🌱 Chatham Bank Employee Charged With Fraud + CCAS Free Adoption

Morning, Savannah! Here's everything you need to know to get this Tuesday started off right.

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First, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 55 Low: 36.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Savannah today:

1. A Chatham Co. bank employee was sentenced for $750,000 in fraudulent loans. Jason McMillan of Savannah was given a 10-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to bank fraud charges. The loans were taken out using someone else's identity, and the money was used to buy industrial farm equipment. (WTOC)
2. The Chatham County Animal Services (CCAS) is hosting a free pet adoption event until the end of January. If you adopt a dark-colored or heartworm-positive furry friend during the Give Paws a Chance event, they will waive the adoption fee. CCAS says adopters frequently pass up on these types of pets which leads to many of them being euthanized. (WSAV-TV)
3. An investigation is underway after four people were shot on Graydon Street in Savannah. One female was killed and the other victims had non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Police are still trying to identify any suspects. (WTOC)

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Doing a "Dry January" or just looking for a flavorful alternative to regular cocktails? Here's a suggestion: try a non-alcoholic drink from our partners at Betera. Created by an award-winning chef from natural botanicals, Betera's drinks come in 3 flavors — Ginger-Orange, Elderflower-Lime and Rhubarb-Hibiscus. We tried Ginger-Orange, and it was excellent — lightly effervescent, floral with a hint of bitterness and the sippability of a cocktail.

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Today in Savannah:

• Fire Instructor 1 - A Shift Day 1 - Chatham Fire and EMS Station #12 (8:00 AM)
• Chatham County Board Meeting - Bull Street Library (5:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Savannah Jewish Educational Alliance thanks Senator Ossoff for his phone call and statement on the security of SJEA Savannah area institutions. He stated, "This weekend's attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, has shaken the Jewish community in Georgia and nationwide. We join our fellow Americans of all faiths and ethnicities to defy hatred and deepen our commitments to tolerance, mutual respect, freedom of religion, and peaceful co-existence." (Facebook)
• Growing up surrounded by musical people, Martin Luther King Jr. recognized the power of music as an "instrument of change." In a piece written in recognition of the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival, King expressed the deep relationship between music and life. The Savannah Music Festival celebrated MLK Jr. Day with the triumph of music. (Instagram)
• The Savannah Stopover Music Festival recently announced the additions of Boyish, Quinn Christopherson, and Tall Tall Trees to their line-up! They'll be announcing local artists soon too. Get your tickets at savannahstopover.com. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday! I'll see you soon.

— Kayla Harrison

About me: Kayla Harrison is a Writing Arts professor, as well as a freelance writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. In her free time, you can find her listening to podcasts, writing poetry, and visiting local coffee shops.