About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 2024)
theislanderonline.com Published by 75 Jjjjerfy Christmas Many Thanks Permar Publications ssislander@bellsouth.net December 23, 2024 Established in 1972 Vol 52 Issue 51 Blue Angels headline May Air Show Blue Angels 7 and 8, LCDR Lilly Montana (Blue Angel 8) (left) and U.S.M.C. Maj. Scott Laux (Blue Angel 7) landed at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport last week for a press conference announcing the U.S. Navy Blue Angels participation in the May 2025 Golden Isles Air Show. The air show is scheduled May 17 and 18, 2025 at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport. Tickets are on sale at GoldenlslesAirShow.com. Islander Staff Photo - Permar BOE selects sole finalist for superintendent position Feds file lawsuit against City By Pamela Permar- Shierling Last week the U.S. Depart ment of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the City of Brunswick alleging that the City violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) through its efforts to interfere with and permanently close The Well. RLUIPA is a federal law that protects religious institu tions from unduly burdensome or discriminatory land use regulations. The Well, located at 1101 Gloucester St., is a shelter offering day services to the homeless. It is one of several ministries run by Southeast ern Educational Services, Inc. d.b.a. FaithWorks. Southeast ern Educational Services, Inc. is affiliated with the United Methodist Church according to their web site. In April 2023 the city com mission voted to order The Well to close. Mayor Cosby Johnson sent a letter to Wright Culpepper who oversees Faith- Works and The Well to close the facility and to remove the trash cans and portable toilets located next to The Well on J.F. Mann Way. The homeless were gather ing and sleeping on the side walk on J.F. Mann Way. According to the lawsuit, the city’s order to close The Well did not cite what ordinance, regulation or legal authority was the basis for the closing. Early in April 2023, prior to closing The Well, the city com mission met with members of the public including residents and business owners who dis cussed their experiences with homeless persons near their businesses and homes. The city also passed an ordinance in April regulating services to Turn to Page 8 Federal lawsuit With a unanimous vote dur ing their regular meeting, the Glynn County Board of Edu cation members named Mike Blackerby the sole finalist for the superintendent position effective July 1, 2025. Glynn’s current superintendent Dr. Scott Spence will formally re tire June 30, 2025. During the same meeting last week, Dec. 17, the board said goodbye to two members: Jerry Mancil and Marcus Edgy. Mancil served for 16 years and Edgy has served for By Pamela Permar-Shierling eight years. Blackerby graduated from Brunswick High School and earned a B.S. degree in Edu cation from the University of Georgia; a Master of Edu cation degree from Georgia Southern University; an Edu cation Specialist Degree from Valdosta State University. He taught physical educa tion in Camden County and coached football, golf and track. In 2002 he was named assistant principal at Wood bine Elementary School and became principal in 2009. In 2015 he became Director of Operations / Transportation for Camden County Schools and in 2021 came to Glynn County as Executive Direc tor of Operations for Glynn County Schools. He became Assistant Superintendent of Operations in 2023. Blackerby, born and raised in Glynn County, is the son of Linda and Johnny Blackerby. Turn to Page 2 Blackerby County-Wide News - Read County-Wide Page 4- 2280 Demere rezone deferred ~ Ord. change allows service on more than one county board Page 6 - Bwk. Police Chief addresses complaint Page 9 - Man of the Year, Man of the Ages ~ BOE continues school safety upgrade Page 10 - Obit - Anne Lyerly Page 12 - Back Talk Fendig honored on stepping down from BOC • K&P liquor license sparks discussion By Matthew J. Permar Like President-elect Don ald Trump, Glynn County Commissioner Cap Fendig is one of those rare elected offi cials to serve non-consecutive terms. Fendig, Glynn County born and raised, was first elected to the Glynn County Board of Commissioners (BOC) in 2000 and served two terms, eight years, until 2008. He ran again and was re elected to a third term in 2020 and served his last meeting, last week (Thursday, Dec. 19). So, it was after 12 years of public service to the citizens of Glynn County that the com mission honored him during last week’s meeting. Turn to Page 3 Fendig City says no to new alcohol license By Pamela Permar- Shierling After 52 minutes of discus sion and a public hearing, the Brunswick City Commission voted three to two to deny a new alcohol beverage license to Fountain Package owner Sudhaben Patel. The vote during the Dec. 18 commission meeting was Mayor Cosby Johnson and commissioners Kendra Rolle and Gwen Atkinson-Williams voting to deny; commissioners Felicia Harris and Lance Sab- be voting against denial. Seven people spoke dur ing the public hearing; six spoke in favor of the license including at least one nearby resident. Apparently the former Turn to Page 10 City 0 94922 29970 3
