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THIS ISSUE
Copyright © 1998 Forsyth County News
> • A sneak preview
of the pond tour.
Page IB
- Barnes to lead Lady
Bulldog hoops.
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Schools
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INDEX
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’Forsyth Life IB
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COMING
; WEDNESDAY
Commentary Galore
Read Walker Bramblett,
•; Bill Shipp and Phil Danner in
, For a replacement call
. 8 ain. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and
« Friday, and 9 a.m. to I p.m. on
Sunday-(770) 887-3126.
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Forsyth County News
J Your "Hometown Paper” Since 1908 J
Vol. 89, No. 65
Cost of economic boom impacting farms
By Phillip Hermann
News Editor
There is a cost for the current economic
boom in Forsyth County, where developers
spurred by potential profits descend upon
large tracts of land once home to cows,
chickens and trees.
Residents at the May 27 public hearing
on a zoning application to convert more
than 136 acres from agricultural to residen
tial use let the County Commission know
that they’re not happy with the bill.
“We’re trying to preserve away of life.
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Relay for Life
North Forsyth Middle School students decorate their campsite for the Relay for Life, American Cancer
Society fundraiser held this weekend at the Forsyth Central High School track. North Forsyth’s theme was
Circle of Life Amid Earth’s Enchanged Rainforest. More coverage and pictures in Wednesday’s edition.
Lake Lanier water quality should be
a priority, according to Nathan Deal
By Colby Jones
Staff Writer
In the wake of two large-scale studies on Lake Lanier,
local governments need to make water quality a priority,
U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal told members of the Lake Lanier
Association Wednesday night.
An eight-year study funded by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency found that non-point source pollution
like stormwater runoff poses the greatest threat to the lake.
Deal said creation of a regional authority would help
Reception to honor Betty Benson
By Laura Lavezzo
Staff Writer
The Forsyth Cpunty school system is paying tribute to
a very important school employee Sunday.
Assistant superintendent Betty Jones Benson, who has
worked for Forsyth County Schools since moving to the
county in 1951, will be honored at a reception Sunday
from 2 - 4 p.m. at Forsyth Central High School.
Benson has devoted the past 47 years to the improve
ment of Forsyth County schools. She has been instrumen-
Signs springing up
Campaign signs are snow
ing up on roadways all over
the county now that the July
21 primary deadline
approaches. It is illegal to
place any sign in the state
right-of-way, on trees, street
and light poles. For more
information, call (770) 781-
2105 or see the Friday, May
29 story on campaign signs.
Photo/Tom Brooks
This has been an agricultural area for 100
years and now they want to take 176 homes
and put them right in the middle of a cow
pasture,” argued Brian Roberts, a resident of
Holtzclaw Road. He was voicing his oppo
sition to a plan by local developer T.R.
Reece to build a 176-home subdivision that
will span both sides of Holtzclaw Road,
1,500 feet south of its intersection with
Browns Bridge Road.
Roberts told the commissioners that as
the owner of a poultry farm and horse stable
near the site, allowing the project would
amount to “spot zoning” because of its
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SUNDAY MAY 31, 1998
local officials coordinate efforts to manage non-point
source pollution.
“The threat to the lake does not come from its direct
management,” said Deal. Instead actions taken by county
commissions and other jurisdictions that lie outside the
lake’s borders most greatly affect management of the
watershed, he said. “The challenge for us is to bring all
parties together and work cooperatively.”
See WATER, Page 7A
tai in getting accreditation for the school system, setting
up libraries in every elementary school and developing the
mentor program before the state even had one. She has
been extremely active in the community as an advocate for
children's welfare. And she has spent the last several years
as a mentor and friend to those in the current school
administration, many of whom are her former students.
Therefore, it is to the dismay of her colleagues that Benson
plans to retire this summer.
See BENSON, Page 10A
incompatibility with what already exists in
the area.
He was not alone. Tony Gravitt, who
owns a 145-acre tract on Holtzclaw Road,
spoke about the proposed project’s potential
impact on the area. “Believe or not, there
are still some people in this county who
make their living in agriculture. Well, this is
going to force us out. I still have cattle. I
still have poultry houses. The area is still
predominantly agricultural,” he added.
Local attorney Tim Hamel, representing
Reece, listed several factors the commission
should consider when making its decision.
——————————————————.
He said that the applicant is a local develop
er with a proven track record of high quality
work. Hamel added that the tract is approxi
mately 1,500 feet from Hwy. 369 and that
proximity is helping to redefine the area for
non-agricultural development.
The county’s Planning Commission has
recommended that the County Commission
reduce the number of lots from 176 to 130.
The Planning Commission has recommend
ed approval of the rezoning with that
restriction.
See COST, Page 2A
Three being
considered for
new DA post
By Michael Kurtz
Staff Writer
Gov. Zell Miller has three candidates to choose from
to fill the new district attorney position which becomes
available July 1 when the Bell-Fbrsyth Superior Court
Circuit goes into effect.
Attorneys Steve Abernathy, Dee Morris and Philip
Smith are undergoing background checks by the Georgia
Bureau of Investigation before their final interview with
the governor’s office.
All three men are graduates of the University of
Georgia School of Law. But their varying backgrounds
will make the selection process interesting for the gover
nor.
Abernathy passed the Bar in 1975 and went into pri
vate practice. Among his recent achievements is comple
tion of the National College of Criminal Defense. Hosted
by Mercer University, only 100 people nationwide are
selected to participate in the classes covering trial strate-
See THREE, Page 2A
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Swinging into summer
Luke Intile takes a swing at pitch by Denise
Spenello at the Cumming City Park. The park
will soon be busy as the last day of school
approaches on June 5.
School board may not
approve charter status
By Laura Luvezzo , :
Staff Writer
Midway Elementary’s days as a charter school may be
over.
At a called meeting of the Forsyth County Board of
Education Friday, the vote was split among the four present
board members on whether or not to grant Principal Dennis
Whittle a one-year extension of his charter school status. As
board member Paul Kreager was not present for the discus
sion, a final decision will wait until Monday morning, the
absolute deadline for Whittle’s application for renewal at the;
state level. Midway must have the approval of the local
See CHARTER, Page 10AJ