City of Duluth, Georgia

City of Duluth’s Crime Suppression Unit Making the City Even Safer

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Duluth, Georgia (January 25, 2012) – In Duluth, laws are not only being enforced, but crime is being prevented. In 2010, certain crimes in the City limits as well as Gwinnett County were rising. Recognizing this, Chief Randy Belcher tasked his staff with coming up with ways to combat the rise, specifically for burglaries, entering autos and vehicle thefts. Saturated patrols and overtime details were implemented, but the problem crimes were not being reduced satisfactorily.

In October of 2010, a specialized unit to combat the rise in crimes was formed. Initially, a four officer unit was formed and placed in plain clothes and under cover vehicles. The Unit was originally activated as the Crime Suppression Officers on October 25th 2010, but was later changed to the Crime Suppression Unit and has been increased to six officers. This is the first Crime Suppression Unit to be formed by any Gwinnett city.

Since inception of this unit the reduction in crime has been significant. “We feel that this unit has made quite an impact on our crime statistics. The undercover officers have a distinct advantage over the uniformed officers because they are able to sneak up on criminals before they even know they are being watched. Just a few months ago, one of our undercover officers caught two burglars in the process of stealing thousands in electronics and other items from an apartment. Our uniformed officers would have been spotted long before the undercover officers, and in this case all of the stolen items were able to be returned” says Lt. Jackie Hood. Comparing 2010 and 2011 numbers, the reduction in crimes are as follows:

Residential Burglaries & Commercial Burglaries – Down 37%
Entering Autos – Down 24%
Vehicle Thefts – Down 43%
Larceny – Down 16%

The Crime Suppression Unit and aggressive patrol and traffic are all contributors to this reduction. This month, Chief Belcher decided to take the CSU (crime suppression unit) and two additional officers to create a larger unit to attempt to reduce the crime rate even more. This unit will operate out of CID (Criminal Investigation Division) and take on additional crimes significant to CID.

For more information on what the Duluth Police Department is doing to keep our citizens safe please contact Captain Mark Hunter at 678-512-3710 or mhunter@duluthpd.com.

W.P. Jones Activity Building Ground Breaking

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Duluth, GA (January 4, 2012) – Active adult senior citizens will soon have their own center in Duluth. Duluth officials, Board Members and FAB Members broke ground for the activity building at W.P. Jones Park on Tuesday, January 3rd. Construction will begin this week for this new center for active adult seniors at the park.

The building should be completed in June, barring any weather or unforeseen delays, and the center should open in August, according to Duluth Parks and Recreation Director Kathy Marelle.

On December 12th, the Duluth City Council awarded a contract to build the center to Renaissance Building Construction in the amount of $548,458. “The construction bid amount came in low enough that there should be enough budgeted funds left over to furnish and equip the center”, Marelle said.

In photo from L to R: Melissa Muscato, Joy Torrance, Luke Livingston, Mayor Nancy Harris, Patricia Pepper, Herb Link, Sheri Eppright, Margaret Herman, Kathy Marelle, Councilmember Marsha Anderson Bomar, Phil McLemore and Tim Shearer.

The 2,400-square-foot center was designed by the Duluth-based architectural and engineering firm of Hill Foley Rossi and Associates.

“The center will serve our over 300 FAB (Fabulous After Fifty) members and as an events rental facility on evenings and weekends,” said Marelle. For more information about the center please contact Kathy Marelle at kmarelle@duluthga.net or 678-417-9269.

Have a Ball at Duluth’s New Year’s Eve Crawl!

Monday, December 19th, 2011

When: December 31, 2011 @ 6 pm to 12:30 am
Where: Duluth Festival Center Amphitheater Stage, Town Green and Downtown
Admission: FREE Admission for Live Music on the Amphitheatre Stage, Chick-fil-A Bowl

Game and GIGANTIC Snow Slide. Food and other activities will require a nominal fee.

Duluth, GA (December 19, 2011) Mark your calendar to ring in 2012 in historic downtown Duluth! This family-friendly celebration will include live music on the Amphitheater Stage featuring Banks and Shane, Chick-fil-A Bowl Game on the BIG screen, GIGANTIC Snow Slide, Winter Carnival with inflatables/ rides/games, Crawl the historic downtown to visit our shops and dine in our delicious restaurants! Eddie Owen Presents will feature “The Mosier Brothers & Friends” in concert at the Red Clay Theatre. Tickets are now on sale for this concert at www.eddieowenpresents.com. At midnight, your spirit will soar as we unveil our one-of-a-kind Icon with spectacular fireworks display! NOTE: The City of Duluth has partnered with Entertainment Design Group, who is also the creator of the Peach Drop, to design a one-of-a-kind experience for the community to enjoy without having to go to downtown Atlanta.

Headlining this years’ event is the legendary Banks and Shane! This high-energy, hard-kicking, blow-the-roof off band has had capacity crowds around the world dancing in the aisles to party favorites and reminiscing with memorable ballads. No matter what age, Banks and Shane transports fans back to Spring Break. This world-renowned band has played with and opened for some of the biggest acts in history. So legendary is the band, that their fans from around the world are self-proclaimed “Banks & Shaners.” Whether it’s skiing the slopes of Colorado, sailing the tropical waters of the Caribbean or rocking Symphony Hall, “Banks & Shaners” follow the band with enduring enthusiasm and support! For more information, visit www.banksandshane.com.

Also, featuring “Georgia-Country.com Band of the Year” Allatoona! Allatoona is an Atlanta based Country and Classic Rock band with a unique approach to their craft. “We make a conscious effort to make the song ours” says Karen Dedier, lead singer of Allatoona. “We don’t take away from the structure of the song, but add our own touches to it, to make it really reflect each of us”. Allatoona is known for their rockin renditions of today’s Country favorites like Gunpowder and Lead as well as old classics like Crazy. For more information, visit www.allatoonaband.com. Other acts include: MY Salsa, Tyler Talks to Doors and Gwinnett School of Rock. For more information and schedule, visit www.duluthga.net or call 770-476-3434.

More Economic Growth in Duluth with Ryerson Acquiring the O’Neal Steel Building

Monday, December 12th, 2011

Duluth, Georgia (December 9, 2011) – Ryerson Inc., a leading processor and distributor of metals in North America and Asia, has announced an expansion of their Atlanta, Georgia area operations. The former O’Neal Steel building located on North Berkeley Lake Road in Duluth has been acquired for this expansion.

Ryerson Atlanta has been in the Atlanta area for over 93 years and is in the final stages of this expansion designed to enhance inventory and processing capabilities in long products and fabricated plate, complementing its existing, strong flat product capabilities. This project, which is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2012, will add 147,000 square feet of warehouse space and is expected to create approximately 25 new jobs over the next year, expanding employment to 290 people at the Atlanta-area complex.

“The expansion of Ryerson’s inventory and processing capabilities is designed to bring additional value to our customers by offering complete supply chain solutions,” said Dave Keatley, V.P. GM Atlanta Market. ”We are strengthening our rapid response capabilities by expanding our customer service hours to 7 am – 6 pm, Monday through Friday, and with the addition of a same-day delivery option on expedited requirements.”

Ryerson Atlanta has the most comprehensive offering of capabilities, products and services in the southeast including:

• 565,000 square feet of warehouse space
• > 10,000 stocked SKU’s
• Stainless, Aluminum, Carbon and Alloy Products
• Plate, Bar, Structurals, Tubing, Pipe, Sheet
• > 30 pieces of processing equipment
• Aluminum Plate Sawing, Shearing, Bar/Tube Sawing, Cut to Length, Burning, Slitting, Blanking, Sheet Polishing etc.
• Simple and Complex Fabrication
• Their own fleet of trucks servicing most areas of Georgia daily
• ISO 9001 Certification
• Lean- Six Sigma Manufacturing processes and tools

Mayor Nancy Harris said, “The City of Duluth welcomes Ryerson to Duluth and Gwinnett County. We are rebuilding our economy and partners like Ryerson are vital to this effort.”

For more information about this expansion please contact Chris McGahee, Economic Development Manager for the City of Duluth, at cmcgahee@duluthga.net or 770-497-5309.

About Ryerson
Ryerson Inc., a Platinum Equity company, is a leading distributor and processor of metals in North America and Asia. The Company services customers through a network of service centers across the United States, Canada, Mexico and China.

Duluth Police Are Doing More than Law Enforcement

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Duluth, Georgia (December 6, 2011) – The Duluth Police Department is one of the best in the state in law enforcement, but it is also a leader in developing programs for our children and community. In November of this year, the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Division of the Duluth Police Department introduced a new program to Duluth Middle School. This new program mimicked the ADVANCE program, except that it was geared towards middle school students rather than elementary school kids.

Middle school is a time where children often are at a crossroads, and the decisions they make could have lasting effects. Using that philosophy, the COPS Division decided it was important to reinforce what the students learned during ADVANCE in elementary school by introducing the same information in a more “grown-up” way. The BADGE (Bullying, Alcohol, Drugs and Gangs Education) Program provides the seventh grade student with skills and knowledge to avoid the pitfalls that so often plague our communities.

The class is being taught by Master Patrol Officer Bobby Johnson and is being offered during health classes four days a week. Each BADGE course last for three weeks. This year alone, the class will reach over 300 students. Health teacher Nancy Howard said “What a great program. Bobby is doing a great job and the students have responded very positively in the class. He seems to get things from them that teachers sometimes can’t. We really appreciate the hard work that has gone in to putting this program together for our students. Keep up the great work we look forward to future classes.”

For more information or for an in depth interview contact MPO Bobby Johnson at bjohnson@duluthpd.com or 678-475-3521.

New Life Even Brighter in Downtown Duluth with Eddie Owen Presents Opening This Friday

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Duluth, Georgia (November 30, 2011) – There is a buzz in the air about the great things happening in Duluth. The core Downtown has experienced an awakening and an exciting cultural scene is beginning to emerge. Pure Taqueria opening just a little over a month ago and Best of Brews growler shop are attracting people, many of whom have never been to Downtown Duluth, and they like what they see.

Duluth’s Downtown is just the right atmosphere to create a cool, happening cultural scene. Did you know there are currently 3 stages in the Downtown? New Dawn Theater produces shows on one of the stages, an outdoor stage is used by the City of Duluth for community concerts, movies, festivals and more and the most exciting thing to happen to Downtown Duluth yet, Eddie Owen, an icon in the music industry, is opening Eddie Owen Presents at the Red Clay Theatre this Friday night, December 2nd. Mr. Owen is the founder of Eddie’s Attic in Decatur.

The inaugural concert will feature Patterson Hood of Drive by Truckers. There will be shows on Friday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 3rd. Doors will open at 7:00 pm both evenings and the show will begin at 8:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at www.eddieowenpresents.com. Owen already has concerts booked through February so be sure to check out what is coming up next.

When Eddie first came to Downtown Duluth and toured the Red Clay Theatre and walked around the Town Green he saw all that it had to offer, he began envisioning the possibilities. “I see the potential here for adding a whole other dimension to the wheel,” Owen said. Owen’s stated goal is to provide the finest listening venue in the world. “You can’t find 250 seats with this asset base anywhere but here in Duluth in this building. He doesn’t just see opening the best listening room around though, he sees a restaurant, a songwriters’ school and a broadcast studio where he will host his weekly national radio show. He sees a potential to work with the City to bring even more amazing things to the outdoor stage and Town Green. He sees opportunity meeting preparation.

Mayor Nancy Harris said “the City of Duluth and Eddie Owen share the same vision for Duluth. We all want Duluth to be a destination that offers quality entertainment, shopping and dining. Eddie brings his vision of having the perfect venue for music lovers to enjoy and appreciate hearing artist perform in an acoustically designed theatre. The Red Clay venue will become a place where artist enjoy performing because this stage is perfect for live entertainment. The streets in historic downtown Duluth are alive again.”

For more information please contact Chris McGahee at cmcgahee@duluthga.net or 770-497-5309.

City of Duluth Holiday Happenings, December 3rd and 31st

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Duluth, Georgia (November 22, 2011) – Come one, come all! Enjoy exciting things happening in Downtown Duluth this holiday season. These Holiday Happenings are sure to get you in the spirit!

Saturday, December 3rd
Duluth Fall Festival presents our 29th Annual Lighting of the Tree
6:30 pm
Enjoy music from Chattahoochee Elementary, Duluth High School and more! Santa will arrive in his sleigh with LIVE Reindeer! Children will receive a candy cane and special visit with Santa, so be sure to bring your camera. Before the tree is lit (beginning at 5:00 pm), there will be music from the Duluth High School Chorus in City Hall with holiday treats to enjoy.

Mark your calendars to spend New Year’s Eve in Downtown Duluth on December 31st! More details will follow soon. Visit www.duluthga.net for more information or contact Jayne Madigan at jmadigan@duluthga.net or 678-475-3512!

Green Beret joins runners in 560-mile journey to honor his fallen brother

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Duluth – On November 7th, 2011, Sgt Miller will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with police officers, firefighters and other Special Operations runners with one mission; to honor his fallen brother by running from Duluth, Georgia to Tampa, Florida. The Georgia-based non-profit organization started by Duluth Police officers and Gwinnett Firefighters, kicks off its 7th Special Operations Forces Run on Monday morning. The run is in honor of SSgt Robert “Robbie” Miller, an Army 3rd Special Forces Group soldier and Medal of Honor recipient killed in action on January 25, 2008 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

The 7th Special Operations Forces Team runners come from across the country to join Sgt Tom Miller, from the 10th Special Forces Group; SGM Chris Lyons from Army Special Operations Command in Ft Bragg, NC. From Tallahassee, Florida, there’s Police Sgt Gavin Larremore and Fire Battalion Chief Bob Obernier. From Columbus, Georgia, comes SFC Joe Kapacziewski, and four other Rangers from the 3/75 Ranger Battalion. Local officers join the team from Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department, Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services, Georgia State Patrol and Duluth Police. Altogether the team is comprised of 27 runners and 8 support and security personnel.

This year, the Special Operations Forces Run will kick-off at the Living Honorarium next to Duluth City Hall on November 7th, 2011 at 8:00 am. The runners will cover over 560 miles in just under 73 hours in a relay-style event which takes place rain or shine. The runners will stop at MacDill AFB in Florida on on Thursday, November 10th for a Veterans ceremony with the United States Special Operations Command, and then move on to Busch Gardens in Tampa on Friday, November 11th at 11:00 am for the 2.5 mile run and closing ceremony inside the park.

In the ten years since 9/11, police officers and firefighters have shown their support to Special Operations Forces in many ways, including volunteering with Operation One Voice. Since Veterans Day week 2005, the Operation One Voice’s Special Operations Forces Run has journeyed down the back roads of Georgia and Florida honoring our troops. The group wants to remind others that we are a nation at war and our military families are the ones at the “tip of the spear.”

7th Special Operations Forces Run

Date: November 7, 2011
Time: 08:15 am
Location:
Duluth City Hall
3167 Main Street
Duluth, GA 30096

For additional information on route, times and other media locations or to request an interview with a team member, please contact Lt Bill Stevens, 678-957-7287 or bstevens@duluthpd.com

4th Annual L.E.A.D. (Learn, Engage, Advance Duluth) Academy Participants Graduate

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Duluth, Georgia (November 1, 2011) – The graduation of the City of Duluth’s fourth class of L.E.A.D. participants was held at the Parc at Duluth on Tuesday, October 25th. Participants were presented certificates and t shirts from Mayor Nancy Harris. This leadership academy was an idea of Council member Marsha Anderson Bomar and was implemented and managed by City staff. L.E.A.D. offers an avenue for citizens to become knowledgeable about City operations, services, and the overall essential functions of City government. It offers an interactive learning experience, which includes information about City services, programs and responsibilities. Additionally, citizens casually interact with elected officials and City staff.

Class participants were afforded the opportunity to ask questions and gain a better understanding of Duluth government and their role in local government. This leadership program encouraged citizens to become engaged in government operations and participate by serving on various boards and committees and explore other opportunities in the community and in the City to become involved. The citizens and business leaders who participated are now empowered to create insightful solutions to important community issues and needs. Council member Bomar said “I am so pleased with the caliber of people who showed interest in this program and have a commitment to the continuous improvement of our great city! The future is very bright with these new future leaders.” In addition, the program sparked interest in local issues, presented information about important questions facing the City, provided an avenue for residents to help plan the community’s future, and gave citizens hands-on experience in City government operations.

The L.E.A.D. Academy will be held once a year in the fall and is a 6 week program. The sessions include: Working for you – learn about the different City Departments, How you can get involved – Boards, Commissions, Authorities and other volunteer opportunities, Embracing our Diversity – how do we engage our entire community, Try on a City hat – Mock Council meeting, Get to know your Community Organizations, and finally Graduation. This program is made possible by the generous donations of our sponsors Gwinnett Medical Center, Chocolate Perks, and Quick Wash Express Car Wash. If you would like more information about the program you may call Alisa Williams at 678-475-3506 or email awilliams@duluthga.net.

ALL THINGS NATURAL, GREEN & HEALTHY

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

That’s What You’ll Find at the 1st Annual Alive! Festival in Duluth, GA

Atlanta, Georgia (November 1, 2011) – The City of Duluth welcomes the 1st Annual Alive! Festival, an outdoor event whose goal is to educate attendees on how to integrate health and wellness, natural products, green and eco products into environmentally responsible everyday lifestyle and to create a positive impact on the world as a whole.

In partnership with the City of Duluth, the Alive! Festival anticipates its first years’ attendance to draw 5,000 plus consumers for the weekend. The Festival is designed to promote “All Things Natural, Green & Healthy” and to bring to the forefront companies in the Health & Wellness industry to the residents of Duluth, Gwinnett County, as well as neighboring areas.

The Alive! Festival is a sister event to Alive! Expo, Atlanta’s first, largest and longest-running natural products and green living event truly dedicated to highlighting the best in natural health and wellness and educating the general public drawing over 175 local and national vendors and sponsors with over 20,000 attendees annually.

The Alive! Festival will benefit Project Green, a new 501c3 non-profit in Atlanta, GA whose mission is to invest in “A Green Tomorrow.” Project Green will invest in and protect green space initially within the Southeastern United States with plans for expansion into other regions. Additionally, Project Green will develop, launch and run an annual “Back to Basics” Summer Camp for underprivileged children and teenagers. Back to Basics will teach kids and young people how to interact with one another focusing on building self-esteem and awareness of the environment by incorporating challenging and fun activities.

The Alive! Festival is a free community event that will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, November 6, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the Town Green (3142 Hill Street) in Historic Downtown Duluth, GA. Featuring over 50 natural and organic vendors, a sustainable locally grown Farmers Market plus lots of yummy organic foods, 100% natural Zevia soda, Honest Tea and much much more!!!