WEDNESDAY I MAY 10, 2023
Dawson News ► com dawsonville, GEORGIA $2.00
Gun raffle raises more than $3500 for EMS
By Erica Jones
ejones@dawsonnews.com
On Friday May 5, Alex
Williams with Modern
Woodmen of America and rep
resentatives of Appalachian
Armory met with Dawson
County’s fire chief and several
local emergency responders to
present them with a check for
over $3500 that was raised dur
ing Williams’ annual gun raffle
fundraiser.
Each year, Williams hosts the
fundraiser to raise money for the
local fire department. This
year’s raffle featured 31 guns
supplied by local gun store
Appalachian Armory, and one
winner was chosen each day
throughout the month of March
from the tickets purchased by
residents of Dawson County and
surrounding counties.
According to Williams, this
year’s raffle raised $3059.58
through ticket sales. Through
Modern Woodmen Williams
contributed $500 in matching
funds, bringing the grand total
up to $3559.58 to be donated to
the fire department for use in
any way department leadership
sees fit.
“That’s the idea behind it is
helping fund something that
they might not get funding for:
extra equipment, an AED, what
ever their needs are,” Williams
said. “People always say ‘we
would much rather support the
fire department and win a gun
than go out and buy our own
gun’.”
Appalachian Armory’s gun
smith and part owner Zachary
Hudson and armory representa
tive Dana Thorn attended the
check presentation on Friday
along with Williams, and they
expressed their excitement at
being able to help support the
local fire department through
donating the guns to the raffle.
“We love to help with stuff
like this all the time; anything
we can do,” Thom said.
Dawson County Fire Chief
and EMA Director Troy Leist
said that seeing the amount of
money raised for his department
through the raffle is encouraging
to him and his fellow firemen
See Raffle 16A
Erica Jones Dawson County News
On Friday May 5, Modern Woodmen's Alex Williams and rep
resentatives from Appalachian Armory presented local
emergency responders with a check for over $3500 raised by
Williams' annual gun raffle fundraiser.
‘It’s exhilarating’
Photos by Julia Hansen Dawson County News
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Sean Durkan, left, checks Staff Sgt. Alex Gardner's gear before he leaps out of a UH-60
Black Hawk helicopter for the water jump.
Ranger Training Battalion leaps into Lanier for annual water jump
By Julia Hansen
jhansen@dawsonnews.com
The annual water jump at Dawson
County’s lakeside War Hill Park isn’t just
a tradition for the U.S. Army’s Ranger
Training Battalion as a whole. It’s some
thing that many soldiers eagerly antici
pate each year, too.
After completing at least one water
jump into Lake Lanier Thursday, Staff
Sgt. Alex Gardner joked that he’s done
“much more than five” water jumps given
the multiple years he’s taken part in the
event.
“And I’m about to do it again,” Gardner
said, gathering his supplies. “I just have to
grab my other parachute.”
See Jump 16A
Boats stand by as one soldier prepares to make a water landing, sur
rounded by purple smoke from a flare.
Seniors sign
intent letters
for teaching
By Erica Jones
ejones@dawsonnews.com
On the morning of Tuesday May 2, six of
Dawson County High School’s seniors
signed certificates signifying their intent to
go to college and enter into the teaching
field.
During the school’s annual Future
Educators signing day, family, friends, col
lege representatives and school administra
tors gathered at the high school’s College
and Career Academy to celebrate the stu
dents and their goals and to show their sup
port as the seniors each signed their certifi
cates of intent.
Each of the students introduced them
selves, saying where they plan to go to col
lege, what they hope to teach and which
See Educators 16A
Two teens
charged after
altercation
near school
By Julia Hansen
jhansen@dawsonnews.com
Two teenagers have been charged as
juveniles for allegedly injuring another stu
dent in an altercation near Dawson County
Junior High School April 26.
The two teens were each charged with
one misdemeanor count of battery, said
Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson.
Just before 3 p.m. on April 26, five
DCSO deputies responded to a fight at 124
Allen St., a Dawson County Sheriff’s
Office incident report stated.
See Teens 18A
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9 0 9 9 4
Inside
Volume 9, Number 19
© 2023, Dawson County News
Dawsonville, Georgia
Events
2B
Classifieds
6B
Dear Abby
5B
Deaths
2A
Legals
6B
Opinion
7A
Sports
1B
3A DCHS Class
of2023 earns
over $700K in
scholarships.
6A BTD offering
seniors chance
to learn valuable
skills after
graduation.
BEST OF DAWSON
FOR COSMETICDENTISTRY
Celebrating 50 Years
ercf/u/
B. Manzur, D.M.D
754 Hwy 53 West
Dawsonville, GA
706-265-2505
