(WGXA) – — A lakefront neighborhood in Hancock County can't seem to get the help they need to fix a stretch of road filled with potholes Residents WGXA spoke to Tuesday afternoon said there's been a back-and-forth between the county and Georgia Power for who owns stretches of land on Lake Sinclair Dr "It's horrible," avid motorcyclist and new resident Roderick Vaughn told WGXA "Rain washes it all and it just gets very saturated.. Residents confirmed with WGXA that they pay lease fees to Georgia Power in addition to taxes they pay to the county no matter where you live in Hancock County our taxes aren't being used for anything we can see," she said She moved there from Florida three years and loves the lakefront property she has "It's just so quiet," Touchton said What she doesn't love is the route she has to take in and out of her house on a stretch of Lake Sinclair Dr The poor road conditions aren't a new issue who's lived in this development for over 25 years "Georgia Power came in here about ten years ago now," Wilson said "They paved this section of road - and these big trucks coming in he's concerned about ambulances being able to get to his house safely if something were to happen It's still unclear whether it's up to Georgia Power or the county to be responsible for repairs The station reached out to the county manager in Hancock County but have not received a response Georgia Power's media team also sent us a brief statement Tuesday evening Chris Eckert also lives in East Lake Sinclair and worked at Georgia Power and the Southern Company in the past He says if no investment is made into the community "Somebody who comes back there and goes and takes a look at this $700,000 home with one of the most beautiful views on the whole lake and sees a road coming in and out is going to say do I really want to buy a house like this,'" Eckert told WGXA via phone One day it may not be passable for months." He commends the efforts of ground crews doing their part to better the areas they work in but had a theory on why there may not be any progress "This is not a high priority because it doesn't make [Georgia Power] a lot of money," he said." "[Ground crews] say 'yeah we can't do anything because management's got to make a decision." We will update our website as we learn more information about who maintains the roads In some of Chattanooga's lowest-income neighborhoods rocketing property values are a sign of the times East Lake and Alton Park both saw home values more than double as a result of this year's county reappraisals development and the future of the region for the Chattanooga Times Free Press She joined the paper as a reporter covering crime and local news in October 2022 and previously covered crime and local government for the Casper Star-Tribune in Wyoming She holds a degree in communication from Boston College This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing Fla — The body of a missing three-year-old boy was recovered in a pond after a law enforcement search near East Lake Road in Palm Harbor Pinellas County Sheriff (PCSO) said they were called to search for a missing three-year-old boy on Sunday around 4:25 p.m PCSO said the missing child was autistic and non-verbal and the mother and father are hearing impaired The parents thought the boy was playing with an older brother inside the apartment but the three-year-old had somehow gotten out of the residence "Mom and dad told us they were watching TV He did not hear anything suspicious and then realized he was gone," said Chief Deputy David Danzig with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Search crews used K9s and a helicopter to search for the child and recovered his body in the pond a short time later Deputy Danzig said the pond was located fairly close to the family's apartment "It looks like from the Ring doorbell camera that he exited the location caught him on another Ring doorbell camera walking to the south and heading towards the pond," said Chief Danzig Chief Danzig said it appeared it was an accidental drowning President of the Autism Society of Florida said children with autism are drawn to the water and they're 160 times more likely to drown compared to their neurotypical peers They don't really think that mom and dad may be concerned about where they're going They're going to go to what they're interested in and kids with autism are very interested in water," said Hoaglund WATCH: Body of missing three-year-old boy recovered after search of pond near East Lake Road in Palm Harbor: PCSO "He can’t go into a pool that’s got 20-30 children in it often times our kids need to have a much quieter environment when you’re getting swimming lessons and there’s not a lot of swim instructors that really understand how to teach kids with autism how to swim so we also do that we train water safety instructors," said Hoaglund Hoaglund stresses drowning is silent and may happen within seconds "I know some incredible parents who lost their children You can’t possibly keep your eye on your kid all the time More information can be found at this link and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Latest Pinellas County News from ABC Action News Report a typo Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Firefighters in Birmingham worked Tuesday morning to put out a structure fire in the East Lake community According to Birmingham Fire and Rescue officials for a one-story structure fire on 2nd Avenue South at 82nd Street South Heavy fire was showing from the front of the building when crews arrived They were able to get the fire under control in about 30 minutes but it’s unsure if any businesses were currently in the building No injuries were reported as a result of the fire Officials are investigating the cause of the fire Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here The proposed changes to the Tour Championship, discussed at last week’s Player Advisory Council meeting, will be put to a vote in the coming weeks, according to Golfweek The most notable proposed change is the elimination of the “starting strokes” system, which has been the focal point of controversy over the past few years. The system was introduced in 2019, in which the leaders of the FedEx Cup race receive a head start to reward their performance up to that point of the season. Adam Scott, who's part of the PGA Tour policy board, told Golfweek that removing the starting strokes system is a point of emphasis. “I hope so. I think everybody involved wants that to be the case,” Scott said. Sam Burns, who is part of the competition committee, agreed with the Australian. “Right now, it’s a bit confusing for fans to have a tournament where we start even all year and then in our biggest tournament of the year, there are starting strokes. There’s a bit of a disconnect," he said. The new format will also steer clear of a match-play or bracket-style structure, which has been a popular suggestion from fans. Instead, the Tour Championship would remain a stroke-play event, with the field potentially being cut down to 16, 8 and then 4 on Sunday. The vote, which is expected to take place soon, will finalize the format and begin a new era of the Tour Championship. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER One of Leland's largest communities continues to grow Phase five of the East Lake housing development is being reviewed by Leland’s technical review committee The project will bring hundreds of single-family homes to the Malmo area near Compass Pointe but is just a small sliver of the master-planned community Stay informed: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the StarNews app East Lake’s fifth phase includes 346 single-family homes along East Lake Boulevard southeast of Malmo Loop Road The 129-acre site is currently vacant and is largely zoned for medium-density residential development The minimum lot size for units in the phase is 5,040 square feet slightly below East Lake’s average lot size of 5,800 square feet The project will have a density of 2.68 units per acre Previous coverage: This 2,000-acre development could join Compass Pointe near busy Leland area intersection The subdivision will include a pool and sports courts Nearly 11 acres of open space will be provided which is more than double what is required by the zoning district Over 600 acres of wetlands are present across the property STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the area’s latest Brunswick County news by signing up for the Brunswick Today newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram How does East Lake compare to Brunswick Forest?When the project is finished the East Lake development will have 3,925 single family lots 693 townhomes and 300 multifamily units across 2,114 acres The development is slightly smaller than Brunswick Forest which is slated to bring a total of 5,443 homes to Leland upon completion with Brunswick Forest’s homes spanning more than 4,500 acres A full build-out was initially projected for 2032 but a lengthy approval process likely pushed the completion date back the community is expected to generate more than 32,700 vehicle trips per weekday 74/76 will be over or near capacity by the time East Lake is complete Malmo Loop Road is also projected to be over capacity requiring additional turn lanes and signals to accommodate growing traffic demands Homes in the community are being sold by Dream Finders Homes With both single-family homes and townhomes floor plans range from 1,379 to 2,666 square feet While no move-in ready homes are currently available prices start at $283,990 and go up to $371,990 Homes in Brunswick Forest range from $375,000 to $899,000 Master-planned communities appear to be the current trend in Leland is located just north of East Lake and is slated to bring thousands of units to the town The development will be completed in phases with the first phase approved to build 161 of the 2,679 residential units Phases two and three are currently being considered by the town’s technical review committee Further south, the Pinewood and Grayson Park communities continue to grow with new amenity centers under review for both projects. Dozens of duplexes are also under review in Brunswick Forest Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover and Brunswick counties for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@gannett.com.   Photo by: JT AllenNo. 5 USC Women's Golf Set for Fifth Appearance at East Lake Cup in Fall Finale October 27, 2024 | Women's Golf The Trojans head down south to Atlanta to take on a four-team field featuring three semifinalists and one quarterfinalist from the 2024 NCAA Championship 11 Georgia Tech 3-2 Wednesday afternoon in the final match from East Lake Golf Club The No. 2 Tigers found their points from seniors Ryan Eshleman and Carson Bacha and sophomore Jackson Koivun “I learned that we have a lot of heart, and we’ve got a lot of guts, and we’ve got some guys that can flat-out play,” Auburn head coach Nick Clinard said “We had a reset after the spring and the national championship They all appreciate each other and challenge each other Eshleman got the Tigers on the board early with a win from the leadoff position The senior found himself two down to Aidan Tran on hole 6 but flipped the match with three consecutive wins on holes 7 Eshleman’s lead never waned over the final nine holes He closed out the match with a tie on the 18th “It was all about ending the fall the right way and getting a win,” Eshleman said “I felt that I was playing some good golf coming into the week but I was just going to do whatever it took to get my team a point and set us up for a team victory.” Pennsylvania held a lead for 17 of 18 holes on the day Georgia Tech’s Kale Fontenot fought back to win a point on 16 and cut the score back to even but Bacha dashed his hopes immediately with a birdie on the 17th Bacha birdied again on the final hole to secure a 2-up win Georgia Tech raised the stakes and snagged two points of its own with wins against Brendan Valdes (2-down) and Josiah Gilbert (2&1) The cup came down to the Jackson Koivun/Hiroshi Tai duel a battle between the reigning National Player of the Year and the reigning NCAA Individual Champion Koivun spotted Tai a one-point advantage that he held for the first three holes Koivun leveled the score and snatched Tai’s final lead of the afternoon The pair stayed even for six of the next seven holes but a costly Bogey from Tai on 11 saw Koivun take the lead for good Koivun clinched the title-winning point with a par putt on 17 to defeat his opponent 2&1 “It felt great to come out on top as a team,” Koivun said “We knew we left some wins out there this fall There were some moments we couldn’t capitalize on It feels great and gives us some good momentum and motivation to take into the spring.” Auburn returns to action in February 2025 at the Amer Ari Invitational in Waikoloa Jack Vojtko -- East Lake Cup Individual Champion10/28/2024 6:25:00 PM | Men's Golf Receive the Latest News & Promotions From SamWalkerOBXNews.com No one was injured following a house fire on the Dare County mainland that shut down traffic along U.S 64 between Manns Harbor and the Alligator River early Monday The fire involving a single-story home near Pump Road in East Lake started sometime before 5:30 a.m A lone occupant escaped and ran to a neighbor’s house who called 911 Kill Devil Hills and Colington fire departments and the N.C traffic was blocked in both directions until around 9 a.m What may have caused the blaze has not been released A house fire on the Dare County mainland shut down traffic along U.S Multiple social media posts said the fire started sometime before 6 a.m According to the Dare County Sheriff’s Office the North Carolina Highway Patrol estimates the road will be closed to traffic between the U.S Travelers are advised to take alternate routes around the closure Dare County Schools said any student impacted by the closure will be granted an excused tardy Other details about the fire were not available as of 7:30 a.m This is a developing story. Stay with SamWalkerOBXNews.com for updates Log in to leave a comment © 2025 Island Free Press. All Rights Reserved. Website Design & Marketing by GCP vsEast Lake Cup Zoe Antoinette CamposPhoto by: Ross TurteltaubWomen’s Golf Wins Consolation Match at East Lake Cup October 28 Chattanooga firefighters kept a fire at bay Wednesday evening on Missionary Ridge The department says the steep terrain led to exhaustion among firefighters But no one was hurt and the fire did not damage any houses or buildings a spokesperson with the department said:"Thanks to our Tri-State Mutual Aid Companies for providing personnel on the scene of the fire and at Chattanooga fire stations We appreciate all of the fire companies and agencies who had a hand in fighting the fire." EARLIER:A woods fire has prompted a few road closures in the East Lake area Wednesday afternoon Multiple Green Shift companies are battling the fire 16th Avenue and Westside Drive are shutdown as crews work This is a developing story and will be updated 3.5vs1.5East Lake Cup Photo by: Michael WadeUSC Takes Home East Lake Cup Trophy October 30 Xin (Cindy) Kou and Bailey Shoemaker picked up wins as the Trojans beat the Tigers 3.5-1.5 vsEast Lake Cup Jasmine Koo Wins Third Straight Individual Title Koo becomes the second Trojan to claim the East Lake Cup individual title: Robynn Ree (2017) 3vs2East Lake Cup Photo by: Michael WadeFreshman Kylie Chong Punches USC’s Ticket For East Lake Cup Final October 29, 2024 | Women's Golf Chong birdied the 21st hole in a playoff to decide the winner as USC downs UCLA 3-2 12 Florida State 3-2 in a national title rematch to punch its ticket to the finals of the 2024 East Lake Cup Tuesday evening at East Lake Golf Club 11 Georgia Tech in Wednesday’s championship match “I thought the guys showed a lot of heart and a lot of grit,” Tigers head coach Nick Clinard said “It’s tough to win matches against great teams with great players I thought our guys really started to hit some good shots and make some putts on the back nine Auburn found its first point in dominant fashion from senior Ryan Eshleman Eshleman and Florida State’s Patrick McCann battled in a close match through the first eight holes but a win on the ninth saw Eshleman take a lead that would not be relinquished winning four of the next five holes to put the match away on 14 with a 5&4 victory that would really increase our chances to get a win,” Eshleman said I wanted to get that early point as a little bonus.” Some early mistakes saw senior Brendan Valdes concede a couple of holes to Jack Bigham falling as much as two down on the fifth hole Bigham responded with two wins of his own on 11 and 12 but Valdes did not allow his opponent to lead for long as he won the next two holes to flip the match back in his favor Valdes capitalized on a pair of late bogeys from Bigham to win 16 and 17 claiming Auburn’s second point in a 3&1 victory Sophomore Jackson Koivun faced Luke Clanton in a clash of the world’s top-two ranked amateur players Clanton closed out the match on 16 to win 3&2 Auburn found its final, match-winning point from sophomore Josiah Gilbert Brewer’s only lead in the match came following a bogey from Gilbert on the first hole Gilbert cut back to even with a win on the second and did not allow Brewer another advantage for the remainder of the afternoon A birdie on the par-5 fourth gave Gilbert the one-up lead that he maintained until putting the match away with another birdie on the par-4 17th Senior Carson Bacha’s match was called dead due to the Tigers’ victory in the match ahead of his Bacha trailed Tyler Weaver by one through 16 holes Zoe Antoinette CamposPhoto by: Ross TurteltaubWomen’s Golf to Play on Golf Channel at East Lake Cup October 27 Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism Concrete barriers will remain indefinitely at intersections in East Lake as a result of a unanimous City Council vote Tuesday following a public hearing in which residents and business owners expressed opinions for and against the Project Safe Streets pilot program that began July 8 Mayor Randall Woodfin said further action by the council and the Birmingham Department of Transportation would be necessary before permanent road closures could happen and his office would engage with residents again through town hall meetings direct mail and knocking on doors before bringing a proposal to the council “This is not perfect,” Woodfin said of the barricades Woodfin said his office will reassess outcomes as the project moves from the pilot phase to “what’s next.” Woodfin presented data related to the types of activities Project Safe Streets aims to curb by limiting access points to a rectangular swath of residential area parallel to First Avenue North Public safety calls for service were down from 4,698 in 2023 to 3,667 in 2024 and the Birmingham Police Department’s Shot Spotter program recorded 804 gunshots fired in 2024 versus 1,011 in 2023 He said auto-related deaths were down 50% in 2024 compared to 2023 issued 1,031 traffic citations and made 159 criminal arrests Project Safe Streets also has involved the city identifying and demolishing abandoned buildings enforcing existing codes related to overgrown yards and junk debris 10 community members spoke mostly in favor of the barriers Community members who spoke in favor of the barriers said that they have witnessed less criminal activity — including gunshots prostitution and people trying to break into cars — and that roadways are safer because drivers aren’t using as many streets as cut-throughs have slowed down and are more likely to be cautious at intersections Multiple residents described having heard gunfire near their homes on a regular basis and telling their children to get on the floor when shots were fired Some told of stray bullets entering their homes I’m not afraid for my grandchildren to come out now because someone may be driving by to shoot them.” three bullets were fired into her 14-year-old son’s bedroom moments after he left the room a speeding driver almost struck her son and people regularly dumped trash in her yard “We haven’t had this experience of people continuing to shoot in the area and speed out since the barricades,” she said “That used to happen three or four times a week I’m really sorry for my neighbors who don’t have the same experience We were literally on our way out the door except for this pilot project.” Two other speakers who told of bullets being shot into their homes said the barriers had not improved their situations Ursula Walker said four bullets were fired into her home 10 days ago “I don’t feel no safer with the barricades,” Walker said “I’m scared to go in my backyard because I can’t see through my fence Some areas see higher crime and others experience less because barriers create hot spots a resident who spoke against the road closures She said issues such as not being able to have groceries delivered or get rideshare services to drive into the barricaded area are especially difficult for seniors and homebound people “It’s not just inconvenience for someone who lives in a marginalized area,” Young said owner of family business Contri Brothers Gift Basket which has operated in East Lake since 1957 said he has seen the neighborhood in good times and bad times and he is wholeheartedly in favor of the barriers He said changes in foot traffic have meant people no longer walk through his parking lot checking whether his employees’ vehicles are locked “What has taken place with the traffic barriers has been the most positive shot in the arm for East Lake that I’ve seen since what I can remember it as (far) back as a kid,” he said a teacher and traffic officer at Barrett Elementary School inside the barricaded area said the barriers and the city making the street in front of the school one way for traffic has turned chaotic dropoff and pickup times into a controlled People used to drive on sidewalks and speed near the school Parents appreciate what the city has done.” Larry Cockrell of Household of Faith Church said a barrier near the church is badly placed preventing residential access to a new Dollar General market on First Avenue North and negatively affecting church events People regularly park in the church parking lot and walk to Dollar General “What I’m asking is that if you all consider approving this that there be some modifications made to the location of some of these barriers that have been barriers themselves.” Cockrell said and we do not have the ability to navigate the space like we need to.” Some residents questioned whether other aspects of Project Safe Streets were more effective than the barriers in reducing crime “I think the progress that we’ve seen is based on being aware,” Young said It’s based on having the homes fixed following the rules that we already have in place picking up guns from people who don’t need them or shouldn’t have them I don’t understand why we can’t use what we have and continue with the increased enforcement because I think that is what has made the difference.” Raquita Hendrix said she appreciates the innovation of Project Safe Streets but residents are trapped in and criminals adapted quickly to the barricades I think we’re ignoring the root-cause issue,” she said Those committing crimes are mostly young men who need resources and who need to see a different potential path for themselves Numerous residents and Councilor Carol Clarke expressed concerns about challenges the barriers could present to emergency responders said she takes care of her grandmother and worries about response times because she lives near the end of the barricaded area and there’s only one way out She asked if a security gate with fobs for residents and emergency responders could be installed instead of barriers but otherwise it presents a false sense of security for our family,” she said Walker said a house near her home burned two weeks after the barricades were installed and she believed that was because the fire department could not get to it fast enough Clarke said she was concerned about extra time it might take for ambulances to get people to hospitals if they have to back up because of the barriers She asked if permanent barriers could be designed so emergency vehicles could cross them his office is committed to making the system efficient for emergency responders said the barriers have not slowed response times He said response times for East Lake fire companies in 2023 averaged 7 minutes and 32 seconds and in 2024 they averaged 6 minutes and 52 seconds The barriers were in place only the second half of 2024 If the council approves permanent road closures 14 roads would be blocked by curb bump-outs and bollards and six alleys would be closed with heavy-duty guardrails Project implementation would take eight to 10 months Clarke asked whether those permanent measures could be reversed “We always want to empower the residents,” Woodfin said this same generation or their children or their grandchildren may say we want something different Councilor Valerie Abbott asked if the barriers in East Lake would be a model replicated in other neighborhoods “Other residents in other neighborhoods will want this if there’s an opportunity to slow traffic down in the neighborhood cautioned against making roadway barriers a cookie-cutter response in other neighborhoods One group of journalists faces an obstacle that no others do – homework May 4, 2025 April 27, 2025 April 20, 2025 April 13, 2025 May 5, 2025 April 28, 2025 April 21, 2025 April 14, 2025 News and useful information about Birmingham are at your fingertips. BirminghamWatch depends on donors to support its public service journalism. Click here to make your tax-deductible donation. Buckeyes Close the Fall at East Lake Cup10/27/2024 4:50:00 PM | Men's Golf Golf Channel will have live coverage of all three rounds The East Lake Cup is a collegiate competition featuring eight of the top-performing teams from the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships The tournament is modeled after the NCAA Golf Championships because it rewards the teams that perform the best The East Lake Cup's format consists of an opening round of stroke play to crown an individual male and female champion and determine seeding for the following two days of match-play competition The event benefits the East Lake Club Foundation The East Lake Cup will crown new champions in both the men’s and women’s divisions North Carolina (men’s) and Wake Forest (women’s) RELATED ARTICLESGeorgia Tech's Hiroshi Tai is the 2024 NCAA Division I National ChampionEast Lake Cup: North Carolina takes the team title Men’s teamsAuburnFlorida StateGeorgia TechOhio StateWomen’s teamsLSUUSCOregonUCLA 2024 NCAA individual champion Hiroshi Tai of Georgia Tech is also in the field Live tournament coverage will be presented Monday-Wednesday on GOLF Channel.(All times Eastern time) Home  |  Tournaments  |  Courses  |  Equipment  |  Players  |  Rankings  |  About Us  |  Contact Ahead of a public hearing Tuesday regarding permanently blocking points on 20 streets in the East Lake neighborhood residents and business owners are expressing mixed reactions to a six-month-long pilot program aimed at reducing crime and making the streets safer The City Council could vote after the hearing on whether to continue some or all of those changes Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office developed Project Safe Streets saying the initiative is modelled on successful strategies in other cities to reduce violent crime prostitution and other violations by limiting the number of entry and exit points to a particular area In addition to placing the barricades in early July improved sidewalks and removed trash and litter president of the East Lake Neighborhood Association said the city has also demolished more than 40 abandoned houses many of which were being used for criminal activity Drake said community members’ opinions about the street barricades are split “There’s some that like it and want them to stay there and there’s some that want to take it down,” he said Those in favor of the barriers say they have succeeded in reducing crime and their neighborhood is quieter because not as many drivers speed through the streets He said one woman told him she never let her grandchildren play outdoors before the barricades were installed Those opposed to the barriers say they worry about access to emergency services and don’t like the inconvenience of longer driving routes said all the comments he’s heard from residents about the Safe Streets Project have been positive “For the people who live within the perimeter of the streets that have been barricaded … all those folks appear to be very enthusiastic about the project and are very appreciative the neighborhood’s getting that type of attention from city government,” O’Quinn said Birmingham recorded more homicides than in any year since 1933 – at a time when many U.S cities are reporting decreases in violent crimes the Birmingham Police Department identified East Lake as a neighborhood with a high rate of calls for incidents including shootings into occupied dwellings Residents and business owners differ on whether they think the pilot project has helped reduce crime in the neighborhood questioned the effectiveness of the barriers “Is it really going to reduce crime or is it just restricting the good citizens?” she asked “There’s been a couple murders since then,” he said “Same thing it would have been had they not been there.” an elderly resident who lives on a street with barricades said she doesn’t hear gunshots as often since the barriers were installed and she supports the mayor’s plan White said her daughter was concerned about her ability to navigate the area while driving “Let them block it off if it will slow down the killings and the crime.” general manager of East Lake Tire Center on First Avenue North said the road closures likely have reduced the kind of criminal activity he’s witnessed near the center because this neighborhood is prone for a lot of criminal activity,” Bennett said stealing stuff and then getting into their car and going.” Barricades deter that activity because people know they can only go so far before they get pinned in Although some have questioned whether other methods such as installing security cameras would have more effect on crime without restricting residents O’Quinn said that constructing barriers is a technique society has used for thousands of years one of the most common means that they do that is to put up barriers around whatever they’re trying to protect whether that be moats or walls or fences,” he said “If the community wasn’t having a significant number of shootings into occupied dwellings or people coming into the community to dump waste in alleys or a number of other negative things then this project would not have happened,” he said “One of the things that enabled those things to go on was the porosity of the neighborhood — the large amount of ingress and egress points that contributed to an individual’s ability to do those things and get away undetected.” With dozens of ways to enter and exit the neighborhood cameras and the people or technology needed to monitor them would be an expensive option solution to addressing these issues,” he said But Waie said the barricades also have had a detrimental effect on the Humble Hearts’ business reducing customer traffic to the 11-year-old store on First Avenue North by about 20% He said many of his customers live in the residential area behind the store and streets between that area and First Avenue North are now blocked Deliveries he could have made in 2 minutes now take much longer on a circuitous route He also said he worries separating the businesses on First Avenue from the rest of the neighborhood could increase theft “You block them off and make people think maybe this is the other side of the tracks,” Waie said “Now the curiosity makes them want to come over here and break into more stuff.” Bennett said the barricades haven’t affected the East Lake Tire Center because the nearest ones are a couple of blocks away I’d probably have had a problem with that because I have so much traffic that comes up and down this road (67th Street) to get here,” he said Concerns have been raised about the barriers slowing response of first responders during emergencies Waie said his staff had to call 911 last week for a customer and the emergency-response vehicle blocked traffic on First Avenue because the driver couldn’t use a side street He said he often sees fire trucks and ambulances delayed because they encounter a barrier on 71st Street or try unsuccessfully to maneuver a narrow alley that runs behind the property “I don’t know if they have new drivers but they have come down that street 20 or 30 times and had to back all the way up,” Waie said Birmingham Fire and Rescue and the police department were involved in planning for the Safe Streets Project and took into consideration response times that a Birmingham Fire and Rescue or paramedic unit would not be familiar with the street closures,” O’Quinn said The mother of Lakiyah Luckey, an 18-year-old who died in August after having trouble breathing, told WVTM she believes her daughter’s life could have been saved if paramedics had reached her sooner Her mother believed it took 13 minutes for firefighters to respond though city officials at the time said the response time was 7 minutes and there was no delay in response times an East Lake resident who lives about half a mile from the barricades but encounters them on most of her routes said she knows senior citizens who are opposed to the barriers She said the barriers and additional stop signs have slowed traffic on the streets she travels “You got to go a little bit out of the way,” she said It makes you more cautious when you go down through there You don’t just stomp your foot on the gas and go like a lot of people had been doing on Second Avenue.” Gray said she hopes to attend the public hearing to advocate for the Safe Streets Project and more stop signs who grew up in East Lake and lives in nearby Roebuck said it’s been difficult for many elderly residents who have lived in the barricaded area for decades or their entire lives to reprogram their minds with different directions for getting to familiar places but it’s about time to let these old folks go back to some kind of normalcy,” he said “Think about being in the last stage of your life and all of a sudden Waie said his own route to and from Roebuck is much more complicated now “They made it inconvenient for everybody,” he said He also said he believes the barricades create a negative perception of the area what’s going on?’ It kind of devalues the neighborhood when you set stuff up like that,” he said “You have to deal with people’s minds people wonder if they are meant to keep crime out or criminals in O’Quinn acknowledged the concrete barriers are not particularly attractive He said they are a temporary measure and more visually pleasing curb extensions — also known as bulb-outs — will be constructed if the City Council decides to permanently block streets O’Quinn said the mayor’s office has been collecting data that shows the negative activities the city was trying to reduce with the project have decreased significantly Tracked information includes data from the police department’s Shot Spotter program 911 calls and incidents of illegal dumping In October, Woodfin told the council that in the first two months of the pilot made 140 arrests and issued 559 traffic citations while city officials had established five drug nuisance abatement cases and crews had collected more than 600 loads of debris and 400 bags of litter Significant public opposition to the barriers could sway council members but if the council moves forward with permanent closure the construction timeline for bulb-outs is uncertain It could begin within a few months or more than a year from now depending on how long the design and funding phases last BirminghamWatch depends on donors to support its public service journalism Click here to make your tax-deductible donation Fall at East Lake10/29/2024 10:43:00 PM | Men's Golf And freshman Jasmine Koo continues to dominate Koo won her third straight individual title by three strokes as the Trojans finished 6-under and six shots better than LSU which included nine birdies and two bogeys including five birdies in the first seven holes Her teammate Catherine Park finished in solo second place at 4-under, and Rocio Tejeda of LSU finished in solo third place at 3-under. Park is currently ranked No. 4 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Women's Rankings Koo becomes the second Trojan to win the East Lake Cup individual championship: Robynn Ree in 2017 The freshman is the second USC golfer to win three straight events; Annie Park won three consecutive events to end the spring during the 2012-13 season.  “I was just reading the putts really well; I think yesterday I was able to see the greens really well Jack Vojtko of Ohio State shot a round of 6-under 66 to win the medalist honors by one shot Carson Bacha of Auburn finished in solo second place and 5-under Albert Hansson of Georgia Tech finished in solo third place at 4-under Tyler Weaver, Patrick McCann, and Luke Clanton, all of Florida State, and Kale Fontenot of Georgia Tech finished T4 at 3-under. Clanton is the No. 1 player in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings The women’s semifinal features in-state rivals Southern California and UCLA and a 2024 national quarterfinal rematch between Oregon and LSU won by the Ducks 3-2-0 Tomorrow’s men’s semifinal includes a rematch of the 2024 National Championship won by Auburn 3-2-0 over Florida State Broadcast ScheduleLive tournament coverage will be presented Monday-Wednesday on GOLF Channel.(All times Eastern time) The East Lake Cup contributed to this report The newspaper announcements regarding the July 4 celebration for Chattanooga’s FIRST city park caused ripples of excitement across the region A spectacular parade had been planning featuring dress parade inspection of military units Spence’s military band in “white duck suits” and a procession of artillery pieces a ribbon-cutting program proclaimed “Splendid Speaking by Prominent Men” and an evening of culture and excitement culminating in a fireworks display from the lake and island within the park declared the event had been a success and recalled the events in the Chattanooga Daily Times feature Brandt explained that the city council had only a few weeks earlier voted to create a board of city park commissioners and taken a formal stance for “the encouragement of the planting of shade and ornamental tree along the thoroughfares of the city.” He applauded his fellow commissioners as “public-spirited citizens,” who had demonstrated “commendable” enthusiasm for their new assignment - - beautifying the city and creating public park spaces for families By the time the parade had arrived at East Lake Park it was 3:30 pm and the pavilion area was filled to capacity The official ceremony began with a prayer offered by “Chattanooga’s minister fervent appeal to the Almighty to bless those who had donated and those who were to receive the park and to sanctify it to pure purposes.” The prayer was followed by Dr Westhefer who accepted the park on behalf of the city council and offering an explanation for why the city had decided to move toward public parks Mentioning that such “resorts” would provide “the common people with healthful rest and recreation,” Dr Westhefer also suggested that parks would also raise the “moral level of the city” and encourage visitors to spend time and money in Chattanooga greeted the crowd and accepted the park for Chattanooga Ochs shared that the creation of the park commission would be remembered as one of the most significant acts of the current council and would set a precedent for future city councils He complimented Superintendent Brandt’d vision and suggested that in twenty years East Lake Park would be known as the “Central Park” of the South Frierson’s keynote address focused on the benefits of public parks for all “well-disposed people high and low.” He commented on the Chattanooga’s beautiful setting - - the Tennessee River the craggy outcroppings of rock formations and the rolling hills outside the city – but acknowledged that those settings were not always within walking distances for families Creating a system of community parks would benefit all The ceremony ended with a presentation of flowers to Superintendent Brandt on behalf of all citizens Thomas Hooke McCallie and a series of artillery firings The subsequent races were described by Brandt as “a splendid success,” but he declared the most attractive feature of the evening was the military drill coordinated by Major Fyffe and the “military school boys who had acquitted themselves beautifully.” Brandt announced that several hundred shade trees would be planted in the fall at East Lake Park along with “many beds of hardy shrubs and flowers.” With the addition of an electric launch for the lake the park would be well on its way to becoming the city’s most exciting chairs the Chattanooga Parks and Outdoor Commission Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will continue its free, historical bike tours through Chickamauga Battlefield. The first ride of this year will take place on Saturday, May ... more Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park announces a construction contract has been awarded to rehabilitate Brotherton and Glenn-Viniard Roads in Chickamauga Battlefield. The roads ... more Ducks Close Fall At East Lake Cup10/27/24 | Women's Golf 12 Noles Head to East Lake Cup10/27/2024 4:53:00 PM | Men's Golf East Lake Golf Club unveils the results of its Andrew Green renovation as it hosts the 2024 Tour Championship the finale of the PGA Tour Playoffs and FedEx Cup Andrew Green’s renovation of East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta is on display as the 2024 Tour Championship The course was originally designed by Tom Bendelow in 1908 with Donald Ross overseeing a redesign and the creation of its two loops in 1913 George Cobb made minor alterations in 1959 ahead of the 1963 Ryder Cup and Rees Jones completed a renovation project in 1995 and additional work since Green was appointed to create a renovation masterplan in January 2022 His plan has been to reinstate the course’s historic character but also ensure the layout is fit to host the best players on the PGA Tour every year “There’s a tremendous obligation to make sure that all the great things that have been done for this community are protected and enhanced by this project,” said Green The architect referenced an aerial photograph from 1949 to guide his work which has focused on restoring Ross’s green and bunker shapes Read more: a feature on the PGA Tour website includes hole-by-hole notes from Andrew Green The routing of the course has remained the same Greens have been rebuilt and converted to TifEagle bermuda contouring and runoff areas all having been substantially reworked The reaction of competitors at the Tour Championship gives an indication of the scale of change it’s way longer,” said golfer Viktor Hovland in a pre-tournament press conference this is going to be a completely different golf course Now you have huge undulating greens with big run-offs and instead of having tight bermuda round the greens you have really It’s just going to play completely different.” “We really wanted to try to get the player to feel like they’re playing more over the natural ground,” said Green “And that meant that we shaped or reshaped fairways to be more natural.” a new green at the par-three second now has two distant areas the island fifteenth is now bunkerless and the eighth hole can be set up to play as a driveable par four The green of the closing hole is protected by a string of bunkers on the left coming more into play for lay-up approach shots Watch: A PGA Tour video of the renovation project Fairway bunkers have been rebuilt to “demand precision in the line and length of tee shots” Bunker shapes have been inspired by those created by Ross and all were rebuilt with liner from Bunker Solution A stream between holes six and seven has been reclaimed with invasive species removed and the native habitat restored All ponds have been stabilised to maintain water quality and ecological balance The overall yardage of East Lake’s championship tees has been extended by 100 yards with PGA Tour players playing a 7,455-yard par-71 layout “This course restoration will provide a worthy test for players at every level of the game from PGA Tour players to East Lake members,” said Alex Urban executive director of the Tour Championship “Fans onsite and around the world will witness these changes firsthand at the Tour Championship when the course is put to the test by some of the best athletes in the world.” Timberlake x Nike shoe collab early access can make East Lake's delicious burger at home where we celebrate the game’s most delectable food and drink This snack bar of sorts takes its moniker from the name of a longstanding employee at the club who is described in East Lake’s written history as “a purveyor of refreshments.” When the club broke ground on a significant restoration/renovation project of its heralded layout just after the Tour Championship in 2023 the club concurrently began work on the construction of a new venue at the turn When its attention turned to the construction of the halfway house’s menu decision-makers at the club soon settled on the understanding that Mac’s Shack needed a crave-worthy burger Legend has it that the burger that Mac originally served at East Lake was to die for — so much so that members and guests would make visits to the club just for lunch Although details of those legendary sandwiches are hard to come by East Lake’s staff at least knew where to start: a griddle-cooked patty topped with American cheese and some sort of special sauce The club held a competition open to any staff member who daily wore an apron two stood out — one for its preparation and style the sauce isn’t really that secretive.) In the end the Waggle Burger was born from the combination of those two entries and the aforementioned Waggle Sauce (recipe below) which is an aioli concocted by Chad Parker the club’s president and general manager who in his spare time competes in serious barbecue competitions Perfectly replicating the Waggle Burger at home might be a tough order so we asked the club’s Director of Food and Beverage for tips on making an exceptional smashed burger no matter what components or condiments are used If you don’t have a commercial-grade flattop at home — and who does “To get the perfect consistency,” she says “you have to smash the beefy patty very firmly and quickly on an extremely hot surface creating a very crispy outer crust while keeping the inside nice and juicy.” You might think the meat is the most important ingredient in a smash burger patties made from locally sourced Wagyu beef will never hurt but using the wrong type of cheese always will “It needs to melt well,” Rosenzweig says she says you can’t go wrong with American cheese East Lake’s director of food and beverage believes a true smash burger is always a double “One patty is too thin,” she says “and it gets lost in the bread.” East Lake relies only on three-inch potato rolls which are softer and a little sweeter than a traditional burger bun “they’re the perfect size for a grab-and-go bite at the turn.” No matter how you choose to make and dress up your own smash burgers at home if you can follow Rosenzweig’s explanation of what makes the Waggle Burger so successful “It’s simply good quality ingredients,” she says “coming together to make a great tasting product.” sweet relish (recommended: Wickles Pickles Relish)1 tbsp spicy dill pickle juice1 pinch Kosher salt1 pinch fresh cracked black pepper All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team Firefighters battling a woods fire Wednesday on East 32nd Street (Courtesy: Chattanooga Fire Department) (WDEF)- Chattanooga firefighters are battling a woods fire Wednesday evening in East Lake.CFD said they received the call around 4:45 p.m Those roads had to be shut down for firefighting operations We did also see a crew from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture on scene No structures were damaged during the woods fire The cause of the fire is unclear at this time Avery Cottrell's restaurant brings flair to a crowded Eastside Atlanta barbecue scene The area is crowded with staples of the game but a competitor might argue it’s the place to be a battleground of sorts in which to carve out their barbecue crown Gene’s offers Cottrell’s take on Viet-Cajun and Texas-style barbecue all set at a Flora-Bama party in Pensacola When I walked in on a Friday night in September I was hit with a disco ball reflecting Christmas lights strung across the ceiling and the bar A 20-foot red alligator hanging from the ceiling and Matt Christison (of Kimball House) collected over five years make the space feel like it’s been lived in for that long a zero-proof frozen coconut-cream cocktail (I opted to add rum for an extra charge) with orange and vanilla flavors that hits in a place like this and a few large round tables for the family I took a seat outside on the covered patio, where there are half a dozen tables with colorful oilcloth table covers. My view was a sight to behold—a four-door, hot-pink smoker from Primitive Pits (based in Cumming) that serves up brisket Cottrell’s vision felt ambitious but effective an attentive and quick staff delivered the food in paper boats on trays Every meat plate comes with flour tortillas—as is the custom in South Texas—and pickled vegetables complex spice that you might find in Texas I built a bulging brisket taco with pickles a sweet barbecue sauce with red chili flakes for the right kick The ultimate test of barbecue for myself and my bank account is the pulled pork sandwich this is the cheapest entree on the menu and likely the most ordered The pulled pork came on a sesame seed bun with slaw-topped meat doused in Smokin’ Wet Sauce a vinegar-based barbecue sauce too hot to call Carolina The meat itself left something to be desired; the pork was mushy even as the slaw and sauce gave the sandwich the boldness it needed Where Gene’s really shone was in the Viet-Cajun side of the menu and pomegranate—a staple of Vietnamese cuisine—packed with a complex and rich flavor leaving my girlfriend and me with “taco hand,” a phrase we coined for a great and dripping taco Marinated Cajun crab claws come in a tangy chili-vinegar sauce The cucumber salad was fresh and topped with mint and cilantro; fish sauce vinegar packed umami into each crisp bite Gene’s wings come Hooters- or Daytona-style I devoured the fish sauce caramel wings (you can also get Buffalo or lemon pepper) which were sweet and sour and paired well with jalapeño ranch I opted for the banana pudding with two vanilla wafers and a Biscoff cookie set in the middle I also got the most infamous menu item—the Mountain Dew Jell-O shot—and it tasted exactly as the soda does in the can and his ambition pays off with a vibrant atmosphere that’s infectious it stands out among the east side of Atlanta’s crowd with its unique Viet-Cajun flair that gives the food an intensity that will bring me back and the fact that I can bank on a Flora-Bama party every time I step through the door This article appears in our November 2024 issue