GROWING GWINNETT, 1C
Multifamily developments see upswing
DULY DETERMINED Duluth’s Eckard finds fit for her small stature at Georgia Southern • Sports, 1B
Gwinnett Daily Post SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018
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Vol. 48, No. 154
MARTA board’s focus on Gwinnett referendum BY CURT YEOMANS
curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com
MARTA Board of Directors Chairman Robbie Ashe knows what it’s like to try driving up Interstate 85 to Lawrenceville while fighting traffic and congestion on the roadways. As a lawyer who has had to represent clients in
nearly all of the county’s courts — Probate Court being the exception — he’s had to make that drive in Gwinnett traffic several times. Since he’s on his client’s dime, he uses a Peach Pass to bypass as much traffic as he can on I-85. It’s partly because of that personal experience that Ashe sees Gwinnett
joining MARTA as a positive move for the county and the rest of the region. “More transit in Gwinnett, to Gwinnett, with Gwinnett opens up opportunities there for folks in Atlanta, for folks elsewhere,” Ashe said. “Conversely, it helps everybody from Gwinnett going to
MARTA Board of Directors Chairman Robbie Ashe, left, talks about the transit agency’s contract with Gwinnett County as county commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash looks on at MARTA’s Atlanta headquarters Thursday. Now that county commissioners and MARTA’s board have approved the contract, the attention turns to the March referendum in Gwinnett. (Staff Photo: Curt Yeomans)
See MARTA, Page 5A
Developer building home for paralyzed football player Help sought raising funds for Gales family BY CURT YEOMANS curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com
Above, Dawn Newburn paints a plaque at the Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park on Saturday afternoon. Right, Lauren Higgins helps her daughter Julia, 5, with sand art at the Yellow Daisy Festival on Saturday. (Photos: Anthony Stalcup)
c i n a Bontanza bo
Guests, vendors reflect on 50 years of the Yellow Daisy Festival
BY TREVOR MCNABOE
crafts festivals with friends. Each year, Anderson and her Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for friends Debbie Jones and Donna more photos of the festival. Peppers make a list of things they festival under a pavilion. It now has want to find when they go to the grown into an art festival featuring festival. a food pavilion and bands playing This year, it was pottery, garden throughout the four-day event. art, jewelry, yard art and handPowder Springs resident Susan painted miniatures. Anderson has made the trip to the One place they visit each year is festival for the past 40 years. the Country Pick’ns vendor, which “This is a premier event and the specializes in handcrafted miniaholy grail of craft stuff,” Anderson tures and collectibles, from Kansas. said. “There’s so many things and “This is my second year here,” vendors to choose from each year.” Peppers said. “They are one of the Anderson said not only has it first places I want to come to when been a pleasant surprise over the we arrive here.” years to see the growth, but also it Jones said going to the festival has been a chance to experience See FESTIVAL, Page 5A one of Georgia’s largest arts and MORE ONLINE
trevor.mcnaboe @gwinnettdailypost.com
Young, old, first-time visitors and grizzled veterans flocked to Stone Mountain Park for the 50th anniversary of the Yellow Daisy Festival. Starting Thursday, more than 500 vendors descended upon the park in celebration of the event’s golden anniversary. According to organizers, the event started as a small get-together and
A Duluth-based developer who is working to help the family of a Southern University football player who was left paralyzed during a football game against the University of Georgia three years ago is asking for the community’s help. Paran Homes CEO Whit Marshall has donated a site at his company’s Traditions of Braselton develTo help fund opment in this project, Jackson I’m calling on County my fellow University to Devon of Georgia alumni to Gales’ step forward and join family so a me in providing this wheelchair incredible young man accessible and his family with a home can very special place to be built for call home.” them. To — Whit Marshall, help make Paran Homes CEO that home a reality, however, Marshall — a former UGA linebacker — is asking for assistance to raise the funds needed to build the house. “The Gales Family has faced a difficult challenge for the last few years and they deserve a break,” Marshall said in a statement. “We’ve got the lot, a terrific designbuild team in place, and a vast network of subcontractors ready and willing to do what’s needed to complete this vision. “To help fund this project, I’m calling on my fellow University of Georgia alumni to step forward and join me in providing this incredible young man and his family with a very special place to call home.” Some money has already been raised for the home, which is expected to be Americans With Disabilities Act compliant, but an organization called Build for Devon is continuing to raise funds and donations of materials to get the home built. Currahee Homes is expected to begin
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See GALES, Page 5A
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Keystone Sponsors The Grains of Sand Band —— 5-8 pm
September 15th • 4-8 pm Snellville Towne Green
Jazz Fusion Kings —— 4-5 pm
Some of the participating restaurants: Fratellis • Ionies Caribbean Kitchen • Berens Frozen Custard • Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ • Mom’s Creole Cookin • Wild Wing Cafe • Bonefish Grill • The Village Corner German Restaurant & Bakery • Honey Baked Ham • Cracker Barrel • Great Harvest Bread Co. • Summit Chase Country Club • Tropical Smoothie Cafe • Nothing Bundt Cakes • Brown’s BBQ • Nawlins Praline Candy • Snellville Honey • Gyro Chef Mediterranean • Cari’s Corner Bakery • Lincoln Fill Station • Operation Home Brew • Subway (Hwy 78)
565446-1
Great Food Great Music Kids Zone