Carroll County officials announced that the McIntosh Reserve has expanded by 327 acres of riverfront property, bringing the total size of the park to 1,750 acres. The addition, funded in part by a $1.46 million grant from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program, adds nearly two‑thirds of a mile of Chattahoochee River frontage and paves the way for a future eight‑mile trail that would link the reserve to Moore’s Bridge Park.
Local benefits and conservation
“Expanding McIntosh Reserve means more opportunities for Carroll County residents to get outside and enjoy the Chattahoochee River close to home,” said Michelle Morgan, chair of the Carroll County Commission. The new parcel protects habitat for 19 rare and priority species, including the state‑protected bluestripe shiner, highscale shiner and bald eagle. Archaeologists also identified evidence of human presence dating back to 8,000 B.C., underscoring the area’s ancestral ties to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
The reserve serves as the southernmost campsite and take‑out point on the 48‑mile Chattahoochee RiverLands Camp + Paddle Trail, a route that runs from Atlanta to Carroll County. The broader RiverLands plan envisions a 100‑mile greenway linking 20 metro Atlanta cities and seven counties to the river.
Atlanta‑made AI thriller “Artist I Am” premieres
Atlanta filmmaker and technologist Taz Lake’s independent feature Artist I Am will premiere Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Tara Theatre (2345 Cheshire Bridge Road NE). The 80‑minute mystery thriller explores artificial intelligence, deepfakes and their impact on human creativity. The story follows former FBI forensic accountant and INTERPOL regional director Nick Sterling, played by Gio Martinelli, as he investigates the mysterious destruction of a priceless artwork that may signal a larger technological threat.
Lake wrote and executive‑produced the film, which was shot entirely in metro Atlanta over eight days. Director‑producer Daniel Sagona made his directorial debut, and the crew includes art‑department veterans from major Marvel and DC productions. After the screening, Donnie Beamer, senior technology advisor to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, will moderate a discussion with Lake and Sagona.
Okefenokee World Heritage celebration paddlers
More than 300 canoeists and kayakers are set to paddle the Okefenokee Swamp next June in celebration of its recent UNESCO World Heritage Site designation—the first such site in Georgia. The Paddle Georgia expedition runs June 18‑25, beginning at Okefenokee State Park and following the Okefenokee Wilderness Canoe Trail before embarking on a 95‑mile journey down the Suwannee River from Fargo, Georgia, to Live Oak, Florida.
Participants will travel roughly 14 miles per day, staying at Okefenokee State Park, the Suwannee River Eco Lodge in Fargo, and the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park near Live Oak. The week includes nightly educational programs, catered meals, river clean‑ups and water‑quality testing. “Because of the World Heritage Site designation, the world will soon come to the Okefenokee and surrounding areas in even greater numbers,” said Rena Ann Peck, executive director of Georgia Rivers, which organizes the trip.
Registration opens in early February, with fees ranging from $70 to $480 plus optional meals. Two‑, three‑ and four‑day options and scholarships are available.
Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.
