The Sports Pig

An ethics panel will investigate whether Gwinnett County Commissioner Kirkland Carden violated the county's ethics policy by serving as a strategist for a candidate's failed bid for a legislative seat last year. The complaint was filed by Laurie McClain, who lost to Carden in the 2020 general election race for Commission District 1. She alleges that Carden's role as a campaign consultant for Om Duggal's campaign violated the county's ethics policy, which prohibits officials from taking on employment or rendering services that limit their ability to be impartial in their official duties. This is only the third time since the policy's inception that a commissioner will face an ethics panel.

Georgia Gwinnett College is seeking permission from the University System of Georgia to expand its athletic department and add men's and women's basketball programs. GGC's President, Jann L. Joseph, confirmed the news after the groundbreaking for a new convocation center that will include a basketball arena. The first step in launching the teams is to file paperwork with the university system, and if approved, the teams would compete in the NAIA like GGC's other athletic programs. GGC's athletic department currently offers six athletic programs, including men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis, baseball, and softball programs.

Fourth-year medical students at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee and Moultrie have achieved a 100% completion rate into postgraduate positions, according to Tina Woodruff, senior advisor to the provost. Residency placement lists indicate that since 2016, 34% of PCOM Georgia's students remain in Georgia to complete their residencies. Andrea Mann, dean and chief academic officer of PCOM Georgia’s osteopathic medicine program, said that almost three quarters of the fourth-year students will pursue careers in Georgia’s targeted core specialty areas. Students were matched with programs at prestigious institutions such as Emory School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine.

The Gwinnett County Public Library's New Start Entrepreneurship Incubator program has awarded $5,000 grants to three graduates for their business pitches. The program provides business education for formerly incarcerated individuals, including in-person classes, online coursework, and mentorship. Bridgette Simpson, co-founder of Barred Business, won $2,500 for the Outstanding Business Pitch, Dewy Ventura Joa, owner of CholoMMA, received $1,500 for second place, and Mia Jacobs, founder of DeCCRO, won $1,000 for third place. The program aims to support the re-entry population, which in Georgia is disproportionately made up of people of color and minority populations.

GDP’s Will Hammock joins us for our Gwinnett Sports update presented by Tom Wages Funeral Home.

Putt Nation, a high-end miniature golf course and restaurant combo, has opened in Buford, promising to "take miniature golf to the next level." With two nine-hole courses featuring custom lighting, sound effects, obstacles, and video challenges, the course aims to offer an immersive experience for all ages. The facility also has a self-serve tap wall offering a wide selection of beer, wine, and cocktails for visitors to try without committing to a full serving. Putt Nation is open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. on weekends, accommodating group events and parties for team building and birthday celebrations.

The Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation has received an Innovative Education Fund Prototype Grant from the Georgia Foundation for Public Education to support math tutoring for elementary school students in need of targeted support. The $20,000 grant will fund an innovative education program piloted at Alford Elementary School in Gwinnett County, where professional development for tutors and collaboration with teachers and administrators have been deemed essential components of the program. Dr. Amber Ebert, assistant professor in science education and department chair of Secondary Education for Georgia Gwinnett College, collaborated with GGC’s Advancement team to write the proposal for the grant.

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If the groundbreaking for a new convocation center that will include a basketball arena wasn’t enough of a clue, Georgia Gwinnett College President Jann L. Joseph confirmed it after the ceremony.

GGC is seeking the University System of Georgia’s permission to expand its athletic department and add men’s and women’s basketball programs. The first steps in launching teams is to file paperwork with the university system.

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Former Atlanta Hawks player, Brandon Goodwin, was arrested on April 5 for speeding and reckless driving in Duluth. According to a police report, Goodwin was driving more than 100 mph in a 45 mph zone. A police officer used LIDAR to confirm Goodwin was traveling at 113 mph at one point. Goodwin, who played guard for the Hawks during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons and for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, was released on bond the same day. Goodwin led Norcross High School to a state championship in basketball during the 2012-13 season, earning him the Daily Post Player of the Year award.

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating an accident involving a Gwinnett County police officer which resulted in the death of a Lawrenceville man in unincorporated Norcross over the weekend.

Police said Ramon Perez , was walking on Brook Hollow Parkway, near Mitchell Road, at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday when a West Precinct officer came down Brook Hollow in his vehicle and hit Perez. Following the collision, the officer immediately began to render aid. The pedestrian later died as a result of his injuries. Georgia State Patrol was requested to investigate the collision. The GCPD Accident Investigation Unit responded to assist. Gwinnett Police have not released the officer's name, but they did say he sustained a minor injury in the accident.

Gwinnett County police are seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect who robbed a gas station near Norcross on February 13. According to Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle, the suspect demanded money from the cashier and displayed a silver and black handgun. When the cashier began to comply, a scuffle broke out, and the suspect fled the scene with cash in hand. The victim described the suspect as wearing a black hoodie, dark ski mask, blue latex gloves, blue socks, and dark sandals. Police have obtained security camera footage but need help identifying the suspect. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact detectives or Crime Stoppers.

The Gwinnett Stripers are hosting their first six-game homestand of the season from this week, featuring a series against the Memphis Redbirds. The homestand started with an Education Day on Tuesday and continued with Faith & Family Night on Friday, and a giveaway of Atlanta Black Crackers T-Shirt on Saturday as part of Jackie Robinson Day festivities. The Atlanta Black Crackers were a professional baseball team of black players in early to mid-20th century, before Jackie Robinson broke the MLB’s color barrier. Baseball teams across the Majors and Minors will celebrate Robinson’s legacy this weekend. All Major League players will even wear his famed number 42, which has been retired throughout the MLB. Other Special promotions at CoolRay Field include Wet Nose Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, and Sunday Funday. Single-game tickets are available for purchase on GoStripers.com/tickets.

An area quarterback has committed to the Furman Paladins. 

 The Duluth food pantry in Georgia has received funding and food donations from two organizations, the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Humanity First USA. After two years of support from the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Humanity First USA has provided funding to help the food pantry acquire a warehouse and support approximately 100 families per month. The food pantry operates on an appointment-based system, and the Duluth volunteers have served over 25,000 individuals in their drive-through operation. The pantry is planning to work with the Atlanta Community Food Bank again in the near future.

Burnette Elementary School in Suwanee, Georgia has been chosen as one of seven schools to receive a School Crashers grant from the Georgia United Foundation, in partnership with Georgia United Credit Union. School Crashers is a community service program that offers accredited K-12 schools in Georgia the opportunity to apply for a school facility makeover. The program aims to improve the learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. Burnette Elementary was chosen after submitting an application, which included a photograph and an essay explaining why their school should receive a makeover. The improvements to be made include a sensory room to help students with various learning disabilities. The School Crashers program has positively impacted 43,666 children in 63 schools in the past nine years, with improvements valued at more than $1.8 million.

And now, Lia McGrath from Ingles Markets joins the show to answer our questions about Fasting.

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Fred Cephas, the new fire chief of Gwinnett County, Georgia, recalls his doubts about whether firefighting was the right career for him after watching events unfold on September 11, 2001. Cephas, who had recently joined the fire department, said watching public safety personnel rush into the burning towers and realising that he was now part of that community was a shock. Despite his initial concerns, Cephas stayed the course and has spent the past 22 years serving the department, working in various areas, including strategic planning, operations, and as a licensed polygraphist. He became Gwinnett's first black fire chief on April 1, 2023, and intends to make the department employee-focused and community-centered.

A man named Bee Moua was hit by a vehicle and left in critical condition on March 27th in Dacula, Georgia. Gwinnett County police are seeking help from the public to find the driver who fled the scene after hitting Moua. According to the police report, Moua was walking along Kilcrease Road when he was hit, and police believe a Hyundai Santa Fe was involved in the incident. Parts of the vehicle were found, and investigators are asking anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.

Plans for a proposed mixed-use development on the former Olympic tennis center site in Gwinnett County, Georgia, include a large warehouse grocery store, apartments, and several restaurants, one of which may be a Whataburger. The 31.1-acre development would also feature a multi-use path, a water feature, and several monument-style signs. County officials have recommended the plan for approval, and an informational meeting for residents will take place on April 13. The county is requesting the property be rezoned from commercial only to mixed-use residential zoning, with the final decision to be made by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners after review by the Planning Commission.

Buford head baseball coach Stuart Chester achieved his 700th win milestone in the Battle For Bartow tournament against Etowah. Chester is the sixth high school baseball coach in Georgia to reach this accomplishment. Despite his achievement, he says it's just a number and focuses on the impact he has made on his players and the coaches he's worked with. Chester spent most of his career coaching at Cartersville before becoming Buford's head coach in 2018. He has enjoyed coaching at Buford and doesn't plan to retire soon. The milestone win was aided by a brilliant pitching performance from Damien Brown, who pitched a shutout and recorded 14 strikeouts. Sophomore Cannon Goldin manufactured the only run of the game, leading Buford to a 1-0 victory.

 Gwinnett County NAACP President Penny Poole is calling for a re-evaluation of the county's efforts to create a historical park in the Promised Land community, where plans for the re-creation of slave quarters are part of the project. Poole's call comes after the county commissioners canceled a scheduled vote to use eminent domain to take properties from the Livsey family, who have owned the land for over a century. The Promised Land matter has put a spotlight on how members of the Black community feel their history has been treated in Gwinnett County, with conflicting opinions on how the county should approach the issue. Commissioner Kirkland Carden believes the park would be an opportunity to preserve some of Gwinnett's Black community history.

Georgia’s Jenny Bae was named the SEC Golfer of the Week on Wednesday, four days after the Collins Hill grad's runner-up finish at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. 

Bae, a 5-3, super senior from Suwanee, shot 9-under 207 over three rounds and was tied atop the leaderboard before falling on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at the ANWA. 

Bae put together a record-setting performance in Augusta. She broke the ANWA tournament record for birdies with 16 and tied the ANWA first-round record for birdies with seven. In addition, Bae posted the second-best 54-hole score in tournament history. Bae is currently ranked No. 2 and No. 5 collegiately by Golfstat and Golfweek, respectively. She ascended eight spots to No. 20 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings following her performance in Augusta. 

The accolade is Bae’s fifth weekly honor from the SEC during her career. Last fall, she was received Golfer of the Week recognition twice.

And now, Liam Gotimer of the Atlanta Gladiators joins us for our Glads update!

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A Dacula man is in critical condition after a vehicle hit him and fled the scene last month, and Gwinnett County police are asking for the public’s help to find the driver.

Bee Moua, 33, was walking along Kilcrease Road in Dacula when the vehicle hit him and knocked him into a ditch near Silver Oak Drive on March 27. Police were called to the scene at 8:45 a.m. and they are unsure how long Moua had been out there. A police report states one of his shoes was found about 50 feet away from where he was found.

Moua was taken to Northside Hospital Gwinnett in Lawrenceville to be treated for his injuries.

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The Aurora Theatre's Season 28 Signature Series will showcase an array of Broadway-caliber musicals, thought-provoking plays, and timeless holiday magic. This season marks the first time in the venue's history that every show will be led by a woman. The series will feature "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," "Christmas Canteen," "Knead," "Greener Pastures," and "Sister Act." The Aurora Theatre will continue to host hundreds of arts, entertainment, educational, and community events throughout the year that cater to audiences of diverse ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles. Tickets for all shows can be purchased through auroratheatre.com or by calling the Box Office.

Georgia Gwinnett College's School of Education has launched an online Autism Endorsement Program for licensed teachers and certified professionals. The program aims to improve the knowledge of professionals in teaching students with autism spectrum disorders. The program includes nine hours of training delivered online, and it is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. GGC introduced the program due to the rapid increase of students with autism in Gwinnett County K-12 schools, with an increase of about 1,400 students from 2013 to 2020, according to school systems data. Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Science in special education will earn a special education teaching license and autism endorsement.

Mill Creek junior Aidan Banfield committed Tuesday to the University of North Carolina football program.

The 6-foot-3, 285-pounder was named Offensive Lineman of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Gwinnett last season after helping the Hawks to the Class AAAAAAA state championship. He was a first-team all-county and All-Region 8-AAAAAAA selection, and earned all-county and all-region honors as a sophomore. He also has been an all-state selection the past two seasons.

Banfield, who maintains a 4.0 GPA, had offers from a number of Power Five programs, including Georgia Tech, Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Vanderbilt and North Carolina State.

The Georgia United Foundation has awarded scholarships totaling $25,000 to six high school seniors who plan to attend college or technical school in 2023-24. Among the winners are Akili Smith of Parkview High School and Myra Ehrenberg of Ehrenberg Family Home School. The scholarship program is designed to encourage creativity and community engagement among higher education-bound students through video submissions. Georgia United's CEO Debbie Smith said the scholarship initiative has helped distribute $363,000 to 247 scholars during its 29-year history.

 Dillon Bennett broke the Parkview boys soccer program’s record for career assists Thursday in the Panthers’ 5-1 win at Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Bennett had a goal and two assists, which moved him past the previous school record of 32 assists, held by Blake Brettschneider, a former standout at South Carolina who played pro soccer for six years, two in MLS.

John Charlton, Simon McDonald, Brian Beltran-Perez and Carlos Garcia  also contributed in the victory for Parkview.

Seckinger High School in Georgia won its first-ever state championship at the GHSA Class AAAA State Literary Championships in Warner Robins. Three members of the school's literary team – Grace Kang, Phoebe Yoon, and Kaylee Oh – tied for first place with a team from Heritage-Catoosa in the Trio singing competition. The Seckinger trio sang "Hotato Koy" by Ro Ogura and "Song of Miriam" by Elaine Hagenberg to secure the win. The school, which opened its doors only last August, finished 15th overall among 24 teams in Class AAAA. Greater Atlanta Christian and Buford, both located in Gwinnett, also won top spots in their categories.

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Seckinger has won a championship in its first year as a school; An area lineman committed to UNC; And GGC has begun an Austism Endorsement program. 

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A Gwinnett County Sheriff's deputy has been placed on administrative leave and is expected to be fired after he was involved in an accident while driving under the influence, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Gwinnett County Sheriffs Office said Master Deputy Sheriff Walter Pollock was on duty when the accident occurred. The Georgia State Patrol arrested Pollock and charged him with driving under the influence, failure to maintain lane and striking a fixed object. The GSP is continuing to investigate the accident.

No one was injured during the accident, according to the Sheriffs Office.

13-year-old Karam Alkhatib won the Best Film Overall award at the Gwinnett County Public Library’s Student Film Festival with his stop-motion animation film "The Airforce's". Alkhatib, a student at Osborne Middle School in Hoschton, was inspired to take up the hobby during the COVID pandemic, and taught himself through online tutorials. His mother Sue praised his determination and hard work, and Alkhatib plans to use his $500 prize to create more films with bigger sets and longer storylines.

Liam Gottimer, the voice of the Atlanta Gladiators joins us for our Glads update. 

Gwinnett County officials plan to use eminent domain to acquire two adjacent pieces of land next to the Maguire-Livsey House, a historic property in the Promised Land community that was acquired by the county six-and-a-half years ago with plans to turn it into a historical park. The Livsey family, who gave the county the house, has accused officials of lowballing them on a price to pay for the land and of trying to negotiate with Thomas Livsey, the 93-year-old unofficial "Mayor of the Promised Land," while his health was in decline. Family members see the move as an attempt to take the land from a Black family rather than paying a fair price. The fight over the land carries racial undertones.
Supporters of the family also said they are dismayed by the county's actions. Former state legislator Donna McLeod said she's disappointed in the county's Black leaders who broke color barriers when they came into their respective offices between 2018 and 2020.

GDP Sports editor Will Hammock drops in for our Gwinnett Sports update presented by Tom Wages funeral home.

Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services is inviting residents to participate in its nine-week Citizen’s Fire Academy, beginning on April 19. Participants will learn about the fire and emergency service with both English and Spanish-speaking instructors. The program offers a behind-the-scenes look at fire department operations, including specialty teams such as Swiftwater Rescue, Technical Rescue, Hazardous Materials Team, and Mass Casualty response capabilities. Participants may also complete a ride-along with a station of their choice. The program is open to all, regardless of physical limitations or fears of heights or the dark. Applications are due by April 17.

Two Gwinnett County schools, Berkmar High and Maxwell High School of Technology, have earned top state honors in the Georgia ProStart State Invitational, a high school program that teaches culinary techniques and management skills in an industry-driven curriculum. Berkmar’s culinary team won the culinary arts division, while Maxwell’s culinary management team placed first in the restaurant management division. Both schools will represent Gwinnett County in the Premier National High School Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management Competition in Washington, D.C. More than 400 students will take part in the three-day national competition, which will feature opening ceremonies, two days of competition and an awards dinner. The top five teams from both divisions will earn scholarships to continue their restaurant or food-service education.

Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful’s Schelly Marlatt joins us to tell us about Earth Day and what all we can do to keep our county clean.

Thanks again for listening to today’s Gwinnett Daily Post podcast. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Kyle Wright pitched six innings in his first rehab start for Gwinnett as the Stripers fell 6-3 to the Norfolk Tides on Wednesday night at Harbor Park.

Ryan O’Hearn’s grand slam off Wright erased Gwinnett’s 2-1 lead in the third inning, lifting Norfolk (4-1) to the win.

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Former Gwinnett County police officer Michael Chapel, who was convicted of killing Emogene Thompson nearly three decades ago, has filed a petition asking a judge in southeast Georgia to consider if his constitutional rights were violated during his trial. Chapel and his supporters have long asserted his innocence and have alleged a conspiracy involving officials in Gwinnett. They claim that police and the Gwinnett District Attorney's Office withheld information, which they believe could have exonerated Chapel during his trial. The case has drawn attention from various groups over the years, with numerous appeals of his conviction filed, and a 10-part podcast called "In The Land of Lies" delving into the case.

A 17-year-old Gwinnett County resident has been arrested for a hit-and-run crash that left two women in their 70s critically injured. The incident occurred on April 1, when a passerby found the two pedestrians on Roxburgh Dr. and notified the police. Investigators were able to identify the driver, Gerardo Ordaz, and his white 1996 Honda Civic through license plate readers and evidence at the scene. Ordaz was arrested without incident later that day and charged with two counts of hit-and-run, two counts of serious injury by vehicle, driver failure to exercise due care, and driving while unlicensed. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information should contact the Roswell Police Department.

The new walking bridge that connects Duluth and Johns Creek in Georgia is expected to open to the public in May. The new bridge is a replica of the old 1911 Rogers Bridge and has been under construction for two years. Along with the bridge, there are parks projects underway on both sides of the river, and the opening of Duluth's Rogers Bridge Park Trailhead Building and a public art sculpture made from metal from the old Rogers Bridge is also expected to coincide with the opening of the new bridge. The new bridge will connect to the Rogers Bridge Trail on the northeast side of the river.

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