Gwinnett Daily Post | News for Saturday, May 28, 2011

Duluth recognizes local Purple Heart recipients

DULUTH -- It was a bloody season for Wayne Ballard.In early August 1966, a booby trap in Vietnam left shrapnel in his left leg. At the end of the month, it happened again.

Nash gives new hope to service delivery dispute

LAWRENCEVILLE -- Charlotte Nash knew it would happen.More than a decade ago, she warned legislators that a new law forcing county and city governments to establish formal service delivery strategies could bring trouble.

Charter school graduates 111 in inaugural ceremony

DULUTH -- For four years at Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology, best friends Arleen Nicius and Amara Nnakwe pushed each other through endless nights of late studying.

Georgia stays alive with win over Florida

HOOVER, Ala. -- Nolan Fontana drove in the go-ahead run on a groundout in the top of the ninth inning to lift Florida into the Southeastern Conference tournament championship game with a 3-2 win over Georgia on Saturday.

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Senators support Patriot Act

Just before coming home for the Memorial Day weekend, Georgia's senators voted in Washington to extend three key provisions of the Patriot Act, the post-Sept. 11 law intended to help law enforcement that has faced criticism, especially from Libertarians.

Fourth-grade class folds 1,000 paper cranes for ICU patient

LAWRENCEVILLE -- An ancient Japanese legend holds that if you fold 1,000 origami cranes, you will be granted a wish, specifically recovery from illness or injury.

Obama: Bolster Arab spring

WARSAW, Poland -- Holding out Poland's transformation to democracy as a model for the world, President Barack Obama on Saturday exhorted Western allies and the American public alike to extend their support, energy and vision to those now reaching for democracy in the Middle East and North Africa.

Hebron beats Providence for first state title

DACULA -- Hebron Christian Academy's climb to the top of the Class A baseball mountain finished in fine fashion Saturday afternoon as the Lions defeated Providence Christian Academy 6-5 and 6-3 to claim their first-ever state title. Photo slide show inside

Panthers falter in Game 2

LILBURN -- After a combined 17 innings, 34 runs and 43 hits -- including 10 home runs -- nothing is decided in the Class AAAAA state championship baseball series after Saturday's doubleheader at Hugh Buchanan Field. Photo slide show inside

Incoming freshmen named UGA Foundation Fellows

Two incoming freshmen from Gwinnett County have been selected to receive the Foundation Fellowship, the University of Georgia's premier undergraduate scholarship.

Buford battles back to force Game 3

Facing Pike County in the Class AA finals on Saturday night, Buford battled the Pirates to a split, dropping the opener 10-3 but finding its offensive stroke in the nightcap for a 14-4 win. Photo slide show inside

10 Suwanee cops honored

Ten Suwanee police officers were honored this week for their exemplary service to the city.

Haiti missions earn top nod for Barrow County firefighter

Exemplary compassion has translated to accolades for one globe-trotting Barrow County firefighter and EMT.

Environmental and Heritage Center celebrates 5 years

In the past five years, Gwinnett's Environmental and Heritage Center has brought a new green focus to the county.

NATION: Death toll for Joplin tornado rises to 142

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The numbers look increasingly bleak for families hoping for the best after a monster tornado that devastated the town of Joplin, as the city has raised the death toll to at least 142 and state officials say 100 people are still missing.

WORLD: After 4 years, Egypt reopens Gaza border

RAFAH, Gaza Strip -- Egypt lifted a 4-year-old blockade of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, greatly easing travel restrictions on the 1.5 million residents of the Palestinian territory in a move that bolstered the Hamas government while dealing a setback to Israel's attempts to isolate the militant group.

Lawrenceville continues trolley tours

The final tour for May will take place at 2 p.m. today, and tours are tentatively scheduled to continue through June.

G-Braves celebrate Heritage Nights

The Gwinnett Braves will hold a series of events as a part of its Heritage Nights 2011.

Officials get go-ahead for Lilburn CID

Lilburn Community Improvement District officials have the go-ahead to improve the corridor.

JENKINS: The best commencement address I've never heard

Dozens of high schools in Metro Atlanta and not one has ever invited me to give the commencement address. Go figure.

LARSON: Gwinnett Museum makes every day Memorial Day

For Paul Pickard, every day is Memorial Day. As Director of the Veterans Memorial Museum at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, Pickard who is retired from the Air Force, is one of about 20 volunteers who keep our military history alive.

BISHER: Free agent signings are struggling thus far

The most frightening investment that comes to my mind is free agent baseball. And the last that would capture my fancy.

Holiday weekend cranks up with concert

SUWANEE — For the past five years, Joan Smith of Sugar Hill has attended the Memorial Day Concert at the Suwanee Town Park with her cooler of snacks and the company of good friends.

First class graduates from Lanier High

DULUTH — Initially, T’Arica Crawford didn’t want to go to Lanier High School.

G-Braves split doubleheader with Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Gwinnett Braves and Buffalo Bisons split an afternoon doubleheader at Coca-Cola Field. The Braves (25-22) won the first game 6-1 and the Bisons (21-28) came back to win game two 3-1.

PARKER: Flushing good water down the drain

NEW YORK — In a slender essay titled "Here Is New York," E.B. White wrote about the implausibility of the great city, mentioning among other things the millions of gallons of water needed each day just so people could brush their teeth.

OUR VIEW: Congrats to impressive number of graduates

The numbers are staggering. Nearly 10,000 high school students are graduating in Gwinnett County this year, almost 9,000 of them from Gwinnett County Public Schools.

WOODALL: Remember their sacrifice

In his first inaugural address, President Ronald Reagan recalled the story of Martin Treptow, a man who left his barbershop in small town America to go to war in 1917. He was killed in the crossfire on the Western Front trying to deliver a message between battalions.

News for Saturday, May 28, 2011

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