About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (May 29, 2019)
Exceptional Children take part in annual picnic LOCAL, 2A DawsonCountyNews WEDNESDAY I MAY 29, 2019 Dawson News ► com dawsonville, GEORGIA $1.00 International adoptions bill passes House Collins-authored legislation aims to ease navigation process of bringing children to US By Megan Reed DCN Regional Staff Adoption legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, and the bill aims to help families navigate the pro cess of international adoption. The Intercountry Adoption Information Act requires the Secretary of State to include in its annual report informa tion about countries that have issued new restric tions on adoptions to the United States. The Department of State would also have to pub lish information about department’s efforts to work with those coun tries to resume adoption to the United States. Collins said he hopes having more informa tion about international adoption can help guide families through the process. the “Loving families in Northeast Collins Georgia and across the United States are eager to provide chil dren with the care and support they deserve, yet they remain separated from their adoptive children due to shifting interna tional policies and information gaps,” Collins said in a state ment. The legislation, co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island, was inspired by a Jefferson couple, Pam and Mark Romano. The Romanos were in the process of adopting two brothers from Russia when Russia halted international adoptions to the United States in 2012. “Those who are considering See Adoption 19A Making DCHS history Class of 2019 becomes 100th graduating class for school By Jessica Taylor jtaylor@dawsonnews.com As excited graduates crossed the stage of the University of North Georgia Convocation Center last night, history was made as the class of 2019 became the 100th graduating class of Dawson County High School. The school, which started with five graduates in 1919, has grown to have more than 250 graduates a century later who amassed more than $1.1 million in scholarships, not including 121 HOPE and 24 Zell scholarship recipients. “As you leave here today, know that you are part of something very special. You are the absolute only 100th graduating class of Dawson County,” Superintendent Damon Gibbs said in his closing remarks. It was a special night indeed, as the senior class was celebrated for their school achievements and the future that lies ahead for them. “In controversial opinion, I’m sad it’s over,” Valedictorian Natalie Peulen said. “Gone are the days where we have very few bills and our parents are there to take care of us. Gone are the days where our whole years were planned out for us.” Though the high schools days are behind them, Peulen said graduation is not the end. “I don’t believe in the whole ‘this is a new begin ning’ or ‘this is the end.’ From here on out we’re going to shape our own lives. This is just a step towards that,” she said. As the graduates prepare for to take their next step in life, Salutatorian Emma Garrett imparted some advice: go on adventures, try new experiences, take risks and live and learn. “Failure’s not the end of Photos by Jessica Taylor Dawson County News Principal Brody Hughes congratulates Isabella Brown. More photos page 7A. The Dawson County High School Chamber Singers perform the Alma Mater. the world. In fact, it pro vides us with an opportuni ty to learn and to grow. The key to failure is to always learn,” Garrett said. “Embrace your failures, learn from them and live every moment to its fullest.” Gibbs also addressed the graduates with life lessons and encouraged them “don’t be average, be excellent.” “You will be told that suc cessful people are lucky. Our life is the summation of the choices we make. There are also consequences for those choices, sometimes good and sometimes bad,” Gibbs said. “We will fail and we will surely make mistakes, how ever just because you fail and someone else succeeds does not make you a victim. You can’t always control your cir cumstances, but you can always control your reaction. Be proud of your wins and know that luck had nothing to do with it. “The world does not award participation trophies. There are winners and losers in almost everything. Every winner has had a series of losses and has grown from the experience. You will ask for things in this life that you do not get. Life is not fair and being told no or having to tell yourself no on occasion builds character.” Dawson County inmate escapes during work release Joshua Demarest jdemarest@dawsonnews.com Dawson County inmate Jeremy Lee Pruitt-Akins escaped from a work detail over the weekend. Pruitt-Akins was autho rized for work release pursuant to an order from drug court. After he was released for work, he failed to return to custody. The 29-year-old was arrested April 29 for failure to comply with a treatment court. According to the Dawson County Sheriffs Office, he is likely took a bus from either Atlanta or Gainesville to Colorado. Investigators believe he is with a 27-year- old female named Lea Marie Nicole Propst. Under Title 16, Chapter 10, Article 3 of the Official Code of Georgia, escaping from prison is a misdemeanor if the inmate was being held for a misdemeanor charge. County seeks creation of vaping ordinance By Jessica Taylor jtaylor@dawsonnews.com The city council followed up to discuss the impact of the vaping ordinance at its May 20 meeting where concerns from homeowners and businesses were addressed. The ordinance, which went into effect May 7, limits vaping usage within 200 feet of schools and 100 feet of churches within city limits as well as on city property such as the parks and city hall. Homeowners living adja cent to city, church or school property addressed concerns that the ordinance pro hibits them from using e-cigarettes in their See Vaping 15A Potential bypass routes to be discussed at GDOT meeting From staff reports The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is conducting an informational meeting next week regarding the proposed new location of a bypass route around the city of Dawsonville between Hwy. 9 and Hwy. 53. The meeting will take place from 5-7 p.m. June 4 at Dawson County High School. See GDOT15A 0 9 0 9 9 Inside Volume 4, Number 36 © 2019, Dawson County News Dawsonville, Georgia Church Events 3B Classifieds 7B Dear Abby 6B Deaths 2A Legals 8A Opinion 11A Sports 1B 3A DCHS Visual Arts students show off their creations 9A Splash pad opens June 1 on Rotary Day ■ LUNG BREAST COLORECTAL GYN PROSTATE BLADDER KIDNEY LEUKEMIA LYMPHOMA MULTIPLE MYELOMA PANCREAS MELANOMA By providing access to more cancer treatment centers, we're bringing expert care to more Georgians. That care is made possible by having the most board-certified medical oncologists of any community hospital network in the state—and it's helped establish us as top 2 in the nation among community cancer programs. Learn more at builttobeatcancer.com m NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL CANCER INSTITUTE BEATCANCER
