About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 2018)
Riverside Military Academy’s Duke signs with Kansas State. 5 SPORTS, 1B THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20,2018 | $1.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Legislators prioritize school safety BY JOSHUA SILAVENT jsilavent@gainesvillletimes.com With new federal and state reports on school security now pub lic, Georgia lawmakers are looking to spotlight measures in 2019 to address the safety of students and faculty on campuses. “School safety will be a very high priority, and rightfully so,” Sen. Butch Miller, R-Gainesville, said. “We’ve seen violence and death and destruction in school set tings as a national trend. ” President Donald Trump’s school safety commission on Tues day made recommendations in a report that lays out dozens of suggestions to improve safety in America’s schools. Trump created the commission in March following a Parkland, Fla., school shooting that killed 17 students and staff members. The report covers areas ranging from mental health and cyberbul- lying to the regulation of guns and violent video games. On the ques tion of whether schools should arm teachers and other employees, the panel said it should be left to states and schools to decide, but the panel noted that schools can use certain federal grants for firearms training. “Our conclusions in this report do not impose one-size-fits-all solutions for everyone every where,” Education Sec retary Betsy DeVos said in a call with reporters. “Local problems need local solu tions. This report seeks to identify options that policymakers should explore.” Along with DeVos, the safety commission includes leaders of the departments of Justice, Health and Human Ser vices and Homeland Secu rity. They issued their findings after more than a dozen meetings with teachers, parents, students, mental health experts, police and survivors of school shootings. ■ Please see SAFETY, 8A State lawmakers to highlight security measures in ’19 Miller ‘It’s a close-knit family’ Photos by AUSTIN STEELE I The Times Officers salute while the casket carrying Flores’ remains is placed in a hearse on Wednesday, Dec. 19, during a memorial service for Edgar Flores, a DeKalb County officer killed in the line of duty. Police, family mourn loss of officer Edgar Flores at memorial Industrial park development could start in spring 2019 BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com Development of Gateway Village, a 522-acre indus trial park off Ga. 365 in northeast Hall County, could begin by late spring. “We plan to start the grading and putting in the infrastructure for the project (by then),” said Jona than Collins of Gainesville-based Capstone Property Group, which is developing Gateway, on Wednesday, Dec. 19. The project can move forward now that the Hall County Board of Commissioners gave its rezoning approval Thursday, Dec. 13, for all but about 4 acres. The remaining acres are expected to come up for approval in early 2019. Some residents expressed some concerns at the commission meeting, including potential lighting, noise and traffic issues caused by the development. ■ Please see INDUSTRIAL, 8A GAINESVILLE School board seeks influence BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Officers from around North Georgia came together Wednes day, Dec. 19, to show their sup port for DeKalb Police Officer Edgar Flores, who was fatally shot Dec. 13 in the line of duty. “We’re doing the best we can under these circumstances. It’s a close-knit family,” said DeKalb Police Maj. KD Johnson. A memorial was held Wednesday at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Flowery Branch, as the man had connec tions to Hall and Habersham counties. At roughly age 15, Flores began working for Jaemor Farms in Alto. Jaemor’s Drew Echols on Friday remembered Flores telling him of his dream to be a police officer. Echols recalled he was a happy and hard worker at the farm. Law enforcement formed a procession Dec. 15 to bring Flores’ body to Habersham County, a spectacle that brought a “renewed faith in people respecting law enforcement” for Habersham County EMS Director Chad Black. “What really touched me out of everything was seeing the citizens from Saturday stop ping on (Interstates) 85 and 285 and getting out of their car, ■ Please see FLORES, 8A DeKalb County Officer Tim Lewis adjusts his badge and band honoring Edgar Flores, a DeKalb County officer killed in the line of duty. on tax district BY JOSHUA SILAVENT jsilavent@gainesvilletimes.com The Gainesville Board of Education is discouraging construction of any multi-family developments within a newly established tax allocation district on the west side of the city. This focus could help the school system manage enrollment growth, which is already pushing offi cials to consider constructing a second middle or high school in the years to come. Annexations into the city, coupled with years of strong residential and commercial growth, has grown enrollment at both Gainesville middle and high schools higher than 1,800. “We as a school system, for the last 15 years, we’ve reacted to annexation and the growth of the city, sometimes without having a seat at the table,” ■ Please see SCHOOL, 8A INSIDE WEATHER 2A DEATHS 9A 0 *40901 06835 8 Advice 7B Bridge 7B Business 6B Calendar 2A Classified 9B Comics 8B Get Out 4B Lottery 2A Opinion 6A Our Region 8A Sports 1B TV/puzzles 7B j High Low 49 46 Lake Lanier level: 1,070.31 feet Full pool 1,071. Down 0.22 feet in 24 hours Willard Alexander, 79 Bobby Glenn Cantrell, 65 Jerome Mack Caudill, 74 Georgia Elaine Davis, 79 John Paul Dills, 79 Sandra Jean Lutters, 68 Jan Nix, 80 Braganza Forrester Pitchford, 89 Douglas L. Sanders, 69 Ruby Louise Skelton, 86 Philip Williams, 73 ALL DAY ACCESS PASS Includes snow ice rink & carnival rides MargaritavillE AT LANIER ISLANDS Open Now through February 24 Discount on regular all access admission valued at $39.99; not valid with any other offer or discounted admission. One coupon per person, per visit. Valid only at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands. Offer not valid online. Must present this coupon at the time of purchase.
