About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 28, 2020)
UNG Lula Blessing Box project sparks new ministry, community following, inside,m Tuesday, July 28,20201 GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Honestly Local week Inside Hall school start delayed 1 Board of education puts off return, approves budget and millage rate BY NATHAN BERG nberg@gainesvilletimes.com Hall County students will have to wait one more week to get back to school. The Hall County Board of Edu cation voted unanimously Monday evening to extend the teacher pre planning period an extra week, through Aug. 21. The calendar change would push the first day of classes to Aug. 24. Superintendent Will Schofield said the decision was made in response to concerning trends in local COVID-19 cases. He said the extra week of time would be used to give school employ ees more in-depth training in school safety precautions. “Although we’re not exactly sure what this year is going to bring us, one thing I do know is that the over arching goals this year are No. 1 that we keep our students and our team members healthy, and No. 2 that whatever instructional model we have to deliver from time-to-time throughout this year, that we do it with integrity,” Schofield said at a school board meeting Monday eve ning. “With that in mind, I’m asking you gentlemen to extend pre-plan ning for an additional week, which would be August 3 through August 21, giving our team members time to make sure we are absolutely ready to keep everybody as safe as possible.” Schofield said at a webinar con ducted by the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce last week that precau tions taken by schools would include social distancing wherever possible, as well as an increased emphasis on hand sanitizing for students and staff. School employees will also be required to wear masks while work ing. Hall school staff, as well as students, will also be asked to pre screen themselves for fever and other symptoms of COVID-19 every morning before entering a school building. Also on Monday evening, the board of education voted 4-1 to I UNG discusses fall plans with I students and families in virtual | town hall, 6A approve both the FY21 budget as well as a millage rate of 17.55 mills. Both the budget and millage rate were already approved by the board preliminarily at a July 6 meeting. The millage rate is the same as last year’s, although some homeown ers may see a tax increase, depend ing on the valuation of their homes. The complete budget can be viewed on the HCSD website. Authorities: Playground fire is arson BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com Arson was the cause of a playground fire Sat urday, July 25, at Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier, according to authorities. A $10,000 reward leading to an arrest and conviction has been offered in the case, which is being investigated by the Gainesville Fire Marshal’s office, according to a news release Monday, July 27. Firefighters received a call at about 6:45 a.m. Saturday concerning a fire alarm at the Boys & Girls Clubs at 1 Positive Place. Upon arrival, personnel put out the play ground fire and discovered that smoke from the blaze had set off the fire alarm inside the building. Crews checked the building and found no problems inside the structure. “The playground equipment did have signifi cant damage,” the news release says. ■ Please see ARSON, 3A Renovated city library branch almost finished BY MEGAN REED mreed@gainesvilletimes.com The renovated Gainesville library could be ready in mid-September, and next week, staff will begin moving the collection to the new space. Since spring 2019, the Gainesville branch of the Hall County Library System has been housed at a temporary location at 100 Brenau Ave. ■ Please see LIBRARY, 6A scon ROGERS I The Times The exterior of the Gainesville branch of the Hall County Library System is taking shape Monday, July 27, in downtown Gainesville. ‘An absolute light’ Photos courtesy Katy Wilson-Fields Friends and band mates of 17-year-old Cristofer Acosta-Farias gather Sunday, July 26, for a candlelight vigil near where the teen died. Acosta-Farias drowned two days earlier while swimming in Lake Lanier. West Hall student who drowned remembered as kind, helpful BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com West Hall High School band members and leadership are mourning the loss of 17-year-old Cristofer Acosta-Farias, who died while swimming near Balus Creek Park on Lake Lanier on Friday, July 24. Acosta-Farias was remembered with a candlelight vigil at the park on Sunday. The teen was a rising junior and beloved band member at the high school, and posts on band social media describe him as “sweet, vulnerable, kind, and strong.” The Facebook and Instagram posts show the teen practicing with the band, as well as fellow band members holding candles and releasing balloons at the Sun day vigil. “It’s amazing what a community can do once we all come together. Tonight, this one was for you, Cristof,” one person commented on the West Hall High School band’s Instagram. Director of Bands Katy Wilson-Fields wrote that the teen was “an absolute light.” “He was sweet, vulnerable, kind and strong. He had a tremendous work ethic and loved to have fun with his band fam ily,” she wrote. Her post recalled memories of Acosta- Farias and his “booming” voice, a kind soul with an “eager, positive expression” who would take time to help out newer band members. “He knew the kind of person he wanted to become, and he was constantly work ing toward becoming a better person. But Cristof was already such a wonderful young man and he will be so, so missed,” the post said. Wilson-Fields described the rising junior as “the best kind of kid (and) the best kind of student.” ‘He knew the kind of person he wanted to become, and he was constantly working toward becoming a better person.’ Katy Wilson-Fields director of bands, West Hall “You can’t imagine ever losing a stu dent. But to lose someone like Cristof was just absolutely devastating. I didn’t believe it. I’m still in shock,” she said. The band director started drafting a letter to students and families just to list the facts. Writing about Cristof, however, brought back memories of his energetic force for the band. Students were allowed to come to the campus today to pick up equipment, as they will host virtual band sessions this week. There is a banner in the band room where people can write messages, Wil son-Fields said. ■ Please see ACOSTA, 5A This e-edition sponsored by: vM'ori YOU CAN COUNTON Right Choice HOMES jacksonemc.com
