🌱 Teen Fatally Shot At Mall + GGC Designated As HSI + I-285 Closures

Hello all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Loganville-Grayson Daily — here to tell you all the most important things happening in the community today. Today you'll learn about:

• The fatal shooting of a local teen outside the Sugarloaf Mills Mall.
• Georgia Gwinnett College's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution — one of only two public schools in the state to receive this distinction.
• Major lane closures on I-285 to begin, potentially lasting eight months or more.

But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 84 Low: 55.

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Here are the top five stories today in Loganville-Grayson:

1. A local teen was fatally shot on Wednesday night at Sugarloaf Mills Mall in Gwinnett County. According to Gwinnett County police, the shooting took place near the entrance of Dave & Buster's. The victim has been identified as 17-year-old Elijah DeWitt, a promising young star on the Jefferson High School football team. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
2. Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), a distinction that qualifies the school for more grant funding. In addition to maintaining regional accreditation, HSIs must have Hispanic students make up at least one-quarter of its population, as well as have a high percentage of students in need of financial aid. GGC is one of only two public schools in Georgia that is currently recognized as an HSI. (11Alive.com WXIA)
3. If you're planning to travel on I-285, please be advised: lane closures are scheduled to begin tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 7). After over a year of delays, the Georgia Department of Transportation will be closing lanes for construction work at the top end of the Perimeter. Officials say the closures could last eight months or more, with construction slated to run through the back half of 2023. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
4. This coming Tuesday, Oct. 11, the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office Community Outreach Section will host its National Faith and Blue Food Distribution event. Attendees can pick up fresh foods at no cost; no ID is required. The event will be held at 1575 Lawrenceville Highway from 4:00 p.m. until supplies last. (Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
5. The local library is a great place to learn new things and partake in family-friendly fun — and the Grayson Public Library is no exception to this rule. Upcoming events this month at the Grayson branch include a family genealogy event on Oct. 26 and a costumed Music & Movement program on Halloween. Visit the link to view everything happening at your local library. (Gwinnett County Public Library)

Patch deal of the day:

Wine lover alert. We found this amazing deal from Splash Wines — an 18-bottle curated selection of reds and whites for fall — for just $69.99. Shipping isn't cheap at $39.95, but that still comes out to just over $6 per bottle. Splash Wines has a money-back guarantee if you don't like the wine and 4.6 out of 5 rating on TrustPilot. So: recommended.

(The Patch Deals team scours the web for deals we think our subscribers will like. We may earn a commission on products purchased. All promotions are as of publication and could change.)

Today in and around Loganville-Grayson:

• Car Auction At 125 Old Highway 138, Loganville (1:30 PM)
• Goat Yoga With Wine & Chocolate At Red Wagon Goats, Stone Mountain (6:00 PM)
• Panic! At The Disco At Gas South Arena, Duluth (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• On Wednesday, Loganville High's varsity softball team secured a 4-1 victory over Winder-Barrow. You can check out video highlights of the matchup at sidelineHD. (Loganville High School via Facebook)
• The Walnut Grove Public Library highlights a newly-created, grant-funded collection of ebooks. The "Listen Up!" collection highlights BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices; click here to learn more or explore the offerings. (Walnut Grove Public Library via Facebook)
• Looking to add a new furry friend to your family? Meet Aggador the Shih Tzu, Bella the Jack Russell, and more adorable, adoptable pets available in Loganville and Grayson area shelters. (Loganville-Grayson Patch)

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.