Gwinnett Daily Post PodcastGwinnett Leaders Update Lawmakers on Voting Site Challenges, Public Safety Efforts | Brookwood High Selected to Participate in the GaDOE Gifted in Action Series | Gwinnett Chamber Announces 2025 Business Excellence Award Winners
Top Stories for December 16th
Publish Date: December 16th
PRE-ROLL: Villa Rica Wonderland Train
From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.
Today is Tuesday, December 16th and Happy Birthday to Yosemite Sam
I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia.
- Gwinnett leaders update lawmakers on voting site challenges, public safety efforts
- Brookwood High selected to participate in the GaDOE Gifted in Action series
- Gwinnett Chamber announces 2025 Business Excellence Award winners
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 - Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink
STORY 1: Gwinnett leaders update lawmakers on voting site challenges, public safety efforts
Gwinnett County is cutting polling locations—down from 156 to 144—and the reason? Insurance headaches. Churches and private organizations, once reliable voting sites, are pulling out, according to Elections Supervisor Zach Manifold.
Manifold shared the news during a meeting with Gwinnett’s state lawmakers, where elections and public safety took center stage. Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson emphasized collaboration: “When local and state leaders work together, we serve our residents better.”
On the safety side, Police Chief J.D. McClure highlighted staffing gains and a futuristic twist—drones as “first eyes” on crime scenes. Progress, but challenges remain.
STORY 2: Brookwood High selected to participate in the GaDOE Gifted in Action series
Brookwood High just got a big nod from the Georgia Department of Education—it’s been featured in the GaDOE Gifted in Action series, a webinar collection for educators working with gifted and talented students.
Eric Rovie’s AP Literature and Language classes were in the spotlight, with the GaDOE team recording his students in action. Rovie’s approach? Open discussions, tough questions, and a classroom built on trust.
Gifted education isn’t just about acceleration, says Dr. Keena Ryals-Jenkins of GCPS—it’s about sparking curiosity and pushing boundaries.
STORY 3: Gwinnett Chamber announces 2025 Business Excellence Award winners
The Gwinnett Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards lit up the John Maxwell Leadership Center last week, celebrating the movers, shakers, and innovators shaping Gwinnett’s business scene.
Nick Masino, Chamber President & CEO, kicked things off, followed by keynote speaker Darryll Stinson—a TEDx speaker and leadership guru—who delivered a heartfelt, no-fluff message about trust, growth, and greatness. “It’s about elevating results,” he said, leaving the room buzzing.
Masino summed it up: “When our businesses thrive, so does our region.”
Winners spanned 10 categories, from Spectrum Autism Support Group (Community Contributor) to iS3 Tech Services’ Adam Hammock (Founder Award). A night of well-earned applause.
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We’ll be right back
Break 2: Ingles Markets - DTL HOLIDAY
STORY 4: Gwinnett road closures Dec. 13-19
Heads up, Gwinnett drivers—here’s what’s happening on the roads this week (Dec. 13–19). Expect closures, detours, and delays, all courtesy of construction, utility work, and improvements.
Big ones to note: **Ballpark Lane** is closed through April 2026. Detours are in place, but, yeah, plan extra time.
Other spots with intermittent lane closures include **Beaver Ruin Road**, **Sugarloaf Parkway**, and **Rockbridge Road**—plus about 30 more.
For details or detour routes, contact the Gwinnett DOT.
STORY 5: ART BEAT: Players Guild at Sugar Hill to stage 'The Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'
Looking for a darkly funny way to kick off the new year? *The Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder* hits Sugar Hill’s Eagle Theatre stage Feb. 6–15, promising six performances of murder, mayhem, and music.
The story? Monty Navarro, a broke clerk, discovers he’s ninth in line to inherit a fancy title and fortune. His solution? Start “removing” the D’Ysquith family members ahead of him. It’s twisted, hilarious, and based on the 1907 novel *Israel Rank*.
JD Touchton stars as Monty, marking his first musical role in four years.
Tickets? Boxoffice@pgatsh.com.
Now, here is Shane Delancey the Director of the Christmas Tradition at the Strand Theatre
- Shane Delancey -
Break 3: THE STRAND HOLIDAY
STORY 6: Mill Creek Grad Holden Cammarata Runs 100-Mile Day for Williams Syndrome
Holden Cammarata had a wild dream—run 100 miles in a single day. Not a marathon, not two, but *four*.
The 2025 Mill Creek grad and Georgia Tech freshman had always pushed himself, running cross country in high school and now with Georgia Tech’s club team. But this? This was next level. “It’s a big jump,” he admitted. “With my foot surgery coming up, I figured this might be my last shot.”
But Holden didn’t just run for himself. He ran for Molly Kate Cloer, the little sister of his high school teammate Tyler, who has Williams Syndrome. Inspired by their family, he turned his grueling goal into a fundraiser, raising over $8,000 for the cause.
The run itself? Brutal. By mile 60, his injured foot was screaming. By mile 80, the park closed, forcing him to finish in a church parking lot. Every step hurt. But his parents, old teammates, and even strangers showed up to cheer him on, some running alongside him.
After 25 hours, 33 minutes, and 32 seconds, Holden crossed the finish line—exhausted, in pain, but surrounded by love.
STORY 7: Northside Hospital Gwinnett named one of nation's best for maternity care
Northside Hospital Gwinnett just got some big news—it’s officially one of the best places in the country to have a baby, according to *U.S. News & World Report*.
The hospital earned a “High Performing” rating for maternity care, putting it in the top 10% nationwide for uncomplicated pregnancies. Pretty impressive, right? Last year alone, they delivered 4,245 babies.
Northside Gwinnett also scored high marks in 15 other areas, from heart surgery to stroke care. When you’re here, you’re family.
We’ll have closing comments after this
Break 4: 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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