Newspaper Page Text
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C ’ Fun In Snow
\ Jim c °sey
EVERYONE IS still talking about the snow
last week. I must admit that it was the most
beautiful snow I've ever seen. It was just right.
qpifl* FORSYTH MBtafg
IXIXa county HXiVV9
USPS 205-540
(Established 1908)
JIM COSE Y PUBLISHER EDITOR ItHsTTP'I
ROGER HENDERSON ADVERTISING DIRECTOR i^UlPAii/"#
SHEILA MARTIN CLASSIFIED MG 8 PRODUCTION VKStSSf
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CATHY PUCKETT STAFF WRITER mc.cr
Published every Wednesday 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
adjacent counties. $9.36 per year, including State Sales Tax. Other Georgia counties and out-of
state. $12.48 per year, includes sales tax.
107 DAHLONEGA ST.
887 3127
Our Opinions
Do Something!
We’ve all heard the saying, “It couldn’t
happen here!” We often tend to think
we’re immune to “big city” problems
such as drugs.
But, it appears we’re not. Just recently
the Sheriff’s Department along with GBI
officials uncovered a large drug lab that
was apparently manufacturing illegal
drugs, right here in Forsyth County.
It appears that some “big city” people
come here and rented a place and set up
shop.
Other local law enforcement officials
will also quickly tell you that there is a
drug problem on the local level. Reports
from reliable sources reveal that people
are abusing drugs.
Inflation Hits
Forsyth County Commission Chairman
Bill Barnett recently told the local
Kiwanis Club, in a “State of the County”
address, that the biggest problem facing
local government is inflation.
He said that the county is facing the
same price increases as everyone else
and it’s just costing more and more to run
the county.
Barnett said that perhaps the biggest in
flation problem is energy-the cost of
Time For Taxes
It’s that time of year again when all
thoughts turn to taxes.
We’ve just recovered from the trials
and tribulations of Christmas and now it’s
time to pay those dreaded taxes.
The Internal Revenue Service urges
everyone to file their returns early so that
refunds can be made or payments for-
PAGE 2
FEBRUARY 13, 1980
No ice, you could travel the roads, no fallen
trees, no power outage-just a beautiful, white
snow.
CUMMING, GEORGIA
30130
How do you fight this problem? It was
once thought that drug abuse was on the
decline but officials say this is true in
metro areas, but it’s taking a little longer
for this to happen in rural areas.
A local mother called this newspaper
just last week and said her son had been
“hooked on drugs” and she wanted
everyone to be on the look-out for their
own children and be aware of the “tell
tale” signs.
When this occurs, and it could happen to
any family, seek professional help. Don’t
stick your head in the ground in embar
rassment, but do something. Do
something now!
gasoline, heating, etc.
He then pointed out that Forsyth County
has made a big advancement in road im
provements, using revenue sharing
monies received from the state in this
direction.
We think the county commissioners are
doing a commendable job and want to
thank them for keeping the taxpayers in
mind, even in these inflationary times.
warded. Most people put off filing until the
last minute and it creates a “bog-down”
at all levels.
Don’t wait until the last date. File your
returns now and get it out of the way. That
way, you won’t have to worry about it.
Then you can turn your thoughts to sum
mer vacations and the coming of spring.
And, it lasted just long enough. It was great
for a day, but then I was tired of it and wanted
it to go away and it did.
But while it was here, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The weather people had been forecasting the
snow all day long and I impatiently stood at the
door with my nose firmly implanted against the
pane, watching for that first flake.
Sure enough, later in the evening I saw it
begin to lightly snow. The entire family
scrambled to the deck to catch the first flakes.
We were like excited children. What is it
about snow that makes everyone go beserk? I
have no idea, but it happens and I’m no excep
tion.
It started to snow harder and we all were up
and down until late in the night running to the
door to look.
wpj Sawnee Sam Sez*„
G eor 9 e Robertson. Jr
Old Man Winter
L w
Can’t you just hear him cackling in a crusty
voice somewhere up in the icy, craggy peaks
where he must live?
“Thought you were going to keep me out this
year, ha, ha, ha.”
Who?
Old man winter, of course!
Yes, we thought maybe this would be a
“winterless” winter, that we wouldn’t have
that “yuck” time of the year. But, too much to
hope for.
In the “yuck” time with the frequently foul
weather, always cold, often rainy or worse,
most of us become weather watchers. Surely
the eleven o’clock news has its largest viewing
audiences in the winter.
Every night many of us are hanging on the
weatherman’s word of what’s coming during
the night or in the morning. Are we north
enough in Georgia to get the predicted ice?
Or, will the snow accumulation amount to
anything? Sound like familiar nightly ques
tions?
Many of us ridge runners have to make a pre
midnight determination of where to park the
car for the morning get-away. Or my way, if I
come home late at night from business, I can
get an instant weather prediction from the
number of cars parked up on the road.
As unpredictable and nasty as old man
winter is, he’s not satisfied with disturbing our
travel plans. The frosty old cuss also likes to
visit upon us various colds, sniffles, sneezes
and the übiquitous flu.
Any given year you seem to have a choice of
Brazilian, Russian, Hong Kong or whatever.
Just about every family you talk with has been
visited by the flu.
jjNßk Forgotten People
W By Julianne Boling
Love To Hate
Carol Burnett has been a “star” for many
years to millions of people. In recent months
she and her husband have become even bigger
“stars” not only to millions of people, but also
to their teenage daughter.
In the last few weeks, Carol and her husband
have appeared on many nationwide television
programs to say, “Our daughter was hooked on
drugs! ” The courage to say this to the world is
only matched with the courage and determina
tion that was needed to help their daughter
overcome her problem.
Several phrases really caught my attention.
First, that parents (or friends) must reach a
point when they have had enough. Only then
can changes be made.
Second, professional help is needed to help a
drug addiot or an alcoholic change. We do not
have the ability to handle these serious pro
blems and trained help is essential.
The most impressive statement made was:
My daughter didn’t want to go to bed and
neither did I, so we stayed up late, watching the
snow fall, knowing that by morning everything
would be covered.
Sure enough, the next morning we all got up
early and everything was white. It looked like a
winter wonderland. My daughter was so ex
cited she could hardly stand herself. I’ll let you
in on a little secret-so was I!
+++
I HURRIEDLY got dressed, doning shirt,
sweater, heavy socks, big coat, scarf and hat
and we hit the front yard.
The first order of business was to build a
snowman. So we began. We rolled a small ball
of snow all over the yard and it kept getting
larger and larger. My feet were freezing, but it
didn’t seem to matter.
Everybody seems to recover eventually,
even though they feel they’re a “goner” when
ill.
There must be progress in the world, for in
fluenza used to be a killer in the 19th and even
early 20th century. Don’t know whether man’s
gotten stronger, medicine smarter or the flu
bugs weaker, but several days of house
boredom and misery seems about all it can do
to us.
Well, folks take heart. Old man winter’s days
are numbered. Hopeful signs of his end are on
the scene. The boat shows, the ever optimistic
Braves’ talk of their “improved” team. Well,
we’ve all heard that one before and it’s hard to
believe it’s for real.
But the boat show is a harbinger of spring.
Those lovely gleaming boats, yet to see the first
bit of algae. Sails flapping in artificial breezes,
gleaming water skiis and fishing equipment all
conjure up thoughts of warm weather and
water fun.
Exhibitors stroll about in summer whites,
even a stuffed bikini or two make you fondly
think of the warm, sun blessed weather ahead.
Take hope, it will be the time for the boys of
summer again. So use your imagination, look
at boats, read your seed catalogs, plan
gardens, work out a winning lineup for the
Braves. Forget about those winter “weather
watches”, let your mind wander. If you’ve sav
ed your money, you too might be able to
wander to some tropical paradise for a vaca
tion.
But, don’t get discouraged folks. We know
that time waits for no one’ even old man
winter’s time will run out.
See y’all!
“You must love someone enough to let them
hate you.” This may seem harsh, but it is very
true. The person we try to help the most often
has a strange and hostile way of showing
gratitude.
It hardly seems fair that a person who loves
enough to help another through the rough
times, be faithful and loyal when things are the
blackest, do the impossible tasks when no one
else will do them, should be repaid by being the
enemy.
It hardly seems fair that hostility and in
gratitude should repay love, concern, loyalty
and devotion. However, that usually seems to
happen in most cases.
I am reminded of an old Indian proverb: “If
you love something, let it go, if it does not
return, it was never yours in the beginning. ”
Carol Burnett and her husband have their
daughter back, so the proverb was true for
them.
We worked extremely hard for over an hour
and the snowman was beginning to take shape.
I’ve never seen my daughter work so hard. She
was huffing and puffing, but loving every
minute of it.
We finally got the basic shape, then came the
final work-eyes, nose and mouth. We used pine
cones for the eyes and nose.
When we were finished we stood back to ad
mire our handiwork. It was a beautiful
snowman, even if I say so myself.
My daughter then asked, “Wouldn’t it be nice
if he came to life?” I replied, “No, it would
scare me to death!”
we were soaked through and through by this
time, but we weren’t cold. We were excited and
proud of our morning’s work.
+++
LATER IN THE day my wife finally emerg
ed from the house and we decided to take a
walk around the neighborhood. Everything was
indeed like a picture post card. It didn’t look
real. It was a sight to remember.
We got back to the house and without saying
a word, we all knew it was time for the
snowball battle.
My daughter started and then it became a
free-for-all. My wife retaliated with lots of
snowballs and I’m here to tell you, she’s a sure
shot. She never seemed to miss. I ended up with
snow in my hair, down my shirt and my nose
was turning a deep red from being hit in the
face so many times.
We had a lot of fun. My neighbor heard all the
commotion and came outside and yelled, “I
didn’t know there were three children living
next door! ” We all replied, “Yup! ”
By this time we were exhausted and soaking
wet. My daughter suggested some hot
chocolate with a marshmallow and we headed
inside. My wife insisted that our wet clothes re
main outside, so we were quickly undressing by
the front door and running inside before so
meone came by and caught us three practically
nude.
The hot chocolate warmed our insides and we
were still laughing at the snowball fight.
It was a fun snow. One without hassles and
one without problems.
It was just long enough to enjoy.
+++
FORSYTH FACES-Major Echols having
early morning coffee. .Quinton Gilbert talking
about trading bushel of corn for subscription to
paper...Vaudell Stephens wondering when it’ll
be her turn to perform... Charles Robbs relay
ing message again and again... Byron Brum
balow calling to say he 110... Dennis Barron
demonstrating his musical talents... Bonnie
Voss checking schedule... Jeanne Cowdrey
sporting new 100 k... Jim Hammond landing new
job with Channel 17... Gary Rollins riding
around in snow.
Cathy Puckett
Talent Show
This waiting is killing me! The Forsyth Coun
ty Band Booster Club is sponsoring a big talent
show on March 15, and I simply can’t wait to
make my big stage debut.
I decided I’d better get busy at once and
figure out just exactly which of my many
talents I’d share with the public on that big
night.
I dusted off my tap dancing shoes, just in
case they need a big spectacular opening
number for the show. I stopped by the band
room one day last week to give Mr. Hartline a
sampling of my tap dancing. I’m so coor
dinated that I danced beautifully. Mr. Hartline
just couldn’t seem to quit laughing when he
noticed the little blue things in my legs clashing
with the green stage lights. I guess tap dancing
is out for me.
I thought of getting my saxaphone out of
storage, but then I remembered I hocked it at
the local pawn shop years ago.
I considered asking Gloria Poss to tune up
her mellophone and I could borrow a trombone
for a duet, like we did at the football game last
year in Winder, Ga., but then I also
remembered the things the people shouted at
us until we quit playing. I guess I’ll have to
search further to decide which of my talents to
display at the big talent show.
My sister and I sing lovely, only problem she
and I are the only two people in the world that
think we sing lovely. Even Mother uses ear
plugs when we crank up our vocal chords.
Sheila, Toby and I do great imitations of the
Oak Ridge Boys. We sang a few of their songs
at a party a couple of months ago, but haven’t
gotten too much practice lately, as we haven’t
been invited to any more parties, since the last
time we sang.
I’m real good at telling jokes. I could pro
bably stand on the stage for two hours telling
jokes, except when it comes to the punch lines.
I just can’t seem to remember the punch lines
of jokes. Oh, well, maybe they don’t need a two
hour joke teller that only knows the first part to
9,634 jokes.
I decided against doing a soft-shoe routine for
the talent show, cause my tennis shoes are still
filled with sand from a trip to the beach last
year.
I learned “E” chord on the banjo, but I don’t
think there is much demand for a 20-minute
performance of just playing “E” chord on the
banjo.
I guess I could round up some talented Flash
of Crimson Band students and stand there and
direct them in a couple of tunes, but somehow I
get the feeling if I waved a stick in front of the
Atlanta Symphony they would sound lousy.
I could twirl a baton as my talent act, but
then the last time I twirled a baton in the yard,
we lost the best dog we ever had.
I kinda get the feeling Martha Grogan is go
rng to have her work cut out for her on Talent
Show Night. You see, Martha has been named
‘Talent Show Bouncer,” and her duties include
jerking the really yukkie acts off the stage
before the rotten tomatoes start flying. I sure
hope Martha is kind to me on Talent Show
Night...