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Optimist Club recognizes Forsyth County students FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club recognized three Forsyth County high school students for exceptional academic achievements April 25. The Optimist Star Student Program recognizes community high school students who demonstrate academic achievement, good citizenship and leadership. The group announced West Forsyth High School senior Elisabeth Kearney as the 2023 Optimist Star Student. Kearney is a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society and Governor’s Honor Program.
She participates in Youth Leadership Forsyth and cheerleading for basketball and football; manages the school wrestling team; and serves as the Junior Optimist district governor for the West Forsyth Junior Optimist Club. She also volunteers with Meals by Grace, the Kelly Mill Mentor Program and the Miracle League of CummingForsyth. The organization named Alliance Academy for Innovation senior Alina Abraham runner-up at the meeting.
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SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA
The Forsyth County commissioners approve park projects and updates at a work session May 9. The county will see a new Special Olympics Weightlifting Area, exhibits at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve and therapeutic summer camp programs.
County approves park upgrades By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County officials approved allocation of nearly half a million dollars for park facility upgrades and projects May 9 ahead of summer. At the work session, the Board of Commission-
SAWNEE-CUMMING OPTIMIST CLUB/PROVIDED
The Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club named Elisabeth Kearney, left, the 2023 Optimist Star Student at a meeting April 25. Alina Abraham, right, was awarded the runner-up title.
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ers unanimously approved a $390,574 contract for construction of exhibits at the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center. Designer HW Exhibits said the project will add 12 trail education and interpretive waysides. Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Manager Matt Pate said the exhibits
will be inside the preserve and along the trails. Funding for the project comes from the Sawnee Mountain Foundation’s donation pool and the Parks and Recreation Department budget. Commissioners also voted to authorize the Parks and
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Resurface work underway on Ga. 400 near interchange FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County announced an asphalt resurfacing project has begun and will affect both northbound and southbound Ga. 400 roughly half a mile north and south of the exit 18
interchange at Browns Bridge Road. County Assistant Director of Communications Amanda Roper said resurfacing will continue farther north and south from the exit, and
the county anticipates it to be fully completed in October. Future updates on the project will be posted at forsythco.com/news and on county social media. — Shelby Israel