July 22, 2020 — Gwinnett Daily Post

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, July 22, 2020 ♦ A3

USG presidents endorse return to in-person classes

By Dave Williams Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service

ATLANTA— Georgia’s public college and university presidents are fully onboard with plans to open campuses to in-person instruction during the upcoming fall semester.

That’s the sentiment expressed in a recent letter to the University System of Georgia Board of Regents signed by the presidents of 24 of the system’s 26 campuses.

“Resuming in-person

Jere Morehead

Steve Wrigley

classes this fall will be a difficult but important task, and it is one we are committed to achieving, as it serves the best interests of our students and the state of Georgia,” the letter stated. “The campus

experience is an essential part of the educational growth that is critical for the overall success of our students.”

The letter comes as some K-12 school systems in Georgia are choosing to stick with online classes only this fall as a way to discourage the spread of COVID-19.

The largest school district in the state, Gwinnett County Public Schools, announced Monday that it would open Aug. 12 with online-only instruction.

Cobb, Marietta and Atlanta

schools districts previously made the same decision.

Other K-12 school systems are going with a hybrid of in-person and online classes to start the fall semester.

The university system transitioned to online-only instruction during late March and early April as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in Georgia. An analysis completed early last month found the conversion went smoothly, and the system stuck with online courses during the summer semester.

However, since early

April, system Chancellor Steve Wrigley and the regents have been developing plans to bring back in-person classes this fall.

“While the transition to online went well thanks to faculty, staff and students, clearly for many students it was an unsatisfying experience,” Wrigley wrote in a response to the presidents’ letter.

“The delivery of this instruction will certainly be different than last fall as accommodations are made for the medically fragile and as institutions adapt

to space and other conditions unique to each campus. … [But] we believe in the value and importance to students of the on-campus experience. It is simply a richer, more well-rounded educational experience.”

The 25th signatory to the letter, University of Georgia President Jere Morehead, sent the letter on behalf of the other 24 presidents.

The only president not to sign the letter, Kimberly Ballard-Washington, is serving Savannah State University in an interim capacity.

Georgia announces new COVID-19 testing partnership

By Dave Williams

Bureau Chief Capitol Beat News Service

ATLANTA — The state of Georgia is stepping up its coronavirus testing capacity with a new partnership.

The state is working with Raleigh, N.C.-based Mako

Medical to provide enough supplies and services for 10,000 tests per day, a capacity increase that will allow Georgians to receive results within 48 hours.

“As demand for testing has soared across the country, many private labs have been unable to process tests

quick enough to aid in contact tracing and mitigation efforts,” Gov. Brian Kemp said. “With some Georgians waiting well over a week for their results, the status quo is unacceptable.

“This new partnership will not only expand the number of tests the state is able to

administer, but also greatly reduce the turnaround time of those tests. This is vital to Georgia’s efforts in our fight against COVID-19.”

Georgia has worked with other companies, including LabCorp, to beef up testing since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the state

back in the early spring.

“Expanded and streamlined testing is absolutely crucial,” said Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Our contract with Mako Medical will boost test processing capabilities and enable our

army of contact tracers to respond quicker to newly identified cases.”

The contract with Mako was announced as the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the state reached 145,575. As of late Monday, 3,176 Georgians had died from the virus.

PeachCare, Medicaid rolls expand in Georgia during pandemic

By Andy Miller amiller@georgiahealthnews.com

ATLANTA — Georgia’s Medicaid and PeachCare rolls continue to grow amid the economic devastation of COVID-19.

Newly released June enrollment figures show that Medicaid membership grew by 23,000, while PeachCare, the children’s health insurance program in Georgia, saw enrollment rise by nearly 14,000.

That continues a steady increase in each program, though April’s Medicaid growth was much higher.

Many people have lost jobs and income since the COVID-19 crisis occurred. That, in turn, often leads to a loss of employer-based health insurance. During such tough times, more individuals and their family members wind

ONLINE From A1 abundance of concern for our students, families, and employees, we made a very difficult decision based on the increasing number of COVID-19 cases we are seeing in our county, as well as the concerns that have been expressed by our teachers, parents, and others in the community.”

Under the new plan announced by Wilbanks on Monday, the school year will still begin on Aug. 12. School system officials are working with medical experts with the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Health Departments as well as the Georgia Department of Public Health to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Gwinnett.

The county leads Georgia in total cases of the disease with 13,444 cases reported as of Sunday afternoon.

There has been a total of 1,537 hospitalizations in the county because of the disease since the pandemic reached Georgia in March.

The school system’s switch came after two school board members, Everton Blair and Mary Kay Murphy, voiced support for an online-only start to the school year.

Blair had supported the online-only start all along, but Murphy joined him in calling for that set-up on Sunday night.

“With the health of our students, their families, teachers and staff top of mind, it is my belief that Gwinnett County Public Schools should begin the 2020-2021 school year with online only-instruction, with a return to on-campus learning as soon as the health environment in Gwinnett County allows it,” Murphy said in a statement.

District officials are promising a different look to digital learning from what families saw in the spring, when

up enrolled in Medicaid, the federal/state program for the poor and the disabled.

Nearly 2 million Georgians are currently members of Medicaid and PeachCare – and most of them are children.

The enrollment increases almost certainly will have an impact on the state budget.

The financial impact on states’ Medicaid programs from higher enrollment was cushioned when early in the COVID pandemic, Congress enacted a temporary 6.2 percentage-point boost in the federal Medicaid matching funds rate.

The legislation conditioned the higher federal rate on states maintaining pre-COVID Medicaid eligibility standards. The increase and coverage protections

Gwinnett County Public Schools was forced to abruptly switch to the system as COVID-19 hit the county.

The district said it spent the summer focusing staff development on how to teach students effectively in an online system. Digital lessons were created by content specialists who also offered up instructional resources that teachers could use in an online learning environment.

The goal has been to improve the experience students have with digital learning.

Teachers will be expected to report to schools for some functions, district officials said. Those functions include delivering digital lessons, participating in staff development activities and working with colleagues to improve the effectiveness of digital instruction.

Principals will be instructed to work with teachers who may have difficulties reporting to school for various reasons and come up with accommodations if they can.

Those teachers will still have to come to school periodically to work with colleagues and school leaders.

Additionally, district officials said they have been working on ways to address issues such as student access to computers as well as internet connections that are reliable. As a result, Chromebooks and internet hotspots will be checked out to students based on their needs to address equity in terms of the quality of digital learning.

Despite the changes to how digital learning will be conducted, district officials said expectations for students and teachers will be the same as what they would have been for in-person instruction. This means there will be a daliy schedule that students have to follow, attendance will be documented and assessments will be administered,

will expire when the emergency declaration is lifted.

States that have expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act are expected to have even bigger increases in enrollees amid the pandemic, because they allow more coverage for low-income adults. Georgia is one of 14 states that has not expanded the program, with the state’s Republican-led government saying the move would be too expensive.

With all the job losses amid the pandemic, Georgia is likely to see a big jump in the number of people who have no health insurance of any kind.

A recent analysis, in fact, estimates that 178,000 Georgians have lost coverage during the pandemic.

and grades handed out, to measure how much a student is learning.

“This is not the beginning of the school year we had hoped for,” Wilbanks said.

“However, it was a possibility we planned for, knowing that keeping students and staff safe had to be a priority. We are confident we can do digital learning well, thanks to the quality teachers and leaders we have in this district, the comprehensive preparation over the last four months, and our steadfast commitment to do what’s best for Gwinnett students.”

District officials said details on what will happen during the 2020-2021 school year will be shared on the GCPS website as well as in SchoolMessenger. Those details will eventually include plans on how a return to school be conducted once it is safe to have students in schools again.

The study by consumer advocacy group Families USA found that the estimated increase in uninsured workers nationally from February to May was nearly 40 percent higher than the highest previous increase, which occurred during the recession of 2008 and 2009, when 3.9 million adults lost insurance.

“We knew these numbers would be big,” said Stan Dorn, who directs the group’s National Center for Coverage Innovation and wrote the study. “This is the worst economic downturn since World War II. It dwarfs the Great Recession. So it’s not surprising that we would also see the worst increase in the uninsured.”

Nearly half of the increases in the uninsured resulting from the

COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crash, the study said, have occurred in five states: California, Texas, Florida, New York and North Carolina.

In eight states, 20 percent or more of adults are now uninsured: Texas (29 percent); Florida (25 percent); Oklahoma (24 percent); Georgia (23 percent); Mississippi (22 percent); Nevada (21 percent); North Carolina (20 percent), and South Carolina (20 percent).

Of the eight states, all but Oklahoma were among the 15 states with the country’s highest spike in new COVID-19 cases during the week ending July 12, the Families USA study said.

Andy Miller is editor and CEO of Georgia Health News.

CITY OF NORCROSS NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC GEORGIA FY20-21 FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 BUDGET REVIEW AND ADOPTION Public Hearing on FY2020-2021 Budget The public is hereby notified that a public hearing is scheduled for the FY20-21 Proposed Budget on July 20, 2020 and August 3,2020 at 6:30 p.m. in accordance with the provision of the state code of Georgia 36-81-5 (d and e) via Zoom https://zoom. us/j/98877350289 and in the City Hall Council Chamber located at 65 Lawrenceville Street, Norcross, Georgia 30071. At this meeting the Mayor and Council will receive both written and oral comments about the annual operating and capital budget for the City of Norcross, Georgia. A qualified interpreter for the hearing impaired will be available upon request made at least seven (7) days in advance of this meeting.

Please call (770) 448-2122 ask for Karen Slaton-Dixon Administrative Services Director to request an interpreter or for more information.

Budget Available for Review The FY20-21 recommended budget will be available for public inspection on the cities website beginning July 13th at http://www.norcrossga.net/ and a hard copy will not be due to the current pandemic.

Budget Adoption The Mayor and Council of the City of Norcross are scheduled to adopt the FY20-21 Budget at the regular scheduled August 3, 2020 Council meeting. The meeting will be held via Zoom and in the City Hall Council Chamber located at 65 Lawrenceville Street, Norcross, Georgia.

CITY OF NORCROSS FIVE YEAR TAX LEVY AND M&O HISTORY

NOTICE The City of Norcross does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at via Zoom https://zoom.

The City of Norcross on does hereby 03, announce the millage rate will be settoatthe a meeting to be us/j/98877350289 August 2020 that at 6:30pm and pursuant requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 does hereby publish heldfollowing at the 65 Lawrenceville Norcross, on August 03, 2020and at 6:30pm and pursuant to the requirements the presentationStreet of the currentGAyear’s tax digest levy, along with the history of the of taxO.C.G.A. digest Section and levy for the past five 48-5-32 does hereby the hearing following presentation the current year's tax digest and levy, along@ with the history of the tax years.

There will bepublish a public on July 20,of2020 @ 6:30pm and August 3, 2020 11am. digest and levy for the past five years. There will be a public hearing on July 20, 2020 @ 6:30pm and August 3, 2020 @ 11am.

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

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

734,248,930

810,549,200

849,452,910

915,927,101

1,019,440,469

Motor Vehicles

13,918,390

9,929,980

7,496,520

6,138,140

5,063,720

Mobile Homes

3,240

3,240

3,000

2,880

2,880

40,580,160

42,530,680

46,306,440

46,699,800

46,699,800

Utility Timber - 100% Heavy Duty Equipment Gross Digest

28,000

31,650

5,153

29,960

109,700

788,778,720

863,044,750

903,264,023

968,797,881

1,071,316,569

Less M& O Exemptions

27,930,680

27,259,723

57,279,180

72,171,960

48,752,314

Net M & O Digest State Forest Land Assistance Grant Value

760,848,040

835,785,027

845,984,843

896,625,921

1,022,564,255

Adjusted Net M&O Digest

760,848,040

835,785,027

845,984,843

896,625,921

1,022,564,255

5.749

5.749

5.749

6.749

6.749

Net M&O Millage

5.749

5.749

5.749

6.749

6.749

Net Taxes Levied

Gross M&O Millage Less Rollbacks

$4,374,115.38

$4,804,928.12

$4,863,566.86

$6,051,328.34

$6,901,286.16

$ Increase (Decrease)

783,271.70

430,812.74

58,638.74

1,187,761.48

849,957.82

% Increase/Decrease

21.81%

9.85%

1.22%

24.42%

14.05%

A4 ♦ Wednesday, July 22, 2020 ♦ gWinnettdailypost.com COLUMNIST I KEITH ROACH

WEATHER WATCH

Is ‘really low’ urine pH a health hazard?

TODAY

91 72

D

EAR DR. ROACH: I have a friend who’s 28 with “really low” urine pH (I don’t know how low).

Apparently, it is due to constant dehydration and drinking coffee all day long, to the point that the doctor recommended that Roach he drink lots of water with lemon (perhaps just to prevent dehydration and nothing else.)

That sounds counterintuitive to me. I recall you mentioning before that the body maintains a fairly constant pH. Does that also apply to urine? Could you please comment on urine pH, its spontaneous changes, causes and potential issues that acidic urine may cause in otherwise healthy males?

— K.S. ANSWER: The body maintains a very constant pH of the blood at a slightly alkaline 7.4 (7 is neutral; below 7 is acidic, above 7 is alkaline). Even a few tenths of a point higher or lower and the body is in severe trouble, as enzymes stop working properly.

The primary method the body uses to regulate blood pH is by increasing or decreasing carbonic acid loss through breathing out more or less carbon dioxide, but the kidneys play their part by adjusting urine pH. Most North Americans consume a diet high in meat, which requires the kidney to excrete acid, but the urine pH cannot get much below 4.5 due to limitations of the kidney.

It is counterintuitive that consuming lemon juice, which is a quite strong acid (with a pH between 2 and 3), will cause the urine to become less acidic. This is because citric acid (which makes lemons “tart,” i.e., acidic) is metabolized to bicarbonate, which is alkaline and excreted in the urine. Nephrologists use this effect therapeutically in people with calcium oxalate stones.

If your friend has normal kidneys, a change in diet away from meat and with more plants will make the urine pH less acidic.

That said, there is a host of unusual causes of urine pH changes. The ones making the urine pH acidic are quite uncommon, and they include Cushing’s syndrome (excess cortisone) and excess licorice ingestion. Yes, really.

Licorice contains glycyrrhizic acid, which acts like a hormone on the kidney to affect urine pH. Coffee has no consistent effect on urine pH, but dehydration can make urine more acidic. Because of the body’s immense capacity to maintain blood pH, however, it is unlikely your friend will develop medical issues due to low urine pH. DEAR DR. ROACH: Do chromium or biotin have a role in treating Type 2 diabetes?

— N.F.E. ANSWER: There was a great deal of enthusiasm for chromium picolinate a few years ago, and there is still evidence that the combination of chromium and biotin may decrease insulin resistance in people with Type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have suggested that these may improve glucose control, although the improvement was small, about 5% in a two-hour glucose tolerance test.

By themselves, they are not likely to dramatically improve control in people with Type 2 diabetes, particularly if they are not well controlled. However, it may be enough to tip the balance in some people. I am not yet ready to recommend it generally, despite a good safety profile.

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

50%

60%

60%

40%

30%

20%

91 72

92 72

30%

91 71

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

MAJOR 3:12-5:12 a.m. ............3:40-5:40 p.m.

MINOR 8:34-9:34 a.m......... 10:35-11:35 p.m.

POLLEN COUNTS

trees: low Weeds: low grass: moderate

LOTTERY

92 72

92 72

91 71

LAKE LEVELS

SOLUNAR TABLES the gwinnett daily post (upsp 921-980, issn 1086-0096) is published Wednesday, Friday and sunday by scni, 725 old norcross Road, lawrenceville, ga 30045. periodical postage paid at lawrenceville, ga 30044. postmasteR: send address changes to gwinnett daily post, p.o. Box 603, lawrenceville, ga 30046-0603.

HOROSCOPES

Lake Full Yesterday allatoona ............(840.0) .... 840.57 Blackshear ......... (237.0) .....237.04 Blue Ridge........(1690.0) .. 1685.70 Burton..............(1865.0) ...1865.01 carters.............(1072.0) ...1073.92 chatuge ........... (1927.0) ...1924.77 Harding .............. (521.0) .... 520.72 Hartwell .............(660.0) .... 660.39 Jackson..............(530.0) .... 528.66

Lake Full Yesterday lanier............... (1071.0) ... 1071.21 nottely..............(1779.0) .. 1775.04 oconee ..............(435.0) .... 434.60 seminole...............(77.5) .......76.65 sinclair ...............(339.8) .... 338.70 thurmond ..........(330.0) .... 330.09 tugalo ................ (891.5) .....889.17 Walter F. george.(188.0) .... 189.03 West point..........(635.0) .... 635.45

TODAY IN HISTORY

Tuesday cash 3 midday: 9-8-7 cash 4 midday: 3-7-6-8 ga. 5 midday: 3-9-9-4-3

TODAY’S HISTORY: in 1587, 115 english colonists arrived at Roanoke island, near the coast of present-day north carolina, to reestablish an earlier, deserted colony. in 1934, FBi agents shot and killed notorious bank robber John dillinger as he attempted to escape arrest outside a chicago movie theater. in 2003, american forces attacked a compound in mosul, iraq, killing saddam Hussein’s sons uday and Qusay. in 2004, the 9/11 commission issued its final report, stating that the u.s. government had not been fully prepared for a terrorist attack.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: emma lazarus (1849-1887), poet; edward Hopper (1882-1967), artist; oscar de la Renta (1932-2014), fashion designer;

Monday cash 3 midday: 4-6-2 cash 3 evening: 3-5-6 cash 3 night: 1-5-4 cash 4 midday: 9-6-8-9 cash 4 evening: 1-5-4-4 cash 4 night: 8-0-2-6 ga. 5 midday: 2-8-6-9-5 ga. 5 evening: 5-9-6-0-6 Fantasy 5: 4-5-15-18-24 cash 4 life: 24-33-39-40-46, cash Ball: 4

terence stamp (1938- ), actor; alex trebek (1940- ), tV personality; george clinton (1941- ), musician; Ron turcotte (1941- ), race horse jockey; danny glover (1946- ), actor; albert Brooks (1947- ), actor/screenwriter; don Henley (1947- ), singer-songwriter; Willem dafoe (1955- ), actor; Rufus Wainwright (1973- ), singersongwriter; selena gomez (1992- ), actress; prince george of cambridge (2013- ).

TODAY’S FACT: the fates of the second Roanoke colony and Virginia dare, the first english child born in the americas in 1587, remain undetermined.

TODAY’S SPORTS: in 1996, naim suleymanoglu of turkey, known worldwide as “pocket Hercules,” became the first weight lifter in olympic history to win three gold medals.

READER’S GUIDE

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1327.

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com between 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Wednesday through Friday and between 8 a.m. and noon sunday. if your paper delivery is missed, we no longer redeliver on each delivery day. We only redeliver on sunday. all other delivery days that are missed, we will have this paper delivered with the next day paper delivery at the request of the customer.

Honored as a newspaper of General Excellence

2018

COLUMNIST|AMY DICKINSON

Daughter is caught in Dad’s needy net

D

EAR AMY: I am a 30-something daughter of divorced parents with two younger siblings. Our parents divorced 25 years ago.

Neither of my parents has healthy coping skills, but my father has really gotten extreme with his co-dependencies. He has always needed his children to constantly shower him with love and attention, specifically by spending tons of time at his house and prioritizing him over other family.

Of course he is particularly sensitive to any infringing time spent with my mother, since he was the better parent (mostly true).

Holidays have always been a nightmare for me, as I am the one corralling my siblings and accommodating his feelings the best I can.

However, now that I have children (and we are in the middle of a pandemic), this baggage is too much for me to bear.

He had another one of his self-pitying meltdowns on Father’s Day because we did not plan on “stopping by,” despite having exposed ourselves and all of his friends and family at his house the previous weekend for his 60th birthday party.

I’m at my breaking point.

His complete lack of empathy for anyone else makes it difficult to even enjoy his company.

I know he has a lot of issues (with his own mother, alcoholism, the divorce), and I want to be compassionDickinson ate, but at this point I feel as though I’m just enabling him.

When I try to talk to him about how torn I am all the time, he either blames my mother or becomes completely selfpitying.

I’ve tried emotionally distancing myself and stopping the accommodations. But if he’s upset, I’m upset.

Should I approach him about coming to therapy with me?

Cut off ties unless he completes a 12-step program?

I love him, but I don’t “like” him, anymore.

— Mad at Sad Dad DEAR MAD: You recognize this dynamic as a codependency — and you are right!

Your father raised you in a way to guarantee that you would always meet his emotional needs. He didn’t need to heal from the divorce (25 years ago!), and didn’t need to deal with his drinking or other relationship problems because he always had someone (you) to relieve his loneliness and anxiety, and then someone to blame (you) when his loneliness and anxiety surfaced again.

You have (other) children

now, and so — at 60 — it’s time for dad to grow up.

You could suggest joint counseling for the two of you, but my instinct is that he needs to take responsibility for his own life and his own emotional needs.

When you allow him to manipulate you, you help to keep him in his needy state (that’s the “co” of codependency).

He doesn’t need to change, because you are carrying the burden for him.

I suggest counseling for you, and this book: “Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself,” by Melody Beattie (1986, Hazeldon).

DEAR AMY: You suggested that a person who didn’t want to spend time with family members should say: “I just don’t want to do that right now,” when pressured to attend family events.

What is the appropriate response to: “But why?”

This is where I get stuck.

—D DEAR D: You could answer, honestly, “I’m trying to take better care of myself, and I haven’t enjoyed these gatherings, so I’m going to stay home for a while.”

DEAR AMY: “Confused in Kansas” was a liberal who was worried that flying the American flag would be misconstrued as a politically conservative gesture.

I loved your answer.

Thirty-two years ago, my husband and I had a disagreement about displaying the flag on Memorial Day. We had just moved into our home (whose previous owner had left a large flag and had installed a holder). I asked my taller husband to put out the flag as he wouldn’t require a stepladder.

He objected because he didn’t want our new neighbors to think we were rightwingers.

My argument was that both our fathers had fought in World War II and we were honoring their service and that I as an American citizen felt the flag represented all of us.

Further, I said that we were demeaning the flag if we allowed its message to be co-opted by one group who wrapped themselves in it. And that the pledge of allegiance that we had recited every day in our childhood meant something!

The flag went up that day, and I didn’t have to get out the stepladder.

— Proud American DEAR PROUD: Well done.

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.

When opportunity knocks, open the door. it’s up to you to accept an offer and to give your all. an energetic approach to life, love and happiness will help you initiate the changes you want to make. intelligence and passion will lead to a better future. embrace change.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — don’t sit back when you should be moving forward. making a career change or learning something that will help you grow intellectually, spiritually or emotionally will contribute to your success.

LEO (July 23-aug. 22) — Refuse to let an emotional incident spin out of control. you have plenty to gain if you put your energy and resources to work for you. a physical change will boost confidence.

VIRGO (aug. 23-sept. 22) — Walk away from temptation. someone will pass along false information. concentrate on expanding your knowledge and interests. don’t give in to narrow-minded people. truth matters, and fairness is essential.

LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) — accept an invitation that intrigues you. gather information that will help you convince others to participate in your plan. Romance is favored.

SCORPIO (oct. 24-nov.

22) — Work will curtail your free time, but the results will be worthwhile. What you learn today will help you set higher goals and standards.

SAGITTARIUS (nov. 23dec. 21) — expand your mind and unravel emotional misunderstandings that have stood between you and what you desire. clear a space at home that is conducive to learning. a creative outlet is encouraged.

CAPRICORN (dec. 22Jan. 19) — enforce positive domestic changes that will add to your comfort and improve compatibility with a loved one. search for information that will enlighten you and change your way of thinking.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — stick to the people and pastimes that bring out the best in you. a creative outlet will help you hone your skills and lead to a moneymaking venture. Romance is favored.

PISCES (Feb. 20-march 20) — monitor what’s going on around you. sharing too much personal information will leave you in a precarious position with someone who isn’t trustworthy. Focus on health, emotional healing and creative endeavors.

ARIES (march 21-april 19) — take action, aim to get things done, say less and do more. avoid arguments and people who don’t share your opinions or interests. Fitness will promote a healthy attitude.

TAURUS (april 20-may 20) — an emotional situation will cause uncertainty.

When in doubt, ask questions and be reluctant to make a hasty move. look at every possibility, be fair and don’t fold under pressure.

GEMINI (may 21-June 20) — Home will be your safe place. putter around and make things comfy and conducive to doing the hobbies you enjoy most. personal gain is within reach.

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gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, July 22, 2020 ♦ A5

PERSPECTIVES

Gwinnett Daily Post www.gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline,

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

COLUMNIST|DAVID CARROLL

Where are your salad bowels?

T

he hits just keep on coming. EvThen there’s the Facebook guy who deery time I wrote a column about mands the President “protect our boardmisspelled words, the floodgates ers!” He did not specify the exact danopen. You don’t have to look far on so- gers his boarders are facing, nor did he cial media, or on store signs, to see how reveal the amount of rent they pay. He spellcheck is failing America. So sit for a did get advice from a friend who didn’t spell, and lower your expectations. seem very optimistic. He replied simply, Two signs in well-known retail “Don’t hold your breathe.” establishments are among the We still struggle with many bafnominees for the Bad Spelling fling sound-alike words: coarse and Punctuation Hall of Fame. and course, whether and weather A restaurant has a sign on the (“I can’t tell weather he’s lyin’ or door informing us that “Due to not”), and polls vs. poles (“They high demand, we are out of salad keep saying he’s losing in the bowels.” We all know, bowels can poles, but nobody has ever poled indeed be demanding at times. me!”)

Carroll Another sign, in a department Medical words have too many store that sells groceries, advertises letters, and they’re easy to mis“Banana’s 29 cents by the each.” Any way spell and mispronounce. That guy who you look at that one, it is off-target. (By tries to ease your back pain? Many of the way, the store wasn’t “WalMark.”) us call him a “choir-practor.” Maybe A Facebook argument ended with one he sings, backed up by other vocalists combatant attacking another: “You are while he manipulates your spine.

Miss Informed.” I wonder if she knows I always sympathize when I read Miss Leading and Miss Understood. about anyone who is suffering from Another Facebook battle caused a man “newmonia.” No matter how you spell to warn his foe, “You better get your it, I feel your pain. ducks in a roll.” When it comes to spellI do however, smile a bit when someing, this gentleman is no roll model. Nor one tells me they used the free “ballet is he a row model, which surely has to parking” at the wedding reception. I just do with boating. hope the attendants weren’t too embarWhile you’re out on the water, be sure rassed when they donned their tutus. to look for candy. I know this because I We are justifiably proud of our military saw a supermarket sign directing shop- personnel, but try not to post that your pers to a sale on the “Candy Isle.” Any uncle is a veteran of “Dessert Storm.” spillage could create quite a mess, call- That is actually an accurate descriping for a cleanup on Isle 7. Bring a mop. tion of me at Baskin-Robbins. That, That reminds me of the Facebook lady my friend, is a dessert storm. who was tired after a full day of houseI do have one nominee for the “Autowork: “It seems like I’ve been moping Correct Fail of the Year.” Somehow, a all day.” My heart is with you. I’d be friend’s wayward fingers hit the wrong moping too. key while attempting to type the word, I did see an interstate highway sign “sweet.” Inexplicably, his so-called smart warning motorists, “Do not cross the me- phone turned it into “sewer.” The resultdium.” Technically that is incorrect, but ing sentence, “She’s such a sewer girl,” in all fairness, I understood completely. certainly changed the intended meaning.

Speaking of highways, here is a FaceFinally, since this is a family newspabook post written by a man who felt he per, I will be careful here. If you are trywas unfairly ticketed for a traffic incident: ing to say, “We need to assess the dam“It was not my fault. I had the right away.” age,” don’t leave out the last “s” in the Occasionally, we must comment on the word “assess.” I will leave that one for famous people who appear on our Face- you to assess. book feeds. One actress was all over the I fully expect to write a sequel coltabloids due to a drastic weight loss. A umn, since you all are kind enough to commenter took note of the thin celeb- send these Facebook flubs and texting rity, commenting, “She’s not just skin- foul-ups on a regular basis. Still, as Yogi ny, she looks plum emancipated to me.” Berra once said, I don’t make predicPolitical commentary is also a frequent tions. Especially if it’s about the future. sight on social media. I have seen several references to President Trump as our David Carroll, a Chattanooga news “commander and chief.” History students anchor, is the author of “Volunteer know the correct term is “Commander Bama Dawg,” available on his website, in Chief.” Not to be confused with Chief ChattanoogaRadioTV.com. You may contact Cook and Bottle Washer, a title I have him at radiotv2020@yahoo.com, or 900 long sought to achieve.

Whitehall Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405.

COLUMNIST|TOM PURCELL

Perpetual anger no help amid pandemic

G

ood grief: Apparently, America has latest best estimates show that COVID-19 yet to move past the anger phase is around 50 to 100 times more lethal regarding COVID-19. than the seasonal flu, on average.”

In 1969, you see, Elisabeth KüblerOn the other end of the spectrum are Ross described five stages of grief: de- those who’ve way too willingly “accepted” nial, anger, bargaining, depression and every restriction placed on our freedoms acceptance. by bumbling political leaders who seem According to Fast Company, research- to enjoy their absolute power a little bit ers from Singapore, China, Australia and too absolutely.

Switzerland analyzed more than 20 milThe truth, as always, is somewhere in lion Twitter posts from 7 million between these extremes, but we users in 170 countries to gauge aren’t having much luck locatpeople’s state of mind regarding ing it. In the midst of a presidenthe coronavirus. tial campaign, misinformation Using keywords such as “Wuand finger-pointing are making han” and “corona,” they found the situation worse, not better – “sky-high levels of fear” worldand we continue not rising to this wide as COVID-19 emerged beunique challenge. cause “people were fearful of the I’m grumpy, because I feel like Purcell virus and shortages of testing and I’m stuck in the middle of this chaos. masks.”

I usually mind my own business in Then came anger: “first xenophobia, public, but I found myself agitated by a and then outrage around isolation and young man at a store who made zero efstay-at-home ordinances, the expres- fort to wear a mask. I’ve read the debates sion of which frequently involved col- about such masks’ effectiveness, but I orful cursing.” wear one because it’s a small sacrifice Months later, as much of the world to make in an unusual time. returns to some semblance of normal, If that young guy gets COVID-19, he’s America remains stuck in the anger phase. unlikely to suffer lasting damage. But Why? what if he gives it to an elderly customBecause, it seems to me, news reports er who is? remind us daily that we should remain Likewise, I’m agitated by tattletales in a high state of terror as the virus con- calling government hotlines, eagerly retinues its spread; because some govern- porting people and establishments who ment leaders keep arbitrarily changing aren’t following restrictions to a “T” – COVID-19 rules, requirements and re- just as I am by people in such establishstrictions; and because millions of live- ments, such as pubs, making zero effort lihoods have been decimated and it’s to distance and not spread the disease. anybody’s guess how this is going to play Come on, America! We can do better out for their future. than this.

I place myself in the “grumpy” phase Surely, we can protect those most at because my country continues not re- risk, even as we reopen an economy that sponding well to the situation. cannot sustain continuous, massive disRather than unite to defeat this com- ruption for much longer. Surely, we can mon challenge, we are more divided agree on a nuanced, sensible risk-minithan ever. mal approach that balances risk against Some of us are still in the denial stage. economic disaster.

Cocky, self-anointed experts pontificated If we can’t figure out a basic, effective well before useful data came in that the path forward, God help us in navigating novel coronavirus is not much different larger challenges headed our way. than the regular flu, which impacts the Good grief! old and weak every year, and that shutting down our economy to contain it Tom Purcell is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review was insane. humor columnist. Send comments to Tom at But as National Geographic reports, “the Tom@TomPurcell.com.

GUEST COLUMNIST|DAVID EISNER

Georgia’s historic and scenic public lands need a ‘yes’ vote on the Great American Outdoors Act

I

n this divisive political climate, there is at least one thing we can all agree on — America’s national parks and publics lands are worth fighting for today and future generations.

From Georgia’s gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Cumberland Island National Seashore to the priceless history present at Martin Luther King National Historic Site, and the Ocmulgee prehistoric American Indian site, our parks are an integral part of the Peach State’s economy and unique flair.

This week, the United States House of Representatives has a historic opportunity to provide long term security.

The Great American Outdoors Act would use federal energy royalties to protect public lands in Georgia and beyond. The bill would help generate 100,000 infrastructure-related jobs to address

repair needs on public lands across the country. This is one of our best opportunities in half a century to ensure our parks get desperately needed funding and to kickstart our economy. The time to act is now.

During these difficult times, Americans across the land are unemployed. The Great American Outdoors Act would provide thousands of jobs to local communities hit hard by the events of 2020, helping folks get back on their feet while fixing our parks.

It should come as no surprise that America’s national parks are in disrepair. For years, the National Park Service has faced record numbers of visitors, all the while grappling with staff shortages and a shoestring budget. As park managers work tirelessly to provide visitors with the best possible experience, the Park System maintenance

backlog has reached about the pivotal role a staggering $11.9 bilthe Civil War played lion in deferred costs. in our state’s history.

That’s $11.9 billion Our public lands are needed to repair dama vital part of Georaged park roads, trails, gia’s recreation econvisitor facilities, restomy; in 2018, visitors rooms and other critito Cumberland Island cal infrastructure. That National Seashore, Fort David Eisner number also represents Pulaski and Fort Fedthe thousands of shoverica National Monuel-ready projects waiting for ments spent more than $40.5 congressional action to start million. producing jobs.

A spring camping trip to In Georgia, our national Cumberland Island, with flowparks face a backlog of more ers blooming and newborn than $240 million in critical- animals, is one of my most ly needed repairs, including memorable experiences. For nearly $14 million for repairs me, the park represented a at the Chattahoochee River unique opportunity to exNational Recreation Area, amine marine biology and where millions of people come coastal ecology. from all over the South to But increasingly visitors hike, boat, and fish with their are facing closed trailheads, families. Another $15 million locked buildings and permais needed to fix Chickamau- nently out-of-order restrooms ga & Chattanooga National at our national parks. Our Military Park, where Geor- crumbling park infrastrucgia families come to learn ture does a disservice to the

visitors who come from all over to visit our parks and our park staff who have made these places their life’s work.

Something has to change, and fast.

Our elected officials can make that change. The Great American Outdoors Act, a bipartisan bill to fix America’s parks, is likely to come up for a vote in the House this week. It is vital that the Georgia delegation — particularly my representative, Jody Hice — understand this bill is a priority for the Peach State’s recreation and tourism economy, as well as park visitors.

The Great American Outdoors Act provides dedicated funding – up to $6.5 billion over five years – to fix infrastructure in our parks. This bill would also protect precious natural and cultural resources, barring irresponsible development within park boundaries.

Through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, this bill would help build and protect playgrounds, ballparks, and trails throughout Georgia and beyond.

For years, organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association, park lovers, sportsmen, trail advocates, and local elected officials and businesses have urged Congress to invest in our national parks and public lands. This is a unique opportunity for bipartisan commitment to our great outdoors. Will Congress rise to the occasion? Our parks and public lands can’t wait.

David Eisner is a retired anesthesiologist and professor emeritus of University of Georgia who lives in Hoschton. He is also a member of the National Parks Conservation Association Southeast Regional Council.

A6 ♦ Wednesday, July 22, 2020 ♦ gWinnettdailypost.com CLOSE TO HOME

John McPherson

FAMILY CIRCUS

Bill Keane

Today’s Solution

BEETLE BAILEY Mort & Greg Walker

BLONDIE Dean Young & John Marshall

DILBERT®

Scott Adams

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE Chris Browne

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POOCH CAFE Paul Gilligan

Charles M. Schulz

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: Facebook

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, July 22, 2020 ♦ A9

Commissioners weighing options for millage rate

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@ gwinnettdailypost.com

While the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic has been wreaking havoc on the economy, Gwinnett County commissioners got some good news Tuesday.

The county’s tax digest is doing better than officials had projected last August, when they compiled revenue estimates for this year’s budget, according to county finance officials. The latest figures show the net tax digest is expected to be about $35.15

billion, which is up from the $34.38 billion net digest projection used in August 2019 to determine how much money would be available to fund the county’s 2020 budget.

“If you compare the two (last August’s projection and the current number), adjusting our forecast to what we’re seeing today, and we’re factoring in all of the estimated appeals, our net digest increases by about twoand-a-quarter percent from where we were back in August last year,” Gwinnett County Chief Financial Officer Maria Woods said.

“That’s of course good for a couple of reasons. One, that’s not too large of a variance, or a large dollar amount, so that’s a pretty good forecast that we had, that we were using. And, of course, the increase in the digest means there’s more tax revenue than we planned on.”

That news on the tax digest will help Gwinnett County commissioners as they decide what millage rate should be levied on property owners this fall.

The commissioners are expected to decide, during the week of Aug. 18, what

rate the county will use to levy property taxes that will fund government services.

In addition to tax digest information included in a presentation on Tuesday, commissioners heard information about how much money would be generated if they kept the county government’s millage rate at its present level of 7.209 mills.

“What we want to do now is take our new forecasted digest and plug it back into the formula that we used back at the beginning (to project revenues needed to balance the county’s budget),” Woods

said. “When we do that, we come up with $237.2 million in property taxes.”

That means county officials are anticipating $5.2 million more in property tax revenues than they projected nearly a year ago when they created a basis for the 2020 budget.

“That reduces the amount of reserves that we have to use” to balance the county’s budget, Woods said.

When the 2020 budget was adopted in January, county officials had anticipating needing to use $42 million in reserve funds to

balance the budget.

That does not necessarily mean commissioners are looking at keeping the same millage rate from last year, however. Tuesday’s presentation was just an information session, and commissioners will use that information to ultimately decide what they will set the county’s millage rate at.

The county government and school system set separate millage rates that appear on property tax bills.

The county’s property tax revenues do not go to the school system and vice versa.

Police: Burned body found near Gwinnett Place area a homicide

By Curt Yeomans

Police have arrested, from left, Gerson Survy, Saturnino curt.yeomans@ Lopez Cardona and Wilmer Mendez and charged them with gwinnettdailypost.com felony murder and aggravated assault in connection with the Gwinnett County police death of Lucas Andres Cruz Guzman. said a burned body which

Police charge suspects in murder at apartment complex near Duluth

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Police have arrested three suspects and charged them with murder in a stabbing death that occurred at an apartment complex in unincorporated Duluth Sunday morning.

Lucas Andres Cruz Guzman, 20, was found dead outside a building at the Paramont Apartments complex located at 4201 Pleasant Lake Village Lane just before 5:30 a.m.

Guzman lived at the complex, police said.

Duluth residents Gerson Survy, 24, Saturnino Lopez Cardona, 30, and Wilmer Mendez, 21 have each been charged with felony murder and aggravated assault.

Jail records show the suspects lived at the apartment complex.

“A Good Samaritan saw the male on their way to work and stopped to render aid,” police said. “They called 911 and officers arrived a short time later. They located the man and noticed he sustained a traumatic injury to the

torso. It is unknown what caused the injury.”

Guzman had been at a party when he got into an altercation with the suspects, who have not yet been identified.

It is not clear if he knew the suspects before the altercation occurred.

“The altercation continued outside the apartment where the victim was ultimately stabbed multiple times by the suspects,” police said.

“The suspects were identified and transported to police headquarters for interviews.

The three suspects were subsequently charged with the murder of Guzman.”

Anyone who has information about the victim’s identity or what happened to him is asked to call detectives at 770-513-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 404-5778477. They can also visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.

Crime Stoppers allows tipsters to remain anonymous and offers a cash reward to anyone whose information leads to an arrest and indictment. Tipsters are asked to reference case No. 20-053249.

was found in unincorporated Duluth was also shot, prompting investigators to classify it as a homicide case.

Cpl. Collin Flynn said a man found the body on a wooded trail near the intersection of Satellite boulevard and West Liddell Road and called police at about 11:30 a.m. on Monday. The intersection is just south of Gwinnett Place Mall, and just outside the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District limits.

Police have not yet identified the victim.

“The identity of the deceased person will be with-

photo: gwinnett county police department

Gwinnett police said on Monday that the body was found near the intersection of Satellite boulevard and West Liddell Road, which is just south of Gwinnett Place Mall. held until the next of kin is notified,” Flynn said.

Anyone who has information about the case is asked to call detectives at 770-5135300 or Crime Stoppers at

404-577-8477. They can also visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.

Crime Stoppers allows tipsters to remain anonymous and there is a cash reward for information that leads

Police looking for suspect in fatal shooting on Interstate 85

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com

Gwinnett police are looking for a person who shot the driver of a vehicle as it was getting off Interstate 85 south at Indian Trail Lilburn Road early Sunday morning.

The incident happened shortly after 12:30 a.m. when the driver of a silver passenger vehicle allegedly fired one

shot into another car driven by 31-yearold Steven Vallejo of Norcross, police said. Vallejo was hit by the bullet. He was taken to a local hospital but died from his injury.

Police do not know why the shooting occurred and the only description of the alleged shooter that they have released so far is that it was a Black male.

Anyone who has information on

the case is asked to call detectives at 770-513-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. They can also visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters allows tipsters to remain anonymous and they can be eligible for a cash reward if the information they provide leads to an arrest and indictment.

Tipsters are asked to reference case No. 20-053218.

Lawrenceville City Council wants Confederate monument removed from courthouse grounds

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Lawrenceville’s mayor and city council have said the Confederate monument currently located on the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse grounds can be in someplace photo: FoX 5 atlanta like a museum, but they no This image from FOX 5 Atlanta shows a Gwinnett County longer want it on the Lawpolice car with significant damage at the scene of a multi- renceville Square. vehicle car crash on Interstate 85 in April 2019. On Tuesday, In a jointly signed letter to the Daily Post, Mayor David Still and Council members Bob Clark, Keith Roche, Victoria Jones and Glenn From A1 Martin, as well as City Manager Chuck Warbington, and its employees arising out of this incident. The settlement called for the monument to of this claim will also bring this matter to a prompt conclu- removed from the historic sion without the need for any litigation between the parties.” courthouse property, which A copy of an internal police department investigation that is a county Parks and Recthe Daily Post obtained a copy of last year showed the inci- reation site in the heart of dent prompted Ramsey’s demotion from master police of- the city’s downtown district. ficer to police officer senior.

The letter ran as a letter to Ramsey, who had been with the department for about 23 the editor in Sunday’s ediyears at the time of the accident, rear-ended a Kia Sorrento tion of the Daily Post. that Wood was driving on the afternoon of April 1, 2019. A “The Lawrenceville Square total of about four vehicles ultimately ended up being in- serves as a place of promivolved in the accident. nence within our communiAfter Ramsey’s patrol car hit Wood’s car, her Sorrento hit ty,” the city’s leaders said in another vehicle and a median wall. The patrol car stopped their letter. “It is a place for on an incline and then rolled backward into the front end public gatherings, celebraof a truck. tions, events and entertainThe internal investigation showed Ramsey had been driv- ment for all people. ing about 68 mph before hitting Wood’s car and the officer “With this in mind and afreportedly was not wearing his seat beat and did not attempt ter careful thought and conto use his brakes before hitting the Sorrento. sideration, the LawrencevInvestigators found Ramsey had multiple browser win- ille City Council strongly dows open to YouTube and other video sharing websites, requests that this memorial and had searched for Grand Theft Auto videos before get- be immediately relocated to ting on the interstate. a more appropriate place for Ramsey told investigators he had tried to minimize the remembrance and education, YouTube window and then had trouble with a contact lens such as a historic cemetery before he looked up and hit Wood’s car. or museum.”

SETTLEMENT

to an arrest and indictment in the case.

Tipsters are asked to reference case No. 20-053547.

Return to gwinnettdailypost. com for updates.

File photo

A 1993 monument devoted to Gwinnett residents who fought for the Confederate States of America can be seen at the Gwinnett County Historic Courthouse in this file photo. Lawrenceville leaders called for the monument to be moved to a museum or historic cemetery in a letter to the Daily Post.

The Confederate monument has been a local topic for debate within the larger debate over Confederate symbols and whether they should remain in place amid protests over the treatment of African-Americans.

Recent calls for removing the monument were started

by Gwinnett County Commission District 1 candidate Kirkland Carden and former 7th Congressional District candidate Nabilah Islam last month.

Since then, support has grown and no includes state legislators, District Attorney Danny Porter, Solicitor General Brian Whiteside, school board member Everton Blair, soon-to-be school board member-elect Tarece Johnson and Gwinnett Historic Restoration and Preser-

vation Board member Marlene Crawford-Taylor and chairman Aaron Ragans.

In their letter, Lawrenceville’s leaders cited the city’s upcoming bicentennial in 2021 in their reasoning for making the request of county leaders, calling it a “unique opportunity for reflection.”

They also called Confederate symbols a reminder or “a time of enslavement, oppression and division” in U.S. history.

“This request is not an attempt to remove or rewrite history,” Lawrenceville’s leaders said. “It is rather an intentional effort to preserve the dignity of those memorialized in a setting that allows for healthy discourse and contemplation.

“As the county seat of one of the largest counties in the

South, we are committed to leading our community by ensuring our words and actions symbolize unity and equality for all.”

Carden welcomed news of the City Council’s stance on the monument, and said it puts additional pressure on county commissioners to act. The lack of a public response from the commission as a whole on the monument and calls for its removal has been “deafening and disappointing,” he said.

“It’s heartening to see the Lawrenceville City Council has listened to their citizens, and the citizens of Gwinnett, and ‘strongly requests that this memorial be immediately relocated,’ “ Carden said. “Their letter, along with the success of our petition and the recent peaceful protest, makes it clear the Gwinnett Commission can no longer ignore this issue.”

County commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash and Commissioner Jace Brooks said they could not comment on the calls for removal of the monument because of pending litigation filed by Brian Whiteside concerning the issue. The prosecutor is asking a judge to declare the monument, which has been the target of vandals this summer, a public nuisance and order its removal to another site, such as the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center.

A10 ♦ WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020 ♦ GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020

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PAGE A11 ♦ WEdnEsdAy, July 22, 2020

north’s Hancock joins loaded Ohio state

By Will Hammock

will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Mill Creek grad Elijah Bryant goes to the basket in a Maccabi Tel Aviv game.

HOOPInG ABROAd

By Will Hammock

will.hammock @gwinnettdailypost.com

NBA basketball players in the “bubble” are getting a taste of what Elijah Bryant has done for the past month.

The former Mill Creek standout plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League, which resumed games in June following a COVID-19 delay that began in March. He has been sequestered in an apartment except for trips to and from the gym.

Coronavirus cases in Israel have spiked over the 1,500 mark per day, worse than when Bryant returned in June (the first week in June had 140 or fewer cases per day), but the basketball league has continued.

“We are blessed to have a job to play the game we love,” Bryant said. “We also have to think about our mental health and the safety of everyone playing the game.”

The coronavirus disruption initially impacted the Maccabi Tel Aviv season in March when the NBA saw its season halted. On the day Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s positive COVID-19 test became public, Bryant and his teammates were scheduled to play Saski Baskonia of Spain in a game with no fans. That game was called off, the Israeli league postponed the season and Bryant flew back to the U.S. on March 26.

He stayed in shape with swims and workouts with his mother, Israel, who is training to be a pilates teacher. He shot on an outside basketball goal to stay sharp on the court. After the time in Georgia, he moved to Utah with his wife Jenelle to prepare for the birth of their first child — due in the next couple of weeks — and spent two weeks there before he was recalled to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“We are blessed to have a healthy baby and for my wife to be doing well,” Bryant said.

The 6-foot-5 guard’s pro basketball path looks promising, too. He has been on a steady rise since a growth spurt during his Mill Creek career that saw him grow from 5-8 as a sophomore to 5-11 as a junior to 6-5 as a senior.

After a post-graduate year at the New Hampton School in New Hampshire, he signed with Elon and was the Colonial Athletic Association’s Rookie of the Year after averaging 14.2 points, 4 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He transferred to BYU and averaged 11.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and

2.2 assists in a season shortened to 23 games by a knee issue, flashing his potential that season with a 39-point game against Portland.

He broke out with a huge junior season, averaging 18.1 points and 6.3 rebounds, and making 41.5 percent of his 3-pointers along with shooting 85 percent from the free throw line. He turned pro a year early, but was not selected in the NBA Draft. He showed well in the NBA Summer League with the Philadelphia 76ers, though he opted to sign a one-year deal with Hapoel Eilat, also in the Israeli Premier League.

He averaged 17.5 points for Hapoel Eilat in 2018-19, helped his team to the league’s Final Four and was a first-team All-Israeli League selection.

“I think the biggest thing I have learned in the pros is find what you are good at and try to master that,” Bryant said. “I am improving on my in-between game and also learning the little nuances about the game, like what is a good foul and bad foul in Europe basketball.”

He returned to the NBA Summer League in 2019 and created opportunities with stellar play for the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 14.2 points, 4 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Some NBA options opened up, though he chose a return to Israel with Maccabi Tel-Aviv, which also plays in the EuroLeague and offers high-level competition.

He signed him to a two-year contract that goes through

See ABROAD, A12

Mill Creek grad Bryant excels for Maccabi Tel Aviv

North Gwinnett cornerback Jordan Hancock joined the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class Sunday.

Hancock, a former Clemson commitment, chose Ohio State as his college football destination, and gave the Buckeyes’ loaded Class of 2021 another top prospect. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Hancock is rated as a four-star recruit in the 247Sports.com composite rankings, which have him as the No. 77 player nationally, the No. 6 cornerback nationally and the No. 9 Jordan player in Georgia.

Hancock “Ohio State was the first school to take a chance on me,” Hancock said. “Since they offered me and I had interest in them, they’ve alway been the school I’ve wanted to go to. … Everybody loves it because everyone knows where I’ve always wanted to go.”

The 2019 first-team all-county selection by the Daily Post and the Touchdown Club of Gwinnett selected an Ohio State program known for producing NFL defensive backs, including the Houston Texans’ Bradley Roby, a Peachtree Ridge grad.

He is projected as a slot corner for the Buckeyes.

“They put the most cornerbacks into the NFL,” Hancock said.

Hancock committed to Clemson — where his North teammate, highly touted linebacker Barrett Carter is committed — on March 11, but backed off that decision on July 14. He holds offers from nearly 50 of the nation’s top colleges, and Ohio State and Clemson emerged as the top two contenders.

His mother’s illness factored into his initial commitment to Clemson, but she is doing better now, and she finished radiation treatments in May. “I just wanted to stay close to home, but now I’m going to a school I wanted to go to all along,” Hancock said.

GHSA pushes start of football back two weeks From staff reports

Above, Mill Creek grad Elijah Bryant goes up for a shot in a Maccabi Tel Aviv game.

The Georgia High School Association voted unanimously Monday to move back the start of high school football season to Sept. 4, but to keep all 10 regular season games as well as five weeks of playoffs.

Regular season games were the only things moved back. Practice is still slated to start July 27 and practice in pads can begin Aug. 1.

Football games were to begin Aug. 21 before Monday’s decision. The new timetable would put state championship games on the week of Christmas, but according to published reports the GHSA is planning to push the title games back to Dec. 28-30.

The GHSA said all other sports will start on time. Softball games can begin Aug. 6, while cross country and volleyball competitions can begin Aug. 10.

The GHSA’s Board of Trustees decided the football issue Monday, initially voting 8-4 against maintaining the schedule with Aug. 21 as the start of games. A second vote to push the football calendar back two weeks followed and it was approved unanimously.

south halts football activities after positive COVId-19 test From staff reports South Gwinnett has shut down all football activities through July 27 because of a positive COVID-19 test from one of its players, Fox 5 Sports reported Monday.

South athletic and activities director Jeff Taylor confirmed the news.

“We definitely have one positive and one suspected and we felt comfortable making this decision to protect our kids,” Taylor told Fox 5.

Taylor said the player in question checked in without symptoms, but got sick later at home.

gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, July 22, 2020 ♦ A13

SPORTS

‘THE TOUGH QUESTIONS’ Francoeur discusses calling MLB games in COVID-19 times

By Jack Leo Staff Correspondent

As more and more parts of everyday life continue to be distorted by the COVID-19 pandemic, MLB baseball is the next thing to look different in 2020. Fox Sports South broadcaster and former Atlanta Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur is among those who will have an interesting view of the sport the next few months.

Francoeur, the former Parkview star who calls the Braves’ games with fellow analyst Tom Glavine and play-by-play announcer Chip Caray, will have to adjust to calling games with no fans and no travel permitted. This means the broadcasters will have to call Atlanta’s road games watching a live camera feed sent from the away teams’ stadium to the broadcasting booth at the Braves’ home in Truist Park.

Atlanta’s opener is Friday on the road against the New York Mets.

“I think the weird thing, honestly, is when the team is on the road when you’re at home calling the game off a monitor and the team is somewhere else playing. Even when the team is at home, you’re going to be watching them still,” Francoeur said. “So, at least you’re going to have eyes on them at home. You’re going to see the flight of the ball and you’re going to see what’s going on. When the team is on the road, you’re not go-

Fox sports south

Fox Sports South broadcasters Jeff Francoeur, left, and Chip Caray in the booth for an Atlanta Braves game. ing to get to see any of that, so I think it’ll be interesting to see how that goes.”

While it will certainly be tough for Francoeur as an analyst, he believes Caray

will be affected the most by having to watch the game on TV. “I think it’s going to make it a lot harder on Chip especially because he’s the one

IN BRIEF Buford’s Smith to play for Army The Army Black Knights football program landed a commitment Sunday from Jacob Smith, a rising senior offensive lineman at Buford.

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Smith was a Georgia Athletic Coaches Association all-state selection last season for the Wolves’ Class AAAAA state championship team. He also was a state placer for Buford’s wrestling team.

Georgia Tech picks up commitment from Sagar

Hunter is a prospect at catch- man, and did not see acer and first base. tion last year. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has been a more regular contributor Lewis chooses in track and field with the Louisiana Tech Tigers.

Thompson didn’t play Julien Lewis, a 2020 Bufootball as a sophomore or ford grad, committed Monjunior in high school to foday to the Louisiana Tech cus on track, but returned University football program.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, as a Central senior to catch a wide receiver and defen- 83 passes for 1,131 yards sive back, helped the Wolves and draw offers from Power to the Class AAAAA state Five schools. championship as a senior.

Abdullah, Parks He had 17 catches for 378 yards and five touchdowns. named to A-Sun

Parkview’s Patterson picks Ohio David Patterson, a rising senior at Parkview, has committed to the Ohio University football program.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end helped the Panthers to the state semifinals as a junior. He was a second-team, All-Region 7-AAAAAAA selection.

Sebastian Sagar, a rising senior linebacker at Grayson, committed Monday night to the Georgia Tech football program.

Sagar played his junior season at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. before transferring to Grayson.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder Fabiano to run is a three-star prospect by for Clemson 247Sports.com.

Sagar joins Dacula’s KaGwinnett runner Michael leb Edwards, and Grayson Fabiano has committed to teammates Noah Collins and seven-time ACC cross counJamal Haynes in Georgia try champion Clemson. He Tech’s Class of 2021. also will compete for the Tigers’ track and field team.

Florida Atlantic Fabiano, who ran for Helands Wansley bron Christian, had a stellar freshman college season at Amari Wansley, a rising West Georgia in 2019-20. senior at Buford, committed Friday to the Florida Thompson headed Atlantic University football to Illinois program.

The wide receiver/defenFormer Central Gwinsive back helped the Wolves nett wide receiver Khmari to the Class AAAAA state Thompson has a new colchampionship as a junior. lege football home.

He also competes for BuThompson, who recently ford’s track and field team. left Missouri, committed

Hunter commits to Samford Henry Hunter, a rising senior at Grayson, committed Saturday to the Samford University baseball program.

The left-handed hitting

Monday to the University of Illinois. He joins a receiving corps that includes North Gwinnett grad Josh Imatorbhebhe, who transferred to Illinois from Southern California.

Thompson played in three games for Missouri’s football team in 2018 as a fresh-

All-Decade Team

Brookwood grad Bilal Abdullah and Norcross grad Kendall Parks, former standouts at Kennesaw State University, were both named to the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Men’s Track and Field All-Decade Team for 2011-20.

Abdullah was a seventime Atlantic Sun champion, MVP and Most Outstanding Field Performer of the 2016 Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships and holds Atlantic Sun championship records in the heptathlon and decathlon. He also is the current Kennesaw State record-holder in six events.

He competed in the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships and was a two-time first-team All-American.

His fourth-place finish in the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships made him the first Owls athlete to become a first-team All-American.

Parks was a three-time all-conference selection, was 18th in the 100-meter hurdles NCAA Outdoor Championships (the secondbest NCAA performance in Atlantic Sun history), won back-to-back 100 hurdles conference titles and was the 2012 Most Outstanding Track Performer for the outdoor season. He also is a four-time all-conference selection in the 60 hurdles, and he won the conference title in that event in 2012.

calling the action,” Francoeur said. “I think he’s going to have to be a little patient.

When you are watching a game on TV and the ball gets hit in the air, you might

think it was hit really hard and it ends up being just a lazy fly ball to center field.

I think the play-by-play people are going to have to be a little more patient.”

Like so many others, Francoeur would love to see at least a small amount of fans socially distanced at the ballpark this season. However, the logistics and obstacles in the way of getting fans to the ballpark might require too much time and money for it to happen.

“Sometimes you think, okay, there is a way to put 20 percent to 25 percent and be safe,” Francoeur said. “On the other hand, is it worth it from a financial standpoint from what all you have to go through to do it? Who do you choose? Who gets to come? That being said, you can look at it and say, you know it would be a lot harder to do. Those are the tough questions that might make it too tough to even try to do.”

Even with all of the limitations on this upcoming season like no fans and just 60 games, Francoeur is more excited than ever to see America’s Pastime return.

“I think it’s great to play baseball. I think the country needs it. I just got back from the beach. People want to see sports. They want to see some normalcy,” Francoeur said. “When people ask, ‘Is it going to be a legit season? How do you count it when it’s only 60 games?’

I say, ‘When you see Gerrit Cole and Max Scherzer face off next Thursday night, I don’t know if there’s anything more legit than that.

These are great players and they will be good games.’”

Austin Dillon earns first NASCAR win of 2020 season

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

Austin Dillon held a hardcharging field off three times on restarts in the closing laps to earn his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2020 season in Sunday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. It was a 1-2 finish for the Richard Childress Racing team with Dillon’s rookie teammate Tyler Reddick finishing a mere .149-seconds behind.

Before the Texas green flag, Dillon was 24 points outside the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff top-16 and now the Texas winner has an automatic berth. It’s his third career victory – with other trophies in the 2017 Daytona 500 and NASCAR’s longest race, the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway – 88 races ago.

Dillon, 30, grandson of NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress, was emotional after the win, screaming “thank yous” into his team radio and then dedicating the victory to his wife Whitney and their one-month old son, Ace, back at home in North Carolina.

“Not bad for a silver spoon kid, right,” Dillon joked after climbing out of his No. 3 RCR Chevrolet, a reference to his upbringing in NASCAR’s brand of royalty.

“Tyler Reddick, he raced me clean. 1-2 for RCR. This has been coming. We’ve had good cars all year. I’ve got my baby Ace back home and my wife and I love them so much.

I’m just so happy. Thank God. To tell you the truth, it means a whole lot [to be in the Playoffs] for the family, for all our of partners.”

Team Penske driver Joey Logano finished third, reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch was fourth, still looking for his first victory of 2020. NASCAR Cup Series points leader Kevin Harvick finished fifth.

cooper neill/getty images for nascaR

Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Erik Jones, Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Aric Almirola rounded out the top 10. Blaney led a race-best 150 of the 334 laps and swept the opening two stages, but it marks the second time he’s led at least 100 laps at Texas and didn’t get to collect the trophy.

Blaney and several other of the day’s frontrunners were making their way forward after green flag pit stops when a caution came out with 31 laps remaining for young driver Quinn Houff, who crashed while trying to get to pit lane.

That changed the complexion on the race and many of the afternoon’s best cars were then left to play catchup while Reddick and Dillon were able to pit under caution instead of the green flag as the others had.

“Disappointing finish for sure,” said Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford.

“Dominant car all day, especially on long runs. Really proud of that. Just unfortunate the way it ended for us.”

“I’m proud of the speed we have and I feel like we can compete with the four and the 11 and those guys who have a lot of wins this year,” he added.

Reddick acknowledged the track position was a huge help at the end. And runner-up is a career-best finish for the

former two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“We had to catch a few breaks,” Reddick said. “Can’t ask for much more than we got there, me and my teammate on the front for the last couple restarts. He’s done this a little longer than I have and I’m a little bit rusty, haven’t been on the front row in a while.

“I just wanted it to be between us, not bring other cars into it and make sure we could fight it out,” Reddick added. “We got the restarts and just kept getting opportunities and couldn’t get it done today. But hats off to the three guys. They work hard and this gets one RCR Chevrolet into the Playoffs.

We’re below the cutoff line, so we’ve got to keep fighting. If we can keep running like this, hopefully we won’t have to worry about points.”

With his 11th top-five finish, Harvick now leads the NASCAR Cup Series standings by 91 points over Ryan Blaney in second.

Ten drivers have now clinched Playoff berths with victories leaving six positions open with eight races remaining to set the 16-driver postseason field. The NASCAR Cup Series races next at Kansas Speedway Thursday night (7:30 p.m. on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).