Across the region

School board lets 'Harry Potter' stay

SUWANEE, GA. - The Gwinnett County school board voted Thursday night to reject a parent's pleas to take Harry Potter books out of school libraries, based on a claim that they promote witchcraft.

"At the very heart of this issue is censorship," board member Carole Boyce said before the unanimous vote. "Our students understand the difference between fact and fiction."

Loganville resident Laura Mallory, who has three children in a Gwinnett elementary school, asked the school district to ban the books. She said she had not decided whether to appeal the board's decision.

Ms. Mallory filed her complaint in September. A media review panel composed of parents, teachers and community members at J.C. Magill Elementary rejected the complaint.

Man is shot by officers in drug raid at home

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. - A man was wounded by gunfire when SWAT officers stormed a house looking for illegal drugs.

Daniel Thomas Nickeson, 35, was shot in the leg and taken to Gwinnett Medical Center, where he was expected to recover, said Cpl. Darren Moloney, a spokesman for the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Mr. Nickeson faces felony drug charges, police said.

Officers arrived at the home at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to serve a high-risk search warrant for drugs, Cpl. Moloney said.

The occupants of the home were suspected of dealing methamphetamine, Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said.

Photos of marijuana lead to man's arrest

STATESBORO, GA. - An east Georgia man landed in jail after photographing his healthy marijuana plants and going to a drugstore to have the pictures developed.

Police arrested him as he went to pick the photos up.

Statesboro Police Capt. L. C. Williams said Byron Charles Mattheeussen, 21, was charged Tuesday with manufacturing marijuana, manufacturing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a housing project and possession of drug-related objects.

Capt. Williams said a photo lab technician called police after seeing the photos. Officers confirmed the plants in the pictures were marijuana, he said.

Capt. Williams said police found 42 suspected marijuana plants growing in and around the residence.

Florida-bound plane crashes in Alabama

ALEXANDER CITY, ALA. - A twin-engine plane that crashed on its way from Georgia to Florida with two people on board was found Thursday in eastern Alabama, officials said.

Pat Mitcham, spokeswoman for the Civil Air Patrol's ground command, confirmed that the plane had been spotted in Tallapoosa County.

Jim Tatum, manager of the airport in Cornelia, Ga., said two people were on board the Aerostar plane that took off at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday. He said those on board were from Clayton, Ga. Mr. Tatum said they were planning to go to Mobile, Ala., stopping in Pensacola, Fla., on the way.

Job offer is revoked over past allegations

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Beaufort County officials have revoked their job offer to a former San Diego airport official after learning about fraud and corruption allegations surrounding her previous employment.

County Administrator Gary Kubic said Tracy Williams did not disclose that she was forced to resign as director of the San Diego city airports in November.

Ms. Williams stepped down after San Diego authorities began investigating no-bid contracts she awarded to a Florida company run by a longtime acquaintance. After her resignation, the city attorney's office opened a criminal investigation.

Cloud of heroin flies as van flees police

ANDERSON, S.C. - Two men trying to flee from police in a van left behind what authorities said was a cloud of heroin as they ran from officers.

An Oconee County deputy tried to stop the van Tuesday morning on Interstate 85 about two miles from the Georgia state line, but the driver sped away.

When the van crossed into Georgia, a passenger started ripping open plastic bags and dumping powder out the window, said Mike Cleveland, sheriff of Hart County, Ga.

The van was stopped a few miles down the road and the men were arrested, deputies said.

A thick residue of what appeared to be heroin covered the side of the van and the patrol car that chased it, Sheriff Cleveland said.

- Edited from wire reports