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Inside • Classifieds 6D • Legals 4D • Opinion 4A • Food 1C c-> fM 1 ® y x o —‘ Forsyth County News ;XVII —NUMBER 98 City planning to draft soil erosion ordinance By Gary Tanner Staff writer The state Environmental Protection Division thinks the city of Cumming should have an erosion control ordinance, and the city agrees. Toward that end the city and the state agency are working together on guidelines to put into an ordinance that should be finalized in early 1987, according to city manager Gerald Blackburn. Commission discusses roadwork By Molly Read Staff writer The Forsyth County Commission ers Monday night took positive action on two dangerous intersections in the county the Shiloh Road and Ga. 9 intersection, and the intersection of Ga. 20 and Old Buford Road. Hugh Tanner of the state Depart ment of Transportation presented a plan to widen the intersection of Ma jors Road and Ga. 9 so it will include two left hand turn lanes, and to move the small stretch of Shiloh Road over so that it merges with the intersec tion. The improvements on the pre carious crossing will be paid for in full by the D.0.T., according to Com missioner Mark Whitmire. The county will probably have to spend some local money for im provements of the awkward crossing where Old Buford Road runs into Ga. 20. Tanner presented a plan to relo cate Old Buford Road so that it comes out directly across from the main entrance to the Tri-County shopping center, next to the future Captain D’s location. The part of Old Buford Road which presently runs into Ga. 20 would be blocked off. Tanner esti mated the Ga. 20 project would cost around $95,000, and at least half of the bill would be picked up by the D.O.T. The fiscal year audit presented to the commissioners Monday showed Forsyth Countians were billed for more than $lO million in local taxes this past fiscal year. Of the $10,755,269 billed, $6,896,654 went to the school system, along with $736,939 towards payment of school bonds. The county fund was allotted sl,- 892,271, and an additional $186,059 went to retiring county bonds. Other items included on the expense side of the audit were $611,762 to state funds, $410,871 to the local fire department, and $20,713 to the city of Cumming. The audit presented by the county accountants, Bowen and Ellenburg, showed $1,352,146 in outstanding taxes from years 1978 until 1985. However, as auditor Wayne Bowen pointed out to commissioners, the million-plus statement was calcu lated in June of this year, and the figure would no doubt sound better if it were more up-to-date. Commissioners accepted own ership of a water line running along McFarland Road, Ga. 9 and Post Road from developers who had agreed to deed the $73,958 worth of 12- inch line to the county as a condition of a rezoning. Contributing devel opers were Chatham Properties, the Rives Corp., Joe Douglas of Douglas and Associates, Robert Miller, Alpha retta Realty, Georgia Associated Services, Hugh Mason, and Lester Hardwick. The hopeful beginning of another county water line was also planted Monday night, when commissioners agreed to apply for a community block grant which could offer the county $400,000 toward a line that would run from the intersection of Ga. 9 and Ga. 369 up to Silver City. Five portions of roads in the Brid gewater subdivision were accepted for county maintenance Monday, af ter about 30 residents and members of Bridgewater Homes Associates Inc. showed up at the meeting. On the list of newly accepted routes, which cover a little over a mile cumulati vely, are East Lakeside Drive Circle, Resort Cove, a portion of Lakeside Drive, Cove Point Road, Windsor Way, and Parkway Lane. 'Rie issuance of $1,250,000 in indus trial bonds by the Rock Drilling and Testing Corporation was approved by the commissioners. STACKING STUFFERS Jaycess working to keep local youngsters from facing empty stockings Pogo 3A WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1986 —CUMMING, GA. 30130—36 PAGES “We’re consulting with the EPD and hope to finalize it shortly after the first of the year,” Blackburn said. He said the city is looking to adopt an ordinance similar to the one adopted by Forsyth County. “We’re working on an ordinance that parallels the county’s,” Blackburn said. He said the city’s version would be the same as the county’s “except for a few minor things in the subdivisions.” J. Lewis Tinley, program manager of the EPD’s Land Reclamation and Sedimentation Control Program, said Gilstrap’s The Earl of downtown makes plans to retire By Gary Tanner Staff writer If a person can be considered a landmark, then Earl Gilstrap is one. For the past 22 years, his image has become synonymous with a trip to the grocery store for many in Forsyth County. First, at the old Parsons store downtown on the square and then at his own Gilstrap’s Food Store, the slim, mild-mannered man has become a familiar and welcome sight for his customers. The land mark is changing. Gilstrap, 62, is in the process of selling his store and will retire at the end of this year after 44 years in the grocery business. Those used to going into his store and seeing him putting up stock, checking out orders or bag ging groceries will find things different in a few weeks. Oh, the store won’t change much. Gilstrap is selling the busi ness to Dennis Watson, who has worked as butcher in the store for five years. Watson, Gilstrap says, will continue to operate as an independent grocer concentrating on personal service but the landmark will be missing. “It’s been a pleasure doing busi ness all these years, but I’m really retiring, if anybody has doubts,” Gilstrap says.” “I’m planning to apply for So cial Security,” he adds with a laugh. “I’m looking forward to it.” Customers, meanwhile, will miss him. “I don’t go off to trade with the big chain stores,” says longtime friend and customer D.O. Free man. “I thought he was a nice and honest man. His help was always nice. Those are the main reasons we traded with him.” Former students testify in defense of Perry By Molly Read Staff writer One teenager’s face after another appeared in the small window looking into the courtroom where former teacher Sandra Perry’s suit against county school officials was under way Monday. More than a dozen of the high schoolers waiting in the hallway filled with witnesses testified for their former teacher during the first day of trial. A mother of one of the students also came to the stand to support Perry in the $2.5 million civil suit before the plaintiff rested her case late in the afternoon. Perry filed suit against Forsyth School Su perintendant Robert Otwell, high school princi pal Harold Hammontree, former assistant principal Sam Cole, and members of the board of education last May. In the suit, Perry claims that her constitu tional rights were violated when her teaching r > -►" ■■ | — .• i „ Staff Photos Kathryn L. Babb Earl Gilstrap performs a familiar task ringing up the groceries “I hope he enjoys (retire ment),” said Freeman, 78, and himself a former grocer. “But I’m afraid he’s going to miss it.” Gilstrap says he will miss the people, but not the tasks involved in the everyday running of a busi ness. He says he and his wife Lucille plan to travel some, but won’t contract was not renewed because of the publi cation of a letter she wrote to the Forsyth County News. The letter claimed that the school system was being downgraded by people more concerned with simply passing students than really making them learn their subjects. References to discipline problems, emotional instability and a possible premonition of legal action on Perry’s part were brought out in the questioning of her and her former students Monday. Several times, students were asked if their teacher had ever started crying in front of the class. Those who said they had seen her cry referred to one of two cases; the time “Miss Perry” shed tears of joy when they gave her a bouquet of roses to show their appreciation, and the day when she was grading some excellent papers written by students who hadn’t suc ceeded before. “She was just so happy that somebody who hadn’t been doing that well was doing good,” said one witness. * o it is important for the city to have an erosion control ordinance because of the limited powers of enforcement of his office. “We’ve got seven inspectors to cover the entire re gion,” Tinley said. By adopting a local ordinance, the city would take enforcement pressure off of the EPD, Tinley said. Forsyth County adopted an erosion control ordinance two years ago under pressure from the EPD to do so. The county had an ordinance at that time, but “it was become strangers to the local community. “We don’t plan to move. This is our home,” Gilstrap says. In 44 years of being in the gro cery business, Gilstrap says he has seen many changes in stores, what people buy and the prices they pay, but he says it has been rewarding. BEAN’S BOOTS L.L. Bean has turned footwear for hunters Into a big business Pag« IB »c I “To own my own store was a long held dream of mine,” he said recently. “The good Lord gave me the strength and the knowledge to do it. It’s been very satisfying.” Gilstrap began his career in the grocery industry as a young man of 18, just out of school. The Gai- See GILSTRAP, page 2A Another incident referred to repeatedly was the time a member of Perry’s class reportedly stood up and complained about the teacher’s strict grading policy. According to some ac counts, Perry told the student they could dis cuss the problem after class, but when he persisted, she told him to go to the principal’s office. He did go to the office, and was followed by 13 other students dissatisfied with their grades in Perry’s class. Assistant Principal Cole, in re sponding to the case, came to the class with files on the 14 protesting students and com mended Perry and her teaching procedures in front of the class, according to Perry’s testi mony. The students were first given the idea to elect a spokesman to protest grading procedurse by former teacher Michael Barrett, who was sub stituting for Perry for three days before the incident, the plaintiff said. She also referred to the “G. 8.1. investigation” of Barrett, who was r Wj!raf- > H I—, ■? * &!$-' Z. r lacking,” according to planning director Stevie Mills. A new ordinance was then drawn up, approved by the EPD and then adopted by the county, Mills said. The planning department added a soil erosion inspector to make sure builders comply with the regulations, he said. Mills said the city started work on its ordinance “about six or eight months ago.” He added that the city wanted to adopt erosion controls and then use the county’s See CITY, page 2A Chamber continues director search By Gary Tanner Staff writer When Mac Berston steps down as executive director of the Forsyth County/Cumming Chamber of Com merce on Dec. 18, his replacement likely will not be named. The search is far enough along, however, that an interim director will not be nec essary, says Chamber president-elect Roger Crow. “Based on interest shown in the position, I don’t think it will be nec essary (to appoint an interim direc tor),” Crow said. “We have a staff secretary and we’ll make do until (someone is hired).” Berston resigned last month after nearly five years as director of the local Chamber. He cited an antic ipated call for his ouster as the reason for his resignation. Crow said the Chamber was still accepting applications for the posi tion and would begin evaluation of the candidates on Dec. 15 to replace the only full-time director the local orga nization has known. Just when a replacement will be hired is not known, and Crow said no timetable has been set on filling the vacancy. “We’ll take whatever time is nec essary to get the best person avail able,” Crow said. The search committee will be looking for someone who is, “a salesman, a diplomat and an admin istrator” Crow said. And the ideal candidate must be all these things rolled into one, he said. Crow said the general administra tive and economic development as pects of the job were the most important, and that the Chamber would prefer to have someone with experience in a similar position. He said the committee would seek some one from the area who fits the qualifi cations, but added that qualifications form those outside the area would also be considered. “We’d prefer someone with experi ence, but we’ll consider anyone with ability,” said current Chamber presi dent Jim French. French also said he had no idea when a replacement might be hired. “The Chamber is nothing more than a business whose purpose is to market the community,” said Crow. arrested earlier this year on charges of cruelty to children and sexual crimes. Two of the students who participated in the much-discussed walkout testified in Perry’s behalf. “I tried to see what I could get away with ... I’ll admit that,” said Gregg Hunter, who said he went from remedial to on-level courses with Perry’s assistance. Hunter said that after the first six weeks of class with Perry, “we were all upset over grades ... and Coach Barrett said, ‘something’s got to be done.’” After that intitial walkout, students realized Perry was going to be tough, Hunter related. “I got a lot of respect for Miss Perry,” he said. “I learned a lot from her... I learned how to write compositions stuff like that ... but I had to work hard. I studied my butt off.” Other students testified that Perry was the first teacher to make them take notes in to See PERRY, page 2A 35 CENTS