Naked, drunk intruder found Woman calls 911 after finding man in garage ►►page 2
City park renovations Cumming City Park to undergo face-lift ►►page 6
A+ finalist in spelling bee
Four awarded among numerous contestants ►►page 8
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way 5K Local charity hosts 5K to raise awareness on teen suicide ►►page 7
January 29, 2014 | forsythherald.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 17, No. 5
Cumming mayor, council sworn-in Officials first elected more than 45 years ago
Aldo Nahed/Staff
Forsyth County Superior Court Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley at the podium recognizing the Forsyth County Drug Court Program staff.
After 10 years, drug court recounts success
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Neville. Prior to being elected mayor in 1970 (his term began 1971), Gravitt, 72, served a term as a member of the Cumming City Council. That’s a total of 46 years in By ALDO NAHED office. aldo@forsythherald.com “I pledge to the people of Georgia and Forsyth County CUMMING, Ga. — H. Ford to work hard now as I did all Gravitt, the city of Cumming’s those years ago,” Gravitt told mayor, entered his 43rd attendees of the swearyear of service, further ing-in ceremony. solidifying the title “We’ve got a lot of of longest-serving video o a projects on the mayor in Georgia. h drawing board Gravitt, along that we plan to with Councilwork on, and member Rupert we have a great Sexton, who was council that any first elected in yth . city would be 1970, and Counher ald proud to have.” cilmember Quincy Holton, 77, is a Holton, first elected Cumming native who in 1969, were sworn-in Jan. 21 by Cumming Municipal Court Judge Richard See SWORN, Page 7
240 graduate rigorous 18-month program By ALDO NAHED aldo@forsythherald.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — From those who enter Forsyth County Felony Drug Court program, about 40 percent are terminated before graduation. But for about 240 graduates, the road to recovery and the rate of success is good. Only 13 percent of the graduates will use drugs again, Chief Judge of Forsyth County Superior Court Jeffrey
S. Bagley. “We certainly wish these statistics were lower,” Bagley said. “We would never compromise the integrity of the program just to improve statistics. We are here to change lives.” Currently, there are about 80 participants being monitored in the program, an average number on the program. The Forsyth County Felony Drug Court celebrated its tenth anniversary with a special graduation ceremony Jan.
17 at the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College. Bagley conducted the graduation ceremony for four graduates after welcoming visiting judges, state and local officials and other dignitaries. Jennifer Johnston, Forsyth County Drug Court coordinator, said the participants in the 18-month program go through treatment groups, community support group
See COURT, Page 21
Aldo Nahed/staff
City of Cumming Council members, from left: Ralph Perry, Rupert Sexton, Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, John Pugh, Quincy Holton, Lewis Ledbetter and Municipal Court Judge Richard Neville.