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^ADawsonCountyNews
WEDNESDAY I MAY 31,2023
Dawson News ► com dawsonville, GEORGIA $2.00
Ex-firefighter gets 15 years for abuse, molestation
Resources
In addition to 911 for
emergencies, there are
other local resources for
victims of family vio
lence.
No One Alone is a non
profit that helps people
affected by family vio
lence in Dawson and
Lumpkin counties.The
nonprofit's crisis line is
staffed with trained
advocates. NOA's servic
es include the shelter,
counseling, case man
agement, help filing pro
tective orders and other
children's and parent ser
vices.
NOA 24/7 crisis line:
706-864-1986.
NOA website: https://
noonealone.org/
By Julia Hansen
jhansen@dawsonnews.com
A former Forsyth County fire
fighter has been found guilty
and sentenced in a case in which
he was accused
of multiple
assaults and
other acts of
child cruelty.
During a
May 26 hear
ing, Dawson
County man
John James
Weisgerber III, 43, received a
sentence of 40 years, with the
first 15 years in prison and the
rest to be served on probation.
Quoting lyrics from a song,
presiding Northeastern Judicial
Circuit Judge Clint Bearden told
the former Forsyth County fire
fighter: “People ruin people.”
Bearden went on to say, “Your
actions have now impacted
these kids and in many ways
will probably impact how they
view relationships, their lives
and their children.”
John Weisgerber was arrested
on Sept. 27, 2019, and accused
of repeatedly physically assault
ing one child, exposing five
See Abuse 13A
Weisgerber
Julia Hansen Dawson County News
Public defender Jake Shapiro, left, and John Weisgerber, cen
ter right, listen as Judge Clint Bearden explains the terms of
Weisgerber's sentence during a Dawson County Superior
Court hearing on May 26.
Expanding young opportunities
Photos by Erica Jones Dawson County News
Dawson County Schools administrators, board and staff, along with members of the community, cut the rib
bon to officially open the high school's new multipurpose athletic building on May 26.
AgriScience center, athletic building officially open at DCHS
By Erica Jones
ejones@dawsonnews.com
Dawson County High
School students now have
more space for agricultur
al classes and events and
athletic practices, thanks
to the school system’s
new agriscience center
and multipurpose athletic
building that are now fin
ished and open at the
high school.
On Friday May 26,
Dawson County Schools
and the Dawson County
Chamber of Commerce
held a ribbon-cutting cer
emony to celebrate the
completion and official
opening of the two new
buildings.
Both buildings were
funded through
ESPLOST, and together
they will bring a myriad
of new possibilities for
students in the school’s
agricultural programs and
athletic programs alike.
Here’s a look into what
each of the new facilities
will offer.
Roger D. Slaton
AgriScience Center
The new Roger D.
Slaton AgriScience
The new Roger D. Slaton AgriScience Center includes a
See Buildings 15A show arena and areas to raise, wash and hold livestock.
Intersection
at 400 named
for pillar of
community
By Erica Jones
ejones@dawsonnews.com
The intersection at Highway 400 and
Dawson Forest Road officially has a new
name in honor of one Dawson County resi
dent and longtime public servant.
During the May 25 meeting of the Rotary
Club of Dawson County, State Sen. Steve
Gooch (R-Dahlonega) and State Rep. Will
Wade (R-Dawsonville) read a resolution offi
cially dedicating the intersection as the Mike
Berg intersection.
“We recognize people at the capitol from
time to time for different things that they do
or have done; we get that opportunity occa
sionally,” Gooch said. “We made a resolu
tion... to name the intersection after Mike;
that was signed and put into law by Governor
Kemp last year.”
See Berg 12A
Kinley named
Planning,
Zoning head
By Erica Jones
ejones@dawsonnews.com
The City of Dawsonville
has hired Jameson Kinley, a
Dawson County resident
with years of experience in
the field of local govern
ment, as its new Planning
and Zoning Director.
Kinley officially began his new position
with the city on May 15, bringing several
years of experience with him from previous
See Kinley 13A
Kinley
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Inside
Volume 9, Number 22
© 2023, Dawson County News
Dawsonville, Georgia
Church Events
2B
Classifieds
6B
Dear Abby
5B
Deaths
2A
Legals
6B
Opinion
7A
Sports
1B
Discover North
Georgia Expo to
offer info about
tourism in area
6A J.D. Swartz,
former
co-owner of
DCN, dies
BEST OF DAWSON
FOR COSMETICDENTISTRY
Celebrating 50 Years
ercf/u/
B. Manzur, D.M.D
754 Hwy 53 West
Dawsonville, GA
706-265-2505
