Gwinnett Daily Post PodcastApartment Fire Displaces 19 Residents in Buford | Philadelphia Winn Chapter DAR Honors Veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day | Holiday Traffic: Year-End Travel Expected to Set New Record
Top Stories for December 20th
Publish Date: December 20th
PRE-ROLL: SUGAR HILL ICE SKATING
From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.
Today is Saturday, December 20th and Happy Birthday to Dick Wolf
I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Gwinnett KIA Mall of Georgia.
- Apartment fire displaces 19 residents in Buford
- Philadelphia Winn Chapter DAR Honors Veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day
- HOLIDAY TRAFFIC: Year-end travel expected to set new record
Plus, Shane Delancey the Director of the Christmas Tradition at the Strand Theatre
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: Kia Mall of Georgia
STORY 1: Apartment fire displaces 19 residents in Buford
Tuesday afternoon, chaos broke out at the Plantation Ridge Apartments in Buford when a fire erupted on a second-story balcony. It was 3:44 p.m. when 911 calls started pouring in—residents scrambling to evacuate as flames climbed toward the second floor.
By the time firefighters arrived, the back of the three-story building was ablaze. Crews worked fast, deploying hose lines to knock down the fire while police helped evacuate everyone inside. Six units were damaged—fire, water, the works—but thankfully, no one was hurt.
The fire displaced 19 people—11 adults, eight kids. The Red Cross and apartment management are stepping in to help.
Investigators traced the fire to a second-story balcony and ruled it accidental.
STORY 2: Philadelphia Winn Chapter DAR Honors Veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day
On Dec. 13, the Philadelphia Winn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) held two heartfelt ceremonies to honor veterans resting at Gwinnett Memorial Park and East Shadowlawn Memorial Gardens.
It was all part of Wreaths Across America, a nationwide effort to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach future generations about the cost of freedom. Volunteers placed fresh balsam wreaths—handcrafted in Maine, red bows and all—on veterans’ graves.
The ceremonies featured local JROTC cadets, SAR Color Guard, and more. Through Dec. 31, wreath sponsorships are buy-one-get-one-free for next year’s event.
STORY 3: HOLIDAY TRAFFIC: Year-end travel expected to set new record
More than 122 million Americans—including 3.8 million Georgians—are gearing up to hit the road, skies, or rails this holiday season, according to AAA. That’s a record-breaking number, up 2.2% from last year.
“People are ready to travel,” said Debbie Haas, AAA’s VP of travel. “Roads will be packed, airports busy—plan ahead, leave early, and maybe consider travel insurance if you’re flying in winter weather.”
Of the 122 million, most (89%) will drive, with 109.5 million taking road trips. In Georgia, 3.4 million will drive, while nearly 200,000 will fly. Christmas week? Busier than New Year’s. Stay safe.
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We’ll be right back
Break 2: Ingles Markets 1- DTL HOLIDAY
STORY 4: Fani Willis testifies to Georgia Senate committee
After over a year of dodging Republican efforts to drag her before the Georgia Senate, Fani Willis finally showed up at the Capitol on Wednesday—and it was a spectacle. For three hours, the Fulton County district attorney sparred with a special committee she called a “political farce.”
The committee, created by Senate Republicans, has been gunning for Willis ever since she indicted Donald Trump and 18 others over the 2020 election. The hearing? A mix of accusations and insults.
Sen. Greg Dolezal, filling in as chair, grilled Willis on everything from her office’s spending to her use of a media tracking service. Willis fired back, calling some questions “ignorant”.
Both sides threw punches. Dolezal pointed to Willis’ political donations and her staff’s ties to Democratic campaigns. Willis countered with social media posts showing Dolezal and others using the investigation for their own political gain.
The hearing ended with no clear resolution—just more finger-pointing.
STORY 5: UPDATE: 19-year-old shot by Gwinnett police after charging officers with a knife
Gwinnett County police are looking into a Thursday afternoon shooting involving one of their own.
It started around 1:40 p.m. when the State Mobile Crisis Team called officers to help with a mental health situation on Lockridge Drive, near Peachtree Corners.
When officers arrived, they spoke with the crisis team and a 19-year-old outside the home. Clinicians decided the teen needed to go to the hospital for evaluation. But things escalated fast.
“The subject went back inside, came out with a knife, and charged at the officer,” said Cpl. Angela Carter. “Despite commands to stop, the officer fired, striking the individual.”
Paramedics on scene treated the teen, who was taken to the hospital and is alive, though their condition is unclear.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now handling the case, as is standard in officer-involved shootings.
Here is Shane Delancey the Director of the Christmas Tradition at the Strand Theatre
-Interview with Shane Delancey-
Break 3: THE STRAND
STORY 6: UGA researchers find more evidence that mining would harm Okefenokee
New research has added weight to what environmentalists have been saying for years: mining near the Okefenokee Swamp is a terrible idea.
Scientists at UGA found that water in the swamp and the aquifer beneath it share the same “fingerprint,” meaning they’re connected. Pull water from the aquifer? You’re pulling it from the swamp too.
For years, it was assumed a thick clay layer separated the two, but this study flips that on its head. Rainfall raises the swamp’s water level—and, a month later, the aquifer’s.
Activists are calling the findings a “game changer.”
STORY 7: Gwinnett Native Todd Welborn Named Mountain View Head Football Coach
Mountain View has tapped Todd Welborn as its new head football coach for the 2026 season, and honestly, it feels like a homegrown story coming full circle.
Welborn, a former Collins Hill offensive lineman and a 26-year coaching veteran, has spent most of his career in Gwinnett County. For the past four years, he’s been a key part of Mountain View’s program, serving as defensive coordinator and handling a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Now, he’s stepping into the top spot, replacing John Poitevint, who led the Bears to three playoff runs from 2020 to 2025.
Welborn, who’s deeply rooted in the Mountain View community—his kids attend local schools, his wife teaches in the cluster, and he’s coached youth football in the area—sees potential. “We’ve got talented kids,” he said. “It’s time to fix last year’s mistakes and let the sun rise over Mountain View.”
We’ll have closing comments after this
Break 4: VILLA RICA WONDERLAND TRAIN- GCPS Hiring
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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