Regional Roundup: Athens Big K-Mart Closing, Vases Stolen from Cemetary and TSPLOST Tweetup

- Athens Patch

After 25 years in business, the Big K-Mart store on Barnett Shoals Road in Athens is closing. By the end of September, all the merchandise will be liquidated, the employees will have applied for other jobs and perhaps moved on.

"We're not renewing the lease," said Kim Freely, spokesperson for Sears Holding Company. It owns Big K Mart stores, Sears stores and Land's End, among other properties. "How the store performed is one factor. It's one of several K-Marts that we are closing."

She said the employees of the Athens store have been notified of job vacancies at other nearby Sears and K-Mart stores. They may apply for these positions.

-- Loganville Patch

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of vases from West Lawn Cemetery in Walton County. The cemetery, which is located just north of the city of Monroe, had 35 vases stolen recently. The theft was discovered on July 1.

The Walton Tribune is reporting that an arrest has been made in this case. Shahid Rahim, 34, of 1949 Highway 11, Monroe, was reportedly arrested at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 9, and charged with 24 counts of theft by taking. DeKalb Police reportedly assisted in the arrest. Rahim's address is close to West Lawn Cemetery. He was reportedly arrested when he tried to sell the urns to a recycling dealer in Dekalb County.

– Alpharetta Patch

Atlantic Station is partnering with Untie Atlanta for an online Tweetup July 11 to discuss the upcoming regional transportation referendum.

Saba Long, press secretary at Citizens for Transportation Mobility, will be on Twitter to answer questions about the referendum from 11 a.m. to noon and again from 7 to 8 p.m. 

Tweeters can send questions to Caleb J. Spivak, Atlantic Station's social media and community manager, who will be moderating the discussion from the mixed-use community's Twitter handle (@AtlanticStation). Answers will come from Saba Long on the Untie Atlanta Twitter handle (@UntieAtlanta). Participants can follow the conversation by using hashtag #UntieATL.

For more details, visit .

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