Around the Region: Bus Driver Fired, Burglar Hides in Bank Ceiling and One Big Tomato

– Barrow Patch

A Barrow County school bus driver has been fired after dragging a 5-year-old student about 40 feet past her bus stop. 

Cindy Beggs, administrative assistant to Barrow County Schools superintendent Wanda Creel, confirmed today that the driver was dismissed effective Sept. 14 for not following transportation safety protocols.

The incident occurred Friday, Sept. 9, when student Alexis Luvell's backpack got caught in the school bus doors, leaving her dangling from the bus as it traveled away from her stop.

The driver was suspended pending an investigation into the incident but is no longer employed with the school system.

– Sandy Springs Patch

On Sunday evening, Sandy Springs Police received a bank alarm at the Wells Fargo Bank at 1034 Hammond Drive. The responding officer found evidence of forced entry into the bank. On further check, the officer saw a person inside the bank, who retreated when spotted.

North Metro SWAT negotiators installed a phone inside the bank in an attempt to establish contact with the suspect inside. No word was received. Two hours later, SWAT and K-9 members entered the bank.

Inside, they found 50-year old Tyrus Barnett, who had retreated up and into the drop ceiling area of the bank. Barnett, in an attempt to eluded the SWAT officers, fell through the drop ceiling and onto the bank floor. He was then apprehended. No other persons were found in the bank.

Barnett is being treated at Northside Hospital for an injury to his leg, as a result of the fall.

– Douglasville Patch

How big can a tomato be? Just ask Mr. Tyree Jiles, Jr., who is the winner of the Douglas County Master Gardener’s Largest Tomato Contest for the second year in a row. Jiles’ tomato, a Park’s Whopper, weighed 37 ounces, almost two ounces more than his winning tomato last year. Jiles is an avid gardener and has also won the Master Gardener’s “Best Small Vegetable Garden" contest in the past. Nathan Braswell of Winston grew the second largest tomato.   

This annual event is sponsored by the Douglas County Master Gardeners, with James Kirkwood as chairman of the contest. donates prize money for the contest winner, Master Gardeners provide a plaque and the Extension Service awards a Certificate. The award was presented on Sept. 15, at Turner’s Feed and Seed.

– Cumming Patch

Led by Founder Steve Voshall, citizen groups across Forsyth County are organizing to defeat the $200 million special purpose local option sales tax referendum that will be on the ballot November 8.

Voshall said Thursday that county commissioners are "trying to pull a Pelosi," comparing their attempt to pass SPLOST VII to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's attempt to pass President Barrack Obama's health care bill.

"They're saying, give us $200 million of your money and then we'll tell you how we're going to spend it," Voshall said. "It doesn't work that way."

SPLOST VI will not expire until June 2013 but if SPLOST VII is approved, it would extend collections through 2019. In addition to the jail and courthouse, the county plans to spend $70 million for transportation improvements, $3.9 million to replace fire engines, $3 million for an animal shelter and $7 million for park and recreation projects.

County commissioners approved a tax increase last year. and voters approved an this spring. Next year, legislators will ask voters to approve a regional transportation tax.

– Norcross Patch

A student will be one of 12 youngsters competing for a recording deal on a new American Idol-style series starting Friday on The Hub cable network.

Nia Holloway, 15, whose grandmother was a hit recording artist for more than 40 years, will be coached by celebrities on Majors and Minors as she competes for a recording contract on the RCA/Jive label. Unlike other reality contests, none of the young singers will be voted off before a final selection is made.

– Suwanee Patch

Announcing plans to run for the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners also means joining the discussion over possible privatization of county-owned Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville.

Suwanee City Council member Jace Brooks said Friday that he agrees with the current commissioners' decision to go forward and look at proposals. He added that the BOC should examine the "facts and figures and look at where that leads us. We need to look at any opportunity to broaden the tax base and broaden private sector jobs.

"That has to be balanced with protecting and enhancing the quality of life."

Brooks, also Suwanee's mayor pro tem, announced Friday that he will run for the District 1 seat on the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners in 2012. That seat currently is held by Shirley Lasseter of Duluth.

– Tucker Patch

The DeKalb Silver Streaks got the 2011 Wheelchair Handball season off to a rousing start with a 10-3 victory over rival Atlanta Wolfpack last Saturday.

Tucker senior Dontrey Hunt scored eight points to lead the Silver Streaks to their 1-0 start while Towers senior Ebony Whitehead and Henderson Middle’s Sidney Parott had one point each in the game.

Redan senior Ty Jackson was big in goal for the Silver Streaks as he
blocked 17 shots in limiting Atlanta to just three points.
Jackson and the offensive stars got help on both ends of the floor from
Stone Mountain Middle School’s Nadia Williams, Stone Mountain High senior Alexis Bell, Imani Ingram from Tucker Middle and Nygel Scott from Stone Mountain High.

The Silver Streaks (1-0) play host to the 0-1 Gwinnett Heat, which dropped an 8-4 decision to the Houston County Sharks last weekend, at 1 p.m. at Henderson Middle School on Saturday, Sept. 24.

– Duluth Patch

The metro Atlanta area’s first permanent Eastern Continental Divide marker will be unveiled and dedicated in a ceremony on the at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. The monument is expected to attract tourists who would pose next to it for photographs near the edge of the Duluth Town Green at West Lawrenceville Street. 

The footing for the marker has been poured awaiting arrival of the 3,600-pound, nine-foot-tall slender granite obelisk. The marker is 18 inches square at the bottom tapering to 15 inches square at the base of the pyramidium at the top.

The divide route in Duluth runs through the center of downtown where it crosses both the old city hall and the new City Hall. A crack in the steps of old city hall is on the divide.

The marker is a collaborative project between the DDA and the Duluth Fall Festival Committee. The committee is paying for the marker, estimated to cost $9,700 including the footing, with festival proceeds.