Across Georgia

Savannah to celebrate St. Patrick's Day early

SAVANNAH --- Tourism officials plan to step up efforts this month to let visitors know that this year's St. Patrick's Day celebration will take place Friday, March 14.

"We'll start reaching out to members of the Chamber and the CVB to make sure they have all the information" about the festivities, said Joseph Marinelli, the president of the Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The city's biggest celebration, which normally takes place March 17, was pushed forward after an edict by Bishop J. Kevin Bolan in December 2006 decreed that festivities should not be held on Monday of the holy week.

Publicizing the date change to Savannah locals has not been difficult, officials said.

"Obviously, within the Catholic community, we've made it aware through the churches," said John Forbes, the general chairman of the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee.

Snow covers area on north Georgia border

ATLANTA --- A handful of Georgia counties got the first snow of winter as up to 2 inches fell in some spots.

The snow was expected to taper off, said Verona Murrell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City. Most of the swath of eight counties along the Georgia-Tennessee border got about an inch of white powder, but some of the upper elevations in the mountainous northeastern corner of the state got about twice that, Ms. Murrell said.

'Suspicious' blaze destroys mosque

DALTON --- Authorities are investigating a "suspicious" Christmas morning blaze that destroyed a mosque under construction, the fire chief says.

Graffiti with expletives was found inside the burned-out three-bedroom brick house that was to be the future home of the Dalton Islamic Center, said Whitfield County Fire Chief Carl Collins. Construction on the center began in early December after opposition from local residents concerned that the mosque would cause traffic problems in the neighborhood.

About 80 people currently attend services at a smaller facility, mosque President Hammad El-Ameen said.

Traffic deaths double on New Year's holiday

ATLANTA --- The number of traffic fatalities during the New Year's holiday more than doubled this year, a report from the Georgia State Patrol shows.

Eighteen people died in automobile accidents across the state during the 102-hour holiday period, compared with seven last year.

Last year's holiday period was 78 hours.

There were 3,842 crashes with 907 injuries this year, compared with 2,196 accidents with 877 injuries last New Year's holiday.

-- Edited from wire reports