CHARLTON COUNTY

Two tornadoes were confirmed in Southeast Georgia on Wednesday afternoon from a round of severe storms.

Early voting is now underway statewide in Georgia ahead of next month’s Senate runoff election between Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker.

You've likely heard of Brian Kemp, David Perdue, Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker. But there are scores of other names on the ballot for dozens of state and local offices. A look at all the candidates who want your vote on Tuesday.

Week 3 of the high school football season is mostly in the books, with just four Saturday games remaining.

The Buccaneers ran early, often and with ease in the opening game of the Border Classic, routing West Nassau 42-8 in the Florida-Georgia showdown at Glynn County Stadium in Brunswick.

The Border Classic presented by Baker’s Sports puts high school football in the spotlight this week, with seven games over three days.

A Georgia family reached out to News4JAX, asking for help with horrible flooding.

High school football season is right around the corner. Here's the weekly schedule for teams from the North Florida and South Georgia coverage area.

Jury selection begins Monday for two of the men sent to Death Row for kidnapping, robbing, and murdering a local couple.

You've likely heard of Brian Kemp, David Perdue, Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker. But there are scores of other names on the ballot for dozens of state and local offices. A look at all the candidates who want your vote on Tuesday.

A vigil was held Monday night to remember a Charlton County High School football player who deputies say drowned last week.

Update 10:27 p.m.

A 17-year-old missing swimmer found dead Thursday evening was a football player at Charlton County High School, the school‘s head football coach confirmed to News4JAX.

Voters are already casting ballots in the primary races for governor, U.S. senator, and other statewide and local offices. Winners of their party primary will advance to November's general election.

The Camden County sheriff says he may sue county leaders because they won’t increase his budget.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation ajnd the Folkston Police Department are asking for the public’s help finding a 33-year-old man who they identify as a suspect in the fatal shooting of Javarr Nelson on August 1 at Nelson’s home in Folkston.

Combining a high percentage of a small population contracting COVID-19 and a shockingly low rate of vaccination, Charlton County was listed at the top of Surgo Venture’s ranking of the top 20 counties in the United deemed “delta danger zones.”

A battle over whether to allow mining near the vast wildlife refuge in the Okefenokee Swamp rests with Georgia state regulators after federal agencies declared they no longer have oversight

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 1,872 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19. As of Tuesday, a total of 794,349 confirmed cases had been reported by the state Department of Public Health. The agency on Tuesday reported 180 additional confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 -- including one in Charlton County, one in Glynn County and two in Ware County -- bringing the state’s total to 14,176 confirmed deaths since the start of the pandemic. Ad(Note: There are variations in the day-to-day data reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health. At times, cases and deaths are removed from the overall running total reported by the Department of Public Health.)

The Georgia Department of Public Health late Monday began publishing a new and much more detailed online vaccine dashboard that breaks down both statewide and individual county vaccine numbers. Monday night’s posting shows 1,445,835 shots have been administered in Georgia. According to the dashboard, 74% of the nearly 2 million doses shipped to Georgia have been administered. The dashboard shows Glynn County as having the highest percentage of residents in Southeast Georgia receiving vaccines, with 25.4% having received at least one shot. AdYou can look up your own county and see the statewide numbers on the new GDPH vaccine dashboard.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported an additional 2,012 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The state Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 43 additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 8,264. Two of the reported deaths happened in local counties, one in Charlton County and one in Glynn County. (Note: There are variations in the day-to-day data reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health. At times, cases and deaths are removed from the overall running total reported by the Department of Public Health.)

VOTER’S GUIDE: Races on ballots in SE Georgia counties | Early in-person voting begins this week | 3 ways to vote in GeorgiaGeorgia Gov. She is among 20 candidates in that race -- eight Democrats, six Republicans and six others from smaller parties or not aligned with any party. Stacey Abrams, who came within 2% of defeating Kemp in 2018 and has remained active campaigning for voter registration, has endorsed Warnock. “Don’t anybody get out,” Trump said last month at an event in Cobb County, implying that having two Republicans duking it out in the Senate race would help his own reelection prospects. U.S. Senate (6-year term)The second Senate seat on the ballot is on its normal election cycle.

While multiple races will appear on every voter’s ballot, Georgia’s biggest prize -- and intrigue -- this election year are the state’s two U.S. Senate seats. Georgia Public Service CommissionSeats on northern and southern districts of the Public Service Commission are on this year’s ballot. BRANTLEY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, POST 2: Harold Herndon won in the Republican primary and has no opponent in the general election. Robert Phillips won the job in the Republican primary as no Democrats are running for the job. GLYNN COUNTY CORONER: Incumbent Republican Marck Neu is the only candidate listed on the ballot for this office.

High school football season kicked off in Florida and Georgia on Sept 4. Here is a week-by-week schedule, results and TV highlights for the 2020 season.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 28 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including two in Ware County and one in Charlton County. Of those, 39 were confirmed in the last 24 hours in the six counties that News4Jax tracks in Southeast Georgia. As of Sunday, a total of 268,973 confirmed cases had been reported by the state Department of Public Health. (Note: There are variations in the day-to-day data reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health. According to the state Department of Public Health, more than 2.3 million people had been tested in the state, which had a 10.6% positivity rate, as of Sunday.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Thursday reported 82 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including two in Ware County. According to the state Department of Public Health, a total of 4,538 people have died in Georgia since the pandemic began. On Thursday, the state added 2,515 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 228,668 cases. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 94 new cases were reported Thursday: 47 in Glynn County, 21 in Camden County, nine in Pierce County, eight in Ware County, five in Charlton County and four in Brantley County. The latest deaths recorded in Ware County brings the countys total to 31 deaths.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 122 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including seven in Southeast Georgia. Five additional deaths were reported in Glynn County, bringing the county’s total to 52. In Pierce County, an additional death was reported for a total of nine in the county. And an additional death was reported in Brantley County for a county total of six. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 79 new cases were reported Tuesday: 36 in Glynn County, 18 in Camden County, 17 in Ware County, four in Brantley County, three in Pierce County and one in Charlton County.

Students in Baker, Bradford, Charlton and Pierce counties students will either return to campus or start their selected online option. Most of the larger school districts in the area pushed back school start dates for a week or more due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths. But a handful voted to keep their original school start date or delay it until Monday. COUNTY-BY-COUNTY COVERAGE: Facing the Fall special sectionBaker CountyThe Baker County School District posted a document of health and safety guidelines for reopening campuses which includes strict sanitation and screening before school. The school district has a plan that includes both traditional learning and virtual learning options.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 13 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including four in Ware County. On Sunday, the state added 3,169 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 216,596 cases. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 77 new cases were reported Sunday: 46 in Glynn County, nine in Ware County, eight in Charlton County, seven in Camden County, five in Brantley County and two in Pierce County. The latest deaths recorded in Ware County bring the countys total to 29 deaths. As of Sunday, the total number of hospitalizations statewide stood at 20,628 -- 72 of which were reported in the last 24 hours.

Substitute positions are available in several Southeast Georgia counties, according to ESS. ESS, an education staffing company, said there are available positions in nine Georgia counties, including Brantley, Charlton and Ware. According to ESS, available substitute positions include teachers, paraprofessionals, food service employees, custodians, nurses and clerical staff. ESS said it offers employees perks such as flexible schedules, health benefits, training opportunities and bonus programs. Visit ESS.com to start an application.

An additional 2,452 cases of COVID-19 were reported Monday afternoon by the Georgia Department of Public Health, bringing the statewide total to 145,575. As of 2:50 p.m. Monday, the state had recorded 3,176 coronavirus-related deaths, an increase of three since Sunday afternoon. In Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 24 new cases were reported Monday in Glynn County, 15 additional cases were reported in Camden County, eight new cases were recorded in Charlton County, seven new cases were reported in Ware County, three new cases were recorded in Brantley County and two more cases were reported in Pierce County. The state admits the total number of hospitalizations is likely an underestimation since it only counted if it was at the time the case was reported to DPH. As of Monday, more than 1.27 million people had been tested in the state, which had a 10.4% positivity rate.

An additional 3,251 cases of COVID-19 were reported Sunday afternoon by the Georgia Department of Public Health, bringing the statewide total to 143,123. As of 2:50 p.m. Sunday, the state had recorded 3,173 coronavirus-related deaths, an increase of five since Saturday afternoon. In Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 33 new cases were reported Saturday in Glynn County, 24 additional cases were reported in Camden County and nine new cases were recorded in Ware County. Charlton County saw four new cases, Pierce County saw three additional cases and Brantley County recorded two new cases. The state admits the total number of hospitalizations is likely an underestimation since it only counted if it was at the time the case was reported to DPH.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 2,225 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 77,210. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, there had been 1,332 COVID-19 cases and 29 previously reported deaths as of Sunday. Since Saturday, Pierce County recorded three additional cases, Charlton County reported two and Ware County recorded one. Sundays report shows fewer reported cases in Camden and Glynn counties, although it was unclear why. View the chart below for a full breakdown of Southeast Georgia counties

The state’s primary election twice delayed by the coronavirus pandemic finally happened Tuesday. Raffensperger, minimizing problems that were documented in other counties including Chatham, promised investigations of Fulton’s and DeKalb’s handling of the primary. The Republican speaker of Georgia’s state legislature, meanwhile, called for an investigation of the entire primary process, singling out Fulton County as "particularly” troubling. In Brantley County, incumbent Sheriff Len Davis easily won re-election over fellow Republican Philips Popwell and there is no Democratic challenger. See full results of all the statewide and Southeast Georgia races: Congressional, legislative and statewide races | Brantley County | Camden County | Charlton County | Glynn County | Pierce County | Ware County | Statewide party ballot questions

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Georgia seats in the U.S. SenateThe biggest prize -- and intrigue -- in this election year in Georgia are the state’s two seats in the U.S. Senate. Southeast Georgia state House districtsState House District 167District includes northern Glynn County and all of McIntosh County. GLYNN COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1: Incumbent Michael Floyd Browning is being challenged by fellow Republican Samuel Tostensen. WARE COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 4: Incumbent Steve Bernard Sr. is being challenged by fellow Republican Jimmy Carter. Primary information from the Elections Division of the Georgia Secretary of State, augmented by other research by News4Jax.

CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. – A nursing home in Brantley County is among six long-term care facilities that have reported COVID-19 cases in Southeast Georgia, according to data released Monday by the Georiga Department of Community Health. One resident died after testing positive, the report shows, and three staff members at the nursing home have also tested positive. Here’s a look at the other Southeast Georiga facilities that have reported positive tests:Camden CountySenior Care Center, St. Marys59 total residents1 COVID positive residentNo deathsNo COVID positive staffCharlton CountyFolkston Park Care & Rehabilitation Center, Folkston80 total residentsNo COVID positive residentsNo resident deaths1 COVID positive staffPierce CountyHarborview Pierce County, Blackshear70 total residents5 COVID positive residents1 resident death3 COVID positive staffWare CountyBaptist Village, Inc., Waycross205 total residentsNo COVID positive residentsNo resident deaths2 COVID positive staffHarborview Satilla, Waycross89 total residentsNo COVID positive residentsNo resident deaths1 COVID positive staffOver 1,900 long-term care facility residents have tested positive in Georgia and 295 have died, data shows, accounting for 37% of the total deaths reported statewide. Nearly 1,000 staff at Georgia facilities have also tested positive for COVID-19. The state said surveyors within the Healthcare Facility Regulation (HFR) Division of DCH have been contacting long-term care facilities for several weeks to provide monitoring and oversight support as part of the State’s response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

ATLANTA, Ga. – The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia increased by more than eight percent overnight, according to numbers released Sunday evening by the Georgia Department of Public Health. In Southeast Georgia, there was an additional case in Glynn County, bringing the total number there to eight. There were still five cases in Ware County, two in Camden County, one in Charlton County and two in Pierce County. Fulton County continues to have the highest number of cases, 425, followed by DeKalb with 273 cases and Dougherty -- in Southwest Georgia -- with 247 cases. Dougherty County, where Albany is the county seat, has the most deaths -- 17.

ATLANTA, Ga. – Georgia’s confirmed coronavirus caseload increased by more than seven percent overnight, according to numbers released by the Georgia Department of Public Health on Saturday morning. As of Saturday evening, the state has 2,446 confirmed cases of COVID-19, up from Friday evening’s total of 2,198. The state also reported ten new deaths connected to the virus, bringing the statewide total to 79. Fulton County continues to have the highest number of cases, 378, followed by DeKalb with 246 cases and Dougherty -- in Southwest Georgia -- with 224 cases. The Georgia Department of Public Health said COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in more than 100 of Georgia’s 159 counties.

Georgia’s confirmed coronavirus caseload doubled in just three days, reaching 2,198 people infected and 65 deaths on Friday evening, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. There have now been 13 cases reported in Southeast Georgia: seven in Glynn County, two in Ware County, two in Camden County, one in Charlton County and one in Pierce County. Fulton County had the highest number of cases, 347, followed by Dekalb with 219 cases and Dougherty -- in Southwest Georgia -- with 203 cases. Fulton County has 12 deaths and Cobb -- also in the Atlanta area -- has two more. The Georgia Department of Public Health said COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in more than 100 of Georgia’s 159 counties.

As Southeast Georgia on Thursday evening recorded two new COVID-19 cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to 1,643, with 56 deaths, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Af of 7 p.m. Thursday, state data shows, 509 coronavirus patients in Georgia had been hospitalized -- about one-third. Of the COVID-19 patients, 50% were female and 46% were male, with the gender unknown for the other 4%. Metro Atlanta accounts for the largest overall number of cases in Georgia, with Fulton County reporting more than 231 infections. A large influx of coronavirus patients has stretched resources thin at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany as officials scramble to find more bed space.

As the number of COVID-19 cases in Georgia rose to 1,387, the number of COVID-19 deaths in the state increased to 47 as of Wednesday evening, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Of the COVID-19 patients in Georgia, state data shows, 438 had been hospitalized -- nearly 32%. The number of coronavirus cases in Glynn County remained at five. On Tuesday afternoon, the number of reported coronavirus cases in Glynn County increased to five -- up one case from Monday afternoon. The state on Tuesday reported more than 1,000 cases after Georgia Gov.

HOMERVILLE, Ga. – A natural gas utility would pay $347,000 under a proposed settlement with Georgia regulators who found safety violations linked to a 2018 explosion that destroyed a coffee shop in Clinch County. Investigators determined a crew installing fiber optic cable nearby ruptured a natural gas line and an adjacent sewer line. Gas seeped through the damaged sewer line into the coffee shop, fueling the explosion. Investigators found the gas utility had not properly located and marked its buried gas lines ahead of the construction project. They also failed to check surrounding buildings for gas accumulation after capping the ruptured gas line.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The 2019 high school football season continues early November and beyond for some. Here are the schedules for each week of the regular season. All games at 7 p.m. unless indicated. District/region games schedule with *. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

The body of Casei Jones was found in a van in Brantley County. Her four children - Cameron, 10, Preston , 5, Mercalli, 2, and 1-year-old Aiyana - were found buried just off U.S. 301 in Charlton County. Hide Caption

iStock/JOE CICAKJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - High school football kicks off this week with preseason classics. A look at the schedule for the scrimmages. The regular season starts next week. All games at 7 p.m. unless indicated. Yonge at PalatkaParker at Trinity ChristianPaxon at NeasePonte Vedra at OakleafProvidence at Englewood, 6 p.m.Raines at White, 6 p.m.Sandalwood at RickardsSatellite at St. JosephSt. Johns Country Day at St. EdwardsWestside at Fleming IslandYulee at SuwanneeCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

FOLKSTON, Ga. - Charlton County officials are supporting a mining proposal near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge that a U.S. agency has said could cause environmental damage. Radio station WSVH reports the commission voted unanimously Thursday evening to approve a proclamation backing the mining plan by Twin Pines Minerals of Alabama. Twin Pines Minerals is seeking federal and state permits to mine for titanium dioxide less than 4 miles from the edge of the Okefenokee, the largest federal refuge east of the Mississippi River. Company officials said they could provide scientific modeling to show any harm would be minimal. Fish and Wildlife Service staff wrote in February that mining could pose "substantial risks" to the environment.

iStock/JOE CICAKJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - High school football kicks off this week with preseason classics. A look at the schedule for the scrimmages. The regular season starts next week. All games at 7 p.m. unless indicated. Yonge at PalatkaParker at Trinity ChristianPaxon at NeasePonte Vedra at OakleafProvidence at Englewood, 6 p.m.Raines at White, 6 p.m.Sandalwood at RickardsSatellite at St. JosephSt. Johns Country Day at St. EdwardsWestside at Fleming IslandYulee at SuwanneeCopyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

FOLKSTON, Ga. - A lightning strike caused the Badcock Home Furniture in Folkston to go up in flames Sunday night. Some of their personal belongings, as well as all the inventory of the furniture store, was destroyed. Photos from Brandi O'BerryRikin Patels gas station and convenience store next door to Badcock was filled with customers when they heard the lightning. Eight people in Clearwater Beach were also injured by a lightning strike over the weekend. READ MORE: At least 8 people hit by lightning in Clearwater BeachOne person was in critical condition.