August 19, 2021

Yesterday the Special Investigations Unit of the Glynn County Police Department executed a search warrant for illegal narcotics at Room #118 of the Super 8 Motel on Palisade Drive near I-95 Exit 29 in south Glynn. Police arrested 36 year old Chaz Trammell and 39 year old Alfred Smith and charged them both with felony possession of narcotics. A search of the room and their vehicle turned up approximately 24 grams of Fentanyl, approximately 17 grams of marijuana, a 9mm firearm and approximately $3,500 in cash. If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact Investigator Stagner at 912-554-7556 or silent witness at 912-264-1333.

Frat Beach, the Friday afternoon beach party that precedes the annual Georgia / Florida game at the Coast Guard Station on St. Simons, may be coming to an end this year. The County Commission discussed the event during Tuesday’s work session and the tone of the conversation was not in favor of allowing it to proceed this year. In recent years the county has provided on-site safety and medical personnel but that may be over. Several years ago the University of Georgia administration made it clear that they did not want the college’s name associated with the beach party. Commissioner Bill Brunson said one of the issues this year was the spike in COVID cases could cause problems. He was concerned about sending county staff to work in those conditions. He added that the Ahmaud Arbery trial would be in progress, so many of the county’s police officers, along with the Sheriff’s officers would be tied up providing security for that. In addition, Brunson noted that both the police department and Sheriff’s office are already shorthanded. Sheriff Neal Jump spoke to theh commission agreeing with Brunson. Jump said the Arbery trial would proceed as scheduled, adding that if necessary he would contact sheriffs in surrounding counties for assistance with manpower. Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Director Scott McQuade said it was a big weekend for the local hospitality industry but the owners he had spoken to understood the difficult position the commission was in this regarding Frat Beach. Since Island Commissioner Cap Fendig was absent from the work session, the commission agreed to add it to the agenda for tonight’s meeting for more discussion.

Also during Tuesday’s county work session the county commission got an update on a Community Development Block Grant for the local Second Harvest Food Bank project. According to the Chief Executive of America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Mary Jane Crouch, the organization received a $2 million federal Block grant for the expansion of their Brunswick facility. They have outgrown their current 5,000 sq. ft. space on Indigo Dr. and, with assistance from the Golden Isles Development Authority, have located a new 53,000 sq. ft. building on Sidney Lanier Dr. The current tenant in the larger building is also looking to relocate with help from the Development Authority. Crouch, said Second Harvest was required to raise $1 in matching funds and have a pledge of $500,000 from Sea Island and The Anschutz Foundation. They will raise the other $500,000 from the community. Expanding the Brunswick facility will allow Second Harvest to build capacity and provide food assistance to even more of those in need in Glynn County. Crouch said there are 19,054 children in Glynn County and 64% of students enrolled in local schools are eligible for free or reduced meals.

Last night the Brunswick City Commission agreed to ask the Glynn County Board of Commissioners to sign a joint resolution to strongly encourage the community to get the Covid vaccination. Also for the first time the city will participate in Georgia Cities Week sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association. The celebration is planned for October 3 through the 9th. Planned activities include art and essay contests, a scavenger hunt, a walking tour of downtown and a city wide cleanup. The County Commission meets at 6:00 tonight in the historic courthouse. Among other things they will consider enacting a moratorium barring the acceptance and / or receipt of applications\ for sign permits and building permits for signs for unzoned railroad right-of-way until February 3, 2022. The county will also hold a public hearing on the millage rate.

Audio from WGIG-AM and FM in Brunswick, GA