🌱 Shooting Leaves One Dead + UNG Expansion + 'Click It Or Ticket'

Morning, neighbors. I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh edition of the Cumming Patch newsletter. Keep reading for the most important things happening these days in town. Today's issue includes updates on:

• Warehouse shooting leaves one dead and another in critical condition
• Parent permission needed to check out library books
• "Click it or Ticket" seatbelt safety campaign

But first, today's weather:

Cooler; a p.m. t-storm or two. High: 69 Low: 58.

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Here are the top five stories in Cumming today:

1. A shooting in Cumming has left one man dead and the other in critical condition. The shooting happened on Ivy Street around 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday. Police believe that the two men were having a physical altercation when they both drew their guns and fired at each other. When officers arrived both men had gunshot wounds, one of them dead on the scene. No arrests have been made at this time. Authorities say the two men were temporary workers at the warehouse where the shooting happened. (11 Alive)
2. An event at the University of North Georgia allowed the community to see the progress of the university's expansion. During the inaugural Backyard Bash, community members were able to see the progress happening on the 27,300-square-foot campus expansion that is bringing more bachelor's degree programs to the school and an enrollment capacity of 2,200 students. The expansion will provide 11 new instructional areas and serve new bachelor's programs, such as special education, computer science, management, and international affairs. The school looks forward to what this expansion will offer when it is complete in 2024. (UNG)
3. Forsyth County students will have to get a parent's signature to check out certain books at the school's library. This requirement comes after a parent challenged a high school on a book called "The Handsome Girl and Her Beautiful Boy,” which they felt broke the district’s Harmful to Minors Policy. The parent wanted to book removed from the school but the principal decided that the book did not fall under the policy, deciding to keep the book at the high school. The same parent went to the Board of Education meeting with the same intention of getting the book removed from the school, but they came to the same decision that the book did not fall under the policy guidelines. The board did, however, create the new policy that certain books must have a parent's signature to be released to a student. (NewsBreak)
4. The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) is participating in the "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement campaign until Memorial Day weekend. The campaign aims to ensure compliance with Georgia's seat belt and child passenger safety laws in order to save lives. Despite the benefits of seat belt usage, Georgia has seen an increase in traffic crash deaths, with a 20 percent rise since 2018. To promote safe driving during the summer, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the FCSO have also launched the "100 Days of Summer HEAT" mobilization, emphasizing safe speeds, avoiding distractions, wearing seat belts, and not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. (NewsBreak)
5. Forsyth County nonprofit Forsyth Community Clinic has opened a free health clinic. The new clinic will be able to serve the 27,000 uninsured residents in the county, now giving them access to health care when they need it. Evan Shoemake, the executive director of the nonprofit, said that this new free clinic is important to him because he was saved by a free clinic in New York City. He believes everyone should have access to the health care resources that they need. (Appen Media)

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Today in Cumming:

• Manny Sazon Food Truck At NoFo Brew Co (4:00 PM)
• Twilight Tales At Cumming Library (6:30 PM)
• Bat Walk At Hampton Park Library (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Sophomore Tess Krogman at West Forsyth High School competed in two state championships for her school. She first competed in the 4x800 race with the track and field team. The following day she played in the Lacross State Championship game. (Forsyth Sports via Instagram)
• The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help with an investigation. Police are asking anyone who was in the McFarland Parkway and Union Hill Road area on Tuesday around 6:30 a.m. and witnessed a crash between a Jeep Wrangler and a large Ford truck to contact the office at (770) 781-3087. (Forsyth County Sheriff's Office via Facebook)
• An update from the coroner's office regarding the body found in Lake Lanier has been released. Police are still investigating the crime after the coroner stated the initial reports confirming the individual drowned were not accurate. (Forsyth County News via Instagram)

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That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— 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.