Lenny Gunther goes from interim to permanent Police Chief of SPD
Savannah City Manager Joseph A. Melder announced today he is appointing Lenny Gunther as Savannah’s Police Chief. Chief Gunther had served as interim Police Chief since July 29, 2022. The comprehensive process of selecting a new chief included a public survey, focus groups, a practical knowledge evaluation and extensive panel interviews. “We conducted a national search…
Start Your Year with Chills and Thrills at the Tybee Polar Plunge
Tybee Island is getting ready to host its annual New Year tradition, the Tybee Polar Plunge. On New Year’s Day, thousands of visitors and locals alike flock to the island’s South Beach to plunge into the Atlantic Ocean at noon. It’s an exciting and memorable way to start off the year, and it’s great fun…
City encourages residents to assess water lines following freezing temperatures
The City of Savannah is encouraging residents and businesses to take time today to carefully assess the water lines on their properties, to include outdoor pipes and faucets, uninsulated pipes under homes, and irrigation systems, following the prolonged cold weather recently experienced in our area. During cold weather events, outdoor spigots and irrigation systems are…
Chatham County commission chairman signs LOST agreement
Chatham County Commission Chairman Chester Ellis signed the LOST agreement Tuesday afternoon after weeks of discussing the contents of the deal. Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue comes from people spending money on shopping, eating, drinking, staying in hotels and more. The purpose of the tax is to help support budgets for the cities and…
GEORGIA POWER: Citizens should prepare for winter weather this week
With extremely cold temperatures expected throughout north and central Georgia this week, Georgia Power is prepared to respond across its system. The company continuously monitors changing weather conditions and puts teams and resources in place that are ready to respond to any impacts caused by winter weather, safely and as quickly as possible. The company…
NATIVITY THEFT: Tybee police searching for nativity scene pieces stolen from local church
Tybee Island police are investigating after for multiple pieces were stolen from a nativity scene at Saint Michael Catholic Church. Father Jerry Ragan, pastor at St. Michael’s Catholic Church said he was preparing for Mass last Saturday morning when members of his congregation told him the nativity scene display did not look right. “Only half…
BUNNY IN THE CITY: Third Annual Trustees’ Garden Christmas Festival
Bringing back a good old fashioned family event, Trustees’ Garden Christmas Festival returned for the third year on Saturday, December 17. With their promise of “100% chance of snow”, train rides, rock wall, life size globe bouncy houses, food trucks, and a merry marketplace, this event has become the signature event of the season! Out…
VIDEO: Giant Panda at Zoo Atlanta makes Peach Bowl Playoff pick
Yang Yang, a 25 year-old giant panda at Zoo Atlanta has made his pick for who will win the New Years Eve Peach Bowl, a semifinal college football playoff game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes. Zoo Atlanta posted the video earlier this week on its social media accounts. Did Yang Yang pick…
Bank of America Invests $463,500 in Savannah in 2022
As part of its commitment to responsible growth, Bank of America has invested a total of $463,500 across Savannah this year through philanthropic grants helping to strengthen the local economy. The support is helping to drive economic mobility and social progress, with a particular focus on advancing racial equality and economic opportunity. Specifically, Bank of…
Davenport House Museum continues holiday tours by candlelight
Davenport House Museum (DHM), a property of Historic Savannah Foundation, announced the return of its annual Holiday Evening Tours by Candlelight event celebrating the coming of the New Year as it would have been observed 200 years ago. This family friendly event will feature costumed docents telling the story of early nineteenth century holiday festivities.…
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire Presented with $8,000 from WTKS Newsradio and Dewitt Tilton Group through Shop With A Cop Christmas Campaign
WTKS Newsradio and the Dewitt Tilton Group partnered once again for Shop With A Cop, helping children from families who are staying at Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire go shopping for Christmas gifts with a police officer. Representatives from the Dewitt Tilton Group and WTKS Newsradio presented a check for $8,000 to…
Union Mission to Serve Over 375 Holiday Meals to those in Need TODAY
In the spirit of the holidays, Union Mission will serve over 375 meals, provided by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation with the support of Sodexo, to local families and homeless individuals in need on Wednesday, December 21st from 11:00am – 1:00pm at Union Mission’s administrative parking lot (125 Fahm Street). This event is free and open to…
Barry Manilow announces music teacher award to coincide with his arena tour with stop in Savannah
Music icon Barry Manilow announced his Manilow Music Project will once again award a deserving music teacher in each city of his summer arena tour which includes Savannah. The Grammy award winner previously announced a one-night-only concert set for Saturday, January 15, at Savannah’s Enmarket Arena. The Savannah School Board and Enmarket Arena participated in…
Economic Monitor Q3 reports regional economy continued to grow at more sustainable pace, will avoid notable downturn in 2023
Georgia Southern University’s latest Economic Monitor, which reflects Q3 2022, reports Savannah metro economy continued to grow, albeit at a slower and more sustainable pace. “While overall employment demonstrated strong growth, important underlying sectors of the economy wavered somewhat,” stated Michael Toma, Ph.D., Georgia Southern’s Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics. “Port activity eased slightly…
Georgia Southern University launches NASA-funded engineering mentorship program with Savannah-area high schools
Savannah-area high school students are getting a first-hand look at engineering concepts through the Eagle Engineering Ambassadors (EAA) program, a new NASA-funded mentorship program that partners students in Georgia Southern University’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing with teams of high school students. The new program, much like its predecessor the Engineering Design…
Dansby Swanson departure more proof that Braves won’t budge on plan
The Atlanta Braves are who we thought they were. The team’s General Manager, Alex Anthopoulos, is who we thought he was. Last weekend, any lingering hopes that free agent shortstop Dansby Swanson would return to Atlanta on a “hometown discount” were squashed when the 28-year-old signed with the Chicago Cubs for $177 million over seven…
A HOLEY TRAGEDY? The hows and whys of Krispy Kreme’s eastside closing
My 63 year old sister, who hasn’t driven a car in over a decade and very likely hasn’t enjoyed a Krispy Kreme doughnut in longer than that was aghast. “I’m devastated!” Why? “Krispy Kreme is closed!” Sandy, you are ridiculous. You’ve only lived here 6 years. Did you ever even go to that store? “No,…
SCAD SERVE Debuts ‘Paint Our Parks’ Initiative in Savannah
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) recently announced the “Paint Our Parks” SCAD SERVE public art initiative, with the unveiling of a brilliant large-scale mural enlivening the playground at Coastal Middle School in Chatham County. Envisioned by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace, organizers say the project is focused on serving the citizens of…
Local mom releases children’s book aimed at helping to overcoming obstacles
Local mom and author Haley Cranman has a new children’s book and it sends a positively inspiring message. According to Cranman, who teaches at LifeSpring Christian Academy in Bloomingdale, she started writing “The Pandemic and Me: A Child’s Perspective,” inspired by her nine year old son, during the pandemic lockdown. “This is my first book…
ART THAT INSPIRES: Kessler Collection announces ‘The Next Original’ competition winners
On Nov. 7, the Kessler Collection, which boasts several luxury hotels throughout the country, launched a nation-wide competition to find the next great artist. “The Next Original” competition closed on Dec. 10, receiving submissions from more than 1,800 artists. After reviewing the more than 5,000 original pieces of art, Richard Kessler, the Chairman and CEO…
AT THE CINEMA 2022: Locally produced films highlight a year of unprecedented focus, spotlight on the region as a whole
The 25th SCAD Savannah Film Festival wrapped over a month ago, but a lot of the films that screened at the festival are now out in theaters or streaming online. Some of them are already generating Oscar buzz. Here is a recap of some films that filmed in our area and others that didn’t, but…
YEAR END THOUGHTS: Savannah’s visual arts scene
As 2022 draws to a close, I am feeling discouraged and a bit angry. I recently learned that some of the artists that set up shop in City Market are being forced to leave, and that the Gallery at the Mansion abruptly closed December 11 due to “a business decision” in advance of their summer…
