Women's Clothing Boutique Near Me Thunderbolt, GA

PRESS RELEASE

All of the sections of a rare P-47 Thunderbolt WWII fighter have arrived at The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Airbase Georgia in Peachtree City, Ga. The P-47 is expected to be a long-term restoration project and when complete it will join the noteworthy Airbase Georgia fleet of operating aircraft, including its Dauntless SBD dive bomber, P-51 Mustang, FG-1D Corsair, and P-63 Kingcobra. The Airbase is currently restoring two additional WWII training aircraft, a Boeing-Stearman N2S and a PT-19 Cornell.

The Thunderbolt was a highly acclaimed WWII fighter known for its combat effectiveness. It also had a strong presence in the Georgia Air National Guard after the war when the 128th Fighter Squadron at Marietta Army Airfield was equipped with P-47N Thunderbolts. The 158th Fighter Squadron activated at Chatham Army Airfield, Pooler, also flew P-47Ns.

The specific aircraft at Airbase Georgia did not see WWII combat, but it was used effectively in Nicaragua and Guatemala in the 1950s. The CAF acquired the aircraft in 1962 but it was heavily damaged in 2002 when it caught fire during takeoff, severely burning part of the fuselage and the right wing.

“We are proud that Airbase Georgia has been selected to restore this important piece of WWII history,” said Airbase leader Joel Perkins. “Our skilled mechanics will restore and replace parts and eventually complete the P-47 by adding an engine and modern avionics. This will require painstaking work, but the final product will be a beautiful, flying warbird that will serve the mission of the CAF, be in demand for airshows around the country, and inspire the next generation of pilots, mechanics and citizens.”

Looking nearly complete, structurally speaking at least, there is a lot of work remaining, especially with the aircraft’s systems, before the fighter can head aloft once more. Anyone wishing to support the project should click HERE to do so. We look forwards to bringing regular progress reports as her rebuild continues!

About the CAF Airbase Georgia Warbird Museum

CAF Airbase Georgia, based in Peachtree City, Ga., was founded in 1987. The Airbase is one of the largest units of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The group maintains and flies seven vintage military aircraft including a P-51 Mustang, an FG-1D Corsair, an SBD Dauntless, and a P-63A Kingcobra. The Airbase, which is composed of more than 400 volunteers, has hosted WWII Heritage Days since 2003. The organization is also a founding partner of the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail launched in 2021. The Airbase is part of the CAF, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that relies on contributions of time and funds to carry out its mission. For more information, go to https://airbasegeorgia.org/.

About the CAF

The Commemorative Air Force is the world’s largest flying museum, with a fleet of more than 180 World War II-era airplanes assigned to unit locations across the United States. Nearly all of the aircraft are kept in flying condition, enabling people to experience firsthand the sights and sounds of vintage military aircraft in flight. Supported by 13,000 volunteer members, the CAF is dedicated to honoring American military aviation through flight, exhibition, education and remembrance.

Looking ahead to next year, Williams said he wants to focus on transparency, preserving Thunderbolt's history and infrastructure.

Decades ago, the Town of Thunderbolt operated one of the busiest shrimping hubs on the east coast. In fact, so many shrimp boats lined the waterfront that one could walk to the middle of the Wilmington River on them, said Dana Williams, the town's new mayor-elect.

“There were piers going out and buildings out that water from one end to the other,” said Williams, “This river was what made Thunderbolt.”

Today, only remnants of that vibrant fishing industry and boastful fleet exist. The town of about 2,500 is home to the Thunderbolt Marina, which services some of the largest boats and yachts on the east coast, and a local shrimp shack, Thunderbolt Fisherman’s Seafood, continues to sell fresh shrimp by the river.

But time has eroded some of the town’s most impressive origins, histories that Williams said he wants to pay homage to in his term as mayor. In order to do so, establishing communication with residents and between residents is central, said Williams.

More:Black gill parasite causes fall harvest declines in Georgia White Shrimp

Communicating with residents

Prior to winning the mayoral seat against two-term incumbent Beth Goette, Williams served a term on council and on the ad hoc water committee. He credits his win to constant communication with the public, frequently posting on social media about council discussions and employing an on-the-ground approach to his campaign.

"I was knocking on doors and gave out my card with my personal cell phone number on it to everybody I talked to because I wanted people to know that I am available," said Williams, "I had so many people tell me that they had never had a Thunderbolt politician knock on their door."

More:Thunderbolt election: New mayor to lead town as Williams defeats Goette soundly

But Williams is breaking the silence, and he said he's bringing that same energy to the top post in the city. In addition to making himself available, Williams and Town Administrator Bob Milie said they're working on modernizing Thunderbolt's approach to communication with the public by using social media.

"We're trying to be more open and more informative (by) establishing social media channels for all the departments for the town, utilizing the press more and giving our website a revamp," said Williams.

Additionally, Williams said he wants to reconvene the Thunderbolt Improvement Association, a neighborhood group formed over 50 years ago that became a major asset especially for the African American community, but had petered off in the age of COVID.

"It was a great way for the public to host their own meetings without any influence from council … and talk about what they want," he said, "and then the president of the association would bring all those concerns, ideas and whatnot to the council."

The neighborhood association along with the other initiatives are all key to one of the many priorities of the incoming mayor— reinvigorating a sense of community and reigniting Thunderbolt’s identity.

Bringing back community and identity

Michaele Yvonne Toomer-Reyes, a lifelong resident of Thunderbolt, said she remembers the town’s most anticipated event, The Blessing of the Fleet, a festival and religious ceremony borne out of the shrimping days.

The annual celebration consisted of “vendors, dancing, arts and crafts, lots of food, live shows, and a beauty pageant. And then the shrimp boats were blessed before the start of the shrimping season,” said Toomer-Reyes.

But the Blessing of the Fleet hasn’t been celebrated in decades as the shrimping industry declined, and, with it, the camaraderie between fishermen. Apartments and condominiums now hinder the views of the river on the bluff, said Toomer-Reyes.

“There used to be community events of all kinds when I was younger,” she said, “Then boat parades were canceled due to COVID (as well).”

Williams said he’s felt the residents’ collective yearning for kinship after years of a pandemic topped off decades of slipping identity.

“It was a big giant to-do and people miss that,” said Williams, “So we would like to bring that back in some form or fashion ... and really celebrate that waterfront heritage that we still have, even if we don’t have a fleet of shrimp boats anymore.”

Thunderbolt may be a small, unassuming town, but its history spans for more than a century and a half, and like its westward neighbor, Savannah, it's full of stories of progress and tension.

“This town is chock-full of history, it's amazing,” he said, “The Yacht Club started here, there was a casino, they used to have road races here, there was a major civil war battle right here on this bluff … and then you have the Native American tribes before all of us.”

It’s also home to Georgia’s first Historically Black College, Savannah State University.

The list goes on, and so do Williams' ideas to commemorate those historical happenings. Historical markers are part of the plan and, possibly, QR codes that visitors can scan on their phones and then watch or listen to oral histories told by Thunderbolt’s oldest residents on the Thunderbolt Museum website.

“The one thing we don’t ever want to lose is our sense of community and who we are,” said Williams, “If you don’t continue to tell the story, you lose it.”

Small town, big needs

On the other side of that effort, though, is the physical upkeep of Thunderbolt — the continuous need to preserve the city’s infrastructure and economy so that residents may keep living in it.

Unlike Chatham County’s westside municipalities, Thunderbolt isn’t facing issues of industrial and commercial growth that threaten residential life — at least not at the acute level of its neighbors. With Savannah on the east and the Wilmington River and unincorporated island communities on the west, the one-time fishing village is focused on existing physically.

Thunderbolt is the only city in the county to lose population over the course of a decade, according to 2020 census data. But there are plans to grow that with residential developments and businesses.

More:Bloomingdale's new mayor helped Pooler manage its early growth. Can he do the same again?

A mixed-use residential development, Village on the Bluff, is slated for completion next fall. Council is also starting to draft regulations on short-term vacation rentals (STVRs), which bring tourism and business, but also decrease the number of permanent residents living in the city — that, in turn, affects population-based funding avenues like SPLOST.

More:First City Progress: 'Village on the Bluff' development to add retail, housing to Thunderbolt

Town administrator, Milie, said Thunderbolt is also working on local policies that will streamline the process for businesses setting up in Thunderbolt. The main commercial corridors for the town are along River Drive and Victory Drive.

"We want to attract people that say, 'that's a hip upcoming community where I can see raising a family and get my cup of coffee here and walk my dog at the park...'" said Milie.

Meanwhile, Williams said the council will continue to focus on the infrastructure issues they’ve been working on this past term, which include updating the city’s water pipes and roads.

“Some of these pipes have been down there since World War II,” said Williams, “We have worked feverishly the last 12 years to locate all these valves and pipes.”

More:City of Thunderbolt brings composting, conservation efforts to residents

According to Williams, the city just finished an approximately $1.6 million pipe replacement project. Additionally, the city submitted an application for a $5.5 million state grant to address a sewage force main, as well as a smaller grant of about $50,000 for road repairs.

To maximize the town’s revenue sources, Milie said they are applying for federal and state grants when they can.

“This is a very small town with a very small tax base and you have to pick and choose. Is it going to be some parks this year or are we able to try and give raises to our dedicated employees, or is it going to be streets?,” said Milie, “We're trying to streamline through the budget process a way to identify and prioritize everything, and not be as reliant on certain other funding sources like SPLOST…”

With a full plate before the start of his new term, Williams said he's looking forward to working with the new set of council members.

"I'm really looking forward to four years of positivity and cohesiveness," said Williams, "We'll continue to build our relationships with one another and the town and just try to remove all the red tape and things that slow government down. I want to try to make it easier and smoother for not only citizens but for us as well."

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

Thunderbolt Town Council approved a resolution for the city’s first hotel/motel tax Tuesday in a special called meeting.

The bed tax would allow the town to collect revenue off short term vacation rentals. Town Clerk Deatre Denion estimates that there are about 30 homes, apartment and boats available as vacation rentals.

Thunderbolt is not home to hotels currently, although two bed-and-breakfasts operate in the town. B&Bs are regulated under separate rules.

The excise tax, which was previously marked for up to 8%, was changed to 6% after Chatham County's state legislative delegation showed weak support to a proposal to bump Savannah's hotel/motel tax from 6% to 8%. The delegation asked Thunderbolt Town Council to approve a revised resolution that would match the existing hotel/motel tax of Savannah and other Chatham County's municipalities.

All council members voted to pass the resolution.

Thunderbolt Mayor Beth E. Goette says the revised resolution is expected to pass the Georgia General Assembly.

“We’ve had a tremendous increase in people buying up homes and renovating them and renting them out,” says Goette. “A lot of people come here to visit the view, so we have a lot to offer.”

Thunderbolt’s River Drive borders the Wilmington River, once the shrimping capital of the East Coast, and is now home to several marinas plus Thunderbolt Marine, one of the country's busiest seagoing ship maintenance facilities. North of the city is Bonaventure Cemetery, a popular picnic spot listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A resolution for a hotel/motel tax has been in the works since last year and has been in discussion for even longer. It has not been met with any vocal opposition according to several councilmembers.

However, Drohan acknowledges that, in addition to the extra cost, “it makes what traditionally was a really easy process a bit more complicated.”

“Now you're doing sales tax and hotel/motel tax and you’ve got to do all the filings and all the costs that are associated with doing that,” says Drohan.

Although the extra revenue that will be generated has not been specifically earmarked, the resolution states that “such tax would benefit the Town of Thunderbolt by providing additional revenues for the promotion of tourism, conventions, tradeshows, and tourism product development.”

Typically, bed tax revenues are used for marketing to visitors.

“This was talked about in terms of having funds that would be utilized in terms of helping Thunderbolt to be a more desirable point of visitation,” says Drohan.

Bringing in more tourism would, in turn, benefit the short term rental owners as well.

An ordinance further detailing how the revenue will be used will be drafted after state approval of the resolution.

Yes. Thunderbolt. That was not a typo. (We tease because we love, right?)

It’s been said here and there a time or two that the best way to watch our food scene grow from the inside out is to find a way to get culinary talent to commit to Savannah long term. It’s a scenario easier said than done, of course, but it is beginning to happen.

The latest example is in the aforementioned Thunderbolt.

Finches Sandwiches and Sundries opens today. This is going to be a good one, in the most unlikely of locations.

“We met in Massachusetts, working at a Vineyard.” says Rebecca Matthews. “I was working in retail and also doing some marketing. Miles was one of the chefs.” Miles has serious skills in the kitchen.

This movie we’ve seen already. Boy meets Girl. Each become smitten and they decide to move. Maybe for better weather, maybe for a fresh start as a newlywed couple. In the search for that fresh start, Savannah came on to their radar. Miles searched for a job and landed as a Sous Chef at Husk Savannah downtown. I think we’d all agree that was a major landing spot.

We told you Miles has skills.

They found a cute house to live off of the beaten downtown path in Thunderbolt. Just across the way from Vertu Farms and the Old Dairy Farm. Like so many others, they loved it here. Nightly walks with their dogs was as much about meeting neighbors as it was exploring an historic neighborhood that was not only home to Bonaventure Cemetery, but also a lot of historic structures. Each with a story to tell. Including the one they found and are now renting as a modern sandwich shop and necessity store. You know, the kind everyone else is trying to call a bodega these days?

Thank goodness they didn’t, but I digress.

“We would walk by here regularly and I just loved everything about this area.” Rebecca says of the tiny 1950s ish building on Mechanics Road right next to an old gas station that’s been converted to an AirBnB that sleeps twelve.

But what to do with it? Enter Jamie Pleta. Rebecca met Jamie while working together in management at a downtown Savannah hotel. Rebecca had a vision, she shared it with Jamie. Once Jamie was on board, they approached the building’s owner at Yes Antiques and Thrift next door and talked her into renting it to them.

The plan was simple. Once they cleaned it up and made it Instagram ready, Miles would do the food. A very simple menu. Sandwiches, wraps, chips, fruit, drinks. You get the idea. The big difference is Miles is drawing on his experience in major kitchens to create this menu. They are partnering with local farms including Vertu right down the street in Thunderbolt to create seasonal offerings, not just something you’d get out of the back of a supply truck. They are also using Auspicious Baking Company breads. A very big deal.

The menu? Smallish and clever for starters. Skinny Italian is a thinly sliced Pork Belly Porchetta, spicy greens, aioli and a side of smoky broth. There’s a braised chicken sandwich, a grilled cheese and a peanut butter and jelly.

Yogurt and Bananas will satisfy the healthy crowd and a “Love your Roots” Vegan soup will satisfy that crowd this winter.

Do you get the picture? This is different for Thunderbolt and I think a welcomed addition. “Foodie” food. But I’m parking that word over yonder with ‘bodega.’

“Miles is a very talented guy.” says Jason Starnes, Executive Chef at Rhett in The Alida Hotel. “I am VERY excited to see what he does with their new place.”

“I had worked in tight spaces before at the winery.” Miles says “So putting together a menu that was easy to execute but still fresh was easier for me.”

On the other side of the tiny space are the grab and go items. Other than food. You might find a good looking sweatshirt, you might want a deck of cards, a frisbee or a candle. Heck, even the picnic baskets decorating the walls are for sale.

The goal is to create a one stop shop that this trio doesn’t believe exists in Thunderbolt. They see how much traffic comes and goes from the cemetery down the street on a daily basis but there is nowhere really for those visitors to stop and enjoy something creative and local.

“The kayak tour company down the street does a ton of business. Those people don’t have anywhere to stop and grab a bite either.” Rebecca says. “Now they will.”

That’s to say nothing of the potential to draw a lunch crowd from the immediate area. Across Victory Drive you have Tubby’s, Tortuga’s and the very popular Erica Davis Low Country . But what if you want something simple, like a hit and run sandwich or salad? Finches will now give you another option in that department.

Once the warmer months roll back around, the trio expect to offer their services for boxed lunches or catering to the nearby marina traffic coming through Thunderbolt on any given Spring or Summer day on the water.

In the short term, consider me among the thankful that they thought enough of Savannah to stay and build something new and creative where we can Eat It and Like It. Because I believe we will.

Finches Sandwiches and Sundries2600 Mechanics AvenueThunderbolt, GA 31404finchessandwiches.comOpen 7am-2pm Tuesday through FridayOpen 8am-4pm Saturday and Sunday

The A-10 Thunderbolt is a close-air-support attack aircraft, and it is not a common view at airshows, except for the A-10 Demonstration Flight Team.

On October 30-31, four members of the A-10 Demo Team will attend the Wings Over Georgia Air Show. Their presence there is not random since they grew up less than a two-hour drive from Rome, GA. That includes the team leader Capt. Haden “Gator” Fullam, Staff Sgt. Hunter Nance, Staff Sgt. Robert Benson, and Senior Airman Jacob Stephens.

Senior Airman Stephens said that "We're super excited to be able to share the A-10 with the northwest Georgia community and demonstrate its combat capabilities in an area that we all know and love" and added that "It is a great opportunity for me and the other team members to be able to return to the area where we all grew up. We look forward to showcasing what we do as we travel to air shows across the country."

Fullam joined the U.S. Air Force as a tribute for his grandfathers, who fought in Vietnam and, moreover, for 2021, the A-10 Thunderbolt used by his team will come with the Vietnam War-era paint scheme. That paint includes the name of 97 members of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing who paid the ultimate price or were POWs during military service. The A-10 Demonstration Flight Team is part of the 355th Wing based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, near Tucson, AZ.

This year, the event will use a hybrid format, including a drive-in tailgate system and hill-top patio seating. Those who choose the parking will get a 10 by 20-foot spot (3x6m) for their vehicles and an adjacent area for enjoying the show.

Apart from the A-10 Demo Team, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will attend the event, celebrating their 75th Anniversary as the headlining act, U.S. Army SOCOM Black Daggers, and U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster II. Ticket prices for general airfield parking are $150 for every day, and the organizer announced that the vehicles could not exceed 20 ft (6 m). The capacity of the cars will be counted by the number of seatbelts installed. Tickets must be purchased in advance; hence there will be no tickets sold at the Show.