The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current, December 22, 2018, Image 7

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The times., December 22, 2018, Image 7

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Newspaper Page TextLOCA^SOUTHEAST The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Saturday, December 22, 2018 7A Legislator challenges close loss BY MEGAN REED mreed@gainesvilletimes.com State Rep. Dan Gasaway, R-Homer, is challenging his two-vote loss after a recount by Banks, Habersham and Ste phens counties earlier this week. After the May primary, a judge ordered a redo of the election because some voters had been assigned to the wrong district. The Dec. 4 special primary between Gas away and fellow Republican Chris Erwin yielded 7,040 ballots, with Erwin taking the seat by two votes. Tuesday’s recount found those same results. No Democrats ran for the seat, making Erwin the overall winner. On Wednesday, Gasaway filed a petition in Banks County challenging the Haber sham, Banks and Stephen counties’ elec tions boards, along with Erwin. Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed issued a statement to the lawsuit on Thurs day, saying he and his family were offended by allegations in the petition that accuse them of voting illegally. “Yesterday, Mr. Dan Gasaway filed a frivolous lawsuit stat ing that my family and I live in another county and voted illegally in Banks County,” Speed, a sec ond-term sheriff said. “The land and house that we reside in and own is located solely in Banks County.” Google Maps incorrectly lists his home as being outside of Banks, but official tax documents show that he lives in Banks, Speed said. “My family and I live, attend church, go to school, own a chicken farm and work in Banks County... Speaking on behalf of my wife and children, we find it insult ing and humiliating that Mr. Gas away would attack our family and seek my job at the holidays for a political position,” Speed said. In a Facebook post, Erwin expressed his support for Speed in the wake of the petition. “It is unfortunate that we have to go through this,” Erwin’s post reads. Gasaway was first sworn in to the House in 2013. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Gasaway MURRAYVILLE Rabid raccoon located There was recently contact between a rabid raccoon and two calves in the 6500 block of Old Whelchel Road in Murrayville. The raccoon was shipped to the Georgia Public Health Lab in Decatur, and Hall County Animal Control learned Thursday that the raccoon tested positive for rabies. Signs will be posted in the area where the rac coon was found. If you see an animal acting abnor mally in the area, contact Hall County Animal Services at 770-531-6830 or during non-working hours call Hall County Dispatch at 770-536-8812. This is the eighth confirmed case of rabies in the county in 2018. Rabies vaccines are available at the Hall County Animal Shelter, 1688 Barber Road in Gainesville, for $10 Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Compiled from Hall County Government press release Toys R Us closure hits Toys for Tots hard LYNNE SLADKYI Associated Press Stf. Sgt. Brian Spittler loads a vehicle with toy donations at the Marine Corps Toys for Tots depot, Wednesday, Dec. 19. BY TERRY SPENCER AND JOSHUA REPL0GLE Associated Press HIALEAH, Fla. - When Toys R Us closed, Toys for Tots felt the loss. The toy giant’s decision to close its stores this year left some huge holes for the annual charity drive to fill. Toys R Us shoppers donated more than 250,000 toys last year and the company gave $5 million in corporate contribu tions — 40 percent of all corpo rate giving to the Marine Corps community effort. The company’s 800 stores usually had boxes near the doors where customers could toss a toy on their way out. They also took monetary donations. From Florida to Washing ton, several Toys for Tots cam paigns say the closures hurt. In Orlando, for example, dona tions were down 25 percent. In Bakersfield, California, the group reported being 10,000 toys down earlier this month. Kelly Wilson, the north Atlanta coordinator for Toys For Tots, said her city needed 268,000 more toys earlier this week. She said donations col lected at local Toys R Us stores would fill a large tractor-trailer or more each year. Toys for Tots national spokesman Ted Silvester said losing Toys R Us was a “tough pill.” But he said other corporate sponsors such as Hasbro, Disney and Build-A- Bear helped fill the void while Marine units asked the public for more individual donations. In some cities it’s too late to donate toys this year, but mon etary donations are accepted to buy last-minute gifts. Silvester said while it won’t be known until next month whether the Toys R Us closure resulted in an overall drop nationally in presents donated, numerous cities like New York and Detroit required additional toys. So did regions hit by disas ters this year, such as Northern California and the Carolinas. He said the national Toys for Tots Foundation assists any of the 809 local drives that need additional gifts. Toys for Tots distributed 18 million toys to 7 million children last year. “The loss of Toys R Us hurt but we hope we will be able to meet the needs of all the fami lies this holiday season,” Sil vester said. Toys R Us closed in June after filing for bankruptcy last year, unable to compete with online retailers and dis count stores. More than 30,000 workers lost jobs. At the Marine Corps ware house in suburban Miami this week, vans and trucks from community groups, women’s shelters, churches and schools lined up daily to pick up toys for families they assist. Out reach to local givers and a shipment of Hasbro toys from the national foundation filled any hole left by Toys R Us, said Gunnery Sgt. Dennis Polo, who led the local effort. On one particular morning, several Marines and civilian volunteers loaded boxes as the months-long effort reached its final days. Polo said his 19 years in the Marines helped him meet the challenge by organizing the mission like a battlefield deployment. The warehouse is orderly, with toys separated by age group and gender. Charities submit orders giving details of their recipients and the Marines prepare boxes in advance to await pickup. Chaos is kept to a minimum — but Polo’s weary voice gives away the effort that makes it happen. Dabf Montesir and Quante Watkins were picking up toys for McDonald’s Playworld, a Miami charity that works with low-income families — boxes of goods filled their van. (The charity is not associated with the fast-food chain.) Montesir said he’s glad Miami’s Toys for Tots overcame the loss of Toys R Us because the presents his group receives alleviate strain for needy parents who can’t afford gifts for their children. Keiondra Ross’ three chil dren are receiving gifts through McDonald’s Playworld. The single mother, who works at a Veterans’ Administration hos pital cafeteria, said it’s difficult to pay for her family’s needs, so extras like presents are tough. “What Toys for Tots pro vides is hope,” Ross said. “It allows children to be a child, to be happy, to receive some thing, to be able to be a kid.” Squatter claims ownership of Gwinnett house Tribune News Service When a couple got ready to move into their new house in Gwinnett County recently, they found that an apparent squatter had beaten them to it, according to Channel 2 Action News. The occupant was so happy with his new $500,000 dwelling on Settles Brook Court that he posted pictures of it on Facebook. In the video, Joel Fedd and his nephew said they were indigenous Moors people who had a right to the land and house. He also posted signs claiming ownership. Neighbor Jack Campbell got involved. “I called the guy, and what was his response? He was belligerent... ‘This was my house, under this law and this law.’” After the new owners changed the locks, Fedd changed the locks again, and the owners had to change them again, the news station reported. Fedd said online, “Hey, you all can keep paying rent, you can think this is a game. You can think we are just cappin’ but for real talk we are taking the land back. ” Gwinnett County police got involved, and Fedd argued with them, too, the neigh bor said. Fedd is now in jail, charged with crimi nal trespass and making false statements. “I’ve seen a lot of things in my 56 years,” Campbell said, “but this is the wildest.” DECATUR Man sentenced to life in prison without parole ordered set free by judge A man sentenced to life in prison without parole has been ordered released by an Atlanta- area judge. News outlets report 45-year-old Christopher Williams had his sentence overturned Thursday in DeKalb County Superior Court. Williams was sentenced in 2000 for being the unarmed lookout during a liquor store rob bery in which no one was injured. The gunman got 10 years in prison, but Georgia’s mandatory minimum sentencing laws required Williams to receive his term because he had an armed rob bery conviction as a teenager. County District Attorney Sherry Boston says she agreed to Williams’ release mostly because the state General Assembly changed the laws in 2013, allowing judges more discretion in sentencing. Aaron Littman, one of Williams’ attorneys with the Southern Center for Human Rights, says he shows he’s been rehabilitated. GUYTON Dead children found behind home A Georgia sheriff says the bodies of two children have been found buried behind a Guyton home. Effingham County sheriff’s officials tell news outlets the children’s father, 49-year-old Elwyn Crocker; stepmother, 33-year-old Candice Crocker; stepgrandmother, 50-year-old Kim Wright; and Wright’s boyfriend, 55-year-old Roy Anthony Prater, have been arrested on charges including child cruelty and concealing a death. Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie says deputies were told Wednesday night that 14-year-old Mary Crocker was feared dead. He says deputies arrived at the girl’s home and were told conflicting stories about how she lived elsewhere. He says deputies searched the property and found the bodies, believed to be Mary and her brother, 14-year-old Elwyn Crocker Jr. Mary hasn’t been seen since October, and Elwyn hasn’t been seen since November 2016. ATLANTA Norfolk Southern to pay Virginia, city $2.4 million over relocation Norfolk Southern says it plans to pay about $2.4 million to Virginia and the city of Norfolk for breaking its promise to stay headquartered in the city until 2026. The Virginian-Pilot reports the company ended talks to repay Virginia incentives Wednesday, just over a week after the company announced it was moving its headquarters to Atlanta. Virginia offered the company $1.9 million in 2016 when the company promised to keep its Nor folk headquarters for at least 10 more years. The city offered the company discounted parking, which was expected to save the company more than $2 million through 2026. Company spokesman Tom Werner says the entire state grant will be returned by Dec. 31 and the city will be paid about $580,000 to account for parking costs saved so far. Associated Press DEATH NOTICES Betty Jean Cantrell Died Dec. 20, 2018 Betty Jean Cantrell, 71, of Cleveland died Thursday. Going Home Celebration, 2 p.m. Sat- uday, Dec. 29, Travis Chapel United Method ist Church. Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland Tom Carter May 2, 1931-Dec. 20, 2018 Tom Carter, 87, of Cornelia died Thurs day. Memorial service, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, funeral home chapel. Whitfield Funeral Home, Baldwin. Nancy Jo Hinton Dalton July 14, 1947-Dec. 21, 2018 Nancy Jo Hinton Dalton, 71, of Cornelia died Friday. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia. Joseph Egan Died Dec. 20, 2018 Joseph Egan, 82, of Cumming died Thurs day. McDonald and Son Funeral Home, Cumming. Ann Hearn Died Nov. 20, 2018 Ann Hearn, 83, of Buford died Tuesday, Nov. 20. Celebration of life, 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, funeral home chapel. Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Buford. Lou Oma Hood Died Dec. 18,2018 Lou Oma Hood, 88, of Stone Mountain died Tuesday. Graveside service, 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, Hamilton Mill Memorial Gardens. Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel, Buford. Frances Cleo Howington Died Dec. 19, 2018 Frances Cleo Howington, 90, of Cleveland died Wednesday. Graveside service, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, Alta Vista Cemetery. Bar rett Funeral Home, Cleveland. Priscilla Judy Inch Died Dec. 21, 2018 Priscilla Judy Inch, 67, of Gainesville died Friday. McDonald and Son Funeral Home and Crematory, Cumming. James Lee King Died Dec. 21, 2018 James Lee King, 85, of Flowery Branch died Friday. Memorial Park South Funeral Home, Flowery Branch. Regina Crystal Ravan July 27, 1951-Dec. 21, 2018 Regina Crystal Ravan, 67, of Dahlonega died Friday. Funeral service, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, funeral home chapel. Anderson- Underwood Funeral Home, Dahlonega. Ashley Baker Taube Died Dec. 20, 2018 Ashley Baker Taube, 37, of Hoschton died Thursday. Service of Celebration, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28,12 Stone Church-Law- renceville Campus. Lawson Funeral Home, Hoschton. Dien Tran Died Dec. 20, 2018 Dien Tran, 86, of Flowery Branch died Thursday. Funeral service, 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, funeral home chapel. Hillside Cha pel Funeral Home, Gainesville. Ruth Lee Woodall Dec. 10, 1930-Dec. 20, 2018 Ruth Lee Woodall, 88, of Cumming died Thursday. Funeral service, 1 p.m. Sun day, Dec. 23, funeral home chapel. Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming. Obituary information Death notices are printed free as a public service by The Times. More information can be provided in paid obituaries. The rate is $50 per 100 words (or any part thereof). There is an additional mandatory $40 fee for online services, which includes a guest book that allows family and friends to post condolences. Deadline for publication is 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Death notices and obituaries are accepted only from funeral homes. They should be emailed to obits@ gainesvilletimes.com. All submissions will appear in The Times and online at gainesvilletimes.com. For additional information, please call 770-718-3419 or 800-395-5005, extension 3419, between 3 and 6 p.m. weekdays. INTRODUCING Little & Davenport Funeral Home To inquire about pricing packages available to memorialize a pet in print, please contact Megan Lewis at 770-535-6371 or mlewis@gainesvilletimes.com Pets at Peace will appear in The Times the last Sunday of each month.