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	Savannah Tech adds online job search SAVANNAH -- The Career Services Department of Savannah Technical College has launched a new program, eRecruiting. Students and graduates can complete a registration profile, upload resumes, search for career and internship opportunities, apply to positions, sign up for interviews, search for tips and best practices for resumes and interviews as well as view upcoming career events. This one stop shop for students gives them information at the click of the mouse while giving employers the freedom to post jobs at any time. The service is free to use for businesses and Savannah Technical College students. Students and employers can access ... Read Article »
	Georgia Power employees bike for cure The Georgia Power cycling team joined many other cyclists at the Bike MS: Georgia Power Savannah Ride, projected to raise more than $250,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society -- Georgia Chapter (www.nationalMSsociety.org). More than 300 cyclists registered to participate in the two-day ride that moved through 90-miles of historic Savannah and its scenic coast on May 3-4. Funds raised will support national research for a cure for MS and programs and services that help 8,500 Georgians with MS, their friends and families. Read Article »
	MidCoast Regional Airport gets logo, motto Read Article »
	City promotes home purchases Hinesville's Next Step program drew a lot of interest May 3 during its homebuyer education workshop, making it the largest to date. "Our workshops provide potential homebuyers with an abundance of knowledge from different professionals in our area," Next Step coordinator Tabeter Robinson said. With more than 20 in attendance, the class covered various topics and allowed for interactive discussion. The next workshop will be May 17 at Club Stewart on post. The event is open to the community, but will focus on assisting the military through the home purchasing process. Hinesville will facilitate the class with Army Community Services. ... Read Article »
	Local Comcast office helps Tri-County during Comcast Cares Day Employees of the Comcast office in Hinesville were among the 50,000 Comcast employees, families and friends who participated in the seventh annual "Comcast Cares Day," one of the nation's largest single-day corporate volunteer efforts, Saturday. The local Comcasters pitched in to give a face-lift, indoors and out, to the Tri-County Protective Agency shelter. The agency serves families in Liberty County who are in crisis due to domestic violence, abuse and other issues. The agency, a non-profit 501C3 organization. Armed with lawnmowers, paint brushes, tools and creativity the Comcasters cut the grass, built a swing set, fixed up a basketball court, ... Read Article »
	Local Coffee Shop recognized for military family support SFC Bert Hicks of the 5th Squadron, 7th Calvary 1st BCT (left) and his wife Victoria Hicks, Family Readiness Group leader for the Dealer Troop present a certificate of appreciation to Over Coffee owner Jenny Cole (pink), Amber Goelz and Drew Cole for their support of the FRG during the deployment period. The Coles also received individual certificates. Read Article »
	Coastal Bank acquires of BankSouth in Savannah SAVANNAH -- Coastal Bankshares, Inc. and its subsidiary, The Coastal Bank, have acquired BankSouth's Savannah branches as part of a plan to expand The Coastal Bank's footprint and increase assets. With the acquisition, Coastal Bankshares, operates five full-service banking offices in the Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties and has total assets of $420 million. Now that the acquisition is complete, Coastal's executive offices and commercial banking offices will move to BankSouth's former downtown Savannah location at 18 W. Bryan St. The bank's office at 27 Bull St. on Johnson Square will continue to operate a downtown branch. BankSouth, a Greensboro-based ... Read Article »
	Hinesville's jobless numbers drop in March, up over the year ATLANTA -- The Georgia Department of Labor reported last week that the unemployment rate in the metro Hinesville area declined to 5.0 percent in March, down two-tenths of one percent from 5.2 percent in February. The rate, however, is up one-half of one percent over the year, from 4.5 percent in March of 2007. The regional rate was unchanged at 4.5 percent from February to March. But, the rate for Coastal Georgia is up 1.1 percent over the year, from 3.4 percent in March of 2007. Meanwhile, the state's unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.3 percent from February to March. ... Read Article »
	GMH Military Housing Becomes Balfour Beatty Communities NEWTON SQUARE, PA. -- GMH Military Housing, the former military housing division of GMH Communities Trust, announced Wednesday that it has been acquired by Balfour Beatty plc, a UK-based international engineering, construction, investment and services group, for an aggregate purchase price of $350.5 million. GMH has been the private contractor for housing on Fort Stewart. The military housing business will now be managed under the name Balfour Beatty Communities, and a news release from it said it will continue its focus on providing housing for members of the U.S. military and their families throughout the United States. The executive management ... Read Article »
	Job fair on May 15 A Liberty/Long County job fair, sponsored by the Liberty County Department of Labor Employee Committee of Hinesville, will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Savannah Technical College's Hinesville campus. If you would like to attend or have a booth to represent your business/organization, call Holly Stevens-Brown at 876-3564 or P.J. Schneider at 370-2595. The cost is $50. Read Article »
	Long County Development Authority OKs two businesses for park LUDOWICI -- The Long County Development Authority approved two new businesses to go into the Industrial Park on Highway 84 Tuesday. Paul McGowan got the OK to put up a 106,000 square foot building to manufacture metal roof panels and their components, and to establish a roofing supply company. The building will be on approximately nine acres and could bring as many as 30 jobs. Tuesday's meeting was one of several between McGowan and the authority, where details were ironed out. One area of concern, which was voiced by McGowan, regarded covenants on the industrial park, which brought up questions ... Read Article »
	Land trust expands holdings into northwest Georgia The Georgia Land Trust, which used a loan from the Open Space Institute to acquire a 201-acre tract adjacent to Fort Stewart, is branching out into other areas of the state. GLT made a bargain purchase of development rights on the property at Fort Stewart to assist the Army Compatible Use Buffer program. ACUB works to ensure that strategic military installations do not have their training and force deployment functions limited by encroaching development. Jim Floyd, president and CEO of the Heritage Bank, serves on the GLT board. In a new program an $110,000 grant to assist in the protection ... Read Article »
	Georgia Power seeking rate hike ATLANTA -- Georgia Power is asking the Public Service Commission for a 3 percent rate increase to cover the rising cost of buying coal and natural gas. The company uses both materials to generate electricity. Georgia Power's John Kraft says the rate hike will be a so-called "pass through charge." He says the company is not allowed to earn any profit on the fuel charge and that the increase would be used only to recover money spent on the fuel. If the request is approved, the average residential customer would see their bills increase by about $3 ... Read Article »
	HABR awards banquet The Hinesville Area Board of Realtors had its annual awards banquet at the Celebration castle in Long County in March. Award winners included Edward Milan (left) of Coldwell Banker, Rookie of the Year; Barbara Wheeler of Century 21, Top Producer of the Year and Eric Lukkarinen, Realtor of the Year. HABR is a member-driven, not-for-profit association that serves real estate professionals in Liberty County and surrounding areas. Read Article »
	Coastal Bank's Liberty branch gets new president SAVANNAH -- Banking professional G. Mike Odom Jr. recently joined The Coastal Bank as executive vice president and Liberty County division president. In his new position, Odom is responsible for growth and expansion of the company's Hinesville office and will assist in the development of other strategic initiatives. "Obviously, we are delighted to have someone of Mike Odom's caliber joining us and leading a critical piece of our organization," said J. Thomas Wiley Jr., president and CEO of Coastal Bankshares, Inc. "Mike rounds out our executive management team and puts us in a position to significantly grow our Liberty and ... Read Article »
	HABR hears about challenges to real estate Hazel Hendrix of Century 21 in Statesboro and the Georgia Association of Realtors Region 9 director talked about the challenges and issues in the real estate industry at the monthly Hinesville Board on Realtors meeting on April 16 at the Celebration Castle in Long County. Included in the presentation was information on the current negative news media coverage and its effect on the housing market. Lori Versele was introduced as the new association executive for the board. Kathy Villafane of Realty Executives discussed the plans for the Relay for Life participation as well as the HABR golf tournament benefiting the ... Read Article »