About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2020)
LOCA^NATION The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Weekend Edition - August 1-2, 2020 7A Gainesville man killed in Clarke County shooting BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Athens authorities are searching for the suspect they say shot and killed a Gainesville man in their city earlier this week. Police say Jarred Lamar Sanders, 34, was shot around 1:51 p.m. Monday, July 27, on Hickman Drive, near downtown Athens. Athens-Clarke County Police identified Sanders as the victim Tuesday, July 28, and fingered Joseph Baughns, 35, of Ath ens, as the suspect. “Officers are actively working to locate Baughns and have obtained a malice murder warrant against him,” Athens-Clarke County Police said. Anyone with information on Baughns should call 911 as he is “considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached,” police said. Anyone with information on the shoot ing is asked to contact detectives at 762- 400-7058 or the Crime Stoppers tip line at 706-705-4775. Depth of sunken Marine vehicle complicates rescue BY JULIE WATSON Associated Press SAN DIEGO — A military seafaring assault vehicle that sank off the coast of Southern California is under hundreds feet of water, beyond the reach of divers and compli cating rescue efforts for eight missing troops, officials said Friday. Still the Marine Corps commandant, Gen. David Berger, said the search was continuing while he was sus pending waterborne opera tions of all of its more than 800 amphibious assault vehi cles across the branch until the cause of the accident is determined. He said the move was out of “an abun dance of caution.” Berger said the focus now should be on the troops and their families. One of the eight Marines who were res cued died at a San Diego hos pital. Two Marines remained hospitalized with injuries but were stable and out of the intensive care unit. A total of 16 troops — 15 Marines and one Navy corpsman — were on board when the amphibious assault vehicle started taking in water Thursday evening as it was about a half mile from the shores of San Clemente Island. They had just completed a routine training exercise and were heading back to the Navy ship with more than a dozen other amphibi ous assault vehicles, said Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, the commanding general of the Marine Expeditionary Force. Troops on board two other amphibious assault vehicles responded quickly but could not stop the 26-ton vehicle from sinking, Osterman said. “It’s a very tragic situa tion,” Osterman said, adding that his thoughts and prayers are with the troops and their families. Military ships, small boats and helicopters continued searching the choppy seas for the missing Friday amid moderate to strong winds. The Navy-owned island is about 70 miles offshore from San Diego. The Navy and Coast Guard were discussing ways to reach the sunken vehicle to get a view inside it, Osterman said. All of the Marines on the vehicle, which resembles a seafaring tank, were attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. They ranged in age from 19 to early 30s and all were wear ing combat gear, including body armor, Osterman said. Each troop also had flotation devices. The vehicle is designed to hold up to 24 people with 280 pounds of equipment each, Osterman said. He said there were three water tight hatches and two large troop hatches and that it is designed to be naturally buoyant. Thursday’s accident marks the third time in recent years that Camp Pendleton Marines have been injured or died in amphibious assault vehicles during training exercises. Boys & Girls Clubs seeking help to replace playground equipment SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Melted plastic and charred equipment remain as arson was the cause of a playground fire Saturday, July 25, at Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier, according to authorities. How to help Donations can be made at boysgirlsclubs.com/donate. Contact: Joyce Wilson, chief development officer, atjwilson@bgclanier.org or 770-532-8102 ext. 305. BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com Boys & Girls Clubs of Lanier is seek ing donations to help replace playground equipment destroyed by fire in what authorities believe was arson. The playground will cost $150,000 to $200,000 to replace, spokeswoman Brenda Bohn said Wednesday, July 29. Donations can be made at boys- girlsclubs.com/donate. “Unfortunately, we have learned that insurance is only going to cover a frac tion of the replacement cost,” Bohn said. “During these challenging times, your support means more than ever,” the non profit organization said in an email. Otherwise, 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. Firefighters received a call at about 6:45 a.m. Saturday, July 25, concerning a fire alarm at the Boys & Girls Clubs at 1 Positive Place, according to a news release Monday, July 27. Upon arrival, personnel put out the playground 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. Steven Mickens, chief executive offi cer for Boys & Girls Clubs, said building video cameras captured “some young men on the jungle gym, and it looked like they were smoking because you could see something lit.” “One of them tried to put the cigarette out and noticed it wasn’t completely out in the wood chips (ground covering). He went back and it looked like he tried to put it out, but then they went about their way.” Later, the video showed “sparks of flame coming up in that area, and the next thing you know, everything was engulfed in flames,” Mickens said. Investigators “are reviewing some video footage and will be attempting to gather more video, as well,” Gainesville Fire Division Chief Keith Smith said. Brought to you only by JACKSON X ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP/CORPORATION" Choice" HOMES Energy Efficient Homes. Guaranteed. jacksonemc.com/rightchoice Comfort is warm in the winter. Cool in the summer. Comfort is living in a Right Choice™ Home. Where you play. And laugh. And learn. And grow. A home built so well that the comfort level is actually guaranteed by Jackson EMC. That's a dream home. That's a Right Choice Home.
