🌱 Repurpose Food Waste Program + Gwinnett County Murderer Serves Life

Hey, everybody! It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Dacula Patch newsletter. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Clouds rolling in. High: 80 Low: 57.

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Here are the top three stories today in Dacula:

1. Georgia Gwinnett College student Stephen D. Johnson in nearby Lawrenceville has developed a program called Roots to Shoots that repurposes food waste from the dining hall for soil compost at the college's micro-farm. The compost is then used to grow fruits and vegetables for the dining hall and local food banks. The program helps make the college's dining operations more sustainable while also providing a teaching tool to students. (Subscription: Gwinnettdailypost.com)
2. Dr. Tatum, the Clinical Director of the Mental Health Task Force, is finishing the 80-hour De-Escalation/Interventionist Certification Program for the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, which teaches valuable skills for interacting with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Deputies have learned to identify mental disorders through a reenactment of specific crisis scenarios and have been instructed on how to address them. If you have any questions about mental health, you can contact [email protected]. (Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
3. A man from metro Atlanta has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Texas rapper on Interstate 85. On Mar. 5, 2021, police discovered the body of Corey Detiege, also known as Chucky Trill, on the interstate just north of Atlanta in Gwinnett County. The suspect, James Edward Thomas, was arrested in December 2021 for the murder. (FOX 5)

Today in Dacula:

• Gwinnett Professionals Monthly Networking Mixer and Food Drive At CircaSpaces (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Despite a nationwide decrease in housing starts and permits, the number of residential construction permits issued in Georgia increased by 14 percent between 2021-2022. Visit the link for more insights on year-over-year changes in residential construction in Georgia and across the country. (Point2)
• Gwinnett County Public Schools would like to congratulate Damien, who has been selected as the Shine Student of the Day for always trying his best and taking on difficult challenges. Check out the SHINE campaign's other students here. (Gwinnett County Public Schools via Facebook)
• The Gwinnett County Public Library shared its Arbor Day outdoor storytime event on Apr. 19 where attendees read books, sang songs, and created a craft to learn about trees. The library is grateful to everyone who attended the event. (Gwinnett County Public Library via Instagram)

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Featured events:

• Social Security Seminar at City of Sugar Hill - E Center (April 26)
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That's it for today! See you all soon for your next update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.