gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, august 19, 2020 ♦ A3
WORLD & NATION
WORLD
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delays election over Covid-19 New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is delaying the country’s parliamentary election by four weeks to October 17 after the reemergence of Covid-19 in the country last week. The announcement on Tuesday that locally acquired cases of coronavirus had been confirmed in the New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, prompted the government to introduce strict level three lockdown measures on August 12. This comes after around 100 days without community spread. The rest of the country was put into level two lockdown, with both lockdown periods extended until at least August 26 as further cases of coronavirus were confirmed. The general election was due to take place on September 19, with Parliament rising on August 6 and campaigning had already begun before the lockdowns were introduced. Ardern said that New Zealand’s Electoral Commission had assured her that a safe and accessible election would be possible on the new date.
Rape and murder of 13-year-old girl raises public outcry in India The rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl in northern India has sparked fresh public outcry in the country, as it mourns the latest victim in a litany of sex attacks against women and girls. Two men from the girl’s village in Uttar Pradesh state were arrested on suspicion of murder after she was found strangled to death in a field, according to police. Additional charges of rape and gang rape were added following a postmortem. The girl was from a Dalit family -- the lowest sub-caste in India’s Hindu caste system and formerly considered “untouchables” -- and activists said the crime reflected a climate of fear within their community, fueled by India’s Hindu nationalist government. India’s caste system was officially abolished in 1950, but the 2,000-year-old social hierarchy imposed on people by birth still exists in many aspects of life. The caste system categorizes Hindus at birth, defining their place in society, what jobs they can do and who they can marry.
US finalizes sale of 66 F-16 fighters to Taiwan Taiwan will receive 66 new American-made F-16 fighter jets in the biggest arms sale to the self-governing island in years. The deal finalized on Friday comes as China has been increasing pressure on the island, which Beijing considers to be an inseparable part of its territory. Friday’s announcement was made on the website of United States Defense Department, under the contacts updated section. The posting said the US Air Force was awarding a contract to Lockheed Martin, the maker of the F-16, for 90 of the planes as part of US foreign military sales. — From wire reports
Highlights from the Democratic convention’s first night By Eric Bradner, Gregory Krieg and Dan Merica CNN
Michelle Obama closed the first night of an unprecedented Democratic convention with a powerful, direct-tocamera excoriation of Donald Trump’s presidency that could reverberate through the rest of the 2020 campaign. The coronavirus pandemic forced Democrats to turn their plans for a four-day party in Milwaukee into a two-houra-night event made for TV that’s being broadcast this week from studios across the country. The night started slowly, highlighting individual Americans across the country hurt by the pandemic and Trump’s politics and policies. It included interludes designed to highlight the character of the party’s choice to take on Trump, former Vice President Joe Biden — such as a short panel discussion led by Biden on racial justice and a video of his relationships with Amtrak workers. In speeches, Democrats (and a handful of Republicans) criticized Trump’s handling of the pandemic and lambasted his efforts to undercut by-mail voting. Family members of people who were killed by police or died of coronavirus were featured. Vermont Sen. Ber-
ap/cnn
Michelle Obama closed the first night of an unprecedented Democratic convention with a powerful, direct-to-camera excoriation of Donald Trump’s presidency that could reverberate through the rest of the 2020 campaign. nie Sanders, Biden’s strongest primary rival, called for Democratic unity in November’s general election. And then Obama captured the evening with a memorable speech made more effective by its setting. Obama excoriated Trump for what she called “a total and utter lack of empathy” in the most important speech of Monday night’s program. Her role was clear: The former first lady got nearly 19 minutes — the longest speaking slot of the night, by far — to tear into Trump’s character. “I know that regardless of our race, age, religion, or politics, when we close out the noise and the fear and truly open our hearts,
we know that what’s going on in this country is just not right,” she said. “This is not who we want to be.” Obama’s remarks were a revision of the message she’d electrified Democrats with four years earlier — “when they go low, we go high,” she said then — for the current political realities of a nation in which a pandemic has killed more than 170,000 people and Trump has fanned racist sentiments amid protests over racial injustice and police violence across America’s cities. She told Democrats that her catchphrase means “unlocking the shackles of lies and mistrust with the only thing that can truly set us
Prosecutors request Lori Loughlin get 2 months in prison
NATION
Woman who lost father to Covid-19: ‘His only preexisting condition was trusting Trump’ A woman who lost her father to the coronavirus excoriated the President on the first night of the Democratic National Convention, declaring in a pointed speech that her father’s “only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump.” Kristin Urquiza, whose father Mark Urquiza died from the virus in June, said in a video message Monday night that he “paid with his life” by trusting the President’s repeated insistence that the pandemic would go away. “The coronavirus has made clear that there are two Americas: the America that Donald Trump lives in and the America that my father died in,” she said. “Enough is enough. Donald Trump may not have caused the coronavirus, but his dishonesty and his irresponsible actions made it so much worse.”
Postmaster General to testify before Senate Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will testify before the Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday, the committee announced Tuesday. It will be the US Postal Service chief’s first opportunity to publicly answer questions amid accusations that the Trump administration is purposefully handi-
free: the cold hard truth.” “So let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can,” she said. “Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.” She also urged Democrats to turn out in force to vote — pack a brown bag with dinner and even breakfast and wait in line all night, she told them. “If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we don’t make a change in this election,” she said.
courtesy Kristin urquiza
Kristin Urquiza, whose father Mark Urquiza died from the virus in June, said in a video message Monday night that he “paid with his life” by trusting the President’s repeated insistence that the pandemic would go away. capping the USPS in an effort to hinder mail-in voting during the pandemic. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee announced earlier this week that DeJoy and USPS Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan would testify before their committee on Monday. The Washington Post first reported DeJoy’s Friday testimony.
Housing market going strong and propping up the economy The housing market continues to be a bright spot in the United States economy that has been ravaged by coronavirus. The government said Tuesday that building permits and housing starts both surged in July and easily topped economists’ forecasts. Home Depot reported sales and earnings for the second quarter Tuesday that rose more than 20% from a year ago, topping Wall Street’s forecasts. Both Home De-
pot and rival Lowe’s, which will issue its latest results Wednesday, are trading at all-time highs thanks to strong demand from DIY shoppers. City dwellers are flocking to the suburbs — partly because of Covid-19 but also because mortgage rates remain incredibly low, thanks to the Federal Reserve slashing interest rates to zero. “Consumer demand appears strong, partly driven by increased interest in moving away from urban centers and continued declines in long-term interest rates,” said Lewis Alexander, chief US economist at Nomura, in a report. There’s another factor at play, too. Consumers have hunkered down and saved money during the pandemic. The personal savings rate was 19% in June. People aren’t going out as much to spend at restaurants or the mall. Instead, they appear to be taking on fixer-upper projects to help boost the value of their homes.
Federal prosecutors formally requested that actress Lori Loughlin be sentenced to two months in prison and her fashion designer husband Mossimo Giannulli be sentenced to five months in prison for their roles in the college admissions scam. The sentencing memorandum follows “agreed-upon” terms after Loughlin and Giannulli pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in May. The government asked for five months in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 250 hours of community service for Giannulli, and a two-month prison term, a $150,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service for Loughlin — each with two years of supervised release. Loughlin in May they pleaded guilty and admitted to allegations that they paid $500,000 as part of a scheme with scam mastermind Rick Singer to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California as fake crew team recruits. “The crime Giannulli and Loughlin committed was serious,” the government writes in the filing. “Over the course of two years, they engaged twice in Singer’s fraudulent scheme. They involved both their daughters in the fraud, directing them to pose in staged photographs for use in fake athletic profiles and instructing one daughter how to conceal the scheme from her high school counselor.” — From wire reports
PEOPLE
Charges expected in unsolved 2002 murder of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay Federal prosecutors are set to announce charges against two men in the murder of Jam Master Jay, the pioneering DJ of Run-DMC who was killed in 2002. Jam Master Jay, born Jason Mizell, was fatally shot at a recording studio in the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica when he was 37. The crime has remained unsolved for almost 18 years. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York will hold a 2:30 p.m. news conference Monday to announce the unsealing of a criminal indictment charging two men with his murder in a Queens drug trafficking case. The men were identified as Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, according to prosecution’s press office. Jordan Jr. will be arraigned this afternoon via teleconference, and Washington will be arraigned later this week. In the early 1980s, Jam Master Jay teamed up with Run (Joseph Simmons) and DMC (Darryl McDaniels) to form the hip hop trio RunDMC. With Jam Master Jay at the turntables as DJ, they became the first hip hop group to reach mainstream popular music success, solidified by the rap-rock crossover “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith in 1986. Run-DMC was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 for their groundbreaking legacy. “They broke down barriers for future rap acts, crossed boundaries between rap and rock and dispelled old notions of what rap could be,” the Hall of Fame said. Jam Master Jay was killed shortly after the group released its 2001 album “Crown Royal,” and the group disbanded after his death. In 2018, the Netflix documentary “ReMastered: Who Killed Jam Master Jay” reexamined the evidence from the killing.
World’s largest spirit company is buying Ryan Reynolds’ gin Alcohol giant Diageo is buying a fast-growing gin brand co-owned by Ryan Reynolds in a deal worth up to $610 million. The company, called Aviation American Gin, is the latest celebrity-backed alcohol brand to be snapped up by Diageo, the world’s largest spirits company. Diageo also bought George Clooney’s tequila brand, Casamigos, in 2017 for $700 million, with up to an additional $300 million based on performance over a decade. The deal comes at a time when restaurant and bar closures are hurting the sales of Diageo and other big alcohol companies. Diageo’s existing gin brands — which include Tanqueray, Gordon’s and Gilbey’s — account for 5% of the company’s global net sales and declined by 4% during the year. Diageo, citing data from alcohol sales-tracking company IWSR, said Aviation American Gin was one of the fastest-growing brands in the super-premium gin category, noting its sales volume doubled in 2019. — From wire reports
Early humans knew how to make comfy, pest-free beds, study says By Ashley Strickland CNN
As long as humans have been around, they’ve been dealing with bedbugs. But it turns out that our oldest ancestors knew how to deal with pests. Some of the earliest humans learned to control fire, create comfortable beds and even keep pests out of them 200,000 years ago, according to a new study. Researchers discovered
MUST READ fossilized grass beds sitting atop layers of ash in Border Cave, an archaeological site in South Africa. The well-known cave sits on a cliff between eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Inside, toward the back of the cave, researchers found bundles of panicoid grass, which is found in warm temperate areas. The grass had
long since fossilized, and the scientists dated it back to 200,000 years ago. Previously, the oldest known use of plant bedding by humans from the Stone Age dated to 77,000 years ago. Plant material is rarely well preserved in the fossil record, which makes understanding the use of comfortable plant-based bedding used by our ancestors difficult to track over time. The grass was arranged on
layers of ash, which serves as a deterrent to pests because insects can’t crawl through its fine texture, it dehydrates them and it can also block their breathing and biting. The researchers also found remains from the camphor bush on top of the grass from the oldest bedding inside the cave. This plant is still used as a way to deter insects in rural areas of East Africa. The study published last week in the journal Science.
Ash key to a cozy bed “We see the cognitive foundations for later innovations from close to the origin of our species,” said Lyn Wadley, lead study author and honorary professor of archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, in an email. “We see people’s strategic control of the environment through the deliberate creation and use of fire and its products.” Wadley said she was amazed
that fragments of grass could survive for 200,000 years, but their structures were so well preserved that they could identify the type of grass used in the bedding. Some of the ash that served as the foundation beneath the grass bedding, the researchers determined, was actually the remnants of older bedding that was purposefully burned. Burning old bedding was a way to clean the cave and destroy any pests attracted to it.
A4 ♦ Wednesday, august 19, 2020 ♦ gWinnettdailypost.com COLUMNIST I KEITH ROACH
WEATHER WATCH
Surgical option for vulvodynia available but limited
D
EAR DR. ROACH: My 77-year-old sister has what she and I believe is vulvodynia. She’s in horrible pain in her vaginal area and has had every test imaginable. She has been seen by her general doctor and gynecologist, but so far, no Roach one has been able to diagnose her. She feels like she has a constant UTI, but tests come back negative. She’s used estrogen cream, and does Kegel exercises and while the pain goes away, it comes back with a vengeance. I read that there’s some kind of surgery and would like to hear more about that. I hate that she’s in so much pain and suffering, as she is a very active woman. This has been very debilitating. — S.F. ANSWER: Vulvodynia, pain in the vulva from unknown cause, has a significant effect on a woman’s quality of life. While it sounds like she has had some appropriate evaluation and attempts at treatment, she continues to have symptoms. This is the case for many women. Patients with vulvodynia should see a specialist in female pelvic pain, usually a gynecologist who has special expertise in this problem. Most often, a number of interventions are begun, including: careful advice on proper hygiene, especially avoiding soaps, douches and other irritants to the vulva; wearing cotton underwear; practicing stress reduction; getting regular nonirritating exercise; and the use of warm soaks and/or ice packs. Another important resource is a pelvic floor physical therapist. Some of my patients have had an improvement in symptoms with cognitive behavioral therapy. Although there are surgical approaches to vulvodynia, they are reserved for a subset of women with certain types of pain who continue to have pain despite conservative management. The literature reports 60% to 90% success rates in carefully selected patients. There is preliminary evidence that laser-based treatments may have benefit in some women with vulvodynia. I would strongly recommend your sister ask for a referral to an expert in female pelvic pain. DEAR DR. ROACH: My dear friend had the coronavirus early in April. She tested positive. Her symptoms were no taste or smell and feeling very sluggish. She has since tested negative. She also tested positive for antibodies. Her sense of smell and taste have not come back. She went to an ENT and was given a CT scan of her sinuses, which showed nothing wrong. She was put on a steroid pack and Flonase twice a day. Ten days have already passed with no improvement. Do you think that her sense of smell and taste will ever return? — K.F.G. ANSWER: Although many viral infections can cause loss of taste and smell, this has been a particularly common symptom in coronavirus (30% to 80%). In every case I have seen, it has come back, although the loss can be prolonged for weeks or months. This is a new disease, and it hasn’t been long enough for us to see whether there will be a few cases that are permanent. So far, it looks promising that the sense of taste and smell will come back in most people who lost them due to coronavirus.
TODAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
60%
60%
60%
40%
20%
40%
79 67
81 67
60%
89 68
79 67
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 12:53-2:53 a.m........... 1:21-3:21 p.m.
MINOR 6:54-7:54 a.m. ............ 8:37-9:37 p.m.
POLLEN COUNTS trees: low Weeds: High grass: low
LOTTERY
84 68
86 69
86 69
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) .....840.31 Blackshear ......... (237.0) .... 236.88 Blue Ridge........(1690.0) ...1684.76 Burton..............(1865.0) ...1865.16 carters.............(1072.0) ...1074.69 chatuge ........... (1927.0) .. 1923.89 Harding .............. (521.0) .... 520.72 Hartwell .............(660.0) .... 660.36 Jackson..............(530.0) .....529.13
Lake Full Yesterday lanier............... (1071.0) ...1071.42 nottely..............(1779.0) ...1772.97 oconee ..............(435.0) .... 434.71 seminole...............(77.5) .......76.77 sinclair ...............(339.8) .... 338.89 thurmond ..........(330.0) .... 329.47 tugalo ................ (891.5) .... 889.48 Walter F. george.(188.0) .....187.89 West point..........(635.0) .... 635.76
TODAY IN HISTORY
Tuesday cash 3 midday: 7-9-4 cash 4 midday: 3-8-6-9 ga. 5 midday: 6-4-0-4-7
TODAY’S HISTORY: in 1839, details of louis daguerre’s pioneering photographic process were first released in paris. in 1934, a german plebiscite voted to grant then-chancellor adolf Hitler the additional office of president. in 1960, captured american u-2 spy plane pilot Francis gary powers was sentenced in moscow to three years imprisonment and seven years of hard labor for espionage. in 2010, operation iraqi Freedom officially ended as the last u.s. combat troops crossed the border into Kuwait. TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: orville Wright (1871-1948), aviation pioneer; coco chanel (1883-1971), fashion designer; ogden nash (1902-1971), poet/author; malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), publisher; gene Roddenberry (1921-1991), star trek creator; Bill shoemaker (1931-2003), jockey; Bill clinton (1946- ), 42nd
Monday cash 3 midday: 1-9-2 cash 3 evening: 6-7-2 cash 3 night: 6-5-2 cash 4 midday: 8-4-4-6 cash 4 evening: 4-8-8-9 cash 4 night: 8-4-7-7 ga. 5 midday: 9-8-4-0-5 ga. 5 evening: 9-8-1-7-7 Fantasy 5: 4-17-21-29-37
u.s. president; mary matalin (1953- ), political consultant; John stamos (1963- ), actor; Kyra sedgwick (1965- ), actress; nate dogg (1969-2011), rapper; matthew perry (1969- ), actor; clay Walker (1969- ), singer-songwriter; Veronica Roth (1988- ), author. TODAY’S FACT: gene Roddenberry was the first television writer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. TODAY’S SPORTS: in 1909, austrian engineer louis schwitzer won the first race at indianapolis motor speedway, with an average speed of 57.4 mph. two drivers, two mechanics and two spectators died in related accidents. TODAY’S QUOTE: “i cannot help mentioning that the door of a bigoted mind opens outwards so that the only result of the pressure of facts upon it is to close it more snugly.” -- ogden nash, “seeing eye to eye is Believing”
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2018
COLUMNIST|AMY DICKINSON
Dinner party reveals problem without a name
D
EAR AMY: A couple of years ago, an acquaintance of ours hosted a dinner party. I was only acquainted with half the people there. The hostess didn’t make introductions. One person present was someone I had met a few times. (I’ll call her “Jane.”) I knew that Jane had a partner, “Joan,” whom I had only met once years before. At the dinner, Jane was sitting next to a man. At one point I stared across the table because I was trying to determine if this was Jane’s brother, or if Joan was transitioning to male. I admit that I feel bad for staring, but I was trying to figure out if we had met. We spoke briefly afterward, and they made no attempt to reintroduce themselves to me. After they left, the hostess explained that Joan was now “John” and how they hate to have to explain themselves or their pronoun, which is “they.” I tried to joke: “I didn’t get the memo.” To which the hostess replied, “It wasn’t my memo to send.” I think the hostess could have spared some social awkwardness with one quick sentence privately, like “Joan is John now, deal with it,” which would
nameline
have been fine with me. I am still angry with the hostess for leaving us floundering as to who was at the party. What do you
think? — Befuddled Guest DEAR BEFUDDLED: Let us for a moment go back to nursery school. Have you ever noticed that when children don’t know other kids’ names, they don’t talk to them? Names: We have them for a reason. Now let’s talk about this hostess. Who invites a bunch of previously unacquainted (or semi-acquainted) people to their home and then doesn’t introduce (or re-introduce) them to each other at the beginning of the evening? I mean, if you’re going to make a cassoulet, you can certainly make an introduction. Now onto you. In the absence of hostess-courtesy, why didn’t you introduce yourself to people? “Hi. I’m Befuddled Guest. But please, you can call me Befuddled. Tell me your name?” If the person answers by saying, “We’ve met before” (I get this a lot), you can say, as I always do, “Oh, I’m so sorry, I’ve forgotten that. Remind
me of your name?” I agree that it is not the hostess’s job to deliver the memo about a guest’s gender transition in advance of the party. It IS the hostess’s job to introduce her guests to one another. If you know someone’s name, you don’t have to ponder or puzzle over their gender. Granted, “John” is likely a male. “Courtney” might be a man or a woman. But gender identity doesn’t matter, because when you know someone’s name, you can just address them by their name, see them as fellow humans, and take it from there. DEAR AMY: I read several advice columns every day. I am nearly 70, a U.S. Navy veteran and thanks to the GI bill, have a BS in health and human services. I was a high school teacher, volunteered at a hospice center, and did in-home assessments for a nonprofit. With ALL of the requests from people asking for advice about, “What do I do when it comes to caring for my loved one?” I have done an informal study over MY years of experience. Amy, please advise your readers to make sure that they have planned for the future! MY results show that about 90 percent of the folks that I have interviewed do not have any EOL (end of life) plans,
i.e., DNR or “Full Code.” Please advise the family members to talk about how their elders are doing and to review these plans with them, so there is less shock and confusion when the time comes. — Bruce DEAR BRUCE: Just yesterday I was talking to a family member about this very thing! I will be working on my EOL plans in the coming weeks and urge readers to do the same. Thank you so much for this important reminder. DEAR AMY: Reflecting on the burdens of caregiving, your recent line: “As a liberated caregiver, I would give anything to be annoyed again,” brought me to tears. My parents drove me crazy during all those years when they were bothering me with their needs. I miss them so much now that it physically hurts. — A Fan DEAR FAN: One of the most painful aspects of caregiving elderly loved ones is that you know how it is going to end. 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.
acceptance and compromise will be essential if you want to achieve your goals this year. if you pay attention to detail and are willing to work hard, satisfaction will result. a positive attitude will enhance your life. LEO (July 23-aug. 22) — do some research about something you want to pursue. dedication and determination will set you apart from any competition you encounter. VIRGO (aug. 23sept. 22) — you’ll come up with a host of good ideas. Before you share your intentions, test your plans. celebrate your achievements with a loved one. LIBRA (sept. 23-oct. 23) — act according to what will benefit you and your loved ones. consider a change at home or to your financial well-being rationally if you want to come out on top. SCORPIO (oct. 24nov. 22) — Run the show instead of letting someone else take the reins. make suggestions that will appease any opponents. act passionately, and you will win support from fence sitters waiting for someone to make the first move. SAGITTARIUS (nov. 23-dec. 21) — Keep your emotions under wraps. discuss matters rationally and offer solutions. an unexpected lifestyle change is heading your way. prepare to make adjustments without complaint. CAPRICORN (dec. 22Jan. 19) — Be the one to take action. Focus on taking advantage of an opportunity. consider making home improvements and cutting your overhead. Romance is encouraged. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) — change only what’s necessary. don’t worry about pleasing others. take charge of your life, and refuse to let anyone dictate what you can do. PISCES (Feb. 20-march 20) — pay attention to what others are experiencing. make personal improvements that will boost your confidence and attract compliments. Romance is favored, so start making plans. ARIES (march 21-april 19) — stay focused on what’s important. don’t let a change someone makes throw you off guard. offer others the same freedom you expect in return. TAURUS (april 20may 20) — make change happen. if you want something, go after it wholeheartedly. use your imagination to come up with an innovative way to get ahead. GEMINI (may 21June 20) — put your plans in motion. and improve your lifestyle, home environment and important relationships. Refuse to let someone from your past stand in your way. CANCER (June 21July 22) — you won’t have to stand alone if you are willing to compromise. don’t let stubbornness be an issue. a personal change will lift your spirits.
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gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, august 19, 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’s my psychic?
“N
o one saw this coming.” “Who himself met his maker in a most unusual knew it would be this bad?” way. He was swept away by raging flood “Who could have predicted waters in Chattanooga on March 20, this?” 1980. This set off a wave of bad jokes by Those are the three things I hear ev- wisecrackers asking how the great psyery day, several times a day. In January, chic “didn’t see it coming.” coronavirus was something a few people Even First Lady Nancy Reagan used had on a cruise ship. In February, it was an astrologer, reportedly influencing her an inconvenience that would disappear husband’s decisions. She came under during warm weather. In March, it was heavy criticism from the president’s injust a two-week break from school. ner circle, inspiring a gold mine of lateAnd now we’re talking about night jokes. football season in jeopardy? Six I suppose the golden age of psymonths ago, no one warned me chics is over. Although various about that. politicos claim they tried to tell Otherwise, I would have stocked us a pandemic would happen, up on Lysol spray, Clorox wipes, they either said it very softly, or and face masks. I would have we were distracted. Imagine that. been totally prepared for PanIs it possible the experts were demic 2020. This is why I need trying to get our attention while Carroll a good psychic. we were consumed with the Tide In 1956 a psychic named Jeane Pod challenge, the Kardashians, Dixon predicted the 1960 presidential and whether that dress on Facebook was election would be won by a Democrat blue or gold? Why, yes it is. who would die while in office. Sadly, she Being perfectly honest, what if a psygot that one right, and for years after chic had held a press conference last President Kennedy’s assassination, that year, and made the following statement? was her claim to fame. A closer review “I know y’all don’t believe in psychics, shows that she missed most of her other especially you Mr. Carroll, still holding predictions, but she nailed the big one. that grudge against Doc Anderson. And In Chattanooga, our local psychic was stop staring at your TV telephone. Doc R.C. “Doc” Anderson. Doc was a larger- told you it was coming, he was just a few than-life character who became a local decades early. Anyway, I’m here with celebrity because many real celebrities a warning. 2020 is going to be off the sought his advice. Newspaper reports in- chain crazy. You may have thought this cluded pictures of Doc with Doris Day, whole decade was messed up, but you Charlton Heston, and Eddie Albert. Mr. have no idea.” Albert would frequently visit Doc at his “For example, you’d better hurry and home in Rossville, Georgia. Mr. Albert’s go to all the concerts, plays, and movies acting career had stalled, and Doc told you’ve been wanting to see, because 2020 him “something big” was about to hap- will wipe them all out. And if you don’t pen. Sure enough, Mr. Albert was soon mind being in a crowded restaurant or offered the lead role in “Green Acres,” airplane, enjoy them now, because 2020 the long-running CBS comedy hit. will scare you from being in the same zip A few years later, a journeyman actor code with someone who sneezed.” named Denver Pyle came calling. Doc I would have piped up and said, “Okay, told him that he too was about to hit it Dr. Wacko, that’s enough,” when he would big. That’s about the time he was cast as have interrupted me and said, ”Wait, I’m “Uncle Jesse” in another CBS hit, “The just getting started!” As I ran away, he Dukes of Hazzard.” Doc was on a roll. would have shouted, “I predict no church So he wrote a book in 1970, called “The gatherings, no fans at baseball games, and Man Who Sees Tomorrow.” I just had maybe even no college football, period!” to have it, and I have kept it to this day. Okay, that last one would have stopped In the book, he predicted Americans me in my tracks. But I would have paused would have a life span of 100 years old briefly and said, “Get real, David. He’s by 1980. Nope. He also foresaw a cure only a psychic. And from the sound of his for cancer by 1980. I wish. Plus, he pre- goofy predictions, he must be a psychic dicted we would all be using a “TV tele- on meth.” Little did we know. phone” by 1980. To his credit, he saw it coming, but it was long after that. PerDavid Carroll, a Chattanooga news anchor, is the author of “Volunteer haps his biggest misfire was his insisBama Dawg,” available on his website, tence that Alabama Governor George Wallace would be elected president. It ChattanoogaRadioTV.com. You may contact him at radiotv2020@yahoo.com, or 900 was not to be. Whitehall Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405. To add insult to injury, Doc Anderson
COLUMNIST|CAL THOMAS
A
nything that reduces tensions in the Middle East and contributes to Israel’s security should be applauded. The agreement between the UAE and Israel to establish diplomatic relations in exchange for Israel’s suspension of settlements and claims to sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (as Israel refers to the West Bank) is a tremendous policy achievement, though UAE’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed was less enthusiastic in his description of the deal. Not since Israel’s peace agreement with Jordan in 1994 and going back to the spectacular one between Israel and Egypt, brokered by President Jimmy Carter, with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, has there been such a positive development in the region. Credit goes to Benjamin Netanyahu
COLUMNIST|TOM PURCELL
J
The vanishing art of empathy
oe Biden reminded the world what face to face, there’s no eye contact, and grace looks like. no paying attention to body language Robert Trump, President Trump’s and facial expressions. younger brother, died Saturday. In reWithout such visual emotional cues, sponse, Biden tweeted: Riess says, we’re left with words on a “Mr. President, Jill and I are sad to screen, leading to detachment, emotionlearn of your younger brother Robert’s al indifference – and, we are all noticing passing. I know the tremendous pain of more, some very nasty tweets. losing a loved one – and I know how im“Interviews with internet trolls are portant family is in moments like these. shocking in that they reveal these online I hope you know that our prayers agitators don’t tend to view their are with you all.” victims as real people,” she writes. Biden’s grace reminds us that An increasing number of peodespite how heated political rhetople treat those they disagree with ric can be, we’re all human in the this way – which contributes to end – and when tragedy and death the decline of the civil discourse occur, we must set our differences our country needs to address sizaside and celebrate our common able problems. humanity. We must demonstrate Luckily, I live in Pittsburgh, Purcell our empathy. where empathy is common. We Regrettably, empathy is on the decline hold doors open for strangers, wave othfor many. er motorists in front of us, and stop our Just minutes after Robert Trump’s cars to help with roadside breakdowns. death, some Donald Trump opponents But even in Pittsburgh, like the rest of showed the opposite of compassion by the country, some people are getting ruder tweeting that “the wrong Trump died.” and meaner as online empathy wanes. “Almost immediately after news of his Viewing political opponents as inhudeath was released, tweets calling for the man, even evil, you may feel you have liUS President’s death were posted using cense to shout at – or even assault – them. the hashtag #wrongtrump, which quickly Aren’t we seeing more news stories became the number four trending topic about people assaulted for wearing the on Twitter,” reports the Advertiser. “wrong” baseball cap or supporting the Such class. “wrong” political idea? Politics tends to bring out the worst Though Riess says empathy is being in us. President Trump, no stranger to blunted, she emphasizes to Forbes that vitriolic tweets, brings out the worst in it can be learned. a lot of people. That takes a conscious effort. We need But empathy’s decline preceded Trump’s to get out from behind our electronic depresidency. It’s been declining for years. vices and engage in person (harder in the Dr. Helen Riess, author of “The Empa- covid-19 era, but important). We need to thy Effect,” says empathy’s decline has set politics aside now and then to celeto do with social media. brate our common humanity. A Street Roots report on her book says Just as Joe Biden did with his classy “many of the neurological keys to feeling tweet to President Trump. empathy are missing from the exchange” when we communicate through texts, Tom Purcell is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist. Send comments to Tom at email and social media posts. Tom@TomPurcell.com. Communicating electronically, not
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: EmAil: letters@gwinnettdailypost.com mAil: 725 Old Norcross Road Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30046 the gwinnett daily post encourages letters to the editor on topics of general interest, but reserves the right to edit them for content and length. letters should be no longer than 400 words and must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number for verification purposes.
The Israeli-UAE agreement
and President Trump, along with Trump son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, for their roles. Former Israeli diplomat Yoram Ettinger thinks a primary motivator for the UAE is fear of Iran. In his newsletter he writes: “The UAE considers strategic cooperation with Israel, in general, and the peace accord, in particular, a critical addedvalue to its line of defense (second only to the U.S.) against lethal threats such as Iran’s conventional and terror offensive, persistent Muslim Brotherhood terrorism, ISIS and Al Qaeda terrorism, Turkey’s operational and logistic support of the Muslim Brotherhood and Turkey’s military base (5,000 soldiers) in the pro-Iran Qatar. The UAE, as well as all other pro-US Arab regimes, recognize Israel as the most
effective and reliable nish their credentials ‘life insurance agent’ among fellow Muslims. in the region.” Any Saudi-Israeli rapOther Middle East prochement, in the abcountries, especially sence of a statehood Saudi Arabia, also fear deal with the PalesIran and the growing tinians, leaves Riyadh possibility that Tehvulnerable to the same Thomas ran will soon possess criticism Tehran is now nuclear weapons. The leveling against Abu ever-cautious Saudis ap- Dhabi.” pear to be taking a wait-andThere remains the quessee attitude before deciding tion of religion. I emailed whether to follow the UAE, a top White House official Jordan and Egypt and es- with knowledge of the backtablish diplomatic relations ground of the UAE deal on with Israel, something that this question and received no could then shift the pressure response. A primary motivato Israel to solve the intrac- tor for Arab and Muslim natable Palestinian problem. tions still hostile to Israel is As a Wall Street Journal their belief in a religious maneditorial noted, “The dip- date to eradicate the Jewish lomatic breakthrough also state. Can such agreements scrambles a volatile rivalry with people many radical Isbetween Saudi Arabia and lamists have called infidels, Iran. Both have competed apes, and pigs worthy of death for the mantle of Islamic have credibility when these leadership and used support same radical Islamists have for the Palestinians to bur- been indoctrinated in Islam-
ic schools, pulpits and their media with hatred for Israel and Jews? Will they receive a new revelation from Allah that he now believes it’s OK for Muslims and Jews to get along? That sounds like a stretch too far for me, but the region is a land of miracles. There is still the question of what to do about terrorist organizations. Will they, possibly in coordination with Iran, launch attacks inside the UAE and against Israel to undermine the accord? The key word in this diplomatic deal is “suspend.” If the deal leads to other nations in the region following suit — and as noted all feel threatened by Iran — this will be good for everybody and the Trump administration will have achieved something no one thought possible. If not, Israel would likely pursue annexation. If his name wasn’t Trump,
the president would likely get the Nobel Peace Prize, but that prize has lost all meaning since it once went to Yasser Arafat, who headed a terrorist organization, and to President Barack Obama, who some believe did nothing to earn it. I am willing to suspend my skepticism about the possibility of genuine peace in the region to see where this agreement leads, but the religious component is key and until that is resolved I remain neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but cautiously skeptical. Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ new book “America’s Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States” (HarperCollins/ Zondervan).
gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ wednesday, august 19, 2020 ♦ A7
Poll finds Trump, Biden within margin of error in Georgia By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are in a tight race for Georgia’s 16 electoral votes, according to a poll released Monday by WSB-TV. The survey of 500 likely Georgia voters conducted Aug. 14-15 by Landmark Communications found Republican Trump the favorite of 47.4%, followed closely by Biden with 44.5%. Libertarian Jo Jorgensen trailed far behind with 4.4% of the vote, and 3.7% said they were undecided. The poll’s margin of error was 4.4%.
The survey mirrored results in other recent polls of Peach State voters, encouraging Democrats who haven’t carried Georgia in a presidential election since 1992. Trump carried Georgia four years ago, defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton by just more than 5%. The Landmark poll found voters polarized along racial and gender lines. White voters heavily preferred Trump by 68.3% to 24.4%, while Black voters overwhelmingly chose Biden 85.7% to 4.5%. The margins were less pronounced when considering gender. Trump led among men 52.0% to
36.5%. Biden led among women 51.3% to 43.6%. Trump and Biden showed a nearly equal ability to attract loyalty from within their own parties. The president drew support from 84.4% of self-identified Republicans, while 84.5% of Democrats supported Biden. The poll came as the parties prepared to conduct their national conventions virtually for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic National Convention will run from Monday through special photo: getty images Thursday, with the Republican National Con- President Donald Trump retweeted Russian propaganda about former Vice President Joe vention to follow for four Biden that the US intelligence community recently announced was part of Moscow’s ongoing effort to “denigrate” the Democrat ahead of November’s election. days next week.
Experts: Faster test results and ‘robust’ immune response may offer hope of curbing the pandemic, By Madeline Holcombe CNN
Faster tests combined with a “robust” immune response against Covid-19 could soon mean a slower spread, researchers said. Tests have been delayed and in short supply as the United States surpassed 5.4 million cases, leaving many uncertain about their risk of spreading the virus. And as researchers rush to develop vaccines, they’ve had little evidence to tell if antibodies that protect against Covid-19 last long enough to get the virus under control. But developments from researchers Monday brought optimistic outlooks to both fronts. SalivaDirect, a test that does not require specialized sup-
plies and can deliver results in less than three hours, could be available to the public in a matter of weeks, according to Anne Wyllie, an epidemiologist at Yale School of Public Health who was part of the team responsible for the protocol. “It skips so many steps up front, so it makes it much more amenable to be used as a surveillance tool like in schools or universities,” Dr. Brett Giroir, the White House coronavirus testing coordinator, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Tuesday. And though many are in early stages and have not been peer-reviewed, a recent batch of studies show that humans — even those with mild symptoms — have a “robust” immune response to coronavirus
that could provide evidence that a vaccine could protect the public for more than just a short period of time, said Dr. Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. “This is very good news and it’s optimistic,” Lipkin said Monday. “You know, it is a bit of blue sky that we’ve been looking for.” How long that protection lasts is still unclear, but the studies indicate it could last for months. The news comes as the White House coronavirus task force coordinator said Monday she wished the early days of coronavirus in the US looked more like it did in Italy: strict lockdowns keeping people home
Students call for colleges to cut tuition costs as school year begins online By Bianna Golodryga, Meridith Edwards and Yon Pomrenze CNN
When Rutgers University announced most of its fall classes would be online amid the coronavirus pandemic, rising junior Shreya Patel checked for details on the school’s website. “Will we get a refund?” she looked up in the Frequently Asked Questions section. “They said no. That obviously made me mad,” Patel told CNN. “It just doesn’t make sense to be paying such a high amount for something that’s not being used to the full advantage.” Patel started a petition in July to lower fees at the university in New Jersey, where in-state tuition costs $11,600 and out-of-state students pay $27,560 a year. She got nearly 31,000 signatures, and the college did reduce campus fees by 15% but left tuition unchanged. Rutgers said it recognized the economic stresses faced by its community, but pointed out that costs were rising for almost all its operations. “Tuition and fees are set at the minimum amount required to provide our 70,000 students with a world-class education,” it said in a statement to CNN. “A robust Rutgers education, whether delivered in a remote, hybrid or in-person fashion, is comprehensive and is provided by some of the finest scholars in American higher education.” What’s happening at Rutgers is being replicated at colleges across the country as administrators and educators try to launch the new academic year and students and their families decide what that teaching is worth. Scott Galloway, a profes-
sor of marketing at New York University who opposes high tuition costs, believes students like Patel are right to be outraged. “Universities have backed themselves into a corner,” he told CNN. “We have raised tuition on average 2 1/2fold over the last 20 years. I think Covid-19 was just the straw that broke the camel’s back, where families across America are saying, ‘Enough already. We’re not going to pay $58,000 for Zoom classes.’ “ More than 75% of the country’s 5,000 colleges are expected to be partially or fully online this fall, according to a count by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Some, like Rutgers, have cut campus fees. Others including Williams College, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Georgetown, Spelman and Clark Atlanta University have dropped tuition costs, sometimes more for those choosing to study from home. But the majority of schools, from state institutions including Temple University and the University of Massachusetts, to elite universities like Harvard and Stanford, are keeping tuition as is. Terry Hartle, an advocate for higher education as senior vice president of the American Council on Education, praised the swift and early action by colleges to keep their communities safe and defended their financial decisions. “I think universities handled this about as well as they could possibly have handled it,” he said. “Every institution of higher education ... has suffered significant revenue losses. Room and board revenue has fallen, other auxiliary revenue — the conference center, the summer camps, the international students, the ho-
tel, the bookstore — all of those have just largely disappeared.” Hartle said schools will likely increase financial aid for students in need, but slashing fees should not be expected. “They would need to make further adjustments in their expenses, which would probably mean things like laying off more faculty and staff, which in higher education is the equivalent of throwing away your seed corn,” he said. A university, it’s ultimately a collection of highly educated, very talented people in the business of transmitting knowledge.” Galloway suggested that more online learning could even drive down future tuition costs. “It is time to embrace technology, lower costs and move education back to what it used to be. And that is upward mobility for the middle class,” he said. “This is overdue.” Hartle said, in the end, parents and students should approach their decision about the fall, and perhaps even spring of 2021, as consumers. “Is it worth it to me to go to school this fall, or should I take a semester off?” he said. He acknowledged taking semesters off would not be the first choice for universities. “But if we would choose, nobody would be living in this pandemic,” he added. Still, millions of students like Shreya Patel face a fall semester without campus life, but still with their bank account depleted. “I don’t think the well-being of a billion-dollar institution should be compared to students who are severely struggling,” she said. “They might not be able to survive, but I know that Rutgers has the capacity to make it through this just fine.”
as infections spread.
Positivity rates are dropping, but deaths have been above 1,000 daily since late July The average number of daily, official new coronavirus cases reported in the US has been declining for weeks. But daily deaths — which experts say can spike weeks after a jump in new cases — have recently been at a relatively elevated level. Daily new cases over the past week averaged about 49,100 as of Monday, down from more than 65,000 per day in mid-to-late July, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Daily testing also has declined, however,
since late July, according to the Covid Tracking Project. Tracking Covid-19 cases in the US The seven-day average of test-positivity rates in the US dropped to 6.6% as of Tuesday, down from 8.5% in midJuly, according to the Covid Tracking Project. The CDC’s director has suggested communities’ positivity rates should be below 5% to comfortably reopen schools. At least 24 states averaged above 5% as of Monday. Still, the country’s sevenday average for daily Covid-19 deaths has been above 1,000 for 22 straight days as of Monday, after seven weeks of below 1,000. Los Angeles County, a hotspot in California, has seen steady progress in the fight
to curb the virus, LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Monday. Daily hospitalizations have dropped 37% in the last month. “We do continue to be cautiously optimistic that all the sacrifices and the hard work that we’ve seen across our county is working and that we’re in fact back to slowing the spread,” Ferrer said. Texas on Monday became the fourth state to surpass 10,000 Covid-19-related deaths. And Florida nearly doubled its count of coronavirus deaths in just a month, bringing the total to 9,539. Georgia, Florida and Texas led the nation for highest per-capita rate of average new daily cases as of Tuesday morning, according to CNN’s analysis of JHU data.
FOUR THINGS. FOUR WEEKS.
LET’S SLOW THE SPREAD, GWINNETT. The global pandemic continues to impact communities across our state, the U.S., and the world. We’re calling on Gwinnett residents to combat the virus by following the “Four Things for Four Weeks” instructions outlined by Governor Kemp and the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Wear a mask when out in public or when you
Wash your hands for 20 seconds several
Practice physical distancing (six feet) from
can’t keep distance inside. times each day with soap and warm water. those you don’t live with. Follow Governor Kemp’s latest Executive Order and the guidance of public health officials.
Learn more at
dph.ga.gov
A8 ♦ Wednesday, august 19, 2020 ♦ gWinnettdailypost.com
DBLN IE
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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
Zits Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
PEANUTS
GARFIELD Jim Davis
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: Earwigs
A14 ♦ Wednesday, august 19, 2020 ♦ gWinnettdailypost.com
Luttrell excited to build on Hebron’s success By Jack Leo
Staff Correspondent
Oftentimes, when a new head coach is hired to take over a program, it’s with the idea of a rebuild in mind. For Hebron Christian’s new head football coach, Stan Luttrell, this is not the case. Luttrell is inheriting a program that hasn’t seen a losing season since 2016. Last year, coached by former NFL star Jeff Saturday, the Lions went 4-0 in region play and advanced to the Elite Eight of the state playoffs. “In the last three years, Coach Saturday has done an excellent job moving the program forward and it’s my charge to continue to do that and continue to build with a ‘good to great’ mentality,” Luttrell said. “Since the state has allowed us to get back together, I’ve been super excited about the work that these guys have put in. They’ve done a tremendous job with doing everything that me and the other coaches have asked them to do. They’ve done a great job with embracing the new and really working.” Luttrell’s new roster is not lacking in talent, either.
Will Hammock
New Hebron Christian head football coach Stan Luttrell works with his players during a practice earlier this summer. Headlined and led by quarterback and South Carolina commit Colten Gauthier, the Lions are locked and loaded for another explosive season. “Everyone knows about Colten Gauthier,” Luttrell said. “He’s doing a great job
IN BRIEF Hill commits to Kent State Mill Creek senior Emon Hill committed Saturday to the Kent State University football program. Hill is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback for the Hawks.
Gilliom chooses Furman North Gwinnett senior Jayson Gilliom committed Sunday to the Furman University football program. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Gilliom is a prospect at defensive back and wide receiver.
Pugh to play for UT Martin Grayson senior Tyler Pugh committed Saturday to the University of Tennessee at Martin football program. Pugh is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound defensive back for the Rams.
TICKET From A13 With the coronavirus lingering, the digital option’s other positives, like touch-free entry into games, have become more important. The advance ticket sales option prevents long lines at the gate for high school events, and GoFan also makes it much easier to limit the number of tickets sold when venues are hampered by coronavirus-induced, social distancing guidelines. “It helps us with touchless entry, which is what we’re trying to do at most events, and it also helps you cap the number of tickets because we have to cap our bigger venues, the bigger ones that we’re worried about like basketball and obviously, football,” GCPS athletic director Ed Shaddix said. Meadowcreek was a pioneer for the GoFan digital platform, and the school has been pleased with how the relationship has gone since the beginning. Fans can pay in advance or at the gate with major credit cards and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Meadowcreek athletic and activities director LaShawn Smith said fans have completely adjusted to the cash-free model. “The kids hated it at first, but they have adapted to it now,” Smith said. “They’ve got a buddy system. If they don’t have a cash card, they get money from a friend. … At the volleyball games this week, both games, we didn’t have to say anything. They already had (a card or the app) ready. They knew what to do.” GoFan works with close to 250 high schools in Georgia with roughly 100 transitioning to the digital-only ticket model, Pilling said. Meadowcreek uses GoFan digital tickets for prom, dances, performing arts and other events outside of athletics. In addition to individual game sales, GoFan also allows fans to purchase season tickets or multiple games. “It’s been a great product for us,” Smith said. “I finally got everybody (in Gwinnett) to see it my way.”
learning the offense under a new offensive coordinator, Tyler Carlton. The guys that are around him skill-wise, you have (running back) Demetrius Rodgers, (wide receiver/defensive back) Justin Peavy and (wide receiver/
defensive back) Jaden Stowers. (Linemen) J.T. Cornett, Zach Gunderson and Landon Simpson are all doing a great job again of learning.” With all of this talent, Luttrell believes his toughest challenge this year will be
installing a new system in less time than usual due to coronavirus regulations. “Our biggest hurdle is that we’re new,” Luttrell said. “We have been limited with time, we didn’t get spring practice, we lost at least half
of June, so coming in under those circumstances has been a challenge, but I’m super excited about the way the guys have responded to that challenge.” The Lions also face an extremely strong schedule this year. However, this does not faze Luttrell or his players, who are ready for the gauntlet ahead. “Seven of our 10 games are teams that were in the playoffs last year,” Luttrell said. “When I announced the schedule to our seniors, they were excited that they would have a challenging schedule. Week in and week out, we’re going to have to play our best to be successful and I think that’s the way that real competitors are used to and that’s what we have.” With loads of talent and plenty of experience, though, Luttrell believes his players will go as far as they take themselves. “I think we have a solid group of coaches and we have really good senior leadership that has some talent and I think we have good supporting classes,” Luttrell said. “I think the sky’s the limit.”
Falcons, United to play September with no fans From staff reports
The NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United of Major League Soccer announced Monday that both teams will play any scheduled September games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium without fans in attendance given current conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team and stadium officials will continue to collaborate with national and local health officials in the coming weeks before deciding on fan attendance at events scheduled later in the fall. “The health and safety of our fans is our top priority,” said Steve Cannon, CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment. “As much as we want to bring our Falcons and Atlanta United fans together at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, their safety and well-
Jason BRaVeRman
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan looks to pass the ball during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. being, and that of our associ- come first. ates, the competitors, officials “After thoughtful considerand game staff, and our com- ation and collaboration, it bemunity as a whole will always came clear to us that adhering
to the guidance by national and local health officials was the right decision.” This decision will affect two Falcons home games including the home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 13 and the Sept. 27 game against the Chicago Bears. Atlanta United previously announced that the team would be playing with no fans in attendance for the first phase of MLS continuation of play in local markets, including the club’s three home matches, Aug. 22 against Nashville SC, Aug. 29 against Orlando City SC and Sept. 2 against Inter Miami CF. The schedule for the second phase of competition has not yet been released and may include additional September home matches, which would be played without fans.
GAUTHIER From A13 throw per game? “We’re going to do whatever it takes to win, whether that’s running it or throwing it,” Luttrell said. “But we also want to make sure we make the most of out the weapons we have.” The most prominent weapon is Gauthier. He completed 143 of 252 passes for 2,401 yards and 20 touchdowns last season as a junior for previous head coach Jeff Saturday’s final team, which made the deepest playoff run in school history by reaching the quarterfinals. Gauthier also threw for 2,088 yards and 19 TDs as a sophomore for Hebron’s second-round team. If the Lions advance deeper in this year’s postseason, he will be a key figure in the success. “We’ve got a lot of returning guys and we’ve got a lot of seniors in this class,” Gauthier said. “We have 13 or 14 seniors coming back. We went deep into the playoffs last year so it’s really good to have those guys back and have experience. We’ve got about three guys on the line that were there last year with us, those guys are coming back. We’ve got good skill on the outside and the offense we’re running this year is going to be really good. I’m excited about this year, going to be really fun.” “The main goal we have right now is take it one game at a time, one day at a time. The longterm goal is obviously win the state championship because we definitely have the talent to do it. There are about five teams (in Class A Private) that realistically have the shot to be able to win state and we’re one of them. We definitely believe that and work like that every day. We’re excited, but we just like to take everything one day at a time,
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Hebron Christian senior Colten Gauthier has committed to the South Carolina Gamecocks. especially now because there’s a lot of uncertainty (with the COVID-19 pandemic). But we’re going to continue taking it one day at a time and pushing forward.” Luttrell was well aware of Gauthier when he took the Hebron job. “With Colten, right out of the gate you see the 6-4, 210 frame and you see the stats from the past, but what impresses me most about Colten is his work ethic, his leadership and his competitiveness,” Luttrell said. “A lot of times you come in and you’re thinking this guy is committed to South Carolina, maybe he’s got a big ego or maybe he’s hard to coach, but Colten is just the opposite. He’s a confident player, but he’s a coach’s dream as a guy who leads from the front. “He sets a high standard and holds those guys to the standard. The guy’s not afraid to work, not just on the field but in the weight room, in the classroom. I’m super excited about him for the things outside of his frame and his big
arm, like the intangibles.” Luttrell said he’s enjoyed getting to know more about Gauthier outside of football. “He’s a very interesting young man, a guy who can play the guitar better than most people I know,” Luttrell said. “He’s played guitar for awhile. There are videos of him playing electric guitar. He’s a coach’s dream coming into this situation, coming in late with a whole lot to do. He, as well as all our seniors, have done a great job being fast learners.” That trait helps Gauthier, who grew up in nearby Walton County and played at Loganville as a freshman, with Hebron’s new offense. “Coach Carlton coming from collegiate level, it’s been a great opportunity for (Gauthier) to be exposed to a collegiate-style offense with the verbiage, the volume of stuff you’re going to have to learn,” Luttrell said. “I think it’s going to be an advantage to him especially going as an early enrollee (in January) to
South Carolina.” Gauthier’s goal of playing college football — following in the footsteps of his father, a former wide receiver at Slippery Rock — has been the focus for years. It was realized in March when he chose the Gamecocks from an impressive offer list. “I took a bunch of visits to South Carolina,” Gauthier said. “The first thing that really stuck out to me the first visit I took was just the facilities they have. They’ve got unreal facilities. I think they’ve got the biggest indoor (facility) in the country. That’s what really popped to me. Throughout the process when I got offered after my sophomore year to the point where I committed, (South Carolina) Coach (Will) Muschamp always kept it real, never telling me lies. He always kept in contact with me. “I took a visit in March when Coach (Mike) Bobo got there and that just kind of tied everything together for me and I just knew that was the place for me.”
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