About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 2020)
4A Midweek Edition - August 26-27, 2020 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com LOCAL 3 men charged with RICO violation in auto burglaries BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A four-month investigation led to three men from the same family being charged with entering autos throughout South Hall communities between April and June, according to the Hall County Sheriffs Office. Carlos Ernesto Lopez, Jr., 19, of Gainesville; Jan Carlos Lopez, 22, of Oakwood; and Michael David Lopez, 32, of Gainesville, are accused of operating a local theft ring in Oakwood, Flowery Branch and Chestnut Mountain, Sheriffs Office spokesman Derreck Booth wrote in a news release. Booth said Michael Lopez is Car los Lopez’s uncle. Jan and Michael Lopez are cousins. The Sheriffs Office worked with the Braselton, Gainesville and Oak- wood police departments as part of the investigation. Booth said the three men formed a group “responsible for numer ous entering auto and general theft cases as well as burglary and motor vehicle theft.” They were charged with a violation of the Racketeer C. Lopez J. Lopez M.Lopez Influenced and Corrupt Organiza tions Act. Authorities say Michael Lopez also stole an SUV from a residence in the 3000 block of Gilleland Circle in Gainesville, Booth said. The car was recovered the day it went miss ing, and Lopez was arrested June 3, Booth said. He has been charged with two counts of entering auto and criminal trespass. Carlos Lopez was arrested June 9 at his residence after investigators obtained warrants for computer trespass and theft by taking con nected to the same SUV, Booth said. Booth said Carlos Lopez deleted a program from a computer “sto len in the crime,” though he did not provide further details. Carlos Lopez was also charged with second- degree burglary, 10 counts of enter ing auto and criminal trespass. Jan Lopez was the last arrested, on Aug. 18, and he was charged with nine counts of entering auto. All three were being held in the Hall County Jail on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The case is still under investigation. Portion of Green Street on courthouse side of downtown to be closed for two weeks Green Street between Washington and Spring streets will close for two weeks, start ing Monday, Aug. 31, according to Gaines ville’s website. The stretch of road runs next to the fed eral courthouse downtown and is not the four-lane thoroughfare through Gainesville. The closure is for utility work as part of the city’s second phase of downtown beauti fication efforts, which got underway Aug. 10 on Washington Street. Green Street is expected to reopen the morning of Sept. 14. Then, crews will begin work on Spring Street between E.E. Butler Parkway and Bradford Street, according to the city. Efforts on Washington, Green and Spring streets are projected to be completed by February 2021, with an overall project com pletion date targeted for summer 2021. The first phase, completed in November 2019, involved improvements along Main and Broad streets, the website says. Jeff Gill Courtesy Lanier Islands A snapshot taken from Lanier Islands’ concept video of its new convention center and hotel, which will be located at the old Pinelsle resort property. LANIER ■ Continued from 1A since then. Bill Donohue, executive director of Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority, said discussion about the property’s renewal began in 2012. He said the new resort’s groundbreaking date is set for this fall. “We think from an author ity standpoint, this project is important because it give the islands a major anchor proj ect to carry it for the next 30 years,” Donohue said. Donohue said the project is to be funded by the state and private sources. So far, he said the state has contrib uted more than $30 million. Donohue said the design plans for the new hotel and convention center — which hasn’t been named yet — are 80% complete. He said the hotel is expected to have 300 rooms and the conference space to span 7,500 square feet. Because the design isn’t set in stone, Donohue said it could change in a way that acclimates a “post-COVID” world, including more access to the outside for din ing and larger conference spaces that allow people to sit farther away from one another. Burgess said bringing a golf course back to the prop erty is also “on the table,” but no set-in-stone plans have been made at this time. “We’re so excited to have the support to be able to do this project,” she said. “We’re moving forward.” Kit Dunlap, president and CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, described the morning presentation as “wonder ful.” She said the chamber has been aware of Lanier Islands’ plans for a while and enjoyed seeing the render ings come to life in the video. “I think for the state of Georgia, it will absolutely be an economic engine to add a larger hotel and conven tion center with the bells and whistles,” Dunlap said. JEFF GILL I The Times A gas station and Burger King combo is planned for this site in Flowery Branch. COMBO ■ Continued from 1A feature the chain’s “Garden and Grill” interior decor, Crosby said. The convenience store will include a coffee and soda foun tain bar, plus “large restrooms for 1-985 travelers that get off to shop with us,” he said. Combined, the restaurant and Marathon will employ about 40 people, Crosby said. Plans call for the building to open in February 2021. The project calls for tear ing down an existing building housing a Marathon station and a now-empty Subway res taurant. Crosby said he wasn’t sure when the demolition would begin. Burger King’s arrival would add to the growing restaurant scene at Exit 12. McDonald’s opened off Spout Springs at Hog Moun tain Road earlier this sum mer. J. Christopher’s opened in late 2019 at Stonebridge Vil lage shopping center off Spout Springs and Hog Mountain. And Breakwater Grill opened Jan. 1 off Hog Mountain, near Spout Springs. ROWLAND CNCINCIRING Site plan for the combo gas station and Burger King planned for Flowery Branch. Here’s how to get a free COVID-19 test this weekend District 2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health will offer free COVID-19 test ing this Saturday Aug. 29 at St. John Baptist Church in Gainesville. The testing event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is recommended that those wishing to get tested make an appointment by call ing 770-531-5600, but drive-ups will also be accepted for testing. The testing location at Allen Creek Soc cer Complex will not be open on Saturday. Nathan Berg Sponsored by Northeast Georgia Health System HEALTHY AGING VIRTUAL EXPO Starting SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 Wednesdays 10 a.m. - I I a.m. HEALTHY AGING ZOOM FORUM Offering- Hopewell Roofing’s team of HAAG certified roof inspectors will perform a FREE roof inspection to determine if you qualify for a total roof replacement. 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