Traffic stop uncovers supplies to make meth

A traffic stop by an Aiken Public Safety officer Monday afternoon resulted in the discovery of a mobile methamphetamine lab and the arrest of a Georgia couple, authorities said.

John Richard Johnson, 27, of Grovetown, and Dena Williams, 37, of Hephzibah, were in jail on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, police said.

About 12:25 p.m., the officer pulled over a Cadillac for an improper turn near the intersection of York Street and Hampton Avenue, police said.

Sgt. Jake Mahoney, a spokesman for the department, said the officer noticed the couple acting strangely and a pill bottle fell out of the glove compartment.

The officer requested a K-9 unit, and the dog alerted the officers to the possible presence of drugs. The car was searched and ingredients used in the manufacture of methamphetamine were found, Sgt. Mahoney said.

Judge grants man new trial because of errors

A judge has granted a man serving a 31-year prison sentence a new trial.

In a Richmond County Superior Court order filed Friday by Judge Duncan D. Wheale, Jerome Suber, 31, was ruled entitled to a new trial because the fairness of his February 2006 trial was tainted by errors.

Judge Wheale, who presided over Mr. Suber's trial, found three errors occurred: a prior drug conviction was improperly put before the jury, the prosecutor's closing remarks about the conviction were improper and Mr. Suber's trial attorney was not adequately prepared for trial, appellate attorney John Taylor said.

Mr. Suber has been incarcerated since his Nov. 10, 2003, arrest for possession of cocaine with intent to resell. No decision has been made about a possible retrial.

Worker discrimination suits reach conclusion

Two employment discrimination cases in federal court concluded recently: one in a sealed settlement and the other on summary judgment.

Katrina C. Jordan settled her lawsuit against EMS Ventures, operating as Rural Metro. The terms of the settlement are confidential, said her attorney, Mike Brown. Ms. Jordan had alleged she was sexually harassed on the job before filing the lawsuit in January.

In a second lawsuit, the Richmond County Board of Education won a summary judgment ruling in a discrimination lawsuit filed by Sallie Thomas.

Ms. Thomas, a bus driver, said she was passed over for promotion and unfairly punished when she complained of racial discrimination in 2005. Ms. Thomas, who is white, failed to prove a basis for the allegations, according to Thursday's order signed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall.

$4,000 stolen from arena; alarm ignored

Richmond County authorities are trying to determine how $4,000 was removed from a safe inside James Brown Arena.

The money was deposited on Friday and belongs to Ovations, a food service provider for the entertainment complex, according to a sheriff's report.

Originally, $16,920 was in the deposit bag that an Ovation employee found ripped open. However, the thief appears to have stolen just $4,000 in $20 bills, the report said.

An audible alarm was triggered Sunday but was disregarded as a false alarm. Investigators are awaiting video surveillance of the area.

Aiken City Council picks new solicitor

The Aiken City Council selected a new city solicitor at Monday's meeting. Ben Moore will replace Richard Pierce, who is now the assistant city manager.

For the past 12 years, Mr. Moore, an Aiken resident, has been with the Aiken County Solicitor's Office as the chief prosecutor in Barnwell and Bamberg counties.

The new city solicitor was one of five attorneys interviewed.

Board of Regents approves Knox chair

ATLANTA --- The Peter S. Knox III Distinguished Chair of Accounting was approved for Augusta State University on Monday by the University System Board of Regents.

The board established the chair as part of a package of academic items approved without comment.

The Knox Foundation donated $1.5 million to establish the chair, which the University System of Georgia says will be filled by a professor who "will advance the field of accounting through academic research at the highest level possible."

Mr. Knox became president of Merry Brick Co. in 1974. He built Merry Land & Investment Co. into a company with more than $1 billion in assets. He died in 1996 at age 61.

Group collecting oral histories of WWII vets

The Augusta-Richmond County Historical Society is collecting oral histories for the National Veterans History Project. The society and its volunteers are interviewing World War II veterans and civilians now living in the Augusta and Aiken area who were actively involved in supporting war efforts.

Anyone who would like to be involved may contact Fred Gehle at (706) 738-8242 or fpgehle@bellsouth.net.