About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2024)
Judge clears way for Trump to W appeal ruling that Fani Willis ** will remain on election case. INSIDE, 3A Thursday, March 21,20241 GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA I gainesvilletimes.com AP finds grueling conditions in Indian shrimp industry. INSIDE, 4A Honestly Local Woman BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A Gainesville woman accused of making a hoax call in 2023 to 911 about shooting people inside the Oakwood Walmart was sentenced after taking a plea deal, according to court documents. Paquasha Deniese Randolph, 27, pleaded guilty in February to terroristic threats among other charges. She was sentenced by sentenced for making hoax call Superior Court Judge Kathlene Gosselin to five years on probation. Hall County 911 got a call Sept. 10 from a woman stating she was going to the Walmart on Mundy Mill Road to “shoot people inside the store.” Officers from Oakwood Police, the University of North Georgia, Flowery Branch Police and the Hall County Sheriff's Office responded to the store, and the building was evacuated. Officers locked down the store and searched the facility, but no one was found. Police tracked the call to a cellphone and found the caller. Oakwood Police charged Randolph with domestic terrorism, but the district attorney's office filed the charge as transmitting false report of fire. Randolph also pleaded guilty to reckless conduct, unlawful conduct during a 911 call, false report of a crime and false information to a law enforcement officer. Randolph previously signed an agreement to enter the mental health treatment court in December but withdrew from the program in February after being sanctioned, according to court documents. Randolph was ordered to complete an intensive outpatient mental health treatment program and follow recommended treatments. She must take prescribed medications and remain on the mental health caseload for probation, where she will also be subject to random drug screens. Defense attorney Kyle Denslow did not return a request for comment. Randolph ‘I wanted to fly’ Photos by Scott Rogers The Times WWII veteran Norris Jarrett recalls his service Friday, March 8, flying in combat in Italy, and France in a Martin B-26 Marauder from his Oakwood residence. In April, Jarrett will turn 100 years old. Norris Jarrett has spent nearly a century on this planet, but there were many days nearly 80 years ago when he feared his life would be cut short. And he has two Purple Hearts to prove it. “I was scared as hell, just like everybody else,” said the 99-year-old Oakwood resident, describing his days aboard a bomber flying missions in World War II. “But it's all in the game. The young can take it. Older people couldn't, I'm sure.” Decades removed from combat, Jarrett occupies a room at Cedarhurst Senior Living in Oakwood. It's a room filled with memories of a lifetime, including framed family pictures on a shelf and ball caps on his microwave. And of course, there are military reminders — a frame containing his many medals, a blanket depicting the U.S. Air Force and an artist's sketch of his wartime plane, the Martin B-26 Marauder. Jarrett held one of the most vulnerable jobs, turret gunner, on the bomber. Armed with .250-caliber machine guns, he would get into position at the rear of the plane just as the bomber was nearing targets. “We took plenty of (enemy fire),” he told The Times in a recent interview, recalling injuries to his back, leg and face. ‘All my hair got burned off. I didn't think I'd have any more A framed print of a Martin B-26 Marauder hangs in WWII veteran Norris Jarrett’s Oakwood residence. hair, but it came back.” Jarrett ended up flying 51 missions over North Africa, France, Italy and Germany. As terrifying as that job may seem to many, it was just what Jarrett was aiming for as a youth in Salisbury, N.C. “I was 16 when the war started,” Jarrett said. “I went to volunteer, but my dad wouldn't sign for me because he had two sons in the service.” His goal was to join the Army Air Corps, predecessor to the Air Force. “I wanted to fly,” Jarrett said. After he turned 18, Uncle Sam wanted him. He originally was sent for field infantry training, but In April, WWII veteran Norris Jarrett will turn 100 See Veteran 13A years old. WWII vet about to turn 100 recalls life, war BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com Lee Arrendale prison officer charged with violating oath BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A Lee Arrendale State Prison officer was accused of trading a cellphone and Newport ciga rettes with an inmate for money, according to authorities. Katlyn Rochell Harwell, 26, of Martin, was charged with violation of oath of office and two counts each of possession of prohibited items by a state inmate and trading with an inmate without consent of the warden. Harwell was arrested Wednesday, March 13, and booked in to the Habersham County Detention Cen ter. She was released two days later on a $16,600 bond. According to the warrant information provided by Habersham County spokesman Rob Moore, Harwell entered the prison between Jan. 1 and March 12 with a cellphone and an “undisclosed quantity of Newport cigarettes.” Harwell “directly provided them to an offender in custody in exchange for money,” according to Moore. The Times has reached out to the Georgia Depart ment of Corrections for further information on Harwell's employment. Harwell Photo by Hall County Schools World Language Academy second grader Ava Hernandez raised money from local donors and delivered Dr. Seuss books to all 118 second graders at her school. Second grader Ava Hernandez raises money to buy others books BY BEN ANDERSON banderson@gainesvilletimes.com World Language Academy second grader Ava Hernandez wanted to buy books for all her class mates, so she started her own business called Miss Book Buddies. Ava raised money from local donors and deliv ered Dr. Seuss books to all 118 second graders at her school earlier this month. See Books 13A
