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ROUNDUP:
NEWS FROM MIDSTATE COMMUNITIES By Christopher Schwarzen
An injunction hearing over the city-county road program's Houston Road widening has been delayed. Instead of appearing before a federal court judge on Wednesday, defendant's lawyers from the Federal Highway Administration, the Georgia Department of Transportation and Bibb County have agreed to meet with legal representation for CAUTION Macon, a citizens group that has questioned the necessity of some city-county road-improvement projects. O. Hale Almand, Bibb County attorney for the Macon-Bibb County Road Improvement Program, said the parties will try to narrow the case's issues before fighting in court. "That will be beneficial to both parties and save time," Almand said. "Also, one of the federal highway attorneys had a scheduling conflict and couldn't be there if the hearing went more than one day." Debbie Varnadore, a member of CAUTION Macon, said she hopes both sides will look at alternatives to the proposed five-laning of Houston. CAUTION filed suit September to stop the project based on environmental impact concerns. "We're cautiously optimistic about finding a solution," she said. Almand said he understands CAUTION's lawyer, Richard Hubert, wants to raise that issue, and he's willing to listen to any suggestion.
"My intent is to ask for an immediate date in court after Wednesday's meeting otherwise," he said.
MILLEDGEVILLE County payroll clerk arrested for theft
The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office arrested a county payroll clerk Friday after an investigation determined the woman had stolen some $1,400 in county money. County officials discovered during an internal audit that the money was missing and asked the sheriff's office to investigate, according to Sheriff Bill Massee. After a three day probe by Detective Ryan Harrington, it was determined Kristie Meeks, 32, had one time written herself a second payroll check and another time taken a returned check of a former employee, Massee said. She endorsed that former employee's check over to herself and cashed it, he said. Meeks was charged with felony forgery and felony theft by taking and released on a $3,000 bond. "These two thefts in question are the only theft we can determine. No one else was involved," Massee said.
- Rob Peecher
MACON Career Fest '99 begins today
More than 2,000 students are expected to take a break from class today to better map their future after high school. And they will likely get a lot of opportunity with more than 75 colleges and universities and more than 15 major Georgia and Middle Georgia employers on hand to give advice. The third annual Career Fest '99, sponsored by the 100 Black Men of Macon-Middle Georgia, is slated to run 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Macon Centreplex. Area 11th and 12th grade students are encouraged to attend and chat with recruiters from a variety of higher education institutions and businesses. "Recruiters will give (students) information regarding their education," said Willie Palmer, chairman of Career Fest '99 and a member of the local 100 Black Men chapter. Among the colleges to attend include local powerhouses University of Georgia; Georgia State University; Morehouse College; Augusta State University; Georgia Institute of Technology; Macon State College; and out-of-state schools Harvard University; Syracuse University; Vanderbilt University; Wake Forest University; and Florida State University. Businesses to attend include the Coca-Cola Bottling Co.; First Liberty banks; Geico; Georgia Power Company; Wachovia Bank; and the Bibb County Board of Education. Palmer said students should come prepared with questions. Parents concerned about financing college also will be able to attend the Parents/Public Night 6-8 p.m. today. A variety of speakers will address college funding issues. - Jarred Schenke Woman robbed at bus stop
A woman waiting for a Saturday morning bus on Felton Avenue was duped by a robber asking for the time. Macon police said the robber asked the woman what time it was just before 6:30 a.m. but then thrust a handgun in her face and threatened to shoot her if she screamed. He snatched the woman's pocketbook and a plastic bag full of cosmetics, police said. The robber also ripped money from her front pocket. The robber was a black man between 30 and 35 years-old. He stood about 5 feet, 8 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighed about 180 to 200 pounds. Anyone with information about the robber's identity is asked to call Macon police detectives at 751-7571. - Cara Donlon
Thugs beat up teen Four men with handguns accosted a 13-year-old bicycle rider Sunday night on Thorpe Street and demanded marijuana. When the teen told the thugs he didn't have any drugs, Macon police said the four men ripped off his sweatpants. One of the men, who was wearing a Halloween mask, kicked the boy in the buttocks. The bad guys forced the teen to turn around and stop looking at them or their white, four-door Oldsmobile while they fled. Police said the thugs stole nothing but forgot to flee with the mask. The mask was taken to the crime lab for tests. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Macon police at 751-7500. - Cara Donlon
City meetings scheduled The City Council Community Resources and Development Committee will meet at 4 p.m. today in the council conference room. Issues to be discussed include updates by the parks and recreation department, the Macon Literary Action Plan, the Hanson Street Playground, the Cultural Arts Subcommittee and the Housing Subcommittee. At 5:30 p.m., the council will hold a pre-council meeting followed by the regular session held at 6 p.m. in the council chambers.
- Thomas W. Krause
DUBLIN Accident kills woman, grandsons A Laurens County woman who authorities say had apparently just picked up her two grandsons from school died with the two youngsters in a fiery car-truck crash early Monday afternoon. Lynn Edge, spokeswoman for Laurens County Emergency Services, identified the three victims as Marjorie Shuman, 61, and Michael and Daniel Lowery. Edge said the two youngsters were ages 7 and 9. Authorities were not certain where the two boys went to school and said the only addresses they had for the three were Dublin post office box numbers. Witnesses said the small green car carrying the three pulled out of a service station into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer rig that was traveling toward East Dublin on U.S. Highway 80. The rig hit the car broadside, and the car exploded in flames. The 1 p.m. accident tied up traffic throughout the afternoon on the stretch of U.S. 80 that spans the Oconee River and connects Dublin and East Dublin. Authorities said they believed it was the driver of the rig who called 911 to summon help. He was not identified, but police said he was transported to Fairview Park Hospital, where a condition report was not readily available. The accident remained under investigation Monday evening. Investigators said the identities of the victims were not known until the boys' father, identified as Rex Lowery, reported that they and his mother had not arrived home from school. - Skippy Davis
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