🌱 Man Flees Police + Woman Accused Of Immigration Fraud & Extortion

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

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, a stray t-storm. High: 88 Low: 64.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High: 88 Low: 66.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top three stories in Gainesville today:

1. A traffic stop in Habersham County led to a chase when a Gainesville man, identified as William Ray Barnhardt, 45, allegedly fled from law enforcement. During the pursuit, he reportedly hit a patrol car, drove in the wrong direction, and eventually crashed into a guardrail. After his arrest, authorities discovered Barnhardt had outstanding warrants from Ohio, highlighting his violent tendencies and involvement in various criminal offenses. He now faces a range of charges, including fleeing from police, drug possession, assault on a law enforcement officer, and tampering with evidence. (WSB-TV)
2. Gainesville resident Olga "Betty" Beatrice Villarreal, 51, has been accused by the police of defrauding individuals by falsely promising to expedite their immigration status. In addition to stealing thousands of dollars, Villarreal allegedly resorted to threatening tactics to extort further money from her victims. The exact amount stolen and the number of victims involved have not been disclosed, but authorities suspect that there may be additional individuals affected by the case, and urge anyone with information to contact the Gainesville Police Department. (WSB Atlanta)
3. In case you missed it: Hall County authorities are investigating a fatal shooting of a Gainesville man that occurred during an argument in North Hall County on Thursday. Timothy Quest Loggins, a 44-year-old resident of Gainesville, was killed in the incident. The shooter, who was present at the scene, is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. (Now Habersham)

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Today and tomorrow in Gainesville:

Tuesday, June 27

• The Hall County Farmers Market At 734 East Crescent Dr. (2:30 PM)
• Live Music - David Craver At Pelican Pete's Tiki Bar & Grill (6:00 PM)
• Tommy Wiseau At Regal Hollywood 15 Cinemas (7:00 PM)

Wednesday, June 28

• Storybook & Sensory Bin Time At Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville (10:00 AM)
• Live Music - Luke Latimer At Cork It - Wine And Charcuterie (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Hall County Department of Health will host a Back to School clinic for immunizations and screenings on Jul. 22. Learn more about the clinic at the link. (Gainesville City School System via Facebook)
• REMINDER: Gainesville city offices will be closed next week on Tuesday, Jul. 4, in observance of Independence Day. Please plan accordingly! (City of Gainesville, Georgia via Facebook)
• New homes have been listed for sale in the Gainesville area! Get all the property details at the link. (Gainesville Patch)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday off right! I'll see you around.

— 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.