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Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) recently sold the P.J. O’Connor House, a HSF Revolving Fund property located at 222 E. 32nd Street in the Thomas Square Streetcar Historic District, to SCAD historic preservation professor Jim Abraham.

The property serves as a capstone project in HSF’s Lincoln Street Initiative, which began a decade ago and facilitated the renovation of some of the most derelict properties in the Thomas Square neighborhood.

“We’re delighted we found a local preservation-minded buyer who appreciates the unique opportunity the P.J. O’Connor House presents,” said HSF president and CEO Daniel Carey. “Jim Abraham has the knowledge, experience and commitment to restore this Victorian house to its former glory and re-anchor that corner. After a long period of benign neglect, the P.J. O’Connor House now has a bright future.”

Abraham previously served as the project manager on the Lucas Theater’s restoration and oversaw the renovation of the Kennedy Pharmacy on Broughton Street. He plans to restore the two-story structure, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and move into the residence once renovations are complete.

“When I visited the P.J. O’Connor House, I immediately realized the property has great bones and incredible potential,” he explains. “Many of the interior details are intact. I’m looking forward to completing a period-sensitive restoration.”

Abraham is currently conducting a paint analysis to determine the house’s original exterior color and plans to re-coat the metal roof, repair damaged overhangs and replace the home’s missing front porch in the next several months. His goal is to complete additional exterior and interior renovations next year.

Constructed in 1885, the P. J. O’Connor House is an architecturally significant Victorian house featuring 2,310 square feet of living space. Located at the corner of 32nd Street and Lincoln Street, the property includes period details like original fireplaces, hardwood floors, molding and gingerbread detailing.

The house was originally built by Savannah attorney, alderman and philanthropist P.J. O’Connor, who served as the National President and National Director of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and was a cousin of author Flannery O’Connor.

Historic Savannah Foundation placed protective covenants on the property, which transferred with the recent sale of the home. As a condition of the closing, substantial work must begin in earnest within six months and must be completed within 24 months.

A joint operation between Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations resulted in 13 arrests relating to prostitution and ordinance violations over the weekend.

The sting took place Friday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Aug. 24. "Upon completion of the operation five females were arrested and charged with prostitution for attempting to perform sex acts in exchange for cash at hotels along Highway 204 near Interstate 95 and the Midtown area," a spokesman says.

Additionally, two male and six female suspects were arrested and charged with escorting without a license at hotels throughout Chatham County.

The operation targeted hotels listed in ads posted on backpage.com.

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office lost one of their K-9 officers late Sunday morning.

Bo, who was assigned to Sgt Michael Street became lethargic and was taken to the veterinarian on Friday afternoon. He was immediately rushed into surgery where they found a growth.

Late Friday, Bo was recovering after the growth had been successfully been removed. He survived through Saturday, but on Sunday he took a turn for the worse and passed away.

Bo was a 10 year old German Sheppard. He had been with the CCSO for eight years and worked as a drug dog on the highway interdiction team with his partner Sgt Michael Street. Bo will be cremated and his remains returned to his partner.

Violent Crimes detectives from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the shooting of a man near Frazier Homes in the 600 block of West Gwinnett Street Monday night.

The man in his early 30s was transported to Memorial University Medical Center with life-threatening wounds after the 6:33 p.m. shooting.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124.

In honor of Breastfeeding Month, the Coastal health District and Chatham County Health Department WIC programs and Breastfeeding Support Groups of Georgia are sponsoring a mom and baby rally from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday, August 26 at the Chatham County Health Department. The family-friendly event will include games, door prizes, mommy and me pictures, and more.

The first 30 to register at www.tinyurl.com/savbf will receive a "special gift."

The Chatham County Health Department and Coastal Health District "are committed to helping mothers breastfeed their babies because breastfeeding is so important for good health," says a spokesperson.

A Savannah man has been charged with criminal attempt-murder after taking a friend’s car and striking a police officer Wednesday night.

Sean Andrew Joint, 26, of a Steeple Run Way address was arrested by officers who rescued him from the car as it was sinking in a water-filled drainage ditch on Hunter Army Air Field property about 10:30 p.m. He was treated at Memorial University Medical Center and is being held at the Chatham County Detention Center.

The incident began after a minor, one-vehicle accident on the 5700 block of White Bluff Drive. Joint, a passenger in that car, drove away in another car belonging to an acquaintance who came to help him.

Two officers, including the advanced police officer he struck with the car, were treated for injuries and five others underwent decontamination after entering the foliage-laden water to retrieve him. The APO struck by the car was hospitalized.

"Other responding officers entered the water to remove him from the sinking vehicle," says a spokesman. "One officer cut his hand after helping Joint up the muddy bank and falling back onto the car."

25 Savannah retailers will hold special events during the 2013 Savannah’s Fashion Night. The event happens 6:30-11 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013, on Broughton Street.

This year’s participating retailers include: 24e; BleuBelle Boutique@The Paris Market; Cardeologie; Copper Penny; Custard Boutique@ZIA Boutique; Extant Fair; Gaucho; fab’rik; Go Fish Clothing; Goodwill Retail Store; Half Moon Outfitters; J. Parker Ltd.; J Paige Boutique Pop Up Shop; Kathi Rich; @ 24E; Lucy Lu’s Savannah; Marc by Marc Jacobs; Nourish; Paris Market@Brocante; Red Clover@ Chives Sea Bar; Sara Jane Children’s Boutique Pop Up Shop; Satchel; Savannah Bee Company; Sugar Works Bath & Body; Trunk 13 Boutique Pop Up Shop; Zia Boutique.

The 2013 Savannah’s Fashion Night will again feature a pedestrian-only Broughton Street where shoppers, retailers, entertainer and artists will come together for an evening of fun. Two stages on either side of Broughton Street will showcase fashion shows of local retailers and designers strutting to the music of local bands and DJs.

Connect Savannah is a sponsor and will have a tent near one of the stages.

For the evening, the City of Savannah is offering a $2 flat fee to park in the Bryan Street, Whitaker Street, Robinson and State Street garages, which are all within one block of Broughton Street. Parking will be free in the Civic Center Lot.

Police are seeking information on the beating and robbery of a 71-year-old woman by two males who attacked her in her garage Friday night.

The two black males approached the woman as she parked her car in the garage of her residence in the 100 block of East Jones Street about 10:30 p.m., physically assaulted her and stole her car.

The vehicle was soon found abandoned in the 800 block of Waters Avenue without her purse and its contents.

Robbery Unit and Downtown Precinct detectives of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department are asking anyone who saw anything near the 100 block of East Jones Street contact them.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637).Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124.

Detectives from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department have issued warrants against a 19-year-old Savannah man for the Aug. 1 theft of a $38,000 watch from a downtown jewelry store.

Warrants charging Rashamel Okise Gardner with robbery by sudden snatching have been filed and police are asking the public for help locating him. Gardner is a black male, about 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds.

Detectives have identified him as one of two men who walked into Levy Jewelers about 2 p.m., asked to try on a gold Rolex watch, then ran out of the door and south on Bull Street.

Anyone with information on his location or other aspects of the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

Detectives are seeking a 37-year-old Savannah man for questioning in the shooting death of Savannah woman March 24.

Mark Joseph Harris is being sought in the investigation into the shooting of Amistica Ganene Grell, 35. She was declared dead on the front porch of her house in the 600 block of West 40th Street in the Cuyler-Brownsville area about 10:30 p.m. that Sunday night.

Harris is a black male, about 5-11 and weighs about 240 pounds.

Anyone with information on Harris’ location or the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637). Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward. A confidential Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124.