About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 2020)
CM K FORECLOSURE FOR Better Business Bureau warns homeowners to avoid foreclosure scams, inside, m Friday, July 24,20201 GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Honestly Local Hall jobless rate continues to drop Unemployment almost half what it was during first pandemic peak in April BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com Jobless numbers continue to improve in Hall County. Preliminary figures from the Georgia Department of Labor on Thursday, July 23, show the rate in June at 5.9%, down from 7.6% in May, and inching closer to 2019, or pre-coronavirus, numbers. A year ago, the rate was 3.1% and as late as January and February, 2.8%. The jobless figure hit an all-time high in Hall County at 10.7% in April, or as businesses were shut ting down due to the pandemic. “June continued to show positive growth across all (metropolitan areas),” said Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “We saw almost all major indicators head in the right direction but continue to work to support Georgia businesses and get Georgians back to work.” Some $1 billion in unemploy ment benefits were issued last week, compared to the $922 mil lion issued over the past three years combined, the labor depart ment also reported on Thursday. “The fact that we paid more than $1 billion in benefits in five days is a huge accomplishment,” Butler said. “When you think that the average weekly benefit amount is $246, the sheer volume of payments we are issuing is phenomenal.” Since March 21, almost $10.5 bil lion has been paid to eligible Geor gians in unemployment benefits, the agency says. For those still jobless, an extra $600 in weekly federal unemploy ment benefits is set to expire at the end of this week. The benefit, which was pro vided by the federal CARES Act, a coronavirus relief law enacted in March, is part of an ongoing debate in Congress on a stimulus funding bill. Congress is negotiating another aid package that could extend the extra unemployment aid, though likely at less than $600. With the extra $600, roughly two-thirds of the unemployed are receiv ing more in aid than they earned at their former jobs, research has shown — a finding that’s led Republicans to argue that it is dis couraging people from returning to work. On Thursday, Senate Republi cans unveiled a $1 trillion package that would replace the $600 with an amount that would bring a laid-off worker’s jobless benefits to 70% of their previous income. Both par ties have agreed on another $1,200 stimulus check. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Man sentenced in White House attack plot BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A Forsyth County man was sentenced Thurs day, July 23, to 15 years in prison for plotting an attack on the White House and other Washington, D.C. monuments, according to court officials. Hasher Jallal Taheb, 23, pleaded guilty to attempted destruction of government property by fire or explosive. He was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court. “Taheb painstakingly planned an attack on the White House that potentially jeopardized the lives of White House employees and visi tors,” U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said ■ Please see TAHEB, 3A Taheb Falcons camp fan ban saddens, but no surprise BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com Building careers Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Ashton Balizet takes part in the Carroll Daniel Construction signing day event for the firm’s apprenticeship program Thursday, July 23, on the rooftop of their downtown Gainesville headquarters. Five apprentices are taking part in the program. It’s an annual ritual for the Atlanta Falcons faithful— gathering for preseason camp in Flowery Branch to catch a glimpse of favorite players lunging for balls and making tackles. Not this year, thanks to a common foe: COVID-19. And that also means less ringing of cash registers in the South Hall city. “I am sure area restaurants and hotels will miss these fans, too,” said Kit Dunlap, presi dent and CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. The impact in actual dollars isn’t available, as many of these fans are day-trippers, stopping on their way in or out for a bite to eat or a quick necessities trip at a nearby retailer, Dunlap said. “For those small business owners around that ■ Please see FALCONS, 5A scon ROGERS I The Times Flampton Inns & Suites assistant general manager Cami Dillon minds the front desk Thursday, July 23, in Flowery Branch. Carroll Daniel Construction welcomes 2nd class of apprentices Jhexon Galvez stands to introduce himself Thursday, July 23, during the signing day event. BY MEGAN REED mreed@gainesvilletimes.com Five apprentices signed on to new careers Thursday as the second class of Carroll Daniel Construction’s appren ticeship program, a work force development effort that gives early-career construc tion employees both class room education and hands-on experience. The apprenticeship pro gram launched last year. Apprentices complete 4,000 hours of paid training on Car- roll Daniel job sites and take courses at Lanier Technical College for two years. When they finish the program, they may be eligible for a full-time position with Carroll Daniel as a field engineer. The program offers an accelerated path to a well paying job after high school that can hopefully become a long-term career path, Car- roll Daniel President Brian Daniel said. “It’s a career as opposed to a job. It’s something that there should be a lot of pride associated with,” Daniel said. “Construction is, you work hard for a year and a half on a project and at the end, there’s this tangible accomplishment that you can touch. You can drive by with your children and say, ‘I built this thing.’” Weston Davis, a North Hall High School graduate and one of the new apprentices, was enrolled in the carpentry pro gram at Lanier Tech when he met the first class of appren tices and learned about the program. Davis said he is looking for ward to working at job sites and getting more firsthand experience. “I’ve always been hands- on,” he said. “Growing up with my grandpa, building stuff at his house, redoing his porch and all that... I’m happy where I’m at.” Mitch Beccue is finishing his first year in the appren ticeship program, but he has been with Carroll Dan iel since he was a senior at Gainesville High School and joined the company through the school’s work-based learning program. Beccue said that while the program has been challeng ing at times, he has been gain ing valuable experience. “The more I learn and the ■ Please see APPRENTICE, 5A This e-edition sponsored by:
