Agribusiness

NEWS - Agribusiness

SBJ Staff Report

June 14, 2010 –Mary O. Burroughs, 66, of Savannah has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of embezzlement, money laundering, credit card fraud and identity theft for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from Riverview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (“Riverview”), a non-profit organization which received millions of dollars in federal funding.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver said Monday, “This defendant is allegedly to have used her position as Administrator of a non-profit nursing home to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the organization.  The indictment alleges that she systematically took money over a one-year period and used it for her own selfish purposes.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting financial fraud and regaining what victims of these crimes have lost.” 

The indictment alleges that between May 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010, Burroughs used her position as administrator “to cause Riverview to issue multiple checks from its Wachovia money market account to cash, which she then used to purchase cashier’s checks made payable to Burrough’s Heating & Air and others.

Burroughs is alleged to have embezzled over $235,000 from the Riverview money market account.  In addition, the indictment alleges that she used a Riverview credit card in the name of an employee she had terminated to make thousands of dollars of unauthorized and personal charges.  The indictment also alleges that, without permission or authority, she had others rip out copper piping and other metal objects from a Riverview building to be sold as scrap metal.

In addition, the indictment charges Burroughs with 5 counts of stealing from a program receiving federal funds and one count of credit card fraud, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.  She is also charged with four counts of money laundering which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 on each count. 

Finally, the indictment alleges one count of aggravated identity theft, which requires a 2-year consecutive prison sentence to any other sentence imposed. Tarver emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, he said.

The indictment of Burroughs arises out of a joint investigation by United States Secret Service Special Agent William Griffin, Detective Raymond Woodberry of the Savannah-Chatham County Metro Police Department and Karen S. Hartley, Forensic Auditor with the United States Attorney’s Office.  First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham is prosecuting the case.

Stan Adams Jr. is now the Acting Administrator of Riverview. Mr. Adams was unavailable for comment.

NEWS - Agribusiness

Two economic slump survivors are reinventing their careers by opening a bargain hunters’ paradise unique to the Savannah area. Lowcountry Liquidators is buying overstock and discontinued merchandise from major retailers and will soon start selling it to the public. “The core of our merchandise is going to be furniture, but we’ll also sell some electronics and appliances,” said business owner Mark Grant. “Our motto is if it’s not illegal or immoral, we’ll sell it”. Grant and business partner Eric Walsnovich are committed to finding deals for people in the Savannah area because they are both laid off professionals now starting second careers. Grant is an engineer, and Walsnovich is a landscape architect. Both worked for an engineering firm in Savannah whose business dried up in the recession. Walsnovich said, “Our prices are at least 50% off retail. We are determined to find the best deals for our customers because we know firsthand how tough the economy is right now.”

NEWS - Agribusiness

Deputy Michael Johns and Deputy Robert Francisco of the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office and Captain Paul Phillips and Firefighter Brian Stafford of the Savannah Fire Department have been selected by a committee of Law Enforcement and Fire Command Officers from nominations from all 20 counties supported by The 200 Club of the Coastal Empire. They will be honored the evening of February 25th at the Charles H. Morris Center during a Color Guard ceremony for acts of valor at The 200 Club of the Coastal Empire's annual meeting.

The award recipients will each be given a plaque, a medal of valor and a $2,500 gift.

Deputy Sheriff Michael Johns and Deputy Robert Francisco of the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office receive their award for actions taken on April 12, 2009 when they were dispatched to an emergency call on Interstate 95. Deputy Johns instantaneously began searching for a problem. Moments later, Deputy Johns noticed a vehicle parked on the northbound shoulder of Interstate 95 and stopped to offer assistance. When he got out of his vehicle, he found that he had come upon a single vehicle accident and that the vehicle was overturned in the marsh. Deputy Johns immediately radioed for an ambulance and assistance from his coworkers.

With no concern for his own safety, Deputy Johns ran into the mud and water of the Darien River to render aid. As he approached the vehicle he found that is was partially submerged under water and there were eight people in the van that were drowning. Deputy Johns immediately began a rescue operation to save the lives of the trapped victims.

Deputy Robert Francisco arrived on the scene and immediately began assisting Deputy Johns in rescuing people from the submerged vehicle. During the rescue operation Deputy Francisco suffered a severe laceration to his left thumb. This did not deter Deputy Francisco from the rescue operation as he and Deputy Johns continued to pull victims from the submerged vehicle. Deputy Francisco even continued to perform CPR on one of the deceased victims until the EMT arrived on the scene to relieve him. Deputy Johns continued to render first aid to the victims until EMT also relieved him.

Although two lives were lost in the accident and six lives were saved, it is very certain that all of the victims of the accident would have perished if not for the quick thinking and selfless actions of Deputies Johns and Francisco.

Captain Paul Phillips and Firefighter Brian Stafford of the Savannah Fire Department receive their award for actions taken on February 24, 2009.

Off duty Firefighter Brian Stafford and Captain Paul Phillips were dining at a restaurant on Hodgson Memorial Drive when Captain Phillips noticed a bright glow and smoke at the nearby apartment complex. Firefighter Stafford and Captain Phillips immediately drove to The Woods of Savannah Apartments, where they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the second and third floors of the three-story apartment building. Captain Phillips and Firefighter Stafford entered the apartment building and guided residents out of the smoked filled hallway. They both assisted with forcing doors open to notify and assist occupants with getting out of the building. They also attempted to search for occupants on the second floor but were hindered by heavy smoke and heat. Firefighter Stafford was treated for smoke inhalation at St. Joseph Hospital and Captain Phillips suffered burns to his face and arms.

For more information or to become a member, visit www.twohundredclub.org.

NEWS - Agribusiness

OP ED:  Commentary By Sen. Tim Golden

 

Feb. 15, 2010 - State revenues just declined by another $136.9 million in January, a drop-off of 8.7 percent from last year. Through the first seven months of this fiscal year, Georgia’s deep economic recession has caused a shortfall of nearly $1.3 billion.

 

As secretary of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I can attest that legislative budget writers are scrutinizing not only every line item on the expenditure side of the ledger as we deal with the state’s fiscal crisis, we are also seeking ways to maximize the income side. Severe budget cuts are taking their toll on state services and affecting Georgians’ lives in critical areas like education, health care and public safety.

 

Some lawmakers have questioned whether the twice-a-year state sales tax holidays on certain goods are costing the treasury too much money and need to be discontinued or at least suspended until the economy turns around. The answer to that question is no.

 

Having introduced the original version of Georgia’s sales tax holiday legislation along with former Rep. Ron Borders in 1999, I welcome the scrutiny. We do need to take a close look at every program that has an impact on the state’s fiscal balance sheet, but the fact is our sales tax holidays have been a major success for Georgia consumers, retail businesses and, ultimately, the taxpayers.

 

The General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly each and every year to renew the tax-free period for back-to-school items in the summer and a few years ago added a separate tax holiday weekend for energy-efficient appliances. It has always been an easy case to make because of the sales tax holidays’ popularity with shoppers and retailers alike.

 

Now, there is statistical data showing that sales tax holidays – rather than “costing” revenue – actually enhance a state’s fiscal health. The Georgia Retail Association (GRA), using a study conducted by the Washington Economics Group as a guide, reports that Georgia’s back-to-school sales tax holiday has a positive economic impact, causing an 8 percent increase in gross sales.

 

While the study looked specifically at Florida’s experience with sales tax holidays, GRA extrapolated the following conclusions for our state:

 

n      The back-to-school sales tax holiday is responsible for generating 6,174 full-time equivalent jobs, 71 percent in retail.

n      An additional $177 million in wages were paid during Georgia’s back-to-school sales tax holiday.

n      The increased economic activity caused by the tax relief on back-to-school products resulted in a net increase of $33 million in taxes collected.

 

“There is an increase in economic activity due to the stimulating nature of the back-to-school sales tax holiday,” GRA President John Heavener reports. “The result is an additional period of spending on goods and services that continues as a halo effect for the following months. Sales of items that remain taxable during the holiday are directly and significantly increased by a higher number of people shopping, and indirectly increased by the additional $177 million in labor income, a large portion of which is, in turn, spent and thus generating additional sales taxes.”

 

One out of every five jobs in Georgia is in the retail sector. The back-to-school and energy-efficient sales tax holiday periods give our retailers a much-needed booster shot in the arm, twice a year.

 

This sales tax holiday is especially needed in border cities like Brunswick, Thomasville, Columbus, Dalton, Augusta, Savannah and hundreds of communities in between to keep Georgians shopping in Georgia and attracting more business from our neighboring states.

 

Many of the tax breaks that have been written into Georgia law over the years have been geared toward major corporations in the name of job creation. The benefits of our sales tax holiday periods are targeted directly at the working families in our state who need a break, especially during economic conditions that make it so difficult to make ends meet.

 

Georgia’s sales tax holidays are a proven success. We should continue to support legislation that gives tax relief to those who need it most, boosts consumer spending to help the economy and ultimately generates additional revenue to help balance the state budget.

 

Editors Note: Sen. Tim Golden (D-Valdosta) represents the 8^th District, is Secretary of the Senate Appropriations Committee, serves on the Finance Committee and is Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus in the Georgia Legislature.

 

 

 

 

NEWS - Agribusiness

by Editorial Staff, SBJ.com

Does it mean that Broughton St. has finally arrived as a tourism destination? Word is that a McDonalds will open on Broughton St., though no building permit has been filed for renovations, nor has the MPC been contacted about any change to the exterior of any building in that area that identifies the project is a McDonalds. But local bankers say that it’s so… that the golden arches are on their way.

 

If the rumors are accurate, the fast food restaurant will need to go before the MPC is they want to file for a change in use or a change to the exterior, according to Jack Butler, comprehensive planner with the Metropolitan Planning Commission.  If they want to change the exterior, they will also have to go before the Historic District Review board, as well.

 

The fast food restaurant could be a corporate-owned store, or a franchisee…there are two companies which own franchises in the area.  The owner of the McDonalds on Montgomery St. says it’s not his store, and calls to Nina Gomples, owner of the very successful McDonalds at Waters and Eisenhower, were not returned.

 

Brian Robin, owner of Robin Restoration, LLC. took out a permit to restore the exterior of three vacant historic stores at 313, 315 and 317 E. Broughton St. and appeared before the Historic District Review Board. The design was approved, but the client was not identified, according to Robin who said that his client is not ready to go public yet with their plans.  Robin Restoration is located at 570 E. York St. Building permit applications are in the process of being filed, as well, he said.

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Speaking of changes on Broughton St., Canvas Products was the vendor of choice for a new awning at Earthbound Trading Company at 312 W. Broughton St. and Tanner’s Pizza is looking to change its sign, one that will extend from the building at 21 E. Broughton. Good to see some action there. The number of empty storefronts keeps growing.

 

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The unusually cold winter in Savannah has had an impact on tourism, and on plans along River Street for area businesses.  Wet Willie’s First Friday Fireworks had to be cancelled last week, a decision made by the Savannah Fire Department and supported by the Savannah Waterfront Assn. The fireworks were part a Friday night of events including the Westin First Friday Oyster Roast, which was able to be held. Tourists and locals alike were able to enjoy free on-site parking and free ferry service on the Savannah Belle’s free ferry service to Hutchinson Island from River Street, to make it an easy destination, according to Kenny Hill, director of the Savannah Waterfront Assn.

 

The First Friday River Street festivals and events are presented by Verizon Wireless and Southern Eagle Distributing this year, hosted by the Savannah Waterfront Association and are sponsored by Wet Willie’s, Coca-Cola, Wachovia and Cumulus Broadcasting.

 

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The Chatham County Commissione has voted to freeze all positions, except for public safety, to but the budget, but Commissioner Harris Odell urged the county administration to exercise judgment in deciding which other positions must be filled when they become vacant.

 

“I think this would be a good opportunity to engage the workforce; while a hiring freeze generally is good, there will be some positions that are more crucial. I would hope that we would look at that,” he said.

 

County Manager Russ Abolt stated that the county uses a consultant to help them make those decisions, and assured Odell that this would take place.

 

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Under the category of helping make Chatham County a “business friendly” region, the County Commissioners voted this month to streamline the Alcohol & Beverage approval process, reversing a process of approvals put in place by the majority of the prior commission.  Chiefs Lovett and Anderson will now review all applications, and have the power to issue permits, ending the procedure of bringing every license request before the Commission.

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Low Country Machinery, founded in 2001, the authorized JCB dealer for the Coastal Georgia region, has expanded into the Atlanta market.  The expansion gives them coverage across the state of Georgia with the addition of two new locations, Atlanta JCB in Kennesaw and one in Augusta.  Rick Piper, will serve as president overseeing operations at all three locations.

The current slowdown provided an excellent opportunity for expansion, according to Piper. When the market is in full swing, it is more difficult for organizations to focus on training and business processes.“It was important to me that we carried our corporate culture over to Atlanta. I believe that all of our staff, from sales people to service technicians needs to have the same customer focus and ‘can do’ attitude,” added Piper.

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Students at Savannah Technical College will soon have an opportunity to hear from successful business professionals as a part of a new quarterly speakers series Mind Your Business, which will feature Charlie Brazil of Old Town Trolley Tours as its inaugural speaker on Feb. 24.

 

The concept for the speakers series was advanced by Brendan Ferrara, department head and instructor of Marketing and Hospitality Management. “So many of our students come to us with no idea what it takes to be successful in business,” says Ferrara. “Whether they are entrepreneurs, manage the company or operate a franchise, we know that there are people in our area with great stories to tell.”

 

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More jobs are coming to Georgia: Novelis, Inc., a world leader in the production of flat-rolled aluminum products, will relocate its North American headquarters from Cleveland, Ohio to Atlanta, adding 80 corporate jobs to Novelis’ Atlanta staff. This will bring the company’s Atlanta office up to 220 people by the end of 2010 when combined with other expected staff additions. Atlanta is already home to the company’s world headquarters, which located to Georgia in 2005.

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The Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta will be the site of the upcoming Annual Heritage Dinner, with State Sen. Lester Jackson (D- Savannah) serving as Chairman of the event this Wednesday, Feb.17 at 6:30 p.m.

 

“I’m honored to serve as Chairman of the Heritage Dinner,” said Jackson. “This event is vital to our fundraising efforts and a great opportunity for everyone at the State Capitol to learn more about the many contributions that African-Americans have had to our state and to our nation.”

Each year, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) puts on the Heritage Dinner that celebrates African- American history by revealing painting, music and dance, as well as acknowledging community activists who thoroughly serve to improve and enhance communities of color in Georgia. All proceeds raised will support the Young Scholars Scholarship and Legislative Internship programs.

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NEWS - Agribusiness

“Historic Preservation and Sustainability: Lessons from the Past” Talk at Feb. 23 Monthly Meeting

SBJ.com Staff Report

Sarah Ward of the Savannah Area Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) will discuss “Historic Preservation and Sustainability: Lessons from the Past” at the Feb. 23 meeting of the Savannah Chapter of the United States Green Building Council.

“There is a perception that historic preservation and green building practices are contradictory and cannot co-exist,” in Ward’s opinion. “Historic and traditional building practices have proven to be our most sustainable buildings throughout time, meaning they were built to be long lasting and can be adapted for new uses.”

She will examine how historically, architects, builders and property owners all worked together to create high performance buildings – that preservation of our existing building stock is recycling and as such, these buildings are inherently ‘green.’

The Feb. 23 meeting of the Savannah Chapter of the United States Green Building Council will be held from 5:45-7 p.m. on the second floor of Wild Wing Cafe in City Market. The meeting is free and open to the public, but an RSVP by Feb. 19 is requested at www.usgbcga.org.

The Savannah Chapter of the United States Green Building Council is dedicated to promoting sustainable design and green building throughout the Creative Coast. The group meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday of the month. The meetings are open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend. The USGBC-Savannah Chapter seeks to educate the public on the long-term benefits of green building and how sustainable design can be integrated or implemented into one's life.

The Savannah Chapter of the United States Green Building Council will be holding its annual Green EXPO from April 30 to May 2. The EXPO will be held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center as a featured highlight within the Home Builders Association of Greater Savannah’s 2010 Southern Home Show. For more details, visit www.usgbcga.org or http://homebuildersofsavannah.com

The Green Building Council is also planning a “Green Scene Tour” to be held May 25. Attendees can see first-hand how green products can be beautiful, efficient and healthful. The tour will be at the Sustainable Fellwood community, considered a national showcase for environmentally-responsible community planning. It is a mixed use, mixed income Housing Authority of Savannah redevelopment with several private partners. For more details, visit www.usgbcga.org

NEWS - Agribusiness

The Savannah Economic Development Authority’s (SEDA) monthly board meeting, which is open to the public, will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 10: 30a.m.

The agenda includes final approval of SEDA’s financials for 2009, as well as the financials of The Creative Coast Alliance. Last month, the SEDA board approved the 2010 operating budget which included a cut in the operating budget of the TCCa.

An executive session has also been posted, immediately following the open session.

Board meetings are held at SEDA’s offices on Hutchinson Island, 4^th floor.

NEWS - Agribusiness

Potential for Ban on ALL Bottom Fishing In 10,000 Square Mile Area Looms

By Ted Carter

SBJ Staff

Part 1 of 3

1/11/2010 - The federal government is about to place off limits a vast portion of the Atlantic that has been a fertile backyard for Georgia’s recreational and commercial fishermen.

Fishermen are marking their calendars for mid-2011 and wondering what fishing options will be left to them after the U.S. government closes off nearly 10,000 square miles of federal waters to bottom fishing. The target area for what could be a decades-long closure covers a stretch from South Carolina near Charleston to just below Central Florida’s Cape Canaveral. For Georgia, the closure area would begin about 30 miles off shore.

Put simply, federal officials say, not enough young grouper and red snapper in these waters are getting an opportunity to grow old and reproduce. The blame rests with bottom fishing, they say, citing a fatality rate of between 60 percent and 80 percent of undersized fish of these species that are caught and discarded.

Fishing discards are the “800-pound gorilla of the fisheries management arena,” said Spud Woodward, director of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division.  “You pull a fish up from 200 feet and it doesn’t do well after that.”

What’s coming, he said, is a massive, unprecedented closure. But it’s one the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council can’t avoid without violating the federal Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, he said.

Revisions to the law in 2006 gave fishery managers until 2010 to present strategies to remedy overfishing once that is deemed to be occurring. A 2008 assessment concluded grouper and red snapper discards had reached unacceptable levels, officials say.

No use looking for wiggle room, said Woodward, the Georgia DNR’s representative on the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, one of several geographically based councils set up by the National Marine Fisheries Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The law is specific in its mandate and does not allow outside factors such as economic hardship to override the goal of stopping the overfishing.

“Magnuson-Stevens is driving this,” Woodward said. “It’s forcing the council to act in ways it never contemplated before.”

Woodward expects the closures to come “sometime” in 2011. “This is such an unprecedented measure,” he said in a phone interview last week from his Brunswick office. “We’re all just trying to get our minds around it.”

Settling on a duration for the fishing closures offers a dilemma – the shorter the closure the more severe the restrictions must be, while the longer the closure the less severe the restrictions  need be. Closing alternatives under consideration range from 15 to 35 years, 

“What we’re talking about is a rebuilding schedule,” Woodward said. “The less severe the alternative (in terms of area closed and restrictions put in place) the longer the duration.”

The Fisheries Council’s preferred alternative would set a 35-year rebuilding schedule. This alternative, according to Amendment 17A (the designation given the contemplated action) would “support little or no harvest of red snapper in the initial years of rebuilding but would allow some incidental catch of red snapper when targeting co-occurring species.”  This alternative would require a kill reduction rate of 90.3 percent.

Another alternative calls for a 50-year restriction that would require an 85 percent reduction in total kill. An alternative to rebuild the stock through 2036, four years longer than the preferred alternative, would require an initial reduction in total kill of 88 percent.

The Fisheries Council’s preferred alternative would prohibit commercial and recreational harvest, possession and retention of species in the snapper-grouper family year-round in an area that includes commercial logbook grids 2880, 2980, 3080, 3179, 3180, 3278 and 3279 between a depth of 98 feet (16 fathoms; 3m) to 240 feet (40 fathoms; 73m). It would allow black sea bass harvest, possession and retention in the closed area if fish were harvested with black sea bass pots with endorsements.

Further, the preferred alternative would allow tilefish harvest, possession, and retention in the closed area.

Divers using spearfishing gear could harvest snapper-grouper species in the closed area.

Fisheries managers and fishermen alike are holding out some hope, however slight it may be, that a new assessment of grouper-red snapper populations later this year will ease the need for drastic action.

“We’re all hoping that it will tells us the measures won’t have to be as severe as we’re now thinking,” the DNR’s Woodward said. “It’s sort of like getting a second opinion from a doctor.”

Part 2:  Local Commercial Industry Reaction

Part 3: New Years Off to Dismal Start for Charter Fishing Business