About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 10, 2020)
LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Thursday, September 10, 2020 3A BALLOTS ■ Continued from 1A who are 65 or older, disabled, in the military or overseas, have had the option to indicate on pre vious absentee ballot applications that they would like to automatically be sent absentee ballots for the elections cycle, which runs through a possible runoff in January 2021. Wurtz said those absentee ballots will be among the first to be mailed out. Other voters, who have not selected this option on a previous absentee ballot application, will need to submit another application. Completed absentee ballot applications can be submitted several ways: ■ Mail to: Hall County Elections P.O. Box 1435 Gainesville, Georgia 30503 ■ Fax to 770-531-3931 ■ Email to elections@hallcounty.org ■ Place in the drop box outside the Hall County Government Center, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville Under state law, a family member can request a ballot on behalf of a voter who is or will be on Elec tion Day out of the county or municipality. How to turn in an absentee ballot Completed ballots must be turned in by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, to be counted. They can be mailed to the elections office, turned in at the elec tions office or an early voting location, or placed in the drop box outside the government center. Early voting will run from Oct. 12 to Oct. 30, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Vot ers can also go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. The county has announced seven locations for early voting and is working to secure an eighth location: ■ Mulberry Creek Community Center ■ East Hall Community Center ■ North Hall Community Center ■ 100 Brenau Ave. in Gainesville, previous Turner, Wood & Smith building and temporary library branch ■ Murrayville branch of the Hall County Library System ■ Spout Springs branch of the Hall County Library System ■ Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center activi ties hall Poll workers at these sites will be prepared to accept completed absentee ballots. Wurtz said the county considered setting up additional drop boxes for absentee ballots, but the boxes needed are on backorder and would not have arrived in Hall until the end of the early voting period. If someone decides to vote in-person instead of use their absentee ballot, poll workers can also help them cancel their absentee ballot. Sometimes, voters request an absentee ballot as a backup plan in case they are unable to make it to the polls on Election Day, Wurtz said. But if a voter has already cast their absentee ballot, then goes to the polls to the vote, whichever vote is received first is the one counted, she said. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Tuesday, Sept. 8 that about 1,000 Geor gians had voted twice in the June primary by vot ing with an absentee ballot and in-person. Wurtz said Wednesday none of the voters were from Hall. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Some city facilities return to normal hours Several city of Gainesville buildings have expanded their hours, returning to the same schedules from before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gainesville Administrative Building, historic Gainesville City Hall and Gainesville Community & Economic Development building, all located off Henry Ward Way, will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on week days. The city’s Public Safety Complex on Queen City Parkway, which houses the Gainesville police and fire depart ments, will also be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Staff have measured and taped off spaces on floors to ensure visitors remain six feet apart, and facilities will be cleaned regularly. “We are continuing to ask that those who visit us in city-owned spaces wear masks when possible, especially when interacting with our staff,” City Man ager Bryan Lackey said in a statement. Some city departments are also using signs, ropes and a take-a-number sys tem to control customer flow and limit access to some areas. “The situation surrounding our regular daily operations remains fluid, but we’re working to balance both the need to serve the public, as well as keep them and city staff safe during unpredictable times,” Lackey said. The Gainesville Department of Water Resources’ internal customer service office, some Gainesville Parks and Recreation facilities and the Gainesville-Hall County Community Service Center are still closed. Megan Reed Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times A tee-ball player prepares to hit the ball as it sits on a tee Tuesday, Sept. 9, during a practice at North Hall Park. Rec baseball is getting underway in Hall County and Gainesville. Above left, right: Youths learn the game of baseball and how to run bases Tuesday, Sept. 9, during a practice at North Hall Park. SPORTS ■ Continued from 1A Gainesville Parks & Recreation is also just getting its fall youth sports seasons underway, with cross country already having started and football and cheerleading beginning soon. Kate Mattison, director of the city department, said the precautionary measures taken vary widely by the sport. She said that while she’s talked to several parents curious for details on the plan this fall, most of the parent feedback she has received has been overwhelmingly positive. Mattison added that registration numbers for all fall sports are down between 20% and 25% compared to a normal year, which was expected. Cross country, which had its first meet on Aug. 29, is using scheduled starts rather than lining up large groups of participants at the same time like in a normal year. All athletes are required to bring their own water bottles, and there will be no communal water fill-up areas. Team huddles are being limited, and coaches are asked to have their participants spread out as much as possible when explain ing drills or rules. With cross country being a largely individ ual sport as it is, Mattison said it’s been fairly easy to prepare. Cheerleading and football have been a bit more complicated. On the cheer side, Mattison said participants are avoiding all stunts and staying spread apart for routines. Cheerleaders are also required to bring their own water bottles, and coaches are advised to avoid huddles whenever possible and instead opt for more distance between athletes when explaining drills and routines. Football players will be asked to follow the same precautions, and when contact is abso lutely necessary, Mattison said Gainesville Parks & Rec is looking to the Georgia High School Association for guidance. “There is close contact, but we’re trying to do short bursts of it,” she said. “I think that’s kind of what all the high school teams have tried to do too.” “People are so excited to have something for their kids to do so they can get some social interaction,” Mattison said. “I would say gen erally, that’s been most of the feedback that we’ve gotten.” Advanced Eye Center We Welcome a New Ophthalmologist William C. Ackerman, Jr., M.D. and Advanced Eye Center are pleased to announce the addition of Taylor E. Rossow, D.O. as a new ophthalmologist with the practice. Dr. Rossow was born and raised in Michigan and then went on to attend University of Michigan-Ann Arbor where she earned a bachelors degree in Neuroscience. Dr. Rossow graduated with her medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania. After completing her medical school training, she returned to Michigan where she completed a surgical residency in Ophthalmology through Michigan State University/Ascension Health System. She served as Chief resident in her final year of training. During her time in residency, she volunteered to work with the underserved population of Detroit by providing free eye exams and screening. Dr. Rossow practices comprehensive ophthalmology with a sub-specialty in premium cataract surgery She also specializes in cosmetic and functional oculoplastic services including blepharoplasty, fillers, Botox injections, and Kybella. She is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Young Eye Surgeons, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and the American Osteopathic Association. In her free time, Dr. Rossow enjoys paddle boarding, spending time at the lake, exercising and walking her two goldendoodles with her husband. Dr. Rossow is now accepting New Patients Call 770-532-0292 to schedule your appointment Or AdvanceoEytCentlr 625 South Enota Drive • Gainesville, GA 30501 • 770-532-0292 www.aeceyecare.com William C. Ackerman, Jr., M.D. Board Certified Ophthalmologist Taylor E. Rossow, D.O. 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