Festival to include cemetery tours
CHATSWORTH, Ga. - The 15th annual Spring Place Community Festival on Aug. 18 will include special Civil War tours of the historic Spring Place Cemetery by the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
The festival's theme this year is "The Civil War comes to Spring Place," according to a news release. The festival will take place at the Old Spring Place Methodist Church beginning at 8 a.m. Proceeds from the event will be used to preserve the church, the oldest building designed for public use in Murray County.
The festival will feature a flea market, bake sale, auction, book sales, concessions, vendors and a raffle.
Members of the William Luffman Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans, will be at the cemetery on Tibbs Bridge Road from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $3 per person, $5 per couple and $1 for those 6-16. Children under 6 get in free.
The Spring Place Ruritan Club and the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society are co-sponsors of the festival.
For information, call Jim Luffman at 706-695-2046 or Tim Howard at 706-695-2740.
Democrats to meet Aug. 18
RINGGOLD, Ga. - The Catoosa County Democratic Party will hold its monthly breakfast meeting at 9 a.m. Aug. 18 at party headquarters in the OSA Inc. building, 7638 Nashville St.
The agenda includes the 2012 general election, candidate support and grass-roots rebuilding, according to a news release.
For information, call Chris Scott at 770-826-8644.
Man in coma from beating dies
MEMPHIS - A Memphis man who was comatose for almost 21 years after being beaten and hog-tied by police has died.
Pat Brunson-Ware told The Commercial Appeal that her son, Bert, died Thursday night.
Bert Brunson was 22 in 1991 when Shelby County sheriff's deputies stopped him on suspicion of driving under the influence. Two deputies say Brunson tried to grab a gun and escape when they stopped to let him use a restroom. Brunson was struck on the head with a nightstick, hog-tied and placed on his stomach in the back of a cruiser.
His mother said his oxygen supply was cut off and he was left in a persistent vegetative state.
Shelby County settled a lawsuit brought by Brunson-Ware for $3.5 million plus her son's medical bills.
Gordon to get rebuilt I-75 exit
CALHOUN, Ga. - The Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded a contract to rebuild the Interstate 75-state Route 136 interchange in Gordon County.
The $15 million project includes widening Highway 136 from two to four lanes between Camp Creek and U.S. Highway 41, according to a GDOT news release. It also includes construction of two bridges and their approaches on Highway 136 over Camp Creek and I-75.