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Because of the ice storm warning from today at 5 p.m. through Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m., "all non-essential City services, including Sanitation pick-up, will be suspended on Wednesday," a spokesman says.

This means City offices and programs will be closed to the public on Wednesday. Police and Fire emergency services will remain operational.

"Residents can report non-life threatening issues to the City, such as fallen tree limbs and icy spots, by calling 311," the spokesman says. "If a resident witnesses a situation that poses a threat to life safety, such as a downed power line, they should immediately call 911 and avoid the area."

The City says it has "prepared trucks to dispense sand should we experience ice on the roads. Crews will remain on duty to clear fallen tree limbs and debris, and maintain overall regular operations of City infrastructure."

The City will post any informational updates online at savannahga.gov, facebook.com/cityofsavannah and twitter.com/cityofsavannah.

Due to forecast poor weather conditions, Chatham County Government offices will be closed Wednesday. "Employees that are not directly supporting snow and ice response are directed to stay at home," a spokesman says. "We anticipate that offices will reopen on Thursday, January 30 for normal business operations."

The Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) tells us that "as cold artic air approaches Chatham County, precipitation will also be moving into the area from the Gulf States. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Chatham County advising that severe weather conditions are possible, including snow, freezing rain, and icy conditions; a Winter Storm Warning is expected to be issued later today."

Rain is expected late tonight and on Tuesday the cold air is expected to create freezing rain late in the afternoon. The potential exists for less than 1 inch of snow and a ¼ inch of ice in Chatham County. Wednesday morning, the snow should end; however, temperatures will remain freezing until Thursday morning when the area is forecast to warm up.

"One of the biggest threats will likely occur Tuesday night through Wednesday with ice on roadways causing dangerous driving conditions," CEMA says. CEMA encourages residents to "stay off the roads and travel only when essential. Bridges will freeze first and may become impassible. City, County and the Georgia Department of Transportation all have sand/salt trucks on standby if road conditions deteriorate."

It's also possible that significant power outages will occur due to downed limbs and trees disrupting power lines. If this should occur, the American Red Cross recommends residents shelter in place. Be prepared for isolation at home by keeping adequate supplies of heating fuel, non-perishable food, water, flashlights with extra batteries, first aid supplies, extra blankets, and a battery-powered radio.

Due to threatened winter storm conditions rolling into town Tuesday afternoon, Savannah-Chatham Public Schools will operate "on a ninety-minute early dismissal for students tomorrow (Tuesday, January 28)."

Additionally, there will be no school for students and staff on Wednesday, January 29. All schools and administrative offices in Savannah-Chatham County will also be closed Wednesday.

All after school programs remain cancelled for Tuesday, January 28, and will also be cancelled on Wednesday, January 29.

Police are "deliberating charges against a 20-year-old Savannah man identified as the suspect who robbed a health food store in an area where Metro SWAT and K-9 units were conducting a training exercise Thursday," a spokesman says.

The suspect was apprehended by an officer who was familiar with him from previous cases as the Special Weapons and Tactics, canine and West Chatham Precinct Patrol officers and a police helicopter saturated the area around Abercorn Street and Interstate 95.

The man reportedly "had robbed the GNC store on the first block of South Gateway Boulevard and fled on foot before the combined units flooded the area and found him leaving a wood line," police say. His name is being withheld until the investigation by detectives concludes.

Historic Savannah Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2014 HSF Preservation Awards, "which recognize individuals and organizations demonstrating excellence in historic preservation," the Foundation says.

The deadline for HSF Preservation Award nominations is Friday, February 14. All entries must be postmarked by this date. Award winners will be announced at the HSF Preservation Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, April 30.

“Each year, the HSF Preservation Awards offer the opportunity to recognize outstanding achievements in preservation in our community,” said Daniel Carey, president and CEO of Historic Savannah Foundation. “The winners serve as role models for excellence in preservation.”

Historic Savannah Foundation Preservation Awards recognize "projects or individual achievements falling within the areas of restoration, rehabilitation, new construction, stewardship, craftsmanship and archaeology." Projects must have been completed within the last three years and may include projects previously nominated but not selected. Nominations are open only to Historic Savannah Foundation members. Self-nominations are acceptable.

HSF Preservation Awards "will be judged for the success they have achieved in the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and interpretation of architectural and cultural heritage." The general evaluation criteria include: quality and degree of difficulty; degree to which the nominee’s project or effort is unusual or pioneering; and the ultimate positive impact the project or effort has on the community.

A jury of local professionals is invited each year to review the nominations and to select the winners for the HSF Preservation Awards.

The nomination form and full details on eligibility, submission criteria and key dates can be accessed online at http://www.myhsf.org/advocacy-education/awards/ .

Savannah/Chatham Metro officers today charged "the owner/operator of a group rooming units with multiple charges after serving a search warrant this afternoon," a spokesman says.

Russell Stephen Varnedoe, 66, was charged with possession of methamphetamines, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of firearms by a convicted felon after the 12:45 p.m. raid on Ogeechee Road.

"Officers found items to substantiate those charges as well as electronics that are being investigated when they served the search warrant," police say.

"Arbor Cottages had been the subject of numerous court cases after the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Crime Free Housing Unit found it in violation of various code sections," the spokesman continues.

"Varnedoe had been given multiple chances to bring the units up to code requirements by a Recorder’s Court Judge who cited concerns for the tenants who had few other places to move."

The units will be allowed to remain in use as information from today’s action is reviewed. The investigation into the case continues.

Detectives from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the shooting death of a 15-year-old found in west Savannah this morning.

William Elijah Norman who had lived on the 1400 block of Staley Avenue was found dead in front of a house on the 900 block of West Victory Drive about 7:30 a.m. after residents called police and Emergency Services to an unresponsive person.

Anyone with information on the case 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.

A 35-year-old Savannah man has been charged with murder and arrested by a federal and local police officers.

Lashannon Jabar Green was arrested on the 2200 block of Ogeechee Road for the murder of Randy Brown on Jan. 15.

Green was arrested by officers of he U.S. Marshals Service and members of the Central Precinct Tactical Investigation Unit, Canine Unit, and Violent Crimes detectives from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department.

Randy Brown was found with gunshot wounds at 2:07 a.m. in the roadway at East 34th Street and Waters Avenue by Central Precinct officers responding to a “shots fired” call. He died at Memorial University Medical Center.

Green has been charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He had been released from prison in 2010 after serving most of a 10-year term for armed robbery.

Victims of two recent shootings have died, prompting homicide investigations by the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department.

Just after 2a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, a critically injured Randy Brown, 39, was transported to Memorial University Medical Center where he died from gunshot wounds sustained during an incident on the 1000 block of East 34th Street.

Twenty-four-year-old Marvin Hills succumbed to injuries sustained during an early morning shooting on Friday, Jan. 17 on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and West Victory Drive.

Anyone with information on these cases 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.