Police, firefighters forge neighborhood camaraderie
DUNWOODY, Ga.— Some of the city’s youngest residents stopped by Pernoshal Park Aug. 14 for the Dunwoody Police Department’s annual National Night Out event. The nationwide community-building campaign looks to foster police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Public safety professionals from the DeKalb County Fire Department
and the North Metro SWAT team also stopped by the celebration to show off their vehciles and equipment to curious minds. The Dunwoody Police Foundation, local elected officials, community members and law enforcement enjoyed a few evening hours of food and fun at the park.
— Hayden Sumlin
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — If someone watches Southeastern Conference schools compete in the fall, they call 30-year Dunwoody resident Tony Barnhart “Mr. College Football.”
The legendary sportswriter stopped by his hometown Aug. 11 to chat with the Village Mill ROMEOs, a group of “retired old men eating out” once a month on Monday mornings at J. Christophers.
Dunwoody resident David Gordon, a South African immigrant, said it’s mindboggling to follow a sport where players cycle through every couple of years, but he’s working on it.
For most of the audience, listening to Barnhart talk college football is a sign the heat and humidity are waning.
After half a century covering college football, Mr. College Football said his 50th season covering the sport for newspapers, radio, television and the internet will be his last.
Barnhart has worked for the flagships of sports media: CBS Sports, ESPN’s SEC Network and College Gameday, as well as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
See BARNHART, Page 15
PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Dunwoody resident Joshua Fan, 3, smiles and eats cheerios while hearing about Fire Engine 8 from DeKalb County firefighters Herndon and Weaver at the Aug. 14 National Night Out event. Both DeKalb County firefighters spent most of the three-hour event showing off equipment and discussing their duties with Dunwoody families.
Dunwoody residents Ailee and Avah Villegas hangout in the back of one of the North Metro Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team’s armored vehicles during the Aug. 14 National Night Out event at Pernoshal Park.
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Roswell police, federal agents seize $750,00 worth of meth
ROSWELL, Ga. — More than $750,000 worth of methamphetamines were seized in a joint investigation between the Roswell Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection began the investigation Aug. 2 when a package containing approximately 8 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine was intercepted from Mexico, destined for a Roswell apartment. Roswell detectives linked the package and the recipient to 290 Old Holcomb Bridge Way in the Villas Del Mirasol Apartments.
Detectives then conducted a controlled delivery of the package Aug. 7. When the resident accepted the delivery and brought the package inside, the team served a search warrant. Two suspects were detained.
During a search of the apartment, a drug operation was found. Detectives found six more bottles of liquid
POLICE BLOTTER
All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
New Dunwoody officer resigns after alleged fight in Cobb County
AAPPEN PRESSCLU
DUNWOODY, Ga. — A police officer resigned from the Dunwoody Police Department Aug. 8 while on administrative leave following an alleged fight at the Battery in Cobb County July 25.
Dunwoody Police Sgt. Michael Cheek told Appen Media that the department placed David Perkins on administrative leave July 27 after it was notified of the incident. Cheek said Perkins was later charged with misdemeanor battery.
“While collecting his badge and guns (standard procedure when being place on administrative leave), he negligently discharged one of his issued firearms and received minor injuries,” Cheek said. “The shot fired was not intentional.”
The report says officers went to deliver the administrative leave letter to the officer’s apartment just before 11 a.m. July 27.
As Perkins unloaded and cleared his department-issued Glock 47 before handing it over, an officer said the gun fired into the floor.
Immediately following the gunshot, the officer said Deputy Chief Oliver Fladrich recovered the pistol and secured it.
While it initially appeared that no one
methamphetamine, as well as crystal methamphetamine and cocaine, all with a street value of more than $750,000.
Detectives also found drug packaging ledgers, multiple cell phones, digital scales and more than $10,000 in U.S. currency.
Mayor Kurt Wilson said detectives suspect the apartment was used as a drug conversion lab.
“Our mission is not just to seize drugs, it’s to protect the people of Roswell,” Mayor Kurt Wilson said. “Especially our families and children, and especially from the criminals who try to poison our community.”
Both suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Fulton County Jail, where they both face charges of trafficking methamphetamine and trafficking cocaine.
Roswell Police have said that the investigation is still active. The investigator urges anyone with
was injured or struck by the bullet, an officer said it was quickly discovered that Perkins had a wound to his upper leg.
The report says an ambulance with American Medical Response transported Perkins to Grady Memorial Hospital where he underwent treatment for the non-life-threatening injury.
Perkins officially resigned from the Dunwoody Police Department Aug. 8 while under an internal investigation.
— Hayden Sumlin
Officer predicts shoplifting suspect’s escape route
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 41-year-old Decatur man Aug. 11 for felony shoplifting and obstruction after he fled from officers at the MARTA station at Hammond Drive and Perimeter Center Parkway.
An officer said he received a shoplifting call from the Old Navy at 1161 Hammond Drive and anticipated that the suspect would be going to the Dunwoody MARTA station across the street.
The officer said he spotted the suspect at the south entrance to the station carrying a duffle bag after giving his description to MARTA Police.
When he exited his patrol car and commanded the man to stop, the officer said the suspect continued walking away.
After identifying himself as an officer and commanding the man stop five times, the officer said he and a lieutenant ran to catch up with the man.
Eventually, the officer said the man dropped one of his bags, squared his body toward the officers and backed away as he asked “you gonna lock me up?”
ROSWELL POLICE DEPARTMENT/PROVIDED
More than $750,000 worth of methamphetamines were seized from a Roswell apartment during an Aug. 7 raid.
additional information to contact the Police Department at 770-640-4100. The public can also provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS(8477) or online at www. StopCrimeATL.org.
— Sarah Coyne
Because the man failed to put his hands behind his back and comply with commands, the officer said he and the lieutenant took him to the ground and detained him.
While speaking with the detained suspect, the officer said the man told them the items were his personal belongings and denied being at Old Navy.
The lieutenant said he found a bag with 12 items from Ross, totaling around $150, within the suspect’s white duffle bag.
The report says Ross employees declined to prosecute for the misdemeanor shoplifting.
The officer said he then transported the man back to Old Navy with the bag of merchandise in his possession. Later, the officer said the merchandise had security tags still attached.
A search of the man’s criminal history revealed an outstanding warrant for shoplifting out of the Sandy Springs Police Department, which the officer said he confirmed.
While meeting with loss prevention at Old Navy, the officer said they showed him security footage of the man selecting clothing items from the store and triggering the security system as he was leaving the store.
The officer said Old Navy provided him with an itemized receipt, showing the stolen merchandise totaled more than $500.
Dunwoody Police charged the man with felony shoplifting and obstructing law enforcement before transporting him to DeKalb County Jail.
As of Aug. 18, the man remains in jail.
— Hayden Sumlin
Dunwoody council tackles multifamily rezonings
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City Council joined residents pushing back on the height of Dominium Apartments’ proposed 215-unit affordable senior living development on Ashford Dunwoody Road.
LifeSouth Community Blood Drive owns the property at 4891 Ashford Dunwoody Road and is looking to relocate and sell the site to a developer.
A first read of the proposed rezoning Aug. 11 allowed elected officials to comment and ask questions. A final vote is set for Sept. 8.
City Councilman Rob Price said he has concerns.
“I think there could be locations where this project works in the city, but I don’t think this is one of them,” Price said. “Everything adjacent is three or four stories … this is twice as big, I think it will change the character of the area.”
Developers routinely cite the difficulty of building affordable housing amid rising construction costs without increasing the density of proposed communities.
City Councilman John Heneghan said he studied the zoning map, which
labels the future land use of the LifeSouth site as Perimeter Center-3, which is “a smaller scale less intensive commercial district, permitting both shopfront buildings and office buildings.”
“The approval criteria says, ‘does it conform with the policy intent of the comprehensive plan?’ I’m not seeing a match,” Heneghan said.
The applicant, represented by attorney Julie Sellers, proposes constructing a six-story residential building above a parking structure with a maximum height of 95 feet — equivalent to at least eight stories.
“What is being proposed is highquality residential living for seniors in your community,” Sellers said. “Several opponents have said they want this site to be senior housing; they just want it to be different.”
Dominium does not provide assisted living or skilled nurses to its residents, instead promoting independent living in an age- and income-restricted multifamily complex.
Developer pushes rezoning
Shaun Reinhardt, vice president and project manager with Dominium Apartments, said there is some
Shaun Reinhardt, vice president and project manager with Dominium Apartments, walks through a proposal to construct a 215-unit affordable senior living community.
misinformation circling about the affordable senior living development. He said no one under age 55 will be able to live there, while citing Dominium’s reputation as a long-term owner and operator of affordable units with a
luxury feel.
A group of former elected officials and active community members submitted two open records requests, which they said revealed Dominium’s original proposal to pursue a rezoning from office-institutional to the PC-3 classification, which limits height to five stories or 70 feet.
The proposal, recommended by city staff and the Planning Commission, is to rezone the 3.42-acre property as a planned development (PD) district, which allows developers to submit plans that are not subject to any zoning regulations.
The State Farm at Park Center development is one example of a cityapproved rezoning to a PD district.
Instead, the PD zoning classification only requires the submission of an Overall Development Plan, allowing a developer like Dominium to bypass some zoning regulations.
One resident in his mid-20s accused his neighbors and the Dunwoody Homeowners Association of racism, citing alleged behavior more than 50 years ago. No one else mentioned race or discrimination in their comments.
See REZONING, Page 15
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Front yard tree program returns to Dunwoody
DUNWOODY, Ga. — For the fourth straight year, Dunwoody is partnering with Trees Atlanta to plant up to 80 shade trees in front yards across the city.
The city says trees will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
“The Front Yard Tree Program is a simple yet powerful way for residents to make a lasting difference in Dunwoody’s landscape,” Community Development Director Richard McLeod said. “City Council has seen the value in a program that strengthens our canopy, cools our neighborhoods and contributes to a healthier environment for future generations.”
Trees Atlanta, a nonprofit committed to the care and replenishment of Metro Atlanta’s urban forest, manages the processing of tree requests and coordinates with each homeowner to select, place and install up to two front yard trees per yard through the program. A total of 189 front yard trees have been planted through the program since the
2022-23 planting season.
Mike Vinciquerra, business development director for Trees Atlanta, said his team is grateful for the strong and ongoing interest from Dunwoody residents for the Front Yard Tree program. “Because the program focuses on native overstory trees, it has the dual benefit of beautifying individual yards while also cooling nearby sidewalks, capturing stormwater and cleaning the air,” Vinciquerra said. “We look forward to another year of planting in Dunwoody!"
There is no cost to property owners. The new trees must be planted on private property within 35 feet of right-of-way. After planting, property owners are responsible for watering and maintaining the trees.
Property owners interested in being part of the program can submit an online application using this link: dunwoodyga.gov/frontyardtree.
Dunwoody schedules hazardous waste recycling
drive
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Residents can register for Dunwoody’s annual recycling drive collecting household hazardous waste, set for Saturday, Sept. 13, in the City Hall parking lot at 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road.
The free recycling drive is open to Dunwoody residents only and will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The city says disposal amounts are limited, barring commercial quantities.
“This event empowers residents to take an active role in protecting the environment by safely disposing of hazardous materials,” Community Development Director Richard McLeod said. “Each year, our department and the Dunwoody Sustainability Committee make this a top priority.”
During last year’s household hazardous waste recycling event, 473 residents participated. Together they recycled 16,500 pounds of latex paint, 3,567 pounds of pesticides, 1,144 pounds of motor oil, 462
fluorescent bulbs and 304 fire extinguishers.
Acceptable items include oil and latex paints, stains, paint thinner, automobile batteries, household batteries, motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, diesel, household cleaners, pool chemicals, household chemicals, pesticides, flammables and corrosives.
Items that cannot be recycled at the drive include agricultural waste, bio-hazardous/bio-medical waste, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials, smoke detectors, cylinders of acetylene, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium and refrigerant gases.
Dunwoody officials say residents will need to bring proof of residency to the event.
Residents can find a registration link and select a drop-off time online at dunwoodyga.gov/waste.
For any questions, email allegra.denooyer@ dunwoodyga.gov.
Hayden Sumlin
— Hayden Sumlin
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED Neighbors plant shade trees in their front yard through a program between the City of Dunwoody and Trees Atlanta.
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
A Dunwoody resident unloads household hazardous waste in the City Hall parking lot at last year’s recycling drive.
the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
WHO’S ON FIRST?
1. Muse of poetry. Clothing. Actor McQueen or Zahn
2. Actress Blanchett or Cohen. Nervous. Dig up.
3. Seabird. Parsley unit. Actress Hamilton or Hunt
4. Actor Quaid or Hopper. Court panel. Three feet.
5. Light on one’s feet. Actor Brolin or Spader. Hayseed.
6. Austrian peaks. Actress Ryder or Keegan. Goulash.
7. Japanese robe. Aleutian island. Actor Gooding Jr. or singer Gooding Sr.
1 Muse of poetry. Clothing. Actor McQueen or Zahn.
2. Actress Blanchett or Cohen. Nervous. Dig up
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Seabird. Parsley unit. Actress Hamilton or Hunt
4. Actor Quaid or Hopper. Court panel. Three feet
5. Light on one’s feet. Actor Brolin or Spader. Hayseed
6. Austrian peaks. Actress Ryder or Keegan. Goulash.
7. Japanese robe. Aleutian island. Actor Gooding, Jr. or singer Gooding, Sr.
Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm, re-imagining how bath & kitchen remodels are done.
Complete Remodeling Design and Installation Services. We even remove walls!
Guiding you through the whole design process. Ask about our 3D Renderings. Making bath & kitchen remodeling fun, easy and affordable. Open to Public 9-5 Mon-Fri • 10-4 Sat Showroom – Design Center 10591 Old Alabama Road Connector Alpharetta, GA 30022 (near Northpoint Mall)
Billboard Music Award winner to headline Sandy Springs fest
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs announced that the Billboard Music Award-winning band Lit is headlining Friday night Sept. 26 at the third annual Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival.
The festival will take place in the heart of Sandy Springs Friday, Sept. 26, from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Lit is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1988. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1999 power -pop punk album “A Place in the Sun” and its massive hit single “My Own Worst Enemy.”
The band is set to headline the main stage Friday night at 8 p.m.
In addition to Lit, the family-friendly festival features music all day long across multiple stages, an artist market with more than 80 vendors and a Kids Zone.
Festivities will span across the City Springs District, encompassing the City
Green, Blue Stone Road and the surrounding areas. Admission to the festival is free.
The weekend also includes the Blue Stone 5K-9 Saturday, Sept. 27, hosted by the Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department.
Registration for the road race for people and pups is now open for $35 at RunSignUp.com/Race/GA/Atlanta/ BlueStone5k9
The 5K-9 is a part of the city’s Adaptive Recreation Program offerings in collaboration with Catalyst Sports. For those interested in reserving adaptive hand cycles and foot pedal bikes, contact desiree@catalystsports.org.
A full schedule, including the complete calendar of events and musical line-up, will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
For further details, visit bluestonefest.com.
— Hayden Sumlin
Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm
CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED
Sandy Springs said Billboard Music Award-winning band, Lit, is headlining this year’s festival Sept. 26-27 at City Springs.
Remembering Bud Crews and Mildred Blackburn Crews
Freeman Crews, who went by the name Bud, was born Feb. 1, 1918, to John and Hannah Murrow Crews. The family is listed in Cobb County on the 1920 census. He was remembered as the person who helped amateur baseball become a reality in Dunwoody in the 1940s and 1950s.
When a large group of longtime citizens of Dunwoody gathered in 1994, David Chesnut remembered that Bud Crews was a painter. He painted houses and was an employee of the DeKalb County School System. He also ran Dunwoody’s amateur baseball team.
“Dunwoody was a big baseball town,” said Chesnut. (DeKalb History Center archives “I Remember Dunwoody,” 1994)
Ken Anderson, who lived his entire life (19372023) in Dunwoody, shared his memories of Bud Crews and the amateur baseball team with me a few years ago. Anderson recalled, as an 11-yearold, watching Crews grade the land and “put in a baseball field.” The field sat along what is now Dunwoody Village Parkway. Crews built wooden bleachers for local fans.
In 1950, some teams in the Atlanta Amateur Federation had installed lighting, making night
games possible. Dunwoody had not added lights, but Chamblee, Sandy Springs and Roswell all did. Bud Crews is listed as the Dunwoody manager, M.E. Rucker for Sandy Springs and D. H. Brantley for Roswell’s team. (Atlanta Constitution, April 2, 1950, “Amateur nines follow trend to night ball”)
Bud Crews married Mildred Inez Blackburn, whose family had a long history in Dunwoody, and prior to that in Brookhaven at Silver Lake. Mildred’s parents were William Blackburn and Mary Copeland Blackburn, adding another layer of Dunwoody history to her family. The extensive Copeland family once had a dairy at Jett Ferry and Dunwoody Club Drive, a farm where Dunwoody Springs Elementary School sits, and a store where Dunwoody Village is located.
Blackburn family members were neighbors of Bud and Mildred Crews in 1950. Census records list neighbors B.C. and Ola Spruill, Elizabeth and Manget Davis, Charlie and Myrtice Loyd Blackburn, and C.E. and Doris Blackburn. The Crews’ daughter Patricia is listed as an 8-year-old on the census.
A 1963 plat shows that Bud Crews purchased land at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Chamblee Dunwoody Road. The 1957 and 1963 purchases add up to about 2 acres. This history can be seen on a plat map of the former Dunwoody School property on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
This 1940s Dunwoody baseball photograph includes, standing from left: Eugene Wilson, Rembert Sykes and Bud Crews. Kneeling, from left, are: Dorris Martin and Paul Manning.
Bud Crews died June 29, 1972, and is buried at Arlington Memorial Park. His wife Mildred died in 2003 and is buried alongside her husband.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF
Columnist
“THE STORY OF DUNWOODY,” BY ELIZABETH DAVIS AND ETHEL SPRUILL
Daughter follows parents’ entrepreneurial footsteps
By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com
ROSWELL, Ga. — Nestled underneath her parents’ coffee shop, guests can find Macy Pettet piecing together clothing to create the perfect outfits in her store, Bungalow 1088.
The smell of coffee and pastries seep into the playful atmosphere of the boutique, where Pettet creates content and working in the store.
Pettet has been raised to be an entrepreneur, helping her parents with their coffee shop, Crazy Love Coffee House, which opened in 2017.
“I worked up there since we opened and did socials and a lot of different creative things,” Pettet said.
She continued her passion for running a business and went to Kennesaw State University to study culinary sustainability and hospitality.
“It's just kind of helped transfer into this,” she said.
Her father introduced the idea to Macy, encouraging her to open a clothing boutique underneath the coffee shop.
“They thought, ‘why not open up a clothing boutique,’” she said.
While her parents technically own the space, Pettet runs and manages the
boutique.
Like her parents coffee shop, Bungalow 1088 was founded on Christian principles. Guests can find Bible verses sprinkled throughout the store.
Pettet wants the store to be like a ministry that reaches out to the community for Jesus. She said the goal for the boutique is to make customers feel confident and feel good about what they’re wearing, while also showing Christ’s love.
“A lot of people feel very intimidated by church and different stuff,” Pettet said. “This is providing an environment to welcome people.”
Her inspiration for the store comes from places like Anthropologie and Free People. Pettet uses Pinterest to research the newest trends.
“We try to pick out a lot of clothes that would look good on everyone,” she said. “[We pick] not as much confusing styles, but more simplistic, fun colors, more
Bungalow 1088 also sells goods for homes, including devotionals, wine glasses and handmade furniture.
solids, not as many patterns.”
When designing the store, Pettet and her mother drew inspiration from other boutiques, picking bits and pieces of their favorite colors and designs.
Although the store just opened in June, Pettet said business has been “really good and really busy.”
“We've had a lot of good support from the community, but also from our church and our friends,” she said.
Pettet has two favorite parts to owning a boutique, picking out the pieces of clothing and meeting people.
“I love getting to pick out stuff for people to try on, and just help people find things,” she said.
Bungalow 1088 also offers free personal styling sessions for customers to get their new favorite outfits. Customers can come in to give Pettet a vision and favorite colors, so that she can pick out some new pieces for them.
“I just thought fashion was really fun to just express yourself,” Pettet said.
The boutique also sells devotionals, purses, shoes and even hand-made furniture.
To learn more about the boutique, visit bungalow1088.com.
PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Macy Pettet opened her Bungalow 1088 in June underneath her parents coffee shop in Roswell at 1088 Canton St.
Macy Pettet’s boutique offers unique pieces for customers to feel confident in.
Life Time Perimeter opens at site of former fitness club
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Life Time
Perimeter opened its doors to members Aug. 8, bringing one of the nation’s premier health and fitness clubs to southern Sandy Springs and the former site of the Concourse Athletic Club.
The new 79,000-square-foot athletic country club offers a luxury wellness experience near the Central Perimeter business district and surrounding family neighborhoods.
The destination marks the ninth Life Time location in Metro Atlanta. It joins a growing list of area destinations that have opened since the company launched in Georgia in 2006. Other clubs include Alpharetta, Sugarloaf, Johns Creek, Woodstock and Peachtree Corners, along with Sandy Springs and Buckhead. The company’s most recent Metro Atlanta opening prior to Perimeter was North Druid Hills, which debuted in December 2024.
Life Time Perimeter is located at 8 Concourse Parkway, situated between Sandy Springs’ landmark King & Queen towers.
LFT Real Estate Company, a development arm of Life Time, bought the property from Concourse Acquisitions & Development LLC for $13.6 million in November 2023, according to public records.
Life Time says it has completely transformed the former Concourse Athletic Club into a modern, threestory space that caters to the growing needs of health-conscious professionals, couples and active families. With abundant natural light, an open-concept design and expansive indoor and outdoor amenities, Life Time Perimeter is designed for everyone seeking to prioritize wellbeing, productivity and community.
Parham Javaheri, executive vice president at Life Time, said the Central Perimeter location is a strategic addition to the company’s Metro Atlanta footprint.
“Bringing our unparalleled healthy way of life experience to an incredibly vibrant community where people live, work and socialize every day,” said. “As people increasingly return to the office, we uniquely serve both weekday routines and weekend activities and are excited to reopen this revitalized destination and welcome previous and new members alike.”
Covering three acres along I-285 and Ga. 400, Life Time Perimeter offers central access for members working or living in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and the surrounding areas.
Highlights include:
LIFE TIME PERIMETER/PROVIDED
Life Time, one of the nation’s premier health and fitness clubs, is opening a new location in Central Perimeter situated between Sandy Springs’ landmark King & Queen towers.
• Eight outdoor pickleball courts and five tennis courts (four clay and one hard).
• Five-lane lap and leisure pools in a beach club-style style setting with lounge seating and snack bar.
• Indoor lap pool, four squash courts and running/walking track.
• Four boutique studios for barre, group fitness, hot and traditional yoga and Pilates, along with dedicated spaces for Signature Group Training programs. Overall, more than 100 classes will be offered weekly.
• Expansive fitness floor with best-inclass cardio equipment, resistancetraining machines and free weights.
• A dedicated recovery space for stretching, innovative water massage and cold therapy chairs, whole body compression technology, percussion devices, metabolic testing and nutrition coaching.
• Luxurious executive-style dressing rooms, coed hydrotherapy suite with cold plunge, whirlpool, two steam rooms, saunas including infrared.
• Life Time Work Club Lounge for calls, meetings and remote work.
• Kids Academy with a built-in infant room, toddler area and language arts studio.
• LifeCafe offering meals and shakes along with a juice bar.
Life Time Perimeter is open to members Monday through Friday, from 4:00 a.m. to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday, between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
To learn more, visit Life Time Perimeter’s website or call 770-7433600.
— Hayden Sumlin
Transforming Ordinary Into Extraordinary
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WAS PRESIDENT FORD RIGHT TO PARDON ROBERT E. LEE?
Join Student Leadership North and The Georgia Politics Podcast
Sandy Springs resident plans Tucker venue
By DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com
TUCKER, Ga. — A business owner from Sandy Springs plans to open a 1,000-seat concert venue on Lavista Road in Tucker.
The Londzell Performing Arts Theatre is expected to open on Oct. 29, according to General Manager Tajuana Huston. The 30,000-square-foot space at 3993 Lavista Road was previously home to Bally Total Fitness and has been vacant for more than a decade.
“We haven’t chosen a band yet, so it’ll probably be a local band, a popular band,” she said. “We haven’t narrowed it down.”
The business owner, entrepreneur and musician Londzell Hardy, has aspirations to attract big-name talent like John Mayer and Alicia Keys. While the capacity of the venue is smaller than the numbers those acts would typically draw, he plans to book artists to perform multiple nights in a row.
for a special debate marking the 50th anniversary of President Gerald Ford’s controversial decision. Our panel will explore the historical, political, and cultural impacts of the pardon –and what it means for America today.
Date: Sunday, August 24th, 4 pm
Location: Thornhill Subdivision Clubhouse, 9200 Waits Ferry Crossing, Johns Creek, GA 30097
Presented by: Student Leadership North and The Georgia Politics Podcast
Come ready to challenge assumptions, hear compelling arguments, and join the conversation about how history shapes our present.
“They can come here, and they don’t have to pack up and leave,” he said.
The venue will cater to fans of all musical genres, he said.
“We do R&B, we do blues, we do country, we do Latin,” Hardy said.
The venue does it in style, with spaceage-looking finishes in the lobby and giant television panels adorning walls throughout the space.
“Every section has its own unique look,” Hardy said, noting the entrance tunnel lined with screens has, “doors that open just like ‘Star Trek’ doors.”
The ballroom is downstairs and can hold around 400 people.
In addition to the concert space, recording studio and ballroom, there will be food service catered by master chef Daryl Shular.
He said the city of Tucker staff has been helpful and accommodating. He said he was drawn to the space by the unique look of the Bally Total Fitness building, located in the Northlake section of Tucker, and its adjacent ample parking with 2,000 spaces.
“I thought it was a unique look,” Hardy said. “So it’s worked to my advantage.”
He said the venue is “much needed” in the city of Tucker.
Hardy was born in Indiana and raised in Chicago. His family moved to the Atlanta area in 1986, and his father owned a family business, a maintenance service. Hardy is the owner of HVS Facilities, a maintenance company based in Roswell. He lives in Sandy Springs. While maintenance is his job, music is his passion.
“I’m doing something I really like to do,” he said.
Bob Meyers, Judge, Columnist for Appen Media
Craig Kidd, Moderator, Host of The Georgia Politics Podcast
Lynne Riley, Judge
Metro Atlanta golf courses make magazine’s
ATLANTA — GOLF magazine released its annual state-by-state course rankings in December, with Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta topping the list of Georgia's best golf courses for 2024-25.
Some courses that made the list are in North Metro Atlanta.
The rankings, compiled by more than 100 panelists, evaluated 609 courses nationwide using an 11-tier scoring system, according to GOLF. Electors ranked courses from top three in the U.S. down to those deserving removal from consideration.
Atlanta Athletic Club had two Metro
Atlanta courses named to the list, with Riverside placing 7th and Highlands at the 9 spot.
Johns Creek’s Rivermont Golf Club came in at no. 13.
Augusta National, home of the Masters Tournament and designed by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, earned recognition as the state’s best course and one of the magazine's Top 100 Courses in the U.S.
Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta ranked 2nd, followed by Ohoopee Match Club in Cobbtown. Six of the top 20 courses offer public access.
— Carl Appen
GOLF magazine’s top 20 golf courses in Georgia
Frederica
Cuscowilla
Rivermont Golf Club
Champions Retreat
Atlanta Country Club
8. Ocean Forest
9. Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course) 10. Augusta Country Club
Reynolds – Lake Oconee (Great Waters)
McLemore Club 18. Ford Field and River Club
The Farm
Brunswick Country Club
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BUFORD
20, MILTON 13
Milton football opens season with loss to Buford
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
BUFORD, Ga — The Milton Eagles’ comeback fell short Aug. 14, dropping the season opener to the Buford Wolves, 20-13 in the inaugural game at Buford’s $62 million Phillip Beard Stadium.
It was Milton’s first loss in nearly two years and the first time losing to Buford since 2019. Snapping a 25game win streak required Buford to capitalize on several Eagle mistakes.
Buford, ranked No. 13 in the country by MaxPreps, has a loaded senior class with eight SEC commits. Quarterback Dayton Raiola is committed to Nebraska, as well.
Facing a defense that forced four turnovers, the Eagles never trailed by more than two scores, remaining neck-and-neck with Buford until the final minute of the game.
Eagles quarterback Derrick Baker was the primary target of the Wolves’ defense. Baker said at practice the day before the matchup that Phillip Beard will be the biggest stadium he has played in.
Throughout the game, Baker had to step out several times when his helmet was knocked off during play. The native of Naples, Florida, threw 6-for15 for 1 touchdown and two interceptions and rushed for 78 yards in his first game in an Eagles jersey.
“[Milton] is a great place with great coaches,” he said. “I’ve felt the best here than I have in any other place.”
His 55-yard touchdown to E.B. Bailey, a transfer from Chattahoochee High School, gave the Eagles their only lead of the game in the first quarter.
Milton junior Jordan Carrasquillo led the team in receptions with three for 44 yards and one touchdown. The score came when Baker was sitting due to helmet trouble, when 14-yearold freshman Trey Hasan kicked off his Milton career with a 28-yard touchdown to Carrasquillo in Hasan’s fifth down and second pass attempt as an Eagle.
Milton coach Ben Reaves remarked that after two years of great success, the team is ready to be back in its former “underdog” role.
“We’re hungry to prove ourselves,” he said. “With youth, with inexperience, it’s tough to make all the plays, but by the time we get into the playoffs, we have a 10-game season ahead of us. The way that we played, the way that we work, we will be ready to make all those plays.”
Returning to being underdogs has
included what Reaves describes as “reloading, not rebuilding.” He explained some of his stars would be playing on both sides of the ball this year, which was not required until the state championship game last season.
The Eagles will get back on the horse Aug. 22, traveling to Orlando, Florida, for a game against The First Academy for the Royals’ season opener.
PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Milton quarterback Derrick Baker loses his helmet after a run against a stiff Buford defense Aug. 15 at Phillip Beard Stadium.
Milton High School wide receiver Jordan Carrasquillo gets wrapped up by Buford defensive end Dre Quinn at the Aug. 15 game at Buford High School’s Phillip Beard Stadium.
Two-way star E.B. Bailey returns a kickoff at Phillip Beard Stadium Aug. 15 at Phillip Beard Stadium.
Barnhart:
Continued from Page 1
He is currently a columnist for TMG College Sports and a contributor to a weekly SEC radio show.
In a letter shared with the ROMEOs, Barnhart said his 92-year-old mother told him that 50 is a nice round number.
“I will work through the CFP National Championship game in Miami on Monday, Jan. 19. Then I will retire,” he wrote. “I never thought I would write those words.”
Mr. College Football’s season preview at the Village went through the state of the sport and its relationship with the NCAA, his predictions for each round of the 12team playoff and some insider information on recruiting classes and new players.
“The irony with all the problems that we’re having in college football …,” Barnhart said. “While there’s financial issues going on, the game on the field is better than it’s ever been.”
He said Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals and a wide-open transfer portal is a big challenge for the sport that will require legislation or collective bargaining to resolve. Barnhart said no one knows the solution.
If the playoffs are going to expand from 12 to 16 teams across the country in a couple of years, he said the two most prolific conferences — the SEC and the Big Ten — are going to need to agree on a format.
His top four teams at the end of this upcoming season with a first-round bye in the playoffs are the Texas Longhorns, the Penn State Nittany Lions, the Clemson Tigers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Texas quarterback Arch Manning was impressive during the 2025 SEC Football Media Days in July, he said.
“The four first-round games are played on campus at the home of the higher seed,” Barnhart said. “And basically, they said give us more on-campus games.”
Rezoning:
Former City Councilman Robert Wittenstein said Dominium requested 11 exceptions to PC-3 zoning district regulations before resubmitting for a rezoning to planned development.
“I do want to say that I support the idea of having senior housing in Dunwoody, and I support the idea of having incomerestricted housing,” Wittenstein said, adding that he’d spoken in favor of it at the Planning Commission meeting, and the Dunwoody Homeowners association voted unanimously in favor.
“This will be the tallest apartment building in Dunwoody,” Wittenstein said. “They want 62 units an acre. This will be three times more dense than any apartment complex in Dunwoody.”
Other development wins favor
The council looked more favorably at a rezoning application from Workspace Property Trust, which is planning a PD rezoning at 64 and 66 Perimeter Center East.
Tony “Mr. College Football” Barnhart and his wife Maria, a four-time president of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club, enjoy a trip to Gainesville, Florida July 26 for a reception honoring the legendary sportswriter and the couple’s friends Jerri and Steve Spurrier.
He said he predicts the University of Georgia to match up with the University of Miami in Athens, setting up former Bulldog quarterback Carson Beck to face his replacement, Gunner Stockton.
“I’m just imagining that he will receive a warm reception as he drives onto Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium,” Barnhardt said. “This would be perfect, [Beck] drives on the field in his Lamborghini and Gunner Stockton drives on with his ’79 Ford pick-up.”
A few hours later, college football fans got the first top 25 poll of the 2025-26 season from the Associated Press. Reporters from around the country agreed with Mr. College Football, ranking the Manning-led Longhorns as the nation’s preseason top team for the first time in history.
After the 2026 National Championship Jan. 19
Workspace Property Trust’s office-toresidential conversion plan near I-285 calls for a density of less than 28 units per acre.
The proposed rezoning of two parcels to planned development allows Workspace Property to convert the existing office buildings into a new residential development with 449 units, including townhomes, age-restricted rental apartments and townhomes. The combined parcel is more than 16 acres.
at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Barnhart is planning to retire, write some more books, work with his wife Maria on charitable endeavors and spend time with their two grandchildren.
He said the first book after his retirement will be a collection of essays from each stop on his “Thank You” tour of some of his favorite spots across schools in the Southeastern Conference.
Mr. College Football is a 1976 graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism. He got his first full-time job in the newspaper business as a one-person sports department for the Union City Times in South Carolina.
Of his six published books, the most recent, “The 19 of Greene: Football, Friendship, and Change in the Fall of 1970,” recounts his experience with racial integration in small-town Georgia as a member of the county’s first integrated football team.
Tony and his wife Maria moved to Dunwoody in 1994. Today, there are four generations of Barnharts living in Dunwoody with no plans of leaving anytime soon.
Maria has served as president of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club, a local branch of the international service organization, four times. Tony and Maria are involved in several charities, including the annual Honduras Outreach International Golf Tournament in May and the Big Game Ball Aug. 27 to benefit the National Down Syndrome Congress.
Maria said she is passionate about the work of the NDSC and programs for individuals with Down syndrome because of her younger brother who was diagnosed.
As for her husband’s retirement announcement and her relationship with Steve Spurrier, Maria said the reception honoring both college football legends was as exceptional as their legacies.
MID-SUMMER SALE
LABOR DAY SALE
While Dominium has proposed a density of close to 63 units per acre,
The Overall Development Plan calls for a conversion of the 13-story office building at 64 Perimeter Center East into 223 forsale units and the eight-story building at 66 Perimeter Center East into 125 agerestricted rental units. Workspace Property is proposing to wrap the existing parking garage with residential units and construct another on the western half of the site with the same style.
Comments from council members were positive, citing the proposed density’s fit with the Central Perimeter business district just north of I-285.
“I’ve served on City Council for 18 years, and this is what I have been asking for. You knocked it out of the park,” Heneghan told the applicant and staff. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is what this community needs. I have no concerns.” Continued from Page 3
ROB SAYE/PROVIDED
PRESERVING THE PAST
The story of a wheel and a special lady
A friend asked me if I knew anything about a wagon wheel embedded in a tree on Mayfield Road near downtown Crabapple. I did not, but I decided to investigate. It turns out that the tree is on the property where Fannie Etris Holcombe lives. She is a lovely woman soon to celebrate her 106th birthday. I profiled Fannie and her family in a column in March 2024. The wagon wheel embedded in the tree provided an opportunity to catch up with her and to uncover a bit of intriguing local history at the same time.
I sat down with Fannie, her son Steve Holcombe and his wife Myra in Fannie’s living room. Before he retired, Steve owned a construction company and Myra worked for the Cherokee County Schools. Steve loves history and knows a lot about the area.
Fannie is spirited and vibrant. She makes her own breakfast every morning and enjoys talking about her family history. Her four children take turns visiting with her every afternoon.
Fannie was raised on Etris Road in Roswell. The road is named for her father William Samuel Etris (1875-1963) who was born in Milton. He came from a family of 11 children. He and his wife also raised 11 children on their Etris Road farm. Fannie, born in 1919, was the youngest child.
William Etris was a gold miner and lived in Cleveland, Georgia, as a young man. That is about 18 miles from Dahlonega, where gold had been discovered in 1828, 20 years before the Gold Rush to California.
After he married, he moved to Etris Road in Roswell where he grew cotton and corn on a 40-acre farm.
Growing up on Etris Road Fannie attended Mount Oliver Baptist Church on Hardscrabble Road next to today’s Roswell High School. The church was established in 1907 on land donated by Tommy and Alec Oliver and was dedicated in May 1909. Original membership was 5 males and 7 females. In those days, according to Steve Holcombe, a circuit preacher held a service at the church once a month. Many country churches in the South could not afford to pay preachers for weekly sermons, and even then, many churches paid their preachers with chickens or eggs. They received cash only during revival meetings.
For many years, Fannie went to church in the family wagon pulled by a mule and was jammed full with a dozen family members. Sometimes she walked to church which was about 2 miles away, she says.
In 1939 Fannie married Otis Holcombe (1916-2006), a trained machinist and mechanic. They lived initially on Cox Road and later on King Road in Milton. In 1961, the couple and their children moved to Crabapple to a house on a 3-acre parcel which had been part of the farm owned by John Gilford Green (1879-1963). James Cash bought the parcel and house from Green and owned it until he sold it to the Holcombe family. The house was built circa 1955.
James Cash constructed a building next to the house which was subsequently converted into a machine shop by Otis Holcombe. Steve Holcombe painted the large sign, which says Holcombe’s Machine Shop on the side of the building. The sign has faded over the years, but that adds to its charm and historic character. It is also a local landmark.
Fannie’s mother was partial to roses. She had a rose garden in front of the house next to a small pine tree. An abandoned wheel from a hay rake rested against the tree behind the flowers. Hay rakes were important to farmers who needed to gather and store dry hay for their animals.
Hay rakes date back to the early 19th century and were used primarily for gathering hay and grain. They were also
painted the sign that says Holcombe Machine
The while post was once a well.
used to clear fields and lawns and for spreading soil. Early rakes were pulled by horses or mules. Later, tractors pulled them.
The rake wheel rested against the tree behind the rose garden for years. The tree gradually grew around the wheel, creating a kind of unique sculpture. The wheel adds to the character of the tree which has adapted to the metal. It looks very cool.
Thanks to Myra Holcombe for her help with the column and to Christy McWhorter for asking the original question.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@ bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
PHOTOS BY BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA
A wheel from an old hay rake is imbedded partially inside this tree in front of the house where Fannie Holcombe lives in Crabapple.
Fannie Holcombe sits in her favorite chair in her living room. She will celebrate her 106th birthday in December.
Steve Holcombe stands in front of the building which his father used as a workshop. Steve
Shop.
OPINION
Shade perennials add color, texture to wooded yard
When my family first moved into our home, our backyard was filled with tons of trees, invasive English ivy and not much else. I loved the privacy and shade that the trees provided but really felt the yard was lacking visual interest. I’m drawn to abundant, dense landscapes and find a lot of inspiration in naturalized-looking English gardens. I had the opportunity to work with a landscape designer on my yard a few years ago and was introduced to several plants that helped achieve that exact vibe in my North Fulton yard. Now that the yard is firmly established, here are the plants I would definitely use again:
1. Autumn fern
There are a few other ferns in my backyard, but these are my favorite. They are low maintenance and offer a unique leaf shape, which stays in the garden year-round. And what is better suited for the woods than a fern?! These plants are used as a border and tucked into a rock garden in my yard.
2. Azaleas
Yes, azaleas seem like a boring, played-out option… everyone has an azalea bush, right? That’s what I thought, mostly because I was used to seeing them planted in a row as a hedge alternative in front yards. Tucking this shrub in among dense trees gives it a chance to pop like a specimen plant, and because the plant grows tall, the flowers get to make a big show. I also like growing azaleas away from the house so they can grow with little to no pruning. Left on their own, the growth habit seems much airier and more natural. Azaleas come in a variety of colors to choose from; the plants in my yard are George L. Tabor.
3. Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’
Most of my plants had dark-colored foliage, and this lime-green mounding grass is a beautiful contrast. It doesn’t die back in winter, and because the leaves grow long and droop a bit, it makes quite a statement along the borders. I have this planted in my much sunnier front yard, and it does just as well as in the shade. Acorus was outcompeted by the lawn it was planted near, but the rock garden and borders in the shade garden have proved to be a perfect placement. Some trim the leaves in the fall/winter, but I leave it alone year-round.
4. Ajuga reptans ‘Chocolate Chip’
Ajuga reptans is hands down my favorite plant in the yard. This variety has deep purple/emerald, evergreen leaves that form an extremely dense mat. The flowers pop up bright purple and last for months. I think it just looks so unique. I’m actually in the process of adding more of this to my yard; that’s how obsessed I am. This is planted as ground cover around my walkways and rock garden. It dies back a little in winter, but I have no bare spots, which I like. Ajuga comes in several varieties with different leaf and flower colors. The foliage is very tolerant of being walked on, the flowers not so much. Pollinators also love these flowers.
5. Hosta Halcyon
There are many hostas to choose from, but Halcyon stands out to me because of its leaf color and size. Growing up to five feet in diameter, these plants cover a large
amount of space, and the blue-green color of the leaves makes for an interesting addition to the landscape. Hostas do have a couple of caveats. They die back to the crown in the winter, so you will need to mulch over the area during the cold months to avoid bare dirt.
Hostas are also a favorite food for deer. Unless you have a fenced yard, you will need to protect them by continually spraying with repellant or cover with a layer of bird
About the author
This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Ashley Jones Brodkin, who has been a Master Gardener since 2024. Her passion is recreating naturalized landscapes for entertaining and has recently been devoted to learning more about herbalism, permaculture and edible landscapes.
netting. The bird netting is barely visible from a distance and is a great deterrent.
6. Aucuba japonica Variegata (Gold Dust)
This shrub has dense, evergreen foliage and is great as a backdrop or a screen. I love the dark green foliage with golden flecks, and it thrives in full shade. In fact, I have one plant that sits in mid-day sun, and it really struggles. My full-shade plants are doing much better.
This list of shade perennials has transformed my wooded yard into a vibrant and textured oasis. With careful planning and consideration of each plant's needs, you too can create a lush and inviting outdoor space even in the shadiest of areas.
Happy Gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/ garden_buzz/.
ASHLEY JONES
PHOTOS BY ASHLEY JONES BRODKIN/PROVIDED
Wooded shade garden in mid-April
Halcyon hosta, chocolate chip ajuga and autumn ferns along a rock border
A guide to understanding the politics of local fish
So we’re back from Montana. It was unbelievable. The landscape was spectacular. The people we met were first-class. The lodge where we stayed was perfect. And the fishing was beyond description.
Craig DeMark, owner of On DeMark Lodge, where we stayed, did a stellar job of putting us on some memorable fish. In the final analysis, a rare thing happened, and I ended up having caught the most, though by only the smallest of margins. But she hooked the biggest. It was an enormous rainbow, maybe two feet long, or longer. It hit a size 22 dry fly (that’s fly fishing talk for tiny) and stayed on the line for a good five minutes before finally, cruelly, decided to dive at the last minute and tear off under the boat.
“I couldn’t do anything,” she said, “unless I was going to jump in and go after it!”
In the end, we were stoic about it. It happens. And besides, if it gets away, it can be as big as you want it to be. But the fact is that neither of us was prepared for such as fish. Sometimes you just have to learn as you go, for there is no way on God’s green earth (or clear river) to really understand those fish until you have one on the line. If you’ve been a fly fisher as long as I have, you tend to think that you know it all, or at least that you know all of it that really matters. That may be true as long as you stay close to home. But if you venture afield, if you venture as far as the Land of the Big Sky, you learn that you really do still have a lot to learn.
I figured that out right away. Here’s how it happened.
“I think,” I said after supper on our first night there, “that I’d like to fish a little before calling it a day.” Postsupper fishing was to prove to be remarkably easy since the gin-clear waters of the Missouri River were but a five-minute stroll from the door. It would become an addiction, but just then it was only a tantalizing promise of great things and greater fish to come.
So, I reached for the flyrod, then turned to Craig with the Big Question:
“What fly should I use?”
Craig is a remarkable fellow, a rare combination of world-class expert and aw-shucks humility. He’s unfailingly helpful, delightfully positive and sublimely skilled at what he does, which is to say he darn sure knows how to make this Bubba from the South connect with some of the most mythic trout of the western world.
He didn’t hesitate.
“I’d try one of these,” he said, handing me a couple of truly tiny flies, each barely a quarter inch long. Tiny flies, eh? I use small flies at home, though they’re not that small. Neither are they as finely executed nor as precise in every detail. Here, at home, just getting the size right is often all it takes. If it’s the right size and vaguely buggy, and if you don’t scare the fish as you approach the water, odds are that you’ll get a strike. But on the Missouri the fish have apparently been to bug school. They know what they’re looking for, and if you don’t give it to them (right down to the number of fibers in the tail, it seems) they turn up their noses and laugh and laugh and laugh as they swim back into the cold, clear depths. That’s humbling, let me tell you. But that’s the way it is. Over the next few days, those tiny flies (they imitated some sort of mayfly) would prove to be the patterns of choice at some point on pretty much every single day.
The natural insects were everywhere, densifying the air in huge clouds that must be seen to be believed. Sometimes they got in your eyes and your mouth and your hair. Then, after mating, they’d fall to the water and drift along, drifting until they caught the eye of a big trout and the surface exploded and there was one fewer mayfly in the world.
By the end of the trip, I had several of those flies in my fly box. I carried a couple of them home with me, too, where they reappeared when I opened up the box just yesterday to choose a fly for some afternoon bream fishing on our favorite local stream.
For a moment, I considered foregoing the Montana mayflies in favor of our usual pink foam spider. Foam spiders worked. Always. But I was still in a Montana frame of mind. Tying on a Montana fly would take me west again, if only in my mind. And who knows? Maybe the Georgia fish would enjoy them too.
So, tie one on is what I did. On the first cast I had a strike, which I missed. On the second I did a better job, slowing down my hookset, and the reward was a big hand-sized sunfish. In fact, it was a giant fish for that little creek. It was a sunfish of western proportions, if there is such a thing, and if there’s not then there should be.
I should really have expected nothing less on a Montana fly, I suppose.
I caught several more fish on that Montana pattern. In fact, I had a pretty good run.
As we spread out a picnic a little later (picnics are
always best beside a stream full of fish, aren’t they?) I found myself thinking that I might even come out on top later on when we totaled up the numbers.
“How’d you do?” she asked me when we came together a half hour later for fried chicken on a creekside gravel bar. “How many?”
“Sixteen!” I proclaimed. “You?”
Uh oh. I recognized that look.
“Twenty-one,” she said. “Sometimes it’s good to be home.”
We sat there munching chicken and coleslaw, enjoying it all, and I thought about things. I thought about flies and the politics of trout.
Those Madison River trout, I reflected, really are different from anything I knew. They have their own way of doing things. They have their own priorities and their own opinions. They have their own outlook on life, and by God you do it their way or you don’t do it at all.
And sometimes they like to eat tiny bugs.
Well, it seems that my hometown sunfish like tiny bugs, too, the very same tiny bugs so favored by their Montana counterparts. How about that. Do they know that by doing so they’re identifying with fellow creatures who are so radically different? Do they know that, even in such a little thing, they may be much less different and much more the same?
They swim in different waters, but they swim in different waters together.
If creatures with brains the size of a green pea can deal with that, why can’t we?
PROVIDED
From left, On DeMark Lodge owner Craig DeMark and the author with one that didn’t get away fishing the Missouri.
STEVE HUDSON Columnist
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Christine Beldowicz, 54, of Roswell, passed away on July 31, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
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