Georgia Looks To Land Police Car Plant

Georgia is one of five states competing to land a plant that would make state-of-the-art police cars.

The company, Carbon Motors, touts its cruiser as the first car specifically designed for police fleets.

Lieutenant Paul Cosper with the Georgia State Patrol says he likes what he saw from a demonstration model, including better gas mileage and running on bio-diesel:

"It’s integrated with all the components we have in our cars now, but it comes with that—the radar, the video, the lights are all integrated in it. It’s a unique concept, but we’ve not purchased any."

Right now, cars in the Patrol’s fleet--Crown Victorias and Dodge Chargers--are retro-fitted with law enforcement gadgets.

Carbon Motors now needs a home to build its concept-car. It’s considering a site in Georgia’s Hall County along with sites in South Carolina, North Carolina, Michigan, and Indiana. Company officials say the manufacturing plant would bring 1,500 jobs.

Carbon expects to decide on a site later this summer.

New Reservoir Moves Forward

Officials report progress in Washington on obtaining a federal permit for a proposed 805-acre reservoir in north Hall County. The county bought 805 acres of the 7,000-acre Glade Woodland Farms property in Northeast Hall seven years ago with plans for a reservoir. The design called for using Lake Lanier as a conduit to transport the water to Gainesville's water intakes. Undersecretary of the Army John Paul Woodley met Tuesday with Georgia officials working on the project for years. Woodley says he and his staff agreed with the request to move ahead with the project. The county can apply for a Corps of Engineers permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

(Associated Press)

Health officials: rabies cases up 60% in '08

The Georgia Veterinary Medical Association says two hundred and fifteen animals were reported with the disease in the first half of this year. That’s up from one hundred and thirty four cases in 2007.

But officials aren’t sure if the rise is from greater outbreaks of the disease, or better reporting.

Dr. Dana Cole is a GVMA member and a Georgia Division of Public Health veterinarian:

"We have seen the number of rabid animals reported to the Georgia Division of Public Health undergo a cycle, but this year is already worse than last."

Cole says rabies cases in Hall County in northern Georgia tripled this year, and says that raccoons and skunks figure high on the reports:

"They tend to come from the northern part of the state. That’s partly a function of population because it’s less rural so there’s more opportunities to contact wildlife, and also because of the natural habitat there."

Health officials add that the number of positive cases has fluctuated between 200 to 500 annually.

While stockpiles of human rabies vaccine are low, the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta says more vaccine should be available by October, according to a GVMA statement.

Officials call on the public to vaccinate pets and livestock, avoid contact with wild animals and get medical attention immediately after exposure to or being bitten by any unfamiliar animal.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of rabies outbreaks in Georgia.

Tornado damage in northeast Georgia

Apparent tornadoes caused damage in Hall and Jackson counties Tuesday afternoon. Officials in Hall say two elementary schools sustained roof damage, but no injuries were reported. In nearby Jackson County, high winds damaged about 40 mobile homes in the city of Commerce--two people were injured there.

20th rabies case in north Georgia county

A north Georgia county is counting its 20th rabies case this year. Hall County reports a raccoon is the 20th case. Animal Control there is urging residents to report animals behaving abnormally. And pets should be vaccinated for rabies.

Georgia man--oldest U.S. bowler--passes away

A Georgia man who became the oldest league bowler in U.S. history has died. Bill Hargrove of Clermont in Hall County passed away this week of congestive heart failure, only 4 days away from his 107th birthday. In May of last year, after he turned 106 years old, Hargrove was honored by the United States Bowling Congress as the oldest league bowler ever. Hargrove passed the record of a Florida man 105 years old and a certified bowler until his death 15 years ago. Hargrove was a native of Eatonton.

Hall Co. fire leaves one dead

An early-morning fire at a subdivision in Hall County has left one person dead and four houses damaged. The fire began around 3:30 AM Tuesday in the Madison Creek subdivision near Flowery Branch. Officials say it’s too early to say what caused the fire.

Statutory rapist loses custody challenge

Today a woman who went to jail for having sex with a 15-year-old boy lost a court battle over custody of their baby. The judge denied Lisa Lynette Clark’s request to remove their 15-month-old from the boy’s foster family. Clark spent nine months in jail last year after pleading guilty in Hall County to statutory rape. She was then sentenced to two more years in prison for helping her teenage husband to leave the state in February 2006.

DOT hearing on project in northeast Georgia

The state Department of Transportation held a public hearing yesterday on their proposal to widen 'Georgia 53' in northeast Georgia. The plan calls for widening a six-mile stretch of road to four lanes--from 'Georgia 211' in Hall County to Interstate-85 in Braselton in Jackson county. Construction costs are estimated at over 27-million dollars.

DOT-officials say the project is needed to alleviate growing traffic. The road passes the site of a planned hospital and medical center, residential subdivisions, and Road Atlanta.

English labs for north Georgia immigrants

A Northeast Georgia school system is addressing a growing Hispanic population by creating English language labs. Access North Georgia.com reports that Hall County will use a $2.6 million-dollar loan to create labs at two middle schools and three elementary schools. Students from other county schools will have access to the labs as well. According to the latest U.S. Census figures, Hall County has one of Georgia’s largest concentrations of Hispanics, or 25% of the county. Officials say the English labs in Hall County will be ready for the start of school in August.

North Georgia to get new hospital

A new hospital is coming to North Georgia. The Athens Banner-Herald reports that the state has approved a 100-bed hospital for south Hall County. Gainesville-based Northeast Georgia Health System will build the facility off Thompson Mill Road near Georgia Highway 211. It’s a fast-growing area that borders Barrow, Jackson and Gwinnett counties. At first, the hospital will offer emergency, diagnostic and surgical service. It doesn’t plan on offering labor and delivery, or open-heart surgery initially. However, the hospital says obstetrics could be added as the new hospital campus grows.