Newspaper Page Text
Riverview’s Mashburn honored
as GAESP 2018 National
Distinguished Principal
LOCAL, 6A
Dawson County High’s
Grady Turner to retire
SPORTS, 1B
DawsonCountyNews
WEDNESDAY I MAY 16, 2018
Dawson News ► com dawsonville, GEORGIA $1.00
Committee targets school safety
Dawson County schools to see $47k for security upgrades, training for officials
By Jessica Brown
jbrown@dawsonnews.com
The House Study Committee on
School Security held its first meeting at
the Dawson County Board of Education
Professional Development Center in
Dawsonville on Monday to discuss
school safety measures with representa
tives from several north Georgia coun
ties.
The study committee, chaired by state
Representative Rick Jasperse, R-Jasper,
was established by House Resolution
1414 during the 2018 legislative in
response to the Parkland, Fla. school
shooting in February.
Representatives from Dawson,
Fannin, Forsyth, Gordon and Pickens
counties gathered in Dawsonville to
address the committee and have a frank
discussion about what the state can do
to address the topic of school safety.
“This is not an effort by the state to
interfere with local governments and
control of schools,” said Speaker of the
House David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge.
“Rather this is simply a way to see if we
can help local school districts ensure the
safety of their staff and students.”
Georgia Department of Education
Deputy Superintendent of External
Affairs, Garry McGiboney, outlined the
41 Georgia laws pertaining to school
safety, as well as the newest additions
including mandatory school climate rat
ings and mental health awareness train
ing for educators.
McGiboney noted that Georgia
schools have seen an increase in com
puter trespass, vandalism and handguns
in the past three years and that it is
important that schools foster an environ
ment where students feel they can reach
out to adults in the school and alert them
of potential safety threats.
See Safety 15A
A tradition continues
Annual Ranger water jump brings lake communities together
By Jessica Brown
jbrown@dawsonnews.com
It has become a local tra
dition each May for specta
tors to line the beach at
War Hill Park to watch the
5th Ranger Training
Battalion (RTB) soar over
head in helicopters and
parachute into the lake
below.
One by one on
Wednesday, May 9, 140
Army Rangers suited up,
ready to jump out of
UH-60 Black Hawks hov
ering 1,500 feet above
Fake Fanier.
Every year the Army
Rangers at Camp Merrill in
Dahlonega complete a
water jump training drill to
practice and strengthen
their airborne proficiency.
With 70 percent of the
world covered in water, the
water jump is an important
training exercise in air
borne infiltration.
This is the eighth year
the Rangers have organized
the jump at Fake Fanier.
“It’s actually a lot of
fun,” said Capt. Steve
Sorrells. “It’s a little bit
cold with the wind blowing
on your face outside of the
helicopter, but the water is
warm today. Great weather.
It’s a fun experience.”
Sorrells, who has been in
the military for eight years,
was excited to complete his
second water jump with the
RTB.
“Any time I get an
opportunity to jump I’m
always excited especially
when it’s a water jump. You
know you don’t have to
worry about your landing
too much,” Sorrells said.
See Jump 14A
Jessica Brown Dawson County News
For the eighth year in a row the 5th RangerTraining Battalion completed their
water jump training drill at War Hill Park. 140 Rangers suited up and parachut
ed out of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters hovering 1,500 feet over Lake Lanier
May 9.
City, county
to hold public
meetings for
comp, plans
By Allie Dean
adean@dawsonnews.com
The city of Dawsonville is holding a public
hearing on Thursday concerning updates to its
2018 comprehensive plan.
The plan must be updated every 10 years and
the updates are being facilitated by the Georgia
Mountains Regional Commission.
According to a public notice posted by the
city, the hearing is intended to inform the pub
lic about the purpose of the plan and the plan
ning process, to discuss the plan development
schedule and provide an explanation of the
public participation process to be followed by
the city during the preparation of the plan.
See Plan 14A
Early voting ends
Friday; primary
election is May 22
By Allie Dean
adean@dawsonnews.com
With the general primary election looming on
Tuesday, the Dawson County Board of
Elections and Registration is gearing up to tally
votes for several contested seats for state and
local offices.
Early voting began April 30 and 566 ballots
had been cast as of Tuesday morning, with early
voting closing up at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 18.
There are currently 17,290 active registered
voters in the county.
There is only one voting location for advance
voting and all in-person voters must vote at the
Dawson County Board of Elections Office at 96
Academy Avenue in Dawsonville.
On Election Day, May 22, residents must go
to their assigned voting precinct to vote
between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
See Election | 5A
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9 0 9 9
Inside
Volume 3, Number 33
© 2018, Dawson County News
Dawsonville, Georgia
Church Events
3B
Classifieds
7B
Dear Abby
5B
Deaths
2A
Legals
8B
Opinion
9A
Sports
1B
7A F uture
educators
recognized at
signing day
2B Track teams
place at state
competition
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