CummingHome.com Local news, events, and business from Cumming, GA and Forsyth County

Early Voting for March 6 Presidential Preference Primary/Special Election Starts Monday
Early Voting for the March 6 Presidential Preference Primary/Special Election will begin Monday, February 13, and will run through Saturday, February 25. Forsyth County registered voters may cast their ballot during Early Voting at the Forsyth County Administration Building, located at 110 E. Main Street in Cumming...
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Hud Awards Georgia Housing Authorities Over $64 Million to Improve, Preserve Nation’s Public Housing Stock
Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan awarded today public housing authorities in Georgia $64,067,418 that will be used to make major large-scale improvements to their public housing units...
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Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich Will Address the Forsyth County Republican Party Mass Precinct Meeting
Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich has his sights set on Georgia. With Super Tuesday less than a month away, Gingrich is hoping to turn the corner of a highly contested Presidential race with Georgia. Ten states will vote on March 6^th and Georgia will be the catch of the day with 76 delegates at stake, the fourth largest delegate count in the country...
 
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State Rep. Mike Dudgeon Joins Call to Repeal 17th Amendment
The first term freshman state rep from Cumming says he and 31 other legislators thought about introducing the non binding resolution for more than a year. In an exclusive interview with CummingHome.com, Dudgeon explained his role and what it could me to Georgians and Americans at large...
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Hall County Gets Second Chance at State House Maps
After approving the state House maps last year and having them gain preclearance by the U.S. Justice Department, state lawmakers decided last week they wanted a do over. By a vote of 108-64 in the House and 35-18 in the Senate, they got their wish. Voting closely followed party lines with all Republican representatives but two..
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Historic Sunset Legislation Passes the Senate
The Georgia Senate today passed SB 223 with a vote of 37 to 12, showing tremendous bipartisan support for the measure. Sponsored by William Ligon (R-Waverly), this legislation provides a mechanism for government oversight and accountability...
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Rep. Graves Introduces Legislation to Make Hidden Taxes and Fees on Airline Tickets Transparent to Consumers
“The federal government should not be inserting itself in the private sector to limit consumers’ ability to see how much they’re getting taxed. If the American people can’t see these costs clearly, I fear it will be easier these fees and taxes to be raised without their knowledge.”...
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Forsyth County Commissioners Recognize Linda Whittle
At their January 19 meeting, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners recognized Linda Whittle for her years of dedicated service as a board member for the Department of Family and Children Services...
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Modifications to Forsyth County Alcohol Ordinance Adopted (Employee Alcohol Sales Permit)
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners adopted modifications to Ordinance No. 68, Forsyth County's Alcohol Ordinance, at their regular meeting Thursday, January 19, 2012. The modifications to Forsyth County's Alcohol Ordinance are to modify the criteria for issuance of an employee alcohol sales permit, specifically with respect to automatic disqualifying events and employee alcohol sales permit application requirements...
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Proposed Legislation to Curb Metal Theft
Similar to other states, Georgia continues to be plagued by a growing trend of metal thefts. Metals such as copper, aluminum, brass and bronze are in high demand due to rising metal prices. Over the past several years, copper prices have skyrocketed to nearly $3.29 per pound, resulting in a significant increase in metal thefts throughout the state...
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Rep. Graves Opposes President Obama's Request to Raise Debt Ceiling
U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-09) issued the following statement after voting for H.J. Res. 98. The resolution resolves that the House of Representatives, along with the Senate, disapproves of President Obama’s exercise of authority to increase the debt limit by $1.2 trillion. The President’s request is the second debt limit increase tranche provided by the Budget Control Act. It would increase the national debt to a total of $16.394 trillion. Rep. Graves voted against the Budget Control Act last August. The national debt currently stands at $15.194 trillion...
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Forsyth County Procurement Director Receives Professional Service Award
The Georgia Chapter of the National Institute of Government Purchasing, Inc. (GANIGP) recently awarded its 2011 Outstanding Service of the Year Award to Forsyth County Procurement Director Donna Kukarola. The award was given to Kukarola by her peers in recognition of her contributions of time and energy to promote professionalism, membership and activities of the GANIGP...
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Forsyth County Commissioners Recognize Cindy J. Mills
At their January 5 meeting, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners presented a Resolution of Commendation to Cindy J. Mills, who recently resigned her position on the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Board. The Resolution commended Mills for her dedication to Forsyth County and to the Parks and Recreation Board...
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Amendments to Forsyth County Sign Ordinance Approved
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved amendments to the Forsyth County Sign Ordinance at the board's regular meeting on Thursday, January 5, 2012. The amendments are specifically related to monument sign design and edits related to the Planning Department name change...
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Forsyth Board of Commissioners votes Jim Boff Chairman & Streamlines Chairman’s Authority With Newly Adopted Rules
Forsyth County Board of Commissioners began the New Year by voting District 5 Commissioner Jim Boff as its new chairman, formerly held by District 2 Commissioner Brian Tam, while retaining District 4 Commissioner Patrick Bell as Vice Chairman. BOC also backs-off shifting Parks & Rec management to the board...
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Public Hearing Regarding Forsyth County Alcohol Ordinance (Employee Alcohol Sales Permit)
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider amending Ordinance No. 68, Forsyth County's Alcohol Ordinance, at their regular meeting Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 5 p.m. The purpose of the public hearing shall be for public review and comment concerning proposed modifications to Forsyth County's Alcohol Ordinance, specifically to modify the criteria for issuance of an employee alcohol sales permit...
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Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Changes to Forsyth County Sign Ordinance
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to the Forsyth County Sign Ordinance at the board's regular meeting on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 5 p.m...
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Rep. Peake Introduces Legislation Allowing Non-partisan Elections of Local Officials
State Representative Allen Peake (R-Macon) recently pre-filed House Bill 682, which would allow counties to petition their local legislative delegation to make the office of county commissioner, along with other county-wide elected offices, non-partisan.. Currently, the only counties where state law allows the offices of the county governing authority to be nonpartisan are Georgia’s seven consolidated governments...
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Commissioner Patrick Bell Addresses Recent Park & Rec Issue
Much discussion has occurred in different forums regarding my motivations in supporting potential changes to the Park and Recreation Ordinance regarding county park and facility usage. However, much of the motivations attributed to me bear no resemblance to the truth. Let me first explain what this is NOT about. This is not about having BoC oversight into the day-to-day operations of county parks. This is also not an attempt to disband, overrule, or strip power away from the Park and Recreation Board or any booster club...
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Graves Statement on Bob Barr Decision not to Run for Congress in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Tom Graves released the following statement after former Congressman Bob Barr announced today he would not be challenging Rep. Graves in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District:

"Julie and I appreciate Bob and Jeri’s continued commitment to serving our nation.  During his tenure in Congress, I closely followed Bob’s work, learning much from his principled positions for less government and more personal freedom...

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Forsyth County Extends Local Business Initiative
During their October 11 work session, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted to extend the existing Local Business Initiative through December 31, 2012, and to make some revisions to the program's criteria. The revisions, which will go into effect January 1, 2012, remove the previous caps on annual gross receipts and number of full-time employees, and increased the local preference credit...
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Moody's Confirms Forsyth County's Aaa Rating Outlook is Stable
Forsyth County is one of only three top-rated counties in state. Moody's Investors Service has announced that the outlook on Forsyth County's Aaa rating has been confirmed as stable...
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The Taxman Cometh Again - Here Comes the T-SPLOST!
First, it was a $195 million special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) for education. Next, it was a $200 million SPLOST to expand the jail and build a new courthouse. Now comes the T-SPLOST a tax that proponents say will cure all of metro Atlanta's traffic congestion ills via rapid transit and road improvement projects. Matthew Fowler, assistant planning director for Georgia Department of Transportation, visited Cumming Thursday to pitch the T-SPLOST during the Economic Development Luncheon at Lanier Tech's Forsyth Conference Center...
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Forsyth County Commissioners Recognize Jayne Iglesias and David Seago
At their November 17 meeting, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners presented Resolutions of recognition to Jayne Iglesias and David Seago for their efforts to educate citizens about the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) VII program...
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Duane Piper Announces Campaign for Forsyth County Sheriff
Former sheriff department employee Duane Piper announced that he is running for sheriff while speaking to the Forsyth County Tea Party.   Piper will challenge incumbent Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton in the 2012 Republican primary.  During his comments to the Tea Party, Piper focused on his plan to control the Forsyth County Sheriff department’s budget by reducing spending and increasing accountability...
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Jury Rules in Favor of Tea Party Patriots, Inc. in Battle Over IP, Trademark Rights
After four days of testimony, a Cobb County jury has ruled in favor of Tea Party Patriots, Inc. in a more than two year battle over who owns its email list and intellectual property.  At odds are two recognized figures within the two and a half year old Tea Party Movement--two founders of the original Tea Party Patriots organization—Roswell, GA resident, Amy Kremer currently Chairman of Tea Party Express, and TPP President, Jenny Beth Martin, of Kennesaw, GA—co-workers after CNBC reporter, Rick Santelli called for ‘a tea party’ in protest to a pending stimulus bill by President Barak Obama and Congress in February of 2009...
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Georgia Democrats Energized by Election Results
With Tuesday’s election results nearly complete, Georgia Democrats are energized by the beginning of a Democratic resurgence and further confirmation that their “5% Solution” is winning crucial races...
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Forsyth County SPLOST VII Passes by 3.8%
Forsyth County Special Election - Unofficial and Incomplete Results: Registered Voters 96,370 - Cards Cast 13,177 13.67%...
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Congressman Rob Woodall Will Speak to the Forsyth County Republican Party November 8
Please join us on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at our last regular meeting of the year as we welcome guest speaker, Congressman Rob Woodall.  Congressman Woodall is serving his first term in the United States House of Representatives and will be sharing his experiences in Washington D.C...
 
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Amendments to Forsyth County Alcohol Ordinance Approved
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved amendments to Ordinance No. 68, Forsyth County’s Alcohol Ordinance, at the board’s regular meeting on Thursday, November 3, 2011. Public hearings regarding these amendments were held October 6, 2011 and November 3, 2011...
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