Wednesday, May 18,2022
dawsonnews.com I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I 5A
Couple trying to raise awareness of bacteria in Lanier
By Conner Evans
DCN regional staff
Three years ago this
May, Jeff and Jess
Williams were enjoying
Don Carter State Park and
swimming in Lake Lanier
with their three sons,
including their youngest,
Justus.
In the days following,
Justus started to get sick
and doctors told them that
the illness should pass. But
the boy’s condition wors
ened. He developed an
infection and died less than
two weeks later.
The couple didn’t know
how it happened until they
saw a news report in June
that River Forks Park was
shut down for high E. coli
levels, and they realized
that their 2-year-old son
must have been swimming
in risky waters.
“I was in a snowglobe of
grief in the days and weeks
following his death,” Jess
Williams said.
It took her husband’s
nudging to inspire them
both to turn their story into
something that could help
others.
“I myself am from right
outside of Atlanta and did
not grow up around the
lake,” Williams said at a
ceremony for the first new
sign at River Forks Park
Wednesday. “The risks
associated with its water
safety were nowhere near
the forefront of my mind
until several weeks after
May 17, 2019 — the day
that Justus was called
home to be with the Lord.”
Jeff Williams is the pres
ident-elect of South Hall
Rotary, and the couple
raised $8,500 through the
Rotary to install the signs
at parks around Lake
Lanier including Laurel
Park, Cherokee Bluffs
Park, Williams Mill
Greenspace, Cedar Creek
Reservoir and Wahoo
Creek Park.
The artwork and design
Williams releases a butterfly along with members
of the South Hall Rotary Club Wednesday, April
20, at River Forks Park.
was based on Centers for
Diseases Control and
Prevention guidelines and
it states park guests should
avoid the lake after heavy
rain, that wildlife such as
geese can mean increased
bacteria and people with
autoimmune issues should
use extra caution.
There is a scannable QR
code on the back of the
sign that allows people to
see the latest E. coli levels
at their park, and parks are
tested weekly during the
summer months when E.
coli levels can rise due to
warmer temperatures, said
Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth.
“As a whole we test
about 200 locations
throughout the
Chattahoochee basin
weekly,” Ulseth said.
“Stormwater runoff is
the most significant source
of pollution to the
Chattahoochee water
shed,” Ulseth said. “Most
of the time when we’re
testing here, we get very
safe levels. But in certain
areas following heavy rains
we do see elevated levels
of E. coli, which could
exceed (Environmental
Protection Agency’s) rec
ommended value for recre
ation.”
People should avoid
swimming in the lake
when it appears muddy or
brownish, he said.
Infections are rare, but they
are also hard to track.
When people get an infec
tion and receive care, they
often can’t tell if the lake
was the source of the issue,
just as happened initially
with the Williamses.
“Most of our samples
are collected by volunteers
and we could certainly use
a lot more,” he said.
Cases like Justus’s are
very rare, Ulseth said, but
the people most suscepti
ble to an infection are very
young children, elderly
people and those with
autoimmune issues.
In honor of Justus,
attendees released dozens
of butterflies over Lake
Lanier out of yellow enve
lopes.
This story was originally
published in The
Gainesville Times, a sister
publication of the DCN.
Photos by Scott Rogers DCN regional staff
The South Hall Rotary Club meets Wednesday, April 20, at River Forks Park
for the unveiling of the first of seven new signs being installed around Lake
Lanier spreading awareness about water quality hazards. South Hall Rotary
Club President Jeff Williams' child Justus Teal Williams died of a bacterial
infection from the lake.
City of Dawsonville FY 2022-2023 Budget Notice
The City of Dawsonville hereby gives public notice that the proposed
FY 2022-2023 City of Dawsonville budget was presented to the Mayor
and City Council at the May 16, 2022 regular City Council Meeting and
Work Session.
Interested persons may view a copy of the proposed FY 2022-2023
budget at City Hall, 415 Highway 53 E, Dawsonville, Georgia, during
regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM.
In addition, the proposed budget has been placed on the City’s website:
www. dawsonville -ga.gov
The Mayor and City Council will hold a Public Hearing to receive
public comments on the proposed FY 2022-2023 Budget at 5:00 PM on
Monday, June 6, 2022 in the G.L. Gilleland Council Chambers on the
2nd Floor of Dawsonville City Hall, 415 Highway 53 E, Dawsonville,
Georgia, at the regular City Council Meeting.
Adoption of the budget will be considered at the regular City Council
Meeting and Work Session on June 20, 2022 at 5:00 PM, in the G.L.
Gilleland Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of Dawsonville City Hall,
415 Highway 53, Dawsonville, Georgia.
★ ★★
Will
Wade
TATE HOUSE
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DAWSON
COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES!
I wish you the best in accomplishing your
dreams and aspirations!
★★★
ONCE A TIGER ALWAYS A TIGER
- REPRESENTATIVE WILL WADE 96 ALUMNI
PAID FOR BY THE CAMPAIGN OF WILLIAM S. WADE
