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IfVIP FORSYTH ITfIUfC
A IlCl COUNTY lIIiVVS
Established 1908
KENNETH HUDGINS - PUBLISHER
PAUL BEEMAN - EDITOR
PAUL PLAGINOS - ADVERTISING MANAGER
Published every Thursday by The Forsyth County News
Company. Second Class Postage paid at: Post Office in
Cumming, Georgia under Act of March Bth in 1897.
Subscription rates in Forsyth and adjoining counties, $4.12
per year, including State Sales Tax; elsewhere, $5.15 per year.
107 DAHLONEGAST.
887 3127
PAGE 2
Not So Fast
Last, year the county rushed through a change in the zoning code
which required sub-division developers to set aside five per cent
of their land as open space or community grounds. The idea was
to assure recreational areas in those budding neighborhoods. It
was a good idea and remains so. But it was locally conceived
without adequate forethought as time has proven. TTie first two
developers who the county attempted to hold to the setaside
provision were successful in beating the law due to an error in
legal advertising. The latest word we received was that several
county officials were thinking of rescinding the zoning regulation.
The argument is that the lands set aside will not be properly
developed and will simply become patches of overgrown weeds.
They expect potential park sites to become public nuisances. The
regulation needed more teeth. Specifics should have been spelled
out more clearly. The concept has worked in other areas and
could work here but not without additional study. Now is the time
for that study. Counties and cities with workable setaside or
dinances should be contacted and those aspects of their plans
which will fit Forsyth’s need should be implemented. It is too
fertile an idea to betossedout just because the county didn’t know
.enough about it to make it work.
Watch It Herman
Georgia’s Senior Senator Herman Talmadge must be spending
too much time in Washington or else he’s not paying any attention
to Georgia election results since the last time he had to run. Last
week Mississippi’s Sen. John Stennis was shot during a robbery
outside his Washington, D. C. ,home which prompted Talmadge to
issue a statement. In it he talked about what a sad commentary on
the times it was that such a thing should happen to a U. S. Senator
iind like that. We think Herman may be close to right in the sad
commentary business but he’s dead wrong in singling out Stennis
for his job. Not only wrong but conspicuously pompous. Maybe the
alleged populist movement in America failed with the
outrageously one-sided defeat of George McGovern, but it isn’t
dead in Georgia. The people of this state have been getting behind
the commonest of candidates—Jimmy and Lester and Sam—and
turning their backs on the likes of Slick Carl and Prince David.
Talmadge has established a record that pleases most of the voters
of the state and could regard himself as a shoo-in when he comes
up for re-election in two years. But he could find himself in a race
if any of his opponents come up with a secret weapon. A secret
weapon like humility, for instance.
THE VOICE OF SMALL BUSINESS
n s ii
by John Lewis
Executive Vice-President, National Small Business Association
Been shot at lately? Ever looked down the barrel of a .45?
Experienced the thrill of a pistol whipping? Surrendered your
cash receipts to thieves lately? If your answers to the above
questions are “No,” consider yourself fortunate. But for how
long?
; According to the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Reports,
385,910 merchants, manufacturers, professional offices, etc.,
were stuck up in 1971. To quote this Crime Report, “—63 per cent
of all armed robbery is committed with a firearm—”. How many
'small businessmen, or their employees, or their customers were
shot at, wounded, or killed? Most times for no reason other than
the f act they happened to be there when the thieves arrived!
National Small Business Association, with its headquarters in
Washington, has heard all the arguments and read all the
literature for and against gun control. Furthermore, each plea
based on the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States has been laid before us.
The Second Amendment of the “Bill of Rights” provides that “A
•well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be
infringed.” When this was adopted in 1791, our forefathers had a
justifiable fear that foreign nations might cast covetous eyes on
American geography. They had just passed through a period
when the government had been unable to provide sufficient
muskets for all those fighting for freedom. Further, the frontier
was just opening, and a “fowling piece” was a necessary piece of
equipment to ward off hostiles of any type. Until the mid-1800’s
there were few gun shops, fewer manufacturers, and no time to
wait around for “arms” shipments from abroad.
The legitimate hunter, sportsman, honest gun collector, or
target shooter, should have ,o beef against gun control.l Our
concern is with the illegitimate bounty “hunter” and the ease with
which he obtains a gun to strengthen his “bargaining” position
when he demands the cash, valuables, possessions, and mer
chandise of you and the small businessman. The small
businessman as a rule is uninsured, unprotected, and bears
almost always 100 per cent of the loss—in property, injury and
sometimes his own life.
Since you and small business are the most frequent victims of
the “bearer of arms” misusing and unlawfully exercising his
constitutional rights, something must be done.
You and small business have a selfish interest in remedial
legislation. American small business and all who depend upon it
are one half of the total population of the United States! Small
business employs almost 50 per cent of the private work force.
ITiat plus the employers and the families adds to over 100 million
people dependent upon the wages, salaries, profits, and benefits
pf small business.
Should a group of cruel and ruthless individuals be allowed to
march into a business establishment, brandish an easily obtained
gun, and march out with the sweat-earned receipts of the
proprietor and his employees?
Fiction ? Listen to your radio or TV news either on any Sunday
night or Monday morning. Add up, if you will, the weekend’s total
Of armed robberies, assaults, shootings, and holdups of small
businesses across the nation and in your own community. Add up
also, the total number of bodies which were left dead, maimed, or
•punctured because a trigger-happy thief had a gun. What are the
odds for or against you as you walk down a street at night?
f t Give your views to your Senators and your Congressman. They
represent you. They want your opinion and they are responsive.
As a constituent, it’s your business to become involved.
CUMMING, GEORGIA
30130
-FEBRUARY 8, 1973
Georgia Conservancy
An innovative and comprehensive approach to conservation is
about to be approved by the Georgia Legislature.
Or at least that’s the way things look to Department of Natural
Resources Commissioner Joe Tanner. He reported that the
proposed Georgia Heritage Trust plan was “well-received” by
members of the House and Senate appropriations committees.
If approved, the fund would set aside a total of sl7 million for
acquisition of sites of natural, historical, or recreational value
throughout Georgia. The Heritage Trust Advisory Commission,
appointed by Governor Carter in July of 1972, has already outlined
fifteen endangered sites which should be acquired immediately.
There have been some revisions since the list was first announced
in November, but it now consists of the following areas: (1)
Woodall Tract, Chattahoochee River; (2) Wormsloe Plantation,
Isle of Hope; (3) Lewis Island, Altamaha River; (4) Jarrell
Plantation, Jones County; (5) Barrington Hall, Roswell; (6)
Pigeon Mountain; (7) Fort Morris, liberty County; (8) Augusta
Canal; (9) Bear Island, Effingham County; (10) Old Rock House,
McDuffie County; (11) Pine Log Mountain, Bartow and Cherokee
Counties; (12) Marshall Forest, Floyd County; (13) Mclntosh Inn,
Butts County; (14) Soapstone Ridge, DeKalb County; (15)
Phillips Tract, Tattnall County.
The Georgia Conservancy has been vitally concerned with the
need to inventory Georgia’s natural and historical resources for a
number of years. We had a Georgia Heritage Inventory Com
mittee long before the Georgia Heritage Trust was established.
Seven members of our Board of Trustees serve on the Heritage
Trust Advisory Commission. Our hope is that each and every one
of these areas named can be preserved by its state or community.
The Georgia Heritage Trust Advisory Commission is now into
the second phase of its activities of inventory and acquisition.
Nominations for additions to the original list of 15 sites are being
accepted from local groups and individuals. In addition to setting
priorities for state acquisition, part of the Commission’s job is to
make known to local groups the resources available to them for
creating their own parks and open space.
If the Heritage Trust program is funded, future generations of
Georgians will have access to the same great heritage which has
carried our state so well for so long.
For a beautiful illustrated booklet on the 15 sites of the Georgia
Heritage Trust, write or call The Georgia Conservancy, 3376
Peachtree Rd., NE, Suite 402, Atlanta, 30326—(404 ) 262-1967.
R, I Herman Talmadge
I t REPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES SENATE
M,. :
v. « ■ vis i. v:&?.. - xV-. - «v '
IT’S TIME FOR the Congress and the Executive branches to
appraise their fiscal policies realistically and set out to achieve
real spending reform. For too many years the government has
tried to bury problems in taxpayers’ dollars, and the results
have been disastrous:
—Federal deficits from fiscal 1970 to 1973 are estimated to
total more than $lO4 billion—more than any other period
except during World War 11.
—The debt of the federal government is far greater than
the combined debt of all other governments of all other
nations of the world.
—The government of the United States pays out over $53
million a day, more than S2O billion a year, merely on
interest on its national debt.
—ln the past 43 years, the United States government has
had multi-billion dollar budget deficits 37 times.
—Taxpayers are frustrated by inflation. The working man
is being robbed of his earnings. The elderly are being
denied the full benefit of their savings and retirement
allocations.
The President reflected the mood of the people when he
cited the need for more responsible government spending in
his Inaugural Address.
We need affirmative action to curb deficit spending—action
that will produce the desired results, rather than just a lot
of heat but very little light.
❖ ❖ *
I HAVE INTRODUCED to the Senate a Constitutional
amendment that would put a tight lid on federal spending,
except in time of war or national emergency.
My amendment is designed to prohibit the federal govern
ment from spending money it does not have. I’m convinced this
measure is the most effective way to halt runaway spending.
This bill would establish a working mechanism which would
compel the Congress and the Executive Branch to become more
responsible in appraising and allocating funds. Since the luxury
of deficit spending would no longer be available, we would be
insulated from the day-to-day pressures and demands which
have forced us into unprecedented debt and fiscal crisis.
* * *
I believe spending reform is the single most important issue
before the Congress. Deficit spending has become a way of life
Such a life style is, at best, unhealthy and, at worst, suicidal.
The federal government has become addicted to deficit spend
ing and. in the vernacular, the time has come to kick the habit.
Lake Levels
Wednesday Jan. 31 - 1068.72
Thursday Feb. 1 - 1068.81
Friday Feb. 2 - 1069.72
Saturday Feb. 3 - 1069.91
Sunday Feb. 4 - 1070.02
Monday Feb. 5 - 1070.32
Tuesday Feb. 6 - 1070.21
JACK ANDERSON’S
WEEKLY
SPECIAL
WASHINGTON - Is Pepsi-
Cola quietly at work trying to
solve the Middle East crisis”
Pepsi - C o 1 a presi d e n t
Donald Kendall is trying to
put Egypt's most influential
editor, Muhammad Heykal.
together with White House
foreign policy czar, Henry
Kissinger.
Kendall first suggested to
Heykal back in 1971 that he
come to Washington for a
visit with Kissinger, but
Heykal turned down the in
vitation. Now. we understand.
Heykal has expressed in
terest in meeting Kissinger.
The meeting would be sig
nificant. Heykal is known to
have the ear of Egypt's Presi
dent Sadat and could pave
the way tor a new peace ap
proach in the Middle East.
Kendall, meanwhile, has
been able to pull diplomatic
strings in Cairo because he is
known to he a personal friend
of President Nixon. The
Egyptian authorities remem
ber that Nixon came to Cairo
in 1963 as Kendall’s represen
tative pushing Pepsi-Cola.
Avoiding High Noon
Congressional leaders have
raised an almighty howl over
President Nixon's encroach
ment mi their constitutional
authority. We have predicted,
however, that the issue would
he settled in the backrooms.
This prediction already has
started to come true.
The settlement of the Viet
nam war has increased the
President's prestige and has
taken some of the steam out of
his congressional opposition.
He. in turn, has taken Senate
Democratic Leader Mike
Mansfield aside and has pro
mised to work out a better
relationship with Congress.
The President has indicated
he will send his top aides, in
WE D LIKE TO KNOW
ABOUT YOUR
COMMUNITY'S NEWSMAKING
WON'T YOU HELP?
Hr Our readers are interested in the \
social news and ’happenings' from
all of Forsyth County's communities.
If you're interested in reporting them to us weekly,
we ll furnish writing materials....and a
FREE SUBSCRIPTION to the The Forsyth County News!
TELEPHONE PAUL BEEMAN, 887-3127
cluding Henry Kissinger, to
give congressional groups
regular private briefings. He
may also join Congress in sup
port ing, rather than opposing,
restrictions on his war-mak
ing powers.
Senate Republican Leader
Hugh Scott has hinted he
would support a war-powers
bill. The bill would recognize
the President's right to res
pond to a military emergency.
But it would require him to
seek a declaration of war
from Congress if he wanted to
continue military action
beyond 30 days.
The White House will take
the attitude that the bill isn't
aimed against President Nix
on but is intended to prevent
any future president from
conducting undeclared,
unlimited wars.
It may be more difficult,
however, to settle the great
spending battle. President
Nixon is still insisting upon his
right to impound funds that
Congress wants to spend. Con
gressional leaders claim this
violates their constitutional
power over the purse.
But this showdown, too, pro
bably will never reach high
noon. No issue is too great, if
there’s any risk of political
embarrassment, that politi
cians of both parties won't set
tle their differences quietly in
the backrooms.
Forked Tongue?
President Nixon in his in
augural address called for
more volunteer action and
less reliance on the govern
ment. Environmental groups
had been doing exactly what
the President advocated. Yet,
astonishingly, the Nixon Ad
ministration has been work
ing against citizen participa
tion.
Are Often Newsmakers!
by Jack Anderson
1972 Pulitzer Prize Winner for National Reporting
This is documented in an
unreleased 600-page govern
ment-funded study, which
offers the first comprehensive
look at volunteer environ
mental groups around the
country.
The trouble is that these
groups have brought pressure
on the government to crack
down harder on industries
that have been fouling the en
vironment. Apparently, this
wasn’t the sort of citizen par
ticipation the President had
in mind in his inaugural
remarks. The 600-page
report, therefore, has been
kept quiet.
However, we have obtained
a bootleg copy. It suggests
that government agencies,
especially the EPA, are
"defaulting on their basic
responsibility to aggressively
promote citizen participa
tion.”
The report cites the fre
quent complaint of environ
mental groups that govern
ment agencies and private in
dustries cooperate in refusing
to release basic information
that the volunteers need. In
stead, government and indus
try prefer to swamp the
volunteers with information
that the report describes as
“self-serving.”
When useful information is
squeezed out of the govern
ment, it usually is provided at
the last po”ible moment. This
is why many environmental
groups seem so crisis
oriented. They are unable to
act until the last stages of the
decision-making process.
Meanwhile, citizen groups are
forced to oppose projects until
they can evaluate them.
The report also criticizes
EPA and other federal agen
cies for the way they conduct
environmental hearings.
Jpl
These hearings often provide
the only opportunity for volun
teers to participate in en
vironmental decisions. Yet
the report charges that hear
ings usually take place after
the basic decisions are made.
The report concludes that
despite the many achieve
ments of the volunteers, “we
often found a feeling of help
lessness.Jand) a deep sense of
frustration and distrust that
extends to the whole govern
mental process.”
Headlines and Footnotes
MURDER UNSOLVED -
Almost three years ago, Colet
te MacDonald and her two
children were brutally mur
dered at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina. Colette’s husband
Jeffrey, an Army captain, at
first was charged with the
murder, but through the.
efforts of her father. Alfred
Kassab, the captain was
cleared of all charges. Now,
Mr. Kassab is personally
pressuring the Justice
Department to keep the case
open. He tells us that he is sure
Justice knows who the real
killer is, but is not yet ready to
bring charges.
BOY SCOUT SUBSIDY -
Troops at Fort Lee, Virginia,
were quietly converted into
boy scout counselors last sum
mer at taxpayer’s expense.
Post commander Gen. John
McLaughlin ordered dozens of
officers and enlisted men of
the 96th Civil Affairs batallion
to troop up to Camp Brady
Saunders in Oilville, Va„ to
help the boy scouts. The
soldiers, we have learned,
prepared and served 31,000
meals, built numerous struc
tures and counseled a total of
2.500 boys. The official esti
mate of costs to the Army:
532.000.