Voting tile

Area counties have votes today

Voters in several Northwest Georgia communities will go to the polls today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT to cast votes in special elections.

Voters in Catoosa and Chattooga counties will decide whether to reauthorize five-year, 1 cent special purpose local option sales taxes to fund laundry lists of projects involving roads, recreation, etc.

Voters in Fort Oglethorpe will choose between Clay Kissner and Judd Burkhart to fill until the November election a City Council seat left vacant when Councilman Eddie Stinnett died in November 2012.

Sunday sales of alcohol is on the ballot in two communities: Voters in Summerville will decide whether to allow by-the-glass sales of distilled spirits on Sunday, and Pickens County voters will choose whether to allow Sunday package sales of beer and wine.

Victim found after canoe flips

MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Searchers on Monday found the body of a 25-year-old man who disappeared in Tellico Lake when a canoe overturned Sunday afternoon.

Witnesses said three friends were fishing from the canoe when it tipped over.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported divers using sonar found the body of Edward Russell, of Maryville, early Monday in 15 feet of water.

Three men had been fishing for 30-45 minutes when the canoe tipped. One clung to the swamped canoe and was rescued by a boater, while two opted to swim for shore in a wide section of the lake.

One reached the shore, but the victim disappeared, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Heath Anthony Lawson

Man charged in ATV theft

BRADLEY COUNTY, Tenn. - The Bradley County Sheriff's Office said Heath Anthony Lawson, 37, of Birchwood, has been charged with the theft of more than $1,000 in property.

Detectives had recovered a Yahama all-terrain vehicle valued at $7,000. The ATV had been reported stolen March 10 in north Bradley County.

Lawson is free on a $3,000 bond, and the ATV has been returned to its owner.

Professor wraps no-gas car trip

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A Tennessee college professor is celebrating his coast-to-coast trip without using petroleum fuel.

Middle Tennessee State University fuels researcher Dr. Cliff Ricketts drove into Long Beach, Calif., having used only solar power and hydrogen to power his car. Ricketts and backup driver Terry Young, of Woodbury, finished their six-day journey Thursday afternoon.

Ricketts said the accomplishment showed vehicles all over the country can be run on the sun and water. The hydrogen was derived from water through solar means on the MTSU campus.