🌱 Major Drug Seizure + Gainesville High 2023 Football Season Preview

Hey, everybody! It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Plenty of sunshine. High: 86 Low: 64.
• Sunday: A t-storm or two; not as warm. High: 77 Low: 66.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top three stories today in Gainesville:

1. Michael Gonzalez-Powell of Gainesville was arrested earlier this week after allegedly trafficking over $275,000 worth of drugs, including methamphetamine and fentanyl. Deputies responded to a call about a suspicious man around 10:00 p.m. on Williams Road, and when they arrived on the scene, the suspect exited his SUV and fled from the scene on foot. Officers were able to track the suspect down and searched the vehicle before towing it away, which was when the drugs were discovered in his vehicle. Deputies seized more than 1,200 grams of drugs from the vehicle; Gonzalez-Powell has been charged with trafficking drugs and more charges are pending. (WSB Atlanta)
2. Joseph Phillip Morone, 26, of Gainesville, was arrested on Monday after he was accused of breaking into two cars at the same home on Antioch Lane. He was arrested in his home on Antioch Campground Road and upon further investigation, deputies discovered that he broke into three additional cars from Jun. 1-5, stealing cash and gift cards valued at over $300. Morone has been charged with five felony counts and is currently being held in Hall County Jail on a $28,500 bond. (WSB Atlanta)
3. Gainesville High School's football team is excited to kick off the 2023 season with second-year head coach Josh Niblett, who led them to state runner-up last season, and this year, they added to the stacked roster with Clemson University commit Champ Thompson. Thompson transferred to Gainesville last spring from Meadowcreek High School for what he said was the best decision for his future moving forward and is looking to contribute to bringing a state championship to the Red Elephants. The roster has at least 16 Division 1 prospects on the team, including Louisiana State University commit Zion Ferguson on the defensive end and All-State running back Gavin Hall. The Red Elephants are excited to start the regular season off at City Park Stadium on Aug. 18 as they will be hosting Marist College. (Subscription: Gainesville Times)

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Today and tomorrow in Gainesville:

Saturday, June 10

• Tai Chi At Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville (9:15 AM)
• Garden Chef Demos: Megan McCarthy At Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville (12:00 PM)

Sunday, June 11

• SouthEastern Young Artists Pop-Up Concert At Smithgall Arts Center (1:00 PM)
• Live Music: Danny Bush At Pelican Pete's Tiki Bar And Grill (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Come out this Sunday, Jun. 11, and join the Arts Council for a family-friendly free concert at 1:00 p.m. The concert will be performed by members of the SouthEaster Young Artists who promote cultural arts through musical performances and educational workshops in Georgia. (Downtown Gainesville via Facebook)
• If you are looking for your next partner or a different dating experience, come to the Hall County Library Gainesville Branch for a free speed dating event on Monday, Jun. 19! All you have to do is register, bring your ID, and bring your best conversation skills; only those 20 and older can participate. (Hall County Library System via Facebook)
• The Gainesville City School District wants all of the community's stakeholders and parents to be a part of planning the 2023-2024 school year. Everyone is invited to join the Stakeholder Input meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Jun. 21, which is a virtual meeting that will be recorded for later viewing. (Gainesville City School System via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• CALL TO ARTISTS to Enter “Summer In the City” Art Show (June 12)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you soon for your next 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.