Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Will Gwinnett’s new 5-year rezoning plan calm angry parents?

Spotted on the Gwinnett County calendar: Scrooge! A musical

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Saturday December 20th Patch AM
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Hi there, Gwinnett County! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Will Gwinnett’s new 5-year rezoning plan calm angry parents?
  • Why did Centerville Elementary suddenly go on soft lockdown Thursday?
  • What led a Gwinnett jury to impose life without parole?

Also on today's calendar: Scrooge! A musical and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in Gwinnettfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Last night I had a dream. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Gwinnettfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Pleasant and not as cool, with a high of 59 and low of 35 degrees.
  • Sunday: Intervals of clouds and sun, temps: high: 64, low: 39.
  • Monday: Partly sunny, with a high of 57 and low of 39 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. School board vows better communication after parent pushback to redistricting plans (wsbradio.com) — Gwinnett County school leaders are promising clearer communication after parents pushed back against major new redistricting affecting thousands of students in the Archer, Dacula and Grayson clusters. With a new middle school opening in Dacula and rapid growth driving boundary shifts, the board now plans a 5-year rezoning roadmap to give families more time to adjust.
   

2. Body Found Near Gwinnett School, Prompting Soft Lockdown (patch.com) — Gwinnett County police responded after a groundskeeper found an adult body near Centerville Elementary in Snellville, prompting a soft lockdown and indoor recess as a precaution. Officials say there’s no sign of foul play and believe the person died off-campus, stressing that students and staff were never in danger and encouraging families to report any safety concerns through GCPS’s anonymous tip tools.
   

3. 20-year-old found guilty of RICO Act, sentenced to 80 years in prison for murder (11alive.com) — A Gwinnett County jury has sentenced a 20-year-old Grayson man to life without parole plus additional prison time for a deadly gang-related robbery and shooting tied to a Snellville drug deal. Prosecutors say the case, brought by the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office under Georgia’s RICO and gang laws, is meant to send a strong message against gang violence locally.
   

4. Gwinnett County just passed new cell phone policy banning devices in many grades (11alive.com) — Gwinnett County Public Schools has approved a new policy banning personal electronic devices for students in kindergarten through eighth grade during the school day, starting next year. The 3-2 board vote aligns with a new Georgia law and aims to cut classroom distractions, while high school rules stay the same for now and may be revisited later.
   

5. Man accused of shooting outside Lowe's at someone he thought was shoplifting tries to get bond (wsbtv.com) — A Gwinnett County judge has denied bond for a 64-year-old man accused of firing several shots at a person he believed was shoplifting outside a Loganville Lowe’s. Family members highlighted his military police background and gun safety habits, but prosecutors argued no one else saw a weapon and the judge ruled he posed a danger, keeping him jailed until his next court date.
   

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Ok Gwinnett County! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
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