Weekend roadwork gets off to slow start in 2015

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, January 2nd, 2015, 4:45pm

Weekend roadwork gets off to slow start in 2015

(WXIA) -- The end of the holiday season means the start of another year of construction on metro Atlanta roads and highways.

Next week, drivers are asked to avoid Interstate 285 north in Cobb County if possible. Projects and lane closures in the area are expected to cause delays.

As in 2014, all roadwork is weather permitting.

Here are some of the projects scheduled for the first weekend and full week of the new year.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, December 30th, 2014, 2:32pm

Metro Atlanta unemployment plunges to 6.5 percent

(WXIA) -- The unemployment rate in metro Atlanta dropped to 6.5 percent in November.

That's down five-tenths of a percentage point from October's 7.0 percent. The rate was also 7.0 percent in November 2013.

Cherokee County's November unemployment rate was 5.3 percent.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the Atlanta area added nearly 18,000 jobs in November. Many of the new jobs are in transportation, administrative services, health care, food service, finance and manufacturing, according to data from the Georgia Department of Labor. Unemployment insurance claims also dropped last month.

Metro Athens had Georgia's lowest November unemployment rate, at 5.0 percent. The highest was 9.0 percent, in the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, December 29th, 2014, 4:58pm

Woman rescued after car goes into Cherokee County pond

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. -- A woman is in critical condition after her car left the road and crashed into a small body of water in Cherokee County Monday morning.

The accident happened at around 4:45 a.m. on Batesville Road at the entrance to the Fairway Estates subdivision, not far from the Fulton County line.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Lt. Jay Baker said the car was trying to exit the subdivision when it went into the pond near the entrance. Its driver was delivering newspapers in the neighborhood shortly before the crash.

The Georgia State Patrol said the 31-year-old female driver, Shanell Latrice Anderson, called 911 as her car began to sink.

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Keeping kids’ minds sharp over winter break

Submitted by msleff on Sunday, December 21st, 4:00 pm

By Megan Nellen, Lower School Principal at The Walker School

1. Community Service: Use the break to plan community service ideas for the coming year. Kids can write flyers and notes asking neighbors to save and donate any holiday décor they plan on tossing out to be used next year for a family without a tree or decorations. Children of all ages can help make and deliver sandwiches for a homeless mission or shelter or make cards and pictures for a local nursing home.

2. Reuse, Recycle, Entertain: Collect leftover boxes, ribbons and paper and have your kids use them to build a robot or make a game. Each year at The Walker School second graders use cardboard to make arcade games.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, December 19th, 2014, 4:15pm

(WXIA) -- Drivers in the Atlanta area: Just make it through this weekend, and then you'll get a much-needed break.

The Georgia Department of Transportation said it will suspend all construction-related lane closures from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2.

Until then, many of the usual areas will see crews hard at work through next Monday morning.

As always, all work is weather permitting. A complete list of closures and possible delays can be found at 511ga.org.

Cobb/Fulton counties
* Two eastbound lanes of I-20 will be closed for about one mile past Six Flags Parkway from 9 p.m. Friday to 9 p.m. Saturday for bridge joint and header replacement.

Coweta County
* One northbound lane of I-85 will be closed between two miles south of Highway 14 and McCollum-Sharpsburg Road from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for barrier wall setting.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Friday, December 12th, 2014, 4:45pm

Weekend roadwork: Once again, avoid I-20 on the west side

(WXIA) -- Drivers are asked to avoid non-essential travel on Interstate 20 on Atlanta's west side this weekend.

Georgia Department of Transportation crews will perform several road projects on I-20 as well as other areas of metro Atlanta. Lane closures and delays are expected.

All work is weather permitting.

This weekend's work by county includes:

Cobb County
* Two northbound lanes of Cobb Parkway will be closed at the Chattahoochee River on Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon for pavement repairs.
* Two southbound lanes of Cobb Parkway will be closed at the Chattahoochee River on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. for pavement repairs.

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Celebrate National Poinsettia Day with Pike Nurseries

Submitted by Atlanta News on Thursday, December 11th, 2:15 pm

(WXIA) -- Poinsettias, often known as The Christmas Flower, are holiday staples. These classic flowering plants add a dazzling, festive flair to any space. Whether they are used on mantels as beautiful displays or on dining tables as stunning centerpieces, florist-quality poinsettias add the perfect holiday touch to home décor.

In honor of National Poinsettia Day on Friday, Dec. 12, the garden experts at Pike Nurseries reveal fun facts and fresh care tips that will keep poinsettias beautiful all season-long!

Poinsettias have become a symbol of the Christmas season. Pike Nurseries offers fast facts to educate and debunk the myths associated with poinsettias.

History Lesson: This Christmas classic is native to Mexico and was first introduced in the United States in 1825.

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