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Forsyth Count J Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 %o r dowgs* ilV of g gorgW Vol. 95, No. 035 ———— ,-g|. Time To Vote Justice Center bonds, presidential hopefids and state flags are all on ballot for Tuesday By Todd Truelove Staff Writer This Tuesday, Forsyth County vot ers will decide whether the county government can issue bonds to con struct new court and law enforcement facilities including a jail and court house in downtown Cumming. While the ballot also includes state flag choices and presidential primary candidates, the $65 million bond pack age. if approved, could have a major impact on county operations for the next 50 years the expected lifespan on the new buildings before major renovations are needed. The total price tag to construct the facilities will be around SIOO million after interest is added. Supporters have said the county needs the new facilities because the current ones are outdated, more space is needed to handle the services required for the county’s rapidly increasing population, and that it would be better to own the buildings than paying rental costs. Opponents argue that the issue should have been split into separate questions for the courthouse and jail, alternatives were not fully investigated and that taxpayers do not know the total cost because the bonds likely will not fund the cost of acquiring the land and furnishing the buildings even though such costs are included in the referendum question. LAW ENFORCEMENT Facilities for county law enforce ment to be funded through the bond include a jail, a new sheriff’s office in East-west traffic concerns DOT board member By Harris Blackwood Community Editor As the newest member of the state Transportation Board, Dr. Garland Pinholster represents a district that covers the area once designated for the controversial Northern Arc. including part of Forsyth County. While the Arc is dead. Pinholster knows that one of the greatest transportation needs in his district is moving traffic from east to west between interstates 75 and 85 the state’s two most heavily traveled interstate highways. “I have driven from Canton to 1-85 on a rainy Friday evening on highway 20 and it was basically like a funeral procession with a stream of taillights," said Pinholster, 76. "I know there is a problem with widening what is there because of cemeteries and churches along the way. I don’t have an answer. But the most practical way of approaching it would be to widen what is there.” Pinholster's sentiments were echoed by fellow DOT 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) 087-3126 Copyrljht 0 2004 Forsyth County 16wf ’ 0 911991 r Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 ' ’>v. Photo/David McGregor Volunteers Dorothy Warren, Mike Warren, and Larry McKinley check out voting machines in the administration building Friday. For sample ballots and precinct information, see page 7A. downtown Cumming and two precincts in the northern and southern portions of the county. The county’s current jail facility can house up to 134 inmates; that number includes a 1996 expansion that added 64 beds to the jail. It costs sl7 a day to house prison ers at the county jail, according to numbers compiled by the sheriff’s INDEX Abby 6B Bit tl is Deaths 2A Forsyth Lifelß Horoscope 6B Opinion 14A Sports....l Ci SUNDAY February 29, 2004 $1 million sought in state budget for convention center at city park By Colby Jones Staff Writer Georgia lawmakers are considering approving $1 million in aid to the city of Cumming for work related to the construc tion of a convention center at Mary Alice Park on Lake Lanier. The aid is among the items included in a budget approved Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The budget must be approved by a majority in both the Senate and House. Sen. Casey Cagle. R-Gainesville, said he is optimistic the aid will not be cut from the final budget. board member Mike Evans of Forsyth County, who rep resents the 10th Congressional District. "When you think about Atlanta, other than the top and bottom of 1-285. there are no major east-west connec tors,” said Evans. “Somehow, we’ve got to figure out a way to get truck traffic off of Georgia 20 and 369. That much truck traffic is a danger to motorists." Pinholster, who represents the 7th Congressional District, admits that everyone will not like the eventual solution to the east-west problem. “The board will have to do something that will take some courage," said Pinholster. “Every one of us will lose some friends, one way or the other" Pinholster and Evans will likely be allies on the trans portation board. Pinholster credits Evans with helping him maneuver the political hurdles which cleared the way for his recent election to the panel. See TRAFFIC, Page 2A Director of 911 center on administrative leave. Page 5A office; the cost to house inmates at other facilities commonly in Cherokee County is more than double at $35 per day. Capt. Tom Wilson who super vises jail operations has said inmate overflow typically includes 30 to 50 prisoners who are housed in See VOTE, Page 5A “I think it’s a great economic tool for the Forsyth County community,” Cagle said Friday. He envisions a convention center as a boon to an area with few large venues. “It would create a large amount of rev enue for the county and even the state,” he said. State Rep. Tom Knox, R-Cumming, said he supports the convention center plan and predicted the aid will sail through the House if left intact by the Senate. "I think it will be a big plus for the city and county,” he said. The $1 million in aid would pay for a protective seawall encircling portions of the A Banner Decision By Todd Truelove Staff Writer Voters will choose Tuesday whether to accept a blue state flag state legislators approved in 2001. or a red and white one approved in 2003. Also during Tuesday’s election, voters can choose among presidential candidates on the Democrat ballot who will run against George W. Bush in November. Democrats who have not withdrawn from the presidential race are Sen. John Edwards (North Carolina), Sen. John Kerry (Massachusetts), U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) and the Rev. Al Sharpton (New York). Notably absent from the ballot will be the old flag approved in 1956 with the Confederate battle emblem —a disappointment to Ted Brooke, a member and former commander of a local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. “Unfortunately, the choices that we are given are two choices that were given to us by the Legislature." Brooke said. “The people's flag is not a choice. "The Sons of Confederate Veterans support neither one," he said. “We support the 1956 flag should be on the ballot." Tuesday’s flag vote is a non-bind ing referendum, which means the Legislature will not be compelled to accept the flag chosen by the voters. Photo/Audra Perry Former state Rep, Garland Pinholster now represents part of Forsyth County on the DOT board. Georgia Perimeter College signs two Forsyth athletes. PagelC SI.OO lake shoreline, said City Administrator Gerald Blackbum. The seawall is estimated to cost $931,500. An additional $73,000 would pay for a jetty to protect the beach area from large wakes created by boats trav eling in and out of nearby Bald Ridge Marina. The city currently leases the park from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Lanier and its surrounding shore line. Preliminary plans call for a convention center, walking trails, picnic pavilions and beach areas on the site. Water taxis would See BUDGET, Page 2A Sunny High in the low 60s. Low in the mid-50s. Clergy review ‘Passion of the Christ’ Child molester convicted By Nicole Green Staff Writer A Forsyth County jury on Friday found a Cumming man guilty of molesting a 5-year-old girl in early 2003. The trial of Ismael Lopez- Trejo began Mon day in Judge David Dickinson’s Superior Court. Lopez-Trejo entered a plea of “not guilty” on Tuesday to all charges: one count 1 Lopez-Trejo of aggravated child molestation, one count of child molestation and one count of sexual battery. After deliberating Thursday after noon and most of Friday, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts. The case began and ended with the outcry of a young Hispanic girl, who was afraid to return to her babysitter’s home in February 2003. After her mother questioned the child, the little girl told her that Lopez-Trejo molested her. Lopez-Trejo is the com mon-law husband of the babysitter. “She may not have understood what was happening to her. but she knew that it was gross." assistant dis trict attorney Sandra Partridge told the jury in her closing arguments. A doctor at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital in Atlanta con firmed that the child had experienced some trauma to her genital area. The little girl was interviewed by Melanie Fogleman. clinical director of the Forsyth County Child Advocacy Center, almost one month after the incident was reported to the Cumming Police Department. On Tuesday, the jury viewed a forensic interview of the alleged vic tim conducted by Fogleman. Because of the language barrier, a Spanish translator was necessary during the interview. Translation was a key issue in the case. The 5-year-old victim speaks Spanish, but her native language is Triqui. This dialect is spoken only by natives to Oaxaca. Mexico. Defense attorney Peter Hill stated Monday that Fogleman questioned the alleged victim in a biased manner that led to incrimination of Lopez- Trejo. Capt. Frank Goss of the Cumming Police Department viewed the foren sic interview on camera from another room in the Child Advocacy Center. Hill claimed that law enforcement See MOLEST, Page 2A LAKE LANIER LEVELS Date Level Feb. 24 1069.49 ft Feb. 25 1069.50 ft Feb. 26 1069.54 ft Feb. 27 1069.60 ft Full 1071.00 ft