About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 2020)
LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Tuesday, December 22, 2020 3A ^Tnl/OII f%t OimWAIotlAw) Sheriff’s Office, family receive I w l\w 11 w I |J |JI w w I LI w 11 badges honoring slain deputy BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com The Hall County Sheriffs Office and the family of Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon, who was killed in the line of duty last year, received badges Friday, Dec. 18, crafted from repurposed wooden pallets to honor the fallen deputy. The badges were created by Josh and Jeremy Nicholson, brothers who also created a piece for Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish. Jeremy Nicholson, deputy Dixon and Dixon’s brother, Zack, used to work together at a local moving and storage company. The two men recalled one of their jobs together, a 21-hour move in Thomaston that was supposed to be a quick gig. “The three of us had some rough days but always a good time,” Zack Dixon said. “This is a real good tribute for him.” Zack Dixon said his fam ily recently moved into a new home and set up a memorial wall in the living room for their fallen fam ily member. He described his brother, who went by Blane, as a “fun, life-loving guy.” “It didn’t matter after a long, hard, difficult day,” Zack Dixon said. “Blane was always still smiling, cracking jokes and having a good time.” Dixon, 28, died July 8, 2019, after pursuing four men in an allegedly stolen vehicle on Jesse Jewell Parkway in Gainesville, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Dixon and another deputy reached the suspects on Highland Avenue. Dixon was shot one time in an exchange of gunfire, according to the GBI. Four men have been charged with murder, and their case is still pending. Josh Nicholson, who owns a small pallet com pany, said the idea came to him in a dream. Though he was not a woodworker, Josh Nichol son said “something inside told me that I needed to do this.” “My little brother is the creative part of the art istry, and I just kind of put it together and run the business side of it,” he said. The badge has “Dixon” written across the front inside of a “Back the Blue” flag, which is an American flag with a thin blue line as one of the stripes. To make one of the badges, Josh Nicholson said they sand down the pallet before painting and fin ishing with polyurethane. He said he’s given badges to others in the com munity, as well, and that the badge presented to the Dixon family was a way to show support. “I’m trying to do it as a token of appreciation,” Josh Nicholson said. ‘It didn’t matter after a long, hard, difficult day. Blane was always still smiling, cracking jokes and having a good time.’ Zack Dixon brother of Deputy Dixon NICK WATSON I The Times The family of Nicolas Blane Dixon poses with a badge made from repurposed pallet wood that was presented to them Friday, Dec. 18, at the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. Dixon died July 8, 2019, in the line of duty. Photos by THOMAS HARTWELL I The Times Above, right: Josh Nicholson, president and CEO of Nicholson Concepts, creates keepsake wooden police badges out of repurposed pallet wood with his brother. Nicholson recently created a badge for the family of Hall County Sheriff’s deputy Nicolas Dixon, who was killed in the line of duty in July 2019. Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic Welcomes New Internist We are is pleased to welcome Ralf G. Augenstein, MD, FACP, DTM&H, to the Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Augenstein earned his medical degree from Freie Universitaet, Berlin, Germany. He completed his Dr.Raifg. Augenstein internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Heidelberg Teaching Hospital, Germany and the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Dr. Augenstein completed his Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu and his Postgraduate Diploma in Tropical Medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. Prior to joining the Diagnostic Clinic, Dr. Augenstein practiced for over 1 7 years in Albany, GA. Dr. Augenstein is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Augenstein is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, please call 770-536-9864. 1240 Jesse Jewell Pkwy, SE • Ste 500 • Gainesville, GA www.ngdc.com • 770-536-9864 $^.as&GEORGIA RENEW EARLY ALL COUNTIES J MH ' MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICES UNAVAILABLE JAN. 12-18 No vehicle registra tion or titling services available in office. No online services or kiosks available. You can renew up to 60 days before your birthday. HALL COUNTY Tax Commissioner SERVICE I EmCIINCV | ACCOUNTABILITY ►
