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Gainesville remembers homeless who have died. See story Page 4A Sports North edges Blessed Trinity for first playoff win since 2019. Page IB FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Midweek Edition-November 16-17, 2022 FORSYTHNEWS.COM forsythcountynews Q @ForsythNews (@J @ForsythNews $1.00 North grad found dead; ex-classmate suspected Risner By Kelly Whitmire kwhitmire@forsythnews.com A 21-year-old from Cumming was found dead in Rome over the weekend, and an apparent former classmate has been charged with murder in the case. According to a news release from the Rome Police Department, Aaron William Davis, 21, of Cumming, was found dead in Rome on Saturday, Nov. 12 after his vehicle was found aban doned and family members reportedly told police Davis was “overdue meet ing friends in Alabama.” “Officers began conducting a miss ing person investigation,” the release said. “Signs of foul play were discov ered at the location Mr. Davis was last known to have been. As the investiga tion continued and leads were fol lowed, the deceased body of Mr. Davis was discovered off Tumlin Drive."” A Rome PD spokesperson said Davis had several wounds that appeared to be from a bladed weapon. According to the Floyd County Jail’s website, the suspect in the case, Brandon Christopher Risner, also 21, was arrested on Saturday and is being held on no bond with charges of felony murder, concealing the death of anoth er, aggravated assault and willful obstruction of law enforcement offi cers. According to Forsyth County Schools officials, Davis graduated from North Forsyth High School in See Death 13A 'A perfect opportunity' Photos from Forsyth County Board of Education Rep.Todd Jones speaks to the Forsyth County Board of Education about his idea forThe Rural Project, an initiative aiming to bring Forsyth STEM resources to rural Georgia. FCS working to bring STEM education to rural kids FCS Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden and the Board of Education share their thoughts on The Rural Project at their latest work session. By Sabrina Kerns skerns@forsythnews.com Forsyth County Schools is working with District 25 state Rep. Todd Jones and the Cherokee County School District to help bring online STEM classes to stu dents in rural Georgia. Jones told the Forsyth County Board of Education at its recent work session that he first came up with the idea for The Rural Project initiative when speaking to the president of a university in Atlanta who said students’ experience with technology plays a factor in admit tance to the school. And in turn, he found out very few students from cities south of Macon, where STEM resources and teachers are lacking, had been accepted to the university this year. “That was the motivation imme diately,” Jones said. “I left that [meeting] and all I could think about was birthright should not give you the right or ability to go to Georgia Tech, Georgia State, University of North Georgia, West Georgia, you name it. Rather, every child should have the oppor tunity that they have here in Forsyth.” Jones quickly reached out to FCS Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden to brainstorm how to help students in districts where these STEM resources were inaccessi ble. In the end, they decided to try to bring Forsyth’s resources to them. Forsyth Virtual Academy Principal Drew Hayes and his team partnered with the Cherokee See STEM 13A Sports park project takes step forward By Ashlyn Yule ayule@forsythnews.com A proposed major sports project in south Forsyth is one step closer to becoming a reality following a decision from commissioners at the board’s latest work session. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation about the SoFo Sports Park, formerly known as Winner’s Circle Park, from officials from SoFo Sports Group and the county’s Development Authority. Following the presentation, commissioners approved an economic incentive package recom mended by the Development Authority. Among plans for the park are nine diamond fields for baseball and softball, a 125,000-square-foot indoor sports facility, 21 pickleball courts and res taurants. Michael Grade, chief operating officer of SoFo See Park 12A Burlington marks store opening with school donation By Ashlyn Yule ayule@forsythnews.com A Title I school in Forsyth County will be getting new supplies for each teacher’s classroom following the grand opening and donation of a new store off Market Place Boulevard. The county’s first Burlington opened on Friday, Nov. 11, and presented Chattahoochee Elementary School principal Jennifer Williams with a surprise $5,000 donation. “We’re so thankful for this [donation],” Williams said at the grand opening event. “And very excited to put this [money] to good use.” Hannah Samples, communications facilitator with Forsyth County Schools, explained the donation came from a partnership between Burlington and the nonprofit AdoptAClassroom.org, which connects donors and sponsors with schools to provide neces sary classroom supplies. See Donation 13A 48/30 Forecast! 2A GOP picks Jon Burns as next Georgia House speaker. 5A Forsyth County News app available for download Find the app at forsythnews.com/apps for local news at your fingertips. □ 7 Volume 113, Number 87 © 2022, Forsyth County News Cumming, Georgia CHEVROLET - BUICK - EMC CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLES J l •s MORE TIME Lifetime POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND OIL CHANGES NO COST TO YOU Established 1948 www.AndeanChevv.com CHEVROLET FIND NEW ROADS 527 Atlanta Rd Cumming 770-887-2316