'Two escape car before train hits' and more Chattanooga region news

Two escape car before train hits

ROME, Ga. - Authorities say a mother and her daughter escaped from their car on railroad tracks moments before a train slammed into their vehicle.

The Rome News-Tribune reports the collision happened Sunday on East 12th Street, where the car stalled on the railroad tracks.

Laterica Finley said she was going over the tracks when her front axle broke. As she got out to view the damage, she heard someone say "I think I hear a train coming."

About a minute later, she said, the Norfolk Southern engine rammed the passenger side of the car. She had just gotten her 4-year-old daughter out of the back of the vehicle, and both were a safe distance away when the train hit it.


Survey: Teachers back guards

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A new survey of Alabama teachers finds most of them support having armed security officers in their schools, but they oppose allowing administrators and teachers to have guns in school.

The survey was done by the Capital Survey Research Center, the polling arm of the Alabama Education Association, ai.com reported.

The survey of 699 public school teachers across the state was done in late January.


Church members 'locked out'

WOODSTOCK, Ga. - Members of a North Georgia church say they've been locked out of their congregation amid a dispute involving the pastor.

People who worship at Welcome All Baptist Church in Woodstock say they were unable to attend Easter services. They say they've been told they will be arrested if they are caught trespassing.

WSB-TV reports a group of churchgoers gathered over the weekend near the church, which had a locked access gate and a "no trespassing" sign on the front door.

Church members say they voted Pastor Willard Hambrick out of his job amid a money dispute.

But Hambrick insists he's still the pastor and the people criticizing him are the ones causing problems.


State elk hunt set for October

NASHVILLE - The fifth elk hunt in Tennessee will be Oct. 21-25, and the application period is in June.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency moved back the applications, previously in April and May. Applications now will be taken June 12 through July 24.

The hunt will be at the Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, north of Knoxville off Interstate 75.

Elk hunting in Tennessee was reintroduced in 2009.

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