Fatal shooting ruled accident

The shooting death of a 4-year-old Emanuel County boy has been ruled an accident, the Emanuel County sheriff said Thursday.

At 11 p.m. Wednesday, deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to a call on U.S. Highway 1 in the Oak Park area, Sheriff J. Tyson Stephens said in a statement.

Officials found Jacob Daniel Clark, 4, dead from a gunshot wound, the statement said.

Jacob's stepfather, David Wayne Faircloth, was awakened by a loud noise and found Jacob motionless on the floor.

Jacob's 4-year-old stepbrother, who was not named, was crying and holding a handgun, the statement said.

The gun had been kept on top of the refrigerator, and the two children had used a chair to reach it, the statement said.

Jacob's body has been sent to a Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab, the statement said.

Trial of ex-substitute on groping charge set

The trial for a former Columbia County substitute teacher accused of groping students has been set for Nov. 28.

Billy Fray Cleveland, 67, of Augusta, faces eight charges of child molestation, Assistant District Attorney Ashley Wright said.

Mr. Cleveland's trial was originally set to be heard in Columbia County Superior Court on Sept. 26 but was continued.

In late August, a Columbia County grand jury handed down an indictment, which accuses Mr. Cleveland of inappropriately touching eight girls younger than 16 when he worked as a substitute at Brookwood and Riverside Elementary schools between May 3 and 17.

Mr. Cleveland was arrested Aug. 1 and released Aug. 4 after posting a $25,000 bond, according to jail records.

Trial delayed in death of Smith's husband

A trial that was to begin Monday for two men charged in the 2001 slaying of Daniel "Mack" McFarland Smith has been delayed until next year.

On June 22, Cory Blaine Coggins, 23, and Barry Keith Tabor Jr., 24, were indicted on murder charges in the death of Mr. Smith, whose widow, Ashley Smith, gained national attention earlier this year as the hostage who led police to Brian Nichols, charged in the Fulton County courthouse shooting.

Because of the recent appearance of two new witnesses, Superior Court Judge Carl Brown granted defense attorneys Andrew Tisdale, Scott Connell and David Weber a continuance Wednesday to research and interview those witnesses, Mr. Tisdale said.

The case likely will be put off until the next session of Columbia County jury trials.

No date has been set, but District Attorney Danny Craig said he anticipates a mid-January trial.

Mr. Smith died after being stabbed in the heart during a brawl that involved an estimated 10-15 people, according to police, at Applecross Apartments in August 2001.

Bus drivers endorse Hasan for board seat

Days after being endorsed by a teachers' organization, school board candidate A.K. Hasan was endorsed by the Richmond County bus drivers union. Transportation Workers Union Local 239 President Sallie Thomas said Thursday that the union is backing Mr. Hasan in his run for the Super District 9 seat.

Mr. Hasan was endorsed Tuesday by the Richmond County Association of Educators. He is running against Robert Howard and the Rev. Robert Anderson, who has been endorsed by the Augusta-Richmond County Committee for Good Government.

They are vying for the seat vacated after the resignation of Dr. Johnny Hatney, who is running for the Augusta Commission.

Man with handgun robs Hephzibah gas station

A worker at a Hephzibah service station told Richmond County sheriff's deputies that someone robbed him Wednesday night, a police report states.

The worker at the Phillips 66 station in the 2900 block of Inwood Drive said that at 9:25 p.m., a man with a white bandana over his face jumped the counter, pointed a silver handgun at him and demanded money from the register.

The report states that worker gave $121 from the register and that the robber snatched four packs of cigarettes from a rack before running away.

Robbers make teens empty their pockets

Richmond County sheriff's deputies are investigating the robbery of two Augusta teenagers, police reports state.

A report states that at 6 p.m., while in the 2200 block of Broad Street, the 17-year-old and 15-year-old boys were approached by four other males.

They demanded that the boys empty out their pockets. Items taken included a knife, a lighter, a DVD player and several DVDs.

Yard sale to help pay for boy's treatments

Family and friends of a 2-year-old Dearing boy who is battling cancer will hold a yard sale Saturday to raise money for his treatments.

Drake Axton was diagnosed in April with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system.

The yard sale will begin at 8 a.m. at the old Axon's general store, off U.S. Highway 78 in Dearing.

Blood Center to hold drive today at center

The Shepeard Aiken Community Blood Center will hold a special blood drive from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the center, 1019 Pine Log Road.

Every donor will receive a free ticket to Fort Discovery and a Kiss the Donor apron. Call (706) 737-4551 for more information.

Thurmond Lake fishing derby set for Saturday

A Thurmond Lake fishing derby to benefit the Augusta chapter of Boy Scouts of America will be held at Wildwood Park in Columbia County beginning at dawn Saturday.

Registration is $60. The event is sponsored by Augusta Marine and Bass Master Fishing Club. For more information, contact the scouting office at 733-5277.