STATE BRIEFS

Barrow schools could teach Bible

Winder —- A Barrow County committee of school administrators, teachers and parents approved a plan to consider steps needed to offer two elective Bible-focused courses. Superintendent Ron Sanders said if the county Board of Education signs off on the recommendation next week, each high school could begin to select a teacher and draft a plan to offer a literature or history class covering either the Old or New Testament as soon as 2009. A 2006 change in state law allows schools to offer the courses.

$11 million worth of pot plants seized

Lexington —- Oglethorpe County and state law enforcement agents pulled up more than 4,200 marijuana plants estimated to be worth more than $11 million in the southwest portion of the county. Sheriff Mike Smith said no arrests were made, but information and evidence could lead to an arrest. Smith said the plants were burned Thursday in the construction and demolition landfill in the county.

1 dead, 1 injured in hatchet attack

Riceboro —- Authorities say a woman was killed and a man seriously wounded in a hatchet attack in this southeast Georgia community. Liberty County Sheriff Keith Moran says the woman was a relative of the suspect, who was taken into custody. Moran would not identify the suspect or the victims. Deputies found the man walking down the road, and he told them he had hurt a family member.

Western museum plans huge exhibit

Cartersville —- The Booth Western Art Museum is celebrating its fifth anniversary with one of its most ambitious exhibits yet. Executive Director Seth Hopkins said the idea is to show seldom-seen Western art from across the South, and he’s pieced together a display of 37 pieces from 74 private collectors, museums and galleries in the region.

Contributing: The Associated Press