ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Law enforcement served up safety this Memorial Day weekend, from the waters to the roads.

“Safety first, we try to be as safe as possible,” said Shafer Harrington, who visited Lake Allatoona over the Memorial Day weekend.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety said they have seen a “noticeable increase” in driving under the influence (DUI) arrests and distracted driving violations. The department counted 11 car travel related deaths as of Monday evening, including the three young rising adults with ties to Metro Atlanta and who went to Stillman College in Alabama.

Officials said the single-car fatal crash happened Saturday on I-75 Southbound in Clayton County near the exit ramp for Tara Boulevard.

3 from Alabama college with ties to metro Atlanta killed in crash

Officials said their preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle veered out of its lane and went into a nearby ditch. Shortly after the crash, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames, said officials.

Officials said the occupants of the vehicle were unable to escape and died at the scene.

At Lake Allatoona, the Department of Natural Resources arrested a man for boating under the influence, or BUI. The DNR says the man returned to Harbor Town Marina following strong thunderstorms, struck the dock and another vessel.

According to the DNR, The officers interviewed the man and determined that he was under the influence. The DNR said officers arrested the man for BUI and transported him to the Cherokee County Jail.

“It can be frightening, it can be frightening,” said Eric Coleman, who has been coming to Allatoona for the past two decades.

“A lot of them don’t know the seriousness of handling the boat and drinking,” added Coleman.

Coleman said he has been coming to Allatoona to teach the community about water safety, especially during holidays and high occupancy at the lake.

Coleman said he has a boating group with friends, called Over The Top Motor Sports, who have water vessels to allow people to use one of the many jet skis or boats.

Coleman said they have one very important rule for people using the water equipment, “they know that when they start drinking they are done with the water, they are not on the water at all anymore,” said Coleman.

The DNR said they have had four BUI arrest so far this year, at Lake Allatoona. That statistic is not sitting well for some lake goers.

“It sucks, it sucks honestly. They are drunk and doing thing when they shouldn’t be doing it, I wish it gets better,” said Hailly Alameida, who visited Lake Allatoona for the holiday weekend.

Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.

The Atlanta Fringe Festival returns for its 13^th year with two weeks of weird, hilarious, and uncensored performances across 10 different local venues.

This year’s festival features a whopping 361 performances from May 28 to June 8. The lineup includes 31 Georgia-based performers, who previewed their acts on May 20 at the Supermarket. The shows span subject matter and medium, from magic and clownery to puppetry and storytelling.

Along with theater, live music, comedy, and more, the Atlanta Fringe Festival also includes several free offerings: Atlanta Fringe Audio, a podcast featuring 21 different shows; Atlanta Kids Fringe, family-friendly live performances, crafts, games, and more at the East Atlanta Kids Club; and Atlanta Street Fringe, busking and street performances throughout Little Five Points and East Atlanta Village.

Joining the 31 locals are 33 touring acts. Touring performers will preview their acts at 7Stages Mainstage on May 28 at 7 p.m. Multi-ticket pass holders can attend for free; others can purchase their sliding-scale tickets here.

Georgia-based Performances at the 2025 Atlanta Fringe Festival

Theater and Storytelling

Teapot: Limelight Mainstage

Flay’s Anatomy: The Invitation: 7Stages Backstage

The Emo Show: Monks Meadery

Alum-inated!: Metropolitan Studios

Fly Trap: Metropolitan Studios

The Final Haunting of Edgar A. Poe: 7Stages Backstage

Maggie’s Convent: Limelight Mainstage

36 Views: Supermarket Black Box

Sad ‘50s Robot: Monks Meadery

E-Race-D: 7Stages Mainstage

Someone Else’s Child: Supermarket Event Stage

Based on a Drew Story: Limelight Black Box

Witch Cake: 7Stages Backstage

TRAPPED: Limelight Black Box  

Last One Out: Dynamic El Dorado

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Improv and Comedy

Don Toberman: Pingpong Champ: Dynamic El Dorado

Ladies Night Comedy: Supermarket Blue Venue

Shrink: Supermarket Blue Venue

One Morning in the Office: Monks Meadery

David and Mark Present!: Supermarket Event Stage

High Deductible Improv: Supermarket Black Box

Matt and Lily Tell Some Jokes: Monks Meadery

Music and Musicals

Parkinson’s: The Musical: Dynamic El Dorado

Verity High: Canceled: The Supermarket Event Stage

Movers and Musicians: Dynamic El Dorado

An Evening with Jimmy John Misty: Monks Meadery

Puppetry

The Puppet Pants Encounter: Supermarket Blue Venue

Wildly Beloved: Tales from the Rainbow Bridge: Supermarket Black Box

Edgewood Avenue: 7Stages Mainstage

Magic and Mentalism

MAGICIAN: 7Stages Mainstage

Dreality: 7Stages Backstage

Artists receive 100 percent of their box office sales. Tickets are available for single shows or in multi-show passes that can be shared among friends. View the full schedule at atlantafringe.org.

ATLANTA – Georgia agriculture officials are reassuring consumers that cucumbers grown and sold in Georgia are safe to eat, following a nationwide recall involving Florida-grown cucumbers potentially contaminated with Salmonella.

What we know:

Last week, Florida-based Bedner Growers Inc. voluntarily recalled cucumbers distributed from April 29 to May 19 after a Salmonella outbreak sickened at least 26 people in 15 states, including Georgia. Some of the recalled produce was repackaged into 5-pound mesh bags by PennRose Farms, LLC and distributed to Restaurant Depot centers in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, and Ohio.

Cucumbers recalled after Salmonella sickens 26 in several states; 9 hospitalized

The Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed that while some Georgia retailers may have received affected products from the Florida supplier, no Georgia Grown cucumbers or producers are impacted by the recall.

What they’re saying:

“In light of the Bedner Growers Inc. cucumber recall in Florida, I want to reassure consumers and retailers alike that no Georgia Grown cucumbers or Georgia producers have been impacted,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “As Georgians head to the stores ahead of the holiday weekend, you can and should have 100% confidence that Georgia Grown cucumbers are safe and wholesome.”

Despite this, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has received reports of retailers canceling orders of Georgia-grown cucumbers out of confusion or caution. Inspectors from the department’s Food Safety Division are currently visiting stores to ensure any recalled Florida-grown products are removed from shelves.

What you can do:

Consumers are urged to check packaging if they recently purchased cucumbers. The recalled PennRose Farms cucumbers were packaged between May 2 and May 5 with the UPC code 841214101714 and lot numbers 48-122 to 48-125. Any consumers in possession of the affected cucumbers are advised not to eat them and to discard the produce immediately.

For more information about the recall, consumers may contact PennRose Farms at 800-804-7254 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

Georgia agriculture leaders encourage residents to continue supporting local farmers during the peak of the spring harvest and to look for the Georgia Grown label when shopping.