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Forsyth County News
* Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 J
Vol. 95, No. 57
Probe into
fire ending
Spread being investigated
By Nicole Green
Staff Writer
As the probe into the origin of Sunday’s fire storm in
a Cumming subdivision draws to a close, an investigation
into the cause of the fire's quick spread opens.
The likely culprits are high winds, low humidity, two
malfunctioning fire hydrants, houses
lined with flammable insulation and
foundations built within 10 feet of each
other in Manchester Court subdivision
off Hutchinson Road, said neighbor
hood residents and county fire officials.
Five homes were lost and 14 others
suffered heat damage. Three vehicles
burned in theii driveways. Eight fire
fighters were briefly hospitalized for
heat prostration and exhaustion.
Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt
Bowman
said the city does not plan to make any changes to its
building code following the fire.
"1 don’t think we have anything as densely populated
as those houses over there," Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said.
The 113 homes in Manchester Court, a Pulte Homes
community, were built two and a half years ago and stand
10 feet apart.
Because Mother Nature’s gusts that day were
unavoidable, residents of the subdivision focused on the
fire hazards they can fix.
There were three working fire hydrants within 500
feet of the burning homes on Deerbome Drive, according
to the Cumming Department of Utilities. However, a
Deerborne Drive resident, who asked to remain
unnamed, said that her house would have been saved if
the fire hydrant on her property had been operational.
"They [the firefighters] didn’t wet my house until it
was three-quarters burned,’’ she said Tuesday.
Her home was downwind of the fire. Though the
results of the Forsyth County Fire Department's investi
gation had not been released Tuesday. Manchester Court
residents say that a fellow resident lost control of a fire in
a charcoal grill. No charges have been filed at this time.
The fire department inspects fire hydrants twice annu
ally and had submitted a maintenance request for the two
hydrants to the City of Cumming Department of Utilities.
Fire Chief Danny Bowman said.
“The paper trail, although 1 am certain that the docu
mentation generated at the station was forwarded in a
proper manner [to the city water department), I do not
have copies of that. However. I do have the battalion
chief researching their inspection records,” Bowman said.
City utilities director Jon Heard said he has no record
of a maintenance request for the hydrants on Deerbome
Drive.
Tuesday morning. Bowman instated a new procedure
to seal any holes in communication.
"We’re doing a number of things that makes the paper
trail traceable," Bowman said. "The paper trail is now a
complete loop."
On Monday. Bow man created another new procedure
in reaction to Sunday’s fire. Now firefighters will recheck
dry hydrants 30 days after a work order is submitted to
See FIRE, Page 2A
Republicans
choose 2 for
convention
By Todd Truelove
Staff Writer
Reva Jennings and Anna
McManus of Forsyth County have
been elected as delegates to the
Republican Party's National
Convention Aug. 30-Sept. 2 in New
York City.
They were chosen at district con
ventions conducted throughout the
state on April 3, according to Marty
Klein, communications director for
the Georgia Republican Party.
Jennings, a real estate agent, was
chosen as a delegate for Georgia’s
7th Congressional District and
McManus as an alternate for the 10th
Congressional District.
See CONVENTION, Page 2A
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Copyright C 2004 Forsyth County Norn
lain
THURSDAY April 8,2004
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Photo/David McGregor
Not easy being green
Dr. Laurie Fowler, an environmental law and public outreach
director at the University of Georgia Institute of Ecology,
speaks to about 40 residents during a recent meeting of
County Commissioner Charles Laughinghouse's Greenspace
Initiative Program at the Sawnee Center for Cultural Arts.
Laughinghouse is exploring ways to acquire greenspace and
preserve the county’s environmental quality.
INDEX
Abby 5B
Classifieds 2B
Deaths 2A
Government 4A
Horoscope SB
Kids Page ...6A
Opinion 11A
Sports 8A
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Photo/David McGregor
Cpl. James White and Deputy Jason Nipper of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office talk through call phones while
directing traffic at the intersection of Ga. 400 and Hwy. 369 following a gas main break less than a mile west of the
intersection. Hwy. 369 was shut down for more than an hour and a half after Atlanta Gas Light Co. crews working on
the line accidentally caused a break, county officials said.
South Forsyth Equestrian Team hopes interest
secures sport’s place in high school athletics
By Nancy Smallwood
Associate Editor
Twelve South Forsyth High School
students are riding the wave of a sport
that is just emerging within public
high schools.
The South Forsyth Equestrian
Team has already taken three first
place trophies in three shows and has
assured their place in a regional tour
nament.
With the help of In Your Dreams
farm owner Anita Ryand. trainer Keely
Ryand and school sponsors Kelly
Martin and Rebecca Deurlen, the first
equestrian club was formed in
November at the school.
"We have had a lot of interest and
the girls are extremely talented." said
Martin.
While the sport is not yet recog
nized by the high school association,
Ryland said there is a huge push
behind it being picked up.
See SPORT, Page 2A
Forsyth deputies
aid Dawson County
in drag raid
Page 3A
Hwy. 369 shut down
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Photo/Audra Perry
The South Forsyth High School equestrian team took home many ribbons at the
recent Zone 4 finals in Cherokee County. Trainer Keely Ryan, front, says she is very
proud of the team.
Lake Lanier Rowing Club
hosts spring classes for
beginners.
RageßA
Fulton assistant principal
to run for Forsyth Board
Hopes background will give teachers a voice
By Todd Truelove
Staff Writer
Mike Schlabra, an assistant princi
pal at Elkins Middle School in Fulton
County, says he will seek the District
4 seat on the Forsyth County Board of
Education this year.
The 35-year-old candidate hails
from Houston, Texas, and has lived in
Forsyth County for three years.
Incumbent Paul Kreager. who has
served eight years on the board, has
said he will not seek re-election.
It is the first time Schlabra has
entered the political arena. However,
he said his educational background
will give teachers and administrative
staff a voice on the board.
Prior to becoming a member of
the Fulton County school system fac
ulty. Schlabra served as an assistant
Possible Rain
LAKE LANIER LEVELS
Date Level
/ Aprils 1069.97 ft
April 4 1069.96 ft
>///// SKI
Full 1071.oaft
High in the mid-70s.
Low in the high 40s.
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principal in Texas and a science and
social studies teacher.
He said there are a number of
challenges facing school staff in the
next few years, such as complying
with federal law requirements that
require teachers to be specifically cer
tified in the courses they instruct.
“With the teacher shortages we
have, it’s going to be very difficult [to
comply with federal conditions].” said
Schlabra. “We have to attract quality,
certified teachers."
He mentioned other challenges
such as meeting the needs of the
Hispanic student population and find
ing new sources of income to fund
new schools and programs after the
state Legislature trims the budget and
See BOARD, Page 2A