Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here The Coastal Health District of Georgia serves the counties of Bryan The Glynn County Health Department is alerting residents that a raccoon from St Simons Island has tested positive for rabies the raccoon attacked a feral cat in an area near Frederica Road and Harrington Road No humans were exposed to the rabid raccoon Rabies is a deadly virus that is primarily spread by infected animals This is an important reminder that rabies can circulate in several species of wild animals in coastal Georgia Residents are urged not to feed wild animals or attempt to domesticate feral cats and pet owners are reminded to ensure their animals get regular rabies shots The Glynn County Health Department’s Environmental Health office has these tips to protect you and your family from rabies: Symptoms of rabies in animals include a change in behavior showing no fear of natural enemies (such as humans) seek medical care immediately and contact Glynn County Animal Control at 912-554-7500 and the Glynn County Health Department Environmental Health office at 912-279-2940 Other Public Health Topics Read Our Newsletter Health Departments Environmental Health Offices Administrative Offices Public health websites by Heideldesign Erik Avanier GAINESVILE woman was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of her partner inside their home on Saturday according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Deputies identified the suspect as Suzanne Renee Mericle who is accused of shooting James David Barron with a handgun inside their home on Bayridge Drive off C Hall County deputies said they responded to the home around 1:15 a.m and found Barron unresponsive in a bedroom Deputies said Mericle was at the home when they arrived First responders transported Barron to a nearby hospital where he died Mericle owned a dentistry office, Mericle Dentistry, in St. Simons Island. Mericle is now charged with felony murder, aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Marcela joined News4JAX in 2023. She grew up in Mexico and eventually moved to California to pursue her dream of becoming a journalist. Now, she is a proud San Diego State University alumna who has many years of experience in TV and digital journalism. Award-winning broadcast and multimedia journalist with 20 years experience. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group This merrily maximalist abode summons every hue under the sun homeowner Stephanie Dixon reimagined traditional outdoor living spaces for her Georgia home Grace is a former Associate Homes Editor for Southern Living She covered a variety of topics for print and digital from design and flower arranging to cottage gardens and pets she joined Southern Living as a copy editor find her strolling through neighborhoods around the South to admire the houses and snapping photos of colorful front doors The magazine's associate homes editor Cameron Beall shared her personal connection to this spot stating that while she didn't discover its charm until college a visit in 2016 sparked an enduring love for the area Also named the No. 1 best beach in the South for 2025 Simons Island is the editors favorite beach in Georgia Beall said that this beach makes visitors feel like locals allowing visitors to enjoy the diverse offerings from the march creeks to the deep beach I always try to make stop at Southern Soul for some barbecue (and even better sides) and Wake Up Coffee Company for a No Bake [sweet treat] and coffee," Beall said in the magazine Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com Keep Golden Isles Beautiful volunteers clean up Frat Beach in fall 2023 A team of local volunteers take on the challenge of keeping St Simons’ beaches clean after costume-clad University of Georgia students take on Frat Beach a party on East Beach ahead of the Georgia-Florida football game Keep Golden Isles Beautiful is a volunteer-based nonprofit dedicated to cleanup and beautification efforts in Georgia’s Golden Isles While KGIB holds multiple litter prevention and other nature conservation events throughout the year the Friday and Saturday of the Georgia-Florida gameday weekend are reserved for Frat Beach cleanup Lea King-Badyna is the executive director of KGIB and has led the organization’s Frat Beach initiative since its inception 17 years ago keeping the East Beach clean is a personal affair “We have the privilege of being the stewards and the caretakers of our natural resource.” King-Badyna said that to tackle the daunting cleanup around 20 volunteers are sent out across the beach as early as 8 a.m on Friday to begin removing litter as quickly as it is dropped into the ocean with another 20 volunteers taking over later in the day The Friday beach volunteers are carefully handpicked and committed in advance Not only does this guarantee a sufficient number of volunteers but it also allows KGIB to recruit individuals who are well-suited to handle the potentially volatile Frat Beach crowd and understand KGIB’s ultimate goal of not changing anyone’s behavior but rather to pick up the trash has participated in the KGIB Friday cleanups with her husband for around eight years these are “no-nonsense cleanups.” She enjoys her interactions with students on the beach which she said have almost always been positive “I think the kids go away with an appreciation because they realize that somebody is picking up after them,” Hindery said “There’s somebody out there taking care of the impact that they’re putting on the beach.” the Friday volunteers work through both the sand and the water line to clear the beach of everything from beverage cans to small cigarette butts and synthetic feathers shed by costumes These smaller pieces of trash can be especially harmful for the environment containing microplastics that are not biodegradable and can cause significant harm when ingested by marine life which is why King-Badyna believes the Friday cleanup effort is so important I want to get in there and be part of the solution,” King-Badyna said “So part of the solution is for me to pick up the trash as soon as it's dropped Then I know I help prevent that from going straight out into the ocean.” the second prong of the cleanup effort is enacted by a separate volunteer group that focuses on cleaning up surrounding parking lots where anyone from the general public is welcome to participate in a final thorough effort to clean the beach and all 41 of its access points KGIB also works closely with Glenn County officials who continually dispose of the trash picked up by the volunteers while also handling medical emergencies and security concerns but we have a great network of folks in our community who want to come out and help keep the beaches clean,” King-Badyna said Every year for the Georgia-Florida football game thousands of students from the University … As the weekend falls just days before Halloween many students choose to dress up in costume to hit the beach students have worn inflatable costumes or chosen a group theme The Red & Black asked UGA students about their thoughts on Frat Beach costumes and their expectations for the outfits Starbucks launched two new drinks inspired by Universal Pictures' “Wicked,” which is set to arrive in theaters on Nov The University of Georgia Trial Gardens held its annual competition to determine the best plants in the garden based on year-round performance… Almost Sacred: Voting Rights in America” exhibit will be on display at the University of Georgia’s R… Email notifications are only sent once a day The Red & Black serves the Athens and University of Georgia communities with reliable while training the future of the free press Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Highlight your business' news for only $10 We'll feature your content on our News From Local Businesses front page to give it maximum exposure for the next 30 days According to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Hall County deputies said they responded to the home around 1:15 a.m. on March 8 and found Barron unresponsive in a bedroom, with a gunshot wound to his torso. The lawsuit by Barron’s sons accuses Mericle of shooting Barron through the locked bedroom door during an argument. Deputies said Mericle was at the home when they arrived. First responders took Barron to a nearby hospital where he died, according to the sheriff’s office. Barron’s sons are now suing Mericle for his lost wages, punitive damages and court costs. GLYNN COUNTY – Glynn County is recovering after an ice storm left debris scattered across neighborhoods and caused widespread power outages RELATED: Crews work around the clock to restore power across Southeast Georgia, Northeast Florida after winter storm residents and Georgia Power crews are hard at work clearing fallen limbs and restoring electricity to thousands of homes Walking through the property of longtime resident Henry Worthy but we’ll find out when all this ice melts.” the decades-old roof held up against the impact and Worthy has spent the day clearing away debris Cartwright was optimistic that most customers would have power back by evening we expect to have most everyone back in that we can serve back in with the lights back on,” he said Take a look at the moment power was restored on Reynoso Avenue in St Glynn County officials said the following warming stations are open on Thursday from 11 a.m Camden and Charlton were closed on Thursday and said they aim to reopen on Friday Glynn County Schools said it will remain closed on Friday due to storm-related damage Staff are expected to report to their designated locations on Friday from 10 a.m which were previously scheduled as teacher workdays Georgia Power said they should have most of the power restored by the end of the day Click here to see the outages tracked by Georgia Power. John anchors at 9 a.m. on The Morning Show with Melanie Lawson and then jumps back into reporter mode after the show with the rest of the incredibly talented journalists at News4JAX. 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lodge on Little St has been recognized as a Global Vision Honoree by Travel + Leisure and nonprofits that are changing the way of travel for the better.  Travel + Leisure presents its Global Vision Awards and organizations pioneering sustainable and eco-friendly travel These visionaries are focused on the future of travel—and are dedicated to ensuring that we can continue to explore the world without damaging it as we go along we aim to demonstrate the highest standards for ecological management and conservation tourism Our hope is that immersion in coastal nature and ecological learning will leave guests not only with an appreciation for the extraordinary Georgia coast but also with a transformed understanding of what they can do to apply conservation practices in their home places." who runs the Island's Center for Coastal Conservation "This award shines a light on nearly 18 years of effective partnership between Little St Simons Island's lodge and conservation programs I hope that this award will attract even more environmentally conscious travelers as they understand that visiting Little St Simons Island helps to advance coastal conservation." "We're all very excited – and honored – to be a 2025 Global Vision Award winner," said Jamie Pazur "and we're grateful to have the opportunity to protect and share such a beautiful This recognition is a testament to the importance of eco-conscious travel and the dedication of our team to providing sustainable hospitality." Simons Island lies in the wilderness of the Altamaha River delta One of the most productive estuaries on the Atlantic coast the 135-square mile delta contains untouched marshes and small islands dotted with old-growth oak forests An ancient landscape built by rivers and tides Georgia's barrier islands are richly biodiverse and host hundreds of resident species and migrants The Lodge is a gateway for exploring this remarkable wilderness providing unparalleled access to the region's natural luxury As a leader in ecological conservation and sustainable hospitality each guest's stay helps to protect these rare undeveloped habitats The Lodge is beloved for gracious hospitality and all-inclusive accommodations for no more than 32 nightly guests and features high-caliber dining with fresh ingredients from the Island's garden and local purveyors Explore the Island's 11,000 acres of undeveloped landscapes and 7 miles of pristine beach on an array of outdoor adventures guided by a team of naturalists Simons Island is home to the Center for Coastal Conservation which facilitates the management and preservation of coastal ecosystems in Georgia through land and wildlife stewardship Stays at The Lodge directly support the Center's conservation efforts and guests are able to see research and science in action Accessible only by Lodge ferry, the Island lies midway between Savannah, GA, and Jacksonville, FL. For more information, please visit www.littlessi.com Contact: Jamie Pazur | [email protected] | 912.638.7472 Do not sell or share my personal information: This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page a winner in Travel + Leisure’s 2025 Global Vision Awards is not just good for you—it's good for the planet Elaine Glusac is a writer and travel columnist for The New York Times She has reported on travel for nearly three decades and has previously been honored as "Travel Writer of the Year" by the Society of American Travel Writers Cassie Wright/Courtesy of The Lodge on Little St Phil Murdacco/Courtesy of The Lodge on Little St This easygoing island earned more South’s Best awards than any other destination this year See how to spend a weekend in this friendly beach destination GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. – Glynn County police are investigating the cause of death after the body of a missing man was found on St. Simons Island Monday morning. Police say 24-year-old Carlos Eduardo Padilla, of Louisiana, was reported missing on Dec. 26 while he was in Glynn County on a work assignment. His body was found by workers from a pool cleaning service at a property on Old Demere Road, according to GCPD. Police say there is also no known connection between Padilla and the residents of the home where his body was found. It is undetermined if foul play was involved in Padilla’s death. The investigation is ongoing and any person with information on this case is encouraged to contact the Glynn County Police Department Non-Emergency at (912) 554-3645 or anonymously via Silent Witness at (912) 264-1333. Copyright 2024 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Kelsey Bingham is a multiplatform journalist from Atlanta, Georgia. She joined the News4JAX team in 2024 and is thrilled to start her media career in the River City. Here is why the magazine ranked it so high "My favorite thing about this laidback island is that it has welcomed me through all of my eras, and I’m sure that many Southerners feel the same way," Southern Living wrote It has the sort of longtime appeal that evolves to fit each visitor’s wishes and my memories are full of such wishes fulfilled." The magazine also highlighted other factors that are appealing here are other beach towns in the Peach State that earned a spot: Georgia holds three of the top five Southern Living beach town rankings in 2025: GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. – The Glynn County Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman found Tuesday morning at Gould’s Beach on St. Simons Island. Judy Marlow, 59, of Bremen, Georgia, was last seen by her husband, Mickel, when she went for a walk at Gould’s Inlet around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, police said. She was first reported missing Monday to GCPD, which initiated a search with a K9 unit, but the search was unsuccessful. Officials said Marlow’s body was found Tuesday just after 7 a.m. near the public beach access point at 11th Street. The cause of death is unknown and there were no visible signs of injury to Marlow’s body nor signs of foul play. Investigators said the autopsy is scheduled to be completed this week. Any person with additional knowledge of this case is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at (912) 554-7802, GCPD non-emergency at (912) 554-3645, or may report it anonymously via Silent Witness at (912) 264-1333. Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Xavier Continues Spring Break Action at Peoples Golf Championship 03.12.25 | Men's Golf The three-day tournament is being played at Sea Palms Resort in St