Newspaper Page Text
Georgia congressman fights
speed restrictions for whales.
INSIDE, 4A
Honestly Local
Judge rules in favor of former Hall deputy
Puckett
BY NICK WATSON
nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com
Despite charges being
dismissed after the former
Oakwood city clerk’s arrest,
a federal judge has ruled in
favor of a former Hall deputy
in a lawsuit alleging false arrest
and excessive force, according
to court documents.
Tangee Puckett was charged
with simple battery and
obstruction Aug. 22, 2019, after
deputies responded to a domes
tic call on East Bolding Road.
Both misdemeanor charges
were dismissed less than three
weeks later after a Sept. 11,
2019, hearing before a Magis
trate Court judge.
But U.S. District Court Judge
Richard W. Story granted sum
mary judgment Wednesday,
June 21, in favor of the defen
dant, Deputy David Kim.
The original complaint was
filed against Hall County, Sher
iff Gerald Couch and Kim, but
the later amended complaint
only named Kim as a defen
dant. Puckett alleged false
arrest, excessive force, false
imprisonment, physical injury
and intentional infliction of
emotional distress.
Puckett’s attorney, Austin
Perry, declined to comment on
the case but said they will likely
appeal the decision.
The Times reached out to the
attorneys on record for Kim,
Sun Choy and Wesley Jackson.
■ Please see PUCKETT, 3A
Flowery Branch celebrates
downtown improvements
Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times
Downtown Flowery Branch fills with people Thursday, June 22, as the city celebrates the grand opening of the
newly redesigned and improved area that includes a new streetscape, and the farmers market alley that leads to
the new farmers market pavilion.
Gainesville man fatally shot during argument
A Gainesville man, Timothy
Quest Loggins, 44, was
fatally shot Thursday, June
22, during a late night
argument at a home on
Sullens Road in Hall County,
according to authorities.
SCOn ROGERS
The Times
BY NICK WATSON
nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com
A Gainesville man was
fatally shot Thursday,
June 22, during a late night
argument in Hall County,
according to authorities.
Timothy Quest Loggins,
44, was killed around 11
p.m. Thursday during an
argument at a home in the
5000 block of Sullens Road.
The Hall County Sher
iff’s Office did not release
many details on the case
other than the shooter
was at the scene when
deputies arrived and has
been cooperating with the
investigation.
18 feral cats
euthanized
after rabies
positive test
BY NICK WATSON
nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com
A colony of at least 18 unvaccinated feral
cats in Demorest was euthanized after a cat in
the area tested positive for rabies, according
to authorities.
Habersham County Animal Care and Con
trol was contacted Sunday, June 18, after a 911
call about an aggressive cat.
Animal control was able to contact the sup
posed owner the next day, but it turned out to
be a person feeding a stray cat, Habersham
County spokesman Rob Moore said.
The person said the cat had bitten and
scratched at them on Saturday, June 17.
■ Please see FERAL, 3A
Photo provided by Habersham County
At least 18 cats were euthanized earlier this
week after a cat in the area tested positive for
rabies.
Intersection
is still set for
improvements
BY JEFF GILL
jgill@gainesvilletimes.com
Intersection improvements are still planned
for Browns Bridge Road at McEver Road in
Gainesville.
The project calls for adding a second left-turn
lane northbound and southbound on McEver
Road at the busy intersection and lengthening
the left-turn westbound lanes on Browns Bridge
Road at the crossing. Improvements also would
be made to eastbound Browns Bridge.
The project “is intended to improve turn
(backups) and delays during peak traffic,”
according to a GDOT description of the project.
The work is set to go out for bids in September,
Georgia Department of Transportation district
spokeswoman Elizabeth Johnson said this week.
The project was originally scheduled for the
2023 fiscal year, which ends July 1, but was
delayed a year “due to lack of state funding,”
she said.
Construction costs are estimated at about
$750,000.
The intersection draws huge amounts of traf
fic, serving as something of a crossroads in Hall,
with eastbound and northbound traffic headed
toward Gainesville and southbound traffic to
South Hall.
A RaceTrac convenience store is on one
corner and a shopping center anchored by a
Walmart Neighborhood Market on another cor
ner. Also nearby is the Hall County Government
Center.
Nearly $36 million in improvements are also
proposed on Browns Bridge Road/Ga. 369 as
part of a transportation special purpose local
sales tax referendum scheduled for Nov. 7. That
work would take place between McEver Road
and the Forsyth County line.
