FLOWERY BRANCH — Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford aren’t having an easy time learning how to play cornerback in the NFL.

And that’s just fine with Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith, who’s been watching the rookies try to defend Roddy White and Julio Jones during a mandatory three-day mini-camp.

Smith said Trufant and Alford are getting valuable experience against two of the league’s best receivers, and the rookies agree.

“We want to get them ready to play, and the best way is to have them go against really good players,” Smith said. “They’re going against two of the best in the league, and Harry Douglas is not a bad receiver as well. They’re getting their fill.”

The lessons haven’t stopped since Trufant, a first-round pick from Washington, and Alford, a second-round selection from Southeastern Louisiana, were drafted in late April.

Trufant seems to have an advantage after growing up as the younger brother of Marcus Trufant, a free agent after playing 10 years with the Seattle Seahawks, and Isaiah Trufant, who played in nine games with one start for the New York Jets in 2012.

The brothers all play cornerback, a position Desmond Trufant excelled at in starting 47 of 50 games as a four-year starter at Washington.

More challenges

But life in the NFL brings challenges that even Trufant wasn’t entirely ready for when lined up opposite White and Jones, one of the league’s top receiving tandems.

“They humbled me, to be honest,” Trufant said. “They’re big, they’re strong, they’re fast. They’re getting me better every day, and I’m just competing with them.”

White, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, last season became just the fifth NFL player with three straight years of at least 90 catches and 1,200 or more yards receiving.

Jones was invited to his first Pro Bowl after catching 79 passes for 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns

Jones, who’s accustomed to practicing hard in each drill, believes Trufant and Alford have the skills and mindsets to succeed. But he added that it’s not his job to go easy on the rookies.

“They’re trying,” Jones said with a grin. “But they don’t give up. They give effort. They’ve got heart, and that’s one thing you can’t teach.”

Alford felt fortunate on the first day of mini-camp to beat White on a crossing route.

Quarterback Matt Ryan put the ball in White’s hands, but Alford played the correct technique and was in position to knock the ball to the ground.

Both players were running at full speed, but White kept going after the play was whistled dead. Instead of doing his customary slow lap back up the field following a play, White slammed his hand into the wall of the indoor practice facility and made a crashing noise.

Getting better

Alford was quick to say that he wasn’t trying to upstage White. He only wanted to break up the pass.

“I think going against Julio and Roddy every day in one-on-ones is getting me better because both of them are Pro Bowl-caliber receivers,” Alford said. “I’m going against the best, and I think that’s the one thing I can do to help me get better as a player.”

Alford is listed behind starting left cornerback Asante Samuel on the depth chart. Trufant is challenging Robert McClain for the starting job at right cornerback.

Samuel, a brash veteran renowned for shouting his confidence in practice, is helping both rookies adjust on the field and in the film room.

“He’s been in the league 10 years,” Alford said. “He’s been to the Pro Bowl. He’s had a bunch of interceptions and a bunch of rings from playing with the New England Patriots. I’m learning a lot from him every day.”

Notes

Smith announced that training camp will begin July 25 with an afternoon workout that is open to the public. ... He added that the Falcons will not tackle until their annual Friday Night Lights event one week after camp starts. This year’s event is being held at City Park in Gainesville, Ga. ... Samuel (ankle) and S Thomas DeCoud (groin) didn’t participate in the final practice of minicamp for precautionary reasons. Smith said neither injury was serious and he wanted to give some of the younger defensive backs a longer look anyway. ... TE Tony Gonzalez wasn’t required to be at the minicamp — part of his contract to play another season instead of retiring. ... DE Osi Umenyiora was excused from Thursday’s workout after practicing the previous two days. RB Jason Snelling also missed the two-hour practice after the death of his grandmother. ... The only injury concern is rookie DE Stansly Maponga, a fifth-round draft pick from TCU. He is still recovering from March ankle surgery and may be limited at the start of training camp, Smith said. ... FB Bradie Ewing has fully recovered from knee surgery that kept him out all of last season.

ROSSVILLE, Ga. (AP) — State fire officials say 35 horses were killed when a fire swept through their stables and another building in northwest Georgia.

The fire was reported around 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Happy Valley Farms in Rossville, just south of the Georgia-Tennessee line, said Glenn Allen, a spokesman for Georgia's fire marshal.

No people were hurt in the blaze, but the damage was estimated at up to $6 million because of the value of the horses that perished. Allen described them as show horses, and said that some were valued as high as $250,000.

Allen said three buildings -- two stables and a storage facility -- were destroyed in the blaze.

The cause was still under investigation late Friday morning.

The structure was completely engulfed within 20 minutes, Daniel Jenner, one of the farm's trainers, said in a statement.

"We were able to get one horse out of an end stall on the back side of the barn adjacent to the indoor arena," he said. "It was too hot and smoky to get anywhere near the main barn aisle."

The business is home to an expansive American Saddlebred show horse breeding and training operation, The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. It "is one of the most widely regarded in the country," Bob Funkhouser, editor of a trade industry publication, told the newspaper.

Owner Marion "Bit" Hutcheson is widely known and respected in the industry, he said.

"Bit dedicated her life to breeding and raising world-class Saddlebreds," Funkhouser said. "The industry has benefited from her passion and commitment, and we all share in her loss."

Rossville is in Walker County, just south of Chattanooga, Tenn.

FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) — More than 3,000 civilians working for the Army in southeast Georgia are bracing for a painful cut to their paychecks expected to cost the workers roughly $10 million overall.

Civilian employees of Fort Stewart and neighboring Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah will begin taking one furlough day per week next month and continue through September. That means they'll lose 20 percent of their pay for nearly three months because of the automatic federal budget cuts that kicked in months ago.

Casey Taylor-Racinelli was among 100 people attending a Friday town-hall meeting on the furloughs at Fort Stewart. She's a physician's assistant and among those facing 11 unpaid days off.

Taylor-Racinelli says her family is already tightening its spending on groceries and air-conditioning. She expects to lose $1,000 each month.

ATLANTA (AP) — Celebrity chef Paula Deen, who was scheduled to appear on national television to address controversy over racial slurs, abruptly cancelled Friday.

Anchors for NBC's "Today" show told viewers Friday that Deen had traveled to New York to appear, but was a "no show" for the interview.

Host Matt Lauer said he spoke with Deen on Thursday morning to arrange the interview, but her representatives told the show she was exhausted after her flight and wouldn't appear.

The interview was to have been a "no-holds-barred" discussion in which all questions are allowed, Lauer said.

Controversy arose after the Food Network star was questioned as part of a discrimination lawsuit involving a Savannah restaurant that Deen partly owns. According to a transcript of the deposition, an attorney asked Deen if she has ever used the N-word. She replied "Yes, of course," though she added: "It's been a very long time."

Deen's representative did not immediately return phone calls from The Associated Press left Friday, after Deen canceled the interview.

The lawsuit was filed by Lisa Jackson, a former manager of Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House. Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, co-own the restaurant. Jackson sued them last year, saying she was sexually harassed and worked in a hostile environment rife with innuendo and racial slurs.

In the deposition, Deen said she may have also used the slur when recalling conversations between black employees at her restaurants, but she couldn't recall specifics.

William Franklin, Deen's attorney, has said the celebrity was looking forward to her day in court.

"Contrary to media reports, Ms. Deen does not condone or find the use of racial epithets acceptable," he said in a statement earlier this week.

Richmond Hill’s fire chief Vernon Rushing has been placed on a leave of absence Harold Fowler, the city’s mayor said Friday afternoon.

Fowler declined to give any details as to the reason for the action saying only that a statement from Ray Smith, the city’s attorney, would be forthcoming.

Rushing said he preferred not to make any comments until after the city releases its official statement.

Check back to www.bryancountynow.com for updated information.

Since Wednesday afternoon, news stories have been circulating on numerous media outlets concerning racially tinged comments Paula Deen made during a deposition in connection with a lawsuit that accuses her and her family-run enterprises of sexual harassment and racial discrimination.

Her first video apology was released on YouTube about 3 p.m. today. Later this afternoon that video was removed and a second, longer video was posted. Click play to watch both videos.

The Savannah Morning News is reviewing that deposition, which runs to more than 100 pages, and related court documents, and will have a full report in Sunday’s editions of the newspaper and on savannahnow.com.

Two Pembroke residents were taken into custody after a multi-agency operation resulted in the seizure of a large amount of marijuana by the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team.

On Thursday, CNT Agents in a working partnership with the Garden City Police Department received information that a large amount of marijuana was believed to be at a residence in the Pembroke area.

With assistance from the Bulloch County Drug Suppression Unit, CNT identified the suspected residence in the 6900 block of Hwy. 280 in East Pembroke.

Jonathan McKinney, 33, and Kahlihla Brown, 34, were identified as potential suspects connected to the residence by CNT Agents working undercover.

The CNT obtained a search warrant for the residence with the assistance of the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office and the Tri Circuit Drug Task Force. Authorities executed the warrant shortly after 4 p.m.

The search warrant resulted in the seizure of more than 40 pounds of marijuana, one firearm and more than $700 in cash.

During the execution of the search warrant, three juveniles between the ages of 5 and 12 were observed running from the house carrying bags and boxes. All three were apprehended without incident and found to be in possession of large amounts of marijuana.

The investigation revealed the juveniles were directed to flee the residence with the marijuana by Brown.

City crews completed the installation of a giant xylophone in Forsyth Park Friday morning on the west side of the band shell, near the central walkway.  

The instrument is a permanent addition to the park, handicap accessible and a great tool that could promote music education to park visitors.

Click here to view more photos.

Artist Gregg Payne out of Chico, California constructed the oversized chimes and Savannah city and grounds crews built the hefty ipe hardwood frame.

Margaret Williams with the City of Savannah who helped get this project off the ground said "it would be a great volunteer partnership if we could get Savannah Arts Academy or SCAD students or anybody who wanted to volunteer their musical talent to teach the little ones music notes and at the same time get them moving."

This is just one idea of the many different things that could happen with this project, Williams said.

Northbound lanes of Ga. 21 at Wallace Drive in Springfield are now open following an accident Friday afternoon that rerouted traffic. 

Savannah-Chatham police department Chief Willie Lovett today officially promoted 22 sergeants and three lieutenants in a formal ceremony.

Several hundred fellow officers, family members and friends gathered at the Savannah Civic Center for the promotion ceremony. Police spokesman Julian Miller said some of the officers already are serving in their new positions and others are moving to their new assignments as the promotions take effect through the ranks.

Keynote speaker District Attorney Meg Daly Heap reminded the newly promoted officers that they have been recognized by their chief and command staff as leaders in the department with the ability to perform at higher levels and challenged them to fulfill the leadership roles.

Lovett told the officers and their family members that their jobs and their lives will change with the promotions and the additional responsibilities that accompany them but he was confident they would rise to the challenges.

Promoted to the rank of sergeant were:

Shinita Young
Brad Beddow
Kevin Elleby
Octavio Arango
Jeff Oliver
Shamonica Badie
Marcus Graves
Sean Carr
Tiffany Manuel
Aaron Washington
Tarik Wilson
Tim Lewis
Eric Henderson
Rodney Reynolds
Chris Talley
Stephen Eaton
Joe Lewis
William Sharpley
Maurice Sanders
Eric Dukarski
Sylvester Fann
Yujean Foster

Promoted to the rank of lieutenant were:

Daniel Flood
Gregory Ernst
Billy Cunningham

The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority has approved the issuance of up to $300 million in bonds so that Medient Studios can build its movie production and entertainment complex.

Manu Kumaran, chairman and CEO of Medient, said Friday both parties have been meeting the requirements in the memorandum of understanding, which included proof of the Los Angeles-based company’s financial capability.

“We’re very, very happy” with how the project is progressing, he said.

The parties are finishing the remaining closing conditions and definitive agreements due to be completed prior to July 17. Kumaran said he expects a groundbreaking to be held in late July.

He said the company expects to start on two films soon, an English action-adventure movie with “lots of guns and lots of violence” and an Indian coming-of-age movie with an Indian student at an American university, some of which will be filmed near Georgia Southern in Statesboro.

The IDA on Thursday approved a resolution that allows for the formal process to begin for the issuance of industrial development bonds for the project, which will be on the IDA ’s 1,500 acres at Interstate 16 and Old River Road.

The bonds are a pass-through so the company can obtain tax concessions. “They acquire outside financing, deposit it in their bank then buy their own bonds in whatever amount they need for the project,” said IDA Chairman John Henry. “This is a simple conduit that we do for most projects. We have no financial obligation. We do not provide any funds or incur any financial liability under these bonds.”

The value of the total project, which is expected to create 1,000 jobs, is $300 million. Phase one is $90 million. Of that, $10 million is for a land lease, $40 million is for equipment and $40 million is for buildings.

The state is contributing a $3 million grant for site preparation and building improvements and the IDA is chipping in $1.25 million for site development.

“The industrial development bonds that the IDA approved are part of the process of competing the terms of the MOU,” said Dennis Webb, Chairman of the IDA. “It is another positive step forward, and I am confident that we will continue with this momentum and we will soon see groundbreaking and construction.”

About Medient

Medient Studios Inc. is a publicly listed company OTCQB:MDNT,   www.medient.com.

It is a global film production and distribution company. Fourteen movies, two music acts and several hundred live performance shows have been produced under the Medient banner.

The company is significantly scaling up its operations, including its planned entry into the electronic games sector.

SAVANNAH - The Food Network says it will not renew the contract of celebrity chef Paula Deen, days after it was revealed she admitted using racial slurs in the past.

The network said in a news release Friday afternoon that it would not renew Deen's contract when it expires at the end of the month.

Deen has built an empire from her television shows, cookbooks and product endorsements. The Food Network began airing "Paula's Home Cooking" in 2002 and added "Paula's Best Dishes" in 2008.

Deen admitted while being questioned as part of a lawsuit that she had used racial slurs in the past. The network's announcement came just hours after she posted a video online apologizing for her past mistakes.

Read more in Saturday's Savannah Morning News and here at savannahnow.com.

The Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a wanted person. 

CNT is seeking 35-year-old Jay Rondell Young of Pooler. Gene Harley, CNT spokesman, says Young is wanted for trafficking heroin following a recent CNT operation earlier this month.  

Young is described as a black male, 5’10”, 235 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes. He is known to keep a neatly groomed goatee.

Young’s last known address is 210 Salter St., Pooler. Young is believed to operate a blue Dodge Charger equipped with rims and window tint with Georgia tag PPE1803. 

CNT believes Young is in the Chatham County area and may be staying at a hotel.

Anyone with information concerning Young’s whereabouts is asked to contact CNT at 912-652-3900 or by calling CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020 where callers can remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.

MIAMI — Dwyane Wade was walking down the hallway toward the Miami Heat locker room in the wee hours of Friday morning, still in uniform and fussing with the new championship hat atop his head as his team and their families were in the midst of partying the night away.

He stopped briefly and assessed the celebration.

“We’re getting pretty good at these,” Wade said.

That’s understandable, the Heat are getting plenty of practice at throwing themselves end-of-season parties. Four trips to the NBA Finals since 2006, three championships in that span and with the last two titles coming consecutively, it’s making the decisions that the Heat and LeBron James made three summers ago look pretty smart.

By topping San Antonio in Game 7 of a back-and-forth NBA Finals on Thursday, the Heat became the sixth franchise in league history to win consecutive championships. It’s their third title overall; only four clubs have more. And for James, it capped two seasons where he won all he could — two regular-season MVPs, two titles, two Finals MVPs, even an Olympic gold medal.

“It feels great. This team is amazing. And the vision that I had when I decided to come here is all coming true,” James said. “Through adversity, through everything we’ve been through, we’ve been able to persevere and to win back to back championships. It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m happy to be part of such a first-class organization.”

Getting tougher

James said winning his first title was the toughest thing he’s ever done.

It’s now the second-toughest. Defending the crown, he said, was even more arduous. He was exhausted when it was over — and still scored 37 points in the finale, more than he posted in any other postseason game this season.

“Believe in LeBron,” Heat President Pat Riley said.

Miami did, all the way to the end.

The Heat rolled past Milwaukee in a first-round sweep, needed five games to oust Chicago in the second round, but then went to the seven-game limit against Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals and then to the last game again against the Spurs, who actually were 21 seconds away from ending the series in six games before James and the Heat engineered a huge rally.

Without that comeback, a championship-or-bust season would have gone bust.

Instead, legacies were enhanced, more trophies were hoisted, and Miami’s place atop the NBA landscape was cemented.

“To be in the championship three years in a row, to win two of those three, is unbelievable,” Wade said. “Everybody can’t get to the Finals and win six in a row, like win six and not lose one like Michael Jordan. Everyone don’t do that. But we are excited about the future of this organization. We are still a good team. And we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that we can stay competitive.”

Moves will be made, of course. The Heat have some luxury-tax concerns to address, and it would be a shock if they didn’t try to get even better through a trade or free agency.

“All it’s about now is what’s in front of us,” Riley said.

Good times ahead

Then again, if James keeps getting better, Miami’s place in history will probably only rise.

At 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, James has a combination of size, speed and strength that seems unmatched in the NBA world. After Miami lost the 2011 finals to Dallas, James decided to improve his post play by working with Hakeem Olajuwon. Last season, his focus was on enhancing his mid-range jumper, something he continued working on throughout the season with Ray Allen.

So with about a half-minute left and the Heat up by two points, it was that mid-range jumper that sealed Miami’s title. James delivered with 27.9 seconds left to make it a two-possession game. Not long afterward, he had the Larry O’Brien Trophy in one arm, the Finals MVP trophy in the other, ready for a well-deserved break from basketball.

“I want to be, if not the greatest, one of the greatest to ever play this game,” James said. “And I will continue to work for that, and continue to put on this uniform and be the best I can be every night.”

James has already put himself in that best-ever conversation.

“We all know his work ethic,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who spent part of his first day as a two-time champion coach at Jim Larranaga’s basketball camp at the University of Miami. “It’s probably unique for a guy who has been the best in the game since he was in seventh grade. Usually you wouldn’t have the type of work ethic that would match that type of talent.”

Jordan won six titles, James only has two. But if that’s the sole standard, then Jordan isn’t even close either, considering Bill Russell won 11 rings in his Boston career. Russell was there for the Heat title clincher, served as part of the on-court trophy presentations, then retreated to a small room not far from the Miami locker room as players meandered in for one of the immediate perks of winning a title — a photo shoot with the trophy.

James posed for hundreds of photos during his time in there. Camera clicks were a constant sound for about 10 minutes when he was in the room. And before he left, he and Wade waved for Russell to come join them for some more snapshots.

“Get the legend up here,” James shouted.

Russell walked to the front of the room as a few people, mostly Heat employees and family members, clapped. He shook hands with the Heat stars, then turned around to face the cameras and said something to James that was barely audible to those even a few feet away.

“You earned this one,” Russell said.

James’ grin became even broader, and camera shutters kept on whirring. Suddenly, that oft-mocked, oft-replayed “not two, not three, not four” answer James gave during the Heat celebration of their free agency coup in 2010 doesn’t look like such a punch line anymore.

Roll Call in the Street
1 p.m. Habersham Village. The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Central Precinct will host its second Roll Call in the Street crime reduction event of the summer on June 22. Precinct officers will gather starting at 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Habersham Village. The roll call for officers to start their afternoon shift, in which they receive their usual updates from supervisors, will begin at 2:30 p.m. They will be accompanied by McGruff the Crime Dog and some Special Operations units, before beginning their afternoon shift patrolling the precinct. Anyone from the nearby neighborhoods is welcome to come out and meet the officers and see the exhibits. There will be free hamburgers and hot dogs, compliments of the precinct and businesses supporting the effort.

Jazz on the Grass
2-5 p.m. June 22. Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 622 E. 37th St. Jazz on the Grass in honor of Ben Tucker will be June 22, featuring Teddy Adams on trombone, Jody Espina on sax, Howard Paul on guitar, Mitch Hennes on bass, Billy Hoffman on drums and Kirk Lee on flugelhorn. This music event is free and open to the public. Bring your lawn chairs, umbrellas and blankets. Food and drinks will be available for sale.

Book drive to benefit the libraries of Moore, Okla.
This book drive aims to help restock the libraries of the elementary schools in Moore, Okla., that were devastated by a tornado. To donate new or nearly new elementary level K-6 books, mail to Books to Build On-OK, P.O. Box 249, Richmond Hill, GA 31324, or drop off books at E. Shaver Booksellers in Savannah or Ella’s in Richmond Hill. No donations or material should be sent directly to Moore, as they do not have any place to store them. For more information, go to www.causes.com and search for “elementary school libraries.”

Virginia College Friends and Family Summer open house
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 22. Virginia College, 14045 Abercorn St., Suite 1503. Virginia College in Savannah will host a Friends and Family Summer Open House for the community and former, current and prospective students on June 22. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the educational opportunities available to Savannah-area residents at Virginia College. Activities will provide fun for the whole family. Refreshments will be provided to guests, as well as free giveaways and the opportunity to win door prizes. Attendees will also be able to take a tour of the campus and receive information about programs offered, including business administration, cosmetology, culinary arts, healthcare reimbursement, medical assistant, medical billing and coding, medical office administration, office administration, pharmacy technician, surgical technology and therapeutic massage.

Zumbathon Charity Event
9-11 a.m. June 22. Pooler Park Gym, South Rogers Street. Proceeds benefit Low Country Down Syndrome Society. Two hours of dancing and fitness equals Zumba for a great cause! Instructor will be Marisol Wood. For more information, contact Marisol at 912-401-4793 or woodmarisol@gmail.com. Cost is $10.

Coastal Empire Barbershop Festival
9 a.m. June 22. Savannah Arts Academy, 500 Washington St. The Savannah Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is presenting the first annual Coastal Empire Barbershop Festival for young men ages 8 to 24. It is open to any young man in the greater Savannah area and in the Lowcountry. This is a day-long event where young men who like to sing will be instructed in the finer points of barbershop harmony by a cadre of coaches whose skills are unmatched. At 7 p.m., 13th Colony Sound is presenting a Youth Harmony Festival at Savannah Arts. Featured in the program will be the award-winning Savannah Storm Youth Chorus, Bay Street Boys Quartet, the 13th Colony Sound Chorus and the current Carolinas District Quartet Champions, Half-Ton Pickup. Tickets are available at the door for $10. For more information, call 912-344-9768.

Coastal Empire polio survivors meeting
10:30 a.m. June 22. The Exchange on Waters, 6710 Waters Ave. The Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association will meet June 22 at The Exchange on Waters. Leigh White, physical therapist at Candler Outpatient Rehab, will discuss benefits of physical therapy combined with nutrition. Polio survivors and guests are welcome. There is no charge for this meeting. For more information, call 912-927-8332 or go to www.coastalempirepoliosurvivors.org.

Coastal Cheer Cats tryouts
3-6 p.m. June 22. Coastal Cheer Cats is a competitive All Star Cheerleading team consisting of kids from all over the Savannah area. We travel around the Southeast to compete against other All Star Cheerleading teams. The routines are 2 1/2 minutes of stunts, tumbling, dance, cheer and jumps. Our goal is to teach each individual to be the best they can be while learning in a positive gym environment. We teach teamwork, dedication and commitment. Accepting ages 5 and older. For more information, email coastalcheercats@gmail.com.

Thrift Store opening
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 22. The Manna House Thrift Store, 1210 Patriot Park Drive, Rincon. The Manna House Thrift Store will be open June 22. The food pantry and office will also be open. The Thrift Store carries a wide variety of items, from clothing to housewares to toys, at very reasonable prices. Proceeds are used to purchase food for the food ministry and remain in Effingham County.

Savannah Asian Festival
11 a.m. June 22. Savannah Civic Center. One of Georgia’s largest Asian celebrations, featuring a full day of live stage performances, martial arts demonstrations, authentic cuisine, cultural displays, arts and crafts and educational workshops, will be June 22. The 18th annual Savannah Asian Festival will bring an entire continent of unique cultures, cuisines, performances and fun to the Savannah Civic Center. The City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs and volunteers work together to present this one-day celebration of Asian countries and cultures. For more information, go to www.savannahga.gov.

An unidentified man was killed tonight when he was struck by a train.

David Ehsanipoor, spokesman for the Effingham County Sheriff's Office, said the pedestrian was hit by the train near Springfield-Egypt and Bethel Roads about 8:15 p.m. Friday.

No further details are available at this time.

Check back with effinghamnow.com for updates as they become available.

LEXINGTON, KY. — The Lexington Legends jumped out to an early lead and added some insurance late to beat the Sand Gnats 6-2 Friday night.

The Sand Gnats, who closed out the first half of the season with six straight wins to clinch the South Atlantic League’s South Division first half title, saw their seven-game winning streak snapped.

Lexington jumped out to an early lead in its first at bat by playing some small ball. Terrance Gore laid down a bunt single to lead off the frame, and moved to second on a wild pitch. Raul Mondesi, the son of the former Dodger standout, laid down another bunt single that moved Gore to third. Mark Threlkeld drilled an RBI single to right to score Gore and Mondesi eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Bubba Starling to put Lexington up 2-0.

The Legends added a run in the third when Mondesi doubled to center field off Gnat starter Matt Koch, before coming around to score on a single by Mark Donato. Fred Ford hit a solo shot to center for his eighth home run of the year to put the Legends up 4-0 in the fourth.

Savannah broke through for a pair of runs in the fifth. Nelfi Zapata walked and Phillip Evans hit a two-run homer to right, his second round tripper of the year, to cut the Legend lead in half.

The Legends added insurance, scoring a run on an RBI groundout by Gore in the seventh. Donato’s RBI double in the eighth gave the Legends a 6-2 lead.

Koch (5-3) was tagged with the loss after giving up four earned runs on eight hits in six innings of work. Tyler Vanderheiden allowed a pair of runs on three hits in two innings of relief for the Gnats.

Lexington starter Daniel Stumph improved to 5-5 on the season, allowing a pair of runs on four hits in five innings. Chas Byrne and Mark Peterson, each threw two shutout innings of relief for Lexington, as Peterson picked up his sixth save of the year.

The third game of the four-game series is set for tonight at 7:05. The Gnats return home Thursday to take on the Rome Braves.

Savannah ab r h bi Lexington ab rh bi

Zurcher 2b 4 0 0 0 Gore lf 4 1 1 1

Pina dh 4 0 1 0 Mondesi ss 4 2 2 0

Nimmo cf 3 0 1 0 Thrlkeld 1b 4 1 2 1

MDeLaCruz rf 3 0 1 0 Donato dh 3 0 3 2

Pron lf 4 0 1 0 Starling cf 3 0 1 1

Cordero c 3 0 0 0 Gallagher c 4 0 0 0

Reynolds 3b 4 0 1 0 Antonio 3b 3 1 0 0

Zapata 1b 2 1 1 0 Ford rf 3 1 2 1

Evans ss 4 1 1 2 Dkroeger 2b 3 0 0 0

Totals 31 2 7 2 Totals 31 6 11 6

Savannah 000 020 000 — 2

Lexington 201 100 11x — 6

E—Antonio. LOB—Savannah 8, Lex. 3. DP—Savannah 2, Lexington 2. 2B—Mondesi, Donato. 3B—M. De La Cruz. HR—Ford (8), Evans (2). SF—Starling. SB—. CS—Starling, Pron.

SAVANNAH IP H R ER BBSO

Koch(L, 5-2) 6 8 4 4 1 4

Vanderheiden 2 3 2 2 0 2

LEXINGTON IP H R ER BBSO

Stumph(W, 5-5) 5 4 2 2 4 6

Byrne 2 2 0 0 0 1

Peterson(S, 6) 2 1 0 0 1 0

WP—Koch, Vanderheiden. HBP— M. De La Cruz (by Stumph). T—2:30. A—6,491.

MILWAUKEE — Jean Segura hit a home run and Wily Peralta allowed two hits in seven innings to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to their second shutout of the season, a 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

Peralta (5-8) won for the second time in his last eight starts, giving up two singles to go with four strikeouts and four walks.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the eighth and Jim Henderson the ninth for his 10th save. Rodriguez picked up the previous five saves for Milwaukee to reach No. 299 in his career while Henderson was on the disabled list.

Segura finished with three hits, including his 11th homer of the season, and Norichika Aoki added three singles after the birth of his son on Thursday.

Atlanta was shut out for the 10th time and lost for the fourth time in five games.

Julio Teheran (5-4) gave up two earned runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and did not allow a walk.

Segura’s solo homer to lead off the fifth gave Milwaukee a 2-0 lead.

In the first, Aoki and Segura singled before Carlos Gomez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Aramis Ramirez gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly. Gomez was picked off first and Juan Francisco popped out to end the rally.

Atlanta struggled to score for the second night in a row.

After stranding 11 runners in a 4-3 loss at the New York Mets on Thursday, Atlanta was at it again because of the inability of Teheran to execute sacrifice bunts.

After the first two batters in the third — Dan Uggla and Chris Johnson — were walked, Teheran tried a sacrifice bunt that turned into a force out at third. Andrelton Simmons flew out and Jason Heyward grounded out to end the inning.

In the fifth, Atlanta picked up its first hit of the game when B.J. Upton led off with a single. He took second when Uggla flew out to deep center field and advanced to third on an infield single by Johnson.

This time, Teheran attempted a safety squeeze and bunted the ball to the right side of the plate. Peralta was able to field the ball in his glove and quickly tossed it to catcher Martin Maldonado, who tagged out the sliding Upton. Simmons followed with a fly ball to the right-center field gap that was caught by a diving Aoki.

Atlanta also had runners at first and second with two outs after Henderson walked Justin Upton and B.J. Upton in the ninth, but Uggla flew out to center to end the game.

Notes

Milwaukee owns a seven-game home winning streak against the Braves. . Atlanta placed infielder Ramiro Pena on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to June 17) due to a right shoulder strain and recalled infielder Paul Janish from Triple-A Gwinnett. . With Aoki back from the paternity list, Milwaukee optioned Josh Prince back to Triple-A Nashville. . Brewers’ right-hander Donovan Hand will make his first major league start Saturday. He is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in nine relief appearances this year.

Video apology from Savannah celebrity-chef too little, too late for network-execs

The Food Network announced Friday that it will not renew Paula Deen’s contract when it expires at the end of the month because of her admissions to using racial slurs in the past.

The announcement came shortly after Deen issued two videos apologizing for her past comments and asking for forgiveness.

SLIDESHOW: Paula Deen and family throughout the years.

The Food Network began airing “Paula’s Home Cooking” in 2002 and added “Paula’s Best Dishes” in 2008. It was part of her empire built on television shows, cookbooks and product endorsements.

“Food Network will not renew Paula Deen’s contract when it expires at the end of this month,” the statement said. Network representatives declined further comment.

A distraught Paula Deen earlier Friday afternoon issued a video statement begging for forgiveness from everybody for what she called “the wrong that I’ve done.”

“I want to learn and grow from this inappropriate, hurtful language — is totally, totally unacceptable,” Savannah’s celebrity chef said in a video posted on YouTube “I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way.”

“I beg you, my children, my team, my fans, my partners, I beg for your forgiveness. Please forgive me for the mistakes that I’ve made.”

About an hour later, Deen posted a second video, again apologizing for her comments.

“I was wrong,” Deen said on the second video. “I worked hard and I made mistakes, but that is no excuse.”

She said she is not the kind of person portrayed in the press and that skin color, religious or sexual preference “does not matter to me.”

SLIDESHOW: Operation Hero House with Paula Deen.

She also apologized to Matt Lauer for failing to appear on Friday morning’s “Today Show,” explaining the entire matter has been very hurtful to a whole lot of people and overwhelming to her.

The videos came after three days of non-stop national and local news reports that Deen, the defendant in a civil case filed by a former employee, admitted using the “N” word although she insisted it occurred “a very long time ago.”

The admissions were contained in a deposition taken in May in the federal court case which surfaced on Wednesday.

Plaintiff Lisa Jackson, former general manger at Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House Inc. on Whitemarsh Island which is operated by Deen’s brother, Earl W. “Bubba” Hiers, contends she was the victim of sexual harassment and a persistent pattern of racial discrimination in the workplace during her five years there.

Various news reports have speculated on whether it might mean the end of — or at least damage — her multimillion-dollar business empire. 

Festival-goers took in the sounds of 14 bands Friday afternoon as the Savannah Summer Solstice kicked off its inaugural event.

Summer Solstice, established by the owners of former Savannah music spot Live Wire, continues today and Sunday at Red Gate Farms with a variety of local, regional and nationally touring acts.

Music starts today at noon with local rock band CUSSES presenting “The Wake-Up Call” in the Aurora Amphitheater. Music will continue on the event’s multiple stages through 11 p.m. On Sunday, music will continue with six bands playing from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., highlighted by locals The Train Wrecks at 2:30 p.m. at the Aurora Amphitheater.