About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 23, 2020)
mt (ttin fs Friends and family chip in to honor fallen Vietnam War soldier with marker in time for Memorial Day. OUR REGION, 1B Weekend Edition - MAY 23-24,2020 | $2.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Honestly Local COVID unit set to open as cases drop Mobile medical facility will keep patients separate from main hospital BY NATHAN BERG nberg@gainesvilletimes.com Construction workers were busy at work Friday afternoon putting the finishing touches on the new mobile medical unit set to open soon on the Northeast Georgia Health Systems Gaines ville campus. IV stands, linen disposal carts, and various other boxed up medical equipment filled the main hallway of the unit com prised of 44 shipping contain ers in various shades of white, beige and light yellow as work ers nailed in wall panels. The unit designated for COVID-19 patients will remain near the center’s north tower for up to the next two years. It is one of four in the state of Georgia funded by the Geor gia Emergency Management Agency, and will serve as a place for NGHS Gainesville to house COVID-19 patients. Mat thew Crumpton, emergency preparedness manager for NGHS, said that although the COVID-19 patient count at the facility has decreased from 138 a couple weeks ago to 40 as of Friday afternoon, the mobile unit is still an essential safety net. “It’s never been a decision to not have it, because of the secondary wave that is still projected by the government,” Crumpton said. “We know that once we open up more elective surgeries and return to normal with our normal volume, we need a release valve for the ■ Please see MOBILE, 9A From left, Northeast Georgia Health System emergency preparedness manager Matthew Crumpton, David Saucedo, Consul General of Mexico in Atlanta Javier Diaz de Leon and Norma Hernandez walk through one of the rooms in the mobile medical unit Friday, May 22, in Gainesville. NICK WATSON The Times Tourism struggling A youth fishes at Sardis Creek Park Wednesday, May 13. SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Many high-revenue events canceled, attractions closed BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com The coronavirus pandemic has punched a deep and costly hole in Hall County’s tourism industry, and conditions might not ease much with Memorial Day as the unofficial kickoff to summer. “It is tough, especially for our hote liers and attractions,” said Robyn Lynch, Gainesville’s tourism manager. One major casualty this spring has been the cancellation of the American Collegiate Rowing Association National Championships, which annually brings more than 1,800 college athletes and their families to Gainesville over the Memo rial Day weekend, “filling our hotels and restaurants,” said Robyn Lynch, Gaines ville’s tourism manager. That event alone averages about $1.8 million in economic impact. But it gets worse. The area also has seen revenue losses from the John Hunter Regatta rowing event, a couple of fishing tournaments and several other events, Lynch said. “Tourism has taken a hit. However, we are very fortunate that most of our tourism revenue comes from recurring annual events,” she said. “We expect to see all of the events that have canceled come back in 2021.” At a time when people are typically vis iting the lake and other area attractions, COVID-19 has forced recreation areas to close or operate with restrictions. And if they are open, there are strong recom mendations about social distancing. Lake Lanier campgrounds now will be closed until at least May 31. The Army Corps of Engineers had hoped to open the campgrounds on May 18, but “the ongoing presence of COVID- 19 in North Georgia is still a public health and safety concern to federal operations in the region,” the Corps has said. The Corps’ day-use parks, except for Buford Dam Park, were set to reopen Sat urday, May 23, and 22 of its boat ramps around Lake Lanier were open, as of Thursday, May 21. However, beaches, shelters and playgrounds will remain closed. Most of Georgia’s state parks and historic sites are open, including Don Carter State Park on Lake Lanier in North Hall. ■ Please see TOURISM, 5A Turnout steady during 1st week of early voting BY MEGAN REED mreed@gainesvilletimes.com About 600 people cast their ballots at Gaines ville Exploration Academy in the first four days of early voting for the June primary. Gainesville Exploration Academy is a new location for early voting, which is usually held at the Hall County Government Center, but the school provides more space for social distancing and does not require voters to use an elevator. The location change is one of many adjustments to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but Elec tions Director Lori Wurtz said voters have pro vided positive feedback about voting at the new location. “It has gotten a tremendous positive response from the public, and I’m glad that we’re able to take advantage of using that facility right now,” Wurtz said. The county has about 200 poll workers, less than the usual target of 350 poll workers but above the minimum of 124. Workers are sanitiz ing machines between voters, and hand sanitizer is provided at the entrance and exit of the polling place. People are required to stay six feet apart. ■ Please see VOTE, 4A SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Voters come out to Gainesville Exploration Academy Friday, May 22, to cast their ballot for the June 9 primary. Voters were encouraged but not required to wear a mask. DEATHS 2B Amanda Adams, 37 Helen Armour, 78 Linda Bodine, 70 Marie Butler, 85 Stephen Cobb, 48 Robert Dacus, 95 Laurine Davenport, 89 Thelma Fagan, 81 Ruth Goss, 90 Benson Harper, 93 Jean Henderson, 89 Matilda Hickey, 60 Bobby Hudgins, 67 Walter Hyatt, 80 Johnny Jinks, 55 Elizabeth Kerr, 61 Joseph Kull, 60 Susan Lebaron, 66 Patricia Passmore, 37 Wilma Peters, 78 Waleska Robles, 60 Charles Rogers, 80 Betty Smith Brett Stewart, 30 Kristin Thompson, 41 Mary Turner, 77 James Ware Jr., 51 Irene Weathers, 91 Maxine Wellington, 91 Alexis Whitman, 20 4 0 9 01 06825 9 YOUR CARE FROM ANYWHERE. nghs.com/video-visits
