The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 285

CHEROKEE 0 THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2001 INSIDE TODAY Herculean efforts: Canton resident Darrell Hamby (right) owns two world records, has recorded 70 first-place finishes and has set 24 national weightlifting records. And he started lifting seriously only three years ago. 13 1 CONTACT US Chris Kraft, bureau chief ckraftajc.com 770-373-8711 EVERY WEEK Reporter's Notebook: People and events J2 Community of Faith: Religious activities J9 Real estate: Recent home sales 10 Restaurant Scout Local restaurant review 1 1 Calendar: A list of activities 1 2 ON THE WEB E-mail: Have news you want to share? Send it to cherokeeajc.com Your community: News, events and information about your neighborhood. www.ajc.conVepaperediticthursdaycherokee.html rll i I 2000 CENSUS; WINNERS AND LOSERS Battling the numbers game Dewrell sets goals as mayor By Chris Reynolds creinoldsajc.com As Woodstock's new mayor, Bill Dewrell said his first order of business is to assess the city's infrastructure needs. "One of the first things I'm going to do is sit down with the department heads and assess sewer capacity, water and traffic improvements," said Dewrell, who received 57 percent of the vote Tuesday to defeat Bob Abraham.

Turnout for the runoff was almost as high as for the March 20 special IDewrafl won Wood scoots may orai GiBuiwi. -w? fr 'y XL'-- fA- Ball Ground and Waleska, both posting losses in the latest count, dispute the findings. By Christopher Quinn cquinnajc.com The tiny towns of Ball Ground and Waleska were islands of decline in the high-tide growth that swamped Cherokee County in the last decade, according to the Census Bureau. Ball Ground dropped from 905 residents in 1990 to 730 in 2000, according to the census. Waleska went from 700 to 616.

The losses stand out in a county that grew by about 52,000 residents in the decade. Officials in both towns contend the numbers are inaccurate, but in different ways. Eric Wilmarth, the city manager in Ball Ground, thinks the Census Bureau undercounted citizens. Mayor Marguerite Cline of Waleska thinks her town may have been overcounted. There could be more than pride at stake.

New businesses look for growing areas in which to relocate, not dying towns, Wilmarth said. He worries that a decline would also hurt Ball Ground's chance at grants. Grantors look to put money in areas where it will help the most people, not in areas where population is shrinking. There's also the question of how the shrinking number of residents will affect how much money the towns get from the special purpose local option sales tax in the future. The cities' portion of the taxes is allotted on a per capita basis, said Woodstock City Manager Jerry Cooper.

Wilmarth says the census count can't be right. The town has added houses and neighborhoods, such as Cherokee Village and the Preserve at Long Swamp Creek. He was expecting the census to tally around 1,200 residents in Ball Ground, based on Atlanta Regional Commission estimates. "I don't believe for a minute that 730 is accurate. We are just in a situation where we have to do our homework and figure out what to do about it," he said.

"Ball Ground is by no means a dying Photos by FRANK NIEMEIR Staff At the Preserve at Long Swamp subdivision in Ball Ground, Lalo AvaJos works on the roof of a new house. Despite having added houses and neighborhoods, Ball Ground was found to have 730 residents In 2000, down from 905 In 1990. Dot on the census map puts Cherokee in the big leagues CKEROXEE COL'TTY POPULATION DENSITY People per square mfle Feww than 300 (rural) (exurban) 1.001-3.000 (suburban) More than 3,000 (urban) 1333 election, with about 8 percent of the city's registered voters casting ballots. Abraham had edged Dewrell by one vote in the earlier election, each earning 37 percent of the vote. City Councilwoman Susan Jones said she was ecstatic about Dewrell's win.

"If the best thing that's happened to Woodstock in a long, long time," Jones said. Dewrell, 33, received hugs and congratulations from City Manager Jerry Cooper and Councilman Bill Long, but got a cold shoulder from his opponent Abraham would not comment, refused to shake Dewrell's hand and angrily walked out of City HalL "If over with, Bill," Abraham said as Dewrell reached out his hand. Dewrell shook his head in disbelief. "All I wanted to do is shake the man's hand," he said. Dewrell, president of Southco Inc.

construction company, said he wants better public access to city government He has suggested a public comment section at City Council meetings. Dewrell is now faced with a strained relationship between the city and Cherokee County. The entities have been at odds, mostly over annexation and rezoning requests. Dewrell, a longtime resident of the city, served on the City Council from 1998 until February, when he resigned to run for mayor. Woodstock's leadership has been limping of late, but Tuesday's mayoral election was a step toward getting the city of 10,000 back on track.

Since the death of Mayor David Rogers last fall, two council members have resigned to run for mayor, and the city manager is resigning Friday. Cooper is leaving the city manager post to become the county manager. When Dewrell takes office April 24, two council seats will still be empty until a June 19 special election. The mayor's seat will be up for grabs again in November. Dewrell was elected to fill the remainder of Rogers' term, which ends in December.

I I It's just a small blot on a population-density map of metro Atlanta, barely perceptible. It would be easy to overlook the little smudge, but that would be unfortunate. Its meaning speaks volumes. The 2000 census figures for Georgia were released three weeks ago. For the record, no portion of the map showing Bartow, Forsyth, Paulding, Henry, Douglas, Fayette or Rockdale had a dark-red smudge on it But Cherokee did, covering the small parcel in Towne Lake that makes up census tract 910.06.

Wow. We've gone urban. Just 20 years ago roughly 90 percent of PLEASE SEE Census, 7 GLENN HANNIGAN Our Cherokee columnist E-mail: ghanniganajc.com 1 2CC3 Much of the data has been crunched, growth patterns examined, trends noted. And shaded maps of metro Atlanta have been generated, designating areas as either rural, exurban, suburban or urban, based on population density. I did a double-take when I first saw the dark-red ink spot, thinking there must be some error.

The map warranted closer study. There was no mistake. The small splotch of dark red meant to indicate an "urban" area of more than 3,000 people per square mile was right where the experts say it belongs. In southwest Cher okee County. Cherokee was considered "rural." Only a small area in the south was dense enough at that time to be considered "exurban'' or "suburban." "It has been amazing to see the growth that's taken place in the four years since we moved here says LeAnn Jones, who lives in the Summerchase subdivision, which is part of census tract 910.06.

"We moved from Kennesaw to get away from all the traffic, but I'm not sure where you can go to get away from it anymore." If Jones and her family are officially resi- PLEASE SEE Hannlgan, J7 Sourcac US. Gamut Burtau; computer anaiy of camm data by MAURICE TAMMANStaff Waleska Mayor Marguerite Cline, at the town's only blinking stop light, says the tally seems to have been too generous. Staff School board faces several hot issues April 19 BEST BET Easter egg-stasy Some 6,000 plastic eggs will be up for grabs Saturday at RiverStone Plaza's third annual Easter egg hunt. The free hunt will be conducted by age group those younger than 2 will go at By Chris Reinolds creinoldsajc.com As the school year winds down and a high-profile investigation wraps up, the Cherokee school board could decide several hot-button issues at its meeting April 19. A vote could come on school uniforms, revised boundaries and a new principal for beleaguered Woodstock High.

Last month, the board sent sur-. veys to parents asking whether they supported uniforms for fill elementary schoolchildren. The surveys have been returned, and results are expected to be compiled and released this week. Superintendent Frank Petruz-ielo said if at least 75 percent of parents are in favor of uniforms, he will recommend that the board approve the change. School boundaries could change for Carmcl Elementary and Woodstock Middle and high schools, possibly moving 178 students to other schools next year.

Minor changes are planned for Sixes Elementary. A new principal is expected to be named to replace Woodstock High's J. Rick Ingram, who is resigning as of July. Ingram said he is leaving to give the school a fresh start after the recent Richard Paul Adams 29, a former Woodstock High teacher, on four counts of attempting to commit sexual assault against student Former teacher Bradley Chapman, 25, facet criminal charges related to an alleged sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student And ex-teacher Gene R. Groves, 25, has been charged with sexual battery and sexual assault on two 16-year-old students.

As a result of the problems, Petruzielo said principals will now require some employees to take specific training courses. PLEAS! SEE Vote,) scandal involving allegations of sex between teachers and students. Additionally, the school board will eventually consider the recommendations of the district's Blue Ribbon Committee on how to fund the school system's rapid growth needs. The committee meets for the last time and will make a recommendation at 7 p.m. Monday at Canton Elementary.

It's a full plate for a district that has been busy dealing with the investigation now ending after seven weeks into alleged teacher misconduct at Woodstock High. Earlier this week, the Cherokee County grand jury indicted 11:30 a.nt, 3-to 5-year-olds will hunt at noon, and 6- to 9-year-olds will have a turn at 12:30 p.m. Hie shopping center plans several other family-oriented activities from 11 to 3 p.m. Saturday, including an Easter bonnet contest, pony rides and arts and crafts. RiverStone is on Riverstone Parkway in Canton.

Call 770-953-6688 for details. THI ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION AJC.COM IVIRY SICTION, IVIRY DAY.