Townhomes OK’d by city 50 homes settle lawsuit ►►PAGE 4
Cigar store burglar nabbed
Suspect broke into nearly 30 stores in Fulton, Forsyth ►►PAGE 6
Heroin use on the rise Teens turn to pills, drugs ►►PAGE 9
Kickin’ it with Cecily Mohammed Frosh ’Hooch kicker sets her sights on Varsity team ►►PAGE 27
September 18, 2014 | northfulton.com | 73,500 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 37
Cities begin Old Ala. improvement projects Roadwork starts at Medlock Bridge, State Bridge roads By HATCHER HURD hatcher@northfulton.com
Remembering 9/11 Johns Creek fire and police officers are the special guests at the Sept. 11 Patriots Day observances to mark the 9/11 terrorist attack. Some 90 visitors attended the service at Newtown Park Amphitheater. See story, Page 24. HATCHER HURD/STAFF
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Johns Creek motorists are seeing road improvements this month on Medlock-State Bridge roads and on Old Alabama Road, but there will be a price to pay. While motorists can expect some slowdowns along the way, no road closings are anticipated. Construction crews have begun extending the southbound right-turn lane between State Bridge Road and Old Alabama Road and a northbound turn lane onto Medlock Crossing Parkway. During construction, adjoining lanes may be closed intermittently. Work, which will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, is
expected to be completed in February. However, lane closures will not be allowed during peak rush hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mayor Mike Bodker understands the delays will not be popular, but thinks drivers will understand. “The short-term pain will be worth the long-term gain. Clearly, this is the worst intersection in the city,” Bodker said. “So if we monkey with it that is going to make things worse. But doing so is the only way to make things better.” There are few quick fixes in transportation, so people need
See PROJECT, Page 17
State denies FSA charter school status School to seek new charters with Fulton By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@northfulton.com ATLANTA – Officials with Fulton Science Academy High School (FSAHS) and the Fulton Sunshine Academy elementary school (FSAES) are pinning their hopes on Fulton school leaders to keep their charter status after a thumbs down vote from the state. Last month, the State Charter School Commission (SCSC) cited man-
agement and operational concerns in denying state charter status to the two Alpharetta-based schools. Currently, both schools are nearing the end of their five-year charters from the Fulton Board of Education (FCBOE). If the charters are not renewed beyond their June end date, the options to remain open become limited. “With the state options now gone, the boards [of both schools] are 100 percent focused on doing whatever
... The boards [of both schools] are 100 percent focused on doing whatever it takes to retain their charters with Fulton County.” DAVID RUBINGER, Spokesman for FSAHS and FSAES it takes to retain their charters with Fulton County,” said David Rubinger, a spokesman for FSAHS and FSAES. He expressed disappointment with the SCSC, which offered no comment in
its decision to deny a charter to the two schools despite evidence the schools are performing well and providing a
See CHARTER, Page 4