Two bitten by rabid cat and other news from areas around Chattanooga

Two bitten by rabid cat

CHATSWORTH, Ga. - Two Murray County residents will be treated after being exposed to rabies from a cat, WRCB-Channel 3 reported.

A stray that came around the victims' home scratched and bit them. They took the animal to the Murray County Animal Control, where it tested positive for rabies, according to a news release from the North Georgia Health District.

The Murray County Environmental Health Office asked people living near the 5700 block of Old Federal Road South to report any bites or scratches from stray cats in the past month. Call 706-695-0266, ext. 8.


Suspect sought in arsons

POOLER, Ga. - State Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens says a reward of up to $10,000 may be available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who set four fires at a Ramada Inn in Pooler, Ga.

Officials said the fires originated in two unoccupied rooms and a storage closet.

Tipsters are asked to call 1-800-282-5804 with information.


Vanished official misled family

ATLANTA - Authorities say a bank director accused of losing millions of investors' dollars before vanishing last year told law enforcement his family didn't know he was still alive.

Aubrey Lee Price was arrested Tuesday on Interstate 95 in Brunswick. He had disappeared in 2012 after sending a letter to his family saying he had lost millions of investors' dollars and planned to kill himself.


Gingrey hires campaign chief

U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey of Marietta has hired a new campaign manager to direct his bid for Georgia's open U.S. Senate seat.

Gingrey spokeswoman Jen Talaber said the new hire is Patrick Sebastian, who recently served as the Republican National Committee's state director in New Jersey during Gov. Chris Christie's campaign.


One killed in rollover crash

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - A Cleveland, Tenn., woman died at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga following a rollover accident on U.S. Highway 411 in Polk County early New Year's Day.

Natasha J. Burchfield, 25, was traveling north on Highway 411 when her vehicle exited the road to the left "for an unknown reason" shortly after 4:30 a.m.. It rolled several times and she was thrown out, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report. She was originally taken to SkyRidge Medical Center in Cleveland in critical condition, and was later transported to Erlanger.

Burchfield was not wearing her safety belt, and the THP report said drugs and/or alcohol could be a factor in the crash.

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