🌱 Drug & Weapons Arrest + Kelly Mill ES Custodian Up For Nat'l Award

Hi all. I'm back with your fresh copy of the Cumming Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off right with a quick dive into everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days, including updates on:

• A Winder man was arrested in Cumming on drug and weapons charges.
• A custodian at Kelly Mill Elementary in Cumming is a top 10 finalist for a nationwide Custodian of the Year award.
• FoCo commissioners voted to amend county’s impact fee ordinance annually to adjust for inflation.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Couple of thunderstorms. High: 60 Low: 35.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, breezy and cool. High: 53 Low: 29.

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Here are the top five stories today in Cumming:

1. A man from Winder was arrested by Forsyth County Sheriff's Office on multiple charges related to drugs and weapons after being found sleeping in a GMC Yukon reported as suspicious by residents. Deputies found the man, Christian Avery Seay, with a pistol in his waistband and a pistol without a serial number, ammunition, and multiple illegal substances were found inside the vehicle. Seay tried to run away twice, but he was captured both times. He was taken to Northside Forsyth Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the pursuit before he was taken to the Forsyth County Jail. (WSB TV)
2. Richard Toomey, head custodian at Kelly Mill Elementary School in Cumming, has been named a finalist for the 2023 Cintas Custodian of the Year award, one of only 10 custodians in the nation to receive the honor. Toomey is the sole finalist from Georgia, and the winner will be determined through public voting. Local residents can cast one vote per day for Toomey until Apr. 14, and the custodian with the most votes will receive a $10,000 prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association's convention in Las Vegas. (WSB TV)
3. Forsyth County commissioners have unanimously approved a measure to amend the county's impact fee ordinance each January to account for inflation. The adjustment will be based on the annual consumer price index and will raise 2022 impact fees by 6.4 percent starting in October. Impact fees are levied on new land developments to fund government services such as roads, parks, and public safety, and the automatic adjustment component was first included in the January 2004 ordinance. (Appen Media)
4. Before the State of the County Address on Mar. 28, attendees can participate in a networking hour called "Coffee and Conversations" with County representatives and business leaders at 10:30 a.m. Those who would like to reserve a lunch can do so at 11:30 a.m. The event has limited open seating available. More details about the schedule of events and registration can be found at FoCoStateoftheCounty.com. (Forsyth County Georgia)
5. Looking to fill up your social calendar this weekend? Lots of fun events are happening in and around Forsyth County. There's a St. Patty's Day Afterparty at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow at Rosati's Pizza and Sports Pub, several live music performances throughout Cumming, and of course, the ongoing Virtual Tour de Forsyth taking place at various trails and parks across the county. Visit the link to view the full roster of upcoming events. (Forsyth News)

Today and tomorrow in Cumming:

Friday, March 17

• 1/2 Price Family Fridays At Cumming Aquatic Center (2:00 PM)
• Masterminds LEGO® Lounge - Get Your Build On! At Post Road Library (4:00 PM)
• St. Paddy's Day Rock Fest At Cumming City Center (4:30 PM)

Saturday, March 18

• STEM Adventures At Kiddie Academy of Cumming (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• If you are considering adopting a pet, there are many pound animals waiting for their forever home, and rescue agencies like Hero Dog Rescue have animals of all ages and sizes. Even if you are unsure about committing to a pet full-time, you may be able to foster a pet until they find their permanent home. (Cumming Patch)
• Kiddie Academy of Cumming is hosting STEM Adventures on Mar. 18 at 10 a.m., and families with children aged two and up are welcome to attend. This free event will offer hands-on activities focused on science, technology, engineering, and math, with a "movement" theme and activities such as making paper airplanes and participating in a bouncing ball rodeo. (Cumming Patch)
• On Apr. 11, Los Rios restaurant will participate in Stick a Fork, a fundraising event for Relay for Life. Diners who mention the fundraiser when paying their bill will have a percentage of their ticket donated to the cause. (Relay For Life of Forsyth County, GA via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• STEM Adventures at Kiddie Academy of Cumming (March 18)
• 3hr Salsa Boot Camp at HDC Studio + Evening Latin Night Tonys Johns Creek (March 18)
• Saint Patrick's Weekend Latin Night @ Tonys Johns Creek Sat Mar 18th (March 18)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (March 21)
• 3hr Bachata Boot camp Atlanta @ HDC Dance & Fitness Sat March 25, 2023 (March 25)
• Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra - On Broadway! (March 25)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! See you soon for your next update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.