, and the reptile must be at least 4 feet long.

Wilson says he plans to mount the alligator's head on the wall at his house, according to the Cordele Dispatch.

(The Associated Press)

Final: GHSA State Football 1A Championship

Emanuel County Institute 41 Wilcox County 21 (played in Cordele)

ECI won the Class A football title Friday night, the school's first championship in any sport in GHSA competition.

ECI set the tone early with scores on its first 3 possessions. It was another big evening for talented ECI running back Washaun Ealey. The junior ran for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ealey finishes the 2007 season with 2,971 yards and a state-record 58 touchdowns.

The matchup was the first championship game appearance for both schools. The game was played on the campus of Crisp County High in Cordele, in order to handle the overflow crowd. Wilcox County was the host school, and had received permission to move the contest to a bigger venue by outselling their own stadium's capacity by 3-thousand tickets.

South Georgia plant to cut jobs

A south Georgia manufacturer is cutting 100 jobs. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports Lasco Bathware is suspending production at its Cordele plant northeast of Albany. Lasco produces bath fixtures. The company says it will continue to use the facility as a distribution center, keeping about 50 workers.