🌱 Police Arrest Road Rage Suspect + Local Arrested For Child Porn

Good morning, neighbors! I'm here right on time with your fresh copy of the Gainesville Patch newsletter, filled with all the things you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Partly sunny, breezy and cool. High: 53 Low: 29.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, brisk and cold. High: 49 Low: 28.

📈 Interested in reaching our highly engaged readers with targeted messaging that drives proven results for local businesses? I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Gainesville who want to build awareness, connect with customers, and increase sales. If that's you, click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in Gainesville today:

1. Police arrested 26-year-old Steven Cooper and charged him with aggravated assault in connection to a road rage incident that occurred on Highway 365 in Gainesville on Mar. 15. Michael Gabriel was shot twice after passing another car on the highway and a 65-year-old woman is in critical condition after being struck by a stray billet. According to Gabriel, he heard nine more shots fired after he was hit. Police also found a 2-year-old child in Cooper’s backseat at the time of the shooting. (WSB-TV)
2. Hall County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Gainesville man after he viewed child pornography on his computer while deputies were searching his home. Alan Neil Thur, 75, has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and five additional
   counts of child pornography. (WSB Atlanta)
3. On Feb. 28, Forsyth County deputies arrested Christopher Cook, 46, of Gainesville in connection to a January theft. Cook allegedly stole various tools, flashlights, two dragonfly pendants, and a trailer valued at $1,500. Flock camera footage shows a Jeep Grand Cherokee registered to Cook driving with the trailer on Jan. 19. (Appen Media)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Gainesville Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Gainesville Patch newsletter possible.

Today and tomorrow in Gainesville:

Saturday, March 18

• Live Music - Malachi Mills At Pelican Pete's Tiki Bar and Grill (5:00 PM)
  
• Live Music - Levi Ransom At Liquid Nation Brewing (6:30 PM)

Sunday, March 19

• Chamber Music Recital At First Presbyterian Church Gainesville (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Diletto Bakery now sells crepes! The bakery started selling the delicious treats on Mar. 16. Check it out in downtown Gainesville today! (Downtown Gainesville via Facebook)
• Looking for a spot to hang out with your pup? Click here to see dog-friendly spaces in Gainesville! Includes parks, historic downtown Gainesville square, a pet-friendly hotel called The Guest Lodge, and more. (Downtown Gainesville via Facebook)
• Bonnie, a four-month-old female Boxer Labrador Retriever Mix puppy, is looking for her forever family! See Bonnie and more adorable adoptable pets in the Gainesville area. (Gainesville Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• "Game of Clue Scavenger Hunt"-Fun Family Day & Art Supply Yard Sale (11am-5pm) (March 25)
• Add your event

That's it for today. I'll be 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.