Augusta Chronicle, The

Across the Area

Decision put off on school status Richmond County Superintendent Charles Larke on Thursday postponed his decision on whether to ask state education officials to lift Murphey Middle School's "persistently dangerous" status.

Judgeship Race Offers Choice

Voters will have a choice in deciding who should fill the judicial seat being vacated by retiring Chief Judge William M. Fleming Jr. Martinez attorney J. David Roper, 59, and Augusta attorney Charles "Les" Wilkinson, 61, qualified Thursday to run as nonpartisan candidates in the Nov. 7 election.

Election Officials Ok Free Id Cards

ATLANTA - County election officials can start printing free photo identification cards for people who want to vote in the upcoming primaries, the State Election Board said Thursday. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice approved Georgia's current voter ID law, clearing the way for the state to approve use of the free ID cards in the July 18 primary.

Clemson Killing Suspect Shouldn't Have Been Free

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A sex offender released from a Florida prison who is charged with strangling a Clemson University student should never have been freed, the Florida Department of Children & Families said Thursday. The agency is now reviewing 10,000 cases in hopes of avoiding a similar mistake.

Campers' Delight

Phone Use Is As Bad As Booze, Study Says

Talking on a cell phone while driving could be as risky as driving drunk, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Utah. The study, released Thursday, found that people who converse on a cell phone, hand-held or hands-free, while driving are so distracted by the conversation that their reaction time to traffic slows considerably, causing them to drive more slowly, take too long to put on their brakes and take even longer to regain speed after doing so.

Many Augustans Get an Early Start On July 4 Travel

The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd druther not. - Mark Twain

Rants & Raves

Comments from readers: TO THE PERSON WHO called in about Rants and Raves being so liberal and should be canceled: Is that what the Republican Party is about, communism? Nobody gets an opinion except the Republicans? The last time I looked, America was a free country.

Lawsuit Names Official for Cox

ATLANTA - Cathy Cox's campaign press secretary is facing a slander lawsuit over comments attributed to him by the Savannah Morning News that attack the credibility of a Mark Taylor supporter. The Cox campaign on Thursday refused to address the allegations in the lawsuit and proceeded to step up its assault on Mr. Taylor, claiming that he and his family benefited financially from his service as lieutenant governor.

Across Georgia

Former teacher pleads guilty to molestation SYLVESTER - A former third-grade teacher at a Worth County elementary school pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated child molestation and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Family Man Danced Through Life

Whether he was beating on his steering wheel or giving drum sticks to his children before they could walk, Robert Holsonbake Jr. always seemed to strum and dance to a built-in rhythm. A husband, father and grandfather, Mr. Holsonbake, 60, died Tuesday from a heart attack.

Erosion Control Gets Past Review by State

Columbia County will retain its authority to issue development permits and enforce erosion-control laws, according to Georgia's Environmental Protection Division. The county's permitting program was placed on "administrative review" in July after state inspectors found repeated violations and lax enforcement of erosion-control measures.

Woman Suing School Board Runs to Be On It

A Martinez woman who is suing the Columbia County Board of Education is now seeking a seat on the board. Alma "Sissy" Hobbs filed her intention to run for the District 2 school board seat with the Columbia County Board of Elections on Wednesday.

Across South Carolina

Men are rescued after boat sinks in ocean BEAUFORT - Two Missouri men were rescued from the Atlantic Ocean this week after their boat sank. One of the men survived in the water for 26 hours before the Coast Guard found him.

Across the Area

Decision put off on school status Richmond County Superintendent Charles Larke on Thursday postponed his decision on whether to ask state education officials to lift Murphey Middle School's "persistently dangerous" status.

Around Town

TODAY MOVIES AT IMPERIAL: The Devil and Daniel Johnston will be shown at the Imperial Theatre, 745 Broad St., as part of the Indies at the Imperial series, which will show an independent film each week through July. The films will be shown at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Tickets cost $6 for regular admission and $4 for seniors, students and military personnel. Call (706) 722-8341 for details.

Election Officials Ok Free Id Cards

ATLANTA - County election officials can start printing free photo identification cards for people who want to vote in the upcoming primaries, the State Election Board said Thursday. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice approved Georgia's current voter ID law, clearing the way for the state to approve use of the free ID cards in the July 18 primary.

Panel Approves All City Taxi Services at Airport

The Augusta Aviation Commission paved the way Thursday for all city taxi services to set up shop at the airport. The move ends Radio Cab's exclusive 21-year contract to solicit fares at Augusta Regional Airport.

Woman, 19, Hurt Badly in Collision

A 19-year-old Evans woman was severely injured Thursday afternoon in a collision that closed an Evans road for nearly two hours. Jessica Thompson, 19, of Bohler Drive in Evans, suffered life- threatening injuries when her Ford Explorer veered under the back end of a tractor trailer on Owens Road at Legion Drive in Evans, Columbia County sheriff's Deputy Ted Powers said.

Deaths Elsewhere

Al Brounstein CALISTOGA, Calif. - Al Brounstein, the founder of Diamond Creek Vineyards and a pioneer of the single-vineyard concept in California, has died of complications from Parkinson's disease, a winery spokeswoman said. He was 86.