Serial burglar caught
Suspected in gas station, convenience store thefts ►►page 3
Road projects get $31M boost County plans roads completed by 2016 ►►page 6
Team Kate Holiday Bazaar
Fundraiser to help 5-year-old with liver failure ►►page 13
Talley's Folly Cumming Playhouse brings classic to stage ►►page 7
October 30, 2013 | forsythherald.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 13, No. 44
Forsyth says ‘no thanks’ to Alpharetta annex deal By ALDO NAHED and JONATHAN COPSEY aldo@forsythherald.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The city of Alpharetta has proposed annexing five-square miles of Forsyth County. Forsyth County commissioners voted unanimously to nix that idea at their Oct. 22 work session. Forsyth County Attorney Ken Jarrard said on Oct. 17, Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle proposed in a letter to annex the area of south Forsyth County along the Ga. 400 corridor. In the proposal, the county would provide services to the area and the city would provide city services. The letter indicates that the CAITLYN WALTERS/Staff
Danielle Heslin as “Dorothy,” Chase Hague as “Tin Man,” and Cara Flower as “Scarecrow” finish the end of Act I.
Students perform musical ‘Wizard of Oz’ By CAITLYN WALTERS walters@northfulton.com CUMMING, Ga. — Riverwatch Middle School presents the musical “The Wizard of Oz” with six shows from Nov. 6 through Nov. 9. The drama department director, Miriam Reynolds, said the school has performed this musical before, but this time, the drama department chose the “young performer’s edition,” which she said suits the 96-member cast well.
“This one is more accessible and not as long,” Reynolds said. “It’s a great version and tells the story very beautifully.” Reynolds said she doublecasted the lead roles to allow more students to experience musical theater, and because so many auditioned. Reynolds said this group of students has worked diligently for weeks outside of school hours to put together this performance that “they are going to knock out of the
park.” “I am really blessed to have such amazing kids,” Reynolds said. “They are so dedicated, and, for most of them, this is their first time on stage.” For several Saturdays, Reynolds said she and several parent volunteers have created the 36-foot-wide by 5-foot-high stage with three levels that allows every child to be seen.
See OZ, Page 11
city of Alpharetta has an interest in coming together with the county to produce a win-win situation. Georgia code addresses the issue of a city annexing across county boundaries, Jarrard said. The typical way is that 100 percent of property owners in the affected area can petition the city to annex. The city would then forward the petition to the county. The county can then oppose or comply. “I don’t think that’s what’s being done here,” Jarrard said. “This is more of a ‘here’s what we’d like to do, and we would like to join forces and basically seek legislation by the General Assembly of the state of Geor-
See ANNEX, Page 4
Forsyth Co. unlikely to buy Cauley Creek Opts to build own Shakerag facility in South Forsyth By ALDO NAHED aldo@forsythherald.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The owner of a water treatment facility in Johns Creek came back with an offer the county can and will likely refuse. This despite the facility’s owner saying he would save the county millions. Cauley Creek Chief Executive Officer Ron Green, who ran the water reuse facility for
Fulton County until Fulton commissioners abruptly terminated the contract last year, said he would lower the price to have the plant up and running for $20 million. Green says his system, which is a 5 million gallon per day plant, will save at least $19 million compared to building from scratch because it’s ready to go. The Cauley Creek water reclamation facility, located off Bell Road in Johns Creek, served as a cheaper source of water irrigation for golf courses, ball fields and water treat-
See CAULEY, Page 4