Chamber’s holiday shopping tour winding up today

Join the Effingham Chamber of Commerce for the finale of the 5th Annual Holiday Shopping Tour in Rincon from 3-9 p.m. Friday.

A grand opening

As shoppers grabbed carts and eagerly waited to start combing through the aisles, Sean Dubois couldn't wait to get going either.

2 Fiddlers Crafts cuts the ribbon

The Effingham Chamber of Commerce was out in force with its Ambassadors to cut the ribbon officially welcoming the 2 Fiddlers Crafts store to Effingham County.

Here’s your year-end investment checklist

We've pretty much seen it all this past year- a bear market, a long rally and even a period of neither-up-nor-down. But even though we've only got a few weeks left of 2009, you still have time to make some moves that can pay off for you in 2010 - and beyond.

A day for heavy lifting at the port

The Georgia Ports Authority's Ocean Terminal received a 269-ton piece of heavy-lift cargo this month bound for the SCANA electric plant in Jasper County, S.C.

Metro jobless rate holds steady

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Labor reported that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the metro Savannah area was unchanged at 8.3 percent from September to October.

Chamber sets Eggs and Issues breakfast

The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast, on Dec 3. The event will be held in the Social Hall of Springfield United Methodist Church, 210 Cleveland St., Springfield at 7:30 a.m.

Southeastern Bank taps Murphy for executive position

DARIEN - The board of directors of Southeastern Bank is pleased to announce the election of Marie Wright Murphy to the position of vice president and market manager of the Richmond Hill office.

Condé Nast lists Mansion on Forsyth Park in top 100

SAVANNAH - "Condé Nast Traveler" recently featured Savannah's Mansion on Forsyth Park on the magazine's annual list of the "Top 100 Hotels in the United States." This marks the third consecutive year that the Mansion on Forsyth Park has been named to the elite list of top U.S. properties, which appears in Condé Nast Traveler's November issue.

Three new stores ready to open in Rincon

In a possible sign of hope in an otherwise tough economy, three businesses are set to open in Rincon. A children's bookstore, a handcrafted gift store and a restaurant are in various stages of opening their doors.

Lots of offerings at Holiday Classic

If you thought the Chamber's annual Holiday Classic was just a business expo, you may want to think again - and make plans to go to Effingham County High School on Sunday from noon to 4:30 p.m. to see the different booths that will be open there.

Skadeland honored

GRI designation awarded to Skadeland

David Skadeland of RE/MAX Crossroads was recently awarded the Graduate, Realtors Institute (GRI) designation by the Georgia and National Associations of Realtors.

Review your financial strategies after life events

If nothing ever changed in your life, you could probably chart your financial and investment strategies and then forget about them. But your life is full of changes - and many of them will require you to take a new look at how you save, invest and protect your family.

Newsome to lead Vision Effingham committee

The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce will hold its Vision Effingham breakfast Nov. 12 at 7:30 a.m.

GSU course preps HR pros for national exam

Starting Sept. 6, this fall's 12-week Certificate in Professional HR Management class in Savannah provides an in-depth study of key areas in human resources.

Heritage parent reports net loss

ALBANY-Heritage Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBOS), the holding company for HeritageBank of the South, announced unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30. Key aspects of the Company's results for the second quarter of 2011 include:

State helps citizens claim $6.2M more in disputed claims

ATLANTA-In the first six months of 2011, Insurance Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens' said his department has helped thousands of Georgians settle disputes with their insurance companies in the first six months of 2011. Without his help, Hudgens said, policyholders might not have seen the $6.2 million of insurance claims that was returned.

GSU launching OSHA seminar series

Georgia Southern University will launch a series of workplace health and safety training seminars in Savannah and Statesboro this summer and fall.

SBDC holding business startup workshop

A workshop entitled "Starting a Business" will be held on Aug. 18. It is a three hour class that begins at 6 p.m.

Directory pays off for Chamber

Karen Tanksley, publisher of the Effingham Herald, presented Effingham County Chamber President Brooke Graham with a check for more than $1,200 to the Chamber last week.

Ports, Panama Canal renew their alliances

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and the Georgia Ports Authority, which owns and operates the Port of Savannah, renewed their ties Wednesday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The MOU, renewable for five years, was first signed in July 2003 and aims to unify efforts to encourage mutual economic benefits.

Jobless rate inches higher for June 2011

ATLANTA – State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Savannah increased to 9.5 percent in June, up 1.0 percent from a revised 8.5 percent in May. The jobless rate in metro Savannah in June a year ago was 8.8 percent.

Farm Service Agency issues crop insurance reminder

Hobby Stripling, state executive director of Georgia's USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), reminds producers of the need for insurance coverage for crops in order to be eligible for the agency's disaster assistance programs. Producers must purchase at least catastrophic (CAT) level of insurance for all insurable crops and/or FSA's Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for non insurable crops to be eligible.

Coastal Bank approved to offer new mortgage, down payment assistance programs

The Coastal Bank has been officially approved for two new mortgage loan and down payment assistance programs specifically designed to help low to moderate income mortgage customers.

More double-digit growth for the ports in FY2011

Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced Monday that the GPA handled more than 2.9 million TEUs (20-foot Equivalent Unit containers) at the Port of Savannah, more than 465,000 automobiles and machinery units at the Port of Brunswick and nearly 2.2 million breakbulk tons for all terminals in fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011).

Chamber sounds call for vendors to reserve space for Oktoberfest

The Effingham Chamber of Commerce is issuing a call for all area vendors interested in participating in this year's Effingham Oktoberfest to apply now.

SBDC holding startup workshop

A workshop entitled "Starting a Business" will be held July 21. It is a three-hour class that begins at 6 p.m.

Local Corps office to host course for contractors

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, will host a one-day "Construction Quality Management for Contractors" course on Aug. 17.

Motorcycle shop likes its view

Being back on Laurel Street in downtown Springfield is a welcome sight for Steve Harrell.