Etowah woman finds purse, cash
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A vacationing Etowah, Tenn., woman and her 16-year-old daughter were about to take a final dip in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday before heading home to Tennessee when they spotted a purse and other items that had been washed in by the tide.
They looked inside the purse and saw it was stuffed with cash. That's when they called police.
"We thought someone might have drowned or something," Darlene Curley said. "We called the police because we wanted to make sure the person [the owner of the purse] was all right."
The items were taken by Beach Safety Ocean Rescue officers, who took them to a lifeguard station to dry out. Once the officers realized just how much cash was inside -- $13,087.88 -- they locked up the bag and left two officers to guard it, according to a police report.
A Florida newspaper reported that the owner of the purse, Mary Self of Harwood, Md., eventually showed up at the station.
In addition to the cash, jewelry and credit cards were inside the $400 brown Coach bag.
Curley said Self called her.
"She thanked me and said she wanted to meet me in person," Curley said. "She asked for my address, but I don't know if I'll be getting a reward."
Moonshine still, alcohol seized
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. - Members of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office's narcotics unit seized an illegal moonshine still and untaxed alcohol at a residence on East Willow Street in Scottsboro on Monday. About 10 gallons of corn "mash" and about 2-3 gallons of untaxed alcohol were found.
Authorities arrested Jason Michael Ferguson, 38, of Scottsboro, who was charged with possession of a moonshine still and possession of untaxed alcohol.
He is in the Jackson County Jail awaiting bond.
UGA preparing for new leader
ATHENS, Ga. - The University of Georgia is preparing an investiture ceremony for its 22nd president, Jere Morehead.
UGA officials said in a statement Monday that the Nov. 19 ceremony will include remarks by Gov. Nathan Deal, University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby, University System of Georgia Board of Regents Chairman William NeSmith and others.
An investiture ceremony is an event in which the leader of an organization is presented with items signifying their authority over the institution. Before being chosen to serve as president, Morehead was UGA's senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.
The event is open to the public.
State offers crash reports online
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security is providing an online option to access traffic crash reports.
Through a partnership with Appriss Inc., the public now can retrieve the reports through the website http://www.tnbuycrash.com 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Georgia also is offering the service through Appriss.
People can continue to visit any local Tennessee Highway Patrol district office or law enforcement agency to purchase crash reports or request a copy be mailed. The fee for these options remains $4.