News Nearby: Man Fights Intruders with Bat; School Crossing Guard Hit

- Athens Patch

Around 6:40pm on December 18, the four occupants of a Chateau Terrace apartment heard a knock at the door. Two were from Athens, one from Homer and one from Commerce. One looked out and saw four men but did not open the door. The suspects then kicked open the door.

As the suspects entered the residence, one of the residents struck a suspect with a bat and all the suspects fled. .

Cherokee Crossing Guard Struck By Car - Holly Springs-Hickory Flat Patch

A Cherokee County Sheriff's Office crossing guard is recovering from injuries she suffered after being hit by a car this morning.

Michelle Hale, 42, was working in front of Hickory on East Cherokee Drive when she was hit by a minivan shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to a press release from the sheriff's office. Visit Holly Springs-Hickory Flat Patch for more on this story.

3 Killed in 2 Tractor-Trailer Crash in Cartersville - Cartersville Patch

A crash involving two tractor-trailers on Interstate 75 has claimed three lives and shut down the Cartersville roadway for hours this [Wednesday] morning.

Following a series of events that began about 1:50 a.m. with a big rig running off the road, both trucks caught fire and the interstate in both directions was shut down near Cass-White Road, exit 296, Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright said. .

Midtown Prayer Service for Newtown set for Friday - Midtown Patch

Peachtree Christian Church in north Midtown will be holding a special Service of Prayer and Remembrance for Newtown, Connecticut on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.

The church sanctuary will be open at 11:30 a.m. for silent prayer, with a brief service of hope and remembrance from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. .