City Notebook

CZECHING OUT CONNECT

As a goof on his friend, Scott Center brought some copies of our recent cover profile of The Creative Coast Initiative’s Chris Miller with him on a recent European trip. Here are a couple of photos Center took of various citizens of the Czech Republic’s capital of Prague posing with the issue.

Apparently, in addition to making the best beer in the world, the Czechs also have excellent taste in weekly papers.

NUKE ACCIDENT AT PLANT HATCH

The nuclear power Plant Hatch south of Savannah had an accident over the Halloween weekend, officials say. While plant officials say damage was contained, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) says nearly 70 inches of spent fuel rods remain unnaccounted for.

“Because of extensive radiological and security measures in place, NRC officials said it is highly unlikely that the material is in an uncontrolled location or that it poses any risk to the public,” a statement from the NRC says.

However, the safe energy advocacy group Southern Alliance for Clean Energy says there’s no such thing as a minor nuclear incident.

“Fortunately, the employees at nuclear Plant Hatch provided a quick response to the oil spill and prevented a more serious accident from occurring,” says a Southern Alliance spokesperson.

“However, the seriousness of having radioactive material unaccounted for is unacceptable and needs to be thoroughly investigated.”

Plant Hatch is on the Altamaha River near Baxley, Ga. It is owned and operated by The Southern Company, which also owns the Savannah Electric and Power Company.

ANOTHER ELECTRIC RATE HIKE

Speaking of Savannah Electric, the local utility was successful last week in its attempt to get the state to approve yet another rate hike -- the third in a year.

The news gets worse: a company spokesman says “the rate approved today may not be enough to keep pace with the higher fuel costs expected in 2006,” making it clear that the company will likely file for another increase before the middle of January.

Technically such hikes are called a “fuel cost recovery” (FCR) allowances. As is always the case when Savannah Electric requests an FCR increase, the company makes it clear that they do so “to recover fuel-related costs of generating electricity.”

The new rate, effective the first billing cycle in December, will affect all customers. The company says the rate increase for the average home will be around 13 percent.

MUSIC FEST TIX ARE FLYING FAST

Note to those who missed out on some fun at the Savannah Film Festival because so many events sold out so early: The same thing is going on with the Savannah Music Festival. Don’t say you weren’t informed!

The Savannah Music Festival tell us that advance ticket sales for the 2006 Festival (March 17-April 2) are ten times what they were this time last year.

“Approximately 33 percent of those sales have come through Savannah Music Festival’s website at savannahmusicfestival.org, compared with twenty-five percent last year,” a spokesperson for the festival says.

NAVY DIGS IN AT REDOUBT

This past Saturday sailors from the USS Bulkeley picked up some shovels and helped shape the Spring Hill Redoubt, a recreation of the earthen fortification at the Revolutionary War Battle of Savannah.

The U.S. Navy destroyer was docked in Savannah to take part in Veterans Day observances. The Coastal Heritage Society is overseeing the excavation and renovation of the battle site.