STATE DNR WARNS OF SWOLLEN RIVERS AND CREEKS

STATE DNR SAYS ITS TIRED OF RESCUING SWIMMERS WHO RISK DANGER AFTER THEY BECOME STRANDED AT THE RIVER FALLS AT HIGH FALLS STATE PARK IN MONROE COUNTY.

TWO 17 YEAR OLDS FROM JACKSON WERE RESCUED TUESDAY EVENING BY DIVERS FROM BIBB COUNTY—AND MONROE COUNTY S.O. SAID THE EFFORT COST THOUSANDS—AFTER A COPTER FROM ATLANTA WAS HINDERED BY THE WEATHER. BOTH WERE CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING.

DNR NOTED TWO DROWNED IN THE RIVER LAST YEAR, AND SO ITS POSTING NEW WARNING SIGNS –BRIGHT RED AND WHITE SIGNS AT THE TRAILHEADS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RIVER NEAR THE FALLS.

ALSO GAME WARDENS WILL RAMP-UP THEIR CHECKS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE STAY OFF THE ROCKS AND AWAY FROM THE POOL AT THE BASE OF THE FALLS—SOMETHING THAT WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.

DNR IS WARNING THE PUBLIC TO STAY OFF GEORGIA'S SWOLLEN RIVERS AND CREEKS TILL LEVELS RETURN TO NORMAL.