Police are asking the public to help them identify whoever is responsible for spray-painting a small kitten in Savannah’s Tatemville neighborhood.

Officers responded to the area of Churchill and Mildred streets for a six-week old kitten that was painted orange, said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman. The kitten was in distress because of the paint on its face and body, he said.

Concerned residents stood by until Animal Control arrived and took the cat to receive veterinary care.

The kitten, since named Sherbet is under veterinary care at the police department’s animal control shelter and is expected to be placed for adoption after a five-day stray hold.

Anyone with information regarding those responsible is asked to contact Animal Control at 912-525-2151.

Jail bookings from June 17-18 for Savannah-Chatham County are now posted.

Click through this slideshow to view photos and information obtained from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department. All individuals posted have not been convicted of a crime and are innocent until proven guilty.

Find previous jail bookings at savannahnow.com/booked.

South Carolina state Senator and Emanuel African Methodist Epsicopal Church pastor Clementa Pinckney was among nine victims of tragic shooting in Charleston, S.C. Wednesday night.

Explore the Savannah Morning News Bluffton Today archives of stories on Pinckney and his career as a Senator. 

• Legislators running in redrawn districts
• Elections '97: District 122 race is more than meets the eye
• DNR starts work to mark no-wake zones
• Novice trying to unseat Pinckney
• New superintendent thinks state will keep park
• Savannah Morning News Feature 20-under-40: Clementa Pinckney
• Republicans cite voting problems, say election results will be challenged
• S.C. legislators float idea of cooperative oversight of Savannah River shipping commerce
• U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Esau G. 'E.J.' Patterson Jr. laid to rest in Ridgeland
• New law bans Ridgeland’s speed cameras
• Senate kills Hampton County School District bill
• Manufacturing Planet Attracts Haley
• Local support grows for Hardeeville Casino Resort
• Haley not ready to gamble Hardeeville Resort Casino
• Jasper County leaders press big picture view
• S.C. Senators at odds over Jasper ocean terminal board
• Jasper County Senator proposed Ocean Terminal trumps all
• Strife stalemate over Jasper County School Board map
• S.C. Senate defeats effort to curb Jasper port board
• Pinckney leads Bessinger among Beaufort County Precincts
• State election commission sides Pinckney residency challenge
• Subpoena looms over reporter in Pinckney challenge
• Pinckney prevails, residency challenge fails
• Bluffton’s clout, Columbia grows
• Voters might decide who heads Jasper County
• Pinckney: We have problem along the coast
• S.C. lawmakers seek to deter church vandalism metal theft
• Local lawmakers reach across river
• Jasper County student earns scholarship
• Pinckney’s Jasper County school redistricting plan meets resistance
• Pinckney barring a return to cursive
• Schools won’t get controversial seizure drug
• Pinckney drops opposition, allows cursive bill to proceed
• Waddell’s budget win, dollars flow reputation grows
• School sales tax still remote, but less so
• ACLU sues Jasper County schools
• Jasper County legislative officials concerned about cheating redistricting
• Black garb Sunday protest police actions
• Push begins to raise hourly wage in S.C.
• Wage-related bills should start discussion
• Fight over fix Jasper school’s other districts
• Celebrate Jasper County black history
• Brower’s proposes new Jasper County School Board redistricting map
• Judge decides  school district maps
• Jasper County road could honor S.C. State founder
• Jasper School Board appeals Judges millage rate power
• Federal judge redraws Jasper County School Board map
• Jasper goes Columbia politicking less pointedly
• We’re missing out on incredible economic opportunity
• Delegation removes 3 election commissioners

Click here for a slideshow with older stories on Sen. Pinckney

Savannah-Chatham police have charged a suspect in one case and they are looking for more information on two other incidents after three separate shootings Wednesday afternoon and night.

At 7:30 p.m., Central Precinct Patrol officers responded to the 600 block of West 40th Street where they a 30-year-old male victim, of a Manchester Court address, on the floor of a house with a non-life threatening gunshot wound. Officers immediately detained Stanley Eugene Robinson, 25. Violent Crimes detectives later charged him with aggravated assault, said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman.

Earlier Wednesday, a 24-year-old male victim, of a Quail Forrest address was found with gunshot wounds in a yard on the 2400 block of East DeRenne Avenue about 3:30 p.m. and transported for treatment of injuries expected to be non-life threatening.

He reported he had been standing in the yard of a house when a male walked up and began shooting at him, hitting him twice before walking towards him and firing at him again as he lay on the ground. The gunman then fled west onto LaRoache Avenue, Miller said.

At 10:29 p.m., Central Precinct Patrol officers responded to a shooting call on the 1700 block of East 39th Street where they found an 81-year-old male victim, with a non-life threatening wound in his house. Hamilton said he had sold sodas to two younger males who returned and fired at him.

Violent Crimes detectives continue to investigate the three shootings. Anyone with information on a case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

A Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at 912-525-3124 and most area clergy have agreed to serve as liaisons for anyone who would like to share information with police anonymously.

The Savannah Sand Gnats mustered just enough runs Thursday to give starting pitcher Scarlyn Reyes the win in a pitcher’s duel at Grayson Stadium. The Gnats (36-31) fended off a ninth-inning rally and defeated Asheville 3-2, winning two games of their three-game series against the Tourists (30-37).

Reyes and Asheville starter Grahamm Wiest dealt scoreless ball for six innings before the Tourists put the first run on the board in the top of the seventh. Wiest was relieved by Logan Sawyer in the next inning, and the Gnats took advantage.

John Mora led off the inning with a triple and scored on a two-out error by Asheville second baseman Forrest Wall. Later in the inning, Jonathan Johnson hit a single that scored Joe Tuschak and gave the Gnats a 2-1 lead.

The Gnats loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth and added a game-deciding run going into the ninth.

Reyes remained in the game but couldn’t complete the game after allowing a run to score. With two outs and a runner on third, Jimmy Duff came in and closed the game, getting Wes Rogers to strike out swinging.

Reyes allowed no earned runs and recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts, while Wiest allowed just one hit and no runs, walked two and struck out seven over six innings.

Mora went 2 for 4 and scored two runs for the Gnats, and Drew Weeks went 1 for 4 and drove in both runs for the Tourists.

Asheville a b r h bi Savannah ab r h bi

Carrizales lfq 4 1 1 0 Johnson 2b 3 0 1 1

Wall 2b 4 0 0 0 Guillorme ss 4 0 0 0 Hoelscher dh 3 1 0 0 Becerra rf 4 0 0 0

Fuentes 1b 4 0 0 0 Garcia 1b 1 0 0 0

Weeks rf 4 0 1 2 Leroux 1b 3 0 1 0

Rogers cf 4 0 0 0 Mora cf 4 2 2 0

Jean 3b 3 0 0 0 Rodriguez 4 0 1 0

Perkins c 3 0 0 0 Nido dh 4 0 0 0

Tuschak lf 3 1 0 0

Jimenez ss 3 0 0 0 Abreu c 1 0 0 0

Totals 3 2 2 3 2 Totals 31 3 5 1

Asheville 000 000 000 101 — 2

Savannah 000 000 000 210 — 3

E—Fuentes, Wall, Leroux, Rodriguez LOB— Asheville 4, Savannah 7. 2B—Rodriguez, 3B—Mora SAC— Hoelscher. SB—Jean, Weeks,

Asheville IP H R ER BB SO

Wiest 6 1 0 0 2 7

Sawyer 2 4 3 1 1 2

Savannah IP H R ER BB SO

Reyes (W, 7-4) 8.66 3 2 0 0 11

Duff (S, 6) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1

WP—Sawyer. T—2:26. A—2,387.

An estimated 50 children and their families were on hand Thursday at the Chatham County Aquatic Center to take part in what’s billed as “The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.”

The inaugural event in 2010 established a Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson ever conducted. It was staged to build awareness of the importance of teaching children to swim to prevent drownings.

Last year’s event grew more than 400 percent with more than 20,000 participants representing 13 countries and 45 states in the United States.

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related deaths of children ages 1-14, and research shows if a child doesn’t learn to swim before the third grade, they probably never will.

Read the obituaries.

Bertha M. Ansley, Lyons, GA

Mr. Mike Benton, McNatt Falls  Comm., GA

Howard Paul Blatner, Savannah, GA

Jeanie Brown, Brunswick, GA

Chanel H. Capers, Gray’s Hill, SC

Leroy Chisholm, Savannah, GA

Twyla Clark, Metter, GA

Pamela Copeland, Savannah, GA

Brenda Lee Cox, Savannah, GA

George H. Dunbar, Beaufort, SC

Rosa Lee Frazier, Savannah, GA

Norma Gourno, Savannah, GA

Shirley P. Kirkland, Jesup, GA

Margaret Lariscy, Savannah, GA

Linda K. Barnett Martin, Eden, GA

Mrs. Sarah Small McMillian, Savannah, GA

Elder Stephen L. Mitchell, Sr., Savannah, GA

Willie A. Mitchell, Glennville, GA

Theresa D. Price, Marlow, GA

Timothy Pringle, Savannah, GA

Zulene B. Ramage, Pembroke, GA

Charlesetta Riley, Savannah, GA

Mrs. Alberta Estella Robinson, Savannah, GA

Barbara Marie Shehan, Savannah, GA

Mr. David Smith, Savannah, GA

Myrtice Whitaker Smith, Brooklet, GA

Josh Crawford Sowell, Guyton, GA

Lessie Watkins, Savannah, GA

Mary Wheeler, Glennville, GA

Mr. Joseph White, Savannah, GA

Due to the extreme heat conditions, city officials are reminding residents that the following neighborhood centers are available for use until 8 p.m. tonight and from noon to 4 p.m. tomorrow:

Grant Regional Center - 1310 Richards Street, open Monday thru Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12 Noon until 4 p.m.

WW Law Regional Center– 900 East Bolton Street, open Monday thru Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12 Noon until 4 p.m.

Eastside Regional Center– 415 Goebel Avenue, open Monday thru Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12 Noon until 4 p.m.

John S. Delaware Regional Center– 1815 Lincoln Street, open Monday thru Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12 Noon until 4 p.m.

Tompkins Regional Center– 39th & Ogeechee Road, open Monday thru Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12 Noon until 4 p.m.

Windsor Forest Regional Center– 414 Briarcliff Circle, open Monday thru Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12 Noon until 4 p.m.

A group of Savannah religious leaders issued this statement today regarding this week's shooting tragedy at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

Additionally, a prayer vigil will be held at St. Philip A.M.E. Church, 613 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., at 7 p.m. Friday. Everyone is invited to attend.

Savannah Interfaith Statement On the Loss of Life at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston

We as leaders of religious communities in Savannah, express deep sadness and anger over the violent attack on the people of the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

We extend our sympathy and support to the families, friends and church community of the nine men and women who lost their lives. We offer our prayers for their strength and their healing and we want them to know that they are not alone in this time of sorrow.

We as leaders of religious communities in Savannah seek to stand in solidarity with a church that has long stood for faith, freedom and justice for all people, especially in times of great challenge.

We take this moment of loss and grief to reaffirm our commitment to growing strong, inclusive and peaceful faith communities within a strong, inclusive and peaceful society.

We take as an article of common faith, the power of love to overcome racism, hatred and violence. We commit to using that power to work toward change in Savannah and our world.

In Peace,

Rabbi Ruven Barkan, Congregation Agudath Achim

Rev. J. Michael Culbreth, Speedwell United Methodist Church

Rev. John M. Finley, Ph.D., First Baptist Church

Rabbi Robert Haas, Congregation Mickve Israel

Rev. Enoch Hendry, Trinity United Methodist Church

Rev. Billy Hester, Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church

Rev. George P. Lee, III, Ph.D., St. John Baptist Church

Rev. Ben C. Martin, D.Min., Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church

Rev. David H. Messner, The Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah

Rev. Vasile Mihai, St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church

Rev. William O. O'Neill, The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist

Rev. Gerry Schreck, The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist

Rev. Scottie Swinney, St. Philip A.M.E. Church

Rev. Thurmond N. Tillman, First African Baptist Church

Rev. Michael S. White, Christ Church Episcopal

Rev. Stephen Williams, First Presbyterian Church of Savannah

If you are a leader of a religious community in Savannah and would like to join as a signatory to this statement, we welcome you, please send an email to revdave@uusavannah.org

Whether you are looking for a home on Wilmington or Whitemarsh islands or just curious what the market is like in the 31410 zip code, view this slideshow of listed homes for sale.

Slideshow includes house photos, home details and links the full listing. 

New on Netflix 6/20/15 – 6/26/15

Available 6/20

Cake (2014)

Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza, Anna Kendrick, Sam Worthington, Mamie Gummer, Felicity Huffman

Wracked with physical pain and reeling from a tragic loss, Claire indulges a complicated obsession with a woman who took her own life.

Available 6/23

Advantageous (2015)

Jacqueline Kim, James Urbaniak, Freya Adams, Ken Jeong, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Kim

In order to keep her job at a biomedical engineering firm that prizes youth, a middle-aged woman must submit to a drastic experimental procedure.

Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle (2015)

Angela Bassett, John Goodman, Frank Welker, Jeff Bennett, Alexander Polinsky, Phil LaMarr

When Curious George's spaceship is forced to crash-land in Africa, he makes his way through the jungle and befriends the local animals.

Available 6/24

Beyond the Lights (2014)

Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver, Machine Gun Kelly, Danny Glover, Darryl Stephens

Exhausted by the demands of the music business, a rising pop star tries to end her life but is saved by a police officer who later becomes her lover.

Available 6/25

Ballet 422 (2014)

Justin Peck

Go backstage at the New York City Ballet, from first rehearsal to world premiere, as choreographer Justin Peck readies a new piece.

Twin Warriors (1993)

Jet Li, Michelle Yeoh, Siu-Ho Chin, Fennie Yuen, Lau Seung, Cheung-Yan Yuen

Junbao and his friend Chin Bo are raised as monks in a Shaolin monastery. But after being wrongfully accused of fighting with weapons, both are banished from the temple and go their separate ways.

Available 6/26

Dragons: Race to the Edge: Season 1 – NETFLIX ORIGINAL

From the creators of "How to Train Your Dragon" comes an all-new Netflix original series that takes Hiccup and Toothless to the edge of adventure! Hiccup, Toothless and the Dragon Riders soar beyond the borders of Berk and discover the mysterious Dragon Eye, an ancient artifact filled with secrets that leads them to new lands filled with never-before-seen dragons and Dragon Hunters who will stop at nothing until they seize the powerful Dragon Eye.

What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015) – NETFLIX ORIGINAL

This epic documentary of legendary recording artist and civil rights activist Nina Simone uses rare concert footage and her most memorable songs, along with diaries, letters, and interviews with Nina’s daughter, friends and collaborators, to tell the story of this beloved singer and black power icon. In "What Happened, Miss Simone?" Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus creates an unforgettable portrait of this iconic, controversial artist.

Young & Hungry: Season 2

A female food blogger is hired as a personal chef by a young tech tycoon a

Jail bookings from June 18-19 for Savannah-Chatham County are now posted.

Click through this slideshow to view photos and information obtained from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department.

All individuals posted have not been convicted of a crime and are innocent until proven guilty.

Find previous jail bookings at savannahnow.com/booked.

Looking for something to do with dad this weekend?

Check out open house viewings in the Savannah area. 

Savannah-Chatham police say they are investigating two incidents in which a shot was fired at city property on Thursday.

A city employee returned to his SUV with a city insignia on it at Abercorn and St. Julian streets Thursday afternoon to find damage from a bullet on the passenger’s side. Thursday night, a bullet was fired into a city water department office on Stiles Avenue. No one was injured or even near the areas at the time. City employees are being advised to be aware of those around them.

Police ask anyone with information on the case to call the anonymous CrimeStoppers service at 912-234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters’ identities remain confidential and they may qualify for a cash reward.

Eastbound traffic on Interstate 16 was slowed Friday afternoon after a wreck near mile marker 148.

Georgia State Patrol troopers were on scene, and details about the severity of the wreck were not immediately available. The outside eastbound lane of I-16 was open to traffic, but troopers had the other one blocked off until the scene could be cleared.

Motorists may want to avoid the area.

Savannah-Chatham police say they arrested a local man Thursday after vehicle and foot pursuits stemming from an undercover drug operation in the Tatemville area.

Undercover narcotics officers, patrol officers and K-9 officers arrested 36-year-old Alfred Cheever on the 700 block of South Street just after noon Thursday, said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman.

He has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a weapon in committing a crime, three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, obstruction of a police officer, reckless driving, driving without a permit, fleeing to elude police, theft by receiving stolen property and violation of parole, along with traffic offenses.

Police also recovered a quantity of marijuana, controlled substances and prescription drugs and a handgun reported stolen in Ridgeland, S.C.

Undercover officers had set up surveillance in the Tatemville area in reaction to ongoing illegal activity and drug complaints when they noticed Cheever in a red Toyota Rav 4 that was illegally parked in a high crime area, Miller said. A K-9 officer attempted a traffic stop when the Toyota sped away, under constant surveillance of undercover officers.

He fled from the car on foot before be apprehended while hiding in a shed on Staley Avenue by another K-9 officer.

Cheever had 18 previous arrests in the Savannah area, including two charges of kidnapping, aggravated assault and battery. He also had 14 previous charges of violation of probation.

He has served three prison terms, including serving two years and three months of a 10-year sentence from June 2007-September 2009 for 2005 charges of forgery, obstruction, possession of marijuana, robbery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was paroled in November 2013 from Wilcox State Prison where he was serving after convictions of other charges.

The investigation into his activities continues.

Jail bookings from June 16-18 for Bulloch County are now posted.

Click through this slideshow to view photos and information obtained from the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Department. All individuals posted have not been convicted of a crime and are innocent until proven guilty.

Find previous jail bookings at savannahnow.com/booked.

Single-sheet circulars bearing the name of the National Socialist Movement and its logo, which includes a swastika, were distributed in at least one southside neighborhood this week.

The circulars were wrapped around old sections of the Savannah Morning News and other area publications and dropped at the end of driveways inside clear plastic bags.

Savannah Morning News Publisher Michael Traynor said the newspaper had nothing to do with the distribution of the circulars, which were reported in and around Arlington Road in south Savannah.

“The circular was not created, printed or distributed by the Savannah Morning News or any of its sister publications,” said Traynor. “We do not know who was responsible and we have filed a report with the police.”

AUGUSTA — Another solid starting pitching performance keyed Savannah to a 6-4 win over Augusta Friday to open road with the GreenJackets, and the Gnats remained in a tie for first-place with Greenville in the Northern division of the South Atlantic League.

With two games remaining before Tuesday’s SAL All-Star Game in Asheville, North Carolina, if the Gnats can secure sole possession of first place, they’ll earn an automatic bid into the playoffs.

Corey Oswalt pitched through 6 1/3 innings, and gave up just one run — a solo home run by Augusta’s Andrew Cain — off six hits to go with two walks and two strikeouts.

In their last four games, Savannah’s starters have combined for 28 1/3 innings of work, allowed just 20 hits and five earned runs while fanning 28 batters.

The Gnats (37-31) built up an early lead, scoring two runs in the second inning, and one in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Augusta (33-34) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth and made the score 5-1. Down 6-1, the GreenJackets broke out with a three-run eighth inning, but the Gnats’ bullpen preserved the win with David Roosebloom earning his seventh save.

Savannah’s middle of the order frustrated the Augusta pitching staff all night. Eudor Garcia went 3 for 5 with two RBIs, including a solo home run in the fifth inning. Luis Guillorme went 3 for 4 and also had two RBIs, and Wuilmer Becerra went 2 for 5.

Cain had two hits and two RBIs to lead the GreenJackets.

Savannah ab r h bi Augusta ab r h bi

Johnson 2b 4 0 0 0 Fargas cf 5 0 0 0

Guillorme ss 4 1 3 2 Sy ss 3 1 1 0

Becerra rf 5 0 2 0 Garcia c 3 1 1 0

Garcia 3b 5 1 3 0 Arenado 3b 5 0 1 0

Nido c 4 1 0 0 Ewing 1b 4 0 1 1

Mora cf 5 0 1 0 Davis rf 4 1 1 1

Rodriguez dh 4 2 1 0 Pare dh 4 0 2 0

Lupo lf 4 0 1 1 Cain lf 4 1 2 2

Abreu rf 4 1 2 2 Jones 2b 4 0 2 1

Totals 39 6 13 6 Totals 36 4 11 4

Savannah 021 110 010 — 6

Augusta 000 010 030 — 4

E—Guillorme, Garcia, Becerra. LOB— Savannah 12, Augusta 9. 2B—Lupo, Abreu, Pare. SB—Lupo, Guillorme, Fargas. CS—Fargas, Garcia.

Savannah IP H R ER BB SO

Oswalt (W, 4-3) 6 1/3 6 1 1 2 2

Villasmil 1 1/3 2 3 3 1 1

Baldonado 0 3 0 0 0 0

Roseboom (S,7) 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 0

Augusta IP H R ER BB SO

Gage (L, 3-4) 5 9 5 5 2 6

Moronta 3 2 1 1 3 5

Alvarado 1 2 0 0 1 2

WP—Vilasmil. T—3:14. A—2,730.

Read the obituaries. 

Charlotte K. Anderson, Register, GA

Mr. Cleveland Brewton, Claxton, GA

Mr. Milton E. Brown, Savannah, GA

Mr. Isaac Chaplin, Savannah, GA

Mr. Robert Lee Davis, Hazlehurst, GA

Mrs. Clara Dean, Vidalia, GA

Mrs. Margie Jones Dobson, Statesboro, GA

Karen L. Dunphey, Loves Park, IL

Duwud Fletcher, Ridgeland, SC

Mrs. Gladys Jackson, Brunswick, GA

Mr. Willie J. Jenkins, Fairfax, SC

Elizabeth George Lariscy, Savannah, GA

Mr. Willie Alfred Mitchell, Glennville, GA

Mr. Samuel R. Page, Savannah, GA

Mr. Evan M. Phillips, Soperton, GA

Mr. Anthony Lee Reyes, Glennville, GA

Barbara Marie Shehee, Savannah, GA

Mr. Joseph B. Shepherd, Sr., Swainsboro, GA

Mr. James Smith, Sr., Claxton, GA

Myrtice Whitaker Smith, Brooklet, GA

Mr. James Tucker, Rincon, GA

Nancy F. Warren, Pineland, SC

Mary Wheeler, Glennville, GA

Mr. Joseph J.P. White, Savannah, GA