This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

🌱'Artistic Shelter' For Grief + Ex-NFL Player Indicted On 9 Charges

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Loganville-Grayson.

Jennifer Hannah, Neighbor
|

Hey, neighbors! It's Friday in Loganville-Grayson and I'm back in your inbox with your local news update and a few events to get your weekend going, including news about...

  • Gwinnett County approves funds for improvements in the transportation and safety sector
  • Another plane crash at nearby airport injures pilot and student after emergency landing
  • Success at Walton County Free Pet Clinic organized by Planned PEThood organization

But first, today's weather: Early morning showers should give way to partly sunny skies around mid-morning. Temperatures are cooling off with today's high only 60 and a low of 26.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Loganville-Grayson who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top stories today in Loganville-Grayson:

  1. An investigation by the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations section led to the arrest of nine individuals for their involvement in a human trafficking operation, as reported in November. We have now learned that former NFL player and Super Bowl participant, Eric Johnson, was indicted for "gang and human trafficking activity in Gwinnett County from 2021-2022," along with seven other men, as a result of the investigation. A rental home near Shiloh High School appears to have been connected to the trafficking of minors. Johnson is alleged to be a member of the LOTTO gang, and he is now facing 9 charges from "probation violation to felony trafficking a person for sexual servitude." (WSB Atlanta)
  2. A Piper 28 plane had to make a crash landing at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport yesterday. During a flight training exercise, a student and their flight instructor lost power and began experiencing engine trouble almost immediately after take-off and had to turn back toward the airport for an emergency landing. The plane lost a wing during the crash, but no fire was involved, and the aircraft did not strike anything upon landing. The pilot and student are recovering from minor to moderate injuries. The crash is under investigation by the Federal Flight Standards District Office. (Yahoo! News)
  3. The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners is focused on improving safety for Gwinnett commuters. The board recently approved two grants totaling $25 million for upgrades and improvements in different transportation areas. The Gwinnett Place Transit Center will receive funding to bring it up to date, cameras were issued to Gwinnett County Police to improve businesses parking lot safety, and funding will be used to create a multi-use trail from Gwinnett Place to McDaniel Farm Park. Additional funding will be spent on more project in the way of pedestrian safety in various Gwinnett County locations. (Atlanta News First)

Today in Loganville-Grayson:

  • Support your local business at the nearby Braselton Farmers Market featuring fresh produce and homemade goodies. (3:00 pm - 6:00 pm)
  • Don't miss Lawrenceville's 2nd Annual Blackout Market & Open Mic night with a FREE Black History Month celebration of "culture, creativity, and commerce." (7:00 pm)
  • It's a great night for some R&B at Moonshiner's Bar & Grill in Grayson. (9:00 pm)

From my notebook:

  • Dekalb County Police are asking for your help to find a missing 13-year-old girl. Moo has red hair and black eyes. She is approximately 5 feet tall and weighs about 180 pounds. She was last seen leaving her home, near N. Indian Creek Drive, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, wearing burgundy shorts. If you have any information on her whereabouts, please contact Dekalb County Police's Special Victims Unit at 770-724-7710. (11Alive)
  • Walton County's Free Pet Clinic was a huge success. The clinic saw 171 pets, gave over 200 rabies and distemper shots, inserted over 150 microchips, and gave out 120 vouchers for a free spay/neuter service! They also were able to perform three lifesaving surgeries immediately following the event that may have saved the lives of the kittens that were seen at the free clinic. Planned PEThood is able to continue to hold events like these through donations and sponsorships. If you are interested in contributing to Planned PEThood, visit the link in the story, and see how you can make an impact for our community pets. (Monroe Local)
  • The Monroe Walton Center for the Arts is offering a special 8-week class, held every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., starting on March 9. The class, "Artistic Shelter," will be taught by Donna Coffman, a local artist and bereaved parent to her son, Christopher. This unique class is open to people who have lost a family member, and it will provide an artistic outlet, focusing on "the calming benefits of simple art journaling techniques." If you are interested, email Donna Coffman at donna@monroeartguild.org, to secure a spot in the class before March 7. (Monroe Local)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

Now you're in the loop and ready to start the weekend! See you all tomorrow morning with a special look at this weekend's happenings around town!

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Loganville-Grayson