About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2020)
North Hall takes down Cherokee Bluff on Senior Night. SPORTS, 1B SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1,2020 | $1.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Honestly Local Another blow to Senate primary proposal Secretary of state says study needed before changing rules; measure was seen as boon to Collins BY JEFF AMY Associated Press ATLANTA — Georgia’s chief elections administrator is now among those who are saying rules shouldn’t change for elections this year. Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Friday that he believes the state should hold party primaries to select nominees before special elections, instead of letting all candidates run against each other regardless of party affiliation. But he wants to study the issue and make no Collins Loeffler changes now. The issue arose after House Bill 757 began advancing in the cham ber. The legislation would require party primaries be held in advance of a special election to the U.S. Sen ate this year. That race, which fea tures appointed incumbent Kelly Loeffler, U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, the Rev. Raphael Warnock and others, will determine who serves the final two years of a U.S. Sen ate term after Johnny Isakson resigned. The House bill was seen as a way to help Collins defeat Loef fler in the Republican primary. It had drawn a veto threat from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who appointed Loeffler and is backing her. Democrats were supporting the bill too, hoping to consolidate sup port behind Warnock and prevent a January runoff, which would fol low if no one won a majority. The chances of requiring a pri mary nose-dived on Thursday, though, when the measure was sent back to committee for more work and House Speaker David Ralston said he didn’t want to sin gle out the Senate special election. Ralston, a Blue Ridge Republican and Collins ally, had been backing the bill. “We agree with Speaker Ralston that jungle elections are prob lematic,” Raffensperger said in a statement on Friday, using a com mon term for an all-party special election. “That is why we propose a bipartisan commission to review and propose legislation to rational ize the special election process for future elections after 2020.” Raffensperger had sought an original version of the bill to clarify his ability to set a qualifying date for the special election, before it was amended to include the provi sions on primaries. Raffensperger has said he wants to hold qualifying for the special election in March, at the same time candidates in other federal and state legislative races will qualify to run. The Hub is here to help Winder Police arrest suspect in shooting BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A Gainesville man accused of shooting another man on Barrett Road was arrested by Winder Police. David Rivera, 24, is in custody on Hall County warrants in Barrow County. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said a man was left lying on the side of the road after being shot in the arm and leg early Friday, Jan. 31. The Hall County Sheriffs Office responded to a residence in the 2900 block of Barrett Road around 1:20 a.m. after receiving a call from someone who saw the victim near the initial scene. Before deputies arrived, everyone involved had left the scene, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office. Hall County Fire Services responded to treat the victim. The victim was transported to North east Georgia Medical Center and has injuries considered non-life threatening. Investigators identified Rivera as a suspect and obtained warrants on aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated battery and reck less conduct. SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Visitors crowd into Gainesville High Friday, Jan. 31, for the official opening of The Hub. A one-stop resource center for students, The Hub connects students with academic mentors; behavioral and mental health support; college and career activities; and assist with providing basic needs through additions like a food pantry and clothing closet. Gainesville City Schools’ one-stop resource center opens BY KELSEY P0D0 kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com The Hub at Gainesville High School is open and ready to serve students. Located to the left of the school’s front entrance, The Hub can connect students with academic mentors; behavioral and mental health support; college and career activities; and assist with providing basic needs through its clothing closet. Plans for The Hub began in March 2019 to coincide with Gainesville City Schools’ “wraparound” services initiative. Tonya Sanders, director of The Hub, said she’s relieved to witness the student resource center finally come to fruition. “Now we can actually get to work with our students,” Sanders said. “It’s been great to see all the details put in place, knowing we’re going to serve so many. We feel really organized and ready to go.” During the week students have already been poking their heads in to see the fin ished product. Sanders said she’ll start giving tours to every Gainesville High class on Monday, Feb. 3. Symone Turner, the school’s student body president, said she can already imagine herself doing her homework in the center’s main space, which used to be the media center. “I think it’s a great addition to Gaines ville and Hall County because it really gives students access to different things they don’t normally have,” Turner said. “It’s a place for them to be themselves and let go of all of their stress.” The middle area of the Hub offers an open room for workshops, community forums, job fairs and other gatherings. Three extra rooms line the back of the main space, all fit for studying and col laborating with small groups. When students come through the front entrance of The Hub, they’ll see the cen ter’s lobby to the left. This room includes offices for counselors and the director, ■ Please see HUB, 5A Man charged in crash that killed Hall woman BY BRIAN PAGLIA bpaglia@forsythnews.com Authorities have filed charges against a For syth County man in relation to a crash that killed a Hall County woman Jan. 23 on Keith Bridge Road. Mitchell Brown, 29, of Cum- ming, has been charged with homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and a seat belt violation, according to Stacie Miller, a spokeswoman with the ■ Please see CRASH, 5A Brown sewces FAMILlt 'V$4//SffX jlLLC jlTY r fact S'Apf Hall County -rectus i <eP#«T7MT THfY HAVE ATTe/^cjeD^ Svicwe |tp 40901 06835 INSIDE WEATHER 2A DEATHS 6A Advice 5B Life 4B High Low Leon Bearden, 77 James Hollis, 90 Business 3B Lottery 2A Z&L 52 38 Jack Burrell, 82 Flora Her, 82 Calendar 2A Opinion 4A Madison Cook, 17 Judith Ledford, 69 Classified 7B Sports 1B Phebe Dodd,80 Katie Southern, 90 Comics 6B TV/puzzles 5B Lake Lanier level: 1,070.99 feet Full pool 1,071. 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