🌱 Hall County Man Back In Custody After Escape + Local Food Recall

Hello again, everybody! I'm back with your fresh copy of the Gainesville Patch newsletter. Let's get this weekend started off right with a quick dive into everything you need to know about what's going on these days in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Times of sun and clouds. High: 65 Low: 46.
• Sunday: Colder with periods of rain. High: 47 Low: 44.

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Here are the top three stories in Gainesville today:

1. On Mar. 10, 28-year-old Ryan Michael Roper of Gainesville was taken back in custody after escaping his work release job site on Mar. 8. Roper, a work release jail inmate, took off his ankle monitor while working in Jefferson and then walked away. Roper was originally in Hall County jail for possession of methamphetamine, violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, and probation violation. (WJCL 22; Hall County Sheriff via Twitter)
2. Conagra Brands, Inc. has recalled approximately 2,581,816 pounds of canned meat and poultry products due to possible contamination from a packaging defect. The affected products have the establishment number “P4247” on the cans and were shipped to multiple Circle K Sebu , Dollar General,Walgreens, and Walmart stores in Gainesville. View the link to see affected products. (Cobb County Courier)
3. Samuel Lopez of Flowery Branch was arrested in Gainesville after authorities found nearly 155 grams of suspected heroin inside his truck, which has a street value of $23,000. The 28-year-old was charged with trafficking heroin and is being held without bond at the Hall County Jail. (WSB-TV)

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Today and tomorrow in Gainesville:

Saturday, March 11

• Super Soaker Shamrock Party At Frances Meadows Aquatic Center (2:00 PM)
• Live Music - Craig Gleason At Pelican Pete's Tiki Bar and Grill (5:00 PM)

Sunday, March 12

• Live Music - Dominic Desantis At Pelican Pete's Tiki Bar and Grill (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Mark your calendars for the Freedom Beer Fest on Mar. 25! Enjoy live music, food trucks, and lots of beer hosted by the Gainesville American Legion Post 7. (Downtown Gainesville via Facebook)
• Alex Haynes is the new freshmen offensive line coach for the Gainesville High School football team! (Go Red Elephants via Twitter)
• An adorable Hound Terrier Mix puppy named Chipper needs a loving home! See Chipper and other adoptable pets in the Gainesville area at the link. (Gainesville Patch)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you 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.