September 6, 2020 — Gwinnett Daily Post

A2 ♦ Sunday, September 6, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com

WORLD & NATION

WORLD

Japan Coast Guard suspends search for crew of cargo ship after finding 3 sailors The search for the crew of a cargo ship that went missing during Typhoon Maysak was suspended Saturday due to bad weather, according to Japan’s Coast Guard.

The Gulf Livestock 1, with 43 crew members and almost 6,000 cows onboard, went missing near southern Japan on Wednesday. The area in the East China Sea was being battered by the powerful typhoon, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of at least 130 mph, at the time the ship went missing.

Three sailors have been rescued, and one of them has died, according to the Coast Guard.

Rescue operations were suspended Saturday noon local time, and a second storm — powerful Typhoon Haishun — is expected to slam the area on Sunday. Restarting the mission will depend on weather conditions.

Canadian court rules a mom can send her son to school despite his dad’s COVID-19 fears A judge in Canada sided with a mother who wants her son to attend school in person this year, despite the father’s concerns about COVID-19.

It’s the first time that an Ontario court has ruled in a dispute like this since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Andrea Himel issued the ruling on August 25 after hearing arguments from the boy’s parents, who are divorced and share equal custody of their 9-year-old son.

The mother argued that it was in her son’s best interest to go to school because he struggled during online learning in the spring and found it difficult to be isolated from his friends and classmates, according to the ruling.

Both parents work full-time jobs from home, but she argued that it would be difficult to supervise their son’s online learning while doing their own work.

Neither parent speaks very much French, which would make it harder for them to help their son with his grade 4 French immersion program, according to the court document.

The boy’s father agreed that he would do better in school under normal circumstances, according to the document, but said that the pandemic puts his son and others at significant health risk and could cause him emotional and physiological harm.

He wanted his son to take virtual lessons at home until the school district’s safety protocols are proven to be successful.

Himel ultimately found that it was in the child’s best interest to return to school in person.

“The Ontario government is in a better position than the courts to assess and address school attendance risks. The decision to re-open the schools was made with the benefit of medical expert advisers and in consultation with Ontario school boards. The teachers’ unions and others have provided their input as well as their concerns,” she wrote.

— From wire reports

US coronavirus deaths could reach 410,000 in the next 4 months

By Mallika Kallingal, Steve Almasy, Faith Karimi and Marcelo Garate CNN

More than 410,000 people in the U.S. could die from the coronavirus by Jan. 1, more than doubling the current death toll, a new model often cited by top health officials predicted Friday.

That would mean 224,000 more lives lost in the U.S. over the next four months.

Near-universal mask use could cut the number of projected additional fatalities by more than half, according to the model from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. But it also warns the cumulative death toll could be much higher by the new year if all restrictions are eased.

“If a herd immunity strategy is pursued, meaning no further government intervention is taken from now to Jan 1st, the death toll could increase to 620,000,” according to IHME’s briefing.

The death rate could reach nearly 3,000 a day by December, an unprecedented number, due in part to “declining vigilance of the public,” the IHME expects. For now, the model points to declining mask use in some regions from peak usage in early August.

The IHME model is more aggressive in its predictions than others. It comes a day

NATION

Trump bars ‘propaganda’ training sessions on race in federal agencies President Donald Trump on Friday night banned federal agencies from conducting racial sensitivity training related to “white privilege” and “critical race theory” that his administration says amounts to “divisive, anti-American propaganda,” the latest overture to his political base two months before the presidential election.

Citing “press reports,” Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, decried the “millions of taxpayer dollars” spent on such programs “across the Executive Branch” in a twopage memo.

Vought directed federal agencies to identify contracts and agency spending related to training programs that suggest the U.S. “is an inherently racist or evil country” or “that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil.” He urged agencies to seek out legal courses of action “to cancel any such contracts and/or to divert Federal dollars away from these unAmerican propaganda training sessions.”

It’s unclear to what extent such trainings exist, or if, as the memo purports, they instruct participants that “virtually all White people contribute to racism.” But, like Trump’s threat this week to yank federal funding from cities in blue states that he says are permitting unrest in the streets, Friday’s memo provides another talking point for his reelection campaign

Joe raedle/getty images

Lisa Taylor receives a COVID-19 vaccination from RN Jose Muniz as she takes part in a vaccine study at Research Centers of America on Aug. 7, 2020 in Hollywood, Florida. after a new CDC ensemble forecast predicted 211,000 U.S. deaths from COVID-19

by Sept. 26.

Coronavirus has infected over 6.1 million people nationwide, and more than 186,800 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Fauci: US has to get the baseline of cases down Dr. Anthony Fauci says there is only one way to prevent the death toll reaching the numbers predicted in this new model. “We’ve got to get our baseline back down to a much lower level,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

Diseases, said on CNN. Currently, the U.S. is seeing about 40,000 cases a day, but if the baseline of cases is lowered, the country could get a better handle on stopping the spread, according to Fauci.

And the use of masks would help the country prevent the “scary” number of predicted COVID-19 deaths, he added.

“You can actually handle them, get good identification isolation and contact tracing.

But when you have an intensity of community spread, it makes it that much more difficult,” Fauci said. “That’s the reason why I keep saying over and over again we’ve got to be very careful, particularly as we enter this holiday weekend.”

He’s encouraging people to make outdoor plans and keep gatherings small to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the Labor Day weekend.

Fauci also said he’s not sure what President Donald Trump meant when he said the country is “rounding the corner” on the coronavirus pandemic.

“There are certain states that are actually doing well in the sense of that the case numbers are coming down,” Fauci said. However, experts remain concerned by a number of states, including Montana, Michigan, Minnesota and the Dakotas, that are starting to see an uptick in the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive.

It was the third straight night of demonstrations in the city after video was released earlier in the week showing officers holding Daniel Prude on the ground with a spit sock on his head in March. Prude stopped breathing and was declared brain dead at a hospital, and died a week later.

Rochester police arrested 11 people during the outbreaks of violence Friday night, the department said in a stateSpencer platt/getty images north america/getty images ment. Three officers were President Donald Trump banned federal agencies from hurt and were hospitalized, conducting workplace training sessions on race that con- but later released, police said.

stitute “divisive, anti-American propaganda,” the latest overture to his political base two months before the pres- Send a birthday card to idential election. as it seeks to highlight culture war issues.

Trump eagerly promoted the move Saturday, retweeting posts praising the memo that went to federal agencies demanding they alter racial sensitivity training programs for federal workers.

“This is a sickness that cannot be allowed to continue,” Trump told his Twitter followers. “Please report any sightings so we can quickly extinguish!”

Biden expands transition team, adding campaign allies, top Obama policy hands

Zients, the top Obama economic adviser who was tasked with rescuing the floundering HealthCare.gov website; New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who Biden considered for the vice presidential nomination; Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, a top Biden surrogate and national cochair of his campaign; and Anita Dunn, a senior campaign adviser.

He has also tapped a 15-person advisory board, which includes a one-time 2020 Democratic presidential rival, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Protests in Rochester over Daniel Prude’s death begin peacefully but end with clashes

Democratic nominee Joe Biden is expanding his transition team, adding a former presidential rival, vice presidential contenders and top Obama administration policy hands in new leadership and advisory roles.

Biden is adding four cochairs alongside his long-time confidant and former Delaware Sen. Ted Kaufman: Jeffrey

Protests over a fatal police encounter in Rochester, New York, began peacefully Friday night but ended with authorities dispersing the crowds with tear gas and pepper balls following incidents of vandalism and violence, officials said.

ide known as rust. There are plenty of iron-rich rocks on the moon — but rust is only produced when iron is exposed to oxygen and water.

“At first, I totally didn’t believe it. It shouldn’t exist based on the conditions present on the Moon,” said Abigail Fraeman, a scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in a press release.

Not only is there no air on the moon, but it is flooded with hydrogen that flows from the sun, carried by solar wind.

Rust is produced when oxygen removes electrons from iron; hydrogen does the opposite by adding electrons, which means it’s all the harder for rust to form on the hydrogenrich moon.

“It’s very puzzling,” said Shuai Li of the University of Hawaii, the lead author of the study, which was published on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. “The Moon is a terrible environment for hematite to form in.”

After months of research, Li

the oldest living WWII veteran in the US as he turns 111

The oldest living American to serve in World War II is turning 111 years old.

Lawrence Brooks served as a support worker in the predominantly Black American 91st Engineer Battalion stationed in New Guinea and then the Philippines and reached the rank of private first class during the war. On Sept. 12, he celebrates his 111th birthday.

The National World War II Museum in New Orleans has thrown parties for the past five years to honor Brooks.

But this year, due to the pandemic, the celebration will look a little different.

The museum is asking Americans around the country to send birthday cards. To join the celebration, send a card to: The National WWII Museum c/o Happy 111th Mr. Brooks!

945 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA 70130 — From wire reports

PEOPLE

Pro-democracy activists are again calling on people to boycott ‘Mulan’ movie Disney’s live-action remake of “Mulan” is now released — but some people won’t be watching.

Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong are reigniting calls to boycott the film, now joined by activists in Thailand and Taiwan. The calls erupted last year when the film’s lead actress Liu Yifei expressed support for Hong Kong police, who anti-government demonstrators accuse of using excessive force to quell unrest.

“This film is released today.

But because Disney kowtows to Beijing, and because Liu Yifei openly and proudly endorses police brutality in Hong Kong, I urge everyone who believes in human rights to #BoycottMulan,” prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong tweeted on Friday.

Yifei, a Chinese-born US citizen, waded into the conversation last year at the height of the protests in Hong Kong, which began as largely peaceful demonstrations and eventually morphed into frequent clashes between protesters and police.

“I support the Hong Kong police. You can all attack me now. What a shame for Hong Kong,” she posted on Weibo in August 2019.

Calls to boycott “Mulan” followed immediately after and soon enough, #BoycottMulan was trending on Twitter — which is banned in China. Meanwhile, comments on Yifei’s post on Weibo, the dominant social platform in China, echoed her support for Hong Kong police and Beijing.

Anna Faris leaving ‘Mom’ ahead of new season Anna Faris, one of the stars of CBS sitcom ‘Mom,’ is leaving the show ahead of its eighth season.

Faris and Warner Bros. Television, which produces the series, released statements Friday confirming the news.

“The past seven years on ‘Mom’ have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career,” Faris said in her statement. “I’m so thankful to (creator) Chuck (Lorre), the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience.”

On the show, Faris played Christy Plunkett, a single mom who struggles with alcoholism.

Her mother, Bonnie, is played

by Allison Janney. Together, the pair made a formidable comedy duo on screen, with Janney picking up two consecutive Emmy Awards for best supporting actress for her role.

“From the inception of ‘Mom,’ Anna was the first and only choice for the role of Christy.

We are so proud of the stories we have been able to tell during Anna’s seven years with us,” a statement from Warner Bros.

TV (which like CNN is owned

by WarnerMedia) and Chuck Lorre Productions said. “We wish Anna all the best, and we thank her for her beautiful portrayal.”

In her statement, Faris said her exit from the show will allow her to “pursue new opportunities. “ “I’ll be watching next season and rooting for my TV family,” she said.

— From wire reports

The Earth is causing the moon to rust, scientists say

By Jessie Yeung CNN

The moon is getting rusty.

Scientists had the same reaction you probably did when they reached this conclusion.

It shouldn’t be possible — after all, there’s no oxygen on the moon, one of the two essential elements to create rust, the other being water.

But the evidence was there.

India’s lunar probe, Chandrayaan-1, orbited the moon in 2008, gathering data that

MUST READ has led to numerous discoveries over the years — including the revelation that there are water molecules on its surface. The probe also carried an instrument built by NASA that could analyze the moon’s mineral composition.

When researchers at NASA and the Hawai’i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology analyzed the data recently, they were stunned to find hints of hematite, a form of iron ox-

and the NASA scientists think they’ve cracked it — and the answer to the mystery lies in our very own planet.

One major clue was the rust was more concentrated on the side of the moon that faces Earth — suggesting it was somehow linked to our planet.

Earth is encompassed in a magnetic field, and solar wind stretches this bubble to create a long magnetic tail in the downwind direction. The moon enters this tail three days before it’s full, and it takes six

days to cross the tail and exit on the other side.

During these six days, Earth’s magnetic tail covers the moon’s surface with electrons, and all sorts of strange things can happen. Dust particles on the moon’s surface might float off the ground, and moon dust might fly into a dust storm, according to NASA. And, Li speculated, oxygen from the Earth travels on this magnetic tail to land on the moon, where it interacts with lunar water molecules to create rust.

A4 ♦ Sunday, September 6, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com

MODEL

FOOTBALL

From A1

From A1

they’ve done and the forward thinking.

“Its truly innovative and the phased in approach I think is a model that the entire country should look at.”

Gwinnett County Public Schools has currently brought students back in two phases with the third and final phase of students returning to class next week. Once the phased reentry is completed, only 40% of students are expected to be in Gwinnett’s classrooms, according to Flynt.

The remaining 60% will be participating in class virtually from their homes.

Discovery High School Principal Marci Sledge said her school had a lot of space for students already because it houses a magnet school, which makes it larger than some other high schools in the county.

She was confident the school could handle social distancing once the last grade levels return to class next Wednesday.

“We planned for about 1,500 students to return, we normally have about 2,700, so that alone would have allowed us significant space,” Sledge said.

“I think ultimately, we’ll have between 900 and 1,000 that actually return to in-person (instruction) and so, in our case, I think it’s going to be extremely easy for us to continue to what we’re doing.”

Arona said she saw students socially distanced and wearing face masks in the classrooms she visited during the tour.

She also said she saw “hand sanitizer everywhere.”

She also said phasing students in to the school environment helps educate students about the health issues surrounding the pandemic.

“I love the fact that they brought the younger kids in first, and then the older classes, because then they can be a model and then be the teachers for the older classes as they come in,” she said. “So, from a compliance standpoint, it makes it easier.

“Plus we really have to educate our kids about what a pandemic is, and how they can do their part to keep us all safe, and so that’s what this phased approach has done really. You can bring them in and have a better one-onone capability with just not so many kids at once.”

Flynt said the district has also been reviewing procedures as students have returned to school to see what has worked well, and what has not.

“As Dr. Arona said, the plan is working very well,” he said.

“The only reason it’s working

was happening during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus disease pandemic.

“It’s weird having to yell in a face mask,” Burger said. “It’s definitely not the same effect.”

This week marked the first high school football games of the 2020 season. Central Gwinnett opened the season by hosting Discovery.

At Central Gwinnett, which holds a special place in the hearts of many longtime Lawrenceville residents hearts, fans were eager to get into the stadium and cheer on the Black Knights. The fact that they were playing Discovery, which is the other high school in Lawrenceville, albeit much newer, added a special dimension.

“Lawrenceville versus Lawrenceville is pretty cool for the first game,” Lawrenceville Mayor David Still, who was on the Central Gwinnett sideline before the game, said.

While the first week of high school football for the 2020 season in Gwinnett offered a sense of familiarity, there were signs of how the pandemic is making this year different.

No, really, there were literal signs at Central Gwinnett’s stadium which encouraged game attendees to practice social distancing in “the castle.”

There were also frequent announcements over the speakers at the game to engage in social distancing and wear a face mask.

Schools across Gwinnett County are also have to take other steps to address the pandemic. attendance at games is capped at 30% of the stadium’s capacity and concessions have been reconfigured to a grab-and-go format now, according to district officials.

A video outlining what is different at games has also been posted at bit.ly/32YX25x.

“I do think it is as important to keep students engaged in not only learning and school, but in as many activities as we safely can because students do need that emotional support, and to continue to interact with each other in a safe way,” Gwinnett County Associate Superintendent for School improvement and Operations Steve Flynt said.

For the seniors, who don’t return to class for in-person instruction until this coming Wednesday, the game gave them something to look forward to ahead of their return to class.

“We’re excited,” senior Elsy Villatoro said.

“We’re ready to cheer on our team.”

The game began with a message from Central Gwinnett Principal Shane Orr, who noted the uncertainty that the pandemic created as well as protests that have been taking place around the country over the summer.

“We are very thankful tonight for this opportunity to cheer with our cheerleaders, sing with our band and watch two teams play a game that we were not sure we would be able to have until very recently,” he said. “Amid an ongoing pandemic and social unrest and division taking place in our country, I want to encourage everyone to take the opportunity soak in this moment.”

Special photo: gwinnett county public Schools

A teacher at Alford Elementary School helps a child with a class assignment through a plexiglass barrier on Friday. well is, one, it was a well-thought out plan with our principals, with the people who have to facilitate it, but (also) it’s because it’s being put in place by the people in the schools, and that’s the principals, the administrators, the teachers and what they’re doing with the students and the custodians.”

contacts listed for the district.

Those numbers include three positive cases, 37 suspected cases and 49 close contacts reported to district officials on Thursday alone.

School system urging families to practice safety during Labor Day weekend Teams formed to quickly respond to positive Gwinnett has seen its new case numbers and incidence COVID-19 cases

Since students started returning to class in Gwinnett County Public Schools, there have been some cases of kids testing positive, causing classmates and teammates to enter quarantine.

Flynt said the district has health response teams in every Gwinnett school to quickly respond when cases emerge to limit the chances of a massive spread throughout their respective schools. The district has “not seen much spread in the schools,” according to the associated superintendent.

“What we’re seeing mostly are cases that are coming into the school from the community,” Flynt said. “We’re very quickly, as quickly as we can, identifying that through a health response team in every school and then quarantining that case.

“So whether its a teacher or a child, (the district is) isolating them and then keeping them out for an appropriate amount of time. We’re also doing an investigation to find out who they’ve been in contact with and isolating them or quarantining them away from the school for an appropriate amount of time.”

The district has also been posting daily reports on the number of students and staff who test positive for COVID-19, as well as the number of close contacts district officials have been able to trace, for each school at bit.ly/3i2hHM9.

As of Friday morning, there were 11 active positive cases of COVID-19, as well as 276 suspected cases and 651 close

KEMP From A1 could last through the end of the year.

“There’s a lot of things that the public health state of emergency state of emergency allows us to do as a state, to have uniformity in many ways with what we’re opening, what we’re doing with the national guard in testing, a lot of funding type issues that we’ve been able to do and so I don’t really see that going away in the foreseeable future,” Kemp said. “Certainly not until we can get a vaccine or whether we reach herd immunity, or whatever that point is, and I couldn’t tell you whether that’s going to be in late November, January, this coming spring or next summer.”

Gwinnett County had a total of 2,250 new COVID-19 cases reported in the last two weeks, with a two-week incidence rate of 232 cases for every 100,000 Gwinnettians, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Public Health on Thursday afternoon.

Both numbers were down from there they were earlier in the week as new cases reports continue to decline in Gwinnett.

In all, Gwinnett has seen a total of 24,763 COVID-19 cases, 2,493 hospitalizations and 346 deaths since the first cases appeared in March.

The county has had an overall incidence rate — counting all cases since March — of 2,549.88 cases for every 100,000 residents.

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported Gwinnett has had a two-week positivity rate of 7.5% over the last two weeks and a total positivity rate of 11.8% as of Thursday.

Statewide, there have been 277,288 cases of COVID-19, 5,868 deaths, 4,628 ICU admissions and 25,529 hospitalizations reported in Georgia.

“Thankfully, here in Georgia, we’re seeing

rates decline in recent weeks, but Arona encouraged residents to remain vigilant and continue following recommended mitigation guidelines and techniques, such as wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, staying home when sick and frequently washing hands.

“I do believe what the community has been doing is what’s causing our numbers to decrease,” Arona said. “That’s the only thing that makes sense because the only thing that works against this virus is these community mitigation strategies ...

“I think our county should be congratulated because these numbers are going down because of what we’re doing. I don’t know about you, but when I’m out and about, I see people in masks all over the place now and that wasn’t true a month ago so I think everybody is taking this more seriously.”

The school system also send out recorded phone messages to parents on Friday to urge them to follow health guidelines for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 over the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Gov. Brian Kemp and state health officials have also been urging Georgians to follow the mitigation guidelines this weekend to avoid repeats of spikes in cases seen after the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays.

“We all have a personal responsibility to do our part and not go out, take off the masks and get together in groups and things like that,” Flynt said.

encouraging signs of progress on a lot of fronts,” Kemp said at a press conference at the new Amazon fulfillment center in south Gwinnett on Tuesday. “Georgia’s seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases has dropped by 35%. Our percent positive has rapidly declined and now COVID-19 hospitalizations are down below 2,000.

That is a 38% decrease from our peak and the lowest since early July.”

In addition to those stats, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a vaccine is expected to become available to states around early November. Kemp has appointed Insurance and Fire Safety commissioner John King to oversee the distribution of the vaccine once it is available in Georgia.

“We know it’s going to be critical to, No. 1, get the vaccine but, No. 2, to distribute it very quickly,” Kemp said during his visit to Peachtree Corners on Wednesday. “I’ve been in conversations with Gen. John King about leading a task force that would kind of brainstorm and out all the nuts and bolts together to do that.”

A new concern has been how people will behave during the Labor Day holiday this weekend. The governor said spikes in new cases were seen after the last two major holidays, Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, and officials are trying to get ahead of the issue for Labor Day. Kemp was expected to do a fly around tour of the state this past week to encourage Georgians to stay safe and follow public health guidelines during the holiday weekend.

“We’ve got to take this one day at a time,” Kemp said on Wednesday. “People need to mask up, keep your social distance, wash your hands, follow the guidelines. That’s especially important going into this holiday weekend where we don’t have a bump or a spike like we saw with Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.”

BALLOT From A1 was going to be expensive for them to do that and it wasn’t part of our original budget request for the year.”

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the elections board had made the request for absentee-by-mail ballots to be mailed out to all of Gwinnett’s registered voters, with paid postage envelopes included so the applications could be sent back.

Mangano confirmed the cost was expected to be in the neighborhood of $2 million, which is an issue Nash raised concerns about.

“Really, what a lot of people don’t understand is the logistics of it all,” Mangano said.

“So, it’s not just printing an application and putting it in the mail. It’s also how much will it cost to process them all, store them all and all of those things. So, it’s kind of a collection of costs for the whole process.”

But, Commissioner Ben Ku compared the cost of sending out the application to the $70 million in bonds commissioners recently agreed to issue to fund the sprawling Rowen research park and “knowledge community” development in eastern Gwinnett.

“A critical, primary function of government is to manage and run elections in an efficient, safe and expedient way,” he said. “We just approved this Rowen development and that definitely was not cheap either, just to put this in perspective.”

Gwinnett had 576,678 active registered voters as of Aug. 1, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.

The state provides monthly updates on the number of

There were plenty of times when the game might have felt like any other Friday night football game. When Central Gwinnett scored the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead, for example, the team’s fans erupted in euphoria.

Cheerleaders led cheers, calling on the team’s defense to “get that ball back” when Discovery’s offense was on the field. The band also performed, although it was from a special seating area on the stadium’s track.

“Football season is my favorite time of the year,” Central Gwinnett senior Trish Do said. “Not only is it the only time where I get to actually hang out with my friends, but it’s like a sense of community at football games. That’s what I love and I like how we’re all coming together to celebrate our team.

“It’s definitely untraditional wearing masks and it’s still taking some getting used to, but hopefully it will feel like normalcy after a couple of games.”

But even face masks offered a way to show school spirit.

Paulette Tramble and her daughter, Central Gwinnett sophomore Rachel Tramble, each wore masks that had the Central Gwinnett Black Knights logo on them that complemented their matching T-shirts that also had the logo on them.

Paulette Tramble said her older daughter also attended Central Gwinnett and the family has been in the cluster for years.

Cheering on the Black Knights at Friday night football games is a fall tradition for the Tramble family.

“I’m glad that we’re able to come together,” the mother said. “As long as they have the six-feet distance and people wear there masks, I think we will have a great football season here as long as people follow the rules. ... I’m excited. You can see I’m excited.

I’ve got my shirt, got my mask. I’m excited.

I love football.”

Rachel Tramble, who plays basketball at the school, said the games will be an opportunity to catch up with friends since she is doing virtual learning this semester.

“It’s just a good opportunity, even though we’re supposed to be social distancing,” she said. “It’s just good to be back outside again.

I can hang out with my friends again. It’s just a good opportunity to socialize.”

That was the general theme of what students and community members had to say about being back in the stands after months of uncertainty and disruption because of the pandemic.

And, for the seniors, it was a sign that they would still get to enjoy their last year of high school.

“I’m blessed,” Burger said. “Honestly, I didn’t think we were going to get a football game. This was one of the things that I was like, ‘Oh man, if we don’t get this, this senior year is going to be sad,’ because our last football games would have been our junior year.”

And, to top it off, Central Gwinnett’s seniors didn’t leave the stadium Friday night disappointed with their team’s performance.

The Black Knights got a win, beating Discovery 21-0.

active registers live in each county as of the first day of the month, but the Sept. 1 registered voters numbers have not yet been released.

Gwinnett Elections Supervisor Kristi Royston told commissioners on Tuesday, that her staff is currently processing 20,000 new voter registration applications.

The general election is shaping up to see a high demand for absentee-bymail ballots. Royston told commissioners that her office had received 75,573 applications for absentee-bymail ballots as of the end of Monday.

That include 3,200 received through the new online application portal that Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office launched Aug. 28.

“A lot of people like that convenience (of absenteeby-mail voting) so it’s become very popular,” Mangano said.

The complicating factor for Gwinnett, however, is that it is the only county in Georgia where a federal rule mandates that all elections materials be provided in multiple languages. The county and all of its cities must provide all elections materials in both English and Spanish to be compliance with the federal rule.

The online application provided on the secretary of state’s website is in English.

Some officials noted the party-line divide on the commission’s decision regarding the applications, although they stopped short of publicly accusing commissioners of playing party politics.

“The vote fell along partisan lines,” Gwinnett County Democratic Party chairwoman Bianca Keaton said. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the rationale is necessarily partisan, but what has

been extremely frustrating is that all of the science has made it clear that the threat of Coronavirus, the threat of COVID-19, is very real and that people should not be leaving their homes unless they absolutely have to.”

Keaton called the commission’s decision “unfortunate,” because not all Gwinnettians have internet access and paper applications serve as a viable alternative.

Nash, who is retiring from public office at the end of this year, denied any partisanship on her part in an interview with the Daily Post after the meeting. Brooks and Hunter also chose not to seek re-election this year.

The chairwoman said her decision was based in large part on research she did about staffing in the elections division and on mandates elections staff have to follow, such as ensuring elections materials and assistance are available in Spanish for voters who need it.

“Some people are going to play it that way (treating it as a partisan decision), but my decision is based on what I think the staff has the ability to do,” Nash said.

“We’ve heard them talk multiple times about (how) we know this is going to be a huge election. We’ve heard them talk multiple times about the difficulty of hiring those temporary staff and poll workers. There’s just so many things.

“We watched happened with the primary and the struggles that staff went through with that. This is going to be much more volume for November and again there are specific responsibilities that are mandated. There’s not a question of that so it felt to me like we needed focus on those mandated responsibilities.”

what the circumstances.

She treated each day as if it was her last and gave her full heart to gwinnettdailypost.com ♦ sunday, september 6, 2020 ♦ A5 everything she did. She loved God, she loved her children, and for some reason she loved me, her husband of 36 years. I LAWRENCEVILLE, GA DULUTH, GA did not deserve her. Our Debbie A. Mize children and I will miss MIZE - Debbie A. Mize, her forever. Thankfully, age 70 of Lawrenceville, there are no hospitals passed away on Friday, in Heaven and there August 28, 2020. Debbie she has been ultimately had worked for Mutual of healed. A funeral service Omaha and was preceded will be held at Corinth Margaret “Peggy” in death by her husband, Christian Church in Thomas Emmett Mize.

Loganville on Saturday, Mary Christy She is survived by her September 12. 2020 at Margaret Mary Christy; sons & daughters-in-law, 2pm. There will also “Peggy”, age 77, passed Josh & Mandi Mize of be a drop in celebration from this life, late Flowery Branch, Chris of life at the family afternoon on August & Tiffany Mize of New home afterwards from 6, 2020. A beloved, Smyrna Beach, FL; 3:30pm - 5pm. Memorial mother, grandmother, grandchildren, Emilee contributions may be great-grandmother, Mize, Savannah Mize, made to The American sister, aunt and friend she Dawson Mize, and Axle Heart Association. will be missed dearly.

Mize; and her brother, Arrangements by Tim Dennis Geiger of Monroe.

Stewart Funeral Home, One of her greatest Arrangements by Tim 670 Tom Brewer Road, accomplishments was Stewart Funeral Home, Loganville, GA 30052. opening and running a 770-466-1544. Please sign 670 Tom Brewer Road, restaurant, Trawlers, in Loganville, GA 30052. the online guest registry North Myrtle Beach, SC. 770-466-1544. Please sign She loved gardening, at www.stewartfh.com the online guest registry spending time with at www.stewartfh.com family, adventures with LAWRENCEVILLE, GA friends and playing NORTH GEORGIA, GA sudoku every morning.

Yvonne A. (Hochfelder) Peggy is survived by her daughter Nancy, son in Shaffer law Brian, granddaughters Yvonne A. Hochfelder Jessica and Alexandra, Shaffer, age 63 passed grandson Tyler, great away August 26, 2020 grandson Decker, sister at her home in North Richard “Dick”Krajec Nancy Jane and nephew Georgia. A Funeral On Wednesday, August Tommy as well as his wife Mass will be held 3pm 26, 2020, Richard (Dick) Zoe and three daughters.

Friday, September 11, Krajec died peacefully 2020 at Prince of Peace in his sleep at age 90.

“Though her smile is Catholic Church at 6439 Dick was born gone forever, and her hand Spout Springs Road December 1, 1929 in I cannot touch, I still have Flowery Branch, GA. The so many memories, of Cleveland, Ohio to Tony Celebrant will be Father and Josephine (Maver) the one I loved so much.

Eric Hill. The family Krajec. He graduated Her memory is now my will gather for a time to from East High School in keepsake, which with I’ll celebrate her life after Cleveland and Baldwin never part. God has her in Wallace College in Berea, the service from 6pm to her keeping, I have her in 8pm at the Hamilton Mill Ohio. On July 18, 1953, my heart. Sadly missed, Christian Church located he married Barbara but never forgotten.”

Louise Schoenbeck. After at 3809 Sardis Church Road Buford, GA. In leaving the United States In keeping with the lieu of flowers the family Air Force, he earned his efforts to stop the requests a donation on MBA from Case Western spread of COVID-19, behalf of Yvonne to the Reserve University. Dick the immediate family American Cancer society. and Barb raised five sons will hold a small and the family relocated to Arrangements by Lawson private service.

Savannah in 1975 when he Funeral Home, 4532 Hwy 53, Hoschton, GA 30548, took a job at Gulfstream Peggy was generous www.lawsonfuneralhome. with her time and small American. They moved org, 706-654-0966. to Big Canoe in 1991 income. She was quick after Dick retired as to help a person in need Treasurer of Gulfstream. with a meal or a donation.

BRASELTON, GA Dick had a passion for If you are so inclined, Wanda Sue Stinchcomb music, playing the drums we ask that donations are Wanda Sue Stinchcomb, in local bands into his late made in Peggy’s name age 72 of Braselton passed to St. Jude Children’s 70s. He was active in the Rotary Club of Jasper, Big away Tuesday, September Research Hospital, 1, 2020. Funeral service Canoe Chapel and Our her favorite charity. will be held 2:00 PM, Lady of the Mountains Friday, September 4, Catholic Church. He was FLOWERY BRANCH, GA 2020 at Hoschton Church known for his generous of God of Prophecy, Eugene John DiNardi spirit as well as his quick 8187 Pendergrass and irreverent wit.

Eugene John DiNardi, Rd., Hoschton, GA Dick was preceded in age 70, of Flowery 30548. Officiating by death by Barb, his loving Branch, formerly Bishop Jerry Gaddis. wife of 55 years, and his Philadelphia, PA, passed Interment to follow at son Jim. He is survived away Sunday, August Hoschton City Cemetery. by his sons David 30, 2020. The family Pallbearers include (Debra), Phil (Cynthia), will receive friends Chuck Stinchcomb, Chris and Tim (Beverly); from 12:00 pm noon to TJ Stinchcomb, Chip daughter-in-law Lisa; 2:00 pm on Thursday, Stinchcomb, Mike Pruitt, grandchildren Tandy, Ty September 3, 2020 at Chandler Stinchcomb, (Kim), Alex, Katherine Lawson Funeral Home, Nathan Stinchcomb, McGlinchey (Jack), 4532 Hwy 53, Hoschton, Logan Stinchcomb. The Anthony, Andrew and GA 30548 followed by Claire; and many cousins, family will receive friends chapel service. Interment 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, nieces and nephews. to follow service at Thursday, September 3, The family will receive the Hoschton City 2020 at Lawson Funeral friends at Flanigan Cemetery. In lieu of Home Chapel. In lieu of Funeral Home, 4400 flowers, contributions flowers donations may be S. Lee St. in Buford on may be made to the made to Hoschton Church Saturday, September 12, National Kidney of God of Prophecy. from 10:30 AM until Foundation at kidney.

Arrangements by Lawson 12:30 PM. A funeral org or John Hopkins Funeral Home, 4532 Hwy Mass will be held at Medicine at https://www.

53, Hoschton, GA 30548, 2:00 that afternoon at hopkinsmedicine.org/ www.lawsonfuneralhome. coronavirus/giving.html.

Prince of Peace Catholic org, 706-654-0966.

Church, 6439 Spout Funeral arrangements Springs Road in Flowery

by Lawson Funeral Branch, Father Eric Hill Home, 4532 Hwy 53, “Infuse your life with ac- Hoschton, GA, 30548, presiding. Those wishing tion. Don’t wait for it to hap- www.lawsonfuneralhome. to attend are asked to RSVP at https://forms.gle/ pen. Make it happen. Make org, 706-654-0966.

D4jDVFEzbWLNDjfHA. your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own The Rite of Committal Words, however kind, love. And whatever your bewill be at 1:00 PM, can’t mend your heartache, liefs, honor your creator, not September13 at Big but those who care and share by passively waiting for grace Canoe Chapel Cemetery Columbarium, 1851 Steve to come down from upon your loss wish you comfort and peace of mind. May you Tate Road in Marble Hill. high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen find strength in the love of Donations can be made ... yourself, right now, right family and in the warm emin Dick’s memory to brace of friends. down here on Earth.” the Rotary International — Author Unknown — Bradley Whitford World Fund at https:// my.rotary.org/en/donate.

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

OBITUARIES

LOGANVILLE, GA

Charlotte “”Charli””(Banner) Haggerty

staff photo: curt yeomans

U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler is joined by Gov. Brian Kemp at a campaign event at Mojitos Cuban American Bistro in Peachtree Corners on Wednesday. Kemp has been joining Loeffler on the campaign trail recently as she heads toward a special election for her seat in November.

As US Sen. Kelly Loeffler campaigns for more time in DC, Gov. Brian Kemp offers boost of support

By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@ gwinnettdailypost.com

U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., stood before a packed dining room full of supporters during a campaign appearance at Mojitos Cuban American Bistro in Peachtree Corners this past week, and her biggest supporter in Georgia was standing just off stage among the crowd: Gov. Brian Kemp.

Gov. Brian Kemp has been joining Loeffler on the campaign trail around the state at times in recent days to support her campaign for this year’s special election to fill the remainder of her seat. Kemp appointed Loeffler to the seat late last year to replace retiring Sen. Johnny Isakson until a special election could be held in November to fill the remainder of Isakson’s unexpired term.

“When you think about it,” Kemp said after the Peachtree Corners event on Wednesday.

“She’s a lot like our president, she’s a lot like our senior Sen. David Perdue. They didn’t grow up in politics. They didn’t make their way in politics. they were business people.

They were proven. They were successful. They were outsiders. I personally think right now people want outsiders in D.C. to go up there and fight for Georgians no matter what (and) not be held to influence by any party leaders or other bureaucrats, lobbyists anything else.

“She didn’t owe anything to anybody up there and that appealed to me.”

Loeffler is facing a large field of candidate in the jungle special election to fill her seat, but one of her most high profile opponents is fellow Republican, U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga. Along with the fact that Georgia’s senior senator, U.S. Sen. David Perdue is also up for election this year, the open nature of the special election has made the seat a major target for national Democrats looking to flip the seat.

Both Collins and Loeffler have made appearances in Gwinnett in recent weeks, highlighting the extent to which they are looking to get the county’s support in the special election.

Given the fact that one of the biggest stories out of the race is the back and forth, sometimes bitter, between Loeffler’s and Collins’ campaigns, however, the fact that Kemp is hitting the campaign trail to support his appointee is a big deal.

But, then again, anytime a sitting governor hits the campaign trail to support another candidate in the state, it’s going to turn heads.

“The governor and I are united in working for Georgians and making sure that Georgians have everything they need to get back to their normal lives to go to work, church and school,” Loeffler said after Wednesday’s campaign event.

During her speech to supporters in Peachtree Corners, Loeffler thanked Kemp and his wife, Marty, for supporting her. She hit on several familiar themes that are hallmarks of the Republican party in her

speech, such as promising to protect unborn children, support gun owners under the Second Amendment, attacking Planned Parenthood, pledging support for President Donald Trump and police, blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic and calling for continued construction of a border wall pushed by the president.

She pointed to the ongoing issue concerning her support of Trump and police while coowning a team in the WNBA, which has supported the Black Lives Matter movement, as well.

Loeffler painted a picture of the slogan “Black Lives Matter” and group the WNBA is supporting as two separate things.

“The WNBA supported a political organization, BLM,” Loeffler said. “It’s very different from the statement, ‘Black Lives Matter.’ There is no place for racism in this country and every African-American life is important. We have to root out racism where it exists, but that’s not what this organization is about. This is a marxist organization. They’ve been built on socialist principals.

They want to defund the police. They don’t believe in the nuclear family, that’s moms and dads. They’ve been antisemitic. They promoted violence across our country and I had to draw the line.”

Loeffler’s assertion about “BLM” is one frequently made about the Black Lives Matter movement. Politifact investigated the allegation, determining that it originated after one of three BlackLivesMatter.com co-founders said in a 2015 interview that she and another co-founder were “trained marxists.”

The fact-checking website determined, however, that the political stances of the co-founders did not mean all people who join the “Black Lives Matter” movement are marxists.

Loeffler also pointed to attacks made against her, including allegations that she used information gathered at a Senate briefing on COVID-19 in January to steer stock trades before the public was aware of how serious the pandemic might become.

Loeffler has denied the allegations of using inside information to make stock trades.

“I have a calling to public service, to fight for the American dream for every single Georgian and yet, for my success, I’ve been attacked,” Loeffler told the crowd. “But you know why? (It’s) because I don’t owe anyone in Washington anything. The Swamp, the career politicians, the fake news, they despise strong conservative women. I don’t owe them anything. I’m only here for you.”

For his part, Kemp said Loeffler’s record since she arrived in the Senate should speak for itself.

“We’re eight months past her being in the Senate,” Kemp said. “I’d urge all Georgians to look at her voting record. She stood up and fought hard for our people, she doesn’t owe anybody anything in Washington D.C. except for hard working Georgians.”

Charlotte “Charli” Banner Haggerty, age 62, passed away on July 29, 2020 from heart failure.

She was born October 14, 1957 to proud parents Ines and Gail Banner in Detroit, Michigan.The youngest of four, she had a passion for life and fought hard for it through her many illnesses. Her love for God was obvious at a young age when she walked to church in her hand me down clothes and ill fitting shoes in order to receive her first bible. Whatever hardships came her way, she knew and trusted God to walk by her side and that was apparent throughout her life. She was a 1975 graduate of Towers High School and a woman of many self taught talents.

In high school, she studied home economics and learned to sew. Most of the outfits she wore through high school she made herself. During the 70’s disco craze, she and her brother Don entered numerous dance contests and took first place almost every time. In 1983, while working as a server at one of her three jobs, she met Buddy Haggerty.

Although Buddy never tipped her during the six-week span he visited, she finally agreed to a date. Eight months later they eloped and were married by the justice of the peace in Ringgold Georgia while both sets of parents were out of town.

Together they created a beautiful life. Charli’s biggest dream was to be a mother, and that dream came true in 1985 and again in 1986 when her two beautiful daughters were born - Valerie Marie and Summer Ann Haggerty. No children have ever been loved or protected more. She cherished every moment with them and filled their days with learning and lessons of every kind from swimming, modeling, music and gymnastics.

Weekly trips to the public library inspired a love for literature that they both still carry now into their thirties. There was plenty of bonding time that included trips to the park for play and to the mall for new “cool” outfits to wear for the first day of school. She made the girls Halloween costumes every year, and no birthday was complete without one of Charli’s homemade, hand decorated cakes.

Her cakes were in such demand that at one point she created a small business and supplemented the family budget with her earnings.

Her talents didn’t stop there though. She had a notorious love for dogs and trained her Cocker Spaniels to perform over 25 commands just by using hand signals. She purchased grooming tools and taught herself how to cut the dogs hair so well that the family vet was amazed it was not done by a professional. Her final dream came true in 2019 when her grandson Vance Wyatt Rackard was welcomed into the world.

She was beside herself with joy and was able to enjoy several visits with him before her passing.

Charli was often asked about her great attitude and strong faith. Her answer was always the same - that each day was a gift from God no matter what the circumstances.

She treated each day as if it was her last and gave her full heart to everything she did. She loved God, she loved her children, and for some reason she loved me, her husband of 36 years. I did not deserve her. Our children and I will miss her forever. Thankfully,

15 photos are available with all Obituaries and Death Notices

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

— Kahlil Gibran

Call for details

770.963.9205

Ext.1161 or Ext.1162

sports

gwinnettdailypost.com

PAGE A6 ♦ SundAy, SEPtEmbEr 6, 2020

Dale Zanine

Brookwood’s Alexander Diggs (15) runs for a touchdown in overtime against Dacula during Thursday’s game in the Corky Kell Classic at Dacula.

InStAnt CLASSIC Brookwood edges Dacula in 4-OT thriller

By Will Hammock will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com

DACULA — The first game of the Gwinnett high school football season was an instant classic.

Alex Diggs’ 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth overtime finally ended a see-saw, Corky Kell Classic matchup as visiting Brookwood claimed a thrilling 40-34 victory in the first game on Dacula’s new artificial turf. The Broncos ended Dacula’s 17-game, regularseason winning streak that dated back to Aug. 31, 2018, and made Gwinnett’s first game back from the COVID-19 pandemic memorable.

“I told (the players) about five times I thought we lost the game and about five times I thought we won the game,” Brookwood head coach Philip Jones Dale Zanine said.

Brookwood’s Stone Bonner (89) catches a touchdown pass The wild overtimes saw both teams over Dacula’s Dylan Hand (6) in overtime during Thursday’s escape long odds to score game-exgame in the Corky Kell Classic at Dacula. tending TDs — Brookwood had a

third-and-30, and a fourth-and-15, while Dacula had a third-and-26 — and almost saw the game end in a tie after three extra periods. The referees called the game briefly, allowing a few players to start shaking hands, before reversing course and allowing the game to continue.

“It was probably the most fun game I’ve ever played in,” said Brookwood sophomore quarterback Dylan Lonergan, who completed 28 of 44 passes for a school-record 432 yards and four TDs. On the first possession of the fourth OT, Brookwood’s Andre Stewart forced a fumble on a Dacula reception near the sideline, and Princeton Brown pounced on it just before it rolled out of bounds to end the Falcons’ possession. Needing just a field goal to win, the Broncos ran it with Diggs and he gained nine and five yards on back-to-back carries before his 1-yard game-winner.

“I told the offensive line, despite some frustrations throughout the night, at the end of the night we got in our short yardage, goal-line formation and really set up to run it a couple of times, kick a field goal and get out of here,” Jones said. “Our offensive line and our running back had other plans.

They found a way to finish the game and punch it in. That was a good moment for them and our running back Alex Diggs. He is true blue. He is really special.”

The back-and-forth overtimes had more drama than most games.

Diggs and Dacula’s Kyle Efford had TD runs in the first OT before things got really interesting.

Another Efford TD run opened the second OT and gave the hosts a 28-21 lead, then Brookwood nearly lost the game because of a pair of penalties.

See CLASSIC, A7

FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

north topples mcEachern in Corky Kell From staff reports

SUWANEE — If there’s anything North Gwinnett’s 2020 season opener against McEachern demonstrated, it’s that numbers sometimes do lie.

The No. 5 state-ranked Bulldogs found themselves outgained by the ninth-ranked Indians in total yardage by more than 100 yards (337233) and in first downs (1712).

But perhaps the biggest number for the night was zero — the number of North turnovers.

Well, that and 28, representing the winning margin for the opportunistic Bulldogs in a 35-7 win Thursday night at Tom Robinson Memorial Stadium.

Other big numbers included the differences in the running game for the two halves, as North grinded out 125 second-half yards after managing just 30 in the opening 24 minutes, as well as three interceptions at op-

portune times, including a pair of pick-sixes by Jayson Gilliom and Barrett Carter, that played a big role in the Bulldogs opening the season with a win.

“We didn’t have any preseason games,” North coach Bill Stewart said. “We didn’t have anything where we really identified people, where you identify some executions you take care of because everything’s live and you’re tired. So I think just cleaning things up (was a difference). I think that’s everyone right now. McEachern’s going to be a good team when they get (things) cleaned up.

“I think the defense played opportunistic football. We scored two (defensive) touchdowns, but then also, we were able to methodically move the ball. When we can combine those two things, we’re going to be pretty good.”

Seth Anderson’s 40-yard punt return set North up at the McEachern 20-yard line in the first quarter, and Bar-

that extended the North lead to 13-0 with 10:06 left in the half. Aaron Brebnor’s interception in the end zone as time expired in the half kept the Bulldogs’ lead intact at 13-7 heading into intermission.

North finally got its running game going late in the third quarter, with Marcus McFarlane (8-51, TD), Austin Bookman (8-47) and Brinston Williams (9-26) combining to lead a seven-play, 65-yard drive, all on the ground.

McFarlane powered through a scrum of would-be tacklers and broke away for a 23-yard TD that gave North some breathing room at 21-7 following Carter’s flip pass to Blake Young for the twopoint conversion with 10 seconds left in the third quarter.

Quarterback Ashton Wood capped a nine-play drive with Nicole Seitz a 5-yard keeper around the North Gwinnett’s Seth Anderson (9) runs past a McEachern player in the Corky Kell Classic. right end that pushed the North lead to 28-7 with 7:08 rett Carter ran around the that put North up 6-0. yards, evading a few tackles remaining. right end for a 7-yard TD one Gilliom intercepted a pass and tightroping the sideline See ROUNDUP, A7 play into the second quarter at his own 5 and sped 95 along the way, for a pick six

A8 ♦ Sunday, September 6, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com

PERSPECTIVES

Gwinnett Daily Post www.gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline,

Editor and SCNI Vice President of Content todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com

GUEST COLUMNIST|CHUCK WARBINGTON

Lawrenceville water delivery is in good hands with Gwinnett County

T

he city of Lawrenceville first announced and residents. Just like past visionary city its desire to sell its Water Distribu- leaders, the current Mayor and City Countion System to Gwinnett County last cil want to ensure a long-term, sustainable month. Both the City Council and Gwinnett future for water delivery while maintaining County Board of Commissioners officially lower costs to our customers. approved the transaction to become effective Currently, only 20 percent of water Dec. 1. As a side note, the city sold its sewer needed by city customers is produced by system to Gwinnett County in the 1980’s. city wells. The City of Lawrenceville purBefore reviewing reasons the city pursued chases 80 percent of the water used by our this intergovernmental agreement, customers from Gwinnett County. let’s take a step back and outline why Essentially, Lawrenceville is a Lawrenceville residents essentially water marketer, purchasing water have two water systems and why that and re-selling it. In addition, the is changing. The City of Lawrencevcity made the decision years ago to ille will celebrate its 200th birthday utilize Gwinnett County’s system in 2021. Our town square was origto pressurize water lines and assist inally chosen due to its proximity with water delivery to our customto several nearby springs, with the ers. Because of these reasons, we are Chuck first public well dug near the His- Warbington absolutely reliant upon Gwinnett toric Courthouse in 1871. for the delivery of water.

As detailed in Mary Frazier Long’s book Gwinnett County has a stellar reputa“About Lawrenceville” — the original path- tion and provides safe, clean water daily way of waterworks was driven by the need to more than 240,000 customer accounts for a volunteer fire department in 1910, a and nearly one million residents of Gwinsewer system in 1912, and the first pro- nett County. They have invested time and duction well drilled by cable tool meth- money into sustainable protection of local ods at Rhodes Jordan Park in 1912. This waterbodies, water-related research, and water infrastructure system was used for water quality. They have the infrastructure several decades. in place to utilize Lake Lanier, our nearest Three additional wells were added in large sustainable water source, to provide the 1940s and water was supplied to city the necessary quantity of water for proresidents solely by wells until the 1970s. jected city growth for decades.

At that point, Gwinnett (and the City of After the transition is complete, city water Lawrenceville) began to see major growth. customers will receive the same excellent Leadership in Gwinnett County (utilizing customer service from Gwinnett County Lake Lanier as a water source), began to they are accustomed to receiving from the expand its infrastructure throughout the city. In the J.D. Power 2018 Water Utility county. Due to the limited amount of wa- Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, ter production from underground springs, Gwinnett County was ranked as having the the City outgrew its well system and began happiest customers in the south. purchasing water from Gwinnett County And their facilities have won multiple and distributing it through the City system. awards for exceptional design and operaSo why the history lesson? It is impor- tion. Our City of Lawrenceville customers tant to take a moment and consider the are going to be in good hands and water wisdom and bold vision of Lawrenceville’s quality will not change. leadership throughout our city’s history.

Terms of the agreement include substantial Those leaders recognized the importance upgrades ($13.3M over 10 years) on the disof a secure and dedicated water system in tribution system that is more than 70 years order for the city to thrive. old in some places, a commitment to retain I would like to take a moment to remem- existing City water department employees, ber and thank those leaders who were in- property exchange near Ezzard Street and strumental in our water history: Mayor L.R. Paper Mill Road that can be used to faciliMartin, Mayor F.Q. Sammon, Jr., Mayor tate future development, and $400,000 Rhodes Jordan, Mayor Bartow Jenkins, cash the city has committed to give back W.M. Fambrough — Chief Engineer of the to city residential water customers in the 1912 project, L.O. Crowe — former super- form of a utility credit ($60) later this year. intendent of the water department in the I applaud the leadership of both the City 1940s, W.P. Webb – superintendent of the Council, the Gwinnett County Water and Lawrenceville Waterworks in 1914, and so Sewer Authority, and the Gwinnett County many other elected and community lead- Board of Commissioners for making bold ers who gave their time and talents to make decisions that maintain low water rates this community what it is today. while providing a stable and quality waSo why sell the water system to Gwin- ter system for years to come. nett County? This transaction is another step in the city’s continued transformation Chuck Warbington is the city manager for the city of Lawrenceville. into a thriving community for businesses

COLUMNIST|DICK YARBROUGH

Not finding much good news in this bummer of a year

W

e are now into September of what While he is one of the most respected media has so far been a bummer of a analysts in the free world, he is also a pest year. My colleague, David Car- control professional. That is something he roll, a Chattanooga TV anchor with whom likes to rag the snoots in the national meI share the editorial page in severdia about. He can hang with the best al papers, calls 2020 “ the Edsel of of them on stuff like the U.S. trade years.” I wish I had thought of that deficit and what is going on in Beline. I hate it when TV anchors are larus but loves to ask them how they funnier than I am. would get rid of clover mites and then We have had to endure eight watch the blank looks on their faces. months of sheltering in place, soIt was my fault that I had Junior cial distancing, to mask or not to E. Lee working on an assignment mask, boycotts, layoffs, government Yarbrough on June 6 and forgot all about that bailouts and computer-generated being National Pest Control Day, a everything else except burning up build- salute to pest control professionals around ings and tearing down statues. That has the world. He wasn’t happy. Pest control been human-generated. professionals are proud people.

Can things go further into the dumper?

Junior says pest control isn’t just a job, it With a presidential election roughly eight is an essential service and had I heard anyweeks away, the answer is self-evident. one talk about defunding pest control profesHaving to watch two old white guys with sionals? I admitted I had not and told him bad hairdos going at each other while po- National Pest Control Day would be duly litical pundits ponderously pontificate will observed next year. He seemed mollified likely drive me to binge-watch all the back and said he was heading over to Aunt Flossie episodes of “The Gong Show.”

Felmer’s house to rummage around in her So, what do we have to look forward to? drawers, supposedly looking for fire ants.

Certainly not the annual scrum between He seems to be doing that a lot these days. the scholar-athletes from the University With that out of the way, we are back to of Georgia, the oldest state-chartered uni- trying to figure out how to outlast 2020. I versity in the nation, located in Athens, the don’t see much ahead that excites me. In Classic City of the South, and You-Know- October, there is National Punk Day which Where Institute of Technology. is sure to be big in Portland and Seattle.

Absent this momentous event, I will And we need to keep an eye on Leif Erickstrive to be gracious. I promise not to son Day. Leif was the first European to set bring up all the Rhodes Scholars we have foot in North America. He was from Greenthat YKWIT doesn’t have. That seems to land where they eat seals and make dogs upset them worse than laying 52 points on pull people around on sleds. I guarantee their scholar-athletes in a recent scrum. you that’s going to get his statue pulled Frankly, September doesn’t hold a lot down somewhere. of promise. How excited can you get over There is National Take a Hike Day in the fact this is National Blueberry Popsicle November which will thrill those of you Month? I asked Junior E. Lee, general man- who have been suggesting for years I do ager of the Yarbrough Worldwide Media just that and in December National Dingand Pest Control Company headquartered a-Ling Day, a salute to those who believe in Greater Garfield, Georgia, if he had done everything they read on social media. any surveys on public attitudes regarding I am afraid that is about all the good news National Blueberry Popsicle Month. Giv- I have as to what to expect for the rest of en the way things are going these days, it 2020, boys and girls. In the meantime, I wouldn’t surprise me that somebody has suggest we hunker down, give each other their nose out of joint over blueberries or a virtual hug and pray there is not another popsicles, or both.

Edsel in our future.

Junior was late getting back to me. He told me he had been observing Fight ProYou can reach Dick Yarbrough at dick@ crastination Day and had lost. He didn’t dickyarbrough.com; at P.O. Box 725373, seem to be too upset about it.

Atlanta, Georgia 31139; online at Between us, I have been having a bit of dickyarbrough.com or on Facebook at www. a problem with Junior’s attitude recently. facebook.com/dickyarb

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: EmAil: letters@gwinnettdailypost.com mAil: 725 Old Norcross Road Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30046

COLUMNIST|KATHLEEN PARKER

E

Kamala Harris, ambassador to activists

veryone knows all is fair in love and war. It goes for politics, too. Just consider Kamala Harris.

First there was Kamala Harris, the San Francisco district attorney, who oversaw more than 1,900 marijuana-related convictions, though she now says pot should be decriminalized.

Next there was Kamala Harris, the California attorney general, who opposed a bill that would have required the attorney general’s office to investigate police shootings or issue statewide standards for police body cameras — both seen by some in the African American community as missed opportunities to improve justice for minorities.

She was followed by Kamala Harris, the most liberal of all senators, according to GovTrack, a nonpartisan organization that tracks bills in Congress.

Then came presidential candidate Harris, viewed so skeptically by her fellow Democrats, partly because of her record as a district attorney and attorney general, that she quit the race early.

That move led to nominee Harris, running mate to a guy she attacked during an early primary debate as a racist, whose name, should you need reminding, is Joe Biden. Which helps explain why now, there’s yet another Harris,

Biden’s ambassador to activists.

When Colbert asked Harris how she During a virtual appearance on “The Late managed to transform herself into a Biden Show with Stephen Colbert” recorded in supporter after she had left his teeth on the June but now, not coincidentally, in debate floor, she laughed and said: viral circulation, Harris sounded like “It was a debate. It was a debate.” the tribune of the street.

“So, you don’t mean it?” queried When Colbert asked about slackColbert, with the gleeful guile of ening media coverage of the Black a 10-year-old poking a cocoon to Lives Matter protests, Harris said: see what might emerge. Or, in this “But they’re not gonna stop. They’re case, who. not gonna stop. And that’s — they’re “It was a debate,” she said again, not — this is a movement, I’m telllaughing again. “It was called a deParker ing you. They’re not gonna stop. And bate. . . . There were journalists there everyone beware, because they’re not gon- covering the debate.” na stop . . . They’re not gonna stop before Meaning, apparently, that in politics, Election Day in November, and they’re not anything goes. Nothing is real. Whatevgonna stop after Election Day.” er works.

Did she say “beware”? As in, “Beware, This is one political lesson that PresiDorothy?” What does that even mean? And dent Trump never had to be taught. And how does she walk back her pro-protest at- Democrats are right to kick him for it. But titude to those who want to deal with just they have their own version of it, too. Harone massive crisis at a time? ris saw her opportunities and took them Of course, Biden tapped Harris, in part, — even if it meant attacking the one man to fill the racial gap that she herself cre- on the debate stage who perhaps among ated during the debates last year. Part of the entire field has worked longest and her job is to convince the Black community hardest for minority and women’s rights. that Biden, who served for eight years as In fairness, perhaps Harris and Biden President Barack Obama’s vice president, now consider themselves even: He did is worth turning out for in strength at the oppose a policy of forced busing in his ballot box. If he has a problem with Black home state, a tool for integrating public voters, it is a problem she helped to create. schools that Harris herself said she bene-

fited from while growing up in California.

Making him pay for that opposition years later now looks like the shrewdest political maneuver ever.

Biden may be the candidate, but if he wins, Harris will have leap-frogged over more than a dozen others to become heiress apparent to the Oval Office.

In politics, however, one problem solved is often another problem created. Harris and Biden represent a very big coalition — one that is perhaps too large to maintain as the Black Lives Matter protests of summer give way to an uncertain fall.

Biden’s perfunctory speech last week condemning the violence at some of the protests tried to thread a needle between his coalition’s liberal and centrist wings, but wound up feeling late and subdued.

His rebuke of violent actors may not be enough to quell unease among moderate voters who have witnessed their fill of disruption and destruction.

Which suggests that if the job is to guarantee the Black vote for a candidate who has his eye on the center, even someone as versatile as Kamala Harris may have her work cut out for her.

Kathleen Parker is a columnist for the Washington Post.

GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM ♦ SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 ♦ A9

C4 ♦ Sunday, September 6, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com COLUMNIST|ROB JENKINS

Sometimes, we all depend on the kindness of strangers

B

lanche Dubois’s famous line, ness of strangers. from “A Streetcar Named I was reminded of that recently, Desire,” has long when I took what I thought struck me as poignant: “I would be a routine trip to have always depended on Walgreens. I parked in the the kindness of strangers.” nearly empty parking lot, Perhaps Ms. Dubois was went in, found what I needbeing a bit melodramatic. ed, paid, came back out and It’s also entirely possible started up my car. she had depended on the Except I didn’t. Start the kindness of strangers a little car, I mean. The battery Jenkins more than was good for her. was as dead as ManhatNonetheless, those words speak tan’s shopping district. So I got volumes about the human con- out, popped the hood to see if one dition. No matter who we are of the cables was loose (no such or where we are in life, whether luck), then got on the phone to we have Blanche’s problems or my insurance company to request merely our own, we are all, at roadside assistance. times, dependent on the kindI guess I could have asked one

of the people coming out of the store for a jump. But there weren’t many of them, and I don’t like asking for help. Perhaps that’s a personality flaw, but if I can fix a problem myself, I usually do.

After all, I pay for roadside assistance. Why not use it?

I actually thought one of the three or four men I saw climbing into pickups might offer to help, since I had my hood up and was obviously having car trouble. None of them even looked my way. So I made the call.

Then something remarkable happened. While I was on hold (of course), a couple of ladies pulled up, got out of their car,

and asked if they could help. I use the word “ladies” advisedly, because they certainly were that — a pair of gracious, wellbred Southern ladies, one about my age and the other probably her mother.

After I thanked them profusely and confessed that I didn’t have any jumper cables, having bequeathed those to my son when he went off to college, the younger lady said not to worry. She then produced a little charging device, about the size of a VHS cassette, complete with connecting cables.

I was politely dubious, but my car started right up.

They laughed about that, jok-

ing that I was probably shocked that a couple of women had such a thing. I said no, but I was a little surprised that none of those big, strong men offered to help, when the two of them didn’t even hesitate. But I was profoundly grateful.

Like Blanche, I must occasionally depend on the kindness of strangers. And like those two sweet Southern ladies, I hope occasionally to be that stranger for someone else.

Rob Jenkins is a college professor.

The views expressed here are his own. You can email Rob at rob. jenkins@outlook.com.

COLUMNIST|TIM DALY

Recent rainfall has yielded a bumper crop of mushrooms

M

any homeowners mushrooms. Mushrooms have observed an come in all shapes and sizes. increased Some are small and number of mushrooms barely noticeable, appearing in their while others can be lawns and gardens. quite large.

The recent rainfall The fungi exist and warm temperain the soil, where tures have provided they have a threada favorable environlike structure called ment for their growth. mycelia and are selDaly Most do not cause any dom visible. As they harm, although some age, they form spores, people are annoyed by their analogous to seeds in plants presence. Many facts and that are released into the fallacies exist regarding environment. Mushrooms the nature of mushrooms. are different from plants Mushrooms are the vis- because they do not have ible reproductive struc- chlorophyll, which helps tures of certain species of convert sunlight into sugfungi that live in the soil. ars so that they can grow Puffballs, toadstools, and without sunshine. Most do stinkhorns are all types of not pose any harm to lawns

or garden plants.

The fungi play an essential role in the decay process of organic matter, aiding in the breakdown of logs, leaves, stems, and other organic debris, thus recycling nutrients needed for plant growth back to the soil.

Some fungi form a symbiotic relationship with the roots of certain plant species, where they help improve the plant’s ability to absorb vital nutrients and water. Mushrooms provide food and shelter to a multitude of insects.

Many people are interested in harvesting mushrooms for food. However, numerous species are poisonous and can cause

severe illness or death if eaten. Since many of the edible mushrooms closely resemble poisonous species, you should never eat wild mushrooms under any circumstance.

Every year, people die from consuming toxic wild mushrooms they mistakenly believed were edible. There have even been cases of experts on mushrooms misidentifying them and being poisoned after consuming them. Instead, buy mushrooms from stores, which are safe for consumption.

The presence of mushrooms in home landscapes is annoying to some. Often they are concerned about the possibility of pets and

children consuming poisonous species. Since the spores are naturally present in the environment, nothing can be done to prevent mushrooms from emerging from the soil.

There are no chemical fungicides available that will prevent their growth.

You can dig them out for disposal or mow them down if they are growing in your lawn. Remember, just removing the mushrooms will not stop more from appearing since the underground fungal structures continue to live, and the spores are everywhere.

Mushrooms are fascinating organisms and are a part of a necessary eco-

logical process. If you would like to learn more about mushrooms, please visit the Mushroom Club of Georgia’s website at http://www.gamushroomclub.org/.

UGA Extension Gwinnett will be having the following virtual educational programs for homeowners: ♦ Sept. 15, 6 to 7 p.m.: Fall is for Planting https://zoom. us/j/96276788537 ♦ Sept. 22, 6 to 7 p.m.: Gardening with Herbs https:// zoom.us/j/98447261009 Timothy Daly is an Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension Agent with UGA Extension Gwinnett.

He can be contacted at 678377-4011 or tdaly@uga.edu.

COLUMNIST|LISA MCLEOD

How to navigate career changes with confidence A

pandemic, an economic change jobs, houses, and husdownturn and a reas- bands all at the same time. Your sessment of what re- brain needs a sense of peace ally matters to us is resulting and stability in some elements in a massive shifting of ca- to free up space and adapt to reers. Many are using a new career change. this pandemic as an Having a steady base opportunity to pivot will also help you be industries, learn new resilient if you run into skills, or even start a some early challenges. business.

4. Stay flexible Whether a big caRemember, even if reer change is by your your next play doesn’t own choosing, or it was turn out exactly like Lisa thrust upon you, walkyou wanted, the expeMcLeod ing into an unknown rience will help you in situation can be anxithe long run. In the new ety inducing. book, “Range: Why GeneralYour ability to quiet your ists Triumph in a Specialized fear and step into this new World,” author David Epstein adventure with confidence cites his research of the world’s will lay the groundwork for top performers, from profesa successful and rewarding sional athletes to Nobel launext play. Here are some tips reates, to demonstrate why to help you start strong: early specialization is the ex1. Don’t burn ception, not the rule, for longyour bridges term achievement.

I know, you’re eager to dive In fact, high performers head first into this new adven- often find their paths late; ture. Before you leap, make they juggle many interests, sure you’re not leaving people and explore a huge breadth who helped you get to where of ideas before becoming a you are in the dust. BE pro- high performer. For example, active about staying in touch Andrew Mason, the founder with people from your previ- of Groupon, has a degree in ous roles, even if your depar- music. Steve Jobs considered ture wasn’t your ideal plan. calligraphy to be one of his Those people will go on to be most important classes. In connections, colleagues, or “Range,” Epstein makes the customers of your in another case that these high achievventure. The world is smaller ers don’t succeed despite their than you think. career tangents, they succeed 2. Set yourself up because of them. for success No matter how thorough When you’re entering a the interview or how much renew role, ask your new boss search you did about this new what success looks like in the opportunity, there is no crysfirst 30, 60, and 90 days. In tal ball. And that’s ok. Make a rapidly changing (virtual) peace with the fact you will world, onboarding is often not know exactly how things brief at best. Take the initia- will pan out. tive to make sure you’re clear Changing careers can be on expectations. If you’re go- an exciting time, yet many ing out on your own, research people let the fear of things the habits of successful entre- not going perfectly rob them preneurs, learn what others of this crucial journey. Lean in your space have done, and into new opportunities with set realistic, timebound goals the confidence you can navifor yourself. It will help quiet gate this adventure. some of the, “I hope I’m doing this right” feeling.

Lisa McLeod is the author of the best-sellers “Selling with 3. Keep non-career elements of your life steady Noble Purpose” and “Leading with Noble Purpose.”

If you can avoid it, don’t

C6 ♦ Sunday, September 6, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com CLOSE TO HOME

John McPherson

FAMILY CIRCUS

Bill Keane

Today’s Solution

BEETLE BAILEY Mort & Greg Walker

BLONDIE Dean Young & John Marshall

DILBERT®

Scott Adams

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE Chris Browne

Zits Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

PEANUTS

GARFIELD Jim Davis

POOCH CAFE Paul Gilligan

Charles M. Schulz

PICKLES Brian Crane

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

WHATZIT SOLUTION:

Today’s Answer: Midwest Tape

C8 ♦ Sunday, September 6, 2020 ♦ gwinnettdailypoSt.com

Four Wesleyan School faculty members named GISA Master Teachers From staff reports The Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) has named four Wesleyan School faculty members GISA Master Teachers, the school announced this week.

Cathy Ashley Cathy Cailor (first grade), Cailor Kuehne Ashley Kuehne (middle school To be accepted into GISA’s English), Jen Sheppard (middle school science) and Cor- Master Teacher program, rie Nash (high school math) candidates must submit a detailed application, school were all selected.

MICROFARM From C1 doing it, but on the other side when you take the food to the food bank and see it going out to community members, giving them the choice to have fresh food rather than relying on canned and box goods, it’s just a great feeling,” he said.

“It’s a fresh nutrient source, no chemicals, from people who had their heart in what they were doing.”

Plans for the new microfarm include expansions well beyond the eight raised gardens the volunteers cleaned and replanted during the event. An open-air greenhouse will be assembled in the near future, and 20 apple trees have been purchased that will be planted by students in January – the first step to a larger fruit orchard. Seay said

Corrie Nash

Jen Sheppard

officials said. Applicants must also submit a portfolio of three tangible examples of outstanding work related to

the classroom and to sharing and collaborating with other educators.

The final part of the application is an unedited video of the candidate’s classroom teaching utilizing best practices and five letters of recommendation from colleagues, administrators, parents, and students.

This is the third consecutive year in which Wesleyan teachers have been

honored as GISA Master Teachers.

“We are delighted that GISA has acknowledged the hard work of these committed educators through the Master Teacher program,” said Chris Cleveland, Wesleyan Head of School. “Cathy, Ashley, Jen, and Corrie are outstanding classroom teachers and have been impacting the lives of Wesleyan students for

many years. They are each deserving of this honor.”

Wesleyan School is a Christian, independent K-12 college preparatory school located in Peachtree Corners.

At the start of the 2020-2021 school year, Wesleyan enrolled 1,193 students from throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area.

To learn more about the school, visit www.wesleyanschool.org.

they eventually hope to plant wildflowers around the perimeter to attract pollinators, and he hopes to see the garden used as a meeting and reflection space, complete with a pavilion.

“Growing food is kind of a spiritual thing,” said Grant. “It’s an absolute miracle to watch a small seed grow into a large plant that then produces this beautiful, healthy food.”

As the semester carries on, organizers hope the word spreads and more students get involved.

Seay noted that, in the past, they’ve had 100 or more volunteers show up on a given day.

“I want people to know that we’re trying our hardest to make this something that the town of Lawrenceville and the community can hold dear,” Iddrisu said. “We want everyone to get involved. Whatever they can do to help, will help. Even if it’s just photos: rod reilly/georgia gwinnett college weeding with us on a Saturday, Georgia Gwinnett College environmental science student Kate Tanner works at weeding one of the raised bed garden the reward is great.” plots during a volunteer event at the college’s microfarm.

left: Georgia Gwinnett College environmental science student Candida Abbey works with some of her classmates during GGC’s Grizzlies Serve volunteer service event. Far left: Ibrahim Ashour cuts the grass inside the microfarm plot prior to the Grizzlies Serve event.

Mark Findley

Premier Residential Builders

comfort

GUARANTEED

“ I believe in the Jackson EMC Right Choice™ program so much that I built one for my own family.

Energy Efficient Homes. Guaranteed.

I’ve been a big believer in building energy-efficient homes for a long, long time. It’s always made good sense to me.

jacksonemc.com/rightchoice

And I think this Right Choice program is one of the best things to come along in our industry over the last 10 years.”

– Mark Findley Watch our video series at jacksonemc.com/rightchoice.

Brought to you only by