GDP Script/ Top Stories for October 25th Publish Date: October 25th PRE-ROLL: From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Saturday, October 25th and Happy Birthday to Bobby Knight I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Gwinnett KIA Mall of Georgia. Georgia Gwinnett College to host Preview Day on Nov. 8 Midway magic: Netherworld delivers the ultimate Halloween experience New principals named at Gwin Oaks Elementary and Jordan Middle School 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 MOG STORY 1 : Georgia Gwinnett College to host Preview Day on Nov. 8 Thinking about becoming a Grizzly? Georgia Gwinnett College is rolling out the welcome mat for future students and their families on Nov. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., for Preview Day. What’s on tap? A little bit of everything. You’ll meet professors, chat with current students, and explore over 45 academic programs. There’s a guided campus tour (yes, they’ll show you the dorms), plus a peek into GGC’s buzzing student life—clubs, events, and all the support you didn’t know you needed. Ready to check it out? Register at www.ggc.edu/PreviewDays . STORY 2: Midway magic: Netherworld delivers the ultimate Halloween experience Sure, it’s football season. And the leaves are doing their thing. But let’s be real—it’s spooky season, and there’s no better place to dive into the chills than Netherworld Haunted House in Stone Mountain. This year’s frights? “Monsters Attack!” and the double feature “Oblivion: Return of the Mangler, Featuring Grendel’s Feast.” Terrifying, right? But the real chaos? The Midway. Between haunts, you’ll find food, games, photo ops, and maybe even a monster or two lurking around. “The Midway is where the energy really explodes,” said co-founder Billy Messina. Think nachos, creepy drinks, escape rooms, and the House of Creeps Monster Museum. Tickets? Grab ’em early at fearworld.com. STORY 3: New principals named at Gwin Oaks Elementary and Jordan Middle School Two Gwinnett schools are getting new leaders, the district announced last week. At its Oct. 16 meeting, the Gwinnett County Board of Education approved Wendy C. McDonald as the new principal of Gwin Oaks Elementary, replacing Dr. Craig Barlow, who’s retiring. McDonald, currently an assistant principal at Trickum Middle, started her career in Louisiana before joining GCPS in 2005. She’s got degrees in political science, early childhood education, and literacy—all from UGA. Over at Jordan Middle, Alex “Hunter” McRae will take the reins from Melissa M. Miller, who’s moving to Bay Creek Middle. McRae, a GCPS veteran since 2000, has a background in music education and leadership. 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: Ingles Markets STORY 4: Georgia Department of Education recognizes five Gwinnett schools on 2025 Distinguished and Reward Schools list Big news for Gwinnett schools! Jackson Elementary, Mountain Park Elementary, Paul Duke STEM High, and Trip Elementary have been named 2025 Distinguished Schools by the Georgia Department of Education. What does that mean? They’re in the top 5% of Title I schools statewide, based on ELA and math scores. Pretty impressive, right? And there’s more—Arcado Elementary snagged the 2025 Title I Reward School honor, recognizing the top 5% of schools making the biggest improvements over two years. Each school gets a certificate, a flag, and a shot at a national award. STORY 5: Contested mayoral races top ballots in three cities This fall’s municipal elections are heating up, especially in three cities with contested mayoral races. While most ballots focus on city council seats, Loganville, Braselton, and Sugar Hill voters have some big decisions to make. In Loganville, it’s an open race—Mayor Skip Baliles is retiring. Voters will choose between City Councilman Branden Whitfield and local business owner John Soesbe to take the reins. Braselton’s Mayor Kurt Ward is up against two challengers: Michael Cronic, a former school board chair, and Brandon Reed, founder of ReeDesign MFG. Over in Sugar Hill, Mayor Brandon Hembree faces watchdog Amber Chambers in his first re-election bid. Meanwhile, Dacula, Grayson, and Norcross mayors are cruising to re-election unopposed. STORY 6: Lawrenceville City Council races come ahead of big annexation vote Lawrenceville’s city council races are in the spotlight this year—and not just because it’s the county seat. There’s also a big annexation vote looming in May that could add 19,000 new residents to the ci
