🌱 Teacher Fired After Viral Rant + Garden Fest At Grayson Library

Good morning and happy weekend, Loganville-Grayson! I'm back with the most up-to-date Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out happening around town. Today you'll find these stories and more:

• Walton County School District has been honored as an AJC Top Workplaces 2023!
• Grand jury indicted the former police officer for the kidnapping and murder of Gwinnett County teen Susana Morales.
• A Gwinnett County teen is recovering from a life-saving surgery following an accident at school and delay in medical attention.

But first, today's weather: Thunderstorms this morning won't be around long, and we should see sunshine by midday. With a high of 81 and a low of 55, it should be a great day to enjoy some fresh air.

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Here are the top stories in Loganville-Grayson today:

1. A teacher at Dacula Middle School has recently lost her job. After a young student secretly recorded and posted the classroom outburst, the rant soon went viral. Parents were outraged over the way she spoke to the 12- and 13-year-old students, and there were immediate demands for her to be fired. It is unclear what happened before the video that may have provoked the teacher. Dacula Middle School's principal let parents know via email that Gwinnett County Schools was investigating the incident, and on Thursday, it was confirmed that the teacher was no longer employed by the district. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
2. A Berkmar High School student is back home and recovering after a week-long stay in the hospital. Two weeks ago, sophomore Lizandro Cabrera was playing soccer in the gym when he landed on the knee of the goalie. He went to the nurse in terrible pain but was given ice and sent back to class with no phone call or notification to his parents. His mother realized that he could barely move by the time he got home and rushed him to the emergency room. Doctors discovered that Cabrera had a broken rib that had punctured his kidney. He was rushed into a three-hour lifesaving surgery. Luckily, Cabrera is expected to make a full recovery and return to school in the next two weeks. His mother is considering legal action. The school is unable to comment on the specific incident but did comment that it "GCPS takes the health and safety of each and every student very seriously." (Atlanta News First)
3. A grand jury formally indicted former Doraville Police Officer Miles Bryant for the death of 16-year-old Susana Morales. He is charged with murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and falsely reporting a crime. He will remain in the Gwinnett County jail without bond. Although her cause of death is not officially known, the evidence was strong enough to support an indictment. The teen's kidnapping and murder have sparked a great deal of conversation between the community and Gwinnett County Police after the department was scrutinized for the way it originally handled the case, believing Morales ran away. Police Chief J.D. McClure explained, at a recent town hall meeting, that the case transitioned based on information and evidence that indicated foul play. He called Morales' death "an unspeakable tragedy." (Police 1)

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Today in Loganville-Grayson:

• Dress up the kiddos for some Spring and Bunny Pictures with Amanda Hall Photography at Boss Brothers Country Store in Loganville. (9:00 am - 12:00 pm)
• Graystone Church is hosting FREE egg hunts for babies through 5th grade at Loganville Middle School, so come enjoy bounce houses, face painting, and more! (1:00 pm - 3:00 pm)
• Get your exercise, sunshine, and fresh air while enjoying the Goat Yoga Event at the Double Durango Farm! (2:00 pm - 3:00 pm)
• "Come make an IMPACT" with Walton County FCA's dinner and auction, at 1025 Church in Monroe, and hear beloved Georgia Football Coach, Mark Richt, talk about his faith. (5:30 pm)
• Enjoy the R&B Soul sounds of The Soul Cartel, who seem to be making a name in the music scene, at Moonshiners Bar & Grill in Grayson. (9:00 pm)

From my notebook:

• Congratulations to the Walton County School District! The district has recently been awarded one of the Top Workplaces 2023, an honor given by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Top Workplaces honor is based strictly on employee feedback and bestowed to only 175 companies this year. The complete list includes Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and startups, and Walton County is proud to be a part of the prestigious list. If you are interested in being a part of the Walton County School District, visit https://wcsd.info/careers, and apply for one of our open positions today. (Facebook)
• It's about that time... to start working on your garden! Save the dates for the Grayson's Garden Fest. The Grayson Branch of the Gwinnett County library has planned for days full of guest speakers, live demonstrations, and gardening tips to help you get your garden ready for a productive summer. Mark your calendars for April 10 through April 13 for a week of all things gardening. (Instagram)
• The Rockdale County State Court is trying to help citizens with warrants for a misdemeanor failure to appear clear up those warrants with an expedited hearing. Rockdale's Warrant Resolution Campaign is a simple way to satisfy and clear up charges. A court date is scheduled for March 31. To find out if you meet the qualifications, contact the Warrants Division at 770-278-8009. (Rockdale Newton Citizen)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. Enjoy this beautiful weekend, and I'll see you right back here very soon!