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August 27, 2014 | forsythherald.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 17, No. 34
Citizens want second city study funded Is Sharon Springs feasible? By ALDO NAHED aldo@forsythherald.com
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See DRUGS, Page 33
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CUMMING, Ga. — Spread across a table were drugs of every sort, from heroin and marijuana to Xanax and “ecstasy.” A concerned parent asks a Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputy about “black tar heroin.” The deputy points to a container filled with heroin that is common in the area. This was one of the booths set up during the third Drug
Awareness Summit on Aug. 19 at the Forsyth Conference Center. The event is put together by the Forsyth County Drug Awareness Council, which formed last year to address concerns of young people addicted to drugs. “For far too long, this is something that we have not talked about,” said Cindy Jones Mills, the Forsyth County commissioner who founded the Drug Awareness Council. “There are a lot of people
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By ALDO NAHED aldo@forsythherald.com
suffering in our community,” she said. Mills said it’s good for parents to be aware because children who start using in middle school are 90 percent more likely to become addicts. “Every year that you can prevent your child using, you have greatly put off the chance of them being an addict,” Mills said. At the summit, participants heard from Mary Heard, a mother whose son became an addict. “Whatever help you seek,
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Community takes part in Drug Summit
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Parents get informed on drugs
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ALDO NAHED/STAFF
Where are kids hiding drugs? Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputies show where children hide drugs from parents.
to see if one captures the intent and will of FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. the people,” — Last summer a group of Dudgeon south Forsyth residents met writes. “I into discuss the future of the tend to lead county. some town By November, a group halls, online called the Sharon Springs AlBARLAG forums and liance formed and in January focus groups on this subject of this year, they announced in the fall to discuss our govthey would study the possiernance structure.” bility of forming a new city in To become a city, the the county. state requires a feasibility The City of Sharon Springs is still just a thought, study be performed by the Carl Vinson Institute of the said Phillip Barlag, one of University of Georgia. The the Sharon Spring Alliance cities of Milton, Johns Creek founders, but the group’s and Sandy Springs in Fulton mission continues to be reCounty had to go through a search and awareness. similar process before cityThe self-funded group hood. says there’s been a shift and Soon after Dudgeon’s letit has been partly credited to ter, a supporter contactan editorial Rep. Mike ed Barlag and said Dudgeon wrote they were inspired in the Forsyth MA to match every dolCounty News. THE P ON lar raised for the Dudgeon feasibility study asks if the up to $1,500 dolcounty growth lars. warrants new The group accities, or perYTH . cepted the chalhaps new comHER ALD lenge and posted it missioners to join on Facebook and not the five districts, or only did they beat it, but if consolidating Forhad a couple of other people syth County with the City of matching up to $2,000. Cumming would make more In a 24 hour period, sense. “We need robust civic discussion on these topics See CITY, Page 9