Kia supplier to build west Georgia facility

Governor Sonny Perdue announced Tuesday that a main supplier to automaker Kia will locate a new facility in west Georgia. Milwaukee-based ‘Johnson Controls’ will establish a 130-thousand square foot facility in Harris County, and expects to create over 300 jobs. The company will make complete seat systems and door panels for Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. Construction on the Kia-plant is expected to be complete by early 2009.

Dope bust may lead to trafficking ring

Federal and state authorities say they have uncovered a drug smuggling route into western Georgia.

Officials seized 140 pounds of marijuana, 70 thousand dollars in cash, guns and several vehicles at an empty house in Harris County Tuesday. The drugs were packed and ready for shipment.

The Columbus Metro Narcotics Task Force and the Harris County Sheriff's Department say the raid is part of a long-term operation.

Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley says the find indicates a cross-border drug route:

“We believe the drugs were brought in through a traffic route from the Mexico – Texas area. So DEA is in the process of doing follow-up investigative activity.”

Authorities have put out a warrant for a convicted felon in connection to the case. They believe he is part of a larger drug trafficking ring throughout the southeast.

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'To Catch a Predator' suspect on trial

A Tifton resident will begin his trial in Dalton today on charges stemming from his arrest in the 2006 "To Catch A Predator" child sex sting operation.

Marvin Harrison Smith, 36, is accused of traveling to a residence in Fortson in order to have sex with an underage girl. He is one of 19 men arrested in the week-long sting in July, 2006.

The girl Smith contacted was a decoy who was working with law-enforcement authorities and the Perverted Justice organization.

Smith is charged with attempted child molestation, attempted enticing a child for indecent purposes and obstructing or hindering law enforcement officers, according to the Ledger-Enquirer newspaper.

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'To Catch a Predator' trial begins

The trial of an Albany man, arrested for attempted child molestation in the "To Catch A Predator,' television program, begins today in Jones County.

Jury selection in Gray, the County Seat, is the first step in the trial of 25-year-old Raymundo Anguiano. Police arrested him during the week-long operation in July of 2006.

Several Georgia residents are among the 20 men Harris County Sheriffs arrested at a decoy house in Fortson. They were caught on camera, allegedly expecting to meet with an underage woman whom they sought for sex, but who was, in fact, an online decoy.

The operation was filmed for NBC Television's Dateline program, and produced in cooperation with an online watchdog group, Perverted-Justice.

A Harris County judge ordered the venue changed to Jones County, citing pre-trail publicity about the case affecting jurors' judgment.

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Kia Motors denies AJC report

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A Kia Motors executive says the South Korean company plans to start up its first U.S. factory on schedule in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Kim Deuk-ju, the company's finance chief, told The Associated Press in Seoul that Kia can meets its initial target for the west Georgia plant.

Kia spoke after a report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper quoted industry observers as suggesting that the factory could be delayed, citing reasons including weak sales and overcapacity:

"While U.S. sales "haven't been a disaster, they certainly haven't been what the company wanted," a Singapore-based analyst who asked for anonymity said."

Bert Brantley, press secretary to Govenor Sonny Perdue said:

"'Work on the plant's foundation has started, suppliers are coming to town, construction permits are secure and the Quick Start training facility is underway..."

"The company has said it is aiming for completion in 2009, and every indication is that the first Georgia-made Kia will roll off the line on time, in 2009.'"

Kim dismissed the article, saying those quoted "have their own estimate," adding that construction has begun and is "on schedule."

The Kia facility is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles per year at maximum capacity.

Previous GPB News reports on this story are here.

(Associated Press)

School daze as lightning strikes hit facilities

Three Harris Co. schools sustained lightning strike damage since the start of the school year this week.

There were no injuries in the strikes, however, fire alarm and intercom systems at Carver Middle School, and Harris County High School, in Hamilton and the Mulberry Creek Elementary School were affected, according to a report in the Ledger-Enquirer newspaper.

5 Georgians dead in Pine Mt. plane crash (Updated)

Five Georgia residents, including two children, were killed when their twin-engine plane crashed Sunday afternoon in Harris County near Pine Mountain.

All five passengers aboard the Beechcraft Baron were pronounced dead at the scene at 5:30 p.m., Harris County Coroner Dan Colbert said.

Jessie Champion Jr. of Griffin, James Cox of Concord, Mark McCarthy of McDonough and his two 13-year-old sons were killed, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said. The children's names were not released.

Witnesses in Hamilton said they could hear the plane's engine sputtering when it flew over the city.

The wreckage of the plane, which went down in the southwest corner of the county was spread out over about a quarter of a mile, the coroner said.

The flight left Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores, Ala. Sunday afternoon.

The Federal Aviation Administration says no distress calls were received from the plane. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

(AP)