Two Georgia Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense says two members of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade have been killed in action in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon says the two were killed on Monday. They are identified as 25-year-old Sgt. Brock Henry Chavers Sr. of Statesboro, who was assigned to Americus' Company D, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, and 24-year-old Spc. Isaac Lee Johnson Jr. of Columbus, assigned to Rome's Troop A, 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron.

Defense officials say they died July 6 of wounds from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Kunduz.

'08 Tour de Georgia gets 5 new stops

Next year’s Tour de Georgia includes some new cities on the race course, but comes at the expense of other major stops from previous years.

The cycling event will have five new cities in the week-long race next April. Tybee Island will host the start, and is followed by newcomers Statesboro, Washington, Braselton, and Suwanee. Returning host cities include Atlanta, Augusta, and Brasstown Bald.

Cities left out for 2008 include Macon and Rome. Event director Chris Aronhalt says crafting the new route only had to do with letting residents in other communities share the Tour experience .

"It has nothing at all to do with the support. In fact the race would have loved to go back to those communities like Macon and Rome".

Tour organizers also had to be mindful of the route’s mileage, and incorporating mountain and coastal stages.

Aronhalt says the race expects to be financially healthy, with new headline sponsors to be announced at the start of the year.