The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the Paulding County murder conviction and death sentence against Michael William Ledford, who attacked a woman biking along the Silver Comet Trial.
Ledford abducted and sexually assaulted Jennifer Ewing, 53, of Sandy Springs, on July 25, 2006. Ewing died of asphyxiation after being severely beaten. In a unanimous opinion issued Friday, the state Supreme Court rejected Ledford's appeal, which contended potential jurors were improperly excluded and challenged the constitutionality of Georgia's death-penalty statute. BILL RANKIN
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West Cobb County residents are being warned to watch out for a black bear seen in the area over the past weekend.
The bear was seen Sunday night on a trail camera at it was eating bird feed in the backyard of house around Due West Road near the West Hampton Subdivision.
No conflicts with humans have been reported, but police advise residents to keep pets up and on a leash, temporarily take down bird feeders, take in food and store garbage in an inaccessible area. Bears will normally move on to other feeding areas if left alone, police said. JANLEL DAVIS
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