From the Clairemont Heights Civic Association blog…

From local resident Charles Forrest: For your information, at the Alliance to Improve Emory Village (AIEV) community meeting last night in White Hall (Emory), it was reported that construction on the roundabout in Emory Village will start as early as today, Wednesday August 18, with the installation of project signage. The culmination of nearly a decade of planning, the roundabout is part of a DeKalb County plan for street and traffic improvements that will improve traffic flow through the Village, enhance pedestrian safety, and improve aesthetics. In conjunction with this work, there will be lane closures, and pedestrian and vehicular detours.

This fall Stage 1 will reduce North Decatur Road from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction with a center left turn lane, and see the installation of the first phases of paving improvements. Stage 2 will commence over the winter holidays and see the removal of the traffic signals. Stages 3 and 4 in the spring will see the completion of the streetscape improvements and opening of the roundabout. The entire project is scheduled to be complete in June 2011.

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Now this is hyper-local at its best!

Does anyone know why there is a small concrete (?) bench at the southwest corner of Clairmont Road and Scott Boulevard?  There’s also one across Clairmont on the southeast corner of the intersection.

Is it some sort of relic of a early 20th century version of the now-defunct red-light camera at that intersection?

Did anyone else see this little blurb yesterday?

State troopers say they started enforcing the law Aug. 1, after one month spent educating the public. In two weeks, authorities say they’ve handed out just two dozen citations, but they’re visually noting fewer people using phones at all while driving.

So, why is a law that is difficult to enforce – which many of you pointed out in a previous discussion – having such a noticeable effect?

h/t: That’s Just Peachy

Ah, it’s the school rankings that many people love to hate, but everyone still takes note of.

From Agnes Scott (bolding is mine)…

Agnes Scott College continues to be a school to watch among national liberal arts colleges, according to U.S.News & World Report’s 2011 America’s Best Colleges rankings.

Agnes Scott was ranked No. 6 in the nation in this category, which was based on nominations from college administrators who were asked to name colleges that have made the most “promising and innovative changes” in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities.

The college also rose to No. 15 on the “Great Schools, Great Prices” ranking for liberal arts colleges, up from No. 22 last year.

…Agnes Scott was ranked No. 67 overall among national liberal arts colleges.

And from Emory…

For the 18th consecutive year, Emory University is among the top 20 national universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual “America’s Best Colleges” quality rankings. Emory’s Goizueta Business School was 13th in the rankings of undergraduate business programs.

Emory shared the distinction with Rice University of being the only two top-20 institutions also listed in the top 20 for best value (“Great Schools, Great Prices”), and on the top 20 “Up and Comers” list of schools having recently made the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities.

UPDATE: Here’s Fox5′s segment on the non-event…

Sounds like there was quite the event on Ridgeland Avenue last night.  From WSB…

Police in DeKalb County blocked off a street and called in a hazmat team to a Decatur home early Thursday morning.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Rebecca Lindstrom was at the scene on Ridgeland Avenue in Decatur and said officers were originally called out to a home that had a possible meth lab inside.

Officials said they received a call from a neighbor who said the homeowner was acting strangely.

DeKalb County Fire Department officials sent its hazmat unit to the home just before 3 a.m. after police reported something suspicious on the porch. Hazmat team members left at about 5 a.m., but the DEA’s Clandestine Lab unit arrived at the scene to take its place.

Just after 6 a.m., Decatur police said they did not find a meth lab in the home, but they did find some unidentified liquids and materials. Officials said the liquids and materials do not appear to be explosive.

Thanks to No Decaf for the tip!