Atlanta's top news stories: 2007

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Atlanta's top news stories: 2007

Take a look back at the Atlanta stories that stayed on our minds and in the news during 2007.

In March, a charter coach carrying the Bluffton University baseball team plunged off the Northside Drive bridge onto I-75, killing the bus driver and six passengers. By year's end one lawsuit had been filed against GDOT, and more suits could be in the pipeline.

Lisa Taylor, A.K.A. Melissa Wolf, A.K.A. the Sugarloaf Madam was accused of running a brothel in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in metro Atlanta -Sugarloaf Country Club. Taylor later pled guilty to prostitution and drug charges. She was sentenced to seven years' probation and ordered to pay $150,000 within one year.

The Thrashers first trip to the playoffs proved to be painful in April when the team was swept by the New York Rangers, losing the final game in front of a loud sellout Madison Square Garden crowd.

But for every defeat, there was victory -at least if you were a Gator fan. During the NCAA Men's Championship, here at the Georgia Dome, Florida beat Ohio State, 84-75.

And though Braves fans enjoyed watching longtime center fielder Andruw Jones work his magic during the season, bad news was on the horizon. In December, Jones would leave the team, signing a two-year, $36.2 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Leaving its Underground Atlanta digs, the World of Coca-Cola opened a new downtown attraction on May 24.

In June, WWE wrestler Christopher Benoit stunned fans, friends and family when he killed both his wife and son, before killing himself in his Fayette County home.

Perhaps the biggest Atlanta news story of the year: embattled Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pled guilty in a federal dogfighting case. He was later sentenced to 23 months in prison.

Then things got worse for Falcons fans when quarterback D.J. Shockley tore his ACL during an exhibition game against the Bills. The injury took Shockley out for the entire season.

Adding to the Aquarium's splendor: two male whale sharks who arrived from Taiwan in June via a UPS 747 cargo plane.

The story of Bishop Thomas Weeks III, facing felony charges for allegedly beating, choking and stomping his wife, Evangelist Juanita Bynum, played out in the media and was certainly the talk of the town.

In September, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre opened to much fanfare as the first performing arts center built in Atlanta in 40 years.

In a story that never seems to end, Grady Hospital officials announced the hospital was on course for its highest deficit in history, upwards of $55 million. Battles over the hospital's leadership ensued and the prospect of its doors closing surfaced. In November, the Grady Board voted to make the change toward a nonprofit governing board.

Zoo Atlanta's Mei Lan turned one this year with a big birthday celebration, complete with bamboo, cake and of course, state, city and international politicians.

Like Grady, news of Georgia's drought seemed to go on and on. From watering bans to neighborhood snitches, water -or our lack of-was on everyone's radar, especially those living near Lake Lanier, which continued revealing more and more of its bottom.

2007 also had the potential to be a year for comebacks. Four-time champion boxer and Atlantan, Evander Holyfield, 44, wanted to prove he still had skills. Instead, he lost a September fight by a unanimous and overwhelming decision to 32-year-old Sultan Ibragimov.

And from comebacks to come-ups, Atlanta's Tyler Perry had what could be called the best year ever. From a No. 1 movie, in "Why Did I Get Married" to a television show debut, "Tyler Perry's House of Payne" - everything Perry touched seemed to turn to gold.

And then there were more humble debuts. His Holiness Dalai Lama arrived in Atlanta, in October, to teach 'inner disarmament to all' and be installed as a presidential distinguished professor at Emory University.

October was a month for music. An estimated 15,000 people showed up for the first Echo Project music festival ---a three-day festival, held on a private farm in south Fulton County.

Just hours before appearing at the BET Hip-hop awards, Atlanta rapper T.I. was arrested for trying to buy machine guns and silencers. Two weeks later, he was released on $3 million bond.

And in more October news, the Braves named John Schuerholz president of its organization.

Motorists navigating the I-85 and Hwy 316 interchange received much-anticipated relief when GDOT opened the interchange's new flyover bridges in October.

And from traffic relief to just plain rest and relaxation. The Ellis Hotel, a boutique hotel housed in the structure some know as the Winecoff Hotel, opened. The $26.8 million renovation hopes to revive the site, at 176 Peachtree St., where, in 1946, a blaze took 119 lives.

In November, to the delight of many, Tom Glavine returned to play for the Braves after departing for the New York Mets. Glavine took a "hometown discount" and worked out a deal with the Braves for one year, $8 million.

The Georgia Dome was the sight of yet another SEC duel when LSU won the Championship over the Tennessee Vols.

1/25

In March, a charter coach carrying the Bluffton University baseball team plunged off the Northside Drive bridge onto I-75, killing the bus driver and six passengers. By year's end one lawsuit had been filed against GDOT, and more suits could be in the pipeline.

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