Newspaper Page Text
Sandusky named
Most Outstanding
day student
PAGE 10A
Forsyth s
VOLUME LXXXVII, NUMBER 62 Copyright © 1996 Forsyth County News
Commission
Post 2
debate
planned for
Thursday
By Thomas W. Krause
Staff Writer
The Forsyth County Young
Republicans will be sponsor
ing a debate Thursday
between all Republican candi
dates for Forsyth County
Board of Commissioners’
Post 2.
Four Republicans are run
ning for the position which
represents the south section of
the county. Norris J. Brannon,
Steve Brooks and Bill Jenkins
have said they expect to attend
the debate.
Incumbept James
Harrington, who switched to
the Republican Party for this
election after years of service
as a Democrat, said he has a
potential conflict but would
attempt to attend. If he cannot,
he said he would try to send a
representative.
The debate is scheduled
from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Thursday in the Forsyth
County Library.
Following the debate, there
will be a question and answer
session, with questions com
ing from the audience.
The winner of the
Republican primary election
July 9 will run against lone
democratic candidate James
Gary Castleberry.
The Forsyth County
Republican Party will contin
ue its series of forums for all
candidates Republican and
See DEBATE, Page 2A
WEATHER
Scattered show
ers on Wed.,
high of 90. '’A
Afternoon a.
storms on Thurs.
and Fri. Highs in
80s.
INDEX
Abby 8A Events 6A
Business 7A School 9A
Deaths 5A Horoscope BA
Classifieds 6B Legals 4B
Editorial 12A Sports IB
COMING FRIDAY. ..
Planning and Zoning
The Forsyth County Planning and
Zoning Board met on Tuesday night
to discuss 11 different zonmgs.
including one for an apartment
complex which does not conform to
the master plan. See Friday's edition
for details.
Update on hearing of
law officer
A hearing for a fired Forsyth County
deputy oegan on Wednesday. See
Fridays edition for details.
Missed paper polk)': For replacement
paper cal) between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on
Wed., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, and 9
a.m. to I p.m. on Sun., 887-3126.
I Hindoo I
i ■H3
•/ Your "Hometown Paper” Since 1908
r — - iiu ™e— - ~
Esjfc- < •
frri ■ hS twkf
ESk A
' i'll, ; "
Bubbles, bubbles JsttKP Bnb ®
everywhere
Forsyth County's
Headstart and Pre-K ■
classes enjoyed a day of Hl
Olympics at Sharon B| F
Springs Park on Friday. HnHHBBK «Hr<'
One of their fun activities A WWWWiR
was seeing who could
make the biggest bub- • | S
bles. as shown at top. At ’■
right. Chance Morris
shows otf his bubble- | U
making ability as he
wears his cool shades.
Photos by Tom Brooks.
Bubbles, bubbles
everywhere
Forsyth County’s
Headstart and Pre-K
classes enjoyed a day of
Olympics at Sharon
Springs Park on Friday.
One of their fun activities
was seeing who could
make the biggest bub
bles, as shown at top. At
right, Chance Morris
shows off his bubble
making ability as he
wears his cool shades.
Photos by Tom Brooks.
County collects $244,000 in taxes paid elsewhere
By Thomas W. Krause
Staff Writer
One Forsyth County employee has proved he is
worth his salary.
Dave McManaway was hired two months ago to
head the Personal Property Division of the Tax
Assessor’s Office. In those two months he made the
county $244,000.
“I believe they’ve decided it was a good thing to
pay me a dollar and a half to come to work,” he said.
McManaway, the county’s first auditor, said the
money represents tax dollars on $27 million worth
of personal property assets Forsyth County business
es paid incorrectly. The county did not know it was
owed the money and it was not included in the bud
get.
The money was found by correcting a common
error, McManaway said. Office equipment leasing
Forsyth’s unemployment remains one of state’s lowest
By Thomas W. Krause
Staff Writer
Forsyth County remains one of the highest
employed counties in the state with a mere 2.4 per
cent unemployment rate listed for April 1996.
According to recent statistics released by the
Georgia Department of Labor, the 2.4 rate is down
from 2.6 percent in March 1996 and down from 3.4
percent one year ago.
Forsyth County’s low unemployment rate com
pares with 3.4 percent unemployment in the Georgia
Mountains region, down from 4.0 percent in March
1996 and in April of last year.
The state of Georgia recorded 4.2 percent unem
ployment, down from 4.6 percent in March and 4.5
percent last year. Unemployment in the state is at its
Local racers compete
at Dixie Speedway
SPORTS, IB
Cumming, GA / May 29,1996
WEDNESDAY EDITION
companies have been confused about county borders
when collecting taxes from their lessees, he said.
Companies have to pay taxes on equipment they
lease. Leasing companies bill the lessee and send the
money to the appropriate county. Often, when a leas
ing company sees an Alpharetta address, it assumes
the county is Fulton. Some Alpharetta addresses,
however, are in Forsyth County.
Before McManaway was hired, Forsyth County
had no way to check taxes accidentally paid to
Fulton County . Fulton, likewise, made no attempt to
make sure the money was theirs.
The leasing companies are usually upset to hear
the news, McManaway said. Companies must
request a refund from Fulton County, pay Forsyth
County and refund the difference to their customers
See TAXES, Page 2A
lowest since November 1991 when the rate dropped
to 4.1 percent.
“Our unemployment rate is at its lowest level in
almost five years,” said David Poythress, state labor
commissioner. “This means that nearly everyone
either has a job or can find one if they have any mar
ketable job skills.”
Due to the low unemployment rate, Poythress
said many employers are having a difficult time fill
ing open jobs.
With the Olympics on the way, many employers
are expected to hire food service workers, security
personnel, van and bus drivers and workers at hotels.
Poythress said employers will take advantage of
the student labor force which will be available after
See WORK, Page 2A
Melanie Barnes
selected as Midway's
Teacher of Year
PAGE 9A
Outdoor watering
ban continues
By Thomas W. Krause
Staff Writer
Forsyth County and city of
Cumming residents are still on a
total outdoor watering ban until
the new water treatment plant goes
on-line the week of June 10.
On May 21, the city of
Cumming issued a 24-hour, total
outdoor watering ban until June 1.
Officials said the status of the situ
ation would be evaluated on May
31.
Forsyth County followed suit
banning all outdoor watering until
further notice.
Cumming residents breaking
the ban will be warned once. On
second offenses, water service will
be disconnected.
County residents breaking the
ban will also be given one warn
ing. Second offenders will be cited
with a SIOO fine. Third offenders
will have their water service dis
connected.
At the peak of the water short
age last week, the Drinking Water
Compliance Program of the
Man drowns in Lake
Lanier Monday a.m.
By Jennifer Eskew
Staff Writer
Forsyth County residents and
visitors made it through the
Memorial Day weekend with no
traffic fatalities but one man
drowned while swimming in Lake
Lanier.
Robert Shannon Walker, 25,
was swimming with friends off
Camp Drive, which is off Buford
Photo/Tom Brooks
Getting fingerprinted
Officer Gene Hodge of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Dept
fingerprinted Vanessa Gonzalez on Saturday at the grand
opening of the Johns Creek sheriff’s dept, substation. The
substation is located inside of the Johns Creek Kroger.
Georgia Environmental Protection
Division issued a warning to boil
all water before drinking. That
warning was rescinded Friday.
To temporarily help keep up
with the water demand, the county
has been purchasing two million
gallons of water per day from
Fulton County. The pump from a
Forsyth County fire truck has been
set up in the south end of the
county to force water through
county lines. County
Administrator Stevie Mills said
when the county’s water tank is
full, they will shut off the pump.
Although most water shortages
were in the north end of the coun
ty, providing Fulton water to south
Forsyth residents will relieve some
demand from the Cumming plant.
City tanks should be able to col
lect a reserve.
Cumming’s water treatment
plant can produce 7.4 million gal-
See WATER, Page 2A
Dam, said a sheriff’s department
spokesperson.
Walker apparently drowned at
1 a.m. Monday but Forsyth
County Fire Volunteer Fire
Department divers did not find his
body until 3 a.m. He was found in
about 12 feet of water and was
dressed in black fatigues and com
bat boots.
The sheriff’s department will
be investigating the case.
50 Cents