GAINESVILLE -- The holiday weekend ended quietly Sunday in northeast Georgia with no drownings or boating fatalities. Just seven boating under the influence citations were issue on Lake Lanier through Sunday night. A total of three boating incidents were reported, with just one injury. Mark McKinnon, spokesman for the law enforcement division of the Department of Natural Resources, had no specifics to add to that report Sunday. The weekend — complete with sunny skies, a full lake and high temperatures near 90 degrees — was picture perfect for visitors to Lanier, a big change from last year’s rained-out festivities. Despite the rainy weather keeping many boaters off the water, one drowning was reported that year. The year before, the high-profile drowning of Kile Glover, stepson of entertainer Usher, marred the holiday. DNR rangers did have a busy Sunday responding to incidents in northwest Georgia’s Lake Allatoona and the coast’s Little Tybee Island. A man drowned after his boat capsized off the island on Sunday morning. Five people were injured in a boat crash late Saturday following fireworks at the Atlanta Yacht Club. All were expected to recover. One man was arrested and charged with BUI in that incident. “[The weekend] started very well with few BUIs and no incidents on Friday,” McKinnon wrote in a news release. “But Saturday night and Sunday proved to be more problematic with more BUIs and the two boating incidents, one resulting in a fatality.” A total of 36 BUIs were reported statewide.
GAINESVILLE -- The holiday weekend ended quietly Sunday in northeast Georgia with no drownings or boating fatalities. Just seven boating under the influence citations were issue on Lake Lanier through Sunday night. A total of three boating incidents were reported, with just one injury. Mark McKinnon, spokesman for the law enforcement division of the Department of Natural Resources, had no specifics to add to that report Sunday. The weekend — complete with sunny skies, a full lake and high temperatures near 90 degrees — was picture perfect for visitors to Lanier, a big change from last year’s rained-out festivities. Despite the rainy weather keeping many boaters off the water, one drowning was reported that year. The year before, the high-profile drowning of Kile Glover, stepson of entertainer Usher, marred the holiday. DNR rangers did have a busy Sunday responding to incidents in northwest Georgia’s Lake Allatoona and the coast’s Little Tybee Island. A man drowned after his boat capsized off the island on Sunday morning. Five people were injured in a boat crash late Saturday following fireworks at the Atlanta Yacht Club. All were expected to recover. One man was arrested and charged with BUI in that incident. “[The weekend] started very well with few BUIs and no incidents on Friday,” McKinnon wrote in a news release. “But Saturday night and Sunday proved to be more problematic with more BUIs and the two boating incidents, one resulting in a fatality.” A total of 36 BUIs were reported statewide.