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SUNDAY Three injured in pileup on Ga. 400 I'M' Nv WV\ Forsyth County r More than a century of covering our community | forsythnews.com | $1.00 > V I Utih New face for arts group | 1C Later 2011-12 school start Proposal would shorten Thanksgiving break By Jennifer Sami jennifersami@forsythnews.com Some parents could get what they asked for if the Forsyth County Board of Education approves the proposed 2011-12 LEGISLATURE Dudgeon AT DOME Yt 4 - ■ Lawmaker settles ■ into first session By Jennifer Sami jennifersami@forsythnews.com ATLANTA — Sometimes, Mike Dudgeon feels like he’s right back in high school. Wednesday was one of those days, said the freshman District 24 state rep¬ resentative from Cumming as he roamed the Capitol. Like a class change between bells, Dudgeon went from committee meet¬ ing to the floor to another committee meeting, with just a few minutes in between to enjoy a snack and stack of mail. It was the busiest day for Dudgeon since the 2011 legislative session began I Jan. 10, though it started like any other. “I’m 5:30 and driving A ' up at a.m. at A 6:15 a.m.,” he said. “I’m here early just to beat the traffic." See DUDGEON13A Photos by Jennifer Sami Forsyth County News District 24 state Rep. Mike Dudgeon checks constituent e-mails at his office in the Coverdell Legislative Office Building, with the state Capitol in the background. Dudgeon visits with 4k ; Ava Leavitt, w left, a Shiloh Point first grader hon¬ Ik ored for her "1 art work. r ■ -.Aar aBWi v 4 : ------------------ Dudgeon talks with District 23 state Rep. Mark * Hamilton, also from Cumming, on Wednesday. A renewed hope for Hyde Boy among first to get treatment By Crystal Ledford crystalledford® forsythnews.com The family of a Cumming 4-year-old is hoping to have him home soon following a history¬ making medical procedure. On Feb. 1, Hyde Talbot underwent a kidney trans¬ plant and began an experi¬ mental drug treatment. He’s the first person in inside Classifieds Abby Deaths 4C 6B 2A 4 \ Childrens Board to help V A Opinion: College will - k' Volume 102, Number ForsythLife 1C Healthcare be great asset 58/31 26 Horoscopes 2A facility. 0 7 C Cumming, 2011. Forsyth Georgia County News Opinion 6A open to county. Forecast 12A Weddings 2C t school calendar this week. But not everyone will be happy with the new plan, which would push back the start of the school year by one week. Instead of Aug. 8, school Georgia and third in the nation to undergo the com¬ bined efforts, which could lead to helping him and others with a rare condi¬ tion. Talbot’s transplant took place at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, where he has been recovering, with a team of international lead¬ ers in transplant surgery and immunology. “He’s doing great,” said his mother, Phyllis Talbot. See HYDE 13A 2A would begin Aug. 15. The later start is something parents have asked for en masse, said Joey Pirkle, associate superintend ent. The trade-off would be los ing the full w eek of vacation ym 1 u lijy 7 For the Forsyth County News Four-year-old Hyde Talbot received a kidney trans¬ plant from his uncle, Warren Chase, as part of treatment for a rare blood disorder. at Thanksgiving. “I’m sure if we were to put this draft out again for more feedback, probably the people that we didn’t hear from in the first 842 responses, we’d prob ably hear a lot about, ‘Well, we don’t want to start later because we want that full week,”’ Pirkle told the board Thursday. INDUSTRY Athletics company setting up hub here Distribution center to serve East Coast By Crystal Ledford crystalledford@forsythnews.com A California-based maker of athletic equip¬ ment announced plans Friday to open a distribu¬ tion center in Forsyth County. The Collins Company soon will move into a 2 acre site on Weber Industrial Boulevard, said James McCoy, president of the Cumming Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. The move represents a $1.5 million expansion for the Chino, Calif.-based company, which man¬ distributes and installs athletic field accessories such as windscreen and protective netting. McCoy said the project could eventually bring about 20 to 25 new jobs to the county. Friday’s announcement is the second major local economic boost of 2011, coming just weeks after Academy Sports Outdoors unveiled to build a 71,796-square-foot store at The Avenue Forsyth. The store at the outdoor shopping mall on Peachtree Parkway is projected to create 150 jobs, plus some 300 construction positions, and $19 million in revenue. A family-owned business, the Collins Company has been in operation for 37 years. Its customers range from high-profile athletic facili¬ ties to schools, clubs, homes and parks. The company has hired an operations manager and will be expanding the local work force throughout the year. McCoy said the facility in south Forsyth will not focus on manufacturing. “There will be some light assembly, some put¬ ting together of raw materials from other sites, but mostly distribution,” he said. According to the chamber, the local site will “serve as the company’s East Coast hub for ship¬ ping and receiving.” Owner Larry Collins said in a statement that the Collins Company chose Forsyth County for due to “the warmth and friendliness” of residents. “Everyone I met was very reassuring,” he said. “Through the resources and help provided, the permit and licensing process was painless, and everyone I spoke to within the county offices couldn’t have been more cooperative and friend iy- ** McCoy said the county is equally pleased to welcome the company. “They’re a great company. Any community would be very proud to have them,” he said. Randall Toussaint, vice president of economic development for the chamber, added that the project is “indicative of the economic vitality of our community.” “The responses from the feedback to start later were overwhelming, compared to people talking about the [Thanksgiving] week.” Pirkle said parents' input was a big factor in the proposed school calendar. See START 13A McCoy