Georgia State Troopers have announced they'll be keeping an eye out for drunk drivers through the end of the holiday season.

Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety Col. Mark McDonough says authorities will be aggressively patrolling for impaired drivers, unrestrained passengers and drivers exceeding posted speed limits.

Authorities say they investigated 289 accidents that left 182 people injured during last year's Christmas travel period. Officials say they investigated 296 accidents that left 172 people injured during last year's New Year's travel period.

State patrol officials say this year's Christmas travel period officially began at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 and ends the night of Dec. 25.

The New Year's holiday travel period begins Dec. 28 at 6 p.m. and ends the night of Jan. 1.

Chattooga DFCS will be closed Monday and Tuesday for the Christmas Holidays.  For any child abuse or neglect issues please call the after hours Statewide on-call number at 1-855-422-4453 or call 911 if a child is in immediate danger.  Also to apply for benefits such as food stamps, medicaid and CAPS(child care assistance) you can go to www.compass.ga.gov.  You may also do your food stamp review information on this website with you client ID. 

An inmate was found dead last week at Hayes State Prison at Pennville. Derrick Stubbs was serving a sentence for armed robbery and died while being housed in protective custody inside the maximum security prison. The Department of Corrections would only say that the GBI is investigating the death and would release no further details. Stubbs reportedly had been at Hays for more than a year.

The Lafayette Ramblers swept Chattooga in a pair of basketball games Friday night. The girls won 53 to 48. The Rambler boys beat the Indians 71 to 61.

Investigators with the Georgia State Patrol are asking for your help finding the driver of a semi, who allegedly fled the scene of a deadly crash Friday.

It happened around 1:30 p.m. at Exit 293 on Interstate 75.

A GSP spokesperson says the 1998 Ford Expedition, driven by 29-year-old Maria Tabuena from Calhoun, Georgia, was hit on the left side, as the tractor trailer changed lanes traveling north.

The SUV ran off the road, hitting a guardrail and support post, before erupting in flames.

Tabuena and her 4-year-old passenger, Melina Trichell, were killed as a result.

Witnesses described the semi as a late 90s "long-nose" Peterbilt, maroon in color, and pulling a silver trailer with damage to the right side.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Georgia State Patrol post in Cartersville at 770-387-3701.

Friday marked one week since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that left 20 first graders and six teachers dead.

Friday night, North Georgians braved frigid temperatures and high winds to gather in honor of the victims.

Holding candles, they took time to honor the lives lost and pray for those left behind.

Those prayers came from parents and local children, who have a message for the people of Newtown.

Dozens of people gathered outside Cloud Springs Elementary School, as pictures of the 26 victims scrolled by. In glove covered hands, families held candles with messages of hope and peace.

Friday morning Chattooga County joined other counties across the state in ringing the courthouse bell for each of the lives lost in Newtown, Connecticut. The idea started in Hendry County, where McDonough Mayor Billy Copeland enlisted the help of the Georgia Municipal Association to spread the word. Bells were rung 26 times starting at 9:30 a.m., once for each of the 20 children and  six adults killed in the December 14 tragedy. 

Mohawk Industries is buying the Marazzi Group, an Italian ceramic tile manufacturer, for $1.5 billion in a combination of cash and equity.

The Calhoun, Ga.-based Mohawk, 1 of the world's largest floor covering firms, announced the deal on Thursday.

The Daily Citizen in Dalton reports  that Marazzi operates manufacturing facilities in Russia, the United States and Western Europe and employs about 6,300. Ceramic tile is among the world's most widely utilized flooring products, with an estimated worldwide consumption of more than 110 billion square feet and annual growth of 5% to 6%.

Mohawk officials say they expect the transaction to be completed in the first quarter of 2013, pending regulatory approvals.

Ridgeland High Football Coach Mark Mariakis has been selected Coach of the Year. Earlier this year, Ridgeland High and coach came under attack from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which accused Mariakis of leading the team in prayers and driving players to prepared meals at churches before games. Immediately, thousands threw their support to Mariakis in social media, emails, calls and in person. Mariakis'  team is  Georgia's runner-up State Champions in the 4AAA Division and  headlined the Coaches All-Region Seven Football Team for 2012. One of player was selected Player of the Year, while another was named Offensive Player of the Year and several  were named to the All Region First TEam. 

The Town of Trion has received six bids for demolition of the Park Avenue Apartments. Those bids were opened at the town's council meeting Thursday night. Selecting the right one won't be an easy process since each has two alternate bids for the saving and cleaning of bricks for the town to use later, and for additional back fill and drainage in the area. Base bid amounts varied considerably as did the alternate bids.

Southern Environmental Services, of Marietta,  had the lowest base bid at $264,590, with a bid of $1980 per thousand for brick cleanup. and $23,100 for back fill and drainage.

Coming with the second lowest base bid at $299,000 was Titan Wrecking & Environmental, of Atlanta. Titan, whose corporate office is in Niagra Falls, New York,  bid $1000 per one thousand brick; and $53,000 for second alternate bid.

Abatech Services Inc, of Snellville, bid $318,900 for the base service with $1200 per one thousand brick and $60,000  for back fill and drainage.

Complete Demolition Services, of Carrollton, had a base bid of $347,000 with a bid of $650 per pallet on brick wor, and $3600 for drainage and fill work. 

DH Griffin, of Atlanta, and headquartered in Greensborough, NC, came in at $385,000 for a base bid; $250 per thousand for brick; and $104,000 for drainage and fill.

The company with the highest base bid was Morley Companies,  Of Atlanta, had a base bid of $437,962; a bid of $2800 per thousand brick; and bid $1500 for fill and drainage.

The demolition work also includes asbestos abatement, according to Mayor Johnny Ingle. The council plans to be ready to select a contractor by January 10.

A 16-year-old female student at Ridgeland High School faces charges for allegedly texting the phrase "blowing the school up" to other students on Thursday morning. The text spread quickly to other students and parents, according to Sheriff Steve Wilson. His department assigned two detectives and nine deputies to the school to investigate the reported hoax. The girl was charged with terroristic threats and acts and was released to her mother around 7 p.m. Thursday. Detectives believe the student's motive was to leave school early. She will appear in juvenile court, according to Wilson.