Gwinnett County Unveils Western Gwinnett Pathway

Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast

GDP Script/ Top Stories for December 13th

Publish Date: December 13th

From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.

Today is Friday, December 13th and Happy Birthday to Ted Nugent.

***12.13.24 - BIRTHDAY – TED NUGENT***

I’m Keith Ippolito and here are your top stories presented by Gwinnett KIA Mall of Georgia.

1. Gwinnett County Unveils Western Gwinnett Pathway
2. New Kroger Opens At Martins Chapel Marketplace In Lawrenceville
3. Collins Hill Grad Travis Hunter the Big Winner at College Football Awards

All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe!

Break 1: 07.14.22 KIA MOG

STORY 1: Gwinnett County Unveils Western Gwinnett Pathway

Gwinnett County officials celebrated the opening of the Western Gwinnett Pathway, a five-mile trail connecting Duluth and Suwanee, as part of the Trails Master Plan. This pathway aims to link several cities, including Norcross, Peachtree Corners, and Sugar Hill, with potential expansion to Buford. Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson emphasized the importance of diverse mobility options, while Suwanee Mayor Jimmy Burnette and Duluth Mayor Greg Whitlock praised the project for enhancing connectivity and community vibrancy. Since adopting the Trails Master Plan, nearly 40 miles of trails have been completed, with another 40 miles in progress. The $14 million project, partially funded by a $7 million sales tax, also plans to connect to the Loop Trail.

STORY 2: New Kroger Opens At Martins Chapel Marketplace In Lawrenceville

Kroger celebrated the grand opening of its new store at Martins Chapel Marketplace in Lawrenceville with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, performances by Archer High School's band, chorus, and cheerleaders, and a photo robot for holiday memories. The event featured a "Feed the Human Spirit Hour" promotion, offering free groceries to a customer each hour for five hours. This 123,000-square-foot store, Kroger's first new Gwinnett County location since 2011, represents a $40 million investment and includes a drive-through pharmacy, fuel center, and various departments. The store's mural, by Atlanta artist Helen Choi, highlights Lawrenceville's community and heritage. Kroger also made donations to local schools and a food pantry.

STORY 3: Collins Hill Grad Travis Hunter the Big Winner at College Football Awards

Collins Hill grad Travis Hunter's accolades grew significantly during ESPN's College Football Awards Show. The Colorado Buffaloes star won the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Chuck Bednarik Award, and Biletnikoff Award, adding to his Paul Hornung Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy. Despite not being nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award, Hunter's season was remarkable, excelling on both offense and defense with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 TDs, and 32 tackles with four interceptions. His defensive coverage was top-rated by Pro Football Focus. Hunter made history as the first player named to the Walter Camp All-American first team on both sides of the ball. Colorado will face BYU in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.

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Break 2: 08.05.24 OBITS_FINAL

STORY 4: Delta Community Awards Grants To Local Nonprofits — Including 2 In Gwinnett

Delta Community Credit Union announced its 2025 Philanthropic Fund Program grant recipients, awarding $150,000 to 20 organizations supporting metro Atlanta children and families. Gwinnett County nonprofits Helping Other People Be Empowered (H.O.P.E.) and BlazeSports America received $7,500 and $5,000, respectively. Since 2014, Delta Community has invested over $1.3 million in nearly 250 nonprofits, impacting over 5.7 million people. CEO Hank Halter emphasized the program's role in community development. Grants were awarded based on alignment with the credit union's community investment strategy. Applications for 2026 grants open July 1, 2025.

STORY 5: Gwinnett Road Rage Shooter Sentenced To Life In Prison

Michael Charles Jackson, 61, was sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years without parole for the road-rage murder of Don Wardlaw in Gwinnett County. Jackson, who represented himself, was found guilty of multiple charges, including malice murder and firearm possession by a felon. The incident occurred in January 2022 when Wardlaw's car was found wrecked after being shot twice. Evidence showed Jackson's truck tailing Wardlaw before the crash. Jackson was arrested a week later, with police finding evidence linking him to the crime. Previously, Jackson had been convicted of murder in 1987 and disorderly conduct in 2016.

Break 3:

STORY 6: GET OUT THERE: 5 things to do this weekend in Gwinnett County — Dec. 13-15

Looking for weekend activities? Here are five local events to check out:

1. **Sugar Hill Holiday Celebration** - Visit cityofsugarhill.com for details.

2. **Cookies & Cocoa With Santa** - More info at duluthga.net.

3. **Lawrenceville Lights** - A free drive-through Christmas light display at Lawrenceville First UMC Campground, running Friday, Saturday, and Dec. 19-21 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Visit lvfirst.org/christmas for more.

4. **Winter Lantern Festival** - At Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, open until Jan. 5, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets start at $16.99. More info at winterlanternfestival.com/atlanta.

5. **Netherworld Lights On Tour** - A unique haunted house experience in Stone Mountain on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit fearworld.com for details.

STORY 7: Buford Grad Seth McLaughlin Wins Rimington Trophy as Nation's Top Center

Despite a season-ending Achilles injury, Buford grad Seth McLaughlin received significant recognition, winning the Rimington Trophy as college football's top center. The Ohio State lineman, a graduate transfer from Alabama, excelled in 10 games, allowing no sacks and only four pressures in 207 pass-blocking snaps. McLaughlin, who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while earning two undergraduate degrees, was also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. His Ohio State teammate, Caleb Downs, and Clemson's Barrett Carter were finalists for major defensive awards.

Break 4: Ingles Markets 2

Signoff –

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com

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