🌱 Patch AM: How investigators tied a Dacula woman to a 2019 cold case

Good morning Dacula! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How investigators tied a Dacula woman to a 2019 cold case
• Dacula long snapper aims to anchor Virginia Tech's special teams

Also on today's calendar: Good Grief! Women in Transition: Embracing the Next Chapter Brunch Series and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Humid; a p.m. t-storm or two, with a high of 87 and low of 69 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Friday: Humid with a heavy t-storm, temps: high: 87, low: 67.
• Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 86 and low of 68 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Gwinnett woman, 52, gets life sentence in cold case drug deal stabbing murder (ocgnews.com) — A Dacula woman has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after being convicted in the 2019 stabbing death of a man in Lawrenceville, following investigators' work linking her to the cold case. Jurors heard evidence tying her to a separate 2022 stabbing, as well as her own recorded comments, before returning guilty verdicts on all charges. The case relied on fingerprint matches and years of coordinated work by Gwinnett law enforcement and prosecutors.
   

• Virginia Tech Hokie Football 2026 Roster Reviews: The Specialists (gobblercountry.com) — Dacula gets a small shout-out on Virginia Tech's 2026 football roster, where long snapper Christian Epling is listed as a redshirt senior from Dacula's Mill Creek High. The piece mainly breaks down the Hokies' kickers, punters, and long snappers, plus new special teams coaching changes and expectations for the coming season. Local fans may enjoy tracking how a hometown specialist performs on a major college stage.
   

📸 Around Dacula

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Dacula

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday August 27
• Dacula Falcons vs Mountain View Bears →
  Dacula High School, 123 Broad St, Dacula
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday August 27
• V Volleyball @ Gainesville HS
  Dacula High School Gainesville High School, 830 Century Pl, Gainesville, GA 30501\
  5:00 pm
• Curriculum Night Session 1
  Dacula Elementary School Dacula, GA 30019
  5:50 pm
• JV Football vs. Mountain View
  Dacula High School , 123 Broad St, Dacula, GA 30019, USA
  6:00 pm
• Curriculum Night Session 2
  Dacula Elementary School Dacula, GA 30019
  6:25 pm
Friday August 28
• V Football vs. Jackson County
  Dacula High School Dacula Falcons Stadium, 123 Broad St, Dacula, GA 30019, USA
  7:30 pm
• Dacula Falcons vs Jackson County Panthers →
  Dacula High School, 123 Broad St, Dacula
  7:30 pm
Sunday August 30
• Good Grief! Women in Transition: Embracing the Next Chapter Brunch Series →
  Perry Street Chophouse, 121 S Perry St, Lawrenceville
  12:30 pm
Monday August 31
• JV/V Softball vs. North Hall
  Dacula High School Dacula High Softball Complex, 45 Hebron Church Rd, Dacula, GA 3
  4:00 pm

📣 Dacula Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday August 27
• INTRAMURALS
  Bay Creek Middle School All Grades
  8:15 am
• Sparkles Skate Night
  Starling Elementary School Grayson, GA 30017
  5:00 pm
Friday August 28
• Network Barrow
  Barrow County Chamber of Commerce The 6 Porter Street Winder, GA 30680
  9:00 am
• Days of Play →
  Lawrenceville, GA Calendar, 210 Luckie St, Lawrenceville
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hello Neighbors!
  I'm searching for an administrative virtual assistant to help with my business. Does anyone have any recommendations of how to hire and who to hire? (Nextdoor Belfaire)
• Beware!
  Last night, I saw two coyotes in my neighborhood. I live in the Enclave Subdivision behind J. Christopher's. I heard a lot of strange noises and… (Nextdoor Pine Rd/Braselton)

• Pizza Hut - Flynn Group posted a job opening for Senior Shift Leader in Dacula. Apply here.
• Around the Clock Services posted a job opening for Assembly Technician in Dacula. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Dacula here.

🗞 Nearby News

Lawrenceville

• US News ranks top high schools in Georgia. See the 2026 list (savannahnow.com)
• Lady Crusaders Earn 1-1 Draw Against No. 1 Keiser (hubcityspokes.com)
• 4 Georgia men arrested in 'Operation Vigilant' child predator sting (wsbtv.com)

Grayson

• Chef Jernard Celebrates Cornbread & Butter, Emmy Nomination (bossip.com)
• ZIPS Car Wash hosts free wash weekend at upgraded sites (carwash.com)

Ok Dacula! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. (Thank you Jean D. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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