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With colder temperatures expected, Columbia County officials are issuing reminders to turn off sprinklers and protect water pipes from freezing.

Sprinklers are especially a problem when overspray freezes on streets and causes hazardous road conditions, said Columbia County Emergency and Operations Director Pam Tucker in a news release.

Turning off sprinklers in advance of freezing weather prevents such problems, she said.

Other cold-weather recommendations from Tucker include:

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As more cooks head into the kitchen or get out the deep fryers for Thanksgiving, the staff of emergency rooms expect to see more patients.

"Every Thanksgiving, we see the same thing: People get a little careless or they get distracted for a second and disaster strikes," said Dr. Fred Mullins, Medical Director of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in a news release.

"Some of the burns are minor, but many are very severe and require a lot of healing and recovery," Mullins said.

Those burns also can be fatal.

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Lady Antebellum took home an American Music Award on Sunday night.

The trio -- which includes two Lakeside High School graduates, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood -- won Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Country.

This is Lady Antebellum’s second straight year winning this award and comes shortly after Hillary Scott won songwriter of the year at the SESAC Awards in Nashville, and the group was named Vocal Group of the Year at the Country Music Awards for the second year in a row.

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Columbia County emergency officials are warning about a potential scam after an elderly woman's telephone confrontation with a solicitor.

A 71-year-old Grovetown resident called Columbia County's 311 service this morning after receiving a call from someone who purported to be calling from "emergency management," said Columbia County Emergency and Operations Director Pam Tucker.