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.
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
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.
