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flapp tj Thanksgivin g Countv XT. rn Mi 2020 rx s*n. Your "Hometown Paper" Since 1908 w Vol. 96, No. 186 Man’s disappearance a mystery Wife: ‘It’s like he just vanished’ By Stephen Gurr Staff Writer The last time anyone saw Fabian Casas Jr., he was eating a Krystal burger inside the office of his auto repair shop on Canton Road. Since that night 10 days ago, friends, relatives and sheriff’s investigators have tried unsuccessfully to locate the 27-year old co-owner of Achilles Automotive, who was nowhere to be found the next morning when an employee found the shop locked up tight, Casas’ Corvette parked outside with the windows rolled down, the keys on the counter inside. “It’s like he just vanished,” said Casas’ wife, Crystal Casas. go® ■ . . ;; PH mm ' gSrSBswefira&i i■ . ... .v ■ - m i - r;~; Envisioning expansion an Couple hopes to help more women with Abba House By Jennifer Sami Staff Writer Nestled amidst locally-owned farmland in a secluded location, not many people would notice the Abba House hidden down a gravel and dirt pathway. But the women who man¬ aged to find the facility have also found hope. Originally established by Jim Sharp and his wife Chris in 1992, the Abba House is a 10-month resi¬ dential ministry for women search¬ ing for help in getting their lives back together. The program offers help to all women in need, ranging from those trying to overcome drug addictions, eating disorders, or depression to victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. The women have come from broken homes or broken relation¬ ships and are searching for help. Some women were lucky enough to learn of Abba House through word of-mouth or through their church, but many learn about Abba House as a last resort, after failing in other Missed paper policy: For a replacement paper, call 8:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. and Wednesday, Sunday Thursday, Friday, ( 770 ) 887 - 3126 . Copyright 0 2005 Forsyth County Nwi THURSDAY November 24,2005 Crystal Casas, who had recently been separated from her husband, said there are too many things that would dispute the theory that Casas just walked away. His boxer mix dog was left unattended with¬ out food or water in Casas’ Alpharetta apartment for two days. She says his cell phone and bank account have been inac¬ tive since his disappearance. And she feels sure he would have checked in on his two sons that live with her, ages 2 and 11 months. “I don’t think he left of his own free will,” Crystal Casas said. Forsyth County Sheriff's Capt. Mark Hoffman said the disappearance is being treated as a standard missing persons case. programs. It was in 1999 when the Sharps moved the ministry from Florida to the 10-acre plot in north Forsyth County. The house can hold a capac¬ ity of 15 residents including children some women bring with them. “For the children we work on issues like forgiveness and to start looking at their own attitudes and seeing where they may have bitter¬ ness or grudges and we teach them how to release those things,” said Sharp. “In the process, we have the moms think of ways they have hurt their children and be able to say to their child, ‘I realize I’ve hurt you in this way, will you forgive me?’ This makes it easier for the child to release the pain and hurt they have.” Being a ministry, Christian faith is a strong presence in the daily workshops and classes and activi ties. According to Sharp, faith is what makes Abba House more suc¬ cessful than secular programs. See COUPLE, Page 2A INDEX j Abby 19B Classifieds. 16B Deaths— 2A Horoscope 19B Kids Page •■•■■•■••■■••a 12B Opinion 27A Sports ..8B “We’re investigating a missing person with suspicious circumstances, but there’s nothing to indicate foul play,” Hoffman said. “We’re working it the best way we know how — by interviewing people and following leads.” Casas’ business partner, Mickey Densmore, was the last person to see Casas Monday night, according to Crystal Casas. The two men had met to do some paperwork for the business, which they have owned for about a year, she said. She said there was a point in Casas’ life when “he needed to get away and clear his head,” but that he still main¬ tained contact with his best friend, a friend who has not heard from him this time. Casas may have been under some See MYSTERY, Page 2A r k i WMM IM i »v, -St‘ 4a Photo/Jennifer Sami Jim Sharp and his wife, Chris, work in Abba’s Treasures, their thrift store. All profits from the thrift store go toward the Abba House, a residential ministry for women in search of help in get¬ ting their lives back together. Top, an artist’s rendering of a new Abba House, which would move their maximum occupancy from 15 to about 50. Local Georgia DOT commissioner speaks at Chamber event Page 3 A e,. > Photo/Submitted Fabian Casas Jr., shown in an undated family photo, has been missing since Nov. 14. Opinion Local diva Ronda Rich shares her thoughts on Thanksgiving. Page27A S() cents Local reps against withdrawal measure Deal, Linder vote with majority to stop Iraq troop removal By Jennifer Sami Staff Writer U.S. House of Representatives mem¬ bers voted 403-3 last week to kill a non¬ binding resolution call¬ ing for an immediate troop withdrawal, with Forsyth County’s two House members voting with the majority. According to Rep. Nathan Deal (R Gainesville), feedback he has received from troops in Iraq indicates the desire to stay until civilian safety has been secured. Deal is also confident in the efforts, saying troops have made tremendous progress in helping the Iraqi army assume greater responsi¬ bilities. “I think they [Democrats] recognize that immediate with¬ drawal would be a tremendous mistake,” said Deal. “It would certainly demoralize the troops and it would send a message to the enemy that they can simply get us to back off by applying more pressure by way of suicide bombers. That’s not a mes¬ sage we want to send to our troops or our enemy.” U.S. Rep. John Linder (R-Duluth), in a prepared statement, said, “Last week, Congressional Democrats vividly demon¬ strated their ‘on-again, off-again’ incon¬ sistency with respect to our ongoing efforts to fight the War on Terrorism in Iraq. See REPS, Page 2A Sunny LAKE LANIER LEVELS Date Level Nov. 19 1069.06 ft mMM , Nov. 20 1069.06 ft wpr Nov. 21 1069.14 ft Full 1071. QEtft High in the mid-60s. Mmm Low in the high 30s. BUSINESS, 1B Christmas favorites ■ -A Deal r ' / ■;! m 1 2S- S M Linder