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Gwinnett Daily Post WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2016
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Vol. 47, No. 37
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Local officials tout opening of two new fire stations
Arrest made in Snellville-area homicide BY ERIKA WELLS
“Jabari knew Roberts, and our family’s hurting because we know this kid,” the victim’s A man faces murder charges mother, Casandra Pettway-Mosafter his former schoolmate’s ley, said. Pettway-Mosley said body was found off Lenora she had previously supported Road near Snellville on Nov. 2, Roberts at a tough time in his authorities said Tuesday. life. Jabari Melvin Kent Melvin Kent Roberts Jr., 25, “But I don’t think Jabari knew Pettway Roberts Jr. of Lawrenceville is accused of what was coming. I think he was killing Jabari Pettway of Duluth, after the body was found and has ambushed. … He trusted (Robbeen held without bond sense according to Gwinnett police. erts) in some sense.” that time. Roberts was arrested the day Roberts has been charged with erika.wells@gwinnettdailypost.com
murder, aggravated assault, and theft, police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said. Pihera said police released information about Roberts’ arrest nearly two weeks after he was taken into custody because investigators only recently obtained formal warrants for the more serious charges. On Nov. 2, a worker discovered Pettway’s body lying face up in a grass shoulder where
Lenora Church Road dead ends. When Gwinnett fire officials responded, they pronounced Pettway dead at the scene. He was without his belongings or car. On Friday, Pettway’s Dodge Avenger was found in Atlanta with heavy fire damage. Pettway-Mosley said her family is still trying to cope with
See ARREST, Page 9A
Public safety focus of ’17 budget plan
NATIONAL GREEN RIBBON SCHOOLS
BY CURT YEOMANS curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com
Jon Jurick, far left, a health and PE teacher at Pharr Elementary School, gives a tour on Monday with Principal Mary Thomas, firstgrade teacher Monica Jones and State School Superintendent Richard Woods. Woods visited to honor Pharr for being named a National Green Ribbon School. (Staff Photo: Keith Farner)
Green thumbs up
Gwinnett County officials will put a heavy emphasis on public safety and criminal justice in its nearly $1.6 billion 2017 budget, but other county employees won’t be left out. The proposed budget includes funding for new positions in both law enforcement and the courts. Money will also be available for new equipment, units and a new employment classification in the police department, Sheriff’s Office and correction department. In all, 78 new positions across all county government will be created in the proposed budget. The funding for public safety, however, is on top of money included in the budget to make all county employees eligible for 4 percent pay-for-performance raises and longevity pay. Chief Financial Officer Maria Woods said compensations surveys showed the county was lagging behind the private sector and their regional peer governments. “In those surveys, they said, in 2016, 98 percent of companies were going to give pay increases of 3 percent or a little more than 3 percent,” she said. “They also surveyed the top, large metro area counties, and they found our salaries for a group of employees are about 2 percent
See BUDGET, Page 6A
Community State superintendent visits Pharr garden following honor standing with Dacula teacher
BY KEITH FARNER
keith.farner @gwinnettdailypost.com
The state school superintendent visiting Pharr Elementary School was a validation and affirmation that what the school is doing should be shared elsewhere. That was the sentiment of two Pharr teachers who led a tour of the school’s garden. Pharr has had a school garden for six years, but it’s steadily grown through the years and now has more than 100 species of plants, vegetables and fruits. It’s been named a National Green Ribbon School, and that’s one reason why Richard Woods, the top official in the Georgia Department of Education, paid a visit on Monday. “It kind of shows you what we’re doing is right,” said Pharr Elementary School fourth-graders Rett Smith and Liza Jane Smith water plants in the garJon Jurick, a health and P.E. den behind their school last year. (File Photo) teacher who’s involved with a garden club made up of more soap and sold, so the project than 20 students along with project.” MORE ONLINE is developing entrepreneursim Monica Jones, a first-grade The garden has also Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for and math skills. teacher. received an award from more photos from the visit. The school has collected “You’re taking learning for Gwinnett Clean Beautiful, more than 800 pounds of food what it should be and what and grants from Lowes and Among the recent highand fed 140 families, and it it can be,” said Woods, who Captain Planet, which will also has an outreach program lights for the garden was the added that he knew of anprovide additional buckets, addition of loofah gourds, with the Southeast Gwinnett other school selling in-house See PHARR, Page 8A which have been made into Co-Op. products to support their own
Found threatening note regarding her headscarf BY KEITH FARNER keith.farner@gwinnettdailypost.com
No progress has been made in the case to identify the person who wrote a threatening note to a Dacula High School teacher, a school district spokesman said Monday. But Mairah Teli, a teacher at the school who is Muslim, said Saturday she is “overwhelmed” and “deeply touched” by the support she’s received since she posted on Facebook about the incident on Friday afternoon. Mairah Teli “Why don’t you tie it around your neck & hang yourself with it,” the handwritten note said. It was signed “America!” and had two American flags drawn on the paper. Teli took the anonymous note as a response to last week’s presidential election and referred to the campaign of President-elect Donald Trump. “As a Muslim, I wear a headscarf as a practice of my faith. I want to share this to raise awareness about the reality and climate of our community.
See TEACHER, Page 9A
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