Home Care in Forsyth, GA

Monroe County residents shared concerns with the team behind the proposed data center near Highway 41 South on Monday.

FORSYTH, Ga. — On Monday, people in Monroe County gathered at Alderman Hall to speak with the team behind a data center proposed for a plot near Highway 41 South near Bolingbroke.

For Margo Kenirey, a new data center would hit close to home, literally.

13WMAZ spoke with Kenirey last week ahead of the Open House.

She and dozens of other neighbors spoke to the team at Thomas and Hutton engineering

"This is not just a Bolingbroke or Rumble Road issue, this is happening in several cities, towns," Kenirey said. "I'm still not convinced. I still feel like it's gonna have a huge ecological impact. I feel like it's not well suited for the community of Bolingbroke."

Engineers say they will incorporate energy-efficient and sustainable technology for the project.

William Bonbrake also lives by the proposed plot. While he is mostly concerned about the project generating increased traffic, he says he still has to evaluate the pros and cons of the facility.

"I'm very curious about what's going on. There's a lot of opinions, good and bad, I don't have either right now," Bonbrake said. "I want hear about it right now before I decide. 41 is fairly congested and busy, I live almost immediately adjacent to where this project will take place. 41 is my concern."

The team at Thomas and Hutton called the night a success. While some attendees were opposed to the proposal, Andy Camp says they'll take feedback from tonight into consideration as they take next steps on the 900-acre, 9-building project.

"We can take that and we can digest it. We can see if we can improved upon the plan and maybe we can mitigate on some of those things," Camp said. "Proximity is something we need to think about. So buffering it, thinking about views and other things can all be talked about."

According to the team, the project is estimated to have a net value of $133 million over 10 years. Camp also says the facility is expected to bring 275 new jobs to the area.

But neighbors closest to the plot are looking to prioritize other projects before another data center.

"We need more housing," Kenirey said. "We need land, if it's going to be commercially zoned, for mom and pop businesses. That's the charm of Bolingbroke, that's why people want to go there. They like going to antique stores, they like going to the small restaurants and the small footprint of those buildings. That's why people want to live in Bolingbroke."

Planning and Zoning leaders have set a public hearing for April 28 at Forsyth City Hall at 5:30 p.m. before the project heads to commission.

RELATED: Neighbors voice concerns over proposed Monroe County data center as developer plans open house

RELATED: 'None of that works for us' | Why Forsyth locals are opposing the proposal for a new data center

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) has revoked the license of a Forsyth child care facility after a staff member administered Benadryl to toddlers without parental consent.

Forsyth Methodist Church's Caring for Kids daycare center has been temporarily shut down since March, due to the investigation.

What they're saying:

Reg Griffin, DECAL's chief communications officer, said the license for Forsyth Methodist Church–Caring for Kids Child Care Learning Center, located at 68 West Johnston Street, was officially revoked on Monday, April 7.

"The Center has 10 days to appeal the revocation before an administrative law judge with the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH)," Griffin said. "The Center may not reopen until the appeal process is completed due to the previously issued Order of Emergency Closure."

The backstory:

Kendasja Mequia Hughley was arrested on March 10 after reportedly giving Benadryl to toddlers, some as young as two years old, to make them sleepy during nap time. A co-teacher who witnessed the incident reported it to the director of the Bright from the Start Program on March 5. Bright from the Start is Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning program that oversees child care facilities.

Investigators say three children received doses on at least two separate occasions in early March, which was reportedly caught on camera. The daycare director, Cathy Stevick, and a second teacher, Shelby Webb, were arrested as well on March 18. Stevick faces three counts of failure to report child abuse, while Webb faces one count each of simple battery and cruelty to children. Investigators say Stevick waited up to six days to report the Benadryl administration incident.

Benadryl is not recommended for children under six years old due to potential health risks. Parents later reported that their children appeared sluggish and "not normal" when they picked them up from daycare.

What you can do:

DECAL has directed parents affected by the closure to find child care alternatives at or by calling 1-877-ALL GA KIDS, a free resource offered by the department. DECAL oversees licensing and quality standards for child care centers across the state, administers Georgia’s Pre-K Program and Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS), and coordinates other early education and nutrition programs. More information is available at .

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The state has revoked the license of a central Georgia church daycare after an investigation allegedly unearthed multiple code and legal violations.

Forsyth Methodist Church - Caring for Kids received the notice from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) on Monday. The announcement comes after three staff members were arrested last month in connection to their actions at the Monroe County daycare.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: State orders temporary closure of Monroe County daycare after toddlers given medicine too young

“DECAL determined that rule violations occurred which seriously affected the health and safety of children and demonstrated the intentional and reckless disregard for the physical and mental health and safety of children,” the department said in a letter to the daycare’s leaders.

READ THE LETTER:

DECAL’s investigation found that on March 3 and 5, a staff member gave several 2-year-olds Benadryl to make them sleepy during naptime without parental permission. Children under 6 aren’t supposed to take Benadryl unless directed by a doctor.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Forsyth daycare employee arrested for giving toddlers medicine to ‘make them sleepy’ for naps, sheriff’s office says

“I gave you Benadryl, why aren’t you asleep?” the staff member was heard saying on video footage, according to DECAL.

During the investigation, state officials said footage also revealed staff members handling children roughly. They were seen throwing the toddlers onto their mats, kicking their cots and shoving and yelling at them, DECAL said.

Kendasja Hughley, the woman who allegedly administered the Benadryl, faces five counts of simple battery, three counts of first-degree cruelty to children and several counts of reckless conduct.

Shelby Webb, another staff member, faces one count of first-degree cruelty to children and one count of simple battery.

Meanwhile, Cathy Stevick, the daycare’s director, was charged with three counts of failure to report suspected child abuse.

The daycare has 10 days to appeal. If it doesn’t, the revocation will officially go into effect in May.

In an April 2 statement on social media, Forsyth Methodist Church said it hopes to resume the daycare in the future.

“We deeply regret the inconvenience this situation has caused our families, who rely on Caring For Kids for their childcare needs,” the church said. “We appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time.”

Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.

When Lisa Morales — owner of Caribbean Queens Latin Cuisine in downtown Forsyth — opened her restaurant in January, she knew it would be a learning curve for her and Monroe County.

A native of New Jersey and born to Puerto Rican parents, Morales hopes she can introduce her heritage and cuisine to a new clientele. Caribbean Queens specializes in empanadas, which are a crispy pastry filled with meat, vegetable, cheese, fruit or other goodies. But the shop also serves a range of traditional Puerto Rican fare.

For Morales, cooking is deeply personal. She grew up cooking Puerto Rican food with her mother, and much of the food she serves is made with recipes that have roots in her childhood kitchen.

“It brings me joy, it’s my love language,” Morales said. “I’m not a hugger, but I’ll make you a sandwich.”

The menu features a range of Puerto Rican favorites including tostones, carne guisada, black beans and — the star of the show — empanadas. Caribbean Queens offers a range of fillings in a flaky crust, including chicken, beef and cheese, mozzarella and spinach, and guava and cream cheese.

Morales said when she first opened the restaurant, she knew it would be an educational experience for the community because not many people have been exposed to Puerto Rican food.

People strolling through downtown Forsyth often stop in the new restaurant out of curiosity, Morales said. Many of them have never tried an empanada and don’t know much about Puerto Rican cuisine. Morales is happy to educate, offering free samples and explaining each item on the menu.

“It’s like a turnover,” she said one afternoon to a man inquiring about empanadas. “It can be sweet or savory.”

He sampled a bite of the beef and cheese empanada, then walked out with a paper bag of the savory pastries.

She said so far, everyone has reacted positively to the food, and they often buy more after finishing the sample.

“When I ask them, ‘How is everything? Is there anything I could do differently?’ Everybody says, ‘It’s really good, it’s delicious.’”

For Morales, it’s been a long and winding road from New Jersey to her storefront on Johnston Street.

She moved to Georgia to be closer to her sister in 2012, and soon met her husband. They started out in Dunwoody, but moved to Locust Grove, Monticello and Madison before settling in Forsyth in 2024. Along the way, Morales raised her two daughters and gave birth to a third child. She worked part-time while she focused on her children.

When Morales and her husband relocated to Monticello, she was ready for a change. She first thought of opening a restaurant after noticing a lack of dining options in Jasper County.

But the process of finding a location was complicated, and she still had her youngest child to care for. Before she had the chance to figure it all out, someone else opened a similar restaurant.

“The timing wasn’t right, it just wasn’t my time,” Morales said. “That’s okay.”

Her restaurant ambitions were reinvigorated after she moved to Forsyth to be near her oldest daughter and grandchild. She first conceived of a food truck, thinking it may be easier than trying to acquire a commercial kitchen.

It proved to be more difficult than she imagined. The Georgia Department of Health requires food trucks to have a “base of operation” to store and prepare food. Morales brainstormed ways to access a commercial kitchen affordably — including finding a restaurant that would allow her to use their kitchen while they were closed — but was unsuccessful.

Morales feared her restaurant dreams were dead until she spied a faded “for lease” sign in a downtown Forsyth storefront while out for a slice of pizza.

“It’d been there so long that the numbers were kind of faded,” Morales said. “I couldn’t see the phone number on it.”

With the help of her husband, she located the owner of the building who was able to lease it to Morales for a reasonable price.

Caribbean Queens opened in January, and since then Morales said things have been smooth, although there is still a learning curve.

When she first opened, she often found she was cooking too much food and having to throw a lot out at the end of the day. To avoid wasting food, she made less and began offering leftovers to the fire department.

“At first I was cooking for an army,” Morales said. “I’m getting better at going, ‘I need 20 pounds of potatoes, I don’t necessarily need 50 pounds.’”

Morales said she’s been amazed by the community response to her business, and has built a steady customer base over the last few months. She’s already eyeing opening the restaurant beyond its current Thursday through Saturday schedule, and considering dinner service.

“I can reach more people that haven’t had a chance to come and see what Caribbean Queens is all about,” Morales said.

LW

The Telegraph

CUMMING, Ga. — A judge has upheld the decision to revoke the license of a Forsyth County childcare center.

The Department of Early Care and Learning revoked the license of Cornerstone Schools in Cumming after the owner was accused of failing to report an alleged sexual assault of a toddler.

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After a hearing last month, a judge had 30 days to decide whether or not to uphold the license revocation. On Friday, Judge Stephanie Howells decided the center would not be getting its license back.

Cornerstone Schools will have to close the doors of its early childcare center in 30 days.

Channel 2′s Candace McCowan has been following the story since the president of Cornerstone Schools, Angela Martin, was charged with failing to report alleged sexual abuse at the center in August 2024.

Tulsi Patel, the worker accused in that incident, was later charged with sexually and physically abusing more than a dozen children at another daycare center.

RELATED STORIES:

DECAL shared a statement with Channel 2 Action News about Friday’s ruling.

“Judge Stephanie Howells has affirmed DECAL’s decision to revoke the license of Cornerstone Schools, located at 4888 Browns Bridge Road, Cumming, Georgia, 30041. This decision underscores the importance of adherence to laws that protect our children and ensures their safety.

The revocation was necessary following the center’s failure to report an allegation of sexual abuse to the Department of Family and Children Services, as mandated by law. This omission led to the arrest of one of its staff members, highlighting a grave lapse in the duty of care owed to the children.”

— DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs

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