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Forsyth CountyMr ’ T "
J Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 J - »ens, G « i
VOLUME LXXXVI, NUMBER 97 Copyright © 1995 Forsyth County News
Commission
wants to meet
with regional
library staff
over break-up
By Laura Boggs
Staff Writer
County Commissioners
want to know the details
behind a Gwinnett-Forsyth
Regional Library study that
led to the system break-up last
week.
They unanimously voted
Monday night to invite library
staff members to explain the
numbers to them. Jo Ann
Pinder, executive director of
the system, said she would be
willing to meet with commis
sioners.
The Gwinnett library
board voted 3-1 to drop
Forsyth because its one
branch is getting from the
library system more than the
county is giving. A two-week
study done in October
revealed that Gwinnett will
spend $198,000 this year to
cover administrative services
for Forsyth. In return,
Forsyth’s state-funded library
employee, whose annual
salary is $39,000, works at
regional headquarters in
Lawrenceville.
“Gwinnett has nine
branches and we have one, so
it makes sense that they pay
more,” said Commission
Chairman Ron Seder. “On the
other hand, if there’s truly an
unfair imbalance, I can under
stand their position.”
Pinder stands by the analy
sis.
“Any time administrative
staff were working only on
See LIBRARY, Page 2A
WEATHER
Fri. will be most
ly cloudy, highs
in the mid-50s.
Sat. and Sun.
will be mostly
sunny with highs j
in mid-50s.
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INDEX
Abby 12A Events 14A
Kid's Page 5B Entertainment IJA
Death 5A Horoscope I2A
Classifieds 4B School 4B
Editorial ISA Sports IB
COMINGSUNMY...
Area youth honored by
UNICEF
A Mashburn Elementary School stu
dent has been honored by UNICEF
for designing one of two greeting
cards selected nationally by the
foundation.
DARE program
The Forsyth County Sheriffs Dept, is
operating its DARE program in
Forsyth County's schools. Meet the
officers teaching the course and
what new ideas are being brought
to the class to keep kids off drugs.
Missed paper policy: For replacement
paper call between 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
on Wed. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sun.,
B*7-3126 or 523-7303 (Atlanta).
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Grandparent takes her turn...
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Photo/Tom Brooks
Mrs. Inez Kohn, a retired teacher, read a story to her
granddaughter, Kelley K. Story’s classroom on Tuesday
during Grandparents Day at Mashburn Elementary
School. Mrs. Story is the classroom teacher.
Deal’s office back 100 percent
By Thomas W. Krause
Staff Writer
After a week of working on
40 percent staffing, the office of
U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA,
9th Dist.) is back on-line with full
staff.
“It’s been busy,” said Janel
Guerrero, Rep. Deal’s press sec
retary.
But, surprisingly, the level of
work has not phased the office
employees. The past year has
Forsyth native and resident Marguerite Mashburn
Ga. Physical Education Teacher of Year shows dedication
By Marcia Domian
Lifestyle Editor
You might think after 25 years
in the field that it would be time
to lay back, take it slow, and rest
on your laurels. Not for
Marguerite Mashburn. Not only
was she ready for something new,
she accepted the challenge of a
lifetime. For her dedication,
Mashburn has been named
Georgia High School Physical
Education Teacher of the year.
Mashburn took on the chal
lenge to teach at Gwinnett’s alter
native school eight years ago and
she hasn’t regretted her decision
at all. She was asked to join the
staff for the innovative school and
had to develop a program from
scratch.
Ms. Mashburn grew up in
Forsyth County and attended
Forsyth County High School
(Central). She has a Master’ s
degree in Education from the
University of Georgia. She has
been a Physical Education
teacher, basketball and track
coach in traditional school set
tings until taking on the program
at Phoenix.
“The best part of teaching here
is that the students want to be
here,” Mashburn said. “They
make a choice to come here.”
Students choose alternative
schooling for a wide variety of
reasons buj every student is
All-County Softball
Team
SPORTS, IB
Cumming, GA / November 24,1995
FRIDAY EDITION
been very hectic in general,
Guerrero said, and the staff has
become accustomed to the work.
“You just kind of bite the bul
let and do the work. That’s what
we’ve done,” she said.
The top priority, Guerrero
said, is the constituency. If people
have called, they are being called
back. If they have written, letters
are being sent.
See DEAL, Page 2A
responsible for himself or herself
Part of the criteria for selecting
teachers for the award was their
use of teaching methods, provid
ing innovative learning experi
ences and setting good examples.
Mashburn’s classes focus on life
time skills, lifetime sports and
lifetime fitness. With no gym or
locker room her classroom is a
trailer Mashburn had to devel
op a curriculum that includes
bowling, walking, backpacking
and weight training.
The student body is different
as well. The majority of students
work and attend classes. The
school has a four day week, class
es are two hours and five minutes
long and the school year is made
up of four mini-semesters. Each
mini-semester requires a mini
mum of three classes. Phoenix is
very structured compared to tradi
tional high schools. If students
miss more than three classes, they
are dropped from that class until
next semester. It requires a dedi
cation and a commitment from
each student.
The reason Mashburn pursued
the state teacher award was
because the program at Phoenix
was unusual and she felt it
deserved some recognition. But,
she was apprehensive about the
selection process. “1 felt like I did
a good job, but I didn’t know if 1
would be considered a real
teacher because what 1 do is so
City will countersue
county over water
By Thomas W. Krause
Staff Writer
In a closed session of the Cumming City Council
Tuesday night, the city decided to file an answer and
counter suit to Forsyth County’s injunction over the
water rate increase.
“I’ve been instructed to file an answer to the
injunction and a counter claim for breech of con
tract,” said city attorney Jeff Bagley on Tuesday night
after the closed session.
Bagley said the Council will request a jury trial.
The City has 30 days to prepare its response but the
suit should be filed by next week, he said. No expec
tations were given.
“It’s a little too early to tell at this point,” Bagley
said.
Bagley said he is expecting a lot of discovery and
many dispositions in the six months before the trial is
expected to be heard.
No more 404 area code for
Forsyth County as of Dec. 1
By Thomas W. Krause
Writer
You’ve had four months to practice, its time to
start for real. Starting Dec. 1, the 404 area code will
no longer connect calls outside the Atlanta Perimeter.
The entire Forsyth County calling area, along with
a large chunk of North Georgia, officially switched to
the 770 area code Aug. 1. During the past four
months, both the old 404 area code and the current
770 code put callers through to their parties. But the
phase-in time is almost over.
In less than a week, callers trying to reach resi
dents in Forsyth County and within the entire new
770 area can no longer use the old 404 area code.
Adding to the hassle, to dial an extension in
Atlanta from Forsyth County, callers must dial a ten
digit number including the area code before the num
ber. The 1 or 0 before the area code, designating a toll
call, is unnecessary. There is no charge for the call.
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Ms. Marguerite Mashburn, Ga Physical Education teacher of the year, enjoys working with
some of her students at the bowling lanes in Lawrenceville. Bowling is one of the school’s
physical education classes.
different. Besides, with no facili
ties, I wasn’t sure if my applica
tion would even be reviewed,” she
said.
“I was stunned when they
called me,” Mashburn recalled. “I
love working at Phoenix because
I’m part of a network of teachers
that help students. The Care
Team, as we’re called, helps stu
dents in and outside the class
Christmas is
Cumming
PAGE 6A
Neither Mayor H. Ford Gravitt nor any City
Council members would comment on the suit.
The city’s countersuit comes as a result of Forsyth
County being granted an injunction last week by
Superior Court Judge Stan Gault to prevent the city
from turning off the county’s water.
This injunction came as a result of a disagreement
between the city and the county over the wholesale
water rate. The city voted in June to increase the
water rate the county pays to the city for water to
$1.94 per 1,000 gallons. The county had been paying
$1.45 per 1,000 gallons.
When the September bill was paid by the county
to the city, the county paid at the old $1.45 rate
instead of the new rate. In its October meeting, the
city council voted to turn off the county’s water on
Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. if it had not paid the remainder of
See WATER, Page 2A
“It will always be a toll-free call,” said Keller
Torrey, district manager for Bell South.
Over the next six months, when callers use the
404 area code to try connecting with Forsyth County,
a recording will give them the correct area code. A
recording will also tell callers if they have forgotten
to dial the area code when making local calls within
the opposite area.
“Everybody just needs to be patient and get used
to the new codes,” said Torrey.
Some people in Forsyth County may never notice
the difference, she said. If only local calls are made
there is no reason to dial a new number.
Services such as 411 information will continue to
be available for both area codes. The correct area
code will be given with the requested number.
According to figures given by the Georgia Public
See CHANCE, Page 2A
room. We are teachers and some
times, we are counselors, too.”
This award puts Mashburn in
the running for the Southern
District title and after the first of
the year her name will be submit
ted for the National award.
When asked why she left a tra
ditional teaching position,
Mashburn answered, “I feel need
ed here; 1 contribute and help stu
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Photo/Tom Brooks
dents every day.”
Congratulations, Marguerite
Mashburn on a job very well
done. On a more personal note,
Ms. Mashburn is a tennis player
and active with ALTA, lives on a
farm here in Forsyth County,
loves books, cats and the beach.
Her hardest job is trying to stay
ahead of the yardwork!
50 Cents