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FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sunday, November 20,2022 FORSYTHNEWS.COM First responders escort EMT back to Forsyth jVTjf EE j \ ▲ 1 *! 'wells] FARGO! ii SSHBiUHl \ r j9HRf •-niT-j-f Photos by Jim Dean Forsyth County News A hearse carrying the body of Central EMS EMT Gina Ayres passes through downtown Cumming on Friday. Ayres remembered as dedicated professional who cared for her community A Cumming police officer holds a salute as a Forsyth County Battalion Chief truck taking part in the procession passes. By Kelly Whitmire kwhitmire@forsythnews.com EMTs, firefighters, police and other first responders paid tribute to one of their own Friday in downtown Cumming. On Friday, Nov. 18, the body of Central EMS EMT Gina Ayres, 57, of Cumming was brought through downtown Cumming to McDonald and Son Funeral Home by a procession of fire bucks, ambulances, police cruis ers and other first respond er vehicles. Ayres was killed in a wreck involving her ambulance, a Ford Mustang and a Dodge Ram pickup truck on Canton Highway just before 7 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17. Three others were injured in the crash. “Gina was a beloved member of the Central EMS family, and we are devastated by her loss. Our hearts and prayers are with Gina’s family and colleagues throughout this difficult time,” Central EMS officials said in a statement. “Gina was an extraordi narily dedicated EMT and a respected member of the Forsyth County 911 response team. She joined the Central EMS family in 2011 and celebrated her 12th anniversary with the company on November 9th. She dedicated her life to EMS since the day she was certified as an EMT in 2010.” Ayres is survived by her husband and two adult daughters. No funeral arrangements have been announced at this time. “Gina is described by her colleagues as a caring, compassionate and dedi cated EMS professional who wanted nothing more than to serve her commu nity,” the release said. “She had a huge personal ity, and words cannot describe how strong, pas sionate and loving she was. Gina also had a heart for children and the less fortunate, volunteering at local schools and sitting with patients in nursing homes.” In a statement, Forsyth County Fire Department officials said Ayres’s “ded ication and service is an example we wish to high light and remember with the highest degree of dig nity and honor.” Fair brings in $1.8M in revenue Ashlyn Yule Forsyth County News The 2022 Cumming Country Fair and Festival in October broke records by bringing in more than $1.8 million in total revenue. By Kelly Whitmire kwhitmire@forsythnews.com Cumming Fairgrounds Administrator Tracy Helms said this year’s Cumming Country Fair and Festival was the most successful one yet. At the Cumming City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, Helms gave the final financial report for the Cumming Fair, which was held Oct. 6-16, saying “It was a record year,” for the fair’s admission, midway, spon sorships and food sales. “I tell people all the time, this isn’t just a local, county fair, this is a regional event,” Helms said. “We are the third largest fair in the state of Georgia. That says a lot for our small town. With the community support and everything, it means a lot.” According to the report, the fair brought in about $1.8 million in revenue, including about $1.3 mil lion from admissions and the midway. Other signifi cant sources of revenue included: sponsors, $263,345; food vendors, about $165,000; and com munity vendors, about $41,700. In comparison, in 2021, the fair brought in about $1.7 million, with about $1.2 million coming from admissions and the mid way. “There’s a lot of con tributing factors to that,” Helms said. “No. 1, the weather. We can’t have a successful fair without great weather, and we had 10 out of 11 days that were just absolutely beau tiful. The one we did on [Wednesday, Oct. 12] Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta night, we did have inclement weather. We were able to open, but it See Fair 12A Haunted house gives back to community By Ashlyn Yule ayule@forsythnews.com Four years of screams have passed since the House of Four Scythes Haunted Attraction opened its spooky doors to resi dents of the county. This year, after being open during the Cumming Country Fair & Festival, which ran from Oct. 6-16, and the remaining week ends in October, volunteers were able to raise over $60,000 for more than 20 local charities, organiza tions and civic groups. Most notably, House of Four Scythes was able to make a $30,000 donation to the American Cancer Society to help fund cancer research and supply cancer patients and survivors with the resources they need. Recipients of the remain ing $30,000 raised include local groups like Boys & See Haunted 12A Mixed-use plan returns for vote after year of debate By Ashlyn Yule ayule@forsythnews.com After over a year of discussions, postponements and public participation meetings, a proposed mixed- use development in south Forsyth will be returning before the Board of Commissioners for yet another decision, but without the planning commission’s blessing. Applicant Northpoint Capital Investment Holdings has requested to rezone about 140 acres for 250 sin gle family lots, 228 townhomes and commercial buildings totaling 63,640 square feet with variances to increase the percentage of townhomes allowed and decrease the commercial component required. The land in question is nestled between Fowler Hill, Union Hill and Mullinax roads next to Denmark High School. Neighboring residents who stated they have been working on and fighting against this request since 2021 spoke in opposition to the project, citing traffic congestion and the high density proposed as the bases of their issues. Christopher Fight, attorney representing the proj ect, said the current request was more like 320 single family lots with 137 townhomes and 80,000 square feet of commercial space, taking the proposed density from 3.4 units per acre to 3.25 units per acre. This plan was not, however, on file before the pub lic hearing and could not be considered. Speaking about traffic concerns, Fight said the Forsyth County Department of Engineering gathered information on the average daily trips on Fowler Road. According to the county’s engineers, Fowler Road sees an average of 7,300 trips per day. The proposed development would likely add 1,800 more trips per day. Fight said a Fevel D, which is still a passing level of service on a two-lane road, is about 14,500 average daily trips. The development plus the current daily trips would not exceed this limit, meaning major improvements to the road would not be needed as a result of the development. David Blevins, whose land abuts the proposed land in question, said he did not mind development in this area. He did, however, speak in opposition to the den sity presented. Paul Fawler, resident of the Olde Union Preserve neighborhood and an HOA board member, shared similar sentiments with Blevins. According to Fawler, at previous meetings with the developer, the total density per acre proposed dropped to as low as 2.8 units per acre. But now, he said it was back up to 3.25 as Fight presented. Fawler asked planning commissioners to continue discussions about the project to work on “more rea sonable” density numbers, as nearby neighborhoods like Olde Union Preserve had a density of 1.5 units per acre. Fight countered that statement by saying a mile See Mixed 12A Advance voting dates, locations set for Senate runoff By Kelly Whitmire kwhitmire@forsythnews.com Dates, times and locations have been set for Forsyth County residents to take part in advance voting for the Tuesday, Dec. 6 Senate runoff election between incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker. Advance voting will be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the week of Monday, Nov. 28 through Friday, Dec. 2 at the Forsyth County Voter Registrations and Elections Office, 1201 Sawnee Drive; Hampton Park Fibrary, 5345 Settingdown Road; Midway Park Community Building, 5100 Post Road; and Sharon Springs Park Community Building, 1950 Sharon Road. Voters can cast ballots at any of the sites during advance voting but will need to go to their assigned voting precinct on Election Day. Those locations were also used for advance voting in the Nov. 8 General Election and Special Election, the June 21 General Primary and the May 24 General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election. For more information on the election, go to ForsythCo.com/Departments-Offices/Voter- Registrations-Elections. Weather High Low 51/31 Access local news online at ForsythNews.com