First week of spring brings cold and brisk wind

Submitted by Jerry Carnes, 11Alive Reporter

Monday, March 25th, 2013, 8:09pm

ATLANTA -- The first full week of Spring is hardly typical as metro Atlanta is under a wind advisory with another night of freezing temperatures on the horizon.

In McDonough at Southern Belle Farms, Jake Carter fights the wind to protect his livelihood. Weeks of warm weather encouraged acres of strawberry plants to bloom. Another freeze could kill them before they have a chance to produce fruit.

RELATED | Winds topple tree in Mableton

"That is a great concern for us obviously," said Carter. "That's our livelihood and that's what we want to protect."

In some fields, Carter covers the plants with a protective sheet. In other areas he'll use water to coat the plants in a protective bubble.

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Early blooms + cold weather = primed for allergies

Submitted by Julie Wolfe, 11Alive Reporter

Monday, March 25th, 2013, 12:53pm

Early blooms + cold weather = primed for allergies

ATLANTA -- Have you been sniffling and coughing? How could it be allergies when it's been so cold outside? Some point to a medical phenomenon called "priming."

"That one is definitely birch, and it's a trigger." Outside the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma clinic in Marietta, Dr. Fineman points to allergy red flags. They're white and poofy.

Fineman says we're not headed for a record-breaking pollen season like the one that left Atlanta in a cloud of yellow dust last year. This spring should be more typical.

"The difference is this year we had very high pollen counts in January," he said.

Now a cold spell is hitting metro Atlanta, and the pollen counts go down. The count reported Sunday was only ten. When the weather warms, those numbers will rapidly increase. It creates the phenomenon called "priming."

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Winds topple tree in Mableton

Submitted by Michael H. King, Digital Executive Producer

Monday, March 25th, 2013, 12:37pm

MABLETON, GA -- Police said a tree was down in Mableton at the corner of Hunnicut Road and Cardell Circle late Monday morning.

No injuries were reported, and traffic was being blocked in the area of the tree.

A Wind Advisory continues for Metro Atlanta until 6 p.m. Monday.

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American Idol winner Phillip Phillips to take KSU stage

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Friday, March 22nd, 2013, 5:06pm

American Idol winner Phillip Phillips to take KSU stage

KENNESAW, Ga. -- Artist Phillip Phillips will be live in concert at KSU Stadium on Sunday, March 24.

Phillip Phillips won the American Idol singing competition in its eleventh season, and released his debut singe "Home" that same year. The song was used as the theme song for the United States women's gymnastics team.

Phillips released his first album in November 2012.

Tickets to the show can be purchased through the KSU box office, (770) 794-7809, Showtime is set for 7:00 p.m.

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Cobb Police Explorers' achievements earn recognition

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Thursday, March 21st, 2013, 1:20pm

Cobb Police Explorers' achievements earn recognition

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Members of the Cobb County Police Explorers were recently recognized for their achievements by Cobb County officials.

Cobb Public Safety Director Jack Forsythe and Police Chief John Houser honored the outstanding Explorers at the 2013 Southeast Regional Championships in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Among the 3,000 police, fire and EMS participating in Gatlinburg, Cobb Explorers took first place in "domestic violence." They earned fourth place in "unknown problem" and came in sixth place in "warrant service."

According to the Cobb County Police Department, the Cobb Explorers teach youth about police operations, trigger interest in careers with the police force and help youth develop leadership skills.

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USA Today Metro Atlanta Super 25 Girls Lacrosse Poll

Submitted by Sam Crenshaw, 11Alive Sports Anchor

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013, 3:49pm

ATLANTA -- The latest USA Today Metro Atlanta Super 25 Girls Lacrosse Poll is here and the name at the top remains from last week.

The Milton High girls top the charts again this week and Lassiter, Walton, Centennial, and Roswell make up the first five.

Westminster, Alpharetta, Chattahoochee, Mill Creek and McIntosh round out the Top 10.

The Metro Atlanta Super 25 polls are computer generated and produced exclusively by USA Today High School Sports for 11 Alive News.

The Metro Atlanta Super 25: Women's Lacrosse

Milton High in Alpharetta

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Cobb residents vote to extend education SPLOST

Submitted by Michael H. King, Digital Executive Producer

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013, 10:49pm

Cobb residents vote to extend education SPLOST

MARIETTA, Ga. -- Voters in Cobb County have voted to extend the county's Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for education.

57 percent of Cobb County voters voted YES while 43 percent of voters voted NO. The one percent sales tax will be used to fund earmarked capital improvements at county schools over the next five years.

Opponents to the tax contested that taxpayers had paid enough, and that school system expenditures should come from existing property tax revenues.

The school system points out that the tax differs from a bond issue in that there is no interest to be paid back on SPLOST funds, since they are generated by taxes. Prior versions of the SPLOST have been used to pay off the school system's overall debt.

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