Isakson commits to 1 debate in Georgia US Senate race
— Johnny Isakson’s campaign says he will participate in one debate while bidding for a third term, likely the only time Georgia’s three U.S. Senate candidates will face off before November’s election.
Isakson says in a statement Wednesday that he will participate in the Atlanta Press Club’s Senate debate. The organization’s debates are typically televised statewide.
Democrat Jim Barksdale’s campaign had asked for six debates with Isakson in locations around the state. Libertarian Allen Buckley also has pushed for multiple debates featuring all three candidates.
Barksdale’s campaign manager Dave Hoffman says Isakson limiting debates suggests the Republican incumbent “is not working for
the people of Georgia.” Isakson says he’s been interviewed more than 200 times during the campaign and says Barksdale should “follow suit and openly and transparently answer questions.”
Residence hall flood forces students to relocate to hotel
CARROLLTON — A flood at a University of West Georgia residence hall has forced students to relocate to a local hotel.
The Newnan Times-Herald reports that the on-campus residence hall was flooded Friday morning following a sprinkler system malfunction.
Twenty-eight students were relocated to a hotel and 19 others were moved to other housing on campus.
UWG spokesman Gary Leftwich says officials are currently investigating to determine if a pressure gauge was intentionally damaged to cause the flood. He says firefighters responded to the incident and found a dislodged pressure gauge on a sprinkler riser.
Crews are working to dry the building so they can repair the damaged areas. University officials say it could be four weeks before the restoration process is complete.
Volunteer coach fired after accused of sexual assault
ATLANTA — Police say an Atlanta high school volunteer coach accused of sexually assaulting a 16year-old student has been fired.
Local news media report DeKalb County School officials said Wednesday an arrest warrant was obtained for Ronald Wright who is accused of inappropriately touching a female student in the girl’s locker room. Wright was dismissed from McNair High School on Monday after the incident occurred Aug. 19.
In the incident report, the female student told police Wright followed her into the shower to wash off muscle cream, which he rubbed on her inner thighs. The student says she was nude in the shower when Wright handed her soap and reappeared in the locker room to adjust her bra straps before she left.