Milton Herald — January 28, 2021

J a n u a r y 2 8 , 2 0 2 1 | N o r t h F u l t o n . 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 1 6 , N o . 4

School staffing woes hinder return to class

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Milton Conservancy Group founded

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CITY OF MILTON/SPECIAL

Milton welcomes new fire chief

Mayor Joe Lockwood (right) swears in Milton’s new fire chief, Gabe Benmoussa, at the City Council’s Jan. 20 meeting. Benmoussa, who comes to Milton after serving as a deputy fire chief in Washington and Oregon, officially began his tenure as the department’s second fire chief last week.

Woman works to erase Georgian’s medical debt

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2 | January 28, 2021 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

770-442-3278 | NorthFulton.com 319 N. Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009 PUBLISHER EMERITUS: Ray Appen PUBLISHER: Hans Appen MANAGING EDITOR: Patrick Fox EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: Alpharetta: ext. 118, Roswell ext. 122 Dunwoody Crier: ext. 143 Forsyth Herald: ext. 118 Johns Creek Herald: ext. 123 Milton Herald: ext. 139 Calendar: ext. 122 TO SUBMIT EDITORIAL: News/Press Releases: NorthFulton.com/Sponsored Calendar/Events: NorthFulton.com/Calendar ADVERTISING QUESTIONS: General Advertising: ext. 100 advertising@appenmediagroup.com Classified Advertising: ext. 119 classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Circulation/Subscriptions/Delivery: ext. 100 circulation@appenmediagroup.com OUR PUBLICATIONS: Alpharetta-Roswell Herald: 28,000 circulation Johns Creek Herald: 20,000 circulation Dunwoody Crier: 18,000 circulation Forsyth Herald: 17,000 circulation Milton Herald: 10,000 circulation Answer Book: 40,000 circulation

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NEWS

Fulton Schools looks to vaccination for return to ‘normal’ operations

By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The expanded availability of the COVID-19 vaccination and the willingness to get the shots may be key to the full return of students and staff to school buildings across the Fulton School System.

Last week, approximately 47 percent of the district’s nearly 90,500 students opted to return to face to face learning for the second semester. This number is slightly higher than the group which opted to return to schools in October when classrooms re-opened.

District officials acknowledge opening classrooms is one hurdle, but fully staffing those classrooms is the bigger issue.

Fulton Schools reservoir of substitute teachers is coming up short.

“The sub challenge is a national one that is significantly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on schools,” said Brian Noyes, chief communication officer for Fulton Schools.

“So the challenge still exists for Fulton Schools because COVID-19 remains a significant crisis.”

Teachers and staff are often part of the group that must be quarantined for COVID-19 related reasons creating a constant need for subs. There is also a reluctance of substitute teachers to accept an assignment out of health concerns.

Noyes said the significant increase in substitute teacher pay that went into effect in December should entice more people to sign up to be subs. Daily pay rates now range from $175 to $200 — almost double the pre-pandemic rate.

“We hope [the increase] will help and encourage more subs to accept assignments, but we don’t expect it to fully enable us to overcome the significant impact caused by COVID-19,” Noyes said.

Fulton Schools has approximately

6,900 teachers in its 14,000 total work force.

Earlier this month, Fulton Schools partnered with the Fulton County Public Health Department to offer the COVID-19 vaccination to all employees 65 and older, along with their qualifying spouses.

About half the district’s 1,100 eligible employees received the vaccination, which officials deemed a success. “[Vaccinations] are still a voluntary effort, and we consider it a success that people who wanted to get one were able to do so,” Noyes said. “We know there are a lot of differing personal opinions, but public health and the CDC are recommending it…so we wanted to offer it.”

Those who received the first vaccination will return for the second round on Feb. 6. Vaccinations will not be mandatory for staff, Noyes confirmed.

The state is currently in Phase 1A of the vaccination rollout, with only medical staff, first responders and those over 65 eligible for the COVID vaccination. The remaining education staff will be priority groups in Phase 1B, with the state Department of Public Health managing the rollout.

School Superintendent Mike Looney said he along with school leaders across the state are pushing hard to get to the next phase and allow teachers to get in line for the vaccination.

“We are doing everything we can as a school district to advocate for our educators to be vaccinated as quickly as humanly possible,” Looney said. “We are [urging] everyone from the governor’s office all the way through elected officials for that to happen.”

The state’s largest educator advocacy group is also asking the state to speed up the availability of the vaccination to front line teaching staff. The Professional Association of Teachers (PAGE) represents the state’s 95,000 educators and

See SCHOOLS, Page 11

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.

Police investigate fight over sharing gas money MILTON, Ga. — Travelers in town for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday began fighting at a Chevron gas station along Deerfield Parkway on Jan. 17.

Police responded and found a group of men yelling near the gas pumps. One of the men told officers they were all from Virginia and had come to visit Georgia over the weekend for MLK Day. According to police, the owner of the vehicle stopped to get gas but told the passengers he was out of money and needed all of them to pay for the fuel. That angered one of his passengers and the two began arguing. The passenger tossed luggage from the trunk into a row of bushes and used the car keys to stab and deflate both passenger side tires.

At that point, the passenger and driver began fighting. By the time police arrived, both men had separated but they had bloody noses, police indicated in the incident report. Neither of the men opted to press charges and no arrests were made.

Tax scam reported

by Milton woman MILTON, Ga. — A Turbo Tax scam was reported Jan. 15 by a woman who claimed someone opened an account in her and her husband’s names using the tax filing service.

The victim said she got an email from Turbo Tax that someone was trying to file a 2020 tax return using the couple’s identity. The woman said she and her husband had yet to file their tax returns. Turbo Tax flagged the account as fraudulent before the return was submitted to the IRS, police said.

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NEWS

Milton unveils plan for Morris Road widening

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — Milton city leaders showcased the drafted plan to widen Morris Road, another piece in a districtwide push to ease east-west traffic near Ga. 400.

Relief isn’t right around the corner, though. The proposal, unveiled at the City Council’s Jan. 20 meeting, will be fine-tuned in upcoming months, and right of way acquisition is slated to begin this summer. The city expects to send the project to bid for construction in fall 2022.

The project is designed to complement the widening of McGinnis Ferry Road, another major east-west corridor which adjoins Morris Road farther east. Though Milton has no hand in that project, the Morris Road widening will create a wider corridor that should

mitigate congestion in the surrounding area.

As proposed, Morris Road will be widened from two to four lanes with a median from its intersection with Webb Road to Bethany Bend. The roundabout at Webb Road will also be expanded in the north-south direction, and a south “through” lane will be added at the intersection of Bethany Bend.

The plan also calls for a type of intersection unfamiliar to some drivers. The proposal includes restricted crossing U-turns, or RCUTs, at Morris’ intersections with Deer Trail, Flamingo Road and Lathene Drive.

All traffic from these side roads will be required to turn right onto Morris Road and can then make a U-turn at nearby points in the median that will be constructed.

Daniel Sabia, a project manager with consultants Pond & Company, said

RCUTs allow drivers to only navigate one direction of traffic and can dramatically reduce fatal and injury crashes. They will also reduce congestion along Morris Road with side-street traffic only joining the major roadway in one direction.

The widening project will also benefit pedestrians and bicyclists. The north side of the road’s expansion will include a 10-foot, multi-use pathway and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the southern portion. The paths will allow Milton to connect with the Big Creek Greenway, a popular trail system running through Roswell and Alpharetta into Forsyth County.

Sabia told the council the proposed upgrades “will work far into the future” for easing congestion, but the need to expand the roadway has already arrived.

Morris Road is reaching a traffic threshold that calls for expansion, he said, and the McGinnis Ferry widening and

interchange with Ga. 400 will only serve to increase commuters along Morris.

The McGinnis Ferry widening project calls for adding a lane in each direction along a 4.7-mile stretch from Sargent Road in Johns Creek west to Union Hill Road in Alpharetta. McGinnis Ferry serves as an asphalt border between the North Fulton cities and Forsyth County, with each city sharing about 2.3 miles of the roadway with its northern neighbor.

Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Forsyth County have divvied up funding for the project with some added dollars coming from the state. The cost for the project was originally anticipated to run around $35 million, but that price tag has nearly doubled. Forsyth and the two North Fulton municipalities are currently acquiring right-of-way for the project.

Along with the widening, a new $48 million interchange with McGinnis Ferry at Ga. 400 is in its initial stages.

Milton faction forms to preserve city’s dwindling greenspaces Milton Conservancy Group look to curb development, promote city’s natural areas

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. — Elisabeth Drevert moved to Milton about a decade ago, drawn in by the city’s undisturbed areas, farms and its unique charm the city’s neighbors could not provide. Now, she’s a main player in a push to preserve the aspects of Milton that spurred her to make it her home.

Drevert and a group of others have created the Milton Conservancy Group, a nonprofit aimed at preserving and promoting the city’s undeveloped areas while encouraging and educating residents to experience and relish those spaces.

The fledgling group gave a presentation to the Milton City Council at its Jan. 20 meeting.

Drevert told the council the newly formed organization is passionate about land conservations and understands that actions need to be taken to further that cause in Milton. It comes as Milton has become a more desirable place to call home with its developed areas spread into different areas in the city.

And with it’s appeal to outsiders and increasing property values, many owners of large tracts of land are selling and subdividing for developers to snatch up to construct neighborhoods.

While the conservancy group cannot stop the rising tide of development, they

are advocating to preserve all they can.

“This is really about conservation,” Drevert said. “Once gone, this land is gone forever. So, we need to be able to not only partner with public landowners, such as the city, but also private landowners as well. Yes, we’ve lost some farms…but that doesn’t mean we still can’t protect and preserve what’s here.”

While the city has made its own efforts to preserve some greenspace, Drevert, a former member of the Milton Equestrian Committee, said there the community was deficient in a way to get involved, another push to create the conservancy.

“Milton was really lacking an organization…for citizens to get into to protect and preserve why they moved here, to protect and preserve their land, and just Milton in general and (its) character,” Drevert said.

The first mission, she said, is raising awareness and gaining volunteers.

Residents can sign up to be a member of the group at miltonlandconservancy. org, learn more info by contacting info@ miltonlandconservancy.org or following the group’s Facebook page.

“Please come join,” Drevert said. “It does take a village to make this work, and we’re ready for it. It’s going to be an uphill battle, we just want to make sure we make Milton even better than what it is.”

The group also plans to supplement

While the conservancy group cannot stop the rising tide of development, they are advocating to preserve all they can.

SPECIAL

Milton Conservancy Group member Elisabeth Drevert speaks to the Milton City Council at its Jan. 20 meeting outlining the alliance’s push to conserve land in the city.

the city’s efforts to preserve land.

Over the last few years, Milton’s $25 million Greenspace Bond had funded the purchase of over 400 acres of land for the city, which can only be used for conservation or passive parks. Drevert said the conservancy group wants to boost those efforts.

She said her group wants to assist those conservation and maintenance efforts on those properties, including trails. Drevert said the COVID-19 pandemic has shown how cathartic it can be to get outside and experience nature, and the group wants to increase access to the outdoors and wildlife in Milton.

In her presentation to the council, she said it is “absolutely necessary” the group and city join efforts. But by creating a volunteer advocacy group, it is easier for residents to get involved.

Members of the City Council who spoke out shared their support for the group.

Councilwoman Laura Bentley said she has no doubt about the group’s success given the passion of those already involved, and councilman Rick Mohrig said the alliance’s efforts will be a “good compliment” to those of the city.

Mayor Joe Lockwood said land conservancy is a major component in the city’s five-year strategic plan it is currently drafting.

Councilwoman Carol Cookerly also shared her favor for the group but was forthright in stating such efforts needs to be well-funded.

Drevert said the group will begin fundraising efforts, but the pandemic may put those ventures on hold until next year.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | January 28, 2021 | 5

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6 | January 28, 2021 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

NEWS

Officials relate dangers, stress diligence as vaccine rollout continues

By KATIE ANDERSON newsroom@appenmediagroup.com METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — Newly elected State Sen. Dr. Michelle Au and State Rep. Angelika Kausche joined local experts on a virtual community forum to give an update on the area’s COVID situation and address concerns on Jan. 14.

Dr. Audrey Arona, district director of the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments, explained that the 14-day positivity rates for the area sit at around 27.8 percent. That’s up significantly from the 6.9 percent rate recorded on Nov. 9, 2020.

“My message to the community is that, look, we have done some major damage over the holidays, and we need to get back to whatever behaviors and everything we were doing prior to Nov. 9, and even do a better job of that now,” she said.

Sen. Au said the variant strain of COVID is now present in the U.S. and Georgia.

Alana Sulka, director of epidemiology and infectious diseases of the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments, explained despite the growing fear associated with the new COVID strain, virus mutation is normal and not as scary as it seems.

“I think some good things that we need to remember is that not all mutations make something more dangerous, make something more deadly,” Sulka said. “While it does seem that this may spread a little bit easier... there’s been no indication that it confers more severe disease, or is more likely to lead to severe infection or death.”

Dr. Arona added that the existing vaccine should also cover this mutant strain.

Jessica Corbett, director of External Affairs for Fulton County and a member of the county’s COVID response team, addressed the vaccine rollout in Fulton

and issues the county has faced already.

Fulton County has three vaccine rollout sites, one in Atlanta, a second in Alpharetta on Northpoint Parkway and one at the Mercedes Benz Stadium.

The first issue the county faced, Corbett said, was the demand exceeding the supply. As of right now, the vaccine is available to people who fall into Phase 1A— those over the age of 65 and first responders. The next phase, 1B will concentrate primarily on essential workers, and 1C will target the population 64 years of age and younger with concurrent medical problems.

Phase 2 will move onto group homes, jails and detention centers and homeless shelters. The general population, those who do not fall into any of the other categories, will have the option to be vaccinated in Phase 3.

“One of the things we really want to assure folks is that the plan will allow us to vaccinate more and more people as we get to go through the process,” Corbett said.

The county faced initial difficulties with its scheduling software resulting in severe overbooking and frustrated patients. Corbett said the county is fixing the scheduling issues and is committed to having appointments to schedule online.

Overall, the message to citizens was to continue to be diligent and follow the CDC guidelines, not fall victim to the “COVID fatigue” and to encourage those who are offered the vaccine to take it.

“I totally sympathize with that, I’m sure we all do, with this desire to return back to pre-pandemic life,” Sen. Au said. “But it’s one of those things where we can’t get through this until we get it under control.”

Vaccine rollout information and appointment scheduling can be found on the Georgia Department of Health’s website at www.dph.georgia.gov.

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SCHOOLS

Educator survey focuses on school challenges during pandemic

By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA — Persistent teacher shortages, increased workloads and lost learning are the consequences of schools shutting down during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent survey of teachers by the state’s largest education association.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has placed new demands on Georgia’s public schools…with no guidebook for best practices to operate,” noted Claire Suggs, senior policy analyst with the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, who authored the 2021 Legislative Survey report.

Nearly 6,300 educators in Georgia responded to the PAGE survey, representing 171 of the state’s 180 school districts.

The results of the survey, conducted in November and December, are used for advocacy efforts at the state and local level.

The survey found the pandemic had direct effects on academics, student well-being and family needs, along with the need to adapt existing policies on student instruction and assessments.

School districts began the 202021 school year with a $1 billion cut in funding from the previous year which impacted the ability to manage COVID demands at the start.

The survey found the pandemic had direct effects on academics, student well-being and family needs, along with the need to adapt existing policies on student instruction and assessments.

CARES act federal funding last spring filled the gaps, and an increase in state funding and additional stimulus funds this year will make up much of the lost revenue and added expenses moving forward.

“Though deeply challenging, current circumstances [because of COVID] provide an opportunity for policymakers and educators to build on the policies and practices they have already implemented to support public schools,” Suggs wrote in the report.

Of primary concern cited by educators was the demands placed on them to teach students in both classroom and

virtual formats, as well as trying to stem the loss of learning after months of flux.

One high school teacher said her students were “missing prior skills they were supposed to gain last spring which makes it difficult to build on top of them [because] math builds as the years progress.”

Fewer than 20 percent of educators believe the state’s annual Milestones Assessments, help educators improve student learning.

Many educators said students are challenged outside of school by the fear of COVID, disruptions in daily routines and food insecurities, especially during breaks and weekends. More than half of teachers said tending to their students’ social and emotional well-being was as important as academics.

Based on the survey results, PAGE recommendations for policymakers include support for student mental health, continuation of efforts to fully fund schools, making Georgia the top state in which to teach by investing in educators, and aligning assessments to meet parent and student needs.

A copy of the PAGE survey results can be found at https:// www.pageinc.org/wp-content/ uploads/2017/05/2021-LegislativeSurvey-Report.pdf.

Key insights from the PAGE Educator Survey • Nearly 90 percent of educators say the school shutdown had a negative impact including lost learning time in math and reading • Over 80 percent of educators are spending more time communicating with parents and having to cover classes for absent colleagues • 75 percent of educators say students have higher social-emotional needs this year • Nearly half of educators are teaching both in-person and virtually; and having to cover classes for colleagues who are not available • Nearly 30 percent of educators with less than 20 years of experience say they will leave the profession in the next decade; 14 percent say they will leave in the next five years • Fewer than 20 percent of educators say the Georgia Milestones annual assessment provides information to improve education

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SBA Second Draw loans gather momentum Hardest hit businesses line up for second wave of government support

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmediagroup.com METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — Small businesses are rushing to get a share of another round of SBA loans being offered through the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

Access to the loans rolled out in stages this month, with minority and community development depository institutions eligible first. Institutions with a billion dollars or less in assets were given access to the process Jan. 15, and all financial institutions came on board Jan. 19.

The new wave of loans is available to first-time applicants and to those businesses that received PPP loans during the first two rounds of the program last year.

The first round of SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program loans, issued in mid-April 2020, totaled some $350 billion and were gone in less than two weeks. A second round for $310 billion was made available April 27, and half the money had been awarded within the first week. But the rush cooled quickly, leaving more than $130 billion unallocated when applications ended in August.

Overall, Georgia’s roughly 235 chartered lending institutions provided more than $14.7 billion in loans to nearly 175,000 small businesses through the 2020 PPP program, said David Oliver, senior vice president of the Georgia

Bankers Association. The average loan was for $84,306.

Nationally, the program is credited with helping 5.2 million small businesses keep 51 million American workers employed.

Demand is high Applications for the current wave of PPP loans is backed with about $284 billion in funding and runs through March 31.

“We are seeing a lot of demand,” said Joe Brannen, Georgia Bankers Association president and CEO. “We are seeing more demand for Second Draw loans, more so than we are First Draw loans.”

Brannen said when the application deadline for First Draw loans closed last August, demand appeared to have been met.

“But, the Second Draw, because that wasn’t available before, we’ve got a fair number of borrowers taking advantage of that,” he said.

Brannen said it’s too early to track which business sectors are applying for the new loans, but logically, it would be those that were the hardest hit.

“That’s what the Second Draw program is for, those businesses that can show they had a 25 percent drop in revenues in comparable quarters between 2019 and 2020,” Brannen said. “That’s going to be hospitality, it’s going to be restaurants, it’s going to be the businesses that didn’t fully reopen.”

Guidelines for the 2021 PPP are generally the same as before for first-time applicants.

Second Draw PPP Loans are for eligible small businesses with 300 or fewer employees, that previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will use or have used the full amount only

The new wave of loans is available to firsttime applicants and to those businesses that received PPP loans during the first two rounds of the program last year. for authorized uses, and that can demonstrate at least a 25 percent decline in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. The maximum amount of a Second Draw PPP loan is $2 million.

Brannen said that in general, the loan process this time will be easier.

Many businesses have been through the application process before, and the government is using an upgraded platform that is far simpler for banks to navigate.

Brannen said he hopes small businesses will make use of the program.

“We had a lot of people who just didn’t bother to try last time, and I think that’s why we had a lot of money left over,” he said.

Loans to benefit local economy Kali Boatright, president and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, said she has heard from a number of area bankers reporting interest in the Second Draw is brisk.

“We encourage anyone seeking funds to contact their banker or accountant as

soon as possible,” she said. “As always, if there are any questions, the Greater North Fulton Chamber is happy to assist any business in North Fulton.”

Alan Najjar, director of Business Development at Smith & Howard accounting firm in Atlanta, said the new round of PPP loans will benefit the U.S. economy and especially the businesses in North Fulton. It will allow big and small financial institutions to continue assisting those businesses who did not request sufficient funds last year to get another bite out of the apple, he said.

“This second draw PPP allocation of $284 billion targets employers with less than 300 employees vs. 500 in round one,” Najjar said. “Round Two also specifically mentions the allowable use of proceeds for property damage, supplier costs, personal protection equipment, and it is significant that this new round allows news organizations, destination marketing organizations and 501c(6) nonprofit organizations like chambers of commerce to apply.”

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NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | January 28, 2021 | 11

Woman works to eliminate How my COVID shot went yesterday in Alpharetta Georgia’s medical debt Bills cripple families already in trouble

By TIFFANY GRIFFITH newsroom@appenmediagroup.com NORTH ATLANTA METRO, Ga. — When Elizabeth Beck was 13, her mother became disabled with a rare condition.

While most teens spent spring break running wild, Beck traveled to Washington D.C., so her mother could undergo experimental surgeries.

Despite her family’s hardships and sacrifices, Beck knows how fortunate they are.

“I’ve been very painfully aware for the last 20 years just how horrible a position we’d be in if she didn’t get to keep her insurance,” Beck said. “My family would be hundreds of thousands of dollars — at minimum — in the red.”

Beck is grateful her mother’s colleagues at Emory were determined BECK to take care of her, even when she could no longer work. Her gratitude eventually turned to curiosity and concern for those who aren’t as lucky.

“How many other people are going through this, but they don’t have the resources we do?” she wondered.

She began doing her homework on medical debt. It’s more expensive for hospitals and providers to pursue the debt, so it’s sold to collectors for pennies on the dollar. The more it’s traded, the less value it has. And over time, it’s less likely that a person who owes will pay their debt.

But the bill doesn’t diminish for the patient. It could even grow with penalties and interest. Not good news for someone whose bank account has been wiped out to pay for treatments like chemotherapy.

Families forgo treatment Beck said the growing debt has become a paralyzing burden for families statewide, and some choose to forgo expensive, but needed medical treatment to afford basic necessities.

“Just seeing the scope of how ruinous it is, and how it impacts people’s credit, and it makes it harder for them to obtain any social mobility,” Beck said.

“You get stuck in this hamster wheel. It’s really expensive to be poor.”

Data from the United Health Foundation shows 17.8-percent of Georgia adults avoided medical care due to the cost in 2020, and 13.4-percent were uninsured. In 2018, Georgia was above

the national average for overdue medical bills, with 30 percent falling behind, according to ARC Research.

Further studies by the Urban Institute found 13 percent of households in DeKalb County owe an average of $619 with 16 percent uninsured. In Forsyth County, 8 percent of households have an average of $637 in collections, with 9 percent uninsured. As for Fulton County, 12 percent of households owe an average of $554 in medical debt with 12 percent living without insurance coverage.

The debt is significantly higher for communities of color.

Throw in a recession and a once-in-acentury pandemic, and Beck figures the pipeline of medical debt could be devastating for Georgia families. So, in August, she launched a campaign to eliminate Georgia’s medical debt. She partnered with RIP Medical Debt, a 501(C)(3) founded by two former debt collectors.

“When people just can’t afford to be sick during a pandemic, I thought this just might give people some breathing room,” Beck said.

RIP Medical Debt uses the diminishing cost of debt to their advantage.

By purchasing it from collectors, the charity is able to pay off medical bills at a cheaper price. Every $1 raised can eliminate $180 worth of medical debt in the Peach State, Beck said. As of midJanuary, she surpassed her fundraising goal of $25,000. That could eliminate more than $3.5 million in debt, based on the varying averages of each county.

Campaign gains strength Beck’s campaign continues to gain momentum as she reaches out for grants and support from friends, business owners, elected officials and colleagues.

Although her main line of work is with Cushman & Wakefield as an associate appraiser, she is now making it her mission to eliminate Georgia’s medical debt, which currently stands at close to $214 million — and that’s just the amount RIP Medical Debt has access to.

“I can’t not do something knowing how far a single dollar could go,” Beck said.

“This could restore someone’s credit.”

She’s even had the support of complete strangers who donated more than just a dollar.

“A couple anonymous donations came in, too,” Beck said. “One for $1,700 and another for $1,200. And I said, ‘Who did this? I want to kiss you, and I’m so mad that I can never know who you are!’”

There’s an even greater good Beck hopes to accomplish. She sees her campaign as a

See DEBT, Page 19

If you might be interested in a few quick observations on getting your vaccine, this short quick read is for you!

The day they announced that people over 65 could sign up online for RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus appointments to get ray@appenmediagroup.com their first COVID vaccine shot, I did.

It took about 3 minutes to fill out the short form and I got my appointment for three days later.

The website to sign up is: https://fultoncountyboh.jotform. com/210075657162049. This pulls up a one-page, quick overview guide about who is currently eligible and provides a link to obtain your appointment, if any are available. Of note: on this page is also a field to give your email address to receive updates about vaccine availability.

I mentioned to a friend that I had my appointment, and they asked me if I wasn’t worried about getting it. They

Schools: Continued from Page 2 is working to expedite the vaccination rollout.

“As Georgia public schools struggle to meet the challenges of serving students in face-to-face settings and to protect students, staff, and the families both groups go home to, PAGE supports vaccine prioritization of all Georgia educators,” said Craig Harper, executive director for PAGE. State public health officials estimate Phase 1B will begin in early February.

didn’t think that they were going to get vaccinated. I asked them if they were crazy. Then I explained my logic.

Somewhere around 1 person in a thousand will die from COVID, I think.

I may be off in that but probably not by a lot, at least compared to the percentage of adverse reactions to the vaccination that have been reported, a number probably less than 10 or so out of a couple million vaccinations. So, let’s see, 1 in 1,000 you die from COVID, or 1 in more than 1,000,000 that you might have some bad reaction to the vaccine. Is there something I’m missing? As Dirty Harry said, “Do you feel lucky?” I think I like the 1 in way over 1,000,000 odds better.

In all, it took about an hour to get my vaccine. It was close to painless, both the wait and the shot. I got mine near Northpoint Mall, 4700 North Point Parkway.

Warning: The only complication I encountered in the entire process was parking, so instead of arriving about an hour before my appointment, I would encourage you to arrive probably

See RAY, Page 19 Solution A U D I T

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Can bumping your leg cause skin cancer?

Brought to you by — Dr. Brent Taylor Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta Multiple times over the last ten years, patients have told me that a skin cancer popped up DR. TAYLOR right where they banged their leg. Initially, I was skeptical of whether such mild trauma could cause skin cancer. One of my teachers speculated that patients were developing skin cancers first and then later noticed them when they bumped the area. However, patient were certain about the timeline and insisted that the bump caused the skin cancer. Who is right?

Can mild trauma cause skin cancer?

The medical literature is rife with examples of chronic trauma indirectly leading to skin cancer. For example, a “Marjolin’s ulcer” is a squamous cell carcinoma (squamous cell skin cancer) that arises from a chronic wound. While Marjolin’s ulcers are not common, they are an important diagnosis for doctors to avoid missing. Their danger is often due to delayed diagnosis. For example, a patient with an ulcer from bad veins on his or her leg may go to a wound care clinic and receive dressing changes intended to allow the wound to heal on its own.

When the ulcer fails to heal, everyone involved assumes it is still “just a venous ulcer.” Unfortunately, chronic ulcers can sometimes give rise to skin cancers – usually squamous cell carcinoma. The ulcer is no longer just a broken down area of skin from bad circulation. Instead, it is a skin cancer AND a broken down area from bad circulation. But the two conditions can look nearly identical in ulcerated form, and a biopsy is needed to make the diagnosis. Delays in diagnosis of the skin cancer can give it a chance to spread to other organs and lead to death. The stakes are high.

Why would a chronic wound give rise to skin cancer? The explanation is usually “cell turnover.” Areas of healthy skin usually have cells undergoing cell division (mitosis) at a very slow rate. Skin cells are quoted as replacing themselves every 28 days. Where skin is cut, injured or otherwise wounded, the replication rate goes up. Growth factors are released at sites of tissue damage to spur tissue regrowth and renewal. If you cut your skin or have a wound, cells need to grow and divide rapidly to replace the cells that were lost and to heal. Increased cell division means increased opportunity for error. Cell division is a vulnerable time.

When a cell is dividing, its DNA is more

susceptible to mutations and to making mistakes. Such mutations can increase cell growth rate and otherwise allow them to grow in an uncontrolled manner. Mutations cause cancer. So chronic wounds not unexpectedly generate skin cancers.

If chronic wounds can yield cancers, what about minor/short term wounds? Or even a bump on the leg? There is not a lot of medical literature about skin cancers arising from small traumatic events such as a bump on the leg. However, it stands to reason that a similar phenomenon exists for small injuries as for chronic wounds. Both involve healing tissue, growth factors, and stimulus for cell division. In my experience, the small bumps that were blamed for causing skin cancers almost always occurred in patients with severe amounts of background sun damage. Patients with severe sun damage already have mutations in their cells from the sun’s UV rays. Accordingly, the combination of sun damage and a banged shin is like a one-two punch.

One of the first successful explanations for the cause of any cancer was the “two-hit hypothesis.” It explains why retinoblastoma, an eye tumor, develops in children. The two hit hypothesis states that you need two copies of the same gene to go bad for certain cancers like retinoblastoma to develop. Children with retinoblastoma are born with one bad (mutated) copy in every single cell in their eyes, either inherited from a parent or from a mutation acquired early in fetal development. Additional spontaneous mutations are common enough that the chance that the second copy of the gene mutates in at least one cell is high. That cell now has two bad copies of the retinoblastoma gene.

That single cell will then grow uncontrollably and develop into a cancer. Like retinoblastoma’s second mutation, the “bump on the leg” might be the second hit a squamous cell needs in some individuals’ legs. The first hit is the years of sun damage introducing mutations into many cells in a patient’s skin. Then, the second hit can take many forms – sometimes an additional sun burn, sometimes a chronic wound, and sometimes a literal hit -- a small bump on the leg.

So yes, in my opinion, my patients are probably right. Sometimes a skin cancer really does pop up from a simple bump on the leg.

We hope that you found this article interesting and informative. Please know that if you or a loved one has a skin cancer or any skin care need, we at Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta are here for you and are honored to help. Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek, PA-C would like to be your partners to achieve your skin health goals.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | January 28, 2021 | 13

14 | January 28, 2021 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

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NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | January 28, 2021 | 15

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16 | January 28, 2021 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

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Nationwide group spreads kindness, creates community through lasagna Volunteers cook meals for those on hard times

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com NORTH METRO ATLANTA, Ga. — The COVID-19 pandemic’s toll has been unbiased and widespread. For some, it has resulted in the loss of a job or a cut in pay as mortgage and rent payments hang heavy over some families. Others have lost family members, their worlds forever changed by the virus’ worldwide reach.

While not all have faced such dramatic consequences of the pandemic, almost all have at some time over the past 10 months felt the sadness of isolation, the stress of the unknown and the anxiety of the future, all longing for a time when no one had even heard the term “coronavirus.”

A meal cannot erase these situations or troubles, but it can provide a bright spot in dark times, and, for a while, deliver the contentment of a full belly and the peace provided by a brief escape from the clutches of COVID. Lasagna Love, a nationwide nonprofit gaining a foothold in north Metro Atlanta, looks to provide that sense of comfort to those facing troubling times.

The nonprofit was created by Rhiannon Menn of California during the early stages of the pandemic. Menn began making lasagnas in her home and delivering them to those facing hardships.

Others joined the initiative, and by last summer, Lasagna Love had over 8,000 volunteers.

There is now a group looking to further the program’s reach in the North Atlanta area.

One of the leaders of the push is Alpharetta’s Lynn Hirsch, who first heard about the nonprofit on the TV morning show, “Today.” Since then, she has been making and delivering lasagnas to those in the local community.

Volunteers are paired with a family who has requested a meal through the group’s website.

“Basically, [the group] is trying to feed families that have any kind of need, whether it’s financial, emotional or illness-related,” Hirsch said. “Maybe someone in the family has COVID, or someone is a frontline healthcare worker and has stress from working so hard they can’t think about what to cook their family for dinner. No questions are asked.”

Hirsch said she has made and delivered lasagnas to a family whose husband and wife are police officers, a family who had all contracted COVID-19 and to one family in which a 7- and

SPECIAL

Lynn Hirsch presents two lasagnas she prepared for the Lasagna Love program, which provides meals for those facing challenging times and is expanding its reach in North Fulton.

9-year old were caring for their parents who both had the virus.

People can also nominate others to receive a lasagna.

“Maybe your child’s teacher is doing an amazing job with remote and hybrid learning, or maybe they want to thank the local fire station,” Hirsch said. “There are a lot of aspects of the program.”

All deliveries are contactless, with volunteers letting families know when their meal has been dropped off through a text or call.

Hirsch said volunteers are asked to make or deliver lasagna, but otherwise, they can choose what they want to tackle. She said some also make side dishes or a dessert, and some make one lasagna a month, while others may make 20 a week.

The program has obvious benefits for those facing challenges, and the positivity runs both ways.

“It is beneficial for both parties involved,” Hirsch said. “I’m a grandma, and during the beginning of COVID, especially, I wasn’t seeing anyone or going out, just the occasional walk. I just felt like I really needed some focus and wanted a meaningful way to spend my days. It has been as good for me as the families I have been cooking meals for.”

Those wanting to request a meal or those wanting to volunteer can sign up at lasagnalove.org.

“Spreading kindness, creating communities, that’s what Lasagna Love is accomplishing,” Hirsch said.

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | January 28, 2021 | 17

BLACK BOX SPECIAL REPORT:

Former Forsyth County manager says secrecy prevails in local government Leaders deny charges of deliberate misdirection in conducting business

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The man who led Forsyth County’s day-to-day operations for the past three years says elected leaders prefer operating in secret, extend their authority over individual departments and use the county attorney as a surrogate for their own policy goals.

Former County Manager Eric Johnson charges that county commissioners are intentionally cryptic in the picture they present to the public. They often give the county attorney excessive power and JOHNSON are unwilling to change the way they do business, he says, even when alternatives would introduce greater efficiency.

Johnson’s revelations come just as his replacement in the post, Kevin Tanner, comes on board this month.

County commissioners voted not to renew Johnson’s contract in August.

Johnson said that, from the outset, one member on the commission led a crusade to oust him. He said the commissioner orchestrated a failed attempt to compile negative comments against him with an “amateurish” performance review that was later buried because it was generally positive.

Johnson expressed relief at being away from the job.

“It was a tough challenge to hang in there for the three years I agreed to,” Johnson said.

Laura Semanson, who served as chair of the Board of Commissioners for the final period of Johnson’s employment, dismissed the accusations.

“To me, what I’m hearing is a former, disgruntled employee that, for some reason many months down the road, does not want to let things go,” Semanson said.

Johnson argues his concerns are valid because he is a “resident and taxpayer” of Forsyth County.

Backroom discussions Johnson said the five-member County Commission prefers to conduct much of its business out of the public eye.

“I think they like to do things behind closed doors, they try to be cryptic in describing some of the discussions behind closed doors,” he said. “Here, they routinely have meets of two commissioners, and one of [those] two will go have a discussion with another, and magically you have a quorum of the board having a discussion out of the public eye. Now, proving it is difficult, but it happens constantly.”

Viewing a commission meeting can give tell-tale signs, though, Johnson said. Commissioners will often talk about having discussions with several parties on an agenda item, he said.

“That suggests that they were deciding what their issues were, and I’m not saying they take votes necessarily, but they know where they are before they walk into a public forum and actually have a public discussion,” Johnson said.

Often, commissioners would go into a “true” executive session, Johnson said, a closed-door meeting which can only include commissioners, the county clerk, county attorney and county manager.

However, even as the county’s chief administrator, Johnson said he was not invited to most executive sessions, and he wasn’t even privy to their subject matter.

County Attorney Ken Jarrard balked at the accusations.

“I believe Forsyth County is extremely transparent,” Jarrard said. “I reject entirely the notion that Forsyth County is not complying fully with the Open Meetings Act, both the letter and the intent.”

Semanson called Johnson’s descriptions a “complete fabrication” that could “not be farther from the truth.”

She said emails and text messages of the board are subject to the Open Records Act, and all public meetings, aside from executive sessions, are livestreamed and archived.

“I really take issue with the comment that we do any type of inappropriate business behind closed doors, because it just doesn’t happen,” Semanson said.

Residents limited in details Though officials tout the county’s adherence to open meeting laws, residents are still mostly left in the dark when commissioners take up an issue in public.

That’s because access to background

information on commission agenda items — information that guides discussions and decisions made by elected leaders — is not provided with the online agenda.

All of Forsyth’s neighbors — Cherokee, Dawson, Fulton, Gwinnett and Hall counties — provide background information online for residents to review before meetings, and the packets are digitally archived. Gwinnett County has provided the service for more than 12 years.

County officials announced in 2019 they would make the move to provide the background information online, but that hasn’t happened.

Job survey obscured at meeting Johnson said one example of the board’s enigmatic dealings was his performance review that county officials only discussed in cryptic terms during a public work session.

During two board meetings in 2019, commissioners approved an agenda item titled, “Board authorization to implement the action discussed at the June 20, 2019 Executive Session,” without providing any details of what “the action discussed” related to.

The county did eventually clarify the agenda item, but only after it was flagged by a Herald reporter. The county introduced the item at a formal meeting later, describing it as an evaluation to “continually assess County Manager job performance.” Even then, the item was placed on the meeting’s consent agenda and passed without discussion or explanation.

The issue stayed entombed after the review was complete.

“After they did that survey, they didn’t even bother to do my annual evaluation, the [commission] chair never sent it out,” Johnson said. “They sort of covered up what they did by having [County Attorney Ken Jarrard] talk very generically about continuous improvement, but they never actually talked to me about it.”

Johnson said the survey was an attempt to assemble negative comments from county staff in a crusade led by one county commissioner.

At least one county commissioner had it out for him, Johnson said, and she apparently convinced her peers to not to renew his contract.

Johnson would not name the commissioner, only that it was a female.

He said this commissioner wanted the authority to direct Johnson’s dealings,

and she was manipulative in trying to orchestrate county dealings.

This commissioner looked “for any angle to blame me for anything,” Johnson said. This situation was particularly challenging, he said, because she wanted to give direction to Johnson’s staff without his knowledge.

Johnson said he found himself outnumbered when he raised the issue.

“And then magically the chair got reelected chair, and at that point I kind of knew I wouldn’t get an extension,” he said.

He had previously suspected someone wanted him out the door when he heard rumblings of former county manager Doug Derrer might return to his former role.

“I sent a text to [Derrer], and he suggested he was interested in coming back on an interim basis,” Johnson said. “The only reason for that is someone suggested I may be gone.”

Semanson said she did “not have it out” for Johnson and tried to work with him for months to cultivate a better working relationship between him and the board.

Survey buried after positive responses The unplanned performance review of Johnson’s performance, including a survey of 35 county employees, shows most of his coworkers viewed him in a positive light. Many used the survey to criticize county commissioners.

In the report, Johnson scored between “good” and “excellent” on 17 of 19 categories and was marked “fair” to “good” in the others, the report shows.

The survey also included an openended portion, and some responses back Johnson’s claim that the commissioners held Johnson in a negative light.

“I doubt this appraisal process was in the best interest of Forsyth County,” one respondent said. “The clear message is that Mr. Johnson does not have the support of one or more BOC members.”

Another respondent said they believed the board was “the most significant impedance” to Johnson’s progress. The employee also criticized commissioners for publicly admonishing staff, including the county manager, and called out the complacency of other commissioners during these on-the-record criticisms.

A particularly positive review of

See BLACKBOX, Page 18

18 | January 28, 2021 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

Blackbox: Continued from Page 17 Johnson also called out commissioners for their public criticism. Another said commissioners’ expectations of Johnson were inconsistent, and the board needs one voice for county staff to “do a good job.”

“It is commendable that the county manager has remained with the county while dealing with some of the most difficult board members in quite some time,” one respondent said.

Johnson said there were criticisms he “took to heart” from the survey, but commissioners ignored the favorable results.

An ‘amateurish’ exercise When commissioners arranged Johnson’s evaluation, they called on the county attorney to draw up the review.

Johnson said the entire exercise was “amateurish.”

Many of those who were sent the survey did not directly report to Johnson, he said, and the results did not separate his peers from subordinates.

Johnson said a better approach would have been to ask the relatively local Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia to design professional, state-of-the-art performance reviews.

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“[Jarrard is] a very good attorney, he’s very successful…but having him do an evaluation when he didn’t really know how to do one properly was just an example of [commissioners] leaning on him for anything, whether it really has anything to do with legal advice or not,” Johnson said.

It is not the only example, he indicated.

Johnson said board members often use Jarrard to place items on meeting agendas or have him present an item to commissioners that should have come from a department head. He said this is especially the case for agenda items that are “non-routine.” It also keeps residents in the dark about potential legislation or policy changes.

“Rather than discuss a new financial policy at a Finance Committee meeting and have it prepared and [its] impacts described by finance staff, a commissioner has [Jarrard] prepare a resolution, skip any financial discussion, and he presents it on behalf of a commissioner for approval by the board,” Johnson said.

In other instances, Johnson said the county attorney, not a department head, presents an ordinance update. He charged that such presentations should be given by those in charge of overseeing the changes, not the county attorney.

Commissioners also have Jarrard place other items on the agenda for them, sometimes right before a meeting, without anyone else seeing it, Johnson said.

“It’s not anything that’s terribly nefarious, it’s simply this mindset that they have that the attorney controls much of what goes on, and they rely heavily on him to make sure they are doing things right,” Johnson said. “And to some extent, that’s the role of the [commission] chair in running the agenda or the clerk in ensuring they are following proper procedures. The attorney ought to be the last resort.”

Jarrard, he said, will tell commissioners what he wants, but his role should be to weigh legal risks in certain policy decisions and letting board members decide which route they want to take.

Johnson said he fears Jarrard’s influence has only increased since he left.

BLACK BOX SPECIAL REPORT Jarrard fires back The county attorney countered that any item he places on the agenda either pertains to legal issues, or it is simply a convenience of communication.

He said any discussion topics for a commission work session or regular meeting must be approved by at least two board members.

“To the extent they ask me to add [an agenda item] for them, that’s just a function of efficiency,” Jarrard said. “We might have been on the phone and they said, ‘[One commissioner] is agreeable to adding this item on the agenda and I want to sponsor it, Ken, would you add it to the agenda?’”

In those situations, Jarrard said he will add the agenda item if it has the backing of at least two commissioners, but “it’s still the board members’ item,” he said.

The county attorney said whether his office or a department head presents an agenda item is determined by the “size, scope and work allocation.”

In situations where his office has had a heavy role in drafting an ordinance or update, it is not unusual for those involved to have him present it to commissioners.

Jarrard said he gave a recent presentation on a parks and recreation ordinance because it was almost a complete rewrite, and he and his staff worked on its redraft.

He also took issue with Johnson’s claim the board relies too heavily on his comments. He said policy and law are intertwined, and he bristled at the suggestion he acts as anything other than a counselor, adviser and advocate for the county in a courtroom.

“I am very quick to say I am not a replacement, I am not another board member, I don’t have a vote, I don’t want a vote and I’m not a policy maker,” Jarrard said. “What I am is [the board’s] adviser, I will provide you guidance and counseling and advocacy, but I will certainly not make up your mind for you, nor do I believe that any of the board that existed in 2020 or any of the board that exists in 2021 are looking to me to do that.”

Semanson dismisses charge Semanson acknowledged the board often defers to Jarrard, but in certain cases it was because the former county manager was lacking in his duties.

“We rely a lot on our county attorney, and we rely a lot on our county manager, and in the absence of leadership, we will look for it where we will find it,” Semanson said.

She also said there was “not any validity” to Johnson’s claims his perfor-

mance review was obscured when the results turned out mostly positive.

Johnson came to Forsyth County after serving in a similar role in Florida, where transparency laws are more stringent, and that spurred many of his issues, Semanson said.

Semanson said there were “multiple junctures” during Johnson’s term where he attempted to apply a different set of standards that don’t apply under Georgia law.

“But I flat out reject the idea that we are conducting business behind closed doors or in any manner that is not kosher with Georgia law,” she said.

Despite his positive review, the county chose not to renew Johnson’s contract, and Semanson pinned the issue on his inability “to resolve some of the issues that made him unsuccessful in working with this board.”

She did not provide details.

“I think it’s pretty standard practice these days people don’t really do much beyond confirming employment, even when it’s positive,” Semanson said. “So out of respect to Mr. Johnson, I’d really rather not get too detailed on the reasons it did not work out.”

‘Resistance to change’ Johnson said Forsyth County leadership is not unique in adhering to past practices, but in some cases, the board’s reluctance to change can hurt taxpayers.

Under Johnson’s watch, there was a proposal to change the way the county issues its debt. Johnson said the strategy he presented is consistent with the procedures of AAA-rated government, but it was not with a preferred banker.

“There wasn’t any under-the-tables issues, it was simply they were used to doing business with a particular guy at CitiBank, and a couple of [commissioners] wanted nothing to do with a more sophisticated way to save us a lot of money,” Johnson said.

Johnson would not speculate on whether bringing back Doug Derrer as interim county manager was a means of preserving the past. He did note that one comment from Johnson’s performance survey noted Derrer just “kind of sat there” during meetings and he did not engage or support staff on issues.

Johnson fears the board’s way of doing business will continue under new County Manager Kevin Tanner.

Johnson said Tanner is likely to face the same challenges he experienced, including a board set in its ways and deference to the county attorney on issues that should be directed to the county manager.

“They have the opportunity to move forward and do well,” he said. “I just don’t know that pattern has shown up here yet.”

COMMUNITY

Ray: Continued from Page 11

closer to two hours early or get someone to drop you off. I had to park a good quarter mile from the building where the shots were being administered. They are also conducting COVID testing at the same location which is one of the reasons there was a traffic issue.

Administration and coordination of the process was exemplary. Fulton County knocked it out of the ballpark in terms of organization, customer service, efficiency and friendliness of all the working staff. I couldn’t have been more impressed. As long as you signed up for an appointment online in advance, there was an absolute minimum of paperwork required and the roughly dozen of the vaccination stations processed everyone quickly.

The processing was held in an office building that looked like it had been

Debt: Continued from Page 11 way to open up the economy and erase the belief that medical debt is a moral failure.

“Healthcare costs being stressfully high is such a ubiquitous American experience,” Beck said. “It just meant the world to me that people who had gone through medical debt and were now in a position to help, were willing to hold the door open so that somebody else doesn’t have to go through this.”

converted for the event. It was uncrowded and felt safe, even though there probably were 400 people in various lines when I was there. Everyone wore masks, and there was plenty of sanitizer available.

There really weren’t any surprises I encountered when I got my shot other than the fact that all of the roughly 400 or so generally older-than-65 residents who showed up were lily-white, at least that I noticed when I was there. That struck me as odd and as some sort of a red flag, considering that in Alpharetta, only 57.6 percent of residents (as of 2017) were white. Not sure what that is all about.

Anyway, get your vaccine. For those of you who don’t plan to get it, get it anyway because getting vaccinated really isn’t just about you; it’s about the health and welfare of your family, your friends, your co-workers and your community. And it’s about being part of the solution instead of part of the problem in getting this pandemic gone sooner rather than later.

And, don’t forget to arrive a little early.

Beck has rallied people from across the state, calling her campaign incredibly meaningful and impactful work. Her next goal is to raise an additional $1 million to wipe out over $180 million in medical debt. She said an eager fundraiser is backing her cause.

“I’m still in absolute shock. All I can say is, whillikers!” Beck said. “I’m really proud of my community and I’m just humbled by the support. I’m going to go as hard as I can for this.”

Beck is grateful for any dollar amount. To support her mission and for more information, visit secure.qgiv.com/ event/cwva-loves-atlanta

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FORMER MILTON COUNTRY CLUB STORMWATER MANAGEMENT RFP NUMBER 21-PW05 Sealed Proposals Due Date: FEBRUARY 23, 2021 2:00PM LOCAL TIME Electronic submission via: www.cityofmiltonga.us To be publicly announced at approximately 2:30 PM at the City of Milton City Hall located at 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, GA 30004. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

The City of Milton is requesting bids from interested parties for a public private partnership. The request for sealed proposals for the Former Milton Country Club Stormwater Management will be posted on the following websites the week of January 28, 2021. http://www.cityofmiltonga.us or http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/PR_index.jsp

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | January 28, 2021 | 19

City of Milton Notice of Public Hearing Board of Zoning Appeals Date & Time:

February 16, 2021 6:00 P.M.

Location:

City of Milton 2006 Heritage Walk Council Chambers Milton, Georgia 30004-6119 678-242-2500

Consideration of Primary Variance a. V20-27, 770 Cooper Sandy Cove Deferred from the last month Request(s): • To allow the lot coverage for an AG-1 zoned property that fronts a public street to go from 20 percent to 25 percent. (Sec. 64-1141, (d) (1)(b)) b. V20-28, 13230 Providence Road Deferred from the last month Request(s): • To allow the lot coverage for an AG-1 zoned property that fronts a public street to go from 20 percent to 25 percent. (Sec. 64-1141, (d) (1)(b)) c. V21-01, 210 Pinehurst Walk Request(s): • To encroach into 25-foot City’s undisturbed buffer and 25-foot City impervious setback for the construction of pool and pool deck. (Sec 20-426(1) and (2)) d. V21-02, 13195 Freemanville Road Request(s): • To allow a new barn to be located less than 200 feet from the property lines (Sec. 64-461 (1)(b)) • To allow the new barn to be located in the front yard of the property (Sec 64-462 (i)) e. V21-03, 960 Landrum Road Request(s): • To allow the pool to be located within the front yard (Sec 64-1609, (b)(1)) • To allow the cabana to be located in the front yard. (Sec 64-416 (i)) f. V21-04, 910 Nix Road Request(s): • To allow existing barn (not housing animals) to remain in the front yard (sec 64-416 (i)) • To allow the existing barn to encroach into the front yard setback (Sec. 64-416 (b)) g. V21-05, 14500 Wood road Request(s): • To allow the existing garage and the barn (not housing animals) to encroach into the side setback as shown on the survey issued 12-16-2020. (Sec 64-416 (c)(1)) • To allow the cabana to be located in the front yard. (Sec 64-416 (i))

20 | January 28, 2021 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

SPORTS

Spring athletes hopeful, grateful to hit field after cancelled season Local student-athletes get new perspective on sports they love

By JOE PARKER joe@appenmediagroup.com NORTH ATLANTA, Ga. — On April 1, 2020, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that all K-12 schools in the state would lock their doors for the remainder of the academic year. The cancellation of high school spring sports had been looming over coaches, players and others in the weeks ahead of the declaration, but the governor’s call assured that baseball gloves, lacrosse sticks, tennis rackets, golf clubs and soccer kits would go back into storage.

It was a heart-wrenching moment for local student-athletes who saw their seasons come to an end before they got underway, especially for the Class of 2020.

Though 10 months has passed, the state of the pandemic is even worse than before. The daily average of new cases has been in record territory throughout much of January, and the state has recorded its highest levels of daily deaths

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from the virus several times in the past few weeks.

Even so, it appears likely that play will go on this year.

And it’s given local players a new perspective.

DJ Radtke, a senior, right-handed pitcher at Blessed Trinity, said the cancellation of 2020 season was devastating, and he especially felt for that year’s senior class. But it gives added weight to his donning the school’s colors on the field this year, where he said the drive to compete will be even greater.

“I think a lot of people do take those things for granted,” Radtke said. “That part of this whole pandemic could come out as a good thing as it has made people realize that sports are a blessing and not something to take for granted.”

Milton girls lacrosse is one of the state’s top dynasties across any sport, and there is a renewed desire this year to compete as the program chases its 14th championship ring.

“After watching our last season get taken from us, my team and I became more appreciative of everything,” Brie Catts, a Milton senior midfielder said.

“COVID has taught us a huge lesson that not everything is guaranteed, and we have to be grateful for what we have before it is gone. I have been itching to play since last February, and I am ecstatic to get back on the field this season. This season, I will truly play every game like it is my last, because as last season proved, you never know when that will be.”

SPECIAL

Milton High School girls lacrosse senior Brie Catts is among hundreds of local high school spring sports athletes ready to hit the field after the cancellation of the 2020 season.

Marleigh Sanders, a Milton attacker committed to Notre Dame, is also thankful for resumption of play.

“Out whole team is extremely grateful that we have the opportunity to compete this season,” Sanders said. “Being back this week, we all realized how much we missed not only playing, but being together every day as well. I truly believe that we take playing and watching sports for granted, especially as an athlete. COVID made me appreciate the game more than ever and to not take for granted how lucky we are to be able to play this season.”

Erik Holmen, a senior midfielder with Cambridge’s boys soccer program, said he was “gutted” to lose out on his junior season, but he is anxious for his senior season with the Bears to start.

“I’m just really grateful we are going to have the season,” Holmen said. “We certainly want to take advantage of the season and get out of it as much as we can.”

Holmen said that while he and some teammates play club soccer in the fall, which mostly went on without a hitch, he is thrilled to be back with his Cambridge teammates.

“It’s great to see everyone back on one team,” he said.

Holmen’s teammate, junior center back Patrick Bourne, feels the same.

“I am ecstatic to be playing again for Cambridge this season, to say the least, and cannot wait for the moment when the referee blows the whistle at our first game,” Bourne said. “I definitely can say that my coaches, teammates and I are grateful to be out there playing and coaching the game we love. COVID-19 has taught all of us to appreciate even the small little drills and warm-ups during the season and to train and play every single practice and game like it is our last time on the soccer field.”

New safety protocols will alter the status quo of spring sports competition, but all are willing to make those work for the chance to play.

“The thing I’m looking forward to most is getting to see how creative teams will get with their celebrations while social distancing,” Radtke said.

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22 | January 28, 2021 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

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Miscellaneous

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Call. 1-888-985-1806 CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!!

2002 and Newer!

Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing!

We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-416-2330.

Education & Training Train online to do medical billing! Become a Medical Office Professional at CTI! Get trained & certified to work in months!

888-572-6790. (M-F 8-6 ET)

Health & Fitness Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.

Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www. dental50plus.com/58 #6258 GENERIC VIAGRA and CIALIS! 100 Pills $99.00 FREE Shipping!

100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-889-5515

Medical Attention oxygen therapy users!

Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous Viagra – Premium Generic Viagra(100mg) or Cialis (20mg) 100 Tablets for $99 Asthma Inhalers as low as $13 per inhaler FREE SHIPPING Satisfaction Guaranteed.

(888)424-4908 or Visit: www.

USAStayHealthy.com The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option.

Request free no obligation quote.

1-855-270-3785 CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer.

Nationwide Free Pick Up! Call Now: 1-800-864-5960.

GENERAC Standby Generators.

The weather is increasingly unpredictable. Be prepared for power outages. FREE 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!) Schedule FREE in-home assessment. 1-844-334-8353 special financing if qualified.

Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator

®

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

844-334-8353

Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!

FREE 7-Year

Offer valid December 15, 2020 – March 1, 2021

Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval.

*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.

HughesNet Satellite Internet – Finally, no hard data limits! Call Today for speeds up to 25mbps as low as $59.99/mo! $75 gift card, terms apply. 1-844-863-4478 Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-534-6198 or visit www. walkintubquote.com/news New authors wanted! Page Publishing will help selfpublish your book. Free author submission kit! Limited offer!

866-951-7214 Directv Now. No Satellite. $40/ mo 65 Channels. Stream news, live events, sports & on demand titles. No contract/commitment.

1-866-825-6523

Thinking about installing a new shower? American Standard makes it easy. Free design consult.1-888-674-3005 today to see how to save $1,000 on installation or visit www. newshowerdeal.com/display Hearing aids! Bogo free! Highquality rechargeable Nano hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors.

Nearly invisible! 45-day money back guarantee! 833-669-5806 DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 7/21/21.1833-872-2545 !!OLD GUITARS WANTED!!

GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever!

LeafFilter, most advanced debris-blocking protection. Schedule free estimate. 15% off Purchase.

10% Senior & Military

Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests.

Send details to P.O. Box 13557

Discounts. Call 1-855-995-2490

Denver, Co. 80201

Wanted to Buy

SERVICE DIRECTORY Art/Wallpaper

Flooring

Home Improvement

Picture Hanging: Reasonable pricing.

Satisfied customers.

Call or text Troy Smith 404-990-7506

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

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

Phillips Home

Concrete/Asphalt

We fix ugly

DRIVEWAYS & PATIOS $150 OFF

Any job over $1500.

Driveways Patios Sidewalks Walls & Steps Slabs NEW or REPAIR Residential Or Commercial FREE ESTIMATES

Call 678-648-2010 Many local references.

Competitive rates.

McKemey Concrete

Retaining Walls Brick or Wood

Contact Ralph Rucker.

Many local references.

Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!

painting,

drywall, carpentry,

plumbing and electrical.

Basements

finished,

kitchen and bath rehabs.

All types flooring. Also total home rehab for

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aarons-gutters. com. Senior citizen discount! 770-934-2766

house or one to sell.

Handyman Wood Rot Repair, Deck Repair and Staining.

Roof Leaks, Carpentry, Painting, Siding and Soffits. Flooring, Tile, Electrical and Plumbing.

770-262-6272.

Haulers

those who have a rental

Many local references-

Call Ralph Rucker

Driveway

Home Improvement Finegan Home Improvements LLC: License #RBQA004932.

Remodeling, handyman.

34 years experience.

Basements finished, decks, screen porches, doors, drywall, painting, flooring, custom kitchens, bathrooms.

All insurance. Paul Finegan 404-353-5611

Residential & Commercial.

Best service and most reasonable prices since 1999.

Appen-Rated 99. Home: Driveways, Fences, Decks, Home exteriors, more.

Commercial: Offices, Restaurants, Tennis Courts, Pools, Apt. Complexes, more. All Pro Pressurewash call 770-766-5566 for Mark.

Roofing

free estimate

Landscaping

Full Service LANDSCAPING Company Capable of doing your job – grading, hauling and tree service.

Ralph Rucker

678-898-7237

PINESTRAW, mulch

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc.

PRESSURE WASHING

Call 678-887-1868 for a

Pinestraw

678-898-7237

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

offer

Gutters

678-898-7237

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Improvement We

Pressure Wash

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

NorthFulton.com | Milton Herald | January 28, 2021 | 23

BUY IT, SELL IT, FIND IT!

In the HERALD CLASSIFIEDS

ROOF LEAKING? Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123. Christian Brothers Roofing

Help Wanted Services

Part-Time Full-Time

Gutters Plumbers

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

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

and More!

CPA

Services Handyman Roofs

Bargins

Homes Collectibles Furniture

Tree Services

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

Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts 770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com

COVERING NORTH ATLANTA...

IN PRINT AND ONLINE! Alpharetta-Roswell Herald • Milton Herald • Johns Creek Herald Forsyth Herald • NorthFulton.com

CONTACT US AT 770-442-3278

24 | January 28, 2021 | Milton Herald | NorthFulton.com

2020 in review

Gratefully celebrating

$32M 45

in closed sales volume

transactions

In a year filled with many uncertainties, I am grateful that the Atlanta real estate market continued to thrive. I want to give a huge thank you to my clients for their continued trust in me when making one of the most important decisions of their lives – buying or selling a home. I am honored and humbled to be recognized as one of the top-selling individual agents in the North Atlanta office. It is predicted that 2021 will be a robust seller’s market, as home prices continue to hit new highs and buyer competition remains strong.

If you are considering buying or selling a home this new year, please allow me to share with you how my local expertise and proven results, along with the international exposure provided only by Sotheby’s International Realty®, will make a difference for you!

Julie Martin TOP PERFORMER, COMPANY-WIDE c. 770.668.4680 o. 770.442.7300 juliemartin@atlantafinehomes.com atlantafinehomes.com | sir.com Atlanta Fine Homes, LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated.