PLAYOFF THRILLER, 1B
Archer talks last week’s win over Parkview
WHITE CHRISTMAS Stone Mountain kicks off holiday offerings, including Snow Mountain • Page 4C
Gwinnett Daily Post FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2018
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Vol. 48, No. 184
Recount reaffirms Woodall, Knudsen wins BY CURT YEOMANS
In the end, Woodall and Republican school board candidate Steve Knudsen were reaffirmed as the winners of their respective races. U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall is headCarolyn Bourdeaux, the ing back to Washington, D.C., for Democratic candidate for the 7th another two years. Congressional District, conceded Elections officials in Gwinnett to Woodall in a statement about Rob Steve and Forsyth counties conducted an hour after the results were Woodall Knudsen a recount of the close race for certified by Gwinnett elections the 7th Congressional District on nett officials had to conduct in the officials. Wednesday. That was in addition Gwinnett County Board of Educa“I am grateful to every person to an additional recount Gwintion District 2 race. who supported me along this
curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com
journey. While we didn’t get the outcome we had hoped for in this election, we achieved an incredible amount,” Bourdeaux said. “This campaign was about more than me; it was about building community and working for change. We moved the needle in this district more than anyone thought possible. “I congratulate Congressman Rob Woodall on his re-election and wish him all the best in his
work on behalf of the people of the 7th Congressional District.” Bourdeaux’s concession closes the book on a nationally watched race that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee marked as one of its targets for flipping during this year’s midterm elections. Even the recount itself was closely watched as the U.S. House
See RECOUNT, Page 6A
A seasonal tradition
Lighting of the Tree event draws hundreds to downtown Lawrenceville BY ISABEL HUGHES
isabel.hughes@gwinnettdailypost.com
“Santa! Santa! Santa!” As the chorus of little voices grew louder, the band set up under Lawrenceville Lawn’s gazebo quieted, entertaining the children’s demand for St. Nick. Right on cue, a float decked with lights turned onto North Perry Street, catching the eyes of eager children who excitedly pointed at Father Christmas. MORE ONLINE “After Visit gwinnettdailypost.com 31 years, for a photo gallery. Santa still figures out where we are,” said FOX 5 Atlanta’s Randy Travis, emcee of Gwinnett’s Lighting of the Tree ceremony. “It’s wonderful seeing all you people out here; every year you come out and fill (Lawrenceville) Square and it’s very impressive. I can’t wait to see what the next Thanksgiving is going to be like, and the one after that.” Bundled in gloves and blankets, several hundred people — locals and out-of-towners alike — gathered outside the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in downtown Lawrenceville on Thursday evening for the county’s annual tree-lighting ceremony, a more than three decadelong tradition. With live music from Class Act Band, face painting, marshmallow roasting and s’mores making, the event was once again a success, bringing Christmas cheer to the county seat.
The Lawrenceville Christmas tree is lit outside the Historic Gwinnett Courthouse on Thursday. (Photo: Cory Hancock)
“We’ve been coming every year for a long while — 10 years at least,” said Bethlehem resident Haley Livingston, who attended Thursday’s lighting with her husband, daughter and parents. “It’s just something fun we do Thanksgiving night. My parents live in Lawrenceville, so we go
to their house for Thanksgiving (then come) here.” Though Gwinnett and the surrounding metro area has grown significantly in population over the last 31 years that the county has held the tree-lighting, many locals, like the Livingstons, return to the event year after year
because of tradition. “Tonight we’re here to honor the tradition of the Christmas tree,” Travis said. “Many years ago, people would bring an evergreen into their home because they feared the winter See TREE, Page 8A
Campus Church Thanksgiving meal stresses fellowship, inclusivity BY ISABEL HUGHES
but I didn’t spend a single night homeless because I was taken in by a (Campus Church member) who helped me find a place. Then Almost exactly a year ago, Da- I met everyone (at the church’s vid Maysilles left the Gwinnett Thanksgiving meal) and it’s just County Jail with only the clothes crazy to see where your life can he’d been wearing when he was go in the course of a year.” arrested two months earlier. As he walked through Campus “Nov. 21, 2017, I walked out Church’s kitchen Thursday afof the jail with nothing but the ternoon, Maysilles greeted other shirt on my back and my shorts,” volunteers with a smile, glancing Maysilles said. “It was cold and at the trays of turkey, corn, green I didn’t have (anywhere to go), beans, sweet potatoes and other isabel.hughes @gwinnettdailypost.com
MORE ONLINE Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for a photo gallery.
Thanksgiving staples that were being served to men, women and children of all races, religions and backgrounds. “My background is kitchens, so this is my habitat,” Maysilles said. “Last year, I showed up See MEAL, Page 8A
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A Campus Church volunteer hands a plate of food to an attendee at the church’s annual community Thanksgiving meal on Thursday. The meal draws about 1,200 attendees and another 250 or so volunteers annually. (Staff Photo: Isabel Hughes)