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PAGE 2A > FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Thwday, January 7, Vickery Creek Middle hosts open house By Laura Lavezzo Lifestyle Editor Nearly 750 Forsyth County students returning from the holi day break Monday morning were granted a special treat when Vickery Creek Middle School offi cially opened the doors of its brand new facility for the first time. Opened in August, VCMS was housed at the former South Forsyth Middle School last fall while construction of the new building was completed at the Post Road site. The SFMS facility now will become an annex to South Forsyth High School. An open house for VCMS was held Sunday afternoon to help acclimate students and their par ents to the new place. “It was wonderful,” said Judy Thornton, deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “If parking was any indication of attendance, it was a success. Every space in that parking lot was filled and cars lined both sides of the driveway.” Thornton said the building was in spectacular condition, primarily because custodians spent the last several weeks cleaning, scrubbing I and waxing. And over the last sev eral days, said VCMS Principal Toni Eubank, even Superintendent Dr. Allene Magill showed up in coveralls - steel wool in hand, ready to help. “She’s incredible,” Eubank said. “She was here to make sure every detail was taken care of.” I “She worked shoulder to ■houlder with the custodians,” Bdded Thornton. “She can spot Bax buildup from a mile away. To B, the new school looks like the Kj Mahal.” Compared to the F w- 11 t v W .MB JB E__ a 4 M * KM? Jl S ■' w I C, W Photo/Tom Brooks School board member Eddie Taylor and VCMS Principal Toni Eubank were on hand to visit with families. Deaths Flem Morgan Jr. Flem Morgan Jr., 70, of Tucker, died TUesday, Jan. 5, 1999, after an extended illness. Survivors include his wife, Margaret Brown Morgan of Tucker; children, Courtney and Mary Anne Morgan of Alpharetta and Carolyn and Gerald Cooper of Louisiana; grandchildren, Melissa, Allison and Michael Morgan, all of Alpharetta; brother and sister-in law, William and Charlyn Morgan of Marietta; and other relatives. Services are to be held Friday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m. at Ingram Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Vem Coolidge officiating. Interment will be in the Green Lawn Cemetery. ■ M 90 days 770*889*9753 i HHI Same As Cash g "Tn SEATS *3.75 UNTIL 6PM MOVIES 400 Atlanta Hwy @ Buford Dam Rd. Hwy. 400 to Exit 14-West 2 ml on GA Hwy 20 www.tMthenovles.com Movie Une: 770-945-5066 Patch Adams PG 13 1:40,420,7:00,9:40 mumy douttwrepo MngeOLEaffiLPQ 123 ft 1:00,2:50,3:20,5:10,7:25, ft 40 You*™ Got Mell PG S:SS, 7:30.10:06 Star Trek: InaunscltonPG 125 ft 3:lft 5:30,730,1ft 10 A Bug* LIU G 12*6.2:46.5.-00,7:2ft Mg Enemy of, thg_Stfl3R 1:10,4:1ft 9:46 Wg!»rt»LPGll. __sjOsJftOs_ _ Faculty R 3:00,4:40,7:40,10:00 ■ ■ *» - 44.-^.. . • *■" u i' : KRL - ' 1 Photo/Tom Brooks VCMS student Anna Ames, left, enjoys a moment with music teacher Erin Campbell. crowded, musty, old Cumming Schoolhouse with its ancient wiring, where Thornton, Magill and rhost other county school administrators have offices, the new VCMS is indeed splendid. In addition to its cleanliness, the new facility is equipped with two full computer labs and each classroom has two to five computers plus a teacher’s workstation. According to Eubank, teacher work rooms also are set up with working com puters and the faculty is encour aged to integrate the technology into every aspect of the curricu lum. “To the credit of these teachers I have not heard one complaint about the move,” Eubank said. “They’re just so excited to have the new facility.” Teal, black and silver, the school colors, are splashed about the school, and so are signs of the mascot, the Vickery Creek Viper. “This was the first time the kids were able to see ‘their’ The family is receiving friends at the funeral home Thursday after 11 a.m. Ingram Funeral Home has charge of the service. Forsyth County News Jan. 7,1998 Wynelle Westbrook Wynelle Westbrook, 81, of Cumming, died Monday, Jan. 4, 1999, after an extended illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Westbrook; daughter, Barbara Cowart; and son, Edwin Cowart. She was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church. Survivors are her son and daughter-in-law, Perry and Tonya school, and being a brand new school as opposed to just a new building made it special,” Eubank said. “The kids just seem so happy.” For now, Eubank has her hands full. Besides having to help situate 15 new enrollees who were regis tered at VCMS over the holidays, she has been ironing out a few technical details this week, includ ing an unwanted, sporadic fire alarm which interrupted classes Monday. Some dust had gathered in a smoke detector while workers repaired pipes which had frozen due to the bitter cold conditions. The workers’ dust caused the detector to go off, and by law, Eubank was required to evacuate the entire building. Eubank was concerned that students were forced to leave the building in such cold conditions. She said the new fire detection system shows exactly where a problem is locat ed, but the frozen pipes were an unexpected problem. Vickery Creek Middle School now is located at 6240 Post Road. Parents should be aware that the phone number for the school did not move with the computers and books. The new phone number for Vickery Creek Middle School is (770) 667-2580. Eubank said a dedication for the school is being planned for the end of February or early March. The community will be invited to attend. According to assistant superin tendent Paula Gault, the popula tion of school children in the county grew by nearly 1 percent over the holiday break. By the time school reopened on Monday, 139 new students had enrolled in Forsyth County Schools. Westbrook of Cumming; son-in law, Michael Cowart of Cumming; grandchildren, Kevin Cowart, and Steven, Robby and Christie Cowart, and Bryson, Brandon and Drew Westbrook, all of Cumming; great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Shelby Armstrong and Christine Wilkie, both of Cumming, and Leroy Drummond and Grace McClure, both of Canton; and a number of nieces, Services of Georgia Save over 80% cost of Replacement Bath & Kitchen Refinishing . • Bathtubs • Tiles • Sinks vvL • Countertops • Chip & Scratch Repair V** V 770-888-5252 2095 Dahlonega Hwy. JgSfcu ■ r) VJ tiK V ■■■€ FWWHMRp, mIU * IKUJMKI Back Home a I X Sheriff’s office incident report summary Fight reported at home, arrest made A neighbor reported a fight in progress at a Mercedes Drive house late New Year’s Eve night. Deputies entered the residence through an open side door and found a man and woman in the living room, both holding beer cans. They also saw rifles within reach of the couple, and noticed the man’s clothes were stained with blood. Both people refused to say what had happened and began cursing and fighting with the deputies when questioned. Tim Sanner, 28, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction. An incident report states Sanner banged his head against the window when placed into the patrol car. It also states the woman bit a deputy on the leg. GUITARfrom 1A learn many of the techniques that a band uses to become successful.” Carter has played with some of the best players in the Southeast. “Hoyt Estes is one of the best gui tar players in the country,” said Carter. “I have also played with W. C. Gibbs, Hoyt Truelove, Sam Hawkins and the Robert Sorrells family. All of them live here. A lot of folks do not realize how much talent is in this area.” For many years each February, Carter and his wife would go to Tuscaloosa, Ala. with Dalton natives Jack Weeks and his wife, where Carter played backup in an annual fiddling contest. “We traveled and played with Jack Weeks for 20 years,” remem bers Carter. “Jack was the ‘Old Time Fiddlin’ Champion’ of Georgia. He would win almost every contest he entered. One year our families went to the National finals in Idaho together. Jack died of cancer much too early. People who played music knew how good he was, but few in the general public knew about him.” “I played with the Everett Brothers when they started,” said Carter. “I played when Lee Everett and his daddy were playing. When Grandpa Everett was there, he would buck dance. It has been a lot of fun learning from some of the people who have been a part of my life through the years.” CHAMBER from 1A been very active in bringing in new companies and tax revenue to our community. Many new programs have been implement ed under his leadership, with nephews and other relatives. Services were held Wednesday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church with the Rev. Danny Bennett and Dr. Jimmy On officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery. Ingram Funeral Home of Cumming was in charge of the ser vice. Forsyth County News Jan. 7,1998 Woman reports disconnected phones Investigators placed an extra patrol in the north east end of the county after a Dana Circle resideni heard voices outside her bedroom window in the early morning hours between Jan. 1-2. The womar said her phone line went dead shortly after she heard the voices. She later found that the phone box located out side of the residence had been opened and the phone line unplugged. The resident told investiga tors she could not think of any possible suspects. Compiled bj staff writer Colby Jones For the past four years in October, the Carters have attended the “Tennessee Homecoming” at the Appalachian Museum in Norris, Tenn. The past two years, Carter has played with Ramona and Elicia Jones, the widow and daughter of Country Music Hall of Famer Grandpa Jones. Through the years, Carter has played with Hoot Hester and the Bill Stewart Family Band. Stewart played with the Pee Wee King Band. King wrote the classic “The Tennessee Waltz.” During the Christmas season of 1992, Carter played at the John Hartford House with Hartford and country superstar Marty Stewart. “I also have a friend who plays for Patty Lovelace. I’ve played in jam sessions with her. She is very nice and down to earth.” He also remembers the time James Carson, a country superstar on WSB radio in Atlanta in the ’4os, spent the night with his fami ly in Forsyth County. Each fall for many years, Carter played at the Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee. Howard Cunningham heads up the music for the fair. Years ago he called and asked Carter if he would like a part in the play, “The Reach of Song.” The production tells the story of Byron Herbert Reece, the poet with a plow. Reece is said to be the greatest farmer membership increasing during his term.” Topping said he is leaving “one of the best Chambers in the state, and one of the best Chamber jobs” in Georgia. “There has been a lot of good, positive growth in this county and it will continue,” Topping said. “I have nothing •but accolades for this county and what’s happening here. And the Chamber is a good, strong voice for the business communi ty.” Topping added that he Forsyth County News J Knit Paper" Since 1998 J ' LISPS 205-540 302 Old Buford Road, Cummins, Georgia 30040 Phone:77o-887-3126 Fax?77o-889-6017 Internet Address: www.forsythnews.com e Publisher DENNIS STOCKTON General Manager NORMAN BAGGS Corporate Editor LEANNE T. BELL Advertising Director BARBARA SCOHIER Circulation Director PHIL JONES Sports Editor STEPHEN UNDERWOOD •; £ MEMBER Graphic Systems Manager TOM JORDAN Published Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday 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, $36 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 Swsrtz-MorrteMedta Inc. publication *• Miss your paper? Call 770-887-3126 We deliver replacement papers within Forsyth County. If your newspaper is not > : delivered by 6:30 a.m., please call the circulation department at 770-887-3126 Service calls will be taken from 8 a m. until 6 pm. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, replacement papers will be delivered from 2p.m. to sp.m. Sunday calls taken from 9 aro. until 1 pro. on Sunday, replacement papers will be delivered from 1 Ixm. 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, z For Wednesday’s paper retail and classified display ads are due by 5 pro. Friday - * For Tlsursday’s paper retail and classified display ads are due by noon Monday. For Friday’s paper retail and classified display ads are due by noon Tuesday •’» Classified Line Advertising Deadlines (Help wanted, garage sales, rentals, etc.) > . * For Sunday’s paper classified line ads are due by noon Friday. For Wednesday’s paper claWied line ads are due by noon Monday. For Thursday’s paper classified line ads are due by noon Tuesday. For Friday’s paper chnsified line ads are due by aoon Wednesday. Legal advtrttdng is due by Friday noon and nins only in Wednesday’s paper. .-4nr" who ever wrote, or the greatest writer who ever pushed a plow. ‘ The poet, author and balladeer from rural Appalachia was once nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. The title of the play was taken from the words of Reece, “From chips and shards in idle times, I made these stories, shaped these rhymes; May they engage some friendly tongue when I am past the reach of song.” For six years, Carter played his guitar and participated in the play. “In the beginning, the play was held at Music Hall in the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds,” said Carter. “When it moved to Young Harris College, I left because I felt maybe some new people should participate. I enjoyed being a part of the play. I still have some prop erty in Towns County. Every Labor Day Weekend we haVe;a fish fry up there and invite some friends to drop in. We usually spend a lot of time visiting and jamming.” • Carter does not play any place regularly now. “I made my living hauling chicken feed and shavings and sawdust to chicken houses and later horse barns,” said Carter'. “Music was an escape from the hard work. It was also away to meet some of the finest people in the world - some were famous 1 , some weren’t. All were great.”' doesn’t expect any problems for the Chamber as a result of his resignation. V- : i “We’ve got a great staff nert at the Chamber. With the volun teer leadership we’ve got, I don’t expect any blips,” he said. “The Chamber will rust as it always has - it won’t skip a beat,” Clair said. *We have all our committees set up, and it won’t affect us at all.” “Pat has done a great job fdr our Chamber,” Wade said. “We wish him the best in his move back home.” i