About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 30, 2020)
Thursday, July 30,20201 GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Florida lawyers: Lack of relief in water wars could ‘spell doom.’ INSIDE, 3A Honestly Local Turnaround varies as test demand soars Where and when you get tested, what lab is used can mean difference of days BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Julie Smith started feeling sinus pressure Saturday, July 11, and developed a deep cough the next day. As the phone lines opened Mon day morning, she tried to contact the Department of Public Health to schedule a COVID-19 test. After being screened for symptoms, she was told there weren’t any open ings in Hall County for six days. Smith was able to take a test at an urgent care center instead and got her negative results back three days later. She said she “wanted to make sure if I needed to take any extra precautions,” especially because her daughter has severe asthma. Jo Brewer, executive direc tor of Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s laboratory services, said the health system is now handling more than 1,000 tests per day and has divided the testing demand to different labs. One lab in Alpharetta is averag ing a 24-hour turnaround times for ■ Please see TESTING, 3A Cars line up Wednesday, July 29, at The Longstreet Clinic for their drive-thru COVID-19 testing site. SCOn ROGERS The Times A school year like no other New project near Exit 14 Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Gainesville Exploration Academy teachers Brittany Collins, right, and Cynthia Syfan move desks apart Wednesday, July 29, for COVID-19 safety precautions as teachers prepare for the upcoming school year. Teachers remain flexible in prep for upcoming instruction BY NATHAN BERG nberg@gainesvilletimes.com After 35 years of teaching, Cynthia Syfan thought she had a pretty good han dle on how to plan for a school year. But as Syfan, a fourth-grade teacher at Gainesville Exploration Academy, and all other Gainesville teachers returned to school buildings for pre-planning Wednesday, she quickly came to realize how different this year would be. Preparing for students to return to classrooms in the Inside Gainesville City Council will vote on annexation and rezoning for second middle school Aug. 4, 3A midst of a pan demic already carried plenty of difficulties, but on Tuesday evening, the GCSS school board announced that Gainesville City schools would be starting the first three weeks of the year remotely, adding another layer of complication to teach ers’ plans and making this year’s pre planning more of a challenge than usual. “As a teacher, you’ve always got to be flexible,” Syfan said. “But I think now, with virtual schooling and what’s Gainesville Exploration Academy teachers Chloe Thomas, left, and Lauren Callaway gather supplies Wednesday, July 29, as they prepare for the upcoming school year. going on, you have to be like an Olympic gymnast.” It’s been a quick turnaround for GCSS teachers, who have shifted their focus from decorating classrooms to taking professional learning courses on remote instruction. Lauren Callaway, also a fourth- grade teacher at Gainesville Explora tion Academy, said she was glad the announcement came before the start of pre-planning, as it gives all GCSS teach ers time to ensure they are fully pre pared to teach remotely. ■ Please see TEACHERS, 3A could have 6 retail buildings BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com More details are emerging about what will be the first major development off Exit 14 in South Hall since the interchange fully opened Jan. 30 Grading began in earnest earlier this year, with a few details known about the project off Martin Road. Specifically, Oakwood City Council had approved 15 acres of allowable commercial development, including a drive-in restaurant, banks, medical offices and car washes, in Sep tember 2019. Hotels would be excluded on the site. Also, 360,000 square feet of housing, or 312 apartments, are planned on 31.5 acres. As part of a rezoning application going before Flowery Branch City Council on Aug. 6, maps show nearly 40,000 square feet of retail space spread out among six buildings, along with the apartment complex. Blanchard is seeking rezoning of a 7.3-acre tract off Falcon Parkway/Ga. 13 just north of Martin Road, for a 6,900-square foot retail building that’s part of the overall development. “At the current time, we believe that the ■ Please see MARTIN, 3A Oakwood to welcome 2 new casual chains BY KELSEY P0D0 kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com A wave of southern comfort food is coming to Oakwood with the arrival of two regional classics. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at 3474 Winder Highway is set to open Monday, Aug. 3, at the entrance to Walden at Oakwood apartments. And Waffle House, located at 4034 Winder Highway across from Kroger, has plans of welcoming customers sometime in August, according to Greg Rollings, the company’s vice president of marketing. Both restaurants have been constructed and are currently hiring. People can apply for a position at the Oak- wood Waffle House by either showing up to the business in person, visiting another nearby location or by going to whcareers.com and filling out an online form, said Waffle House spokeswoman Kelly Thrasher-Bruner. She said stores typically hire 20 to 25 staff members. ■ Please see RESTAURANTS, 5A This e-edition sponsored by:
