Today’s Focus

From left are Jasper, Grayson, Darrell, Baxter, and Joni.  

FOCUS: Dahlonega family is flip-flopping the Appalachian Trail

By Jordan Shenefield |  After three years of planning, the Skogman family of Dahlonega began their flip-flop hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) on May 31.  My wife and I drove our daughter Joni, her husband, Darrell, and their three  sons (Jasper, 15; Baxter, 13; and Grayson, 11) to their jumping off point, High Point State Park, N.J.

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by · September 2, 2022 · Today's Focus
U.S. Supreme Court

FOCUS: The packed SCOTUS will eventually be nonpartisan again

By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist | The new Supreme Court has become something unrecognizable, something that could have been featured in one of your Stephen King’s novels.

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by · August 30, 2022 · Today's Focus
Hardegree

FOCUS: 1st-year results of Community Response Team is impressive

By Melissa Hardegree  |  Two behavioral health clinicians are now embedded into field operations with police officers to be dispatched on crisis-related calls.  The clinicians will assist people to obtain services after the crisis conclusion. 

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by · August 26, 2022 · Today's Focus
There's the destination: Mount Kilimanjaro.  Photos provided.

FOCUS: Wesleyan teacher in group climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

By Laura Jensen |  This June I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with Beyond Adventures, bringing to fruition a 20-year dream! Our group of eight climbers required four guides and 20 porters. Our lead guides have been climbing Kibo, the highest of Kili’s three peaks, for over 20 years with 250+ trips to the summit. Their knowledge and experience put us at ease.  Our porters faithfully cooked, set up tents, pumped water and carried equipment on their backs, shoulders, and heads. 

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by · August 23, 2022 · Today's Focus
FOCUS: 3 reasons why it’s important to exercise regularly 

FOCUS: 3 reasons why it’s important to exercise regularly 

By Collin Elder |  Back to school, lack of time and record heat might cause most people to put exercise “on the shelf.” Carl Woods, director of Wellness and Recreation at Georgia Gwinnett College, said it’s crucial to keep exercising. Woods cites three reasons why working out keeps your body working.

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by · August 19, 2022 · Today's Focus
Purser

FOCUS: Methodists struggling on whether to stay or leave church

By Tommy Purser  |  Methodist congregations across the state and country — across the world, really — are struggling among themselves to decide whether to stay or leave. 

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by · August 16, 2022 · Today's Focus
Bird houses on sale at the festival. Photo provided.

FOCUS: Why do 400 people work so hard on Duluth’s Fall Festival?

By Kathryn Willis |  All of these frantic preparations; a year of meetings and planning. Why?   We’re talking about the Duluth Fall Festival. Why do we work so hard and long to put it on? None of the volunteers personally profit. We aren’t paid. Is there another reason?  

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by · August 12, 2022 · Today's Focus
Conner

FOCUS: Hear about lessons in becoming a lifelong learner

By Melanie Conner |  As the children of Rainbow Village prepare for their “back-to-school” return, I am reminded of countless school years from my own childhood. I fondly remember the classes and teachers that I loved, as well as those courses I did not love. I recall thinking “when on Earth will I ever need to use algebra or geometry in real life?” 

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by · August 9, 2022 · Today's Focus
FOCUS: County adopts Gwinnett Place Mall redevelopment plan

FOCUS: County adopts Gwinnett Place Mall redevelopment plan

By Deborah Tuff  |  The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners has  adopted the final Equitable Redevelopment Plan for the Gwinnett Place Mall. The plan was informed by eight months of community engagement with direct input from over 2,000 Gwinnett residents and focuses on a new model for equitable development to benefit historically marginalized communities.

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by · August 5, 2022 · Today's Focus
Le's grandparents.  Photo provided.

FOCUS: After Thailand, Vietnamese family finally lands in States

By Tim Le |  On the third night at sea headed to Thailand, we encountered a storm which knocked out the engine. We had to set up a sail that night and let the wind take us. The following morning, the men worked on the Yarma engine and adjusted the valves to generate engine compression and got it going. The remainder of the trip took about a day and  was peaceful and uneventful.  I remember my uncle making his prayers asking for safety and blessings. 

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by · August 2, 2022 · Today's Focus