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FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS
Midweek Edition-September 14-15,2022 FORSYTHNEWS.COM
$1.00
Audio of East principal using racial slur angers parents
discussing students continued use of offensive language
Cheney, staff members were
By Sabrina Kerns
skerns@forsythnews.com
Several East Forsyth High School families
expressed concern this weekend after seeing a
video circulating of Principal Jeff Cheney saying
“the full N-word” during a conversation with a
white student.
According to a statement from Forsyth County
Schools, Cheney, who is also white, and two
school staff members met with the student on
Friday, Sept. 9, about his “continued use of
offensive language.” This includes the word
“cracker,” a racial epithet directed toward white
individuals that was said several times during the
conversation.
“The goal of the meeting was for the student
to understand that we must all be sensitive and
respectful to others,” the statement reads. “The
student recorded the meeting without informing
See PRINCIPAL 12A
Cheney
Community support 'amazing'
Sabrina Kerns Forsyth County News
Students with the Forsyth County Fire Explorers climb the steps of West Forsyth High
School's stadium in their full safety gear to help honor those lost during 9/11.
Forsyth honors heroes lost during 9/11 at 5th annual Stair Climb
By Sabrina Kerns
skerns@forsythnews.com
Community members from all
over Forsyth and surrounding
counties climbed the stairs of
West Forsyth High School’s sta
dium on Sunday, Sept. 11, walk
ing the equivalent of 110 stories
in honor of the 412 first respond
ers who died on the same day 21
years ago.
Sara and Troy Zapp, owners of
V02 Personal Training, hosted
the fifth annual Stair Climb, wel
coming a crowd of more than
200 participants.
“Being from New York and
having several firefighters in our
family, this event means a lot to
us,” Troy said. “This has been a
great event that we’ve gotten to
See CLIMB 14A
Authority
hears details
on sports park
in S. Forsyth
Groups CEO promises it
will be the best of the best’
By Kelly Whitmire
kwh itm i r e@f o rsythnews.com
Some of Atlanta’s most well-known athletes are
tied to a major sports project in south Forsyth
County.
On Friday, Sept. 9, members of the Forsyth
County Development Authority heard a presenta
tion about the proposed SoFo Park, formerly pro
posed as Winner’s Circle Park, from officials with
the SoFo Sports Group and approved an induce
ment resolution to help fund the project, which is
planned on about 60 acres off Peachtree Parkway
and Brookwood and Caney roads.
Among plans for the park are nine diamond
fields for baseball and softball, a minimum
125,00-square-foot indoor sports center, 21 pick-
leball courts, a 12,000-square-foot restaurant and
8,000-square-foot restaurant.
“Everything we do will be the best of the best,”
said Michael Grade, chief operating officer of the
SoFo Sports Group, “so our outdoor fields, fully
synthetic turf, the best FED lighting that’s out
there, video scoreboards at every field, chairback
seats at every field, shade structures over those
seats and then video cameras that can cover the
See PARK 15A
Herschel Walker makes campaign stop in Cumming
Facing incumbent U.S. Sen. Raphael
Warnock in the Nov. 8 election
By Kelly Whitmire
kwhitmire@forsythnews.com
U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker
received a warm welcome during a recent cam
paign stop in Cumming.
Walker’s campaign bus made a stop by the
Cumming Cigar Company in downtown
Cumming on Thursday, Sept. 8, where he laid
out his vision if elected, met with supporters
and was joined by local elected officials.
“We’ve got to get back to the foundation of
this country, get back to people caring about
each other,” Walker said. “Are we going to have
some tough times? Yes, we are, but can we
work it together? Yes, we can. People ask me
all the time why am I doing this. I say, ‘How in
the world can I sit back and do well and see my
family hurt, see my family starve?’
See WALKER 14A
U.S. Senate can
didate Herschel
Walker stopped
by downtown
Cumming on
Thursday, Sept. 8
for a bus tour stop
at the Cumming
Cigar Co.
By Kelly Whitmire
Forsyth County News
82/61
Forecast 12A
Parents can now get a
notification when book
checked out. 3A
Forsyth County News app
available for download
Find the app at
forsythnews.com/apps
for local news at your
fingertips.
90994
0400
Volume 113, Number 73
© 2022, Forsyth County News
Cumming, Georgia
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