1. Sunday, August 16, 2015
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Shannon Casas
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gtimes
C
BY KRISTEN OLIVER
koliver@gainesvilletimes.com
Local school leaders are making a few
changes to address behavior problems.
Instead of focusing on negative behavior,
Gainesville City Schools is implementing a
model to focus on positive behavior.
Known as Positive Behavioral Interven-
tions and Supports, the model is a way of
encouraging students to behave well by
rewarding their positive behaviors rather
than focusing too much on the negative ones,
according to Leigh Sears, director of student
engagement and intervention for Gainesville
schools.
Sears said the purpose of PBIS is to prevent
behavioral problems before they happen.
“I know it can seem a little ambiguous,”
Sears said. “But it’s a positive, preventative
approach to manage behavior. So what teach-
ers are doing is creating rules and expecta-
tions that they are consistently and fairly
applying. Then they teach that they are
expecting these things, and then recognize
folks for doing them.”
The purpose is not only to manage student
behavior, but to improve academic success as
a result.
Program
to focus on
positive acts
BY FRANK REDDY
freddy@gainesvilletimes.com
Just how big is the upcoming
Kubota expansion?
“It’s unprecedented, in terms of
scale, for Hall County,” said Tim
Evans, vice president of economic
development at the Greater Hall
Chamber of Commerce. “This is
also the largest earth-moving proj-
ect in the state right now.”
Projected to bring nearly 600
new jobs to the area, the $100 mil-
lion project includes expansion of
existing operations and construc-
tion of a new plant at Gateway
Industrial Centre off Ga. 365 in
North Hall, which will specialize
in making the company’s rough
terrain vehicles.
The expansion will bring the
number of local employees from
about 1,300 to nearly 2,000.
Plans for the expansion of
Kubota Manufacturing of Amer-
ica — the corporation’s North
American production base for
tractors — were previously
announced. But Chief Adminis-
tration Officer Phil Sutton said
in a recent interview that an offi-
cial groundbreaking for the new
500,000 square-foot facility is
coming in a matter of weeks, ten-
tatively Sept. 21.
“Our whole business is grow-
ing,” Sutton said. “This project at
Gateway, it’s just part of a bigger,
companywide expansion as we
continue to grow.”
He said the hiring process has
already begun to fill new positions.
“They’re hiring not just produc-
tion workers but maintenance
technicians, engineers and design
workers for their products here,”
Evans said.
Meanwhile, at the existing
facilities on Ramsey Road, 3 miles
from the new plant, production
will continue as it has for nearly
30 years.
Gateway Industrial Centre is
a 518-acre business park under
development northeast of White
Sulphur Road. Officials have said
they hope it will be the catalyst for
additional residential and com-
mercial growth along the Ga. 365
corridor.
Expansion to create nearly 600 jobs
BY AUDREY WILLIAMS
awilliams@gainesvilletimes.com
Masked attendees of the
Children’s Center for Hope
& Healing’s eighth annual
Gala buzzed about the Rob-
son Event Center on Saturday
dancing to the music of Back
in Time Band, dining cour-
tesy of Avocados and refilling
glasses of wine at the open
bar.
Gala attendees were
treated to an evening of fun,
entertainment, but most
importantly, fundraising.
“There’salotofexcitement
here tonight, and I think all
the people enjoy being here,”
Bruce Edenfield said.
Edenfield, president of the
organization’s board of direc-
tors, was happy to see the
crowd having fun, but is even
happiertoseetheirdonations.
“Without their support, this
organization doesn’t exist,” he
said.
The gala raises money for
TheChildren’sCentertofulfill
their mission of breaking the
cycle of child sexual abuse
and exploitation through raf-
fles and a silent auction.
This year’s raffle featured
three prizes worth over $250.
More than 110 items donated
by local businesses were up
for bid, keeping attendees
occupied throughout the
night.
Don Ansley, member of the
boardofdirectors,saidhehad
his eyes on the golf packages.
Hiswife,TrishAnsleysaidshe
had a vacation in mind.
“I’m bidding on the week at
Hilton Head and all the pam-
pering, all of the spa days,”
she said.
There were also tickets to
TheAtlantaOpera,day-passes
to Dollywood, Atlanta Braves
tickets, wines, jewelry and
restaurant gift cards up for
auction.
Among the guests were The
Children’s Center’s therapists,
such as Sheena Young, who
said she looks forward to the
benefits the gala will have on
their services.
“(Child sexual abuse) is a
topic that affects a lot of fami-
lies,” Young said. “But people
arejustuncomfortabletalking
about it, so events like this are
a setting where people can
still feel like they’re helping
without it being uncomfort-
able for them.”
The Center serves 13 coun-
ties and has served over
2,017 victims in the past year.
Executive director Sam Shoe-
maker said there’s still more
to do.
“I hope that more people
will be willing to contribute,”
he said. “It’s an expensive
thing to run four offices and
have licensed and trained
therapists. And the beautiful
thing about it is there are no
fees for our services. We get
our funding from the United
Way, and several other
grants, so there’s no charge
for anybody.”
Shoemaker said this year’s
goal is to beat last year’s num-
bers and raise over $20,500.
Cindy Wilson, director of
development, agreed.
“That’s the goal,” she
said. “For the guests to enjoy
themselves, learn about the
organization, learn about
our mission and raise funds
so we can continue to help
these children that need our
services so desperately.”
Fun and fundraising at gala
Event raises money for Children’s Center
GREATER HALL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | For The Times
Kubota plans to break ground in mid-September on its 500,000-square-
foot site in the Gateway Industrial Centre. The company will relocate
production of its rough terrain vehicle line in the clearing on the left.
BY KAYLA ROBINS
krobins@forsythnews.com
Authorities are searching for a former Forsyth
County resident who is believed to be back in the
area after escaping a prison work-release detail in
middleGeorgia.
According to authorities, 20-year-old Eric J. Coe
waslastseeninMonroeCounty,nearthecityofFor-
syth,onWednesday.
Thevehicleheisbelievedtohavestoleninneigh-
boringLamarCountywasfoundThursdaynighton
SettingdownRoadinnorthForsyth.
Coe is not believed to be dangerous. He was
reportedlyabouthalfwaythroughservinga120-day
bootcampprogram.
Hisarresthistoryincludeschargesoftheftbytak-
ingandburglary,whichhereportedlycommittedin
ForsythCountyandforwhichhewassenttoprison
inMonroeCounty.
Thursdaynight,ForsythCountySheriff’sdeputies
responded to a report of a second stolen vehicle on
SettingdownRoad.
According to the sheriff’s office, the vehicle is
described as a black Ford Ranger XLT extended
cab with a tag number of PHG3977. The pickup
truck has front-end damage to the hood, grill and
frontbumperandhasadentedrearpassengercor-
nerpanel.
Deputies have increased patrols in the county,
andteamsaremakingcontactwithCoe’sassociates.
“AnyonefoundtobeaidingCoeorassistinginhar-
boringthisfugitivewillbedealtwithaccordinglyand
chargedtothefullextentofthelaw,”according to
the sheriff’s office.
The U.S. Marshals Service is leading the inves-
tigation and case.
Officials still
searching for
state fugitive
Groundbreaking for Kubota facility set for September
■ Please see KUBOTA, 3C
GAINESVILLE
CITY SCHOOLS
Approach aimed to curb
bad behavior in schools
■ Please see PROGRAM, 3C
Photos by ERIN O. SMITH | The Times
Bruce and Mary Anna Edenfield place silent auction sign-up sheets next to the corresponding items at the Children’s Center for
Hope & Healing gala on Saturday. There were more than 100 items for attendees to bid on in the silent auction.
Above: Amy
Stowers, a
board member
for Children’s
Center for Hope
and Healing,
separates
raffle tickets at
the Children’s
Center for
Hope & Healing
gala. Left: Tess
Guilfoile and
her father Bill
Guilfoile dance
at the gala. The
event featured
a midsummer
masquerade
theme, and
the band
Back in Time
provided the
entertainment.
FORSYTH COUNTY