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Forsyth County News Vol. 95, No. 040 Photo/Audra Perry Political actvist George Anderson shows Forsyth County commis sioners guides to Georgia open records laws during Monday night's meeting. Ethics activists accuse county of corrupt acts By Todd Truelove Staff Writer Political activists George Anderson of Rome and county resi dent David Milum addressed the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Monday during the public comment period of the meet ing and accused the county govern ment of corrupt practices. Anderson said he should have been notified of costs associated with copying county records, and Milum called for the dismissal of current appointees of the county Board of Ethics. “I have the right as an interested member of the public to inspect ... or make copies from any public records,” Anderson said, handing out guides to Georgia's open records laws to the commissioners. He was protesting a $220 charge from the county government for copying records, and said he should have been informed of what the cost would be before being charged for a ■L*Ci EH - ■ ■ "■ Jr \jmM Kc jyHMinT IF I Atf&gk *■ ’ ' <. A. ' jH r 20 ' # 1# /ilgjip at, Photo/Michael Shuering Fire Department officials suspect arson in this Sunday morning mobile tiome fire near the intersection of Post and Kelly Mill roads. It is the second arson case in Forsyth in the past week. They do not appear to be related, fire officials say. Missed paper policy: For a replacement paper, call 0 a m. - 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. -1 p.m. on Sunday - (770) 887-3126 Copyright C 2004 Fortyth County News <C Hl 0400 Your "Hometown Paper" Since 19( the documents. “Your hired law firm has charged me for documents sight unseen,” Anderson said, referring to Jarrard and Davis, a local law firm under contract with the county for legal counsel and representation. "This is not only unethical, but illegal," he said, adding he has filed a complaint with the attorney general's office as a result. He advised the board to "demean" themselves for the county residents. "I encourage you to remember that you answer to the people not just campaign contributors and spe cial interest [groups]," he said. Georgia law allows governments to charge a "reasonable" fee for pro viding information under the state's open records law. The fee can include the hourly cost of the lowest paid employee capable of compiling the requested information, though there is no charge for the first 15 See MEETING, Page 2A INDEX Abby 8A Classifieds 148 Deaths ~..2A Events 4A Horoscope 8A Legals 2B Opinion 10A Sports IB WEDNESDAY March 10, 200' Dear Abby: Fantasy fulfilled became a nightmare. Page 8A Sunday wreck kills mu on 141 Speed blamed in early morning, one-vehicle incident By Nicole Green Staff Writer Two people died 3 a.m. Sunday in south Forsyth County after the driver lost control of his sports car on Hwy. 141, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. Seth L. Abrahams, 32, of Alpharetta was traveling southbound in a 2000 Porsche Carrera on Hwy. 141 at about 3 a.m. after an event in the county. Abrahams passed some friends at a high rate of speed, but Casino night benefits county youth Photo/David McGregor Chris Lukyx waits for a card from dealer Marshall Dragg during a hand of blackjack at the 11th Annual South Forsyth Rotary Club Casino Night at the Polo Golf and Country Club Saturday. In addition to casino games using play money, the event included a silent auction for sports memo rabilia, jewelry and trips. Proceeds benefit local youth in the community and help fund an educa tional scholarship. Arson suspected in fire Brush fires also problem in windy conditions By Nicole Green Staff Writer Forsyth County Fire Department officials say they suspect an arsonist set a fire which destroyed a mobile home near Kelly Mill and Post roads in Forsyth County Sunday morn ing. The trailer was not occupied at the time of the 7:30 a.m. fire. Apparently, the inhabitants had been evicted the previous day. Chief Steve Anderson said. By the time firefighters arrived, the trailer was consumed with flames. Anderson said. He said he suspects an arsonist started the fire. This is the second case of arson in the past week. On March 3, someone set fire to an abandoned house off Hwy. 306 which spread to the surrounding field. That fire is still under investigation. Anderson said he does not suspect a relationship between the two fires. Low humidity and high winds on Sunday and Monday kept the Forsyth County Fire Department busy with at least three large brush fires. Two children who set a dead frog on fire Sunday afternoon unwittingly started a blaze that covered 3 acres around Creekstone subdi vision in south Forsyth. Roger Simon: Kerry doesn't need Ed wards as VP. Page 10A lost control of the convertible when he re-entered his lane, county coro ner Lauren McDonald 111 said. The vehicle veered off the road, struck a culvert and went airborne. The Porsche rolled several times and before landing upright 6(X) feet down the roadway near the intersection of Hwy. 141 and Bagley Road, McDonald said. Abrahams and his passenger, Jennifer Kuznitz, 34, of Kennesaw, were pronounced dead at the scene, a sheriff’s office report stated. Sunny High in the mid-50s. Low in the low 30s. They died of massive head and chest trauma, the coroner said. Kuznitz was partially ejected from the vehicle. Both occupants of the vehicle were wearing a seat belt. The car was traveling in excess of 70 miles per hour, McDonald said. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The Sheriff’s Office Traffic Specialist Unit is still investi gating the collision. Results of a toxi cology test on the driver will not return for about two months. Firefighters saved a church, a cemetery and several homes from a 5-acre wildfire off Beaver Ruin Road and Pilgrim Mill Road Sunday evening. The county forestry department dug a trench around the area, which was still smol dering Monday afternoon around Beaver Ruin Baptist Church. The cause of the fire is unde termined. fire officials said. Simmering ash from a pile of leaves burned at noon Sunday reignited on Monday at 1 p.m.. sejting 3 acres of trees on fire. David Casey of Post Gate Court, near the intersection of Post Road and Canton Highway, said the ashes were not smoking when he left for work that morning. When he arrived home at lunchtime, the woods behind his house were on fire. “It's 100 windy. People don't realize what the wind will do.” Battalion Chief Tommy Coleman said on the scene of Monday's fire. For wild land fires, the fire department calls out a special division of firefighters. Capt. David McWhorter's 20-man crew spe cializes in fighting fire with hand tools instead of hoses. Instead of dousing the flames, they remove the fuel from the fire. The wild land fire division was formed in September 2003. “This is the first time these guys have had a good, hot fire to rake." McWhorter said. LAKE LANIER LEVELS Date Level March 5 1069.76 ft March 6 1069.78 ft March 7 1069.84 ft March 8 1069.85 ft Full 1071.00 ft SPORTS, 1B SHIS golfers win tournament