1ST ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
–THIS– ! WEEKEND FREE ENTRÉE Coupon Inside!
Meth bust
Couple charged for possession, intent to distribute ►►page 2
Stylin’ Santa
End round 1 Winners, losers from HS football playoffs ►►pages 22 – 25
Hairdresser Franklin is go to for St. Nick ►►page 32
November 20, 2014 | johnscreekherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 18, No. 46
City to add more police Chief wants 4 new patrol officers By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com
Photo by PAVEL LOJ
Chopin Gala features son of ‘The Pianist’ Andrzej Szpilman, son of famous Polish pianist Władysław Szpilman whose life was featured in the film “The Pianist,” was guest of honor at the annual Chopin Society of Atlanta Gala. From left are Chopin Society Board members and gala sponsors Halina Szlam and Alek Szlam, Szpilman and Dorota Lato, president of the Chopin Society. See story, Pages 28 – 29.
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Police Chief Ed Densmore came to the Nov. 17 City Council workshop to make his case for four additional patrolmen to meet the needs of a growing city. The council will consider the matter at its Dec. 1 council meeting. Densmore said the request was directly driven by the rising number of 911 calls received by the department. Mayor Mike Bodker noted that the Johns Creek Police Department’s officer needs were established for a city with a population of about 65,000 people. Since incorporation, the city has grown to more than 82,000 residents, and the demand for
service has continued to increase. “We have grown a great deal, but we are still ranked consistently as one of the Densmore safest cities in the nation,” Bodker said. “Our police department is CALEA-certified, and yet our force has been consistently undermanned when compared to national community standards. “We have a growing number of police-citizen programs, and every one of them is oversubscribed,” he said. “But that is a good thing, because we want the police to be a
See COUNCIL, Page 4
FSA high school, Sunshine Academy face loss of charters School board to vote this week By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Leaders of two North Fulton-based charter schools are defending their schools’ record of achievement and success following the recommendation by the Fulton County School System (FCSS) to deny their
Fulton County School System has a strong commitment to choice options for parents, but [we have] a responsibility to taxpayers.” Ken Zeff Chief of innovation for the Fulton County School System charter renewals. Last week the recommendations for denial were presented to the Fulton
School Board for the Fulton Sunshine Academy Elementary School in Roswell and the Fulton Science Academy High
School (FSAHS) in Alpharetta. The concerns focused on problematic governing boards at the schools, as well as lack of cooperation with the FCSS and limited involvement in the community. “FCSS has a strong commitment to choice options for parents, but [we have] a responsibility to taxpayers,” said Ken Zeff, chief of innovation for the FCSS. “State law compels districts to ensure charters demonstrate sufficient governance to be accountable to their
See CHARTERS, Page 8