About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2020)
LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Weekend Edition - July 18-19, 2020 5A Lower speed limit could lead to longer golf cart route in Flowery Branch The speed limit on East Main Street in Flowery Branch has been lowered from 40 mph to 25 mph - the first move in what could be an eventual expansion of the city’s golf carts route. Flowery Branch City Council approved the speed limit change at its meeting Thursday, July 16. “In addition to allowing for the expan sion of our PTV route, a lower speed limit will foster a safer driving environ ment for this corridor,” according to city documents. A PTV is a personal transportation vehi cle, or motorized cart, typically a golf cart. The idea would be that those driving PTVs on East Main Street could reach downtown, or the city’s Old Town district, taking Mulberry Street and Spring Street, and crossing Atlanta Highway/Ga. 13. Amending the PTV Plan “could not be done until the correct signage and signal- ization was in place,” according to the city. “The signalization of Atlanta High way will be fairly expensive.” Jeff Gill More arrests in $700K drug investigation BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com In a week since authorities announced the results of an 11-month drug investigation, law enforcement has arrested seven more people allegedly con nected to the case. The Georgia Bureau of Inves tigation confirmed the arrests made in Hall County and else where were connected to “Oper ation Taking Care of Business,” which had 48 initial arrests. The estimated value of the drugs seized was $705,000. The GBI said Friday, July 17 Hall resident Charles Derek Hallman, 35, Dean Myers, 40, of Habersham County, and Heather Moss, 31, of White County were charged with violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Cor rupt Organization Act. GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said Myers was arrested in North Carolina. The GBI previ ously confirmed the Hall County Moss Hallman arrests of Keith Wesley Breece, 37, of Peachtree Corners, Danny Terrie Helton, 60, of Clarkesville, Darrell Thomas Parker, 46, of Winder, and Terra Brooke Whit worth, 34, of Lavonia. The initial 48 arrests were announced July 10 at the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. GBI Director Vic Reynolds was flanked by representatives from local law enforcement — Sher iff Gerald Couch and Gaines ville Police Chief Jay Parrish — as well as other regional law enforcement leaders. Reynolds said the investiga tion “centered around a major methamphetamine and heroin trafficking distribution ring oper ating here in the Northeast Geor gia area” and reaching into the metro Atlanta area. The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office and the FBI Major Offenders Task Force worked together in the investigation that also seized half a kilogram of heroin, weapons, cash and vehicles. The GBI said the investiga tion started in August 2019 into Luther Troy Summerfield, 43, of Alto, Alejandro Ceja-Solano, 40, of Mt. Airy, and others. Authorities learned Sum merfield allegedly “purchased and distributed kilograms of methamphetamine from Ceja- Solano,” according to the GBI. “Information obtained from numerous hours of investigation also revealed that Summerfield traveled to Ceja-Solano’s resi dence to obtain drugs and trav eled to the metro Atlanta area to obtain heroin and metham phetamine, either facilitated by Ceja-Solano, or another source of supply,” according to the GBI. The charges will include viola tion of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act. When asked if any county had the predominant amount of activ ity, authorities said it was spread throughout Northeast Georgia. KEMP ■ Continued from 1A hospitalizations have risen 39% over the past week, Toomeysaid. The Northeast Georgia Health System was treating 106 COVID-19 patients at its facilities Friday, according to data on its website. On Fri day, July 10, the system was treating 72 patients. Toomey said the state has seen several outbreaks in spaces such as day care centers, churches and long term care facilities. Contact tracing can help contain the spread, she said. The state has almost 1,300 contact tracers and plans to hire 700 more over the next several weeks, she said. Con tact tracers have interviewed more than 40,000 people who have tested positive and have identified more than 86,200 contacts, or people who could have been exposed. Toomey said the state health department knows both testing and lab capacity need to be increased, and she said some commercial labs have not been communicat ing effectively about results. Some results are taking more than two weeks, Toomey said. “That delay is unaccept able,” she said. “It’s unaccept able both for the individual infected but also for us to do the prevention and interven tions we need to do.” Kemp said the state will soon announce a new partner that will expand the state’s testing capacity by 10,000 a day and speed up results. State officials also dis cussed back-to-school plans at Friday’s press conference, pointing to state guidance that includes preventative measures such as disinfecting surfaces and a recommenda tion to wear masks, as well as guidelines for temporary clo sures if needed. Georgia schools Superin tendent Richard Woods said that while students learn best in the classroom, safety was still a concern. “We want our students to be physically back in school,” he said. “That is the best place for them to learn. There is no doubt about, when you talk with everyone, this is the ideal situation. But we also know that relationships are better formed in person... But that being said, the safety of our students and our staff will continue to take precedent in our decision-making.” The state has also released support documents for schools to guide them in returning to in-person, online or hybrid learning, Woods said. Georgia has set aside $3 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding for WiFi trans mitters to provide to school districts, and an estimated 135,000 students will have internet access through that effort, Woods said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. more voices, more victories. $EMOW WSSHff CANCm msTrriire When you’re facing cancer, you want a strong team on your side. Even better, two. That’s why Northeast Georgia Medical Center is now a network affiliate of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University - Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Together, we deliver some of the most effective treatments and promising clinical trials, right here at home. It all starts with more voices - and leads to more victories. Northeast Georgia Medical Center Learn about the collaboration, and choose your cancer doctor at nghs.com/more Emory Winship Cancer Institute Network Affiliates collaborate with Emory on quality and safety initiatives to improve care locally. EMORY WINSHIP CANCER INSTITUTE NETWORK AFFILIATE
