Across Georgia

Fire kills 8-year-old girl; 2 children survive

NEWNAN - An 8-year-old child died early Saturday when fire destroyed the mobile home she lived in Newnan.

Glenn Allen, a spokesman for the state insurance commissioner, identified the victim as Samantha Street.

Mr. Allen said two other children were visiting from another home in the trailer park - Justin Wolfe, 11, and his sister, Victoria, 9. Justin was taken to a hospital in Atlanta and treated for burns to his face, arms and hands. Victoria was not hurt, Mr. Allen said.

He said it was believed that Justin went back in the burning home to try to save Samantha.

The children were alone when the fire broke out at about 3 a.m. Mr. Allen said Samantha's mother, Bobby Street, was at work at a nearby Waffle House and they believed Sherald Millinax, 25, who was staying with the children, had left the trailer to go see Ms. Street.

Boy accidentally kills himself with handgun

CARTERSVILLE - A 3-year-old boy has died after accidentally shooting himself in the head with a handgun.

The shooting happened at about midnight Thursday in a home west of Cartersville, Bartow County Sheriff Clark Millsap said. The child was identified as Demaurion Tamon McConnell, of nearby Kingston.

Sheriff's officials were interviewing people at the home.

Police officer is fired after incident at game

JEFFERSON - A Jefferson city police officer has been fired for pulling a gun on two people after an argument at a children's softball game.

Officer Dexter Sims, who was watching his daughter play at a recreation department softball game, was accused of getting into a "confrontation" with two spectators who were thrown out for fighting, then pulling his weapon on them.

Officer Sims, who worked with the department for three years, was placed on administrative leave after the incident and was fired Thursday.

Brunswick welcomes 118th Regiment home

BRUNSWICK - Sixteen months after throngs bid hometown National Guardsmen farewell, Brunswick turned out to welcome them home from Iraq.

Hundreds of people waving flags and welcome-home signs lined the streets as buses rolled into town, bringing the Service Battery of the 118th Field Artillery Regiment to Mary Ross Park.

There they were dismissed to join their families and spend their first night back in their own homes.

The 118th is part of the 48th Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia National Guard. The brigade suffered 26 deaths, among them Sgt. Charles Crum "Chuck'' Gillican III of Brunswick.