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THIS ISSUE
IlfjrlfjO 01W r«i,lh CwMy New.
Work at new facility for
Arst Union Bank’s
Cumming location.
Rage4A
South and North battle
in Region 7-AA
action.
PagelC
LAKE LANIER LEVELS
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' 1063.00 ft
Jan. 9 1063.04 ft
SMH- • wraooit
Editorial cartoonists’
view on the
national news.
RagelQA
INDEX t
Abby 7A
Deaths 2A
Events 6A
Horoscope 7A
Legals , 4B
Opinion —IQA
Sports —IB
wtraforsy&neu&oarn
COMING
THURSDAY
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Forsyth Count’ s®b-
J Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 v™* G * 30602
Vol. 90, No. 7
Cell tower moratorium is enacted
By Jim Riley
Staff Writer
In their first meeting of 1999, Forsyth
County Commissioners enacted a 30-day
moratorium on cellular towers and anten
nas. The measure was added to the agenda
by Chairman Bill Jenkins and was approved
unanimously by the board.
The moratorium is set to expire on Feb.
11, and according to Jenkins’ motion, was
put in place in contemplation of the board
having a cell tower ordinance in place by
• xVlr ■.
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Photo/Tom Brooks
On-scene extrication
As the Georgia Baptist Hospital Life Flight helicopter waits to transport a Monday accident victim, emer
gency responders worked to extricate two persons from this damaged vehicle. Story on Page 2A.
Party to welcome Year 2000
By Jim Riley
Staff Writer
If local officials have their way,
Forsyth County residents will
“party like it’s 1999” next New
Year’s Eve, with preliminary plans
already under way for a celebra
tion geared toward young and old.
Mary Helen McGruder,
Chairman of the Board for the
Cumming/Forsyth County
Chamber of Commerce, addressed
County Commissioners at their
Monday meeting and unveiled
plans being discussed for the gala.
Barnes: Honored to be governor
By Cheryl Vaughn
Features Writer
It was a jubilant day for Gov. Roy Barnes.
Surrounded by 5,000 well-wishers and supporters, he
was at last able to enjoy the fruits of grueling cam
paign labor and stand before the masses as King of
the Mountain.
Beneath a cloudless blue sky, Barnes and six for
mer Georgia governors, including former President
Jimmy Carter, enjoyed the pomp and ceremony of a
Photo/Lon Stegall 8 .
« -
Keep Forsyth 8
Beautiful held its I _ 8
■■■ ■ * ■ IMw . 7
Chipper” Saturck?. s '
in spite of the ram.
The annual cam- I M
paign’s highlight ■ ‘
"exchange” of a I
tree for recycling I f ’ ’ '
for a seedling. 8 8 “ '‘ r< \ ' t <
Trees are being I I I’ ‘ ' ’
accepted until the I
end of the month I ■?'*|| ' ' \ M
at the Forsyth ■ •>': < • p‘T-">’
: 3'aintv Hecvclmq |
Center on h. ’
Tolbert Street. I ’ - ??
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 1999
that time.
The first vote of the new year was on a
motion by Commissioner John Kieffer to
table a request for a proposal for privatiza
tion of county engineering services.
Commissioner Michael Bennett offered a
second to the motion, but it failed 3-2.
When the issue was discussed, Director
of Finance Dick Russell asked for guidance
from the board. Commissioner Julian
Bowen made a motion to appoint a commit
tee including Commissioner Andy
She presented a letter from
Cumming Mayor Ford Gravitt
supporting the idea, and said that
this would be a joint effort with
the city, county, chamber and pos
sibly the Board of Education.
“This is such an important
event in all of our lives,” she said.
McGruder suggested the festiv
ities kick off with a Veterans Day
Parade on Nov. 11 featuring all
Forsyth County veterans. Then,
special events will be held each
Saturday leading up to Christmas.
Fireworks would be the most
expensive part of the plan, with
grand celebration. When Zell Miller passed on the
Great Seal of Geoigia to his successor, that number
grew by one.
Clearly elated, Barnes’ voice boomed across the
Capitol lawn as he proclaimed, “I am honored to be
your governor!” The throng cheered appreciatively.
He went on to emphasize his plans to build on
Georgia’s healthy focus on education and HOPE
See BARNES, Page 3A
Anderson, Jenkins, Russell, and Bettina
Hammond with the Purchasing Department
to review the issue.
The board approved the motion unani
mously, with Anderson supplying the sec
ond.
Zoning Application #2273, which
includes a proposed rezoning from R1 to
NS near Greenwood Acres subdivision on
Highway 20, was a subject of debate by the
board.
Kieffer made a motion to approve the
McGruder estimating the cost at
between $12,000 and $15,000.
Also, a ticketed party was sug
gested by McGruder, which would
allow citizens to enjoy dining and
a dance band.
Commissioner Julian Bowen
made a motion to authorize
County Administrator Stevie Mills
and Assistant County
Administrator Donald Major to
represent the county in meetings
with the city. Commissioner
Michael Bennett supplied the sec
ond, and the motion passed unani
mously.
FBI nabs man in
robbery, deputy
shooting case
By Colby Jones
Staff Writer
The FBI arrested a Canton man late Friday for robbing a
Wachovia Bank in October and shooting deputy David
Witkowski in the shoulder with an assault rifle.
MichaeL Wayne Hanson, who is in his 20s, was charged
with bank robbery and assault with a deadly weapon after
being arrested at the Pizza Hut in Canton where he worked,
said FBI spokeswoman Celestine Armstead. *
“We received confidential information from a citizen that
put the pieces together,” she said. The FBI has issued another
arrest warrant in connection with the robbery, but the agency is
not releasing that person’s name.
The shooting happened after two armed men wearing ski
masks walked into die McFarland Road bank at 4:25 p.m. on
Oct. 23, 1998, and demanded money. The robbers got away
with an undisclosed amount of money and drove off in the
branch manager’s Dodge Neon, which was spotted by
Witkowski and his training supervisor, Lynwood Widener, on
McFarland Road moments later.
See ARREST, Page 2A
.
Phota/Lori StegaN
Getting oriented
Forsyth County Junior Miss hopefuls receiveci information
during Sunday’s orientation for the scholarship program set
for March 13. More photo coverage in Thursday’s edition.
Student faces charges
related to gun report
By Colby Jon— AL— L—no
News Staff
A South Forsyth High
School senior was arrested last
week when three students
reported seeing him display a
handgun on a school bus
Monday afternoon.
Kenneth Pierce Finley, 17,
50 Cents
rezoning with several conditions that he had
discussed with both the homeowners in the
area and the potential developer.
One of the conditions was that die front
parcel of the tract was to be rezoned for a
gas station, but that plans for the back eight
acres would have to be approved by the
board.
Bennett supplied the second, but the
board rejected the motion, 3-2.
See TOWER, Page 2A
was charged with carrying -a
weapon on school property -a
felony punishable up to 10 years
in jail and a SIO,OOO fine. Finley
was released from the Forsyth
County jail Sunday after posting
a $5,000 bond. His parents were
out of state on vacation.
See CUN, Page 2A