Across Georgia

Holiday wreck deaths pass number from '05

ATLANTA - The number of people killed on Georgia roads over the Labor Day holiday period rose from last year, according to the Georgia State Patrol.

Car crashes killed 22 people during the period beginning Friday night and ending Monday night. That's an increase from last year's total of 17 fatalities.

Five of the deaths were the result of just one crash, in which a recreational vehicle ran a stop sign late Friday in Seminole County and struck a Ford Explorer carrying a family of four, the state patrol said.

Killed were RV driver Michael Blanchard, 44, of Albany, Ga.; Explorer driver Joseph Cone, 46, of Marietta, Ga.; Mr. Cone's wife Madeline; and the Cones' 4-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son.

The number of vehicle crashes also rose to 2,667; up from last year, when there were 1,930 crashes. But the number of injuries was 729; down from last year, when there were 931 injuries caused by crashes.

BOSTON - Police have arrested a man in the stabbing death of his father.

William Davis, 45, was taken into custody Saturday and charged in the killing of Lacey Davis Jr., 73.

William Davis told police he and his father had gotten into an argument that might have led to the stabbing.

"He called 911 himself and said he had stabbed his father and that he wasn't breathing," Boston Police Chief Chuck Weaver said.

Police arrived to find the father dead in a bedroom.

ATLANTA - The Georgia Public Service Commission reduced on Tuesday the cost of the premium of a voluntary program that allowed customers to purchase part of their electric power from renewable, or "green" resources.

The unanimous vote reduced the premium to $4.50 per block of 100 kilowatt hours for Georgia Power customers and those who used to be in portions of the former Savannah Electric territory.

Previously, the "Green Power" premium was set at $5.50 per block for Georgia Power customers and $6 per block for Savannah Electric customers. The premium is in addition to regular electric usage charges.

The voluntary program allows customers to have part of their electric power come from renewable resources, such as landfill gas, solar or wind power, and limited amounts of hydroelectric and biomass power.

UNADILLA - Four aircraft, including three crop dusters, were destroyed in a fire early Tuesday that caused an estimated $750,000 in damage, state Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine said.

Mr. Oxendine said arson investigators from his office, along with agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, were investigating the 1:30 a.m. blaze that also destroyed heavy equipment stored in an 8,000-square-foot building occupied by A&C Aviation.

- Edited from wire reports