GDP Script/ Top Stories for October 11th
Publish Date: October 11th
PRE-ROLL:
From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.
Today is Saturday, October 11th and Happy Birthday to Steve Young
I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Gwinnett KIA Mall of Georgia.
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: 07.14.22 KIA MOG
STORY 1: Fernbank Museum set to premiere 2 new Giant Screen films
This fall, Fernbank Museum is serving up two epic adventures on its Giant Screen Theater—stories that’ll stick with you long after the credits roll.
First up, “Wild Rescue” (premiering today Oct. 11). It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, where bobcats, pelicans, and other injured animals get a second shot at life. Think animal ER, but with jaw-dropping cinematography and a whole lot of heart.
Then there’s “Secrets of Great Salt Lake” (opening Nov. 8). Mammoths, saber-toothed cats, ancient floods—it’s a wild ride through time, showing how water shapes life, from the Rockies to the Great Salt Lake.
Both films are included with general admission. Don’t miss it.
STORY 2: House Republicans consider more funding for public health
Georgia’s public health system is at a breaking point, lawmakers were told Tuesday. Federal funding is drying up—COVID-era dollars are gone, grants are shrinking, and the Congressional budget mess isn’t helping.
State funding has increased over the years, but it’s not enough. Per-person spending has dropped from $97 in 2012 to just $74 today, said Leah Chan of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Rural areas? They’re hit hardest—fewer resources, fewer workers, and the looming threat of hospital closures.
Advocates made it clear: public health programs save money and lives. Vaccinations, lead abatement, substance abuse prevention—they all reduce preventable deaths and boost the economy.
Lawmakers listened, but what’s next? No one’s saying yet. The committee has until Dec. 1 to make recommendations.
STORY 3: Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church Hosts 40th Anniversary Community Carnival and Trunk or Treat
Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth is throwing a big party, and everyone’s invited! To celebrate 40 years, they’re hosting a Community Carnival and Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the back parking lot.
It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s packed with stuff for the whole family—think decorated trunks, games, face painting, a bounce house, raffle baskets, a fall photo booth, snacks, drinks, and, of course, candy. Lots of candy.
They’re also asking guests to bring canned or nonperishable food to stock their Little Free Pantry, helping neighbors in need.
Come for the fun, stay for the community vibes. 3700 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth.
We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.
We’ll be right back
Break 2: CITY OF SUGAR HILL
STORY 4: Man and woman killed in domestic shooting near Lawrenceville
Gwinnett police are piecing together what happened Wednesday morning in a tragic domestic incident that left a man and woman dead in a home near Lawrenceville.
Officers were called to the 600 block of Clearwater Place around 9:40 a.m. after someone reported a shooting. Inside a bedroom, they found the two victims—both dead from apparent gunshot wounds. A gun was recovered at the scene, but the Medical Examiner’s Office will confirm the exact cause of death.
Detectives aren’t searching for suspects, but they’re interviewing witnesses and combing through evidence. The victims’ names haven’t been released yet, as police are notifying family.
Anyone with information can call detectives at 770-513-5300 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477. Cash rewards are available for tips leading to an arrest.
STORY 5: Grayson Football Heads into 15-Day Break with Dominant Win
Grayson’s freshman quarterback, Deuce Smith, is making this whole “starter” thing look easy. Filling in after Travis Burgess’ season-ending injury, Smith threw *five* first-half touchdowns Thursday night, leading the Rams to a 58-10 demolition of Rockdale County.
Grayson wasted no time. Josh Thomas ripped off a 62-yard run on the first play, and two snaps later, Smith hit Saif Bin-Wahad for a quick 7-0 lead. By the end of the first quarter? 34-7.
Even the reserves got in on the action. Junior Tre Crum ran in a touchdown, and freshman Jojo Watts electrified the sideline with a 50-yard punt return score.
Grayson, now riding a 22-game win streak, has 15 days to prep for South Gwinnett.
Break 3:
STORY 6: GCPS names 25 semifinalists for Teacher of the Year
Gwinnett County Public Schools just announced the 25 semifinalists for the 2027 Teacher of the Year award, narrowing down an impressive field of 141 local winners. These educators—spanning elementary, middle, and high schools—are now in the running for the district’s top teaching honor.
The big moment? January 29 at 6:30 p.m., when GCPS will host a banquet to celebrate all local school Teachers of the Year and crown the county’s best.
This year’s semifinalists include standout teachers like Marquiesha Pless Morris (2nd grade, Baggett Elementary), Kelly Swanson (AP Psychology, Brookwood High), and Cindy Quinlan (Entrepreneurship, Phoenix High).
The full list of semifinalists showcases the incredible talent shaping Gwinnett’s classrooms every day.
STORY 7: Shiloh Grad Michael Nash Remembered Fondly in Gwinnett, Dunwoody
It took Michael Nash a while to figure out where he belonged. Coaching and teaching weren’t on his radar at first. After graduating from Shiloh High in 1992, he tried college football, worked in his parents’ business, even moved out of state to build houses. But life has a funny way of steering you back.
One day, his old friend Ed Shaddix, then principal at North Gwinnett High, called him up. “Are you ready yet?” Shaddix asked. And that was it. Nash, in his 30s, with a wife, two kids, and bills to pay, went back to school. He worked at North, coached under Bob Sphire, and earned his degree. It wasn’t easy, but it was the start of something bigger.
Nash’s coaching journey took him from Shiloh to Dunwoody, where he spent 10 years rebuilding a struggling program. When he arrived, there were 17 players, no facilities, and barely $20,000 in the budget. But he got to work—weight training, nutrition programs, camps, fundraising. Slowly, the team grew to over 120 players, with a budget in the hundreds of thousands.
It wasn’t just about football, though. Nash believed in loving his players, in making them better people. He coached lacrosse and baseball when the school needed him. He helped kids with problems at home.
In February, Nash left Dunwoody to coach at Chattahoochee County, closer to family. Tragically, he passed away on October 3 after emergency surgery. He was 51.
A memorial service will be held October 12 at Dunwoody Baptist Church. To support his family, visit the GoFundMe page in his honor.
We’ll have closing comments after this
Break 4: Ingles Markets 1
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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