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Teachers present
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Forsyth County News
J Your "Hometown Paper” Since 1908 J FM6130 03/g3/98
VOLUME 88, NUMBER 31 Copyright © 1997 Forsyth County News
WEDNESDAY EDITION
Library
changes its
materials
policy
By Laura Boggs
Staff Writer
A new materials manage
ment policy was approved by
the library board during a
meeting Monday.
Until now, the Forsyth
County Public Library has
been using a policy adopted
from Gwinnett County. The
two counties were part of a
regional library system until
July.
Gwinnett’s 10-page mate
rials management policy was
streamlined by local library
staff to a three-page docu
ment. The new policy
removes several layers from
the complaint process, making
it easier for patrons to raise
questions about library materi
als.
Critics of the library’s pre
vious materials management
policy point to the accessibili
ty of certain books to children.
The new policy continues to
put the responsibility on par
ents to monitor what their
children read at the library.
The policy adopted
Monday by the board is less
“political” than Gwinnett’s,
said Jon McDaniel, library
director. Library staff
removed statements that
sounded “pretentious” and all
references to the American
Library Association, a
Chicago-based organization
many have deemed liberal,
See LIBRARY, Page 2A
WEATHER
Partly cloudy on
Wed., Thurs.
and Fri. Highs in
upper 60s and
low 70s. Lows in
40s. L—
INDEX
Abby 7A Events 6A
News 4A School 4A
Deaths 3A Horoscope 7A
Classifieds 7B Legals 5B
Editorial BA Sports IB
COMING FRIDAY..,
Another area code?
The 404 and 770 area codes are
growing faster than expected and
ifs possible another area code will
have to be added soon. See Frida/s
edition for a look at what affect tnis
could have on Forsyth County.
Entertainment
See Friday's edition for an update
on what s happening on your
favorite soap opera, as well as the
latest movie review.
Missed paper policy: For replacement
paper call 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.
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Staff Writer
Celebrating 85 years
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Grand Jury applauds new sheriff’s
work on traffic; warns commission
to look at growth before cutting jobs
By Laura Boggs
Staff Writer
In a recently released report, the Grand Jury
November term 1996 commended new Sheriff
Denny Hendrix and his office for “steps that have
been taken to improve jail conditions and for his
investigation and work with other authorities regard
ing traffic and dangerous intersections in the coun
ty.”
The Sheriff’s Department did extensive studies
on trouble spots on local roads. The office also com
piled accident statistics.
The Grand Jury recommended that local authori
ties work with the Georgia Department of
Transportation in following up on Hendrix’s investi
gation.
Baptist North turned down for 15 more beds
By Laura Boggs
Staff Writer
Baptist North Hospital’s hopes to add 15 long
term care beds to its future facility were dashed
recently when the State Health Planning Agency
(SHPA) denied its application for approval.
According to Georgia law, SHPA must approve
construction and expansion projects in order to
ensure health care services are not duplicated in one
area.
The beds would have been for long-term patients
who require the help of skilled nurses. Because the
beds were to be added as a wing of the new hospital,
they would have to meet more stringent - and
expensive - hospital standards, said John Herron,
Baptist North Administrator.
Plans to build the new hospital are still on
course, and site work has already begun at the
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Cumming
SPORTS, IB
Cumming, GA / March 12,1997
To mark the 85th anniver
sary of Girl Scouting, the
Northeast Ga. Girl Scout
Council held a reunion for
former and present girl
scouts of all ages on
Sunday at the Forsyth
Central stadium. About 125
present and former girl
scouts attended. At tep, the
group cuts two cakes baked
for the occasion. The partici
pants enjoyed a picnic, as
well as playing games. At
left, girls from Brownie
Troop 3785 played “Red
RoveT’ on the football field.
Photos by Karleen
Chalker.
The DOT has agreed to make several major
improvements based partly on the sheriff’s research.
And county commissioners will meet with DOT
Commissioner Wayne Shackelford March 21.
The Grand Jury report says about county com
missioners, “Given the tremendous growth in
Forsyth County and the resulting demand on county
offices and personnel, the Grand Jury recommends
the Board of Commissioners carefully consider the
needs before taking any future downsizing or job
restructuring actions.”
In January, commissioners abolished a number of
county management positions and restructured sever
al county departments.
Commission Chairman Julian Bowen said, “I
See JURY, Page 2A
Highway 20 property off Ga. 400’s exit 14.
Construction of the $18.6 million facility will start in
August, and the hospital will probably open its doors
late in 1998, Herron said. The 41-bed, 78,000-
square-foot building will replace the smaller hospital
on Samaritan Drive.
Construction of a 65,000-square-foot medical
office complex at the site will begin in May.
The hospital project is finally underway after a
series of delays. After state regulatory approval was
granted, North Fulton Regional Hospital objected to
the construction.
But the Roswell hospital’s parent company, Tenet
See BEDS, Page 2A
Mock trial competes I
in region
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Commissioners
endorse split
of court circuit
By Sheri Toomey
Staff Writer
The Forsyth County Board of
Commissioners signed a resolution
to support House Bill #406 for the
split of the Blue Ridge Judicial
Circuit Superior Court Circuits at
their Monday meeting.
The proposed bill would give
both Forsyth and Cherokee
Counties indenpendent Superior
Court circuits.
Superior Court Judge Stan
Gault, State Court Judge Jeff
Bagley, and attorney Walker
Bramblett all spoke in support of
the court split.
“I think the numbers suggest
there will be increased growth and
that we will qualify for additional
Superior Court judges,” said
Gault. “Some have expressed con-
New school calendar on
Thursday board agenda
By Laura Boggs
Staff Writer
Next year’s school calendar
will be unveiled at a Board of
Education meeting Thursday
night.
Each school had input in the
development of the 1997-98 calen
dar, which “isn’t that different
from this year’s,” said Paula
Gault, administrative services
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Photo/Karleen Chalker
Making a beautiful sound
The Forsyth Central High School Chamber Singers, led
by Kevin Whitley, performed on Sunday at the Christ the
King Lutheran Church as part of a program organized by
Dr. John M. Broman, director of the North Georgia
College and State University Singers and Patriot Choir.
The North Georgia choirs also performed.
1 a
cern about the disadvantage of a
one judge circuit court. The short
term disadvantages are out
weighed by the long term advan
tages.”
“The problem I have with this
is that I haven’t had any time to
research this and I like to research
everything thoroughly,” said
Commission Chairman Julian
Bowen who previously said he
thought Cherokee County would
get the best end of the deal.
If the Superior Court is split,
Judge Gault will preside over
Forsyth County, and Judges
Michael Roach and Frank Mills
will handle Cherokee County.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said
Bagley. “It’s kind of a no brainer
to me. This is not something new.
See COUNTY, Page 3A
director for Forsyth County
schools.
The board will also be updated
on character education, a program
used in three Forsyth County ele
mentary schools. Character educa
tion, created in Troup County,
could be implemented at all local
elementary schools.
See SCHOOL, Page 2A