Email: sharon.swanepoel@patch.com
Phone: 770-289-7877
Hometown: Monroe, GA
Birthday: July 18
Bio: Sharon was born and raised in Durban, South Africa, before immigrating to the U.S. in the summer of 1989. She became an American citizen in 1996 and has always lived in either Gwinnett or Walton County. In 1997, she gave up a career in economics and finance to pursue her passion for journalism. After being given a start as a correspondent with The Walton Tribune and The Gwinnett Daily Post, she began working in the GDP newsroom as editorial assistant/staff writer in 2001. After a brief stint as a small business owner with her husband from 2003 to 2005, she joined The Loganville Tribune in 2005, moving to The Walton Tribune in 2010. Between them, Sharon and her husband, Gordon Winterburn, have four grown children - three sons and a daughter and their families - as well as one granddaughter and two grandsons. They live in Monroe with their three rescue cats. When not working, Sharon and Gordon can be found headed for Flagler or Cocoa Beach for Gordon to feed his addiction to waveski surfing and Sharon to spend the time taking photographs or shooting video.
Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. We hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
How would you describe your political beliefs? My views were pretty liberal in my youth, then swung more conservative, and are now settled in a more middle-of-the-road position, though I do still consider myself a fiscal conservative. Once a member of the Republican Party, I’m probably more of a Libertarian now. However, I have always believed in voting the person not the party.
Religion
How religious would you consider yourself? I consider my views on religion deeply personal to me. I was raised in the Presbyterian Church and since living in the U.S. have attended Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist churches. I don’t attend church regularly, but when I do I find myself most comfortable in a local Methodist Church.
Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? Where do you stand on these issues? Georgia is still battling the liquor and Sunday sales issues and since the General Assembly has passed it back to the local municipalities, it is likely to be a big issue for the remainder of the year. I personally believe this is not an issue the government should be involved in, but I also strongly believe in everybody’s right to have his or her own opinion and to have that opinion respected.
Loganville and Grayson, as well as Walton and Gwinnett counties, are likely to face an ongoing budget battle in figuring out how to do as much if not more with less in the foreseeable future. If gas prices continue their current trend, almost every aspect of the economy will be impacted, including schools and municipalities as they try to provide services. With nobody having much heart for higher taxes at the moment, balancing budgets is likely to continue to be a major issue at all levels of government.
Public Safety officials took some time out of their schedules Saturday to shop for Christmas gifts in Loganville with some children from the community.
The locations are hiring part-time or full-time tellers.
The location has openings for an equipment operator and a customer service representative.
Area CVS stores have openings for photo lab technicians.
Applications are currently being accepted for positions in nearby Monroe and Athens, Ga.
NASA to give an update at noon today on early findings from the Mars rover Curiosity. Officials say at this point in the mission there is no "definite evidence of Martian organics."
The Gwinnett County Animal Shelter has issued a rabies alert after rabid raccoons were found in Suwanee and Buford.
A look at top Patch stories from across North Georgia.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office reported the following theft and burglary complaints in and around the Loganville area in Walton County between Nov. 19 - 27.
Music duo Florida Georgia Line, featuring Monroe’s own hometown boy Tyler Hubbard, heard on Sunday that their debut single, “Cruise,” hit No. 1 on the Country Music Radio Charts.
Miss a job opportunity last week on Patch? Here's your chance to check them out one more time before the new week begins.
A hunting trip turned tragic last week when a 44-year-old man fell to his death while hunting with his son in south Forsyth County last week. How safe is your tree stand?
Main Street Loganville was lit with festive lights of the Christmas Season for the annual Christmas Parade Saturday.
Members of the community came together at The Orchard Church Saturday for "Love Loganville's" second annual Heapin' Toy/clothes giveaway.
The victim of a wreck on Ho Hum Hollow Road in Monroe on Nov. 10 remains in a coma in the hospital, but her husband is reporting some encouraging signs.
Last day to contribute your best pictures of Monroe, Ga. during 2013 and have them become part of Monroe, Ga. Patch's Online calendar for 2014.
Today is the last day to contribute your best pictures of Loganville and Grayson during 2013 and have them become part of Loganville-Grayson Patch's Online calendar for 2014.
Walton County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a Johnson Road home south of Loganville in the early morning hours of Nov. 24 to find a man with a gunshot wound to his leg.
Shoplifting may have led to a man's death outside a Lithonia Walmart, but how does the petty crime affect the average consumer?
A second 16-year-old also charged in the same incident. A GCPS spokesman said neither is currently enrolled in the school system. Both are being charged as adults.
