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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Banks vs. Bagley for District 2 in Walton County

Mark Banks has announced that he will run against incumbent Chuck Bagley for the District 2 seat on the Walton BOC.

According to a report from the Walton Tribune, Mark Banks has announced his intention to challenge Chuck Bagley for the District 2 seat on the Walton County Board of Commissioners. Banks is a former member of the Walton County Board of Education and the Walton County Tax Assessor Board. Earlier this year Banks left his position on the board of education to run for the District 107 seat on the state house of representatives, a race he eventually lost to Paul Smith and winner Tom Kirby. The Walton County Tribune reports that Banks states his primary focus will be dealing with the budget. In a quote on the Tribune, Banks states, “The budget is always the biggest hurdle. I know they’re dipping into their reserves and we have to stop that. It’s…

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Sharon Swanepoel

4:21 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Bonnie, here is a link to a piece written by Vanessa Hall Green on Mark Banks when he was running for District 106. It provides a little background. Qualifying for the primaries is next week so there will be much more between then and the July 31 Primary. Here's the link in the meantime http://loganville.patch.com/blog_posts/banks-common-sense-and-business-experience   more ›

Monday, May 14, 2012

Loganville/Grayson Restaurant Inspections - See who got an A, a B or a C

A look at the most recent restaurant inspections for Loganville and Grayson restaurants by the East Metro Health and Northeast Health districts.

The East Metro Health District and Northeast Health Districts are tasked with ensuring restaurant compliance with applicable health and safety regulations. Restaurants in Loganville fall in one of these districts depending on the county in which they are located. Restaurants in Grayson fall under the East Metro Health District. The following restaurant scores are the most recent scores available for local restaurants from both of these districts as at May 14, 2012. Click on the score to get the full report. East Metro Health District - Gwinnett County American Deli, 1911 Grayson Highway, Suite 17, Grayson Date:    5/10/2012 Score:    74    C Golden Capital Asian Kitchen, 2445 Moon Road, Suite 6, Grayson Date:    5/9/2010   -   Preliminary …

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Life Uninterrupted: Georgia Perimeter College Student Graduates from Afghanistan

A soldier from Lawrenceville, Ga., didn’t let active military service stop her from getting her college degree. The 22-year-old student graduated with her Georgia Perimeter College classmates Friday – only she did it from Afghanistan.

There was hardly a dry eye in the room at Georgia Perimeter College commencement exercises for the Class of 2012 on Friday, May 4, as one very special diploma was awarded. US Army Spc. Andrea Muresan, 22, was Skyped in from Afghanistan for the occasion. Her brother, Jason Alfaro, accepted the diploma on his sister’s behalf. Although her family had been advised GPC was going to try and set up the technology to Skype the Lawrenceville soldier in from her base in Afghanistan, they were warned it might not work. “There are no guarantees with Skype,” said Susan Gast, GPC Associate Director for Publications. “They knew we were going to try, and we had tested it ahead of time, but you never know if it’s going to work.” But work it did, and those …

Friday, May 11, 2012

Construction to Begin on Beverage SuperStore in Grayson

As Loganville begins the process of bringing a retail beverage store to the city, construction is set to begin on the one in Grayson

As Loganville begins the process of bringing a package store to the city, Grayson is a whole year ahead in the process and expects to have Beverage SuperStore of Grayson open in the fall. Richard Tucker, the successful aplicant for the one license issued in Grayson, said land has been cleared and construction will soon begin. “The first phase of demolition and land clearing was a great success,” Tucker said in a press release. “We are on track to begin construction and are expected to have the store open mid October 2012. Feedback from the community has been very positive. Our potential customers are excited to see that Beverage SuperStore is coming to Grayson. Our reputation for 16 years in Suwanee is unsurpassed. We offer great customer …

Aly Morrison

11:11 am on Friday, May 11, 2012

Where will the store be located in Grayson?   more ›

Loganville Councilman Called Back Into Active Service

Loganville City Councilman Rey Martinez, a member of the U.S. Navy Reserves, has been called back into active service.

It was after his last active service in the Middle East that Loganville City Councilman Rey Martinez ran for, and won, a seat on the Loganville City Council. At the time, he said he didn’t expect to be returned to active service. However, he acknowledged that as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserves, it was always a possibility. It is no longer just a possibility. Martinez has received his redeployment papers. After serving 18 months of a three-year term, Martinez will ship out again in September for a six-month tour of active duty in the Middle East. “But I will be back in April, in time to run for re-election,” he said. Martinez, a Cuban immigrant, is also the owner of Rey’s Cuban Café. He had opened Rey’s Cuban Grill prior to his last tour…

Dave Emanuel

10:29 am on Friday, May 11, 2012

Rey has proven to be as big an asset to the City of Loganville as he is to our country. Hopefully, his restaurant will remain open in his absence, but if that isn't possible, I'm sure he'll find a new location when he returns.   more ›

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Rep. John Lewis Confronts Rep. Paul Broun Over Voting Rights Act

A YouTube Video posted by Democrats from the House Ways and Means Committee captures part of the exchange.

A YouTube video shows part of an exchange between Georgia's 10th District U.S. Rep. Paul Broun and 5th District Rep. John Lewis. Lewis confronts Broun over an amendment Broun proposed that would would eliminate funding for Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires federal oversight of voting laws in Georgia and several other states. Broun -- who under new District 10 boundaries will represent much of Northeast Georgia, including most of Athens-Clarke County; all of Oconee, Walton and Barrow; and part of Gwinnett -- is shown withdrawing the amendment after Lewis' remarks. Should the state of Georgia still be subject to the Voting Rights Act? Tell us in the comments.

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Ryan Smith

12:16 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2012

Count, Regarding the commissioner, as I recall he ran unopposed in his primary and against a Democrat in the general -- and in that particular county, Democrats were the one group less likely to get elected than Yankees. In the next election, the local GOP made darn sure to throw its weight behind a primary challenger, who then ran unopposed in the general. As far as the VRA goes, considering …   more ›

Loganville Residents to Weigh in on Package Store Issue

As had been the case last summer in Grayson, Loganville citizens begin mobilizing to get a package store referendum on the ballot in November.

Following on the tail of the recent Sunday alcohol sales passage in Georgia and many local communities, residents in the city of Loganville are beginning to campaign to take a related issue to the people of the city.  Loganville Citizens for Choice claim to be “a citizen’s group looking to keep the issue of package sales in the city out of the hands of bureaucrats, and make sure that residents, both for and against, have an opportunity to have their voice heard on the matter.” Beginning with a petition signature campaign, the group hopes to bring the issue to the city of Loganville for the November ballot. Mayor Ray Nunley said the city is now proposing only one package store license in the city, not two as originally considered. …

Monday, May 7, 2012

2nd Public Hearing on Loganville Budget at 6:30 p.m. Monday

The second of two budget public hearings will precede the Loganville City Council Work Session on May 7.

The city of Loganville will have the second of two budget public hearings at 6:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall.  At the first meeting on May 4, the City Council noted that the $7.76 million fiscal year 2013 budget was down by a little more than 2 percent over last year. “This is a very lean budget and I’d like to commend the department heads and City Manager Bill Jones,” said Mayor Ray Nunley.  “It’s a lean budget and I expect it to get leaner - property values is where it stems from – that is where our problem is. All of these things are attached to the economy. While we are watching this happen, our expense - gas, chemicals everything we buy is increasing.” The council disclosed that this was done without having to raise taxes and without …

S.R. 20 Road Construction Set to Pick Back Up as Contractor Racks Up Fines

Construction on S.R. 20 between Loganville and Grayson is set to pick back up Monday with $144,110 in fines already incurred by the contractor for running over the projected completion date.

Work on the S.R. 20 between Loganville and Grayson is expected to pick back up Monday, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation. This is after weeks of very little work going on and the contractor being fined for each day the construction goes over the projected completion date. "The Contractor is being fined and will continue to be fined because the project’s completion date was Dec 31, 2011," said Teri Pope, spokesman for GDOT. "They’ve been fined daily and the cumulative fine total as of April is $144,110." Pope said there is a sign by the contractor, Gary's Grading and Pipline, Inc., noting that work on the project will begin again on Monday, May 7. Gwinnett County District 2 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau, however, is …

U.B.in Gwinnett

11:50 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012

Email Beaudrea too. He just received a nice $1000 campaign donation from Gary's. Maybe Mike can put some spark under their butts.   more ›

Sunday, May 6, 2012

In Pictures: Snellville Days 2012

Lots of fun and lots of sun for those attending Snellville Days on opening day.

The opening day of the 39th annual Snellville Days parade and festival brought a steady stream of people to both downtown and Briscoe Park. Patch was there to capture some of the actions in photo and video on May 5, 2012. This year's theme is "Proud to Be..." To see video of the parade, click here. The fun continues on Sunday, May 6, as the festival moves into its second day. Be sure to catch the dozens of vendors, including businesses, arts and crafts and local nonprofits today, in addition to the special kiddie field and entertainment stages. Event organizers estimate that upwards of 25,000 to 30,000 people attend the two-day event. The festival goes on today noon to 5 p.m. at Briscoe Park, off Lenora Church Road.

Bobby Howard

8:18 am on Monday, May 7, 2012

The GRAND OPENING (pardon the Pun) of the mobile stage is much like the numerous GRAND Opening’s we have had here in Snellville over the past 2 years…..Academy Sports, Olive Garden, Eastside Medical ER Dept. , McDonalds, Del Taco, Verizon Wireless, NTB Tire Store, Radiology Associates and so many more. Great things continue to happen in Snellville and plenty more to come. Thanks to Mayor Pro Tem …   more ›

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