About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2020)
Several boats vandalized behind Lake Lanier homes. INSIDE, 5A Tuesday, July 7,2020 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Gainesville, Hall Schools discuss plans for return to school in fall. INSIDE, 3A Honestly Local Kemp calls up Guard over violence Governor imposes state of emergency, to deploy troops after weekend of shootings BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency and autho rized up to 1,000 Georgia National Guard troops to be activated after violence and property destruction throughout the Fourth of July holi day weekend. “Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dan gerous, destructive agenda. Now, innocent Georgians are being targeted, shot, and left for dead,” Kemp said in a statement. “This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city. I have declared a State of Emer gency and called up the Georgia Guard because the safety of our citizens comes first. This measure will allow troops to protect state property and dispatch state law enforcement officers to patrol our streets. Enough with the tough talk. We must protect the lives and live lihoods of all Georgians.” The executive order mentions more than 30 gunshot victims with at least five deaths. “Criminals are now victimizing Georgians to inflict chaos, cause fear among residents, and thwart law enforcement,” according to the executive order. The state of emergency will expire at 11:59 p.m. July 13. “The Georgia Guard will pro vide support at state buildings, including the Georgia State Capi tol, Georgia Department of Public Safety Headquarters, and Gover nor’s Mansion. This aid will allow state law enforcement personnel to increase patrols on roadways and throughout communities, espe cially those in the City of Atlanta,” according to a release from the governor’s office. Flowery Branch City Hall closed l 1 Pi! Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Flowery Branch City Flail is closed due to a recent COVID-19 outbreak with staff. Staff members are currently working remotely to serve the public. COVID-19 outbreak among staff, police department BY MEGAN REED mreed@gainesvilletimes.com Flowery Branch City Hall is closed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among city staff, according to the Flowery Branch website. City Manager Bill Andrew said the five employees who have tested positive all work for the police department. All city employees have been tested for the virus, even if they work in a different build ing, Andrew said. “The staff on the second floor, we’ve come in contact with various police officers who have tested positive, so we felt it would be best to close and get everyone tested,” Andrew said. “... No one is going in until we get our tests back, so we’re basically just try ing to stop the spread right now. ” Inside Two more courthouse employees test positive for COVID-19, 3A City officials learned of the cases in the police department throughout last week. Andrew said the police department’s shifts have been covered internally, with some employees working extra hours. If needed, the city could get assistance from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, but the department has not needed to do so yet, Andrew said. Staff is working remotely, and phone num bers for each department are listed on the city website. Employees will also be available via email. Andrew said a reopening date for City Hall has not been decided. Kemp urges businesses to promote COVID-19 safety precautions Gov. Brian Kemp has launched a safety program for Georgia businesses, asking them to voluntarily commit to taking pre cautions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and use that commitment as a marketing tool. Businesses that commit to the Georgia Safety Promise voluntarily agree to follow guidelines from the Governor’s Office and the Georgia Department of Public Health, including social distancing, wearing face coverings, cleaning surfaces, and washing and sanitizing hands. Participating busi nesses will get a digital toolkit to promote their participation, including social media posts and signage for their business. “As we continue to fight COVID-19, we want to ensure Georgia businesses and the public are abiding by public health guid ance in order to keep Georgia healthy and open for business,” Kemp said in a state ment. “The Georgia Safety Promise is a pledge between business owners and the public to join together to maintain a safe environment.” Karen Bremer, CEO of the Georgia Res taurant Association, said she hopes busi nesses take advantage of the program. “Now is a vital time for businesses to do everything they can to boost and restore consumer and employee confidence,” Bremer said in a statement. “Businesses can think of the Georgia Safety Promise as a complimentary marketing asset that will help communicate your commitment to your patrons’ health and well-being.” According to the Governor’s Office, the program has gained support from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Bankers Associa tion, Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association, Georgia Retailers Association, Georgia Restaurant Association and Georgia NFIB, a small business association. Businesses can sign up at Georgia.org/ Safety Promise. Megan Reed Lanier sees 2 deaths, 9 BUIs over weekend BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Two men died in Lake Lanier over the Fourth of July weekend, and the Department of Natu ral Resources cited double the number of peo ple for boating-under-the-influence compared to last year’s holiday, according to authorities. A 45-year-old man drowned at Lanier Park in Buford off Lake Lanier Saturday, July 4. Jesus Jimenes, of Killeen, Texas, was swim ming at the beach area, went under and did not resurface. “He was pulled from the water by another swimmer,” according to the Department of Natural Resources. A Clarke County man is believed to have drowned after jumping from a boat near Duck ett Mill Campground off Lake Lanier. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources identified the victim as Bruce Lee Hild, 59, of Winterville. “In our records, the death will be classified as a boating fatality since he entered the water from a moving vehicle, ” DNR spokesman Mark McKinnon said Saturday, July 4. The incident took place after 6 p.m. Friday, July 3, at the campground off Duckett Mill Road in northwest Hall County. Authorities recovered his body later in the evening, accord ing to the DNR. DNR reported nine people cited for boating- under-the-influence on Lake Lanier between 12:01 a.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday. In 2019, there were four people cited for BUI on Lake Lanier between July 4-7. Gainesville Police Sgt. Kevin Holbrook said there were four DUI arrests and 224 “traffic- related contacts” with the public that included citations or warnings. Hall County authorities investigating reported attempted kidnapping BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A 20-year-old woman suffered a bruised eye, bloody nose and multiple lacerations after a reported attempted kidnapping, according to authorities. Hall County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded around 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 3, in the 5200 block of Flat Creek Road and spoke with witnesses. “According to the initial investigation, the victim had been walking along the road when an unknown male suspect stopped and attempted to force the victim into his vehicle. The victim physically resisted while screaming for help,” Sheriff’s Office spokesman Derreck Booth wrote in an email. The man was able to push the woman into the car and shut the door, but the woman was able to escape, Booth said. The man drove away from the scene. The woman was taken to the Northeast Geor gia Medical Center for treatment and has been released. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the investigator at (770) 297-4697. This e-edition sponsored by:
