Forsyth Herald - August 18, 2022

A u g u s t 1 8 , 2 0 2 2 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 5 , N o . 3 3

Sales tax revenues post healthy gains

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA

Mashburn Elementary School officials and teachers celebrate the purchase of a sandbox for the school’s skills-based autism classes. The sandbox was purchased using a $5,000 grant from Order Out of Chaos.

Students with autism enjoy special space

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Leslie Josel, founder of Order Out of Chaos, could barely hold back tears Aug. 9 when a ground-breaking celebration was held at Mashburn Elementary for a new sandbox for students with autism.

The sandbox was purchased using a $5,000 grant from Order Out of Chaos’ first annual Tools for School grant to give students in the school’s three skills-based autism classes the opportunity to safely dig, play and express their creativity.

“It is beyond a dream of mine to be able to award this grant,” Josel said.

Order Out of Chaos is a student-

focused company that provides handson education and custom products for all able learners. Josel said the grant celebrates the 10th anniversary of its “Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management.”

Josel said she started the planner

County gives approval to rec center upgrade

Construction continues at Commerce Center

Eagle’s Beak Park to host ribbon cutting

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See STUDENTS, Page 13

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ATLANTA – State tax collections have begun the new fiscal year on a strong note.

The Georgia Department of Revenue brought in nearly $2.21 billion in taxes last month – the start of fiscal 2023. That’s $54.2 million, or 2.5 percent, above July of last year.

The three major tax categories all showed increases. Individual income taxes in July were up 10.7 percent over the same period last year, thanks largely to a 90.5 percent jump in tax return payments.

Net sales tax receipts rose 10.1 percent last month compared to July of last year.

Corporate income tax collections were up 62.3 percent, mostly the result of a 71.3 percent drop in refunds issued by the revenue agency.

Motor fuels tax revenues were virtually non-existent, as has been the case since Gov. Brian Kemp and the General Assembly temporarily suspended the state sales tax on gasoline in March as prices at the pump soared.

Motor fuels taxes dropped 97.8

See REVENUES, Page 19

2 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

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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.

Roswell man arrested for meth trafficking FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County authorities arrested a Roswell man Aug. 4 on charges of drug trafficking after a traffic stop uncovered narcotics in his vehicle.

Sheriff’s office deputies began following the man at the intersection of Matt Highway and Dahlonega Highway after observing him acting suspiciously at a nearby gas station. The driver was stopped on Matt Highway when his vehicle was observed crossing over the highway’s center line multiple times.

Deputies observed that the man looked very nervous and had a can of beer in his vehicle cupholder. After a short investigation, the driver admitted he had “a lot” of methamphetamine hidden in his car, according to the incident report.

Deputies found 6 ounces of metham-

PUBLIC SAFETY phetamine, 59 Xanax pills, 57 amphetamine pills, 50 LSD tabs, other small quantities of narcotics, a digital scale and “a considerable amount” of packaging material, the report stated.

The man was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, LSD and Schedule II drugs with intent to distribute, possession of schedule II drugs, possession of drug related objects, failure to maintain lane and speeding.

Dahlonega woman charged with forgery FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Dahlonega woman who allegedly attempted to pass a fake check from the Hall County Board of Commissioners at a local gas station has been charged with forgery.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office says that deputies were called to a gas station on Atlanta Highway to investigate a forgery in progress on Aug. 2. The store owner told deputies that the suspect, a heavy-set female, had fled the scene, leaving the forged check and a temporary driver’s license behind.

Deputies searched for the person’s name and license number but found no

results.

But from a picture of the suspect’s vehicle taken by the store owner, the woman was quickly located by another patrol deputy on Buford Highway near Ga. 400.

She was stopped and arrested.

The woman was charged with two counts of forgery and giving a false name and date of birth to a law enforcement officer.

Deputies investigate ATM burglary attempt FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office reports say three men attempted to break into an ATM at the PNC Bank on McGinnis Ferry Road Aug. 8.

According to the incident report, video from the bank shows three men arriving in a green Toyota van at about 4:45 a.m. and attempting to open the ATM with a crowbar and hammer.

The ATM was pulled from the bank by a vehicle and dragged throughout the bank’s parking lot. Despite the robbery attempts, the ATM remained intact when found by investigators. A hammer and crowbar were located at the scene.

Georgia joins Anti-Robocall Task Force

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Georgia has joined a nationwide Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force to investigate and take legal action against the telecommunication companies that bring in a majority of foreign robocalls to the U.S. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said the bipartisan Task Force has one goal: to cut down on illegal robocalls.

In 2021, an estimated $29.8 billion was stolen through scam calls. The Office of the Attorney General states most of these calls originated overseas. The 50-state Task Force plans to focus on

shutting down the providers that profit from this illegal scam traffic and refuse to take steps to otherwise mitigate scam calls.

“Though progress has been made in our fight against illegal robocalls, unscrupulous telecommunications providers continue to enable the con artists who perpetuate these phone scams,” Carr said. “The Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force will allow us to leverage the resources of all 50 states as we work to identify these fraudsters and better protect our fellow consumers.”

So far, the Task Force has issued civil investigative demands to 20 gateway providers and other entities that are allegedly responsible for a majority of foreign robocall traffic.

Gateway providers that bring foreign traffic into the U.S. telephone network are responsible for ensuring the traffic is legal, but the Office of the Attorney General states these providers are not taking sufficient action to stop robocall traffic. In many cases, they appear to intentionally be turning a blind eye in return for steady revenue.

According to the National Consumer Law Center and Electronic Privacy Information Center, more than 33 million scam robocalls are made to Americans every day. In 2018, Georgia ranked 11th among U.S. states for the number of consumer complaints about robocalls, with the largest number —

18,225 — coming from Fulton County.

In fact, Fulton County ranked in the top 50 counties in the nation, according to Federal Trade Commission data.

The Task Force will focus on the bad actors throughout the telecommunications industry to reduce the number of robocalls that Georgia residents receive and help the companies that are following the rules.

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division offers the following tips to avoid scams and unwanted calls: • Be wary of callers who specifically ask you to pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency. For example, the Internal Revenue Service does not accept iTunes gift cards.

• Look out for prerecorded calls from imposters posing as government agencies. Typically, the Social Security Administration does not make phone calls to individuals.

• If you suspect fraudulent activity, immediately hang up and do not provide any personal information.

For additional information about how to protect yourself from scams, visit consumer.ga.gov.

If you believe you may have fallen victim to a scam, contact the Consumer Protection Division at 404-851-8600 or file a complaint online at consumer. georgia.gov/resolve-your-dispute/howdo-i-file-complaint.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | August 18, 2022 | 3

County OKs $7.4 million upgrade to rec center

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Changes are coming for Forsyth County’s Central Park, after the board of commissioners recently approved a $7.5 million renovation of its recreation center.

At a work session Aug. 8, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners gave the go-ahead for county staff and general contractor Cooper & Company to begin work on a series of renovations at the central park recreation center off Keith Bridge Road in north Forsyth.

Parks and Recreation Director Jim Pryor said renovations will be made to both the recreation center buildings.

The center’s annex building, built in 2007, will be renovated to become the county’s new senior services building.

Renovations will mostly focus on the building’s kitchen and fitness rooms, Pryor said.

During the meeting, Assistant County Manager Brandon Kenney told commissioners that the new senior services location will take “a modern approach” to senior services and will

co-mingle seniors with active adults in the shared facility.

“A lot of our seniors today are very active and like to participate in very active programing,” Kenney said. “But they also want to have some place they can come for social activities as well.

So, it’s going to be very different than anything we have in the county.”

The bulk of renovations will take place at the recreation center’s main building though, Pryor said.

The building will receive a new downstairs fitness room, a meeting space, a new gymnasium, and two new aerobic rooms.

Cooper & Company’s bid for the project quotes a $5.9 million price tag for the main building renovations and $1.5 million for renovations at the new senior center building.

Pryor said that construction will take place in two phases, so that each half of the building can remain open while work is performed.

“We’re going to try and stay open,” he said. “There will be disruption, but we’ll still try and continue operating a segment of the building.”

Commissioners approved the contract proposal, 5-0, with District 1 Commissioner Molly Cooper attending the meeting virtually.

Sales tax mediations

City and county officials in Forsyth County will soon enter mediations over distributions for the upcoming 2022 Local Option Sales Tax, which is set to be finalized later this year.

Forsyth County Attorney Ken Jarrard told commissioners the county has been negotiating with the City of Cumming over LOST since June and nearly have a framework finalized for how the sales tax revenues will be distributed between the two entities.

Jarrard said the two parties can conduct informal negotiations to form an intergovernmental agreement until Aug. 20 but must have a finalized LOST agreement filed with the state by Dec. 30.

“We could fast forward that, if we think that it makes better use of our time,” he said. “What we’re up against, of course, is the clock.”

If that deadline isn’t met, LOST will

end, and the county would need to revive it with a totally new referendum and a vote by citizens.

Proposed LOST distributions were not shared with the public at the meeting.

The proposal to begin mediations was unanimously approved.

Public safety pay hike

Commissioners also approved a 4 percent cost of living salary adjustment for 46 positions at the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Forsyth County Fire Department and Forsyth County E911 Center.

The raises total $827,750 and were awarded to a variety of positions at the three agencies which had been identified as needing a market salary adjustment by county staff.

According to county documents, $600,000 has been allocated for salary increases at the sheriff’s office, $195,000 has been allocated for the fire department and $32,750 has been allocated for eligible emergency 911 center employees.

The proposal was unanimously approved.

Vertical construction begins at Forsyth Commerce Center

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Construction on a 94-acre industrial development along Ga. 400 in south Forsyth County recently entered a new phase, as builders began vertical construction with a “tilt up” ceremony.

Project representatives, local officials and area residents gathered at the future home of the Forsyth Commerce Center on Aug. 5, to see how Phase I of the 880,000-square-foot project is progressing and witness a large wall erected, marking the project’s first vertical construction.

The Forsyth Commerce Center, off Ga. 9 and Ga. 400 in south Forsyth, will eventually contain six industrial buildings at full buildout. Phase I of the project includes two building totaling 359,000 square feet that are expected to be completed in October, according to the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.

“Forsyth Commerce Center is an overall $75 million investment in Forsyth County,” James McCoy, president and CEO of the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.

“We know that interest in the space is extremely high, and we will continue to

PHOTOS BY FORSYTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/PROVIDED

The Forsyth Commerce Center, off Ga. 9 and Ga. 400 in south Forsyth County, will eventually hold six industrial buildings totaling 880,000 square feet. Phase I of the project, which includes two buildings, is expected to be completed in October. work closely with McDonald Development Company to help support their investment in our community.”

This project continues a growing trend of industrial development projects that Forsyth County has seen in recent years, county officials said. The trend is expected to continue, due to recent local investments in water and sewer projects for industrial developments.

“Forsyth County is a safe investment for commercial developers with an eye toward high quality companies with high quality talent,” Forsyth County District 2 Commissioner Alfred John said.

“We have had some big wins over the last few years, and it is only the beginning,” he stated.

McDonald Development Company is leading the Forsyth Commerce Center

Project leaders supervise installment of a vertical panel for the new Forsyth Commerce Center Aug. 5. project, and previously built developments in the north Fulton County and greater Atlanta area, including parts of the Windward Business Park in Alpharetta.

4 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

NEWS

Ceiling collapses at Grove Way apartments

Community eager to volunteer services

By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Community members are making a last-ditch effort to help nine elderly and disabled residents move out of their dilapidated apartments at 199 Grove Way in Roswell.

Twenty-four have already moved out. But, with less than four weeks left to relocate, conditions on the property have only worsened. Neighbors say that sometime between Aug. 1-2 the ceiling of one of the units finally fell.

The property is owned by the Housing Authority of Roswell but managed by the Gainesville Housing Authority through a mutual agreement. Tenants earn below 80 percent of the area median income.

In March, the agencies notified residents the City of Roswell had deemed the building structurally unsound.

Over the past couple of months, relocation challenges have mounted for residents, including a lack of affordable housing in North Fulton County and landlords unwilling to accept their government-subsidized Section 8 vouchers.

The tenant whose ceiling collapsed, Doug Ware, could not be reached for comment. However, one of his former neighbors who goes by Zee and was able to see the damage firsthand said Ware was in the process of moving to the Grayson Ridge 55+ Apartments in Lawrenceville when he came back to finish packing and discovered the carnage.

“The saddest part is that he was going to sleep in that apartment Monday night, but at the last minute changed his mind,” Zee said. “Had he stayed overnight, he would be deceased. You have to see these pictures to believe it.

This is the first of the building units collapsing, and they still have … residents living in the apartment complex.”

While the ceiling in the living room is down, Zee said the ceiling in the kitchen has also started to crack. Like Ware, Zee recently moved to the Grayson apartments.

Before that, she lived at 199 Grove Way for nine years.

During that time, her apartment flooded three times – in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

After the flood in 2021, Zee said the Housing Authority of Roswell hired a moving company that caused approximately $6,000 worth of damage to her property and then refused to reimburse her. Zee said they have a court hearing in September.

Residents kept in the dark

Zee said she’s “devastated” city officials and the Housing Authority of Roswell found out about the property’s structural issues in 2017, but “kept it a secret from the residents.” She said she feels like they put their lives in jeopardy by trying to hide the situation from them.

“Right now, you have people there who have mental health challenges, and they’re just wandering around the complex and they don’t even know they need to move,” Zee said. “No one is really reaching out to them or trying to get any resources or mental health counselors or somebody to come out and try to get them out of there.

That place is collapsing.”

See APARTMENTS, Page 5

SPECIAL TO APPEN MEDIA

The ceiling at one of the apartments at 199 Grove Way collapsed sometime between Aug. 1-2. While it completely fell in the living room of the unit, the ceiling in the kitchen has also started to crack, neighbors say. The building has been deemed structurally unsound by the City of Roswell.

NEWS

Apartments:

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | August 18, 2022 | 5

Continued from Page 4 Zee said she’s so stressed since learning she would have to relocate she has lost 10 pounds. Although she’s one of the residents who found housing, she said she feels stranded in Lawrenceville without reliable transportation to get to her doctor’s appointments in Roswell.

“I wish we could get an attorney, because of all that we’ve been through,” Zee said. “… Then the fact that they charged us rent to live in a condemned building from January all the way through June. I want my money back.”

Two other residents, Michael Dowda and Wanda Wilbanks, said that since their neighbor’s ceiling collapsed, they have not heard from the Housing Authority of Roswell about any efforts to expedite their relocation. At this point, Wilbanks said, she’s just waiting for her ceiling to fall too because it’s also cracked.

Dowda said the staff at the Leumas Group, which were hired by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide administrative support, have quit. He said he’s called the Office of the Mayor for help but has not received a response. Dowda pleaded with Mayor Kurt Wilson and the City Council at a July meeting, but he has heard nothing back.

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen here,” Dowda said.

Nonprofit ready to help

Gail Bohannon, president of the Groveway Community Group, said they are ready to help however they can, whether that’s with moving efforts or bringing in an independent legal expert residents can trust to explain the situation to them.

The nonprofit has been a voice in the community since 1943. Former Mayor Jere Wood declared it the oldest nonprofit organization in Roswell. Its mission is to advocate on the behalf of community members to ensure their appropriate representation and to advance resident involvement in community matters that directly affect them.

Bohannon, who was born in the house where she still lives, said she’s been involved with the nonprofit since she was a teenager and has seen the community change over the years, but has always had a heart for those in need.

“The community doesn’t look like it used to, because most of the houses are gone,” Bohannon said. “They’ve been replaced with the $300,000 and $400,000 homes and apartments that are being built all around us. So, it’s pushing the community per se out that really needs assistance.”

The Groveway Community is part of a redevelopment plan that began in 2007 to revitalize the area. By 2009, the City of Roswell had been awarded two grants

CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA

Areas around the 199 Grove Way apartments are held up by metal supports after being deemed structurally unsound by the City of Roswell in March. from the Atlanta Regional Commission to hold a charrette with citizens, community meetings and Groveway Stakeholder committee meetings.

The Veranda at Groveway to the right of 199 Grove Way was a result of that collaboration. In 2018, the city celebrated with a ribbon cutting for the 101-unit facility, which at the time was its first lowincome active senior living community offering one- and two-bedroom apartments for seniors 62 and older.

Construction of the building began in August 2016 and was managed by Schmit & Associates. Residents began moving to the community in October 2017.

City grants supported the development by committing $100,000 in HOME Investment Partnership funds and $177,587 in Community Development Block Grant funds to the Housing Authority of Roswell.

In total, Roswell contributed approximately $966,641 to the project, making it possible for waterline, sidewalk, roadway and other infrastructure improvements.

But, Bohannon said, the project has not lived up to expectations.

take care of everything. If the agencies knew about the issues in 2017, Bohannon said she doesn’t understand why more wasn’t done to redevelop some of the empty buildings around the city like those on the Leita Thompson Park property.

The apartments were built in the 1970s as affordable housing for single and retired women. They are rented to residents who are age 60 and over, and some of the original tenants continue to reside there, according to the city.

In December, Roswell Recreation and Parks Director Jeffrey Leatherman said six of the apartments are vacant and in need of repair as well as other buildings on the property. He asked that the city consider repairing them to meet the growing demand for arts programs.

Bohannon said Groveway Community Group is going to keep pushing.

“Believe it or not, when you’re moving a senior, it really does something to the mental state of a person,” Bohannon said.

“Some of them don’t read and write well so they really don’t understand, and they are afraid.”

Sheafen Walker, a general contractor and owner of Pac Master LLC in Atlanta, said he has trucks and workers willing to help the residents move. He said he has a soft heart for the elderly, because they remind him of his grandmother who is 87 years old and has dementia.

“I am eager and willing to help,” Walker said.

If any of the residents at 199 Grove Way need help moving, Walker said they should call him at 678-663-0120 or email sheafen.walker@gmail.com. Groveway Community Group can be reached at 770-641-3706.

DOING MORE IS OUR DISTINCTION.

Inquiries referred to HUD

While the city had agreed to set aside at least eight apartments for the Housing Authority of Roswell, now there aren’t enough apartments available to house residents from 199 Grove Way. Additionally, Bohannon said all the local nonprofits met with Beth Brown, executive director of the Gainesville Housing Authority, and Karen Parrish, chairwoman of the Housing Authority of Roswell, in early 2020 to try to figure how much to budget to help the residents.

Instead, Bohannon said they were turned away and told that HUD would

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6 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

COMMUNITY

Northern Ridge announces May Eagle Scouts ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review on May 26, 2022, at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Top row, from left: Thomas Ciaccia, of Troop 143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a five-place awards podium for the Cambridge High School Track and Field Program.

Thomas Merritt, of Troop 1134, sponsored by St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church, whose project was refurbishing the playset at Little River United Methodist Church. Thomas pressure washed, removed and replaced all broken or damaged boards and then built a bench for parents to sit while their children play.

Camilo Lopez Morton, of Troop 7153, sponsored by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of three wooden benches with a back rest for the "island" of grass on the Holy Redeemer School parking lot/ blacktop.

Devon Smith, of Troop 429, sponsored

by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church,

whose project was painting game stencils on the blacktop, replacing a garden and mulching the playground area for Brookwood Elementary School.

Giovanni Xibille, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of playground equipment for the preschool at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. Giovanni built a stationary wooden truck and a miniature road for children to play with cars on.

Christian Matthews, of Troop 3000, sponsored by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was cleaning and revitalizing the outdoor instructional area, located at Crabapple Crossing Elementary School. Work included pressure washing, removing graffiti, dirt, sealing and staining all benches, lecterns, and the whiteboard holder. Christian also aligned and secured the 6x6 wooden beams with rebar, mulched the teaching area surrounding the lectern and white board and built a wooden trash container.

Ryan Jones, of Troop 1717, sponsored

by Cross of Life Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of two Lending Libraries with a bench next to each, for the Old Rucker Farm for the City of Alpharetta.

Bottom row, from left: Anthony Sutkus, of Troop 356, sponsored by Fellowship Christian School, whose project was the design and construction, of two outdoor ping pong tables and one set of corn hole game for Innovation Academy High School.

Adam King, of Troop 356, sponsored

by Fellowship Christian School, whose project was the design and construction of three wooden benches with a back support and installing a permanent sunshade over two of the benches for Pre-K, elementary and middle school playgrounds at the King's Academy.

Aravindan Ezhilan, of Troop 3143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of six wooden benches for the courtyard of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church.

Sriram Yerneni, of Troop 3143, spon-

PROVIDED

sored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a fence around the garden for Denmark High School.

Mason Webb, of Troop 3000, sponsored

by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a GaGa pit and four benches for Summit Hill Elementary School.

Benjamin Hubbs, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was design and construction of two canoe racks and refurbishing 19 benches at the amphitheater located at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Aditya Vayalapalli, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was design and construction of a large wooden shoe rack in the newly constructed Shiv Mandir.

Northern Ridge announces June Eagle Scouts ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) is proud to announce new Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review on June 23, 2022, at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.

Top row, from left: Sriman Thangaraj, of Troop 143, sponsored by John’s Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of four pet beds, a jungle gym, four dog bowl stations and a high jump, for Angels Among Us pet rescue.

Nabil Shash, of Troop 10, sponsored

by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of three picnic tables for the Valor Christian Academy.

Chet Manning, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the removal, refurbishing and relocating of a basketball goal for Alpharetta United Methodist Church. Chet also painted and improved the drainage around the court.

Rajan Deo, of Troop 69, sponsored

by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design

and construction of four wooden sandboxes for the Southeastern Railway Museum.

Tushar Mundhra, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church, whose project was the design and construction of a picnic table for the Georgia Alliance to end Homelessness. Tushar then collected and created 70 personal hygiene kits for visitors at the shelter.

Cole Greer, of Troop 3000, sponsored

by Birmingham United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a giant chess board and chess pieces for the playground of Crabapple Crossing Elementary School Middle row, from left: Aidan Batchelor, of Troop 10, sponsored by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of two rolling mirrors and a frame for a prop canvas for the Alpharetta High School Marching Band.

Henry Leeman, of Troop 841, sponsored by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of an outdoor shelter with a rainwater collection system for St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

PROVIDED

Oliver Stone, of Troop 841, sponsored by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of a water break system to prevent water pooling at the Milton High School Cross Country Trail.

Grant Riley, of Troop 1857, sponsored by Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church, whose project was refurbishing the Jaguar Jungle at Abbotts Hill Elementary School by replacing old benches with newly constructed ones,

replacing two broken birdhouses, repairing the lattice arch pergola, removing overgrowth along the fence line and cleaning the inside of the Jaguar Paw area.

Connor Collman, of Troop 1459, sponsored by St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, whose project was the design and construction of two bridges to cover two small valleys at the trail inside North Park.

See EAGLE SCOUTS, Page 7

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | August 18, 2022 | 7

Northern Ridge announces new Eagle Scouts ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review on July 28, 2022, at Johns Creek Presbyterian Church.

Top row, from left: Rayaan Rahman, of Troop 12, sponsored by Muslim American Society Youth Center, whose project was the renovation of the environmental learning garden at Amana Academy. Rayaan installed a fence on the back side of the garden and replaced all the damaged garden beds.

Vinod Ruppa-Kasani, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was collection and creation of 61 toiletry kits and 95 snack kits for the Cure Childhood Cancer Organization.

Thomas Leekley, of Troop 1459, sponsored by St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, whose project was the removal and replacement of two benches, repair of two picnic tables, and construction of a new picnic table for St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

Henry Tang, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was the design and construction of 20 resin information signs for Autry Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center. Henry also conducted a food and bedding collation for the animals at Autry Mill Nature Preserve.

Nikhil Acharya, of Troop 841, sponsored by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of a 3-Bin Compost Knox at Old Rucker Farm.

Eagle Scouts: Continued from Page 6 Cash Thompson, of Troop 1486, sponsored by North River Baptist Church, whose project was the design and construction of two picnic tables for the trail behind North River Baptist Church.

Nicholas Meyer, of Troop 356, sponsored by Fellowship Christian School, whose project was the creation of a running path through a wooded area adjacent to Roswell High School for the cross country team.

Bottom row, from left: Tyler R. Bothwell, of Troop 1857, sponsored by Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church, whose project was restoration of Big Creek Cemetery by removing weeds and overgrowth in and around the gravesites, and clean-

Rohith Acharya, of Troop 841, sponsored by St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of an outdoor chicken run at the Old Rucker Farm.

Middle row, from left: Alexander Wang, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was the design and construction of two life jacket loaner stations for the Little Hall Park and the Two Mile Creek Park Lake Lanier Recreation.

Stephen Kemmerer, of Troop 2143, sponsored by Johns Creek United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a wooden bridge that spanned a rocky depressed area and a holding area for Fur-Kids Animal Shelter.

Alex Brandes, of Troop 10, sponsored

by St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of two 24-cubicle cubbies for backpacks for the Notre Dame Academy.

Charleston Jones, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the removal and then construction of three large park benches for the GaGA pit at Alpharetta First United Methodist campus.

Taylor Butler, of Troop 69, sponsored

by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the renovation of the percussion closet at Cambridge High School. Taylor built a cymbal shelf, a snare drum cradle that can hold seven snare drums, and stand shelves.

Anthony Delgais, of Troop 1134, spon-

ing headstones with toothbrushes or gout brushes.

Jay Lothe, of Troop 1857, sponsored

by Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church, whose project was the design and construction of 12 prosthetic hands for the Bowman Limb Foundation.

Ronan Chandaria, of Troop 841, sponsored by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, whose project was the design, construction and installation of two navigation and eight education signs at Providence Park.

Madeline Sanders of Troop 432, sponsored by Roswell United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of a vertical composting bin for the Old Rucker Road Farm Park.

Spencer Jaeger, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta First United Methodist Church, whose project was the design and construction of four children’s picnic tables for the Children’s Development Academy.

sored by St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church, whose project was the design and construction of a wooden box for collecting worn and damaged American flags, then holding a retirement ceremony for these flags. Anthony properly retired over 120 flags. He also created a manual for future retirement ceremonies.

Front row, from left: Ben Crawford, of Troop 7153, sponsored by St. Brigid Catholic Church, whose project was the renovation of the Chattahoochee High School Marching Band’s uniform closet, which included removing old shelving and replacing it with better shelving and storage equipment. Ben also inventoried the 2,500

PROVIDED

uniform pieces.

David LeLoup, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was the design and construction of a set of outdoor stairs for the back exit of the outdoor pavilion at Johns Creek Christian Church.

Venusha Buwaneka, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was, was the design and construction of four picnic tables for the Georgia Budhist Viharaya.

William Sapong, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church, whose project was design and construction of a 15-foot retaining wall behind the pavilion at Johns Creek Christian Church

Class registration begins for fall gardening sessions NORTH FULTON, Ga. — Green thumb or not, the North Fulton Master Gardeners is collaborating with the University of Georgia Extension in Fulton County this fall to offer free virtual gardening education programming.

The series of four classes begins Sunday, Sept. 11, and will be available through live Zoom webinars and Facebook Live. Classes will also be available for later viewing at youtube.com/ northfultonmastergardeners.

Each class will emphasize practical gardening activities at the time of year that is best suited for that activity.

Participants may register for all four classes or just pick specific classes by registering online.

After registering, participants will

receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar. If someone cannot attend the live session, they can register anyway to receive a recorded link to the class.

The four webinars that will be offered are: “All About Roses,” “Make Thyme for Herbs in Your Garden,” “Fabulous Fall Fairy Gardens” and “Gardens of the North Fulton Master Gardeners: Finding Gardening Inspiration Through Shared Ideas.”

The webinars are held every Sunday through Oct. 9 and typically take place at either 2 or 3 p.m.

For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/Fall2Fall2022NFMG-GardeningLectureSeries.

— Chamian Cruz

8 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

With so much happening in the world, Axios plays a critical role in delivering balanced, trusted news that people need.

ALEX TAYLOR, Cox Chairman and CEO

8 | Forsyth Herald | August 18, 2022

Cox Enterprises buys Axios for $525 million

By JOHN RUCH SaportaReport ATLANTA — The booming national news website Axios has agreed to be bought for $525 million by Cox Enterprises, owner of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the companies announced Aug. 8.

Axios launched an Atlanta newsletter in September 2021. Cox spokesperson Natalie Giurato tells SaportaReport that “both Axios and the AJC will continue to operate independently” and that “there will be no impact” on the current staff at Axios Atlanta. However, she did not specifically respond when asked whether the AJC and Axios might share content in some fashion. Axios did not immediately respond to a comment request.

The sale — which has yet to close and requires regulatory approval – appeared to be a surprise to Axios staff. The outlet’s own story quoted its bosses, but also cited anonymous sources and a New York Times article that broke the news. Thomas Wheatley, one of the Axios Atlanta editors, declined to comment on the record but retweeted the Axios story with a wide-eyed emoji suggesting a surprised or interested bystander.

“With so much happening in the world, Axios plays a critical role in delivering balanced, trusted news that people need,” Cox Chairman and CEO Alex Taylor stated. “Our company started in the media business, and we have always had a passion for journalism. Bringing a forwardthinking organization like Axios into Cox Enterprises is exciting for us on many levels, and we look forward to helping them continue to scale and grow.”

“We have found our kindred spirit for creating a great, trusted, consequential

PROVIDED

Cox Enterprises, owner of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, plans to purchase the national news website Axios for $525 million. media company that can outlast us all,” said Axios CEO and co-founder Jim VandeHei in the press release. “Our shared ambitions should be clear: to spread clinical, nonpartisan, trusted journalism to as many cities and as many topics as fast as possible.”

A telecommunications and publishing behemoth, Cox is based in Sandy Springs, as is the AJC, a newspaper bought by the founding Cox family more than 70 years ago, originally as two separate publications before a 2001 merger. Cox has made major changes in its media portfolio in recent years. In 2018, it considered merging the AJC and WSB TV and radio operations. But in 2019, it made a big change in course by selling WSB and several other national broadcasting outlets, while keep-

ing the AJC and several Ohio newspapers.

Axios launched in 2017 and is based in Virginia in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Its founders previously created another well-known news site, Politico, which sold to a German publishing company for over $1 billion last year.

Axios uses a formulaic approach to news stories, using a bullet-point, outlinelike format. The format is especially suited to its business of newsletters targeting specific cities and niche markets, including Atlanta. The company has been expanding its local newsletters rapidly in U.S. cities. According to Axios’s story, the deal includes an immediate $25 million to continue that expansion. The company also partners with HBO on a documentary series.

Axios last year launched a software product called Axios HQ focused on newsletters for corporate communications.

According to a Cox announcement, that division will spin off as a separate and independent company led by Schwartz. Cox will become a “sole minority investor.”

As for Axios itself, Schwartz, VandeHei and another co-founder, Mike Allen, “will continue to hold substantial stakes in the company and will lead editorial and day-to-day business decisions,” according to the announcement. Cox will hold a controlling four board seats at Axios, with one held by Taylor.

The Axios story claims its company has always been profitable.

This article was originally published on SaportaReport.com.

COMMUNITY

Ribbon cutting scheduled for Eagle’s Beak Park FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Newly constructed amenities at Eagle’s Beak Park in north Forsyth County will be unveiled to the public next week as part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by county officials.

An expansion project at Eagle’s Beak Park, located off Old Federal Road, has been in the works for some time. The build-out includes an inclusive playground, a 1.25-mile paved walking trail, scenic overlooks of the Etowah River and picnic pavilions to the park.

The park’s new paved trail will also feature educational signage on the Trail of Tears, which ran through the park, and the indigenous people who once lived in the North Georgia area, before their forced removal by the United States government.

“When I first heard that this opportunity was available, I thought about Eagle’s Beak, located on the Trail of Tears,” District 4 Commissioner Cindy

Jones Mills said. “I knew this would be a perfect place to honor the rich Native American history of the area and have a park where parents can teach their children about it. The park will also be the northwest starting point for the North Subarea Trail System which will run east across the county to connect with Lake Lanier once completed.”

The park expansion project was made possible by a $2.25 million grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Eagle’s Beak Park is one of 14 recipients in the state to receive the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program Grant.

“To be selected in the first year of this new grant program is a testament to our great staff who worked hard on the application,” Mills said.

A ribbon cutting for the new park amenities will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16. Eagle’s Beak Park is located at 8429 Old Federal Road.

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10 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

Thank You!

Our local news is free to read but not to produce. Forsyth Herald relies on advertisers to keep the lights on, pay our reporters and publish your news. That’s why we want to say thank you to all the advertisers, large and small, who have stuck by us through thick and thin.

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ISTOCK

Financial literacy tips Brought to you by – Soraya Kenney, 1st Vice President and Johns Creek Branch Manager – American Commerce Bank

Q. As my kids get their first jobs and start thinking about college, how can I help them be prepared to responsibly manage their finances?

A. According to a recent survey from the National Financial Educators Council, as many as 75% of students are confused about being responsible with their money. They struggle with how to create a budget, how to balance saving and spending and how to keep track of their funds. Most of the students surveyed KENNEY received most of their financial education at home. As their parents, there are some simple steps you can take to help your kids be in the 25% who feel ready to manage their own finances.

Q. What is a good first step in this education process?

A. Creating a budget is a good place to start. Help your student set up a spreadsheet or download a budgeting app and have them begin to enter their information. If they have a job, their paycheck is a good place to start. But what if they don’t have a job or are heading off to college and don’t plan to work for the first few months? In that case, begin with the funds they currently have in their savings account or the weekly/monthly allowance they’ll be given by you.

Q. What are the items we should

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Q. What about credit and debit cards?

A. There are very important differences between debit cards and credit cards. Make sure your student understands that their debit card is the equivalent of cash and as soon as they use their debit card, that money comes out of their checking account. Using a credit card does not immediately take the money out of their checking account but they still need to be cognizant of how and when they’re using it to avoid a big bill that they can’t pay in full at the end of the month Q. This all seems pretty involved. Are there any outside resources that can help with this education process?

A. Yes, right here at American Commerce Bank. We have experienced and committed bankers who will gladly teach a financial literacy class to school groups, scout troops, sports teams or any group who might benefit from our experience. Call Soraya Kenney at 470.422.1200 to schedule your group.

12 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

BANKING & FINANCE • Sponsored Section

How to fund your trust at the bank Brought to you by – Michelle Wilson, Wilson Legal, PC You signed your trust and now your attorney says it’s time to “fund” your trust.

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you want to operate your day-to-day activities under the trust name, you don’t have to move all of your billpay transactions over all at once. Open the new account in the trust name and gradually move your billpay payees over to the new account. When you’re done, you can close the old checking account.

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Students:

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | August 18, 2022 | 13

Continued from Page 1 in her basement; however, Order Out of Chaos began 19 years ago, shortly after her son was diagnosed with ADHD and a host of learning differences. Her goal, she said, was simply to build a community for parents and schools to get help they need to better support their students.

She said choosing Mashburn Elementary as the recipient of the grant was easy. Josel said that she quickly realized the company’s philosophy matched the school’s, which is that each student is an individual learner.

Mashburn Elementary School Principal Steve Miller thanked Josel, saying the funds would help the school recognize the hopes and dreams of its special needs population.

“Often times – not that they are a forgotten population – but they are the ones that don’t often get all the bells and whistles, and now we have an amazing sandbox for them, thanks to Order Out of Chaos,” Miller said.

He added grant funds also went toward purchasing Nicky’s folders for all 880 students at Mashburn Elementary School and to update its marquee. Before installing the sandbox Aug. 1, Miller said students in the skills-based Autism

CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA

Forsyth County Board of Education Member Lindsey Adams introduces Leslie Josel and Steve Miller at a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 9. Josel is the founder Order Out of Chaos and Miller is the principal at Mashburn Elementary School.

classes were going home filthy from playing in the Georgia red clay.

“The sandbox is for those kids, because they don’t run around and climb or go down the slide,” Miller said. “They just want to swing or play with what’s on the ground. So, this has been awesome.”

The first day of school in Forsyth County was Aug. 4. Miller said the students immediately took to the sandbox, laying in it and smiling all throughout recess.

For more information about Order Out of Chaos, visit orderoutofchaos.com.

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14 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

OPINION

Join effort to support local news coverage It is an exciting time at Appen Media and for local journalism in the north Metro Atlanta market.

As a company, we believe that a community is only as strong as its informed and involved HANS APPEN citizenry, and that Publisher we can and want hans@appenmedia.com to be vehicle for supporting that idea. An involved and informed community demands efficiency with their tax dollars, holds elected officials accountable, and looks out for one another in times of need.

While some news organizations are making cuts or even getting out of the industry altogether, we are doubling down. We are investing in our newsroom. We are building bridges to new and diverse readers by creating podcasts, writing for a multilingual audience, and meeting readers where they are with news-centric events and public meetings.

We are diversifying our news and advertising products, staffing up and expanding our news coverage footprint.

And, as of this week, we are launching the Appen Press Club.

The Press Club will be a focused effort to ensure that the future of local journalism in the Metro Atlanta market is sustainable. This is important, because the communities we serve demand a quality of life that we believe a strong local journalism presence can help deliver.

Members of the community can join the Press Club for a small monthly or annual fee. Every cent of every dollar generated will support the work of

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trained, professional journalists as they cover city council meetings, boards of education, public safety and business trends.

Members will receive exclusive reporting and be invited to attend events made possible by their financial support. Events will provide an in-depth analysis of topics important to readers and their lives. We will also put on events for members that give them a behind-the-scenes look at our newsroom, how we budget and plan for stories, and introduce you to our reporters. We think that once you get to know us and our priorities better, you will understand more about the value of our work and its role in your lives.

In addition to the quality and quantity of work a strong Press Club will provide residents of Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, Forsyth, Milton and Dunwoody, it will also give us flexibility to grow our podcast library and build additional digital news tools, which are important components of any newsroom today.

So, we invite you to join us. We cannot do this without your support.

As a thank you to our members, and to honor our commitment to transparency, the names of Appen Press Club members will be published weekly in the Herald and Crier newspapers. If you sign up today, you’ll see your name in the August 25th edition of our newspapers recognizing your support for local journalism.

P.S.: The first 100 people to join the Appen Press Club will also receive a limited edition “Appen Press Club” Tshirt and mug!

TO JOIN: Visit appenmedia.com/ join

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16 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

GET OUTSIDE GEORGIA

OPINION

Catfish, art and more in Cave Spring Okay, it’s time. Let’s talk about that catfish place I mentioned the other day – Southern Flavor in the charming town of Cave Spring, Ga., not too far from Rome.

Southern Flavor was founded in 2011 STEVE HUDSON in nearby CedarGet Outside Georgia, town by James and aa4bw@comcast.net Bronwyn Bridges, who operate the restaurant together. The Cave Spring location opened in 2013. But running two restaurants is a lot of work and does not leave much time for family, and family is important to the Bridges. For that reason, the Cedartown location was closed the year that the Cave Spring location opened, and today – almost 10 years after opening – it draws loyal fans from Cave Spring, Cedartown, Rome and even Atlanta.

Like many restaurants, Southern Flavor faced challenges during the peak of the pandemic.

“We had to do curbside pickup only,” Bronwyn says, “but our town really supported us.”

I first visited Southern Flavor for lunch one Friday afternoon. I’d spent the morning poking around Cave Spring. But then lunchtime rolled around, and the stomach growled. It was subtle, but it could not be ignored.

“Time to eat,” it whispered.

But eat where? Standing there in the July sun at the main intersection in the middle of the town, I looked around.

And there it was: a big “ALL YOU CAN EAT CATFISH” sign hanging more or less over Southern Flavor’s front door. “HOT N TASTY,” it proclaimed, “EVERY DAY.” Clearly, this was a message from God. Like all the best Southern signs, this one featured art too – in this case, a happy-looking catfish with a big ol’ grin and blue fins and kind of purple lips, plus a big, puffy chef’s hat sitting jauntily upon its head.

Like many folks, I’ve had my heart broken by catfish places. I remember one, several years ago, where the catfish plate offered just three little whole catfish, each about 6 inches long. A 6-inch-long catfish doesn’t have a lot to offer. Heavens above, they were shorter than my fork. I should have known. That place had no catfish on its sign.

But this one did – plus those words “ALL YOU CAN EAT.” Was something great about to begin?

I wanted to find out. So, in I went, and a few minutes later I was looking at the menu. There were many possibilities to

PHOTOS BY STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA

The sign that started it all, proclaiming that all-you-can-eat catfish is alive and well in Cave Spring.

From left, James and Bronwyn Bridges, owners of Southern Flavor in Cave Spring, with daughters Rebekah and Ashley, who also work in the restaurant. choose from. But I only had eyes for one.

“Are they whole catfish?” I asked my server.

“No, they’re filets,” she said.

Filets, eh? Okay. Promising.

“But are they good?” I asked.

“Folks like ‘em,” she said. She looked straight at me when she said it, so I expected she was telling the truth.

And so, thus encouraged, I jumped right in and ordered all-you-could-eat catfish, hoping that neither the fish on the sign nor the server by the table had led me astray.

In a few minutes here comes the plate.

And there it was. Oh my.

To say that what I saw was catfish is like saying that the Mona Lisa is a picture of a girl. The catfish looked magnificent.

And there were two of those big ol’ filets on the plate. Two! “Let me know if you want more,” my server said.

I settled back in the chair, picked up my fork, and took a bite.

Heaven. Pure heaven. Things were off to a good start.

A couple of weeks later, in the interest of accurate reporting, I go back. Yes, research can be tough. But I do it for you.

We arrive midmorning and spend a couple of hours wandering through the town’s centerpiece park and checking out its namesake cave. Then it’s time for

lunch. We make our way to the catfish sign and go on in.

Pretty soon we’re seated on one side of a brown wood table. Across from us, owners James and Bronwyn are snuggled together just the tiniest little bit. You can tell that they’re a couple. It shows in their eyes – and it shows in the food they create.

We order. Then, waiting for our food to arrive, we talk about what makes this catfish so good.

It starts with the filets, Bronwyn says, which are in the 5- to 7-ounce range.

There are no catfish chips here, only the real deal – thick and moist and flavorful.

They’re marinated first, then breaded and cooked to order.

“We always try to do everything fresh,” Bronwyn says, adding that that’s a big reason this catfish is so popular.

But the little things are important, too, and James talks about one of them: the flour used to bread the fish. These filets are breaded with flour, not corn meal, and the breading flour is always kept fresh.

“We go through two 25-pound bags of flour a week,” he says, adding, “I don’t want my fish to have pimples on it.”

Pimply fish? If you’ve fried much flourbreaded fish, you know what he means.

But the catfish I’m looking at has the complexion of a newborn child.

But how does it taste? Ahhh! This

Bronwyn and James Bridges, owners of Southern Flavor in Cave Spring, with a lunch plate featuring catfish, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese. catfish is the real deal. And yes, I ordered more.

In addition to the all-you-can-eat plate, there’s also a regular plate with a single fillet. There’s a lot of other great stuff at Southern Flavor, too. Popular entries include broasted chicken, excellent jumbo wings, fried chicken livers, and an ever-changing lineup of daily specials. The sides, also homemade, are equally good; be sure to try the collard greens, mac and cheese, and fried okra.

There’s also a special homemade dessert each day, with lemon pie available all the time.

It’s like eating at your momma’s house.

It’s like eating at home.

Yeah, I know this isn’t a restaurant review column. But some things supersede categorization. Good catfish is one of them.

Another is sharing good catfish with somebody special. You’ll know who that is when that certain someone comes along.

How do you know? I’m not sure. That part has always been a sweet mystery.

But you will. And you do.

You just know.

Southern Flavor is located at 2 Alabama Street in Cave Spring. It is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m. For more info, call the restaurant at (706) 777-8707.

OPINION

PAST TENSE

George Adolphus, longtime Sandy Springs postmaster George Adolphus became postmaster of the community which would become Sandy Springs in 1934, but it was known as Burdal at the time. Burdal was first named in 1925 VALERIE when the post office was found at BurBIGGERSTAFF dette’s Grocery on Roswell Road, and the name Burdette was combined with another prominent family name, Dalrymple. The post office name officially changed in 1941. (National Archives, U. S. Appointment of Postmasters) Adolphus was born in 1886 in Michigan. In 1907, he was in a train accident while working as an inspector for the railroad. He lost his left leg in that accident.

Following the train accident, Adolphus decided to change careers. He attended Meridian Male College in Mississippi and was educated to become a minister. However, he had a few other careers before he worked as a minister.

In 1910, he worked as a railroad telegrapher, and in 1922 he was a grocer, both while living with his parents on Crew Street in the 2nd Ward of Atlanta.

In between those dates he met and married wife Kate.

Finally in 1930, Adolphus began his career as a Methodist minister while living on Crew Street. But in 1934, he made the move to the country, bought a 5-acre farm in Burial and became postmaster. There, he built a nine room, two story home for his family on Carpenter Drive. (Atlanta Constitution, June 30, 1942, “One-legged man builds home; used to walk 10 miles a

day”) The newspaper describes the home.

“The gabled pine structure stands high atop a shady hill overlooking his field of corn and beans and yams and potatoes, his scores of chickens and the big playhouse he made for the neighborhood children who come to spend weekends with Adolphus and his wife.”

Adolphus was known for his cheerful outlook. A 1942 article in the Atlanta Constitution recommended a visit to Adolphus’ post office in the “tiny village” of Sandy Springs if you needed to be uplifted. Adolphus had a friendly grin for everyone who stopped by.

Adolphus never let his injury slow him down, walking up to 10 miles a day.

During World War II, George and Kate Adolphus’ son George Jr. was in the Navy and had been torpedoed three times. Another son James was an instructor in antiaircraft technique at Camp Stewart.

His job as postmaster required a lot of walking. He delivered all the special delivery letters. Before cars became popular, he often enjoyed walking up to 10 miles a day.

George Adolphus continued as postmaster of Sandy Springs until 1955 when Benjamin Woodruff took over.

After retirement, he moved to Palm City, Florida, and was a minister of a different denomination, Baptist. He died in 1959 at age 73. (Miami Herald, August 28, 1959, Retired Baptist minister dead”) Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

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AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | August 18, 2022 | 17

18 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

OPINION

Notes on the news, or what passes as news today It just keeps on coming doesn’t it? After all we have gone through the past almost three years, to still be getting hammered by “life” feels mind-numbing. How much longer can we realistically navigate RAY APPEN this nightmare and Publisher Emeritus still have a relatively ray@appenmediagroup.com rational expectation for things to finally improve – to get better, back to normal?

How much longer will we even remember what “normal” was?

And what about all the young people who now have grown up this past decade or two in this digital jungle? My generation at least has a reference point to a time and place when things made more sense and reality was something that was, well, real. What about the kids who think that screens are the

same thing as the living, breathing, tactile, personal world of their parent’s generation?

I have this reoccurring nightmare about 20-somethings sitting in a room on their army base with the air-conditioning blasting and driving drones halfway across the world and taking out “the enemy” by pushing a button – just like in a video game only in this “game” people bleed and die. I keep thinking how hard it must be – or can be – to keep connecting the dots, to stay grounded, rational and in the (real) present. I assume part of this nightmare – maybe all of it -- has something to do with these horrid continuous mass shootings executed by these obviously insane young white guys full of irrational hate, hate sourced from screens and souless talking heads.

As I write this, I ask myself what a kid would think if they read what I am saying. Would anything I am saying even remotely ring any kind of a bell, or

Send us your ...

would they just roll their eyes back and laugh? What’s up with this guy? Have no idea what he is talking about. Idiot.

Of course, they don’t know what I am writing about. They have never experienced it.

Some things we can control. I know this.

Do we choose to continue to graze on social media even when we know that, day by day, it distorts and corrupts the world around us and continues to grow and consume parts of who we are – or who we used to be? Mother used to say that “nothing good happens after midnight.” Well, it’s after midnight most of the time these days, and social media is arguably the virus that makes it so.

Anne Lamont has always been my go-to when things look darkest. She always seems to find refuge in times of despair and write about it, like what she wrote after the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v Wade.

“I will celebrate that I have shelter and friends and warm socks and feet to put them in, and that God or Gus found a way to turn the madness and shame of my addiction into grace, I’ll shake my head with wonder, which I do more and more as I age, at all the beauty that is left and still works after so much has been taken away. So, celebrate with me.

Step outside and let your mouth drop open. Feed the poor with me, locally or, if you want to buy me something, make a donation to UNICEF. My party will not be the same without you.”

I didn’t do her prose justice because I didn’t provide more context, but suffice it to say that she is really good at finding light in dark places and doing so with redeeming humor.

Place one foot in front of the other.

Repeat. Keep moving. Don’t look back.

Look forward – up at the horizon. “Yes we can.” Thank you, Jackie Littlefield.

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Revenues: Continued from Page 1 percent last month compared to July of last year.

The gas tax remains off the table for now. Kemp issued an executive order this month renewing the tax holiday at least through Sept. 12.

July’s rise in tax collections followed the closeout of fiscal 2022 the month before, which saw the state take in $33.09 billion in tax receipts for the year, an increase of 23 percent over fiscal 2021.

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | August 18, 2022 | 19

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20 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

Alpharetta approves plans for dog park/restaurant

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. –– City officials have approved plans for a hybrid luxury dog park and restaurant in downtown Alpharetta.

The owners behind Off Leash say the business will be a large, luxury indoor and outdoor dog park operating on a membership model in which patrons pay a monthly fee to bring their dogs to play and socialize, while they enjoy food and drinks at the business’s full-service restaurant.

Proposed for 2.3 acres at the southeast corner of Old Milton Parkway and South Main Street, project representatives say Off Leash will revitalize a long-vacant property, bringing more green space and foot traffic to one of the city’s busiest gateways.

Representing project applicant Lonnie Cooper Ventures at the Aug. 1 Alpharetta City Council meeting, attorney Julie Sellers said Alpharetta is bursting with dog owners, but not with opportunities for dogs to run free and play.

Sellers said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, pet and dog ownership has become even more important, and their business will provide a safe space for dogs and owners to gather and enjoy the outdoors.

“You see people with their dogs all over the place,” Sellers said. “Alpharetta is definitely a very dog-friendly city, and there are limited opportunities for dogs to be off leash. And so, this is a complement to the downtown area that has already been enhanced with a lot of restaurants, with a lot of retail, and certainly a lot of residents in the area.”

Sellers said the area of the proposed project has been historically underutilized, especially given its proximity to downtown and other parts of Alpharetta.

This project, she said, would bring the property in line with the aesthetic officials are trying to create throughout the city.

“We want this to have the appearance of a park, which is what it is and why we think that this is a great location for it,”

PHOTOS BY CITY OF ALPHARETTA/PROVIDED

Plans for a combination dog park/restaurant in downtown Alpharetta have cleared the City Council.

Sellers said.

In addition to the restaurant, Sellers said Off Leash would include a 3,000-square-foot covered dog park area, separate large outdoors areas for small and large dogs, and a covered outdoor patio where owners could eat and relax with their pups .

Safety considerations

Sellers said the operation will have trained employees, tentatively called “Dog Tenders,” who will be stationed in the park area to help and maintain safety.

She said the park will also have a one strike rule for aggressive dogs and won’t allow any balls or toys at the establishment, to avoid objects being launched into traffic on Old Milton Parkway.

After hearing from project representatives, council members and the public raised questions about safety at the Old Milton Parkway/South Main Street intersection.

Nearly all council members noted that the only thing separating dogs from traffic at the busy intersection would be a metal fence. They said with Off Leash projecting 1,000 members by the end of its first year, the operation is liable to draw hundreds of dogs to the park on a regular basis.

“I’m really struggling with this application and mostly with the 5-foot fence,” Councilman John Hipes said. “My research shows that dogs can jump a

Proposed at the intersection of Old Milton Parkway and Main Street, the Off Leash dog park will allow dogs and their owners to eat, drink, play and relax in luxury. Opponents of the project say the business could pose a danger at the intersection.

5-foot fence, and then it would need to be a 5-foot fence.”

Other council members said they could support the project if fencing surrounding the dog park areas was a minimum of 6 feet. Others said that in either case, it would be up to the applicant to ensure the safety of dogs at the business and the surrounding citizens.

But Councilman Brian Will pointed out that, while raising the fence height would help ensure safety, it could also disrupt the aesthetics of the area.

“I understand that business owners are responsible if something happens, but on City Council we’re responsible to do our best to make sure that the potential

for something to happen, doesn’t happen,” Will said. “We do this in every decision we make approving zoning … So, I cannot support this because I don’t think it’s safe.

I don’t think it’s aesthetically pleasing.”

Councilman Donald Mitchell echoed Will’s comments, saying the fencing was too high for him to support.

“I can’t support a 6-foot fence right on Old Milton,” Mitchell said. “I could support the project, but I’m not there with a 6-foot fence around the whole thing. We don’t even have a 6-foot fence in our own city’s dog park.”

Despite objections, the plans were approved 5-2, with Mitchell and Will casting the dissenting votes.

DEATH NOTICES Patrick Grommersch, 68, of Alpharetta, passed away July 31, 2022. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Dorothy Witt, 91, of Alpharetta, passed away August 2, 2022.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jane Hale, 87, of Alpharetta, passed away August 5, 2022.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Dudley, 90, of Roswell, passed away August 6, 2022.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Leland Ahern, 59, of Alpharetta, passed away July 31, 2022.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Roland Steinwart, 91, of Roswell, passed away August 4, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Evelyn Sadler, 94, of Alpharetta, passed away August 5, 2022.

Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Dr. Elroyce Malone Dodson, 85, of Alpharetta, passed away August 7, 2022. Arrangements

by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | August 18, 2022 | 21

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PLACE YOUR AD HERE 770.442.3278

Miscellaneous

SPE

CIAL

OFF

WITH A HOME STANDBY GENERATOR

MONEY DOWN & LOW WITH A HOME STANDBY$0GENERATOR

PLUS $1600 $0OFF ContactPAYMENT a GeneracOPTIONS dealer for full MONEY DOWN + LOW MONTHLY

MONTHLY PAYMENT OPTIONS terms & conditions.

Contact a Generac dealer for full terms and conditions

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE REQUEST A FREECALL QUOTE

(866) 643-0438

SERVICE DIRECTORY Haulers

Concrete/ Asphalt

Retaining Walls Brick or Wood

Contact Ralph Rucker.

Many local references.

Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!

*To qualify, consumers must request (866) 643-0438

Landscaping

Full Service LANDSCAPING Company

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc. Many local references-

Retaining walls (brick or wood), grading, sod, tree services, hauling, topsoil & more.

678-898-7237

678-898-7237

678-898-7237

Driveway

Home Improvement

Pinestraw

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs. A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $4,500.

Call Ralph Rucker

PHILLIPS HOME IMPROVEMENT We offer drywall, painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical.

Basements finished, kitchen and bath rehabs.

All types flooring.

Also total home rehab for those who have a rental house or one to sell.

Call 678-887-1868 for a free estimate

PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes.

Re-grouting is also available. Call 678-8871868 for free estimate.

Deadline

Ralph Rucker

ROOF LEAKING? Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell.

Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123.

Christian Brothers Roofing

PINESTRAW, mulch delivery/installation available.

Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612

Gutters AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432

Tree Services

to place a classified ad

CALL NOW BEFORE THE NEXT POWER OUTAGE

With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with a quote, purchase, install and activate any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. the generator with a participating *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the Callof for a full of terms No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. generator with a participating dealer. Call fordealer. a full list terms andlist conditions. and conditions.

CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445

Roofing

Flooring

Prepare for power outages today

ER for power Prepare outages today FREE SHOWER PACKAGE

Call today and receive a

Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible.

Call 1-800-245-0398

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | August 18, 2022 | 23

PLACE YOUR AD HERE

Thursdays by 5:00 pm

770.442.3278

SELL IT, FIND IT, BUY IT

24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims. 25+ years experience. Family business. Free estimates. We Love Challenges!

Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts 770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com 20% off ALL Tree services.

IN OUR CLASSIFIEDS

Free consultation. 20 years experience. Fully insured. References.

Call Tree Expert for an appointment @ 470-588-5339.

770.442.3278

PLACE YOUR AD HERE 770.442.3278

PLACE YOUR AD HERE

COMPLETE TREE SERVICES Appen-Rated 98 Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.

Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch, Fully insured, Emergency 24/7 770-450-8188

24 | August 18, 2022 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth