December 20, 2017 — Gwinnett Daily Post

PATIENCE & LUCK Stars aligned for North’s final drive of state title game • Sports, 10A

ANOTHER VOTE, 9A

House to revisit tax bill proceedings

Gwinnett Daily Post WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017

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75 cents ©2017 SCNI

Vol. 48, No. 42

BOC asks for hike of hotel and motel tax

BY CURT YEOMANS curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com

Visitors may pay more to stay in Gwinnett County hotels by the end of 2018.

Gwinnett County commissioners voted Tuesday to pursue an increase in the county’s hotel MORE INSIDE and motel Commissioners vote to adopt tax from 7 county’s transportation plan ..8A percent to 8 percent. State law stipulates that the tax rate can only be changed by the Georgia General Assembly, so the commissioners’ move this week was to forward a request to local legislators asking them to make that happen in the 2018 legislative session.

The request is being made on behalf of Gwinnett tourism officials as a way to See TAX, Page 7A

AAA: 2017 holiday travel likely to set Annual holiday shopping event helps cops make a new record

Olivia Hyatt, left, stands with Gwinnett County Department of Community Supervision Parole Officer Karley Phillips, center, at the 26th annual Cops and Kids event held Tuesday evening. (Staff Photos: Isabel Hughes)

‘a connection with these kids’

BY ISABEL HUGHES

Eight-year-old Olivia Hyatt looked at the shoes in front of her, bright pinks and purples lining the rack in Walmart’s shoe department.

“Only tennis shoes or boots,” her mother, Rebekah Hyatt, yelled to the girl, who was already halfway down the aisle, engrossed in the dozens of options that hung before her.

Gwinnett County Department of Community Supervision Parole Officer Karley Phillips knelt next to the younger Hyatt, who was pointing at a pair of pink, sparkly sneakers.

“That was easy,” Phillips said, laughing as she handed the new shoes to Hyatt to try on.

The scene, which was repeated over and over with different children and different law enforcement officers at Buford’s Hamilton Road Walmart on Tuesday night, is one Lt. Carlos Llorens looks forward to every year as part of the Gravitt-

The heartwarming stories — and the smiles on the childrens’ faces — stay the same, though, Llorens said.

“The most amazing thing about this event is that if you shop with some of these kids, let’s say they come from (families) of four or five kids, they don’t want to buy kid stuff,” he said. “We’ve See SHOP, Page 7A

See TRAVEL, Page 8A

Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for more photos from the shopping event.

Everett-Davis Lodge 66 Fraternal Order of Police’s annual Cops and Kids Christmas shopping event.

Now in its 26th year, the event brings together families and law enforcement officers from every end of the county for one evening to benefit low-income children.

The night’s goal: to send the kids home with new holiday toys and bright smiles and to take stress away from parents who may not be able to otherwise afford gifts.

“While we let the (officers and families) shop, we also provide them, through Hebron Baptist Church, with food,” Llorens said.

“Every family gets a turkey and two loaves of bread. And for larger families, we give them two boxes of food, and for smaller families, we give them one box. We want to make this Christmas as special as

A Gwinnett County Police Department officer poses with a child at the Cops and Kids event Tuesday night.

we can.”

The program, which many Fraternal Order of Police lodges host throughout the state, served 63 families, or about 145 Gwinnett County children, this year.

While the number of participants remained about the same as in previous years, Llorens said it seems that each year, the cost per child increases.

curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com

Thursday will be the worst day for travelers in the Atlanta area to hit the roads or skies for the holidays, according to statistics released by AAA. The auto club anticipates a record number of Americans — 107.3 million to be exact — will travel to holiday celebrations between Saturday and New Year’s Day. That number is expected to be a 3.1 percent increase from a year ago.

In all, 3.1 million Georgians are expected to travel at least 50 miles for the holidays this year, which is up about 2.9 percent from last year.

“Overall, our research shows that Americans are doing better than last year and want to go somewhere for the holidays,” AAA Travel Assistant Vice President Vicky Evans said in a statement. “Whether they are going home or visiting a new destination, Americans have more money to finance their travel plans, thanks to a stronger economy and growing consumer confidence.”

Along with the forecast for the volume of travelers, AAA partnered with global transportation analytics company INRIX to predict which days and times will be the worst during which to travel through 10 major U.S. cities, including Atlanta.

Its analysis for the metro area is that Thursday is going to be bad and — perhaps not surprising to Gwinnettians who are used to long afternoon commutes out of the city — the worst time of the day to travel

MORE ONLINE

isabel.hughes@gwinnettdailypost.com

BY CURT YEOMANS

Local student of Ron Clark Academy gets home makeover The renovation, done by Walmart, was part of RCA’s trevor.mcnaboe student sponsor program, @gwinnettdailypost.com which annually picks out It was the gift of a lifetime students to help with tuition. that left 11-year-old Emily “I was so excited because Ramirez speechless along Walmart is somewhere my with her family members family goes to and enjoys Dec. 10. going there to pick out Ramirez, a middle things,” Ramirez said. school student at Ron Clark Ramirez started at RCA Academy, a private school in as a fifth-grader, unsure of Atlanta that houses students what the structure of the from fifth to eighth grades, school would be like and walked into her home in how she would fit into the Lawrenceville, amazed at school. the changes inside.

“At first I thought it would

BY TREVOR MCNABOE

be a fun type of school with recess all the time and it wasn’t,” Ramirez said. “We learned how to shake hands, make eye contact and how to give tours.”

Having to learn those certain skills became a focus point for her and something that Walmart Associate Marketing Manager Margaret Li said stood out about her.

Initially, Li said Walmart brought Ron Clark, founder of the nonprofit middle school to a leadership conference held at the Walmart

Headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., for the marketing department.

“From there we learned more about the school, Ron Clark himself and what the students do,” Li said. “We wanted to get more involved and we learned we could sponsor students.”

The match between Ramirez and Walmart is one that Li says has been a good fit both from a personality standpoint and academically. Emily Ramirez, far right, along with her sister and mother couldn’t believe the changes made to their home by

See STUDENT, Page 8A Walmart. (Special Photo)

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Stay connected with the Daily Post online, where you can submit news tips, browse photo galleries and sign up to receive headlines digitally at gwinnettdailypost.com/newsletter.

Send us engagements, wedding, births or anniversaries under “Submit your news” on the home page.

2A • WednesdAy, december 20, 2017

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Gwinnett aids in airport power outage

Georgia Power employees work to restore power to Atlanta’s HartsfieldJackson International Airport, which was without electricity for nearly 11 hours Sunday. (Photo: Georgia Power)

headache.

Local officials, however, saw the emergency, which was caused by a fire that For the tens of thousands damaged underground national and international electrical equipment, as an travelers who were affected opportunity to help, with

by Atlanta’s Hartsfieldseveral metro-area fire deJackson International Airport partments, including Gwinpower outage Sunday, travel- nett, sending equipment and ing was, at the very least, a personnel to the airport as

By IsaBel HugHes

isabel.hughes @gwinnettdailypost.com

backup as the event unfolded Sunday. “(We) were asked by the Georgia Mutual Aid Group to send equipment and personnel to standby for the incident,” said Tommy Rutledge, spokesman for the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

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“The Battalion Chief (Battalion-1) was sent to the Operations Command Center to assist with coordination as needed and the Aerial Ladder Truck (Truck-11) was deployed with an Atlanta Fire Unit and a Cherokee County Fire Unit to an occupied concourse within the airport. They were assigned to assist with any medical needs that might arise and to make sure food was distributed to those stranded.

According to Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, the power outage, which lasted nearly 11 hours, affected about 30,000 travelers, many of whom were stuck on the tarmac for hours before being allowed to de-plane.

TSA security checkpoints reopened at 3:30 a.m. Monday, though lines continued well into the latter part of the day. Several airlines also canceled Monday flights in an effort to catch up on Sunday’s canceled flights.

“Our crews reported no major issues and returned to Gwinnett County without further incident around 2 a.m. on Monday,” Rutledge said. “Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services is proud to be able to support our partnering public safety agencies when a crisis of such magnitude occurs.”

Georgia Power CEO Paul Bowers — the agency that provides power to HartsfieldJackson — said on Twitter Monday that the outage was so detrimental largely because the fire, which occurred in a service tunnel that leads to the airport’s concourses, “not only (disrupted) our primary sources of power to the concourses, but also the backup service as well.”

“After our assessment, we began restoring power to ensure that we had power back on as soon as possible,” Bowers said. “Concourse F was restored at 7 p.m. (Sunday) night and the rest of the concourses were back online by midnight.”

He said Georgia Power’s “primary focus” now is to investigate what caused the fire “to ensure that that never happens again.”

As of late Monday afternoon, Hartsfield-Jackson’s Twitter page said the airport was operating at 100 percent efficiency, though several airlines continued to report that not all passengers had been rebooked.

Delta Airlines, which is based out of Atlanta, had not issued any flight cancellations as of 1 p.m. Monday, though travel will likely be affected for several days, officials estimate.

IN BRIEF Grayson mayor, councilwoman take oath for another term

GRAYSON — Mayor Allison Wilkerson and councilwoman Linda Jenkins received the oath of office for another term Monday night at the Grayson City Council meeting.

Outgoing Councilman Trent Arnold and Gail Lane, community development director who resigned her position with the city Dec. 1, received a plaque and cross, respectively, from Wilkerson.

In other business, the council: • Voted to accept Lane’s resignation, and opted to immediately open the position and announce a new job description to the public through Feb. 2 in an effort to fill the position by the end of March; • Allocated $2,925 to repair damaged sidewalks at Pine Grove Village under the Georgia Safe Sidewalk program; and • Passed a new Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance, repealing the old one approved in 2010. City Planner Steve Sappington said the new one calls for the requirement of constructing concrete washout areas.

— Randy Louis Cox

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017 • 3A

gwinnettdailypost.com

County government will Why Haven’t Senior close Friday and Monday - EDUCATIONAL ADVERTISEMENT -

Homeowners Been Told These Facts?

Keep reading if you own a home in the U.S. and were born before 1955.

Christmas Day until Jan. 5 will operate one day behind their usual schedules. Officials said residents can get contact information for their garbage hauler by visiting www.gcsolidwaste.com.

Officials also said they will have a Magistrate Court judge available at the Gwinnett County Detention Center throughout the Christmas weekend and on New Year’s Day.

Several vehicles broken into, stolen in same subdivision

BY ISABEL HUGHES

woman for the department.

While initial details about the thefts are sparse, police said two separate victims Residents of a Lawreported that between 4 and renceville subdivision are 6 a.m., their vehicles were on alert after two cars were stolen by “person(s) unstolen and at least two known by unknown means.” others were broken into At least one of the cars overnight Monday into was unlocked and had the Tuesday. keys in the vehicle, an inciGwinnett Police Depart- dent report said. ment officers were notified The report added that a of the break-ins as they “quick canvas (of the neighwere responding to reports borhood) resulted in several of the stolen vehicles, which leads,” including one neighoccured in The Preserve bor who had surveillance subdivision, a neighborhood video and another neighbor located off Ga. Highway who had posted a photo on 20, sometime early Tuesday Facebook of a “suspicious morning, according to Cpl. vehicle the day prior.”

Michele Pihera, a spokesThe woman who had

isabel.hughes @gwinnettdailypost.com

Source: http://reversemortgagedaily.com/2016/06/21/seniors-home-equity-grows-to-6-trillion-reverse-mortgage-opportunity. 2If you qualify and your loan is approved, a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) must pay off any existing mortgage(s). With a HECM loan, no monthly mortgage payment is required. A HECM increases the principal mortgage loan amount and decreases home equity (it is a negative amortization loan). AAG works with other lenders and financial institutions that offer HECMs. To process your request for a loan, AAG may forward your contact information to such lenders for your consideration of HECM programs that they offer. Borrowers are responsible for paying property taxes and homeowner’s insurance (which may be substantial). We do not establish an escrow account for disbursements of these payments. A set-aside account can be set up to pay taxes and insurance and may be required in some cases. Borrowers must occupy home as their primary residence and pay for ongoing maintenance; otherwise the loan becomes due and payable. The loan also becomes due and payable when the last borrower, or eligible non-borrowing surviving spouse, dies, sells the home, permanently moves out, defaults on taxes or insurance payments, or does not otherwise comply with the loan terms. American Advisors Group (AAG) is headquartered at 3800 W. Chapman Ave., 3rd & 7th Floors, Orange CA, 92868.(Residential Mortgage Licensee #22849) . V2017.08.23_OR 1

These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency.

surveillance video told detectives that her car, which she said was locked, was broken into around the same time as the vehicle thefts, a separate report said.

A bag of “recently bought items” valued at about $300 was allegedly taken from her vehicle.

Another woman told the Daily Post the vehicles were “ransacked.”

Pihera said additional information regarding the other car theft and break-in were not immediately available, though “officers are following up on the stolen vehicles crime in DeKalb County,” where at least one of the cars was tracked.

Police looking for men accused of using stolen debit card info

BY ISABEL HUGHES isabel.hughes @gwinnettdailypost.com

Detectives with the Gwinnett County Police Department are asking for the public’s help in identifying two men who are accused of using stolen financial card numbers at a local grocery store.

On Nov. 22, two black men were caught on surveillance video making purchases at the Aldi on Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree Corners using a fraudulent debit card number, Gwinnett police said Tuesday.

The victim, a Tucker man, “received a notification via text that his debit card was used for $263.61” despite him still being in possession of his card, according to an incident report.

Gwinnett police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said it is likely that the suspects used a cloned card to charge the groceries.

“The (cashier) stated there were at least two males who had multiple cards and one of the cards declined for $177.63,” the report said. “The

The suspects sought in the use of a stolen financial card are pictured with groceries at the Aldi on Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree Corners. (Special Photo)

card that was declined was a Mastercard … The (cashier) stated there was a transaction approved for $263.61 with a (different) Mastercard and it is not uncommon for a card to get declined and the customer decide to use a different card.

It is also store policy not to check the identification cards if a customer is using a financial transaction card.”

After successfully mak-

ing the purchase, police said the men walked out the door of the grocery store in an unknown direction and left without incident.

The first suspect is described as a black man with facial hair on his chin who was wearing a black baseball cap with a white logo, a red sweatshirt, black Adidas sweatpants with three white stripes and red shoes.

The second suspect is also described as a black man wearing a red hooded sweatshirt that was pulled over his head, dark colored cargo-style pants and black shoes with white soles.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Gwinnett police detectives at 770-513-5300.

To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit crimestoppersatlanta. org. Tipsters can receive up to $2,000 from the organization for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case by referencing case number 17-109353.

Two middle schools earn Breakout designation from state association

BY TREVOR MCNABOE trevor.mcnaboe @gwinnettdailypost.com

Two Gwinnett County middle schools were named Breakout Schools by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals on Monday. Berkmar Middle

School and Northbrook Middle School were recognized for their collaborative leadership, personalization, and curriculum, instruction and assessment.

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FACT: In 1988, President Reagan signed an FHA bill that put HECM loans into law.

information because of rumors they’ve heard.

That’s a shame because HECM loans are helping many senior homeowners live a better life.

In fact, a recent survey by American Advisors Group (AAG), the nation’s number one HECM lender, found that over 90% of their clients are satisfied with their loans.

While these special loans are not for everyone, they can be a real lifesaver for senior homeowners like Betty Carter, who recently took out a HECM loan with AAG so that she could finally get the extra cash she needed to fix up her house.

“With the help of AAG, I have been able to repair my home’s foundation NO MONTHLY MORTGAGE that I had been putting off for several PAYMENTS?2 EXTRA CASH? years, refinish the hardwood floors, paint the interior and will have the exterior painted within a few days.

It’s a fact: no monthly My house is starting to look like my mortgage payments are required home again and it feels good,” says with a government-insured Carter.

2 HECM loan; however the The cash from a HECM loan homeowners are still responsible can be used for any purpose. Many for paying for the maintenance people use the money to save on of their home, property taxes, interest charges by paying off homeowner’s insurance and, if credit cards or other high-interest required, their HOA fees. loans. Other common uses include Another fact many are not making home improvements, aware of is that HECM reverse paying off medical bills or helping mortgages first took hold when other family members. Some President Reagan signed the FHA Reverse Mortgage Bill into people simply need the extra cash for everyday expenses while others law 29 years ago in order to help are now using it as a “safety net” senior citizens remain in their for financial emergencies. homes.

If you’re a homeowner age 62 Today, HECM loans are simply or older, you owe it to yourself an effective way for homeowners to learn more so that you can 62 and older to get the extra cash make an informed decision. they need to enjoy retirement.

Although today’s HECM loans Homeowners who are interested in learning more can request a free have been improved to provide 2017 HECM loan Information even greater financial protection Kit and free Educational DVD by for homeowners, there are still calling American Advisors Group many misconceptions. toll-free at 1-800-660-4963.

For example, a lot of people At no cost or obligation, the mistakenly believe the home must professionals at AAG can help be paid off in full in order to you find out if you qualify and qualify for a HECM loan, which also answer common questions is not the case. In fact, one key such as: advantage of a HECM is that 1. What’s the government’s role? the proceeds will first be used to 2.

How much money might I pay off any existing liens on the get? property, which frees up cash flow, 3. Who owns the home after I a huge blessing for seniors living take out a HECM loan? on a fixed income. Unfortunately, You may be pleasantly surprised many senior homeowners who by what you discover when you call might be better off with HECM loan don’t even bother to get more AAG for more information today.

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operations are not needed for the comfort and safety of residents will be closed Friday as well as Christmas Thursday will be the Day. They will also be closed last day Gwinnett County New Year’s Day. The offices residents can take care of any will operate on their normal business that involves visiting schedules from Dec. 26 to 29. the Gwinnett Justice and AdAs part of the holiday ministration Center or other closures, officials said there government offices before will be no trash collections on Christmas.

Christmas Day or New Year’s The county government Day. As a result, all trash announced all offices whose collection schedules from

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It’s a well-known fact that for many senior citizens in the U.S. their home is their single biggest asset, often accounting for more than 50% of their total net worth.

Yet, according to new statistics from the mortgage industry, senior homeowners in the U.S. are now sitting on more than 6.1 trillion dollars of unused home equity.1 With people now living longer than ever before and home prices back up again, ignoring this “hidden wealth” may prove to be short sighted.

All things considered, it’s not surprising that more than a million homeowners have already used a government-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage or “HECM” loan to turn their home equity into extra cash for retirement.

However, today, there are still millions of eligible homeowners who could benefit from this FHA-insured loan but may simply not be aware of this “retirement secret.”

Some homeowners think HECM loans sound “too good to be true.” After all, you get the cash you need out of your home but you have no more monthly mortgage payments.

BY CURT YEOMANS

curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com

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is awarded to schools which show commitment to meeting the needs of all students.

Berkmar Middle School Principal Nicole Mosley is thrilled for her school but adds that there is still more work to be done.

“We remain highly committed to the vision and mission of Gwinnett County Public Schools and the district’s strategic initiatives.

We strive to become a worldclass school because our students deserve that,” Mosley said. “Our community believes in our students and our success, and it is great to see success in action.”

Northbrook Middle Principal Keith Thompson believes the recognition is the result of hard work from both teachers and staff.

“We have a phenomenal community that has provided us with outstanding students,” Thompson said. “Combine that with a set of the most dedicated and passionate educators, and you have a mixture that is dynamic and special.”

As a reward for obtaining the “Distinguished” designation, Berkmar Middle School received a check for $1,000.

4A • WednesdAy, december 20, 2017 To Your Good Health

gwinnettdailypost.com

tODaY

90%

Keith Roach

Escalating drug costs can create treatment hardship Dear Dr. rOacH: After a three-year battle with multiple myeloma, my husband passed away in July.

During those three years, he had almost every kind of chemotherapy known. As time progressed, the drugs got more expensive. Last summer, they wanted to try a drug called Revlimid.

When we investigated what the cost to us would be with our Medicare Part D, it was $25 per pill, and they wanted him to be on the medicine for three weeks, then off for a week. I tried several “patient assistance programs” and was told by each that we wouldn’t qualify because we were covered by government insurance. Why would they help younger patients and not those of us who are over 65?

Luckily, my husband served in the Navy and he was able to get his Revlimid through the Veterans Affairs system, but what are seniors who didn’t serve in the military supposed to do? Are there any options for us? Someone is making a bunch of money at our expense.

— S.F. anSWer: Lenalidomide (Revlimid) is a relative of thalidomide, and may be of benefit to several types of “liquid” cancers, those of the bone marrow. Without insurance, the pills are over $600 each. Your insurance did help (a lot), but I understand that $500 for three weeks of medications can still be a real hardship for many. However, you would be horrified, as I have been, to hear what some people pay out of pocket for medication.

Lenalidomide is moderately effective: It improves disease-free survival by about six months, and people on lenalidomide for multiple myeloma achieved a complete response (no evidence of tumor by blood testing) 16 percent of the time, compared with 3 percent for the group without lenalidomide.

That makes the drug worth more than its alternatives.

Many oncology medications are very expensive, and this is one. On the other hand, it is a significant advance in helping people live longer. I don’t have the answer to runaway pharmaceutical costs in the U.S. It’s very different in other countries.

Dear Dr. rOacH: Several articles on the internet suggest that megadoses of vitamin C given intravenously can help in cases of severe sinus infection, for which we literally have no effective antibiotics, in order to treat them. Could this be true?

— B.R. anSWer: I couldn’t find any high-quality research on intravenous vitamin C for sinus infections. However, there is some interesting research being done on vitamin C in severe sepsis, a physiological consequence of severe infection. In one study, the risk of dying from sepsis in people treated with vitamin C and steroids was 8 percent, compared with 40 percent in the control group.

If confirmed, this would be a major advance for one of the biggest killers in the hospital. I am hopeful; however, I have seen other promising treatments for sepsis fail in large-scale studies.

HOrOscOpes

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SOLUNAR TABLES

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

MAjOR

The Gwinnett Daily Post (UPSP 921-980, ISSN 10860096) 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.

2:07-4:07 a.m. ........... 2:31-4:31 p.m.

MINOR

Lake

37

27

28

lake levels Full Yesterday Lake

Full Yesterday

Allatoona ..........(840.0)..........828.11 Lanier ............. (1071.0)....... 1065.46 Blackshear ....... (237.0)......... 236.75 Nottely ............(1779.0)........ 1761.22 Blue Ridge .....(1690.0)........ 1667.95 Oconee ............(435.0)......... 434.92 Burton ............(1865.0)....... 1858.94 Seminole ............ (77.5)............76.87

9:16-10:16 a.m. .........7:46-8:46 p.m.

Carters ...........(1072.0)....... 1073.88 Sinclair .............(339.8)......... 338.72

POLLEN COUNTS

Harding ............ (521.0)......... 520.37 Tugalo............... (891.5)..........888.11

Trees: None Weeds: None Grass: None

Chatuge ......... (1927.0)........ 1917.59 Thurmond ........(330.0)......... 320.83 Hartwell ............(660.0)..........651.66 Walter F. George(188.0) ....... 188.26 Jackson ............(530.0)......... 528.57 West Point........(635.0)......... 628.51

today in history

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TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1803, the territory covered by the Louisiana Purchase was formally transferred to the United States from France.

In 1860, South Carolina seceded from the United States.

In 1941, with his army under pressure on the Russian front, Adolf Hitler ordered “no retreat.”

In 1946, the Christmas film “It’s a Wonderful Life” was released in New York City.

In 1989, the United States invaded Panama to overthrow dictator Manuel Noriega in Operation Just Cause.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Harvey S. Firestone (1868-1938), business magnate; Branch Rickey (1881-1965), baseball executive; Irene Dunne (1898-1990), actress; Uri Geller (1946- ), illusionist; Dick Wolf (1946-), TV producer; Alan Parsons (1948- ),

musician; Billy Bragg (1957- ), singersongwriter; Rich Gannon (1965- ), football player; David Wright (1982- ), baseball player; Jonah Hill (1983- ), actor.

TODAY’S FACT: Adolf Hitler was released from Landsberg Prison in the German state of Bavaria on this day in 1924 after 264 days of incarceration for treason.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1946, boxer Sugar Ray Robinson won the welterweight crown by a unanimous decision over Tommy Bell.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “It is only as we develop others that we permanently succeed.” — Harvey S. Firestone TODAY’S NUMBER: 2.2 million — acres of land owned by media billionaire John Malone, making him the largest private landowner in the United States.

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Stepdaughter wants a room with a view Dear amy: My 16-year-old stepdaughter came to live with us fulltime rather suddenly. My husband and I made the best accommodations we could on short notice.

My house is small. She took the spare bedroom and we cleared out a huge dresser for her to use. Back at her mom’s house, she was used to having a huge room and bathroom all to herself.

We gave our teen time to adjust to her new school and gave her all the support we could possibly give, but now that she has a little more freedom and is starting to forget assignments and is failing her classes, we have been cracking down on her non-school activities and lack of responsibility.

We just found out that, apparently, she has been crying to her mom about missing her old friends and so forth. Along with that, she stated that she misses her old room. Her mother then yelled at my husband that our house is too small.

It is clear to me that our teen is making excuses for her poor choices and performance. This house is my premarital property. My husband doesn’t pay a dime for it, because he has so much debt. If it wasn’t for me, he would be living with his parents. The fact that she has to share a bathroom and a closet is the pettiest complaint I have ever heard in my life.

Ask Amy

Amy Dickinson I find it extremely disrespectful, selfish and downright hurtful that my husband is now taking their side, and essentially believes our house is not good enough.

I feed them, and even bought her a car! I feel so used.

Am I wrong to say that they should be grateful that I welcomed them into my home?

— Unappreciated Stepmom Dear UnappreciateD: No, this girl should not be grateful.

Our children are not supposed to be grateful for their many blessings until they get older and realize that their challenges were surmountable and their parents were occasionally right.

And you feel your husband should also be grateful to you? He is not your ward — he is your partner.

This girl is not doing badly in school because of her room, but because she has bounced around between a mother who (I guess) doesn’t want her and a stepmother who resents her presence. You

should patiently ignore all room-related complaints, the way parents have been ignoring their teens’ complaints since the dawn of time. All the same, I don’t know why a 16-year-old needs her own car. If you are going to hold it over her head, perhaps you should take it away.

You have been hit between the eyes with a huge life change, but that’s the way things go when you’re in a family.

Stuff happens, and the adults have to deal with it.

You and your husband need to figure out how to co-parent your stepdaughter. He should not validate her complaints, and his ex-wife’s opinions should have no traction in your household.

If you undermine one another, this teenager will fall through the cracks.

Dear amy: About three years ago I found out that my wife of five years was having affairs with multiple men.

I was crushed, and we got divorced.

About a year ago I ran into her twin sister during a work event, and we began dating.

We love each other very much, but now my ex-wife has threatened to sever all ties with her sister and turn the family against her if our relationship continues.

I never told my exwife’s family about her cheating because I didn’t want to embarrass her.

Should I tell the truth, or just move on?

— SOS Dear SOS: It seems to me that if your exwife really has the power to banish her own twin from the family, she also has the power to yell “fake news!” regarding any story you’d care to tell. You and your new love should do what you want, while understanding that you might not be able to control the story — or the consequences.

Dear amy: “Worried Sister” was wondering about including her brother, a sex offender, in their family holiday.

I am in law enforcement. She should listen to her instincts!

Also, she should check with his probation officer. There might be restrictions regarding whom he could be around. Ages, women, children, etc. Most importantly, one needs to listen to their “little voice.”

— Deputy Sheriff Dear DepUty: Our instincts are sometimes smarter than we are.

Thank you.

You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Amy Dickinson, c/o Tribune Content Agency, 16650 Westgrove Drive, Suite 175, Addison, Texas, 75001. You can also follow her on Twitter @ askingamy or “like” her on Facebook.

Be open to suggestions and willing to work alongside others to build a better environment, community or household.

Don’t let emotions cloud your vision or cause you to make impulsive choices this year. A steady pace and strategic plan will result in greater security and stability.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Common sense should be a priority when dealing with friends and relatives.

Be honest and expect the same in return. Truth matters and will shape what unfolds from now on.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Listen to your heart and share your thoughts with someone you feel close to. Don’t let people from your past disrupt your life. Avoid making hasty decisions.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Don’t be tempted by people making rash or erratic choices. You are best off taking a wait-and-see attitude, especially if money or your physical health is at stake.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) — Not everyone will be forthcoming regarding what they want or think. Set your own standard and do what will help you the most. Take care of unfinished personal business.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Emotional purchases or spontaneous changes will be met with regret once you have time to think about what you’ve done or signed up for. Be cautious when it comes to money matters.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — Don’t let emotions overrule common sense.

Take care of professional and financial matters responsibly to ease your stress and better enjoy your downtime. Choose disciplined maneuvers over impulsive action.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — Instinctive emotional actions will lead to regret. Don’t make promises you cannot keep.

Plans and commitments must be realistic. Learn from your mistakes to avoid criticism.

CANCER (June 21July 22) — Headstrong actions will be costly.

Don’t sign up for something that could break your budget. Limit your spending and walk away from situations that appear to be unpredictable.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Stay focused on what you have yet to accomplish. Leaving unfinished business for someone else to take care of will make you look bad. Avoid indulgent or irresponsible behavior.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.

22) — Your stamina and discipline will help you conquer whatever task or responsibility you are handed. A positive attitude will be helpful when dealing with someone or something you find confusing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) — Don’t get all worked up over nothing. Embrace whatever comes your way and turn it into something that is beneficial to you.

A personal change looks inviting.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) — Look for unusual offerings or lifestyle choices to come up with the perfect way to spend the holiday season. A disciplined approach to money matters will help decrease debt.

Sign up to get Gwinnett Daily Post breaking news alerts and daily newsletters at www.gwinnettdailypost.com/newsletters.

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Wednesday, december 20, 2017 • 5a

perspectives

Todd Cline, Editor

gwinnettdailypost.com

todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com

Page 6 a • Wednesday, december 20, 2017

Tax reform a ‘refund’ of government So a Republican majority Congress has “reformed” the tax code for the first time in 31 years, allowing us to keep a little more of the money we earn. Woo hoo!

Back in the day when my withholding exceeded my tax liability, I occasionally received a nice little refund check from the U.S. Treasury. The check had the Statue of Liberty on it, which was ironic given that high taxes are the antithesis of liberty.

During the debate over the tax bill, which was Cal set to be passed Thomas Tuesday and quickly signed by President Trump, we heard a familiar question: “How will these tax cuts be paid for?” This from a Congress that has dug us a debt hole that now exceeds $20 trillion. “How do we pay that off?” should be the question. The answer: “Not with more of our money, but with less government spending.”

Washington is taking in record amounts of money, but it goes out as fast as it comes in. Government doesn’t lack revenue; it lacks spending discipline.

I’m all for the tax reform measure, but one thing is certain: When Democrats win back a congressional majority and the White House, you can count on tax increases. It’s what they do. It won’t matter that the stock market is setting records with retirement portfolios expanding, or that the unemployment rate has declined. Offerings to the government must be made because to many liberal politicians, government is God. Ronald Reagan cut taxes in 1986, but Bill Clinton raised them. If unnecessary and duplicative government programs and agencies were eliminated, if we stopped fighting wars we ought not to be in, if Social Security and Medicare — the main engines of debt — were reformed, the need for higher taxes would be reduced. We could then keep, spend and invest even more of our money and possibly motivate more people who are now dependent on Washington to enjoy the fruits of liberty, a job and the dignity that goes with supporting oneself and one’s family.

That would be real reform, but it may be easier to kick a drug or smoking habit than to wean some people from government. Too many have bought into the fiction that government can solve everything, when history has shown that it can solve very little. One does not have to look far for evidence of this.

In some U.S. states and in countries where smaller, less intrusive government has been tried, less costly government works. Think Singapore, which has an unemployment rate around 2 percent because the country has no welfare for able-bodied people, and Hungary, which has cut corporate taxes from 19 percent to 9 percent and is experiencing economic growth approaching 4 percent. Think America when the tax cuts advocated by John F. Kennedy and Reagan produced economic booms.

Now that the tax code has been “overhauled,” the next step should be to overhaul government. It has far exceeded the boundaries set for it by the Constitution. As a result, people have come to expect more from government than it can, or should, deliver, which has led to lower expectations for what citizens can achieve for themselves.

One of the biggest promoters of selfreliance was America’s 30th president, Calvin Coolidge. Among many of his pronouncements about government, taxes and individual persistence was this gem: “A government which lays taxes on the people not required by urgent public necessity and sound public policy is not a protector of liberty, but an instrument of tyranny. It condemns the citizen to servitude.”

The Republican tax bill may unlock a few of the chains on those who have been its servants. Now it’s time for the servants to put those chains on Washington and reduce its size and out-ofcontrol spending.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.

letters to the editor

Letters should be no more than 200 words and are subject to approval by the publisher. Letters may be edited for style and space requirements. Please sign your name and provide an address and a daytime telephone number.

Address letters for publication to: Letters to the Editor, Gwinnett Daily Post, P.O. Box 603, Lawrenceville, GA 300460603. The fax number is 770339-8081. Email us at: letters@ gwinnettdailypost.com.

Alabama not the harbinger Democrats think Democrats can dream all they want. They and their soulmates in the liberal media can celebrate the victory by Doug Jones in Alabama’s U.S. Senate race until next fall.

They can continue to fool themselves into thinking that Republican candidate Roy Moore’s narrow defeat was a sign from above that the Democratic Party will regain control of Congress in 2018.

And that Moore’s defeat will prove to be the beginning of the end for President Trump.

But what happened on Tuesday in the reddest state in America — the state Donald Trump won by a landslide — was not a harbinger of the death of the GOP. The Moore-Jones contest was a bizarre one-off — a controversial, nationally publicized, expensive, hardfought special election featuring a horrible Republican candidate that will go down as one of the most embarrassing races in modern electoral history.

Jones, the Democrats and Trump-hating media have good reason to high-five each other over their victory — in the short run. But the big-

That’s why Moore lost.

That’s why so many Republican women stayed home.

That’s why so many Republicans would not put their party’s political interest above a candidate who had been credibly accused of molesting teenagers decades ago.

Michael That’s why 22,780 AlaReagan bamans cast write-in votes — 2,000 more than Jones’ margin of victory. gest loser on Tuesday was Moore and his backward not President Trump, who brand of Christian “conservapublicly supported Moore in tism” were an embarrassment the final days. It wasn’t even to Republicans long before the incompetent GOP, whose he was accused of molesting meddling national leaderteenagers half his age. No ship made Jones’ seemingly matter how important it was to impossible win possible. preserve the GOP’s slim maThe biggest loser by far was jority in the Senate, President Steve Bannon, Roy Moore’s Trump and the Republican chief cheerleader and future National Committee never puppet-master. Moore was his should have jumped back in “flawed” candidate, as I’ve the game and backed Moore. heard some people in the GOP Now the Moore loss is hung call him. around their necks — and “Flawed?” they’ve given the Democrats I’m not an establishment a great campaign ad for the Republican. But I know stupid 2018 elections: Hello voters. when I see stupid.

We don’t support child moMOORE WAS ACCUSED lesters. Republicans do.

OF SEXUAL MOLESTANevertheless, all this happy TION! AND HE WAS NOT talk in the liberal media about ABLE TO CONVINCINGLY the Moore-Jones race being DEFEND HIMSELF! a referendum on Trump is

simply not true. It was a referendum on Moore and Bannon.

That’s all.

In fact, President Trump actually dodged a bullet when Moore was not elected. Moore would not only have been an ongoing GOP embarrassment, he would have been a Bannon puppet in the Senate, not a Trump puppet or a Mitch McConnell puppet.

What Republicans have to do now to keep control of the Senate is what President Trump said: Find better candidates.

That’s not going to be easy.

Anyone running for office today has to be willing to have anything bad they did in their entire life plastered on the front page of the local paper.

Everyone, including me, did something wrong or stupid in their life they don’t want to see made public.

So President Trump may want the GOP to find better candidates, but good luck on that.

Jesus died on the cross a long time ago.

Email Michael Reagan at Reagan@caglecartoons.com.

Follow @reaganworld on Twitter.

A Christmas dream inspired by Irving and Bing I dream of “White Christmas” this year.

I speak of the Irving Berlin classic made famous by Bing Crosby — a sweet, wistful song that holds more power over me with each passing year.

According to CBS News, many speculate that Berlin was inspired to write the song in the late 1930s while working on a movie in Beverly Hills and feeling homesick for his family in New York.

The holiday season was especially challenging for him.

His 3-week-old son had died on Christmas 1928. Berlin visited his grave every Christmas, and the sadness of his son’s death also influenced the song.

Berlin had set the halffinished song aside for a few years before finishing it during the Christmas season of 1940 or 1941.

Only 54 words, it would become a quintessentially American song — one that, to me, celebrates the American civility, prosperity and opportunity that Berlin was blessed to experience.

According to PBS.org, Berlin’s family fled to America from Russia when he was 5 to escape persecution of Jews.

His family “arrived in New

blanketed Christmases when “treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow” and hope that our days will be “merry and bright.”

The song premiered on Crosby’s radio show in December 1941, just 18 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a highly Tom emotional time for America.

Purcell Eight months later, Crosby was featured singing the song in the York in 1893, settling in Manmovie “Holiday Inn.” hattan’s Lower East Side. ComHowever, critics “didn’t take pelled by poverty to work rather much notice” of the song at than attending school, Berlin first, according to Jody Rosen, made money by singing on author of “White Christmas: streetcorners and later secured the Story of an American a job as a singing waiter at the Song.”

Pelham Cafe. During this time, She told CBS News that he also began writing songs of it wasn’t until Armed Forces his own.”

Radio began to play the song Berlin would go on to prothat it struck a chord. duce “an outpouring of ballads, “It was 1942, the first winter dance numbers, novelty tunes that American troops had spent and love songs that defined overseas,” she said. “So, these American popular song for images of … snowy Amerimuch of the (20th) century,” can, New Englandy Christmas says the Songwriters Hall of really spoke to the longing, Fame. nostalgia and homesickness of “Irving Berlin has no place the troops for their homeland in American music — he is and for the sweethearts and American music,” said comwives and mothers and fathers poser Jerome Kern. they’d left behind.”

In any event, “White And it spoke to a common Christmas” offers a blend of longing for the civility, unity, melancholy and hopefulness, sacrifice and hopefulness that expressing a longing for snow- all Americans were experienc-

ing at that time.

Well, “White Christmas” is just as relevant now as it ever was — maybe more so.

Its sweet, wistful melody and lyrics make me long for renewed civility, unity, sacrifice and hopefulness — the same things, I believe, all Americans are longing for.

“We are not enemies, but friends,” said President Abraham Lincoln in his first inaugural address, whose message still resonates in 2017.

“We must not be enemies,” Lincoln said. “Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.

The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

Civility, unity, sacrifice and hopefulness — a great coming together.

That’s what I dream of for Christmas this year.

Email Tom Purcell, author of “Misadventures of a 1970’s Childhood” and “Wicked Is the Whiskey,” at Tom@TomPurcell. com.

to the editor

Tax reform just a cruel joke

trillions, of dollars in offshore accounts which are being used to buy up their own outstandThe current tax bills being ing stock and to expand their merged in congress are nothing offshore operations. Why? more than a deflection from Because it’s cheaper for numerwhat our country really needs. ous reasons (i.e.: taxes, labor, They are basically paybacks to government incentives, proplarge corporations for political erty acquisitions, etc.) .What contributions rendered, while are they expected to do with the adding about $1.5 trillion to our potential, additional windfall bloated national debt. Our larg- from the current Republican est corporations do not need tax tax reform? Likely more of the cuts! They are currently harbor- same, just on a larger scale. ing hundreds of billions, if not With all their wealth, they have

invested comparatively little here for some years.

This tax reform is based upon the old, disproven theory of “trickle-down economics.” Remember, the plan that President Reagan implemented? The theory is that, if we put enough money into hands of large corporations, they will use it to expand their operations and create jobs here.

For those of you who are old enough to recall, Regan’s economic policies left our country

in a recession.

What happened to affordable health insurance, improving our infrastructure, shoring up Social Security and Medicare?

It seems that our current Washington majority would rather waste its time, and our money, trying to decide the best way to reward their political “fat cat” donors and how to pass off this farce to the rest of us as “Making America Great Again!”

— M. D. Bence Sugar Hill

Wednesday, december 20, 2017 • 7a

gwinnettdailypost.com

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•From Page 1A had kids buying soap, underwear, socks, and you start thinking, we take these things for granted and they’re purchasing things that are not kid-related. I think to myself, ‘Well, I’m sure they go through the toy section and want that toy, but they don’t have soap, so they get that.’ It’s something so (small) for us, but for them, it’s not a small thing.”

Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department Cpl. Charles Johnston, who has participated in the event the last several years, said at the 2016 event, he experienced just that.

“It’s amazing to me that the kids we get appreciate the small things,” he said. “Last year, a kid wanted to buy a motorized toothbrush just because he’d never owned one. He was a teenage kid and he bought T-shirts to wear, socks and his splurge was a motorized toothbrush. It’s kind of like, ‘Get yourself two or three of them, (we can) cover it.’”

This year, each child age 2 and up received $140 to spend on any item of their choice, some buying a number of smaller items while other bought more expensive items — like a new bicycle — with children under 2 receiving $70 for their parents to choose their Christmas gifts.

To stay within budget, 10-yearold Elijah Gardner returned a Lego package to the shelf after spotting an item he wanted more.

“That’s $40, so I’ll have to put this back to make it work,” he said to Gwinnett Police Department officer Timothy Sims, who pushed the cart behind Gardner. “Then we’re all set.”

Despite having a cap on the amount of money each child is allowed to spend, Llorens said each

Buford, GA

Mrs. Betty Jo Adams (Cheek) Mrs. Betty Jo (Cheek) Adams, age 88, of Buford, Georgia, passed away Friday, December 15, 2017. Funeral service will be on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel.

Rev. G. Stephen Wood will officiate. Interment will follow at Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family request contributions be made to the American Cancer Society at www. cancer.org/donate The family will receive friends on Monday, December 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Mrs. Adams was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Troy Vernon Adams; her parents, Luther Grady Cheek and Lemon Wayne Cheek; brother, Royce Everett Cheek.

Survivors include: Son and Daughter in-law, David C. Adams and Sally G. Adams, Atlanta; Daughter, Donna Adams Pittman, Buford; Son, Bruce L. Adams, Lakeland, FL; 7 Grandchildren: 3 GreatGrandchildren; many cousins, nephews and nieces. Mrs. Adams was born in Buford, Georgia and graduated from Buford High School at the age of 17. She attended the Georgia College for Women in Milledgeville, before marrying at age 18.

She was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church before

•From Page 1A

A family aided by the Gravitt-Everett-Davis Lodge 66 Fraternal Order of Police’s annual Cops and Kids Christmas shopping event smiles as they joke with law enforcement. (Staff Photo: Isabel Hughes)

year, at least one officer spends his or her own money on a child. And while the lodge discourages it, ultimately, it’s the result of a connection law enforcement personnel make with the children, something Llorens said the lodge will never discourage.

“The children are usually apprehensive of us at first, but once they start building a relationship with an officer as a person — you’ve got to get through that idea of what that uniform means to them — you see them look at us different differently,” Llorens said.

“We have officers, too, who you see change. The stiffest officers that you see come through here are (state) troopers, but when you see a trooper loosen up and have a lot of fun with these kids, it’s (great).

I’ve had a year where an officer did their thing (at the event) and then the officer actually came back and bought (the family) a trampoline himself, because he wanted to do more. There’s a physical and mental connection with these kids when you hold your hand and you

talk to them, and it’s amazing.”

For Rebekah Hyatt, who recently found out she was pregnant, the event is also a stress-reliever.

“It helps me help (Olivia) get her gifts for Christmas because I can’t afford it,” she said. “I recently had to drop two jobs because of health issues (related) to the pregnancy so this is helping me get gifts for her. It takes that stress off me — very much actually.”

As Olivia skipped toward her mom, her red sparkly dress bounced, one foot sneaker-clad and one in the shoes she came in wearing.

“Not every year I (get to) do this,” she said shyly.

Phillips smiled as she pushed Hyatt’s shopping cart, filled to the brim with various toys and a pink hula-hoop, toward the cash register.

“A lot of times, we’re so busy that it doesn’t fit in our schedule to give back to the community,” she said. “When I have the chance to do it, I do, and tonight, we’re just having fun.”

obituaries

S marrying, then joined First Baptist Church, Buford, GA. Mrs. Adams was a true Southern Belle, and was known for her cooking (especially homemade biscuits), constant smile and sweet disposition.

Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel 770-9456924 Share memories of Betty Jo at www. hamiltonmillchapel.com

Cumming, GA

be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 11AM at Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chapel with Rev. Doug Lax officiating.

Inurnment will follow at Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 from 6pm-8pm at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service LLC, “A Family Company” 120 Scenic Hwy Lawrenceville, GA 770-963-2411.

Sammie Allen (Summers) Sammie Summers Allen, age 90, of Cumming, GA passed away on Monday, December 18, 2017.

Winder, GA

Faye Bennett age 81, died on 12/18/2017. Smith Funeral Home, Winder.

Auburn

Leon “Lee” Besseche Leon “Lee” Besseche, age 78, of Auburn, GA passed away peacefully Sunday, December 17, 2017. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years, Mary Carol Besseche. He is survived by his children, Sharon (Doug) Lax, Lisa (Scott) Hardy, and Troy (Angie) Besseche; grandchildren, Aaron (JoAnne) Lax, Amanda Lax, Caroline (Jeff) Tomlin, Morgan Hardy, Madison Hardy, Mitchell Hardy, Rachel (Kyle) McElroy, and Jimmy Poole; great grandchildren, Katja and Kohen Lax, Brady Lamirande, and Charlie McElroy. A Funeral Service Honoring the Life of Lee will

Tax

support improvements planned for the Infinite Energy Center in unincorporated Duluth.

“The convention and visitors bureau has big, big plans for what they want to see happen at the Infinite Energy Center,” commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said.

“The increase in the percentage of the hotel/motel tax that they were requesting, and we are in turn asking our legislative delegation to address, would become one of the revenue streams that would be used to help with some of those improvements over there.”

The tax rate increase, if approved by legislators, is expected to generate an extra $1.5 million to $1.6 million in revenue each year, Chief Financial Officer Maria Woods told commissioners.

About $67.3 million was set aside in the 2017 special purpose local option sales tax that voters approved last year to help pay for an expansion that largely includes adding more convention space at the center. Nash said that will provide some of the needed funding.

“But there’s some other things in addition to that, and of course there’s always needs for additional marketing dollars,” she said. “There’s just a lot going on in the tourism field and this will be one mechanism to provide additional funding without having to touch the property tax dollars in Gwinnett.”

It was not immediately clear how tourism officials planned to use the revenues to support the expansion, though.

In a Nov. 8 letter to Nash, Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Preston Williams said the extra money coming in from a higher hotel and motel tax would “play a key role in sup-

For more obituaries, visit www.gwinnettdailypost.com.

Suwanee

Karen Glosson (Callahan) Karen Glosson, age 58 of Suwanee, passed away on December 18, 2017.

Wages and Sons Gwinnett Chapel.

Blairsville, Georgia

Mr. Brannon Norris Gooch Mr. Brannon N. Gooch, age 87 of Blairsville, Georgia. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, Georgia.

Auburn, GA

Betty Kistler

Flowery Branch, GA

Margaret Bishop (Tatum)

porting the highly anticipated expansion, upgrades and improvements” at the center’s campus.

The expansion of the convention space is just one piece of an overall plan to overhaul the property. Plans also include adding more seating in the Infinite Energy Arena, a full service hotel and building a mixed-use development that would be built on what are currently parking lots at the center.

Tourism officials are working with North American Properties on the mixed-use development.

“There are certain allowable uses for the funds and, certainly, we’ll ensure that they are used in compliance with what the state law requires related to that,” Nash said. “I can’t identify for you what the split’s going to be, but that will all be addressed as we go forward with more specific budgets associated with it.”

In his letter, Williams highlighted the center’s effect on the county’s economy as part of his argument for why commissioners should forward the request for an increase to the legislative delegation.

“The center currently generates almost $200 million in annual economic impact, and we feel strongly that the expansion will generate additional and significant state and local tax revenues,” Williams said. “The expansion and resulting economic impact will serve both our visitors and residents well.”

Four commissioners voted to advance the request to legislators, while Commissioner John Heard abstained from the vote because he has business clients in the hotel industry who would be affected by the rate change.

The state’s 2018 legislative session is scheduled to begin Jan. 8.

72, passed away on 12/17/17. Smith Funeral Home Johns Creek, GA

Narayanikutty “Sumathi” Natarajan

Lilburn, GA

Fred Rhyne, III Fred Rhyne, III, age 73 of Lilburn, passed away on Friday, December 15, 2017.

Jefferson, Georgia

Mr. Leonard Odis Skelton, Jr. Mr. Leonard Odis Skelton, Jr., age 72, Jefferson, Georgia. Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, Georgia.

Braselton

Mr. Bobby Ray Smith Mr. Bobby Ray Smith, 74, of Braselton, passed away Dec. 12, 2017.

Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson. 706-367--5467.

Winder

Lola Thomason

age 78 died 12/15/2017.

Margaret Tatum Bishop, Smith Funeral Home, age 62, of Flowery Branch, Narayanikutty “Sumathi” Winder.

GA passed away on SunNatarajan, age 84, of Johns DULUTH day, December 17, 2017.

Creek, GA passed away Carolyn Threatt on Friday, December 15, Lawrenceville, GA 2017.

Carolyn Ferguson Michael Jeffrey BryThreatt, age 87, will be ant Monroe, GA spending Christmas in Michael Jeffrey Bryant, Irene Parrish heaven this year. She age 56, of Lawrenceville, passed away peacefully Irene Parrish, age 92, of GA passed away on Sunon December 14, 2017.

Monroe, passed away on day, December 17, 2017.

She is survived by her December 16, 2017. husband of 67 years, Roy Flowery Branch, GA Q. Threatt; daughter and Suwanee, GA Edna Jill Carlisle son-in-law, Ann and Jim Eugenio Antonio Edna Jill Carlisle, age 68, Anderson; son, Robert of Flowery Branch passed Peruchini Threatt (Sherri Ledbetter); away December 19, 2017.

Eugenio A. Peruchini, 5 grandchildren-Ashley, Flanigan Funeral Home, age 65, of Suwanee passed Wesley and Kinsley AnderBuford, GA. away December 18, 2017. son; Andy and Bryson Flanigan Funeral Home, Threatt and several nieces Winder Buford, GA. and nephews. She was a Wilma Debord loving, spirited and spunky Monroe, GA wife, mother and grandage 76, of Winder passed mother. Carolyn never away 12/16/17. Smith Doris “Dot” Peters met a stranger and always Funeral Home.

(Queen) made friends everywhere Gainesville Dot, age 96 of Monroe, Oakwood she went. Mrs. Threatt was Jean Frances Douglas passed away on Saturday, born November 1, 1930 Helen Jean Wright December 16, 2017. in Atlanta, GA. She lived age 47 of Gainesville Helen Jean Wright, age in Newnan, GA the first passed away December 16, 84, of Oakwood passed years of her married life.

2017. away December 17, 2017.

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Roy and Carolyn owned a gas/oil distribution center.

They moved to Atlanta in 1963 and settled in Duluth, GA in 1968. Carolyn was a kindergarten teacher at Briarcliff United Methodist Church and Norcross First Baptist (One Heart Church) for many years, she was secretary for Mt. Tabor Church, she worked with Roy and Ann from 1984-2009 at Corporate Specialties.

Upon “retirement”, she worked at Antique Traditions in Norcross one day a week where she never met a stranger. She was a member of Norcross First Baptist now known as One Heart Church for 49 years. The Funeral Service will be Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at One Heart Church with Rev. Gearl Spicer and Rev. Larry Montgomery officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday, December 17, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the church. A private burial will be held on Monday, December 18 at Arlington Memorial Park, Sandy Springs, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Providence Christian Academy, 4575 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, GA 30047 in memory of Carolyn.

Online condolences may be expressed at www. crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements by: Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes & Crematory, 5051 Peachtree Ind. Blvd., Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 (770) 448-5757.

Bill Head Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc.

Duluth Chapel 3088 Highway 120 Duluth, GA 30096 770-476-2535

www.billheadfuneralhome.com “How Can You Help Your Family?”

Lilburn/Tucker 6101 Hwy 29 Tucker, GA 30084 770-564-2726

Oakwood, GA

Helen Jean Wright Helen Jean Wright, age 84, of Oakwood, GA passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2017.

GDP-WED-12/20/17

8A • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017

gwinnettdailypost.com

BOC adopts transportation plan county, and went to events and venues around the county to solicit input from residents for the plan.

A major update to Gwinnett’s One project that was included in Comprehensive Transportation Plan the plan is the extension of Sugarloaf that has been underway for two Parkway in two phases. The first years reached the finish line Tuesday phase of that extension will go north when county commissioners voted from Ga. Highway 316 to Interstate Alan Charlotte to adopt the new plan.

85 and is expected to be a toll road.

Chapman Nash The new transportation plan is The second phase will go from I-85 expected to guide Gwinnett County’s employment that’s going to put adto Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. transportation planning for the next ditional stress on our transportation Chapman said improvements on two decades, going through 2040. system,” Chapman said. “So we’ve Ga. 316, widening of several arterial One of the major developments got to plan for that future and that roadways, intersection improveto come out of the update was the growth. ments and safety improvements were county’s transit development study “Some projects are long-term, but also identified as needed projects that is currently underway, but Trans- we’ve just got to start planning for during the update process. portation Director Alan Chapman them now.”

“Those are really the two keys for said there was more to the plan than Chapman said information gathus, safety and mobility for all of our just that. ered as part of the update was also citizens,” he said.

“It really looked at all modes (of presented to the county’s Citizens The transit development study is transportation), including transit, in- Project Selection Committee which expected to be finished in early 2018. cluding roads and bridges, including decided what transportation projects Nash said a second study, which will what we need to invest to operate our were the highest priorities for fundlook specifically at freight corridors system and keep it in a good state ing by the 2017 special purpose local and movement in the county, also of repair as well as sidewalks and option sales tax. spun off of the work on the transportrails,” Chapman said. “So it really The SPLOST schedule for setting tation plan, though. was an overall look at what we need up the SPLOST and identifying Freight traffic is expected to into do over the next 20 to 25 years.” important projects to fund with the crease in Gwinnett, as well as other The transportation plan will cover special sales tax dollars was part of parts of Georgia, because of the a key time in Gwinnett County’s why it took so long for the transdeepening of the port of Savannah. growth, during which it is expected portation plan to be finalized and The port is being deepened to acto become the most populous county approved, Chapman said. commodate larger ships that can now in Georgia with about 1.5 million Gwinnett County commission pass through the Panama Canal. residents. For that reason, officials Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said Nash and Chapman said the upincluded short term, mid-term and taking a long time to wrap up work date plan will be valuable to county long term projects that can take place on the plan was not necessarily a bad officials in the years to come as they as the county approached the middle thing though. prepare for what the future may hold of the 21st century.

“I think that’s indicative of how for Gwinnett.

“With our existing transportation seriously we took the need to look at “We’re pleased to be at the point needs, we really have to look ahead transportation issues in depth,” she where we can adopt the document on how to fund them, but then we’ve said. and we think it’s going to serve the also got to look at the projected County officials held a series of county well going forward,” Nash growth in our population and our public input sessions around the said.

BY CURT YEOMANS

curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com

Perdue praises Trump national security strategy President Donald Trump’s national security strategy has the approval of at least one of Georgia’s federal lawmakers.

U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., praised the strategy in a statement Tuesday. The strategy, which Trump unveiled Monday, is based on four themes: protecting the homeland, promoting David Perdue American prosperity, preserving “peace through strength” and advancing American influence.

The White House said those themes are “guided by a return to principled realism.”

“President Trump has laid out a clear path to protect our homeland and re-engage around the world,” Perdue said in a statement. “This multi-pronged strategy will encourage diplomacy with our allies and challenge our global competitors in an ever-changing world.”

The strategy, according to the White House, is designed to address security issues including terrorists who cite Jihadist beliefs, regional dictators who attempt to intimidate their neighbors and nations such as Russia and China using “technology, propaganda and coer-

Political Notebook

Curt Yeomans cion to shape a word antithetical to our interests and values.”

“We have to recognize that the world is more dangerous than any time in my lifetime and Americans are facing more threats at home and abroad than ever before,” Perdue said. “Under the direction of President Trump, America is signaling a strong commitment to reengaging as a global and economic leader.”

Upcoming • The Conservative Republican Women of North Atlanta will host Duluth-based state Senate President Pro Tempore David Shafer, who is running for lieutenant governor in 2018, as well as Georgia Insight publisher Sue Ella Deadwyler during its meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 15, at Magnolia Cafe, 5175 Old Peachtree Road in Norcross.

Political Notebook appears in the Wednesday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Student

•From Page 1A

would apply all this stuff in my house,” Ramirez said.

Walmart initially planned “With all the hard work of on sponsoring her $18,000 my family and school, this tuition at RCA for one year, has become a reality.” but upon learning more During the process the about her, they decided to up Ramirez family made a trip the ante. out to Bentonville to visit “One year wasn’t enough; the first Walmart as well as we had to kick it up to a full check out the surrounding ride,” Li said. “We think she area. One thing Ramirez deserves it. She is an incred- noticed was the sheer size of ible girl that has potential.” the stores there.

Planning for the home “Everything was so much makeover started in May. bigger, and to see the tours Walmart worked with the and how Walmart is in diffamily to understand their ferent places amazed me,” lifestyle and tastes.

Ramirez said.

“We wanted to use this as Although young, Ramirez an opportunity to showcase is very grateful and thankful all that you can get from for her school, not only for Walmart,” Li said. the sponsorship opportunity, Following the announce- but some of the experiences ment to the family that she has gained while on Walmart would be renovat- campus. ing their house, the family “They want you to be met with contractors to lay responsible for your own out a plan of action for the work,” Ramirez said. “As a one week they had to comstudent, it’s taken time to unplete the project. derstand how things are, but “I never thought they I have a strong relationship

with all my teachers and can ask for help whenever.”

As a student, she loves science and reading. She enjoys science, she says, because of her teacher and the emphasis placed on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) learning. She has become an avid reader from her classes which allow her to go pick out what interests her and delve into a novel.

In a 10-minute conversation with Ramirez you can see all the traits of a girl with maturity beyond her age — eloquent, thoughtful and polite. But when asked about her favorite part of the makeover, you can see a childlike smile begin to form.

“Oh, my room, definitely,” Ramirez said. “I love the color scheme and everything in there. But the living room and kitchen are awesome, too.”

The Ramirez family is pictured in its newly renovated home. (Staff Photo: Trevor McNaboe)

Travel

•From Page 1A

worse than normal, and that to travel through the City by the worse time to go through the Bay. will be about 4:30 to 6:30 that city will be this afterHouston and Detroit are p.m. That will be because noon. tied with Atlanta at the botof a mix of holiday travelers Los Angeles and Washtom of the list. Houston’s with metro Atlanta commut- ington, D.C., are expected to worst travel day is expected ers who are getting off work have the next largest increase to be today, while Detroit’s at that time. in delays, at two-and-a-half- is expected to be Thursday.

Delays are expected to be times longer than normal in The top two travel destione-and-a-half times longer each city. The worst time to nations this year, according than usual, according to travel will be today in Los to AAA, are towns that are AAA. Angeles and Thursday in home to Disney parks. Or“With record-level travel- Washington, D.C. lando tops the list, followed ers hitting the road this San Francisco, Chicago,

by Anaheim, Calif. They holiday, drivers must be Boston and Seattle follow are followed by Cancun, prepared for delays in major with delays that will be Mexico; Honolulu; Kahului/ metros,” INRIX chief econo- twice as long as usual. Each Maui, Hawaii; Montego mist and head of research of those cities, except San Bay, Jamaica; Punta Cana, Graham Cookson said in Francisco, will see their Dominican Republic; Mia statement. “Our advice worst travel day Thursday. ami; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; to drivers is to avoid peak Today will be the worst day and New York City. times altogether or consider alternative routes.”

Most Americans who are expected to travel this year, about 97.4 million to Wild Alaskan Smoked be exact, will likely drive to Sockeye 1 lb. Salmon their destination. Similarly, about 2.8 million of the Georgia residents traveling (Item #1-16316) will be using automobiles, AAA said.

Use code MB17085 online at BuySeaBear.com Another 6.4 million or call 855-388-8041 Americans will fly to a holiday destination, and that number includes about 171,000 Georgia residents.

About 3.6 million people, including 114,000 Georgia residents, are expected to ONLY take trains, buses, rails or 99* cruise ships to travel.

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world&nation World Argentina passes controversial economic reform A major pension reform became law in Argentina early Tuesday morning after violent protests rocked the nation’s capital, Buenos Aires, on Monday.

Rioters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails while police fought back with rubber bullets and tear gas Monday afternoon. More than 160 were injured, including 88 police officers and 74 protesters, according to state-run news agency Telam.

Lawmakers had spent more than 12 hours debating the economic reform that will reduce pension payments to individuals.

The new law revises the size of the payment four times a year instead of twice a year, the way it did under the old system. The new formula also bases payments mostly on inflation, which is falling. The previous law calculated payments based on wages and social security contributions.

The 127-118 vote narrowly passed shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday. Lawmakers had been debating in Congress all night.

Belgium expected to appoint female ambassador to Saudi Arabia Belgium is likely to be the first country to send a female ambassador to Saudi Arabia, according to Belgian state broadcaster VRT, in a move that chimes with the kingdom’s recent liberalizing moves.

Dominique Mineur, who is currently Belgium’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, will move to Riyadh in summer 2018 if she is confirmed, according to VRT. The news was first reported by Belgian newspaper De Tijd.

Saudi Arabia, which adheres to some of the strictest interpretations of Sunni Islam in the world, has long prevented women from taking on a larger role in its society.

McDonald’s to sell a McVegan burger in Europe McDonald’s is going vegan.

The fast food chain plans to start selling a McVegan burger in hundreds of restaurants across Sweden and Finland starting on December 28.

The sandwich, which has already been tested at a handful of McDonald’s locations in Finland, consists of a soy patty, bun, tomato, lettuce, pickles, onion, ketchup, mustard, oil and an eggless sandwich sauce.

“Like our other burgers, the McVegan is tasty and has a good texture,” said McDonald’s spokesperson Henrik Nerell.

The meatless burger, which was developed in partnership with a specialty Norwegian food company called Orkla, could help the American chain capitalize on increased demand for vegetarian and vegan foods.

— From wire reports

House to revote on tax bill today

By Phil Mattingly and Deirdre Walsh CNN

The House of Representatives is set to revote this morning on Republicans’ plans to overhaul the U.S. tax system, though the legislation is still expected to pass both chambers in Congress and be on President Donald Trump’s desk in the next 24 hours.

A version of the bill passed along sharp partisan lines, 227-203, with 12 House GOP members opposing the legislation, and no Democrats voting for it, earlier Tuesday. But shortly after debate started in the Senate, the House Majority Leader’s office advised its conference to be prepared to vote today, citing Senate rules that would likely strip out certain parts of the final bill in order to pass with a simple majority.

The Senate was expected to clear the bill later Tuesday, with Vice President Mike Pence presiding over the vote. After the bill clears the House again, as is expected, the measure then heads to the president’s desk for his signature before the Christmas holiday, making good on the Republican Party’s promise to enact tax relief legislation by the end of the year.

As House Republicans prepared to vote on the tax bill the first time, Speaker Paul Ryan was seated next

The House of Representatives was set to vote on the Republican tax reform bill Tuesday.

(Photo: CNN)

to the conservative House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican. The two men have clearly had to go head to head at certain points on health care and spending bills, but on tax reform, the House Freedom Caucus has worked hand in glove with leadership.

Ryan spoke from the floor and said that this vote on the tax bill is a “generational defining moment.”

“This is without question the single most important thing we can do to once again make America the best place to do business,” Ryan said.

Protesters were repeatedly removed from the chamber for shouting “kill the bill, don’t kill us” in the

minute before the House vote.

Now, Republicans are just hours away from officially collecting their first major legislative win this year, one that not only delivers on a campaign promise to overhaul the U.S. tax system, but also nets another GOP pledge to repeal at least part of the Affordable Care Act in ending the penalty tied to Obamacare’s mandate to have health insurance.

But the victory is also at least in part a gamble Republicans are making ahead of next year’s midterm elections, as the party will vote for the legislation amid tough poll numbers for what it’s proposing to do as well as critical analyses

Nation Trump disputes report of anger over Gorsuch President Donald Trump disputed a Washington Post story Tuesday alleging that he considered pulling his nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court after Gorsuch privately criticized Trump’s attacks on the judiciary.

“A story in the washingtonpost that I was close to ‘rescinding’ the nomination of Justice Gorsuch prior to confirmation is FAKE NEWS,” Trump tweeted. “I never even wavered and am very proud of him and the job he is doing as a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The unnamed sources don’t exist!”

Congress gives specific numbers on settlements

President Donald Trump invited several red state Democratic senators to a White House lunch Thursday in hopes of wooing their support for his Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch and other agenda items, a White House official told CNN in February. (CNN File Photo)

makers and those outside of Congress who have called for more transparency.

Congress’ Office of Compliance, responding to a request for information from the committee’s chairman, Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., said that eight settlements had been paid out related to sexual harassment or sex discrimination during the five-year period.

Specifically involving sexual harassment cases was $115,000, while another roughly $59,000 included discrimination on the basis of gender, according to the data.

about compensation paid to promote the firm and plans for insider sales.

The Crytpo Company describes itself as a business that “offers a portfolio of digital assets, technologies and consulting services to the blockchain and cryptocurrency markets” with plans for a “rollout of a full scale, high frequency cryptocurrency trading floor.”

that say the plan will add billions to the national debt and eventually raise taxes on some key groups.

But in the end, no bad analysis, no bad poll, no bad headline has dissuaded Republicans from moving forward on this bill.

The Senate was also expected to vote Tuesday after the House. The chamber had taken the bill up and was in its 10 hours scheduled for debate on the bill. That said, Republicans can yield back their time if they want to quicken the process.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, on the Senate floor, made the announcement that the Senate plans on voting Tuesday on the tax bill. worse — that may cause significant and even irreparable harm,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in a statement.

These drugs — which make up a growing, nearly $3 billion market, the agency said — claim to treat illnesses using substances that can cause similar symptoms in a healthy person, the FDA cautioned.

These may include plants, minerals and even animal excretions. Many scientific studies have found no evidence that these drugs are effective against cancer, dementia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and a host of other conditions.

The agency said that most homeopathic remedies will not be affected by the newly proposed policy and will remain on shelves.

McMaster: ‘We can’t tolerate’ the risk of a nuclear North Korea

People Streep responds to McGowan’s Weinstein slam Meryl Streep is defending herself against Rose McGowan’s claim that the award-winning actress was silent about Harvey Weinstein.

The former “Charmed” star, who has accused Weinstein of rape, went after Streep in a now-deleted tweet after it was reported that women plan to attend the upcoming Golden Globe awards show wearing black in solidarity with victims of sexual harassment and violence.

In a lengthy statement provided to CNN, Streep said she was not “deliberately silent,” just unaware of Weinstein’s alleged assaults.

“It hurt to be attacked by Rose McGowan in banner headlines this weekend, but I want to let her know I did not know about Weinstein’s crimes, not in the ’90s when he attacked her, or through subsequent decades when he proceeded to attack others,” Streep said in her statement.

“I wasn’t deliberately silent.

I didn’t know.”

Legend cast as Jesus in NBC live musical John Legend is about to put his divine voice to perfect use.

The 10-time Grammy award winner has been cast as Jesus Christ in NBC’s upcoming live musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!”

NBC announced the casting on Tuesday and Legend expressed his excitement about the role.

“I’m thrilled to join the cast of this production of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!,” Legend said in a statement.

The event will take place on Easter Sunday at the Marcy Armory in Brooklyn, N.Y. Legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the executive producers, and rocker Alice Cooper is set to play King Herod.

NBC’s live event is based on the 1971 Broadway musical about the last week of Jesus’ life.

UPS drivers on film throwing packages in woman’s yard

One week before Christmas, UPS is investigating after a driver threw packages Congress paid out White House national all over a woman’s front The U.S. Food and Drug security adviser H.R. Mc- yard. $174,000 from a U.S. Administration plans to go Master said in an interview Treasury fund from 2008Monday morning, Sandy after homeopathic remedies Tuesday that the United 12 to settle claims of sexual Bast heard a loud noise that are unsafe for consum- States doesn’t want to risk outside of her home. harassment and sex discrimers and offer unproven ination against offices of the SEC suspends coexisting with a nuclear Bast started recording benefits in the treatment House of Representatives, North Korea. with her cellphone. UPS trading of red-hot of serious illnesses, such according to data released “We can’t tolerate that says their delivery drivers will sometimes drive U-Haul as cancer and asthma, the Tuesday by the House Adrisk,” he told CBS in an bitcoin stock trucks during the busy holiagency announced Monministration Committee. interview Tuesday mornIs bitcoin a bubble? day.

That sum is a small ing. “If North Korea has a day season, but Bast didn’t Maybe. Maybe not. Only know that.

The proposal takes a fraction of the more than nuclear weapon, who are time will tell. But there are Bast said the driver threw firmer grip on homeopathic you going to try to prevent $17 million that the Office some small publicly traded drugs, which are sold in about 25 packages out of the of Compliance, Congress’ getting one? Look at the truck and onto her lawn. She companies trying to ride the the U.S. without proof that regime, the hostility of little known agency that shared the video with News wave of cryptocurrency and they are safe and effechandles workplace comthis regime to the whole 4 to let others know in case blockchain mania that look tive, as with formal FDA plaints and represents all world.” their packages were dampretty sketchy. drug approval. Currently, settlements, paid out over When asked whether aged.

The Securities and no homeopathic drugs are the past 20 years. The Secretary of State Rex News 4 contacted UPS Exchange Commission FDA-approved.

Office of Compliance has Tillerson’s high profile dissuspended trading Tuesday “People may be placing agreements with President and within a few hours, a sunot typically made pubof The Crypto Company their trust and money in lic breakdowns of how it Donald Trump undermine pervisor showed up at Bast’s door and apologized for the until Jan. 3, citing “concerns therapies that may bring spends taxpayer funds, but him when working overdriver’s actions. regarding the accuracy and little to no benefit in comhas been under increasing seas, McMaster said no.

— From wire reports adequacy of information” bating serious ailments, or pressure to do so by law— From wire reports

FDA going after homeopathy

Washington train derailment ‘could’ve been avoided,’ local mayor says

By Euan McKirdy and Darran Simon

Portland and Seattle.

“Our community was skeptical CNN of the project both from a financial been avoided if “better choices had and safety standpoint, primarily a The mayor of a city along a new been made” about using the route safety standpoint,” Anderson said route taken by the Amtrak train for upgraded passenger service.

Monday. that derailed in Washington state The Amtrak Cascades 501 train In March 2010, money from the had expressed concerns about the derailed Monday morning near American Recovery and Reinvestline as long ago as 2013, court DuPont, Wash., killing at least ment Act of 2009 was set aside records show. three people and injuring more for high-speed rail initiatives.

Don Anderson, mayor of Lake- than 100. It was traveling the Hundreds of millions of dollars wood, about 11 miles northeast of inaugural service on the new route, were granted to the Cascades the crash site, said shortly after the which was designed to shave 10 High Speed Rail Capital Program wreck that the tragedy could have minutes off the commute between between Seattle and Portland to

Must read

improve train speeds between the two cities. Part of that effort included the Point Defiance Bypass Project.

The aim was to reroute passenger trains to avoid curves and single-track tunnels on the route along Puget Sound. Instead of running along the congested and windy coastline track, trains would run on an existing, inland line following Interstate 5.

The bypass would allow speeds to be increased up to 79 mph,

cutting journey times between Portland and Seattle, the Washington State Department of Transportation said.

When it derailed Monday, the train was traveling 80 mph in a 30mph zone, the NTSB said.

Lakewood sued WSDOT in 2013, saying, in part, that the upgrade project had not “undergone sufficient environmental review,” according to court documents. The city’s suit was dismissed in 2014, court documents show.

sports

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RED ALERT

PAGE 10A • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017

MORE ONLINE To order commemorative Daily Post pages of North Gwinnett football’s first state championship, go to www. gwinnettdailypost.com/posters SPECIAL EDITION

Gwinnett Daily Post

KICKIN’ IT FRIDAY, December 15, 2017

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©2017 SCNI

North Gwinnett players mob kicker Cameron Clark following his game-winning field goal during the Class AAAAAAA state championship game against Colquitt County on Friday night. (Photo: Craig Cappy)

Clark’s field goal gives North 19-17 title win over Colquitt Co.

By DaviD FrieDlanDer

own 44, McDonald struck again.

This time, the Rutgers-bound linebacker pounced on Krajewksi SUWANEE — North Gwinnett just after he pulled away from was hoping the third time would center, forcing a fumble that be the charm coming into its Josh Shuler recovered to give the Class AAAAAAA state chamBulldogs the ball at the Packers’ pionship game against Colquitt 42, with 7:54 left to play.

County.

“I told my teammates before It was a second chance that (the game) even started (that) I proved decisive. was going to give them everyAfter missing an extra point thing I’ve got, no matter what that looked like it might cause happens,” said McDonald, who North a third defeat in its quest finished the game with seven for a state title, Cameron Clark tackles, including a tackle for made the most of his second loss, 2 1/2 sacks and a forced chance, booting a 38-yard field fumble. “I just had to put my goal with no time on the clock heart into every play, and I to lift the No. 7 Bulldogs to a knew if I put my heart into it, 19-17 win over the ninth-ranked good things would happen. So I Packers on a frigid Friday night just trusted my teammates and at Tom Robinson Memorial coaches making the right calls.

Stadium.

“I know my team was counting The kick helped rescue North on me to step up in a big moment.

(14-1) after Colquitt (11-4) I told them I wasn’t going to let scored on a Steven Krajewski them down. I just read the gaps to Josh Hadley 13-yard TD pass and did what coaches told me to with 49 seconds left, and delivdo, and it worked out well.” ered the program’s first state title The North offense cashed in in improbable fashion.

Colquitt’s only turnover of the “It’s going to be a lot to abnight with the help of a running sorb,” North coach Bill Stewart game that was strong throughout said. “We just kept believing. the evening, led by Tyler GoodGod gave us a chance, and it’s son, who finished with 75 yards just great that we got it.” and a TD on 18 carries.

The kick capped a roller coastBut it was Cameron Butler er of fourth-quarter emotions, who carried the load on the which began on the lowest of fourth-quarter drive, running for lows. An unfortunate bounce of a 25 of his 68 yards on an eightpunt off the helmet of a Bulldog play drive that took the ball down player late in the third quarter to the Colquitt 1. gave Colquitt prime field position The senior running back inside North territory. sprinted to his right and outraced But Jayden McDonald and the Packer defense for the final the defense stepped forward in yard that put the Bulldogs up 16a big way with a hit to smother 10 with 5:50 remaining.

Colquitt running back Ty Leggett Disaster appeared to strike before dropping Krajewski for a when Clark, back five yards on 13-yard sack to force the Packers a false start penalty, pushed the to punt the ball away. extra point wide, leaving the door Then after North was forced to open for Colquitt. punt the ball back just three plays The Packers went through that later, giving Colquitt the ball in door. They faced a fourth-down good field position again at its situation at the Bulldogs’ 20

david.friedlander@gwinnettdailypost.com

before Daijun Edwards pulled a Krajewski pass off the top of the turf for a 5-yard completion to keep the drive alive as the clock ticked down.

Two plays later, Krajewski found a wide open Hadley in the back left corner of the end zone, and Ryan Fitzgerald, who had kicked a 49-yard field goal earlier in the game, successfully sent the point after through to put Colquitt up 17-16 with 49 seconds left.

But North still had all three timeouts left, and quickly moved the ball into Colquitt territory on Urzua completions of 13 yards to L.J. Fisher and 11 yards each to Downs and Goodson.

Hope seemed to fade after Urzua was sacked by Colquitt’s J.J. Peterson with 13 seconds left.

With the ball on the 46-yard line and just three seconds left, fate intervened to give the Bulldogs, and Clark, one last chance.

Colquitt was twice flagged for illegal substitution before what appeared to be the final snap.

When Urzua’s Hail Mary pass to Downs fell incomplete as the clock ran out, another flag came out to penalize the Packers 15 yards for pass interference, giving North one last untimed down.

And with his second chance intact, Clark, who had also missed a 36-yard field goal in the first quarter, wasn’t about to let it slip away.

“Before the kick, my coaches and teammates were telling me I’ve done this in practice hundreds of times,” Clark said.

“In practice, they give me the pressure I need to get used to that. My team just helped me get here.”

Clark did the rest, getting just enough of the ball to get it to flutter through the uprights, giving the Bulldogs the title and sending the North partisans into a frenzied celebration.

2017 NORTH GWINNETT ROSTER No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 15 16 17 18 19 19 20 20 21 22 22 23 24 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 34 35 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 41 42 43 44 45 45 46 46 47 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 55 56 57

Name Quinton Newsome Cameron Butler Lance Jackson Warren Burrell Tyler Goodson Cade Fortin Jimmy Urzua Jayden McDonald Bryce Fowler Ashton Wood Josh Downs William Goldring Chris Northrup D.J. Turner Darius Newsome Jack McGill Riley Walker Trisstan Weddington Aaron Brebnor Brian McGlynn Deji Thomas Dylan Pulgarin Cole Moore Javonni Cunningham L.J. Fisher Christopher Carrasco D’Armani Ridley Turner Cho Cameron Hinson Will Hunter Connor Kwasigroh Raymond Seymour Garrison Manor Myles Webster Jake Stewart Devin Crosby Josh Shuler Taylor Goodson Chris Wright Barrett Carter Zachary Mollette Caleb McCoy Josh Early Nicholas Pucciarello Bryce Reagan Bryson Scruggs Jarvis Cunningham G.T. Moore Justin Bradford Jared Reisman Major Carlberg Micah White Jackson Buice Jordan Hancock L.J. Smith Kemar Brown Nick Lyman Corey Sims Payne Walker Matthew Gilbert Trey Williams Eric Sinclair William Long Tristan Bothe Eugene Kim Warren Ericson Tristan Shackleford Omezue Onyiri Jaydee Davis

Pos. S RB RB CB RB QB QB LB WR QB WR QB WR S WR S WR CB S QB CB WR LB WR WR LB CB FB CB LB CB CB WR DE LB RB LB S RB RB S DE LB LB WR DE WR DE S LB LB WR WR CB WR LB S WR DE S DE LB LB OL DT OL LB OL DE

Yr. 11 12 11 11 11 12 12 12 11 9 10 11 12 11 12 10 11 11 9 10 10 12 10 11 12 10 12 12 10 11 12 10 11 12 12 10 10 10 10 9 11 12 11 11 10 11 10 11 9 11 11 11 11 9 10 9 12 10 12 10 10 11 10 9 10 12 10 12 11

58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 79 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

Will Hamilton Brandon Carr Tucker Heck Brayden Rouse Alexander Castaneda Wright Deas Tristan Meeks Camp Anderson Zach Walters Gavin Johnson Ethan Lankester Elias Sannoun Brodie Wilcox Knox Denning Justin Bullock Matthew Cato T.J. Skinner Aidan Brothers Carson Wiggins James Munlyn Liam Miller Deion Gilmore Ari Kamau Dalton Pearson Ryan Favre Cody Grill Nick Williams Patrick Skowronski Chris Miles Andrew Lim Cameron Cobb Conner Small Chuck Smith Fernando Collado Vincent Masino Cameron Clark Arthur Taran Jared Ivey Will Reichert Jorge Bacaro Asa Bondeson D.J. Cameron

OL LB OL OL OL OL DT OL OL DT DT DE OL DT OL OL OL OL OL OL DT DT OL WR WR S FB WR DE K WR WR DE DT DE K LB DE K DT DE DT

11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 12 10 10 10 10 12 11 10 11 11 9 10 11 12 10 10 12 10 12 11 11 10 12 11 10 11 10 11 10 10 12 12 10 9

Head coach: Bill Stewart Assistant coaches: Jeff Carlberg, R.J. Luke, Mike Healy, Eric Wright, Stevie Jackson, Todd Faulkner, Andrew Schmidt, Boo Mitchell, Drew Dasher, Russell King, Eric Young, Carter Thomason, Mike O’Rouke, George Frazier, Arthur Cho, Drew Freeman, Tracey Jenkins, Kyle McKee, Lonnie White, Jimmy Cunningham Trainers: Kylie Bennett, Anya Bowers, Cary DeGraff, Maya Ducar, Christiana Fectau, Avery Gibson, Caitlin Gronlund, Tila Malaythong, Taylor Monica, Raylene Saint Amour, Lexi Sereno, Sydney Southerland, Jackie Thai, Jennifer Tobar, Courtney Wentzel Video crew: Alex Pearce, Jack Armstrong, J.J. Dibartolo, Parker Waters Medical staff: Steve Fisher, Evan Blackburn Principal: Nathan Ballentine Athletic director: Matt Champitto Equipment director: Chris Skinner Head trainer: Doug Wardy Assistant trainer: Crissy Curran Band director: Rudy Gilbert Athletic coordinator: Kathy Johnson

2017 RESULTS North Gwinnett Bulldogs (14-1) Regular season vs. Walton L 31-28 at MIlton W 31-28 Hillgrove W 33-9 at Norcross W 35-14 at Mountain View W 27-14 Mill Creek W 35-21 Duluth W 52-0

Peachtree Ridge W at Collins Hill W at Discovery W State playoffs North Forsyth W Grayson W Marietta W McEachern W Colquitt County W

44-8 45-6 41-7 55-7 35-28 51-41 38-17 19-17

GSWA FINAL PREP FOOTBALL POLL (First place votes in parentheses) Class AAAAAAA

School Pts. Prv. 1. North Gwinnett (13) 130 7 2. Colquitt County 114 9 3. McEachern 87 NR 4. Brookwood 85 8 5. Archer 81 2 6. Tift County 60 t4 7. Parkview 37 NR 8. Lowndes 33 1 9. Marietta 31 NR 10. Grayson 30 3 Others receiving votes: Walton 16, Mill Creek 6, Milton 4, Hillgrove 2, Newton 1, Woodstock 1 Dropped out: South Forsyth (6), Walton (t4), Milton (10) Class AAAAAA School Pts. Prv. 1. Lee County (13) 130 3 2. Coffee 117 6 3. Tucker 98 1 4. Glynn Academy 94 9 5. Mays 70 2 6. Alpharetta 54 NR 7. Allatoona 50 10 8. Harrison 48 8 9. Douglas Co. 20 t4 10. Northside-Warner Robins 18 t4 Others receiving votes: Dacula 9, Centennial 3, Brunswick 2, Evans 2, Richmond Hill 1 Dropped out: Brunswick (7) Class AAAAA School Pts. Prv. 1. Rome (13) 130 1 2. Warner Robins 110 4 3. Buford 107 3 4. Stockbridge 87 2 5. Carver-Atlanta 83 6 6. Jones County 59 7 7. Carrollton 48 10 8. Starr’s Mill 41 8 9. Wayne County 22 9 10. Ware County 10 NR Others receiving votes: Griffin 4, Eagle’s Landing 3, Flowery Branch 3, Arabia Mountain 2, Bainbridge 2 Dropped out: Griffin (5) Class AAAA School Pts. Prv. 1. Blessed Trinity (13) 130 7 2. Marist 117 4 3. Mary Persons 89 NR 4. St. Pius X 82 NR 5. Cartersville 64 1 t6. Burke County 58 3 6. Woodward Academy 58 6 8. Jefferson 49 9 9. Thomson 43 5 10. Cedartown 9 8 Others receiving votes: Ridgeland 8, Troup 5, Americus-Sumter 2, Eastside-Covington 1 Dropped out: Ridgeland (2), Heritage-Catoosa (10) Class AAA School Pts. Prv. 1. Calhoun (12) 129 5 2. Peach County (1) 118 3 3. Cedar Grove 99 1 4. Greater Atlanta Christian 95 2 5. Jenkins-Savannah 66 4 t6. Liberty County 51 NR t6. Westminster 51 NR 8. Pike County 46 NR 9. Monroe Area 21 8 10. Crisp County 16 6 Others receiving votes: Lovett 8, East Hall 6, Westside-Macon 3, Bremen 2, Cook 2, Pierce County 2 Dropped out: Morgan County (7), Bremen (9), Lovett (10) Class AA School Pts. Prv. 1. Hapeville Charter (12) 129 4 2. Rabun County (1) 117 5 3. Heard County 98 6 4. Brooks County 87 8 5. Benedictine 78 1 6. Thomasville 68 3 7. Screven County 55 2 8. Callaway 38 9 9. Dodge County 15 7 10. Jefferson County 10 10 Others receiving votes: Toombs County 9, Rockmart 8, Pepperell 2 Class A (Public) School Pts. Prv. 1. Clinch County (13) 130 8 2. Irwin County 117 4 t3. Emanuel County Institute 97 5 t3. Mt. Zion-Carroll 97 NR 5. Manchester 76 2 6. Macon County 61 10 7. Charlton County 57 NR 8. Mitchell County 31 NR t9. Marion County 12 NR t9. Schley County 12 NR Others receiving votes: Lincoln County 10, Pelham 8, Dooly County 5, Washington-Wilkes 3, Commerce 1 Class A (Private) School Pts. Prv. 1. Eagle’s Landing Christian (13) 130 1 2. Athens Academy 117 6 3. Mount Paran Christian 95 3 4. Prince Avenue Christian 85 7 5. Stratford Academy 69 NR 6. Calvary Day 50 NR 7. Darlington 37 NR 8. Savannah Country Day 36 NR 9. Wesleyan 19 9 10. Aquinas 11 NR Others receiving votes: Mt. Pisgah 4, Mt. Vernon Presbyterian 3, Whitefield Academy 3.

North Gwinnett’s Josh Downs (11) picks up a first down before Colquitt County defender Montavious Ponder (23) tackles him during Friday’s Class AAAAAAA state championship game. (Photo: Craig Cappy)

North’s final drive was mix of patience, luck

By Taylor Denman

times called bend-but-don’t-

It’s a staple of every football team’s offensive playbook, but at North Gwinnett High School, it’s called Red Game.

“A lot of people want to use the term red as in the score zone,” North offensive coordinator Stevie Jackson said. “We use red as, like, an alert. Sirens going, dog.”

Two-minute offenses are like seatbelts: You’d rather they not have to save your life, but you wouldn’t dare drive on the interstate without them.

The Bulldogs were glad to be buckled in with 49.5 seconds remaining in last Friday’s Class AAAAAAA state title game against Colquitt County. The Packers left North with little margin for error after they drained roughly five minutes off the clock to take a one-point lead on their final offensive drive.

It doesn’t take a ton of football experience to deduce why a section of a team’s offensive playbook is dubbed a two-minute drill. When the clock dwindles below 2:00, the offense has to score frantically. In a sense, the objective of a football game doesn’t get simpler than when the clock ticks inside two minutes. If the offense scores, it wins. If the defense holds, it wins. Ticktock, tick-tock.

But what happens when there are less than two minutes? Less than one minute?

More or less, the offense has to take what the opposing defense is willing to concede. Some-

from short- to medium-range in hopes of preventing the big play that leads to a score.

A touchback gave North the ball on its own 20-yard line to start the final drive of the game. In the offensive huddle before the drive began, Bulldog players said there might have been a sense of urgency, but no sense of panic.

With the extra week in practice, North’s two-minute drill was more polished than usual.

One day, North ran the Red Game drill three times in one practice.

“It’s Red Game,” quarterback Jimmy Urzua said. “We do that in practice every day, so we were all calm and we knew exactly what we had to do.”

Colquitt seemed to be willing to concede medium-range passes on the North Gwinnett side of midfield. Urzua completed a few passes for first downs — 13 yards to L.J. Fisher and 11 yards to Josh Downs and Tyler Goodson.

Perhaps most importantly, his receivers were able to slide out of bounds, and North preserved its timeouts. That helped combat North’s second enemy: the game clock. North had all three timeouts entering the drive, a luxury Jackson said he normally doesn’t have in practice situations. “(In practice) sometimes we have a max of about 1:20,” Jackson said. “Usually if I have that much time I don’t get a timeout.

If I’m under a minute I get probably one timeout. We have to manage that part of it, too.”

taylor.denman@gwinnettdailypost.com break defense will be softer

Then, disaster. North had crossed midfield with the clock creeping under 20 seconds to go and appeared to have a legitimate shot of getting into fieldgoal range. Urzua dropped back and found Colquitt linebacker J.J. Peterson bearing down on him. Urzua was sacked while trying to ditch the football for an incomplete pass, but the flail seemed more like a near fumble as the ball skittered out of bounds.

No longer in field-goal range with 13 seconds left, North had to take its shots at the end zone.

“I ain’t going to lie, my heart dropped,” Goodson said. “We kept playing through it, they had some penalties and our kicker came in clutch.”

The rest has been well-covered and debated for the past four days. Four penalties in the final 10 seconds, capped by a pass interference call as time expired, set up a 38-yard field goal attempt. Season over.

“I saw we were in field goal range and I said, ‘Coach, kick the ball,’” Urzua said. “I have full confidence in my kicker, Cam Clark. He’ll make that nine out of 10 times.”

Perhaps it’s fair to say Colquitt County might have lost the game earlier than the final drive. The Packers were driving late in the first half before being sacked out of field goal range. Three points would have been the difference between a win and a loss. North Gwinnett’s defense held the Packers to a punt after turning the ball over on a freaky play when a short Colquitt punt hit a Bulldog player in the back, re-

sulting in a live ball recovered by the Packers. Had Packers’ receiver Daijun Edwards not rescued a Steven Krajewski pass from skipping off the turf, Colquitt would have turned over on downs and North could have killed the remaining seconds on the clock. It’s easy to split hairs when reflecting on a football game, especially one decided by the hair-thin gap between Cameron Clark’s winning kick and the uprights.

But the ballgame turned into Red Game for North Gwinnett.

At that point, winning isn’t as much about heroics as it is about each player doing their job, including Jackson giving signals on the sidelines.

“We take a lot of pride in it,” Jackson said. “People walk away from practice. The defense — who usually gets the best of us — if they stop us, we feel like we had a bad day at practice.

“They helped us out a little bit today, but we were in a position to make some plays there.”

Friday’s title is the eighth in the school’s more than 50-year history. North most recently captured the 2016 softball state title, one of four in the program’s history (1989, 1988, 1985). The girls soccer team owns one (2010), and the girls cross country team captured one in 2009.

“It’s just a roller coaster right now,” running back Cameron Butler said after the game. “It’s all glory to God, because we’ve been working hard. We pushed through it and came out victorious.”

Suwanee to celebrate North title Thursday From Staff Reports Just as the holiday break from high school begins for North Gwinnett students, the football program will be treated to a big party Thursday night.

Suwanee Town Center Park North Gwinnett celebrates its state title win over Colquitt Counwill host a community celebraty on Friday night. (Photo: Will Fagan)

tion of the Bulldogs’ first state championship, beginning at 7 p.m. The football players and coaches are part of the event, as are the cheerleaders and the band.

North has been in celebration mode since Friday, when it defeated Colquitt County 19-17 for the Class AAAAAAA title.

ondeck Prep Schedule

BASKETBALL

Today

• Central at Decatur • Norcross girls in Crescom Bank Invitational • Parkview boys in Cleveland Stroud Classic at Rockdale Co. • Shiloh girls in Jones County Christmas Tournament 5 p.m. — Brookwood at Duluth 5 p.m. — Dacula girls at Mountain View 6 p.m. — Lanier at Peachtree Ridge 7 p.m. — Peachtree Ridge girls in Storm Classic at Providence Thursday

BASKETBALL

• Collins Hill boys and Johns Creek at Lambert • Hawks Naismith Showcase at Norcross • Norcross girls in Crescom Bank Invitational • Parkview boys in Cleveland Stroud Classic at Rockdale Co. • Parkview girls in New Manchester Classic • Shiloh girls in Jones County Christmas Tournament • Peachtree Ridge girls in Storm Classic at Providence 4 p.m. — Buford and Collins Hill at Norcross 4 p.m. — Discovery girls and Lithia Springs at New Manchester 7:30 p.m. — Mountain View boys and Choctaw (Fla.) at Lambert

WRESTLING

9 a.m. — Brookwood in Smokey Mountain Duals in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

9 a.m. — Kyle Maynard Duals at Collins Hill 10 a.m. — Duluth, Central at Wesleyan 5 p.m. — Lanier, Dacula in Eric Hill Memorial at Loganville

The Home Teams

Falcons

Hawks

UGA football

TODAY NEXT UPCOMING

Off

at New Orleans Carolina Sun, 1 p.m.

Dec. 31, 1 p.m.

Fox/92.9-FM Fox/92.9-FM

Indiana at Oklahoma City Dallas 7:30 p.m.

Fri, 8 p.m.

Sat, 7:30 p.m.

FSSE/92.9-FM FSSE/92.9-FM FSSE/92.9-FM

vs. Oklahoma* Off Jan. 1, 5 p.m.

ESPN/750-AM

TBD

Off

at South Carolina Fri, 7:05 p.m.

at Jacksonville Thu, 7:30 p.m.

Gladiators

GSU hoops

at UMass at Chattanooga at South Ala. 7 p.m.

Sat, 1 p.m.

Dec. 29, 8 p.m.

88.5-FM 88.5-FM 88.5-FM

UGA hoops

Off

Temple at Kentucky Fri, 1 p.m.

Dec. 31, 6 p.m.

SECN/750-AM SECN/750-AM

Tech hoops

Off

Wright State Coppin State Fri, 9 p.m.

Dec. 27, 9 p.m.

FSSO/93.7-FM ACCN/93.7-FM FSSE = FOX Sports Southeast, FSSO = FOX Sports South; *Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.

On TV

7 p.m. — Evansville at Duke ESPN2 7 p.m. — Wagner at Seton Hall FS1 9 p.m. — Wofford at North Carolina ESPN2 9 p.m. — South Carolina Upstate at Creighton FS1 11 p.m. — Kansas State at Washington State ESPN2

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

8 p.m. — DXL Frisco Bowl, Louisiana Tech vs Southern Methodist ESPN

NBA

7:30 p.m. — Indiana at Atlanta FSSE

NHL

8 p.m. — Detroit at Philadelphia NBCSP Thursday

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. — American at Marquette FS1 7 p.m. — Western Illinois at Butler FSSE 9 p.m. — Connecticut at Arizona ESPN2 9 p.m. — Miami (Ohio) at DePaul FS1 11 p.m. — Kansas at Stanford ESPN2

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

8 p.m. — Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl, Temple vs Florida International ESPN

NBA

8 p.m. — Boston at New York TNT 10:30 p.m. — San Antonio at Utah TNT

NHL

8 p.m. — Carolina at Nashville FSSO

• Will Hammock, Sports Editor: will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com • Christine Troyke, Staff Writer: christine.troyke@gwinnettdailypost.com • David Friedlander, Staff Writer: david.friedlander@gwinnettdailypost.com • Scott Smith, Senior Correspondent: scott.smith@gwinnettdailypost.com • Taylor Denman, Staff Writer, taylor.denman@gwinnettdailypost.com • To report scores, call 770-339-5850

Brookwood’s Horne commits to Tuskegee

Brookwood senior D.J. Horne made a commitment Monday night to the Tuskegee University (Ala.) football program.

Horne, a 6-foot, 220-pound defensive end, helped the Broncos to the Class AAAAAAA state semifinals this past season and was a second-team all-county selection by the Touchdown Club of Gwinnett. He finished the season with 134 tackles (37 for losses), 13 sacks and 29 quarterback hurries.

South celebrates college baseball signings

South Gwinnett held a signing celebration last week to recognize three seniors who will play college baseball.

The players honored were Georgia signee Cabrera Weaver, Andrew College

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017 • 11A

Quinn not pleased with execution Falcons prevail despite miscues The Sports Xchange FLOWERY BRANCH — The Atlanta Falcons have won five of six games and are right in the thick of the NFC playoff race.

But Falcons head coach Dan Quinn knows his team must play better in order to win at least one more game and reach the playoffs. If they can win out against the Saints and the Panthers, they can reclaim their NFC South title.

“Heading into this game, as division games go, I just had a sense that this one was going to go all the way (to the end),” Quinn said of the 24-21 win Monday night over the Buccaneers. “When we talked, way back, I thought this division was going to be a battle. The teams were going to fight like hell against one another and that’s been the case so far.”

Quinn didn’t like the film review of the Bucs game. The Falcons know they’ll need a much better game against the Saints. “(There are) some things, as we went through the film this morning, that we need to get cleaned up for sure,” Quinn said.

“But I thought creating a turnover in the red zone by (Keanu) Neal with the fumble recovery and that one and Levine (Toilolo) taking care of the ball and getting it in the end zone on Devonta (Freeman’s) fumble, I thought that was a real factor for us.”

Quinn was not pleased with the missed tackles on defense, heading into what will be an open-field game against the Saints.

“I don’t have the total number of missed tackles, but it was way too high in our opinion,” Quinn said.

On special teams, the

Tampa Bay free safety Chris Conte (23) forces a fumble by Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman (24) during the second half of Monday’s game in Tampa, Fla. (Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA Today Sports)

Falcons had a blocked field-goal attempt when guard Austin Pasztor got steamrolled by William Gholston.

“We are going to turn the page quick to New Orleans,” Quinn said.

Falcons starting left guard Andy Levitre, who has a triceps injury, is expected to return to practice, while running back Tevin Coleman remains in the NFL concussion protocol, Quinn said.

“We’ll likely see (Andy) Levitre getting some work heading into this week,” Quinn said. “I’ll give you an update on him (Wednes-

day) and where we’ll go. … There’s no change in the status of Tevin Coleman at the moment. I’ll give you an update on him as it goes through the week.”

With the Bucs determined to slow down wide receiver Julio Jones, Freeman had to make them pay. He rushed 22 times for 126 yards and caught five passes for 68 yards as he combined for 194 total yards.

“I was just trying to do what I do,” Freeman said.

With Coleman out in the concussion protocol, Freeman had to carry most of

the load against the Bucs and may have to do so against the Saints.

“I have a lot of work to do,” Freeman said. “I still feel like we’ve got a lot of work to do. We have not played our best ball.

There’s a lot of football out there for us.”

It wasn’t a perfect day for Freeman, who had two fumbles.

“I feel like it was just the overall, complete game for me other than the two fumbles I had,” Freeman said. “I could definitely get better there and not even put our team in a situation like that.”

NFL ROUNDUP

Green Bay places Rodgers on IR Green Bay (7-7) was eliminated from playAaron Rodgers’ triumoff contention thanks to phant return from a broken Atlanta’s 24-21 win versus right collarbone lasted all Tampa Bay on Monday of one week. night.

On Tuesday, the Green A two-time NFL MVP Bay Packers placed their and six-time Pro Bowler, star quarterback on injured the 34-year-old Rodgers reserve, officially ending passed for 1,675 yards, 16 his season after he retouchdowns and six interturned from an eight-week ceptions over seven games absence to start Sunday’s this season, his 13th in the loss against the Carolina NFL. Panthers.

Rodgers ranks secRodgers was hit seven ond all-time in franchise times in Sunday’s 31-24 history in passing yards loss, including three sacks. (38,502) and touchdowns “Aaron Rodgers is sore, thrown (313), trailing only rightfully so,” Packers the legendary Brett Favre coach Mike McCarthy told in both categories (61,655 the Milwaukee Journal and 442, respectively).

Sentinel on Monday when Among active quarasked about the possibility terbacks, Rodgers ranks of Rodgers starting against eighth in career passing Minnesota on Saturday. yards and sixth in touch“He was hit too many downs. times, took two big hits.

The Packers also anSo we’re working through nounced on Tuesday the that.” signing of quarterback Joe Rodgers completed 26 Callahan. The 24-year-old of 45 passes for 290 yards Callahan spent the first six and had three touchdown weeks of this season on passes opposite three inthe practice squad before terceptions in his return in being elevated to the active Carolina. roster on Saturday.

The Sports Xchange

Today

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Feedback

gwinnettdailypost.com

Callahan has not appeared in a game this season. He was originally signed by the team as an undrafted free agent out of Wesley College in 2016.

In addition, Green Bay released fullback Joe Kerridge from the active roster and quarterback Jerod Evans from the practice squad.

Instagram. “This season will be one for the books and i wish i could be there to help my team make this playoff run. I refuse to let this injury be anything more than a minor setback.

“Life keeps you on your toes and you cant always control what happens. But what you can control is how you choose to react to the situation that has been placed before you.

Detroit receiver Jones Thank you for the love and done for season support through this tough Detroit Lions wide retime. 2018 im coming ceiver T.J. Jones has been you!” placed on injured reserve Jones has 45 catches for with an ailing shoulder, the 624 yards and two touchteam announced.

Jones, who sustained his downs in 27 career games with the Lions. injury during Saturday’s game versus the Chicago Bucs’ Glanton undergoes Bears, reeled in 30 recepsurgery on broken leg tions for 399 yards and one Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown this season. linebacker Adarius Glanton The 25-year-old native underwent surgery Tuesof Winnipeg, Manitoba, day to repair the broken leg saw more playing time he sustained in Monday’s after rookie Kenny Gollagame, ESPN reported. day missed time with a Glanton broke his left hamstring injury. leg after colliding with “Nothing hurts more teammate Robert Ayers than having the game you love taken away from you while trying to sack Atlanta abruptly,” Jones posted on quarterback Matt Ryan.

IN BRIEF signee Bailey Shannon and Florida South- (fourth at 220) and Luke Hennebaul (sixth western signee Marc Davis. Weaver had at 182).

13 RBIs and 12 stolen bases as a junior, Shannon hit .377 with 16 RBIs and Davis Key remains unbeaten had a 5-3 record with a 3.25 ERA and 43 in Brookwood wins strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings.

Brookwood’s Matthew Key continued his impressive start this season, helping Mountain View wrestlers the Broncos to dual meet wins over rival fifth in tough Tenn. tourney Parkview and Lanier last week.

Key improved to 18-0 this season, Mountain View placed fifth out of 32 moving within one victory of 150 for teams over the weekend at the Bradley his career (149-34). Brookwood won its Central (Tenn.) Invitational.

Battle of Five Forks with Parkview 62-15 Commerce was first in the event, foland defeated Lanier 62-18. lowed by Bradley Central, Alexander, Blackman (Tenn.) and Mountain View.

Chase Standridge (second place at 160 Gwinnett’s Maurer pounds) and R.J. Aguirre (third at 106) signs with FC Dallas were the Bears’ top finishers.

One Gwinnett native has left FC Dallas Other Mountain View placers were this offseason, but another is headed to Rick Shores (fourth at 1130, Garrett the Major League Soccer club.

Spikes (fourth at 170), Harrison Spikes FC Dallas announced Monday that it

has signed goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, a Lawrenceville native who played high school soccer at St. Pius and college soccer at South Carolina. The 29-year-old has played with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League since 2013.

Maurer has started 105 matches for the Cosmos since 2014, posting a 1.48 goals-against average this past season and earning a spot on the NASL’s Best XI in 2014 with a GAA of 0.91. He signed with FC Dallas for one match this summer as a fill-in when Jessie Gonzalez was with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Brookwood grad Walker Zimmerman was a key part of the FC Dallas defense since the club made him a first-round draft choice in 2013, but he was traded earlier this month to the expansion Los Angeles Football Club.

— From staff reports

12A • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017

gwinnettdailypost.com

Playoffs evoke strong memories of local official

By David Friedlander

david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

A group of local baseball coaches, including Wesleyan’s Brian Krehmeyer, left, and Providence’s Adam Cantrell, back right, just completed a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. (Special Photo)

Meaningful holiday Baseball coaches find rewards in spiritual, service retreat to Dominican Republic

By David Friedlander

david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

For many, the holidays are a time for vacation.

For others, they are a time of reflection, as well as a time to dedicate oneself for service to others.

For several high school baseball coaches throughout Gwinnett County and Georgia, it is both, and more.

At the behest of former Wesleyan coach Mike Shaheen, about a half dozen of those coaches gathered in the Dominican Republic, where Shaheen had run a Fellowship of Christian Athletes missionary for six years before returning to the United States a year ago, the week of Thanksgiving.

The idea was to do some service projects, including a baseball clinic for a team of local high school-aged students in the town of San Pedro de Macoris, helping rebuild the house of one of the coaches that was damaged by two hurricanes that hit the Dominican Republic this summer and fall, and just to get together to share their friendships.

Almost a month later, with Christmas now approaching, it was an experience those coaches are still talking about and marveling over.

“It was great,” said Shaheen, who is back in metro Atlanta as head coach at Mt. Pisgah School in Alpharetta. “Going somewhere on a trip with your best friends, talking, telling stories and playing cards every night after being worn out working every day, it was great. And they had to rough it. No hot water, no (air conditioning). It was really good.”

During his six years in the Dominican Republic, Shaheen had hosted a number of the coaches and some of their teams several times, including Brian Krehmeyer, a former assistant and his successor at Wesleyan, Providence Christian’s Adam Cantrell and Brookstone’s Vince Massey, the son of longtime Parkview assistant Roy “Chief” Massey.

But when Cantrell made a trip to the Caribbean island nation a year ago, the seeds were sown to gather several of the like-minded

A group of local baseball coaches recently completed a mission trip the Dominican Republic. (Special Photo)

head coaches together.

“Mike’s always wanted to get a group of us coaches, just coaches, to go and do some different things,” Cantrell said. “It was really just three or four different times we tried to get it going, And for whatever reason, just could never get it together, including last year.

“As soon as we got back last year, we started trying to recruit people to go. He talked to every (coach he knew) who is a believer.

He told them, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing.’ We had a lot of interest, but a lot of guys who couldn’t go for various reasons.

(Hebron Christian’s) Ben Drust wanted to go, but his wife was having a baby.

Robbie Wilson from GAC was interested in going, but (he and his wife) just had another baby.

“When all was said and done, only about six of us could go. All of us knew each other fairly well.

(Deerfield-Windsor’s) Jonathan Davis, who now lives in Albany — he was the coach at Calvary Day (in Savannah) for a long time — we’d talked on the phone a ton, but we’d never met each other until this breakfast we had together to kind of get prepared to go down there. So that was kind of fun.”

The group of coaches, which also included Lovett’s Lance Oubs, had plenty of fun during their five-day trip, but there was also plenty of work to be done.

And in a lot of cases, the two converged.

“We were actually helping construct a house for the coach from a particular village called

Consuelo,” Krehmeyer said. “We would work at his home through lunch.

Then after lunch, the plan was we would go and put a baseball clinic on for his players. Well, it was raining every afternoon.

So Tuesday, we decided we were going to switch up our schedule and we would do the baseball in the morning.

“It was fantastic because the baseball practices in the Dominican, it’s more just preparing them for showcases. They run, they take batting practice and they field ground balls.

The fundamentals are often overlooked. So we spent time working through a lot of the drills we would do with our teams in the early stages of the season.”

Helping rebuild a house and bridging the differences in the baseball culture weren’t the only challenges the group of coaches faced during their week in the Caribbean.

Cantrell in particular faced his own challenges just getting there.

“What was funny was we flew in to Punta Cana, which is a big resort town, and one of the things you have to write on your visa is where you’re going. I didn’t remember the name of San Pedro (de Macoris). … When I was coming in, I was flying separately (from the rest of the group because I waited too long to buy my ticket and the plane was booked. When they filled out on their (visas) they were going to San Pedro, the people didn’t believe them. …

They detained them, it was really funny.

“My difficulty came when they wanted to check

my bags. I had, like, 40 baseball gloves and five dozen baseballs in there.

Something set off the alarm. They said, ‘What’s in there,’ and I said, ‘Baseballs and gloves.’ … So they open it up and asked, ‘Why are you bringing all this stuff down here?’ I told them I was a coach.

I said, ‘I’m not an important coach. I’m just a high school coach.’ They were really excited when I told them I was a coach, and I hated to disappoint them.”

The challenges, and the laughs they eventually produced, aside, the coaches also couldn’t help but notice the symbolism of the fact their trip took place during Thanksgiving week.

And while that week provides the convenience of school not being in session, they all agree it seems an appropriate time of year to make the trip again, something they now hope to do annually.

“Obviously Thanksgiving, and what that symbolizes and what it is,” Shaheen said. “But then add to it that the Dominican and Puerto Rico and Haiti, all the Caribbean islands got crushed by a couple storms in a row (this summer). So it was definitely meaningful, more meaningful maybe than intended from the beginning.

“All the schools were very supportive and excited their coach was going down there. Most of the guys — well, really all of them — said that this is something they’d love to do each year. … I’m going to be going anyway, having that ministry, that nonprofit. So we go as a family, but bringing those guys is priceless.”

Call 770-963-9205 or visit www.gwinnettdailypost.com to subscribe to the

Gwinnett Daily Post.

Being a sports official can often be a lonely job, an idea easy to understand given the reaction to some controversial calls during the Georgia High School Association state football playoffs.

Yet those close to Steven Camp, who passed away at the age of 65 last month from a sudden illness, agree the veteran local football and basketball official lived to make calls in such situations.

While he spent most of his professional career in the real estate business, Camp brought a passion to his avocation that won’t soon be forgotten.

“He was an unbelievable official,” said Tom Skinner, a longtime friend and fellow football official with Multi-County Football Officials association. “More than that, he was an unbelievable man.

You couldn’t help but admire him. He was just an amazing person.

“I got into officiating 14 years ago, and from Day 1, he sort of served as my mentor. During the season, there wasn’t a week that went by that I wouldn’t talk to him about rules or a football play. I’d be in traffic, and I’d call him with a question like, ‘What would happen in this situation?’

And he’d always pick up the phone. He was a rules guru. … I can’t tell you the number of times I saw some weird play, and he’d be the first one I’d call. I’d usually try to look up (the rule) myself, but he was always available to talk and impart his wisdom.”

Skinner’s remembrances hit on two very common impressions Camp made on his friends and colleagues throughout his 42 years as a sports official, first in Savannah before moving to Sugar Hill in 2003.

One was how he selflessly served as a mentor for countless younger officials, whether it was on the high school level through his work with the Coastal football and basketball associations in Savannah or the MultiCounty associations for both sports, or on the youth level, where he worked as an official with the Gwinnett Football and Basketball Leagues.

“He served as a mentor to a lot of guys,” said Bill Lewis, president of the Multi-County Basketball Officials Association. “He was very welcoming (to new officials) and made it easy for guys to acclimate themselves to our group.

He would challenge what we already have, which is a strong sense of family, and would raise it to another level.

“The impact he had as a member was he was able to spread a level of professionalism to others. … He definitely served as a mentor to many officials. His legacy as an official will go on. He gave so much back (to high school and youth sports).

His legacy won’t be gone just because he’s gone.”

The other main thing Camp is remembered most for is his knowledge of the rulebook for the sports he officiated, and how much that knowledge helped him apply those rules in a variety of situations that would come up in games.

A perfect example, said Lewis, came Nov. 22, just hours before he passed away.

Steven Camp

“

(Steven Camp) was an unbelievable official. More than that, he was an unbelievable man.

You couldn’t help but admire him. He was just an amazing person.”

— Tom Skinner, a longtime friend and fellow official of Steven Camp’s

“I’m blessed to have officiated in Steve’s last game,” Lewis said. “Steve and I and Doug Richardson were calling a game at Dacula in the (Craig) Sager (Memorial Basketball) Tournament. …

Steve’s last call as a high school sports official was in a game between South Gwinnett and Harrison.

It was a very competitive game and Steve had a play underneath the goal, while I was the trailing official.

“Harrison had about three or four put-back attempts, but the ball never went in. The last time, a kid from Harrison went up for a rebound and fell to the floor. The Harrison coach thought there was a foul, but Steve came up with the strong call of traveling, and South Gwinnett was able to run the clock out. What stood out about that call is that … Steve did the right thing, even in a tough situation. He didn’t make an easy call, he made the right call. It took some courage to call it when there were other ways to get out of the situation.

And when we got back to the locker room, I told him, ‘Thank you for making the right call.’”

While such calls may not always gain the appreciation of players, coaches and fans of teams they may go against, one thing that is certain is Camp earned the respect from everyone from fellow officials to players, coaches and fans alike.

He had been scheduled to serve as the head referee for Class A (Private) state quarterfinal game between Stratford Academy and Mt. Paran Christian in Marietta over the Thanksgiving weekend before he passed, and he was honored with a pregame moment of silence.

And according to Multi-County Football Officials Association president Chris Stroud, Camp was also under consideration for an assignment to one of the state championship games.

And aside from his experience, knowledge and skill as an official — all reasons for him to be in such position to call big games like that — Stroud said there were other reasons more rooted in his personality.

“He made a profound impact on and off the field,” Stroud said.

“Coaches in Gwinnett County all respected him. … He was a rules guru, to be sure, but he was also a very calming influence on the field. That was perhaps one of his greatest strengths.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017 • 13A

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Norcross eager Buford remains unbeaten with rout to host HawksNaismith Classic PREP ROUNDUP

From Staff Reports

BUFORD — The Buford girls basketball team ran its record to 9-0 with a 64-29 victory over Morgan County on Tuesday.

Audrey Weiner (14 points), Tory Ozment (12 points) Audrey and Preston Reid (10 Weiner points) were all in double figures for the Wolves.

By David Friedlander

david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Norcross High School has played host to plenty of high school basketball showcase events in recent years.

However, it’s doubtful even the House of Blue has seen the kind of event quite like the inaugural HawksNaismith Holiday Classic, which tips off at 2 p.m.

Thursday, with a full slate of high-profile boys and girls matchups over the following three days.

As the name implies, the event is a result of the partnership between the Atlanta Hawks, the Naismith Awards and the Atlanta Tipoff Club, with the idea of not only showcasing some of Georgia’s top boys and girls high school basketball teams, but also giving back to the community.

“The Hawks-Naismith Holiday Classic is a wonderful opportunity for our organization to bring communities together to showcase the best high school basketball programs in Georgia,” Jon Babul, a former Georgia Tech player, former metro Atlanta high school coach and current vice president of basketball development for the Hawks, said in a statement released Tuesday. “For a player, coach or fan, there is nothing quite like the pure energy and excitement that radiates from a packed high school gymnasium. We will bring together basketball fans from throughout the state as we celebrate the competitive spirit of high school basketball in Georgia.”

In addition to the basketball games, there will also be a free Junior Hawks Basketball Clinic for 200 kids ages 8-14 on both Friday and Saturday morning.

There also will be a program, co-sponsored by Atlanta attorney Ken Nugent, that will feature 12 youths from Gwinnett Children’s Shelter who are “adopted” by teams participating in the event.

Those teams will wrap gifts for their designated adoptees, with each child also receiving a free ticket to the Hawks’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday at Philips Arena.

Throw in the exciting three days of basketball action, and it was too good an opportunity for Norcross’ program to pass up when approached by the Hawks to host the event.

“The Atlanta Tipoff Club has been trying to explore some options to get more involved in the high school programs in the city,” said Norcross boys head coach Jesse McMillan, whose Blue Devils will close out

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Wesleyan 96, Miller Grove 40 COLLEGE PARK — A.C. Carter led Wesleyan with 19 points and seven rebounds in a 96-40 rout of Miller Grove on Tuesday at Woodward Academy’s tournament.

Amaya Register added 18 points and five assists for the Wolves (7-1).

Fellow senior Sutton West had 11 points and seven steals. Wesleyan also got significant contributions from a pair of freshmen. Paige Ly-

ons had nine points and five steals, while Alyssa Phillip got to double figures with 12 points.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Mount Bethel 55, Wesleyan 46 NORCROSS — Christian McLean scored 13 points in Wesleyan’s 55-46 loss to Mount Bethel on Tuesday.

Grant Summers added nine points and Stevie Crawford pulled down 11 rebounds for the Wolves (2-3).

SWIMMING & DIVING ROUNDUP

Smithson, Henderson win dive invite ming and diving meet with South Gwinnett over the Collins Hill’s Peter weekend.

Smithson and Dacula’s Archer won the girls Lauren Henderson won competition with 252 the individual titles at the points to Lanier’s 192 and Gwinnett Dive Invitational South’s 80. Lanier was this past weekend. first in the boys meet with Smithson’s winning 255 points to Archer’s 210 total in the boys 11-dive and South’s 44. Archer competition was 547.60 won the overall points points, allowing him to competition. hold off a strong chalFirst-place finishers lenge from Greater Atlanta for Archer were Madilyn Christian’s Tony Stewart.

Hays (girls 200 freeStewart finished with style, 2 minutes, 25.77 512.55 points. seconds and 100 backPeachtree Ridge’s stroke, 1:12.09), Ethan Oliver Stephan (374.85) Cortel-Fraser (boys 50 was third, followed by free, 24.18), Jayla Gillis Dacula’s Dayton Cady (girls 50 free, 27.31 and (361.55) in fourth and 100 butterfly, 1:11.12), North Gwinnett’s Valenti- Alyssa McGuffie (girls no Sorto (319.20) in fifth. diving, 178.10 points), Parkview’s Maxwell Pate Dylon Cook (boys 100 fly, (297.50), Mill Creek’s 1:01.93), Holden Boswell Jackson Jones (291.40), (boys 100 free, 57.81) and Parkview’s Charles Ward Sam Downs (boys 100 (284.95), Collins Hill’s breaststroke, 1:19.27).

Chauncey Robinson Lanier’s event winners (284.55) and Norcross’ were Phillip Motamedi James Moebes (278.80) (boys 200 free, 2:16.04), rounded out the boys top Seth Johnson (boys 200 10. individual medley, 2:18.15 Henderson won the and 100 backstroke, girls title with 378.05 58.92), Lilah Davis (girls points, finishing ahead of 200 IM, 2:25.29), Corbin runner-up Abby Camarda Michielson (boys diving, (355.25) of Norcross.

187.65), Katie Spathelf South Gwinnett’s Mo(girls 100 free, 1:06.29), nique Howson (328.35) Leo Forero (boys 500 free, was third, Mountain 5:38.82), Maya Donaldson View’s Magdalene Hen(girls 500 free, 5:44.82) nebaul (326.35) was fourth and Angelina Gutierrez and Brookwood’s Jordan (girls 100 back, 1:12.09).

Wolfe (313.75) finished South Gwinnett’s fifth.

Kale’alani James won the The remainder of the girls 100 breast (1:24.31). girls top 10 featured Mill Creek’s Reecy Brown Brookwood boys win (296.80), Mountain View’s Meet of Champions Mary Margaret Duffey The Brookwood boys (292.25), North Gwinwon the 11th annual MJB nett’s Kennedy Turner Meet of Champions over (272.15), unattached diver the weekend, while the Quinn Watch (259.95) and Bronco girls took second Duluth’s Jenna Kirschner place.

(252.10).

The boys team won the 14-team meet with 384 Archer, Lanier split points, while Johns Creek Archer and Lanier each was second at 355. Johns won a division of a swim- Creek won the girls cham-

From Staff Reports

Norcross’ Kevon Eskridge (25) goes up for a dunk against Meadowcreek during their game earlier this season at Norcross High School. (Photo: Will Fagan)

the event by taking on Holy Spirit Prep, a GISA school out of Atlanta, at 8 p.m. Saturday. “One of the things we discussed on our high school coaches committees was creating some clinics and creating some tournaments. This is the first opportunity to do that.

“The Atlanta Hawks came on board because the NBA now allows their franchises to pump some of their resources into high school events. The only caveat was that all the teams would have to be from around the community that serves the host team. Having the Hawks resources involved and their marketing material, they’re going to have a youth camp upstairs in the (Norcross auxiliary) gym and have some cheerleader and player appearances. It’s going to be really special, so we want to make sure we host it first-class. I’m excited. It’s great teams and good matchup.”

Indeed, each day will feature matchups of top teams from around the state — four games on Thursday and six each on Friday and Saturday — with Gwinnett County very prominent in the field.

Buford will send both its boys and girls team to compete on Thursday, while other Gwinnett teams scheduled to play include the Collins Hill and Wesleyan girls, as well as the Shiloh, South Gwinnett, Grayson, Discovery, Duluth, Meadowceek and Norcross boys.

“We’re excited,” said Meadowcreek coach Curtis Gilleylen, whose Mustangs will take on Sandy Creek in a 2 p.m. tipoff Saturday.

“This is the first time in the country for this type of thing where the NBA is being involved. We’re excited about that, and we’ve got Sandy Creek, which is a great team. It’s another chance for us to keep getting better. It’s good competition, different competition.”

PREP BASKETBALL What: Hawks-Naismith Holiday Classic When: Thursday-Saturday Where: Norcross High School Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students, children under 5 are free. Advance tickets can be purchased by visiting www.hawksnaismithclassic.com/#tickets or http://basketballacademy.hawks.com/pages/naismithclassic.

Schedule: Thursday 2 p.m. — Harrison vs. Lambert (girls) 4 p.m. — Buford vs. Collins Hill (girls) 6 p.m. — Buford vs. Shiloh (boys) 8 p.m. — Allatoona v. Miller Grove (boys) Friday 10 a.m. — Columbia vs. Holy Innocents’ (girls) Noon — Wesleyan vs. Sandy Creek (girls) 2 p.m. — South Gwinnett vs. Woodward Academy (boys) 4 p.m. — Mt. Bethel vs. Holy Innocents’ (boys) 6 p.m. — Grayson vs. Discovery (boys) 8 p.m. — Duluth vs. St. Francis (boys) Saturday 10 a.m. — Mays vs. Newton (girls) Noon — Tift Co. vs. Lovejoy (girls) 2 p.m. — Meadowcreek vs. Sandy Creek (boys) 4 p.m. — Greenforest Christ. vs. Langston Hughes (boys) 6 p.m. — Tift Co. vs. Newton (boys) 8 p.m. — Norcross vs. Holy Spirit Prep (boys)

pionship with 430 points to the Bronco girls’ 396.

Brookwood’s top-three boys finishers were Dylan Scott (second, 200 free, 1:43.59 and second, 500 free, 4:39.04), Keegan Walsh (second, 200 IM, 2:00.21 and second, 100 back, 53.30), Josh Garces (second, 50 free, 23.09), Drew Grier (third, 100 fly, 52.38) and Daniel Tran (second, 100 breast, 1:02.18).

The Broncos got high girls finishes from Tegan Sweeney (first, 200 free, 1:58.35 and first, 500 free, 5:13.46), Emma Claire Cohen (third, 200 free, 2:02.99 and 500 free, 5:13.71), Maddie Cordle (second, 50 free, 25.93 and second, 100 free, 56.30), Lauren Diehl (second, 100 fly, 1:02.99) and Katelyn Morris (second, 100 back, 1:02.44).

liams (girls 100 breast, 1:10.38).

Mountain View’s event wins came from SarahGrace Thompson (girls 200 IM, 2:14.43 and 500 free, 5:17.70), Maya Murphy (girls 50 free, 25.48), Sarah Wigle (girls 100 fly, 1:05.32), Hayden Brown (boys 100 back, 56.26) and Jarrett Hurd (boys diving, 130.95).

Grayson’s Carson Spiegal won girls diving (213.00).

Collins Hill tops Duluth Collins Hill posted victories against Duluth over the weekend, winning 170-139 in the girls division and 175.5-136.5 in the boys competition.

Duluth got first-place finishes from Ryan MacKinnon (boys 200 IM, 2:11.71), Metody Chervenkov (boys diving, 207.35), Nicolas Finol (boys 100 free, 51.65), Mill Creek defeats Mountain View, Grayson Matthew Lee (boys 100 back, 58.88), Bret Hazen Mill Creek won both (boys 100 breast, 1:06.68), divisions of a tri-meet Melody Giberson (girls with Mountain View and 50 free, 24.72), Jenna Grayson over the weekKirschner (girls diving, end.

204.40), Chloe Bingham The Hawks won the girls meet with 320 points (girls 100 fly, 1:07.09) and Ashley Neas (girls 500 to Mountain View’s 212 free, 5:43.45). and Grayson’s 142. Mill Creek’s boys team scored Wesleyan splits 338 points to Mountain with Dunwoody View’s 187 and Grayson’s Wesleyan’s boys team 129. defeated Dunwoody 175Mill Creek got first137 this past weekend, place efforts from Jake while the girls team lost Magahey (boys 200 free, 205-107 in the dual meet.

1:45.70 and 500 free, The Wolves’ event 4:43.74), Mia Walters winners were Colton Villa (girls 200 free, 2:01.86), (boys 200 free, 1:55.45), Collins Sainovich (boys Ethan Moon (boys 200 200 IM, 2:01.90), Nick IM, 2:07.64 and 500 Kalenik (boys 50 free, 23.19 and 100 free, 49.28), free, 5:20.14), Hannah Wasmuth (girls 200 IM, Jackson Ward (boys 100 2:23.92 and 100 back, fly, 55.26), Lainey Lioi 1:06.76), Jon Hunt Ficken (girls 100 free, 57.07), (boys 50 free, 22.58), CarAbigail Tashlein (girls 100 back, 1:00.72), Chase son Schiller (girls 50 free, 26.26) and Grant Beaty Childs (boys 100 breast, (boys 100 fly, 55.76).

1:05.76) and Bailey Wil-

SwimAtlanta claims short course title From Staff Reports

hoochee Gold (1,191.5).

The event featured 619 Marianne Allard, Reaswimmers and 38 clubs. gan Sweeney and Tegan Allard’s top finishes Sweeney placed highly were third in the 200-yard in multiple events, helpindividual medley (2 mining SwimAtlanta win utes, 5.76 seconds) and the Georgia Senior Short fourth in the 200 breastCourse State Championstroke (2:23.71). She also ships at Georgia Tech. was sixth in the 400 IM SwimAtlanta finished (4:31.82) and eighth in the the meet with 2,090.5 500 freestyle (5:03.43). points, putting the GwinReagan Sweeney was nett-based club ahead of second in the 200 butfellow contenders Dynamo terfly (2:03.63), third in (1,766.5) and Chattathe 100 fly (56.37), fifth

in the 200 free (1:52.03) and seventh in the 500 free (5:02.68). Her sister Tegan was third in the 200 free (1:51.42), fifth in the 500 free (5:00.78) and sixth in the 200 fly (2:05.67).

Evan McInerny placed well in three events (third in 400 IM, 4:04.60, 10th in 200 fly, 1:54.53, 14th in 200 IM, 1:56.78), as did Haden Hebenstreit (second in 500 free, 4:35.24, eighth in 200 free, 1:43.73, 11th in 200

back, 1:52.17).

Other Gwinnett placers included Lily Burke (seventh in 200 IM, 2:07.85, eighth in 100 free, 51.49), Emma Claire Cohen (ninth in 200 back, 2:04.91), Nick Kalenik (fifth in 500 free, 4:37.78, 11th in 1,000 free, 9:46.60), Collins Sainovich (eighth in 500 free, 4:39.71, 12th in 100 free, 47.28) and Zoe Walker (seventh in 200 breast, 2:24.84, 11th in 100 breast, 1:05.34).

Norcross’ Kamara picked for Pro Bowl From Staff Reports

New Orleans running back and Norcross grad Alvin Kamara (41) runs the ball ahead of Los Angeles Rams’ Mark Barron (26) during a game this season. (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA Today Sports)

been one of the most versatile running backs in Norcross grad Alvin football, rushing for 652 Kamara’s big rookie yards (6.6 per carry) and season brought another seven touchdowns and catching 68 passes for 684 reward Tuesday night — yards (10.1 per catch) and the New Orleans Saints five more scores. running back was named The Atlanta Falcons to the NFC roster for the had two Pro Bowl playPro Bowl.

Kamara was one of four ers — wide receiver Julio Jones and center Alex rookies selected for the Jan. 28 game in Orlando, Mack. It is the fifth Pro Bowl selection for both.

Fla., joining teammate The Pittsburgh Steelers Marshon Lattimore, led the NFL with eight Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt and Arizona’s Budda Pro Bowl selections, led by the NFL’s top receiver Baker. He is one of six Antonio Brown and rusher Saints in the game.

Le’Veon Bell.

The 22-year-old has

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SECTION B • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017

THE REAL McCOY

Senior thrives as Archer’s go-to player

By David Friedlander

david.friedlander@gwinnettdailypost.com

LAWRENCEVILLE — Throughout her basketball career at Archer High School, Asia McCoy has always carried plenty of responsibility for the team’s success.

After all, she was the Tigers’ leading scorer (13.3 ppg), third-leading rebounder (6.2 rpg) and third on the team in assists (1.9 apg) and steals (1.9 spg) for last year’s 25-5 team which advanced to the Class AAAAAAA state semifinals.

However, the 5-foot-10 senior wing also has always had plenty of help from a star-studded roster that includes current Division I college players like Autumn Newby, Madison Newby and Lynsey Marchese to help carry the leadership load.

With that trio gone from a program that has posted a 56-16 record and made the state Final Four three of the past four seasons — along other big contributors including Amber Skidgel, Tatiana Wayne and Tia Shorter — much of that burden now falls to her.

And that’s just the way McCoy likes it. In fact, she doesn’t really see See MCCOY, Page 3B

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Purdue football program lands Anderson, Durham From Staff Reports

Purdue’s football program landed a pair of college prospects from Gwinnett County over the weekend.

Collins Hill running back Evan Anderson and Peachtree Ridge tight end Payne Durham both committed to the Boilermakers during a weekend visit to the West Lafayette, Ind., campus. The two commit-

season, including running back Tario Fuller (Lanier) and defensive lineman Allen Daniels (Dacula).

Both Anderson and Durham were honored at last week’s Touchdown Club of Gwinnett’s season-ending Evan Payne banquet. Anderson was Anderson Durham Collins Hill’s winner of the ments give Purdue four Kevin Maloof Award, for commitments from Georgia the player who puts the team in the class of 2018. The above individual priorities, Boilermakers had 10 Geor- and Durham was the firstgians on their roster this team selection at tight end.

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Dacula announces 2018 athletic hall of fame class From Staff Reports

Machovec. Green has worked at Dacula since The Dacula High School 1992 and Machovec has Athletic Hall of Fame anworked there since 2004. nounced its class of 2018, They are joined by three which will be honored former Falcon football Jan. 19 with an induction players in this year’s class ceremony held between the — Alex Armah (Dacula Falcons’ varsity basketball Class of 2012), O.C. games.

Collins (2002) and Corey This year’s group feaLevin (2012). Armah also tures two current Dacula is being recognized for track and field coaches, track and field.

Dennis Green and David Basketball players

Barbara Miller (1981) and Billy Joe Wright (1979) also are inductees, along with swimmer Michael Ragan (2013), softball player Kori Waugh (2009) and wrestler Ron Yeagy (1994).

The Falcons also will honor five past region championship teams with induction — 1985 boys basketball, 1988 football, 1996 girls track and field, 2006 softball and 2007 volleyball.

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017 • B3

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017 • 3B

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Central’s Jones signs with Havoc GAC heads up grad Ryan McDaniel, an Arena Football League vetThe Buford-based Ateran. The Havoc begin play lanta Havoc indoor football in Buford City Arena for team has signed another the 2018 American Arena local to a contract, agreeLeague season. ing to terms with Central The 6-foot-3, Gwinnett grad Malachi 210-pounder played Jones. college football at ApJones joins a wide repalachian State, where he ceiving corps that already caught 92 passes for 1,341 includes North Gwinnett yards and six touchdowns.

From Staff Reports

He played last season for the National Arena League’s High Country Grizzlies and earned rookie of the year honors with 66 catches for 685 yards and 16 TDs in 10 games.

At Central, Jones had a county-record 82 catches for 1,059 yards and 14 TDs as a senior. He also broke Gwinnett single-game re-

cords with 15 catches and 276 receiving yards.

Jones comes from a family of athletes, including his late father Andre, who played in the NFL and CFL. His older brother T.J. is a wide receiver for the NFL’s Detroit Lions and his younger brother Jahmai is a top baseball prospect for the Los Angeles Angels.

McCoy •From Page 1B it as a burden at all.

“Responsibility, as in (being) a leader, being able to set an example for my teammates,” McCoy responded when asked how she’s approaching her senior season. “It’s not really like it’s my team. We have six seniors, so I consider all of us, like, captains.

“It’s a lot at times because of the experience I have compared to my teammates, but I think so far, I’ve handled it well. We’ve handled it well.”

True, Archer does feature five other seniors to help McCoy with leadership in the locker room and off the court, including guards Hannah Dunston and Kyleeah Whitehead, who also bring a good deal of oncourt experience to the table.

But make no mistake that as a three-year starter, McCoy is clearly the go-to player whenever the Tigers are in need of a big play at a crucial time.

And even coach Bob Westbrook acknowledges that the situation has been a bit of an adjustment for his key senior this season.

“You know, she and I have talked a lot before (this season) took place and her role has totally changed on this basketball team, along with everybody else’s,” Westbrook said.

“She, and other teams, know that you can’t hide being (Class) AAAAAAA All-State. What she’s doing is helping us — encouraging the other players, encouraging the younger players.

“Well, the pressure is different. In the past, Asia was a great player. I certainly noticed that when I came here (last season), there’s no doubt about it. But she was probably given that opportunity to have a little bit of an off night every now and then.

She can’t have that any more. That’s pressure.”

McCoy is handling the added responsibility well thus far, averaging a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) per game, plus two assists, which has meant very few off nights in a 6-3 start (2-0 in Region 8-AAAAAAA) to Archer’s 2017-18 campaign.

But perhaps the biggest adjustment she and the Tigers have had to

all-region honors From Staff Reports

the year Ford Roberts.

In addition to those Greater Atlanta award-winners, GAC Christian dominated the also had first-team allAll-Region 7-AAA Foot- region selections in Nate ball Honors, released Richey (offensive line), recently by the league’s Myles Hinton (offensive coaches. line), Max Burke (wide Four Spartans won receiver), Jeffrey Blake top individual awards — (tight end and linebackathlete of the year Kyler er), Elijah Pryor (defenMcMichael, defensive sive line), Trey Morrison player of the year Robby (defensive back), Kyle Ellis (defensive back) and Fowler, lineman of the Sean Henderson (specialyear Christopher Hinton ist). and academic player of

Coaches recognize best in 6-AAAAAAA From Staff Reports The All-Region 6-AAAAAAA Football Team was announced recently after voting by the league’s coaches.

The coaches voted for first and second team on offense and defense. The results are as follows: Asia McCoy is prepared to accept a much larger leadership role during his senior season with Archer’s girls basketball program. (Photo: Kyle Hess)

make this season involves the entire team’s on-court identity.

While Archer has had the ability to run the fast break over the past four seasons, the presence of dominant post players like Autumn Newby and McCoy have made the half-court offense the team’s obvious strength.

With those players now gone, the focus has shifted more toward an up-tempo, approach that fits more into McCoy’s ability to run the entire floor and drive to the basket, skills which made her an attractive Division I prospect in her own right over the past few years.

“That’s not our focus anymore — trying to get (the ball) inside,” said McCoy, who signed to play college ball at the University of Massachusetts last month. “Our focus is to try to get up the floor and run. We’re a smaller team. So we’re trying to be more athletic and run.

Yes, definitely we’ve gotten more organized. I think we’ve come together more as a team offensively and defensively. We’ve figured out players individually, like, what they like and what they don’t like.”

One of her teammates McCoy should already know well is her sister, Amiya, who has also been with the Tigers throughout Asia’s career, though the two haven’t had much

of a chance to play together due to injury issues.

With Amiya now healthy, it has given the McCoys a chance to not only bond more as sisters, but also to put more of their collective stamp on the Archer program.

“It’s good,” Asia McCoy said.

“I’m getting to see her develop into something. I haven’t the last couple of year because of her injuries, but it’s great to see her progressing.

“I’d have to say my sister is more of a spot-up shooter compared to me — not really one to attack, but (can) attack given an opportunity. I’m trying to teach her (to take the ball to the basket more).”

Whatever the rest of her final high school season holds, McCoy has already made a big impact on the Archer program.

And she is hoping to be able to continue to set an example the rest of this season that it inspires the younger Tigers enough for her to pass the proverbial leadership torch to them.

“Just that anyone can do it,” McCoy said when asked about what she hoped her legacy at Archer would be.

“It doesn’t matter your age or grade.

Anyone can be a starter. Anyone can play on varsity if you put the time and the work into it. That makes a leader.”

First-Team Offense QB Jalil El-Amin, Duluth QB Jimmy Urzua, North Gwinnett RB Tyler Goodson, North Gwinnett RB Evan Anderson, Collins Hill WR Malachi Carter, Mountain View WR William Huzzie, Duluth WR Josh Downs, North Gwinnett WR Jaylen Johnson, Peachtree Ridge TE Payne Durham, Peachtree Ridge TE Adrian Jackson, Mill Creek OL Warren Ericson, North Gwinnett OL John Harris, Mill Creek OL Bradley Kopydlowski, Mountain View OL Justin Bullock, North Gwinnett OL Nick Choe, Duluth OL Aidan Higgins, Mountain View PK Carlos Ayala, Mountain View KR Javonni Cunningham, North Gwinnett First-Team Defense DL Jaelin Humphries, Mountain View DL Austin Ruiz-Velasco, Mill Creek DL Payne Walker, North Gwinnett DL Knox Denning, North Gwinnett LB Blake Carroll, Mountain View LB Jomier Augustine, Collins

Hill LB Jayden McDonald, North Gwinnett LB Jake Stewart, North Gwinnett LB Shaka Heyward, Mill Creek DB Peyton Woulard, Collins Hill DB Warren Burrell, North Gwinnett DB D.J. Turner, North Gwinnett DB Marquel Broughton, Mountain View DB Jack Oesterle, Discovery P Matt Campbell, Mill Creek Second-Team Offense QB Matt Edwards, Mountain View; RB Uriah Leverette, Mill Creek; RB Khiree Seabook, Discovery; WR Travion Hampton, Duluth; WR Thomas Stewart, Mountain View; WR Jason Mitchell, Discovery; WR Austin Williams, Mill Creek; TE Andrew Brand, Collins Hill; OL Bryce Jones, Peachtree Ridge; OL Christian Davis, Discovery; OL Jonathan Leech, Mill Creek; OL Darwin Lisbey, Collins Hill; OL Cameron Kinnie, Collins Hill; PK Rodolfo Gonzalez, Collins Hill; KR Payton Bowens, Peachtree Ridge Second-Team Defense DL Jahmel Flowers, Discovery; DL Tomari Fox, Collins Hill; DL Enyinna Nwagbara, Mountain View; Andre Cross, Duluth; LB Trevon Salter, Mountain View; LB Avery Tuck, Peachtree Ridge; LB Jared Bartlett, Collins Hill; LB Benjamin Tooks, Duluth; LB Rashawn Brown, Mill Creek; LB Kenneth Lowery, Collins Hill; DB Quinton Newsome, North Gwinnett; DB Dominic Jones, Peachtree Ridge; DB Afiz Bhadmos, Discovery; DB Trey Turner, Mill Creek; DB Jayden Patterson, Mountain View; DB Darius Penton, Collins Hill; P Wilson Catoe, Peachtree Ridge

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5 ACRES WALNUT GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT Beautiful 5 acre wooded lot that shares a portion of shared pond. County water is available. What a scenic place to build your dream home or vacation home in one of the most desirable school districts. $85,000 Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealty professionals.com

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ONE MONTH FREE Limited AvailabilitySelect Units Only Brand New Luxury Townhomes with Attached Garages and Professionally Managed. Please call 770.729.4289 or visit us at www.SugarHill TownHomes.com MOBILE HOMES & LOTS FOR RENT BARROW-AUBURN 1-2-3 BEDROOMS IN MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY. Rent Starting at $100/ week. Large Lots.

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gwinnettdailypost.com wednesday, DECEMber 20, 2017 • 5B CLOSE TO HOME John McPherson

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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 number only once.

Solution to today's Sudoku

WHATZIT SOLUTION:

Today’s Answer: Leisure

6B • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017

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