Across the region

Ten Commandments plaque goes on eBay

WINDER, GA. - A Ten Commandments plaque that was removed from the Barrow County Courthouse after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit is attracting bids on the online auction site eBay.

By Tuesday, the plaque had received 57 bids, with the latest bid at 5,811.11. Bidding closes Sept. 21.

"We've been told it could raise as high as $20,000, if not $40,000," said Mike Griffin, the executive director of Ten Commandments-Georgia, a group seeking to put Ten Commandments displays in public buildings statewide.

Police instructor shoots, kills trainee

AUSTELL, GA.- A trainee at the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy in Cobb County was accidentally shot and killed by her instructor Tuesday during a training exercise, authorities said.

The Kennesaw police trainee was among about 30 students in the seventh week of the 10-week training course.

She was not identified pending notification of relatives.

Blood tests confirm man had West Nile

ATLANTA - A 73-year-old man has been identified as having Atlanta's first reported case of West Nile virus this year.

The man was hospitalized with a severe headache late last month. He has since fully recovered, but blood tests have confirmed he had the illness.

Mosquitoes spread the virus by sucking the blood of an infected bird and then biting people.

Police accuse woman of posing as evacuee

MARIETTA, GA. - A woman faces felony theft charges after lying about being an evacuee from New Orleans, receiving $1,300 from the Red Cross and getting a good Samaritan to take her into her home, police said.

Beretta Jo Hogg, 36, of Lithonia, went to an American Red Cross shelter and told officials she and her 8-year-old son had lost everything.

A sympathetic woman took them into her home. But while Ms. Hogg was sleeping, the boy revealed he attended school in Stone Mountain. The woman called police, and Ms. Hogg was charged with theft by deception.

Hopeful quits race for state superintendent

PENDLETON, S.C. - Dan Hallman, a former educator from Anderson, has withdrawn from the state education superintendent's race, leaving only Karen Floyd in the Republican primary next year.

"Education has been a major part of my life for many, many years, and I hope to be involved in some way in the future," said Mr. Hallman, a former director of adult and vocational education for Anderson School Districts 3, 4 and 5.

Mr. Hallman said he needed to devote more time to caring for his ailing 92-year-old mother.