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Sports Longhorns drop heartbreaker in 2nd round of 7 A state playoff. Page IB FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Midweek Edition-Nov. 23-24,2022 FORSYTHNEWS.COM forsythcountynews Q @ForsythNews (®)@ForsythNews $2.00 Funeral service held for EMT killed in crash By Kelly Whitmire kwhitmire@forsythnews.com Emergency lights from fire trucks, ambulances, police cars and more flashed outside of McDonald and Son Funeral Home on Monday as first responders remembered one of their own. On Monday, Nov. 21, the funeral service was held for Central EMS EMT Gina Ayres, who was killed in a three-vehicle wreck on Thursday, Nov. 17 while responding to an emergen cy call. “Gina was a consummate pro fessional, the kind of medic that you just want to have with you in the firehouse: compassionate, dedicated, detailed,” Forsyth County Fire Department Div. Chief Jason Shivers said on Monday. “An amazing, amazing lady, and she’s going to be missed for many years. She’s leaving a big void that is going to be tough to fill.” First responders from Forsyth County were joined by employ ees and vehicles from surround ing areas who came to pay their respects. “A line of duty death, in any branch of public safety, always brings out what you see here, a significant presence from multi ple agencies and multiple public safety professions, whether you knew the deceased or not,” Shivers said. “It’s just what we do; it’s how we honor one anoth er.” Along with showing support at the funeral, Shivers said first responders from other counties also covered work for EMS and 911 to allow those employees to attend the service. “We’re being covered for in a mutual aid capacity by other See Ayres 110A Kelly Whitmire Forsyth County News Two Forsyth County Fire Department fire trucks cross their ladders in memory of Central EMS EMT Gina Ayres, who died in a crash while responding to an emergency call on Thursday, Nov. 17. Residents gather to spread cheer City Center holds first annual Winter Market, tree lighting ByAshlyn Yule ayule@forsythnews.com With holiday season just around the corner, the Cumming City Center cele brated with cold temperatures but warm hearts at its first-ever Winter Market and Christmas Tree Fighting event. Forsyth County residents came together on Saturday, Nov. 19 to peruse handmade crafts, clothing and food from local vendors, meet Santa and pick up some yummy hot cocoa. The market was held until 5 p.m., and as excited friends and families waited for the sun to set, they were able to rock out to some live music playing at the amphitheater. As soon as it got dark, the large Christmas tree sitting in the middle of the City Center was lit up with bright lights, shining and glowing all the way to Canton Highway. Then friends and family gathered around the tree to sing songs, take selfies and make lasting holiday memories. Above, following the market, a tree lighting ceremony was held to mark the City Center's first hol iday season. Left, Santa made an appearance at the winter mar ket and tree lighting, talking with children about what they wanted for Christmas this year and spreading holiday cheer. Photos by Ashlyn Yule Forsyth County News Company provides meals for FCSO employees, those in need By Kelly Whitmire kwh itm i re@f o rsythnews.com Employees and volun teers with a south Forsyth workout supplement busi ness put their muscles to work to feed those in need in the community and members of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. On Friday, Nov. 18, employees and other vol- Inside Santa, hundreds of helpers ride during annualToy Run, 3A unteers at FINAFFEX, a healthy snack and supple ment company, met at the business’s headquarters at 3615 Francis Circle Ste. 100 to pack a truck and van See Flex 13A Employees and vol unteers at FINAFLEX, a healthy snack and supplement compa ny based in south Forsyth, packed more than 100 Thanksgiving meals for those in need in the community. Kelly Whitmire Forsyth County News Judge stops school board from limits on speaking By Sabrina Kerns skerns@forsythnews.com A federal judge ruled Wednesday, Nov. 16, that parts of the Forsyth County Board of Education’s public participation policy are unconstitutional, temporarily banning mem bers from enforcing the full policy. The ruling came as part of a lawsuit a group of local parents, called the Mama Bears of Forsyth County, filed in late July against Forsyth County Schools and mem bers of the board alleging their public partici pation policy and the decision to ban a par ent, Alison Hair, from board meetings violat ed citizens’ First Amendment rights. The plaintiffs later filed a motion for pre liminary injunction, asking the judge to tem porarily repeal the board’s enforcement of its policy and ban over Hair while the case con tinues forward before final decisions are made. In his ruling, Richard W. Story, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, partially granted the injunction and noted the board would no longer be able to enforce parts of its public participation poli cy. “We are ecstatic about this ruling,” said Cindy Martin, chair of the Mama Bears. “The Forsyth County Board of Education can no longer ban parents or free speech from their meetings. This ruling upholds the right of every citizen to freedom of speech and freedom to petition our government. No matter what side of an issue you are on, this is a victory for all people.” One part of the board policies the court found unconstitutional is the requirement that speakers must address the board in a “respectful manner.” The ruling states the phrase is “highly subjective and lends itself to broad interpretation” by the board. “In the Court’s view, the public participa tion policy’s ‘respectful manner’ requirement See Lawsuit 16A 67/45 Forecast] 2A College Board surprises student with $40K scholarship. 4A Forsyth County News app available for download Find the app at forsythnews.com/apps for local news at your fingertips. □ 7 Volume 113, Number 89 © 2022, Forsyth County News Cumming, Georgia LOOK TO NORTHSIDE A Community of Care on a Mission to Heal Learn more about our services at northside.com