About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 2020)
LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.comMidweek Edition - September 9-10, 2020 5A CarMax gets initial OK from city planning board BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com Plans for a CarMax store off Browns Bridge Road in Gaines ville got the initial OK from the Gainesville Planning Appeals Board on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The pre-owned automobile dealership chain’s proposal for a 7,590-square-foot building on the nearly 8-acre site at 2602 Browns Bridge Road, west of Memorial Park Drive and near Cherry- hill Drive, now goes before the Gainesville City Council for final consideration. The applicant, Colorado-based developer CenterPoint Integrated Solutions, is seeking to annex the property for the store. Also planned on the property is a 936-square-foot carwash that would be used by CarMax “to clean vehicles for sale and final quality control of cars presented to purchasers,” the company has said. CarMax “has identified the Gainesville area as a good fit for our current growth plan,” the com pany said in an email to The Times about the project. As for a schedule for the proj ect, “it can often take two to three years to get all necessary approv als, complete construction and open for business, once we decide to move forward on any location,” the company said. CarMax said it would announce the new store opening “about one year in advance of the anticipated grand opening date.” The property, which is also next to Absolute Trailers, contains an “older home and various outbuild ings” that would be torn down as part of the project, according to a Gainesville planning staff report on the project. CarMax’s “business model is to promote a high-end retail experience and a welcoming experience,” said Brad Lauth, development manager for Cen terPoint, in a description of the project. “As such, CarMax does not use outdoor loudspeakers ... and does not use flags, balloons, inflatables, placards in open car hoods, painted window lettering or the like in its marketing.” The company has more than 200 locations nationwide, Lauth said. Gainesville Schools offers way to look at system’s COVID-19 cases BY KELSEY P0D0 kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com A spreadsheet that tracks COVID- 19 cases at Gainesville City School System just became accessible to the public. During the Gainesville school board work session on Tuesday, Sept. 8, Superintendent Jeremy Wil liams revealed the document, which people can view by visiting gcsskl2. net and clicking “GCSS Weekly Covid Positive Cases by Location” under the “Return of the Red Elephants” tab. The spreadsheet displays weekly reports of positive COVID-19 students and employees, including both system and individual school totals. Williams said that the updates pre sented are taken from the previous week. For example, the Sept. 7 update includes the positive cases from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. He said the system is rely ing on students, faculty, staff and fami lies to report positive COVID-19 cases to Gainesville City Schools. The document displays a total of 29 COVID-19 positive reports among stu dents and employees from late July to Sept. 7. The numbers for the most recent report, shows two cases com ing from Gainesville High School. The spreadsheet does not specify which are from students or employees. Williams said the students included in the most recent update were counted through individual reports, either sent in from parents or stu dents. Now that in-person classes have started Tuesday, Sept. 8, the super intendent said he expects to see an increase in COVID-19 positive cases. “As we reopen school, there is likely the opportunity to spread, but we also believe that the precautions that we’ve taken and the communica tion of those will help decrease those,” Williams said. The spreadsheet will be updated by noon on Monday, each week. Hall County Schools has also launched an initiative of its own to bet ter estimate how many asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 are entering its schools. The system started tracking asymptomatic carries of COVID-19 among its staff, students and children of employees, at a different school cluster each week since late August. Hall Sheriff’s Office recognized for DUI enforcement BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com The Hall County Sheriff’s Office was honored recently for its DUI enforcement by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving with the Golden Shield awards. The Sheriff’s Office tied with Milled- geville Police for 2020 Agency of the Year and also received the Agency DUI Hero award for 653 DUI arrests, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The agency of the year award goes to law enforcement that “has demon strated excellence in implementing innovative techniques in the detection and deterrence of traffic violations, DUI, and underage drinking preven tion,” according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The DUI Hero award goes to the agency with the most DUI arrests for its size. “I’m very proud of our team for receiving these awards, but more importantly, for working so hard to get DUI offenders off of our community roadways,” Sheriff Gerald Couch said in a statement. “Deputy Thompson is a regular when it comes to these awards for his efforts serving the community. I’m honored to have him as a member of our agency.” Deputy John Thompson IV also received DUI Officer of the Year and Drug Recognition Expert honors. Officers capture 1 of 2 fugitives after deputy shot DALTON — Law officers have apprehended one of two Texas fugitives wanted after a Georgia deputy was shot during a traffic stop, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday. Jonathan Hosmer, 47, is in custody, and Dalton Potter, 29, remains at large, the agency said in a statement. The gunfire happened around mid night Monday in Dalton, Georgia, when Potter fired numerous gunshots at Whitfield County Sheriff’s Deputy Dar rell Hackney from inside his vehicle, the GBI said. Hackney was struck, but his ballistic vest saved him, the GBI said in a statement. Authorities described Potter as “armed and dangerous.” Potter had been hauling a stolen trailer and was pulled over by deputies around midnight when he opened fire, authorities said.Hackney and another deputy returned fire, but Potter made his getaway by driving south on Interstate 75. He wrecked the truck and escaped into the woods on foot, the GBI said. Associated Press Gainesville man lodges car under Tap It van BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A Gainesville man was critically injured Monday, Sept. 7, when his car ran off Thompson Bridge Road and lodged under a Tap It van, police said. Police said they don’t know why the Chevrolet Equinox driven by Jeffrey Dwayne Bennett, 60, left the road around 3 p.m. near the Gainesville growlers shop. Bennett’s car was traveling north when it veered off and struck the 2008 Sprinter van, becoming lodged under it, police said. Bennett was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, police said. Hospital officials said he was still in criti cal condition Tuesday, Sept. 8. Tap It owner Jim Tortorelli said the shop’s van was totaled, costing roughly $50,000. “Good thing the van was parked there, because it would have smashed a hole in the building,” Tortorelli said. The wreck is still under investigation. “I hope this person survives... I feel for him and his fam ily,” Tortorelli said. Photo courtesy Jim Tortorelli A Gainesville man crashed into a Tap It van Monday, Sept. 7, at Tap It Gainesville Growlers on Thompson Bridge Road in Gainesville. LEADING CARE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. With a strong network of practices and services, compassionate, trusted expertise is within your reach. Our team of dedicated physicians provides patient-centered care to fit your unique health needs. Experience the power of Northside in your neighborhood. Schedule your virtual or in-person visit today. NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL Rssf=-“ Our Locations Arthritis & Total Northside Hospital Northeast Georgia > Joint Specialists Cardiovascular Institute Diagnostic Clinic 1255 Friendship Road, Suite 200 1255 Friendship Road, Suite 120 1270 Friendship Road, Suite 100 Braselton, GA 30517 Braselton, GA 30517 Braselton, GA 30517 770-292-6500 404-962-6000 770-536-9864 arthritisandtotaljoint.com northsidecvi.com ngdc.com y
