About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 2023)
4A Thursday, February 9, 2023 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com LOCAL/WORLD Fire damages home in South Hall First Watch seeks to take over former Atlanta Bread site BY NICK WATSON nwatson@ gainesvilletimes.com A fire started in the basement of a South Hall home Tuesday and spread upstairs through BY MEHMET GUZEL, GHAITH ALSAYED, SUZAN FRASER AND ZEYNEP BILGINSOY Associated Press GAZIANTEP, Turkey — The president of Turkey on Wednesday acknowledged “shortcomings” in his coun try’s response to the world’s deadliest earthquake in more than a decade as hope dwindled that more survi vors would emerge from the rubble of thousands of toppled buildings. With the confirmed death toll approaching 12,000, Pres ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the especially hard- hit Hatay province, where more than 3,300 people died and entire neighborhoods were destroyed. Residents there have criticized the government’s efforts, saying rescuers were slow to arrive. Erdogan, who faces a tough battle for reelection in May, reacted to the mounting frustration by acknowledg ing problems with the emer gency response to Monday’s 7.8-magnitude quake but said the winter weather had been a factor. The earthquake also destroyed the runway at Hatay’s airport, further dis rupting the response. “It is not possible to be prepared for such a disas ter,” Erdogan said. “We will not leave any of our citizens uncared for.” He also hit back at critics, saying “dis honorable people” were the ceiling, according to authorities. Hall County firefighters responded to a call about 5 p.m. to the 3000 block of Poplar Springs Church Road in Gainesville, where they found smoke coming spreading “lies and slan der” about the government’s actions. Turkish authorities said they were targeting disin formation, and an internet monitoring group said access to Twitter was restricted despite it being used by survi vors to alert rescuers. Meanwhile, rescue teams in Turkey and Syria searched for signs of life in the rubble. Teams from more than two dozen countries have joined tens of thousands of local emergency personnel in the effort. But the scale of destruction from the quake and its powerful aftershocks was so immense and spread over such a wide area that many people were still await ing help. Experts said the survival window for those trapped under the rubble or other wise unable to obtain basic necessities was closing rap idly. At the same time, they said it was too soon to aban don hope. “The first 72 hours are considered to be critical,” said Steven Godby, a natu ral hazards expert at Not tingham Trent University in England. “The survival ratio on average within 24 hours is 74%, after 72 hours it is 22% and by the fifth day it is 6%.” Rescuers at times used excavators or picked gin gerly through debris. It was not clear how many people might still be trapped. In the Turkish city of from the back of the home. Firefighters tackled the bulk of the fire inside the home. One person was at home but was able to get out before it got worse, Hall County Fire Rescue said. Malatya, bodies were placed side by side on the ground and covered in blankets while rescuers waited for vehicles to pick them up, according to former journal ist Ozel Pikal, who said he saw eight bodies pulled from the ruins of a building. Pikal, who took part in the rescue efforts, said he thinks at least some of the victims froze to death as tempera tures dipped to 21 degrees Fahrenheit. “As of today, there is no hope left in Malatya,” Pikal said by telephone. “No one is coming out alive from the rubble.” Road closures and damage in the region made it hard to access all the areas that need help, he said, and there was Firefighters extin guished the flames before flames spread to the rest of the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hall County Fire Marshal’s Office. a shortage of rescuers where he was. “Our hands cannot pick up anything because of the cold,” Pikal said. “Work machines are needed.” The region was already beset by more than a decade of civil war in Syria. Millions have been displaced within Syria itself, and millions more have sought refuge in Turkey. Erdogan said Turkey’s death toll passed 9,000. The Syrian Health Ministry reported that the death toll in government-held areas climbed past 1,200. And at least 1,600 people have died in Syria’s rebel-held north west, according to the volun teer first responders known as the White Helmets. BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com A Florida-based restau rant chain specializing in breakfast, brunch and lunch offerings may be coming to Gainesville. First Watch has submit ted architectural plans to renovate space previously occupied by Atlanta Bread Company at 944 Dawson- ville Highway, said Matt Tate, Gainesville’s deputy director of community and economic development. Atlanta Bread Company closed the restaurant in late 2022. The restaurant serving sandwiches and soup sat in a strip shopping center at the busy intersection of Dawsonville Highway and McEver Road and at the entrance of Lakeshore Marketplace shopping center. First Watch wouldn’t confirm considering a res taurant at that location. “We are currently in conversations with the City of Gainesville about a potential property but have yet to execute any leases in the area,” spokesman Hunter Carpenter said. First Watch, which has a restaurant at 3687 Buford Drive in Buford, has been “looking into new sites in Gainesville, and love the community and hope to grow there,” he said, add ing that the chain “has been a Georgia staple for more than 15 years.” a Apartments FOR RENT RPC Partners 2 Bedim Apartments Gainesville, Oakwood & Flowery Branch $ 300 Move in Special Plus Deposit 770-654-2807 NOW HIRING Off-Road Truck Drivers, Scraper Operators, and CDL Drivers/Heavy Equipment Operator Competitive pay, Great Benefits (401 k, Health Ins., Vacation) Apply in Person 1364 Candler Rd. Gainesville, Ga 30507 Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm 770-536-4731 Ext. 1 Death toll in earthquake near 12,000 your service PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY AND SERVICE GUIDE North Georgia B E D S Make your woods look like a park Corp Approved Lake Paths and Steps • Trenching Grading/Landscaping • Retaining Walls Timber and Beautiful Anchor Diamond Walls *BEA^ s Ul SMALL JOBS O.K. Drainage/Erosion Problems Semi-Retired • Affordable Mike 678-410-1375 OUR SERVICES Roof Inspections Free Replacement Estimates General Roofing & Installation Additions Storm Restoration Inspections Consultations Insurance Claims Specialists Repairs & Restoration Ventilation hepewell-roefing.com iE9 ffl> 678-771-5372 Chimney Caps Siding and Painting Gutters, Downspouts Leaf Protection Soffit and Fascia Repair Attic Insulation Storm damage assessment Quick weather-related response Debris removal and related repair Extended warranties Fully bonded and insured Standing Seam Metal Roofing WE ARE DEDICATED TO EXCELLENT SERVICE, QUALITY WORK & CUSTOMER SATISFACTION Mulch • Gravel • Sand River Rock • Fill Dirt Top Soil • White Marble Red Rock & More WE DELIVER! Customer Pick-Up is also available We Accept All Major Credit Cards 1364 Candler Rd Gainesville, Ga 30507 770-534-6928 770-536-4731 'Cured and Split Firewood • 8FT Railroad cross ties • 8FT 6x6 Pressure Treated Posts • 10FT 6x6 Pressure Treated Posts , • 12FT 6x6 Pressure Treated Posts TIFTUF Rebel wwai uniwiBwi IifBktir cVf*™* PrmumTQp' Check in Today for our New Specials! Farm Fresh Sod TifTuf Bermuda Rebel Fescue f •TifBlair Centipede •Zeon Zoysia •Marvel Zoysia CM All Varieties of Rock now Available p Georgia Chapter GCSAAw INDUSTRY PARTNER Sand * Rip Rap Stone 4 57 Stone • River Rock-all sizes Field Stone • Flag Stone • River Rock Boulders Field Stone Boulders • Ashlan • Tumbles Cobble Stone divisions OF GEORGIA'S FINEST PINE STRAW & MULCH WM, OtMMl MXE EMMS Pine straw and mulch year round P^Double Ground Hardwood Mukh Erosion con,ro ! mats and • New Crop long needle pine straw super red s j| t f ences now • Bag & Bulk Hardwood Mulch in available! red, black, brown, mini pine nugget & top soil. Absolute Trailers We Sell • We Service • We Finance Equipment Hauling Trailers - Enclosed Cargo Vans - Landscape Trailers - Dump Trailers We have full service repair shop for all types of trailers. Monday-Friday 8-5 and Saturday 8-2 pm. Also we have a parts department for all trailer needs Open Monday-Friday 7am-5pm & Saturday 7am-2pm 770-287-8300 2650 Browns Bridge Road * Gainesville, GA 30504 • www.georgiasfinestpinestraw.com
