Lady Tigers triumph
over Calhoun Jackets.
SPORTS, IB
How you can help
homeless pets.
INSIDE, 6A
DawsonCountyNews
WEDNESDAY I MARCH 4, 2020 DaWSOflNeWS ^COITI DAWSONVILLE, GEORGIA $1.00
Stryker returned to Dawson County
Suspect in Bender murder case was taken into custody on Saturday, Feb. 29
By Alexander Popp
apopp@dawsonnews.com
Nearly five months after sur
rendering to authorities in
Pittsburg, Pa., Austin Todd
Stryker, a prime suspect in the
murder investigation of
Lumpkin County woman
Hannah Bender has been
returned to face charges in
Dawson County.
Stryker, 22, of Dawsonville
was taken into custody by
Dawson County
Sheriff’s Office deputies
on Saturday, Feb. 29,
according to recent
arrest reports.
According to a
Dawson County indict
ment, Stryker and sever
al other individuals are
accused of shooting and
stabbing 21-year-old Hannah
Bender on Sept. 15, 2019, and
concealing her body in north
Forsyth County.
Shortly after Bender
was reported missing on
Sept. 19, bloody cloth
ing was found in nearby
Dawson County and her
body was discovered
buried in a shallow grave
in north Forsyth County.
Sources close to the
investigation claim that
they believe the murder may have
happened in Dawson County,
before the suspects disposed of the
body in Forsyth County and plant
ed evidence at a campsite in
Lumpkin County in an attempt to
throw off investigators.
The discovery of Bender’s
body sparked a statewide man
hunt for Stryker, who after sev
eral weeks on the run surren
dered to authorities in
Pittsburgh on Oct. 1.
Over the last several months,
Stryker has been held in
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office
custody on charges connected to
an armed robbery at a Lumpkin
County Dollar General which
took place in July.
Stryker has been indicted on
charges of malice murder, felony
murder, aggravated assault and
battery, concealing the death of
another, and violation of
Georgia’s Street Gang Terrorism
and Prevention Act.
Stryker and three other alleged
co-conspirators are scheduled to
appear for an arraignment March
12 in the Dawson County
Superior Court.
Stryker
Local experts
on virus,
caution and
prevention
‘Where your business thrives’
MISSION:
“Cultiivtling a successful
economic environment and a
desirable quality of life for our
businesses and community."
gft'^onCounty
Jessica Taylor Dawson County News
Veterans Affairs of Dawson County President Don Brown is awarded the Jim Wallace Volunteer of the Year
award on Feb. 29 during the 23rd annual Chamber of Commerce Gala at the North Georgia Premium Outlets.
Chamber of Commerce celebrates thriving local community at annual gala
By Alexander Popp
apopp@dawsonnews.com
On Saturday night, the Dawson
County Chamber of Commerce hosted
it’s 23rd Annual Gala at the North
Georgia Premium Outlets, offering
music, food, dancing and update on
the current economic state of Dawson
County as the community ventures
forth into 2020.
During her words to the crowd,
Chamber President Christie Moore
commented that Dawson County is
truly a community where you can,
“have your cake and eat it too.”
“What I meant by that is we live in a
place that truly values the small-town
community, but has the amenities and
business opportunities of a town six
times our size or larger,” Moore said.
Moore spoke about several major
chamber programs and initiatives that
would be key for the county in 2020,
including the Graduate Pathways For
Success program (GPS), a free part
nership with the Dawson County
School System which prepares stu
dents who aren’t interested in college
or military service, with skills they
need to enter the work force and the
first ever Dawson County Economic
Development Plan, which is currently
under development.
“Maybe you love that this is the
place where your business thrives or
that the staff at Chick-fil-A know you
by name, maybe you love that your
house is moments away from great
hiking trails and breathtaking river
scenery or that you love volunteering
at a non-profit with your best friend
from church,” she said. “At the cham
ber we are dedicated to protecting and
promoting and improving the things
that we love, that all of us, the collec
tive we, love.”
Following Moore’s words to the
crowd, the 2020 Chamber Board offi
cers were sworn in by local attorney
Joey Homans. Adam Smith of
Amicalola Propane was sworn in as
Board Chair, Gwen Kellar of Chick-
Fil-A was sworn in a Vice Chair and
Connie Smith of Associated Credit
By Alexander Popp
apopp@dawsonnews.com
The Georgia Department of Public
Health (DPH) announced this week that it
would be collaborating with state part
ners, including authorities in Dawson
County, to prepare for the potential out
break of Coronavirus, COVID-19.
As of Wednesday, Feb. 26, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) had confirmed 14 cases of
COVID-19 in the United States. So far,
two cases of the virus have been reported
in Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said on
Monday.
Authorities say that while the overall
risk to the general public remains low,
agencies are moving to identify cases
across the county and reduce the virus’s
spread.
“We urge Georgians to prepare for hur
ricanes or flooding or take measures to
prevent flu, so preparing for an outbreak
of COVID-19 is no different,” DPH
Commissioner Kathleen E. Toomey said
in a press release. “DPH is working to
make sure our health systems, first
responders and county health departments
have the resources they need to respond
to a COVID-19 outbreak.”
According to Dr. Larry W. Anderson of
Anderson Family Medicine in Dawson
County, COVID-19 can be avoided and
treated much like the Influenza virus.
On Wednesday, Anderson explained
that COVID-19 presents mild, flu-like
symptoms, like low grade temperatures,
cough, sore throat, stomach distress and
diarrhea.
Any individuals who have recently
traveled to China, Asia, or other countries
where the virus has known to have
spread, should be warry of those symp
toms, he said.
Though anyone is potentially suscepti
ble to COVID-19, the young, elderly,
those with an underdeveloped or already
compromised immune system, those with
See COVID-1918A
See Gala 14A
0
9 0 9 9
Inside
Volume 4, Number 83
© 2020, Dawson County News
Dawsonville, Georgia
Church Events
3B
Classifieds
7B
Dear Abby
5B
Deaths
2A
Legals
8B
Opinion
7A
Sports
1B
5A Jessica Taylor
conducts
simulated
traffic stop
3A ° s g° od
Showcases his
life through
photography
NORTHSIDE
FAMILY MEDICINE &
URGENT CARE
DAWSON
81 Northside Dawson Drive, Suite 100
Dawsonville, GA 30534
Monday - Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Call 706-216-6000 for an appointment
NorthsideUrgentCare.com
Welcoming New Patients!
Northside Family Medicine & Urgent Care is here for
the needs of your entire family. You'll find a commitment
to personalized care, with a focus on communication.
For your busy lifestyle, we offer extended office hours
and weekend appointments to help you find time for
the routine medical care you and your family need. We
accept most insurance plans, and offer a convenient
location for the Dawsonville community on the
Northside/Dawson Medical Campus.
Services
• Routine medical care
• Blood sugar checks and
diabetes management
• Hypertension screening
and management
• Allergy treatment
• Physical exams (by appointment only)
• Sports/School physicals
