Archive By Section - Local

County gets new cell phone deal

Cell phones for Effingham County employees and offices are getting a new service provider.

July 26, 2010 | By Patrick Donahue | Local

Advance voting for runoffs to start Monday

Advance voting will begin Aug. 2 and run through Aug. 6 for the general primary election runoffs.

July 26, 2010 | Staff Report | Local

Early returns show support for four-day work week

Initial reports from a four-day work week pilot project appear to be favorable, Effingham County commissioners have learned.

July 26, 2010 | By Patrick Donahue | Local

Runoff to determine District 2

After several weeks of campaigning, there's still more to do for two candidates.

Vera Jones received 494 of 1,091 votes cast in the Republican primary for the Effingham County commissioners' District 2 race. It was 52 votes short needed to claim the primary and the seat, since there is no Democratic opposition.

But Jones, the former Effingham County Board of Education chairwoman, will face off against Michael King in an Aug. 10 runoff. King claimed

312 votes, 27 more than incumbent Commissioner Myra Lewis.

"I knew percentage-wise it was most likely," Jones said of a runoff. "But I ...

July 22, 2010 | By Patrick Donahue | Local

Brown, Mason to meet for District 3 seat

With his primary victory in hand, Steve Mason is looking forward to a little break.

Mason defeated incumbent Jeff Utley in Tuesday's Republican primary for the Effingham County Board of Commissioners' 3rd District seat. Mason

had 362 votes to Utley's 313.

"We're going to take a couple of weeks off," Mason said. "And then we'll get back in it."

Both primaries pitted candidates with political experience against newcomers to campaigning. In both instances, the new faces won, as Lillie Smart-Brown defeated former commissioner Homer Lee Wallace.

"I am very pleased," Brown said. "I thank God for ...

July 22, 2010 | By Patrick Donahue | Local

County makes plans for SPLOST projects list

Effingham County commissioners are forging ahead with plans for a potential next round of special local option sales tax.

County officials are planning on another five-year SPLOST bringing in $70 million. The SPLOST will be voted on in a Nov. 2 referendum as part of the general election. If approved, the one-cent sales tax will go into effect in 2012.

But one item that likely won't be receiving SPLOST funding is the Effingham Hospital's modernization and expansion plans.

Discussion among county representatives and officials from the three municipalities included putting what is known as a Level 1 project ...

July 22, 2010 | By Patrick Donahue | Local

Changes coming to commissioners

When the Effingham County commissioners convene for their first meeting of 2011, half of the board members will be brand new.

Incumbents Myra Lewis and Jeff Utley, each seeking a third term, were defeated in their re-election quest. Utley, the sitting District 3 commissioner, was upended by newcomer Steve Mason. Mason will face Lillie Smart Brown, another political novice, who outpolled former commissioner Homer Lee Wallace.

Former school board chairwoman Vera Jones was the leading vote-getter in the District 2 race. But she didn't capture a majority of the votes. She will be in a runoff against former Rincon ...

July 22, 2010 | By Patrick Donahue | Local

CRD asks for program changes to coastal plan

BRUNSWICK-The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Resources Division has submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management a request for Routine Program Changes to the approved Georgia Coastal Management Program. The state considers the Program Changes to be routine and not substantial changes to the authorities of the Georgia Coastal Management Program.

A copy of the complete program change request may be obtained by calling Coastal Resources Division or visit http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaynavigation.asp?TopCategory=302

Any comments on this whether this request for Program ...