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VOLUME LXXI NUMBER 9 Forsyth Thaws Out From Winter Storm Forsyth Countians began Monday digging out from under a thick layer of snow and ice that accumulated I WBf I ft * Icy Icicles Long, cold icicles were seen everywhere last weekend as Forsyth Countians brav ed it through another winter storm of the year. Freezing rain, sleet and snow fell Saturday and Sunday but the sun came out Monday morning to begin the thaw. Hospital Building Fees Being Paid BY CATHY PUCKETT Staff Writer The Forsyth County Hospital Authori ty voted last week to release over $170,000, to pay construction costs and architect fees for a building project underway that will enlarge the 28-bed facility to a 36-bed community hospital. The board members agreed to pay $162,812, in construction bills, and $7,281, in architect fees for the expansion pro ject. An audit report at the regular mon thly hospital board meeting revealed while progress is being made collecting bad debts owed the hospital, bad debts are still plaguing the medical facility. In 1978, $27,000, was collected in bad debts, compared to some $45,000, col lected in 1979. The board members discussed having the auditors to do a construction project audit when the project is completed to give detailed in formation to the county commissioners as to a breakdown of costs of the pro ject. Mrs. Clara Vernon, a Nurse’s -Aide at the hospital appeared before the hospital authority and requested the board study the pay scale of employees and consider a cost of living raise as well as reviewing annual evaluation pay raises. The hospital authority memhers passed a motion to study the issue and report back at the next meeting their findings. A financial report revealed the $6,824, alloted to the hospital, as the remaining amount in the county’s budget to the hospital would remain within the coun ty’s hands and wouldn’t be turned over to the hospital. The money was budgeted to the hospital for 1979, but wasn’t used during the year and the county policy states funds not used dur ing a fiscal year are to go back to the county and not be released after Jan. 1, of the new year. The hospital ad ministrator, Joe Brandon told the board members he was unaware of the policy, and a request from the hospital to the county for the funds had been denied. In other business, the hospital authority, -heard a report that a study is being made to check out a new insurance pro gram for hospital employees that pro vides better benefits. -voted to continue with sick leave policy previously adopted by the board. -heard a report the hospital’s Ladies Auxiliary has worked on selecting color schemes for the new addition being built. -heard a report the medical staff is working harder to be more efficient in completing monthly charts. -was given progress reports on the past year of service with Brookwood Health Services, Inc. -discussed changing the meeting dates from the fourth Tuesday in each AlHf-Ni G A 30602 -m.mjmm* FORSYTH MfHHC 1 111 l COUNTY iIbVIS throughout the area Saturday and Sun day. The county was under a winter storm month back to the second Tuesday as originally designated. -discussed representatives of the board attending a hospital seminar in Nassau during June. -heard a report patient question naires are being filled out by patients at the hospital and kept for reviewing. Fishing Lady Keeps Fishing Fever BY CATHY PUCKETT Staff Writer Doris Meadows doesn’t wait for beautiful summer time weather, to crank up her boat and go fishing, she has “fishing fever" from January to December. Mrs. Meadows is a memher of the “Lunker Lovers” Bass Fishing Club and also the “Bass ‘N Gals” Club, which is an exclusive all-female fishing club. She and her husband Pete began fishing on Lake Lanier several years ago when they lived in Atlanta, and decided it would save a lot of time if they moved to Forsyth County near the lake. In their eight years in Forsyth County, the Meadows and their three children Tammy 16, Raymond 15, and Teresa 10, all agree Forsyth County and Lake Lanier is the place for them. The fisherman, or “fisher-lady” remembers as a child when her mother used to take her fishing off the bank of a lake, and through the years she con tinued to enjoy fishing. She and her hus band enjoy fishing, and she became a member of the fishing club in December of 1977, and since then has been a “serious” fisher-lady. As a club member of the fishing organization Mrs. Meadows fishes in a monthly club tournament, and several other tournaments each year. Right after she joined the club she fished in her first tournament and “fell in love” with tournament fishing. “You meet the nicest people on fishing trips. It really helps to bring the family closer in sharing a hobby together,” she said. She gives a lot of credit to her fishing ability to her husband Pete and their fishing-partner Junior Samples. “Pete and Junior have really helped me in WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5,1980 CUMMING. GA. 30130 watch beginning last Saturday and local citizens began making prepara tions. Reports from several area businesses show that people were buy ing emergency items and local grocery stores and convenience stores almost ran out of bread and milk as people thronged to get ready for the ap proaching storm. Late Saturday afternoon the rain started to fall and shortly thereafter the rain turned to freezing rain and sleet. Roads almost immediately were covered as traveler’s advisories were issued for the area. With rapidly falling temperatures and freezing rain coming down, For syth Countians were preparing for the possibility of another ice storm. Most downtown businesses closed early on Saturday as the weather got worse. The freezing rain stopped Saturday night, leaving behind a thick coat of ice creating hazardous walking and driv ing. When most Forsyth Countians got up on Sunday morning they saw everything blanked with snow and the white stuff was still coming down. Most area churches called off Sunday morning services due to the weather. County trucks and equipment worked all day trying to keep roads and especially bridges passable. Several minor accidents occurred due to the weather but no weather related injuries were reported. Forsyth County Sheriff Wesley Walraven said that many people donated their four wheel drive and emergency vehicles to the department so that officers could continue to patrol. “We had excellent citizen participation which enabled us to continue our work during the hazar dous weather,” the sheriff replied. Only one miiiolr accident was reported inside the city limits by the Cumming Police Department during the bad weather. On Sunday the temperature never got above freezing so the snow and ice didn’t melt. Temperatures Sunday night dipped down into the teens but the sun came out Monday morning and the frozen grounds became slush as the thaw began. teaching me a lot about the lakes, and how to pull in the fish “ While she enjoys any kind of fishing, anywhere, anytime, she generally fishes for Bass, and says she “loves” Lake Lanier. “Just about all the girls in my club think Lake Lanier is the best place to fish out of all the lakes we’ve fished in.” The “fisher-lady” has fished in numerous tournaments throughout the southeast, including fishing at West Point, Clark Hill, Bartledge Ferry, Lake Eufaula, Lake Sinclair, Lake Bur ton, Lake Hartwell, Jackson Lake and many others. She is looking forward to upcoming tournaments this year which include fishing from lakes in Georgia, to Texas, Kentucky and Arkansas. She is hoping to be a top winner in the tour naments which will earn the right to fish in a Classic World Competition in October with top fishermen throughout the world. Most of the women in her fishing club own their own boats, and some of the lady-fishermen own and operate boats on their own, since some of their husbands don’t even go fishing. The fishing club isn’t interested in catching all the fish possible, unless a fish is a record catch, the club members always throw them back. “We try to abide by all the survey and conservation rules and do our part as conservation-minded fishermen.” Fishing sometimes means getting scorched by the sun during a 10 to 12 hour fishing expedition, or wiping ice off a fishing rod in 17 degree weather, but to the Forsyth County Fisher-Lady, it’s a hobby she never gets tired of. “I never get bored fishing, whether I’m catching fish or not, I could fish all day.” - jftyHj •• • * • *".**■' : Su M ■ • mm The Calendar Girl for March is Jackie Stephenson, 17 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. Stephenson, Rt. 9, Cum ming. Jackie is ready to fly her kite in the March winds. Miss March is a senior at Forsyth County High School where she’s a member of the Drama Club, was captain of the varsity foot ball cheerleading squad, ran varsity track and was voted Presidential Primary Slated Next Tuesday Next Tuesday, March 11, Forsyth County voters will have the opportunity to vote in the Georgia Presidential Preference Primary. Probate Judge Joyce Hawkins said the 13 Forsyth County precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters will be casting their ballots for a Republican and Democrat nomina tion. Voters must ask for a Republican or Democratic ballot when they go to vote. There will be six names und on the Democrat ballot with a space called Home Burglary Ring Cracked Open Here An investigation by the Forsyth Coun ty Sheriff’s Department resulted Mon day in the arrest of two and warrants issued for a third person in connection with numerous burglaries in Forsyth, Cherokee and Fulton Counties. According to Sheriff Wesley Walraven, the arrest of the trio solved approximately 14 burglaries thus far in the three county area. Arrested were Donna Lynn Hester, 19, and Johnny Patterson, 18, both of 247 Polarock Road, Atlanta. A warrant has been issued for a third Atlanta man in connection with the thefts. The reports show that the girl, whose family lives in south Forsyth County, allegedly drove the others throughout the area in search of residences for burglaries. At least two homes known to the girl were victims of the thefts. Two men of a Suwanee address were arrested by Cumming City Police Mon Miss March Most School Spirit Senior Superlative. Jackie likes to water ski, snow ski and enjoys modeling. She has three older sisters, Cindy, Pam and Lynn. Miss March plans to attend Georgia Southern College and major in public relations. The Calendar Girl is a monthly feature sponsored by The Forsyth County News. “uncommitted preference”, which means you do not wish to vote for any of those names on the ballot. The names on the Democratic ballot will include: Edmund G. Brown, Jimmy Carter, Cliff Finch, Richard B. Kay, Edward Ken nedy and Lyndon Larouche. You must vote for one. On the Republican ballot there will be nine names including: John Anderson, Howard Baker, George Bush, John Con nally, Phil Crane, Bob Dole, Benjamin Fernandez, Ronald Reagan and Harold E. Stassen. day and charged with theft by taking and possession of controlled substances. According to police records, during the morning hours Monday Bobby Gene Buice Jr., 18, Rt. 1, Suwanee, and Milton Frady, 19, Suwanee, were seen near Andean Motor Company’s parking lot trying to remove parts from an auto. The police were called and the pair was arrested and charged. Further in vestigation revealed suspected drugs in their possession. Monday afternoon they were still being held in the Forsyth County Jail. Last Thursday, the Sheriff’s Depart ment’s investigative unit arrested Jar rell C. Howard, 37, Cumming, and charged him with two counts of motor vehicle theft and one count of third degree arson. See BURGLARY...Page 16 25 Cents 24 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS Also on the ballot for the Democrats will be several names of people seeking to be Democratic representative elec tors for House District Nine. Voters will be asked to vote for six men and six women from Hall and Forsyth Coun ties. These 12 electors will attend the national Democratic convention and on the ballot it will show that all those seeking the posts are committed to Jim my Carter. The men on the ballot include: Dayton Allen, D. Steve Carter, Charles F. Ector, John D. Girardeau, Harold E. Hammontree, Howard B. James, Greg Mathis, Samuel L. Oliver, Charles R. (Charlie) Smith, G. Joe Townsend and Horace D. Trammel. The women on the ballot are: Virginia L. Hall, Nell Cash Hulsey, Mrs. Madge M. Matthews, Jane H. Oliver, Fern Patterson, Gloria Prestridge, Cathy Puckett and Candace Gail Tapp. Mrs. Hawkins said that there are 10,422 registered voters in Forsyth County. “We really expect an extreme ly light turnout next Tuesday, but urge everyone to go to the polls. History shows that not many people take these primaries seriously and don’t bother to take the time to vote,” Mrs. Hawkins added. The local polling places include; Barker’s, J.P. courthouse; Bell’s, Brandywine clubhouse; Big Creek, Big Creek School; Chattahoochee, Chat tahoochee clubhouse; ChestateC; Chestatee Schoolclubhouse; Coat Mountain, W.E. Holcomb’s store; Cum-' ming, Forsyth County Courthouse; Ducktown, Ducktown school; Hightower, J.P. clubhouse; Roland’s, Lanierland Music Park; Settendown, Friendship School; and Vickery, Mid way clubhouse.