News
- Created on 11 June 2013
Local Superheroes Crimson Fist and Meta-Data Strive to Keep Atlanta Safe
Atlanta just may be a bit safer due to new “superheroes” in our midst.
Crimson Fist and his super-pal Meta-Data are committed to keeping their community safe, and have been active in Castleberry Hill for seven years.
The crime fighting duo live up to their “superhero” status by sporting masks and homemade hero uniforms.
Although the crime fighting duo play more of a Good Samaritan role they don’t take their responsibility lightly, equipped with handcuffs, pepper spray and stun gun fists.
“You have to play the part of the superhero if you really want to be effective,” Crimson Fist told Fox 5 News.
Meta Data, also Crimson Fist’s wife, serves as the lookout, patrolling the streets to spot any trouble. She alerts Crimson Fist if any problems arise, but if it is too dangerous she calls 911.
“I feel like a superhero when I’m dressed like this,” said Crimson Fist, who would not reveal his real name. “I can’t say why but when I put it on…my brain feels like I’m actually ready to do this now.”
- Created on 10 June 2013
Company Behind Hunger Games Trilogy Casting Seeks Extras in Atlanta
The final film in the "Hunger Games" series is reportedly set for production in Atlanta and the casting agency that has handled the previous movies is looking for actors in the area.
"Catching Fire," the latest release from the popular series, filmed scenes at various locations in Atlanta. Some of those places include the Georgia World Congress Center, Marriot Marquis, Atlanta History Center, Goat Farm Arts Center and Swan House.
Some notable cast members like Jenifer Lawrence, Liam Hensworth, and Woody Harrelson have been seen around town lately.
According to a tweet from Production Weekly, "Mockingjay" will be filming in Atlanta area, as well as Boston.
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is scheduled to begin production September 16th with locations in Atlanta and Boston," said the tweet.
A casting call has been released and suggests that it may be for filming of the next "Hunger Games" film. The full casting call is below.
"We have an upcoming feature that requires amazing faces and bodies, and we are looking for people that can bring unusual characters to life.
Last time for this 'science fiction trilogy turned film series,' we had you put yourself on tape but because this one is vastly important, we are requiring we meet each of you in person. If chosen, please know this will be a long shoot, requiring multiple days.
Due to the detailed nature of this film, we are casting this project in stages. This round we are ONLY requesting those to submit between the ages of 18-40. We are sorry, but no children and no one over 40 at this time! (Those submission dates will be released at a later time).
If you are interested in submitting for this project, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Please include 3 pictures (head and body), your age, height, weight, and all contact info. Please put your gender, ethnicity and age in the subject box. Example: Male, Caucasian, 31"
Production Weekly Tweet - http://mockingjay.net/2013/04/07/the-hunger-games-mockingjay-part-1-shooting-start-date-locations-revealed/
- Created on 10 June 2013
GBI Continues to Withhold Information on Dead Body Found Near Ga. Perimeter College
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has remained tight lipped about a dead man found Monday morning near Georgia Perimeter College's Clarkston Campus.
The man was found this morning around 7 a.m. by a person who was passing the area and since the discovery neither police nor GBI has said whether or not the man was as student at the college or in any way related to the school.
The body was found by a person passing by the area on North Indian Creek Rd. about 30 feet from the sidewalk, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. The person called 911 and GPC's campus police were alerted to the situation.
Neither the man's identity nor the cause of death have been revealed to the public or news outlets. Paramedics who responded to the 911 call pronounced him dead at the scene.
The GPC Clarkston campus is located at 555 North Indian Creek Drive. Clarkston is located about 12 miles northeast of Atlanta.
- Created on 10 June 2013
MARTA Approves 2014 Budget, Avoids 25 Cent Fare Increase
MARTA announced Monday that its board of directors adopted the Fiscal Year 2014 Operations and Capital Budgets which will take effect on July 1.
The proposed FY '14 budget allocates $426.9 million for Operations and $430.5 million for Capital Programs, including $141.1 million for Debt Service. The budget plan preserves existing transit service and avoids a previously projected 25-cent fare increase as part of a five-year strategy to stabilize the agency's finances, improve the overall customer experience and build employee morale.
"The board is very optimistic about the budget and our future sustainability," said Frederick L. Daniels, Jr., chairman of the MARTA Board of Directors. "The budget puts us on a forward path, and our management team will continue to assess and make recommendations on how to best address the challenges before us in ways that will ultimately strengthen MARTA as a whole."
The budget adoption process included a series of public hearings on May 14th and May 16th that solicited community feedback. Some of the budgetary highlights slated for FY '14 and beyond include:
Re-opening rail station restrooms that had been previously closed to customers (FY '15)
Implementing a zero-tolerance policy against, "knucklehead behavior" (FY '14)
Restoring some transit service (FY '17)
A "secret shopper" program to monitor and improve customer service (FY '14)
The current budget proposal also anticipates some significant cost savings, healthcare reforms and outsourcing opportunities previously recommended by the consulting firm KPMG aimed at making the transit system more effective and efficient.
To view the proposed FY 2014 Operating and Capital Budgets presentation, please visit http://www.itsmarta.com/FY14-Operations-Capital-Budget-draft-1.ppt.
- Created on 10 June 2013
Why Was This Completely Sober Man Arrested and Charged With a DUI?
You don't have to drink and drive to catch a DUI nowadays. You just have to be Jessie Thorton, apparently.
The 61-year-old retiree was arrested and charged with a DUI, even though his blood alcohol level came back a 0.00. And no, there was no glitch in the Breathalyzer test.
The reason he was arrested? The officer told Thorton:
“I can tell you're driving drunk by the look in your eyes.”
Here's how it all went down. Thorton was pulled over around 11 p.m. on his way to pick up his ER nurse wife. Officers in Surprise, Arizona said they witnessed him crossing the white line in his lane. That's when this happened:
"He (the officer) walked up and he said 'I can tell you're driving DUI by looking in your eyes,'" Thorton told ABC 15 in Arizona.
Thorton, who had been working out at a nearby LA Fitness, told the officer his eyes were bloodshot because he'd been swimming at the gym's pool.
"He (the officer) goes, 'Well we're going to do a sobriety test.' I said, 'OK, but I got bad knees and a bad hip with surgery in two days.'"
The officer then made Thorton take a sobriety test.
"At one point, one of the officers shined the light in my eye and said, 'Oh, sorry,' and asked the other officer if he was doing it right,'" said Thornton.
Thornton said he was then placed in handcuffs and told to sit on the curb.
"I couldn't even sit on the ground like that and they knew it and I was like laying on the ground, then they put me in the back of an SUV and when I asked the officer to move her seat up 'cause my hip hurt she told me to stop whining," said Thornton.
At the station, his BAC test came back with all zeroes and a drug recognition expert was called in to examine Thorton. Of course, the expert determined that Thorton was completely sober.
“I would never have arrested you.” The expert wrote a statement, saying, “...in my opinion Jessie was never under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
But it was too late. Thorton's car had been impounded and the Arizona MVD had been notified. His license was suspended and he was ordered to take a drinking and driving class.
Thorton was eventually released from custody to his wife. The DUI charge was later dropped, but Thorton has filed a notice of claim against Surprise for $500,000. "This is a case of D-W-B, driving while black," said Thornton's attorney Marc Victor.
