🌱 Savannah-Chatham Day + Gable St. House Fire + COVID Fraud Case

Good day, people of Savannah! It's me again, Kayla Harrison, your host of the Savannah Daily.

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First, today's weather:

Cooler with partial sunshine. High: 56 Low: 38.

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Here are the top three stories today in Savannah:

1. On Thursday, Savannah leaders and state lawmakers came together to discuss local issues for the annual Savannah-Chatham Day in Atlanta. The City of Savannah spoke with Georgia leaders regarding several local challenges, including affordable housing, infrastructure funds, and multiple bills. Said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, "We have to let our general assembly know that Savannah matters, Chatham matters, the coast matters — and we have needs in which we need their attention." (WJCL News Savannah)
2. An overnight blaze in the Savannah Gardens neighborhood displaced five people from their residence on Friday. Savannah fire crews were dispatched to a single-story home on Gable Street, where they found heavy smoke and flames in the back. Though five people were displaced, no injuries have been reported. (WJCL News Savannah)
3. A Savannah man and two attorneys have been indicted with multiple charges in a COVID relief fraud case. Courtney Gilchrist and Kenneth Jackson of Savannah, as well as Shaquandra Woods of Florida, "sought and collectively received hundreds of thousands of dollars in relief payments by making false and fraudulent representations to the Small Business Administration (SBA)." The collective charges carry up to 30 years in federal prison as well as significant financial penalties and restitution. (WSAV-TV)

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Today in Savannah:

• Colonial Faire & Muster - Wormsloe Historic Site (9:00 AM)
• Teen Cosplay Hacks - Carnegie Library (3:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• The Savannah History Museum will be closed to the public this Sunday, Feb. 6. Regular operating hours will resume on Monday, Feb. 7. (Facebook)
• Take a sneak peek inside Savannah's namesake U.S. Navy ship before this weekend's commissioning ceremony. (WTOC)
• A comedy show honoring the late Robin Williams is headed to Savannah next weekend. (WTOC)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— 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.