SPA, Jasper County take fight to court AH: Ga.-owned land on Savannah River disputed.

Byline: KRIS WISE

Escalating their battle over a spit of land, the State Ports Authority and Jasper County have turned to the courts to hash out their dispute over competing plans for a new seaport along the Savannah River.

The parties are clashing over control of land in South Carolina that is now held by Georgia. Experts say the land represents the best remaining spot in the Southeast to build a deep-water port.

At stake are thousands of jobs that Jasper County hopes to create in developing the port, as well as the SPA's ability to stay competitive against Georgia's fast-growing port in Savannah.

Jasper County has been touting the land as ripe for development for years. Until recently, the SPA had put the land on the back burner in favor of port expansion in and around Charleston.

Jasper County officials filed …