Appeal denied in Cookeville, Tenn., meth case, and more Chattanooga region news

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Appeal denied in Cookeville, Tenn., meth case

NASHVILLE - A federal appeals court has upheld the Cookeville methamphetamine conviction of a man who claimed he was denied a motion to suppress evidence against him.

The ruling posted by the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati on Monday is in the case of Donnie Jones, who was sentenced to more than 17 years in prison.

A federal jury convicted Jones after his 2009 arrest.

Part of Jones' appeal contended his co-defendant, Philip Tabor, received only a 5-year sentence.

The appeals court noted Tabor also pleaded guilty and testified for the state against Jones.

Evidence against Jones included recorded purchases of drugs by an undercover informant who investigators said had a meth addiction and who was searched before and after the drug buys.


Water break closes schools

BLUE RIDGE, Ga.A school system in the North Georgia mountains has canceled class because of a water main break.

Fannin County school officials said they've canceled classes across the county.

WXIA-TV reported crews had a hard time locating the break underground, but eventually the break was found and repairs were started.

There was no immediate word on whether classes will resume today.

The school system is about 90 miles north of Atlanta.


Squirrel season opens in Georgia

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. - Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials say squirrel hunting season will begin this week.

Department spokeswoman Melissa Cummings said squirrel season begins Thursday and runs through the end of February. Cummings said hunters can pursue gray and fox squirrels, and the maximum daily bag limit is 12 per hunter.

Chief of Game Management John Bowers said aside from being a Georgia tradition, squirrel hunting is an effective way to introduce young people to game hunting while being engaged in an inexpensive outdoor activity.


Woman accused in baby death out of jail

ANNISTON, Ala. - Police in Anniston say a woman accused of leaving her 4-month-old baby in a parked car has bonded out of jail.

Anniston police Sgt. Chris Sparks said the baby was found unresponsive in a parked car Friday afternoon and was pronounced dead. Authorities say 35-year-old Katherine Elizabeth Papke, of Anniston, was charged with manslaughter and leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle.

Police said Papke is free on $100,000 bond.

The child's official cause of death hasn't been disclosed. Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown told the Anniston Star the baby's death was linked to heat exposure.

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