Midweek Edition-December 30-31,2020
2A | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | ForsythNews.com
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The four-day outlook
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WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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Showers late
Rain
Rain
Sunny
48/43
62/58
61/37
51/33
Lake Lanier level
1 070.80 feGt (as of 10 a.m. Dec. 22)
Full pool is 1,071 feet
Dec. 25:1070.90 feet
Dec. 24:1070.90 feet
Dec. 23:1070.90 feet
FROM 1A
Badge
schools in Forsyth County, and that
there has been a large increase in the
amount of School Resource Officers
stationed around the county.
“The idea is that [the students] know
the dogs are there all the time,”
Freeman said. “And part of that is psy
chological for ... if a student was lean
ing towards bringing drugs to school, it
might make you think twice about it.”
Freeman also acknowledged that
socio-economic status and surrounding
circumstances also play a part in
increased crime rates, but he said crime
is still very low for the area.
“Majority of significant crime in
Forsyth County ... are generally from
people who live outside of Forsyth
County,” Freeman said. “So, we don’t
see a significant number out of our
high school and college age kids here.
And that’s a blessing. I think that’s a
testament in some respects to our par
ents, and it’s also a testament to our
young men and women here. I mean,
they’re high-performers, they’re striv
ing to accomplish something, they’re
involved in a lot of different things.”
Borgerding is one of the high-aspir
ing teens, applying for the United
States Military Academy, or West
Point, and already securing a nomina
tion from Sen. Kelly Loeffler.
In order to complete his Eagle Scout
application, Borgerding had one more
merit badge to submit: the Citizenship
in the Community Merit Badge. In
order to successfully complete this, he
identified a problem in the community,
young people and their propensity for
crime, and interviewed a government
official that could share guidance on
this topic. Borgerding said he thought
Freeman was the best choice because
of his position and experience.
While the aforementioned crimes are
issues in the county among the younger
population, Freeman said the best key
to prevention and help is to be the
angel on a friend’s shoulder - to have
the courage to speak up and encourage
your friends to do better.
“It seems a little cliche and silly, but
it really works - different faces, differ
ent places,” Freeman said.
He said changing location and peo
ple to hang out with can help drastical
ly change a person’s situation, espe
cially youth that are truly struggling
with substance abuse.
Freeman also encouraged parents
and youth to get involved in local pro
grams, such as Whisper, a student-led
movement in schools that encourages
better conversation and understanding
to cultivate inclusive and supportive
communities in schools.
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office
hosts a Teen Interception Program that
focuses on saving teen lives and redi
recting them to make better decisions.
The program consists of a mixture of
volunteered and mandated teens, and it
lasts for seven weeks. TIP exists as a
free teen drug educational program to
help young residents with substance
abuse before they find themselves in
the criminal justice system.
Along with the programs and move
ments already in effect, Freeman also
explained how far a simple act of kind
ness could go for a stranger, and he
encouraged all people, young and old,
to participate in spreading positivity.
“Leave the bigger tip for the waitress
that looks like she’s having a hard day,”
Freeman said. “Give a little grace to
somebody that’s being grumpy to you.
Don’t tell them they’re the No. 1 driver
in America when they pull out in front
of you, you know? It costs you noth
ing, but man, what a difference it might
make for someone.”
Freeman quoted US Navy Adm.
William McRaven, saying that some
thing as simple as making your bed
every morning could change the world.
“Everyday, do something small,”
Freeman said. “Make a small differ
ence every day. And when you get the
chance to make a big difference, make
it in a big way. But there’s always
going to be a small opportunity every
day, as long as you look for it. That’s
my best Dad-Sheriff-Man advice that I
can give to the youth.”
Borgerding said that he had recently
finished his Eagle Scout Project, which
consisted of installing a new set of
stairs at his school, Pinecrest Academy.
“[The stairs] were all rotting and fall
ing apart, but now ... they’re much
safer and much larger,” Borgerding
said. “[Students] use [those stairs] to
get to our baseball games, so I think
now it’s going to be better for every
one.”
Freeman complimented Borgerding
on his commitment to Boy Scouts, say
ing he had always hired every Eagle
Scout that had interviewed with him, a
sentiment his father had instilled in
him.
“To my dad’s point, I’ve never been
disappointed in a single Eagle Scout
that I’ve hired,” Freeman said.
“They’ve always been hard workers,
and they’ve always had heart and com
passion.”
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OBITUARIES
Joan Helen lannella
Joan Helen lannella, 79, of Cumming,
Georgia passed away Monday, Dec. 21,
2020. Joan was an
amazing mother and
grandmother, known to
many as “Baggy.”
She had a kind heart
and amazing soul who
always took care of
everyone else. She will
be greatly missed.
Joan is survived by
her daughters Laura lannella of
Houston, Texas, and Valerie Fricker of
Alpharetta; grandchildren Dustin
Maynard, Billy Maynard, Adam Fricker,
Kaden Fricker and Isabella Fricker.
great-grandchildren, Korbin, Autumn,
Luke, Valerie, Teagan and Maggie.
Due to current COVID-19 restrictions,
a private invitation only memorial ser
vice was held on Monday.
Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory,
210 Ingram Avenue, Cumming, Georgia
30040, is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be made at www.
ingramfuneralhome.com.
Sign our online guestbook at www.
forsythnews.com.
Forsvth County News
Dec. 30, 2020
Willise Bennett
Willise Bennett, 91, of Cumming,
died Wednesday Dec. 23, 2020.
Arrangements by Bearden Funeral
Home, Dawsonville.
Forsyth County News
Dec. 30, 2020
Jo Ann Hamrick
Jo Ann Hamrick, 74, of Cumming,
died Monday, Dec. 21, 2020.
Ingram Funeral Home is in charge of
arrangements.
Forsyth County News
Dec. 30, 2020
Larry Kenneth Jones
Larry Kenneth Jones, 76, of
Dawsonville, died Thursday, Dec. 24,
2020.
Ingram Funeral Home is in charge of
arrangements.
Forsyth County News
Dec. 30, 2020
Kenneth Dale Kraynick
Kenneth Dale Kraynick, 81, died
Friday, Dec. 18, 2020.
Ingram Funeral Home is in charge of
arrangements.
Forsyth County News
Dec. 30, 2020
Johnny William Walls
Johnny “Big John” William Walls, 66,
of Cumming, died Wednesday, Dec. 23,
2020.
Ingram Funeral Home is in charge of
arrangements.
Forsyth County News
Dec. 30, 2020
Nick Watson FCN regional staff
Gov. Brian Kemp speaks Monday, Dec. 28, outside ofThe Oaks at Limestone
nursing home in Gainesville. Nursing home staff were set to receive some
of the first COVID-19 vaccines allocated to long-term care facilities.
Gov. Kemp speaks in Gainesville about
vaccine distribution in nursing homes
By Nick Watson
FCN regional staff
Nursing home staff members in
Gainesville were set to receive some of
the first COVID-19 vaccine doses allo
cated to long-term care facilities
Monday, Dec. 28.
Gov. Brian Kemp spoke Monday
morning outside of Pruitt Health’s The
Oaks at Limestone on Flintridge Road
about the beginning of an “exciting and
important chapter” regarding the vac
cine rollout.
“Right here at this facility, Pruitt
Health is already lining up its caregivers
to receive the vaccine,” Kemp said.
Kemp said a senior certified nurse
assistant was selected to be the first
Pruitt Health worker to receive the vac
cine. The governor lauded the health
care worker’s “willingness to step up.”
“It says a lot about your commitment
to your patients and to your profession,”
Kemp said.
Nursing homes and other long-term
care facilities across the state have part
nered with CVS Health and Walgreens
to administer the vaccine to staff and
residents.
“Across the country, no group has
been hit harder by the virus than the res
idents and staff of our long-term care
facilities,” Kemp said.
The first seven doses of the vaccine in
Gainesville were administered Dec. 17
at Northeast Georgia Medical Center to
frontline health care workers. Of the
almost 5,000 doses allotted to Northeast
Georgia Health System, nearly 1,000
doses had been administered by Dec.
21, according to NGHS officials.
“Two weeks ago, we watched hope
arrive here in the state of Georgia as the
COVID-19 vaccine began rolling out
throughout the Peach State, and since
then, we’ve been vaccinating the vacci
nators in every corner of our state,”
Kemp said.
FROM 1A
John
well.”
“I believe that I can contribute to the
current trajectory in Forsyth County of
smart growth and join also with the cur
rent commissioners in focusing on
growing our commercial base,” John
said. “That’s something that’s been
lacking in the county, and many of us
believe we need to focus on balancing
our tax digest. I believe that I can con
tribute to that, and I’m looking forward
to it.”
“There are a number of great projects
coming that ... will benefit our county
and [District 2] in particular,” he said.
“Like Halcyon — that has been a great
development recently. But the road and
infrastructure needs are great, and I
want to be sure that we focus on that.”
John said he would also like to work
on the proposed Davidson-Forsyth
Overlay, a mixed-use property that
encompasses 450 acres of land located
between Peachtree Parkway,
Westminster Land and Old Atlanta
Road.
Before his term, John has been work
ing closely with Brown, attending meet
ings and meeting constituents and board
members of many different subdivi
sions. John has also taken many oppor
tunities to meet with local business
owners in Forsyth County during his
transition period.
“[Meeting everyone] has given me a
good comprehensive understanding of
the needs of the local area and I think
that’ll guide me going forward,” he said.
John said during an interview with the
Forsyth County News that he was grate
ful for all of Brown’s help during the
transition period, and that he looks for
ward to meeting and helping more peo
ple of Forsyth County during his
upcoming term as District 2
Commissioner.
“If you ever need anything, I’ll always
have an open door,” John said.
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