🌱 Mrs. Wilkes Banana Pudding Beer + $100K Gift To Fire Department

Hello all! I'm here with your fresh copy of the Savannah Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's going on locally.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 81 Low: 62.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Savannah today:

1. Service Brewing is partnering with Mrs. Wilkes to create a banana pudding beer. Marcia Thomson, granddaughter of Mrs. Wilkes and restaurant owner, and Bryan Harvey, brewer, are bringing together these two Savannah staples and launching the new beer on Apr. 29 at the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild. Keep your eyes open for an announcement sharing the beer's name. (WTOC)
2. The Savannah fire department will receive a $100,000 donation from Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey. Owner Conor McGregor visited the department while he was in town for the St. Patrick's Day festivities. The funds will go towards buying gear bags to better protect firefighters. (WSAV)
3. Ernest Ferguson, a former Savannah police officer, has been arrested with drug charges. This is the third time he has been detained since his dismissal in 2022. In addition to the current arrest for possession of methamphetamine, he has been cited for shoplifting and drunk driving and faces ongoing investigations by the Chatham County District Attorney for an on-duty fatal shooting in June 2022. Ferguson claims that he was not given proper counseling or coping resources following the fatal incident, which led to his drinking. The police chief disagrees and stands by his decision to terminate Ferguson. (WJCL News Savannah)

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Today in Savannah:

• Children's Reading Hour At Skidaway Island (10:00 AM)
• DIY Suet Feeder At Skidaway Island (2:00 PM)
• Adult Relaxation At W. W. Law Library (2:30 PM)
• Sona Jobarteh / Natu Camara At Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• On Mar. 31, the Savannah Police Department will take on the Recreation Department youth coaches in the Coaches vs. Cops basketball game at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and takes place at the Eastside Regional Center. (Savannah Police Department via Facebook)
• The Savannah Music Festival is hosting four days of outdoor concerts at the Trustees Garden beginning this Saturday. Get your tickets here. (Savannah Music Festival via Instagram)
• Origin Coffee Bar is now open on MLK Jr. Blvd. They are open Wednesday through Monday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eat It And Like It)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager 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.