About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2020)
North Hall girls advance to Class 3A quarterfinals with win over Savannah. SPORTS, 1B THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20,2020 | $1.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com These monsters are revving their way to Gainesville, get out, 4b Honestly Local House cuts $159M from budget Ga. Revenue down, lawmakers try to preserve programs BY JEFF AMY Associated Press ATLANTA — The Georgia House voted Wednesday to cut state gov ernment’s budget, but also move some money around to protect law makers’ priorities. The House voted 126-46 to pass House Bill 792, which cuts $159 mil lion from spending plans for the cur rent budget year, running through June 30. The measure now moves to the state Senate for more debate. All Hall County’s representatives voted for the measure. Lawmakers were forced to cut the budget, with state revenues run ning behind projections. The short fall happened, in part, because of a cut in state’s top income tax rate approved by lawmakers that has decreased revenue by more than $500 million. Gov. Brian Kemp ordered agencies to reduce spend ing by about $200 million during the summer, although he shielded most K-12, college and Medicaid spend ing from cuts. That means cuts fell more heavily on other agencies. House members couldn’t alter the $27.4 billion ceiling in state revenue that the Republican Kemp set, but shifted tens of millions of dollars from the reductions he had pro posed seeking to shore up their own priorities. “We’ve tried our best on this bud get to address needs of Georgians and I think the budget that left the House today is a much better budget in terms of taking care of things that Georgians need than the budget that was proposed to us,” House Speaker David Ralston, a Blue Ridge Repub lican, told reporters after the vote. Democrats have called the bud get cuts a result of what they see as an ill-founded tax cut, pushing it as an election issue months before all 236 seats in the General Assembly are up for election. “The question will be, why do we have to cut when times are so ■ Please see BUDGET, 5A A pi ace of love, acceptance SCOn ROGERS I The Times Jonlyn Forest, right, is hugged by Jaiyah Stringer, left, and Dionte Daniel Wednesday, Feb. 19, after The Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier announced Forest as its Youth of the Year during a luncheon at the Fair Street Neighborhood Center. Stringer and Daniel were finalists in the competition. Youth of the Year finds purpose through Boys & Girls Clubs BY KELSEY P0D0 kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com When Jonlyn Forest started her fresh man year at Gainesville High School, she found herself struggling to fit in. “I didn’t have all the newest things,” Jonlyn said. “I didn’t have all the newest clothes. I was different. I’d get anxious when somebody pointed out that I was different.” After joining the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier, Jonlyn, who is now a sophomore, saw the power in her differences and used it to become a leader among her peers. On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Jonlyn was named the 2020 Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Club of Lanier at the Fair Street Neighborhood Center in Gainesville. The two finalists were 17-year-old Dionte Daniel and 15-year-old Jaiyah Stringer, both of which attend Gainesville High. A panel of 10 community leaders evaluated each teen based on their writ ten essays, personal interviews and pub lic speaking. The contestants were also judged on their demonstration of leader ship, character, community service, aca demic excellence and a healthy lifestyle. One by one, the three teens spoke before a gathered audience on Wednes day. They each exposed their hardships and shared how the nonprofit helped transform their lives. When she first entered the organi zation’s Teen Center, Jonlyn said she quickly realized that she could let her walls down and be herself. “At the Boys & Girls Club, I didn’t have to look or act in a certain manner to be embraced,” she said. “Everyone that goes to the Boys & Girls Club is made to feel loved, accepted and important.” ■ Please see YOUTH, 5A Bank robbery suspect ID’d, still at large BY LAYNE SALIBA lsaliba@gainesvilletimes.com Gainesville Police are searching for Ander son Dixon, 54, of Atlanta, who they suspect robbed the BB&T on Jesse Jewell Parkway on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Dixon allegedly walked into the bank through the main lobby and passed a note to a teller demanding money or they would be shot, according to a news release from Gaines ville Police. The teller handed over the money while the ■ Please see ROBBERY, 7A $5M ticket sold at Gainesville gas station BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Someone bought a winning Millionaire Jumbo Bucks scratcher lottery ticket in Gaines ville worth $5 million. The winner, who was not identified in the Georgia Lottery news release, claimed the prize on Tuesday. The ticket was purchased at the Gillsville Highway Exxon Food Mart, 2808 Gillsville Highway. Owner Syed Ahmed said he’s owned the sta tion for almost three years but has been in the business for more than 20 years. “I’m very excited. I’m glad. Somebody becomes rich,” Ahmed said. NICK WATSON I The Times A $5 million scratcher lottery ticket was purchased from the Exxon Food Mart on Gillsville Flighway. 0 40901 06835 8 INSIDE WEATHER 2A DEATHS 6A Advice 6B Calendar 2A Classified 1C Get Out 4B Opinion 4A Sports 1B High Low fit# 41 28 Lake Lanier level: 1,076.43 feet Full pool 1,071. 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