🌱 Local Man Arrested For Theft + Forsyth Co. Fills Empty Positions

Hello all. It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Cumming Patch newsletter — here to explain everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town. In today's issue, you'll find news about:

• Local man arrested on 12 counts of theft dating back to 2022
• Forsyth County officials filling vacant spots in several departments
• New houses for sale in and around Cumming

But first, today's weather:

Brief afternoon showers. High: 69 Low: 52.

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Here are the top five stories today in Cumming:

1. Harley Neal of Cumming was arrested on Feb. 10 on 12 total counts of both felony and misdemeanor theft by taking dating as far back as Oct. 8, 2022. Forsyth County police were tipped off by an Iowa City police officer who called sheriffs because someone in their jurisdiction sent Neal $2,000. According to the manager of Shady Grove RV Park, where Neal lived, Neal received envelopes that appeared to hold cash and card readers on a weekly basis —even though he did not operate a business. Neal is currently being held at Forsyth County Jail with a bond amount of $110,240. (Appen Media)
2. The Forsyth County government has been hard at work filling positions in several departments to serve the community. County officials have hired Tom Cisco as the director of the Forsyth County Emergency Management Agency, Jerry Ramos as a code compliance director, and Joel Benton as the new chief appraisal and director of the Forsyth County Board of Accessors. All of these individuals are coming into these roles with previous experience, making them excellent candidates to fill the shoes of those before them. (Forsyth News)
3. On Sunday afternoon, a crash in a construction zone down the road in Atlanta ended with a car being crushed by a scaffold. The accident happened at the busy intersection of Spring St. and 10th St. Fire officials reported to the site to see the gold Toyota Camry crushed under the scaffolding and other construction materials. Luckily, no injuries were reported in the incident. (11alive.com)
4. Looking for a new home nearby? Here are five newly-listed houses in and around Cumming. Three of the properties feature five bedrooms, making them a good fit for larger families. You can click on the link for each listing for more information on the properties, including pricing and photos. (Cumming Patch)
5. Are you proud of your community? Do you want to use your talents to provide a valuable resource to your neighbors? Patch is looking to hire a local curator to take the helm of the Cumming newsletter. Visit the link for more details on the role and how to apply. (Cumming Patch)

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Today in Cumming:

• Jazzercise Cumming - First Class Free At Arseneau Dance Academy (9:30 AM)
• American Red Cross Blood Drive At Post Road Library (2:00 PM)
• Family PJ Storytime At Sharon Forks Library (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Saturday, Mar. 4 is Georgia Beer Day, and NoFo Brew Co. is celebrating! Proceeds from Beer Day benefit the Georgia Craft Brewers Guild and its member breweries. Visit the link for more information, including a list of participating locations. (Georgia Craft Brewers Guild)
• Congratulations to the Forsyth Central High School varsity academic team on winning second place at the Georgia Regional Academic Bowl State Finals! The team went undefeated all the way until the finals where they lost by only one question. (Forsyth Central High School via Facebook)
• Coal Mountain Elementary families: today begins "Read Across America" — and the theme for the day is red, white, and blue! Visit the link for the full list of this week's themes. (Coal Mountain Elementary via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (February 28)

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

— 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.