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October 2, 2013 | forsythherald.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 13, No. 40
Traffic woes plague county’s rapid growth Groups call for slowed, planned development growth By ALDO NAHED aldo@forsythherald.com
Marianne Nash Photography and Design/ www.mariannenash.com
One of Marianne Nash’s photographs of Griffin Egolf that sparked a viral sensation.
SwimForYourLife raises $39K for cancer research
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The growth in southwest Forsyth County has caught many by surprise, but others have seen it creep and say it has to be reduced. While development was predicted to take 10 years to catch up to the slowdown in the economy, growth has happened much quicker for this portion of the county. A number of citizenled groups have sprung up around Forsyth County uniting around the effort to stop high density development and traffic. One of the groups, Forsyth HOAs and Homeowners, has collected some 5,000 signatures for a petition, while another, Fix Forsyth Traffic, generated 300 personalized emails and letters to the county in five days. Other groups that have
been in place for some time have joined forces in the call for slowed development, including the Forsyth Citizens for Responsible Growth and Smart Growth Forsyth County. Forsyth County Commissioner Todd Levent, who is the representative for most of the southwest portion of the county, said he’s working to solve these residents’ concerns. Levent also places much of the responsibility with the state. “There are no homes that have been built that have created new cars from anything I zoned,” Levent said. “They were created two years before I was in office. The day I got in office, I realized we were getting on this path.” Being on the Department of Transportation Committee, Levent said he has held
See TRAFFIC, Page 4
Middle school student swims for former schoolmate By CAITLYN WALTERS walters@northfulton.com CUMMING, Ga. — Griffin Egolf, 10, participated in a swim fundraiser to honor his 11-year-old schoolmate who passed away from a rare form of cancer. On Sept. 21, Egolf swam 500 meters in the open waters
at Lake Lanier Islands Beach and Water Park, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, alongside hundreds of other swimmers, young and old, for the fourth annual SwimForYourLife challenge. Numerous Olympians swam with and cheered on the fundraisers, who all together raised $39,557.
The fundraiser, started by Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau, brings cancer awareness into the swimming community. Egolf jumped at the opportunity to join when he saw the flyer at the Cumming Aquatic Center, where he regularly swims.
See SWIM, Page 25
Motorists on Mullinax Road say they average 30 minutes to travel two miles.