Georgia on my Mind

(Newser) - Snow and rain fell on surprised Southerners today, slickening roads and forcing airlines to cancel hundreds of flights, the AP reports. Some Mississippians saw snow for the first time in 6 years as 5 inches fell in Alabama and experts warned drivers in Georgia to watch for icy roads. Freezing temperatures also hit parts of Louisiana, including New Orleans, which set in motion its freeze plan to shelter the homeless. More »

(Newser) - Hundreds of people packed a Georgia church yesterday to remember slain hiker Meredith Emerson as both a "firecracker" and an "angel," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. "Her light is reflected in your eyes," said her mother, who took the podium when Meredith's nephew became overcome with emotion. The family also brought Meredith's beloved lab mix, Ella. More »

(Newser) - Witnesses saw a "real fidgety" suspect Gary Hilton at a Georgia restaurant when kidnapped hiker Meredith Emerson was probably still alive in his van parked outside, CNN reports. The owner of a restaurant eight miles from where Emerson's decapitated body was found says Hilton came into the diner a day before police believe Emerson was killed. More »

(Newser) - If University of Georgia President Michael Adams had his way there would be less to gripe about at the water cooler during the bowl season. Adams, who is chairman of the NCAA’s executive committee, wants to replace the confounding Bowl Championship Series with an eight-team playoff. He believes that the chances are “at least 50-50” that his proposal will pass, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. More »

(Newser) - Gary Michael Hilton was denied bail this afternoon on murder charges in the gruesome death of 24-year-old Georgia hiker Meredith Emerson. The DA on the case says he has not decided whether to seek the death penalty, despite an agreement between Hilton and investigators to forgo it if Hilton led investigators to Emerson's body. Authorities now believe Hilton held Emerson captive for three days before bludgeoning her to death and decapitating her. More »

(Newser) - A drifter accused of kidnapping 24-year-old hiker Meredith Emerson led police to her body last night, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The body was found in a Georgia forest about 10 miles from where Emerson's bloodied clothing was discovered last week after her dog wandered into a store. Gary Michael Hilton, 61, is in jail charged with kidnapping and bodily injury in the case. The two were seen hiking together with their dogs. More »

(Newser) - As the search for a missing Georgia hiker widens to five counties, authorities said the man accused in Meredith Emerson’s disappearance and presumed murder may be linked to the death of an elderly North Carolina couple who also disappeared while hiking. Gary Hilton, 61, has been charged with kidnapping Emerson with bodily injury and is due in court today. More »

(Newser) - Police charged 61-year old Gary Hilton with kidnapping with bodily injury today in the case of a missing Georgia hiker, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Surveillance photos showed Hilton trying to use Meredith Emerson's credit card recently at a bank; police also linked his car, which has a seatbelt cut out, to a seat belt found "with apparent blood transfer stains." More »

(Newser) - The brutal drought hitting Georgia is drying up an artificial lake and exposing the long-dead town that lies beneath—along with mountains of trash. "It's horrendous, it's unbelievable," said one local resident. Lake Lanier's receding shores have exposed debris of all shapes and sizes, including an old dirt racing track, foundations of buildings, sunken cars and boats, even a stretch of Georgia Highway 53. More »

(Newser) - The two men believed to be responsible for stealing the car of the Atlanta Hawk’s Shelden Williams on Saturday are being charged with armed robbery. The 18-year-olds were arrested later Saturday at an Atlanta-area mall while attempting to rob someone else. Williams’ car was stolen outside his barbershop shortly before Atlanta game against Charlotte, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . More »

(Newser) - Two gunmen carjacked Atlanta Hawks forward Shelden Williams outside his barbershop in Atlanta last night and were later arrested when they tried another burglary, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Williams was unhurt and played two minutes in last night's game against the Charlotte Bobcats. "It's been a long day, but I'm fine," he told teammates. More »

(Newser) - It's nicknamed "the vine that ate the South," but experts now warn that the fast-spreading invasive plant is choking more than just power lines, reports the Atlanta Journal-Cons