Editor to Retire
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..……WhereCome party every with us, day or take is aus holiday!to yours * Dine-In * Take-Out * Catering * Make your holiday reservations today! Los Nopales ~ 382 S. Davis Road Cisco’s Café ~ 1600 Vernon Road 475629 LaGrange High’s basketball teams sweep past Callaway. Page 9 LaGrange Daily News MONDAY 50 cents Dec. 12, 2011 lagrangenews.com The Pollards take third Editor weather tomorrow in ‘Amazing Race’ to retire High 59 From wire and staff reports In third were former NFL They didn’t take home the player Marcus Pollard and Low 40 $1 million first prize, but a his wife, Amani from Pine Mostly sunny local couple placed third in Mountain. Baker ends the “The Amazing During this last leg Race,” which took its of the round-the- career that final three teams on More world race, the cou- started in ’65 a frantic scramble ples were required By Sherri Brown through Atlanta dur- LaGrange to land a jetliner in a Staff writer Today’s artist: Brayan ing Sunday’s conclu- flight simulator, find Daily News Trying to decide if he Acosta, fifth grade, sion of the CBS com- “Gone With the plans to talk wanted to take the job as Hollis Hand petition show. Wind” author Mar- to the Pol- CBS Broadcasting Co. news editor at LaGrange Elementary School In the end, it was garet Mitchell’s lards about Daily News, Daniel Baker Ernie Halvorsen and home and plot their their experi- Amani and Marcus Pollard study a route marker as chose to spend a day his fiancee, Cindy 40,000-mile odyssey they compete on the CBS reality show ‘The Amazing observing State Chiang, both from ence. See on a giant world Race.’ The Pine Mountain couple spent about a month the staff. He Chicago, who Tuesday’s map erected high wanted to crossed the finish edition for above the parking away from home filming the show this summer. quietly look line at Atlanta’s his- their story. lot at Turner Field. Atlanta’s airport. Finally a driver volun- over the toric Swan House to win the But interviewed “Nobody wanted to take teered, “and we give him all shoulders of top prize. after the broadcast, the win- us,” Halvorsen said. “That the rest of our money as a r e p o r t e r s In second place were Cal- ners said their most unnerv- was the most stressful thing tip,” Halvorsen said. and editors ifornians Jeremy Cline and ing moment was the basic as we saw the other teams and see Sandy Draghi. task of getting a cab at departing.” RACE SEE , PAGE 2 how they Baker Members of the worked. He saw a lot Society of Royal more than he expected. Cumberland It was the morning of Youths ring the Injured Sept. 11, 2001. bells at the “There was a TV on in Church of the the corner, and we heard Good Shepherd teen that a plane had hit the in Augusta in a World Trade Center and special style of thought that was kind of English bell ring- strange. Then someone wants said a second plane hit ing. PAGE 4 the other tower, and we voice knew it wasn’t an acci- Nation dent,” Baker recalled. There wasn’t time to do more than use Associated back Press coverage for that By Sherri Brown day’s edition, but as soon Staff writer as the paper was sent to Christmas is going to be the press, staff members a quiet affair for Nancy met to plan the next day’s Beth Merna. She doesn’t coverage. have a long list of things “They got together to she wants under the tree. look at the local angle, to Her biggest request she bring this national event hopes she’ll get sometime home to LaGrange. I saw Who wants a job in January – in an operat- a spirit of cooperation in that keeps you ing room in Cincinnati. the newsroom which I on call 24/7, has- Nancy Beth Merna had not seen in any other n't allowed a wants her voice back. paper – some much big- vacation in more Six months ago Merna, ger than this one. Every- than eight years 17, was a loud teenager. A one pitched in,” he said. A few weeks later, he and makes you June car accident that left took his place as news responsible for her with a severe head editor and two years ago fostering small injury changed that. Merna was flown to became editor. On Dec. creatures who 31, he will retire after 10 can't tell you Atlanta Medical Center, where she stayed 18 days years at the paper. It will what they need? before going to rehabili- end a career in newspa- Lisa Stewart is tation at Children’s pers that started 46 years curator of Healthcare of Atlanta at ago. Appalachian Scottish Rite. When Baker first set Bear Rescue, “At first we had very lit- foot in a newsroom in where orphaned tle hope. I just sat in her 1965, it was the days of black bears get room every day. The first typewriters and tele- a shot at sur- days we were not allowed phones cradled on the vival. to talk to her, but later I shoulders of reporters. PAGE 5 just sat and talked to her,” “My first job was work- said her mother, Mary ing as a copy boy at the Opinion Nell Smith. Macon Telegraph. It was Once at Scottish Rite, the summer after my jun- ior year of high school. I Columnist John Merna had her eyes open, was in charge of keeping A. Tures asks if but was still considered to an eye on the Associated the Electoral be in a coma. Every day, Sherri Brown / Daily News her mother sat on the side Press teletype machines. College weak- Each story came in on ens voter of her bed, looked for Six months after a car accident caused a severe brain injury, Nancy Beth recognition in her eyes ticker tape. I’d have to turnout. Merna is learning to walk, talk and function again. Her mother, Mary Nell PAGE 6 and asked her daughter to retrieve the tape so it squeeze her hand. It was Smith, right, quit her job as a teacher at Hollis Hand Elementary School to could be run through a take over Merna’s care. about three months RETIRE INDEX before Merna responded SEE , PAGE 2 Business ...........8 with a return squeeze. Calendar ...........3 “It was great. It was like Classifieds..11-12 she was a little kid, we Comics ..............7 made her squeeze every- Community ..... 3 one’s hand,” Smith said. Crossword .......7 The next day a therapist International .... 5 showed her a card with Local ............... 2 three dots on it and asked National ........... 5 Merna how many. She Obituaries ....... 2 held up three fingers. Opinion ............ 6 “It took her longer to Sports ........ 9-10 get to that point than we State .................4 expected, but then it real- TV Listings ....... 5 ly clicked,” Smith said. For home “Within days, she was delivery, call telling us she wanted to Steven Says (706) go home.” Only 13 Days ‘til 882-5624 She had a long road ahead, though, learning to Christmas Printed on 100% do just about everything recycled paper all over again – including AirVentures Vol 168 Issue 295 walking. Flight Instruction & Aircraft Rental 12 Pages In September, although 525 Aerotron Parkway not back to “normal,” LaGrange, GA 30240 Merna was able to go The hardest part for Merna is not being able to speak. She’s hoping a possi- home. It was short-lived. 706-812-0808 ble surgery in January will restore that ability, but in the meantime, she com- VOICE Hope Your Holiday SEE , PAGE 2 municates with friends through texting and Facebook. is Shiny & Bright! 471641 Local 2 - Monday,Dec. 12, 2011 LaGrange Daily News Vehicle damages phone pole I Obituaries A telephone pole on Kellogg Street I Public safety Good for you Information for obituaries is written was damaged after a vehicle struck it and provided by funeral homes and Sunday. family members of the deceased. Police said Forrest Patterson, 60, detector and DVD player from a 2006 whose address was unavailable, was Jeep Commando in the 100 block of Lakes-Dunson driving a Ford Windstar when it left the Lincoln Lane. Lakes- Robertson road and hit the pole, breaking it. I A thief stole a DVD player from a Dunson- Funeral Home 2005 Honda Odyssey in the 100 block Robertson 201 Hamilton Street Patterson was charged with driving LaGrange, Georgia 30240 under the influence of alcohol, driving of Lincoln Lane. 706 882-6411 I A rifle valued at $800 was stolen too fast for conditions and failure to Bessie Cannon Johnson from a Chevrolet Tahoe in the 700 block maintain a lane. Mrs. Bessie Cannon of Abbottsford Road. Johnson, 96, formerly of I A thief stole a 12-ton equipment 106 Johnson Street, trailer from a residence in the 500 block passed away Wednesday Electric heater causes fire of Hogansville Road. A Hogansville residence was heavily in Jersey City, New Jer- damaged after a fire about 3:30 p.m. Vandalism sey. Sunday. Vandals scratched three sides of a Mrs. Johnson, a native Troup County fire officials said the 1999 GMC Yukon in the 300 block of of Whitesville, Georgia, blaze was started in the 100 block of Samples Road. was the daughter of the Hightower Street by an electric heater. late Cap and Carrie Can- Residents were able to get out safely, non and wife of the late but the dwelling was a total loss, accord- Wrecks Robert L.