Latest Georgia Headlines
All the headlines from our Georgia Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Officials Turn to Specialists to Try to Put Out Georgia Sugar Plant Fire
Feb 14 2008 // Specialists arrived in Port Wentworth, Ga., Tuesday to help extinguish a five-day-old sugar-refinery fire burning too intensely and deeply for standard firefighting to douse, and officials feared the deadly blaze could...
Ga. Law to Relieve Landowners of Hunter and Tourist Liability
Feb 14 2008 // Gov. Sonny Perdue filed legislation that will limit liability for landowners who open their property to hunters and agri-tourists. The proposal will protect landowners who allow individuals to hunt on their property from...
Update: 5 Fatalities, Several Missing in Georgia Sugar Refinery Blast
Feb 11 2008 // Two days after a massive explosion and fire devastated a Georgia sugar refinery, John Calvin Butler Jr. and his younger brother, Jamie were still in a medically induced coma . Company officials have refused to speculate on...
Imperial Sugar Company Reports Explosion at Georgia Refinery
Feb 8 2008 // Imperial Sugar Company reported that an explosion occurred Thursday at approximately 7pm EST at its sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Ga., which is located near Savannah, Ga. A number of associates and contractors have...
Ga. Man Arrested for Insurance Fraud
Feb 6 2008 // An Augusta, Ga., man is charged with insurance fraud for allegedly converting to his own use money paid to him by an elderly client, according to Insurance Commissioner John W. Oxendine. Carl Barcus, 58, arrested on Jan....
Former Hurricane Program Manager to Head Ala. Emergency Agency
Feb 1 2008 // Alabama Gov. Bob Riley appointed Brock Long to serve as director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. Long has served in emergency management at the state and federal levels specializing in hurricane planning and...
Georgia Doctor Sentenced to Probation in Health Fraud Case
Jan 28 2008 // A Georgia doctor accused of treating patients with a chemical used in pesticides was sentenced to five years probation for health care fraud. Sentenced on Jan. 24, Dr. Totada Shanthaveerappa pleaded guilty Oct. 30 to...
Georgia Pastor Charged for Arson in Church Fire
Jan 21 2008 // The pastor of an Albany, Ga., church has been charged with first degree arson in connection with a fire that did severe damage to the church, the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s office said. The Rev....
Nearly 1M in Tenn. Drive without Insurance; Lawmaker Wants Change
Jan 18 2008 // Cardella Cummings’ car wreck left her dizzy and confused. Her insurance paid for the damage, but not because the accident was her fault. “I thought you had to have insurance because it’s the law,”...
RLI Names Southeast Regional Manager, Establishes Georgia Office
Jan 17 2008 // Peoria, Ill.-based RLI added Mike Robinson as southeast regional manager for its Executive Products Group at the company’s newly established Alpharetta, Ga. office. Robinson will be responsible for the management of...
Georgia Firefighters Charged with Arson for Home, Business Fires
Jan 14 2008 // Police have arrested two Talbotton, Ga., firefighters on arson charges in connection with two separate blazes in the west Georgia town. Sheriff Bill Johnson says 30-year-old Jeff Scott Nelson and 32-year-old Norman Cable...
Georgia Insurance Agency Announces Acquisition of Magnum OPUS
Jan 8 2008 // Carrollton, Ga.-based Britt/Paulk Insurance Agency Inc., acquired Idaho-based Magnum OPUS and all of its assets in a transaction that took effect on Jan.1. Magnum OPUS will begin operating as the Britt/Paulk Boise, Idaho...
A.M. Best Puts Georgia Casualty & Surety Under Review Pending Deal
Jan 4 2008 // A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating of B+ (Good) and the issuer credit rating of “bbb-” of Georgia Casualty & Surety Company under review with positive implications. The rating actions...
Georgia Insurance Agent Group Names Associate Director
Jan 3 2008 // The Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia announced the promotion of Carolyn B. Dodd to associate director. Dodd will have a key role in the association’s management and will direct PIAGA’s education...
City Records Destroyed, Water Department Damaged in Ga. Arson
Jan 3 2008 // A building housing the water-sewer department in Lafayette, Ga., was heavily damaged and years worth of records were destroyed when teens broke in and set it on fire early on New Year’s Day, authorities said. Glenn...
Ga. Church Heavily Damaged, 2nd Church Arson in a Week
Jan 3 2008 // State and local authorities are investigating an apparent burglary and arson that left an Albany, Ga., church heavily damaged. The fire was reported about 7:30 a.m. Monday at Metropolitan Baptist Church. The Georgia...
Top Insurance Stories in 2007 in Southeast
Dec 31 2007 // High heat, changing winds put reputations on the line. 1. Florida’s gamble “It’s all about rates,” maintained Sam Miller, of the industry’s Florida Insurance Council. Florida lawmakers in...
Ratings Roundup: Georgia Casualty, Conseco
Dec 31 2007 // A.M. Best Co. has placed the financial strength rating of ‘B+’ (Good) and the issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb-” of Georgia Casualty & Surety Company under review with positive implications....
Cobb County Jury Fines Ford Motor Co. $3M in Georgia Woman’s Death
Dec 16 2007 // A Georgia jury issued a $3 million verdict against Ford Motor Co. for compensatory damages in a case in which a woman died when the seat back of her car broke when it was rear-ended in an accident. Mary Reese, 76, of...
N.C.-Based BB&T Insurance Services to Acquire Georgia Agency
Dec 13 2007 // BB&T Insurance Services announced plans to expand its metro Atlanta operation with the acquisition of Ott & Co. of Alpharetta, Ga. Founded in 1978, Ott & Company is a full-service employee benefits brokerage...
