Criminal Defense Attorney in Whitemarsh Island, GA.

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Wilmington Island family’s home has caught the eyes of hundreds over the last month - especially at night.

About 12 years ago the light display started with just a few white lights. Over the years the tradition has become a part of the Edge family. Now they have about 750,000 lights in their front yard that shine bright every night.

A string of lights on the front porch was once the Edge family’s Christmas decor.

“Now, it’s all of this,” homeowner, Carole Edge.

Over the years, their front yard became a Christmas light spectacle and a home to thousands and thousands of light bulbs.

“I can’t even begin to know how many lights he’s bought and how many lights we have,” said Edge.

Carole Edge said her husband considers the light display his pride and joy. Edge said every year his creation grows.

“Five or six new pieces some years. Some years it’s a lot of pieces,” said Edge.

In about a month and a half, the Edge family and crew put out the lights. The hardest part they say is figuring out where to plug everything in and get everything to run smoothly.

“We’ve got a great electrician. We’ve got more power than most people would have in their house. There are three-panel boxes now,” said Edge.

Edge said they almost didn’t put the lights up this year, but quickly realized they needed to.

“This year, above all others, people need to forget what’s going on with the politics and the COVID and we did it. I think just for a few minutes everybody gets their mind off of everything and all they see is this happiness and joy.”

Edge said there were some things they couldn’t do this year, but they made sure that they did what they could to give back.

“People have really been giving, so it was nice to be able to hand him that check.”

Edge said with the monetary donations people who came to see the lights gave, they were able to help a man with some of his medical bills and put away some for the upkeep of their lights.

“I’m so glad that we can do something to give back to the community. With all of the drama that’s going on in the world now, it does somebody’s heart good. Some of these kids they’ve been coming since they were little and now they’re grown up,” said Edge.

The family said they are beginning to run out of room, so they may have to do some readjusting next year. If you’re eager to see the lights, they will be out until the new year.

You can find the lights on N. Sheftall Circle on Wilmington Island.

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For Do Savannah

There's an old saying: "A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at the office."

If you’re looking to get outdoors and toss a line, Savannah and the surrounding region offers no shortage of great places to play hooky.

Whether you enjoy chasing your catch by boat or want to pull out a chair on a pier and take in the view, there are plenty of fun and scenic places throughout the Lowcountry to satisfy any fishing bug.

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Just about any time of year, grouper and snapper are up for grabs in the coastal waters. While other fish such as sea bass, sheepshead, cobia, mahi mahi, mackerel, shark, flounder, redfish, and sea trout can be caught at seasonally as they move through the region.

From river and beach piers, to charter boats that hug the coast or travel out deep, here are some popular places and guides to catch a few fresh fish.

More:New team joins Savannah's charter businesses ready for big catches in Coastal Georgia waters

Just remember, that you'll need a Georgia fishing license to get started, which you can purchase online.

Frank O. Downing Fishing Pier

Cross the Moon River in style and set up shop at the Frank O. Downing Pier, which features excellent fishing, marsh views, and free parking on either side of the bridge.

The pier is located off the Diamond Causeway, which leads to Skidaway Island, and features a scenic panorama of the wide marshland, with epic sunsets and plenty of fish to keep you busy. For more information, visit the Chatham County parks and recreations page.

Bull River Marina

Located on Wilmington Island, Bull River Marina offers fishing, boat tours, and boat charters. They even tout the frequent dolphin sightings that guests experience on their boat rides.

And if you're just in it for a good time, you can book a Dafuskie Island Tour to take a look across the "wide water" to see the rich history of South Carolina's historic island up close. Visit bullrivermarina.com or call (912) 897-7300.

Southern Saltwater Charters

This full-service charter experience is guided by Captain Josiah Riffle, a USCG Certified Charter Captain with years of experience fishing local waters for redfish, trout, flounder, tripletail, sheepshead, sharks, and more.

Located minutes from downtown Savannah on Wilmington Island, Southern Saltwater Charters takes tourists and locals alike out for a fun day on the water and backwater tours. Visit southernsaltwatercharters.com or call (912) 661-4189.

Reel Em' N

Tybee Island is known for excellent year-round fishing conditions with its fair share of fishing piers, wade fishing spots, and deep-water charters. Reel Em’ N Deep Sea Fishing Charters is a deep-water charter service helmed by Captain Derek Brown who has fished the region for nearly two decades.

Each of Reel Em' N's vessels can accommodate up to 20 guests, for fishing or fun. Visit reelemn.com or call (912) 897-4990.

Tybee Beach Pier and Pavilion

For those who want to stay on land while they cast into the water, the Tybee Beach Pier and Pavilion is a popular spot for local and out of town fishers.

Built in 1891, the pier is located just off U.S. 80 at the end of Tybrisa Street, and is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily with free admission. The pavilion also features a snack bar, picnic tables, and public restrooms.

It's a great place to try your luck with a fishing pole, or just take in a beautiful sunset over the Atlantic.

Lazaretto Creek Fishing Pier

Located under the U.S. Highway 80 bridge that leads into Tybee Island, Lazaretto Creek Fishing Pier is a quaint park with a broad fishing pier facing CoCo's Sunset Grille, Savannah Jetski rentals, and North Island Surf and Kayak.

You can throw in a line and wait for a bite, as you wave to visitors leaving on dolphin tours or renting a kayak for a day to paddle around the island. There's also a boat ramp if you want to launch your own vessel to fish.

And when you're done, there's plenty of dining options available just over the bridge and minutes away on Tybee Island. Visit nps.gov/places/lcbr.htm.

Fort McAllister State Park

Overlooking the Ogeechee River, historic Fort McAllister offers more than its Civil War museum and earthwork fortifications. It also features two great fishing spots, one open to the public, another reserved just for campers at the state park. The park's pier is more than 150 feet long overlooking the river, with picnic pavilions, a playground for the kids, and even a boat ramp nearby.

Hang out on the pier and cast a line, or put a boat in and cruise the historic Ogeechee River.

Cost is $5 parking for the day, with admission ranging $5 to $9. The park open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with shorter hours for the historic site. Visit gastateparks.org/FortMcAllister or call (912) 727-2339.

Kings Ferry

Located further up the Ogeechee River from Fort McAllister, is Kings Ferry boat ramp and pier minutes from Georgetown. The park features a boat ramp, fishing pier, pavilions and tables, and a playground for the kids.

Post up on the pier to try your luck in the bustling Ogeechee River, and stay for the stunning river sunsets. And when you're done, Love's Seafood is right nearby, a favorite spot for locals to grab a bite of fresh Lowcountry seafood.

WILMINGTON ISLAND, GA (WTOC) - Some residents on Wilmington Island are seeing water bills from the City of Savannah as high as $400 or even above that.

Those residents want answers on why they are having to pay so much for water and sewer services.

A social media post involving over 50 people who live in the islands area is getting a conversation going all about this, and how much it is costing them.

But social media isn't the only place to compare bills. Tuesday, this group of neighbors on Deerwood Road met up in a state of disbelief. I spoke to the woman who took to the Wilmington Island Facebook page.

"Our bill has gone up from $145 to $265," said Stephanie Hiatt, a Wilmington Island resident.

Hiatt showed me her bill and others on her Facebook post showed what they are dealing with. You can see the difference in usage. We heard of one mother's reaction when her daughter received an over $300 bill.

"She went into sticker shock because her bill has doubled and she has been gone for three weeks out of the billing cycle," said Teresa Mickey, whose daughter lives on Wilmington Island. "Her father has been checking for leaks since he has been here once she got the bill yesterday, and can't find any leaks. There's not any reason why it should be up. Even checked the mean and there was no leakage there and nothing to indicate why it would go up so much."

People are not being shy when it comes to their feelings on the subject. Lorin Titus said hers went from $115 to $300.

Sheila Hawkins says $450 with quadrupled usage on Islandwood. Eric Smith says his last bill was $250 and now it's $470.

"We have called repeatedly. We were told we have leaks," Hiatt said.

Hiatt says they have checked for leaks and is convinced everything is fine. And just like this woman, Heather Hurst, they say nothing has changed in my house.

The cost of sewer services is also an issue of question for many residents, knowing for many people it costs more than water usage. Here is the breakdown on Wilmington Island, the base charge is $13.20, it costs $5.05 for 15 units or under and $5.62 for over 15 units of water used.

"We don't know what to do, they said they will help but you call them and they can't do anything, so please help us," said Debbie Craig, a Wilmington Island resident.

I sent eight different addresses where people say they are having problems to the Revenue Director on Tuesday. City of Savannah's spokesperson tells me the usage is historically high this time of year for those homes but they are investigating those who called.

You are urged to call 311 to report an issue.

It was standing room only at the Frank Murray Community Center on Whitemarsh Island Tuesday night, where residents living on the unincorporated islands east of the Wilmington River signaled they're ready to consider forming their own city.

The yeas far outnumbered the nays when organizers of the meeting called for a consensus vote on whether Oatland, Talahi, Whitemarsh and Wilmington islands should examine incorporation. Now, spokesmen for the four islands will petition their representatives in the Georgia Legislature to authorize some $30,000 in state funding next year to conduct a study into whether forming a city from these unincorporated Chatham County communities makes sense.

Organizer Dave Scheuerer, a resident of Wilmington Park, said there's a bit of a time crunch to get the islands' request to their delegation in the Georgia General Assembly. With the upcoming session starting in a little more than a week, he said, the petition has to be made soon if they want to begin the study next year.

Their informal vote Tuesday does not commit them to anything yet, stressed co-organizer Marianne Heimes, a Whitemarsh resident and regular columnist for the Savannah Morning News. It's simply to get the funding to determine what it would cost to create a city out of the four incorporated islands, she said, so they might gain control of their own destiny.

"If we don't find out what it costs we'll never know (if it's feasible)," Heimes told the hundred or so residents gathered at the community center. "The islands need to be more cohesive. We don't have anything bringing us together. And maybe this is a start."

Although it appeared that the bulk of the island residents who attended the day-after-Christmas meeting were in support of at least studying the idea of incorporation, not everyone in attendance thought the proposal was necessary. Some referred to a study conducted in the mid-1980s by resident Bobby Phillips as evidence that incorporation is too costly. One resident, Steve Aldrich, said the islands might do better under a consolidated Savannah-Chatham government - an idea that was swiftly drowned out by a chorus of "No!"

While he said he preferred the islands remain a part of unincorporated Chatham, District 3 County Commissioner Bobby Lockett, who represents a portion of Whitemarsh and Oatland islands, told those gathered Tuesday he'd support the communities' choice.

"Whatever you decide, I am going to advocate for that," Lockett said. "You're the citizens. I'm the servant."

The move to study the feasibility of incorporation on the four east Chatham islands comes just weeks after residents of Skidaway Island moved ahead with requesting a vote on city-hood. Residents of the Landings, South Harbor and other Skidaway communities have completed their own feasibility study, and they are requesting that the legislature provide for a referendum next year on whether the island should become Chatham County's ninth municipality.

Georgia Sen. Ben Watson, R-Savannah, and Rep. Jesse Petrea, R-Savannah, have indicated they're willing to support legislation that would allow for such a vote.

But the dean of Chatham County's legislative delegation, Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, said it makes more sense for communities in Georgia to come together as one, rather than to separate into multiple small towns.

Stephens said he'll be supporting legislation next year that gives cities and counties incentives to consolidate by giving those communities more leverage in local option sales tax negotiations.

"If the cities and counties merge services, saving taxpayer dollars, then they would get a weighted consideration before any of the other negotiations begin," Stephens said in a phone interview last week. "Let's get an incentive for some of those who save taxpayer dollars. That's at the top of my list."

The wreck happened on North Cromwell Road near Suffolk Road on Saturday night.

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WILMINGTON ISLAND, Ga. —

A Wilmington Island homeowner is raising concern about the safety of her road following a deadly wreck over the weekend.

The crash happened close to midnight on Saturday on North Cromwell Road near Suffolk Road.

"We heard really loud bang. It woke me up," said Kelly Hanrahan, who lives near the crash site.

Hanrahan said her husband went outside to figure out where the noise came from.

"He actually had to stop a lady and ask her to shine her headlights because he couldn't see, it was so dark over here," Hanrahan said.

Her husband finally found a car smashed up against a tree in their neighbor's yard.

"My husband was the first to call 911," she said.

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Hanrahan said she is heartbroken the driver, who was trapped, did not survive.

"It's super sad that it happened because, you know, for years my neighbors have been asking and trying to get resources to prevent this kind of thing from happening," she said.

Hanrahan said in her 8 years living on North Cromwell Road, she's witnessed more than 10 crashes. That's why she wants the county to take action and install safety measures like lighting, speed humps and signage.

"We have so many kids who play on the street and we love our neighborhood. We take good care of our neighborhood, but this is something that is beyond our control and we need help," she said.

A spokesperson for Chatham County told WJCL 22 News, "The Chatham County Department of Engineering has a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy in place. That policy aims to reduce speed, volume of cut-through traffic, make streets safer and improve the quality of life for County residents. Residents can submit an application for the Engineering Department to investigate traffic calming measures."

Hanrahan said she plans to submit that application.

"I think the neighbors were really on board with starting a petition to kind of, you know, get this rolling," she said.

Hanrahan said she just wants to see the county take action before another deadly wreck occurs.