Georgia Gazette Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Join host Rickey Bevington tonight for Georgia Gazette. On tonight's show … Can the Public Service Commission defy a 16 year election law? The debate continues today. More CRCT fallout… one senator wants to make it illegal to cheat. And we take you back to the day Six Flags over Georgia opened. These stories and more tonight on Georgia Gazette at 6, 7 in Athens, re-broadcast at 11, hear our show any time at www.gpb.org/georgiagazette, and download a free podcast on iTunes.

Sixth arrest in Six Flags beating

A sixth person has been arrested for beating a teenager two weeks ago outside a Georgia amusement park. 17-year-old Claude Morey the Third turned himself into Cobb County police yesterday. He faces several charged for allegedly being part of a group that beat 19-year-old Joshua Martin July 2nd outside of Six Flags amusement park near Austell. Police have said up to 25 people participated in or knew about the attack. The beating left the victim with traumatic brain injury.

More arrests in Six Flags beating

Four teenagers are now in police custody in the case of the severe beating of a teen outside Six Flags Amusement Park in Austell last week. Cobb County police made two more arrests Wednesday. The two teens were both charged with aggravated battery, battery, simple assault and violation of the Georgia Gang Act.

Authorities believe that as many as 25 people may have been involved as participants or witnesses.

Nineteen-year-old Joshua Martin remains in the hospital with serious head injuries. Of the four teens in custody, Six Flags officials say, three are seasonal employees at the park.

Third charged in Six Flags beating

A third suspect is behind bars accused of beating a teenager last week outside of Six Flags amusement park. Cobb County police say they picked up 17-year-old Willie Franklin of Riverdale. Franklin and two others are charged with beating 19-year-old Joshua Martin last Tuesday as he walked to a bus stop near Austell. Witnesses say at least 10 young males attacked Martin for no reason.

Two charged in Six Flags beating

Two teenagers are under arrest in connection with the beating of a teenager last week outside of Six Flags amusement park. Police have charged an 18-year-old employee of the Cobb County park and a 16-year-old with violating Georgia’s gangs act. The victim, 19-year-old Joshua Martin is still in the hospital with head injuries. Witnesses say a group of 10 or more young males jumped Martin for no reason as he was walking with two others to a bus stop. A $25,000 dollar reward is available to anyone with information leading to more arrests.

Free admission falters at Six Flags

A Georgia amusement park is in trouble with some angry parents and motorists. Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell promoted free admission today … but had to close its doors at 6 am because it was at capacity with 74-hundred people already inside. The crowds caused a major traffic jam. Some parents had let their children out of the car to walk down Interstate 20 to take advantage of the free admission. But Six Flags' officials turned those people away, saying people had to arrive in cars to take advantage of the offer.