Regional Roundup: Illegal Gambling Bust, Kudzu-Eating Sheep and Transportation Tax

-- Lawrenceville Patch

Gwinnett County Police have arrested two Lawrenceville men, along with two others after cracking down on illegal gambling allegedly going on at a local store.

According to a police report, undercover officers went into One Stop convenience store on Lawrenceville Hwy five different times. Each time they were given cash for winning on electronic gambling machines.

After executing their search warrant, officers arrested the store’s clerk, 21 year old David Batista of Lawrenceville. Police later arrested the store’s owner, 47 year old Husam Abushmais of Baugh Springs Lane in Lawrenceville. MD “Murad” Kibria, 21 of Norcross, and 20 year old Bassam Al Jashaami of Clarkston were also arrested.

All four have been charged with commercial gambling, keeping a gambling place, and possession of a gambling device.

– Buckhead Patch

Trees Atlanta and the Chastain Park Conservancy have hired a flock of 100 sheep to clean the kudzu out of Chastain Park. 

Using sheep and goats to eat kudzu might be unusual, but isn't totally unheard-of. 11 Alive used a flock to clear kudzu off their studio's property and  provides a flock for residential kudzu clearing.

– Alpharetta-Milton Patch

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal made a campaign visit before several hundred North Fulton business leaders to gain support for the regional transportation sales tax (TSPLOST) going before voters on July 31.

Deal was the guest speaker at the  Eggs & Enterprise Breakfast, held Tuesday, May 22 at the  in Johns Creek.

The Governor said transportation was important to attract companies to the state. He said transportation issues were important in landing Baxter Pharmaceutical and Caterpillar. Baxter picked a site that has easy access to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, while Caterpillar needs access to a port because it plans to export 40 percent of the "smaller" products it makes. The Governor plans for that to be the Port of Savannah, and he said dredging plans to make the port accessible are moving forward.