Dalton hosting rail meeting and other news from areas around Chattanooga

Sunday, August 10, 2014

photo Dalton City Hall

Dalton hosting rail meeting

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Transportation is planning three public meetings to discuss long-range transportation planning projects.

Officials said they're developing a long-term plan for passenger and freight rail transportation through 2040 and are hosting meetings with the public and stakeholders.

Officials said they're hosting a meeting Aug. 12 at Dalton City Hall, Aug. 13 at the Atlanta Regional Commission and Aug. 14 at Valdosta City Hall.

Each meeting runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Members of the public will be given opportunities to share input with state transportation officials.


Body recovered at Lake Lanier

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Forsyth County sheriff's officials, who have been searching Lake Lanier for a man missing since early Tuesday, say they've recovered his body.

Sheriff's Deputy Doug Rainwater said a detective arriving at the site around dawn Thursday to resume the search saw the body floating on the lake's surface. Rainwater said the body was identified as the missing man, 19-year-old Cody Daniel Gibbs.

Authorities had been searching the lake for Gibbs, the last of three people they said ran from a deputy who broke up an unauthorized party at a park near the lake.

Forsyth County fire Chief Jason Shivers said a deputy patrolling near Two Mile Creek Park had found about 20 teens and young adults early Tuesday morning. Some were detained but the deputy heard others jump in the water.


State co-sponsors genealogy events

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee State Library and Archives and Ancestry.com are collaborating on genealogy events in Nashville next month.

Beginning Sept. 16, special lectures and research assistance are scheduled each day at TSLA's building directly west of the state Capitol in downtown Nashville.

On Sept. 20, a full day of presentations designed to help family historians trace their roots will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Nashville. Presentations at the event will include information about using "old-fashioned" research in libraries and archives, as well as focusing on online resources.

Among the topics to be covered are research in court records, use of family search software and use of DNA testing in genealogy.

For more information, contact the State Library and Archives at 615-741-2764.


Ex-teacher gets prison in sex case

CLANTON, Ala. - A former high school teacher in Thorsby accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a minor has been sentenced to five years in prison.

In May, Jennifer McNeill pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree rape and one count of second-degree sodomy.

Al.com reported that a judge on Thursday sentenced McNeill to the prison term.

McNeill said in court that she was sorry for what she had done, adding that "I've lost so much ... I've learned my lesson."

Authorities said the victim, a 14-year-old boy, was not a student at the school.

Prosecutors had dismissed some charges in exchange for McNeill's guilty plea.