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THIS ISSUE
Copyright © 1997 Forsyth County News
Cartoonists’
views on
the news.
Page 14A
J ,
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Raider, War Eagle
wrestlers place high at
Class A and AA states.
Page IB
LAKE LANIER LEVELS
Date Level
Feb. 13 1072.19 ft
Feßi4 1071.96 ft
Feb. 15 " N/A
Feb.l6 1071.65 ft
Normal 1070.00 ft
# ■ -
I
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
earns perfect score at
antique show.
Page 12A
INDEX
Abby. HA
Business.—.... .4A
Classifieds 6B
Community ........ _ 12A
Deaths -2A
Events...... .9A
Horoscope 11A
Legals..... 4A
Opinion 14A
Sports IB
COMING
FRIDAY
Entertainment Extra
Soap Opera Updates,
Critics Corner, Jill Jackson's
Hollywood, Country Music
all in Friday's edition.
Missed paper policy:
For a replacement paper call
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and
Friday, ana 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on
Sunday-887-3126.
[HO
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Forsyth Count vNews
J Your "Hometown Paper" Since 191 NEWSPAPER GEORGIA
* UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Vol. 89, No 21
Commission opts for Corps patrol contract
By Michael Kurtz
Staff Writer
When the weather warms and Lake
Lanier is once again the hot spot of North
Georgia outdoor activity, Forsyth County
will be the only one of the five counties bor
dering the lake getting paid for protection.
On Feb. 9, the Board of Commissioners
unanimously approved to contract with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers to provide lake patrol
throughout the summer.
The contract will provide about 442 man
hours of coverage from May through the sec-
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Photos/Tom Brooks
Fairy Tale prince and princess
Jack Stout and Heather Berry play their parts as the prince and Snow White prince at
Big Creek Elementary last week. For more pictures, see Page 6A.
Noise ordinance hearing is March 23
By Michael Kurtz
Staff Writer
The county may be getting
quieter, thanks to a proposed
noise ordinance.
On March 23, the Board of
Commissioners will hold a
public hearing to discuss the
noise ordinance, which would
make certain loud noises at
certain times illegal.
The ordinance covers
everything from blowing
horns while sitting in traffic to
playing car stereos too loudly
to barking dogs.
Most of the issues in the
ordinance pertain to night.
Sections covering radios,
yelling and shouting and con
struction noises all have time
frames which would ban the
County to join state in fire inspections of buildings
By Michael Kurtz
Staff Writer
Fire inspections in Forsyth County will
no longer be handled strictly by the state.
During their Feb. 9 meeting, the Board
of Commissioners unanimously adopted the
Fire Safety and Prevention Ordinance.
Public Safety Director Miles Butler said
the ordinance will improve the way struc
tures are inspected and will ultimately make
SFHS student is
’9B second fatality
By Michael Kurtz
Staff Writer *
The South Forsyth High School student critically
injured in a two-vehicle collision, Thursday, died dur
ing the weekend despite two surgeries.
John Leon Ricketson, 17, was critically injured
when his 1994 Ford Tempo was hit in the driver’s side
by a 1990 Chevrolet Suburban driven by 24-year-old
Wayne I. Abernathy of Alpharetta.
Sheriff's Office spokesperson Karleen Chalker
said Ricketson had serious injuries to the head.
See FATALITY, Page 2A
Staff Writer
ond week in September.
The Corps will give a stipend of $10,488.88
to the county as payment for patrol.
Every year, the Coips offers an annual con
tract to the counties bordering the lake. In
effect, the Corps purchases local law enforce
ment agents to patrol the waters and coastline.
But this year, only Forsyth County is taking
to the water.
“Typically we write a contract annually
with the counties to help defray the costs of
coverage,” said Lake Lanier assistant project
manager Pat Taylor. “Forsyth is the only one
noise at night and on week
ends.
The operation of stereos
and other music devices that
can be heard more than 50 feet
from the source would be
banned from 11 p.m.-7 a.m.
66
Noise at night
andon weekends
would be primary
target of the new
ordinance.
99
Yelling, shouting, hooting,
whistling or singing in public
streets which disturbs the
quiet would also be banned
during those same time peri
ods.
Forsyth Countians responsible rfbr their own
safety.
“We’ve taken the burden off the state fire
marshal,” said Butler. “Now, all facilities
will be inspected the same way. It makes
life easier and less expensive for everyone.”
In the past, inspecting new buildings
caused complications between state and
local inspectors. Interpretations of the laws
varied between inspection agencies.
The ordinance unifies county inspection
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18,
construction sounds, a
common occurrence in the
county, would also be banned
from 9 p.m.-7 a.m. on week
days and before 10 a.m. and
after 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
The construction section of
the ordinance would allow for
exceptions, such as road
repair, if day construction
would cause too much of a
burden on citizens.
Animals, specifically non
farm animals, make up one of
the largest sections of the ordi
nance.
Anyone keeping an animal
is responsible for making sure
neighbors aren’t disturbed.
The neighbor must send a cer
tified letter about their com-
See NOISE, Page 2A
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that has opted for the contract.”
Last year, Hall County also took the federal
stipend for coverage. Dawson and Gwinnett
counties have been approached, said Taylor, but
are not choosing the contract.
Last year, the Corps had about $60,000
budgeted for law enforcement. Taylor said cuts
have brought that down to $15,000 for 1998.
The contract calls for Forsyth County law
enforcement agents to patrol Friday through
Sunday during peak periods.
On Fridays, a six-manhour patrol will cover
all recreation areas between 3-11 p.m.
Lake Lanier group
wants regional board
By Sheri Toomey
Staff Writer
Members of the Lake Lanier
Association Inc., are concerned about
protecting the lake’s water quality.
The LLA board of directors wants
the state legislature to establish a Lake
Lanier Regional Authority.
Since the watershed area around
lake consists of nine counties including
Forsyth, Dawson, Hall, Gwinnett,
Jackson, Habersham, Banks, Lumpkin
and White counties, the LLA is con
cerned about cooperation between these
local governments.
“Past cooperative government
efforts like the Lanier Watershed
Regional Committee and the Lake
Lanier Advisory Council have been
ineffective in adequately protecting
Lake Lanier,” reads a LLA memo dated
Jan. 7, 1998. “We think thpse organiza-
m A. v
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Pugh
Habitat for Humanity
Ellie Campbell, president, shows house plans to future owner, Berma
Parks, left, while Ellen Grand, Sandra Evans, Robert Westfall and Dave
Elliott look on with help from little Elizabeth Campbell.
Firefighter’s 1996 death was a factor
requirements with state requirements, elimi
nating overlap and discrepancies.
Forsyth County inspectors will work
under the Fire Safety Division of the Fire
Department.
In addition to building inspectors, the
division will also hire a full-time planning
review person.
Butler said their job is to review all con-
50 Cents
During the weekends, an eight-manhour
unit will cover from noon to 8 p.m. An extra
traffic control unit will be assigned at West
Bank Turnout, Buford Dam Road and the
Intake Structure on July 4.
Eight-man units will also cover on
Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Even though the other counties did not
opt for the contract, law enforcement will
still be a visible entity on and around Lake
Lanier this summer.
See PATROL, Page 2A
tions were ineffective because the polit
ical membership were more responsive
to the special interests that got them
elected.”
The Upper Chattahoochee
River Keeper also stresses a cooperative
regional approach to protect the lake’s
watershed areas after the UCBG
released the first draft report.
“Public health and water quality
must be protected and prioritized over
unsustainable development throughout
the region,” reads the statement.
“Implementation of runoff controls
must be coordinated and enforced by
all local governments throughout the
watershed.”
The first results of a two-year, $2
million water quality study of Lake
Lanier was released by the Upper
See LAKE, Page 2A
struction plans before any work begins.
“They are a pre-inspection inspection,”
he said. The inspector will ensure building
plans have required fire walls, sprinkler sys
tems and other emergency measures before
any ground is broken.
See INSPECTIONS, Page 2A
Photo/Tom Brooks
New furniture
Baptist North Hospital
received all new beds from
Hill-Rom in anticipation of
moving into the new hospi
tal on Hwy. 20. From left,
Phillip Mock, Kathryn
Seper, Evelyn Murphy and
Bob Anderson place the
sheets on one of the beds.