North Georgia museum wins architecture award

The Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia has won an American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture.

The museum in the Sautee Nacoochee valley received one of two of the awards given this year. It is the highest design award given by AIA-Georgia and recognizes recently completed "architecture of distinction."

The museum in White County opened in September 2006.

Architect Robert M. Cain of Atlanta said the building's design, open spaces and airy nature were inspired by traditional northeast Georgia farm structures, particularly turn of the century open-air pottery shops, and structures he remembers on his grandfather's farm in Alabama.
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Information from: WDUN-AM, http://www.accessnorthga.com/wdun/

(AP)

Camp murder charges in limbo

Murder charges against six camp workers in north Georrgia might be reduced or dropped by the district attorney. White County DA Stan Gunter says he's considering that action, although he hasn't made up his mind, and much depends on an upcoming defense motion.

13-year-old Travis Parker died in April of 2005 at the Appalachian Wilderness Camp for troubled youth near Helen. Counselors had tried to restrain him for over an hour. He had been denied his asthma inhaler, and a later autopsy showed a face-down restraint caused his death.

The trials of the workers had been scheduled to start Monday, but were postponed.

Weekend drownings in North Georgia

Separate drownings in northeast Georgia have claimed two lives. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Natural Resources says the body of a 23-year-old man was removed yesterday afternoon from Lake Lanier. A 15-year-old drowned yesterday morning at Unicoi State Park in White County.