The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, September 10, 2008, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextInside Forsyth Frame cuts ribbon See Page 3A Sports Lady Dogs on a roll See Page 1B Guess who’s staying Saturday night? HAUNTED?: Ghostbusters will try to determine if there are spirits (see second floor window) at the Royal Palm on Saturday. (Photo illustration/Denzil Hansford) Are there really spirits lodging at Forsyth landmark? The Fowlers were in one of the rooms watching TV when the door began opening and closing on its own. BY LAURA THACKSTON So you think nothing abnormal or exciting ever happens in Forsyth? Think again. Guests and staff at the Royal Palm Cafe & Inn say the building is haunted. The Royal Palm’s Sue Fowler says there have been some unusual happenings there that are more than just creepy. That’s why on Saturday, Sept. 13, about eight paranormal researchers, or ghost busters, are converging on Forsyth to spend the night at the Royal Palm and conduct tests they say will determine if there are actual ghosts present. One guest at the hotel got so spooked after staying there that she called her friend, a ghostbuster, who in turn con tacted Fowler about the bizarre inci dents. The guest, along with another woman, were in Forsyth for a business meeting and had rented two rooms. Around 9 p.m., Fowler said she left for the night and was going downstairs when one of the fire alarms beeped a few times. The next morning, one of the women asked her if the place was haunt ed. Fowler said she just laughed. Then, See GHOSTS page 7A See Page 1B Death Julia Elizabeth Butler Obituary Page 6A o_ M S S cn CD a o _£= CL Bake sale raises funds for Zapareo Monroe County Bank’s Lindsay Parker loads up Richard and Bunny Velderrain’s bags with cookies and brownies Friday during the bake sale to raise money for shooting victim Zapareo Glover. (Pho to/Gina Herring) BY GINA HERRING An impromptu bake sale organized by the employ ees of Monroe County Bank in Forsyth netted almost $1,200 for the fam ily of Zapareo Glover Friday. Glover was shot in the Dairy Queen partking lot Aug. 10. The bullet is still in his spine and he remains paralyzed from the waist down.This has forced him and his family to make a lot of adjust ments. “There is a lot they have to do,” said recep tionist Janet Glover, (no relation to Zapareo’s fam ily). “They have to fix the bathroom so he can get in there. Some of the doors have to be widened to make room for his chair. There is a lot to do and it costs money.” Janet said the bank employees felt a need to help and decided to have the bake sale. Employees brought in dozens of homebaked goodies to sell and Ingles donated over two dozen cakes. By the end of the day all the sweets were gone and the till was full. “I couldn’t believe how well people responded,” said Glover. “Some people didn’t buy anything, but still donated.” Zapareo says he is over whelmed by all the com munity support. “I really appreciate everything,” said Zapareo. “It has been great.” Despite the uncertainty of his injuries Zapareo remains in good spirits. See GLOVER page 7A County, schools grapple with late tax bills BY GINA HERRING AND WILL DAVIS Monroe County commissioners have imposed a spend ing freeze and county schools have had to borrow $3 mil lion as both muddle through a delay in mailing out tax bills. Bills usually go out in September but property owners may not get them until October because of the large number of appeals. The tax assessors office is scrambling to hear remain ing appeals so it can set a final tax digest. A county-wide See TAXES page 7A RAIN GAUGE: Willie Watts, who mans the county’s Hubbard re cycling center off Hwy. 83, checks the rain gauge Monday. The county enjoyed its wettest month in three years in August. August: Wettest month since ’05 BY WILL DAVIS Drought? What drought? August was the wettest month in three years in Monroe County, and the county is now on course to break a 2-year dry spell. The county recorded 7.65 inches in average rainfall See RAIN page 11A Forsyth’s Big Pet Parade Ziggy smiles for the camera with owner Kennedy Nixon during the Dog Days of Sum mer Pet Parade spon sored by Save A Pet and The Taylor House Saturday. Ziggy, a bea gle, was among 28 dogs who participated. With a face like this it’s no surprise Ziggy was honored for being the most adorable and having the best eyes. See other winners page 5B.

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The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, September 10, 2008, Image 1