🌱 Boy, 9, Attacked By Bobcat + Gainesville Man Suspected Of Murder

Welcome back, Gainesville. I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Sunny, pleasant and warmer. High: 76 Low: 51.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 79 Low: 54.

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Here are the top three stories today in Gainesville:

1. Earlier this month, 9-year-old Easton Burchett was attacked by a bobcat in Banks County Georgia about 25 miles away from Gainesville. The Burchett family was stopping by a neighbor's home to check on a dog when the bobcat emerged from under a parked car and attacked the child. The young child fought to get the animal off of him before his father intervened and shot the animal to protect his child. Easton was rushed to the hospital following the incident and is now recovering from the attack. (News Talk 98.9)
2. Over the weekend, Gainesville police found a woman dead in her apartment after being called to do a welfare check. On Saturday, officers reported to Spring Valley apartments and found Casey Lynn Mae Allen, 32, stabbed to death in her home. Christopher Dean Snow was named as the lead suspect in the case. Officers found Snow in Gwinnett County where he was part of a serious car crash on I-85 and hospitalized. Currently, Snow remains in the hospital but is currently being charged with felony murder. (WSB Atlanta)
3. Last week a contractor passed away in Gainesville after succumbing to his injuries from being crushed by a piece of heavy machinery. The contractor was reportedly working for a private grading company and using a piece of machinery that overturned on him and pinned him underneath it. Unfortunately, by the time paramedics arrived at the scene to assist him, he was unresponsive. The victim will not be identified until the next of kin is notified about the incident. (WSB Atlanta)

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Today and tomorrow in Gainesville:

Tuesday, April 18

• Judith Surowiec: Moments In Time - Castelli Gallery At The John S. Burd Center (10:00 AM)
• Gainesville Theatre Alliance Presents: 1984 - UNG Ed Cabell Theatre (7:30 PM)

Wednesday, April 19

• Brenau Bird Walk - Sorority Circle Gazebo, Brenau University (7:30 AM)
• Board Of Tax Assessors Meeting - Hall County Government Center (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for some cool things to do in Gainesville this week? Take a look at the provided schedule, which has plenty of options including a Lunch and Learn event and Food Truck Friday. (Explore Gainesville via Facebook)
• Come out to the Art Walk in Historic Gainesville this Thursday, Apr. 20, and enjoy local galleries from local artists and various pop-up art shows. Visitors will have the opportunity to dine in amazing restaurants, shop in unique boutiques, and shop for original art. (Downtown Gainesville via Facebook)
• Georgia Cities Week will kick off next week and the City of Gainesville will be hosting a community spring clean-up this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. to get the ball rolling. The city will be partnering with Keep Hall Beautiful for this garbage collection event at Engine 209 Park; participants, be sure to check in! (City of Gainesville, Georgia via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today! I'll be back in your inbox soon with a new update.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.