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SINCE DAYS OF OLD, REPLICAS OF THE MANGER scene have helped to bring man
kind closer to the meaning of Christmas. The crib or creche here is typical, in its presenta
tion of Mary, Joseph and the Infant Jesus, with the shepherds and Wise Men and, of course,
the animals of the manger. It’s typical, too, of the way the Nativity and the events surround
ing it have long inspired artists and craftsmen, musicians and singers, poets and writers.
As families and friends
gather to sing carols, as car
olers roam from home to
home, as happy notes ring
out in church services and
other gatherings, the familiar
and favorite songs of the sea
son celebrate the pure joy of
Christmas.
Busy about his holiday
tasks, one singer alone might
"carol joyfully,” just for the
gladness of it. The Christmas
treasures of heart and spirit
are his in fullest measure,
for carols belong to people
everywhere, and most espe
cially to every individual.
Carols are simple and sin
cere, merry and joyful, us
ually religious and sometimes
secular. Some carols are an
cient indeed and some are of
today. But whatever a carol’s
age or origin, one thing is
always true.
All carols are modem.
Their spirit is that of the
first of all Christmas songs,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will
toward men,” sung by an
angelic chorus.
Their message, like the age
old Christmas story, is as
fresh and new as tomorrow.
' By its very character, a
carol brings "Glad tidings of
t great joy” or, to put it more
simply, "Good news.” The
French carols known as "No
els” express this with the
use of the word "Noel” or
"Nowell” as a refrain—
and "Nowell” means "news.”
Scholar’s Latin was the lan
guage of the first Christmas
hymns, the forerunners of
present-day carols.
Typical of those ancient
hymns is a leaf from an il
luminated manuscript, new
in the Library of The Metro
politan Museum of Art, New
York City.
■ The leaf features a dramat
Hundreds Rise In Standing
Ovation To Flash Of Crimson Band
BY: JOHN A. REYNOLDS
Just one week shy of Christmas Eve,
the fabulous Flash of Crimson Band did
themselves great honor in the presenta
tion Of “A TIME FOR CHRISTMAS”
on last Friday evening. The applauding
audience stood in continued admiration
and gratitude as the last strains of
Yuletide music faded away in the high
domed gymnatorium giving a standing
ovation which lasted for at least three
minutes.
Forsyth County’s living symbol became
alive with new glory as the Flash of
Crimson progressed from favorite-to
favorite among the best-loved melodies
of all time, plus a commendable blending
of Ukranlan-inspired compositions which
lent a special contribution of their own.
Several times were the people asked to
join the band and sing their way into a
state of preparedness for the jolly and
inspirational season fast approaching.
Younger members of the band contingent
destined to join the ranks of the Flash of
Crimson in a few years, were introduced.
Special guests and supporters were on
hand and were properly accorded the
plaudits of a generous audience. But,
like to everyone there, a sincere niche
In the heart was reserved for Joyce
Turner and Mr. “T”. Without them and
their remarkable dedication to the Flash
of Crimson Band and its personnel, it
is doubtful that such a beautifully inspi
ring concert could have blessed the spirits
ic initial letter, illustrating the
Nativity scene and "illumi
nated” by touches of gold.
It’s the work of an unknown
15th-century Italian artist.
The hymn celebrates the
birth of Christ, Son of God
and Saviour of Man. Its source
is an Antiphonary, or collec
tion of antiphons—songs to
be sung in response or in
alternate parts.
Though the Latin words
may look complicated to an
nonscholarly eye, the music
is simplicity itself—notes for
a basic melody.
Simple as it is, this hymn
comes from an era which saw
the beginning of greater com
plexity in music. Toward the
end of the 15th century,
church music became not on
ly a religious inspiration but
a moving force in musical
development.
Rhythms became more
complex, and counterpoint
began to evolve.
Changes took place in the
language of Christmas song,
too, for Latin was no longer
a language understood by all.
The solution? "Macaronic”
carols, which may suggest
something to eat—but "mac
aroni” adds a "c” to be
come "macaronic” and gain
a new meaning —"in two
languages.”
Macaronic carols combined
Latin with a language that the
common people understood.
A Christmas carol might
also be a Christmas dance.
Origin of the word "carol”
itself seems to trace back to
the French word, "caroler”
meaning to dance, and carols
of yesteryear may have been
sung by carolers dancing in
a circle.
Full of rejoicing, the carols
we sing today literally dance
with holiday merriment.
of so many people. And, furthermore, it
Is believed tljat part of the standing ovation
was in remembrance of them for a job
well done.
When former members of the Flash of
Crimson were asked to stand, It was felt
that they too must have been very proud
to accept the present members as wonder
ful perpetuations of an honored and highly
affluent musical society.
The Flash of Crimson has done honor
to Cumming and Forsyth County as the
best advertisement available within the
area. Not only has the city and county
received acclaim through their splendid
efforts, but the renown of this excellent
group has spanned the imaginary bounds
of State Lines to become a pleasant topic
of conversation among the elite members
of other commonwealths not too dissimilar
from our own.
Everyone connected with the famous
Flash of Crimson is due special comment,
but words alone cannot suffice for the
respect and genuine love each of us feel
for them, the Cheerleaders, the Red
Peppers, the Baton Twirlers and Mr. and
Mrs. “T”, A vote of appreciation and
warmth is extended also to the musical
department and all personnel having to do
with the greatest or smallest service in
presenting to us, the adoring fans of
Cumming and Forsyth County, the very
best High School Band In All The Land,
The Flash of Crimson!
Traditionally, carols go with
the feasting and toasting that
are part of holiday cheer, for
a "wassail bowl” is any fes
tive beverage, and a "was
sail” is also a carol.
The "wassail” was one of
the earlier forms of English
carol—named, probably, for
the Anglo-Saxon "weshal,”
translated as "to be hale or
hearty.”
That carols have always
been popular music, in the
modem sense, is illustrated
by the mystery plays of
medieval England, say the
editors of the New Book of
Knowledge.
At first, carols were sung
between the acts, just as
music might be provided dur
ing intermission, at a play
or movie.
Soon, people demanded
more. In response to their
enthusiasm, carols were sung
on stage, as part of the
entertainment.
The leader had a portable
organ and led the singers in
a procession across the stage.
Swept away by the spirit of
the carols, the audience some
times joined in, and the pro
cession moved into the
streets, singing.
And today, that same en
thusiasm leads people every
where to join in the singing
of beloved carols.
NOSING AHEAD
Dasher? Dancer? Santa’s
most famous reindeer today
is Rudolph of the red nose,
from the 1939 song by Johnny
Marks.
PROOF OF PUDDING?
In European countries,
finding an almond in the hol
iday pudding means marriage
next year.
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Dedicated to the ProgreSfg Cumming and Forsyth County
CUMMING, GA. VOLUME LXIV ISSUE 51 15? PER COPY THE FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - THURSDAY DECEMBER 23, 1971 - PAGE 1
Lanier Islands Development May Pose An
Ecological Problem For Forsyth County Area
Caldwell Blasts Carter Plan
Before Senate Committee
First, I want to thank you for the invitation to appear before
this Committee. Also, to express my gratitude to you for con
ducting these public hearings in order for everyone to have
equal time to express his opinions and views on the reor
ganization.
Mr. Chairman, I have two documents which I would like to
submit to the Committee. One is an analysis of the reorgani
zation study released on November 21 and the other is a letter
to the Governor dated today exercising my right to veto any
proposal adversely affecting the Georgia Department of Labor
under the provisions of House Bill I.
Time does not permit me to enumerate all of my objections
which are contained in these two documents, but I would like to
point out briefly some of the high lights of my objections.
The first objection is that this entire legislative plan is sub
mitted in a manner that does not allow the members of the
General Assembly the opportunity or the time to vote for or
against any of the recommendations therein and Pm not going
to, belabor this point any further to this Committee, but it is
a fact that in all the public statements made by the Governor
and other proponents of this Plan that they have failed to mention
that the 251 elected Representatives of the people in the General
Assembly, both Houses of the General Assembly, cannot amend
this Plan, cannot debate the merits or demerits of it, and that
it becomes law without a single vote cast in its favor.
The Reorganization Plan was conceived, plannedandpresented
on the cynical premise, and it is cynical, the cynical premise
that members of the General Assembly would not have time to
digest its contents fully before it automatically becomes law
in 15 days after the General Assembly convenes.
There have been many false and misleading statements made,
made and repeated again and again and again, as to the savings
which this particular Plan would accomplish - and I submit to
you that any impartial analysis of the Governor’s recommenda
tions would very clearly reveal that the savings would not
approach 62 million dollars - and I think that has been clearly
established here this morning - and that the only real savings
could be accomplished without any of the reorganization pro
posals.
I realize that It is not in good taste to continue personal
attacks on the Governor and if my remarks are construed in
that manner, for this I apologize to the members of this Com
mittee.
But neither is it in good taste for the Governor and other
proponents of this Plan to purposely mislead the public as to
the recommendations contained in the Plan Itself. Neither is it
in good taste for the Governor to go over the State and make
public statements that the constitutional elected officers - if
they oppose any part of this Plan that they are opposing economy
and efficiency.
Neither is it in good taste for the Governor to say publicly,
as he did in the news media this past Saturday, that he thinks
it’s ridiculous for a group of legislators to prepare their own
Plan, and that if it passes both Houses he would veto it - and
I hope you give him the same consideration.
And I submit to you further, neither is it in good taste for
the Governor to make statements as he did in the press in this
morning’s Atlanta Constitution that there would be no possi
bility of pay raises for teachers and state employees unless his
Reorganization Plan passes.
My third objection to this Reorganization Plan is that it
establishes additional unnecessary layers of fat in the structure
of State government, very similar to the structure of your
Federal government, which does make it unwieldy and makes it
unresponsive to the people.
A further attempt has been made to convince the public that
some 300 State agencies, boards and commissions are being
reduced to 20 or 21 agencies.
But yet, in the Governor’s own study, he deals with 66 agencies
and eliminates only 2 of these. He then adds 6 super agencies,
which have now reduced to 5 in the latest Plan, but simple
arithmetic teaches us that 2 from 55 plus 5 is 69, and that’s
not a reduction.
I have included in this analysis a breakdown of all of these
agencies and listed them from the Governor’s own study and
recommendations under the super agencies in order to simplify
exactly what is being done. All of those are taken from the Plan
Itself.
To me, Mr. Chairman, there are two salient points relative
to the reorganization proposals. I’m speaking of those proposals
dealing with the grouping of agencies:
1. There is no relationship between savings and reorgani
zation. I think it has been established here by the members of
this Committee that the savings can be accomplished without
reorganization. And nowhere in the Governor’s study and re
commendations does he estimate the cost of establishing these
super agencies and all of the staff involved. And any of us who
go back and study the structure of Federal government, when
they start grouping agencies such as they did in 1953 with the
Dept, of H.E.W., see that when you study the figures of the
administrative cost of the Health Dept., Education, Welfare,
prior to the reorganization and then study the figures of these
three combined after they combined into the H.E.W., you will
find that the cost of administration increased two times as much,
four times as much, six times as much and so on as the years
went along. This is the type of reorganization that is being
proposed in the Governor’s study. Under these super agencies
CONTINUED PAGE 2
BY: JOHN A. REYNOLDS
The question has arisen in the minds of a few Forsyth Countians
as to what will happen when the Lake Lanier Islands Project
flushes the refuse of five million people down the drain, plus
the accumulated waste products such a number of visitors,
guests and transients will dump on the shores of the immediate
and surrounding areas. That, as of today, is a burning issue yet
to be resolved.
Will pollution levels in Lake Lanier create a potential threat
to the recreational qualtiy of the lake one of America’s
most popular man-made impoundments?
Will we face the same problems that belabored the Flat Creek
and Balus Creek areas of Hall County?
Will the eventual result culminate in a health hazard as was
discovered in the lake last June, when an amoeba found in the
embayments caused concern that it might be a causative agent
for meningo-encephalltis, a disease of the central nervous
system?
Will the oil-like scum be followed by amoebic blooms and
single-celled algae to subsequently affect the lake environment
near the dam and shores of Forsyth County?
Will Forsyth County be made the guinea pig for experimental
tests yet to be confirmed as adequate for defense against pollu
tion which may develop when an additional five-million-people
are added to the eleven million visitations already accounted
for each year?
Is Forsyth County to become a refuse receptacle for adjoining
Hall County that is to reap the financial benefits from said
project, although Forsyth County will gain little except the
unhealthy prospect of becoming the holding-point of Hall’s excre
ments which will, sooner or later, follow the course toward the
impoundment area at Buford Dam?
The above questions need exploration and explanation by
properly qualified experts. On the other hand, do we know
for a moment that the facilities of the island project will
prove effective for the common defense against such hazards
as those experienced in the Flat Creek and Balus Creek
predicament? Furthermore, do we recall the ecological “stink”
stirred-up about Atlanta’s Chattahoochee River?
The Lake Lanier Island Development wastewater will be
discharged into the lake at a depth of 70 feet, or beyond the
“thermocllne”. The thermocline is described as a layer of
water where the temperature is greater than that of the warmer
layer above and the colder layer below. At this depth (70 feet)
the sewage will be discharged below the thermocline. Thus,
it is hoped that the thermocline will act as a barrier to the
treated affluent and confine it to the deeper portions of the lake
where it will continue to degrade. Most important, however, to
the biological degradation of any organic waste is the amount of
oxygen required for degradation and how long the waste is
retained. It is presumed that Lake Lanier has sufficient
oxygen for aeration.
The paragraph above contains the opinions of the Environ
mental Protection Agency in Atlanta, and is signed by one of
the officials. But, let’s read further from the same letter.
“Eventually,” says the writer, “tertiary treatment (of all
wastewater discharges) entering the lake will be necessary.
As more data and information is collected by the agencies
concerned, future water quality Judgments will be made and the
necessary updating of treatment accomplished. Additionally the
data and EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM THIS LAKE WILL BE OF
VALUE SHOULD SIMILAR PROJECTS REQUIRE EVALUATION
IN THE FUTURE.”
The capitalized words above provide the clincher, as it
were, and seems to infer that this project is an experimental
one as it pertains to the discharges of wastewater into the lake.
Garbage, human excrement and rubbish just don’t go away.
Quoting an authority, Dr. Barry Commoner, "The sewage
treatment plant was designed to work on one part of the water
cycle; it ignored the consequence of stimulating the rest of
the cycle. Although such treatment will destroy the sewage
organic matter, they will not get rid of the destructive effect
of the resultant inorganic products on the self-purifying systems
in the water. Such sewage treatment plants are at best a short
range expedient. Since the second law of ecology tells us that
everything has to go somewhere; we must then ask: “Where
does the nitrogen that we add to the soil in these hugh amounts
go?” /
“When nitrate gets into the rivers it stimulates the overgrowth
of algae, becoming another cause for water pollution,” so says
Dr. Commoner. He further stated in an address that “sewage
treatment plants will not solve the water-pollution problem.”
When water is drawn-off at the generation stations at Buford
Dam, the water must move, thermocline or no thermocline.
It is therefore predictable that the water will move toward the
impoundment area. And, furthermore, who is to prove that the
middle layer of water (the thermocline) does not fluctuate or
move as well?
The Georgia Water Quality Control Board’s executive
secretary, R. S. (Rock) Howard, in announcing a hearing on the
Flat Creek and Balus Creek emergency, said, “we must clean
up the tributaries and pollution of lake embayments into which
these creeks flow.” In explaining the reason for the hearing,
Howard said it was “to protect Lake Lanier from future
degradation.” /
When the Appalachian Developmental Highway 400 is completed,
this area is to be heavily populated and will bring many thou
sands of people to the area for purposes of recreation over
and above the 11-milllon already anticipated. The Lake Lanier
Islands Development will accomodate some five million people
yearly with its motels, marinas, campgrounds, convention halls,
golf courses, etc., to be built and rented, or leased to private
enterprise. Lessees, for the most part, care little about sewage.
They are concerned with making money, and not too overly
enthusiastic about caring for, attending to, or giving a tinker’s
“d” about a so-called “ecological problem”.
Nothing disappears completely. It merely changes from one
state to another. It moves. Doing so, we want to know in the
CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
AS I SEE IT
By: John Reynolds
The financial affairs of this
county are in a “deplorable
state” if we take seriously the
words of one citizen concerned
with the local government’s
predicament. Nevertheless, we
have assurance that our future
will be quite rosy, if one takes
Into account the red ink being
shown in the wrong column of
some official records.
It is well to consider the Of
ficial Audit as it relates to the
Forsyth County Board of Com
missioners office, July 1,1971.
With six months of the calendar
year having run its course at
that time, the county owed a past
due loan of $400,000 for year
1970. Then to be added, was an
additional amount of $75,356.00
in checks outstanding at the
same moment. This amount
went up by $12,384.00 during
the past six months.
It is further known that in
terest to be paid (including
past due interest) jumped the
figure considerably, adding an
other $25,326.00 to the indebt
edness. Total it up, and we
have $500,682.00 owed one
source as indicated by audit of
the books through June 30,1971.
Other known debts revealed
by the same audit, showed“ A
ccounts Payable” to be
$69,705.00, plus the $50,512.00
the county was ordered to re
fund to The State. Then, of
course, there was the matter
of a paltry $882.00 balance due
the Bond Fund from transfer
In 1970 and a $12,663.00 note
due at end of year. This adds
another $133,762.00 to the ori
ginal $500,000.00, making a gr
and total of $634,444.00, or
$196,303.00 greater than all tax
revenue would bring-in if every
cent of taxes had been collected
one hundred percent.
Now that the General Oper
ational Millage has been hiked
from eleven to fifteen mills
since 1970, 20 mills to oper
ate the county’s schools and
2 1/2 mills for bonds, plus 1/4
of a mill for The State, it is
readily discernible that the co
unty will be on a 38 1/4 -
Mill set-up (subject to neces
sary legislative approval.)
In 1969, the county’s general
rate stood at nine mills. In
1970 an U-mill rate was im
posed, and if 15-mills is app
roved as the legal rate
the county will have put into
effect an overall increase of
more than 66-percent in the last
two years.
To owe $196,000.00 more in
July than all collectable taxes
for an entire year can accumu
late, is, by all standards, a
squeaky situation.
The gross digest (1971) for
Forsyth County looks something
like this, if available figures are
to be taken as correct:
$3,229,796 (includings4,ooo ex
emption), $40,841,432 property
(excluding $4,000), $4,000,000
vehicles, $3,500,000 utilities.
This should give us a gross
total of $51,571,228 for the 1971
tax digest.
Digest for Bond purpeses:
$40,055,749 (excluding $4,000
exemptions); with a .003 bond
tax to make a total of $150,167.00
in more or less round figures.
(Editor’s note: These figures
are not guaranteed to be exact
but are as nearly correct as
possible due to some confusion
existing in the newer tax eval
uations recently enacted.)
The net digest for operating
purposes should read:
Cont’d On Page 14