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Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Cummings following sisters' footsteps en route to state meet
As the Class A State track meet draws nearer, Athens Christian standout, Cimber Cummings, may be more nervous about stepping out of the long shadow cast by her older sisters than about competing in the five events that she has qualified for.

Diamond Dogs ranked 19th in the country
The red-hot Georgia baseball team, winners of nine in a row, moved up to number 19 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Top 30 poll released Monday.

Cedar's Sheats dismissed
If the Cedar Shoals boys track team is going to win its third consecutive Class AAAA state title, the Jaguars will have to do it without the services of sprinter and jumper Mickey Sheats.

Glads stun Marist
ATLANTA - With an ear-to-ear smile, Andrew Carson greeted the rushing cluster of Clarke Central fans as the second overtime horn sounded Monday night at the Marist pitch.

Car stop leads to marijuana bust
Derrick Bone, 27, of 202 E. Meadow Drive was arrested Monday night after his car was stopped for motor vehicle law violations and he was found to be in possession of suspected marijuana, Athens-Clarke police said.

Investigation continues into Barrow plane crash
The pilot who was seriously injured when his airplane crashed in Barrow County Sunday night remained at Gwinnett Medical Center on Tuesday as officials continued to investigate the accident's cause.

Cut gas line empties restaurant
A grading contractor helping to widen Alps Road south of West Broad Street for bicycle lanes cut into a natural gas line leading to Inoko Japanese Steak and Seafood, 161 Alps Road, at about 5 p.m. Monday.

Tools, electronics taken in burglary
A Nashville, Tenn., man reported his former residence on Ansley Drive was burglarized between 5 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Monday, and a DVD player, DVDs, bicycle, push mower, weed cutter, blower, fishing poles and toolbox containing numerous tools with a total value of $2,080 were stolen, Athens-Clarke police said.

DVD player taken from parked vehicle
An Athens man told Athens-Clarke police that a DVD player, screen and compact discs with a total value of $1,300 were stolen from his vehicle between 10 p.m. Sunday and 7:45 a.m. Monday while it was parked at his Benedict Court residence.

$10,000 in property taken by burglars
A Martin Circle residence owned by a Lavender Road woman was burglarized between 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, and lamps, paintings, a television set, antique mirror, assorted china, glassware and a trailer with a total value of $10,280 were stolen, Athens-Clarke police said.

Madison artist wins best in show
The art on exhibit at the ninth annual 2004 Southworks Juried Art Exhibition which opened last Saturday reflected numerous styles and genre, including a good sampling of artists from Oconee County.

Drama students bring 'Much Ado' to Civic Center
The Oconee County High School's drama department will present the William Shakespeare play ''Much Ado About Nothing'' this weekend at the Oconee Civic Center.

Classical pianist to perform at Ashford
The Classical Music Series at Ashford Manor will begin Tuesday with a concert by pianist Edward Eikner.

Ed Begley Jr. plays against type in Hallmark's 'Life on Liberty Street'
LOS ANGELES - Ed Begley Jr.'s distinctive voice, more expansive than the confines of the modest San Fernando Valley home he shares with wife Rachelle, is loud with joy as he snuggles on the couch with their 4-year-old daughter and the family dog and cat.

Mezzotint on display in OCAF exhibit
The Southworks committee is presenting the work of Art Werger in the Director's Choice exhibit for Southworks 2004.

Oconee County calendar

Students go wild with hair
Students at Rocky Branch Elementary were able to dress up for "Crazy Hair Day."

Springtime Showtunes
Judy Jones gives Devin Ridgway a kiss as he presents her with flowers after her performance as a Classic Singer at the Springtime Showtunes event Sunday at the Athens-Clarke County Library.

Oconee briefs
Watkinsville sidewalk sale set for Saturday; Arlyene Nash tourney begins this weekend; Mother-daughter day set for Friendship; OCAF offers summer camps for children; Real estate office opens in Oconee; Scholarship banquet set in Watkinsville; Democrats meeting Thursday in town; Next Scull Shoals tour set for Saturday; Arson hot line open for tips on arson; Biloxi trip is a go at center; East Coast Junior National Diving Championships; Lacrosse team ends season with victory; Story ideas or news; send them our way

Pilot Club works on brain awareness projects
In March, Oconee County Board of Commissioners chairman Melvin Davis signed a proclamation for the Pilot Club of Oconee County for Brain Awareness Week.

Students come to aid of puffins
Colham Ferry Elementary third-graders recently organized a bake sale to raise money to help preserve the Atlantic puffins.

Camp D.O.V.E. offers camp experience to all children, hearing and hearing-impaired
Different. It's a word of many connotations - some good, some bad. And though often a complimentary term, different is a word rarely spoken at Camp D.O.V.E., a Northeast Georgia summer camp working to erase the distinction between hearing and deaf children.

Book club encourages students to think
Colham Ferry Elementary media specialist Kathy Graham is shown participating with students in BookTalk, an after-school book club designed to encourage reading and critical thinking.

Today in History
Today is Tuesday, May 4, the 125th day of 2004. There are 241 days left in the year.

Students win awards at science fair
Two Colham Ferry Elementary students, fifth-grader Sean Carroll and fourth-grader Matthew Robinson, recently won awards on the regional level at the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair held at Athens Technical College.

Oconee County Web sites
These are some Web sites that can be accessed for public information, specialized interests and news on Oconee County.

Dogsled racing highlight of visit
Colham Ferry Elementary media specialist Kathy Graham, left, interviews Bob and Jeannie Holder of Greene County on the school's morning TV newscast.

Oconee County blotter

Today's Best Bets
Sebadoh, Five-Eight, Michael Nace, Second Story Man

Quick glimpse
James Robert Clint Deaton of Winder and Thomas Brian DePriest Jr. of Winterville recently were named to the dean's list at Shorter College in Rome by earning a 3.5 scholastic grade point average for the semester and being registered for a minimum of 12 semester hours.

Today in History
Today is Wednesday, May 5, the 126th day of 2004. There are 240 days left in the year.

Georgia Angus Association
The 2004 Georgia Angus royalty was crowned at the 2004 Georgia Angus Association Annual Meeting and Banquet in Athens.

DAR installs officers
The Elijah Clarke Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, recently installed new officers.

School raises $4,500 for new computers
Oconee County Elementary PTO president Tom Porter, left, hands a check for $4,500 to principal Nannette Varella and media specialist Ray Billings.

Boy Scouts go caving
Members of Boy Scout Troop 326 went on a caving expedition to Raccoon Mountain, Tenn.

Meet David Ratz
How long have you lived in Oconee County? 10 years, on and off. Raised in Atlanta.

Navy Officers' Spouses' Club
At the home of Capt. and Mrs. Robert L. Monette, The Navy Officers' Spouses' Club recently presented checks totaling more than $9,000 to a variety of agencies.

Smith: A fitting tribute to a man of vision
The weather conditions were the best last Friday when I joined a friend at the Fred C. Davison Life Sciences Complex for a private memorial which took place under the trees, dripping from a much-needed rain.

Huevos rancheros for Mexican holiday
Cinco de Mayo, a major Mexican holiday, is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, when Mexican forces under Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza defeated French invaders at Puebla.

Sinkwich: Sangiovese, is almost a Etruscan deity
Sangiovese can be found all over Italy, but it is most important in Tuscany, where it is the primary grape of such notable wines as Chianti Classico, Morellino di Scansano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino and, of course, the Super Tuscans.

Make mom a special brunch
If you want to make a special brunch for Mother's Day, consider one or more of the following delectable custard-type recipes created by Lisa Schroeder, chef and co-owner of Mother's Bistro and Bar in Portland, Ore.

Indigent defense bill moves on
ATLANTA - During a ho-hum special session Tuesday, a House committee approved a bill to raise some $57 million for indigent defense, setting up a vote today on the only bill being considered.

Teen sex laws will be reviewed next year, but outlook not clear
ATLANTA - The Georgia Legislature will almost certainly take a fresh look next year at laws involving teen sex as a result of this week's ruling in the Marcus Dixon case, but top lawmakers aren't predicting what the result will be.

Quiet special session greets lawmakers
ATLANTA - Lawmakers, lobbyists and staffers returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, beginning what many hope will be a brief special session of the General Assembly dealing with legal aid for poor people.

Four golfers named to All-SEC squad
Four members of the Georgia men's golf team were named to the All-SEC first and second teams by the league office on Monday.

Patrick: Celebrate National Women's Health Week
If you haven't done it already, you probably are thinking about buying a gift or planning a special meal for Mom on Mother's Day.

Toxins' effects on kids new area of study, group told
Scientists have studied the toxic effects of pesticides, household cleaners and other chemical pollutants for decades, but only within the last few years have researchers focused on children, a University of Georgia toxicologist told a children's health group in Athens Tuesday.

Blacks with hypertension may have thicker hearts
DALLAS - Researchers say they may have found a new clue as to why blacks are at greater risk of dying from heart disease than whites.

Mammogram service offered during Women's Health Week
The Athens Area Breast Health Initiative will host two programs for women next Tuesday and Wednesday as part of National Women's Health Week.

Lakeview Academy holds off Dragons' rally
JEFFERSON - Jefferson coach Tommy Knight calls it maddening.

It's about time Postal Service focused on delivering mail
Your April 23 article, ''Armstrong looking for new ride,'' reports the U.S. Postal Service is going to end its $9-million-a-year sponsorship of Lance Armstrong's pro-cycling team. It's about time. The Postal Service should never have been in the business of sports sponsorship to begin with.

Barrow commissioner must have been living in a cave
I don't even have to ask whether Barrow County Commissioner Bill Brown is a Republican or not. Only a Republican would make statements so absurd as the one he was quoted as saying in Friday's (April 30) Athens Banner-Herald (''Hanger of display speaks out'').

Physical education plays crucial role in schools
Catherine Cooper Mayfield's concerns about time away from instruction in our public schools due to the practice and taking of standardized tests is valid and shared by many (April 28 letter). However, her comment that her child's favorite subject is physical education, as if this were a disgraceful thing, is the point to which I take issue.

Column about war atrocities insulting to reader, soldiers
The April 25 column by Sara Baker was a personal affront, factually suspect and reeks of hyperbole. I have a nephew serving in the Marines in Iraq. He is a college graduate who only wants to do good for this country and for others where needed.

Arrogance of MPD backers displayed at Oconee meeting
I attended the April 6 Oconee Board of Commissioners meeting to see how it would deal with the proposed master plan development on Whippoorwill Road. I was not reassured.

Real community protection should focus on solving crimes
As a citizen of Clarke County, I suggest that the Community Protection Division work on solving crimes like murder and bank robbery instead of touring neighborhoods ticketing residents for illegally parked cars and trash cans.

Arguments from both sides must be presented
In response to Ed Elder's April 21 letter, the same Internet searches Elder references will also give contradicting studies (regarding safe mercury levels). ''Stupid is as stupid does.''

Sales glides to first no-hitter
DANIELSVILLE - Opportunities like the one on Tuesday don't come around very often for Madison County's Micah Sales.

Majerus signs to join ESPN
BRISTOL, Conn. - Former Utah coach Rick Majerus is joining ESPN as a college basketball analyst.

Richardson trial begins today
LITTLE ROCK - Nolan Richardson gave a hint as to how nasty his court fight against the University of Arkansas might be when school officials asked him to resign the day before firing the basketball coach in 2002.

Hostage escaped when he heard convoy pass
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - Former American hostage Thomas Hamill , who escaped his Iraqi captors after three weeks, was brought to a U.S. military hospital in Germany on Monday for a checkup and treatment of a gunshot wound.

Justices side with hospital authority
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of the Hospital Authority of Clarke County, saying that the Athens-Clarke County government can't change the way members are appointed to the board that owns Athens Regional Medical Center.

Sales tax prisoner to jail?
Athens-Clarke County voters will shoot down a proposed sales tax - along with the roads, parks and waterlines it might bring - if officials insist on spending the lion's share of the money on a jail, a citizen adviser predicted Monday night.

Davison to attend city design institute
Athens-Clarke Mayor Heidi Davison this week plans to attend the Mayors' Institute on City Design: South, a program established by the National Endowment for the Arts to help mayors improve the design and livability of their cities.

Athens-Clarke budget proposals up for discussion
Citizens will get the first of several chances tonight to sound off on Athens-Clarke County's proposed 2005 budget, a spending plan that would put seven new police officers on the street and eight additional deputies in the jail.

District plans don't ride well with some
The Clarke County School District could go to a standardized school bus schedule next year that would give an allotted time for each bus route - a move that could not only affect drivers' pay procedures but create a tighter schedule for students who ride the buses.

A-C takes federal money for commuter lot
Athens-Clarke County commissioners voted unanimously to accept federal money to build a commuter parking lot Tuesday, but only after debating whether College Station Road is the best place for the $2.7 million project.

Woman kills her 3 children and boyfriend, then self
ZION GROVE, Pa. - A woman shot her boyfriend and three teenage children to death, then killed herself in a standoff at her home that lasted about three hours, authorities said.

Oconee grappling with variety of possible cuts
WATKINSVILLE - Creating a new central office position in the Oconee County School System might be held off for at least a year to save more than $78,000 and help the system balance its budget.

Plane crashes in field
A pilot was in serious condition Monday at Gwinnett County Medical Center after his airplane crashed Sunday night in a field south of the Winder-Barrow County Air-port, authorities said.

Cracker Barrel, government settle suit
WASHINGTON - Black customers at many Cracker Barrel restaurants were seated in areas segregated from white patrons, frequently received inferior service and often were made to wait longer for tables, according to a Justice Department civil rights settlement announced Monday.

Oconee School Board to vote on dropping supplements
WATKINSVILLE - Teachers will have to wait almost two weeks before officially knowing if their local supplements will be reduced to help balance the Oconee County School System budget.

DOT plans meeting on Jefferson highway
The state Department of Transportation will host an open house on planned road work in Jefferson from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Jefferson High School, 575 Washington St.

Seven American soldiers reprimanded for alleged abuse
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Seven U.S. soldiers have been reprimanded in the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners, and the U.S. officer who oversaw Baghdad's notorious Abu Ghraib prison suggested Monday that more may be involved.

Open burning ban takes effect
The state Environmental Protection Division's annual summertime ban on open burning took effect Saturday in 45 north Georgia counties, including eight counties in Northeast Georgia.

U.S. troops clash with militia
NAJAF, Iraq - U.S. forces in Najaf came under their most intense attack yet by Shiite militiamen in a clash Monday that may have killed up to 20 Iraqis. But the military still held back from going after the militia's leader, a radical cleric, to avoid angering Iraq's Shiite majority.

Bond denied for duo in alleged drive-by shooting
Two young Athens men arrested over the weekend in connection with an alleged retaliatory shooting were denied bond Monday by an Athens-Clarke County Magistrate Court judge.

Man charged in 2 slayings says he feared for own life
A Mexican immigrant accused of a double slaying last year in north Athens claims he shot both victims before they could carry out a contract to murder him, according to recently unsealed court documents.

Winterville rezoning request tabled by board
WINTERVILLE - The Winterville Planning and Zoning Board tabled a rezoning request for a new convenience store in the Clarke County town's commercial district after a public hearing Monday night, asking the developer for more specific details about the development.

Party barge sinks after passengers rush to one side to take look at nude beach
AUSTIN, Texas - A double-decker party barge capsized when dozens of passengers moved to one side of the boat as it approached Texas' only nude beach.

Governor meets with troops, escaped U.S. hostage Hamill
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met with wounded U.S. troops and escaped hostage Thomas Hamill on Monday after talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Court overturns teen athlete's sentence
ATLANTA - The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday threw out a black high school football star's conviction and 10-year prison sentence for having sex with an underage white girl - a case that led to allegations of racism and heavy-handed prosecution.

Death notices

Death notices

Funerals today

Funerals today

Oconee's Freeman named Athlete of the Week
Oconee County gymnast Weslie Freeman admits that even though the Lady Warriors were making their third consecutive trip to the state gymnastics championships, she was a little intimidated.

Shipp: If Robins or Delta falter, Georgia's economy would take a nose dive
Georgia faces tough economic times in the immediate future. Too bad some of our elected leaders and even our top commercial execs are too busy studying other matters (indigent defense, gay weddings, futuristic streetcars, etc.) to warn us - or to help construct safety nets to break our fall when one or both of the following economic catastrophes strike.

Quotables
''People need to keep their guns up and away from kids.''

State Supreme Court squashes commission's strong-arm tactics
When a court ruling thwarted the Athens-Clarke Commission's attempts to change the way members are appointed to the Clarke County Hospital Authority six months ago, we implored the county not to challenge the decision.

Special session is an exercise in frustration for legislators, public
They'd rather be campaigning, working their regular jobs or spending time with family - anything besides fighting off boredom in a special-called session.

For Bush, any fact can be ignored
That President Bush finds it impossible to admit mistakes should come as no surprise to those who listen to the fundamentalist free marketers and religionists who articulate Republican ideology.

State soccer results

Prep roundup

Georgia to host NCAA regional for softball
Georgia was selected as one of eight host sites for the 2004 NCAA Division I softball championship, to be held May 20-23, the NCAA Division I softball committee announced Monday.

Golfers break par in standings
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The last time Tiger Woods played in North Carolina, he had gone eight majors without winning and was no longer No. 1 in the world.

Smith: Dallas' past is a part of Carter's future
DALLAS - When Quincy Carter chose No. 17 after he became a Dallas Cowboy, he knew who had previously worn the number.

Prep star says he'll enter NBA draft
NEW YORK - Brooklyn basketball sensation Sebastian Telfair declared his eligibility for the NBA draft on Tuesday, ending months of speculation about his future.

Gagne had rough start in U.S.
LOS ANGELES - Plopped down in rural America, unable to speak or understand English, the 18-year-old pitcher felt so lonely and isolated that he desperately wanted to return home to Montreal.

Deadline looms for Olympics organizers
ATHENS, Greece - The sprint to the Olympics is being run through an obstacle course.

Braves prove too much for Padres
ATLANTA - Sometimes, you need a bully-bat in the middle of your lineup. And sometimes all you need is a pint-sized catcher and a journeyman outfielder whose best previous work was with the Indianapolis Indians.

Atlanta hopes to forget road woes
ATLANTA - Mercifully, the Atlanta Braves are home. They completed a 12-game road trip - their longest of the season - with a rather forgettable loss to the Colorado Rockies, then were off Monday before starting a six-game homestand. Colorado won two of three games from the Braves, who went 5-7 on their journey and fell 212 games behind the Florida Marlins in the NL East.

Magill: Erwin deserves honor
I remember watching Goodloe Erwin win swimming races at the Athens YMCA on Lake Edwards in Rabun County in the early 1930s. Choice pieces of fried chicken were given to the winners. First-place finishers received breasts and Goodloe stuffed himself with numerous pieces of chicken breast each summer.

Singh sings a winning tune
NEW ORLEANS - At the ninth hole, Vijay Singh thought he was out of the HP Classic. At the 18th, he knew the tournament was his for the taking.

Flyers eliminate Maple Leafs in OT
TORONTO - Jeremy Roenick had his winning shot planned way before he and the Philadelphia Flyers were forced into overtime.

Roddick out in first round
ROME - It was a painful stop in Rome for Andy Roddick, starting with a tragic fire in his hotel and ending with a first-round defeat in the Italian Open.

Miami moves to next round
MIAMI - Long removed from their 0-7 start, the Miami Heat now seem unbeatable at home - which is why they're headed for the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Scandal doesn't bother Bonds
NEW YORK - Barry Bonds insists the swirling steroids scandal doesn't bother him.

Dodgers beat Marlins in 11
MIAMI - Adrian Beltre hit a tying single with two outs in the ninth, then scored the go-ahead run two innings later in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 4-3 victory.

Chipper almost ready
ATLANTA - The sprints caused no discomfort. Chasing fly balls in left field went fine. If Chipper Jones can run the bases today without feeling any soreness in his right hamstring, he'll probably play one game with Class A Rome Thursday night and be activated from the disabled list Friday.

Colwill, Joyce, Bauerle honored by conference
Georgia coach Jack Baurle and freshmen Chris Colwill and Kara Lynn Joyce were among those recognized Tuesday when the SEC announced its swimming and diving awards, voted on by the league's coaches.

Virus hits hundreds of thousands of machines
NEW YORK - A pesky computer worm snarled hundreds of thousands of machines worldwide Monday in the latest virus-like outbreak to take advantage of a known flaw with the Windows operating system.

NCAA tennis bids go out this afternoon
The field of 64 and the 16 regional sites for the NCAA men's and women's Tennis Championships will be announced today on ESPN News at approximately 4:35 pm

Drakulich captures Byers Scholarship
Corrie Drakulich of the Georgia women's track and field team has been named the female recipient of the 2004 Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship award by the NCAA.

WUGA-FM wins four AP awards
The Georgia Associated Press Broadcasters Association has honored WUGA-FM (91.7/97.9), a broadcast service of the University of Georgia, with four awards for radio reporting.

Bennett named interim student affairs VP
Rodney Bennett, dean of student affairs at the University of Georgia, was named interim vice president for student affairs Tuesday, filling the slot vacated by Dick Mullendore, who is stepping down to return to teaching and fund raising.

Franklin committee talks with last of four finalists
The last of four finalists hoping to be dean of the University of Georgia's largest college met Tuesday with the search committee charged with winnowing the field. She was a familiar face.

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