Murder at Central State Hospital

A patient at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville has been arrested and charged with the murder of a fellow patient. The suspected killer was in the mental facility awaiting trial for another murder, and after being booked on the latest murder charges, he's back at the hospital.
Thirty year-old Saleeban Adan allegedly murdered Christopher Yates. Yates' body was found Sunday night in his room. He died from strangulation and blunt force trauma.
The murder took place in the Cook Building. It's where the state houses criminal defendants who are also mentally ill. On the outside it looks like a prison, but on the inside it's more like a hospital according to the GBI's Marc Mansfield who is helping investigate the murder.

"They're at liberty to go and visit with the other clients that are being housed there. The rooms themselves are not locked at all times and so one client could go and you know, visit and see another client."

Police say this may be Saleeban's third murder, and at issue is why he is still being allowed such close contact with fellow patients.
Saleeban was sent to Central State three months ago for evaluation after being accused of killing his cellmate in the Dekalb County Jail. He was in that jail awaiting trial on separate murder charges.
In 2001 he was found incompetent to stand trial in that murder, but seven years later a state psychologist ruled him competent. Later on another psychologist reversed that decision.
Saleeban was booked into the Baldwin County Jail in Milledgeville and then returned to Central State Hospital.

Rheem Plant Closing

A Milledgeville plant is closing for good, leaving 12-hundred people without jobs.
Back in 2008 Rheem Manufacturing laid off hundreds at their Milledgeville facility. Last month the company called 700 of those employees back to work. Now, they've learned they will be out of work again by the end of the year.
The plant sits on 90 acres in Milledgeville. it opened more than thirty years ago. Employees there make equipment for the heating and cooling industry. Atlanta-based Rheem says business has plummeted in the last year.
The employees will be laid off in stages. Company representatives are meeting with union officials to work out a severance package. The plant will shut down by the end of the year.

1-K Jobs To Be Cut At Milledgeville Plant

Rheem Manufacturing says it will close its plant in Millegeville by year’s end, putting 1,200 people out of work. The layoffs will be in phases, beginning in May. Production of heating and cooling units will continue at Rheem plants in Arkansas and Mexico. These job cuts come as Georgia deals with record-high unemployment--currently a rate of 8.6 percent.

Carpet Plant in Milledgeville Closing

Shaw Industries has announced plans to shut down its carpet manufacturing operations in Milledgeville.

The company said in a statement Tuesday that 150 employees will lose their jobs.

Shaw said plant operations will cease in mid-February.

Al Scruggs, a company spokesman, blames the closing on a severe downturn in economic conditions, especially the housing industry.

He said affected workers will be offered retraining and unemployment benefits through the Georgia Department of Labor.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the economic slump.

(AP)

Help arrives for veterans

A coalition of churches and community partners will use donations to help relocate veterans being displaced by the shutdown of part of the Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville. The home's domiciliary unit is expected to close within days. The Displaced Veterans' Project Team has organized donations of food, furniture, appliances, linens and cookware. The home's director says there are about 10 veterans still being settled into homes.

(Associated Press)

Milledgeville City Council to consider compromise

A housing ordinance in Milledgeville in Middle Georgia is headed for a compromise.

The city restricts the number of unrelated people who can live together in a single-family home to three. But local college students often share houses.

The Milledgeville City Council is schedule to vote on an exception for the city's historic district, where students from Georgia College and State University and Georgia Military College live.

VA to open new outpatient clinics

The Department of Veteran Affairs plans to open four outpatients clinics in Newnan, Brunswick, Milledgeville and Hinesville.

U.S. Senators (R) Saxby Chambliss, and (R) Johnny Isakson, commented on the step, in a statement released by their offices:

“Our veterans deserve access to the very best medical care and services,” said Chambliss, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “The announcement of these new clinics is great news for veterans in our state who have served our nation with honor.”

“This is outstanding news that Georgia will receive four new VA clinics to deliver to our veterans the level of VA care they deserve,” Isakson said. “As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, one of my top priorities is to make sure America takes care of the veterans who have dedicated their lives to serving our country.”

VA officials say they expect to open the community-based centers over the next 12 months. There are 10 VA outpatient clinics operating in Georgia.

Click here for more information about Georgia VA facilities.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of veterans affairs.

Milledgeville jury convicts Baldwin County man

A jury in Milledgeville over the weekend found a Baldwin County man guilty of the murder of his wife and 15-year-old stepdaughter. 36-year-old Brian Duane Brookins faced 7 counts in the October 2006 murders. The state is seeking the death penalty in the sentencing phase.

Milledgeville murder trial begins today

The trial of a man charged with killing his estranged wife and teenage stepdaughter two years ago, is expected to start today in Milledgeville. 35-year-old Brian Duane Brookins was indicted last year for the October 2005 murders. The state is seeking the death penalty. Authorities say before the shootings, Brookins had been released from the Baldwin County jail after an arrest on theft charges. Jurors selected in Morgan County for the trial will be driven by van to Baldwin County for the proceedings, and sequestered for the length of the trial.

More Georgia communities go wireless

Many small Georgia cities are already going wireless, soon after the state announced public funding. So far the state has announced 5-million dollars is state money. The Georgia Technology Authority says the one-time grants help some areas of Georgia kick-start funding from Internet service providers who otherwise wouldn't invest. So far the cities of Augusta, Decatur, Dublin, Milledgeville and Thomasville have received the grants, as well as Gwinnett County.