The Forsyth County news. (Cumming, Ga.) 19??-current, April 30, 2004, Image 1

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Forsyth Count vNews J Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1\ *go r X>s ewspoper PRQ^^ ] Vol. 95, No. 70 Dogs rescued from Forsyth County home Filthy conditions reported By Colby Jones Many of the animals reportedly Staff Writer Nearly three dozen dogs are recu perating at a local veterinarian's office after being rescued from a feces filled home in north Forsyth County. A delivery man earlier this month filed a complaint with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office about the poor living conditions inside the eld erly woman’s residence, prompting an investigation by animal control officers. It was not the first time someone has complained about the numerous dogs inside the home, according to authorities. Officers discovered feces throughout the woman’s residence in the vicinity of Shady Grove Road, said Lt. James Poe. head of the ani mal control division. "They were in poor health because of the environment." Poe said. Neither the name of the woman nor her address were released by authorities because an investigation is ongoing. Poe said. Attorneys look for bias among jurors By Nicole Green Staff Writer PERRY Prosecutors and defense attorneys grilled potential jurors in the poisoning murder trial of Forsyth resident Julia Lynn Turner Wednesday and Thursday, searching for character traits or experiences that might bias a juror for or against the defendant. Before the trial was moved to an area outside metro Atlanta media coverage of the high profile case, questions to the jury pool in Cobb County centered around jurors’ assumptions of Turner’s guilt. In Houston County Superior Court, two hours south of Turner’s hometown, attorneys Wednesday concentrated on jurors' personal and professional history. Hospital verbally agrees to give funds to pay government broadcasting bill By Todd Truelove Staff Writer Northside Hospital Forsyth has made a verbal agreement with the Forsyth County government to con tribute $20,000 in programming costs to broadcast local programs produced by the county in exchange for the ability to advertise events sponsored by the hospital. George Ivey, the hospital’s man ager of public relations, Wednesday confirmed the agreement, but said details remain sketchy. “It seemed like it would be a good opportunity to promote com munity health events," said Ivey. “We have just agreed in principle, but we haven’t worked out the details.” 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. Copyright 0 2004 Forsyth County Now* ill III! suffered from numerous flea bites and severe loss of hair consistent with the mange. All 34 dogs inside the residence were impounded by animal control officers on April 15. ( The majority of the animals are cocker spaniels and the woman car ing for them was described by Poe as a “collector" —a person who impul sively takes in stray animals despite not having the resources to take care of them. Collectors often favor a particular breed. "She didn't take in the dogs for resale but for her own personal enjoyment." Poe said. After meeting with a county attor ney on Wednesday afternoon. Poe said that the case likely will be dis posed of through mediation instead of a trial. “The main goal, because it doesn't appear to be a case of malicious neg lect, is the welfare of the woman and the welfare of the animals." Poe said. See DOCS, Page 2A K KI Turner jurors in Houston County who said they knew too much about the case to presume Turner innocent. Turner is accused of the 1995 poi soning murder of her husband Glenn Turner, a Cobb County police officer. She is also the prime suspect in the See TURNER, Page 2A Those details could include a show produced by the hospital, according to county Public Information Officer Bill Johnson. However, Ivey said he doubted such a show would be a part of the deal immediately. Instead, Ivey said the hospital hopes to promote local health events sponsored by the hospital such as informative meetings on arthritis and birthing classes for new parents. “I’m not going to rule [a hospital show] out, but... it certainly won’t be happening anytime soon,” said Ivey. “We’re trying to do something like a 30- or 40-second spot. The county has been broadcasting local government-produced shows free of charge since the beginning of INDEX Abby .....6A Church events .....8A Classifieds N************************* 5B Deaths JA F00d............... .. Horoscope ............H............6A Opinion 11A Sports 1 B FRIDAY April 30,2004 Only 60 percent of the jury pool said they heard about the case prior to jury selection, which began Tuesday, compared to 94 percent in Cobb. Superior Court Judge James G. Bodiford of Cobb excused two Vegetarian recipes that are sure to please the entire family. Page 5A • It’s a big world out there *■ ■» . •, • •a. Photo/David McGregor Big Creek Elementary School students congregate at the school’s playground area for the official unveiling of a 40-foot by 60-foot map that was painted by Shannon Terrell and was the brainchild of Big Creek principal Dr. Thomas Davis. See story, page 3A. GOP candidates asked to fill out questionnaire when qualifying By Todd Truelove Staff Writer At least one Republican candidate was startled earlier this week when he arrived at the County Administration Building to qualify to run for the board of commissioners and discovered a questionnaire attached to the documents. Brian Tam. a co-managing part ner of Outback Steakhouse who is running for the south Forsyth district seat, refused upon first glance to fill out the survey which included ques tions such as whether candidates believe the board of commissioners’ meeting room should be open to the year thanks to a deal with Adelphia that was made in January. That deal expired at the end of March, and though free program ming continues, the county and Adelphia are in the process of sign ing a contract that would charge the county about S3O an hour for air time, according to Johnson. “If we do two hours a night; that's about S6O a night,”Johnson said. The board of commissioners may discuss the contract during Monday’s meeting, Johnson said. In the meantime, the county con tinues producing shows using rooms at Byars Funeral Home near See CABLE, Page 2A Harrell "I wasn't aware that I was going to have to fill out a questionnaire when I came in to register." Tam said, adding he had other obligations to attend to and didn't have the time ■■K HKSI djdflE nJui Photo/Todd Truelove Jim Dean tapes Forsyth County Procurement Director Ed Miller, right, and procurement agent Avery Gravitt as they discuss county government purchasing procedures. The show is one of several new television programs the local government is producing. See what’s happening in local churches. PageSA groups holding events that benefit residents specif ically the Forsyth County Republican Party’s Town Hall meetings and whether candidates believe the sales tax revenue split between the county and city of Cumming is fair. Partly Cloudy High in the high 70s. Low in the low 60s. SPORTS, IB Forsyth soccer sweeps first round to complete the form. "I just couldn't stay there and do it: I understand I have until Friday at noon to fill it out." he said, adding that while it is not required to fill out the survey to qualify for the election. Republican Party members told him the responses would be published. Use of the commissioner's meet ing room stirred controversy last year after the board closed it to public groups. Though commissioners con sidered instituting rules and fees for use of the facility, a majority of board members eventually decided otherwise and kept the policy ban- See QUALIFYING, Page 2A LAKE LANIER LEVELS Date Level April 25 1070.35 ft April 26 1070.36 ft April 27 1070.41 ft April 28 1070.42 ft Full 1071 .OHt