Latest news with #GeorgiaDepartmentofNaturalResources
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Georgia officer charged with boating under the influence over Memorial Day weekend
A LaGrange police officer is facing charges after being arrested over Memorial Day weekend. The police department confirmed that Sergeant Meghan Keith was arrested and charged with boating under the influence by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on May 24. It's unclear what led up to her arrest. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] She is currently on administrative leave, the department confirmed. Keith has been with the LaGrange Police Department since December 2018. According to jail records, she is no longer in the Troup County Detention Center. TRENDING STORIES: 'The Wire' actor says his son was 'thrown 300 feet' from their home in Henry County tornado A trip to a GA Burger King's drive-thru led to a high school graduate's dream he never saw coming Police identify suspect in deadly shooting outside DeKalb County charity [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Be a wildlife hero, brake for terrapins': Officials remind drivers
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WSAV) — Wildlife officials are reminding drivers to stay alert and brake for Georgia's diamonds in the marsh. Diamondback terrapins are salt marsh reptiles native to the Georgia coast. The hand sized turtles are the only turtle in North America that lives exclusively in brackish, coastal waters, the Atlanta Zoo reported. During their spring nesting season, between April and July, female diamondback terrapins are often hit by cars when trying to reach their preferred nesting grounds. Terrapins are commonly found nesting on sandy beaches, dunes, hammocks, bluffs, and road or causeway embankments and even in household gardens close to salt marshes, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said. Over 2,700 terrapins have been hit by a car on Jekyll Island since 2007, according to the Jekyll Island Authority Conservation Department's tracker. As of May 29, 2025, 67 diamondback terrapins have been reported dead on Jekyll. Officials said the signs posted on Highway 80 and Jekyll Causeway are there to save turtles, and your tires. Officials ask that you stay alert, brake for turtles and put your phone down when driving. They shared a comic style series that shoes the real wildlife drama of terrapin's mission eggpossible adventures: Should you see a terrapin, or have a concern, you can alert the Jekyll Island Authority Conservation Department staff directly using the Terrapin Hotline at 912-270-8865. If you find an injured, sick or dead turtle you can also contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-2SAVEME (1-800-272-8363). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Orphaned bear cubs find new home at Georgia wildlife reserve
A pair of orphaned bear cubs will get a safe, new home after their mother was shot and killed. Bent Tree Public Safety announced that Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Dahlonega will take in the bear cubs and rehabilitate them. 'Although an existence in the wild is no longer in the cards for our bear cubs, we are confident that the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve will provide them with the best life possible. Bent Tree residents and people everywhere now have the opportunity to contribute to the cubs' lives,' officials said. Earlier this month, a homeowner in the Bent Tree community shot and killed the cubs' mother. Neighbors became concerned about the cubs and coordinated the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to keep track of their activity. The wildlife division safely trapped the cubs a few days later. Bent Tree officials said it will be costly for the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve, a nonprofit, to care for the bears. 'Along with their food and milk replacement, there are many very costly expenses coming up for the cubs, such as a new large enclosure, strong playground, and pond. Initial estimates for all of these items is over $30,000,' they said. Neighbors are donating to the nonprofit and encourage others to do the same. If you wish to donate, you can click here and mark the donation for the 'Bent Tree Bears.' TRENDING STORIES: Did you get a text like this? GA Dept. Of Drivers Services warns it's a scam 3 tornadoes touched down during Sunday's storms in north GA 'Stranger Things' star graduates from metro Atlanta high school [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Nearly 30 BUIs issued, 4 injured in boating accidents over Memorial Day weekend
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has released its final report on the boating activity that occurred over Memorial Day weekend. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] From Saturday to Monday, game wardens issued 29 boating under the influence (BUI) citations to 29 individuals. Throughout the weekend, authorities responded to seven boating accidents, resulting in four people being injured. The first incident happened Saturday at 3:15 p.m. Game wardens on Lake Hartwell responded to a boating incident in Lightwood Log Creek. When they arrived, they learned that a personal watercraft (PWC) with three riders hit a wake and were thrown off. A female passenger sustained a right ankle injury and was taken to a hospital in Anderson, S.C. The second accident happened around 8 p.m. near the Savannah River. Officials said debris from a vessel was floating down the river. The DNR said game wardens found the operator about 100 yards from the boat landing, where he had tried to trailer his vessel. The DNR said that while hooking his boat to a trailer, the operator fell into the water but was able to hold onto the vessel and stop the engine. After stopping the engine, the vessel sank. The operator swam to the bank, where the game wardens found him. He was arrested for BUI. His age and identity were not released. Then, just after 11 p.m. on Jekyll Creek in Glynn County, authorities were called to another accident where a jet drive dual console boat ran over the Jekyll Jetties and stopped 20 yards into the marsh on an oyster bed. While four people were on the boat, there were no reported injuries. TRENDING STORIES: 'This is political punishment:' South Fulton mayor reacts to criminal trespassing charges Metro Atlanta mother says insurance will only cover fraction of son's international ATV accident Georgia Tech student killing: Shooter snuck into apartment building, waited for victim, police say On Sunday, around 8:40 p.m., game wardens and Cherokee County deputies were dispatched to a boat accident at Harbor Town Marina on Allatoona Lake. After a strong thunderstorm hit the area, a man driving a small cabin cruiser returned to the marina and hit the dock and another vessel that was tied up. Deputies interviewed the man and determined that he was under the influence. He was arrested for BUI and was taken to the Cherokee County Jail. His age and identity were not released. Then on Monday, around 12:26 p.m., game wardens on Lake Blue Ridge in Fannin County responded to a boating accident between a PWC and a pontoon boat on the south side of the lake. When they arrived, they learned the operator of the PWC was traveling above idle speed when it hit the bow of the pontoon boat. Before the crash, the PWC operator jumped off the PWC into the water. The operator was able to swim back to the PWC. The operator of the PWC was issued a citation for operating a PWC above idle speed within 100 feet of an object. Officials said no one was injured during the crash. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] At 3:00 p.m. on Monday, game wardens were dispatched to a boat accident near Glade Marina on Allatoona Lake, where a PWC that was jumping the wake of a larger vessel hit the other vessel, causing damage to both. The operator of the PWC was charged with violating the 100' law. No injuries were sustained. Around the same time on Monday, game wardens were notified by Putnam County dispatch that a PWC hit the rip rap (rocks) at the Highway 44 bridge on Lick Creek at Lake Oconee. When they arrived, they learned that two teen girls were riding on the PWC, driven by a teen boy, when it started to rain hard. The driver told game wardens he couldn't see because of the rain and was driving over 50 miles per hour, trying to get back to the safety of the boat ramp, when he went up the rip rap, almost to the guard rail on the highway. The two girls were taken to the Medical Center of Central Georgia with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was taken to Good Samaritan's Hospital by a family, also with non-life-threatening injuries.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Georgia oyster harvesting season closing
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WSAV) — Georgia's state salt waters will be closed to commercial and recreational oyster harvesting for human consumption Sunday. Salt waterways are closed to harvesting during warmer months when the risk of shellfish-related illnesses are elevated, a Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Coastal Division spokesperson said. Vibrio parahaemolyticus are bacteria that naturally live in coastal waters but are found in higher numbers when water temperatures are warmer. The bacteria can cause stomach cramps, vomiting and fever if consumed. Raw or undercook oysters are often a way to contract Vibrio, the CDC reports. The seasonal closure will go into effect at 6 a.m. June 1 and extends through midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Oyster harvesting season is expected to reopen at 7 a.m. Oct. 1. The closure applies to all salt waters from the Georgia-South Carolina state line to the Georgia-Florida border. For more information, contact the Coastal Resources Division at 912-264-7218. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
