Coweta Co. Gets Jobs and Investment Infusion

The opening of a high-tech distribution center in west Georgia’s Coweta County this spring will bring the area an infusion of around 100 jobs. D-and-H Distributing is a computer products and consumer electronics company that announced plans this week to build a $40-million facility in Newnan. The Pennsylvania-based company says the distribution center will serve customers in the Southeast and areas of the Midwest.

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.

FBI arrest on alleged subprime scam

The Columbus office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday that they arrested a Newnan resident on "Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud" charges, stemming from a possible subprime mortgage scheme.

Robert S. Ligon, 45, was taken into custody at the federal courthouse in Columbus, according to a statement released by the bureau. A warrant for his arrest had been issued on a 27-count indictment by a Macon grand jury.

Ligon and others allegedly provided "false, fraudulent and misleading information in residential loan applications," for over $2,000,000 in loans handled by the Mortgage America Corporation in 2002 and 2003, the statement said.

The indictment alleges that many of these loans foreclosed, losing about $300,000.

Ligon was released on $25,000 bond, and faces a maximum 30-year sentence per count.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the subprime mortgage crisis.

Low water levels = great kayaking

Wet and wild on the 'Hooch: Kayakers paddle towards the rapids on Monday, Oct. 1, 5 PM.
(Dave Bender)


Same spot on the 'Hooch, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 12 AM. (Dave Bender)

The Chattahoochee River and other Georgia bodies of water have hard hit by the drought. Officials warn, for example, that Lake Lanier is at it's lowest point in 20-years.

But while the deepening drought and low water levels along the Chattahoochee have been bad news for most water sports, it's been good news for kayakers at Eagle Phenix Dam in Columbus.

On many afternoons, soon after Georgia Power opens the floodgates upstream, wet-suited enthusiasts can be seen deftly flipping and bobbling around the rocky shoals, which are only visible in drought conditions.

Kayaker Zach Sanders, of Auburn, Alabama told GPB News the daily rapids here are the best he's seen:

“I've paddled, you know, all over the southeast, and this is as good or better than any spot I've been to, here in Columbus.”

But in the hours just before the deluge? You can just about walk from bank-to-bank, and barely get your feet wet.

On September 28, 2007, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declared a Level Four Drought schedule across the northern third of Georgia (.PDF file download).

United States Geological Service real-time drought statistics are available here.

Click here for more GPB coverage of the water crisis.

Record heat continues across the state

Georgians can expect another day of record high temperatures today, after record-marks were set on Thursday. Augusta was the hottest spot in the state yesterday, posting a mark of 106 degrees. Record-highs in triple digits were posted as well in Athens, Macon, and Atlanta.

For today, parts of central and southeast Georgia are under an extreme heat warning. There is the heat advisory elsewhere, except for the mountains. High temperatures forecast today are expected between 100-105. except for 90's in the mountains and along the coast.

Georgia Power says about five-thousand customers in the metro Atlanta area lost power. Officials say increased demand caused some transformers to burn-out. A bulk of the customers were based south of Atlanta-—near Jonesboro, Fayette County and near Newnan.