Rep. Harbin's DUI arraignment delayed

The arraignment of a powerful state legislator on a DUI charge from last year has been delayed again, and the fact that he's a lawmaker is the reason.

Representative Ben Harbin (R-Evans) was scheduled for an arraignment in Atlanta Municipal Court this week.

But Robert Highsmith, Jr., Harbin's attorney, says a statute requires courts to continue cases involving legislators -- whether they be defendants or witnesses --if they're needed for legislative business.

The continuance happens as the legislature prepares to go into session next week.

His attorney says it's the fourth or fifth delay since May, when Harbin was arrested on the charge in Atlanta.

Harbin is chair of the House appropriations committee.

For more information about the statute, go to www.lexis-nexis.com/hottopics/gacode/default.asp. The statute number is 17-8-26.

Hundreds of students sickened by virus in Evans

Most of the students sick with stomach flu at a Columbia County school have returned to classes today. Only 80 students were absent from Lewiston Elementary School in Evans today. School officials say 345 students, about half of the student population there, were absent on Friday. Most of the students had the norovirus. Some parents had checked their children out of school as a precautionary measure. The bug typically causes nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and lasts one or two days. It is highly contagious. School officials say they've shown students a video about proper handwashing, and have cleaned classrooms and multiuse areas.

U.S. Rep. Broun opens Augusta/Evans office

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Georgia) opened a district office in Evans on Monday.

The office will serve constituents in Columbia, Richmond, McDuffie, Wilkes, Lincoln and Elbert counties.

The office is located at 4246 Washington Road, Suite 6, in Evans. The phone number there is 706-447-3857.

Broun will host a grand opening at another district office in Athens from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

That office will serve constituents in Clarke, Oconee, Jackson, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Greene, Morgan and Madison counties.

It is located at 3706 Atlanta Highway, Suite 3B in Athens. The phone number there is 706-549-9588.

Broun represents Georgia's 10th Congressional District. He took office in July, after a special election to replace U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, who died in February. Broun is up for re-election next year.

High school wraps up investigation of athletic programs

A high school in the eastern Georgia town of Evans has wrapped up an investigation of its athletics program.

The investigation at Greenbrier High School comes after questions about whether the football team may have had several ineligible players this year. Ed Williams, an assistant principal at Greenbrier, said administrators planned to send their report to the Georgia High School Association on Tuesday afternoon.

The investigation follows allegations that the school failed to send academic and medical records of several football players to the GHSA. The records determine whether a team member is eligible to play.

School officials won't confirm how many players were in question, but several news reports have indicated that number may be as high as 13.

The team has already voluntarily forfeited two of this year's games. That's because school officials determined that a player that was academically ineligible had played in those games, said Williams.

Administrators investigated all fall and winter sports.

They declined to comment on their findings.

The GHSA will now review the investigation and determine whether punitive measures will be taken against Greenbrier.

The school's athletic director has stepped down, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The team had a 5-5 record this season. The two forfeits put them at 3-7.