Trial scheduled in bomb deaths

LEBANON, Tenn. - A Lebanon man charged with murder in the package-bomb deaths of his in-laws has an Oct. 28 trial date.

Wilson County Circuit Court Judge John Wootten set the date during a Tuesday hearing. Wootten said he wanted to set an early date because Richard Parker is awaiting the trial in jail, unable to make his $1 million bond.

Parker is the son-in-law of Jon and Marion Setzer, and he lived directly behind them in rural Wilson County.

A package bomb exploded at the Setzers' house on Feb. 10, killing 74-year-old Jon Setzer, a retired lawyer. Seventy-two-year-old Marion Setzer later died at a Nashville hospital from her injuries.

Parker's pastor, Kevin Ulmet, has said that before Parker's arrest he sat for hours at Marion Setzer's bedside.

Teacher of year finalists named

ATLANTA - A Fannin County educator is among 10 finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year.

State schools Superintendent John Barge said Monday it was a "very impressive group" of teachers who made the top 10 out of 156 nominees.

The finalists are Fannin County teacher Sarah Ballew Welch; Atlanta Public Schools teacher Rita L. Simmons; Cobb County teacher Rhonda Lokey; Coweta County teacher Lyn Schenbeck; Early County teacher Michelle Peace; Forsyth County teacher Nick C. Crowder; Gwinnett County teacher Hyunjin Son; Heard County teacher Paul D. Mixon; Houston County teacher Amanda Miliner; and Paulding County teacher Marc Pedersen.

The winner will be announced May 16 and will be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

March revenuesup 12.3 percent

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced Tuesday that the state's net tax collections for March totaled $1.32 billion, for an increase of nearly $144.5 million, or 12.3 percent, compared to the month ended March 2013, a news release states.

Net tax revenue collections totaled $13.05 billion for an increase of nearly $705 million, or 5.7 percent, compared to the same point last year.

Individual income tax collections in March totaled $477.5 million, up from roughly $422.75 million in March 2013, for an increase of $54.75 million or 13 percent, according to the release.

Gross sales tax collections fell $22 million, or -2.7 percent, because of legislation that replaced the traditional automobile sales tax with a one-time title tax, while net sales and use tax collections for March decreased $10.5 million, or -2.4 percent, compared to last year.

Prescribed burn set at Little River

FORT PAYNE, Ala. - A prescribed burn involving some road closures will take place between Thursday and Saturday at Little River Canyon National Preserve, Superintendent Gail Bishop said in a statement.

The burn is being done to reduce hazardous fuels in forested regions and enhance native habitats. Ignition of the fire is based on weather conditions.

Prescribed fires help to decrease the impact and danger of wildfires if they occur, according to the statement.