Newspaper Page Text
J^°°k» n 9 *or the right holiday recipe? Check the News cookbook 1-8 B
orsvth County News
VOLUJ < IUMBER 95
Ci : intervention center sought
Fac ■, uld
be l >/
Gtvi nter
By Sally
Staff writer
A crisis intervention center to en
sure Forsyth County residents have
immediate access to psychiatric
treatment programs has been pro
posed for this area by a company spe
cializing in psychiatric care.
The facility will be a branch of a 78-
bed hospital to be built in Gwinnett
County and is proposed by Psychiat
ric Institutes of America, Inc.
If PIA is granted a Certificate of
Need to build the facility, it would spe
cialize in psychiatric and substance
abuse services to residents of Gwin
nett as well as Forsyth counties.
The state health planning agency
identified both counties as areas that
need this type of facility, said Thomas
Gordy of Community Development
for PIA. The hospital would be cen
trally located in Gwinnett, he said.
Buford Road
project takes
another step
By Sallylyn Hill
Staff writer
The county commission Monday au
thorized the county attorney to issue
an order of taking property for right
of-way if needed for restructuring of
Old Buford Road.
The vote at the weekly meeting was
only an insurance policy in case the
commissioners needed to take prop
erty along the intersection. But the
commissioners do not forsee any
problems. The vote was 3-2 with Da
vid Gilbert and Leroy Hubbard oppos
ing the taking.
The restructuring proposes to ex
tend the road through Lanier Village
shopping center’s parking lot creat
ing a four-way intersection with Ga.
20 and Ga. 9.
The extention, designed by the state
Department of Transportation is ex
pected to ease traffic congestion.
The commission began discussing
the plan last September but decided to
wait on any action until more details
of the project could be worked out. At
least four parcels are partially in
volved in the taking.
Please see COMMISSION, page 2A
Officials warn of fire threat
from Christmas tree misuse
“Oh Christmas tree,
oh Christmas tree,
how wondrous are
thy branches.”
By Sallylyn Hill
Staff writer
It seems hard to believe that some
thing as beautiful as a brightly deco
rated Christmas tree can cause so
much destruction often leaving be
hind charred remanents of a Christ
mas that was to be.
The holiday season can be a joyful
time but it is also a time of increased
house fires because precautions are
not used when caring for a Christmas
tree.
The Forsyth County Fire Depart
ment which sponsors a fire prevention
program throughout the entire year,
would like to remind people to be ex
tra cautious during this time of the
year.
“During the holidays there is a big
increase of fires because of lights be
ing on a dry tree,” said Kevin Wallace
vice president of the Fire Prevention
Committee.
Last year at least three homes were
damaged by fire after Christmas
trees ignited. So far this year, the de
partment hasn’t been called to any
fires caused by Christmas
decorations.
When picking out that special tree
this year feel the needles to make sure
it isn’t dry and brittle, Wallace said.
Also ask the salesperson when the
tree was cut and see if the wood is dry,
said Corry McMillian another mem
ber of the committee.
A tree should be kepi in the house
only about two weeks, Wallace said
and should be adequately watered.
The needles should be misted with wa
ter at least once a day.
When decorating the tree make
sure the icles and garland aren’t
touching the lights, Wallace said. The
decorations often melt on the lights
Gordy said the facility would not
compete against the medical hospital
care but compliment its services.
PM
The two would be able to work to
gether to make sure individuals get
proper care.
If the proposal is approved the
Gwinnett psychiatric hospital would
have 29 beds for adult psychiatric
care, 19 for adolescent psychiatric
care and 10 for adolescent substance
abuse and 10 for child substance
abuse.
PIA has been a provider of inpatient
and outpatient mental health service
for nearly 20 years.
It began with the establishment of
Helping
Hand
The spirit of giving
can be seen through
out the Forsyth Coun
ty area from church
groups to civic orga
nizations. One of the
groups lending a
hand this year are
area Girl Scouts. At a
ceremony last week
end, girl scouts from
throughout the area
placed a variety of
items on a Christmas
tree in the county
courthouse. The
items such as gloves
will be distributed to
needy families in the
county. The scouts
also sat on the steps
of the courthouse to
sing Christmas songs
and entertained at the
Cumming Convales
cent Home.
and can flame up and ignite the tree.
When leaving the house always turn
off the lights, said Wallace. Many
times a fire is started when the lights
get hot and ignite the needles.
“Also when you go to bed unplug the
Christmas lights both indoors and out
doors,” Wallace said. “Because no
body is out at 3 in the morning looking
at lights.”
When hanging lights outside make
sure the package specifies for outdoor
use.
If lights which are not intended for
outdoor use get wet the house’s elec
trical system could short out the next
time the lights are turned on, Wallace
said. That’s how a lot of electrical
fires have been started, he said.
In addition to Christmas lights and
decorations, people should use extra
care with heating devices used to in
the home during the cold winter
months, said McMillan.
Always make sure an electric blan
ket is turned off when not in use, he
said. Last year he was called to a
trailer fire caused by an electric blan
ket that was left on.
The family lost everything includ
ing all the gifts purchased for Christ
mas, McMillan said.
A second hazard is portable heaters
especially kerosene heaters. Al
though it is recommended not to use
the heaters in homes, if it is used in the
home it should always shut off tightly
so no fumes will leak out.
Also always fill the heater outside
the home, McMillan said.
Even after all precuationary meth
ods are taken a family should still pre
pare itself in case of a fire.
People should hold fire drills and at
least two escape routes should be
practiced, Wallace said. Once out of
the house the family should plan on
meeting at a designated spot.
If someone is still in the house tell
the firemen and they will try to rescue
the person. Also be sure to tell ~°scu
ers if it is a person or a pet
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988-CUMMING, GA. 30130-28 PAGES 4 SECTIONS
Psychiatric Institute of Washington
(PIW). The founders were eight psy
chiatrists from the faculty of George
Washington University and members
of the National Institute of of Mental
Health. In 1969, PIA was founded.
Currently the institute operates 59
hospital facilities including Laurel
Heights Hospital in DeKalb County,
Psychiatric Institute of Atlanta and
Brawner Pychiatric Institute in
Smyrna.
Although there are several compa
nies competing for the Certificate of
Need, PIA is the only proposal which
plans on establishing crisis interven
tion centers in Forsyth and Norcross.
“PIA wanted to make this some
thing other than just a Gwinnett Coun
ty Project,” Gordy said.
Gordy said could not expound on
plans of the Forsyth facility because a
study is still being conducted to deter
mine the needs of the area.
In the beginning the facility will be
a center where people will be able to
call and arrange for immediate pa
tient services to determine the need of
the individual, he said.
Services could be expanded depend
ing on the determination of the study,
HKi JiMKL i/r*'
' pi '' V' * |j
tUPI! 11 a , mk WJRmMBmmWw 1
'-K > US--
Staff ph d- Leonard Kransdorf
——
Students like creativity
Artist In School program welcomed
By Leonard Kransdorf
Managing Editor
Greg Steele eyed the display in front
of him and carefully stroked the brush
across the canvas.
“Being in an art class helps me be
creative,” he said, adding a touch of
blue to the canvas. “In this type of
class you do what looks good and
makes you feel good as opposed to a
math class where everyone has to
have the same answer.”
Steel’s comments were indicative
“PIA wanted to make
this something other
than just a Gwinnett
County Project, ’ ’
Gordy said.
Gordy said.
“First we have to determine all the
needs of the area and then we have to
address those needs,” he said.
He said he has received a positive
response toward the project after
talking with several county represen
tatives including County Adminstra
tor Donald Major, Commission Chair
man Charles Welch and
representatives of the Cumming-For
syth County Chamber of Commerce.
“I think everybody recognizes the
need for this type of facility, especial
ly in adolescent care,” Gordy said.
Greg Steele is one of several students in art class at Forsyth County High School.
of other students who are in the art
class at Forsyth County High School.
Taught by Jennifer Johnson, the class
recently had the opportunity to have
Greg Johnson in the class as part of
the Artist in the School program.
That program gives the student the
opportunity to learn different art
styles and get a broader view of cul
ture. The program is sponsored by the
Sawnee Association of the Arts, Saw
nee Community Center and Sawnee
Junior Women’s Club.
A Forsyth County resident since
Staff photo^^^rnMc^ughlin
Overhead view of changing downtown square
New look in city
as square changes
By Tom McLaughlin
Staff writer
Billy Howell Ford and Billy and
Bonnie’s restaurant are gone, and the
Super D department store is soon to
follow.
And three more long time business
es disappear from the face of Cum
ming’s town square.
The square is changing, as little by
little the new replaces the old, and if
the plans of those who own the major
ity of land around the county court
house come to pass, the changes have
just begun.
“We have discussed putting in
something like a pedestrian mall,
with little shops, boutiquey type
places and specialty shops maybe
some office space and a restaurant,”
said Amy Rives of Rives Corp.
Sniffles, coughs
mean flu season
It might start with a slight sniffle or a
cough.
But when it develops it is called....the flu.
With change in temperatures and the
start of the winter season that usually
means the start of the flu season.
“I am afraid that this year we may see
more cases than in previous years,” said
Ida Thomas, of the F orsyth County Health
Department.
Please see FLU, page 2A
1983, Johnson worked his way through
Illinois State University by painting.
In teaching the class Johnson
stresses the importance of art by de
tailing different methods the students
should use, while at the same time
keeping the atmosphere relaxed.
“You are here to learn, but you also
should have fun,” he told the class.
One of the first lessons he taught
was how to mix different colors to get
another desired color. A chart on the
wall for instance showed how mixing
blue with red will result in purple and
M-
Rives Corp., which is owned by
Rives, has combined with John Ader
hold, Cumming Mayor Ford Gravitt
and Attorney Emory Lipscomb to
form Cumming Group Associates.
This organization owns all of the land,
“On the Bank South side of Main St.
except for Westbrook’s Jewelry,”
Rives said.
The corporation also owns the land
running down Dahlonega St. as far as
the new Lanier Bank and Trust build
ing with the exceptions of the Butler
Buildings and Whitmire Amoco.
Rives said preliminary site plans
for the pedestrian mall include adding
benches, water fountains and trees
within a courtyard area to add an aes
thetic quality, but she added any actu
al construction is at least a couple of
Please see SQUARE, page 2A
mixing yellow and blue will get green.
Johnson also circulated around the
room answering questions and giving
advice on how the student could make
the artwork more appealing.
“Exercising the creative side of the
brain by encouraging creative think
ing is the root of investigation,” said
Johnson in explaining why art is im
portant in the schools. “Discovery
consists of lookign at the thing as ev
eryone else and thinking something
Please see ART, page 2A
10 CENTS