Blog – North Gwinnett Voice

GCPL accepting applications for teen entrepreneurship program

LAWRENCEVILLE — The Gwinnett County Public Library is accepting applications for its 2026 RISE Teen Entrepreneurship Program, a four-week workshop designed to help teens develop and pitch their own business ideas. The program begins Feb. 17, 2026, and will teach participants how to build a business concept, create a small business plan and present their ideas to a panel of local entrepreneurs in a Shark Tank-style competition. Winners will receive cash awards to support their ventures. Applicants must be Gwinnett County residents between 13 and 19 years old and have reliable transportation to weekly meetings. Sessions will be held from

By - Cory Self December 4, 2025

City News

Hembree re-elected as Sugar Hill Mayor; Hicks and Piovesan win council seats

SUGAR HILL — Voters in Sugar Hill returned Mayor Brandon Hembree to office and elected two city councilmembers during the Nov. 5, 2025, municipal election, according to certified results released by the City of Sugar Hill. Hembree, who first took office in 2021, secured a second term with 1,467 votes (72.1%), defeating challenger Amber Chambers, who received 569 votes (27.9%). Following his win, Hembree said the election was a reflection of the community’s growing civic engagement, not just the candidates. “Our community was a winner last night, not because of who was elected, but because residents went to the polls

By - Ashton Senter December 3, 2025

Arts, Music and Entertainment

American Revolution exhibit arrives in downtown Sugar Hill

SUGAR HILL — Visitors to downtown Sugar Hill this week can explore a traveling exhibit that brings the nation’s founding era to life. The American Revolution Experience, created by the American Battlefield Trust and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, is now open inside Sugar Hill City Hall. Sugar Hill is the only stop in Gwinnett County selected to host the exhibit, which runs Thursday, Dec. 6, through Wednesday, Dec. 10. The immersive display uses interactive panels, personal narratives, and multimedia features to highlight key moments and figures from the Revolutionary War. The exhibit will also offer expanded

By - Cory Self December 2, 2025

Features

Beyond the game: Curriculum helps young athletes grow as leaders, not just players

BUFORD — In today’s competitive sports culture, one program is helping young athletes focus on more than just winning. The Beyond the Game Curriculum merges athletics with life lessons, teaching leadership, resilience and community service through the language of sports. Developed by Michael Carson, a Buford High School alumnus and 2012 inductee into the Buford Athletics Hall of Fame, the program is designed to help students grow both as players and as people. “The curriculum aims to create well-rounded individuals who can thrive on and off the field,” Carson said.”rather than emphasizing only performance and competition, the program integrates personal

By - Ashton Senter November 30, 2025

City News

Sugar Hill Marshal’s Office launches Autism Initiative following specialized training

SUGAR HILL — The Sugar Hill Marshal’s Office has launched a new Autism Initiative aimed at improving safety and communication between law enforcement and individuals on the autism spectrum. Chief Marshal Andy Smith said the idea grew out of a simple realization: meaningful encounters begin with understanding. “We were inspired to pursue autism awareness and response training after recognizing how easily behavior can be misunderstood,” Smith said. “Law enforcement officers often encounter situations where a person’s reactions might look like defiance or resistance, when in reality that person could be experiencing sensory overload or anxiety. We wanted to ensure our Marshals

By - Cory Self November 29, 2025

Buford

Building a legacy of literacy: Emily Stewart named Buford’s 2025 district teacher of the year

Media Specialist Emily Stewart believes educators have the power to affect an entire generation, and she’s not taking that responsibility lightly. For the past five years, Stewart has been serving Buford Senior Academy, pouring into students in grades three through five with innovation, creativity, and love. When she was announced as Buford City Schools’ 2025 District Teacher of the Year, colleagues shared it was a title well deserved. “She is probably the hardest worker in our entire school,” says Jenn Chini, Buford Senior Academy teacher. “She runs the school without really being seen, and she creates incentives that get kids

By - Staff Reports November 28, 2025

Features

Northeast Georgia Health System earns state’s only Level 10 tech innovation designation—again

GAINESVILLE — Northeast Georgia Health System has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s leaders in healthcare technology, earning Georgia’s only Level 10 Digital Health Most Wired designation from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. NGHS is one of just 18 health systems in the country to receive the top-tier honor this year, joining nationally recognized institutions such as NYU Langone Health, Stanford Health Care and University of Utah Health. “Earning this distinction again highlights our position as a leader in healthcare innovation,” said Chris Paravate, NGHS chief information officer. “We’re not just keeping up with current

By - Cory Self November 26, 2025

Gwinnett families push back against 2026 school redistricting plan

LAWRENCEVILLE — Some Gwinnett County families are speaking out against a proposed 2026 school redistricting plan that could reassign students from schools they chose when buying their homes. Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is considering moving students in three subdivisions — Bennett Farm, Central Park and Eleanora, near Loganville Highway — from the Grayson school cluster to the Archer cluster. The proposal would affect three high schools, three middle schools and six elementary schools. The district says the redistricting is needed to relieve overcrowding, better balance enrollment across schools, and account for projected population growth. A new middle school, Dr.

By - Cory Self November 25, 2025

City News

Hall County investigators seize $22.5 million in meth hidden in berry shipment

GAINESVILLE — Hall County narcotics investigators, working with federal agents, seized more than 300 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine last week after uncovering a trafficking operation using a refrigerated truck loaded with blackberries, authorities said. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit, aided by the FBI, located the truck just before 3 a.m. on Nov. 21 outside a business in the 1400 block of McEver Road. Investigators were acting on information gathered during an ongoing investigation that began earlier this fall. A Hall County K-9 alerted on the vehicle, and deputies obtained a search warrant. Inside the refrigerated box truck,

By - Cory Self November 24, 2025

City News

Seven arrested in drug-related operation at Gwinnett shopping center

GWINNETT COUNTY — Seven people were arrested Thursday evening during a drug-related operation at a shopping center along Indian Trail Lilburn Road, according to Gwinnett County police. Officers converged on the Quick Mart around 8 p.m. and were seen carrying multiple evidence bags from the store as the investigation continued for several hours. Police have not released information on the type or amount of drugs seized. Arrest records show Jimmy Mendoza Orellana, 20, was charged with felony possession of THC. The identities and charges of the six others taken into custody have not been released. Authorities said the operation was part

By - Cory Self November 22, 2025