Georgia
Georgia DNR looks out for safety over holiday weekend
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – As the weather gets warmer, you might plan to be out on the lake with your boats enjoying everything the lake has to offer.
But Georgia DNR says there are a few things you’ll want to be aware of to make sure your fun comes with safety precautions.
Summer has officially kicked off and it’s a busy weekend to be out on the water.
It’s the time of year where people are going boating, fishing, swimming and are enjoying being by the water.
“We try to gather as much as guys as possible to enforce the state laws and make sure the public is safe,” said Cory Bohannon, a Game Warden for Georgia DNR.
Boats have been coming and going all weekend on Clarks Hill lake where Georgia DNR expects to check hundreds of them to make sure they have proper safety equipment and are driving the boats safely.
“Definitely last year we saw an increase of boating under the influence, unfortunately. With our presence we increased last year, we still hold we’re still gonna hold that standard this year. That way we can make sure the public safe and has a good weekend, especially on a holiday weekend,” he said.
Last summer they had over 25 BUI’s and for the first official weekend of the summer, they’ve had one.
“It is very concerning. All we can do is just hope that people just make the correct decision. And just know that it’s just like driving a car, if you decide to drink, just have a backup plan and and somebody with you that can be the designated driver,” said Bohannon.
If you’re hitting the water they are also checking for things such as lifejackets, a fire extinguisher, working lights and are also making sure people are following the 100 foot rule law from shores, docks, boats and people in the water.
“We’re out here for those safety violations, or if we see something of concern that we can talk to those individuals about and hopefully it saves the life of another or themselves. So just we’re out here to make sure everyone’s safe, make sure everyone’s has their required safety equipment, and enjoying their weekend,” he said.
For more information about laws on the water, click here.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Georgia
Man accused of raping University of Georgia student, police say
ATHENS, Ga. – A 19-year-old is facing assault-related charges after police said he raped a University of Georgia student early Saturday morning while she was walking home.
What we know:
Tydarius Wingfield of Athens allegedly approached the student in the area of 400 North Thomas Street just before 1:40 a.m. and asked to walk her home.
Wingfield and the victim did not know each other.
Wingfield then forced the woman behind a building where he sexually assaulted her, police said.
Investigators used the Real Time Crime Center’s camera system to see where the assault happened and track the victim and Wingfield’s movements. Officers continued tracking Wingfield until his arrest and positively identified him using the RTCC technology.
He is charged with rape, kidnapping, aggravated sexual battery and battery.
An investigation is ongoing.
What we don’t know:
It is unclear whether the victim was taken to the hospital after being attacked.
What you can do:
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective Burgamy at Charles.Burgamy@accgov.com or 762-400-7173.
The Source: Information in this report comes from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
Georgia
Georgia’s Iranian community reacts to death of Ayatollah Khamenei
ATLANTA – As conflict intensifies between the United States, Israel and Iran, reactions are pouring in across the Atlanta metro area after President Donald Trump confirmed the death of Iran’s supreme leader.
The president confirmed on Truth Social that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint strike led by the U.S. and Israel.
What they’re saying:
“I have been waiting to hear this news for the last 20 years,” said Dr. Sasan Tavassoli, an Atlanta-based pastor born in Iran.
“Ayatollah Khamenei has been responsible for the killing of tens of thousands of Iranians over the last three decades. He has been a very evil dictator and a very oppressive tyrant.”
Other local Iranians, like Shohreh Mir, expressed a long-standing desire for internal change rather than outside intervention.
“This was an imposed war,” Mir said. “We still very much would like for Iranian people to change the regime by themselves.”
What’s next:
Tavassoli said the Ayatollah’s death now creates a new issue.
“Ayatollah Khamenei never invested in raising a succession after himself,” he said, “so the crisis of the Iranian revolution and the Iranian regime is there is no legitimate successor.”
While the long-term duration of the conflict remains unknown, Iran has already begun launching retaliatory strikes following the attack.
“This is a huge development for day one, but the war is not over,” Tavassoli noted. “There are still many ways that things can become even more bloody and destructive in the coming days and weeks.”
The Source: Information in this article came from FOX 5’s Rey Llerena speaking with Iranian Americans across Georgia.
Georgia
Body found near Georgia Power dam on Radium Springs Road in Albany
ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – A person was found dead in the 5200 block of Radium Springs Road on Saturday morning, according to Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler.
Fowler said the call came in as a water rescue. The body was recovered early Saturday, Feb. 28.
The coroner confirmed the person found was male. His identity and age remain unknown.
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Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.
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