Shooting suspect extradited and other news from the areas around Chattanooga

photo Kelly Jack Mayo

Shooting suspect extradited

FORT PAYNE, Ala. - A Fort Payne man accused of leaving one man paralyzed and another dependent on a cane after trying to rob a Rainsville store on Aug. 24 is being brought back to Alabama.

DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris said in a news release that Kelly Jack Mayo, 45, was on the way from Polk County, Ga., where he was arrested in October, charged in a second attempted armed robbery.

In DeKalb, Mayo has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of discharging a gun and first-degree robbery, Harris said.

Police said Mayo, who was fired from a Fred's store in Rome, Ga., may have been trying to get back at the company, and he also was in financial trouble.

Mayo was arrested after a man tried to rob a Cedartown Fred's store, kidnapping an employee. He was arrested when a police car rammed his car.


Lake Lanier level to drop

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Federal officials say they're lowering Lake Lanier's water level and increasing the flow of water downstream to ease drought conditions in parts of Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials have said they will release more water from Lanier and West Point Lake. The Times of Gainesville reported officials expect Lanier to drop six inches each week at the current release rate.


Medicaid change eyed in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - An Alabama health officer says the state's Medicaid program probably will move to some type of managed care system.

The Tuscaloosa News reported such a program would operate much like private insurance functions with commercial management companies or community-based care.

Dr. Don Williamson, the state's public health officer and the person Gov. Robert Bentley appointed to lead the state's Medicaid reform effort, said the Medicaid system is "fundamentally broken" and that "we have to manage this care differently going forward."

The executive committee of the Alabama Medicaid Advisory Commission met Wednesday to continue its task to redesign Medicaid to save taxpayer money while continuing to provide adequate service.


Schools chief finalists picked

ROME, Ga. - Three finalists for Rome city schools superintendent have been named as the district looks to replace Superintendent Gayland Cooper, who is to retire next month.

The Rome News Tribune reported the finalists are Bill McCown, superintendent of Gordon County Schools; James Arnold, superintendent of Pelham City Schools; and Jeff Bearden, superintendent of Fayette County Schools.

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