Judge tosses suit from man hit by officer's car

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall dismissed a lawsuit filed by a man who was hit by a narcotics officer's car.

Christopher D. Walton filed the federal lawsuit against Alonzo Bell and other Richmond County sheriff investigators. Investigator Bell claimed Mr. Walton was injured Oct. 3, 2005, when he tried to leap over the officer's car while fleeing. Mr. Walton and at least one independent witness said the car struck Mr. Walton as Investigator Bell tried to block him from exiting an apartment complex. Mr. Walton's leg was broken in the incident.

In an order released Tuesday, Judge Hall found that Investigator Bell accidentally hit Mr. Walton with his car while trying to prevent an escape. There was no violation of Mr. Walton's constitutional rights, the judge found.

A Wadley, Ga., man allegedly sickened by contaminated peanut butter has filed a federal lawsuit.

John Paul Williams sued ConAgra Foods Inc. in Jefferson County Superior Court, but the case was transferred to U.S. District Court this week.

Mr. Williams contends a jar of Peter Pan he bought in November 2006 was the cause of his illness and hospitalization. In February 2007, the Centers for Disease Control linked the peanut butter to cases of salmonella throughout the country. By March, 425 people became sick, and 71 needed hospitalization, according to the lawsuit.

A second young man who caused over $50,000 in damages by vandalizing a number of home air conditioning units pleaded guilty Wednesday.

Forster Trey Barger III, 17, will have to pay 17 property owners the out-of-pocket expenses for the damage he and Arthur O. Denovellis, 21, caused Aug. 1 through Oct. 29.

Judge Michael N. Annis said the men won't be responsible for any damages covered by insurance companies.

Mr. Denovellis, who was on probation for a prior felony conviction, was sentenced in February to three years in prison followed by 12 years on probation. Mr. Barger was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years on probation under the First Offender Act.

Crews will begin reconstructing Fort Gordon's gates to add security measures this month.

From April 15 until June 30, Gate 2 will be open to inbound traffic only from 6 to 10 a.m., according to an Army news release. The gate will be open for outbound traffic only from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

After construction on Gate 2 is completed, crews will be move to Gates 3, 5 and 1. During non-peak hours, crews will route inbound and outbound traffic to one lane.

The Medical College of Georgia and Augusta State University produced a $1.2 billion economic impact in the Augusta area in fiscal year 2008, according to a newly released report.

The two institutions also produced 10,667 jobs, according to the report from the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.

Together, the 35 institutions of the University System of Georgia had an economic impact of $12.1 billion on the state's economy.

The study also determined that Georgia's public higher education system is responsible for 108,405 full- and part-time jobs -- 2.6 percent of all the jobs in the state.

Two historic North Augusta homes will be auctioned Monday by Aiken County.

Rosemary and Lookaway halls, the former homes of North Augusta founders Walter and James U. Jackson, will be auctioned separately at 11 a.m. at the Aiken County Judicial Center.

Rosemary Hall, located on Carolina Avenue, is listed with two mortgages totaling more than $1 million. Lookaway Hall, located on West Forest Avenue, lists a price of more than $800,000.

The homes were operated as a bed and breakfast when purchased by Rhonda and Larry Conner in February 2007, but went into pre-foreclosure in September.

Five percent of the winning bid must be paid by 1 p.m. on the day of the sale. Visit www.aikencounty.net for more information.