About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 24, 2023)
LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Midweek Edition-May 24-25, 2023 3A Moped driver involved in May 4 wreck dies BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A moped driver from Flowery Branch died weeks after being hit by a pickup truck Thursday, May 4, on Hog Mountain Road in Flowery Branch, according to authorities. The Hall County Sheriffs Office said Christoper Lee Powell, 36, of Flowery Branch, died on Wednes day, May 17. Hall County deputies investi gated the wreck around 5:45 a.m. May 4 on Hog Mountain Road at Credit Drive. The Sheriffs Office said Pow ell was stopped on Credit Drive waiting to turn onto Hog Mountain Road when he was hit by a Chevro let Colorado. The truck driver, William Emory Olmstead, 41, of Cleveland turned left from Hog Mountain Road into the wrong lane of Credit Drive, according to the Sheriffs Office. Powell was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. The Sheriffs Office confirmed Tuesday, May 23, that Powell died. The case is still under investiga tion, and charges against Olmstead are pending, according to the Sher iffs Office. Police: Woman made false claim about kidnapping BY NICK WATSON nwatson@ gainesvilletimes.com A Gainesville woman claimed she was nearly abducted by two men in a van on the downtown Gainesville square, police said. But after tracking her movements, Gainesville police say that it never happened. A j a Nicole K o s e k i, 35, was charged with fel ony making false state ments, felony causing false 1 Koseki public alarm and false report of a crime. Gainesville Police Lt. Kevin Holbrook said Koseki reported in the late evening hours on May 18 about nearly being kid napped around 5 p.m. that day. “Initially she had reported that two males pulled up in a white van (and) attempted to abduct her,” Holbrook said. “There were some discrepancies within the information that she provided us that did not necessarily add up.” Through the investiga tion, Holbrook said they determined the informa tion she provided was “all false.” The lieutenant said police knew she was on the square and went to a cou ple of different businesses nearby. “We were able to look at different security and sur veillance systems to practi cally track her every move, which dispelled the rumors of the attempted abduc tion,” Holbrook said. Holbrook said they do not know what the motive was for the false information. Information about the attempted kidnapping began spreading on social media, Holbrook said, which led them to put out information on the case. Koseki was booked in to the Hall County Jail Tues day, May 23, where her bond was listed as $12,700. Census: Gainesville, other Hall cities growing rapidly Census population estimates Here’s a look at the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau of cities predominantly in Hall County: 2022 2020 % Increase Clermont 1,125 1,027 9.5% Flowery Branch 10,938 9,512 15% Gainesville 45,282 42,655 6.2% Gillsville 308 301 2.3% Lula 2,963 2,839 4.4% Oakwood 5,975 4,860 23% BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com Editor’s note: This published in a previous E-Paper edition and is being provided here for print-only readers. With a flurry of new apartment buildings and other housing out of the ground or on the way, Gainesville’s population continues to surge. As part of a nationwide report released this week, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Gainesville was at 45,282 residents as of July 1, 2022, up from the 2020 estimate of 42,655, an increase of 2,627 residents. Gainesville appears to have passed Newnan in population. Newnan had 42,855 people in 2020, but like Gainesville, is also fast-growing and is now estimated at 44,485 people. Gainesville grew by 6.2% the past two years, the highest rate of popula tion growth among Georgia cities its size or larger. It is also second only to South Fulton city in numerical growth among that group of cities. South Fulton, which became a city in 2017, grew from 108,218 in 2020 to 111,158 in 2022, or 2,940 residents. It grew by 2.7%. Hall County’s county seat is closing in on a key 50,000 population marker. Com parison charts released by the Census Bureau in the report focus on cities with populations of 50,000 or more. Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon said several factors may play into the city’s rapid growth, includ ing a migration from coun ties closer to Atlanta, such as Gwinnett and Cobb but also from other areas in the U.S. recognizing Gainesville as part of the Atlanta area. “We’re situated where we’re convenient to Atlanta, so we’re located nicely, geographically,” he said. Gainesville isn’t, how ever, the fastest growing city in Hall County. That title belongs to its neighbor to the south, Oak- wood. Census estimates show it increased from 4,860 residents in 2020 to 5,975 residents in 2022, or by 23%. Coming in sec ond was Flowery Branch, which grew from 9,512 to 10,938, or 15%. “When we look at the number of housing units Oakwood has approved since 2017, it is probably reflective of an accurate increase,” Councilwoman Sheri Millwood said. “I will say we believe the 2020 count for Oakwood was probably a little low. So, the (23% increase) is prob ably a little low as well.” Oakwood City Manager B.R. White said, “I am not surprised by the growth. Oakwood has approved over 2,500 housing units in a little over 5 years. An increase in population does come with an increase in service demand for the local governments across the board.” Couvillon also said that with higher numbers comes bigger challenges, particularly traffic. He said that’s a big push for Gainesville as it tries to improve key arteries such as Green Street and Dawsonville Highway. He also noted that a planned Nov. 7 vote on a trans portation special purpose local option sales tax, or TSPLOST, that, if passed, might bring about “trans formational changes in traffic patterns.” TSPLOST would involve projects throughout Hall, which, as a whole, is also growing rapidly. The latest population estimates show Hall had 212,692 people, as of July 1, 2022, or a 4.7% increase from 203,136 in 2020. The data also shows Hall grew at a 2.6% clip between 2021 and 2022, compared to 1.8% between 2020 and 2021. At the 2.6% rate, Hall’s population could be on pace for 218,222 people by July 1, 2023. Sardis Elem. names new principal BY BEN ANDERSON banderson@ gainesvilletimes.com Editor’s note: This pub lished in a previous E-Paper edition and is being provided here for print-only Carter rea T ders - J l m Carter has been named the new prin cipal at Sardis Elementary School. Carter is currently the assistant principal at Myers Elementary. “Mr. Carter’s compassion and courage will enable him to build relationships that are critical in continuing to move Sardis Elementary School forward,” Superintendent Will Schofield said in a news Carter Start earning today with Bank OZK! <4.40%> 7-MONTH CD OR IRA CD*’ SPECIAL <5.20%> 13-MONTH CD OR IRA CD** SPECIAL Visit our Oakwood location or open an account online at ozk.com** <> Bank OZK Greater awaits' ozk.com I Member FDIC •Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective as of the publication date. Offer applies to new CDs only. $1,000 minimum deposit to open and is required to earn stated APY. Penalty for early withdrawal. IRA CD is subject to eligibility requirements. Offer not available to Public Funds, brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. Fees could reduce earnings. Offer subject to change without notice. Offer good at locations in Oakwood, GA only. **IRA CD must be opened in person and cannot be opened online. release Friday. “His keen sense of process, as well as his expertise in early literacy, will be assets to student learning. We are excited for the Bobcat Nation and what the future holds for the students, the staff and the community,” he said. Carter began his career in 1997 and has taught both ele mentary and middle school. He holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Brigham Young University and a mas ter’s degree in educational leadership from Mercer University. Carter and his wife, Rebecca, are Hall County residents and have six children and many foster children. TWO 10 SESSIONS ULY17-21 & JULY 24-28 MAGIC CAMP NEW! Children ages 6 - 9 will marvel at the science and magic of nature during a weeklong half-day camp session in beautiful botanical surroundings. Paint with chlorophyll, make flower cloud dough, meet our beekeepers and splash around in the Children’s Garden. Act fast! Enrollment ends June 9. gainesvillegarden.org
