About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2018)
Cherokee Bluff boys, girls earn wins in Lanierland play-in games, sports,ib FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21,2018 | $1.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Honestly Local Gainesville may sell Engine 209 land Realty company health system top potential buyers list BY MEGAN REED mreed@gainesvilletimes.com The city of Gainesville hopes to sell the land at the intersection of Jesse Jewell Parkway and West Academy Street, the site of Engine 209 Park, and relocate the historic train, with the goal of redevelop ing the land and spurring addi tional downtown growth. The Gainesville Redevelop ment Authority voted to take over the 1.7-acre city-owned property at its meeting Thursday. The Gainesville City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to hand the land over to the redevelopment authority. State law allows municipalities to create development authorities that purchase, lease and dispose of property and can accept and apply for grants and loans to improve properties. Gainesville created its authority in 1999. Municipalities themselves are required to take the highest bid der when selling land, but devel opment authorities have more flexibility with land sales. “We don’t just want the per son who will pay the most for the property. We want the best quality development, especially for such an important piece of property downtown,” city spokeswoman Nikki Perry said. The authority is offering the Engine 209 site to the Northeast Georgia Health System for $1.2 million as part of an agreement reached when the city took over the health system’s contract for the land at 110 Jesse Jewell Parkway, on the midtown end of Gainesville’s pedestrian bridge. Cara Mitchell, the secretary for the authority, said Thursday she would recuse herself from the matter because her law firm, Whelchel, Dunlap, Jarrard & Walker, represents the health system. ■ Please see ENGINE, 9A Decorated cop resigns after DUI arrest County solicitor reviewing officer’s pending cases BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A Gainesville Police Officer who had been awarded for DUI arrests and occupant safety viola tions in the past was charged with DUI in Novem ber. He resigned that week, and Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard is now review ing some of his pending cases. “We are reviewing any cases in which he would be a witness for the state, but it is not a circum stance that would affect his cred ibility as far as the truthfulness of the word of that officer,” Woodard said. Adam Blake Davis, 30, of Cornelia, was charged with DUI and speeding by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Nov. 10. A deputy stopped his 1995 Dodge Ram truck at 1:21 a.m. on Interstate 985 northbound near Exit 8. ■ Please see DUI, 8A Davis Former candidate charged with insurance fraud BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Former gubernatorial candidate Michael Wil liams was charged with insurance fraud and false report of a crime by a Hall County grand jury Tuesday. Williams, who also served as a state senator from Forsyth County, faced three charges after an inves tigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Lee Darragh confirmed Williams was indicted, saying he had received the case a few weeks ago. Williams did not immediately return a request for comment. ■ Please see FRAUD, 8A Cops, kids, Christmas smiles AUSTIN STEELE I The Times Gainesville Police officer Chase Fears helps Carter Jordan, 8, right, find out the price of a toy during Shop with a Cop at Walmart in Gainesville on Thursday, Dec. 20. Each child was given $200 to spend on whatever they wanted. Gainesville Police’s annual event helps 25 local families BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Amid the frantic holiday shopping Dec. 20, Officer Chase Trammell detailed the finer points of “Battlefield V” versus “Fortnite” with Blake Jor dan in the Gainesville Walmart, as the 12-year-old tried to decide how to spend his $200. “When I’m not working and not deal ing with my 4 year old, I’m playing Xbox,” Trammell said. Trammell worked to get Blake squared away with all his video game wants as Gaines ville Police celebrated its 16th annual “Shop with a Cop.” The event served 25 fami lies with a final price tag of roughly $5,200 over two days of shopping. It was a bittersweet afternoon for Chief Carol Martin, who will be retiring next year and handing the reins to Deputy Chief Jay Parrish. “It’s sad, but I’m having a good time. I enjoy watching the kids run around try ing to figure out what they’re going to get,” said Martin, who assumed command of the department in 2014. Manning the cart through the video game section, Martin helped a young shopper along with her officers. “It’s the last one, and every one knows she loves Christ mas,” Sgt. Kevin Holbrook said, who took up bagging and checkout duties as ■ Please see COP, 8A Martin INSIDE WEATHER 2A DEATHS 9A 0 40901 06835 Advice 7B Bridge 7B Business 6A Calendar 2A Classified 9B 8 Comics 8B Life 6B Lottery 2A Opinion 7A Our Region 8A Sports 1B TV/puzzles 7B High Low 48 33 Lake Lanier level: 1,070.19 feet Full pool 1,071. Down 0.12 feet in 24 hours Carol Asbridge, 74 Betty Jean Cantrell, 71 Gussie Cleare, 86 Max Crocker, 69 Claudia Daniels, 63 Lisbeth Gaddy, 60 Harris Haughton, 90 Margie Hicks, 87 Jose Parras, 47 Choose Liberty. Choose Natural Gas. Liberty Utilities Tanya Martin Sales Coordinator 706-570-3643 Bruce Hancock Account Manager 706-905-9072 1766 Cleveland Highway Gainesville, GA 3050 678-707-5205 • www.libertyutilities.com Know wtuCi belOW. Call before you d*
