Local soldier dies in Iraq
An Augusta soldier has died in Iraq.
Spc. Christopher K. Boone, 34, died Saturday in Balad, Iraq, of an injury not related to combat, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Spc. Boone was assigned to the 121st Infantry (Long Range Surveillance), Georgia Army National Guard, Fort Gillem, Ga.
House commemorates slain MCG student
ATLANTA - A resolution honoring Dolly Hearn 17 years after her murder was adopted Thursday by the House.
The resolution, adopted unanimously and without discussion, commemorates Ms. Hearn shortly before she receives a posthumous degree from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry, where she was a student when she was killed.
Ms. Hearn's death was classified as a suicide before the wife of her ex-boyfriend, Barton Corbin, died in 2004.
Mr. Corbin eventually pleaded guilty in both cases.
"She was a fine student," said Rep. Lester Jackson, D-Savannah, an adjunct faculty member at MCG's dental school. "I'd like to pay tribute to her and her family."
Ms. Hearn's degree will be awarded this spring.
Bond denied for man in bicyclist's death
An 18-year-old accused of killing a bicyclist must await possible trial and indictment in jail.
Judge James G. Blanchard Jr. denied bond for Darrius J. Ware, who faces charges that include murder for a Feb. 10 fatal car crash.
Sheriff's officers say Mr. Ware was fleeing arrest in a stolen car when he struck Theodosia Mack, 47.
She was killed and Mr. Ware was injured in the crash near the intersection of Olive Road and Cooney Circle.
Macon man is golf hall's new chairman
The Georgia Golf Hall of Fame in downtown Augusta announced Thursday that Bryan Persons, a Macon businessman, had been elected chairman.
Mr. Persons is a member of Idle Hour Golf & Country Club in Macon and the vice president of Murphey, Taylor & Ellis Inc., a family-owned real estate firm.
Judge denies bond for teen in rape case
A judge denied bond Thursday for a 17-year-old accused of raping a woman in a south Augusta clothing store.
At a bond hearing in Richmond County Superior Court, Assistant District Attorney Al Corey told Judge James G. Blancard Jr. that Michael A. Whitmore is charged with rape, kidnapping and aggravated sodomy in a Feb. 5 sexual assault, and he is charged with armed robbery and a weapon charge in a Jan. 11 robbery at the Wal-Mart in south Augusta.
Mr. Whitmore will be held in jail pending possible indictment and trial.
Nonperishable items sought for food drive
A food drive will be held Saturday to benefit Golden Harvest Food Bank.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Southern Siding will host the drive at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter at 4460 Washington Road in Evans.
Those wishing to contribute are asked to bring nonperishable food items. Donations also will be accepted.
Augustan gets 20-year sentence for robbery
An Augusta man with a long list of prior criminal convictions was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday for an armed robbery.
Arnold J. Johnson, 40, pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to armed robbery and weapon charges.
Mr. Johnson admitted his guilt in the Sept. 9 robbery of Affordable Insurance on Tobacco Road. Officers said in September that the robber roughed up an employee, forced her to the back of the office and locked her inside a bathroom.
Group assaulted after men ransack house
A group of nine people were robbed and two were sexually assaulted at a home in the 2000 block of Walden Drive on Wednesday night, according to a Richmond County sheriff's report.
One of the victims told police that he had gone outside to his car when three men approached him and one put a handgun to the back of his head and ordered him into the home.
The victims, which included three juveniles, were ordered to lie on the floor while the men ransacked the home looking for money.
The robbers then assaulted two of the women present.
The men stole $1,279 in cash and other items from the victims before leaving.
They are wanted on charges including armed robbery, sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery.
Woman tells robber to 'stop playing'
A Gordon Highway gas station was robbed by a man with a T-shirt around his face Wednesday night, according to a Richmond County sheriff's report.
The clerk said she was counting money in the store's cash register when the robber entered the store and demanded money.
The woman told the robber to "stop playing," then the man grabbed an unknown amount of cash from the open register.
Blue flare is fired at pilot of charter plane
A charter pilot for Augusta Aviation reported that someone fired a blue flare at his airplane while he was attempting to land at Daniel Field on Wednesday, according to a Richmond County sheriff's report.
The flare was confirmed by a deputy who was directing traffic at Heard Avenue and Morris Road, the report said.
The pilot was on his final approach when he spotted the flare about 1,000 feet from his airplane. He was able to land safely, and the Federal Aviation Administration was notified.
Man is carjacked behind Surrey Center
An Augusta man was carjacked and robbed behind Surrey Center on Berckmans Road on Wednesday night, a Richmond County sheriff's report said.
The 26-year-old victim said two men in red hooded sweatshirts approached him near the shopping center's trash dumpsters and pointed a gun at him, the report said.
The men took his wallet and his vehicle.
- Edited from wire reports
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