June 7, 2020 — Gwinnett Daily Post

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, June 7, 2020 ♦ A3 COLUMNIST I KEITH ROACH

WEATHER WATCH

Is son’s opioid withdrawal treatment plan too slow?

TODAY

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D

EAR DR. ROACH: Can you tell me the best way for a person to withdraw from Suboxone and how long it usually takes? My son was an opioid addict and has been on Suboxone films for four years for his recovery. He is now very gradually weaning off of it by reducing the amount he takes each week. This has been going on for months. His Roach physician is overseeing it, and together they determine the percentage he is to reduce it by. I have since heard that this is a brutally painstaking way to do it — not that all of this hasn’t been brutal — and that he would be better off going to a hospital and going through the withdrawal there, in a much shorter time period. Also, I’ve read that four years is a terribly long time to be on Suboxone and that he never should have been on it for that long. Can you help to clarify?

— Anon.

ANSWER: Suboxone is a combination of two medications that partially block the effect of opioids. It is an effective treatment for opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, it is not, by itself, a treatment for opioid dependency, and should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment.

This is done by an expert in addiction medicine.

Suboxone can be used for short periods of time, say four to 12 weeks. I have seen patients on it for as long as a year, and have read that it may be used for longer, but four years is beyond my experience. However, that does not mean it may not be appropriate. Stopping opioids suddenly leads to withdrawal symptoms, while slow tapering generally prevents these bad symptoms. Too-rapid withdrawal may make relapse more likely.

I am relieved to hear that the doctor is slowly reducing the amount, as most experts feel the goal is to be off of all opioids. As with methadone, some experts use Suboxone long term to prevent relapse.

I can’t say whether this treatment has been ideal for your son, but it does sound like there is a plan and he continues to progress.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 83 years old, and had two stents inserted in my left artery. I have been on atorvastatin, atenolol and amlodipine. At my recent yearly cardiologist visit, my blood pressure and cholesterol were fine.

Your response in a recent column seemed to suggest that atorvastatin should be stopped at 85 years old. Is that true?

— M.C.M. ANSWER: Statin-type drugs can be given for primary prevention — that is, when a person has no known illness and the doctor wants to prevent the first heart attack — or for secondary prevention, when a person is known to have blockages in the artery and may (or may not) have had a heart attack.

In the case of secondary prevention, the benefits from statin therapy are so great that it is appropriate to give them, even to the oldest patients, except in the cases where there has been a conscious decision to stop treatment (for example, in people with untreatable cancers who choose to do so). The benefits outweigh the small risks of statins, even though those risks may increase with advancing age.

By contrast, the benefits of statin drugs in primary prevention are smaller, and the potential risks are similar to or exceed potential benefits as people get older. There is no specific age cutoff when this happens, but most people 85 and older do not get a net benefit from statins when they do not already have a diagnosis of blockages in the arteries or history of heart attack.

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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.

MAJOR 2:58-4:58 a.m..............3:28-5:28 p.m.

MINOR 7:58-8:58 a.m. ......... 10:54-11:54 p.m.

POLLEN COUNTS trees: none weeds: none grass: Very High

LOTTERY Saturday cash 3 midday: 4-2-6 cash 4 midday: 4-0-8-3 ga. 5 midday: 1-3-8-5-5 Friday cash 3 midday: 9-7-1 cash 3 evening: 7-7-7 cash 3 night: 8-1-4 cash 4 midday: 0-2-3-5 cash 4 evening: 7-5-9-2 cash 4 night: 2-3-8-5 ga. 5 midday: 1-4-2-6-6 ga. 5 evening: 5-7-3-7-1 Fantasy 5: 05-17-24-27-41 mega millions: 32-35-37-47-55 mega Ball: 22 cash 4 life: 04-05-13-52-58 cash Ball: 01

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LAKE LEVELS

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

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Lake Full Yesterday allatoona .............(840.0) ..... 840.59 Blackshear .......... (237.0) ..... 236.94 Blue Ridge.........(1690.0) .... 1687.57 Burton...............(1865.0) ....1865.14 carters..............(1072.0) ....1072.03 chatuge ............ (1927.0) ... 1925.99 Harding ............... (521.0) ..... 520.83 Hartwell ..............(660.0) ..... 659.87 Jackson...............(530.0) ......528.71

Lake Full Yesterday lanier.................(1071.0) .... 1071.47 nottely...............(1779.0) .... 1777.24 oconee ...............(435.0) ..... 435.04 seminole................(77.5) ........76.91 sinclair ................(339.8) ..... 338.40 thurmond ...........(330.0) ..... 330.85 tugalo ................. (891.5) ..... 889.36 walter F. george...(188.0) ......189.08 west point...........(635.0) ......635.31

TODAY IN HISTORY TODAY’S HISTORY: in 1776, Richard Henry lee proposed a resolution calling for a declaration of independence to the continental congress. in 1929, Vatican city became a sovereign state. in 1942, the Battle of midway ended in a u.s. victory against Japan. in 1971, a u.s. supreme court ruling set the precedent that vulgar writing is protected under the First amendment. in 2006, abu musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaida in iraq, was killed by a u.s. airstrike.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: paul gauguin (1848-1903), painter; James Braddock (1905-1974), boxer; Jessica tandy (1909-1994), actress; gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000), poet; dean martin (1917-1995), singer/actor; tom Jones (1940- ), singer; liam neeson (1952- ),

actor; orhan pamuk (1952- ), author; prince (1958-2016), singer-songwriter/ musician; Karl urban (1972- ), actor; allen iverson (1975- ), basketball player; Bill Hader (1978- ), actor/comedian; anna Kournikova (1981- ), tennis player; michael cera (1988- ), actor; iggy azalea (1990- ), rapper.

TODAY’S FACT: pope Julius ii hired the swiss guard to serve as his personal protection in 1506. the paid mercenary force has been protecting popes in Vatican city ever since.

TODAY’S SPORTS: in 1978, the washington Bullets (now wizards) won the franchise’s first and only nBa championship.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “exhaust the little moment. soon it dies. / and be it gash or gold it will not come / again in this identical disguise.” — gwendolyn Brooks, “annie allen”

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Honored as a newspaper of General Excellence

2018

COLUMNIST I AMY DICKINSON

Online pity parties don’t elicit hugs

D

EAR AMY: An old school friend of mine posts often on Facebook. Her updates are mostly upbeat, entertaining and harmless.

Over a decade ago, both her brother and her father died of unexpected illnesses. A sad situation, of course.

Her mother and one remaining sibling are still alive, and they are close.

However, all these years later, she posts about her father and brother on FB regularly, noting, “Today would have been H’s 55th birthday. I can’t believe he’s gone...” accompanied by pictures, including (depressingly) photos of him in the hospital. Or: “Today marks 10 years since Dad started his treatment — greatest Dad ever.” Again, sad and depressing photos.

She always gets lots of sympathetic reactions to these posts.

Amy, it is exhausting and inappropriate to see these online pity parties of hers. Everyone suffers loss. But no one else I know insists on getting attention for those losses, especially monthly (or more!), so many years after they happened. For everyone else but her, it seems, grief is NOT to be flogged online for everyone else to see.

She is a successful person with a great family and a full life. Her grief over her loss is no more important, or tragic, than the losses we have ALL endured, and yet, continue she does — and it makes me angry every time.

How can I let her know how utterly inappropriate these posts are?

— Grieved-Out DEAR GRIEVED OUT: Facebook’s algorithm kicks into gear each day to remind users of items they originally posted about years ago. If her family members entered the hospital, had a birthday, or passed away and she posted about it then (she obviously

did), Facebook will remind her of these events now. She is being regularly triggered, and then she is choosing to share.

I happen to agree with you regarding what feel like beseeching entreatDickinson ies for virtual hugs on social media.

But — guess what? — other people don’t feel that way. And the true beauty of the freedom of expression that social media platforms offer is this: people can say whatever they want. That includes you.

You seem to want to inspire this person to change her behavior, through some magical statement you might compose. But — if you did that, and she wasn’t too wounded to respond, she might well say (to you): “If you don’t like what I post, then don’t ‘follow’ me!”

If you do choose to admonish her, do so via private message. Be aware, however, that she could then choose to post your statement, inspiring another round of “hugs.”

DEAR AMY: My 50-year-old longterm girlfriend is driving me crazy with her habit of saying, “You know...”

We live separately during the week and speak on the phone each evening. Last night I did some tallying: 65 “You knows” in 15 minutes, often six or seven per minute. The extreme was five times in 10 seconds!

It is just so distracting and boring.

This wonderful college-educated person is very pleasant and well-informed.

Of course, the habit is so ingrained that she is totally unaware.

Mentioning it would do nothing; I doubt she can change. I believe a “deaf” ear is my only answer; any ideas?

— I DO Know

DEAR DO KNOW: My family recently pointed out my own annoying verbal tic (evidently, I declare many things and people to be “legendary”).

This knowledge gave me the opportunity to change. (And so, from now on, only I will be “legendary.”)

Give your partner the same opportunity. Tell her that you find this rapid-fire verbal tic annoying (surely, others do, too), and challenge her to try to change.

Nothing helps us notice things about ourselves as well as viewing, or listening, to a recording. Ask her, “Hey, I double-dog challenge you not to use ‘you know’ any time for 10 minutes.

Can I record you?” She will take up the challenge (because she doesn’t believe she does this so often).

Engage in normal conversation.

Do not interrupt or prompt her at all. Afterward, send her a sound file, without comment, and let her hear what you’ve been hearing.

DEAR AMY: Thank you for printing the letter from “Survivor of Family Intervention” who modified her behavior after her children complained about her political rants on social media.

My stereotype of a person who rants on social media is someone who just wants to reinforce their own opinions without looking at facts or caring what others think. I love having my expectations challenged.

— Challenged DEAR CHALLENGED: It’s fun to bust up a stereotype.

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.

a change that eases stress and encourages an affordable lifestyle will be within reach if you stop waffling and start putting your plans in motion. don’t waste time on people and projects that aren’t right for you. size up what’s best for you and leave the past behind.

GEMINI (may 21-June 20) — Question motives, whether they are yours or someone else’s. it’s essential that what you do or agree to be admirable. equality and sharing the same goal will be required.

CANCER (June 21July 22) — share your feelings, and someone will offer interesting feedback that will help you make decisions and changes that will improve your life. don’t fear what’s unfamiliar to you.

LEO (July 23-aug.

22) — Refuse to let the uncertainty that others have stop you from following the path that feels right and best for you. strive for greater security in your personal life.

VIRGO (aug. 23-sept.

22) — take a step back, stop worrying about what you cannot change and start channeling your energy into something that makes you happy. positive change begins with you.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) — added discipline will help you finish what you start. a fitness program will boost your morale as well as your health. Romance is in the stars and will enhance your personal life.

SCORPIO (oct. 24nov. 22) — touch base with friends and relatives and catch up on all the latest news. showing an interest in what others are doing will also spark your imagination and inspire trying something new.

SAGITTARIUS (nov. 23dec. 21) — physical activity will relieve stress. a change to the way you handle your money will help you stick to a budget you can afford. don’t take a physical risk.

Be intelligent and mindful.

CAPRICORN (dec. 22Jan. 19) — putter around the house and you’ll find plenty to do. Home improvements will make you feel proud of your accomplishments, and how much you saved doing the work yourself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) — personal gain is attainable as long as you don’t let anyone interfere. a different hairstyle or changing your image will give you a trendy new look.

Romance is favored.

PISCES (Feb. 20-march 20) — a quest to study something new will encourage a personal change that puts your life in perspective. a healthy, thoughtful pursuit will lead to positive life choices.

ARIES (march 21-april 19) — slow down and take a moment to figure out what’s going on around you. Being aware and sensitive to what others are doing will help you ward off trouble. avoid excess and overreacting.

TAURUS (april 20may 20) — think matters through and take action. getting what you want will be dependent on you and how you handle situations and the people involved. don’t let bickering slow you down.

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

A4 ♦ Sunday, June 7, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com

WORLD & NATION

WORLD

German police seek connection between Madeleine McCann case and another German police investigating the 2007 disappearance of British child Madeleine McCann have now launched an investigation into a potential connection between her disappearance and that off another child who went missing five years ago in Germany, according to German media.

On Friday, German news outlet Der Spiegel reported that police in September 2019 had launched an investigation into the disappearance of a 5-year-old girl named Inga who went missing in the German state of SaxonyAnhalt in May 2015.

According to the report, German police are investigating a potential connection between Inga’s disappearance and the newly identified suspect in the McCann case — a German national identified as “Christian B” by police.

Thousands join Black Lives Matter protest in London Thousands of peaceful protesters have gathered in London and across Europe for the second consecutive weekend, protesting the death of George Floyd and systemic racism in the United States and around the world.

Activists filled Parliament Square in the British capital on Saturday, defying calls from the government and police that people should stay home to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Crowds joined together to chant Floyd’s name and “Black Lives Matter,” at one point all taking a knee in unison.

“I feel that what happened in the U.S. was just a spark, that sparked everywhere ...

I do think George Floyd’s death sparked it across the world and I think it’s amazing,” one protester told CNN. “It’s a worldwide issue, no matter where you are. It’s an issue everywhere, we all need to rise up,” another added.

In Australia, protesters demand justice over minority deaths in custody Protesters have gathered in major cities across Australia demanding justice over minority deaths in police custody in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

About 10,000 people gathered in central Sydney Saturday after a court overturned a previous injunction that ruled any protest there illegal because of social distancing restrictions. Similar demonstrations went ahead in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide, with protesters waving banners and chanting “black lives matter.”

The rallies were organized by indigenous rights groups — among others — under the banner “Stop Black Deaths in Custody.”

Jeremy, 27, who didn’t reveal his surname, attended the march in Sydney. “To know that I stand on the shoulders of black, queer people before me who have enabled me to live the life I lead, I had to ask myself if I was going to be the ancestor that people after me needed me to be,” he told CNN. — From wire reports

Joe Biden wins enough delegates to secure Democratic nomination

By Kate Sullivan CNN

Former Vice President Joe Biden has earned enough delegates to officially secure the Democratic nomination for president, CNN projected on Saturday.

Biden has been the presumptive Democratic nominee since April, when Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the primary.

His electoral victory in Guam on Saturday allowed him to surpass the necessary 1,991 delegates to claim the nomination on the first ballot of the party’s convention, set to be held in August. Biden currently has 1,992 delegates, according to CNN’s tally.

“A little more than three months ago I stood on stage in South Carolina and told the American people that ours was a campaign for everyone who has been knocked down, counted out, and left behind. Those words take on an ever greater resonance today, at a time when so many Americans are hurting and have suffered so much loss,” Biden said in a statement. “So many feel knocked down by the public health and economic crisis we are weathering. So many

Jonathan Bachman/getty images

Former Vice President Joe Biden has earned enough delegates to officially secure the Democratic nomination for president, CNN projected on Saturday. feel counted out and left behind by a society that has for too long viewed them as less than equal, their lives as less than precious.”

He added, “It was an honor to compete alongside one of the most talented groups of candidates the Democratic party has ever fielded — and I am proud to say that we are going into this general election a united party.

I am going to spend every

day between now and November 3rd fighting to earn the votes of Americans all across this great country so that, together, we can win the battle for the soul of this nation, and make sure that as we rebuild our economy, everyone comes along.”

The moment comes after the coronavirus pandemic postponed most of the primaries scheduled to take place in April and May and halt-

NATION

Sheriff at George Floyd memorial: ‘We are part of the problem’ Thousands of protesters are pouring onto the streets of dozens of American cities Saturday as George Floyd’s life is celebrated at an intimate memorial service in North Carolina.

After hundreds of mourners lined up Saturday for a public viewing in Raeford, North Carolina — near Floyd’s birthplace in Fayetteville — his family sang and prayed for him in a private service.

The Rev. Christopher D. Stackhouse recounted the protests in the United States and abroad that followed Floyd’s death as he delivered the eulogy for him.

“A movement is happening in America and I’m glad that all of us get to say that it was George Floyd who sparked the fuse,” Stackhouse said.

“It was George Floyd who sparked the fuse that is going to change this nation,” he added.

A local law enforcement officer, Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin, spoke at the memorial. He denounced police brutality and urged law enforcement to see that “we are part of the problem.”

“I don’t care what George did, we as law enforcement officers, we don’t have the authority to bully, push people around and kill them because we have a badge and a gun,” Peterkin said.

Buffalo police officers plead not guilty to assaulting 75-year-old man at demonstration Two suspended Buffalo, New York, police officers pleaded not guilty Saturday to assaulting a 75-year-old man during a protest against racism and police brutality.

gerald Herbert/ap

People raise their fists during a rally outside Jackson Square in New Orleans on Friday. George Floyd’s second memorial will take place Saturday in Hoke County, North Carolina.

Both were charged with one count of assault in the second degree and have been released on their own recognizance without bail.

The officers — identified by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office as Aaron Torgalski, 39, and Robert McCabe, 32 — were arraigned via video conference and had the same attorney. The officers, who were with the Police Department’s Emergency Response Team, are scheduled to appear in court again July 20.

Video from a demonstration Thursday shows two officers pushing Martin Gugino back. He falls to the sidewalk, where his head bleeds. The officers and others then walk by him, some looking down at him as they pass.

Gugino was hospitalized with a head injury.

The officers turned themselves in Saturday morning, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said in a news conference after the arraignment.

Flynn said he was prepared to charge the officers on Friday, but he “didn’t want to pour gasoline on the fire” after he learned 57 officers resigned from the Emergency Response Team on Friday and “they weren’t going to come last night to protect the city of Buffalo.”

Flynn was concerned about

the safety of the city, protesters and the officers Friday night.

“I was generally concerned about what could potentially happen if I did this yesterday afternoon and there wasn’t enough security downtown,” he said, “so I decided to do it this morning.”

Cyclist caught on video assaulting 3 people posting flyers arrested Police in Maryland have arrested and charged the cyclist who was caught on video Monday accosting three people posting flyers in support of Black Lives Matter.

Anthony Brennan III, 60, of Kensington, Maryland, was arrested Friday and charged with three counts of seconddegree assault, according to the Maryland-National Capital Park Police.

In a statement released through his attorneys, Brennan apologized, saying he recognized his “outrageous behavior” was “unacceptable and wrong.”

“I am sick with remorse for the pain and fear I caused the victims on the trail and online,” he said, adding he was cooperating with authorities. “I am committed to making amends by addressing, through counsel-

PEOPLE

Teen who spent 10 hours cleaning up after protest rewarded with car, scholarship When Antonio Gwynn Jr. saw the damage from protests in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, he grabbed a broom, bought some trash bags and started cleaning the streets by himself.

He started at 2 a.m. on Monday and did not stop cleaning for the next 10 hours.

When an organized group of neighbors arrived later that morning to start clearing the damage, they found that Gwynn had already done most of the work.

When word spread of how the 18-year-old high school senior single-handedly took action, his community responded.

Matt Block saw Gwynn’s story on the news and decided to give him his prized 2004 red Mustang convertible. After high school, Gwynn had planned to go to trade school while saving up to go to college. Upon hearing Gwynn’s story, Medaille College in Buffalo offered him a full scholarship where he plans to study business starting this fall.

ed in-person campaigning.

Seven states — Indiana, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Dakota — as well as Washington, DC, held presidential primary elections last Tuesday, from Ivanka Trump’s college which Biden picked up a large haul of delegates. He commencement speech is expected to earn more this canceled due to backlash upcoming Tuesday, when Wichita State University Georgia and West Virginia Tech, an affiliate of Wichita hold primary contests.

State University in Kansas, canceled Ivanka Trump’s ing, the underlying issues virtual graduation speech that led to my abhorrent amid backlash over President behavior.”

Donald Trump’s response to Brennan said he was “ded- George Floyd’s death and the icated” to working to bring nationwide protests. peace to the community and The public community coljustice to “all victims of rac- lege announced Thursday that ism and police brutality.”

Trump would be a planned The incident took place on speaker for its June 6 virtual Monday when a man and two commencement, and abruptwomen were walking the Cap- ly canceled it the same day ital Crescent Trail in Mont- after criticism, according to gomery County posting fly- a joint statement from the ers in support of Black Lives presidents of Wichita State Matter. According to police, and WSU Tech. the suspect started to argue Instead, the ceremony with them about the flyers would be “refocused more and forcibly grabbed some centrally on students” and flyers from one of the victims. WSU Tech practical nursing He then pushed his bicy- graduate Rebecca Zinabu cle toward the male victim would be the sole speaker, causing him to fall to the according to the release. ground, according to police.

The decision to drop Trump The male victim recorded from the graduation ceremothe entire incident. ny came after the university After the incident Mary- faced public pressure in the land-National Capital Park form of a widely circulated Police asked the public for open letter signed by nearly help finding the suspect and 500 of its faculty, students community members sent and alumni, according to in hundreds of tips over the The Wichita Eagle. past few days. Police used various sources to further Prince William secretly corroborate that information volunteered for a before identifying Brennan.

Acting USAID chief’s daughter rebukes him over push for UN to limit abortion access The daughter of the acting head of the U.S. Agency for International Development is rebuking her father over the agency’s push for the United Nations to remove abortion as an “essential service” in its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am utterly disgusted that you choose to stand by this administration and take part in stripping people of their human rights. I am truly embarrassed to call you my father,” a Twitter account appearing to be that of Camille Barsa, acting USAID Administrator John Barsa’s daughter, posted Friday.

— From wire reports

mental crisis hotline

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, revealed he has secretly been volunteering to assist people struggling with mental health issues during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Duke has been volunteering with Shout, the United Kingdom’s first 24/7 crisis text line that launched in May 2019. The organization was launched by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex following a £3 million investment from The Royal Foundation, a statement from Kensington Place read.

“I’m going to share a little secret with you guys, I’m actually on the platform volunteering,” Prince William told Shout team members during the video call that took place last month.

— From wire reports

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is singing, and locals are conflicted

By Alisha Ebrahimji CNN

San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge is “singing” and its neighbors aren’t quite sure if they love it or hate it.

Residents in the Bay Area said they can hear sounds from the 83-yearold bridge as far as 3 miles away.

The “musical tones” coming from the bridge are a result of a project “designed to make the bridge more aerodynamic under high wind conditions and is necessary to ensure the safety and structural integrity

MUST READ of the bridge for generations to come,” a Golden Gate Bridge district spokesperson told CNN. Shirin Kermani and her family have been frequent visitors of the bridge for the past five years under several different weather conditions, but she’s never heard a sound like this before.

“Even when we were walking up toward the bridge from around Battery East and Lincoln Boulevard, we heard something very sad,” Kermani said. “Like a loud didg-

eridoo or meditation song being played all around us.”

Though others have said the sound is annoying, Kermani said she found it peaceful.

Part of the project includes replacing handrails on the west sidewalk with new, thinner vertical slats so that more air can flow through, according to the Bridge District spokesperson.

“We knew going into the handrail replacement that the Bridge liu guanguan/china news Service/getty images would sing during exceptionally high winds from the west, as we Residents in the Bay Area said they can hear sounds from the 83-year-old bridge as far as 3 miles away. saw yesterday,” he said.

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, June 7, 2020 ♦ A5

No injuries reported at Buford warehouse fire

ELECTION From A1 primary will also appear on Democratic ballots, but that is more of a formality since former Vice-President Joe Biden recently clinched his party’s nomination.

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Congressional, Senate races on the ballot

One of the most high profile, and highly contested, races on the ballots for both Republicans and Democrats is the open 7th District race.

Candidates are vying to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Ga., in Congress.

On the Republican side, Lisa Noel Babbage, Mark Gonsalves, Lynne Homrich, Zachary Kennemore, Dr. Rich McCormick, state Sen. Renee Unterman and Eugene Yu are facing off in this race. Meanwhile, the primary field for Democrats includes Carolyn Bourdeaux, John Eaves , Nabilah Aishah Islam, state Sen. Zahra Karinshak, state Rep. Brenda Lopez Romero and Rashid Malik.

Due to the size of both fields, and the requirement in Georgia that a candidate must receive 50% “plus one” of the votes received, there is a good chance the primaries for both parties will carry over to the Aug. 11 run-off election between the top two candidates from each party.

Another important federal seat appearing on the ballot is the Democratic Party’s primary to decide who will face U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., in November. The field includes Sarah Riggs Amico, Marckeith Dejesus, James Knox, Tricia Carpenter McCracken, Jon Ossoff, Maya Dillard Smith and Teresa Pike Tomlinson.

And, although the seat held by U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., will also be on a ballot this year, that race is a special election and will not show up on ballots until November.

In the 4th Congressional District race, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., faces opposition from William Haston and Elaine Amankwah Nietmann in the Democratic Party primary. The winner will face Republican Johsie Cruz Ezammudeen in the gen-

SCHOOLS From A1 responsive to their academic needs, as well as their physical and emotional well-being,” Wilbanks said. “We work hard at it every day, including in the recent weeks when we faced a global pandemic, followed by very public reminders of the racism that still exists in our country and a period of devastating social unrest.”

He said the spring of 2020 will “long be remembered as one of the most challenging times for our nation, and for all educators in the public schools.”

As the school year came to an end, he said, students and educators added new terms to their vocabulary – coronavirus, social distancing, PPE, flattening the curve – and were introduced to strangers such as Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. “[Their] names now are indelible in our hearts and minds,” Wilbanks said. “They were people who once lived, worked, played, worshipped

File photo

Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in Georgia’s presidential preference primary as well as its general primary election.

One of several key local races is the one for county commission chairman, where Republicans and Democrats are vying to replace retiring chairwoman Charlotte Nash.

Republicans George Awuku, Marcia L. Neaton and David Post are facing off in the GOP primary. Meanwhile, the primary for Democrats is between Nicole Love Hendrickson, Andy Morgan, Desmond A. Nembhard, Curt Thompson and Lee Thompson Jr. Another key local race to watch will be for sheriff, to determine who will replace retiring Sheriff Butch Conway.

The Republican primary for this race will include Conway’s choice to be his successor, Chief Deputy Lou Solis, and Keith Van Nus. The Democratic primary for this seat is a contest between Curtis Clemons, Ben Haynes, Floyd Scott and Keybo Taylor.

One contested commission district race to keep an eye on will be in Commission District 3, where candidates are vying to re-

place controversial Commissioner Tommy Hunter. The Republican field includes Ben Archer, Matt DeReimer and Kim Walker while the Democratic Party’s field includes Roger Marmol, John Moye Jr., Justin Walsh, Jasper Watkins and Derrick J. Wilson.

The Republican primary for Commission District 1, where candidates are vying to replace retiring Commissioner Jace Brooks, will also be contested on Tuesday.

Republicans Laurie McClain and Jacqueline Tseng are facing off to see who will challenge Democrat Kirkland Carden in November.

Two of the three Gwinnett County Board of Education seats up for grabs this year have contested primaries. The third race, for the School Board District 3 seat held by Mary Kay Murphy, only has one Republican and one Democrat running so it won’t be contested until November.

In school board District 1, Democrats Segun Adeyina and Karen Watkins are facing off for the chance to face Republican incumbent Carole Boyce in November.

Meanwhile, longtime veteran school board member Louise Radloff is being challenged by Tarece Johnson in the Democratic Party primary for school board District 5. There is no Republican candidate running for the seat so the winner of the Democratic Party primary will win the seat.

Another local race that will be noteworthy is the Demo-

cratic Party race for district attorney, where voters will decide which Democrat will get to face Republican incumbent Danny Porter in November. Patsy AustinGatson and Wesley “Wes” Person are squaring off in that race.

In the tax commissioner’s race, Democrats Regina M. Carden — mother of commission District 1 candidate Kirkland Carden — is facing Maureen McIvor and Tiffany Porter are running for the chance to face Republican incumbent Richard Steele in November.

and loved in communities not unlike our own. We are shocked, sickened and saddened by the shameful ways in which their lives were ended, and we grieve for them and their families. Still, we cannot fathom the impact of these tragic incidents and others on the black members of our community who are fearful, hurting and angry that these injustices continue to occur.”

The challenge, Wilbanks said, is to respond compassionately and effectively. The Core Beliefs and Commitments adopted by the Gwinnett County Board of Education, which will be used for guidance, express the board’s commitment “…to the civic virtues that bind together communities of many cultures, faiths, viewpoints, interests and histories into a unified nation. E pluribus unum. Out of many, one.”

Wilbanks said this commitment holds significant meaning for every person employed by, or served by, Gwinnett County Public Schools.

“Out of many, one… we must come together to speak out and address racism,” he

said. “In addition to what must be done in the home and by the faith community to mend our fractured world, our schools must be welcoming places of unity, acceptance, understanding, tolerance and hope.

“Schools alone cannot solve society’s problems and eradicate its ills. But schools can do a lot to counter the ignorance, disrespect, prejudice, and fear that allow a community to become a fertile field for hatred and divisiveness.

In Gwinnett County Public Schools, the Board of Education and I are committed to continuing to do everything we can to keep this from happening here.”

Beyond educating every student to the highest level possible, Wilbanks said the board will expand and improve the school district’s work already underway in the areas of equity and inclusion. It will also continue to review its policies and procedures to make sure they cause no harm to any student or group, but foster a learning environment that increases opportunities and promotes success for all.

“That requires us to ac-

knowledge the blind spots we may have based on our personal lived experiences, and to remove them through meaningful conversations within our diverse community where we truly listen to one another and build bridges of understanding,” he said.

More specifically, Wilbanks said the board will maximize the value of its involvement in the Georgia 3 R’s Project, which emphasizes the rights, responsibility, and respect that apply to every child and adult in the school district.

Additionally, they will cultivate support for their efforts through partnerships with the local faith community and organizations that share their commitment to encouraging and shaping a more just, equitable society, Wilbanks said.

“We must try to understand one another’s point of view, be sensitive to each other’s feelings, and take what action we must to address the issues and make things better for all the members of our society,” Wilbanks said. “Our message and our model of behavior must be ‘All are welcome, all are valued, here.’”

eral election in November.

Meanwhile, in the 10th Congressional District, the Democratic Primary will be a contest between Andrew Ferguson and Tabitha Johnson-Green to decide who will face U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., in November.

Primaries will shape open races for commission seats, sheriff

SPACE From A1 and NASA launch. He was commander of surveillance for Falcon 9 Crew Demo 2 and oversaw a 10-person crew.

“Mr. David Pugh, as the other SCO, ensures redundancy to ensure the surveillance crews’ responsibility is done flawlessly,” Walker said. “Mr. Pugh is the lead surveillance operator for the Eastern Range and without his guid-

ance and investment in me as an operator I may not have had this opportunity to be a part of history for this mission.”

Half of Walker’s 10-person crew focused primarily on air surveillance operations, while the other half worked on sea surveillance operation. Jacki Grant was an air space manager, coordinating the clearance of the restricted air space used in the launch. She worked with two contracted civilians and two aerospace control officers, John Eno and Alex Meza. Ashley Hall and Ascheleigh Downum oversaw

On Friday morning, Gwinnett County firefighters arrived at a warehouse in unincorporated Buford to find it full of heavy smoke and an active fire burning in a row of pallet racks.

Firefighters responded at 4:53 a.m. to a report of the fire alarm activated at Carcoustics, located on the 4600 block of Thompson Mill Road. Crews forced entry into the building and discovered smoke in the large industrial warehouse, with water flowing from the sprinkler system.

Additional units arrived on the scene and began search operations and fire attack from multiple hose lines to extinguish the fire.

The fire was contained to the warehouse area, but caused extensive damage to bulk storage material.

A spokesperson with the Gwinnett County Fire Department said there was residual smoke and water damage throughout much of the building.

Fire Investigators were requested to respond to the scene to conduct an origin and cause investigation. It appears the fire was accidental and was sparked by an exothermic reaction due to compressed styrofoam material used in the production process.

No one was at the warehouse when the fire erupted and no injuries were reported.

Employees of the business reported to the scene Friday morning and spoke with firefighters.

Judicial races on the ballot

Another local race expected to get attention is the nonpartisan race for Superior Court Judge Kathryn Schrader’s seat. Schrader is seeking re-election while awaiting trial on computer trespassing charges, after her initial trial in February ended in a mistrial.

Since judicial races are non-partisan, the winner of the election this summer will claim the seat.

Schrader is being challenged by Magistrate Court Judge Deborah Fluker, attorney and former Snellville Mayor Kelly Kautz and attorneys Christa Kirk and B.T. Parker.

The other contested judicial races include Superior Court Judge Randy Rich being challenged by Tamela Adkins for his seat, and State Court Judge Shawn Bratton being challenged

by Matt Miller for his seat.

a clear water front with the help of the 301st Rescue Squadron and the United States Coast Guard, commanding two helicopters and two Coast Guard vessels.

“Because of my entire surveillance crew, our responsibility to ensure public safety was completed flawlessly,” Walker said.

Two days after the launch, on Monday, June 1, Walker had another memorable event in his Air Force career as he was promoted to captain in front of family and friends.

“It was definitely exciting,” he

special photo

Gwinnett County firefighters extinguished a fire Friday morning at a warehouse on Thompson Mill Road in unincorporated Buford.

HATE From A1 over the state Senate, recently signaled support for passage of a hate crimes bill, but indicated he felt the bill pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee needed some work.

“This is an important piece of legislation to get right,” Duncan said in a statement.

“It is time to make it clear that Georgians will not stand for hate and violence. As we work through this legislation we want to make sure that victims of hate crimes have certain tools at their disposal.”

But, the bill has found renewed support from members of the House in early May after video of the death of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick surfaced.

Three white men face charges in connection with Arbery’s death and, since Georgia does not have its own hates crimes statute, federal prosecutors have been called in to look at possibly pursuing federal hates crimes charges.

And, more recently, the bill has been a topic of discussion amid nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

“Members of the House and the public are demanding action from the state Senate,” Efstration said. “Waiting over a year without giving the bill a hearing or a vote has prevented meaningful dialogue and debate about an important policy.”

The bill would allow police and prosecutors to decide on their own whether a criminal act was a hate crime.

Efstration said, if prosecutors decide the case was a

said of the promotion. “It was up there with graduating from the Academy and being able to meet President (Barack) Obama.”

The newly appointed captain will trade in the warm Florida weather for a return to Colorado, where he spent his college years. He will be stationed with command control at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora for the next stage of what promises to be a long military career.

From there, Walker’s career gets really interesting. He has completed paperwork to make more history as a member of the newly formed

hate crime, there would be a trial with bifurcated jury deliberations. First, a defendant would be put on trial for the underlying criminal act in question and if the jury finds the defendant guilty of that crime, it would then hear additional evidence and testimony and decide whether the crime was in fact a hate crime.

“We’re talking about circumstances where law enforcement would seek to classify the offense because of the particular heinousness of the crime,” Efstration said.

“But this is not criminalizing speech or thought. It’s just allowing for proper characterization of particularly heinous crimes.”

Duncan said there are several issues the Senate needs to look at, however, when considering the bill.

That indicates amendments are expected, and that raises the possibility that the bill could get bogged down in revisions. That would come at a time when the General Assembly will already have its hands full with a 2021 state budget that is expected to include steep cuts because of the COVID-19-related hits to finances.

“Victims of bias-motivated violence should have recourse in civil court — I want to ensure that victims have a remedy for the rights they hold as Georgians,” Duncan said. “And in our communities, state and local law enforcement officials need to have the proper training at their disposal in order to correctly identify, investigate, and prosecute hate crimes.

“As we work through the legislation with the Senate Judiciary Committee, these are some of the specific details we will look to address.”

U.S. Space Force, the space warfare branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The new branch, managed under the Department of the Air Force, is the first branch of the U.S. military added since the formation of the Air Force in 1947.

The chance to join the U.S. Space Force at its beginning is another major milestone in the young captain’s career.

“Being part of history once again is pretty crazy,” Walker said. “It’s overwhelmingly crazy how much history I’ve been part of in a short period of time.”

She is survived by two daughters, Dottie Carter Billingsley (Steve) of Madison, GA and Carole A6 ♦ Sunday, June 7, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com Carter Adams of Monroe, GA; son, Danny Carter (Susan) of Arizona; eight grandchildren; Greg Billingsley (Hope) of Kansas City, MO, Nancy Billingsley Furr (Kevin) ent than anybody else,” 13-yearBy Chamian Cruz of Madison, GA, Abbie old Rhian Hines said. “I hope chamian.cruz E. Billingsley (Jason @gwinnettdailypost.com to see a better future for future Round) of Chicago, IL, generations like me, my cousin Reece Adams (Amber) Protests against excessive poof Social Circle, GA, and my sisters, but also when lice force are continuing to spark Brian Adams (Cissi) we get older and we have kids throughout Gwinnett County.

Adams and Dee Dee we want them to live in a betA couple hundred demonstraAdams Burson (Jacob) ter world than what’s happentors lined both sides of Buford all of Cartersville, GA, ing now.”

Highway Friday afternoonMichelle in Adams Harness State legislators and represenLAWRENCEVILLE downtown Duluth to make their of Monroe, GA and tatives from the Gwinnett Chapvoices heard and were joinedLaura

by Carter of Arizona; ter of the NAACP also attended local elected officials who showed 16 great grandchildren; the peaceful protest in Duluth. up in solidarity. two sisters, Faye Butler Sam Park, State Rep. for House The protest in downtown DuWilliams and Geraldine District 101, said he wanted to Butler Thornhill both luth Friday was on what would encourage young demonstraof Lawrenceville, GA; have been Breonna Taylor’s 27th tors to transform their collecTerrell Williams birthday. However, on Marchnephew, 13 tive pain to collective purpose Robert Henry Wilgus of Lawrenceville, GA and she was fatally shot by Louisville to bring about the change and niece, Sula Pugh Gower Robert Henry Metro Police Department officers justice that they are demanding. of Buford, GA; and a host “Bob” Wilgus, 68, of upon entering her home. And “I think it is so important for of many friends. Mrs. Lawrenceville, Georgia, just 11 days ago protests sparked elected officials to demonstrate Carter was also preceded passed away suddenly over the death of George Floyd that they are listening,” Park said. in death by her parents, at his home on May in Minneapolis.

“That they understand the anger Ausy D. (A.D.) Butler 25, 2020. He joins his “George Floyd; Breonna Tayand pain that so many young and Cora L. Bradberry beloved dachshunds, lor; Ahmaud Arbery,” the demblack boys and girls, especially, Butler; two brothers, Roxie and Rowdy who onstrators chanted.

Staff photo: chamian cruz are feeling so that we can move Ralph Butler and Harold died in 2019. Bob was Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris The protest in downtown Duluth Friday was on what would have Breonna Taylor’s 27th birthday. forward. ... We have an opporButler; sister, Evelyn born on been March 17, 1952, spoke just before the march began, Butler; twoasons-in-law, upfor in Baldwin, with the demonstrators walking take while, but said one way promote equality and and grew justice an. Her daughters, who ranged tunity this year to elect folks Horace E. Williams Long Island, New toward Buford Highway. to start is getting to know your everyone in my city and I plan inYork. age from 4 to 13, niece and who can harness and unite the and Terry Adams.

The He graduated from “I know that we are all made neighbors. to do that. We stand in solidar- husband all held signs with dif- diverse communities in Gwinfamily would Baldwin in the image of God and that “If youlike livetoingive Duluth, I prom- ity. Your pain is our pain.High YourSchool, ferent messages such as “black nett, so that we can move fora special “thank you” Class of ward stronger together. “ represents unconditional love,” ise you your neighbor probably injustice is our injustice as1970. well.” After liveshigh matter.” school, he enlisted in Park invited everyone to vote Harris said. “And we needtotoGwinnett doesn’tExtended look like you,” Harris Crystal Chambers said she was “I the understand that many peoCare said. for the“Get remarkable Army. beHis tours have unconditional love for evto know the people on protesting for herU.S. children, ple, of including us black people, at the June 9 primary to elect care they Mrs.that you care. cause she did notduty ery race and every culture that’s yourprovide street. to Show wantincluded them toservice we go through a lot of stuff and the next sheriff, district attorCarter.

They that allowed in the Republic Vietbecause of our skin color ney and other leaders in GwinI know as a white female experience the same things she ofjust around us.” her toleader speak it to is everyone South Korea, my responsibility to has experienced asNam, a black womwethe shouldn’t be treated differ- nett County.

She said specific change may that came in and she was Republic of Panama, as able to develop so many well as many stateside wonderful friendships assignments. He met that gave her such joy in his future wife, Kim, in her later years of life.

South Korea while he was BALDWIN LAWRENCEVILLE LILBURN Annie Mae Butler Carter stationed there. They were Norcross was born on May 3, 1922 married January 17, 1975. in Lawrenceville, Georgia After retiring from active where she was a lifelong duty in 1993 as a Sergeant resident. She graduated First Class, he became from Lawrenceville a JROTC instructor at High School where she Thomasville High School, participated in Home Thomasville, North Ellen Hunter Annie Mae (Butler) Carole Lanford Economics developing Carolina for 21 years.

Danny Eller a great love for sewing.

He thoroughly enjoyed Ellen Hunter, age 92, Carole T. Lanford, age Carter Mrs. Carter was quite the working with the students of Baldwin, GA passed 85, of Lilburn, passed Danny Eller, resident of Annie Mae Butler Entrepreneur.

She had her and staff at the school. away Wednesday, June away on Wednesday, June Norcross, GA, died Carter, age 98 of own Beauty Shop named He also organized and 3, 2020.

She is survived 3, 2020.

A graveside unexpectedly on June 2, Lawrenceville, GA “Classic Coiffeurs” for was the photographer for by her loving children; service will be held at 2020 at the age of 68. went home to be with years and was the founder the school yearbook. He Tim (Tracy) Hunter, 2:00 pm on Sunday, Danny is survived by his her Lord and Savior on and owner of Carter was a member of the local Nancy (Richard) Cochran; June 7, 2020 at Corinth Wednesday, June 3, 2020 son, Bailey Eller; and his Insurance Agency.

She American Legion post daughter-in-law, Judy Cemetery in Stone at Gwinnett Extended cousin, Richard Waters. was selected as the first and supported several Hunter; grandchildren, Mountain. A native of Care where for thirteen He is predeceased by his woman Million Dollar veterans’ activities.

Bob David (Allison) Hunter, Jacksonville, FL, Mrs. years she was loved and parents, James and Bertha recipient out of 17 other earned his Associates Brandy (Zach) Wilbanks, Lanford was a bookkeeper cared for by the entire Eller. representatives and had Degree from Thomas Daniel (Dena) Hunter, with Gwinnett County staff. She was preceded Danny was born in her picture listed in the A. Edison State College Mary (Jordan) Mickle, Public Schools prior to in death by her husband Dekalb County on Wall Street Journal.

She in 2008.

After retiring Jimmy Cochran and retirement. She was a of 55 years Howard R. September 9, 1951. He won the trip to Hawaii in in 2014, he and Kim Hunter Cochran; sisters, resident at The Retreat Carter on March 19, 1997. graduated from Sequoyah 1970 for being selected, moved to Lawrenceville Hazel Holcomb, Shelby at Buford and was a She is survived by two High School in Doraville, which at that time was to be near Kim’s family.

Millsap, and Martha longtime member of daughters, Dottie Carter class of 1969. He was the quite an accomplishment.

In retirement, he kept Oneil; eight great Calvary Baptist Church Billingsley (Steve) of proud owner Blue Ridge She was a member at the busy with golfing and grandchildren.

She was in Lilburn. The epitome Madison, GA and Carole Refrigeration. volunteering at local preceded in death by her of a true southern belle, Carter Adams of Monroe, former Second Baptist A graveside service will Church in Lawrenceville golf tournaments and husband, J.B. Hunter; she was affectionately GA; son, Danny Carter be scheduled for 2pm on and at age 35 became gardening.

He became stepson, James Hunter; known as “Nonnie” by (Susan) of Arizona; eight Sunday, June 7th at a member at Prospect a Master Gardener and 5 siblings; 1 great her grandchildren and grandchildren; Greg United Methodist Church Sawnee View Memorial was working with the grandchild. A funeral will be missed by all Billingsley (Hope) of Gardens on Dahlonega in Lawrenceville.

Mrs. local high school students service honoring the life who knew and loved Kansas City, MO, Nancy Highway in Cumming. In Carter was a devoted wife, to build and maintain of Ellen will be held on her. She was preceded Billingsley Furr (Kevin) lieu of flowers, mother, grandmother, vegetable gardens.

He was Monday, June 8, 2020 at in death by her husband, of Madison, GA, Abbie contributions can be made sister and always a also the Commander of 11AM at Tom M. Wages William “Bill” Lanford.

E. Billingsley (Jason to the No Longer Bound loyal friend.

One of the local American Legion Lawrenceville Chapel Survivors include her Round) of Chicago, IL, Organization. her greatest joys in life, post and was working on with Rev. Richard Sims son, Bill Lanford, Jr. of Reece Adams (Amber) https://nolongerbound.com a project to rehabilitate besides her family, was officiating.

A private Asheville, NC; daughters of Social Circle, GA, /make-a-donation/ gardening. She also their meeting hall. Bob interment will follow at and sons-in-law, Susan Brian Adams (Cissi) On-line condolences may enjoyed sewing and taught and Kim are members Eternal Hills Memory and Mike Huckeba of Adams and Dee Dee be expressed at Crochet at Gwinnett of the Lawrenceville Gardens.

The family will Dacula and Catherine and Adams Burson (Jacob) www.crowellbrothers.com. Presbyterian Church. A Extended Care to other receive friends on Sunday, Keg Giles of Loganville; all of Cartersville, GA, Arrangements entrusted to residents. She was a Memorial Service will June 7th from 4pm-7pm grandchildren, Patience Michelle Adams Harness Crowell Brothers Funeral southern lady and will take place at a later date. in the funeral home.

Overbey (John), Kyle of Monroe, GA and Homes & Crematory, 5051 In addition to his wife, be greatly missed by Flowers are accepted or Huckeba, Andrew Giles Laura Carter of Arizona; Peachtree Industrial her adoring family and Kim, Bob is survived by memorial donations be (Leigh Ann), Shane 16 great grandchildren; Boulevard, Peachtree many friends.

A Private his sister, Ellen Bell (W. made to Hebron Baptist Huckeba and Aaron two sisters, Faye Butler Corners, GA 30092. 770Service for the Family Fontaine) of Ellicott City, Church or Homer United Giles; great grandson, Williams and Geraldine 448-5757. to Honor the Life of Maryland, his brother, Methodist Church.

Elijah Giles; many Butler Thornhill both Mrs. Carter will be held William Wilgus (Judy) of Condolences may be sent nieces and nephews. of Lawrenceville, GA; Saturday, June 6, 2020 Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, to or viewed at www.

In lieu of flowers, LAWRENCEVILLE nephew, Terrell Williams at 3:30 P.M. at Tom M. Kim’s sister, Young Kim wagesfuneralhome.com. the family requests of Lawrenceville, GA and Wages Lawrenceville of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Tom M. Wages Funeral donations in Carole’s niece, Sula Pugh Gower Chapel with Rev. Jacob and several nieces and Service LLC, “A Family memory to Calvary of Buford, GA; and a host Burson, grandson-in-law nephews.

He will also Company” 120 Scenic Baptist Church, 5255 of many friends. Mrs. officiating.

Interment be missed by many Hwy Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville Highway, Carter was also preceded will follow at Gwinnett friends.

Contributions in GA 770-963-2411 has Lilburn, GA 30047. in death by her parents, Memorial Park. The Bob’s memory may be been entrusted with Online condolences Ausy D. (A.D.) Butler family will receive friends sent to: Lawrenceville the arrangements. may be left at www.

Robert Henry Wilgus and Cora L. Bradberry during a visitation period Presbyterian Church, PO billheadfuneralhome.

Robert Henry Butler; two brothers, on Saturday from 1:30 Box 765, Lawrenceville, com. Arrangements “Bob” Wilgus, 68, of Ralph Butler and Harold P.M. until the hour of GA. 30046.

by Bill Head Funeral Lawrenceville, Georgia, Butler; sister, Evelyn the service at the funeral Homes and Crematory, passed away suddenly Butler; two sons-in-law, home.

Condolences may Lilburn/Tucker Chapel, at his home on May Horace E. Williams be sent or viewed at www. 25, 2020. He joins his (770) 564-2726. and Terry Adams. The wagesfuneralhome.com. beloved dachshunds, family would like to give Tom M. Wages Funeral Roxie and Rowdy who $ a special “thank you” 15 photos Service, “A Family died in 2019. Bob was to Gwinnett Extended Company” Lawrenceville are available born on March 17, 1952, Care for the remarkable Chapel 770-963-2411 has “Infuse your life with acand grew up in Baldwin, with all care they provide to Mrs. been entrusted with the tion. Don’t wait for it to hapLong Island, New York.

Carter. They allowed Obituaries and funeral arrangements. pen. Make it happen. Make He graduated from her to speak to everyone Death Notices Baldwin High School, your own future. Make your Some people come into that came in and she was our lives and quickly go.

Class of 1970. After high own hope. Make your own able to develop so many Some people move our souls school, he enlisted in the wonderful friendships love. And whatever your beto dance. They awaken us to U.S. Army.

His tours of that gave her such joy in liefs, honor your creator, not a new understanding with duty included service her later years of life. by passively waiting for grace the passing whisper of their in the Republic of Viet Annie Mae Butler Carter to come down from upon wisdom. Some people make Nam, South Korea, the was born on May 3, 1922 the sky more beautiful to $15 photos are available with high, but by doing what you Republic of Panama, as in Lawrenceville, Georgia gaze upon. They stay in our can to make grace happen Call for details well as many stateside where was a lifelongand Death Notices all she Obituaries lives for awhile, leave foot... yourself, right now, right assignments. He met resident.Call She for graduated prints on our hearts, and we 770.963.9205 details 770.963.9205 down here on Earth.” his future wife, Kim, in from Lawrenceville are never, ever the same.

Ext.1161 or Ext.1162 Ext.1161 or Ext.1162 South Korea while he was — Bradley Whitford — Flavia Weedn High School where she stationed there. They were participated in Home married January 17, 1975.

Economics developing After retiring from active a great love for sewing.

Local leaders march in downtown Duluth

OBITUARIES

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, June 7, 2020 ♦ A7

PERSPECTIVES

Gwinnett Daily Post www.gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline,

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

LOCAL COLUMNIST|DARRELL HUCKABY

Leadership needed in these unstable times

T

he man probably just wants to retire career at age 10, chasing tennis balls and and be close to his son. doing other tasks for the inimitable Dan That’s what most of us want if we Magill. He lettered in tennis and coached are lucky enough to reach the age of 65 and tennis and worked in the Sports Informahave the means and the good health to do so. tion Department. He is a Georgia graduBut the guy has a pretty important job ate who is married to a Georgia graduate. with a lot of responsibility, and you may not Yeah, I know. There is that 18 years he have noticed, but we are living through a was employed in Gainesville, Fla., but that pretty tumultuous time in our nawas just mission work. He never retion’s history. It’s not a good time ally looked good in orange and blue. for a public institution to be tasked Just as I am not trying to imply with the job of replacing a vital cog that I had any knowledge of Greg in said institution’s machinery.

McGarity’s retirement plans, I am What’s that old thing we used to also not trying to imply that I have pound out in typing class? “Now is agreed with every decision he has the time for all good men to come made as the guy in charge, any more to the aid of their country.” than he has agreed with every word Huckaby Or remain in aid of their country.

I have written about UGA athletics.

Or university.

I’m a mite prickly and impetuous and I’m sorry. I got ahead of myself. often look before I leap — and speak before I am speaking of Greg McGarity, the J. I think. He has never held that against me.

Reid Parker director of athletics at the UniAnd even when I haven’t agreed with his versity of Georgia, hallowed be thy name. decisions, I have appreciated his stewardship.

It was announced Thursday that McGarCase in point. Three years ago, on a gloity has signed a one-year contract exten- rious September Thursday, my buddy, sion, agreeing to lead one of the most fi- Gary Hill, and I were sitting in the firstnancially stable athletics programs in the class section of a Delta flight, bound for nation through the end of next June — at Chicago. Georgia was about to paint that a time when stability in the face of chaos town and South Bend, Ind., Bulldog red. I is much needed. had not purchased a first-class ticket, unNow don’t hear something I am not say- derstand. I had been bumped up. But the ing. I do not have intimate knowledge of point is, as we sat there watching the plane the future plans of Greg McGarity and his fill with other Georgia faithful, Greg made wife, Sheryl. They may intend for Greg to his way past us, toward his seat on row 34. stay and work forever and UGA president, “I always fly coach,” he told us.

Jere Morehead has publicly stated that he That’s Greg McGarity. He presides over a is more than welcome to do so. But, like I department with an annual budget of $150 said — he is 65 and has a son in Florida and million and he flies coach to save that defully vested retirement, and I know from partment money. personal experience that those are pretty I’ll tell you something else about Greg strong attractions.

McGarity. Whenever I have contacted But these are not normal times. There is him with a concern, big or small, he has no need for me to explain why. It would be responded immediately. Understand, I unseemly to abandon the helm of a sailing am not a big donor to the University, and vessel in the midst of a raging storm. So, I cannot do anything to help or hurt him whether it was his plan to reup all along in his job. That’s just who he is as a person, or whether it wasn’t — and him being a and I appreciate that. private person, we will never really know And I appreciate the fact that he is will– the fact that he is offering continuity to ing to continue to serve his alma mater, and our program is a good thing for those of us mine, and get us to the next calm harbor. who bleed red and black. I do.

We of the Bulldog nation like to use the So, too, does Greg McGarity. Some people phrase, DGD. Thank you, Greg. You’re a claim to be Bulldog born and Bulldog bred. Damn Good Dawg.

It is actually true where he is concerned.

He is an Athens native. His parents both Darrell Huckaby is an author in Rockdale worked at UGA. He started his Georgia County. Email him at dhuck008@gmail.com.

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

COLUMNIST|DICK YARBROUGH

A complex issue with no easy answers

T

hese thoughts on the current up- the truth? Of course, all lives matter. Your heaval in our country come cour- life matters and my life, too. My family’s tesy of an unusual array of sources: life matters. So does yours. Everybody’s The late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy; Larry lives matter. We can no longer say that?

Savage, a candidate for chairman Now, to the police. What happened of the Cobb County Commission; in Minneapolis is inexcusable and and Hayden, Cayden and Jamaya the first to tell you that would be (more on them later). the law enforcement community. It I read a quote recently in which makes their hard job even harder.

Sen. Kennedy, a Democrat, said, They will also tell you they are try“What is dangerous about extreming to weed out the bad cops and ists is not that they are extreme but admittedly have been slow in doing that they are intolerant. The evil is so until now. But to compare the not what they say about their cause Yarbrough majority of those men and women but what they say about their opsworn to uphold the law and under ponents.” often difficult circumstances to the rogues The Cobb County commission is dis- who don’t, would be say that all protesters cussing a resolution condemning racism. A are committed to violence and anarchy. part of the tentative resolution reads, “the Is there any hope to negate the intolerboard wishes to condemn racism, bigot- ance on both sides of the racial divide? I ry, hate and violence which can no longer believe racism is a learned behavior. We be tolerated in Georgia and in particular must be taught to hate. I discovered that Cobb County.” firsthand at our Birthday Bash last NoSavage, a Republican, takes exception vember where great-grandson Cameron to the implication that such things are tol- Charles Yarbrough and I celebrate our reerated in the county and in the state and spective birthdays with family and friends. suggests that the resolution also contains It is a grand occasion. a respect for the rule of law, due process, As things were wrapping up and folks property rights and “a little something for were preparing to leave, 5-year-old Hayden the shared benefit that residents and visi- and 4-year-old Cayden gave each other a tors expect to be safe in their homes and big hug. Hayden is my great-granddaughin the community,” as well as the virtues ter. She is white. Cayden is the grandson espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. of Carla, who has been a part of our famBetween the resolution the Cobb Coun- ily for the past year. Cayden is black. Obvity Commission is considering and what ously, neither of them seemed to be aware Savage is suggesting, is there any room of their differences and just as obviously, to meet in the middle? That sounds rea- didn’t care. sonable and would be a sign that we are It was not long after that Cayden’s aunt, listening to each other and looking for 13-year-old Jamaya, got at right angles with solutions rather than the implied accusa- a teacher she felt was picking on her. Totion that, in fact, we all have blithely tol- tally exasperated, she said to the teacher, erated the heinous behavior described in “Do you know who my grandfather is? He the resolution. I know I haven’t. I suspect is Dick Yarbrough and he is very powermost of us haven’t. ful!” Obviously, I am neither her grandOne of the manifestations of extrem- father nor am I powerful and likely could ism is the current intolerance for free ex- not have made a difference in their dispression. New Orleans Saints quarterback pute but she thought I could and, to her, Drew Brees is apologizing profusely for color didn’t matter. I’ve never had a nicer saying he will “never agree with anybody compliment. disrespecting the flag of the United States Sadly, there are no easy answers to this of America.” Back to Robert F. Kennedy: complex issue but my thanks to the late “What is dangerous about extremists is Sen. Robert F. Kennedy for defining exnot that they are extreme but that they are tremism and intolerance, to Larry Savage intolerant.” Why should Brees apologize? for suggesting that all sides be heard and Has Colin Kaepernick apologized for dis- to Hayden, Cayden and Jamaya for pointrespecting the flag? We can’t be tolerant ing us toward a brighter future. of both views?

A longtime announcer for the Sacramento You can reach Dick Yarbrough at dick@ dickyarbrough.com; at P.O. Box 725373, Kings in the NBA had to resign after tellAtlanta GA 31139; or on Facebook at www. ing a Black Lives Matters advocate that all lives matter. Resign? For what? For telling facebook.com/dickyarb.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR|YOUR OPINON

Letter missed the real progressive agenda

DEAR EDITOR: In response to the letter written by John and Lee Ann Bombach, that ran in the June 3 edition, I submit the following: All you did was recite the Democratic Party platform they’ve used for the last 60 years. Apparently, you haven’t kept up with the true Progressives’ latest ideas.

Here are a few: 1. Single-payer healthcare. (How’s Obamacare working out? The government loses billions of dollars a year running the post

office, and don’t get me started on the state of the VA.) 2. Tuition-free public education. (I paid for mine. Why should I pay for yours?)

3. Higher top marginal income tax rates.

(You couldn’t raise taxes enough to offset the Obama administration’s addition of $10 trillion to the national debt.)

This is the real Progressive agenda, not the drivel pointed out in that letter.

Michael Schreiner Lawrenceville

COLUMNIST|KATHLEEN PARKER

F

A hair-trigger from another disaster

orget about the charming days of partisan divide; we’re now in a full-throttle battle for the soul of the nation.

Do I overstate? Perhaps, but I’m not sure overstatement is possible after the bedlam we’ve witnessed in the days since the asphyxiation-death of George Floyd while in police custody. Since that day, when a Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, we’ve learned what mayhem looks like.

From the ashes of chaos, a narrative has taken shape that systemic racism is at the root of what happened to Floyd. A long and unchecked history of police killings of unarmed black men drives this narrative and many people are only now grasping its power for the first time.

Georgia jogger Ahmaud Arbery literally was hunted by three white swamp dwellers — a father-son duo (one, an ex-cop) and their neighbor — who rammed poor Arbery with a truck before shooting him three times.

How should we process such inconceivable savagery?

Some may have found release in lighting fires, others in rioting and looting. It’s impossible to know at this point what was organic and what was organized. It may not

matter. But how we respond does cently, some voices have begun calling matter. The election will likely turn for the wholesale elimination of police on the outcome. departments. They’re joking, right?

In some respects, I can sympathize Well, weirdly, no. Already, three Los with those city officials who allowed Angeles city council members have the looting to continue rather than filed a motion to cut the LA police derisk confrontations that could result partment’s budget by $100 million to in more shootings and more dead $150 million for the 2020-2021 fiscal Parker bodies. Merchandise can be replaced, year. I tuned into MSNBC’s Joy Reid after all. People cannot. But, then, Show on Thursday and tried to follow my business wasn’t destroyed. What about a discussion about rethinking the whole idea the people who lost theirs? of law enforcement. What would the alternaThe forces behind these events — whether tive be, exactly? Oh, right. Anarchy. trouble-making randos, committed resistIf things continue, we’ll soon see greater ers, the far-left Antifa, or cops that can’t or insecurity on the part of some citizens who won’t intervene — have collectively man- might welcome a National Guard presence. aged to create a facsimile of what white su- Or, more likely, we could see a rise in vigipremacists have forever longed for: deep lantism, the threat of which is already viscivil unrest. Those are conditions that ben- ible in some cities where armed citizens — efit Donald Trump.

Second Amendment gauchos — are taking And just as importantly, who gets to talk? it upon themselves to “protect the citizenry,” Not white people, apparently, unless they’re if not truly, then at least symbolically. How willing to check their privilege at least in the soon before some homegrown soldier deview of some who demonstrate. The white- cides to open fire on a rioter vandalizing a privilege meme continues to circulate on so- building? We’re a hair-trigger from another cial media, often as an accusation. We need layer of disaster. everyone in this conversation because fairThe authoritarian temptation is real for ness is a two way street. some and is a consequence that can only be Hysteria doesn’t travel with reason. Re- avoided if protesters, with the help of po-

lice, rout out the anarchists and infiltrators, who tend to be mostly white. If the violence continues, so will the sentiment that this is a country out of control, and that only a law and order strongman can reel things back in.

The sentiments expressed by protesters are real; law enforcement reform is crucial going forward. Bad cops have to be exposed and removed. Chauvin was named in multiple misconduct complaints for various offenses of abuse or overreach. He should have been dismissed from his duties long ago. If he had been, George Floyd might still be alive. But we need police departments and the good cops who work there to stay.

All of this makes this moment the key turning point of 2020. If anarchists want to create a lawless environment for the further degradation of democracy, we must work together to stop them. It’s worth pondering who would seek this result. Foreign actors, perhaps, as Attorney General William Barr has suggested? Whatever their identity, they either really want Trump to be reelected — or else, they’re very, very dangerous. And perhaps both.

Kathleen Parker is a columnist for the Washington Post.

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Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same numSolution to today's Sudoku ber only once.

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gwinnettdailypost.com

PAGE A12 ♦ SundAy, JunE 7, 2020

Excitement builds for Atlanta nASCAR race Field Level Media

Craig Cappy

North Gwinnett’s Kendall Varitek (6) passes the ball forward against Collins Hill during a match in March.

REIGN CONTINUES Defending state champ North finishes 2020 unbeaten, as No. 1

By Will Hammock will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com

North Gwinnett girls soccer’s reign atop Class AAAAAAA will continue into 2021.

The Bulldogs didn’t win a repeat state championship in 2020 — the coronavirus pandemic ended those hopes — but no opponent knocked them from their perch, either. They finished the shortened season with the No. 1 ranking in Georgia’s largest classification, a No. 4 national ranking from MaxPreps, a perfect 6-0 record and a notable resumé of early-season victories.

Head coach Jeff Becker was impressed with how the 2020 team embraced a different situation through those matches.

In 2019, North was the hunter, a heavy underdog to Parkview in the state semifinals and Lambert in the finals. North was the hunted this season as the No. 1 team with a state championship to defend.

“None of us had ever been in that situation before, so I told them, ‘Now you’ve got a target on your back,’” Becker said. “There were games last year that could be considered win-win for us. Maybe you beat a Parkview or a Lambert and that’s awesome. But if you don’t and you put up a good show, that’s a win for you. Now it’s lose-lose because you’re pretty much expected to match up with the top 10. If you lose any games, then the defending state champs got beat. I think the girls really responded to that. They didn’t take anything for granted.”

The season stopped short of two anticipated region matchups — March 13 against Peachtree Ridge and March 17 against Mill Creek (ranked seventh nationally by MaxPreps) — but North emerged unbeaten through a challenging non-region schedule. It won a rematch with Parkview 3-2, defeated traditional power St. Pius 2-1 and beat Norcross 1-0.

Bree Barley was off to a great start, leading the offense with seven goals.

Kristen Wischmeier (three assists), Marcela Shartouny (one goal, two assists) and Chandler Lewis-Jenkins (one goal, one assist) also contributed in the attack.

Goalkeepers Kelly Hall (11 saves), Finn Matthee (eight saves) and Graysen Asher (five saves) split time behind a young defense of Dylan Lamberth, Lewis-Jenkins, Jewel Lewis and Katie McCormack. Most of the experi-

Craig Cappy

North Gwinnett’s Marcela Shartouny (4) dribbles against Collins Hill’s Maria Ramirez-Camrago (16) during a match in March.

Craig Cappy

North Gwinnett’s Kristen Wischmeier (10) makes a cross against Collins Hill. ence came in a midfield led by Georgia Southern recruit Kendall Varitek.

Varitek was one of six seniors, a group that also included Alyson Frantz, Gabriella Zapata (Mercer signee), Shartouny (South Carolina-Beaufort signee), Wischmeier and Matthee.

“I think this group picked up with the

last couple of senior groups where the two most important things about this program were the focus,” Becker said.

“No one is bigger than the program. It’s never an individual, it’s always the team.

The other thing is just the amount of discipline and work these girls put in, not just in practice and games, but in the offseason as well. I feel like that’s what I’ve really wanted to establish in the program, just a group of blue-collar, hardworking players who are going to win as a team and lose as a team.”

Those seniors didn’t lose much, though.

They went 24-3 their final two seasons.

While they finished this season as the state’s No. 1-ranked team, the coronavirus-induced ending wasn’t what anyone wanted.

“I’m sad for these girls,” Becker said. “I’m also incredibly proud, not just of last year but the last several years. I texted (the players) when all this came to a head and everything was shutting down to let them know I wouldn’t want to coach another group.

They not only made me a better coach, but also a better person.”

NASCAR Cup Series drivers and teams arrive at Atlanta Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 fresh off a typically dramatic 500-lapper at the Bristol, Tenn. short track — full of all the emotions and urgency you would expect of a revised schedule that features three premier races in a 10-day stretch.

Settled in between a pair of short track events at Bristol (last week) and Martinsville, Va. (next week) in a weekand-a-half span, the potential for high drama at Atlanta this weekend is real, the competitive edge, palpable.

Defending Atlanta race winner Brad Keselowski shows up as the most recent series victor, earning the Bristol win last weekend in a race whose ending was so unpredictable that the Team Penske driver joked that he should consider playing the lottery after his winner’s press conference.

Keselowski motored on to the Bristol win after leader Denny Hamlin, who led a race high 131 laps, crashed with five laps remaining and then with three laps to go, Keselowski’s teammate Joey Logano and Chase Elliott collided while dueling for the lead. All the action up front essentially left Keselowski in the catbird seat to hold the point for the last three laps and take his second victory in the last three races in the No. 2 Team Penske Ford.

This weekend’s 1.5-mile high banks in Atlanta, however, present a vastly different challenge from the Bristol half-miler. Only six drivers in the field have ever won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta before — Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. Among those — Harvick, Keselowski, Johnson, Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch are all multitime winners. Johnson’s five wins — twice backto-back races (2007 sweep and 2015-2016) — are most among active drivers. And his 28 wins on 1.5-mile tracks are a series high.

An 11th-place at Bristol marked the his first finish outside the top-10 for Harvick on the season, however he still holds a 24-point edge over Logano in the championship standings. Atlanta is where Harvick scored his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory in an emotional drive for Richard Childress Racing after taking the seat for Dale Earnhardt following his death in the 2001 season-opening Daytona 500.

Georgia native Chase Elliott is third in the championship, 45 points behind Harvick. Keselowski is fourth and Alex Bowman is fifth.

Although not yet in the thick of the regular season championship standings, Joe Gibbs Racing has shown marked improvement from an unusually overall slow start to the season. Last year

the JGR Toyota team won a modern day record 19 of the 36 races — all four of its drivers hoisting trophies in 2019. But this season, it’s been a slow and steady rebound from a few rough early races.

Martin Truex Jr. is now ranked sixth in points, Hamlin (a two-race winner) is seventh and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch is ninth. Erik Jones is 14th.

None of them were ranked among the championship top 10 after the Phoenix race in March — the last race before the series took a two-month break for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among them, Kyle Busch won at Atlanta in 2008 (the first Toyota win at the track) and 2013 and Hamlin’s only victory was 2012. Truex finished runner-up to Keselowski last year by .218-seconds and has finished eighth or better in seven of the last eight Atlanta races.

Four of the top-six ranked drivers have never won at Atlanta. For third place Elliott, it’s an especially important venue as it’s the Dawsonville, Ga. native’s home track. He’s certainly established himself a driver to beat since the sport resumed competition.

His 6.75 average running position since the May 17 return is best in the series and he’s led laps in four of the five races in that time.

“The track hasn’t changed a ton these past few years,” Elliott said. “It has a lot of wear to it, a lot of character and a lot of bumps.

There is a fine line of getting your car right. I’m excited about that.

“As a team we’ve had a lot of dialogue in trying to get our NAPA Chevrolet dialed in without having any practice, which is tough. I have a lot of confidence in my guys being able to get us close and giving us enough adjustability to where if we do miss it, one way or the other we can work on it throughout the race. I’m just looking forward to the race, obviously it’s my home track and any time you go to your home track, you want to be good.”

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES The NASCAR Xfinity Series arrives at Atlanta Motor Speedway for Saturday’s EchoPark 250 (4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) fresh off yet another dramatic finish on the season — this time featuring JR Motorsports teammates Noah Gragson and Justin Allgaier.

The second-year Xfinity Series driver and the veteran Allgaier made hard contact in the final laps at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway last weekend with Gragson making an aggressive pass on Allgaier to claim the victory. It was one of several high profile, high action incidents involving those drivers ranked highest in the Xfinity Series driver standings and certainly raises expectations for a busy Saturday afternoon on the Atlanta 1.5-miler.

IN BRIEF dacula’s Shuler commits to Tennessee Wesleyan Tevon Shuler, a 2020 Dacula graduate, made a commitment Wednesday to the Tennessee Wesleyan track and field program.

Shuler, who had a 3.5 GPA, also played football for the Falcons.

The 2020 winners of the scholarship are Brookwood’s Chase Calendine, Peachtree Four Gwinnett high school Ridge’s Audrey Dutton, Arlacrosse players received the cher’s Samuel Lester and annual Gwinnett Lacrosse Duluth’s Valerie Nguyen.

League Scholarship, announced Thursday by the youth league.

McClain named The scholarships go to All‑American graduating seniors who have participated in the GLL as a Former Peachtree Ridge youth player, coach or official. hurdler Wilson McClain

Four graduates earn GLL scholarship

named an NCAA Division II indoor track and field AllAmerican in the 60-meter hurdles this season.

The Alabama-Huntsville freshman qualified for the NCAA meet in the 60 hurdles with a season-best time of 8.00 seconds, which ranked 12th nationally and first among NCAA Division II freshmen.

Mark Humphrey/USA Today Sports

Driver Joey Logano (left) and driver Chase Elliott talk after the NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, June 7, 2020 ♦ A13

SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2020

A14 ♦ Sunday, June 7, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, June 7, 2020 ♦ A15

STORY HOUR ACROSS 1. Caribbean and Coral 5. Concur 10. Native New Zealander 15. Word on diet food packages 19. Choir member 20. Small amount 21. Stopped 22. City in Utah 23. With 10 Down, recipe follower s favorite play?

25. Zookeeper s favorite novel?

27. Moray 28. Derriere 29. Words of understanding 30. “__ Party”; 1963 Lesley Gore hit 31. Discharge 33. Unborn child 35. Containers 37. Cook by broiling and roasting 39. “M*A*S*H” role 40. Ticked off 41. __ dancing 44. Took off 45. Brownie troop s favorite novel?

47. Pronoun 48. Poker term 49. Offspring 50. Before 51. Rescuer 52. Just purchased 53. Gardener s favorite novel?

58. Huge continent 59. “Gloria in excelsis __!”

60. See 111 Across 61. Ward off; deflect 62. Faye and Cooper 64. Blacken 66. Needle cases 67. Actress Miles 68. Ineffective 70. Move furtively 71. Stein or Stiller 72. Kitchen and bath: abbr.

75. Refuse to allow 76. See 6 Down 80. Actor Ferrigno 81. Very dry 82. Nile or Rhine: abbr.

83. Travelers stops 84. KY s neighbor 85. Whopper 86. With 121 Across, Venus de Milo s favorite novel?

91. Business envelope abbr.

92. Sizzling sound 93. Ms. Dunaway

by Calvin R. & Jackie Mathews

94. “His mercy is from __ age...” (Luke 1:50) 95. Hoisting wheel 97. Goofs 98. Noisy disturbances 99. Nincompoop 100. Gas station chain 103. __ down; makes a note of 104. Cardinal, for one 105. La la forerunner 108. “A __”; Barbie s favorite play?

111. With 60 Across, spider s favorite story?

114. Word from baby 115. Proprietor 116. Flat-bottomed boat 117. Feeble 118. Note to a printer 119. Actress Sharon 120. Spirited horse 121. See 86 Across

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See 23 Across Murray and Francis Cartoon dog Sleep stage __ Lupino Barn sections Tax-deferred accts.

Semester or trimester Actor s award Does drugs Sheets & tablecloths Eur. language Entryway 1980 Dom DeLuise film NYC s summer zone Reindeer s name “Car 54, Where __ You?” Uninteresting Actress Zellweger Jewelry store purchase Apologetic Piece of red stationery?

Eagle s home Malayan boats Singer/actress Lisa __ Has on Actress North Barber s concern Christmas poem opener Of the eye Cow Actress __ Eleniak Refuges Camera part Head covering

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© Puzzle Features Syndicate

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A16 ♦ Sunday, June 7, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com

Lawrenceville police chief sits down with activists

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com

It’s not just about George Floyd, organizers of recent protests in Lawrenceville told the city’s police chief, Tim Wallis, during a meeting Thursday.

It’s also not just about a series of other incidents over the years that have involved African-Americans, including Eric Garner in New York City and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., being killed during or after encountering police officers, or the high profile deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin, they said.

It’s an ongoing series of issues in which African-Americans have felt they faced discrimination, the group told the police chief.

“It’s the black experience,” Dacula resident Hope Dennis told Wallis. “There’s only so much you can understand, with you being a white man, so it’s going to be really hard for people to sympathize and understand where we’re coming from because of that (but) we speak from our past experiences.”

The meeting was an opportunity for both sides of the recent protests in Lawrenceville, police and members of the local African-American community, to sit down and discuss the issues that have resulted in the protests.

Although the protests began in response to Floyd’s death after an encounter with Minneapolis police, in which an officer was videotaped kneeling on his neck for

several minutes, the organizers of recent demonstrations who met with Wallis on Thursday said the concerns AfricanAmericans have about police goes beyond that incident.

There have been several incidents around the country over the years in which police officers have been recorded assaulting African-Americans.

Although Wallis told the group that he did not believe police departments in Gwinnett racially profile people they pull over, there has been at least one documented case of excessive force being used in the county.

In 2017, two Gwinnett County police officers were videotaped punching and kicking an African-American man during a traffic stop on Sugarloaf Parkway. Both officers were fired after that incident and later faced criminal charges because of it.

“I think there’s always room for improvement in everything that we do,” Wallis said. “If we’re looking for change, then we have to come together as a group to understand what that change is going to be. Change cannot be one-sided. Change has to be ... both groups come together and then for us to move forward.”

Participants in the meeting said they believe most police officers are good people, but they also said they have concerns about what could happen based on incidents they’ve seen reported on around the nation.

“When I call the police, I want to make sure — because my father is dark skinned

— if I call the police over to my home, I don’t want to have even a chance that we will get the wrong cop,” one of the participants told Wallis.

Frustrations were expressed at times during the meeting. Wallis was asked a few times what could be expected to happen if protests occur in Lawrenceville on June 19, a day referred to as Juneteenth which commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved African-Americans in Texas learned they had been freed.

June 19, 1865 is considered the day slavery ended in the U.S. as a result.

“It could have went better, but I’m a hopeful person (and hope) that if we continue to have a dialogue, we can see effective change — instead of all words, we’ll see actions,” Dennis said after the meeting ended. “There was definitely frustration there from both sides. I just think across America, we see people talking in circles ...

“We can all pinpoint where the system is wrong. We’re just not seeing anybody come up with solutions to fix it.”

Wallis said he felt the meeting went well and that hearing from the participants, most of whom were in their early 20s, allowed him to look at the issue from a different perspective.

“I think there’s going to be some healing,” he said. “I think time will heal some of these wounds. What happened in Minneapolis is a lot different from what we see here, but I think once we come together and start having these conversa-

tions and being open with one another, the healing can begin and we’ll have the opportunity to heal together.”

Wallis also said his department needs to make sure the community understands what the police department does so it can start building trust in police officers. He also said the department should continue taking steps to ensure officers can hold the public’s trust.

During the meeting, he said people who apply for police officer jobs with the department must undergo an extensive review including background checks, credit checks and home visits. He also pointed out to the group that kneeling on a person’s neck during an arrest is not a technique officers are taught during their training.

“At the Lawrenceville Police Department, We will continue with training,” Wallis said. “We’ve worked on national and state initiatives as far as training goes and (we’ll) continue to build on those.”

As both sides try to figure out a way forward, and work on next steps to keep a dialogue going, Dennis said she would like to see African-American leaders in Lawrenceville, from all age groups, come together to discuss the issue and possible solutions that they think could work.

“And then we bring them to the chief and tell him what we want to see so that we can have trust there and then we can move on to the next steps,” she said. “Right now, this conversation wasn’t very representative of the people who really speak for the African-American community.”

CANCER CARE NEVER STOPS. At Northeast Georgia Medical Center, we’re continually adjusting the way we care for our patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to providing the safest, highest quality cancer care to our patients. We’re working tirelessly to keep our community safe so you can receive the advanced treatment you need.

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C2 ♦ SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2020 ♦ GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM

Lilburn Woman’s Club gets creative to serve community

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

The Lilburn Woman’s Club is embodying the “volunteer spirit” during this time by finding creative ways to make a difference in the community.

Around mid-March, when schools and planned service projects started being canceled or postponed, members of the woman’s club scrambled to find creative ways to continue to serve.

Publicity Chair Brenda Dana said they quickly discovered “that we cannot be stopped when our communities need us more than ever.”

The club began to hold virtual meetings and challenged their Community Service Program chairs to get creative.

LWC President Diane DeGaetano, a retired registered nurse who understands firsthand the importance of personal protective equipment, encouraged all the seamstresses in the club to start sewing masks for local and state hospital workers in need.

Since then, over 300 masks have been shipped and delivered with many more to come, Dana said.

DeGaetano then asked

Special Photos

The Lilburn Woman’s Club has sewn over 300 masks for local and state hospital workers in need. each of the Community Service Program chairs to donate a portion of their annual budget to provide a General Federation of Women’s Clubs Federation Day Italian buffet lunch for more than 30 respiratory therapists at the local county hospital.

“Not only were we able to show our appreciation for the medical frontline workers, we also supported one of our local small business

restaurants with the project,” Dana said. “Double community impact project, plus the opportunity to promote and celebrate Federation Day on April 24th!”

LWC Education committee members also identified the need for children’s books at its local Title I elementary school after the libraries and schools closed, so they coordinated with the principal and administra-

tors to establish a pop-up little free library.

The library, which was set up in front of the school, was stocked with three cases of disinfected new and used books for readers of all ages.

The books were handed out to each child to take home along with a free lunch during the week.

“LWC Home Life set up a Drive-By Food Donation Box outside of the Allstate office

The Lilburn Woman’s Club delivered lunch to more than 30 respiratory therapists at the local county hospital. on Main Street in downtown Lilburn and posted on social media so both the general public and club members could drop off donations for our local food pantry without ever leaving their cars or waiting in line,” Dana said.

Another area the club identified as having a need was in the arts department for Lilburn Elementary School

students.

The LWC Arts Committee ordered components, assembled and delivered 200 craft kits to the school.

Green origami jumping frog paper and instructions were in 100 of the kits and a small box of crayons and mandala templates targeting the K-6 grade levels were in the other 100 kits.

Resident sews masks for staff at senior living community

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Carol Myer, an 89-yearold resident at Village Park Senior Living in Peachtree Corners, is using her time at home to sew masks for the staff in her community amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far, she’s sewn 132 masks of all different colors and prints, something Executive Director D.K. Carter said everyone in the community thinks is lovely.

“She makes different pat-

terns for all of our staff and some residents based on their personalities and what stands out to them,” he said. “It’s a really fun way to add a pop of color to your uniform or outfit and a little bit of sunshine to your day.”

Myer celebrated her 89th birthday this past week, and said she’s been sewing since she was 12 years old. She recently picked up quilting as a hobby.

Although Myer had never sewn a mask before, she had a lot of scrap pieces of material from quilting and

decided she could put them to use during this time. She made a sample and proposed the idea to the staff at the senior living community a few weeks ago.

“They came back and asked how much they were going to be,” Myer said. “I laughed and said, ‘No, this is strictly volunteer. It’s a fun project and I want to help however I can.’”

Mye r se ws Monday through Friday and makes about six to 12 masks per day. When her family found out what she was doing for

her senior living community, her daughter sent her three bags of fabric and her daughter’s friend sent her two more big bags.

Myer laughed and said she has enough fabric to keep sewing for quite some time, something she plans to continue to do.

“The staff keeps telling me they use them and need them, so I’m more than happy to keep sewing for them,” Myer said. “And Village Park sent me a fruit tree and a big ‘Thank You’ balloon, which was a big surprise to me. I wasn’t expecting anything. This is strictly volunteer, but it was nice to be remembered.”

Myer and her husband have been living at Village Park for two years. When she’s not sewing masks for the staff, she’s sewing some for her family and friends, bringing the number of masks she’s sewn closer to 150.

Photos: Kelsie Anderson / Village Park Senior Living

Village Park Peachtree Corners resident Carol Myer has sewn more than 100 masks for her community.

Other times, she’s simply working on other small projects to light up her home.

“It’s just in me,” Myer said. “I started with small little projects when I was young, and then I had my children so I started sewing

for them and making curtains and covers and pillows and whatever for the home.

Then a few years ago I got into quilting. I also like to sew for gifts and that sort of thing. It’s just something I enjoy. It’s part of my life.”

Special Photo

The city of Norcross recently received Bee City certification for a second time.

Norcross renews Bee City certification

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Bee City USA has renewed the City of Norcross’ Bee City certification for 2020.

Bee City USA, an initiative of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, brings communities together to sustain pollinators by creating and enhancing habitats, reducing pesticide use and spreading awareness.

Norcross’ Bee City Subcommittee, the facilitating committee for the city’s efforts to engage the community in enhancing pollinator habitats, followed a rigorous renewal application process to receive the certification for the second year in a row.

Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, moths, bats and hummingbirds, are respon-

sible for the reproduction of 85% of the world’s flowering plants and more than twothirds of the world’s crop species.

However, their populations have seen a rapid decline in recent years on account of habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change.

“The city of Norcross understands the importance of sustaining pollinators, which is why we applied to become a Bee City USA affiliate in 2018,” city of Norcross Mayor Craig Newton said. “I commend our Bee City Subcommittee for the impressive pollinator conservation work they completed last year, and look forward to their plans for the coming year.”

Michael Brose, chair of Norcross’ Bee City Subcommittee, attributes the committee’s success with pollinator

conservation to City Planner Hannah Knab.

“We could not have accomplished creating a school pollinator garden, educating children and the public, and hosting the Pollinator Week event without Hannah’s assistance,” he said. “As our staff liaison, she helped provide essential supplies, promoted our events and coordinated our work with the Brookhaven Innovation Academy.”

As Norcross moves into a new year with the Bee City designation, it aims to embark upon several new opportunities to raise awareness of the vital role pollinators play in supporting the planet’s ecosystems and food systems.

To see Norcross’s annual report along with those of other cities, visit beecityusa. org/annual-reports-city-2019.

GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM ♦ SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2020 ♦ C3

Gwinnett trio wins big in virtual music competition

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Gwinnett County students known as the Tangent Trio “virtually” recently stole the show this year at the Franklin Pond Chamber Music statewide competition.

While Georgia’s top chamber students were originally scheduled to perform at the annual Memorial Day Weekend competition at Clayton State University’s Spivey Hall, Franklin Pond Chamber Music organizers decided to create a first-of-its kind socially distanced competition.

Eight student ensembles competed in the Finalists Showcase, but only seven students took top honors in the Competition Awards Show, with The Tangent Trio winning the grand prize in the High School Division.

The trio, made up of Lexine Feng of Peachtree Cor-

Special Photos

Left: Lexine Feng during the announcement of her Grand Prize. Right: The Tangent Trio is made up of Yuji Yamada of Duluth, Lexine Feng of Peachtree Corners and John Cho of Buford. ners on cello, Yuji Yamada of Duluth on violin and John Cho of Buford also on violin, received accolades and support from an international lineup of distinguished judges and renowned musicians at

the competition.

Another Gwinnett County student, Annabelle Spoto of Dacula from the S4zanda ensemble, also won Grand Prize in the Collegiate Division.

Viewers saw full perfor-

mances and interviews of the Finalists Showcase broadcast on YouTube Live May 24.

Meanwhile, the musicians played miles apart from one another, though you would never know it just by listening.

“Even though the result may look effortless, these students formed groups, picked repertoire, rehearsed for hours, recorded by layering audio track on top of each other, all the while social distanc-

ing and playing in perfect unison!” Lucy Croswell, from ProjectPR, said.

The canceled stage hall concert where the Tangent Trio planned to perform turned into a virtual show-stopper with several international names in the classical music world coming to the rescue.

Competition Manager Ginny Fairchild was determined to make the show go on.

“It’s a little bit like the Met Gala meets “The Voice,” with incredibly talented young artists headlining the event and being judged by musicians from New York to Montreal,” Fairchild said. “Although the coronavirus deprived our young finalists of a live performance at Spivey Hall, this socially distanced platform has actually provided new opportunities and positive learning experiences that we can all take with us into the future — students and professionals alike.”

Berkmar High School students win video game design contest chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Several teams of Gwinnett County Public Schools students may be one-step closer to creating the next big video game hit.

Berkmar High School students Jose Garcia, Adam Hassan and Calvin Tran earned first place in the 2020 Gwinnett Game Jam. The contest, sponsored

by State Farm IT, required contestants to design a video game, creating concept art, conducting research into

who would play their game and why, as well as making revenue projections for their game “pitch.” A “pitch” is a short introduction to what a game, movie or other digital product might be that is presented to investors in hopes of securing funding.

Quinci Saunders, Julissa Morales-Santos and Jimmy Lin, who also attend Berkmar High School, placed second, followed by a thirdplace team from Paul Duke STEM High School comprised of students Dylan Rayfield, Connor Baltich

Special Photos

Nine Berkmar High School students won first, second and third place in a video game design contest at the 2020 Gwinnett Game Jam.

Lilburn Daze Arts and Crafts Festival accepting vendor applications

By Chamian Cruz

chamian.cruz@gwinnettdailypost.com

The Lilburn Daze Arts and Crafts Festival is now accepting vendor applications for its 47th edition.

The event will be held on Oct. 10 at Lilburn City Park with more than 200 arts and crafts vendors, a variety of food vendors and free art activities, a train ride, family golf and more.

It will be hosted by the Lilburn Woman’s Club and co-sponsored by the city of Lilburn.

For more information, visit www.lilburndaze.org.

and Richard Lee. The first-place team won $300, second place won $225 and the third-place team won $150.

Approximately 200 students in the district’s Game Design pathway competed in the contest, which was judged by independent producers and executives from local game development companies.

Michael Reilly, a STEM teacher at Lanier High School, is excited about the possibilities the competition provided students.

“This contest is so ‘cool’

in so many ways,” Reilly said. “We asked kids to do this as an option where they can win money, network with real game industry executives and gain the experience of a core business skill— the pitch. This project is not just a grade, it could be an idea that leads to a larger prize if a CEO likes the idea enough.”

“I can’t say enough about our contest sponsor, State Farm IT. It has been a great partner to Lanier High’s CDAT STEM program for five years, and we could not do this without them. State

Farm IT has inspired us to have coding and IT competitions, and they support them as well with logistics, funding and more.”

Jesse Lindsley, CEO and founder of Thrust Interactive a local company that develops video games, kicked-off the contest with a motivational video and mentored all of the teams during the contest.

In the video, Lindsley explains how he made a pitch to the National Institutes of Health for a game concept about cells, diseases and other rele-

vant topics. Based on that pitch, his company received funding to make the game “Hemonauts”

Mental Health Concerns?

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Home Depot’s Livingstone joins Rainbow Village board

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

After serving on the board of the Atlanta Children’s Shelter for the last six years, Home Depot Vice President for Transportation Michelle Livingstone is joining Rainbow Village in its mission to help families break the cycles of homelessness, poverty and domestic violence.

She is joining the Duluthbased organization as a member of the board of directors with many years of experience serving on the boards of several business-associated organizations.

“The nonprofit community is fairly close-knit and

when a friend of mine discovered Rainbow Village, she spoke so highly of its mission and leadership Michelle t e a m t h a t Livingstone I c o u l d n ’ t wait to learn more,” Livingstone said.

“I went on a tour of the campus and was impressed by the organization and the folks behind it. I really like the housing component and the breadth and depth of resources available at Rainbow Village, as well as the time they provide their program participants to find their way back to self-sufficiency. Up to two

years, if needed. I think that’s phenomenal.”

During her time at Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Livingstone witnessed firsthand that homelessness and domestic violence can happen to anyone.

“Everyone has a story,” she said. “They just need someone to listen. They just need a hand up. I believe it’s our duty to help them get back on their feet. Giving back has always been important to me personally, but it’s also one of Home Depot’s core values. I love the idea of helping other women feel successful, so Rainbow Village is a good match for me all the way around.”

Livingstone believes Rainbow Village’s success over the

last 29 years can be attributed to making homeless families feel like they’re part of a community that cares. She feels that’s the best way to break the cycles and help them become self-sufficient.

She is also impressed by the resources Rainbow Village provides to its residents, including transitional housing, childcare, training and development, life skills classes and so much more.

“I have no doubt that my background in Corporate America can be an asset to Rainbow Village,” Livingstone said. “I can use my experience to help their residents be successful – for instance, practicing an interview for a job.

I can also possibly fast track

the success of Rainbow Village and its residents by leveraging my network to bring new insights and perspectives.

I’m really excited about this opportunity. There is no better feeling in the world than helping others achieve their potential.”

Melanie Conner, the nonprofit’s CEO, said they are thrilled to welcome Livingstone to the board.

“She has found great success in her own life and is a true powerhouse in inspiring others to rise to their own levels of success,” Conner said.

“I know she will bring amazing ideas and equally amazing energy to our board room at every meeting.”

As the newest member

of the board of directors at Rainbow Village, Livingstone said she has had a terrific time meeting the other board members, who she considers to be all like-minded people.

A veteran with Home Depot for more than 12 years, Livingstone enjoys attracting other women to the supply chain industry. Along with her husband Bob, Livingstone takes great pride in the servant’s heart displayed by her daughter, Amanda, who has a master’s degree in International Human Rights and works with the White Ribbon Alliance in Washington D.C. For more information about Rainbow Village and its programs, visit www.rainbowvillage.org.

Suwanee native recognized at SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival

By Chamian Cruz chamian.cruz@ gwinnettdailypost.com

The 39th annual Savannah College of Art and Design Sidewalk Arts Festival, the university’s oldest tradition, was digitally reimagined this year to put student and alumni artwork on virtual display.

The first-ever digital signature event was open to students and alumni from around the world. Suwanee native and current SCAD student Ivy Wu was among the nine winners selected this year.

Wu received the SCAD Student Spirit Award for her piece, called “Love in a Circle.” The SCAD Student Spirit award recognizes artwork that embodies the attributes of the SCAD community and unites the global SCAD community.

“I was thrilled,” she said.

“I still can’t believe it’s true. I did not expect the good luck when I entered the competition. There are so many excellent submissions from creative SCAD students and alumni. I am grateful to all the judges who love my work.”

The nine winners were decided by arts and cul-

Special Photo

Suwanee native and current student at the Savannah College of Art and Design Ivy Wu received the SCAD Student Spirit Award for her piece, “Love in a Circle,” at the 39th annual SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival. ture leaders including scifi and fantasy artist Donato Giancola, Whitewall Magazine Senior Editor Eliza Jordan, and famed fine artist and SCAD alumnus José Parlá.

The festival featured a new social media-selected cate-

gory and a virtual gallery. In continuing with social distancing practices, the Sidewalk Arts Festival, traditionally a chalkart event in Forsyth Park in the heart of Savannah, accepted all forms of 2D media.

Wu said it took her about

three weeks to create her piece.

“We are experiencing an extraordinary pandemic in which we are seeking for more love and support from family, friends and ourselves,” she said. “Therefore, I started to work on a series of paintings entitled ‘LOVE IN COVID-19’ in March.”

She said the first piece in the series, “Love in Circle,” is based on a true story of a young couple in New York who expressed their love under the social distancing circumstances. Wu said she personally spoke with the man in the story about details such as the flowers he chose, the color of their clothes, etc.

Wu’s second and third paintings are titled “Ballerina’s Spring 2020” and “Self Portrait in Quarantine.”

“In ‘Ballerina,’ I am depicting the love to art,” Wu said.

“The ballerina is supposed to dance on the stage this spring; however, she is still demonstrating her love to art at the balcony in the quarantine state. In ‘Self Portrait’, I’m thinking about the change and distancing the pandemic brings to people’s relationship, the isolation and fragility that individual feels, and the continuous inner sense of love.”

Wu said she thinks think art is a simple part of everyone’s lives.

“I feel lucky to be an artist and I am happiest when I am completely focused on painting,” she said. “When I’m painting, there is a moment at which I am not thinking about anything. I’m completely focused on the work

itself. When I’m painting a figure, I feel as if I’m sharing the same space as the elements in real life.”

The signature event kicked off April 24 at Candler Hospital, where SCAD artists created chalk art as a thank you to Savannah health care professionals.

On May 9, SCAD artists honored Atlanta’s health care heroes with chalk art at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding Hospital.

As they created their works of art, the artists practiced social distancing and wore masks and gloves to keep themselves and hospital workers safe.

“SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival has long been a treasured community event highlighting the expertise and creativity of SCAD students and alumni, some of whom have been coming home to SCAD to create chalk masterpieces for decades,” SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace said. “We’re pleased that with ingenuity, creativity and invention, our magnificent festival can move from the squares to the screen.”

Wu’s artwork can be found on her website, www.ivywuART.com. To view the virtual gallery, visit scad.edu/ sidewalkarts.

Special Photo

Employees from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ Suwanee/Duluth Office hold sign thanking Northside Hospital Gwinnett employees as barbecue meals from Smokin’ Gold BBQ are delivered to the hospital during National Nurses Week in May. The meals were donated to ICU nurses and staff at the hospital to thank them for their work during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic.

Berkshire Hathaway thank Northside Gwinnett ICU workers with BBQ meals

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Local ICU nurses and staff who have been working long hours deal with patients during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic recently got a warm meal as a sign of appreciation from employees at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ Suwanee/Duluth Office.

The office’s employees raised funds to pay for more than 50 meals for workers at Northside Hospital Gwinnett, formerly known as Gwinnett Medical Center, through the Meal Bridge program. The meals were delivered during National Nurses Week in May. “(Northside Hospital Gwinnett) is the largest hospital in our county, and they do so much for the communities that we serve,” said Andy Willis, senior vice president and managing broker of the Suwanee/Duluth Office.

“Those in the healthcare industry are sacrificing so

much for everyone, and I am so happy that my team and I were able to take the time to recognize their incredible work. We cannot thank them enough.”

The meals provided to hospital workers came from Smokin’ Gold BBQ in Lilburn, with Berkshire Hathaway HomeService Georgia Properties Estate Specialist Marta Rodriguez organizing the effort.

“All of us at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties are deeply grateful to the healthcare workers who are working tirelessly to help keep our communities safe,” said Rick Swan, vice president and co-managing broker of the Suwanee/Duluth Office.

“A special shout out to the Amazing ICU Nurses at Northside Hospital Gwinnett. Thanks for all that you do!”

As the food was delivered by employees of Smokin’ Gold, several Berkshire Hathaway associates were also on hand to show their

support by holding posters to thank the ICU nurses for their work.

“Being able to witness the heroism displayed by our healthcare workers has been incredible,” Rodriguez said.

“I am so proud of the way that our office came together to support our community’s healthcare workers while also helping local businesses. I look forward to doing this again very soon.”

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties President and CEO Dan Forsman said, “As a citizen of Gwinnett County, I know firsthand the remarkable impact that this hospital and all who work there have on our community. Our country’s healthcare workers and first responders have continued to work selflessly for people they don’t even know, that is something that I will never take for granted.

I am proud of our Suwanee/ Duluth Office for pouring into our community and I am humbled to have them all a part of our team.”

GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM ♦ SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2020 ♦ C5

LIFESTYLES COLUMNIST|RONDA RICH

The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is for no other reason than it part three of a four-part was a story of good people doing good. series.

Brenda looked around, ary Thornton, past several fans who had a critical care stopped by, and said, “Dwain nurse at South- just left. You need to talk to west Mississippi him because he was Regional hospital there, too, and he in McComb, where gave this land.”

She picked up her Lynyrd Skynyrd band members were taken phone, made the call following a crash in and, within three nearby Gillsburg, and minutes, a little pickLisa Dickerson hurup truck pulled up. ried from the car we An unassuming, small were exiting, toward Ronda Rich man in his mid-60s a friend standing at with salt and pepthe band’s tribute site. per hair strolled over. He “I can’t believe you’re wore a navy jacket, his name here, Brenda. I want you embroidered on the left side. to meet someone.”

“I’m Dwain Easley,” he Lisa introduced us and stuck out his hand, speaking I explained that I’m a col- in a soft, humble voice. May umnist interested in doing history always record this: an article about the com- Easley and his neighbors are munity and the plane crash people of strength, resilience

M

and compassion. On a night when they saw unspeakable horror, untold suffering and at a time when they held death in their arms, no one blinked.

They rescued and then carried folks out on stretchers through 100 yards of swamp and over a creek because the ambulances couldn’t get there.

Brenda Martin is a retired rural carrier for the post office, a job she misses a lot. But on Oct. 20, 1977, she was a farmer’s wife, heavy with child, when she heard a helicopter buzzing overhead. Outside, her husband was putting out hay in the pasture while the sun was slipping low and the day was coming to a close. He eyed the helicopter, too.

Suddenly, three longhaired guys in torn T-shirts

and jeans came running across the road. The farmer took out his gun and fired into the air, thinking they must be escaped prisoners, thus the reason for the helicopters.

“NO! NO! Plane crash!” they cried in desperation, pointing frantically toward the swamp. Nearby, Dwain Easley, who retired as a lifelong employee of International Paper, had answered his home phone to hear his aunt say, “I just seen a big plane go down near your place. There’s a helicopter lookin’ for it.”

Dwain, along with a buddy and every farmer within hearing distance, ran toward the accident with no thought of fire or the deadly copperheads that fill the swamp.

It wasn’t easy. The plane, a Convair CV-240, was down

in a thicket of timber and thick bushes so it was slow going as they broke through.

“I couldn’t believe how big that plane was. The wings and the fuselage were broken completely off so we had to climb up to get to them.

The first one I tried to pull out, wouldn’t budge and my buddy hollered, ‘Cut the seat belt!’ I took my pocket knife out. Every time we pulled one body out, we found another underneath it.”

They had no idea that they were rescuing Southern rock and roll stars as they labored from about 6:30 p.m. central to 2 a.m. At one point, a rescuer stopped, wiped the sweat from his brow and asked, “How, in the world, do you reckon these longhaired hippies were able to afford a plane ticket?”

It was only after the vol-

unteers had completed the grim task, and dredged out of the swamp, that they learned who had been on the plane.

“As we come out, we met a 15-year-old boy who was a fan. He said, ‘Y’all know who was on that plane?’ Lynyrd Skynyrd!”

“I knowed who they were because I was 27, 28 and I listened to that kind of music back then.”

His voice trailed off and his eyes softened. “I couldn’t believe it.”

In next week’s final installment, we will hear most of the first responders’ stories.

Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of Let Me Tell You Something. Visit www.rondarich.com to sign up for her free weekly newsletter.

COLUMNIST|TIM DALY

Keep your garden flowers thriving throughout the summer

O

ur gardens are full of may not be enough to keep spring and summer your flowerbeds adequately annual flowers such as moist. These plants need one begonias, marigolds, inch of water every impatiens, vinca, and week for good, connumerous others, protinuous growth. An viding to the home ordinary garden hose landscape. takes 15 to 30 seconds These plants only to deliver that much last for one season water to a particular and usually die with spot. If the water does the onset of cold not penetrate deeply, Daly weather. They do the roots will develop require maintenance near the soil surface, to them looking their best where they are much more throughout the rest of the susceptible to drying out. To summer. By properly water- improve water, place soaker ing, fertilizing, pinching, and hoses in your flowerbeds this removing the old blossoms, summer for more natural you can keep your annuals watering. healthy and attractive until The application of mulch cold weather arrives in the has multiple benefits. It helps fall. the soil retain moisture for The sporadic summer rains healthy root growth, but it

helps prevent soils, especially red clay soils, from crusting and cracking, which exposes and causes the roots to dry out. Mulching also prevents or reduces weed growth, lessens erosion or wash problems, and keeps the soil temperature cooler. Use finetextured organic mulch such as pine straw, pine bark, or cypress mulch. Apply one to three inches.

Apply a general-purpose fertilizer, such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10, lightly and frequently. Use a teaspoon per square foot of flowerbed area every month during the active growing season. Be sure to brush away any fertilizer granules that have fallen onto flowers or leaves with a broom or rinse

the granules off with water.

Plants that tend to be spindly and have very few stems must be pruned or pinched occasionally. Remove the long growth with a sharp knife or with garden scissors to encourage branching at lower levels on the stems for a fuller look. Doing so will not only increase branching, but it will also improve flowering. An example of a flowering annual that responds well to this treatment is snapdragons.

To keep your flowers blooming throughout the summer, remove any mature blossoms beyond their prime, which will keep your annual plants thriving and stimulate even more flowering.

When flowers mature, the

plants begin to form seedpods, and they will produce fewer flowers. Several examples of annual plants that respond well to ‘deadheading’ include marigolds, zinnias, and pansies.

Why do plants fail to produce any flowers or as many flowers as you had hoped?

Many reasons exist why flowering plants fail to thrive, and some you have no control over. Sometimes, continuously cloudy and wet days will result in poor flower development.

Many flowering annuals and perennials require full sun to flower well. Too much fertilizer can result in much foliage and stem growth, but few flowers. Poor soil conditions, such as an overly

acid soil or poorly drained soils, can also affect flower performance. Having your soil sampled through UGA Extension Gwinnett will provide you with the necessary information on soil pH and fertility.

Yes, you can have attractive flowering annuals throughout the growing season. Implementing some basic maintenance tactics will improve the quality and quantity of flowers that will last throughout the season.

Timothy Daly is an Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension Agent with UGA Extension Gwinnett. He can be contacted at 678-377-4011 or tdaly@uga. edu.

COLUMNIST|ROB JENKINS

The modern scourge of bureaucratic doublespeak A

parody letter, ostensi- without saying anything, bly from a university thus avoiding liability and to its students, reads covering posteriors. That in part, “After careful can be problematic deliberation, we are when the people you pleased to report we rely on for informacan finally announce tion are bureaucrats. that we plan to reUnfortunately, bureaucrats aren’t open campus this fall. But with limireally people. Not tations. Unless we when they speak as do not. Depending bureaucrats on behalf Jenkins on guidance, which of the bureaucracy. we have not yet Then they’re just received.” members of the hive chanI say “parody,” but it neling the hive mind. And could easily be genuine. the hive’s first instinct is It certainly nails the lan- self-preservation. guage: bureaucratic douYou may think the priblespeak, carefully cali- mary purpose of a bureaubrated to say something cracy is noted on the

sign above the door. For instance, the school system exists to educate students, the DMV to issue drivers’ licenses, etc.

Not so. The first goal of a bureaucracy is to perpetuate itself. And the first goal of any individual bureaucrat is to make sure they have a job. Educating students and issuing licenses are important but secondary.

If you think I’m exaggerating, you’ve obviously never dealt with bureaucrats in their official capacity. If so, then you know very well the frustration I’m describing.

That brings us to our current situation, with the

myriad COVID-19 diktats, “guidelines,” and restrictions, all issued by bureaucrats, many of them patently absurd. You can buy cannabis but not garden seeds?

Run but not lie on the beach? Who decided that?

Bureaucrats, that’s who.

Today’s bureaucrat-inchief is Anthony Fauci, de facto spokesperson for the president’s Coronavirus Task Force. But Fauci is a doctor, you say reverently. No, he used to be a doctor. Now he’s a bureaucrat with a medical degree.

Case in point: When asked by The Chronicle of Higher Education if col-

leges should prepare for “people getting sick and dying on…campuses this fall,” Fauci replied: “That is extremely unlikely, but there are always outliers that are not the rule but the exception. From what we’ve seen and our experience thus far with this disease, it is very unlikely that a young, healthy college student is going to get into serious trouble to the point of requiring intensive care and dying. But we’ve seen that.

It has happened. It happens rarely, but it happens.”

See what he did there? He answered in the first four

words. The rest was classic bureaucratic doublespeak— essentially, butt-covering.

So what are we supposed to do when the bureaucrats in charge traffic almost exclusively in such gobbledygook? Maybe it’s time we fall back on that old standby of free, intelligent, responsible adults and start doing our research and making up our own minds.

Nah, that’ll never work.

Unless it does. But it might not. Then again, it just might.

Rob Jenkins is a college professor. The views expressed here are his own. You can email Rob at rob.jenkins@outlook.com.

ART BEAT|HOLLEY CALMES

Live Arts Theatre tackles challenges of pandemic with virtual activities

“W

e have a saying here at Live Arts Theatre: ‘Challenge Accepted!’”Becca Parker, the theatre’s artistic director said. “When things do not go our way, instead of looking at barriers stopping us, we frame the situation as a challenge to beat.”

Challenge No. 1: The theatre is dark, with the last play closing early due to COVID-19.

“We had just opened a show and had seen record growth in both ticket sales and participation. All of that has come to a standstill,” Parker said.

Challenge No. 2: The theatre learned in midMarch that their ticketing vendor was not honoring checks for tickets sold between last January and March. Revenue was lost.

Challenge No. 3: The theatre is searching for a new venue to call home, hopefully in the Peachtree Corners area. (Parker invites information about available spaces by contacting Live Arts through their web site: liveartstheatre.org/ “The biggest issue has been moving to a new space,” says Parker. “Because so many people have not been

Photo: Royal Dance Academy

The Royal Dance Academy, which includes student Kalliyan Johnson, recently reopened its Suwanee studios after utilizing innovative teaching programs on Zoom and health protocols from a CDC consultant during sheltering in place orders. in their offices, the whole process has been slower for us. We are still looking for a new home for Live Arts and hope to have found what we

need by the end of June.“ The crew and supporters of Live Arts Theatre have been busy during this “down time,” producing creative

ways to develop art and to support the organization.

“Our ‘Zoom 10-Minute Play Festival’ was created to provide an outlet for our

people who were missing production work, as well as to provide an opportunity for local writers,” says Parker.

“We put out a call to local writers inviting them to create a 10-minute play that was designed to be performed via Zoom. We selected 7 of those new plays and have two casts for each play. The plays have been rehearsed, and we are in the process of recording them.

We are releasing one play per week via YouTube and on our Facebook page,” Parker says.

The Zoom plays can be seen at youtube.com/ watch?v=4V9 V1V5tl0&li st=PLATArXWbg96Phn2 MDGre5iSlZlYRIvOZZ Once it is safe to go back to the theatre, hopefully by January 2021, Parker plans to have the playwrights expand their “Zooms” to full one act plays which will be performed in the new space.

Another unique idea is the “Virtual 5K.” “Sadly, even though it seems the world has stopped, our timeline for a new space and funding has not,” says Parker. “We needed to come up with a way to fundraise in a safe,

socially distant way.”

Participants register for the Virtual 5K, complete their race on their own, then send Live Arts a picture when they are done which is added to the “Finisher’s Wall.” People from all over the country have participated and not just by running, but by walking, biking, swimming and even dancing.

To join in the fun of the “Virtual 5K,” visit liveartstheatre.org/ lat-on-the-move/ For more about Live Arts Theatre and their activities, visit liveartstheatre.org/ Holley Calmes is a freelance writer and public relations consultant specializing in the arts.

Email her at hcalmes@ mindspring.com.