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Gwinnett Daily Post SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2018
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Homeless shelter to temporarily close doors
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Vol. 48, No. 158
564705-1
School system continually trying to keep up with growth
GWINNETT COUNTY FAIR
Family Promise has seen drop in donations BY CURT YEOMANS curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com
A drop of more than $200,000 in donations in one year has forced Family Promise of Gwinnett to temporarily suspend operations at a homeless shelter it operates in Lawrenceville. Family Promise’s Board of Trustees announced the SaltLight Resource Center’s temporary closure this week in a letter to community supporters to make them aware of the organization’s financial situation. Board of Trustees Secretary Sarah Zimmerman told the Daily Post that donations dropped from $466,234 in 2016 to $261,803 in 2017. “We’ve just had a significant budget shortfall and we had to do something to cut our expenses back and so we have — we believe it’s just temporarily — suspended operations of the SaltLight Center,” Zimmerman said. The shortfall in funding is having an effect across several areas of Family Promise’s operations. In addition to suspending operations at the shelter, the nonprofit is scaling back its Aftercare program and moving its offices from downtown Lawrenceville to a local church. The closure of the SaltLight Center, even if it is temporary, is a blow to efforts
NEW ROYALTY
Macon native Katie Hlavaty was crowned Miss Gwinnett County 2018-19 at the Gwinnett County Fair on Saturday. (Staff Photos: Isabel Hughes)
New Miss Gwinnett County, Outstanding Teen crowned BY ISABEL HUGHES
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Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for a photo gallery from the event.
See SHELTER, Page 5A
A “for rent” sign has gone up in front of Family Promise of Gwinnett County’s offices in downtown Lawrenceville. The nonprofit is moving into a space provided by a church as it scales back expenses because of a budget shortfall. The group has also temporarily closed its SaltLight Center homeless shelter. (Staff Photo: Curt Yeomans)
One week ago, Katie Hlavaty wasn’t going to compete in the Miss Gwinnett County 2018-19 pageant. “I have a very crazy life with work and school and everything,” she said. “I just didn’t think it was going to be doable with my schedule, but then I was just like, ‘You know what? I really want this and it’s something that’s a priority in my life, so I’m going to make it a priority.’” Hlavaty, a Macon native and Kennesaw State University student, said couldn’t be happier that she ultimately made competing a priority, given she was crowned the newest Miss Gwin-
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Teen from Banks County wins agricultural scholarship ........2A
an interview award. I’ve never won the talent award, so I was also shocked by that. I was just ecstatic about those, and then to hear my name called for winning was even better.” Hlavaty, who was one of four Miss Gwinnett County contestants in the pageant, wasn’t the Sallie Stowers was crowned Miss Gwinnett County Outstanding only winner Saturday night, though. Teen at the Gwinnett County Fair on Saturday. Sallie Stowers, who also won the interview and talent portions, nett County at Saturday’s fair. they called me (as winner) for “It was amazing (to win),” the interview (portion), I was See ROYALTY, Page 5A she said, laughing. “When excited because I’ve never won
Annual Suwanee Fest draws big crowds, food and craft vendors BY ISABEL HUGHES
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isabel.hughes@gwinnettdailypost.com
Jumping through the fountains at Suwannee Town Center Park, the dozen-or-so children playing in the water were unperturbed by the brief rain showers that fell over the area Saturday afternoon, laughing as the teens and adults around them scrambled for cover. As the rain let up, men, women, children and pets
Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for a photo gallery from the event.
emerged from blue and white tents that dotted the park, each of which was operated by a different vendor. Food and drinks in hand, Suwanee Fest attendees smiled, cooler now that the humidity had broken. “We’ve been here multiple times (today),” said Suwanee
resident Beth Ayers, who stood with her husband, friends and friends’ baby. “We live basically right behind here and we have a teenager who’s walking around the (festival) somewhere. We came for the parade (this morning), stuck around, went home and got more people and came back.” For many Suwanee residents, the Ayers perfectly embody See SUWANEE, Page 5A
gwinnettdailypost.com
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Edaline Yates, 2, meets Bob Seymore, who is portraying Gwinnett County namesake Button Gwinnett, at Suwanee Fest at Town Center Park on Saturday. (Photo: Cory Hancock)
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