Nine candidates vying for four city offices ► PAGE 4
BEARS 56, GLADIATORS 0
Cambridge blanks Johns Creek, 56-0
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga — The Cambridge Bears traveled to Johns Creek High School Aug. 22, steamrolling the Gladiators in their home opener, 56-0.
It was the Bears’ second shutout in two games, have topped Pope Aug. 15, 45-0 in their season opener.
Junior running back Brooks Malone kicked off the Bears’ dominant performance with two touchdowns in the first quarter and poured in one more in the third.
He credited his offensive line for his success and said the offseason consisted of significant time in the weight room. Malone has racked up five touchdowns in two games.
“We’re looking forward to a lot more great games like that this season,” Malone said. “I think this team has the potential to do a lot this year. I think we can really play 15 games.”
See FOOTBALL, Page 20
Fulton County approves $1.2 billion jail facility investment
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 20 to approve a $1.23 billion package to renovate the Rice Street jail and construct a new 1,800-bed facility.
The Fulton County Jail system is under its second federal consent decree since 2000, requiring the county to improve the facility’s reportedly inhumane and unconstitutional conditions.
Commissioners Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne voted in favor along with Chairman Robb Pitts,
who announced the proposal during an Aug. 18 press conference at Assembly Hall.
County Commissioner Mo Ivory voted against the measure, saying she thinks the county will need to increase its millage rate to fund the $1.2 billion proposal. Commissioner Dana Barrett
abstained from the vote. Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. was absent.
During public comment, some county residents said they oppose an increase in the footprint of the county’s jail system, placing blame on either
See FULTON, Page 21
ANNABELLE REITER APPEN MEDIA
Cambridge quarterback Connor Langford prepares for the snap with running back Brooks Malone at the ready Aug. 22 at Johns Creek High School. Malone rushed for 92 yards and three touchdowns.
NEWS TIPS
770-442-3278
AppenMedia.com
319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009
HANS APPEN Publisher 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 Johns Creek 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
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.
Woman reports fraudulent gas bill
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek woman called police Aug. 12 after discovering a fraudulent bill.
The woman told police that on Aug. 1 she had received a letter from Gas South indicating that she owed $228 for an unpaid gas bill. The bill had an address on it that she did not reside in, nor had she ever used the company for gas services.
The woman contacted Gas South to report the issue and was given a fraud packet to fill out, which included filing a police report.
Police officers gave the woman a card and a case number.
— Sarah Coyne
Man reports dog attack
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man contacted police Aug. 16 after getting bit by a stray dog .
The man stated he was approached by two stray pit bulls. He said that he fell to the ground and was bitten on his left ring finger.
Police confirmed the injuries and discovered visible scrapes to the man’s elbows and a small cut on the left ring finger. The man declined medical attention.
Both dogs had harnesses on but no tags or identifying information. Police officers contacted Fulton County Animal Control to take possession of the dogs.
Police took photos of the man’s injuries for evidence and gave the man a card and case number.
— Sarah Coyne
Truck reported stolen from apartment lot
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A vehicle was reported stolen from an apartment complex Aug. 9.
Alpharetta police said officers were sent to the apartment about 7:40 a.m. and spoke to a 33-year-old Alpharetta man.
The man contacted the department after discovering his white Chevrolet Silverado was missing, police said. The vehicle was parked at the apartment on the evening of Aug. 8.
The man said there was no chance the truck was repossessed, adding he is the only person who has the keys.
Before the call, numerous vehicle burglaries were reported in the area.
— Jon Wilcox
Officers arrest Loganville man with stolen gun
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested two 31-year-old men Aug. 11, one from Chicago and the other from Loganville, after a traffic stop allegedly turned up marijuana and a stolen handgun in their vehicle.
An officer said he found a gray Audi Q5 Premium with a suspended registration status and no insurance using an automatic license plate reader mounted on his patrol car.
The officer said he conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle at 8520 South Holcomb Bridge Way while traveling westbound along Ga. 140.
The front seat passenger, a 31-year-old Chicago man, had an outstanding felony warrant for failure to appear out of the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office for intent to distribute marijuana.
In a separate incident report, an officer said the Chicago man’s warrant was confirmed and he was later transported to Gwinnett County Jail.
Because responding officers discovered the passenger’s warrant and reportedly smelled the odor of marijuana, he said he conducted a search of the vehicle.
When the driver, a 31-year-old Loganville man, was instructed to step
out of the vehicle and asked about any weapons, officers said he notified them of his firearm in the car door.
Officers said they determined the semi-automatic Glock .40-caliber pistol was stolen from a Stone Mountain woman in September 2020 via a report from the DeKalb County Police Department.
The search of the vehicle also yielded 10 grams of marijuana belonging to the driver, officers said.
The driver said he purchased the handgun, valued at $500, “cheap” and “from the street” inside the city of Atlanta for around $250.
Officers also said they found more than $3,000 in cash within the vehicle, which the driver said was from his musical and clothing business.
The Loganville man was charged with felony theft by receiving, possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana, no insurance and a broken headlight before being transported to Fulton County Jail Aug. 12.
According to jail records, the man paid a $7,500 surety bond Aug. 14 and was released.
— Hayden Sumlin
Man cited for obstruction during police drug arrest
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 28-year-old Alpharetta man was arrested on drug and obstruction charges after an alleged scuffle with officers Aug. 8.
Alpharetta police said officers attempted to apprehend the man, who had two outstanding warrants for aggravated assault, at a Haynes Bridge Road gas station.
The man flexed his arms and pulled away from police as they arrested him, police said. A glass pipe allegedly fell out of his pants pocket as officers wrestled him to the ground. The pipe had a dark brown residue, police said.
The man allegedly kicked officers before he was moved to a patrol vehicle.
The man was charged with misdemeanor possession of drug related objects and two felony counts of obstruction of officers.
— Jon Wilcox
Milton police lieutenant fired after deadly hit-and-run arrest
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — The Milton Police Department has fired a lieutenant after he was arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that took place in Marietta.
Marietta Police officials say Christopher Bradshaw, a 14-year-veteran of the Milton department, hit and killed 36-year-old Terrell Lowdermilk around 2:30 a.m. Aug. 13 while travelling down I-75. Bradshaw was off duty at the time.
Officials say two tractor-trailers sideswiped each other on the interstate
and pulled over to exchange information. Lowdermilk, one of the drivers, was standing in the entrance ramp when he was struck by a black Chevy Silverado. The Chevy then left the scene.
Marietta Police put out a notice that they were seeking information about the deadly incident. Later that day, officers said they identified 48-year-old Bradshaw as the Chevy’s driver through evidence collected at the scene, camera networks and public tips.
Bradshaw later turned himself in.
He is in custody facing felony counts of hit-and-run resulting in seri-
ous injury or death and homicide by vehicle – leaving the scene.
When the Milton Police Department found out about the investigation they placed Bradshaw on administrative leave. They have since terminated his employment.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time,” department officials said.
Declining to provide further information due to the pending investigation of the Marietta Police Department, they added, “we remain committed to transparency, accountability and maintaining the trust of our community.”
MUGSHOTS: Appen Media does have the arrestee's mugshot. As a matter of policy the newsroom does not run mugshots unless their use is helpful for the public to identify the suspect, such as if they were missing.
APPEN
Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm, re-imagining how bath & kitchen remodels are done. Complete Remodeling Design and Installation Services. We even remove walls!
Guiding you through the whole design process. Ask about our 3D Renderings. Making bath & kitchen remodeling fun, easy and affordable.
Open to Public 9-5 Mon-Fri • 10-4 Sat Showroom – Design Center 10591 Old Alabama Road Connector Alpharetta, GA 30022 (near Northpoint Mall)
Nine candidates vying for four city offices
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek voters will elect candidates to four city offices in November.
Nine candidates are seeking the offices of mayor and City Council posts 1, 3 and 5.
All council seats are at-large positions, and voters will cast votes for all three posts.
Mayor John Bradberry is challenged by Kelly Stewart.
Stewart is a former council member and board member for the Georgia Municipal Association. She also has worked as a corporate human resources executive, serving in national and global organizations.
Bradberry served on the City Council before he was elected as mayor in 2021. A former U.S. Marine, he has a landscape design business as well as other business interests, mainly in real estate.
In Post 1, Councilman Dilip Tunki is challenged by Anita Gupta.
Gupta is a 30-year resident of Johns Creek. She started her own technology company in the early 2000s and works in the real estate industry as a licensed Realtor.
Tunki, a resident of 25 years, boasts three decades of business experience and a foundation in engineering and management. He has served as mayor pro tem since 2024.
In Post 3, Councilman Bob Erramilli is challenged by Shafiq Jadavji.
On top of his time on Council, Erramilli has served on numerous boards and organizations for more
than 15 years with HOA leadership, Sai Temple community programs, local charity initiatives, and various civic improvement projects. He was a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force auxiliary and served as a combat jet pilot for the Indian Air Force for 14 years.
Appen Media plans to write additional information about Jadavji’s background and his platform as it becomes available.
In Post 5, Councilman Larry DiBiase is challenged by Tyler Chenault and Cal Couch.
Chenault is a business owner and Johns Creek resident of seven years. He is a board member at Congregation Dor Tamid and a member of the Johns Creek Board of Zoning Appeals.
Elected in 2021, DiBiase has lived in Johns Creek for 31 years. He holds degrees in accounting and international business/geography. He is a small business owner with a background in real estate and information technology.
Appen Media plans to write additional information about Couch’s background and his platform as it becomes available.
Residents can register to vote up until Oct. 6. Advanced voting will occur Oct. 14 to 31.
Check your voter registration status and find more information at vote. gov.
Appen Media will be working to educate voters about their candidates. Send questions and what is on your mind as you head to the ballot box to newsroom@appenmedia.com.
Owner John Hogan & Designer Bobbie Kohm
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Nine candidates qualified to run for office in Johns Creek for the Nov. 4 elections. City Council posts 1, 3 and 5 are on the ballot, along with the mayor's seat.
City Calendar & Events! 2025 SEPTEMBER
September 1
Labor Day
City Offices Closed
September 3
Performing Arts Center
Community Meeting
Park Place at Newtown Park6 p.m.
September 6
Summer Concert Series
“Purple Xperience”
Newtown Park - 7 p.m.
September 8
City Council Work Session
City Hall - 5 p.m.
City Council Meeting
City Hall - 7 p.m.
FY2026 Budget Public Hearing
City Hall - 7 p.m.
September 11
Patriot Day Commemoration
Newtown Park - 8:30 a.m.
Arts, Cultural, and
Entertainment Committee
City Hall - 6:30 p.m.
September 13
Pup-a-Palooza
Newtown Park - 12 p.m.
September 16
Board of Zoning Appeals
City Hall - 7 p.m.
September 17
Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee
City Hall - 6:30 p.m.
September 18
Performing Arts Center
Community Meeting
City Hall - 6 p.m.
September 20
Adaptive Recreation Dance Night
Newtown Park - 7 p.m.
September 22
City Council Work Session
City Hall - 5 p.m.
City Council Meeting
City Hall - 7 p.m.
Authors signing session to benefit Jesse’s House
By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com
CUMMING, Ga — On Sept. 11, New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin will help kick off Harvesting Hope, a three-day affair benefiting Jesse’s House, a Cumming nonprofit providing a safe haven for at-risk girls. Giffin, whose dozen novels have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, will headline a free sip and sign event during the fundraiser’s
Monday, Sept. 8 and Monday, Sept. 29, Ann Hite with her new release, “I Am a Georgia Girl: The Life of Lucille Selig Frank, 1888-1957.”
On Sept. 8, Carolyn Curry will moderate and Bookmiser will partner with the Cobb Library Foundation for the book’s release. Free. 6 p.m. Switzer Library, 266 Roswell St. NE, Marietta. On Sept. 29, Friends of the Sandy Springs Library and Bookmiser will host Hite at 6 p.m. Free. Sandy Springs Library, 395 Mount Vernon Highway Northeast. 770-509-5611. bookmiser.net/ events.html
Thursday, Sept. 11, Books and Bourbon Fundraiser for Jesse’s House featuring Emily Giffin and other area authors. 5 p.m. Free. Optional bourbon tasting with snacks, $55. Hosted by Poe and Company Bookstore at Stoney J. Winery, 1506 Stoney Point Road, Cumming. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com
Thursday, Sept. 11, Create Cheesy Comics with Shanda McCloskey. The local author-illustrator will help children create their own four-panel “cheesy” comic. All supplies provided. 5:30 p.m. $35. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-2329331. read-it-again.com Tuesday, Sept. 16, Michael Ludden, Anne Echols and Todd Sullivan. A Novel Idea presents the trio discussing their novels, “The Street King,” “Roland’s Labyrinth,” and “Blood Stew,” respectively. 7 p.m. Free. Roswell Junction, 340 S. Atlanta St., Roswell. anovelidea.us. Thursday, Sept. 18, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater with author Laura Elizabeth. 6 p.m. $60. Poe &
Books and Bourbon evening. She will be joined by a host of other Atlanta-area writers, including Kimberly Brock, Emily Carpenter, Jessica Handler and Michael L. Thurmond.
Details about Harvesting Hope and other September author events are at right.
Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-7975566. Poeandcompanybookstore. com
Saturday, Sept. 20, Novel 101 with Sally Kilpatrick. The USA Today bestselling author will share secrets to writing a novel, answer questions about the writing process, and explore her latest release, “Nobody’s Perfect,” purchase of which is required. 3 p.m. $16.99. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com
Friday, Saturday and Monday, Sept. 26, 27 and 29, Friends of the Roswell Library Book Sale. See website for hours and details. Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell. 404-612-9700. forl.net
Sunday, Sept. 28, McCracken Poston Jr. examining “Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom.” Poston, a former Georgia state legislator and criminal defense attorney, will probe his nonfiction work about a murder trial in a small Georgia town. 2 p.m. Free. Cumming Library, 585 Dahlonega St, Cumming. 770-781-9840. forsythpl.org/ event/14162881
Tuesday, Sept. 30, Madeline Martin joins a book club discussion of her new title, “The Secret Book Society.” 1 p.m. Free. Johns Creek Books, 6000 Medlock Bridge Road. 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks. com.
To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@ gmail.com by the 15th.
GIFFIN
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
A Lifetime of Debt for an Arts Center the Art Community Doesn’t Even Want
Boondoggle: work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value
On July 21st Mayor Bradberry crafted a carefully parsed letter about a taxpayer funded Performing Arts Center and decrying the “incorrect information” going around. Let’s hold John Bradberry to that same standard.
In that article, the Mayor claimed he could “only support a tax increase for an emergency or a demonstrated public safety need”. Mind you, this is the same mayor who fully supported the creation of the storm water utility that added $70-$100 per year per household because unlike Alpharetta and other neighboring cities, our property taxes could not support basic functions like water and sewer maintenance. Of course, Mayor Bradberry labels this a “fee” so it’s not a tax in his mind.
According to the city’s own calculations, if the 40 million dollar, 20-year bond passes this November, there WILL BE a property tax increase of 14-17% for every property owner in the city. With interest over 20 years at 4-6%, the actual cost of funding just 2/3 of this project will be closer to 75 million dollars. Of course, when has our city not come in “on time and on budget” with a major capital plan? Remember the “$6 million” boardwalk that ballooned to $41 million, and only gained restrooms after public outcry?
Every taxpayer funded study made it clear that almost no performing arts center can exist without significant taxpayer funding. As late as 2020, we were told the arts community needed to raise 50 million dollars and build a center. When that funding crashed, it became a PublicPrivate partnership and now, in addition to the bond, we are being asked to divert 20 million dollars that the Mayor insists doesn’t deplete any reserves or delay any “current” projects. Does anyone really believe that John Bradberry just “found” 20M in the city sofa!? At the May 19th work session, the mayor admitted funds will be diverted when he said, “…yes, this is a big project and yes there is some temporary crowding out…” How temporary Mr. Mayor?
At the April 28th Work Session, the city presented a document labeled “Cash-on-Hand” to show they could “find” 20 million for the Mayor. First, it totaled 19 million but what’s a million dollars to your government? So, of the 19 million, 7.2 million (38% of this magic money) comes from ANTICIPATED surpluses in 2026 and 2027 and 5.2 million gets diverted, “crowded out” I think is the Mayor’s term, from “Rainy Day” Funds (1.2M) and Capital Reserves (4 M). Our financially challenged Mayor seems to think “Cash-on-Hand” is a sufficiently fluid accounting term that allows him to include “anticipated monies”. It is not. This is Enron accounting.
Another aspect of his fudging is in describing “current” projects. Again, the city’s own pesky numbers demonstrate that in fiscal years 20262030, the city has $173,400,000.00 in UNFUNDED capital projects. But since those are future and not “current” projects our Mayor gets to act as if he is being fiscally responsible.
The real irony is that the 800-seat, 57 parking spot facility that is on the ballot has been described in every study as too small to accommodate our high schools or largest arts companies who all said that 1000-1500 seats is what they need. The 2024 Webb Study, commissioned by the city and arts community, confirmed what everyone knows—the current PAC on this November’s ballot is too small, lacks key amenities critical to the arts community, and cannot accommodate the very community that would provide the crucial usage needed to partially fund operations.
Wait, there’s more: If Mayor Bradberry can “crowd out” other projects to “find” 20 million, tax us for 20 years via a bond and can build a PAC on time and on budget, he then needs us to operate it—forever. The Mayor’s own Legacy Center Pro-Forma Operating Budget from June 2022 estimated $2,990,511 in total operating expenses for a smaller 700-seat facility! That same Pro-Forma showed we would need $960,125 in government subsidies and private contributions to cover the yearly operating expenses. That is 32% of the annual operating budget and does not contemplate future capital needs or repairs.
At that same April 28th work session where the Mayor and staff played fast and loose with the accounting term, “Cash-on-Hand”, Mayor Bradberry doubled down on his insanity when he admitted, “…we know that this (the PAC) is probably never going to make money. If it does one day I consider that complete gravy.”
Our Mayor knows this is the wrong project and a loser financially, but he has washed his hands of any true leadership or responsibility and smirks when he says, “You decide”. Yes, let’s.
Just opened?
Appen
Appen Media launches online merch store supporting journalism
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group announced Aug. 19 the launch of its official online merchandise store, available at appenmediastore.com. The new store gives readers, supporters, and community members a way to show their pride in local journalism while directly funding the work of Appen’s newsroom.
All proceeds from the store will go toward supporting Appen Media’s mission of delivering trusted, independent reporting across North Fulton, south Forsyth and DeKalb counties.
“Local journalism is at the heart of our communities, and this store provides a new way for readers to take part in sustaining that mission,” said Hans Appen, Publisher of Appen Media Group. “Every shirt, mug, or tote bag purchased helps ensure we can continue telling the stories that matter most to our neighbors.”
The store offers a variety of branded items designed to celebrate both community pride and support for independent journalism. Purchases not only help expand Appen Media’s reporting resources but also serve as a visible reminder of the importance of local news.
To shop the collection and support local journalism, visit appenmediastore.com.
— Hans Appen
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
BUSINESSPOSTS
Alpharetta Business Council celebrates creation with ceremony
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Alpharetta business community welcomed a newly formed organization at an Aug. 13 ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Alpharetta Business Council is one effort to fill the space of the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce, which was dissolved July 1. Chamber of commerce members were
given full council membership and access to expanded resources, regional influence and reduced costs through their membership in the Greater North Fulton Chamber.
Kali Boatright, president and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber, said the new organization will serve as a dedicated platform for Alpharetta-specific
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET ADOPTION
The proposed FY2026 Budget was presented to the Council during their Monday, July 14, 2025 5:00 p.m. Work Session. A Public Hearing was held during the July 28, 2025 7:00 p.m. City Council Meeting. Council will hold a second Public Hearing and consider adopting the FY2026 Budget at their regularly scheduled meeting on September 8, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Council Meetings are held in the Council Chambers at Johns Creek City Hall, located at 11360 Lakefield Drive, in Johns Creek, GA 30097. The proposed budget is available on the City website and a copy is available at City Hall for review.
Allison Tarpley City Clerk
programs, networking events and initiatives.
“This is more than a ribbon cutting,” she said. “It’s a celebration of unity, growth, and opportunity.”
The event brought together local business leaders, elected officials and community members.
Nominations for the 2026 council board will open in October.
The Alpharetta Business Council joins the Milton Business Council under the Greater North Fulton Chamber umbrella. They are modeled on the same collaborative structure, which preserves local
spirit while amplifying regional strength.
Alpharetta Mayor Jim Gilvin said the city is excited by the council’s formation and looks forward to their work in growing the local economy.
“This partnership ensures that Alpharetta businesses continue to thrive with the dedicated support and leadership they deserve,” Gilvin said.
For more information about the Alpharetta Business Council and upcoming initiatives, visit gnfcc.com/alpharettabusiness-council.
— Jon Wilcox
Chapel of Reflections
Our chapel mausoleum offers timeless options of both cremation and traditional burial. Contact us for further information on the Chapel of Reflections and our many other offerings.
ALPHARETTA BUSINESS COUNCIL/PROVIDED
Dozens of North Metro Atlanta municipal officials, business leaders and community members attended an Aug. 13 ribbon cutting ceremony for the Alpharetta Business Council.
Labor Day Fabric SaLe
To celebrate the holiday, Boca Bargoons is having their biggest sale of the year! They are a premier supplier of designer fabrics from around the world and an unparalleled manufacturer of fine quality custom reupholstery, draperies, bedding, cushions and more.
Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist
Insist on the
BEST
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
How being a bad golfer can be hazardous to your health
Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology
I recently had a conversation with a patient about tick-borne illnesses, and our discussion reminded me of an interesting study that I Iearned about in medical school – a tale that ended with the warning “don’t go into the rough.” If you haven’t heard of it, ehrlichiosis is one of numerous diseases that ticks carry and that humans can catch when ticks bite them, but this disease was not always so well known.
The year is 1993, and four men who lived in a golf-oriented retirement community in Tennessee were hospitalized with fever, headache, vomiting and abdominal pain. Blood tests revealed abnormally low white blood cell counts, low platelets, as well as inflammation of the liver. Two of these men ended up in the intensive care unit. An astute physician ordered a test for ehrlichiosis, and all four men tested positive for this illness.
diseases that they carried.
As the results came in, a picture began to emerge. Most of the patients were golfers. There was a trend towards higher rates of infection in people who golfed more often. But, compellingly, it was only the bad golfers – those who averaged high scores – who seemed to be getting infected.
What could be causing the bad golfers to be infected while the good golfers remained healthy? Were their immune systems, like their golf swings, simply superior to those of the bad golfers? Is charisma a factor?
Accepting new patients.
This outbreak prompted the physician to assign several residents and medical students (aka “underlings”) to tramp through the woods and go door to door in this golf community gathering information about other people who might be infected. People were asked for blood samples and patients admitted to the local hospital with fever of unknown origin also had their blood tested. An “environmental survey” was conducted of local animals to identify ticks and the
No, it turned out that the single factor that was most strongly associated with ehrlichiosis infection was retrieving a golf ball that was hit off the golf course instead of using a new ball. And bad golfers hit the golf ball in the rough or in the woods more often than the good golfers. In fact, golfers who retrieved their balls from the woods were 270% more likely to be infected than those who simply used a new ball. The case was cracked, and the lesson was clear – don’t go into the rough. Or, if you do, use a lot of insect repellant.
This tick season, remember to protect yourself. If you know a golfer, warn him or her about ehrlichiosis. And if you or a loved one has a spot worrisome for skin cancer or any other dermatologic complaint, please consider Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek, PA-C of Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta for your skin care needs.
Dr. Brent Taylor
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
PROVIDED
What does ‘home’ mean?
When the nest feels quieter and life slows to a more intentional pace, many discover it’s the perfect time to rethink what “home” means. In Ellijay, Georgia, that next chapter begins with the beauty of the mountains and a welcoming community that makes every day feel like a retreat.
At The Summit at Ellijay, thoughtfully designed craftsman-style homes pair modern features with timeless charm. Spacious kitchens, open gathering areas, and private owner’s suites create the ideal setting for hosting family visits while still offering the peace and quiet you now cherish. With flexible floor -
plans, including additional bedrooms or basement options, these homes adapt easily to your lifestyle today and tomorrow.
Beyond your front door, Ellijay invites you to explore apple orchards, local wineries, and miles of scenic trails. Spend your afternoons strolling through historic downtown, where boutique shops and cafés add a touch of smalltown warmth. Community amenities, like a pool, clubhouse, and firepit, make it easy to connect with neighbors who value both comfort and connection.
Whether you’re seeking a second home, a weekend escape, or a full-time residence, The Summit at Ellijay offers a chance to live with less responsibility and more possibility.
Remembering Bud Crews and Mildred Blackburn Crews
Freeman Crews, who went by the name Bud, was born Feb. 1, 1918, to John and Hannah Murrow Crews. The family is listed in Cobb County on the 1920 census. He was remembered as the person who helped amateur baseball become a reality in Dunwoody in the 1940s and 1950s.
When a large group of long-time citizens of Dunwoody gathered in 1994, David Chesnut remembered that Bud Crews was a painter. He painted houses and was an employee of the DeKalb County School System. He also ran Dunwoody’s amateur baseball team.
“Dunwoody was a big baseball town,” said Chesnut. (DeKalb History Center archives “I Remember Dunwoody,” 1994)
Ken Anderson, who lived his entire life (1937-2023) in Dunwoody, shared his memories of Bud Crews and the amateur baseball team with me a few years ago. Anderson recalled, as an 11-year-old, watching Crews grade the land and “put in a baseball field.” The field sat along what is now Dunwoody Village Parkway. Crews built wooden bleachers for local fans.
In 1950, some teams in the Atlanta Amateur Federation had installed lighting, making night games possible. Dunwoody had not added lights, but Chamblee, Sandy Springs and Roswell all did. Bud Crews is listed as the Dunwoody manager, M.E. Rucker for Sandy Springs and D. H. Brantley for
Roswell’s team. (Atlanta Constitution, April 2, 1950, “Amateur nines follow trend to night ball”)
Bud Crews married Mildred Inez Blackburn, whose family had a long history in Dunwoody, and prior to that in Brookhaven at Silver Lake. Mildred’s parents were William Blackburn and Mary Copeland Blackburn, adding another layer of Dunwoody history to her family. The extensive Copeland family once had a dairy at Jett Ferry and Dunwoody Club Drive, a farm where Dunwoody Springs Elementary School sits, and a store where Dunwoody Village is located.
Blackburn family members were neighbors of Bud and Mildred Crews in 1950. Census records list neighbors B.C. and Ola Spruill, Elizabeth and Manget Davis, Charlie and Myrtice Loyd Blackburn, and C.E. and Doris Blackburn. The Crews’ daughter Patricia is listed as an 8-year-old on the census.
A 1963 plat shows that Bud Crews purchased land at the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Chamblee Dunwoody Road. The 1957 and 1963 purchases add up to about 2 acres. This history can be seen on a plat map of the former Dunwoody School property on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.
Bud Crews died June 29, 1972, and is buried at Arlington Memorial Park. His wife Mildred died in 2003 and is buried alongside her husband.
Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER COMMUNITY MEETING
The City of Johns Creek will hold a series of community meetings related to the General Obligation Bond Referendum for the purpose of a Performing Arts Center (PAC):
Wednesday, September 3rd 6pm Park Place at Newtown Park
Thursday, September 18th 6pm Johns Creek City Hall
Wednesday, October 1st 6pm Park Place at Newtown Park
Thursday, October 16th 6pm Johns Creek City Hall
All meetings at City Hall will be held in the Council Chambers located at 11360 Lakefield Drive. Meetings at Newtown Park will be held in Park Place located at 3125 Old Alabama Road. Please contact the City Clerk’s office at 678-512-3212 should you have any questions.
Allison Tarpley, City Clerk
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
“THE STORY OF DUNWOODY,” BY ELIZABETH DAVIS AND ETHEL SPRUILL
This 1940s Dunwoody baseball photograph includes, standing from left: Eugene Wilson, Rembert Sykes and Bud Crews. Kneeling, from left, are: Dorris Martin and Paul Manning.
A guide to understanding the politics of local fish
STEVE HUDSON Columnist
So we’re back from Montana. It was unbelievable. The landscape was spectacular. The people we met were first-class. The lodge where we stayed was perfect. And the fishing was beyond description.
Craig DeMark, owner of On DeMark Lodge, where we stayed, did a stellar job of putting us on some memorable fish. In the final analysis, a rare thing happened, and I ended up having caught the most, though by only the smallest of margins. But she hooked the biggest. It was an enormous rainbow, maybe two feet long, or longer. It hit a size 22 dry fly (that’s fly fishing talk for tiny) and stayed on the line for a good five minutes before finally, cruelly, decided to dive at the last minute and tear off under the boat.
“I couldn’t do anything,” she said, “unless I was going to jump in and go after it!”
In the end, we were stoic about it. It happens. And besides, if it gets away, it can be as big as you want it to be. But the fact is that neither of us was prepared for such as fish. Sometimes you just have to learn as you go, for there
is no way on God’s green earth (or clear river) to really understand those fish until you have one on the line.
If you’ve been a fly fisher as long as I have, you tend to think that you know it all, or at least that you know all of it that really matters. That may be true as long as you stay close to home. But if you venture afield, if you venture as far as the Land of the Big Sky, you learn that you really do still have a lot to learn.
I figured that out right away. Here’s how it happened.
“I think,” I said after supper on our first night there, “that I’d like to fish a little before calling it a day.”
Post-supper fishing was to prove to be remarkably easy since the gin-clear waters of the Missouri River were but a five-minute stroll from the door. It would become an addiction, but just then it was only a tantalizing promise of great things and greater fish to come.
So, I reached for the flyrod, then turned to Craig with the Big Question:
“What fly should I use?”
Craig is a remarkable fellow, a rare combination of world-class expert and aw-shucks humility. He’s unfailingly helpful, delightfully positive and
PROVIDED
From left, On DeMark Lodge owner Craig DeMark and the author with one that didn’t get away fishing the Missouri.
PRESERVING THE PAST
The story of a wheel and a special lady
A friend asked me if I knew anything about a wagon wheel embedded in a tree on Mayfield Road near downtown Crabapple. I did not, but I decided to investigate. It turns out that the tree is on the property where
Fannie Etris Holcombe lives. She is a lovely woman soon to celebrate her 106th birthday. I profiled Fannie and her family in a column in March 2024. The wagon wheel embedded in the tree provided an opportunity to catch up with her and to uncover a bit of intriguing local history at the same time.
I sat down with Fannie, her son Steve Holcombe and his wife Myra in Fannie’s living room. Before he retired, Steve owned a construction company and Myra worked for the Cherokee County Schools. Steve loves history and knows a lot about the area.
Fannie is spirited and vibrant. She makes her own breakfast every morning and enjoys talking about her family history. Her four children take turns visiting with her every afternoon.
Fannie was raised on Etris Road in Roswell. The road is named for her father William Samuel Etris (18751963) who was born in Milton. He came from a family of 11 children. He and his wife also raised 11 children on their Etris Road farm. Fannie, born in 1919, was the youngest child.
William Etris was a gold miner and lived in Cleveland, Georgia, as a young man. That is about 18 miles from Dahlonega, where gold had been discovered in 1828, 20 years before the Gold Rush to California.
After he married, he moved to Etris Road in Roswell where he grew cotton and corn on a 40-acre farm.
Growing up on Etris Road Fannie attended Mount Oliver Baptist Church on Hardscrabble Road next to today’s Roswell High School. The church was established in 1907 on land donated by Tommy and Alec Oliver and was dedicated in May 1909. Original membership was 5 males and 7 females.
In those days, according to Steve Holcombe, a circuit preacher held a service at the church once a month. Many country churches in the South could not afford to pay preachers for weekly sermons, and even then, many churches paid their preachers with
chickens or eggs. They received cash only during revival meetings.
For many years, Fannie went to church in the family wagon pulled by a mule and was jammed full with a dozen family members. Sometimes she walked to church which was about 2 miles away, she says.
In 1939 Fannie married Otis Holcombe (1916-2006), a trained machinist and mechanic. They lived initially on Cox Road and later on King Road in Milton. In 1961, the couple and their children moved to Crabapple to a house on a 3-acre parcel which had been part of the farm owned by John Gilford Green (1879-1963). James Cash bought the parcel and house from Green and owned it until he sold it to the Holcombe family. The house was built circa 1955.
James Cash constructed a building next to the house which was subsequently converted into a machine shop by Otis Holcombe. Steve Holcombe painted the large sign, which says Holcombe’s Machine Shop on the side of the building. The sign has faded over the years, but that adds to its charm and historic character. It is also a local landmark.
Fannie’s mother was partial to roses. She had a rose garden in front of the house next to a small pine tree. An abandoned wheel from a hay rake rested against the tree behind the flowers. Hay rakes were important to farmers who needed to gather and store dry hay for their animals.
Hay rakes date back to the early 19th century and were used primarily for gathering hay and grain. They were also used to clear fields and lawns and for
spreading soil. Early rakes were pulled by horses or mules. Later, tractors pulled them.
The rake wheel rested against the tree behind the rose garden for years. The tree gradually grew around the wheel, creating a kind of unique sculpture. The wheel adds to the character of the tree which has adapted to the metal. It looks very cool.
Thanks to Myra Holcombe for her
help with the column and to Christy McWhorter for asking the original question.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
BOB MEYERS
Columnist
PHOTOS BY BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA
A wheel from an old hay rake is imbedded partially inside this tree in front of the house where Fannie Holcombe lives in Crabapple.
Fannie Holcombe sits in her favorite chair in her living room. She will celebrate her 106th birthday in December.
Steve Holcombe stands in front of the building which his father used as a workshop. Steve painted the sign that says Holcombe Machine Shop.
Connect-It
in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
YE, GODS!
1. Norse thunder god. Pismire. Union demand.
2. Lampblack. Poker hand. Egyptian solar god with the head of a falcon.
3. Pillow covering. Cluttered.
Roman god of passages.
4. Greek god of darkness. Moppet. Decree.
5. Ten-armed mollusk. Supreme god of Ancient Greece. Spanish port city.
6. Half-moon tide. Cougar. Roman god of fire.
7. Have a drink. Norse god of discord. Bad to the bone.
1 Norse thunder god. Pismire. Union demand
2. Lampblack. Poker hand. Egytpian solar god with the head of a falcon.
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Pillow covering. Cluttered. Roman god of passages
4. Greek god of darkness. Moppet. Decree.
5. Ten-armed mollusk. Supreme god of ancient Greece. Spanish port city
6. Half-moon tide. Cougar. Roman god of fire
7. Have a drink. Norse god of discord. Bad to the bone.
Follow us on Social Media for more news and updates on your community!
Appen Media Group
Appen Media Group
Local news is vital for staying informed and connected, and through this collaboration, we’re making it easier than ever. Now, you can access timely updates and our stories about the things happening in your area, all while engaging in meaningful conversations with real neighbors.
Don’t miss out on the stories that matter most to you –join us on your favorite social media platform to stay connected with everything that’s happening. Together, let’s build stronger, more informed communities!
Hudson:
Continued from Page 15
sublimely skilled at what he does, which is to say he darn sure knows how to make this Bubba from the South connect with some of the most mythic trout of the western world.
He didn’t hesitate.
“I’d try one of these,” he said, handing me a couple of truly tiny flies, each barely a quarter inch long.
Tiny flies, eh? I use small flies at home, though they’re not that small. Neither are they as finely executed nor as precise in every detail. Here, at home, just getting the size right is often all it takes. If it’s the right size and vaguely buggy, and if you don’t scare the fish as you approach the water, odds are that you’ll get a strike. But on the Missouri the fish have apparently been to bug school. They know what they’re looking for, and if you don’t give it to them (right down to the number of fibers in the tail, it seems) they turn up their noses and laugh and laugh and laugh as they swim back into the cold, clear depths. That’s humbling, let me tell you. But that’s the way it is.
Over the next few days, those tiny flies (they imitated some sort of mayfly) would prove to be the patterns of choice at some point on pretty much every single day. The natural insects were everywhere, densifying the air in huge clouds that must be seen to be believed. Sometimes they got in your eyes and your mouth and your hair. Then, after mating, they’d fall to the water and drift along, drifting until they caught the eye of a big trout and the surface exploded and there was one fewer mayfly in the world.
By the end of the trip, I had several of those flies in my fly box. I carried a couple of them home with me, too, where they reappeared when I opened up the box just yesterday to choose a fly for some afternoon bream fishing on our favorite local stream.
For a moment, I considered foregoing the Montana mayflies in favor of our usual pink foam spider. Foam spiders worked. Always. But I was still in a Montana frame of mind. Tying on a Montana fly would take me west again, if only in my mind. And who knows?
Maybe the Georgia fish would enjoy them too.
So, tie one on is what I did. On the first cast I had a strike, which I missed. On the second I did a better job, slowing down my hookset, and the reward was a big hand-sized sunfish. In fact, it was a giant fish for that little creek. It was a sunfish of western proportions, if there is such a thing, and if there’s not then there should be.
I should really have expected nothing less on a Montana fly, I suppose.
I caught several more fish on that Montana pattern. In fact, I had a pretty good run.
As we spread out a picnic a little later (picnics are always best beside a stream full of fish, aren’t they?) I found myself thinking that I might even come out on top later on when we totaled up the numbers.
“How’d you do?” she asked me when we came together a half hour later for fried chicken on a creekside gravel bar. “How many?”
“Sixteen!” I proclaimed. “You?”
Uh oh. I recognized that look.
“Twenty-one,” she said. “Sometimes it’s good to be home.”
We sat there munching chicken and coleslaw, enjoying it all, and I thought about things. I thought about flies and the politics of trout.
Those Madison River trout, I reflected, really are different from anything I knew. They have their own way of doing things. They have their own priorities and their own opinions. They have their own outlook on life, and by God you do it their way or you don’t do it at all.
And sometimes they like to eat tiny bugs.
Well, it seems that my hometown sunfish like tiny bugs, too, the very same tiny bugs so favored by their Montana counterparts. How about that. Do they know that by doing so they’re identifying with fellow creatures who are so radically different? Do they know that, even in such a little thing, they may be much less different and much more the same?
They swim in different waters, but they swim in different waters together.
If creatures with brains the size of a green pea can deal with that, why can’t we?
DC Aiken
Big Sky Franchise Team
David & Michelle Bertany
Amour & Duane Carthy
Corder
Barbara Anderson
Kerry Arias
Scott Baynton
Support Local News Join Appen Press Club
CHARTER MEMBER
Michael Kenig
Roderick Liptrot
Robin Fricton
Zachary Hahn
Allison January
David Conti
Theodore Davis III
Maureen Drumm
Bob Meyers
Claude Nardy
Cliff Oxford
MEMBER+
Ali Mahbod
Richard Matherly
Evan McElroy
& Lori Ramsey
Sarah Reiter
Mark Rundle
Matthew Sayle
Lynn Thomas
Robert Popp
Joseph Bell
Rita Brown
Mark Casas
Carl Abernathy
Bruce Ackley
Salpi Adrouny
Alpharetta Lions Club
Omar Altalib
Dave Altman
Ron Altman
Joel Alvis
American Legion Post 201
Alice & Dr. Richard Appen
Gaye Armstrong
Mary Asbury
Bangkok Boxing LLC
Shannon Banna
Beth Barnes
Janet Bass
Caitlin Bates
Jannet Bauer
Barbara Bauschka
Miriam Beattie
Kathy Beck
Laura Bentley
Leslie Berry
Tom Billings
Tochie Blan
Ron Boddicker
Jodi Bogen
Sherri Bolles-Rogers
Helen Borland
Debra Bowen
Joe Bowen
Ryan Brainard
Mark Brandus
Mel Brannen
Carol Bright
Linda Brill
Dorothy Brouhard
Erendira Brumley
Bernhard Burgener
Alvin Burrell
Mike & Theresa Buscher
Mary Busman
Clea Calloway
Kirk Canaday
James Carr
Bridgette Carter
William Carter
William Cartwright
Linda & Frank Catroppa
Pat Check
Charlcie Forehand
Aileen Horton
Deborah Jackson
Virginia Christman
Christopher Cleary
Ann Coaloa
Kim Coggins
Evelyn Collazo
Michael Mackenzie
Communications
Joan Compton
Carol Cookerly
Terri Coons
Rhonda Cude
Connie Cunningham
Christopher Cupit
Duane DeBruler
Marilyn DeCusati
Rebecca Donlan
Tom Driscoll
Michael Dudgeon
Jeanette Dummer
DutchCrafters Amish Furniture
Thomas Edmonds
William Edmundson
Denise Eicher
Mim Eisenberg
Danny Elkins
Su Ellis
Grady Evans
Carol Fain
Martha Fasse
Nell & Doug Fernandez
Daniel Fleck
Lee Fleck
Laura Floyd
Cathy Flynn
Paul Folger
Adrienne Fontaine
Mary Ford
Nanci Foster
Amy Frederick
Kelly Frommer
Carol Fry
Tracey Ganesh
Daniel Gay
John Gibbs
John Gilberto
Leslie Gilliam
Bailey & Ryan Gladysz
Michelle Glotzbach
Harvey Goldberg
Christopher Goodrich
Vickie McElroy
MEMBER
Phyllis Goodrich
Jim Gray
Ralph Griffin
Marilee Hamilton
Susan Hanna
Marion Hannah
Roxanne Hazen
Joe Hirsch
Penn Hodge
Dianne & Steffan Holmquist
Joan Hostetter
Julie Hostetter
Austin Hughes
Jacqueline Hursh
Paul Huth
Sue Jacques
Lynn Johnson
Tyler Jones
Arthur Kebanli
Laura Keck
Mark Kelly
Nancy Kennell
Randall Kent
Carol Kerr
Allison Kloster
Dyna Kohler
Brett Koutnik
Larry Krueger
Jess & Chris Kysar
Malinda Lackey
Brandon Leach
Dennis Lee
Ken Leffingwell
Carol Lehan
Bonnie Lind
Francia Lindon
Harlan Little
Ross Long
Kyser Lough
Rita Loventhal
Brenda Lundy
Rita Loventhal
Karen Magill
Kyile Marshall
Julie Martin
Carla Masecar
Valerie Matthews
William Maxwell
Rachel McCord
Austin McCully
Dave Rhinehart Sergey Savin
Kate Seng
Verska
Patricia Miller Anne Peer Jennifer Phillippi
Diane McDonald
Karen McEnerny
Lynn McIntyre
Mike McLoughlin
Jennifer Mendoza
Al Merrill
Chris Miller
Christine Miller
Joe Modica
Fred Moeller
Sarah Moen
Catherine Moore
Carol Morgan
Kathy Morgan
Stu Moring
Leslie Mullis
Donna Murphy
Jack Murphy
Aileen Nakamura
Cindy Nolan
North Fulton Master Gardners, Inc.
Tricia Novarro
Bob O’Brien
Anne Pappas
Lynn Pennington
Jonathan Peters
Kurt & Leslie Phillips
Mary & Jan Phillips
Debra Powell
Joyce Provissiero
Chuck Pugh
Robert Radloff
Raj Rajagopalan
Ashwin Ramaswami
Cheryl Rand
Jean Rearick
Joseph Reed
Righteous PR
Angie Rigney
Neil Robertson
Kimberly Robinson
Matt Rohs
Kim Romaner
Courtney Rozear
Kelly Sarmiento
Stephanie Schniederjan
The Schoenblum Family
Robert Scholz
Stephanie Schuette
Susan Searles
Tina Shelton
Lisa Shippel
Tom Simon
Cindy Simpson
Robert Singleton
Faye Sklar
Mitchel Skyer
Judith Slaughter
Andy Smith
Gena Spears
Donald Spencer
Melissa Spencer
Gloria Stathos
Robert Stevens
Wesley Stewart
Cathryn Stovall
Celeste Strohl
Diana Sullivan
Andy Sumlin
Mike Tasos
Candice Teichert
The Small Business Advisor
Suzanne & Bob Thomas
William Tietjen
Lisa Tilt
Michael Townes
Trunnion LLC
Matthew Tyser
Ollie Wagner
Lewis Walker
Jonathan Washburn
Michael Watson
Michael Weiss
Herbert Wells
Sally White
Thom White
Umpika White
Christine Williams
Jamie Wimberly
Jonathan Winkie
Nancy & Dave Wistrand
Theresa Woolridge
Jonathan Young
Kim Truett
Roger Wise Jr.
Whittall
Continued from Page 1
Senior wide receiver Craig Dandridge caught a 71-yard touchdown near the end of the first half, the offense’s first drive since the beginning of the quarter due to back-to-back pick-sixes. Dandridge, a UGA commit also playing special teams, made it to the end zone after the initial kickoff, but the play was walked back due to stepping out of bounds.
The Bears’ defense was suffocating, led by senior middle linebacker Callum Phillips, who was everywhere, logging a sack, a pick-6 and two tackles for loss.
Safety Brady McHale notched a tackle for loss and also grabbed a pick-6 on the first snap of the Gladiators’ drive attempt after senior Andrew Marsden’s receiving touchdown in the second quarter.
Bears head coach Tyler Jones said he was happy with the effort, but discipline and penalties left something to be desired at times despite the score -
board.
“They’re a tough group,” he said. “Our offense gets a lot of the praise, but our defense has a lot of guys that are hungry and eager and wanting success. Our playmakers are making plays where they’re supposed to, so those are bright spots.”
Johns Creek’s offense can only go up from here. Junior middle linebacker/tight end Drew Zampieri achieved the Gladiators’ only first down of the second half, just to be walked back due to a holding penalty. With sophomores starting at quarterback and
wide receiver, and with a freshman at running back, any Johns Creek drive proved difficult against the Bears’ upperclassman-heavy defense.
Zampieri was also a bright spot in the Gladiators’ defense, along with junior safety Ben Feigin and sophomore Walker Edmondson. Improving upon their 0-10 record last season will require putting the pieces together.
Johns Creek will face Centennial Aug. 29 at home. Cambridge will travel to Creekview in hopes to maintain their streak of shutouts.
The Gladiators take the field at Johns Creek High School Aug. 22.
Fulton:
Continued from Page 1
Sheriff Pat Labat’s management of jail operations or the Board of Commissioner’s lack of funding allocations.
Other speakers said they have concerns about what will happen to existing inmates while jail renovations are occurring, opposing any plan to ship incarcerated people to neighboring states.
While the county has been housing some inmates at the Atlanta City Detention Center since 2023, that partnership is set to end in 2026. Meanwhile, Atlanta has not indicated it will renew the agreement with Fulton County for use of 700 beds at its jail.
Rather than building a new jail, estimated to cost $1.75 billion to $2 billion in the second half of 2023, the Board of Commissioners is building an 1,800-bed “medical and mental health facility.”
The new facility is designated for inmates with mental illnesses, addictions and special needs, which the county estimates is between 40 to 70 percent of inmates.
County staff, including Justice System Programs Director Steve Nawrocki and representatives from the county’s consultant ACR Partners updated commissioners Aug. 20 with a recommendation on how to proceed with the Rice Street jail’s Capital Improvement Program.
Nawrocki told commissioners in May that the average monthly inmate population across all county jail facilities continues to rise each month. However, the Rice Street jail population was around 1,700 after the first quarter of 2025, down from the estimated 3,200 inmates incarcerated there in summer 2023.
The update comes after commissioners directed staff in June to conduct a condition assessment of all county jail facilities, including Rice Street, the Atlanta City Detention Center, the South Annex and the one in Marietta. The annex in Alpharetta was not part of the study.
Conditions at Rice Street stand out with the roof, interior finishes, plumbing, electrical and fire protection labeled “criti-
A
cal.” The only system in good condition at Fulton County’s main jail are the stairs, consultants said.
The jail, originally built to house 1,250 inmates, is projected to hold 1,600 after the $552 million renovation is complete. The 1,800-bed new facility has a smaller price tag of $536 million.
The rest of the $1.23 billion is set to go towards outsourcing some inmates to additional facilities while construction and renovation occur, estimated to take around 9 years, which concerned most commissioners.
AECOM Senior Vice President Roger Lichtman, a representative of the joint venture ACR Partners, said the scope of work includes replacing all facility condition deficiencies, constructing a facility to accommodate behavioral care and special needs, comparing an accelerated versus standard schedule and reviewing the county’s lease of Atlanta jail space.
“The important point of this, I believe, is that within the first five years, we have 1,800 beds complete as a part of new special purpose facility,” Lichtman said. “Then, once that is complete, then the renovation of Rice Street starts … To me, this is the best of both worlds … it won’t be
as overcrowded and as dangerous as it is right now.”
The county’s Chief Financial Officer Sharron Whitmore said the $1.23 billion plan to address the jail system will be primarily funded with a bond issuance through the South Fulton Regional Municipal Jail Authority.
The third option requires more than $1 billion in capital costs, and an estimated annual debt service of $84.3 million.
Whitmore said the property tax rate would have to increase by 0.83 mills if that were the only mechanism to fund the capital costs
“The combination of tax allocation district (TAD) roll-offs and the reduction in pension contribution generates about $107 million,” Whitmore said, referencing potential funding sources after 2030. “So, we have resources that will become available in the future that would help offset this difference that we currently have.”
The balance to cover debt service is around $65 million.
During discussion about property taxes and the millage rate this summer, some commissioners expressed a desire to take in more funding from residents to cover jail improvements and potential funding cuts.
Charles Rambo, a 34-year veteran of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, said he urged the Atlanta City Council Aug. 18 to continue leasing space to house county inmates at the City Detention Center off Peachtree Street.
“Why? Because the majority of pre-trial
defendants in this county jail come from their districts, and they too must share responsibility and resolve our constitutional crisis,” he said. “Their choice to send the resolution back to public safety and legal committee shows even they recognize unanswered questions about ending the lease.”
Rambo has run for Fulton County Sheriff five times, failing to garner enough votes as an independent last November to unseat the incumbent Labat.
He pointed to comments in 2020 from former District 3 County Commissioner Lee Morris, who said the Board of Commissioners would come to regret approving $21 million in federal funds for jail expansion and improvement. At the time, the political climate was in favor of defunding law enforcement and reducing incarcerated populations.
Justice System Programs Director Nawrocki said next steps include working with the Sheriff’s Office on operational needs, defining the square footage required at the new facility and updating cost estimates and the project schedule.
“We’ll also be coordinating with the County Attorney’s Office to provide updates to the monitoring team to confirm our plans for the special-purpose facility do align with compliance requirements of the consent decree,” he said. “And looking ahead to the coming months, we’ll begin the special-purpose facility solicitations of our key project vendors like the design and construction teams.”
George Dear, 78, of Roswell, passed away on August 9, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Mark Herak, 78, passed away on August 7, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Ida Muller, 82, of Roswell, passed away on August 5, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Gloria Shenk, 73, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 6, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
George Walters, 94, of Milton, passed away on August 9, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Andrew YaSenka, 83, of Roswell, passed away on August 10, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Administrative Assistant
NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the full-time Administrative Assistant position. The responsibilities of this critical role are to provide a wide variety of administrative tasks primarily to the President and other department leaders as needed. Duties include board meeting preparation, report preparation, general correspondence.
The Administrative Assistant takes initiative, can multitask and remain very organized. They play a vital role in helping keep the NFCC leadership team organized and productive.
If you have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, communications or another relevant field, at least two years of administrative experience and enjoy project management and coordination, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
CALLING ARTSY FOLKS
www.homefields.com is looking for artsy people to paint and assemble it’s unique replica stadiums. Good piece rate. ksmall@homefields. com or 404-664-4411
Remote/part-time/flexible/contract work for seasoned accountants/bookkeepers. Non-Profit/ForProfit Clients. QBO and payroll expertise required. Sue@playbook-cloud.com
Gutters
AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aarons-gutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 678-508-2432
To place a classified ad, email classifieds@appenmedia.com. Deadline is Thursdays by 3pm
NATIONAL ADVERTISING
No cleaning gutters guaranteed! LeafFilter - most advanced gutter protection, backed by a no-clog guarantee & lifetime warranty. 833-6101936 schedule free inspection & estimate. Get 75% off install & $250 bonus discount! Restrictions apply, see rep for warranty & details
Wesley Financial Group, LLC timeshare cancellation experts over $50 million timeshare debt/fees cancelled in 2019. Free info package. Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971
Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. Offer ends 9/30/25.) Call 1-844-501-3208
Health & Fitness
cleanup: A small amount of water can cause major damage to your home. Our trusted professionals dry out wet areas & repair to protect your family & your home value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809. Have zip code! Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-948-6176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.
Bath & shower updates in as little as 1 day! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & military discounts available. 1-877-543-9189
DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405
Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime!
Don’t let the stairs limit your mobility! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-833-399-3595
Home break-ins take less than 60 seconds. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70¢/ day! 833-890-1262
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
Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833-370-1234
We buy houses for cash as is! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer & get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-844-877-5833
SunSetter. America’s number one awning! Instant shade at the touch of a button. Transform your deck or patio into an outdoor oasis. Up to 10-year limited warranty. Call now and SAVE $350 today! 1-855-914-1148
Old guitars wanted! Gibson, Fender, Martin, Etc. 1930’sto 1980’s. Top dollar paid. Call 866-433-8277
Reach millions of homes nationwide with one easy, affordable buy in the ADS Network! For more information www.communitypublishers.com/ category/all-products
Pest control: Protect your home from pests safely. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders & more. Locally owned & affordable. For service or inspection today! 833-860-0657 Have zip code ready!
Professional lawn service: Fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration & mosquito control. Free quote. Ask about first application special! 833-860-0811
BUYING
