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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 | $2.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com
Nonprofits busy despite new rules
Groups continue serving homeless amid Midtown ordinances banning urban camping
BY MEGAN REED
mreed@gainesvilletimes.com
Two months after Gainesville passed an
ordinance banning urban camping, and
almost a month after the city banned 30 uses
in the midtown area, including new home
less shelters, local nonprofits that serve the
homeless community say their work has
been unaffected by the changes so far.
Most of these organizations are in Gaines
ville’s midtown and downtown areas to be
closer to the population they serve. Brandee
Thomas, executive director of My Sister’s
Place, a shelter for women and children,
said the homeless population is concentrated
toward the city center because that is where
they can access the resources they need.
“I think it’s more of a default concentra
tion, in that there are some areas where
you are likely to see fewer homeless people
because there aren’t any resources there,”
Thomas said. “So, transportation would be
one, access to jobs would be another, access
to emergency services would be another.”
The shelter, which can fit up to 16 people,
sees people from all over Northeast Georgia
because there are a limited number of beds
in the area for women and children, Thomas
said. But the people that come to My Sister’s
Place are often coming from areas where
they have access to public transportation,
she said.
“The majority of them don’t have vehi
cles, so we don’t see a lot from Flowery
Branch, because there’s no public transpor
tation that goes down there,” Thomas said.
“We don’t see a lot from the Cleveland or
Clermont areas, because typically that’s not
a walkable distance.”
Thomas said the new ordinances, which
ban sleeping or living in public spaces, as
■ Please see HOMELESS, 4A
New conference center a
Leaders react to
death of former
boon for Lanier Tech, Hall
SCOTT ROGERS I The Times
Lanier Technical College Hall conference center director Jeff Pruitt points out the historical content on artwork, Wednesday,
Nov. 28, inside the lobby. This year’s Eggs & Issues Breakfast will take place at the new conference center on Dec. 13.
College getting ready to host Eggs &c Issues breakfast on Dec. 13
BY JEFF GILL
jgill@gainesvilletimes.com
Smaller groups are breaking in
Lanier Technical College’s new
40,000-square-foot conference center,
which sits atop a hill overlooking the
equally new campus off Ga. 365 in
North Hall.
But the real coming-out party is set
for Dec. 13, when the Greater Hall
Chamber of Commerce conducts its
annual Eggs & Issues breakfast.
For the event, the school will open
up the center’s 20,000-square-foot
New conference center
Where: Lanier Technical College’s
new campus off Ga. 365
Size: 40,000 square feet, including
20,000-square-foot ballroom
Accommodates: Seats up to 780 for
a banquet and as many as 1,500 in
theater-style
More info: www.laniertech.edu or
770-533-7060
ballroom, which can seat up to 780
for a banquet and as many as 1,500
theater-style.
The debut has college officials
excited about the center’s potential.
“The whole purpose of this confer
ence center and the one (at the cam
pus) in Forsyth is economic develop
ment,” Lanier Tech President Ray
Perren said while giving The Times a
tour of the new center last week.
“It will allow us to bring groups in,
provide training and such, but because
it is so nice, we can use it for a variety of
things. People will get married here.”
Perren added: “We’ve already got
events booked for 1,500 people, so it’ll
be used.”
■ Please see LANIER, 7A
Bush
president Bush
BY LAYNE SALIBA
lsaliba@gainesvilletimes.com
Local leaders reacted Saturday with grati
tude for the service of George Herbert Walker
Bush after learning of the former president’s
death. The 41st president of the United States,
who served from 1989 to 1993, was 94.
“President George H.W. Bush was an honor
able man and a proud American whose char
acter and generous spirit helped to change
our nation indelibly and for the better,” Gov.
Nathan Deal said on Twitter. “His devotion to
the country he nobly fought for and led was
matched only by his profound
love of family.”
A funeral for Bush will be
held at Washington’s National
Cathedral, White House press
secretary Sarah Sanders said.
President Donald Trump
directed all American flags be
flown at half-staff for 30 days
to honor Bush’s memory.
Bush, a World War II hero
who also presided during
the collapse of the Soviet Union and the final
months of the Cold War, died late Friday night
at his Houston home, said Jim McGrath, the
family’s spokesman. His wife of more than 70
years, Barbara Bush, died in April.
“America and the world will miss and mourn
the life and service of George H.W. Bush,” Sen.
Johnny Isakson said in a statement. “Presi
dent and Mrs. Bush were and always will be an
unforgettable first family.”
Bush’s son and namesake, George W. Bush,
who was elected the nation’s 43rd president just
eight years after his father’s term ended, said
in a statement Bush “was a man of the highest
character and the best dad a son or daughter
could ask for.”
His father had a form of Parkinson’s disease,
which led to him using a wheelchair or motor
ized scooter in recent years.
Even so, leaders from around the state didn’t
hesitate to offer their thanks for the former
president’s commitment to the country through
out his life.
“President Bush dedicated his life to serving
our country,” Sen. David Perdue said in a state
ment. “He was a skilled leader who showed tire
less dedication to our nation during some of our
most trying times. George and Barbara Bush’s
sacrifice, service, and love for our country was
unmatched.”
■ Please see BUSH, 6A
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