January 5, 2017 — Gwinnett Daily Post

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Gwinnett Daily Post FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

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Vol. 48, No. 49

Community supporting detective in cancer fight

BY ISABEL HUGHES isabel.hughes@gwinnettdailypost.com

Coming up

Top left, Dacula residents Kimberly Sharp, left, and her father, Paul Sharp, pose for a photo at the Rose Bowl. Bottom left, Norcross grad Erin Wilbanks Masters, left, poses for a Rose Bowl photo with her sister-in-law, Amanda Masters. Above, Brookwood teacher Roger Parham, right, poses for a Rose Bowl photo with his family. (Special Photos)

ROSES “

BY WILL HAMMOCK

We’re not promised tomorrow in this lifetime, so to be able to do something with my daughter that she’s always wanted to do was super special. I’m glad I’m healthy enough to be able to share it with her. It’s something she’ll never forget and something I’ll never forget, either.”

will.hammock @gwinnettdailypost.com

In its current setup, the College Football Playoff forces fans into a dilemma. Georgia fans can attest to that.

Diehards were left with options, rather expensive ones, in recent weeks. Up first was a pricey ticket to the Southeastern Conference Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and a Bulldogs victory over Auburn only upped the stakes.

The Bulldogs had a College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Rose Bowl against Oklahoma, and ticket prices weren’t outrageous, though last-minute flights were costly. Some fans opted to spend money on the trip to Pasadena, Calif., while others chose to save up for tickets the title game a week later in Atlanta’s posh, new stadium.

Those willing to spend more could do both, but at a hefty price. The cheapest tickets to Monday’s championship game, as of Thursday afternoon, were around $1,300 each on StubHub. One suite ticket is listed at $123,000, then the price drops to the $15,000 range for lower

Local UGA fans enjoy trip of a lifetime to Pasadena for playoff game

— Paul Sharp, , Georgia fan who went to the Rose Bowl with his daughter, Kimberly

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Smart gets chance to face former boss Saban for title ...................1B

attended games in earnest after level seats.

Locals who made the Rose college when she purchased “It is a shame the price is so Bowl journey weren’t disapseason tickets. From there, she much the average Joe can’t pull pointed by their trip, the game or joined her father Paul Sharp at the trigger (and buy tickets), the final score. home games, tailgating in the lot but it is what it is,” Brookwood “I’m so glad we did it,” said at a local Methodist church and teacher and coach Roger Parham Norcross grad Erin Wilbanks munching on sandwiches from said. “I’m already eating bread Masters, who made the trip Cookies and Co., a downtown and water until June (for the with her sister-in-law. “It was an eatery that closed in 2009.

Rose Bowl trip).” amazing experience.

“When Coach (Mark) Richt Parham, his wife, his two came on board and the team sons and his son’s fiancee chose Football buddies started winning all the time, the Rose Bowl trip over the title Dacula resident Kimberly (tickets) became too pricey for game, as did several others from Sharp is one of four siblings and, us, so we wound up watching Gwinnett County. He plans to she admits, the least likely to be from afar together,” Kimberly watch the championship game a college football fan.

Sharp said. “We would try to hit with friends rather than pay an Her two brothers were atha couple of games a year, but we exorbitant amount for tickets. letes. Her sister was a Georgia watched games on TV still. (My The allure of a trip to Califor- Girl, the hosts charged with dad’s) my football buddy.” nia for the Rose Bowl was too making football recruits feel at The Sharps have a Georgia much for Georgia fans to pass home in Athens. But the biggest room in their home — featuring up, given the historic venue and supporter of the bunch is a media plenty of autographs, helmets the rare chance for an SEC team specialist at Ivy Creek Elemenand photographs — where they to play there. Georgia’s last, and tary School in Buford. typically watch games. Paul and only prior, appearance in the The Central Gwinnett alum his wife of 50 years relocated Grandaddy of Them All — a went to games as a Georgia to Florida for a 10-year period nickname because it is college student — she earned her under- because of his sales job, but after football’s oldest bowl — was in graduate degree in 1993 and a See ROSE BOWL, Page 2A 1943. master’s degree in 1994 — but

Unlike most battling Stage IV metastasized stomach cancer, Victor Cortez laughs, peppering jokes into the storytelling of his diagnosis.

“I originally went to the hospital for pneumonia and it just wasn’t going away,” he said. “I’d gone to the doctor before and they’d pumped me full of medicine, but it was of those things where I Victor was like, ‘I’ve got to go to Cortez the doctor again because I’m just not getting better.’ I went and they did some tests and a lung biopsy and came back and said I had lung cancer, and I was like ‘That’s bull, I don’t even smoke.’ That was one of those things that actually made me really upset; the rest of it I’m just taking as it (comes).”

Briefly somber, the humor in Cortez’s voice quickly returns, the 35-year-old father of two determined to stay positive as he See DETECTIVE, Page 8A

Motorist dies as result of police chase Officers were pursuing suspected stolen vehicle

BY ISABEL HUGHES isabel.hughes@gwinnettdailypost.com

A high-speed police chase through Duluth killed a motorist Tuesday night after police said the man they were after lost control of his vehicle and struck the motorist after fleeing a traffic stop.

About 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, a Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office deputy, whose vehicle had an automated license plate reader, attempted to pull over 37-year-old Tucker resident William Chiu Jackson on Beaver Ruin Road at its intersection with Satellite Boulevard William Chiu after the reader alerted him Jackson that the vehicle was stolen, according to Deputy Shannon Volkodav, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office.

“The deputy began following the suspect vehicle to confirm the license plate,” Volkodav said. “After doing so, he activated his blue lights in an attempt to pull the vehicle over (but) the suspect vehicle increased speed and the deputy briefly lost sight of See CHASE, Page 2A

Norcross City Council approves design for new library exterior

BY CURT YEOMANS

“Basically, even with the design, in the (intergovernmental agreement), they do have the final approval but Even if it still has a way to go they really wanted us to look at it and before it’s built, the planned new … they want city approval so they can Norcross library branch at Lillian move forward with it,” City Manager Webb Park appears to have an exterior Rudolph Smith told the council. design in place.

Norcross officials are eager to get The Norcross City Council voted the new library built. The idea of unanimously to approve CAS Arbuilding a replacement for the city’s chitecture’s schematic design for the existing library branch has been exterior of the building at its meeting bandied about for at least five years, Wednesday. The joint city-county but it began pick up steam in recent project has been in the works for a years. An agreement between the city while, with the facility set to be built and the county for the project was on the site of the old Plaza Latina approved last summer. building at the corner of Buford HighThe new facility will replace the way and Britt Avenue. existing library. That building is curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com

expected to be turned over to the city, which is expected to move its police department into the facility.

“I’m glad things are finally moving forward with the library,” Mayor Craig Newton said. “I think this is a much-anticipated project by not only Norcross but the entire county, because this is going to be one of the stellar libraries that have been put in place over the last 15 years.”

Newton said about 1,000 people visit the existing library daily, and that there is limited space to meet the needs of that many visitors. The new library will have 22,000 square feet of This exterior design schematic shows the planned new Nor-

cross library building from the corner of Buford Highway and

See LIBRARY, Page 2A Britt Avenue. (Special Photo)

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Library

•From Page 1A

plaza area and a outside staircase that descends from the plaza to space — twice the size of the exist- Buford Highway. ing library branch — with parking A site plan shows the library will on a lower deck under the facility. take up the Plaza Latina footprint It will feature a community room as well as some of the footprint of as well as larger computer services, Bostic Avenue, which means it will creative projects and interactive directly connect to Lillian Webb program areas, the mayor said.

Park.

Newton also said the new library’s The design illustrations have had larger space will provide more Norcross officials, including new room for computer research and councilmen who came into office reading areas. this week, excited for a while.

“We’re really looking forward “I think it’s pretty neat looking,” to this,” he said. “This is going to new Councilman Chuck Paul told be a gateway to our downtown and the Daily Post after he was sworn its going to be a pivotal point for in Tuesday. “It’s very different Buford Highway and we know from downtown. Downtown is that it’s going to be an amenity that 100-years-old-plus. This is very will help spur additional economic sleek looking. I think it will help development there on Buford transform Buford Highway — at Highway.” least our section of it.

In addition to the parking under“Buford Highway will never be neath the library, the exterior of the downtown Norcross or vice versa, building will include a modern de- but I think we can do some neat sign with a glass wall facing Lillian things on Buford Highway.”

Webb Park. The design illustrations Meanwhile, Mayor Pro Tem presented to the City Council show Andrew Hixson offered thanks a covered patio area, an open air to county Commissioner Lynette

they decorate (the floats) •From Page 1A and it was phenomenal. We retirement they moved in got a ticket to go to into the with Kimberly. He also has a barns where they were being woodworking shop near the worked on. It smelled heavsports room. enly. Walking in, you’re just “You’ve heard of kids who overcome by flowers. It was come back and move in with just lovely to be able to walk their parents; this was the around and see the floats up parents coming back to live close. The Rose Bowl was on with the kids,” the 72-yearour bucket list to make sure old said. we got to one day, and so When Georgia’s semifinal was the parade. We just had destination was announced, to go.”

Kimberly Sharp was at her After the parade, they niece’s gymnastics meet hustled to the Rose Bowl for and immediately discussed pregame festivities. There a Rose Bowl trip with her was no time for tailgating, father. She scrolled through just the main event. her phone, gauging prices, “The atmosphere was and the two eventually talked electric,” Kimberly Sharp themselves out of it. said. “We were just so A couple of days later, excited. We knew there they changed their minds. were a lot of Georgia fans in “It was 3:30 in the morntown because everybody we ing and I sat up straight in passed on the street said, ‘Go bed and said, ‘We’re going,’” Dawgs.’ It was like the SEC said Sharp, in her 22nd year commercial, where you walk in education and 11th at Ivy by and hear ‘Go Dawgs’ all Creek. the time. My whole time in She made all the plans in college in Athens, I don’t the middle of the night and think I said it as many times left her father the details as I did that weekend.” along with a short note: A Georgia victory only “Let’s go make a memory.” made the experience sweeter, The trip worked out and the father-daughter time perfectly with a layover in for the football buddies was Denver, where they visited priceless. family, and then time for “We’re not promised sightseeing in and around tomorrow in this lifetime, so Pasadena last weekend. That to be able to do something included not only watching with my daughter that she’s the Tournament of Roses always wanted to do was Parade on game day, but also super special,” Paul Sharp a tour of the floats and their said. “I’m glad I’m healthy construction. enough be able to share it “We went to the parade, with her. It’s something she’ll which was fantastic,” Kimnever forget and something berly said. “We went the day I’ll never forget, either.” before to the place where Norcross connection

Howard, commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash and county staff for working with the city on the project.

The city’s other new councilman, Dan Watch, was ready to get started on construction Wednesday.

Watch, who is an architect himself, asked if the city could get the library project fast tracked.

“The reason why I say that is that this is impacting a lot of children and it’s very important to them and I think we should do our best to get this available to the community as quickly as we can since we’re at this point,” Watch said.

While other Norcross officials share Watch’s eagerness to get the library built, Smith said the city was limited by the fact that the intergovernmental agreement between the city and county laid out a timeline for the design and construction process. Bids for construction, which will be handled by the county, is one step that must still be completed.

Rose Bowl

While Sony Michel’s game-winning touchdown in double overtime set the Bulldog fans at the Rose Bowl into a frenzy, the 54-48 win included a memorable moment from a Gwinnettian, Norcross grad Lorenzo Carter.

Carter leapt to block Oklahoma’s field goal attempt to open the second overtime, greatly increasing the chances of a UGA win.

Sitting in that end zone was Masters, soaking up the moment as a Bulldog and bragging that Carter also played high school football for her alma mater.

“Because I’m a Norcross grad, I was super excited because Lorenzo Carter blocked the kick,” said Masters, who played basketball and softball for the Blue Devils. “I’ve never met him, but I heard he’s a great kid and super nice. …

Then where we were in that end zone with all action, we saw (Michel) running into the end zone and we knew that was it. We stayed in the stands for 30 more minutes watching everything on the field and nobody on Georgia’s side left. Everybody on the Georgia side was still there, the band was rocking. … We did not go out after the game, though. We’re old moms, so we went back to our rooms, ordered food and watched the rest of the Alabama-Clemson game.”

That two moms ditched their husbands and children for the Rose Bowl was entertaining to everyone they

encountered.

Both Masters and her sister-in-law, Amanda Masters, are big Georgia fans who are regulars at home games thanks to season tickets.

They joined their husbands at the SEC Championship Game, and Amanda’s husband later surprised her with a pair of Rose Bowl tickets.

As Amanda and her husband thought about the trip, they decided to sell the tickets because they have two young children at home, a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old.

Amanda ditched those plans and chose the Rose Bowl trip, inviting her sister-in-law for the journey.

Erin didn’t think twice when she got the offer.

“My husband just asked me if I would rather go on (a) spring break (trip) with the kids or to the title game,” said the mother of a 7-yearold and 3-year-old. “I told him, ‘This is a no-brainer for me. We can go to the beach during the summer.’”

Her UGA football journey may not be over, either.

Masters made previous plans to run the Disney Marathon this Sunday, but switched her flight home from Monday to Sunday evening to make it back for Monday’s championship game. She is in search of a ticket for the showdown with the Alabama Crimson Tide, but likely will attend with her husband this time because her sister-in-law has to work.

The ladies already made their memories in Pasadena, where they watched one of the greatest games in Bull-

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“People liked that we just came out by ourselves,” Erin said. “They saw us both wearing wedding bands, talked to us and asked us where our husbands were.

We said, ‘Oh, we totally left them at home.’ People thought our story was funny.”

just pull the trigger and do it.’ The whole trip was nice.

Every flight was on time.

The weather was great. We got to see what we wanted to see, we got to see the game and we got to see the Dawgs win. It was a great trip.”

The Parhams checked another item off the mustsee list when they watched the Rose Bowl parade.

From there, they went to Family outing a pregame tailgate and to A bowl trip was planned the stadium, encountering for the Parhams before the familiar faces along the way SEC Championship Game from their time in Gwinnett was played. Roger Parham and as Georgia season ticketasked his two sons, Mill Creek High grads Casey and holders — they have bought Austin, if they would rather those yearly since the 2001 season, when South Gwinpay a heavy price for an SEC title game ticket or wait nett’s David Greene became the Georgia quarterback to see what was next. (both Parham and his wife They held out, watched are South grads, and Parham Georgia beat Auburn on coached Greene in high TV and began planning a school baseball there).

California vacation.

They ran into one Mill While the Rose Bowl was the ultimate destination, the Creek student at an In-NOut Burger restaurant, and family, along with Casey’s fiancee, flew into San Fran- another sat near them at cisco, rented a car and drove the Rose Bowl game. Mill down the coast on California Creek football coach Shannon Jarvis made the trip, as Route 1, better known as did one of Parham’s former the Pacific Coast Highway. baseball assistants, Todd From the San Francisco Benton. A few members of sights to to Half Moon Bay to Carmel-by-the-Sea to Big the Snell family went, as did Sur to Pebble Beach, it was a some of Parham’s current colleagues at Brookwood, scenic drive. like Dale Moore (whose son “We packed a lot of stuff Nick plays for the Bulldogs) into it,” Parham said. “The and Dylan Lockwood. He Rose Bowl’s a bucket list even ran into his studentthing anyway, but we made more out of it. … When we teacher from last year on the Santa Monica Pier. were deciding (whether to “There were just boatgo), I told my wife, ‘Honey, loads of (Georgia) people we don’t have memories out there,” Parham said. sitting in the den watching As for the game, that TV. Maybe sitting around turned out pretty well, too. It the Christmas tree, but not was the perfect ending to a watching TV.’ I said, ‘Let’s perfect trip.

“As a Georgia fan, a lifeThe long Georgia fan and season ticket-holder, this was one of Audiology Center those events where you lose of Snellville the game and you still say it was a great trip,” Parham Providing personalized hearing healthcare that said. “But that game, you connects you to your family and your world. really want to win that one.

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Chase

fleeing or attempting to elude, improper right turn, aggressive it. As he followed the suspect’s driving, failure to obey signs or direction of travel, he rounded control devices, willful obstruca corner and observed that the tion of law enforcement officers vehicle had crashed into another and several other reckless driving motorist. The suspect quickly charges, is being held at the detenexited the vehicle and fled into tion center without bond. nearby woods.”

In addition to the Gwinnett The motorist, who was identicharges, he is also wanted by the fied as 51-year-old Jose Paname- East Point Police Department for failure to appear on an obstruction no of Norcross, died after being charge, the DeKalb County Shertransported to a local hospital. iff’s Office for failure to appear “(Panameno) was the sole for second degree burglary and the occupant of the vehicle when Cook County Sheriff’s Office for it was struck after Mr. Jackson theft by taking. lost control of his vehicle, went Volkodav said Thursday the over a paved median and struck sheriff’s office extended its conMr. Panameno’s vehicle on the dolences to the Panameno family. driver’s side, pinning it against “As law enforcement officers, the guardrail,” Volkodav said. “He we dedicate ourselves to predied from his injuries. (Jackson) was later captured by responding serving human life,” she said.

Gwinnett County Police units and “This tragedy could have easily been avoided if Mr. Jackson had was transported without incident simply been willing to face the to the Gwinnett County Jail.”

Jackson, who was charged with consequences of his actions. Our thoughts and prayers are with the first degree homicide by vehicle, Panameno family.” murder, theft by conversion, •From Page 1A

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gwinnettdailypost.com To Your Good Health

today

0%

Keith Roach

Measuring the significance of a cardiac calcium score DEAR DR. ROACH: I would like to know about the interpretation of the cardiac calcium test. My husband and I (both 74 years old) had this test and got scores in the 74th and 77th percentiles, respectively. Our cardiologist did not seem very impressed with the test or our scores, and said the results may mean a 5 percent chance of a heart event each year. He indicated that this was low, especially since we had both done quite well on our stress tests, which we take annually as part of our general checkup of cardiac health.

After doing a lot of online research, we could not find anything we could do proactively to reduce our scores except lose weight (both of us have very reasonable body weight) and increase aerobic exercise. Although we both are quite active and eat well, we do not exercise aerobically, just motion and stretching exercises. May I stop worrying about the 5 percent chance a year of a heart event?

— M.L. ANSWER: Five percent per year is an absolute number, but my interpretation may be different from your cardiologist’s. He seems to think it’s OK, but I think 5 percent is too high, and I would encourage you to make what changes you can.

Eating well is a great goal, but most people are able to improve their heart disease risk further through diet. It’s becoming clear that a diet based mostly on plants and legumes, with nuts, some fruits, whole grains and almost no refined sugars and starches, reduces heart disease risk. I believe that a diet including fatty fish has low heart disease risk compared with a vegan diet, but others disagree and the evidence is not absolute.

There are many stressreduction techniques that are helpful for people with high stress.

A statin drug and aspirin would be recommended for nearly all people with calcium scores like you have.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband loves a long soak in the bathtub, so I have made him many containers of bath salts (plain Epsom salts mixed with essential oils). I use about 2 cups of the salts with a full small bottle of essential oils, packed into a glass jar with a scallop shell for the scoop. The house smells heavenly when he is taking a bath. Since I have been receiving emails lately offering cannabis oil, I wondered if marijuana bath salts would be OK to make. I have no idea what the marijuana bath salts smell like, but I am wondering about the effect of cannabis oil being absorbed by the skin. Would he end up “high”? Just wondering.

Thanks for any information.

— Anon.

ANSWER: Cannabis oil is made from strains of Cannabis sativa, which has variable levels of THC (the substance that causes euphoria, or “high”) and cannabidiol (CBD), which does not and which may have some medicinal uses.

Cannabis oils with high THC generally are not legal in the United States, although high-CBD, low-THC oils have some medicinal uses.

Thus, it’s very unlikely that he would experience any euphoric effect.

HOroscopes

weather watch

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solunar tables The Gwinnett Daily Post (UPSP 921-980, ISSN 10860096) is published Wednesday, Friday and Sunday by SCNI, 725 Old Norcross Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. Periodical postage paid at Lawrenceville, GA 30044. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gwinnett Daily Post, P.O. Box 603, Lawrenceville, GA 30046-0603.

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

Major

3:11-5:11 a.m..............3:38-5:38 p.m.

Minor

9:55-10:55 a.m......... 9:25-10:25 p.m.

pollen counts Trees: Low Weeds: Low Grass: Low

Lake

33

42

36

lake levels Full Yesterday Lake

Full Yesterday

Allatoona..............(840.0)......822.87 Lanier..................(1071.0)....1065.97 Blackshear............(237.0)......236.70 Nottely................(1779.0)....1760.83 Blue Ridge.........(1690.0).... 1667.30 Oconee................(435.0)......435.02 Burton................(1865.0).... 1857.80 Seminole.................(77.5)........76.89 Carters............... (1072.0).... 1071.32 Sinclair.................(339.8)......338.58 Chatuge..............(1927.0).....1917.40 Thurmond............(330.0)...... 321.91 Harding.................(521.0)......520.38 Tugalo....................(891.5)......888.09 Hartwell................(660.0)......650.90 Walter F. George.. (188.0)......188.25 Jackson................(530.0)......528.92 West Point............(635.0)...... 627.97

today in history

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TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1781, British naval forces led by Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold captured and burned Richmond, Va. In 1914, Ford Motor Co. raised basic wages from $2.40 for a nine-hour day to $5 for an eight-hour day.

In 1933, construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay. In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower announced that the U.S. would intervene militarily and economically at the request of other nations in response to the spread of communism.

In 2005, the dwarf planet Eris was discovered.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: King Camp Gillette (1855-1932), safety razor inventor; George Reeves (1914-1959), actor; Jane Wyman (1917-2007), actress; Walter Mondale (1928- ), former

U.S. vice president; Alvin Ailey (19311989), dancer/choreographer; Robert Duvall (1931- ), actor; Umberto Eco (1932-2016), author/philosopher; Juan Carlos (1938- ), former king of Spain; Charlie Rose (1942- ), talk show host; Diane Keaton (1946- ), actress; Bradley Cooper (1975- ), actor; January Jones (1978- ), actress.

TODAY’S FACT: The safety razor was one of the first disposable products ever made.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 2004, Pete Rose admitted to gambling on baseball games while serving as manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Books are not made to be believed, but to be subjected to inquiry. When we consider a book, we mustn’t ask ourselves what it says but what it means ...” — Umberto Eco, “The Name of the Rose”

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Dear Amy: My aunt has a long history of being volatile with the family. She runs very hot and cold. I have very fond memories of her when I was a child. As a young adult, she has been generous toward me.

However, I also know many of these memories have hidden plot lines in which she has bullied my mother (her sister).

About three years ago my stepfather and grandfather died and suddenly my mom had to share a lot of responsibility with my aunt. The stress of caring for my grandma seems to have brought out the worst in my aunt.

It seems that each week she wounds my mother — and my mother is NOT the sensitive type.

We have often just ignored or sidestepped my aunt in order to keep peace in the family. She always keeps at least one sister or cousin as a close ally, which keeps things messy. She responds to criticism or argument with cruelty and insults, and eventually the severing of ties.

I recently got engaged.

I want all of my family members to be there and to be happy. Ideally, I would love for my (once) fun aunt to just be kinder to my mother and brother (she is generally nice to me).

Should I NOT invite her, and risk some other guests (who might be aligned with her at that

assuming that there might have been a mistake or an oversight. If you and Michael have mutual friends, he must have assumed that you would find out about this party.

Say, “Peter told me you were having a party.

I don’t want to pressure you, but I’m feeling a little left out.”

Dear Amy: Thank you for encouraging “Devoted and Caring Parents” to offer her future daughter-in-law some flexibility, understanding and grace around sharing holiday time.

Growing up, my maternal grandparents were divorced, my paternal grandparents still together. The way my father insisted that we split our time rigidly between maternal and paternal, Mom was punished for having divorced parents, and we were punished for having divorced grandparents.

Even as a child, I felt this inequity quite strongly.

— Disappointed Granddaughter Dear Disappointed: Sometimes, strict equity feels quite unfair.

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

Who To Call

Aunt makes niece rethink invite Ask Amy

Amy Dickinson moment) also not coming? Do I call her out on her bullying and risk making things even harder for my mom while caring for her mother — as she will be blamed for raising a bad kid?

Do I continue to pretend I don’t see her being so awful? Help!

— Broken-hearted Niece Dear Niece: Invite your aunt to your wedding. Also, call her out, and do so in a firm, respectful way. The wedding invitation and the calling-out will not be related events, although she will likely conflate them.

If you decide to go ahead, the calling-out should look/sound like this: “Auntie, I have so many fond memories of being with you. Thank you for your generosity toward me over the years.

But now I see you being unkind toward my brother and mother. I’ve looked the other way in the past, but I’m not going to do that anymore. I’d love for you to come to my

wedding, but if you can’t treat my family members with respect, then you might want to stay home.”

Understand that if she is confronted, she will most likely not come to your wedding (cheers!).

Some family members may ally with her. Others will want to host a parade in your honor. You cannot control any of this. But you won’t regret sticking up for your mother.

Dear Amy: I’m confused. A friend, “Michael,” and I work out at a small fitness center every day. We used to work in the same office, and we still occasionally have lunch or coffee and have many mutual friends.

Recently, he sent me a text telling me how glad he is that we’re friends.

The other day a friend asked if I had been invited to Michael’s party. I have not been invited, and the friend that showed me the invitation isn’t as close to Michael as I am.

I’m not really mad; I’m just confused and I feel left out. I haven’t said anything to Michael, and I see him every day.

Any suggestions on how I should handle this?

It doesn’t really make any sense, but I’d like to know why.

— Confused Friend Dear Confused: You see “Michael” every day. Yes, you should say something to him. You should process this by

Greater stability will result if you play by the rules and keep personal matters in order.

Concentrate on your livelihood, ambitions and long-term financial health. Invest in your goals and keep chasing your dreams.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Home improvements should be planned carefully. Boost the comfort and convenience of your everyday life and lower your overhead to ease financial stress. A personal commitment can be made.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Work in unison with others to make your community a better place. Offering help and suggestions will lead to a position of leadership among your peers. Stand up for what’s right.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) — Share your thoughts and stand behind your actions.

Much can be accomplished if you are prepared to follow through with promises you make.

Stick to the truth and forge ahead.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — A social or professional opportunity will be tempting.

Consider the logistics of what’s being offered and think about any consequences that might prevail. Gather the facts.

TAURUS (April 20May 20) — Visit friends or relatives. Taking short trips or engaging in conversations with those who can provide you with a family or community history will be enlightening. Romance will enhance your life.

GEMINI (May 21June 20) — Emotional disillusionment could send you in the wrong direction. Don’t make assumptions or believe everything you hear.

Put your imagination to better use and create something tangible.

CANCER (June 21July 22) — You’ll instinctively know the best way to get what you want.

Take action and physically get involved in helping further a cause you believe in. A romantic gesture will encourage a tighter relationship.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Anger is a waste of time, and productivity is your best alternative.

Success should be your aim, and using your strengths to reach your goal your strategy.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.

22) — Sign up and take part in an event or activity that will get you out of the house and making new acquaintances.

Having fun will give you a new lease on life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Partnerships should be your focus.

Talk over any changes you would like to see happen and offer incentives that will help you get others on board with your way of thinking.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) — You’ll have plenty of good ideas when it comes to your work and ways to get ahead. Those who feel your attention should be elsewhere will not share your enthusiasm.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — You’ll be easily misled by a good talker or someone who doesn’t have all the facts. Ask questions and gather information before you engage in a joint venture.

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

4A • Friday, January 5, 2018

gwinnettdailypost.com

GCPS bus driver facing child molestation charges trevor.mcnaboe @gwinnettdailypost.com

Hugo Dominguez

Officers were notified by Lawrenceville police that they had been contacted in reference to a 7-year-old female alleging she had been touched inappropriately on the school bus by the bus driver,” said Gwinnett County Public

obituaries

Lawrenceville, GA

Marjorie Adams (Wilson) Age 88, passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2017.

Arrangements made by Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel.

Flowery Branch, GA

Mark David Allen Mark D. Allen, age 55, of Flowery Branch passed away on January 3, 2018.

Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA. Auburn

Margie Barnette (Smith) Margie Smith Barnette, age 74, of Auburn, GA passed away Saturday, December 30, 2017. She is survived by her children, Jerral (Dawn) Smith and Cindy (Mark) Jones; grandchildren, Matthew Evans, Emily Sexton, and Skyler Smith; great granddaughter, Samantha Evans; siblings, Linda (Tony) Hill, Vernice Davis, and Dixie (Mike) Moon; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ted Barnette; and siblings, Sue Harvey, David Smith, Harold Smith, and Larry Lamonte. A Memorial Service Honoring the Life of Margie will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 3:00PM at Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chapel. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 1pm -3pm in the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to or viewed at www. wagesfuneralhome.com.

Tom M. Wages Funeral Service LLC, “A Family Company” 120 Scenic Hwy Lawrenceville, GA 770-963-2411.

Loganville

Lou L Brewer Age, 86 of Loganville passed away Jan 1, 2018.

Norcross

Mrs. Joyce Carlson (Kimsey) Mrs. Joyce Kimsen Carlson, age 86 of Norcross.

Evans Funeral Home, Jefferson, Georgia.

Alpharetta, GA

Peter William “Pete” Courville Pete Courville, age 51, of Alpharetta passed away on January 2, 2018. Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA. Snellville

Dorothy McKinney Crunkleton Dorothy McKinney Crunkleton, age 85 of Snellville, GA, passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2018. She is preceded in death by her parents, Nathan & Inez McKinney; and her husband, John Crunkleton.

She is survived by her daughter, Robin Stephens; son-in-law, Keith Stephens; grandchildren, Matt (Cynthia) Stephens, Lorah (Brandon) Hays, and Caroline Stephens; great-granddaughters, Tinsleigh Hays and Ellington Stephens; sister, Agnes Reeser; special cousin, Alice Goodwin; and nieces and nephews, Helen Hedden, Bett Long, Tommy Wright, and Melissa Miller. Dorothy was born and raised in Highlands, NC. She was a loving h d h d

mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. The Visitation to honor and celebrate the life of Dorothy McKinney Crunkleton will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM at Tom M. Wages Snellville Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia www. humanesocietyofnorth eastgeorgia. org. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www. wagesfuneralhome.com.

Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, A Family Company, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, GA 30039 (770-9793200) has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Duluth

Cathy Virginia Guthrie 73, of Duluth, GA died December 30, 2017. Bill Head Funeral Home Duluth Chapel.

H father, John Robert Popps, stepmother Jodie L. Popps, grandfather, John Richard Popps, grandparents, Joseph and Donna Byron, uncle and aunt, Thomas and Celia Popps and cousin Lenny Popps, as well as extended family, many close friends and, past and present co-workers. He was an extremely talented mechanic and audio/visual installer with a following of clientele that will miss him and his abilities greatly. He was a graduate of Prince of Peace, a private school.

A memorial service will be held in his honor on Sunday January 7th, at 2pm, at Sweetwater Memorial Chapel, 1000 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lawrenceville, GA .We invite anyone that wishes to honor John, to please come to the Celebration Of His Life!

Lilburn

Elaine Lanier Porter

Elaine Lanier Porter, 89, passed away January 3rd at Gwinnett Christian Towers in Lilburn where Lawrenceville, GA she had lived for the past decade. Born to Oscar E. Thomas W. Hassert Lanier and Florence Clyde HASSERT - Thomas W. Hobbs on December 26, Hassert, age 72 of Law1928 in Waycross, Elaine renceville, passed away grew up in Macon and laton Wednesday, January 3, er Rome. She was married 2018. Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 PM on the late Everett E. Porter Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Jr. for 17 years and had the Victory Baptist Church four children. Elaine was actively involved with her in Loganville. Pastor children’s activities in the Christopher Anderson, community including the Pastor Derik Lawrence, Cub Scouts and the PTA. and Pastor Bill Bruce will In the late 1960’s, Elaine officiate. Interment will moved to Atlanta and follow at 4 PM at Fairview Memorial Gardens in established Elaine Porter Interiors and had a long Stockbridge. Mr. Hassert taught for over 40 years at lasting career as an interior designer. She loved Faith Christian Academy, her work and the people formerly known as Atshe met and worked with lanta Christian Academy, during her career. Elaine Stone Mountain Chrisis survived by her four tian School, Northeast children, Wayne Porter Atlanta Christian School, (Pam) of Gainesville, and Killian Hill Christian School. There was nothing Elizabeth Royals (Jimmy) of Lilburn, Steve Porter Mr. Hassert loved more (Debbie) of Rome, and than spending time with Everett “Flip” Porter his grandchildren and the students that he taught. He III (Arlene) of Atlanta; and two sisters, Miriam was preceded in death by his Grandchildren: Samuel Hammond of Lafayette and Margie Morris of Lee Kelley & Ella Joy Douglasville; nine grandKelley, and is survived by children and twelve great his Wife of 51 years, Ann grandchildren to whom Hassert of Lawrenceville; she was affectionately Children: Ted & Heather known as “MeMe”. She is Hassert of Raleigh, NC; also survived by cousins, John & Alyssa Hassert of nieces, nephews and their Locust Grove; Kristin & children who she loved Daniel Kelley of Mcand spoke of often. FuDonough; Grandchildren: neral services will be held Hannah & Grace Hasat 2:00 pm Saturday, Janusert, Rebecca, Austin, & ary 6, 2018 at Bill Head Madelaine Hassert, Luke, Funeral Home, Lilburn/ Wade, Emma, & Hope Tucker Chapel, with Rev. Kelley. The family will Wendy Porter Cade offireceive friends from 5 - 8 ciating. In lieu of flowers, PM on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at the Tim Stewart donations may be made to the American Heart AsFuneral Home, 670 Tom sociation. Online condoBrewer Road, Loganville, GA 30052. 770-466-1544. lences may be left at www. billheadfuneralhome.com.

Please sign the online The family will receive guest registry at www. friends on Saturday from stewartfh.com Arrange1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Bill ments by Tim Stewart Head Funeral Homes and Funeral Home, Inc. Crematory, Lilburn/Tucker Buford, GA Chapel, (770) 564-2726.

Schools Executive Director of Communication and Media Relations Sloan Roach. “Our (school resource officers) handled the initial investigation and took out the warrant for the arrest of Mr. Dominguez, charging him with child

Suwanee

James Ernest Roberts ROBERTS - Roberts, James Ernest Roberts age 80, of Suwanee, GA, was granted his angel wings, Friday, December 29, 2017 at his home.

Mr. Roberts was born Covington KY, on March 17, 1937. Jim served our country through the United States Army Reserves and then United States Army. Mr. Roberts worked for 40 years in the food service industry and has worked at Sugarloaf Country club for the last 20 years.Jim was the son of Walter and Elizabeth Roberts; He is survived in death by his three children, Jim Roberts, Kelly McKinney and Paige Gantt. His brothers Greg Roberts, Harold Roberts and sisters Ruth Borrosco and Nancy Hardin. He had five grandchildren, Daniel McKinney, Kendall McKinney, Christina Roberts, Gabriel Gantt and Elizabeth Gantt. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Patricia Roberts. His family has always been his greatest source of pride and he will be greatly missed by them.

Jim donated his body to Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee, GA. Jim wanted his loved ones to gather for a celebration of life, which will take place later. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital may be made in Jim’s honor. https://www. stjude.org - Donation services 800-822-6344.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting www. billheadfuneralhome.com.

Tucker, GA

Mildred Ryder (Peace) age 82, died January 1, 2017. Bill Head Funeral Home, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel.

Auburn, GA

John Robert Popps, II Auburn, Georgia John Robert Popps ll age 42, passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2017. He was preceded in death by his mother, Teresa (Byron) Popps and grandmother, Jeane Popps.

He is survived by his f h h b

Sugar Hill, GA

Ann Pugh Ann Pugh, age 77, of Sugar Hill passed away on January 4, 2018. Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA.

Mr. Smith was a part of many organizations that include being an Assistant Chief to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Reserves, the Blue Knights & NTO. He was preceded in death by; Parents: Ida & Boyd Smith. Mr. Smith is survived by; Wife of 55 years: Jo Ann Yancey Smith of Lawrenceville; Daughter & Son-in-law: Katrina & Christopher Munson of Lawrenceville; Brother: Harold Smith of Snellville; Granddaughters: Samantha Kendrick, Kassidy Vasquez; Grandson: Dylan Munson; Many Loving Nieces & Nephews. The family will receive friends from 2-4PM & 6-8PM on Friday, January 5, 2018 at Tim Stewart Funeral Home300 Simonton Road S.W. Lawrenceville, GA 30046.

770-962-3100. Please leave online condolences at www.stewarth.com.

Lawrenceville, GA

Betty Spicer Betty Spicer, age 90 of Lawrenceville passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2017. Memorial services will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, January 6, 2018 in the Stateroom of Tim Stewart Funeral Home, Lawrenceville.

Pastor John Hadley will officiate. Mrs. Spicer is preceded in death by her sons, Jonathan Spicer & Timothy Spicer, and 4 siblings. Mrs. Spicer is survived by sons & daughters-in-law, William & Amanda Sue Spicer; Homer & Martha Spicer; daughter & son-in-law, Donna & Dennis Weese; 9 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Wounded Warrior Project: PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517. The family will receive friends for 30 minutes prior to the service at Tim Stewart Funeral Home: 300 Simonton Rd. SW Lawrenceville, GA 30046.

770-962-3100. Please leave online condolences at www.stewartfh.com.

Buford

Christy Vernice Sadler Christy V. Sadler, age 42, of Buford, passed away December 29, 2017.

Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA. Buford, GA

Michael Bryan Shaw Michael B. Shaw, age 47, of Buford passed away on January 2, 2018. Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA. Lawrenceville

Dale Parten

Dale Parten, age 49, of Buford passed away January 4, 2018. Flanigan Funeral Home, Buford, GA.

molestation.”

Dominguez had been employed by the Gwinnett school system since 2007. He was terminated Dec. 12.

He is charged with felony child molestation and is being held on a $16,700 bond.

For more obituaries, visit www.gwinnettdailypost.com.

Loganville

Sean Allen Thomas

Hoschton, GA

Mildred Threadgill passed away on 01/02/18.

Smith Funeral Home Flowery Branch

Myrtle Belle Whitt (Shirley) age 75, passed away January 1, 2018.

Buford, GA

Deanne Wilson (Jones) With saddened hearts the family of D. Anne Wilson of Buford, announce her passing and that she is now with Jesus her Savior.

Mrs. Wilson passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Patricia Anne Wilson.

Mrs. Wilson is survived by her husband of fifty-nine years, Vernon V. Wilson, Buford, GA; children, Ms. Terry Wilson Bell, Dacula, GA, Mrs. Tracy Wilson Peters and husband, Mark, Buford, GA, and Ms. Nancy Rademacher, Buford, GA; eight grandchildren, Dustin Bell, Tyler Bell, Julie Embree, Hunter Grundman, Foster Peters, Rachel Ramey, Dylan Roberts, and Logan Rademacher; two great grandchildren, Sam Ramey, and Emma Bell; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Mimi Jones, Blue Ridge, GA; “her dog Mickey”; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Wilson was born February 11, 1937 in Savannah, GA. She was a graduate of Murphy High School in Atlanta, GA and co-owner of Commercial Signmakers, Inc. in Lilburn, GA. Mrs. Wilson was a member of Ivy Creek Baptist Church in Buford, a member of the Adult Senior Sunday School Class where she sang in the church choir.

She had served her Lord in different churches in the metro Atlanta area. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 5, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home with Dr. James Merritt and Dr. Craig Dale officiating.

The family will have a private interment at Broadlawn Memorial Gardens in Buford. The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 4, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.

Sean Allen Thomas age 12 of Loganville, GA passed away on December 26, 2017. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday at White Oak Spring Baptist Church, Winder, GA at 3:00 PM. Visitation will be held on Friday at Byrd and Flanigan Funeral Lawrenceville Home, Lawrenceville, GA between the hours of 12:00 Raymond Yancey noon - 8:00 PM. ProfesPassed away on Thurssional Services Entrusted day, 01/04/2018. Arrangeto Wimberly & Jackson ments by Tim Stewart Funeral Home.

Funeral Home, Lawrenceville.

Billy Smith Smith- Billy Smith, age 85, of Lawrenceville passed away on Monday, January 1, 2018. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00PM on Saturday, January 6, 2018 in the Lawrenceville Chapel of Tim Stewart Funeral Home. Rev. Ryan Jensen will officiate. Interment will follow at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens.

M ih f

Pet Crematory

Private Pet Cremations Start at $115 524848-1

edly occurred in November.

Hugo Dominguez, 49, is alleged to have inappropriately touched a 7-year-old girl Nov. A Gwinnett County Public 16 and was subsequently arSchools bus driver is facing rested Jan. 2 by Lawrenceville child molestation charges fol- police. lowing an incident that report“Our School Resource

By Trevor McNaboe

ptreepc.com

770-817-1030

TOM M. WAGES FUNERAL SERVICE, LLC GDP-1/5/2018-FRI

perspectives

Todd Cline, Editor

gwinnettdailypost.com

todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com

Page 5 A • Friday, January 5, 2018

Book tells of Trump’s delusion

WASHINGTON — The White House is being used to stage some kind of dark, dystopian comedy in which all the humor is of the gallows variety. Somebody tell me how we survive another three years of this oppressive, exhausting show.

The revelations about the Trump administration from journalist Michael Wolff are, if true, stunning, jaw-dropping, gob-smacking — but also pretty much what many in Washington expected. The craziness and dysfunction were obvious from the beginning. Wolff simply documents what others say privately about an administration that is dangerously erratic and incompetent.

The central problem, according to Wolff’s forthcoming book “Fire and Fury,” is President Trump himself. Voters elected to the nation’s highest office a man who is unfit to do the job, who has proved unworthy of the public trust and who seems, to be blunt, increasingly unbalanced.

It is of some comfort, I suppose, that there are people around Trump who are aware of his Eugene flaws — who describe Robinson him with words such as “crazy” and “stupid” and “moron,” according to Wolff’s reporting. We have to hope that family members, staff members, political allies and longtime friends can serve as guardrails to keep Trump from driving us all off some cliff.

But that is not an acceptable risk for the world’s greatest economic and military power to run. We’ve made it safely through a year, but at some point our luck is going to run out.

As Wolff tells the story, after the election he proposed to Trump that he be allowed to write a fly-on-the-wall account of the administration’s early days. Trump “seemed to say” that would be OK, so Wolff began a routine of coming to the White House, installing himself on one of the couches in the West Wing lobby and latching on to senior staff members as they walked by.

No competent White House communications shop would have given such access to any journalist, let alone one known in New York media circles as a shark among sharks. Day after day, Wolff feasted.

Clearly Wolff’s principal source was Stephen K. Bannon, Trump’s political guru who served as a high-ranking White House adviser before being ousted in a palace coup. Bannon is quoted as describing the meeting Donald Trump Jr. convened with a Kremlin-tied Russian lawyer as “treasonous” and painting extremely unflattering portraits of Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-inlaw Jared Kushner.

Perhaps it was this material about Trump’s family that sent the president into such a rage Wednesday, issuing a series of statements blasting Bannon — one said that when Bannon was fired, “he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.”

The White House has loudly disputed the book’s veracity and, on Thursday, a Trump attorney sent a cease-and-desist notice to Wolff and his publisher seeking to stop the book’s publication on Friday and threatening possible charges, including libel.

When the president calms down, someone should point out to him that the legal threat unwittingly gives credence to Bannon’s version of events.

An excerpt of Wolff’s book published by New York magazine opens on the day of the election, with senior officials of the Trump campaign — including campaign manager Kellyanne Conway — preparing for what looked like certain defeat.

Around 8 p.m. Eastern, however, it became clear that Trump might actually win. Wolff writes that Donald Jr. “told a friend that his father, or DJT, as he calls him, looked as if he had seen a ghost.”

Wolff writes that Melania Trump “was in tears — and not of joy.” The first lady’s office issued a statement Wednesday maintaining that she was in fact happy when her husband won the presidency.

About the president, Wolff writes: “There was, in the space of little more than an hour, in Steve Bannon’s not unamused observation, a befuddled Trump morphing into a disbelieving Trump and then into a horrified Trump. But still to come was the final transformation: Suddenly Donald Trump became a man who believed that he deserved to be, and was wholly capable of being, the president of the United States.”

But he is not capable. This whole administration is based on a desperate delusion.

On Tuesday, the president of the United States taunted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has a nuclear arsenal: “Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”

You can decide whether to laugh or cry. Or perhaps scream.

Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@washpost.com.

Early arrival brings best Christmas gift Christmas came early at the Cline household this year, and we’ve been running behind ever since. Not that you’ll hear any complaints from this corner; not after receiving the blessing of a healthy baby girl.

Conley Faith Cline wasn’t due until next week, giving us the false sense that there was plenty of time to finish the Christmas shopping, mail out the cards and complete her nursery. The little girl had other ideas, and breaking with family tradition, she showed up early — three weeks early, to be exact.

And during the week of Christmas.

Her arrival on Dec. 19 announced what all parents know — this is the baby’s show. You may have ideas and plans of what you’d like to happen, but the baby will ultimately decide what’s what. And in this case she decided she didn’t want to wait a year to celebrate her first Christmas with her family. I like that about her.

She’s been quite the giftgiver so far — bringing us the presents of surprise and joy and love wrapped in the adrenaline rush that comes after realizing your wife is at the hospital, your son is

Todd Cline Editor at the sitter’s on the other side of town and grandma isn’t scheduled to arrive for three more weeks. At least the dog remained calm.

That was all logistics, though. Plans can be altered. And before you know it the neighbors have taken your son in like their own, caring for him during the baby’s hospital stay, and your in-laws are on their way from Pennsylvania, arriving in time to ensure you’ll have help with the baby, a completed nursery and a homemade apple pie to boot.

The power of a baby can be highlighted by what Conley brought to our holidays.

What was planned as a quiet Christmas for three turned into a celebration for six — my son, Crosby, enjoying having his grandparents with him while he opened presents, my wife, Joni, enjoying being surrounded by

Conley Faith Cline

family and all of us basking in the glow of the Christmas baby, just six days old at the time.

New Year’s Eve brought more of the same, ringing in the new year with the new baby and a visit from Gigi.

I like to start each year by taking some time away from the whirl of the everyday grind to reflect and give thanks for the good things in my life, many of which I take for granted. But this

year took the cake. It’s hard to be anything but content when you have the gift of two healthy children.

So as we start the new year I’m thankful, grateful and more than a little tired.

And resigned to the fact that the Cline Crew will likely be running behind for some time.

Todd Cline is editor of the Gwinnett Daily Post. Email him at todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com.

L.A. trip produces UGA win, other memories LOS ANGELES – Downtown L.A. is about as vibrant as any place you will find in the Golden State, which is about as diverse as any place you set foot. Be hard for the United Nations plaza to top the City of Angels when it comes to a conglomeration of cultures.

Fascinating.

The square miles of Los Angeles County total 4,084, which makes it about four times the size of the King Ranch, which has less cattle (several hundred thousand) than L.A. County has people — more than 18 million. There are 88 cities in the county which means you almost have to book a room for a night if you travel from northernmost point in the county to the southernmost on one journey.

A Coca-Cola at your hotel might cost $8, but a nearby Starbucks has a more reasonable rate for a mid-sized cup of coffee which is $2.45 which would compare favorably at a Starbucks on a corner on Peachtree Street in Atlanta.

Near downtown, the atmosphere and ambience of the Pacific Dining Car gives you a sense of regal dining with the atmosphere alone,

League.

In a couple of years, Chuck will be coming up on two decades at the microphone for the incomparable Rose Bowl in his hometown of Pasadena where, the day after the most famous parade in Loran the world ends, planning Smith begins for the next year’s event. Even Kirby Smart and the applewood bacon takes a break after the has no downside. Dine final game of the season is there and you step back in played. time.

Chuck plays golf freThis establishment began quently with an accomwith a railroad dining eight plished TV script writer, decades ago, the perfect Joel Surnow, who has setting to interview Chuck spent time in Athens, White, who is the house where teaching at a sumannouncer for the Rose mer seminar hosted by Bowl and UCLA games at Grady College on the UGA Pauley Pavilion. His knowl- campus is accompanied by edge of the Rose Bowl and afternoons on the Donald UCLA are encyclopedic.

Ross-designed Athens He played golf for the Country Club course. Joel Bruins and then briefly on spends the winter in the the PGA tour. He notes that desert in Palm Springs. The while UCLA has won more only thing that would keep national championships him off a golf course would than any college, it is agibe an earthquake. Based on tated by its lack of success history, there a chance that in football and the UCLA could come about. administration aims to do At Lawry’s, the famous something about that, post- roast beef place, last week haste. You may have noted there was a demonstration they recently hired Chip

by PETA, the animal rights Kelly, who made it big at group, protesting the eating Oregon and didn’t make of beef. Makes one think it in the National Football of that old cartoon which

reflects that “…when you are up to your belt in alligators, you forget your objective was to drain the swamp.” No telling what one would eat if he were hungry enough. He might even consider a demonstrator. If you want roast beef, I would say you can’t do better than Lawry’s.

Those who come here for the Rose Bowl and don’t cruise the neighborhoods of Pasadena have shortchanged themselves. What a lovely community which started a parade and a football game to showcase real estate opportunity in Southern California over a century ago.

Now that there are a boatload of Georgians and Bulldog aficionados who have checked off bucket list items by becoming spectators of both the parade and the oldest bowl game of all, Southern California is getting high marks. Georgia’s winning the game allowed for extraordinary fulfillment. Many were overserved and budgets were over extended but a good time was enjoyed by all.

Loran Smith is co-host of “The Tailgate Show” and is also a freelance writer and columnist.

6A • Friday, January 5, 2018

gwinnettdailypost.com

world&nation

WORLD Iran accuses U.S. of ‘grotesque’ meddling via social media

The United States is tapping social media to incite protesters “to change their government,” thus tampering in Iranian affairs, the Islamic republic alleged in a Thursday letter to the United Nations.

Tehran accused U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence of inciting Iranians to protest against the government through a series of tweets and described U.S. interference in Iranian issues as “grotesque.”

It also pointed to a U.S. State Department official’s Tuesday statement that the United States was communicating with anti-government protesters through its Facebook and Twitter pages in Farsi, and was encouraging them to demonstrate.

“The president and vice president of the United States, in their numerous absurd tweets, incited Iranians to engage in disruptive acts,” the letter sent overnight reads.

18 dead, scores injured in S. Africa train collision Eighteen people were killed and more than 250 injured Thursday when a train collided with a truck in South Africa, officials said.

The train was traveling from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg when the collision occurred, causing a fire to break out in one of the carriages and then spread to others, said Russel Meiring, a spokesman for ER 24, one of the country’s private medical emergency services.

Mthura Swartz of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa said 18 people were confirmed dead and 254 were injured. The train had capacity for 780 passengers and there were 758 on board.

Most of the deaths were the result of the fire that spread through the train, Swartz said.

The death toll was expected to rise as rescuers put out small fires that continued to burn in some of the carriages, he said.

Critics: Freedom of press hurt by Germany’s new hate speech law Germany’s tough new social media law was meant to rid Twitter and Facebook of hateful and illegal content.

But critics say that at just 96 hours old it is already choking press freedom.

The debate flared up after Twitter blocked the account of German satirical magazine Titanic on Wednesday. The publication posted tweets that parodied a far-right politician whose social media accounts were blocked earlier this week because of anti-Muslim posts.

Among others, Titanic parodied a tweet by Beatrix von Storch, deputy parliamentary leader of far-right party, Alternative for Germany, in which she accused police of appeasing what she called “barbaric, gang-raping Muslim hordes of men.”

— From wire reports

Bomb cyclone slams Northeast

Forecasters warn to ‘expect the unexpected’

By Holly Yan and Judson Jones CNN

Millions of people are getting walloped by a bomb cyclone that’s hurling hurricaneforce winds, blinding snow and record-high tide.

More than 13 million people are under blizzard warnings, from Virginia all the way to Maine.

“The situation has continued to deteriorate,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday, as snow predictions in his state grew more dire.

The bomb cyclone, which developed overnight, occurs when a low-pressure system has a significant, rapid drop in atmospheric pressure.

That spells wind gusts as strong as 80 mph along the coast, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said. It’s basically like enduring a Category 1 hurricane — except getting blasted by snow instead of rain.

Chunks of ocean ice could fly inland, thanks to mammoth 13- to 18-foot waves, Hennen said.

In Quincy, Mass., one street turned into an icy river

Even Florida is seeing the effects of the country’s cold weather snap. “I was so amazed to see the frozen water when we were driving by that I asked my husband to pull over so we can capture a picture,” Natalie Kirkland of Pensacola told CNN. (Photo: CNN)

Thursday.

Now, millions of Americans are unable to travel as a result of the storm — with thousands of flights grounded, hundreds of schools closed and grocery store shelves emptied.

“This storm is intense!” the National Weather Service Boston office tweeted. “Expect the unexpected.”

• Deadly conditions: At least 16 people have died this week due to severe weather, officials said. Six deaths were reported in Wisconsin, four in Texas, three in North Carolina and one each in Michigan, Missouri and North Dakota.

• Travel nightmares

abound: More than 3,100 U.S. flights were canceled Thursday, according to Flightaware.com. All flights from New York’s LaGuardia and JFK International airports were suspended Thursday.

And American Airlines has suspended all departures from Boston.

• Going dark with no heat: More than 46,000 customers don’t have power on the East Coast, according to utility companies in five states.

Conn. governor: Power will not be fixed in extreme winds In Connecticut, Gov. Dan Malloy urged residents to

NATION

stay off roads. The forecast calls for a minimum of 6 inches of snow and winds as strong as 50 mph, potentially hindering utility repairs should power lines go down.

“We cannot and will not order people up in trucks to fix lines when the winds are too high,” Malloy said.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and urged Virginians to prepare for the storm, which could dump as much as a foot of snow in parts of eastern Virginia.

“With this forecast in mind, all Virginians should take the necessary precautions now to ensure they are prepared for the travel disruptions, power outages and other threats to health and safety that could arise during this significant weather event,” McAuliffe said.

How bomb cyclones work Bomb cyclones often draw colder air in from the north, then blast out icy temperatures.

They frequently occur in North America, when cold air collides with warm air over the Atlantic Ocean — though they’ve also been reported in eastern Asia and South America.

The bomb cyclone now blasting the Northeast actually doubled the rate necessary to earn it that classification.

It rapidly intensified overnight, undergoing bombogenesis — or a pressure drop of 24 millibars in less than 24 hours. rights advocates and even a member of the commission itself — as well as an unclear mandate, according to the White House official — Trump pulled the plug Wednesday.

PEOPLE NFL’s TV ratings drop following a season of injuries, anthem protests The NFL’s ratings fell sharply this season, but its games are still some of the most-watched events on television.

The league’s TV viewership dropped roughly 10 percent overall from last year. The premiere game of the week, NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” was down 10 percent for the season; ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” down 6 percent; and the averages of Sunday afternoon games on Fox and CBS were down 9 percent and 11 percent respectively, according to Nielsen data that came out this week.

A number of factors on and off the field this season could have affected the league’s viewership.

Early in the season, President Trump began a public spat with the league after he slammed players who took a knee during the national anthem to protest police violence and racial injustice.

On the field, big name players like Aaron Rodgers, J.J. Watt, Odell Beckham Jr. and Andrew Luck were all injured at some during the season.

This season’s declining numbers also follow last season’s 8 percent ratings drop.

Fox execs: ‘Future will be bright’ for network creatives

Two top Fox executives caught in the middle of the Trump admin to company’s corporate divorce offered few clues about their roll back ban on future Thursday, insisting offshore drilling that it will be “business as The Trump administration usual” for the next 12 to 18 Thursday announced plans W.H. bans use of months, while Disney seeks to roll back a ban on new offapproval to absorb most of personal phones its assets. shore drilling off the coasts of Florida and California and Fox TV Group coin West Wing is considering more than 40 chairmen Gary Newman The White House is sites for leasing of natural and Dana Walden are in a banning the use of pergas and oil production. particularly awkward spot, sonal cellphones within the Interior Secretary Ryan since they oversee both the 20th Century Fox production West Wing, citing security Zinke said that 47 proposed Offshore oil and gas platform Edith, right, and Eureka oil concerns, a move that has studio — which is part of the leasing areas could increase and gas platform stand in the Beta Field off the coast of Disney acquisition — and prompted widespread frustrafederal revenue by $15 bilLong Beach, Calif. (Photo: CNN) the Fox TV network, which tion amongst staffers. lion. to participate in the board, “The security and integrity mogul Rupert Murdoch “It’s better to produce en- panel, Sen. Mark Warner. intends to keep. which was criticized as a Bannon is quoted in of the technology systems ergy here and never be held Addressing reporters at the Michael Wolff’s forthcoming misguided step to solve a at the White House is a hostage by foreign enemy TV Critics Association tour practically non-existent top priority for the Trump needs,” Zinke said, saying it’s book on the Trump White problem.

House as calling the June administration and therefore, in Pasadena, Calif., Newa “clear difference between man said that the “new Fox” “Many mostly Democrat starting next week, the use energy weakness and energy 2016 Trump Tower meet— which would include States refused to hand over ing “treasonous” when a of all personal devices for dominance.”

Russian lawyer with alleged data from the 2016 Election both guests and staff will no Fox Sports and Fox News, The proposal would to the Commission On Voter longer be allowed in the West as well as the broadcast increase drilling sites off the dirt on Hillary Clinton met network — would be “robust with Donald Trump Jr., Jared Fraud. They fought hard that Wing,” White House press coasts of Alaska and in the Gulf of Mexico. It would re- Kushner and Paul Manafort. the Commission not see their secretary Sarah Sanders said and nimble,” but also said there had been a degree of records or methods because Bannon is also quoted as in a statement Thursday instate leasing sites in Pacific anxiety among the creative they know that many people morning. saying that he believed the and Atlantic waters. personnel currently making are voting illegally. System Russians met with Trump, Sanders said staff will But the announcement shows for the network. He is rigged, must go to Voter contradicting Trump Jr. continue be able to conduct was met with immediate insisted, however, “the future I.D.,” Trump said in a Thurs- business on governmentBut Burr downplayed concern from environmental will be bright for our creative day morning tweet. issued devices. groups, and from Republican what Bannon might know In the wake of the anThe ban on personal cell- partners.”

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who about the meeting, which occurred before Bannon joined nouncement, advisers outphones does not apply to the released a statement in the lined hesitation from within President, a person familiar middle of Zinke’s announce- the Trump campaign.

‘Game of Thrones’ Asked if there were other the White House for months with the decision said. ment Thursday afternoon, finale set for 2019 matters the committee would about the commission.

The decision to ban asking to have waters off of “Game of Thrones” view“It’s a s--- show,” said be interested in speaking to personal cellphones had been Florida’s coastline removed one White House adviser to Bannon about, Burr said: under discussion for months, ers will have to wait until from consideration. next year to see how the CNN, saying that the com“I don’t make a habit of but never executed. It’s an responding to anything Steve mission went “off the rails.” idea chief of staff John Kelly HBO drama will come to an GOP chairman Trump established the Bannon says.” floated when he first entered end. doesn’t see need While it’s been speculated commission in May after the administration in July, but the final season of the series for Senate Intel to Commission on claiming without evidence had not decided to enforce would not air until 2019, that massive voter fraud had until now. It’s unclear why talk to Bannon voter fraud went HBO made the news official cost him the popular vote, the policy was announced Senate Intelligence Thursday. ‘off the rails,’ has and he appointed Vice Presi- this week.

Chairman Richard Burr said been dissolved HBO made it known last dent Mike Pence and Kansas The standard is expected Thursday he doesn’t see a year that the hit series would Secretary of State Kris to apply to everyone — President Donald Trump need for his committee to end with Season 8.

Kobach to lead the panel. including top officials like dissolved his much-touted talk to President Donald Season 7, which had only But after months went by Hope Hicks — one person voter fraud commission Trump’s former senior adseven episodes, concluded and the commission faced familiar with the decision viser Steve Bannon, breaking Wednesday, attributing the Aug. 27. pushback from officials told CNN. — From wire reports with the top Democrat on the step to various states’ refusal across the country, civil — From wire reports

Odds of winning Powerball, Mega Millions are 1 in 300M are.

Both games have increased the choice of numbers people The odds that you’ll win the The Mega Millions odds are 1 can play, which makes it less $445 million jackpot in today’s in 302.6 million. That’s more than likely that someone will get all six Mega Millions drawing are really, 2,000 times less likely than being numbers right. Powerball lengthreally bad. killed by a lightning strike or an ened its odds in late 2015, while And the odds that you’ll win earthquake.

Mega Millions made the change in $550 million in the Powerball The odds of winning Powerball October. drawing Saturday are similarly are only slightly better — 1 in Having jackpot winners less frestacked against you.

292.2 million. quently means that the top prizes The likelihood of winning both?

If it seems like the odds are even roll over more and get bigger. And Forget about it. worse than they used to be, they that attracts even more players.

By Chris Isidore CNN

Must read

Right now that cycle is working perfectly.

In fact, this is the first time ever that both games have offered jackpots of $400 million or more at the same time.

And that’s prompting people to buy tickets to both games, rather than just one or the other.

So that raises the question, what are the chance of winning both games this week and walking away with jackpots totaling nearly

$1 billion?

That would be 1 in 88 quadrillion, or 1 in 88,412,922,115,183,000 to be precise. If quadrillion isn’t a term you deal with very often, think of it this way — it’s 88,000 trillion, or 88 million billion.

Or if you’re one of those people who do better with percentages: You have a 0.0000000000000011 percent chance of winning both games.

8A • FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

gwinnettdailypost.com

‘Suspicious’ man arrested at airport According to the report, isabel.hughes @gwinnettdailypost.com the officer, who also Just days after Athensrecognized Clarke County police removed Salau from a man from their local airthe BOLO as port who the Transportation well as from Ahmed Security Administration lists as an Athens Salau a “suspicious person,” Gwinwanted nett officials arrested the same person notice, asked him what person at the county’s airport he was doing at the airport.

— charging him with criminal Salau reportedly replied he trespass. was “promoting his nonprofit Ahmed Olasunkanmi Salau, organization to benefit underalso known as Ahmed Saluh, privileged kids.”

Ahmed Salan and Martinez When asked for pamphlets Davon Wells, who has posed as about the organization, Salau a pilot, captain and passenger could not produce any, the reat airports across the country, port said. That led to his arrest was taken into custody Dec. for the Clarke County warrant, 28 after an employee at the which stemmed from an inciGwinnett County Airport called dent two days prior at Athens’ police when she recognized Ben Epps Airport.

Salau from a TSA “be on the Athens-Clarke County lookout” alert.

Police Department spokesman “(The employee) stated Officer Epifanio Rodriguez Ahmed Salau entered the flight told the Daily Post that on Dec. business office inquiring about 26, officers were dispatched to an aircraft arriving for him,” Ben Epps in reference to Salau a Gwinnett Police Departasking a pilot how to navigate ment incident report said. flight patterns.

“Employees recognized the There, he was given a verbal male as being from the TSA and written warning, barring BOLO and began contacting him from the airport for two authorities. (The responding years, though he refused to sign officer) started driving around the paperwork and began to the airport looking for the leave. male (and) while driving down Instead of leaving the airport Briscoe Boulevard, (he) noticed immediately, however, Salau the male pulling on the door of “constantly” stopped to interact (an airport building).” with customers and “was inBY ISABEL HUGHES

formed several times to vacate the premises.”

Because of his long record of trespassing on government property, as well as him being “in a place for no legal reason other than to harass or gain information for some illegal cause,” Athens police obtained an arrest warrant for loitering and prowling, Rodriguez said.

“We have had past dealings with Mr. Salau, though nothing previously at the airport,” he said. “It’s been small things — theft and things of that (nature,) and he did have a trespass warning in 2008 from when I believe he was a student at the University of Georgia, but nothing (transportation) or airport related.”

TSA records obtained by the Daily Post show that Salau, whom the agency said “has a working knowledge of (airport) operations and initially sounds credible,” has had suspicious encounters with at at least 20 different airports across the country, ranging from Texas to New York.

TSA-verified encounters date back to October 2016, when he traveled to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport under a false name, date of birth and fraudulent photo identification.

Since then, the agency said Salau has posed as an airplane captain, pretended to be a

pilot — both for private and commercial air crafts — attempted to talk his way onto flights he did not have a ticket for, asked flight instructors for flight times and information on departing flights while taking down departure information, and tried to gain access to restricted areas.

The volume of incidents prompted the TSA to issue the BOLO in July of this year, which was updated in October.

The revised BOLO states that “TSA is aware of numerous incident involving a suspicious person attempting to gain unauthorized access to aircraft and facilities at multiple (airports,)” and that if encountered, airports “should ensure (Salau) is prevented from entering restricted areas.”

It was not immediately clear whether Salau was attempting to gain access to a restricted area at Gwinnett’s airport or what the door he was pulling on led to, nor does the report indicate whether he was trying to obtain flight information.

The airport, however, has remained on high alert since the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks after it was found the men believed to have piloted two hijacked Boeing 767 airliners into the building’s north and south towers practiced flight training at the Lawrenceville airfield.

Missing man’s vehicle found in lake at park

BY ISABEL HUGHES

isabel.hughes @gwinnettdailypost.com

The vehicle of a man who went missing in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day has been found in a Lawrenceville lake, police said Thursday evening.

On Monday, officers were dispatched to Middleton Way in Grayson in reference to a missing Ko-

rean man, 54-year-old Yun Seoung Park, who family members said left the home in his Yun Seoung 2004 HyunPark dai Sante Fe around 1:30 a.m. to go to “an unknown store.”

Park, who never came back, has not yet been located, but his car was

found in the lake at Tribble Mill Park on Thursday.

Police said they hope to have a dive team search the lake for Park today, but that any attempts Thursday evening wouldn’t be possible.

Park is described as 5-foot-8, 145 pounds and balding with black hair. He has brown eyes and wears black framed eyeglasses and was last seen wearing a white turtleneck, khaki

HOLIDAY

pants and brown shoes.

He has a known medical condition and has not taken his medicine since his departure.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Gwinnett detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit crimestoppersatlanta. org and referencing case number 18-000126.

Detective

•From Page 1A

fights the disease.

Comedic in nature, Cortez’s positivity and lightheartedness have contributed to the outpouring of support he has recieved since his July diagnosis of Stage IV stomach cancer — the origin of the cancerous lung cells.

In the last week in particular, people across the nation have rallied behind the Tucson native — a Gwinnett County Police Department detective, 2016 Gwinnett Chamber Gold Medal of Valor awardee and Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan — raising nearly $38,000 in six days on crowdfunding site GoFundMe. While Cortez said he didn’t expect the campaign to take off like it has, he said he hopes it will inspire others who may be going through a difficult time.

“It’s crazy — I didn’t expect that all these people would (support) me and it’s been pretty amazing and pretty exciting,” he said. “I’m hoping, though, that it might inspire someone who’s going through a hard time, or put things in perspective for people, (showing them) that a lot of problems out there really aren’t that bad. You get the hand that you’re dealt with and that’s what you got, so that’s what you have to work with.”

Cortez said he’s doing just that while fighting daily against the disease.

“After they found the cancer cells in my lungs, they basically put a camera down my (GI tract) and found a mass in my stomach,” Cortez said.

“When they told me I had Stage IV stomach cancer and that was the cause (of the lung cancer,) it was pretty devastating. I’m not emotional guy, but I went home that night and bawled my eyes out.

Since then, I’ve been fighting it, though — I’ve got too much to live for, so I’ve got no choice but to keep fighting it.”

With his wife, Jessica, their 2-year-old daughter and baby son, as well as people far and wide who have his back, Cortez said he hopes to beat the disease by the end of the year.

Even if it still plagues him in 2019, though, Cortez said he’ll keep on fighting.

“I know it’s one of those totally unpredictable things and really, at the end of the day, I’ll take it like I do, and if it’s there, I’ll keep fighting — and joking while I (do),” he said. “Even if I’m dying tomorrow, I’m still going to be playing a joke somehow. (In all seriousness) though, I also want to say thank you to all the people out their for their support. It’s amazing and I wish I could meet some of them and say thank you.”

In addition to the GoFundMe page, a 5K has been organized to raise money for Cortez, which will be held Jan. 21 at Dacula’s Little Mulberry Park. For more information, visit www.tonsoffun5k.com.

The GoFundMe page can be accessed at www. gofundme.com/victor-cortezs-medical-fund.

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SECTION B • FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

Lannon brings breadth of experience to Gladiators

By Christine Troyke christine.troyke@gwinnettdailypost.com

Derek Nesbitt met Ryan Lannon nine years ago at training camp with the Phoenix Coyotes and the two quickly formed a friendship playing together for a season in AHL San Antonio.

It made Lannon’s arrival in Atlanta, after four years away from pro hockey, that much easier.

Lannon didn’t have to worry about stepping on the captain’s toes as a veteran presence joining the Gladiators a month into the season.

“Maybe part of it was just on the back end, but even that, sometimes I get labeled the vet, but I’m certainly not the only leader on the team,” the 35-yearold defenseman said. “I came

SWAMP RABBITS AT GLADIATORS Who: Greenville at Atlanta When: Today, 7:35 p.m.

Where: Infinite Energy Arena

in and the guys are younger, but they’re mature. I look up to them, guys like (Taylor) Doherty and (Rick) Pinkston. Ben Danford is an incredible leader.”

Lannon paused and laughed a little.

“I don’t know if they even needed me,” he quipped. “But it’s a long season and there are a lot of transactions in this league.

The last six weeks it’s worked out well. Personally, it’s been fantastic. This is a good group to be a part of.”

Lannon has an impressive résumé.

The Grafton, Mass., native was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins and went to Harvard. He played 136 games for the Crimson, was part of two ECAC championship teams and served as an alternate captain as a senior in 2004-05.

Lannon played for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in WilkesBarre/Scranton from 2005-08 and helped the team to three straight playoff appearances. In 2008-09, he was teammates with Nesbitt in San Antonio and again wore an ‘A.’ In all, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound blueliner played 318 games in the AHL before opting to go overseas. He joined KalPa in Finland’s top professional

Longtime AHL defenseman Ryan Lannon (15) joined the Atlanta Gladiators in November after four years away from the game and brought a wealth of experience to the young team.

(Photo: Amanda Bingham)

See LANNON, Page 5B

MARKED MAN Photo: Kyle Hess

With or without the ball, Grayson’s Anderson is a playmaker Grayson guard Travis Anderson started noticing teams were double-teaming him sometime during his junior season.

As soon as the ball was inbounded to Anderson, two opposing players would be in his face, trying to trap him or force him to panic. Always confident with the ball in his hands, he wasn’t used to trying to find an outlet.

By Taylor Denman “It really helped me adjust,” Anderson said.

“It helped me learn how to move without the ball, use myself in the screens to help get myself open. It made me a smarter basketball player.”

That teams were starting to take notice of last year’s leading scorer meant Anderson would be making adjustments to his game. Fortunately, Gray-

taylor.denman@gwinnettdailypost.com

son didn’t need Anderson to control the ball to win games.

During his junior season, Anderson averaged 21.4 points and 4.0 assists per game. Midway through his senior season with Grayson, he’s averaging 17.1 points and 2.5 assists.

Anderson was the county’s second-leading scorer last year with 642 points, but head coach Geoffrey

Pierce is impressed by his young guard’s efficient shooting clip.

“Last year was eyeopening because we had graduated seven off an Elite Eight team,” Pierce said. “Night-in, night-out, teams were geared towards stopping him. I think he was second in the county in scoring, but it was all efficient.”

For Anderson, shooting

efficiently is about being mechanically sound in his jump shot from every position on the court. That means taking hundreds of shots from the corner, then elbow, then the top of the key, then mid-range before or after practice.

Anderson said he’s also focused on finding the best shots to take rather than settling for a contested look. Once his stroke is

mechanically polished from all around and inside the 3-point arch, his experience guides him to add the right touch on his shot.

“I get shots up every day,” Anderson said. “I don’t really focus on a number, I just try to stay in the zone, and I guess (shooting efficiently) is just from me putting up a lot of

See ANDERSON, Page 2B

UGA, Alabama Rest, recovery key for title clash staffs no strangers

By Collin Huguley Staff Correspondent

When Georgia and Alabama face off in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday night, it is hard to ignore the relationship between the two head coaches.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart served as Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide from 2008-15 and was on

By Collin Huguley Staff Correspondent

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Who: Georgia (13-1) vs. Alabama (12-1) When: Monday, 8 p.m.

Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta TV: ESPN

multiple staffs with Saban prior to that run.

Together at Alabama, Smart and Saban won four national titles but now will See TITLE, Page 2B

Monday night was one that not many surrounding the Georgia football program will forget anytime soon.

The Bulldogs downed the No. 2-ranked Oklahoma Sooners 54-48 in double overtime in the Rose Bowl, a game that turned out to be as thrilling as any college football game has been in years.

No. 3 Georgia punched Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith (3) reacts after the its ticket to the College defense blocks a field goal against Oklahoma during overtime in the Rose Bowl semifinal on Jan. 1. (Photo: Football Playoff National Championship Game Gary A. Vasquez-USA Today Sports)

with the win, where No. 4 Alabama awaits them this Monday night at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

And with another massive game and challenge just around the corner, the Bulldogs must physically and emotionally reset before challenging the Crimson Tide in Atlanta with all of the chips in the pot.

“There’s a lot of excitement winning the Rose Bowl and whatnot, but the focus has to shift back to the bigger picture, and that’s the national championship

See REST, Page 2B

2B • FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

ondeck Prep Schedule

Today

BASKETBALL

5:30 p.m. — Holy Innocents’ at Wesleyan 6 p.m. — Athens Academy at Providence 6 p.m. — Central at Meadowcreek 6 p.m. — Collins Hill at Mill Creek 6 p.m. — Discovery at Peachtree Ridge 6 p.m. — Duluth at North 6 p.m. — Shiloh at Grayson 6 p.m. — Lakeside-DeKalb at Brookwood 6 p.m. — Norcross at Parkview 6 p.m. — South at Archer 7 p.m. — Buford at Walnut Grove 7 p.m. — Dacula at Gainesville 7 p.m. — GAC at Fannin Co.

SWIMMING & DIVING

5 p.m. — Collins Hill at Wesleyan 6:30 p.m. — Berkmar, Central and Discovery at Collins Hill 6:30 p.m. — Brookwood and Parkview at Mountain Park 6:30 p.m. — North, Archer and Duluth at West Gwinnett Saturday

BASKETBALL

3 p.m. — Archer at Brookwood 4 p.m. — Woodward Academy at Wesleyan 4:30 p.m. — Parkview at South 5 p.m. — Apalachee at Dacula 5:30 p.m. — Stephenson at Grayson 6 p.m. — ACS at Hebron 6 p.m. — Berkmar boys and Cedar Shoals at Clarke Central 6 p.m. — Central at Meadowcreek 6 p.m. — Lanier at North 6 p.m. — Riverside boys at Providence 7:30 p.m. — Mountain View boys at Clarke Central

SWIMMING & DIVING

• Hebron in Hot Chocolate Invitational at Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center 7:15 a.m. — Grayson, South and Meadowcreek at Mountain Park 7:15 a.m. — Peachtree Ridge and Mill Creek at West Gwinnett 6:30 p.m. — Dacula, Norcross and Mountain View at West Gwinnett 6:30 p.m. — Providence, Shiloh and Lanier at Mountain Park

WRESTLING

9 a.m. — Area 8-AAAAA duals at Clarke Central 9 a.m. — Area 8-AAAAAA duals at Gainesville 9 a.m. — Area 6-AAAAAAA duals at Peachtree Ridge 9 a.m. — Area 7-AAAAAAA duals at Central 9 a.m. — Area 8-AAAAAAA duals at Rockdale Co.

The Home Teams

Falcons

Hawks

UGA football

TODAY NEXT UPCOMING

at L.A. Rams Off Sat, 8:25 p.m.

NBC/92.9-FM

TBD

at Portland at L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers 10 p.m.

Sun, 9:30 p.m. Mon, 10:30 p.m.

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

vs. Alabama* Off Mon, 8 p.m.

ESPN/750-AM

Anderson •From Page 1B

mit early, but if it’s a fit, you might as well commit shots and focusing on that.” and get it out of the way,” As Anderson puts it, he Pierce said. “That’s a lot of loves basketball. Luckily stress on a teenager.” for him, he’s gifted with In the locker room, the athletic ability to be Anderson seems relaxed, successful in the game. debating about video Grayson is off to a 10-2 games, analyzing NBA start as the calendar turns highlights and clowning to 2018, a better pace than around with his teammates. last season when the Rams It’s a reminder, Pierce said, lost six games before the that players like Anderson new year. revered for their talents “This year, we’re pickon the basketball court ing it up,” Anderson said. are still typical teenag“We have a lot of seniors. ers. That, Pierce said, is We’re trying to finish the refreshing. drill and just stay in the When he’s not playmoment because you only Grayson’s Travis Anderson, middle, is guarded by Nor- ing basketball, Anderson get one senior year.” cross defender Rayshaun Hammonds (0) in last year’s is playing video games, His love for basketball Class AAAAAAA state semifinal game at West Georgia watching WWE or shootand desire to “stay in the ing hoops with his 8-yearUniversity. (Photo: Craig Cappy) moment” actually affected old brother, Bryce Hurst, his decision to commit to the semifinal mark they year he wanted to find a fit who was a key defensive a basketball scholarship reached last season. before his senior season, player on Grayson’s GFL at Charleston Southern Pierce said Anderson’s and the college-saturated 8-year-old runner-up team. in September before his been able to prepare and town of Charleston, S.C., “He had like 11 tackles senior season. His focus play more relaxed with was attractive to Anderson. that game,” Anderson said. is solely on basketball and his decision behind him.

“I don’t want to say we “He’s big for an 8-yearhelping the Rams pass Anderson told Pierce last encourage kids to comold.”

Title •From Page 1B try to prevent each other from capturing one more.

But even after spending years learning from the legendary Crimson Tide coach, Smart still feels that his Alabama ties will not really be an advantage, or have much of an effect at all, in the big game on Monday night in Atlanta.

“Yeah, I don’t know if it’s an advantage,” Smart said. “You know, his tendencies and his strengths are recruiting really good players that are really big and really fast. It comes down to a lot more than his tendencies because his tendencies are very similar to a lot of good coaches: smart, good decisions, protect the ball, play great defense, kick your butt on special teams.

“There’s not a lot of tendencies that he has that are just going to be ground-breaking to allow

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“Well, you emphasize rest, recovery,” Georgia game,” UGA junior linehead coach Kirby Smart backer Roquan Smith said. said. “You emphasize “I think everyone knows what we talk about all the (what is at stake), and I time is getting your sleep, think everyone knows that getting your dark hours, they have to shift their focus getting off your phone. A back.” lot of our kids are on social With the championship media. game coming seven days “Get in recovery, go to after the Rose Bowl, Geor- treatment, getting extra gia must prepare to face time to watch tape and one of college football’s spend it — we’re starting most storied programs on school this week, too, so the heels of traveling back that’s another deal on top across the country from of our kids that they get Pasadena, Calif. to deal with. When you Also, after playing a lon- start dealing with a lot of ger game than normal, and outside influences on your one with so much emotion kids’ time, you’ve got to and many high-pressure be smart as a coach and moments, the Bulldogs are understand you’ve got to going to have to stay sharp get the most out of them, if they are to be at their but we’ve got to be smart best again this Monday with our practice time and night. our recovery time.”

down his former employer on Monday night, there is a lot of attention on the relationship between Saban and Smart.

Saban is 11-0 against his former assistants, but none of those coaches have had quite the amount of early success that Smart has had.

Regardless, the players deny that this game is about the coaches. And for the Bulldogs, they feel that this game is only about what they can do for their school and program by winning a national title.

“I believe it’s more for coach Smart and the Georgia football team as a whole,” senior running back Sony Michel said.

“It’s special for all-around players and coaches because we all work hard for the same goal in the offseason and throughout the season. In my opinion, I think it’s special for the coaches and the players of the University of Georgia.”

While the task of quickly moving on from a monumental win over the Sooners and getting ready for the daunting task of facing Alabama is difficult, Smart is confident in his team because of what the group’s leaders have overcome in their careers.

“I mean, they’ve overcome a lot of obstacles,” Smart said. “They’ve had coaching change during their career; they’ve overcome that. They’ve embraced what we wanted to do. They’ve been through a lot of adversity last year, and a lot of this team that is playing this year played last year.”

The coach appears fully focused on helping his team go into the national title game nice and fresh, but if you ask one of the

team’s leaders, such as Rose Bowl hero Sony Michel (222 total yards, four total touchdowns), the players fully understand the task at hand.

And they are ready to embrace the challenge of putting it all on the line in one more game.

“I’m sure there’s still a lot of excitement around this program in the building, but we won games around here, so we know how to handle situations like this,” said Michel, a senior running back. “We know our task at hand.

We’ve just got to move forward.

“We’ve got a good opponent we’re about to face, so I’m sure this team, this coaching staff knows what we’ve got to focus on from here on.”

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relationship with each other. Kevin has got a good relationship with Nick.

There’s a lot of relationships across the board.”

With Smart being the head man at Georgia, many have compared the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide as being built in similar ways with top-tier defenses and excellent offensive rushing attacks.

But through the eyes of the players, the teams aren’t mirror images of one another, they are just two good football teams that play efficient football.

“I wouldn’t say we both do what we do different and whatnot, and we’re just not the same, but I will say we both are very physical football teams and both protect the ball on the offensive side of the ball and play stingy defense,” Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith said.

As Smart prepares his Bulldogs to try to take

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us a benefit. The bottom line is our players got to go out and we’ve got to play a really good football game to stay with these guys.”

There are also other ties between the two coaching staffs.

Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, who was previously Georgia’s defensive coordinator, has been named the next head coach at Tennessee. Pruitt has already tabbed current Georgia outside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer to be an assistant on his staff with the Volunteers, but both coaches will remain with their schools through the national title game.

With all of those connections between the staffs, Smart said that there is no ill will between the coaches involved in the game.

“Yeah, I’ve got a good relationship with Jeremy,” Smart said. “I’ve got a good relationship with Kevin. They’ve got a good

Rest •From Page 1B

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

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Dacula boys adjust to new coach Falcons, Wilson exit holiday break finding stride

grooming and working with Coach Wilson (for a head coaching job). Coach Wilson had several head coaching opportunities at other schools in Gwinnett and outside Gwinnett (in recent years). He’s a very well-respected coach.”

When contacted

By David Friedlander Wednesday, Triaga condavid.friedlander@ firmed that he had stepped gwinnettdailypost.com down for personal reasons, A lot of high school and declined further combasketball teams look at ment. the post-Christmas portion As for the team he left of their respective schedbehind, the Falcons (7-5) ules as a new beginning of are 4-2 since Wilson took sorts. over, and Wilson is pleased That may be a truer with how he and the team statement for Dacula’s have adjusted as they boys, who come out of the prepare for the Region holidays with not only a 8-AAAAAA opener tonew look, but a new coach. night at traditional powerThe Falcons actuhouse Gainesville. ally have been under new “They’ve responded leadership for almost a well,” Wilson said of his month after head coach players. “They’ve played Russ Triaga unexpectedly hard. When something resigned midway through like this takes place, it’s an December, with assistant adjustment. … I feel like coach Byron Wilson taking everyone’s getting settled over as interim coach. in. They know what to ex“Coach Triaga stepped pect. (Those expectations) down as the coach … and haven’t changed. I’ve resigned from Gwinnett worked with Russ seven County Public Schools for years now, and he’s laid a personal reasons,” Dacula solid foundation. principal Bryan Long said “I feel like I’ve been Wednesday. “We were ex- in training for this for a tremely fortunate, I think, while. There were some that was part of the succes- opportunities that were not sion planning all along — taken because I felt like the that Coach Triaga had been situation was better here.

The paperwork and noncoaching things are some things I have to adjust to, but (Dacula girls head coach) Jason Adams has been a huge help.”

According to Long, Wilson will carry an interim label on his title for now and that a final decision on a permanent coach will not be made until after the season.

However, he also noted Wilson’s experience and said having him staying on as permanent head coach is a possibility.

“Well, we’re making it interim right now,” Long said. “Of course, we’re leaning (toward Wilson), but we didn’t feel like making a decision midyear was the way to go.

Obviously, (with) any kind of head coaching position in Gwinnett County, you never know what kind of applicants you’re going to get. So mid-season is not an appropriate time to look at a bunch of applicants.

“So for now we’re just (naming Wilson as) an interim. Of course, Coach Wilson, we have all the respect in the world for him and we brought him here because we respect his coaching ability. So in all probability, he probably will be the head coach, but we’re not going to make

that decision until after the season’s over.”

At least part of Long’s thinking in delaying a final decision may be influenced by the fact he and athletics director Mark Karen have a hiring decision to make for another high-profile coaching position.

Long said the process for hiring a new football coach to fill the vacancy left when Tommy Jones left early last month to start a new program at soon-to-be-opened Cherokee Bluff High School in Hall County is progressing well.

“It’s going very well,” Long said Wednesday.

“We’ve had about 100 applicants already. We’re actually doing paper screenings this afternoon, and we’re going to start interviewing next week for that position. We hope to make a decision certainly before the end of the month, since we do have a vacancy on our teaching staff. Because Coach Jones has gone ahead up to his new school, we are able to bring that person in at this point in the year. So we’re going to try to get that done as quickly as possible so they can start getting in here and working with the students before spring practice.”

FANS CHOICE WINTER ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Who: Kiki Adams School: Brookwood Sport: Basketball Class: Junior Highlights: Scored 38 points in a win over Madison County, had 16 points in a loss to Cherokee and scored 24 in a victory over Hillgrove in three Deep South Classic games Coach Carolyn Whitney’s take: “Kierra Adams is one of those special players who genuinely does not care about stats or who’s getting the credit, she just wants to compete and does all she can possibly do to try to win each game. If we need someone to score, she continues to find a way. She creates great shots for others, and defensively she has the ability to lock down anyone. On top of that, she leads people in an encouraging way and pushes people to be their best. I really cannot say enough great things about her. She’s just really special.”

Mountain View’s Harrison Spikes, right, looks for an opening against Collins Hill’s Tomari Fox in the 220-pound class during last year’s Gwinnett County championships. (Photo: Karl L. Moore)

Gwinnett teams face intriguing Gwinnett teams savor holiday titles duals matchups PREP BASKETBALL NOTES

By David Friedlander david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Plenty of Gwinnett County boys and girls high school basketball teams have had success in holiday tournaments and showcases over the years.

However, it may be difficult to come up with a year in which so many of the county’s teams have fared so well in holiday events, and especially ones that carry such a high profile.

No fewer than seven area teams won their respective tournaments or their particular brackets of tournaments during the December holiday break.

Among the most notable of those victories included Buford’s boys taking the title in the prestigious Kingdom of the Sun tournament in Ocala, Fla., that included some of Florida’s top teams, including nationally known programs like Vanguard and Orlando Christian Prep, as well as other strong teams like Maryland power Our Lady of Mount Carmel Prep.

The Wolves (10-2) captured the tournament title with a convincing 75-54 win over Vanguard in the finals Dec. 30, led by tournament Most Valuable Player Marcus Watson, who averaged 25.8 points in four tournament games, as well as All-Tournament selections David Viti, who had a team-high 25 points in the title game, and Donell Nixon.

Among the county’s girls tournament winners of note was South Gwinnett, which improved to 12-1 on the season with three victories at the McDonald’s Shootout in Hartwell from Dec. 28-30.

It was the second straight season the Comets won that particular tournament, this time led by freshman guard Makala Torrence, the tournament’s MVP, and fellow guard Jasmine Williams.

As important as the victories were in the present for South, head coach Kidada Holtzclaw is more encouraged about the measuring stick it is for the direction of the program.

“It kind of shows a growth,” said Holtzclaw, who has guided the Comets to a 69-49 mark so far in her fifth season as head coach, including a high-water mark of 17-8 last season. “We have four seniors who have played significant minutes over the last few seasons, and they’re really jelling together. And with the addition of Makala, we’ve really played at a high level.”

Some of the other notable Gwinnett tournament winners over the holidays included Archer’s boys, who won the Deep South Classic in its first appearance in the annual event at Brookwood, Wesleyan’s girls, who won the Silver Bracket of the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational, and Mill Creek’s girls, who

took the Sweet South Clas- three steals. “It’ll give us sic title in Madison for the confidence to keep playing second straight year. hard and winning against any opponent. And it’s just Bears roar into new year great to bring (a tournawith momentum ment championship) like Another Gwinnett team that to Mountain View.” heading into the second half of the season on a Blue Devils major uptick following a also catching fire holiday tournament win Add Norcross’ boys to is Mountain View’s boys the list of Gwinnett teams squad. winning a holiday tournaThe Bears won the ment title after the Blue Beach Blowout in Fort Devils rolled to three wins Walton Beach, Fla., led by at the Founders Federal MVP Spencer Rodgers.

Credit Union Bracket of They followed that up with the Farm Bureau Insuran impressive 67-53 over ance Classic in Roebuck, Mount Bethel Christian S.C., including an 87-80 in the Big South Shootout win over North Carolina showcase Tuesday night at powerhouse Gaston Day in Duluth’s Joe Marelle Gym- the finals. nasium behind game MVP Sophomore Brandon Nahiem Allenye and senior Boston was named the guard Jalen Hayes. bracket’s MVP, while felThose wins ran their re- low 6-foot-6 wing Joseph cord to 13-2, the best start Toppin also had a big in the program’s relatively tournament. young history, including In addition, the Blue last year’s historic 21-9 Devils (12-2) also finally campaign in which they got to see post Issa Muwon the program’s first hammad in action for the region championship. first time this season after More importantly, sitting out while waiting those wins give Mountain on clearance by the GHSA View some much-needed following his transfer from momentum as they head Lakeside-DeKalb over the down the stretch trying summer. to defending its Region The 6-9 junior had a 6-AAAAAAA title against solid tournament, including a rugged lineup that a 12-point, seven-rebound, includes Peachtree Ridge, two-blocked shot outing Collins Hill, Duluth and in the title game win over Discovery.

Gaston Day, and could be a “I think it gives us great solid complement to Bosmomentum,” said Hayes, ton and Toppin, as well as who finished Tuesday’s veterans guards Kyle Sturwin over Mount Bethel divant and Dalvin White with 16 points, six reas they re-enter Region bounds, six assists and 7-AAAAAAA play.

Brogdon named to SEC Legends class From Staff Reports

student-athlete, coach or administrator from each of Greater Atlanta Christian the 14 SEC schools. The grad and Buford native selections will be honored Cindy during the Feb. 28-March 4 Brogdon SEC Women’s Basketball was anTournament in Nashville, nounced Tenn.

Thursday Brogdon is Tennessee’s as a mem- selection — she played ber of the basketball for the Lady Southeast- Vols from 1977-79. She Cindy ern Confer- already is a member of the Brogdon ence 2018 Women’s Basketball Hall of Class of Women’s Legends. Fame, the National FederaThe annual honor tion of State High School recognizes one prominent Associations Hall of Fame

and the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame.

As a high-schooler, Brogdon led GAC to three state championships and a state runner-up finish as a sophomore. The high-scoring guard was named state tournament MVP each of those four seasons.

After high school, Brogdon played two seasons at Mercer — as the first Georgia female to earn a full athletic scholarship — and averaged 30.1 points. She then transferred

to Tennessee, where she led legendary coach Pat Summitt’s team in scoring for two seasons and was a two-time All-American.

She also was the youngest member of the first women’s U.S. Olympic silver medalist team in 1976.

Brogdon scored 2,672 points at GAC and 3,204 more points in college.

The majority of her points came on deep perimeter shots, even though she played before the 3-point line.

top. We know the target’s on our back. So we’ve got to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

For once, it appears Another team that figa weekend of big local ures to have a big target wrestling meets involving on its back is Archer, Gwinnett teams won’t be which will be going for affected by weather. its sixth straight area After last year’s area duals title at the Area dual meet champion8-AAAAAAA tournaships had their schedules ment at Rockdale County altered and the GwinHigh School. nett County meet earlier The Tigers come in this season was canceled fresh off a victory at outright because of winter the Gladiator Duals weather, this year’s area last weekend at Clarke duals should go off with- Central High School in out a hitch this weekend Athens behind Cameron at various sites around the Sapp, Chandler Swenson, county and north Georgia. Gio Gachelin, Logan And the competiSmith, Gavin Smith, tive nature of each meet Brandon Mitchell, Chase will be as varied as the DeGrenier and Will geographical areas they Choloh, who all went unrepresent. beaten for the tournament.

For instance, MounAnd they’ll have to tain View is clearly fend off challenges from the top target in Area a host of contenders, 6-AAAAAAA, having including Gwinnett rivals won three straight area Grayson, Shiloh and duals championships.

South Gwinnett, to keep However, the Bears their dual championship figure to get stiff comstreak intact. petition, especially from Buford also comes into Collins Hill and North its area duals (8-AAAAA) Gwinnett, in their quest as defending area champifor a fourth straight title on, and fresh off a strong Saturday at Peachtree holiday performance with Ridge High School. a runner-up finish in the Still, even with a few Greater Miami Valley individuals sitting out Wrestling Tournament with injuries, coach Jim in Dayton, Ohio, last Gassman is pleased with weekend. the options he has in his The Wolves will look lineup — which includes to stalwarts like Logan veterans like Garrett Ashton, Nick Stonecheck Spikes, Harrison Spikes and Alcein Mendoza, who and Chase Standridge all finished as runners-up and newcomers like R.J. in their weight classes, Aguirre and Rick Shores to provide the core of — to help his team try to the lineup as they go for meet those stiff chalanother title this weekend lenges. at Clarke Central.

“Our lineup is pretty Brookwood, which like solid,” said Gassman, Collins Hill competed at whose Bears placed the Osceola Knockout fourth at the prestigious Classic in Florida over Coastal Clash in Myrtle the holidays, figures to be Beach, S.C., and third at the favorite for the Area the Creekview Duals in 7-AAAAAAA duals at Canton over the holidays. Parkview.

“Most of our football Other Gwinnett teams kids who got a late start competing at area duals because of the playoffs include Dacula and Lanier are in better shape. They in the Area 8-AAAAAA give us more matchups duals at Gainesville, we like.

Greater Atlanta Christian “We’ll do the best we at the Area 4-AAA duals can. Collins Hill and at Jackson County and North Gwinnett will be Wesleyan at the Area good challengers. Our 4-A duals at St. Francis goal is always to finish on School in Roswell.

By David Friedlander david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

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

Gwinnett Daily Post.

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Getting to know ... Willie Gary Berkmar High School’s first-year head football coach Willie Gary is taking over a program that hasn’t won a game since Sept. 13, 2013.

But Gary is no stranger to success on the football field, which Berkmar hopes will lead to steady progress. Gary went to two state championships at Valdosta High School before moving on to the University of Kentucky, where he was a four-year starter at defensive back. He played one season in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams and was on the roster during Super Bowl XXXVI, considered the swan song for the team known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.” After his NFL stint, Gary played six seasons in the Arena Football League back in his home state with the Georgia Force.

Staff writer Taylor Denman caught up with Gary and asked about the famous high school football culture of Valdosta and his plans to get Berkmar football on its feet. Gary’s wife is Samantha, and he has three children: son Dylan, 13, and daughters Victoria, 12, and Averie, 10.

New Berkmar head football coach Willie Gary is taking over a program that hasn’t won a game since Sept. 13, 2013, but Gary is no stranger to success on the football field. (Staff Photo: Taylor Denman)

committed to Central Florida.

(Current Samford head coach) Chris Hatcher recruited me.

Hal got the job at Kentucky and got Hatcher from there, and it all kind of fell into place. He said, “There’s this DB you need to get.” They all came to my mom’s house.

I felt like I wanted to play in the (Southeastern Conference). I was still mad at Georgia because they didn’t recruit me as an all-state player.

Things worked out how they worked out. I played as a true TD: I like to start these at freshman at Kentucky, so I the beginning. You went to don’t regret the way things high school at Valdosta, is worked out. that where you were born?

TD: Looking back, does WG: I was born and that seem like it was the raised in Valdosta. I played at right decision?

Valdosta High School and, of WG: Oh, definitely. Coach course, we were pretty good Mumme told me he wasn’t back then — winningest high scared to play freshmen. school (football program) in He was trying to change the the nation. I was raised 18 culture of the program at the years there and went off to time. At Valdosta, we always college on a football scholhit. I went in and knocked a arship to the University of couple people around, and Kentucky. I grew up with a two or three days later I was football in my hand, so you the starting safety. It was a kind of go with the flow. good experience. I tore my TD: In a football town knee my sophomore year, like that, is there no indeci- and that probably slowed me sion? Like, everyone wants down just a bit. I went from a to play college football or go 4.4 guy to a 4.5 guy. I would to the NFL? always tell athletes that colWG: I think growing up, lege is the best time of your high school football is so big, life. Go out, get an education, you just never thought about have fun, because after that, the NFL. You just knew you the real bills hit you in the would play for the Valdosta face. When that’s over with, Wildcats. You saw the older you’re on your own. guys play and knew one day TD: Jumping forward a that would be you on the little bit. You worked with field starting at Valdosta High (former North Gwinnett) School. From there, the other coach Bob Sphire, and he’s stuff took care of itself. And said he was influenced by the thinking is a little different Mumme and his style of now, with recruiting agencies offense. What are some and stuff. Kids are looking to similarities between those get a scholarship and hopeguys and what do you want fully play in the NFL. to draw from them as a new TD: You had some pretty head coach? good seasons there, includWG: The thing about Bob, ing two state championship he was always organized. He berths. would push other coaches and WG: Well, I lost two. I alhired a good staff. That was ways tell people we were the my first high school job. He only class not to get a ring — exposed me to a lot of things and it’s different now. But we that they did in the summerlost to Colquitt County and time that needed to be done, Brookwood. It was a good whether it was the weight experience, but you never room, practice-wise. There want to get to the title game were a lot of great things and lose. that he did. One thing he TD: I know from reading did too was he hired a good things you’ve said in past staff and let us coach. He articles that your coaches only interfered when he had (at Valdosta) Nick Hyder to, but he would let you do and Mike O’Brien seem to your job. Not only Bob, but have made a big impact on (Colquitt County defensive you. coordinator) Mo Dixon was WG: Nick Hyder was a also a big influence. He was legendary guy in Valdosta. an energetic guy. He was a You think about it, as a high negative guy, but what I realschool kid, Nick would talk ized is that he was on top of to us for 30 minutes about life his game the whole time. He and things that would help us used that to motivate himself. in the future. He was always a Once I figured him out, it never-quit guy. There were a was kind of funny. But those lot of things he instilled in us two guys were big, man, on value-wise that as we listened what we did, organizing, how to him as high school kids, we would push the kids. Mo we didn’t understand. As you was good at bringing the kids become a grown man, those down to build them back up. things come back. I have You can tell, Colquitt had a plenty of guys I talk to now young team and you could who played for Nick Hyder tell they had games — I can and they still talk about things hear Mo now, just going off. he said when he was there.

But he knew the process and Coach O’Brien was there progression to get to a state the whole time, and I thought championship game. he did a great job. Of course, TD: Back to college, were Coach Hyder died on the floor there NFL scouts excited in the lunchroom our junior you had started for four year — just took a step, heart years at Kentucky? attack and was done — but WG: I’ll be honest, I think coach O’Brien took over we had about eight guys on and led us back to the state my senior team get a shot (in championship my senior year. the NFL). I probably wasn’t I still keep in touch with him. a big-time guy there. What Everybody was on the same hurt me was they put me as a page there. tweener. I wasn’t big enough TD: When did Kentucky to be a safety, but too big to enter the picture? be a corner. So I think my WG: They actually came experience starting got me a in late. Hal Mumme was at shot. My stats were OK, but I Valdosta State and then I had would say when they looked

at me as a typical pro guy, I was probably too small for safety and not fast enough for a corner. I took advantage of my opportunities. I wouldn’t say they were raving, I was one of the guys who had to grind.

TD: Did they give you some shots on special teams?

WG: When I came into camp as a rookie, my preseason was good and we had a safety get hurt, so that opened things up for me. I spent about seven weeks on the practice squad and then they activated me. From there I played special teams the whole time, all the way through the playoff run. They drafted Adam Archuleta, that was the safety they drafted in the first round that year. I had my hands tied to start. The money was invested in him, so that’s who was going to play. That was kind of the road. They sent me over to NFL Europe for more experience and by the time I got back, I was tired, man. I had three weeks off after the Super Bowl, went to Scotland and played 10 games, then came back and had to try to make an NFL roster. That’s suicide, but it was a good experience overall.

TD: You just touched on it, but you came into St. Louis during one of the peaks of that franchise.

What was it like being activated that season and being along for the run to the Super Bowl?

WG: When I was in it, I was so young, I was just thinking, “This is the life.”

You’re not thinking, “Hold on, this might not happen again.”

Just being in the locker room with Kurt (Warner), Torey Holt, Aeneas Williams, Marshall Faulk — we had a lot of Hall of Famers in one locker room. It was almost like a family. Everybody came in and did their job, and after that we went home. I hung out with Dre Bly, and Orlando Pace would throw a party in there. It felt like a family, but the main thing, when we hit that building, it’s business. I think that was one of the biggest things. The offense was great and the defense was basically bend-but-don’t-break.

(Defensive coordinator) Lovie (Smith) was big on running to the ball. I ain’t going to lie, I took a nap every day after practice. I was on the chopping block. I could be gone the next day, so every practice was like a game to me.

It was the run of a lifetime, and being in New Orleans and having people stand outside your window to sign autographs, it’s an experience I wish every kid could have, but it’s a lot of work, man.

TD: How different was your AFL experience with Georgia Force compared to the NFL? WG: Arena was fun, man.

It’s a fast game, and I always tell people there are some DBs in the arena league who could play in the NFL, they just don’t get the chance to do it. The talent level has dipped a little bit, but when I was playing, there were guys talented enough to play. It’s a great experience. The fans are on top of you, sign autographs after the game, the kids have a good time. It’s tough for a DB because you’re going to get beat. That’s part of it. One bad step they’ll just board up on you.

TD: How did you change your game to adapt to the arena rules?

WG: I just had to learn the game. You have to know how fast to pedal and, when he breaks, which angle to take.

It’s a game of angles more than anything. Football is football. When you cover a receiver, you have your eyes on his hip, the foot you plant off — all that is still the same.

The angles of the game are different.

TD: Sticking with arena, you signed on as defensive coordinator with the Atlanta Havoc now. How did that fall into place?

WG: Well before I knew I was going to get this job, (Havoc head coach) Boo Mitchel called me — he’s part of that state championship North Gwinnett crew — he said, “I need your help. I need you to be defensive coordinator for the Havoc.” And I said, “Well, what is the Havoc?”

He explained it was an arena team coming to Buford. … I didn’t ask him to pay, I said, “I’ll help you man.” I’ll stick with my word and I think we’ll have some long days coming up, but it is what it is.

And that’s kind of fun. I know it’s not that complicated and I’ll be dealing with grown men.

TD: Looking back on your career, that’s roughly eight years of professional experience. That’s longer than a lot of guys can say they played football. Do you feel lucky to have played that long?

WG: A lot of people don’t know, I had six knee surgeries. One was major in college, my ACL, but it’s a lot of wear and tear. I have played with injuries and that crazy nonsense people talk about. But it’s real. I can’t run like I used to because of the surgeries.

But I can still mix it up with the kids. That’s part of the game, and when you’re in it, you do what you’ve got to do.

TD: When you were first promoted at Berkmar, you said, “The kids need someone to be there for them.”

What did you mean by that?

WG: When you’re in this transition, they didn’t need to wait six months to hire somebody. They needed it to keep rolling. At Berkmar, we faced a lot of challenges.

I think things can be done, and it’s going to be step-bystep to change this thing. You can’t have a transition when a program is already trying to build back up. You’re going to lose more kids and the program will take a step back.

If you do this, you’re shooting yourself in the foot and it’s going to go back another two years. They need coaches and need people to show love because some of them don’t have daddies. Some of them need that manly figure to push them and try to make them do right. I still feel strongly that way. Right now — I’m one of the old Valdosta guys, man. I took them out of that locker room one of the first days I took over and said, “We’re not going to live like this anymore. The locker room will not look like this, or you will not have one.” They think I’m hardcore, but when you’re a grown man, it will come back to help you.

TD: If participation is a problem, how do you get kids excited about playing for a team that’s been on a losing streak?

WG: Well, we’re going to have to win a game. Right now when you have a change, you have a window when excitement is up. I’m trying to take advantage of that window and recruit kids. I have got some kids, and we’ll see (Thursday) how many I have.

The numbers are up a little bit.

Meadowcreek did it, and (coach Jason Carerra) did it right. Got a couple wins his first year he was there and then you see what happened in his third year. You have to get the kids believing and sticking together. Coming from over at the middle school, we have to get people to stop stealing our kids, but that’s coming with having a feeder program that we’re missing. So there’s a lot of work at hand.

Rush return to Georgia for rematch of NLL Cup

By Taylor Denman

taylor.denman@gwinnettdailypost.com

The last time the Georgia Swarm played the Saskatchewan Rush, Georgia was celebrating on Saskatchewan’s home field.

The Rush (2-0) will try to deliver some slight form of retribution Saturday night at Infinite Energy Center in the first regular season meeting between last year’s NLL Champions Cup finalists. Saskatchewan has scored the second most goals (41) in the league, despite having played one game fewer than any other team.

“Any time you’re the defending champions, people use you as the measuring stick of where you need to be in terms of being competitive,” Swarm goalie Mike Poulin said. “If a team comes in and we beat them by 20, then realistically they’re not near the top of the league. If they come in and beat us on any given night, that tells them they’re legitimate contenders.”

While Saskatchewan would be glad to leave the Hive with a win, history indicates the franchise has a good idea of what a Champions Cup contender looks like. The Rush have played in the last three league championships and won two of them.

History indicates a franchise that reaches the finals stands a good chance of returning in subsequent seasons. Before the Rush’s three consecutive NLL cup finals, the Rochester Knighthawks won three straight league titles from 2012-14.

Before that, Toronto reached back-toback championships in 2010 and 2011, and lifted the trophy the second time.

The size of the league certainly makes it easier for teams to return to the Champions Cup consecutive years. While professional sports leagues with 30 to 32 teams have offseasons filled with transactions and long seasons with hundreds of possible permutations of results, the nine-team NLL has unfolded somewhat predictably over that past few seasons.

Poulin, in the midst of his 13th season in the NLL, watch the Rush through its “lean” years when the franchise heavily relied on the draft, and that seems to have paid off in the form of a young core.

Forward Mark Matthews, a member of the Rush franchise since 2013, is up to 18 points through two games, tied for fourth in the league.

Forwards Ben McIntosh and Robert Church have also been on all three Champions Cup-contending squads, and are among the top in the league in points with 15 and 14, respectively.

“I don’t see any slowing down for them in the West (Division) because of the way they’re built,” Poulin said. “Before that, it was the same thing with a young core in Rochester, but they had some injuries and age caught up to them. You really do need to keep track of your window, and I think (Georgia general manager) John Arlotta has done a good job of that with draft picks and acquiring young players.

Hopefully we can keep our window open in Georgia even longer than other teams have been able to.”

North coach Stewart up for Shula Award From Staff Reports North Gwinnett’s Bill Stewart has been selected as the Atlanta Falcons’ nominee for the 2017 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award.

Stewart led North Gwinnett to its first state championship this season, his first year with the Bulldogs.

Stewart was previously the defensive coordinator at Mill Creek.

Each NFL team selected a winner of the honor, which takes into account character, integrity, leadBill ership, dedication to the Stewart community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.

Don Shula Award nominees from all 32 NFL teams will be invited and recognized in special ways during the NFL’s weeklong celebration of football at the 2018 Pro Bowl in Orlando. The coaches will participate in a special coaches clinic, enjoy a VIP visit to Pro Bowl practices and attend the USA Football National Conference.

Two finalists will each receive $15,000 from the NFL Foundation, $10,000 of which will go to their high school’s football program. The Don Shula Award winner will be announced during the 2018 Pro Bowl, airing at 3 p.m. Jan. 28 on ESPN and simulcast on ABC.

gwinnettdailypost.com

gwinnettdailypost.com

Lannon •From Page 1B

Those who knew Lannon knew what he would league midway through bring to the table. the 2010-11 campaign and “Steady and responsible later played a season in is the idea,” Nesbitt said.

Austria.

“He’s the reliable guy we Lannon was signed to can count on, especially on play for KalPa again ahead the PK, and it’s a good lesof the 2013-14 season, but son for the guys to watch. had a moment of realizaHe played in the AHL and tion sitting on a beach in in the best levels in Europe.

Cape Cod. Then he took four years off “I was at the beach, and this league has gotten reading books and I didn’t a lot better in that time. But feel like leaving,” Lannon he can come back because said. “I knew in my gut, he still knows the simple Atlanta Gladiators veteran defenseman Ryan Lannon my passion for hockey took four years off from playing pro hockey and during first play and how to be was gone.” that time designed a line of short-sleeved summer sport smart and safe.”

He spent the next four Lannon learned that coats for his retail fashion company. (Special Photo) years adding to an already as the 22-year-old rookie fascinating biography.

While coaching youth ECHL team, was looking defensive partner of Alain “There was an entrehockey in Hong Kong for a veteran defenseman Nasreddine, who is now preneurial spirit I didn’t — because, of course — during training camp and an assistant with the New know I had,” said Lannon, Lannon came up with an Lannon played four games Jersey Devils. who got his degree from idea to make short-sleeved for the team before being “He made my life easy,” Harvard in government. sport coats. He continues released.

Lannon said. “You knew It started with a fitness to produce the product — The day the transaction what you were going to program designed to com- “I just ordered the linen was made public, Lannon get every game. I thought bine a beach and water for the next batch,” Langot a text from GladiaI could be Naz for some workout with the health non said — but he realized tors assistant coach Brady young kid. When I skated benefits of red wine. last summer he wanted to Leisenring. The two were in September, nothing “It was a 30-minute play hockey again. teammates in the U.S. excited me more than the workout followed by 30 “I never left the ice National Development physical challenge and minutes with red wine, completely,” Lannon said. Program as teenagers and once I laid the bet with watching the sunset and Even after retiring, he then played against each myself, I was committed talking about life,” Lannon worked for Paul Vincent, a other in college. to taking this ride and seesaid. coaching legend in skating “I’ve never had a coach ing what happens.

That led to designing and skill development who my entire career who has “This time it’s not about training clothes after he has worked with many been my advocate like getting to the next level. kept getting compliments NHL organizations and Brady has,” Lannon said.

I’m happy to be going to on shirts he wore for his runs his own camps in “He had fewer doubts the rink every day.” brand, Wicked Cape.

Massachusetts. than I did. I think he did Lannon, whose Harvard “I had a retail store in “At 31, I learned how somewhat of a sales pitch roommates included Al Cape Cod for two sumto teach someone how on (head coach) Chuck Gore Jr. and Hamzah bin mers,” Lannon said. “I to skate,” Lannon, who (Weber).”

Hussein, the crown prince learned a lot — primarily learned to skate almost Lannon was a guy who of Jordan, certainly has a that I don’t like retail. Es- before he could walk, said never had big offensive wealth of experiences to pecially in Cape Cod, you with a laugh. numbers — he’s 2/3 of the draw on for knowledge — have four months to make He was on the ice for way to his all-time goal on and off the ice. your profit. It was a crash up to eight hours a day. He total for a season with “He’s quite a human,” course.” later taught at the Red Bull two goals in 14 games for Nesbitt said. “Guys ask So he moved the printtraining academy in AusAtlanta — and took four me, ‘Was he like this nine ing press and flash dryer tria, working with 10- to years off from the game. years ago?’ He hasn’t into an RV and made a 20-year-old hockey players, “Brady staked his repu- changed a bit and I mean loop around the country. and then coached at the tation on it,” Weber said. that in a good way.”

He went from Cape Cod to youth level in Hong Kong. “I didn’t know Ryan at Nesbitt remembers a Miami, around the gulf and But Lannon remembers all. We were thin defenstop the Rampage made in then over to San Diego. the exact day he thought sively at the time and you Worcester during a 29-day “I spent the majority about playing pro hockey see, jeez, 400 games in road trip while the circus of the next three months again. the American League and was in San Antonio. between San Diego and “Sept. 2, I was on the the Finnish elite league, “We had an off day and Santa Monica at a combi- ice with Paul Vincent and so you know there’s a his family had the whole nation of Walmart parking Noah Welch (a friend and pedigree. But there’s also team over for lunch,” lots, suburban side streets recent selection to the U.S. the four years off and the Nesbitt said. “You saw and RV parks along the Olympic hockey roster),” age. So we did our due how awesome they were Pacific Coast Highway.

Lannon said. diligence. as people. You know, you “I was a small-business He was just meant to be “Ryan came in in good think ‘Harvard’ and all beach bum.” shooting video of some shape and we were going that, but they were so welAs if that weren’t drills and then ended up to ease him in, but we were coming. He says he’s blueenough … jumping in with Welch and thin and threw him into the collar and he is, then you “I drove home in 10 a couple other pro players. deep end. He’s a steady, add the Harvard degree. days to run the Boston Lannon jokes that he stay-at-home defenseman “It’s funny, one day Marathon in 5 hours,” was always one step bewho blocks shots and does he had a few things he Lannon said. hind guys like that. the little things well. He wanted to get off his chest That clothing design “But I left the rink with does have a lot of experiand he asked me if it was company has metamora smirk,” he said. “I didn’t ence playing for guys I OK if he talked to the phosed into his current embarrass myself.” respect. His habits are room. If that guy wants to venture, Lanno.com.

Worcester, the local things I agree with.” speak, he’s got the floor.”

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018 • B5

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018 • 5B

Falcons must stop high-scoring Rams

By Guy Curtright

ATLANTA AT L.A.

Staff Correspondent

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons made it to the Super Bowl last season thanks to an offense that led the NFL in scoring.

If the Falcons even advance past the first round this season, though, their defense will likely have to play a big role.

Atlanta, the NFC’s second wild-card, faces the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams — the team that replaced them as the NFL’s highest scoring — at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Saturday night.

The Falcons’ defense made solid strides during the season, but it faces a significant challenge against the Rams and former Georgia running back Todd Gurley.

Gurley led the NFL with 19 touchdowns and rushed for a NFC-best 1,305 yards.

“I’ve played him for years now. I look forward to playing against him,” said Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who went to Clemson. “I told people that he’s the best player that I’ve ever played against coming out of college. I’ve got a great respect for his game and he’s been having a great year.”

The Falcons (10-6) must slow down Gurley and also contain second-year quarterback Jared Goff, who flourished under new coach Sean McVay. Goff, a No. 1 overall draft choice, had 28 touchdown passes to seven interceptions as the Rams (11-5) went from last in the NFL in points to first while winning seven more games than the previous season.

The Falcons, meanwhile, scored nearly 200 fewer points this season than last as Matt Ryan — the NFL’s MVP in 2016 — had 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions compared to 34 TDs and seven picks the previous year.

“It wasn’t perfect throughout the regular season by any stretch of imagination, but we battled and found a way to play ourselves into (the play-

What: NFL Wild Card When: Saturday, 8:25 p.m. (NBC) Where: L.A. Coliseum

offs),” Ryan said. “I’ve played long enough to know that all that you want is an opportunity. All that you want is a chance this time of the year. We gave ourselves that opportunity.”

The Falcons didn’t score a touchdown after their opening drive against Carolina in the regular-season finale, but Matt Bryant kicked five field goals and the defense intercepted Cam Newton three times in the 22-10 victory.

“Defense is playing phenomenal. They are putting lights out for us,” said wide receiver Julio Jones, who was held to three touchdown catches during the regular season. “We don’t want to drop the baton.”

“We have our offense’s back,” linebacker Deion Jones said. “I feel like if they have the ball they can do amazing things with it once they get in rhythm.

It’s just a matter of giving it to them.”

The Falcons and Rams have met just once in the playoffs. The Falcons won 47-17 at Georgia Dome in the 2005 divisional round with Michael Vick at quarterback against a Rams team then based in St. Louis.

The teams played a regular-season game in 2016, with the Falcons winning 42-14 at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Los Angeles last hosted an NFL playoff game in 1994, when the then L.A. Raiders defeated Denver.

Only four Rams starters have playoff experience, which should give the Falcons an edge despite any lingering hangover from the collapse in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.

“It doesn’t even matter how the season went last year. It’s about this year,” safety Ricardo Allen said. “We gave ourselves a chance to keep going.

That’s all you want to ask for.”

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018 CONSTRUCTION/ SERVICE BIDS CONSTRUCTION/ SERVICE BIDS

INVITATION TO BID BID # COL/HILLCREST – 1.25.2018 The City of Lilburn, Georgia is soliciting competitive sealed bids from qualified contractors for the CDBG Project #G-0275-0000012261; Construction of Sidewalks on Hillcrest Road and Associated Roadwork.

Contractors are advised that Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are being used for the construction of this project and contractor will be required to comply with all CDBG requirements described herein. **BID PACKAGES, INCLUDING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS MAY BE DOWNLOADED AT THE CITY OF LILBURN WEB PAGE – www. cityoflilburn.com HEADER: DOING BUSINESS/BIDDING AND PURCHASING. BIDDING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT THE CITY OF LILBURN, 340 MAIN STREET, LILBURN,GA. 30047 2ND FLOOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE – ATTN: KATHY HILL. A COMPLETE SET OF PLANS AND DOCUMENTS MAY BE PURCHASED FOR $75.00 PER SET (NON-REFUNDABLE) FROM THE CITY AT THIS LOCATION. Bids should be typed or submitted in ink and returned in a sealed container marked on the outside with the Bid# and Company Name. Bids will be received will be received until 2:00 P.M. local time on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Lilburn City Hall – Attn: Kathy Hill, Administration Office, 2nd floor – 340 Main Street, Lilburn, Georgia 30047. Any bid received after this date and time will not be accepted. Bids will be publicly opened and read at 2:15 P.M. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 17,

2018 on the 2nd Floor of Lilburn City Hall at the address listed above. All contractors are urged to attend. Questions regarding the Invitation to Bid, Documents, Drawings and Specifications should be directed to Kim Conroy, SPLOST Project Manager, at kconroy@cityoflilburn. com, or at 770-279-3716 no later than Monday, January 22, 2018. Bids are legal and binding upon the bidder when submitted. All bids should be submitted in duplicate.

Successful firm(s) will be required to meet insurance requirements. The Insurance Company should be authorized to do business in Georgia by the Georgia Insurance Department, and must have an A.M. Best rating of A-5 or higher.

The City of Lilburn does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to its programs or activities. Any requests for reasonable accommodations required by individuals to fully participate in any open meeting, program or activity of the City of Lilburn should be directed to City Manager Bill Johnsa, 770-921-2210.

The written bid documents supersede any verbal or written prior communications between the parties.

Award will be made on a UNIT PRICE basis and will be made to the contractor submitting the lowest responsive and responsible overall bid.

The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids to waive technicalities and to make an award deemed in its best interest. The City reserves the option to negotiate terms, conditions and pricing with the lowest responsive, responsible bidder at its discretion.

All companies submitting a bid will be notified in writing of award.

902-524745, 12/22,1/5

PUBLIC HEARINGS

PUBLIC HEARINGS

STATEWIDE WRECKER SERVICE INC. 2775 SIMPSON CIRCLE NORCROSS, GA 30071 PHONE: 770-381-1140 FAX: 770-935-9651 ABANDONED VEHICLES: RE: Stripped ATV VIN NO VIN LICENSE PLATE NO. NO TAG COLOR GREY TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The above all-terrain vehicle was initially removed from 3747 Rosebud Park Drive located in Snellville, GA. It is presently located at 770-381-1140 at 2775 Simpson Circle in Norcross, Georgia, in possession of Statewide Wrecker Service, Inc. Attempts to locate the owner have been unsuccessful. The all-terrain vehicle is deemed abandoned under O.C.G.A. 40-11-2 and will be disposed of if not redeemed.

This notice is given pursuant to Georgia Law. RE: Panterra 50cc Dirt Bike VIN NO VIN LICENSE PLATE NO. NO TAG COLOR WHITE TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The above dirtbike was initially removed from 2530 Beathany Church Road located in Snellville, GA. It is presently located at 770-3811140 at 2775 Simpson Circle in Norcross, Georgia, in possession of Statewide Wrecker Service, Inc. Attempts to locate the owner have been unsuccessful. The dirtbike is deemed abandoned under O.C.G.A. 40-11-2 and will be disposed of if not redeemed.

This notice is given pursuant to Georgia Law. RE: Utility Trailer VIN NO VIN LICENSE PLATE NO. 239664J (Texas) COLOR BLACK TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The above trailer was initially removed from Brick L

Lodge, 2050 Willow Trail Parkway located in Norcross, GA, Brick Lodge. It is presently located at 770-3811140 at 2775 Simpson Circle in Norcross, Georgia, in possession of Statewide Wrecker Service, Inc. Attempts to locate the owner have been unsuccessful. The trailer is deemed abandoned under O.C.G.A. 40-11-2 and will be disposed of if not redeemed.

This notice is given pursuant to Georgia Law. RE: 2014 Zhejiang Jonway Denali. YY50QT-22 Scooter VIN L8YTCAPY6ES600136 LICENSE PLATE NO. NO TAG COLOR BLUE TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The above scooter was initially removed from Clifton Glen Apartment Homes, 600 Hambrick Road located in Stone Mountain, GA. It is presently located at 770-3811140 at 2775 Simpson Circle in Norcross, Georgia, in possession of Statewide Wrecker Service, Inc. Attempts to locate the owner have been unsuccessful. The scooter is deemed abandoned under O.C.G.A. 40-11-2 and will be disposed of if not redeemed.

This notice is given pursuant to Georgia Law. 928-525415, 12/29,1/5,12

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS Securlock Storage will sell personal property consisting of household and personal effects, office, and other equipment, toys and appliances will be sold to satisfy owner’s lien for rent due law 10-4-213. All items or spaces may not be available on the day of the sale. We reserve the right to refuse any and all bids, buyers must secure spaces with own locks. NO CHECKS. CASH ONLY. To claim tax-exempt-ORIGINAL RESALE CERTIFICATE FOR EACH SPACE PURCHASED IS REQUIRED. T

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS Time: 3:00 PM Date: January 10 2018 Place: 1573 Athens Hwy Grayson Ga 30017 Orlando Concepcion – Patio Table/Chairs, Smoker Felicia Conry – Totes, 2+ Bags, 2 Suit cases Theresa Brickhouse – 3 TV’s, 5+ Boxes, 5+ Bags, Mattress/Box spring, Microwave, Suitcase Eric Cotto – Holiday Décor, Totes, Stroller Herbert Thornton Jr – Totes, PC, Printer, BBQ Grill, Boxes, Lawnmower 929-525784, 12/29, 1/5

PUBLIC SALE Pleasantdale Storage of Doraville shall conduct an online auction on www. selfstorageauctions.com to conclude at Thursday, January 20th, 2018 at 12:00pm Unit # C62 – Joe D. Bryant Unit is said to contain: Office Desk & Chair. Latter. Utility Cabinet. Bed Rails. Shelves.

30 plus Boxes. Jump Cables.

Spray Paint.

929-526393, 1/5,12 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE In accordance with Georgia Law Chapter 40-11-5 the following vehicles have been deemed abandoned and will be sold at a public sale on 1-24-18 @ 11:30 Said Vehicles are located at: 3840 Brindlewood Drive Duluth, GA 30096 VIN# WBSCK9342YLC90788 2000 BMW Z3 VIN# 2G1WT57K291131317 2009 Chevrolet Impala Sale will be held at 10:00 on 1-24-18 Location: 1386 Indian TrlLilburn Rd #100 Norcross, GA 30093 929-512559, 10/6,13

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS NOTICE THESE VEHICLES WILL BE SOLD FOR PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR CASH AT STATEWIDE WRECKER SERVICE LOCATED AT 2775 SIMPSON CIRCLE, NORCROSS, GEORGIA AT 10:00 A.M. ON JANUARY 13, 2018. THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES ARE DECLARED ABANDONED AND FORECLOSED VEHICLES PURSUANT TO OCGA 40-11-5.

ESTOS VEHICULOS SERAN VENDIDOS AL PUBLICO POR DINERO EN EFECTIVO EN STATEWIDE WRECKER SERVICE LOCALIZADO EN 2775 SIMPSON CIRCLE, NORCROSS, GEORGIA A LAS 10:00 A.M. EN 13 ENERO 2018 . LOS SIGUIENTES VEHICULOS AN SIDO DECLARADOS ABANDONADOS Y CERRADOS DE ACUERDO A OCGA 40-11-5 NUEVA LOCALIZACION 770-381-1140 www.swsatlanta.com 1958 Thunderbird Boat Trailer T012026 1958 Thunderbird Boat NO HIN 2007 Nissan Altima 1N4BL21EX7N446293 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 3B7HC13Z7WG243741 2006 Chevrolet Uplander 1GNDV23L16D191621 2002 Mercedes-Benz S430 WDBNG70JX2A273204 2010 Ford Focus 1FAHP3FN0AW139388 2003 Mercury Mountaineer 4M2ZU86K13UJ04653 2002 Nissan Xterra 5N1ED28T72C604484 2006 Hyundai Tiburon KMHHN65F46U188569 2005 Toyota Avalon 4T1BK36B55U009950 2003 Nissan Xterra 5N1ED28T83C663657 2008 Chrysler Sebring 1C3LC45K18N668169 *** SALVAGE *** 2003 Mercury Mountaineer 4M2ZU66K13UJ03216 2000 Ford Focus 1FAFP33P7YW135054 2001 Ford Expedition 1FMRU17L61LA43514 2000 Dodge Neon

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS

1B3ES46C3YD823004 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander JA4LX41F44U035555 1996 Honda Accord 1HGCD5636TA199412 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan 1B4GP44G8YB528469 1994 Toyota Corolla 2T1AE09B6RC070812 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt 1G1AK15F677147449 2003 Chevrolet Venture 1GNDX03E43D142103 1998 Toyota Tacoma 4TAVL52N7WZ059811 1996 GMC Safari 1GDDM19W6TB515768 1999 Saturn SC1 1G8ZE1282XZ187517 2005 Chevrolet Impala 2G1WF52E059173201 1996 Chevrolet Lumina 2G1WL52MXT9249620 2002 Jeep Liberty 1J4GK58K62W228283 1999 BMW 540i WBADN6337XGM61237 1996 Geo Prizm 1Y1SK5261TZ032663 2003 Chevrolet Impala 2G1WH52K839331796 2015 Homemade Trailer T946818 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt 1G1AD5F59A7197714 *** REBUILT/SALVAGE *** 2001 Mercury Cougar 1ZWHT61L615612433 *** REBUILT *** 2006 Chevrolet Malibu 1G1ZS51F06F302291 2005 Ford Focus 1FAFP34N35W209983 2000 Hyundai Tiburon KMHJG35F1YU180670 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser 3C8FY4BB01T696516 1995 Infiniti J30 JNKAY21DXSM213364 *** FLOOD DAMAGE/REBUILT *** 2000 Nissan Xterra 5N1DD28T5YC516215 2004 Volvo V70 YV1SW64A742439097 2

YV1SW64A742439097 2001 Honda Civic 1HGEM22921L056511 *** TOTALLOSS REBUILT *** 1997 Nissan Pickup 1N6SD11S3VC430658 2008 Honda Civic 2HGFA16958H523705 929-525416, 12/29,1/5,12

2006 Scion tC JTKDE177060137744 10 2010 Chevrolet Malibu 1G1ZC5E0XAF174511 11 2001 Mazda 626 1YVGF22D315212253 12 1999 Toyota Corolla 1NXBR12E4XZ146476 13 2005 Hyundai Elantra KMHDN46D25U925069 14 2001 Ford Focus 1FAFP36321W295602 15 2006 Pontiac G6 1G2ZG558464151685 16 2017 Toyota Camry 4T1BF1FKXHU290544 17 2006 BMW 325Ci WBABD33436PL09195 18 1999 Infiniti QX4 JNRAR07Y8XW061058 19 2003 Honda Odyssey 5FNRL18903B022545 20 2002 Ford Explorer 1FMZU73E92UB87046 21 2005 Cadillac CTS 1G6DP567450139685

There will be sold at public outcry for cash at Willard Wrecker Service, 719 Shadburn Avenue, Buford, GA 30518, on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 11:00 AM the following vehicles declared abandoned or foreclosed vehicles pursuant to O.C.G.A Section 40-1105, as follows: #; Year; Make; Model; VIN 1 2008 Ford Focus 1FAHP35N68W138189 2 1996 Honda Civic 1HGEJ6120TL020730 3 2001 Ford Expedition 1FMRU15L81LB83017 4 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1GCEK19T64E403587 5 2015 Nissan LEAF 1N4AZ0CP2FC321392 6 2005 Dodge Stratus 1B3EL46X35N525588 7 2006 Kia Spectra KNAFE121865366269 8 2007 Saturn ION 1G8AJ55F07Z186781 9

0105_GDP_FRI_CLASS_Classifieds 1/4/2018 5:03 PM Page B6

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS 22 1999 Toyota Camry JT2BF28K1X0230481 23 2005 Scion xB JTLKT334850209739 24 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix 2G2WP552X81157195 25 2008 Chevrolet Impala 2G1WB58K089255054 26 2004 Buick Century 2G4WS52J041182005 27 2013 Lexus GS 350 JTHCE1BL8D5020032 28 2001 Ford Explorer Sport 1FMYU70E41UB01771 29 1995 Honda Civic del Sol JHMEG1241SS006144 30 2005 Infiniti G35 JNKCV51E55M201168 31 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan 1D4GP24R37B253183 32 2008 BMW 335i WBAVB73508VH23622 33 2004 Oldsmobile Alero 1G3NL52F44C114356 34 1996 Nissan Sentra 3N1AB41D0TL021464 35 2004 Mercury Sable 1MEHM50U84G602437 36 2001 Infiniti QX4 JNRDR09X51W200975 37 1998 Hyundai Sonata KMHCF34T5WA070142 38 1999 Toyota Camry 4T1BG22K0XU502262 39 2004 Nissan Sentra 3N1CB51D24L882595 40 2000 Dodge Stratus 1B3EJ46X9YN137243 41 2001 Mitsubishi Galant 4A3AA46H11E149721 42 2005 Kia Sedona KNDUP131956646455 43 2005 Toyota Matrix 2T1LR3E85C347344 44 2002 Toyota Sienna 4T3ZF13C82U446784 929-526628, 1/5,12,19

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS

There will be sold at public outcry for cash at Willard Wrecker Service, 719 Shadburn Avenue, Buford, GA 30518, on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 11:00 AM the following vehicles declared abandoned or foreclosed vehicles pursuant to O.C.G.A Section 40-11-05, as follows: #; Year; Make; Model; VIN 1 1998 Toyota Corolla 2T1BR12E3WC092328 2 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty 1 F T S W31P63EC37152 3 2009 Nissan Ve r s a 3N1BC13E39L490787 4 2001 Lexus LS 430 JTHBN30F310038774 5 1997 Honda Accord 1HGCD5531VA264008 6 2004 Ford Expedition 1FMRU17W34LA70569

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS 1D7HA18N94S562078

7 2007 Scion T C JTKDE177X70152334 8 2009 Ford Crown Victoria 2FAHP71V09X112514

61 2008 Chrysler Pt Cruiser 3A8FY48BX8T113042 929-524742, 12/22,29,1/5

9 2002 Nissan Pathfinder JN8DR09X92W651056 10 1998 Volvo S70 YV1LS5584W1482777 11 2015 Chevrolet Sonic 1G1JC6SB2F4153356 12 2013 Chevrolet Sonic 1G1JC5SH6D4239555 13 Utility T912184

1995 Trailer

14 2009 Chevrolet Impala 2G1WT57K991185049 15 Ford Duty MA32641

2000 F-650 Super 3FDNF65H6Y-

16 1998 Chevrolet Malibu 1G1NE52M2W6167785 17 2002 Ford Mustang 1FAFP40482F139086 18 2010 BMW 550i GT WBASN4C58AC208522 19 1999 Cadillac Eldorado 1G6EL12Y7XU612742 20 2001 Ford Explorer Sport 1FMYU60E71UA40815 21 2008 Ford Edge 2FMDK49C08BA25986 22 1998 Honda Accord 1HGCG5641WA085063 23 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier 1G1JC124027205094 24 1996 Nissan Maxima JN1CA21D8TT748847 25 2005 Chevrolet Corvette 1G1YY24U055106200 26 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 2GTEC638481307740 27 2007 Mazda Mazda6 1YVHP80C175M28383 28 2003 Ford Ranger 1FTYR10U33PA99734 29 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle 3VWCB21C91M445554 30 2007 Honda Civic 2HGFG12857H512892 31 2009 BMW 328i WBAPH77539NM29549 2004 32 Volkswagen J e t t a 3VWSE69M54M123084 2003 33 Expedition Ford 1FMRU17W53LA33182 34 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 2G1WW12E459271351 35 1996 Lexus ES 300 JT8BF12G2T0166031 36 2008 Mini Cooper S WMWMF73568TV37818

MCCULLOUGH TOWING AUCTION LIST 785 BROGDON RD. SUWANEE, GA 30024 770-263-8483 findautoauctions.com towatl.com SATURDAY, JANUARY 6TH 2018@ 1:00PM 2002 Audi A6 WAULD64B82N071112 2007 Audi A4 WAUAF78EX7A072367 2006 BMW 750i WBAHL83526DT02517 2005 Chevrolet Malibu 1G1ZT54825F142326 Chevrolet S-10 1997 1GCCS1441V8173996 2005 Chevrolet Equinox 2CNDL13FX56159746 2007 Chrysler Sebring 1C3LC66M17N589482 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan 1D4GP24R56B573183 2007 Ford Fusion 3FAHP06Z87R124697 Ford F-150 2000 1FTZF1720YNA65559 1998 Ford Expedition 1FMPU18L0WLC48985 2003 GMC Envoy 1GKDT13S732386201 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee 1J4GS48K96C186886 1999 Lexus RX 300 JT6HF10U1X0017644 2005 Lincoln Town Car 1LNHM81W95Y640849 2005 Lincoln LS 1LNHM86S35Y616570 Mazda Mazda6 2006 1YVHP84D265M02912 2004 Nissan Maxima 1N4BA41E54C903312 2004 Nissan Sentra 3N1CB51D14L869157 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1G3GM11Y8JP313447 2008 Pontiac G6 1G2ZH57N184193038 2006 Pontiac Torrent 2CKDL63F466129749 2005 Saturn VUE 5GZCZ53425S819875 2010 Suzuki Kizashi JS2RE9A31A6101591 2005 Toyota Sienna 5TDZA23C05S291416 2008 Toyota Corolla 1NXBR32E68Z972582 1998 Toyota Rav4 JT3HP10V3W7097442 2008 Volkswagen Eos WVWBA71F48V019649 929-525122, 12/24,31,1/5

gwinnettdailypost.com

37 1992 Ford Ranger 1FTCR10U5NUC47932 38 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport JA4LS21H83J002532 39 2007 BMW 328xi WBAVC93567KX57070 40 2009 Chevrolet HHR 3GNCA13B09S502582 41 1995 Chevrolet Lumina 2G1WL52M6S1191325 42 2003 Chevrolet Tracker 2CNBE13C836951480 43 1998 Lexus ES 300 JT8BF28G7W0098326 44 1999 Pontiac Grand Am 1G2NE52T2XM856581 45 2003 Honda Civic 2HGES15523H518090 46 1993 Buick Century 3G4AG55N1PS615236 47 1992 Nissan Maxima JN1HJ01F9NT020811 48 2002 Ford Windstar 2FMZA53492BB21767 49 2003 Nissan Murano JN8AZ08T53W114686 50 2007 Saturn Aura 1G8ZV57787F253559 51 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix 1G2WR1210YF312618 52 2006 Nissan Altima 1N4BL11D16C149747 53 2002 Jeep Liberty 1J8GK58K62W203866 54 2009 Volkswagen Passat WVWML73C69E527418 55 2003 Ford Explorer 1FMZU62K63UB93714 56 2006 Ford Crown Victoria 2FAFP71W76X133730 57 1999 Toyota Solara 2T1CF28P1XC215265 58 2010 Chevrolet Malibu LS 1G1ZB5EB5AF214353 59 1999 Volkswagen G o l f 3VWFA81H3XM213040 60 2004 Dodge Tr u c k 1D7HA18N94S562078

ZONINGS CITY OF SNELLVILLE PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given to the general public that the City of Snellville has received an application (#RZ 18-01) from Empire Investments Snellville, LLC requesting to amend the Official Zoning Map from BN (Neighborhood Business) District to BG (General Business) District and request for variances from the Snellville Code of Ordinances for the redevelopment of a 9,833 sq. ft. multi-tenant retail center on a 1.297± acre property located at 2007 Scenic Highway (S.R. 124N), Snellville, Georgia (Tax Parcel 50040 039).

A Public Hearing with the Planning Commission, as provided by law, is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at the Snellville City Hall Council Chambers, Snellville City Center, 2342 Oak Road, Snellville, Georgia to consider said request and recommendation by the Planning Department, conduct a public hearing and forward a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council for consideration, public hearing and action at a later date.

For inquiries please call the Public Information Office at 770-985-3517 or visit Snellville City Hall, Department of Planning and Development, 2342 Oak Road, 2nd Floor, Snellville, Georgia 30078.

Application information may also be found on the City’s website at www.snellville. org.

934-526778, 1/5 CITY OF LILBURN Planning Commission Hearing – Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. City Council Hearing – Monday, February 12, 2018 at 7:30 P.M. 340 Main Street Lilburn, Georgia 30047 (770) 921-2210 ....................

The Planning Commission and City Council give notice that public hearings on the dates, times, and at the location as noted above are scheduled to consider: NEW BUSINESS 1. RZ-2017-02. Application of Taylor & Mathis Properties V, LLC c/o Mahaffey Pickens Tucker, LLP for a rezoning from CB, Commercial Business to IA, Industrial Activity for use as an office/ warehouse distribution center located at 550 Indian Trail Lilburn Rd., District 6, Land Lots 148 and 150, Parcels 033 and 061, containing 37.65± acres.

The above items are scheduled for the Public Hearings as noted. The site plans, legal descriptions and other information, are on file at the Lilburn Planning & Economic Department Development at 340 Main St. and may be viewed by the public between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

934-526813, 1/5 GWINNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018 AT 7:00 P.M. GWINNETT COUNTY JUSTICE AND ADMINISTRATION CENTER AUDITORIUM 75 LANGLEY DRIVE LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA 30046 THE FOLLOWING REZONING, CHANGE-INCONDITIONS, SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS, LOCATED WITHIN UNINCORPORATED GWINNETT COUNTY, ARE SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AS STATED ABOVE. SITE PLANS, LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS, AND OTHER INFORMATION ARE AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE OF THE PLANNING DIVISION, 446 WEST CROGAN STREET, LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA. OFFICE HOURS ARE 8:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. RZC2017-00023 — APPLICANT: QUIKTRIP CORPORATION C/O ANDERSON TATE & CARR, P.C.; OWNERS: F.A. PROPERTIES, INC. & LIGE K. SIMS; REZONING OF R-75, C-1, & C-2 TO C-1; CONVENIENCE STORE W/ FUEL PUMPS; DISTRICT 6 LAND LOT 195 PARCELS 095, 095L, 067, & 068; 5300 BLOCK OF JIMMY CARTER BOULEVARD; 6200 BLOCK OF JOSEPH WAY; 6200 BLOCK OF HAYES DRIVE; 3.37 ACRES. DISTRICT 2/ HOWARD RZC2017-00025 — APPLICANT: COPART, INC.; OWNERS: LYNN & PATRICIA MOON; REZONING OF R-100 M-2; AUTOMOBILE TO STORAGE LOT; DISTRICT 4 LAND LOT 272 PARCEL 001; 6200 BLOCK OF CENTERVILLE ROSEBUD ROAD; 43.3 ACRES. DISTRICT 3/ HUNTER RZR2017-00023 — APPLICANT: 4RNJ2, LLC; OWNERS: 4RNJ2, LLC & LINDA HOKETT; REZONING OF R-60 TO TND; TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT (BUFFER REDUCTION); DISTRICT 6 LAND LOT 163 PARCELS 006, 007, & 326; 5800 BLOCK OF WILLIAMS ROAD; 7.28 ACRES. DISTRICT 2/HOWARD RZM2017-00010 — APPLICANT: CAPKEY GATES AT SUGARLOAF PARTNERS LLC; OWNERS: CAPKEY GATES AT SUGARLOAF PARTNERS LLC & THE GATES AT SUGARLOAF UNIT OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; REZONING OF O-I TO R-TH; TOWNHOUSES; DISTRICT 7 LAND LOT 155 PARCELS 550, 551 & 552; 1300 BLOCK OF SATELLITE BOULEVARD; 3.55 ACRES. DISTRICT 1/BROOKS RZR2017-00022 — APPLICANT: CKK DEVELOPMENT; OWNERS: NOORUDDIN PANJWANI & SHEREZA TAJUDDIN; REZONING OF R-100 TO R-60; SINGLEFAMILY SUBDIVISION; DISTRICT 5 LAND LOT 021 PARCELS 006C & 072; 500 BLOCK OF ARNOLD ROAD; 2400-2500 BLOCKS OF FIVE FORKS TRICKUM ROAD; 10.42 ACRES. DISTRICT 2/ HOWARD RZR2017-00018 — APPLICANT: CKK DEVELOPMENT LLC; OWNERS: IH KENNEDY GROUP, LLC (JOE KENNEDY), STELLA MOONEY, AND PHILLIP & HOLLY BAGWELL; REZONING OF RL TO R-SR; SENIOR ORIENTED RESIDENCES; DISTRICT 7 LAND LOT 362 PARCELS 029, 030, 031, 069, & 070; 6200-6300 BLOCKS OF OLD SHADBURN FERRY ROAD;

ZONINGS 1700 BLOCK OF BUFORD DAM ROAD; 6500 BLOCK OF OLD GARRETT ROAD; 24.36 ACRES. DISTRICT 4/HEARD RZR2017-00011 — APPLICANT: HOME SOUTH COMMUNITIES, LLC, C/O MAHAFFEY PICKENS TUCKER, LLP; OWNER: JOHN T. LAMB; REZONING OF RA200 TO OSC; SINGLE-FAMILY SUBDIVISION; DISTRICT 7 LAND LOT 136 PARCEL 001; 2400 BLOCK OF SUNNY HILL ROAD; 2500 BLOCK OF MORGAN ROAD; 86.15 ACRES. DISTRICT 4/HEARD CIC2017-00021 – APPLICANT: TAYLOR MORRISON OF GEORGIA LLC C/O MITCH PEEVY; OWNER: TAYLOR MORRISON OF GEORGIA LLC C/O MITCH PEEVY; CHANGE IN CONDITIONS OF ZONING FOR PROPERTY ZONED TND; DISTRICT 6 LAND LOT 261 PARCEL 012; 2800-2900 BLOCKS OF PLEASANT HILL ROAD; 3600 BLOCK OF SUNSET STREET; 3000 BLOCK OF REGAL PARK COURT; 3800 BLOCK OF VILLAGE PARK DRIVE; 2.14 ACRES. DISTRICT 1/ BROOKS SUP2017-00053 — APPLICANT: CAMELIA C. GRECU; OWNER: CAMELIA C. GRECU; APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN A RA-200 ZONING DISTRICT FOR A PERSONAL CARE HOME (FAMILY); DISTRICT 1 LAND LOT 001 PARCEL 442; 3000 BLOCK OF HAMILTON MILL ROAD; 2.28 ACRES. DISTRICT 4/HEARD RZR2017-00026 — APPLICANT: SMITHTON HOMES LLC; OWNERS: DEWEY J. BENTLEY ETAL, JERRY W. BENTLEY, JEFFREY D. COOPER, & KAREN ATHA COOPER; REZONING OF R-100 TO OSC; SINGLEFAMILY SUBDIVISION; DISTRICT 4 LAND LOT 301 PARCEL 001; 2800 BLOCK OF CENTERVILLE ROSEBUD ROAD; 25.78 ACRES. DISTRICT 3/HUNTER RZR2017-00027 — APPLICANT: SMITHTON HOMES LLC; OWNER: MORGAN CLINE; REZONING OF RA-200 TO OSC; SINGLE-FAMILY SUBDIVISION (BUFFER REDUCTION); DISTRICT 5 LAND LOT 200 PARCELS 003 & 012; 800 BLOCK OF GRAYSON NEW HOPE ROAD; 54.28 ACRES. DISTRICT 3/HUNTER RZR2017-00028 — APPLICANT: SMITHTON HOMES LLC; OWNER: STEVEN HARRISON ET AL.; REZONING OF R-100 TO R-SR; SENIOR ORIENTED SUBDIVISION; DISTRICT 5 LAND LOT 124 PARCELS 020 & 061; DISTRICT 5 LAND LOT 133 PARCELS 004 & 033; 500-600 BLOCKS OF COOPER ROAD; 2800 BLOCK OF LANGLEY ROAD; 41.8 ACRES. DISTRICT 3/HUNTER RZR2017-00029 — APPLICANT: ARROWHEAD INVESTORS, LLC; OWNER: ROBBIE PRUETT; REZONING OF RA-200 TO OSC; SINGLEFAMILY SUBDIVISION; DISTRICT 7 LAND LOT 060 PARCEL 001; 2300 BLOCK OF OLD PEACHTREE ROAD; 31.65 ACRES. DISTRICT 4/ HEARD RZR2017-00030 — APPLICANT: JLCS ENTERPRISES, INC C/O MAHAFFEY PICKENS TUCKER, LLP; OWNERS: ELLEN C. BEAVERS, RICHARD SORRELL, & LANSKY PARTNERSHIP, LLLP; REZONING OF RA-200 TO R-60; SINGLE-FAMILY SUBDIVISION; DISTRICT 7 LAND LOT 102 PARCELS 017, 025, & 027; 2100-2200 BLOCKS OF SUNNY HILL ROAD; 20.55 ACRES. DISTRICT 4/HEARD SUP2017-00054 — APPLICANT: BRIAN JENABZADEH; OWNER: SHAH INVESTMENTS 1, LLC; APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN A C-2 ZONING DISTRICT FOR AUTO SALES AND RELATED SERVICES; DISTRICT 6 LAND LOT 164 PARCEL 243; 4600 BLOCK OF JIMMY CARTER BOULEVARD; 1.1 ACRES. DISTRICT 2/HOWARD P&D BOC TBL 1-23 934-526774, 1/5

FULL TIME

CLEANING TECHS Needed. Must have car & driver’s license.

No wkends. By appt. only. 770-277-0200.

Maid-4-You, Inc COMPUTER/IT Datamatics Consultants, Inc. Duluth, GA needs a Consultant (Software Engineer) to design and develop embedded systems for auto infotainment vertical. Will use C, C++, C#, RTOS, RTC, Design Patterns, and Enterprise Architecture.

Will develop software updates using USB and Over the Air (OTA) update. Will provide services to client throughout the U.S. Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Computer Applications and 5 years of embedded systems experience, which includes 3 years of experience in the skill sets listed in the job description. Must be willing to travel/relocate.

Must have authority to work permanently in the U.S. Send resumes to: ekta@datamatics.us

FULL TIME HOSPITALITY

FARMS, LOTS & ACREAGE FOR SALE LOGANVILLE, GA 30052 ETCHISON RD

The Homewood Suites in Lawrenceville, GA is now hiring for multiple positions.

Hotels are now accepting applications for the following positions: HOMEWOOD SUITES 1775 NORTH BROWN ROAD • Continental Breakfast Host/Hostess (Part-Time) • Room Attendant (Full-Time) All positions will be filled with selfmotivated candidates with positive attitudes!

Hotel experience is a plus! Flexible schedule including weekends is a must!

Complete benefits package, including 401k and profit sharing, offered for F/T employees.

If this is the opportunity for you, please apply online at https://www.quali tyoilnc.com/careerscurrentopenings/#Hotel

MAKE OFFER! Beautiful 2.68 Acre Wooded Tract of Land.

200 feet of road frontage.

Not divisible.

Per planning and development mobile homes are permitted.

No metal type storage container structures are not permitted on $65,000 parcel.

Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealty professionals.com MONROE, GA 30656 JIM DAWS RD

LOGANVILLE, GA 30052 4433 BEAVER TREE STREET

2 STORY On Full Finished Basement.

5 Bedrooms 3 Full Baths $229,900 EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com MONROE, GA 30656

SMITH GRADING COMPANY SPECIALTY IN HOME SITES AND CLEARING NEED WORK Free Estimates CALL LARRY, 678-614-1230

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

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

Delivered & Dumped

ACREAGE PRICE REDUCTION! Great 32.53+/- acre tract zoned A2, perfect for livestock, farming, hunting, or build your dream home.

Property has a 20 foot easement for access.

Motivated Sellers, Bring All Offers! $211,445 Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

LICENSED

770-932-1751 Cell 770-313-5751 HOME REPAIR/ REMODELING

POWER WASHING

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

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

For a FREE Estimate

Call John

CALL OR TEXT

770-962-2071

404.886.3587

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

Established 1989

ROOMMATE WANTED /ROOM FOR RENT

VEHICLES

GWINNETT, LAWRENCEVILLE:

HOUSEMATE-Prvt entry, XL rm & closet, micro kit, lounge/dining area. $430 mo. 678-6898821/ 678-848-8872

APPLIANCES

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

COMMERCIAL RENTALS

SNELLVILLE, GA 30078 BIRD LANE

REFRIGERATOR:

Ford Econoline, 2008 SUPER CLEAN VANS, 83k miles with 12 month/12k mile warranties. 4 to choose from. $7850.

CALL NOW! 678-322-9302 FORD TRANSIT, 2013 SUPER CLEAN TRANSIT CONNECT XLT. Runs perfect, current emissions, has 12 mo./12k mile.

Warranty on motor/trans. $7550.

CALL NOW! 678-322-9302

FRIGIDAIRE GALLERY

BROOKWOOD SCHOOLS 1.03 Acre Wooded Zoned RS180.

Lot located in older established Snellville neighborhood in Brookwood Elementary School district. Water, sewer, gas and electric available but no connected at property.

No disclosure.

Owner purchased as investment property.

Zoned RS180. $36,500 Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealty professionals.com LAKE/RIVER/COASTAL PROPERTY FOR SALE EATONTON, GA 31024 210 RIVER LAKE DR.

CONYERS•APPROX. 3000 S. F. OF OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE. Ready for build-out in Conyers. Connected to a thriving medical practice with ample parking & easy access off & on I-20 & Hwy 138. Call Kenneth, 770-922-9222

FIREWOOD

ALL OAK FIREWOOD FOR SALE $120 “Heaping Truckload”, Stacked, Gwinnett Area.

404-805-1783

FIREWOOD Seasoned Oak & Hickory.

Delivery or Pick Up. Call For Prices.

770-962-8744 COMMERCIAL SPACE 4665 Suite 100 & 800 SUITE 100 1,319 Sq. Ft. $1648 per month & $492 per month CAM SUITE 800 1,479 Sq. Ft. $2300 per month $548 per month CAM

Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealty professionals.com

LAKE OCONEE Beautiful shaded lake lot with hardwoods and seawall with great views of Lake Oconee.

Approximately 120 ft water frontage.

Old mobile home used to sit on this property so septic is in place.

What a scenic place to build your dream home or vacation home. $240,000.

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

JEEP WRANGLER, SPORT 4.0, 1998 Red With Black Top, Lift Kit, New Tires, Many Extras. Looks & Drives Great! $7450.

770-519-3438

VEHICLES CHEVROLET IMPALA LT, 2013, Remote start, On Star, moon roof, flex fuel, Michelin, elderly owner. $7,995. 770-616-7399 DODGE WORK VAN, RAM 2500, 1995, 1 owner, like new, custom cabinets, loaded, V8, AC, heat, customized seats. $1995. 678-620-6792

GWINNETT CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING DEADLINES

LINERS

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT APTS/DUP/CONDOS/ T’HOMES FOR RENT

PUBLICATION DAY

DEADLINE

Wednesday Friday Sunday

Monday 3 pm Thursday 3 pm Friday 11:30 am

DISPLAY ADS

2 Communities!

One on Singleton Road & One on Law’ville-Suwanee Road! 2BR & 3BR, 2BA, Fireplace, Vaulted Ceilings, Off Street Parking.

Starting @ $950/mo.

B.C. PROPERTIES 770-446-1550 770-995-8828 MOBILE HOMES & LOTS FOR RENT BARROW-AUBURN 1-2-3 BEDROOMS IN MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY. Rent Starting at $100/ week. Large Lots.

770-513-3151

26 Cu. Ft., Side-By-Side, Almond, Ice Maker, $325.00.

Call 770-483-4771

LOGANVILLE, GA 30052 4665 ATLANTA HWY

GWINNETT DUPLEXES ACREAGE Older 4 Sided Brick Ranch Home On Wooded 39+ Acre Parcel.

Family rm w/fireplace, formal dining room, spacious kitchen, laundry area, full bath and large bedrooms!

2 creeks cross the property in back. +/-1012 feet of road frontage. $242,000 Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealty professionals.com

COUNTRY BOY TREE REMOVAL

678-654-8329

1155 Jim Daws Rd. CONSULTANT (ENGINEER) Datamatics Consultants, Inc. Duluth, GA needs a Consultant (Engineer) to engage in system design and engineering for automotive clients. Will specifically focus on navigation systems. Will utilize CAN protocols and IN Vehicle networking protocols. Will utilize NEO VI tools. Will provide services to clients throughout the U.S. Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Engineering, and 2 years of experience in the skill sets listed in the job description. Must be willing to travel/relocate.

Must have authority to work permanently in the U.S. Send resumes to: ekta@datamatics.us

BRIAN’S TREE & HANDYMAN SERVICES • Total Tree Removal • Plant Trees • Plant Shrubs • Shrub Removal • Bobcat Work • Dump Truck Work • Grass Planting • Gutters • Storm Drains • Pressure Washing • Painting • Roofing Repairs • Wood Repairs • Driveway Repairs

CLEARING/GRADING /EXCAVATION

Both end units and have GREAT visibility on busy Hwy 78 in Loganville, GA HOUSES FOR SALE

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE

7 DAYS A WEEK Senior Citizen Discount - Insured 20 years Experience

MONROE, GA FORRESTER CEMETERY ROAD

LABORER Premier Maintenance, Inc., 465 Maltbie St., Ste 205, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 is hiring laborer for sod laying, planting, mowing, trimming, watering, digging, spreading dirt, raking, pruning, mulching, and loading and unloading materials. Lifting required up to 50lbs.

On the job training.

No education or experience required.

Pre-employment employer paid drug test required. $13.83/ hr. $20.75 O.T. 6am2:30pm, M-F, Some O.T. & weekends may be available. 15 positions available for temporary, fulltime work. 04/01/18-11/23/18.

Gwinnett County area jobsites. Transportation provided to and from area jobsites from a central Gwinnett County area pick up location.

Contact Mike by calling 770-962-0632 or email resume to mikegower@ premiermaintenanceinc. com. Apply at Gwinnett County Career Center @ (770) 840-2200 Job Order #1908794706.

Assistance finding and securing lodging is available. Employer will advance against pay up to $75.00/day at the end of each work day for room and board at no interest for the first 2 weeks, if needed. Workers will be provided transportation (including meals & necessary lodging) to the place of employment if the worker completes 50% of the employment period. Return transportation will be provided if the worker completes the employment period or is dismissed early by the employer. Employer will provide, at no charge, all tools, supplies and equipment required to perform the job.

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to speak with a Sales Rep. or you can place an ad online at www.gwinnettdailypost.com

we Gwinnett Daily Post

weekend entertainment FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2018

RINK

in the new year Sugar Hill ice skating a seasonal tradition — Page 4C

10 spot the

The best place to live in the United States? According to the 2017 rankings by U.S. News and World Report, it’s deep in the heart of Texas. Austin ranks No. 1.

Atlanta? According to these rankings, it is No. 50.

Here is the top 10:

1. Austin 2. Denver 3. San Jose, Calif.

4. Washington, D.C. 5. Fayetteville, Ark.

the dish

6. Seattle 7. Raleigh and Durham, N.C. 8. Boston, Mass.

9. Des Moines, Iowa 10. Salt Lake City, Utah

new on screen

Movie critic Michael Clark reviews Western film ‘Hostiles,’ starring Rosamund Pike, left, and Christian Bale — Page 8C

— Page 2C

a look ahead

Jan. 6, 7 Repticon — If you like reptiles, this is the event for you. Held at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, the event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 6 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 7. Tickets are $12.

Jan. 20 4th Annual Women’s Wellness Day — This event is held Feb Sunday, at the Infinite Energy Center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is putRegister on no

by Gwinnett Medical Early regist Center. There will be free Dec 3 screening and aAfter chance talk to some of GwinRace day - $ nett’s most esteemed medical experts. Cost is $10 online and $15 at the door. For more information, go to www.gmcwomenswellness.com.

The Drifters – The famous group will perform at the Buford Community Center at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 and $35.

For more information, go to www.bufordcommunitycenter.com.

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dining

dish the

Fresh off the Boat 5885 Cumming Highway, Suite 107, Sugar Hill www.fobatl.com 678-687-4256

One of the most popular items on the menu is the Maguronaldo. It is a poke bowl with regular and spicy tuna. (Staff Photos: Trevor McNaboe)

BY TREVOR MCNABOE trevor.mcnaboe @gwinnettdailypost.com

Owner: Rae Lee and Poke Parlor Open since: Nov.11 Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Location: It is located off of the intersection of Cumming Highway and Suwanee Dam Road in the Sugar Hill Corners Shopping Center.

Atmosphere: Hawaiian poke (rhymes with “OK”) bowl restaurants have started springing up all over the country as the latest trend in fast-casual food. Rae Lee, the Planning Director of Fresh off the Boat, or FOB for short, is getting in on the craze and adding a twist to it.

So what is a poke bowl and why is it rising in popularity?

A simple way to describe the dish is as a raw fish salad that traditionally is served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine, but more and more often is being used as an entree.

“Everywhere poke restaurants are opening,” Lee said.

“We find ourselves more like a cafeteria version of poke bars because we are in a neighborhood area.”

Lining the walls of the restaurant are lights and decorations from various

countries. Japanese paper lanterns along with a dim lit store make for an intimate ambience.

The restaurant has also imported Japanese products such as cookies, gum and other assorted items.

“Many retail outlets have started incorporating cafeterias and restaurants into their business,” Lee said. “So why not have a restauarant sell stuff to compete?”

Lee was a student at University of California-San Diego and initially wanted to be a journalist. With the downturn in the economy a decade ago he found himself interested in the food industry.

He started off as a food supplier in charge of handling food for Japanese restaurants in the Charlotte, Raleigh and Atlanta areas.

He left that company three years later to go to California and Hawaii to study food products.

“This combination of food was good, so we decided to make a business here,” Lee said.

Menu: Lee touts FOB for using a fresh assortment of ingredients in all of its items on the menu. A popular poke bowl at FOB is the Maguronaldo. The bowl features tuna and spicy tuna as the main addition to full serving, something different from a normal salmon and tuna combination. Each

GWINNETT TASTES A selection of local eateries recently featured in the Gwinnett Daily Post: The Blaxican The Blaxican started as a food truck on the streets of Atlanta and has grown to the point that owner Will Turner opened a brick-and-mortar location in November.

The Blaxican is located off of Medlock Bridge Road and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Peachtree Corners in what used to be a Quizno’s. Turner has made it his own and has come up with a family-friendly

atmosphere.

The fusion of foods on the menu is diverse but sticks to soul food and Mexican food — hence the name of the restaurant. Turner has recently, however, added a Blasian taco to the menu which fuses Asian and soul foods. With five culinary school students on his staff, Turner expects the menu to continue growing.

5260 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners, 404-606-3737, www.blaxicanfood.com/the-restaurant The Diner at Webb Gin

ON THE MENU

Fresh off the Boat is located in the Sugar Hill Corners Shopping Center.

Halo Flower Tea: White tea infused with blueberry and white peach essence. Made with Halo flower placed into the pot and ready to drink when the flower opens it after soaking in the warm brew, $7 for a pot Maguronaldo Poke Bowl: Tuna and spicy tuna, spring mix, spinach, kale, seaweed salad and ginger, brown rice, edamame, and topped off with shredded crab meat and green and black olives, $11 Salmonday Poke Bowl: Smoked salmon, albacore, spring mix, spinach, kale, seaweed salad and ginger, brown rice, edamame, and topped off with shredded crab meat and green and black olives, $12 Chickarito Poke Bowl: Chicken brushed with bbq sauce and grilled, spring mix, spinach, kale, seaweed salad and ginger, brown rice, edamame, and topped off with shredded crab meat and green and black olives, $10 Fruit Mountain: Shaved ice topped with strawberries, pineapples, bananas in a chilled bowl. $8/$11

said. “It has become our concept.”

This Asian fusion restaurant, unlike others, has a preset menu, and Lee said he has invested a large amount of time in finding combinations to keep customers coming back.

What you might not Fresh off the Boat offers different types of tea for custom- know: Lee said FOB is ers. One of its most popular teas is the Halo tea. already seeing returning customers, but with winter here, bowl comes with a layer of Lee said many poke they are doing a special spring mix, spinach, kale, restaurants use a traditional that gives customers free seaweed salad and ginger. rice base, topped with fish. miso soup to go with their They also add brown rice At Fresh off the Boat, he purchase if the temperature and edamame to complewanted to incorporate more is under 40 degrees, or it is ment the green mix, and vegetables to hammer home raining outside. the bowl is topped off with the idea of fresh ingredients.

“We want to be a place of tea or some miso soup,’” shredded crab meat and “We only use brown rice, that people say, ‘It’s cold Lee said. “It’s a great area green and black olives. no white rice at all,” Lee outside, we need to get a cup and we love it here.”

Owners Miriam Chang and Bob Kim have been in the restaurant business for about 20 years so they know how to treat their customers. The Diner at Webb Gin, which opened in September, features a full bar, dessert case and plenty of seating — a maximum occupancy of 240 to be exact.

Chang wanted a restaurant feel with a diner’s menu. There is something for everyone, from breakfast to American w food to Italian and Greek food.

Prices range from $5 to $10 dollars for breakfast items

such as French toast and omelets, and $10 to $25 for lunch and dinner for a variety of food, which Chang has made with her own recipes.

1350 Scenic Highway, Suite 900, Snellville, (470) 282-3335, www.thedineratwebbgin.com Good Word Brewing and Public House Good Word’s interior looks like it has been in a warehouse for a century, featuring brick walls, crafted leather booths, and walnut tables and chairs.

The brewery is intended to be a place where people can

gather, talk and connect over beer and good food.

The food is a mix of Puerto Rican and Southern cuisine inspired by co-owner Todd DiMatteo’s grandmother, who moved here from Puerto Rico 50 years ago. DiMatteo said she was still learning to cook at the time from her motherin-law, DiMatteo’s greatgrandmother, and a mash-up of recipes occurred.

Prices range from $7 for Shishito peppers to $14 for the Americano Hamburgersa.

The Pernil ($14) is the best

example of the Puerto RicanSouthern cooking offered. It is a braised pork shoulder that sits on a bed of Carolina gold rice and Sea Island red peas.

Good Word offers six beers made on premises ranging from the Saison Donna-Maria to the Never Sleep IPA. They also have an American Blonde and British ales on tap along with two sour beers including a lemony, tart Berliner Weisse called Colonel Sprouse.

3085 Main St., Duluth, 404973-2077, www.goodwordbrewing.com

NOW OPEN! 3520 Gravel Springs Road, Buford, Georgia 30519

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Good through January 31, 2018.

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3170 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Suite 195, Duluth, GA 30087

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Tannery Row salutes annual ‘Winner’s Circle’ of member artists Art Beat

Holley Calmes

Tannery Row Artist Colony has a unique way each year of honoring its current group of awardwinning member artists.

Prize winners from Tannery Row’s two annual juried shows in 2017 now enjoy their own featured exhibition at the highly regarded artists’ enclave in Historic Buford.

The Winner’s Circle exhibit opens Jan. 6 and runs through Feb. 2 at Tannery Row, located at 554 W. Main St. in Buford. The exhibition is free to the public and is open to view from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Six Tannery Row member artists are featured

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— Debra Barnhart, Donna Biggee, Gena Brodie Robbins, Judy Isaak, George Nock and Kelley Turley.

The artists work in a variety of media including painting, bronze sculpture, ceramics, mixed media and digital art.

The individuals were awarded prizes for their work in Tannery Row’s 2017 Spring and Fall juried shows. The jurors were Angela Nichols, Director of Exhibitions and Programs at the Hudgens Center for the Arts; and

by Paula Lindner, Assistant Director of the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville.

Gena Brodie Robbins will exhibit works from her Illumination Series.

“I’m interested in portraying the various emotions and moods that can be visually created through dramatic light in combination with the abstract human form,” Robbins said. “My mission for this series is to explore both internal and external illumination through layers of transparent neutrals, transitioning warm and cool darks, and the application of colorful, bold marks.”

“My paintings are a scrapbook of my life,” Donna Biggee said. “I don’t take trips to paint the popular scenes. What intrigues me more are the back roads, my own family history, and the paths that I travel. I am captivated with alleys and old buildings teeming with character. What grabs me is the extraordinariness of the ordinary.”

Debra Barnhart will display artwork from her “Endling” series based on photographs

“Early Morning Alley” by Donna Biggee will be on view as part of the Winner’s Circle exhibition at Buford’s Tannery Row Artist Colony through Feb. 2. (Special Photo)

from her travels in South Africa during September.

Included in the series are works portraying elephants, cheetahs, zebras and lions.

“These are portraits of animals that are in danger due to human encroachment, illegal hunting and climate change. In each portrait, I’ve tried to capture the unique spirit of the animal,” Barnhart said.

Judy Isaak is the resident ceramic artist at Tannery Row Artist Colony.

“When I began these ceramic bowls of slab construction, I thought back to years ago when I was a child and television was just becoming a fixture in people’s homes,” Isaak said. “One day I watched a TV show that

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highlighted a glass blower blowing a large bottle.

I was enthralled and dreamed of being a glass blower when I grew up.

“I lived on a farm in southern Manitoba, Canada, and there was no opportunity to learn to blow glass. Years later I lived in a small town where two potters taught classes. Pottery lessons satisfied my creativity, and I began a life of learning that continues today.”

For more information about this exhibition and Tannery Row, visit www. tanneryrowartistcolony. org.

Holley Calmes is a freelance writer and public relations consultant specializing in the arts.

Email her at hcalmes@ mindspring.com.

4C • FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018

gwinnettdailypost.com

Ice escapade

Left, customers get their skates on and get ready to hit the ice at the Ice Rink at Sugar Hill. The venue, shown below, has drawn an average of 15,000 people per year since its opening three years ago. (Staff Photos: Trevor McNaboe)

In its fourth year, Sugar Hill skating rink a new tradition

BY TREVOR MCNABOE

trevor.mcnaboe@gwinnettdailypost.com

W

hen you think of winter, many from the North think of hot chocolate, ice skating on frozen ponds and chilly weather. In Georgia, it’s not easy finding a frozen pond safe for skating, but one local city has remedied that problem.

For the fourth straight year, the Ice Rink at Sugar Hill is open for business, with people flocking to the northern part of Gwinnett to enjoy some ice time.

The rink, which has become a seasonal tradition, sits on the Dawn P. Gober Community Plaza, overlooked by Sugar Hill

City Hall and adjacent to The Bowl Amphitheater.

The rink is a partnership between the city and Have an Ice Day Rinks, which is the same ice rink company that Sugar Hill has worked with in previous years.

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“The Ice Rink at Sugar Hill is a great way to bring the community together.

We are excited to have a thriving downtown yearround, from concerts and the splash park during the summer to ice skating in the winter,” Sugar Hill Mayor Steve Edwards said in a press release. “The skating rink is now a family tradition and we hope to see many of our neighbors and the surrounding community on the ice.”

The operators of the rink call it “The Southeast’s Biggest Outdoor Skating Rink” — and that title, along with more than 20 years of experience, has prompted more than 15,000 people to visit the rink each winter.

“This is a really family environment,” Ice Rink at Sugar Hill manager Leon Agostinho said. “We try to keep it clean here, this is a nice place and we want to keep it that way.”

The rink has a busy schedule, playing host to birthday parties and school spirit nights — entertaining skaters from the time it opens in November through its last day Feb. 11.

“We have four schools involved in the School Spirit night fundraiser,” Agostinho

IF YOU GO What: Ice Rink at Sugar Hill When: Open through Feb. 11 Where: 5039 Broad St., Sugar Hill Cost: $12 general admission; $10 for children More info: Visit www. haveanicedayrinks.com

said. “We give back 30 percent to the schools during that time.”

Each year, more people have been visiting as word has spread with Agostinho saying they’ve had not only Gwinnett County residents pay a visit, but people from the surrounding areas as well.

“People from Madison,

Social Circle and as far as Ridgeland are all coming here because this place is so nice,” Agostinho said.

A recent trip to the rink the day after Christmas found adults and children alike skating laps while enjoying the holidays.

“We came out here because we wanted to do something active in this beautiful weather,” Suwanee resident Kim Jarski said.

Jarski and her daughter Abby were both visiting the Ice Rink for the first time, however, they’ve both been ice skating before.

“I really enjoyed it and want to come back,” Abby Jarski said.

Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for children.

See a Film in Fernbank’s Giant Screen Theater The smaller you are the bigger the adventure.

Enjoy a moment of sunshine.

Now showing through February 8

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Find your moment of sunshine at

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018 • 5C

gwinnettdailypost.com

Fernbank to hold birdhouse contest

BY ISABEL HUGHES

should mimic a functional birdhouse, though all access points must be sealed.

All houses must have Atlanta’s natural history a solid back or base for museum is asking artists to mounting, weigh less than imagine how they would 25 pounds and measure a want their house to look if maximum of 24 inches tall they were a bird, and then by 24 inches wide by 12 create that vision. inches deep and a minimum Beginning Jan. 15, Fern- of 12 inches tall by 12 bank Museum will accept inches wide by 12 inches artist registrations for its deep. birdhouse exhibit, Spring The competition is open Birdhouses, which will be to adult artists or groups on display in the Wildwho reside or are based in Woods Nature Gallery from Georgia and individuals March 3 through June 10. must be at least 18 years The best creations, which old to enter. All groups should be nature-inspired, must have at least one priwill be included in the mary contact. exhibit and awards will be Other guidelines include: given for first through third • Construction materials places. A “fan favorite” are the responsibility of the birdhouse will also be entrant; selected after opening day • All birdhouses must of the exhibit. be delivered complete and The designs, which will Fernbank will install them; be for display only and • Maximum of one entry not inhabitable by birds, for individual or group; isabel.hughes @gwinnettdailypost.com

• Fernbank reserves the right to refuse any entry that does not follow the guidelines or for any other purpose; • Fernbank is not responsible for loss or damage to submissions. Exhibited birdhouses that deteriorate to an unacceptable condition may be removed at any time during the display; • Artists not chosen for display will have until March 10 to pick up their birdhouse; and • Participating artists will have 15 calendar days after the close of the exhibition to pick up their birdhouse.

The first place winner will receive $250 in cash, second place a one-year Fernbank Explorer membership and third place four giant screen movie passes.

Non-toxic finishes and natural materials are preferred, as the museum requests artists to keep the

environment in mind when creating their pieces.

Restricted materials include: • Glass or other sharp objects; • Food items; • Eastern hemlock materials; and • Non-native invasive species, such as English Ivy, Monkey Grass, Privet, etc.

Registration will run Jan. 15 to Feb. 1 and birdhouses will be accepted for judging from 8 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 23 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 24. Artists selected for birdhouse display will be notified no later than March 2.

Registration costs $25 and can be completed online at fernbankmuseum. org/birdhouses. For questions about materials or to receive additional information, email birdhouses@ fernbankmuseum.org.

Retired general coming to Peachtree Corners

BY CURT YEOMANS

was commanding nearly 25,000 troops as the deputy commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division and A retired general who has Joint Task Force in Afghaniappeared as a commentator stan. He has appeared as a guest commentator on Fox on several news networks and TV shows is coming to News, CNN, “The Today Show” and CBS’ “The Peachtree Early Show” since then.

Corners.

He has written nine ficThe tion books as well. Among Gwinnett them are national best County sellers, such as “Foreign Public and Domestic,” “Three Library Minutes to Midnight” and system announced “Besieged.” His most recent A.J. Tata book is “Direct Fire,” where retired America becomes the front Brig. Gen. A.J. Tata will line in the war on terror. visit Peachtree Corner’s The program is free to atPrototype Prime at 7 p.m.

Saturday for a program and tend and library system officials said copies of Tata’s book signing. Tata spent more than 30 years in public books will be available for purchase and signing. service between military Prototype Prime’s adand leadership roles at the dress is 147 Technology county and state level.

Parkway, Suite 100.

His final tour in combat

curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com

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ENDLESS VACATIONS Savannas Preserve State Park

Photo credit: Peter W. Cross

With a rainbow behind him, a kayaker sets off in Savannas Preserve State Park. Stretching about 10 miles from Fort Pierce to Jensen Beach, the park, established in 1978, protects diverse ecosystems: pine flatwood, wet prairie, marsh lake, scrubby flatwood and sand pine scrub. Those jewels are tucked away behind the high coastal ridge that borders the nearby Indian River Lagoon and the much-extolled bounty of that estuary.

Parasailing above Seven-Mile Bridge

Photo credit: Peter W. Cross and Patrick Farrell

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The Florida Keys are a visual wonder by land, sea and air. Beneath the parasailers are the modern and old Seven-Mile bridges. The new span is part of the Overseas Highway, certainly one of the most scenic drives on earth.

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825 MILES OF BEACHES

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For official sweepstakes rules, visit gwinnettdailypost.com/contests and view the rules for The Winter Escape Contest or stop by the Gwinnett Daily Post.

FISHING CAPITAL OF WORLD

This is no empty boast. There is opportunity: 7,700 lakes, 10,550 miles of rivers and 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline, plus a bounty of freshwater and saltwater species. In Islamorada in the Florida Keys, you can feed tarpon from a dock or catch your own.

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This is where the pros play. No matter where you land in Florida, a tournament-caliber course is nearby. The LPGA (Daytona Beach) and PGA (Ponte Vedra Beach) are headquartered here; the World Golf Hall of Fame is in St. Augustine.

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movies

‘Downsizing’ film fans

Alfred Richner, Duluth

SEE IT NOW OR WAIT

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE

WHO WILL LIKE THIS...

Without a doubt, Hong Chau killed it. There is a non-familyfriendly dialog between her and Matt Damon that will forever live — you’ll have to see the movie to understand the context. Her performance made the movie.

Sci-fi fans and kids of all ages (if they could go see the movie) will gobble up the Lilliputian world created as the solution to middle class money woes.

It is not a must-see at the movie theater.

Enjoyed the escapism of this movie concept and was pleasantly surprised by the strong acting of Hong Chau. As mentioned before, her dialogue with Matt Damon made the movie. The concept of Lilliputian communities around the world was cute. The movie message was quite somber and dark and will remain in our minds as the world becomes over populated.

Matt Damon delivered the standout performance in this film.

His facial expressions, tone of voice, and movements were on point, and he made the strange concept of downsizing believable and entertaining.

Fans of the science fiction genre will enjoy this film the most.

Most of its themes are based in science, and the producers’ creative twists on the well-known concept of shrinking are entertaining and fun.

I’d recommend waiting on Blu-ray. The theater screens and speakers are always nice, but they don’t contribute much to this film as its purpose seems to be less to entertain or to amaze through cinematic effects and more to form social and political commentary.

“Downsizing” is worth seeing no matter who you are. Its cast is excellent, and they make the film funny and keep it from becoming overly serious. Damon’s interactions with Christoph Waltz and Hong Chau are sure to make even the most grave crack a smile. The ideas behind this film were very good. It just could have been executed better and for that reason, I score it in the intermediate range.

Matt Damon did an OK job in his role as Paul, a guy who lives a humdrum existence in Omaha along with wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig in a mostly wasted role, since she’s only on screen for about 15 minutes). Damon plays Paul as a kind of “everyman” type who is doing OK but not great in his life, and who is enticed by the offer of being shrunk in size in order to “save the planet” and then cash out big with a sizable early retirement.

The talented Jason Sudeikis was also a non-factor in a supporting role as one of Paul and Audrey’s friends. Hong Chau brought some good emotions and energy as political activist Lan Tran, and Christoph Walz provided some mild comic relief as Paul’s wacko neighbor Dusan, but neither could save this tepid and confusing film.

Some sci-fi fans might like at least the beginning of “Downsizing” as it delves into the concept, research and technology of shrinking people.

Based on the trailers that have been announcing this film for the past couple of months, you might think “Downsizing” is a comedy — however, you would be sorely mistaken. Whatever humorous parts are in this flick are very few and very far between; some of them just made me either cringe or roll my eyes.

“Downsizing” was barely worth the loot spent on seeing it at matinee prices, so downsize your budget and wait for this one on Netflix (and pray you have nothing better to do with your time when you watch it).

Once again, Hollywood marketing folks have spliced together a few snippets from an upcoming film and pitch it to be what looks to be an entertaining, engaging comedy/satire. Alas, “Downsizing” only holds water for the first 30 minutes, then goes off the rails on several tangential story lines that leave the viewer mightily underwhelmed.

PASS/FAIL

Pass: The concept of the movie was very intriguing, could the world be saved if we all shrink, shrinking our material needs too? Once you are past the movie premise, it becomes a dysfunctional love story with a happy ending. It was not as corny as “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” The story was well made, and the Lilliputian actors were believable. The cinematography was excellent.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Film Fans features local residents reviewing the movie of the week:“Downsizing.” To be a film fan, email features@gwinnettdailypost. com.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

Fail: The movie was all done at a comic book pace until the character of Hong Chau (Ngoc Lan Tran) took over and won the hearts of film-goers.

★★★★ Pass: “Downsizing” is a creative, unique film. Its most successful aspect was its social and political commentary.

The idea of humans being so wasteful that they’re forced to undergo the unnatural process in the film to survive (as a species) is an indictment on our species’ overpopulation and reliance on nonrenewable resources.

Robi McGarvey, Lawrenceville

★★★★

Fail: This novel idea wasn’t executed as well as it could have been.

The most glaring failure in this film is its plot. This movie tries too hard to be liberal as Paul (Matt Damon) illustrates, quite obviously, several aspects/values of the liberal sect throughout the film.

Additionally, the producers did an inadequate job of explaining the environmental issues in the film.

Pass: Good casting; interesting movie premise and social satire that raised good moral questions at the beginning of the film; decent acting most of the time.

Fail: Overly long running time; unfocused plot, storyline and direction that resulted in a flick that spent most of its energy meandering all over the place; heavy-handed emphasis on a theme of “doing the right thing” with no real attempt made to define what “right” is.

Tim Weekley, Suwanee

★★★★

COMING SOON TO OWN

DISC SPOTLIGHT MICHAEL CLARK

American Made Blu-ray (R) Movie: ★★★★ Disc: ★★★★ Director Doug Liman delivers the best “Martin Scorsese” movie since “The Departed” with this strung-out, acidtrip black comedy thriller. Tom Cruise stars as Barry Seal, a commercial airline pilot recruited by the CIA to run guns to Nicaraguan Freedom Fighters and later

by Mexican drug lords to transport cocaine into the U.S. Told from the very welcomed, rarelyused “unreliable narrator” method of storytelling, “American Made” is a stinging rebuke of the

nically a tragedy, the “based on a true lie” movie is dripping with scathing and astute satirical bite.

Technical specs: aspect ratio: Widescreen (1.85:1/1080p), audio: English (DTS: X), French and Spanish (DTS 5.1), subtitles: English, French and Spanish.

Special features include: • Additional DVD and Digital Copy • Six featurettes often double standard • Deleted scenes position of the U.S. gov• First edition slipcover ernment when it comes to packaging covert operations. Tech(Universal, $39.95)

• “The Foreigner” (Jan. 9): Determined to avenge his daughter’s death, a businessman (Jackie Chan) targets a former IRA member turned politician (Pierce Brosnan). (R) • “It” (Jan. 9): Extremely potent at the box office, Stephen King’s chiller pits several Maine youngsters against the sinister clown Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard). (R) • “Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House” (Jan. 9): Liam Neeson plays the informant who was known as “Deep Throat” during the Watergate investigation. (PG-13) • “Goodbye Christopher Robin” (Jan. 23): Domhnall Gleeson plays “Winnie-the-Pooh” creator A.A. Milne, whose son (Will Tilston) was the real Christopher Robin. (PG) • “Ray Donovan: The Fifth Season” (Jan. 30): A round of the Showtime series that features Susan Sarandon in a major guest role also sets up the Liev Schreiber-starring drama’s forthcoming sixth year. (Not rated) • “The Deuce: The Complete First Season” (Feb. 13): James Franco plays dual roles in the HBO drama series about the birth of the pornography business in early-1970s New York.

(Not rated)

NOW SHOWING Recently reviewed films now playing in metro area theaters. Ratings are out of 4 stars.

Pitch Perfect 3 (PG-13) — 2 stars The last in the trilogy following the singing a cappella group the Barden Bellas, “Pitch Perfect 3” is a sequel that I can’t imagine a lot of people were clamoring for. Does it hit all the right notes? No. Is it still entertaining to watch?

Yes. And it is entertaining enough that I think most will enjoy it. — Kristen Hansen Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (PG-13) — 3 stars This Dwayne Johnsonled sequel/reboot of the Robin Williams classic

is better than expected.

Instead of a supernatural board game, the young heroes are trapped in a video game jungle as the characters they selected, to disconcerting results.

Also starring Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan, it’s part “The Goonies,” part “Tron,” and part “The Breakfast Club” — and all escapist fun. — Khari J. Sampson Star Wars: The Last Jedi (PG-13) — 2 1/2 stars Episode VIII of the Disney-revived space fantasy picks up where 2015’s “The Force Awakened” left off, with the Resistance on the run from the evil First Order while new heroine Rey (Daisy Ridley) seeks training in the Force from

Jedi master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). It’s a different sort of Star Wars movie, one that refuses to answer fans’ questions and subverts their expectations.

You’ll either love it wildly or be wildly disappointed.— KS Coco (PG) — 4 stars Disney/Pixar brings the Land of the Dead to life with this story surrounding Miguel, an aspiring musician, and his family on Dia de los Muertos. Set in Mexico, Miguel accidentally is transported to the Land of the Dead where he must get his family’s blessing to play music to return to the living world. Filled with beautiful animation, an authentic score and funny, clever jokes, “Coco” will

entertain all generations and hopefully start a conversation about family and heritage. — Alex Tostado A Bad Moms Christmas (R) — 2 1/2 stars Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn return in this holiday-themed sequel.

This time, the trio are beset by their own mothers and the heightened expectations of the Christmas season. Though not as good as the late summer 2016 original — it’s a bit too broad this time — “BMC” continues to have fun with the premise. — KS Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri — 4 stars This smoldering drama works better than the

super-clunky title. Frances McDormand is brilliant as a single mom who makes a bold statement to call fresh attention to her daughter’s death. What happens next, no one is ready for. At once cathartic and troubling, it’s one of the best films of the year. — KS Mudbound (R) — 3 1/2 stars Director Dee Rees and Netflix have provided a sobering look into the American south during and after World War II. With an ensemble cast that includes a wonderful Mary J. Blige in her debut, Mudbound tells the story of two families, one white landlords and one black tenant farmers.

Both have members fighting in and returning from

Europe. The two families’ stories come together to form an honest, gritty look into 1940’s Mississippi that will certainly earn Netflix an Oscar nomination. — Kyle Dawson • Justice League (PG-13) — 3 stars After four years of commercially profitable but critically panned films in its superhero stable, DC Comics’ teamup of Batman and Wonder Woman (and Superman, sort of) with newcomers Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg is a triumph at least as good as the average Marvel Studios flick. The story’s a little thin, but it’s a definite crowdpleaser. — Michael Buckelew and Khari J. Sampson

8C • Friday, January 5, 2018

gwinnettdailypost.com

movies

SAME OLD WEST

Even great acting can’t quite save unoriginal ‘Hostiles’

Rosamund Pike, left, and Christian Bale star as widow Rosalie Quaid and Capt. Joseph J. Blocker in “Hostiles.” (Special Photo: Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures)

Hostiles (R) HHHH

Scott Cooper’s career has been taking a steady creative and financial nosedive, and “Hostiles” is likely to continue this trend.

By Michael Clark Fairly adept at aping Movie Critic other filmmakers, Cooper has yet to do anything Making a strong imresembling original in pression with his 2009 tone or execution. “Crazy debut “Crazy Heart” Heart” was a rewrite of — which netted Jeff “Tender Mercies,” “Out Bridges his first and only of the Furnace” was a riff Academy Award — actor- on “Of Mice and Men” turned-writer/director by way of any generic

PTSD war flick, and then there was “Black Mass,” the Johnny Depp crime thriller dud that tried to be Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed.”

“Hostiles” is Cooper’s most glaring example of “homage” to date as it goes for Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven.” A once ruthless man is guilted into doing something against his will, against great odds and amidst the backdrop of the unruly

post-Civil War wild west.

Christian Bale, who also starred in “Furnace,” plays Union Captain Joseph J. Blocker, a strong, silent, matter-of-fact type — a commanding officer’s dream. Thoroughly unfazed at the idea of wiping out entire tribes of Native Americans with prejudice, Blocker is also a company man who respects the pecking order of the Army.

For reasons never fully

Calendar of Events

January 2018

Eat, Drive and Stay Healthy

Wellness in the Kitchen

Freedom from Smoking

Join us as we share resources to help you keep your resolutions to eat healthy in the new year and be a safe and technologically savvy driver.

Cooking tasty, healthy meals is a snap when you know the secrets of a chef. Join our chefs for tips and tricks that will take your cooking to the next level and bring wellness to the table.

Everybody loves a quitter when it comes to breaking a tobacco habit!

This is a free, 8-session program, conducted over 7 weeks, and uses an addiction-based model to help you understand your addiction and learn ways to break the habit for good.

WINDER:

NGMC Barrow, Suite 380 Tuesday, January 9; 12:30 p.m.

Speakers: Loretta Vail, AARP Instructor Joseph Holbrook, Clinical Dietician Sunita Singh

Yoga If you’re looking for ways to reduce stress and enjoy peaceful exercise, try yoga! Join Yoga in Daily Life for a basic yoga class in the NGMC Braselton Education Center. Open to participants of all ages. No previous experience is necessary. There will be no class on January 24.

BRASELTON:

NGMC Braselton, Education Center Wednesdays in January 5:30 p.m.

Instructor: Yoga in Daily Life

Bariatric Support Group This group is open to anyone considering bariatric surgery and those who have had weight loss surgery. The focus of this group is to provide a nonjudgmental environment to safely share your weight loss surgery journey.

The facilitator is a Registered Nurse as well as a fourteen year RNY, gastric bypass, patient. The forum is transparent and the goal is to provide you with insight to the path of the successful weight loss surgery patient.

GAINESVILLE:

675 White Sulphur Road Suite 260 Monday, January 8; 6 p.m.

Friday, January 12; 10 a.m.

Instructor: Sue Bunnell, RN

GAINESVILLE:

South Patient Tower Café Portion Control Thursday, January 18; 5:30 p.m.

Grief Support Group for Men This is a Grief Support Group for men that have experienced the loss of a spouse/partner. Group will meet every week on Mondays for six weeks from Jan 15th - Feb 19th and you are required to attend each session.

GAINESVILLE:

675 White Sulphur Rd Suite 115 Monday, January 15; 10 a.m.

Speaker: Hospice of NGMC

Car Seat Safety Class Learn how to keep your baby as safe as possible when in his or her car seat. We’ll also check the installation of your car seat in your vehicle at the end of class.

GAINESVILLE:

NGMC Gainesville, Women and Children Education Center 825A Jesse Jewell Parkway Wednesday, February 7; 6:30 p.m.

Speaker: SafeKids

Stroke Support Group

WINDER:

YMCA of Georgia’s Peidmont 50 Brad Aikens Drive, Winder Mondays, January 8 -- February 26; 6 p.m.

Childbirth Classes Prepared Childbirth The Prepared Childbirth class covers natural pain control methods, different types of deliveries and the coach’s role. A tour of the OB Unit is included.

Breastfeeding Breastfeeding is important to you and your baby’s health. Our Breastfeeding class is taught

by Board Certified Lactation Consultants. Dads are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Newborn Parenting Taking care of a newborn can be overwhelming! Being prepared can reduce stress and increase the enjoyment of bringing baby home.

Newborn Parenting class covers the basics of baby care including recognizing illness, feeding, bathing, diaper changes, and more.

For more information about Childbirth Education Classes, visit: www.nghs.com/ob-classes

made clear, Blocker is ordered to escort Cheyenne Chief Yellow Hawk (Wes Studi) from a prison in the southwest desert to his homeland in Big Sky Country, where he can die in peace.

The big rub here is that Yellow Hawk and Blocker have tangled before and despise each other.

Knowing Blocker has taken the mission under duress, Yellow Hawk (and several members of his family) lay low during the trip, making sure to not give him any reason to abandon them or shoot them where they stand.

Although this contentious relationship makes up the main plot point, Cooper (adapting a story

by Donald E. Stewart) ups the ante by having Blocker and his men also accompany criminal Union soldiers and Rosalie Quaid (Rosamund Pike), a skittish frontier widow who recently witnessed the slaughter of her entire family at the hands of a band of terrorist Comanches.

Had Cooper just stuck with the Blocker/Yellow Hawk dynamic (and trimmed the running time down from 135 to, say, 105 minutes), “Hostiles” would have resulted in, if not a better film, at least one that didn’t crumple under its own weight.

Keeping so many subplots in the air requires more time and exposition and results in something coming out on the other end feeling thinner and anemic.

The film benefits greatly from the grand, John Ford-esque cinematography of the majestic western plains and northwestern mountains and Cooper’s wise mix of close-ups and panoramic vista shots. From a visual perspective, “Hostiles” is gorgeously framed.

While Studi — the industry’s go-to actor for

playing sagely Native American characters — is given little to do beyond looking stoic and bored, Pike and especially Bale do the most with their cookie-cutter characters.

A former Bond femmefatale and the best thing in the otherwise justaverage “Gone Girl,” Pike does exactly what the role calls for without resorting to histrionics. Playing wounded, frightened and devastated is easy; doing so without going over the top isn’t, and Pike strikes the perfect balance. It also helps that she’s easy on the eyes in a most natural and organic manner.

Pike is not a woman who requires much makeup or lighting to look radiant and stunning.

An actor who wowed audiences at the age of 13 in Steven Spielberg’s largely overlooked gem “Empire of the Sun,” Bale has constantly challenged himself ever since.

Even when showing up in marginal films (this one, “Reign of Fire,” “Public Enemies,” “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” “Knight of Cups”), he always manages to rise above the material.

Blocker is not a wellwritten or deep character, yet Bale makes him a bit more complex with subtle wrinkles that unfold over the course of the narrative. Blocker eventually replaces his deeply imbedded hate with grudging understanding and at least tries to move forward with his life after his mission and military service is complete. It’s been a while since he was a civilian, and the film concludes with him developing something resembling optimism.

Presented in English and multiple Native American languages with English subtitles.

(Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures)

more online

A monthly support group intended to empower stroke survivors and caregivers to lead a satisfying and active life. Learn about stroke prevention, home modifications, coping mechanisms, local resources and more from caring professionals!

GAINESVILLE:

NGMC Gainesville, Auxiliary Conference Room Thursday, December 14; 6 p.m.

Register today!

525731-1

800-347-1416 | nghs.com/events

The creative minds behind the hit “Insidious” trilogy return for “Insidious: The Last Key.” In the supernatural thriller, which welcomes back franchise standout Lin Shaye as Dr. Elise Rainier, the brilliant parapsychologist faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet: in her own family home.

Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for movie critic Michael Clark’s review. (Special Photo: Universal Pictures)