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Bethesda Academy, a residential and day school for boys in grades 6-12, recently hosted Fort Stewart’s 82nd Civil Affairs Battalion for Veterinary Training on the school’s campus.

One of the many missions of the 82nd Civil Affairs Battalion is "to conduct veterinary and agriculture infrastructure support in host nations in a variety of global environments and market economies," a spokesperson says.

In order to prepare for these missions, Capt. Mary Avriette, 82nd Civil Affairs Battalion veterinarian, recently brought a group of ‘Warrior Diplomats’ of the 82nd Civil Affairs Battalion to Bethesda Academy’s campus for a hands-on training workshop.

“We’re thrilled to help support the military’s critical veterinary training efforts,” said Brian Byrne, Director, Bethesda Academy Farm & Gardens. “This unique partnership offers our military a chance to work directly with the livestock they will encounter during their missions. In addition, our 9th grade students were also on-hand to benefit from this exclusive training opportunity and were able to listen to the heartbeats of unborn goats in the womb.”

Topics that were covered included the proper trimming of goats’ hooves; assessment of overall health and fitness of goats, sheep and cattle; livestock handling techniques and interaction methods; and third-trimester health exam on pregnant goats.

Capt. Avriette most recently returned from Juba, South Sudan in December 2013. While there, her team worked with the South Sudan’s Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, the equivalent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army during a two-week operation to enhance South Sudan’s veterinary capabilities, which included vaccinating thousands of cattle, goats and sheep against multiple diseases.

“Our main goal of these exercises are to help build enduring civilian-military relationships and help train others in livestock production,” said Capt. Mary Avriette, 82nd Civil Affairs Battalion veterinarian.

Future training workshops are planned at Bethesda Academy in March and May and will include instruction on proper livestock vaccination techniques, tagging of animals, pest management and birthing of baby goats.

The Georgia Senate passed a measure Monday to allow Sunday alcohol sales in bars to stimulate the Savannah economy during the St. Patrick’s Day celebration this year. While the actual holiday falls on a Monday, current law would keep bars closed the Sunday before.

SB 318 passed 32-18. It now goes to the House for consideration. The Senate originally took up the bill two weeks ago in a slightly different version, but it did not have enough votes at the time for passage.

State law already allows Sunday sales of alcohol for on-site drinking in establishments that derive a majority of income from food sales. This bill expands the law to allow bars to serve.

Researchers and educators from the University of Georgia's Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and Marine Extension (MAREX) are creating an education program focused on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), also called gliders or underwater robots.

The program, “Choose Your Own Adventure,” will capitalize on Skidaway Institute's expertise with AUVs and MAREX's extensive history of marine education. Skidaway Institute scientist and UGA faculty member Catherine Edwards, and MAREX faculty members Mary Sweeney-Reeves and Mare Timmons will direct the one-year project.

The AUVs are torpedo-shaped vehicles equipped with sensors and recorders to collect observations under all conditions. They are launched into the ocean and move through the water by adjusting their buoyancy and pitch.

Because they are energy-efficient, gliders can remain on a mission for weeks at a time. Every four to six hours over their mission, they surface, report their data by satellite phone and receive instructions as needed.

Skidaway Institute's AUV, nicknamed "Modena," has been used in several recent projects, including “Gliderpalooza,” a simultaneous, cooperative launch of 13 AUVs from different institutions in 2013.

• Catherine Edwards (center) describes the workings of a glider to Mary Sweeney-Reeves (l) and Mare Timmons.

“Gliders are education-friendly, but the existing outreach activities are stale,” said Edwards. “Our program will develop the next generation of AUV outreach programs by combining cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research with educational activities and strong STEM components.”

The work will highlight the problem of working with the strong tides characteristic of the Georgia coast. The Gulf Stream, 100 miles off the Georgia beaches, also introduces navigation problems.

“Although the AUVs have Global Positioning Systems and can be programmed to travel a set course, tidal and Gulf Stream currents can exceed the glider's forward speed, which can take the instrument off course and keep us from collecting data where we need it,” Edwards said.

Mayor Edna Jackson, members of City Council and City staff, will join with Keep Savannah Beautiful (KSB) Board Members and volunteers for a Volunteer Appreciation Recognition Program today at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 4. KSB Adopt-A-Street partners will be recognized for their volunteer efforts throughout Savannah. The program will take place on the 2nd Floor, Savannah Civic Center, 301 West Oglethorpe.

The City of Savannah will join local organizations for a community clean-up of two homeless located beneath local overpasses this Saturday. The volunteers will be removing litter and debris from the area.

"Police have met with members of the homeless community, and are receiving cooperation to increase sanitary conditions in these areas," a City spokesman says.

It happens Saturday morning, March 1, at Louisville Road just east of I-516. Signs will be posted.

The partnership involves the City of Savannah, Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, Savannah State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah College of Art & Design, People Helping People, Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless, Savannah Christian Church and St. Michael’s Church.

The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a five-vehicle pile-up that killed a Savannah man late Thursday night.

Jose E. Cuervo III, 26, was "killed instantly when the 2008 Nissan Sentra he was driving collided with a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe on Islands Expressway just west of Highway 80 about 10:30 p.m. A third vehicle was struck by debris from the collision. Two others collided behind the crash," police say.

Two occupants of the Tahoe, Randall L. Caruthers II, 30, and Kenneth R. Rosen, 23, were detained by Metro Police. Caruthers was transported to Memorial University Medical Center after complaining of ailments after the crash. Each told police the other was driving.

A 65-year-old Townsend, GA, man escaped injury when the 2006 Scion XA he was driving was struck by debris. A 58-year-old Savannah woman was transported "for reports of pain after the 2007 Ford Mustang she was driving struck a Hyundai Sonata that had stopped for the crash." The 24-year-old woman driving the Sonata was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The Tahoe had been traveling west bound on Islands Expressway when the driver lost control and crossed the median, striking the eastbound Nissan. The other vehicles were eastbound behind the Nissan.

Police continue to investigate to identify the driver of the Tahoe. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

Congressman Jack Kingston of Savannah, who is running for Georgia's open U.S. Senate seate, will appear on CNN’s Crossfire at 6:30 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, February 27 alongside former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich "to discuss the issues of the day," a campaign spokesman says.

Savannah’s Habitat for Humanity, along with its homeowner families, partners and volunteers, invites the public to celebrate the purchase of a Habitat Savannah home by the newest homeowners, the Foster family.

A brief dedication ceremony will conclude with the transfer the home’s keys to the purchasing family. Scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 8, 2014 at 1 pm, the event will take place at 1509 Reynolds St.

All partner families complete 350 "sweat equity hours, contributing to the completion of their and other Habitat homes," a spokesperson says. Habitat Savannah sells those homes at no profit, providing families with a 30-year term mortgage at 0% interest rate, "to further increase the affordability of its housing stock."

Police are investigating human remains found beneath an abandoned house in the 600 block of West 42nd Street today.

A tip from Crimestoppers directed police to the house where police found remains of the body that had been deceased for many years.

The remains have been transported to the Georgia State Crime Lab for identification.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police arrested two suspects in Downtown Savannah shootings that occurred early Sunday morning.

Rajed Ervin, 22, of the 2200 block of Mason Drive, was detained Sunday morning near the scene. Sean Brooks, 24, of the 2200 block of East 38th Street,was arrested Monday morning at his residence. Both are charged with aggravated assault.

They are believed to be involved with shootings on the 200 block of East Broughton Street just after 1 a.m., Sunday, that left a 25-year-old male and a 19-year-old female with non-life threatening wounds.

Patrol officers were called to Club Dosha on the 100 block to break up a fight when shots were fired.

Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shootings.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

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