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Forsyth County News •/ Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 J Vol. 95, No. 47 Meth labs a danger in county By Nicole Green Staff Writer Three young children and their babysitter died Thursday after a methamphetamine drug lab explosion ignited their Spalding County trailer, police officials said. A tragedy like this could happen in Forsyth County. Over the last two Polo fields homeowner arrested, page 3A years, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office has busted at least six "Nazi labs” in the county . That is only a fraction of labs likely manufacturing meth in Forsyth. “It’s probably the most dangerous thing we have in the drug industry. It's so highly addictive that people go to any means to get it," Maj. Gene Moss with the sheriff's office said. In the wake of last week's fatal fire. Moss said that public awareness of these dangerous labs must be heightened. "It's sad that it rises to that level to make us aware, but these Nazi labs are very dangerous." Moss said. Meth, crank, cry stal, ice —by any name and in any form, methampheta mine is a stimulant that exceeds the addictive power of cocaine. It can be swallowed, snorted, smoked or inject ed. The drug interferes with nerve cell communication in the brain and spinal cord. Meth labs manufacture the drug by "cooking" a combination of over-the counter chemicals. According to the Koch Crime Institute, the basic components of meth are ephedrine and hydroiodic acid. These are both controlled sub stances. Pseudoephedrine, commonly found in over-the-counter cold med ications. can be substituted for ephedrine. Hydroiodic acid is a com bination of red phosphorous and iodine, which are not controlled sub stances. Other common ingredients are drain cleaner, battery acid. lye. lantern fuel and antifreeze. “Any one of those things, if you See METH, Page 2A Teenager arrested for stealing a stroke victim’s wheelchair By Colby Jones Staff Writer A Forsyth County teen faces criminal charges for allegedly breaking into a storage shed belonging to a disabled veteran and stealing his motorized wheel chair. The teen then teportedly took the 78-year-old man’s wheelchair for a spin and discarded it in a ditch. Micah Corey Hart, 17, of Cumming was charged by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office on March 17 with burglary in connection with the early morning break-in at the north Forsyth County home of retired Army Sgt. Floyd Mclntyre between March 1 and 2. He remained in custody at the county jail Friday on a $25,000 bond. Detectives initially found themselves at a dead end in the investigation. However, an unrelated drug investigation involving Hart helped them crack the case. ‘Boredom" appeared to be Hart's motive, according to authorities. “He admitted to everything," said Detective Mike McCarron. “He said he didn't have anything else to do and was tired of walking.” Hart was under the influence of drugs at the time of the burglary. McCarron said. Mclntyre was not amused by the teen’s story. “I’m glad I didn’t go out there and catch him messing around in my carport. I'd of probably shot him," Mclntyre said on Thursday. “I highly detest anybody who takes anything from me." The wheelchair is constructed of heavy-duty steel and outfitted with two oversized batteries. Mclntyre purchased the wheelchair after suffering a stroke five years ago that left him partially paralyzed. The wheel- 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. CorifHght 6 2004 Fortytfi County Newt 0 jllU 04000 ' Gimme some lovin’ LA WHI Photo/David McGregor Kellie Guthrie gets a face full of dog tongue on March 18 at the Midway United Methodist Church in south Forsyth. Forsyth County Humane Society brought some friends to visit the We Wonders Pre-K program at the church Thursday. See more photos, page 12A. INDEX Ab by 6B Births ........48 Classifieds Deaths 2A Forsyth Life IB Horoscope »».........w»....... .68 Opinion 10A Sports 1C SUNDAY March 21,2004 Hart chair serves as the veteran’s primary source of transportation, allowing him to zoom around the yard and go to the mailbox. His young grandson discovered the wheelchair missing from a storage shed beside the car port on March 2. Mclntyre, who served more than five years as a mil itary police officer, reported the crime with little hope of catching the crook. McCarron said the crime scene yielded few clues. It appeared Hart initially attempted to steal the veteran's Yamaha golf cart based on damage to the ignition switch, but the perpetrator did not leave behind any tell-tale signs. A canvass of the area turned up nothing. More than a week after the wheelchair went AWOL, Hart was caught up in a drug investigation. Deputies charged Hart and two juveniles on March 12 with possession of marijuana. Hart confessed to stealing the wheel chair. McCarron said. The wheelchair was found discarded in a ditch in front of the Shannon Glen neighborhood on John Burruss Road It was damaged but still operational. "I had a little bit of good luck." Mclntyre said. Following the return of his wheelchair, he began securing it to the carport with a large metal chain. When asked if he hopes the teen will go to prison if convicted, Mclntyre stopped short of pushing for the maximum, which is 20 years in prison. "I’d like for him to get a good lesson out of it any how.” Commission considers two major subdivisions Monday night Page 3 A districts win ravor Forsyth County Seat in Senate a possibility now By Harris Blackwood Community Editor An analysis of population totals for the legislative districts proposed by a panel of federal judges shows that Forsyth County has a significant advantage in voters in two districts which include portions of Cherokee County. In Senate District 27, which includes most of Forsyth and the northern two-thirds of Cherokee, Forsyth has a population advantage of nearly 2 to 1. According to figures released by the Legislative Reapportionment Office, there are 91,469 residents in the Forsyth portion of the 27th com pared with 53,387 living in Cherokee. In the entire district, there are 105,112 persons of voting age. A professor of political science at the University of Georgia said that a candidate from Forsyth would have a chance of w inning. “Georgia has a long tradition of ‘friends and neighbors' politics," said Dr. Charles Bullock. “We've seen it in contests many times." But Bullock conceded that the population advantage can be offset by the political strength of the opponent. The incumbent in the district is Sen. Bill Stephens. (R-Canton). who senes as majority leader in the state Senate. Prior to being elected to the top post by the Republican majority, Stephens served as Gov. Sonny Perdue's floor leader in the Senate. "Those who are politically active will already know who Bill Stephens is.” said Bullock. He said that Stephens will make no secret of his political power. “I think that will be part of the message. ‘I can do more for Forsyth County because of my position.’" In an interview, Stephens sounded energized by the challenge. “I see it as an opportunity." said Stephens. 47. who has served in the Senate since 1998. “This is not my first rodeo. I didn’t get to be Senate rll \ [ / it I Photo/David McGregor Retired Army Sgt. Floyd Mclntyre, a stroke victim, sits in the motorized wheelchair a 17-year-old allegedly stole from a storage shed at his home. South Forsyth boys golf team swings into spring with a win over GAC. PagelC SI.OO Possible Rain LAKE LANIER LEVELS Date Level March 16 1069.87 ft March 17 1069.88 ft Hllmlll March 18 1069.88 ft ////////// March 19 1069.89 ft Full 1071.00 ft High in the high 60s. Low in the high 30s. A— Lira, ib How to handle seasonal allergies lative A* c ' i 014* Z ' JH e! I i i ... •' fa ! '" ~' ' l? 1 • • [ v Photo/Submittea New legislative districts pro posed statewide by a panel of federal judges divides Forsyth between three new House dis tricts, top, and two new Senate districts, bottom. majority leader by just falling off the truck as it was driving out Highway 20.” A more distinct advantage belongs to Forsyth in House District 14A. which is the district of incumbent Representatives Tom Knox and Jack Murphy. There are 40,132 persons in the Forsy th portion of the House district, compared with 5,278 in Cherokee. The voting age population in 14A is 33,386, according to the Reapportionment Office. The dilemma for Murphy and Knox is the same question that is affecting 66 other lawmakers around See DISTRICT, Page 2A Impact of tree law may be felt in near future By Todd Truelove Staff Writer A revised version of a tree ordi nance adopted by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners last week should help the county retain its tree base, according to staff at the county Planning Department. County Arborist Greg Wallace and Planning Department Assistant Administrator Tom Brown reviewed the law Friday with the newspaper along with changes made by the board of commissioners. While private homeowners and those filing residential land distur bance permits for six or less lots are exempted from the ordinance, other developers filing land disturbance permits after March 15 must comply with the law’s new requirements. “In two weeks, people will get the first comments [from planning staff) based on this new ordinance," Brown said. The board passed the ordinance unanimously. Though all of the new provisions See TREE, Page 2A