Sam Bauman
Anchor/Reporter
Savannah, Ga.
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Sam Bauman joined WTOC in December of 2019 as the 5:30pm Anchor and multi-media journalist.
The Ohio native joins WTOC from Fort Wayne, IN where he spent nearly three years working at ABC21.
Sam begin his career in journalism in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at the NBC affiliate TV6.
He graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University with a bachelor’s degree in Communications (Broadcast) in 2013, where he was also a member of the Men’s Soccer team.
He and his wife Blair are excited to explore this beautiful part of the country and for the first time in their lives avoid a Midwest winter.
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The Effingham County Fair opened for the first time Thursday since 2019 due to the pandemic cancelling last year's event.
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It’s a day students in Effingham County have come to look forward to.
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October 12, 1946. That’s when, what we know today as the 165th Airlift Wing, began its proud history here in Savannah. Now, 75 years later, they’re celebrating this incredible milestone and the Guardsmen who have made it all possible.
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It was a big day for the Wesley Community Centers of Savannah as they unveiled a brand-new outdoor learning environment.
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The change of date was meant to be a treat not a trick for parents and kids following a long couple of years.
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A Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, will be on the ballot this year and leaders in the county are hoping residents turn out and vote “yes” on the penny tax.
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It may have only been his first day on the job but a new employee at South Effingham Elementary, Michael Holton, is already making a name for himself and breaking barriers along the way.
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The Beaufort County School District now has a new teacher of the year.
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You may want to listen up if you drive through Effingham County. New speed cameras are now up and if you don’t slowdown it may cost you.
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A little more than two weeks ago community members in Effingham County asked for help collecting items to send to those impacted by Hurricane Ida. And the community responded.
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The road to success has been a long one for Takiya La’Shaune.
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From her Hispanic heritage to support from fellow artists and her online business model, Tatiana Cabral Smith was able to survive the pandemic and even learn a thing or two along the way.
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After nearly losing her husband to COVID-19 a licensed professionl counselor in Pooler is now offering group therapy for COVID related grief and a trauma group for COVID survivors.
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Enmarket, ExperCare, the Georgia Ports, Gulfstream, Critz, Goodwill, Thomas and Hutton, the YMCA, and WTOC.
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It’s one of the biggest complaints for those who live or work in Pooler, especially along the Parkway. But now a sign of good news as the city has begun work to alleviate one of the problem spots.
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"Crazy Jack" Gilmore passed away Sunday at the age of 88. Although he’s now gone it seems his legacy, and the stories of “Crazy Jack” will live on forever.
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At West Chatham Elementary, there’s a lot of great teachers. But on this day, one stands above the rest, 4th grade teacher Matthew Range.
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While those in the path of Hurricane Ida work to rebuild a group of citizens in Effingham County is coming together to offer a little relief, but they can’t do it without your help.
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Just a few weeks ago the school district saw the highest number of COVID cases in both students and staff since the pandemic began, but their numbers have dropped drastically since.
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WTOC wanted to know what you remember about the fateful day 20 years ago.
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As cases of the Delta variant continue to rise so too does the demand for more vaccines and testing sites. In response the Chatham County Health Department is now adding new locations to one of the fastest growing parts of the county.
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As of Wednesday, just 36 percent of residents in Effingham County have had at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. A number one local church would like to see go up. Which is why they’re opening their doors on a weekday encouraging the public to “come as they are” and get vaccinated.
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Air travel has certainly had its ups and downs throughout the pandemic, and with the summer travel season now wrapping up, the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is hoping their success will continue into the fall.
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Just hours after the attacks on September 11, 2001 President Bush would address the nation. A press conference that may not have been possible without the help of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.
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Parents and community members say they want masks to be mandated for students in the Effingham County School District to help stop the spread
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Keeping a business going during the pandemic is hard enough. But renovating and opening up one brand new, well, it seems impossible. However, one new restaurant in Springfield succeeded in doing just that.
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As Bryan County Fire & Emergency services continues to get donations to send to those impacted by Hurricane Ida, they're now asking for help getting them there.
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“It was a very tough decision. We talked among the staff, several health officials, the board of directors and we came to the agreement this was not the time to have gatherings of this extent,” said Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce Exec. Director Pam Southard.
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The next vaccine clinic will be this Saturday at DJ's Home Care Specialists in Springfield.
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It likely comes as no surprise to hear that members of Memorial Health’s ICU have been busy.
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“If they’re brave enough and bold enough to shoot my child at 11 a.m. on a Saturday morning then they’ll do it again,” says Patricia Garvin about the men responsible for shooting her daughter, 30-year-old Jennifer Reid, this weekend.
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Personnel from Georgia Power will be in the northeast for a week or two helping restore power following Tropical Storm Henri.
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Along with a change to masking for staff and visitors, students who are unmasked and considered close contact will now have to quarantine while masked students will not.
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“Opening a business during COVID is not profitable for anyone so unfortunately we had to end up tabling that decision,” said Kate Mullen about the Iron Exchange which was originally set to open this month.
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A hive of roughly 25 to 30-thousand bees could bee seen flying around just off Congress Street in a busy part of Savannah.
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Last week, Pooler City Council voted to approve the first increase to the millage rate in nine years.
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Health care facilities across the nation are busy not only dealing with the surge of the delta variant, but also a surge of patients as a result.
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Movie theaters were one of the businesses that seemed to struggle the most throughout the pandemic.
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While we continue to battle the ongoing surge of the Delta variant here in the U-S, health officials fear other, possibly more dangerous variants, could be on the horizon.
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If all goes as planned the county hopes to begin repaving 11 different ash roads, through a process known as Full Depth Reclamation, as early as November of this year.
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Lester's Florist celebrated 50 years in business this week, but in a half century perhaps their toughest year was this last one.
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Along with a new middle and elementary school in the southern part of the county, the Effingham County School District also plans on expanding many of their schools to keep up with growth.
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The unanimous decision by the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce board comes as the delta variant sweeps across the county.
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“I get butterflies every year before the first day of school. It’s like you’re getting ready to line up in a championship game,” said ECSD Superintendent Dr. Yancy Ford.
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For the past four months the sheriff's office has been using social media to help "humanize the badge." Giving the public an up close look at those who serve in their county.
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Similar to the design of the Children’s Hospital itself this new ambulance was made with the patient and their family in mind. Allowing the children's hospital to spread care well beyond their walls.
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The new Pooler Costco was initially expected to open in the spring or summer of 2022 but they are ahead of schedule and that date has now been push up by months.
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Three miles a day, five days a week, for the past 40 years. A total of 31,440 miles.
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While Miss Sophie's stayed open for their employees, owner Teri Bell says, it's the community that made it possible
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If the Manna House can't get the money to replace their forklift they fear they may have to turn away certain donations due to size and weight.