Augusta Chronicle, The

Campaigns Work Until Last Seconds

The countdown has started, and volunteer Phil Kingry is leaving last-minute appeals on answering machines throughout Wilkinson County. It's lunchtime Monday afternoon - 19 hours before the polls open this morning - and Mr. Kingry repeatedly makes his pitch about President Bush and U.S. Senate hopeful Johnny Isakson.

Turning Back the Hands of Time Is a Waste of Time

There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want. - Bill Watterston

County Names Teacher of Year

Davina Johnson was pleasantly surprised when her name was announced as the Edgefield County School District 2004 Teacher of the Year on Monday night. "I love showing the children that learning isn't just about reading something from a book," said Ms. Johnson, 36, who teaches fourth grade at Merriwether Elementary School. "A lot of life is about learning through experiences."

Across the Southeast

Richmond professor found dead at home RICHMOND, VA. - A University of Richmond professor was found dead in his driveway after a neighbor reported hearing gunshots, and police were investigating the death as a homicide.

Cleanup Sweeps Away Cold War-Era Buildings

The first part of Savannah River Site to go operational has become the first to be demolished. Site and environmental officials toured what's left of the T- area on Monday, remembering its purpose from 1953 until 2002 and now its significance as the first group of Cold War-era buildings to be leveled to make way for new missions.

Candidates Want Sign Thefts to End

When Warren Massey saw someone steal a large Bush-Cheney sign from his Barrow County front yard a couple of weeks ago, he jumped in his truck to follow the fleeing vehicle. He lost the sign bandits on Winder's roads that night, but Mr. Massey hasn't lost his anger over the theft, which the former Republican state representative says happens way too often during campaign season.

Aiken School Worker Finds Powder in Mail

An envelope leaking a suspicious white powder was found at the Aiken County school district office late Monday afternoon by an employee sorting mail, school and law enforcement authorities said. The discovery forced the immediate evacuation of the mail room, and the office building at 1000 Brookhaven Drive will be vacated for the rest of the work week while FBI analysts determine the nature of the substance.

Across Georgia

Man attacks, kidnaps DeKalb County officer DECATUR - A DeKalb County police officer was attacked and then kidnapped Monday morning by a person he had stopped.

Lawyer Files Ethics Charge Against Hall

An 11th-hour ethics filing by the Jefferson County government's attorney has sparked accusations of hypocrisy and political high jinks in a crucial state Senate campaign. The filing against Sen. Randy Hall, R-Augusta, comes in the closing days of a campaign pitting the first-term legislator against J.B. Powell, a Democrat from Blythe and former Augusta-Richmond County commissioner. The outcome could help determine the balance of power in the state Senate, which is split 30-26 in favor of th...

Tift Voters Will Weigh in On Mixed Drinks

After three months of passionate debate and the theft of pro- and anti-liquor yard signs, Tift County voters head to the polls today to decide whether to allow restaurants to serve mixed drinks. Tifton is located along busy Interstate 75, a major route for tourists traveling to Florida from the Midwest. With dozens of motels and restaurants, the hospitality industry is the county's second largest behind agriculture.

Across the Area

Feud is blamed in man's death Police say an ongoing feud between two North Augusta men ended Monday in a fatal shooting.

Georgian Is Killed in Iraq Blast

A Marine from Washington, Ga., was among eight Americans killed Saturday in a car bomb attack in Iraq. Lance Cpl. Michael P. Scarborough, 28, was on his second tour in Iraq and had been there about three weeks this time, said his father, D. Michael Scarborough, of Washington. Lance Cpl. Scarborough had been in the Marines for three years.

Runaway Vehicle Thumps Church

Augusta's New Testament Church of Jesus Christ normally doesn't offer drive-through worship services, but on Sunday, Pastor J.L. Timmons said he thought he might have to. He said Richmond County sheriff's deputies called at about 7:30 a.m. to tell him that a man had just slammed a car into the 49-year- old church.

Around Town

Mayor Wants Looser Fire Ban

A plan to reduce air pollution by banning outdoor burning from May to September should include room for reasonable exceptions, Augusta Mayor Bob Young told state regulators Monday night. "We recognize Augusta has air-quality issues that won't go away on their own," he said during a public hearing at Julian Smith Casino. "However, it has come to our attention from representatives of our building industry that a total ban during ozone season would have harmful economic effects on our city."

Across South Carolina

Genetic screening for babies expands COLUMBIA - South Carolina began expanded screening for genetic conditions in newborns Monday.

Across the Area

Feud is blamed in man's death Police say an ongoing feud between two North Augusta men ended Monday in a fatal shooting.

Rants & Raves

Comments from readers: ALL OF MY CHILDREN attended Columbia County schools. Never were they told to stay at home if they weren't going on a field trip. They were assigned to another classroom and teacher for the duration of the trip.

Deaths Elsewhere

Peggy Ryan LAS VEGAS - Peggy Ryan, who teamed with dance partner Donald O'Connor in movie musicals such as This Is the Life and When Johnny Comes Marching Home, has died at age 80.

Controversial Past Caused Firing, Ex-Professor Says

By many accounts, Roger Roots was a gifted scholar and well qualified for his tenure-track teaching position at Macon State College. Mr. Roots, who holds two graduate degrees and is working on a third, joined the school's social sciences department in August with an impressive resume. So when he was fired just two months later, he said officials unfairly held his controversial past against him.