Dunwoody Crier - December 11, 2025

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Holiday Lights dazzle Brook Run Park crowd

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Holiday Lights returned to Dunwoody’s Brook Run Park for its sixth year Dec. 2. Some of the biggest light displays were delayed in delivery, so opening night featured a limited offering, including the Mega Tree, plus hot chocolate, popcorn and churros.

The city will announce when the full display is installed.

This year’s theme is Cosmic Wonderland.

“Everything’s always very interactive. It’s always great for pictures and free every year,” Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron said. “It’s out here from 5 to 10 p.m. every night through the month of December. It’s become one of our favorite events. Everybody loves it.”

— Photos by Dean

Officials frown on drive-thru applications

DUNWOODY, Ga. — With a consensus focused on connectivity and pedestrian safety, the Dunwoody City Council denied a a drive-thru permit for a new Raising Cane’s at 4570 Ashford Dunwoody Road.

Officials didn’t stop there, pushing back on Zaxby’s proposal for one at 125 Perimeter Center West within Ashford Lane.

Resident and attorney Bob Dallas, a former mayoral candidate, said the Dunwoody Homeowner Association was able to lobby DeKalb County to turn Ashford Dunwoody Road into a median-divided parkway, preventing it from looking like Roswell Road (Ga. 9) in Sandy Springs.

“I just ask that when we consider any kind of use that incorporates a drive-thru that we respect the fact that we worked hard to make it what it is today,” Dallas said. “If we build for more cars, we’re going to get more cars.”

During discussion about slowing traffic on city-owned thoroughfares, elected officials agreed to apply with the state to lower the speed limit on Ashford Dunwoody Road from the current 45 mph to 35 mph from the Chamblee border at I-285 to Mount Vernon Road.

Chelsea Minichiello introduces her son Myles to his first Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park Dec. 2 in Dunwoody.
Sadie Bartlett, 5, hugs the Snow Queen during opening night festivities for Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park Dec. 2.

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Suspect in assault case dies after pulling gun on police

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A suspect in a Dec. 4 alleged assault died at the hospital after he pulled out a gun and was shot by Sandy Springs police.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Dec. 5 that the suspect, a 27-yearold man from Jackson, Mississippi, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The GBI said his body will be taken to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Officer for an autopsy.

Just after 11 a.m., the Sandy Springs Police Department made a social media post about a large police presence in the city’s North End district just south of the Chattahoochee River.

Officers said they responded to an assault call near the Bank of America Financial Center at 8755 Roswell Road at Dunwoody Place and Hope Road shortly after 10:30 a.m.

Sandy Springs Police Sgt. Leon Millholland said officers quickly located a male suspect who was reported to have assaulted a 46-year-old Sandy Springs woman walking her dog near the bank.

“They were separated,” Millholland said. “[Officers] showed up on scene and located a guy on the sidewalk. When they were talking

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.

Milton woman cited for felony shoplifting

DUNWOODY, GA. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 49-year-old Milton woman for felony shoplifting Nov. 11 after a Macy’s employee allegedly caught her trying to exit the store with more than $1,500 in merchandise.

An officer said a loss prevention officer at the Perimeter Mall department store told him he first spotted the suspect on security cameras just before 7 p.m.

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The employee said the woman went into the fitting room with miscellaneous clothing and empty shopping bags twice. When employees checked the room after she exited, they said they found none of the clothing.

After leaving the fitting room a second time, employees said they noticed her reusable bag was full.

Employees said they confronted the woman around 9 p.m. as she was exiting the store with two full bags of merchandise, but she did not initially stop.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Detectives from the Sandy Springs Police Department investigate an officer-involved shooting Dec. 4 at the Bank of America Financial Center at Roswell Road and Dunwoody Place.

to him, running his name, date of birth and information, the dude pulls out a gun, and an officer shot him.”

Millholland said the suspect did not fire a shot and confirmed no officers were injured.

Sandy Springs Police Officer Jarrell Greene, also speaking with the media in a nearby staging area, said ambulances transported the suspect in critical condition to Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center.

Thursday’s officer-involved shooting is the second within the North Fulton city in the past three months.

In mid-October, a bullet struck a Sandy Springs officer in the hand, causing minor

Police said Macy’s loss prevention had calculated the total of missing merchandise was greater than $1,500.

Once detained, the officer said the woman repeatedly admitted to making a mistake.

According to DeKalb County Jail records, the Milton woman was booked Nov. 11 and released Nov. 14.

— Hayden Sumlin

Brunswick woman detained on firearm assault warrant

DUNWOODY, GA. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 29-year-old Brunswick woman during a Nov. 16 traffic stop after discovering she had an outstanding warrant for aggravated assault with a gun.

An officer said he received a Flock Safety notification on the license plate of a 2025 Chevrolet Trax near 77 Perimeter Center East around 6:45 p.m.

After stopping the vehicle, the officer said he confirmed the driver’s identity matched the warrant out of the Brunswick Police Department.

The officer said he detained the woman without incident, finding a loaded Glock G43X in her purse.

After confirming the warrant, the officer said he transported the woman to DeKalb County Jail.

According to jail records, she was

injuries, after responding to a shots-fired call near Carroll Manor Drive and North River Parkway. After an exchange of gunfire, the incident ended with the suspect surrendering to crisis negotiators.

The officer-involved shootings, both involving suspects who brandished a firearm, were within a mile of one another.

Appen Media asked Greene and Millholland whether there has been an increase of violent police incidents.

“It’s two different situations,” Greene said.

Millholland said the Sandy Springs Police Department’s command staff talked about an across-the-board decline in property crimes and general police incidents earlier Thursday morning.

“Numbers are down,” Millholland said. “I just think they’re independent, random acts.”

Sandy Springs Police detectives were notified and have taken over the investigation, the news release said. The incident was captured on body-worn cameras.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has also been asked to investigate, which is standard for any shooting involving a law enforcement officer.

This is a developing story. Check appenmedia.com for updates.

released to the Brunswick Police Department Nov. 17. — Hayden Sumlin

Perimeter Mall Macy’s detains suspected thief

DUNWOODY, GA. — Dunwoody Police arrested a 43-year-old College Park man Nov. 14 after Macy’s loss prevention spotted him concealing items.

An officer said employees told him the suspect entered the store just before 5 p.m. and began putting clothes into a bookbag before attempting to exit the store.

As he was leaving, loss prevention employees said they detained the “known shoplifter” with $550 worth of Nike-branded women’s clothing.

The man has been arrested by the Dunwoody and Brookhaven police departments in the past 18 months.

An officer said the man complained of chest man during the arrest, so an ambulance was called to medically clear him. Shortly after, officers transported him to DeKalb County Jail.

Officers said they think the suspect’s bookbag was also stolen because of a security device attached to it.

According to jail records, the man was booked for felony shoplifting Nov. 14 and again for misdemeanor shoplifting Nov. 17, presumably for the bookbag.

— Hayden Sumlin

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GIRLS:

Chamblee, Dunwoody square off in basketball action

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Fewer than 5 miles from each other, Chamblee and Dunwoody high schools have formed a rivalry. Dunwoody’s gym was packed Dec. 5 for a basketball double-header that saw the girls secure a home win while the boys fell to the Bulldogs.

In the girls game, Chamblee got out to a hot start to go up 3-0, but after the Wildcats took the lead, they never looked back.

Dunwoody head coach Janee Williams said the stands are packed any time these teams meet. Williams is a Tucker High alum and a self-described “DeKalb County product.”

Williams told Appen Media at winter sports media day that sophomore guard Malaina Allen is a major driving factor in the team’s competitive spirit after missing nearly all of last season due to injury.

Against Chamblee, Allen led the team with 20 points and multiple successful trips to the charity stripe.

Williams highlighted junior Amelia Woods as a spark to put the team on a path to success in the first quarter. Wil-

liams said the junior class has stepped up in major ways to take on leadership roles with no seniors on the team.

“We’ve had some tough losses, but we’ve also had some good wins,” she

said. “[The game against Chamblee] being one of them, and we are learning from each one. You can’t fall apart because somebody makes a run, you gotta stay together, and we were able to fight through that moment and stick together by turning our defense up and forcing turnovers.”

The Bulldogs twice got to within 4 points, but each time, the Wildcats repelled Chamblee’s run and padded their lead. Dunwoody evened their record to 4-4 with the 61-45 victory.

The student sections got even louder during the boys game.

Dunwoody took an early lead, maintaining down the stretch thanks to the efforts of point guard Emerson Mitchell who logged a game-high 37 points.

Guard Octavius Gresham led the Bulldogs with 26 points, six rebounds and two assists.

He said friendly runs with Mitchell at the local YMCA and sharing the same trainer have familiarized him with guarding the standout scorer.

“It’s fun when we’re just at the gym, but region matchups are different, so it means more,” Gresham said. “I look forward to being a leader every day. I’m just trying to be better than last game, better than yesterday.”

Gresham was responsible for the Bulldogs’ taking the lead for the first time in the third quarter with a 3-pointer right in front of the Chamblee student section. Bulldog fans didn’t let up until after the final buzzer.

Senior Ryan McCord, who won Sandy’s Spiel’s award for the best shooter in Class 5A last year, secured the game for his team on defense this time around.

When the Wildcats cut the lead from 13 points to 2 points in the last minute of the game, McCord picked Dunwoody’s pocket in the final seconds to slam the door.

Junior wing Eston McDow then iced the game with two made free throws in an intensely hostile environment to secure the 73-68 win for the Bulldogs.

Head coach Chris Terry said his team’s resiliency has flourished from prior close wins and the comeback against Dunwoody.

“We wanted to make sure we took care of business, and our guys did a great job at that tonight,” he said. “We wanted to prepare ourselves for the region play [with a difficult non-region schedule] and this is what it looks like. It’s tough, it’s gritty, but that’s who we are.”

COREYA FLOWERS/PROVIDED Dunwoody junior Trevor Lordo guards Chamblee senior Octavius Gresham at Dunwoody High School Dec. 5.
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Dunwoody junior Makayla Tarver, left, secures the tip-off for the Wildcats at Dunwoody High School Dec. 5.

Lawson General Hospital post exchange offered necessities

In December of 1940, construction began on Lawson General Hospital, a U.S. Army hospital in Chamblee. The hospital opened in July 1941 with 65 wards ready for patients. When completed, the hospital could accommodate over 2,000 patients. (Atlanta Constitution, July 24, 1941, “Great Army Hospital Opens Near Chamblee”)

In addition to wards, the Lawson General Hospital layout included nurses’ quarters, mess halls, storage, laundry and a post exchange, also referred to as the PX. There were additional buildings to meet every need of the patients and staff. In 1942, Lawson also became one of the locations for Medical Department Technicians Schools across the U.S.

The post exchange was a store where a variety of necessary items were available. Curt Teich and Company of Chicago produced the exchange postcard shown. Teich took black and white photographs and converted them to color images. Teich postcards were popular during World War I and World War II.

Lt. Col. Tom Keating, who has researched several World War II hospitals, shared his insight on the post exchange pictured in the postcard. Keating served between 1973 and 1994 in the Army’s Medical Service Corps in the field of medical logistics and later as a Health Services comptroller. He also worked at civilian

medical centers, such as the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Keating continues to serve at UNC Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, N.C., as a volunteer.

The postcard shows patients and hospital staff shopping in the hospital exchange. Patients wear maroon robes, the traditional branch color of the Army Medical Department.

Keating recognized the bags along the top shelves of the exchange as leather and canvas toiletry bags, better known as Dopp bags, which were issued to many World War II recruits. They usually contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and shaving items. “In basic training you must display all these items outside the Dopp bag for the weekly footlocker inspection.” Doing well on inspection could mean a pass to go into town.

In the case of hospital patients, personal effects were often lost in transit as patients were moved to a hospital by helicopter, airplane, train or ambulance.

A postcard image of the post exchange of Cushing General Hospital, located in Framingham, Massachusetts, shows suitcases and toiletries for sale. The Cushing postcard also includes a patient in a maroon robe.

In an interview several years ago with Carlton Renfroe, he shared that his father was hired as a plumber at Lawson General Hospital. The family moved from downtown Atlanta to Dunwoody in 1941. Renfroe’s dad would occasionally buy candy from the PX at Lawson and bring it home to the children. This was a special treat, as candy was difficult to find during World War II.

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 POSTCARD COLLECTION
Shoppers survey items in the post exchange of World War II Lawson General Hospital.

New Metro Atlanta career hub links job seekers, employers

DULUTH, Ga. — The Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board celebrated the opening of its relocated career resource center Dec. 3 in Duluth that offers training and assistance with job-seeking to Gwinnett County residents.

The Workforce Development Board includes members of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and oversees the six career centers serving seven Metro Atlanta counties: Gwinnett, Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Henry and Rockdale.

The Gwinnett County career resource center is open at its new location, 3805 Crestwood Parkway NW, Suite 200 in Duluth.

The career resource center is a collaboration between Gwinnett Technical College and WorkSource Atlanta Regional, a federally funded program working to connect employers with job candidates.

“When you provide individuals with a skill set, you provide them with a lifechanging opportunity to earn a viable wage, and therefore, increase their quality of life,” said Lauren Dodson, vice president of Economic Development for Gwinnett Tech. “We are thrilled to have this new facility in our backyard.”

Brett Lacy, director of the Workforce Development Board, described the career resource centers as the place for job seekers and training providers to connect, leading to further skill development and certifications needed

for employment.

“The relocation of our career resource center shows our dedication to meeting job seekers where they are and helping them succeed in the long run,” Lacy said.

Career resource centers throughout the state resulted from WorkSource Georgia, a statewide employment and training system created in 2016 after Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. When the program launched, the state’s unemployment rate hovered around 5.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Georgia’s unemployment rate now stands a full percent point lower than the nation’s average of 4.4 percent.

The ribbon-cutting for the new resource center was one piece of good news shared at the Dec. 3 meeting of the Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board.

By summer 2026, Building Georgia will launch its first training cohort as the program aims to fill the need for an estimated 136,000 jobs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The program began in 2024 and is a partnership between ARC, the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Transportation. All three are collaborating to complete the curriculum that will focus on entry-level construction skills and basic industry knowledge. Graduates from the program will be paired with participating employers throughout the state.

HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA
Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson and Co-Chair of the Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board Trey Ragsdale are joined by fellow members Dec. 3 as they celebrate the new Gwinnett County career resource center at 3805 Crestwood Parkway NW, Suite 200 in Duluth.

Connect-It

BEING KIND

1. Knight fight. Speech impediment. Kind of butter.

2. Up and down toy. Kind of order. Way too weighty.

3. Kind of race. Tableland. Plaster of Paris.

4. Burger topper. Kind of stick. Sag.

5. Rapids runner. Chess piece. Kind of shot.

6. Long-tailed parrot. Kind of attack. Stinger.

12/11/25 Sudoku PuzzleJunction.com

7. Chinese tea leaves. Golfer’s cry. Kind of chamber.

1 Knight fight. Speech Impediment. Kind of butter

2. Up and down toy. Kind of order. Wa

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!

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

3. Kind of race. Tableland. Plaster of Paris

4. Burger topper. Kind of stick. Sag

5. Rapids runner. Chess piece. Kind of shot.

6. Long-tailed parrot. Kind of attack. Stinger. 7. Chinese tea leaves. Golfer’s cry. Kind of chamber.

HAVEAN ANNOUNCEMENT TOSHARE?

Reynolds leads St. Pius X over Tucker

TUCKER, Ga. — St. Pius X guard Harris Reynolds went off for 42 points in a 7261 win over Tucker Dec. 2.

The Golden Lions remain undefeated after four games.

St. Pius forward D’Marley Elliott was one point shy of a double-double with 11 rebounds, and guard Thomas Rogers contributed tough defensive play.

Reynolds, a Clemson commit, told Appen Media he has grown to 6 feet, 6 inches, a full 2 inches more than his listed roster height. Reynolds chose Clemson over Cal, Texas A&M and West Virginia among many offers.

“When my team is down and in need, I just take it to the next level,” he said. “We play hard, we compete every practice. We play fast, we’re gonna press every game and make it hard for everybody.”

Reynolds went on a rampage in the second half, attacking the rim in transition for 19 points in the fourth quarter. He also racked up eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block against Tucker.

Golden Lions Head Coach Will Cloyd said the team identity and style of play are still coming together early in the season.

“We like 3s, we love lay-ups,” he said. “We got the fundamentals straight in the second half, taking great shots and working the clock. [No one] made excuses, and they allowed themselves to be the tougher team.”

St Pius X’s dominant 24-13 fourthquarter blitz contrasted with play through the first three periods.

Tucker struggled to find their footing at the beginning of the first quarter, but the Tigers clawed back to within 1 point, 11-12, before the Golden Lions went on a 7-2 run to close out the frame.

In the second quarter, Tigers guard JaKobe Williams began to heat up from beyond the arc to get Tucker going. They flipped a switch defensively to hold strong after tying the score for the first time at 32 points apiece.

The third quarter was back and forth, the largest lead by either team was 4 points by the Tigers after Adarian Johnson sank a free throw on a foul on a made 3-pointer.

The score was tied at 48 going into the final period.

Johnson tallied 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks off the bench to lead the Tigers. Williams was right behind with 13 points, seven assists and three steals.

Tucker Head Coach James Hartry

The Tigers regroup during a timeout at Tucker High School Dec. 2.

said matching up with a disciplined, well-coached team in the Golden Lions will help his team grow. He said he’s not discouraged by the two losses early in the season.

“I’m not too big to say, ‘I should be 8 and 0,’ I’m 6 and 2 and proud,” he said. “Next man up, that’s what we’re going to do. We didn’t finish well tonight, basketball is 32 minutes not 24, and we got tired.”

Hartry’s Tigers have appeared in the last 19 state tournaments and are looking to continue the streak. In a tough region of 4A where all four teams made it to the second round of the tournament last season, every game matters.

These teams will meet again at St. Pius X High School Jan. 16. It will be a season-long battle for four spots in the state tournament for Region 5 of 4A.

DREW DINWIDDIE/PROVIDED
St. Pius X point guard Harris Reynolds throws it down at Tucker High School Dec. 2. Reynolds tallied 42 points to lead his team to a 72-61 win over the Tigers.

Center for Digital Government recognizes Dunwoody officials

DUNWOODY, Ga. — In November, the Center for Digital Government named the City of Dunwoody as a winner of the 2025 Digital Cities Survey Award at an annual summit in Salt Lake City.

The award recognizes cities using technology to strengthen cybersecurity and enhance transparency, digital privacy rights and equity.

Dunwoody ranked 10th in the population category for cities of up to 75,000 residents.

In announcing the award, the Center for Digital Government credited Dunwoody with “making impressive strides in leveraging technology to boost transparency and community engagement.”

The organization cites the city’s use of an open checkbook, online records portal and SeeClickFix for service requests as examples.

“Being recognized nationally affirms that our efforts are making a difference here at home,” Technology Director Ginger LePage said. “I’m proud of how our team embraces new technology to improve transparency, safety and access for residents.”

Dunwoody’s new Real-Time Crime Center also received recognition, noting that it represents an impressive innovation in public safety by integrating data from Flock Safety drones, Live911, ForceMetrics AI and other tools to enhance situational awareness and response.

The organization also noted that Dunwoody’s IT Department has successfully overhauled its network and migrated most systems to the cloud, while developing a citywide business resiliency plan to ensure continuity across departments.

“This award highlights how our commitment to innovation directly strengthens services for our residents,”

City Manager Eric Linton said. “By working together across departments, we’ve built a culture of collaboration, delivering solutions that make a real difference in the daily lives of our community.”

Teri Takai, chief programs officer at the Center for Digital Government, said the focus on the impact on constituent services stands among this year’s winners.

“These cities are applying innovation where it matters most: keeping people housed, making streets safer and building community trust,” Takai said. “They’re showing that when technology is guided by purpose, it delivers results that citizens can feel.”

We are looking for one person or couple interested in delivering weekly newspapers in South Forsyth, Alpharetta and the Johns Creek areas.

Requirements: Must have a perfect driving record and background check, reliable transportation, honest, hard-working and positive attitude.

For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”

Hayden Sumlin
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
From left, Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton, Technology Director Ginger LePage, Technology Manager Jordan White celebrate a top 10 finish in the 2025 Digital Cities Survey Award at City Hall.

Atlanta Hearing Associates is

Atlanta Hearing Associates is a large audiology practice that encompasses 5 different locations throughout Georgia. Our offices provide comprehensive hearing tests, tinnitus assessments, ear cleaning, and hearing devices for all ages.

Every doctor you will meet is focused on your needs as a patient and works with every manufacturer to provide

a personalized fitting. Each location utilizes state of the art technology and family-oriented care to help guide our patients to the best hearing devices and information on hearing healthcare.

We also partner with different agencies to provide audiological care to veterans, ATF officers, reservists, police departments, Cochlear implants recipients, and community wellness groups.

We accept all major insurances for patients who have a hearing healthcare benefit that they are eligible to use.

Our offices are located in Atlanta, Decatur, Dunwoody, Lake Oconee, and Milledgevile.

Importance of skin checks for mature skin

Brought to you by - Dr. Kehinde Olumesi of Epiphany DermatologyBrookhaven

As skin matures, it undergoes various changes that necessitate regular skin checks to ensure overall skin health. Differentiating between age spots, healthy moles and potential skin cancers is crucial. Age spots, often appearing as flat, brown, or black spots on sun-exposed areas, are generally harmless but can be mistaken for more serious conditions. Early detection of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, significantly increases the chances of successful treatment. Therefore, routine skin examinations are essential for mature skin to maintain health and catch any issues early.

Addressing skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures

Dermatologists can assist with a variety of skin conditions and rejuvenation procedures for mature skin. Common issues such as dryness, age-related pigmentation and conditions like rosacea, psoriasis and eczema, which can persist or develop with age, are also addressed with specialized care plans.

In addition to treating conditions, dermatologists offer rejuvenating procedures to enhance the appearance and health of mature skin. Treatments such as chemical peels, laser rejuvenation and injectable treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin texture and promote collagen production. These procedures not only rejuvenate the skin but also boost confidence and overall well-being. Establishing a relationship with a dermatologist ensures that your skin receives comprehensive care tailored to its evolving needs, promoting longterm skin health and vitality.

Rethinking what counseling means for children

When most people hear the word therapy, they often picture trauma, or a problem that needs to be fixed. But for children, therapy is so much more than that. It’s not just about healing, it’s about learning, growing, and building skills that help them in everyday life.

In counseling, children learn tools that don’t always get taught in the classroom. They practice handling frustration without shutting down, expressing feelings in a healthy and respectful way, making and keeping friends, and building confidence after mistakes or failures. Therapy gives kids the chance to practice these skills in a safe and supportive space. They get to experiment, learn about themselves, and feel proud of their growth along the way.

I often compare therapy to exercising, it’s about maintenance, not just repair. When children learn emotional regulation early, they develop the tools to handle life’s challenges before they start to feel too overwhelming. By building that emotional foundation early on therapy helps prevent behavioral issues, anxiety, and low self-esteem from taking place later in life. It’s about giving kids the skills and confidence to manage their big feelings.

Therapy also supports healthy relationships with family, friends, and teachers. When kids understand themselves better they are able to communicate more clearly and feel more confident in social settings. Parents often notice their child becoming more flexible, empathetic, and calm in situations that used to feel difficult or triggering.

Ultimately, therapy isn’t a sign that something is wrong or broken, it’s a way to help your child grow stronger. Whether a child is struggling, shy, or simply learning to navigate a busy world, therapy can help them build resilience, confidence, and self-awareness that they’ll carry throughout their lives.

Find expert epilepsy care at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center

Brought to you by – Wellstar Neurologist Dr. Ericka Bennett

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent seizures and affects millions of people worldwide. These seizures result from sudden abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which can cause temporary disturbances in movement, behavior, sensation or awareness. Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center provides expert, specialized care for epilepsy.

The new The Epilepsy and Seizures Program at Wellstar, one of only a few programs of its kind in Georgia, provides comprehensive care to help people manage several types of seizures, including absence, tonic, atonic, clonic, myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures. The expert team surrounds patients with support throughout their entire care journey, providing specialized outpatient and inpatient treatment.

Which types of doctors diagnose and treat epilepsy?

Diagnosing epilepsy requires the expertise of a multidisciplinary medical team. Each specialist brings a different perspective and skill set to ensure the most accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan:

• Neurologist: Performs initial assessments, orders imaging and begins treatment

• Epileptologist: This is a neurologist with specialized training in epilepsy. They lead the diagnostic process and manage complex cases.

• Neuropsychologist: They conduct cognitive and behavioral evaluations, especially in preparation for epilepsy surgery.

• Neurosurgeon: They assess whether surgical treatment is a viable and safe option for epilepsy that isn't helped by medications.

• Nurse Coordinator: They are here to help you navigate through your diagnosis and treatment. They can help with scheduling, educating you about your diagnosis and connecting you with community resources.

What is the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and how can the EMU at Wellstar North Fulton help with management of your epilepsy?

An epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) is a specialized inpatient facility designed

to diagnose and evaluate seizure disorders. Patients are voluntarily admitted, on average between three to five days, for continuous video electroencephalogram monitoring. This comprehensive assessment helps differentiate epilepsy from other conditions that mimic seizures, such as movement disorders, fainting spells or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

Why is an EMU hospitalization essential for epilepsy diagnosis and treatment?

1. Accurate diagnosis: The EMU provides high-precision monitoring, ensuring that patients receive the correct diagnosis and, consequently, the right treatment.

2. Personalized treatment plans: By analyzing seizure patterns, neurologists can tailor a treatment plan specific to the patient and their diagnosis.

3. Identifying surgical candidates: For patients whose seizures are not well-controlled with medication, an EMU evaluation can determine if epilepsy surgery is a viable option.

What are the next steps after spending time in the EMU?

Once the EMU hospitalization is complete, your epileptologist will review important data collected from the hospitalization, confirm the diagnosis, discuss if you are a surgical candidate and adjust the treatment plan accordingly. Learn more about neuro care at Wellstar at wellstar.org/neurocare. To schedule an appointment with Wellstar Neurologist Dr. Ericka Bennett in Roswell, call (770) 663-4649.

BENNETT
Brought to you by – Caroline Buttrey, M.S.W
BUTTREY

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Walkers

Mobility Plus Alpharetta celebrates a 3rd year in the Winner’s Circle!

Brought to you by – Mobility Plus Alpharetta

Mobility Plus Alpharetta is humbled by earning a top spot in the Best of North Atlanta rankings during its’ third year in operation!

This family-owned small business, owned by Scott and Mary Block of Alpharetta offers a customer-focused experience for those needing powered or manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters, stairlifts, lift recliners, walkers, portable and modular ramp systems or home health items.

Mary, a former Fulton County teacher, was led to working with seniors after caring for her father. She quickly realized how difficult it was to find informational resources, products and support services. When seeking a professional change, she wanted to address some of the deficits that she had previously encountered by offering as many products as possible under one roof, and by serving as a community educational resource.

The Blocks partner with local experts like move managers, senior living placement specialists, and occupational therapists to be as informed as possible about the variety of needs that their customers have. They host lunch and learns in their 3500 sq. ft. Space on a variety of topics once a quarter. “No one that comes in for a wheelchair, stairlift, or ramp, needs just that one item. Our customers are seniors, children supporting aging parents, or those living with chronic degenerative diseases. There are always other needs besides a product purchase” says Mary.

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Council:

from Page 1

Public Works Director Michael Smith told council members that the city has time to workshop the application for changes before its speed enforcement permit expires in 2027.

Raising Cane’s shot down

While city staff recommended denial of the permit necessary for the new Raising Cane’s location, they are recommending approval of the Zaxby’s permit for a drive-thru facility.

Even though the permit is slated for a Zaxby’s, City Councilwoman Stacey Harris reminded the public that any fast-food restaurant could sign a lease if a permit is granted.

One reason for city staff’s differing recommendations on the two drive-thru applications is the proposed site plans. One has drawn opposition from nearby property owners and the other has not.

At the first public hearing in November, dozens of residents from Dunwoody and surrounding cities showed up to support Raising Cane’s, a popular fast-food restaurant without a location in the core of Metro Atlanta.

The City Hall crowd was much smaller for the Dec. 1 vote after council members signaled they would deny the permit at the request of a neighboring hotel manager.

Almost all council members and the mayor said they were concerned about granting the permit, citing incompatibility with neighboring properties and the city’s planned trail along Ashford Dunwoody Road.

Mayor Lynn Deutsch, opposed to double drive-thru lanes for any fast-food restaurant on the site, stressed that she thinks city officials have one shot to get land use right along Ashford Dunwoody Road.

“Once we rezone the land in Georgia, the SLUP (special land-use permit) stays with it indefinitely,” Deutsch said. “You may love whatever is being proposed, but things could change, and it might become your least favorite restaurant.”

Earlier this year, the City Council voted to rezone the property from officeinstitution (O-I) to Perimeter Center (PC-1). Deutsch was the only one to vote in opposition.

ENGINEERING/PROVIDED

Dunwoody officials are set to vote Dec. 15 on a double drive-thru permit for a new Zaxby’s location at 125 Perimeter Center West within the Ashford Lane outdoor mall. The City Council voted unanimously Dec. 1 to deny a drive-thru permit for a Raising Cane’s at 4570 Ashford Dunwoody Road.

The 1.56-acre site currently has a shuttered drive-thru bank.

City Councilman John Heneghan said he tried to see if the shared access could be closed to minimize impacts to surrounding properties.

“I was told that’s not allowable, that those parcels have to stay open,” Heneghan said. “I am going to vote to deny based on the adverse actions of the adjoining properties.”

On the Zaxby’s drive-thru proposal,

Heneghan said he has not seen any issues with adjoining businesses or land uses.

Some council members focused their comments on both drive-thru proposals, citing the potential impact to existing businesses and surrounding property owners. Others spoke against the impact on walkability and congestion.

Upcoming Zaxby’s vote

The drive-thru permit for a unique,

flagship Zaxby’s at 125 Perimeter Center West appears to have a better chance for council approval when it comes for a vote Dec. 15.

Elected officials asked several questions about the drive-thru’s anticipated impact on parking and traffic congestion at Ashford Lane. From most accounts, parking at the popular outdoor mall is a headache.

Mayor Deustch said she thinks the drive-thru will exacerbate existing congestion and parking issues in an area with plenty of existing drive-thru options.

“I’m not sure it would totally solve the crowding problem that I think this might create for your existing businesses that frankly were there first,” Deustch said.

The site plan includes a building with a glass façade, an 18-car stacking capacity across both drive-thru lanes and a heated outdoor patio on the south side of the 269,000-square-foot mixeduse development in the core of Central Perimeter.

Cameron Long, a senior project manager representing the property owner, CTO Realty Group, said his team thinks the drive-thru will have a minimal impact on parking at Ashford Lane.

“We have been thoroughly involved in the process with the Zaxby’s team … to ensure everything meets our high standards for Ashford Lane,” Long said. “We have this very large 400-car parking garage that goes unused [and] we just put out a signage package for wayfinding.”

City Councilman Joe Seconder leveled the strongest opposition to the Zaxby’s drive-thru proposal, asking to applicant to require no idling enforcement in the queue to reduce carbon dioxide emission.

“I support designing places for people,” he said. “I enjoy the seated places, those businesses adjacent and those fast casuals, their business model doesn’t require a drive-thru, and I support those businesses.”

Seconder said nearby residents are concerned about a drive-thru downgrading the image of the area.

“I believe it will add to congestion … having a double drive-thru will undermine pedestrian and bicycle safety, contradicting our long-term commitment to a walkable, people-first Perimeter Center,” Seconder said.

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Dunwoody resident Bob Dallas recounts the community’s decades-long work to transform Ashford Dunwoody Road into a pedestrian-friendly parkway during public comments before the City Council Dec. 1. CARTER

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT BROOK RUN PARK

PHOTOS BY DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA

BEHIND THE PHOTOS: Dean Hesse is an award-winning photojournalist who has been capturing stories for Decaturish since 2019. Following Appen Media’s acquisition of Decaturish, Hesse is now part of the Appen newsroom. Support the work of protecting and strengthening local news in North Atlanta by becoming a member of the Appen Press Club at appenmedia.com/join.

Dunwoody Parks and Recreation Director Rachel Waldron, center, poses with costumed characters at opening night festivities for Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park Dec. 2.
Amy Antonelli pushes her daughter Samantha, 5, on a glow-in-the-dark seesaw during Holiday Lights Opening Night at Brook Run Park Dec. 2.
Two-and half year-old Lynn stands on a glow-in-the-dark tile during Holiday Lights Opening Night at Brook Run Park Dec. 2.
Holiday Lights glow in Brook Run Park during opening night Dec. 2.
Emily Philpot and Aila Peebles, left, and Stacy O’Connor and Lucy O’Connor attend opening night of Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park Dec. 2.

PRESERVING THE PAST

The Goat Man in Georgia – a traveling folk legend

Charles “Ches” McCartney (circa 1901-1998), better known as “the Goat Man,” roamed America, including Middle and North Georgia in his goat propelled wooden wagon between the late 1930s or early 1940s for about 40 years.

Children and adults flocked to see him when he passed through North Fulton. Those who saw him never forgot him. Here is his history.

Born on a farm in Iowa, McCartney always loved the goats his father raised. At age 14, Ches ran away from home and fell in love with Agnes Smithart, a Spanish professional knife thrower after seeing her perform in New Your City. She was about 10 years older than Ches. They married and performed together by placing a balloon on his head while she threw knives at the target. She became pregnant and they tried to settle down as farmers, but the Great Depression wiped them out.

Ches came up with the idea of becoming an itinerant preacher traveling with a goat wagon. His wife made goatskin clothes for him and their young son Albert Gene, but she did not support the wagon idea. She left, and they divorced. McCartney married twice more, then left his third wife to begin his goat journey across America.

In his autobiography Ches wrote “The good Lord gave me three wives which proved to be three too many.”

Ches traveled with a team of goats pulling his homemade wagon loaded with pots and pans, old license plates from various states, bales of hay for his goats, a variety of beat-up buckets and junk he picked up here and there. He sold some of his stash together with postcards of his journey. Lifting a side panel revealed his bed.

Drawing a crowd

His arrival in a town always created a stir. He had no known schedule. He would simply show up. Word of mouth would often precede him guaranteeing a large turnout of local children and adults. He spent winters in Georgia and Florida and camped regularly in North Fulton.

Ches traveled with about a dozen or more goats, some in front of the wagon, a few behind sometimes serving as brakes on downhill stretches. He liked to chat with people and told many stories that could not be verified. He claimed that he was born in 1879 and that he was 105 years old. Neither claim was true.

To some folks he was the essence of freedom. To others he was a curiosity who smelled like a goat.

Don Rolader, a North Fulton attorney, recalls his family relating accounts of the Goat Man.

“My great uncle Reverend Tommy Henderson ran Henderson’s Feed Store on Hwy 9 near Cogburn Road,” Rolader says. “He used to sell feed to the Goat Man when he passed through. His checks were always good, and legend has it that he was wealthy. The bank said that he could write a check for any amount he wanted.”

Pat Miller, president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, remembers that the Goat Man was friends with her professor of geopolitics when she was a student at the University of Georgia.

“Whenever he passed through Athens, he would camp out with his goats in the professor’s yard,” she says. “The Goat Man came to class once and spoke about his unique lifestyle and answered a lot of questions.”

Hal Coleman, also known as Milton Crabapple, recalls that Goat Man would stay on the Lebanon Church dirt parking lot for two or three days at a time. It

was located under the trees at Holcomb Bridge Road and Crossville Road in Roswell.

“A lot of people would come and crowd around the Goat Man,” Coleman says. “They gave him money and food and he would do some preaching. I remember attending church one time when the Goat Man was in the parking lot. The preacher pointed to him through the window and said in his sermon ‘that’s not the way God wants us to be.’”

A knack for preaching

Preaching was an important part of McCartney’s life. He carried a Bible and his favorite book, Daniel Defoe’s novel “Robinson Crusoe” (1719.)

McCartney was injured by a falling tree, or according to “Facing South,” when dragged by a horse in 1935 while working for the Works Progress Administration, WPA, a New Deal program. He permanently injured his left arm. Following the accident he found religion.

Around 1941-42 he established the Free Thinking Christian Mission in Jeffersonville, Georgia, a modest structure with a dirt floor on property

he owned. From there, he continued his trips until he retired in 1987 due in part to having been attacked several times while on the road. During one attack, he was assaulted while asleep in his wagon. He suffered three broken ribs, and two of his goats were killed.

In 1978, the church which was also his home burned down, after which he purchased and lived in an old bus with his son. He entered The Eastview Nursing Center in Macon in 1987. His son was murdered in 1998 six months before Ches passed away at age 97 at the nursing center.

The famous Georgia writer Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964) mentioned the Goat Man in some of her private letters and may have based some of her characters on him.

Like the song says, he did it his way. In the process he became a celebrity and a folk legend.

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.

GADSDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Iconic postcard of Charles “Ches” McCarthey, the Goat Man, and friend. The Goat Man was a living legend who visited almost every state in his wagon pulled by goats. He was a frequent visitor to North Fulton. The photo was taken near an unknown Alabama town circa 1960s.

OPINION

Railroad turntable stands as marvel of the past

Once upon a time, when I was just a wee lad, I wanted to be a titan of the railroad industry. And I was not alone. My vision was shared by tens of thousands of my peers, and the Sears Wishbook (remember that one?) fed my addiction with endless pages of model train sets.

I pored over those pages for hours. If I was good enough, I told myself, maybe Santa would bring me one of those treasured flat boxes, loaded with dozen pieces of HO-gauge track and a tiny locomotive and maybe as many as a half dozen rail cars (boxcars and flatbeds and a tanker car, too, not to mention the prize of prizes…a red caboose!).

Cut to the chase: How good was I? Good enough, apparently, for that’s what appeared under the tree one year. Woohoo!

I remember it well, After Christmas morning chaos had settled down, I cleared out a spot and opened the box and meticulously put it all together. No NASA project was ever handled with such care and attention to detail, and soon my railroad was ready to go. It went round in an oval about 3 feet across and 4 feet long – not quite intercontinental, not yet anyway, but more than enough for an 8-year-old rail magnate-to-be.

A few days after Christmas, we even went to the local hobby shop (remember those?) where I spent my $2 in cash, a gift from Uncle Somebodyor-Other, and bought a green and gray plastic mountain with a tunnel right through the middle. Back home, I lovingly placed the mountain over the straight part of the track. My little train purred through that tunnel perhaps a thousand times, though it always went round left-to-right in the same unvarying circle. Though I really had been good, I guess I hadn’t been good enough for one of the big sets with the switch tracks –unfortunate, for in railroading as in life it’s occasionally helpful to change directions.

Anyway, my miniature rail empire remained a favorite pastime for quite a while. Then other things came along to distract me. I grew older, and now I’m grown, though the call of the rails still softly echoes from some dusty corner of memory.

Anyway, the other day I had a call from a friend.

“Want to go see the trains?” he asked.

“The trains” referred to a model railroad layout of near-Biblical proportions, the creation of a mutual friend who had remained true to the Railroad Way from childhood on. As an adult, he had created a model train layout which filled his entire basement. Within that tangle of track were many, many switches, and his trains could go in any direction you could imagine.

It was all impressive, every single bit of it, but the star of his show was what he called “the turntable.”

A railway turntable is just what the name suggests: a rotating railroad-sized table designed to turn a locomotive so it points in a new direction.

How’s that? Well, say your train has come to the end of the line. You need to turn it around and go back from whence you came – and the easiest way to do that is to build a giant turntable and simply turn that locomotive around.

Fans of railroad lore are quick to tell you that there really are such turntables. In fact, one of them is alive and well and still turning in Summerville, Ga., just up the road.

The Summerville turntable was built in 1916 in Birmingham, Ala., for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and has been described as “a marvel of its time.” The rotating portion of track, which measured some 100 feet long, could point trains in any of about three dozen different directions.

The turntable stayed busy for years, handling such legendary passenger trains as the Pan American and the Florida Arrow. Eventually, when it finally went out of service in the late 1990s, it was donated to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) and eventually relocated to J.R. “Dick” Dowdy Park just off US 27 in Summerville, where it was restored. Now owned by the City of Summerville and operated by the museum, it is one of the few operating turntables in the United States.

Many railroad history fans visit to see the old turntable. If they’re lucky and their timing is right, they may also get to see one of a pair of lovingly maintained steam locomotives that use the track – the 114-year-old No. 4501 and the 121-year-old No. 630. Those locomotives pull steam train excursions from Chattanooga to Summerville and back during spring, summer and fall, though TVRM’s Penelope Gault points out that with 100-plus-year-old rolling stock “there will occasionally be a day or two when

one or the other is not available to run.”

I ask her how the turntable works.

“When we pull into Summerville,” she says, “guests get off the train.”

Some wander into town for lunch, but many (especially the serious railroad history fans) stay to see what’s about to happen next. And that is this:

First, the locomotive is disconnected from the train itself. It pulls slowly onto the turntable, stopping at the center. Then the electrically driven turntable begins its slow rotation, gradually turning the locomotive around until it’s pointing back the way it came.

See RAILROAD, Page 23

In Memoriam

Mary Barnes Nicodemus

December 17, 1935 – October 28, 2025

Mary Catherine Barnes Nicodemus, 89, of Dunwoody, passed away peacefully at home on October 28, 2025. Mary was blessed to be a blessing to her family, friends, church, and community. Born on December 17, 1935, in Albion, Nebraska, to J.B. and Valma Barnes, she was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and grandmother whose quiet strength and kindness touched everyone she met. Mary grew up on a family farm and in the Albion United Methodist Church. She remained firmly grounded in Midwestern values and a strong faith throughout her life. At Albion High School, she played the saxophone and was a cheerleader. Her senior yearbook photo was captioned, “She was born with the gift of laughter.”

one month before her passing.

Mary found joy in needlepoint, cards, bingo, and cheering on the Atlanta Braves, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Georgia Tech football. She especially loved watching The Masters every spring.

She is survived by her five children: Jim, Bill (Karen), Nancy, and Tommy Nicodemus; and Tammy (Michael) Boswell; eight grandchildren: Casey, Keegan (Marybeth), Kirk, Luke and Sarah Mac Nicodemus, Melvina James, and Henry and Will Boswell; and seven greatgrandchildren: Wilder, Ezra, Shepherd, and Judah Nicodemus, and Marleah, Kimora, and Julianna James. She is also survived by her brother, Dick (Penny) Barnes, and several nieces and nephews.

Mary met the love of her life, J V. “Nick” Nicodemus, during their first week at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. She later graduated from Bryan Memorial Nursing School, earning her RN degree, and married Nick on September 22, 1957. They shared 67.5 wonderful years together until his passing this past March.

Graceful, strong, and endlessly giving, Mary devoted her life to her family and community. She spent decades volunteering in her children’s schools, at church, on sports teams, through Camp Fire Girls, and in Northside Hospital’s Chaplain Services.

She cherished her DNDC women’s group, whose members played bridge and tennis together for more than 20 years and continued gathering twice a year for luncheons - most recently just

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Nick; her parents; her sister and brother-in-law, Ginny and Don Johnson; her brother, John Barnes; her nephew, Darin Barnes; and her in-laws, Marci Jo and Gary Lambert.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Renee Critten and her I’d Rather Be Home Homecare team for their loving care and compassion over the past four years.

A memorial service will be held at Chamblee First United Methodist Church on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Dunwoody PreservationTrust (https://dunwoodypreservationtrust. org/) or Chamblee First UMC (https:// chambleeumc.org/).

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Railroad:

Continued from Page 19

The locomotive then pulls off the turntable and makes its way up a separate section of track to what becomes the front of the train. Everything is reconnected, and the train is ready to return to Chattanooga. The whole process takes just a few minutes.

To see the turntable in action, you’ll want to visit when the trips from Chattanooga are running. Those start in late spring and continue through summer with a couple of trips a month; later, come fall, trips run every weekend through early November. You can just drop by Summerville, or you can jump in with both feet and book a spot on one of the Chattanooga-to-Summerville

Part-time

Front Desk Intake Specialist (Bilingual-Spanish)

excursions. Either way, start by getting current schedule info from the museum’s website at tvrail. com.

This time of year, if you just want to get in a little train time, you might check out the popular “Summerville Santa” trips. These shorter diesel-powered excursions, which run in December, start in Summerville and take you a few miles up the track to Trion and back. They don’t involve the turntable, but they do give you a chance to take a train trip with Santa. What could be better than that? A few seats may still be available on some of these trips; again, you can find out by visiting tvrail.com

By the way, if you do happen to see Santa on the train, put in a good word for me. Tell him I’ve been good. I’ll do the same for you.

NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the part-time Front Desk Intake Specialist position. The Front Desk Intake Specialist is responsible for connecting clients to the programs and services that NFCC offers. The role includes data entry, updating clients’ applications, and keeping clients and students informed of programs and service enhancements. As the face of NFCC at the Intake desk, this role requires maintaining a professional and welcoming presence that reflects the organization’s values.

Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Spanish are required. Experience using Salesforce or other CRM systems is a plus.

If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org Solution

TRAVIS D. GORDON/PROVIDED
Engine No 4501, a lovingly maintained steam locomotive, takes a breather on the track in Summerville.

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