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Forsyth CountvNews J Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 Vol. 95, No. 032 New principals named for North, Otwell schools Nita Giddish, Jeff Zoul promoted By Nicole Green Staff Writer North Forsyth High School and Otwell Middle School will be under new' leadership for the 2004-2005 school year. Nita Giddish will replace Bruce Wagar as principal of North Forsyth High. Jeff Zoul will replace Terri North as principal of Otwell Middle School. Wagar requested reassignment in January due to personal health con cerns. North was selected to lead the new Riverwatch Middle School, which is scheduled to open in August of this year. Giddish is currently an assistant principal at Forsyth Central High School. She taught English there for five years before moving into that position in 1994. Giddish formerly taught English at Otwell Junior High beginning in 1985 after serving in Tatnall and DeKalb County schools. She received her bachelor's and mas ter's degrees from Georgia Southern University and her Education Specialist degree from the University j SBBxf 1 Ik Photo/David McGregor Meet your congressman U.S. Rep. John Linder, R-Duluth, makes a point during an open meeting he led Saturday at South Forsyth High School. Most ques tions from the audience concerned taxes and Linder’s plan for retooling the federal tax code. Commission wants panel to study ban on smoking By Todd Truelove Staff Writer The Forsyth County government plans to form a public committee that will determine if banning smoking in facilities used by the pub lic including private businesses such as restaurants is needed. Once the committee reaches a decision, they will make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. At Monday’s meeting, the board decided to form the committee after Commissioner Eddie Taylor, who represents the central eastern por tion of the county, asked fellow board members to consider the smoking ban. “I was asked by two groups to bring it to the commission,” Taylor said, adding those two groups were the American Cancer Society and Families for Clean Air. “I had thought we would have at least two members from each commission chair that would sit on this committee, and that they would work and bring back a recommenda tion,” Taylor said. The board is expected to form the commit- 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 C 2003 Fortyth County Ntwi liiiT 90994 0400 *' WEDNESDAY February 25,2004 I -A. Giddish Zoul Elementary. Zoul has taught in ele mentary. middle and high schools in Forsyth County. He has 22 years of experience including his years at See PRINCIPALS, Page 2A tee at the March 8 meeting. A poll on the county's Web site, http://www.forsythco.com. indicates more peo ple favor instituting the ban, but not over whelmingly. As of Monday, 53.5 percent, or 1.599 out of 2,986, votes favored the ban. In addition. 45.8 percent, or 1,369, voted against the ban. The remaining votes were undecided. Commissioner A.J. Pritchett, who repre sents the southern portion of the county, said while he had no issue with imposing a smoking ban on true public facilities, such as the County Administration Building, he was against setting smoking restrictions on privately run business es. “I think we should leave it up to restaurant owners and those businesses to [decide if they want to allow smoking),” Pritchett said, adding it will be difficult to enforce the ban. Commissioner Marcie Kreager, who repre sents the northern portion of the county, agreed a committee should be appointed. See BAN, Page 2A INDEX Dear Abby 6A Classifieds.. 1 OB Deaths 2A Horoscope 6A Opinion 8A Sports IB of Georgia. “North Forsyth High School has a strong tradition of excellence. Bruce Wagar, the leader ship team, staff and student body have continued to make North Forsyth High School a school of excellence. Building on such a strong tradition is an honor as well as a personal and professional com mitment,” Giddish said in a statement Friday. Currently assistant principal at Coal Mountain Dear Abby: Crude remarks make work a downer PageGA ■ • ’’‘V ' ' I ' * JB ' ' " \ Hfc'' Advance balloting begins 90 vote on first day By Todd Truelove Staff Writer Ninety registered voters in Forsyth County visited the admin istration building in downtown Cumming Monday and cast ballots in the state’s presidential primary election, according to records at the county Registrations and Elections Office. While the actual date of the election is not scheduled to be con ducted until March 2. new state guidelines that attempt to reduce waiting in lines to vote on election day allow voters the opportunity to cast their ballots during the week prior to the date of the election. However, not all county polling precincts are open as they are on the day of the election. In Forsyth County, voters must visit the County Administration Building between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. t / v 'I ■ I AW Photo/Todd Truelove County commissioners stand with Sheriff's Sgt. Scott Wilson and retiring K-9 Deputy Baron Monday night. Baron was retired after being diagnosed with “degenerative hip dysplasia." Wilson purchased Baron as “excess county property” for sl. State’s leaders making Georgia a national joke? PageßA Photos/Audra Perry Top, Sheriff’s Capt. Frank Huggins was among those who turned out Monday at the County Administration Building for the first day of the advance voting period in Forsyth. Above, Leshia Martin provides required personal information to Voter Registrar Gary Smith before she votes Monday. Chief Registrar Gary Smith said voters from almost all of Forsyth County's 31 precincts cast ballots Monday the first day of the advance voting period. “Interestingly enough, every precinct in the county voted except one." Smith said. Brandywine was the only precinct that didn’t record a voter Monday. The 90 who voted almost equaled the total 11 1 who cast absentee ballots in the previous 30 days. “We had people there immedi ately [at 8 a.m.]," Smith said, “but it really started [moving] about 10 a.m." See ADVANCE, Page 2A Rain V High in the low 40s. Low in the low 30s. Raiders halted in Dalton LAKE LANIER LEVELS Date Level Feb. 20 1069.42 ft Feb. 21 1069.41 ft Feb. 22 1069.37 ft Feb. 23 1069.35 ft Full 1071.00 ft