GNB Update

Welcome to Monday...the end of the first day of a new work week...Here's the news...

Here's a good read from Sunday's edition of the Albany Herald. Editor Carlton Fletcher writes that Lee County has experienced significant growth since the 2000 Census, and that it was the third fastest growing county in the state at the time; the only county outside of metro Atlanta to experience such population growth. But Lee County's growth has come at the expense of Dougherty County, as many people cite the school system as a reason for Lee's fast rise, while others blame the growing crime rate in Albany for the latter county's decline population-wise. Still, local insurance agent Rick Muggridge says a regional approach is needed for Lee County to continue its unprecedented growth.

Cell phone customers in middle Georgia get good news. Macon.com reports that AT&T customers there will soon get the faster-streaming wireless service. It's a service the region has missed out on until now. An AT&T spokeswoman told the Associated Press that the so-called "3G", or third generation wireless service, will be end in place by the end of the year, if not the end of September. In addition to Macon, nearby cities Milledgeville and Warner Robins also will get in on the new "3G" service. Augusta, the Lake Oconee region, and Valdosta will get the new service by the end of this year.

And from the "blog files", one blog has moved to a new location. SWGA Politics can now be found online by going to http://swgapolitics.com/index.

That's the news. GNB is available online at http://georgianewsbeat.blogspot.com, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/georgianewsbeat. Enjoy your Monday night.