Stolen monkey found shaved
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Police have found a Clarksville family's missing pet monkey nearly 110 miles away in Petersburg, Tenn.
Clarksville Police Department spokesman Jim Knoll told The Leaf-Chronicle the $3,000 marmoset named Gizzy was emaciated and its fur had been shaved to alter its appearance. Petersburg police found it after an anonymous tip.
The monkey's owners traveled to Petersburg to identify and claim Gizzy on Tuesday.
Knoll said the monkey likely would not have been recovered if not for media coverage of the theft.
Gizzy's owners told the paper they came home on Sept. 28 to find their front door pried open and the monkey missing.
Early voting slow in state
ATLANTA - State officials say more than 123,800 votes have been cast so far in Georgia for the upcoming general election, a slower pace than in the days before the 2008 presidential election.
The figures were compiled Tuesday by the Georgia Secretary of State's Office.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the total so far puts Georgia on a far slower pace than four years ago, when the state first expanded early voting in time for the 2008 presidential election.
Tuesday's total included absentee ballots returned by mail and ballots cast during Georgia's early "in-person" voting period, which began Monday.
Officials say more than 58,630 voters had cast in-person ballots statewide by Tuesday. More than 65,220 absentee ballots had been cast by mail.
Police ask help in thefts case
CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Cleveland Police Department is asking for the public's help catching a woman accused of using stolen credit cards and checks.
Erica Sewell, also known as Erica Waters, is wanted for theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and forgery, according to a news release.
Police say Sewell has been using credit cards and checks taken from James and Mary Lou Sluder's home on South Ocoee Street to conduct transactions at Cleveland-area businesses.
Anyone who knows Sewell's location or who has information about the crimes is asked to call Detective Matt Jenkins at 423-303-3134.
Alexander gets honor from Japan
NASHVILLE - U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander has received a decoration conferred by Japanese Emperor Akihito in recognition of his dedication to Japan-U.S. relations.
Alexander received the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star" from Motohiko Kato, the consul general of Japan in Nashville.
While Alexander was Tennessee governor and economic competition between the U.S. and Japan was tense in the early 1980s, he led many trade missions to Japan.
The recruitment resulted in Nissan building the first Japanese auto assembly plant in the U.S. at Smyrna. More than 170 Japanese companies now have Tennessee operations accounting for 35,000 jobs.