New record for Savannah port

Georgia's main port is marking a new first. The Georgia Ports Authority says the port of Savannah moved more than 1-million exported 20-foot containers in fiscal year 2008. The Savannah Morning News reports China brought in the most shipments at 175,000. Italy, Turkey, Japan, and the Republic of Korea also topped the list.

Twinned Japanese city group visits Americus

Group members meet with Sumter Middle School Principal,
Mrs. Carolyn Hamilton. Center: Superintendent Sawako Hisashi.
(Courtesy Sumter Co. School Board)

Seven adults and 35-schoolchildren from sister city Miyoshi City - Konu Town, are visiting under the auspices of a municipal friendship pact.

The group will take part in a memorial for the two victims of the twister that tore through the city on March 1st.

Map showing twister's destructive swath.
Click photo for larger image. (Dave Bender)

A Sumter County Board of Education official told the Americus Times-Recorder the sister city donated $14,000 to Americus, which used the funds to purchase the memorial.

The group will stay with host families, and students will attend a local school and take part in other events with their Georgian counterparts.

Previous GPB News coverage of the tornado is here.