ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Anyone who has driven through Fort Frederica National Monument has probably learned something about its history, or just taken in its raw, natural beauty. These are things that bring people to the St. Simons Island park, despite the government shutdown. Theus issued the following statement:We are very thankful for the support and help that Keep Golden Isles Beautiful has offered. Bloody Marsh Battle Site is on Old Demere Road, about 6 miles from Fort Frederica, in St. Simons. For more information, you can also visit: Keep Golden Isles Beautiful.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The Glynn County Health Department has lifted the latest advisory for East Beach at the old Coast Guard station (10th Street East to Driftwood Drive) and Massengale Park Beach (Driftwood Drive to Cedar Street) on St. Simons Island. Water samples are tested only for enterococcus bacteria, which is found in warm blooded animals including humans, but also birds, raccoons, deer, dolphins and other wildlife. When a beach is under advisory, it means that the level of bacteria found in the water is above the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended standards. Subsequent water samples taken showed that the bacteria levels had dropped below EPA recommended limits, allowing the advisory to be lifted. For more information about beach water testing, visit gachd.org and click on the Environmental Health tab at the top of the page.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – After a St. Simons Island doctor and a woman were found dead at a medical clinic, police said investigation revealed the doctor killed the woman then himself. Glynn County police received a 911 call just before 6 p.m. March 6 of a person being found dead at Redfern Village on Redfern Drive. When officers arrived at the medical office of Dr. William Nelson, 63, they found his body and the body of Catherine Tortorete, 51. Glynn County police said the deaths appeared to be a murder-suicide, and further investigation showed Nelson murdered Tortorete and then killed himself.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – A pilot walked away from the crash of a small plane Monday morning at the Malcolm McKinnon Airport on St. Simons Island. The single-engine Cirrus SR20 was on takeoff when the pilot choose to land immediately and ran off the runway and into the grass by the fence line, according to a release by the Glynn County Airport Commission. The Glynn County Fire Department secured the area, but there was no fire. The plane was headed to the Tamiami Airport in Miami, where the plane is registered. The Airport Commission said the Federal Aviation Administration was granted permission to remove the aircraft.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – A woman died Saturday after she was struck by a falling palm tree outside her home on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Tom McLaughlin, who lives nearby, said Monday that there have been high winds for the past few days. News4Jax saw tree inspectors going through Carruth's condo complex, inspecting various palm trees on the property. Gene Bushor, a certified arborist, said it's very unusual for palm trees to fall, and usually decay in the trunk is the only cause. The memorial will begin at 8 p.m. Thursday at Ziggy Mahoney's on Retreat Village, St. Simons Island.