🌱 John Creek Students Win State Championship + Gov Passes Two Bills

Hello all! Rose Mendez here with your Wednesday edition of the Johns Creek Patch newsletter, full of all the local information you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Clouds and sun; less humid. High: 83 Low: 62.

Check out what our local sponsor can do for you:

"Spring" into action this month with a new home! If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Johns Creek, Terri & Michael Hecht of Coldwell Banker have lived in our area for the past 17 years and have watched our market evolve and grow. Don't leave your biggest investment to "Luck" — if you are planning to buy or sell, contact "The Hecht Group" here today.

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Here are the top three stories today in Johns Creek:

1. Student Leadership Johns Creek announced its students won the annual Secretary of State Ambassadors State Championship competition that was held on Apr. 28. The competition recognizes and honors students in the 10th–12th grades for promoting civic involvement, voter registration, and volunteering. This win marks Student Leadership Johns Creek’s fifth overall win and third consecutive victory. The competition's winners, Alisha Kohli, Aria Smith, Brady Carnesale, Varsha Nirmal, Nicholas Stone, Shruthi Balachander, Lakshana Ramanan, Neha Gurram, and Obasohan, will be honored on May 18 at a luncheon at Georgia Tech by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger of Georgia. (Appen Media)
2. In nearby Duluth, Gwinnett County's Matthew Chambers, 45, was charged and fined after a video displayed a road rage incident that included homophobic slurs and racially insensitive gestures toward Asians. The incident occurred during rush hour traffic on Apr. 25 at around 5:00 p.m., forcing other cars to maneuver around. According to Duluth Police, Chambers blocked traffic for about seven minutes at Pleasant Hill Rd. near Peachtree Industrial Blvd. while shouting homophobic insults at two men in a car. In the footage, Chambers is seen stopping his car at a signal during three red light cycles and refusing to move. Police eventually charged him with eight traffic offenses and a fine of over $1,700. (WSB-TV)
3. Two transportation bills, one that will allow heavier trucks to travel on Georgia highways and the other that will open the door for the widespread introduction of electric vehicles, have been signed by Governor Brian Kemp. House Bill 189, which takes effect immediately, will allow commercial trucks to exceed the current legal weight limit of 80,000 pounds by 10 percent on roads other than federal highways. Senate Bill 146, which won’t take effect until the beginning of 2025, changes the way motorists pay for the electricity they buy to charge their electric vehicles which, under the current system, is based on the length of time a customer uses an EV charger. Instead, they will pay by the kilowatt hour, a federal requirement Georgia must meet to be eligible for $135 million in federal funds earmarked by Congress to build a network of charging stations across the state. (Gwinnett Daily Post)

Today in and around Johns Creek:

• Homeschool Adventures At Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center (10:00 AM)
• Suwanee Arts Center Spring Show 2023 At Suwanee Arts Center (Suwanee) (11:00 AM)
• Johns Creek Vitality Committee Meeting At City Hall (7:00 PM)
• Trivia Night At StillFire Brewing (Suwanee) (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Georgia Department of Transportation is closing Kimball Bridge Rd. overpass just inside Alpharetta while they work to replace the bridge over Georgia 400. GA DOT has put a new route in place at North Point Parkway or Northwinds Parkway to detour to either Old Milton Parkway or Haynes Bridge Road. Please use caution! (Johns Creek Police Department via Facebook)
• Vendors are needed! Local businesses and civic organizations are needed for the city’s Juneteenth Celebration, which is scheduled for Saturday, Jun. 17, at Newtown Park. Retail, nonprofit, food and beverage, and performance applications are all being accepted. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more details and to apply for a vendor spot, visit: https://bit.ly/3yQ6RTp (City of Johns Creek, Georgia - Government via Facebook)
• The John’s Creek PD is hiring, and their special testing for certified LE or MP is scheduled for today, May 10! The pay range for police officers is $55,094.12 to $86,798.02, and there is also a $5,000 hiring bonus for certified officers (paid out at the end of FTO), an $800 monthly housing stipend to reside in Johns Creek, and full medical, dental, and vision coverage through Aetna. For more information, contact Recruiter Phil Nguyen at 470-233-3802. (Johns Creek Police Department via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Seven Sisters Kitchen — (Visit website)

Featured events:

• Here Comes the Sun: Music of the Beatles (May 12)
• You're Invited to a House Party! (May 13)
• Mother's Day BeltLine Food and Street Art Tour (May 13)

Featured job listings:

• Help Needed - Tavern at Medlock (Details)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!