Gwinnett Daily Post - December 27, 2015 by Gwinnett Daily Post

EDUCATION FUNDING AT ISSUE, 3A

Ga. legislators to address decades-old formulas

BRIDGE OVER PRECIOUS WATER Ga. Highway 20 project nears completion • Community, 1C

Gwinnett Daily Post SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

GWINNETT’S DRUG PROBLEM By Joshua Sharpe

joshua.sharpe @gwinnettdailypost.com

LAWRENCEVILLE — They stood in the parking lot of a cheap hotel, where the hum of tires on the highway out of town drones always and the bailbonding company across the cracked pavement promises freedom “24/7,

ONE CALL.” It was the second day of 2015, as Paige Wilson hugged the neck of his last living son, 29-year-old Matthew. The son said he loved the father; the father said it back. Momentarily, Matthew would drive off on his motorcycle to ask his probation officer’s permission to move to his dad’s house in

Florida. There, the son, a broadshouldered redhead who long ago grew Ryan Wilson taller than Paige, planned to start anew. He’d just been released after many months in the work release

program at the Gwinnett County jail, after many years in the grips of drug addiction. Paige, who is a project manager for a defense contractor, planned to nudge the boy along in his second chance. He cherished Matthew now more than ever. His eldest son, Ryan, died of a drug overdose in September 2008 at age 26,

Vol. 46, No. 60

Deaths soar, partly from heroin, fentanyl influx

crushing Paige and Matthew. But in the drab parking lot, the father and son felt hope. A longtime Sugar Hill resident, Matthew had plans for Florida: Get a job, go to school, get married, have a family. Most important, he knew See DRUGS, Page 5A

DRUG DEATHS IN GWINNETT 2015: 152 (as of November, the latest statistics available) 2014: 131 2013: 120 2012: 79 2011: 75 Information: Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office.

‘Winter’ wonderland

Lisa Ramer and her 8-year-old son Maddux skate on Saturday on the new bubble skating rink, which is a twist on traditional ice skating featuring a synthetic rink and lots of bubbles, at Lanier Islands’ Winter Adventure. (Staff Photos: Katie Morris)

Local families cool off from warm winter weather, play in the snow By Katie Morris

Christian and Allison joined a crowd of children ecstatically running around a snow-filled play BUFORD — Despite the warm, zone at Lanier Islands’ Winter mid-70s temperatures and partly Adventure. In addition to snow sunny skies on Saturday, 4-yearplay zones, the lakeside resort’s old twins Christian and Allison new wintry attraction features a seRobins had their first snow ball lection of water slides transformed fight ever. into bobsled tracks, ziplining over The Johns Creek siblings the lake, firepits and carnival rides. grinned from ear to ear as they There is also a twist on traditional shoveled the cold white powder ice skating called bubble skating, with their granddad Berry Wilwhere skaters glide on a synthetic liams and then threw snowballs rink surrounded by bubbles. at their unsuspecting aunt, JenKevin Lee sat near a snow zone nifer Williams, who was standing looking on as his son James, 10, nearby. and daughter Chaeree, 14, had a The two then plopped down snow ball fight with a few newonto their backs in the snow to found friends. After a waterlogged create twin snow angels — another week with rain almost everyday, first. the Suwanee resident said they katie.morris@gwinnettdailypost.com

were eager to get outside and get some fresh air. “It’s hot out today, so it’s good for the kids to get out of the house,” he said. According to Winter Adventure admission staffer Anna Grace Smathers, they replenish the snow every morning and night and also cover the snow zones with insulated covers. Due to the unseasonably warm temperatures, a few of the play zones that are directly hit by the sun stay covered to prevent the snow from melting and turning into slush, but most of the zones are shaded and open for business, Smathers said. MORE INSIDE

Photos, If You Go info.................... 8A

Four-year-old twins Christian and Allison Robins of Johns Creek make snow angels at one of Lanier Islands’ Winter Adventure snowfilled play zones on Saturday.

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Lottery............ 4A

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230 Collins Industrial Way Lawrenceville, GA 30043 lawerencevilleretirement.com

2A • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

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Gwinnett Place CID launching expansion campaign than $590 million. Past expansions took place in 2007, 2014 and 2015. It is roughly confined The Gwinnett Place within that area that Community Improvement stretches north to Old District has added propNorcross Road, south erty worth about $100 along Pleasant Hill to million over the last two Club Drive and west to years, and the expansion Steve Reynolds Bouefforts are not expected to levard. One of the bigstop in 2016. gest signs of its work is The CID is gearing up the streetscaping work for its third consecutive and diverging diamond expansion project, which interchange on Pleasant will be the district’s Hill, but it is also planfourth growth phase ning a major traffic and since it was created in landscaping project called 2005. Executive Director ACTivate Gwinnett Place. Joe Allen said the effort “It’s just to have everykicked off at the CID’s body that owns propNovember board meeterty in the area working ing and officials are now together to improve the reaching out to business area,” Allen said. “If we owners about their interall put a little bit in, if we est in becoming part of all make a small investthe self-taxing district. ment, in return it can “We’ve had several make a big difference.” properties that have exA map of expansion pressed an interest in targets shows there are being a part of the CID,” gaps within the existing Allen said. “We can just boundaries, which CID do more as we have more officials hope to add in resources: more security the years to come. patrols, more planning, The big expansion tarmore infrastructure ingets on the map include: vestments, more cleaning • Breckinridge Bouefforts and things like levard northeast to Old that.” Norcross; The CID is centered • Southwest along around Gwinnett Place Venture Drive to the point Mall and the intersection where it wraps around of Satellite Boulevard toward Satellite; and Pleasant Hill Road, • North along Satellite and its properties have a and Commerce Avenue combined value of more until just before both

roads intersect with Evergreen Boulevard; • Northwest along Pleasant Hill to the northwest side of the intersection with Steve Reynolds Boulevard; and • Southwest along Shackleford Road and Club Drive until they intersect. “We probably won’t get them all — in fact, I know we won’t get them all this go around — but these are the (properties) we’re targeting,” Allen said. The CID director added that the areas the district most wants to add in 2016 are the office buildings along Breckinridge, as well as adding the parts of the Satellite Towers that didn’t join the district in 2015. Three of the towers joined the district in the last year, and Allen said it was arguably the biggest addition of the year for the CID. There are three more towers that are not in the district though, he explained. Allen said that ultimately, though, he’d just like to see the 2016 expansion effort be on par with the growth that has been seen in recent years. “If we end up within that $45, $50 or $55 This map from the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District shows the CID’s million, I’ll consider it a expansion plans for the upcoming years. The areas in red are properties that are already in the district. (Special Photo) success,” Allen said.

Gwinnett County residents who haven’t registered to vote in the county have a little over a month to do so before a key deadline arrives for the Georgia’s upcoming presidential primaries. Anyone who wants to participate in the Re-

the participating states are located in the southeast. Due to presidential term limits, the White House is up for grabs with no incumbent running in the race. As a result, both of the major political parties have several candidates running

By Curt Yeomans

curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com

Voter registration deadline for primaries approaching publican or Democratic primaries must register as a voter by Feb. 1, according to Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s office. The primaries will be held on March 1 as part of a Super Tuesday that has come to be called “The SEC Primary” because many of

for president. Political The Republican field Notebook includes front runner Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Dr. Ben Carson, John Kasich, Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and George Pataki. The field shrunk a little bit this Curt Yeomans past week after Lindsey Graham withdrew from the race. ers and Martin O’Malley. The Democratic field, meanwhile, includes HillUpcoming ary Clinton, Bernie Sand• The United Tea Party

of Georgia will hold its next meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 7, at the Flying Machine Restaurant, at Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville. • The Gwinnett County Democratic Party will hold its next monthly breakfast from 8:30 to 10 a.m., on Jan. 9, at Bob’s Home Cooking, 3455 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., in Duluth. Political Notebook appears in the Thursday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Arizona man indicted in Texas ‘Draw Mohammed’ event hit with new charges By Victoria Cavaliere Reuters

An Arizona man already accused of aiding two gunmen in an attack on an event in Texas drawing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed had also inquired about using pipe bombs and explosives during the 2015 Super Bowl in Phoenix, court documents said. Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, also known as Decarus Thomas, was charged on Wednesday with conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, in addition to his indictment earlier this year on conspiracy

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and weapons charges in connection with the failed attack on the event in the Dallas suburb of Garland, according to the court papers. His roommates Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi of Phoenix were killed by Garland police after they opened fire with assault rifles outside the May 3 cartoon drawing event. The original indictment said Kareem supplied the two gunmen with arms and helped them prepare for the attack. The new charges accuse Kareem of showing support for the Islamic State militant group in social media posts, researching travel to the Middle East

to train with terrorists and seeking to make explosives that could be used during this year’s Super Bowl, the most-watched U.S. sporting event. In court documents, Kareem was accused of practicing with firearms in the Arizona desert and watching Jihadist videos. Kareem has pleaded not guilty to the original conspiracy and weapons charges. It was unclear how he would plead to the new accusations. His attorney could not immediately be reached for comment. None of the approximately 150 people attending the event in Garland in May were hurt.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015 • 3A

Gwinnett Tech recognized for adult ed programs By Polly Ouellette

Georgia attended the conference. Gwinnett Tech was Adults in Gwinnett recognized for excellence wanting to further their in four categories: The education are in a good largest number of GED position to do so. Gwincompleters in fiscal year nett Technical College 2015 for centers serving was honored earlier this 601-1,600 test-takers, fall for the high achieve- overall achievement ments of both educators of educational gain and students. benchmarks, greatest Gwinnett Tech was number of students honored at the Techniawarded citizenship and cal College System of the greatest percentage Georgia’s Fall Adult growth in National Education Conference Reporting System earlier this fall. The event enrollment. is designed to honor GED Stephanie Rooks, the graduates, educators, dean of Adult Education volunteers and academic at Gwinnett Tech, said programs. Almost 500 that each student has a testing professionals, unique story to tell about students, supporters, their goals and future. community leaders and “We are honored to volunteers from all over be a part of that journey Staff Intern

with them and proud to be recognized for our efforts and successes by TCSG,” she said in a statement. The conference included workshops and talks from speakers in addition to honoring achievements in the field of adult education. “The gathering is the highlight of the year for Georgia’s adult education community,” said Beverly Smith, TCSG assistant commissioner for adult education. “It’s such an honor for us to pay tribute to the hard work and accomplishments of these program directors, instructors and especially our students. They inspire us all with their passion and commitment.”

Representatives of Gwinnett Technical College and the Technical College System of Georgia pose for a photo after Gwinnett Tech was honored. From left: TCSG Commissioner Gretchen Corbin, Assistant Commissioner of Adult Education Beverly Smith, GTC Dean of Adult Education Stephanie Rooks and Deputy Commissioner Matt Arthur. (Special Photo)

Legislators to address debated education funding formulas By Keith Farner

keith.farner @gwinnettdailypost.com

There’s one topic expected to generate plenty of discussion around the Gold Dome next month: Education funding and how that relates to paying teachers. The Education Reform Commission, which has more than 30 members, recently completed its work and passed its report to Gov. Nathan Deal. One

of the key parts of the commission’s report was a new funding formula Nathan to replace Deal the threedecade old Quality Basic Education formula. “At its outset, I charged the commission with providing recommendations to improve education, increase

access to early learning programs, recruit and retain high-quality instructors and expand school options for students and families,” Deal said in a statement earlier this month. “I look forward to reviewing their recommendations as to how we might achieve these goals.” Former University of Georgia President Charles Knapp, who chaired the commission, said the report responds to the governor’s charge and provides bold recommendations that will better prepare students for life and the workforce. The formula includes a quarter of a billion dollars of additional “new money” allocated for K-12, a 3 percent jump from this year’s budget, which was more than $8 billion. Under the current formula, the state salary schedule is based on years of experience and education degrees. The new proposal would require each school system to have its own schedule, while the

state would offer a template including minimum requirements. Pay for performance being on the table has drawn some criticism from teachers’ advocacy groups as Deal has favored at least a portion of salaries be based on performance. Questions have been raised about how that performance will be measured, from test scores, to Title I schools and special education classes. Sid Chapman, president of the Georgia Association of Educators, noted at a press conference earlier this month that none of the commission members were currently practicing teachers. Chapman added that changes to the teacher compensation formula and state salary schedule would make “already low teacher morale even worse.” “The new proposed formula will lock in the deep cuts that have been made to the budgets of our Georgia

public schools over the last few years under the current formula,” he said. “While these cuts have occurred, more responsibilities have been placed on the plates of teachers. And while we hold out hope that things will get better now that the economy is improving, the proposed funding formula takes away that hope. The children and educators of this state will bear the burden of this decision for years to come unless we make adjustments now to fully fund our schools. This is not how you attract and retain quality teachers.” One of the largest changes came in early learning, where $50 million was allocated to an area GCPS earlier this year labeled a priority to address early learning for babies and toddlers from birth to pre-kindergarten, then up to third grade. Gwinnett County Public Schools CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks and

Gwinnett legislators Rep. Brooks Coleman and Sen. Fran Millar all parJ. Alvin ticipated Wilbanks in the commission’s work. Wilbanks said the $27 million that GCPS is expected to receive would allow for some areas to be addressed that haven’t been in recent years. “But more importantly, there will be some flexibilities,” he said at a legislative breakfast earlier this month. The pay for performance part of the teacher pay discussion could be useful, Wilbanks has said, in the case of filling, for example, an advanced math teacher vacancy. “It will allow for us to address some market sensitivity of some of the areas that you need, particularly as we focus on STEM,” he said.

Islamic State sanctions organ harvesting according to document taken in U.S. raid By Warren Strobel, Jonathan Landay and Phil Stewart Reuters

WASHINGTON — Islamic State has sanctioned the harvesting of human organs in a previously undisclosed ruling by the group’s Islamic scholars, raising concerns that the violent extremist group may be trafficking in body parts. The ruling, contained in a January 31, 2015 document reviewed by Reuters, says taking organs from a living captive to save a Muslim’s life, even if it is fatal for the captive, is permissible. Reuters couldn’t inde-

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pendently confirm the authenticity of the document. U.S. officials say it was among a trove of data and other information obtained by U.S. special forces in a raid in eastern Syria in May. “The apostate’s life and organs don’t have to be respected and may be taken with impunity,” says the document, which is in the form of a fatwa, or religious ruling, from the Islamic State’s Research and Fatwa Committee. “Organs that end the captive’s life if removed: The removal of that type is also not prohibited,” Fatwa Number 68 says, according to a U.S. government translation. The document does not offer any proof that Islamic State actually engages in organ harvesting or organ trafficking. But it does provide religious sanction for doing so under the group’s harsh interpretation of Islam — which is rejected by most Muslims. Previously, Iraq has accused Islamic State of harvesting human organs and trafficking them for profit. The document does not define “apostate,” though the Islamic State has killed or imprisoned non-Muslims, such as Christians, and Shiite Muslims, as well as Sunni Muslims who don’t follow its extremist views. Documents shared with allies U.S. officials say the records that were seized have given the U.S. government a deep look into how Islamic State organizes, raises funds and codifies laws for its followers. Iraq’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mohamed

Ali Alhakim, told Reuters the documents should be examined by the U.N. Security Council as evidence that Islamic State could be trafficking in organs to raise cash. The May raid in Syria, which resulted in the death of Islamic State top financial official Abu Sayyaf and the capture of his wife, netted seven terabytes of data in the form of computer hard drives, thumb drives, CDs, DVDs and papers, said Brett McGurk, President Barack Obama’s Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, in an interview. Abu Sayyaf was a Tunisian militant whose real name was Fathi ben Awn ben Jildi Murad alTunisi. U.S. officials have previously described the Abu Sayyaf raid and some of the documentation seized. But until now, none of the actual documents have been released - aside from materials illustrating Islamic State’s trafficking in antiquities, made public at an event at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in September. The U.S. government has shared some of the documents from the Abu Sayyaf raid with allied governments in an effort to increase their understanding of Islamic State in recent weeks as Washington works to shore up support for countering the group. The group of documents reviewed by Reuters — titled “Lessons Learned From the Abu Sayyaf Raid” — show how the Islamic State has provided a legal justification to its followers for a range of practices. For instance, “Fatwa

Number 64” dated January 29, 2015, provides detailed rules for rape, prescribing when Islamic State men can and cannot have sexual intercourse with female slaves. The fatwa sanctioning organ harvesting justifies the practice in part by drawing an analogy to cannibalism in extreme circumstances, a practice it says earlier Islamic scholars had allowed. “A group of Islamic scholars have permitted, if necessary, one to kill the apostate in order to eat his flesh, which is part of benefiting from his body,” it says. McGurk said Islamic State’s Research and Fatwa Committee reports directly to the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Organs of ‘infidels’ The ruling on organ harvesting cites Islamic texts, principles and laws that it says support what it calls “the notion that transplanting healthy organs into a Muslim person’s body in order to save the latter’s life or replace a damaged organ with it is permissible.” Senior U.S. officials, including McGurk, said they have not been able to ascertain whether the Islamic State had followed through on the fatwa on organ harvesting. The document provides “a religious justification for harnessing the organs of what they call infidels,” he said. William McCants, a Brookings Institution scholar who is author of the book “The ISIS Apocalypse,” said the group’s ruling on slavery and human organs don’t represent modern Islamic interpretations.

4A • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015 To Your Good Health

gwinnettdailypost.com

TODAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

80%

70%

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Keith Roach

Frequent BMs better than treatment risk DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 77-year-old female in good health. I am 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weigh 125 pounds. I exercise regularly and eat a varied, healthy diet. For some years now, I have had what I consider too many bowel movements every day. I have complained to my doctor at my yearly checkups, but nothing ever gets resolved except for the diagnosis of IBS. My last doctor recommended I take Metamucil, and that helps in the passage, but not the frequency. Upon arising in the mornings, I have two to four goodsize bowel movements without fail, with more throughout the day. I do experience gas, too, although it is not as bad as it was before the Metamucil. It seems that every time I eat, I experience some gas or have to eliminate. Isn’t there some way to quiet my system and eliminate just once a day? — C.H. ANSWER: Irritable bowel syndrome involves both a change in bowel habits (too many or too few; occasionally these alternate) and chronic abdominal discomfort or pain. IBS is very common, especially among women, and can be frustratingly difficult to treat, on occasion. It sounds like you don’t have any chronic discomfort, just increased numbers of daily bowel movements. I agree with your previous doctor’s recommendation of fiber (such as Metamucil), as it is the mainstay of initial pharmacologic therapy and is used when changes in diet have failed to relieve symptoms. In general, I recommend minimizing the amount of medication taken. Although I suppose it could be possible to use medication to reduce the number of bowel movements a day, I wouldn’t recommend it in absence of chronic pain or discomfort. In my opinion, the treatment might make things worse than the symptoms you have now. I would recommend that you avoid foods that tend to promote excess bowel movements, especially including those with nonabsorbable sugar alcohols, like sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol. *** Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or request an order form of available health newsletters at 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803. Health newsletters may be ordered from www. rbmamall.com.

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HOROSCOPES

WEATHER WATCH

SOLUNAR TABLES The Gwinnett Daily Post (UPSP 921-980, ISSN 10860096) is published Wednesday through 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.

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

1:35-3:35 a.m..............2:01-4:01 p.m.

MINOR

8:31-9:31 a.m.............7:32-8:32 p.m.

POLLEN COUNTS Trees: None Weeds: None Grass: None

Lake

LAKE LEVELS

Full Yesterday

Lake

Full Yesterday

Allatoona (840.0) .......... 832.8

Lanier

(1071.0) .........1073.0

Blackshear (237.0) .......... 233.5

Nottely

(1779.0) .........1770.2

Blue Ridge (1690.0) .........1678.1

Oconee

(435.0) .......... 434.7

Burton

(1865.0) .........1866.8

Seminole (77.50)........... 78.79

Carters

(1072.0) .........1088.1

Sinclair

Chatuge

(1927.0) .........1922.9

Thurmond (330.0) .......... 333.8

(339.8) .......... 339.6

Harding

(521.0) ...........518.4

Tugalo

Hartwell

(660.0) ........... 657.5

Walter F. George (188.0)......193.8

(891.5) .......... 890.0

Jackson

(530.0) ........... 531.9

West Point (635.0) .......... 635.3

TODAY IN HISTORY

LOTTERY Saturday Cash 3 Midday: 6-8-2 Cash 4 Midday: 5-9-5-4 Ga. 5 Midday: 4-5-8-1-3 Friday Cash 3 Midday: 5-1-0 Cash 3 Evening: 6-3-6 Cash 4 Midday: 9-4-2-2 Cash 4 Evening: 2-9-8-2 Ga. 5 Midday: 4-6-0-0-0 Ga. 5 Evening: 4-5-4-9-3 Fantasy 5: 3-6-19-25-30 Mega Millions: 15-25-29-44-51, Mega Ball: 4, Megaplier: 4X

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1831, the HMS Beagle, with naturalist Charles Darwin aboard, set sail from Great Britain. In 1932, Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City. In 2002, North Korea announced it would resume developing nucleargrade plutonium and ordered International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to leave the country. In 2007, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated after a campaign rally in Rawalpindi. TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), astronomer; Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), biologist/chemist; Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992), actress/singer; John Amos (1939- ), actor; Cokie Roberts (1943- ), journalist; Gerard Depardieu (1948- ), actor; Bill Self (1962- ), basketball coach;

Sarah Vowell (1969- ), social commentator; Masi Oka (1974- ), actor; Carson Palmer (1979- ), football player. TODAY’S FACT: France is far more reliant on nuclear power than any other nation in the world. More than 75 percent of the country’s electricity is nuclear-generated. TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1892, Biddle College (later named Johnson C. Smith University) defeated Livingstone College in the first football game between historically black colleges. TODAY’S QUOTE: “Behind every bad law, a deep fear.” — Sarah Vowell, “The Wordy Shipmates” TODAY’S NUMBER: 3,300 — approximate number of people buried at Westminster Abbey, many of them in unmarked graves. Charles Darwin is among the famous scientists buried there.

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Rules don’t seem to faze these neighbors DEAR AMY: We live in a townhouse development. The house adjoining ours is owned by a retired man (who lives nearby) and is occupied by his son and the son’s family. They are not the worst neighbors possible, but they seem to be very heedless of how their actions affect others. There are small things, like they leave their recycling bins on the sidewalk and let their dog out unleashed — and a few bigger things, such as the time the son was working on his car in the garage with an open can of kerosene and a lit cigarette in his mouth. We’ve reported them more than once to the homeowners association. The owner (their father) should be aware of the rules, but he apparently is not. Recently, their younger daughter left to live abroad for several months. My neighbors are storing her car here, occasionally driving it. There are already three cars in their household; they park one in the driveway and park the other two in “visitor parking” across the street (they don’t use their garage). Now, they’ve added the daughter’s car as well, taking up three spaces in a limited area. This past weekend, the wife told me that a member of the association’s board had contacted them to discuss the car storage situation (she implied that she knew we had com-

Ask Amy

Amy Dickinson plained about it). She was defensive, stating that they have been driving the car so, technically, it’s not “being stored.” She caught me off guard so I basically said, “Okay, fine,” but I wanted to say, “That’s not the point!” I plan to disengage and only report serious incidents (and there have been some doozies), but it galls me that, as tenants, they feel they can just cavalierly disregard the rules. Any advice on how to handle future incidents? — Beleaguered Neighbor DEAR NEIGHBOR: The owner of this townhouse (the father, who lives nearby) has a responsibility to make sure his tenants abide by the rules of your homeowners association. If this family is taking up three visitor parking spaces full time, and if visitors have to cruise the streets, then that seems like a pretty big violation. The rules are there so that everyone in the association can enjoy their homes to the maximum degree without having to

police and confront each other. Where I live, an owner can be fined for repeated violations. The association should notify the owner and the tenants each time there is a complaint. Their house adjoins with yours, so their choices have an impact on you. Yes, some disengaging on your part might help you, but your neighbors should also comply with the rules — just like everybody else. DEAR AMY: I find it really annoying when I say “thank you” to someone and receive a response of “no problem.” A couple of times I’ve responded with “I wasn’t apologizing,” which was met with blank stares. This seems to come primarily from young people. What’s happened to the gracious replies of “you’re welcome,” “my pleasure” or even “and thank you?” I’m always surprised when I hear that. Do you have a suggestion of how I can kindly correct this? It’s just not in my DNA to stop thanking people. — Appreciative Out West DEAR APPRECIATIVE: Several years ago, I published a similar “no problem” complaint in this space, and at the time I didn’t have a problem with “no problem.” But now that “no problem” seems to have completely replaced “you’re welcome,” I find I do have a problem with “no prob-

lem.” It seems like a nonsequitur. And yet — I don’t like the idea of correcting strangers who are, after all, politely acknowledging something. It might be best to see this as another example of how our language shifts and changes through time. “No problem” is “You’re welcome” in modernspeak. You and I will probably continue to say “You’re welcome,” but we should accept that others don’t. DEAR AMY: I take issue with your statement to “Conflicted” that 23 is too young to have a baby. My wife was 20 when we had the first of our nine children and life has been fine. You could have taken the position that she should not have children now because she is falling out of love with her boyfriend. — Tim DEAR TIM: In my answer to “Conflicted,” I said she was “too young and immature to be a parent.” Emphasis on the “immature” part. Age does not convey maturity, as you no doubt know. You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribpub.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or ‘like’ her on Facebook. Amy Dickinson’s memoir, ‘The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter and the Town that Raised Them’ (Hyperion), is available in bookstores.

You’ll have opportunities galore this year. Most importantly, you will be able to use your unique talents to the fullest, allowing you to not only be successful, but to also enjoy what you are doing. Don’t let jealous competitors throw you off your game. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Your charm and playfulness will capture the attention of someone you deem special. Make romantic plans for the future that will bring you closer to your personal goals. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) — An optimistic outlook will help you avoid a dispute with someone you love. Don’t let anyone or anything put a damper on your day. Take time to pamper yourself. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) — Ponder what’s transpired over the past year and consider what resolutions you might want to implement when the new year finally arrives. Romance is in the stars. ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You should do a little soul-searching and re-evaluate your motives, goals and concerns. Be realistic and consider what you can do to ensure a high return in the future. Don’t get discouraged. TAURUS (April 20May 20 — Get moving, and engage in activities or events that you find mentally or physically stimulating. Expand your interests, friendships and knowledge. Include someone you love in your plans. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You need to gather information. It’s important to have everything in order if you don’t want to fall short of your expectations. Express your feelings to those who will be affected by your choices. CANCER (June 21July 22) — Expand your living quarters or open your doors to visitors. An unusual way to offer your skills will be suggested by someone you respect. Contemplate your options. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Challenge yourself in order to bring about changes that will help you gain confidence and make others take note. Positive alterations at home will lead to greater stability. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Socialize with people who share your interests, views and talents. Sharing information will lead to an opportunity that will raise your earning potential in the upcoming year. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Your emotions will surface if someone puts demands on your time. Domestic problems are best dealt with peacefully. Don’t make decisions or moves based on bad motives. SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) — Your ability to use diplomacy to get your way will pay off. Make alterations at home that will add to the uniqueness of your current setup. Romance is encouraged. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Don’t overreact to information you receive. If you go directly to the source, you will discover you’ve been led astray. Don’t get angry — just implement a plan based on your findings.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015 • 5A

gwinnettdailypost.com

Drugs

•From Page 1A he had to stay clean. — Generally speaking, the Wilsons’ experience isn’t unusual. In fact, the number of Gwinnett families who deal with tragedies similar to Ryan’s death is rising. In 2015, this county, the state’s second biggest, easily had more drug deaths reported than in any previous year, according to a senior investigator at the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office. As of the latest available data — from November — 152 deaths were confirmed drug-related, and the agency expected the number to only rise as test results come in on pending cases. Compared to Georgia’s other most populous counties — Fulton, DeKalb and Cobb — Gwinnett was second only to more-bustling Fulton in fatal overdoses this year by November, a Daily Post review found. Even the preliminary Gwinnett count is up significantly from 2014. There were 131 deaths from substance that year, which was up from the previous year, which was up from the year before that. Deaths from meth, for example, rose to 19 in the preliminary 2015 stats, more than double the count in 2014. Plain and simple: the numbers show Gwinnett County has a problem with drugs. But two new-to-Gwinnett, ages-old killers have some authorities particularly concerned: heroin and Fentanyl, a powerful painkiller that can exceed the strength of morphine by as much as 100 times, heroin by 50. Heroin was confirmed to have killed 22 people in Gwinnett by November, fentanyl 19, according to the ME’s office. Eight others died from a combination of fentanyl and heroin. The mix, which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said in March is a growing national issue, killed only once in a span of five years in Gwinnett before contributing to seven deaths in 2014. Dr. Carol A. Terry, the chief medical examiner, spotted the increase in

because of the potency. Clandestine labs are putLongtime ting out fentanyl and fenSugar Hill tanyl analogues of varying residents strengths, but the power is Matthew always stunning, accordWilson, ing to information from the left, and father Paige DEA. Wilson People are adding it to embrace. heroin to boost the high. Both men That can easily kill the were devasuser — especially if he tated when or she doesn’t know the Paige’s heroin is cut with fentanyl. eldest son It’s hard, of course, to overdosed in 2008, and find what the user knew Matthew after the fact. But a Daily still had to Post review all of the 40fight his plus available medical own battles examiner’s reports on with heroin. fentanyl-related deaths in (Special Gwinnett since 2011 found Photo) that all but one was ruled an accidental overdose. September 2014, according figure out what was going (The one was undeterto her senior investigator mined. Other reports aren’t wrong, why the two kept Eddie Reeves. yet available.) disappearing on unknown Reeves, a former Hall Many of the cases also errands. County deputy of 13 years involved heroin. In 2002, Ryan was the with a shaved head and an first to get booked in the Asked how Gwinnett poeasy drawl, is now helping Gwinnett jail. Matthew fol- lice were working to curb to push back against the the issues, Washington said lowed in 2003. trends, along with GwinWith Matthew especially, the agency was educating nett police, the Georgia you can see him age in the the public on the dangers. Bureau of Investigation and 16 mugshots he took at the Also, in February the others. agency conducted what facility before his release He’s joined a committee this January. In the first, another spokesman called with representatives from the biggest heroin bust he was stout, 290 pounds, ME’s offices of Fulton, in county history, netting 6 feet tall, with reddish Cobb and DeKalb, as well blonde hair resting on his 16 arrests and millionsthe GBI, to track drug worth of seized drugs. The shoulders, and a goatee. deaths in metro Atlanta Over time, he grew thinner, bust happened after three through a mapping dapeople overdosed and, his hair short. tabase. The idea, Reeves It was after one of Mat- apparently with the help said, is to use the location thew’s many court hearings of the medical examiner’s of overdoses to suss out office, police found the that he and his mother, where drug activity is most who also died a few years supplier. prevalent and stamp it out — later, came home to discovbefore people die. Eddie Reeves has a thick er Ryan dead. To see what’s at stake, skin. When the father found look at what happened to Even after years of haulout, it opened a vast void the Wilsons. ing off bodies, he’s kept in his soul, expanding — a good humor about him. always, deepening by the The family arrived to A sign on his desk reads, day. Sugar Hill in 1997 for the “No Autographs Please.” “On and on and on,” he father’s career. There’s also a Yoda figure, would say. Back in Leesburg, Va., Matthew got a tattoo for one of many “Stars Wars” Ryan and Matthew were items littered in the office, his brother, stretching 11 active in sports and Boy mixed in with Atlanta inches along his collarScouts. They had friends, Braves mementos. bone. fit in well enough. “I can’t wait!” he said “R.I.P. BRO.” But they had trouble about the new “Star Wars,” Matthew did not, howassimilating in Gwinnett. in an ecstatic voice that ever, stop using heroin. This, if you ask the father, might better suit a 15-year— set them on a path of old Han Solo waiting in “Simply put, heroin is substance abuse and crime, fairly new to the Gwinline for “The Force Awakbecause the dope crowd ens.” nett area,” said Cpl. Deon accepted them and the boys Washington, a county Yet Reeves leaves his accepted the dope crowd. colorful office over and police spokesman, who’s Both sons managed to over to find sorrow. He’s been with the agency a work, Ryan cleaning up seen people with hypoderdecade. “Therefore, we houses and yards for a mic needles still plugged are just now seeing the local contractor, Matthew in their arms, dead on impact.” cooking in restaurants. But Fentanyl is a recent visi- bathroom floors. Mothers their lives spiraled downgrieving over the bodies tor, too. ward as the parents tried to It’s of particular danger of children they couldn’t

DRUGS DRIVING OVERDOSE INCREASE IN 2015 Heroin: 22 (as of November, the latest statistics available) Fentanyl: 19 Heroin-Fentanyl mix: 8 Methamphetamine: 19 Information: Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office.

save. People who sucked themselves out of life with fentanyl patches stuck to their tongues. Always for the underdog, Reeves feels their sadness, he said. A father of three, he thinks of his own children when he has to load a young person into a body bag. With many of the victims he wonders, What were they trying to mask? What were they running from? “But you’ve got to move on to the next,” he said. “Because there’s going to be another one. There’s going to be another one.” Some cases are naturally harder to shake than others. At one house, there was a father dead on the bathroom floor. His young son couldn’t get in through the locked door so he climbed through the laundry chute and found his dad’s body. Reeves found a spoon on counter and a hypodermic needle. Reeves remembers that boy. Reeves recalls another father and son, too. — At about 9 one morning, a cleaning woman was on her rounds at the Metro Extended Stay Hotel off Ga. Highway 316 in Lawrenceville, walking in and out of one sun-bleached blue door after another. At Room 202, she knocked and waited. No answer. “Coming in,” she announced. On the table near the twin beds, there were small plastic bags, the orange cap from a hypodermic needle, a cut-up aluminum can. There was a belt, looped and fastened, around the back of one of the chairs. On the floor, there was a dead man lying on his right side, wearing a pair of blue gym shorts. His name, Reeves would soon learn, was Matthew Tyler Wilson.

CITY OF REST HAVEN Schedule of Expenditures of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA ADOPTION OF 2016 BUDGET

2005 ISSUE for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 Original Estimated Cost

Description Roads, Streets & Bridges

Current Estimated Cost

Prior Years Expenditures/Transfers

Current Years Expenditures/Transfers

Total Expenditures/Transfers

565,849

568,849

565,849

568,849

302084-1

The City of Rest Haven entered into an intergovernmental agreement with Gwinnett County for the use and distribution of the proceeds generated by the 2005 special purpose local option sales tax referendum. Per O.C.G.A. 48-8-122, the City is required to issue an annual report of original estimated cost, current estimated cost, prior years expenditures, current year expenditures, and the total amount expended for each project listed in the resolution. As of June 30, 2015, the City of Rest Haven had not expended any funds, but transferred funds to the City of Buford through an intergovernmental agreement. 2009 ISSUE There were no expenditures for the 2009 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for fiscal year ended 06/30/2015 for the City of Rest Haven. 2014 ISSUE There were no expenditures for the 2014 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for fiscal year ended 06/30/2015 for the City of Rest Haven.

CITY OF BUFORD Schedule of Expenditures of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax 2005 ISSUE for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 Original Estimated Cost

Description Roads, Streets & Bridges

Recreational Facilities Parking Facilities Administrative Facilities

5,579,062

Current Estimated Cost $

6,026,892

Prior Years Expenditures $

6,026,892

Current Years Expenditures $

Total Expenditures $

1,000,000

250,000

1,000,000

7,829,062

8,276,892

2009 ISSUE for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 Original Estimated Cost

Description Roads, Streets & Bridges

Recreational Facilities Water and Sewer Expansion

4,824,094

Current Estimated Cost $

1,357,465

4,824,094

Prior Years Expenditures $

1,357,465

1,665,540

Current Years Expenditures $

111,363

1,200,000

Total Expenditures $

The public is hereby notified that the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners intends to adopt a Budget for Fiscal Year 2016 during the commission meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, at 2:00pm in the auditorium of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, located at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville, Georgia. A copy of the proposed Budget may be inspected during regular office hours (8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday) in the office of the Department of Financial Services, located on the second floor of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, located at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The 2016 Proposed Budget may also be viewed online at www.gwinnettcounty.com. 300286-1

- ATTENTION -

6,026,892

1,000,000

Gwinnett County Employees If you are a participant in the Gwinnett County Retirement Program, we would like to speak with you about our investigation of the fees charged on your Great-West Mutual Funds. Please call:

1,776,903

Mark Boyko

Law Offices of Schlichter Bogard & Denton, LLP

1,200,000

1,618,824

7,800,383

2,865,540

111,363

2,976,903

(800) 873-5297

2014 ISSUE for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015

(Missouri Licensed Attorneys)

100 South 4th Street St. Louis, MO 63102

There was no 2014 SPLOST activity for the fiscal year ended 06/30/2015. The City of Buford entered into an intergovernmental agreement with Gwinnett County for the use and distribution of the proceeds generated by the 2005, 2009 & 2014 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum. Per O.C.G.A. 48-8-122, the City is required to issue an annual report of original estimated cost, current estimated cost, prior years exenditures, current year expenditures, and the total amount expended for each project listed in the resolution. As of June 30, 2015, the City of Buford had expended the funds shown above. 302085-1

— Paige Wilson got the call later that day. It was Jan. 5, three days after he’d left his son to finalize plans for the Florida move and starting over. Now, the father had no children left. “It was bad enough with the first one,” he said. “You cannot believe what you’re hearing on the other end of that telephone.” He couldn’t fathom what happened. Matthew had seemed hopeful, like he knew he had to be sober — like he wanted to be. The medical examiner ruled the death an accidental heroin overdose. Even more than before, Paige had to learn to live again. He had to excuse himself when a friend would show off a new baby. He had to cry. He had to plan to be away from home at Christmas to fight the loneliness. He and his current wife turned to faith for comfort. In October, they traveled with a mission organization, Project 82, to Kenya. There, they helped with health checks and other services for orphaned children and parents who were helpless to care for their kids, people who huddled at night with their whole family on dirty blankets on dirt floors. Today, Paige knows he’s lucky compared to some. At least his family wasn’t in such poverty. At least he and his wife have the means to travel across the world to find a new reason to live. He knows there are countless families who face pain similar to his and don’t have his blessings. Reeves knows, too. The day after working Matthew’s case, he had to respond to another overdose. The next day, another. And the numbers just kept rising.

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisement

301412-1

6A • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

WORLD

Audio message: In face of strikes, ISIS ‘gets tougher’

gwinnettdailypost.com

world&nation

Iraqi troops close in on ISIS in Ramadi By Ahmed Rasheed Reuters

BAGHDAD — Iraqi troops have pushed deeper into the heart of the last remaining district held by Islamic State in the city of Ramadi, despite being slowed by bombs and booby traps, army spokesmen said on Saturday. Recapturing Ramadi, which fell to the militants in May, would be one of the most important victories achieved by Iraq’s armed forces since Islamic State swept across a third of the country in 2014. Soldiers advanced overnight in the Hoz neighborhood that houses the provincial government compound, the target of an attack that started on Tuesday, joint operations command spokesman Brigadier Yahya Rasool said. Dozens feared “The counter-terrorism dead in landslide forces are within 800 meters at Myanmar mine from the government complex,” advancing by about 1 YANGON — Dozens of km in the past day, Rasool people were feared dead in said. “Air strikes helped Myanmar after a landslide detonate explosive devices hit a jade mining region, and booby-trapped houses, workers at a local minfacilitating our advance,” he ing firm said, the second added. such incident in just over a Special operation commonth. mander Sami al-Aridhi said The landslide took place the plan was “to liberate all on Friday in Hpakant in the of Ramadi from three sides.” country’s northern Kachin “Our troops are now adState, a rugged region sand- vancing towards their targets wiched between China and but were delayed because India and the heart of Myan- the criminals have boobymar’s multi-billion dollar trapped everything,” he said. jade industry controlled by its powerful military. “We heard about 50 people were buried in the collapsed dump and four or five bodies were found Obama: Six U.S. this morning,” Sai Lon, troops killed in who works at a jade mining Afghanistan were company in the area, told Reuters on Saturday. ‘outstanding’ Police in Hpakant, in Mohnyin district, said the KANOEHE BAY, HAlandslide took place on WAII — President Barack Friday afternoon but that Obama called the six U.S. they could not confirm troops killed in Afghanicasualties. stan on Monday “out“We haven’t heard anystanding” and “brave” thing from the rescue team as he thanked American yet,” said a duty officer at service members on Hpakant Township Police Friday during a Christmas Station who declined to be Day visit to Marine Corps named. Base Hawaii in Kanoehe On Nov. 22, a masBay. sive landslide in the same “Even though we have mountainous area in Kachin been able to reduce the State killed 114 people. The number of folks we’re dearea produces some of the ploying to places like Iraq world’s highest-quality jade. and Afghanistan, there are still folks over there every Serbia arrests 80 single day, and it’s still dangerous as we saw this in anti-corruption past week with the outstanding, brave men and sweep including women who were killed,” former minister Obama said. BELGRADE — Serbian The six American police arrested 80 people troops were killed when including a former mina suicide bomber on a ister on graft charges on motor bike struck their Saturday, stepping up an patrol near Bagram air anti-corruption drive days base, marking the deadliafter opening talks on join- est attack on U.S. forces ing the European Union. this year. In the biggest sweep of The Taliban claimed reits kind in the country in sponsibility for the attack. decades, the former head of the anti-corruption Officials: Tornado agency, executives of statedeath toll of week owned companies, two ex-government officials reaches 17 in U.S. and several mayors were The death toll from also held. They were charged with tornadoes this week in the abuse of office, money southern United States has laundering and financial climbed by two to 17, ofcrime, covering alleged officials said on Saturday, as fences dating back to 2004 the nation braced for more and embezzlements totalstormy weather during the ing 7.8 billion dinars ($70 busy post-holiday travel million), Interior Minister weekend. Nebojsa Stefanovic said. The bodies of a man and — From wire reports a woman missing in Benton

BAGHDAD — A new message purporting to come from the leader of Islamic State said air strikes by Russia and a U.S.-led coalition had failed to weaken the group. “Be confident that God will grant victory to those who worship him, and hear the good news that our state is doing well. The more intense the war against it, the purer it becomes and the tougher it gets,” said the audio recording, described as by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The authenticity of the message, posted on Saturday on Twitter accounts that have published Islamic State statements in the past, could not be verified.

NATION

PEOPLE ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ to top $1B in world sales by Sunday

The Force remains strong with the new “Star Wars” movie, which is on track to top $1 billion in global ticket sales this weekend, making it the fastest-ever film to reach that level. Walt Disney Co. said in a statement on Saturday that “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” had generated box office receipts of $890.3 million globally through Dec. 25 and would pass $1 billion this weekend. The movie, the seventh installment in the newly reIraqi security forces gather to advance towards the centre of Ramadi city, on Friday. booted Star Wars franchise, opened in some interna(Reuters/Stringer) tional markets on Dec. 16 before rolling out in North Ramadi is a provincial exit and they were taken to a mainly Sunni Muslim America the following day. capital in the fertile Eucamp near Habbaniya, north Anbar province. The It is set to hit the $1 phrates River valley, just of Ramadi, according to a government said it would two hours drive west of military statement broadcast be handed over to the local billion mark no later than Baghdad. Most remainon state TV. police and to a Sunni tribal Sunday, its 12th day in theaters, according to industry ing civilians in the Islamic Military officials had said force once it was secured. State-held central district on Wednesday the offensive Ramadi was Islamic State’s research firm Rentrak. have taken shelter in the to retake the central district biggest prize of 2015, city’s hospital, knowing that should take several days. abandoned by government ‘Late Show’ the army will not target it, The Iraqi government forces in May in a major Margaret Hall, Rasool said. forces are backed by air setback for Baghdad and Actress, 84, dies He declined to give a time support from an interfor the Iraqi troops that frame for the final onslaught national coalition led by have been trained by the LOS ANGELES — Marto dislodge the militants. the United States. Shi’ite United States since the “The campaign’s priority is militia units backed by Iran, overthrow of Saddam Hus- garet Hall, a member of the cast on AMC’s “Remember to avoid casualties among which have played a major sein in 2003. WENN” and a quirky longcivilians and the troops, no part in other government After Ramadi, the army time participant on “The matter how long it takes,” offensives, have been kept plans to move to retake the Late Show With David Lethe said. About 120 families away from the battlefield in northern city of Mosul, the terman,” died December 21 were rescued from the com- Ramadi to avoid angering biggest population center in New York City of natural bat zone on Saturday after Sunni Muslim residents. under Islamic State control causes. She was 84. securing safe routes for their The city is the capital of in Iraq and Syria. Hall was a SAG/AFTRA & AEA member since the The statement came two early 1950s, and on Broaddays after The Washington way with Laurence Olivier Post first reported the U.S. in “Becket.” government was planning The actress appeared a series of raids to remove on “One Life to Live” and hundreds of undocumented “As the World Turns,” 1965 families as early as January Hallmark Hall of Fame in the first such large-scale entry “The Holy Terror,” starring Julie Harris, 1978 effort targeting the recent telepic “Summer of My flood of border crossers. German Soldier,” starring Kristy McNichol, and Chicago police “Circus” (1989), as well as officer kills man films including “Weekend at Bernie’s,” Party Girl” and and woman “The Guru” (2001). U.S. President Barack Obama, with first lady Michelle CHICAGO — In a city Obama, delivers remarks at a Christmas reception with service members at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneo- already troubled by allega- Tarantino’s tions of police misuse of he Bay, Hawaii on Friday. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst) ‘Hateful Eight’ force, a Chicago police County, Miss., since being said. The mosque was part officer shot and killed a launches $1.9M male college student and caught in a tornado on of a strip mall. on Christmas a mother of five, both Wednesday were found by Special Agent Nicole LOS ANGELES — search and rescue teams Strong of the Bureau of Al- black, on Saturday morning following a report of a Christmas Day moviegoers on Saturday morning, said cohol, Tobacco, Firearms showed Quentin TaranGreg Flynn, spokesman and Explosives said it was domestic disturbance. tino’s “The Hateful Eight” The police department for Mississippi Emergency too soon to determine the Management Agency. fire’s cause, CNN said. The of the nation’s third-largest plenty of affection as the The cause of their deaths blaze drew 80 firefighters, city is under a federal civil 70 mm roadshow launched with $1.9 million at 100 rights investigation for its was not disclosed, but they the report said. venues in 44 U.S. markets. brought the total dead from Strong was not immedi- use of deadly force and The opening day projofficer discipline. tornadoes in Mississippi to ately available for comects to an impressive $5 A recently released 10, in addition to 56 people ment. video of the shooting death million for the weekend injured, officials said. Anti-Muslim sentiment — or around $50,000 per of a black teenager by a The tornado destroyed or has been on the rise in screen — for what is the white officer in 2014 has damaged 403 homes over the U.S., stoked by recent largest 70 mm release in led to multiple protests, a seven-county area, Flynn Islamic State-related the last 20 years. with activists calling for said. In addition, flooding attacks in France and That number will be the left 50 homes uninhabitCalifornia and anti-Muslim Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s best by far for an openresignation. able and closed 40 roads in statements by Republican The latest shooting hap- ing in that range in the Monroe County, which got presidential hopefuls. pened early on Saturday on past five years, according 10 to 12 inches of rain, he to Rentrak. The previous the city’s west side. said. Churches offer high in the category was “Upon arrival, officers refuge for Central were confronted by a 2011’s “Kevin Hart: Laugh Houston mosque Americans facing combative subject resulting at Me,” which opened with burns; officials $1.9 million at 98 locain the discharging of the U.S. deportation tions. suspicious officer’s weapon, fatally LOS ANGELES — The Weinstein Co. anwounding two individuals,” A Christmas Day fire at Leaders of the churchnounced on Dec. 14 that police said in a statement. a Houston mosque appears based Sanctuary MoveThe Cook County Medi- it moved up “The Hateful suspicious and started in ment vowed on Friday cal Examiner’s office iden- Eight’s” wide release in the U.S. to New Year’s Day — several places, CNN reto offer their places of tified the dead as Bettie worship as refuge for a week earlier than previported on Saturday, citing Jones, 55, and Quintonio immigrants facing deporously planned — with the a federal official. Legrier, 19. The Chicago tation under an Obama The Islamic Center of Tribune rendered the name aim of taking advantage of administration crackdown as ‘LeGrier’ but officials strong buzz. The Western Houston caught fire after carries a 75 percent “fresh” Friday prayers when it was on Central American fami- could not immediately rating on Rotten Tomatoes. mostly empty and no inju- lies who entered the United confirm that spelling. — From wire reports States illegally. ries were reported, CNN — From wire reports

No need to avoid ‘happy baby pose’ in prenatal yoga By Lisa Rapaport Reuters

Even though women are often advised to steer clear of certain yoga poses late in pregnancy, many of these moves might not be a problem for women or their babies, a small U.S. study suggests. Yoga can have many benefits during pregnancy, including helping women maintain flexibility and muscle tone and develop breathing techniques that may

MUST READ

be warranted, researchers monitored fetal heart rate while a group of 25 healthy women in the final be useful during labor. But late weeks of pregnancy tried 26 comin pregnancy, women are often mon yoga poses. warned against poses that require Fetal heart rate remained normal them to lie on their backs, such through all of the poses, and none as “happy baby pose” or “corpse of the women reported decreased pose,” and inversions such as fetal movement, contractions, fluid “downward facing dog” that might leakage or vaginal bleeding in the reduce circulation to the fetus and 24 hours after their yoga sessions, contribute to a spike in fetal heart researchers report in the journal rate. Obstetrics and Gynecology. To see how much caution might “Though this is a preliminary

study, I found there were no adverse changes in maternal or fetal wellbeing in the 26 studied poses,” said lead author Rachael Polis, who conducted the research at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and is currently with Kosair Children’s Hospital Gynecology Specialists in Louisville, Kentucky. “Postures suspected to be contraindicated — e.g. downward facing dog, child’s pose, happy baby and corpse pose — were also well

tolerated,” Polis added by email. None of the women in the study had a history of hypertension or other complications during pregnancy, and none of them had any medical conditions that required them to avoid exercise. The women were near the end of their third trimester, at about 35 to 37 weeks pregnant. Ten of the 25 participants did yoga regularly, while eight were familiar with yoga and seven had never done it before.

perspectives

gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline, Editor

todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com

PAGE 7 A • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

Food fads: Make mine gluten-full WASHINGTON — When the federal government’s 1980 “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” warned about the baleful effects of saturated fats, public interest activists joined the fight and managed to persuade major food companies to switch to the shiny new alternative: trans fats. Thirty-five years later, the Food and Drug Administration finally determined that trans fats are not just useless but unsafe, and ordered them removed from all foods. Oops. So much for settled science. To tell the truth, I never paid much attention to the fat fights in the first place. From my days as a medical student (and prodigious consumer of junk food), I’ve seen so many solemnly proclaimed “findings” come and go that I decided long ago to ignore — and outlive — them all. So far, I’m ahead. Never had an egg substitute in my life. I figured trans fats were just Charles another fad waitKrauthammer ing to be revoked and renounced. Moreover, if I was wrong, the green eggs and ham would take so long to kill me anyway that I was more likely to be hit by a bus first. Either way, win-win. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t advocate this kind of jaunty fatalism for everyone. This is a private affair. I do, however, preach skepticism. Remember that most venerable piece of received medical wisdom — 98.6 degrees as the average adult human temperature? In 1992, three researchers bothered to measure — and found that the conventional wisdom (based on an 1878 German study) was wrong. Normal is 98.2. After that — 114 years of error — one is inclined to embrace Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” theory that in 200 years we’ll discover that smoking is good for you, fruits are not. I still love peaches, but I eat them for the taste — and the memories — not because they might add a month to my life (in the ICU when I’m 90). I don’t mean to be cynical, just realistic. Take fish oil. For at least 10 years the National Institutes of Health has strongly recommended omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. I held out, trusting both my gastronomic prejudices (more turf than surf) and my faith that time ultimately undoes all of life’s verites. I waited. My orneriness has not been fully vindicated — NIH still recommends dietary fish oil — but it does find omega-3 supplements to be useless. Exhibit A for medical skepticism, however, remains vitamin C. When Linus Pauling, Nobel laureate in chemistry (not nutrition), began the vitamin-C megadose fad to fend off all manner of disease, the whole thing struck me as bizarre. Yes, you need some C to prevent scurvy if you’re seven months at sea with Capt. Cook and citrus is nowhere to be found. Otherwise, the megadose is a crock. Evolution is pretty clever. For 2 million years it made sure Homo erectus, neanderthalensis, sapiens, what have you, got his daily dose without having to visit a GNC store. Sure enough, that fashion came and went. But there are always new windmills to be tilted at. The latest is gluten. Now, if you suffer from celiac disease, you need a gluten-free diet. How many of us is that? Less than 1 percent. And yet supermarket shelves are groaning with products proclaiming their gluten-freedom. Sales are going through the roof. Another crock. Turns out, according to a massive Australian study of 3,200 products, gluten-free is useless. “The foods can be significantly more expensive and are very trendy to eat,” says Jason Wu, the principal investigator. “But we discovered a negligible difference when looking at their overall nutrition.” Told you so. Why then am I not agitating to have this junk taken off the shelves? Because of my other obsession: placebos, for which I have an undying respect, acquired during my early years as a general-hospital psychiatrist. If you believe in the curative powers of something — often encouraged by the authority of your physician — a sugar pill or a glass of plain water can produce remarkable symptom relief. I’ve seen it. I’ve done it. So I’d never mess with it. If a placebo can alleviate your pain, that’s better than opioids. If going gluten-free gives a spring to your step, why not? But please, let the civility go both ways. Let the virtuous Fitbit foodie, all omega3’d and gluten-free, drop the self-congratulatory smugness. And I promise not to say it’s all in his head. Live and let eat. Merry Christmas. Charles Krauthammer’s email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com.

Ornaments evoke memories of travels So the holiday has come and gone. I’m not speaking of Festivus, mind you, although my family did participate in the airing of grievances and a few feats of strength on the 23rd of December. I am speaking of Christmas, and I hope yours was as full of peace and joy and hope and love as was mine. What a wonderful, wonderful Christmas we kept! I like for Christmas to linger awhile and would be perfectly happy to keep our home decorated until well into the new year, but my lovely wife, Lisa, is a bit of a slave driver and not nearly as sentimental as I, so the morning after Christmas Day finds me untrimming the trees that I had waited 11 months to trim. The first project I undertook was packing up the decorations on my travel tree. It started out as a history tree many moons ago, but lately we have added to the ornaments we had purchased from museums and battlefield gift shops and added random decorations from around the world. I took my time stripping the tree of these festive decorations and spent that time reflecting on the marvelous things we have seen and done. George Bailey

Darrell Huckaby isn’t the only one who has lived a wonderful life. One of my favorite ornaments on that particular tree is one made from copper that once adorned the ceiling of the Library of Congress. It was a gift from a student, Alyssa Maloof, probably 10 years ago. At the time I had never been to the Library of Congress, even though I had visited Washington, D.C., a dozen times. Inspired by Alyssa’s gift, I made a special trip to see the library and now it is my favorite building in our Capital city. It is beautiful and filled with symbolism from history, literature, the arts and Christianity. Holding the ornament in my hand and reading the inscription made me want to visit Washington again. I’d better start making plans. I have several ornaments

from the White House on my travel tree. One is from Laura Bush, a consolation prize for my not getting to attend the dinner for writers to which I had been invited. I still have the invitation somewhere. It is dated Sept. 10, 2001. It was cancelled in the aftermath of what happened the next day. I have an ornament from the 9/11 Museum, too, although it is not exactly festive. Neither, for that matter, is the blue bauble I picked up at Gettysburg. There wasn’t much peace on that plot of earth during the first week of July in 1863. I have a portrait of General Lee on that tree, too. I hope the city of New Orleans doesn’t find out. But there are prettier and happier ornaments, too. I have one from the Conch Republic and seeing it always makes me smile and want to head for Mile Marker 0. I have hand-painted decorations from Greece and France and several villages in Germany that specialize in Christmas, and a hand-carved olive wood nativity ornament that I bought in Bethlehem. The one where Christ was born. I have ornaments on my travel tree from The Citadel and the Naval Academy,

both gifts from students that graduated from those fine institutions, and gold filigree decorations from Savannah, Charleston, Lancaster, Pa., Alaska, and a couple from the Pacific Northwest, and every single one has a story to tell and a memory to share. I’ve travelled such a long way since my first birthday in the little hospital up on the hill in Porterdale. But no matter where I might roam for 51 weeks of the year, I have always spent Christmas at home, and the good Lord willing, I always will. But it is fun to reflect on the places I have been, the things I have seen and the people with whom I have traveled. I can’t wait for 2016 to arrive. I have a feeling that I might need to acquire a bigger tree for my travel ornaments for next year because I plan to go places I’ve never been this year and see sights that I may never see again. I hope you have had a merry Christmas, y’all, and I hope that each and every one of you has a peaceful and prosperous new year. In the words of Tiny Tim — yes, I have an ornament from Dickens’ London — God bless us every one.

Recognizing the angels living among us My 88-year-old aunt was taken to the hospital after she fell in the middle of the night. She didn’t break any bones but aggravated an existing fracture on her upper left arm and was very dehydrated, so the doctors kept her in the hospital for observation and some testing. I asked to stay with her, and the nurses were glad to accommodate. But I didn’t sleep more than an hour at a time because throughout the restless night, she awoke in a fright and uttered nonsensical things. The nurse explained that she has “sundown syndrome,” a phenomenon where people who have some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s experience confusion and agitation when the sun goes down. Given the pain medication she was receiving, it’s possible that played a role in it, too. When it was 3:30 in the morning and it was, seemingly the umpteenth time she wanted to get up, I was irritated as I went to fetch the nurse. She breathily responds, “OK, be right there.” Wearied like an over-stretched, depleted balloon, she pumped herself back up and gave me a forced smile. I couldn’t apologize enough. “What is it now, Tu? You need to go to sleep,” she pa-

her hands and knees (bless her soul) pushes his leg forward while manipulating his foot to roll properly. Around him are his wife, sister, and mother-inlaw offering words of encouragement. After three sets, he rested while the therapist who was on Van the ground, stood up, stretched Marosek her back, and straightened herself. As they pushed his tiently suggests in her soft yet wheelchair back to the room, commanding voice. My aunt they planned for better ways to beams and cheerfully greets work with him next time. “Hello!” as if this is her friend I looked into his one good she hasn’t seen in years, only eye (the other one has been we all knew that it is the same shut up since the onset of the nurse who just saw her about stroke) and joked, “How did 40 minutes ago. She calms you get to be so lucky? Look and repositions her in the bed, at all these beautiful ladies checks her vitals, and turns surrounding and doting on down the light. you.” He smiled his crooked I thank her again as she half-smile and nodded. walks out into the bright glow I’m convinced that these of the hallway. I am drawn to are angels working among believe she is our angel. us. Oh, how blessed we are to I met several others, angels have them. The obvious ones that is, when I went to work at are the nurses and the people a rehab center. A young man in the healthcare professions, in his mid-30s had a massive like the ladies in the homestroke that left him unable care services whom I just met to swallow and speak, and is at a funeral. They came to completely paralyzed on the say goodbye to someone for right side of his body. whom they had cared for over He is learning how to walk eight years. A family member with the assistance of two said in his deepest appreciaphysical therapists. This is tion and sincerity, “They are how it goes: one therapist Angels.” props him to stand upright and No, they are not celestial walks beside him; the other, on beings with wings and white

robes, but they embody kindness and goodness. They are benevolent individuals who care for and nurture the elders, relieve pain and help heal the sick, comfort and encourage us in our time of need. And if you or your loved ones have ever been helped by them, you’d call them angels, too. They work gently, quietly, and we often don’t take notice of them. But now I’m uplifted by this thought — I have the inspirited feeling to find them, if not to ask for their help, then to appreciate and praise them. Thank you, thank you for what you do. And of course, I hope to be inspired to emulate their work. Because although I’m not in the business of caring for the sick, I can be in the business of kindness and goodness; we all can. In the spirit of the Christmas season where our thoughts glean on miracles, goodwill, gifts, and giving, I hope you will take notice of the angels around you and allow them invoke the angels within yourselves to offer a smile, kind words, or loving gestures, so you can make someone’s life better, too. Van Marosek lives in Lawrenceville with her family. Email her at jimvanny@ gmail.com.

8A • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015 CLOSE TO HOME

John McPherson

FAMILY CIRCUS

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Today’s Solution

BEETLE BAILEY

BLONDIE

Mort & Greg Walker

Dean Young & John Marshall

DILBERT® Scott Adams

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

Zits

PEANUTS

Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

GARFIELD

PICKLES

Charles M. Schulz

POOCH CAFE

Jim Davis

Chris Browne

Paul Gilligan

Brian Crane

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

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015 • 9A

David and Kristin Barker of Lawrenceville get hands on with an exhibit about water at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford on Saturday. (Staff Photos: Katie Morris)

A historically good time

Gwinnett EHC offers Civil War photo exhibit, holiday crafts

By Katie Morris

with EHC’s interactive exhibit “Discover H2O.” The exhibit features several stations such as potential and kinetic enBUFORD — After taking ergy, erosion, forms of water, advantage of Saturday’s mid- water cycle, stream flow and 70s temperatures and hiking water treatment processes. the trails at the Gwinnett Young visitors to the GwinEnvironmental and Heritage nett EHC on Saturday had Center, David Barker, joined the chance to participate in a by his daughter Kristin and number of crafts and acwife Debbie, decided to take tivities as part of the center’s a look at the center’s exhibits Green Your Holiday, hosted for the first time. by Visitor Services. Kids David, who’s a history buff, could create an ornament was pleasantly surprised to using recycled Christmas find the center was hosting an cards and a bottle cap snowexhibit on Civil War era pho- man, as well as participate in tography, “Portraits in Gray.” a holiday-themed scavenger The Lawrenceville resident hunt through the Water Ways said he enjoyed looking at exhibit. the 70 portraits of ConfederAccording to Darlene ate soldiers that comprise Tarabula, visitor services repthe exhibit, which will be on resentative and educator, they display through Jan. 4. are hosting the holiday crafts Presented by the Southern through Dec. 31. Museum of Civil War and “It’s a fun, interactive acLocomotive History in Kentivity for the young children,” nesaw, the exhibit showcases she said. high-quality, enlarged reThe Portraits in Gray: productions of soldier porA Civil War Photography traits from the David Wynn Exhibit is recommended for Vaughan Collection. The ages 8 and older and will be exhibit also features Civil on display through Jan. 4 at War artifacts and facts about the Gwinnett EHC located photography technology, at 2020 Clean Water Drive including the seven types of in Buford. The next exhibit, images that were produced “Treehouses: Look Who’s during the era. Living In The Trees,” is set to Kristin, who is the science open Jan. 18. enthusiast of the family, said For more information, visit she enjoyed getting hands on www.gwinnettehc.org.

katie.morris @gwinnettdailypost.com

Darlene Tarabula, GEHC visitor services representative and educator, and volunteer Paul Cardenas, a senior at Berkmar High School, man the Green Your Holiday craft table on Saturday.

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford offers visitors the chance to learn about Civil War era photography in the exhibit “Portraits in Gray.”

Young visitors to the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford on Saturday could create crafts using recycled holiday decorations.

10A • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

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Balmy weather can’t stop Winter Adventure By Katie Morris

katie.morris@gwinnettdailypost.com

Local families flocked to Lanier Islands’ Winter Adventure on Saturday afternoon to play in the snow and enjoy other winter-themed activities amid unseasonably warm weather. The Buford

lakeside resort’s winter attraction features a number of snow play zones, water slides transformed into bobsled tracks, ziplining across the lake, fire pits and a new bubble skating rink.

Above, four-year-old twins Christian and Allison Robins of Johns Creek pile up snowballs at one of Lanier Islands’ Winter Adventure snow-filled play zones on Saturday. Left, Dricka Lester of Atlanta sleds down the LanierWorld water slide Triple Threat, which has been turned into a one-person bobsled track for Lanier Islands’ Winter Adventure.

IF YOU GO

Seven-year-old Evangeline Huang throws a snowball while playing in one of the snow zones on Saturday at Lanier Islands’ Winter Adventure. (Staff Photos: Katie Morris)

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sports

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SECTION B • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

NE Y A SH SON K JAC

E LYL N SO P M

THO

ES SON L I M OMP TH

SE JES G KIN

THE HIVE HAS ARRIVED Photos: Graig Abel

Swarm optimistic about first season in Georgia By Paul Thomas

lots of work to be done before you get to that level. There’s a lot of teams in The Georgia Swarm this league that have a lot wrapped up training camp of veterans and have a lot in Toronto last weekend, of success,’” head coach Ed winning both of its preComeau said. “We really season games — a good believe we can be competisign for a team that’s won tive. Our goal No. 1 is to be just 17 games over the last competitive every night and three seasons in Minnesota. goal No. 2, we think if we With the 20-man roster do that, we’ll be able to get set, the team now turns ourselves in the playoffs. its attention to the season “That’s what we’re lookopener on January 1 at the ing to do, and at that point Colorado Mammoth and the it’s an anything happens inaugural home opener at situation. We believe in this the Infinite Energy Center group and we believe in on January 9 against the what we’re trying to instill Toronto Rock. in the guys and the guys “I said to the guys at the are buying in to the system. beginning of the year, ‘Our We’re excited to see kind of goals are really high, but where it’s going to take us there’s eight other teams and certainly getting excited in the league that also set to get down to Georgia and very high goals. There’s play in front of hopefully a

paul.thomas@ gwinnettdailypost.com

big, boisterous home crowd in a great arena.” The franchise last made the NLL playoffs in 2013, but after using the last two seasons to accumulate a bevy of draft picks, the Swarm hope that the infusion of talent from having four of the top six in this year’s draft will help make them a contender. “I think we’re all just really excited to get going,” forward Shayne Jackson said. “The past couple years, some of us, we’ve had some rough years as far as wins and losses are concerned, so we’re just really excited that we have this group that we have. We all believe that we’re going to be a good team and we can keep up with the top teams in the league. That’s kind

of our mindset right now. We’re young, but we’re going to be fast and we’re going to play together and we’re just going to work hard.”

established scores in Johnny Powless (52 points last season) and Kiel Matisz (29 points) as well. “It’s been great so far,” Jackson said. “Because everyone can play on and Offense off ball. There’s not just one The firepower the Swarm go-to guy that we’re going have on offense is a big rea- to need to lean on. We’re all son for the optimism ahead going to be playing togethof their Peach State debut. er, and to be successful, we Jackson led the team with all need to play together and 78 points last season. Miles play with each other and Thompson was right behind not be selfish. I think we’ve him with 62 points during been playing good unselfish his rookie campaign. lacrosse these past couple During the draft, the games and we’ve played Swarm picked up Thomptwo very good teams.” son’s brother Lyle, the In the preseason, the NCAA all-time scoring Swarm defeated Rochester leader, 6-foot-3, 200-pound 12-11 and Toronto 17-12. lefty Jesse King from Ohio Against Toronto, Staats, State and Syracuse stud Lyle Thompson and Josh Randy Staats. See SWARM, Page 6B Georgia also has some

INSIDE: SWARM ROSTER AND 2016 SCHEDULE, 6B

Effort on the boards, added aggression helps Rams By David Friedlander

david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

GRAYSON RAM CLASSIC When: Monday-Wednesday Where: Grayson High School, Loganville Monday’s schedule: 9:30 a.m. — North Gwinnett vs. Oconee girls 11 a.m. — Mountain View vs. Kennesaw Mountain boys 12:30 p.m. — Shiloh vs. Mountain View girls 2 p.m. — Hiram vs. Banneker boys 3:30 p.m. — Buford vs. Banneker girls (main gym) 3:30 p.m. — Lanier vs. Centennial girls (auxiliary gym) 5 p.m. — Buford vs. Jenkins boys (main gym) 5 p.m. — Lanier vs. Centennial boys (auxiliary gym) 6:30 p.m. — Grayson vs. Discovery girls 8 p.m. — Grayson vs. Jefferson boys

Throughout his tenure as Grayson’s boys basketball coach, Geoffrey Pierce has worked to try and help the Rams find an identity as a program. Not that there hasn’t been plenty of success in those three-plus seasons, including a 50-31 overall record and the first state tournament appearance in program history. sioned. Still, it’s taken that time But with an 8-1 record for Pierce and the Rams heading into the three-day forge the identity he enviRam Classic on Monday, it

seems the Rams have put together the kind of team he envisioned when he arrived in 2012.

And he says the main differences between this team and his early ones are fairly obvious, and they entail factors both on and off the court. “Experience is invaluable, and the experience they’ve gained the last few years made them a lot better leaders,” Pierce said of this season’s senior class, led by guards Alphonso Willis and Austin Dukes and forwards Trevian Sconiers and Hafeez Anifowoshe. “Those guys Grayson’s Austin Dukes (3) looks to shoot the ball during have played together since last year’s 8-AAAAAA boys region tournament basketball game against Archer at Brookwood High School in

See GRAYSON, Page 6B Snellville. (File Photo)

2B • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

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Warriors’ Curry named 2015 AP Male Athlete of Year a NBA-record 24-game winning streak to start this Guard Stephen Curry, season before losing. who led the Golden State After two key late hoops Warriors to their first by Curry, the Warriors NBA title in 40 years and outlasted the Cavaliers then helped the defend89-83 in a Christmas Day ing champions get off to rematch of the championa record-setting start this ship series. Golden State season, has been named has the best record in the the Associated Press 2015 NBA at 28-1. Male Athlete of the Year. Curry finished first in a Curry’s record-setting the AP vote by U.S. editors shooting along with his and news directors, with dribbling and passing skills the results released Satare changing the game. urday. He joined LeBron He has become the face of James, Michael Jordan the NBA and the Warriors and Larry Bird as the only have become the NBA’s basketball players to win must-watch team. the honor in the 85 years of “The way that I play has the award. a lot of skill but is stuff Curry beat out golfer that if you go to the YMCA Jordan Spieth, who won or rec leagues or church two majors, and American leagues around the country, Pharoah, who became the everybody wants to shoot, first horse since 1978 to everybody wants to handle win the Triple Crown. the ball, make creative American Pharoah got passes and stuff like that,” three more first-place votes the 6-foot-3 Curry said. than Curry’s 24, but Curry “You can work on that appeared on 86 percent of stuff. Not everybody has the 82 ballots that ranked the vertical, or the physical the top five candidates. gifts to be able to go out More than one-third of and do a windmill dunk the voters left American and stuff like that. I can’t Pharoah off their list. even do it.” “That’s a real honor,” The 27-year-old Curry Curry said. “I’m appreciawas the runaway winner tive of that acknowledgeof the Maurice Podoloff ment because it’s across Trophy as league MVP for all different sports. … It’s the 2014-15 season after pretty cool.” he led the Warriors to the Curry has improved his title, beating the Clevescoring from 23.8 points land Cavaliers in the NBA per game last season to Finals. 30.8 this year. The Warriors got off to “The thing I would say The Sports Xchange

about Steph, what makes him who he is, is that nobody has to challenge him to get to the next level

because he does it on his own,” said coach Steve Kerr, who continues to recuperate from back surgery

and is aiming to return to the bench by early January. “I didn’t think he could get that much better from

last year but I do think he’s gotten considerably better, which is quite a feat when you’re the reigning MVP.”

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games also were on Christmas Day. A rematch of the chamViewership for all five pionship series between the games on ABC and ESPN Golden State Warriors and was up from 2013, the Cleveland Cavaliers drew last time ABC and ESPN nearly 11 million viewers combined for a five-game — the most-watched NBA Christmas Day slate. 295653-2 Christmas Day telecast since 2011. The defending champion Warriors’ 89-83 victory over the Cavaliers on ABC was a rematch of the most-watched NBA Finals in ABC history. Friday’s game drew 10.923 million viewers, according to Fast Nationals from Nielsen. It was up 17 percent from the comparable Christmas Day game in 2014 between the ick the winners of the high Cleveland Cavaliers and school football games and you Miami Heat. The average audience could win a o r o for the Oklahoma City Thunder-Chicago Bulls game on ABC also was up from last year, averaging nearly 6 million viewers. The ABC Christmas Day doubleheader average was up 13 percent from 2014. This year’s five-game SponSored by: telecast averaged 5.546 million — up 6 percent 678-889-4090 • www.flatoutauto.com compared to last year’s five-game slate. The HeatNew Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets-San 205715-1 Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers-Lakers

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Monday

BASKETBALL

• Archer boys in Sweet South Classic • Berkmar boys in Lake City Classic at Allatoona • Berkmar girls in Pickens Holiday Classic • Central boys in Morgan Co. Holiday Classic • Central girls in Alabama Holiday Tournament • Collins Hill boys in Commerce Tournament • Duluth in McDonald’s Big South Shootout at Georgia College • Grayson Ram Classic • Parkview girls in Boo Williams Tournament • Deep South Classic at Brookwood • Hebron and Walnut Grove in Walnut Grove Christmas Tournament • Meadowcreek boys in Monterrey Christmas Tournament • Meadowcreek girls in Sweet South Tournament at Morgan Co. • North boys in Kingdom of the Sun Classic • Peachtree Ridge boys in Rotary Roundball Tournament • Peachtree Ridge girls in Holiday Tournament • Providence in George Walton Christmas Tournament • Shiloh boys in Farm Bureau Insurance Classic • South boys in Indian Shootout • South girls in Colquitt Co. Christmas Tournament • Wesleyan boys in Wells Fargo Classic

The Home Teams

TODAY NEXT UPCOMING

Hawks

Norfolk Norfolk Off Tue, 7 p.m. Wed, 7 p.m. 97.7-FM 97.7-FM Carolina New Orleans 1 p.m. Jan. 3, 1 p.m. TBD FOX/92.9-FM FOX/92.9-FM at Indiana at Houston Off Mon, 7 p.m. Tue, 8 p.m. FSSE/92.9-FM FSSE/92.9-FM

Georgia

vs. Penn State# Off Jan. 2, noon ESPN/750-AM

Gladiators

Falcons

End of season

FSSE = FOX Sports Southeast, FSS = FOX Sports South #Tax Slayer Bowl, Jacksonville, Fla.

On TV

Today

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

2 p.m. — Presbyterian at Marquette FS1

NFL

1 p.m. — Carolina at Atlanta FOX 4 p.m. — Jacksonville at New Orleans CBS 4:25 p.m. — Green Bay at Arizona FOX 8:20 p.m. — New York Giants at Minnesota NBC

Sports Calendar

BASEBALL

Ongoing through Dec. 31: Whitner Hitting Clinics are being held at Jack City Sports Center. The clinics are ongoing and cost $75 for five weeks. To sign up, email jackcitybaseball@aol. com or call 770-633-0948.

BASKETBALL

Jan. 10: Complete Skills Academy will field girls travel teams for grades 4 through 8 in the upcoming spring seasons. Tryouts will be Jan. 10. Registration and season information is online at completeskillsacademy. com.

WEIGHTLIFTING

Jan. 23-24: No Excuses

CrossFit in Suwanee is hosting the USA Weightlifting Sport Performance Coaching Course and Certification. The cost is $495 and will be instructed by C.J. Stockel. Go to www. usaw.hangastar.com/ EMS_Courses_Register. aspx to register for the course or contact the event coordinator at info@noexcusescrossfit.com for more information. The entry level course is open to anyone 17 and older and includes a one-year membership with USAW. The scope and sequence of the course includes the teaching progressions of the snatch, clean and jerk, and all associated movements.

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

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015 • 3B

COLLEGE BOWL ROUNDUP

Duke prevails over Hoosiers in OT The Sports Xchange NEW YORK — Duke snapped a three-game bowl losing streak with a 44-41 overtime win over Indiana in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday before 37,218 at Yankee Stadium. Ross Martin connected on a 36-yard field goal on Duke’s first possession of overtime for the lead. Indiana’s Griffin Oakes missed a 38-yard field goal attempt wide right to tie it on the next possession. Duke (8-5) had lost to Cincinnati (48-34) in the 2012 Belk Bowl, Texas A&M (52-48) in the 2013 Chick-fil-A-Bowl and Arizona State (36-31) in the 2014 Sun Bowl. Duke quarterback Thomas Sirk’s 5-yard touchdown run and Martin’s extra point tied it at 41 with 41 seconds to play. Oakes’ 56yard field goal attempt as time expired fell short. Sirk passed for 156 yards and rushed for 155 yards. He ran for two touchdowns and passed for one. Indiana quarterback Nate Sudfeld hit wideopen wide receiver Mitchell Paige in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown with 4:03 to play and the extra point gave Indiana a temporary 41-34 edge. Running back Devine Redding established an Indiana bowl record by rushing for 226 yards on 35 carries. Redding, a sophomore, broke Anthony Thompson’s mark of 140 yards against South Carolina in the 1988 Liberty Bowl. The Hoosiers (6-7) were without their top running back, junior Jordan Howard, who suffered a knee injury late in the season. A 98-yard kick return from Shaun Wilson and Martin’s point-after tied the score at 34 for Duke with 10:55 to play. The back-and-forth third quarter ended with Indiana leading 31-27 thanks to running back Alex Rodriguez’s 10-yard touchdown run. A 34-yard field goal from Martin provided Duke with a 20-17 lead four minutes into the third quarter. The final stages of the first half produced three scores within 1:25. A 45yard field goal by Oakes with three seconds left in the second quarter tied it at 17. Washington 44, Southern Miss 31 DALLAS — The future appears bright for the Washington Huskies. Freshman running back Myles Gaskin scored four touchdowns to lead Washington to a 44-31 victory over Southern Miss in the

for 219 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Washington State (9-4) bounced back from last season’s 3-9 record to reach a bowl game for the second time in the three seasons under coach Mike Leach. The Cougars blew a big lead late in a bowl loss to Colorado State in 2013, but held off Miami in the fourth quarter. The loss caps another Duke guard Jake Sanders (72) celebrates after the Blue up-and-down season for Devils’ New Era Pinstripe Bowl overtime win Saturday the Hurricanes (8-5), who against the Indiana Hoosiers at Yankee Stadium. (Photo: saw coach Al Golden Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports) dismissed in October after a humiliating 56-0 loss to Clemson. two big stands late in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Miami won four of its fourth quarter to hold off Saturday. last five games in the reguMiami 20-14 on a snowy “It was a great win,” lar season under interim Saturday at the 82nd Sun second-year coach Chris coach Larry Scott. Petersen said. “It was good Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Longtime Georgia coach The Cougars claimed to see our offense get unMark Richt, a former their first bowl win since tracked later in the game, Miami quarterback, was 2003. and Myles Gaskin had a Miami threatened twice hired in late November and great game. is tasked with restoring the inside Washington State “We hung in there program to its former glory territory in the final four against a good team. We after a decade of mediocminutes. have great respect for rity. However, the Cougars Southern Miss and their The Hurricanes have not forced two turnovers, with program, and they played cornerback Marcellus Pip- won a bowl game since hard.” 2006. pins recovering a fumble Gaskin rushed for 181 yards on 26 carries, includ- at the Washington State Marshall 16, five-yard line and safety ing an electric 86-yard Connecticut 10 Shalom Luani intercepting touchdown in the third ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. a pass on a Miami trick quarter. The only true play at the Cougars’ nine- — Marshall and Connectifreshman in UW history cut lived up to the billing yard line to seal the win. to rush for 1,000 yards in in a St. Petersburg Bowl Both teams scored on a season also set a Heart their opening possessions, matchup of teams ranked of Dallas Bowl record for with Falk hooking up with in the top 20 nationally in rushing yards and touchscoring defense. Jamal Morrow on a 31downs. Each team scored only yard touchdown pass. “Our O-line did a great Miami quarterback Brad one touchdown and comjob all day and controlled bined for only a single play Kaaya answered with a the line of scrimmage four-yard touchdown pass of at least 20 yards through for us,” said Gaskin, the the first three quarters in to Stacy Coley to tie the game’s MVP. score 7-7. But the offenses what was 16-10 victory The Huskies (7-6) began to slow down as the for the Thundering Herd at finished the season on a three-game winning streak winter weather intensified. Tropicana Field. Nick Smith’s 33-yard and won their first bowl Washington State had field goal 1:44 remaining game under Petersen. the blustery wind at its Gaskin wasn’t the only back in the second quarter in the game provided the final margin and capped a freshman to come up big as and capitalized. 13-play, 80-yard drive that Petersen continues to put Defensive back Peyton his stamp on the program. Pelluer picked off Kaaya’s consumed 6:35. Running back Keon Quarterback Jake pass inside the Cougars’ Browning, also less than 15-yard line and Washing- Davis churned out each of a year removed from high ton State took advantage of his team-high 73 yards on school, completed 23 of 34 a poor punt and two Miami the drive. “It ended up being the passes for 284 yards. Depersonal fouls in the final kind of game I thought it spite not throwing a touch- minute of the first half to would,” Marshall coach down pass, the 19-year-old extend its lead. Doc Holliday said. “I signal caller from CaliFalk connected with am proud of the way we fornia led the Huskies on Gabe Marks on a 25-yard seven scoring drives. touchdown pass with 1:10 finished at the end of the “If we keep working like before half, and Erik Pow- game. We put that long drive together and ran we have for the last several ell’s second field goal put some time off the clock.” weeks of the season, we Washington State up 20-7 Leading 13-7 at halfhave a chance to be a good at halftime. team down the road,” PeMiami got back into the time, Marshall (10-3) had its chances to at least attain tersen said. game early in the fourth some breathing room in the Southern Miss (9-5) quarter on Mark Walton’s third quarter. ended on a two-game losshort touchdown run. Instead of opting for ing streak but did snap a Braxton Berriors’ 65four-year bowl drought. yard run to the Washington a field goal on the first possession of the second The Eagles reached State five-yard line set up the Conference USA Walton’s score that cut the half, the Thundering Herd went for it on fourth-and-2 title game in coach Todd deficit to 20-14 with 13 from the UConn 17, but Monken’s third year. minutes to play. receiver Deandre Reeves But Miami couldn’t was stopped for no gain on Washington State 20, complete the comeback. a sweep. Miami 14 Falk, a 6-4 sophomore, On its next possession EL PASO, Texas — emerged to lead the top Marshall crafted its fourth Quarterback Luke Falk passing attack in the nastraight drive of at least 10 threw two touchdown tion. He completed 29 of plays, but Smith’s 43-yard passes and Washington 53 passes for 295 yards field goal attempt sailed State forced three turnand the two touchdowns. overs and came up with Kaaya finished 17 of 31 wide right.

Ulis scores 21 as Wildcats narrowly hold off Louisville Ulis paced the Wildcats with 21 points, 15 coming LEXINGTON — Kenin the first half. tucky and Louisville “Courage,” Calipari said. renewed their annual “He’s not afraid to miss. rivalry Saturday afternoon That’s Tyler.” at Rupp Arena with the Senior forward Alex No. 12 Wildcats prevailing Poythress added 14 points, 75-73 over the 16th-ranked junior guard Dominique Cardinals. Hawkins 13 and freshman Kentucky (10-2) led 75- guard Jamal Murray 12. 70 and then held on for the Lee scored a game-high win as a 3-pointer at the 27 points for the Cardinals buzzer by Louisville guard (11-2). Guard Trey Lewis Damion Lee fell short. It added 15. was coach John Calipari’s The game was a back200th victory at Kentucky. and-forth affair until “It’s a great win for something potentially bad this group,” Calipari said. turned into something “They do know this is who good for Kentucky. With we have to be and how we 3:04 left in the first half have to play — that kind and the score tied 30-30, of energy, that kind of ag- Calipari was called for a gressiveness, that kind of technical foul. Seconds attack. And against a really later, Louisville led 34-30, good team. Louisville’s but from that point forward going to do damage. They and into the early second will be one of those teams half, the Wildcats went on left standing. We may have a 22-2 run to grab their them again.” largest lead at 52-36. Sophomore guard Tyler Poythress led the run Reuters

with seven points, including six straight early in the second half. Hawkins came off the bench for five. Louisville then ripped off its own 11-3 run to pull within 55-47 with 11:24 to play. The Cardinals continued the comeback by making it a 28-13 run to close to 65-64 with 5:19 to play. However, Louisville could never regain the lead and a critical 3-pointer from Hawkins with 2:18 left pushed Kentucky back on top 73-68. Hawkins, who entered the day with only two 3-pointers this season, had three in the game. His 15 points were a career best for the native of Richmond, Ky. “Never changed his emotion the whole time,” Calipari said of Hawkins. “He defended, he’ll fight like crazy. He’s got a great temperament, a great demeanor. One of the great

kids of all time.” next week, if his ankle is Forest comes to the KFC The Wildcats opened the healthy, because that’s how Yum! Center. game fast, grabbing a 13-4 he is.” Note: Kentucky and lead inside the first five The Wildcats return to Louisville came into Saturminutes. Ulis led the flurry action on Jan. 2 when Ole day’s game heading in opposite directions. Kentucky with eight of the 13 points. Miss visits Kentucky to He finished the half with start Southeastern Confer- was once No. 1 and had 15 points. ence play. Louisville opens fallen to No. 12. Louisville The Cardinals closed the Atlantic Coast Conference started the season unranked gap to take their first lead play on Jan. 3 when Wake but had climbed to No. 16. at 20-19 on the second of three straight 3-pointers. Lewis had two and Lee had one. It was the beginning of a 12-2 run by the Cardinals. Kentucky freshman MILITARY ITEMS WANTED guard Isaiah Briscoe, considered a key component with his defensive ability to shutdown Louisville’s BUY • SELL • TRADE • NEW • USED Lee, suffered a left ankle Rifles • Pistols • Shotguns injury during warmups, Ammunition • Scopes • Reloading Supplies about an hour before the game. He was pulled from the starting lineup minutes before tipoff. 170 West Athens St. • Winder, GA 30680 “He’s a fighter,” Calipari said of Briscoe. “Now, what he’ll do is he’ll 296680-2 gunroomLLC.com Free with This Ad in Store come back and kill people

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4B • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

New England N.Y. Jets Buffalo Miami

W 12 9 6 5

L 2 5 8 9

Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Tennessee

W 7 6 5 3

L 7 8 9 11

Cincinnati Pittsburgh Baltimore Cleveland

W 11 9 4 3

L 3 5 10 11

Denver Kansas City Oakland San Diego

W 10 9 7 4

L 4 5 8 11

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AMERICAN CONFERENCE East Pct PF PA Home Away AFC .857 435 269 7-1-0 5-1-0 9-1-0 .643 344 272 5-2-0 4-3-0 6-4-0 .429 341 336 3-3-0 3-5-0 6-5-0 .357 278 361 2-4-0 3-5-0 3-7-0 South T Pct PF PA Home Away AFC 0 .500 275 301 4-3-0 3-4-0 5-5-0 0 .429 285 372 3-4-0 3-4-0 4-6-0 0 .357 343 380 4-4-0 1-5-0 5-6-0 0 .214 269 359 1-6-0 2-5-0 1-9-0 North T Pct PF PA Home Away AFC 0 .786 378 243 5-2-0 6-1-0 8-2-0 0 .643 378 287 6-2-0 3-3-0 6-4-0 0 .286 292 360 2-5-0 2-5-0 3-7-0 0 .214 253 387 2-5-0 1-6-0 2-8-0 West T Pct PF PA Home Away AFC 0 .714 308 259 4-2-0 6-2-0 6-4-0 0 .643 365 257 4-2-0 5-3-0 8-2-0 0 .467 342 376 3-5-0 4-3-0 7-4-0 0 .267 300 371 3-5-0 1-6-0 3-8-0 T 0 0 0 0

NFL NFC Div 3-1-0 4-0-0 3-1-0 2-2-0 0-3-0 3-2-0 2-2-0 0-5-0

Washington N.Y. Giants Philadelphia Dallas

W 7 6 6 4

L 7 8 8 10

NFC Div 2-2-0 3-1-0 2-2-0 3-2-0 0-3-0 2-3-0 2-2-0 1-3-0

Carolina Atlanta Tampa Bay New Orleans

W 14 7 6 5

L 0 7 8 9

NFC Div 3-1-0 4-1-0 3-1-0 2-2-0 1-3-0 2-2-0 1-3-0 1-4-0

Green Bay Minnesota Detroit Chicago

W 10 9 5 5

L 4 5 9 9

NFC Div 4-0-0 3-2-0 1-3-0 4-1-0 0-4-0 3-2-0 1-3-0 0-5-0

Arizona Seattle St. Louis San Francisco

W 12 9 6 4

L 2 5 8 10

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East Pct PF PA Home Away AFC NFC Div .500 316 332 6-2-0 1-5-0 1-3-0 6-4-0 2-2-0 .429 373 358 3-4-0 3-4-0 2-2-0 4-6-0 2-3-0 .429 318 362 3-4-0 3-4-0 3-1-0 3-7-0 2-2-0 .286 246 324 1-6-0 3-4-0 1-2-0 3-8-0 3-2-0 South T Pct PF PA Home Away AFC NFC Div 0 1.000 449 278 7-0-0 7-0-0 4-0-0 10-0-0 4-0-0 0 .500 302 312 3-3-0 4-4-0 3-1-0 4-6-0 0-4-0 0 .429 311 353 3-4-0 3-4-0 1-3-0 5-5-0 3-2-0 0 .357 350 432 3-4-0 2-5-0 1-2-0 4-7-0 2-3-0 North T Pct PF PA Home Away AFC NFC Div 0 .714 347 265 5-2-0 5-2-0 3-1-0 7-3-0 3-2-0 0 .643 296 272 5-2-0 4-3-0 3-1-0 6-4-0 4-1-0 0 .357 302 363 3-4-0 2-5-0 1-3-0 4-6-0 2-3-0 0 .357 289 352 1-6-0 4-3-0 3-1-0 2-8-0 1-4-0 West T Pct PF PA Home Away AFC NFC Div 0 .857 445 269 5-1-0 7-1-0 3-1-0 9-1-0 4-1-0 0 .643 370 248 5-2-0 4-3-0 3-1-0 6-4-0 2-2-0 0 .429 241 294 5-3-0 1-5-0 1-3-0 5-5-0 3-1-0 0 .286 202 339 3-4-0 1-6-0 1-3-0 3-7-0 0-5-0 T 0 0 0 0

Thursday Oakland 23, San Diego 20, OT Saturday Washington at Philadelphia, late Today New England at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m. Cleveland at Kansas City, 1 p.m. Indianapolis at Miami, 1 p.m. San Francisco at Detroit, 1 p.m. Dallas at Buffalo, 1 p.m. Chicago at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. Carolina at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 1 p.m. Jacksonville at New Orleans, 4:05 p.m. St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 p.m. Green Bay at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. Monday Cincinnati at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

CAROLINA AT ATLANTA: TODAY, 1 P.M., GEORGIA DOME (FOX)

Falcons aiming to finish season on winning streak The Sports Xchange After two losing seasons, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has a shot at a winning season, or at least a non-losing season, after stopping the team’s free-fall and sixgame losing streak. The Falcons close out this tumultuous season against the Carolina Panthers, who may be taking their foot off the gas pedal after running out to a perfect 14-0 record, and against the New Orleans Saints, who may have the bus running in the parking lot of the Georgia Dome at the conclusion of a lost season. It the Falcons can get to 9-7 and post a winning record, it will signal a slight turnaround from the 4-12 and 6-10 seasons that led to the firing of Mike Smith, the franchise’s all-time winningest head coach. Ryan believes the Falcons can lean on wide re-

Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan (2) calls a play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter at EverBank Field last Sunday. (Photo: Logan Bowles/USA Today Sports)

ceiver Julio Jones, who has a shot to break the NFL’s single-season catches record. Jones has 118 catches, which leads the league, and needs 26 catches to surpass Marvin Harrison’s record of 143, which was set in 2002 while with the Indianapolis Colts. In the second and third games of the season

against the Giants and Cowboys, Jones caught 13 and 12 passes, respectively. “I’d love to see him get it, that’s for sure,” Ryan said. “There is certainly a chance with how productive he’s been and with how good that he’s played all year. There’s definitely a chance that he could do that (over) the next two games.” Jones broke Roddy

White’s Falcons singleseason mark last Sunday. White’s record of 115 catches in a season was set in 2010. “He broke the franchise record for single-season catches with two games to go,” Ryan said. “It’s such an unbelievable accomplishment.” Pulling off the shocker over Carolina will be the toughest task for the Falcons. In the 38-0 loss to Carolina on Dec. 13, the Falcons lost their poise. There were several skirmishes in the game and defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman shoved a couple of his teammates and got into a shoving match with defensive line coach Bryan Cox. But after New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. clearly lost his cool and was suspended for a week after battling mostly with Carolina cornerback Josh Norman this past

week, the Falcons know they must maintain their poise against the Panthers. “From a competitive standpoint, the competitor in us all, that’s one of the things you just can’t let happen,” Ryan said. “You can’t let somebody else take you off your game.” Ryan doesn’t remember ever getting thrown off his game. “There are always some games … I remember a New Orleans game … a guy that I played with (at Boston College) Jo-Lonn Dunbar,” Ryan said. “He hit me real good, late. It was on a Monday night after I slid. He got up and it wasn’t like he was in my head or anything like that, but those kind of things happen. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a situation where somebody has taken me out of my game because of it. But you certainly see it from time to time.”

Falcons coach Dan Quinn believes his team will be ready for the Panthers after the meek showing two weeks ago. “You’ve heard me talk a lot regarding effort, toughness, finish,” Quinn said. “Finish is the one thing you’ve probably heard me say, ‘Alright, Dan, I’ve heard that a lot.’ It’s absolutely in my mind a total mindset, and it’s not just at the end of the half or at the end of the game. “I think it goes deeper than that. It’s the way you prepare, the way you practice. It could be at the end of a run. It could be the way you’re tackling. Those are all finish moments, and until that part of our game totally comes to life all the time, I’m going to keep hitting on that until that’s the central topic of what you see.” The way the Falcons finish the season will leave a lasting impression on Quinn.

Jets meet powerful Patriots with playoffs on the line The Sports Xchange The New England Patriots can clinch the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs for the second straight season should they complete a season sweep of the host New York Jets on Sunday. Tom Brady threw for two touchdowns in New England’s 33-16 win over Tennessee last week and did the same while passing for 355 yards in a 30-23 triumph over New York on Oct. 25. Brady, who was selected to his 11th Pro Bowl on Wednesday, has guided the Patriots to a 22-7 career mark against the Jets — including playoffs. While New England (12-2) has already secured a spot in the postseason, veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is doing his best to land New York (95) in the playoffs for the first time since 2010. The Harvard product has thrown for 10 touchdowns and 1,229 yards during the team’s four-game winning streak, with two scoring strikes coming in the first meeting versus the Patriots. “I’m excited. This is why everybody in here plays the game, to play in football games like this in December and have a shot at playing longer,” Fitzpatrick said. Rob Gronkowski had a career-high 11 catches for 108 yards and a score in the first meeting. The mammoth tight end was absent from Wednesday’s practice to attend a funeral of a close friend, but wideout Danny Amendola (knee) and linebacker Dont’a Hightower (knee) participated — albeit in a limited capacity — after being knocked out of Sunday’s tilt versus the Titans. Houston Texans (7-7) at Tennessee Titans (3-11) Today, 1 p.m. One of the big storylines of the NFL season has been quarterback injuries, from Tony Romo, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger down to T.J. Yates and Brian Hoyer. Yates and Hoyer were in the

process of leading the Houston Texans to the playoffs when they went down, and Brandon Weeden could be next in line to lead the charge when they visit the Titans. Hoyer sat out last week with a concussion and is going through the protocol but has not yet been cleared to play, and Yates tore his ACL while starting in Hoyer’s place in a win over Indianapolis that catapulted the team into first place in the AFC South last week. Weeden, who already squandered an opportunity to lead Dallas to the playoffs this season, stepped up in Yates’ absence and threw the go-ahead touchdown pass last week. The Titans drafted their quarterback of the future in May when Marcus Mariota was the second pick of the NFL draft, but the talented Oregon product could miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in a loss to New England last week. “The frustration of not being able to be out there with the guys bothers me more than the knee,” Mariota said. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) at Baltimore Ravens (4-10) Today, 1 p.m. Injuries dissolved the Ravens from championship timber to December driftwood, but with the Steelers in the thick of the AFC playoff race, Baltimore can gain a relative thrill from upsetting its AFC North rival. There are many reasons that’s a longshot. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Antonio Brown are devouring defenses at a record clip. Roethlisberger has six games with 350-plus yards — the season record is seven (Andrew Luck) — and Brown has 116 receptions with two games to go after a 16-grab effort last week. The Ravens have a collection of No. 3 cornerbacks and their most modest pass rush in 15 seasons, teeing up Roethlisberger and Brown for more good times. The Ravens want to be cautious in a four-corners offense sort of way with 10 turnovers in the past five games and a revolving door at quarterback. RB Buck Allen had a miserable game last week and was benched for it, including a fumble returned 73 yards for a score, but coach John Harbaugh intends to stick with him. The best threat the Ravens have is WR Kamar Aiken, who is the silver lining in a lost season because of his never-say-die work ethic, Harbaugh said this week. San Francisco 49ers (4-10) at Detroit Lions (5-9) Today, 1 p.m. The Detroit Lions aim to finish the home portion of their schedule with an even record when they host the road-challenged San Francisco 49ers. Detroit won two straight at Ford Field to get to 3-3 before suffering a four-point loss to

Green Bay on Dec. 3. The Lions look to end their nine-game losing streak against the 49ers as they come off their fourth win in six games - a 35-27 triumph at New Orleans that raised their average to 29.3 points over the last four contests. San Francisco has won only one of its first seven road games, a 26-20 victory at Chicago in Week 13 that also is its lone triumph in five overall contests since its bye. The 49ers have scored 14 points or fewer in each of their four setbacks in that span and eclipsed the 17-point mark only once in their last eight overall games. San Francisco ranks 30th in the league in third-down conversions (30.1 percent) after going 2-for-14 against Cincinnati last week. Chicago Bears (5-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8) Today, 1 p.m. Bucs coach Lovie Smith’s defense is highly familiar to the Bears and QB Jay Cutler, and Tampa Bay lost traction on a late playoff push when that group stopped producing takeaways. Tampa forced just one turnover over its past three games and if Cutler gets time to stand and deliver against a secondary without a star, the Bears should make short work of the Bucs. It’s almost never that simple for Chicago in a season of late-game failures, and Tampa won’t sit back in zone after film review showed Cutler being sacked eight times in the past two games. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase is likely to feature Matt Forte — his last 20-carry game was Oct. 18 — early before letting Cutler loose against Tampa’s leaky pass defense. TE Zach Miller, Cutler’s favorite target of late, is the ideal weapon to gash the Bucs’ wide zone scheme. Bucs QB Jameis Winston has been above-average on third down this season but the rookie had just one completion against the Rams on third down last week and Tampa Bay is 7-for-21 (33.3 percent) the past two games. Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said he reminded Winston of the importance of keeping his emotions in check. Pro Bowl RB Doug Martin can help keep the 21-year-old calm if the Bucs feed him the ball. The Bears have been steamrolled for an average of 139.2 rushing yards per game over the past five games. Martin, the NFL’s second-leading rusher, is averaging 5.1 yards per carry for the season. Indianapolis Colts (6-8) at Miami Dolphins (5-9) Today, 1 p.m. The Colts again turn to backup QB Matt Hasselbeck looking to snap a three-game losing streak and put the race for the AFC South title to the final weekend. Coach Chuck Pagano alluded to a lack of communication in the

passing game, with receivers not on the same page as the quarterback when running routes. But the Colts’ offensive issues really start up front with a line that doesn’t pave many running lanes and then can’t protect in third-and-long. Miami ranks 29th in allowing an average of 132.1 rushing yards per game and is banged up at linebacker, but the Colts average a paltry 3.6 yards per carry and will have a difficult time with the physicality of the Dolphins’ front four. The Dolphins espouse a desire to run the ball, but the consistency in leaning on RBs Lamar Miller and Jay Ajayi comes and goes. The protection doesn’t hold up well enough for QB Ryan Tannehill to push the ball vertically and it’s difficult for Miami to put together extended drives. Quick strikes have been their best bet, and the potential return of WR Rishard Matthews (ribs) would help. Cleveland Browns (3-11) at Kansas City Chiefs (9-5) Today, 1 p.m. QB Johnny Manziel will make a third consecutive start for the first time in his NFL career. He led the Browns on a long touchdown drive to open last week’s loss in Seattle, but then passed for only 101 yards in leading two field goal drives the rest of the way. That type of fade has been consistent for the Browns through the entire season as turnovers derail the offense and the defense caves. To compete for four quarters, Cleveland (minus-8 turnover ratio) must protect the ball because Chiefs QB Alex Smith is among the league’s stingiest in giving it away (Kansas City is plus-15 on the season). Kansas City should be able to move the ball with relative ease against Cleveland’s 31st-ranked run defense, putting Smith in his wheelhouse to complete high percentage passes. It was a formula the Browns were powerless to stop in Seattle last week as well. Dallas Cowboys (4-10) at Buffalo Bills (6-8) Today, 1 p.m. A look at the schedule in August and either team would have marked this weekend off as important in terms of postseason seeding. Instead, both teams will just be playing out the string when the Dallas Cowboys visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Multiple collarbone fractures for Tony Romo doomed the Cowboys, who will start their fourth quarterback of the season when Kellen Moore gets the nod this week. “It will be exciting,” Moore said of his first NFL start. “You’ve got a lot of good guys on this offense left. Unfortunately, we’re not playing for a playoff game, but we’re still playing for something and we’re excited about the opportunity to play a game.” Buffalo’s high expectations had to do with new coach Rex Ryan

and what he might be able to do with a talented defense. “We don’t really know how good we could’ve been because everybody wasn’t doing what they were supposed to do on each play,” linebacker Preston Brown said. “We can’t say it was the scheme or everybody is not playing with effort. Mentally, everybody wasn’t there.”

anced, ranking sixth at 126.4 rushing yards per game. Rookie David Johnson is the latest to be slotted into the backfield and productive, and Andre Ellington (turf toe) could play this week. The goal for Green Bay has to be to shut down the run and then get after Palmer to force the couple of turnovers they need to flip the field.

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9) at New Orleans Saints (5-9) Today, 4:05 p.m. (CBS) The Saints have the element of surprise. Unfortunately, that’s due to QB Drew Brees’ foot injury, and coach Sean Payton said it will be game day before anyone outside the organization knows if Brees, veteran Matt Flynn or youngster Garrett Grayson lines up behind center. Even if Brees plays it will be at far less than 100 percent, making it very difficult for the Saints to exploit Jacksonville’s 25th-ranked pass defense. New Orleans is also shorthanded in the backfield, with retread Tim Hightower leading the charge. The Jaguars are far better defending the run, allowing only 3.6 yards per carry. Conversely, the Saints are among the league’s bottom three in all major defensive statistics — 32nd in points allowed, 31st in total yards allowed, 30th against the pass and 32nd against the run. If RB T.J. Yeldon (MCL) sits a second consecutive game, Denard Robinson should have success on first and second down to keep QB Blake Bortles out of long passing downs. Given time, and options with WRs Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, Bortles should have little trouble building on his 31 touchdown passes through 14 games.

St. Louis Rams (6-8) at Seattle Seahawks (9-5) Today, 4:25 p.m. The Seahawks will get their first look at Rams rookie RB Todd Gurley, who was still rehabbing from knee surgery when St. Louis kicked off the season with a 34-31 overtime home victory over Seattle. Gurley has already surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau and will face a formidable foe in the Seahawks’ third-ranked run defense. Seattle has been burned by elite quarterbacks this season, but knows St. Louis won’t come in firing vertically behind QB Case Keenum, who operates best as a high-percentage passer in manageable downand-distances. So the question becomes whether Gurley can set the table. Russell Wilson has traditionally struggled against the Rams, whose front seven regularly dominates the trenches in this rivalry. But no one enters Week 16 playing better than the Seahawks quarterback, who has thrown for 19 touchdowns and no interceptions over his past five games. Operating out of the shotgun in the quick-strike passing game, Wilson will get rid of the ball quickly and test the ability of St. Louis’ secondary to stick with receivers off the snap.

Green Bay Packers (10-4) at Arizona Cardinals (12-2) Today, 4:25 p.m. (Fox) The Cardinals have gone four games without committing a turnover and considering they are second in the NFL averaging 31.8 points per game, that puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers to protect the ball and cash in on drives rather than settling for field goals. Green Bay has scored 58 points in two games since head coach Mike McCarthy took back control of the play-calling duties. The split duty between RBs Eddie Lacy and James Starks has been effective, and Rodgers did an excellent job spreading the ball around last week with WRs James Jones, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams each being targets at least five times. Along with Jared Abbrederis, spreading the field will tax the Cardinals as they adjust to the loss of versatile playmaker Tyrann Mathieu. Arizona has a reputation for QB Carson Palmer slinging the ball to a slew of talented receivers, and he certainly has those weapons at his disposal. But the Cardinals are also bal-

New York Giants (6-8) at Minnesota Vikings (9-5) Today, 8:30 p.m. (NBC) The Giants will have to piece together an offense minus their most dynamic threat with WR Odell Beckham Jr. suspended. RB Rashad Jennings is coming off a 100-yard game and Shane Vereen had 72 yards on 12 touches last week. They will again need to be two primary contributors against a Vikings defense that has been sapped by key injuries at all three levels. The Giants will struggle to hit the home run without Beckham, turning this into a battle of field position and capitalizing in the red zone. That gives the Vikings a clear edge with their ability to pound away with RB Adrian Peterson and set the table for QB Teddy Bridgewater to attack the Giants’ 32nd-ranked pass defense off play-action. A big factor in the field position battle will be Giants kicker Josh Brown. New York is likely to be minus several key special teams contributors in attempting to stop the Vikings’ Cordarrelle Patterson, who is averaging 31.1 yards per return. Vereen (25.6 yards per return) may field kickoffs for the Giants with Dwayne Harris (28.7) battling a shoulder injury.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015 • 5B

Hawks overcome early deficit in win The Sports Xchange

Atlanta Gladiators Thomas Frazee (16) helps corral a loose puck in front of goalie Matt Ginn with defenseman Ian Barteaux guarding the far post during Saturday’s game against Greenville at Infinite Energy Arena. (Photo: Amanda Hertel)

Gladiators fall after forcing OT By Guy Curtright Staff Correspondent

DULUTH — The Atlanta Gladiators have a better record on the road than at home this season and they need to turn that around with a stretch of 16 out of 20 games at the Infinite Energy Arena. The Gladiators tried to take another step in that direction Saturday night, but had to settle for one point rather than two. Jack Combs scored in overtime to give Greenville a 3-2 victory after the Gladiators’ Patrick D’Amico had tied the game with 9.4 second remaining. The end-to-end 3-on-3 extra-period action had the crowd of 5,596 standing, but the Gladiators weren’t able to match the overtime victory in their last previous home game way back on Dec. 12. “It’s exciting for the fans,” coach Andy Brandt said of the new overtime format. “They want offense.” Gladiators goalie Matt Ginn made a stunning leg save early in the overtime, but Greenville cashed in a 2-on-1 break for the winning goal with 3:32 gone in the five-minute period as

Atlanta Gladiators forward Garry Nunn (22) joins captain Derek Nesbitt (17) and their linemates to celebrate a last-second game-tying goal Saturday as Greeville’s Jack Combs (21) skates away at Infinite Energy Arena. (Photo: Amanda Hertel)

Josh Nicholls fed Combs, who leads the Swamp Rabbits with 15 goals. Greenville goalie P.J. Musico had six saves in overtime and 34 for the game. Ginn stopped 31 shots, three in overtime. The overtime loss dropped Atlanta to 6-5-1 at home compared to 10-5-1 on the road and gave them 34 points — third in the ECHL’s South Division. With goalie Matt Ginn pulled for an extra attacker, the Gladiators tied it on D’Amico’s seventh goal of the season, a blast from between the circles off a feed from Gary Nunn. The Gladiators, who were 3-2 on their recent

road trip, play the Swamp Rabbits in Greenville today at 3 p.m. before playing Norfolk at home on Tuesday and Wednesday. The teams play in Norfolk next Saturday, but then the Gladiators have a seven-game homestand. “We have to take care of business here because we have a lot of home games coming up,” Brandt said. Atlanta has seven points in his past four home games, showing a positive trend. “We have a good record on the road because we play a simple game,” Brandt said. “It shouldn’t matter where we play. I think you’ll see a better

record at home down the stretch as we get more familiar here.” Tyler Murovich put the Gladiators ahead with a goal five minutes into the second period, but Greenville had a 2-1 lead before the next intermission. Richard Nejezchieb scored from close range to tie it shortly after Murovich’s goal and then Michael St. Croix, who had an assist on the first goal, gave Greenville the lead with less than two minutes remaining in the period when his shot from the left circle beat Ginn to the short side. Murovich’s 10th goal of the season came on a deflection off a shot from the left point by Max Everson. J.T. Barnett also got an assist. The Gladiators played much of the game a skater down after forward Daniel Bahntge suffered an injury to his left leg before the midway point of the first period. Bahntge, who has 15 points on four goals and 11 assists, crashed into the end boards behind the Gladiators goal and was down for nearly a minute before being helped off the ice with an apparent knee injury. “We haven’t heard much yet,” Brandt said.

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks, last year’s top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, are returning to form. So are the fading New York Knicks. Forward Paul Millsap scored 22 points, leading Atlanta past the Knicks 117-98 on Saturday at Philips Arena. The Hawks overcame an early 15-point deficit to win for the sixth straight time. Atlanta (20-12) has surged into second place in the Eastern Conference, just percentage points behind the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks (14-17) were manhandled in the paint by the smaller Hawks and dropped their third straight game. Atlanta outscored the Knicks 62-32 in the paint. New York forward Carmelo Anthony returned the lineup after missing a loss at Cleveland on Wednesday with a sprained ankle. Anthony scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Knicks. Rookie forward Kristaps Porzingis finished with nine points. The Hawks led 87-75 entering the fourth quarter. The lead quickly ballooned to 20 on a straight-on 3-pointer from guard Kyle Korver with 6:10 to play. It was the sharp-shooting Korver’s only bucket of the game, but his teammates picked up the slack. Forward Mike Scott came off the bench to score 18 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and forward

Kent Bazemore also connected twice from long range. Forward Al Horford added 19 points, and point guard Jeff Teague finished with 17 for the Hawks. The Knicks got off to a sizzling start, shooting 63.6 percent in the first quarter. They led 18-4 midway through the quarter, but the Hawks weathered the barrage and climbed back into the game in the second quarter. Teague beat the buzzer with a 28-foot 3-pointer that cut Knicks’ lead to 63-60 at halftime. Forwards Lance Thomas and Derrick Williams each came off the bench to score 12 points for the Knicks. The Hawks took their first lead, 71-68, on a 3-pointer by Bazemore with 7:56 left in the third quarter. Atlanta has scored at 100 points in all six games of their current win streak. The Knicks committed 22 turnovers, leading to 22 Atlanta points. Notes: Including Saturday’s game, the Hawks and Knicks will meet in three of the teams’ next five games. … Atlanta PG Jeff Teague’s 23 points Wednesday in a win over Portland were his most in 11 games. … The Hawks sent a second-round draft pick to the Knicks for G Tim Hardaway Jr. on draft night in June. Hardaway has played in only four games so far for the Hawks and was inactive Saturday. … The Knicks and Hawks are two of the best freethrow shooting teams in the NBA.

New York guard Arron Afflalo (4) dribbles the ball as Atlanta center Tiago Splitter (11) defends in the first quarter Saturday at Philips Arena. (Photo: Brett Davis/USA Today Sports)

SPORTS AT A GLANCE Basketball National Basketball Association

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto............... 19..12.... .613...... — Boston............... 16..13.....552........2 New York............ 14..16.....467.....4.5 Brooklyn...............8..22.....267...10.5 Philadelphia.........1..30.....032......18 Southeast Division W L Pct GB Atlanta............... 19..12.... .613...... — Miami................. 17.. 11.....607........5 Orlando.............. 17..12.....586........1 Charlotte............ 15..13.....536.....2.5 Washington........ 14..14.....500.....3.5 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland........... 19....8.....704...... — Chicago............. 16.. 11.....593........3 Indiana............... 16..12.....571.....3.5 Detroit................ 17..13.....567.....3.5 Milwaukee.......... 12..19.....387........9 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB San Antonio.......25....6.....806...... — Dallas................. 16..13.....552........8 Memphis............ 16..15.... .516........9 Houston............. 16..15.... .516........9 New Orleans........9..20.... .310......15 Northwest Division W L Pct GB Oklahoma City...20..10.....667...... — Utah................... 12..15.....444.....6.5 Denver............... 12..17.... .414..... 7.5 Minnesota.......... 11..18.....379.....8.5 Portland............. 11..20.....355.....9.5 Pacific Division W L Pct GB Golden State......28....1.....966...... — L.A. Clippers...... 17..13.....567....11.5 Sacramento....... 12..17.... .414......16 Phoenix.............. 12..19.....387......17 L.A. Lakers...........5..25.... .167...23.5 Friday’s Games Miami 94, New Orleans 88, OT Chicago 105, Oklahoma City 96 Golden State 89, Cleveland 83 Houston 88, San Antonio 84 L.A. Clippers 94, L.A. Lakers 84 Saturday’s Games Washington 111, Brooklyn 96 Toronto 111, Milwaukee 90 Memphis at Charlotte, late Miami at Orlando, late Houston at New Orleans, late New York at Atlanta, late Boston at Detroit, late Indiana at Minnesota, late Chicago at Dallas, late Denver at San Antonio, late Philadelphia at Phoenix, late L.A. Clippers at Utah, late Cleveland at Portland, late Today’s Games L.A. Lakers at Memphis, 6 p.m. New York at Boston, 7 p.m. Denver at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Portland at Sacramento, 9 p.m. Monday’s Games L.A. Lakers at Charlotte, 7 p.m. Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m. New Orleans at Orlando, 7 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Washington, 7 p.m. Brooklyn at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Toronto at Chicago, 8 p.m. Milwaukee at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Minnesota at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. Cleveland at Phoenix, 9 p.m. Philadelphia at Utah, 9 p.m. Sacramento at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. Friday’s College Basketball Scores MIDWEST Oklahoma 83, Harvard 71 WEST Brigham Young 84, Northern Iowa 76 Hawaii 79, Auburn 67 Washington St. 82, New Mexico 59 Saturday’s College Basketball Scores MIDWEST Kentucky 75, Louisville 73 College Basketball Schedule Sunday, Dec. 27 EAST Fairfield (5-5) at Bucknell (3-7), 2 p.m. Texas Southern (1-9) at Syracuse (9-3), 2 p.m. Central Pennsylvania College (0-4) at Radford (7-6), 3 p.m. Marshall (4-8) at Maryland (10-1), 4 p.m. Liberty (3-10) at VCU (6-5), 5 p.m. MIDWEST Presbyterian (5-7) at Marquette (9-2), 2 p.m. Harris-Stowe State (0-2) at SE Missouri St. (1-10), 3 p.m. Middle Tennessee St. (7-3) at South Dakota State (10-3), 5:30 p.m. South Carolina State (5-8) at Ohio St. (7-5), 6 p.m. Loyola-Maryland (1-9) at Northwestern (11-1), 8 p.m. WEST Pacific Union (0-2) at Fresno St. (8-4), 4 p.m. Carroll College (0-1) at Stanford (6-4), 9 p.m.

Football National Football League AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA New England.. 12....2.... 0....857.... 435....269 N.Y. Jets............ 9....5.... 0....643.... 344....272 Buffalo............... 6....8.... 0....429.... 341....336 Miami................ 5....9.... 0....357.... 278....361 South W L T Pct PF PA Houston............ 7....7.... 0....500.... 275.... 301 Indianapolis...... 6....8.... 0....429.... 285....372 Jacksonville...... 5....9.... 0....357.... 343....380 Tennessee........ 3.. 11.... 0....214.... 269....359 North

W L T Pct PF PA Cincinnati.........11....3.... 0....786.... 378....243 Pittsburgh.......... 9....5.... 0....643.... 378....287 Baltimore.......... 4..10.... 0....286.... 292....360 Cleveland.......... 3.. 11.... 0....214.... 253....387 West W L T Pct PF PA Denver............ 10....4.... 0....714.... 308....259 Kansas City...... 9....5.... 0....643.... 365....257 Oakland............ 7....8.... 0....467.... 342....376 San Diego......... 4.. 11.... 0....267.... 300....371 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA Washington....... 7....7.... 0....500.... 316....332 N.Y. Giants........ 6....8.... 0....429.... 373....358 Philadelphia...... 6....8.... 0....429.... 318....362 Dallas................ 4..10.... 0....286.... 246....324 South W L T Pct PF PA Carolina.......... 14....0.... 0.1.000.... 449....278 Atlanta.............. 7....7.... 0....500.... 302....312 Tampa Bay........ 6....8.... 0....429.....311....353 New Orleans..... 5....9.... 0....357.... 350....432 North W L T Pct PF PA Green Bay...... 10....4.... 0....714.... 347....265 Minnesota......... 9....5.... 0....643.... 296....272 Detroit............... 5....9.... 0....357.... 302....363 Chicago............ 5....9.... 0....357.... 289....352 West W L T Pct PF PA Arizona........... 12....2.... 0....857.... 445....269 Seattle.............. 9....5.... 0....643.... 370....248 St. Louis............ 6....8.... 0....429.... 241....294 San Francisco... 4..10.... 0....286.... 202....339 Thursday, Dec. 24 Oakland 23, San Diego 20, OT

Saturday, Dec. 26 Washington at Philadelphia, late Sunday, Dec. 27 New England at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m. Cleveland at Kansas City, 1 p.m. Indianapolis at Miami, 1 p.m. San Francisco at Detroit, 1 p.m. Dallas at Buffalo, 1 p.m. Chicago at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. Carolina at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 1 p.m. Jacksonville at New Orleans, 4:05 p.m. St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 p.m. Green Bay at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28 Cincinnati at Denver, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3 N.Y. Jets at Buffalo, 1 p.m. New England at Miami, 1 p.m. Tampa Bay at Carolina, 1 p.m. New Orleans at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 1 p.m. Jacksonville at Houston, 1 p.m. Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. Minnesota at Green Bay, 1 p.m. Oakland at Kansas City, 1 p.m. Detroit at Chicago, 1 p.m. Washington at Dallas, 1 p.m. Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. St. Louis at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m. Seattle at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. San Diego at Denver, 4:25 p.m. 2015-2016 NCAA Football Bowl Glance

Friday, Dec. 18 NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIFINAL (Fargo, North Dakota) North Dakota State 33, Richmond 7 Saturday, Dec. 19 RAYCOM MEDIA CAMELLIA BOWL (Montgomery, Alabama) Appalachian State 31, Ohio 29 R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL (New Orleans, Louisiana) Louisiana Tech 47, Arkansas State 28 GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL (Albuquerque, New Mexico) Arizona 45, New Mexico 37 ROYAL PURPLE LAS VEGAS BOWL (Las Vegas, Nevada) Utah 35, Brigham Young 28 AIR FORCE RESERVE CELEBRATION BOWL (Atlanta, Georgia) North Carolina A&T 41, Alcorn State 34 AUTONATION CURE BOWL (Orlando, Florida) San Jose State 27, Georgia State 16 NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIFINAL (Jacksonville, Alabama) Jacksonville State 62, Sam Houston State 10 Monday, Dec. 21 MIAMI BEACH BOWL (Miami, Florida) Western Kentucky 45, South Florida 35 Tuesday, Dec. 22 FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL (Boise, Idaho) Akron 23, Utah State 21 MARMOT BOCA RATON BOWL (Boca Raton, Florida) Toledo 32, Temple 17 Wednesday, Dec. 23 SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL (San Diego, California) Boise State 55, Northern Illinois 7 GODADDY BOWL (Mobile, Alabama) Georgia Southern 58, Bowling Green 27 Thursday, Dec. 24 POPEYES BAHAMAS BOWL (Nassau) Western Michigan 45, Middle Tennessee 31 HAWAI’I BOWL (Honolulu, Hawaii) San Diego State 42, Cincinnati 7 Saturday, Dec. 26 ST. PETERSBURG BOWL (St. Petersburg, Florida) Marshall 16, Connecticut 10 HYUNDAI SUN BOWL (El Paso, Texas) Washington State 20, Miami 14 ZAXBY’S HEART OF DALLAS BOWL (Dallas, Texas) Washington 44, Southern Mississippi 31 FOSTER FARMS BOWL (Santa Clara, California) UCLA vs Nebraska, late Monday, Dec. 28 MILITARY BOWL PRESENTED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN (Annapolis, Maryland) Pittsburgh vs Navy 2:30 p.m. QUICK LANE BOWL (Detroit, Michi-

gan) Central Michigan vs Minnesota 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29 LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL (Fort Worth, Texas) California vs Air Force 2 p.m. RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL (Orlando, Florida) North Carolina vs Baylor 5:30 p.m. NOVA HOME LOANS ARIZONA BOWL (Tucson, Arizona) Nevada vs Colorado State 7:30 p.m. ADVOCARE V100 TEXAS BOWL (Houston, Texas) Louisiana State vs Texas Tech 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30 HOLIDAY BOWL (San Diego, California) Southern California vs Wisconsin 10:30 p.m. BIRMINGHAM BOWL (Birmingham, Alabama) Auburn vs Memphis Noon BELK BOWL (Charlotte, North Carolina) North Carolina State vs Mississippi State 3:30 p.m. FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL (Nashville, Tennessee) Texas A&M vs Louisville 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL (Miami Gardens, Florida) Oklahoma vs Clemson 4 p.m. GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL (Arlington, Texas) Michigan State vs Alabama 8 p.m. CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL (Atlanta, Georgia) Houston vs Florida State Noon Friday, Jan. 1 BATTLEFROG FIESTA BOWL (Glendale, Arizona) Notre Dame vs Ohio State 1 p.m. ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL (Pasadena, California) Stanford vs Iowa 5 p.m. ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL (New Orleans, Louisiana ) Oklahoma State vs Mississippi 8:30 p.m. BUFFALO WILD WINGS CITRUS BOWL (Orlando, Florida) Michigan vs Florida 1 p.m. OUTBACK BOWL (Tampa, Florida) Northwestern vs Tennessee Noon Saturday, Jan. 2 MOTEL 6 CACTUS BOWL (Phoenix, Arizona) West Virginia vs Arizona State 10:15 p.m. VALERO ALAMO BOWL (San Antonio, Texas) Oregon vs Texas Christian 6:45 p.m. TAXSLAYER BOWL (Jacksonville, Florida) Penn State vs Georgia Noon AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL (Memphis, Tennessee) Kansas State vs Arkansas 3:20 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 2016 Division I Football National Championship (Frisco, Texas) Jacksonville State vs North Dakota State Noon Monday, Jan. 11 College Football Championship

Game (Glendale, Arizona) CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL winner vs. GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL winner

Hockey National Hockey League EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Montreal............. 36.. 20..13.....3... 43.105..89 Boston............... 33.. 19..10.....4... 42.104..85 Florida............... 35.. 19..12.....4... 42...95..81 Detroit................ 34.. 17..10.....7... 41...89..89 Ottawa............... 35.. 17..12.....6... 40.105.104 Tampa Bay......... 35.. 17..15.....3... 37...87..82 Buffalo................ 34.. 14..16.....4... 32...79..89 Toronto............... 33.. 12..14.....7... 31...86..93 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Washington........ 33.. 25....6.....2... 52.105..71 NY Rangers....... 36.. 20..12.....4... 44.104..93 NY Islanders...... 35.. 19.. 11.....5... 43...96..82 New Jersey........ 35.. 17..13.....5... 39...83..87 Philadelphia....... 34.. 15..12.....7... 37... 74..92 Pittsburgh........... 33.. 16..14.....3... 35...76..84 Carolina............. 34.. 13..16.....5... 31...80.101 Columbus.......... 36.. 13..20.....3... 29...88.112 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Dallas................. 35.. 26....7.....2... 54.124..88 St. Louis............. 36.. 21.. 11.....4... 46...92..85 Chicago............. 36.. 20..12.....4... 44...96..87 Minnesota.......... 33.. 18....9.....6... 42...91..80 Nashville............ 34.. 17.. 11.....6... 40...90..86 Colorado............ 35.. 17..17.....1... 35...99..97 Winnipeg............ 34.. 15..17.....2... 32...92.104 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles....... 33.. 20.. 11.....2... 42...84..76 San Jose............ 34.. 17..15.....2... 36...93..94 Vancouver.......... 36.. 13..14.....9... 35...91.103 Arizona.............. 33.. 16..15.....2... 34...90.104 Calgary.............. 34.. 16..16.....2... 34...91.113 Edmonton.......... 35.. 15..18.....2... 32...91.106 Anaheim............ 33.. 12..15.....6... 30...62..85

Saturday’s Games Buffalo at Boston, late Columbus at Tampa Bay, late Montreal at Washington, late New Jersey at Carolina, late Dallas at St. Louis, late Detroit at Nashville, late Pittsburgh at Minnesota, late Los Angeles at Arizona, late Edmonton at Vancouver, late Today’s Games Boston at Ottawa, 5 p.m. Columbus at Florida, 6 p.m. Toronto at NY Islanders, 6 p.m. St. Louis at Dallas, 6 p.m. Carolina at Chicago, 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. Arizona at Colorado, 8 p.m. Philadelphia at Anaheim, 8 p.m. Edmonton at Calgary, 9 p.m. Monday’s Games Washington at Buffalo, 7 p.m. Montreal at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Nashville, 8 p.m. Detroit at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Los Angeles at Vancouver, 10 p.m. Colorado at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

B66B • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015 27, • SUNDAY, DECEMBER

2015

gwinnettdailypost.com gwinnettdailypost.com

GEORGIA SWARM SCHEDULE

•From Page 1B

There’s a handful of Mann Cup championships in our Gilliam scored three goals offense from guys like apiece. Randy, Johnny and myself. King said the veterans Then Johnny’s got Minto like Jackson, Powless and Cups, Shayne’s got Minto Matisz have done a great Cups, which back home job helping the younger in Canada they’re really forwards learn the ropes big deals for guys that are during the preseason. coming up through the Despite the youth, the No. minor systems of the their 3 overall pick said the programs. I think it’s really team is full of guys who going to be a lot of fun have won at the collegiate and I don’t think I’ve had and Canadian Junior level as much fun playing box before. lacrosse, as I have playing “People are going to be with these guys the last kind of wary of our offense three weeks, as I have in a because we have a couple long time. It’s a lot of fun.” rookie guys coming in, and a couple young guys,” Transition King said. “As you can see, Comeau said he feels the last few games we’ve good about the six transiplayed in, we’ve managed tion players currently on to score a pretty decent the roster. amount of goals, especially Jordan MacIntosh was for an NLL game. There’s named NLL Transition just so many guys that Player of the Year in 2013 are so talented. Lyle and and 2014 for the Swarm. Miles, they’ve got great Last season he had 48 vision. They’ve got just as points and 171 loose balls. good vision in box (laJoel White also brings crosse) as they do in field. experience to the unit with I told you how well Randy 182 loose balls last season. plays. Shayne Jackson The Swarm added rookie is a guy that as soon as I Chad Tutton from North found out I was getting to Carolina in the draft with Georgia, I’ve really tried the No. 6 overall pick. As to watch, being a lefty and a senior for the Tar Heels seeing how he plays and last year, Tutton scored 33 what he does on the floor. goals and had eight assists. “Same with Johnny “Jordan MacIntosh, he’s (Powless), they’re just so won Transition Player of talented and it’s so fun the Year I think a couple because everyone is so times, he’s one of our leadcapable of doing almost ers,” Comeau said. “He’s everything from carrying been phenomenal for us the ball and even workand we expect big things ing off ball. We might be from him kind of in all a younger offense, but aspects of the game. I think we’re a young offense that (Ethan) O’Connor has has a lot of experience. been running the floor well

(Home games in bold) Date, Time, Opponent Jan. 1, 9:30 p.m., at Colorado Mammoth Jan. 9, 7:05 p.m., vs. Toronto Rock Jan. 17, 2:05 p.m., vs. New England Black Wolves Jan. 29, 8 p.m., at Toronto Rock Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m., at Rochester Knighthawks Feb. 6, 9 p.m., at Calgary Roughnecks Feb. 14, 2:05 p.m., vs. Buffalo Bandits Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m., at Buffalo Bandits Feb. 28, 3 p.m., at New England Black Wolves Mar. 12, 9:30 p.m., at Saskatchewan Rush Mar. 18, 7:35 p.m., vs. Rochester Knighthawks Mar. 25, 7:35 p.m., vs. Calgary Roughnecks Apr. 2, 7:05 p.m., vs. Buffalo Bandits Apr. 10, 2:05 p.m., vs. Colorado Mammoth Apr. 15, 7:35 p.m., vs. New England Black Wolves Apr. 16, 7:30 p.m., at Rochester Knighthawks Apr. 23, 7 p.m., at New England Black Wolves Apr. 30, 7:05 p.m., vs. Vancouver Stealth

2016 GEORGIA SWARM ROSTER FORWARDS No. NAME HT WT SHOOTS 2 Miles Thompson, 5-11, 185, right 4 Lyle Thompson, 6-0, 180, right 19 Jesse King, 6-3, 200, left 32 Shyane Jackson, 5-9, 180, left 46 Kiel Matisz, 6-5, 215, right 81 Josh Gillam, 6-0, 180, left 83 Randy Staats, 6-2, 200, right 88 Joe Maracle, 5-11, 195, left 93 Johnny Powells, 5-11, 175, left DEFENSEMAN No. NAME HT WT SHOOTS 10 Alex Crepinsek, 5-11, 185, right 27 Reid Action, 6-3, 200, right 56 Drew Petkoff, 6-2, 205, left 85 Mitch Belisle, 5-10, 195, right TRANSITION No. NAME HT WT SHOOTS 11 Joel White, 6-2, 200, right 24 Jordan MacIntosh, 6-1, 210, right 33 David Early, 6-1, 180, left 37 Ethan O’Connor, 6-1, 185, right, 44 Chad Tutton, 6-2, 220, left 45 Jason Noble, 5-10, 165, left GOALTENDERS No. NAME HT WT SHOOTS 31 Zach Higgins, 6-1, 225, left PRACTICE SQUAD 15 Jordan Houtby, 6-3, 180, right 17 Marcus Holman, 5-11, 185, right 23 Thomas Hoggarth, 6-3, 200, left 98 Sean Young, 6-5, 215, right

•From Page 1B

Swarm for us, as has Jason Noble. We’ve had a lot of guys contribute and we want to be a team that we’re going to be a threat to score if the ball is in our stick. We’re athletic so we want to push the tempo and not necessarily end in a shot every time, but we’ll certainly create some opportunities and maybe create some mismatches in the offensive zone by pushing the ball and not allowing the other team to substitute their defensive players on.”

the guys bought in. I think they’re going to come together and they’re going to continue to improve a lot. That along with our goaltending, we think if we can improve our defense, that by nature is going to improve our goaltending. Seeing either a lesser number of shots or a lesser quality of shots. That’s what we’re trying to do with this group.” Only two teams in the league allowed more goals than the Swarm last season. But as Comeau Defense alluded to, that didn’t have The Swarm’s defensemuch to do with what the men are the elder statesteam got in the net from men on Georgia’s roster. Zach Higgins and Brodie With an abundance of MacDonald. youth on offense and no Both goaltenders are one with more than four back this season, with years in the league at the Higgins again in line to transition position, Drew see the lion’s share of the Petkoff (five years in the action. Last year he had a league) and Mitch Belisle .765 save percentage and (seven years in the league) MacDonald had a .742. are the most experienced “We’re happy with players on the roster. them and we want to try Rookie Reid Action and to build some confidence third-year player Alex Cre- with those guys by playing pinsek fill out the unit. good solid defense in front “We’ve got a number of of them,” Comeau said. guys, I think Mitch Belisle “I know it takes a little bit and Drew Petkoff are of time, but our defensive the guys who have been unit and the staff are rearound the league for a ally committed to that. It’s number of years,” Comeau great to see and the veteran said. “We’ve got a number leadership we have there of guys that are in the four, is good with the veteran five-year range, which is guys. good. We know we’ve got “It really helps. With some growing and learning the younger guys that to do back there, but we’ve are coming into that unit, got a great athletic group. the veteran guys kind of We’re trying to work on helped them and showed doing things a little difthem what you need to ferently maybe than what do to be successful in this was done in the past and league.”

Grayson

at the same time. And more importantly, they were freshmen, so the according to Pierce, chemistry is there. Plus, they’ve never had a bigger you’ve got to have good commitment to hitting the guard play, and Austin and glass. Alphonso are playing as “Last year, we kind of well as any guard combina- got away from reboundtion in the state right now.” ing the basketball,” Pierce True, Willis (17.0 ppg, said. “It’s helped that our 1.9 apg, 1.4 spg) and 6-(foot-)5 freshman KenDukes (16.3 ppg, 5.2 apg, yon Jackson has come in 0.8 spg) have been a solid and made such an impact, combination and leaders and (6-8 senior transfer) on both ends of the court Marquan Shakur has gotten But perhaps the biggest some minutes, too. … But difference in this year’s the biggest thing is we’ve teams from years past lies got five different guys avin the front court. eraging five rebounds per Grayson has had good game or more. size and good rebounders “What we’ve stressed in the past, but they’ve sel- (to the team) is that you dom had so much of both can’t call it a stop unless

you get rebounds. A lot of people think that defense is just blocked shots or steals. But if you can force your opponent to take bad shots, you can get them out of their rhythm. But that only works if you can get rebounds.” Indeed, the entire flock of Rams have dedicated itself to crashing the boards, with Jackson (10.0 rpg, 3.6 bpg), Sconiers (7.4 rpg) and Anifowoshe (5.2 rpg) establishing a presence in the lane and on the glass. But it hasn’t been just the bigger players in the low post contributing, with guards Willis (7.1 rpg) and Dukes (5.3 rpg) ranking among Grayson’s rebound-

ing leaders. And that, Sconiers said, has been a particular boost to the Rams. “I honestly feel like rebounding is contagious,” said the 6-4 senior, who is also third on the team in scoring behind Willis and Dukes a 8.3 points per game. “Once someone hits the glass, everyone wants to hit the glass. It allows us to be more aggressive on the boards because if one of us picks up fouls, there are guys behind us who can hit the glass. “The key word for us this year has been aggression. Overall, we want to be more aggressive.” Of course, the Rams

also strive to keep that aggression under control, something Willis said also comes from added effort. “From the beginning of summer workouts, we’ve pushed ourselves to get better,” the 6-2 senior said. “And we’ve worked harder off the court, so that it became second nature to us. … We all have the same goal, and if everyone has the same mindset, there’s nothing we can’t do.” There’s been little the Rams haven’t been able to do so far this season. Their only misstep has been a 72-46 loss to Berkmar on Dec. 8, a lesson Sconiers said the team has

taken to heart by winning all three of its games since. And he said the Rams know that kind of effort must continue this week during the Ram Classic on order to give themselves momentum heading into the remainder of the Region 8-AAAAAA season after the New Year. “I do feel like we needed that,” Sconiers said of the Berkmar loss. “We came to realize that you can get beat on any given night, especially with that magnitude. We know we have to bring it every night. The next couple of weeks will show us where we’re at and what we have to do to get better.”

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1227_GDP_SUN_CLASS_Classifieds 12/23/2015 4:20 PM Page B7

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

PUBLIC HEARINGS PUBLIC NOTICE: Skyway Towers, LLC. is proposing a raw land-new build, 95-foot monopole telecommunications tower located at 3237 Krisam Creek Drive, Loganville, Gwinnett County, GA 30052 (33° 51’ 23.7” North and 83° 55’ 59.3” West). Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30-days from the date of this publication to: N .McReynolds, Terracon, 2855 Premiere Pkwy, Suite C, Duluth, GA 30097, 770623-0755 or nkmcreynolds@ terracon.com. 928-302372, 12/27

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Pursuant to the Georgia Self-Service Storage Facility Act, Ga. Code Ann. §§ 10-4210 et seq., the undersigned will conduct a public auction on January 12, 2016 of the below-listed units. Each of the below units generally contain the following: furniture, clothing, tools, and other household/business items. PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 28138 3679 McElroy Rd Doraville, GA. 30340 (770) 452-8144 TIME: 9:30 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: A085–Saunders, Tara B011–Inyang, Sunday B017–Caruso, Rachael C043–Kazemba, Ruth D016–Mock, Peter D025–Bailey, Xiomara D049–Towery, Samuel D085–WILLIAMS, LISA E049–Cardenas, Pedro F844–Ortiz, Ashley F865–Ozbey, Jaliesha F880–Evans, Derek PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 28149 3055 Jones Mill Rd Peachtree Corners, GA. 30071 (770) 447-9755 TIME: 10:00 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: 101–Andrus, Kayla 154–Turner, Karen 159–Guinn, Corey 171–Karim, Elijah 210–Corriher, Amanda 226–Davis, Trenace 30–Tjikotoke, Makena 357–Ford, Gricela 366–Holtzclaw, Troy 369–Upchurch, Tanesha 389–Wyatt, James 420–Smith, Mobray 474–Sissoho, Rose 502–Gipson, Letitia 75–Von-Memmingen, Genoveva PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 29104 3265 Holcomb Bridge Rd Peachtree Corners, GA. 30092 (770) 449-0384 TIME: 10:30 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: 2317–KuKu, Seiyefa 2325–Myers, Timothy 2516–Pioneer Marketing Research Inc 3101–Sanders, John 4103–Hughes, Tamisha 4223–Smith, Mercedes 4608–Moore, John Francis PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 20171 6289 Jimmy Carter Blvd Norcross, GA. 30071 (770) 416-9275 TIME: 11:00 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: A004–Jenkins, Todd A030–Stanford, Trevor -Vehicle. B003–Francois, Jesumene B055–roberts, shawn B057–HUNT, RIETZ-MIA C008–Daniel, Leslie C015–Wellington, Christopher C033–styles, chassidy C045–Sanderson, Alicia C051–HEARD, MYRA C054–Lee, Gregory C061–Heiskell, Felicia D026–HAMILTON, DANISHA D031–CUTTER, JACK D034–Hollings, Natsha D075–Diallo, Abdourahamane E023–Wicks, Nathaniel E045–Hall, Mark E050–Wakasugi, Whitney E066–Gregory, Lakesha E068–Lewis, Kimora E123–Graham, Bernice F054–Barnes, Adam G017–Long, KaTesha PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 28150 6770 Dawson Blvd Norcross, GA. 30093 (770) 448-2130 TIME: 11:30 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: B115–Thompson, Levance

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS

C243–Johnson, David D111–Noel, Jushanti D129–Maresette, Rotricia D131–GONZALEZ, ADRIAN D166–James, Jellyca E118–Lynch, Walter E142–Blue, Lamare F104–Fisher, Renard F154–Davis, Juan G125–Glover, Chariss J125–Nixon, Shawn J234–Gonzalez, Isabel K242–Watkins, Hiram ******************* NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE Pursuant to the Georgia Self-Service Storage Facility Act, Ga. Code Ann. §§ 10-4210 et seq., the undersigned will conduct a public auction on January 13 , 2016 of the below-listed units. Each of the below units generally contain the following: furniture, clothing, tools, and other household/business items. PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 20489 6000 Lawrenceville Hwy. Tucker, GA. 30084 (770) 923-9400 TIME: 9:30 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: B008–Knighton, carmen B012–Graham, Patrenia C126–moore, shurita D033–Bledsoe, Che E004–hill, billy E058–banks, eric E105–Coleman, Devan G026–Nesbitt, Tony G058–Beeten, Wyane PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 08049 5010 Jimmy Carter Blvd Norcross, GA. 30093 (770) 446-8358 TIME: 10:00 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: 0207–Nelson, Charlene 0346–Thomas, Deborah 0407–Viens, Caresa 0421–Setia, Rajiv 0436–Roberts, Jonathan 0442–Mcluster, Lillyan 0518–Williams, Brittney 0524–Fay, Curtis 0538–Salvador, Denise 0612–Partlow, Paul 0649–Shaw, Sharlene 0652–WOODS, FREDERIC 0654–WOODS, RENEE 0703–Mchann, Adrian 0706–Jones, Latarsha 0741–Murphy, Cloyd 0746–Roundtree, Perlita 0747–Hinkins, Michelle 0748–Seals, Salihah 0752–Ramirez Torres, Javier 0822–Berry, Rose 0912–hassan, ata 0921–MARTINEZ, ROSALBA 0931–Flores, Maria 1046–Cureton, Tarynn PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 29135 1755 Indian Trail Rd Norcross, GA. 30093 (678) 924-0203 TIME: 10:30 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: 1064–Stone, Bridgette 1279–Anderson, Francine 1280–Anderson, Francine 1351–UNITED HOSPICE OF ATLANTA 1358–Kelly, Brittany 1372–Coffee, Sky 2003–Simmons, Raffinee 2015–LEWIS, TIA 2043–Hood, Martina 2059–Mitchell, Andretta 2090–mackie, nicholas 2161–Harris, Tanisha 2169–Rhodes, J.R., Nathaniel 2201–Mullen, Antoinette 2258–Beasley, Rachel 2344–Malcom, Marcus 2358–Osborne, Darlene 2362–CHIN, FABIAN 2404–Gagnon, Jordan 3028–Mercer, Hattie 3054–Mercer, Hattie 3181–Lambert-Har vey, Sharon 3195–Riggins, Theresa 3206–Jenkins, Tamesha 3222–CLEVELAND, DEBORAH 3247–Pannell, Robert 3248–Williams, Yolanda 3365–Noland, Victoria 3368–Crew, Nicole 3407–LAM, KIEU 3437–Semedo, Robert B005–Wooten, Tedreal C012–Hinds, radcliffe D006–Adeyemo, Adetunji D007–Hinds, radcliffe D010–Hinds, radcliffe E019–Clark, Tiffany E043–Kendrick, Kim E050–Johnson, Dominique PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 24346 615 Indian Trail Rd Lilburn, GA. 30047 (770) 638-0498 TIME: 11:00 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: A034–Daugett, Timothy A066–Lewis Jr, Thomas B006–Henley, Lisa B007–Harris, Kelsey B052–SCOTT, JOHN B079–Stewart, David B089–Mcmillan, Todd D014–Jones, Michael D030–Teston, Arador E001–Robles, Patricia PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 21901

95 Arcado Rd Lilburn, GA. 30047 (770) 638-9211 TIME: 11:30 AM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: A006–Kallas, James B076–Brown, Lonnie C030–Goodman-Witherspoon, Carolyn C036–Martin, Tiffany C068–Elenteny, Matthew D008–JACOBS, COREY E048–Anderson, Robert F018–HAMMONDS, DEBBIE PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTY: 23106 460 Beaver Ruin Rd Lilburn, GA. 30047 (770) 638-1196 TIME: 12:00 PM STORED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS: B103–Horton, Derrick B104–Webb, Carlos B122–Johnson, Cassandra B125–Eddings, Tenya B145–RUFFIN, ALICE C159–England, Zoey D187–Lillard, Gregory E270–Nelson, Teresa E320–Ledezma, Luis F375–Caballeros-Nunez, Edith F399–Hooten, Mohior F403–TROY, HENRIETTA F404–barrett, shanice F470–BAKER JR, WILLIAM F472–Vasquez, Robert G515–Pierre Louis, Jean Claude G542–MITCHELL, KIMBERLY- Vehicle All sales are subject to cancellation. Public auction terms, rules, and regulations will be made available prior to the sale. Dated this 27th day of December 2015 and 3rd day of January 2016 by PS Orangeco, Inc., 701 Western Avenue, Glendale, CA 91201. (818) 244-8080, Bond No. 6004928. 929-302262, 12/27,1/3 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: The following self-storage Cube contents containing household and other goods will be sold for cash by CubeSmart, 5180 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 to satisfy a lien on January 13, 2016 at approx. 1:30PM at www.storagetreasures.com Customer Name Unit # Jeffery M Coleman Jr 933 Kenneth Rogers 680 Thayer Hall IV 218 Ellen A Stilwell 568 Wisarut Leangpun 834 929-299586, 12/27,1/3 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the undersigned will sell, to satisfy lien of the owner, at public sale by competitive bidding via www.storagetreasures.com on 1/13/2016 at 3:30PM for the Extra Space Storage facility located at: 2790 Braselton Highway Dacula, GA 30019 The personal goods stored therein by the following may include, but are not limited to general household, furniture, boxes, clothes, and appliances. 129: Marcelle BenthamWelcome- Household items 635: Reyes Torres-Household items 332: Nichole DavisHousehold items 687: Gloria BulkoskiHousehold items Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is and must be removed at the time of purchase. Extra Space Storage reserves the right to refuse any bid. Sale is subject to adjournment. 929-301623, 12/27,1/3 PUBLIC AUCTION Notice is hereby given that Extra Space Storage will sell at public auction, to satisfy the lien of the owner, personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at location indicated: Auction Date: 01/13/2016 Address: 3564 Lawrenceville Hwy Lawrenceville, Ga 30044 Phone: (770) 286-9209 Time of Sale: 4:00 PM Lisa Lauder Unit 301 Bed, Couch, Dining Set, Dresser, Bags, Toys Duane Woods Unit 309 Chairs, Bags, Boxes, Pictures, Totes Joe Williams Unit 324 Dining Set, Microwave, Bags, Boxes, Totes, Tools S

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS Sharese De Lille Unit 355 China Cabinet, Mattress, Sectional Sofa Daphnne Treadwell Unit 1053 Bed, Couch, Dresser, Mattress, Bags, Boxes, Totes Terri Cissel Unit 1054 Chair, Couch, Table, Bags, Boxes, Totes Troy Yarde Unit 1055 Dresser, Mirror, Trunk, TV, Computer, Display Case. Pilates Machine, Luggage Torchia Mister Unit 1110 Bags, TV, Books, Boxes, Totes, Toys, Baby Crib Jason Graham Unit 1131 Bed, Chair, Mattress, Bags, Boxes, Toys, Rug, Gym Matts, Paint, Headboardr Audric Owens Unit 2030 Couch, Ent. Center, Mattress, Stereo, Bags, Boxes, Pictures, Clothes, Totes Aaron Hardy Unit 2044 Bed, Chair, Mattress, TV, Bags, Boxes, Totes, Heater Sonya Littles Unit 2090 Bed, Dining Set, Dresser, Mattress, Stereo, TV, Bags, Totes, Pictures, Totes Daphnne Treadwell Unit 2115 Bags, Boxes, Clothes, Toys, Personal Papers Kenneth Davenport Unit 3046 Bed, Chair, Couch, Dresser, Mattress, Ent. Center, Refrigerator, Boxes, Totes Brenda Parker Unit 3077 Bed, Chair, Mattress, Totes, Boxes, Dining Set, Yard Chairs, Pictures Robert Chastain Unit 4018 Boxes, Totes, Personal Papers Alan Johnson Unit 4051 Cabinet, Lamps, Computer, Tool Box, Washer, Dryer Alex Gbolie Unit 4055 Couch, Computer, Microwave, Toys, Totes, Boxes, Childs Dresser/Mirror, Clock Kelvin Harris Unit 4069 Bed, TV, Basketball Goal, Bags, Totes, Boxes Anthony Andrews Unit 4079 Armoire, Chair, Sofa, Dining Set, Dresser, Ent. Center, Mattress, Refrigerator Andrew Sizimwe Unit 4087 Bed, Chair, Sectional Sofa TV, Bookcase The auction will be listed and advertised on www. storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property. 929-296022, 12/27,1/3 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that Extra Space Storage will sell at public auction, to satisfy the lien of the owner, personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at location indicated: 3357 Breckinridge Blvd Duluth GA, 30096 770-891-4639 January 13,2016 @ 3:00PM 1407 Cirila Rumaguera Household Items 2013 Brandon Elam Household Items 2711 Evans Monique Household Items 3144 Devada Doyal Household Items 2006 Lisa Smith Household Items 3705 Tyrone Davis Household Items 2603 Marian Lloyd Household Items 2205 Muriel Halfkenny Household Items 2129 Songyo Sean Hong Household Items 3229 Vickie Almand Household Items 0111 Bahama Breeze Business Supplies 0120 Bahama Breeze Business Supplies 1429 Paisha Girtmon Household Items 0118 Shannon Powers Household Items 1601 Kristy Holloway Household Items The auction will be listed and advertised on www. storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property 929-300152, 12/28,1/4 PUBLIC AUCTION Notice is hereby given that Extra Space Storage will sell at public auction, to satisfy the lien of the owner, personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at location indicated: 98 Hurricane Shoals Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046, 770-682-4990, January 13th, 2016 at 1:30PM James C Harris Unit CC039 Household Goods Deidra Williams U

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS

Unit 0342 Household Goods Lashandle Mathis Unit CC205 Household Items Lora Roebuck Unit 0815 Household Items Sam Bell Unit 0334 Household Items Sharina Bailey Unit 0548 Household Items Regina Butler-Streets Unit CC328 Household Items Cherie Sims Unit 0519 Household Items Cherie Sims Unit 0523 Household Items Demerrick Wade Unit 0423 Household Items Karla McElroy Unit 1135 Household Items Tammy Hollomon Unit 0634 Household Richard Michael Moore Unit 0810 Tools, Lawnmower Chainsaws Bethel Mensah Unit 0944 Household Items Ken Oswald Unit 0922 Car Parts Dale Blackmon Unit 0935 Construction, Tools Shebia Gray Unit 0801 Boxes The auction will be listed and advertised on www. storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property. 929-301625, 12/27,1/3

must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property 929-302240, 12/31,1/7

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that Extra Space Storage will sell at public auction, to satisfy the lien of the owner, Personal property described below belonging to those individual listed below at location indicated: 5151 Annistown Rd Stone Mountain GA 30087 770.469.5363 January 13, 2016 at 12:00 PM Unit 296 Irene Augustine Hill trailer not included, stove, refrigerator, generator, lawn mowers, bicycle Unit 507 Gregory Sykes Household goods Unit 351 Marlene Campbell washer, dryer,TV, stands, sofa, basketball goal, bedroom set Unit 200 Teal Chancellor Mattresses, speaker Unit 225 Jonathan Davis Boxes, totes, luggage Unit 377 Rod Caddele 5 bedroom home Unit 188 Shannon Gregg Household items Unit 325 Shawn Campbell Household furniture Unit 424 Janean Rayford Home items Unit 108 Louis White misc, household items Unit 312 Tonia Sturges household Unit 311 Carlton Pettigrew Household furniture The auction will be listed and advertised on www.stroagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction, Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property. 929-301628, 12/27,1/3 ON 01/13/2016 AT 2:00 PM StoreSmart self storage located at 2914 Buford Dr. Buford, GA. 30519 will conduct a public auction of the following: Unit #1058 Aaron Lane, Tv,Lamps,Fan,Shoes. Unit #1071 Lori Hill, dining room, bed, mattress. Unit #2004 Yolanda Wilson, boxes, bench, totes, shoes. Unit #2009 Kennise Demetria Myers , Bike, Washer & Dryer, totes, Misc boxes. Unit #2068 Chere Dove Washer &Dryer,Misc boxes. Units #2081 Henry Dunn, Loveseat, Dining Room, Boxes,. Unit #2143, Pamela Shaw, dresser , boxes, dining room table,washer & dryer. Unit #2149, Maria Gregg, boxes, nightstand, misc boxes. Unit #2150, Nautica Donovan, totes, boxes. Unit #3009, Fabien Charles, bed, washer & dryer, boxes. Unit #3012, Manuela Hires, misc, boxes, totes. Unit #3041, Ingrid Mayen, dining room table, boxes, back packet, misc items,. Unit #3118, Linda Crawley, table, baby stroller, bed, rugs. Unit #3120 Colette N Effel, display cabinet, boxes, totes. Unit #3132 Katherine Rourke, boxes, trash cans, tool box . Unit #4034,Pamela Shaw, tables, boxes, clothes, misc items . Unit #4088 Tyler Price , ottoman,vaccum,8 tracks. 929-301633, 12/27,1/3 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that Extra Space Storage will sell at public auction, to satisfy the lien of the owner, personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at location indicated: 1790 Peachtree Industrial Blvd Duluth, Ga. 30097 770-814-7776 January 13, 2016 @ 2:00PM 1627 Jerry Giles Boxes, pictures, wicker chair 2308 John Thomas Jones Baby bed, boxes, childrens toys 3304 Gregory Miller Tonka truck, barber pole, chairs, keyboard 3310 Asani Olufemi Totes, computer monitors, sofa, love seat 3815 Sandra Sang Boxes, clothing, books, files The auction will be listed and advertised www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases m

PROTECT OUR PLANET NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that Extra Space Storage will sell at public auction, to satisfy the lien of the owner, personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at location indicated: 1172 Auburn Rd. Dacula GA, 30019 770-236-0688 January 14,2016 @ 4:15PM 668 Donna Evearitt Files and Boxes 109 Dennis Gutierrez Work equipment 431 Deborah Pennington Household Items 545 Brad Bailey Household Items 136 Alissa Gaddis Household Items The auction will be listed and advertised on www. storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property 929-300235, 12/27,1/3 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that Extra Space Storage will sell at public auction, to satisfy the lien of the owner, personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at location indicated: 2044 Old Norcross Road Lawrenceville, GA, 30044 770-845-1926 January 14, 2016 @ 2:00PM 340 Cynthia Fabela Household Items, Totes, Clothes, Toys, Large Mirror, Box Springs, Bikes, Bags 346 J Jesus C Estrella Household Items, Tools, Construction materials, Dishwasher, Bags, Bike, Totes, Toys

VEHICLES

FORD FOCUS SE, 2005. 169k mi. VERY WELL KEPT. Exc. mechanical condition. Clean inside/out, zero accidents. Everything works. $2950. 678-200-0812

JEEP PATRIOT SPORT, 2014 Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearlcoat, Stk#P5145A $13,992 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

APPLIANCES DRYER/WASHER $125 ea.; Super Capacity $175 ea. Front Loader Set $450 & up; Regular Refrig. & Ranges $175 & up; SXS Refrig. $300 & up. Dishwasher $100 & up. Different colors. Del/1 yr warr. Tim 404-205-2222 FIREWOOD

FIREWOOD Seasoned Oak & Hickory. Free delivery. Call for prices.

770-962-8744 678-557-8536

FIREWOOD Select, Seasoned Hickory & Oak, $180/Cord or $120/Half Cord. Delivered. MORE FOR YOUR MONEY! Gary, 404-772-1268

FORD FOCUS, 2013 Oxford White, Stk#530035B $11,000 877-698-5030

FORD FUSION SE, 2013 Bordeaux Red, Stk#P7798 $13,724 800-PREOWNED KIA RIO, 2015 Clear White, Stk#FY3588987A $12,986 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

FURNITURE/ HOUSEHOLD GOODS

BEAUTIFUL RED TV Cabinet 34” opening 76”H 48” W and 21”D Asking $180. Snellville. rsanders0716@gmail. com PETS/LIVESTOCK

DOGS

FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE, 1997. 76,246 ONE OWNER MILES. ONE OF THE BEST ORIGINAL GT’s IN THE USA. Looks and drives close to new with near perfect CarFax. White with saddle leather. Drive it anywhere. Collectible. Drive it, cherish it and see it go up in price. This is the GT if you want the best available. Only $7950. Call 770-899-5856

550 Annie Moise Couch, Boxes, Chair, Totes, Toys, Clothes, Mattress, Frames, Shoes 6C12 Joshua Narucki Household items, Chair, Mattress, Totes, Boxes, Books, Bags, Fishing Rods 638 Steve Jenkins Household Items, Chair, Dining Set, Bags, Boxes, Books, Totes, Sofa, Love Seat, Fridge 134 Fredia Jackson Household Items, Fridge, Bags, Boxes, Clothes, Shoes, Totes, Toys, Bed Frame, Washer/Dryer

VEHICLES

HONDA ACCORD SEDAN, 2012 Polished Metal Metallic, Stk#8445 $15,500 877-698-5030 BMW Z3 ROADSTER, 2000. 99K MILES • $6450. M SPORTS OPTIONS. Best you’ll find. Fabulous & priced way under the market. Auto trans, silver w/ black convert top and leather. Super CarFax & beautiful. Comparable cars are selling for over $9000. Owned by California collector and babied. Drive daily, very collectable and should appreciate in price while you’re having fun. 770-882-4605.

HONDA CIVIC LX, 2012 Taffeta White, Stk#FC489474A $12,988 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

406 Brijesh Patel Household and Business Cabinets 508H Terrence Gayle Household Items, Bags, Bicycle, Totes, Toys, Bed Frame, Mattress frame, Pictures, Vacume 120D Misty Bennett Household Items, Dining Set, Computer Monitor, Bags, Boxes, Totes, Microwave, Electronics 112 Lequila Mcgauley Household Items, Computer Monitor, Toys, Totes, Clothes, Boxes, Bags, Steam Vac Bed frame

CHEVROLET CRUZE, 2013 Champagne Silver Metallic, Stk#640087A $12,000 877-698-5030

514B Ayana Forest Household Items, Golf Clubs, Coffee Table, Washer, Microwave, Armoire, Mattress 445 Vincent Burgess Large Floor Model TV, Baby Crib 6C32 Isaiah Kelly Household Items, Shelves, Boxes, Files, Totes, Toys, File Cabinets

DAIMLER DODGE DART SXT, 2013 Tungsten Metal, Stk#G5214959A $11,550 800-PREOWNED

124 Arturo Vazquez Household Items, Power tools, Wheel Barrow, Shovels, Generator, Tiles 505E Timothy Rinker Couch, Bags, Hand Tools, Totes, Fishing Rods, Knife Set, Ladder, Wet Vac 219 Yvonne Francis Household Items, Washer, Dryer, 2 Armoires, Nightstands, Dressers, Dining Table, Love Seat, Sofa Bed, Boxes The auction will be listed and advertised on www. storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property 929-301451, 12/27,1/3

KIA SOUL, 2011 Bright Silver, Stk#L560215B $9,700 877-698-5030

CHIHUAHUA Blk/tan, F, 8 mos. $160. Crate $50. Pit/Boxer, F, Spayed, fawn/white, 8 mos. $100. 404-205-3460

520C Mamadee Keita Household Items, Couch, Boxes, Bags, Totes, Computer Key Board 304 Todd Hall Household Items, Stand Up Fica Trees, and Decorative Mirror

KIA FORTE, 2015 Aurora Black, Stk#510086A $13,700 877-698-5030

FORD FIESTA, SE, 2014 Oxford White, Stk#P8053 $10,500 800-PREOWNED

GMC SUBURBAN, 1997, 4-WHD, leather, 3rd seat, clean, almost new tires, 270,386 road mileage, very clean, great orig paint, tow pkg, very comfortable ride, 3rd seat incl, 17 mpg hwy. 2 owners. Low mileage on 4 Michelins. $3500 CASH. 770-736-2643

HONDA CIVIC SEDAN, 2010 Polished Metal Metallic, Stk#640172A $9,300 877-698-5030

HONDA CIVIC SEDAN, 2014 Taffeta White, Stk#8407A $14,500 877-698-5030

LEXUS RX 300, 1999 Suv. Fabulous and Very Difficult To Find One This Nice. Great Car Fax. Loaded With Options Including Beautiful Tan Leather and Loaded With Options. Drive Anywhere In Luxury and Quality. Only $5,950. 770-895-7161 5950

LINCOLN TOWN CAR, 2004 This one-owner, Lincoln Town Car Signature Series has been pampered and garaged most of its life. Less than 55,000 original miles on the car! Almost new Michelin tires. It’s packed with loads of features including: wood-grain dash, leather, alloy wheels, dual power front seats, dual automatic climate control, steering wheel audio and ac control, remote key-less entry, automatic headlights, automatic loadleveling, ABS brakes, adjustable foot pedals and more. Drives and rides like a dream. $8750 404-663-1299 after 6pm.

MERCEDES 560 SL CONVERTIBLE, 1986. LOW MILES SUPER BUY ON INVESTMENT CAR.

FABULOUS CHRISTMAS PRESENT THAT SHOULD APPRECIATE RAPIDLY IN PRICE JEEP COMPASS LATITUDE, 2012 Bright Silver, Stk#FR218448A $12,143 800-PREOWNED

Fabulous black with burgundy leather. Babied exceptional and beautiful. 5.5L engine/130 miles per hour. Yet luxury and high quality. You can drive daily or use as investment car. Cost $48,000 new. NADA and Hagerty Classic Car Value guide appraises them at $20,000-$45,000. Rapidly appreciating car selling way under the market at only $11,700.

FORD FOCUS SE, 2014 Ruby Red, Stk#P8066 $12,999 800-PREOWNED

Call 770-882-4605

1227_GDP_SUN_CLASS_Classifieds 12/26/2015 6:03 PM Page B8

B8 • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

DICK, JANE AND SALLY

DOWN 1. Symbols of peace 2. Powerful prayer 3. Bulb word 4. ABC, for one 5. Essay 6. Blood pigment 7. Birthright seller 8. Pealed 9. In a different way 10. Large antelope 11. Not safe 12. Nevada/California lake 13. Unusual person 14. Rests 16. Mount __ 18. Desire greatly 19. Actor Rob __ 20. Pres. Arthur!s monogram 21. Sicker 22. Spurns 27. Part of an office phone number: abbr. 2

114. 115. 116. 118. 121. 122. 123. 124.

10 16

40 47

62 67 73

58 63

74 82

88 91

103 110 120 125

114

115

116

122

107 117

126

118

108

109

119 124

127 129

130

ROCKDALE, CONYERS 4BR/2BA on 1.25 Acre. Large LR & DR. Corner of 2200 Irwin Bridge, close to Hospital. $70,000. 404-825-0504

B llite Sate

lvd

Follow the signs to Boggs Road.

Boggs Rd

Hwy 316

CUMMING ALPHARETTA

BUFORD NORTHPOINT MALL

ROSWELL

DULUTH 4

400 PERIMETER MALL NISSAN VERSA, 2013 Magnetic Gray, Stk#FY312321A $8977 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

GWINNETT PLACE MALL BE

TUCKER

TOYOTA RAV4, 2006 Limited 2.4L gas auto, 120k miles, 4WD cd, abs, clean title. I accept any test. $3,200. Call 609-250-2612

COMMERCE

DECATUR

MALL OF GA

BUFORD 2

WINDER

LAWRENCEVILLE

LILBURN SNELLVILLE

LOGANVILLE

RIA

MALL OF GA

CONYERS

This map is not to scale and is for illustration purposes only.

V A N D A M O R S O N Y T S E C V E R A A C U R T U N E S S D A N O V C A V E A P E A S S

B E R T H

L A M A L A R L O D A H M A O T H R I A R E T M K P A I C D S

WN T H E R E A E R E S A L T T W Y M A N S T WO E U G E O R B E R S E A S K Y K E A U S T E E S T A Y A R R I T L A A D E N B E R T A O E T R D I E U M E R S C S E E T A S S E U L E Y T O R R T E E

G O E N U T R U T N E A B A T U S E N F I E O F E S S L P R S T A T A R E A G E S S U R T I OW N D I V S R A K E L L I D I N S D

T O A N C E H E R S O R A T E E V E X I E S T L D E I D E R V O I L A E T E S T E S R A H F A C E R I V E R N R I D E S D A M M A W E E R M A N R O N Y E N S

Dick, Jane and Sally

HAYES LAWRENCEVILLE

719 Pike St, Lawrenceville 770-963-5251 www.hayeschrysler.com

TOYOTA COROLLA, 2014 Blizzard Pearl, Stk#8395 $13,600 877-698-5030

1 CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP

NISSAN SENTRA, 2012 Blue Onyx, Stk#GC763170A $10,987 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

GAINESVILLE Hwy

N'LAKE MALL

ATLANTA

WN'S BRO E G BRID

Exit 105 or 1 I-85N, I-85S, Exit 107.

C A R P

NISSAN SENTRA SR, 2012 Super Black, Stk#FFC11174B $10,351 800-PREOWNED

400

Boggs Rd

Driven 4,500 miles per year. (120K MILES) Owned and cherished the last 15 years by an oil company president. All preventive maintenance completed. We just road tested it at over 100 miles/ hour. It is fabulous. Near perfect blue with dark blue interior. Chrome wheels look like new. Two tops this car can win trophies. This car just appraised at over $20,000 to $37,000 from Hagerty old car value guide. Take it to shows, drive it daily or use it as an investment as these cars are appreciating rapidly. Only $10,900. Call 770-895-7161

Duluth Hwy 120

ord

Fabulous Christmas present that should appreciate rapidly in price.

NISSAN SENTRA, 2013 Red Brick, Stk#640081A $13,800 877-698-5030

Buf

MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL, 1980.

TOYOTA COROLLA S, 2015 Barcelona Red, Stk#GN706950A $17,998 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

NISSAN MAXIMA, 2014 Java, Stk#P5191 $17,977 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

REDUCED! 3604 SAND HILL DR. IMAGINE YOUR DREAM HOME Here & You Sitting In Your Sunroom Overlooking The 8Th Fairway Of Honey Creek Golf Course While Sipping Your Morning Coffee $22,000 Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

Your Dealership Should Be Easy To Find!

PEA CH IND TREE BLV D

M A R L O

NISSAN ALTIMA, 2013 Pearl White, Stk#640073A $14,500 877-698-5030

VEHICLES

CONYERS, GA 30094

Dr. Buford

VEHICLES

NISSAN ALTIMA, 2012 Metallic Slate, Stk#FC492122A $12,983 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

COVINGTON, GA 30016 PEMCO HUD HOME # 105-174716 90 FAIRVIEW CHASE Fantastic find in this well-appointed split foyer w/hardwood floors family room,& formal dining 4BR/3BA $125,000 • INSURED W/ ESCROW • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

VEHICLES

RECYCLE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

123

128

MONROE, GA 30655 MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING 404 E CHURCH STREET DUPLEX WITH 2BR/2BA On 1 Side, 1BR/1BA On The Other Side, Family Room, Kitchen, Laundry Hook-Ups, Spacious Family Rooms. Located In Historical District. $139,900. EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

FARMS, LOTS & ACREAGE FOR SALE

106 113

102

105

121

78 86

112

101

111

REDUCED! PEMCO HUD HOME #105-423154 60 SUNFLOWER LN. Nice Brick Front 2 Story w/ 2 Story Entry Foyer. 1st Level Features Formal Living & Dining Room w/ Corner Fireplace, Kichen w/ Breakfast Area. 5BR/3.5BA. $135,000 • Insured w/ Escrow • EHO

APTS/DUP/CONDOS/ T’HOMES FOR SALE

Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

104

COVINGTON, GA 30016

100

Please Recycle This Newspaper

NEW LISTING 1432 APALACHEE FALLS RD 3BR/2BA Spacious Ranch With Split Bedroom Plan On 1 Acre Lot. Usda Eligible. $134,900. Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

LAKE WALTON ESTATES! 6219 WATERS EDGE DRIVE All Brick, Executive Home In One Of Walton County’s Exclusive, Gated Communities Sits Across From Neighborhood Amenities On 2.18 Acres FULL FINISHED BASEMENT 4BR/4.5BA $579,900 • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

COVINGTON, GA 30014

HOUSES FOR SALE

35 43

98. 99. 104. 105. 107. 108. 109. 111. 113.

25 29

90. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97.

MONROE, GA 30656

Gandhi, for one Tempe univ. Evergreen tree Addressee for completed 1040s: abbr. ICU personnel Hockey great Connection Linear measure Spin No good Part of an X-O game!s name City in New York Danny!s daughter Upper, for one Tight Condemns Out of town Bearded people Nag __ machine; casino attraction Lacking water Brontë heroine Outer covering Madame with offspring Youngster Desk toppers, for short Harris and Wynn Reagan, for one

HEWATT RD

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SE, 2013 Laguna Blue, Stk#G5207502A $14,359 800-PREOWNED

83. 85. 86. 89.

NASH CHEVROLET 630 Scenic Hwy., Lawrenceville 770-963-9266 www.nashchevy.com

RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET OF BUFORD 4490 South Lee St., Buford, GA 30518 888-804-2957 www.hendrickbuford.com

RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET OF DULUTH 3277 Satellite Blvd., Duluth, GA 30096 888-475-8808 www.hendrickatlanta.com

280565-1

Star of TV!s “Maude” “__ was saying...” Shirt, for short Watch On a saddle Begin Door opener Meatheads Extensive Andy!s pal Zip Help with the dishes Virginia!s nation: abbr. Coward!s namesakes Embankment Pass on 1997 U.S. Open champ One not to be trusted Cooking fat Mosque prayer opener Red leader 10 pins in 2 attempts Rabbit food P.O. map divisions Show affection Costs __ and a leg House Place for a price Large container Old French coin Nylon mishap Pee Wee, for one Noted sitarist __ a test; passed easily Roll call response

r. Buford D

VEHICLES

30. 32. 33. 35. 36. 37. 38. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 51. 52. 53. 55. 56. 57. 59. 64. 66. 67. 68. 69. 71. 72. 73. 74. 76. 78. 79. 80.

117. One who “only has eyes for ewe” 119. Dazzle 120. Dick, Jane and Sally 125. Of the main artery 126. Scorching 127. Dramatic twist 128. Yale hirees: abbr. 129. Older kids 130. Scout groups

T U I T C I C A

ACROSS 1. Morning 5. In that spot 10. __ pieces; fall apart 14. Variable stars 15. Preowned home on the market 17. Slight difference 20. Dick, Jane and Sally 23. Gibbon 24. Afternoon hour 25. Debs, for one 26. Give an address 28. Beast of burden 29. Globe 31. Lessen 34. Provoke 35. Gaelic tongue 36. Invite 39. “What!s the __?”; cry of despair 40. Suffix for crank or lank 41. Dick, Jane and Sally 48. Giovanni!s love 49. __ execution; urgent reprieve 50. Sea duck 54. Magnavox rival 55. Actress Hedy 58. Tee preceder 60. “And there you have it!” 61. Literary initials 62. Apple pie __ mode 63. “__ be a cold day in hell...” 65. Trial exam 67. Full Prius 70. Grand homes 72. Plantation home feature 75. __ Parks 77. Common verb 78. Arena cry 81. __ Legend 82. Dr. payer, often 84. Stories in a French house 86. Look toward 87. Grand fixer 88. Farewells 90. Ohio, for one 91. Dick, Jane and Sally 97. Acid fighters 100. Narrow inlet 101. Look at 102. Possesses 103. Give __ go; try 104. Favre of football 106. Arith. process 107. Beavers! project 110. Enchantress of myth 112. Large groups

HOUSES FOR SALE

by Calvin R. & Jackie Mathews

1227_GDP_SUN_CLASS_Classifieds 12/23/2015 4:21 PM Page B9

gwinnettdailypost.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015 • B9 FULL TIME

SERVICES

FLOORING

CLEANING

HARDWOOD FLOORS

FREE REMOVAL

The Doctor Is In

HOME REPAIR/ REMODELING

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE

FOREST

COUNTRY BOY TREE REMOVAL

BY M.D. NANNI • Oak • Maple • Cherry • Walnut New Homes Repairs Refinishing Renovations

SERVICE We pick up any of the following items: All scrap metal such as all appliances, air conditioners, lawn mowers, metal windows & doors, garage doors, motorcycles, house & barn tin, gutters & awnings, metal signs, junk cars, old batteries, etc.

SPECIALTY WORK

• Borders • Stairways • Medallions Free Estimates Insured/Certified Michael Nanni

*No TVs or computer monitors.

770-867-9670

sdlovern@yahoo.com

Call 770-601-8495 404-545-3299

REMODELING, INC. •Finished Basements •Bathroom Remodeling •Kitchen Remodeling •Custom Cabinets •Room Additions •Garages/Carports •Screened Porches •Custom Decks •Siding All Types Call John

770-962-2071 HANDYMAN SOLUTIONS BY HERNANDO

Leave message if no answer.

If your old stuff is collecting dust, it could be collecting cash!

classifieds

770-962-SELL

All Home Remodeling Projects & General Repairs Including: HVAC troubleshooting & more! Over 25 years of exp. in all home repairs & improvements. *Licensed & Insured*

Expert Take Downs √ 20Years Experience √ Insured √ Free Estimates √ Stump Grinding Bucket Truck Summer Seasoned

Oak 1/2 Cord - $100 1 Cord - $190

Delivered & Dumped LICENSED

678-482-1702

hcorrales17@gmail.com

All Major Credit Cards Accepted 300018-1

Call for a Free Estimate

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE

LANDSCAPING AND TREE SERVICE

Professional Tree Service • Pruning • Trimming Landscaping • Clean-Up • Leaf Removal Call Freddy Perez

404-399-7402

POWER WASHING

PRESSURE WASHING

We offer 24 hour Emergency Service •Licensed & Insured •All Tree Service Needs •Landscaping •Fencing •Land Clearing

***CALL TODAY!*** For a Free Estimate

HOUSES STARTING AT $89 • Roof Cleaning • Black streaks removed from roof • Mold & Mildew removed from homes • Drives-WalkwaysPatios-Decks cleaned/sealed • Gutters cleaned For a FREE Estimate

CALL OR TEXT

770-905-2072

www.mandgtreeservice.com

404.886.3587 Established 1989

SERENITY LAWN CARE • Any Lawn Work! If it’s in your yard, we do it! Landscape Design using any material Trimming & debris Clean Up • Pressure Washing

Call 706-525-1881 or 904-874-1809

770-932-1751 Cell 770-313-5751

Please Recycle This Newspaper

Computer/IT Programmer Analysts (Lawrenceville, GA) Participate in complete Software Development Life Cycle. Work on SAP modules including SD, MM & FI. Utilize SAP, WebDynpro, ABAP. Master’s deg in Comp Sci, Engg, Info Systems or equiv & 2 yrs of exp or Bachelor’s deg in Comp Sci, Engg, Info Systems or equiv & 5 yrs of exp. May also req to travel various unanticipated client sites nationally. Send resume to Bellsoft Inc., 3545 Cruse Rd, Ste 102, Lawrenceville, GA 30044 Drivers: CDL-A, 1 yr. Guaranteed Home time. $1250 + per wk. & Benefits. Monthly Bonus program usually $500-$650. No-Touch. 855-454-0392 DRIVERS WRECKER DRIVERS Experience Necessary. CDL & non-CDL Join Our Team With Insurance & Benefits Paid Vacation Lance Wrecker Service, Inc. 770-963-5816

classifieds

770-962-SELL

MONROE, GA 30656

LAKE/RIVER/COASTAL PROPERTY FOR SALE

APTS/DUP/CONDOS/ T’HOMES FOR RENT

OXFORD, GA 30054

GWINNETT DUPLEXES

ACREAGE!! 1155 Jim Daws Rd Great 37.132 Acre Tract Zoned A-2, With Nice Hardwoods & Pines Perfect For Livestock, Farming, Hunting, Or Build Your Dream Home $242,000 • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

BEAUTIFUL LAKE LOT! 405 St. Regis Dr. Beautiful 2.76 Acre Lake Lot In The Prestigious St. Regis Neighborhood In Oxford,Ga. Heavily Wooded With Gorgeous Views Of The Lake $48,000 • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

SOUTH CAROLINA, LAKE KEOWEE Waterfront Cottages Gated, Luxury Amenities! Lodge, Pool, Fitness Center, Boat Slips & more. Other New & Resale Cottages From $130’s to $299’s! 1-888-663-1133 www.backwaterlanding. com Office Hours: Fri 8:30-4:00 Sat & Sun By Appointment Only COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR SALE

2 Communities! One on Singleton Rd. & One on Law’villeSuwanee Rd.! 2BR & 3BR, 2BA, Fireplace, vaulted ceilings, off street parking. Starting @ $900/mo. B.C. PROPERTIES 770-446-1550 770-995-8828 ROOMMATE WANTED /ROOM FOR RENT GWINNETT, LAWRENCEVILLE: HOUSEMATE $475 mo. Private entry X-Lrg Room & Closet, micro kit, lounge/dining area. 678-689-8821 text COMMERCIAL RENTALS

If your old stuff is collecting dust, it could be collecting cash!

classifieds 770-962-SELL

REPORTER

Newton, Covington

For Sale or Rent Commercial Property (1324 Sq.Ft.,1.39AC) 10977 Old Atlanta Highway, Covington, GA. 30014. Highest Zoning. Remodeled Building Off I-20 (Best Visibility). Call 805-689-2233. No soliciting.

CLAYTON NEWS HAS AN OPENING FOR A GOVERNMENT REPORTER EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. The reporter will be responsible for covering Clayton County Board of Commission and the county’s municipalities. Other duties include features in Clayton and Henry counties and photography. The position requires night hours and occasionally weekend events.

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

LAWRENCEVILLE RECORDING STUDIO SPACE AVAILABLE Office/Warehouses 1200 up to 18000 sf Mike 404-375-5438.

•Dialysis Tech in 3 mo. •PCT •Pharmacy Tech •Medical Assistant *Payment plans available Snellville CALL TODAY 770-912-3306

Little

Ads

Big Results

Near Mall of GA. 5BR/3.5BA, S/T, Ivy Green Subd. Fplc., dbl. gar., 3,233 sq. ft. $1700/mo. + dep. 678-227-4405

Candidates who live locally in the Southern Crescent are also preferred. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Send cover letters and resumes to Editor Kathy Jefcoats at kjefcoats@news-daily.com.

301892-1

SELL YOUR HOME

MEDICAL

Willow Wood Nursing

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR • Full time Admin Assistant needed. Must have experience in payroll and accounts payable. Good customer service and computer skills, filing, organizing and answering phones. 8:30-5:00 p.m. Mon - Fri., some weekends. • LPN and RN’s needed days and evening for charge nurse positions • C.N.A.’s needed days and evenings APPLY IN PERSON: 4595 Cantrell Rd. Flowery Branch Email Resumes to: sjones@sterling-health. com

OR CALL: 770-967-2070

Reach over 1 ⁄4 million readers every Sunday

770-962-SELL ANYTHING IN CLASSIFIEDS Gwinnett Daily Post gwinnettdailypost.com

WANTED TO RENT Single Male, 68, clean, quiet, seeking a large room, rooms, or efficiency apartment with full bathroom that only I will be using and cleaning. Unrestricted kitchen privileges and laundry machine privileges are required. No drugs, drama, drunks. Call 470-248-5275 and listen carefully to my message. Gwinnett/South Hall or Jackson area.

FULL TIME

GWINNETT, BUFORD

MEDICAL FRONT BILLING/ MEDICAL ASSISTANT Must have at least 2 yrs. exp in a physician’s office. Email CV to humanresources@ gwinnettclinic.com or fax to 770-573-6759.

WANTED FOR RENT

HOUSES FOR RENT

The Clayton News is an award-winning community newspaper that produces quality print reporting every Wednesday and Saturday, and digital reporting every day through our website and social media. Check out our website at www.news-daily.com. Come join our staff in putting out the best local news south of Atlanta. Applicants must have a four-year college degree, preferably in journalism or mass communications. Experience is preferred, even at the college level, but this is a perfect position for a graduate eager to set the journalism world on fire. A knowledge of local government and basic politics will put a candidate over the rest.

BECOME A NURSING ASSISTANT IN 3 WEEKS!

If your old stuff is collecting dust, it could be collecting cash!

404-670-3087 FARMS, LOTS & ACREAGE FOR SALE

TRAINING/ SCHOOLS

DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED NOW! Train to drive for US Xpress. $800/week + Benefits! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! CDL & Job Ready in ASAP! US Xpress can cover CDL Training program! Call for details!

1-866-862-0484

PRODUCTION MANAGER Mid-size Sheet Metal Manufacturer in Conyers seeking Production Manager. This is a permanent, full-time position with benefits. Must have 2+ years experience to be considered. Contact Tammy Porter at 770-483-0055 for more information. Shuttle Drivers: CDL-A 1 yr exp. Dedicated lane from Pendergrass to Gainesville. Benefits/ insurance after 90 days. 18.00/ hr, 8 hrs shifts. Call Eric or Victoria 256-432-3944 WAREHOUSE F/T Multiple Positions:

• SHIPPING • SEAMSTRESS Exp. pref. Apply in person M-Th, 9-3. 775 Tipton Industrial Dr., Suite A, Lawrenceville, GA 30046

Volunteer V olunteer for the Mitsubishi Electric Classic! Go behind the scenes of a Champions Tour golf tournament by joining our volunteer team. Where else can you keep score for a golf legend or walk 18 holes with Miguel Angel Jimenez, Fred Couples, and Ber nhard Langer? With over 25 committees to choose from, you’re sure to have a great time! For more information and to register, please visit

www.MitsubishiElectricClassic.com/ www .MitsubishiElectricClassic.com/ volunteer

10B • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

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community

gwinnettdailypost.com

SECTION C • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

BRIDGE OVER PRECIOUS WATER

The bridge over the Chattahoochee River along Ga. Highway 20 near Sugar Hill was deconstructed on Nov. 6. (Photo: David Welker)

New structure arises over Chattahoochee on Ga. 20 By Curt Yeomans

MORE ONLINE

curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com

Taking down a bridge is no easy task, especially when it crosses a protected environmental asset and natural resource. Drivers on Ga. Highway 20 have spent the last few months watching the prolonged and laborious work it takes. Each day, as they go to and from their jobs, their homes and shopping destinations, they have passed Georgia Department of Transportation crews methodically taking apart the 68-year-old bridge that used to carry traffic across the Chattahoochee River. “The piece-by-piece removal is to ensure the demolition debris does not get into the river,” GDOT spokeswoman Teri Pope said. “The Chattahoochee is a precious resource that GDOT is required to protect. The methodical demolition also ensures the new structure is not damaged.” The state brought the bridge down to make way

Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for a photo gallery.

The Georgia Department of Transportation released the above left aerial photo of the old and new Ga. Highway 20 bridges standing next to each other in October, shortly before demolition work began on the old bridge. GDOT’s Northeast Georgia office posted the above right aerial photo of the bridge replacement on its Facebook page in late November. (Special Photos)

for the second half of a new bridge that fits into ongoing plans to widen the highway into a fourlane route. So far the work has focused on making a 7.53-mile stretch in Gwinnett and Forsyth counties from Peachtree Industrial Boulevard near Sugar Hill, to Samples Road in Cumming, into a four-lane divided highway. Earlier this month, the state announced it has secured additional funding, through the state’s Trans-

portation Funding Act of 2015, to widen a 24-mile stretch from Cumming to Interstate 575 in Cherokee County. “(Ga.) 20 is an important corridor not only for people trying to safely get to and from work, but also for businesses moving their goods,” state Sen. Michael Williams, R-Cumming, said in a statement. “We are indeed grateful that this project can be delivered with state funding instead of fed-

eral.” The existing roadwork has been important to Gwinnett County officials, who announced on Dec. 15 that they are beginning construction on the last part of their portion of the widening work. The new construction work by the county will add two lanes between Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Arbor View, and the work is expected to be finished by the end of next year, according to county of-

ficials. In a statement, county Commissioner Jace Brooks called the widening “good business and smart planning” for the Sugar Hill area, adding that traffic is expected to grow over the next two decades and eventually hit 50,000 vehicles per day. “We are excited to reach another milestone in this construction,” Brooks said. “The cooperation between Gwinnett County, Sugar Hill, the Georgia

DOT and Forsyth County will make a real difference for drivers along this roadway.” At the same time, the widening has given state officials an opportunity to install a new bridge over the Chattahoochee River which meets modern design standards. It has taken time to reach this point, though. Before demolition work could begin on the old bridge, one-half of the new bridge had to be built and open to traffic. That bridge opened days before demolition work began on the old one in early October. “When complete, it will be one bridge structure but we have to build it one half at a time so traffic has lanes to use during construction,” Pope said. So how does one demolish a bridge? When the work began

See BRIDGE, Page 2C

Meet the

Ambassador of Laughter

Sunday, Jan 10 • 1-3:00 pm •

at Mall of Georgia

Bring the family, bring the kids, bring Grandma and experience the fun of the circus!

• Ticket giveaways every 15 minutes • Grand prize giveaway at 3:00 pm • See Ambassador of Laughter, Rob Ringling, clown around, perform balancing acts and participate in social silliness. • Fun free activities, clown noses & more! 300600-2

For show tickets, go to Ringling.com • Feb 10-15 at Philips Arena • Feb 18-28 at Infinite Energy Arena (formerly The Arena at Gwinnett Center)

2C • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2015

Bridge

•From Page 1C during the first full week of October, the old bridge had already been closed off to traffic but it still had the traditional look of a bridge. It had a two-lane driving surface with thick concrete railings and it was supported by even thicker concrete supports. While the word “demolition” can bring to mind the sounds of loud crashes, either from the swinging of a wrecking ball or the collapsing of concrete after an implosion, it was the exact opposite in this case. The kickoff came with a buzz instead of a bang, and that buzzing sound came from saws crews used to cut the concrete surface into 10-foot pieces. At the time, Pope explained the cutting was the first step in making concrete surface removal process. “It was solid concrete,” Pope said while explaining why the bridge was cut up. “It was too big and heavy to come out in big sections.” At the same time, GDOT had to make sure its work didn’t limit recreational access to the Chattahoochee River, or affect its ecosystem because of state and federal laws. That meant the crews couldn’t do anything that created safety hazards for people on the river and had to make sure the water quality wasn’t compromised, Pope said. She added that officials had to work to coordinate with the Army Corps of Engineers to be prepared for water releases and power generation schedules. Part of those efforts to address issues with the river included testing. “GDOT takes water samples several times a day and monitors weekly water quality reports,” Pope said. Within a couple of weeks, the bridge was literally a shell of its former self as the concrete driving surface had been largely stripped away to reveal the green metal frame that held it up. The only concrete left was the driving surface on the far end of Forsyth side of the bridge and large support columns which still held the frame up. By Halloween, some pieces of the steel frame had been removed on the Gwinnett side and concrete columns along the river banks were being pulled down and torn apart by crews using backhoes with jackhammer bits attached. Within a week, the columns that stood on the Gwinnett side of the river and in the river itself had been removed. One of the few signs that showed a bridge had once stood there was a column on the bank of the river in Forsyth County and a few columns behind it going inland. A few days later — on Election Day — crews were along the river using drills to do excavation work so they could begin installing vertical support

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Crews begin disassembly work on the former vehicle bridge over the Chattahoochee River along Ga. Highway 20 near Sugar Hill on Oct. 7. (Photos: David Welker)

Crews begin disassembly work on the former vehicle bridge over the Chattahoochee River along Ga. Highway 20 near Sugar Hill on Oct. 7.

A support for the bridge over the Chattahoochee River along Ga. Highway 20 near Sugar Hill is knocked down on Oct. 27.

beams, also known as caissons, for the new columns even as some of the old columns still awaited demolition. By the beginning of this month, any trace that the old bridge ever existed was virtually gone. Pope said horizontal concrete beams will be placed on the vertical supports once their concrete has cured and passed strength tests. “Then metal pans get welded in between the beams creating a cavity

for the concrete driving surface to be poured,” Pope said. “Concrete has to cure and be tested after each concrete section is placed.” Now that the heavy lifting, so to speak, is finished on the demolition side, the state is turning its attention to construction of the new bridge. It is expected to take more than a year to complete the construction and GDOT officials hope to open it to traffic by May 31, 2018.

Top, bare steel beams are all that is left of the bridge over the Chattahoochee River along Ga. Highway 20 near Sugar Hill on Oct. 27. Above, the supports of the bridge over the Chattahoochee River along Ga. Highway 20 near Sugar Hill are seen on Nov. 6.

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Crews prepare the framework for a new support of a bridge over the Chattahoochee River along Ga. Highway 20 near Sugar Hill on Nov. 10.

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PET OF THE WEEK

COLLEGE NOTES The following local students were recently inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Columbus State University: Cindy Alston

of Lawrenceville, Jessica Bailey of Lawrenceville, Carrie Moll of Suwanee, Joseph Randazzo of Lawrenceville and Courtney St. John-Wacker of Law-

renceville.

at Belmont University.

Sarah Summerbell was recently inducted into the Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Honor Society

Franklin Miller of Dacula recently graduated from Mercer Law School.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Each week the Gwinnett Daily Post will feature an animal available for adoption at the Georgia SPCA, which is located at 1175 Buford Highway, Suite 109, Suwanee, GA 30024. The hours of operation are Mondays through Fridays 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Sundays 1 until 4 p.m. You can see the rest of the adoptable cats and dogs at www.georgiaspca.org. Georgia is a bundle of love and affection disguised as a medium 3-year-old dog. Her owner surrendered her when he could not afford the surgery on her dewclaws. She is now recovering and looking for a holiday home. Georgia’s adoption fee is $250. She has been spayed, disease tested (dogs testing positive for heartworms are treated; however, we do not add that charge to our adoption fee), given age-appropriate vaccinations, dewormed and is up to date with flea/tick & heartworm prevention. A 24Petwatch microchip will be listed in the adopter’s name and the adopter will receive 30 days of 24PetWatch pet insurance.

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

Gwinnett Daily Post

Community Calendar prints periodically and as space permits. Send items for the Community Calendar to calendar@gwinnettdailypost.com or the Gwinnett Daily Post, P.O. Box 603, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.The fax number is 770-339-8081. Please include event name, time and date, location, with address, phone number and cost. Deadline is two weeks prior to the event.

more information, visit gwinnettmastergardeners.com.

Jan. 30

Georgia Fitness and the city of Suwanee will host their second annual Suwanee Gateway Half Marathon at 7:30 a.m. The race will be run on multiple roads throughout Suwanee. Registration is $75. For more information and to register, visit active.com.

Dec. 31

The First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville presents its 10th annual Flashlight 5K with the race beginning at 6 p.m. All proceeds of the event benefit the Family Promise of Gwinnett County, and guests are encouraged to bring a canned food item to benefit the Lawrenceville Co-Op. The First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville is located at 395 W. Crogan St. in Lawrenceville. For more information, visit fumclv.org.

Jan. 18

Gwinnett County Master Gardeners Association is featuring Joe Lamp’l at its next meeting with lunch at noon and the meeting at 12:30 p.m. Joe Lamp’l will present his Growing a Greener World series. The event will take place at the Bethesda Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road in Lawrenceville. For

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Ongoing

Affordable Care Act Information Representatives from the Hispanic Health Coalition will provide information about the Affordable Care Act from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday in the lobby of the Norcross Human Services Center, 5030 Georgia Belle Court in Norcross. For more information, visit gwinnettnhsc.com or call 678-225-5400. Live music The Speakeasy at Adam’s Restaurant in Buford hosts live music at 8:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays at 15 E. Main St. in Buford. For more information, visit www.facebook. com/SpeakeasyUndergroundClub or call 678-745-0379. Art Classes for Seniors There will be free amateur art classes for seniors offered from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. every first and third Monday at the Buford Human Services Center, 2755 Sawnee Ave. in Buford. For more information, visit gwinnettbhsc.com or call 770-614-2526. Free Writing Groups Meetings for aspiring novelists will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every first and third Tuesday at the Centerville Community Center, 3025 Bethany Church Road in Snellville. For

more information, visit centervillecommunitycenter.com or call 770-985-4713.

more information, call 678887-0425 or visit newdawntheatercompany.com.

Computer Classes for Adults Basic computer classes for adults are offered from 9 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday at the Norcross Human Services Center, 5030 Georgia Belle Court in Norcross. For more information, visit gwinnettnhsc.com or call 678-225-5400.

Caregiver Meetings MeSun Home Hospice and Hospice Care Unit host group meetings for any caregiver 10 to 11 a.m. the third Tuesday of every month at MeSun Hospice, 88 Johnson Road in Lawrenceville. For more information call 770-623-2710 or contact amcwilliams@ mesunhospice.com

Computer Classes for Seniors Basic computer classes for seniors ages 60-plus are offered from 9 to 11 a.m. every Thursday at the Norcross Human Services Center, 5030 Georgia Belle Court in Norcross. For more information, visit gwinnettnhsc.com or call 678-225-5400. DivorceCare This 13-week divorce help series will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday beginning Aug. 5 in the Library of the Education Building at McKendree United Methodist Church, 1570 Lawrenceville Suwanee Road in Lawrenceville. For more information, call 770-339-9801 or email nancy.m.rowland@gmail.com. Thirsty Thursday Restaurants and local shops will be offering specials at the city of Duluth’s Thirsty Thursday from, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday at 3087 Main St. in Downtown Duluth. For more information, call 770476-3434 or visit duluthga.net. Harriet’s House New Dawn Theater will present “Harriet’s House” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday every Thursday through Sunday at New Dawn Theater, 3087 Main Street in Duluth. Admission is $12-$15. For

Auburn Farmers Market The city of Auburn will host a farmers market every Wednesday through November with home grown vegetables and fruits, homemade jams, jellies and breads from 2 to 6 p.m. in Downtown Auburn in the large pavilion at R. H. Burel Park. For more information, visit cityofauburn-ga.org. Lawrenceville LIVE! on the Square The city of Lawrenceville will host Lawrenceville LIVE! on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 9 p.m. Restaurants in the downtown area will offer special deals and promotions and there will be live music throughout the streets. For more information, visit facebook.com/cityoflawrenceville. Wanderings Art photographer Anne Nettles presents a showing of all her photos from around the world titled “Wanderings” through Jan. 6. Her works are on display at the Gallery at St. Edwards Episcopal Church to show the beauty she has captured from across the globe. St. Edward’s Episcopal Church is located at 737 Mood Road in Lawrenceville. For more information, visit luv2wander.com or call 770963-6128.

NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS

GEORGIA DOME

JAN. 9 & MAR. 5

Buy Tickets: ticketmaster.com • 800-745-3000 • Venue Box Office

Name: _________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________ Phone: _______________ Email: __________________________

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Mail your complete entry form to GDP/MonsterJam PO Box 603. Lawrenceville, GA 30046 or visit gwinnettdailypost.com/contests to enter at Contest Central. No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years old or older to enter. Sponsor and their families are not eligible. All entries must be completely filled out to be eligible. Void where prohibited & restricted by law. Entries must be received by December 31, 2015. Winners will be notified. Please send me more information on Monster Jam or Feld Entertainment.

Gwinnett residents will have plenty of opportunities to ring in the New Year at celebrations all across the county. Here is a list of some of the New Year’s Eve events that will take place in and around Gwinnett on Dec. 31. • A New Year’s Eve Comedy Bash will feature Mia Jackson. Jackson will take the stage at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at the Atlanta Comedy Theater, located at 4650 Jimmy Carter Blvd. in Norcross. Tickets range from $39 to $349. For more information, visit atlcomedytheater.com. • The city of Duluth will hold its annual New Year’s Eve Extravaganza, a free, familyfriendly event to celebrate the new year. There will be games, live music, food and fireworks. The event will be held from 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on the Duluth Town Green and Main Street. • The city of Lawrenceville will hold its New Year’s Eve Celebration from 7:30 p.m. to midnight on the Lawrenceville Square. The free event will feature family-friendly fun and fireworks. • Stone Mountain Park is hosting an early New Year’s Eve celebration at the Crossroads. Stone Mountain Christmas activities will be offered from 2 to 9 p.m. and then visitors can ring in the New Year with additional fireworks, snowfall and an early countdown that begins at 8:59 p.m. For more information, visit www.StoneMountainPark. com.

• Eddie Owen Presents will host a New Year’s Eve Celebration featuring The Elgin Wells Group at the Red Clay Music Foundry, located at 3116 Main St. in Duluth. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets for the event are available at eddieowenpresents.com. • Rock 100.5 will host the Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Bootlegger’s Ball, featuring Jason Bailey and Southside Steve. The event will take place from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Tannery Row Ale House, located at 554 W. Main St. in Buford. Additional bands will perform, and food, dancing and raffle prizes will be available. Tickets can be purchased for $25 at tanneryrowalehouse.com. • Dancing4fun will host a New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party from 7:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast, located at 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Peachtree Corners. The event will feature a dinner and several different dance rooms. For more information, visit facebook.com/NewYearsEvePartyAtlanta. • The city of Lawrenceville will hold its annual Flashlight 5K, beginning at 1st United Methodist Church Lawrenceville, located at 395 W. Crogan St.. Registration is at 4 p.m. and running begins at 6 p.m. Runners are invited to bring headlamps or flashlights. • Wild Bill’s will host a New Year’s Eve concert featuring Colt Ford and Joe Hall at 8 p.m. The concert is for ages 18

and older, and tickets are $30 to $50. Wild Bill’s is located at 2075 Market Street in Duluth. For more information, visit facebook.com/wildbillsatlanta. • Chateau Elan Winery and Resort is hosting Midnight in Paris on New Year’s Eve from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. The celebration will feature an opulent roaring ’20s event featuring premium cocktails, champagne toast, four-course dinner with wine service and live music. For more information, visit www.chateauelan.com. • Fernbank Museum of Natural History will host a New Year’s Eve celebration for families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a dinosaur photo stop, a resolution station, dancing and games with DJ Willy Wow and a balloon drop with 2,000 balloons at the stroke of noon. The Museum is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org. • The Children’s Museum of Atlanta will host a Noon Year’s Eve celebration from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be special guests, a dance party, bubble-wrap firecrackers and some new surprises. Noon Year’s Eve is included with the cost of admission. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets early. Museum members are always free but are strongly encouraged to reserve their space to guarantee they can attend. Arrive by 11 a.m. for entry. For more information, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

RESTAURANT SCORES Restaurant Address......................................................Score Gang Nam Cafe 6005 Buford Highway, Norcross..................... 85 La Quinta Inn 2370 Stephens Center Drive, Duluth............. 83 Oyster Bay Seafood Cafe 125 Crogan St., Lawrenceville....................... 96 Poblanos Mexican Grill 1319 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville............. 67 Hi Life Restaurant 3380 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross......... 91 McCray’s Tavern 100 North Perry St., Lawrenceville.............. 100 Sabri Kabab House 6075 Singleton Road, Norcross..................... 90

Restaurant Address......................................................Score Autumn Leaves of Sugarloaf 1475 Satellite Blvd., Suwanee....................... 91 Hammerheads Seafood and Sports Grille 415 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee..... 82 Peking Chinese Restaurant 360 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee..... 90 Country Pepper 686 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee... 100 Tony’s Sports Bar and Grill 2590 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Duluth........ 92 Studio Movie Grill 3850 Venture Drive, Duluth............................ 94 Chick-fil-A at Pike Street 680 Duluth Highway, Lawrenceville............. 100

television

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