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Trump stumps for Kemp in late push
President says GOP candidate strong; Kemp makes hacking claim against Dems
Associated Press, Tribune News Service
MACON—President Donald Trump cam
paigned for Georgia’s Republican guberna
torial candidate at a rally Sunday in Macon,
calling Brian Kemp a “strong man” and
“strong personality” and said Kemp would
be a great governor.
“You want to see Georgia prosperity end?”
Trump told the rally crowd. “Vote for the
Democrat.”
Trump’s remarks included references to
the “Antifa” far-left-leaning militant groups
and a migrant caravan marching toward
the U.S.-Mexico border that he has called an
“invasion.”
Appearing before thousands in an over
flowing aircraft hangar, Trump declared,
“There’s electricity in the air like I haven’t
seen since ‘16. ”
“This is a very important election,” he
added. “I wouldn’t say it’s as important as ‘16,
but it’s right up there. ”
Trump went after Kemp’s Democratic
opponent, Stacey Abrams, calling her “one
of the most extreme far-left politicians in the
I Inside
What’s on the ballot: Candidates,
questions 6A
entire country.”
The president heaped the praise on Kemp,
who is locked in one of the tightest races in
the country, on the same day the Georgia sec
retary of state’s office began an investigation
into the Democratic Party after an alleged
attempt to hack the state’s voter registration
■ Please see TRUMP, 6A
JOHN BAZEMORE I Associated Press
Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate
Brian Kemp, left, with President Trump as they
arrive for a rally Sunday, Nov. 4, in Macon , Ga.
AUSTIN STEELE I The Times
Kelsie Kennon, 23, leads a physical education class at Chestatee Academy on Thursday, Nov. 1. The University of
North Georgia’s health and physical education teacher education program is moving to UNG’s Gainesville campus
in spring 2019. Future cohorts will spend a minimum of two semesters on the Gainesville campus before finishing
off their degree with a semester of student teaching.
UNG moving Phys. Ed. teacher
training program to Gainesville
BY JOSHUA SILAVENT
jsilavent@gainesvilletimes.com
As Kelsie Kennon sets up cones,
rackets and other gear for a practice
session of badminton, her students at
Chestatee Academy in Hall County
come springing excitedly into the
gymnasium ready to play.
“They’re really enjoying it,” she
said. “And it makes it really enjoy
able for me to see how much fun
they’re having and actually getting
excited to learn something new.”
It’s that energy that got Kennon,
23, interested in teaching and coach
ing in the first place.
“I wanted a way to connect with
the kids on a level I know they enjoy,
too,” she said. “These (middle
schoolers) are old enough to be able
to do things on their own, but still
young enough to enjoy play.”
Kennon is enrolled in the Univer
sity of North Georgia’s kinesiology
program with a teacher certifica
tion focus, and she will complete her
teaching internship next spring on
the way to graduation.
She is one of the many students
in the program who are based in or
live close to Gainesville, which is
why UNG is moving its health and
physical education teacher training
program to the Gainesville campus
from Dahlonega in the spring.
Warren Caputo, assistant pro
fessor of kinesiology who leads
the accredited program, said
some students in the program are
even commuting from Winder or
Lawrenceville.
And most students in the 2019 and
2020 cohorts are also coming from in
and around the Gainesville area.
“This will serve the students bet
ter,” Caputo said, adding that it will
also assist with student retention.
The relocation also helps teachers
in training like Kennon connect with
a larger number of school districts,
including in Hall, Forsyth and Gwin
nett counties, as well as teaching
more diverse student populations.
That’s a big deal for Kennon,
who hopes to land a job when she
graduates.
“You’re very lucky to find one”
right out of the gate, she said.
Kennon said she’ll also spend
time this semester in professional
■ Please see UNG, 7A
1-985 upgrades
coming in Feb.
Construction crews will begin $9.5 million worth of road
improvements to Interstate 985 in mid-February, replacing
pavement markings and smoothing areas where previous slab
replacements were made.
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced the
work last week after formalizing a contract with Diamond Sur
face Inc. of Rogers, Minn.
Since Georgia lawmakers enacted a 26-cent excise tax in
2015 (generating an estimated $830 million to $850 million
annually) to fund new road construction projects across the
state, crews have been busy on the northbound and southbound
lanes of 1-985.
The biggest project is a $34 million diamond interchange
connecting Martin Road at Ga. 13 on the east side of 1-985 to
H.F. Reed at Thurmon Tanner Parkway on the west side.
Work on this project began in late 2017, with a completion
date scheduled for fall 2019.
GDOT officials said the February work on 1-985 will feel like
■ Please see 985,6A
Best of Hall event
today at civic center
BY JEFF GILL
jgill@gainesvilletimes.com
For the first time, the public can meet face-to-face with busi
nesses that have been nominated in The Times’ annual Best of
Hall competition.
An event featuring some 40 businesses has been set for 4-6
p.m. today at the Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green St.
“This is a free event and a fun opportunity for Times readers
and the general public to meet
owners or principals of Hall
County’s finest businesses,”
said Leah Nelson, director of
revenue for The Times.
Best of Hall is an annual
readers’ choice contest spon
sored by The Times.
Voting started Oct. 29 and
ends Nov. 30. Residents can
vote once per category, per day
at bestofhallcounty.com.
So far, voting has been brisk.
“We’ve got almost 35,000
votes as of (Wednesday, Oct. 31),” Nelson said. “The last com
petition, we had 51,000 votes total.”
Winners will be announced at an event set for Jan. 31 at the
civic center and announced in The Times.
Businesses that have been nominated are those that either
are based or serve primarily in Hall County, Nelson said.
“The reason we do the (contest) is for engagement with
readers and the general public, to let them get to know their
local businesses and what they represent,” she said.
Best of Hall
What: Event showcasing
businesses that have
been nominated for
annual readers’ choice
competition
When: 4-6 p.m. Monday,
Nov. 5
Where: Gainesville Civic
Center, 830 Green St.
More info:
bestofhallcounty.com
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Serving North
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Integrity
It is an honor to fight for you and the beliefs
we hold dear. With your support, I will continue
to deliver results for our entire district.”
- Rep. Doug Collins
Doug
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