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o O Serving Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Traditions, Reunion, Deaton Creek and West Jackson $1.00 copy Wednesday, December 23, 2020 Vol. 14 No. 2 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. www.BraseltonNewsTODAY.com 12 pages First vaccines arrive Hospital leaders urge continued caution during upcoming holiday It’s the best Christmas gift anyone could wish for this year. COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in the Bra selton area. Northeast Georgia Health System received its first batch of vaccinations on Thursday morning, Dec. 17. The hospital system re ceived 5,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and vaccinat ed its first seven employees on Thursday evening. “It feels like Christmas came early.” Carol Burrell. NGHS president and CEO. said. “It’s been a long eight months for our organization and our community, as we continue to see record num bers of COVID patients. We still have a long journey ahead of us, but simply hav ing a vaccine in our hands is a tremendous and positive step forward.” While there’s a sense of excitement and hope sur rounding the arrival of the vaccine, hospital leaders stress the need to continue practicing COVID safe ty precautions, especially during the upcoming Christ mas holiday. “It’s certainly a big. pos itive milestone, and several of our staff have said they hope it’s the beginning of the end for the pandemic,” said Tara Jernigan, chief nursing officer at NGMC Braselton. “That said, we still have several months to go, and I don’t think there will be a true sense of re lief until we start seeing less COVID-positive pa tients in our hospitals. We really hope people in our community don’t let their guard down during Christ mas. because another spike after the holidays could be catastrophic. Please, please - celebrate safely.” FIRST DOSES GIVEN The first employees vaccinated Thursday eve ning were Rachel Brunner. RN, Critical Care Nurse at NGMC Gainesville and Braselton; Andy Cason. RRT, Respiratory Therapist at NGMC Gainesville; Ta- mika Johnson, RN, Charge Nurse in the Mobile Medi cal Unit at NGMC Gaines ville; Elizabeth Larkins. MSN, RN, Director of Crit ical Care at NGMC Gaines ville; April McDonald. MD. Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine Physician with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group, practic ing at NGMC Gainesville and Braselton; Terry Phil lips. Environmental Ser vices Technician at NGMC Gainesville; and Seth Scott. RN, Nurse in the Emergen cy Department at NGMC Gainesville. As of Monday, Dec. 21. NGHS has administered nearly 1,000 doses. Hospital leaders hope to have the first batch administered by the end of the month and expect to receive the next Pfizer shipment and first Moderna shipment — which was ap proved last week — by the end of the month. “We hope other COVID-19 vaccines devel oped by different compa nies and research groups will receive federal approval Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton staff began receiving COVID-19 vaccines last week. Northeast Georgia Health System had vaccinated nearly 1,000 employees at the end of Monday, Dec. 21. soon, which would allow us Supriya Mannepalli, MD, announcement of the Mod- to vaccinate our workforce NGMC’s medical director ema vaccination approval), and people in our communi- of Infectious Disease Medi- ty, faster than planned,” said cine, on Dec. 17 (prior to the See Vaccine, page 2A Man dies in Hoschton trench collapse A man was killed when a trench collapsed near Hoschton on Dec. 18. The 42-year-old man was working in a sewer age drain line for a sub division at 128 Morris Creek Dr., off of Hwy. 332, Hoschton. According to coroner Dean Stringer, workers dug the man out, but he was dead from his injuries. Jackson County EMS. fire and rescue responded to the scene. The man worked for Balance Site of Norcross. OSHA, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson County Coro ner’s Office are continuing to investigate the incident. WALK-THRU CHRISTMAS DISPLAY IN BRASELTON Diane Donaldson submitted this photo of a large Christmas display at 5434 Old Winder Hwy., Braselton. This walk-thru Christmas lights display is open from dark until 10 p.m. (weather permitting). Nightly viewings are open through Dec. 30. The display features over 35,000 lights and holiday decorations, along with a a 24-foot synchronized light tree. Court rejects Kolter injunction against Hoschton The Jackson County Superior Court has rejected an effort by the developers of Twin Lakes to stop impact fees imposed by the City of Hoschton. The move paves the way for the town to begin imposing fees on new homes and busi nesses. Funds will be used to pay for fire, police and recreation facilities in the town. The suit, filed by developer Kolter Homes, had sought to stop the city from imposing the fees since they will push up the price of housing being built in its Twin Lakes com munity. The fees were rushed into place by the city over the summer in order to capture as many hew homes in Twin Lakes as pos sible. Judge Currie Mingledorff ruled against Kolter, saying the company would not suffer harm if the fees are put into place. “If injunctive relief is not granted, Plain tiffs will face an increased financial burden due to the fee,” said Mingledorff. “However, if the injunction is granted, Defendants will not have the funding available to be able to provide the allegedly necessary public ser vices and facilities for the developing area.” MAILING LABEL Hoschton approves townhomes plat Hoschton budget calls for police department and new city hall Hoschton plans to start up a police department in 2021 and also build a new multi use facility and city hall. Those were some of the highlights in the proposed 2021 city budget that the Hoschton City Council will vote on Dec. 28. A public hearing on the budget was held Dec. 21 at the council’s regular monthly meeting. Overall, the budget calls for a 13% increase in spend ing over the budget ap proved for 2020. The city anticipates $1.8 million in General Fund revenue and $1.6 million in spending next year. BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS Some highlights are: • The city is budgeting $89,250 for a police de partment, although the city council hasn’t formally voted to create a police de partment. The idea has been discussed at several city council meetings, a public forum and at the council’s retreat meeting. But creating a police department would likely lead to the town im posing a property tax to help pay for it. “I am always open to options, but if the citizens want it, they will See Budget, page 2A Work could soon begin on 300 new townhomes in Hoschton following ac tion by the Hoschton City Council on Dec. 21. The council approved the preliminary plat for Cambridge at Towne Cen ter. a move that should al low Rockhaven Homes to begin work on the project. Zoning and other approv als were given in 2019. The action came as the council began to wind down 2020 and gear up for 2021. Among the items ap proved by the council were: • the swearing-in of Jo- esph Hayes as the town’s code enforcement offi cer. The city had earlier worked out a deal with the Jackson County Mag istrate Court to hear city ordinance violations. Of ficials said the town is now positioned to be more aggressive in citing city codes. • transmitting the city’s comprehensive plan up date to the Northeast Georgia Regional Com mission for review. The update will then come back to the council for fi nal action. • a hearing of the city’s 2021 budget. Nobody See Hoschton, page 2A '0 4 8 7 9 1 4 5 4 0