Newspaper Page Text
Forsyth J Your "Hometown County Since 1908 J News 3
Vol. 95, No. 210
DA doesn’t want Turner in crowded
Says she's state inmate, belongs in state, Cobb County facility
By Stephen Gurr
Staff Writer
Prosecutors don’t think alleged
antifreeze killer Lynn Turner should
be waiting for her death penalty trial
in the Forsyth County jail when she’s
already been convicted of murder in
Cobb County, according to a motion
filed in the case.
In a request filed with Superior
Court Judge Jeffery Bagley, District
Attorney Penny Penn cites jail over¬
crowding and Turner’s May murder
conviction as reasons to move the
defendant back to Cobb County or a
state prison until her next court hear¬
ing, which may not be for another
five months.
Commissioner: roads
are a concern
Editor’s note: The Forsyth
County Board of Commissioners
will have three new members begin
nig Jan. /. This is the first in a
three-part series on the commis¬
sioners' objectives as they begin
their terms.
ByToddTrueiove
Staff Writer
New County Commissioner Dr.
Linda Ledbetter has begun moving
into her office at the county’s
administration building in down¬
town Cumming as she prepares to
officially begin her duties Jan. 1.
During an interview Tuesday,
Ledbetter, a teacher, said some of
her primary objectives as she begins
her four-year term are improving
roads, and increasing tourism and
the commercial tax base.
She said one of her first objec¬
tives upon taking office will be to
lobby the state Legislature during
the 2005 session to try and obtain
funds to widen heavily-traveled
highways 141, 20 and 9.
“That should be everybody’s
major concern,” said Ledbetter,
adding Gov. Sonny Perdue told her
the county had not obtained the
funds it needed to widen the high¬
ways.
“1 think the money is there [in
the state’s budget],” she said.
s —
. ...j
m Ik’S mk
. ■
■
Photo/Ron Logan
Melissa Merling, group fitness instructor, leads a body pump class
at Lanier Athletic Center.
Missed paper policy:
For a replacement paper, call
8:30 Thursday, a.m. -1:00 Friday, p.m. and Wednesday, Sunday
(HO) 887-3126.
Copyright C 2004 Fortyth County Nows
W994 ,r 0400
THURSDAY December 30,2004
“The defendant is under a life
sentence from Cobb County, and is
therefore a state inmate,” Penn wrote
in the motion. “While the defendant
is being housed here in Forsyth
County, other county prisoners are
being transferred and housed in other
jurisdictions because of the jail over¬
crowding.”
Turner was indicted on murder
charges in October for the 2001
death of live-in boyfriend Randy
Thompson, a Forsyth County fire¬
fighter. Prosecutors earlier this
month announced their intention to
seek the death penalty in the case.
Turner was convicted of murder by a
Houston County jury earlier this year
in the 1995 death of husband Glenn
$ I
I J
V
/
Photo/David McGregor
New District 5 County Commissioner Linda Ledbetter gets sworn
in by Judge Jeffery Bagley at the county administration building
afternoon.
A resident of the city of
Cumming, Ledbetter also said she
hopes her good relations with the
city government and her centralized
location in the county will help to
unite the two local governments
along with bringing residents from
north and south Forsyth together.
“They [the county and city gov¬
ernments] used to get along great,”
INDEX
Abby SB
Classifieds, 2B
Deaths..______ 2A
Kids Horoscope ..5B
Page ______5A
Opinion 9A
Sports 7A
Tlimer. Authorities believe both men
were poisoned with antifreeze.
crowding Sheriff Ted Paxton said over¬
has been a longtime prob¬
lem at the jail, which has a stated
capacity of 134 inmates but is cur¬
rently responsible for 183, some of
whom must be housed at other jails
at county expense.
“Obviously our capacity for
females is much less than it is for
males,” Paxton said. “We frequently
have to house them out (of the coun
ty). n
As of Wednesday, there were 25
female inmates in a portion of the jail
designed for 22, Detention Center
See TURNER, Page 2A
said Ledbetter. “They need to get
along again.”
She said she hopes to work with
the city council to begin construct¬
ing a convention center at
Cumming’s Mary Alice Park off
Lake Lanier to lure tourists into the
county.
See LEDBETTER, Page 2A
Forsyth County fitness centers
ready for busy time of year
Gyms offering incentives to bring in, keep new members
By Antonia Hertwig-Benson
Staff Writer
The health and fitness industry is
preparing to help its new members
meet their resolutions by cutting the
fat in 2005.
By offering such specials as free
enrollment and discounted member¬
ship fees, gyms and weight loss cen¬
ters in Forsyth County are equally
doing their parts to help fight
America’s obesity epidemic.
“January is obviously a month
where people are making resolutions
and weight loss is the No. 1 resolu¬
tion,” said Lisa Craig, public rela¬
tions manager for Weight Watchers’
Southern region.
As an incentive, Craig said the
weight loss company is offering a
Local
Angie Moon
sets sights on
music business.
*
Page 3A
w «!>
;/
1
k
Forsyth schools
in vanguard of
online learning
Participants in new program will
learn from teacher, via Internet
By Nancy Smallwood
Associate Editor
Come January Forsyth County
Schools will take the initiative to
lead the state in offering online class¬
es to students who need to get back
on track for high school graduation.
“Right after the first of the year,
we will be offering 14 classes for
those students who have been unsuc¬
cessful in the regular classroom envi¬
ronment,” said Bruce Wagar, director
of the Piedmont Learning Center.
“So, we will be giving them another
opportunity to try these classes in
smaller groups online using the
NOBLE (New Opportunities for a
Better Learning Environment)
model.”
While there are several states that
offer high school diplomas through a
complete “Online High School pro¬
gram,” Georgia has yet to offer such
a program, according to Steve
Mashbum, Forsyth County Schools’
educator on special assignment.
“However, they are taking the ini¬
tiative to work with school districts
$15 joining fee to help people curb
their overeating and meet their
weight loss goals.
“In January we see a lot of people
join and coming back and rejoin,”
she said.
Craig highlighted the 40-year-old
center’s newest program,
“TumAround,” which offers two dif¬
ferent weight loss'plans for those
who like to count “points” and a
Core Plan for those members who
don’t like to count points.
For those who resolve to “get in
shape,” Dorothy Affolter, manager of
Lanier Athletic Center, said the fit¬
ness club is offering free enrollment
on Jan. 28.
Affolter, who has been in the fit¬
ness industry for 15 years, said this
past January LAC had 8,293 visits
Sports
Forsyth Christian School
senior tallies 40 points
in 50-42 win.
Page 7A
throughout the state to offer selected
courses to students,” said Mashbum.
The development of the online
class program is a Forsyth County
Schools endeavor to meet one of the
goals of their community develop¬
ment strategic plan. By providing the
online classes, school officials are
expanding delivery models of
instruction and considering fresh
approaches to using time, space and
facilities. Forsyth’s model is different
from the traditional online courses in
that the program ensures that stu¬
dents will have access to a “real”
teacher throughout the course to help
guide the student throughout the
learning process, according to
Mashbum.
“In essence, our students will sign
up for a class and then meet face to
face with their teachers,” said
Mashbum. “The classes will be a
blended approach and the kids will
work at home when the content
allows them to do so and when it is
in their best interest to meet with the
See CLASSES, 2A
from members. However, by
the club saw a decrease to 7,424.
Though health club
increase within the first three
of the year, by the end of
Affolter said members begin to
the club less frequently and may
cel their memberships after
months.
“As spring comes around
spend time outside and don’t use
club as well,” she said.
She credits the behavior to
not making exercise a habit and
of a lifestyle change. Because of
LAC looks to retain members
offering three orientation
group fitness and pool
Affolter said.
See FITNESS,
Sunny
’ ‘T
High in the low 60s.
Low in the mid-40s.
iAl
SINESS, 1*
.ncs new sale* manager
Lynn Turner
sits with her
attorney at a
recent hear
ing.
Photo/
David McGregor
LAKE LANIER LEVELS
Date Level
Dec 26 1070.30 ft
27 1070.06 ft
- 28 1069,87 ft
jmmr 1069.69 ft