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| Phil Moore finds number 13 is never less than special —IB
VC 111 —NUMBER 96
. i
There’s a whole
lot of shaking
going on
And you thought some
one climbed those pecan
trees and picked the
nuts. John Mashburn has
an easier way. He uses a
tractor to shake the trees
in the Mashburn Orchard.
W.B. Haney makes sure
the blue cover collects all
of the nuts. Fall’s drought
withered much of the
state’s pecan crop but it
should still provide for all
the cakes, breads and
pies baked over the
holidays.
Staff Photo Kathryn L. Babb
Costs surrounding Potts climb higher and higher
By Lindsey Kelly
Staff writer
As the wheels of justice grind slowly, so
does the meter keep on ticking. Providing
for indigent defense, particularly in a death
penalty case, is a big ticket item for county
government.
Take the Jack Potts resentencing trial, for
instance. The jury selection process in that
’BB budget mirrors
Cumming’s growth
By Tom McLaughlin
Staff writer
Cumming will have more money in its budget this
year, but not as much leeway in spending it.
“The budget is tighter than it was last year because
we didn’t raise the millage rates,” said City Manager
Gerald Blackburn.
The city’s millage rate remained at 6 mills for 1988,
meaning property taxes did not go up. A 6 mill tax rate
means that property owners will pay $6 for every SI,OOO
of assessed value.
But the city budget of $3,014,350 is higher than last
year’s, a reflection of the city’s growth, according to
Cumming Mayor Ford Gravitt.
1 “It’s in keeping with the growth that we are having,”
Please see BUDGET, page 2A
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case which took place earlier this month,
involving 101 potential jurors and roughly 60
hours of court time, carried a price tag of
over SIO,OOO.
A change of venue to Augusta will put the
cost higher when the process is repeated in
January.
Potts is facing resentencing for his 1975
murder conviction for the shooting death of
Michael Priest of Roswell. Scheduled to die
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1987-CUMMING, GA. 30130-88 PAGES 3 SECTIONS
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Staff Photo Laura McCullough
Lyn Barnhorst surveys toys to be given out at Christmas
INDISTINCT print
in 1980, Potts appealed his execution and
eventually won an overturning of his death
sentence.
The murder conviction was allowed to
stand, however, and the state has been giv
en the opportunity to again seek the death
penalty against him. But that opportunity is
not without considerable cost.
According to figures provided by the coun
ty administrator’s office, jury fees alone, at
a rate of S2O a day for each juror for the six
day long selection process, came to $8,595.
Food costs were $97.
Other costs were $1,489.10 for the court
reporter, $175 in medical expenses for Potts
incurred during the proceedings, and $l5O
for transporting the defendant back and
forth from state prison in Jackson.
Please see POTTS, page 2A
Seniors’ call brings in
toys by the truckload
By Laura McCullough
Managing Editor
A 5-foot cardboard box at Midway
Park is filled with stuffed animals and
plastic dolls. Some are in need of a
good bath, while others look brand
new. But they are all in search of a
home for Christmas.
The community building has been
turned into Santa’s workshop for the
past two months, with senior citizen
elves busily painting cradles, fixing
broken toy trucks and sewing clothes
for Barbie dolls.
Toys have been donated by the thou
sands and the seniors are now saying,
Officials
explain
water vote
Meeting ‘to put
all the facts out’
By Kathey Pruitt
Staff writer
With three weeks remaining before the local option
sales tax vote, Cumming and Forsyth County officials
are turning to word-of-mouth to drum up support for a
penny-per-dollar increase that would fund water sys
tem expansions.
Local officials met with a group of about 30 county
residents Tuesday for a question and answer session
about the proposed water system. Officials say they
hope that those people will help disseminate informa
tion about the project.
“We’re trying to put all the facts out so the citizens of
Forsyth County will know what the election is all
about,” said County Administrator Ralph Roberts, who
has taken a leave of absence from his county post to
promote the sales tax vote. “Then, when they’re dis
cussing it, they’ll know what we’re trying to do with the
water system.”
Saggese-Hicks, an Atlanta-based public relations
firm, is using private funds to coordinate advertising
and promotions for the sales tax referendum at a cost of
$20,000, but government officials contend that directly
contacting local residents and allaying local concerns
about the sales tax and the water project is the best way
to garner support.
Residents were invited to Tuesday’s meeting at the
courthouse without regard to their opinion on the water
issue, according to Cumming City Manager Gerald
Please see WATER, page 3A
Alpharetta calls
can be flat rate
By Laura McCullough
Managing Editor
Cumming residents could save money on their long
distance telephone - bills to Alpharetta, according to a
new rate structure approved by the Public Service
Commission.
Southern Bell customers in Cumming will be offered
an “optional extended area service” allowing them to
call an Alpharetta exchange for a flat monthly fee.
Businesses will be charged $6 a month for an hour, and
residents will pay $3 for a half-hour. Customers are
billed 60 cents for each additional six minutes.
The service only applies when dialing from a Cum
ming exchange to an Alpharetta exchange, not the en
tire metro dialing area. Those on the Alpharetta ex
change will not get the price break when dialing
Cumming.
“There hasn’t been an expressed interest in going
from Alpharetta to Cumming,” said Bob Swett, staff
manager with Southern Bell. “If there is a push for that
then we would consider it.”
Forsyth County residents have long wanted to be
come a part of the metro dialing area, especially since
those living in the Midway community are on the Al
pharetta exchange. A petition for this request was
turned down several years ago by the PSC.
The metro dialing area is the largest toll-free area in
the nation and has not been changed since the 19605.
Instead, outlying communities are being offered this
extended area service. Don Schublee, tariff analysis
with the PSC, said 25 telephone exchanges in Georgia
already have this service. Cumming residents already
have a similar plan with price breaks when calling core
exchanges of downtown Atlanta.
The Alpharetta service was requested by several
groups in Forsyth County, including The Polo Fields, a
housing development on Post Road. “This would be
helpful if you lived in Cumming but had business con
nections in Alpharetta, or had the need to call Alphar
etta a lot,” said Swett.
Dave Williams, operations manager with Southern
Bell, said the service is available at a customer’s re
quest, but the utility company would not market the
plan.
STOP. They have cleaned and re
paired almost 10 truckloads and have
more work to finish in the next two
weeks. “The response has been over
whelming, but there’s no way they
can take in any more toys,” said Lyn
Barnhorst, coordinator from the
parks and recreation department.
A group of about 20 of the Senior
Citizens Club meet on Mondays for a
full day of cleaning and repairing, and
also enjoy a covered dish luncheon.
Women bring their sewing machines,
and the men bring along toolboxes
and paint. Many of the projects have
Please see TOYS, page 3A
35 CENTS