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Due to the recent rains, the Ogeechee River has risen and is currently at 12.22 feet and it’s predicted the river will crest at 12.8 feet on Sunday, which is considered a moderate flooding potential. Because of the potential flooding risk the Chatham Emergency Management Agency will continue to monitor the river, said Kelly Harley, CEMA spokeswoman.
Thursday morning, the Chatham County Aviation Unit conducted an over-flight of the Ogeechee River basin. This allowed CEMA to see any impacts to life safety issues, property and infrastructure damage downstream in Chatham County. Homes along the banks of the Ogeechee River are limited and, other than the commercial area near Kings Ferry that includes Love’s Seafood Restaurant, the only other significant area of population on the river is at the end of Ft. Argyle Lane.
Ft. Argyle Lane runs southeast of Ga. 204 near Bush Road, and approximately half of Ft. Argyle Lane from Ga. 204 is submerged. Most of the approximately 15 residential properties on the river were surrounded with water. Most if not all of these residential properties are built on pillions/stilts, the homeowners own 4x4 vehicles and are prepared to deal with this type of situation.
The hardwood forests within the Ogeechee River Basin are now inundated with water. In many areas, these waters are approaching improved private properties. This was specifically seen behind the homes on the southwest side of Ga. 204, properties just to the west of Joyner’s Corner, and new construction areas in the Bloomingdale/Pooler areas.
Fingers of the basin have also expanded to include large areas of unimproved properties throughout areas of Chatham County west of Interstate 95.
To see video of the river, go to savannahnow.com.
Woman dies in crash
A Savannah woman died Thursday morning when the car she was driving crashed into a fence, sign and tree on Ferguson Avenue, said Savannah-Chatham police spokesman Julian Miller.
Jessica J. Strieber, 28, died instantly when the 2006 Suzuki Forenza hatchback she was driving left the right side of Ferguson between Lehigh Avenue and Diamond Causeway. The 2:25 a.m. collision knocked down a brick fence column, a traffic sign and a small tree before the car flipped over in a grassy area.
Southside Fire rescue units had to remove pieces of the car to free the driver who had been declared dead at the scene, Miller said.
Major Accident Investigations Team officers from the Savannah-Chatham police department said the vehicle had crossed the center line into the southbound lane and the driver overcorrected, sending it out of control.
MAIT continues to investigate the crash.
Craigslist drug deal busted
Two people are in custody after selling prescription drugs to members of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team.
Wednesday afternoon, CNT agents were made aware of an ad on Craigslist where someone was offering to sell the prescription drug Klonopin. According to the ad, it listed “KLONOPINS” and instructed the would-be buyers to text the phone number listed, said Gene Harley, CNT spokesman.
A CNT agent working in an undercover capacity contacted the number listed in the online ad and made arrangements to meet with the seller at her residence located in the 200 block of Quacco Road.
The undercover agent arrived at the residence and purchased a total of 50 Klonopin pills for $50. Once the sale was complete, the seller, 25-year-old Jessica Cope, was arrested for sale of a controlled substance without incident.
While on scene, Cope’s fiance, 34-year-old Rashawn Mitchell, arrived at the residence and was also arrested after agents discovered he was wanted by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office for contempt of court.
Both Cope and Mitchell were transported to the Chatham County jail where Cope remains after being denied bond during her arraignment in Chatham County Recorder’s Court.
Klonopin is listed as a Schedule IV drug under the Controlled Substances Act and used to help treat seizures and anxiety. Persons abuse Klonopin by enhancing the effects of other drugs, like opiates and alcohol.
Savannah residents help catch suspects
With Carver Heights residents joining Savannah-Chatham police who were saturating the area, two armed robbery suspects were apprehended moments after the robbery Wednesday afternoon, police reported.
Calls from residents started coming in within minutes after two armed men robbed clerks at Sheppards convenience store on West Gwinnett Street at Stiles Avenue about 11:35 a.m. Callers directed officers along the path; the suspects ran west into the Carver Village area.
The constant tips directed a combination of Savannah-Chatham police officers. Saturating the area were Patrol and Crime Suppression Unit officers from West Chatham and Downtown Precincts, Robbery Unit and precinct detectives, canine officers from SCMPD and the Chatham County Sheriff’s deputies.
Crime Suppression Unit officers located Nicholas Alexander Floyd, 19, and Juan Chaunecey Stephens, 20, behind a house a block away. Canine units helped locate two weapons believed used in the robbery between the two locations. Both were charged with armed robbery.
Stephens also was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is on active parole since his release from Telfair State Prison on Sept. 12, 2012. He had served 21 months of a five-year sentence for crimes including two counts of theft by receiving, possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.
Two arrested in Rincon following FedEx delivery of marijuana
A home delivery by FedEx of over three pounds of marijuana has resulted in the arrest of a Rincon couple.
Effingham County Sheriff’s Office spokesman David Ehsanipoor said authorities in California notified the sheriff’s office a narcotics K-9 office alerted on a package prior to it being shipped.
Deputies arrested Zachary Smith, 29, and Crystal Clifton, also 29, on Wednesday following the package’s delivery at the couple’s residence.
Both been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
The street value of the recovered marijuana is more than $ 15,000, Ehsanipoor said.
Both are currently being held in the Effingham County Jail.
Ehsanipoor said this is an ongoing investigation by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office along with several other local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Pooler man promoted in Air National Guard
Col. Todd A. Freesemann has announced the promotion of Senior Master Sgt. Toy “Neal” Allen to Chief Master Sergeant, the highest grade attainable for non-commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force and Georgia Air National Guard.
Allen has also received a notice from Maj. Gen. James Butterworth, Georgia’s Adjutant General and his personal congratulations.
In this new role of responsibility, Allen will serve as the Combat Readiness Training Center’s operations superintendent, with oversight of all aspects of airfield management and operations.
Allen, a native of Moultrie, enlisted in the Georgia Air National Guard in 1982, serving in the 283rd Combat Communications Squadron then located in Savannah. In 1985, he joined the active duty U.S. Army working in numerous areas related to helicopter operations, eventually deploying to Operation Desert Storm where his unit received the Valorous Unit Award for their role in the destruction of Iraq’s Republican Guard.
In 1995, he rejoined Georgia’s Air National Guard, beginning his service in airfield management, and by mastering ever-increasing roles of responsibility he earned the role of operations superintendent.
Allen and his family reside in Pooler.
- Compiled by Marcus E. Howard, DeAnn Komanecky and Josh Rayburn