NE Ga county drops firearms ordinance idea

A northeast Georgia county official will not re-submit a proposed firearms ordinance that would have prevented residents from firing a gun within 300 feet of a home. A recent meeting drew about 100 Madison County residents to protest the proposal. The county commissioner says he introduced the proposal after getting complaints of people firing guns close to their homes. Opponents backed by the National Rifle Association say the law violates the Second Amendment, and rights of property owners.

UGA football game closes some northeast Georgia schools

Some county school officials in the Athens-area have found a way this year, to address widespread teacher absences that occurred last year. Schools are closed in Clarke County, as well as nearby Madison and Oglethorpe counties today. The reason? The Georgia-Florida football game tomorrow.

Last year, 137 teachers called in to say they wouldn’t be in for class, and schools could not find enough replacements. Administrators found in a study that almost twice as many teachers called in the day before the big game, then on an average school day.

Little warning on plant closure

At least 80 workers won't get paychecks after their northeast Georgia wood products plant announced it's closing for a few weeks. The Athens Banner Herald reports Weyerhaeuser Company in Colbert in Madison County broke the news to employees yesterday. The company says a poor housing market is forcing the plant's closure for at least six weeks. Weyerhaeuser is Madison County's largest employer.

Local tax measures approved

A number of local tax measures were approved by voters yesterday.

Clayton County voted for a penny sales tax increase to help pay for new county facilities, including a juvenile justice center, police stations and libraries.

In Gwinnett County, voters approved a $750 million bond referendum to build more schools.

Metro Atlanta voters favored extending an existing sales tax to fund repairs to the city’s sewer system.

Forsyth County, voters approved a one percent sales tax for road improvements and property tax increase for more county parks.

Colquitt, Madison, Jones and Polk Counties all approved local sales tax measures for school funding and other projects.

Newton County voters granted senior citizens an additional exemption from school property taxes.

A Lumpkin County referendum to allow liquor-by-the-drink sales passed, while an effort to allow Sunday alcohol sales in Jackson County was rebuffed.

Authorities: Clerk stole more money

Madison County officials say a former clerk stole $30,000 from the probate court. They originally thought 23-year-old Cana Chambers pilfered $20,000. Madison’s Sheriff says deputies are investigating whether part of the missing money may be traffic fines paid to the court but never deposited into court accounts.

Murder charge 20 years after crime

Nearly 20 years after a northeast Georgia girl was smothered to death, a Tennessee woman is charged with her murder. A Madison County grand jury indicted Arlene Miller yesterday in the death of 3-year-old Kasi Sanders in Hull in 1988. Police say Miller incriminated herself in Sanders’ death while being asked about another murder, for which she is charged.