Newspaper Page Text
Page 4B
^Reporter
September 14, 2022
Leadership Monroe welcomes Class of2022-23
By Diane Glidewell
news@mymcr.net
The 2022-23 Leadership
Monroe Class kicked off
on Thursday, Sept. 8 with
a two-day retreat at Camp
Kaleo in southern Monroe
County Ten individu
als with potential to help
lead Forsyth and Monroe
County in coming years
began to learn more about
the community's resources
and challenges and began to
connect with one another
in the program sponsored
by Forsyth Monroe County
Chamber of Commerce.
The group will meet
monthly through May for
day-long organized acbvibes
and will also adopt a project
beneficial to the community
and raise the funds and de
velop that project to a point
that it can be self sustaining
after the 2022-23 Leadership
Monroe Class ends.
Members of the class are
Toni Altenburg of Hop
kins & Associates, Ashley
Childers Cleaver of Monroe
County Hospital, Richard
Dumas of Monroe County
government, Brandy
Faulkner of Georgia Public
Safety Training Center, Josh
Griffis of Monroe County
Schools, Rebecca Headley of
Forsyth Main Street, Marga
ret Holloway of AgapeMe,
Brandon Neal of Walmart,
Beth Norris of Perdue
Farms, Megan Williams of
Peachy Clean.
Forsyth Monroe County
Chamber of Commerce
president/CEO Rebecca
Stone said she is pleased to
have a diverse group of lead
ers in the class represent
ing the city, county, school
system, tourism, health care
and economic development.
They will learn from each
other about the roles the
different organizations play
in the community and will
learn about the contribu
tions other entities make to
the local economy, such as
Department of Corrections,
tourism and agrarian busi
nesses in Monroe County.
Stone said that servant
leadership is the focus of
the class. The last Leader
ship Monroe Class chose to
raise funds for Robs Place,
a center for individuals with
developmental and intel
lectual challenges serving
Forsyth and Middle Geor
gia, and raised more than
$20,000. She is eager to see
the project that the 2022-23
class undertakes.
Stone said the retreat at
Kaleo is graciously spon
sored by Walmart and the
introductory breakfast for
members of the class and
the Chamber board of
directors was provided by
Sold Sisters Realty. The class
will be reading and review
ing “The Energy Bus” by
Jon Gordon, which is about
making positive energy
the focus of life, work and
relationships. The books for
class members are spon
sored by Black Oak Asset
Management. The class
graduation will be May 11.
Pictured are members of the 2022-23 Leadership Monroe Class as the class began on
Sept. 8: left to right, back, Rebecca Headley, Brandon Neal, Richard Dumas, Josh Griffis;
front, Megan Williams, Toni Altenburg, Beth Norris, Margaret Holloway, Brandy Faulkner.
Vietnam vets reunite at Forsyth meeting 52 years later
Phillip Norton lives in
Garland, Texas, which is
near Dallas. While visiting
in Monroe County, he had
one of those experiences
that tell us what a small
world we live in and empha
sizes how closely we are all
connected.
Norton served in Vietnam
52 years ago, in 1970, he was
part of the Renegade Woods
Operation, which proved to
have a significant impact in
the Vietnam war.
On Aug. 9 he attended
a meeting of the Viet
nam Veterans of America
Chapter 946, which meets
the second Tuesday of each
month at 6:30 pm. at the
Living Word Community
Church, 1278 Juliette Road.
The chapter president, Mar
tin Ursitti, introduced him
to a veteran named Marty
Gazafy, saying that he was
in the U.S. Army Rangers
25th division and was part
of the Renegade Woods
Marty Gazafy, left, and Phillip Norton served together in
the Renegade Wood operation in Vietnam and met again in
Forsyth 52 years later.
operation. Norton said that
he was a Ranger team leader
in the five-day operation,
which was one of the most
significant battles against
North Vietnam regulars.
“It’s remarkable that 52
years later two guys would
be crossing paths,” said
Norton. “It gave me goose-
bumps.”
Norton said that he was
in the 13-man ranger team
that “stirred up a hornet’s
nest” by an initial encounter
with 250-300 Vietnam
ese regular army soldiers.
Marty was in the team that
followed the initial group.
Norton said several articles
and books have been writ
ten about Renegade Woods,
partly because the official
action report isn’t complete.
Norton wrote a memoir
from his perspective about
the operation.
About three years ago, a
friend sent Norton a picture
that appeared in a book
about Rangers in Vietnam
that shows Norton and
another soldier carrying
a wounded comrade to a
helicopter. He said he had
no idea the picture existed,
but it was definitely him.
“It was a rather brutal
time,” said Norton. “When
we had tough action, it was
very brutal.”
Norton grew up in
Dubuque, Iowa and left
graduate school to serve
in the U.S. Army from
January 1968-August 1971.
He worked for various
companies over his civilian
career, including Johnson &
Johnson in Chicago. For the
last 15 years of his career he
moved into IT and worked
for Microsoft Engineering
Technology. He has moved
around the U.S. over the
years, living in Kansas City
for a while.
He said he has always
enjoyed visiting in Forsyth,
where he has several family
members, including his
cousin, Elmo Remick. He
has been a member of VFW
Chapter 2195 for many
years and has served as
commander.
Gazafy joined the Bibb
County Sheriff’s Office a
year after his discharge from
the Army and retired as a
lieutenant after 30 years. He
then moved on to Mid-
South Federal Credit Union
in charge of security for 10
years before his full time
retirement. He now lives in
Bibb County with his wife
of nearly 40 years, Janice.
Both Gazafy and Norton
said they particularly like
to attend the meetings of
the Vietnam Veterans of
America in Forsyth because
the members are very wel
coming and friendly. They
encourages other Vietnam-
Era Veterans to become
acquainted with those at
Chapter 946.
Retired Educators
“Hopefully
TSPLOST
Continued from Page 3B
voters approved the first
ESPLOST.
“It’s really lucrative
nowf said Hickman.
“It’s doubled from about
four years ago, from
$300,000-350,000/
month to $600,000-
700,000/month because
of more commerce and
more travelers.”
He said that by law
ESPLOST funds are
used for capital projects,
things that depreciate,
like buildings and buses.
Almost 90 percent of the
school system’s budget
is for salaries and related
personnel expenses,
leaving little extra for
capital projects. The cur
rent ESPLOST is limited
to collecting $24 million,
which it should reach in
less than a year. The cap
on the ESPLOST on the
November ballot is $39.4
million. Hickman said
ESPLOST saves Monroe
County property owners
about 3 mills on taxes.
Hickman said the
school system is looking
for solutions to the traffic
problems, particu
larly on Thornton and
Montpelier Roads. He
said with more students,
narrow roads and no
deceleration lanes, it
gets congested. He said a
large percentage of stu
dents ride buses, which
helps. He said he makes
a point to get in the traf
fic at the beginning and
end of the school day
so that he understands
what parents at dealing
with.
funds can go
to help,” said
Hickman.
“Someday Thornton
should be four-lane.”
Monroe County
Deputy Sam Leggett also
spoke to MCREA. He
is supervisor of the re
source officers assigned
to Monroe County
School campuses. He
supervises six resources
officers, one at each
campus. Currently he is
serving as the resource
officer at the T.G. Scott
Elementary campus
because the deputy
previously assigned to
TGS left M.C. Sheriff’s
Office. Leggett also
worked at TGS last year
and wanted to maintain
continuity. He said it is
good to have the chil
dren know the deputies
at their schools.
Leggett is a 2002 Mary
Persons graduate and
has worked for MCSO
for 16 years, serving
on patrol, canine and
investigations units as
well as working as a
school resource officer.
He did an 80-page report
on school safety after the
mass school shooting in
Uvalde, Texas.
Mike Dorn, who is
an expert on school
safety, was a resource
in compiling the school
safety study. Dorn lives
in Monroe County and
has a child in Monroe
County Schools; he of
fers his knowledge to the
school system without
charge. Dorn developed
Monroe County Schools
current safety plan.
Leggett said classroom
doors stay locked when
ever students are in class.
Leggett said since all
shooters start outside of
schools and make their
way inside, plans are to
give whistles to staff to
draw attention to any
questionable activity.
Another suggestion is
for staff to wear bright-
colored, reflective safety
vests when outside for
recess to make them
easily identifiable. The
same vests can be used
for directing traffic at the
schools. It was also sug
gested that teachers have
radios at recess. Leggett
said he tells teachers not
to be afraid to call for a
lockdown.
“We go straight to a
threat and ignore every
thing else,” said Leggett.
”My job is to make the
school a hard target.”
Dr. Priscilla Doster
thanked Leggett for hav
ing at least two deputies
at each school the day
after the Uvalde shoot
ing; she said families
appreciated the extra
security.
Asked to comment
on the proliferation of
scams, particularly by
telephone, Leggett said
the Sheriff’s Office never
telephones about any
thing like an outstanding
warrant; deputies will
come in person. He said
to beware of sites online
like Facebook market
place and to never send
gift cards for payment;
he advised not to send
any deposit without
researching the recipient.
Georae Foster
Continueafrom Page 1B
ing, while his dad, who was 6’8," was a strict
disciplinarian. Foster was the 6th of six brothers,
followed by three sisters and then a little brother.
Two of his brothers and a sister were able to at
tend his retirement reception on Sept. 6.
After Foster moved to Forsyth, he met his wife,
Earlene. They have been married since 1986.
One role in Forsyth that has been very impor
tant to Foster, and has made him well known
and beloved in the community, is his involve
ment with the summer camp provided for chil
dren for about 20 summers through the Monroe
County Community Improvement Coalition
(MCCIC). The camps were usually for 4 weeks
for about 4 hours Monday-Thursday, emphasiz
ing healthy habits, literacy and respect for others.
He saw a need, got with Annette Lucear, direc
tor of MCCIC, and they found funding for the
camp. He said at first they were able to serve 250
children, ages 5-14, but they had to limit it to
100 children in later years. The organization has
continued to provide summer meals to Forsyth
children but hasn’t been able to restart camp
since covid restrictions. Foster worked with
the older children at the camp, teaching them
calisthenics and life lessons. The young people
learned there was a police officer who would
listen to them and talk with them about what
they thought was important.
“I want to be of service to people, especially
children,” said Foster. “I really missed that, to be
able to pass on to kids what’s happening.”
Foster is also very proud of his own children.
George Foster Jr. played football for University
of Georgia and was a first round NFL draft
choice in 2003. He had a successful career with
the Denver Broncos and played for Detroit and
Indianapolis before retiring and working for the
Rams’ front office, including recruiting some
UGA players. Foster said he is a devoted UGA
fan because of how well his son was treated
there. Foster is proud of his daughters. Kar
men works in probation, LaToya is a nurse and
Cheryl works for a plastics company. His son,
Sean, worked in probation in DeKalb County.
He passed away after a heart attack on Christ
mas Day in 2018. He also lost an older daughter
in May 2003.
“There’s nothing like losing a child,” said Fos
ter. “We know they’re with God and we will see
them again.”
Foster hasn’t been able to contribute to the
police department or the community as he had
before since he was hurt in a vehicle accident
while on patrol Jan. 7,2020. A driver ran into
the driver’s side of his police car near Robins
Financial Credit Union. He said the roll bar on
the police car probably saved his life.
Foster had a disk in his neck replaced and has
continued to deal with pain in his shoulder and
back. He prayed and has decided against any
more surgery so far. He was released by the doc
tor a couple of months ago. He said he is using a
cane but is able to get around now and expects
to continue to improve.
Foster has many memories and many stories
over his decades with Forsyth Police Depart
ment, including solving crimes. Back in 1985 he
carried the Special Olympics Torch on its run
from Piedmont Hills to the State Patrol post.
He used to be an avid runner, covering a course
from Village Oaks Apartments to the Hubbard
School and back three day a week.
In recent years he was tasked to be Forsyth’s
code enforcement officer and began learning
all of the state’s regulations for dealing with
problem properties and their owners. He said
he was the only major in his code enforcement
classes. He created a spread sheet of all the
problem properties and began the process of
getting owners to improve them. He noted that
code enforcement is not working with criminal
offenses and can’t be handled that way.
Foster has a multitude of experience in dealing
with criminal offenses and says that creating
good rapport with citizens is the key to prevent
ing and solving most crimes. He says people
need to respect different cultures and under
stand they need to let other people live accord
ing to their cultures.
“They love their families just like you,” he
said. “I love my country, but I fought for you to
believe however you want to believe.”
He said the best way to deal with people is to
respect them, even if you have to arrest them,
and to always be honest. He said people will
usually work with you if they know you’re
telling them the truth. Foster emphasized how
important it is for law enforcement to develop
relationships with the community’s youth. He
wishes parents would get the message that they
need to parent, to set and enforce rules and
standards, rather than trying to be friends with
their children.
Foster may not be working Forsyth’s streets day
to day now, but he continues to look for ways to
make the community safer and better.