The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, March 16, 2022, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTHIS WEEK’S INSIDE DEALS ►►► ingles • smartsource . sears TWIN OAKS FUN FARM Opening Saturday, April 9th Free Easter Egg Hunt at 3:00 p.m. TAKE PICS WITH THE EASTER BUNNY FOR A DONATION! 1946 JOHNSTONVILLE ROAD • FORSYTH, GA 31029 • 404-456-1198 INSIDE ► ►► Meet the MP Tennis Dogs SEE PAGES 3-4C Howard honors Caden Swancey SEEPAGE 1C WELCOME TO THE FAMILY Darin & Mary Harris Branded Star Boutique Kathryn Futral Eric & Keri Olson Ann Tidwell Chrisptoher Deal Lawrence Mink Jennifer Powell WBIB-FM 89.1 NEW SUBSCRIBERS OF THE WEEK DEATHS m6A JP Evans Ella Shannon Walter High Bobby Worth Bryant Oxley a oaaos ^34ib a b "0 4879 16264 3 BANKS BARFIELD BASLEY BATTLE BOWDEN brantley brantley BROWN dewberry DUPRE GREEN HARPER HENDRIX HICKS HUGHLEY JAKES Thirty-seven charged in massive drug sting, Operation Hell Froze Over The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on Tues day announced one of its biggest drug bust in years, with 37 charged on drug- related offenses and 32 already in custody after a months-long sting dubbed Operation Hell Froze Over. The sheriff s office said it began the investigation after receiving a lot of com plaints about a high level of traffic and unusual activi ties coming and going from multiple locations through out the city and county. Investigators began to identify locations and in dividuals involved. Inves tigators learned multiple locations and individuals were linked to the same complaints, and learned quickly these individuals and locations were involved in illegal drug sales as well as other crimes. Locations outside of Monroe County were identified as well. Af ter a lengthy investigations, Monroe County Drug In vestigators and Georgia Bu reau of Investigation (GBI) Drug Investigators executed several search warrants, obtained multiple arrest warrants for individuals involved, and intercepted and seized a large quantity of drugs. Investigators seized about 830 grams of crack, about See BUSTED Page 6B See Forsythia photos on pages B5-6 By Steve Reece stevereece@gmail.com It’s probably no surprise that chamber CEO Rebecca Stone had a cold on Tuesday after spending Saturday in the frigid wind working the community’s event of the year, the Forsythia Festival. But after a sunny and warmer Sunday, Stone was still feeling good about the 35th Forsythia Festival. “My favorite thing is that despite the wind, the patrons and vendor and vol unteers stuck it out and were very positive. I cannot tell you the overwhelming number of positive thing we’re getting back from vendors.” Wind gusts reached 37 mph by Saturday afternoon, toppled signs and sent some vendors chasing down their tents on the opening day of the For sythia Festival. Vendors started setting up at 6 a.m. when the windchill was 33 degrees with a steady north wind blowing at See FORSYTHIA Page6A High Falls woman on trial as mastermind of pack of thieves Donna Nelson watch es her trial for forg ery on Tues day. (Photo/ Will Davis) By Will Davis publisher@mymcr.net Assistant district attorney Dorothy Hull called a High Falls woman and her three cohorts a “pack of thieves” who forged legal documents to try to steal everything from the first Monroe Countian to die of COVID in 2020 as their trial began on Tuesday. In her opening argument, Hull said the evidence will show that Donna Nelson and her co-defendants, Mark Cain, Cindy Padgett and Mary Stephens, conspired to take the See TRIAL Page 7A Rejoice you have a choice, voters Monroe County voters will have some new choices for school board and commissioner when they go to the polls later this year. Qualifying fin ished on Friday and elections supervisor Kaye Warren said she thinks it’s the most candidates she’s ever had to sign up to run. The only posi tion that will not face an election- year challenge is District 3 commissioner John Ambrose. Ambrose said he’s very thank ful to be headed to another term without opposi tion. District 4 com missioner George Emami drew challenges for both the Repub lican primary on May 24 and in the general election on Nov. 8. Travis Daniel qualified to run against Emami as a Republican in the primary. The winner will face independent candidate Bob Hunter, a retired lieutenant colonel in the National Guard. A resident of the River Walk subdivision, Hunter has quali fied to appear on the ballot in the fall. He must still See VOTE Page 6B BOE District 1 SOULE BATTLE HEAD MIXON BOE District 5 VARNADOE JENKINS BOE District 7 BILDERBACK LANFORD BOC District 4 EMAMI DANIEL

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The Monroe County reporter. (Forsyth, Ga.) 1972-current, March 16, 2022, Image 1