Friday, May 17, 2013
Law enforcement agencies will be participating in the event.
With the 2013 summer boating and recreational season near, authorities at Lake Lanier are gearing up to stress boating safety. A Boating Safety Awareness Day will be held at Lake Lanier on Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., to help increase awareness of boating safety issues, according to a news release from lake officials. The event will be held at the Sunset Cove area. Several local law enforcement agencies will attend, as well as lake partner agencies and local retailers, the release said. Complimentary vessel safety inspections will be conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Boating safety concerns have increased after several high-profile deaths occurred on the lake in 2012. Buford youths Griffin and Jake Prince and Atlanta youth …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The 2013 legislation lowers Georgia's BUI limit for boaters and hunters, and adds boating safety regulations.
It's official: As of Wednesday (May 15), a new Georgia law regarding the Boating Under the Influence legal limit and other boating safety regulations is in effect. According to a Lake Lanier website, state officials will attend information sessions at local marinas around the state Wednesday. The visits will culminate at Laurel Park in Hall County, where Gov. Nathan Deal will give an address at 2 p.m. The new regulations are contained in Senate Bill 136, which Deal signed into law in April. Portions of the bill are named for late Buford youths Griffin and Jake Prince, and late Atlanta youth Kile Glover. The youths were killed in boating or watercraft-related accidents on Lake Lanier in 2012. The legislation lowers the legal blood-alcohol …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The new law also increases penalties for those caught boating while intoxicated.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, April 23
Gov. Nathan Deal signed SB 136, a bill to strengthen public safety on Georgia's waterways, on Tuesday, April 22, at the Holiday Marina at Lake Lanier. The legislation, a portion of which is known as the Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law, lowers the legal blood-alcohol content for boaters from a 0.10 to 0.08. The new law also increases penalties for those found to be boating while intoxicated. “Far too many tragedies have occurred as a result of boating under the influence and inadequate boater education,” Deal said in a released statement. “Last June, I vowed to work with the General Assembly to pass legislation in honor of Jake and Griffin Prince, who lost their lives last summer in a tragic accident. As I have said, if you are too drunk to…
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
A bench and other objects are in memory of the Lake Lanier accident victims.
As spring 2013 dawns, a memorial has been placed near two Gwinnett schools in honor of a couple of Lake Lanier accident victims. A bench has been situated near White Oak Elementary and Lanier Middle schools in memory of Griffin and Jake Prince, according to a Facebook post. The posting read: The memorial bench, white oak tree and plaque that have been placed on the walkway between White Oak Elementary and Lanier Middle School in memory of Jake Prince and Griffin Prince. We are so grateful to the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the faculty and staff of the schools, and all those who donated their time and resources to this wonderful project. Love, the Prince family. The brothers were killed in June 2012 in a boating accident on Lake Lanier. …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The House passes the boater-safety bill named for children killed on Lake Lanier in 2012. The governor's signature is expected.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, March 21
A bill that would lower the state's Boating Under the Influence legal limit and institute boating safety regulations now has cleared both houses of the Georgia General Assembly. On Thursday (March 20), the House passed Senate Bill 136 by a 146-17 vote. The Gainesville Times reported that the "nay" votes are believed to be related to hunter-safety provisions of the bill. The Senate unanimously passed the bill earlier in March. Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to sign the bill, which carries the names of Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford, and Kile Glover of Atlanta. They were all killed in water-safety related incidents last year on Lake Lanier. -- Does this legislation make you feel safer on Lake Lanier? What other changes are needed? Share …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Lake Lanier-inspired bill, which has passed the Senate and is in the House, also would mandate other boating safety changes.
A Georgia bill drafted in response to recent boating fatalities on Lake Lanier would lower the state's BUI limit to that of the limit for motorists. Other boating safety changes also would become law. Senate Bill 136, which was co-sponsored by a Gwinnett legislator, specifically has some acts titled the "Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law" and the "Kile Glover Boat Education Law." The bill passed the state Senate on March 1 by a 50-0 vote and now is in the House. The 2013 legislative session ends March 22. The bill would lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for boat operators to 0.08 grams, the same as that for motorists. Gov. Nathan Deal called for such a move last June. Also, it would require that Georgia boaters meet training requirements …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The community information hub has had some memorable news stories in 2012. Share your favorites, and comments.
In a few days, Suwanee Patch will add another tree ring. It first went online on December 23, 2010. And the past 12 months were just as eventful as the first year, as Suwanee and Gwinnett produced many memorable moments. Again, the Jury Of One -- Suwanee Patch Editor Steve Burns -- has compiled a list of the 10 most memorable news stories from the past year. The list was based on user views, but also on viewer feedback and overall impact on the community. Check the list to see who has been naughty and nice, and add your comments. 10. Atlanta Braves Visit Coolray Field: The Gwinnett Braves got the ultimate visitor in April, when the parent club from Atlanta came calling. And an all-star team of minor leaguers, managed by former Atlanta boss…
Friday, December 14, 2012
Paul Bennett of Cumming is reportedly scheduled for trial May 20, 2013. He was indicted in connection with the deaths of Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Friday, December 14, 2012
The man who has been indicted in Hall County in connection with the boating deaths of two Gwinnett youths at Lake Lanier has a trial date, according to a media report. The Gainesville Times has reported that Paul Bennett, a Cumming resident, will face trial May 20, 2013. Also, the next motions hearing reportedly is set for January 31. Bennett was indicted for homicide and boating under the influence in connection with the boating collision on June 18, 2012, that killed Griffin and Jake Prince of Buford. Authorities say Bennett's boat collided with a pontoon boat driven by the youths' father. Griffin Prince's body was recovered more than a week after the accident. A Hall County grand jury in August indicted Bennett for eight counts of …
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Paul J. Bennett, 44, of Cumming, posted a $50,000 bond.
The suspect involved in a deadly boating collision on Lake Lanier in June bonded out of a Hall County Jail Monday. Paul J. Bennett, 44, of Cumming, posted a $50,000 bond, according to Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks of the Hall County Sheriff's Office. "He was booked in on Aug. 3 and bonded out on Aug. 6," said Wilbanks. Bennett, who owns a hair salon in nearby Johns Creek, was the operator of a fishing boat that struck a pontoon boat on June 18, killing two siblings, 9-year-old Jake Prince and his brother Griffin, 13. The Prince family lives in Buford. A Hall County grand jury Thursday indicted Bennett with eight counts of homicide by vessel in the first degree (four counts for each of the two Prince boys), two counts of boating under the influence…
Friday, August 3, 2012
The Cumming man was involved in a deadly collision that resulted in the deaths of brothers Griffin and Jake Prince of Gwinnett.
Paul J. Bennett, 44, of Cumming has been indicted by a Hall County grand jury. He is the operator of a fishing boat that struck a pontoon boat in June on Lake Lanier, killing two Gwinnett siblings, 9-year-old Jake Prince and his brother Griffin, 13. Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh spoke with Patch and said Bennett was arraigned Thursday afternoon for: As for what happens next to Bennett, Darragh said, "Obviously he is scheduled for later hearings, but beyond that I don't have any other information for you." The tragic incident happened Monday night, June 18, in the Shoal Creek area of Lake Lanier (near Lake Lanier Islands). Four families -- 13 people in all, with nine children -- were on the vessel, owned by the Prince family, …
