July 5, 2020 — Gwinnett Daily Post

A2 ♦ Sunday, July 5, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com

MUST Ministries hosting virtual road race to benefit community

By Chamian Cruz

MUST Ministries in Atlanta is offering a virtual “Feed the Need” road race between July 4-11 to provide food, housing and jobs for those in need.

chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

MUST Ministries in Atlanta has continued to adapt all programs through COVID-19, finding innovative solutions to offer help and hope for people in desperate need.

To raise the necessary funds to continue to do so, the nonprofit is offering a

♦ Special photo

virtual “Feed the Need” road race. Runners and walkers choose between a 10K, 5K, 1K or Tot Trot (50 yards), then run their own race anytime between July 4-11.

“Remarkably, we have served more than 50,000 people in the past three months when we typically serve 33,000 over the course of a year,” MUST Ministries President and CEO Ike

Reighard said.

“There are still so many people who were already struggling and are now dealing with unemployment, homelessness and hunger. Events like the ‘Feed the Need’ virtual road race will continue to provide MUST with the extensive resources needed to help struggling neighbors get back on their feet.”

All proceeds will go to pro-

vide food, housing and jobs for the local community. The race cost is $30 and includes a T-shirt.

Anyone registering now for both “Feed the Need” and the annual Thanksgiving Day Gobble Jog will receive a complimentary themed mask.

For details and to register for “Feed the Need,” visit www.mustfeedtheneed.org.

PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

THE CITY OF DULUTH TODAY ANNOUNCES ITS INTENTION TO INCREASE THE 2020 PROPERTY TAXES IT WILL LEVY THIS YEAR BY 3.05% OVER THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE The City of Duluth, Georgia in accordance with Georgia State Law (48-5-32-1) is providing the following information regarding property taxes and the millage rate. The City of Duluth intends to increase the property taxes it will levy this year by 3.05% over the rollback millage rate set forth by SB 177, Act 431, of the 1999 Legislative Session.

Each year, the Gwinnett County Tax Assessor is required to review the assessed value of taxable property in the county for property tax purposes. When the trend prices of properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the board of tax assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and increase the assessment. This is called a reassessment process.

File photo

The Duluth Police Department will begin tracking speeders via speed zone cameras through the new School Zone Safety Program at four Duluth schools beginning Aug. 5 — the first day of school.

When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia Law requires that a rollback millage rate must be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year’s new digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred.

Police to begin tracking speeders in Duluth school zones next month

The Fiscal Year 2021 budget adopted by the Duluth City Council on June 22, 2020 requires a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate. The current millage rate is 6.551 mills and the proposed millage rate is 6.551 mills. Therefore, before the Duluth City Council may set a millage rate to support the budget, Georgia Law requires that three public hearings be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on this tax increase. The City is also required to distribute this press release.

All concerned citizens are invited to attend the public hearings on this proposed tax increase to be held at Duluth City Hall, 3167 Main Street, Duluth, Georgia 30096 as follows: Monday Monday Monday

July 13, 2020 July 27, 2020 August 10, 2020

6:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

By Chamian Cruz

Council Chambers Council Chambers Council Chambers

chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

The Duluth Police Department will begin tracking speeders via speed zone cameras through the new School Zone Safety Program at four Duluth schools beginning Aug. 5 — the first day of school.

Schools participating in the program are Mason and Chattahoochee elementary schools and Duluth and Cole-

Should you have any questions regarding this notice please call Teresa S. Lynn City Clerk at (770) 476-3434 or email tlynn@duluthga.net.

A copy of this notice is also posted on the City of Duluth’s web site at www.duluthga.net Thank you Teresa S. Lynn, City Clerk

PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Duluth has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 3.05 percent.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be held at Duluth City Hall, 3167 Main Street, Duluth, Georgia 30096 on July 13, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at Duluth City Hall, 3167 Main Street, Duluth, Georgia 30096 on July 27, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers and on August 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 6.551 mills, an increase of 0.194 (millage rate increase above the roll-back rate) mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 6.357 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $225,000 is approximately $17.46 and the proposed tax increase for nonhomestead property with a fair market value of $227,000 is approximately $17.61.

If you need further information, please call Teresa S. Lynn, City Clerk at (770) 476-3434, or e-mail: tlynn@duluthga.net

CURRENT 2020 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY CITY WIDE Real & Personal

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

1,110,283,950

1,196,411,760

1,323,541,820

1,420,299,780

1,636,431,490

1,714,489,840

Motor Vehicles

44,649,790

33,729,140

23,684,110

17,132,690

13,442,500

10,429,910

Mobile Homes

53,560

28,640

28,640

26,560

25,440

25,440

Timber - 100%

0

0

0

0

0

0

Heavy Duty Equipment Gross Digest Less M& O Exemptions Net M & O Digest Gross M&O Millage

10,330

32,400

30,850

19,360

21,430

8,170

1,154,997,630

1,230,201,940

1,347,285,420

1,437,478,390

1,649,920,860

1,724,953,360

52,290,955

55,153,136

52,846,039

47,935,040

64,024,580

63,804,974

1,102,706,675

1,175,048,804

1,294,439,381

1,389,543,350

1,585,896,280

1,661,148,386

5.991

6.551

6.551

6.551

6.551

6.551

5.991

6.551

6.551

6.551

6.551

6.551

$6,606,316

$7,697,745

$8,479,872

$9,102,898

$10,389,207

$10,882,183

$1,091,429

$782,128

$623,026

$1,286,308

$492,977

16.52%

10.16%

7.35%

14.13%

4.75%

Less Rollbacks Net M&O Millage Total City Taxes Levied Net Taxes $ Increase Net Taxes % Increase

SOME DISTORTIONS IN FIGURES MAY OCCUR SINCE DATA WAS OBTAINED FROM CITY AND COUNTY RECORDS. THESE FIGURES DO NOT REFLECT BILLING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DIGEST.

man middle schools.

The Duluth City Council approved the measure in June 2019. With this program, existing school zone speed limits will automatically be enforced and will notify the police if dangerous offenders or those with Temporary Protection Orders enter school zones.

Only drivers speeding more than 15 mph over the posted speed limit will be cited.

Fines start at $75 for the first speeding offense and escalate to $125 for subsequent offenses.

Officer Ted Sadowski, a spokesperson for the Duluth Police Department, said this is significantly less than an officer-written ticket in a school zone that can cost upwards of $300 and which requires substantial police time to enforce.

The program, implemented

by RedSpeed USA, follows on the heels of a spike in pedestrian fatalities nationwide and traffic studies showing thousands of speeders in area school zones each day.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Association previously reported that even as cars become safer, pedestrian fatalities have spiked 35% from a decade ago. Two culprits are high speeds and distracted drivers.

With increased signage and stricter speed enforcement, Sadowski said the police department hopes drivers will slow down and pay attention. City officials also hope the program will deliver big safety benefits in school zones.

According to Sadowski, just a 5 mph reduction in speed, such as from 30 to 25, increases the survival rates of pedestrians struck by a vehicle by more than 70%.

The system will also help alert police monitor traffic in the event of emergencies, such as an Amber Alert.

By law, any revenue generated by the program will be spent on police activities to make the community safer.

The cameras will only operate on school days.

There are no points awarded or insurance increases for offenses.

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, July 5, 2020 ♦ A3

WORLD & NATION

WORLD

Latin America sees half of all new COVID-19 infections At the end of April, video emerged from the main hospital in the Brazilian city of Manaus of bodies lined up in corridors, the victims of a sudden surge in the coronavirus. At the same time, the city began digging mass graves for hundreds of people who’d not even had the chance of treatment.

Since then, similar scenes have played out across Latin America, which has seen an explosive spread of the coronavirus. In Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, coffins were fashioned from cardboard boxes as bodies were left uncollected.

In the Chilean capital Santiago, public hospitals were overwhelmed as lockdown was eased too soon.

In the last week of June, coronavirus deaths averaged more than 2,000 a day in Latin America and the Caribbean — half of all recorded deaths worldwide, according to a CNN tally of WHO data. The head of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa Etienne, said this week: “The region of the America is clearly the current epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Lockdown ordered for 200,000 in northeastern Spain due to outbreaks Authorities ordered a new lockdown for 200,000 people in Lleida province of northeastern Spain on Saturday due to outbreaks of COVID-19 there, the first confinement order since the nation’s state of emergency was lifted on June 21.

“We’ve decided to implement perimeter controls around Segrià (county) in response to data that confirm significant growth in the number of COVID-19 cases,” Catalan regional president Quim Torra announced at a press conference.

The confinement started at midday Saturday and includes the provincial capital of Lleida.

It will be enforced by 24 police checkpoints around the county’s perimeter, preventing movement in and out, except for work or to care for people with special needs, two Catalan government spokesmen told CNN. The confinement order does not have a time limit and will be in place while needed to combat the outbreak in the county, they added.

Portugal calls UK decision to leave it off quarantine list ‘absurd’ The Portuguese government has denounced the British government’s decision not to lift quarantine for people traveling from mainland Portugal as “absurd” and “senseless,” saying the UK has seven times more coronavirus cases than it does.

Augusto Santos Silva, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Portugal was “very disappointed” to have been excluded from a list of countries from which travelers will be exempt from spending two weeks in isolation after arriving in England.

The exemption list, which was published by the UK government on Friday and will come into effect on July 10, includes 59 states and 14 British Overseas Territories.

—From wire reports

Trump seeks to inspire patriotism, defends landmarks in July 4 remarks

By Donald Judd CNN

President Donald Trump on Saturday evening was expected to give “patriotic remarks” aimed at celebrating America’s founding and the triumphs of American history while saluting the U.S. military, according to an aide who had read the president’s prepared remarks.

In what the aide described a “a logical extension” of Friday night’s speech at the foot of Mount Rushmore, the president “will appeal to the very best in the American Character” in his remarks in Washington, D.C. Trump’s speech in South Dakota on the eve of Independence Day was largely seen as an appeal to his base, where he warned, “Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values and indoctrinate our children.”

It was the kind of dark message the president has turned to often in recent weeks to incite his most loyal supporters as he attempts to ignore a pandemic in the face of skyrocketing coronavirus cases.

The aide also promised the president will seek to give Americans watching a “worthy show on the Fourth of July.”

At press time, nine Air Force flyovers were scheduled for the District of Columbia, in

saul loeB/aFp/getty images

President Donald Trump was expected to give “patriotic remarks” aimed at celebrating America’s founding and the triumphs of American history while saluting the U.S. military Saturday night, according to an aide who had read the President’s prepared remarks. a display the aide said would be “even more grand than last year’s in terms of the number of flyovers.”

The White House Fourth of July celebration was expected to observe social distancing guidelines for guests, including a number of front-line workers and their families invited by the White House, CNN is told. “To ensure the health and safety of those attending, social distancing will be observed and facial coverings and personal hand sanitizers will be provided,” White House spokes-

man Judd Deere told CNN, while another White House official has confirmed masks and hand sanitizer will be available to guests attending Saturday’s festivities.

Trump’s remarks, an aide told CNN, will seek to contrast those of former Vice President Joe Biden, which the aide called “truly shocking.” Biden’s July 4 remarks, which addressed systemic racism in America, “evoke a series of the very worst moments of our history,” according to the aide.

Biden on Saturday called

NATION

Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend, tests positive for coronavirus Kimberly Guilfoyle — the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. and a top fundraiser for the Trump campaign — has tested positive for coronavirus, according to a top official for the committee she leads.

“After testing positive, Kimberly was immediately isolated to limit any exposure,” said Sergio Gor, chief of staff for the Trump Victory Finance Committee.

“She’s doing well, and will be retested to ensure the diagnosis is correct since she’s asymptomatic but as a precaution will cancel all upcoming events. Donald Trump Jr was tested negative, but as a precaution is also self isolating and is canceling all public events.”

Guilfoyle tested positive in South Dakota before she was set to attend the President’s event at Mount Rushmore, a person familiar with the matter and a campaign source familiar with the matter said.

Guilfoyle was not with the president and Donald Trump Jr. has so far tested negative, the person familiar with the matter said. That source said Guilfoyle had not had recent contact with the President, but she was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was backstage for his rally there and, was also at his event in Phoenix.

A former Fox News personality, Guilfoyle assumed the role earlier this year of national chairwoman of the Trump Victory Finance Committee, where she is credited with expanding its ranks of fundraisers.

evan Vucci/ap

Kimberly Guilfoyle has tested positive for coronavirus, a person familiar with the matter and a campaign source familiar with the matter confirmed to CNN.

Trump signs Paycheck Protection Program extension President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an extension of the small business loan Paycheck Protection Program into law, according to the White House.

House lawmakers unanimously passed the extension less than a day after the program expired, and PPP will now remain open to applications through Aug. 8.

The President’s approval of the measure completes a whirlwind few days for a program that was all but certain to shutter until bipartisan negotiations were sparked in the Senate on Tuesday.

Congress created the program in March to help small businesses keep employees on their payrolls through nationwide closures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 4.8 million small business owners have tapped more than $520 billion in potentially forgivable loans through the program.

The program was so critical at its inception that a first round of funding dried up in fewer than two weeks in April

and had to be replenished.

But interest in the program waned in recent weeks, as shifting rules and the inability of borrowers to come back for a second loan limited the number of small businesses able to go through the application process.

As coronavirus cases spike in Arizona, Mexican state tries to keep Americans out U.S. and Mexican discourse regarding the shared border typically centers on efforts to keep Mexicans from traveling north.

But this weekend, as Arizona reels under the weight of the coronavirus, it is Mexico that is trying to keep Americans from heading south.

Government officials in Sonora, the Mexican state that borders Arizona, have set up additional checkpoints across the border over the holiday weekend to prevent unauthorized travel and conduct health checks on people crossing from the U.S. In a statement, Sonoran Governor Claudia Pavlovich Arellano said the goal is to avoid “people (living in the

PEOPLE

Chestnut, Sudo crush hot dog eating contest — again Sports fans are hungrier than ever for competition on TV, and the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest served it up Saturday in New York.

Joey Chestnut gobbled down 75 weiners and buns in 10 minutes to win his 13th title. Somewhere around the 8-minute mark, Chestnut made history by eating his 1,000th career dog.

The Coney Island tradition allowed betting this year.

The coronavirus crisis forced some changes, too. Spectators weren’t allowed to watch in person. Competitors were separated by clear barriers.

And the people bringing them fresh supplies wore masks.

“It was hard, but I knew I was fast at the beginning,” Chestnut said on ESPN. “The dogs were cooked really well today. At minute 6 is where I missed the crowd. I hit a wall. It took a little more work to get through it.”

Miki Sudo ate 48.5 hot dogs to win the women’s division and set a world record. It’s her seventh title, more than any woman ever.

on Americans to “commit to finally fulfill” America’s founding principle that “all men are created equal.”

“We have a chance now to give the marginalized, the demonized, the isolated, the oppressed a full share of American dream,” Biden Brie Larson reveals says in the video. “We have some major roles a chance to rip the roots of systemic racism out of this she lost out on country.”

Biden later tweeted that Before she was “Captain “one of the most patriotic Marvel,” Brie Larson says things you can do is wear a she missed out on some big mask” during the coronavi- movies. rus pandemic.

She auditioned but was not cast for a role in a “Star U.S.) that want to come spend Wars” movie, along with the weekend and will leave us starring roles in “The Hunwith a larger burden of Covid.” ger Games” and “TerminaThe U.S and Mexico agreed tor: Genisys,” she revealed to close their shared border on her new YouTube chanin March to all non-essential nel on Thursday.

“I auditioned for ‘Star activity. Crossings deemed Wars,’” Larson said. “I auessential, for things like comditioned for ‘Hunger Games,’ merce or medical appointI auditioned for the ‘Termiments, are still permitted.But nator’ reboot.

I actually was Mexican President Andrés thinking about the ‘TerminaManuel López Obrador told tor’ reboot today because I reporters Friday there have got a flat tire and I was like, been numerous cases recently ‘Oh the last time I got a flat of people crossing from Arizotire was when I was driving na to Sonora for nonessential reasons. That is why he agreed into my audition for ‘Termito deploy federal resources to nator.’ Got a flat tire at the help staff the new checkpoints. audition, and then didn’t get the job.”

Jennifer Lawrence landSeattle protesters ed the role as Katniss Everstruck by car; suspect in deen in “Hunger Games” and Emilia Clarke starred custody, police say in “Terminator: Genisys.”

Two women were seriously hurt early Saturday morning Neil Young objects to when a vehicle drove into a Trump playing his group of protesters in Seattle, authorities say. A suspect faces music during event at multiple felony charges, said Mount Rushmore Capt. Ron Mead of the WashMusician Neil Young is ington State Patrol.

Seattle has been the scene upset again with President of protests over police bru- Donald Trump for playing tality and systemic racism, his music on Friday during including in a six-block area the White House’s Mount controlled by protesters af- Rushmore event celebrating ter police abandoned their Independence Day. “This is NOT ok with me,” precinct — the Capitol Hill Organized Protest or Capital Young wrote on Twitter Friday, responding to a video of Hill Autonomous Zone.

A few blocks away at about “Rockin’ In The Free World” 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the car heard blaring at Trump’s event.

In another video of the event drove into a group of protesters on a section that the WSP with “Like a Hurricane” playhad closed about midnight. ing, Young wrote, “I stand in Mead said a car drove around solidarity with the Lakota a series of “support vehicles” Sioux” and reiterated, “this that protesters were using to is NOT ok with me.”

CNN has reached out to the protect themselves.

A 24-year-old woman from White House for comment.

Young previously objected Seattle suffered life-threatening injuries. A 32-year-old woman to Trump’s use of “Rockin’ from Bellingham, Washington, In The Free World” in 2015 had serious injuries and was when the song was played reported in stable condition, during Trump’s presidential announcement.

Mead said.

—From wire reports —From wire reports

MIT-designed robot can disinfect a warehouse floor in 30 minutes

By Allen Kim CNN

MIT has designed a robot that is capable of disinfecting the floor of a 4,000-square foot warehouse in only half an hour, and it could one day be used to clean your local grocery store or school.

The university’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) worked with Ava Robotics — a company that focuses on creating telepresence robots —

MUST READ and the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) to develop a robot that uses a custom UV-C light to disinfect surfaces and neutralize aerosolized forms of the coronavirus.

Development on this project began in early April, and one of the researchers said that it came in direct response to the pandemic. The results have been encouraging enough that the researchers say that autonomous UV disinfec-

tion could be done in other environments such as supermarkets, factories and restaurants.

COVID-19 mainly spreads via airborne transmission, and it is capable of remaining on surfaces for several days. With states across the US reporting a surge in cases and no concrete timetable for a possible vaccine, there is currently no near-term end to the pandemic. That leaves schools and supermarkets looking for solutions to ef-

fectively disinfect areas.

While household cleaning solutions are able to reduce the spread of the virus, an autonomous robot capable of quickly and efficiently cleaning large areas such as warehouses or grocery stores could prove to be essential. The researchers used the base of one of Ava Robotics’ mobile robots and modified it with a custom UV-C light fixture.

UV-C light has proven effective at killing bacteria and viruses on surfaces, the re-

searchers said. However, it is harmful to humans. The robot was built to be autonomous without the need for any direct supervision or interaction.

The team tele-operated the robot to teach it to navigate around the warehouse by setting up predefined waypoints, and the team said that it is currently exploring how to use the robot’s onboard sensors to adapt to changes in the environment.

The goal is for the robot to become capable of adapting

to our world to dynamically change its plan based on estimated UV-C dosages.

The UV-C array affixed to the top of the mobile robot emits a short-wavelength ultraviolet light that kills microorganisms and disrupts their DNA in a process called ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, the researchers said. This process is typically used in hospital or medical settings to sterilize rooms and stop the spread of microorganisms.

A4 ♦ Sunday, July 5, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com COLUMNIST I KEITH ROACH

Beta blockers work with thyroid medicine

D

EAR DR. ROACH: I am 80 years old. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.

I am taking methimazole 10 milligrams, two tabs daily.

Whenever the endocrinologist reduces the tablets to once daily, my TSH remains low.

I am also taking metoprolol. I read on my computer Roach that beta blockers interfere with the absorption of methimazole. Should I take a different medication?

— M.W. ANSWER: Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland releases too much hormone into the blood. This may cause many symptoms, such as fast heart rate, tremor, anxiety, weight loss, excess bowel movements and shortness of breath. Methimazole blocks the synthesis of thyroid hormone, but often beta blockers such as metoprolol are also used to treat some symptoms, especially the fast heart rate, anxiety and tremor. Beta blockers work quickly and are usually prescribed as soon as hyperthyroidism is diagnosed.

Since they are so often used together, I was surprised to hear you read beta blockers block absorption of methimazole — nothing in medical literature supports that. It is true that once a person has gone from hyperthyroid to normal thyroid, the body can absorb metoprolol better, so the dose may need to be decreased.

TSH is “thyroid stimulating hormone,” the body’s signal to release thyroid hormone.

In people with hyperthyroidism due to a problem with the gland — Graves’ disease, an autoimmune thyroid disease — the TSH level is very low.

More methimazole would be expected to raise the TSH, while decreasing the dose should make TSH lower.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 84 years old and in good health. I recently read that most Americans don’t get enough potassium, which lowers blood pressure. Assuming I was one of the majority, I started taking a potassium supplement.

Wise or not?

— C.H. ANSWER: A large 2012 study examining dietary habits concluded that the vast majority of Americans consume too much sodium and too little potassium. Increasing potassium uptake almost always lowers blood pressure.

However, I still recommend lowering sodium and increasing potassium through diet rather than supplementation.

I don’t recommend a potassium supplement without a specific recommendation from your physician and unless your blood level has been tested and found to be in the normal or low range. In general, there are very few (if any) supplements that benefit a healthy person with a good diet. Over-the-counter supplements can be useful alternatives to prescription medications, but should still be used with caution.They can cause harm if used incorrectly, in a person with unrecognized medical conditions or when taken at too high a dose. Finally, OTC supplements are not regulated the way prescription medicines are.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible.

Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med. cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.

WEATHER WATCH TODAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

50%

80%

60%

40%

30%

20%

76 69

82 69

20%

91 69

84 69

88 70

LAKE LEVELS

SOLUNAR TABLES the gwinnett daily post (upSp 921-980, iSSn 1086-0096) is published wednesday, Friday and Sunday by Scni, 725 old norcross Road, lawrenceville, ga 30045. periodical postage paid at lawrenceville, ga 30044. poStmaSteR: Send address changes to gwinnett daily post, p.o. Box 603, lawrenceville, ga 30046-0603.

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

MAJOR 1:45-3:45 a.m............. 2:13-4:13 p.m.

MINOR 6:51-7:51 a.m. .......... 9:31-10:31 p.m.

POLLEN COUNTS trees: low weeds: low grass: low

LOTTERY

91 70

90 71

Lake

Full Yesterday

allatoona .............(840.0) ..... 840.27 Blackshear .......... (237.0) ...... 237.01 Blue Ridge.........(1690.0) ... 1686.38 Burton...............(1865.0) ... 1864.99 carters..............(1072.0) ....1071.90 chatuge ............ (1927.0) ... 1925.42 Harding ............... (521.0) ..... 520.62 Hartwell ..............(660.0) ..... 660.34 Jackson...............(530.0) ..... 528.86

Lake

Full Yesterday

lanier.................(1071.0) ....1071.34 nottely...............(1779.0) ....1776.52 oconee ...............(435.0) ..... 434.50 Seminole................(77.5) ........77.22 Sinclair ................(339.8) ..... 339.07 thurmond ...........(330.0) ..... 330.30 tugalo ................. (891.5) ......889.19 walter F. george...(188.0) ......189.68 west point...........(635.0) ..... 635.33

TODAY IN HISTORY

Saturday cash 3 midday: 4-9-2 cash 4 midday: 6-2-2-6 ga. 5 midday: 5-6-3-9-7 Friday cash 3 midday: 8-9-7 cash 3 evening: 6-1-2 cash 3 night: 3-2-6 cash 4 midday: 3-8-3-9 cash 4 evening: 4-3-6-9 cash 4 night: 8-9-6-3 ga. 5 midday: 7-2-1-2-6 ga. 5 evening: 0-0-9-9-0 Fantasy 5: 4-6-13-26-40 mega millions: 20-40-44-45-50, mega Ball: 24 cash For life: 7-23-28-42-47, cash Ball: 1

TODAY’S HISTORY: in 1775, the continental congress adopted the olive Branch petition, an appeal to King george iii for reconciliation between the colonies and great Britain. in 1935, the national labor Relations act was passed, guaranteeing workers the right to organize and bargain collectively. in 1971, president Richard nixon certified the 26th amendment, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. in 1996, dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, was born.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: p.t. Barnum (1810-1891), circus founder; Jean cocteau (1889-1963), writer; Henry cabot lodge Jr. (1902-1985), diplomat; Huey lewis (1950- ), singer-songwriter; Bill watterson (1958- ), cartoonist; edie

Falco (1963- ), actress; RZa (1969- ), rapper/producer; megan Rapinoe (1985- ), soccer player; adam young (1986- ), singersongwriter; Shohei ohtani (1994- ), baseball player.

TODAY’S FACT: the bikini swimsuit, introduced by French fashion designer louis Reard on this day in 1946, was named for the Bikini atoll, where the united States had conducted a newsmaking atomic test earlier in the week.

TODAY’S SPORTS: in 2009, Roger Federer won his world-record 15th grand Slam tournament with a victory over andy Roddick at wimbledon.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “love, like wisdom, dissolves you and then resolves you. it breaks down your ego and puts you back together again properly.” — RZa, “the tao of wu”

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COLUMNIST I AMY DICKINSON

Exasperated parents’ creative strategies to inspire kids to help around the house

D

EAR READERS: I recently published a question from a woman who signed her letter: “Exasperated Mom.” This mom presented an honest and evergreen problem: How to get her three teenagers to help out more at home.

I need to add to my advice to this parent — that the way to get teenagers to help at home is to bring them onto the family team when they are toddlers. Young children love to help, and when children work alongside their parents, they are learning important life skills. The reason I didn’t offer this observation to Exasperated was because — for her and her husband — that ship had already sailed.

I received scores of responses to this letter, and — some were genuinely helpful, others were funny or nostalgic, and some were straight-up bananas (put all of your kids’ bedroom furniture, belongings, and clothing into a rented storage unit and force them to “earn” them back).

Here is a sampling of my favorite responses: DEAR AMY: I was so tired of asking my teen daughters to do the same thing over and over again, so I stopped. Instead, one day I made tuna casserole for dinner — a dish

they both hate.

For four days in a row, I made tuna casserole for dinner.

I listened to them grumDickinson ble about how much they hated it, while I told them that I could eat it every day for an entire month. I never mentioned the chores that weren’t getting done.

On the fourth night, my older daughter realized what was happening. She and her sister took care of the chores that night, and any time I made tuna casserole after that, they looked for things that needed to be done.

—Noodle This!

DEAR AMY: I raised two lovely boys, who are now 32 and 29. We had the same issues that Exasperated describes. What really helped was time. As they experienced difficult roommates at college, they got so much better at seeing what needed to be done.

Once, the youngest was complaining that he was the only roommate that cleaned the bathroom, and I about fell off my chair laughing.

If I was given a do-over, I would nag less and enjoy the time with them more.

—Enjoying it Now

DEAR AMY: “Exasperated Mom” complained that no matter what she tried, she could not get her teenagers to pitch in around the house. A sure-fire way to get their attention is to turn off the WI-FI and lock it up until chores are done.

It’s also possible to suspend a phone line instantly and temporarily — a great way to get a teen’s attention.

Parenting non-compliant teens is all about leverage.

Find the right lever and you can move any teen!

—I’ve Got the Lever DEAR AMY: Back in high school, one of my friends didn’t do her chore before leaving with us for a party.

Big mistake. When she got home late that night, the dirty dinner dishes were in her bed. No lie. Lesson learned! (Well, she learned her lesson — my mom was all bark and no bite!)

—No Leftovers, Please DEAR AMY: As a parent of four teens, I learned to make a list of possible chores so they could select their own, and what was left would be my chores.

It worked so well that I expanded it to Easy Chores, Hard Chores, and Disgusting Chores with a notation of how many they needed to choose on each list. They treated it like a competition!

This all happened on Saturday morning, and nobody got to leave the house until they did the chores. If they put their minds to it, they were done in 30 minutes!

—Turning the Chore Wheel DEAR AMY: When I was a teenager, my room was always a mess. It drove my dad nuts. Finally, he took everything that was on my bedroom floor and tossed it onto the roof of our home.

When I came home and saw my Air Jordans (among other things) on the roof in the rain, I was horrified.

I would also leave my wet towel on the floor. Dad started shoving it under my covers.

When I’d crawl into bed at night, my sheets were damp.

Suffice it to say, I kept my room clean and hung up my towel, which I have consistently done since I was a teenager. Food for thought.

My dad didn’t say a word, but I got the message. (By the way, I’m a clean dad now...)

—Clean Dad You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: ASKAMY@amydickinson. com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068.

You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or “like” her on Facebook.

HOROSCOPES Step up and do your own thing this year. Be bold and take aggressive action. it’s time to stick up for yourself and your wants. anger will slow you down. taking concrete steps will help secure your position and encourage you to strive for perfection.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — take a unique approach when faced with emotional issues that concern a meaningful relationship. Say what’s on your mind and offer alternative suggestions. embrace new beginnings.

LEO (July 23-aug. 22) — don’t lose sight of your goal or let someone manipulate you into doing something that will benefit them, not you. Success and failure depend on the choices you make.

VIRGO (aug. 23-Sept. 22) — implement a change that will encourage you to live life with zest and clarity. making an adjustment to fit current regulations will set an excellent example for others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-oct. 23) — Revisit the past and remember experiences that can help you make better choices. you can reach your goals if you strive for personal growth and good health.

SCORPIO (oct. 24-nov.

22) — Research will help you prepare to take advantage of a suggestion someone gave you. use what you learn to fine-tune skills you want to incorporate into your plans. a creative path looks promising.

SAGITTARIUS (nov. 23dec. 21) — take care of unfinished tasks. once you have your responsibilities put to rest, you will feel less stressed and more open to personal pampering or a romantic evening with someone special.

CAPRICORN (dec. 22Jan. 19) — Keep your life simple, moderate and focused on what’s important to you. a change to the way you live or a relationship adjustment that encourages equality will improve your life.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — concentrate on what you have to achieve. you can make personal changes if you are willing to do the work yourself. don’t count on others to do things for you.

PISCES (Feb. 20-march 20) — Speak up and find out where you stand. anger won’t solve a dilemma you face, but common sense will. change the way you live or handle your financial affairs.

ARIES (march 21-april 19) — control your emotions before you say something that leads to trouble. go about your business, take care of your responsibilities and do something physical to expel excess energy.

TAURUS (april 20-may 20) — a chance to get ahead is within reach. Speak up, make what you want clear and do the legwork necessary to put yourself in a position that makes you feel content and secure.

GEMINI (may 21-June 20) — dig in and do whatever it takes to reach your goal. How you reach out to help others will make a difference. treat yourself to something special.

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

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, July 5, 2020 ♦ A5

LOEFFLER

limiting the ability of organizations like Planned Parenthood to access it.”

From A1 The bill Loeffler referred to is the Limiting Infant Fatality and This past week saw Congress Empowering Nonprofit Organizatake new steps to protect Ameri- tion Workforces Act, also known cans who have been hit financially as the LIFE NOW Act. by the COVID-19 pandemic. One measure the Senate took was to Senator backs calls to wear vote to extend the Paycheck Proface masks tection Program, with the House of Representatives following suit Loeffler also joined the growing later in the week. number of Republican officials Loeffler said that extension means who are encouraging Americans Georgia small businesses affected to wear face masks in public. by the pandemic have until Aug. 8 Health officials had been ento apply for the coronavirus relief couraging face masks since the funding and, if they get the mon- pandemic began, but lately there ey, continue paying employees. has been a new push by several She wasn’t sure how long the GOP officials, including Gov. Brian federal government would ulti- Kemp, Vice-President Mike Pence mately have to continue the pro- and Senate Majority Leader Mitch gram, however.

McConnell, to encourage greater “I think we’re going to wait and use of face masks in public. see,” Loeffler said. “There’s about Kemp undertook a statewide $130 billion left in the PPP pro- tour this past week to urge Georgram and, in Georgia, we’ve been gians to wear face masks, and was able to deliver $14 billion to em- joined by U.S. Surgeon General ployers, to businesses to help keep Dr. Jerome Adams at some stops their doors open. along the way.

“What we need to look at is who “We need to continue to take needs to get the relief that hasn’t that personal responsibility to keep received it, and how can we continue ourselves, our families, our fellow to refine the program. I have kept Georgians safe, and so I think it’s an open dialogue with (U.S. Trea- a common sense measure to take sury Secretary Steven Mnuchin) as we really start to look at schools and (U.S. Federal Reserve Chair- opening in the fall, getting back man Jerome Powell) about the de- into church, into football season,” signs of the programs and I sup- Loeffler said. ported legislation that ensured “So, I think this is a basic meanonprofits such as churches and sure that I think many are following YMCAs can get access to it while and I think we have to trust the ef-

forts of Georgians to do what they can to keep themselves and their families and communities safe.”

Loeffler did not back a federal mandate being issued to wear face masks, however. Instead, she said it’s a state issue to deal with, leaving it up to individual governors to decide whether residents of their states should be forced to wear masks.

In Georgia, Kemp has called a face mandate a “bridge too far” for him to go.

“I think certainly states know their local situation best and I trust that the states will continue to do what’s best for their citizens just as Georgia has done,” Loeffler said.

CARES Act funding still available Loeffler also talked about federal funds that are available to Georgians and institutions to help offset the impact the pandemic is having on the community.

“There remains significant funding left in the CARES Act to make sure that our hospitals (and) our health agencies — our public health agencies — are funded, but also getting that relief to families and employers,” Loeffler said. “So, I’ve been really focused on the case work that we’ve done across the state to connect Georgians to that relief, but then also working with the governor to figure out what the needs are on the ground.”

As Congress continues to work on legislation related to the COVID-19

FREEDOM From A1 in some parts of the country, including Georgia. Gwinnett County has risen to lead the state in total reported COVID-19 cases.

But, there was a reason for Adams’ visit beyond wanting to promote the wearing of face masks.

Federal COVID-19 Response Assistance Field Teams spent Wednesday and Thursday in Gwinnett County to monitor the county’s response to the pandemic. District health officials said the teams were sent to areas, such as Gwinnett, that have seen increased levels of COVID-19 cases.

“We’ve been so privileged to discuss issues with them and just really handle some intricate problems and challenges and everything that we’re facing,” Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale district health director Audrey Arona said.

As of Friday, Gwinnett had seen a total of 9,085 COVID-19 cases, 173 deaths and 1,132 hospitalizations during the pandemic.

The case total for Gwinnett had increased by 1,622 new cases in the span of one week, which is up from the increase of 1,505 new cases seen between June 19 and June 26. By comparison, the county’s case total increased by only 869 new cases between June 12 and June 19 and 717 new cases between June 5 and June 12.

The county’s case total increased by nearly 54.5% between June 19 and Friday.

Meanwhile, Fulton County — the only county in Georgia that has more residents than Gwinnett — saw its case total increase by just 46.5%

staff photo: curt yeomans

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, center, talks to Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia CEO Randy Redner and Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale district health director Dr. Audrey Arona after a visit to the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Health Departments office in Lawrenceville on Thursday. over that same time period.

The federal team that visited the county this past week observed drive-thru testing sites in Lilburn and Lawrenceville. Members of the team included officials from various federal agencies, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “(We’re) learning about the different challenges that folks are facing in responding to the COVID outbreak, but also finding out what’s working well,” Adams said. “One of the things that’s working well are community partnerships.”

The group that Adams met with at the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Health Department’s Administrative Office in Lawrenceville included representatives of the Gwinnett County Board of Education, the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia and local health and government officials.

The surgeon general cit-

COURT From A1 to one that was used to remove a Confederate monument in Decatur.

The argument outlined in the complaint, officially filed against the county, is that Whiteside sees the monument as a public nuisance because it has been the target of vandals, and he is concerned that it could become the scene of violent clashes between supporters of Confederate monuments and those who oppose them.

In doing so, he recalled a Unite The Right Rally that occurred in Charlottesville in 2017. One woman’s death was tied to the rally after a vehicle was driven into a crowd of counter-protesters.

“The Confederate monument located on the Lawrenceville Square could easily become a rallying and flashpoint for violence similar to the event in August 2017 in Charlottesville, (Va.); thus creating a public safety concern for the city

ed the impact the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Health Department’s work with community partners has had on outreach to various communities, including minorities, particularly the Black and Latino communities.

“It is important to know that if you are a person of color, then you are at a higher risk of complications from COVID, based on the statistics that we have,” Adams said. “Blacks are hospitalized at five times the rate of whites for COVID. Hispanics are hospitalized at three times the rate, NativeAmericans are hospitalized at four times the rate.

“So, we’re really trying to engage with community groups who are already trusted in that space.”

That was why Adams said the wearing of face masks was an important message to get out over the holiday weekend. Although the message was aimed at Americans as a preemptive move before the Fourth of July holiday weekend, officials said it also applies after the holiday as well. Practicing social distancing is another step Adams encouraged residents to

of Lawrenceville and Gwinnett County,” Whiteside wrote in his complaint.

“In recent days, in the midst of historic, nationwide protests of the killings of unarmed black men, the Confederate monument in Lawrenceville has become the focus of justifiable anger and frustration, an impetus for protests and rallies, and most importantly, an urgent, impending threat to public safety.”

Whiteside’s actions are not the only steps being taken to get the Confederate monument removed from the grounds of the historic courthouse, which is a countyowned park and event space. In light of the protests over the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and Rayshard Brooks among others, the monument has been the target of people who see Confederate monuments and statues as symbols of hate.

The monument was erected by the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1993.

response, however, Loeffler said she expects areas that have not already been addressed will begin to get a look.

“I think there will be an effort to look at what was missed by the CARES Act holistically,” she said. “There’s another element in the CARES Act called the Main Street Lending Program. That’s for slightly larger employers. So, for those family-owned businesses, such as a restaurant, (what could be looked at is) what can we do to really target sectors and industries — hospitality for example.

“Travel and hospitality have been so hard hit. They’re major employers. They provide services that we all rely on in our every day lives and it’s vitally important that they are there when we’re ready to get back to normal activities, so we will definitely be looking at that.”

Loeffler also pushes back against ‘Defund The Police’ movement Another big issue in the news lately has been the protests over the treatment of African-Americans. There have been several protests in metro Atlanta, as well as elsewhere around the country over the issue.

The senator did issue support for police and other law enforcement as protests have targeted their treatment of minority populations. She has been particularly opposed to the movement to defund police departments.

take to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

“My surgeon general’s prescription is really simple, three steps,” Adams said. “No. 1: know your risk. Know if you’re at high risk or low risk for coronavirus before deciding whether to venture out. High risk are people who are older, people with chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure.

“No. 2: know your circumstances. Are you going to a place that’s outside or inside?

Outside is lower risk. Are you going to a place where it’s going to be difficult to social distance or easy to social distance?

Know if you’re at home with someone who is vulnerable because even if you’re young and have no problems, your circumstance is that you’re going back home to grandma ... And No. 3: know how to stay safe. If you’re at high risk from either of the two categories, the safest thing to do is to stay home this weekend and until we can get the prevalence of COVID down.”

The surgeon general said as many as 50% of people spreading COVID-19 don’t know they have it because they’re asymptomatic and don’t have a cough or fever.

That has created difficulties in containing the disease, he said.

“That’s why we want everyone to wear a face covering, because if you wear a face covering then even if you are a person who has coronavirus but doesn’t know it, there’s a lessened chance that you’ll spread it to someone else,” Adams said. “Protect the people around you by wearing a face covering.

Protect your freedoms by wearing a face covering and preventing the spread of the disease.”

In addition to the steps taken

by Whiteside, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners District 1 candidate Kirkland Carden, an African-American, and former 7th Congressional District candidate Nabilah Islam, a first-generation Bangladeshi-American, launched a petition on Change.org last month calling for the removal.

More than 1,900 people had signed the petition, which has a goal of 2,500 signatures, as of Friday afternoon.

The petition, as well as Whiteside’s complaint in Superior Court, point out at least one lynching of an African-American took place on the Lawrenceville Square, about 10 yards away from where the monument stands.

Whiteside said in his complaint that Lawrenceville police were called to the monument on June 8 on a report that it had been vandalized with the damage estimated to be valued at $500. The marker had been spray painted with a stencil “Black Lives Matter” logo.

There were also “signs that had

Loeffler said she believes that movement hurts officer morale and increases the chances of rising crime rates. As a result, she signed on as a co-sponsor of the Justice Act filed by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., that is designed to be a Republican attempt at police reform.

Loeffler also filed the Protecting Public Safety and Support Law Enforcement Act, which targets federal highway safety funding for communities that choose to decrease funding for police, in June.

“The left is pushing this dangerous effort to defund the police, and I have been working hard to support law enforcement,” Loeffler said. “I have introduced legislation that would cause municipalities and states to lose federal funding dollars if they, like New York City did (Tuesday) night, actively move to defund the police without a budgetary reason.”

But as the protests have taken place this summer, with most of them being peaceful, conservatives — particularly President Donald Trump — have been targeting Antifa, a left-leaning group. They have been accusing the group of stirring violence that has broken at some protests.

In early June, Loeffler co-sponsored a resolution to label Antifa a domestic terrorist organization.

At the time, she alleged that “the violence, destruction and anarchy brought to cities across America by mobs incited by Antifa are not principled protests and are detracting from the peaceful protests.”

BID From A1 all Democrats in Gwinnett to rally behind her campaign, also makes it clear that he is out of the race.

“In a historic turnout, over fifty thousand voters, many of whom had never bothered to vote before, told me that they want someone else to be our party’s nominee,” Thompson said in a statement. “I want those voices to be heard.

“Therefore, I will suspend my campaign for Gwinnett County commission chair and ask my supporters and all Democrats to support Nicole Love Hendrickson in her campaign.

Rather than spend six more weeks working against each other, I want us to unite in support of Nicole’s campaign and begin working toward making her the first Democratic candidate to be elected Gwinnett County Commission Chair in over thirty-five years.”

Thompson’s announcement is a shocking twist in the race for county commission chairman because a recount was just concluded Tuesday to confirm that he would face Hendrickson in the Aug. 11 runoff. Lee Thompson and former state Sen. Curt Thompson had been neck-and-neck in second and

“

third places respectively in the June 9 Democratic primary for commission chairman.

Hendrickson earned just under 50% of the votes cast in the primary and state law requires a candidate must receive at least 50% of the votes cast to avoid a runoff and advance to the general election in November.

It was not immediately clear if Lee Thompson’s suspension of his campaign means Hendrickson will now be the Democratic Party’s nominee in November, or if she will now have to face Curt Thompson in a runoff.

The Democratic Party’s nominee will face Republican David Post in November for the open seat.

In response to Lee Thompson’s endorsement, however, Hendrickson praised his years of service in a statement released

by Thompson’s campaign. Lee Thompson is a former state representative and currently serves as Lawrenceville’s city attorney.

“Lee has served the citizens of Gwinnett with honor for decades and we all owe him our gratitude,” Hendrickson said in the statement. “I’m looking forward to working with him and all the candidates in this race to win in November and move Gwinnett into a healthy and prosperous future.”

Rather than spend six more weeks working against each other, i want us to unite in support of nicole’s campaign and begin working toward making her the first democratic candidate to be elected gwinnett county commission chair in over thirty-five years.

Lee Thompson in announcement suspending campaign for Gwinnett County commission chair and endorsing Nicole Love Hendrickson

a long message on them, stating remarks about racism and white supremacy,” Whiteside said in the compaint.

“Every time such incidents of graffiti and vandalism occur, city resources are expended,” the solicitor general wrote. “This includes investigating potential criminal damage to the property, coordinating clean-up efforts with the monument and responding to media inquiries.”

Although city police are called to respond to the vandalism, the city has no authority over the monument since it is on county property run by the Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Division.

State law was changed last year to protect Confederate monuments by increasing penalties for vandalizing them and making it harder to remove them. Local communities have been going through the courts, however, as a workaround to get the monuments removed and sent to museums or put into storage.

That was how the Confederate

monument in Decatur was removed last month, after a judge ordered it be taken down.

State Rep. Shelly Hutchinson, D-Snellville, filed legislation this year to have Confederate monuments, as well as statues honoring Confederate soldiers or officials who advocated slavery, banned from public property, but that bill stalled in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Whiteside suggested a judge order the monument on the Lawrenceville Square be moved to the Gwinnett Environmental and Historical Center, which has a museum of some county history.

“The Confederate monument that the community does not want has become a figurative powder keg and thus a public nuisance that must be abated quickly,” the solicitor general wrote in the complaint. “Relocating the monument temporarily will prevent injury and unrest while at the same time protecting and preserving the monument in compliance with — and indeed fulfillment of — Georgia law.”

A6 ♦ Sunday, July 5, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com POLITICAL NOTEBOOK|CURT YEOMANS

Scott, Cleland among key new endorsements for Clemons in Gwinnett Co. sheriff’s runoff

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Another former candidate for Gwinnett County’s open sheriff’s seat is weighing in on who should be in the seat ahead of a crucial Democratic Party runoff.

Floyd Scott, who finished fourth in the June 9 Democratic Party primary for sheriff, endorsed Floyd Scott Curtis Clemons this past week. Clemons is facing Keybo Taylor, who has lined up the support for former candidate Ben Haynes, in the Aug. 11 Curtis Clemons runoff.

The winner of the runoff will face Republican nominee Louis Solis,

Yeomans

who is retiring Sheriff Butch Conway’s chief deputy and preferred choice to replace him, in the general election in November.

But Scott is not the only key endorsement Clemons announced this week. The candidate released a list of officials and former candidates that are joining his group of backers.

“Trusted elected officials, former political candidates, and clergy, recognize Curtis Clemons as a true, experienced community leader, who can unite a diverse Gwinnett County and bring integri-

OBITUARIES STUART , FL

Norma J. Murphy

On Friday, June 19, Norma Jean Murphy, loving wife and mother of three, passed away in Stuart, Florida at the age of 86 after several years of declining health. Jean was born on September 8, 1933 in Tacoma Park, MD to Norman and Lola Wootton. On August 20, 1955, she married Charles Edmond “Doc” Murphy.

He said the day he met her, he knew she was the one. She graduated from the University of Maryland. She was a schoolteacher for many years, beginning in Maryland. In 1970, she moved to Gwinnett County, Georgia. She taught at Sugar Hill Elementary and at Rockbridge Elementary.

She became principal of Bethesda Elementary School. When Arcado Elementary School opened in 1981, she became its principal. The school achieved Georgia School of Excellence in 1991 under her leadership.

In 1993, She retired to a mountain top in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina and later lived in Jupiter, Florida for many years.

Jean was a hands on principal, attending most after school events and talking with the children in the halls regularly. In retirement, she indulged her lifelong love of reading. Jean loved to travel to tropical islands. She played the piano beautifully, with Doc as her audience.

She was devoted to her beloved Westies Murph and Maggie who brought great joy in her later years. Jean never met a stranger, always making new friends. She had a smile that could light up a room. She was known for her generosity and kindness. Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Doc. She is survived by her children Donna Ahlstedt, Dr. Charles E. Murphy Jr., and Carol Alexander, her brother Richard D. Wootton, nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren and two nieces.

Memorial gifts may be made to the media center at Arcado Elementary School, Arcado Rd, Lilburn, GA 33333. A private memorial will be held at a later date.

BUFORD , GA

Ruth Monnig Pursley

Ruth Monnig Pursley, age 83 of Buford, Ga, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus on June 28, 2020. Ruth was born to John and Laura Monnig in Evansville, Indiana where she grew up. In 1958 she married David Pursley whom she met in high school. After high school she worked for a time at The Baby Shop in downtown Evansville and then became a loving mother to Neil and Gary.

She moved to Georgia in 1966 for David’s work and with the then brand new to town, Atlanta Braves.

In the 70’s she took all the college courses needed to become a registered nurse.

She worked nights at DeKalb General Hospital while raising her two sons, oftentimes almost as a single parent as David’s work required constant travel. She always put the Lord first, family second, and herself probably 4th or 5th. Ruth is survived by her husband David of 62 years of marriage, sons, Neil (Beth) and Gary; sister, Laura (Jerry).

She is preceded in death by her parents. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and will be sorely missed. Visitation/flowers Monday July 6, 2020, 12:30-2:00 pm; Service 2:00 pm at The Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home, 4400 So. Lee St, Buford, GA 30518. (770) 932-1133

“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen ... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.”

— Bradley Whitford

15 photos are available with all Obituaries and Death Notices $

Call for details

770.963.9205

Ext.1161 or Ext.1162

ty and transparency back to a sheriff’s office plagued by controversy and community distrust,” Clemons’ campaign announced this past.

At the top of the list of new endorsements form Clemons is former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland as well as state Rep. Brenda Lopez Romero, D-Norcross; Max Peachtree Cleland Corners City Councilman Phil Sadd; former 7th Congressional District candidate Nabilah Islam; former state Representative District 99 candidate Jorge Granados; Art Shelton, who briefly entered the race for county commission chairman, but ultimately opted to not qualify to run for the seat; and Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack.

at least three candidates this fall, according to a new poll released this week.

The poll by Public Policy Kelly Polling was Loeffler conducted for End Citizens United and Let America Vote and it showed Loeffler, U.S. Rep. Doug Collins and Ebenzer Doug Baptist Church Collins pastor Raphael Warnock in a virtual tie in the race.

Loeffler was appointed to the seat late last year to fill the unexpired term Raphael of retired Sen. Warnock Johnny Isakson, but that Collins, Loeffler and appointment was only until Warnock in virtual tie in an election could be held to fill the remaining two years U.S. Senate race of seat’s term.

Statistically, the U.S. SenThe poll shows Collins holds ate seat held by Sen. Kelly a slight lead with 23%, folLoeffler could go to any of lowed by Loeffler, who had

21%, and Warnock, who had 20%. Another 22% of respondents said they were undecided on who they would support.

Loeffler and Collins are Republicans. Warnock is a Democrat.

Democrats Matt Lieberman and Ed Tarver trailed with 11% and 3%, respectively.

End Citizens United and Let America Vote previously endorsed Warnock in the race.

The poll also indicated former Vice-President Joe Biden was leading President Donald Trump by a margin of 49% to 45% in the presidential race.

Perdue, Loeffler push for expansion of telehealth services U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, both R-Ga., called on officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for MediDavid care and MedPerdue icaid Services on Friday to show how they plan to address an expan-

sion of telehealth available under Medicare during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma, Perdue and Loeffler asked for a written plan and timeline that outline potential changes to Medicare rules that govern telehealth be presented to Congress.

“We appreciate your recognition that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more patients and providers see the value of telehealth,” the senators wrote in the letter.

“We believe telehealth is an important tool that enhances patient care and can provide efficiency in health care delivery. While telehealth may not be able to replace all in-person care, we believe it should continue to be an option to meet individual care needs.

“We therefore ask you to continue working with Congress to provide transparency and clarity for your plans for the future of telehealth.”

Political Notebook appears in the Sunday edition of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Georgia Tech students create app to assist with COVID-19 testing results

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Two Lawrenceville residents participated in a COVID-19 Hackathon in May comprised of Emory University and Georgia Tech students, where they pitched solutions to COVID-19 problems and won for their innovative product idea.

Brian Chea and David Strube, both Georgia Tech students, made up the team that created CovidHub, an app that integrates COVID-19 rapid testing results collected in facilities outside of hospitals with hospital electronic medical records.

Their team won $10,000 in cash and were part of a program at Georgia Tech this summer called CREATE-X Startup Launch, where they worked on turning their plans into an actual startup.

A total of nine teams presented their ideas to a group of judges from the tech, business and healthcare fields in the final round of the EGHI/ GT HACK COVID-19 Hackathon, but only three were named winners.

The hackathon was a partnership between the Emory Global Health Institute, the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory, and Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X program. The Emory University School of Medicine funded the hackathon through its Imagine, Innovate, and Impact Award program.

The event began on May 8 when 508 students in 105 teams began working on solutions to COVID-19 problems in eight different tracks, which included an open category, transmission/PPE, social distancing, workplace impact, supply chain, healthcare delivery, testing and contact tracing.

“This hackathon was able to provide an outlet for students looking for ways to help control the pandemic,” said Keriann Roy, Emory Global Health Institute Operations and Evaluation Manager, who organized the hackathon. “Together, these teams had to determine how to communicate, plan and execute their projects from separate homes. Their work is incredibly impressive given that it was completed during this time of social distancing.”

Shirley Gao, a CovidHub

Special photo

Shown is the six-person team that created CovidHub, an app that integrates COVID-19 rapid testing results collected in facilities outside of hospitals with hospital electronic medical records. team member who completed her dual Masters in Public Health and Masters in Business Administration degree at Emory this year, said she was working with a startup that offers COVID-19 antibody testing shortly before the hackathon, so her mind was already focused on all the issues around testing “Throughout the hackathon, we spoke with doctors who validated a true need for CovidHub, which was our solution to integrate results from pop-up testing sites into legacy EMRs at hospitals,” she said.

Strube and Chea said they were not working on anything COVID-19 related prior to the event, but wanted to put their respective skills to good use.

Chea graduated from Georgia Tech in May with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in computer science. Strube will be starting his master’s degree in computer science, specializing in machine learning, at Georgia Tech this fall.

“This is a weird time we’re living in,” Strube said. “It’s distressing that there is so much death and suffering with little certainty on how we’ll get through this or how much longer it’ll last. On the other hand, it’s great to see so many skilled and passionate individuals come together to work toward common goals using online tools to get things done remotely and efficiently. ... I’m glad

to have been a part of my team’s progress so far, and I look forward to contributing to our further success and to helping the world get through these trying times.

Chea said his team hopes that by focusing on testing results, they will be able to relieve a lot of busywork from the overloaded medical staff so they can focus on more critical parts of their job.

“We got lucky with the array of skills the different team members brought together,” Colin Emerson, another CovidHub team member and student at Emory’s Goizueta Business School, said. “These Tech students are super impressive and smart, and it was really great to work with high caliber, hard-working people.”

Another winning team pitched an app called CAPACIT, which helps businesses manage new regulations required to open and operate under COVID-19 and helps consumers practice social distancing by alerting them to a store’s customer traffic in real time.

And the third winning team created an app called CareRing that helps family members and caregivers better communicate with and monitor the physical and mental health of elderly residents living in long-term care facilities.

A fourth team comprised of Georgia Tech students won a $5,000 honorable mention award and enrollment into

the CREATE-X program for its COVID Cleaner tool, which uses computer vision algorithms to help businesses keep their facilities properly sanitized.

“Partnering with Georgia Tech on this hackathon was a great experience for the Emory Global Health Institute and for all of the Emory students who participated,” Vice President for Global Health at Emory Jeffrey Koplan said. “We were thrilled that so many students from both universities participated and impressed with the high-quality work they produced. While this was our first hackathon partnership with Georgia Tech, I hope it won’t be our last.”

Raghupathy “Siva” Sivakumar, Director and Cofounder of CREATE-X and Wayne J. Holman Chair in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech, said he is proud of all of the students who were able to participate in the virtual hackathon and developed ideas that could potentially make a real difference during the unprecedented pandemic.

“Partnering with Emory gave us an added edge to bring more students together and tackle the tough issues facing us today,” Sivakumar said. “We hope that CREATE-X will help these winning teams bring their products to market, creating viable solutions to fight COVID-19.”

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, July 5, 2020 ♦ A7

PERSPECTIVES

Gwinnett Daily Post www.gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline,

Editor and SCNI Vice President of Content todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com

GIUEST COLUMNIST|JOSE R. PEREZ

Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would help Ga. as it faces health care worker shortage

O

ur nation has long faced a sig- 39th across the nation in the number of nificant shortage of doctors and active physicians and 40th in the numnurses, and Georgia is facing one ber of primary care physicians. of the most severe shortages in the naOut of Georgia’s 159 counties, 89 countion. As the coronavirus continues to ties have been designated as Primary strain our nation’s healthcare system, Care Health Professional Shortage Arit is especially important that our hospi- eas by the U.S. Health Resources and tals, emergency rooms, and clinics have Services Administration. Of these 89 the workers they need to help each and counties, 78 have no general surgeon, every one of us.

63 have no pediatrician, and eight have I am an immigrant, an American born no doctors at all. in Cuba, and this topic is close to my Well, help is on the way. Georgia U.S. heart, especially when reminiscing Senator David Perdue is leading about my dad, as most of us did the effort to ensure we have more during the most recent Father’s doctors and nurses to care for the Day weekend. community. He introduced the As a child, I was sent to the U.S. Healthcare Workforce Resilience to escape Cuba. Five years later, Act with bipartisan support in the I was reunited with my parents U.S. Senate. There is also an idenwhen dad finally made it out. As tical bill in the U.S. House of Repdo most generations of immigrants resentatives sponsored by Georgia Perez who come to this great country, Representatives Rob Woodall and my family worked hard to make ends Sanford Bishop. meet. My dad washed dishes, my mom Senator Perdue recognizes we need all cleaned hotel rooms, and I, while in high hands on deck. His bill creates a practischool, worked 40-plus hours a week as cal solution to medical provider shortan usher and projectionist in a theater. ages by repurposing previously unused On weekends, my mom would cook immigrant visas and awarding them to tamales and my dad and I would deliv- nurses and doctors who want to practice er them to homes and restaurants. One in the U.S. but are unable to because of fateful Sunday as dad and I were deliv- green card backlogs and red tape. When ering, my unstoppable dad started expe- passed, this bill will recapture 25,000 riencing abdominal pain. After a serious unused visas for nurses and 15,000 unargument — he wanted to complete de- used visas for doctors to clear the backlivery — I got him to the doctor. logs and strengthen our nation’s healthDad’s appendix had been ruptured care workforce. for two days, and yet he was still walkThis bill does not increase immigraing around working to support his fam- tion and it requires employers to attest ily. Shortly after his surgery, dad went that immigrants who receive these visas into septic shock and fell into a coma. will not displace an American worker.

His chances for survival were nil, but We need these immigrant nurses and an immigrant doctor, who happened to doctors. They have the skills and medibe a Cuban refugee on staff, made it his cal expertise that so many of our comgoal to save my dad. munities are lacking. These foreign-born This Cuban doctor was godsend. I live healthcare workers can make a difference convinced that it was his skill, time, and in our country and deserve the chance dedication during dad’s 21 days in a coma to become Americans born abroad, like that saved his life. Given the doctor and I am. And maybe one of them will save nurse shortages we face today, I worry your dad, too. whether other families will have access to the same level of care my father received.

Jose R. Perez represents Georgia’s 7th Although Georgia is one of the 10 most Congressional District on the Board of populous states in the country, the Geor- Regents. He lives in Peachtree Corners and gia General Assembly’s Rural Develophas been a Gwinnett County resident for ment Council found that Georgia ranks 36 years.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: EmAil: letters@gwinnettdailypost.com mAil: 725 Old Norcross Road Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30046

GUEST COLUMNIST|CHRIS CLARK

P

What you can do as COVID-19 continues

olitical pundits and health care re- masks has prevented a half-million cases searchers can argue “second wave” just in the last few months. Wearing a or simply a continuation of the orig- mask is not a political statement, but it inal COVID-19 pandemic. However, the does demonstrate a priority for wellness. fact remains that the virus that hit us so Consumer confidence is gained through hard in the spring continues to be a potent this simple, but effective, measure. force as we head into the summer months. ♦ Educate your employees. ReIn recent weeks, media turned their at- search shows that customers and employtention to the important concerns of in- ees want training on COVID-19 protecequality and racism, but Georgians contin- tions, and clients want to see verification ue to deal with the day-to-day impacts of of that training. The Georgia Chamber a recession and a spreading health threat. is partnering with The Levee in Albany Gov. Brian Kemp, Dr. Kathleen to offer Unified Standards, a cerToomey and the state’s emergency tified COVID-19 preparedness response team have served us well, training program across a range making tough calls, communicatof 17 industry sectors from hosing consistently, and acting with pitality to manufacturing. These transparency. They have listened training videos, available in both and responded as great leaders do English and Spanish, will allow our in difficult times. employees to comply with health The state of Georgia, in partnerguidance standards issued by the Clark ship with health care organizations CDC and Georgia Department of and the Georgia National Guard, is con- Public Health. It will also restore the tinuing to expand testing and develop bet- customers’ confidence. To learn more, ter treatment. The Georgia Department of go to gachamber.com/covid19.

Public Health continues to push education ♦ Consistent communication is and the need for effective contact tracing vital. We must actively and daily reprotocols as it works with the education mind our team members that this visystem and post-secondary institutions rus is very real and will continue to be a to plan and adapt for an uncertain future. threat for the foreseeable future. IgnorBut, as with most day-to-day challenges, ing the problem or falling back into old government can only do its part to pro- patterns can be costly to society, to our tect, serve and foster a safe environment. employees and to our businesses. Do not Grand lockdown strategies are not rea- run that risk. Make precaution priority sonable for the long-term. And, at some and communicate effectively. point, as we move into the second phase ♦ Maintain a sense of urgency. of this global health crisis, businesses and Complacency is deadly. Do not encourindividuals must take greater responsi- age bad behavior or facilitate activities bility. In order to flatten the curve, keep that are counter to CDC guidelines. Be businesses open, and protect families, we smart and proactive in all matters related must act with resolve. to this virus and public safety.

So, what can we do? First, understand ♦ Build resiliency. The Georgia Chamthat knowledge is power, and we know ber is working around the clock through much more about COVID-19 now than its Recovery and Resiliency Initiative to we did just a few months ago. We know help companies, big and small, rural, and that poorly ventilated areas and close urban, adopt new policies, strategies, contact spread the virus more rapidly and protocols to become more agile and than any other means. We know that forward-thinking in their day-to-day opyounger people are now seeing a spike erations. It is our goal to move through and rural areas are starting to see ad- recovery to a more resilient and sustainditional cases. We know that prolonged able economy of the future. exposure is problematic. We know reIn the end, no matter our business searchers are making progress on un- model or industry sector, every business is raveling the virus. However, we also now in the business of health and safety. know that coordinated leadership, as We must all maintain vigilance and priwitnessed in Albany, can turn the tide oritize the wellness of clients, customers when we view the matter of global health and employees. So, let us all go forward as a non-partisan issue. to be good corporate stewards and citiSo how do individuals and businesses zens of the public trust. To learn more, take greater responsibility? Here are a few go to gachamber.com. simple ways in which we can do our part: ♦ Masks matter. A recent Health Af- Chris Clark is president & CEO of the Georgia fairs study showed that the wearing of Chamber of Commerce.

COLUMNIST|MARC THIESSEN

I

Trump’s rhetoric is driving away vital suburban swing voters

f President Donald Trump wants to understand why Joe Biden has clear leads against him in swing states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, he need look no further than his rally in Tulsa on June 20.

The president did not once mention George Floyd or express solidarity with peaceful protesters marching for racial justice.

His speech was combative, defiant and, no doubt, thrilled his supporters. But it contained barely a word designed to persuade anyone who was not already persuaded to support the president.

To win in November, Trump can’t just rely on the enthusiasm of his base. He needs to win suburban swing voters. In 2016, he won the suburban vote by five percentage points, and those same voters gave him his narrow margin of victory in states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and Florida. While many of those voters defected in 2018 to give Democrats control of the House, they had been planning on coming home to Trump this year.

A New York Times/Siena College poll in November found that almost two-thirds of voters in six battleground states who cast their ballots for Trump in 2016, but then

voted for House Democrats in 2018, planned steam, Trump can ask swing voters: Do to back the president in 2020. you want to keep this recovery going? Or That has changed. In the wake of recent will you risk it all by putting Democrats in racial unrest, Biden, the presumptive charge? It’s a question that will resDemocratic nominee, has opened onate because, despite his negative a commanding 25-point lead over poll numbers, the one area in which Trump in the suburbs. Two-thirds voters still trust Trump way more of Americans say the president has than Biden is the economy. made racial tensions worse since Many Americans who don’t approve the killing of Floyd in Minneapolis of Trump know it is in their own selfon May 25. Trump’s uncompromisinterest to reelect him. But Trump ing rhetoric and retweets are driving Thiessen has to give those voters permission to away swing voters who don’t want to vote in their own self-interest. Right be associated with a senior citizen shouting now, he is not doing so. Meanwhile, Biden “white power!” is giving those voters permission to defect.

There is still time for the president to turn He is positioning himself as an inoffensive things around, and he has one thing going moderate who has pushed back against his for him: The economic recovery is happen- party’s socialist bent — saying we need to ing much sooner than anyone expected. We reform, not dismantle, the police, and emwere supposed to lose more than 8 million bracing incremental change on health care jobs in May, but instead the economy cre- by rejecting Medicare-for-all in favor of a ated 2.5 million. Economists predict we public option. will see similar jobs numbers in the coming Biden has risen in the polls not despite months, and that the economy will grow at his isolation, but because of it. The less he a 20% or even 30% clip in the third quarter speaks, the less likely he is to commit gaffes and continue double-digit growth in the fall. that call into question his mental acuity.

That means Trump will likely be riding Eventually, Biden will have to come out of a wave of great economic news going into his basement, answer media questions and November. With the economy regaining debate Trump. When he does, the race will

tighten and Trump will seek to define the former vice president as a “Trojan Horse for socialism” who will wreck the economy just as it is coming back.

But making Biden unpalatable won’t be enough for Trump. He needs to make himself more palatable to reluctant voters, by leavening his tough rhetoric with expressions of empathy and compassion. Each time he rightly criticizes the mobs defacing our nation’s monuments, he needs to say that he supports peaceful protesters and their cries for racial justice. Each time he criticizes Democrats for wanting to defund the police, he needs to talk about his support for police reform and criminal justice reform. Each time he tweets about law and order, he needs to tweet about racial reconciliation.

Last fall, when the economy was strong, Trump unveiled a new campaign theme when he declared, “Whether you love me or hate me, you have got to vote for me.” If he does not stop inflaming and start uniting, millions of Americans will say “No, we don’t.”

Marc Thiessen is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush.

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CLOSE TO HOME

John McPherson

FAMILY CIRCUS

Bill Keane

Today’s Solution

BEETLE BAILEY Mort & Greg Walker

BLONDIE Dean Young & John Marshall

DILBERT®

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HAGAR THE HORRIBLE Chris Browne

Zits Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

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PICKLES Brian Crane

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.

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Today’s Answer: Apollo

sports

gwinnettdailypost.com

PAGE A12 ♦ SundAy, July 5, 2020

Erwin completes decorated, two‑sport college career

“

(Rebecca) represents all that an SAA and NCAA Division III student-athlete is. Not only is she a world-class competitor in two sports, but she was an outstanding student and an individual that served well in her community.”

By Will Hammock

will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com

When Becca Erwin’s college athletics career came to an end, short of its desired conclusion because of the coronavirus pandemic, she took a break.

After balancing both volleyball and swimming for four years at Birmingham-Southern College, she had earned it.

“I don’t think I went for a run or did anything for like three months,” she said.

Her busy college career was by design.

The Duluth grad competed at a high level in swimming and volleyball as a high-schooler, which created scholarship opportunities in both sports. She specifically narrowed her choices down to colleges that would let her play two sports, and chose Birmingham-Southern, telling the Daily Post in 2016, “I never want to have an offseason.”

She never had one during her college career, and proved those who doubted her wrong.

“I had this crazy dream of playing two sports in college and a lot of people said, ‘You’re crazy. You can’t do that,’” Erwin said. “Even at senior pictures, my photographer told me, ‘Don’t waste your time doing that. Just go to UGA.’ … I never thought I be good at both of them.

I would have been happy riding the bench. I’ve been so blessed to have great teammates, coaches and administrators at BSC, and my family and all my friends helped me do this. It’s been the most challenging thing I’ve ever done.”

Erwin met the challenge and more, excelling in both sports.

In volleyball, she was a two-time, All-Southern Athletic Association selection who led the nation in blocks per set last fall. She also is Birmingham-Southern’s career record-holder for blocks.

She was even better in the pool as she made a strong case as the most decorated swimmer in conference history with 11 All-American awards and three conference swimmer of the year honors. She finished her career with 15 conference records (open and conference championships) and 12 Birmingham-Southern pool records.

Her final conference meet earlier this year was a memorable one with individual conference records in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle, and the 200 individual medley. She shattered her own SAA mark in the 200 IM in 2 minutes, 2.60 seconds (her old record was 2:07.11).

She was headed to nationals with legitimate national title hopes after a stellar showing there as a junior, when she was second in the 500 free and third in both the 100 and 200 free at the NCAA Division III meet.

“This was my eighth year of swimming and volleyball, including high school, and I was really tired, and it was getting harder to get up at 5 a.m. for practice,” Erwin said. “It’s

SAA commissioner Jay Gardiner

Special Photo

Becca Erwin, right, poses with fellow Gwinnett graduates and Birmingham-Southern teammates Tristan Sumpter, left, and Abby Swain, middle, after this year’s Southern Athletic Association Championships.

Special Photo

Duluth grad Becca Erwin poses for a photo after this year’s Southern Athletic Association Championships. a grind of course, but it all paid off at conference and I was excited to go to the NCAA meet again. It was a monthlong with training between conference and nationals, and I knew it was my last meet ever. I’ve got to give it my all. Maybe this is my year (to win a national title). I was really excited to see what I could do.

Then five days before we could depart Birmingham for Greensboro, they called to say (the national meet) was canceled. That was really hard.

I cried a lot that day.”

The incomplete swimming season left Erwin without closure, but a prestigious award lifted her spirits. She was selected as the SAA Woman of the Year for all sports

as a celebration of her accomplishments, both athletic and otherwise — like her 3.918 GPA with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. She was a six-time All-SAA All-Academic selection, a CoSIDA Academic All-District pick, a threetime Academic All-American and a biology and writing center tutor at Birmingham-Southern. She also was president of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Society and volunteered in the community with Rise Against Hunger.

“On behalf of our eight SAA institutions, I would like to congratulate Rebecca on this award,” SAA commissioner Jay Gardiner said in a conference release. “She rep-

resents all that an SAA and NCAA Division III student-athlete is. Not only is she a world-class competitor in two sports, but she was an outstanding student and an individual that served well in her community.

Her accomplishments were truly remarkable amongst a number of great nominees from around the SAA.” Erwin previously was selected as the Birmingham-Southern Woman of the Year, and the conference honor qualifies her for NCAA Woman of the Year, which is announced in November.

“That’s kind of what helped heal a wound of not getting my last swim meet,” Erwin said of the two Woman of the Year awards.

“It was a shock. I never expected to get both of those, or even one.

It’s like my grandma says, to put a period at the end of the sentence, to finish the race and to close it out. That helped close it out. It was nice of them to do that.”

While her college athletic career is over, Erwin said she is ready to fill the competitive void in her life.

She wants find a sand volleyball team, and has a goal of doing a sprint triathlon one day, but her main focus now is nursing school.

She is interested in labor and delivery, and possibly a career as a midwife, and is looking at AlabamaBirmingham, Medical University of South Carolina and Clemson for the next step in her education.

Applications are due in September for January 2021 enrollment.

A busy schedule, even without sports, is likely, she said. She grew accustomed to the grind of a full schedule during high school and college.

“I would do it over again in a heartbeat,” Erwin said of college.

“I wouldn’t change a thing. It was awesome.”

Dacula’s Kaleb Edwards commits to Georgia Tech

By Will Hammock

will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com

The Georgia Tech football program landed a commitment Wednesday from the Daily Post’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year.

Kaleb Edwards, a rising senior at Dacula, chose the Yellow Jackets over an impressive offer list that included his two other favorites, Duke and Notre Dame. Georgia Tech also landed the Daily Post’s 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, North Gwinnett defensive end Jared Ivey.

Edwards joins a 2021 recruiting class that currently includes two players from Grayson, Noah Collins and Jamal Haynes.

“Being at home, I realize that’s important to me to be able to play for my home state,” Edwards said. “(Tech) is getting some good kids down there so I’ll get to play with some Dale Zanine really good kids. I’m looking forward to it.”

Edwards has been a force on offense and Dacula’s Kaleb Edwards (2) runs against Harrison during a state semifinal game at Dacula.

defense the past two seasons for Dacula teams that reached the state semifinals two straight years. As a defensive back, the 6-foot, 195-pounder had 86 tackles, four interceptions and 10 pass breakups as a junior.

As the season progressed, he became a bigger part of the offense. He needed only 66 carries to rush for 1,153 yards and 15 touchdowns, and also had 29 catches for 566 yards and three more scores. Between his rushes and receptions, he averaged 18 yards per touch.

Edwards, projected as a safety at the college level, expected to wait longer on a commitment, but recently changed his mind.

“It kind of just hit me, and I realized I wasn’t waiting on any more offers to come in,” Edwards said. “I was at the point where recruiting was getting overwhelming. I’m happy with what I chose. I felt like I was getting the best of both worlds, academics and football.

Overall, I felt like it was time to commit.”

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Hail to the Chief

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Northside Hospital Gwinnett welcomes new physicians

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Northside Hospital Gwinnett is offering several new resources for the community.

Peachtree Corners Internal Medicine to now part of the Northside Hospital Healthcare System network.

Dr. George Aubley will lead efforts at the practice located at 6460 Spalding Drive, Suite A in Peachtree Corners.

Aubley is a board-certified physician in internal medicine with over three decades of practice experience. He has served the Dunwoody, Norcross, Peachtree Corners and Roswell areas of metro Atlanta since 1993. Aubley specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of medical conditions in adult patients.

Aubley said he believes it is extremely important for him to understand his patient’s unique health and family circumstances, so that he is able to provide expert personalized medical care.

Peachtree Corners Internal Medicine offers comprehensive physical exams, hypertension, high cholesterol

and diabetes management, as well as in-house EKG’s.

Northside Gwinnett Women’s Health, formerly Gwinnett Gynecology and Maternity, also recently joined Northside Hospital. Under the new ownership, Dr. Janice H. Pressley, Dr. Carmen McGee and physician assistant Betsy Weiss will continue to see patients in the Snellville office.

The office will continue to offer bone density testing, diagnostic ultrasounds, in-office gynecologic procedures, obstetrics and gynecologic care.

Lastly, Women’s Specialists of Northside Gwinnett, a Northside network provider, has a new office in Lawrenceville. It is located at 601A Professional Drive Suite 310.

Dr. Melanie Watkins is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who specializes in high-risk pregnancies, adolescent gynecology and infertility management.

She is experienced in family planning and prenatal care for LGBT patients, as well as contraception education and menopause management.

Outside of delivering babies, Watkins also treats uterine fibroids and abnormal bleeding, and she performs

Peachtree Corners Internal Medicine is now part of the Northside Hospital Healthcare System network. Dr. George Aubley will lead efforts at the practice located at 6460 Spalding Drive, Suite A in Peachtree Corners. procedures such as hysteroscopy and hydrothermal ablations.

Certified Nurse Midwife Tonya Hemmings specializes in well-women care, health screenings, contraceptive care and sexually transmitted disease screenings. Her expertise also includes prenatal care, from labor and delivery to postpartum management and breastfeeding support.

Women’s Specialists of Northside Gwinnett is a fullservice obstetrics and gynecologic practice serving women at all stages of their lives with excellent health care. The obstetrics and gynecology experts provide personalized care designed to meet the individual needs of its patients.

To learn more about Women’s Specialists of Northside Gwinnett or to schedule an ap-

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Women’s Specialists of Northside Gwinnett, a Northside network provider, has a new office in Lawrenceville with Dr. Melanie Watkins and Certified Nurse Midwife Tonya Hemmings. pointment, visit womensspecialistsng.com or call 770643-4115.

Call 770-449-6320 to learn more or to make an an appointment with Peachtree

Corners Internal Medicine.

For Northside Gwinnett Women’s Health, visit ngwomenshealth.com or call 770-972-6464 to make an appointment.

Greater Atlanta Christian School implements tech-heavy initiative

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Beginning Aug. 10, Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross will begin implementing its new Synchronous Learning initiative that will provide families with the ability to choose to keep their students home the amount of time they prefer amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

While in the spring students and teachers attended school completely remotely, the new initiative will allow students to experience realtime teaching and collaboration regardless of their location — in school or from afar.

“For the past several months, a team of GAC se-

nior leaders, school level administrators, and lead teachers have been working to transform our K-12 learning spaces so that classes can be taught face-to-face and online simultaneously,” said Dr. Scott Harsh, president of Greater Atlanta Christian School, in an email to school families.

Synchronous Learning uses smart cameras, directional microphones, and interactive white boards to enable “at-home” students to be more fully integrated into their normal schedule’s real-time classroom, as well as with their teachers and classmates.

Live distance-learning platforms have been a part of the school’s contingency plans for years, but were cre-

GA PCOM students picked to serve roles in national professional groups

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Three students from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Georgia campus were recently picked to serve in key roles in national professional societies, the school announced.

Kala Hurst, a member of the class of 2022, was appointed to serve as the Region IV director of the Student National Medical Association while Aldwin Soumare, a member of the class of 2022, was picked to be the co-chairman of the National Osteopathic Affairs Committee. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Clark, a member of the class of 2021, was chosen to serve as the chairman of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Pharmacy Student Forum Executive Committee for the 2020-2021 term.

In her role, Hurst will oversee chapters in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and the Caribbean.

“I feel so honored to be a leader in an organization that has so much history and aligns with my own personal passions,” she said.

“During this tumultuous time, it is even more important to support and enhance the lives of minority medical students and push for substantial change that will increase the betterment for all.”

Soumare’s role with the National Osteopathic Affairs Committee will entail him representing osteopathic medical students across the U.S. as well as providing them

Kala Hurst

Jeffrey Clark

with support and encouragement. “(I am) elated to provide ways for osteopathic medical students to have Aldwin Soumare their voices heard and represented on a grander scale,” he said. “This opportunity will create avenues for many students to be mentored, receive funding for SNMA-related events, and cultivate their development as future osteopathic practitioners.”

And, Clark will be one of five students chosen by the American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists to serve on the Pharmacy Student Forum Executive Committee. Since he will be leading the forum, he will also serve as a voting representative in the society’s House of Delegates.

“I am honored to serve as the chair of the ASHP Pharmacy Student Forum and work with pharmacy students throughout the country,” Clark said. “The Pharmacy Student Forum prioritizes student pharmacists’ needs, ensuring we are well equipped to advance in our professional journey as we transition to pharmacy practitioners.”

ated for short-term needs such as inclement weather days or minor illness make-ups.

School officials said, however, that COVID-19’s longterm impact prompted the school to invest heavily in

more technology, ensuring a high level of cohesive learning both virtually and face-to-face, simultaneously.

The school is currently installing all K-12th-grade classrooms with extensive equipment, including an

interactive, adaptive, allin-one monitor with 16 smart-focus-audio and a 4K camera that tracks each speaker and face. The realtime teaching and collaboration are automatically recorded so students can

reference it at a later time.

“This technology allows us to go well beyond what we offered during the shelter-in-place mandate, truly transforming the GAC educational experience,” Harsh said.