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Through Saturday's parade, Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police had only arrested 15 people in the St. Patrick's Day festival area. However, a spike on Saturday night ended up bringing the holiday total up to 79 arrests.

Most arrests took place between 4 p.m. Saturday and 4 a.m. Sunday. Police filed 46 charges between 4 a.m. and midnight Saturday and an additional 18 Sunday morning.

Forty-four arrests were processed in the command center overseeing the festivities on River Street and the other 35 were processed in the center at St. Julian and MLK Jr. Boulevard, police say.

Charges included:

Disorderly conduct 33

Public urination 17

Possession of controlled substance 7

Obstruction 6

Public intoxication 2 (!!!!)

Simple assault 2

Dog with no shots 1

Open container 1 (!!!!!)

Swimming in river 1

DUI 1 (!!!!)

Providing false name 1

Underage drinking 1

Criminal damage second degree 1

Public indecency 1

Battery (domestic violence act) 1

Carrying a concealed weapon 1

Criminal trespass 1

Theft of services 1

Seventy charges were misdemeanors, two were felonies and seven were city ordinance violations.

Sixty-eight suspects were transported to the Chatham County Detention Center, six taken to court and three released on subpoena. Those charged included one juvenile and two were military.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are using this temporary "asset," a 30-foot observation tower, in Ellis Square throughout the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Here it is earlier before, uh, full erection.

The portable Skywatch Tower is being loaned to the department by Integrated Systems of Alpharetta for test and evaluation.

The tower has been used by used by many 140 law enforcement agencies including New York, Miami and New Orleans to provide additional observation during large events. It will be removed Sunday.

“This gives us just one more opportunity to observe the actions during the celebration as we deal with such a large increase in people in the downtown area,” says Police Chief Willie Lovett.

Hanging out inside the SkyWatch is a pretty cush gig. It's equipped with air conditioning, thermal and day cameras, tinted windows, flood lights, diesel generator, shore power, 98-gallon fuel tank, and electrical outlets.

# # #

Chatham Area Transit provides an easy $5 round-trip park 'n' ride option for tomorrow's festivities.

Locations:

Westside - Pickup at Westside Shopping Center (located on Hwy 80 in Garden City), Drop off at the Visitors Center

Eastside - Pickup at Island Towne Centre (Hwy 80 on Whitemarsh Island), Drop off at Oglethorpe & Houston

Southside - Pickup at Savannah Mall (on the Apache Ave side by Dillard's), Drop off at the Visitors Center

Times:

7-11 AM To downtown

11 AM-4 PM From downtown*

Shuttle Passes can be purchased in advance at the General Store in the Oglethorpe Mall or on Saturday at the shuttle locations using cash only.

Additional Departure Options:

Anyone taking a shuttle downtown who does not want to return on the afternoon shuttle can use the St. Patrick's Day pass to ride regular routes.

To Westside Shopping Center - 3A and 3B Augusta Ave routes each stop about a block away
To Island Towne Centre - 10 East Savannah
To Savannah Mall - 114X Abercorn Express from downtown, or take numerous other routes to the Oglethorpe Mall and then transfer to the 114X.

Hutchinson Island shuttle is being provided this year in addition to the Savannah Belles Ferry for customers parking on Hutchinson Island. It will run 7 AM-4 AM across the Talmadge Bridge.

From 7 AM-8 PM travel will be between Bryan Square (between the Trade Center and the Westin) and Fahm & Indian (downtown).

From 8 PM-4 AM travel will be between 2 locations on Hutchinson Island: Bryan Square (between the Trade Center and the Westin) and Paddock Parking (by the racetrack), and Fahm & Indian (downtown).

The City of Savannah will have parking available on Hutchinson Island for $15.

Former Savannah City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney, whose resignation was accepted by City Council this past fall after a series of financial and personnel scandals which dominated local headlines, has been hired by the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

She will serve as deputy city manager "to oversee community investment departments, including special projects, human relations, community development, development services and engineering and infrastructure," according to the hometown paper, the Fayetteville Observer.

Interestingly, the official Fayetteville announcement mentions that while in Savannah Small-Toney "oversaw a redevelopment plan, bike lane project, drainage improvements, the creation of two new critical response centers and the city's first dog park," with no mention of the easily Google-able, year-plus controversy here which resulted in her dismissal and a pending audit of City finances.

Small-Toney's new salary in Fayetteville? $158,500 a year.

Good luck, Fayettevillle! You're gonna need it...

The victim of yesterday's shooting on West Bay Street has been identified. 33-year-old William Bass of Savannah was found after Downtown Precinct patrol officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 1300 block about 1:03 a.m. and found the victim had expired.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). In the body type, include “CStop2020” plus the tip. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124.

Most Rev. Gregory J. Hartmayer, Catholic Bishop of Savannah, will celebrate Mass for the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, now Pope Francis I, at noon tomorrow, March 14 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

Bishop Hartmayer’s video statement welcoming the new pope is here.

Online voters chose “philanthropic angel” Nancy Larsen and innovative artist Molly Lieberman as winners of this year's "One Small Voice" award from the Savannah Children's Choir.

Nancy Larsen supports numerous local arts organizations and is most known for her work with Kids Cafe, a program at the Second Harvest Food Bank which provides meals and programming for children, and Chef’s Table, the fundraising event that helps support it.

• Ken and Nancy Larsen

Molly Lieberman developed an innovate program called “Loop it up Savannah” that helps disadvantaged youth find their voices through artistic expression.

• Molly Lieberman

The Savannah Children’s Choir presented their One Small Voice award in a ceremony held at the American Legion this past weekend. This year’s event marks a new direction for the seven-year-old award. For the first time, the process was open to the community for online nominations and voting.

Other nominees included: Olympic weightlifter Kerri Goodrich for her work in helping children achieve goals using weightlifting as a tool to inspire and engage them; writer Catherine Killingsworth for her work with Deep, a non-profit devoted to helping students improve their writing skills; and Dr. Thomas McKee, pediatric intensivist, for his work not only saving children’s lives, but also for training nurses and future pediatricians how to compassionately care for children and their families.

“We’re so fortunate to have had online voting this year,” states Jamey Espina, Chairman of the SCC’s Board of Trustees. “There’s no way the Board of Trustees could have chosen winners from the excellent slate of semi-finalists. Each one had such a compelling story about the incredible work they do.”

Launched in 2007 as a way for the Savannah Children’s Choir to sing the praises of individuals making a difference in the lives of children, the award is more than just recognizing a winner, according to Cuffy Sullivan, SCC Executive Director. “The process of nominating and voting also helps get the word out to a broader audience about the variety of efforts going on in our community that made a difference in children’s lives,” she comments.

For a complete listing of former One Small Voice winners and their stories, go to www.savannahchoir.org.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are investigating the shooting death of a 33-year-old man on West Bay Street this morning. Downtown Precinct patrol officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 1300 block about 1:03 a.m. and found the victim had expired.

Identification has been withheld until family members can be notified.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). In the body type, include “CStop2020” plus the tip. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police arrested 24 suspects in their third Total Focus operation of the year this weekend in a continuing effort to lower crime.

More than 60 officers from SCMPD Patrol, Crime Suppression Units, K9, Aviation and SWAT, joined by Officers from the Savannah Impact Program, Probation and Parole, Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Chatham County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted rolling saturations of various areas.

The effort led to 11 felony arrests, 13 misdemeanor arrests, 61 field interviews, 123 traffic citations, 23 home visits to Savannah Impact Program clients, 56 Probation and Parole contacts, 12 Department of Juvenile Justice curfew checks and the recovery of two firearms, a stolen vehicle, items stolen in burglaries, and drugs.

On both nights, the operation evolved into street support for the downtown area that experienced unusual crowds associated with pre-St. Patrick’s Day Festival activities.

• A 'drug suspect,' according to police

The saturation efforts are balanced by daytime visits to neighborhoods to greet residents and build rapport, removal of tennis shoes from power lines which are associated with drug sales, and building neighborhood watch groups in areas that have none.

“We’ll keep doing this as long and as often as we can,” Chief Willie Lovett said. “It uses a lot of resources but has a tremendous effect on crime in the area and establishing relationships with residents that helps them feel safer in their neighborhoods.”

This weekend’s operation was preceded by a smaller venture on the 200 block of West 39th Street by Central Precinct Crime Suppression Units supported by SWAT, K9, ATF and Sheriff’s deputies as well as weapons, juvenile and Crime Prevention Officers.

The 39th Street operation followed up on requests from residents to both SCMPD and City Hall to address drug sales in the neighborhood. SWAT officers served a search warrant on a house there that yielded four felony and two misdemeanor drug possession arrests as well as the recovery of illegal drugs.

Undercover Officers on Friday night located a stolen Chrysler 300 that was used to commit burglaries parked in the 2100 block of N. Fernwood Drive. Officers waited until a suspect approached the car and began a foot pursuit when he ran. Canine officer Flash ended the pursuit.

Police found keys to the stolen car on the suspect and a second suspect in the house he had left who was charged with possession of marijuana. Items stolen in recent burglaries were found in the car and in the residence of one of the suspects.

Larry D. Cope was charged with theft by receiving stolen property (auto), Antoinio Clark was charged with being party to the crime of theft by receiving stolen property (auto), and the investigation continues into the theft and burglaries.

Later Friday night a saturation of the area around West Lake Apartments in West Chatham precinct led to the arrest of a suspect on possession of marijuana charges. The suspect resisted arrest and one officer was treated for an injury to his face.

On Saturday, Southside officers recovered three televisions and a watch stolen in burglaries on Talina Circle. Later, officers stopped a suspicious vehicle on the 1200 block of East 56th Street and arrested the driver for misdemeanor drug charges. They found more than $1,700 in cash and equipment believed to have been used in the transportation of drugs in the back of the car.

Indeed, what better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and all things Irish than by driving around in an enormous facsimile of a German food item? You might well ask.

"Hot dogger" Lisa Rosenblum is driving one of the six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles to Krogers across the country. You can see the suggestive vehicle in all its glory Saturday, March 16 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the downtown Kroger at 311 E. Gwinnett St., 2-5 p.m. at the McAlpin Square Kroger at 1900 E. Victory Dr., the Richmond Hill Kroger on Sun. March 17 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and the Ogeechee Road Kroger from 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

• Whoomp there it is

At these events they will hand out $1 off coupons for Oscar Mayer Selects, playing fun activities with families and handing out the "iconic Wiener Whistles."

Lisa's co-driver Hot Diggity Holly are two of twelve Hotdoggers selected from over 1,200 applicants for this one-year opportunity to drive the fleet of Wienermobiles. Check out their Hotdogger Blog at hotdoggerblog.com