Sunday Solutions — Aug. 17, 2025
Good morning! We’re here to help you avoid the storms with a story of a veteran who’s been working to safeguard his family land for the next generation, a breakdown of a public marina that’s criticized for not being so public, and some notes about what’s happening in state government that could affect you. We leave you with a primer on voting that comes from a perspective different from what you may be expecting: neuroscience. Settle in and click!
EXPLAINER: COMMUNITY
From a tangled title to family farm
Lloyd Byrd spent 14 years working to restore the title and legal status of his family’s property. His situation isn’t unusual for many Black families in Coastal Georgia. One study found that there could be as many as 30,687 instances of heirs’ property in 15 counties where families don’t have ownership documentation for their land and can’t claim the generational wealth their ancestors worked for.
For Byrd, this story was more than a century in the making as he researched deeds, birth and Census records and land plats dating back to the 1800s. He’s now an expert for others who want to do the same work for themselves, and he teaches workshops in Liberty County.
For Liberty County reporter Robin Kemp, the 3-month route to writing Byrd’s story is an example of the tried and true processes reporters use to not only verify what they are told but to discover more as they dig through moldy deed books, traverse graveyards for names and dates, talk to mapping experts and then work with editors to bring you the most complete story possible. Kemp brings us along on Byrd’s travels where we learn how past challenges can require extra effort to become opportunities for future generations.
NEWS: GOVERNING
County marina: Breached contract, limited access
The St. Simons Marina is on public land owned by Glynn County and managed by a private group, The St. Simons Boating and Fishing Club, with the agreement that the public would have access. Area boaters who weren’t club members complained that they were pushed away and unable to use the services. In June, the Glynn County Commission earmarked $5 million for more repairs, despite breaches in a 2019 agreement and more criticism about accessibility for the public. Glynn County reporter Jabari Gibbs breaks down the contract requirements, the payments and repairs as the commission plans to hear a report on the marina this week.
🎉 Congratulations to David for knowing that last week’s Spyglass was at the historical marker for the village of Ways Station, which became Richmond Hill in 1941. It’s located at Station Exchange in Richmond Hill. We had 6 correct answers last week — let’s see how you do this week.
Test how well you spy details in Coastal Georgia. Give us the location of the item in the photo above. Some spots may be easier to identify than others; some will be tougher. We’ll collect correct answers each week and draw for a weekly winner.
CLICK HERE TO GIVE YOUR ANSWER
NEWS
When words distract, and more
A new report from the University of Georgia says the state needs strong leadership to deal with the growing effects of a warming planet. The report also advises that “resiliency” is the most likely term to spur action because people find “climate change” a politically charged description. Here’s to hoping we Georgians are resilient enough to get past any words that make us uncomfortable and are more focused on the data around what needs to be done. Here’s the story from Orlando Montoya at Georgia Public Broadcasting about the report, what’s next and what needs to be addressed.
Also from the week:
- Sonny Perdue’s salary set to rise to $572,500 pending Regents’ vote: The 2-term governor and former US Secretary of Agriculture may get a $50,000 raise soon. From Georgia Recorder.
- Federal appeals court hears pros, cons of giving snacks to weary — and occasionally wary — voters: Justices are asked to define ‘intimidation” as it relates to people trying to cast a ballot. From GPBNews.
EXPLAINER: VOTING
☕ Your second cup: Our brains on democracy
Today’s recommendation is to sit back and listen to a really interesting breakdown about how the U.S. states’ systems of creating districts for representation works, what doesn’t, and options to consider. The discussion is timely as states including Texas, Ohio and California are looking to rework their local voting districts in reaction to national politics. It’s different because the interview isn’t politically charged personalities pontificating about gerrymandering; it’s an interview with a professor of neuroscience who describes how the systems affect how we vote and the research behind it all. The 45-minute show “Think” from KERA at North Texas Public Broadcasting in Dallas/Fort Worth is very digestible in 10-minute bites. Give it a listen if you’re wondering about how American voting systems can be better and how some pieces succeed in spite of human hurdles.
Enjoy.
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Glynn County pays $5 million for marina repairs amid criticism it operates as a ‘good ole boys’ club
By Jabari Gibbs
Glynn County Commissioners have unanimously voted to allocate $5 million in taxpayer funds to repair the St. Simons Boating and Fishing Club’s marina, despite the club’s long-standing lease obligations and lack of promotion of open access to the waterfront.
Heirs’ property: One man’s journey to recover Black wealth in Coastal Georgia
By Robin Kemp
Lloyd Byrd spent 14 years restoring the title and legal status of his family’s farm in Liberty County, Georgia, with the help of the USDA Heirs’ Property Relending Program, which provides legal and financial assistance to help heirs resolve title issues and clear ownership of inherited property.
Report urges state-level leadership on ‘resilience’ while ‘climate change’ still politically charged
By Orlando Montoya/GPB News
A new report suggests that Georgia create a state office to plan for the effects of climate change, emphasizing the need for resilience in the face of increasing natural disasters.
Federal appeals court hears pros, cons of giving snacks to weary — and occasionally wary — voters
By Grant Blankenship/GPB News
Attorneys argued this week whether the current temporary injunction against the Georgia law prohibiting handing out food and water to people in long voting lines should stand, with both sides agreeing that the government has a compelling interest in protecting voters from intimidation, but differing on what constitutes intimidation.
Sonny Perdue’s salary set to rise to $572,500 pending Regents’ vote
By Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has voted to move forward a proposal to give Chancellor Sonny Perdue a $50,000 pay raise, which would bring his salary to $572,500.
On Wassaw, researchers track sea turtles all-night, all-summer
By Emily Jones/WABE, Grist
Volunteers and researchers are collecting data on sea turtles and their nests along the coast of Georgia to track the impacts of climate change and monitor the population’s response to rising seas and temperatures.
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