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May 6, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 19
Doug Sorrells named interim councilman Rupert Sexton officially retires after 44 years in office By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com
Students filled goody bags to donate to those in need.
KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF
Piney Grove MS hosts Great Day of Giving By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Students from Piney Grove Middle School (PGMS) took a day away from their usual lessons to give back to their community. Over 1,400 students participated in 70 different projects including sorting cans for a food pantry, cleaning up roadways and setting up Relay for Life. Kathleen Kraynick, a parent volunteer with PGMS, said the event started eight years ago after Principal Terri North
came up with the idea. “She gathered together a group of parent volunteers to kick it off,” Kraynick said. “The idea was to take every student and staff member with a couple hundred parent volunteers to go out into the community for a day of service each school year.” The projects are throughout the county and even extend into North Fulton and Canton, Kraynick said. During the first day of giving, a group went to Cumming Fairgrounds to help set up for Relay for Life, Kraynick said.
“The coordinators were astounded at how much was covered that day,” Kraynick said. “They actually ended up cancelling their volunteers they had signed up because PGMS took care of it all. Every year they now come to PGMS and ask when the day of giving is to do Relay for Life in conjunction with it to use the students to do the set up.” Kraynick said the growth of the project has been phenomenal and is something many different groups of
See GIVING, Page 26
Hug your Mom!
CUMMING, Ga. — Doug Sorrells was named an interim councilman for the city of Cumming May 1. Sorrels will serve until July 21 to give the county the opportunity to hold a special election to fill retiring Councilman Rupert Sexton’s unexpired term. The special election will be held on June 16. Sorrells was Forsyth County Clerk of Courts for 12 years and also served on the Forsyth County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections from 2010 to February 2015.
I felt [Sorrells], being the person he was, would be the right one to be appointed for the interim, which is only for a few meetings.” H. FORD GRAVITT Cumming mayor Crystal Ledford, public information assistant for the city, said because the special election will take place the same night as a council meeting and the polls will still be
KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF
Rupert Sexton and his wife Dana reminisce about his time in office. open, they won’t be able to swear in the elected person until the next meeting, on July 21. The elected person will be in office for Post 1 until Dec. 31, 2017, which would have been the end of Sexton’s term. Ledford said interested parties should contact Jeff Honea, city clerk, for qualifying information. The qualifying period is May 12-14 and the fee is $180. Mayor H. Ford Gravitt said because Sorrells has a history working in the government, he felt he was a good choice.
See SEXTON, Page 29
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