The Forsyth County news. (Cumming, Ga.) 19??-current, April 12, 1998, Image 2

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE 2A FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sunday, April 12,1>M Commission to discuss noise ordinance Monday By Phillip Hermann News Editor The Forsyth County Commission Monday night will have a second reading of a pro posed new noise law that, among other things, would make it illegal to yell, shout, hoot, whistle or sing on public streets in unincorporated areas between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The commission conducted a first reading and public hearing on the law March 23. Some of the other violations would include noisy animals and birds, loud music, construction related noise, advertising or com mercial sound trucks, defective vehicles, and “The creation of a Former Forsyth EMT pleads guilty to making threats By Michael Kurtz Staff Writer A former Advanced Ambulance Service employee is . facing five years in a federal peni tentiary after pleading guilty in District Court Wednesday to charges of Availing threatening communications. According to U.S. Attorney Office spokesman Patrick Crosby, Jason Shea Blizzard, 28 of Hiram, ■ sent a letter and made a series of explicit phone calls over a period of months to a Forsyth County woman. In the letter, Blizzard reported ly threatened to torture and harm the woman’s children if she did not comply with his demands for sexual favors. Blizzard was caught Feb. 2 after the FBI set up surveillance on a pay phone he was using to make the calls, said Crosby. Investigators were able to iden tify him in December through the telephone’s records. After calling the victim, Blizzard reportedly called Advanced Ambulance, CASES from 1A able with the credibility of either case. He would not comment on whether the charges are legitimate, adding he would certainly present the cases to the grand jury if a third party, such as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, conducted an inde pendent investigation. “The politics in this matter must be overcome by all possible means,” said Moss. Moss said he will also present the case of Bill Marett to the grand jury if a third party outside the influ ence of county politics did an inves tigation. Marett was arrested last May for allegedly attempting to bribe • Drainage Repair • Light Grading • Landscaping • Lawn Re-Seeding •Tractor Work 770-208-7048 Days 770-781-3973 Eve. COMING SOON! COME VISIT US AT OUR SECOND LOCATION! WE WILL BE OPENING OUR DOORS ON APRIL THE 15TH, AT HAMMONDS CROSSING. loud and excessive noise in con nection with loading or unloading any vehicle or the opening and destruction of bales, boxes, crates and containers. Under the proposed law, those inclined to be too noisy would be able to obtain a “special variance” from the Fbrsyth County Sheriff’s Department, with the commission approving the procedure for apply ing for such permission. First-time violators would receive a warning citation. A sec ond violation would include a sec ond citation and an appearance in Magistrate Court where the pun ishment would be determined. Other items before the com mission Monday night will helping investigators identify him. Federal prosecutors were able to get the plea on mail charges after Blizzard sent the victim a two-and-a-half page letter threat ening her children. It was signed “I love you.” In addition to the conviction, Blizzard still faces related felony charges in Paulding County where he was living at the time of the incident. The case started Aug. 25 when Blizzard treated the victim after an accident. She had a broken wrist as a result of the accident. But accord ing to her, Blizzard’s actions were questionable. “He did not want my children or husband transported in the ambulance. Then he said he had to run an EKG and had me take off my shirt,” she said. She said she thought it was a strange request for a wrist injury, but figured an EMT would know proper procedure. “This is the person who you call when you need help. Why would I question that?” Bowen. The case has never been brought before the grand jury for indictment. On Friday, Hendrix did not com ment on whether the cases are polit ically motivated. Hendrix maintains that his per sonal investigation of both commis sioners is thorough and he will not call in another agency to look at the matter. He added Moss has that authority and could do so. “If he needs an outside agency to reinvent the wheel, he can assign r wdfc, “Home Os The Best Meat in Town" lE®*”” jsupcnwJaM I lAfll VE6 MAK AY MAAftIfET MeIS of CUMMING W6A s K Fax! 5405 Bannister Rd. at 369 (770)-889-7868 Whole Boneless Whole New York I Fresh Lean Ground Pork Loin Strips Chuck $1.991b. S-10lb. avg. $2.991b. 12-14 n>. avg. Cut Free 10lbS. 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Visit store for details. include: • Establishing 25 mph speed limits on Eagles Landing Drive, Settlers Lane, Laguna Place, Colusa Court, Bridgewater Drive, Bridgeview Circle, Manor Lane, Crestview Terrace, Resort Circle and Lakeside Way. The commis sion also will consider establish ing three-way stops at Pittman Road at Pittman Circle and at Yorkridge Drive at Shiloh Road East. The proposed changes have been recommended by the county engineer; • Review and adoption of agreement and scope of services with the Atlanta Regional Commission regarding the Big The harassment started Sept. 18 with the letter. The victim said she literally sat frozen in her house, not knowing who sent this or why. About six weeks later, the phone calls started. “He asked if I got his letter,” she said. Caller ID showed the call coming a a pay phone. The calls came every three to six weeks until February. She reported the initial incident to the Sheriff’s Office, but the investigation really started when the FBI got involved, she said. By December, investigators knew who they were after. “The FBI traced the phone calls and as soon as the ambulance number came up, I knew who it was,” she said. Blizzard’s conviction has helped the family start recovering from the incident, but the victim said it certainly has not restored her faith. “I don’t ever want to use Forsyth County again if I can help it,” she said. Her husband said the family it,” said Hendrix. “I consider both of these cases have enough probable cause.” On Wednesday, Bowen made very clear what he thinks of Hendrix’ investigation. “I think he screwed up royally,” he said. Bowen denied any wrongdoing in hiring the county auditor, and added the Hendrix investigation was very poorly timed. “It’s real unfortunate that he made these allegations just as the Creek Watershed Protection Study; • Review and second reading of a new sewage disposal ordi nance for onsite sewage manage ment systems; • Review and second reading of a new food service ordinance; • Awarding bids for construc tion of a parking lot at the Forsyth County Administration Building; two, 12,000-capacity lifts for the fleet maintenance facility; one new backhoe and loader; turnout gear for use by firefighters; one fuel tank; and for the installation of a gasoline storage and dispens ing system for the Roads and Bridges Division at the Coal Mountain facility. now wants to make sure any other I victims know Blizzard has been r caught. > “We’re trying to get this out to see how many people he’s done : this to. If we have one major con cern, it’s that he’s done this to oth ’ ers he’s helped,” said the husband. I The husband said anyone who > has ever been “stalked” by > Blizzard should contact Dave Parker at the FBI. t Blizzard’s stay in Forsyth : County was short. Advanced i Ambulance Service owner Jerry Adams said Blizzard has not > worked with the company in three months, and was only there for : about a six-month tenure. : He said all employees are put t through pre-employment checks, driver’s license checks and drug > testing, and all certificates and pre ' vious employers are confirmed. i Blizzard reportedly did not I have a criminal record or outstand ing warrants when he was hired. : He will be sentenced on June > 26 and faces a maxinjpm penalty of five years in prison and a ’ $250,000 fine. auditor was about to run an audit on his department. That tends to leave a sour taste in people’s mouths,” said Bowen. The battle between Hendrix and the board has made it all the way to Superior Court. Hendrix sued the commissioners after they made sev eral personnel and budgetary deci sions which Hendrix said “circum vents” his authority. No dates are set in the case which will be heard by Judge Stan Gault. POLICE from 1A such a proposal is premature. “This needs some serious study,” he said. “I don’t think the people want to lose their right to elect the highest law enforcement official in the county.” Hendrix said creating a law enforcement agency run by the Board of Commissioners would cost the county millions of dollars and would “duplicate taxes.” “They just passed SPLOST. Is it time to tax the people again?” he asked. LAKE from 1A Jackie Joseph, president of the Lake Lanier Association, said fecal contamination often dissipates by the time it reaches shallow beach water. “That does not dilute the fact we’re pumping raw sewage into the lake,” she said. Joseph referred to Lanier Beach South, a private waste water treatment plant, that is being investigated by the EPD after it found fecal coliform lev els that were reportedly well bey ond the accepted level. Williams said the Corps has never closed a beach due to fecal contamination. Os the 1,461 STATION from 1A $324,578 construction contract at the Board of Commissioner’s March 23 meeting. Butler said the project has a 180-day construction schedule. When completed, Station 15 will have one full-time employee on site. The ultimate goal is to have the station fully manned, said Butler. He said any person in the area wishing to become a volunteer at the station can apply at tire depart ment headquarters at Station 12. Building Station 15 isn’t the only project on the Fire IWffii I - - ■ - _ FULL BAR - Av®ilabte"| R cn Sunday * ! ♦99" BIG SCREEN TV |MEXICAN GRILLT Best Mexican Food Around. $ OPEN 7 DAYS (Just down ths road on Hwy. 20) -——————J Forsyth County News J ro«r "Hometown Sutct 1908 J USPS 205-540 302 Old Buford Road, Cumming. Georgia 30040 Phone: 770-887-3126 Fax: 770-889-6017 Internet Address: www.forsythnews.com Publisher DENNIS STOCKTON Corporate Editor LEANNE T. BELL Associate Editor JENNIFER ESKEW Office Manager MICHELLE HEARD Advertising Director BARBARA SCOHIER Circulation Director WES DORSEY Published Sunday, Wednesday and Friday by the Forsyth County News Company, 302 Old Buford Road, Cumming, Ga. Second Class Postage paid at Cumming, Ga. and additional offices. Subscription rate for Forsyth county, S3O per year; other Georgia and out of state subscriptions are S6O per year. Advertising rates and deadlines available upon request. Postmaster: Send address change to Forsyth County News/P.O. Box 210, Cumming, Ga. 30028. A Swartz-Morris Media Inc. publication Miss your paper? Call 887-3126 We deliver replacement papers within Forsyth County. If your newspaper is not delivered by 6:30 a.m., please call the circulation department at 887-3126. Service calls will be taken from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday, replacement papers will be delivered from 6p.m. to 7p.m. Sunday calls taken from 9 am until 1 p.m. on Sunday, replacement papers will be delivered from Ip.m. to 2p.m. If your call is received during the above listed times, a replacement copy will be delivered to your home. Calls received after the above times will be extended credit to their account or delivered with next issue. Any changes in publication will be announced in preceding issues. Advertising Deadlines For Sunday’s paper retail and classified display ads are due by noon Thursday. For Wednesday’s paper retail and classified display ads are due by 5 p.m. Friday. For Friday’s paper retail and classified display ads are due by noon Tuesday. Classified Line Advertising Deadlines (Help warned, garage sale*, rentals, etc.) For Sunday’s paper classified line ads are due by noon Friday. For Wednesday’s paper classified line ads are due by noon Monday. For Friday’s paper classified line ads are due by noon Wednesday. Legal advertising is due by Friday noon and runs only in Wednesday’s paper. Hendrix declined to comment on whether the move is politically moti vated, but added the commissioners have in no way indicated that more law enforcement is needed. “My budget was cut by more than $2 million and all of a sudden we’re going to pay for another department,” he said. According to Hendrix, the board will have to supply him with a “rea sonable” operating budget under the constitution even if another agency is created. samples taken since 1991, only 17 have exceeded the limit. Sometimes a sample would be 1,600 and the next day, 10, he said, attributing the variation to contaminated runoff after a storm. “My general recommendation is to never swim after a heavy rainfall for at least 24 hours," he said. Corps swim areas in the county include War Hill, Keith Bridge, Longhollow, Shady Grove Campground, Young Deer Creek, Bald Ridge Campground, Mary Alice, Sawnee Campground and West Bank. Department’s agenda. Plans are under way to relocate Station 10 to James Burgess and Old Atlanta Roads. Butler said the project will go out for bid as soon as a sanitation site survey is completed. He said he expects the project to be under construction by the end of the year. Butler said the fire depart ment’s five-year plan involves upgrades to all the existing sta tions. Eventually, he said he would like to have 22 stations throughout the county.