Early voting under way for December runoff

Voting for the December runoff began Friday.

Richmond County residents can vote early at the Board of Elections office at 530 Greene St. from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until Nov. 21.

Advance voting week will last three days -- Nov. 24-26 -- because of Thanksgiving. Residents can vote those days from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Board of Elections office, Henry Brigham Recreation Center at 2463 Golden Camp Road, and Warren Road Recreation Center at 300 Warren Road.

All 152 polling sites will be open Dec. 2. Voters will be required to show photo IDs.

For more information on voting in the runoff, visit www.augustaga.gov.

Early voting for the runoff starts Monday in Columbia County, according to the county's Web site.

Votes can be cast at the county Board of Elections office, 500 Faircloth Drive, Building E, Evans, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Deliberations continue in fatal wreck trial

A Columbia County jury could not reach a verdict Friday in the trial of a Harlem man charged with two counts of vehicular homicide in a May 2007 wreck.

After five hours of deliberation, the 12-person jury had not decided on a verdict for Brandon Christopher Newman, 26.

Police say Mr. Newman was driving in foggy conditions on Harlem-Grovetown Road on May 13 with his brother, Cameron Newman, 23; Mallory Jason, 19; and Sarah Boykin, 16, when he lost control and hit a tree.

Mr. Newman is accused of racing with a friend before entering the sharp curve where the crash occurred. The wreck killed Cameron Newman and Ms. Jason and injured Ms. Boykin.

Mr. Newman is also charged with serious injury by vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with excessive blood concentration, reckless driving and an open container violation. Deliberations will resume at 9 a.m. today.