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Crime & Safety

Regional Roundup: Another slavery reference in a GCPS, a stolen church bell, and a new day care in Athens

A look at top Patch headlines from around the region.

Students at Camp Creek Elementary at Lilburn have told WSB-TV on video that they played a game that involved "slaves and slave catchers" with their teacher. The GCPS statement to WSB said, "The school district looked into concerns regarding four students who participated in a playground activity. The district determined that the activity was student initiated and that allegations regarding the teacher's involvement were unfounded."  http://patch.com/A-qzrv

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The bell commemorating the 150th Anniversary of   was stolen on Jan 24. Deacon and trustee Wayne Stancel is disappointed and saddened that someone would resort to stealing a church bell as a way to make money.

“It’s a sad commentary for our society,” he said. “People just don’t have respect for anything.”

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Housed in a gazebo with security lighting and in view of passing traffic on Braselton Highway, the 100 pound iron bell was still stolen. No witnesses have come forth..

When Duncan Creek Congregational Church was first established in 1885, church members used the bell as a form of communication, Stancel explained.

UGA Dedicates New Childcare Center -- Athens Patch

UGA's University Childcare Center on the Health Sciences Campus in Normaltown was formally dedicated on Wednesday morning. The university spent $1.7 million renovating what was the base commissary for the former U.S. Navy Supply Corps School into a state-of-the-art day care facility.

The center is open to both community members and UGA faculty, staff and students. if there is ever a waiting list, priority will be given to those associated with the university, Perez said.

On Wednesday morning, at the dedication ceremony, teachers passed out safety scissors to children helping Adams and other university officials with the ribbon cutting. It went well, though one little girl puckered up afterwards and clutched her scissors, saying, "Mine."

 

 

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