Thursday, May 29, 2025
Good morning!
We’re here with a few updates from the coast this week. Let us know how we’re doing or send a suggestion to staff@thecurrentga.org
CHATHAM COUNTY
Remembering the fallen: The Mighty 8th Air Force Museum held a Flags for the Fallen event over Memorial Day weekend, placing 26,000 flags in remembrance of each airman lost during World War II. The event culminated with a wreath-laying by war veterans and a C130 flyover by the 165th Airlift Wing, based in Savannah. Of the 405,399 U.S. military personnel that died in the war, 26,000 were members of the 8th Air Force. Visual journalist Justin Taylor captured the moments.
Courts on the move: Chatham County Superior and State courts operations will move officially to the new Eugne H. Gadsden Courthouse on Monday, June 2. The new building is at 400 W. Oglethorpe Ave. All summoned jurors should report there Monday.
Be heard on tax projects: County citizens meetings to weigh in on projects for a proposed Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax continue, including a virtual meeting hosted by commission chair Chester Ellis at 6 p.m. June 3. Here’s the link to join. County residents can also fill out an online survey to note their priorities for the tax, that could see a public vote in November. See the potential list of projects at this link. A District 6 town hall will be today at 6 p.m. at the Southwest Library Auditorium, 14097 Abercorn St., Savannah.
CAMDEN COUNTY
Trash pickup costs rise: Camden County will be paying more for curbside trash pickups — but residents won’t. Last week, Camden commissioners approved a request from their waste collection provider, Meridian Waste, for a consumer price index increase of 1.4% or $18,744. The board said that taxpayers will not pay more from the increase, instead, the county will cover the hike. The board said that the increase was factored into budget for the next year, after the second rate increase a few years back.
Go fish! The 31st Annual Kids Fishing Derby is taking place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. June 7 at the SR-110 Municipal Solid Waste Landfill on Ga 110 2.75 miles north of the intersection with Georgia Highway 40. The event, supported by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, is free and open to children 16 years of age and under. Participants should bring their own fishing poles and chairs, and prizes will be awarded for longest fish, heaviest fish, most fish caught, and youngest angler. Hot dogs, drinks, and bait will be provided. Click here for more info.
BRYAN COUNTY
Help shape the park’s future: The City of Richmond Hill is planning to develop Robert “Bobby” Carpenter Park, also known as The Bottom Park, and is seeking community input on how to best serve the community. A community listening session will be 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at city hall, 40 Richard Davis Drive, where residents can share their ideas, ask questions, and help shape the future of the park. More info here.
GLYNN COUNTY
Housing applications open: The Brunswick Housing Authority will resume accepting Housing Choice Voucher applications on 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 30, after a 10-month pause. 1500 applicants will be selected through a random weighted lottery, with points added for employment, older or disabled citizens or a victim of violence. Applicants must create an account with the housing authority to apply. Here’s the link, and here’s the phone number: 912-265-1334.
Riding for Ahmaud Arbery: A group of 14 bicyclists held a remembrance ride Sunday for Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick. The ride was organized by the Gullah/Geechee Club and Brag Dream Team and was led by Anita Collins. The ride aimed to bring people together and honor the memory of Arbery, who was murdered in 2020. The ride included a visit to the Veterans Memorial Park and honorary Ahmaud Arbery Street, as well as stopping at murals of Mrs. Georgia Gibbs and Rev. Julius Ceasar Hope. See more photos, words from the ride.
LIBERTY COUNTY
Area representative named to insurance panel: Georgia Rep. Al Williams has been appointed to the Georgia House Blue-Ribbon Study on Insurance Rates, which will investigate rate-setting practices, profit margins, claims processing, and regulatory compliance. The committee will also report on any predatory practices and make recommendations for future rate-setting. The study aims to ensure that every Georgian has access to affordable coverage and that premiums are driven by fair practices.You’ll be able to keep up with the Insurance Rates committee here, and all House study committees here.
MCINTOSH COUNTY
Manager resigns: McIntosh County is looking for a replacement county manager after Patrick Zoucks put in a request to resign from his post. A special called meeting will be held on Friday to consider appointing an interim. This comes after the city of Darien officially hired Holden Osburn last week after a monthlong search.
Dock project done: After a Rural Downtown Redevelopment Grant from June 2022, for $1,662,510 provided by the Department of Community Affairs to the Darien Downtown Development Authority for rehabilitation and construction of the downtown docks, the project has finally been completed. A ribbon cutting showing off the improvements was held last Thursday.
ALONG THE COAST
Apply for quota hunts starting Sunday: Starting June 1, hunters can apply electronically for most quota hunts including deer, alligator, waterfowl, dove and many others, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
Kids eat free: Starting Monday, June 2, kids and teens 18 or younger can get free summer meals through Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. Meals are Monday through Friday at various locations. No signups are required. Find a spot at this link: http://helpendhunger.org/find
Cast Net will feature nuggets from Coastal Georgia that we hope you’ll find interesting, fun or useful. All that said, we’ll need to hear from you to make sure we’re on the right track.
We’re always working to make sure our newsletters are as useful as they can be, and we’ll be experimenting over the next few months in this Thursday space. Send a note to susan.catron@thecurrentga.org and let me know how we’re doing. — Susan
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Critics pan Georgia Power’s plans to use more fossil fuels
By Stanley Dunlap
Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan calls for more fossil fuels, with environmental groups calling for a more diverse mix of clean, affordable energy solutions.
Mighty 8th Air Force honors the unit’s 26,000 airmen killed in WWII
By Justin Taylor
The Mighty 8th Air Force Museum held its Flags for the Fallen event, placing 26,000 48-star American flags in remembrance of the 26,000 airman lost during World War II, and included a wreath-laying ceremony and C130 flyover.
Brunswick cyclists honor Ahmaud Arbery with remembrance ride
By Justin Taylor
A group of 14 bicyclists held a remembrance ride on Sunday in Brunswick, organized by the Gullah/Geechee Club and Brag Dream Team, to keep the memory of Ahmaud Arbery alive and to bring people together.
More than 3 million people would lose SNAP benefits under GOP bill, nonpartisan report says
By Jacob Fischler/Georgia Recorder
The House passed a bill that would cut food assistance benefits for 3.2 million people and impose a $14 billion annual cost on states, prompting Democrats to argue that it would unfairly harm the needy while providing tax breaks for high earners.
Liberty Development Authority sets 5-year targets for county job growth
By Robin Kemp
Liberty County Development Authority’s 5 year strategic plan targets automotive and electric vehicle suppliers, aerospace and aviation, Department of Defense suppliers, cold storage and e-commerce, and foreign direct investment. It also calls for greater collaboration to improve housing availability, quality. of life, and job-ready high school graduates.
State PSC to resume hearings on Georgia Power energy-supply plan
By Dave Williams/Capitol Beat
ATLANTA – Starting May 27, Georgia Power executives will defend the mix of energy resources the utility intends to rely on for generating electricity against critics who say the plan relies too much on fossil fuels and not enough on renewable power. This story also appeared in Capitol Beat News Service The state Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold […]
Abortion rights advocates blame confusion around Georgia law for plight of brain-dead pregnant woman
By Ty Tagami/Capitol Beat News Service
Georgia’s ‘heartbeat’ law, which bans abortion once cardiac activity is detected in a fetus, has been criticized by abortion and medical advocates for creating confusion and fear among providers, leading to a situation where a brain-dead pregnant woman was kept on life support.
Another big hurricane season forecast for 2025, with warming ocean a cause
By Ty Tagami/Capitol Beat News Service
The National Weather Service is predicting an above-average number of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean this year, with 13 to 19 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes.
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