Around the Region: Southeast’s Largest July 4 Celebration, Ga. 400 Toll Turmoil and Eggs and Grits Vandalism

– Buckhead Patch

Cities across the U.S. will be hosting July 4th fireworks extravaganzas, but Buckhead's own  is home to the Southeast’s largest celebration, which attracts more than 200,000 people annually, according to the Lenox Square website.

Lenox Square's annual event will not only feature more than 4,000 fireworks shots in approximately 20 minutes (with a patriotic soundtrack, no less), but have live musical entertainment on the mall’s outdoor main stage leading up to the big event as well. 

Read more on . 

– Cumming Patch

Renewed calls by groups around metro Atlanta for  to keep his campaign promise to  on Georgia 400 prompted his office to give a response — which was essentially that his hands are tied due to a contract made by former Governor Sonny Perdue.

Perdue and other board members of the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) made the decision to extend the tolls just weeks before Deal took office. An estimated $40 million in bonds was taken out to pay for improvement projects along the corridor. 

The tolls will stay in place because of this decision until 2017 when the bonds are paid off, the SRTA says.

Visit for additional details. 

– Athens Patch

An Athens resident's car was vandalized Monday after someone threw eggs and grits onto the car, according to an  report.

The victim told police that his neighbor, who is allegedly "a mental patient," grew angry with him Sunday when he refused to give the neighbor a ride. During the argument, the neighbor said he was going to cause damage to the man's car. 

Several eggs were broken on the vehicle and grits were poured "all over the top." A large chunk of asphalt was also tossed on top of the vehicle and had caused damage to the windshield and hood. 

For more on this story, visit . 

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