🌱 Man Arrested For Domestic Dispute In Cumming + SB 99 Concerns

Hey, Cumming! I'm here in your inbox per usual to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town, including news about...

• An arrest following a domestic dispute in Cumming.
• Local hospital officials and groups' objections to Senate Bill 99, proposed by Cumming Senator Greg Dolezal.
• The Cumming Kiwanis Club's 2023 STAR Student Banquet.

Today's newsletter is sponsored by Heart & Hammer Realty

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Now, today's weather:

Breezy and cooler with rain. High: 51 Low: 36.

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Here are the top stories today in Cumming:

1. Forsyth County deputies have arrested Brett Barrett, 43, on felony aggravated battery charges for a domestic dispute that occurred on Matt Highway in Cumming on Jan. 31. When deputies arrived at the home, Barrett's stepmother said he had been "drinking and shooting a firearm in the backyard," and believed Barrett had also fired a gun inside the home as well. Officials located a Smith & Wesson handgun in a green pickup truck that Barrett was known to drive, as well as several 9mm shell casings and empty beer cans near Barrett's residence. Barrett is now facing charges of aggravated battery, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a firearm while under the influence, and criminal trespass. (Appen Media)
2. Local hospital officials and groups are speaking out against Cumming Senator Greg Dolezal's Senate Bill 99, which would exempt acute care hospitals from adhering to the Georgia Department of Community Health's Certificate of Need requirements if they are located in rural counties with fewer than 50,000 residents. Sen. Dolezal said over 50 acute rural hospitals in Georgia could be affected by the bill, which he says would "help expand rural health care." However, Tim Kibler of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals and others are concerned about how this Bill will impact continued staffing shortages. "Were the state to have this proposal become law, that would be very much a case of internal providers fighting each other for staff. It's a great fear of ours," Kibler said in a statement. (Allied News)
3. Earlier this week, the Cumming Kiwanis Club held its 2023 STAR Student Banquet at the University of North Georgia’s Cumming campus to honor local high school students who have achieved academic excellence and the teachers behind their success. The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) admits students into the STAR Program for receiving the highest SAT scores in the nation and being in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes. This year, 23 STAR students were welcomed into the program — the highest number ever in Forsyth. The full list of award winners for all local high schools, including Alliance Academy for Innovation, Forsyth Central High School, Horizon Christian Academy, North Forsyth High School, Pinecrest Academy, and West Forsyth High School, is available at the link. (Forsyth County News Online)
4. The Forsyth County Fire Department has put a call out for local third graders who want to promote fire safety in the community by participating in its annual Safety Poster Contest. This year's themes are "Get Low and Go," "Electrical Hazards," and "Outdoor Fire Safety." There will be three winners chosen per category based on the clarity of the message through text and visuals, creativity, originality, and artistic quality. Winning designs will be displayed in local government buildings. The winners and their school class will be treated to a dessert party with local firefighters, along with a certificate of accomplishment from Fire Chief Barry Head. Submissions will be accepted via mail addressed to the Forsyth County Fire Department, Attn: Erin Long (3520 Settingdown Road, Cumming, GA 30028) through Mar. 3 and winners will be announced on Mar. 10. (NewsBreak Original)
5. Three student-athletes who hail from Cumming made the University of Georgia's SEC Academic Honor Roll list for their academic performance during the 2022 Spring, Summer, and Fall terms. Sophia Baker, a Health Promotion major on the women's cross country team, and two football players, Oscar Delp (Management) and Drew Southern (Finance) were among the 78 students who made the list. Each student-athlete on the Honor Roll participates in a Southeastern Conference championship sport, has a minimum 3.0 GPA, and has completed at least 24 semester hours. (Georgia Bulldogs)

Today in Cumming:

• Summer VolunTEEN Information Session At Cumming Library (10:30 AM)
• Saturday Family Storytime At Post Road Library (11:00 AM)
• Symphony Orchestra Of North Georgia: Valentine's Dinner And Concert At Influencers Church Español (5:00 PM)
• Luke Latimer At NoFo Brewing Company (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• According to a recent announcement from Bed Bath and Beyond, the company’s location at 1545 Marketplace Blvd is scheduled to be closed permanently in the coming weeks. The Cumming closure is part of an ongoing string of Bed Bath and Beyond shutdowns across the country. (ABC 7)
• Here’s some Super Bowl weekend trivia for you: Georgia ranks 5th in the nation for producing the most NFL athletes, with 1,004 NFL players and 217 Super Bowl players hailing from our state since the 1966-67 season. Check out more Super Bowl stats from across the country in this new BeenVerified study. (BeenVerified)
• The Forsyth County Family YMCA is currently seeking volunteer soccer coaches for its youth programs. Email TaraB@ymcaatlanta.org for more information. (Forsyth County Family YMCA via Instagram)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all Monday for another 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.