Sunday Solutions — Dec. 22, 2024
Good morning! Here we are, staring holidays in the face and barreling toward a new year. And it’s officially the first full day of winter. With all of that, there’s still some news before you move on to wrapping paper and surprises in your stockings.
PROFILE: ENVIRONMENT
The Okefenokee mining plan next door
Joe Hopkins has a question for people who oppose mining near the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge. What if it was your land? Hopkins has acreage adjacent to the spot targeted for strip mining. And, while he’s not happy about Twin Pines Minerals, he’s not at all thrilled about the prospect of a precedent that could take away his rights for mining his own land. The Current’s Mary Landers spent time with Hopkins and those who say he’s torpedoed efforts to stop the mining plan.
In other Okefenokee news, we got word Friday that the wildlife refuge is a step closer to joining the World Heritage site list compiled by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization, aka UNESCO. If approved, it would join internationally unique places like the Taj Mahal and the Galapagos Islands. Supporters believe the affiliation would draw more international visitors to strengthen the area’s economy and protect it from harm. Here’s the latest from Mary Landers.
NEWS: GOVERNING
Christmas in Liberty: Fire protection, no taxes
Liberty County cities of Midway and Flemington were giving early gifts last week: Midway reached a deal to get full fire coverage from Liberty County Fire and Flemington’s council decided not to levy property taxes for the first time. The Midway-county fire deal is a tentative agreement but would span 5 years when completed. Flemington found a way to take advantage of a new local sales tax effort by setting a tax rate (at zero) officially without actually forcing citizens to pay taxes.
Final week to show your stuff
It’s the last quiz week, and there’s a flurry to win the 2024 Second Half crown. Below you’ll find our leaderboard with the top scores from the previous week, and the overall leaderboard. We’ll post winners Jan. 5.
Leaderboard Dec. 15, 2024
First Place (10/10): Laurie, Shots, Kaspar, BBC
Second Place (8/10): SG Mark, Paul, Sadie T, BS
Third Place (6/10): EMF 33, VBRELLC, BC
Overall Leaderboard:
First Place: Shots
Second Place: SGMark
Third Place: EMF33
NEWS: GOVERNING
Congressman joins majority in budget vote
During U.S. House budget negotiations Friday, Coastal Georgia’s only Congressman, Rep. Buddy Carter found himself on the hot seat as the self-proclaimed deficit hawk had to choose to support president-elect Donald Trump and vote to raise the debt ceiling — something Republicans have fought historically. While 38 Republicans joined Democrats to defeat the effort, Carter voted for the increase. Later Friday night before the deadline to avoid a government shutdown, Carter joined the majority to pass a continuing budget resolution without the debt ceiling provision and with much-needed disaster aid for constituents. The Senate passed the measure and President Joe Biden signed it on Saturday. Carter had several successes this week. Read Craig Nelson’s story about Carter’s week that includes Paris Hilton and a new committee post.
NEWS: COMMUNITY
Sapelo gangways replaced
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources replaced gangways at the Sapelo Island Marsh Landing and Meridian Ferry Dock earlier this week. A gangway collapse at the Sapelo dock left seven people dead in October.
“The new GatorDock aluminum gangways were engineered and manufactured by CMI Limited Co., a leading fabricator of engineered products for marine environments,” the Sapelo Island Incident Information website states. “Overall, each of the gangways are 91 feet long, eight feet wide, and engineered and manufactured to a maximum live load of 260 persons, or 52,000 pounds. The new installations come after the Oct. 19 collapse of the previous gangway at Sapelo Island’s Marsh Landing Dock. The Meridian Ferry Dock gangway was replaced as a precautionary measure.”
The failed gangway and its counterpart at Meridian were made by the same company, McIntosh County-based Crescent Equipment Company. The investigation into the cause of the collapse continues.
The Sapelo-based nonprofit Save Our Legacy Ourself posted about the replacement on Facebook, saying in part, “As work begins on installing a new ramp following the tragic incident that changed so many lives, we move forward with cautious hope. This is a step toward restoring safe access to the Sapelo Island dock—a necessity for our community’s daily life.”
☕ Your second cup: Enjoy the day
Have some hot chocolate and savor the season.
We’ll take a quick break from the regular news schedule of 5 days and publish newsletters on Sunday and Thursday this week and New Year’s week 🎉🎉. Don’t miss those, though: We’ll have favorite stories from the staff and a terrific year-end photo collection over the next week.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and we’ll see you soon. Gotta go…I already hear reindeer and they sound rowdy….🦌🦌🦌🦌
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On the verge of a government shutdown, Carter votes for temporary spending bill
By Craig Nelson
Carter joined other Republicans and Democrats in voting in favor of a slimmed-down spending bill.
Liberty County, Midway reach tentative deal for full city fire service
By Robin Kemp
Midway would pay for the first year up front. After that, the city would ask for a fire district tax to cover the cost of operations.
Midway would make quarterly payments to the county for service during the first year. Then, if the city’s proposed fire district tax passes, Midway property owners would see it in […]
Flemington city council decides not to levy property taxes
By Robin Kemp
In order to collect the one-cent sales tax, which is tied to the rate of inflation, a municipality or county has to have a property tax in place. The idea behind the sales tax is to shift the tax burden off property owners and partly onto non-residents who shop locally.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to be nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site status
By Mary Landers
An effort to gain international recognition for the Okefenokee advances.
Okefenokee mining controversy spotlights property rights
By Mary Landers
Timber magnate Joe Hopkins keeps mining hopes alive by championing private property rights, even though he distrusts the company poised to strip mine near the Okefenokee.
Georgia will allow southwest farms to make new water wells after decade-long ban
By Marisa Mecke/WABE
The new permits have provisions for decreasing water use during droughts as well as automated technology, which will make sure farmers don’t create issues with Florida again.
Georgia Senate panel urges prisons to focus on mental health, feds to ban cellphones
By Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
Panel recommends increasing mental health services, pay study for guards and measures to block cellphone use in Georgia state prison, recently found by the Justice Department
Spokesman: Hyundai Metaplant hasn’t benefitted directly from climate law yet
By Mary Landers
The Inflation Reduction Act didn’t directly benefit the Bryan County Hyundai Metaplant, at least not yet.
Research: Coastal Georgia is losing tree canopy
By Mary Landers
Canopy loss for the six counties was less than 2% from 2010-2019, but development has since boomed.
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