Columbia digest

Bridge waits on flower

A new bridge on Columbia Road is waiting on Mother Nature.

Georgia Department of Transportation officials want to see whether endangered trillium - a plant similar to a lily, with three large petals sometimes colored white, purple or yellow - is at the site of a bridge replacement project on Columbia Road at Crawford Creek.

They're waiting for the plant to bloom.

"If it's out there, then they'll have to come up with some kind of measures (to change the plan)," said Philip Scarborough of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

INS Making changes

The Immigration and Naturalization Service has made changes that will affect anyone hoping to get a temporary visa.

The INS has created a limited stay of 30 days for business people and tourists. Foreign students must get a student visa before beginning school. Previously, a student could begin classes before receiving the visa.

INS officials said this will help ensure everyone has passed appropriate security checks before coming to America.

"These new rules strike appropriate balance between INS' mission to ensure that our nation's immigration laws are followed," INS Commissioner James Ziglar said in a press release.