Wednesday, November 16, 2016
The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded a $330,967 grant to Armstrong State University Senior Physics Lecturer Donna Mullenax, Ph.D, Math Lecturer Janel Smith, Ph.D., and Childhood and Exceptional Student Education Lecturer Elizabeth Williams. The two-year grant is funded by the Mathematics and Science Partnerships federal program and will support STEM education in Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS).
“We are pleased to secure the U.S. Department of Education’s Math and Science Partnerships Grant,” says Mullenax. “The funding will contribute greatly to the professional development of local STEM teachers.”
Mullenax, Smith and Williams are working collaboratively with SCCPSS personnel to provide professional development for elementary and middle school math and science teachers. Together, they will implement the Content and Instructional Practices Project, which focuses on content instruction and instructional training to strengthen the classroom experience for students.
The Mathematics and Science Partnerships program works to improve teacher quality through partnerships between state education agencies, institutions of higher education, high-need local education agencies and schools to increase the academic achievement of students in math and science.
The federal formula grant program provides funding to individual states, with the size of each state award based on student population and poverty rates. With these funds, Georgia is responsible for overseeing a competition in which grants are made to partnerships to improve the content knowledge and teaching skills of K-12 math and science teachers.
“We are pleased to secure the U.S. Department of Education’s Math and Science Partnerships Grant,” says Mullenax. “The funding will contribute greatly to the professional development of local STEM teachers.”
Mullenax, Smith and Williams are working collaboratively with SCCPSS personnel to provide professional development for elementary and middle school math and science teachers. Together, they will implement the Content and Instructional Practices Project, which focuses on content instruction and instructional training to strengthen the classroom experience for students.
The Mathematics and Science Partnerships program works to improve teacher quality through partnerships between state education agencies, institutions of higher education, high-need local education agencies and schools to increase the academic achievement of students in math and science.
The federal formula grant program provides funding to individual states, with the size of each state award based on student population and poverty rates. With these funds, Georgia is responsible for overseeing a competition in which grants are made to partnerships to improve the content knowledge and teaching skills of K-12 math and science teachers.
At the request of Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Chief Joseph H. Lumpkin, Sr., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating a shooting near White Bluff Road and Magnolia Avenue, that occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
SCMPD preliminary investigation reveals that an SCMPD patrol officer conducted a pedestrian stop and check on White Bluff near Magnolia. During that check, the adult male subject fled from the officer on foot. The SCMPD officer chased the individual on foot. At a point during the foot chase the officer reported hearing a shot and observing the individual fall. The officer did not discharge his firearm. Another gun was recovered at the scene.
The individual was transported to Memorial University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The SCMPD officer was not injured.
Further media inquiries regarding this case should be directed to GBI.
"It is the practice of the SCMPD to request assistance from the GBI in any instance in which someone is injured in the presence of our officers to ensure investigative transparency," says Eunicia Baker of the SCMPD Public Affairs Office.
SCMPD preliminary investigation reveals that an SCMPD patrol officer conducted a pedestrian stop and check on White Bluff near Magnolia. During that check, the adult male subject fled from the officer on foot. The SCMPD officer chased the individual on foot. At a point during the foot chase the officer reported hearing a shot and observing the individual fall. The officer did not discharge his firearm. Another gun was recovered at the scene.
The individual was transported to Memorial University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The SCMPD officer was not injured.
Further media inquiries regarding this case should be directed to GBI.
"It is the practice of the SCMPD to request assistance from the GBI in any instance in which someone is injured in the presence of our officers to ensure investigative transparency," says Eunicia Baker of the SCMPD Public Affairs Office.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Trejan Jones, 19, turned himself in at Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Headquarters on November 11 in connection with the fatal November 8 shooting of Anthony Grant, 18.
Jones is charged with murder and was taken to the Chatham County Detention Center without incident.
Police responded to the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Pasadena Drive on Nov. 8 around 9:25 a.m. after Jones arrived at St. Joseph's Hospital seeking care for a gunshot wound. Reportedly, the victim was outside of a residence when shots were fired. Grant succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Police began a search for Jones which was completed when he turned himself in.
Jones is charged with murder and was taken to the Chatham County Detention Center without incident.
Police responded to the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Pasadena Drive on Nov. 8 around 9:25 a.m. after Jones arrived at St. Joseph's Hospital seeking care for a gunshot wound. Reportedly, the victim was outside of a residence when shots were fired. Grant succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Police began a search for Jones which was completed when he turned himself in.
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crimes detectives are investigating a shooting after a woman showed up at the hospital, Nov. 13.
Metro responded to Memorial University Medical Center around 3:19 p.m. locating Rachel Reid, 29, who was seeking care for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Reportedly, she was standing outside of a residence in the 5600 block of Emory Drive when she was shot by an unknown suspect.
Reid was taken to the hospital in a privately owned vehicle. She did not cooperate with detectives.
Investigators are working to determine the actual circumstances surrounding this incident.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact detectives on the SCMPD tip line at (912) 525-3124.
Information may also be forwarded to CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
Metro responded to Memorial University Medical Center around 3:19 p.m. locating Rachel Reid, 29, who was seeking care for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Reportedly, she was standing outside of a residence in the 5600 block of Emory Drive when she was shot by an unknown suspect.
Reid was taken to the hospital in a privately owned vehicle. She did not cooperate with detectives.
Investigators are working to determine the actual circumstances surrounding this incident.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact detectives on the SCMPD tip line at (912) 525-3124.
Information may also be forwarded to CrimeStoppers at (912) 234-2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
The Daffin Park tennis courts will be renamed for former Mayor and tennis player Malcolm Maclean today at 11 a.m. Members of Savannah City Council and City staff will join Maclean's family and members of the law firm HunterMaclean.
Malcom Maclean served as Assistant City Attorney and City Alderman prior to serving as Savannah’s Mayor from 1960 – 1966.
He led the effort to bring business leaders and black leaders together during the local civil rights movement. He is credited with bringing the community together and preventing the rioting and violence from happening here that affected so many other southern cities.
“We are proud to honor the memory of our law partner who was so important to the life of this community. The affiliation of these tennis courts with Mr. Maclean is a great testament to his love of the game and our city," said HunterMaclean partner Wade Herring, who worked closely with Maclean for 15 years.
Malcom Maclean served as Assistant City Attorney and City Alderman prior to serving as Savannah’s Mayor from 1960 – 1966.
He led the effort to bring business leaders and black leaders together during the local civil rights movement. He is credited with bringing the community together and preventing the rioting and violence from happening here that affected so many other southern cities.
“We are proud to honor the memory of our law partner who was so important to the life of this community. The affiliation of these tennis courts with Mr. Maclean is a great testament to his love of the game and our city," said HunterMaclean partner Wade Herring, who worked closely with Maclean for 15 years.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crimes detectives "with assistance from local, state and federal partners arrested four gang members in connection to a September homicide that claimed the life of Dominique Powell, 24," a police spokesperson says.
Arthur Newton, 23, Artez Strain, 22, Timothy Coleman, 21 and Tyriek Walker, 21 are charged with murder for their roles in the Sep. 12 shooting that took Powell’s life. "All four are documented members of the Bloods gang," police say.
Initially, Powell was robbed by Newton and another armed suspect on the evening of Sep. 7 in the Tatemville neighborhood. "Powell acted in self-defense when he exchanged fire with the suspects, injuring one. Newton was arrested and charged with armed robbery after the incident," police say.
On Sep. 12 at about 5 p.m., Metro responded to the same area where the robbery occurred, finding Powell with a fatal gunshot wound.
"Through extensive investigative work, detectives learned that Newton orchestrated orders to lower-ranking members of the Bloods gang. Strain, Coleman and Walker carried out those orders and participated in the death of Powell," police claim.
Nov. 7, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force of the US Marshals Service located Timothy Coleman, serving him with a murder warrant in the 200 block of Montgomery Cross Road. Nov. 8, Newton, who has been at CCDC since the armed robbery, was also served a murder warrant. Nov. 9, Strain’s warrant was served after the SERTF, including an embedded SCMPD officer, and Metro’s SWAT team executed a search warrant at his residence in the 5500 block of Skidaway Road. Walker turned himself into SCMPD Headquarters on Nov. 10 at about 9:50 a.m.
“Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, our local, state and federal partners stand united in the cause to rid our streets of the violence that has been plaguing our community. We are proud to announce that our streets are a little safer. We are going to continue to seek out the violent offenders of Savannah-Chatham, using every tactic that we can, by utilizing a laser focus on our violent offenders and by continuing to perfect our partnership with our local, state and federal partners. We want the violent offenders to know that if they decide to use a gun to terrorize the citizenry of this community we are all coming after you,” said Chief of Police, Joseph H. Lumpkin Sr.
Major Zapal, Commander of SCMPD’s Criminal Investigations Division added, “If you are associated with the gun violence in this community, we will bring the fight to you and we will bring it swiftly and relentlessly. Our investigators are working extremely hard at clearing these cases and they are being extremely successful.”
Arthur Newton, 23, Artez Strain, 22, Timothy Coleman, 21 and Tyriek Walker, 21 are charged with murder for their roles in the Sep. 12 shooting that took Powell’s life. "All four are documented members of the Bloods gang," police say.
Initially, Powell was robbed by Newton and another armed suspect on the evening of Sep. 7 in the Tatemville neighborhood. "Powell acted in self-defense when he exchanged fire with the suspects, injuring one. Newton was arrested and charged with armed robbery after the incident," police say.
On Sep. 12 at about 5 p.m., Metro responded to the same area where the robbery occurred, finding Powell with a fatal gunshot wound.
"Through extensive investigative work, detectives learned that Newton orchestrated orders to lower-ranking members of the Bloods gang. Strain, Coleman and Walker carried out those orders and participated in the death of Powell," police claim.
Nov. 7, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force of the US Marshals Service located Timothy Coleman, serving him with a murder warrant in the 200 block of Montgomery Cross Road. Nov. 8, Newton, who has been at CCDC since the armed robbery, was also served a murder warrant. Nov. 9, Strain’s warrant was served after the SERTF, including an embedded SCMPD officer, and Metro’s SWAT team executed a search warrant at his residence in the 5500 block of Skidaway Road. Walker turned himself into SCMPD Headquarters on Nov. 10 at about 9:50 a.m.
“Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department, our local, state and federal partners stand united in the cause to rid our streets of the violence that has been plaguing our community. We are proud to announce that our streets are a little safer. We are going to continue to seek out the violent offenders of Savannah-Chatham, using every tactic that we can, by utilizing a laser focus on our violent offenders and by continuing to perfect our partnership with our local, state and federal partners. We want the violent offenders to know that if they decide to use a gun to terrorize the citizenry of this community we are all coming after you,” said Chief of Police, Joseph H. Lumpkin Sr.
Major Zapal, Commander of SCMPD’s Criminal Investigations Division added, “If you are associated with the gun violence in this community, we will bring the fight to you and we will bring it swiftly and relentlessly. Our investigators are working extremely hard at clearing these cases and they are being extremely successful.”
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Today Dr. Thomas B. Lockamy, Jr. gave his resignation to the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools Board of Education after 11 years in the position.
His resignation is effective on May 31, 2017, at the end of the current academic year.
Five years after being hired in 2005, he was given a contract extension and pay raise to $187,460. Another series of contract extensions brought his final salary to over $200,000 plus a vehicle allowance and a $40,000 performance bonus and 36 days of paid vacation.
His resignation is effective on May 31, 2017, at the end of the current academic year.
Five years after being hired in 2005, he was given a contract extension and pay raise to $187,460. Another series of contract extensions brought his final salary to over $200,000 plus a vehicle allowance and a $40,000 performance bonus and 36 days of paid vacation.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
The Savannah Asian Cultural Festival, which will take place April 22, 2017 at Armstrong State University, is currently seeking live performers, Cultural Marketplace vendors and event volunteers.
There is no cost for performers or community vendors to participate. The application for food vendors is $125 (after Wednesday, March 1, 2017 the price will increase to $175.) The cost for all other sales and children’s activities vendors is $100 per booth (after Wednesday, March 1, 2017 the price will increase to $150.) All vendors must be consistent with the theme of the festival.
"The festival’s Cultural Marketplace will offer the opportunity to learn more about each country and discover the traditional arts, crafts, fashions and treasures unique to each nation," said Armstrong public relations manager Melanie Simon. From Ming-shared jewelry to calligraphy sets, original paintings, hand-beaded clothing, Asian accessories and henna body painting, an entire continent’s worth of treasures can be found at the festival.
If you would like to participate as a performer, vendor or volunteer at the 2017 Savannah Asian Cultural Festival, please contact Sara Nobles at [email protected] or (912) 344-2687.
There is no cost for performers or community vendors to participate. The application for food vendors is $125 (after Wednesday, March 1, 2017 the price will increase to $175.) The cost for all other sales and children’s activities vendors is $100 per booth (after Wednesday, March 1, 2017 the price will increase to $150.) All vendors must be consistent with the theme of the festival.
"The festival’s Cultural Marketplace will offer the opportunity to learn more about each country and discover the traditional arts, crafts, fashions and treasures unique to each nation," said Armstrong public relations manager Melanie Simon. From Ming-shared jewelry to calligraphy sets, original paintings, hand-beaded clothing, Asian accessories and henna body painting, an entire continent’s worth of treasures can be found at the festival.
If you would like to participate as a performer, vendor or volunteer at the 2017 Savannah Asian Cultural Festival, please contact Sara Nobles at [email protected] or (912) 344-2687.
Monday, November 7, 2016
Fort Pulaski National Monument has reopened to the public after being closed since October 5th due to extensive damage caused by Hurricane Matthew.
"After a month of intense recovery operations conducted by Fort Pulaski staff and members of the National Park Service’s Eastern Incident Management Team, Cockspur Island and Fort Pulaski are again accessible to the visitors," says public information officer Joel Cadoff.
Normal operating hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. have resumed. Due to ongoing recovery efforts, the fort will only be accessible to visitors attending Ranger led programs. Tours of Fort Pulaski will be offered every day at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm.
Tours are limited to 30 people and are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Reservations will not be accepted and all tour schedules are subject to change.
Most trails on Cockspur Island are now open with the exception of the Lighthouse Trail, Picnic Area Trail, Nature Trail Loop, and the National Park Service maintained portion of the Rails to Trails. These trails remain closed due to widespread damage and require caution. Over 300 trees were downed on the island during Hurricane Matthew, so visitors should stay on trails at all times and be alert for potential tripping hazards and falling tree branches or palm fronds.
There is still a lot of work to be done before Fort Pulaski National Monument will be fully operational. Please observe all safety alerts and closures. The Cockspur Island Lighthouse tower and island are still closed to the public (including kayakers and boaters) due to preservation efforts. Use of unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, is prohibited within the boundaries of Fort Pulaski National Monument.
"After a month of intense recovery operations conducted by Fort Pulaski staff and members of the National Park Service’s Eastern Incident Management Team, Cockspur Island and Fort Pulaski are again accessible to the visitors," says public information officer Joel Cadoff.
Normal operating hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. have resumed. Due to ongoing recovery efforts, the fort will only be accessible to visitors attending Ranger led programs. Tours of Fort Pulaski will be offered every day at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm.
Tours are limited to 30 people and are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Reservations will not be accepted and all tour schedules are subject to change.
Most trails on Cockspur Island are now open with the exception of the Lighthouse Trail, Picnic Area Trail, Nature Trail Loop, and the National Park Service maintained portion of the Rails to Trails. These trails remain closed due to widespread damage and require caution. Over 300 trees were downed on the island during Hurricane Matthew, so visitors should stay on trails at all times and be alert for potential tripping hazards and falling tree branches or palm fronds.
There is still a lot of work to be done before Fort Pulaski National Monument will be fully operational. Please observe all safety alerts and closures. The Cockspur Island Lighthouse tower and island are still closed to the public (including kayakers and boaters) due to preservation efforts. Use of unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, is prohibited within the boundaries of Fort Pulaski National Monument.
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Accident Investigations Team have located the body of Andrew Barnes, 17, in connection with a submerged vehicle accident on Nov. 6.
Metro responded to the Skidaway Narrows Boat Ramp at about 1:40 a.m., after a Chrysler 200 was found submerged into the water. Reportedly, the driver of the vehicle was unfamiliar with the area and drove down into the boat ramp. Three of the occupants — Delaion Woodbury, 20, Matthew Barnes, 21, and Michael Barnes, 19 — were all able to swim back to safety. The fourth occupant, Andrew Barnes, 17, did not return.
The vehicle was recovered from the water and searched. There were no occupants inside. SCMPD divers searched the area and were unable to locate Andrew Barnes.
SCMPD Aviation Unit, Chatham County Marine Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Coast Guard all responded to the area to search for Andrew Barnes.
Metro responded to the Skidaway Narrows Boat Ramp at about 1:40 a.m., after a Chrysler 200 was found submerged into the water. Reportedly, the driver of the vehicle was unfamiliar with the area and drove down into the boat ramp. Three of the occupants — Delaion Woodbury, 20, Matthew Barnes, 21, and Michael Barnes, 19 — were all able to swim back to safety. The fourth occupant, Andrew Barnes, 17, did not return.
The vehicle was recovered from the water and searched. There were no occupants inside. SCMPD divers searched the area and were unable to locate Andrew Barnes.
SCMPD Aviation Unit, Chatham County Marine Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Coast Guard all responded to the area to search for Andrew Barnes.
