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PAGE 2A FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Friday, April 9, 2004 Two local families get new Habitat homes By Antonia Hertwlg-Benson Staff Writer Through sweat, prayers and reorganization, the Lanier Area Habitat for Humanity made it possible recently for two fami lies to own their own homes. Volunteers, friends, sup porters, and Habitat for Humanity board members dedicated the two homes to Shannon and Tim Sword’s family and Judy Brown and her son. “Without the help of Habitat it [owning a home] wouldn't have been possible." said Shannon Sword. The homes, sponsored by The Good Shepherd Catholic Church and Cumming First United Methodist Church, were built from early 2003 to earl\ 2(X)4, which according to Jack Manton. Habitat for CENSUS from 1A moving into the county from around the country. it's mostly due to domes tic migration people mov ing from one county to anoth er." Harper said. “We can't really tell where the people are moving from only that it's a net positive to the coun ty." He explained the numbers were generated from four components: the 2000 Census, birth and death reports from state contacts, address changes on IRS tax returns to measure national migration and an annual household sur vey to measure international migration. Harper said typically the estimates are within 4 percent of numbers that would be gen erated from an actual census. Harper said reports indi cate the national population as a whole increased by 9.4 mil lion people from 2000-2003. going from 281.421.906 to 290.809.777; Georgia's total Deaths Marvin Dale Styles Marvin Dale Styles. 42. of Dawsonville died Sunday. April 4. 2004. A lifelong resi dent of Dawson County, Mr. Styles was a poultry farmer, a Cub Scout leader of Eagle Patrol Pack No. 412. and was the baseball coach for the Yankees for the Dawson County Park and Recreation little league. He enjoyed camping, hiking and canoeing. He was preceded in death by his grandparents. Marvin and Ethel Styles and Raymond and Beulah West. Survivors include his wife. Pansy Sue Scearce Styles of Dawsonville; children. Joshua Styles. Alexandra Styles, both of Dawsonville; parents, Hobert Dale and Rose Lee Styles of Dawsonville: sister, Sonya Styles; brother and sis ter-in-law, Michael Raymond and Martha ‘‘Cis” Styles of Dawsonville; and a number of other relatives also survive. Funeral services were Thursday, April 8. at the Bearden Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Billy Martin officiating. Interment followed in the McKees Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, dona tions may be made to Cub Scout Eagle Patrol Pack No. 412, c/o Tom French. 37 Gold Creek Court, Dawsonville. GA 30534. Bearden Funeral Home in Dawsonville was in charge of the arrangements. Forsyth County News April 9,20 W Humanity board member, was “generally atypical.” Manton said the typical construction time was about six months. However, the Lanier Area Habitat went through a reorganization which constituted a temporary setback for the build. However through volun teers, sponsors and the home owners’ willingness to help build the home, which Habitat calls “sweat equity." the homes were completed by the first of the year. Tim Sword said. “It’s absolutely marvelous" Sword said his family helped with just about every step of the building process from hanging sheet rock to hanging the doors on their home. “It helps you understand a little more about home mainte- population increased by 498,262, or 3 percent, from 8.186.453 to 8.684,715. Loudoun County in Virginia was the fastest grow ing county with a 30.7 percent increase from 169.599 to 221.746. Georgia, with 20 counties ranked in the top 100 fastest growing counties, led the nation in percentage growth. However, only six Georgia Counties ranked within the top 100 in actual numerical increases. Gwinnett County, with an increase of 84,897, was ranked nationally at No. 15. Forsyth Countv was ranked at No. 80. The most populous county in the country is Los Angeles. Calif., with a population of 9.871,506. The Census esti mates indicate Los Angeles also led the nation in numeri cal growth, increasing by 352.176 people in the three year span. Flossie A. Aycock Flossie A. Aycock, 88, of Dahlonega died Tuesday. April 6. 2004. A native of Wilkinson County, she lived in Lumpkin County for two years. .Mrs. Aycock was a homemaker and a member of Gordon Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband. Leon J. Aycock; parents. Homer and Johnnie Aycock; three brothers and a sister. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law. Mel and Mary Ann Aycock; grandchil dren. Miranda Aycock. Kimberly Aycock; sister. Sybil Kinchen Williams of Gordon; and a number of other relatives also survive. Funeral services were Thursday. April 8. at the Bearden Funeral Home Chapel w ith the Rev. Clifford Allen officiating. Interment followed in the Anuoch Baptist Church Cemetery. Bearden Funeral Home in Dawsonville was in charge of the arrangements. Forsyth County News April 9. 2004 muck Friday, April 9th Easter Morning, April 11th 6:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. • Early Celebration Worship “Jesus in the Passover . xnnn'TTT Seder Presentation 9:15 & 10:45 a.m. -Celebration Worship 1 f | 10:45 a.m.-Student Led Celebration Worship Preschool activities provided during all Sunday urmT QMai Uwr / r services. Children's activities provided during SwSno’oSKX / * 9:15 a.m. 110:45 a.m. services. •Sunmueerstie — *———- J nance," Sword said. “So you can repair it.” As of Jan. 1, the local Habitat had a new board with one goal in mind to build. With 15 Habitat homes now in the community, and one scheduled to be finished at the end of June, the new board has one problem land. “The biggest challenge is to find more land to build houses," Manton said, "Our greatest need is 15, 20 to 25 acres of land.” “We want to build as many as four [homes] in 2005,” Manton said. “We will begin to take applications (from potential residents) in the sum mer.” Manton said the local Habitat also needs local finan cial assistance from monetary contributions to churches and civic clubs. The fastest growing Georgia counties from April 1,2000 to July 1,2003: NATIONAL RANK—COUNTY—2OO3 estimate—2ooo esti mate change percent change 2. Chattahoochee County —19,333—14,882—4,451—29.9 5. Forsyth County —123,811—98,407—25,404—25.8 6. Henry County —150,003—119,341—30,622—25.7 8. Newton County —76.144—62,001—14,143—22.8 9. Paulding County —100,071—81,587—18,484—22.7 28. Cherokee County —166,639—141,903—24,736—17.4 30 Pickens County —26.905—22,983—3,922—17.1 37. Dawson County —18.575—15,999—2,576—16.1 41, Barrow C0unty—53,479—46,144—7,335—15.9 51. Lee County —28,410—24,757—3.653—14.8 55 Gwinnett County —673.345—588,448—84,897—14.4 56. White County —22,815—19,944—2,871—14.4 57. Walton County —69,381—60,687—8,694—14.3 65. Effingham County —42.715—37.535—5,180—13.8 68. Coweta County —101,395—89,215—12,180—13.7 78. Butts County —22,099—19,552—2,547—13.0 79. Jackson County —46,998—41.589—5,409—13.0 81. Carroll County -98,525-87,268—11,257—12.9 89. Bryan County —26,340—23,417—2,923—12.5 98. Hall C0unty—156,101—139,311—16,790—12.1 Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau ROBBERY from 1A Pkwy, in Suwanee, according to a Sheriff's Office report. The total amount stolen is undetermined. The man walked up to a teller and slipped her a lami nated note card with “Robbery" written in black Grace Community Church (678) 549-9697 I Invites you to our: S- FREE Easter Egg Hunt (10A.M.) FREE Breakfast (10 A.M.) Including Children’s Service Everyone Welcome! Grace Community Church 432 Canton Rd., Cumming (Hwy. 20 West at Ingles Shopping Center. Across From Jittermugs) He said 6,000 people in Forsyth and Dawsonville wrote a check to the national Habitat. However, Habitat needs financial commitment at the local level, Manton said. One way people can make donations is through Lanier Area’s second annual golf tournament which is scheduled for June. “We had an outstand ing tournament last September," Manton said, "and it will be even better this June." Anyone interested in par ticipating in the golf tourna ment may contact Arlene Ingram at (770) 844-8484. Anyone interested in more information or to team how to donate locally can cal! the Lanier Area Habitat at (770) 886-4939. The office is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. ’ marker. “You know what to do," * the robber reportedly told the teller. i Sheriff's officers reported ly are still searching for the i suspect in the Tuesday inci t dent. LEGISLATURE from 1A The $16.5 billion state budget, which was passed in the final hours of the session, included two projects for Forsyth County. The budget included $2 million for the Forsyth County Public Library, a reduction from the $5 million requested by Sen. Bill Stephens (R-Canton). The budget also included $155,000 in planning money for a campus expansion of Lanier Technical College. Murphy and Knox are hopeful that those dollars will be held in the plan to be taken up during the special session. “We're happy that we got what we got, but now every thing is up for grabs,” said Knox, who along with Murphy voted in favor of the budget compromise. “I feel confident that we will hold some of it in,” said Murphy. Both lawmakers were dis appointed that $1 million for PARENTS from 1A blood test results from the Georgia Bureau of Investi gation laboratory, according to Cherokee County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicole Combs. The results returned Monday and showed that John David Johnson had methamphetamines in his system the morning of the fire. He was charged with felony possession of meth amphetamines in addition to the other misdemeanor char ges. No drugs were found in the house. Combs said, and there is no evidence that the house was used as a meth lab. When the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Homicide Task Force went to arrest the Johnsons at their Cumming residence, the cou ple had to put out a fire in the backyard before they could go to jail. Combs said. John Johnson is being held on $12,300 bond and 113 ■ Your Photos & Videos to DVD Let us do the editing Kids Love To See Themjelves Coach Pot soys, “Out son loves to show-off On TV - it's entertaining team's DVD produced by Videoßuz I wish __________ Videoßuz hod been around for my Dad" About the seme price as team photos. See Demos on Web vtw. Videoßut.com | 770-623-9016 sA— Forsvth CountvNews •/ Your 'Hometown Paper' Since 1908 w ISPS 205-540 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Cumming. Georgia 30040 Phone:77o-887-3126 Fax: 770-889-6017 Internet Address: www.forsythnews.com e Publisher DENNIS STOCKTON (reneral Manager NORMAN BAGGS Editor TOM SPIGOLON Advertising Director MARTI BARNES Circulation Director PHIL JONES MEMBER Published Sunday. Wednesday. Thursday and Fnday by the Forsyth County News Company. Veterans Memonal Blvd., Cumming, Ga. Second Class Postage paid at Cumming. Ga. and additional offices. Subscription rate for Forsyth County, $52 per year; $35 for six months; other Georgia and out of state subscriptions are SBS per year. Any unused portion of a subscription balance will be gladly refunded. However, all refunds due the subscriber are subject to a processing fee, which will be automatically deducted from the subscription balance refund. Advertising rates and deadlines available upon request. Postmaster: Send address change to Forsyth County News/P.O. Box 210. Cumming. Ga. 30028. A Swartz-Morris Media Inc. publication Miss your paper? Call 887-3126 We deliver replacement papers within Forsyth County. If your newspaper is not delivered by 6:30 am., please call the circulation department at 770-887-3126. Service calls will be taken from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. If your call is received during these times, a replacement copy will be delivered to your home. Calls received after busi ness hours will be checked the following business day, and credit will be extended to your account. Any changes in publication will be announced in preceding issues. Advertising Deadlines For Sunday's paper retail and classified display ads are due by noon Thursday. For Wednesday’s paper retail and classified display ads are due by 5 p.m. Friday For Thursday’s paper retail and classified display ads are due by noon Monday. Far Friday's paper retail and classified display ads are due by noon Tuesday. Classified Line Advertising Deadlines (Help wanted, garage sales, rentals, etc.) For Sunday's paper classified line ads are due by noon Friday For Wednesday's paper classified line ads are due by noon Monday For Thursday's paper classified line ads are due by noon Tuesday. For Friday's paper classified line ads are due by noon Wednesday. Legal advertising is due by Friday noon and runs only in Wednesday’spaper. construction of a sea wall W* at Mary Alice Park ♦ did not make the Jg ’y y final budget. Knox said the bud get agree- Murphy men ‘ ap proved Wed nesday night came together because of the impending dead line. When the special session convenes, lawmakers do not have a specific time deadline to accomplish their task. Both men agreed that reopening the budget will like ly result in some changes from the approved spending plan, which the governor rejected. The Democrat-controlled House sought to retain funds for education, while the Republican-controlled Senate has been pressing for addition al funding for Medicaid. Belinda Johnson on $1,250 bond at the Cherokee County jail. Fire investigators have said that the fire was an acci dent possibly caused by an extension cord used to con nect the generator to the cir cuit breaker panel. The fami ly had no electricity. An arson investigation continues and additional charges are pending. Combs said. The Cherokee County and Forsyth County Department of Family and Children Services previously investi gated allegations that the Johnsons were not providing their children with basic needs. Both parents were report edly unemployed. Chris and Jeff Johnson attended Liberty Middle School in Forsyth County until their family moved to Cherokee in October 2003.