COMMUNITY BRIEFS

COBB COUNTY

Diesel gas theft suspects arrested

Two men have been charged in connection with an elaborate diesel gas stealing operation.

Douglas Eriquezzo, 36 of Woodstock and Tommy McKenzie, 34 of Harlan, Ky., were arrested Monday after being caught with 1,500 gallons of top-grade diesel fuel in a moving truck, according to police. Eriquezzo and McKenzie allegedly used a generator to siphon gas from diesel trucks, said Cobb County detectives. Police believe they were selling the gas —- valued at $6,000 —- to small business owners.

After catching the suspects, detectives discovered 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel stored in large clear containers. The men have been linked to five additional thefts in the county, police said. They have returned about 775 gallons of the fuel to business owners who reported having gas stolen.

—- Derrick Mahone

DEKALB COUNTY

Performing arts center gets boost

DeKalb County’s rising performing arts center will get the money needed to finish construction.

The County Commission approved spending $1.5 million in interest from a bond fund for parks, libraries and roads. The money is essentially a loan from the fund. Officials say it is “reasonably expected” that the loan will be repaid from the county’s quasi-governmental development authority, which plans to issue its own bonds later this year. The authority’s plans have been challenged in court, however.

The commission voted Tuesday 4-1, with two members absent.

—- Ty Tagami

METRO ATLANTA

Lottery weathers bad economy

The lousy economy hasn’t stopped Georgians from playing the lottery. But, retailers are selling fewer tickets for big-money games.

Georgia Lottery officials said Wednesday that sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2009, which began July 1, rose from $842 million to $871 million.

Lottery sales go to pay for the HOPE scholarship and pre-kindergarten classes. Ticket sales don’t impact the general state budget.

Sales for big-money Mega Millions dropped about 30 percent, from $65.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2008 to $46.4 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Win for Life ticket sales also dropped.

—- James Salzer

VENT OF THE DAY

For our office Halloween party, I’m going as a 401(k) statement. I hope no one dies of fright.