Across the area

King's niece to speak at Right to Life event

Dr. Alveda King, the niece of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., will speak at a fundraiser Monday for the Greater Augusta Chapter of Georgia Right to Life at Julian Smith Casino on Broad Street.

The event will feature catered Southern cuisine and music by Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold, according to a news release. Tickets cost $30 each, and a table for eight costs $240. The cost for a corporate sponsor is $400.

For more information, call George Vozniak at (706) 726-1269, Trish Sanford at (706) 831-2137 or Vern Simon at (706) 860-1119.

Canal, lake cleanup effort needs helpers

Volunteers are needed for the semi-annual Augusta Canal and Lake Olmstead cleanup day, which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 18.

The cleanup will involve more than 150 volunteers representing organizations, families and individuals. Advanced Disposal is donating garbage Dumpsters. Volunteers will be served a picnic lunch at Lake Olmstead Park after the cleanup.

Participants must meet at Lake Olmstead Park near the boat ramp by 9 a.m. For more information, call Holley Madden at (706) 823-0440, ext. 206, or e-mail hmadden@augustacanal.com.

ASU drive brings in more than $538,000

The annual A Day for Augusta State University fundraising campaign exceeded its goal by more than $38,000.

The campaign, which began Sept. 16 and concluded Friday, raised $538,700 for scholarships, faculty development and academic support programs that could not be funded with state money.

The campus drive raised $157,949 and the community drive raised $380,751. The total was announced Friday at the ASU Alumni Association's annual alumni barbecue.

Man who shot officer gets 21 years in prison

A man convicted of shooting an off-duty police officer working a second job on Christmas Day was sentenced Friday to the maximum 21 years in prison.

A Richmond County Superior Court jury convicted Cory Lee, 36, last month of aggravated assault and a weapon violation.

Sgt. Elijah Parker broke up an argument between Mr. Lee and others in the early morning hours of Dec. 26 at the Soundtrack Supper Club. Sgt. Parker was outside the club in full uniform -- including a bulletproof vest -- when Mr. Lee fired a handgun, according to trial witnesses. Sgt. Parker was hit in the chest and was saved by his vest.

Man is sentenced for threatening witness

A 32-year-old Augusta man who admitted threatening a witness in a murder case was sentenced to four years in prison Friday.

Brandy L. Moody pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to burglary and threatening a witness in an official proceeding.

The witness testified in the trial of Donald Gamble Jr., 23, who was convicted of murder in May for the July 14, 2007, Walker Street shooting of Quamaine Rickman, 29.

Police say woman tried to drive over officer

An Augusta woman was arrested Friday, accused of shoplifting and trying to run over a North Augusta patrolman while fleeing the scene.

Claudia Quillian, 54, of the 1000 block of Redburn Road, was being held at the Richmond County jail, charged with assault and battery with intent to kill, shoplifting and several traffic charges, said North Augusta Department of Public Safety Sgt. Travis Redd.

He said Ms. Quillian was driving away from Wal-Mart in the 1200 block of Knox Avenue with stolen merchandise about 6:30 p.m. Friday when she drove toward the on-duty officer, who received minor cuts and bruises after jumping out of the way.

After leaving the parking lot, police say, Ms. Quillian took officers on a 12-minute chase from Knox Avenue to the corner of Agerton Lane and Wheeler Road, where she was arrested.

Ms. Quillian will be extradited to the Aiken County Detention Center on Monday, Sgt. Redd said.

-- From staff reports