Atlanta, GA
Community steps up to help metro Atlanta military recruit fulfill dream
Veterans help teen join Marine Corps
A metro Atlanta veterans group came together to make sure that 18-year-old Alex Williams could achieve his goal to serve in the Marine Corps, and it came down to the wire.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. – A metro Atlanta teenager is heading to boot camp for the Marine Corps next week. His dream was on the line days ago, but thanks to some help from unexpected places in the community, he’ll now be able to head to Paris Island, South Carolina, to start his next chapter.
For 18-year-old Alexander Williams, the first day of boot camp will be the first step in accomplishing his new goal.
“I’ve always heard that it’s like a brotherhood, and the people, once you get in there, they’ll be hard on you at first, but once you get in, you’re in forever. You’re always a brother for life,” Williams said.
In his case, that brotherhood stepped in early. He might not be a Marine yet, but a group of veterans wanted to make sure he got his chance to join.
Jim Lindenmayer is the executive director of the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Project. They typically provide an array of services to veterans in need, but when they got a call about Williams, they made an exception.
Williams needed his GED before he could join. Lindenmayer helped make that happen.
“So what we did is we put together a group with the Marine Corps group of Woodstock, and we were able to get him into the only two days of testing available to him for his GED. And he passed both of them. We just got his other test result yesterday. He took the exam on Tuesday, and he’s going into the Marine Corps on Sunday,” Lindenmayer said.
It was, of course, up to Williams to pass, and he did. The groups also paid for his testing and his hotel.
“Everybody has been very supportive of my journey to this point. They’ve helped me get to wherever I need to be. You know, if I need to get somewhere, they’ve always been willing to step up and help me out. You don’t really run into a whole lot of people like that, but they’ve been like family since I came into their lives and since they came into mine,” Williams said.
Lindenmayer said they were glad to help Williams reach his potential.
“Here’s a kid who hasn’t started yet. Where could he go? He could be the next sergeant major of the Marine Corps,” he said.
While Williams doesn’t know where his new path will take him, he says he is excited about the journey.
Atlanta, GA
Philadelphia Phillies lose fifth straight game to end homestand, swept by Atlanta Braves
Michael Harris II homered and had three hits as the streaking Atlanta Braves defeated the slumping Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep of their NL East rivals.
Ozzie Albies hit an RBI double and Austin Riley also drove in a run for the Braves, who have won five in a row and nine of 11. It was Atlanta’s first series sweep of at least three games at Philadelphia in 10 years.
Kyle Schwarber went deep for the Phillies, who have lost five straight and 10 of 13. They were outscored 56-33 on a 2-7 homestand against the Diamondbacks, Cubs and Braves, leaving Philadelphia 6 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the division standings.
Raisel Iglesias escaped trouble in the ninth inning for his fifth save. Philadelphia put runners on first and second with one out, but Trea Turner struck out and Schwarber lined out to right field on an excellent running catch by Ronald Acuña Jr.
Tyler Kinley (3-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for the win.
Schwarber’s two-run shot in the first gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.
Harris homered leading off the third before the Braves went ahead in the fifth with three runs against rookie starter Andrew Painter (1-1) and lefty reliever Tim Mayza.
Painter was lifted after he opened the inning by allowing singles to Harris and Acuña. Mayza loaded the bases with a walk, and the Braves tied the game on Matt Olson’s groundout. Riley’s dribbler to third went for an RBI infield single, and Albies’ double to the left-field wall made it 4-2.
Riley saved at least one run while ending a Philadelphia threat in the bottom of the fifth with a stellar defensive play at third base.
Braves starter Grant Holmes allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
On a chilly night, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto sat out after leaving Saturday’s game with lower back tightness.
Up next
Braves: Begin a four-game series Monday night at Washington. RHP Bryce Elder (2-1, 0.77 ERA) opposes Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (1-2, 6.16).
Phillies: Open seven-game trip Monday night with the first of four games against the Cubs. RHP Aaron Nola (1-4, 4.03 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 3.63).
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.
The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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