🌱 $6,000 School Vouchers + Peach Farmers Eligible For Relief

Hello all! Sean Peek here with your Thursday edition of the Cumming Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. In today's issue, you'll find updates on...

• $6,000 school vouchers are in the Senate again
• Peach farmers in Forsyth County eligible for disaster relief
• Local woman wins $8,000 study abroad scholarship

But first, today's weather:

Hot with plenty of sunshine. High: 91 Low: 68.

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Here are the top five stories in Cumming today:

1. Senator Greg Dolezal, Republican from Cumming, is a storing supporter of a new bill in the Georgia Senate. The bill will provide $6,000 in school vouchers to children in public schools or kindergarten and give a tax credit to parents of homeschooled or private-schooled children. All students enrolled under the program would have to take a standardized state assessment annually, which would guarantee accountability and assess students' academic progress. The bill is scheduled for Senate debate next Tuesday. (Georgia Law News)
2. Forsyth County was named in a list of eligible counties in the Natural Disaster Declaration by the USDA on Tuesday, Jun. 27. The USDA stated that farmers in the county are eligible for disaster loans in connection with the freeze of the peach crop in March 2022. The finds are to provide relief to peach producers for losses suffered. The deadline to apply for the funds is Feb. 26, 2024. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
3. Annabel Miranda, a senior at the University of North Georgia, and a native of Cumming, has won a Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad scholarship. Miranda is currently majoring in history and minoring in art history. She plans to use the $8,000 scholarship to apply to the Graduate Program at the University of Edinburgh. (UNG Newsroom)
4. Jenna Akins, a Cumming native, and a sprinter/jumper with the outdoor long jump record at Harding College, received the College Sports Communicators Academic All -America Honors on Wednesday. She is the 101st student at Harding to receive such honors since 1978. (Harding University Athletics)
5. The Park Lawn Corporation, owner of the Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory in Cumming, has acquired its second business in Georgia. The purchase of the Cobb Funeral Chapel and Cobb Suncrest Memorial Garden was announced Monday. The Park Lawn Corporation is a Canadian company that plans to become the fastest growing in the industry in North America. (Moultrie Observer)

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Today in Cumming:

Thursday, June 29

• North Atlanta Business Networking Lunch At The Black Diamond Grill (11:30 AM)
• Board Called Meeting for FY24 Budget And Millage Approval At Academies Of Creative Education (5:00 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Father's Day has come and gone, but that doesn't mean we have to stop celebrating rad dads, past and present. Patch partnered with T-Mobile to shine a light on exceptional fathers in communities like Cumming. Click here to meet 13 awesome dads and learn more about the legacies they're leaving behind.

From my notebook:

• REMINDER: A free car seat installation checkup event is scheduled for Friday, Jun. 30 at the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. If you have any questions about how to install your child's car seat or any other car seat question you are invited to stop by. Nationally certified technicians will be there and can help you properly install your car seat and answer questions. (Forsyth County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
• PJ Givens was appointed the new Police Chief after a vote by the Cumming City Council. He replaces removed Chief David Marsh. The Forsyth County News will provide updates on this story on their Instagram page. (Forsyth County News via Instagram)
• New group exercise options are in the lineup for the Forsyth County Family YMCA. July will see a weekly array of classes including Zumba, Water Aerobics, Water Challenge, Senior Strength and Youth in Motion. Check out the schedule at the link. (Forsyth County Family YMCA via Instagram)

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Featured events:

• 4th of July weekend Noche Caliente Latin Night @ Tonys John's Creek July 1st (July 1)
• Christmas in July Home Show at the Avalon in Alpharetta (July 23)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow 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.