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The Georgia Water Coalition named its “Dirty Dozen” for 2013, highlighting 12 of the year’s worst offenses to Georgia’s waters.

The annual Dirty Dozen report "shines a spotlight on state policies and failures that ultimately harm Georgia property owners, taxpayers, downstream communities, fish and wildlife, hunters and anglers, and boaters and swimmers," a spokesperson says.

“The Dirty Dozen is not a list of the most polluted water bodies in Georgia, nor are they ranked in any particular order,” said April Ingle, Executive Director of the Georgia River Network. "It’s a list of problems that exemplify the results of inadequate funding for environmental protections, lack of political will to enforce environmental laws and ultimately misguided water planning and spending priorities that flow from the very top of Georgia’s leadership.”

The Coalition’s full report is available online here.

This is the first year that a coal ash waste impoundment site made the Dirty Dozen list — Plant Scherer on the Ocmulgee River.

Just a few of the problems highlighted in today’s report include:

Existing and proposed coal-fired and nuclear power plants (items 6, 8 and 12—representing four different plants) that harm water quality and quantity in Georgia’s rivers by withdrawing massive amounts of water, disharging heated water back to the waterways, and generating toxic pollution from coal ash dumps and airborn pollution.

Aging dams in danger of failing are going without inspection (Item 9); these ticking time bombs threaten life, property and the health of our rivers.

Governor Nathan Deal’s administration continues a pattern of misguided funding priorities that invariably benefit the administration’s political cronies. While EPD’s budget is starved, creating multiple negative impacts on Georgia’s citizens, Governor Deal has directed more than $160 million during the past two years to expensive, unnecessary and environmentally damaging dam and reservoir projects (Item 2). These projects serve only to prolong Georgia’s ongoing water conflicts with Alabama and Florida.

2013 Dirty Dozen

Floridan Aquifer: Water Injection Schemes Gamble with South Georgia’s Pristine Underground “Lake”
Chattahoochee and Etowah Rivers: Governor’s Water Supply Program Wastes Tax Dollars & Incites More Water Conflicts with Neighbors
Flint River: Pumps, Dams, Diversions & State Water Policy Create Man-Made Drought
Altamaha River: Pulp Mill in Jesup Continues to Foul Georgia’s Largest River
Flat Creek: Polluted Runoff in Chicken Capital Sends Bacteria to Stream Feeding Lake Lanier
Ocmulgee River: Coal Ash Threatens Waterways and Communities In the Home of Fried Green Tomatoes
Satilla River: Toxic Legacy in Waycross Needs Further Investigations, Cleanups
Savannah River: Massive Water Withdrawals for Nuclear, Coal-Fired Power Plants Threaten River’s Health, Drinking Water
Lake Alice: Dam Breach Disaster in Cumming Highlights Need for Better Dam Safety
Georgia Coast: Proposed Changes to Coastline Laws Roll Back Long-Standing Protections
Hurricane Creek: Illegal Playground for Off-Road Vehicles Sends Mountains of Sediment to Trout Stream
Oconee and Ogeechee Rivers: Dirty Coal-Fired Power Plant to Spew Mercury and Deplete South Georgia Rivers

Law enforcement officers and military personnel from at least six agencies will converge in Savannah today for a wide-ranging training exercise to "address civil unrest," a spokesman says.

The exercise "depicts a scenario that residents are returning to the area 24 hours after an evacuation order has been rescinded to find a multitude of unexpected issues. The lack of electrical power, food and water is amplified by protest groups, outside agitators, bomb threats and a riot at the county jail," the spokesman continues.

The training exercises will be centered in Grayson Stadium and Daffin Park and two "undisclosed areas." While most of the activity will be centered on those sites, the training will also involve emergency vehicles caravanning between them.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Mobile Field Force is hosting the exercise and measures have been taken to limit the inconvenience to the public.

“It’s unfortunate that area residents may find disruptions, but the only way to assure that officers are fully prepared for such situations is to participate in exercises such as this,” said Police Chief Julie Tolbert. “We will do our best to affect the public as little as possible.”

Lt. Harry Trawick, commander of the Mobile Field Force, said the exercise is complicated by many moving parts to simulate real-life situations.

“The Mobile Field Force (also known as the ‘riot squad’) is the last unit you want to see deployed, but when it is, it will be dealing with a multitude of issues at the same time. It is important that everyone be prepared for the situations they can face in such an event. Just like any sports team, the key to precision is intensive practice.”

The Gaslight Group has decided not to renew the lease for Blue Turtle Bistro, at 5002 Paulson St. Gaslight Group owners Brian and Jennifer Huskey announce the last day of business at Blue Turtle Bistro will be Friday, November 15, 2013.

“We are so proud of the impact Blue Turtle Bistro made in Savannah, with much credit going to Chef Patrick Gilpin, who consistently pushed culinary boundaries and served sophisticated, healthy cuisine,” says Brian Huskey, co-owner of the Gaslight Group.

“However, due to the close proximity and the overwhelming success of Blue Turtle’s sister restaurant, The 5 Spot in Habersham Village, we’ve decided it’s in Gaslight's best interest to close Blue Turtle Bistro and to concentrate our efforts at one restaurant location in the midtown area instead of two.”

The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department has partnered with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon to use Twitter "to enhance public safety communications with the public," says a spokesman.

Police are encouraging runners and the community to follow them on Twitter @SCMPD. Police will be using the hash tags #SCMPD and #RnRSAV.

"In order to better accommodate the parking needs of residents and visitors in town for the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon," a spokesman says, the City of Savannah will not issue street sweeping citations in the downtown area on Friday, Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov. 9.

Cars must still be parked in legal spaces to avoid being towed. Drivers should avoid blocking fire hydrants and driveways in the area. The street sweeping parking enforcement schedule will return to normal after Saturday.

Prostitutes, johns and a pimp were arrested in a two-day operation by Metro Police and five other area, state and federal law enforcement agencies last week.

Seven women were arrested for prostitution and 13 men for pandering in the operation by Metro’s Savannah Area Regional Intelligence Center (SARIC) detectives, Crime Suppression Units from West Chatham and Southside precincts, police officers from Pooler and Garden City and Port Wentworth, and Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police partnered with the other law enforcement agencies in the area to address prostitution issues. "The hotels and motels used by customers of the website BackPage.com stretch along Interstate 95 from Highway 204 exit in Savannah through Pooler, Garden City and Port Wentworth," says a police spokesman.

"Each community is affected by the prostitution itself, and also by the thefts, robberies and drug operations known to accompany it. Plans are to continue such efforts against the prostitution operations."

The operations were conducted Tuesday, Oct. 29 and Friday, Nov. 1, in hotels and motels frequented by users of the website. The national website offers advertising for services in varied cities.

Tuesday’s operation focused on the Mid-town area of Savannah and Friday’s was directed towards hotels near the interstate exits. Undercover operatives arranged “dates” with women advertising on the website and other officers advertised as prostitutes themselves to arrange dates at other hotels.

Arrested for prostitution were November McCallum, 23, of Pennsylvania; Onyx M. Eley, 22, of Virginia; Brittany P. Brown, 23, Hickory, NC.; Lindsey M. Blackburn, 23, Richmond Hill; Shadona L. Scott, 25, Tampa, FL.; Altricesa V. Rosser, 25, Atlanta; and Brenda L. Carr, 23, Orlando, FL. Scott also was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. It was her second arrest by Metro Police. Rosser also was charged with battery and possession of marijuana. And Carr also was charged with possession of marijuana and bribery.

Charged with pimping was Johnathan L. Turner, who was arrested for the second time.

Charged with pandering were Corie D. Jackson, 30, Savannah; Alonzo N. Lyford, 38, Savannah; Yousef O. Issa, 25, Garden City; Brian T. Edwards, 43, Richmond Hill; Craig X. Jackson, Jr., 30, Savannah; Nicholas R. Salentine, 27, Hinesville; Alan Ramjattan, 41, Early Branch, SC; Jonathan M. Pfuhi, 38, Rincon; Viren Patel, 36, Savannah; Noe Cruz Lopez, 24, Brunswick; Joseph K. Erlach, 20, Ft.Stewart; Christopher J. Dankowski, 29, Midway; and Richard M. Bourgeois, 31, Port Wentworth.

Members of the public are invited to attend two upcoming meetings on a proposed City of Savannah ordinance to regulate motorized carts and low speed vehicles on public streets. The City is in the early stages of drafting the ordinance and is seeking input from residents.

The meetings will be held at the Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm Street at 6 p.m. on November 6 and November 20. The feedback received through this process will be reviewed by the Tourism Advisory Committee to assist in the development of an ordinance which will be presented to City Council for formal consideration.

Residents can also provide feedback by visiting the City’s website and participating in the discussion at savannahga.gov/commentoncarts.

For a limited time, the City of Savannah is selling Parking Smart Cards for 50 percent off face value. Parking Smart Cards are "like gift cards that can be used at any pay and display parking meter in Savannah," a spokesman says.

The cards can be purchased in denominations of $25, $50, $75 or $100. They can be used any time, and have no expiration date.

"Parking Smart Cards are a perfect stocking stuffer and a tremendous deal for those who ever park in the Historic District north of Broughton Street, where the pay and display meters are concentrated," the City says.

To purchase a Parking Smart Card, call (912) 651-6470 or visit the Mobility & Parking Services Office at 100 E. Bryan St., on the ground level of the Bryan Street Parking Garage.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police and the Exchange Club of Savannah say they're "teaming to enhance security measures" at the Exchange Club Fair opening Oct. 31.

A similar event late last year saw a mass shooting in which 7 were shot, none fatally.

"Fair attendees will be greeted by metal detectors at entrance gates, additional law enforcement officers both inside and outside the fair and elevated platforms to allow better oversight of the festivities," says a spokesman.

“The fair is designed to be a family-oriented event and we have taken measures to keep it that way,” said Police Chief Julie Tolbert. “We will not tolerate those with other objectives who would diminish the enjoyment this event brings to so many people.”

Besides the measures above, officers at the gates will be collecting contraband from those entering the fair. Also, back packs and book bags will not be allowed in the fairgrounds. Additional signage will advise attendees of the changes before they approach the gates.

Police and Exchange Club members have studied attendance practices and have determined that some attendees slipped through openings in gates areas around the fairgrounds. The openings in the fences have been addressed and additional officers will patrol the perimeter and parking lots.

The effort to make Skidaway Marine Science Day a ‘landfill-free’ event was apparently pretty darn successful. Held on the campus of the University of Georgia (UGA) Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, the annual open house attracted nearly 2,000 visitors Saturday, Oct. 26, but generated only nine pounds of unrecyclable trash.

The event organizers used recycling and composting bins to collect and recycle materials in an attempt to reduce the stream of trash ultimately headed to a landfill. When the event was over, 57 pounds of recyclable paper, mostly napkins and hot dog wrappers, and 35 pounds of cans and plastic were collected. The compost containers held 10 pounds of food waste.

“One lesson we learned is that chip bags are not recyclable, and we collected one and a half pounds of them,” said The Nature Conservancy’s Amanda Wrona, one of the organizers. “That’s a 50-gallon trash bag of chip bags.”

The rest of the non-recyclable waste was composed of material such as duct tape, pipe cleaners, cigarette butts, garbage bags and diapers.

“About 92 percent of the waste generated at the event was kept out of the landfill,” said Wrona. “I think that is something we should all feel good about.”