Paula Deen makes offer for SuperGoose building.

SPORTS, 1B

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2008
SAVANNAHNOW.COM LIGHT OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
50 CENTS

SUGAR PLANT’S FUTURE VICTIMS OF EXPLOSION POSSIBLE CAUSE OF BLAST AERIAL FOOTAGE & UPDATES
Refinery to be rebuilt Families, friends mourn Volatile sugar dust suspected; Find video, slideshows and updates at
after damage assessed. 2A as remains are found. 3A graphic look at plant site. 4A savannahnow.com/news/explosion

4 DEAD, 4 MISSING
Fires continue to burn after blast turned sugar refinery into bomb site

Carl Elmore/Savannah Morning News

The Imperial Sugar Co. refinery, known to many here as Dixie Crystals or the Savannah Sugar Refinery, was heavily damaged by explosions and fire Thursday night. At least 32 were injured; 4 are still reported missing.

BY KENT W. COCKSON
912-652-0365
kent.cockson@savannahnow.com
The bodies of four workers
were found Friday in the rubble
of the Imperial Sugar Co. refinery,
and as least four others were still
unaccounted for when authorities
suspended their search just before
nightfall.
None of the dead or missing per-
sons have been identified.
The search was to resume today
for those missing after a silo at the
Port Wentworth refinery exploded
Thursday night. More than 100
second-shift workers were on the
job at the time.
The explosion set off fires that
continued to burn Friday, although
authorities said the fires were under INSIDE Families and
control. But the search for other • Port Wentworth Fire Chief friends comfort
victims and possible survivors was Greg Long’s hope for each other
difficult. finding survivors remains outside St. Jude
“The blast was so intense it rup- strong. “We’re going to find Hall behind Our
tured water lines that were intended somebody.” 5A Lady of Lourdes
to stop the fire,” said Sgt. Mike Wil- • The American Red Cross Catholic Church
son, spokesman for Savannah-Cha- saw a “big surge” of on Friday, the
tham police. “What’s complicating donations throughout the morning after
matters now is we have an area with day Friday. Find out how the explosion
8 feet of water. That’s a lot of water you can help. 5A and fire at the
to deal with when you are looking • As horrible as Thursday Imperial Sugar
for victims.” night’s catastrophe at the Co. refinery in
Wilson said that as of Friday sugar plant was, it could Port Wentworth.
afternoon, he knew of 32 people have been worse without
who had been treated for burns. the swift and overwhelming Steve Bisson/
Savannah
Memorial University Medical response by police, fire and Morning News
Center spokesman Michael Notrica other emergency workers
said 30 victims from the refinery who teamed up to get
victims to local and regional
SEE BLAST, PAGE 5A hospitals. 6A

INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER CONTACT US INDEX WEATHER

Feeling sad? Better keep your School H 72 L 42

Business 1F
The Market Summary as well as the Classifieds 1D, 1E
Dilbert cartoon on Page 2D in Friday’s Coastal Empire 1C

wallet closed. 1F board paper contained incorrect information.

Friday and today’s Dilbert cartoon are on
Comics 16-18G
Crossword 5D, 19G
Help Wanted 4D
Horoscope 16G

announces
Page 2F.
National and world news has
Lotteries 1C
Movies 15G
CORRECTIONS: If you spot an error of Nation 3C Drawing by

temporarily moved. 3C Teacher of fact, call Susan M. Catron, executive editor,

at 652-0327.
Obituaries
Opinion
4-5F
6-7A
Stocks/Market 2F
Haylie Ward, 8
Windsor Forest Elementary

the Year. 1C Sports

Vox Populi
1B
2G

Find 108 homes for sale. 3D FOR DELIVERY OR BILLING

PROBLEMS: Call 912-236-0271.
Weather
World
2A
3C 159TH YEAR, ISSUE 26
 Small basketball teams, big dreams. 1B
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2008
DEBRIS REMOVAL DIFFICULT
Engineers study structure. 9A
Today, we mourn
Fifth body found at sugar refinery blast site after heavy equipment arrives; three are still missing
Workers at the Imperial Sugar Co. refinery joined others at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Saturday to pay their respects to the victims of the blast Thursday that killed at least five refinery workers.
BY JOEL WEICKGENANT
912-652-0357
joel.weickgenant@savannahnow.com
C
innegar White repeated
three times, so that all
those gathered around
him could hear:
“I’m not lucky. I’m blessed.
More than blessed.”
INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER
Tasty, assembled,
family-sized meals
A couple of shops in the Savannah
area have taken the work out of
preparing healthy, tasty, family-
sized meals for dinner. And there’s
a second bonus to using these
meal-assembly centers: little or no
cleanup afterward.
ACCENT, 4F
THANK YOU, FIRST RESPONDERS.
St. Joseph’s/Candler proudly salutes the heroic efforts of our area first responders and emergency medical professionals.

SAVANNAHNOW.COM
CONCERN ENVELOPS TOWN
Plant was a major job source. 8A
On a night when Port
Wentworth Mayor Glenn Jones
delivered the news that a fifth
victim was found in the rubble at
the Imperial Sugar Co. refinery,
White counted himself blessed to
be among the refinery employees
gathered alongside other citizens
at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic
Church for a candlelight vigil.
A GRIND-IT-OUT COMPETITION
The campaign continues across three states. 6-7A
LIGHT OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
$1.25
POWELL DUFFRYN BLAST VIDEO, SLIDESHOWS, UPDATES
1995 explosion still haunts. 8A savannahnow.com/news/explosion
Chris Viola/The Florida Times-Union
More than 100 people crowded “What you saw here tonight
“What you saw here tonight is exactly what the front lawn of the church to is exactly what this city is about,
share prayers for the victims, this community is about,” Jones
this city is about, this community is about. … to sing hymns asking for God’s said after the service. “These
If they don’t have a relative in there working, guidance, and to offer hope for
the injured and for the three
people, if they don’t have a rela-
tive in there working, they know
they know someone in there working.” workers who remained missing. someone in there working. They
They came to mourn, but they rally around their community,
Port Wentworth Mayor Glenn Jones, after the vigil also turned out to share in the
blessings of a community. SEE VIGIL, PAGE 8A
CONTACT US INDEX WEATHER
Legal shark attack CORRECTIONS: If you spot an error
of fact, call Susan M. Catron, executive
Business
Classifieds
1D
1E
Coastal Empire 1C
H 73 L 37
Lawyers are trolling for clients after
Thursday’s explosion, writes Editorial
editor, at 652-0327. Comics
Crossword
Help Wanted
9-15E
23F
1E
Page Editor Tom Barton. 12A FOR DELIVERY OR BILLING Horoscope 22F
Lotteries 1C
PROBLEMS: Call 912-236-0271. Morning Break 22F
Movies 16F Drawing by
Answers on rebates Nation 3-7A Jerry Younsblood, 8
CLASSIFIEDS Obituaries
Opinion
5D
12A
Pooler Elementary
Questions and answers on the Sports 1B
Vox Populi 2F
federal rebate check coming under Weather 2A
the economic rescue plan. 1D With 531 jobs listed, you’ll find “the one.” 1E World 10-11, 14A 159TH YEAR, ISSUE 27
 WINEHOUSE, UNDERWOOD,
WEST TAKE HOME TROPHIES REPEAT PERFORMANCE
More about other Grammy winners. 2A Jimmie Johnson wins pole for Daytona 500. 1B

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2008
SAVANNAHNOW.COM LIGHT OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
50 CENTS

Four days after the explosion at the Imperial Sugar Co. refinery,
a community struggles with a slow search process and its unknowns

Families fall to their knees

Photos by Hunter McRae/Savannah Morning News

Members of the First Baptist Church in Port Wentworth who are hurting are invited to pray at the altar Sunday. The church served as a center Thursday night where some family members of victims waited for news.

SIXTH BODY RECOVERED BY DANA CLARK FELTY • 912-652-0311 • dana.felty@savannahnow.com

Two people are still missing

and presumed to be inside
the Imperial Sugar Co. mill
wreckage. Leaking sugar is
slowing recovery efforts. 4A
HOW TO HELP
• The Salvation Army,
3100 Montgomery St.,
can receive monetary
donations. For more
information, call 651-7420.
• The American Red Cross
at 25 Tibet Ave. is taking
blood donations. Call Denise
Register at 651-5350.
• Donate to the Southeastern
Firefighters’ Burn
Foundation, 3614 J. Dewey
Gray Circle, Bldg. C,
Augusta, GA 30909 or call
800-650-2876.
A
s search and recovery efforts
produced no news Sunday
on the two people still miss-
ing after the Imperial Sugar
Co. refinery explosion, many
Port Wentworth residents and visitors
spent much of the day in prayer.
The pews at the First Baptist Church
of Port Wentworth were nowhere
near full. But among the more than
150 people who came to worship were
many family members and employees
of Imperial Sugar.
Pastor Sam Self asked workers and
their families to stand, and nearly a
quarter of the congregation rose to
their feet.
“Here’s the question that’s going on
in a lot of people’s hearts and minds:
‘Where was God when all this stuff
transpired?’ ” Self said. “He was watch-
ing us, and he was loving us no matter
how tragic it got Thursday night.”
Three days after the explosion at
Imperial Sugar, some of the members
of Port Wentworth’s largest church
shed tears, held hands and occasion-
ally bowed in prayer together.
Many had spent the hours after
the explosion searching for relatives
or volunteering alongside emergency
workers. The church served as a center
Thursday night where some family
members of victims waited for news.
Volunteers took food, clothing, blan-
kets and water to the church.
“We had enough water in here to A lone bouquet of flowers rests on the Imperial Sugar Co. refinery
help the drought in north Georgia,” entrance sign Sunday. A sixth victim was recovered Sunday. Two people
Self said. “The longer I stayed between are still missing and presumed to be inside the mill wreckage.
that place and here, more and more
SEE FAMILIES, PAGE 4A

INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER CONTACT US INDEX WEATHER

Touch of youth CORRECTIONS: If you spot an error

Business 1C
H 65 L 43
A long time
Classifieds 5C
of fact, call Susan M. Catron, executive Coastal Empire 5A
Comics 8-10D
Young Savannah artists show off editor, at 652-0327. Crossword 6C

coming
their stuff in a new and colorful Help Wanted 5C
exhibit at Gallery S.P.A.C.E. 6D FOR DELIVERY OR BILLING Horoscope 8D
Lotteries 5A
PROBLEMS: Call 912-236-0271. Morning Break 8D
Retired businessman Henry Movies 5D Drawing by
Baker, 87, of Wilmington Island, On the job in uniform Nation 2, 4A Camilla Burg, 6

Classifieds
Obituaries 3C Marshpoint Elementary
recently was awarded the Opinion 6A
Distinguished Flying Cross — National Guard recruiter takes Sports 1B
Vox Populi 2D
six decades after he served as a pride in working with people. 1C Find 144 pets for sale today. 7C Weather 2A
pilot during World War II. 5A World 2A 159TH YEAR, ISSUE 28
 WATCH THE BIG NEW PORT CRANES
GO UNDER THE TALMADGE BRIDGE
2-2:30 P.M. TODAY.

OUR GRAPHIC SHOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. 1C

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2008
SAVANNAHNOW.COM LIGHT OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
50 CENTS

Sept. 11
Stubborn sugar fire
COASTAL EMPIRE

suspects Baby Aiden

face death
penalty
slows search efforts better, off
life support
Ten-month-old Aiden Wesley
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Waller, in the hospital for three
weeks, is slowly recovering from
WHAT HAPPENED
The Pentagon on Monday charged abuse allegedly inflicted upon
six Guantanamo Bay detainees with him by his mother, Tina Richards.
murder and war crimes for the Richards, currently being held
Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
in the Screven County Jail, is
Officials sought the death penalty
in the military tribunal case that pregnant with another child. 5A
has been clouded by revelations the
key suspect suffered interrogation
tactics that critics call torture. Celebrate history
THE TRIBUNAL Students are taking to the streets today
Officials plan to hold the trial in to take part in the Georgia Day Parade,
a specially constructed court at just one of the many events focused on
Guantanamo that will allow lawyers, celebrating the founding of the original
journalists and some others to be Georgia colony. 5A
present but will leave relatives of
victims and others to watch the trial
through closed-circuit broadcasts. CLASSIFIEDS
THE TIME FRAME
It could be months or longer before Need a new friend?
trials begin. With the appeals
process, it would likely be some time You can find 160 pets for sale at
before executions would be possible pets.savannahnow.com or in
if the accused are found guilty. today’s Classifieds ads. 9C

FIRST FOR TRIBUNALS

Officials said they’ll seek the SPORTS
death penalty and hope to try
all six together. That would
make it the first capital trial Hitting the court
under the terrorism-era military
tribunal system, set up by the With the Region 3-AAAAA Tournament
administration shortly after the set to get under way today, the Johnson
start of the counter-terror war. High Atomsmashers are ignoring
all the talk and focusing on winning
INSIDE each individual basketball game
A look at the suspects, the charges that paves the way to the state
and the tribunal procedure. 3A championship. 1B

CORRECTIONS

‘A dude The scores from the AT&T Pebble Beach

National Pro-AM on page 2B Monday

in the
were incorrect. The correct scores are on
page 2B today.

Savannah Country Day’s girls won the

right place’
Region 3-A regular-season basketball
title and have beaten rival Calvary three
Steve Bisson/Savannah Morning News times this season. The two teams could
A Chatham County helicopter drops 250 gallons of Savannah River water onto the sugar silos that are still burning at the Imperial meet in the Region 3-A Tournament
Savannah-based medic Sugar plant in Port Wentworth. championship game Saturday if the
Hornets win Friday and Calvary wins
focused on patients in Wednesday and Friday. An article on
rescue outside Baghdad New equipment called in; search dogs deployed SOME NAMES CONFIRMED
Names of nine victims currently
page 6B Monday contained incorrect
information.
at burn center. 8A
BY PAMELA E. WALCK BY ALDO NAHED minute and uses foam that can penetrate CORRECTIONS: If you spot an error
912-652-0363 912-652-0448 the walls of the silo to get chemicals COMPANY LOOKS TO REBUILD of fact, call Susan M. Catron, executive
pamela.walck@savannahnow.com aldo.nahed@savannahnow.com inside, said Port Wentworth Fire Chief Imperial Sugar’s president and CEO editor, at 652-0327.
Greg Long. said engineers are assessing what it
Staff Sgt. Paul McQuown hun- Parts of the Imperial Sugar Co. refin- Emergency workers at times were able will take to restart the plant. 8A FOR DELIVERY OR BILLING
kered down into the belly of the ery were still smoldering Monday, ham- to search parts of the plant with trained PROBLEMS: Call 912-236-0271.
armored combat pering efforts to find what are believed dogs Monday but made no other discov- TRAUMA
vehicle. to be the last two workers missing since eries since Sunday, when a sixth body Sen. Eric Johnson, R-Savannah, said
Rounds of an explosion rocked the plant Thursday was found in the debris. the refinery explosion provides a new INDEX WEATHER
enemy fire night. argument for funding of a statewide
ricocheted off the Firefighters used a helicopter through- Identifying victims trauma network. 9A
Stryker’s tough out the day to ferry water from the
Business
Classifieds
1C
9C H 72 L 55
exterior, making Savannah River to dump on the silos in Dr. James Downs, Georgia Bureau HOW TO HELP Coastal Empire 5A
Comics 8-10D
loud ping sounds. an effort to harden molten sugar, which of Investigation medical examiner, said Community aid opportunities for those Crossword 11D
But McQuown’s would allow rescuers to resume their the identification of the bodies will take affected by the blast include two blood Help Wanted 9C
only concern: the McQuown search. some time. drives set for today. 9A Horoscope 8D
Lotteries 5A
injured patients Today, Williams Fire and Hazard “We have to draw records from all over Movies 5D
loaded on his Black Hawk medevac Control, an industrial firefighting team the country to get the material that we COMPLETE COVERAGE Nation 2,3A Drawing by
helicopter waiting nearby. based out of Texas, will bring specialized need to do a comparison,” Downs said. See video of a helicopter dumping Obituaries 6-7C Kelly Adams, 9
Opinion 10-11A St. Andrew’s School
Ping. Ping. equipment designed to fight the silo fires “Our concern is with the family and water on the burning silos by Stocks/Market 2C
He knew he had to get out. at the plant, authorities announced. to make sure we do this right for clicking on Sugar Plant Blast at Sports 1B
Vox Populi 2D
The company has equipment that can savannahnow.com/news/ Weather 2A
SEE MEDIC, BACK PAGE pump up to 5,000 gallons of water each SEE FIRE, PAGE 8A explosion World 3,9A 159TH YEAR, ISSUE 29
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES
McCain, Obama win D.C.,
Maryland, Virginia. 8A
Want to know which candidate you match up with
best? Go to savannah.activote.com to find out.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2008
6 identified; no names yet
Fire officials, medical examiners refuse
to release names of victims in refinery blast
BY SCOTT M. LARSON
912-652-0397
scott.larson@savannahnow.com
The bodies of six victims in
the Imperial Sugar Co. refinery
blast have been positively identi-
fied, and two other families have
been notified their loved ones are
presumed dead, authorities coor-
dinating the search and recovery
effort announced Tuesday.
None of the names of the eight
were released by fire officials,
who said they met earlier in the
DA acted
improperly,
rape case
defendant
charges
Judge granted new trial
but said he was not
exonerating Douglas Echols
BY JAN SKUTCH
912-652-0336
jan.skutch@savannahnow.com
Douglas Echols never backed off
his claim of innocence in the 1986
kidnapping and rape of a Savannah
woman.
The case hung over his head for
16 years. A conviction in 1987 sent
him to prison, where he served
seven years.
When DNA
tests in 2001
seemed to clear
him, he was
granted a new
trial. Prosecutors
dropped charges
against him
instead. Echols
But when
Echols, through
then-State Rep.
Tom Bordeaux,
tried to get
$1.6 million in
compensation
from the state,
Chatham County
District Attorney Lawton
Spencer Lawton
Jr. intervened.
In a suit filed last week in U.S.
District Court in Savannah, Echols
contends Lawton interfered
improperly.
Lawton’s actions, performed “in
his apparent capacity as the Cha-
tham County District Attorney,”
were an unconstitutional interfer-
ence and a violation of his civil
rights, Echols contends.
His suit alleges Lawton sent
correspondence and e-mails to
state legislators contending Echols
SEE CASE, PAGE 7A
INSIDE
Chatham County Superior Court
Judge Michael Karpf’s 2002 ruling
and a timeline of the case. 7A
day with relatives of each of the
eight workers.
Port Wentworth Fire Chief Greg
Long said identities of the six bod-
ies were established through the
Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s
medical examiner’s office.
Dr. Jamie Downs, the Coastal
Regional medical examiner for the
GBI, on Tuesday night referred all
inquiries to the Chatham County
Coroner’s Office.
Sara Smith, deputy Chatham
SEE IDENTIFIED, PAGE 7A
‘THE PROMISE OF FUTURE GROWTH’
The cranes continue along the Savannah River after clearing the Talmadge Bridge on the way to the Georgia Ports on Tuesday.
Cranes, crowds arrive at port
BY MARY CARR MAYLE
912-652-0324
mary.mayle@savannahnow.com
In an industry where speed and
efficiency is the name of the game,
the country’s fastest-growing con-
tainer port is about to become one
of the nation’s fastest-operating
ports.
In a slow dance that was both
graceful and hair-raising, the
heavy-equipment carrier Swift
glided upriver Tuesday, its cargo
of four super post-Panamax
cranes reaching skyward like so
many giant tinker toys.
As the ship passed the Westin
and River Street, it began to slow
down, almost seeming to crouch
lower as pilots Forrest Dyar Jr. and
Billy Brown Jr. took the measure
of the Eugene Talmadge Memorial
Bridge, looming in front of them.
In what seemed like forever
— but was actually only about 10
minutes — the big cranes inched
under the bridge, clearing the span
SEE CRANES, PAGE 7A
AMAZING ACCESSORY
SCAD jewelry major Tim Stammen
a key player on basketball team. 1B

SAVANNAHNOW.COM LIGHT OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
50 CENTS
SPORTS
VICTIMS’ FAMILIES SPEAK
“I would love to hear his voice again, but I
Jenny Purnell,
wife of burn
know he needs to get through all this.” 6A patient Justin
Purnell, speaks
SILOS ARE STILL BURNING to the press
Industrial firefighting team joins battle about her
against stubborn molten sugar fire. 6A husband Tuesday
at Doctors
PRAYERS FOR INJURED WORKER
Friends await word on condition of victim
Hospital in
Augusta. Fifteen
Imperial Sugar
Uno is top dog
at Westminster
who has ‘a lot of heart.’ 6A
Co. employees
HELP COMES IN MANY FORMS injured in the
Augusta community rallies around explosion at the Uno lived up to his name Tuesday
Savannah families of victims. 7A refinery remain in night by becoming the first beagle to
critical condition; win best in show at the Westminster
ON THE WEB two are in serious Kennel Club. Uno was clearly the crowd
For the latest news on the fire at condition. favorite, and drew a standing ovation
Hunter McRae/
Imperial Sugar Co., go to savannah Savannah from the sold-out crowd at Madison
now.com/news/explosion. Morning News Square Garden when he was picked. 5B
COASTAL EMPIRE
Birthday blow-out
School children, re-enactors and other
celebrants filled downtown Savannah
on Tuesday as part of the Georgia
Day Parade, celebrating the 275th
anniversary of the founding of the
Georgia colony. 11A
ON THE WEB: Were you one of the
many participants and spectators
caught by our photographers at
the Georgia Day Parade? Check
spotted.savannahnow.com to find out.
CLASSIFIEDS
Change your life
There are 564 jobs available in
today’s Classifieds ads and at
Photos by Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News jobs.savannahnow.com. 6C
CONTACT US
CORRECTIONS
• Red Cross and Port Wentworth blood
drives are from noon to 7 p.m. today.
A story on page 9A in Tuesday’s paper
contained incorrect information. See
today’s 6A for details on the blood drives.
• Accion’s open house will be 11:30 a.m.
today at its new offices in the United
Way building, 428 Bull St. Incorrect
information appeared Tuesday on 1C.
If you spot an error of fact, call Susan M.
Catron, executive editor, at 652-0327.
FOR DELIVERY OR BILLING
PROBLEMS: Call 912-236-0271.
INDEX WEATHER
Business
Classifieds
1C
6C H 66 L 33
Coastal Empire 11A
Comics 8-10D
Crossword 9C, 11D
Help Wanted 6C
A large crowd watches and snaps photos as the ship carrying four super post-Panamax cranes to Horoscope 8D
Lotteries 11A
the Georgia Ports passes River Street on Tuesday afternoon. Movies 4D
Nation 2-5A, 8A Drawing by
Obituaries 4-5C Sharonne, Grade 3
Opinion 14-15A
ON THE WEB Stocks/Market 2C
Pulaski Elementary
To view video and look at dozens of photos of the Swift passing under Sports 1B
Vox Populi 2D
the Talmadge Bridge with its massive crane cargo on Tuesday, go to Weather 2A
savannahnow.com/news and click on the related image in the flash player. World 5A, 10A 159TH YEAR, ISSUE 30
 SWEET DIVERSIONS
George Jones in concert • Irish Festival • Elton John at civic center •
Thrifty and thoughtful Valentines • Dining at Troy • Section F
Terror king
killed by bomb
Who he was and what he’s done, BACK PAGE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2008
SAVANNAHNOW.COM LIGHT OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
50 CENTS

Local
4 families prepare
SPORTS

Beach tops Bradwell

lawmaker The sixth-seeded Beach High Bulldogs

moved off
to say goodbye
knocked off the third-seeded Bradwell
Institute Tigers in action at the Region
3-AAAAA tournament Wednesday. 1D

powerful Lock and load

A new indoor shooting range is helping

tax panel Funeral planning begins for Imperial Sugar victims, more on 4A
marksmen hone their skills when
conditions are too poor to practice
outside. 8D

State Rep. Burke Day EARL QUARTERMAN ERIC BARNES EARL JOHNSON BYRON SINGLETON EXCHANGE
asked to be shifted Age: 55, of Savannah Age: 56, of Savannah Age: 56, of Garden City Age: 26, of Ellabell
from Ways and Means Leaves behind: wife, 1 Leaves behind: wife, 1 Leaves behind: 1 son, 1 Leaves behind: 2 sons

Committee
BY LARRY PETERSON
912-652-0367
larry.peterson@savannahnow.com
When local lobbyists drop in at
the tax-law-writing state House
Ways and Means Committee, a
familiar face is missing.
Rep. Burke Day, R-Tybee Island,
has been reassigned from the pow-
erful panel to the Defense and Vet-
erans Affairs Committee.
Many political observers view
the move as a setback not only for
Day, a 13-year House veteran, but
also for Chatham County.
“That’s a major step down
in terms of prestige and influ-
ence,” said University of Georgia
political science professor Charles
Bullock.“When you’re on the com-
mittee where sausage is made,
people listen.”
Former state Rep. Tom Bor-
deaux agreed.
“Given that it’s such an impor-
tant committee,” the Savannah
Democrat said, “to lose a mem-
ber obviously loses clout for the
county.”
Regarded as an expert on
taxes, Day co-authored the 2000
Stephens-Day law, which saves
many local homeowners thou-
sands of dollars a year.
The committee is considering
several tax overhaul proposals. At
SEE DAY, PAGE 4A
son, 1 daughter
Worked 10 years at the
son, 1 daughter
Worked in: Bagging area
daughter, 4 brothers, 3
sisters
Worked as: Machine
operator
Checks on the way
refinery Worked in: Parking President Bush signed an economic
department stimulus package on Wednesday, which
means rebate checks from $300 to
$1,200 soon will make their way to
taxpayers’ wallets. 1B
CLASSIFIEDS
Both fins and fur
Find 166 pets for sale in today’s Classified
ads and on pets.savannahnow.com. 2E
NOTE TO READERS
During the next few weeks, you may
notice some changes in your newspaper.
We’re in the process of moving
much of our printing work to our newly
installed Man Roland Uniset press. While
everyone is striving to make a smooth
transition, we know there will be some
rough patches as press technicians
climb a steep learning curve on the new
technology. We may experience slightly
delayed delivery on some days, some
earlier deadlines for late sports and wider
margins on the news pages as we make
the transition between our Goss Metro
12.5-inch-wide and the new press’s
Carl Elmore/Savannah Morning News 11.5-inch wide pages.
Specialized firefighting equipment has been trucked in from North Carolina, Mississippi and Texas so that Williams Fire & Hazard By March 1, the new press should be
Control can pour about 5,000 gallons of water per minute on the molten sugar in a silo at the Imperial Sugar refinery. A Williams on line to print the daily paper most days
worker readies one of the giant pumps. of the week, along with Bluffton Today,
Hardeeville Today, Jasper County Sun,
Effingham Now, Bryan County Now,

STATE REP. BURKE DAY

Age: 53
Search continues 6 days after blast Hilton Head Today, Beaufort Today and
other publications.
We greatly appreciate your patience.

Home: Tybee Industrial fire specialists said Wednesday. INSIDE Julian Miller
Island Only one of the eight victims lost in the A local company has donated Publisher
District: 163 called in from Texas to put explosion remains in the wreckage. Rescu- $100K to refinery victims and
Party:
Republican
out molten sugar in silos ers announced Wednesday that the body of a
seventh victim was found late Tuesday.
their families. Find out how you
can help, too. 4A CONTACT US
Political BY ALDO NAHED The body was discovered amid debris in
experience: 912-652-0448 a breakroom located on the second floor of The state’s top judge offered
Elected to state aldo.nahed@savannahnow.com the plant. The identity of the seventh person a little legal advice Wednesday CORRECTION: A Morris News Service
House in 1994. Served on Tybee was not released. to any lawyers seeking clients story on page 12A Wednesday should not
Island City Council, 1991-93. While dodging collapses, search teams Officials have not released the identities of among the victims of last week’s have included a future Athens location
Occupation: Businessman, have managed to explore all but a small any of the workers who were killed or injured explosion at a Port Wentworth among the list of Medical College of
investor, author. portion of the Imperial Sugar Co. site sugar refinery: Watch your step. Georgia satellite campuses that will
Family: Wife, Sally; three sons involved in last week’s explosion, officials SEE SEARCH, PAGE 4A 4A be designated “clinical campuses.”
That label will only apply to campuses
in Savannah and Albany. If you spot
an error of fact, call Susan M. Catron,
executive editor, at 652-0327.

LOVE’S FIRST LOOK “I never

thought
FOR DELIVERY OR BILLING
PROBLEMS: Call 912-236-0271.

Soldier and his girlfriend meet for the first time as I would
fall for INDEX WEATHER
38th EOD returns from 15-month Iraq deployment
an Army
BY PAMELA E. WALCK and pointed to the back row.
guy.”
Business
Classifieds
1B
1E H 62 L 30
912-652-0363 That’s how Hill saw Staff Sgt. Tom Coastal Empire 1C
Comics 20-22F
pamela.walck@savannahnow.com Hennig for the first time — min- Trish Hill, Crossword 23F
utes before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, in who met her Help Wanted 1E
FORT STEWART — Trish Hill a dusty Fort Stewart gymnasium, boyfriend, Horoscope 20F
Lotteries 1C
nervously searched the faces of the after a five-month romance forged Staff Sgt. Tom
Movies 11-13F
40 soldiers standing before her, through the Internet, e-mails and Hennig, on Nation 2-3A Drawing by
MySpace.com Obituaries 3-5B Trevor Senter, 8
looking for the one whose framed phone calls. and saw him Opinion 6-7A St. Andrew’s School
image sits on her desk back home Hill wiped a tear from her cheek face to face for Stocks/Market 2B
Lewis Levine/For the Savannah Morning News in Manhattan, Kan. as she fixed her gaze on Hennig, Sports 1D
the first time
Vox Populi 2F
Staff Sgt. Tom Hennig meets Trish Hill for the first time after his return from Newfound friend and Army wife Tuesday at
Weather 2A
Iraq on Tuesday night in Newman Gym at Fort Stewart. Kim Sanders clutched Hill’s arm SEE RETURN, PAGE 5A Fort Stewart World 5A, 8A 159TH YEAR, ISSUE 31
 Rx for restoration
Partners to renovate Kennedy Pharmacy, 6E
DAYTONA DUELS
Junior, Hamlin claim front-row positions in Sunday’s race, 1C

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2008
SAVANNAHNOW.COM LIGHT OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
50 CENTS

Flu bug
SEVEN VICTIMS IDENTIFIED, PLUS ANOTHER LIFE LOST COASTAL EMPIRE
One week after an
explosion at the Tax break coming?
biting in
Imperial Sugar Co.
refinery, one of the Gov. Sonny Perdue’s plan to erase the
17 injured refinery state portion of property taxes has sailed
workers treated in through the state Senate. 1B

Georgia
Augusta has died.

KELLY FIELDS
Age: 40, of Rincon
ERIC
BARNES
TRUITT
BYERS
EARL
JOHNSON
BYRON
SINGLETON
EARL
QUARTERMAN
MIKE
WILLIAMS
Full of love
Leaves behind: A wife 56, of Savannah 54, of Savannah 56, of Savannah 26, of Ellabell 55, of Savannah 55, of Savannah Valentine’s Day is a day of love, and
and 2 stepchildren Leaves behind: Leaves behind: Leaves behind: Leaves behind: Leaves behind: several couples used the occasion
Few cases reported He was working at
the refinery Thursday
wife, 1 son,
1 daughter
wife, 2 children
Worked as
1 son, 1 daughter,
4 brothers,
2 sons
Worked as a
wife, 1 son,
1 daughter
to pledge themselves to each other
eternally. 1B
in Chatham County as a contract
supervisor for Kirby
Worked in the
bagging area
an operator
mechanic
3 sisters
Worked in
machine operator Worked at the
refinery for 10
Enterprises. packaging dept. years
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS OUTER SPACE

Ninth blast victim dies;

There’s sniffling, sneezing, cough-
ing and no doubt a little aching.
Put them all together and one
Satellite nearing Earth
thing rings true: It’s flu season again The Pentagon is devising a plan to shoot
in Georgia. down a broken spy satellite before it
The Centers for Disease Control crashes into the Earth. 2A

Imperial Sugar fire out

and Prevention has labeled flu activ-
ity as “widespread” in Georgia. This
means people across the state are SPORTS
reporting f lu-like illness to their
doctors or at emergency rooms.
“The virus has spread statewide,
which means we need to be espe-
cially careful to stop the spread
of germs,” said Dr. Diane Weems,
chief medical officer of the Chatham
County Health Department.
But some Chatham physicians
aren’t yet seeing a high number of
flu symptoms.
Michael Notrica, spokesman
for Memorial University Medical
Center, said the hospital’s director

SEE FLU, PAGE 7A

Hit the mat

Gunman kills Wrestling may not be the most popular
sport at all area high schools, but those
that are picking up the program are
5, himself at beginning to find success. 1C

N. Illinois Univ. EXCHANGE

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DEKALB, Ill. — A former student

dressed in black opened fire with a
shotgun and two handguns from the
stage of a lecture hall at Northern Illi-
nois University on Thursday, killing
five students and injuring 16 others
before committing suicide, authori-
ties said.
The gunman fatally shot four
women and a man in a “brief, rapid-
fire assault” that sent terrified stu-
dents running for cover, university
President John Peters said. Four died
at the scene, including the gunman,
and the other two died at a hospital,
he said. Two victims were in critical
condition.
Investigators did not know what led
the gunman, a former NIU graduate
student in sociology, to spray bullets
SEE GUNMAN, PAGE 7A
A delicate trip
How exactly did the new Georgia Ports
Authority cranes make their journey from
China to Savannah without tipping over
Hunter McRae/Savannah Morning News and falling into the ocean? Columnist
Rosanne Maennche and her children Jaydon, 7, and Jackson, 9, visit the entrance to the Imperial Sugar Co. on Thursday for the first Mary Carr Mayle explains it all. 1D
time since the explosion. Rosanne’s husband and the father of their children, Kerry, is an employee of the company and was working
during the time of the explosion. He was not injured.
CLASSIFIEDS
Augusta burn patient among deceased Previously unreachable sections now Get crankin’
searchable after fire is extinguished
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS discovered burns extending into There are 108 vehicles for sale in today’s
his muscles. BY MICHAEL ATKINS Classified ads. 7D
One of the 17 injured Imperial Fields’ sister-in-law, Casey 912-652-0360
Sugar Co. refinery workers treated Fields of Springfield, said earlier michael.atkins@savannahnow.com
in Augusta has died, bringing the this week the family gathered in CONTACT US
total number of deceased to nine. Augusta on Tuesday after Kelly The last smoldering sections of the Imperial Sugar
Eight workers were killed in the Fields’s blood pressure began to Co. refinery were extinguished Thursday, one week
explosion. Seven of their bodies drop. Doctors told them he likely after an explosion killed at least nine workers at the CORRECTIONS: If you spot an error
have been found and crews con- wouldn’t survive the night. plant. of fact, call Susan M. Catron, executive
tinue to search for the remaining “We were told he was probably Rescue crews are cutting through rubble with editor, at 652-0327.
victim. not going to make it,” Casey said. torches to get to the last unexplored section of the
Kelly Fields, 40, suffered third- “But he did.” blast site. FOR DELIVERY OR BILLING
degree burns on more than 80 per- Franklin, who is Casey Fields’ The bodies of seven workers have been pulled from PROBLEMS: Call 912-236-0271.
cent of his body. He was rushed uncle, said the family planned to the wreckage. Kelly Fields, who was injured in the

Ga. soldier to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center

in Augusta immediately after the
have the funeral in Dalton, Kelly
Fields’ hometown.
Feb. 7 explosion and sent for treatment at the Joseph
M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, died Thursday. INDEX WEATHER
killed in Iraq
Feb. 7 explosion at the refinery. Kelly Fields was working at the One worker remained missing Thursday.
Fields died at 2:14 a.m. Thurs- refinery as a contract supervisor “Debris removal has been difficult, but we’re
day, said Beth Frits, spokeswoman for Kirby Enterprises. going to continue operations for as long as it takes
Business
Classifieds
1D
7D H 70 L 41
for the burn center. He enjoyed water skiing, snow to bring this to a conclusion,” Port Wentworth Fire Coastal Empire 1B
Comics 8-10E
Sgt. Corey E. Spates, 21, of Wayne Franklin, a friend of the skiing, trout fishing and “anything Chief Greg Long said. Crossword 9D
LaGrange, died Feb. 10 in Diyala family, said relatives learned this Help Wanted 7D
Province, Iraq, of wounds week that doctors treating Fields SEE VICTIMS, PAGE 7A SEE FIRE, PAGE 6A Horoscope 8E
Lotteries 1B
suffered when his vehicle Movies 5E
encountered a roadside bomb. Nation 2-3, 8, 12A Drawing by
He was assigned to the 2nd INSIDE ON THE WEB Obituaries 3-6D Mary Eldridge, 8
Opinion 10A Windsor Forest Elementary
Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Claims to get special service ‘Parachuting lawyers’ decried Listen to 911 calls For more coverage, go Stocks/Market 2D
Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. Insurance commissioner says Lawyers trying to recruit from the night of the to savannahnow.com/ Sports 1C
Vox Populi 2E
— The Associated Press he will expedite claims by the victims’ family members as refinery explosion. news/explosion. Weather 2A
families of blast victims. 7A clients raise attention. 6A World 4-5A 159TH YEAR, ISSUE 32

Data Central Find Property Transfers, Crime Reports and more on Data Central
at savannahnow.com/know. Then, click on the "News" button.
 ST. PAT’S VENDORS BEWARE
Officials say follow the rules or lose your wares, 1E
In Coastal: Irish Festival kicks off three-day Celtic celebration, 1B

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2008
SAVANNAHNOW.COM LIGHT OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
50 CENTS

Last blast victim found

SPORTS

INSIDE
Help for the
Investigators say deadly
helpers: First incident was caused by
responders can
mentally brace for ‘dust-fuel air explosion’
the tasks before
them, rehearsing in
in basement under silos
their minds what
years of practice BY ALDO NAHED
and training have 912-652-0448
turned into muscle aldo.nahed@savannahnow.com
memory. But what
happens when Eight days after an explosion
the accident is rocked the Imperial Sugar Co.
catastrophic? 5A refinery and the Port Wentworth
community around it, emergency
‘We don’t think
officials stood before microphones
of ourselves as
heroes’: Port and television cameras probably Johnson boys, SCD girls
for the last time.
Wentworth
firefighters find Port Wentworth Fire Chief Greg among winners Friday
support in a Long announced Friday that the
regional response eighth and final victim had been Second-seeded Johnson crushed Beach
to the refinery found in what remained of a break 70-38 and top-seeded Savannah High
explosion. 5A room of the refinery, where a mas- beat Groves 78-63 to move into today’s
sive explosion, blamed on a cloud Region 3-AAAAA basketball tournament
Tougher dust of sugar dust that mysteriously final at Savannah State. In the girls
rules sought:
detonated, occurred the night Region 3-A tournament semifinals,
State Rep. Bob
Bryant says
of Feb. 7. Savannah Country Day and Calvary
overhauled And while Long declined to dis- advanced to today’s title game in Twin
regulations might close the victim’s name at a 5 p.m. City. Other winners included Savannah
prevent explosions news briefing, Savannah-Cha- Christian’s girls, above. 1F, 4-6F
like the one at tham police late Friday released
Imperial Sugar last the man’s identity — Tony Thomas
week. 5A of Garden City — and added his EXCHANGE
SEE BLAST, PAGE 4A
ON THE WEB
Listen
Digital TV a year away
to 10
minutes
of 911
Sugar families, Hispanics are most at risk of losing
access to TV viewing when, on Feb. 17,

workers unite
2009, major U.S. television stations will
calls to the
Savannah- stop broadcasting analog signals and will
send only digital transmissions, which
in prayer,
Chatham police
department on take up less airspace. 1E
the day of the
sugar refinery
explosion. Go to
savannahnow.
solidarity WAR IN IRAQ
com/news/ BY ALDO NAHED
explosion to
listen.
912-652-0448
aldo.nahed@savannahnow.com
Delay cost lives in Iraq
Hundreds of U.S. Marines were
We invite
Debbie Cox wants to comfort unnecessarily killed or injured by
you to
share
the burn victims and their families roadside bombs in Iraq because Marine
condolences who are at the Augusta burn center Corps bureaucrats refused an urgent
for those who — the best way she can. request in 2005 from battlefield
died in the So Friday morning, she put commanders for blast-resistant vehicles,
sugar refinery together more than a dozen little an internal military study concludes. 3A
explosion in Port blue-and-white throws. At a private
Wentworth. Go to meeting involving Imperial Sugar
savannahnow. Co. workers, their families and state CLASSIFIEDS
com/news/ and local representatives, Cox laid Carl Elmore/Savannah Morning News
explosion to sign the quilted throws out on the gym Debbie Cox made quilts for those severely injured in last week’s Imperial Sugar refinery explosion and fire. The quilts
the guest book. floor and had everybody sign them
with various colored markers.
were signed by employees who attended a meeting Friday in Port Wentworth. Pets for sale
“They need something from Puppy breath and kitty kisses! Find 77
COMING home,” said Cox, whose husband pets for sale in today’s Classifieds. 6C
has worked at the sugar refinery FOUR FUNERALS SET FOR TODAY 2550 West 15th St. in Hinesville.
SUNDAY
The Imperial Sugar for 31 years. “They need to feel the • Truitt E. Byers, 54. Services: 11 a.m. at Immanuel • Byron R. Singleton, 26. Services: 11 a.m. at First
refinery explosion love and prayers of their families Baptist Church, 7375 Hodgson Memorial Drive. Baptist Church of Pembroke, 169 Church St. in CONTACT US
has many folks here.” • Earl Bernard Quarterman Sr., 55. Services: 11 a.m. Pembroke.
speculating how Cox, of Guyton, decided at 9 a.m. at Temple of Glory Community Church, 1105 Stiles Two of the families have granted permission to the
it will impact the Friday to put the blankets together. Avenue. Savannah Morning News to attend the funerals of CORRECTIONS: If you spot an error
industry. • Shelathia V. Harvey, 31. Services: 1 p.m. in the their loved ones. Look for those articles in Sunday’s of fact, call Susan M. Catron, executive
In Exchange SEE FAMILIES, PAGE 5A gymnasium at Waldo-Pafford Elementary School, edition. editor, at 652-0327.

FOR DELIVERY OR BILLING

PROBLEMS: Call 912-236-0271.

Bill prods school systems for budget deficit alerts INDEX WEATHER

Measure would give
superintendents three
days to tell taxpayers
when books go into red
MORRIS NEWS SERVICE
ATLANTA — School boards
know when they’re losing money, ment after learning of financial
and so will taxpayers if a new struggles within the school board
House bill passes. in Twiggs County, which he rep- a time period which could go past county or municipality in which
Business
Classifieds
1E
1C H 70 L 50
House Bill 962, introduced by resents. school board elections, Freeman the local school system is located Coastal Empire 1B
Rep. Allen Freeman, R-Macon, Local school systems should said. “I want it so as soon as the once a week for two consecutive
Comics
Crossword
16G
19G
will require that school super-
intendents, upon learning of any
give citizens earlier warnings,
Freeman said, so that they have
system knows, the public knows,”
he said.
weeks.”
Freeman plans on placing an
Help Wanted
Horoscope
4C
16G
budget deficits or irregularities, enough time to vote against Where budget problems arise, amendment in the bill that allows
Lotteries
Movies
1B
15G
will have three business days to school board members who run House Bill 962 requires that the school board to place the ads Nation 3A, 10A Drawing by
Obituaries 4-5E Maya Jenkins, 8
place ads in newspapers notifying deficits or otherwise mismanage the school superintendent and in the local legal organ, instead Opinion 8-9A Heard Elementary
the public. money. the local board chairman place of the largest-circulation paper, if Stocks/Market 2E
Freeman created the require- It now might take months for notices of the budget problems the board so chooses, he said. Sports 1F
Vox Populi 2G
the public to learn of a school “in a newspaper having the The House has not yet voted Weather 2A
board’s money mismanagement, largest general circulation in the on the bill. World 3A 159TH YEAR, ISSUE 33
REGION CHAMPIONS: Atomsmashers, Red Raiders, Hornets & Bulldogs win. SPORTS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2008
SAVANNAHNOW.COM LIGHT OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE
$1.25

COASTAL EMPIRE
“The next few days are going to be very sad for everybody.”
Keith Jones, a mechanic at the Imperial Sugar Co. refinery

Irish whoop it up
More than 2,000 people converge on the
Savannah Civic Center to celebrate Irish
tradition, food and refreshments as the
season of St. Patrick gets under way. 1C

NATION

Illegal drag race deadly

Eight people are killed and at least five
others are injured when a driver strikes
roadside spectators during a high-speed
race in suburban Maryland. 3A

SPORTS

Revving up at Daytona
Tony Stewart runs away with the Nation-
wide Series’ Camping World 300, but the
big NASCAR race is today’s Sprint Cup
Carl Elmore/Savannah Morning News season opener: the Daytona 500. 1, 3B
Grieving family members and friends arrive at the Temple of Glory Community Church for the funeral of Earl Quarterman Sr., a victim of the Imperial Sugar refinery explosion.

ACCENT

Rites begin for blast victims

Plant worker Truitt Byers
was a fun-loving man with
a bounce in his walk
BY RUSS BYNUM
The Associated Press
Hundreds of mourners filled church
pews Saturday to remember four Impe-
rial Sugar Co. workers killed in a massive
refinery explosion as funerals began for
the dead who were pulled from burning
buildings and piles of collapsed rubble.
The first memorial services came a
day after crews recovered the final body
— that of Tony Thomas, 50, of Garden
City — of the eight people who were killed
Feb. 7 inside the refinery in Port Went-
worth west of Savannah. A ninth worker
— Michael Kelly Fields, 40, of Rincon
— died from severe burns at an Augusta
hospital.
“The next few days are going to be very
sad for everybody,” Keith Jones, a refinery
mechanic, said Saturday as he left the
funeral for Truitt Byers, a co-worker.
In westside Savannah, services for
SEE BYERS, PAGE 6A
Ayano Hisa/Savannah Morning News
The funeral of Truitt E. Byers, one of the victims of the sugar refinery
blast, took place Saturday at Immanuel Baptist Church.
LAST VICTIM IDENTIFIED
Tony Thomas, 50, of Garden City. Leaves behind a wife,
Becky, one son, one daughter. Worked as a packaging
superintendent. Read more, 6A
ALSO INSIDE
• Imperial Sugar Co. refinery produced 9 percent of the
nation’s sugar. Its absence might affect the U.S. market. 1D
• Two families closely tied to the plant give $250,000. 6A
Thomas • BBQ to benefit refinery victims, families. 6A
Employee Earl Quarterman Sr.
was a proud father and
husband, sports fan
Profitable cleanup
BY DANA CLARK FELTY
912-652-0311 • dana.felty@savannahnow.com Consignment stores have evolved into the
savvy solution for people with unwanted
Minister Vernon Quarterman remem- clothes that deserve a second life, and
bered his uncle as a man who easily those who clean out their closets can
expressed his love and praise for others. generate a little jingle in the process. 4F
After a relative’s recent funeral, Earl
Quarterman Sr. rushed to the young pas-
tor to tell him how much his preaching CLASSIFIEDS
had improved.
“He made me feel like T.D. Jakes,” Ver-
non Quarterman said.
On Saturday morning, Vernon
Job hunting?
Quarterman recalled that joyful spirit We’ve got hundreds of jobs online and in
through a celebratory “home-going print today — 554 to be exact, including
service” for his uncle, marked with organ the one that could change your life. 1E
and choir music, clapping and smiles,
praise and worship. “The way I remem-
ber Earl, the good times we had, that’s CORRECTION
what we’re going to have today,” Vernon
Quarterman said. “We’re going to give
praise for the times we had to share with The Jenkins County High School Eagles
Earl Quarterman.” were misidentified Saturday in a headline
on page 1F.
SEE QUARTERMAN, PAGE 6A
CORRECTIONS: If you spot an error
of fact, call Susan M. Catron, executive
editor, at 652-0327.

Ebenezer’s ancient cypress trees fall

FOR DELIVERY OR BILLING
PROBLEMS: Call 912-236-0271.

INDEX WEATHER
1,000-year-old trees have been a saw, at least once a minute,” he said. Stacey
Kronquest, of
The canoeists headed downstream from
documented in an area where Tommy Long Landing, toward a patch of espe- the Savannah Business
Classifieds
1D
1E H 70 L 50
Riverkeeper,
landowners are free to clear-cut cially tall cypress and tupelo trees that typically
sit in water as high as a man’s head. and Southwings
Coastal Empire 1C
Comics 9-15F
Crossword 23F
“It’s such a magical place,” said O’Brien, pilot Hume Help Wanted 1E
BY MARY LANDERS who has been paddling on the Ebenezer for Davenport look Horoscope 22F
912-652-0337 • mary.landers@savannahnow.com 30 years. over a map Lotteries 1C
Morning Break 22F
“The light is green, and there’s a reflection before flying Movies 16F Drawing by
Easing his canoe through the still, black off the water of the tree canopy. It’s almost to document Nation 2-4, 7A Rico Deal, 8
Obituaries 6-7D
waters of Ebenezer Creek with a friend just surreal.” logging from Opinion 8-9A
Pulaski Elementary

before Christmas, Pat O’Brien heard an unfa- At that spot, high and dry from lack of rain, the air. Sports 1B
Carl Elmore/ Vox Populi 2F
miliar sound. Savannah Weather 2A
“We were just paddling and we kept hearing SEE CYPRESS, PAGE 4A Morning News World 4, 10A 159TH YEAR, ISSUE 34

FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY ASSET

St. Joseph’s/Candler provided nearly $47.5 million in total community assistance in 2007.