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All suspects
plead guilty
in 2011 crime
By Alyssa Laßenzie
alarenzie@forsythnews.com
The last of 11 suspects involved
in a September 2011 jewelry heist
pleaded guilty in Forsyth County
Superior Court on Monday, the
day their jury trial was slated to
start.
Sentences for the defendants
ranged between 10 and 20 years
depending on their involvement in
the heist, during which about $2.5
million in jewelry was stolen from
Milano Fine Jewelry on Buford
Highway.
Eight of the 11 defendants
entered their pleas before Judge
David Dickinson on Thursday,
Friday and Monday.
The other three pleaded guilty in
November and December.
All of the remaining suspects
would have been tried together
had the trial, which was expected
to take weeks, gone forward.
Officials arrested the 11 sus
pects as a result of an investigation
that found evidence linking them
to other similar crimes across the
state and region, which may have
totaled more than $22 million in
property damage and theft.
Ten men and one woman were
charged with two counts of felony
theft by taking, one count of bur
glary and one count Georgia
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations Act, or RICO.
Assistant District Attorney James
Dunn was pleased with the out
come.
“They got what they deserved,”
he said. “I think it sends a strong
message to people all over Atlanta
that are involved in these types of
crimes that they won’t come here.”
Dunn said the 10 convicted men
visited the store in two groups:
seven on the evening of Sept. 24,
2011, and four in the early hours of
Sept. 25, 2011.
The harshest sentences went to
the men in the first group who
pleaded guilty to all four counts,
including racketeering.
“In RICO Act, you have to show
a conspiracy among the individuals
See CASE | 3A
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File photo
The creation of North Georgia University will be
celebrated Thursday at the new University
Center | GA 400 off Pilgrim Mill Road.
Volume 104, Number 5
© 2013, Forsyth County News
Cumming, Georgia
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Van driver dies of injuries
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Autumn Vetter Forsyth County News
A man has died from injuries received
in a collision Friday on Canton Highway.
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District crowns
its top teachers
By Jennifer Sami
jsami@forsythnews.com
The three educators named Forsyth
County 2013 Teacher of the Year at the
elementary, middle and high. school
levels each said they were over
whelmed by the honor.
Courtney Stokes, Liz Watterson and
Nick Crowder were also surprised when
Forsyth County School Superintendent
Buster Evans and an entourage of offi
cials visited their classrooms Tuesday
morning to announce the news.
“With nearly 2,500 teachers in the
system, all of them are so deserving of
the recognition, but to honor these
three finalists is the highlight of the
year for us,” said Forsyth County
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Superintendent Buster Evans, left, congratulates middle school level
winner Liz Watterson of South Forsyth Middle. Right, South Forsyth
High instructor Nick Crowder received the same honor for the high
school level.
College merger to be celebrated
Officials will visit
Cumming campus
By Crystal Ledford
cledford@forsythnews.com
The public is invited to celebrate
the merger of two area colleges.
Gainesville State College and
North Georgia College & State
University have officially consoli
dated, becoming the new
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Vehicle was struck
by SUV on Friday
By Alyssa Laßenzie
alarenzie@forsythnews.com *
A 61-year-old Canton man has died of
injuries suffered in a head-on wreck
Friday afternoon on Canton Highway.
According to the Forsyth County
Sheriff’s Office, Howard B. Nichelson
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Photos by Jim Dean Forsyth County News
Big Creek Elementary teacher Courtney Stokes is surprised Tuesday
by school officials. Stokes has been named elementary level teacher
of the year. !
Schools Superintendent Buster Evans,
“They represent excellence in all class
rooms in this district ... so it’s fun to
see them and their excitement.”
One of the three teachers will be
If you're going
The new University of North
Georgia will celebrate its con
solidation at 4 p.m.Thursday at
the University Center | GA 400
campus, 300 Aquatic Circle, off
Pilgrim Mill Road.The event is
open to the public.
University of North Georgia, dur
ing a Georgia Board of Regents
meeting Tuesday.
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died Tuesday morning at North Fulton
Hospital in Roswell, where he had been
on life support since the collision.
Sheriff’s Investigator Ron Tomblin
said the driver of the other vebicle,
75-year-old Linda D. Pollard of Big
Canoe, remains in critical condition at
Atlanta Medical Center.
The wreck occurred about 2 p.m. Friday
on Canton Highway (Hwy. 20) near
Business Drive, west of Cumming, and
left both drivers trapped in their vehicles.
See DRIVER | 3A
named the county’s top teacher Feb. 15
and go on to represent the district at the
state level.
See BEST|3A
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On Thursday, the university’s pres
ident Bonita C. Jacobs, who had
served as president of NGCSU, will
visit each of the new university’s four
campuses to celebrate the merger.
Jacobs is scheduled to visit the
Cumming campus, known as
University Center | GA 400, at 4
p.m.
Edie Rogers, a spokeswoman of
the college, said the visit is open to
the public.
See MERGER | 3A
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