Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog: February 2008

Safety officials announced a recall of 24,000 cribs Thursday and also warned parents against putting their babies to bed with pillows and other soft bedding that could suffocate them.

The 24,000 Indonesian-made cribs were recalled for putting children at risk of falling out. The cribs, imported by Munire Furniture Inc., have improper brackets that don't allow their mattresses to be fully lowered. This could allow children inside the crib to crawl over the railing and fall.

The recall includes the company's Majestic Curved Top, Majestic Flat Top, Essex, Brighton/Sussex and Captiva cribs with various model numbers. The cribs were sold at children's specialty stores between November 2005 and November 2007. No injuries have been reported.

What parents are placing inside their babies' cribs is another concern, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

From 2002 to 2004, 241 children under age 5 died in incidents involving nursery products, the CPSC said. About 40 percent of the deaths involved cribs, with soft bedding cited as the leading contributing factor. Many of the children suffocated when lying face down on pillows or other bedding, the agency said.

"Less is more when you're talking about the crib," CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese said, adding that cribs should be free of adult pillows and blankets, stuffed animals and baby quilts.

To reduce risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome, parents should place babies on their back in a crib that meets current safety standards, the agency said.

Among other incidents of death in cribs, babies became trapped when the mattress was ill-fitting, CPSC said. Old, broken and modified cribs should not be used, and parents should never allow a gap larger than two fingers at any point between the sides of the crib and mattress, the agency advised.

The agency said there were 36 deaths over the same period relating to baby baths and bath seats. All occurred when caregivers left the baby unattended. In many instances, babies slipped out of bath seats, fell out of baby seats or tipped forward or sideways into the water.

At no time, even for a few seconds, should babies be left unattended in the tub, Vallese said.

Deaths involving playpens also were high, with many resulting from the use of soft bedding.

Although CPSC has in recent years issued many crib product recalls, Vallese said there were no related deaths during 2002 through 2004 that involved a recalled product or a product that eventually was recalled.

In 2006, the most recent year in which injury data was collected, CPSC counted about 66,400 emergency injuries linked with nursery products among children under age 5. Infant carriers and cars seats, excluding motor vehicle accidents, accounted for 14,200 injuries and cribs and mattresses 11,300.

The most common injuries in 2006 resulted from falls, and the head was the most frequently injured body part.

For more details on the crib recall, call 866-586-9639 or visit http://www.munirefurniture.com.

Labels: Child, Children, Crib, Faulty Railing, Furniture, Kids, Recall, Recalled

Jason Yeager and Robbie Carrico were the latest two men to voted off American Idol. Two other girls were also cast off, leaving only 16 finalists.

Labels: American Idol

Dover Saddlery Retail announced plans today to open a new store in Alpharetta in late summer.

The new 10,000 square foot facility located 3 miles north of the Alpharetta Horse Park in a newly remodeled retail location, will service the North Fulton equestrian market. From basic riding essentials to hard-to-find products and all the leading brands, this full service store will provide the greatest selection of fine English riding apparel, tack and horse care items.

Stephen L. Day, president and CEO of Dover Saddlery, said, "I believe our existing catalog customers and new retail customers will be delighted with the extensive product selection that this new store will offer, as well as our outstanding level of customer service."

Dover Saddlery Retail is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dover Saddlery. The parent company is a leading multichannel retailer of equestrian products in the United States.

Founded in 1975 in Wellesley, Mass., by U.S. Equestrian team members, Dover Saddlery offers a broad selection of competitively priced, brand-name products for horse and rider through catalogs, the Internet (www.DoverSaddlery.com) and company-owned retail stores.

Labels: Alpharetta, Dover Saddlery, Equestrian, Horses, milton

Free DIABETES EXPO

Saturday, March 8 – “Diabetes EXPO Atlanta” – 9am - 4pm
Georgia World Congress Center
The Diabetes EXPO is for adults and children with diabetes, those at risk for diabetes and others interested in healthy living. Participate in Free Health Screenings, How-to Product Demonstrations & free samples, Cooking & Exercise Demonstrations and other interactive activities including medical professionals to answer one-on-one health questions. Lots of fun activities for kids. For more info: http://www.diabetes.org/AtlantaEXPO/

Labels: Atlanta, Diabetes

Annual flu vaccinations should be given to all children ages 6 months through 18 years, a federal advisory panel said Wednesday.

The panel's decision represents a call for roughly 30 million more kids to get vaccinated. If heeded, it would prompt one of the largest expansions in flu vaccination coverage in U.S. history.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices panel's advice is routinely adopted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issues vaccination guidelines to doctors and hospitals.

The panel -- and the CDC -- have in the past recommended flu shots for people considered to be at highest risk of death or serious illness from the flu. That list includes children ages 6 months to 5 years of age, adults 50 and older, and people with weakened immune systems.

Kids ages 5 to 18 get flu at higher rates than other age groups, but they don't tend to get as sick from it. Of the 36,000 estimated annual deaths attributed to the flu, only 25 to 50 occur in children in that age bracket, CDC officials said.

But kids who stay home sick from school cause parents to stay home, so reducing the illness in this group should cut down days of lost work in their parents and adult contacts, some experts said.

Experts believe the recommendation may also reduce illness in adults and the elderly, although studies haven't clearly established that will happen.

Labels: CDC, Flu Shots, Kids

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Congress that the nation is in for a period of sluggish business growth and sent a fresh signal Wednesday that interest rates will again be lowered to steady the teetering economy.

"The economic situation has become distinctly less favorable" since the summer, the Fed chief told the House Financial Services Committee.

Since Bernanke's last such comprehensive assessment last summer, the housing slump has worsened, credit problems have intensified and the job market has deteriorated. Bernanke said that the confluence of these factors has turned people and businesses alike toward a more cautious attitude toward spending and investment. This, he said, has further weakened the economy.

Incoming barometers continue to "suggest sluggish economic activity in the near term," Bernanke told lawmakers. At the same time, he added, the Fed must keep a close eye on inflation given the recent run-up in energy and other prices paid by consumers and businesses.

Were energy prices to continue to rise at a sharp clip -- which the Fed doesn't anticipate -- it would "create a very difficult problem" for the economy. It would spread inflation and would put another damper on growth, Bernanke said. If that happened, he added, it would be a "very tough situation."

For now though, the No. 1 battle is shoring up the economy.

Bernanke pledged anew to slice a key interest rate to help the wobbly economy, which many fear is on the verge of a recession -- or possibly has already toppled into one.

The Fed "will act in a timely manner as needed to support growth and to provide adequate insurance against downside risks," Bernanke said, hewing closely to assurances he offered earlier this month.

The central bank, which started lowering a key interest rate in September, has recently turned much more aggressive. Over the span of just eight days in January, it slashed rates by 1.25 percentage points -- the biggest one-month reduction in a quarter century. Economists and Wall Street investors predict the Fed will cut rates again at its next meeting on March 18.

There are dangers that the economy will weaken even further. "The risks include the possibilities that the housing market or labor market may deteriorate more than is currently anticipated and that credit conditions may tighten substantially further," Bernanke cautioned.

As Bernanke began his first day of back-to-back appearances on Capitol Hill to discuss the economy, there was more bad news on the housing and manufacturing fronts.

-- Sales of new homes fell in January for a third straight month, pushing activity down to the slowest pace in nearly 13 years, the Commerce Department reported. The median price of a new home dropped to the lowest level in more than three years.

-- And, orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods dropped in January by the largest amount in five months.

On Wall Street, stocks fluctuated at first, then moved higher after the release of Bernanke's prepared comments.

The Fed chief was hopeful that previous rate reductions along with a $168 billion stimulus package of tax rebates for people and tax breaks for business will energize the economy in the second half of this year.

Bernanke has come under some criticism for not acting sooner in cutting rates to respond to the economy's problems. However, Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., offered the Fed chief some sympathy. "There is perhaps no other public figure in American who has been subjected to as much Monday morning quarterbacking as you have over the past six months," Bachus said.

The panel's chairman, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., suggested that the economy is not suffering through a garden-variety slowdown.

"I don't want to appeal to you to use the word recession, because I'm not going to be responsible for the nervous people at the stock market who overreact when you twitch your nose," Frank told Bernanke. "But the problems we now have are different."

Even as the Fed tries to shore up the economy, it must remain mindful of inflation pressures, Bernanke said.

Record high oil prices -- topping $100 a barrel -- are pushing consumer prices upward. That's shrinking paychecks, and with people feeling less well off because the values of their homes have dropped, consumer spending "slowed significantly" toward the end of the year, the Fed chief said.

The Fed forecasts that inflation will moderate this year compared with last year. But the Fed's recently revised inflation projection of an increase between 2.1 percent and 2.4 percent is higher than its old forecast from the fall.

Bernanke said there are "slightly greater upside risks" that inflation could turn out to be higher than the Fed currently anticipates, given the recent run-up in energy and food prices.

"Should high rates of overall inflation persist, the possibility also exists that inflation expectations could become less well anchored," Bernanke warned. If people, companies and investors think inflation will move higher, they will act in ways that could turn inflation even worse, a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. And Bernanke said that could complicate the Fed's job of trying to nurture economic growth while also keeping inflation under control.

With the economy slowing and prices rising, fears are growing that the country could be headed for a bout of stagflation, a dangerous economic brew not seen since the 1970s.

The Fed for now is focused on bolstering the economy through interest rate reductions. To combat inflation, the Fed would raise rates.

At some point over the course of this year, the Fed will need to "assess whether the stance of monetary policy is properly calibrated" to foster the Fed's objectives of price stability "in an environment of downside risks to growth," Bernanke said.

With home foreclosures at record highs, the Fed has proposed rules to crack down on a range of shady lending practices that has burned many of the nation's riskiest "subprime" borrowers -- those with spotty credit or low incomes -- who have been hardest hit by the housing and credit debacles. The rules also would curtail misleading ads for many types of mortgages and bolster financial disclosures to borrowers.

The effectiveness of the regulations will depend on strong enforcement, Bernanke said. To that end, the Fed is working with other federal and state regulators.

Bernanke said consumers need to be financially savvy -- understanding mortgages, credit cards and other financial products.

"Well they certainly need to know the interest rate and how it varies over time and what that means to them in terms of payments," Bernanke said.

Labels: Fed Chairman, Federal Reserve, Feds, Rate Cut, Rates

Chattanooga's mayor says a truckload of bottled water he sent to Georgia lawmakers Wednesday morning, along with a declaration offering a "cool wet kiss of friendship," is intended to be humorous.

Mayor Ron Littlefield said he considers the region's extended drought to be a serious situation but he has never taken seriously a move to change the states' boundaries to get access to the Tennessee River.

The mayor said he hopes his "Give Our Georgia Friends a Drink Day" proclamation and delivery Wednesday in Atlanta are accepted in the humorous way he intended.

PROCLAMATION: WHEREAS, it has come to pass that the heavens are shut up and a drought of Biblical proportions has been visited upon the Southern United States, and
WHEREAS, the parched and dry conditions have weighed heavily upon the State of Georgia and sorely afflicted those who inhabit the Great City of Atlanta, and
WHEREAS, the leaders of Georgia have assembled like the Children of Israel in the desert, grumbled among themselves and have begun to cast longing eyes toward the north, coveting their neighbor's assets, and
WHEREAS, the lack of water has led some misguided souls to seek more potent refreshment or for other reasons has resulted in irrational and outrageous actions seeking to move a long established and peaceful boundary, and
WHEREAS, it is deemed better to light a candle than curse the darkness, and better to offer a cool, wet kiss of friendship rather than face a hot and angry legislator gone mad from thirst, and Whereas, it is feared that if today they come for our river, tomorrow they might come for our Jack Daniels or George Dickel,
NOW THEREFORE, In the interest of brotherly love, peace, friendship, mutual prosperity, citywide self promotion, political grandstanding and all that I Ron Littlefield, Mayor of the City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Do hereby Proclaim that Wednesday, February 27, 2008 shall be known as "Give Our Georgia Friends a Drink Day"

The proclamation compares Georgia leaders to "Children of Israel in the desert" and says "tomorrow they might come for our Jack Daniel's or George Dickel" -- both brands of Tennessee whiskey.

Georgia Sen. David Shafer called the move "posturing" and said he would prefer a meeting of a boundary commission to resolve Georgia's claim.

Labels: Georgia boundries, state lines, Tennessee River, water

The Van Halen Concert scheduled for February 25th 2008 has been postponed. The concert has not been rescheduled yet.

Labels: Concert, Gwinnett, postponed, Van Halen

The BHA has had a significant number of questions and concerns about the Fulton County Board of Education proposed site for the new High School on Freemanville Road and based on the information currently available the Board of Directors opposes the site for environmental reasons. We will continue to follow the new and upcoming facts. Additional updates are also available on the Protect Milton website.

Elevated Water Tank Update


Last week Councilmember D'Aversa sponsored Wayne Super, Milton resident, Hal Weideman, Civil Engineer and Alec Rickenbacker, Pritchard Mountain, LLC to the Council's work session for a factual presentation opposing Fulton County's desire to build an elevated water tower in the City of Milton. The Mayor and City Council agreed to vote on adopting a resolution opposing the elevated water tank: favoring either a booster-pump-only solution or designing the elevated water tank in conformance with the area aesthetics and overall land use plan for Milton.Public comment and Council vote on this matter will occur at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, February, 20th at 6PM. The City's action will have an impact on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.Please attend the City Council meeting as a show of support for the Council's affirmative vote. You will also have two opportunities to make a public statement during this meeting if you wish. Regardless, your attendance will greatly matter and influence how the Council votes.

Sewer Plant in NE Cherokee


We face an issue that could forever change this area. A Sewer Plant is proposed in Cherokee County to provide sewer service to the Northeast Region of Cherokee County and areas of both Forsyth and Fulton Counties. Many of you participated in an earlier letter writing campaign which caused the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to grant a public hearing in March. In a very short period of time Milton residents generated 145 letters. THANK YOU!!But our work is not finished. We must now generate thousands of letters asking for this plant to be denied. Please read the following which contains information you will need to fax, e-mail or mail your signed letters. Brief Description of the Permit ApplicationCherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA) has requested a permit from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to construct a $25 Million sewage treatment plant on Cokers Chapel Road, off E. Cherokee Drive. This plant would provide sewer service to the Northeast region of Cherokee County and potentially Forsyth and Fulton Counties. According to the Metro North Georgia Water Planning District Plan, this plant will also provide treatment for wastewater produced in the Etowah Basin portions of Forsyth and Fulton Counties to effect regionalization. They will pipe raw sewerage from both of these counties all over NE Cherokee County to be brought to the plant off E. Cherokee Drive. What happens in NE Cherokee County will have a direct impact on rural Milton.In addition to the risk of sewer is the risk of high density development that will bring more students to our schools, drive up traffic counts, increase storm water run-off and negatively impact our already impaired waterways within the COOSA basin. Do we have enough water for this explosive growth?This is a perfect example of where we need to be aware and involved in what happens at our borders to ensure this unique region maintains its rural character. Many in Milton and Cherokee County believe that the introduction of sewer in rural areas may be detrimental to the infrastructure and to our way of life and do not want it brought to our rural areas. You have a chance to help stop this plant from further polluting our water and becoming a springboard to unbridled growth, but only if you act by March 2, 2008. 1. Sign the letter and print your name and address. Please have all members of your family, 18 years of age or older, sign the letter available on the BHA website. We need to have all letters returned to CCRG by 3/2/08 they will deliver them to EPD at the public hearing.

Labels: Alpharetta, BHA, Fulton County, milton, New High School, North Fulton

The Milton City Council has a looming problem with Fulton County.

Many residents of this newly founded city are upset that the county plans to construct a 140-foot water tower near their homes, and have enlisted the city to help plead their case. The tower sits on county land inside the city limits near Freemanville Road.

The residents object to the tower because it would be visible over their homes. And they say it isn't necessary because a consortium of developers are installing a major pump to improve water pressure.

"It's big and it's ugly and it's not needed," said resident Wayne Super.

On Wednesday, the city council unanimously approved a resolution calling on the county to abandon its plans.

The resolution noted that a 40-foot water tower is in the area, but that the city has required it be hidden by trees and plants to preserve the rural character of the community.

"... The proposed water tank will defeat the city's purposes of the vegetative screening requirements as a water tower at the proposed height will be incapable of screening and may threaten the rural nature of the community," the resolution states.

Super acknowledged the resolution carries no legal weight, but said he hopes that the city council's stance will help convince the county commission to reconsider building the tower.

The county has argued that the tower is needed to improve water pressure for safety and convenience to nearby subdivisions that are being constructed in the southern end of the city. They also want to provide more reliable source of water for the area.

The tower would cost about $3.75 million and would be constructed this year.

Labels: Fulton County, milton, Milton Georgia, water, Water Tower

Forsyth County Schools (FCS) are currently redrawing school attendance zones for the 2009-10 school year. This redistricting is necessary because of overcrowding at current schools and the opening of five new schools in August, 2009. These schools include Brookwood ES, Haw Creek ES, Whitlow ES, Lakeside MS and Lambert HS.
For a timeline, maps, FAQs and video, visit www.forsyth.k12.ga.us, go to "select a link" and select "redistricting."
The final lines will be approved in May 2008. Prior to approval, there will be three drafts of maps posted online and in your school on 2/20, 3/5 and 4/3.
Suggestions on the first two drafts can be submitted online or by calling 770-887-2461, extension 205025.
Local School Councils (LSCs) will also have an opportunity to provide suggestions for improving the drafts. Suggestions on the third draft can be shared at two public forums, 4/22/08 at 7 p.m. at Forsyth Central HS and 4/29/08 at 7 p.m. at South Forsyth HS.


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Why are school attendance lines being redrawn?
School attendance lines are being redrawn to accommodate the opening of the following schools in 2009:
• Brookwood ES, a two-story school located on Vaughn Drive
• Whitlow ES, a one story school located on Castleberry Road
• Haw Creek ES and Lakeside MS, two two-story schools located adjacent to each other on Echols Road.
• Lambert HS, which is located next to Sharon Elementary on Nichols Road. Lambert is a two story design similar to West Forsyth High. Lambert will open without a senior class.
These schools are funded by our voters who approved the 2006 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and bond referendum. New lines are also being redrawn to accommodate the overcrowding at our existing schools.

Why is FCS opening new schools?
FCS continues to be one of the fastest growing school districts in Georgia and the nation. We have grown from a medium size system to a large system by adding more than 20,000 students since 1995, a more than 200 percent increase. This is the equivalent of adding approximately 19 new middle schools. Currently, FCS is home to close to 31,000 students and is projected to grow to over 50,000 students in 5 years.

How are the new schools being funded?
The new schools are being funded with monies from the state and from the voter approved the 2006 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST III) and bond referendum. This SPLOST/bond is separate from the county (commissioners) and city's SPLOST.

How can I provide feedback?
• Web form -- www.forsyth.k12.ga.us, go to "select a link" and choose redistricting
• Voice mail - 770-887-2461 x205025
• 2 Community Forums for public input
Cluster meetings will also be held for school LSC members.
More information is available at www.forsyth.k12.ga.us.

Labels: Forsyth, Forsyth County Schools, Redistricting, School

Carly Smithson progressed on "American Idol" Thursday amid controversy over her professional past.

Smithson, 24, has made headlines for having a pre-"Idol" career: The Irish crooner recorded a debut album, 2001's "Ultimate High," for MCA Records. It flopped — after the label spent more than $2 million trying to sell it.

The show's gimmick has always been to pluck talented young hopefuls from obscurity and make them into recording artists.

Besides Smithson, several of this year's semifinalists are not exactly rookies in the world of music. Kristy Lee Cook once had a deal with Arista Nashville, and rocker Robbie Carrico was part of the pop group Boyz N Girlz United.

"If they hadn't already tried to make a name for themselves, then they don't deserve to be in (the) competition," said judge Paula Abdul, defending the contestants' real-world experience.

Abdul added that Kelly Clarkson had pursued a recording career before her "Idol" win.

Now for the losers: Garrett Haley, Amy Davis, Joanne Borgella and Colton Berry were eliminated by viewers getting their first chance to vote in the top-rated talent contest's seventh season.

Haley, who sang "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," was the first one booted. Cowell said Tuesday that the Elida, Ohio, resident looked like he had been locked in his bedroom for a month and needed some fresh air.

"I haven't gone tanning, so I'm being myself," the 17-year-old said before exiting the stage.

Abdul told the telegenic Davis, 25, from Lowell, Ind., that she needed more experience. "You're a beautiful, talented girl," she reassured.

Borgella, a 25-year-old plus-size model from Hoboken, N.J., failed to impress Cowell with her somewhat shrill rendition of "I Say a Little Prayer."

"It was a horrible song choice, and it wasn't a great performance," the acerbic judge said.

"I know I sing better than that," responded Borgella.

Cowell was especially harsh toward the 18-year-old Berry: "I would say get a good job, and enjoy singing. Because I don't think you'll make a successful career out of it."

Berry, from Staunton, Va., took the bad news in stride and closed the show with a spirited cover of "Suspicious Minds."

Thursday's show also featured a presentation of the music video for Abdul's new single, "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow." It drew a warm reception from the studio audience — and a smile and kiss on the cheek from Cowell.

"American Idol," now running three times a week, will return to a twice-weekly schedule March 11 for the elimination of the final dozen. The decision-making finale will be held in May.

Labels: American Idol, Eliminations, First Four, Idol

At the City Council work session Feb. 11 Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Chairman George Ragsdale presented the board's first round of findings to council.

The document, which council must approve before sending off to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Atlanta Regional Commission for further approval, is the first step toward updating Milton's Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update, the basis for most city policy.

The city is operating under Fulton County's plan, which Ragsdale said is "not indicative of what we want to see in Milton."

"The frustration with Fulton County is that there was no implementation," he said. "The plan fell far short of what we had hoped."

The Citizen's Advisory Committee's work is but the first step in the protracted process of creating the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update. Through a series of meetings the group, working with city staff, created a baseline of information for moving forward with the overall plan.

Once OK'd by council, the rough document will take 40 days for approval at the state level.

From there the months-long process of crafting the exact plan can take place, with final approval coming late summer 2008 at the earliest.


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Keep an eye out for surveys

MILTON – As part of the community information gathering portion of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update, the city will be sending out 12,000 questionnaires to property owners in Milton Feb. 28.

The city is expecting anywhere from a 1-percent to 5-percent return by March 17, the cut-off date.

To increase the chances of getting feedback, Milton is holding an anonymous raffle through the survey. Each questionnaire will come with a two-part ticket. Keep one stub and mail the other in for prizes including free oil changes, car washes and gift certificates from local businesses.

All gifts were donated.

By March 24 the winning raffle numbers will be posted on the city's Web site.

Labels: milton, Milton Georgia, Plan

An ailing Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when the new parliament meets Sunday.

"I will not aspire to nor accept, I repeat, I will not aspire to nor accept, the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief," read a letter signed by Castro published early Tuesday in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma.

The announcement effectively ends the rule of the 81-year-old Castro after almost 50 years, positioning his 76-year-old brother Raul for permanent succession to the presidency. Fidel Castro temporarily ceded his powers to his brother on July 31, 2006, when he announced that he had undergone intestinal surgery.

Since then, the elder Castro has not been seen in public, appearing only sporadically in official photographs and videotapes and publishing dense essays about mostly international themes as his younger brother has consolidated his rule.

A new National Assembly was elected in January, and will meet for the first time Sunday to pick the governing Council of State, including the presidency that Fidel Castro has held for decades. There had been wide speculation about whether he would continue in that role.

"My wishes have always been to discharge my duties to my last breath. That's all I can offer," Castro wrote. But, he continued, "it would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer. This I say devoid of all drama."

Castro said Cuban officials had wanted him to remain in power after his surgery. "It was an uncomfortable situation for me vis-a-vis an adversary that had done everything possible to get rid of me, and I felt reluctant to comply," he said in a reference to the United States.

President Bush was notified of the news about Castro by his national security adviser while traveling in Africa on Tuesday. He was expected to get a fuller briefing on the situation later in the day, said Bush spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

Castro's resignation opens the path for Raul's succession to the presidency, and the full autonomy he has lacked in leading a caretaker government. The younger Castro has raised expectations among Cubans for modest economic and other reforms, stating last year that the country requires unspecified "structural changes" and acknowledging that government wages that average about $19 a month do not satisfy basic needs.

Castro rose to power on New Year's Day 1959 and reshaped Cuba into a communist state 90 miles from U.S. shores. The fiery guerrilla leader survived assassination attempts, a CIA-backed invasion and a missile crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Ten U.S. administrations tried to topple him, most famously in the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961.

His ironclad rule ensured Cuba remained communist long after the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communism across Eastern Europe.

Monarchs excepted, Castro was the world's longest ruling head of state.

"The adversary to be defeated is extremely strong," Castro wrote Tuesday, referring to the United States. "However, we have been able to keep it at bay for half a century."

Raul Castro had long been his brother's designated successor. The longtime defense minister had been in his brother's rebel movements since 1953 and spent decades as No. 2 in Cuba's power structure.

The United States, bent on ensuring neither brother is in power, built a detailed plan in 2005 for American assistance to ensure a democratic transition on the island of 11.2 million people after Fidel Castro's death. But Cuban officials insisted there would be no transition, saying the island's socialist political and economic systems would outlive Castro.

Castro's supporters admired his ability to provide a high level of health care and education for citizens while remaining fully independent of the United States. His detractors called him a dictator whose totalitarian government systematically denied individual freedoms and civil liberties such as speech, movement and assembly.

The United States was the first country to recognize Castro after his guerrilla movement drove out then-President Fulgencio Batista in 1959. But the two countries soon clashed over Castro's increasingly radical path. Castro seized American property and businesses and invited Soviet aid.

On April 16, 1961, Castro declared his revolution to be socialist. A day later, he defeated the CIA-backed Bay of Pigs invasion.

The United States squeezed Cuba's economy and the CIA plotted to kill Castro. Undaunted, the Cuban president supplied troops and support to revolutionaries in Africa and Latin America.

Hostility over Cuba reached its peak on Oct. 22, 1962, when President Kennedy announced there were Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. After a tense week of diplomacy, Soviet Premier Nikita S. Krushchev pulled out the weapons.

With the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, Castro eventually made peace with many governments that once shunned him. Pope John Paul II visited the island in January 1998.

The loss of Soviet aid plunged Cuba into financial crisis, but the economy slowly recovered in the late 1990s with a tourism boom.

Castro later reasserted control over the economy, stifling the limited free enterprise tolerated during more difficult times.

Fidel Castro Ruz was born in eastern Cuba, where his Spanish immigrant father ran a prosperous plantation. His official birthday is Aug. 13, 1926, although some say he was born a year later.

He attended Roman Catholic schools and the University of Havana, where he received law and social science degrees.

Castro launched his revolutionary battle as a young man, organizing an unsuccessful July 26, 1953 attack on a military barracks in the eastern city of Santiago.

Later freed under a pardon, Castro went to Mexico and organized a rebel army that returned to Cuba and rallied support in the Sierra Maestra mountains. His rebels took power when Batista was forced to flee.

Entering Havana triumphantly, Castro declared: "Power does not interest me, and I will not take it."

Labels: Cuba, Fidel Castro

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. for a live performance by Rush July 22 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park.

The band is the second rock act to schedule a concert date at the new venue, singing on to perform a week after the Eagles sold out four May concert dates.

Following the success of their 2007 tour, Rush is back on the road in 2008 in support of the album Snakes & Arrows, Rush will perform live Tuesday, July 22 at 8 p.m. at the new amphitheatre being built just off Ga. 400 in Alpharetta as part of their "Snakes & Arrows World Tour."

Tickets for the Rush concert [$89 & $75 reserved pavilion & $40 general admission lawn] will be available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone 404-249-6400.

The Rush concert will feature an updated set list from the Canadian trio'sr 2007 outing. Since their early days in Toronto, singer/bassist Geddy Lee, drummer Neil Peart and guitarist Alex Lifeson have blended aggressive arena rock with cerebral tones that have resulted in some of rock's most memorable songs. The trio has hits including "Fly By Night," "Tom Sawyer," "Limelight," "New World Man," and "Working Man."

The latest studio CD from Rush is 2007's Snakes & Arrows, which includes the Grammy-nominated song "Malignant Narcissism", nominated in the category Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Rush is slated to release a live album this spring.

For information visit the band's Web site at www.rush.com, or the amphitheatre's site at www.vzwamp.com.

Labels: Alpharetta, Alpharetta Amphitheatre, Concert, Fly by Night, Rush, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

Another day, another Hendrick Motorsports car on top.

First, it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. showing the world Saturday night he was back on track with a dominating victory in a 70-lap exhibition race.

Then, less than 24 hours later, reigning NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson added another notch to the Hendrick belt when he won the pole for next Sunday's Daytona 500.

"It's always neat to get down here and get a win, but the pole is something the guys work for all winter long," said team owner Rick Hendrick, who also has four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears in his powerful lineup.

Johnson, who won his second straight series title last year in a tough battle with Gordon, welcomes the addition of Earnhardt to the Hendrick stable and said rivalry within a team can be a powerful weapon.

"I think we've really used the rivalry between the cars in a positive way," Johnson said. "When we're outrun by one of our teammates, we know what they have versus what we have. So we're able to bring our car to that spot and try to beat them. And then they now and the progression starts.

"I really think last year we saw it in the Chase more than anything. The notebooks were open, we were all honest and true about where are cars were, what we were doing, and we brought the best out of each other and I feel took HMS to a new level and a higher level."

Johnson, trying to match Cale Yarborough's record three straight series championships, said the goal is to keep ratcheting up the competition on the team, particularly with the addition of Earnhardt.

"I feel that the way we all have meshed together with the addition of the 88 car and all the people and everybody involved, that we're further ahead than where we were at the end of last year," Johnson said. "And I'm very excited about the year to come for all of us."

Michael Waltrip, disgraced last year at Daytona when his then-new team was caught in the post-qualifying inspection using an illegal fuel additive in his Toyota, also had a great run Sunday, taking the outside pole.

Only the top two qualifiers locked in starting positions for the 500.

For Johnson, Sunday's post-qualifying press conference was just one of numerous positive moments he has had at racetracks over the past few years. On the other hand, two-time Daytona winner Waltrip vividly recalled the sad, emotional moments when he faced the media a year ago after his team was discovered cheating and how he struggled throughout the season, at one point failing to qualify for 10 straight races.

"I'm still very emotional, but for obviously very drastically different reasons," Waltrip said. "Now I'm in here a year later and I'm the opposite; I'm happy. I still want to cry, but I'm happy.

"We've survived and we've been able to get our foundations steadied up. During the time when we were getting our business squared away, our cars were getting better. I think that we are building a foundation here for a really solid year."

David Reutimann, Waltrip's teammate and employee, qualified third, meaning he, too, will be in the big race for sure.

"It's certainly something we're very proud of," Waltrip said. "We've worked very hard over the last three months with our testing. We noticed at each test that our cars were faster than they've ever been."

The top 35 drivers from last season's car owners points are guaranteed a starting spot in the 43-car field and Waltrip and Reutimann were among 18 drivers who began the day competing for the few remaining positions.

The rest of the starting field will be determined Thursday in two 150-mile qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway.

Johnson now has 14 career poles and previously won the pole here in 2002. He also won the Daytona 500 in 2006.

He had to drive a backup car, one of his team's short track entries, in the Budweiser Shootout after a crash in practice on Friday. Johnson called it "a brick" before going out and nearly winning Saturday night's race.

Johnson was third in that race, with Gordon and Mears fourth and sixth. On Sunday, Mears qualified sixth, three-time 500 winner Gordon was 10th and Earnhardt 15th.

The car Johnson drove Sunday was designed to be run on the 2.5-mile, high-banked Daytona oval, and he couldn't have been happier with it.

"Last night, we had a great race, but I really look forward to what this car can do in the Daytona 500," Johnson said after winning the pole.

Johnson's qualifying speed was 187.075 mph, with Waltrip just behind at 186.734.

Besides the top 35 in owner points, the top two non-guaranteed drivers from each of the qualifying races will make the starting field, along with the three fastest non-qualified drivers from Sunday and the most recent former Cup champion not already in the race.

Joe Nemechek and Reutimann were among the drivers who had to qualify made it, running third and fourth.

One person particularly impressed by the performance of Waltrip and Reutimann was Lee White, senior vice president of Toyota Racing Development, which saw all of its teams struggle just to make races in 2007, the Japanese automaker's inaugural season in the Cup series.

Despite being disappointed that a Camry didn't win the pole, White said, "A year ago, and not only a year ago, but through the first half of the season, these guys were scrambling to get out of bed in the morning.

"We're a company that takes baby steps, but they're a team that has taken great strides

Labels: Daytona, Jimmie Johnson, Nascar, Pole

Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik required lifesaving surgery after severing his carotid artery, his agent told The Associated Press on Monday.

Zednik was listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit at Buffalo General Hospital, and will continue to be evaluated through the day, attending surgeon Sonya Noor said in a statement released by the hospital.
Video: Panthers' Zednik Survives Slash to Throat During Game


Zednik had surgery Sunday night after losing a significant amount of blood during the game at Buffalo earlier in the day, agent David Schatia said.

Zednik was sliced across the right side of the throat by teammate Olli Jokinen's skate in a frightening accident midway through the third period of Buffalo's 5-3 victory.

Canada's Sportsnet cable-TV network reported on its Web site that the skate blade just missed cutting the jugular vein.

The Panthers returned home to South Florida following the game.

Joining Zednik at the hospital was his wife, Jessica, and Karen Cohen, wife of Alan Cohen, who is the Panthers' general partner, chairman of the board and CEO, hospital spokesman Mike Hughes said in a release. The two arrived by charter flight late Sunday night.

"The entire Panthers organization wish to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the medical staff at Buffalo General Hospital, the Buffalo Sabres organization, the HSBC Arena staff and to the Panthers and Sabres fans who have expressed their thoughts and concerns," Panthers assistant general manager Randy Sexton said.

Sexton and Panthers assistant trainer Dave Zenobi stayed overnight with Zednik at the hospital.

Zednik was circling the net behind the play and skating into the corner when Jokinen was upended by Sabres forward Clarke MacArthur. Jokinen fell headfirst to the ice, and his right leg and skate flew up and struck Zednik directly on the side of the neck.

Clutching his neck, Zednik left a trail of blood as he somehow raced three-quarters the length of the ice to the Panthers bench. He nearly fell into the arms of Zenobi, who immediately placed a towel on the player's throat. With the help of defenseman Jassen Cullimore, Zednik was escorted up the tunnel behind the bench and loaded into an ambulance.

Zednik, a 12-year veteran, is in his first season with the Panthers.

When Zednik was with Montreal he sustained a severe concussion, broken nose, bruised throat and cut eyelid following a vicious blow to the face by Boston's Kyle McLaren during the 2002 playoffs.

Zednik was knocked cold, had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher and spent the night in intensive care.

McLaren was suspended by the NHL for the rest of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, missing the final two games of the series, which Montreal won in six games.

Zednik returned the following season to score a career-high 31 goals and match a career high with 50 points.

He signed with the Panthers as a free agent last summer. After a two-month slump, he has been playing well. He entered the game on a four-game point streak, in which he had six goals and three assists, giving him 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 54 games this season.

Labels: Florida Panthers, NHL, Richard Zednik, Slash, Throat

The Georgia Department of Transportation announced Friday upcoming road closures and detours related to the construction projects in the Downtown Connector corridor that includes resurfacing I-75/85 in summer 2008 and replacement of the 14th Street Bridge to be completed in spring 2010.

The following closures will affect motorists traveling into Midtown Atlanta from I-85 southbound and I-75 southbound:

I-85 southbound ramp to 14th and 10th streets will close on February 9th. - Motorists should exit I-85 at 17th Street (Exit 84) and utilize the 17th Street bridge to Spring Street to access Midtown and locations west of I-75/85.

I-75 southbound ramp to 14th and 10th streets from Exit 250 will close on February 9th. - Motorists should exit I-75 at Northside Drive (Exit 252) and turn left onto 10th Street to access Midtown.

Techwood Drive between 16th and 10th streets will close on February 9th. These closures are a necessary part of the ongoing project to replace 14th Street Bridge over the downtown connector relieving congestion at the 14th Street interchange.

The bridge replacement project also feature two new exit ramps from the interstate; southbound to 10th Street and northbound to 17th Street.

The estimated cost of the project is $88.5 million. Motorists should be aware that this closure is only one of several traffic adjustments and street closings required to complete the construction work. This work is expected to significantly impact traffic congestion in Midtown. In summer 2008, 14th Street Bridge and its adjacent roadway will be closed to traffic. Motorists will be detoured to the 17th Street Bridge once the 14th Street Bridge closes. 14th Street and the 14th Street Bridge are expected to reopen by summer 2010.

Traffic on the Downtown Connector will be paced and lanes shifted to accommodate utility and other associated work throughout the course of the project.

Williams Street, which closed to traffic in October 2007 will remain closed through summer 2009. Additionally in March 2008 Georgia DOT will begin resurfacing approximately five miles of the Downtown Connector between University Avenue and 10th Street. The project includes resurfacing northbound and southbound lanes and is expected to be completed by November 2008.

During construction, lane closures will be in place overnights Monday through Thursday with continuous closures on weekends starting Friday night and concluding Monday morning. Traffic delays throughout downtown, especially in Midtown are to be expected. Commuters should seriously consider mass transit, car or van pooling, and flexible work schedules. Motorists should allow additional travel time and/or choose alternate routes during these construction projects.

For information on commuting alternatives, contact The Clean Air Campaign at www.cleanaircampaign.com.

Labels: Atlanta, Construction, DOT, Techwood

February 06, 2008

Clubs & Sports:

SPORTS

• All freshman and JV Boys Basketball players MUST turn in their uniforms/practice jerseys after school on Thursday. Meet at the coaches/team room.

• The Varsity Boys Basketball team had an impressive victory last evening by defeating Sprayberry 73-62 and earning the #3 seed in the region tournament and a 1st round home game this Saturday. Four players were in double figures to lead a strong team effort.

• The region 1st round game will be held this Saturday night at the Eagle’s Nest @ 7pm. The basketball program is looking for a great home crowd advantage so come support the boys on their march to STATE!

CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
• Anyone interested in participating in the Alpharetta Relay for Life meet in 3204 THIS Thursday at 7:45AM

• FCA will meet in the Aux Gym this Friday at 7:30.

• National Art Honor Society will be starting a used shoe drive from Feb. 10th – April 3rd. Shoes will be recycled for use on outdoor courts and playgrounds. There will be a bin at the end of the “Art Hall” (7300). Students can drop off shoes at any time.

• National Art Honor Society will meet Thursday, 2/07 at 7:45 in room 7304.

• National Spanish Honor Society officer and committee chairmen meeting tomorrow morning (Thursday) at 7:50 am in room 4204.


Further Announcements:

• Juniors and Seniors: Prom tickets will go on sale TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19th at 7:45 in the main office. The FIRST 100 tickets will be $40 each, the NEXT 100 tickets will be $45 each, the next 200 tickets will be $50 each. The remaining tickets will be FULL price - $55 each. There is no “couple’s discount”. Buy your tickets early to get the best price! Tickets will be sold mornings ONLY the week of February 19 – 22. Beginning February 25th, tickets will be sold during all lunches. Tickets will be available until Thursday, March 13th. Tickets will NOT be sold at the door.

• All TAG students in grad 9 -11 should report to the auditorium Friday 3rd period. Be sure to sign in for attendance purposes.

• Seniors: It is diploma ordering time. Please stop by room 1340 to check the graduation list and make sure your name is correct for the printing of your diploma. All verifications and changes need to be made by March 7th

Labels: milton, Milton High School

Tickets sold so fast Feb. 1 for the Eagles concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park that promoters added two more shows. A few days later, a fourth concert date was announced.

"Due to the overwhelming demand, a fourth and final Eagles concert has just been added on Tuesday, May 20," said Holly Clausen in an e-mail release Feb. 6.

Tickets for the Eagles on May 20 go on sale Monday, Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone 404-249-6400

The Eagles open their American tour Wednesday, May 14 in the new amphitheatre, which is still being built. The other two concerts will be Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17.

Don Fox, chief financial officer for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and the executive in charge of the amphitheatre said the importance of the ticket sales is several fold.

"Certainly it speaks to the popularity of the act, the Eagles themselves, the largest selling American band," he said. "I think it speaks to the excitement of the community for not only the act, but this new venue. This is a venue that's not yet complete, and there's obviously a great enthusiasm for what is going to be happening in the Alpharetta community.

"It certainly suggests a validation of sorts of all of our hopes and aspirations of what the building might be," Fox said. "The ticket sales certainly exceeded our expectations and hopes. Obviously adding extra shows is indicative of that," he said.

"We will have a fair number of symphony events up there as well, which we hope will be equally as well received in a relative sense," he said.

The ASO first performs to open the building May 10, under the direction of Music Director Robert Spano. Fox promises an exciting evening, with the concert program being released closer to show date.

Fox referred to newspapers articles that spoke about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Rush announcing they planned to perform at the amphitheatre as indicating the kind of talent promoters plan to bring to the amphitheatre and the community.

"Certainly not every act is going to be as big as the Eagles," he said.

But entertainment from orchestral events to popular concerts, with community events thrown into the mix, are planned.

"And we do hope to host the Alpharetta High School graduation in May as well," Fox said.

He said neither the graduation ceremonies nor the other two concerts have been finalized, though they are working with both acts to bring them to Alpharetta.

The ASO and Woodruff Arts Foundation have made concessions to Georgia's drought conditions, digging a well for irrigation.

"Remember that the amphitheatre itself is designed to be really quite a showplace aesthetically. And landscaping was always an important part of that," Fox said.

"We drilled a well on site that will provide enough well water for irrigation of the entire site without using any public water facilities," he said.

Labels: Alpharetta, Amphitheater, Eagles

Pop star Britney Spears was quietly released from a hospital Wednesday, a police official said.

"It occurred without any law enforcement intervention, and for the public that's a good thing," said Capt. Sharyn Buck, commander of the North Hollywood police station, which covers the area of Spears' home.

The troubled singer was hospitalized early on Jan. 31, taken by ambulance under an extensive police escort to a psychiatric facility at UCLA Medical Center.

A Superior Court commissioner subsequently placed Spears and her estate under conservatorship. Her father, James, was named conservator of Spears, and he and an attorney were made co-conservators of the estate.

Spears, who is in a child custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, was also briefly hospitalized earlier in January after police were called to her home when she refused to return her sons to a Federline bodyguard after a visit. That trip to the hospital occurred amid a swarm of paparazzi.

Spears has since lost all visitation rights.

Labels: Britney Spears

Players who signed letters-of-intent Wednesday with Georgia Tech, including name, position, height, weight, school and hometown:


T.J. Barnes, dt, 6-7, 325, Enterprise (Ala.) HS

Brandon Leslie, s, 6-0, 195, Edison HS, Fresno, Calif.

Jon Lockhart, cb, 6-0, 190, Blountstown (Fla.) HS

B.J. Machen, lb, 6-1, 225, Hilliard Darby HS, Hilliard, Ohio

Daniel McKayhan, wr, 6-0, 180, Martin Luther King, Jr. HS, Decatur

Nick McRae, c, 6-4, 290, Dublin (Ga.) HS

Malcolm Munroe, lb, 6-3, 215, Coral Reef HS, Miami, Fla.

Embry Peeples, rb, 5-10, 175, Dr. Phillips HS, Orlando, Fla.

Rashaad Reid, cb, 5-10, 180, St. Augustine (Fla.) HS

Kamaron Riley, cb, 6-2, 180, Hawkinsville (Ga.) HS

Jaybo Shaw, qb, 6-0, 190, Flowery Branch (Ga.) HS

Quentin Sims, wr, 6-3, 190, Colerain HS, Cincinnati

Phil Smith, ot, 6-6, 290, Jesuit HS, Tampa

Steven Sylvester, lb, 6-2, 225, Union Grove HS, McDonough

Cooper Taylor, s, 6-4, 195, Marist, Atlanta

Omoregie Uzzi, og, 6-3, 291, Chamblee (Ga.) HS

Tevin Washington, qb, 6-1, 205, Wetumpka (Ala.) HS

Richard Watson, rb, 6-1, 225, FAMU HS, Tallahassee, Fla.

Antonio Wilson, de, 6-6, 220, Columbia HS, Decatur

Marcus Wright, rb, 5-8, 175, Reagan HS, San Antonio

Labels: Collage Football, Georgia, Georgia Tech

Georgia's landscaping industry has been hard hit by drought and a resulting outdoor watering ban, but Gov. Sonny Perdue provided some relief Wednesday by announcing the state would ease watering restrictions.

The new plan, which Perdue said would strengthen the state's landscaping industry, allows plants to be handwatered for 25 minutes every other day for three days a week.

New, professionally installed landscapes also may be watered up to three days a week for 10 weeks. Those wishing to water new, professionally installed landscaping must register through the online Outdoor Water Use Registration Program.

"Our state will strike a strong balance between water conservation, economic solvency and giving our growers in this state the tools they need to make this state greener and more prosperous in the future," Perdue said. "We need to come together to support an industry that is so important to our state."

Perdue also was expected to issue an announcement Wednesday on outdoor swimming pools. Pool companies have been concerned that the outdoor water ban would force swimming pools around north Georgia to go unfilled during the summer.

Severe drought compelled the state last fall to ban outdoor watering in north Georgia and order public water providers in the region to cut their water withdrawals by 10 percent.

Landscapers have been pushing the state to ease the restrictions before spring, their busiest season. Their lobbyists estimate that more than 14,000 employees have already lost their jobs due to the drought, which forced well-known Atlanta company Pike Nursery Holding into bankruptcy.

John Strickland of Organic Growing Systems in Atlanta said Perdue's exemptions would allow the state's $8 billion landscaping industry to avoid financial extinction.

"We look at springtime in our industry -- that's our Christmas," Strickland said. "Consumers are actually scared to invest in a plant where they are not sure if it's going to die or not. If we follow these rules, the consumer confidence will come up."

The 61 north Georgia counties under the Level 4 drought restrictions, which began in September, will be required to achieve Perdue's reduction goal of at least 10 percent.

The 10 percent water reduction will be calculated using last year's April to September average monthly water use.

Labels: Sonny Perdue, water, Water Ban, Water Restrictions

One man pulled a couch over his head. Bank employees rushed into the vault. A woman trembled in her bathroom, clinging to her dogs. College students huddled in dormitories.

Tornado warnings had been broadcast for hours, and when the sirens finally announced that the twisters had arrived, many people across the South took shelter and saved their lives. But others simply had nowhere safe to go, or the storms proved too powerful, too numerous, too unpredictable.

At least 54 people were killed and hundreds injured Tuesday and Wednesday by dozens of tornadoes that plowed across Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. It was the nation's deadliest barrage of twisters in almost 23 years.

"We had a beautiful neighborhood. Now it's hell," said Bonnie Brawner, 80, who lives in Hartsville, a community about an hour from Nashville where a natural gas plant that was struck by a twister erupted in spectacular flames up to 400 feet high.

The storms flattened entire streets, smashed warehouses and sent tractor-trailers flying. Houses were reduced to splintered piles of lumber. Some looked like life-size dollhouses, their walls sheared away. Crews going door-to-door to search for bodies had to contend with downed power lines, snapped trees and flipped-over cars. Cattle wandered through the debris near hard-hit Lafayette (pronounced luh-FAY-et). At least 12 people died in and around the town.

"It looks like the Lord took a Brillo pad and scrubbed the ground," said Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, who surveyed the damage from a helicopter.

Hundreds of houses were damaged or destroyed. Authorities had no immediate cost estimate of the damage.

President Bush gave assurances his administration stood ready to help. Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were sent to the region and activated an emergency center in Georgia.

"Loss of life, loss of property -- prayers can help and so can the government," Bush said. "I do want the people in those states to know the American people are standing with them."

Students took cover in dormitory bathrooms as the storms closed in on Union University in Jackson, Tenn. More than 20 students at the Southern Baptist school were trapped behind wreckage and jammed doors after the dormitories came down around them.

Danny Song was pinned for an hour and a half until rescuers dug him from the rubble.

"We looked up and saw the funnel coming in. We started running and then glass just exploded," he said. "I hit the floor and a couch was shoved up against me, which may have saved my life because the roof fell on top of it."

With five minutes' warning from TV news reports, Nova and Ray Story huddled inside their home outside Lafayette and came out unscathed. But nearby, their uncle, Bill Clark, was injured in his toppled mobile home.

They put him in the bed of their pickup to take him to a hospital, and neighbors with chain saws tried to clear a path. What normally would have been a 30-minute drive to the hospital took well more than two hours because the roads were clogged with debris. Clark died on the way.

"He never had a chance," Nova Story said. "I looked him right in the eye and he died right there in front of me."

Most communities had ample warning that the storms were coming. Forecasters had warned for days severe weather was possible. The National Weather Service issued more than 1,000 tornado warnings from 3 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday in the 11-state area where the weather was heading.

The conditions for bad weather had lined up so perfectly that the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., put out an alert six days in advances.

In Atkins, Ark., Sheriff Jay Winters said the first tornado siren sounded at 4:34 p.m. Tuesday. Winters said one man, on hearing the siren, went into his home and rolled a couch onto himself for protection. Lola Sanders saw the twister approach her back porch, then grabbed her dogs and ran for the bathroom.

Kitty Chandler had just left work at the Liberty Bank of Arkansas but turned around and returned after hearing the tornado sirens. "I went to the bank, into our vault. One of the safest places to be," she said.

While the weather was unusually severe, winter tornadoes are not uncommon. The peak tornado season is late winter through midsummer,
but the storms can happen at any time of the year with the right conditions.

"All the clues were there. It was just unfortunate that it came out the way it did," prediction center director Joseph Schaefer said.

The tornadoes could be due to La Nina, a cooling of the tropical Pacific Ocean that can cause changes in weather patterns around the world. Recent studies have found an increase in tornadoes in parts of the South during the winter when La Nina occurs.

There were 67 eyewitness accounts of tornadoes, but some of those were probably twisters that were counted more than once, said Greg Carbin, the warning coordination meteorologist at the Oklahoma center. The actual number is probably more like 30 or 40, he said.

Thirty people were killed in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama, emergency officials said. It was one of the 15 worst tornado death tolls since 1950, and the nation's deadliest barrage of tornadoes since 76 people were killed in Pennsylvania and Ohio in May 31, 1985.

Some residents found reason to be thankful. In Castalian Springs, Tenn., a baby was discovered unscathed in a field across from a demolished post office. A bystander swaddled the crying child in his shirt. There was no word on the fate of the child's parents.

"He had debris all over him, but there were no obvious sings of trauma," said Ken Weidner, Sumner County emergency management director.

Near St. Vincent, Ark., Shannon Barnes said he, his mother and her husband took shelter in her basement. But the wind pulled the door open and nearly sucked them out.

"We prayed to Jesus. We prayed. That's why we're here," Barnes said. "They're ain't much more to say than that."

Seavia Dixon, whose Atkins, Ark., home was shattered, stood in her yard, holding muddy baby pictures of her son, who is now a 20-year-old soldier in Iraq. Only a concrete slab was left from the home.

The family's brand-new white pickup truck was upside-down, about 150 yards from where it was parked before the storm. Another pickup truck the family owned sat crumpled about 50 feet from the slab.

"You know, it's just material things," Dixon said, her voice breaking. "We can replace them. We were just lucky to survive."

Labels: Severe Weather, Tornado

County commissioners voted Friday to defer a decision on a variance requested by Smart Growth Forsyth about a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter on Ga. 141 in the south part of the county.

Although a firm date of Feb. 1 had been determined for a decision on this variance, the commissioners voted 3-1 to move the vote for next Thursday's regular meeting after new evidence was presented at the 11th hour. Commissioner David Richard voted against and Commissioner Linda Ledbetter was not present.

The retailer's original plans for the site called for piping 342-feet of stream but a new plan would call for 110-feet to be piped with significant enhancements done to the remainder of the stream.

Wal-Mart's new plan also calls for a reduction of the size of the store as well as limiting the delivery hours from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Smart Growth Forsyth presented their own set of conditions in a letter to board members last night.

Contention from the board came when they said they had not had ample time to go over both sets of conditions.

"We have been at this a long time," said Commissioner Brian Tam. "Folks have been inconvenienced by coming here for meetings many times. But at the same time, this is a big issue and it's our responsibility to look at this at every angle to make something we can all live with."

Board chairman Charles Laughinghouse agreed.

"Based upon the evidence we had I was ready to go forth with a decision but new evidence was presented and I haven't seen any of Wal-Mart's conditions," he said.

For Smart Growth founder Robert Slaughter, this has been a four-year process to fight the building of a Wal-Mart across the street from where he used to live. He still lives in the county and is dedicated to fight the store although it seems close to the point of breaking ground.

"It's been a long four years. Folks believe it's by design, but we do what we have to do. We got our report yesterday and sent it to the commissioners within a few hours," he said.

Labels: Alpharetta, Cumming, Forsyth, Walmart

Evenflo Co. issued a voluntary safety recall Friday of 1 million Discovery infant car seats after tests showed that the seat could potentially become separated from its base in high-impact side collisions.

The recall affects Discovery Infant Car Seat Models 390, 391, 534 and 552, made between April 2005 and Jan. 29, 2008.

"Evenflo has taken the appropriate action today in recalling the Discovery child safety seat," said Nicole Nason, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Testing conducted by NHTSA and Evenflo has confirmed that these seats represent a potential safety risk to children in high-impact side collisions."

Rob Matteucci, Evenflo's chief executive officer, said the Discovery seat models have performed well to protect infants in side collisions, with no reports of any serious injuries or deaths since they were introduced. However, he said the company wants to take further steps to protect the safety of children.

Evenflo is providing owners of the seat models with a free supplemental dual-hook fastener to ensure that the seat remains attached in such collisions. Evenflo said consumers should continue to use their Discovery infant car seat and that it is not necessary to return the seats to retailers.

The privately held company, based in suburban Dayton, said it is also taking steps to improve future Discovery seat models. The updated seats will be available in the second quarter of 2008.

To order the fastener, owners of Discovery 390, 391, 534, 552 models should call Evenflo at 1-800-356-2229 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST or visit http://www.evenflo.com/Discovery. No shipping costs will be incurred, and orders will arrive in about three to four weeks, the company said.

Labels: Car Seats, Children, Evenflo, Recall

Eric Perrin, Atlanta's fourth shooter, beat Jocelyn Thibault with a fake before scoring in the shootout to give the Thrashers a 5-4 win over Buffalo on Friday night.

Perrin faked to his right before pulling the puck back and shooting past Thibault to the left side of the net, ending the Sabres' three-game winning streak.

Thrashers goalie Johan Hedberg stopped shots by Ales Kotalik, Derek Roy, Clarke MacArthur and Thomas Vanek in the shootout.

Mark Recchi, Bobby Holik, Jim Slater and Tobias Enstrom scored in regulation for Atlanta. Jochen Hecht, Jason Pominville, Daniel Paille and Dmitri Kalinin had the Sabres' goals.

Buffalo led 4-3 but was hurt by two penalties in the last minute of regulation.

MacArthur was called for hooking with 56.4 seconds left, and Tony Lydman drew another penalty for delay of game with 19 seconds left.

With Hedberg pulled, the Thrashers had a three-man advantage that paid off quickly as Enstrom found the net with a long shot from beyond the right circle with 17 seconds left, forcing the overtime.

Buffalo's Ryan Miller gave up two first-period goals but shut out the Thrashers in the second period. Miller stopped 18 shots through two periods but suffered a leg injury in the second period. He left with a 3-2 lead and was replaced by Thibault to start the third period.

Thibault gave up a game-tying goal to Slater 2:25 into the third period, but Kalinin answered with a power-play wrist shot for the Sabres less than 3 minutes later for a 4-3 Buffalo lead.

Hedberg, looking to atone for giving up seven goals in a 10-1 loss to the Sabres in Buffalo on Jan. 18, couldn't hold a 2-0 lead after one period. The Sabres rallied with second-period goals by Hecht, Pominville and Paille.

Hedberg and the Thrashers played strong defense early in their first of at least two games without Ilya Kovalchuk, who hurt his right knee when hit by Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu Wednesday night.

The MRI on Kovalchuk's right knee was negative. He also will miss Atlanta's game at Washington on Saturday but could return Tuesday against Philadelphia.

The Thrashers had another injury scare when their other All-Star, Marian Hossa, was sent crashing hard into the boards behind the Buffalo net by Jaroslav Spacek early in the third period. Hossa left the game but returned later in the period.

Coach Don Waddell asked for balanced scoring, as well as strong defense, to compensate for the temporary loss of Kovalchuk. The Thrashers answered the call with first-period goals by Recchi and Holik.

Notes: The Thrashers improved to 6-4 in shootouts while the Sabres fell to 1-5. ... Slater has two goals in two games after having none in Atlanta's first 52 games. ... Buffalo RW Maxim Afinogenov skated with the team Thursday but missed his 13th straight game with a groin injury. ... RW Drew Stafford was held out with an ankle injury suffered in Buffalo's win at Florida on Wednesday.

Labels: Atlanta Thrashers, Hockey, Hossa, NHL, Thrashers

Georgia's groundhog is predicting an early spring. Awoken by a crowd of hundreds of fans and TV cameras, General Beauregard Lee poked his head from his antebellum mansion at 7:58 a.m. Saturday and did not see his shadow.

Yellow River Game Ranch spokeswoman Stefanie Reeves says General Lee took his time to leave his mansion, as sunrise was at 7:34 a.m.

Tradition holds that it means the region will have an early spring. Georgia would have been in for six more weeks of winter if the 15-pound furry prognosticator had seen his shadow on his veranda at Yellow River Game Ranch in the northeast Atlanta suburbs.

The Southern varmint's prediction differed, for the third year in a row, from that of his famous Northern colleague, Punxsutawney Phil, who did see his shadow, which portends six more weeks of winter.

Labels: Georgia, Groundhog, Spring

Microsoft Corp. is offering $44.6 billion in cash and stock for search engine operator Yahoo Inc. in a move to boost its competitive edge in the online services market.

The unexpected announcement Friday comes as Microsoft, the world's biggest software company, seeks new ways to compete more effectively against the search and online advertising powerhouse Google Inc.

In a letter to Yahoo's board of directors, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said the company will bid $31 per share, representing a 62 percent premium to Yahoo's closing stock price Thursday, and emphasized that the deal isn't subject to financing.

"In February 2007, I received a letter from your chairman indicating the view of the Yahoo board that "now is not the right time from the perspective of our shareholders to enter into discussions regarding an acquisition transaction," Ballmer wrote.

"According to that letter, the principal reason for this view was the Yahoo board's confidence in the "potential upside" if management successfully executed on a reformulated strategy based on certain operational initiatives, such as Project Panama, and a significant organizational realignment."

"A year has gone by, and the competitive situation has not improved," Ballmer added.

Under terms of the proposed deal, Yahoo shareholders could choose to receive cash or Microsoft common shares, with the total purchase consisting of 50 percent each cash and stock.

Microsoft said it sees at least $1 billion cost savings generated by the merger, and intends to offer significant retention packages to Yahoo engineers, key leaders and employees. The software giant said it believes the takeover would receive regulatory clearance and close in the second half of 2008.

Labels: MIcrosoft, Yahoo

Atlanta Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk will miss at least two games but apparently avoided serious injury to his right knee when he was hurt in Wednesday night's game against Pittsburgh.

Atlanta Thrashers general manager and interim coach Don Waddell said Kovalchuk was to have a "precautionary" MRI on the knee Thursday afternoon.

Waddell said he was encouraged that Kovalchuk felt better Thursday. Kovalchuk had no substantial swelling in the knee and was walking without a limp.

The news was good, but the Thrashers must adjust to the loss of their top scorer for at least two games while they fight for a playoff spot. Waddell said Kovalchuk would miss Friday's home game against Buffalo and Saturday's game at Washington.

"We're going to need other guys to chip in, there's no doubt about it," Waddell said. "But we've said all along we can't rely on one or two guys to score all your goals."

Atlanta had good balance as four players -- Kovalchuk, Bobby Holik, Eric Perrin and Jim Slater -- scored against the Penguins.

"We're going to need that," Waddell said.

The Thrashers are two points behind first-place Carolina, which plays Toronto on Thursday night, in the Southeast Division.

Kovalchuk scored his 38th goal in Wednesday night's 4-1 win over Pittsburgh before he was injured in a knee-on-knee hit from Penguins left winger Jarkko Ruutu 3:21 into the second period.

The knee-first hit from Ruutu left Kovalchuk lying on the ice in obvious pain before he limped to the locker room.

Atlanta's Steve McCarthy retaliated by punching Ruutu while pinning the forward against the boards in front of the Thrashers' bench.

McCarthy earned a minor penalty for instigating, a major for fighting and a misconduct. Ruutu drew a pair of majors for kneeing and fighting, and was ejected.

Ruutu said he was only trying to make a routine check on Kovalchuk, who tried to dodge the hit at the last second but left his leg in Ruutu's path.

"I meant to finish my check," Ruutu said. "He ducked away and I barely hit him. I didn't change direction. I just went for a hit."

Waddell stopped short of saying the hit by Ruutu was a cheap shot, though he said Ruutu "came after him pretty hard there."

"The league looks at all these situations," Waddell said. "I'm sure they've looked at it 100 times already. We'll leave that to the league. The referees made the right call, I thought, on the ice. From here, it's out of our hands."

Labels: Atlanta Thrashers, Hockey, Kovalchuck