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Firefighters visit Ocee Elementary ► PAGE 2

O c t o b e r 1 5 , 2 0 2 6 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 3 0 , N o . 4 2

Johns Creek eyes yearlong food truck pilot at Town Center By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

Johns Creek Parkway. The development also includes 110,000 square feet of office space, 748 rental homes, 133 for-purchase townhomes and a 25,000-square-foot plaza. In conjunction with the recently completed Boardwalk, the project is part of the city’s vision for a walkable Town Center district near City Hall.

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The city of Johns Creek is considering a pilot program that would open one of its premier parks to food trucks. City council members discussed the proposal at an Oct. 5 work session and plan to revisit the idea during an Oct. 26 meeting. The program would allow food trucks and pushcarts to operate at The Boardwalk at Town Center to assess their impact on pedestrian activity and park vibrancy. Previously, the city has allowed food vendors at parks only during city-sponsored and city-permitted events. The 12-month pilot program could provide information to council members, allowing them to give food vendors greater leeway at other city-owned properties. “If this goes horribly wrong, our code department and police department are headquartered [at Town Center on Lakefield Drive], so we would have the opportunity to quickly respond,” City Manager Kimberly Greer said. “If it’s successful, we absolutely see the opportunity to expand this to other parks.” The Boardwalk boasts 20 acres of green space that includes trails, lakeside pavilions and gathering spaces. It already has become a destination for numerous visitors even when no event is scheduled.

See TRAFFIC, Page 26

See TRUCK, Page 24

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Traffic backs up at the intersection of Medlock Bridge and McGinnis Ferry roads on an afternoon in early October. A 2022 traffic study projects the Medley development will add only modestly to delays in the area if planned road improvements are completed.

City expects modest traffic increase as Medley opens By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Medley mixed-use development has some residents worried about its impact on nearby traffic, but city officials say they expect a marginal increase that should be mitigated by traffic infrastructure projects in the area. A traffic study suggests delays could

be considerably worse without improvements planned and proposed at roadways and intersections in the near future. “It’s going to be a slight bump,” said Chris Haggard, assistant city manager. Set to open its first phase Oct. 29, Medley promises to bring 64,000 square feet of walkable retail, restaurant and entertainment space to 43 acres at the corner of McGinnis Ferry Road and

2 | October 15, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

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Ocee Elementary students visit with Johns Creek firefighters during a Sept. 30 career day.

COURTESY CITY OF JOHNS CREEK

Firefighters visit Ocee Elementary for annual career day By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Ocee Elementary School students got a firsthand look at what it takes to be a firefighter during a Sept. 30 career day. Firefighters from Station 64 visited with kindergarten, first and second grade students during the school’s annual Careers on Wheels Day. The kids learned what firefighters do while also getting up close and personal

with some of their equipment. Outside the school, the firefighters showed off their full bunker gear, which includes breathing apparatuses, coats, helmets, boots and gloves. They also showcased a fire engine. The students also received a few vital safety lessons. Firefighters showed the

children how to call 911 and stop, drop and roll. They also learned why they should not be afraid of firefighters. Firefighters were joined by AMR Ambulance Service personnel, Fulton County Police Department officers, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Willard Towing employees.

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NEWS

4 | October 15, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Johns Creek sets new dates for millage rate hearings By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Public hearings on Johns Creek’s 2026 millage rate have been rescheduled. The hearings, required by Georgia law, are now set for 11 a.m. Oct. 15 and 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at City Hall, 11360 Lakefield Drive. They were originally scheduled for Oct. 5 and Oct. 15. Johns Creek proposes keeping its maintenance and operations millage rate at 3.492 mills for 2026, the same rate the city council adopted in 2025. The rate was 3.646 mills the two years before that. Even though the rate isn’t changing, state law requires the city to advertise it as a 1.7% property tax increase. In Georgia, when property values go up, local governments must calculate a “rollback rate.” That’s the millage rate that would bring in the same revenue as last year, not counting new construction. Johns Creek’s rollback rate is 3.434 mills. Any rate above the rollback rate counts as a tax increase. The city’s proposed rate is 0.058 mills higher. The city estimates that the owner of a $625,000 home with a homestead exemption would pay about $14.15 more. The owner of a non-homestead property with the same value would pay about $14.50 more. The Johns Creek City Council is scheduled to vote on the millage rate during its Oct. 26 meeting.

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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 15, 2026 | 5

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6 | October 15, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

Fulton County Schools celebrates 93.4% graduation rate By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com FAIRBURN, Ga. — Officials from Fulton County Schools, along with representatives from community groups, gathered at Global Impact Academy Oct. 5 to celebrate a districtwide graduation rate of 93.4%. “Behind [that rate] are thousands of individual scores [recognizing] students who persisted, students who overcame obstacles,” Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins said. The academy, one of the district’s two STEM schools, was the only Fulton County high school with a perfect graduation rate for the class of 2026. The academy opened in 2021 and has achieved a 100% graduation rate for the past three years. “It’s kind of become our standard here as a school,” Principal Johnathan Hall said. “We are trying to keep a tradition, a standard here at Global, where we are doing

that year after year.” The district’s other STEM school, FCS Innovation Academy in Alpharetta, had a graduation rate of more than 99%, officials said. Other high schools in north Fulton County had graduation rates above 97%, including Cambridge and Milton schools in Milton; Johns Creek, Chattahoochee and Northview schools in Johns Creek; and Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs. “We all can’t do it by ourselves,” Chattahoochee High Principal Mike Todd said. “It’s important to lean on our colleagues and even friends.” The district’s graduation rate has risen 7.9 percentage points since 2020 and has gone up every year since then. “It’s a reflection of our values,” Fulton County Board of Education President Kristin McCabe said. “All of us come together to make sure that our students graduate across that stage in May.”

HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

Cambridge High School Principal Ashley Agans hugs a Fulton County Board of Education member Oct. 5 after the school was recognized for its 97.6% graduation rate for the class of 2026.

Gun Violence is the #1 killer of children in Georgia Why does Georgia consistently have one of the highest per capita rates of Gun Violence in the US? We have weaker laws than almost every other state. It’s not complicated. States with lower rates of Gun Violence have laws that work. Georgia can have that, too, with legislators who pledge to work on our Gun Violence Crisis.

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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 15, 2026 | 7

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8 | October 15, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

The other City of Johns Creek advertisement in this printed edition regarding property taxes is required by Georgia law. The advertised millage rate of 3.492 is the current millage rate,and it may or may not be the final rate adopted by Council. The rate advertised (of 3.492) is the maximum rate that the City Council can adopt without readvertising. Public Hearings are scheduled for October 15 and October 26, 2026. The public is encouraged to participate in the public hearing or submit comments via email to public.comment@johnscreekga.gov.

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE The City of Johns Creek has tentatively adopted a 2026 millage rate, which will require an increase in property taxes by 1.70 percent. All concerned citizens are invited to the Public Hearing on this tax increase to be held at the Johns Creek City Hall, Council Chambers located at 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek, Georgia on October 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The second public hearing will be held on October 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. and a third and final Public Hearing on this proposed tax increase will be held at the Johns Creek City Hall, Council Chambers the same day at 7:00 p.m. This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 3.492 mills, an increase of 0.058 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate would be no more than 3.434 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $625,000 is approximately $14.15 and the proposed tax increase for a non-homestead property with a fair market value of $625,000 is approximately $14.50.

NOTICE The City of Johns Creek does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at City Hall, 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek, GA on October 26, 2026, at 7:00PM and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. § 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.

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Johns Creek eyes daffodil record without Guinness price tag By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Hundreds of Johns Creek residents will soon plant about 20,000 daffodils in a community event aimed at unofficially setting a world record. Volunteers will meet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 17 near the pickleball courts at Cauley Creek Park, 7255 Bell Road, for the planting. The event was rescheduled from the original date, Oct. 10, due to impacts from Hurricane Isaias. Johns Creek Beautification, in partnership with the city of Johns Creek, is organizing the event to promote cancer awareness and beautify the city. Organizers will not seek the official Guinness World Records title but said the event will likely establish a milestone for the most daffodils ever planted by volunteers in one sitting. Zach Hahn of Johns Creek Beautification said the club declined to pursue the official record after learning it would cost $15,000 to do so. He said officials working for the British reference book said there is currently no such record but that the Johns Creek event would be sufficient to establish one. “We will all know in the back of our [minds] we are [setting] the record,” Hahn said. He offered to pay the reference book $5,000 out of his own pocket to certify the record, but staff there declined his offer. “They gave a hard no,” Hahn said. Last year, volunteers planted about 2,000 daffodils, he said. With the addition of 18,000 more, Hahn said Johns Creek Beautification wanted to create a “wow factor.”

CHRIS LINNETT/UNSPLASH

Johns Creek Beautification organizers expect hundreds of volunteers to plant about 20,000 daffodils at Cauley Creek Park, roughly 10 times the number planted last year.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 15, 2026 | 9

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protection. Thus, it is essential to ask yourself do you need the trust to protect against various different kinds of predators, i.e. creditors, lawsuits, remarriage, divorce, medicaid, long term care costs, estate taxes. When a Simpler Plan May Be Enough For some families, a will, a durable power of attorney, a health care directive, and carefully updated beneficiary designations provide everything they need. A trust that is signed but never funded, meaning assets were never retitled into it, can leave a family facing probate anyway, after paying for a plan that did not do its job. The opposite mistake is just as costly. A family with real estate in two states, a child who needs protection, or a business to pass on may find that a simple will leaves too much to the court and too little to chance. Start With Questions, Not Documents The best estate planning conversations begin with listening. Before any recommendation is made, a good advisor should understand what you own, who you love, what worries you, and what you hope to leave behind. Only then can anyone say whether a trust, a will, or a combination of tools is right for you. If you have been told you "need a trust" without being asked about your family and your goals, it may be time for a second look. The right plan is not the most complicated one. It is the one that fits.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 15, 2026 | 19

20 | October 15, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Johns Creek Symphony enters 20th season with new executive By JOSHUA WILSON joshua@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra’s new executive director spent nearly 40 years in telecommunications, teaches electrical engineering at Kennesaw State University and has played viola since he was young. He has also played guitar in a Wisconsin bar band called Severance Package. The orchestra announced Monday that Greg Selig will run the nonprofit organization as it marks its 20th season. Music Director Henry Cheng oversees the music itself. Selig holds electrical engineering degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University. He held engineering and executive roles at global cellular technology companies before moving to metro Atlanta from the Chicago area in 2011. He has also served as president of nonprofit orchestra boards and studied music in Chicago and at Lawrence University in Wisconsin. Board President Peter Hildebrandt said Selig pairs leadership experience with “a genuine love of music.” “Greg brings an exceptional blend

of leadership experience, organizational vision and a genuine love of music,” he added. “As we celebrate 20 seasons of bringing exceptional music to our community, we are excited about the perspective and energy he will bring to JCSO and the opportunities ahead.” The anniversary season, titled “Becoming,” includes five concerts in Johns Creek and nearby communities. The season opened with an outdoor pops concert Oct. 3 at Newtown Park and continued with “Taking Flight,” featuring works by Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky, Oct. 9 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. The remaining concerts include an exploration of the intersection of music and technology at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at LOOP in Atlanta; a holiday pops show at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Innovation Academy in Alpharetta; and “Music as Healing,” which pairs Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony with a world premiere by composer Mahlon Berv, at 7:30 p.m. April 10 at Johns Creek Baptist Church. Music Director Emeritus J. Wayne Baughman founded the orchestra, and its players are professional musicians from across the metro. For tickets and more information, visit johnscreeksymphony.org.

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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 15, 2026 | 21

Labyrinths offer a unique feature for quiet reflection Labyrinths have always intrigued me whenever I see them in beach areas or sculpture gardens. Not to be confused with a maze, where one can get lost, a labyrinth guides you to the center and BARBARA OLSON back again. I have Guest Columnist seen them in England, Scandinavia and, most recently, in Ellsworth, Michigan, and at Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Michigan. There are more than 6,500 registered labyrinths worldwide. Chartres Cathedral in France has a 13th-century stone labyrinth inlaid into the floor of the nave, spanning the width of the building. Labyrinths have been in use for more than 4,000 years, and various patterns have been found in many ancient cultures. They were likely used for ceremonial or meditative purposes. Labyrinths can be made of many materials, such as stone, concrete or even small plants. In England and Scandinavia, I found turf labyrinths made of mounds of earth covered with grass. Labyrinths come in different sizes and can be elaborate, with many concentric circles, or small and simple. Today, labyrinths are experiencing a revival. There is even an annual World Labyrinth Day, celebrated on the first Saturday in May. Labyrinths are found in hospitals, schools, parks, churches, private gardens and many other settings. People walk them for stress relief, spiritual reflection, mindfulness and personal growth. The modern labyrinth movement, which began gaining popularity in the 1990s, emphasizes the labyrinth as a tool for healing and contemplation. The labyrinth's purpose today remains rooted in its symbolic design, which is based on the circle, the universal symbol for unity and wholeness. Many people use labyrinths as a form of walking meditation that helps quiet the mind and focus inward. Ultimately, the labyrinth offers a quiet, structured space for reflection. Across time and cultures, it remains a powerful symbol of the path we all walk, full of twists and turns, yet leading us forward. There are many ways to walk a labyrinth. Before stepping inside, take a moment to reflect on your life, focusing on something as simple as family, career or an upcoming choice. Although there is nothing magical about the layout itself, the physical journey allows your consciousness to open a little deeper. For many years, I had wanted to install a labyrinth in my own yard, but

A labyrinth on Smith Plantation grounds in Roswell. the terrain was too hilly. While working on my first master gardener volunteer project on the grounds of the Archibald Smith Plantation Home and Museum in Roswell, I located an area surrounded by trees that I thought would be an ideal spot. In the fall of 2016, I received permission from the museum staff to explore the possibility of creating a labyrinth on the property. I started by raking leaves into a circular design and then raking them outward from the center to create the overall pattern. My husband then assisted me, and we placed logs we found on the property on top of the piles of leaves. This gave the design a little more permanence and kept the leaves from blowing away. The manager at Smith Plantation contracted a bricklayer to permanently lay bricks in

place of the logs. In May 2017, the labyrinth at Smith Plantation opened to the public, and an informational sign was erected shortly afterward. The labyrinth at Archibald Smith Plantation is a simple one, surrounded by trees. As you walk this path, be mindful of your natural surroundings. Hear the quiet among the chirping birds, feel the breeze on your skin and slowly follow the path to the center. Use all your senses at this point and then slowly return along the same path to the entrance. This walkway connects directly with the Fernwood Forest path at Smith Plantation, where visitors can enjoy another beautiful walk. Whether you need a brief escape from a hectic schedule or a dedicated space to process a major life decision, the ancient

BARBARA OLSON/NORTH FULTON MASTER GARDENERS

structure of the labyrinth provides a timeless remedy. I encourage you to visit the brick labyrinth at Smith Plantation in Roswell or locate an installation near you to step off the beaten path and find your own inner peace. Happy gardening!

Learn More ·‘Walking a Sacred Path’ by Lauren Artress ·Building a Labyrinth - https:// discoverlabyrinths.com/ how-to-build-a-labrynth · Locate a Labyrinth - www. Labyrinthlocator.org

22 | October 15, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

OPINION

GET OUTSIDE, GEORGIA!

The immense joy of planning After years of consideration, I've reached an important conclusion about a matter that affects us all. To wit: Planning is overrated. Wait. What did I say? Haven't we been STEVE HUDSON told since childhood Columnist that you've got to plan things out? You know, as in "plan your work and work your plan"? Well, yeah, I suppose we have. I admit it can be a good thing too, sometimes. My wife is a planner, and I admit that I am the beneficiary of it. Take our camping trips, for example. She checks and rechecks the lists of the critical things (you know, stuff like warm blankets and coffee for the coffeepot), and as a result our campsites are places of peace, tranquility, comfort and abundant coffee, with creamer, which is also on one of the lists. Yes, good planning leaves nothing to chance. Remember that for a few minutes. Just saying ... But what about spontaneity? I must confess that I may, just possibly, be less a child of the "plan-it-out" school of thought and more a "let's-go-rightnow-and-see-what-happens" kind of guy. Maybe it's some vestige of leftover hippie in me, or maybe it's just that I'd rather be walking in the woods than planning where to do the walking. Could be both, I suppose. In practice, she and I meet in the middle, and it's a wonderful match. When an adventure is afoot, we plan it together. That means I go off on wild flights of fancy about doing this and seeing that, while she reins me in and anchors me to reality and, in the process, probably keeps me alive. Of course, for this to work, she's got to be physically there. The other weekend, she was enjoying her annual weekend visit with her girlfriends. She's been friends with them since about first grade, and they get together once a year. That's a neat thing. This year they got together over in Alabama at one of her friends' homes. And as she was heading out, just as she backed onto the street and pointed the car west, it occurred to me that — and why not? — I should just load up the car and go camping! Where? I dunno. How long? Oh, a day or two. What to take? I'll just grab what I need and go!

Tugaloo State Park, at Lake Hartwell, is a great place to camp. Quick as thought, I cranked up my phone and found a last-minute campsite at Tugaloo State Park. It took just an instant to book it. Almost as quickly, I tossed the tent and the cot and some of this and a little of that into the car. The whole packing-up thing took me maybe 10 minutes, and as the 11th minute rolled around I too was backing out the driveway, on my way to adventure! Planning? Well ... A couple of hours later I'm at the campground. Tugaloo State Park, which sits close by Lake Hartwell, is just a little off the radar, but it's definitely on my A-list of places to camp. It offers more than 115 campsites of various descriptions, from full-hookup drive-through sites to tent-only walk-in sites. Though I'm tent camping, I pick a back-in site, and I make sure it has water (for easy coffee making) and power (so I can plug in the little heater in case it gets cool at night). My chosen site is right on the lake, too, and it turns out to be a great one. Setup goes smoothly, at least till I go to stake out the rain fly and discover that I've left it (as well as the basket of tent stakes) sitting on the shelf at home. Well, no biggie. It's not supposed to rain, and there are no tent-moving winds in the forecast. Besides, with no rain fly to obscure the view, I can see the stars through the tent's mesh roof. That will be neat, especially for a dyed-

STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA

in-the-wool man of the wilderness like me. Soon, it's time to set up the cot. My solo camping cot is one of those folding affairs from the local big-box retailer. It's sturdy and comfortable and gets me off the ground. One advantage of being somewhere north of 40 is that you don't have to sleep on the dirt if you don't want to, and I don't. But the cot is heavy. Well, the fleas come with the dog. I lug the cot to the tent, set it inside and unfold it. It fits the little tent perfectly, and it's really very comfortable — especially when made up with a nice squishy pillow and a soft, warm blanket to ward off the night's chill. I reach for them to make up my camp bed. In that instant, I realize that I know exactly where the blanket (and the sheets ... and my pillow) are. That's good! What's less good is that they're back home, on the shelf, right next to that basket of tent stakes. Well, no biggie, I tell myself. It isn't supposed to get that cold. Besides, I have extra socks if I need added warmth, and I can stuff some clothes or maybe my fishing vest into my daypack and use it for a pillow. We great outdoorsmen are flexible that way. We may suck at planning, but we sure do know how to adapt. By that point the sun is getting a little low, and I realize it's getting chilly. The forecast had said that the night

would be (how did the weather guy put it?) "a little breezy, with the season's first hint of brisk fall air." So I go to look for my jacket. Uh-oh. For the jacket, along with the blanket and pillow and God only knows what other yet-to-be-discovered omissions, is sitting on that shelf back home. For those less experienced, a missing jacket could be a problem. But we seasoned outdoors types just roll with such things, barely batting an eye. That's how it is when you're one with the wilderness! Besides, I have an extra shirt, so I just slip it on instead. It helps a little. By that time it's getting dark. I call it a day and turn in, intent on a good night's sleep. Well, fast-forward a few hours. There I am, stretched out on my cot, feeling the promised breezy breeze, and it dawns on me that I'm chilly. I reach for the blanket that isn't there and think about turning up the little heater, which (yep) isn't there either. It's back home, too, there on that shelf by the blanket. Now where are those extra socks? Probably back home on the shelf too. Morning eventually comes. Yes, there's a nip in the air, and I'm ready for coffee. I crawl from the tent, retrieve the coffee maker and plug it in. The light comes on, its comforting red glow promising something great to come. Now where did I put that coffee? Uh-oh. At that point, I just laugh out loud. Planning? Who needs planning? I'll tell you who needs planning. Me! Fortunately, the folks at the corner store did a better job of it than me. Their coffee is hot, strong and just what this chilly camper needs. In no time I'm restored and ready for what the day will bring. It turns out to be a great day. I do some hiking. I catch some fish. I meet a photographer at Traveler's Rest, a nearby historic site, and we talk about photographing trains and trestles. I find a new-to-me barbecue place, a place with some really good Brunswick stew that I'll tell you about next time. I find a Walmart, too, and relieve them of a blanket, some tent stakes, a sweatshirt, some socks and a pillow — and some coffee. Did I forget anything on my Walmart run? Not a thing. I made a list before I went. I did a little planning. I'll tell her about all this when she returns tomorrow evening, and she will be proud.

PRESERVING THE PAST

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 15, 2026 | 23

The intriguing Webbs – a family for all time The north Fulton Webb family is a fascinating study in part because there were so many of them in the area beginning in the 1840s. Pat Miller, a fervent student of BOB MEYERS local history, once Columnist told me that by the 1920s, after seven generations of Webbs, there were nearly 150 Webb descendants in the north Fulton area, including spouses, and many more after that. Many other local families intermarried with the Webbs, people with names such as Maxwell, Shirley, Paris, Martin, Bagwell, Devore, Mansell, McGinnis, Medlock, Mayfield, Phillips and numerous others. I wrote a column about the Webbs in 2024, so this column is a follow-up, thanks to the suggestion of one Webb history lover, Janie Webb, who retired after a successful career in financial services. One of several Webb pioneers to settle in the Big Creek (also called Vickery Creek) area south of Cumming in Forsyth County, home to several large farms, was the Rev. John Malcom Webb (1840-1924), who is buried in the Old Ocee Cemetery in Alpharetta. He is somehow related to a representative of the following generation, Joseph Joel “J.J.” Webb (1858-1939), Janie Webb’s greatgrandfather, whom she describes as a “prominent Milton farmer.” He was also a leading businessman. He married a very young Mary C. “Molly” Dildy (18651911) in 1882. Dildy was a known family name in the area at that time. They had 10 sons and a large farm on Webb Bridge Road. In September 1911, soon after his wife’s death, J.J. put some of his property up for sale. He placed an ad in the Milton County News titled “Farm For Sale,” which read: “I have 80 acres of land yet for sale, two miles from Alpharetta on public road. Also ten acres of land and a good fiveroom house in Alpharetta, on Duluth Street. Also one nice vacant lot on Roswell Street. J. J. WEBB.” (Spelling and capitalization are as they appeared in the original.) Indicative of the hard times facing the north Fulton economy at the time was a large ad in the Aug. 3, 1913, Atlanta Constitution announcing “bankrupt sale of the J. J. Webb land. 650 acres” and other properties, including the J.J. Webb old homestead and the large, two-story J.J. Webb and Sons Building, constructed in 1910 in

IMAGES PROVIDED TO APPEN MEDIA

Robert E. Webb Jr. joined the Army Air Corps during WWII in his late teens. He flew 35 missions over Tokyo.

downtown Alpharetta. At one time, it housed the Bates Grocery, the Milton County Bank, the Shirley Bothers store and a post office. J.J. and his son R.J. (Robert) also built the Webb Guano House around 1901. The economic conditions in rural Milton County in 1913 were bad enough to cause J.J.’s bankruptcy. Falling cotton prices, banking instability and an early boll weevil problem were part of the situation. J.J.’s commercial commitment, especially to the Webb building, became unsustainable. The bankruptcy significantly affected the family, with several sons relocating to other nearby cities. Atlanta, by contrast, was booming — a comparison that might be the subject of a future column. One son, Earl Simeon Webb (18931984), moved to San Bernardino, California, married Valah D. Webb (1895-1978) and became an industrial chemist and wealthy inventor of Webb Glue around the 1920s. He was also a major donor to the Seventh-day Adventist medical school, Loma Linda University, about 10 miles from his home. Webb Glue was never patented. It was a proprietary industrial adhesive, not a retail product. This allowed Earl to keep the formula secret to avoid copying. Factories, especially furniture factories, bought the adhesive by the barrel because it had all the features

Robert E. Webb Jr. was a tail gunner on the B-29 bomber during U. S. attacks on Tokyo during WW II. The tail gunner used a sighting system that let him fire several other turrets, as well as the tail guns. They were under constant attack by Japanese fighter planes as they approached Japan. One of the B-20’s numerous new technologies was a pressurized cabin. needed to make their products: quick drying time, strength and waterproofing. Factories kept replenishing their supplies, and Earl kept getting richer. His story provides a rare link between rural agricultural Georgia and growing California industry. Another son, Robert E. Webb Sr. (1900-1982), the youngest of J.J.’s sons, is remembered fondly by his granddaughter Janie Webb. He was born on the family farm on Webb Bridge Road. He married Annie May Gladys Cook Webb (1902-1974) of Duluth in 1925. He and his family lived in Norcross. Robert served in World War I and World War II. He was a victim of mustard gas in the trenches of World War I and always had trouble breathing. After the war, he worked as a mechanic for General Motors. He volunteered in World War II and traveled to repair equipment for the Army, but he couldn’t serve as a soldier because of his health. He retired from GM, which led Janie’s father to work for GM after World War II. Robert E. Webb Jr. (1925-2013), Janie’s father, was married to Opal Hazel O’Kelly Webb (1927-2014). The couple met as students at Norcross High School. Robert served as a tail gunner in a B-29 long-range bomber for the Army Air Corps during World War II, stationed

in the Marianas Islands on Tinian Atoll, a 13- to 15-hour flight to Japan. He flew 35 night missions over Tokyo, targeting huge fuel tanks along the docks in Tokyo harbor. The B-29’s extreme range and heavy payload capacity made it the ideal weapon to reach the Japanese mainland. Robert received numerous awards and commendations for his valor at a time when the average life of a tail gunner in his cramped Plexiglas and metal turret was only four missions. The awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and First, Second and Third Oak Leaf Clusters. Returning home at 19, he began his career with GM in Doraville. Many other Webbs of note have lived in north Fulton and southern Forsyth County. It is quite a family. Thanks to historian Connie Mashburn for his help with this column. Bob is a member of the city of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission, director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a trustee on the board of directors of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth. net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

24 | October 15, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Truck:

NEWS

Continued from Page 1 The program would impose some restrictions like limitations on hours and locations, insurance and permitting requirements, and prohibitions on alcohol sales. City staff will look at several metrics in the trial, including how many food vendors apply, types of vendors who operate, what the demand was from customers and how successful the vendors were, said Ben Song, community development director. “Within the first six months, I think we will get a better idea about the frequency and the types of vendors who may want to locate in the area,” Song said. In developing the program, city staff looked to Sugar Hill and Roswell. Council members expressed support for the proposal, saying it could help enhance the Town Center area, which also includes the soon-to-open Medley mixed-use development. “It’s everything we originally talked about with the Town Center committee,” Council Member Larry DiBiase said.

City of Johns Creek Board of Zoning Appeals, Public Hearing: Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 7:00 P.M. City of Johns Creek Council Chambers 11360 Lakefield Drive Johns Creek, Georgia 30097 The following variance applications are scheduled for Public Hearing as stated above: Case Number: Property Address: Current Zoning: Petitioner: Variance Request:

V-26-0016 330 Laketrail Drive, Johns Creek, GA 30022 CUP Conditional (Community Unit Plan District) Mihai Sterescu Encroachment into the 75-foot stream buffer to construct a stone stairway providing access to the lower portion of the rear yard

Case Number: Property Address: Current Zoning: Petitioner: Variance Request:

V-26-0017 513 Butler National Drive, Johns Creek, GA 30097 CUP Conditional (Community Unit Plan District) Bill Caldwell Encroachment into the 75-foot stream buffer to allow a natural boulder wall, stone steps, and permeable synthetic turf in the rear yard

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, AT 7:00 P.M. CITY OF JOHNS CREEK MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: Monday, November 16, 2026, AT 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11360 LAKEFIELD DRIVE, JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA 30097 The following Land Use Petition is scheduled for public hearing: LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:

APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO

Food trucks serve a crowd at The Boardwalk at Town Center during Johns Creek’s Independence Day Celebration on July 3, 2024. A proposed 12-month pilot would let vendors operate at the park even when no event is scheduled.

RZ-26-0003 Aztec Eagle Properties, LLC 5700 Abbotts Bridge Road AG-1 (Agricultural District) R-4 (Single-Family Dwelling District) 7-lot single-family detached residential subdivision at a density of 2.2 dwelling units per acre

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | October 15, 2026 | 25

26 | October 15, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

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City officials point to a traffic study submitted in 2022 in assessing how the project may increase delays on nearby roadways and larger thoroughfares in the area. Prepared by Kimley-Horn and Associates, the study analyzes current and projected levels of service, entry points to the mixed-use center, future roadway improvements and other aspects. The study shows a modest increase in traffic delays associated with the development when road improvements are taken into account. Intersections examined include Medlock Bridge Road at Johns Creek Parkway, McGinnis Ferry Road at Lakefield Drive and McGinnis Ferry Road at Johns Creek Parkway. With improvements to roadways, wait times at those intersections are expected to be relatively small during a.m. and p.m. hours. Without the improvements, the study projects average westbound morning delays at Medlock Bridge Road and Johns Creek Parkway could increase from 186 seconds without Medley to 277 seconds with the development. The study recommends numerous projects for reducing congestion in the area. Haggard said the city has already widened lanes at Medlock Bridge Road and Johns Creek Parkway and plans to add a third northbound and southbound lane at Medlock Bridge Road and McGinnis Ferry Road. The city is currently in a right-of-way acquisition phase for a project to add a third north and south through lane on Medlock Bridge Road from East Johns Creek Crossing to Johns Creek Parkway. A Medley representative said the project will replace a former State Farm corporate campus that once included two office buildings totaling 564,000 square feet and over 2,200 parking spaces. “When State Farm left, the campus sat empty for about five years,” the representative, Raechel Blitchington Lyden, said. “The roads have been quieter since, but that

was a temporary lull, not the norm. These streets were built to serve a major corporate campus, and Medley is bringing the site back to life.” The representative said Medley, unlike the former State Farm campus, will spread its traffic over hours with vehicles moving both directions. She compared that traffic flow to the State Farm office, which saw employees leaving or arriving all at once. Haggard added the mixed-use center also will reduce trips because it contains numerous shopping, dining and recreation destinations within one location. Nearby resident David Dabo said he already has begun to see more traffic on roadways since the opening of Trader Joe’s at Medley. The grocery store opened in June. “Traffic is already bad, and Medley coming definitely will make it worse,” Dabo said. “But the hope is a lot of work being done will help to alleviate that.” Currently, traffic on Medlock Bridge and McGinnis Ferry roads, two of the city’s busiest roadways, is already considerable, he said. But Dabo said he balances those potential delays with the benefits Medley will bring the city. Additional jobs, dining opportunities and shopping should help out the local economy considerably, he noted. “I just need to plan ahead and leave home 15 or 20 minutes ahead of time to get wherever I’m going,” he said. “No matter what you do, traffic is going to be bad.” Meyyappan Chetty, another nearby resident, said his morning commute is already inundated with traffic, requiring him to leave before the roadways get even more difficult. On the way back in the evening, traffic is usually bumper to bumper. He said he worries what effect Medley will have on those already lengthy drives. “The commute, especially in my case, is actually bad, and this is probably going to add to it,” he said. Chetty said he also worries about the roadways and the effect of Medley on traffic before some road improvements are completed. “Even though the city says it’s not going to be too bad, it’s hard to say,” he said. “It’s definitely something people are worried about.”

Hampton Logan, age 83, of Milton, GA passed away on September 28, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory

Gail Gibson, age 86, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on September 29, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Carolyn Smith, age 82, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on September 28, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Bonita Tillman, age 94, of Roswell, GA passed away on October 5, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory. June Thomas, age 88, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on September 24, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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Judith Erhardt, age 88, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on September 29, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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Puzzles

rier 10/1/26 Connect-It

PuzzleJunction.com

Connect-It

Each line 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 5, 4 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!

Johns Creek Herald ..........................October 15, 2026 | 27

MAD MONEY

Dunwoody Crier 10/1/26 Crossword

Across

PuzzleJunction.com

1. Long-tailed colorful parrot. British money. Stinger. 2. Big cat. Ne’er-do-well. Cambodian cash. 3. “Seinfeld” regular. Like the Vikings. Japanese money. 4. EU money. Recipe direction. Martini addition. 5. Beige. Baltimore baseballer. Mexican money. 6. Kind of ray. Say with certainty. Sri Lankan money. 7. Exploding star. Croquet area. Money of Israel. PuzzleJunction.com

12 13 14 15 1 Tennis great Arthur 16 17 18 19 5 Carry 21 22 20 9 Harpoon 3 12 Fired a gun 23 24 25 26 13 Change for a five 14 Oklahoma city 4 27 28 29 16 Gentle 31 32 33 34 17 1961 Haley Mills 30 5 family flick 37 38 35 36 20 Get older 21 Washer cycle 41 39 40 6 22 Tristan’s love 42 43 44 23 Following 25 Gender (Abbr.) 45 46 47 48 49 0/1/26 Sudoku7 26 Japanese coin 27 Aviator 50 51 52 53 54 55 Dunwoody 10/1/26 Kakuro PuzzleJunction.com How to Solve: Each line in theMad puzzleMoney above has Crier three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is 28 Coffee order the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each 1. Long-tailed colorful parrot. British money. Stinger. 58 56 57 30 Kind of prize 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 Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number 31 1985 Eastwood for 3 answers on thepuzzle, line. Buteach here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually To the solve the Sudoku row, column and 2. Big cat. Ne’er-do-well. Cambodian cash. 59 60 61 above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum epic be the second or the thirdnumbers answer in1that line. Good inluck! boxformust contain to of 9. the Got whiteit? squares the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence. 35 Surrealist Max 3. “Seinfeld” regular. Like the Vikings. Japanese money. 62 63 64 37 Skater Midori 4. EU money. Recipe direction. Martini addition. Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com 38 Itsy-bitsy 39 1992 Charles 61 Emerald ___ 9 2008 Steve Carell 33 Jealousy 5. Beige. Baltimore baseballer. Mexican money. Grodin doggie movie remake of 62 Thing, in law 34 Bread type 6. Kind of ray. Say with certainty. Sri lanka money. flick 63 Persian spirit TV series 36 1963 Hitchcock 41 Preserve 64 Attention-getter 10 Division word classic 7. Exploding star. Croquet area. Money of Israel. 42 Sp. Mr. 11 Young females 40 Nonstop 43 Big name in oil 15 Florida’s MiamiDown 43 1982 Ben 45 Nile viper ___ County Kingsley epic 48 Wager 1 The Thin Man 18 Family girl 44 Bard’s “before” 49 Vaughan of jazz 19 Corral canine 45 “___ du lieber!” 50 French composer 21 ___-Foy, Que. 2 Carpet type 46 Vegas attraction 52 Sharpen 3 1990 Macaulay 24 Beginnings 47 Might 53 Marry 25 Crook Culkin silliness 49 Navigational aid 56 1992 Anthony 4 Season, in France 27 Duffer’s cry 51 French door part Hopkins film 5 1937 Cary Grant 28 Office stamp 52 Blood pigment 58 Loathsome comedy 29 Big party 54 Fashion magazine 59 Make one’s way 6 Walking ___ 30 Cotillion girl 55 View as through a crowd 7 Sea swallow 31 Turning point 57 Dupe Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com 60 Asian nurse How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a 8 Compass pt. 32 1974 Bronson flick 58 By means of

1 3 9

1 8 5 6 8 9 1 7 2 6 4 1 2 8 6 2 3 4

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

challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Solution

Solution 9 1 3 5 6 7 4 8 2

4 8 5 9 3 2 6 7 1

7 2 6 8 1 4 5 9 3

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THE FUTURE OF LOCAL NEWS

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Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

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Position 1 – Software Developers/Software Engineer Develop Java/Spring Boot microservices applications using REST APIs, Angular, SQL, AWS, & DevOps tools. Req: Master’s+1 yr Progressively responsible exp. Wages: $135658 /yr.

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Project Engineer (Johns Creek, GA): Dsgn structural components. Prep estimates/scopes. Dvlp preliminary designs/material takeoffs. Check calcs/ codes/specs/dsgns. Dvlp conceptual layouts/cost studies. Review vendor drawings/provide structural input. Req. BS in Civil Engg./closely reltd/foreign equiv + 5 yrs. relev exp. 2 yrs. exp. in ASCE/AISC/ACI/ SACS/RISA3D/ STAADPro/TEDDS/modular Structural dsgn/forensic analysis/AutoCAD/Revit software/ Enelcalc/MS office. Mail resume to Soft Source, Inc. 6470 East John’s Crossing, Ste. 160, Johns Creek, GA 30097

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Responsibilities include: • Human resources administration and staff support • Church operational and administrative functions • Technology systems coordination and support • Insurance, compliance, and records management • Vendor and contractor administration To apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com

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Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk 1L (Building and Grounds/Custodial/ Maintenance) (part-time position) to perform facility maintenance and grounds keeping duties. Requires some heavy lifting, high school diploma or equivalency and a valid GA driver’s license. Related experience with outdoor maintenance equipment and a valid CDL are preferred. Hours: Availability for alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours.

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Ross: City should have residents pick fiscal fate

Public Service Commission race headed to runoff election

► PAGE 3

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Wills Park brims with area visitors on Fourth of July By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

A girl waves an American flag as she dances to music by Davis and the Love at Roswell Area Park July 4.

PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA

Kendall, from left, John, Brooks and Reid Hill sit on a picnic blanket at Roswell Area Park to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Roswell crowd celebrates America’s 249th birthday By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Food trucks, live music and fireworks were on the menu for America’s birthday in Roswell. A crowd of over 1,000 piled into Roswell Area Park July 4 to celebrate America’s 249th birthday.

Kendall and John Hill travelled from East Cobb to bring their two little ones to the show. “The kids love it,” John Hill said. Baseball fields and multi-use fields were filled with families and friends awaiting the firework show at dusk.

See FOURTH, Page 23

OPINION

See FIREWORKS, Page 24

DR. INGRID REYES

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Business owner crafts calm in the chaos

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

From left, Traci Foreman, Chris Foreman and John Hanley watch fireworks in Wills Park July 4.

► PAGE 8

DR. NADA MEGALLY

EMILY DIXON, CNM

DR. MIRANDA LONG

8TH YEAR IN A ROW!

THANK YOU!

KEIANNA HALEY, CNM

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KRISTINE RAYNARD, CNM

ALPHARETTA | JOHNS CREEK | CUMMING

Best OB/GYN DR. TINA LU

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Residents celebrate, remember meaning behind Juneteenth

By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The heart of the holiday was shining through the music, food and fun of Creek’s Juneteenth celebration. As the sun set on a warm Saturday evening, Midway grandmother Matilda Riles sat in a lawnchair, watching her grandchildren play on the park lawn amid the sound of booming live music and mouthwatering aroma of food trucks. Before the fun started, Riles, who attended with three generations of family, educated the kids about the reason for Juneteenth. “It's a point in time when enslaved people no longer had to be enslaved, and certain places did not relay the message at the time that it should have been relayed,” Riles said. “And, therefore this is a celebration as to when the final group of people were told you no longer had to be enslaved.” Several thousand visitors descended on the city’s annual celebration at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, doubling last year’s attendance. The celebration resembled a giant block party with live music performances, chatting neighbors, plenty of food and rows of arts and craft vendors.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The perfect biscuit is like a warm hug, said Brandy White, owner of Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company. “It kind of warms your soul,” White said. “It feels like home to me.” Since 2001, the Sawnee Mountain Biscuit has operated out of a renovated mobile home at 104 13th St., serving perfect pillowy biscuits wrapped around eggs, cheese, bacon and other breakfast staples. With dozens of items on the menu, the restaurant features other tasty offerings from French toast to a house-made pimento cheese. Tucked into a sleepy neighborhood on the edge of Cumming, Sawnee Mountain Biscuit might easily be taken as another house, but locals say the squat, blue-clapboard building is one of the town’s best breakfast spots. Over the decades, the restaurant has earned a cult following in Cumming and the north Atlanta area, serving as many as 400 orders some mornings.

JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

Brandy White holds her 1-year-old daughter, Lennon, at the entrance to her Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company on 13th Street just outside Cumming.

“We focus on personal, compassionate care”

EMILY CHUNG, FNP

PAIGE MAROLF, WHNP

LANA WERTZ, CNM

ERICA RICHMOND, CNM

LAURA WIESE, CNM

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is working to complete converting an old elementary school into a law enforcement training center. Since October, the training center has hosted a public safety academy as part of a partnership between the sheriff’s office and University of North Georgia. The academy, funded by the

ROI

matters.

sheriff’s office, provides training for law enforcement officers in Forsyth County and surrounding jurisdictions, Capt. Rob Heagerty said. At an April 22 work session, the County Board of Commissioners discussed a proposal to allocate $47,993 for design services with ar chitectural firm Wiley Wilson to create plans, conduct inspections and

make changes to water heaters. The sheriff’s office wants to install showers and locker rooms at the building at 4805 Atlanta Highway, Heagerty said. The improvements are important because exercise and physical conditioning are essential in maintaining capable deputies, he said. The building already houses classrooms, meeting rooms, a cafeteria,

gym, simulator room and an empty wing where deputies can conduct building-clearing and other training exercises. The work is part of a second phase to transform former Midway Elementary School into a law enforcement training center.

See SHERIFF, Page 12

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Greenhouse complex- Across from the Skate Park in Brookrun Park, Dunwoody

S e p t e m b e r 2 5 , 2 0 2 5 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 0 , N o . 3 9

County restores original funding to cultural arts

Children play in the lawn at Newtown Park during a Juneteenth celebration in Johns Creek June 21. JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to restore funding for a program within the Arts & Culture Department to $3 million a year Sept. 17. While the unanimous vote reflects unity and bipartisanship, some commissioners criticized colleagues for the delay. The item, sponsored by Democratic commissioners Khadijah AbdurRahman and Marvin Arrington Jr. and Republican commissioners Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne, includes an increase of $1.7 million for a previously requested program and its full $3 million in funding set aside in the 2026 budget.

See JUNETEENTH, Page 10

ATLANTA — Fulton County Jail employee has been indicted in federal court for allegedly using excessive force against prisoners. The 47-year-old sergeant is accused of repeatedly using tasers on compliant, nonresisting pre-trial detainees on three occa-

sions last January and writing false reports about each of the incidents. “The (Justice Department’s) Civil Rights Division has zero tolerance for law enforcement officers who abuse public trust through excessive force and concealing their misconduct,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “We will vigorously safeguard the constitutional

Dunwoody opens doors to refine future land-use By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Front center, Ann Hanlon, executive director of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, holds the ribbon for phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 while City Councilman Tom Lambert, front right, gets ready to cut it. The Perimeter CIDs and Dunwoody split the project’s $1.5 million construction cost.

Commercial partners and city celebrate new path By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

See FULTON, Page 20

Fulton jail staff faces civil rights indictments By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

April 10, 2025 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com

County considers funding for sheriff’s training facility Two-year-old Cameron holds a beach ball at the City of Roswell Fourth of July celebration at Roswell Area Park.

► PAGE 5

2024 DR. JOHN REYES

Biscuit eatery rises to meet high demand

See BISCUIT, Page 6

County delays closing Alpharetta jail site

Pitts: Raising millage rate would be mistake

► PAGE 4

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thousands filled Wills Park to celebrate July 4 with a bang. Hours before darkness fell, friends and families filled the park’s lawns, Equestrian Center, trails and athletic fields. Everywhere, children played, cartwheeling, running, tossing balls and waving glow sticks. Alpharettan Lindsey Landis, her husband, two children and two dogs were part the crowd, passing the golden hour on a blanket laid out on the grass.

J u n e 2 6 , 2 0 2 5 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 9 , N o . 2 6

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rights of all individuals, including those in custody.” “Abuses of power of this kind are unconstitutional, erode our community’s trust, and will be prosecuted,” added Theodore S. Hertzberg, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Solomon faces up to 10 years in prison for each federal civil rights violation and 20

Life Time Perimeter revives health club site ► PAGE 4

Summer Veggies Annuals Pollinator Plants and So Much More! Friday April 11- Sunday April 13

years behind bars for each false report. The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case based on a referral from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

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RACHEL PROVOW

Doggie-paddle Pets enjoy cool, pool party at Last Splash Puppy Bash

2025

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Miniature goldendoodle Lexi cools off at the Milton city pool on Sept. 13. Canine companions gathered there to celebrate summer’s end. See the story and more photos from Sarah Donehoo on page 18.

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A look down the completed phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 shows the two-way cycle track parallel to the revamped sidewalk.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody elected officials, city staff and Perimeter Community Improvement Districts Executive Director Ann Hanlon cut the ribbon April 3 on phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path. “We’re super proud to partner with the city of Dunwoody on building this trail project,” Hanlon

said. “And we’ll look forward to many more phases to come.” A little over two years ago, the group gathered at the same spot near the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Hammond Drive for phase one’s groundbreaking. Phase one of the corridor’s path includes a two-way raised cycle track separated from traffic by a wide landscape buffer

See PATH, Page 17

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody is streamlining development rules and updating its vision for the city’s future as part of a state-mandated overhaul. City officials and representatives from consulting firm TSW Design, which was tasked with creating a plan, gave a two-hour presentation about the changes April 1 during a special meeting at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Residents received and discussed the creation of a unified development ordinance and changes to the city’s comprehensive plan. Dunwoody is updating its comprehensive plan as part of a state mandate that requires an overhaul every five years, said Allison Stewart-Harris, an associate principal and planner at TSW. Stewart-Harris presented the changes to about 30 residents who attended the meeting.

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SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs announced that the Billboard Music Award-winning band Lit is headlining Friday night Sept. 26 at the third annual Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival. The festival will take place in the heart of Sandy Springs Friday, Sept. 26, from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Lit is an American rock band from Orange County,

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Motorists line up at the Boylston Drive signal to turn left onto Hammond Drive Aug. 14. Sandy Springs will begin work in September to realign Boylston to the east and eliminate a nearby traffic light.

Realignment construction begins on Hammond-Boylston intersection

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Sandy Springs said Billboard Music Award-winning band, Lit, is headlining this year’s festival Sept. 26-27 at City Springs.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs contractors are set to begin work in September on realigning the intersection of Boylston and Hammond drives and removing a redundant traffic light. The city says work will last around 15 months, and the intersection will remain open during construction, but there will be occasional lane closures so crews can get the work done safely. Initially, city officials expected the project

to begin in mid-August. No explanation was given. Currently, there are two separate sets of traffic lights less than 100 feet away from one another, one at the Hammond Glen Retirement Community’s driveway and another at the office building next door. The new configuration will shift Boylston Drive to the east, aligning it with the Hammond Glen driveway and eliminating the traffic light at the driveway to the office building at 325 Hammond Drive.

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California, formed in 1988. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1999 power-pop punk album “A Place in the Sun” and its massive hit single “My Own Worst Enemy.” The band is set to headline the main stage Friday night at 8 p.m. In addition to Lit, the family-friendly festival features music all day long across multiple stages, an artist market with more than 80 vendors and a Kids Zone.

See LIT, Page 9

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Billboard Music Award winner to headline Sandy Springs fest By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

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About 30 residents fill a dining room at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road April 1 to hear a presentation by TSW Design planner Allison Stewart-Harris, who spoke on the city’s future land-use strategy.

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