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Threats, attempts on the rise
Situation difficult for all involved
By Alyssa Laßenzie
alarenzie@forsythnews.com
The topic is morbid and
unpleasant, but the calls came
in more frequently this past
year on Forsyth County first
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Jim Dean Forsyth County News
Smoke and flames rise from a home automotive workshop Thursday morning in eastern Forsyth
County. No one was injured in the blaze.
Cause remains
undetermined
By Alyssa Laßenzie
alarenzie@forsythnews.com -
Fire leveled a home automotive
workshop Thursday morning in
eastern Forsyth County.
The blaze occurred about 10:45
a.m. behind a home on Samples
Road, near Buford Dam Road and
not far from Lake Lanier.
The incident triggered several
911 calls, with reports of explo
sions and a large column of black
Ranks of resource officers to double
Staffing will shift
from other posts
By Alyssa Laßenzie
alarenzie@forsythnews.com
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s
Office will double the number of
school resource officers in February
by reassigning current staff.
The increase from seven to 14 offi
Volume 104, Number 7
© 2013, Forsyth County News
Cumming, Georgia
i
Quarry among six in deal | 2A
responder radio.
Hearing the word, 911 dis
patchers calmly relay the emer
gency from what is surely an
emotional scene on the other
end of the line — suicide.
In 2012, the Forsyth County
smoke, said Div. Chief Jason
Shivers of the Forsyth County Fire
Department.
“The home itself received only
minor heat-exposure damage, but
the workshop is likely going to be a
total loss,” he said.
The two-story shop contained
cars and equipment, which Shivers
said contributed to the challenges
in fighting the flames, as well as
the explosions overheard.
No one was in the shop at the
time, and it’s not known what
caused the fire, he said.
“It is under investigation,” he said.
“Investigators on scene have already
begun their initial investigation and
questioning of witnesses.”
cers, plus at least one sergeant, will
allow for one to cover each middie
and high school, said Rick Doyle,
director of operations.
The initiative was among the first
priorities of new Sheriff Duane Piper
after he took office Jan. 1, following a
commitment he made during his cam
paign, Doyle said.
According to Doyle, the new school
resource officers will be moved from
other positions within the agency, so
as not to create any increase in
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Sheriff’s Office received 138
calls for threats of suicide, the
most in a year and a number
that’s been increasing over the
past decade.
The number of attempts in
2012 nearly doubled from the
“The home itself
received only minor
heat-exposure
damage.’
Jason Shivers
Division chief, Forsyth County
Fire Department
Samples Road was closed in both
directions for several hours to
allow for access to the water sup
ply.
No one was injured in the blaze.
expenses.
The agency has P
also asked uniform b
patrol deputies to "
increase their pres- JEEE S
ence at elementary &
schools when possi- w
ble, such as parking
in the lot while filing PiPer
reports from their
vehicles.
See OFFICERS | 6A
6/A Bands
experience
‘magical’
previous year, rising from 66 to
101.
" Despite the increase in those
considering or trying to take
their own lives, the actual num
ber of suicides seems to be on
the decline, falling from a
county peak of 23 in 2010 to 11
in 2012.
The incoming calls, however,
haven’t gone unnoticed by local
Upcoming
surprise
Organizers prepare
for homeless count
By Crystal Ledford
cledford@forsythnews.com
With its low unemployment rate and
affluence, Forsyth County isn’t often
thought of as a county where the home
less reside.
However, there are people in the coun
ty without a home and area nonprofit
leaders are hoping to get an accurate
count of them later this month.
For the first time, Forsyth County will
participate in a statewide homeless count
from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, said Melissa
Corliss, director of community impact
with the local United Way.
“We've conducted several community
conversations on homelessness and so
we have sort of a core group of con
cerned volunteers and members of non
profits who have been working and dis
cussing the issues of homelessness for a
quite a while now,” she said.
“When we saw that the 2013 count
was coming up, we thought this was
something we needed to get involved in
because it will give us a better under
standing of the scope of the homeless
problem on a local and ... state level.”
According to both Corliss and Gene
Deßerardinis, a volunteer helping orga
nize the count, many in the community
may be surprised to learn how many
homeless are here.
“I think most everybody probably
thinks we do have some homeless some
where, but I think the number of people
and what the local charity groups are
doing right now, I think a lot of people
would be surprised by that,”
Deßerardinis said.
Added Corliss: “[The count] will be
beneficial to anyone that works with
basic needs and assisting those folks
who are in need just to plan for the
future, and it’ll help our community see
what our real needs are in that respect.”
The term “homeless” can bring to
mind a specific image, which many
times isn’t correct. Corliss said home
less can include people who live in
emergency shelters or transitional hous
ing, such as long-term hotel stays or
with family members or friends.
The homeless can also be those who
have just been evicted or who live in
their cars, tents or under structures such
as bridges.
Deßerardinis noted that “there are also
those who have mental or medical con
ditions.” :
See EFFORT | 2A
A Malkin:
A Blind sheik,
our mute
president.
officials, emergency personnel
and others who assist in the cri
sis situations.
After 12 years on the job,
Lauren McDonald left his post as
coroner at the end of 2012, with a
hope that those considering sui
cide can reach out for help before
taking permanent action.
See SUICIDE | 3A
i 3
59 /55
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