🌱 Settingdown Creek Sewage Spill Update + Nighthawk Preview Events

Hello and happy Tuesday! I'm back in your inbox this morning with everything you need to know about what's happening in Cumming. In today's issue, you'll read about these stories and more...

• Updates on Friday's sewage spill in Settingdown Creek.
• How House Bill 163 will help local police officers pay off student debt.
• Upcoming Nighthawk Preview events for local high school students interested in UNG.

Today's newsletter is sponsored by Heart & Hammer Realty

Meet a local Realtor with a heart — and a hammer

Imagine for a moment you could find a local real estate agent with

• amazing energy
• deep knowledge of the changing market in Cumming and the Atlanta area
• an obsession with customer service
• rave reviews from past clients

Now imagine that Realtor came with a top-notch builder — someone who could help you evaluate a home or who could help you get a home ready to sell for the best price.

Impossible, you’re probably thinking.

Meet Amanda and Andy Shelton of Heart & Hammer Realty. She’s a Top 20% Keller Williams agent with deep expertise in the North Atlanta market. He’s an experienced builder who can evaluate a home from the inside out — and do something about it.

“He likes to say he’s the heart, and I’m the hammer,” Amanda says. “But it’s the opposite — unless we’re negotiating.”

Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, build or invest, work with a trusted local team who can serve as your partners in this rapidly evolving market. Call or text Amanda today at 770.572.0722, or email her at amandashelton@kw.com.

Now, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 66 Low: 48.

Are you a business owner or marketer in Cumming who wants to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales? If that's you, then I invite you to see how our newsletter sponsorships combine our local audience reach with your expertise to attract new customers. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top five stories today in Cumming:

1. More information has been released on the sewage spill that occurred in Settingdown Creek in Forsyth County on Feb. 10. At the time, a contractor working for the City of Cumming hit a sewer force main while installing a water main, releasing about 4,000 gallons of sewage into the creek. The ground affected by the spill has been cleaned and Forsyth County is complying with Environmental Protection Division guidelines. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division was notified and the creek will be monitored for the next year. (NewsBreak Original)
2. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has proposed a program to repay student loans for up to 800 new local and state police officers. The state would spend up to $3.25 million to provide up to $20,000 in student loan repayments per police officer, at a pace of $4,000 a year for five years. The aid would go to officers hired in the state for the first time after Jan. 1, 2023. The police officer debt repayment program would be administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission; loan repayments would be distributed to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Any full-time police officers taking courses to earn a degree would also be eligible for the program regardless of their academic major. (Police News)
3. The University of North Georgia is hosting Nighthawk Preview events for high school students this spring. These events are open to all high school students and will allow prospective students to explore the university's five campuses, including information sessions and tours. The events will be led by academic departments and current UNG students. The Cumming Campus Nighthawk Preview will take place on Mar. 25 and will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (News at UNG)
4. The Forsyth County Development Authority will be meeting this Thursday, Feb. 16, at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Board Room at Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College (3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd). Agenda items include the Secretary/Treasurer’s Report and updates on several items, including Surf Atlanta and Veterans’ Memorial. View the full agenda on the county website. (Forsyth County Georgia)
5. The "TikTok ban" bill was unanimously approved by a Georgia Senate committee on Monday. The legislation would codify a ban on the use of TikTok on state-owned devices and is based on concerns over the Chinese Communist Party having access to state government data through the Chinese-owned video hosting service. Exceptions would be made for law enforcement, cybersecurity research and development, and judicial and legislative proceedings. The bill will next head to the Senate floor for a vote. (Online Athens)

Today in Cumming:

• Toddler Tales Storytime At Cumming Library (10:00 AM)
• Valentine's Day At Summits Wayside Tavern (11:00 AM)
• Valentine’s Cookie Decorating Workshop At NoFo Bew Co & Distillery (6:00 PM)
• Live Music Bingo At The Black Diamond Grill (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a new career opportunity? Several employers in and around Cumming are hiring for full-time and part-time work. (Cumming Patch)
• Congrats to Sawnee Elementary's robotics teams for a great performance at the Last Chance Slapshot Event in Marietta on Saturday! One team even made it to the finals, with their match-up scoring the second-highest point value of the competition. (Sawnee Elementary via Facebook)
• If you've ever wanted to see Beyonce live, now might be your chance. The pop superstar added a third Atlanta performance to her latest world tour. (Atlanta Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (February 14)
• Havana Nights Atlanta Valentines Day - Dance lesson, 3 course Dinner, & Latin dancing Tues Feb 14th (February 14)
• Pretty in Pink Noche Caliente Latin Night Atlanta @ Tonys Johns Creek Sat Feb 18, 2023 (February 18)
• BJ's Wholesale Club Pre-opening Limited-time Offer (February 23)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with 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.