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Honestly Local
Man sentenced for ramming patrol vehicle
BY NICK WATSON
nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com
A Cornelia man was sentenced
after a Hall County chase where he
was accused of ramming into the
driver's side door of a patrol vehi
cle, according to court documents.
Russell Ray Hutchens, 52,
pleaded guilty March 19 to felony
fleeing and eluding among other
charges. Superior Court Judge
Kathlene Gos-
selin sentenced
Hutchens to 11
years with the
first 12 months in
confinement.
G o s s e 1 i n
granted Hutchens
credit for time
served since Aug.
30, and the remainder of the sen
tence may be served on probation.
The jail listed his expected release
date as Aug. 29.
The case started Aug. 6 after
Hall County Sheriff's Office Hall
County deputies were looking
for an SUV driving erratically on
1-985, reportedly swerving across
the roadway, according to the Sher
iff's Office.
Hutchens was stopped and ques
tioned by a deputy at the BP gas
station near White Sulphur Road.
“When Hutchens could not
provide a driver's license for the
deputy, he was asked to exit his
vehicle, but instead he sped away
from the scene,” the Sheriff's
Office said at the time of Hutch
ens' arrest.
Two deputies chased Hutchens
in his Ford Edge, with one of them
pulling in front of the Cornelia man
to slow him down.
The Sheriff's Office said Hutch
ens “accelerated and steered into
the path of the patrol vehicle, hit
ting the driver's side door.”
“At that point, Hutchens lost
control of his vehicle and crashed
into the woodline near Whitehall
Road,” according to the Sheriff's
Office. “He was ejected from his
SUV and was transported to the
hospital to be treated for injuries.”
See Hutchens 13A
Hutchens
Ready for the road ahead
Photos by Scott Rogers The Times
Duncan Auto Care owner Wesley Duncan shows Lanier College Career Academy students basic car maintenance
skills Friday, March 29, as students prepare for life after high school during Life Ready Day at the school.
Sandra Deal
Elem. to add
inclusive
playground
BY BEN ANDERSON
banderson@gainesvilletimes.com
When Sandra Dunagan Deal Elementary
opens in August, it will become the second
school in Hall County to have an inclusive play
ground catering to children with disabilities.
Earlier this year, Wauka Mountain Multiple
Intelligences Academy unveiled the school
district's first inclusive playground.
Both projects have been spearheaded by
Hope for Hall, a nonprofit organization that
strives to “normalize disability through play,
education, and technology.”
The organization was founded by Caroline
Filchak, whose daughter, Hope, has a rare
genetic neurodevelopmental disorder called
Microphthalmia with Linear Skin Defects
Syndrome. The syndrome has caused Hope to
be deaf and blind, and she has defects in her
See Playground 13A
LCCA students prep for life with skill-building event
Students of Lanier College Career Academy learn how to
grow a food supply from English teacher and farmer
Connie Henderson during Life Ready Day.
Lanier College Career Academy sophomore Anna Burg
tries her hand at drywall repair Friday, March 29, with
help from home builder Rodney Presley during the skill
building event.
North Hall Middle
names new principal
BY BEN ANDERSON
banderson@gainesvilletimes.com
North Hall Middle School has a new
principal.
David Wagner, who is currently the assistant
principal and athletic director at West Hall High
School, will assume his new role at the end of
the school year in May.
He replaces Principal Kris
tin Finley, who is retiring.
In a news release from the
school district Friday, March
29, Wagner thanked Superin
tendent Will Schofield and the
school board “for this amazing
opportunity.”
“My family and myself are
beyond excited that I will be entrusted to be the
next principal at North Hall Middle School,” he
said.
Wagner
See Wagner 13A
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