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gwinnett Est. 1988 Covering Buford, Sugar Hill, Dacula, Lawrenceville, Braselton
Vol. 30 No. 4
What do you love about Gwinnett? page 2
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Chance Photo Captures Future Husband’s Heart By Katie Hart Smith GwinnettCitizen.com
Atlanta Falcons season page 5
Easy Tag Renewal page 6
FEBRUARY 2018
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They say a picture is worth a thousand words. One photograph can capture a complex subject matter or possess a myriad of meanings. In December 2012, Gwinnett native, Kate Awtrey, had no idea that a chance photography assignment would lead her to snap a photo of David King, her future husband, and capture his heart at a groundbreaking ceremony at an event called Homes for our Troops, a non-profit organization that builds and donates adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post – 9/11 Veterans. “I got a call from PR Newswire about photographing the event in
Middle Georgia. I had been out very late the night before photographing a party and was extremely tired that morning,” said Kate. “I chose to wear no make-up, put my hair in a ponytail, wore an old t-shirt, jeans, ratty sneakers, and threw on an old coat. I made the three-hour drive, and when I arrived, I walked by a group of Marines in uniform and thought, dang, I should have dressed up!” David recalled the day. “It was overcast and cold. I was in the color guard wearing my dress blue uniform. Kate walked by. I remember thinking that girl with the camera is hot. I’m going to get her phone number. My Marine buddies didn’t think I was serious. I told them,
See CHANCE on Page 18
Smiling Hearts
Photo by John Awtrey
David King and Kate Awtrey were engaged the night of the Marine Corps Ball in November 2013.
Middle School Golf page 9 Special Photo
INSIDE Citizen Connection Gwinnett Pulse Health & wellness
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Senior Night at Archer High School Fall, 2015 Michelle Fields-Wilson (mom) and Nick Blakely.
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Late Archer High School student’s heart continues to beat through his foundation: Smiling Hearts
his sudden passing from the #1 killer of student-athletes, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Nick Blakley was a 19-year-old student, Stetson University football player and a 2016 graduate of Archer High School. On Aug. 28, 2017, By Angela Greene Nick complained of feeling dizzy GwinnettCitizen.com during practice. He was sidelined “I’m not much of a traveler, but by the coach when he collapsed I’d sure like to go to heaven.” These and later died at the hospital. Unare the prophetic words spoken by Nick Blakely just a few hours before See HEARTS on page 15
What Can I Do?
A Book to Change Lives By Tiffany Brix GwinnettCitizen.com Occasionally you meet someone, and the purity of their spirit cannot be masked or hidden. You feel their energy immediately. This virtue does not mean they are perfect; it does say that they have a gift to make a difference. If you are one
of our regular readers, then you are likely familiar with Clyde Strickland and his quest to change lives. If you aren’t familiar with Clyde, it will not take long for you to find evidence of his efforts in Gwinnett. Clyde is a force that leaves a wake of betterment. Whether he is driving
See
CHANGE LIVES on page 16