🌱 County Manager Suspended With Pay + Five New Opera Productions

Hey, everybody! It's Saturday in Savannah and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally. I'll get right to it.

First, today's weather:

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm. High: 91 Low: 74.

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Here are the top three stories today in Savannah:

1. Chatham County Manager Lee Smith has been suspended with pay. The announcement was made by the 6th District County Commissioner Aaron Whitely. It is unclear why the county manager has been suspended, but initial reports indicate it is not related to Local Options Sales Tax negotiations. (WTOC)
2. Savannah is celebrating National Picnic Month. Local companies are setting up a series of elaborate picnics at local parks, such as Forsyth Park, to celebrate. Tourists from out of state are also participating. Click to watch the video that details how to create an extraordinary picnic experience. (WTOC)
3. Savannah VOICE Festival is presenting five different operas this August. The festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary season. The operas are produced by Savannah OPERA. "Brigadoon," "Faust," "The Medium," "Alice Ryley, A Savannah Ghost Story," and "Anna Hunter, the Spirit of Savannah" are the productions. (Savannah CEO)

Today in Savannah:

• Family Fun Fest At Keller's Flea Market (10:00 AM)
• Upcycled Sleeping Mats At Bull Street Library (11:00 AM)
• Herb Alpert And Lani Hall In Concert Lucas Theatre (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Savannah Police Department is once again reminding residents to lock vehicles and remove valuables. Click to watch a video on how this simple act deters thefts. (Savannah Police Department via Facebook)
• The Savannah Music Festival is searching for a local artist to create a poster design. Click to learn more about the commission process and apply today. (Savannah Music Festival via Instagram)
• Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia will be visiting Bulloch and Evans County next week with its Mobile Food Pantry. Click to learn more about the program. (Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday! I'll see you soon.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.