GDP Script/ Top Stories for Mar 15th      

Publish Date:  Mar 14th      

From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.

Today is Friday, March 15th, and Happy heavenly Birthday to MLB player Bobby Bonds.

***03.15.24 – BIRTHDAY – BOBBY BONDS***

I’m Bruce Jenkins and here are your top stories presented by Tom Wages Funeral Home.

1. Head of Robbery Group Condemned to Four Successive Life Terms and Additional 90 Years in Prison
2. Two Scholars from Gwinnett Named as Jackson EMC Representatives for the 2024 Washington Youth Tour
3. Gwinnett Tech Pupils Excel at State-Level SkillsUSA Contest — Medal Recipients Announced

All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe!

Break 1: WAGES

STORY 1:Robbery Crew Leader Receives 4 Consecutive Life Sentences — Plus Another 90

30-year-old Dametrius Marquel Sims has been given four successive life terms, alongside an extra 90 years in jail, for spearheading a robbery crew that targeted multiple Gwinnett eateries in 2017, including a shooting event at Marco's Pizza.

A jury found Sims guilty of armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, aggravated assault, and firearm possession charges. His group was responsible for robbing five restaurants and a package store between August and October 2017.

Oshay Howard and Trevonne Poole, two additional members of the crew, were convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the robberies. Sims' violent crime spree terrified Gwinnett County merchants, however, the district attorney's office commended the jury's verdict and efforts to bring him to justice.

STORY 2:2 Gwinnett Students Selected As Jackson EMC Delegates For Youth Tour

High school students Alvaro Saldarriaga (Sal-da-rri-a-ga ) Arcila and Jabez Melaku (M EH L AH K UW) from Gwinnett County have been chosen as representatives for Jackson EMC at the 2024 Washington Youth Tour.

This fully funded leadership development initiative is sponsored by Georgia’s electric cooperatives and coordinated by the NRECA. Both Arcila, a junior at McClure Health Sciences High School, and Melaku, a junior at Archer High School, were selected based on their academic records, service to the community, and leadership capabilities. The tour aims to promote collaboration, integrity, and teamwork among participating students.

Arcila is engaged in several extracurricular activities and contemplates a career in either law or engineering, while Melaku, who serves as the vice president of community service, plans to venture into engineering. The tour, which is scheduled to take place from June 14-21, has offered leadership opportunities to thousands of students since its inception in 1965.

STORY 3:Gwinnett Tech Students Impress At State SkillsUSA Competition

Gwinnett Technical College students showcased their exceptional skills at the SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary State Leadership & Skills Conference, securing a total of 43 medals. This included 24 gold, 8 silver, and 11 bronze awards.

The college's SkillsUSA chapter was also recognized with prestigious accolades, receiving both Level 1 and Level 2 Chapter of Distinction GOLD Level titles. The chapter ranks third in Georgia in terms of membership.

Humanities instructor, Mohamed Belal, received the SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary Advisor of the Year award, further highlighting the college's commitment to quality education and workforce preparation. State gold medalists from this event will progress to compete in the National Leadership and Skills Conference, which will be held in Atlanta in June 2024.

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We’ll be right back.

Break 2: GCPS – INGLES 4

STORY 4:Gwinnett Schools Honors Transportation Staff

Gwinnett County Public Schools celebrated the remarkable service of 49 transportation professionals at its annual banquet. The event recognized their crucial role in safely transporting more than 130,000 students. Among the honorees were Laura Howell and Monica Mau, who were awarded the title of School Bus Managers of the Year. Stacy Welch received the School Bus Monitor of the Year award, while the Fleet Technician of the Year award went to Ronnie Alston.

Howell and Mau were acknowledged for their contributions to regular and special education transportation respectively. Welch was commended for her work with students with special needs. Alston's award highlighted his dedication, further underscored by his personal connection to the school system as a parent.

The selection process for these awards was comprehensive, involving written and driving skills tests and an evaluation by a judging panel.

STORY 5:Senators question economic development chief on delayed EV plant

Electric vehicle manufacturer, Rivian, has decided to indefinitely delay the construction of its new manufacturing plant near Covington, Georgia. This decision was met with disappointment from Georgia's top economic development official, Pat Wilson, even though he confirmed that Rivian remains committed to the state.

Despite this setback, Rivian intends to produce its new R2 midsize SUV model at an existing facility located in Illinois. The state and local authorities had previously offered Rivian incentives worth $1.5 billion, including tax credits and infrastructure improvements, to secure the deal.

So far, Rivian has made two payments amounting to $3 million to the local development authority. While the project is currently on hold, there are concerns among senators about the site remaining vacant until 2030. Despite these concerns, Wilson maintains an optimistic outlook, asserting that the site is appealing enough to attract another manufacturing tenant if necessary.

We’ll be back in a moment.

Break 3: CURIOSITY LAB BIKE RACE

STORY 6:GCPS names 2024 School Social Worker of the Year Award winner

Gwinnett County Public Schools has recently honored Wendy Senior, a dedicated social worker with the district for over a decade, as the 2024 School Social Worker of the Year. Senior, who provides her services at Duluth High School, is recognized for her commitment to upholding professional standards and contributing to community service.

She has led numerous initiatives, including a parent workshop for newly immigrated Latino parents, and has made notable contributions to statewide human trafficking policy. Senior's empathetic approach encourages individuals to find their own solutions, which has earned her admiration from her colleagues for her resourcefulness, responsiveness, and unwavering dedication to student welfare.

Her influence goes beyond her official role at the school, making her an indispensable part of the school community.

STORY 7:Mark Richt to Speak at The Salvation Army Of Gwinnett Luncheon

Former University of Georgia football coach, Mark Richt, is set to be the key speaker at The Salvation Army of Gwinnett County's 10th Annual "Doing the Most Good" Luncheon. Scheduled for May 9th at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta NE, the event aims to support essential services such as housing, utilities, groceries, and disaster relief for local families.

In 2023, the Salvation Army made a significant impact by providing food, shelter, and Christmas gifts for families in need4. The upcoming luncheon will host live and silent auctions, a plated lunch, and an opportunity to glean insights on leadership and success from Coach Richt.

Scott Slade from WSB Radio will emcee the event, which seeks to raise vital funds to continue serving the community. Sponsorship opportunities and tickets for the event can be procured online.

We’ll have final thoughts after this.

Break 4: HENRY CO SHERIFFS OFFICE

Signoff –

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at Gwinnettdailypost.com.

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