Forsyth Herald - December 15, 2022

We Treat Peripheral Neuropathy

County, city

on sales tax distribution

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — City and county officials are approaching a final decision on how the $60 million in expected local option sales tax revenues will be distributed over the next decade.

The Cumming City Council met Dec. 6 to discuss a sales tax distribution that would stay fairly consistent with the current agreement approved in 2012, which gives 87 percent of revenues to the county and 13 percent to the city.

The proposal also lays out five other agreements between the city and county that would be part of the deal.

They include a new method for negotiating proposed city annexations, a bulk sewer sale from the city to the county, requirements for the city to modify its impact fee ordinance and comprehensive plan design standards, and the de-annexation of Mary Alice Park.

At the meeting, Cumming city councilmembers approved a motion to send the proposal back to Forsyth County with minor tweaks, and a provision adding a right-of-way acquisition at Sawnee Drive into the deal. Also, city officials did not accept provisions for comprehensive plan design standards and a bulk sewer sale to the county.

“I do think the agreement that we’re offering, to stay at the 13 percent is a fair proposal on the city’s behalf, especially in light of the sales taxes generated in our city and the service delivery in our city,” City Councilman Jason Evans said.

However, Councilwoman Linda Ledbetter said that she had concerns about the city ceding Mary Alice Park, which would revert back to county control, if the proposal is approved.

Forsyth County names McKee to top position

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Assistant County Manager David McKee was officially named county manager by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners at a special called meeting Dec. 9.

McKee will assume his new role Dec. 16, following the departure of Kevin Tanner.

One of two finalists chosen for the role, McKee has served as assistant county manager since April 2021, overseeing the operations of county engineering, recycling and solid waste, fleet services, water and sewer, public transportation and public facilities departments.

“David brings a wealth of leadership qualities and understanding of the county’s needs to the position,” said District 2 Commissioner Alfred John. “The board looks forward to working with him in his new role.”

Prior to joining Forsyth County in 2021, McKee served in various roles in Dawson County since 2006, working in environmental compliance, engineering, GIS and

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Forsyth County Commissioners voted Dec. 9 to approve a new offer for the county’s $60 million local option sales tax, which will be re-examined by the Cumming City Council at a special called meeting.

NEWS TIPS

770-442-3278

AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus

CONTACT

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the Forsyth Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Alpharetta police captain arrested in Forsyth Co.

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A police captain with the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety has been placed on administrative leave following an alleged domestic incident and arrest in Forsyth County.

Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office incident reports said deputies were called to the home of Capt. Michael Stewart of the Alpharetta Police Department Dec. 3, after receiving reports that a husband and wife were involved in a domestic dispute.

At the scene, a residence on Lilac

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.

Thieves flee retail store with $10,000 in items

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thieves made off with more than $10,000 in clothing during a snatch-and-grab robbery at North Point Mall Nov. 30.

Alpharetta Police reports said two suspects entered the Dillard’s store at about 6 p.m., and while one suspect stood watch near the store’s rear entrance, the other suspect emptied four shelves of Lacoste shirts into a black trash bag.

When store employees were alerted and attempted to stop the theft, one worker was knocked to the ground by one of the suspects.

Security footage showed the two main suspects and another individual driving a black Nissan sedan in the parking lot and parking deck.

Pass in Forsyth County, deputies learned Stewart allegedly broke down a bedroom door in the home after an argument with his wife.

After breaking down the door his wife was hiding behind, Stewart allegedly took a gun and left the residence, the report said.

Stewart was arrested and charged with simple assault family violence and criminal trespass. The report did not say whether Stewart was taken to the Forsyth County Jail or released following the incident Dec. 3, but jail records show he was booked into the jail for those charges Dec. 12.

“The video showed the males leaving and running back to the vehicle, with the male in all black carrying the black trash bag used inside,” the report said.

Suspects also dropped an Apple iPhone at the scene, which was entered into evidence by police officers.

No arrests had been made at the time of the report.

Antique cane collection stolen from man’s home

ROSWELL, Ga. — A 62-year-old disabled man reported that a collection of antique canes valued anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 had been stolen from his home Dec. 5, possibly by a caregiver.

The man, bed-ridden with MS, hired a caregiver through a medical assistance company. He said the caregiver gave “subpar” service before leaving. As she left, he heard a noise and called out, but he received no response.

When the man’s wife got home, she noticed the canes were missing from a

Is

Attempts to reach Stewart for comment were not immediately successful.

In a statement to Appen Media Dec. 12, Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard confirmed that Stewart, an 19-year-veteran of the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety, has been suspended pending an investigation into the alleged incident.

“Per our policies and procedures, he was placed on administrative leave while the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office conduct their respective ongoing investigations,” Drinkard said.

container next to the front door. There were more than 10 canes, some with silver handles. They were collected over a 15-year period.

The caregiver was expected to return, but the man said she likely won’t.

Vandals hit townhome under construction

ALPHARETTA, Ga. —A townhome under construction on Olmstead Way in Alpharetta was damaged by unknown vandals overnight Dec. 2, police reports said.

Vandals used bricks and asphalt to damage two large windows, siding and gutters on the backside of the home, causing more than $2,000 in damage.

Police officers found rocks, bricks and other projectiles inside and outside the home, reports said.

Police were told the home had been damaged at least two times prior. The townhome’s buyer is currently overseas in India.

No suspect was identified at the time of the report.

Company Hiring?

HANS APPEN

County votes to adjust election supervision

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County commissioners have endorsed a set of tweaks to local elections law put forward by the County Board of Elections in the wake of the November midterms.

At their Dec. 6 work session, commissioners drafted three changes to local election practices that will be referred to the county’s legislative delegation for consideration before the Georgia General Assembly in January.

“The Board of Elections and Registrations in Forsyth County is a product of a local law adopted by the General Assembly and that’s where it’s best modified,” County Attorney Ken Jarrard said at the meeting.

Jarrard said the Board of Elections asked for a $100 increase to members’ monthly expenses, a change that would stagger the terms of board members and a change to when former members can qualify for elections.

Currently, former Elections Board Members cannot qualify for an elected position for six months after stepping down, Jarrard said.

“This manifests itself in a very real way. This year an individual coming off the Board of Elections wanted to qualify to run for the Soil and Water Conservation appointment,” he said. “And he wasn’t able to do so because of this prohibition.”

Jarrard said he wasn’t sure where this part of Forsyth County’s elections law originated, but thought it, “may be something that has not aged well.”

Jarrard also said the Board of Elections needs to stagger its terms,

so board members aren’t added all at once, and new members have a chance to train and learn before an election.

“It wasn’t the original legislation … we had two new board members come on in September this last time before this big election, and it just

was really hard to train them,” said Barbra Luth, chief registrar and chair of the Forsyth County Board of Elections.

Under the proposed change, new members would enter the board in late June, Jarrard said.

“This would be phased in over election cycles to allow for a more orderly transition,” he said. “New members coming in would have at least a little bit of time to get up to speed before getting right smack dab in the middle

of an election.”

Lastly, Jarrard said the proposed changes would increase Elections Board members’ monthly allotment from $200 to $300.

Luth said the pay raise would bring it up to date with Georgia law and help support all the work they do to facilitate elections.

“They do a lot of work for that,” Luth said. “A lot of work.”

After a short discussion, the proposal was approved 5-0.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Barbra Luth, chief registrar and chair of the Forsyth County Board of Elections, speaks at the Board of Commissioners Dec. 6 work session.

ALPHARETTA

GARAGE SALES

McKee:

DEADLINE

planning. He also served as Dawson County Public Works Director and SPLOST Administrator.

McKee holds a bachelor’s degree in geology from Georgia Southern University and an Advanced Certificate of Public Works Management from the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government and American Public Works Association.

McKee said he is humbled and excited to continue projects to make Forsyth County “the best county in the state of Georgia.”

“One of the things that we are we are going to continue to build on is changing the culture of our employees,” he said. “We look at every project that we do, every department that we have an opening for, we’re

Continued from Page 1 New Show, Same Ride.

trying to improve the culture, both from a customer service level, all the way down to interactions with other staff.”

One of McKee’s first priorities will be to finalize the county’s local option sales tax agreement with the City of Cumming. He said with the recent failure of the proposed Transportation Local Option Sales Tax, which was voted down by residents in November, getting the 2023 LOST across the finish line is all the more important.

“We still have the same issues today that we had before TSPLOST,” he said. “The issue is, we just have to squeeze our dollar tighter than what we did before.”

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thieves using spoofed email accounts of Fulton County School System employees were able to defraud a local company out of more than $2 million over a three-month period, Alpharetta police officials say.

Details of the investigation are limited, but police reports said that unidentified thieves pretending to be Fulton County Schools Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef and a school system purchasing agent stole nearly 1,000 laptop computers worth $2,060,474 from Edge Solutions, an Alpharetta-based technology company.

Police said Edge Solutions received an email order from the suspects Sept. 14 for $372,867 worth of Lenovo X1 Thinkpad computers.

Employees at Edge Solutions told police they believed the email was a legitimate order because it came from the email address, @fultoncschools.org, which is a spoof of the legitimate Fulton County Schools address, @fultonschools.org.

The order was processed and shipped, and on Oct. 3, an unidentified suspect picked up the computers from Edge Solution’s warehouse in Alpharetta.

Thieves later used Dereef’s identity to make two more orders for laptops worth

$834,103 on Oct. 13, and for $853,502 on Nov. 4. Both orders were also picked up at the Edge Solutions warehouse by an unidentified suspect.

The fraud was finally uncovered on Nov. 29, when after multiple attempts to reach Dereef for payment, Edge Solutions employees visited the offices of Fulton County Schools and met the real Marin Dereef, who said the orders were not real.

“This is when Edge Solutions realized they had been scammed,” police reports said.

In an email statement to Appen Media, Julie Haley, Edge Solutions chief executive officer, promised the company’s clients that no customer data has been exposed by the incident.

“Edge Solutions recently fell victim to a sophisticated fraud scheme involving criminals posing as legitimate customers,” Haley said. “While the case is ongoing and law enforcement agencies have requested us not to discuss details of the investigation, we want to assure our customers that this theft involved only computer hardware and no customer data was lost or breached during this crime.”

Alpharetta Police officials have declined to comment further on this incident.

Brian Noyes, Chief Communications Officer for Fulton County Schools, said the district is cooperating fully with authorities.

Kemp suspends state gas tax for the last time

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order Dec. 8, suspending the state sales tax on gasoline for the seventh and final time since March, when pump prices began climbing after the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

The latest suspension will run through Jan. 10, the day after Georgia lawmakers convene under the Gold Dome for the 2023 General Assembly session. After that, Kemp will look to the Legislature to help provide tax relief to Georgians in other ways, the

Forsyth:

Continued from Page 1

Ledbetter said she thinks Cumming would be better off holding on to the land for a future city park.

“I understand why we would give them back the impact fees. But you’re given away Mary Alice Park,” she said. “Mary Alice Park is 110 acres of land which can have city parks on it. We do

governor said during a news conference at the Capitol.

“We can’t continue to do what we’re doing with gas taxes,” Kemp said. “This was always intended as a shortterm answer.”

Kemp, who was reelected to a second term in office last month, repeated a pledge he made on the campaign trail this year to push for an additional $1 billion state income tax rebate on top of the $1.6 billion tax rebate Georgia lawmakers approved this year. He also is asking the Legislature for $1 billion in property tax rebates.

Incoming Republican legislative

not have one park in the City of Cumming.”

Other councilmembers disagreed, claiming the park is more a burden than an asset to the community.

“Yes, park space is nice,” Evans said. “However, from a financial standpoint you have ongoing costs, maintenance, infrastructure, things of that nature that you would have to address in the future. We do not have property taxes, so you have to generate that revenue somehow.”

leaders appeared with Kemp Thursday to lend support to his tax cutting proposals.

“Georgians deserve to keep as much of their hard-earned money as possible,” said House Majority Leader Jon Burns, R-Newington, the House Republican Caucus’ nominee to succeed the late David Ralston as speaker of the House. “It’s not our money.”

Providing additional tax relief shouldn’t be a heavy lift for the General Assembly. The state is sitting on a $6.6 billion budget surplus, which will make deciding what to do with tax dollars a lot easier.

Forsyth County Commissioners met at a special called meeting Dec. 9 to discuss the city’s counteroffer.

Commissioners objected to the newly added right-of-way provision but said they would make a good faith effort to form a deal on it, once LOST negotiations have concluded.

County officials unanimously approved sending the deal back to the city, and the Cumming City Council is expected to re-examine the proposal at a special called meeting Dec. 13.

In confirming he was suspending the gas tax for the last time, Kemp noted that pump prices have been falling. The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Georgia currently is $2.93 per gallon, according to AAA, down from $3.13 a month ago and well below this year’s peak price of $4.50 per gallon in mid-June.

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

AAPPEN PRESSCLU

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. Consider giving them your business, just as they have done with us.

Buy local, eat local, read local.

A HOLE-IN-ONE

Trader Golf succeeds with expertise, relationships

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Sitting in the Trader Golf teaching center, employee Rick Coursey defined golf’s uniqueness — it’s a competition more with oneself, rather than another person. And it’s a game of a lifetime, suitable for any age, and a game of integrity.

Coursey wore a ball cap, hiding a balding head of white hair, and a Magellan fishing shirt tucked into a pair of polyester khakis. With a slow, measured voice, he shared his thoughts on golf and described the store’s business model, which hinges on expertise and relationship-building.

“When we see somebody in here, and they don’t know how to hold a golf club, we can give them a mini lesson,” Coursey said. “They go from swinging a club, and can’t even hit the ball, to three or four swings later — we have them hitting the ball straight right down the fairway, just by giving some very important tips.”

Walking into Trader Golf, a small brick building with a worn metal roof, crooked golf posters tacked to its windows and racks of collared shirts behind them, visitors will most likely hear a friendly conversation between Coursey and a customer.

Maybe the conversation is about finding a specific used or new golf club, needing a repair or a club fitting. Talk could isolate on lessons to improve a golf game, taken in the shop’s teaching center — a spacious, secluded room with netting covering the wall, marked with the brand Callaway, behind a green. Golf bags packed with clubs and training aids are off to the side. In the main area, Trader

Golf also has a range in the left corner and a putting green to the right.

Or maybe Coursey’s conversation is unrelated to golf, an exchange about personal matters. It’s not uncommon for Coursey to ask returning customers about their family, knowing intimate details acquired over the years, or casually talk with someone new as if he’s known them for a long time.

The relationships that can be forged, and that are essential, in small, local businesses are incomparable, Coursey

said.

He isn’t opposed to staying after hours to help someone. The night before, Coursey talked with a first-time customer, trying to accommodate a budget. That same customer, Coursey now knowing him by name, came back to snag what he didn’t buy.

“He now trusts me because of things that I’ve told him and showed him, and the communication that I gave to him,” Coursey said. “Now we’ve got a relationship.”

Golf clubs abound

After handing over heavy- and lightweight training aids, Coursey said, “But the biggest tool is the knowledge that we have.”

Trader Golf feels like an heirloom. It’s a cozy space with a familiar smell, perhaps of a grandparent’s living room, and it holds a wealth of experience, and plenty of stories, among its three employees. Coursey has been seeking to fill more positions for more than a year, but he has high standards.

“The years of knowledge that we have about golf — I would put it up against anybody, any place in America,” Coursey said. “There’s no doubt.”

Coursey, who is somewhat of a store manager but cleans golf clubs with the rest of them, has been in the golf industry since 2000. He worked at Edwin Watts before Trader Golf and began playing the sport long before then, though, at age 26, through his father-in-law.

At one point, the store only sold used clubs. But when Coursey joined the business eight years ago, he introduced new merchandise, buying from manufacturers like Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno and Cobra.

Coursey, 59, has an impressive memory of the store’s bursting inventory. Used clubs are well-organized in wooden racks along the right wall. New clubs in plastic wrap are lodged in a free-standing rack in the middle of the store. But there’s also dozens of boxes in the back room.

“There’s about 10,000 golf clubs behind this wall here,” Coursey said from within the teaching center. “If a guy calls in and says, ‘Hey, I need a 1984 Ping Eye 2 Square Groove Green Dot. Do you have one?’ Yeah, I got four.”

But the biggest tool is the knowledge that we have.

RICK COURSEY, Trader Golf employee

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Robie Robinson and Rick Coursey, employees at Trader Golf, stand in front of the business logo. A retired PGA professional, Robinson offers golf lessons in-store. Coursey has been with Trader Golf for eight years but has been in the golf industry since 2000.

Robie Robinson was also on the floor Dec. 8. A 6-foot-something kindhearted jokester, Robinson is a retired PGA professional of more than 40 years and gives private lessons at the store. Coursey was proud to point out Robinson’s plaques on the wall.

“You’ll get to see me take my PGA card and take the trash out to the dumpster as well,” Robinson said in the backroom.

With no need for additional income and a passion for what he does, Robinson drives an hour and half one way for work. He, Coursey and Tom Reed, an employee absent on this particular humid Thursday morning, are all past the retirement age and continue to show up because they hang out, have fun and share their love for golf with whoever walks in the door.

Reed, who is in his early 80s, still plays golf twice a week. He used to work at Edwin Watts alongside Coursey, who said Reed has a repertoire and a grandfatherly way of talking to people who are uncomfortable with the sport.

“That’s experience that you’re not really going to get any other place,” Coursey said.

Word of mouth

Coursey declines using advertisements because of a strong belief in spreading word the old-fashioned way. It also allows for a low-key atmosphere, preferred by the professionals who don’t want to be bothered while shopping at Trader Golf.

The belief isn’t unfounded. The golf

Trader Golf on North Main Street, Alpharetta, has been in business for almost 30 years. The shop offers trades, new merchandise, repairs, club fittings and golf lessons.

shop might seem like Alpharetta’s best kept secret since the mid-’90s. But at its 10 a.m. opening, customers were already there.

Coursey uses email blasts from time to time about Trader Golf deals for the shop’s private consumer base, including prompts to forward the email. But outside of that, what keeps customers returning, and new ones coming in, is more of an organic transmission, based on reputation. All the Google reviews are positive, Coursey said, apart from one review caused by an employee who has since been fired.

Erin Fletcher, a frequent Trader Golf shopper, showed up Tuesday afternoon,

Dec. 6, looking to price clubs he bought from the PGA superstore. He set several on the counter and swung one for practice.

“Hey, Erin,” Coursey called from the opposite side of the store, while talking to another customer.

Fletcher, an easygoing 39-year-old with an athletic build, has been going to Trader Golf since 10th grade. He was driving around Alpharetta one day and stumbled across the store, before it moved to its current location on North Main Street. His hometown of Calhoun didn’t have golf options at the time.

Fletcher said he likes everything in his golf bag nowadays, which he’s been building for 25 years, save for the occasional trade. But he still makes the trip from Milton at least twice a week to the shop to hang out and buy knickknacks.

Bigger stores tend to pay bottom dollar for products, Fletcher said, but with Trader Golf, the relationship is clean. When Fletcher was in the store Tuesday, Coursey was transparent in telling him he would get a better deal selling his clubs on eBay than he would selling them at the store.

“[Honesty] is basically dead,” Fletcher said. “There’s a way we can all be equitable, and everybody can win in whatever we do. But most people don’t live or have that philosophy.”

Frank Paras Home Depot Installation Services Local Team Leader

Tara Tucker

Fletcher, 39, has been a Trader Golf customer since 10th grade.

What NOT to do when someone dies

Brought to you by – Michelle Wilson, Wilson Legal, PC

When someone dies, you do not want to tell the bank, you do not need to pay credit cards, and you do not leave the house unlocked. If you tell the bank someone passed away, the bank will freeze the account. One check that comes in the mail after someone dies is the check for the portion of the monthly premium that was not used by the health insurance company. If the bank is not informed right away the family can simply put “ for deposit only” on the back of the check and drop the check in the night drop for deposit. Banks process the checks retrieved from the night drop the following day. No one wants to have to go through probate for such a small amount.

When someone passes away, do not

rush to pay any credit cards. Credit cards are unsecured debts and are not paid at all if the estate lacks the money to pay them. There are several other debts that are of a higher priority than credit cards.

When someone passes away, do not leave their house unlocked. Theft and robbery occur in unlocked houses - sometimes even during the funeral.

There are 3 things you should do after someone dies. If you would like to know more, please listen and subscribe to our podcast coming out in January 2023 called the Proactive Planner. Please also check out our events page at www.wilson-legal. com/events to find out where will be speaking and when you can ask a general question on the spot.

Merry Christmas!

ISTOCK

WILSON

Financial literacy tips

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.

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 received most of their financial education at home. As

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 include in their budget?

A. This is the time to have a discussion about needs and wants. They may need a pair of sneakers for daily wear but want the latest superstarendorsed brand. You may agree to purchase the basic brand but decide the additional cost for the high-end pair must come out of their budget. In addition, your student should include expenses for entertainment and meals out with friends. Don’t forget to have them include funds for emergencies (or unexpected opportunities they don’t want to miss). Finally, be sure to encourage them to designate a portion of their income or allowance to a cause that’s important to them.

Q. What about credit and debit cards?

A. There are very important dif -

ferences 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 in our Johns Creek office at 470.422.1200 to schedule your group.

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?

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

American Commerce Johns Creek Team.

Front row: Karen Chavarria, Soraya Kenney.

Back Row: Travis Carithers, Gary Lochbaum, Carlos Laverde, Alex Roach

The crippling of crypto currency

Is crypto currency a chimera or a true investment? Per Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, one definition of a “chimera” is “an illusion or fabrication of the mind, especially: an unrealizable dream.” Webster also defines investment as “the outlay of money usually for income or profit.” Crypto may be both a chimera and an investment. But how wise an investment is crypto? Crypto is not traditional money which is issued by a national government or central bank, for example, the American dollar. You can carry physical denominations of U.S. dollar currency or fractional coins in your wallet or coin purse. Crypto currency resides in cyberspace. It exists digitally or virtually and is not issued by government entities. The two leading forms of crypto currency measured by market capitalization are bitcoin and

ethereum.

Bitcoin, the first crypto creation, is the most well-known. Crypto does not pay interest or dividends. But like a traditional investment, you buy it with hope that ultimately you’ll be able to sell it for a profit.

Like some things new and unregulated, crypto has been hyped in a manner that would make the “wild, wild West” seem relatively tame. The 1881 gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, resulted in mayhem, death, and injury. That chaotic incident lives in infamy as an example of lawlessness that demanded containment.

The Nov. 11, 2002, sudden Chapter 11 bankruptcy implosion of FTX Trading may go down in history as another example of out-of-control disregard for prudence, the law and public interest. Regulation and oversight is now demanded as criminal investigators, regulators, lawyers and politicians jump into the fray. Luminaries who lauded FTX in commercials are ducking for cover and seeking legal counsel. Billions of dollars are unac -

counted for.

Per The Wall Street Journal, FTX, a leading crypto exchange, had $16 billion in funds that customers had placed with the firm for trading purposes. Without the knowledge of investors, FTX lent roughly $8 billion of that to an affiliated firm, Alameda, to fund “risky bets.” A subsequent investor run on FTX caused a classic liquidity squeeze and the destruction of the company.

As a financial advisor with a penchant for eschewing speculators as clients in favor of working with true investors who seek long-term growth of capital while understanding the dynamics of risk, reward, and diversification as a risk management tool, bitcoin and other digital assets hold little appeal. It’s true that bitcoin soared to an all-time high of over $68,000 for a single coin in November 2021, after starting the year at just under $30,000. That kicked off a buying frenzy as even small investors seeking quick returns flooded in. This situation was akin to the recent “meme stock mania” involving names like GameStop, Bed Bath and Beyond, and AMC, whose prices were driven to unrealistic heights by armies of speculators who grouped together on social media platforms. Speculative fever didn’t go well for most who jumped aboard late in either game.

The Journal noted that prior to the FTX debacle, crypto markets lost roughly $2 trillion in market value over the last year. On Nov. 13, 2022, one bitcoin traded at $16,546, facing pressures from rising interest rates as the “Federal Reserve has removed liquidity and markets re-priced financial assets.” So much for crypto “inflation hedge” theories. But the siren song of “quick riches” still lives on the internet. Trading platform Robinhood urges, “There’s no need to buy a whole coin ─ start with as little as $1.” You may buy crypto with a debit card or credit card. Using borrowed money to speculate is overly risky and aggressive.

Firms like FTX are not governed relative to the safety of client assets like well-known independent custodians such as Pershing, Fidelity, Schwab, T.D. Ameritrade, etc.

For example, Pershing, a division of Bank of New York/Mellon, protects securities in a customer’s account up to $500,000 through Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Plus, Pershing carries extensive added insurance on client assets through

underwriters such as Lloyds of London. Custodians such as those noted and others offer SIPC protection and excess coverage similar to Pershing. Note that insurance does not protect you from the rise and fall in the value of securities due to market volatility. Protection only guards against insolvency or the bankruptcy of the custodian entity. Such safeguards do not exist in cryptoworld.

Independent financial advisors should use independent custodians to house client cash and assets and execute trades. Make sure that account statements come from recognized custodians, not from the advisor directly. Some of the greatest frauds, Madoff included, came from fake statements generated in-house by the fraudster. Understand what safeguards are in place.

Long-term investment strategies involve diversification. With inflation concerns paramount, “loanership,” a portfolio of cash and bonds, is less likely to provide real long-term returns in excess of inflation and taxation. Nevertheless, such asset classes are germane to liquidity needs and wealth preservation efforts during turbulent periods. Cash is a source of bargain hunting capital when opportunities arise.

For value-oriented conservative investors, a long-run growth-oriented portfolio should encompass equities and real assets with the potential to generate interest, dividends, and and/ or growth, i.e., “real returns in excess of inflation and taxation over time. “Ownership” of growing companies and assets such as dividend paying real estate or other alternative investments form the core of long-term wealth-building and wealth-preservation strategies. Because any individual asset or asset class can underperform expectations at any given time, diversification counts.

Crypto as a prudent investment? The jury is still out.

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group; 770441-3553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp. com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA). Lewis is a registered representative and investment adviser representative of SFA, otherwise unaffiliated with Capital Insight Group. He’s a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

Robin Fricton

Roderick Liptrot

Support your local press. 100% of the $13/month that you give goes directly to supporting your local press. Every article we write about local elections, school board budgets, public safety and more is made possible by your donation. The more members we have, the more coverage of these important issues is made possible.

• Appen Press Club T-Shirt & Mug.

• Name listed on our membership directory in print and online.

• Free entry to all Appen Press

and seminars.

Scott Baynton

Rita Brown

Mark Casas

Alpharetta Lions Club

Barbara Anderson

Mary Asbury

Barbara Bauschka

Kathy Beck

Leslie Berry

Tom Billings

Joe Bowen Mary Busman

Clea Calloway

Kirk Canaday

James Carr

Bridgette Carter

William Cartwright

Pat Check

Tom McMurrain

Bob Meyers

Ross & Lori Ramsey Kim Truett

MEMBER+

Charlcie Forehand Marie Gualtiere

Anne Peer

Ann Coaloa

MEMBER

Robert Popp Mark Rundle

Roger Wise Jr. Suraj Sehgal

Rebecca Donlan

Tom Driscoll

Mim Eisenberg

Danny Elkins

Martha Fasse

Cathy Flynn

Amy Frederick Carol Fry

Tracey Ganesh

Christopher Goodrich

Joe Hirsch

Penn Hodge

Tyler Jones Mark Kelly

Allison Kloster

Ken Leffingwell

Karen Magill

Valerie Matthews

Mike McLoughlin

Al Merrill

Christine Miller

Fred Moeller

Kathy Morgan

Jack Murphy

Righteous PR

Stephanie Schuette

Lisa Shippel

Cindy Simpson

Faye Sklar

Andy Smith

Lisa Tilt

Ollie Wagner

Lewis Walker Nancy & Dave Wistrand

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Business : V/O Medspa

Owners : Alisha Isani

Description: VIO Med Spa is an innovative and results-oriented aesthetics and wellness brand. Our highly educated and skilled team of providers offer the latest products and services that are designed to meet the diverse

needs of our guests. Equipped for Body Contouring, Skin Rejuvenation, Facials, Injectables, or Fillers.

Opened: November 2022

Address: 4712 Ashford Dunwoody Rd Suite 320; Dunwoody, GA 30338

Phone: (404) 282-3650

Website: https://www.viomedspa.com

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Owners:

Business: A January Love

Owner: Vada Love

Description: A January Love is a children’s boutique based in Dunwoody, Ga offering diverse and eco-friendly products for the modern baby, child, and parent. We are more than just cute clothes, we offer a curated selection of mostly organic and natural brands ranging from toys, accessories, and essentials for growing families..

Description: We provide outpatient mental health therapy to all peoples of all ages in Roswell, Georgia! Come find a therapist you can vibe with and stop the stigma surrounding access mental health services!

Opened: Dec. 5, 2022

Address: 925 Woodstock Road Suite 150, Roswell GA 30075

Phone: 404-990-4240 (clinic)

Website: elliementalhealth.com/locations/ roswell-ga/

Business: Crossroads Yoga

Owner:

Description:

Opened: August 2022

Address: 980 Birmingham Road, Milton 30004

Phone: 678-383-7646 Website: www.Crossroads.Yoga

Opened: October 2022

Address: 1402 Dunwoody Village Pkwy; Dunwoody, GA 30338 Phone: (470) 299-3904 Website: https://www.ajanuarylove.com/

Business: Ellie Mental Health

Michael and Tessie Lauer

Kim MacPherson

Community-focused yoga studio with a variety of classes for all ages and stages in the heart of Milton.

An old time Christmas with Charlie and Myrtice Blackburn

In the last Past Tense, I shared some of the story of Charlie and Myrtice Blackburn as told in the 1978 Dunwoody Crier article, “A Life Shared and Times Remembered.” Every year they celebrated Christmas and their wedding anniversary because they married Dec. 24, 1922.

Their marriage took place at the Dunwoody Methodist Church parsonage, the home of the church minister. The parsonage sat where Dunwoody United Methodist Church is today. The church building was on the other side of Mount Vernon Road. There were only two churches in Dunwoody, the Methodist and Baptist, both small wood buildings.

Myrtice Loyd was born in 1899 and Charlie was born in 1904. He lived most of his life in Dunwoody but lived in Atlanta a few years as a child. Charlie recalled the train trip his family would take to visit his grandparents Calhoun and Mary Jane Copeland Spruill for Christmas.

Charlie Blackburn’s family rode the Air-Line Belle from Atlanta to Chamblee. From there they boarded the engine known as Buck, which was part of the Roswell Railroad. The route of the Roswell Railroad was from Chamblee through Dunwoody and on to the Roswell Depot, just south of the Chattahoochee River.

Grandfather Spruill would meet the family at the Dunwoody Depot. It was usually night when they arrived, and Spruill would carry a lantern to guide everyone to the family home on Chamblee Dunwoody Road, just south of Mount Vernon Road. In later years, Dunwoody School principal Elizabeth Davis and her husband Manget Davis lived in this same house.

Myrtice Loyd was part of a family that also went by the name Lord. Genealogy records found on ancestry.com show that the family is documented as Lord in census and other records. However, the gravestones of Myrtice’ parents bear the name Loyd.

Charlie and Myrtice Blackburn both shared that their Christmas morning presents consisted of an apple or orange and a small toy. Some years there might be a peppermint stick. Only the children

received presents. The couple also recalled that there was a Christmas tree at the church in those days, but no one had a tree in their home. The one at the church was cut on Christmas Eve and decorated before church that night.

A big dinner was served on Christmas Day, with ham, chicken, homemade cakes and pies. Everything was cooked on a wood-burning stove. Charlie explained how dinner was served at noon, elaborating, “Some high-falootin people call supper dinner, but that’s not right.”

Charlie died in 1984 and Myrtice in 1987. They are both buried in the historic

New Hope Cemetery along Chamblee Dunwoody Road just north of Dunwoody Village Parkway.

The next Past Tense will feature more history of the Air-Line Belle and Nancy Hanks engines and their importance for traveling during the holidays, both for visiting family and for shopping in Atlanta. If you have memories of these trains, please share them by email.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

PROVIDED

This 1925 photo includes five generations of Charlie Blackburn’s family. Beginning on the bottom right corner is great grandmother Salina Copeland, bottom left is grandmother Mary Jane Copeland Spruill holding Edward Blackburn (Charlie and Myrtice Blackburn’s son), top left is mother Eliza Spruill Blackburn, and top right is Charlie Blackburn.

Post offices played vital role in Georgia’s development

Two of our nation’s founding fathers share responsibility for establishing the postal service that we pretty much take for granted today. In 1737, Benjamin Franklin was selected by the British government to be Postmaster of Philadelphia, a post he held for several years. During his tenure, carefully marked routes were established from Maine to Florida, overnight mail delivery between New York and Philadelphia was launched, and a postal rate chart based on distance and weight of letters and parcels was created. This was essential infrastructure that enabled future enhancements to take place.

BOB MEYERS Columnist bobmey@bellsouth.net

In 1775, a year before Congress declared independence from Great Britain, Franklin was appointed our nation’s first postmaster by the Second Continental Congress, a position he held for only about a year, long enough to establish a new system of postal routes from today’s Portland, Maine, to Savannah, Georgia, which became the first post office in our state. Soon after the colonies declared independence in July 1776, Franklin was named an ambassador to France. The postal system by then was well established and continued to flourish.

George Washington signed the Postal Service Act in 1792 creating The Post Office Department. This pivotal legislation gave the postal service responsibility for creating additional postal routes, essential for settlement of a new and expanding nation. It recognized a right to privacy by stipulating severe penalties for opening other people’s mail and allowed inexpensive distribution of newspapers by mail, which encouraged literacy and participation in community affairs.

Franklin, along with George Washington, were honored by being on the first U.S. postage stamps in 1847.

Certainly, the U.S. Postal Service has its challenges today. It lost $4.9 billion in 2021. The volume of mail has been declining for years while advertisements now constitute the majority of USPS mail. Competition from other carriers, the cost of pension benefits for more than 1 million workers and retirees, increased cost of fuel and equipment pose real challenges for the institution. However, the USPS is written into our Constitution and still provides essential services. Don’t expect it to go away any

time soon.

The history and importance of post offices in Old Milton County and surrounding areas in north Georgia has been studied in great detail by Ed Malowney, president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton Historical Society and founder of the Johns Creek Historical Society. Over the past five years, he has researched some 40 post offices in Old Milton County and another 30 or so in surrounding counties, plus some 200 individuals connected to the post offices. His initial efforts focused on four villages, or crossroads communities, Newtown, Warsaw, Shakerag and Ocee and quickly expanded into surrounding areas.

When studying post offices, Malowney has noted the importance of family ties. Post offices often existed in tight-knit communities where the postmaster was the head of a leading family. His descendants or close relatives often followed in his footsteps and became postmasters in the same or nearby communities. This interconnectivity existed in many post office jurisdictions.

Another interesting finding of his research is that several postmasters were medical doctors.

“I’m not sure why,” Malowney says. “It is the last thing I would expect.”

When he looked into the matter, he found that some of the postmasters had recently graduated from medical school. Because many post offices were housed in or near stores, he believes this may have been a promotional tool by a store owner if the doctor held regular clinics in the store.

Malowney notes that the first postmaster of Alpharetta was Dr.

The Skelton-Teasley House, built in 1856, was the home of physician Dr. Oliver P Skelton, appointed in 1858 to be Alpharetta’s first postmaster. It is located on one of the highest points in Alpharetta. It is now home to the Ginger Room, a coffee and tea cafe.

Oliver P. Skelton, who was appointed in 1858, the day the Farmhouse Post Office was closed. Farmhouse was a small community located northeast of Route 400 and Old Milton Parkway. The Farmhouse postmaster was Isham Teasley, Skelton’s son-in-law. Skelton served two other Alpharetta appointments and Teasley also was later appointed to serve as the Alpharetta postmaster. In 1899, Isham’s wife, Nannie Teasley, became the first female postmaster in Alpharetta.

A third finding of the research pertains to the devastating economic impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction period, which delayed the establishment of Milton County post offices. Only one Milton post office was added in 1873, three in the early 1880s and six in the late 1880s. Nine post

offices were added in the 1890s. Most were discontinued by 1907 with the implementation of Rural Free Delivery. At that time old Milton County had one post office at Alpharetta. The Roswell Post Office, then part of Cobb County, covered the south portion of the county; Duluth, in Gwinnett County, provided mail service to the eastern part of the county.

Ed’s goal for his research is to preserve the basic information electronically and in hard copy for current and future generations and to selectively write summaries for each post office and related individuals.

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.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/PROVIDED

When Rural Free Delivery mail service began in 1896, the need for local post offices declined. By 1907 most post offices in our area had closed. Early RFD relied on horse and wagon for distribution. Photo 1914.

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON

This holiday season, consider giving your newspaper delivery person a tip for their weekly delivery of the free community newspaper to your driveway. These folks work hard to make sure you are informed of all the local happenings, rain or shine, week in and week out. Importantly, at Appen Media, we have always been intentional about our desire to keep delivery of our newspapers free. That said, it would mean the world to us if you would consider tipping your newspaper delivery person so that they will have a little extra money for the holiday season.

If you can help us help these amazing people, we promise to keep delivering high quality news to your driveway, for free, every week. Free home delivery of 105,000 homes is hard work –and we couldn’t do it without our amazing delivery folks.

How you can give your delivery person a tip:

We have created an online portal at www.appenmedia.com/deliverytip.

100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it.

If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to “Appen Media Group C/O Newspaper Delivery Tip” to 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

The poetry of moving water

I went walking the other day along Amicalola Creek in Dawson County, and it was nice. You should do it too. It was the first time I’ve been walking like that in a while, and it made me realize I’ve missed it. Rediscovery can be good for the soul. It can.

Lately I’ve been do-

ing something else again that I haven’t done in a long, long time. I’ve been sitting down with a pad of paper and a ballpoint pen and (are you ready for this?) rediscovering just how much fun it can be to writing poetry.

Yes, poetry.

But what, precisely, is poetry? I asked the Interweb for definition. Most all the sources agreed that poems are a highly developed and often sophisticated literary form that uses focused language and elements of rhythm to creatively express emotion or feeling.

Highly developed sophistication…focused…creative. Yep, that’s me.

All that notwithstanding, this poem writing thing turns out to be a remarkably effective way to crystallize thoughts and bring clarity to one’s mind.

go out the window. What’s left is essence, essential meaning, the real and true heart of what you’re trying to say.

“But that’s still too easy,” she says. “Want a real challenge? Try doing it in six words.”

Six words? Only six?

“Yes,” she says. “And those six words must tell a story.”

The six-word story, she tells me, is a real thing. I am intrigued.

“Tell me more,” I say. “Give me an example.”

“OK,” she says.

She pauses then, and turns her eyes away, considering, composing. Then at last she looks at me again and says, her voice a little softer, “I find myself finding myself again.”

210 Ingram Ave. Cumming, 30040 770.887.2388

ingramfuneralhome.com

It’s not like regular writing. Not at all. If I write some sort of “long form prose” (that’s writer talk for rambling on and on, kind of like I’m doing now) then I’ve got lots of words to play with and can pretty much go wherever I want to, at least until the laptop’s battery dies or Carl over at the paper sends me a note and says that, no, there really isn’t space to run a 26,000-word column on the subtle beauty of such-andsuch a waterfall.

“Like that,” she says after a moment. “Six words.”

And now I’m walking beside Amicalola Creek. It’s early November. Delayed Harvest trout season has begun. The Ami, as they call it, is a good Delayed Harvest stream, a nice place to fish, and I’ve ended up at the access point near the Georgia 53 bridge – ostensibly to check out the water for a future edition of this column.

Our family serving your family since 1928.

On site crematory • Serving all faiths

Offering:

Burials • Cremation • Prearrangements Out-of-state transportation

With a poem, on the other hand, you’ve got fewer words to work with, and so every one really counts. You’ve got to choose them carefully. You’ve got to choose lots of things carefully in life, of course, and I suppose it’s possible that word choice when writing poems is good practice for the bigger choices that sometimes come along.

And if you really get carried away with the whole poetry thing, you can even selfimpose various limits that focus you even more. You could, for example, tell yourself that you’re gonna write a “haiku,” a kind of poem written in three phrases with a total of 17 syllables. Just 17.

We poet types know about these things. Aren’t you impressed?

Let me tell you, that’s not a lot of syllables. With only 17 to play with, things like rhyme and meter and all that just sort of

I make my way to the creekside trail. If I turn right, I’ll follow the flow upstream, walking along water that I’ve fished so many times before.

But I turn left instead. I follow the boardwalk downstream, away from what is so familiar, away from those waters I fished for so many years. I pass under the Highway 53 bridge, moving now beyond the road that brought me here.

I keep going. The creek grows more excited, more animated, gathering intensity –I stop and listen. I listen to the poetry of moving water, the free verse of rapids, the haiku of riffles, and the six-word stories of each little splashing cascade.

Again, I hear in my mind’s ear her voice.

“I find myself finding myself again.”

I sit down on a rock. The music of the creek embraces me, and I listen.

DEATH NOTICES

Stanley Beck, 74, of Milton, passed away on December 3, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Patricia Black, 81, of Johns Creek, passed away December 3, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Bernice Elrod, 79, of Milton, passed away December 2, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Herbert Mueller, 65, of Alpharetta, passed away November 30, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Nemesh, 92, of Roswell, passed away on December 5, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Domonique Williams, 41, of Roswell, passed away December 2, 2022. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

STEVE HUDSON

Full-time

Software Developer: Analyze, design, dev, test, imp, monitor & upgrade computer SW sys, spec. SW apps. Req 1: MS Deg Or Foreign Equiv. in Com. Sci/Com. Apps/Engr. /IT/MBA + 6 Mon. Exp.  Salary:  80101/Yr.   Req 2: BS Deg Or Foreign Equiv. in Com. Sci/Com. Apps/Engr. /IT/MBA + 24 Mon. Exp.  Salary: 99008/ Yr.  Details @ www.excelitllc.com. Resume-excelIT, 3556 Old Milton Pky, Alpharetta, GA 30005.

POOL TECHNICIANS

WANTED

Part-time & Full-time positions available. Pay is $12-$14 per hour. Hours starting at 6:30AM, Monday-Friday. Pick-up truck not required but must have your own reliable transportation. Gas allowance provided. Looking for people who enjoy working outside and are enthusiastic, dependable & punctual. Able to contribute independently or on a crew with consistently friendly attitude.

Well-established commercial pool maintenance company providing service in the North Atlanta Metro area.

Call Bill: 404-245-9396

Full Stack Application Developer –Alpharetta, GA.

Design & dev. custom web apps. using advanced tech. Build reliable & reusable code w/ performance, scalability & security. Analyze sftw. Defects and dev. corrective sol. Reqs: U.S. Master’s deg. in Info. Sys., Comp. Sci., or closely rel. field & 3 yrs. exp. in the job offered, Full Stack Programmer, or closely rel. pos. Concurrent exp. must incl. 3 yrs. exp. w/: Design & dev. custom web apps. using advanced tech. incl. C# ASP.NET w/ MVC Framework & SQL Server; Build reliable & reusable code while considering performance, scalability & sec.; & Work w/ bus. units to identify bus. needs & initiate & deliver bus. sol. Mail resume: Tracy Ryan, Balbec Capital, LP, 10000 Avalon Blvd., Ste. 550, Alpharetta, GA 30009

Part-time

Driveway

Tree Services

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.

Roofing

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

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

COMPLETE TREE

Appen-Rated

20% OFF ALL Tree Services

Free consutation. 20 years experience. Fully insured. References. Call Tree Expert for an appointment @ 470-588-5339.

Cemetery

PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs.

do

floors, showers,

surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Regrouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

ROSWELL GREENLAWN 1 lot, Crucifiction Section. $3995. 678-232-6816

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Put on your TV Ears & hear TV w/unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original - originally $129.95 - now w/this special offer only $59.95 w/code MCB59! 1-888-805-0840

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866-479-1516

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote.

1-877-539-0299

Safe

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888-489-3936

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-7583892

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277

Caring for an aging loved one? Wondering about options like senior-living communities and in-home care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors help take the guesswork out of senior care for your family. Free, no-obligation consult: 1-855-759-1407

FREE $20 Cash App Everyone! Yes It’s Real. Very Limited supply until we run out! Go to Free20Now.com

Protect

Switch and save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. Limited time get $50 off any new account. Use code GIFT50. 1-855-903-3048

Attention Homeowners! If you have water damage and need cleanup services, call us! We’ll get in & work with your insurance agency to get your home repaired and your life back to normal ASAP! 855-767-7031

Brian Iroff GIA Graduate Gemologist