December 25, 2015 — Gwinnett Daily Post

CULTURAL CELEBRATION, 4C

Celtic musician performing Saturday in Duluth

GRIDIRON GREATS Brown, Bellamy headline all-county football team.

• Sports, 1B

Gwinnett Daily Post FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

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Vol. 46, No. 59

THEME SCHOOL

Tech to be focus in Norcross

By Keith Farner keith.farner@gwinnettdailypost.com

Home for Christmas

Army veteran Dorene Nollie, right, laughs with her grandmother, Bernice Tucker, at a cousin’s house in Loganville on Tuesday.

Nollie made good this week on a promise she made to her grandmother eight years ago to bring her home from an assisted living community after she got out of the military. (Staff Photos: Curt Yeomans)

Military vet fulfills promise to come back for grandmother

By Curt yeomans

“

See THEME, Page 9A

GCB to start taking trees for mulching

By Polly ouellette Staff Intern

curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com

A promise Dorene Nollie made to her grandmother seven years has turned into a Christmas present for both of them this year.

When Nollie put her grandmother, Bernice Tucker, in Delmar Gardens in 2007, she made a promise to come back and get her when she retired from the Army.

She made good on that promise on Tuesday, when she came to pick up her now 98-year old grandmother from the Lawrenceville-based nursing home. They will now live together in Nollie’s home in Columbia, S.C. “It’s a Christmas present to her, and a Christmas present for me,” Nollie said. “It’s just going to be me and her from now on, and I’m praying we get to spend more Christmases together in the years to come.”

Although Nollie called

Plans are falling into place for the first theme-focused high school in Gwinnett, set to open in less than three years.

A 20.3-acre property at 5850 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Norcross, approved to be purchased by the Gwinnett County Board of Education last month for $9.45 million will be a STEM high school with emphasis on techSteve Flynt nology.

Jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math are growing rapidly, said Steve Flynt, chief strategy and performance officer with Gwinnett County Public Schools said. Some at a pace of 10 times other fields.

Flynt said companies that operate in

Army veteran Dorene Nollie, right, kisses her grandmother, Bernice Tucker, at a cousin’s house in Loganville on Tuesday.

Delmar Gardens a “very, very, very, very good place,” she explained she never really wanted to put her grandmother in a nursing home in the first place.

Tucker had worked in nursing homes for years as a nurse. She didn’t like the idea of being put in one because she had seen family

after family put loved ones in the homes and rarely return to visit, her granddaughter said.

It was only as a last resort that Nollie decided to put her grandmother in an assisted living community. Her job as an Army inspector general at Fort McPherson meant she couldn’t be with her grand-

mother at times of the day when it was hard to get a caretaker.

After some research on nursing homes, she settled on Delmar Gardens.

“I felt so bad because I couldn’t continue caring for her myself, but I told her,

After Christmas trees have served their purpose of shedding light and sheltering gifts, they can be put to good use through Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s annual Bring One for the Chipper event.

Residents are invited to help their environment and community by donating retired Christmas trees to the local nonprofit. GCB will then chip the trees and spread them as mulch around Gwinnett parks, roadway landscaping, facilities and other locations.

Bring One for the Chipper is said to be the largest Christmas tree recycling event in Georgia. Its aim is to save scarce landfill space and provide an environmentally focused solution for residents to dispose

See CHIPPER, Page 9A

See PROMISE, Page 2A

It’s a Christmas present to her, and a Christmas present for me. It’s just going to be me and her from now on, and I’m praying we get to spend more Christmases together in the years to come.”

— Dorene Nollie, Army veteran and granddaughter of Bernice Tucker

Scott Freeze helps push used Christmas trees into the chipper during last year’s Bring One for the Chipper event hosted by Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful at Bethesda Park in Lawrenceville. (Staff Photo: David Welker)

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2A • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

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Promise

•From Page 1A

she said.

The biggest issue that ‘I’m going to place you delayed her picking up in a really nice nursing her grandmother sooner home and when I get out was securing a van and of the Army, I’m going a costly handicap accesto come back and take sible van ramp and lift to you home,’” Nollie said. accommodate Tucker’s “She’s always been on my wheelchair. She’s got the mind.” van and has been raising Nollie visited her money for it through a grandmother at Delmar GoFundMe account set up Gardens as often as her under her grandmother’s Army schedule would name. allow because she didn’t Nollie is also getknow how much time ting ramps installed in she had left with her. It Tucker’s home, but Nollie wasn’t always possible to said she couldn’t want to be there. She was transwait any longer to get her ferred to the Pentagon at grandmother. She rented a one point and also served van in South Carolina and a lengthy deployment in drove it to Lawrenceville Kuwait. this week.

Her cousin, Michael “If she had passed Wilson, said Nollie tried away in the nursing to attend as many family home, I never would have functions as she could at forgiven myself because I Delmar Gardens. When didn’t keep my promise,” she couldn’t, she’d ask Nolie said.

Wilson and his family to Wilson called Nollie stand in for her since they the “Superwoman” of live in Loganville. the family because of her “She just loves her commitment to caring for grandmother to death,” her grandmother. Tucker Wilson said. has Alzheimer’s and will After she picked her require Nollie’s assistance grandmother up from doing everything from Delmar Gardens on getting around to eating Tuesday, she brought her and drinking.

by Wilson’s house before “It takes a lot of work starting the trek back to to care for somebody who South Carolina. has Alzheimer’s,” he said.

Nollie retired from “People don’t understand the Army last year as how much hard work it a master sergeant and is.” immediately turned her Nollie said she felt a attention toward fulfilling duty to make sure her that promise. grandmother was taken “I wanted to bring her care of in her golden home last Christmas,” years. Her grandparents

Army veteran Dorene Nollie, right, feeds her grandmother, Bernice Tucker, at a cousin’s house in Loganville on Tuesday. (Staff Photo: Curt Yeomans)

supported her decision to join the Army 21 years ago and attended each of her military graduations, she said.

On one occasion, Tucker drove from New Jersey to Illinois to bring Nollie her Great Dane, which she had been missing while she was stationed half a country away.

Tucker also got Nollie involved with caring for the elderly before she went into the Army by helping her get a job at a nursing home. She now considers geriatric care her post-military career and is working on her advanced degrees in the field.

“She sacrificed for me, so I’ve got to sacrifice for her now,” Nollie said.

Nollie plans to shower her grandmother with Christmas gifts this year to celebrate her homecoming. Some of the presents are unwrapped presents from last year, and others are newly bought gifts.

“I’ve been telling people, ‘Anything you were planning to give to me for Christmas, send it to my grandmother instead,’” Nollie said. “I have everything now that I’ve got her.”

And the feeling appears to be mutual. As Nollie buckled her grandmother in for the long ride from Wilson’s house to South Carolina on Tuesday, Tucker quietly began to sing.

“I thank you lady ... I thank you lady ... I thank you lady,” Tucker sang over and over again to a slow gospel beat.

It was a short phrase, but Nollie saw a deeper meaning to it.

“I think she knows what’s going on,” she said. “‘Lady’ is the nickname everybody in my family calls me.”

Army veteran Dorene Nollie, left, poses for a photo with her grandmother, Bernice Tucker, at Delmar Gardens in Lawrenceville on Tuesday. The picture commemorates Nollie fulfilling an 8-year-old promise to bring her grandmother home from the assisted living community after she retired from the military. (Special Photo)

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 3A

Local youth club aims to stop impaired driving

By Polly ouellette Staff Intern

Every year, the holiday season results in a spike of traveling as people visit their families and friends. Unfortunately, the risk of encountering an impaired driver also

increases.

According to recent surveys by the National Safety Council, up to 42 percent of traffic fatalities are a result of drinking and driving during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season. Throughout the

year, thousands of motor vehicle crashes involve a driver who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Gwinnett teens are working to lower this number.

In honor of National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, the

H.O.O.K.E.D. Teen Club is joining forces with local community partners, such as the city of Dacula, in order to raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving.

On Dec. 3, Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks gave a proclamation at a meeting

of the Dacula City Council in support of the work that the club is doing. He and the city of Dacula named December the National Impaired Driving Prevention Month and encouraged citizens to strive to make changes in their lives to create a

healthy lifestyle.

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month is nationally sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and President Obama. Its aim is to encourage local communities to focus on the prevention and treatment of alcohol and substance abuse problems in their areas and coincides with the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign that will be occurring from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1.

The H.O.O.K.E.D. (Helping Others Organize Kreative Everyday Differences) Teen Club encourages local youth in grades 7 to 12 to become community leaders and serve in a variety of volunteer activities. Teens are provided with strategies for positive youth development, the skills to lead change in their communities and schools.

They participate in a variety of causes, including educating teens about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving.

The H.O.O.K.E.D. Teen Club’s general meetings occur on the first Saturday of every month through May at the Shorty Howell Park Activity Building, located at 2750 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. For more information, contact volunteerinparks@gwinnettcounty.com.

DDS closed for holidays

By Polly ouellette Staff Intern

Residents won’t be able to visit Department of Driver Services offices on certain days during the holiday season, but they can still complete certain transactions regarding licenses online.

All DDS offices will be closed through Monday, Dec. 28, in observance of the holidays. Offices will also be closed from Friday, Jan. 1, through Monday, Jan. 4. The first day following a closure is typically busy at all locations, so visitors are encouraged to plan ahead. Wait times can be checked online by location at dds.ga.gov.

While offices will be closed, customers can still perform a variety of transactions on their computers and even cellphones.

“DDS continues to develop mobile options to save customers valuable time when conducting their licensing business,” GA Commissioner Rob Mikell said in a statement.

The following services can be performed online at dds.ga.gov via computer or cellphone: • Replace a lost or stolen license and drive on the receipt until the card is delivered • Change your address • Check for any points on your driving record • View, print or email details on your suspension or reinstatement • Pay any super speeder, reinstatement or pending suspension fines or fees • Check your license status, especially after paying tickets to verify that your driving record has been updated • Request your Motor Vehicle Report • Renew online (if you have a Gold Star on your license and are age 64 or younger) • Submit on Online License Application and DDS will have your completed application waiting for you when you arrive for service

4A • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 To Your Good Health

gwinnettdailypost.com

TODAY

60%

Keith Roach

Tips on breaking a habit of nail-biting DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m retired, enjoying life and am 70 years old. Recently, I started biting my nails while watching TV. It’s a disgusting habit, and I wish I could stop. Have you ever heard of anything like this? What can I do to stop? Thanks for any help.

— H.H. ANSWER: Everyone knows people who bite their nails. It’s a fairly common habit. However, starting at age 70 is not common.

It may be a reaction to psychological stress, and the first thing I would ask you to do is consider what might be making your life stressful (we all have many stresses) and find some more effective ways of acknowledging and dealing with the stress.

Breathing exercises, yoga and meditation all are more productive and healthier ways of overcoming stress.

One classic technique, used mostly on children but which can be effective in adults, is a bitter-tasting nail polish. Short, manicured nails are harder to bite, and some people find that the manicuring creates a psychological barrier to biting as well. Wearing light gloves also will prevent you from biting, and since yours seems to be situational, it might work to put on gloves when you are about to watch TV. Sometimes this can be a sign of a more severe mental disorder, such as obsessivecompulsive disorder, so if these suggestions aren’t working, it might be wise to consult a mental-health professional. Even if you don’t have a mental disorder, there are behavioral approaches that a trained professional can use. I am glad you have asked for some help, since nail biting is bad for both the teeth and the nails.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a healthy 76-year-old woman. In 2003 I had a total hysterectomy because of uterine cancer. I didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation post-operatively. For five years after the operation, I had Pap smears twice a year, and thereafter once a year until now.

I am getting two different opinions on continuing Pap smears. One says it’s still necessary, and the other is that since I have no cervix and it has been so long, I no longer need them. What to do?

— M.D. ANSWER: About 10 to 20 percent of women with cervical cancer will have recurrences after treatment.

For this reason, it’s important for any woman with a history of cervical cancer to continue Pap smears indefinitely (although in women who have had radiation therapy, Pap smears are not very useful, and many gynecologic oncologists do not obtain Pap smears in this situation). In addition to Pap smears, regular physical exams are essential, and women should alert their doctor to any symptoms that might represent recurrence, such as abdominal or pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, cough or weight loss.

Women with NO history of cancer and who have had regular screening with no problems can safely stop Pap smears after the age of 65.

HOROSCOPES

WEATHER WATCH

76

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

20%

20%

80%

80%

60%

60%

76

73

71

67

62

57

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SOLUNAR TABLES The Gwinnett Daily Post (UPSP 921-980, ISSN 10860096) is published Wednesday through Friday and Sunday by SCNI, 725 Old Norcross Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. Periodical postage paid at Lawrenceville, GA 30044. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gwinnett Daily Post, P.O. Box 603, Lawrenceville, GA 30046-0603.

The solunar tables for lakes are based on studies that show fish and game are more active at certain times during the lunar period.

MAJOR

51

39

46

LAKE LEVELS

Lake

Full

Allatoona

(840.0) ......... 825.8

Yesterday

Lake

Full

Yesterday

Lanier

(1071.0) ........ 1071.5

Blackshear (237.0) ......... 235.7

Nottely

(1779.0) ........1762.3

Blue Ridge (1690.0) ........1669.4

Oconee

(435.0) ......... 434.9

Burton

(1865.0) ........1863.6

Seminole

(77.50) ........... 77.32

6:52-7:52 a.m............5:34-6:34 p.m.

Carters

(1072.0) ........1075.1

Sinclair

(339.8) ......... 339.7

POLLEN COUNTS

Chatuge

(1927.0) ........1918.8

Thurmond

(330.0) .......... 331.5

Harding

(521.0) ......... 520.6

Tugalo

(891.5) ......... 884.7

Hartwell

(660.0) .......... 657.5

Walter F. George(188.0) .....190.2

Jackson

(530.0) ......... 530.0

West Point (635.0) ......... 629.4

............................... 12:14-2:14 p.m.

MINOR

Trees: None Weeds: None Grass: None

TODAY IN HISTORY

LOTTERY Thursday Cash 3 Midday: 0-1-3 Cash 4 Midday: 3-4-9-8 Ga. 5 Midday: 3-0-5-4-4 Wednesday Cash 3 Midday: 7-0-9 Cash 3 Evening: 7-6-7 Cash 4 Midday: 6-9-2-5 Cash 4 Evening: 2-0-5-7 Ga. 5 Midday: 6-9-7-7-8 Ga. 5 Evening: 2-2-7-6-6 Fantasy 5: 01-09-19-33-41 Powerball: 16-38-55-63-67, Powerball: 25, Power Play: 4X

Today is the 359th day of 2015 and the fourth day of winter.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1868, President Andrew Johnson unconditionally pardoned all those who had participated in the Southern rebellion that led to the Civil War. In 1974, 25-year-old Marshall Fields crashed his car through a White House gate and threatened to detonate a bomb; he surrendered after a four-hour standoff.

In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee launched the first World Wide Web server.

In 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as Soviet president. The Soviet Union was officially dissolved the next day.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), scientist; Clara Barton (1821-1912), American Red Cross founder; Humphrey Bogart (18991957), actor; Cab Calloway (1907-1994), bandleader/singer; Anwar Sadat (1918-

1981), Egyptian president; Rod Serling (1924-1975), screenwriter/producer; Jimmy Buffett (1946- ), singer-songwriter; Sissy Spacek (1949- ), actress; Karl Rove (1950- ), political strategist; Annie Lennox (1954- ), singer; Rickey Henderson (1958- ), baseball player.

TODAY’S FACT: Americans spent $53.3 billion shopping online during the holiday season in 2014.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1989, former New York Yankees player and manager Billy Martin died in an automobile accident.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and a faith in the possibility of something better.

It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past.” — Clara Barton, “The Story of My Childhood”

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Two readers ponder age-disparate romance DEAR AMY: I believe I may have met the girl for me. She is beautiful, intelligent, funny and everything I seek in a partner. We have worked together for almost four years now, which has given me the opportunity to become great friends with her.

There is one factor that makes me hesitate. She is six years older than I and has two young children. As a young 26-year-old man, I feel my family would have reservations about the pairing.

What do I do? Do I follow my heart and pursue the girl of my dreams? Or do I go the more “traditional” path in life and seek someone closer to my age?

The second choice would appease my family, but I strongly feel that the first would please my heart.

I know there are “plenty of fish in the sea,” but there is something about her I cannot put into words. I find myself thinking about her both at work and at home. I also believe the attraction is a mutual feeling. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

—W DEAR W: One of the privileges of adulthood is that you get to love the person you want to love.

Here’s a caution regarding being romantically

Ben doesn’t flirt with her or encourage her. He has reminded her that he is my age and is old enough to be her parent.

I’ll say this, however, I can see some of the things that she sees. He is goodlooking and in great shape.

He listens to her, 100 percent, without condescenAmy Dickinson sion. He sings and plays the guitar. involved with a woman I trust Ben. I even trust who has young children: my daughter not to try to You should be circumspect, seduce him. cautious and respectful But she’s “saving herself of her situation. To parafor him,” and not doing phrase a favorite line of anything with guys her age. mine: Single mothers have She’s turned into a real been to the puppet show. beauty, too.

They’ve seen the strings.

He has told her that even A long-term relationship when she’s 18, she’ll still with a woman with children be too young for him. But implies family-building. If you know how teens are. you are up to this challenge, What should I do? then go for it.

— Worried Mom DEAR AMY: My DEAR WORRIED: I daughter turns 15 soon. She do know how teens are. has had a crush on “Ben,” a Teens observe how their family friend (a man in his choices affect their parents’ 30s) for almost two years. behavior and then doubleShe is now saying that the down if it yields the result only thing that she wants they desire. for Christmas is to go out You don’t mention if with him, one-on-one, at a your daughter’s father is real restaurant. I have told in the picture, but he is an her that she will not be important player in the going on any “dates” with romantic drama. You seem him, and he has said pretty to be playing into this by much the same — only affirming her good taste in more strongly, actually. men. One way to respond Her infatuation seems to would be to listen to her be deepening. But it’s not with the same attentiveness an obsession. as “Ben” allegedly does.

Ask Amy

Gwinnett Daily Post Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/gwinnettdailypost

Ask her, “Do you think it is a good idea for a grown man to take a teenager out on a date?” “Do you think it is respectful for you to talk about wanting to date someone when he is telling you no?”

Paying a lot of attention to this attraction over time has a way of sexualizing your 14-year-old.

The rest of the world might do this to teen girls, but the child’s parents never should. She needs to feel her power in appropriate ways — through her smarts and talent, not through her crushes.

Make sure Ben lets you know that if he EVER hears from your daughter privately (via phone, text or Snapchat), he must let you know immediately.

DEAR AMY: I was horrified at your terrible advice to “Diabetic,” whose husband was sabotaging her efforts to stay away from sweets by having sweets in the house.

This is abusive. He is handing her the keys to a horrible illness and death.

I was appalled by your advice.

— Disgusted DEAR DISGUSTED: I agree that her husband was being disrespectful and unsupportive, but it is her duty to manage her illness — at home and elsewhere.

Put your heart and soul into everything you do.

Your accomplishments will be great if you listen to your heart, but you must be practical about whatever adjustments you make. Focus on love, stability and a lifestyle that promotes a safe and secure environment.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Make today special for all those you love. A kind gesture or thoughtful dialogue will help you understand the trials your friends or relatives are experiencing.

Romance is in the stars.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) — Bring about positive change. If you show confidence and take action, you will grab everyone’s attention with your innovative intelligence and fortitude. A gift or offer will surprise you.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) — You will reminisce about what’s transpired this year. Keep busy entertaining or contributing to the festivities going on around you in order to lift your spirits.

Something special is heading your way.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Don’t judge others. A softer outlook will help you get along with difficult people. Focus on the ones you love, not the ones who try your patience.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — Your openness and sincerity will bring you closer to a friend or relative. A special offering will come your way from someone you love.

A romantic gesture is encouraged.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — The gift of love, a token of your appreciation and the initiating of positive personal change should highlight your day.

Moderation will help make this day even better.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — An unusual surprise will turn out to be the best gift ever. Good news will highlight your day. Romance is in the stars, and special plans for two should be made.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You can’t please everyone all the time. Don’t let your generosity be taken advantage of. Personal changes will bring the best returns. Don’t feel that you have to buy love.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.

22) — You’ll leave a lasting impression at family gatherings. Your intelligence will shine through and your thoughtful, practical gestures will be admired. A romantic gesture will bring you closer to someone you love.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) — Emotions will mount due to family dilemmas or separations.

You may have to be apart from the people you really want to be with. Be positive and make the best of your situation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) — You can make a difference. Offering your services, visiting an elder in the family or setting aside time to nurture an important relationship will bring you the greatest joy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Stick to what you can afford, and don’t overdo it when eating or drinking. Restraint and discipline will be necessary. Offering your services and doing your share of the work will ensure positive feedback.

Sign up to get Gwinnett Daily Post breaking news alerts and daily newsletters at www.gwinnettdailypost. com/newsletters.

gwinnettdailypost.com From left to right are Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Platt, Mayor Tom Witts, Mary Jane Gresham, City Manager Butch Sanders and Senior Program Supervisor Kathi Gargiulo. (Special Photo)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 5A

Longtime Snellville resident named Senior Center Volunteer of the Year

By Katie Morris katie.morris @gwinnettdailypost.com

Snellville recently honored one of its most beloved volunteers, Mary Jane Gresham, on Monday, naming her the 2015

Senior Center Volunteer of the Year.

“Mary Jane exemplifies the true meaning of giving and volunteerism,” Lisa Platt, director of Snellville Parks and Recreation, which oversees the Senior Center, said in a news

release.

Gresham has been a Snellville resident for more than 45 years, volunteering and serving the community through the Snellville Lions Club, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Camping Clubs. She was very involved with volunteering for local schools, holding an office with the Parent Teacher Student Organization.

“Her dedication over the years is amazing and those of us privileged enough to work with her and around her are blessed,” Platt said.

“The Parks and Recreation Department along with the city of Snellville residents and visitors have benefited from her generosity.”

Gresham has volunteered at the senior center for years and has helped with many events and worked every year with Senior Center officials at Snellville Days.

“Thanks to everybody who made a dream come true for me,” Gresham said in a release. “I loved working with the people of Snellville for nearly 50 years.”

Writer of first ‘Trek’ episode dies

By Dave McNary Reuters

LOS ANGELES — George Clayton Johnson, who wrote the script for the first “Star Trek” episode to air and co-wrote “Logan’s Run,” died Tuesday in the Los Angeles area following a battle with cancer. He was 86.

He was born in Cheyenne, Wyo., in 1929. He broke into the entertainment business in 1959 when he wrote the “I’ll Take Care of You” episode for “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”

Johnson was a member of the Southern California School of Writers, which included Theodore Sturgeon, William F. Nolan, Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson and Ray Bradbury. He met “Twilight Zone” producer Rod Serling through them and would go on to write eight episodes for the seminal sci-fi series including “Nothing in the Dark,” “Kick the Can,” “A Game of Pool” and “A Penny for Your Thoughts.”

Johnson sold a short story that would serve as the basis for Frank Sinatra’s 1960 movie “Ocean’s 11” and the George ClooneyBrad Pitt reboot in 2001.

He also wrote episodes for “Route 66,” “The Law and Mrs. Jones” and “Kung Fu.” With William F. Nolan, he wrote the dystopian novel “Logan’s Run,” in which people are executed at the age of 21 and which served as the basis for the 1976 film. He wrote the adapted script for “The Intruder,” the 1962 movie directed by Roger Corman, based on the novel by his friend Charles Beaumont.

Both appear in the movie along with William F. Nolan.

His script “The Man Trap” was the basis for the first “Star Trek” episode, which aired on Sept.

8, 1966. It centered on salt-hungry creature who terrorized the crew of the USS Enterprise.

Johnson was a longtime advocate for the legalization of marijuana and in his later years wrote comic books and was a frequent guest at sci-fi and comics conventions. He co-created the comic book series “Deepest Dimension Terror Anthology” with cartoonist and author Jay Allen Sanford.

6A • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

WORLD Fire sweeps through Saudi hospital; 24 dead DUBAI — A fire tore through the intensive care unit and the maternity ward of a Saudi hospital before dawn on Thursday, killing at least 24 people and injuring 123, officials said.

The fire broke out at the general hospital in the southwestern port city of Jazan, the capital of the Jizan region, one of Saudi Arabia’s poorest areas.

The civil defense agency said 25 people died but a later statement by Health Minister Khalid al-Falih put the death toll at 24. Two of the dead were security guards and one was a child, officials said.

Government-controlled al-Ekhbariya television interviewed a witness who said the cause of the fire seemed to be electrical, and that it took only three minutes to sweep through the hospital.

“We could hear the women screaming,” said the man, who was not named.

Photographs published on Twitter by the civil defense agency showed heavy smoke and an intense blaze tha appeared to have severely damaged the interior of the white-walled hospital. Some rescuers used a ladder to gain access through a window.

Islamic State families to leave rebel-held areas BEIRUT — Hundreds of families of Islamic State militants and some injured fighters are expected to leave rebel-held areas of southern Damascus under a U.N.brokered deal, a monitoring group said on Thursday.

Safe passage would be given from the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk on the outskirts of Syrian capital and neighbouring Hajar al Aswad, said Rami Abdulraham, head of the Britishbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The families and some fighters will be taken to Raqqa in northern Syria, the stronghold of the militant Sunni Islamist group, and other IS-controlled areas over several months, eventually ending the group’s presence near Damascus.

gwinnettdailypost.com

world&nation

JAPANESE NUCLEAR PLANTS

Court clears way to restart reactors

By Kentaro haMada

Reuters

FUKUI — A Japanese court on Thursday cleared the way for Kansai Electric Power Co. to restart four nuclear reactors, rejecting legal claims against Japan’s second-biggest utility to keep the reactors idled over safety concerns.

The Fukui District Court overturned an injunction that has prevented the restart of two reactors at Kansai’s Takahama power station and rejected a request for an injunction to block the restart of two reactors at its Ohi plant, plaintiffs’ lawyers said.

The decision paves the way to restart the units in western Japan nearly five years after the Fukushima crisis. The ruling signals judicial support for Japan’s beefed up nuclear safety after Fukushima and may accelerate the country’s return to atomic energy.

Local residents in April won an injunction against the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors at Takahama, arguing that restart plans underestimated earthquake risks, failed to meet tougher safety standards and lacked credible evacuation measures.

“Today’s two rulings show a recognition that safety has been ensured at Takahama Nuclear Power Station and Ohi Nuclear

Protesters raise their fists and shout slogans during a rally against the court’s decision to lift an injunction it had issued earlier banning Kansai Electric Power Co. from restarting four nuclear reactors at the Takahama nuclear plant, in front of the Fukui District Court in Fukui, Japan, Thursday. (Reuters/Kyodo)

Power Station,” Kansai Electric said in a statement.

The company said it will seek the earliest possible restart of the plants while “making efforts to autonomously and independently improve safety at our nuclear power stations.”

Kansai Electric aims to restart the Takahama No. 3 reactor in late January and the No. 4 unit in late February.

Bringing Kansai’s Takahama units back online would follow the restarts of two reactors in southern Japan earlier this year that ended more than a year without nuclear power for Japan’s previously atomicreliant economy.

Another reactor is expected to restart on Shikoku Island early next year but the return to atomic energy has been slower than the government and industry wanted.

Hiroyuki Kawai, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said they plan to appeal against the Takahama decision.

“The decision is extremely improper, underlining an unwillingness to learn from the Fukushima Daiichi disaster,” Kawai told reporters, adding the court’s statement is like a copy of the Kansai Electric’s claim.

Some legal experts also raised concerns over the

NATION Trump warns Clinton not to play woman card

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Hillary Clinton after she said he had a “penchant for sexism,” warning his Democratic rival against playing the woman card and drawing his full attention.

In a familiar pattern for Trump, he responded to fire — this time over a vulgarity he used in describing Clinton’s 2008 primary loss — with fire.

“Be careful Hillary as you play the war on women or women being degraded card,” Trump said in a TwitClashes persist ter post on Wednesday. in Turkish city Later he tweeted, “HillThree Kurdish rebels were ary, when you complain killed in clashes with police about ‘a penchant for sexin Turkey’s southeastern city ism,’ who are you referring of Diyarbakir on Thursday, to? I have great respect for security sources said, and women. BE CAREFUL!” shots and shellfire could be The real estate tycoon, heard around an area that who is the front-runner has been focus of an army for the 2016 Republican offensive against rebels. nomination, drew wideTurkish police fired tear spread criticism this week gas and sprayed water on after using Yiddish slang hundreds of people after they for a man’s genitals to attempted to march toward describe Barack Obama’s the city center carrying the victory over Clinton in the coffin of two Kurdistan 2008 Democratic presidenWorkers Party militants tial race, saying: “She got killed in another incident. schlonged.”

The three were killed in clashes with special forces in Unemployment Diyarbakir’s Yenisehir district after the PKK launched claims appr oach an attack on security forces, four-decade low security sources said.

WASHINGTON — The Four mainly Kurdish southeastern towns that have number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits seen heavy fighting since fell more than expected last Turkey launched an offensive 10 days ago against the week, nearing a 42-year low as labor market conditions militants remained under continued to tighten in a curfew.

— From wire reports boost to the economy.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responds to a question during the Democratic presidential candidates’ debate at St. Anselm College in Manchester last week. After Clinton accused Trump of sexism, he warned her against playing the woman card. Reuters/Brian Snyder

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 267,000 for the week ended Dec. 19, not far from levels last seen in late 1973, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims dipping to 270,000 in the latest week. Claims have been below 300,000, a threshold associated with a buoyant labor market, for 42 consecutive weeks. That is the longest stretch since the early 1970s.

Southern states clean up after storms kill 10 Southern U.S. states began digging out on Thursday after severe storms, including some 20 tornadoes, pounded the region, flattening homes, downing trees and killing at least 10 people.

With about 100 million Americans expected to travel over the Christmas holidays, the National Weather Service forecast isolated severe thunderstorms from the mid-Atlantic region to

the Gulf Coast and record warmth to New York.

The storm system on Wednesday packed high winds and triggered more than 20 tornadoes in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, authorities said.

A large tornado tore a 100-mile path through northern Mississippi, demolishing or heavily damaging dozens of homes and other buildings in a six-county area before plowing into western Tennessee, authorities said.

Emergency crews in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee were searching for several people reported missing.

Retailers may miss modest holiday goals CHICAGO/NEW YORK — Retailers are struggling to meet even modest forecasts for the holiday shopping season this year after the “Super Saturday” before Christmas failed to live up to its nickname, industry research groups said.

ruling.

“We can’t see how the issues raised by the court in April have been cleared,” said Hiroshi Segi, professor at Meiji University’s law school.

“In general, the April decision was more convincing than the latest decision.”

The restart of the two Ohi reactors had been halted pending a similar request for an injunction — which the court rejected on Thursday. The court ruled that an injunction wasn’t needed because the reactors are still undergoing checks by the nuclear safety regular and not imminently preparing to start.

The last Saturday before Christmas often sets the annual record for retail sales.

This year, Super Saturday weekend sales in stores and online rose 4 percent to $55 billion, after a 2.5 percent gain last year, according to retail consultancy and private-equity fund Customer Growth Partners.

That puts overall store and online sales from the start of November through Dec. 22 on track to rise 3.1 percent, below the 3.2 percent pace the firm forecast and down from 4.1 percent growth in the same period last year.

PEOPLE Netflix CEO takes salary cut, bigger stock option max LOS ANGELES— Reed Hastings will take a lower salary next year, but the Netflix CEO has the chance to make millions of dollars more in stock options, according to public filings.

The head of the streaming giant will receive $900,000 in annual salary, down from a baseline salary of $1 million in 2015 and $3 million in 2014.

However, Hastings’ stock options allowance tops out at more than $19 million.

That’s an improvement on the annual stock-option allowance of up to $13.7 million he received last year and the $3 million in stock options from 2013.

Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer and the man credited with spearheading the company’s dive into original programming like the show “House of Cards” and the film “Beasts of No Nation,” will get $1 million in annual salary, $4 million in bonus opportunities and $11.8 million in stock options. Last year, Sarandos’ package included a $1 million salary, $9.6 million in stock options, as well as up to $2 million in bonus pay.

Netflix CFO David Wells will get $2.4 million in salary and $1.8 million in options. In 2015, Wells received $2 million in salary and up to $1.7 million in the company’s stockoption allowance.

Newcomer Shipp to play Shakur in new biopic

LOS ANGELES — The Tupac Shakur biopic “All Eyez on Me” has cast newcomer Demetrius Shipp Jr. to play the rap legend.

Music video/commercial director Benny Boom is helming the movie, which has launched production in Atlanta.

Jamal Woolard has been cast as Biggie Smalls.

Woolard also portrayed Smalls in the 2009 film “Notorious.”

Shakur, who died Restructuring in 1996 from gunshot could ease crisis wounds, has sold more than 75 million albums. in Puerto Rico Earlier versions of the NEW YORK — Puerto script chronicled his rise to Rico needs debt restructur- superstardom as a hip hop artist and actor, his iming authority under U.S. prisonment on charges of bankruptcy law to address sexual assault and the East what the Obama administration has previously called Coast-West Coast rap war. an “escalating crisis,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack ‘Star Wars’ tops Lew, said on Fox Business $765M globally Network TV on Thursday.

LOS ANGELES — U.S. House of Representatives Speaker, Republican “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” showed no signs Paul Ryan, has instructed of slowing down, heading committees to work with into what is expected to be Puerto Rico’s government to come up with a solution a hugely profitable Christmas holiday. to the island’s financial The seventh film in the problems and said this space opera saga earned should be crafted by the $38.1 million on Wednesend of March. day, pushing its domestic The House is expected haul to $363.5 million. to hold a Jan. 5 hearing on the U.S. territory’s financial Internationally, the film picked up $38.4 million, problems.

Puerto Rico has some $70 bringing its global box ofbillion in debt and a poverty fice receipts to $765.9 milrate of 45 percent, and it has lion worldwide. “The Force been in recession for nearly Awakens” is outpacing the a decade. On Jan. 1, it faces likes of “Avatar” and “Jurassic World,” emboldening roughly $1 billion in debt payments and officials have analysts to project it will end warned of a default on some its run as one of the highestgrossing films in history. of that paper.

— From wire reports — From wire reports

Novelty Christmas song blessing, curse for writer

By Marice richter

Reuters

DALLAS — The man behind the Christmas song “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” either the most loved or most loathed of the season and certainly one of its most memorable, has no problems being a one-hit wonder and says the song has been

MUST READ both “my blessing and my albatross.”

Randy Brooks, 67, a songwriter and son of a church organist, told Reuters Wednesday that he may not have left his mark on pop culture had it not been for car trouble in Lake Tahoe.

He was stuck in the resort town in the ’70s with his band when he was invited up onstage by headliners Elmo and Patsy Shropshire and played the novelty tune he had written about the senior’s improbable death.

Elmo Shropshire immediately asked to record it for the Elmo & Patsy act, Brooks said. Shropshire created copies

of the song on 45-rpm records that he sold at his shows until radio DJs began playing it on air.

The rest is history, and for Brooks, a cash cow was born.

“It’s paid the college tuition for my two kids,” said Brooks, a man much in demand for shows at clubs, nursing homes and parties in December.

He wrote “Grandma” in the

1970s as a satirical response to country star Merle Haggard’s sentimental song, “Grandma’s Homemade Christmas Card.”

There was also a holidaytune trend at the time of sentimental songs about a person who winds up dead — but only in the final verse.

Because of that, Brooks said he killed Grandma as quickly as he could in his tune.

perspectives

gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline, Editor

todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com

PAGE 7 A • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

I wish I had been there in Bethlehem This column has become a Christmas tradition and I share with you once again this year. It is dedicated to all who believe.

I wish I had been there in Bethlehem.

I wish I had witnessed the birth of baby Jesus in a lowly manger. Was it really as cold that night as it is sometimes depicted on our Christmas cards or was it as cool and comfortable an evening as it is predicted to be this year in BethleDick hem?

Yarbrough I wish I could have seen firsthand Mary’s face as she looked lovingly at her new baby and that I could have asked her if she knew her life and ours would be changed forever.

Did she really understand what God had wrought? And Joseph. Poor simple Joseph. What must have been going through his mind? He was in Bethlehem only because he was required to register for the census in his hometown as decreed by Caesar Augustus. Did he have any idea what he had gotten himself into?

I wish I could have seen the star that guided people to the manger. I am sure I would have been stupefied and afraid, even though the angels said not to be.

I think even hearing from a bunch of angels would have scared me.

I wish I could have observed the shepherds as they came pouring into Bethlehem from the hills where they had been tending their flocks, headed for the manger to see for themselves what the angels had proclaimed to them. What did this rough-hewn bunch think when they saw that little baby? The Bible says they went back and told others what they had seen. I wish I could have heard what they said about what they had seen.

Shepherding was probably never the same for them after that night.

I wish I could have been there when the Magi arrived. That must have been quite an event in Bethlehem to have three kings from the East appear to pay homage to the little baby and to present him with gifts of gold and myrrh and frankincense. Why those three particular gifts? I am sure the gold had some practical application and frankincense probably helped sweeten the air around the stables, but myrrh? Did anyone see the irony in the fact that myrrh would be one of the spices that would be offered to Jesus at his crucifixion to dull the pain of the nails and the crown of thorns and later would be used to prepare his body for burial? Was this a sign of things to come? God’s ways are mysterious.

I wish I could have talked to the other people in Bethlehem who were there to register for the census along with Mary and Joseph and to try and explain to them that a child had been born in their midst that would change the course of history. I am not sure they would have believed me if I could have even gotten them to listen. Anyway, they probably had no interest in what was going on in town. They just wanted to get out of Bethlehem and back home so that they could get on with their routine lives.

I wish I could figure out what has happened to us Christians since that fateful night in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Where is our awe? Where is our reverence? Where is our wonderment?

Why have we allowed the birth of our Savior to morph into cocktail parties, Black Fridays, Cyber Mondays and gaudy light displays? Why did we permit this sacred event to be hijacked by retailers who make money off of our holy day, but don’t allow the term “Merry Christmas” to be uttered, printed or acknowledged lest someone be offended?

And we go along with it as though it doesn’t matter? Shame on us.

This is why I wish I had been there. I wish we all had been there together. In Bethlehem. With Mary and Joseph and the babe. With the shepherds. With the angels. With the Magi. Maybe if we had witnessed these things for ourselves, then we would understand how special Christmas really is.

You can reach Dick Yarbrough at yarb2400@bellsouth.net; at P.O. Box 725373, Atlanta, GA 31139; online at dickyarbrough.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dickyarb.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus Editorial Page, New York Sun, 1897 We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun: Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

— Virginia O’Hanlon Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see.

They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a

Santa Claus.

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make toler-

able this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus!

You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa

Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.

Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives and lives forever.

A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Go and tell the good news on the mountain WASHINGTON — The narrative of Jesus’ birth in Luke’s Gospel has retained its power beyond the realm of believers because it renders one of the most peaceful moments in all of scripture: a gathering of angels and shepherds celebrating the “good news” and “great joy” of the birth of a baby “wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Although my favorite Christmas song will always be “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” it is “Silent Night” that may be truest to the spirit of Luke’s account. There are no rumors of war, no clashing armies, only a bright and blessed calm.

This will not be the first or the last Christmas when the world mocks the day’s promise, and when religion finds itself a source of violence, hatred and, among many not inclined toward either, a dangerous mutual incomprehension.

Killing in the name of God is not a new thing in history, and nothing does more to discredit faith. Believers regularly argue that religion is often invoked as a cover to justify violence carried out for reasons of politics, economics and power that have nothing to do with God. There is truth to this, and also to the idea that in the 20th century, secular forms of totalitarianism unleashed mass murder on an

alone. These have to do with the nature of God. “When religion turns men into murderers,” he insists, “God weeps.”

Sacks argues for a separation of religion from power because religion and politics “are inherently different activities.” This is tricky, since many of the E.J. genuinely ethical norms that Dionne religious people bring to public life are rooted in their faith. unprecedented scale.

Nonetheless, he is surely right Nonetheless, as Jonathan that religion “is at its best when Sacks, the former chief rabbi in it relies on the strength of arguBritain, argues in his remarkment and example. It is at its able book “Not in God’s Name: worst when it seeks to impose Confronting Religious Viotruth by force.” lence,” believers must face the And the strength of example painful facts. must mean that those who “Too often in the history of preach religious peace and religion,” Sacks writes, “people toleration should practice them. have killed in the name of the This is why the rank prejudice God of life, waged war in the being shown against Muslims, name of the God of peace, usually for political reasons, is hated in the name of the God so destructive, as Cardinal Sean of love and practiced cruelty in O’Malley, the archbishop of the name of the God of comBoston, argued in a powerful passion.” column earlier this month in his We are now focused on the diocesan newspaper. thoroughly ungodly violence “One of the most pernicious of the Islamic State, but Sacks effects of terrorism is that it is careful to document that can instill prejudices and group wars of religion are not unique hatred in people’s hearts and to Islam. He believes that to minds,” O’Malley wrote. “All persuade religious people of of us are horrified by the evil the Abrahamic faiths — Judaperpetrated by radical terrorists, ism, Christianity and Islam but we must not let their inhu— arguments against religious manity rob us of our humanity.” violence must be rooted in He also issued a warning theology, not in secular ideas that could usefully be repeated

week after week during next year’s presidential campaign: “Fear can cause us to do terrible and stupid things.”

And there is an important lesson in the Christmas story that, God willing, will be heard from many pulpits. “As we mull over the debate about refugees, let us remember the doors that were closed in the face of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem,” O’Malley said.

“We must ask our leaders to be vigilant and protect our citizens, but at the same time we cannot turn our back on so many innocent people who are hungry, homeless and without a country.”

Muslims are constantly called upon to condemn violence. One who has done so consistently is Eboo Patel, an American whose argument in his book “Acts of Faith” parallels the lessons from Rabbi Sacks and Cardinal O’Malley.

“To see the other side, to defend another people, not despite our tradition but because of it, is the heart of pluralism,” Patel writes. “We have to save each other. It’s the only way to save ourselves.”

This idea is worthy of the good news in Luke where an angel tells us: “Do not be afraid.”

E.J. Dionne’s email address is ejdionne@washpost.com.

8A • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

Suwanee resident hikes entire Appalachian Trail

By Curt yeomans

curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com

Some retirees choose to spend their golden years living comfortably and taking it easy, but Suwanee resident David Bockman isn’t one of them.

Instead of kicking back and taking a relaxing trip, Bockman, 66, decided to make 2015 a memorable year in his life. He spent five months hiking the 2,189mile Appalachian Trail, where he went by the name, “The White Wolf.”

He lived from shelter to shelter with people who went by names like The Fonz, Mantas, Five, Bigfoot, Micro, Haulin Oates, Blister Babe and Queen Bee. He also had to scoop water out of the ground, cook meals over a portable stove and sometimes rely on the kindness of strangers.

“It’s a journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything,” he said. “I’m glad I did it, and I’m glad I finished it.”

It’s a rare feat to hike the entire trail, with only one of four hikers who attempt it being successful, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

“It’s a major commitment,” Bockman said.

“First, you have to make up your mind that you’re going to do it, and then you have to make up your mind that you’re not going to give up.”

Bockman started his trek at Amicalola Falls in midApril, and reached the other end of the trail, at Mount Katahdin in Maine, on Sept.

21.

Along the way, he said, he encountered some of the hikers who didn’t complete the entire “Thru-Hike,” for various reasons, whether it be school commitments or a need to return to their home countries. Those who do make it find help from people who live near the trail and offer food, shelter and other assistance to hikers.

“There are three priorities on the trail: shelter, water and food,” Bockman said.

“Other than that, it’s really pretty simple. It will renew your faith in the human race because there are what are

Above, Suwanee resident David Bockman took this selfie at the New Hampshire-Maine state line as he neared the end of his hike up the Appalachian Trail. At left, Bockman celebrates atop Mount Katahdin in Maine on Sept.

21 after he finished hiking the entire Appalachian Trail.

(Special Photos)

MORE ONLINE Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for a photo gallery.

called ‘trail angels,’ and there’s what’s called ‘trail magic,’ provided by ‘trail angels.’”

Some examples of “trail angels” that Bockman encountered include churches that held cookouts for hikers, a man clearing a path in Virginia who offered Bockman a cold soft drink, and a woman in Maine who provided a cake to hikers as they neared the end of their trek.

There was even a couple in upstate New York who opened their home to hikers and cooked food for them.

“It’s very humbling to

and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which he had to get a permit to hike through. He first came across a man from Boston who went by the trail name “Hardwear” in Virginia.

The two men would eventually go on to become hiking companions on the trail.

“The first time we met was at a shelter in Roanoke, Va., and we kept stopping at the same shelters,” Bockman said. “After a while — maybe just before we got into West Virginia — we pretty much started hiking together.

“Then just after the halfway point — we did pass the half-way point together — we decided, ‘Hey, we passed the half-way point together, so let’s finish this thing together.’”

There were tough times on the trail. Bockman said it was difficult at times to have that provided, and then ing it that way. His original replenish his water supply, people on the trail — your goal was to do it with a particularly when the water position in life, how much former coworker who was had to be scooped up in money you have, what you about half of Bockman’s small amounts because there do, where you’re from and age. was no place where it could what country you’re from, A couple of days into the trickle into the container. how old you are is all imma- trip, however, Bockman’s And then there was the terial,” Bockman said. “Ev- colleague developed bursitis rain, which dogged Bockerybody gets along. There’s in his leg and they had to man during his first 10 days just a camaraderie among stop at Neels Gap in north on the trail. It was especially hikers because they are basi- Georgia. The Suwanee resi- tough on the days when cally all going through the dent waited a few days to hikers had to pitch their own same stuff.” hear whether they’d be able tents for the night instead The retiree made nearly to restart as a duo but finally of sleeping in established the first half of his journey resumed the trek on his own shelters. alone, aside from the ocwhen he hadn’t heard any “If it’s raining when you casional company of fellow news after a couple of days. stop for the night, you might hikers who walked with him Much of the first month have to wait an hour to an for a day or two. was spent hiking through hour and a half because, if He hadn’t planned on do- the north Georgia mountains you open your backpack in

the rain to get your tent out, everything else in there is going to get wet,” Bockman said. “It’s the same thing if it’s raining in the morning when you’re packing up to get back on the trail.”

The trail was also unforgiving at times, such as when it involved a lot of walking on rocks in Pennsylvania — which Bockman compared to walking across a rock pile for 200 miles. The rocks also made it tough to hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the mountains of Maine.

There were times when it was less hiking and more climbing up ladders on rock faces in New England. All of it is chronicled in a journal Bockman kept throughout his trip.

Eventually, Bockman and Hardwear made it to the summit of Mount Katahdin with about nine other hikers that they’d met at various points along the trail.

Toward the end of the trek, the hikers had more or less come together as a group whose common denominator was the shared experience of toughing it out on the trail.

They posed for pictures together atop the mountain to celebrate their accomplishment before they went their separate ways.

As Bockman reflected on his trip, he called it a good life experience to have, but not one he’d jump at a chance to do again.

“At first right after it, I was like, ‘Not only no, but hell no,’” he said. “Then, the longer you’re not doing it, you’re like ‘OK, maybe a day hike or something.’”

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Snellville to get new Cook Out, Taco Bell locations

Snellville residents will get a couple of new fast food dining options in the future.

Morgan Property Group LLC announced this week that is bought 1.742 acres at the intersection of Scenic Highway and Dogwood Road on Dec. 11.

The developer plans to built a 2,852-square-foot Cook Out and a 2,132-square-foot Taco Bell on the property.

It will be the developer’s second Cook Out in the Southeast and its first Taco Bell, according to a statement.

“This development is the classic reimagining of a corner to _OBITS 12/23/2015 3:53 PM Page A8 create new and vibrant development,” MPG President Trey Morgan said in the statement. “We

wish both retailers much success, and are excited to be part of their expansion.”

Cook Out is a growing fast food chain that has 150 locations in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Maryland. The company sells grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, North Carolina barbecue and milkshakes.

Duluth company named nation’s best for camaraderie Innovative Architects’ 49 employees recently won high praise for their ability to work as a team.

The Duluth-based company announced it was ranked No. 37 on Great Place to Work and

Innovative Architects’ employees were recently named to Great Place to Work and Fortune’s 50 Best Workplaces for Camaraderie list. (Special Photo)

Fortune’s 50 Best Workplaces for Camaraderie list. The rankings were based on anonymous employee evaluations that looked at how comfortable workers feel

about being themselves at work, how friendly and cooperative the atmosphere is at their job, and the strength of each company’s teams.

More than 255,000 employees at nearly 600 companies were evaluated to determine the rankings.

— From staff reports

obituaries Exchange enrollment nears 500K in Georgia For more obituaries, visit www.gwinnettdailypost.com.

LAWRENCEVILLE

Viorica Gheorghe Mrs. Viorica Gheorghe, age 80, of Lawrenceville passed away Tuesday, December 22, 2015.

NORCROSS

Norma Smith Norma Elizabeth Smith, age 96, of Norcross, GA passed away December 21, 2015. Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel, 1031 Lawrenceville, GA 30046, 770-277-4550. www.wagesandsons.com

By andy miller

The Affordable Care Act provides for exchanges in all 50 states, and Nearly a half-million this is their third year of Georgians have enrolled in operation. a 2016 health plan through Federal health officials the insurance exchange or said that nationally since had their coverage autoopen enrollment began matically renewed, federal Nov. 1, more than 8.2 milofficials announced Tues- lion consumers signed up day. for coverage through the Georgia’s total of HealthCare.gov platform 498,901 as of Dec. 19 or had their coverage autowould appear to put the matically renewed — with state on a faster pace than millions more selecting 2015 enrollment. By the plans through state-based end of that enrollment marketplaces. A year ago, period in mid-February, about 6.4 million had roughly 540,000 Georsigned up or been autogians had signed up or matically renewed by Dec. been renewed.

19, 2014.

Open enrollment ends Citing “unprecedented Jan. 31. demand’’ last week,

Georgia Health News

federal officials extended the signup deadline from Dec. 15 to 17 for people who want coverage to take effect Jan. 1.

“Millions of Americans will start 2016 with the quality and affordable health coverage they want and need to keep their families healthy and financially secure,” Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in a statement Tuesday. “We are focused on making sure families looking for coverage understand their options through the marketplace, know about the financial assistance available, and have access

to the support they need to enroll.”

In total enrollment, Georgia trailed only Florida, Texas and North Carolina among the 38 states that use federally run exchanges.

Danté McKay, Georgia director of Get Covered America, said the HHS announcement “shows what we’ve been seeing on the ground across the state: Consumers want quality, affordable health coverage, and when they learn they have new options under the Affordable Care Act, they are eager to enroll.’’

Cindy Zeldin of consumer group Georgians

for a Healthy Future added that while there is still work to do to sign up as many Georgians as possible, “these robust enrollment figures demonstrate that we are on a good path toward that outcome.”

The penalty for not having coverage will rise significantly in 2016 compared to this year.

Unless exempted, people who remain uninsured next year will be subject to a penalty of $695 for an individual, or 2.5 percent of household income — whichever is greater.

That’s up from the 2015 penalty: $325 or 2 percent of income, whichever is greater.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 9A

gwinnettdailypost.com

Home for the Holidays? Hold the sugar, please

By Luc cohen

account for almost double most other months of the year.

NEW YORK — Bagged That could pose a chalor boxed, brown or powlenge to the politically dered, Americans are connected sugar industry, buying markedly less sugar dominated by the Fanjul this year, a trend nowhere family which owns Domino more noticeable than during Sugar, C&H, and Florida the holidays when homeCrystals, and Louis Dreybaking picks up. fus, which operates the In the biggest decline in second-biggest U.S. refiner sugar sales in at least four Imperial Sugar. years, purchases have fallen Stew Leonard Jr., chief 4.4 percent in the year executive of the Stew through October, accordLeonard’s chain of four ing to Nielsen data, a drop supermarkets in New York grocers attribute to growing and Connecticut, has begun consumer consciousness paring back shelf space deover the negative health voted to sugar as he braces effects of sugar such as a for another year-over-year higher risk of diabetes and decline in December sugar obesity. sales.

And they are seeing that “Sugar is a No. 1 enemy,” trend through the holiday Leonard said of public season, when sugar sales concern. “You can see that traditionally peak. In the people are trying to cut back month of December, retail on it and not eating as much sales of sugar typically sugar as they used to.”

Reuters

The decline in bagged and packaged sugar purchases may reflect a trend toward less baking and more consumption of store-bought desserts, which contain as much, if not more, sugar.

The steady years-long shift away from bagged and packaged sugar comes as the so-called ‘war on sugar’ intensifies in the United States, with bitter debates in the past two years between government, food companies, and advocates over proposals to add labels to products containing added sweeteners.

Public officials including First Lady Michelle Obama have argued that rising sugar consumption is a leading cause of rising levels of diabetes and obesity.

“Sugar has become one of the new trendy enemies,” said Sean Lucan, a profes-

sor of family and social medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. “It’s almost become what dietary fat was in the 1980s and 1990s.”

The majority of U.S. sugar consumption is still in food and beverage products, according to the U.S. Sugar Association, which represents sugar growers, refiners and traders, which declined to comment on the drop in bagged sugar sales.

Alternative products are nowhere close to trumping traditional sugar in sales.

But while sales of granulated sugar, brown sugar, confectioners sugar and sugar substitutes all slumped, sales of “all other types” of sugar — a category including unrefined sugars like jaggery and panela — grew by nearly 200 percent between 2011 and 2015 to 1.1

million units in the first 10 months of each year.

In an informal survey of five U.S. grocery store chains by Reuters over the past week, participants reported a change in customer buying habits that suggests a long-term shift in tastes and supports data that shows waning appetite for sugar.

Camilo Curiel, manager of a C-Town supermarket serving mainly low-income, Hispanic shoppers in Reading, Pennsylvania, said he has cut back on wholesale sugar orders after customers curbed their purchases over the past two to three years, though he has not yet begun devoting less shelf space to the sweetener.

That decline is part of a broader trend toward healthier foods among his customers, who he said are buying less soda, boxed juice and

Chipper

•From Page 1A of their trees.

Trees can be dropped off from Dec. 26 through Jan. 16 at fire stations and other locations across Gwinnett.

Before dropping off trees, residents should remove decorations, stands and lights.

Local cities are also holding volunteer days for residents to help out with the collection at local parks. One such event is at Sims Lake Park, located at 4600 Suwanee Dam Road in Suwanee. Helpers will be unloading Christmas trees and handing out northern red oak, red bud and dogwood seedlings from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 2 and 3. To volunteer, contact Tammy Hiler at thiler@suwanee.com or 770-945-8996.

Trees will collected from all across Gwinnett to be mulched at the Bring One for the Chipper event from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 23. Chipping will happen near the soccer fields in Bethesda Park, located at 225 Bethesda Church

Phi Nguyen, 18, sorts through used Christmas trees during last year’s Bring One for the Chipper event hosted by Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful at Bethesda Park in Lawrenceville. (Photo: David Welker)

Road in Lawrenceville.

Individuals and teams of volunteers are invited to participate and are asked to bring work gloves and wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and should register ahead of time at gwinnettcb. org/programs/bring-onechipper.

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is a nonprofit organization that aims to find long-term solutions to

business, finance and law in the other. They have those fields are moving admitted they don’t want into the Norcross cluster. too much saturation of The Norcross school, a given path or industry, set to open in 2018, is one such as health sciences in of two schools that will Meadowcreek, and want be theme-focused. A high to guard against narrowschool in the Meadowing a model too much. creek cluster is scheduled “Obviously we’ve to open in 2019, but a talked about some of the location has not been an- program components nounced. and opportunities for District officials plan students,” Flynt told the to tailor the curriculum school board last week. toward a specific theme, “But between now and such as health sciences opening, we still have a and medicine in one lot of work to do and are school and international eagerly getting busy in

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environmental and quality of life issues through the work of individual citizens. It first began a Christmas tree recycling program in 1984.

The organization hosts events throughout the year to create a cleaner environment, promote environmental education and supports recycling initiatives in Gwinnett and the surrounding areas. For more information, visit www.gwinnettcb.org.

Theme

•From Page 1A

Samuel F. Vaught, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology

cereal. But December, the peak sugar-buying season by far at the store, remains an exception.

Retail sales of bagged and boxed sugar during the November and December months fell 2.3 percent to 203 million units between 2011 and 2014, Nielsen data show. That two-month period typically accounts for nearly one quarter of annual purchases.

Purchases during the December month alone fell 3 percent over that period to 104 million units, measured in bags and boxes, the data show. Data is not yet available for the current holiday season.

But market research firm Euromonitor sees sales of sugars and bulk sweeteners falling to 14.2 million tonnes in 2015, the lowest level on records dating back to 2001.

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working on that.”

Each school would be progressive programs for ninth grade through 12th grade and offer dual enrollment, internships and career coaching or mentoring.

Community partnerships and input is requested, and members from leadership development and the Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship teams will help develop the programs at the schools.

At the Health Sciences High School, students will pursue careers in science and medicine, and Flynt has said research shows that health care workers trained in an area likely return to work in a fulltime capacity. Potential career clusters are biotechnology research and development, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services and therapeutic services.

Flynt has said those areas fill critical needs in the Gwinnett community and across the country.

The other high school would be called the High School of International Business, Finance and Law and would offer an academic program in international business, finance and law with a world language focus.

Languages offered would be French, German and Spanish.

Students would learn skills to pursue careers in banking, international banking, financial planning and business management for potential jobs as attorneys, police officers and other law enforcement careers.

10A • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

Gwinnett County officials receive the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ threeyear PlanFirst designation during the county commission’s Dec. 15 meeting. (Special Photo)

Gwinnett among Georgia’s newest PlanFirst designees

By Curt yeomans

Gwinnett County and the other new PlanFirst designees will be formally recognized with fanfare Gwinnett County ofduring a ceremony and ficials are being recognized photograph with Gov. by the Georgia Department Nathan Deal at the State of Community Affairs for Capitol and its adjacent their efforts to plan for the legislative office building county’s future. on the morning of Jan. 28.

The county received the The county government state’s PlanFirst designamay have reach over all tion, “which recognizes of the county, but it is not communities that not only the first government in create good comprehenthe county to receive the sive plans but, shockingly, PlanFirst honor. Braselton, implement them, which which is partially in Gwinunfortunately is not always nett, and Suwanee were the case,” according to among the inaugural honDepartment of Community orees last year. The other Affairs Outreach Coordihonorees for this year innator Adriane Wood. clude Columbus-Muscogee Governments that and Liberty counties, and receive the three-year the cities of Dublin, Lula, designation also receives Porterdale and Roswell. rewards, such as free This year’s honorees registration for DCA train- govern areas that range ing programs and reduced in population from about loan rates that can save the 1,400 in Porterdale to governments money. nearly 1 million people “This program was esin Gwinnett, according to tablished last year (and) we Wood. had 10 communities that “We are honored to recwere designated last year,” ognize these communities Wood told county leadfor their comprehensive ers as she presented the planning and consistent designation at the Board use of their planning strateof Commissioners’ Dec. gies,” DCA Director of 15 meeting. “This year, we the Office of Planning and have seven, so you’re in Environmental Managerarified air (among) only ment Brian Johnson said in 17 out of 500-plus govern- a statement. “It is fundaments in this state.” mental for sound economic

curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com

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development and enhanced quality of life for residents.

DCA values their commitment to planning at the local level.”

Commissioner Jace Brooks, who helped Wood make the presentation to staff, praised county department heads as well as the people who work under them for their planning efforts. The county’s planning and development, transportation and community services departments were highlighted in the presentation.

“It’s quite an honor and really recognizing the way that we have done comprehensive planning over the last few years,” Brooks said. “I like the name of this, PlanFirst, because we do a lot of planning and we plan first. I think we also do a tremendous job with implementing a significant portion of the plans that we develop.”

In a statement, county commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash added, “This honor recognizes our success in setting goals, providing leadership, encouraging community participation and effectively implementing our plans. Congratulations to all the staff who earned this designation.”

Gwinnett County firefighters have been dropping in to make sure homes are equipped with working smoke alarms in the past few weeks with a “12 Days of Christmas” themed initiative. (Special Photos)

Local firefighters install smoke alarms during holiday initiative From staFF reports

of the job.

Firefighters began their efGwinnett County firefightforts in the campaign on Dec. 11 and ended on Tuesday. ers said they aren’t waiting In that time, firefighters inon a holiday fire to happen. stalled 654 smoke alarms in Fire crews all over the county 187 homes, the agency said. have been participating in an “This type of positive ininitiative called the 12 Days teraction with the community of Christmas to promote demonstrates the departworking smoke alarms in ment’s overall commitment homes that would otherwise to keeping residents safe and be without adequate protecbeing proactive,” said Fire tion.

A Gwinnett County fire- Marshal Stephen Hrustich.

“Our goal is to make the fighter works with a smoke With smoke alarms, living environment safe alarm in a home. firefighters say to keep one for members of the comon every level of the house, munity,” said Assistant Fire Chief Russell Knick in a Each fire truck in the county in every bedroom and in the hallways, and test them news release. Knick oversees is equipped with a smoke the emergency response/ alarm tool bag, and firefight- monthly, replacing batteries twice a year. operations division of the fire ers are prepared to change For more information, department, which includes the battery in an existing 30 fire station facilities. alarm or install a new smoke contact the Gwinnett FireDuring emergency alarm when needed, accord- Community Risk Reduction Division at 678-518response calls and resident ing to the news release.

4845 or fireprograms@ interactions, firefighters are “We are all doing better able to recognize whether a when the community is safe gwinnettcounty.com. The department also offers free home has working smoke from fire,” said Fire Chief home-safety surveys and alarms and ask the homeCasey Snyder, who encoursmoke alarm checks as part owner whether they can ages all personnel to make of its community outreach check their smoke alarm or community risk reduction programs. alarms before they leave. strategies an important part

gwinnettdailypost.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 11A

Wesleyan to expand bus routes to six areas

By Keith Farner

keith.farner @gwinnettdailypost.com

The morning shuttle to Brookhaven worked so well, Wesleyan School is expanding transportation options to

six areas around Gwinnett and North Fulton for next school year.

The school will offer shuttles to Suwanee/Duluth, Johns Creek, Roswell, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs/

Brookhaven and Decatur/ Stone Mountain.

Headmaster Chris Cleveland wrote in a letter to Wesleyan families that the expansion is based off of the new Brookhaven shuttle’s

success this school year. The mini-buses will be morning service only. Drivers will be vetted and hired by the school. The cost will be $500 per child, per semester.

“The Brookhaven

experiment worked as we were able to draw several new families to our school as well as serve several existing families for whom transportation had become an increasingly difficult issue,” he wrote.

During the past year, Wesleyan officials have had conversations about transportation with prospective and current families on the topic and the challenges many families face with traffic in the area growing exponentially worse each year.

Cleveland laid out five points to summarize the issue: • Traffic in Atlanta is getting worse and creating stress on many families.

• The number of dualworking parent families and single-parent families within its community is increasing.

• The question of transportation is moving up on the list of importance when prospective families inquire about the school.

• It’s becoming a retention issue as many current families are feeling the strain of meshing work and school schedules, particularly with the morning commute.

• In a hyper-competitive market, Cleveland said Wesleyan is “woefully behind” its competition at a time when they need to do everything they can to give families more reasons to choose Wesleyan.

“My sincere hope is that by offering bus service to current and prospective families that we will be taking one more step to partner with parents in an effort to make life less complicated,” Cleveland wrote. “Wesleyan cannot solve the problem of our over-scheduled and busy culture, but we have to be the type of place that takes a stand for our families and contributes to the solution side of the issue.”

The service areas will be: • Suwanee/Duluth: Projected pickup locations at the intersection of Peachtree Industrial and McGinnis Ferry Road and at Buford Highway and Old Peachtree Road • Johns Creek: Projected pickup locations at 141 and McGinnis Ferry Road and at 141 and just north of State Bridge Road • Roswell: Projected pickup locations at Old Alabama Road and Holcomb Bridge Road and at Barnwell Road and Holcomb Bridge Road • Dunwoody: Projected pickup locations at Mt. Vernon Road and ChambleeDunwoody Road and at Mt. Vernon Road and Dunwoody Club Drive • Sandy Springs/ Brookhaven: Projected pickup locations at the Capital City Club and at Roswell Road and Wieuca Road • Decatur/Stone Mountain: projected pickup location at Memorial Drive and I-285

New bus routes are coming to Wesleyan after officials have had conversations about transportation with prospective and current families on the topic and the challenges many families face with traffic in the area growing exponentially worse each year. (Special Photo)

12A • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

sports

gwinnettdailypost.com

SECTION B • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Derrick Brown SENIOR • LANIER

Despite outside attention and hype, Daily Post Defensive Player of the Year Derrick Brown always put Lanier first during his career. (Staff Photo: Paul Thomas)

Touted Brown puts team first during final season

By Paul Thomas

paul.thomas@ gwinnettdailypost.com

SUGAR HILL — At 6-foot-4, 320 pounds, Lanier senior defensive tackle Derrick Brown has all the qualities that college coaches are looking for.

The U.S. Army All-Amer-

ican is a five-star prospect and will choose between Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State and Tennessee from an offer list that includes a who’s who of college football.

Yet according to Lanier head coach Korey Mobbs, the outside hype and attention never affected the Daily

COACH OF YEAR Jarvis leads Mill Creek to milestone season, 3B

Post’s Defensive Player of the Year during his senior season.

“From a leadership standpoint, obviously his play on the field speaks for itself. He

improved from a sophomore to a junior to his senior year and had his best year for us on the field — but I think what’s most impressive and what we’re most proud of at Lanier is Derrick’s leadership and how it emerged for us,” Mobbs said. “This season, with all the recruiting buzz and the distractions that

are present, as a coach you’re always concerned with how their senior season is going to go.

“I think there have been cases where guys have chosen to be more focused on that and recruiting, and Derrick is the opposite of See BROWN, Page 5B

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Major Bellamy SENIOR • CENTRAL GWINNETT

Bellamy best among county receivers again as a senior

By Paul Thomas

getting wins.”

For the second straight The Daily Post’s comseason, Bellamy helped plete football team lists, 4B Central (7-5) reach the LAWRENCEVILLE — second round of the Class Over the last two seasons, “I had a terrible scrimAAAAAA state playoffs. there hasn’t been a more mage game and I just In the first round, Bellamy productive wide receiver in wanted to build off of what had touchdowns of 55 and Gwinnett County, or perI did last season and get 38 yards in a 49-20 rout of haps the entire state, than my teammates on the same Walton.

Central Gwinnett’s Major page,” Bellamy said of Bellamy finished the Bellamy. his final season. “We got season with 16 touchdown Last season as a junior, on the same page and we catches for the Black he had a county-high 77 started having some injuKnights. Last Saturday in receptions for 1,220 yards. ries going into the playoffs the Rivalries of Gwinnett This year as a senior, the — my hand — but we still All-Star game, he capped Daily Post’s offensive played through it. Everyoff his high school career player of the year again led body started playing as by scoring on a 70-yard After a second-straight season with over 1,000 yards receiving, Central Gwinnett’s Ma- the county with 79 catches one and we started playing jor Bellamy is the Daily Post’s Offensive Player of the Year. (Staff Photo: Paul Thomas) for 1,315 yards.

See BELLAMY, Page 5B as a team and we started paul.thomas@ gwinnettdailypost.com

ALL-COUNTY

2B • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

NBA campaigning against gun violence ReuteRs NEW YORK —- The National Basketball Association and some of its top players take aim at ending gun violence in a television campaign that will launch today, the league said.

In a partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety, the anti-violence group founded and funded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the NBA today will begin running a public service announcement during games broadcast on ABC and ESPN that urges a stop to gun violence, the league said.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls are among the stars whose lives have been touched by gun violence and who appear in the 30-second spot.

The segment ends with the basketball stars and others who lost loved ones to gun violence together saying, “In the United States, 88 people die of gun violence every day.”

Viewers are then urged to visit the website “Everytown.WeCanEndGunViolence.org.”

In the fast-paced segment, which never mentions the phrase “gun control,” each professional athlete makes a poignant remark about how gun violence has affected them.

Gun control is highly politically charged in the United States, where the Second Amendment of the Constitution protects the right to bear arms. Gun rights proponents argue that high rates of gun own-

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Clothing Drive

TODAY’S GAMES • New Orleans at Miami, noon (ESPN) • Chicago at Oklahoma City, 2:30 p.m. (ABC) • Cleveland at Golden State, 5 p.m. (ABC) • San Antonio at Houston, 8 p.m. (ESPN) • L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)

ership can help deter violence by making criminals fearful of the consequences of their actions.

In the ad, Curry, the league’s 2014-15 most valuable player, said he heard about a 3-year-old’s shooting, adding: “My daughter Riley’s that age.”

Anthony, who saw deadly toll of gun violence growing up in Baltimore and New York, notes, “The gun should never be an option.”

The NBA said the deal between the major league and Everytown was brokered by director Spike Lee. His latest film, “ChiRaq,” looks at Chicago’s bloody gun crime.

It is not the first time the league has waded into social activism. Last year, a wave of its biggest stars took to the court for warmups wearing T-shirts that read “I can’t breathe,” a reference to the death of an unarmed black man named Eric Garner at the hands of New York Police Department officers.

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www.gwinnettdailypost.com | www.gwinnettprepsports.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 3B

gwinnettdailypost.com

ondeck Shannon Jarvis COACH OF THE YEAR

Prep Schedule

Monday

BASKETBALL

• Archer boys in Sweet South Classic • Berkmar boys in Lake City Classic at Allatoona • Berkmar girls in Pickens Holiday Classic • Central boys in Morgan Co. Holiday Classic • Central girls in Alabama Holiday Tournament • Collins Hill boys in Commerce Tournament • Duluth in McDonald’s Big South Shootout at Georgia College • Grayson Ram Classic • Parkview girls in Boo Williams Tournament • Deep South Classic at Brookwood • Hebron and Walnut Grove in Walnut Grove Christmas Tournament • Meadowcreek boys in Monterrey Christmas Tournament • Meadowcreek girls in Sweet South Tournament at Morgan Co. • North boys in Kingdom of the Sun Classic • Peachtree Ridge boys in Rotary Roundball Tournament • Peachtree Ridge girls in Holiday Tournament • Providence in George Walton Christmas Tournament • Shiloh boys in Farm Bureau Insurance Classic • South boys in Indian Shootout • South girls in Colquitt Co. Christmas Tournament • Wesleyan boys in Wells Fargo Classic

The Home Teams TODAY

NEXT

UPCOMING

Off

Greenville Sat, 7 p.m.

97.7-FM

at Greenville Sun, 3 p.m.

97.7-FM

Off

Carolina Sun, 1 p.m.

FOX/92.9 FM

New Orleans Jan. 3, 1 p.m.

FOX/92.9 FM

Off

New York Sat, 7:30 p.m.

FSSE/92.9 FM

at Indiana Mon, 7 p.m.

FSSE/92.9 FM

Off

vs. Penn State# Jan. 2, noon ESPN/750-AM

End of season

Gladiators

Falcons

Hawks

Georgia

FSSE = FOX Sports Southeast, FSS = FOX Sports South #Tax Slayer Bowl, Jacksonville, Fla.

On TV

Today

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

6:30 p.m. — Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, Third Place: Teams TBA. EPSN2 8:30 p.m. — Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, Final: Teams TBA. ESPN2

NBA

Noon — New Orleans at Miami EPSN 2:30 p.m. — Chicago at Oklahoma City ABC 5 p.m. — Cleveland at Golden State ABC 8 p.m. — San Antonio at Houston ESPN 10:30 p.m. — Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers ESPN

Sports Calendar

BASEBALL

Ongoing through Dec. 31: Whitner Hitting Clinics are being held at Jack City Sports Center. The clinics are ongoing and cost $75 for five weeks. To sign up, email jackcitybaseball@aol. com or call 770-633-0948.

BASKETBALL

Jan. 10: Complete Skills Academy will field girls travel teams for grades 4 through 8 in the upcoming spring seasons. Tryouts will be Jan. 10. Registration and season information is online at completeskillsacademy. com.

WEIGHTLIFTING

Jan. 23-24: No Excuses

CrossFit in Suwanee is hosting the USA Weightlifting Sport Performance Coaching Course and Certification. The cost is $495 and will be instructed

by C.J. Stockel. Go to www. usaw.hangastar.com/ EMS_Courses_Register. aspx to register for the course or contact the event coordinator at info@noexcusescrossfit.com for more information.

The entry level course is open to anyone 17 and older and includes a one-year membership with USAW. The scope and sequence of the course includes the teaching progressions of the snatch, clean and jerk, and all associated movements.

Feedback • Will Hammock, Sports Editor: will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com • Christine Troyke, Staff Writer: christine.troyke@gwinnettdailypost.com • David Friedlander, Staff Writer: david.friedlander@gwinnettdailypost.com • Paul Thomas, Staff Writer: paul.thomas@gwinnettdailypost.com • Scott Smith, Senior Correspondent: scott.smith@gwinnettdailypost.com • To report scores, call 770-339-5850

MILL CREEK

Jarvis led Hawks to milestone season

By Will Hammock

will.hammock@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Offseason meetings aren’t always the most exciting, but they can be telling. They were for Mill Creek’s football team.

Around two months removed from a loss in the 2014 state playoffs, the players and coaches began discussions about the next season’s goals, as well as what could be done better in 2015.

“In January, we meet with (rising) seniors individually and collectively,” Mill Creek head coach Shannon Jarvis said. “I remember meeting with Chase Turner, our safety and returner, and just in his eyes you could see how bad he wanted to lead, how bad the team wanted to lead. … The boys had meetings that started out with two or three, and then it grew to 15 or 20 players. They had meetings to get things out in the open, meetings about things they wanted to change. I knew after after the second or third meeting we had a special group because they wanted to have influence on each other in the right way. To have a group that doesn’t care who gets accolades or success, you have a chance to have a special team.”

Mill Creek had its most special season to date thanks to those players, the coaching staff and Jarvis, the Daily Post’s Coach of the Year.

The Hawks had reached the quarterfinals twice in their first 11 seasons of existence, but they took it a round deeper this season to the Class AAAAAA semifinals, where they lost to eventual state champion Colquitt County.

They went 10-0 during the regular season for the first time and won the Region 7-AAAAAA championship, finishing 13-1 with a school record for victories in a season.

They also posted an impressive run of lopsided victories — their only victory decided by fewer than 20 points was a 20-17, overtime victory over Peachtree Ridge. The players and coaches did their jobs so well most of the season that Jarvis didn’t truly know how his team would react in a fourquarter slugfest, though he found out against

Mill Creek head coach Shannon Jarvis makes a point during the Hawks’ quarterfinal game against Archer this season. (Photo: Kyle Hess)

Peachtree Ridge.

“During that game, that was a powerful game for us and our program, I remember in the fourth quarter our kids were playing their guts out, and so was Peachtree Ridge,” Jarvis said. “I remember thinking don’t overreach these kids, let them play this game.

For us as coaches and the fans, we were able to watch a special game. The communication piece with this group and the coaches and players, we knew we had a chance to have a special group. I said all along the strength of this team is its unity. In the game against Peachtree Ridge, you saw the strength and team unity help us prevail.”

Jarvis praised the leadership of his senior class for building that unity. He leaned on those players for important decisions that he and his assistant coaches had to make throughout the season, and the players embraced what was asked of them.

“The kids accepted their roles very quickly,” Jarvis said. “When you have a senior class this big, they have to understand their roles and their worth to the team. This year’s team was the best we’ve had with that. Their attitude is the best we’ve had. That’s a credit to them and their attitudes. They genuinely liked each other.”

The positive attitudes the coaches saw during offseason meetings continued into spring and summer workouts.

“It really started midway through last year,” Jarvis said. “The culture in our weight room changed. We were more competitive in there, and Bill Stewart’s got to be given credit for that. After school workouts, kids would stay later to run sprints, racing each other. You’ve got to have

that internal desire from kids.”

A steady coaching staff also factored into the success. Jarvis is the only head football coach in Mill Creek history and his assistant coach turnover has been scarce over the past 12 years.

Jarvis has added coaches here and there, but a core group has remained for a decade. Many have ties to South Gwinnett, where Jarvis was an assistant under legendary head coach T. McFerrin before being hired at Mill Creek.

“As much as any season, our coaches from January through the last game worked tirelessly to lead these boys on and off the field,” Jarvis said. “We had a season where the boys wanted to be led off the field as well. It was a special season not just because of the victories, but for the relationships that were built. … This group of men I get to work with on this coaching staff are great men and great coaches. It’s special to have a group in this day and age, where there is so much turnover and other opportunities, for us to hang together. We’re dear friends, and they’re great men. They inspire me every day, and hopefully I can continue to lead the program in a way that they’ll be proud of.”

Those same coaches will lead Mill Creek on a new journey starting next month, when the offseason meetings begin for a new group of seniors and a new team.

The Hawks must replace nine seniors from a stifling defense that posted six shutouts, highlighted by a 23-0 blanking of Archer in the state quarterfinals. Of the 14 games, only Colquitt scored more than 17 points on that unit.

Mill Creek will return eight starters on offense as it searches for bigger goals and consistency in competing for championships. “(This season’s) a part of the process,” Jarvis said.

“Our program has been consistent for many years, but obviously we got to a higher level this year and we don’t want to go backward. …

We’ll look at what we can do to improve on this next year. I consider it the next step. This team has played a big part in propelling us to the next level, but it’s been a climb. Each year we’ve tried to improve different areas, so I think many (past) teams can share in what happened this year.

“But we do feel we’re built for the long haul.

This can’t be a one-year flash. The way we run our program and treat our kids plays into it. We want to be contenders every year. It’s been modeled by many programs in Gwinnett before.

It’s no secret. You’ve got to put in consistent work in the weight room and keep kids accountable. We’ll continue to do that so we can continue to be competitive like this every year. I don’t think we’ve arrived. We’ve done it one year and now we’ve got to do it consistently.”

To see Mill Creek remain among the state’s top programs wouldn’t be a surprise to its opponents.

“This at Mill Creek is as close to what we had at Hoover (Ala.) as I’ve seen,” said Colquitt head coach Rush Propst, who won 110 games and five state championships in nine seasons at Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham.

“The community support, the community makeup, the players, the coaches.

Coach Jarvis does a great job. Coach Bill Stewart is one of the best (defensive) coordinators in the state.

They’ve got it going.”

One coach who sees Mill Creek more frequently agreed.

“Shannon’s done a heck of a job at Mill Creek,” Norcross head coach Keith Maloof said. “I’m proud of what he’s accomplished. He’s weathered the storm of opening up a brand-new school and stayed the course.

He didn’t waver from his philosophy to have a quick winner. He’s done it over time and I think he’s laid a solid foundation for years to come.”

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4B • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

Last Cameryn Jamyest Jordan Marcko Alex Marcus Steve Jonathan Martin Christian Marcella Anthony Joe Trey Jack Jesse Deion Marquez Jeremy Daniel Ernest Davis Jakob Malik Chris Ty Necholas Michael Ryan Nick Baron Alex Mitchell George Jarren Bryce Kameron Monty Christian Xavier Jeff Nick Keegan Omar Ty’Quan Austin Ashton Camron Jalen Emmanuel

2015 gwinnett county football leaders First Brent Williams Argilagos Baity Rowe Young DuBose Postell Mangram Turner Baity Grant Thomas Vallery Chambers Brown Slade Jackson Lewis Leconte Tiller Mills Brashear Staples McGee Harris Sermons Stephens Lovelace Harris Radcliff Scott Miller Bielan Williams Riley Pickett Horn Malloy Gantt Days Prince Strickland Sinclair Garrett Brown Barnes Thompson Myers Cantrell

Rushing School Gms Grayson 14 Archer 13 Wesleyan 12 Lanier 12 GAC 14 GAC 13 Hebron 10 Collins Hill 13 Buford 15 Buford 14 Lanier 12 Buford 15 Mill Creek 14 C. Gwinnett 12 Parkview 11 Brookwood 10 Parkview 11 Peachtree Ridge 11 Collins Hill 10 Mill Creek 14 Grayson 14 GAC 14 Dacula 10 Peachtree Ridge 12 Hebron 10 Dacula 10 Norcross 11 S. Gwinnett 8 N. Gwinnett 9 Mtn. View 6 Norcross 11 Mtn. View 10 Providence 9 Wesleyan 11 Shiloh 9 Hebron 10 N. Gwinnett 7 Collins Hill 10 S. Gwinnett 6 Buford 7 C. Gwinnett 12 Grayson 10 Archer 9 Norcross 10 Dacula 9 Mtn. View 9 Lanier 3 Grayson 11 Shiloh 10 Mtn. View 4

Name Major Evan Liam Erron Malcolm Kyle Canyon Dorian Tucker Harrison Ernest Austin Jalen Aramis Tyler Johnathan Christian Brandon Justin Braxton Edmond Harrison Josh Miles DeAngelo Bryce DeCarlos Cole Azaviar Jeremiah Malachi Preston Terrell Connor Des Dylan Berkley Juwan Marcella Jaylen Donavon B.J. Matthew Spencer Jake William Cortez Jordan Alan Horace Garrett Keith Devin Malik Necholas Jamarcus Stefan Braxton Sam TreVon Alex

Receiving School Bellamy C. Gwinnett Sturgill Grayson Sullivan GAC Price C. Gwinnett Cunningham GAC Davis Archer Slade Collins Hill Miles Brookwood Cannon Wesleyan Cook Wesleyan Tiller Grayson Nash Grayson Virgil Mtn. View Bryant Archer Fleetwood Parkview Boyd Parkview Sutton Peachtree Ridge Marsh Buford Macaulay Collins Hill Richburg Mill Creek Graham Mill Creek Sloan GAC Imatorbhebhe N. Gwinnett Riley Mill Creek Gibbs Peachtree Ridge Riley Hebron Frazier Shiloh Paschall Lanier Kufour C. Gwinnett Nails Archer Carter Mtn. View Norwood Mill Creek Smith S. Gwinnett Heyward Peachtree Ridge Howard Collins Hill Singleton Archer Boglin GAC Powell Archer Baity Lanier Askew Parkview Grier Shiloh Johnson S. Gwinnett Hill Brookwood Lewis Brookwood Simpson Buford Huzzie Duluth Buckholts Duluth Argilagos Wesleyan Bussoletti Buford Buckley N. Gwinnett Fowler Parkview Coffee Brookwood Robinson Mtn. View Murray Peachtree Ridge Sermons Norcross Hixson Shiloh Sims Shiloh Curry Collins Hill Gasta N. Gwinnett Barbour Grayson Wyant Lanier

Name Davis Micah Chase Will Cameron Banks Jack Jarren Mic Cade Monty Tahj Angelo Drew Fred Josh Matthew Tanner Baron Alex Bubba Chris Wes Darion Isaiah Seth Max Caleb Troy Connor Jalil

Passing School Comp.

Mills GAC 169 Maxey C. Gwinnett 196 Brice Grayson 173 Bearden Archer 167 Turley Mill Creek 179 Ramsey Wesleyan 150 Chambers Parkview 146 Williams Shiloh 131 Roof Buford 109 Fortin N. Gwinnett 130 Horn Collins Hill 112 Tolbert Lanier 95 DiSpigna Brookwood 97 Dinsmore Collins Hill 73 Payton Peachtree Ridge 76 Shim S. Gwinnett 53 Edwards Mtn. View 62 Winskie Brookwood 72 Radcliff Norcross 64 Scott Mtn. View 56 Hickson Peachtree Ridge 39 McGee Hebron 43 Whitehead Dacula 56 Hammons Meadowcreek 48 Grim Duluth 58 Johnston S. Gwinnett 26 Tracey Norcross 25 Mitchell Parkview 35 Allen Hebron 18 Heyward Peachtree Ridge 20 El-Amin Duluth 33

Name Chris Robert Monty Guillermo Bryce Juwuan Micah Aaron Denzel Tyler Tomon Nigel Drew Leonard T.D. Derrick John

gwinnettdailypost.com

Allen Snyder Montgomery Luna Smith Jones Bull Anderson Wright Taylor Fox Adams Aspinwall Warner Roof Brown Dussling

Att 220 214 199 188 150 142 150 176 118 84 160 100 182 190 130 166 105 124 96 155 60 99 94 100 123 92 113 85 68 100 110 69 94 43 104 65 78 54 67 50 67 42 61 56 40 46 39 48 61 29

Rec 79 53 50 60 38 54 59 63 53 52 40 39 41 26 37 41 37 34 37 32 29 31 31 34 24 24 23 18 27 22 26 24 16 31 28 25 28 28 25 32 26 21 25 26 14 26 18 15 15 20 17 14 26 7 13 24 11 15 12 9 17

Att. 282 341 266 255 310 226 259 279 164 255 219 182 183 171 127 109 124 133 135 127 77 83 131 131 124 56 47 54 32 43 65

Tackles School Norcross Collins Hill Norcross Brookwood Grayson Lanier Mill Creek Mill Creek Grayson Lanier Collins Hill C. Gwinnett Wesleyan Brookwood Buford Lanier Hebron

Yards 1719 1339 1280 1089 949 949 930 840 810 788 759 743 734 712 710 701 692 679 669 662 634 561 529 524 507 502 487 460 458 451 438 375 353 350 342 313 307 291 282 273 262 252 249 242 234 231 226 224 220 219

Yds 1315 915 886 864 816 805 758 745 701 664 634 629 614 605 534 532 530 506 497 490 473 472 452 450 417 410 396 391 385 380 376 371 364 362 347 347 339 338 335 306 304 279 271 262 261 261 260 250 250 249 241 240 234 217 214 214 212 211 208 205 204

TD Ave. 26 122.8 23 103 11 106.7 14 90.8 4 67.8 10 73 9 93 10 64.6 25 54 10 52.5 9 63.3 9 49.5 16 52.4 7 59.3 10 64.6 6 70.1 7 62.9 6 61.7 10 66.9 13 47.3 8 44.1 14 40.1 6 52.9 6 43.7 6 50.7 0 50.2 4 44.3 2 57.5 2 50.9 4 75.2 5 39.8 5 37.5 3 39.2 2 31.8 3 38 0 31.3 4 43.9 1 29.1 4 47 4 39 3 21.8 3 25.2 3 27.7 2 24.2 2 29.25 4 25.7 2 75.3 2 20.4 0 22 1 54.8

TD 16 8 6 8 9 6 7 7 3 2 4 6 5 8 7 2 5 8 6 3 5 4 3 4 3 2 6 2 6 3 2 3 4 3 1 4 1 1 2 2 0 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 2 0 3 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 0

Comp. % Yds 0.599 2821 0.575 2721 0.65 2708 0.655 2593 0.577 2358 0.664 1832 0.564 1765 0.47 1650 0.665 1507 0.51 1475 0.503 1389 0.522 1246 0.53 1121 0.427 1043 0.598 937 0.541 825 0.5 809 0.541 732 0.474 714 0.441 705 0.507 678 0.518 636 0.427 551 0.366 549 0.468 514 0.464 336 0.532 334 0.648 334 0.562 286 0.465 276 0.508 276

Games 11 13 11 10 14 12 14 14 14 12 13 11 12 10 10 12 10

YPC 16.7 17.3 17.7 14.4 21.5 14.9 12.8 11.8 13.3 12.8 15.9 16.1 15 23.3 14.4 13 14.3 14.9 13.4 15.3 16.3 15.2 14.6 13.2 17.4 17.1 17.2 21.7 14.3 17.3 14.5 15.5 22.8 11.7 12.4 13.9 12.1 12.1 13.4 9.6 11.7 13.3 10.8 10.1 18.6 10 14.4 16.7 16.7 12.45 14.2 17.1 9 31 16.5 8.9 19.3 14.1 17.3 22.8 12

TD 25 30 29 23 18 14 15 14 15 11 13 9 8 11 9 7 5 4 6 5 4 4 5 4 3 2 5 1 2 1 2

Int 7 11 9 5 3 7 10 10 7 8 12 10 4 7 4 3 7 6 3 6 4 5 6 17 3 0 2 1 0 3 7

Tackles 158 149 137 135 126 120 119 119 119 116 114 112 112 110 108 106 103

Sidney Peyton Aiden Dylan Jake Khalil Jamal Elijah Malik Justyn Bobby Darral Devin Mykelle Emmanual Brian Devin Semaj Jacob Shane Marcus Austin Shaun Tim Kymere Erick Brett Shug Marquel Frank Zane Owen Ford C.J. Austin Anthony Cameren Eugene Ben Ellison A.J. Cantorian Isaiah Jalen Michael Matt Kevin Julian Keshaun Zach Conner Ryan Darrien Ismail Nazir Matthew Jamie Connor Kedarius Jordan Tyler K’Maron Justin Peyton D’Mario Blake Ethan Josh Chase Shelton Cordell Robert Deandre John Micah Elliot Kaseem John Brennan Malik Matt Corey Steve Jamar Carlos Alex Andrew Allen Javis R.J. Cameron Jack Frank Jaylon Malik Gabe Davis Matthew Dominic Jonathan Kendrew Donta Ethan Breon Aaron Devin Jarrett Dixon Robert Kishawn Blake Joshua Berkley Richie Chad Chabari Drew Trent Stephen Armon Kendrec Ryan Brandon Jared Isaiah Cooper Kam Dale Kaiden Brandon Da’Meon Peyton Colby TK Ty Jakob Sam Baylen Nick Will Delon Stephen

Name Tyler Breon Derrick Mykelle John Shelton Emmanual Tomon Peyton Michael Justin Ford Devin Aaron Anthony Ellison Eugene Shug Jalen K’Maron Sam T.D. Shaun Josh Victor Bryce Jamal

Otiwu Woulard Jarrett Singleton Simpson Blakely Stewart Robertson Robinson Brinston Sheehan Porter Miller McDaniel Belmar Eberhardt Thomas Hayden Martin DeFreitas Webster Wagner Hunter Gary Faucette Montalvo Shepherd Frazier Broughton Robinson Ashley Pappoe Higgins Burress Brown Imbordino Carter Mafah Ellison Hubbard McCain Weems Pryor Pinkney Allen Andryusky Stipe McDuffie Hill Reed Artime Morrell Warner Abdul Sy Parker Arroyo Markham Davis Cornelius Vernon Patterson Mascoll Moore Lott Chavis Nagel Pickens Turner Combs Creighton Beal Byrd Hunt Harden Cummings Bagley Morris Haley Carasco Bell Ames DuBose Hall Wade Fumbah Petit Daniels Diaz Walker Sample Ness Finch Jones Washington Walker Markham Greenway Thomas Gipson Wynn Evans Wilson Dixon Brawley Stevenson Cole Yellott Cooper Miller Carroll Blackwell Boglin Ramos Clay Thomas Jordan Fowler Moye Williams Grady Weed Washington Taylor Dozier Simpson Jones Craig Smith Jones Williams Bergman Jenkins Chimedza Harris Brashear Wright Buchanan Blakely Choloh Smith Harwell

Vernon Dixon Brown McDaniel Dussling Combs Belmar Fox Moore Allen Mascoll Higgins Miller Anderson Imbordino Hubbard Mafah Frazier Pinkney Patterson Wright Roof Hunter Pickens Heyward Smith Stewart

Mill Creek Collins Hill GAC Archer Buford Collins Hill C. Gwinnett C. Gwinnett S. Gwinnett Shiloh Collins Hill Norcross Lanier Grayson Collins Hill N. Gwinnett GAC Brookwood Buford Brookwood Duluth Parkview Lanier C. Gwinnett Collins Hill Mtn. View Collins Hill Buford Mtn. View Brookwood Peachtree Ridge Grayson GAC Lanier Mtn. View Mill Creek Duluth C. Gwinnett Providence Grayson C. Gwinnett Brookwood Archer Norcross Lanier N. Gwinnett Wesleyan Shiloh Mtn. View Hebron Brookwood Archer Parkview Grayson Norcross Buford Dacula GAC Hebron Grayson Mill Creek Mtn. View S. Gwinnett Mill Creek Buford Brookwood Mtn. View GAC Mill Creek C. Gwinnett Duluth Norcross Peachtree Ridge Mill Creek Hebron C. Gwinnett C. Gwinnett Wesleyan Duluth Dacula Peachtree Ridge Dacula Hebron Mill Creek N. Gwinnett Shiloh Mtn. View Dacula Duluth Buford Shiloh Buford Archer Dacula Parkview Parkview GAC Grayson Duluth Mill Creek Norcross Archer Lanier Peachtree Ridge Grayson Norcross Norcross N. Gwinnett S. Gwinnett Mill Creek Mtn. View Buford GAC Mtn. View Peachtree Ridge S. Gwinnett N. Gwinnett GAC Parkview Parkview Norcross Wesleyan GAC Shiloh Lanier Buford Peachtree Ridge Buford Mtn. View Dacula Norcross Lanier N. Gwinnett Dacula Dacula Dacula Archer Peachtree Ridge Archer Archer N. Gwinnett Collins Hill Sacks School Mill Creek Peachtree Ridge Lanier Grayson Hebron C. Gwinnett Collins Hill Collins Hill Mill Creek Lanier S. Gwinnett GAC Lanier Mill Creek Mill Creek Grayson C. Gwinnett Buford Norcross Mtn. View Archer Buford Lanier GAC Mill Creek Grayson C. Gwinnett

13 13 13 13 15 13 12 11 10 10 12 11 12 13 13 10 13 10 14 10 9 9 11 12 10 9 12 11 10 10 12 14 13 11 9 14 10 10 9 12 12 10 13 12 12 10 12 10 9 9 10 13 10 14 11 14 10 13 9 13 12 10 10 12 15 10 9 14 12 10 10 9 11 14 10 9 11 12 10 10 12 10 10 14 10 10 9 10 10 14 10 15 13 10 10 10 13 14 10 13 9 13 12 11 14 11 11 10 10 13 9 14 14 8 12 10 9 13 9 10 10 12 13 10 12 15 11 13 9 10 11 12 9 8 10 10 10 11 12 12 10 12

102 100 100 100 97 97 97 97 96 96 95 93 89 89 87 86 86 85 84 83 83 82 82 78 78 77 76 74 73 73 72 72 70 69 69 69 69 69 69 68 68 68 68 68 67 67 67 67 66 66 65 65 64 64 64 63 63 63 63 62 62 62 62 62 62 61 61 61 61 61 61 59 58 58 58 58 57 57 57 57 57 57 56 56 56 56 55 55 55 54 54 53 53 53 53 53 53 52 52 52 52 52 51 50 50 49 49 49 49 49 49 47 47 46 45 45 45 45 45 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 43 43 43 42 42 42 41 41 41 41 40 40 40 40 40 40

Sacks 17 12 12 10.5 10 10 10 9 9 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6.5 6.5 6 6 6 6 6 6 5

Ernest Dareus Chris Cameron Blake Allen Brandon Micah Tyler Robert Caleb Donta Brandon Stephen Peyton Drew Brett Sidney Tim Cameren Brian Matthew Anthony Aby Malik Scott Marquel Connor Nigel Brennan Sam Alex Conner Guillermo Dale Monty Keshaun

Name Kishawn Cole Carlos Darrien Drew Da’Meon Aramis Sidney Chase Breon Nigel Nate DeMarco Jonathan Delon Chris Kendrew C.J. Juwuan Berkley Chad Demetrius Nigel Askri Julian Cade Ethan Malik Jonathan

Tiller Barnhill Martin Sample Chavis Daniels Dugger Bull Taylor Beal Auer Evans Washington Moye Bergman Jordan Shepherd Otiwu Gary Carter Eberhardt Parker Grant Okonji Carasco Thomas Broughton Markham Adams Haley Mitchell Fumbah Artime Luna Craig Montgomery Hill

Miller Mannion Wade Warner Aspinwall Williams Bryant Otiwu Turner Dixon Warrior Blackmon McInnis Gipson Smith Allen Wynn Burress Jones Boglin Clay Mason Adams Smith McDuffie Cash Wilson Washington Thompson

Grayson Norcross Grayson Shiloh Brookwood Dacula Archer Mill Creek Lanier Norcross Buford Archer GAC Parkview Lanier N. Gwinnett Collins Hill Mill Creek C. Gwinnett Duluth N. Gwinnett Buford Buford S. Gwinnett Dacula GAC Mtn. View GAC C. Gwinnett Duluth Grayson Shiloh Brookwood Brookwood Buford Norcross Mtn. View Interceptions School Mill Creek Wesleyan N. Gwinnett Parkview Wesleyan Norcross Archer Mill Creek Mill Creek Peachtree Ridge Peachtree Ridge Brookwood Dacula Mill Creek N. Gwinnett Norcross Norcross Lanier Lanier GAC Peachtree Ridge Grayson C. Gwinnett Collins Hill Shiloh N. Gwinnett Lanier Parkview Mtn. View

Punting Name School Jake Camarda Norcross Micah Bull Mill Creek Brooks Buce GAC Will VanPamelen Grayson Peachtree Ridge Connor Heyward Tyler Taylor Lanier Bounsavath Phanmanee Mtn. View Robert Snyder Collins Hill Grayson Fowler N. Gwinnett Devin Orr Parkview Seth Johnston S. Gwinnett Jordan Weaver Wesleyan Nick Chemielowicz Buford Will Banfield Brookwood Matthew Fritts Archer Noah Thomas Lanier Phillip Hoke Dacula Andrew Petit Mtn. View Henry Kim Providence Jallah Zeze C. Gwinnett Phillip Griffin Shiloh

Name Brenton Will Brooks Matthew Sam Zaniel Noah Cole Will Jordan Manuel Bernardo Mitchell Daniel Antonio Ty Luis Dawson Cam Jarrett Phillip Sean Mateo Nick Wylie Michael Nick

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4.5 4.5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3.5 3.5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Kicking School King Mill Creek VanPamelen Grayson Buce GAC Fritts Archer Glenn Collins Hill Phillips Peachtree Ridge Thomas Lanier Hanna Norcross Chandler Parkview Weaver Wesleyan Herrera N. Gwinnett Burgos Buford Berry Brookwood Garcia Buford Yin Dacula Booker Mtn. View Aguilar C. Gwinnett Newman S. Gwinnett Hall Hebron Burgos Buford Griffin Shiloh Henderson GAC Rengifo Wesleyan Chemielowicz Buford West Wesleyan Decu Lanier Rice Mill Creek

Interceptions 6 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Punts 62 54 25 36 64 31 10 64 53 30 35 31 23 50 39 12 57 20 43 33 39

FGM 19 8 12 6 9 6 5 7 6 6 5 0 5 1 5 2 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 1

Yds 2395 2042 932 1322 2337 1106 356 2247 1836 1037 1204 1064 777 1685 1313 402 1881 640 1303 1001 1065

FGA 27 12 16 8 13 10 10 10 9 11 10 0 9 5 9 5 3 3 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 1

XPM 62 75 49 60 37 45 39 30 32 31 25 36 20 30 16 18 20 16 17 16 7 7 7 7 6 5 2

Avg 38.6 37.8 37.3 36.7 36.5 35.7 35.6 35.1 34.6 34.6 34.4 34.3 33.8 33.7 33.7 33.5 33 32 30.3 30.3 27.3

XPA Pts 63 119 81 99 60 85 61 78 40 64 47 63 40 54 31 51 36 50 33 49 26 40 36 36 23 35 30 33 17 31 21 24 25 23 16 19 17 17 17 16 13 13 7 10 7 7 8 7 7 6 5 5 2 5

School Grayson Buford GAC Mill Creek Archer Lanier Wesleyan Peachtree Ridge Collins Hill Parkview C. Gwinnett Norcross N. Gwinnett Mtn. View Brookwood S. Gwinnett Hebron Dacula Shiloh Meadowcreek Duluth

Team offense Rush Yds Pass Yds Total Yds 3080 2708 5788 3811 1664 5475 2790 2899 5689 1953 2387 4340 2301 2656 4957 2498 1253 3751 2020 1981 4001 1432 1937 3369 2013 2438 4451 1613 2217 3830 1134 2869 4003 1508 1048 2556 1181 1635 2816 1477 1507 2984 902 1863 2765 1354 1554 2908 1921 922 2843 1953 557 2504 2410 695 1715 693 610 1303 586 904 1490

Total Pts 613 632 545 520 462 381 364 353 368 307 329 251 220 206 201 194 181 174 172 127 97

Ppg 43.8 42.1 38.9 37.1 35.5 31.8 30.3 29.4 28.3 27.9 27.4 22.8 22 20.6 20.1 19.4 18.1 17.4 17.2 14.1 9.7

School Buford Mill Creek Peachtree Ridge Grayson Archer Lanier Wesleyan Norcross GAC Collins Hill Dacula N. Gwinnett Mtn. View C. Gwinnett Parkview Shiloh Brookwood S. Gwinnett Meadowcreek

Team defense Rush Yds Pass Yds Total Yds 746 1296 2042 423 1985 2408 902 1337 2239 1004 2158 3162 838 1613 2451 692 922 1614 1397 960 2357 1218 1264 2482 1867 2024 3891 1160 1744 2904 756 1714 2470 995 1873 2868 1618 1467 3085 962 1081 2043 1485 1993 3478 641 407 1048 1728 2213 3941 1443 1918 3361 1172 936 2108

Total Pts 110 140 144 165 157 146 163 168 266 272 210 250 254 318 297 287 291 302 381

PPG 7.3 10 12 11.8 12.1 12.2 13.6 15.3 19 20.9 21 25 25.4 26.5 27 28.7 29.1 30.2 42.3

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•From Page 1B

Brown

that. He still dealt with that, let his parents be a good sounding board in that regard and when it was time to play for Lanier, he was truly focused on the Longhorns, and I think that’s what we’re most proud of.”

Brown is rated the No. 8 player in the country and the top player in Georgia by 247sports.com. He’s taken several unofficial visits to multiple schools and official visits to Alabama and Mississippi State already. He will visit his other three finalists in January before making his decision.

During the season, Brown’s mother, Martha Brown, handled the recruiting to allow him to focus on his senior season.

“My mom took care of all the recruiting during my football season,” he said. “I talked to coaches here and there and on the weekends when we would Lanier defender Derrick Brown (90) tackles Heritage’s Blade Reid (5) behind the line of scrimmage this season go (on visits), but most of at Lanier. (Photo: Craig Cappy) the time I’m just focused on what we’ve got to do here to win. playoffs. getting prepared physically “It took a lot of presThe surprisingly athletic to never take a play off sure off me during football Brown is also a star for the during his senior year. season and allowed me just Lanier basketball team.

“Just having a lot more to focus in on my senior Mobbs said that while endurance so I can go hard year.”

Brown’s ability to domion every play and just try With his outside distrac- nate inside is what made and dominate physically,” tions limited, Brown had the Longhorns’ 3-4 defen- he said on what he worked a stellar senior campaign. sive scheme click, Brown on most this summer.

He led the Longhorns to also showed the ability to Mobbs said the work a second straight Region get the outside and make was evident in Brown’s 8-AAAAA championship plays as well. play all season long. It and undefeated regular “If you’re not doublewas where his star player’s season. He teaming him, game grew the most during was named he’s going his career at Lanier.

Derrick is a the Gwinto make the “I think it was just on an special kid, nett Touchplay,” Mobbs every rep basis he learned because most down Club said. “Some- how to play hard on every guys of his statAthtlete times you rep,” Mobbs said. “I think ure are going of the think defenfor a big guy that’s 300 to take plays off Year and sive line-wise pounds as a sophomore, he or don’t have is the only that those was about 285 as a sophothe playmaking defensive guys are more, and there was some ability that he player to there to plug times he took plays off. As has. It’s really a be a U.S. and stop the a junior he was a lot better rare combinaArmy run inside, in that regard, and then this tion of size and All-Amerbut Derrick year as a senior I’m not sure quickness.” ican Bowl showed the he missed any reps as far as — Lanier coach Korey Mobbs Player of ability to playing his best. Derrick is the Year get pressure, a special kid, because most finalist. re-direct and guys of his stature are going He finished the year with make plays down field and to take plays off or don’t 106 tackles, 12 sacks and on the outside, really for have the playmaking ability an interception. He also no gain. Probably his most that he has. It’s really a rare played offense some, rush- impressive plays are quick combination of size and ing for a touchdown in the screens to the outside and quickness, and also pretty regular season and making the fact that he makes the good speed for a guy his an incredible leaping catch play on the outside shows size, that really allows him in the end zone for a score his athleticism.” to make plays that defensive against East Paulding in During last spring and linemen aren’t supposed to the first round of the state summer, Brown focused on make.”

“

•From Page 1B

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 5B

ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL Offensive player of the year: Major Bellamy, Central Gwinnett, Sr. Led Gwinnett County with 79 catches for 1,315 yards and 16 touchdowns Defensive player of the year: Derrick Brown, Lanier, Sr. Heavily recruited lineman had 106 tackles (82 solos), 42 tackles for losses, 12 sacks and 26 quarterback hurries Coach of the year: Shannon Jarvis, Mill Creek Led the Hawks to their first state semifinal appearance, the Region 7-AAAAAA title, a 10-0 regular season and a schoolrecord 13 wins OFFENSE First team • QB Davis Mills, GAC, Jr. Led Gwinnett with 2,821 passing yards and threw for 25 TDs, in addition to running for 561 yards and 14 more scores • RB Cameryn Brent, Grayson, Sr. Led Gwinnett with 1,719 rushing yards, 26 TDs; also had three TD catches • RB Jamyest Williams, Archer, Jr. Rushed for 1,339 yards, 23 TDs in addition to 31 tackles, 10 pass breakups and 2 interceptions on defense • WR Kyle Davis, Archer, Sr. Auburn commit had 54 catches for 805 yards, 6 TDs • WR Dorian Miles, Brookwood, Sr. Had a school-record 63 catches for 745 yards and seven TDs • WR Erron Price, Central Gwinnett, Sr. Had 60 receptions for 864 yards and eight TDs • OL Tyler Fannin, Mill Creek, Jr. Top prospect had a winning grade with 40 pancake blocks, played most offensive snaps of any Hawk • OL Jack Franklin, Mill Creek, Jr. Hawks’ leader in blocking grade also had 48 pancake blocks • OL Tony Gray, Central Gwinnett, Jr. Top D-I recruit with blocking grade of 86 percent, 27 pancake blocks • OL E.J. Price, Archer, Sr. Heavily recruited lineman had 88 percent grade, 34 pancake blocks, 18 extra effort blocks • OL Cooper Simpson, Buford, Sr. Army recruit graded 93 percent with 104 knockdown blocks, no sacks allowed • All-purpose: Edmond Graham, Mill Creek, Jr. 29 catches for 473 yards, 5 TDs, 34.6 yards per kickoff return with 2 TDs, also blocked a punt and two kicks • PK Brenton King, Mill Creek, Jr. Made a state-record 19 field goals on 27 attempts with a long of 51, as well as 62 of 63 PATs Second team QB Chase Brice, Grayson, Jr. RB Marcko Baity, Lanier, Jr. RB Martin Mangram, Buford, Sr. WR Tyler Fleetwood, Parkview, Sr. WR Canyon Slade, Collins Hill, Sr. WR Liam Sullivan, GAC, Jr. OL Robbie Bell, Mill Creek, Sr. OL Devin Cochran, GAC, Sr. OL Michael Faulkner, Collins Hill, Sr. OL Ethan Stokes, Dacula, Sr. OL Will Taylor, Grayson, Jr. All-purpose: Aramis Bryant, Archer, Sr. PK Will Chandler, Parkview, Sr. Third team QB Will Bearden, Archer, Sr.

RB Jordan Argilagos, Wesleyan, Sr. RB Jesse Brown, Brookwood, Sr. TE Ryan Carriere, Grayson, Sr. WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, North Gwinnett, Sr. WR Evan Sturgill, Grayson, Jr. OL Matthew Agnew, Dacula, Sr. OL Innis Claud, Buford, Sr. OL K’Maron Patterson, Mountain View, Sr. OL Dominic Taylor, Shiloh, Sr. OL Bruce Trigg, South Gwinnett, Sr. All-purpose: Ernest Tiller, Grayson, Sr. PK Brooks Buce, GAC, Jr. DEFENSE First team • DL Emmanuel Belmar, Collins Hill, Sr. Virginia Tech recruit had 87 tackles, 10 sacks • DL Tomon Fox, Collins Hill, Sr. UNC-bound defensive end had 114 tackles and nine sacks • DL Chris Martin, Grayson, Sr. Georgia Tech commit was a standout on offensive, defensive lines • DL Tyler Vernon, Mill Creek, Sr. Army commit tallied a Gwinnett Countybest 17 sacks and 62 tackles • LB Chris Allen, Norcross, Sr. Led Gwinnett with 158 tackles and had three interceptions • LB Robert Snyder, Collins Hill, Sr. Virginia commit ranked second in Gwinnett with 149 tackles • LB Denzel Wright, Grayson, Sr. Had 119 tackles, 17 tackles for losses and two interceptions • DB Kishawn Miller, Mill Creek, Sr. Shutdown cornerback had six interceptions, three of TDs, 14 pass breakups and 49 tackles • DB Isaiah Pryor, Archer, Jr. Ohio State recruit had 68 tackles, nine pass breakups • DB Dylan Singleton, Archer, Sr. Duke commit made 100 tackles, along with 25 catches for 347 yards, 5 TDs on offense • DB Nigel Warrior, Peachtree Ridge, Sr. Heavily recruited safety had three interceptions • P Jake Camarda, Norcross, Soph.

Punted 62 times for a Gwinnett-best average of 38.6 yards Second team DL Robert Beal, Norcross, Jr. DL Shug Frazier, Buford, Sr. DL Kobe Smith, Archer, Sr. LB Jakob Brashear, Dacula, Sr. LB Breon Dixon, Peachtree Ridge, Jr. LB Sidney Otiwu, Mill Creek, Sr. LB Leonard Warner, Brookwood, Jr. DB Adesola Abisoye, Grayson, Sr. DB Jarett Cole, Norcross, Sr. DB D’Angelo Gibbs, Peachtree Ridge, Jr. DB Jordan Mack, Wesleyan, Sr. P Micah Bull, Mill Creek, Sr. Third team DL Ford Higgins, GAC, Sr. DL Justin Mascoll, South Gwinnett, Soph.

DL Mykelle McDaniel, Grayson, Sr. DL Peyton Moore, Mill Creek, Sr. LB Nigel Adams, Central Gwinnett, Sr. LB Aaron Anderson, Mill Creek, Sr. LB Juwuan Jones, Lanier, Jr. LB Malik Robinson, South Gwinnett, Jr. LB T.D. Roof, Buford, Jr. DB C.J. Burress, Lanier, Jr. DB Julian McDuffie, Shiloh, Jr. DB Chase Turner, Mill Creek, Sr. P Connor Heyward, Peachtree Ridge, Jr.

Bellamy

he hasn’t changed at all.

He’s a quiet kid. He leads touchdown pass and an 87by example, but when he yard kickoff return. does say something he “Major Bellamy is just has the respect and the ear one of the best players of everybody. It doesn’t I’ve ever played with in matter how big and strong my life,” Central senior they are, Major Bellamy is quarterback Micah Maxey one of the most respected said. “He’s always gofootball players I’ve ever ing 110 percent no matter coached and that says a lot what. Whether it’s a game, about him with his stature. practice, school, the weight When he says something, room, whatever it is, he’s everybody listens. He’s a always doing his best. He’s different type of kid.” always going full-speed Despite his production no matter what. He might the last two seasons, Belbe a quiet kid, but when lamy is still overlooked by he’s on the field, he’s loud. the majority of colleges He’s a real humble kid because of his 5-foot-8, and I love him so much.

160-pound frame.

He’s like a brother to me. I He currently has ofhad a great year with him. fers from Georgia State, Western Carolina, Samford I wish I could play with and Tennessee State among him through college. He’s others. He plans to take one of the players that any his official visits in Janucoach would love to have. ary and then make up his Whatever school he goes mind. He’s eager for the to, I promise he’s going to chance to prove himself in do a lot of damage.”

Central Gwinnett’s Major Bellamy Jr. (2) slips through a tackle by Collins Hill’s Bobby Sheehan (7) during the season college.

Making Bellamy’s sen“I can’t wait to get to sational senior season even opener at Central Gwinnett High School in Lawrenceville. (Photo: Kyle Hess) college and play at the next more impressive is the fact level,” he said. “Because that he played in just 11 week against Archer but “I just had the mindset to players he’s ever coached. you love the most about I want to show everybody of Central’s 12 games. In returned for the remainder just finish the season out He’s also one of the him is that he goes about the seventh game of the of the season with soft cast strong.” most respected. his business. Out of all the that said my size would be a factor (they’re wrong). I season, he injured his left on his hand.

Head coach Todd Wof“Major is just a very, records that he’s broken hand against Grayson.

“It was tough, but I just ford said that Bellamy is very talented kid,” Wofand the success we’ve had use it as motivation and I just go out and play.”

He sat out the following played through it,” he said. one of the most talented ford said. “The thing that the last couple of years,

Gwinnett Daily Post

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6B • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

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Getting to Know … Will Cantrell

Will Cantrell is in his sixth year as the boys basketball head coach at Hebron Christian. He’s a Providence Christian grad and went on to play for Georgia College and State University before joining the coaching ranks.

In this installment of “Getting to Know …,” Cantrell talks to staff writer Christine Troyke about a variety of topics, including deciding in third grade he wanted to be a coach, backyard battles with his brother Adam, who is the baseball coach at Providence, and coming back from multiple knee injuries to play college basketball.

now, the way you want to, you’re forced to step back and look at things from a different perspective. And, holy cow, has it helped me as a coach.

One of our first meetings every season we tell them some sort of adversity is coming. The Bible is very clear in John when it talks about in this world, you will have trouble. I’ve never been through a season, playing or coaching, where we didn’t have some kind of adversity.

The really good teams find a way to take it in stride and adapt. But we need to be aware it’s not always going to be rainbows and candy canes.

There’s no manual for that, CT: Did you play but having been through sports other than basket- Will Cantrell, the boys basketball head coach at Hebron some adversity personally, ball growing up?

Christian, hugs his daughter, Joie, right, and son, Knox on it just helps me with my WC: Just basketball and a gameday at the Dacula private school. (Special Photo) empathy. Because a lot of baseball. And only baskettimes as a coach, we’re ball in college. I always human beings, we want to last time. My best friend, just kind of wanted to be challenge is figuring out win. A lot of times we can who is still my best friend what your body can and like my big brother and lose perspective as a coach. today, Isaac Health, hit the cannot do. It is what it is. that’s all he played.

Having been hurt helps me game-winning shot.

I’ve actually torn it two a little bit.

CT: Did you and Adam In college, we went to other times since then. I have good backyard the NCAA tournament. We just have poor knees. The CT: You guys are 8-2 battles? got to the Sweet 16, so we fourth one was right before (heading into the holiday WC: Oh, yeah, absowon a couple of games. my daughter was born. break). lutely. It was an interesting Both those games were just Like the day before.

WC: This team is really dynamic because he’s, outstanding.

CT: I’m sure your wife special to me because I’ve what, 7 ½ or eight years was pretty happy about known these kids since older than me. So for the CT: How did you dethat. seventh grade. I watched first half of my life, it cide on Georgia College?

WC: (laughing) Oh, them grow up. This is my wasn’t much of a chalWC: Honestly, it was yeah. Then I tore my right sixth year here and we lenge for him. But when process of elimination, not knee again about a year have truly built a feeder I got to be about 13 or so, on my part. Going into my and a half ago. All playsystem. We start investing the games got a lot more senior year, I had probably ing basketball. I just can’t in these kids when they’re interesting. He was obvifive or six different schools quit it. in sixth grade and we don’t ously a lot older than me, that were seriously talkgo out and recruit. If a kid and bigger than me, but the ing to me that fall. Once I CT: At three torn shows up, we’re going to games got more physical got hurt (ACL), almost all ACLs, do you wonder if invest in those kids and and more interesting. Reof them wanted me to go you should keep playing? we’re going to get the most ally, from 14, 15, 16, they to prep school — except WC: I did. I’m a very out of them. It’s a lot of were really fun.

Georgia College. I didn’t goal-oriented person. That fun. Especially this year.

CT: Is it fair to assume want to go to prep school; comes from by parents I’ve got eight seniors. One that when it was basketit just didn’t appeal to me. and my brothers and sister. of whom is kind of new. ball, you won?

Georgia College gave me They’re all very motivated His family moved from WC: Nah, I mean, see a shot and still wanted me people. It was common in Alabama when his dad that’s the thing, he’s a to come. I did, and it was our house to set goals — was transferred. Almost evpretty big dude and he’s a such a blessing. I love it. academically and athletieryone else has been here good athlete. So he could It was amazing. I loved cally. since seventh grade. beat me up pretty well. my teammates. I loved my I had a goal of playing There’s a connection CT: He couldn’t foul coach. I mean, it was hard. college basketball. I just there that can only come out with no referees It wasn’t easy at all, but wanted to make it happen. when you invest over time there. man, it was a lot of fun. I You have to adjust your in people.

WC: (laughing) Right. don’t regret that at all. goals when things hapThe thing that really pen that are outside your CT: Coaching was the helped me when it came to CT: You injured your control. I had to adjust my goal when you went to my development, from the knee again, right, and goals a little bit in terms of college? time I was about 11, when didn’t get to play for a what I wanted to accomWC: Coaching’s been I finally started showing while? plish while playing. That the goal since third grade. some signs of possibly WC: I hurt my knee was tough, too. You can’t (laughing) I can tell you being pretty good, he right before senior year of take three years off and ex- where I was sitting. I was would always take me to high school, missed all of pect to be able to play at a in Ms. Miller’s class on the wherever they were playbasketball and rehabbed re- high level. But I came back left-hand side of the room ing pickup with all of his ally hard. I loved baseball, and I contributed where I about three desks back. I friends. So I was always in so I was going to try to could. I was a great teamjust remember thinking, the gym somewhere, going play baseball that spring. mate, and I worked my tail “I’m going to be a coach.” against guys who were The week I was (medically off.

I know that’s weird. But I seven or eight years older cleared), I was doing some I knew I was going to be knew I was going to be a than me. I had to adapt baseball drills during a a coach one day so I was coach since third grade. quickly. And when you’re normal practice and just re- just happy to be there, to running full court, it’s a tore it. Took a wrong step tell you the truth, to soak CT: What was your little different than just and missed all of baseball up as much information as first job out of college? playing one-on-one. I had season.

I could.

WC: At Monroe Area a little bit better outcome That’s a major reason After the third one, it High School, I was the when it was going up and most colleges wanted me was to the point where I head assistant under Ron down like that. But I was to go to prep school — I knew exactly what I was Garren. He also let me really grateful for that. had torn my knee twice getting ready to go through coach the JV boys there. in the matter of about 10 and I knew I could make it That was a huge blessing CT: What is the best months. through. for a number of reasons. game you remember as a But Georgia College The other thing is, I just One, I had just gotten player? was still there for me. I love basketball. I love bemarried and I needed a job WC: My senior year, I rehabbed my whole fresh- ing around it. (laughing). My wife and got hurt. But our Senior man year as a redshirt.

I saved for a whole year Night, even though I didn’t Then the second week of CT: It must also help because we knew there was play a second, it was a lot practice my sophomore now as a coach, undergoing to be this in-between of fun. We played Dacula year, I tore the other one. standing what your play- stage where neither one and we were down and Essentially I missed ers might go through. of us was going to have a came back to win. It was three straight years. The WC: Undoubtedly. job. We got married and I just a lot of fun to be a part hardest part was, mentally, It’s all about perspective. had six months of student of. My coach let me dress I was just as sharp as ever. We’re so myopic in high teaching left and she had out that game. I wasn’t I was at every practice. I school. The here and the a year left of school. We going to play because I was at every team function. now. So when you do get were engaged for a year wasn’t medically cleared, So I was soaking up all this injured and you’re not and that whole year we but he let me dress out one information. The biggest able to do the here and saved every penny we

could. We didn’t turn the heat on the entire first year.

Not once.

CT: I hope it wasn’t a cold year.

WC: (laughing) Oh, man. It was miserable. I remember I would go to sleep with two pairs of socks, two sweatpants, a hoodie and a sock hat on.

We had this little space heater in our room.

CT: You start weighing how badly you need to get up for something?

WC: How bad do I really want this water?

But right after my student teaching, I got a job with Ron and I’m so much in debt to him. He showed me the ropes. He didn’t hold back anything in terms of information and things that would be helpful. I’m so grateful for him. He gave me my first job.

I did that for three years and felt like I was ready and wanted to take over my own program. My sister taught here and told me there was an opening.

CT: At one point, did Adam try to talk you into taking the job at Providence when it was open?

WC: It was shortly after I was hired here.

CT: He hinted …?

WC: (chuckles) Yeah, his hints aren’t really hints.

There’s not much beating around the bush with that guy.

But that’s appealing to a degree just because that’s my alma mater and I love it. They invested so much in me and my family. It’s a great place. But I had just started here, and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt this is where the Lord wanted me. This was the goal, to go somewhere established, but I wanted to build something.

We had so much work to do here — and we’re not even close to being done.

But my wife and I look back all the time and think, look how far the program has come in six years just in terms of expectations.

But my brother is my best friend. If it hadn’t been for Adam, I wouldn’t have even thought about it.

CT: Did you meet your wife (Catherine) in college?

WC: No, we started dating in high school. We met at Providence. I was 16 and she was 15. The rest is history.

CT: Did she go to GCSU? WC: No, she went to Georgia. We dated all through college. We kind of just knew we were going to get married for a long, long time.

CT: When you start dating that young, do you have to be driven to your first date by a parent?

WC: (laughing) No, I had just gotten my license.

She lived far away. She grew up in Cumming. I lived in Lilburn. So it was like 40 minutes. Honestly, if we were going to go on a date, it had to be early. Because I had to drive home 45 minutes.

CT: You’re doing the 4 p.m. early bird special for dinner.

WC: Exactly. One of our first dates, we went to La Cazuela by her house.

We went there at like 5:30.

We went to eat and then I’m not sure we were able to do much else. I dropped her off, said “Goodnight” and that was it because I had to get home.

CT: You have two kids?

WC: We do. A daughter, Joie, and she’s 4. Our son Knox is 3. They’re absolutely beautiful. They’re my pride and joy. By far.

CT: How did you decide on names?

WC: Cat had this idea for Knox forever. So that wasn’t much of a debate.

The only thing I had to say about that was that his name would be William. Will has been in our family for a long, long time. It was my granddad’s name, my dad’s name, my name. My son needed to be William, but we call him Knox.

Joie, when Cat was pregnant, Joie was just a kicker.

She was jumping around all the time. So we thought about a baby kangaroo at some point and they call them joeys. So we said that’s a cute name.

CT: If you could play golf on any course with any foresome, where and who would it be?

WC: I’d definitely play at Pebble Beach. Definitely. The other three, though, I think it would be Bill Murray, Francis Chan and Chevy Chase. I think that would be the foresome. I think all of them are hilarious, just in different ways.

I think it’d just be a lot of fun.

CT: What kind of music do you usually listen to?

WC: Currently, I’m a lot more into worship music like Jesus Culture. I’m actually very eclectic when it comes to music. I like everything. My all-time favorite band is Pearl Jam. Period. My brother and I have seen Pearl Jam play a bunch of times. If I had to have one CD, it’d be Pearl Jam, probably “Ten,” although I like a lot of the other ones.

CT: Any TV shows you try not to miss?

WC: We’re in this binge watching thing. We love “The Blacklist.” We’ll put the kids down around 8 and sit down and watch until midnight. We’ll do that for a week until we’re so worn out we can’t do it.

We loved “24” when it was on. I loved “The Walking Dead,” too. My wife, not so much, but I liked it.

CT: Any favorite vacation spots?

WC: We’ve gone to St. Augustine every year of my life. So for 32 years, every year, I’ve been to St. Augustine.

CT: That’s an impressive streak.

WC: We love going down there. If I had to go somewhere else though, it’d be where we went on our honeymoon — St. Lucia.

SPORTS AT A GLANCE Football National Football League

AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA New England 12 .. 2 .. 0 ..857 ..435 ..269 N.Y. Jets ......... 9 .. 5 .. 0 ..643 ..344 ..272 Buffalo............ 6 .. 8 .. 0 ..429 ..341 ..336 Miami ............. 5 .. 9 .. 0 ..357 ..278 ..361 South W L T Pct PF PA Houston ......... 7 .. 7 .. 0 ..500 ..275 ..301 Indianapolis ... 6 .. 8 .. 0 ..429 ..285 ..372 Jacksonville ... 5 .. 9 .. 0 ..357 ..343 ..380 Tennessee ..... 3 11 .. 0 . .214 ..269 ..359 North W L T Pct PF PA Cincinnati ..... 11 .. 3 .. 0 ..786 ..378 ..243 Pittsburgh....... 9 .. 5 .. 0 ..643 ..378 ..287 Baltimore ....... 4 10 .. 0 ..286 ..292 ..360 Cleveland ....... 3 11 .. 0 . .214 ..253 ..387 West W L T Pct PF PA Denver ......... 10 .. 4 .. 0 . .714 ..308 ..259 Kansas City ... 9 .. 5 .. 0 ..643 ..365 ..257 Oakland ......... 6 .. 8 .. 0 ..429 ..319 ..356 San Diego ...... 4 10 .. 0 ..286 ..280 ..348 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA

Washington .... 7 .. 7 .. 0 ..500 ..316 ..332 N.Y. Giants ..... 6 .. 8 .. 0 ..429 ..373 ..358 Philadelphia ... 6 .. 8 .. 0 ..429 ..318 ..362 Dallas............. 4 10 .. 0 ..286 ..246 ..324 South W L T Pct PF PA Carolina ....... 14 .. 0 .. 0 1.000 ..449 ..278 Atlanta ........... 7 .. 7 .. 0 ..500 ..302 ..312 Tampa Bay ..... 6 .. 8 .. 0 ..429 .. 311 ..353 New Orleans .. 5 .. 9 .. 0 ..357 ..350 ..432 North W L T Pct PF PA Green Bay.... 10 .. 4 .. 0 . .714 ..347 ..265 Minnesota ...... 9 .. 5 .. 0 ..643 ..296 ..272 Detroit ............ 5 .. 9 .. 0 ..357 ..302 ..363 Chicago ......... 5 .. 9 .. 0 ..357 ..289 ..352 West W L T Pct PF PA Arizona ........ 12 .. 2 .. 0 ..857 ..445 ..269 Seattle............ 9 .. 5 .. 0 ..643 ..370 ..248 St. Louis ......... 6 .. 8 .. 0 ..429 ..241 ..294 San Francisco 4 10 .. 0 ..286 ..202 ..339 Thursday San Diego at Oakland, late Saturday Washington at Philadelphia, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday New England at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Cleveland at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Indianapolis at Miami, 1 p.m.

San Francisco at Detroit, 1 p.m.

Dallas at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Chicago at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Carolina at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Jacksonville at New Orleans, 4:05 p.m.

St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.

Green Bay at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.

N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

Monday Cincinnati at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

NCAA Bowl Glance Dec. 19 RAYCOM MEDIA CAMELLIA BOWL (Montgomery, Alabama) Appalachian State 31, Ohio 29 R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL (New Orleans, Louisiana) Louisiana Tech 47, Arkansas State 28 GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL (Albuquerque, New Mexico) Arizona 45, New Mexico 37 ROYAL PURPLE LAS VEGAS BOWL (Las Vegas, Nevada) Utah 35, Brigham Young 28 AIR FORCE RESERVE CELEBRATION BOWL (Atlanta) North Carolina A&T 41, Alcorn State 34 AUTONATION CURE BOWL (Orlando, Florida) San Jose State 27, Georgia State 16

Monday, Dec. 21 MIAMI BEACH BOWL (Miami, Florida) Western Kentucky 45, South Florida 35 Tuesday, Dec. 22 FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL (Boise, Idaho) Akron 23, Utah State 21 MARMOT BOCA RATON BOWL (Boca Raton, Florida) Toledo 32, Temple 17 Wednesday, Dec. 23 SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL (San Diego, California) Boise State 55, Northern Illinois 7 GODADDY BOWL (Mobile, Alabama) Georgia Southern 58, Bowling Green 27 Thursday, Dec. 24 POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL (Nassau) Middle Tennessee vs Western Michigan, late HAWAI’I BOWL (Honolulu, Hawaii) San Diego State vs Cincinnati, late Saturday, Dec. 26 ST. PETERSBURG BOWL (St. Petersburg, Florida) Connecticut vs Marshall 11 a.m. NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL (Bronx, New York) Indiana vs Duke 3:30 p.m. CAMPING WORLD INDEPENDENCE BOWL (Shreveport, Louisiana) Tulsa vs Virginia Tech 5:45 p.m.

FOSTER FARMS BOWL (Santa Clara, California) UCLA vs Nebraska 9:15 p.m.

HYUNDAI SUN BOWL (El Paso, Texas)

Miami vs Washington State 2 p.m.

ZAXBY’S HEART OF DALLAS BOWL (Dallas, Texas) Washington vs Southern Mississippi 2:20 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 28 MILITARY BOWL PRESENTED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN (Annapolis, Maryland) Pittsburgh vs Navy 2:30 p.m.

QUICK LANE BOWL (Detroit, Michigan) Central Michigan vs Minnesota 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29 LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL (Fort Worth, Texas) California vs Air Force 2 p.m. RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL (Orlando, Florida) North Carolina vs Baylor 5:30 p.m.

NOVA HOME LOANS ARIZONA BOWL (Tucson, Arizona) Nevada vs Colorado State 7:30 p.m. ADVOCARE V100 TEXAS BOWL (Houston, Texas) Louisiana State vs Texas Tech 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 30 HOLIDAY BOWL (San Diego, California) Southern California vs Wisconsin 10:30 p.m. BIRMINGHAM BOWL (Birmingham, Alabama) Auburn vs Memphis Noon BELK BOWL (Charlotte, North Carolina) North Carolina State vs Mississippi State 3:30 p.m. FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL (Nashville, Tennessee) Texas A&M vs Louisville 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 31 CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL (Miami Gardens, Florida) Oklahoma vs Clemson 4 p.m. GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL (Arlington, Texas) Michigan State vs Alabama 8 p.m. CHICK-FILA PEACH BOWL (Atlanta, Georgia) Houston vs Florida State Noon Friday, Jan. 1 BATTLEFROG FIESTA BOWL (Glendale, Arizona) Notre Dame vs Ohio State 1 p.m. ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL (Pasadena, California) Stanford vs Iowa 5 p.m. ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL (New Orleans, Louisiana) Oklahoma State vs Mississippi 8:30 p.m. BUFFALO WILD WINGS CITRUS BOWL (Orlando, Florida) Michigan vs Florida 1 p.m. OUTBACK BOWL (Tampa, Florida) Northwestern vs Tennessee Noon Saturday, Jan. 2 MOTEL 6 CACTUS BOWL (Phoenix, Arizona) West Virginia vs Arizona State 10:15 p.m. VALERO ALAMO BOWL (San Antonio, Texas) Oregon vs Texas Christian 6:45 p.m. TAXSLAYER BOWL (Jacksonville, Florida) Penn State vs Georgia Noon AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL (Memphis, Tennessee) Kansas State vs Arkansas 3:20 p.m.

gwinnettdailypost.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 7B

Fans should enjoy the Frazier show while they can The greatest of times comes when the little man counts in sport. Georgia’s J. J. Frazier, the small town ant who can move the rubber tree plant, is the most fun-to-watch Bulldog player who has played Dr. James Naismith’s game in my time in Athens.

I haven’t seen ‘em all, but I’ve seen enough. With an enlarged competitor’s heart, the Glenville Gnat is as elusive as the eel and as dead-eye as Ozark Ike ever was.

Containing him is like holding a handful of quicksilver. Frazier can find the basket in the trees (count ’em, Georgia Tech’s multiple towers who played here last Saturday: 6-foot-7, 6-foot-9, 6-foot-8, 6-foot8, 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-10); whose production paled when measured against the “Gnat,” who scored 35 points with four assists, which meant that he had a hand in 43 of Georgia’s 75 points.

What the Gnat did was spectacular. And he got little help from his own fans, who yawned until the second half when Frazier was so inspirational, he got the Bulldogs spectators off their duffs, all by himself.

Why, one asks, would Georgia fans not get into the rival game in a series

Loran Smith in which the home team had not won in four years?

From the opening tip? If you are one of those and you should bump into Frazier about town, extend a hand of congratulations and say, “I gave no help.”

Most shooting guard performances, historically, are measured against the remarkable play of Zippy Morocco, who played football and basketball for the Bulldogs in 1951-53.

Morocco was a set shot artist. His style would not connect today. However, all you can be is the best of your time. Zippy (510, 168) in his signature season led the conference in scoring in 1953 with 590 points, which included a 38 point scoring effort to beat Tennessee. Ole times still talk about that game in Knoxville. Guess who the big man in the conference was that season? None other than the 6-foot-9

Georgia Bulldogs guard J.J. Frazier (30) dribbles during the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Stegeman Coliseum. The Bulldogs beat the Yellow Jackets 75-61. (Photo: Mike Zarrilli-USA TODAY Sports)

Bob Petit who played nine years in the NBA after an all-star career at LSU. When Zippy was hot, he could burn the nets.

There have been some other nights to remember in Georgia basketball, namely Feb. 27, 1984, when Vern Fleming, who

went on to win an Olympic Gold Medal and played 13 years in the NBA, put up 44 points on Vanderbilt; Litterial Green, Feb. 2, 1991, scored 38 in a losing effort against Kentucky.

Nonetheless, Frazier gets my vote as Georgia’s most exciting player, one

GWINNETT TOP SWIMMING & DIVING PERFORMANCES Top performances of the 2015-16 season by Gwinnett County athletes and relays (distances in yards): GIRLS 50 freestyle 1. Chantal Jordan, North Gwinnett, 24.39 2. Maddy Cohen, Brookwood, 24.45 3. Sarah Gries, Norcross, 25.03 4. Haley Arner, Collins Hill, 25.29 4. Rebecca Erwin, Duluth, 25.29 6. Katherine Parker, Mill Creek, 25.35 7. Erin Scott, Brookwood, 25.43 8. Holland Danskin, Norcross, 25.52 9. Sydney Weissman, Wesleyan, 25.54 10. Marianne Allard, North Gwinnett, 25.68 100 freestyle 1. Maddy Cohen, Brookwood, 53.53 2. Marianne Allard, North Gwinnett, 54.38 3. Haley Arner, Collins Hill, 54.51 4. Klaudia Holt, Peachtree Ridge, 54.67 5. Chantal Jordan, North Gwinnett, 54.75 6. Rebecca Erwin, Duluth, 54.79 7. Hannah Mahaffey, Archer, 54.87 8. Leila Taylor, Brookwood, 55.05 9. Holland Danskin, Norcross, 55.23 10. Maddie Cordle, Brookwood, 55.50 200 freestyle 1. Haley Arner, Collins Hill, 1:53.59 2. Tegan Sweeney, Brookwood, 1:57.74 3. Klaudia Holt, Peachtree Ridge, 1:58.61 4. Maddie Cordle, Brookwood, 1:59.11 5. Megan Jones, North Gwinnett, 2:00.61 6. Ashley Neas, Duluth, 2:00.68 7. Emma Claire Cohen, Brookwood, 2:01.24 8. Holland Danskin, Norcross, 2:02.42 9. Katherine Parker, Mill Creek, 2:02.48 10. Julia Rummins, North Gwinnett, 2:02.88 500 freestyle 1. Haley Arner, Collins Hill, 5:02.21 2. Ashley Neas, Duluth, 5:12.81 3. Klaudia Holt, Peachtree Ridge, 5:13.91 4. Erin Scott, Brookwood, 5:16.54 5. Marianne Allard, North Gwinnett, 5:17.52 6. Megan Jones, North Gwinnett, 5:19.55 7. Emma Claire Cohen, Brookwood, 5:19.77 8. Katherine Parker, Mill Creek, 5:24.53 9. Devan Sweeney, Brookwood, 5:24.73 10. Lydia Evans, Mill Creek, 5:26.45 100 backstroke 1. Maddy Cohen, Brookwood, 58.42 2. Katherine Parker, Mill Creek, 58.81 3. Devan Sweeney, Brookwood, 59.92 4. Hannah Mahaffey, Archer, 1:01.30 5. Riha Moss, Peachtree Ridge, 1:02.02 6. Leila Taylor, Brookwood, 1:02.05 7. Juliana Carey, Brookwood, 1:02.36 8. Sarah Gries, Norcross, 1:02.53 9. Joyce Kim, North Gwinnett, 1:02.71 10. Emma Claire Cohen, Brookwood, 1:02.75 100 breaststroke 1. Erin Scott, Brookwood, 1:07.03 2. Riha Moss, Peachtree Ridge, 1:08.87 3. Marianne Allard, North Gwinnett, 1:09.03 4. Rebecca Erwin, Duluth, 1:10.61 5. Lydia Evans, Mill Creek, 1:11.50 6. Megan Jones, North Gwinnett, 1:11.80 7. Tegan Sweeney, Brookwood, 1:11.85 8. Chantal Jordan, North Gwinnett, 1:12.19 9. Holland Danskin, Norcross, 1:12.41 10. Valerie Lin, North Gwinnett, 1:12.62 100 butterfly 1. Devan Sweeney, Brookwood, 58.54 2. Hannah Mahaffey, Archer, 59.37 3. Haley Arner, Collins Hill, 59.63 4. Katherine Parker, Mill Creek, 1:00.01 5. Marianne Allard, North Gwinnett, 1:00.77 6. Tegan Sweeney, Brookwood, 1:00.88 7. Abigail Duncan, North Gwinnett, 1:01.17 8. Isabelle Andrews, Mill Creek, 1:01.54 9. Nyota Edjidjimo, Shiloh, 1:02.22 10. Sarah Gries, Norcross, 1:02.38 200 individual medley 1. Haley Arner, Collins Hill, 2:09.67 2. Devan Sweeney, Brookwood, 2:10.26 3. Marianne Allard, North Gwinnett, 2:10.38 4. Erin Scott, Brookwood, 2:14.03

5. Abigail Duncan, North Gwinnett, 2:14.19 6. Riha Moss, Peachtree Ridge, 2:14.84 7. Tegan Sweeney, Brookwood, 2:15.54 8. Leila Taylor, Brookwood, 2:16.14 9. Katherine Parker, Mill Creek, 2:17.47 10. Holland Danskin, Norcross, 2:18.21 200 freestyle relay 1. Brookwood, 1:40.37 2. North Gwinnett, 1:40.95 3. Norcross, 1:41.18 4. Mill Creek, 1:43.87 5. Parkview, 1:44.55 6. Collins Hill, 1:44.89 7. Duluth, 1:45.82 8. Grayson, 1:49.07 9. Archer, 1:49.89 10. Peachtree Ridge, 1:51.27 200 medley relay 1. Brookwood, 1:49.06 2. North Gwinnett, 1:53.46 3. Mill Creek, 1:54.38 4. Norcross, 1:55.68 5. Peachtree Ridge, 1:57.27 6. Parkview, 1:57.53 7. Grayson, 1:58.95 8. Duluth, 1:59.22 9. Collins Hill, 1:59.26 10. Archer, 2:00.53 400 free relay 1. Brookwood, 3:39.89 2. Mill Creek, 3:47.79 3. Norcross, 3:49.13 4. Collins Hill, 3:49.18 5. North Gwinnett, 3:50.02 6. Parkview, 3:51.28 7. Peachtree Ridge, 3:52.17 8. Duluth, 3:55.27 9. Grayson, 4:09.03 10. Mountain View, 4:19.63 6-Dive 1. Abby Gardner, Wesleyan, 284.85 2. Ansley Feininger, Wesleyan, 271.20 3. Sharon Holland, Wesleyan, 270.00 4. Kate McCahan, Wesleyan, 247.45 5. Ambria D’Alonzo, Mill Creek, 232.85 6. Markiyah Davis, South Gwinnett, 231.60 7. Lyle Hoge, Norcross, 228.95 8. Callie Davis, Wesleyan, 222.25 9. Emily Hamil, Dacula, 218.85 10. Lauren Henderson, Dacula, 218.30 BOYS 50 freestyle 1. Eric Strickland, Norcross, 20.83 2. Alex Taylor, Brookwood, 21.07 3. Jacob Finco, Parkview, 22.02 4. Jacob Rees, Brookwood, 22.03 5. Taylor Delk, Collins Hill, 22.04 6. Andrew Huenniger, Brookwood, 22.19 7. Arion Solomon, Norcross, 22.21 8. Matthew Shelton, North Gwinnett, 22.38 9. J.P. Baselj, North Gwinnett, 22.64 10. Jordan Thompson, Peachtree Ridge, 22.81 100 freestyle 1. Eric Strickland, Norcross, 47.02 2. Alex Taylor, Brookwood, 47.34 3. Taylor Delk, Collins Hill, 47.46 4. Jacob Rees, Brookwood, 48.37 5. Andrew Huenniger, Brookwood, 48.43 6. Christopher Pierce, Mill Creek, 48.68 7. Arion Solomon, Norcross, 48.79 8. Matthew Shelton, North Gwinnett, 48.86 9. Jacob Finco, Parkview, 49.12 10. Tyler Mazurek, North Gwinnett, 49.66 200 freestyle 1. Alex Taylor, Brookwood, 1:44.75 2. Andrew Huenniger, Brookwood, 1:45.99 3. Andrew Winton, Collins Hill, 1:46.48 4. Eric Strickland, Norcross, 1:46.63 5. Tyler Mazurek, North Gwinnett, 1:46.77 6. Wesley Hobbs, Collins Hill, 1:47.32 7. Christopher Pierce, Mill Creek, 1:49.05 8. Keegan Walsh, Brookwood, 1:49.11 9. Joshua Fountain, Parkview, 1:49.47 10. Jacob Rees, Brookwood, 1:50.07 500 freestyle 1. Andrew Winton, Collins Hill, 4:45.55 2. Taylor Delk, Collins Hill, 4:45.65 3. Christopher Pierce, Mill Creek, 4:48.45 4. Joshua Fountain, Parkview, 4:48.57 5. Tyler Mazurek, North Gwinnett, 4:48.83

6. Bradley Dunham, Dacula, 4:49.77 7. Alex Taylor, Brookwood, 4:50.78 8. Nicholas Mahoney, North Gwinnett, 4:51.41 9. Matthew Albers, Brookwood, 4:51.52 10. Collins Sainovich, Mill Creek, 4:52.86 100 backstroke 1. Taylor Delk, Collins Hill, 50.75 2. Alex Taylor, Brookwood, 51.31 3. Andrew Winton, Collins Hill, 53.75 4. Wesley Hobbs, Collins Hill, 54.86 5. Grayson Beckham, Brookwood, 55.01 6. Keegan Walsh, Brookwood, 55.14 7. Christopher Pierce, Mill Creek, 55.17 8. Aidan Stoffle, Brookwood, 56.18 9. Xzavier Reiter, Mountain View, 57.13 10. Driscoll Crabbe, Collins Hill, 57.15 100 breaststroke 1. Andrew Winton, Collins Hill, 59.51 2. Alex Taylor, Brookwood, 1:01.40 3. Christopher Pierce, Mill Creek, 1:02.90 4. Cameron Ogden, Collins Hill, 1:03.25 5. Victor Jemison, Parkview, 1:03.57 6. Juan Rodriguez, Mill Creek, 1:03.89 7. Collins Sainovich, Mill Creek, 1:04.31 8. Sean Kang, North Gwinnett, 1:04.37 9. Alec Young, Archer, 1:04.40 10. Wesley Hobbs, Collins Hill, 1:05.17 100 butterfly 1. Andrew Huenniger, Brookwood, 52.07 2. Wesley Hobbs, Collins Hill, 53.05 3. Eric Strickland, Norcross, 53.62 4. Drew Grier, Brookwood, 54.00 5. Arion Solomon, Norcross, 54.16 6. Maliq Williams, Peachtree Ridge, 54.55 7. Matthew Shelton, North Gwinnett, 54.70 8. Juan Rodriguez, Mill Creek, 54.95 9. Christopher Pierce, Mill Creek, 55.05 10. Jimmy Fung, Duluth, 55.06 200 individual medley 1. Andrew Winton, Collins Hill, 1:54.76 2. Taylor Delk, Collins Hill, 1:55.99 3. Alex Taylor, Brookwood, 1:56.87 4. Christopher Pierce, Mill Creek, 2:00.07 5. Jacob Rees, Brookwood, 2:02.68 6. Driscoll Crabbe, Collins Hill, 2:02.74 7. Tyler Mazurek, North Gwinnett, 2:02.93 8. Wesley Hobbs, Collins Hill, 2:02.99 9. Joshua Fountain, Parkview, 2:03.03 10. Alex Norcini, Parkview, 2:03.38 200 freestyle relay 1. Brookwood, 1:29.33 2. Norcross, 1:30.28 3. Collins Hill, 1:30.59 4. North Gwinnett, 1:30.66 5. Mill Creek, 1:30.94 6. Parkview, 1:31.87 7. Peachtree Ridge, 1:32.06 8. Duluth, 1:35.52 9. Dacula, 1:35.77 10. Mountain View, 1:39.03 200 medley relay 1. Brookwood, 1:37.89 2. Collins Hill, 1:38.54 3. North Gwinnett, 1:41.44 4. Mill Creek, 1:41.97 5. Parkview, 1:43.03 6. Duluth, 1:45.85 7. Norcross, 1:47.10 8. Peachtree Ridge, 1:47.57 9. Archer, 1:47.86 10. Dacula, 1:48.65 400 freestyle relay 1. Brookwood, 3:16.56 2. Collins Hill, 3:17.40 3. Norcross, 3:17.48 4. Parkview, 3:20.88 5. Mill Creek, 3:22.79 6. North Gwinnett, 3:22.95 7. Peachtree Ridge, 3:23.22 8. Archer, 3:33.99 9. Dacula, 3:35.07 10. Duluth, 3:37.07 6-Dive 1. Peter Smithson, Collins Hill, 319.60 2. Griffin Ramsey, Norcross, 305.20 3. Anthony Albanese, Lanier, 266.95 4. Chauncey Robinson, Collins Hill, 250.90 5. Benjamin Parker, Collins Hill, 249.30 6. Benjamin Gross, Norcross, 249.15 7. Zavier Barker, Parkview, 233.60 8. Austin Wilkey, Meadowcreek, 232.40 9. Maxwell Pate, Parkview, 224.30 10. Grant Sauer, Wesleyan, 220.95

who arches a long threepointer and hustles back on defense, eager, buoyant and bent on doing his part when it is time to confront the scoring objective of the opponent. Frazier knows he must help his team on defense. He must make the rubber burn when the ball is not in his hands. His aim is to be a complete player not just a three-point specialist.

Our little man had a steal and rendered only one turnover, but that faux pass came about when he was stricken with cramps in the final minute of play. Even on one leg he was difficult to contain.

Frazier is the only player in the country under six feet with two double digit rebound games (11 versus Seton Hall last year and 10 against Winthrop recently).

This (Tech game) was a performance to bronze.

It could well be the most significant victory in Mark Fox’s career. It should lead to greater things. Time always determines that. It is not lost on basketball advocates, that this is potentially Fox’s best team and best opportunity. He has big time recruits committed, and while his recruits might not turn any heads in Lexington, he is making noteworthy progress.

Patience, hard work and

coaching savvy are among the assets he has used to get to this point. To go further, he needs more talent. The basketball railbird in Athens are optimistic about that.

Maybe the students will return in January with a bent on helping Frazier and his buddies thrive in SEC competition. If you want to enjoy a night out this winter, come watch Frazier, the Glennville Gnat, perform. When he’s hot, he puts on a show you don’t want to miss.

Frazier is Georgia’s most heralded left handed shooting guard. I can remember Jimmy Pitts and Ronnie Hoage, but their competition was not as sensational as it is today. That’s why I recommend Georgia basketball to you. Frazier has something in common with Sandy Koufas, Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, Ramses, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Ben Franklin, Marilyn Monroe, Opra Winfrey, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Kermit the Frog.

Southpaws who were/are difference-makers.

Loran Smith is co-host of “The Tailgate Show” and sideline announcer for Georgia football. He is also a freelance writer and columnist.

FANS CHOICE BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK Who: Truitt Spencer School: Parkview Class: Freshman Position: Guard Height: 6-foot Highlights: Scored a team-high 22 points in the Panthers’ 104-83 victory over East Paulding Coach Nick Gast’s take: “Truitt is having an excellent season for us this year. Watching him play you would never think that he was a freshman. He really knows how to score the ball and takes pride in his defense. We are really excited to see what the future holds for Truitt. The best is yet to come as long as he continues to work hard every day.”

FANS CHOICE GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK Who: Essence Jordan School: Grayson Class: Senior Position: Guard Height: 5-foot-8 Highlights: Scored a team-high 17 points in the Rams’ 49-29 victory over Lanier Coach Tony Watkins’ take: “Essence would play basketball 24/7. She really loves the game and she is getting better every single day.”

Western Mich. wins Bahamas shootout The SporTS Xchange

yards and three scores with an interception.

Western Michigan Wide receiver Richie scored two touchdowns in James accounted for three touchdowns for Middle a 72-second span of the Tennessee (7-6), two via fourth quarter Thursday to break a tie and capture passes and the other on the Bahamas Bowl 45-31 a 46-yard run just over a minute into the game. He over Middle Tennessee finished with 126 yards at Thomas A. Robinson on eight catches.

Stadium in Nassau.

Running back Jamauri Ex-Aggies QB Murray Bogan put the Broncos (8transfers to Oklahoma 5) ahead with a 1-yard run Former Texas A&M with 6:12 remaining, then quarterback Kyler Murray scored on another 1-yard has decided to transfer to run two plays after strong Oklahoma and has signed safety Rontavious Atkins intercepted a pass by quar- a financial aid agreement, the school announced terback Brent Stockstill and returned it to the Blue Thursday.

Murray will join the Raiders’ 4-yard line.

Sooners for spring drills.

Bogan fueled Western Michigan’s first-ever bowl He will sit out next season victory by rushing for 215 due to transfer regulations.

“We’re very happy to yards on 19 carries, and welcome Kyler to our opened the scoring with program and we look a 62-yard run in the first quarter. Quarterback Zach forward to working with Terrell added 297 passing him,” coach Bob Stoops yards, completing 18 of 26 said in a statement.

Murray played in eight attempts with two touchdowns and an interception games as a freshman for Texas A&M this season and as the Broncos rolled up passed for 686 yards and 613 yards and averaged five touchdowns. He was nine yards per snap.

Western Michigan also intercepted seven times.

Murray was the Nahad two wide receivers with more than 100 yards. tional Gatorade Football Corey Davis caught eight Player of the Year at the high school level as a sepasses for 183 yards and nior at Allen High School a score, while Daniel in Allen, Texas. He passed Braverman added 101 yards and a touchdown on for 4,713 yards and 54 touchdowns and arrived at five receptions.

Stockstill connected on Texas A&M as a ballyhooed recruit.

26 of 39 passes for 327

1225_GDP_FRI_CLASS_Classifieds 12/23/2015 4:28 PM Page B9

gwinnettdailypost.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • B9

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 FORECLOSURES

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE NOTICE Business name : Agraffe LLC dba Hwy 29 Lqr Sole Owner : Gail M. Anglin : 3242 N. Embry Address circle Chamblee, GA 30347 Retail Liquor Store selling Beer, Wine and Liquor Located at : 4132 Lawrenceville Hwy Lilburn, GA 30047 904-290612, 10/30-1/7

CORPORATIONS NOTICE OF INCORPORATION Notice is given that Articles of Incorporation that will incorporate ALLMAR, Inc. have been delivered to the Secretary of State for filing in accordance with the Georgia Business Corporation Code.

The initial registered office of the corporation is located at 338 Windshore Court Suwanee, GA 30024 and its initial registered agent at such address is Charlie Allport.

907-300699, 12/17,25

PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC The City of Lawrenceville, Georgia hereby notifies the public that on December 7, 2015, the Mayor and Council of the City of Lawrenceville adopted a Resolution approving and designating the location of the roadway known as the Collins Hill Extension. This roadway runs approximately 0.908 miles through Land Lots 145, 146, and 176, 5th Land District of Gwinnett County, Georgia, and through Land Lot 10 of the 7th Land District of Gwinnett County, Georgia, passing through approximately fifty parcels of property which parcels are more particularly described in the “Resolution of Approval and Designation of the Roadway known as the Collins Hill Extension” which Resolution was adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of Lawrenceville. The location of the roadway is more particularly shown on documents entitled “Plan and Profile of Proposed Collins Hill Extension” prepared by Jacobs Engineering, which plans are maintained in the Office of Public Utilities of the City of Lawrenceville, located at 70 South Clayton Street, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046. A copy of the “Resolution of Approval and Designation of the roadway known as the Collins Hill Extension”, a copy of this advertisement and a copy of the “Plan and Profile of Proposed Collins Hill Extension” have been provided to the Georgia Department of Transportation, One Georgia Center, 600 West Peachtree NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30308. Any interested party may obtain a copy of the Resolution and the “Plan and Profile of Proposed Collins Hill Extension” by paying a nominal cost therefor. This advertisement is provided in accordance with the provisions of O.C.G.A. 32-3-5.

9 2 8 - 3 0 0 0 7 7 , 12/11,18,25,1/1

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: The following self-storage Cube contents containing household and other goods will be sold for cash

by CubeSmart #698- 3495 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd., Suwanee GA 30024-2402 to satisfy a lien on January 11th, 2015 at approx. 10:00 AM at www.storagetreasures.com.

Name of Customer Unit # General Description of Property Jason Reynolds 212 Will Harris 2079 Yadi Perez 261 Christopher Staton 233 929-301184, 12/18,25 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Pursuant to the Georgia Self-Service Storage Facility Act, SecurCare Self Storage will conduct a public sale to the highest bidder of the following spaces located at 1 Western Hills Court Norcross, GA 30071 on Tuesday January 6th at 1:00pm.

Demeatrious Newton: C312, BMW Z-4. Ramona Alvarado: C315, molding, doors, lights, microwave. Jesus SolisSalgado: D418, furniture, weed eater, bags, misc items.

Wes Carter: E577, furniture, chairs, speaker, table. Bi-Co Janitorial: E578, scrubber, pressure washer, vacuum cleaners. Njambi Williams: boxes, plastic totes, bags.

Michael Milligan: E599A, mattresses, table, chairs, misc items. Kerwin Regis: E625, TV, box, Misc items.

Fred Tucker: F608, bicycles, boxes, furniture. Bi-Co Janitorial: G772, carpet extractor, janitorial supplies. TomCat Plumbing: H134, wooden cabinets. Tomcat Plumbing: H152, wooden cabinets, boxes, bags, motor. Orosz DBA WRG Inc: I214, wood ladders, wood slats, boxes.

Linda Russell: I235, washer, dryer, furniture, bags, misc items. Riquermis Martinez: M806, floor scrubber, tires, transmission, car parts. Alfredo Gomezcana: M815, boxes, washer, dryer. Ines Sablon: M838, furniture, grill, mattresses.

929-301177, 12/18,25

Deed Book 50154, Page 163, Gwinnett County, Georgia Records, as last transferred to Champion Mortgage Company by assignment recorded in Deed Book 51566, Page 512, Gwinnett County, Georgia Records, conveying the after-described property to secure a Note in the original principal amount of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 0/100 DOLLARS ($255,000.00), with interest thereon as set forth therein, there will be sold at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash before the courthouse door of Gwinnett County, Georgia, or at such place as may be lawfully designated as an alternative, within the legal hours of sale on the first Tuesday in February, 2016, the following described property: SEE EXHIBIT “A” ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF The debt secured by said Security Deed has been and is hereby declared due because of, among other possible events of default, failure to pay the indebtedness as and when due and in the manner provided in the Note and Security Deed.

The debt remaining in default, this sale will be made for the purpose of paying the same and all expenses of this sale, as provided in Security Deed and by law, including attorney’s fees (notice of intent to collect attorney’s fees having been given).

Said property will be sold subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes (including taxes which are a lien, but not yet due and payable), any matters which might be disclosed by an accurate survey and inspection of the property, any assessments, liens, encumbrances, zoning ordinances, restrictions, covenants, and matters of record superior to the Security Deed first set out above.

Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company is the holder of the Security Deed to the property in accordance with OCGA § 44-14-162.2. The entity that has full authority to negotiate, amend, and modify all terms of the mortgage with the debtor is: Champion Mortgage LLC, 8950 Cypress Waters Boulevard , Coppell, TX 75019 855-683-3095. To the best knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the party in possession of the property is June E. Kinion or a tenant or tenants and said property is more commonly known as 3989 Howell Ferry Road, Duluth, Georgia 30096. The sale will be conducted subject (1) to confirmation that the sale is not prohibited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and (2) to final confirmation and audit of the status of the loan with the holder of the security deed. Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company as Attorney in Fact for June E. Kinion McCalla Raymer, LLC 1544 Old Alabama Road Roswell, Georgia 30076 www.foreclosurehotline.net EXHIBIT “A” All that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Land Lots 296 and 297, 6th District, Gwinnett County, Georgia, being Lot 2, Block C, Unit 1, of Howell Wood Subdivision, as per plat recorded in Plat Book 7, Page 251, in Gwinnett County Records, which recorded plat is incorporated herein and by reference made a part hereof for a more complete description of the property hereby described.

R6296-005 MR/ppk 2/2/16 Our file no. 556214–FT2 9 5 0 - 3 0 2 1 2 8 , 12/25,31,1/7,14,21,28

OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT SALES SPECIALIST Hill’s Ace Hardware and Lumber is now hiring a full-time Sales Position in our Power Equipment Department. Candidates should have an outgoing personality and excellent customer service skills.

Previous experience selling Outdoor Power Equipment, Parts and Service is preferred.

We are a full service dealership selling Exmark, Honda, Echo, Redmax, and Husqvarna to both homeowners and landscape professionals. Competitive compensation w/benefits, some weekend work required. Apply online at www.hillsace.com or in person at Hill’s Ace Hardware in Winder or Loganville.

DRIVERS WRECKER DRIVERS Experience Necessary.

CDL & non-CDL Join Our Team With Insurance & Benefits Paid Vacation Lance Wrecker Service, Inc. 770-963-5816 MEDICAL

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WAREHOUSE F/T Multiple Positions:

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775 Tipton Industrial Dr., Suite A, Lawrenceville, GA 30046

MONROE, GA 30656

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BMW Z3 ROADSTER, 2000. 99K MILES • $6450. M SPORTS OPTIONS. Best you’ll find. Fabulous & priced way under the market.

Auto trans, silver w/ black convert top and leather. Super CarFax & beautiful. Comparable cars are selling for over $9000. Owned

by California collector and babied. Drive daily, very collectable and should appreciate in price while you’re having fun. 770-882-4605.

FORD FIESTA, SE, 2014 Oxford White, Stk#P8053 $10,500 800-PREOWNED

FORD FOCUS SE, 2005. 169k mi. VERY WELL KEPT. Exc. mechanical condition.

Clean inside/out, zero accidents. Everything works. $2950.

678-200-0812

FIREWOOD

FIREWOOD Seasoned Oak & Hickory. Free delivery.

Call for prices.

GWINNETT, BUFORD Near Mall of GA. 5BR/3.5BA, S/T, Ivy Green Subd. Fplc., dbl. gar., 3,233 sq. ft. $1700/mo. + dep.

678-227-4405 APTS/DUP/CONDOS/ T’HOMES FOR RENT

BEAUTIFUL LAKE LOT! 405 St. Regis Dr. Beautiful 2.76 Acre Lake Lot In The Prestigious St. Regis Neighborhood In Oxford,Ga. Heavily Wooded With Gorgeous Views Of The Lake $48,000 • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

WANTED FOR RENT

WANTED TO RENT

HOUSES FOR RENT

*Payment plans available

NOW ACCEPTING

sjones@sterling-health. com

FARMS, LOTS & ACREAGE FOR SALE

•Dialysis Tech in 3 mo.

•PCT •Pharmacy Tech •Medical Assistant

Willow Wood Nursing

APPLICATIONS FOR • Full time Admin Assistant needed.

Must have experience in payroll and accounts payable.

Good customer service and computer skills, filing, organizing and answering phones.

8:30-5:00 p.m.

Mon - Fri., some weekends.

• LPN and RN’s needed days and evening for charge nurse positions • C.N.A.’s needed days and evenings APPLY IN PERSON: 4595 Cantrell Rd. Flowery Branch Email Resumes to:

HOUSES FOR SALE

TRAINING/ SCHOOLS

FULL TIME

FORECLOSURES NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER GEORGIA, GWINNETT COUNTY THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Under and by virtue of the Power of Sale contained in a Security Deed given by June E. Kinion to MetLife Home Loans, a Division of MetLife Bank, N.A., dated July 1, 2010, recorded in D

FULL TIME

770-962-8744 678-557-8536

DO YOUR SHARE

GWINNETT DUPLEXES

GWINNETT, LAWRENCEVILLE: HOUSEMATE $475 mo. Private entry X-Lrg Room & Closet, micro kit, lounge/dining area. 678-689-8821 text COMMERCIAL RENTALS

LAWRENCEVILLE RECORDING STUDIO SPACE AVAILABLE Office/Warehouses 1200 up to 18000 sf Mike 404-375-5438.

FORD FUSION SE, 2013 Bordeaux Red, Stk#P7798 $13,724 800-PREOWNED

CHEVROLET CRUZE, 2013 Champagne Silver Metallic, Stk#640087A $12,000 877-698-5030

2 Communities!

One on Singleton Rd. & One on Law’villeSuwanee Rd.! 2BR & 3BR, 2BA, Fireplace, vaulted ceilings, off street parking.

Starting @ $900/mo.

B.C. PROPERTIES 770-446-1550 770-995-8828 ROOMMATE WANTED /ROOM FOR RENT

CADILLAC DEVILLE, 2004. Purchased new.

Black with black leather interior, high mileage but well maintained.

New transmission 4 years ago. No dents or scratches. Seals recently replaced but without a warranty. New starter installed in Nov. $3000. 404-906-8938

FORD FOCUS, 2013 Oxford White, Stk#530035B $11,000 877-698-5030

FIREWOOD Select, Seasoned Hickory & Oak, $180/Cord or $120/Half Cord.

Delivered. MORE FOR YOUR MONEY! Gary, 404-772-1268 PETS/LIVESTOCK

DAIMLER DODGE DART SXT, 2013 Tungsten Metal, Stk#G5214959A $11,550 800-PREOWNED

DOGS CHIHUAHUA Blk/tan, F, 8 mos. $160. Crate $50.

Pit/Boxer, F, Spayed, fawn/white, 8 mos. $100. 404-205-3460 GOLDENDOODLES CKC, Beautiful Colors, Vet Checked, 1st Shots, $800/Each.

229-395-1729

GMC SUBURBAN, 1997, 4-WHD, leather, 3rd seat, clean, almost new tires, 270,386 road mileage, very clean, great orig paint, tow pkg, very comfortable ride, 3rd seat incl, 17 mpg hwy. 2 owners.

Low mileage on 4 Michelins. $3500 CASH. 770-736-2643

FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE, 1997.

76,246 ONE OWNER MILES. ONE OF THE BEST ORIGINAL GT’s IN THE USA. Looks and drives close to new with near perfect CarFax. White with saddle leather. Drive it anywhere. Collectible.

Drive it, cherish it and see it go up in price.

This is the GT if you want the best available.

Only $7950.

Call 770-899-5856

REPORTER CLAYTON NEWS HAS AN OPENING FOR A GOVERNMENT REPORTER EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. The reporter will be responsible for covering Clayton County Board of Commission and the county’s municipalities. Other duties include features in Clayton and Henry counties and photography. The position requires night hours and occasionally weekend events.

The Clayton News is an award-winning community newspaper that produces quality print reporting every Wednesday and Saturday, and digital reporting every day through our website and social media. Check out our website at www.news-daily.com. Come join our staff in putting out the best local news south of Atlanta.

COVINGTON, GA 30016 PEMCO HUD HOME # 105-174716 90 FAIRVIEW CHASE Fantastic find in this well-appointed split foyer w/hardwood floors family room,& formal dining 4BR/3BA $125,000 • INSURED W/ ESCROW • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com ROCKDALE, CONYERS 4BR/2BA on 1.25 Acre. Large LR & DR. Corner of 2200 Irwin Bridge, close to Hospital. $70,000.

404-825-0504

Applicants must have a four-year college degree, preferably in journalism or mass communications. Experience is preferred, even at the college level, but this is a perfect position for a graduate eager to set the journalism world on fire. A knowledge of local government and basic politics will put a candidate over the rest.

Candidates who live locally in the Southern Crescent are also preferred. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Send cover letters and resumes to Editor Kathy Jefcoats at kjefcoats@news-daily.com.

1225_GDP_FRI_CLASS_Classifieds 12/23/2015 4:29 PM Page B10

B10 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com VEHICLES

SERVICES

FLOORING

CLEANING

HARDWOOD FLOORS

FREE REMOVAL

The Doctor Is In

HOME REPAIR/ REMODELING

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE

FOREST

COUNTRY BOY TREE REMOVAL

BY M.D. NANNI

SERVICE We pick up any of the following items: All scrap metal such as all appliances, air conditioners, lawn mowers, metal windows & doors, garage doors, motorcycles, house & barn tin, gutters & awnings, metal signs, junk cars, old batteries, etc.

• Oak • Maple • Cherry • Walnut New Homes Repairs Refinishing Renovations

SPECIALTY WORK

• Borders • Stairways • Medallions Free Estimates Insured/Certified Michael Nanni

*No TVs or computer monitors.

770-867-9670

sdlovern@yahoo.com

Call 770-601-8495 404-545-3299

REMODELING, INC. •Finished Basements •Bathroom Remodeling •Kitchen Remodeling •Custom Cabinets •Room Additions •Garages/Carports •Screened Porches •Custom Decks •Siding All Types Call John

770-962-2071 HANDYMAN SOLUTIONS

BY HERNANDO

Leave message if no answer.

All Home Remodeling Projects & General Repairs Including: HVAC troubleshooting & more!

Over 25 years of exp. in all home repairs & improvements. *Licensed & Insured*

678-482-1702

hcorrales17@gmail.com

Call for a Free Estimate

All Major Credit Cards Accepted 300018-1

Expert Take Downs √ 20Years Experience √ Insured √ Free Estimates √ Stump Grinding Bucket Truck Summer Seasoned

Oak 1/2 Cord - $100 1 Cord - $190

Delivered & Dumped LICENSED

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE

LANDSCAPING AND TREE SERVICE

Professional Tree Service • Pruning • Trimming Landscaping • Clean-Up • Leaf Removal Call Freddy Perez

404-399-7402

POWER WASHING

PRESSURE WASHING

We offer 24 hour Emergency Service •Licensed & Insured •All Tree Service Needs •Landscaping •Fencing •Land Clearing

***CALL TODAY!*** For a Free Estimate

HOUSES STARTING AT $89 • Roof Cleaning • Black streaks removed from roof • Mold & Mildew removed from homes • Drives-WalkwaysPatios-Decks cleaned/sealed • Gutters cleaned For a FREE Estimate

CALL OR TEXT

770-905-2072

www.mandgtreeservice.com

404.886.3587 Established 1989

SERENITY LAWN CARE • Any Lawn Work!

If it’s in your yard, we do it!

Landscape Design using any material Trimming & debris Clean Up • Pressure Washing

MERCEDES 560 SL CONVERTIBLE, 1986.

LOW MILES SUPER BUY ON INVESTMENT CAR.

Fabulous black with burgundy leather.

Babied exceptional and beautiful. 5.5L engine/130 miles per hour. Yet luxury and high quality. You can drive daily or use as investment car. Cost $48,000 new. NADA and Hagerty Classic Car Value guide appraises them at $20,000-$45,000.

Rapidly appreciating car selling way under the market at only $11,700.

Call 770-882-4605

NISSAN VERSA, 2013 Magnetic Gray, Stk#FY312321A $8977 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

TOYOTA COROLLA S, 2015 Barcelona Red, Stk#GN706950A $17,998 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

404-670-3087

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

Find Over

VEHICLES MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL, 1980.

Fabulous Christmas present that should appreciate rapidly in price.

HONDA ACCORD SEDAN, 2012 Polished Metal Metallic, Stk#8445 $15,500 877-698-5030

HONDA CIVIC LX, 2012 Taffeta White, Stk#FC489474A $12,988 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

HONDA CIVIC SEDAN, 2010 Polished Metal Metallic, Stk#640172A $9,300 877-698-5030

HONDA CIVIC SEDAN, 2014 Taffeta White, Stk#8407A $14,500 877-698-5030

JEEP COMPASS LATITUDE, 2012 Bright Silver, Stk#FR218448A $12,143 800-PREOWNED

FORD FOCUS SE, 2014 Ruby Red, Stk#P8066 $12,999 800-PREOWNED

JEEP PATRIOT SPORT, 2014 Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearlcoat, Stk#P5145A $13,992 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

Gwinnett Daily Post Christmas 2015 Deadlines Publication Date: Thursday, 12/24 Ad Placement Deadline: Wednesday, 12/23 @ 1:00 pm Publication Date: Friday, 12/25 Ad Placement Deadline: Wednesday, 12/23 @ 1:00 pm

300201-1

NISSAN SENTRA, 2013 Red Brick, Stk#640081A $13,800 877-698-5030

FABULOUS CHRISTMAS PRESENT THAT SHOULD APPRECIATE RAPIDLY IN PRICE

Call 706-525-1881 or 904-874-1809

770-932-1751 Cell 770-313-5751

VEHICLES

Publication Date: Sunday, 12/27 Ad Placement Deadline: Wednesday, 12/23 @ 2:00 pm Our Offices will be closed on Thursday, December 24th and Friday, December 25th in observance of Christmas.

To Insure that your ad gets in please call our Classified Advertising Department early at 770-962-7355.

Driven 4,500 miles per year. (120K MILES) Owned and cherished the last 15 years by an oil company president. All preventive maintenance completed. We just road tested it at over 100 miles/ hour.

It is fabulous. Near perfect blue with dark blue interior. Chrome wheels look like new.

Two tops this car can win trophies. This car just appraised at over $20,000 to $37,000 from Hagerty old car value guide. Take it to shows, drive it daily or use it as an investment as these cars are appreciating rapidly.

Only $10,900.

Call 770-895-7161

8,000 Column Inches of Great Buys Each Week In THE CLASSIFIEDS! • Cars • Boats • Motorcycles • Bicycles • Computers • Office Furniture • Home Furnishings • Appliances • Stereo Systems

KIA FORTE, 2015 Aurora Black, Stk#510086A $13,700 877-698-5030

• Baby Furniture MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SE, 2013 Laguna Blue, Stk#G5207502A $14,359 800-PREOWNED

• Yard Sets • Antiques & Collectibles • Memorabilia

KIA RIO, 2015 Clear White, Stk#FY3588987A $12,986 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

• Pets • Travel Bargains NISSAN ALTIMA, 2012 Metallic Slate, Stk#FC492122A $12,983 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

• Real Estate

KIA SOUL, 2011 Bright Silver, Stk#L560215B $9,700 877-698-5030

NISSAN ALTIMA, 2013 Pearl White, Stk#640073A $14,500 877-698-5030

LEXUS RX 300, 1999 Suv. Fabulous and Very Difficult To Find One This Nice. Great Car Fax. Loaded With Options Including Beautiful Tan Leather and Loaded With Options. Drive Anywhere In Luxury and Quality.

Only $5,950.

770-895-7161 5950

NISSAN MAXIMA, 2014 Java, Stk#P5191 $17,977 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

For results you can measure, place an ad of your own by calling

Gwinnett Daily Post 770-962-7355

LINCOLN TOWN CAR, 2004 This one-owner, Lincoln Town Car Signature Series has been pampered and garaged most of its life. Less than 55,000 original miles on the car! Almost new Michelin tires.

It’s packed with loads of features including: wood-grain dash, leather, alloy wheels, dual power front seats, dual automatic climate control, steering wheel audio and ac control, remote key-less entry, automatic headlights, automatic loadleveling, ABS brakes, adjustable foot pedals and more. Drives and rides like a dream. $8750 404-663-1299 after 6pm.

NISSAN SENTRA SR, 2012 Super Black, Stk#FFC11174B $10,351 800-PREOWNED TOYOTA COROLLA, 2014 Blizzard Pearl, Stk#8395 $13,600 877-698-5030

NISSAN SENTRA, 2012 Blue Onyx, Stk#GC763170A $10,987 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

TOYOTA RAV4, 2006 Limited 2.4L gas auto, 120k miles, 4WD cd, abs, clean title. I accept any test. $3,200.

Call 609-250-2612

gwinnettdailypost.com gwinnettdailypost.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 11B FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • B11

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HAYES LAWRENCEVILLE

1 CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP

3

NASH CHEVROLET

4

2

4490 South Lee St., Buford, GA 30518 888-804-2957 www.hendrickbuford.com

630 Scenic Hwy., Lawrenceville 770-963-9266 www.nashchevy.com

RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET OF DULUTH

3277 Satellite Blvd., Duluth, GA 30096 888-475-8808 www.hendrickatlanta.com

280565-1

719 Pike St, Lawrenceville 770-963-5251 www.hayeschrysler.com

RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET OF BUFORD

2015 INFINITI Q50 SEDAN

$299 $0

PER MONTH W/

DOWN AT SIGNING

SIGN & DRIVE!!!

2015 Q50 Sedan. 39 month lease. 10k miles per year and $0.25 per mile thereafter. First payment plus TAVT, tag, and Georgia Lemon Law fees due at signing. $0 cap cost reduction required. $0 security deposit required. Dealer retains all mfg incentives. Subject to credit approval. 2 or more vehicles available at this price. MSRP $38,055. Offer expires: 11/30/2015.

2015 INFINITI QX60 SUV

$399 $1,999 PER MONTH W/

DOWN AT SIGNING

2015 QX60 SUV. 39 month lease. 10k miles per year and $0.25 per mile thereafter. First payment plus TAVT, tag, and Georgia Lemon Law fees due at signing. $1,999 cap cost reduction required. $0 security deposit required. Dealer retains all mfg incentives. Subject to credit approval. 2 or more vehicles available at this price. Offer expires: 11/30/2015.

2015 Q40 WITH NAVIGATION UP TO $9,000.00 DISCOUNT

3090 Satellite Blvd, Duluth, GA 30096 678-812-8500 | www.infinitiofgwinnett.com HOURS: Monday - Saturday 9:00AM - 8:00PM • Sunday Closed

299827-1

12B • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

we Gwinnett Daily Post

weekend entertainment FRIDAY DECEMBER 25, 2015

Celebration of culture

Performer to bring Scottish music, traditions to Duluth page 4C

10 spot the

Rotten Tomatoes’ Top 10 Best Christmas Movies 1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) — Frank Capra’s Christmas classic starring James Stewart and Donna Reed has a score of 104.826 percent.

2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) — The warm-hearted holiday classic has a score of 104.131 percent.

3. The Shop Around the Corner (1940) — The romantic comedy starring Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart has a score of 103.372 percent.

4. Holiday Inn (1942) — The seasonal classic with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Irving Berlin has a score of 103.327 percent.

5. The Apartment (1960) — The classic comedy

the dish

starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine has a score of 100.559 percent.

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) — Tim Burton’s unique stop-motion animated movie has a score of 100.313 percent.

7. Tangerine (2015) — The film, which features modern techniques but is an old-fashioned comedy at heart, has a score of 99.351 percent.

8. Die Hard (1988) — The holiday action classic starring Bruce Willis has a score of 97.119 percent.

9. Arthur Christmas (2011) — The 3-D, computer-animated family comedy has a score of 96.143 percent.

10. A Christmas Story (1983) — The warmly nostalgic and darkly humorous holiday movie has a score of 93.984 percent.

— For Rotten Tomatoes’ full list of the 25 best Christmas Movies, visit www.rottentomatoes.com.

page 2C

New Year’s Eve events page 3C

get YouR

on • suwanee.com

UPCOMING FUN: Prancer’s Pancake 5K • family fun • arts • parks • eats • treats • trails • events • family fun • arts • parks • Tomorrow • 8 am • Town Center Park • www.suwanee.com

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2C • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

dish

gwinnettdailypost.com

dining

the

Kabab Hut

880 Indian Trail-Lilburn Road, Suite C, Lilburn 770-925-4440 www.kbhut.com

Kabab Hut in Lilburn offers a menu of authentic Pakastani and Indian cuisine with a variety of kababs, including the Barbeque Platter with beef and chicken kabab meat and green boti.

(Staff Photos: Katie Morris)

By Katie Morris

katie.morris @gwinnettdailypost.com

Open Since: 2009 Owner: Iftakhar Ahmad of Lawrenceville Location: Kabab Hut is located in the Indian Trail Court shopping center near the intersection of Indian Trail-Lilburn and Burns roads.

Hours: The restaurant is open from noon to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to midnight Friday through Sunday.

Atmosphere: Kabab Hut is a fast-casual eatery that’s suitable for those looking for authentic Pakistani and Indian food served in an informal dining environment.

Upon entering, customers should head to the counter in the rear of the cafe area to look over the menu and order their meal. Customers then seat themselves at a table or booth in the cafe area and their food is brought to the table.

Menu: Kabab Hut offers a menu that’s a mixture of traditional Pakastani and Indian cuisine. According to owner Ahmad, they are famous for their grilled kababs.

The kababs are made with 100 percent, highquality halal meat that’s seasoned with spices and grilled over charcoals,

ON THE MENU • Samosa — An appetizer of deep-fried pastry filled with vegetables, beef or chicken. $2.99 • Barbeque Platter — A combination platter with halal beef and chicken kabab meat grilled over charcoals and tender chicken malai boti served with onions and rice. $14.99 • Goat Biryani — A mixed rice dish with house spices, halal goat meat and rice. $9.99 • Lamb Seek Kabab — Halal lamb meat marinated with spices and grilled over charcoals, served with onions, jalapenos and lemon. $8.99 • Gajar Halwa — A sweet pudding Indian dessert that’s made with carrots. $3.99

said Ahmad. He cautions customers who aren’t accustomed to spicy foods because all of Kabab Hut’s dishes are prepared only spicy.

A customer favorite is the Barbeque Platter, which offers customers a variety of kabab meats.

The platter includes both beef and chicken kababs as well as Chicken Malai Boti served with onions and rice. Another popular item on the menu is the Biryani, a mixed rice dish offered with either goat or chicken.

The menu also includes a selection of naan, baked in-house in a tandoori oven, as well as spicy curry dishes, such as Goat Korma, Butter Chicken and Lahori Chana. Beverages include coke products, mango and plain lassi, masala soda and a mango ice cream shake.

For those wanting to

taste a variety of dishes, Kabab Hut offers a Sunday brunch buffet from noon to 4 p.m. for $8.99 that includes a selection of popular items from the menu.

Kabab Hut in Lilburn offers patrons a fast-casual dining experience.

Something You Might Not Know: In addition to Kabab Hut, Ahmad owns the butcher shop, Iqra Imports, located in the same shopping center and just a few doors down from the cafe. All of Kabab Hut’s high-quality halal meats are delivered from Iqra, so they are always fresh, Ahmad said.

He has owned the small grocery store and halal meat shop for 16 years.

Ahmad said he built the store from the ground up and has developed a base of loyal customers over the years. According to Ahmad, owning a small business and cafe can be difficult but his father and brother regularly lend Kabab Hut in Lilburn offers a menu of authentic Pakastani and Indian cuisine including fresh-baked naan. him a helping hand.

GWINNETT TASTES A selection of local eateries recently featured in the Gwinnett Daily Post: Qebaptore: A Bite of Europe Qebaptore: A Bite of Europe offers patrons a fast-casual concept with a warm, inviting atmosphere.

The eatery offers a menu with popular dishes from various European countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Italy and more. A popular item on the menu is the Beef Doner Kebab made with beef that’s cooked on a vertical rotisserie wrapped in homemade pita bread with choice of fresh vegetables and homemade yogurtbased sauce.

315 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee, 678-9263525, www.facebook.com/ QebaptoreSuwanee

of natural light. Taziki’s offers a menu with classic Mediterranean dishes — such as hummus, Greek salad and dolmades — along with a few Southern favorites like chicken salad and pimento cheese.

1095 Old Peachtree Road in Suwanee, 678-804-4580, www.tazikiscafe.com

Chinese Dhaba Chinese Dhaba has a quick, casual concept where customers order at a counter in the rear of the dining area, Sage Juice Bar and Cafe in Duluth offers customers a va- choose a seat and then the riety of vitamin-rich, cold-pressed juices and smoothies, food is brought to the table. including the Lean Green made with spinach, apple, kale, Chinese Dhaba specializes kiwi, banana and flax seeds. (Staff Photo: Katie Morris) in authentic Indian-Chinese cuisine, which is based off can enjoy lunch with friends, The Juicy Crab of a popular concept often The Juicy Crab offers grab a nutrient-rich juice to offered by street vendors in patrons a casual dining go or sit and sip a smoothie India. while working on their laptop. experience where they are 3083 Breckinridge Blvd., The cafe specializes in cold- encouraged to roll up their sleeves and get messy while Suite 130, Duluth, 678-682pressed juices and smooth8599, www.chinesedhaba. enjoying one of the many ies that are made with fresh Suwanee Diner com seafood boils on the menu. fruits and vegetables.

Suwanee Diner offers The Juicy Crab specializes 3255 Pleasant Hill Road, patrons a casual dining atArtBar at Sonesta in a variety of seafood boils Suite B, Duluth, 770-232mosphere that’s suitable for Gwinnett Place 4844, www.rawblisslife.com that are flavored with spea variety of occasions, from ArtBar has a casual yet cial, homemade seasonings. grabbing a bite to eat with chic dining atmosphere New Saigon Vietnamese There are king and snow friends to a leisurely family that’s perfect for guests lookcrab legs, shrimp, crawfish, Bistro breakfast on the weekend. ing to unwind with a drink or clams, mussels and lobster.

New Saigon provides Suwanee Diner offers an exshare an intimate, up-scale 2205 Pleasant Hill Road, patrons with a casual dining tensive menu with an array meal with friends, family Suite 130, Duluth, 678-473atmosphere that’s suitable of options such as wraps, or colleagues. ArtBar is a 9399, www.thejuicycrab. for a variety of occasions salads, sandwiches and gastropub featuring up-scale com melts, seafood, omelets and from grabbing a bite to eat cuisine with a Southern flare with friends to enjoying a pancakes. with a seasonal and yearTaziki’s Mediterranean family dinner. New Saigon 3103 Lawrencevilleround menu, as well as an Cafe Suwanee Road in Suwanee, specializes in traditional extensive beverage menu Taziki’s offers patrons a Vietnamese cuisine offering 678-288-9632, www.Suwith cocktails, craft beers, customers a menu with a va- cross between fast-casual waneeDiner.com and casual dining concepts. whiskeys and bourbons. riety of dishes such as Pho, The cafe has an open, 1775 Pleasant Hill Road, Sage Juice Bar and Cafe Rice Vermicelli and more.

Duluth, 770-923-1775, ext.

3780 Old Norcross Road, spacious dining area with Sage Juice Bar and Cafe high ceilings and numerous 3899, www.sonesta.com/ Suite 106, Duluth, 770-495offers a cozy, neighborhood windows allowing in plenty cafe atmosphere where folks 8828 gwinnettplace

Papa Jack’s Country Kitchen Papa Jack’s is a cafeteriastyle restaurant where diners walk down the line and choose items to create their meal as a staff member fixes their plate. Papa Jack’s specializes in Southern comfort foods offering lunch and dinner menus, featuring meat and two veggies platters, and a breakfast menu.

7437 Spout Springs Road, Suite B, Flowery Branch, 770965-7007, www.papajackscountrykitchen.com Pat’s Eatery Pat’s Eatery is a familyowned restaurant that offers patrons a casual dining experience, offering both breakfast and lunch menus as well as a special Sunday brunch buffet.

The morning menu offers traditional, Southern breakfast fare and the lunch menu features a selection of soups, deli and grilled sandwiches and salads. Executive Chef Justin Knowles is working on creating a dinner menu of New American cuisine.

2625 Old Winder Highway in Braselton, 706-684-0093, www.patseatery.com Goad Barbecue Company Goad Barbecue Company offers a menu of traditional west Texas barbecue, which has a unique flavor that’s infused during the slowsmoking process. According to the Goads, the menu is based on cowboy food which was cooked over a campfire in cast iron. Customers can

also find 15 different pies on Mrs. Goad’s Homemade Fried Pies menu: all of the fried pies are made from scratch, with unique offerings like the Elvis and Bourbon Pecan.

722 Collins Hill Road, Suite N, Lawrenceville, 678-2180398, www.goadbbq.com Cafe Crepes Square Cafe Crepes Square offers a menu of dessert crepes, parfaits and specialty beverages including smoothies, hot or cold espresso drinks, teas and non-alcoholic mocktails like the Blue Lemonade, Mojito and Yes Bomb. Customers can choose a specialty crepe or create their own, choosing from a variety of ingredients like mixed fruit, peanut butter, whipped cream, tree nuts, honey, chocolate chips and more.

80 Horizon Drive, Suite 301, Suwanee, 678-979-8287, www.facebook.com/CrepesSquare Indian Grill Indian Grill specializes in authentic Indian cuisine and offers a variety of dishes from various regions of the country. The sizable dinner menu offers a variety of traditional Indian dishes like the customer favorite Chicken Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken, Chicken 65 and the tandoori Shashlik Special. Indian Grill also offers home delivery service, with customers able to place their takeout order online.

2051 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross, 770-417-8338, www. indiangrillnorcross.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 3C

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arts&entertainment

‘New audiences’ Patrons who attend the very special event at Infinite Energy Theater on Wednesday will be celebrating the new year with some of the finest dancers in the country.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet is set to offer a dynamic experience for dance enthusiasts with an appearance in our market. It is all a part of Complexions’ new philosophy.

Complexions celebrates the kickoff of the company’s 21st season with the rollout of the first phase of the Beyond 20 campaign, a strategic long term plan for the company’s growth on a national scale.

As part of this plan, Complexions has announced its expansion outside of its home in New York City with the opening of a new office in Atlanta, bringing its unique form of multicultural-inspired dance to broader audiences nationwide.

“Atlanta is a perfect location for Complexions to expand its brand because of the city’s growing performing arts scene,” said Dwight Rhoden, Co-Founder, CoArtistic Director and Choreographer of Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

“As a company, Complexions is known for pushing the boundaries, and with the ardent support of Atlanta philanthropists and board members Su Longman and Tony Conway, we were able to support our mission of bringing our distinctive vision of dance to new audiences.”

The company is bringing not only a magnificent presentation performed by

Art Beat

Complexions Contemporary Ballet expands reach to Atlanta

Holley Calmes some of the world’s most elite dancers but also the opportunity to learn from these artists to young dancers in the Atlanta area.

A five-day intensive will be held in the studios of Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, which is located just a few miles east up Sugarloaf Parkway from the theater.

Dancers will encounter a very unique experience.

“We guide dancers to achieve their full artistic potential with ‘NIQUE,’ our proprietary methodology exclusive to Complexions Contemporary Ballet,” says Rhoden. “Students are taught our innovative approach to dance through classroom exercises and company repertoire instruction. Participants experience techniques designed to cultivate and develop strong, well-trained dancers who are educated to perform more skillfully and creatively.”

After five days of instruction, these young dancers and fellow audience members will be treated to a dance performance that will encourage and inspire as well as entertain.

The program will consist of four premieres as Complexions continues with its

Complexions dancers Greg Blackmon, Addison Ector and Nehemiah Spencer perform in “Strum.” The company will perform at the Infinite Energy Theater on Dec. 30. (Special Photo: Nina Wurtzel)

unprecedented approach to contemporary ballet. This season, the company pays tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou in a new work, “Imprint/ Maya” featuring a solo performance by Complexions’ own Desmond Richardson.

In addition to new works, there will also be various pieces from the company’s 20-year history.

For information and to register for the intensive, visit www.complexionsintensives.com/event/ atlanta/#sthash.bxWxbXQS. dpuf. This intensive will be held at GBT’s studios located at 1800 Macleod Drive

in Lawrenceville. For more information about Complexions, visit www.complexionsdance.org.

Holley Calmes is a freelance writer and public relations consultant specializing in the arts. Email her at hcalmes@mindspring.com.

IF YOU GO • What: Complexions • Where: Infinite Energy Theatre, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth • When: Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

• Tickets: $46.50 to $101.50 • More Info: www.infiniteenergycenter.com/events

WIN A 4 PACK OF TICKETS!

Complexions Contemporary Ballet company dancer Youngsil Kim. (Special Photo: Jaeman Joo)

NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS and an early countdown that begins at 8:59 p.m. For more information, visit www.

StoneMountainPark.com.

• Eddie Owen Presents will host a New Year’s Eve Celebration featuring The Elgin Wells Group at the Red Clay Music Foundry, located at 3116 Main St. in Duluth. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets for the event are available at eddieowenpresents.com.

• Rock 100.5 will host the Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Bootlegger’s Ball, featuring Jason Bailey and Southside Steve. The event will take place from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Tannery Row Ale House, located at 554 W. Main St. in Buford. Additional bands will perform, and food, dancing and raffle prizes will be available. Tickets can be purchased for $25 at tanneryrowalehouse.com.

• Dancing4fun will host a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party from 7:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast, located at 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Peachtree Corners. The event will feature a dinner and several different dance rooms. For more information, visit facebook.com/ NewYearsEvePartyAtlanta.

• The city of Lawrenceville will hold its annual Flashlight 5K, beginning at 1st United Methodist Church Lawrenceville, located at 395 W. Crogan St.. Registration is at 4 p.m. and running

begins at 6 p.m. Runners are invited to bring headlamps or flashlights.

• Wild Bill’s will host a New Year’s Eve concert featuring Colt Ford and Joe Hall at 8 p.m. The concert is for ages 18 and older, and tickets are $30 to $50.

Wild Bill’s is located at 2075 Market Street in Duluth. For more information, visit facebook.com/wildbillsatlanta.

• Fernbank Museum of Natural History will host a New Year’s Eve celebration for families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a dinosaur photo stop, a resolution station, dancing and games with DJ Willy Wow and a balloon drop with 2,000 balloons at the stroke of noon. The Museum is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org.

• The Children’s Museum of Atlanta will host a Noon Year’s Eve celebration from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

There will be special guests, a dance party, bubble-wrap firecrackers and some new surprises. Noon Year’s Eve is included with the cost of admission. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets early. Museum members are always free but are strongly encouraged to reserve their space to guarantee they can attend. Arrive by 11 a.m. for entry. For more information, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

GEORGIA DOME

JAN. 9 & MAR. 5

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Gwinnett residents will have plenty of opportunities to ring in the New Year at celebrations all across the county. Here is a list of some of the New Year’s Eve events that will take place in and around Gwinnett on Dec. 31.

• A New Year’s Eve Comedy Bash will feature Mia Jackson. Jackson will take the stage at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at the Atlanta Comedy Theater, located at 4650 Jimmy Carter Blvd in Norcross. Tickets range from $39 to $349. For more information, visit atlcomedytheater.com.

• The city of Duluth will hold its annual New Year’s Eve Extravaganza, a free, family-friendly event to celebrate the new year.

There will be games, live music, food and fireworks.

The event will be held from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on the Duluth Town Green and Main Street.

• The city of Lawrenceville will hold its New Year’s Eve Celebration from 7:30 p.m. to midnight on the Lawrenceville Square. The free event will feature familyfriendly fun and fireworks.

• Stone Mountain Park is hosting an early New Year’s Eve celebration at the Crossroads. Stone Mountain Christmas activities will be offered from 2 to 9 p.m. and then visitors can ring in the New Year with additional fireworks, snowfall

Please send me more information on Monster Jam or Feld Entertainment.

4C • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

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Performer to bring Scottish music, traditions to Duluth

By Katie Morris

IF YOU GO

katie.morris @gwinnettdailypost.com

When Jamie Laval was first starting out as a musician, he wasn’t a fan of the hectic holiday season.

“I didn’t really take such an interest in participating very much,” Laval said. “I was not a big Christmas holiday person because I found too much commercial glitter for my taste, so I didn’t really perform a lot during the holidays.”

But now Laval has a Christmas tradition he looks forward to each year: performing his annual Scottish Solstice Celebration.

“Ever since I started this show, it’s been a huge focal point that I look forward to all year and I prepare for all year, gathering new material,” Laval said.

He draws inspiration from his travels. For example, this year’s show will feature holiday music Laval discovered while visiting Iceland.

The Asheville-based violinist, guitarist and storyteller has been bringing his holiday concert to audiences for seven years, and on Saturday, Laval’s Scottish Solstice Celebration will return for its fourth year at Red Clay Music Foundry in Duluth.

According to Laval, the concert captures the beauty and atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands during the Christmas season, as well as ancient Celtic celebrations that are associated with the winter solstice. Laval enjoys focusing on the seasonal changes — winter changing to spring.

“That’s what they focus on in Scotland, and I’ve

What: Jamie Laval’s Scottish Solstice Celebration Where: Red Clay Music Foundry, 3116 Main St. in Duluth.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday Tickets: $20 to $34 More Info: www.eddieowenpresents.com/ calendar

At left, Celtic performer Jamie Laval is set to bring his annual Scottish Solstice Celebration to Red Clay Music Foundry in Duluth on Saturday. (Special Photo: Genesis Photography) Top, Jamie Laval, right, and 18-year old vocalist Ana Carolina Scott will perform Saturday.

(Special Photo: Arthur Pearsall) Above, Scottish Solstice performers, from left, Rosalind Buda, Alexandria Carrico, Jamie Laval, Kelly Brzowzski, David Brown and from Glencoe School of Highland Dance, Lindsay, Madelaine and Julia. (Special Photo: Jeff Finkelstein)

found there’s a lot of wonderful music that’s more secular and speaks to the dark, mid-winter atmosphere of the holidays,” Laval said.

“I have a lot of toe-tapping, very peppy and kind of whimsical music, but there is an element of deep midwinter. There’s this cozy, reflective side that I think is just really special.”

Saturday’s show is a great introduction for those who

may not be familiar with Scottish music and traditions, according to Laval.

“It has a lot of great variety, so it keeps the interest of the young people,” Laval said. “And then for the adults I think it’s good because even if they aren’t familiar with Scottish music, it’s a window into another way of celebrating the holidays.”

There’s a sense of community that’s very pre-

dominate in the British Isles during the holidays, with neighbors coming together to play music, sing, dance and play games, said Laval.

“There’s a very vibrant community experience that’s especially celebrated during the holidays,” he said.

Joining Laval on stage will be a selection of musicians and performers — Asheville musician Rosalind Buda will play bagpipes,

bombard, bassoon and perform a poetry reading.

Brothers David and Michael McLeod will play the Highland bagpipes and Irish whistle. Atlanta-based Kelly Brzozowski will play the Celtic harp, and 18-year old vocalist Ana Carolina Scott will perform.

“It’s great with a multitude of instruments because I get to do arrangements that are quite different,” Laval

said. “There’s one point in the show where I have three bagpipes playing simultaneously, and you don’t get to do that very often.”

Highland dancers from The Glencoe School of Highland Dance will also be performing.

“It’s a colorful and also very visually stunning affect because it’s such a dramatic style of dance,” Laval said.

Unlike Irish dancers who hold their arms by their sides, Scottish Highland dancers incorporate their arms to produce full movements.

This year, for the first time, Laval’s concert will also feature a clogger, Amy Mooney. But it’s not the Appalachian style of clogging those in the South may be accustomed to — it’s Cape Breton clogging, which is from Eastern Canada and loosely based on Scottish dancing.

“It’s a very percussive style of dancing,” Laval said. “We’re doing a really serious rhythm meltdown with just the hot fiddle and the clogging, so that’s going to be quite a neat contrast to the other sort of somber atmosphere, to have this moment of really powerful rhythm.”

BY VENUE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT GWINNETT AURORA THEATRE 128 E. Pike St., Lawrenceville 678-226-6222 www.auroratheatre.com • Jan. 8-9: Aurora Comedy Nights en Español • Jan. 14 to Feb. 2: “Wit” • Jan. 29 to Feb. 21: “I and You” HUDGENS CENTER FOR THE ARTS Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 300, Duluth 770-623-6002 www.thehudgens.org • Jan. 30, Feb. 27, Mar. 27: Toddler Fridays • Ongoing: Selected works from the permanent collection on display INFINITE ENERGY ARENA 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth 770-813-7500 www.gwinnettcenter.com • Jan. 2-4: Passion 2016 INFINITE ENERGY THEATER 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth 770-813-7500 www.gwinnettcenter.com • Dec. 30: Complexions • Jan. 24: Enchanted Theatre Company presents “Peter

Rabbit Tales” KUDZU ART ZONE 116 Carlyle St., Norcross 770-840-9844 www.kudzuartzone.org • Jan. 16 to Feb. 25: “Joy of Movement” exhibition • Jan. 16: “Joy of Movement” Opening Reception NEW DAWN THEATER Mall Corners, 3650-A Satellite Blvd., Duluth 678-887-5015 www.newdawntheatercompany.com • Jan. 9: Mark Pitt’s Tribute to Elvis: “Elvis Birthday Concert” • Jan. 16: “An Evening with Mark Twain” featuring Kurt Sutton • Jan. 22-24: New Dawn Theater 3rd Annual Directors Showcase NEW LONDON THEATRE 2338 Henry Clower Blvd., Snellville 770-559-1484 www.newlondontheatre.org • Jan. 15-31: “Fiddler on the Roof” SYLVIA BEARD THEATRE Buford Community Center, 2200 Buford Highway, Buford 770-945-6762 www.bufordcommunitycenter. com • Jan. 15-16: Mike Farris: Soul of America

TANNERY ROW ARTIST COLONY 554 West Main St., Buford 770-856-8145 www.tanneryrowartistcolony. com • Jan. 9 to Feb. 12: Artist’s Studio Works ATLANTA ALLIANCE THEATRE 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-733-4650 www.alliancetheatre.org • Jan. 12 to Feb. 14: “A Bucket of Blessings” • Jan. 27 to Feb. 14: “Disgraced” ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta 404-876-5859 www.atlantabg.org • Through Jan. 9: Holiday Garden Lights, Holiday Model Train Show • Ongoing: Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen cooking demos every weekend • Ongoing: Science Café second Sundays through October ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER 130 W. Paces Ferry Road N.W., Atlanta 404-814-4000 www.atlantahistorycenter.com

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• Jan. 4: Homeschool Day: Vikings • Jan. 10: Three Kings Day, Día de los Reyes • Jan. 11: Magic Monday: Once Upon a Time • Jan. 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Free Admission • Jan. 21: Film Screening and Discussion with George Wingard CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS 1404 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta 404-873-3391 www.puppet.org • Through Dec. 27: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” • Dec. 29 to Jan. 10: “Pinnocchio” • Jan. 13-24: “Brother Coyote and Sister Fox” • Jan. 28 to March 10: “SPACE!” CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF ATLANTA 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, Atlanta 404-659-5437 www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org • Dec. 31: Noon Year’s Eve party • Ongoing: “Gateway to the World” exhibit • Ongoing: “Step Up To Science” • Ongoing: “Tools for Solutions” • Ongoing: “Fundamentally

Food” • Ongoing: “Let Your Creativity Flow” • Ongoing: “Leaping Into Learning” COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta 770-916-2800 www.cobbenergycentre.com • Dec. 31: Dancing With The Stars: Live! “Dance All Night Tour” • Jan. 7-10: SMITE World Championship • Jan. 15-17: Shen Yun • Jan. 28: ArtsBridge — “Elephant & Piggie We Are in a Play” • Jan. 31: “Peppa Pig Live!”

FOX THEATRE 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-881-2100 www.foxtheatre.org • Through Dec. 27: Atlanta Ballet’s “Nutcracker” • Jan. 1: “HeartByrne — A Tribute to Talking Heads” • Jan. 10: State Ballet Theatre of Russia presents “Romeo and Juliet” • Jan. 12-24: “The Book of Mormon” • Jan. 30: “Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage” • Jan. 31: Theresa Caputo Live

FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 767 Clifton Road N.E., Atlanta 404-929-6300 www.fernbankmuseum.org • Through Jan. 10: “Winter Wonderland” exhibit • Through Jan. 23: “Searching for the Queen of Sheba” exhibit • Through Jan. 23: “Women of Vision” exhibit • Dec. 31: Noon Year’s Eve • Jan. 9: Wild Africa Day HIGH MUSEUM OF ART 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-733-4400 www.high.org • Through Jan. 10: “Seriously Silly!” The art & whimsy of Mo Willems, Brett Weston • Through Jan. 17: “Habsburg Splendor: Masterpieces from Vienna’s Imperial Collections” • Through Jan. 31: “American Encounters: The Simple Pleasures of Still Life” • Ongoing: Molly Hatch: Physic Garden • Ongoing: Howard Finster: Paradise Garden • Ongoing: African Art: Building the Collection • Ongoing: The Golden Rule: Works from Lenore and Burton Gold To submit an event for By Venue Arts & Entertainment, email features@gwinnettdailypost.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 5C

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movies

film fans

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

SEE IT NOW OR WAIT

WHO WILL LIKE THIS...

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE

PASS/FAIL

EDITOR’S NOTE: Film Fans features local residents reviewing the movie of the week: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” To be a film fan, email features@gwinnettdailypost.com.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

Pass: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was fun, exciting and it just felt right. There was a perfect mix of new characters and story along with the nostalgia of the original trilogy.

Fail: Not really a fail, but waiting for your favorite characters to show up was hard to do.

Both Daisy Ridley, as Rey, and John Boyega, as Finn, did an excellent job with their new roles.

It was easy to relate to Rey’s heart and Finn’s boyish charm, which grew on you as the movie progressed.

Obviously “Star Wars” fans everywhere should be happy with this new installment. I would even encourage those who weren’t “in the club” to give this one a try.

“The Force Awakens” is totally worth seeing on the big screen. In fact, you should go see it right now.

Thirty-two years is a long time to wait for the “Star Wars” sequel of my childhood dreams, and “The Force Awakens” delivered above and beyond my expectations. Once again, J.J. Abrams has done an excellent job of breathing new life into an old movie franchise.

Even better, he protected what we loved about the original, respecting the past and setting us up for a great future.

This “Star Wars” has grown with its original audience by being more mature, deep and thought-provoking. I can’t wait until 2017 for the next episode!

Pass: The soundtrack was great.

John Williams has not lost anything over the years. The music seemed to fit right in to all the scenes and was never distracting. I stayed around afterwards to hear the rest of it as the credits rolled.

The acting was fine and, fortunately for me, you didn’t have to remember all the details of the other six movies in the series to enjoy this one and I never felt lost. I was happy that there was no bad language or other questionable content for the younger generation to consume.

Fail: My son filled me in on the oddity that a character is able to use the Force without any apparent training. Rey and Finn seemed to develop a close relationship without any real reason or development. It just seemed to sort of happen.

Daisy Ridley did a great job, and they set her up well for the next movie. John Boyega did a good job, too, although, as I mentioned above, their characters’ relationship didn’t really develop, it just seemed to happen. The new robot (BB-8) adds some bit of comedy and is an interesting addition to C-3P0 and R2-D2.

Obviously this is a science fiction show and it doesn’t disappoint if you are into that sort of thing.

There is a little bit of romance but not enough for those looking for a chick flick.

The fight and chase scenes are well done but not enough of the story to make it an action movie.

The updated abilities of animation and other computergenerated effects make this one worth seeing at the theater. I did not spring the extra money for the 3-D version, so I cannot comment on that. My son didn’t like the 3-D technology in the last movie we saw, so I didn’t want to waste the money.

I was quite pleased that I wasn’t lost, since I hadn’t watched the older movies in several years. I still had the general idea of what had occurred in those episodes. This story can survive on its own, but fans of the series will certainly put it together with all the others. I usually go to the matinee to save the money but was unable to make it that early this time. I felt like I still got my money’s worth, and my 12-year-old son really liked the movie. I was happy to take him to it.

Pass: The newest installment passes on every level. However, where it truly succeeds in spectacular fashion is in the tone, making it feel like a true part of the original series. A smartly written screenplay, great acting and plenty of action make this film worthy of the “Star Wars” title.

Fail: If there truly is anything missing in the story (aside from a major character for the majority of the film), it’s the lack of focus on the mythology of The Force that was prevalent in the original series.

Relative unknown Daisy Ridley as Rey truly stands out in her performance. She’s brash and bold and tough, while also coming across as sensitive and naïve, much like Mark Hamill did more than 30 years ago.

Any true “Star Wars” fan would thoroughly enjoy this movie, as would anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi flick. It also fits perfectly into the lighter fare such as “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

This is a no-brainer. “Star Wars” is meant to be enjoyed on the big screen, and this one is worth every penny the theater will charge for it.

Director J.J. Abrams and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan have managed to turn out a truly fun and fantastic sequel fans of this series have been waiting for. It has plenty of action, great humor and dialogue, and they blend a mixture of familiar and new faces to create a spectacular new installment in the saga; one that will have fans anxiously anticipating the next.

Kenny Grams, Lawrenceville

HHHH

J. P. Zinn, Lawrenceville

HHHH

Ron Adams, Athens

HHHH DISC SPOTLIGHT

Lights, camera,

thriller (co-starring Emily Bloom and Josh Brolin) MICHAEL CLARK that changes direction seemingly at will and like all great films of this genre comes with a remarkably simple (in retrospect) plot.

Movie: Whatever your opinion Disc: on drug legalization might be, it will certainly change One of the best efforts of after watching this movie.

2015, “Sicario” — because Technical specs: of its inclusion of Benecio aspect ratio: Widescreen del Toro — was compared to (2.40:1/1080p), audio: Eng“Traffic” (for which del Toro lish (Dolby Atmos, 2.0), won an Oscar) and it’s easy Spanish (Dolby Digital to see why. In both films he 5.1), subtitles: English and shows up as an agent fightSpanish. ing the Mexican drug trade Special Features: but that’s where any resem• 4 featurettes blance ends. This much-low• Digital copy er key production isn’t an • Original slipcover packensemble drama but rather aging a three-character mystery (Lionsgate, $24.99)

Sicario Blu-ray (R) HHHH HHHH

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Complete Second Season” (Jan. 5) — A new cast – led by Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn and Rachel McAdams – is involved in a new mystery in the HBO drama’s sophomore round. (Not rated) • “The Walk” (Jan. 5) — In 1974, Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) sets out to walk a wire between the towers of New York’s World Trade Center. (PG) • “Hotel Transylvania 2” (Jan. 12) — Dracula (voice of Adam Sandler) tries to appeal to the more monstrous side of his half-human grandson in this animated sequel. (PG)

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• “Sicario” (Jan. 5) — Emily Blunt plays an FBI agent trying to dismantle a drug cartel along the U.S.-Mexico border; Benicio Del Toro also stars. (R) • “Everest” (Jan. 19) — Climbers on the legendary and potentially lethal mountain end up in the midst of a storm; Jason Clarke stars.

(PG-13) • “Straight Outta Compton” (Jan. 19) — The formation and survival of the controversial hip-hop group N.W.A. is dramatized; stars include Aldis Hodge and Paul Giamatti. (R and unrated) • “True Detective: The

Building People of Prayer, Purpose and Power

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“The Godfather Part III,” “Django Unchained,” “As Good As It Gets,” “Magnolia,” “The Aviator,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Ali,” “Match Point,” “War Horse,” “Kate & Leopold,” “Evita,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Test your Return of the King” and film knowledge with “Avatar”?

2. Name two movies Michael Clark where Johnny Depp played Congratulations to a law enforcement officer. last week’s winner, Joan 3. Name an X-rated movMcLaughlin of Suwanee. ie featuring Helen Mirren.

Here are last week’s 4. What brothers has Marquestions again and the tin Sheen played in different answers: films?

1. Who is the most recent 5. Name someone who recipient of three Oscars for was nominated for an acting acting?

Oscar in five consecutive A: Daniel Day-Lewis decades.

2. Who is the last person The first person (located to win an Oscar for acting within the U.S.) to respond for playing a nonfictional with all of the correct anmember of the British Royal swers receives a prize of an Family? item or items (movie T-shirts, A: Colin Firth as George hats, posters, etc.). The VI in “The King’s Speech” winner also gets their name 3. The movie “Frozen” is published in the next Weekset in what country? end section. Please email A: Norway your answers, along with 4. What Genesis album your name to clarkwriter@ does the Christian Bale mindspring.com. Include character mention by name “Gwinnett Daily Post Trivia in “American Psycho?”

Contest” in the subject line.

A: “Duke” In the event no one answers 5. What actress was the all of the questions correctly, original choice to play Doro- the person with the most thy in “The Wizard of Oz”? correct answers submitted A: Shirley Temple by 6 p.m. the Monday after Now, for this week’s the contest is posted will be questions: the winner. Only one winner 1. What is the common, per household is eligible for time-related bond shared by each 30-day period.

6C • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

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‘Big Short’ smart, funny despite heavy subject matter The Big Short (R) THE BIG SHORT (R) 4 outHHHH of 4 stars

By Michael clark Movie Critic

The Golden Globes nominations were announced last week, and “The Big Short” received multiple nods, including one in the Best Picture Comedy/Musical category, which makes sense as it is sort of a comedy.

“The Martian” and “Joy” were nominated in the same category, although neither is a musical or a comedy, but that’s another story. “The Big Short” is a movie about the 2007-08 real estate/Wall Street bust, and it is very funny. That shouldn’t be the case, but hey, stranger things have happened.

There have been other recent movies that tackled this same subject (including this year’s “99 Homes”) and all of them were furrow-browed, serious dramas that (accurately) displayed doom and gloom.

While most of them were good (as in well-made), none of them were upbeat or “entertaining.”

“The Big Short” is both.

And smart. And informative. And sometimes depressing. But mostly it’s fun.

The main reason why it’s so fun is Adam McKay, a writer who began at “Saturday Night Live” and has directed six previous comedies, all starring Will Ferrell. Have you ever heard of the TV showturned website “Funny or Die?” McKay and Ferrell are the co-creators of that venture as well.

Being good (make that quite good) at creating mostly low-brow slapstick comedies, at least at first on paper, would not make McKay an ideal candidate to take on such daunting and heady subject matter, but in hindsight, he’s exactly the right kind of guy to interpret such outwardly boring material and make it

Above, Christian Bale plays Michael Burry in “The Big Short.”

At left, from left, Rafe Spall plays Danny Moses, Jeremy Strong plays Vinnie Daniel, Steve Carell plays Mark Baum, Ryan Gosling plays Jared Vennett and Jeffry Griffin plays Chris in “The Big Short.” (Special Photos: Paramount Pictures and Regency Enterprises)

seem not so ... stuffy.

Co-written by McKay and Charles Randolph, “The Big Short” is based on the book of the same name by Michael Lewis, a multi-best-selling author whose forte is finance, math and other similarly raucous, side-splitting literary subjects. He also wrote “Moneyball,” which is about math as it relates to baseball — you may have heard of it.

Lewis was quite surprised McKay wanted to make a movie about his book and initially voiced

concerns, saying that it was unfilmable. Lewis has since changed his tune.

Although many have complained about it, the movie’s slash ‘n’ cut editing will not give you whiplash or motion sickness and the copious amounts of purposefully fuzzy, financial industry/insider buzz words and jargon won’t actually make your head explode.

To defuse these and other concerns, McKay regularly stops the narrative, breaks the fourth wall and brings in a handful of celebrities (one of them in the nude)

as themselves to break it all down and make it, ya know, understandable.

For what were likely legal reasons, the writers changed the names of three of the four principals, so let’s just refer to all of them by their first names.

Michael (Christian Bale) is a doctor-turned-finance guru who first identified the pending bottoming-out in the housing loan market but because he came with so many quirks, nervous ticks and personal hygiene issues, no one took him seriously.

Far smoother (think a lounge lizard minus the smarm) is Jared (Ryan Gosling), a bank executive who shares the same fiscal mindset as Michael but is low on serious up-front capital to invest, so he latches on to Mark (Steve Carell) and his band of equally suspicious, weasel hedge fund associates.

Abrasive, quick-tempered and not real great with people, Mark needs a lot of convincing before he gets on board and — to his chagrin — is given more proof than he wanted.

The last to arrive on the scene is Ben (producer Brad Pitt), a sagely, worldweary type who got tired of swimming with sharks, now grows organic produce and doesn’t shave. Ben is approached by two garagebased upstarts who need an in to catch the attention of the money snobs in their ivory towers. After an enthusiastic smacking-down of the facts, they convince Ben to back, guide and mentor them.

Even though it’s smart and comical, “The Big Short” has the monumentally difficult task of convincing Mr. and Mrs. Joe Average to shell out money to watch a movie about some already rich guys who got richer and made many Americans poor in the process. These are men — operating mostly by themselves — that bet against the U.S. housing and mortgage markets and won going away.

To McKay’s credit, he doesn’t make them entirely likeable, and none of them really relishes the idea of profiting while millions of people lose their homes, jobs and savings. But if it wasn’t them, it would have eventually been someone else. You know, kind of like the lottery.

If you wish to assign blame, direct it at the sleazy politicians wanting to make the American Dream affordable to everyone regardless of income or credit worthiness or the banks that bundled sub-par portfolios in order to fool everyone (mostly themselves) into believing that everything was hunky dory.

It was these slime-bags that ruined an economy that has still yet to (and might not ever) fully recover.

Hating Michael, Jared, Mark and Ben because they were good at their jobs and recognized an opportunity via a worst-case scenario is understandable but not at all fair. They didn’t do anything to rob innocent people of their futures; they just bet the farm that other people would. (Paramount)

Tarantino delivers another masterpiece with ‘Hateful Eight’ The Hateful Eight THE HATEFUL (R) EIGHT (R) 4 outHHHH of 4 stars

By Michael clark Movie Critic

With the notable exception of “Jackie Brown” — his weakest effort to date and his only adapted screenplay — “The Hateful Eight” brings with it all of the calling cards we’ve come to associate with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.

It’s brash, bold, audacious, politically incorrect, violent as all get out, dialogue-heavy and dripping with pitch-black humor.

Contrary to early rumors, this is not a sequel to the pre-Civil War “Django Unchained” but instead a post-Civil War story set in the wintry American Northwest.

Other than the 19th century time-frame, the two films have little in common but do serve as excellent bookends to each other.

“Hateful Eight” is Tarantino’s longest movie yet and like most of his others is homage to older classic genres. Tarantino is probably the only modern filmmaker whose appreciation for what’s come before only fuels what he does going forward without any of it feeling derivative.

In addition to including an opening overture, an entr’acte (intermission) and exit music, it was also shot in 70 mm, a practice that essentially died out in the late 1960s. More on

At left, from left, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bruce Dern star in “The Hateful Eight.” Above, Samuel L. Jackson stars as Major Marquis Warren in “The Hateful Eight.” (Special Photos: Andrew Cooper/The Weinstein Company)

all of that in a bit.

Although technically a Western, “Hateful Eight” is mostly a mystery thriller in the form of a wordy stage play. A good 85 percent of it takes place in one room over a threeplus-hour stretch with a lot of talking and comparatively little action.

In the hands of a lessastute filmmaker, these conditions would be a self-imposed, paralyzing death sentence and a snooze-fest for audiences.

But as he always does, Tarantino puts his trademark corkscrew perspective on everything and delivers another masterpiece.

Of all of Tarantino’s previous films, “Hateful Eight” most structurally resembles “Pulp Fiction” in that the majority of the principal characters are up to no good, but we can’t figure out exactly who they might be or the ultimate motives fueling their actions.

It’s also similar because plot and character development are so critically intertwined that divulging too much of the former would reveal multiple spoilers, which is odd as the plot in retrospect (like in “Pulp Fiction”) is so basic and simple. There’s also some out-of-sequence narrative stuff going on but not until well after the two-hour mark.

Here’s what you can safely know now before going in.

Marquis (Samuel L. Jackson) is a former Union Army soldierturned-bounty hunter in possession of multiple corpses worth big bucks who is now stuck in the snow. Heading to the same stop-over location as Marquis is John (Kurt Russell, channeling John Wayne) another bounty hunter handcuffed to Daisy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), an accused murderer with all of the social graces you might associate with

a drunken sailor on shore leave.

They soon make the acquaintance of Chris (Walton Goggins), a former Confederate soldier with intentions of higher office. The quartet’s close quarters (a stagecoach) leads to several crackling and robust vocal and physical interactions; meaning: most of them hate each other.

Upon arrival at their destination, the fearsome foursome meets its didactic equals inside. There’s Sandy (Bruce Dern), another Confederate veteran, Joe (Michael Madsen), a man of few words, the British Oswaldo (Tim Roth), a man of too many words and Bob (Demian Bichir), a Mexican who is overseeing the outpost at the request of the vacationing owner.

This is the point where everything turns into a chess match or, if you like, a big game of chicken. Like cats in a cage,

the eight plus one (coach driver O.B. — James Parks) start sizing each other up and, as with any attentive viewer, begin to identify faults, weaknesses and unintended contradictory statements.

Although not always “natural” — meaning it often sounds calculating and comes with noticeable, only-in-the-movies tones and inflections — Tarantino’s dialogue is ultra-economic, laserfocused and is almost always accompanied with multiple, double-entendre meanings.

The adage “the pen is mightier than the sword” never had a better application in 21st century filmmaking than it does here and Tarantino’s grasp of 19th century speech patterns is phenomenal.

Which leads to another issue…

“Hateful Eight” — like every other Tarantino flick — has included multiple utterances of the “N”

word. Without defending or vilifying him, you might want to ask yourself — would the speaking of the N-word in 1880s, post-Civil War America seem to be that irregular?

If you’re hyper-sensitive to crass verbiage or easily offended by racially insensitive language, you would best be advised to avoid (at your loss) this film.

Now, back to paragraph three. The movie opens today in 70 mm (with all of the bells and whistles) but only at Regal Atlantic Station in Atlanta and AMC Southpoint in McDonough. On New Year’s Eve it will open wide in standard digital format with the omission of the overture, intermission and exit music.

Truth be told, unless you’re a 70 mm purist and/or a Tarantino completist, wait a week. You’ll still get the full gist and won’t be missing out on anything very substantial.

(The Weinstein Company)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 • 7C

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TOUGH TOPIC Will Smith stars as Dr. Bennet Omalu in “Concussion.” (Special Photo: Columbia Pictures)

‘Concussion’ starts strong on tackling controversial subject Concussion (PG-13) 2 1/2HHHH out of 4 stars

those commercials? They don’t give a hoot about what the movie has to say and for good reason.

As one of the characters

By Michael clark in the film points out: “This Movie Critic is an organization that owns a day of the week that used If you’re a devoted fan to belong to the church.” of the NFL, you’ve known For the most part, the NFL about “Concussion” for a is impervious to any kind while and have likely been of long-term damage, no leery of what exactly it might matter how shocking the bad say and how. news and negative PR fallout You might also have nomight be initially. ticed the commercial trailer Trying to drive this point for the movie has received a home even further, director great deal of airplay during Peter Landesman (whose televised NFL games for screenplay was based on most of the season, and if the book “Brain Change” you find that to be a bit odd, by Jeanne Marie Laskas) you’re not alone.

— contrary to early suspiWhy would an entity like cions — does not tap-dance the NFL — an organization around the issue at hand and that has been rife with recent in no way holds back in his scandal — agree to promote portrayal of the NFL as a a movie that paints it in a power-wielding, cash-cow mostly negative light? It’s not monolith. like the NFL is cash-strapped If Landesman had only and in need of advertisers. stayed on course and not Do you want to know why strayed into completely the NFL has been airing unrelated subplot territory,

“Concussion” might have been as great as his vastly underrated “Parkland,” his ensemble drama about the JFK assassination.

Delivering his best dramatic performance since “Ali,” Will Smith stars as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerianborn forensic pathologist living in Pittsburgh. A tad eccentric, Omalu talks to the dead people he examines while listening to ’80s era quiet storm/slow jams on his ear buds.

Immensely personable and more than talented, Omalu has still not quite figured out why Americans are so obsessed with football. After discovering the identity of his next corpse, it will become much clearer to him.

The dead man is Mike Webster (David Morse), the Hall of Fame center for the Steelers during the five-year stretch in the ’70s when the team won four Super Bowls.

Despite being a local hero of mythical proportions, Web-

ster was broke, lived in his car and suffered from what Omalu initially identified as early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

If this had been just another homeless man, Omalu would have put it to rest, something many of his co-workers — all big Steelers fans — wanted. Being something of an inquisitive rebel and a man who took his job seriously, Omalu — out of his own pocket — paid for some very expensive lab tests that showed Webster died because of excessive and repetitive head injuries from playing football his whole life, which turned him into a paranoid, self-destructive man. The condition Webster and others like him suffer from is kind of like of schizophrenia on crack and steroids.

Having established a superb setup, Landesman fritters most of it away by wedging in an overlong romantic subplot involving

Omalu and Prema Mutiso (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), another African immigrant he met at church and eventually wed. While sweet and nice and sure to appeal to the female demographic, it’s a momentum-crushing, near-deal-breaker that should have been minimalized if not outright excised.

It’s easy to understand why Landesman might have taken this route. First, there’s the female demographic thing. Even though this should have been a straight medical/legal procedural, that was probably too dry and dramatically wanting for the studio.

Then there’s the 800 pound gorilla/elephant in the room that is the NFL. While making the organization look guilty and perhaps negligent, demonizing such a beloved American institution (which would not been out of line) would have probably been viewed as pushing it or going too far. To toss in a

non-football sports reference: “Concussion” isn’t hardball but rather fast-pitch softball which, in the end, is still just softball.

To be fair to the NFL, it has implemented (only after being forced by Omalu’s findings going public) changes in its procedures regarding the prevention and treatment of game-related concussions and, as it always does, the NFL did so with much ballyhoo and self-congratulatory back-slapping.

In the long run, will it make any difference? What happens when a game that depends mostly on big guys running into each at high speeds makes it safer and thus tamer? Will audiences — especially those younger ones that grew up with and have become desensitized by ultra-violent video games — still want to watch? That’s when the situation will revert back to being solely a financial decision. (Sony/ Columbia)

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper star in “Joy.” (Special Photo: Fox)

‘Joy’ offers award-winning performance from Lawrence Joy (PG-13) 2 1/2HHHH out of 4 stars

job, a beyond-colorful immediate family and a creative vision she hasn’t quite yet realized. She also

By Michael clark has the patience of a saint.

Movie Critic Opening with some voiceover from Diane The third time is not the Ladd (as Joy’s grandmothcharm for the four collabo- er Mimi), some grainy rators of “Joy” who all did flashbacks and snippets of much better collectively a fake black & white TV with their previous two soap opera (featuring real films together (“Silver soap stars), “Joy” gets off Linings Playbook” and to a rocky start and feels “American Hustle”). a lot like “I Heart HuckaThis is not an instance bees,” Russell’s ambitious where “familiarity breeds but failed stab at art-house contempt” but more of glory. a filmmaker tackling a Russell also tosses in a subject that doesn’t suit dream sequence or two and his particular talents and a tacked-on epilogue that shoehorning his performfeels more like the opening ers into roles more out of of “The Godfather” than convenience and novelty the end of a feel-good, rather than a proper fit. rags-to-riches true story.

Co-written by direcJoy’s typical day is tor David O. Russell and returning home after hours Annie Mumolo (“Bridesof abuse while working at maids”), “Joy” is based on an airline ticket desk to a the life of Joy Mangano home inhabited by three (Jennifer Lawrence), a largely inert adults and two divorced New York mother non-descript kids. In addiof two with a dead-end tion to the calming oasis

that is Mimi, her mom Terry (Virginia Madsen) is anchored in her room watching whatever is on TV while her wanna-be lounge singer ex-husband Tony (Edgar Ramirez) continues to dream of fame.

One evening Joy is thrown a curve when her father Rudy (Robert de Niro) is “returned” to her by his second, soon-to-beex-wife who can no longer tolerate him. Frazzled and being pulled in all directions, Joy instructs Rudy to bunk in the basement alongside Tony, which is the human equivalent of putting two feral cats in a pillow case, sewing it shut and then tossing it into an icy swimming pool.

It isn’t long before the insecure, petrified-tobe-alone Rudy (via an arcane matchmaker dating service) hits the mother lode by snagging the heart of wealthy widow Trudy (Isabella Rossellini) that,

on multiple levels, proves to be Joy’s salvation. In addition to getting Rudy out of her house, Joy pitches Trudy on the idea of bankrolling her fabulous invention: the self-wringing “Miracle” mop.

What transpires next takes most of the second act to play out and is largely uneventful. Mostly it’s just a series of the typical “growing pains” associated with getting something from the drawing board to finished product.

The narrative takes a slight tick upward once Joy meets Neil Walker (Bradley Cooper), a bigwig for the QVC shopping network, a company that can break-out or bury any consumer product in less than a minute. Neil is initially dismissive but Joy — brimming with grit, determination, logic and unbridled drive — gets him to change his mind.

It would be too easy (and crushingly boring) to

have it all end there without incident and like any good story, there’s always a third act valley or two that the protagonist must navigate before emerging victorious.

If what Joy went through during this stretch actually happened, she’s lucky she’s not currently residing in a landfill somewhere. Joy might be bold, plucky and fearless but no one could do what she does in the last half hour without getting whacked — at least in the manner the writers present it here.

Viewers might feel like smacking someone after watching the movie and discovering it’s only a comedy in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Including a handful of chuckle-inducing scenes doesn’t make a movie a comedy, especially if the remainder of it is dramatic and often disheartening stuff.

If you’ve caught the

trailer, you’ve already seen everything in the movie that is funny. In some circles this might be called bait-and-switch or worse, false advertising. Perhaps the Golden Globe committee based their nomination for the movie in the “Best Comedy or Musical” category on just the trailer and never actually saw the film in its entirety.

What the Golden Globe folks did get right was nominating Lawrence in the Best Actress category.

It speaks a great deal to Lawrence’s talents that she is the lead in a movie so horribly conceived and executed and not only does she emerge unscathed, her performance here could be viewed by some to be the best of her career. Considering what Lawrence has already done that’s saying a lot and offers further evidence that she is the finest performer — male or female — of her generation. (Fox)

8C • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015

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Subtle, intelligent ‘Carol’ delivers masterful storytelling Carol (R) CAROL (R) 3 1/2HHHH out of 4 stars

By Michael clark Movie Critic

Walking political, cultural and artistic tightropes and rarely faltering, director Todd Haynes’ period-drama “Carol” does what few films like it have ever done without doing so with a heavy hand.

Based on the 1952 novel “The Price of Salt”

by Patricia Highsmith and adapted by Phyllis Nagy, “Carol” delves into the world of alternative lifestyles at a time when the mere thought of such gave most people the willies. If you recognize Highsmith’s name, it would be for good reason. She also wrote, among others, the novels that were made into the films “Strangers on a Train”

by Alfred Hitchcock and “The Talented Mr. Ripley”

by Anthony Minghella.

As with both of those movies, “Carol” perfectly captures the genteel, highgloss veneer of post-World War II America that goes far in masking the percolating undercurrents of infidelity, jealousy, class warfare, closeted homosexuality and blackmail. It’s easy to see why Haynes was drawn to the material; he explored many of the same themes in the equally effective “Far From Heaven.”

Opening with a scene that seems oddly out of place but makes sense later, the story begins in earnest at a New York department store during Christmas season. There to buy a gift for her daughter, Carol (Cate Blanchett) asks the opinion of sales girl Therese (Rooney Mara) who appears to be at a loss for words.

perception. For years he’s leaned on Carol to be the proper, socially graceful wife and doting mother whose only concern is in pleasing her husband and, for the most part, she has obliged him.

Never married and new to the city, Therese is being relentlessly pursued by Richard (Jake Lacy), an overly-anxious man-child who is merely a younger version of Harge. His latching on to Therese has little to do with her as a person or possible romantic interest and more with him checking “find a suitable spouse” off of his career/ lifestyle to-do list.

When it becomes clear that one of them has to leave and the other merely wants to, Carol and Therese make the brave decision of doing so. They’re not running from something as much as they’re running towards something else.

It’s all in how you wish to perceive it.

Anyone who watches the movie will come away with a different opinion of what they just saw, but everyone will likely agree that Carol and Therese were surAbove, Rooney Mara, left, and rounded by some very ignoCate Blanchett star in “Carol.”

At right, Kyle Chandler stars in rant, selfish, short-sighted “Carol.” (Special Photos: The people.

Weinstein Company) Many potential viewers will dismiss “Carol” out of hand because of its connection to lifestyles with which they are not comfortable, which is fine. This movie is not for everyone on purpose, but neither is it a female version of “BrokeA shy, pale, petite bruback Mountain.”

Both women are involved stretch of time without a powerful — movie that nette in her 20s, Therese It’s subtle and low-key, with men that no longer (if lot of dialogue. Whenever takes a more conventional offers strong visual and intelligent and warm and ever) excite them and they Carol and Therese are alone approach. Nowhere is this emotional contrast to the has little to do with sex begin their friendship with together, it’s as if the rest of more evident than with 40-ish, tall, erudite, blonde almost skittish posturing. or sexuality. It’s about the world becomes invisthe depiction of Carol’s and worldly Carol. While Thanks in great deal to the ible to them. It is masterful husband Harge (Kyle Chan- two people trying to keep it’s clear each is interested someone they love close to actress’ collective nuance storytelling. dler). in the other, neither gets them when almost everyand economy, Haynes’ When the various supA generic, midlevel body they know wants them close to doing anything visuals and Nagy’s strategic porting players come in businessman of some to stop, fall in line or just overt and instead “tests” the use of non-verbal comand out of frame, “Carol” is sort, Harge is a textbook go away. (The Weinstein other with innocuous yet munication, the narrative transformed into an entirely narcissist whose entire specific social gestures. delivers volumes in a short different — yet equally world hinges on image and Company)

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