Bartow Education Foundation Golf Tournament

Submitted by 11Alive on Wednesday, April 16th, 10:40 am

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, April 4th, 2014, 3:00pm

Weekend construction to continue despite rain

(WXIA) -- Rain is in this weekend's forecast, but that won't stop Georgia Department of Transportation from working on scheduled road projects throughout the area.

GDOT District Construction Engineer Shun Pringle said the department expects more people than usual on the road, as school districts begin and end their spring breaks.

"Call 511 or look at a mapping website before you leave home," Pringle said in a statement. "Motorists, including spring breakers ... need to plan ahead to avoid delays."

The new flyover ramps on the Interstate 85/Georgia 400 Interchange project are open, but crews still need to perform a little last-minute work on them. Lanes will be closed in places.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014, 12:15pm

Atlanta Track Club launches scholarship program

(WXIA) -- Youth running groups, rejoice -- the Atlanta Track Club has created a scholarship program just for you.

The Peachtree Jr. Participant Challenge will award scholarships to the three organizations that have the most children registered for the 2014 Peachtree Jr. or Lil' Peach Dash.

The first place team will be given a $1,500 scholarship, a $1,250 cash donation from the Atlanta Track Club and $250 in Sports Authority store credit. Two runners-up will each get $750 scholarships, $500 donations and $250 in Sports Authority credit.

"Through the Peachtree Jr. Participant Challenge, we are able to give back to organizations that share our goal of inspiring children to be healthier and more active," Atlanta Track Club Executive Director Rich Kenah said in a release. "Atlanta Track Club is proud to partner with Sports Authority to offer these scholarships to provide extra motivation to keep kids moving."

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, April 1st, 2014, 9:47am

(WXIA) -- The number of fatalities on Georgia's highways fell in 2013.

The Georgia Department of Transportation announced Monday that 1,186 people were killed in car crashes on state roads last year, 13 fewer than in 2012. It's the eighth year in a row the total number of deaths has fallen.

"The reduction in fatalities over eight years means that more than 500 additional persons will get to celebrate the life events that are special to us all," Governor's Office of Highway Safety Director Harris Blackwood said in a release. "We must continue to work toward reducing injuries and death on Georgia roads."

Georgia's worst year on record for highway fatalities is 2005, when 1,748 people died.

Nation statistics are not yet available. In 2012, the number of fatalities increase about 5 percent to 36,200.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, March 31st, 2014, 12:49pm

ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. -- An Adairsville woman faces a number of charges in a crash that killed one person Sunday night.

Michele Blum, 47, has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, DUI, injury by vehicle, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving without headlights.

The Georgia State Patrol said the wreck happened on Highway 140 near the Bartow-Floyd county line.

Blum's 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 slammed head-on into a Mercedes-Benz E350, killing 55-year-old Nim Bernal Russell of Adairsville.

The GSP said Blum and two others -- one passenger in each vehicle -- were injured and taken to Floyd Medical Center. Blum is still in the hospital Monday afternoon.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, March 28th, 2014, 3:00pm

Weekend traffic: All delays are weather permitting

(WXIA) -- Crews will continue working on the usual road projects this weekend -- as long as the weather cooperates.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is also warning drivers of heavier traffic than normal, due to school systems beginning their spring breaks.

"We apologize for the delays, and there will be big delays," GDOT District Construction Engineer Shun Pringle said in a release. "We understand that this is a spring break for some folks, but so are the next three or four weekends."

Weekend work begins at 10 p.m. Friday on the Interstate 85/Georgia 400 Interchange. Four left lanes of I-85 south from a half-mile north of Clairmont Road to North Druid Hills Road will be closed between midnight and 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from midnight to 5 a.m. Monday.

Pringle said all lanes will reopen Monday at 5 a.m. The closures are due to overhead sign replacements.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, March 27th, 2014, 11:12am

(WXIA) -- Metro Atlanta's unemployment rate fell to 6.9 percent in February.

That's down from 7.1 percent in January and 8.4 percent in February 2013.

Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the decrease was due to fewer layoffs. However, the area still lost nearly 2,000 seasonal jobs last month.

Bartow County's unemployment rate was 7.3 percent in February.

Metro Athens had Georgia's lowest unemployment rate, at 5.1 percent. The Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest, at 9.7 percent.