Old schools head to auction

Several old schools in east Georgia are going up for auction. Richmond County is finalizing details of the sale of 7 properties. Prospective buyers will be able to place bids on the school system's Web site.

(Associated Press)

Augusta educators to increase class size to cope with teacher shortage

Officials in eastern Georgia are struggling with more students per classroom in some schools.

School administrators in Augusta say budget cuts have caused a shortage of teachers. Because of that, they are seeking permission to expand class sizes in 62 elementary classrooms. It's a problem that school systems across the state have struggled with.

Barbara Pulliam is a school board member in Richmond County. She is also a retired teacher. She opposes efforts to increase class size:

"Small classes not only promote better learning. It eliminates discipline problems. Small classes [are] the answer to a lot of the problems that we're having."

School officials say their request is small: 62 out of 813 classrooms. The matter now goes before state education officials.

Richmond County Sheriff's Deputies

The sheriff of east Georgia's Richmond County doesn't want to lose his deputies to better-paying jobs. He's asking county commissioners to help fund a pay raise. It's an issue counties across Georgia grapple with. New sheriff's deputies in Richmond County often make just under $29,000 a year. That's less than most counties of a comparable size in Georgia. Terry Norris is a vice president of the Georgia Sheriff's Association. He says police officers across the state struggle to make ends meet. "Most of these officers must take on other additional special jobs in the law enforcement field just to feed their families," he said. Richmond County sheriff Ronald Strength says deputies are leaving for better pay at the state highway patrol and the Atlanta police department. He has asked county commissioners for $2.5 million dollars to increase pay. That money would mean a $4000 pay raise for all deputies.

Day care worker took girl's naked photo

An east Georgia day care worker has been arrested for allegedly having a picture of a naked 3-year-old in his wallet. Richmond County police say someone found 18-year-old Aaron Miller’s wallet at a store. They say the picture was of a student at the Hephzibah day center where he works. A sheriff's report says Miller admitted taking the picture about a year ago but says he did nothing else to the girl.

Norwood's widow gives 25-K for clinic

The widow of late Congressman Charlie Norwood is donating 25-thousand dollars from her husband's unused campaign funds for a clinic to serve Augusta's uninsured.

Gloria Norwood called Richmond County's Board of Health two weeks ago to offer the money to start the clinic. The gift is from her husband's general election account.

Terrence Cook is an Augusta physician and chairman of the Richmond County Board of Health. He says the idea for the clinic to serve the under- and uninsured came around the time of Norwood's re-election in the 10th district.

"This is something in the makings before Charlie became sick...after he became sick it was put to one side, but now we're going to resurrect that project with these funds".

Compared to neighboring counties, Cook says Richmond County has a particular need for such a clinic.

Volunteer doctors either retired or from the Medical College of Georgia will be asked to staff the clinic. Its projected start-up is the first of next year, if not sooner.

Federal Election Commission reports show that by the end of March, Norwood had 780-thousand dollars left in his campaign account.