gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, september 2, 2020 ♦ A3
WORLD & NATION
WORLD
China passes sweeping Hong Kong national security law Beijing imposed a widereaching national security law on Hong Kong on Tuesday, which many fear could be used to override existing legal processes and erode the city’s civil and political freedoms. The stringent national security law and its 66 articles were kept secret from the public until 11pm local time, when the law officially went into effect. It dramatically broadens Beijing’s powers to investigate, prosecute and punish suspected criminals in Hong Kong. The law was drafted behind closed doors by members of Beijing’s top lawmaking body, the National People’s Congress (NPC), bypassing Hong Kong’s own elected legislative council. The new legislation criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers. People who are convicted of such crimes can face sentences up to life in prison. Under the new law, the Chinese central government will establish its own law enforcement presence in Hong Kong, labeled the “Office for Safeguarding National Security.” A secretive national security committee for Hong Kong will also be established, comprised of Hong Kong government officials and an advisor appointed by the Chinese central government. According to a summary published by the Hong Kong government, this group’s work “shall not be disclosed to the public,” and “decisions by the Committee shall not be amenable to judicial review.”
Fatal police shooting of Black man sparks protests in Los Angeles
By Claire Colbert CNN
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies fatally shot a Black man during a confrontation Monday afternoon in South LA, sparking protests at the scene of the encounter. The sheriff’s department says that at about 3:15 p.m. local time two deputies tried to stop a Black man riding a bicycle “in violation of vehicle codes,” but when they approached him, he got off the bicycle and ran. Sheriff’s Lt. Brandon Dean told reporters that deputies caught up to the suspect about a block away, and when they approached him, the man punched one of the deputies in the face and dropped items of clothing he had been carrying. Deputies “noticed that inside the clothing items he dropped was a black semiautomatic handgun,” and that’s when both deputies opened fire, shooting the man “several” times, Dean said. Investigators recovered a handgun from the scene. The man was later pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not identify the man, who was only described as being about 30 years old. Neither of the deputies were injured, Dean said.
christian monterrosa/ap
Deputies with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department stand in formation during protests following a police shooting on Monday. The man’s death comes amid public protests over the August 23 police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the May death of George Floyd in Minneapolis after an officer knelt on his neck.
have yet to be interviewed and were not wearing body cameras; investigators are combing the area for any surveillance video or home security footage and are calling on any witnesses with cell phone video to come forward. The District Attorney’s Police not wearing office and Office of the Inspector General are assisting body cameras in the investigation. Dean said the deputies Following the shooting,
fore walking away from the vehicle. Johnson was not asked to take a sobriety test.
NATION
Mississippi governor to sign bill removing Confederate emblem Source: Intelligence on from state flag Russian bounty plot was Republican Gov. Tate Reeves included in the was set to sign a bill TuesPresident’s Daily Brief day evening to remove the
The intelligence that assessed there was an effort by a Russian military intelligence unit to pay the Taliban to kill US soldiers was included in one of President Donald Trump’s daily briefings on intelligence matters sometime in the spring, according to a US official with direct knowledge of the latest information. That assessment, the source said, was backed up by “several pieces of information” that supported the view that there was an effort by the Russian intelligence unit — the GRU — to pay bounties to kill US soldiers, including interrogation of Taliban detainees and electronic eavesdropping. The source said there was some other information that did not corroborate this view but said, nonetheless, ‘”This was a big deal. When it’s about US troops you go after it 100%, with everything you got.” The New York Times reported Monday night that the intelligence had been included in a written version of the President’s Daily Brief in late February. Trump is not known to fully or regularly read the President’s Daily Brief, something that is well-known within the White House. He is instead orally briefed two or three times a week by his intelligence officials. — From wire reports
Confederate emblem from the official Mississippi state flag, the only remaining state flag to feature the Confederate insignia. The Mississippi state Legislature in a historic move on Sunday passed a bill to retire the current flag and create a commission to design a new one to be voted on in the fall. Reeves, who had previously signaled he would approve the measure, is scheduled to sign the bill removing the flag’s official status at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, according to his office. Mississippi lawmakers weighed a change to their flag for weeks amid ongoing racial justice protests across the country. The flag, first adopted in 1894, has red, white and blue stripes with the Confederate battle emblem in the corner. The flag of the Confederacy, its symbols and the statues commemorating Confederate leaders have long divided the country. Critics call the flag a symbol that represents the war to uphold slavery, while supporters call it a sign of Southern pride and heritage.
activist group Black Lives Matter L.A. tweeted a call for protesters to gather in the area. CNN affiliate KCBS/ KCAL estimated as many as 100 demonstrators were at the scene Monday evening, chanting demands for justice. “How many more times do we have to gather out here, mourning the loss of our brothers and sisters,” one protester told KCBS/ KCAL.
St. Louis couple pulls firearms on protesters cutting through their private street
rogelio V. solis/ap
A Mississippi state flag flies outside the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves was set to sign a bill Tuesday evening to remove the Confederate emblem, the only remaining state flag to feature the Confederate insignia. $660 billion Paycheck Protection Program — the massive federal effort to keep the backbone of the US economy afloat amid the coronavirusdriven recession. But like so many others, the owners of Atrevida Beer Co. in Colorado Springs, Colorado, have an urgent message for lawmakers as applications for the small business emergency rescue program close Tuesday night: Access to money with more flexible terms is needed, and fast. “It didn’t solve the problems,” Rich Fierro told CNN in an interview. “What it did was sustain us for a few more months.”
Newly released footage shows former Chicago Police superintendent asleep at the wheel Small businesses leave $130B in emergency Newly released video shows former Chicago Police Surelief untouched
perintendent Eddie JohnJessica and Richard Fi- son asleep at the wheel of erro are among more than a vehicle, an incident that 4.5 million small business led to his firing. The 3 minute and 22 secowners who tapped into the
ond video taken from a police officer’s body worn camera in the early morning hours of Oct. 17, was released by the city of Chicago on Monday. The video shows a police officer stopping his vehicle, getting out of the car and walking toward Johnson’s car. The officer approaches with a flashlight and knocks on the window as Johnson appears to be asleep in the driver’s seat. “Sir, sir, you all right?” the officer says while pointing his flashlight in the window. Johnson replies, “Yeah, I am.” The officer then asks, “You good?” and Johnson replies, “Yeah.” The officer asks for ID before turning his body away from the car and saying to someone off camera, “Hey, what’s going on?” It is unclear from the video who the officer is speaking with. Johnson then hands his ID to the officer, who asks, “You just sitting here, or you wanna go home?” The former superintendent says, “Nah, I am good,” and the officer replies, “Alright, sir. Have a good night,” be-
Protesters en route to demonstrate outside the St. Louis mayor’s residence were walking on a private street when two armed individuals came out of a home brandishing weapons. Videos obtained by CNN show two people, a man with a long rifle and a woman with a handgun, holding their firearms outside a St. Louis home as protesters walked by — protesting Mayor Lyda Krewson’s decision to publish the names and addresses of people in favor of police reform. Two eyewitness videos obtained by CNN were taken outside the home on Portland Place, a private street near Krewson’s home, around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Daniel Shular, a local reporter, took one of the videos and said he watched the entire roughly 10-minute long incident unfold. About 500 protesters were cutting through Portland Place, according to Shular, to bypass road closures nearby that blocked access to the mayor’s home. “A door next to the gate at Portland Place was unlocked and protesters went through it to cut through the neighborhood to get to Krewson’s house,” he told CNN. That’s when Shular says the man and the woman — now identified as Mark and Patricia McCloskey — came out of the house with the firearms. — From wire reports
PEOPLE
Carl Reiner, longtime comedy legend, dies at 98 Carl Reiner, the writer, actor, director and producer whose many decades’ worth of credits — including “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The 2000-Year-Old Man” — showcased a ready wit and a generous spirit, has died, his son, director Rob Reiner, announced in a tweet. He was 98. “Last night my dad passed away,” Rob Reiner wrote. “As I write this my heart is hurting. He was my guiding light.” Carl Reiner died Monday of natural causes at his home in Beverly Hills, his assistant Judy Nagy told CNN in a statement. His career spanned live television, Broadway, motion pictures, record albums and a variety of guest appearances. He was a performer and writer on the legendary “Your Show of Shows.” He created “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” one of the great situation comedies in history, which was based on his life as a comedy writer.
Judge temporarily blocks tell-all book by Trump’s niece A New York judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the publication of an unflattering tell-all book written by President Trump’s niece that Simon & Schuster is set to publish in July. The ruling, issued by Judge Hal B. Greenwald of the New York State Supreme Court, the state’s trial court, is the first legal win for Robert S. Trump, the younger brother of the President. Robert Trump has sought to block the book by Mary Trump, the President’s niece, contending it violates a confidentiality agreement related to the estate of the President’s father, Fred Trump. “Robert Trump is very pleased with the New York Supreme Court’s injunction against Mary Trump and Simon & Schuster,” Charles Harder, Robert Trump’s attorney, said in a statement. Calling the actions of Mary Trump and Simon & Schuster “reprehensible,” Harder added that he looked forward to “vigorously litigating this case.”
MTV VMAs: Lady Gaga, The Weeknd and more take home awards The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards aired Sunday night and despite the pandemic, an (outdoor) show still went on with some of the biggest names in music. Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga led in nominations going into the event. Gaga took the stage multiple times, winning the first award of the broadcast for best collaboration for her hit single with Grande, “Rain On Me.” Two more of the top awards of the night, artist of the year and song of the year, went to Gaga as well. K-pop super group BTS also won multiple VMAs. Machine Gun Kelly won best alternative for his single “Bloody Valentine,” starring his girlfriend Megan Fox. Doja Cat won for best new artist. Taylor Swift won for best direction and sent in an acceptance video message from home. — From wire reports
DNA evidence points to 8-year-old’s killer after 38 years By Ganesh Setty CNN
After nearly 38 agonizing years, the family of Kelly Ann Prosser finally has learned who killed her. Police in Columbus, Ohio, said Friday they cracked the cold case on who abducted, sexually assaulted and killed the 8-year-old, all thanks to genealogical testing and a podcast tracing the history of the case. Investigators say on Sep-
MUST READ
tember 20, 1982, Kelly Ann was abducted in Columbus’ University District while walking home from Indianola Elementary School. Two days later, her body was discovered in a cornfield in nearby Madison County, Columbus Deputy Police Chief Greg Bodker said during a news conference. Case details from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office say Prosser had been beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled.
What was left behind was what — after years — helped investigators solve the case. “This is a case that throughout the years all of CPD wanted to solve, and a case that affected all personnel on a personal level,” Bodker said. “Imagine in 1982 collecting something that you didn’t know would one day exist — DNA.”
partment’s “most intense investigations,” evidence preserved from the crime scene proved to be the key for solving the case decades later, Bodker said. Bodker identified Prosser’s killer as Harold Warren Jarrell, a now-deceased man who was not mentioned in the original Prosser case file. In 1977, Jarrell was charged and convicted with abductSuspect was released ing a different 8-year-old girl months before killing from Tamarack Circle, on the After one of the police de- north side of Columbus. He
was released in January 1982, eight months before Prosser’s abduction, said Sgt. Terry McConnell. He’s not currently a suspect in any other crimes in Columbus, according to Bodker. In a statement read aloud by McConnell during Friday’s news conference, Prosser’s family thanked law enforcement for their dedication to their case over nearly four decades. “When Kelly Ann left for
school, the morning of September 20, 1982, we did not expect our time with her would abruptly end or that our future would change in every way imaginable.” “One moment we had this dazzling, mischievous 8-yearold little girl, then suddenly all we had left were memories, photographs that will never age, a calendar marking a dreadful new holiday, a grave, and pieces of Kelly’s life stored in a box,” the statement read.
gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, september 2, 2020 ♦ A5
PERSPECTIVES
Gwinnett Daily Post www.gwinnettdailypost.com
Todd Cline,
Editor and SCNI Vice President of Content todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com
COLUMNIST|TOM PURCELL
Census 2020: Accurate account is essential I
hope we get it right. Disinformation in the era of social meData collection for the 2020 U.S. dia? I’m shocked. Census ends soon. This census, the To stay secure, remember that the Cen22nd in U.S. history, has faced its share sus Bureau will never ask for your full of challenges and controversies. Social Security number, or your bank The goal of the census has remained account or credit card numbers, or for the same throughout its 230-year his- money or donations – but scammers tory: to count every person living in the pretending to be from the bureau will. United States. Ten questions ask about respondents’ The Constitution requires the federal name, sex, age, race, telephone number government to do so every 10 years. and whether they own or rent. The population count determines There are no questions about rethe number of U.S. House seats ligion, whether one is a legal resieach state will have – which can dent or whether one has a Social become highly political. Security number. When a state gains or loses seats, When the Trump administrathe party in power sometimes retion proposed adding a citizendraws congressional districts in ship question, opponents cried hopes of making it impossible for foul. They said the question would Purcell the other party to win. That’s why intimidate noncitizens into not census results are so important to responding, which would result politicians. in undercounts in districts with many The census also determines how much noncitizens. The administration evenfederal funding your neighborhood will tually dropped that idea. receive. The more people counted in a Here’s the latest battle, according to Roll region, the more money that region will Call: “Under pressure from the Trump receive for roads, bridges and other gov- administration to end the count early, the ernment programs. (Census) agency will conclude all enuFrom the start, this census has faced meration efforts on Sept. 30, and then no small number of controversies and comb through data before wrapping up challenges. the whole process by Dec. 31 – half the “From cybersecurity issues to admin- time the agency originally anticipated afistrative problems to a legal drama over ter delaying its initial schedule because a possible citizenship question, there are of the pandemic.” plenty of reasons to worry about the deTrump opponents say this could cause cennial head count,” noted The Atlantic undercounting in minority communiin July 2018. ties. The administration says modern Cybersecurity certainly is a concern. technologies and efficiencies enable an This is the very first census that allows accurate count and meeting its statutory answering questions online – which may deadline of Dec. 31, 2020. put respondents and their data at risk of In an era when everything is hopecyberattack, particularly amid COVID-19, lessly political and political opponents which has brought thousands of scam- loathe and distrust each other, one thing mers out of the woodwork. really matters. Wired reported in 2019 that “experts It’s essential that we get our census fear the (census) bureau is opening itself data right. up to a range of new risks, from basic functionality and connectivity failures Tom Purcell is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review to cybersecurity threats and disinforma- humor columnist. Send comments to Tom at Tom@TomPurcell.com. tion campaigns.”
Just chill
COLUMNIST|DAVID CARROLL
2
020 has been the Edsel of years. mask at the counter. They’re angry beFor those who are too young to un- cause the wait is longer than it used to derstand that ancient reference, it be. They don’t understand that this has has been the New Coke of years. Am I become a two-person operation. I don’t still going back too far? Okay, it’s been have six people back there helping out. the Google Glass of years. There, I’ve They’ve got to take it out on somebody, covered every generation who may read and here I am.” this column. For all of us, the common With that, she headed for the kitchen thread is anger. to grab my order, while others lined up People are snippy. Tempers are short. behind me. Some of them were sure to We see the videos on the news. complain about one thing or the You’re telling me to wear a mask? other. Seven days a week, fifteen Then, I’ll kick your shopping hours a day. And we take it out cart! You’re short-handed beon her. cause your co-workers called in The next day, I stopped in at sick? That still doesn’t explain the post office. I went from the why I’ve been waiting for my frying pan into the fire. The line Whopper for five minutes! What was long, and only one window do you mean I can’t come inside was open. Frankly, this post office the bank? You’ve got my money has been understaffed for years. Carroll in there, and I have to wait in the Now, it’s like a bad comedy roudrive-thru line? tine. Imagine Tim Conway behind the Evidently, some folks haven’t heard. counter trying to track packages, sell This isn’t 2019 any more. It’s not even stamps, and help people fill out forms 1999, or 1969. Our new world is spin- as the line grows longer. ning around like Barney Fife, after acciBut the post office audience was in no dentally drinking out of Otis Campbell’s mood to laugh. He was explaining to cusmug. It’s staggering around aimlessly, tomers that they weren’t the only ones knocking over everything in its path. experiencing delays. Mail was being held We’re just along for the crazy ride. up, sorting devices were being removed, No one is taking the blame, and no and workers’ hours were being cut back. one is shouldering the responsibility. But, 2020 being 2020, we have to take No one has said, “I’m sorry, I’m the rea- it out on someone, and he was the one son you’re wandering around in masks, on duty. “That package was mailed four missing church, and living like a hermit.” days ago, and it should have been here We don’t know who take it out on, so by now!” The postal clerk agreed. What when our pressure cooker is released, else could he do? No one else was there we aim it at the nearest human. to apologize. No one else could take reI got some carry-out treats at one of sponsibility. The angry customer could those square-burger places (because y’all either vent toward the clerk, or go out know I’m into health food), and I could and kick a mailbox. The package still see the despair in the clerk’s eyes. As I wouldn’t be there. approached the counter, she offered a Help me pass the word. We are still weary welcome. We had a minute for several months at best, from being anysmall talk, so we chatted underneath where near normal. There is no official our masks. expiration date, no finish line. We’ll get She was wearing a manager name tag. there, because we always have. No mat“How’s it going?” I asked. She sighed ter who’s in the White House, or who’s in and said, “I’ve been here fifteen hours Congress, we’ll figure it out. We’ll learn a day, seven days a week. We can’t get from our mistakes, and we’ll find a way anyone to work. They’re making more to get our burgers faster, and receive our money staying at home. If I didn’t come mail on time. But until we do, be kind in, this place would have to shut down. to those who are showing up for work, I’m not complaining, it’s paying my bills. and trying to help us. They are as frusI’m just worn out.” trated as we are, and maybe more so. Displaying my knack for always say- If you don’t believe in the Golden Rule, ing just the right thing, I said, “Well, believe in this one: Just chill. at least you’re making the customers happy.” She hung her head. David Carroll, a Chattanooga news anchor, is the author of “Volunteer Bama Dawg,” “I wish I could,” she replied, “but a collection of his best columns. You they’re madder than ever. They commay contact him at 900 Whitehall Road, plain because we can’t let ‘em eat inside. They yell if I remind them to wear their Chattanooga, TN 37405 or 3dc@epbfi.com. the gwinnett daily post encourages letters to the editor on topics of general interest, but reserves the right to edit them for content and length. letters should be no longer than 400 words and must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number for verification purposes.
COLUMNIST|CAL THOMAS
T
he two political conventions are finally over. To paraphrase Charles Dickens, one convention promoted the best of times, the other the worst of times. If you are a Democrat, or a virulent anti-Trumper (not necessarily the same), you saw their virtual convention paint a picture of America that was depressing to the core. Nothing is working. We are a people carrying the permanent stain of systemic racism, full of hate, police brutality and hopelessness, at least while Donald Trump remains president. If you are a Republican, you saw a convention portraying America coming back from the pandemic —
A tale of two conventions
economically and spiritually (the names of God and Jesus Christ were mentioned favorably more than once). Our best days are ahead of us said speaker after speaker unless Joe Biden, whom Trump has portrayed as the “Trojan Horse” for Bernie Sanders, Alexandria OcasioCortez and the rest of the far-left extremists prevail in the November election. For the Republicans it was a diagnosis. For Democrats it sounded like an autopsy. Ann Dorn, the widow of a retired Black police officer killed amid protests and looting in St. Louis, spoke movingly at the RNC about her husband, David Dorn. To anarchists some Black lives appear to be more
equal than others problems, would it and their hatred for not have done so by police officers dulls now? We have seen any compassion for trillions of dollars cops who daily put spent on dubious antheir lives in jeopardy ti-poverty and racial to defend especially justice government minorities and their programs. Laws have Thomas neighborhoods. been passed. StudWriting in National ies have been done. Review, Kathryn Jean Lopez White papers have been said: “This is where Dem- written. Not much seems ocrats failed — as they at- to have changed in the eyes tacked Trump, they didn’t of Democrats, though, in leave room for something fact, much has changed for other than anger, or even the better. owning up to their own misHow does legislation or takes.” money create a stable family Among those mistakes that includes a loving father is peddling the notion that in the home with proper disgovernment can fix prob- cipline for his children? Who lems such as racism, income teaches ways to overcome disparity and crime. If gov- bad circumstances, not just ernment could solve these the words of an anthem?
The personal example of Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC, the chamber’s only Black Republican, should be taught everywhere. It was Scott who co-authored a police reform bill that Democrats walked away from because, he said, they wanted the issue, not a solution. In one of the best lines at the RNC convention, Scott said he went “from cotton to Congress” in one lifetime. Then there was the sparkling personality of 34-yearold Daniel Cameron, attorney general of Kentucky. Cameron eviscerated Joe Biden, who has said people like him “ain’t Black” if they can’t decide whether to vote for him, or President Trump: “Mr. Vice President look at
me, I am Black. We are not all the same, sir. I am not in chains. My mind is my own. And you can’t tell me how to vote because of the color of my skin.” Can I get an Amen? Which tale of the two conventions — sad or optimistic — will prevail? We’ll know in two months, maybe. As for me and my house, we are embracing the optimistic tale. Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ new book “America’s Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States” (HarperCollins/ Zondervan).
gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, september 2, 2020 ♦ A7
Buford woman died after sustaining injuries in Hall County car crash By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@ gwinnettdailypost.com
A 39-year-old woman from Buford died from injuries she sustained in a car crash in the Flowery Branch area of Hall County last week, according to officials from the Georgia State Patrol. Mary Amber Moore and Snellville resident Julie O’Heir, 35, were thrown from a Toyota Highlander that Moore was driving on Blackjack Road on Thursday night. Moore and O’Heir were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. Moore died from her injuries while O’Heir had “suspected serious injuries,” according to an incident report. The report states the Highlander was going east through a curve on Blackjack Road, near Swansey Road, when it went off the southern shoulder of the roadway. “Vehicle (No.) 1 continued eastward along the shoulder and struck a utility pole on its passenger side,” the report states. “Vehicle (No.) 1 then rotated, overturned and struck a mailbox before coming to rest on its driver’s side east of the driveway at 5938 (Blackjack Road).
Driver and passenger were ejected and then pinned underneath the vehicle.” Alcohol and drugs, as well as speeding, are being looked at in the investigation into the accident. The police report states a witness told patrolmen that he saw the Highlander traveling at a high rate of speed before the accident. The report also states O’Heir told investigators on Friday that she and Moore had consumed alcohol at a pool during the day before the accident. The responding patrolman said in the report that prescription medication and unidentified “illegal narcotics” were found in a purse that also contained Moore’s driver’s license at the scene of the accident. Three unopened 50 milliliter bottles of Smirnoff peach vodka and one unopened one liter bottle of Grey Goose vodka were found in the car as well, according to the report. The report states O’Heir told investigators that she did not know if Moore had consumed any medications or illegal drugs before the accident, and that she did not know why Moore lost control of the vehicle.
photo: gwinnett county police department
An adult football league has been barred by Sugar Hill officials from using Gary Pirkle Park for its games following a shootout that occurred at a game on Saturday night.
Fight at adult football league leads to exchange of gunfire By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com
An adult football league has been barred by Sugar Hill officials from using Gary Pirkle Park for its games following a shootout that occurred at a game on Saturday night. City officials said the league rented a field at the park for a game and a fight broke out around 10 p.m. Gwinnett police said the fight happened at mid-field, which led to the game being cancelled. Tensions then escalated to members of the two teams exchanging gunfire in the parking lot and bathroom areas at the park, according to police. “Future use of the facilities at Gary
Pirkle Park will not be permitted by the league who hosted the event (Saturday) night or other similar adult professional development leagues until such time as a thorough review of policies related to all of our rentals can be completed,” Sugar Hill officials said. One man sustained a non-life threatening injury to his leg during the incident, according to police. City officials said the man initially refused to be taken to the hospital, but he was later taken to Northside Hospital Gwinnett by family members. Gwinnett County police have an ongoing investigation into the incident. “Detectives believe that there were at least a hundred people present
at the time of the shooting,” police said in a statement. “Most of those people left the park before police arrived. Investigators believe there are many people with information on this case. They are asking those people to come forward and contact the police department.” Anyone who has information about the shooting is asked to call detectives at 770-513-5300 or Crime Stoppers, which lets tipsters remain anonymous, at 404-577-8477. They can also visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. There is a cash reward offered by Crime Stoppers for information that leads to an arrest and indictment in this case. Tipsters should reference case No. 20-064600.
Deadline to accept absentee ballots extended by 3 days in Georgia By Beau Evans Staff Writer Capitol Beat News Service
A federal judge has extended the time Georgia election officials can accept absentee ballots if they are received up to three days after the general election on Nov. 3. In a ruling Monday, Judge Eleanor Ross of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ordered that mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day must be counted if they arrive by 7 p.m. on Nov. 6, which is within three days of the original deadline. The ruling looks to calm some fears of absentee voting reliability amid an expected slow delivery by the U.S. Postal Service and huge
numbers of mail-in ballots in Georgia and across the country due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Brad “Extending Raffensperger the deadline would ensure that voters who receive their ballots shortly before Election Day are able to mail their ballots without fear that their vote will not count,” Ross wrote in her 70-page ruling. Ross’s decision stems from a lawsuit filed in May by the voter registration group New Georgia Project against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that aimed to have the absentee acceptance deadline ex-
tended beyond 7 p.m. on Election Day. The judge agreed the mailin acceptance deadline should be extended but dismissed other claims sought in the lawsuit, including bids to make postage free for absentee ballots and to mail absentee applications to all registered Georgia voters, as occurred for the June 9 primary. Plaintiffs had also asked for the receipt deadline to be extended by five days, which the judge shortened to three days in her ruling. More than 7,200 absentee ballots were rejected from among roughly 1.1 million cast in the June primary due to being received after the 7 p.m. Election Day deadline, Ross’s ruling noted. With many more Georgians
expected to vote by mail in the upcoming general election, Ross wrote that “the burden on many voters will be severe” if absentee ballots that arrive shortly after the strict Election Day deadline are rejected. “The court notes it is reluctant to interfere with Georgia’s statutory election machinery,” Ross wrote. “However, where the risk of disenfranchisement is great, as is the case here, narrowly tailored injunctive relief is appropriate.” The ruling was immediately hailed by Georgia Democratic leaders, who touted the extended deadline as a boost for voter access ahead of the troubled and pivotal general election that will see presidential, U.S. Senate, congressional
and statehouse contests on the ballot. “Today’s decision is a huge victory for Georgia voters, and a huge win in the fight for every vote to be counted,” said Georgia Democratic Party Chairwoman and state Sen. Nikema Williams, D-Atlanta. “All Georgians deserve to have their voice heard, and in the midst of a global pandemic, it is the responsibility of our democracy to make voting by mail and early voting options as accessible as possible.” Raffensperger’s office plans to appeal the ruling over concerns the extended deadline would hinder the ability of local election officials to process ballots in a timely manner, said Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs.
“Extending the absentee ballot receipt deadline is a bad idea that will make it nearly impossible for election officials to complete their required post-election tasks in the timeline that is required by law,” Fuchs said Monday. Monday’s court ruling came as Raffensperger’s office launched a new online portal for Georgia voters to request absentee ballots via the internet rather than asking for one by mail or at county election offices. Raffensperger’s office is now pushing to recruit more poll workers for the general election after a shortage during the June primary contributed to long lines and technical know-how issues with the state’s new voting machines.
Gwinnett Daily Post Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/gwinnettdailypost Town of Braselton Residential Property for Sale – Sealed Bids Required Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 36-37-6 Location: 520 Reisling Drive, Braselton GA 30517 Parcel ID: B03 025 Minimum Bid: $110,000.00 photo: city of lawrenceville
Lawrenceville moved closer to selling its water distribution system to Gwinnett county on Monday after the City Council and the Gwinnett County Water and Sewer Authority board voted to approve the sale, which is pending a final vote by the county commission on Tuesday.
WATER From A1 Meanwhile, the city will receive a property on Ezzard Street that previously housed a county-owned pump station, but Lawrenceville officials said they do not currently have place for the site. The city will also keep its water treatment plants, storage tanks, wells and other facilities. “This is a win-win for our City of Lawrenceville water customers,” Still said. “With 80% of our water already being purchased from Gwinnett County, Lawrenceville has truly outgrown our system. Through this pro-
cess, our water system can be immediately upgraded, no employee will lose their job, and customers contin-
ue to receive quality water along with Gwinnett County’s award-winning customer service.”
Sealed Bid Deadline: Friday, October 2, 2020 3:00p.m. Bids can be mailed to: P.O. Box 306, Braselton GA 30517 Bids can be delivered to: Braselton Town Hall, 4982 Highway 53, Braselton GA 30517 Contact: Jennifer Scott, jscott@braselton.net Bid Opening: Friday, October 2, 2020 at 3:15 p.m. Property is currently vacant.
The Town of Braselton will hold a Public Hearing on September 10, 2020 at 4:00 pm in the Braselton Police and Municipal Court Facility to discuss the 2021-2025 Capital Improvement Element update for Braselton. The purpose of this hearing is to inform the public about the objective of the plan and the process to be followed in the preparation of the plan update, as well as to elicit community input on needs and goals.
Property tours are available by appointment only. Please note that speaking to the employees of the Town other than the designated contact regarding the sale or lease of this property is strictly prohibited. Violating this mandate may lead to disqualification of the buyer. The property will be sold “as is” with all faults and any and all latent and patent defects, and without any representation or warranty, all of which Seller hereby disclaims, except for warranty of title subject to present zoning and all matters of record and conveyed by limited warranty deed. The property will be sold to the highest responsive and responsible bidder exceeding the minimum bid. The Town of Braselton reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Bidder must provide proof of funding source with bid. Upon award of bid, bidder understands that property closing will take place no later than Friday, October 30, 2020 where the successful bidder shall tender to the Town the purchase price in cashier’s check, certified check, or money order only.
Questions concerning this plan update should be directed to Jennifer Scott, Town Manager at 706-654-5720 or email jscott@braselton.net.
Bid Deposit. $5,000.00 bid deposit required in the form of a cashier’s or certified check made payable to “Town of Braselton.” No offer will be accepted without a Bid Deposit in the form and amount indicated above. The bid deposit will be returned to non-successful bidders or forfeited if the successful bidder fails to close.
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, september 2, 2020 ♦ A11
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Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same numSolution to today's Sudoku ber only once.
WHATZIT SOLUTION:
Today’s Answer: Cackle
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PAGE A13 ♦ WEdnEsdAy, sEPtEmbEr 2, 2020 COrKy KELL CLAssIC
FrEsH FIELds Special Photo
A look at the new artificial turf and visiting stands at Dacula High School’s stadium.
New artificial turf part of Corky Kell excitement By Will Hammock will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com
Participating in the Corky Kell Classic is exciting enough, but this week’s appearance will be slightly more special for three local high school football teams. Collins Hill, Dacula and Mill Creek play their games in the annual showcase on brand-new artificial turf surfaces, part of ongoing renovations for Gwinnett County Public Schools stadium fields. Central Gwinnett and Meadowcreek, not in the Corky Kell field, also debut their freshly turfed fields this week. All of the Corky Kell games will be televised live by either CBS46 or Peachtree TV. “We are very excited to be on our new turf,” Mill Creek head coach Josh Lovelady said. “It has been a crazy feeling, like having a new car or toy but you can’t touch it. We got on it (Aug. 24 for practice) and it is really nice.” The first game on Dacula’s new turf kicks off Gwinnett’s football season. The Falcons host Brookwood Thursday, Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m. Ten minutes after that game finishes, McEachern at North Gwinnett kicks off. “After an offseason filled with so much uncertainty, we couldn’t be more excited to kick the season off officially and to be Gwinnett’s first game of the 2020 season,” Brookwood head coach Philip Jones said. “And to be on regional TV against the semifinal powerhouse Dacula Falcons in their newly renovated See KELL, A14
IN BRIEF briley commits to Georgia southern North Gwinnett senior Pax Briley committed Sunday to the Georgia Southern University baseball program. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder is a right-handed pitcher.
sampson chooses Emmanuel Mountain View senior Laila Sampson has committed to the Emmanuel College women’s lacrosse program. Sampson is a goalie for the Bears.
morgan commits to southern Illinois Mill Creek senior Prince Morgan committed Monday to the Southern Illinois University football program. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Morgan is a prospect at defensive end who also plays tight end for the Hawks. Southern Illinois also landed a Mill Creek recruit in last year’s class, cornerback Colin Williams.
Wallace coaching at alma mater Norcross graduate Trey Wallace has been hired as the running backs coach for the Fort Valley State University football program’s new coaching staff. Wallace, a 2012 Fort Valley grad, also is in charge of equipment operations. He began his coaching career at Norcross in 2013, helping the Blue Devils to a state championship. He also has coached at Peachtree Ridge, Georgia State and Clark Atlanta. — From staff reports
Special Photo
An overhead look at the new artificial turf inside Mill Creek’s stadium. CORKY KELL CLASSIC Wednesday, Sept. 2 5:30: Carver at Cherokee 10 minutes after first game finishes: Mays at West Forsyth Thursday, Sept. 3 5:30: Brookwood at Dacula
10 minutes after first game finishes: McEachern at North Gwinnett Friday, Sept. 4 5:30: Kell at Walton 10 minutes after first game finishes: Parkview at Mill Creek
Saturday, Sept. 5 11 a.m.: Carrollton at Collins Hill 10 minutes after game finishes: Lowndes at Archer 10 minutes after game finishes: Denmark at Greater Atlanta Christian
Gladiators add defenseman, forward From staff reports The Atlanta Gladiators announced a pair of signings Monday to bolster different parts of the team. Atlanta brought back defenseman Greg Campbell, a key player last season, and also signed forward Tommy Besinger for the 2020-2021 ECHL season. Besinger played last season in France. “Greg was a big part of our winning streak at the end of last season,” said Gladiators head coach Jeff Pyle. “He is a good, young defenseman that makes great decisions. He is calm with the puck and has excellent vision. He stepped in and played well at both ends of the ice. I am looking for a great year from Greg.” Campbell is a 25-year-old defenseman from Oakville, Ontario. He played for the local Oakville Blades in the OJHL before embarking on a collegiate career at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. The defenseman tallied 43 points (8 goals, 35 assists) with the Dutchmen from 2015 to 2019. Campbell made his professional debut with the Florida Everblades last season before being traded to the Allen Americans in December. He played in 21 games for the Americans before being traded again in February, this time to the Gladiators. Campbell played in 14 games for Atlanta to finish the season. “(Atlanta) felt right at home with the coaching staff and the players on the team,” Campbell said. “When I got here, we were on the verge of do-
Atlanta Gladiators
Greg Campbell, left, and Tommy Besinger, right, have signed with the Atlanta Gladiators for the 2020-21 season. ing something special. With the core group of guys we have coming back and the new additions to the roster, I believe we will pick up right where we left off last year.” Pyle described Besinger as a “hard working, two-way player that can score.” Besinger is a 26-year-old forward from Boston, Mass. He played in 12 games for the Army Academy in 2015 before enrolling at Endicott College in the metro Boston area. The forward played in 71 total games for the Gulls
from 2016 to 2019, netting 33 goals and adding 71 assists. Besinger played briefly in the SPHL, registering four games with the Evansville Thunderbolts in 2019. Last season, Tommy suited up for Scorpions de Mulhouse in France’s Synerglace Ligue Magnus. He tallied an impressive 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists) in 32 games played. “I cannot wait to get to Atlanta and meet the team, fans, and organization,” Besinger said.
A14 ♦ Wednesday, september 2, 2020 ♦ gWinnettdailypost.com
GFL ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Will Hammock
Mill Creek’s Tate Lovelady (22) runs during an 8-year-old Gwinnett Football League game against Collins Hill on Saturday, Aug. 29.
A Collins Hill player shares a hug after a Gwinnett Football League game at Duncan Creek Park on Saturday, Aug. 29. ♦ Will Hammock
Will Hammock
Mill Creek cheerleaders walk onto to the Duncan Creek Park field for a Gwinnett Football League game on Saturday, Aug. 29.
Collins Hill players line up during an 8-year-old Gwinnett Football League game against Mill Creek on Saturday, Aug. 29. ♦ Will Hammock
the gwinnett Football league’s players and cheerleaders of the week (athletes were selected by his or her coach): FOOTBALL Archer 6- and 7-year-old: amir Williams 12-year-old: Jordan do eighth grade division ii: colby alexander Brookwood 9-year-old: matthew bo benton 10-year-old: cameron Woods Buford 8-year-old: Weston sharrett 9-year-old: Zane dyer 10-year-old: antonio gordon 11-year-old: braden cook 12-year-old: cameron Wood eighth grade, division i: nicco maggio eighth grade, division ii: Jackson prehar Collins Hill 8-year-old: Jordan Witcher 9-year-old: nate chukwu 12-year-old: michael oviedo eighth grade: Whole defense Dacula 6- and 7-year-old: dawayne lee 10-year-old: caden Wimberly 11-year-old: Wyatt day 12-year-old: arie benjamin eighth grade: Jordan allen Duluth 10-year-old: Whole defense 11-year-old: declan delaporte 12-year-old: daitron carter Lanier 10-year-old: carson Jones 12-year-old: emery bowlick eighth grade: t.J. peyton Lawrenceville 6- and 7-year-old: carter Hych 8-year-old: munir taylor 9-year-old: sencee gebeh 10-year-old: desmond patterson 11-year-old: trey perkinson 12-year-old: chaise West eighth grade: anthony perkins Mountain View 8-year-old: christian auzenne 9-year-old: maddux riley 10-year-old: paul cooper Norcross 10-year-old: sevin Jackson 12-year-old: cameron coll eighth grade division ii: Jalon mcelderry North Gwinnett 6- and 7-year-old: landon Falco 8-year-old: ethan Joyner 9-year-old: Kiptyn copeland 11-year-old: ewan glass eighth grade: Jalen gist Parkview 6- and 7-year-old: Finn beebe 11-year-old: Jason brown Jr. 12-year-old: brian stokes Peachtree Ridge 6- and 7-year-old: noah garigulo 8-year-old: tyler lamb 9-year-old: amari Farrar 10-year-old: Zain belfield 11-year-old: Joel bradford
Will Hammock
Mill Creek’s Tyson Jakes smiles during warmups before a 10-yearold Gwinnett Football League game against Lanier on Saturday, Aug. 29. 12-year-old: ryan nelson eighth grade: Jayden berry CHEERLEADING Archer third grade: Kaelyn lee Fifth grade: londyn Friend seventh grade: Jayda phillips eighth grade: Katheryn dodson Brookwood First/second grade: Felicity Woods third grade: alinah essani Fourth grade: samiah parker Fifth grade: taylinn peek sixth grade: niyah miller seventh grade: madalynne tingle eighth grade: natalia pittmon Buford third grade: misha beverly Fifth grade: sanai beverly sixth grade: callie burns seventh grade: lila Kate bush Collins Hill First grade: melanie binn second grade: Kynnadi curry-malone third grade: sophia Quiroz Fourth grade: sanai Watts Fifth grade: lucia chelaru sixth grade: charlotte taylor seventh grade: Jyel Johnson eighth grade: Kennedy davis Dacula second grade: analia ortiz Fourth grade: riley newman sixth grade: Kaitlyn cantrell seventh grade: Hailey palmore eighth grade: ashley onujiogu Duluth third grade: paliegh brown Fourth grade: mackenzee cross
KELL From A13 stadium only adds to the excitement.” Mill Creek hosts its 2020 opener Friday, Sept. 4, in a late game against Parkview. It kicks off 10 minutes after the conclusion of Kell and Walton. “With the preseason being extended and the original thought of not being able to play this fall, our players are more eager than ever for the season opener coming soon,” Parkview head coach Eric Godfree said. “We are excited to play in the Corky Kell and to play a great opponent like Mill Creek.” Saturday, Sept. 5 is extra busy for Gwinnett and the Corky Kell event, which hosts three games within
special photo
A look at the new artificial turf playing surface at Collins Hill’s stadium. the county beginning at 11 a.m., when Carrollton plays at Collins Hill. “We are honored and excited to be part of the Corky Kell,” Collins Hill head coach
Lenny Gregory said. “Our players and coaches have been looking forward to getting back on the field and kicking off the 2020 season. … Our community
is honored to host and display our new field in front of the entire state on TV.” Ten minutes after the Collins Hill game ends, the Lowndes at Archer game
seventh grade: taraji Howard eighth grade: taliah sanford Lanier First/second grade: Kenslie ruppe third grade: isabella larocca Fourth grade: leighton england Fifth grade: miranda godfrey sixth grade: caylee battle seventh grade: madison patrick eighth grade: ansley long Lawrenceville First/second grade: samiyah Hayes third grade: a’laya lockhart Fourth grade: Zoe nelson Fifth grade: alexis mcFarland sixth grade: sierra auguste seventh grade: aarelyn starr eighth grade: camryn Hale-anderson Mountain View First grade: ty’Hiry Jones third grade: makayla Krock Fourth grade: audrey collins Fifth grade: Kenda Ware North Gwinnett third grade: maryn balmes Fourth grade: mackenzie lynch Fifth grade: lily mclean eighth grade: lauren richards Parkview third grade: Khelis Jean-baptiste Fourth grade: laila Knox Peachtree Ridge First/second grade: michelle Williams third grade: ayva genama Fourth grade: addison graham Fifth grade: dyllan brinagh sixth grade: cailee daniel seventh grade: savannah turner eighth grade: danielle Walker
gets underway. Greater Atlanta Christian, a first-time Corky Kell participant, then hosts Denmark 10 minutes after the Archer-Lowndes game wraps up. The unusual Corky Kell schedule is far from what organizers had in mind, but like many other events, it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The original plan called for four days, capped by a five-game schedule of Saturday games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. After the coronavirus hit, Mercedes-Benz was no longer an option so the Saturday slate shifted to Mill Creek. The Georgia High School Association’s two-week postponement of the season’s first games pushed Hoover (Ala.) from the field, and Rome’s Barron Stadium also withdrew as a site because of COVID-19 concerns.
As other school districts began delaying seasons even more, the schedule shuffled until it eventually became nine games at nine different locations, which follows guidelines to not host multiple games at the same venue. “We just felt like with (the medical community’s) recommendation that we should not be playing multiple games at one site,” Corky Kell executive director Dave Hunter said. “The easy thing for us to do would have been to just cancel it, and people probably would have understood with everything going on, but we felt it was better to turn over every rock and try to make this happen. These kids have been working hard since June and they deserve something to look forward to.”
gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, september 2, 2020 ♦ A15
Kemp taps new emergency management chief, extends COVID-19 orders in Georgia By Beau Evans Staff Writer Capitol Beat News Service
Gov. Brian Kemp tapped a new emergency-management director for the state Tuesday shortly after extending for another two weeks health measures aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus in Georgia. Capt. Chris Stallings, a former state trooper and most recently head of a state Department of Public Safety unit tasked with protecting top elected officials, steps in as director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA), effective immediately. Stallings replaces outgoing GEMA Director Homer Bryson, who retired Tuesday after nearly four decades in public-safety roles including prior tenures overseeing the state’s prison system and wildlife rangers. Bryson’s departure comes as the state continues grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, which through Monday had killed 5,633 Georgians and led to more than 240,000
positive cases. As GEMA’s director, Bryson was tasked with leading the procurement and distribution of milChirs lions of masks, Stallings gloves, gowns, face shields and goggles sent to local hospitals, schools and elderly care facilities struggling to combat the virus. Late Monday, Kemp renewed a long set of distancing and sanitizing requirements for Georgia businesses, daycare centers, social gatherings and other pursuits that have remained largely unchanged in recent months after the governor began relaxing far stricter measures in late April. The governor’s renewed executive orders also extended a shelter-in-place mandate for persons in elderly care facilities and those with chronic health issues through Sept. 15. Going forward, Kemp also extended Georgia’s public health state of emergency through Oct. 10, which gives him au-
thority to continue issuing executive orders unless the General Assembly convenes to strip that power from him. At a news conference Tuesday, Kemp praised the work of Bryson and GEMA officials since the pandemic took hold in the state in March. “These men and women have played a huge role in the fight to protect lives and livelihoods in our state, and we are forever grateful for their service,” Kemp said. The governor also touted the new GEMA director, Stallings, saying he had “full confidence in Chris and his ability to run GEMA with the integrity and hard work that this job demands” as well as take the reins from Bryson amid the ongoing pandemic. Bryson, who also helped lead the state’s disaster response in the wake of Hurricane Michael in 2018, called the GEMA director role “the crowning jewel in my career.” “Our passion is truly protecting people and protecting property,” Bryson said. “That’s our priority. We put that ahead of everything else.”
New poll shows presidential race a tossup in Georgia By Dave Williams Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — Another poll shows President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden running neck and neck in Georgia. A survey of 782 Georgia voters conducted Aug. 24-25 by Public Policy Polling, a NorthCarolina based Democratic polling firm, found Biden holding a slim lead over Trump, 47% to 46%. However, that was well within the poll’s margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5%. Biden’s strong showing was largely due to his support among self-identified independent voters. He held a 26-point advantage among that group, 56% to 30%. Other Georgia polls in recent weeks have shown similar results. Broken down by age, Trump
Donald Joe Trump Biden is dominating among older Georgia voters, while Biden leads among younger voters. Trump leads Biden 56% to 41% among voters over 65, while Biden is ahead among voters under the age of 45, 49% to 40%. Biden holds a narrower lead of 46% to 40% among voters between 46 and 65. With the coronavirus pandemic making many Georgians reluctant to stand in a voting line on Election Day, only 27% of voters surveyed said they plan to vote in person on Nov. 3. A small plurality
of voters showed a preference for early voting over voting by mail, 35% to 30%. The poll found a strong correlation between how voters plan to cast their ballot and their preferred candidate. Trump was the choice of 75% of voters who plan to vote on Election Day, while Biden scored 72% support among those planning to vote by mail. Early voters were more evenly divided, with 53% supporting Trump and 46% favoring Biden. Black voters are much more likely to vote by mail, according to the poll. While 45% of Black voters expressed a preference for mailing in their ballots, only 18% of white voters said they plan to vote by mail. The poll was commissioned by Fair Fight, the voting rights group founded by Stacey Abrams after she lost the 2018 gubernatorial election to Brian Kemp.
Sarah Riggs Amico launches PAC for women candidates By Dave Williams
Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — A veteran of two statewide political campaigns in Georgia has launched a political action committee to raise money for Democratic women seeking elective office. Sarah Riggs Amico lost the 2018 race for lieutenant governor to Republican Geoff Duncan and unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination this year to challenge U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga. Now, she’s putting her experience on the campaign trail into the Our American Dreams PAC, which hopes to raise $50,000 to $100,000 this year on behalf of 21 candidates for state and local offices. “Over the last three years, I’ve been through a little over 150 Georgia counties,” Amico said Tuesday. “One of the things you hear is how many communities feel the idea of the American Dream is slipping away.” Amico said the burden of economic insecurity and lack of opportunity has fallen disproportionately on women and minorities, particularly during the current pandemic. For example, more than 90% of women- and minority-owned businesses were shut out of the first round of federal loans dis-
tributed through the Paycheck Protection Program. Amico, a businesswoman from Marietta, has an affinity for women who own businesses. More than half of the 21 candidates her PAC is endorsing are women business owners. Seven of the group are firstgeneration Americans, and three of them are naturalized citizens. Amico is married to an immigrant. “These are voices that for too long have been left out,” she said. “One thing I’ve found is that to change the output of a system, you have to change the input.” Of the 21 candidates the PAC has endorsed, 13 are running for seats in the Georgia House of Representatives and five are seeking election to the state Senate. The other three are running for the school board, district attorney and a county commission chairmanship. Of the 18 running for the General Assembly, five are incumbents. A dozen are either challenging incumbent Republicans or looking to fill a vacant seat, while one of the candidates defeated a fellow Democrat in a House primary. The list includes the following: ♦ Regina Lewis-Ward, House District 109 ♦ Mokah Jasmine Johnson, House District 117 ♦ State Rep. Donna McLeod,
D-Lawrenceville, House District 105 ♦ Sarah Beeson, Senate District 56 ♦ State Rep. CaMia Hopson, D-Albany, House District 153 ♦Nikki Merritt, Senate District 9 ♦ Geretta Smith, Senate District 23 ♦ Dr. Michelle Au, Senate District 48 ♦ State Sen. Valencia Seay, D-Riverdale, Senate District 34 ♦State Rep. Angelika Kausche, D-Johns Creek, House District 50 ♦ Dr. Rebecca Mitchell, House District 106 ♦Sara Ghazal, House District 45 ♦ Former state Rep. Stacey Evans, House District 57 ♦ Zulma Lopez, House District 86 ♦ Nakita Hemingway, House District 104 ♦ Ebony Carter, House District 110 ♦ State Rep. Bee Nguyen, D-Atlanta, House District 89 ♦ State Rep. Dar’shun Kendrick, D-Lithonia, House District 93 ♦ Nicole Hendrickson, Gwinnett County Commission Chair ♦ Audrey Gibbons, Glynn County School Board ♦ Former state Rep. Deborah Gonzalez, district attorney, Western Judicial Circuit.
REVERSE PARADE & FIREWORKS
SEPT. 5, 2020 Downtown 6-8pm ~ Reverse Parade. Drive-thru patriotic entertainment in parking lot at YearOne Muscle Car Parts, 10101 Cherry Dr., Braselton, GA (off GA 53 in Downtown Braselton). After Dark ~ BIG Fireworks Show!!
* Park downtown to see the fireworks from the comfort of your vehicle or a socially-distant picnic. * Downtown shops & restaurants will be OPEN.
Find details about this socially-distant event. www.facebook.com/DowntownBraselton www.DowntownBraselton.com
B2 ♦ Wednesday, september 2, 2020 ♦ gWinnettdailypost.com
PRESEASON ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL OFFENSE
COLTEN GAUTHIER QB, Hebron, Sr. south carolina commit threw for 2,401 yards, 20 tds
CODY BROWN RB, Parkview, Sr. tennessee commit rushed for 1,676 yards, 20 tds
PHIL MAFAH RB, Grayson, Sr. clemson commit blends size, speed
KALEB EDWARDS WR/RB, Dacula, Sr. georgia tech commit had 1,766 yards, 18 tds
DAEJON REYNOLDS WR, Grayson, Sr. Florida commit led gwinnett with 88 catches, 1,534 yards, 14 tds
JAMAL HAYNES WR, Grayson, Sr. georgia tech commit had 44 catches, 682 yards, 5 tds
TANNER BIVINS OL, Wesleyan, Sr. army commit fueled state runner-up finish
GARRETT BROPHY OL, Grayson, Sr. anchor of grayson line
ADDISON NICHOLS OL, GAC, Jr. one of nation’s top junior linemen
JACKSON WALLS OL, Parkview, Sr. paved way for Final Four team
RYAN YOUNG OL, Brookwood, Sr. leader of broncos’ line
BROCK PELLEGRINO PK, Mill Creek, Sr. county’s top returning scorer
VICTOINE BROWN DL, Grayson, Sr. louisville commit an athletic end
NOAH COLLINS DL, Grayson, Sr. georgia tech commit talented on edge
J.J. HAWKINS DL, Discovery, Sr. ole miss commit also a force at rb
GRADY BRYANT LB, Grayson, Sr. led rams with 134 tackles
BARRETT CARTER LB, North Gwinnett, Sr. clemson commit had 84 tackles, 10 sacks
KYLE EFFORD LB, Dacula, Jr. top recruit had 62 tackles, 16 tds on offense
JALEN GARNER LB, Norcross, Sr. Houston commit led gwinnett with 200 tackles
T.J. YOUNG LB, Dacula, Sr. led Falcons with 139 tackles
JOSH GRAHAM DB, Norcross, Sr. First-team all-county as junior
MARQUIS GROVES-KILLEBREW DB, Brookwood, Jr. georgia commit among nation’s best in 2022 class
TRAVIS HUNTER DB, Collins Hill, Jr. FsU commit had 7 ints, 12 td catches on offense
DAN LE-HERNANDEZ P, Brookwood, Sr. led gwinnett with 38.7-yard average
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gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, september 2, 2020 ♦ B3
THE BREAKDOWN
a look at this week’s prep football matchups
BEST AT BERKMAR
BEST ACADEMY EAGLES (6-A PUBLIC) Coach: Joshua moore 2019 record: 4-7 Head coach willie gary has engineered an impressive turnaround in his brief time as berkmar’s head coach. He has won seven games in his first two seasons, not eye-catching until the program’s past is considered. His 2018 team won the season opener and snapped a 47-game losing streak. the patriots had endured four straight 0-10 seasons when he took over. starting seasons well has been a common them in each of the past two seasons. berkmar won its first two games last season in a 3-1
BERKMAR PATRIOTS (7-AAAAAAA) Coach: Coach: willie gary 2019 record: 4-6
start, and won two of its first four in 2018. it hopes to continue the trend Friday against Naasir visiting best Croskery academy, building some momentum in what could be a special season because the patriots have moved into a region where they will be more competitive. “this is our shot to get back in the playoffs,” gary said. one reason for excitement
is the return of Jemahri Hill at quarterback. Hill led the team to its strong start in 2019 before suffering a seasonending injury. “we’re looking for big things out of (Hill),” gary said. Hill gives the offense a passing threat, and gary thinks the running game will produce this year, too. berkmar’s defense will be young, particularly in the secondary. defensive end naasir croskery leads the unit. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: berkmar High
CARROLLTON AT COLLINS HILL
CARROLLTON TROJANS (5-AAAAAA) Coach: sean calhoun 2019 Record:12-1 Former collins Hill assistant sean calhoun brings his carrollton team to suwanee for an exciting saturday morning matchup in the corky Kell classic. calhoun, a berkmar grad, has led carrollton to 10 or more wins in each of his four seasons as head coach. “carrollton is a storied program and rich in tradition,” collins Hill head coach lenny gregory said. “this will be the first time that collins Hill and carrollton have played and i am excited to get a chance to compete against another team. they are extremely talented and well-coached. their head coach is a great
COLLINS HILL EAGLES (8-AAAAAAA) Coach: lenny gregory 2019 Record: 6-5
friend of mine and a former collins Hill eagle. “i have known coach James calhoun for Smith many years and i have tremendous respect for him as a coach and think he has done a great job over at carrollton. this should be a great game and i hope both teams can compete and stay healthy as we move forward with high school football.” collins Hill opened up the offense last season and sam Horn, now a junior, took
advantage. the rising prospect has racked up the college offers after throwing for 2,326 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore. His top target, Florida state commit travis Hunter, also is back. Hunter had 49 catches for 919 yards and 12 tds, as well as seven interceptions at defensive back. the eagles’ defense features two proven players on the line, James smith (10 1/2 sacks last year) and Jonathan martin. When: saturday, 11 a.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: collins Hill High school
DISCOVERY AT CENTRAL GWINNETT
DISCOVERY TITANS (7-AAAAAAA) Coach: efrem Hill 2019 record: 2-8 a night of firsts awaits central gwinnett in the season opener. it will be played on a new artificial turf surface and it will be the debut of new head coach Jason thompson. on top of that, the black Knight will face nearby rival discovery — the schools are separated by a couple of miles — for the first time in varsity football. “we are excited to get started,” thompson said. “with all the uncertainty in the world, it is nice to have something concrete to look forward to. that is how we are approaching the discovery game. september 4th will be our first opportunity to take the field as a new program. no better place to do it, on our new turf against our
CENTRAL GWINNETT BLACK KNIGHTS (8-AAAAAA) Coach: Jason thompson 2019 record: 3-8 lawrenceville football atmosphere to kick off rival.” the 2020 season.” the central turns to sophomore atmosphere Justin Johnson at quarterback promises to after he gained some experience be exciting for as a freshman. He will work with discovery, too. a talented receiving group led by the titans, eldrick mason and mekhi mews, Mekhi who have as well as a big offensive line. Mews improved amir taylor, moses pryor and steadily under head coach efrem Jayoland threat are key players Hill, would love to open up 2020 on a young defense. with a win. discovery will feature some “i am just excited for our kids new faces on offense, but it on both sides that we get this could have its best defense in opportunity to play,” Hill said. the program’s young history. “without any scrimmages, we it already has its first power are going into this game kind of Five recruit, defensive end J.J. blind. i have been stressing to my Hawkins, an ole miss commit. young men that we have to have When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. great effort, play with an attitude, Last meeting: First meeting be tough and what so many of us Location: central gwinnett forget, have fun. it will be a great High school
EAGLE’S LANDING AT MEADOWCREEK
EAGLE’S LANDING GOLDEN EAGLES MEADOWCREEK MUSTANGS (4-AAAAA) (7-AAAAAAA) Coach: shawn Jones Coach: Jason carrera 2019 record: 2-8 2019 record: 3-7 the season opener is a meadowcreek’s deserve the same experience special one for meadowcreek, first playoff the kids at mill creek and north which unveils the new artificial appearance gwinnett and brookwood and turf on its stadium field. the since 1988. all these other schools have,” aesthetic improvements match a large carrera said. the changes made by head senior class meadowcreek looks to make coach Jason carrera and his has enjoyed another trip to the playoffs in staff as they have turned the that success, revamped region 7-aaaaaaa Rock longtime struggling program and gets to behind an offense with returning Gaither around. enjoy some of playmakers like rock gaither, carrera needs just two the rewards. Jabari ponders, omie Huntley more wins to give him 22 “to see a brand new and micah James. the defense at the school, making him (artificial) turf field, a brand is solid, too, including highly meadowcreek’s all-time wins new scoreboard, a brand new regarded young defensive ends leader — astonishing since the sound system, a brand new Kristopher cassel and denzel football team has been playing locker room, brand new locker moore. since 1986. the mustangs room flooring, all those things When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. had won just 11 games in 17 that are happening this year are Last meeting: First meeting seasons before he was hired all the things i’ve always said, i Location: meadowcreek in 2015. His 2017 team made believe the kids at meadowcreek High school
BROOKWOOD AT DACULA
BROOKWOOD BRONCOS (4-AAAAAAA) Coach: philip Jones 2019 Record: 5-6 gwinnett’s first varsity football game of 2020 pits brookwood at dacula in thursday evening’s corky Kell classic opener. it will be played in a renovated dacula stadium, which now features artificial turf, new visiting stands, new signage and other renovations. “the kids love it,” dacula head coach clint Jenkins said. “they are really excited about it.” the Falcons, coming off back-to-back trips to the state semifinals, have dealt with considerable graduation losses all over the roster. their key returning players include reigning daily post offensive player of the year Kaleb edwards, who will play all over the field on offense, as well as safety on defense. another top Fbs recruit, Kyle efford, will carry the load
DACULA FALCONS (8-AAAAAA) Coach: clint Jenkins 2019 Record: 13-1
at running back and will contribute on defense again. adam watkins is important on both lines, Reggie while the Icilien linebackers are stout with t.J. young, reggie icilien, daniel poole and dylan Hand. “we know dacula will be dacula, tough, fast, physical, talented and fundamentally sound,” brookwood head coach philip Jones said. “it will require a great effort to play with those guys, but what a great opportunity to play the best and learn more about ourselves.” brookwood is still young — nine of its top 11 defensive players at the end of 2020 were
freshmen or sophomores — but talented. sophomore dylan lonergan returns at quarterback to work with a big-time group of receivers, while alexander diggs moves from full-time defensive back to the lead running back role. “we are excited for the opportunity to play period,” dacula head coach clint Jenkins said. “brookwood is a traditional power in our county so it’s a big challenge but we are looking forward to just having a chance to compete. the stadium looks awesome with all our new upgrades so there is a lot to be excited about. it’s been a long road to get here.” When: thursday, 5:30 p.m. Last meeting: dacula won 38-21 in 2015 Location: dacula High school
DENMARK AT GAC
DENMARK DANES (6-AAAAAAA) Coach: mike palmieri 2019 record: 7-3 in addition to a home season opener, saturday’s game with denmark also marks greater atlanta christian’s first appearance in the long-running corky Kell classic. invitations to the event only come to successful programs, so the appearance is a reward for what past spartan teams have accomplished, including the 2019 state semifinal team. gac’s opponent is a young (school opened in 2018) and growing denmark program that already has experienced a winning season and has produced
GAC SPARTANS (5-AAA) Coach: tim Hardy 2019 record: 12-2
college-level talent. “we are excited about the opportunity for gac to compete in Bobby the 2020 Kincade corky Kell classic, one of the premier high school football events in the nation,” gac head coach tim Hardy said. “we have a challenging opponent in denmark, but are eager to get the 2020 season started.” Hardy is excited about a
new group of offensive players stepping up this season after graduation wiped out all but three starters. two of those players back are on the offensive line, bobby Kincade and addison nichols, one of the nation’s top juniors. gac’s defense looks more experienced, including linebackers thomas lowman, Hudson Higgins and aidan bailey, and defensive backs Joseph rose and tre Henry. When: saturday, 5 p.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: gac
DUTCHTOWN AT LANIER
DUTCHTOWN BULLDOGS (4-AAAAA) coach: clifford Fedd 2019 record: 11-2 lanier and dutchtown make up one of the state’s top game 1 matchups with both coming off stellar 2019 seasons. dutchtown made the state quarterfinals and lanier lost in the second round after making the 2018 semifinals. “dutchtown is a team used to success,” lanier head coach Korey mobbs said. “they are a quarterfinal team from last year, with speed, size and are well-coached. the purpose of our non-region schedule is to be battle tested for region. this will be a battle and we are looking
LANIER LONGHORNS (8-AAAAAA) coach: Korey mobbs 2019 record: 10-2
forward to it.” after an offseason dealing with coVid-19, the longhorns, like most, are ready to play Tyson football again. Cooper “it’s a blessing to get going on our 2020 season,” mobbs said. “i’m really excited for our team and especially our seniors.” lanier is equipped for another big year — it has seven straight winning seasons, four with more
than 10 wins — with quality returners on both sides of the ball. three offensive line starters are back with price campbell, nick claypole and luke Jones, along with quarterback andrew blackford and talent at both wide receiver, led by tyler washington, and running back. noseguard tyson cooper, linebackers Ford reasons and rylan serna and safety Kris burress are among the defensive leaders. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: lanier High school
GRAYSON AT JONES COUNTY
GRAYSON RAMS (4-AAAAAAA) Coach: adam carter 2019 record: 11-2 2019 record: 12-2 grayson enters the season with state championship potential and a national ranking, but head coach adam carter isn’t allowing his team to overlook a school from a lower classification in the opener. Jones county has a long history of success, including a trip to the state semifinals last year. the greyhounds have made six straight appearances in the state playoffs. “coach (mike) chastain and his staff do a great job preparing their kids to play, you can watch that on tape,” carter said. “Just two years ago, he took a warner robins team to the state championship. Jones county is coming off a 12-2 semifinal season. they are known for having talented skill guys on
JONES COUNTY GREYHOUNDS (4-AAAAA) Coach: mike chastain
both sides of the ball. From what we have seen, they are large up front on both sides. Jaden “traveling Smith to them, playing in new stadium, and on new turf will also create a hostile environment for our kids. this will be a huge test for us coming out the gate.” grayson’s talented offense makes its debut on the road with a new quarterback, Florida commit carlos del rio, a transfer from mceachern. His wide receiver targets include returnees Jaden smith (eastern Kentucky commit) and Jamal Haynes (a georgia tech commit) and fellow Florida
commit daejon reynolds, whose 88 catches for 1,534 yards and 15 touchdowns last year at central gwinnett led the county. when the rams go to the ground game, they have clemson-bound phil mafah at running back and an offensive line led by garrett brophy. the defense is talented, too, with ends Victoine brown and noah collins going to louisville and georgia tech, respectively. leading tackler grady bryant is back at linebacker, where he plays with another georgia tech commit, sebastian sagar. the secondary is loaded with college prospects. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: Jones county High school
LOWNDES AT ARCHER
LOWNDES VIKINGS (1-AAAAAAA) Coach: Jamey dubose 2019 record: 14-1
Jose Quezada
a revamped corky Kell classic schedule, changed multiple times by coVid-19 issues, brought archer a home game for the season opener. it will be a difficult one, too. perennial power lowndes finished as the 2019 state runner-up and returns one of the state’s most dynamic playmakers in quarterback Jacurri brown. the Vikings did have a change at the head coaching position with the retirement of longtime coach randy
ARCHER TIGERS (7-AAAAAAA) Coach: andy dyer 2019 record: 9-4
mcpherson, who won three state titles in his tenure from 2002-19. He was replaced in the offseason by Jamey dubose, a longtime alabama head coach who won the 2018 state title and finished as 2019 state runnerup at central in phenix city, ala. “our young men are super excited about playing lowndes in the corky Kell,” archer head coach andy dyer said. “everyone is obviously working under very difficult
circumstances, but our kids and coaches have been resilient throughout the summer and early fall. lowndes has great tradition and they are returning a lot of starters from last year’s team. it will be a tremendous challenge for us and we are looking forward to it.” graduation took most of archer’s offense from the 2019 season, including the offensive line and a four-year starting
quarterback in carter peevy. running backs renoldo spivey and schmari campbell are back, though. there will be lots of new faces in the front seven, where lineman Jose Quezada brings experience, but the secondary is experienced and talented. When: saturday, 2 p.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: archer High school
B4 ♦ Wednesday, september 2, 2020 ♦ gWinnettdailypost.com
THE BREAKDOWN
a look at this week’s prep football matchups
MOUNTAIN VIEW AT SHILOH
MOUNTAIN VIEW BEARS (8-AAAAAAA) Coach: John poitevint 2019 record: 5-6 tino ierulli made an instant impact last season, his first at shiloh. John poitevint hopes to do the same at mountain View. poitevint, previously brookwood’s defensive coordinator, was named the bears head coach after the shocking death of former head coach rob Kellogg. He is eager for his head coaching debut, in addition to getting his players back on the field for a game after a tumultuous offseason with Kellogg’s passing and the coVid-19 pandemic. “our players and community are starting to realize this is really going to happen and you can feel the energy and excitement,” poitevint said. “these student-athletes are in need of some sort of normalcy and i believe high school
SHILOH GENERALS (8-AAAAAA) Coach: tino ierulli 2019 record: 7-4
football gives the players and the communities that. as far as my first game as a head Mossiah coach, i am Carter going about it as i always would. Focus on the process and preparations that come with game week. i do have more on my plate as a head coach but it is a team effort and i have a great staff. “shiloh presents a big challenge for us. they are a well-coached and very athletic football team. being that it is game 1, you know they will have some surprises for us. We have to be ready for everything.” mountain View returns lots
of offensive talent, including nathan payne at quarterback and mossiah carter, marcus brand and Zay Wilson at wide receiver. the defense is more of a work in progress with only two returning starters. shiloh enters 2020 with plenty of momentum after ierulli, the reigning daily post coach of the year, led the generals to their first state playoff berth since 2003 last season. He has a good mix of youth and experience on both sides of the ball, as well as key player back like isaac prince, montae boyd, ladanian smith, antonio meeks and christian culbreth. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Last meeting: mountain View won 52-0 in 2017 Location: shiloh High school
NORTH PAULDING AT SOUTH GWINNETT
NORTH PAULDING WOLFPACK (3-AAAAAAA) Coach: don stark 2019 record: 6-5 south’s season opener offers a challenging test. north paulding, with a new head coach in don stark, has made the state playoffs the past eight seasons. south saw its three-year streak of reaching state end in 2019, the first time it has missed the playoffs under head coach steve davenport. the comets suffered heavy graduation losses, along with coVid-19 attrition, off the 2019 roster, but davenport feels good about his returning players, particularly those moving up from
SOUTH GWINNETT COMETS (4-AAAAAAA) Coach: steve davenport 2019 record: 4-6
successful junior varsity teams the past couple of years. “We’ve got a lot of young Ty kids off a junior VanHassel varsity team that’s been undefeated the last two years, so it’s time for those guys to step up,” davenport said. south breaks in a new starting quarterback in game 1, but does return other key
pieces on offense like receivers corey Johnston and armand anderson. the offensive line will be revamped outside of the lone returning starter, ty Vanhassel. the defense will be led by linebacker d.J. Johnson, last year’s leading tackler, along with returning defensive ends emmanuel cannon and elijah Johnson. safeties Jameer alves and Vaughn davis also are back. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: south gwinnett High school
PEBBLEBROOK AT PEACHTREE RIDGE
PEBBLEBROOK FALCONS (2-AAAAAAA) Coach: leroy Hood 2019 record: 3-7 peachtree ridge has made positive strides in recent seasons under head coach reggie stancil, who has the most veteran team of his short tenure. the lions hope that leads to more victories, beginning with a game against cobb county’s pebblebrook. “they look very athletic,” stancil said of what he has seen of pebblebrook’s players. “they run a similar offense that we run. our goal is to work on our team and get better each week. We have had a really good summer and we have a really good group of seniors that we are excited to
PEACHTREE RIDGE LIONS (8-AAAAAAA) Coach: reggie stancil 2019 record: 3-7
see what they can do on the field against another team. i’m very excited about this year’s Alex team.” Carman one of the biggest causes for excitement is an offensive line full of veterans like alex carman, amari mcneil, cameron ellerby and matthew Webster. Kyle Kingsbury and nick best, as are wideout michael Hernandez and running back brandon cade.
the defense also hopes to take advantage of returning experience from last season. Jaylen madden, carlos Fuller, caleb banks, malachi smith, glenn lukusa, Kyle brown and amari banks are among the top returnees. games at peachtree ridge will look different this year with the addition of the posh Heyward performance center, an athletic training facility for all of the lions’ athletes, behind the end zone. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: peachtree ridge High school
MCEACHERN AT NORTH GWINNETT
MCEACHERN INDIANS (2-AAAAAAA) Coach: Franklin stephens 2019 record: 12-1
NORTH GWINNETT BULLDOGS (8-AAAAAAA) Coach: bill stewart 2019 record: 12-2
north gwinnett and mceachern have battled fairly regularly over the past 10 seasons. most of those have gone north’s way. mceachern won the first head-to-head meeting between the two teams, but north has won the past four, including a convincing victory in last year’s state quarterfinals. the bulldogs’ season ended with a disappointing loss in the state semifinals, so they are eager to get back on the football field. that feeling only intensified with the months of dealing with the coVid-19 pandemic, making the corky Kell nightcap on thursday an exciting time one for the hosts. north wasn’t originally scheduled as a corky Kell site, but a series of coronavirusinduced changes brought the
mceachern game to suwanee. “it doesn’t get any better than opening day for football Austin in the state Wainwright of georgia in the corky Kell classic,” north head coach bill stewart said. “i’m sure mceachern is just like us in the fact that we just want to play football. our players and community are extremely thankful and excited to play this game. a huge thank you to the organizers of the corky Kell and their efforts to make this happen. We look forward to a great night of football.” stewart will see a lot of new
faces on his home field for game 1. His team returns only two starters on offense and four on defense, though one of those on defense is clemson recruit barrett carter, who also will contribute on offense. He joins Kehmar brown and corbin Hood in an experienced linebacker group. though ohio state commit Jordan Hancock opted not to play this season to protect his parents, who are dealing with health issues, from coVid-19, the north secondary is still talented with players like aaron brebnor, Jayson gilliom and austin Wainwright. When: thursday, 8:30 p.m. Last meeting: north won 3213 in 2019 quarterfinals Location: north gwinnett
BROWN
Brown as a young man, as a 4.0 GPA student and as someone who loves the Parkview community deeply. He has played for the Panthers’ youth teams in the Gwinnett Football League since he was 7. “(Brown’s) grown up through our park, through Parkview, all the way from kindergarten — he went to kindergarten in our cluster,” Godfree said. “He’s been all the way through and he still gives back. He still goes and helps in the park on Saturdays. He’s Parkview through and through. Some people
give back after they graduate, but through his years in high school he’s already given back.” Brown makes it a point to visit the Panthers’ GFL football practices, and spend Saturdays at the park when youth games are stacked one on top of another. He spends time with the youngsters, does cleaning or other volunteer work and maintains a presence on the fields where he played for years. “I remember exactly what it was like to be in their shoes,” Brown said of Parkview’s youth players. “I remember how huge
From B1 college offers and led to his commitment to Tennessee in May. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 7 running back in the 247Sports.com composite rankings, which also have him as the No. 15 player in Georgia. Despite his lofty rankings, Godfree said he and others are most impressed with Brown when he isn’t wearing shoulder pads. The coach raves about
NORCROSS AT HILLGROVE
NORCROSS BLUE DEVILS (7-AAAAAAA) Coach: Keith maloof 2019 record: 6-6 norcross head coach Keith maloof enters the season opener — his 22nd season leading the program — familiar with his own team thanks to large number of returning players. He can’t say the same about the blue devils’ first opponent. norcross and Hillgrove have never played in varsity football, and the Hawks have a new head coach in byron slack, previously the defensive coordinator at lowndes, last year’s state runner-up. prior to three years at lowndes, slack had a 13-year stint at camden county, where he was defensive coordinator from 2012-16. He inherits a program that has
HILLGROVE HAWKS (3-AAAAAAA) Coach: byron slack 2019 record: 7-4
been to the state playoffs 10 straight years. “i know Hillgrove’s a very good program,” Zakye maloof said. Barker “they’ve got a lot of great athletes. it’s going to be a challenging opening game for us. i’m looking forward to getting back on the field.” norcross has loads of offensive talent back from the 2019 team, including the entire offensive line, a crop of playmakers at wide receiver, talented running backs in Kaleb
Jackson, Jahni clarke and michael porter and returning starter mason Kaplan at quarterback. outside of defensive end and cornerback, the blue devils’ defense returns plenty of experience, too. among those key players back are linebackers Jalen garner, whose 200 tackles led gwinnett last year, and Zakye barker, who had 152 stops. allstate defensive lineman Kamren lark returns, as does all-county safety Josh graham. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: Hillgrove High school
PARKVIEW AT MILL CREEK
PARKVIEW PANTHERS (4-AAAAAAA) Coach: eric godfree 2019 record: 12-2 parkview and mill creek, two of gwinnett’s most successful high school football programs of late, meet for the first time in the corky Kell classic. the teams initially hoped to play the corky Kell at mercedes-benz stadium before the coVid-19 pandemic shook up schedules and moved the game to mill creek, which plays its first game on a new artificial turf stadium surface. “it will be fun for our boys and community to be the first team to play on (the turf) in the corky Kell versus parkview,” mill creek head coach Josh lovelady said. “We will have our hands full with parkview, they are loaded with talent and well coached as always.” parkview brings back six returning starters on defense
MILL CREEK HAWKS (8-AAAAAAA) Coach: Josh lovelady 2019 record: 10-3
— half in a talented secondary with Quincy bryant, ronnie Hamrick and sulaiman bah Brayden — are plenty of Dudley offensive talent, too. tennessee commit cody brown leads the way after rushing for almost 3,300 yards and 45 touchdowns the past two seasons. the panthers reached last year’s Final Four, losing to marietta, which eliminated mill creek in the previous round. the Hawks lost some key players off that team, but they return young and talented skill players at wide receiver and running back. they also have a strong defensive line,
including West Virginia commit brayden dudley, and a deep secondary. mill creek has new offensive and defensive coordinators. “lots of unknowns with mill creek as they have new personnel that we will have never seen on film,” parkview head coach eric godfree said. “it really just fits right into 2020. our players love the game of football and the unity it brings to our players and community. as unusual as 2020 has been, we are seeing hope and the opportunity for our players to display all of their hard work. We hope that we can be an encouragement for all watching our panthers perform.” When: Friday, 8:30 p.m. Last meeting: First meeting Location: mill creek High
PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN AT LOGANVILLE CHRISTIAN
PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN STORM LOGANVILLE CHRISTIAN LIONS (5-A PRIVATE) (8-A PRIVATE) Coach: Jonathan beverly Coach: tim Wellmaker 2019 record: 2-8 2019 record: 5-7 both head coaches in this are getting improve on as a team. matchup make their debuts with ready to kick “We’ve seen a lot of new teams. off the 2020 improvement over the summer Jonathan beverly comes from season,” and have learned a lot during alabama to build up a young beverly said. our intrasquad scrimmages. but providence program, while tim “the loganville we are excited about being able Wellmaker — an assistant in the christian to hit someone and compete Skyler archer and grayson clusters game presents against someone in an opposite Jordan from 2005-19 — has the same a unique color jersey.” mission at loganville christian. challenge providence, which hopes to the lions, a playoff team in gisa because we are going into the reach the playoffs for the first play, make their gHsa debut game having not seen them on time this season, has connor against the storm. film because of the scrimmages Jones back at quarterback and the new situation for both being canceled. so we were not a playmaker at wideout in skyler sides is more challenging with able to do our typical scouting Jordan. coVid-19 limiting preparation report. but in a way, it has When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. and scouting. allowed us to continue to focus Last meeting: First meeting “i’m beyond excited that we on us and the things we have to Location: loganville christian
WESLEYAN AT MOUNT PISGAH
WESLEYAN WOLVES (5-A PRIVATE) Coach: Franklin pridgen 2019 record: 12-3 Wesleyan went on an impressive run in 2019, and finished as the state runner-up to powerhouse eagle’s landing christian. elca won its fifth straight state title, but not without a challenge from the Wolves, who led 6-0 at halftime but couldn’t hang on. after a weird offseason because of coVid-19, Wesleyan’s players and coaches excited for another real game. Up first this season is mount pisgah on the road. “With the cancellation of preseason scrimmages and no recent history of playing them, mount pisgah provides a real challenge as an opening
it was for high-schoolers to come and watch our practice and come practice with us. I know it means a lot.” Brown watched Parkview games when he was younger, and looked up to the high school players, mentioning Stephen Moye and Chris Carson as two of his favorites. Carson, also a running back, now plays for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. He has worked out with Carson — both train with Brad Lester, also a former Parkview running back who played at Auburn — and has followed in the footsteps of those two
MOUNT PISGAH CHRISTIAN PATRIOTS (6-A PRIVATE) Coach: mike Forester 2019 record: 3-7
opponent because we have no film to study nor solid information upon which to base a Wyatt game plan,” Hodges Wesleyan head coach Franklin pridgen said. “they return just about all their significant players from 2019 and so no doubt they are confident looking ahead. We will need to keep things simple and focused if we expect to win. i know our kids have waited a long time for this so excitement is certainly high.”
Wesleyan will break in a new quarterback in ryan rose, a transfer from providence christian, in game 1. He will be surrounded returning talent like 1,000-yard rusher griffin tucker and J.d. chipman at running back, as well as wideouts like cooper blauser, Wyatt Hodges and andrew Van Wie. tight end Vance nicklaus and linemen tanner bivins also are top offensive returnees. the Wolves’ defense brings seven starters back. When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Last meeting: Wesleyan won 38-0 in 2011 Location: mount pisgah christian school
backs as well as other Panther running back greats like Caleb King, Brandon Jacobs, Sean Dawkins and Brett Millican. “We’re running back high school,” Brown said. Though he still trails Millican’s close to 7,000 career rushing yards, Brown has rushed for almost 4,000 through three high school seasons. He saw his first varsity playing time as a freshman — he remembers being “intimidated” at first — and rushed for 442 yards and eight touchdowns before posting huge seasons in back 2018 and 2019.
He rushed 183 times for 1,588 yards and 25 TDs as a sophomore, following it up with 214 carries for 1,676 yards and 20 TDs last year. “I really feel like I’m going to score at any cost,” Brown said of his running style. “No matter what, I’m going to get into the end zone.” That physical running style is appreciated by his coaches and teammates. “His size, speed and balance stand out,” Godfree said. “He’s a strong runner with very good See ORANGE, B14
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