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Community turns out to honor retiring principal Austin Elementary School honors long-time leader By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — The weather outside was frightful, but the celebration of retiring Austin Elementary Principal Ann Culbreath was delightful. Hundreds of cars drove by the school Nov. 30 to celebrate Culbreath as she handed the reins over to assistant principal Avis Moneyham. Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch dropped by to issue a proclamation in Culbreath’s honor and called her out in the council’s regular meeting later that day as an outstanding citizen and valuable contributor to the school.
“We are grateful for her service to our community,” Deutsch said. Culbreath, whose tenure at Austin spanned 17 years, marked in two stints as teacher, assistant principal and finally, principal, said she was “blown away” by the reception she received on a day that was blustery and rainy. “I thought it was just going to be a small thing, but it was more than I ever could have imagined,” she said. “I’m still in a state of shock, thinking ‘Did that really happen?’” In addition to having the drive-by ceremony, Culbreath was given several gifts from grateful students, parents and faculty, including a wooden chest in which to place her memories, as well as a framed painting of the new Aus-
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CATHY COBBS/CRIER
Dunwoody City Council members, from left, Stacey Harris and Pam Tallmadge join Mayor Lynn Deutsch in proclaiming Nov. 30 Ann Culbreath Day. The ceremony was held to honor the Austin Elementary School principal on her retirement.
City officials struggle with bow hunting restrictions State law permits practice within city By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. – After months of deliberation, the Dunwoody City Council passed two ground-breaking rezoning ordinances Nov. 30, but it failed to resolve one hot-button issue – bow-hunting for deer within the city. The council passed on first reading by a vote of 4-3 the controversial R-50 rezoning request on three properties located on Roberts Drive, clearing the way for construction of 14 new “aging-
in-place” patio style homes by Peachland Housing Group. The proposal was panned by surrounding neighbors, who have concerns about its density and potential stormwater issues. However, city planners speaking at the meeting cited research showing several other R-50 developments around the city that had equal or higher density. Councilman John Heneghan, who voted against the rezoning request with council members Stacey Harris and Tom Lambert, said he was uncomfortable with the number of concessions that needed to be made in order for the subdivision to be built. “I think we are playing fast and loose with this,” he said. “I am going to vote
against it.” Councilman Jim Riticher supported the rezoning. “This is the kind of development that we need to support,” he said. Riticher and council members Pam Tallmadge, Joe Seconder and Mayor Lynn Deutsch all voted for the measure. The other measure, a massive overhaul of the Dunwoody Overlay district, passed unanimously after the council returned from a brief executive session. Upon reconvening, staff discussed increases to specific buffer zones that addressed residents’ concerns, but the vote took a mysterious turn when the council, without discussion, amended the ordinance to remove two properties
from the overlay district. The first property, 5500 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, is listed as the address for several retail establishments in the Shops of Dunwoody. The second property is 1244 Dunwoody Village Parkway, which is the address for Sunshine Car Wash. The council, again without discussion, lifted a previous building moratorium that had been in place for the properties within the newly created overlay district, with the exception of the two excluded properties. City of Dunwoody Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher said she was
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