ATLANTA – Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, was also a busy weekend on Georgia waterways. 

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division was busy patrolling the waterways. Authorities say law enforcement officers responded to two drownings. 

More than two dozen were cited for boating under the influence, but no boating fatalities were reported. Three injuries were reported. 

Here are some of the big incidents reported on Georgia’s waterways: 

Boating incident on Lake Lanier 

At approximately 2 p.m. on Monday, game wardens patrolling Lake Allatoona observed a female passenger on a personal watercraft bleeding from her head near Red Top Mountain State Park. The wardens followed the personal watercraft to the shore to provide assistance. The 18-year-old operator reported that he had jumped in the wake of a large vessel, overturned, and the PWC landed on top of him and his passenger. The female suffered a large cut to her head, while the operator injured his left leg and left arm. The female was transported by family members to a local hospital for treatment. The operator refused treatment at the scene. 

Boating Incident on Lake Lanier 

On Sunday evening, at approximately 6 p.m., game wardens were notified of a vessel incident on Lake Lanier at Lanier Park in Gwinnett County. The incident involved a collision between two personal watercrafts. One of the operators suffered minor abrasions to his leg and refused medical treatment at the scene. 

Drowning in Muscogee County 

In the early afternoon hours on Monday, game wardens got information about a body in a private pond in Muscogee County. The victim, found wearing a swimsuit in a wooded area pond, was pronounced deceased by the Muscogee County Coroner around 3:10 p.m. Although reported as a drowning, it is possible that the victim had been in the pond for 2-3 days. The body will be sent to the crime lab to determine the time and cause of death. 

Drowning at Neptune Beach 

Late afternoon on May 26th, game wardens were advised by GSP Brunswick of a potential drowning at Neptune Beach, St. Simons Island. Glynn County Fire/Rescue recovered a 33-year-old male from the waterline. Despite nearly an hour of CPR by Fire/Rescue, the subject could not be revived and was transported to Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick. The body was sent to the crime lab to rule out any medical issues. 

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A nonprofit regional blood center with Georgia locales is calling on all donors to help replenish the supply to help those affected by deadly storms in Texas and Oklahoma.

Blood Assurance, which is part of the National Blood Emergency Readiness Corps, is responding to the deadly storms. A tornado killed seven people in Cooke County, Texas, and two people were killed in Oklahoma during the storms.

At least 21 dead in Memorial Day weekend storms that devastated several US states

Blood Assurance locations are in Cartersville and Rome, Georgia.

The Cartersville locale is at 334 Cherokee Place. The Rome location is at 168 Shorter Avenue SW. Both are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Blood Assurance representatives said mobile blood drive events are also available to donate at.

Those eligible to donate blood must be at least 17, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Those planning to donate are asked to drink plenty of fluids and eat before donating. Those who are 16 can donate with a parent’s consent.

To schedule an appointment or for more information, click here. Appointments can also be made by calling (800) 962-0628 or texting BAGIVE to 999777. Walk-ins are also accepted.

Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.

Thousands of Georgians rallied in the capital Tbilisi to commemorate the country’s Independence Day, coinciding with the protests against the recent controversial “foreign agents” law. Georgia’s ruling party in Parliament said it intends to override a presidential veto over the law.

Put forth by the ruling Georgian Dream party, the law targets nongovernmental organizations and media outlets that receive funding from abroad, sparking outrage all across the country. Protesters held flags of Georgia and the EU together, labeling the protest as a fight for democracy against a pro-Russian government.

In a statement on Thursday, the US State Department announced visa restrictions on individuals who were involved with or responsible for creating a “Kremlin-style” law, including their immediate family members. Secretary Anthony Blinken noted that the law stifles the exercise of freedoms of association and expression, restricts organizations that serve citizens of Georgia, and suppresses independent media that provide crucial information and coverage in the country.

Blinken also argued that the government has engaged in intimidation of individuals involved in the protests opposing the law, calling them repressive tactics that have the potential of democratically backsliding the country.

Similarly, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated days ago that the newly passed foreign agents law undermines the country’s freedom of expression, and that in passing it, Georgian lawmakers have disregarded the warnings of human rights organizations.

At least 300 people have been arrested since April, with many being subjected to police brutality.