August 9, 2020 — Gwinnett Daily Post

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, august 9, 2020 ♦ A3

WORLD & NATION

WORLD

Beirut erupts in violent protest days after blast Lebanese security forces have fired several rounds of tear gas at anti-government protesters who are on the streets of central Beirut demanding accountability after Tuesday’s blast which ripped through the city.

Thousands of demonstrators poured into Beirut’s Martyr’s Square calling for “revenge” against the ruling class of politicians widely held responsible for the explosion that lay waste to large swathes of Lebanon’s capital.

The air was thick with tear gas as people filled the main protest site, with the demonstrations stretching to surrounding neighborhoods and the city’s main motorway, in the biggest protests since a nationwide uprising last October.

More than 100 people have been injured in the protests, including 22 who were transferred to hospitals, according to the Lebanese Red Cross.

Brazil’s top court backs special protection for indigenous communities Brazil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday handed a partial victory to the nation’s embattled indigenous communities, who are struggling against an insidious new enemy: the COVID-19 virus.

The court affirmed an earlier court decision that required the federal government to implement safety measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which has swept through the many remote communities with deadly effect.

“It was a great victory,” said Dinaman Tuxa, executive-coordinator of APIB, an indigenous group that brought the lawsuit against the government along with six political parties, describing the ruling as a historic reparation for injustices against indigenous people even before the pandemic.

“If it wasn’t for [the court], this demand would be still in the drawers of the Executive and the Legislative,” he said.

But the indigenous groups’ main demand was rejected: A deadline for all outsiders — including miners, developers and the military — to leave their lands.

4 children identified among Air India Express plane crash casualties Four children have been identified among the 16 passengers who died when an Air India Express flight crashed Friday in the southern Indian state of Kerala, an official said.

All sixteen were residents of Kerala, according to K Gopalakrishnan, a senior official for Malappuram district. A total of 18 people died, including two pilots.

Details from the flight manifest, released by Air India Express, showed that the youngest casualty was only one year old. The oldest passenger to have died was 61.

One of the victims has tested positive for coronavirus, according to Kerala’s chief minister. The plane was one of the repatriation flights operated by the Indian government to bring back nationals stranded abroad due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, according to the Air India website.

—From wire reports

Expert: Americans are moving around too much and taking virus with them

By Madeline Holcombe and Dakin Andone CNN

COVID-19 precautions need to stay consistent — whether or not the numbers are coming down — because the more Americans move around the more the virus does too, a health expert said.

When case numbers start to come down, people tend to interact more, and more movement predicts how the virus will spread, said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

Though cases have risen to more than 4.9 million and coronavirus deaths have surpassed 161,000, former hotspots like New York are seeing positive changes. But health experts have predicted the national death toll will get worse through the year, and many have called for a stronger national leadership against the virus.

In a list ranking countries’ response to the pandemic assessed by Foreign Policy Magazine, the United States ranks near the bottom.

“If you look at the mobility data collected from cell phones in many parts of the country, we’re almost back to pre-Covid levels of mobility, so we’re just not being as cautious as other people are in other countries,” Mur-

special photo: alexi Rosenfeld/getty images

People with and without masks are seen walking on the street in New York City on Thursday, as the city continues Phase 4 of reopening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. ray told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Friday.

Precautions can bring and keep the numbers down while the nation waits on a vaccine, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said in a news briefing Friday. All it takes is what he calls his “Three W’s.”

“Number one, wash your hands. Number two, watch your distance — meaning stay at least six feet from others and avoid crowded places.

And number three, wear a face mask,” Adams said.

There is encouraging news:

Murray said Friday that the rate of mask use in the U.S. has gone up about 5% in the last 10 days, particularly in states with higher caseloads, like California, Texas and Florida.

That could save tens of thousands of lives. While IHME’s model projects more than 295,000 deaths in the U.S. by Dec. 1, it also shows that consistent mask wearing could save more than 66,000 lives.

Adding to the nation’s struggle is the pandemic’s economic fallout, as nego-

tiations have stalled over the next stimulus package meant to help Americans hurting financially and bolster the economy.

Up to 40 million Americans risk eviction by the end of the year, according to a report published Friday by the Aspen Institute.

And while the U.S. economy added another 1.8 million jobs in July, it was a slowdown from the 4.8 million jobs added in June and a small step for an economy still down 12.9 million jobs during the pandemic.

special photo: associated press

covered Friday from an amphibious assault vehicle that had sunk on July 30 off the coast of California’s San Clemente Island.

Their remains will soon be transferred to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to be prepared for burial, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.

They will then be released to their families in accordance with their wishes.

“Our hearts and thoughts of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are with the families of our recovered Marines and Sailor,” Col. Christopher Bronzi, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in a statement.

“We hope the successful recovery of our fallen warriors brings some measure of comfort.”

NATION

Sanders, Kasich and Michelle Obama expected to join forces on first night of DNC The first night of the Democratic National Convention is currently expected to bring a message of unity featuring Democratic Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former first lady Michelle Obama and former Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, according to a source who has seen current convention plans.

The speakers represent a wide political spectrum of support for former Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders is a key leader of the left-wing of the Democratic Party while Kasich ran for the GOP nomination for president in 2016.

The former first lady is wildly popular across the Democratic Party.

The rest of the speaking schedule for the 2020 Democratic National Convention remains in flux as officials work to fill the schedule and adjust to the event going virtual.

Democrats announced this week that presumptive nominee Biden and his running mate — who has yet to be announced — would not travel to Milwaukee after all, due to safety concerns related to COVID-19. Instead, Biden will accept the nomination from Delaware.

Normally the political conventions fill four days full of programming from a jampacked arena. This year Democrats will move the event online and programming will be condensed, running for only two hours each night.

The convention is slated to take place from Aug. 17-20, after Democrats pushed their convention back by a month

The first night of the Democratic National Convention is currently expected to bring a message of unity featuring former first lady Michelle Obama, former Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Democratic Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. because of the coronavirus in Minneapolis police custody pandemic. of George Floyd, who cried out that he couldn’t breathe as an Video shows Black man officer knelt on his neck; Floyd also pleaded for his mother’s in custody pleading aid in his dying moments.

‘I can’t breathe’ before Neville was arrested by the Kernersville Police Departhis death ment on a charge of assault Video that shows a Black on a female out of Guilford man in apparent medical dis- County, according to the shertress repeatedly telling officers, iff’s office.

While in custody at the For“I can’t breathe,” days before he died in a hospital was re- syth County Law Enforcement leased this week following a Center, he experienced an unNorth Carolina judge’s order. known medical emergency John Elliott Neville, 56, of while he slept that caused him Greensboro, also can be heard to fall out of his top bunk to the telling officers, “Let me go!” floor, O’Neill said last month and “Help me!” and calling during a news conference.

Corrections officers and a out, “Mama!” during the episode a day after his Dec. 1 ar- nurse were dispatched to his rest. He became unresponsive cell, where they found Neville during the incident and died disoriented and confused, O’Neill said. The decision was later at a hospital.

The five corrections officers made to move him to an oband the nurse who attended to servation cell to see what was Neville leading up to his death causing his distress. Over the have been charged with invol- next 45 minutes, Neville susuntary manslaughter by For- tained injuries that caused him syth County District Attorney to lose his life, O’Neill said.

Jim O’Neill. They have been relieved of duty, the sheriff’s Remains of Marines, office said. sailor recovered from The case marks the latest chapter in an unfolding, na- amphibious vehicle sunk tionwide reckoning over how off California coast police treat Black people. Protests from coast to coast have The remains of seven Macontinued since the May death rines and a sailor were re-

A New Mexico man has died from the state’s second reported case of plague this year A New Mexico man has died of septicemic plague, marking the second plague case in the state this year.

The Rio Arriba County man was in his 20s and was hospitalized before he died, the New Mexico Department of Health Friday said in a news release.

Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents that can be transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas or by direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wildlife and pets, the release states. It can be treated effectively with modern antibiotics but can cause serious illness or death if not treated promptly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. —From wire reports

PEOPLE

Eurovision Song Contest is coming to America One of the world’s most popular singing competitions is headed to the United States.

The team behind the Eurovision Song Contest has announced “The American Song Contest,” scheduled to take place during the 2021 holiday season.

“The American version of the Eurovision Song Contest will, as it is currently conceived, position the artists head to head against other states’ representatives in a series of 5-10 televised Qualifier Competitions, leading to Semi-Finals and the ultimate primetime Grand Final,” according to a news release on the Eurovision site.

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition that pits singers from participating countries against each other. To be eligible, contestants must be from a member country of the European Broadcasting Union.

It has help launch the careers of artists including previous winners Celine Dion and ABBA.

BTS announces US theater premiere of ‘Break the Silence’ film BTS is set to bring its latest film to movie theaters next month, a plan that will depend on which venues actually are open.

The astronomically popular K-pop group announced Thursday that “Break the Silence: The Movie” will roll out to theaters in more than 70 countries beginning September 10. More countries, including the United States, will debut the film in theaters starting September 24, according to the site.

However, “showtimes vary per region and are subject to change, depending on your local cinema reopening conditions,” the site notes. Theaters across the world have been shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

With unprecedented access, “Break the Silence: The Movie” travels with BTS throughout the tour, exploring “each band member behind the curtain,” according to the movie’s site.

“Off stage, we see another side of BTS. The seven members begin to candidly tell personal stories they have never voiced before.”

BTS is one of the most successful K-pop groups in history. They released their fourth album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” in February.

‘Dirty Dancing’ is getting a sequel A “Dirty Dancing” sequel is indeed happening, courtesy of Lionsgate, Deadline reports.

Studio CEO Jon Feltheimer confirmed the news on an earnings call Thursday, referring to it as “one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood,” according to the publication.

“It will be exactly the kind of romantic, nostalgic movie that the franchise’s fans have been waiting for and that have made it the biggest-selling library title in the company’s history,” he reportedly said.

The 1987 film starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

Grey is reportedly set to star in the sequel as well as executive produce it. Swayze died at age 57 in 2009 of pancreatic cancer.

—From wire reports

Entomologist and UGA alum has been stung 1,000 times — for science

By Trisha Gopal and Isabella Bartolucci CNN

Justin Schmidt is in the business of pain.

The entomologist and chemist gets stung by insects to understand the pain they produce, why they produce it and how they produce it.

It’s all in the name of science.

“I’ve been called many things over my lifetime, but I think some of my favorites are ‘King of Sting,’ and ‘The Connois-

MUST READ seur of Pain,’” Schmidt says.

He’s definitely put in the work to deserve both those titles.

“I’ve probably been stung at least a thousand times,” Schmidt says. “A lot of them were boring stings.”

What’s a “boring sting”?

“Any time you work with honeybees, sooner or later you get a pinch, so you get stung.

You hardly count those.”

Schmidt’s fascination with pain began by accident when

he was a Ph.D. student at the University of Georgia.

“I was a chemist and I was looking for interesting projects that I could do in chemistry which involved insects,” Schmidt recalls.

“I was down in Georgia and I got stung by a harvester ant ... They really hurt, and I thought, ‘Ow, chemistry right here.’”

That set him off on a journey to try to understand the science behind the venom and the pain.

“I thought, ‘I’ll go out and compare a bunch of other stinging insects and see how different they are in chemistry,’” Schmidt remembers. “In the process you get stung by yellow jackets, paper wasps, fire ants, solitary wasps, and I would record.”

Those occupational hazards led him to develop his very own pain scale, known as the Schmidt Sting Pain Index.

“I started realizing there’s data here. What can I do with this?” Schmidt says. “I real-

ized I could score them on a pain scale from one to four.

That was just basically the genesis of the pain scale, that I wanted to get something useful out of all that suffering I’d done.”

In his pain index, ‘one’ measures as the mildest sting and ‘four’ as the most excruciating. The index only includes stinging ants, wasps and bees — no caterpillars, biting flies or spiders are included.

“Automatically, a ‘one’ would be a fire ant,” Schmidt starts

off. “Kind of a sharp, piercing, like electric sharp shock ... It’s not terribly serious and it lasts a couple of minutes.”

So then, what’s a ‘four’?

“A ‘four’ is absolutely excruciatingly debilitating, incapacitating, just shuts you down,” he says. “It’s like every nerve is firing in your whole body at the same time. It’s just absolute sheer pain.”

One of those infamous ‘fours’ is a bullet ant.

“There’s nothing even close to them,” Schmidt says.

A4 ♦ Sunday, auguSt 9, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com COLUMNIST I KEITH ROACH

WEATHER WATCH

Facial twitches merit an exam

D

EAR DR. ROACH: For about the past year, I have had mouth movements that I do not intend to make. I can stop them if I really concentrate on doing so, but as soon as I think of something else, they resume. Lately, I also have involuntary movements on the Roach left side of my mouth when I am about to fall asleep, or maybe when I have already fallen asleep. I make a loud noise, which wakes me up. The left side of my face is twitching wildly. Sorry I don’t know how to better explain this, but I am partly asleep when it happens and don’t know anything else.

Do you have any idea what could be going on?

— L.S. ANSWER: There are several different movement disorders that affect the face, some of which can cause tics, which is what it sounds like you are describing. Tics can occur by themselves, or in the context of another neurological condition. A good example of this is Tourette’s syndrome, which has a wide range of clinical expressions and does not always look the way it is portrayed in movies. Some movement disorders are related to medication use, so a neurologist evaluating you would do not only a careful exam, but a thorough review of past medication use.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve heard of a new treatment for enlarged prostate. It’s called PAE. I understand it is a procedure that restricts blood flow to the prostate, causing it to shrink. Have you heard of it and any downsides?

— W.G. ANSWER: Prostate artery embolization uses plastic beads to block the arteries in the prostate, causing cell death and shrinkage of the prostate.

In theory, that will improve symptoms of enlarged prostate. It is a new procedure, and the benefits and risks are not as well understood as they are for more commonly used procedures. Complications, especially urinary retention, can happen up to 26% of the time. Post-PAE syndrome has been described. It includes a burning sensation, nausea and vomiting. Given the lack of certainty about the relative effectiveness about this procedure compared with traditional options, the American Urological Association has recommended PAE be used only in the setting of a clinical trial.

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you get irritable bowel syndrome by living in a tropical climate?

I moved to South Florida 15 years ago and have had this problem ever since. When I go up North, I have no symptoms within 24 hours. My gastroenterologist, who moved his practice from Pennsylvania to Florida, said he has never seen so many patients with IBS since his move. He has said he suspects there may be an irritant in the air or water that causes this. Any thoughts?

— Anon.

ANSWER: IBS is a very common condition and is frequently not formally diagnosed.

Ten to 15% of North Americans meet criteria, and more women have it than men in North America. There have been several studies looking at geographic distribution of IBS, but there is no definitive increase in warmer climates.

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

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

TODAY

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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 4:54-6:54 a.m............. 5:15-7:15 p.m.

MINOR 11:48 a.m.-12:48p.m.

POLLEN COUNTS trees: none weeds: low grass: none

LOTTERY Saturday cash 3 midday: 1-5-4 cash 4 midday: 3-5-3-7 ga. 5 midday: 8-5-2-9-3 Friday cash 3 midday: 2-5-8 cash 3 evening: 5-5-0 cash 3 night: 6-2-0 cash 4 midday: 5-1-8-1 cash 4 evening: 3-4-2-7 cash 4 night: 5-8-6-5 ga. 5 midday: 0-9-0-0-2 ga. 5 evening: 8-7-7-6-9 Fantasy 5: 18-21-25-26-40 mega millions: 4-44-53-64-70, mega Ball: 3 cash For life: 4-9-45-57-60, cash Ball: 2

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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) .... 840.38 Blackshear ......... (237.0) .... 236.93 Blue Ridge........(1690.0) .. 1684.79 Burton..............(1865.0) .. 1864.97 carters.............(1072.0) ...1072.73 chatuge ........... (1927.0) .. 1924.33 Harding .............. (521.0) .... 520.52 Hartwell .............(660.0) .... 659.75 Jackson..............(530.0) .... 528.92

Lake Full Yesterday lanier............... (1071.0) ... 1071.31 nottely..............(1779.0) .....434.81 oconee ..............(435.0) .....434.81 Seminole...............(77.5) .......76.74 Sinclair ...............(339.8) .... 338.60 thurmond ..........(330.0) .... 329.58 tugalo ................ (891.5) .... 889.23 walter F. george.(188.0) ..... 187.97 west point..........(635.0) .... 635.40

TODAY IN HISTORY today is the 222nd day of 2020 and the 51st day of summer.

TODAY’S HISTORY: in 1842, the webster-ashburton treaty was signed by the united States and canada, delineating the eastern section of their shared border. in 1945, the united States dropped the “Fat man” nuclear bomb on nagasaki, Japan. in 1969, followers of charles manson murdered actress Sharon tate and four others at tate’s los angeles home. in 1974, gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th u.S. president following Richard nixon’s resignation.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: John dryden (1631-1700), poet/dramatist/critic; Bob cousy (1928- ), basketball player; Rod laver (1938- ), tennis player; Sam elliott (1944- ), actor; whitney Houston (1963-

2012), singer; Brett Hull (1964- ), hockey player; Hoda Kotb (1964- ), news anchor; deion Sanders (1967- ), football and baseball player; gillian anderson (1968- ), actress; eric Bana (1968- ), actor; chris cuomo (1970- ), journalist; chamique Holdsclaw (1977- ), basketball player; anna Kendrick (1985- ), actress.

TODAY’S FACT: u.S. Secretary of war Henry Stimson persuaded the target committee to take Kyoto, Japan, off the short list of possible nuclear targets during world war ii because of its cultural and religious significance to the people of Japan.

TODAY’S SPORTS: in 1988, 27-yearold wayne gretzky, already considered among the greatest players in the history of hockey, was traded from the edmonton oilers to the los angeles Kings.

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COLUMNIST I AMY DICKINSON

Mom worries dysfunction will follow kids

D

EAR AMY: My husband and I have two amazing teenage daughters.

They are mature, intelligent and conscientious.

I’m very proud of them and look forward to seeing what they do in their lives, but this is also where my fear lies.

They have grown up witnessing an unhealthy codependent relationship between their father and me.

Although we are currently working toward a healthy solution, I fear that some of the damage has already been done.

Our daughters were never in danger and as parents we always tried to prioritize their needs over our own, but I see some of my not-so-admirable traits of low self-esteem and hints of his addictive behavior in them as well.

I’m afraid they will make the same mistakes and choose unhealthy habits and/or relationships.

What advice can you give to help them recognize and avoid this? I certainly hope these apples fall far from this tree.

— Concerned Parent DEAR CONCERNED: You don’t outline the specific nature of the dynamic in your household, but I would venture a guess that some of the traits you mention might be hardwired for your daughters, while others are situational and learned behav-

ior (based on the dynamic they witnessed and absorbed in early childhood).

It is important and useful Dickinson to be as honest as possible with your teen daughters regarding your own mistakes, failings and frailties, but — when it comes to parenting, “Do as we say, not as we do” has a very limited utility.

If you and/or your husband are struggling with an addiction, it is vital that your daughters receive responsible information and support. Introduce them to a “friends and family” peer support group, like Alateen (Al-anon.org).

I think it is also important that you seek professional help on your own. The message should be, “I’ve sought help for my problems; I’m working my program, and it is helping.” Do not hide or stigmatize the role of therapy or support groups; these are lifelines.

In addition to all of this talking, it is also vital that you listen. Your daughters need to know that they can be honest with you and that you will listen with compassion and do your best to support them when they need it.

DEAR AMY: My loving husband of 45 years died unexpectedly three years ago.

He was the most loving, car-

ing person I have ever met. I had a young daughter from a prior marriage when we met.

He adopted my daughter and treated her and the son we had together beautifully.

My husband was 71 when he died. I haven’t been able to get on with my life. People tell me he wouldn’t want me to not move on with my life, but HE was my life. He was my best friend — he was everything to me.

I regularly cry myself to sleep.

What am I to do now? My mom helped me the most, but she and Daddy were married for 63 years until she died last year.

The women in our family live long lives.

I do pray all the time, and it has helped, but I need to do something else.

Can you help?

— Grieving DEAR GRIEVING: I’m so sorry for your losses. Grief is the most challenging of all emotions, because it cuts you off from even the smallest pleasures of living in the world.

Connecting with other human beings in an authentic way will help you, but your grief has effectively cut you off from others.

You say that prayer is helping, and because you seem spiritually-oriented, I suggest that you join a faith community. The current pandemic has actually opened up the opportunities for worship,

because so many houses of worship have moved their services online.

Researching your question, I have watched several inspiring services — all available online any day of the week.

An internet search should get you started.

Professional grief counseling would help you tremendously. Your doctor could help you connect with a counselor.

Your local hospice center will host in-person (or online) grief groups, where you can connect with and communicate with other grieving people. Think: Communication and community. This is the way forward.

DEAR AMY: “Allergic” complained of a very serious allergy to poison ivy, often transmitted to her by dogs when they rub up against her on the hiking trail.

Instead of chastising dog owners, why didn’t you simply suggest she use a different trail?

— Disappointed DEAR DISAPPOINTED: This is truly a case of “the trail wagging the dog.”

Maybe the dogs should use a different trail.

You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: ASKAMY@amydickinson. com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @ askingamy or “like” her on Facebook.

HOROSCOPES Apply your skills to the things you enjoy doing most.

Question what you are doing with your life and what you can do to achieve peace of mind and the happiness you desire. Life is about choices and being true to your beliefs. Discuss your thoughts with someone you love, and you’ll come up with a workable plan. leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Challenge what’s being offered, and don’t be afraid to take a different path. Protect against loss, interference and poor decisions.

Be responsible, and control your destiny.

ViRgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Update records, passwords and other essential matters in your life. Unexpected information will leave you at odds about a decision you need to make. Surprise everyone with an innovative change of plans. liBRa (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Do your best to get along, but not at the expense of letting someone get away with something that might damage your position, reputation or relationship. Set the record straight, and carry on.

ScoRpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Do your own thing.

A partnership will need an adjustment if you plan to engage in future dealings.

Listen, observe and consider your options.

SagittaRiuS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) — Physical challenges will fire you up and boost your morale. Refuse to let someone impede your plans for adventure and excitement. If someone doesn’t want to join in, be prepared to venture out on your own. capRicoRn (Dec. 22Jan. 19) — Remind negative people of life’s pleasures.

Get involved in activities that make you happy. Peace, love and romance will enhance your day. aQuaRiuS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Discuss your ideas and plans, and the input you receive will pump you up and move you forward.

An interesting suggestion will help you develop a new way to market what you have to offer. piSceS (Feb. 20-March 20) — Being pushed in a new direction will end up being beneficial, so stop fighting the inevitable. A personal change at home is favored. aRieS (March 21-April 19) — Refuse to let anger consume you when you should be focusing on how to move forward. Don’t let emotions impose on your future. tauRuS (April 20-May 20) — Your accomplishment will turn out well with or without the person you expected to be there for you. Emotions will surface if someone heads in a different direction. Continue alone. gemini (May 21-June 20) — A surprise will have an impact on the people you love. Set your course, and pursue what makes you happy. Don’t venture off your chosen path. canceR (June 21-July 22) — Don’t feel obligated to follow in someone’s footsteps if you don’t share the same beliefs or interests.

You are better off exploring what makes you happy.

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gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, august 9, 2020 ♦ A5

Democratic state Senate District 9 runoff candidates discuss their top priorities

SCHOOLS From A1 The school system is taking several steps to ensure students are kept safe in the schools. That includes three layers of cleanings in the school buildings, including use of a 360 sanitizing machine.

“We use a neutral cleaner first, then come back with a disinfectant (daily) and then hitting it with the machine twice a week,” Buford Schools Operations Manager Tommy Lingerfelt said.

Other steps include: hand sanitizer stations located in several places around the schools; water fountains being blocked off so kids can’t use them; new signage being placed around school buildings to promote social distancing; the installation of a new window in the school lobby for parents to drop off items for their children while still maintaining a barrier between them and school staff; and requiring kids wear masks. Students are also being assigned Chromebooks in case a switch to digital learning is needed because of an outbreak.

“The thing about Buford (schools) and our community is our heart is with our children,” Leland said. “We looked, from the start, at what was going to be in the best interests of the children.”

There will even be steps taken in the libraries and cafeterias as well. At Buford Academy, only one class will be allowed in the library at the time and there will be a weekly rotation on who gets to eat in the cafeteria and who has to bring their lunches back to their classrooms to eat. When classes can eat in the cafeteria, students will only be allowed to sit on one

“We saw disgraceful voting failures here in Gwinnett in 2018, and even recently with counting absentee balIn the state Senate District 9 lots, some of those problems Democratic runoff race, Gabe could have been mitigated if Okoye is pegging education federal oversight had not been as a top priority while Nikki removed,” Merritt said. “VotMerritt is putting voter pro- ing is the foundation of our detections at the top of mocracy; it is the most her priorities list. powerful voice of the Okoye and Merritt people and it should will face off in Tuesday’s not be a partisan isDemocratic runoff for sue to want to renew state Senate District 9. confidence.

The winner will face Re“That is why I want publican state Sen. P.K. to make voting seamMartin, R-Lawrencev- Gabe Okoye less, fair and easily acille, in November. cessible. We can start by “Like many, I was making election day a disappointed by the holiday and create over2016 national election sight between the SOS results,” Merritt said and county boards.” about why she is runAs far as the postning for the seat. “I felt COVID-19 response like our country and from the state is constate were headed in cerned, Merritt said the Nikki the wrong direction. I state needs to address Merritt remember having grave public health needs first concerns about the future of during the pandemic to help my children and all the many Georgia get past it, and also diverse families across Geor- expand Medicaid. gia with a president who deAs for how to recover after means women and uses racist the pandemic, Merritt said the and divisive rhetoric.” state should look at some of Okoye said, “I am in this race its tax policies. because I want to give back “Recovery afterwards should to a country that has been so include ways to increase state good to me, and I will cherish revenue, like increasing taxan opportunity to help oth- es on cigarettes, and repealers to realize their American ing the reckless GOP tax cuts dreams too.” that pushed our state into ausOkoye and Merritt outlined terity mode, even when the what their top priorities would economy was not in crisis,” be if they are elected to the she said. “We must invest in state Senate. They also talk- research and development to ed about Georgia’s post-CO- train people so they can earn VID-19 recovery. higher wages, plus offer comOkoye said schools are under- panies subsidies for keeping funded anded several students supply chains in Georgia. end up performing below their “And speaking as a union grade levels as a result. As a worker, let’s revive trade unions result, he said education fund- and offer companies incentives ing would be his top priority. for working with unions. I also “A good place to start with want to find ways to tackle red school funding will be to remove tape and barriers to helping our gimmickry from the school local businesses thrive, having funding formula,” Okoye said. endured so much pain, our “The Quality Basic Education state leaders need to make it (QBE) formula is used to fund easier for them to get back on education in Georgia, but this their feet as they are the ecoformula has been held steady nomic lifeblood of the state.” at the 1985 level. Therefore, it Meanwhile, Okoye said his is a blatant deceit when some prayers go out to families of legislators claim to have fund- people who have died during ed schools fully. the pandemic. He said politics “In order to fully fund our should be put aside when appublic schools, the QBE for- proaching the post-pandemic mula must be updated to cur- recovery. rent level and that is what I “Obviously, this pandemic will fight for. We must keep has not just been deadly, it ‘HOPE’ alive by restoring the has been generally very discuts to the HOPE Scholarship ruptive,” Okoye said. “It has Program. Furthermore, there not been easy to deal with, but must be benefits protections I am certain that over time, for the retirees. Finally, I look we will bounce back from it. forward to advancing legisla- In order to do that, patience tion to reduce the crippling is required. students loan burden on our “In my opinion, for a solid children.” and steady post-COVID-19 Meanwhile, Merritt pointed recovery, we must adopt an to voter protection issues, and approach which is devoid of called for the state to end vot- unnecessary politics. It must er roll purges and find way to be science and data driven. properly staff polling locations. We must listen and take into She also said the state needs to consideration, the advice of the make absentee voting easier, relevant professionals. In the using the increase of absentee meantime, we must continue voting for the June 9 primary to wear our masks, practice because of the COVID-19 pan- social distancing, wash our demic as an example of why hands and follow all genuine changes are needed. precautionary guidelines.”

By Curt Yeomans

curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost. com

staff photo: curt yeomans

Buford Academy First Grade Teacher Ally Adler, left, talks with one her new students, Noah Latoni, about school on Thursday as the pupil’s mother, Serene Latoni, looks on. Buford City Schools is set to begin the school year on Wednesday with several modifications in place to help reduce the chances of COVID-19 spreading in the district’s schools.

moRe online ♦ Visit us online at www.gwinnettdailypost.com for more photos. side of the lunch table.

The pupils will also only be allowed to go through the line to get their meals one at a time and food items will be individually wrapped with meals served on disposable trays with disposable silverware.

“The idea is they’re going to wash their hands before and then they’ll sanitize their hands as they come through the line,” Buford Academy Nutrition Manager Ashely Mann said. “You’ll have one student here (at the food counter) and one student waiting at the marker (at the door to the line). They’ll tell the server what they want and then they’ll go down the line.”

Teachers will also be tak-

Buford Academy Nutrition Manager Ashely Mann explains the menu students will be able to choose food from as they go through food lines one at a time to promote social distancing at the school.

ing steps inside classrooms, such as spraying disinfectant and using Clorox wipes throughout the day as well as efforts to keep students socially distanced.

“The desks are six feet apart from each student and then we have sanitizing sprays and the custodians will be spraying as well with a special machine that they use to clean everything,” Buford Academy first-grade teacher Ally Adler said. “They’re going to be washing their hands, we have hand sanitizer — I already have five bottles out.”

Although masks are required, teachers are being given leeway to find ways to safely incorporate mask breaks into the day for younger kids — with the stipulation that they have to social distance when their masks are off.

“We will have rotations for each person at a table to take their mask off for 10 minutes, and then it will be the next person’s turn,” Adler said.

Some parents said they were glad their kids had the option to be in class when the school year begins. Several school systems, including Gwinnett County Public Schools, were at least starting the school year with onlineonly instruction.

Catherine Kim said she has been going over recommended guidelines with her children, including triplets who will be first-graders this Buford Schools Operations Manager Tommy Lingerfelt explains year, so they will not only the sanitizing fluid dispensers located in Buford Academy. know what health practices

OSSOFF From A1 “I don’t think that’s hyperbole and I really want to ask everyone reading this article to reflect on whether this gross incompetence deserves to be rewarded with re-election — 160,000 Americans are dead,” Ossoff said.

Ossoff talked to the Daily Post this past week about several topics, including the federal government’s response to the pandemic, life on the campaign trail, federal unemployment benefits available to people who lost their job because of the pandemic and attack ads that have been run against him.

Throughout much of the interview, he laid heavy criticism upon Perdue, saying the senator and Trump “deserve to lose.”

Because of the pandemic, Ossoff has switched to a virtual format for campaigning by holding weekly virtual town hall forums where he answers voters questions. On Wednesday, he participated in a virtual forum moderated by state Rep. Sam Park, D-Lawrenceville.

“Our overriding concern is public health, so there are events we’d love to hold and doors we’d love to knock on, but we’re putting public health first and finding other ways to get our message out,” Ossoff said. “We’ve been holding frequent virtual town halls, taking live questions from folks across the state ...

“And I think one of the reasons we’ve been building so much support statewide is a relentless focus on lowering health care costs, cracking down on abuse by insurance and drug companies, investing in infrastructure and getting dark money out of politics is an agenda that resonates everywhere.”

Ossoff said he is “ready to debate David Perdue anytime, any place,” and has challenged the senator to participate in several debates around Georgia. To date, he said he as not heard back from Perdue.

“I offered five televised debates (and) the senator still refuses to debate me,” Ossoff said. “But looking at the state of the world and his record, I’m not surprised he doesn’t want to debate me because his record is one of self-dealing, denial and incompetence when it comes to this public health and economic crisis and wide-spread disease and mass unemployment. It’s not a record he wants to run on or defend so I’m not shocked that he’s refusing to debate me.”

It is expected that at least the Atlanta Press Club — which routinely hosts debates for major seats, such as U.S. Senate governor and congressional seats — will likely be working to have a debate between Ossoff and Perdue this fall. The Atlanta Press Club has not yet announced its fall debates schedule, however.

The Democratic Party’s nominee blamed Trump for the current COVID-19 situation in the United States and tied Perdue to the

they will be required to follow in the school building, but also used to doing those practices. She visited Buford Academy with her son Daniel Kim, who will be in Adler’s first-grade class.

“We’ve been practicing with the masks and letting them know have to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer and wear masks,” she said.

Serene Latoni said her family, including Noah, had already contracted and recovered from COVID-19 back in the spring so she felt her children — four boys including a newborn — were less likely to get it again, at least for now.

“We’re excited to be back in session because, I mean, otherwise we’d be doing digital learning for no good reason,” she said. “We’ve already been exposed to it and we’ve already had it.”

Latoni said she felt it was important for her kids to be back in school, in person, for the social aspect of the school environment. That’s especially true for Noah, she said.

“He’s definitely our social butterfly in the family and he needs people,” Serene Latoni said. “In his last class, he knew everybody’s name and he was close with the teacher.

He was just devastated to not go back to school ...

“He’s been lighter over the last week and a half just in preparation and anticipation for being around people again.”

president when it comes to the pandemic.

“Trump and Perdue are treating this pubic health emergency like a political problem rather than a problem that requires strong leadership informed by medical expertise,” Ossoff said.

But Perdue’s campaign responded to Ossoff’s criticisms by arguing that the Democrat is making false claims and insisting the senator has worked to get assistance for the pandemic response. In late March, he also recorded a public service announcement encouraging Georgians to follow the advice of public health officials, including guidance on social distancing, staying home when sick and frequently washing hands.

Perdue and fellow Sen. Kelly Loeffler also shared U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on reducing the spread of COVID-19 in late February.

“Since the COVID-19 crisis began, Senator Perdue’s number one priority has been fighting for the people of Georgia,” the campaign said in a statement. “He’s secured over $41 billion in direct federal aid for Georgians, $6 billion of which has gone to frontline healthcare workers and championed the Paycheck Protection Program, which has saved over 1.5 million Georgia jobs.”

One of the topics being debated in the new stimulus package has been whether to continue $600 a week federal unemployment benefits that were established in an earlier

stimulus package to help Americans who became unemployed because of the pandemic.

Democrats want to continue the benefit.

Several Republicans have argued, however, that the benefit have encouraged people to not return to work and have said it should be discontinued.

“They should be extended,” Ossoff said.

“Millions of Georgians have filed jobless claims in the last six months, families are facing eviction and financial ruin, through no fault of their own, because the response to this pandemic has been botched at the federal level.”

Ossoff also addressed accusations leveled against him in a series of “Hollywood Jon” ads that the National Republican Senatorial Committee has been running against him.

The ads accused Ossoff of misrepresenting national security credentials he held and of supporting U.S. Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez’s Green New Deal proposal among other claims.

Ossoff denied the accusations.

“All of their attacks are lies,” he said. “They’re claiming that I stated I held a security clearance for longer than I did. I never made any such statements. They’re claiming that I support the Green New Deal. I do not. They’re claiming I support socialized medicine. I do not.

“They’re also going out of their way to attack the film industry, which is a huge generator of jobs and revenues for our state.”

B2 ♦ Sunday, auguSt 9, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com

2020 VOLLEYBALL SUPER SIX ADRIANA ACKERMAN School: mill creek Class: Senior Position: Setter Noteworthy: ♦ all-county and all-region selection the past two seasons ♦ Had 932 assists, 69 aces, Adriana 172 digs and 127 kills as a Ackerman junior, bringing her career totals to 2,014 assists, 127 aces, 317 digs and 219 kills College choice: undecided Best player in Gwinnett not on my team: norcross’ Bella murray Favorite place to play: mill creek High School gym Club team: ga Beach Twitter handle: @adrianaack Favorite class: physics Favorite teacher: greg marr Favorite restaurant: chili’s Coach Bo Adams’ take: “adriana is an allaround great person. off the court, she is a very good student and friend to everyone. on the court, she is a versatile player, bringing a lot of different aspects to the court. adriana is encouraging to her teammates and is a very coachable player. i’m looking forward to her senior season.”

MIKAYLA HAYDEN School: Buford Class: Junior Position: middle blocker Noteworthy: ♦ Had 299 kills, a .404 hitting percentage, 54 blocks and 53 aces last season Mikayla ♦ earned all-county and Hayden region player of the year honors as a sophomore College choice: undecided Best player in Gwinnett not on my team: lanier’s myahn Byrd Favorite place to play: uSaV nationals Club team: a5 Volleyball 16-1 Twitter handle: @mikaylaHayden_ Favorite class: ap world History Favorite teacher: Sean gilbert

Favorite restaurant: italy’s pizza Coach Hadli Daniels’ take: “mikayla has been our leading hitter in number of kills and hitting efficiency as a freshman and sophomore. She has been an all-county, allregion, region player of the year and all-state player as well. She is as sweet as can be, but is a beast on the court. most importantly she is humble, one of the hardest workers on the court, and is an outstanding student on top of all of that. i’m excited to see her dominate on the court this year.”

BELLA MURRAY School: norcross Class: Senior Position: Setter Noteworthy: ♦ Had 945 assists, 146 kills, 267 serve points, 202 digs and 41 blocks last season — now Bella has 2,039 career assists Murray ♦ earned all-state, all-region and all-county honors in 2019 College choices: winthrop, coastal carolina, others Best player in Gwinnett not on my team: mill creek’s adriana ackerman Favorite place to play: norcross High School gym Club team: a5 gwinnett 17-tim Twitter handle: @_bellamurray_ Favorite class: photography Favorite teacher: carisa lindsay Favorite restaurant: Kiko’s tacos and more Coach Jeff Cerneka’s take: “Bella will do whatever it takes to push our team over the top, a great set, a dump, a timely kill. But what makes her special are the intangible traits she possesses, like offering an encouraging word to a struggling teammate, being calm in a chaos moment, constantly pushing the team to be ultra competitive, and she goes out of her way to develop relationships with everyone on her team on and off the floor. She embraces the leadership role and simply loves helping her teammates. our whole program is better because Bella is leading the way.”

ARISSA SHEPHERD School: dacula Class: Junior Position: outside hitter Noteworthy: ♦ Has 573 kills, 35 blocks, 683 digs and 91 aces in two seasons — is only the second Arissa dacula player to top 500 career Shepherd kills and 600 career digs ♦ all-county and all-region selection as a sophomore College choice: undecided Best player in Gwinnett not on my team: lanier’s myahn Byrd Favorite place to play: parkview High School Club team: a5 gwinnett Twitter handle: @arissashepherd Favorite class: ap world History Favorite teacher: andrea craig Favorite restaurant: lin’s Bistro Coach Jason Berube’s take: “arissa is a great kid, a great athlete and someone i really admire. She loves competition. She can tell you how many games she’s won in practice. arissa has the drive and determination to do everything with excellence coupled with incredible intelligence. She takes all ap and Honors classes and she’s also involved with, and is usually the leader of, about half a dozen clubs in the school. Her intelligence, her volleyball iQ, helps us so much on the court. when she plays, it’s literally like we have another coach on the floor. She’s a leader, she’s determined, she has a laser focus, but beyond that, and to me what is the most important quality of arissa, is the relationships she’s built with her coaches and teammates. She has her teammates and coach’s trust and respect.”

Ashley Sturzoiu

ASHLEY STURZOIU School: Buford Class: Sophomore Position: outside hitter Noteworthy: ♦ Had 299 kills, 210 digs and 30 aces last season ♦ earned all-state and allcounty honors

College choice: undecided Best player in Gwinnett not on my team: north gwinnett’s abby taylor Favorite place to play: Buford High School Club team: a5 15-1 Twitter handle: @ashleySturzoiu Favorite class: Spanish Favorite teacher: thomas Varini Favorite restaurant: chipotle Coach Hadli Daniels’ take: “ashley was a great surprise when she walked into the gym last year. She is a most powerful hitter and has an extremely high volleyball iQ, especially for as young as she is. She was all-county, all-region and all-state as a freshman as well. She is a natural born leader and has been working nonstop to improve her game. She is never satisfied and that is going to make her even greater.”

ASHANTI WILLIAMS School: collins Hill Class: Senior Position: outside hitter Noteworthy: ♦ First-team all-region last season ♦ First-team all-county Ashanti selection as a junior Williams College choices: dream college is university of Hawaii at Hilo, other choices are truett-mcconnell or missouri Valley State Best player in Gwinnett not on my team: i can’t choose! there are way too many good players in gwinnett.

Favorite place to play: Big South Club team: a5 gwinnett Twitter handle: @ashantidw Favorite class: drawing and painting Favorite teacher: Jennifer ludewig Favorite restaurant: Steak n Shake Coach Kimberlee Mankin’s take: “ashanti is fun to coach because she has such a competitive edge, she sees mistakes as a challenge. ashanti is a very talented young lady that shows up and sets the tone for the team through her work ethic, enthusiasm and support for her teammates. i am looking forward to seeing what she will accomplish as a senior this year.”

IN BRIEF GHSA cancels football scrimmages

Heidger commits to Samford

After Wednesday’s meeting with its Sports Medicine Advisory Council, the Georgia High School Association implemented a number of changes Thursday to football, cheerleading and one-act play.

Executive director Robin Hines decided to eliminate preseason football scrimmages while still allowing teams to practice in a controlled environment under previous guidelines. Most high school football programs had scheduled two scrimmages with other schools between Aug. 14-28.

The football season start date will not change — games will begin Sept. 4 as adopted by the GHSA Board of Trustees on July 20.

Changes were made to cheerleading because of densely populated indoor arenas that don’t allow for social distancing. The tentative date to start cheer competitions is Nov. 21 and the tentative state cheer finals are set for Feb. 26-27.

Cheerleading teams can continue to practice under previous guidance.

The GHSA opted to move the one-act play season to the spring semester due to the risk of indoor venues and aerosol spray from projection and singers.

The Samford University women’s basketball landed another player from Hebron Christian on Tuesday when Carly Heidger committed to the Bulldogs.

Heidger, a 6-foot-3 guard, helped the Lions to the Class A Private Final Four last season as a junior. She averaged 8.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals.

She joins fellow Hebron senior Nicole Azar in committing to Samford, whose head coach is Parkview grad Carley Kuhns.

ers, employees and fans,” ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin said in a release. “The ECHL and our Board of Governors are focused on the 2020-21 season and remain optimistic for the safe reopening of our venues across the continent.

We appreciate our partners and fans continued support and patience, as we work together with our venues, local health officials and the members of the PHPA’s Executive Committee towards the safe return of ECHL hockey.”

Bowen signs with Lincoln College

Anthony Bowen, a 2020 Providence Christian grad, has signed with the Lincoln College (Ill.) baseball program.

Gladiators season pushed back to December Bowen, a catcher, was hitting .419 with 10 RBIs and had The ECHL Board of Governors, in conjunction with thrown out three base-stealers through nine games as a senior the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, approved when the coronavirus shut down the season. He appeared in Wednesday a revised start date for the 2020-21 ECHL 49 career games over three seasons, hitting .275 with 32 RBIs. season because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Ezzard chooses Liberty The anticipated start date is Dec. 4, 2020, for a full 72game schedule. The league, which includes the GwinnettBobby Ezzard, a senior wide receiver at North Gwinbased Atlanta Gladiators, was originally scheduled to start Oct. 16, 2020. Adjustments to the 2020-21 ECHL nett, committed to the Liberty University football program on Wednesday. schedule will be announced at a later date.

Ezzard averaged 19.9 yards per catch and had four touch“We are eager to return to hockey, but at this time we believe this decision is prudent for the safety of our play- downs last season for the Bulldogs’ state semifinal team.

MURRAY From B1 “We had months off and I needed to get some touches, so I had volleyballs in my room and I would set to myself,” Murray said. “My dad (Brian) built me a shelf but instead of a wood bottom there’s a net on it, so I keep volleyballs in there. I just set to myself in my room sometimes. I play in my garage. I played with my parents since both of them played when they were younger. I’ve just been trying to keep myself sharp. I try to play with my friends a lot. I try to teach them to play with me, so we play beach a lot together.”

When gyms opened back up this summer, Murray and the Blue Devils went back to work in a safe environment.

Players are screened at the entrance, where their temperature is taken, and thorough cleanings of the volleyball equipment happens before and after practice with their coaches, who wear masks.

It’s a different way to start the season, but the results on the court have looked promising so far.

“I think we’re going to do really well,” Murray said. “I think we have a lot of chemistry because we have eight returners. With the new people coming on the team, all of us know each other from either

nicole Seitz

Norcross senior Bella Murray was an all-state selection at setter last season. school or just practicing with them last season or just being friends with them before we played volleyball. Because we have a lot of chemistry and everybody wants to be there, it’s great. … Everybody wants to have a good time and win

not just for ourselves but for each other.”

Now she just hopes the governing bodies and the coronavirus allow the season to happen. Senior seasons mean so much to high school athletes, particularly

ones who have been in their high school gyms since elementary school and have dreamed so long of high school athletics.

“I’ve seen a lot of people just get shut down and I really don’t want that to happen,”

Murray said. “I’ve watched so many people go through their senior season and they get so emotional. They get to have it and have their banquets. It’s emotional at every single banquet, every one. For me, I would just be

eternally crushed if i didn’t get my senior season because I’ve been in the program so long. I’m confident if we do get our senior season we will do very well. I am not so confident if we will actually get it. But I am hopeful.”

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, august 9, 2020 ♦ B3

PERSPECTIVES

Gwinnett Daily Post www.gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline,

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

GUEST COLUMNIST|BONNIE PERDUE

Empowering schools to keep students safe

I

n normal years, parents would be David Perdue, the son of two public worrying right now about buying school teachers, recently proposed the school supplies, and kids would be SCHOOL Act to help bridge this gap. dreading the end of their summer vacaThe SCHOOL Act does four things. tions. Yet this isn’t a normal year; due First, it establishes a grant program to COVID-19, parents and students are to help schools as they stock up on hand worried about whether it’s safe to go sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and other back into classrooms at all. protective equipment. No school This leaves parents, teachers, should struggle to afford the mateand local school districts with rerials that are proven to save lives. ally difficult decisions as Georgia’s Second, it will provide funding 1.7 million students prepare for to connect healthcare professionthe school year. als to schools that need help with On one hand, in-person educachecking symptoms or caring for tion is a crucial component not just sick students. It also provides the of a child’s intellectual growth, infrastructure to allow for these Perdue but their personal development. services to be done through teleAccording to the American Academy of health, if needed.

Pediatrics, kids “learn social and emoThird, this bill creates a clearinghouse tional skills at school, get healthy meals to help school systems across the counand exercise, mental health support and try share the best safety practices that other services that cannot be easily rep- they have learned. The challenges we licated online.” face are very new. It is important that This is especially true for children we learn from each other’s experiences with special needs. I was a special needs to ensure we deliver the best decisions teacher in Georgia, and I saw firsthand for our kids. how important it is for these kids to Finally, the SCHOOL Act improves have personalized learning. Without data transparency to give parents a full in-person schooling, many of them lack picture of coronavirus cases in schools. access to speech training, motor skills These solutions aren’t all-encompassassistance, or other therapies that help ing; there are other steps we will likely them in their everyday life. The impact need to take. However, this bill is a starton these kids and their development is ing point that will have a measurable deeply concerning. impact in every school district across Parents everywhere have had to as- our state as they weigh their decisions. sume the role of “teacher”, and we ap- With tools and information available plaud them for it. Unfortunately, at no for schools, every parent can rest easy fault of their own, many parents are not that their local school officials are makequipped to offer all the educational ing informed decisions. support that their kids need.

Most importantly, this bill contains With virtual learning, we are also no mandates from the government, alasking a lot of our teachers. They must lowing local districts to make whatever manage and enhance their students’ decisions they feel are best. For instance, ability to focus and engage online. Ev- Fulton County has decided to start out eryone is adjusting to these new chal- entirely virtual this year. Forsyth Counlenges, but many of our children are at ty, on the other hand, is launching a hyan unfair disadvantage and now risk brid between in-person and virtual. Unfalling behind. der the SCHOOL Act, districts can take All of us want students back in school their own approach while having equal eventually, but as a grandmother, I want access to the resources they need when to make sure my grandkids are abso- it’s time to reopen fully. lutely safe when school starts.

Going to school is one of the most imHow and when schools decide to safe- portant foundations of not just a child’s ly reopen this fall are tough decisions, life, but of our society as a whole. All of but we should let parents, teachers, and us want to get kids back to school so that local administrators make them. There they can blossom into productive citiare 181 school districts in Georgia; every zens and the leaders of tomorrow. The one of them should be able to do what’s SCHOOL Act will help give kids the safe, best for their own communities. quality education they deserve, and hopeThe only problem is that many school fully help us adapt to this new normal. districts may not have all the information or resources they need to make Bonnie Perdue is a former public school teacher and the wife of U.S. Senator David Perdue. these decisions. My husband, Senator

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

COLUMNIST|KATHLEEN PARKER

T

LETTER TO THE EDITOR|YOUR OPINION

Georgia legal community mourns passing of Judge Ramon Alvarado

to equal justice under the law. In January 2019, he was sworn in to the Recorder’s Court bench, beOn behalf of the State Bar of Georcoming Gwinnett County’s first gia, I am writing to extend condoHispanic judge. lences to the family, colleagues and Judge Alvarado will be missed many friends of Gwinnett County and fondly remembered by his Recorder’s Court Judge Ramon Alfellow members of the legal comvarado on his very untimely passing Judge munity. We appreciate his dedion July 20.

Ramon cation and the many contribuFor most of his 15 years as a memAlvarado tions he made during his career ber of the Georgia Bar, Judge Althrough his exemplary service to varado practiced criminal defense law and made a positive, lasting impact the public and justice system. throughout the legal community with his Dawn M. Jones, respectful and compassionate treatment President, State Bar of Georgia of his fellow citizens and his commitment DEAR EDITOR:

COLUMNIST|DICK YARBROUGH

Hating the loss of ‘clean old-fashioned hate’

T

he apocalypse is truly upon us. his shoe and fell down. That I haven’t Somebody has made the decision forgotten.

— I don’t know who, I know it I remember Georgia, a decided underwasn’t me — that the Georgia-Georgia dog, looking like they had Tech beaten Tech football game will not be played in the mud and mire in Athens when this year for the first time since 1924. Yellow Jacket quarterback Wade MitchThis hallowed event, which dates to ell threw a pass that looked like a Fris1893, is commonly referred to bee for a touchdown pass to win. as “Clean Old Fashioned Hate,” Mitchell was and is a friend but which probably disturbs the poI have never quite forgiven him. litically correct weenies among us.

Finally, on a cold, crisp NovemFrom what I understand, it is ber 30, 1957, at Grant Field, Therbecause UGA is in the Southon Sapp broke The Drought. The eastern Conference and Tech is Bulldogs were suffering through in the Atlantic Coast Conference a third consecutive losing season and those two conferences have Yarbrough and had not scored a touchdown decided to play conference-only against Tech in four years. Sapp games this fall. Like most everything scored the only touchdown of the game. going on these days, the changes are I was there and witnessed the miracle being blamed on the COVID-19 pan- with 40,000 others. Today, if everydemic. That may be, but I also suspect one who says they were there that day it has something to do with money. really were, it was more like 200,000.

Most everything in major college footIf you are a true Bulldog and not a ball these days has to do with money. Johnny-come-lately twerpper, you know What makes no sense is that Geor- all the words to Georgia Bulldog Poet gia will travel 735 miles to play Mis- Laureate Harold M. Walker’s “The Man souri and Tech 1,077 miles to play Bos- Who Broke The Drought.” (“Rise up you ton College — both games which rank loyal Georgians. From Tybee Light to at the top of my Ho-Hum scale — yet Rabun Gap. Here’s to the Macon Maulfor two schools about 70 miles apart, er. The mighty Theron Sapp.”) their respective conferences somehow Things changed when a guy named can’t work it out to play each other this Vince Dooley arrived in Athens in 1964. year, ignoring the fact that the game is In his 25 years as head coach, Georgia for statewide, 365-days, 8,760-hours, was 19-6 against Tech. Today, the se525,600-minutes bragging rights. I ries stands at 68-41-5 in favor of the know. I have timed it. good guys. But that doesn’t erase the There is a gaggle of Internet twerppers trauma of The Drought from those of who don’t see the need to continue this us who lived through it. rivalry, anyway. They would rather see Now, we must live without our state Georgia playing high-profile teams like championship for a whole year. It is Notre Dame and Ohio State and Okla- not right. Of course, I can still twit my homa and forget Georgia Tech. Forget? friends at North Avenue and remind Forget Hades! These urchins weren’t them that we have 24 Rhodes Scholars. around in those dark days from 1949 (They have six.) That our researchers to 1957, better known as The Drought. are currently working to produce a more Days that will truly live in infamy. resilient peanut while theirs are fooling Georgia had held a slight lead in the around with quantum systems. You can series 22-16-4 up until then. (Two of the eat peanuts. You can’t eat a quantum Bulldog losses — 1943 and 1944 — are system (whatever that is.) listed with an asterisk in the Georgia Of course, they will give it back to media guide, as they should be. Geor- me as good as they get it. They always gia fielded a team of students too young do. But talking about peanuts and for service in World War II, while Tech quantum stuff isn’t the same as talkwas loaded with athletes from the U.S. ing about football. On that, both sides Navy’s V-12 program. Shame on them.) can agree. They have taken “Clean Things began innocently enough in Old-Fashioned Hate” away from us. I 1949 when Tech squeaked by Georgia truly hate that.

7-6. They went downhill quickly from there. Two years later, it was 48-6. I You can reach Dick Yarbrough at dick@ dickyarbrough.com; at P.O. Box 725373, remember one year a Georgia running back — I have forgotten his name — Atlanta, Georgia 31139 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dickyarb. broke clear for a touchdown but lost

Disaster makes everything real

here’s not much to recommend a hurricane, other than the morning after, when cooler temperatures prevail, and breezes lift the heavy blanket of humid air that makes swamps steam with envy.

But, setting aside the damages and inconveniences, hurricanes at least have this in their favor: They make us feel alive. Novelist Walker Percy wrote often of this phenomenon, once having a character ask: “Have you noticed that only in time of illness or disaster or death are people real?”

Having lived most of my life along southern waterways and coasts, I’ve known an alphabet of hurricanes and don’t generally seek out their company. But I also like a good show and the uncertainty that comes with a good storm, and so I settled into my evening and a screened porch from which to view Isaias’ approach.

A libation in one hand and my phone in the other, I confess to feeling very much alive. I would even put it at giddy with excitement. This was mostly because I knew that Isaias was merely a tropical storm as dinnertime approached and that landfall, when it might become a hurricane, was still hours (and 60 miles or so) away.

Snapping photos and filming videos, I by a small, rubber dinghy (empty). A few began to register a faint feeling of elation tourists (surely) stood on a pier just beyond building as the tide began to rise toward the my perch, perhaps hoping for a glimpse beach. The usually modest waves of of the Gray Man, a legendary ghost one or two feet grew quickly to enorwho walks the beach in advance of a mous, cresting and breaking two or storm, warning mothers to hustle the three times their normal size. Everychildren inside. My great-aunt Tawa thing was very loud. Already water was was one who often saw and correctly pouring into the porch, both from the heeded his warnings. ground and the ceiling.

Landfall was estimated for beHigh tide under the full moon was tween midnight and 2 a.m., with due at 9 p.m., but it came on sooner. winds potentially surpassing 75 miles Parker By 7 p.m. I wondered whether waves per hour. I wanted to stay awake in might breach the flimsy fencing along a line case I needed to do something heroic, or at of puny dunes and engulf my room. It oc- least wise, but I surrendered to sleep when curred to me that I should be afraid, but, the power went out at precisely 9:41 p.m., perhaps foolishly, I wasn’t. according to the last text to my husband, In fact, I felt more alive and happier than who was busy 90 miles inland.

I have in weeks. For a few fleeting hours, Without power and, importantly, airthere was no pandemic, no elections, no conditioning, I left the sliding door open toxic politics, no lockdowns, no noise ex- to the porch. Already, the tide had begun cept that of bulging waves breaking closer its ebb back toward the now-dark horizon. and closer to shore. “Here and now, boys,” And, though the storm hadn’t yet reached I heard the bird squawking in Aldous Hux- us, I calculated (OK, I hoped) that the likeley’s “Island.” lihood of a surge was past.

Here and now is a rare place and time Nature worked her usual magic. As waves these days. gradually crashed with decreasing intenA large trash can bobbed past, preceded sity and volume, I drifted into the deepest

sleep. I was awakened by the soft light of a new day. A cool breeze filtered through the open door. Just beyond were the brisk sounds of people clearing debris and restoring things to normal I have too much experience to tempt the Fates, but my husband put his finger on my determined lack of caution. “You’re always hungry for the storm,” he said, and he is right. But it’s not a bad trait in a reporter or, for that matter, the rest of us these days.

As Percy observed, everyday-ness can be a lonely, despairing, soul-numbing exercise.

It is only in the contrast of the everyday to the forced vulnerabilities of illness, death or disaster that we experience the exhilarating mix of the alternatives.

Put it this way, without death, there would be no love. Without illness or disaster, there would be no sanctity of life.

Creation, whether a Botticelli or childbirth, is painful and beautiful at once. The storm, whatever its magnitude, reminds us of these enduring truths — and frees us to be real.

Kathleen Parker is a columnist for the Washington Post.

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Applications being accepted for new community gardens

By Curt Yeomans

Live Healthy Gwinnett officials said they are accepting applications for the fall and winter growing seasons at its two new community gardens in Snellville and Norcross.

curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com

Live Healthy Gwinnett officials are inviting Snellville and Norcross resident to join Gwinnett County’s two newest community gardens.

The Harvest Gwinnett program has opened two new community gardens, with one located at Lenora Park in Snellville and another at Graves Park in Norcross. Both gardens have raised beds available for the fall and winter growing season, county officials said.

“In response to a growing need for access to fresh food, Harvest Gwinnett works alongside community partners to close the meal gap by implementing community gardens, nutrition education, food distributions and more,” Live Healthy Gwinnett officials

♦

photo: live Healthy gwinnet

said in an announcement. “Harvest Gwinnett’s first community garden in Lawrenceville opened in May 2020 and has already produced more than 400 pounds of fresh food alternatives that have been distributed to families served by local co-operative services, housing authorities and senior food distribution programs.”

The county is taking application for 4-foot by 8-foot garden plots, with each bed costing $35. Guidelines and application information is available at LiveHealthyGwinnett.com. Residents who have questions about the gardens can reach out to HarvestGwinnett@ GwinnettCounty.com.

The Lenora Park Community Garden is located at 4515 Lenora Church Road while the Graves Park Community Garden is located at 1540 Graves Road.

Hice recognizes Barrow deputy with monthly Hice Headliner Award

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Barrow County Sheriff’s Deputy Barry Chandler recently received some recognition from U.S. Rep. Jody Hice for his handling of a case where a woman had been sexually assaulted.

Hice recently announced Chandler is the latest recipient of the Hice Headliner Award, which is handed out by

the congressman’s office each month to recognize someone for making a positive impact on the community. The award recipients are nominated by members of the community.

In Chandler’s case, he was nominated by the woman he assisted when she was sexually assaulted.

“Deputy Chandler was brought to my attention by a local resident, who experienced a sexual assault and reported it to the Barrow County

Sheriff’s Office,” Hice said in a statement. “One can only imagine how difficult that experience must be, but in her words, ‘He treated me respectfully, professionally, and with compassion. Each and every interaction took me one small step closer to personal healing.’

“Deputy Chandler investigates a variety of crimes in his role at the Sheriff’s Office, and his colleagues confirm that he serves the community with compassion and kindness.”

Barrow County Sheriff’s Deputy Barry Chandler recently received recognition from U.S. Rep. Jody Hice for his handling of a case where a woman had been sexually assaulted. ♦

File photo

Gwinnett Animal Shelter participating in ‘Clear the Shelters’ adoption drive From staff reports

photo: u.S. Rep. Jody Hice’s office

Chromebook for Kids We CARE Challenge Learning remotely can be challenging when you don’t have a computer.

This month Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement is joining shelters and rescues across the nation to find homes for shelter pets as part of the “Clear the Shelters” adoption drive.

It is the third year that the Gwinnett Animal Shelter has participated in the adoption drive, which occurs each year in August.

“Like shelters all over the country, our hope is to find happy forever homes for the many great pets in our care,” Animal Welfare and Enforcement Division Di-

rector Alan Davis said. “We would love to literally clear our shelter.”

Clear the Shelters is sponsored by NBC and Telemundo and has placed more than 411,000 pets in loving homes since 2015 as part of the annual campaign.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Gwinnett Animal Shelter is limiting visitors in the shelter each day and is following all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, according to county officials. Interested adopters are encouraged to view the available pets online

at GwinnettAnimalWelfare.com and complete the adoption application before coming to the shelter for a meet and greet.

Adoption fees for dogs and puppies are $45 each while cats and kittens are $20 each. Adoption fees are waived for senior pets more than seven years old.

All animals are spayed/ neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, which is included in the adoption fee. Most pets can go home the same day as adoption.

The shelter is located at 884 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville.

Chromebooks for Kids We CARE Challenge will ensure that students have the technology critical to success from home and in the classroom.

File photo

Snellville leaders opted to keep the city’s millage rate the same this past week.

Snellville opts to keep same millage rate for property taxes

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com

www.gcps-foundation.org Phone (678)301-6077 • Fax 678-301-7326

non-profit 501(c)(3)• Charitable Registration #16-1764597

Snellville leaders opted to keep their millage rate the same, remaining at 4.588 mills, this week.

Mayor Barbara Bender and the City Council approved the rate, which has been the same for six years, at a meeting Monday. The city previously held three pubic hearings on the rate.

“City officials continue to look for ways to better manage the growth of the city and the rising cost of services to keep a stable millage rate,” City Manager Butch Sanders said.

The approval of the millage rate, which determines how much property owners will pay the city in property taxes, come on the heels of the City Council’s adoption of a $13.06 million city budget in June.

City leaders pointed to growth of the tax digest as reasons for keeping the same millage rate this year. Under the adopted rate, a person who owns a home that is valued at $200,000 will owe the city $367.04 in taxes.

“It is a goal Mayor and Council to keep taxes low and still provide a great quality of life for our residents,” Mayor Barbara Bender said.

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Today’s Solution

BEETLE BAILEY Mort & Greg Walker

BLONDIE Dean Young & John Marshall

DILBERT®

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HAGAR THE HORRIBLE Chris Browne

Zits Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

PEANUTS

GARFIELD Jim Davis

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PICKLES Brian Crane

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

WHATZIT SOLUTION:

Today’s Answer: Real Estate

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Public comment sought as accreditation team visits Gwinnett County Police Department From staff reports This coming week a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will examine all aspects of the Gwinnett County Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, the department said.

Verification by the CALEA team that the Gwinnett County Police Department meets the commission’s state-of-the-art and internationally recognized standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation and with it recognition of public safety professionalism and excellence.

As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comment. Anyone who would like to speak to the assessment team, may do so by phone. The public may call 770-513-5220 on Aug, 11, between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m..

Each individual making telephone comments will be limited to five minutes and comments must address the agency’s ability to com-

ply with CALEA standards.

Persons wishing to submit written comments about the Gwinnett County Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation should address their letters to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155.

The Gwinnett County Police Department has to comply with approximately 484 standards in order to gain accredited status.

The assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies.

The assessors will review written material and interview individuals.

Once the CALEA Assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.

Accreditation is relevant for a four-year period. During this time, special photo the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compli- This coming week a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, ance with those standards under Inc. (CALEA) will examine all aspects of the Gwinnett County Police Department’s policies and procedures, which it was initially accredited. management, operations, and support services, the department said.

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