News Nearby: Lawsuit Claims Church 'Enabled' Sex Abuse; GBI Investigates Police Spokeswoman

Lawsuit: First Baptist Canton 'Enabled' Sexual Abuse

allowed a fired employee with a history of sexual misconduct against children to return to the church as a volunteer, a misstep that led to the sexual battery of a teenage boy, the parents of the victim allege in a civil suit.

The boy's parents are suing the church, senior pastor George Anderson and former church employee Shawn Finch, alleging that they not only failed to properly supervise the volunteer and the children in their care, but tried to "downplay" the abuse in a meeting at the church.

GBI: Canton Police Spokeswoman Subject of Investigation

Sgt. Stacy Bailey, the spokeswoman for the  and one of the , is the subject of a GBI criminal investigation, officials with both agencies said today.

Chief Bob Merchant on July 18 asked the GBI to "look into an expense from the ... Explorers fund," said Kim Williams, a special agent in the GBI's Cleveland, GA, office, which covers Cherokee County.

The Explorers program exposes teenagers to careers in law enforcement.

DashCam Captures Police Chase, Rollover; 2 Suspects Flee on Foot

The is searching for two suspects that fled on foot after a high-speed chase on Interstate 20 that led to a rollover Tuesday night. Two of the four suspects in the vehicle were arrested, according to the DPD's Facebook page.

The men are suspected of participating in two Douglasville burglaries that occurred overnight.

Ex-Wheeler Star Wins Olympic Gold

For the second Summer Olympics in a row, a former track star from has won a gold medal.

Aries Merritt, who graduated from Wheeler in 2003 and whose family resides in Mableton, raced to the gold in men's 110-meter hurdles race Wednesday in London, turning in a time 12.92 seconds.

New GHS Teacher to Compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics

Chaunte Lowe is reported to be a new math teacher at for the 2012-2013 school year, but she will likely be missing the first few days of school. It is also possible she could begin her tenure at the school  not just as a first time teacher, but also as an Olympic medal winner.

The 31-year-old Decatur resident is one of the three women on the U.S. high jump team and one of two who also happen to be mothers ESPN reports in a profile of the team.

Kennesaw Resident Wins 'Cupcake Wars'

The owner of a West Cobb cupcake shop defeated three other masters of the sweet treats to win the episode of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars that aired Sunday. 

Being a contestant on the show “was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Patricia Katopes, the owner of of Patty Cakes Cupcakes on Due West Road, told the Marietta Daily Journal. “It was very intense. It was a surreal experience.”

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