Board makes decision on teen's punishment

The Columbia County school board made a decision in a closed session Tuesday night involving an Evans High School student who brought a gun on campus, but that finding won't be released until today.

Citing an exception to state open meeting laws, which board attorney Pete Fletcher said allows boards of education to make student disciplinary decisions in closed sessions, the board said it would deliver a written decision to the high school junior's parents today and then give the media a summary report.

On Oct. 24, the 16-year-old forgot a hunting rifle was in his vehicle while on school grounds, said his mother, Anita Ivie. He immediately reported the incident to the school office. Though school officials reported the incident to police, the teen was not charged, Ms. Ivie said. A phone message and e-mail left for Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris was not returned Tuesday.

Ms. Ivie said her son is serving an in-school suspension at Evans High. Recently, a school hearing officer determined he must attend the system's alternative school for the remainder of the semester, she said. Ms. Ivie appealed that decision to the school board.

In an unrelated disciplinary matter, schools Superintendent Charles Nagle said after Tuesday's meeting that some Evans High students were recently suspended for making a racial gesture during a shop class.

He said the students had created a noose using wire and hanged an oil can to taunt some classmates.

The argument never turned physical, Mr. Nagle said.

Aiken County investigators were seeking a man who robbed a restaurant near the Interstate 20-U.S. Highway 25 interchange Tuesday.

About 3:30 a.m. a man walked into the Waffle House at 105 Frontage Road, grabbed a steak knife off a table, jumped over the counter and demanded money from the employees. After taking money from the cash register, the man left the restaurant, dropping the knife on the way out.

He drove away in a dark silver-colored car, according to the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. The only description of the man given to police was that he was black and about 5 feet 6 inches tall. Anyone with information is asked to call (800) 922-9709.

Tuesday's government holiday gave jurors a break in the trial of a Harlem man charged with two counts of vehicular homicide in a fatal wreck in May 2007.

It is expected to resume at 9:30 a.m. today. Brandon Christopher Newman, 26, also is charged with a count of serious injury by vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with excessive blood alcohol concentration, reckless driving and a container violation.

Mr. Newman was driving in the early hours of May 13 with Mallory Jason, 19, of Martinez, his brother, Cameron Newman, 23, of Harlem, and Sarah Boykin, 16, said Assistant District Attorney Adam King.

Mr. Newman lost control of his Dodge Quad Cab truck and hit a pine tree, police said. The one-vehicle wreck killed Cameron Newman and Ms. Jason, and injured Ms. Boykin. Mr. King said Mr. Newman was driving above the speed limit and racing with a friend before he entered a sharp curve. He said Mr. Newman's blood alcohol level registered at 0.097.

Mr. Newman's defense attorney, Victor Hawk, says his client's blood-alcohol level was between 0.047 and 0.067. He said Mr. Newman and his friend, Randy Cooke Jr., of Harlem, were passing one another right before the wreck. Mr Hawk said Mr. Cooke's 1991 Chevrolet Blazer bumped Mr. Newman's truck from behind and caused him to lose control. Mr. Cooke said he was positive his vehicle never bumped Mr. Newman's truck.

The CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority Inc. will hold a mass food distribution in 13 counties for low-income and elderly people:

ON NOV. 18

- Screven County at the Senior Citizens Center, 209 E. Ogeechee St., Sylvania, 9:30 a.m.

- Wilkes County at God's Marketplace, 275 E. Robert Toombs Ave., Washington, 1 p.m.

- Glascock County at Brassell Park in Gibson 9:30 a.m.

- Jenkins County at the Senior Citizens Center, 998 College Ave., Millen, 9:30 a.m.

- Taliaferro County at the Senior Center, 119 Commerce St. in Crawfordville, 9:30 a.m.

- McDuffie County at the McDuffie Leisure Senior Center, 304 Greenway St. in Thomson, 9:30 a.m.

ON NOV. 19

- Burke County at the Senior Center, 717 W. Sixth St. in Waynesboro, 9:30 a.m.

- Warren County at the Quality of Life Association, 50 N. Norwood St. in Warrenton, 9:30 a.m.

- Columbia County at the Harlem United Methodist Church, 115 Milledgeville Road, 10 a.m.

ON NOV. 20

- Lincoln County Senior Center, 160 May Ave., Lincolnton, 9:30 a.m.

- Jefferson County at the Louisville Multipurpose Center, 209 E. Seventh St., 1 p.m.

- Emanuel County at the Senior Center & CAA, Georgia Highway 56 in Swainsboro, noon

- Richmond County at the May Park Recreation Center, 622 Fourth St., 9:30 a.m.