Criminal Defense Attorney in Skidaway Island, GA.

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – This weekend is packed with fun activities in Savannah. From meeting reptiles at Skidaway Island State Park to a street food and poetry festival, there’s something for everyone. Here are some things you may not have known were happening this weekend in Savannah.

Farewell To Summer – Labor Day Celebration

When: Friday, September 2 to Monday, September 5.

Where: JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District

Price: Free

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

Rockabye: A Campy, Cosmic, Musical Comedy

When: All weekend

Where: Bay Street Theatre/Club One

Price: $20 per person

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

September’s Totally Awesome First Friday Comedy

When: Friday, September 2 at 8 p.m.

Where: Totally Awesome Bar

Price: $5

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

Renegade Paws Rescue Charity Yard Sale

When: Saturday, September 3 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 1218 Waters Ave

Price: No entry fee.

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

Fire Without Matches

When: Saturday, September 3 at 2 p.m.

Where: Skidaway Island State Park

Price: $5 per person and $5 parking fee. Call the visitor center to sign up.

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

Dog Days Presents.. JACUZZI BOYS + JOSHYDROP + PSYCHIC DEATH + KLEPT

When: Saturday, September 3 at 7 p.m.

Where: Lodge of Sorrows

Price: $20 per person

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

Meet the Reptiles

When: Sunday, September 4 at 11 a.m.

Where: Skidaway Island State Park

Price: Parking is $5 but the event itself is free

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

Street Food & Poetry Festival

When: Sunday, September 4 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: 3 Points Food Court

Price: No price is listed on the event page.

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

Hot Pepper Eating Contest – 2022

When: Sunday, September 4 at 6 p.m.

Where: Bull Street Taco

Price: No price is listed on the event page.

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

Movies in the Park | Grease

When: Sunday, September 4 at 7 p.m.

Where: Plant Riverside District

Price: Free

For more information, you can visit the event page by clicking or tapping on the link here.

The Savannah Paper Mill is one of its oldest and largest industries. Generations have worked at the plant. We hear from two longtime workers.

By the 1950s about 5,000 workers were running its operations under the company Union Bag and Paper Corp., also known as Union Camp. The plant was its own community – it had an athletics league, carpenters, gardeners and even its own magazine, “The Digester.”

In those early decades, the mill and its workers lived through major historical events. During World War II, the Savannah mill produced paper packaging, which was a critical war material. During that time, women started working at the mill to take the place of men who had gone off to war.

The mill was also a large local landowner and harvested trees from those properties for product. In 1969, Union Camp acquired Branigar Corporation and approximately 1.6 million acres of land in Georgia and neighboring states. One of Braniger’s holdings was Skidaway Island, and one of their projects was development of The Landings.

The mill gradually modernized its operations and cut the number of paper machines from eight to three. Automation and efficiency changed the nature of paper production.

International Paper, the world’s largest pulp and paper company, purchased Union Camp and the Savannah mill in 1999.

The mill marked its 85th anniversary on Oct. 1, 2021 and Savannahians continue to celebrates its legacy. Long before the Georgia Ports Authority, Gulfstream and the tourism industry became Savannah’s major economic drivers, the paper mill was a pillar of the local economy.

Many Savannah families who have lived her for generations have some ties to the mill, and many of today’s business leaders trace their starts to jobs at what they still call "the paper mill" or “Union Camp.”

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Did you know that the Peach State has more than a dozen barrier islands, replete with pristine beaches, next-level sunrises, luxurious accommodations and adventurous activities? Four of the islands can be found in the Golden Isles, including St. Simons Island, Little St. Simons Island, Sea Island and Jekyll Island—but trust us when we say that’s just the tip of the island iceberg when it comes to this state’s hidden gems out at sea. Behold, the 15 best Georgia islands up and down the coast.

Just 20 minutes from downtown Savannah, Tybee Island is one of the most popular vacation spots in the state—and it has been since the 1800s. This beautiful isle is known for quiet, white sandy beaches, great outdoor dining, and a plethora of family-friendly experiences like scenic parks and playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts and fishing areas. For history buffs, Fort Pulaski National Monument (a Civil War-era harbor defense structure) is a must see, too. You can easily enjoy an action-packed day here, jumping from the beach to a nature hike to a waterfront meal in the evening, or consider spending the weekend to get the most out of this charming beachside retreat.

Known for attracting some of America’s wealthiest families (think the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts), Jekyll Island offers a mix of gorgeous, natural landscapes, historic mansions and contemporary cottages, incredible wildlife and luxurious accommodations. Less than an hour and a half from the Florida-Georgia border, this is the place where you can wake at sunrise to the sound of endangered birds chirping, visit impossibly picturesque Driftwood Beach, scarf down fried oysters at a seaside eatery, sip a nightcap overlooking the waves and snooze on sumptuous 1,000-thread-count sheets. Sold? Sold.

Not to be confused with Hutchinson Island in Florida, the Georgia version is located in the historic Savannah River District. For years, the island served as support for cargo shipments entering the Port of Savannah, but nowadays a free passenger ferry brings visitors straight to Hutchinson to enjoy everything from golfing to spa treatments. Thanks to the island’s close ties to Savannah, this is another popular destination for a quick weekend getaway, with accommodations including The Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa. Pro tip: If you happen to be in town on the first Friday of the month from March through November, don’t miss the Westin’s iconic oyster roast.

Known for its gorgeous coastline, calm waters and car-free roads, this untouched gem off Georgia’s southeast coast is a nature lover’s paradise. As the state’s largest barrier island, visitors here can spend the day bird watching, swimming, fishing or strolling around the island’s incredible network of trails and green spaces where you’ll likely spot wild horses and loggerhead turtles.

About 60 miles north of Atlanta, this 1,500-acre resort complex was built on a small group of islands on Lake Lanier, the largest lake in Georgia. Here, you’ll find an 18-hole golf course, the Margaritaville family water park, an RV park, hotel and cabin rentals and other family-friendly activities.

With seven miles of shimmering coastline, Saint Simons Island was untouched for centuries before it became what it’s known today as: a coastal resort paradise. Home to The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island, moss-draped oaks and golden marshes surround luxurious cottage accommodations for no more than 32 lucky guests. Around the perimeter, 11,000 acres of untamed wilderness await exploring, making it one of the largest and most protected conservation areas in Georgia. And get this: If you have a large enough group, you can reserve the entire island for a private getaway.

The third-largest barrier island in Georgia, Ossabaw Island encompasses 26,000 acres of nature and wildlife, from loggerhead sea turtles to endangered wood storks. Only accessible by boat, the State of Georgia designated the area as a heritage preserve for natural, scientific, and cultural study. Good news is you can still enjoy the 13 miles of beach that are open to the public on the island.

If you’re looking for some of the quietest, most pristine and undeveloped beaches in Georgia, Sapelo Island is where they’re at—specifically Nanny Goat Beach, which is known for having the most extensive undisturbed natural beach dunes along the state’s coast. Only accessible by boat or aircraft, hop on the ferry and spend the day here, exploring the beach, marine sanctuary and the 200-year-old Reynolds Mansion, which was developed during the peak of the tycoon era.

Among Georgia’s Golden Isles, Sea Island features five miles of private beach, tennis courts, a yacht club and three championship golf courses, including the home of the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic. You’ll also find four Forbes Five-Star experiences: two hotels, the Cloister at Sea Island and the Lodge at Sea Island, plus a wellness retreat (the Spa at Sea Island) and the Georgian Room restaurant. Cool fact: It’s the only U.S. resort to host a G-8 Summit of world leaders.

Nearby to Savannah, Skidaway Island is replete with windy nature trails through Spanish moss, maritime forest and salt marsh. Journey to the observation tower and watch for deer, fiddler crabs, egrets and other wildlife, or spend the night within the island’s scenic campground.

If you’re looking to get away from it all with a side of glamping, head to Little Raccoon Key in Georgia’s Golden Isles. This private island campground makes the affair luxurious all around, and the best part is when you book a stay here, you and your guests will be the only ones on the island. But don’t worry—Little Raccoon Key is only about 10 minutes from neighboring Jekyll Island, which means you’ll have cell service to reach out to staff at any time. If you’re hungry and don’t feel like grilling, chef-prepared meals are available upon request. You can also skip the glamping and schedule a full day tour to the reef instead.

For the outdoorsy adventurer, Grover Island is an exciting day trip from the Georgia coast. This marshy island offers numerous outdoor activities, including guided kayak tours to spot local wildlife including the endangered wood stork and ospreys.

Established as a nature and forest preserve, Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge is a great spot to visit to soak up the great outdoors. This nature-filled barrier island—only accessible by boat—is open daily from sunrise to sunset, offering miles of trails for hiking and biking, fishing, wildlife watching and nature photography.

No more than 20 minutes off the coast of Georgia, this 10-mile-long island is one of the best-kept secrets in the state. St. Catherines Island is mostly closed to the public, reserved for preservation, education, and scientific research. However, the beach is open to the public up to the high tide line, where you can engage go shelling, hiking, and picnicking during daylight hours.

Another island on the Florida-Georgia border, Amelia Island is a timeless city with rich history. Established in 1562, it’s home to more than 13 miles of quiet beaches, next-level golf courses, shore excursions and a historic district with ghost tours, art museums and waterfront restaurants. Looking for a slice of heaven? Head to Fernandina Beach for date night and explore the sparkling shoreline.

Ian is set to become the latest in a string of storms over the last century to threaten but not strike Savannah

Two days ago, Hurricane Ian was projected to hit Savannah head on, albeit at tropical storm strength. Now, after devastating a swath of Florida, Tropical Storm Ian is tracking to Savannah’s east and is likely to spare the area from the damaging winds and much of the heavy storm surge that make locals so uneasy about hurricane season.

Ian is set to become the latest in a string of storms over the last century to threaten but not strike Savannah. Prior to Hurricane Matthew’s glancing blow in 2016, Savannah even had a hurricane-related nickname: Dodge City, as in a city with a reputation for dodging storms.

Here’s a look at Savannah’s stormy history.

Tropical storm vs. hurricane:Know the differences and what Savannah can expect from Ian

Ian

Year: 2022

Intensity: Tropical storm with winds of 65 mph (projected)

Evacuation: No

What to know: Ian made landfall near Fort Myers, Florida, as a Category 4 storm and moved northeast across the state and into the Atlantic Ocean. Ian passed well east of Savannah as a Category 1 hurricane, causing some coastal flooding.

Dorian

Year: 2019

Intensity: Tropical storm force winds

Evacuation: Yes

What to know: Dorian devastated several islands of the Bahamas as a Category 5 storm but remained offshore as it moved north along Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The storm made landfall in North Carolina. Gov. Brian Kemp ordered an evacuation for six coastal counties, including Chatham.

Irma

Year: 2017

Intensity: Category 1 hurricane

Evacuation: Yes

What to know:Irma was projected to pose a catastrophic threat to Savannah as it swept through the Caribbean. However, weather conditions push the track south and the storm didn’t turn north until reaching the Gulf of Mexico. Irma came ashore in western Florida and caused devastating damage to crops and farmland in Southwest Georgia. Low-lying areas of Savannah, particularly on Tybee Island, experienced flooding, as the strongest winds struck at high tide.

Matthew

Year: 2016

Intensity: Category 1 hurricane

Evacuation: Yes

What to know: Matthew hugged the East Coast as it swept north out of the Caribbean. The storm passed 30 miles off the coast of Tybee as a Category 1 hurricane and winds took down thousands of trees and knocked out power to 140,000 homes in Chatham County. Neighborhoods on Tybee, marshside islands such as Wilmington and other low-lying parts of Savannah experienced flooding. Chatham County spent $22 million to clean up 1.2 million cubic yards of tree limbs, trunks and leaves following the storm.

Hermine

Year: 2016

Intensity: Tropical storm with winds of 63 mph

Evacuation: No

What to know: The system brought 3 to 4 inches of rain with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph, and high tide reached 8.5 feet Friday. At least 25,000 Georgia Power customers lost electricity.

Irene

Year: 1999

Intensity: Tropical depression with winds between 20 mph and 30 mph

Evacuation: No

What to know: Hurricane Irene mirrored Ian’s track, moving north from the Caribbean Sea and cutting a west to east path across Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean. The storm passed well offshore of Savannah.

Floyd

Year: 1999

Intensity: Category 2 hurricane

Evacuation: Yes

What to know: Floyd was an abnormally large storm, measuring 580 miles in diameter as it approached the East Coast. The hurricane’s size prompted the largest evacuation of a coastal area in American history, with 2 million people from six states fleeing ahead of the storm. Floyd swept past Georgia well offshore, delivering only tropical storm force winds to Savannah. The winds and rain left more than 55,000 without power and streets littered with downed tree limbs and leaves. There was little coastal flooding due to storm surge.

Hugo

Year: 1989

Intensity: Tropical storm

Evacuation: No

What to know:Hugo was a monster storm that devastated a historic coastal city - not Savannah, but Charleston. The storm was a Category 4 when it made landfall and remained at Category 1 strength when it reached Charlotte, 200 miles inland. Hugo brought heavy rain to Coastal Georgia and is often associated locally with a memorable football game between Georgia Southern and Middle Tennessee State in Statesboro. Nine inches of rain fell during the 26-0 Eagles’ victory.

Bob

Year: 1985

Intensity: Category 1 hurricane

Evacuation: No

What to know: Another storm that swung wide of Savannah, Bob came ashore north of Beaufort, South Carolina.

David

Year: 1979

Intensity: Category 1 hurricane

Evacuation: No

What to know: The last storm to deliver a direct hit to Savannah brought 90-mph winds that wreaked havoc on trees and electricity lines causing widespread power outages. At the height of the outage, about 75,000 of the company then known as Savannah Electric’s 88,000 customers were without power. Many homes and businesses were without power for more than a week.

Gracie

Year: 1959

Intensity: Tropical storm

Evacuation: No

What to know: Grace made landfall north of Savannah and lashed Charleston in what at the time was labeled “the most intense” storm the area had seen in decades.

Able

Year: 1952

Intensity: Category 1 hurricane

Evacuation: No

What to know: Able slipped past Savannah and came ashore north of Beaufort.

Unnamed

Year: 1947

Intensity: Category 1 hurricane

What to know: The last storm to come ashore in Georgia prior to David in 1979, this hurricane is said to have struck twice as it moved due west and inland instead of north and into South Carolina. According to reports, government officials cloud seeded the storm by dropping dry ice into the hurricane from a B-17 bomber, which some suspect contributed to the storm’s hard turn to the west prior to striking Savannah.

Unnamed

Year: 1940

Intensity: Category 1 hurricane

What to know: This hurricane caused extensive property damage in Savannah. Photos taken after the event show collapsed structures and rubble in the downtown streets as well as flooding elsewhere. According to reports, the damage estimate was $1 million in 1940 dollars - or the equivalent of $21 million today.

Unnamed

Year: 1927

Intensity: Tropical storm

What to know: Little information is recorded about the storm other than wind speeds topped 70 mph.

For Do Savannah

It’s never too late. To learn, do, try new things. It’s never too late to be who you’ve always wanted to be. Author, Karen Dove Barr, knows this well.

After 25 years of writing, and at 74 years young, Barr has published her first novel, “Burnt Pot Island,” a historical fiction about rum-runners, moonshiners, Savannah, and the Pinpoint community during Prohibition.

The idea for the story came in the early 1980s when Barr and her husband broke ground on their home on Skidaway Island. In surveying, they found the footings of a much older structure along with shards of blue pottery.

“The dirt could tell you a lot of stories,” reflected Barr, standing in her kitchen sunroom, eyes fixed on a large oak in the side yard. “When we bought the property, there was hardly any development on this end of the island, and it felt alive with so much more to say. Voices from the past certainly whispered to me when I finally sat down to write.”

Barr was only a few years into her 44 years in law when they found the pottery shards. The fiction of “Burnt Pot Island,” though, would have to wait three decades to be teased from the earth. And in those intervening years, Barr not only came to know many people in Pinpoint through her legal representation, but also bravely tried things she’d always wanted to do.

“When I turned 50, I started running,” recalled Barr. “And that actually helped with my writing. I’d always wanted to write but so many people told me I wasn’t any good at it, and so I didn’t, not creatively, until I started running. When I run, I find that the pace and rhythm of moving my legs connects me to my thoughts, and then words, stories, and ideas come freely.”

A few years after her running-writing epiphany, Barr self-published a collection of essays, “Running Through Menopause,” in which she explored her experience of taking up competitive running for the first time as a middle-aged woman. From there, her work went on to appear in Runners’ World, Fitness Magazine, and Savannah Magazine. Barr self-published another book in 2013 featuring her wildlife photography paired with essays about nature experiences on Skidaway Island.

Not long after that nature book, a member of her church pulled Barr aside and told her about an abandoned house on Burnt Pot Island where he and his friends would camp out as teenagers and that got her thinking about the old footings and pottery shards in her yard.

“I was really curious about his story, and then others, mostly men, approached me with tales of boating to the island and staying in the abandoned house as a sort of rite of passage in the ‘60s and ‘70s. So, I wanted to know who owned that house and its significance to the surrounding islands,” said Barr.

Barr, ever the attorney, went to work researching deeds and titles, uncovering that the Mayor of Savannah acquired Burnt Pot Island in 1909 and eventually built a mansion on it. She then went down the rabbit hole of Google books, reading archived Savannah City Council minutes and Savannah Morning News stories.

After four years of researching and writing, she pieced together a possible, yet fictitious, story about Burnt Pot Island, the abandoned mansion, and what was likely going on in her own backyard at Skidaway Island.

“To be clear, 'Burnt Pot Island' is historical fiction, it’s my creation,” emphasized Barr, seated at her writing desk surrounded by books, sticky pads, and manila folders stuffed with handwritten notes.

“But from my research, the owner of this island could have been involved in alcohol smuggling during Prohibition, and Burnt Pot Island could have played a strategic role in all of that. It’s pretty common knowledge Skidaway Island was home to moonshiners then, and that’s verified in my research.”

After four years of writing, Barr started pitching perspective publishers. She received 278 rejection letters before finally landing an offer from a boutique imprint in Oregon. From start to finish, it took Barr six years to research, write, and publish her first novel.

The story takes place during Prohibition and involves international rum-runners, Skidaway Island moonshiners as well as the story’s heroines, mother and daughter Catherine and Licia, who live in Pinpoint processing oysters and crab for a wealthy and often unscrupulous businessman. For Barr, it was extremely important her language and storytelling were culturally appropriate.

She attended seminars on Geechee culture and spoke with people she knew personally in Pinpoint. She asked then-Savannah alderwoman, Carol Bell, to read and edit the manuscript for cultural sensitivity.

“At the end of the day, the hearts and minds of people are the same no matter where you’re from,” emphasized Barr. “Women have the same struggles across the world. Women want their children to get ahead and succeed. This common thread was central to the story. People’s inner core, needs, and desires are the same the world over, and I hope my story shows that to be true.”

Order copies of "Burnt Pot Island" from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart and from Karen Dove Barr at karendovebarrauthor.com.