Friday, May 17, 2013
Law enforcement agencies will be participating in the event.
With the 2013 summer boating and recreational season near, authorities at Lake Lanier are gearing up to stress boating safety. A Boating Safety Awareness Day will be held at Lake Lanier on Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., to help increase awareness of boating safety issues, according to a news release from lake officials. The event will be held at the Sunset Cove area. Several local law enforcement agencies will attend, as well as lake partner agencies and local retailers, the release said. Complimentary vessel safety inspections will be conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Boating safety concerns have increased after several high-profile deaths occurred on the lake in 2012. Buford youths Griffin and Jake Prince and Atlanta youth …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The 2013 legislation lowers Georgia's BUI limit for boaters and hunters, and adds boating safety regulations.
It's official: As of Wednesday (May 15), a new Georgia law regarding the Boating Under the Influence legal limit and other boating safety regulations is in effect. According to a Lake Lanier website, state officials will attend information sessions at local marinas around the state Wednesday. The visits will culminate at Laurel Park in Hall County, where Gov. Nathan Deal will give an address at 2 p.m. The new regulations are contained in Senate Bill 136, which Deal signed into law in April. Portions of the bill are named for late Buford youths Griffin and Jake Prince, and late Atlanta youth Kile Glover. The youths were killed in boating or watercraft-related accidents on Lake Lanier in 2012. The legislation lowers the legal blood-alcohol …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The new law also increases penalties for those caught boating while intoxicated.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, April 23
Gov. Nathan Deal signed SB 136, a bill to strengthen public safety on Georgia's waterways, on Tuesday, April 22, at the Holiday Marina at Lake Lanier. The legislation, a portion of which is known as the Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law, lowers the legal blood-alcohol content for boaters from a 0.10 to 0.08. The new law also increases penalties for those found to be boating while intoxicated. “Far too many tragedies have occurred as a result of boating under the influence and inadequate boater education,” Deal said in a released statement. “Last June, I vowed to work with the General Assembly to pass legislation in honor of Jake and Griffin Prince, who lost their lives last summer in a tragic accident. As I have said, if you are too drunk to…
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The House passes the boater-safety bill named for children killed on Lake Lanier in 2012. The governor's signature is expected.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, March 21
A bill that would lower the state's Boating Under the Influence legal limit and institute boating safety regulations now has cleared both houses of the Georgia General Assembly. On Thursday (March 20), the House passed Senate Bill 136 by a 146-17 vote. The Gainesville Times reported that the "nay" votes are believed to be related to hunter-safety provisions of the bill. The Senate unanimously passed the bill earlier in March. Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to sign the bill, which carries the names of Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford, and Kile Glover of Atlanta. They were all killed in water-safety related incidents last year on Lake Lanier. -- Does this legislation make you feel safer on Lake Lanier? What other changes are needed? Share …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Lake Lanier-inspired bill, which has passed the Senate and is in the House, also would mandate other boating safety changes.
A Georgia bill drafted in response to recent boating fatalities on Lake Lanier would lower the state's BUI limit to that of the limit for motorists. Other boating safety changes also would become law. Senate Bill 136, which was co-sponsored by a Gwinnett legislator, specifically has some acts titled the "Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law" and the "Kile Glover Boat Education Law." The bill passed the state Senate on March 1 by a 50-0 vote and now is in the House. The 2013 legislative session ends March 22. The bill would lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for boat operators to 0.08 grams, the same as that for motorists. Gov. Nathan Deal called for such a move last June. Also, it would require that Georgia boaters meet training requirements …
Friday, March 1, 2013
Hall County grand jury delivers indictment against Jeffrey Hubbard, described as a family friend. Entertainer Usher was formerly Kile Glover's stepfather.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Friday, March 1
Jeffrey Hubbard, who was driving the personal watercraft that was involved with the death of Atlanta youth Kile Glover on Lake Lanier last year, has been indicted by a Hall County grand jury. Hubbard, described as a friend of Glover's family, has been indicted on the following charges: homicide by vessel, serious injury by vessel, reckless operation of a vessel, unlawful operation of a personal watercraft, and boat traffic violation, according to a Department of Natural Resources news release. Hubbard was arrested Friday (March 1) by rangers with Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and is in the Hall County Detention Center, the release said. Glover, the son of the former wife of entertainment superstar Usher, died last July from …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Paul Bennett of Cumming is reportedly scheduled for trial May 20, 2013. He was indicted in connection with the deaths of Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Friday, December 14, 2012
The man who has been indicted in Hall County in connection with the boating deaths of two Gwinnett youths at Lake Lanier has a trial date, according to a media report. The Gainesville Times has reported that Paul Bennett, a Cumming resident, will face trial May 20, 2013. Also, the next motions hearing reportedly is set for January 31. Bennett was indicted for homicide and boating under the influence in connection with the boating collision on June 18, 2012, that killed Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford. Authorities say Bennett's boat collided with a pontoon boat driven by the youths' father. Griffin Prince's body was recovered more than a week after the accident. A Hall County grand jury in August indicted Bennett for eight counts of …
Friday, July 27, 2012
Several recent tragedies prompt resort officials to act with boating aids the Sunset Cove area.
- AWARENESS
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Friday, July 27, 2012
Boating accidents that have claimed the lives of three youths in the past two months on Lake Lanier have prompted resort officials to install a new safety feature -- channel markers. Currently bobbing off the shore of the Sunset Cove area of Lake Lanier Islands are red and green channel markers, designed to aid in navigation through the busy harbor, according to a news release. -- What do you think of this safety measure at Lake Lanier? Tell us in the comments below. “The markers are an effort to assist the boating public in accessing the cove in a more organized fashion, while providing improved entry to the cove by first responders in case of an emergency,” said Bill Donohue, Lake Lanier Island Development Authority's executive director…
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The youngster died from injuries suffered in an accident on Lake Lanier earlier in July.
- AWARENESS
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Thursday, July 26, 2012
The funeral for Kile Glover, the Atlanta youth who died from injuries suffered on Lake Lanier in July, will be Friday (July 27), according to media reports. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that the services for the son of Usher's ex-wife will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Weiuca Road Baptist Church on Peachtree Road. Glover, 11, and a teenage friend were in an inner tube being pulled on a boat when they were hit by a personal watercraft. Glover suffered severe head injuries and was on life support for two weeks. The Georgia DNR has identified Jeffrey S. Hubbard, a family friend, as the driver of the personal watercraft. No charges have been filed in the incident, and alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the incident. …
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Social media users are sharing their grief over the youth's reported death.
- AWARENESS
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Saturday, July 21, 2012
Updated 5:50 p.m. As reports of Kile Glover's death were seen over the Internet on Saturday, reaction came from many on Twitter, which long has been abuzz about the son of entertainer Usher's ex-wife. Music mogul Russell Simmons (@unclerush) tweeted, "I am sending out every prayer I got to Tameka, Ryan, Usher and their family..." Said Tameka Harris (@tinymajormama), "Sending our condolences to @tamekaraymond & Ryan Glover...our heart & prayers are with u all & the family! May your son R.I.P" Glover, 11, was taken off life support recently after suffering critical injuries in an accident on Lake Lanier in early July. Reports say his mother, Tameka Raymond, made the decision because insurance coverage no longer would pay for the life support…
Macs Pontoons
12:03 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Bad idea! First of all, it makes no sense to have this sort of set up in an area that's already considered a 'no wake' zone. Secondly, unless everyone who visits Sunset Cove reads this article, they won't have a clue what the markers are for, and not to mention that the markers are not visible at night. I say take them down and leave well enough alone! more ›