4th Georgia bank fails

As the nation's recession continues, another Georgia bank has failed. The First Georgia Community Bank in Jackson becomes the fourth bank in the state seized by federal and state regulators this year. It's the 23rd in the nation. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Friday it entered a purchase and assumption agreement with Zebulon-based United Bank. Under the deal, United Bank which will take over First Georgia's deposits of $197.4 million. First Georgia has branch banks in Jackson, Covington, Griffin and Locust Grove, all of which become United Bank branches. The agency says depositors of First Georgia Community will continue to have full access to their deposits.

(Associated Press)

Perdue shines conservation light on Covington plant

In the face of the state’s historic drought, Governor Sonny Perdue was in Newton County Wednesday to shine a light on a food production plant’s water conservation efforts.

Perdue lauded a General Mills plant in Covington and its state-of-the-art water treatment facility. Company officials say since coming on-line two years ago, the system has cut the plant’s water costs in half by recycling water. They say the system has saved 100-million gallons of water so far.

Perdue says those savings can grow the surrounding area:

"It means that the cap-the permitting capacity of water treatment that this community was under, will be able to be utilized for more people who want to come here, and to grow the community economically, grow it from a talent perspective and grow it from a employee perspective".

Perdue says north Georgia needs to keep saving water to boost the region’s largest reservoirs.

Last month, Lake Lanier got some help from Mother Nature--rain from Tropical Storm Fay help raise Lanier by almost 2-and-a-half feet.

FBI nabs reputed 'Grandpa Bandit'

Phillips (Access N. Georgia.com)

Authorities say they have arrested the so-called "Grandpa Bandit," a man in his mid-60s who is suspected in seven bank heists in Georgia and Tennessee.

The FBI says Bobby Joe Phillips was arrested Saturday morning without incident by a police officer in the central Georgia town of Perry.

Authorities say Phillips is suspected of robbing banks in the Georgia cities of Covington, Suwanee and Warner Robins. He's also accused of robbing two banks in Knoxville, Tenn., two times each.

FBI Special Agent Gary Kidder has said the case is unusual because of Phillips' age - and because he makes no effort to disguise himself during the robberies.

(The Associated Press)