County officials take stand against rental housing bill

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners has announced its opposition to Georgia Senate Bill 188, which would place restrictions on the county’s ability to regulate rental homes.

Commissioners voted unanimously at the Feb. 21 work session to ask the county’s legislative delegation to oppose the bill restricting local governments from enacting or enforcing restrictions on dwellings with a rental agreement of more than 30 days.

The bill further states local governments could not prevent an individual from occupying a rental residence for more than 30 days “based solely on whether or not that person owns the dwelling.”

County Attorney Ken Jarrard said the resolution is a variation of one that commissioners passed in February 2022,

See FORSYTH, Page 6

“The entirety of a book is important, even if the subject matter is uncomfortable, even if you don’t like it, even if you wouldn’t read it,” Angie Darnell said. “Literature can reflect reality. Stories of reality, no matter the timeline of history, are often shocking.”

Darnell said calls to action to censor explicit reality in literature is an emergency, and disinformation and intimidation tactics are affecting the rights of individuals to read. She said the push for censorship is an agenda, rather than a righteous cause.

Anita Tucker credited the maturity of her son, who attended Forsyth County schools, to the expansive curricula and diverse subject matter he received in the district.

Tucker said groups that support the

See EDUCATION Page 6

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Police Blotter

ful use of a wireless device. Bond was set at $22,755.

Deputies arrest woman on identity fraud charge

rested a Cumming man Feb. 19 who allegedly threatened his brother with a firearm during a domestic incident.

Deputies cite driver for possessing meth

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a Marietta man Feb. 16 for possession of methamphetamine discovered during a traffic stop.

A deputy conducted a traffic stop near Buford Highway and Sanders Road after witnessing the driver, Stephen Brumlow, 46, using a cellphone while driving.

Deputies observed Brumlow appeared nervous and had constricted pupils, and his voice was raspy. When deputies asked Brumlow to exit the vehicle to observe him for signs of drug use, Brumlow reportedly became irritable and talkative.

The DUI investigation showed signs of drug use, but not to the extent that Brumlow was less than safe to drive, the report states.

Deputies asked Brumlow for permission to search the vehicle, which he denied. The sheriff’s report further states that Brumlow had a history of drug charges.

Due to Brumlow’s behavior, responding deputies reported reasonable suspicion that there were drugs in the vehicle. Deputies then conducted a probable cause search with a K9 officer, which located a bottle cap containing methamphetamine, as well as a McDonald’s wrapper filled with the substance.

Deputies also located a clear bag of methamphetamine in Brumlow’s pocket.

Brumlow was transported to the Forsyth County Jail for felony possession of methamphetamine and unlaw -

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies arrested a Fayetteville woman Feb. 16 who allegedly attempted to open a bank account using an Alabama woman’s identity.

Authorities arrested the suspect, Ashley Bennett, 33, at Regions Bank on Peachtree Parkway.

Responding deputies identified the Alabama driver’s license Bennett had attempted to use as expired. The name on the license belonged to an Alabama resident who had not given consent to Bennett to use her identity. The photo on the license matched Bennett’s appearance, the sheriff’s report states.

Deputies state that Bennett said she obtained the false license from a man who identified himself as “Wheezy.”

Bennett said Wheezy had picked her up from her residence and had taken her to a car rental dealer, where they rented a black Nissan Sentra. She said Wheezy gave her a package containing various false identification cards and licenses, the report states.

Deputies reportedly found a credit card carrying the Alabama woman’s name in Bennett’s purse.

Deputies arrested Bennett on two counts of felony forgery in the first degree, two counts of felony forgery in the second degree, conspiracy to commit a felony, felony transaction card theft and five counts of identity fraud.

Bennett is being held at the Forsyth County Jail with bond set at $61,325.

Authorities investigate armed threat to sibling

FORSYTH COUNTY. Ga. — Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputies ar -

Deputies arrived at a home on Belcrest Way after a caller informed them of the threat. The caller said his brother, Antonio Criner, 26, had threatened to shoot him during an altercation.

A woman at the scene told deputies the fight escalated because she was having an argument with Criner. The woman said Criner allegedly broke a cup she was drinking from and threw her on a bed.

The woman then called Criner’s brother and asked him to convince him to leave. A verbal and physical fight then followed, the report states, which resulted in Criner and his brother falling on Criner’s 4-year-old daughter, who was on the sofa.

During the fight, the woman called Criner’s other brother and left a voicemail that included sounds from the fight. The third brother played the recording of the voicemail for the deputies.

In the audio, deputies reportedly heard Criner say, “You should be afraid of me.” In the recording of the 911 call received from dispatch, Criner’s brother told him that his firearm was loaded, which Criner then pointed at him, the report states.

Deputies located Criner, who said he came to the house to discuss his relationship with the woman. He said he had tried to leave, but his brother continued the argument. He also said he drew his firearm after his brother had threatened him with a collapsible baton.

Deputies arrested Criner for felony aggravated assault with a gun, misdemeanor simple assault involving family violence and misdemeanor cruelty to children in the third degree.

Criner is being held at the Forsyth County Jail on $20,025 bond.