Georgia pledges help for Hurricane Dean

Georgia is prepared to send National Guardsmen to Texas if Hurricane Dean hits that state. Dean is expected to move south of Texas toward Mexico, but Governor Sonny Perdue says that 40 guardsmen would deploy this week if the storm moves northward. Mr. Perdue also says he’s prepared to deploy Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters. Eight National Guardsmen are already in Austin, Texas helping with communications. Perdue says this is a chance for Georgia to help a nearby state, and to train soldiers responding to a big storm.

Iraq vet fired upon return home, files suit

A Georgia National Guardsman says he was fired from his job with a local police force in Cherokee County, because of time away serving on active duty. He's filed a federal lawsuit.

Michael Wells was away from his job as a sergeant with the Holly Springs police department for 18 months. His service with the National Guard included a year of combat in Iraq. Wells told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that while there, a bomb blast caused some hearing loss. When he returned last June, he had hoped for a promotion at his old job.

Wells in his lawsuit filed in U-S District Court in Atlanta, claims he was denied the necessary training for the position, passed over for the job, and pushed to retire. Wells was fired in April. He says it was without cause.

Wells was a nine-year veteran of the Holly Springs force--his suit is seeking back pay. In a statement, an attorney representing the city says they stand by their reasons for the firing.