About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2020)
LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Saturday, February 15, 2020 5A Benjamin Caron works on a laptop Friday, Feb. 14, between classes at Howard E Ivester Early College. Georgia’s Senate recently passed a bill that caps the number of college courses paid by the state. SCOTT ROGERS The Times BILL Number of dual enrolled students Hall County Schools ■ Continued from 1A “We’ll have to wait to schedule those students until we hear what the final bill includes,” she said. “If the governor signs the bill, then schools would know right away how to respond. ” Gov. Brian Kemp and fellow Republicans want to hold spending at its current level of $105 million a year, according to The Associated Press. In 2015, when the state liberalized rules, it was spending only $23 million a year. The state already stopped paying for student fees and books to hold costs down, but the program is projected to grow to 73,000 students in Georgia, spending $123 million in the budget year beginning July 1 if nothing changes. Both Ecke and Gainesville Superintendent Jeremy Wil liams said they’re not wor ried about any issues arising in their districts because of the bill. Williams said Gainesville has already started being proactive, since knowing about the legislation. “We’ve anticipated this 500- - 400- - 300- - 200- - 100-- for a number of years,” Wil liams said. “We’ve already got great partnerships with Lanier Tech, Brenau and UNG. The biggest thing for us is that an overwhelming majority of our dual enroll ment students are already juniors and seniors, so it’s not going to have a major impact.” Although students would only be able to take up to 30 hours of dual enrollment, Ecke said they can still take advantage of opportunities from Career, Technical and Agricultural Education 03 03 CD l I l 2018 2019 2020 programs; Advanced Place ment classes; and Inter national Baccalaureate courses “I certainly understand that this is due to this ini tiative taking off like it has across the state,” Ecke said. “And, that there needed to be a return to what the purpose was for dual enroll ment, and a way for having sustainable funding to meet this goal. I feel confident that we’ll continue to work together to meet the needs of our students.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. MOON ■ Continued from 1A “Moon, who oversaw the victim’s funds, refused him access to money for living expenses, according to the preliminary investigation,” Booth said. Investigators obtained a warrant for Moon Feb. 11 on a charge of exploitation of a disabled person and arrested her the next day. She has been released from jail on a $16,700 bond. The case is still under investigation. “Investigators continue to work to ver ify her purchases with the funds. Some of the money was transferred to Moon’s own account,” Booth wrote in an email. No attorney information was available for Moon Friday, Feb. 14, and no numbers were listed publicly on online databases. VOTE NOW THROUGH THE 24TH VOTING FOR OUR TEACHER OF THE MONTH CONTEST IS NOW OPEN. Be sure to give a shout-out to your favorite teacher. You can vote once per day. The selected teacher will receive a plaque and $200 in school supplies. Winner will be recognized in The Times. Buford woman given 10 years behind bars in meth trafficking case BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A Buford woman was sentenced to 10 years in jail in a methamphetamine traf ficking case, according to court documents. Jessica Ashley Clanton, 38, took a negotiated plea Jan. 31. Supe rior Court Judge Bonnie Oliver imposed a total 30-year sentence, with the first 10 behind bars. Clan ton will receive credit for time served, and the rest may be on probation. Defense attorney Anna Szat- kowski said the case’s disposition “was a fair result given the totality of the circumstances.” Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad officers stopped a car Dec. 20, 2018 driven by Clanton. Lt. Don Scalia said seven l-ounce bags of meth were found, including three on Clanton’s person. The estimated street value is $2,800 per ounce, though the wholesale value in the drug trade may be $1,000 per ounce, Scalia said. Clanton is also ordered to pay a $350,055 fine. Clanton Traffic shift set Feb. 20 on Buford Highway stretch Weather permitting, traffic on Buford Highway/Ga. 13 at the Hall-Gwinnett County line is expected to shift to new lanes Thursday, Feb. 20, as part of a widening project. The road is being widened from two to four lanes from Sawnee Avenue in Gwin nett to Lanier Islands Parkway/Ga. 347 in Hall — a 11/2-mile stretch. The new road will have a raised median, 4- foot bike lanes, curb and gutter and a 5- foot sidewalk on both sides, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. The $22.8 million project is set for com pletion May 31. Jeff Gill Drivers will shift to new lanes Thursday, Feb. 20, on a portion of Ga. 13 that’s being widened to four lanes in Buford at the Hall- Gwinnett line. SCOn ROGERS The Times AGING ■ Continued from 1A have to identify community needs and address them. “We’ve always been interested in looking at our community and trying to determine what would be helpful and what is needed,” Williams said. The Wisdom Project and the symposium ultimately have the same goal — to get older adults involved in the community and live healthy lives. “Hopefully, it will enhance the under standing that as we age, that there are so many things that are available. But we need to emphasize that it’s a social net work that needs to continue, the spiritual side, belonging to churches, belonging to organizations, just providing wisdom to the community,” Williams said. “So many of us came from corporate America and differ ent places, where we hope we can continue as we age to provide and be a source for the community.” To register for the symposium, go to the Wisdom Project website or call 678-717- 3605. The fee is $75. r. © (Times Michael Combs MARCH 21, 2020 7:30 PM The Venue at Friendship Springs Purchase your Tickets at: gainesvilletimes.com/michaelcombs VOTE TODAY AT WWW.CAI NESVILLETIM ES.COM/TEACH E R
