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Forsyth CountvNeyys J Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 < georgir*newsprper project Vol. 95, No. 028 Commission shoots down gun law By Todd Truelove Staff Writer —————— The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners directed its attorney. Ken Jarrard, to rewrite a firearm ordinance using only regulations currently imposed by the state government. The board did so after hearing from protest ers including county residents, archery buffs and members of the National Rifle Association who opposed new restrictions the county was considering that would have made it illegal Full day of firefighting -J kXi 8 ...Bk Above, Deputy Chief Dwight Clark, center, talks to a firefighter and, right, volunteer firefighter Steve Billings res cues a pet snake after a fuel leak from a vehicle parked inside a garage in an Oakmont subdivision residence ignit ed a fire Monday morning, according to Forsyth County Fire Department officals. The owner of the vehicle was letting the engine warm up in the garage before taking the car to be repaired when it caught fire, officials said. The flames spread to the second story of the home, burning a room above the garage, the attic and parts of the roof. The rest of the house was damaged by smoke. No one was injured. Photos/Audra Perry, David McGregor HE Missed paper policy: For a replacement paper, call 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a m. -1 p.m. on Sunday - (770) 887-3126. Copyright © 2003 Forsyth County News W1 WEDNESDAY February 18,2004 to shoot firearms within 100 yards of roadways and 200 yards from neighboring houses and governmental areas. "We are adamantly opposed to this," said Herb Dalton, a member of the Riverbend Gun Club. Dalton said many of the gun club's 331 Forsyth County members have shooting ranges on their property. "These restrictions, as far as yardage, are basically going to eliminate many of these home ranges," Dalton said. "These home y IM b * 1 : I I a J l ; - IOL 1 E' r r . -' w! i ■ Z J INDEX Abby 8A Classifieds 9B Deaths ............. 2A Events 5A Horoscope 8A Legals 3B Opinion 10A Sports IB Students get firsthand look at workings of state government Page3A ranges are safe ranges.” He said the restrictions also would elimi nate Boy Scout programs that involve shooting .22-caliber rifles, high school rifle team com petitions, and 21-gun salutes during military burials. While 13 people spoke against the ordi nance, the commissioners’ auditorium was filled with others who burst into applause at comments to discard the new law. Many who spoke said the state already has laws that address safety issues relating to gun Two-party system healthy, entertaining for Georgia Page 10A shooting; including restricting shooting on Sundays, within 50 yards from public road ways and prohibiting shooting south of Hwy. 20. Some questioned why the county does not provide a public shooting range facility. Farmers also expressed concern that they would be unable to protect their livestock from coyotes under the ordinance. Sheriff Ted Paxton said the county needs an See LAW, Page 2A Stockton new publisher of The Times Will remain chief executive of Forsyth County News Morris Multimedia Inc. has assumed ownership of The Times in Gainesville after a swap of publications with the Gannett Co. Swartz-Morris Media Inc., owner of the Forsyth County News. Barrow County News, and Dawson Community News, will oversee operation of The Times under a management agreement with Morris Multimedia. Dennis Stockton, publisher of the Forsyth County News for the past 10 years, will serve as publisher of The Times and as CEO for Swartz-Morris Media, which is headquartered in Forsyth County. "This is an incredible opportunity for all of our newspapers. Each of our publications serves their individual markets well, and now with the syner gies possible with The Times, we can provide more comprehensive news and advertising coverage of the entire region. “As a result, all of our publications will be able to better serve our readers and advertisers, as well as the individual communities in which they are based." Stockton said. Stockton, a graduate of the University of North Alabama, has 22 years of experience in the newspaper industry. He is a native Georgian who was born in Jackson County and grew up in Athens. Prior to being named publisher of the Forsyth County News in 1994. he worked at the Florence (Ala.) Times Daily and the Sebring News in Sebring. Fla. . both of which were owned by the New York Times during his employment. Stockton has been very active in the Forsyth County community, having served as a director for the Cumming- Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, the United Way See STOCKTON, Page 2A Cagle seeks halt to ‘activist’judges, backs amendment From staff reports ATLANTA One of Forsyth County's four state Senate members says he voted for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages in Georgia because Georgians, not "activist judges." should decide how the state should deal with the issue. State Sen. Casey Cagle spoke last week before the Senate voted 40-14 for the measure Monday. He and Forsyth senators Dan Moody. Renee Unterman and David Shafer voted for it. Cagle, R-Gainesville, is vice chairman of the Senate Rules Committee which voted 11-1 Feb. 11 to have the full Senate consider the measure. The proposed amendment. Senate Resolution 595, would require two-thirds approval in both the Senate and House and approval by voters in the Nov. 2 general elec tion before it could be added to the state constitution. The Senate's 40 votes for the amendment was two votes more than was needed. Opponents, including gay rights groups like Georgia Equality, have said it would legalize discrimination and See CACLE, Page 2A Sunny LAKE LANIER LEVELS Date Level Feb. 13 1069.06 ft Feb - 14 1069.07 ft Feb. 15 1069,13 ft Feb. 16 1069.24 ft Full 1071. OOit High in the low 50s. ' * .. ■ Low in the low 30s. Rbßw JH r EkHu3 SPORTS, 1B South wrestlers win Area n Stockton