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Corps agrees to cut Lanier releases, for two weeks The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to cut back on the amount of water it’s releasing from Lake Lanier. But don’t start celebrating yet; the agreement is only valid for two weeks. From now until May 31, the minimum amount of water flowing through the Chattahoochee River at Peachtree Creek in Atlanta will be 650 cfs (cubic feet per second) instead of the usual 750 cfs. Georgia Environmental Protection Division officials say a certain amount of flow is necessary in order to dilute sewage that’s discharged into the Chattahoochee ... |
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A few simple driving tricks can save you money at the gas pump With gas prices edging toward $4 a gallon, many drivers wish they could trade in their gas guzzler for a more fuel-efficient vehicle. But often, that’s not a realistic option. "Most people are holding onto the vehicles they have right now, because if they have one that’s not very fuel-efficient, they’re not going to be able to sell it," said Mike Healy, Atlanta metro manager for AAA Auto Club South. But even if you own a Hummer, you can squeeze a little more fuel economy out of it by changing your driving behavior. ... 
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Teens get a chance to start fresh Fourteen teenagers arrested in March for underage drinking will get the chance to have the misdemeanor charges dismissed if they successfully complete a pretrial diversion program. The teens, including several Flowery Branch High School athletes, were arrested on charges of underage consumption of alcohol during a March 30 sheriff’s raid on a house party in Buford. The owners of the Carters Lake Drive home, Mark and Susan Eldridge, face misdemeanor charges of keeping a disorderly house and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Hall County Solicitor-General Larry Baldwin said he’s reviewed the ... |
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DOT moving on despite distractions TOCCOA — Leaders of the state transportation board said Thursday that the Department of Transportation is quickly moving past the controversy over the commissioner and her relationship with a former board chairman. The board, meeting in Toccoa, elected a temporary chairman and vice chairman to serve until June, when permanent officers will be elected. Bill Kuhlke Jr. of Augusta was elected chairman and former state Rep. Larry Walker of Perry was named vice chairman. "We realized there have been some distractions, but we’ve got a job to do," Kuhlke said.
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GBI examining body found in Cherokee County; could be missing man Authorities think they have found the body of a 31-year-old Forsyth County man who has been missing about two weeks. Sgt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said a neighbor discovered the body at about 10:15 Thursday morning on Avery Estates Drive. Michael Benson was last seen May 2 when he left for work. The truck Benson was driving turned up May 3 on Hog Farm Circle, a remote area of Cherokee County. Baker said the body has been sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab where ... |
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Thursday’s rain won’t help in long run Drizzle, apparently, doesn’t amount to much. Though Gainesville stayed under the shadow of cloudy skies and light rainfall for most of the day Thursday, the city accumulated a mere half inch of the much needed precipitation. And the forecast doesn’t get much better. "We’re not expecting any rain over the weekend," said Robert Beasley, a meteorologist with The National Weather Service in Peachtree City. "We might have a few showers (Friday morning), but that should be the end of it for a few days." In reality, the forecast doesn’t look much ...
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Politicians spar over gains in education The dean of the Hall County legislative delegation and his Democratic opponent appeared together Thursday night at a forum sponsored by the Hall County Association of Educators. Rep. James Mills, R-Chestnut Mountain, and Christopher Strickland, a Flowery Branch Democrat, spoke briefly to the small crowd of about a dozen. Also appearing was Rep. Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson, who is unopposed in his re-election bid. Mills pointed to recent accomplishments in education. "One of the greatest things we have done in the past five years is we have increased the graduation rate by 10 percent ... |
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Special Olympian is all smiles Robbie Gorsline is sure that his volleyball team will do well at the upcoming Special Olympics state tournament. "My team’s the best. We’re going to Emory, and we’re gonna win," Gorsline said. The tournament, part of Georgia’s Summer Special Olympics, will be held from May 31 to June 1 at Emory University. The 28-year-old volleyball player was honored by the Hall County Special Olympics as Athlete of the Year at a picnic Thursday at Laurel Park. Special Olympics volunteer Mark Floyd said Gorsline’s positive attitude and his aggressive play are what earned him ...
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City taking a microscope to utility costs, fees Residents who purchase Gainesville water in the future may be paying more fees for it. Depending on a proposed future study, the city’s Public Utilities Department may charge its customers for paying with credit cards, applying for service and for customers in other cities having their water meters read by Gainesville employees each month. Tina Wetherford, manager of finance and administration for the department, asked the Gainesville City Council to approve a contracted study that will analyze how much it costs the department to provide each of its services, from processing a customer’s ... |
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Birds beware: Scarecrows are invading HOSCHTON — Come September, there won’t be a crow for miles around Hoschton. The city is hoping to garner the Guinness World Record for most scarecrows in one location by amassing 4,000 in the Hoschton ZIP code by Sept. 1. "It’s cute. It’s interesting. It’s something to draw attention to (Jackson) county and bring tourism to the county, bring business to the county, as well as promote the fall festival," Mayor Bill Copenhaver said at a Monday press conference. "They might think we’re loony, but they’re going to come," he ... |
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Toccoa flood sparked safety measures for dams The Safe Dams Program, which regulates dams like the one at Lake Wendy in White County, came about as a result of one of the worst dam breaks in Georgia history. In the early morning hours of Nov. 6, 1977, an earthen dam above the 186-foot Toccoa Falls ruptured, sending 700,000 tons of water crashing down into the lower campus of Toccoa Falls College, a small Bible school. The failure of the Kelly Barnes Dam resulted in the deaths of 39 people, including 20 children. Hydrologists believe the water, as it rushed down ... |
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DOT board meeting is first since chairman’s departure The State Transportation Board meets today for the first time since resolving the controversy over Department of Transportation Commissioner Gena Abraham and her relationship with former 9th District board member Mike Evans. The board is meeting in Toccoa. Twice a year, the transportation board meets outside Atlanta. In 2007, the board met for two days in Gainesville. The panel met on Wednesday as a committee of the whole and heard a report on project prioritization. In addition, a presentation on Toccoa and Stephens County was given by Bob Evans, interim director of the ... |
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White County dodges a wet disaster The fear that an earthen dam at a 20-acre private lake in White County would fail and flood nearby homes passed early Wednesday when a flood warning was lifted. Lake Wendy, located at Camp Barney Medintz, a Jewish summer camp, was almost completely drained by late Wednesday, and engineers were already working on a plan to repair the dam, officials said. Officials said a hole in the dam first appeared Monday, and by 6 p.m. Tuesday, water was gushing out at a rate of 13,000 gallons a minute. The National Weather Service issued ...
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Ex-coach gets 8 years for molestation A former youth soccer coach pleaded guilty Wednesday to molesting two teenage girls and received an eight-year prison sentence, Banks County prosecutors said. Matthew Allen Wyrick, 23, was a coach with the North Georgia Soccer Association when he molested one of the victims he was coaching at the time, said Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Rick Bridgeman. He was arrested at his home in Habersham County in August 2006. The molestations occurred in Banks County, officials said. The ages of the victims and the circumstances in which they were molested were ... |
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Auto dealer, community leader Harold DeLong dies Harold DeLong, a former Gainesville city commissioner and auto dealer, has died after an extended illness. He was 86. DeLong was the youngest son of a pioneering auto dealer, Frank W. DeLong Sr., who opened a Hudson-Essex-Terraplane dealership on Main Street in 1921. A decade later, the company switched to Buick, Pontiac and GMC trucks. Frank DeLong’s three sons, all aviators in World War II, returned home after the war and joined the family business. The business expanded to include a Firestone tire dealership. DeLong Home and Auto offered a ... |
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Challenged Child plans learning program for summer A group of Challenged Child supporters gathered Wednesday to discuss Summer Sensations, a summer program put on by Challenged Child. The women’s advocacy group for Challenged Child has grown from 15 to 100 members during its first four months of existence and is ready to make an impact on the community. "I think that tells you what this community thinks about Challenged Child — they’re holding it in their hands and their hearts," said Kathy Cook, executive director of Challenged Child. Challenged Child is a Gainesville preschool center that serves both ...
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Packed shelters reflect slow economy It’s getting to be a common sight in some Georgia communities: A home gets foreclosed on and the family moves out in a hurry, leaving a stack of their belongings at the curb. And occasionally they leave their pets behind, too. Authorities in some metro Atlanta counties have reported finding dogs or cats trapped inside abandoned homes, deprived of food and water. Fortunately, there haven’t yet been any cases like this in Gainesville. "Animal control has not seen an unusual amount of abandoned animals," said Rick Aiken, president of the Humane ...
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Number 21: Another case of rabies reported in Hall |
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Mills ‘disappointed’ by Perdue veto Gov. Sonny Perdue has vetoed a bill by Rep. James Mills, R-Chestnut Mountain, which was intended to require authorities to seize vehicles of people who are in the country illegally and are involved in a traffic accident. A watered-down version of the bill was offered in the Senate and subsequently passed by the House. It allowed law enforcement officers to impound a vehicle of a person who does not have a valid driver’s license. "Because I believe that officers should have discretion to determine when a vehicle should be impounded, and because I ... |
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Perdue permits guns in restaurants, MARTA ATLANTA — Governor Sonny Perdue on Wednesday signed legislation allowing guns in restaurants, on public transportation and in parks. A number of groups and had urged Perdue to veto the measure saying it could lead to increased violence. Among them were the Georgia Restaurant Association, MARTA and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin also opposes the bill. It was backed by the National Rifle Association. The new law would only apply to the roughly 300,000 Georgians that have concealed weapons permits. |
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Hole in dam worries White County residents Residents of the Jenny's Creek and Town Creek area of White County endured a tense night late Tuesday and early today as the possibility of flooding from both creeks remained unknown. This morning, however, with a flash flood warning canceled, the immediate threat seems to have passed. Officials in White County said there was no flooding overnight and no one was evacuated from their homes. Earlier Tuesday, Lake Wendy Dam, a private dam along U.S. 129 about four miles north of Cleveland, developed a hole that continued to grow throughout the day. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood ... |
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Planning and Appeals hears feud over fence A granted request to build a decorative iron fence one inch from a woman’s Park Hill Drive neighbor has created a barrier in the two neighbors’ friendship. Among two other requests, Jane Taylor, 1246 Park Hill Drive, asked the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board to grant a variance that would allow her to build a fence one inch from her neighbor’s property line. But her neighbor and friend, Becky Anthony, 1258 Park Hill Drive, opposed Taylor’s request, asking that the board only allow the fence to be no less than one foot from her property. ... |
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Agency to offer foreclosure seminar The pummelled economy has been a dark cloud for many involved in the buying and selling of real estate. However, Gainesville real estate executive Frank Norton Jr. said Tuesday that the glut of foreclosures hitting the market may actually be more of a silver lining than one would think. "This is a time of great opportunity," he said. "We would even say unprecedented opportunity, with the convergence of great wealth and stress in this marketplace." With a look to the bright side of foreclosures, Norton and company have put together a foreclosure buying ... |
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Health system gets Tricare contract Northeast Georgia Health System has signed an agreement with Tricare, the federal government’s health insurance program for military personnel. Active and retired members of the military can now receive in-network care at both campuses of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, as well as the Rehabilitation Institute and the two New Horizons nursing homes. Melissa Tymchuk, spokeswoman for the health system, said this is the hospital’s first contract with Tricare. Military personnel have always been able to receive treatment in Gainesville, she said, but they were charged out-of-network rates. |
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Oakwood discusses road expansion, sewer rates Engineering and design plans for the Thurmond Tanner Parkway extension are in the final stages of approval. Stan Brown, Oakwood city manager, said Oakwood City Council approved engineering and environmental details Monday for the road extension which will connect to Mundy Mill Road. Brown said the Department of Transportation could begin work on the project in September. The City Council also established sewer rates for city sewer customers on Winder Highway and Martin Road, as well as potential city sewer customers on the planned railroad sewer line system. Brown ... |
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Helen tourism goes sky high A new business in Helen is offering a bird’s-eye view of the Northeast Georgia mountains. Scenic Helicopter Tours began operating in mid-April, taking visitors skyward for as little as $10 a person. "It’s a service to people who would never normally be able to fly in a helicopter," said company owner Eric McMillan. "Our pricing attracts every type of clientele." But make no mistake about it: He intends to earn a profit. The $10 flight is just an introductory up-and-down. More expensive excursions take passengers as far east as Tallulah Gorge ...
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Richardson wants to fill DOT board slot soon, aims for consensus pick, not another fight FLOWERY BRANCH — House Speaker Glenn Richardson, R-Hiram, said Tuesday that he is hopeful that a date will soon be set for a caucus to elect a new member to the State Transportation Board. Richardson, who joined Gov. Sonny Perdue at a signing ceremony for a reservoir bill, said he has not spoken directly with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle about calling the caucus. The rules require the speaker and lieutenant governor to jointly issue the call. "He (Cagle) and I have both had busy travel schedules," Richardson said. "When the session ends, ... |
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Hall County tax assessors controversy: Before accusations came praise One of two accusers of Hall County Board of Tax Assessors Chairman Emory Martin wrote a glowing recommendation for Martin’s reappointment in 2003, one of the years in which Martin is accused of financial improprieties. James Cantrell, the former chief real estate appraiser for the tax assessors’ office, said the memo addressed to the Hall County Board of Commissioners was written under duress after Martin asked him for a recommendation. But Steven Gilliam, the attorney hired by Hall County to represent the tax assessors board in a probe over per diem payments to ... 
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Lanier Tech expands in Forsyth, names building after patron James Harrington CUMMING — Lanier Technical College held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a major expansion that will double the space at its campus in Forsyth County Tuesday. At the same ceremony, the college renamed the main building at the campus in honor of James Harrington Jr., a longtime member of the State Board of Technical and Adult Education. Harrington tenaciously sought approval and funding for the Forsyth campus, the first expansion of Lanier Tech from its Oakwood site. The building opened in 1998 and quickly reached its maximum capacity of students.
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Perdue comes to shores of Lake Lanier to sign bill to spur reservoir development FLOWERY BRANCH — Gov. Sonny Perdue used the sagging shoreline of Lake Lanier as the backdrop to sign a bill that state officials believe will help expedite the building of new reservoirs. The Water Conservation and Drought Relief Act of 2008 is intended to streamline the state portion of reservoir construction and expansion. The Environmental Protection Division will assist local governments’ efforts to expedite aspects of permitting for new reservoir applications. "I want you to take a look behind me," Perdue said at Van Pugh Park. "We’ve got a beautiful reservoir with ...
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Police seek suspects in Days Inn armed robbery Gainesville police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Monday night in a room at a local motel. Lt. Gary Enterekin said a visitor from Flint, Mich., was in a room at the Days Inn on Queen City Parkway about 10:40 p.m. Monday when two men came into the room brandishing handguns after he left the door slightly ajar. The robbers took a laptop computer and cell phone from the victim and left. No one was hurt in the robbery. The suspects were described as black males in their ... |
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Farmhouse fire appears to be accidental An unoccupied farmhouse in North Hall was destroyed in a fire Tuesday morning, officials said. No one was hurt. The fire at the 2,200 square-foot house at 8272 Belton Bridge Road was reported by a passerby shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday, Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle said. Firefighters made an interior attack on the home but were unable to save it from destruction, Cagle said. The owner of the home was preparing to rent it soon but no one was living there at the time, Cagle said. The home was valued at ... |
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DOT is installing cable barriers on I-985 No, those aren’t sidewalks being built alongside Interstate 985. "We get a lot of calls about that," said Crystal Paulk-Buchanan, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Transportation. The DOT has begun installing cable barriers on a 22.3-mile stretch of I-985, starting from where it splits off from Interstate 85 near Buford and continuing north to the junction with U.S. 129. "We’re basically trying to get them inside all grassy medians across the state," Paulk-Buchanan said. "It’s to prevent crossover accidents." A crossover accident occurs when a car goes ...
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Oakwood breaks ground on City Hall addition Oakwood residents were invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for a City Hall addition Monday that will nearly double the size of the building. The 3,200-square-foot addition is the second phase of the City Hall construction plan and will house the city’s planning and public works departments. The first portion of the administrative office was completed on Walnut Circle in May 2003. Lamar Scroggs, Oakwood mayor, said the foundation for the expansion is already being laid. "We’ve been planning on it for a good long while," Scroggs said. "We need to expand ... |
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Some Gainesville wrecker companies can charge more when called by police Getting in a wreck in Gainesville just isn’t what it used to be. A recently revised ordinance allows wrecker companies to charge more than they have in the past when the police department calls them to the scene of an accident, to pick up an abandoned car or the vehicle of someone who has been arrested. Gainesville police Capt. Chad White said the changes in the ordinance, passed by the Gainesville City Council last week, were long overdue. "We’ve already had an ordinance in play, but it hasn’t been updated in ...
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Flowery Branch man jailed on drug charges A Flowery Branch man, pulled over for driving on a suspended license and without insurance, had more than enough Ecstasy in his car to catch a trafficking charge, sheriff’s officials say. His wife also went to jail after attempting to keep officers from arresting her husband, authorities said. Joseph Mittwalli Ahmad, 37, had 132 multicolored MDMA (Ecstasy) tablets in his car when Hall County sheriff’s officers pulled him over for driving on a suspended license Sunday, Lt. Scott Ware said. The Ecstasy, with an estimated street value of $2,640, weighed 44 ... |
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Top students get their night courtesy of The Times' 2008 Academic All-Stars Stellar students and their favorite teachers got their time to shine Monday at The Times’ Academic All-Stars Reception. A panel of judges chose 26 of Hall County’s brightest high school seniors based on essays describing their most effective educator. Students also were selected to be an all-star on criteria regarding grades, extracurricular activities, community service and test scores. Caro Landers, the middle and upper school counselor for Lakeview Academy, said the Academic All-Stars program is a competitive one. "(Students) have to jump through a lot of hoops to get this," she ...
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Man cutting tree branch falls to his death A Gainesville man fell to his death Sunday after attempting to remove a branch from a dead tree, Hall County sheriff’s officials said. Hall County fire department responded to Vaughandale Circle at about 3:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon following reports that Demecio Riverra, 36, had fallen from a rotten tree, Hall County Fire Marshal Scott Cagle said. He had been attempting to cut a branch from the top of the tree when the base snapped, Cagle said. Riverra had no vital signs when officials arrived. Hall County sheriff’s Maj. Jeff ... |
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Hall County schools give first OK to next year's budget A projected $18 million increase in the Hall County school system’s upcoming budget is partly a reflection of rising diesel costs. The Hall County school board approved a preliminary budget for fiscal year 2009 that reserved $2.4 million for the cost of fuel — nearly $2 million more than the schools spent on diesel four years ago, Hall County schools Superintendant Will Schofield said. The school board will not adopt a final budget — or vote on the millage rate — until mid-June, but Monday’s preliminary budget called for more than $226 million ... |
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Association says Army Corps of Engineers plan needs to give extra care to Lake Lanier Should Lake Lanier be managed differently from other lakes in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint basin? The Lake Lanier Association says yes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says no. "What we’re upset about is that the (corps’ plan) doesn’t do anything to help Lake Lanier," said Val Perry, vice president of the lake advocacy group. On April 15, the corps proposed a modified version of the interim operating plan for the river system, which includes Lanier. The federal agency is developing a permanent operating plan for the basin, but it won’t be ready ...
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Chestatee Middle students' hair gets shorn to help patients tomorrow On Monday morning, nine students at Chestatee Middle School came to school with hair cascading over their shoulders. When they went home Monday afternoon, it was considerably shorter. The nine, all girls, donated at least 10 inches of their hair to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children younger than 18 who suffer from long-term hair loss from any medical diagnosis. Cindy Mize, a nurse at the middle school, invited students to participate and found nine willing, albeit nervous, participants. "My daughter gave her hair ...
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Hayes Lemmerz wheel plant to close; 290 will lose jobs in Gainesville A manufacturer of aluminum wheels announced Monday that it would close its Gainesville plant, leaving 290 workers out of a job. A combination of overcapacity and competition from cheaper imports led Hayes Lemmerz International to decide to shutter its manufacturing facility by the end of the year. Some of the production will be moved to the Hayes Lemmerz aluminum wheel facility in Mexico. "The phaseout is a difficult but necessary step in our overall plan to provide our customers the highest quality products at competitive prices and to improve profitability," said ... |
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Hall gets rain, but no tornadoes Sunday Thunderstorms passed through Hall County early Sunday morning, bringing more than an inch of rain to the area. Although the storm system plagued the central and southern parts of the state with at least six tornadoes before 8 a.m. Sunday, Hall County received only rain. According to Matt Sena, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, high winds gusted up to 40 mph throughout the day in Hall County, with a wind advisory in effect until midnight Sunday. He said today will also be windy, and the next round of ... |
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May marks annual stamp price increase, to 42 cents If you’ve got letters or packages to mail today, make sure you check the postage before you drop them at the post office or carry them out to your mailbox. Effective today, the cost of a first-class stamp goes up a penny to 42 cents. The U.S. Postal Service not only has increased the cost of stamps, but other shipping rates as well. Increases range from a penny on a first-class stamp to 85 cents on a priority mail flat-rate box, which now costs $9.80. Though bulk-mailers, such as utilities and nonprofit agencies, ...
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Pearl Harbor survivor gets chance to visit World War II memorial A group of 70 local World War II veterans will leave Fayetteville this week for a free trip to the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Roy Mooney of Cleveland is one of the former soldiers who will board a plane Wednesday morning in Atlanta. Honor Flight Fayette, a local nonprofit branch of the national Honor Flight Network, will foot the bill for Mooney and the other veterans to visit to the memorial. Mooney is a Pearl Harbor survivor. He celebrated his 85th birthday Friday and said he looks forward to ... |
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Local historian's book tells how man survived Japan's WWII prisoner of war camps The past will come alive again Tuesday when Gordon Sawyer presents his book, "Richard Kidder: WWII Survivor," at the Northeast Georgia History Center. "The agreement was that I could interview him ... if I called him a survivor but never a hero. That’s where the title came from," said Sawyer, a local historian and author. "He said the heroes were still out there," Sawyer said. Kidder was referring to the men who had died during the war. Sawyer based the book on the personal interviews he conducted with Kidder, his neighbor ...
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Free enterprise rocks for Gainesville State students on way to Chicago competition Gainesville State College has no intercollegiate athletic teams to cheer for, but it has a business division club that has become quite a powerhouse. The college’s 25-member Students in Free Enterprise team is headed to the SIFE USA National Exposition this week in Chicago. The club advanced by winning its 14th regional championship at the AFLAC SIFE USA Atlanta Regional Championship on March 20. The team also has been named a finalist in the SIFE USA Campbell Soup/Sealed Air Business Ethics and SIFE USA GE Consumer Products Program Sustainability Competitions.
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A life of laughter: Youth baseball coach Abbott Hayes loses battle with cancer Abbott Swift Hayes, who devoted countless hours as a coach of youth baseball, died at home Sunday after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 67. Born in Atlanta, Hayes came to Gainesville when his late father, the Rev. Zach Hayes, was assigned to a Methodist pastorate here. He grew up here and graduated from Gainesville High School, where he was a devoted sports fan and alumnus. "My dad was a guy who loved to laugh, and he loved life and loved making other people laugh," said his son, Abbott S. "Abb" Hayes ... |
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Windows into World War II The American archaeology professor readjusted the orange scarf hanging loosely around his neck, making sure it was still visible. He nervously scanned the crowd milling outside the Eastern European opera house. Men puffed cigarettes, their breath visible in the December evening. Russian words filled the frigid air as the orchestra began tuning its instruments inside. It was snowing, and the crowds started to shuffle into the warm theater for an Italian opera of romance and tragedy. Steve Nicklas, a professor at Gainesville State College, was searching each face, wondering which belonged to ...
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Slaying suspect’s life a spiral downward Donnie Poland had some things to get off his chest when he wrote a letter to a Dawsonville newspaper in 2003. Poland, who had just pleaded guilty to a string of burglaries and was serving out a four-year sentence, opened his letter to the Dawson Community News by calling it a "cry out to your loved ones who are in trouble with personal problems and drugs." He wrote that bonding them out of jail and "other quick fixes" are not the solution. He called jail "a place where mind, soul and body can become ... |
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