About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2024)
LOCAL/NATION The Times, Gainesville, Georgia I gainesvilletimes.com Weekend Edition-March 22-23, 2024 3A Fire damages Lula home BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Roughly half of a Lula home was destroyed after a fire Wednesday, March 20, according to authorities. Hall County firefighters responded around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to a fire in the 6200 block of Lula Road, knocking down the blaze quickly while working to battle the flames extending into the attic. Hall County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Kimberlie Ledsinger said roughly 50 percent of the home was a loss, and the American Red Cross was notified to assist the owners. Two people were evaluated at the scene but were not transported to a hospital. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hall County Fire Marshal's Office. Provided by Hall County Fire Rescue Roughly half of a Lula home was destroyed after a fire Wednesday, March 20, according to authorities. Mega Millions jackpot hits $977M BY SCOTT MCFETRIDGE Associated Press The winning numbers for a nearly $1 billion Mega Millions lottery prize will be drawn Friday night, offering sudden riches to any lucky player who matches them and almost certain disap pointment for everyone else. Since three months have passed without a winner, the Mega Millions jackpot has grown to an estimated $977 million. That large prize reflects the incredibly long odds of winning the jack pot, as the longer the stretch without a winner, the more the prize grows. The jackpot ranks as the 10th largest in U.S. lottery history — about half the size of a record $2.04 bil lion Powerball prize won in November 2022. Players can buy tickets for $2 and select six num bers from separate pools. Five of the selections come from one pool, with dif ferent numbers from 1 to 70, and the other is for the Mega Ball, with numbers from 1 to 25. Some states also give players the option of paying more for different options that increase payouts or give people extra sets of numbers. People can pick their own numbers — and some play the same numbers each time — but most players opt for the quick pick option, which lets a computer generate ran dom numbers. Mega Millions holds drawings twice a week, at 11 p.m. EDT on Tues day and Fridays, telecast from a television studio in Atlanta. The numbers are also quickly posted on the game's website. Bill pushed to hold immigrants that are linked to violent crimes BY STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press WASHINGTON — A bill from group of Democratic and independent senators would let the federal govern ment request a court order that local authorities hold immigrants — with permanent legal status or without — who are charged with or convicted of violent crimes until they can be transferred to federal custody for deportation proceedings. The bill Thursday by six Democrats and allied inde pendents reflects a willingness by Democrats to focus on immigration enforcement policy during an election year in which immigration is expected to be a leading issue. Seizing on the recent killing of nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia, Republicans have called attention to crimes committed by immigrants without permanent legal status. Earlier this month the GOP-controlled House passed legislation, named the “Laken Riley Act,” that would require federal authorities to detain such immi grants who have been accused of theft. Sponsoring the measure are Democratic Sens. Sher rod Brown of Ohio, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Chris Murphy of Connecticut, as well as independent Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Angus King of Maine. Brown, Baldwin and Casey are facing tough reelection races. Baldwin, in a statement, spoke of ensuring that “law enforcement has the tools they need to do their jobs.” Since Republicans rejected a bipartisan proposal to overhaul the U.S. asylum system, Democrats have taken a more aggressive stance on immigration policy. They are pitching to voters that they are willing to tighten immigra tion laws, but with an approach that preserves civil rights for immigrants. In the House, some Democrats have also formed a group focused on border security. Man charged with child molestation, public indecency BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gamesvilletimes.com Editor’s note: This published in a previous E-Paper edition and is being provided here for print-only readers. A Gainesville man was charged with child molestation after police said he masturbated Friday, March 15, in front of children inside an Oakwood Burger King. Isaiah Devin Martinez, 20, was also charged with public indecency. He was booked in to the Hall County Jail, where he remains with no bond. Oakwood Police officers responded around 4:35 p.m. Friday to the Mundy Mill Road Burger King regarding a man masturbating at the restaurant. Officers stopped the suspect, later identified as Martinez, walking behind the burger chain and detained him. “Several customers, to include children, observed Mr. Martinez expose his penis and start masturbating in front of them,” Sgt. Stewart Webb wrote in an email. The warrant stated Martinez pulled his penis out of his pants and masturbated “while in the public dining area” of the restaurant. Because the act happened in the presence of a child, police charged him with child molestation. Webb clarified that no children were assaulted. Arrest records show Martinez had been released two days prior from the jail. “Additionally, Mr. Martinez had an active arrest warrant through the Hall County Sheriff's Office for unrelated Drug Court violations,” Webb wrote in an email. Webb said Martinez is currently homeless. Martinez told Magistrate Court officials he intended to hire his own attorney. FROM 1A Boat show The Lake Lanier Boat Show opens Friday, March 22, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. On Saturday, March 23, it is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, March 24. Tickets are $15 per person and are available online and at the gate. Tickets for children 10 and under are $8 at the gate only. Concessions and adult bever ages will be sold throughout the event. For more information and a detailed schedule, visit https://lakelanier- boatshow.com/ Photo provided by Lake Lanier Boat Show The Spring 2024 Lake Lanier Boat Show will begin Friday, March 22, at the docks of Margaritaville at Lanier Islands. NURSERY If you have spring fever, we have the cure! Shop north Georgia’s largest retail nursery. We grow thousands of varieties of plants from the common landscape plants to unusual plants not found in ordinary garden centers. 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