Beware of police impersonators
Millage rate rises
Forsyth man cited for using emergency lights, siren ►►PAGE 2
Patriotic cookies
BOC to vote July 16 ►►PAGE 5
Local church treats soldiers ►► PAGE 12
One man’s trash is this man’s treasure Charles Atchison creates instruments from recyclables ►►PAGE 14
July 15, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 29
Steam engines sound on Cumming square By HILLARY HUNNINGS news@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. – The ThomasMashburn Memorial parade returned to downtown Cumming July 4 celebrating the nation’s independence as well as a local legacy – the steam engine. The county’s Fourth of July tradition began in 1958, when A.G. Glenn Thomas drove his 1912 45 HP Case steam engine around the courthouse square. Several years after, other engines joined. Dr. Jim Mashburn eventually bought his own steam engine and organized a parade. “They were the only two people around here who had steam engines,” said local Bud Thomas, no relation to A.G. Glenn Thomas. Bud Thomas, born in Cumming in 1935, drove a steam engine in this year’s parade alongside his granddaughter. “I was born in May. There’s a picture of me, 2 months old, of him holding me while
driving,” said Thomas’ nowgrown granddaughter Caroline Chester. But Thomas began working on steam engines long before. “My uncle used to work on engines and he came by the house one morning,” said Thomas. “He said Dr. Jim wants me to come work on his old engine. “He said, ‘I want you to come with me. You can work on them.’” Today, Thomas and Chester carry on the tradition with family. “It’s sort of a family reunion for us. We spend the week out here working on them and hanging out. We get to see everybody,” said Chester. Despite the rain, a crowd still formed along the street. Onlookers waved American flags as children grabbed candy tossed into the crowd. All the while, steam engines paraded along their familiar path, sounding age-old locomotive signals.
A crowd lines the street watching the parade of steam engines and floats.
HILLARY HUNNINGS/STAFF
No rise in public injuries New details emerge on after fireworks made legal rainbow flag torching By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com
By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Now that Georgia has legalized the sale of many types of fireworks, including bottle rockets, firecrackers and Roman candles, county officials say they haven’t
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Homeowners wanting to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to make samesex marriage legal in all 50 states had a frightening awakening June 30 in northwest Forsyth County off Hurt Bridge Road.
See HARM, Page 4
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New details released in a Forsyth County Sheriff’s report show the homeowners’ property was damaged, with flowers pulled from the ground, rocks thrown around the yard, bark stripped off a peach tree and their gay pride rainbow flag burned on the windshield of their car. Damages totaled $1,640.
See FLAG, Page 21
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