American Family Insurance Top 5 Performances

Submitted by Sam Crenshaw, 11Alive Sports Anchor

Thursday, March 14th, 2013, 6:48pm

ATLANTA -- Each week American Family Insurance presents the top 5 high school sports performances from the Metro Atlanta area. This week's plays come from State Championship Week for basketball.

We start with number 5 from Wesleyan vs Laney girls. #3 Katie Frerking with the steal and drive for the layup as the Wolves roll to the class AA title 67-43.

Number 4 comes from Eagle's Landing vs Columbia boys. Isaih Dennis using two hands for the jam. The Golden Eagles take the class AAAA crown 61-47.

Number 3 comes from St. Pius vs Dawson County girls. Jazmin Carter with the 3 pointer for the Golden Lions who win the title 76-54.

Number 2 is from Norcross vs Hillgrove boys. It's Lorenzo Carter from the state championship football team with the block and the Norcross boys take the title 76-54.

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Metro jobless rate rises to 8.7 percent

Submitted by Associated Press

Thursday, March 14th, 2013, 8:09am

ATLANTA -- State labor officials say metro Atlanta's jobless rate rose to 8.7 percent in January, up from 8.4 percent the month before.

That compares to 9.4 percent in January 2012.

In Cobb County, the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in January.

The Georgia Department of Labor released the new numbers early Thursday.

State officials said the rate in January rose because of two main factors -- a loss of seasonal jobs and an increase in new layoffs.

Elsewhere in Georgia, metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.6 percent.

Metro Dalton and the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region tied for the highest rate at 11.9 percent.

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TEAM Georgia and app foster safe, sober driving

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013, 8:05pm

(WXIA) -- The Governor's Office of Highway Safety kicked off a sober driving campaign on Wednesday, ahead of the upcoming Patrick's Day weekend in partnership with TEAM Georgia.

TEAM Georgia's mission is to promote safe and sober driving habits on Georgia's highways and waterway.

The "Drive Sober, Georgia" smartphone app was also introduced. The app allows smartphone users to search a data-base of safe and sober ride options all over Georgia.

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Pebblebrook HS presents 'Little Shop of Horrors'

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, March 11th, 2013, 10:19am

Pebblebrook HS presents 'Little Shop of Horrors'

MARIETTA, Ga. -- The Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts will stage Little Shop of Horrors later this month.

According to information from CCCEPA:

A doo-wop spoof of 1950s sci-fi disaster movies, "Little Shop of Horrors" follows the misadventures of Seymour, a down-and-out floral assistant who longs to get the girl of his dreams and escape life on skid row. He becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon, "Audrey II" grows into an ill-tempered, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination.

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More volunteers needed for Cancer Prevention Study 3

Submitted by Jennifer Leslie, 11Alive Reporter

Thursday, March 7th, 2013, 10:06am

NORCROSS, Ga. -- The American Cancer Society needs another 1,500 people to in metro Atlanta to volunteer for Cancer Prevention Study 3 to reach a goal of 5,000 by next week.

SIGN UP | Join our generation's cancer study here

"I just thought it's great cause, a great thing to do," said Odette Talbert, who enrolled at the Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA in Norcross.

Talbert said she was motivated by her family history.

"My grandmother had cancer of the esophagus, and my brother had colon and rectal cancer," she told 11Alive's Jennifer Leslie.

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School district participates in 5 Million Meals

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013, 9:18am

School district participates in 5 Million Meals

MARIETTA, Ga. -- The Cobb County School District was recently honored for its work with the 5 Million Meals campaign.

Cynthia Downs, Cobb's nutrition director, accepted the Golden Radish Award at the Georgia State Capitol Tuesday.

The 5 Million Meals challenge was introduced last October by Georgia Organics. Its goal is to make 5 million meals with locally grown food and serve them in K-12 cafeterias across the state.

Downs pledged her support to the cause by increasing the amount of local food served in Cobb County cafeterias. She was honored for her hard work by Georgia School Superintendent Dr. John Barge, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and Georgia Organics President Rashid Nuri.

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Six Flags Atlanta president to retire

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, March 4th, 2013, 11:27am

AUSTELL, Ga. -- Six Flags Atlanta President Melinda Ashcraft has announced her retirement.

The theme park said Monday that Ashcraft will be succeeded by Dale Kaetzel, who most recently served as president of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif.

Ashcraft has been with Six Flags for 45 years, beginning her career as a ride operator at Six Flags Over Georgia the year the park opened. She recently became the fifth recipient of the Six Flags Angus G. Wynne lifetime achievement award.

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