Georgia’s lakes and rivers stayed safer this Memorial Day weekend. The Department of Natural Resources reports zero boating deaths despite heavy holiday traffic.
🚨 Why It Matters: Boating under the influence remains a serious problem on Georgia waterways, with 29 arrests statewide during the three-day weekend. Safe boating practices directly impact the lives of thousands who enjoy the state’s lakes and rivers.
🚤 By The Numbers:
- 29 boating under the influence arrests statewide
- 7 boating incidents across Georgia
- 4 injuries reported, none life-threatening
- 0 fatalities on any Georgia waterway
🔍 Local Impact:
- Lake Lanier saw 2 of the 4 drunk boating arrests in North Georgia.
- Lake Hartwell reported one incident where three riders were ejected from a personal watercraft after hitting a wake, resulting in one minor injury.
- Lake Blue Ridge experienced a collision between a personal watercraft and pontoon boat with no injuries.
⏱️ Timing: The Department of Natural Resources tracked incidents from Saturday, May 24 through Monday, May 26 at midnight, covering the entire holiday weekend.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
