WARE COUNTY

We’re nearly through three weeks of the high school football season and some big storylines have started to take shape.

Help recognize someone doing impactful work in our local African American communities by nominating them in one of eight categories.

How Hurricane Idalia will impact Camden, Charlton, Ware, Brantley, Glynn and Pierce counties

With the start of the school year, quite a few new policy changes are taking effect in Florida.

A firefighter with Ware County Fire Rescue died Thursday when the fire truck he was riding in overturned in a crash.

The SnapJAX Community Challenge will allow all of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia to show off all of the different ways their hometowns are unique.

The leader of a deadly fentanyl trafficking operation in Southeast Georgia will spend the next 22 years in federal prison.

A newly-unsealed indictment names 76 people as part of a plan to move large amounts of drugs into Southeast Georgia, and much of the conspiracy operated from inside Georgia state prisons, the U.S. Department of Justice for the Southern District of Georgia announced Wednesday.

For the last two years, GBI has been utilizing advanced DNA testing in hopes of finding the relatives of a 3-year-old girl whose body was dumped in Ware County in 1988.

Ware County polished off its perfect season with a historic win.

Ware County is ready for its shot at history against a team that has already made plenty of it.

The Christians faced off with Clearwater Central Catholic in the Class 1M state semifinals and treated fans to a classic in a 34-29 loss. Photographer Kevin Nguyen captured the game in photos. Click through the gallery above to check out those pictures.

Ware County was the lone area state semifinal survivor on a miserable night of football for local programs. All five Florida-area programs bowed out one win shy of championship game appearances, some in blowout fashion and others in agonizing misses that will be talked about for some time.

A Ware County mother on Monday spoke with News4JAX for the first time following the death of her 16-year-old daughter, who in August was found fatally shot in a crashed car.

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.

Ware County is among the more than 20 Georgia counties allowing residents to vote as early as Saturday. It is the only Southeast Georgia county that started early voting this weekend.

The night started with a dozen area teams in the state playoffs and only six of those remain.

Early voting will begin Saturday in several Georgia counties for the runoff between Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker.

A dozen teams are still standing in the high school football state playoffs with some major all-local showdowns heading our way.

The high school football regular season is in the books and the playoffs are on tap. Who’s in, who’s out and who’s going where? That will be finalized on Sunday morning when the FHSAA releases its first brackets for its new Suburban and Metro state playoffs.

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.

Seven weeks of the high school football season are nearly in the books — the Northwest Classic is up on Saturday — and things are coming more and more into focus.

Students in Camden and Ware counties headed back to class on Monday.

Two days after a man and woman were found dead in their home in the Waycross area, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Wednesday that the son of the woman and the son’s wife were arrested and each charged with two counts of felony murder.

A man and woman were found dead Monday in their home in the Waycross area, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday.

CSX and local first responders are working to clear the area.

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.

Severe winds, storms, even a few tornadoes continue to roll across the Deep South. The worst seems to have taken place late Wednesday in Mississippi, where numerous tornadoes were reported and wind damage from fallen power lines and trees were numerous.

A tornado watch was in effect until 4 p.m. Thursday for Baker and Columbia counties in Florida and Brantley, Charlton, Pierce and Ware counties in Georgia.

The impact of weather expected to hit Ware County on Wednesday afternoon has caused the school district to cancel all athletic and extracurricular practices and events, as well as Gator All-Star Academy.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Brantley, Pierce and Ware counties until 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Only six area teams survived the second round — Baker County, Bolles, Nease, Pierce County, Trinity Christian and Union County.

The Ware County School Board of Education voted Monday to return to all in-person instruction on Wednesday.

A single-engine Marquart 5 flew into power lines south of Waycross-Ware County Airport in Waycross, Ga., on Thursday.

Georgia’s top epidemiologist said Tuesday that 60% of COVID-19 outbreaks in the state over the last several weeks have occurred in K-12 schools.

The Ware County School System will adopt a hybrid instructional model from Sept. 7 through Oct. 7 due to the number of COVID-19 cases in the county and the surrounding area, the school system said.

After just over a week in session, Ware County Schools made the decision Friday to put the school year on hold following a “sharp increase” in the number of positive COVID-19 cases reported among students and staff.

All public schools in Ware County will follow their early release schedules on Friday so they can close for deep cleaning the district announced Wednesday.

A glance at team-by-team schedules for area teams in Florida and southeast Georgia.

Tropical Storm Elsa moved into southern Georgia early Wednesday evening after making landfall earlier in the day along Florida’s northern Gulf Coast.

All Ware County Schools offices and campuses will be closed Wednesday because of the threat of Tropical Storm Elsa, the district announced Tuesday.

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

A controlled burn in Ware County on Tuesday got out of control late in the day, consuming over 600 acres, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission.

The storm prediction center has elevated its forecast for severe weather over Georgia. This would take place Saturday afternoon and evening, where Georgia could see two bands of severe storms.

WAYCROSS, Ga. – In an effort to encourage Georgians outside the metro Atlanta area to get vaccines, Gov. Brian Kemp traveled to Waycross on Friday afternoon to tour the mass vaccination site at the Waycross Mall and then receive his COVID-19 vaccine. The largest vaccination site in Southeast Georgia opened just over a week ago. LINKS: myvaccinegeorgia.com | Georgia county vaccination appointments | vaccinefinder.orgGeorgia had previously limited eligibility to people 55 and older, people with serious health conditions and those who are overweight and obese. Kemp said earlier this week the state was ready to expand eligibility to the broadest possible population, saying supplies of the vaccine continued to rise and he was confident that enough older adults had been vaccinated.

All Ware County schools will follow their early release schedules Thursday because of the chance for severe storms moving through the area in the afternoon when students would normally be heading home, district officials announced Thursday morning. DAFFODIL and elementary schools will release at 10:30 a.m., middle schools will release at 11 a.m., and the high school will release at 11:30 a.m. All after-school events are canceled Thursday. Models continue to bring the squall line into inland Southeast Georgia and I-75 around noon and push it eastward to the Atlantic Coast early around sunset. News4Jax has declared a Weather Alert Day from Noon to 7 p.m. with a focus across Southeast Georgia. The storms are currently expected to track across the Waycross area from 1 to 2 p.m.

WARE COUNTY, Ga. – In a special election Tuesday for the county’s top law enforcement position, Ware County voters opted to retain interim Sheriff Carl James. James, who was deputy sheriff, became interim sheriff in mid-January when longtime Ware County Sheriff Randy Royal died after a short illness. James received 3,971 votes. His opponent, fellow Republican Chris Tatum, received 1,340 votes, according to Ware Elections. Tatum is a retired law enforcement officer.

At least 15,148 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported across the state, including 80 new deaths added Monday on the state’s status report. The state reported 50 additional hospitalizations Monday, bringing the total for the year to 56,089. Over the year since the pandemic reached Georgia, about one of every 13 residents have tested positive for coronavirus. His 20-year career was honored with a parade that passed right by the house of Linda Thompson, Gibb’s mother. On Monday, Georgia reported 2,060,352 vaccines have been given in the state, with nearly 1.3 people having received their first dose and almost 778,318 have both shots.

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.)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Spring Break is less than a month away. Depending on your county, students will be out of school anywhere from three to six days for Spring Break in March or April. Alison Peters-Carlson with Jax4Kids.com said her team is noticing more camps offering single-day options. AdFor highlights of camps available this year, watch the interview at the top of this page. For a full breakdown of available camps, click here.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 4,943 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, 151 were reported in Glynn County and 59 were reported in the other five Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax. As of Tuesday, a total of 689,676 confirmed cases had been reported by the state Department of Public Health. Georgia was reporting a total of 138,768 antigen positive cases and 1,317 “probable” deaths on Tuesday. At times, cases and deaths are removed from the overall running total reported by the Department of Public Health.)

Ware County Sheriff Randy Royal died on Wednesday after a short illness, according to his obituary. According to a post by the Georgia Law Enforcement Organization, his death was not duty or COVID-related. “On behalf of the Mayor, County Commissioners, and the City of Waycross we mourn the loss of our dear brother in service, Sheriff Randy Royal. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sheriff Royal and his family and friends. “Having held every position, I am the most qualified to serve as your sheriff,” Royal wrote on his campaign website.

Ware County Schools said its return-to-school plans are designed to be flexible so it can quickly adjust as needed. WAYCROSS, Ga. – As Ware County students prepare to return to school on Monday, the school board held a short meeting Wednesday morning to discuss some of the challenges that could follow. Ware County closed its schools three days before winter break was scheduled to begin due to a rise in COVID-19 cases among staff members, bus drivers and students. “We are trying to do all we can to help employees with the leave,” Smith said. School officials said Waycross hospital Memorial Satilla Health was diverting possible ER and ICU patients due to capacity issues.

Olivia Sharpe is on the basketball and track and field teams at Ware County High School. Olivia is a member of the Waycross Bank and Trust Junior Board of Directors, the South Georgia State College Sport Club and the Ware County High School Beta Club. Olivia’s volunteer activities include working at the Ruskin Elementary field day, Wacona Fall Festival and the Satilla Nursing Home. Olivia currently has a 3.8 GPA.

Due to a rise in COVID-19 cases among staff members, bus drivers and students, Ware County schools announced Tuesday that elementary and middle school students would not return to school for the rest of the week, starting the holiday break three days early. High school students will attend a half-day on Wednesday to take finals, then be out for the rest of the year. All Ware County school employees will report to work on Wednesday to perform a deep cleaning before being dismissed at 1 pm. Both Ware County middle schools went virtual last month due to staff members’ exposure to COVID. All Ware County schools are scheduled to reopen on Jan. 4.

School will not be in session Friday, Nov. 20, for Ware County students, the school district announced Monday. That’s because the school district said it will be observing a Staff Work Day that day. And due to staffing shortages caused by COVID-19, Ware County’s middle schools -- Ware County Middle School and Waycross Middle School -- will be closed to in-person learning for the next two weeks but will continue digital instruction. All middle school athletic and extra-curricular activities will be canceled during the closure. Middle school students will return to classrooms on Nov. 30.

Due to staffing shortages caused by COVID-19 exposure, both Ware County Middle School and Waycross Middle School will be closed to in-person learning for the next two weeks but will continue digital instruction. All middle school athletic and extra-curricular activities will be canceled during the closure. Middle school students will return to classrooms on Nov. 30. “We have 11 staff members at one school and 20 staff members at another school,” confirmed Page Coker with Ware County Schools. The cooperation of staff members who are asked to quarantine will be helpful in avoiding any further closures.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Saturday reported 51 additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 8,462 since the pandemic began. Four of those deaths were reported in Southeast Georgia: three in Ware County and one in Brantley County. Brantley has reported 43 total deaths. Of those cases, 48 were reported in the Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax. 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 on Saturday reported an additional 1,861 confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of Saturday, a total of 349,605 confirmed cases had been reported by the state Department of Public Health. The state Department of Public Health on Saturday reported 43 additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 7,766. One of the deaths reported Saturday was in Ware County, which has now reported 63 deaths since the pandemic began. At times, cases and deaths are removed from the overall running total reported by the Department of Public Health.)

With 188 additional cases of coronavirus diagnosed in the last two weeks, Ware County is among the counties of concern identified by the Georgia Department of Public Health. There was an additional death and 11 new cases in the county reported Sunday. On Monday, the DPH reported no new deaths in Southeast Georgia among the 29 statewide, but there were five new cases in both Ware and Glynn counties and four additional cases in Brantley County. While Georgia’s caseload increased by only 752 Monday -- the lowest day in October -- the seven-day moving average remains above 1,300 cases and a two-month downward trend in new infections in the state has flattened. On Sunday, Atlantic Public Schools announced they would remain on virtual education through the end of 2020 as the city’s current daily average shows coronavirus continuing to spread.

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.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 29 additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 7,021. Three of the deaths reported Wednesday were in Southeast Georgia — two in Camden County and one in Ware County. Of those cases, 44 were reported in the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax. (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 on Tuesday reported 73 additional deaths related to COVID-19. Two of the newly reported deaths were recorded in Southeast Georgia — one in Camden County and one in Ware County. The state Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported an additional 1,017 confirmed COVID-19 cases. (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.)

WARE COUNTY, Ga. – Ware County Schools issued a warning Friday on Facebook, making sure students know that their activity on school-issued devices is monitored in real time. Families with students participating in school virtually this semester were able to check out technology devices. The district said all internet and Chromebook activity on those devices is tracked and logged by monitoring systems, including websites, searches and all computer activity. The district said the reports on students' activity are available to teachers, administrators and the Ware County Board of Education. “We have received several flags on inappropriate activity, and parents are being notified,” the district wrote in its Facebook post.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 24 additional deaths related to COVID-19. The state Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported an additional 2,265 confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of Wednesday, a total of 299,056 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. At times, cases and deaths are removed from the overall running total reported by the Department of Public Health.)

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.

Daffodil Preschool Center in Ware County announced Wednesday it would be temporarily closing due to widespread exposure to a staff member who tested positive for COVID-19. The preschool will be closed to all students and staff on Thursday and Friday, Ware County School announced on Facebook. It said the school will receive a deep cleaning before its planned reopening on Monday. No additional information was immediately available. Ware County Schools said it would release more info on Facebook as it became known.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Saturday reported 48 additional deaths related to COVID-19, including two in Glynn County and one in Ware County. The state on Saturday reported an additional 2,285 confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of Saturday, a total of 281,548 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. At times, cases and deaths are removed from the overall running total reported by the Department of Public Health.)

GLYNN, Ga. If youre going to the movies in southeast Georgia, you will be required to wear a mask. The Georgia Theatre Company has two theaters in Glynn, one in Camden and one in Ware. Just as other businesses are adapting to the pandemic while opening to customers, so are movie theaters. The Georgia Theatre Company is pledging to be cinema safe, an initiative launched by the National Association of Theatre Owners to follow COVID-19 safety practices. The first major new release, Tenant, directed by Christopher Nolan, is now playing in GTC movie theaters.

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.

WARE COUNTY, Ga. The Ware County School System is issuing a cloth face covering requirement for all students, staff members and visitors. All students and staff members will be required to wear cloth face coverings during the school day, including on the bus and when possible while participating in extracurricular activities after school hours. Staff members may remove their face coverings when students are not present and when social distancing from other adults is possible. VIEW: Ware County Schools Face Covering GuidanceIn some cases, an individual may be unable to wear a cloth face covering for health, developmental, safety or functional reasons. In Camden County, Monday, Aug. 17, was the first day that masks were mandatory for students and staff members.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Sunday reported 33 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including three in Southeast Georgia. According to the state Department of Public Health, a total of 4,702 people have died in Georgia since the pandemic began. On Sunday, the state added 1,862 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 237,030 cases. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 98 new cases were reported Sunday: 39 in Charlton County, 25 in Glynn County, 19 in Ware County, 11 in Camden County, three in Pierce County and one in Brantley County. As of Sunday, the total number of hospitalizations statewide stood at 22,087 59 of which were reported in the last 24 hours.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Saturday reported 96 additional coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total number in the state to 4,669. The 7-day average of deaths reached an all-time high of 73 per day on Thursday before beginning to come down. The DeKalb County school district announced Friday that it was delaying athletics, marching bands and cheerleading until the end of September, although the groups will continue to train. High school football teams elsewhere in the state are supposed to start playing on Sept. 4. The Savannah-Chatham County school district said Friday that a football player at Beach High in Savannah tested positive for COVID-19 and the whole team and coaches are in quarantine.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Friday reported 35 additional coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total number in the state to 4,573. On Friday, the state added 3,320 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 231,895 cases. The total number of deaths reported in the six counties reached 110. As of Friday, the total number of hospitalizations statewide stood at 21,818 237 of which were reported in the last 24 hours. 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 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.

WARE COUNTY, Ga. Several Ware County Schools employees have tested positive for COVID-19, the school district announced Thursday. The district did not say exactly how many staff members tested positive. The first day of school in Ware County is Monday, so no students were exposed. School officials said the areas that the employees used were closed for cleaning and disinfecting. Other staff members who were directly exposed to the employees who tested positive will be monitoring symptoms and quarantining for 10 days, the district said.

WARE COUNTY, Ga. A corrections officer is recovering at a Jacksonville hospital more than a week after hew as injured during a disturbance at the Ware State Prison in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Corrections said two staff members and three inmates were injured. A different officer who was on duty the night of the disturbance told News4Jax lack of staff and equipment is part of the blame for how the inmates were able to take control. The Georgia Department of Corrections said it could not release specific details about the officers condition because of state laws. The investigation into the unrest at the Ware State Prison is ongoing.

WAYCROSS, Ga. – The president of the Waycross chapter of the NAACP is demanding the release of body camera footage of an attempted traffic stop, during which investigators said a Waycross police officer fired multiple shots at a car with two teenage boys inside. Larry Lockey, president of the Waycross chapter of the NAACP, said he’s worried if the incident goes unnoticed, there won’t be any justice. The agency said the officer who opened fire had come to assist another Waycross officer who began following the car after witnessing the driver commit a traffic violation. Waycross police also said both teenagers inside the car were arrested on charges of illegal possession of a firearm by a minor. “It’s hard to read that in the situation if the officer felt his life was in danger and started engaging in shots,” Reeves said.

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.

WARE COUNTY, Fla. – In the days following a violent disturbance at the Ware State Prison, News4Jax is hearing from family members of inmates at the facility. Videos taken by inmates on cellphones that had been taken as contraband have gone viral, showing other inmates covered in blood and a corrections officer in handcuffs. Valecia Smith said her son is an inmate at the prison and that the videos taken during Saturday’s unrest are hard to watch. It reads in part:“Did anyone stop and think about the reason the riot incident happened on August 1, 2020 at Ware State Prison? The Georgia Department of Corrections has reported two inmate deaths at Ware State Prison due to COVID-19.

According to data released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Public Health, 4,026 people in the state have died related to COVID-19. The increases come as Georgia is drawing criticism over photos of crowded hallways in its reopened schools and reports of outbreaks. More than 90 staff members in the Barrow County Schools District, about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta, have been quarantined due to coronavirus exposure or infection. Critics widely derided pictures on social media showing crowded hallways and few students wearing masks in several Georgia schools. As of Thursday, the total number of hospitalizations statewide stood at 20,002 -- 214 of which were reported in the last 24 hours.

The first corrections officer said they watched as the chaos broke out at about 10:45 p.m. Saturday. “They were destroying a lot of property, setting things on fire,” the corrections officer said. “I was worried for my safety and just trying to get out and get back to my family,” the corrections officer said. Another corrections officer, who wasn’t there Saturday night, has resigned following the disturbance. “I planned on making it a career, but after all this its not an option,” the second corrections officer said.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 79 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including five in Southeast Georgia. Four additional deaths were reported in Glynn County, bringing the countys total to 38 deaths. In Ware County, an additional was recorded for a total of 24 in the county. According to the state Department of Public Health, a total of 3,921 people have died in Georgia since the pandemic began. As of Tuesday, the total number of hospitalizations statewide stood at 19,426 -- 302 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.

WAYCROSS, Ga. – Three inmates and two staff members were injured during unrest at a state prison in Southeast Georgia that began Saturday night, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. Eason said he believes if Ware State Prison had more guards, the disturbance “absolutely would not have happened.”“The fear of that was what if you get taken, hostage or beat up. A Ware State inmate was killed two weeks ago in what authorities said was an altercation with another inmate. Department of Corrections data shows 22 inmates and 32 staff members at Ware State Prison have tested positive for the coronavirus. Ware State Prison houses adult male felons and has a total capacity for 1,546, according to information about the facility on the department’s website.

The state Department of Health on Wednesday reported 79 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including two in Glynn County and four in Ware County. One of the deaths in Glynn County was a 34-year-old woman. Three of the Ware County deaths were women over the age of 90. The latest deaths recorded in Glynn County bring the countys total to 25 deaths, and Ware County is now at 24 deaths. Pierce and Ware counties actually corrected their total number of confirmed cases, reducing them by three and six, respectively.

The Georgia Department of Public Health on Monday reported 11 additional coronavirus-related deaths, including four in Southeast Georgia. On Monday, the state added 2,890 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 170,843 cases. In Glynn County, two additional deaths were reported Monday, bringing the countys total to 22 deaths. An additional death was reported in Ware County to bring the countys total to 20 deaths. In Brantley County, an additional death was recorded for a total of four deaths.

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.

An additional 4,689 cases of COVID-19 were reported Saturday afternoon by the Georgia Department of Public Health, bringing the statewide total to 139,872. As of 2:50 p.m. Saturday, the state had recorded 3,168 coronavirus-related deaths, an increase of 36 since Friday afternoon. Of the additional deaths reported Saturday, two were in Glynn County and one was in Camden County. On Saturday in Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, 67 new cases were reported in Glynn County, 47 additional cases were reported in Ware County and 18 new cases were recorded in Camden County. Charlton and Pierce counties each saw 11 new cases, while three additional cases were reported in Brantley County.

WARE COUNTY, Ga. – Ware County Schools said its return-to-school plans are designed to be flexible so it can quickly adjust as needed. The school district is hosting a Town Hall on July 16. From Facebook comments under Ware County School’s post, some parents were sharing their concerns about how this will work with parent’s full-time jobs. Ware Schools have not yet decided if the A/B schedule will be adopted just yet. Ware County plans to re-open to students on August 17.

In Southeast Georgia, the spike in infections in Glynn County shows no sign of letting up. Another 141 cases were reported Tuesday and the state report shows two additional people in the county have died with the virus. When June began there were just two deaths reported in Glynn County and 112 cases. While cases in the state have not quite doubled in a month, Glynn County saw a 645% increase in cases. Camden County had an increase of 14 cases, there were seven more in Brantley and five additional cases in Charlton.

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

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)A total of 43,730 COVID-19 had been reported in Georgia as of Tuesday afternoon, an increase of 386 cases in a 24-hour span, according to the state Department of Public Health. Since Monday afternoon, 41 additional coronavirus-related deaths were recorded, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,871 as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, the Georgia Department of Public Health reported. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, there have been 533 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths, the latest of which was recorded Monday evening in Ware County. View the chart below for a full breakdown of Southeast Georgia counties:So far, the state has tested 514,945 people for the coronavirus, with 8.5% of tests coming back positive.

Ware County on Monday evening recorded its 14th coronavirus-related death. The Georgia Department of Public Health reported Monday night that the statewide coronavirus death toll reached 1,848, including 24 deaths that were recorded since Sunday afternoon. A total of 43,400 COVID-19 cases had been reported in Georgia as of 7 p.m. Monday, an increase of 562 cases in a span of 30 hours, according to the state Department of Public Health. In the six Southeast Georgia counties tracked by News4Jax, there have been 530 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths. View the chart below for a full breakdown of Southeast Georgia counties:So far, the state has tested 513,545 people for the coronavirus, with 8.5% of tests coming back positive.

Another 914 cases of coronavirus were reported Saturday by the Georgia Department of Public Health, bringing the total to 42,132 since the pandemic first showed up in the state in early March. As of midday Saturday, the report shows 1,811 deaths in the state -- and increase of 26 since Thursday. There were no additional deaths reported in Southeast Georgia counties in the last 24 hours, but Ware County saw its cases increase by over 5% with 11 new cases. Three more cases were reported in Brantley County while Glynn County added two cases and Pierce County added one. So far, 453,537 tests have been performed by commercial labs and the state lab.