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PAGE 2A l FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Thursday, April 22, 2004 Race to honor runner, cancer victim From staff reports A 5K run will be held Saturday to benefit a Forsyth County youth who is battling cancer and to honor a long time runner and cyclist. The Jay Cullen Memorial 5K run/walk will begin at First Baptist Church on Sawnee Drive in Cumming. Cullen was a retired airline pilot who was an avid runner and cyclist and had complet- FIRE from 1A 11 feet from the adjacent homes and 71 feet from the residences across the street. "The closeness of the houses multiplied the wind problem by 10 fold." Coleman wrote. The Cumming Police Department directed traffic of residents leaving and emer gency personnel entering the neighborhood. Narrow streets in the "cluster" subdivision could not sufficiently handle the sudden traffic and created problems for the fire depart ment. Coleman said. "Just as significant was the large crowd of ‘lookie loos’ that had gathered. They were actually making it diffi cult for people to get out and for emergency personnel to get in." wrote volunteer fire fighter and District 2 County Commissioner A.J. Pritchgtt in his summary of the inci dent. • Dysfunctional hydrants Coleman referenced two dysfunctional fire hydrants in his report. Engine 1 was dis patched with the initial emer gency call at 4:14 p.m. Firefighter Richard Hamilton was the first to discover a dry hydrant at 3910 Deerborne Drive two minutes after they arrived. Two homes already were burning at that point. "1 attempted to charge the deluge gun on engine one but did not have enough water from the supply line. Then the hydrant went dead and stopped producing water." Hamilton wrote in his account of the fire. Though the fire hydrants belong to the City of Cumming Department of Utilities, it is the job of the fire department to make sure they are in proper working order. Bowman has said. Effective April 15. Bowman approved a new system of checks and balances to ensure that nonworking hydrants are repaired in a timely manner. The second house was completely engulfed in fire by 4:23 p.m. and the third home was burning two minutes later due to heavy winds. Coleman reported. Engine 15 arrived on scene at 4:26 p.m., 12 min utes after it was dispatched. Bowman has said he expects his firefighters to be on the scene w ithin five minutes of a call. The driver of Engine 15 missed the entrance to Manchester Court and had to turn around in the neighbor ing subdivision. Manchester Park. "I told Scott [Sibenaller] to turn; he didn't hear me over the motor and all of the Georgia International Boat Show www boatgaorgla.com Atfaaia’i Nn Sprint hnrtr Boat Show <s*~- —— —*ou««*»- Chadron under 12 FREE • . . CONVENIENT PARKING only I •~u.XJF“’ r ’ - Frt **> '• Buddy Hwrv: M 114 Sat 1M Bwi IM BRING THIS AD FOR 12 OFF g|j ***~.Jg) Bsertfa Istenwttsiial CawsHwi Coror Bfflßßffl Your Photos & . Videos to DVD /qjf' Let us do the editing Kid* Love To See Themteke* Cooch Pat soys, "Our son loves to show-off On TV - it's entertaining ,Mm 5 produced by Videoßuz I wish About the *ame price at teem photo*. naMinfr See Demo* on Web www.Videoßux.com 1770-623-9016 \</<Jwair£j9l ) n£uALj ed a ride across the U.S. last year. He was killed Jan. 13 in a hit and run accident in Lumpkin County. The proceeds of the event will benefit Josh Wallace, who recently underwent a bone marrow transplant to combat leukemia. Cullen’s daughter. Sarah Wilcox, said that her father had been recruited to organ ize the race prior to his radio traffic." firefighter David Scheuerer said in his report to Coleman. He added that it took only one minute for the engine to circle back to Manchester Court. At 4:27 p.m., Sibenaller and Scheuerer reported the hydrant at 3905 Delfaire Trace to be inoperative. Engine 4 arrived on the scene at 4:33 p.m. and laid a water supply line to the hydrant at 3935 Werrington Drive, according to the report. "Due to strong wind and the fire 1 could not stop the fire from spreading. The fire spread to the fifth structure as 1 was spraying it with the attack line," Engine 4 fire fighter Keith Ramey said in his report. Meanwhile. Engine 1 was forced by the heat of the fire storm to reposition in front of 3809 Delfaire Trace. Engine 1 firefighters received water at 4:41 p.m. from Engine 14 routed through Engine 12 who was hooked up to a hydrant on Tattenhall Drive two blocks away from the fire. Ramey and firefighter Greg Chapman entered the attic of the sixth house at 3906 Deerborne Drive to stop the progression of the fire by 4:46 p.m. By that time, five homes were burned to the foundation. A sixth house was severely damaged by flames and 13 others suffered heat damage. The fire was declared by the battalion chief to be fully extinguished at 10:34 p.m. • Short staffing Until 1998. Forsyth County fire fighting was done by a brigade of volunteers. Now' the Forsyth County Fire Department has a paid staff of 117 firefighters that rotate service on three shifts. Career firefighters at Manchester Court on April 4 numbered 34 w ith 11 volunteers assisting. Five firefighters arrived on Engine 12. three on Engine 1. three on Engine 4. two on Engine 2, two on Engine 15 and two on Engine 14. Initially, only Engine 1 and 15 were dispatched. Engine 2 arrived quickly, bringing the total firefighters on scene to only seven in the first 15 min- POOL PARTS AND SUPPLIES Spa Parts 770-889-4779 death. His friends and fellow church members at First Baptist decided to continue with the plans for the race as a tribute to their friend. Registration for the event will begin at 7 a.m. and a Jazzercize warmup will take place at 7:30 a.m. The race will begin at 8 a.m. The entry fee is sl7. For more information call (770)887-2428. utes. “During the critical first few minutes, short staffing made fire operation extremely difficult. Some decisions were made by me as ‘Fire Commander.’ based on avail able firefighters rather than on fire conditions, as would be dictated by good strategy and tactics," Coleman reported. During an interview with Bowman about Coleman's staffing concerns, the fire chief indicated that he is not in a rush to increase personnel. "Ideally a fire engine should be staffed by a mini mum of four personnel. This will be my goal as budget allows over the next several years." Bowman said. • Construction and land scaping materials While firefighters struggled to find water to stop the flames, the mostly wooden houses ignit ed quickly. "The lack of fire resistive materials on the outside of the houses contributed greatly to the rapid fire spread," Coleman wrote in his report. Vinyl siding melted, exposing the wood beneath to the flames. Embers from the siding flew through the neigh borhood. lighting grass fires 2.000 feet from the original fire, Coleman reported. Bermuda sod yards and pine straw next to the houses were ideal kindling for small fires. "It became necessary to assign engines to ember patrol rather than using them on the main fire scene." Coleman wrote. Working with available conditions. Coleman said the fire department’s hardwork ing men and women kept a larger disaster at bay. ”...[W]hat could easily have become a major disaster and destroyed an entire sub division was held to five houses destroyed and 15 oth ers damaged." Coleman wrote in his report to the fire chief. Scientists report that elevated manganese exposure from welding rod fumes has tx-cn associated with Parkinsonism (like Parkinson's disease) and manganism. Symptoms include shakiness, distorted facial expression, loss of equilibrium, decreased hand agility, difficulty walking. Joint pain, loss of short term memory, slurred/slow speech, stiffness in muscles and tremors, if you have experienced any of these problems, call us today toll free at 1 -HOO-THE-EAOLE for a free consultation to evaluate your potential claim. We practice law only In Arizona, but associate with lawyers throughout the t’.S. . , GOLDBERG & OSBORNE 11 -HOO-THE-EAGLE .XfW&R • (I -800-BA3-3245) Oa Twnn WWW. I SlMMllCeagle .coni Forsyth County News J Your "Hometown Paper " Since 1908 J ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE The Forsyth County News is currently seeking a goal oriented Account Executive to join our growing Advertising Department. Individual must have excellent organizational skills and possess prior outside sales experience, prefer ably in advertising or related Must have ability to service existing accounts while focus ing on new business development and work in a deadline oriented environment. FCN offers a pleasant work environment, excellent growth opportunity, competitive com pensation and benefits. For consideration on this position, please fax resume to: Marti Barnes, Advertising Director, 770-844-9779 Or Mail To: 302 Veteran Memorial Blvd. Cumming, GA. 30040 or email to: marti@forsythnews.com No phone calls, please. EOE Forsyth celebrates Earth Day By Antonia Hertwlg-Benson Staff Writer Keep Forsyth County Beautiful has organized events today and Saturday to help the county celebrate Earth Day. KFCB today is scheduled to sponsor the 2004 Liberty Gardens, which according to Szabo “is for the people who lost their lives on Sept. 11 12001].” Szabo said it’s the third time it has organized the cere mony, however, it’s the first year they celebrated it on Earth Day, which is today, April 22. The H.E.S.S. Home School and Forsyth County Master Gardeners will plant flowers in the shape of an American flag during the ceremony at the Central Park Recreation Center. Jim Perdue, pastor of North Cross Baptist Church and son of Gov. Sonny Perdue, will make a dedication speech. Organizers also invited fire and safety personnel and area elect ed officials. MCDONALD from 1A Republicans against one another in a party battle. "Stephens' campaign will dig back through his [McDonald's] record in the Legislature.” said Bullock. "While Stephens was working for Democrats back then, he didn't have to vote." Bullock said that the influx of new residents to Forsyth and Cherokee counties, who are also new Georgians, will make McDonald’s legislative service, including chairing the House Appropriations Com mittee. less of a positive for the former lawmaker. "They [new voters] are clueless about that," said Bullock. The political observer said that Stephens will tout his role as Senate majority leader and his recent efforts on behalf of Forsyth. “He'll [Stephens] be hand ing out architectural 1 sketches of that new library," said Bullock, referring to the sena tor's endeavor to add money for an expansion of the head quarters library in Forsyth. One asset that McDonald will likely highlight is his eight years as president of Georgians for Better Transportation, the organiza tion now headed by former Fulton County Commission Chairman Mike Kenn. “1 want to utilize my previ ous experience in business and the Legislature, my talent for building relationships at the "It’s supposed to be a nice day,” Szabo said. “I think this year will be the best.” Meanwhile, to celebrate the numerous past and present vol unteers of the Great American Cleanup, KFCB has scheduled its inaugural Earth Day Fest for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Park. “It’s a big thank-you for all the volunteers," said Jennifer Szabo, resource coordinator of KFCB. The four-hour celebration, which is open to the public, will feature face painting, a Space Walk and games. Entertainment will include The Plainsmen Drum and Dance Troupe, who will perform Native American dances and storytelling. Also, LaVergne Beyer, birds of prey rehabilita tor, will present “Close Encounters of the Bird Kind” featuring displays of live owls and hawks. Szabo said there isn’t any charge for admission because regional and state level, as well as my in-depth under standing of the transportation needs of our region to contin ue the progress we are making in Forsyth and Cherokee coun ties." said McDonald in a statement released by his cam paign. When told of McDonald's decision to run. Stephens said he was ready for the cam paign. “I look forward to talking about my record and about his record and about two different visions for Georgia,” said Stephens in a telephone inter view. McDonald formerly owned a hardware and building sup ply business in Commerce. He presently has ownership in two funeral homes and a cemetery. His Forsyth County business, McDonald and Son Funeral Home and Crematory, opened in 1997. McDonald, who resides in south Forsyth, is married to the former Sunny Nivens of Gainesville. They have one son. Lauren McDonald 111, who is coroner of Forsyth County. Fibromyalgia? If you suffer from reveals how to get relief chronic fibromyalgia as fast as humanly pos pain, a free report is sible without drugs, available that reveals shots or surgery, call what your doctor may toll-free 24-hour not know. To get your recorded message at free copy by mail that 1-888-895-7484. Forsyth County News J Your "Homrtmn Paptr" Siact 1908 J USPS 205-540 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Cumming, (ieorgia 30040 Phone: 770-887-3126 Fax: 770-889-6017 Internet Address: www.forsythnews.com Publisher DENNIS STOCKTON /fc/WftVSA General Manager NORMAN BAGGS I .lllaJV •/ Edhor TOM SPIGOLON Advertising Director MARTI BARNES Circulation Director PHIL JONES MEMBER Published Sunday. Wednesday. Thursday and Friday by the Forsyth County News Company. Veterans Memorial 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 770-887-3126 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 am. 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. For 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. l-ega) advertising is due by Friday noon and tuns only in Wednesday's paper the celebration is to thank KFCB volunteers. “Everything is free,” she said, “unless it’s food and raffle tickets.” The general public can pur chase raffle tickets for $1 each. However, volunteers will have earned their tickets in the Great American Cleanup. The pro ceeds will go towards KFCB. Raffle prizes include a Red Leaf Weeping Japanese Maple, which was donated by ENVI RON Associates, a camping kit, donated by Tyson Foods, and a portable TV, donated by Junk Express. The Great American Cleanup is a monthlong nation wide initiative coordinated locally by KFCB. Deaths Judith Ann Swisher Britton Mrs. Judith Ann Swisher Britton, 55, of Suwanee died Monday, April 19, 2004. Mrs. Britton was a school bus driver for the Fulton County school system for nine years. She was a Methodist by faith. She was preceded in death by her father, Wilbert Swisher, and brother, Jimmy Swisher. Survivors include husband. Edward Britton of Suwanee; children, Robyn Pawlus, George Britton, both of Ohio; grandchildren. Samantha Britton of Suwanee, Sarah, Steven and Abigail Pawlus, Sabrina, Patricia, and Shauna McCune. George Britton Jr., all of Ohio; mother. Marjorie Peck Swisher of Ohio; brother and sister-in-law. Gary and Nadya Swisher of sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Tommy Akin of Cumming; a number of other relatives also survive. Funeral services are Saturday. April 24. at 10 a.m. at Holf-Shorac Funeral Home in Ohio. In lieu of flowers, dona tions may be made to the Kidney Foundation or the Diabetes Foundation of America. Ingram Funeral Home was in charge of local arrange ments. Forsyth Counts News April 22, 2004