COMMUNITY BRIEFS

GWINNETT

Inmate screening ‘surge’ starts today

A 26-day “surge” to screen and eventually deport inmates who are in the country illegally begins today at the Gwinnett County Detention Center.

As part of the effort, federal immigration officials will be at the jail working in 15-person teams from 6 a.m. to midnight. The surge is expected to help the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement figure out how many inmates would be handed over from Gwinnett, should the county be allowed to participate in a federal program that trains local jailers to begin deportation paperwork.

Jail officials estimate that about 60 percent of the 14,084 foreign nationals that were booked into center the last year were here illegally.

—- Andria Simmons

GREATER ATLANTA

New Woodstock chief takes helm

The new Woodstock police chief starts today.

David Bores, a veteran law enforcement officer who recently retired as a major in the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, was picked from 112 applicants for the job.

Before a 16-year stint with the sheriff’s office, he spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

—- Nancy Badertscher

COBB COUNTY

Order issued against volunteer

A Cobb County judge has granted a temporary restraining order against a former volunteer of Georgia Radio Reading Service (GARRS).

Officials there asked for the order saying former volunteer reader Kim Taratoot was stalking, harassing and intimidating station executive director April Cline, board members and donors. He said he was let go after raising questions about management of the nonprofit station, which receives some state funding. GARRS provides reading services to visually impaired listeners.

The 30-day order restricts Taratoot from having any contact with Cline. Provided they agree, Taratoot can still have contact with other employees, volunteers and board members.

Taratoot says he was not stalking or harassing Cline and others. He was simply trying to call attention to what he considered to be problems.

—- Derrick Mahone

VENT OF THE DAY

What you don’t understand is that, in Atlanta, red and green lights are merely suggestions.