Lake Lanier is welcoming visitors again just in time for the Fourth of July. Many parks that closed before Memorial Day due to staff shortages have now reopened, and several county and city parks remain open for lake access.

🎆 Why It Matters: If you’re planning to celebrate the holiday at Lake Lanier, it’s good to know where you can go and how to stay safe. The lake is open, but some spots may still have limited access. Staying informed helps you enjoy the holiday without surprises.

🌊 What’s Happening: The US Army Corps of Engineers closed 20 federal parks around Lake Lanier before Memorial Day because of staff shortages. Many of those parks have now reopened. County and city parks with lake access are also open. For the latest updates on which parks and boat ramps are open, visit www.LakeLanierIsOpen.com.

🛟 Safety Tips for Visitors:

  • Always wear life jackets and sunscreen.
  • Drink responsibly and stay hydrated.
  • Watch out for shallow areas and underwater hazards.
  • Make sure your boat’s navigation lights work if you’re out after dark.
  • Keep an eye on the weather for sudden changes.

🎇 Fireworks Safety:

  • Keep water nearby when lighting fireworks.
  • Never light fireworks on a boat.
  • Stay a safe distance from where fireworks are launched.
  • Wear eye protection and light one firework at a time.
  • Keep fireworks away from children and pets.
  • Never point fireworks at yourself or others.

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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
Publisher at 

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.