Your Town. Your Paper. Your Voice.
Friday, October 8, 2021
Vol. 5, No. 21 • 16 Pages • FREE
Haunted attraction offers scares for those who venture off the beaten path • Page 9
Candidates in local elections share what they bring to table
• Pages 5-7
Miss Buford crowned during 75th annual pageant event
• Page 11
Buford High hosts 70 squads for 10th annual Cheer Classic
• Page 14
Meet Harley Clark, a student in Mrs. Smith’s second grade class at Buford Academy. Harley’s love of reading and his infectious enthusiasm for learning has earned him the Reader of the Week honor.
Harley’s favorite book series is the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series by Jeff Kinney with his absolute favorite book in the series being “The Getaway.” He said he loves the books because they are “hilarious.”
“Harley is the type of student that you know he is present once he walks into the room,” Buford Academy media specialist Lana Nix said. “He has a giant personality and just seeing him brings a smile to your face. Harley can make anyone laugh by just talking to him. He is definitely a student you will remember forever.”
Harley is the only son of Julie and Jess. He has three sisters — Hazel, 6, who is in the first grade at Buford Academy, and 3-year-old twin sisters Eleanor and Clair. Harley currently does not have any pets but he hopes to one day have a golden retriever.
Friends are important to Harley and he loves spending time with them. He will be playing on a soccer team soon and Harley is thrilled about the opportunity. Harley hopes to play the position of goalie.
—Alicia Couch Payne
The following reports were filed by the Gwinnett County Police Department between Sept. 11-30, 2021.
• A report for a forced entry residential burglary was filed for a location in the 400 block of Whitehead Road NE in Sugar Hill.
• Non-forced entry, residential burglaries were reported in the 3900 block of Thompson Mill Road NE and in the 2000 block of Cherokee Farms Cove NE. Buford addresses Motor vehicle thefts occurred in the 3400 block of Buford Drive NE, 3300 block of Buford Drive NE, 1400 block of Mall of Georgia Boulevard NE and 2900 block of Buford Drive NE. Buford addresses.
• Theft by receiving a stolen vehicle was reported in the 2900 block of Buford Highway NE in Buford.
• Officers responded to calls for larceny by deception in the 500 block of Star Flower Lane NE in Sugar Hill, 1800 block of Brickton Station NE in Buford and 3800 block of Bradford Walk Trail NE in Buford.
• Reports for larceny or theft by taking were filed for locations in the 5200 block of Sycamore Road NE in Sugar Hill, 5100 block of Pass Court NE in Sugar Hill, 1500 block of Marakanda Trail NE in Sugar Hill, 1400 block of Minnie Puckett Circle NE in Buford, 2700 block of Robert Bell Parkway NE in Buford, 300 block of Roberts Street NE in Buford, 4000 block of South Bogan
Road NE in Buford, 4100 block of Lake Oconee Drive NE in Buford, 3200 block of Sardis Church Road NE in Buford, 3300 block of Buford Drive NE in Buford (two incidents), 3200 block of Woodward Crossing Boulevard NE in Buford and 3400 block of Buford Drive NE in Buford.
• Larceny of lost or mislaid property took place in the 5000 block of West Broad Street NE in Sugar Hill.
• Theft by shoplifting was reported in the 3700 block of Buford Drive NE (seven incidents), 3300 block of Buford Drive NE (11 incidents) and 3300 block of Woodward Crossing Boulevard (two incidents). Buford addresses.
• Police responded to a call for criminal attempt — theft from vehicle/ tag in the 300 block of Brogdon Road NE in Suwanee.
• Reports for entering auto/larceny of articles from a vehicle were filed for locations in the 5100 block of Edinborough Place NE in Sugar Hill, 5100 block of Tannenhill Court NE in Sugar Hill, 5200 block of Silver Springs Drive NE in Sugar Hill, West Shadburn Ave NE/Old Swimming Pool Road area of Buford, 2700 block of Buford Highway NE in Buford, 2700 block of North Bogan Road NE in Buford, 3800 block of Silk Leaf Way NE in Buford, 3400 block of Buford Drive NE in Buford, 3200 block of Buford Drive NE in Buford, 1300 block of Mall of Georgia Boulevard NE in Buford and
1400 block of Mall of Georgia Boulevard NE in Buford (two incidents).
• Officers handled disorderly conduct calls in the 1000 block of Whitehead Road NE in Sugar Hill, SR-20/Satellite Boulevard area of Buford and 3900 block of Buford Drive NE in Buford.
• Second degree criminal damage occurred in the 1000 block of Whitehead Road NE in Sugar Hill, 1400 block of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard NE in Sugar Hill, Buford Highway NE/Buford Drive NE area of Buford, 2700 block of North Bogan Road NE in Buford, 2700 block of Morgan Glen Road NE in Buford and 1600 block of Autumn Sage Drive NE in Dacula.
• An arrest for DUI — alcohol was made in the Sardis Church Road NE/Hamilton Mill Road NE area of Buford.
• Reports of battery were filed for locations in the 500 block of Big Bend Trail NE in Sugar Hill, 600 block of Avonley Creek Trace NE in Sugar Hill, 4900 block of Spring Hill Drive NE in Sugar Hill, 4000 block of Hill Station Court NE in Sugar Hill, 900 block of McEver View Court NE in Sugar Hill, 4000 block of Buford Drive NE in Buford, 2900 block of Buford Drive NE in Buford, 2300 block of Hamilton Mill Parkway in Dacula and 1900 block of Lily Stem Trail NE in Buford.
• Simple battery took place in the 6400 block of Garrett Road NE in
Buford, 4600 block of Pinecrest Drive NE in Sugar Hill, 4100 block of Old Suwanee Road NE in Buford, 200 block of Stevens Drive NE in Buford, 500 block of West Main Street NE in Buford, East Main Street NE/ South Harris Street NE area of Buford, 2900 block of Buford Highway NE in Buford, 3700 block of Hamilton Mill Road in Buford, 3300 block of Buford Drive NE in Buford, 3200 block of Buford Drive NE in Buford, 3200 block of Woodward Crossing Boulevard NE in Buford and 2500 block of Ivy Creek Road NE in Buford.
• Reports of simple assault were filed for locations in the 5300 block of Bluegrass Lane NE in Sugar Hill, 800 block of Forest Street NE in Buford, 2700 block of Buford Highway NE in Buford, 3500 block of Fallen Oak Drive NE in Buford and 2800 block of Gravel Springs Road NE in Buford.
The following reports were filed by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office between Sept. 11-30, 2021.
• Deputies responded to calls of criminal trespassing in the 6800 block of Lights Ferry Road and in the 6500 block of Yacht Club Road. Flowery Branch addresses.
• Non-criminal damage to property occurred in the 5900 block of Island View Drive in Buford.
• Arrests for DUI — alcohol were
made in the 5400 block of Lanier Islands Parkway/McEver Road area, 5800 block of Lanier Islands Parkway/Shoreland Drive area, 6100 block of Lanier Islands Parkway/ North Waterworks Road area, 6600 block of Lanier Islands Parkway/ Holiday Point area and 6200 block of Lanier Islands Parkway/Big Creek Road area. Buford addresses.
• An arrest for DUI — drugs less safe was made in the 6200 block of Lanier Islands Parkway and Big Creek Road area in Buford.
• In the 5500 block of Lakeshore Road in Buford, a report for loitering or prowling was filed.
• A forced-entry, residential burglary took place in the 4900 block of Lexie Lane in Buford.
• A report for unlawful conduct during a 911 call was filed for a location in the 6900 block of Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford.
• An incident was noted for lost property in the 5000 block of BU Bowman Drive in Buford.
• Theft of lost or mislaid property occurred in the 7000 block of Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford.
• Deputies responded to a battery call in the 5700 block of Holiday Road/Green Road area of Buford. Simple battery was reported in the 900 block of Gainesville Highway in Buford.
• A death was investigated in the 6200 block of Stillwater Cove in Flowery Branch.
Volunteers sought for watershed clean-up at
The city of Sugar Hill’s Stormwater Department and Rivers Alive! invite volunteers to help clean up Sugar Hill’s local water source.
Participants in the clean-up event will pick up trash in the city’s watershed at Gary Pirkle Park to keep that trash from washing into the Chattahoochee River where it can damage ecosystems. The clean-up will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, and the park is located at 6159 Austin Garner Road in Sugar Hill.
Volunteers ages 11 and older are invited
to help. Participants are asked to wear long pants, closed-toe shoes and prepare to get muddy. Gloves and trash bags will be provided, and masks are required. Participants are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and bug spray.
Community service credits are available for high school students.
Volunteers can complete an event waiver and sign up at gwinnettswcd.org, however, registration is not required, and volunteers can still attend the day of the event.
The first 40 people who sign up for the clean-up will receive a free T-shirt. Sizes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
www.northgwinnettvoice.com info@northgwinnettvoice.com
Jessica Wilson, Publisher 706-633-0334 • jessica@northgwinnettvoice.com
Deanna Allen, Editor/Creative Design 770-883-9530 • deanna@northgwinnettvoice.com
Joy. W. Fowler, Community Editor 678-897-4555 • joy@northgwinnettvoice.com
Staff Writers:
Hayden Wiggs
Torin Smith
Contributing Writers:
Lynn Bowman
Brandon Hembree
Katie Strickland
Staff Photographers:
William Curtis
Jenny Johnson
David Griffin
ON THE COVER: An image courtesy of Shutterstock conveys the ambiance one might find on the Trail of Terror, a Buford haunted attraction open through the month of October • Design by Deanna Allen — Printed by the Gainesville Times — @northgwinnettvoice | @gwinnettvoice
City
The Buford City Commission has voted to reschedule its November meeting so it will not interfere with the city election as it was originally scheduled for Monday, Nov. 1. The new date is Tuesday, Nov. 9. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Buford Arena at 2795 Sawnee Ave.
Registration is open for golfers who wish to participate in the Fight Hunger Build Hope Golf Tournament set for Monday, Nov. 1.
The tournament benefits the North Gwinnett Co-op food programs and will be held at Bear’s Best Atlanta, 5342 Aldeburgh Drive in Suwanee. The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start. Registration and breakfast will be held prior and begin at 8 a.m. The tournament will conclude with a barbecue lunch and awards celebration
starting at 1 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to register by Friday, Oct. 22, and may do so online at northgwinnettcoop.org/golf-tournament.
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has voted to approve a 4% pay increase for eligible county employees.
The decision will also raise the salaries of first responders in police, fire and emergency services, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, corrections and E911 by an additional 4%, bringing the total pay increase for these frontline employees to 8%.
“The focus on increased compensation acknowledges the impact of inflation on the cost of living along with the hard work by employees to ensure the uninterrupted provision of the services and programs residents and businesses need to thrive,” an announcement posted on the county’s website reads.
— Staff Reports
The following restaurant health inspection scores were pulled from the Georgia Department of Health between Sept. 16-30, 2021.
• Arte 3 — 1291 Old Peachtree Road NW, Suite 206, Suwanee; 83
• Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzels — 3333 Buford Drive, Space 1010, Buford; 91
• Billy Beez at the Mall of Georgia — 3333 Buford Drive, Suite 1105B, Buford; 96
• Bonefish Grill — 3420 Buford Drive, #590, Buford; 91
• Blaze PIzza — 3385 Woodward Crossing Boulevard, Suite F 11B, Buford; 96
• Branch House Tavern — 5466 McEver Road, Flowery Branch; 100
• Buford Field Nutrition — 4261 S. Lee St., Buford; 97
• Chick-fil-A at Moore Road — 1035 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suwanee; 100
• Chick-fil-A at Robson Crossing — 3405 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch; 100
• Chili’s Grill & Bar #634 — 3215 Buford Drive, Buford; 86
• Cork It Buford — 79 E. Main St. NE, Buford; 96
• Country Pepper — 686 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suite 200, Suwanee; 100
• El Reconcito 100% Guerrerence Taqueria — 1625 Buford Highway NE, Suite C, Buford; 72
• Golden Buddha Restaurant — 4300 Ga. Highway 20, Buford; 89
• Homerun Nutrition — 5458 McEver Road, Suite C-2, Flowery Branch; 100
• Johnny’s New York Style Pizza & Subs — 1145 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suite B1, Suwanee; 96
• Just Be Organic Smoothie Bar — 3333 Buford Drive, K 109-5, Buford; 97
• Pizza Hut #4803 — 2850 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, Suite 11, Suwanee; 95
• Pizza Hut #4805 — 525 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suwanee; 99
• Poetree — 45 Old Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1500, Suwanee; 91
• Roman Oven — 6750 Ga. Highway 53, Braselton; 95
• Sam Won Gak — 1291 Old Peachtree Road NW, Suite 103, Suwanee; 81
• Smoothie King — 2590 Hamilton Mill Road, Suite 114, Buford; 99
• Vinny’s Little Italy — 3616 Atlanta Highway, Suite 900, Flowery Branch; 100
• Waffle House — 1935 Braselton Highway, Buford; 91
• Waffle House #1865 — 5536 MCEver Road, Flowery Branch; 96
Deanna Allen
On Tuesday, Nov. 2, north Gwinnett residents will have the opportunity to head to the polls to vote in local city elections. Several contested races are on the ballots — Buford residents will elect a new member to the Board of Education, Sugar Hill voters will select winners for city council posts 3 and 4, and Suwanee residents will elect a candidate to serve Suwanee City Council Post 5.
The North Gwinnett Voice asked all candidates in contested races to submit a candidate profile and answer several questions regarding their candidacy and expectations for the future in their respective posts. The following are the candidates’ responses.
Buford Board of Education
*To replace Pat Pirkle, who is retiring
Lien Diaz
• Occupation: Director of Educational Innovation and Leadership for the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing, Georgia Tech
• Education: M.Ed. in mathematics education
• Political experience: None
• Contact information: diazforbuford. com
Why are you seeking election to the Buford of Education?
“Serving students has always been my calling because they are the most important part of our community. I understand what it takes to support the academic success of all our students, from cradle to career. And I recognize the importance of promoting collaborative participation with all sectors of our community to propel student achievement, prepare them for college and secure a prosperous future.”
What do you think you bring to the table as a candidate?
“I believe in equitable and quality education for all. I want to ensure every student reaches their full potential. Every child should feel love and a sense of belonging where no one is left out. As our community grows, all our students deserve the best opportunities to succeed.
“I am an advocate for multiple perspectives to be represented when making critical decisions that impact our students. I will ensure different voices are represented and promote transparent, collaborative participation with the Buford community.
“I want our students to prosper and education is a big part of sustaining the economy of our community. I will work to ensure the budget for our school system reflects the values that boost opportunities for every single child in our schools.”
What do you see for the future of Buford City Schools?
“I see BCS becoming a vibrant academic environment where it must prepare all our children to thrive in a technological future across multiple disciplines.”
• Occupation: Insurance agent at Findley Insurance Agency in downtown Buford
• Education: Graduated from Buford High School, Class of 2011; Graduated with degree in early childhood education from University of Georgia, Class of 2014
• Political experience: None
• Contact Information: 560 S. Hill St., Buford, GA 30518
Why are you seeking election to the Buford Board of Education?
“I was born into loving this school system and this town. I’m not unique in that; I think many people from here would tell you the same. But the older I’ve gotten, the more I realize how unique that is for us. Buford and the Buford City School System is a special place, and I would be honored to serve the school well as a member of the board. That said, I am seeking election to the board, first and foremost, because I dearly love it. Our school system is the number one system in the state of Georgia, and that is a result of the
dedication and work of the staff, teachers, custodians, principals, superintendent and school board members over the course of many years. It is my goal to join the school board and be a part of keeping our schools at number one. I hope to continue the work that has been done and set before us and to serve our school and our community well.”
What do you think you bring to the table as a candidate?
“I spent my time at the University of Georgia studying education; my degree is in Early Childhood Education, and I come from a family of educators. My mom retired from the Buford school system after serving for 30 years as a teacher and librarian, and my dad spent the first part of his career in education, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal at Buford. Not only do I bring a background of education, but I also know this place well and want to see it continue to succeed for our children in the here and now and for generations to come. I believe that I bring a fresh perspective and hope to work alongside the other school board members to ensure we are championing every one of our students and equipping them as best as possible to become influential and effective members of both our community and others when they graduate.”
What do you see for the future of Buford City Schools?
“At the risk of being redundant, my hope for the board and for Buford City Schools is that we continue to be a board and school system that pursues excellence in all we do — academically, artistically, and athletically. We must ensure we continue to have teachers, staff, coaches, and leaders that are well equipped and prepared to serve our students well, whether that is my little girl at the daycare of the elementary school or a senior at the high school. We must continue to ensure that we are providing students with the best opportunities to grow, succeed, and learn, be it in the technology we provide, the AP classes we offer, the extracurricular activities we offer, opportunities to serve our community, and beyond. And truthfully, my hope is that our students look back on their time at Buford knowing they’ve been taught and trained well while also knowing that they came from a place whose teachers and leadership genuinely cared and invested in their whole being. That’s what I feel as I look back on my
time at Buford, and it would be my greatest honor to play a small part in facilitating that for each and every student that walks through our doors.”
Buford City Commission
Chris Burge (incumbent) — Running unopposed
Brad Weeks (incumbent) — Running unopposed
Buford Board of Education
Bruce Fricks (incumbent) — Running unopposed
Sugar Hill City Council Post 3
*To replace Susie Walker
Tiffany Hale Carter
• Occupation: Interior designer
• Education: B.A. in broadcast journalism; B.F.A. in interior design; M.I.D. in interior design
• Political experience: None
• Contact information: tiffanyhalecarter 4sugarhill@gmail.com; tiffanyhalecarter 4sugarhill.com; 678-672-6676
Why are you seeking election to the Sugar Hill City Council?
“I am running for Sugar Hill City Council because this city has been good to my family and I. Here, we have grown and thrived. I would like to continue efforts at making sure this is a place where families, just like mine, can plant roots, grow and thrive.”
— From page 5 —
What do you think you bring to the table as a candidate?
“I bring a new and fresh perspective to the table. I also bring diversity, representation and a unique perspective on how to connect the City Council to the community.”
What do you see for the future of Sugar Hill?
“I am very excited about Sugar Hill’s future. As we continue to grow, I want to focus on four main areas for our community.
“1) Families First: Sugar Hill has impressive resources available for the enrichment of our children and families. I will promote city partnerships with local schools to encourage students and teachers to take advantage of those resources.
“2) Support for Entrepreneurs and Local Businesses: I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a wide range of entrepreneurs in our Sweet City. I will create opportunities for those entrepreneurs and local business owners to be directly supported by our community.
“3) Diversity & Inclusion: One of the reasons my family decided to plant roots in Sugar Hill was because of the diversity represented in our neighborhood. I will foster diversity and inclusion and create opportunities for us to learn from and celebrate each other’s differences. I believe we are all ONE community.
“4) Continued Dedication to Service: I will create opportunities for community involvement in our city by connecting our citizens directly with the City Council. The City Council is a representation of the people, and to be as transparent as possible, we need to hear from them.
“Sugar Hill is such a “sweet” place to live, and I want to continue the good work of making Sugar Hill a welcoming city for all kinds of families and their children.”
• Occupation: Marketing
• Education: B.S. in health science from Georgia Southern University, 1995
• Political experience: None
• Contact information: jennthatcherfor sugarhill@gmail.com; Facebook: facebook. com/JennThatcher ForSugarHill/ or jenn thatcherforsugarhill.wordpress.com
Why are you seeking election to the Sugar Hill City Council?
“My family moved to Sugar Hill in 2013 drawn in by the small town feel and the potential that we saw with the development of downtown. I want to be a part of driving the process; I want to ensure that our current and future growth is not only sustainable but that it balances future development with the active green spaces that contribute to Sugar Hill’s charm.”
What do you think you bring to the table as a candidate?
“This is my first foray into public service so I’m not part of the traditional ‘political machine.’ I have 25 years of experience in business, marketing and corporate communications and I believe that uniquely positions me to best connect the wants, needs, and concerns of all the residents of Sugar Hill and the businesses who have set up shop here.”
What do you see for the future of Sugar Hill?
“I see Sugar Hill as a destination city for North Georgia. I see our downtown continuing to draw in residents and people from surrounding communities to enjoy dining, civic and cultural events. I think our untapped potential lies in our active green spaces — opening our greenway and developing trail systems for hiking and mountain biking will allow us to draw in people and events — and their disposable spending — from far outside our community.”
Amber Chambers
*This candidate did not respond to requests for information.
Nicholas Greene
• Occupation: Insurance agency owner
• Education: B.S. from Georgia Southern University
• Political experience: City council member for Sugar Hill
• Contact information: ngreene@ cityofsugarhill.com
Why are you seeking re-election to the Sugar Hill City Council?
“I am seeking re-election to the Sugar Hill City Council because I have enjoyed serving the great citizens of Sugar Hill as the Incumbent for Post 4. I think we as a city council have made great strides in building a thriving community not only in our downtown area but in the entire city. We want to keep Sugar Hill moving in a forward direction with thoughtful and planned growth based on what citizens want.”
What do you think you bring to the table as the incumbent candidate?
“My family and I have been residents of Sugar Hill for 12 years and I am the owner of a small business near downtown. Over the years, I have spoken with many in our community about what their vision of the city looks like. This has brought knowledge of the goals our community values, which helps to make informed decisions while serving on the city council.”
What do you see for the future of Sugar Hill?
“For the future of Sugar Hill, I see a thriving, economically sound city that supports its local businesses and schools, a walkable downtown that allows its citizens access to world class amenities, and one that brings a sense of community to everyone who calls Sugar Hill home.”
Mayor of Sugar Hill
Brandon Hembree — Running unopposed
Sugar Hill City Council Post 1
*To replace Brandon Hembree
Mason Roszel — Running unopposed
Sugar Hill City Council Post 5
Taylor Anderson (incumbent) — Running unopposed
CONTESTED RACE
Suwanee City Council Post 5
Peter Charpentier (incumbent)
• Occupation: Director of marketing — Ingenico
• Education: Business administration/marketing, University of Central Florida
• Political experience: Suwanee City Council, 2020-2021; Suwanee Planning Commission (18 years); Suwanee Board of Appeals (two years)
• Contact information: peteforsuwanee@ gmail.com
Why are you seeking re-election to the Suwanee City Council?
“I am seeking re-election to give back to Suwanee and my community. I have lived in Suwanee for over 23 years and raised my family here. I have enjoyed the benefits of this great community and want to help others to enjoy the same.”
What do you think you bring to the table as a candidate?
“I bring extensive experience and knowledge of the city with a willingness to listen to my fellow Suwanee residents. I have been involved with Suwanee as a volunteer for over 20 years. I served on the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Suwanee Day and many city resident committees. I am open to hear what the residents are saying with the integrity to take the right action even if not popular. I have a proven track record on the planning commission of voting for what I feel is right for Suwanee.”
What do you see for the future of Suwanee?
“I want to ensure that the hopes and concerns of all residents and business owners are heard and honored in the future direction of Suwanee. I will work to maintain the safety and balanced environment we all enjoy while allowing for controlled appropriate growth. I would like to see additional restaurants and businesses to allow Suwanee residents to shop and dine close to home. I want to continue the momentum that makes Suwanee a great place to live.”
Jonathan Marcantonio
• Occupation: Director of business intelligence — See ELECTION page 7 —
Alicia Couch Payne
A new townhome development will be coming to downtown Buford on the site of the former Clack’s gas station on West Main Street in between South Alexander Street and Church Street.
The proposal presented to the Buford City Commission during its Monday, Oct. 4, meeting asked for the rezoning of 106 and 130 W.
Main St. from the general business district to RM multifamily residential district with a special use permit to allow for attached townhomes.
BBC Investment Group LLC of Suwanee was approved to construct eight attached townhomes on the .518 acre site with multiple conditions they must meet. No one came forward with any objections to the proposed development.
According to the conditions approved by the Buford City Commission, the townhomes will be three stories in height with a minimum of 1,800 square feet of heated floor area. The townhomes must feature four sides consisting of 40% brick or stone with accents that can be brick, stone, rock, stucco, shakes, Hardiplank and concrete siding that cannot exceed 60%.
The yards will feature sod and
must have at least one ornamental tree per yard. The developer must ensure the sidewalks that are required for new developments tie into the existing pedestrian sidewalk system already in place along Main Street.
The townhomes will have driveways accessible by Jones Alley, which BBC Investment Group must pay to improve “per the standards of Buford Development Reg-
ulations.” Jones Alley will have to meet the standard street width and have a right of way. The driveways themselves will have to be at least 18 feet in length.
The piece of land was originally purchased by the city of Buford and then deeded over to the Buford Downtown Development Authority. The Buford DDA put the property up for sale by bids with BBC Investment Group winning the bid.
• Education: B.A. in business management, finance/economics
• Political experience: None
• Contact information: Marcantonio@Your Suwanee.com; YourSuwanee.com; Facebook: Your Suwanee
Why are you seeking a seat on the Suwanee City Council?
“I feel a sense of ownership in the City of Suwanee. I grew up in Sugar Hill and graduated from North Gwinnett. After High School I attended college on Long Island, NY, at Stony Brook University. I then lived in Queens, NY for a couple years before deciding my heart was really back in Georgia. I moved to Suwanee in 2012 because the city embodies everything I love about the south. A welcoming spirit, a deep sense of community, and a bright outlook on the future. I have a passion for community involvement and I want to do anything I can to help my fellow Suwanee residents continue to realize their dreams in Suwanee. My goal in running for Suwanee City Council is to deepen the connection between the residents of Suwanee and its policy makers and be a voice for all my neighbors on the council. I am also very excited for the opportunity to work with the members of the council to further the goals of the City of Suwanee.”
What do you think you bring to the table as a candidate?
“I bring a passion for the city that I hope can inspire every resident to get more in-
volved. I am just the Dad next door you stop and chat with while walking your dog. I have not been involved in the committees or surrounded by the influencers the incumbent or other candidate has. I am not a politician and have never run or served in any office other than volunteering to serve my neighborhood through the HOA. I bring an upbringing in the area that remembers when this was all farmland and trees. I have watched the city grow my whole life and it has given me a love for small town America and a desire to shop local and see small businesses thrive. I don’t care about politics, I care about practical kindness and genuine encouragement. I feel the people that live in Suwanee are what makes Suwanee so special and I will tend to the garden of togetherness if I am elected. I feel my business background working and leading diverse teams dealing with complicated problems will aid in bringing unity to the council and the people they serve.”
What do you see for the future of Suwanee?
“I try to see the future of Suwanee through the eyes of each resident and small business owner I talk to about our city. The small voices are the loudest to me and I believe the future of Suwanee lies in the children that are being brought up here. I want to give those children every opportunity and resource to be successful future residents and small business owners in Suwanee. I hope that throughout my campaign my vision of the future is further shaped and molded by the residents of Suwanee. My hope is to realize their vision of the future. The City of Suwanee has done a great job in engaging its residents to share their voice. Suwanee’s 20/20 Vision Strategic Plan was one of the most comprehensive community involved projects I have
seen. My goal is to advance that vision and prioritize the community’s goals over those of big business and big builders.”
David Martinez
• Occupation: Doctoral student of criminal justice
• Education: Master’s in criminal justice
• Political experience: None
• Contact information: martinezfor suwanee@gmail.com; 470-266-1395
Why are you seeking a seat on the Suwanee City Council?
“I am running for Suwanee City Council to make certain our elected officials work for everyone by promoting transparency and communication. I will listen to my constituents and ensure decisions are made that benefits everyone for generations to come.
“My lifetime of service to our country and community has prepared me for this moment. Not only do I understand the inner workings of government, but I also recognize the partnerships that are required to build thriving communities.
“I am excited to meet the community members of Suwanee and look forward to working for you.”
What do you think you bring to the table as a candidate?
“As a candidate for Suwanee City Council, I bring over 20 years of real-life experiences working with residents, organizations, and businesses to problem-solve community is-
sues. I have personally worked with Gwinnett Place and Sugarloaf Community Improvement Districts (CID), Sugarloaf Mills Mall, Mall of Georgia, City of Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and many more to promote public safety and improve the quality of life for everyone. I have spent my life listening to community concerns and working to effectively solve these issues. I am studying a Doctorate in Criminal Justice and have the ability to analyze information, research data, and simplify details, which are shared in a manner for everyone to understand. If elected, I will host a monthly community meeting to listen to community issues and develop better government transparency and open lines of communication with the public.”
What do you see for the future of Suwanee?
“The future of Suwanee should be a place for our children to obtain a high-quality education, a location for small business growth, and a community where people may live and retire. We must preserve our family values here in Suwanee and I will make certain our community has greater input into the city’s comprehensive plan.”
Suwanee City Council Post 3
Linnea Miller (incumbent) — Running unopposed
Suwanee City Council Post 4
Beth Hilscher (incumbent) — Running unopposed
Joy W. Fowler
Hundreds of spectators were transported back in time on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the sight of more than 300 antique and classic cars parked throughout Buford High School’s parking lot. The inaugural event was the first of its kind for the newly formed, Buford-based Classic Auto Rides car club. “CARS” is a nonprofit organization started in January 2021 as a charity to give back to the community, according to Buford resident Angela Aman, the organization’s marketing and event planner.
Whereas many car clubs come together over their love of cars, this group wanted to give back and make their events about charity.
“Over $50,000 was donated this year,” Aman said. “Next year, our goal is going to be $100,000.”
North Gwinnett Co-Op, Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter, Friends-U-Need, Gwinnett Veterans Resource Center, Buford High School and Whispering Angels Youth Ranch were the recipients of donations from Saturday’s event. All are Buford-based except Whispering Angels of Gainesville, an equine therapy facility that rescues horses and pairs them with children and teens who have been victims of severe trauma.
Additionally, “we gave $6,045 through the co-op to the Buford
family who recently lost their mom in a fire and their dad to COVID days later,” Aman said.
Entrants paid a $20 registration fee to show off their prized autos, and spectators attended the event for free. Yearly membership is $50 to join the car club and turns over a new year each January.
“We are always looking for members,” Aman said.
Anyone can become a member and support the organization, and any business can become a sponsor. This year’s sponsors included Rick Hendricks Chevrolet and Jeff Taylor Performance, who each donated motors that were given away as raffle prizes; Concept One, who donated a pulley system; and JEGS, one of the world’s largest auto parts distributors.
Fifty awards were given out Saturday. Judges examined the cars’ interiors, exteriors, engines and undercarriages.
Satisfied with the tremendous success of the event, Aman added, “Today was bigger and better than we could’ve imagined.”
The next CARS event will be a cruise-in to be held in Buford the first Saturday in April 2022. Multiple cruise-ins are planned for April through September next year at Tannery Row Ale House.
For more information on the CARS Classic Auto Rides group, visit them at their future website, classicautoridesga.com.
For the first time ever, the city of Sugar Hill’s annual Sugar Rush festival will be a two-day event. The festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16 and 17, in downtown Sugar Hill along West Broad Street.
The theme for this year’s Sugar Rush festival is “Artfully Festive” and the event will be a celebration of all
things artistic. The festival will have “a curated blend of performing, visual and culinary arts” according to a statement from the city of Sugar Hill. The festival will have a juried arts show that will feature local, regional and international artists using a wide variety of mediums. These works of art will be on display at the festival, as well as the Sugar Hill Art Gallery located inside of The Local
apartment complex across from the E Center.
Artisans will be on hand demonstrating their crafts while performing artists will take to the stage at the E Center. Visitors to the two-day festival can make their own crafts to take home as well as shop the many local vendors that will be present. Live music and a selection of food trucks will also be available for vis-
itors to enjoy.
The festival will wrap up Saturday night with a free concert at The Bowl featuring country music artist David Nail, who hails from Kennet, Missouri. Nail is a Grammy-nominated artist who made his debut in 2002 with his single “Memphis.” A few of his top songs include “I’m About to Come Alive,” “The Sound of a Million
Dreams” and “I’m a Fighter.”
The Sugar Rush Festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, with the concert featuring David Nail set to begin at 7 p.m. and run through 11 p.m. Sunday’s festivities will be held from noon to 6 p.m.
For more details about the seventh annual Sugar Rush festival, visit cityofsugarhill.com.
There is a twisted and dark sort of place where terror reigns not far off the beaten path. It is a trail. A trail where all of your deepest fears and nightmares come to life, a Trail of Terror.
The Trail of Terror, a haunted attraction in Buford, is the brainchild of Matthew Miller, a hair stylist and owner of Matthew’s & Co. Salon in Flowery Branch. Miller, a self-professed “product of the Stephen King generation,” opened the twisted attraction in 2018. His love of non-fictional horror has fed his need to open the trail, which is located off of Friendship Road each year.
“We want to bring Halloween excitement and fun to our community,” Miller said. “As locals from this area we always had to drive so far to go to a haunted house. (The Trail of Terror) was needed.”
A little walk through the woods has never been so scary. The Trail of Terror has a large number of hellions, clowns, twisted minions and more waiting to terrify those brave enough to attempt the trail. Miller and his crew have thoroughly thrown themselves into their roles and have spent close to three months preparing the different scenes along the trail. The actors get
creative with their makeup and costumes, often spending hours making sure they achieve that shock factor.
At times, the trail’s scenes or buildings can be extremely disorienting due to extreme sensory deprivation. This alone can scare many as one is immersed in total darkness, never knowing what may be lurking ahead. And there is always someone lurking nearby as the trail throws one fright after another at those who traverse it.
If ghastly characters, terrifying scenes, panic inducing sensory deprivation and being startled nonstop were not enough, the location of the trail adds an extra fear factor. The trail winds its way through an actual forest. Walking through the forest, one might wonder what is beyond the trees beside them as the forest is excellent for providing hiding spots.
The attraction averaged 500 people per night who tried their luck on the trail last year, and Miller has high expectations for this season. The Trail of Terror has a crew of more than 40 people who work hard to give their customers the absolute best experience possible.
“We love to give our youth employment and a platform to be creative while having a blast,” Miller said.
Have an event you’d like to add to our calendar? Email the details — what, when, where, cost and for more information — to deanna@northgwinnettvoice.com.
Jen Kober
The Buford Community Center will welcome comedienne Jen Kober to the Sylvia Beard Theatre stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8. The community center is at 2200 Buford Highway. Tickets are $20 to $25. For more information, visit bufordcommunitycenter.com.
Crews start prepping for the upcoming Halloween season three
The Suwanee Winter Farmers Market will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Town Center Park, 220 Town Center Ave. in Suwanee. For more information, visit suwanee.com.
Braselton Medieval Faire
The Braselton Medieval Faire will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, on the Braselton Town Green. The event, which will include living history demonstrations and a variety of vendors, is free to attend. For more information, go to visitbraselton.com.
Suwanee Taste of BBQ & Music Festival
The Suwanee Taste of BBQ & Music Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Town Center Park, 220 Town Center Ave. The event will include vendors, music by local bands, a kids’ area and an artist market. The event is a fundraiser for Project Green, a children’s nonprofit, and the festival is free to attend. For more information, visitaliveexpo.com/festival.
Kip Moore
Kip Moore will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Buford Community Center, 2200 Buford
so crews have time to complete repairs and ready the attraction for guests. They also work on building any new scenes that are to be added for the year.
The Trail of Terror is at 3760 Friendship Circle in Buford and is open Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. through Oct. 30. They will be open on Sunday, Oct. 24 from 8 to 11 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 31 from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. The trail is open for one last night after Halloween. It will be open on Friday, Nov. 6 from 8 to 11 p.m.
When asked about the length and duration of the trail, Miller replied, “It’s 1.25 miles. We always laugh when people ask how long it takes to complete. Are you gonna run? Walk? Or hide?”
For more information and tickets, visit bufordtrailofterror.com.
months in advance. The trail is not taken down during the off season,
*DISCLAIMER: It is advised that any person who suffers with a medical condition involving breathing issues, epilepsy, heart problems, mental illness or are in overall poor health do not try the trail. If someone is physically unfit, they might have a harder time finishing the trail as one has to walk a long distance on various terrain. The attraction uses heavy fog and smoke for theatrical effect. This can aggravate anyone who is sensitive to the fog and smoke.
Highway. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and admission is free. For more information, visit bufordcommunitycenter.com.
Braselton Medieval Faire
The Braselton Medieval Faire will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, on the Braselton Town Green. The event, which will include living history demonstrations and a variety of vendors, is free to attend. For more information, go to visitbraselton.com.
Braselton Zombie 5K Run
The Braselton Zombie 5K Run will be held from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sat-
urday, Oct. 16, in downtown Braselton. The race is an official AJC Peachtree Road Race Qualifying Event and benefits the Downtown Development Authority. For more information, visit runsignup.com/Race/GA/Braselton/ Zombie5KRun.
Suwanee Wine Fest will host a Spooky Spirits 5K from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Town Center Park, 220 Town Center Ave. in Suwanee. This is a timed, Peachtree Road Race qualifier. For more information, visit suwaneewinefest.com/spooky-spirits-5k/.
Ana Ramirez is a 17-year-old senior at Buford High School. She lives in Buford with her parents, Roberto Ramirez and Beatriz Blas, and her two siblings, Angel Ramirez, 15, and Vanessa Ramirez, 13. Ana has been chosen as Student of the Week in recognition of her academic success and leadership.
In her second year as president of both HOSA and the HoPe Club at BHS, which she cites as having been her most influential school activities, Ana is also a two-year member of the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society and a threeyear member of Beta Club. She has also served on the BHS Student Council for four years, as well as the Buford Student Leadership Team Executive Council, where she’s served since her sophomore year. During her sophomore year, she was also inducted into the Gwinnett Student Leadership Team.
She has maintained a 3.9 GPA while taking eight Advanced Placement classes and credits her teachers for allowing her to grow academically.
“Every teacher that has ever taught me has played an important part of my high school career,” Ana said when asked to name her favorite teacher. “I am unable to select just one person because I truly value and am grateful for every single one I have crossed paths with. These people have become my mentors, my friends, but most importantly people I know I can always count on even after high school. If I have ever had the privilege to sit in your classroom, thank you for allowing me to gain and grow a voice through your sincere teachings.”
Ana credits her mother for her influence, motivation and sacrifice; and she balances her hectic schedule with laughs and family time. Her unique “method for de-stressing is to simply dance it out,” she said. “I play the first song that pops up in my library and dance as long as that song lasts. It is something that my mami would always do with me when I became stressed, and I still continue to do it when I become overwhelmed with the task at hand.
“Having a moment to take a breather and laugh away has been the best remedy for life’s toughest moments.” Ana continued. “My favorite times are those spent with my abuelitos, tias (aunts), and tios (uncles).”
Motivated by the joy she brings to others, Ana describes herself as a servant leader who enjoys giving back to her community through the clubs in which she participates. Her career ambitions include becoming a physician and helping underserved communities.
— Joy W. Fowler
Joy W. Fowler
The 75th Annual Miss Buford Pageant was held on Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Buford High School Performing Arts Center. Senior Emilee Akins was crowned Miss Buford 2022.
Other titles awarded were Miss Junior, Mara Eva Cline; Miss Sophomore, Josephine Ibarra; and Miss Freshman, Tanner Moon. First Runner-Up to Miss Buford was Madeline Sharp. The award for Miss Congeniality was presented to Tanner Moon, Miss Runway to Madeline Sharp and Miss Photogenic to Josephine Ibarra.
“I was inspired to participate in
the Miss Buford pageant by my older sister, Katelynn,” said first-time participant Tanner Moon. “I remember watching her win the crown and use her title to serve others, so I wanted to be just like her.”
Tanner is no stranger to Miss Buford, having been involved with the Future Miss Buford “little sister” program when she was in elementary school and her sister competed and won the title of Miss Buford 2018.
“I am so excited to be Miss Freshman Buford because I can be a positive role model for younger kids and serve my community,” Taylor added.
The annual, historic fundrais-
er is sponsored by the Buford High School Choral Music Department and produced by BHS choral director Mr. Taylor Greer. Ten girls participated in three phases of competition including interview, casual wear and formal wear. First time emcees Mrs. Merideth Drake (Buford Middle School chorus teacher) and Mr. Greg Hunter (BHS alumnus and first-year BHS theatre teacher) entertained the audience during the hour-anda-half pageant, which included the ever-popular Mr. Buford entertainment segment.
Carter Hales, a junior, was awarded the title of Mr. Buford.
“He sported a chainsaw — with
the chain removed, of course,” Greer said, “as a representation of his interest in forestry and construction.”
The participants in Mr. Buford served as escorts for the Miss Buford contestants during the elegant evening wear competition, then performed their own humorous brand of onstage modeling. The winner of the Mr. Buford title was selected through audience donations.
The Miss Buford winners were selected by a panel of three pageant judges, using criteria and a scoring system similar to the standards of the traditional Miss America Organization. The Miss Buford winners will have an opportunity to represent
their community through various service projects throughout the year including the upcoming BHS Homecoming Parade.
“I have participated in Miss Buford all four years, and it has introduced me to an amazing group of girls and allowed me to make unforgettable memories with some of my best friends,” said the newly crowned Miss Buford 2022, Emilee Akins. “I feel that my experience competing has allowed me to gain confidence and given me an opportunity to serve others, as well as allowed me to be true to myself.”
For more information, visit missbuford.com.
Joy W. Fowler
Each year, schools across Georgia name a Teacher of the Year in hopes of having their representative selected at the district, state and national levels. The Georgia Teacher of the Year Program is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Education. The educator chosen for this high honor is charged with the task of traveling across the state throughout their year of service as an ambassador for education, speaking to various educators and civic organizations.
The Buford City Schools Teachers of the Year for 2022 are:
• Buford Elementary — Lynn Perkins
• Buford Academy — Susan Lanza
• Buford Senior Academy — Sandi Brewer
• Buford Middle — Cassie Bro
• Buford High — Melissa Green
The Gwinnett County Public Schools Teachers of the Year for 2022 (in the north Gwinnett coverage area) are:
Lanier cluster (Sugar Hill)
Robert Downs, superintendent; and Dr. Amy Chafin, assistant superintendent. Photo courtesy of bufordcityschools.org
• Lanier High — Jordan Brannen
• Lanier Middle — Angelique Sharpe
• Sugar Hill Elementary — Margaret Tontillo
• Sycamore Elementary — Cynthia Bennett
• White Oak Elementary — Melissa Neely Mill Creek cluster (Hoschton)
• Duncan Creek Elementary — Jennifer Chandler
• Fort Daniel Elementary — Kevin Glausier
• Harmony Elementary — Hannah England
• Ivy Creek Elementary — Angela Williams
• Jones Middle — Alyson Carroll
• Mill Creek HS — Laurel Christopher
• Osborne MS — Nicole Merrill
• Puckett’s Mill Elementary — Kelly Powell
North Gwinnett cluster (Suwanee)
• Level Creek Elementary — Stacey Speicher
• North Gwinnett High — John Rhilinger
• North Gwinnett Middle — Jenny Stark
• Riverside Elementary — Rita Arsenault
• Roberts Elementary — Shea Criss
• Suwanee Elementary — Karen Phillips
Mrs. Susan Lanza from Buford Academy was named the 2022 Buford City School System’s Teacher of the Year.
“Mrs. Lanza will represent us well at the state level,” said Buford City Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Downs. “We look forward to recognizing Mrs. Lanza and all of our school-level teachers of the year at our annual banquet in the spring.”
For more information on Georgia’s Teacher of the Year program, visit gadoe.org.
The Buford High School Dance Department hosted its third annual Dancing with the Wolves dance show at the BHS Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Oct. 2.
“Taking our lead from ABC’s hit show ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ nondance students from Buford City Schools performed and competed with an Advanced Dance student from the BHS Dance department for the coveted mirror ball trophy,” said BHS Dance Director Ashley Smith. “It was a fun night of dancing and entertainment and was a great way to kick off the 2021-22 season!”
BHS Assistant Principal Dr. Tim Harris hosted the event, which included pre-recorded video interviews with the 11 dance teams, their featured pieces and a finale by the entire troupe. The evening was capped off by the exciting announcement of winners.
The past two years’ shows have
featured Advanced Dance students and a BHS teacher. Two consecutive mirror ball trophies have landed in the home of BHS football coach David Snell and BMS math teacher
Mrs. Amy Snell, with whom their Class of 2021 daughters shared the stage in 2018 and 2019. This year, Smith chose to change it up and feature other students from throughout the school system — many of whom were family duos, a delight to the audience.
Two winners were announced — a People’s Choice Award, the act with the most audience dollar votes, and the overall champion. The People’s
Choice winner was the pair of sisters, Delaney and Sydney Holton.
“It felt awesome to dance with my sister,” said Buford Senior Academy fourth grader Delaney. “I love her, and I love dancing, so what could be better than dancing with her! Win-
ning People’s Choice felt awesome; I was so happy and surprised!”
Judges were Callie and Caroline Snell, Class of 2021 graduates and winners of the 2018 and 2019 Dancing with the Wolves competitions, and Kathleen Perkins Welch, a 2011 BHS graduate who danced for 14 years at the Buford School of Ballet and was a member of the BHS Chorus and danced in variety shows during her four years of high school.
“It was so much fun to dance with my sister for the first time,” said Sydney Holton, Buford High School senior and People’s Choice Award winner.
Holton has been dancing for 14 years and studies at Heather Wayne’s Performing Arts in Braselton, as well as being a standout performer in Advanced Dance, Musical Theatre, and Chamber Chorus. She is also captain of the BHS Dance Team. “I would like to thank Mrs. Smith for such a special, memorable moment.”
The Dancing with the Wolves champion and winner of the coveted mirror ball trophy was the duo of Hallie Walsh and Mariana Borja. The overall champion was determined by judges’ scoring. Criteria included three categories: performance, execution and crowd reaction.
Meet Benjie Wood, a graduate of Buford High School from the Class of 1990. Benjie is the son of Benny Wood and Carole Martin. He was raised in Buford and attended Buford City Schools from the time he was a kindergartener through the 12th grade. That puts Benjie in that special group of Buford “lifetimers.”
Benjie was an active student at Buford High School participating in up to three sports at times along with a few clubs. Athletics were his main extracurricular activities as he was a member of both the basketball team and the baseball team from 1987 to 1990. He also participated with the cross country team for a season in 1988. Benjie set the school’s assist record in basketball during his time at BHS.
“I won a few awards, but the one that was most special was the Deano Kilgore Award because Deano was my cousin,” Benjie said.
History and PE were Benjie’s favorite subjects in school. He was a good student, maintaining close to a 4.0 GPA while at BHS. Benjie said his favorite teacher from his Buford High School days was Ashley Newman,
a social studies teacher and yearbook advisor.
“Mrs. Newman was just such a genuinely caring person,” Benjie said. “She cared about our well being beyond what we accomplished in the classroom.”
One thing that Benjie said he learned in the hallways and gym of Buford High School was how to have grit. The grit he picked up at BHS has served him well throughout his life.
After graduating from Buford High School, Benjie attended the University of Georgia and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1994. He later achieved a master’s degree from the University of Alabama in 2004 and then his
specialist’s degree in 2012 from LMU.
Benjie has come full circle back to the place that taught him so much — he is a PE teacher and the head men’s basketball coach at Buford High School. Benjie was hired in May 2021 to replace Eddie Martin, who was retiring.
Before coming to Buford, Benjie was the head coach at Cherokee Bluff, Gainesville, North Hall, Johnson and Madison County. He had a 447-184 record during those stints as head coach. He led teams to numerous trips into the state playoffs.
When asked why he chose his profession of teaching and coaching, Benjie said, “I had a lot of people influence me as a young person. It’s my turn to give back.
“What I enjoy the most are the relationships and watching these young people grow into adulthood,” Benjie said.
While he wasn’t actively looking for a new job when the opportunity presented itself to return to his alma mater, he just had to take the position.
“It has been very special coming home,” Benjie said. “There are a lot of people in Buford that helped me become the person I am
today. I’m excited to give back to the community that has given so much to me. One of my best friends growing up was Tim Wansley. His son Brennan is on our team. That’s very rewarding for me.”
Benjie lives in Flowery Branch with his wife, Nicole. their daughter Avery who is 14 and their son Cooper who is 9. In his downtime, Benjie enjoys spending time with his
family and friends, as well as working out.
After learning so much from the staff members at Buford City Schools, including how to have grit, Benjie took those lessons and began a career that helps shape future generations into adults. Benjie is now giving back to the very community that molded him. Once a Wolf, always a Wolf! — Alicia Couch Payne
Alicia Couch Payne
Buford High School hosted its 10th annual Buford Cheer Classic on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Buford Arena. The competition consisted of 70 competition cheerleading teams — 11 middle school teams, 11 JV teams and 49 varsity teams.
The first group of the day consisted of the 11 middle school squads. Buford Middle School came in first place in the large middle school division, followed by Cherokee Bluff Middle School in second place and Lakeside Middle School in third. In the standard middle school division, Greater Atlanta Christian took home first place, while Hart County came in second.
In both the JV and varsity divisions, Buford competed for scores only and did not take home any trophies from the competition as it is standard practice for the host not to place. With that being said, both teams representing Buford gave strong performances and if they were allowed to place, most likely they would have been one of the top teams.
“We were very pleased and excited with middle school, JV and varsity performances,” Buford head competition cheer coach Sta-
cey Schmuhl said. “We had a lot to be proud of Saturday!”
The following are the results for the Buford Cheer Classic:
• JV — Session One: Cambridge (first place) and North Gwinnett (second place)
• JV — Session Two: McIntosh (first place) and Northgate (second place)
• JV — Coed: Creekview (first place) and Buford competed for scores only
• Varsity — A Public: Lake Oconee Academy (first place)
• Varsity — A Private: Mount Paran (first place)
• Varsity — AAA: Morgan County (first place), Greater Atlanta Christian (second place) and East Forsyth (third place)
• Varsity — AAAA: Jefferson (first place) and Cedartown (second place)
• Varsity — AAAAA: McIntosh (first place) and Ola (second place)
• Varsity — AAAAAA: Cambridge (first place), Lanier (second place) and Creekview (third place); Buford competed for scores only
• Varsity — AAAAAAA: Lambert (first place), South Forsyth (second place) and West Forsyth (third place); North Gwinnett competed for scores only
• Varsity — Coed: Northgate (first place), Milton (second place) and Chapel Hill (third place)
The Buford Cheer Classic is larger than your average competition, which usually has between 20 to 40 teams competing. An event of this size requires ample resources to make it run smoothly. Staff from Buford City Schools along with 40 parent volunteers and athletes worked all day to make the event a success.
“Our cheer parents and cheerleaders were phenomenal. They are the reason our event is so successful,” Schmuhl said. “The Buford City Schools and their staff work tirelessly to make sure we have everything we need to run an event like this. It truly takes a village to make an event like this happen.”
The BHS varsity competition cheerleading team will be in action next on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Creekview High School.
Every two years, the Georgia High School Association holds reclassification meetings to discuss if they wish to change how its 463 public and private schools are classified. The GHSA State Executive Committee held its fall meeting Sunday, Oct. 4, in Macon to vote on a proposal submitted by the reclassification committee.
The reclassification committee outlined a proposal that would increase the multiplier used for out-of-zone students in calculating each school’s enrollment numbers. City schools like Carrollton and Buford could be in jeopardy of being bumped up to Class AAAAAAA after the state executive committee voted 14-5 to increase the multiplier from 2.0 to 3.0 during the meeting.
“(The increased multiplier of 3.0) will most likely move us to 7A,” said Tony Wolfe, the athletic director at Buford High School. “It is unclear what the new cutoff line will be dividing 6A from 7A, but we suspect it will push us over the line. Our multiplied enrollment number will be around 2,600, far above the previous cutoff number of 2,100.”
Alicia Couch Payne
Buford Middle School works hard to prepare kids for high school in all areas, including athletics. The BMS softball program is no exception.
“The middle school program is all about preparing girls for high school. We treat middle school as a development program that will feed into the high school program so girls will be prepared and ready for the next step,” said Whitney Wolfe, head of the Buford Middle School softball program. “Middle school is all about learning the game, learning the Buford way and growing as a young lady, softball player and teammate.”
The middle school had four softball teams this year with two playing in the A division and two playing in the B division.
“This was our first year having four teams because the number of girls and the level of talent continues to grow,” Wolfe said. “We are so proud of what the girls and coaches accomplished and can’t wait to see the girls in high school. The future looks bright for both the middle school and high school program.”
One of the teams, Buford Castorri, which is an A division team, went 14-0 this year. The team is coached by Christian Castorri, Jason Atha and Rob Stanton. They were undefeated in the regular season 10-0. On Saturday, Oct. 2, the team won the platinum division, going 4-0 during the tournament.
“The team played very well, played fast and aggressive and had most of the team pulling in the same direction,” Christian Castorri said.
The Buford Middle School softball team coached by Christian Castorri, Jason Atha and Rob Stanton has gone undefeated this season with a 14-0 record.
Alicia Couch Payne
For the second consecutive week, the Buford varsity football team shut out its opponent. The Wolves rolled to an easy win over Habersham Central at Tom Riden Stadium on Friday, Oct. 1, with a final score of 58-0.
Buford’s defense has been on top of its game as the players limited the Raiders to just 75 yards of total offense. The Raiders’ offensive line just could not hold Buford’s defense back, which limited their momentum. Habersham would end up with only five first downs for the entire game. Buford had 410 offensive yards and 16 first downs.
Buford (5-1, 2-0) scored a touchdown after just over two minutes into the game when Ashton Daniels connected with
Buford scores a safety against Habersham Central as #33 Nate Norys comes crashing straight through the middle of Habersham Central’s offensive line to tackle Zeke Whittington in the end zone. Photo by Alicia Couch Payne
Isaiah Bond on a 44-yard touchdown pass. Daniels would find Bond just minutes later as Bond
scored off of a 50-yard pass. Daniels threw for 117 yards and two touchdowns as he was 5-for-5 on
his passing attempts.
The Wolves added one more touchdown in the first quarter when Christian Butler rushed into the end zone to put Buford up 21-0 to end the quarter.
Dylan Wittke would take over in the quarterback spot for Buford at the start of the second quarter. Just over a minute into the second quarter, Wittke would run 4 yards for a touchdown. The Raiders were on their 4-yard line when Buford senior Nate Norys pushed through Habersham Central’s offensive line to tackle Zeke Whittington for a safety.
Bond added his third touchdown of the night with 4:45 left in the second quarter when he returned a kickoff 60 yards into the end zone. Buford would go into halftime up 37-0. Bond would end
the night with 154 yards off of two receptions for 94 yards and the one kickoff return for 60 yards.
In the third quarter, senior running back Victor Venn had a 48-yard run into the end zone for a touchdown. Venn had Buford’s most rushing yards with 99 yards on seven carries.
With 3:50 left in the third quarter, Wittke connected with KJ Bolden on a 66-yard touchdown pass to put the Wolves up 51-0. Wittke was 2-for-4 passing with 73 passing yards and a touchdown on the night.
Buford added its final touchdown of the night when Jaylen Neal rushed for 36 yards. The Wolves ended their night up 58-0 over Habersham Central. Neal had the second-most rushing yards with 58 yards on 4 carries.
Bond’s performance over the past two weeks has been impressive. In the game against Central Gwinnett on Sept. 24, Bond had three receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. On Oct. 1, in Buford’s game against Habersham Central, Bond had two catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He also got a touchdown off of a 60-yard kickoff return against Habersham Central.
Congratulations, Isaiah Bond! Keep up the good work! Go Wolves!
