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Fulton students post gains across subjects on Milestones By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

acy. Aside from quarterback Derrick Baker who transferred from Florida last season, the other three players have championshiplevel experience from the Eagles’ back-toback state titles. They all have committed to SEC, ACC and Big 10 programs and are ranked in 247 Sports’ Top 200 players in Georgia’s senior class.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Students in Fulton County Schools made measurable academic gains across every subject area on the 2025-26 Georgia Milestones assessments, with districtwide performance improvements in math, science and social studies compared to the previous year. The Georgia Department of Education released scores Aug. 6. Last year’s Milestones featured a new assessment for English language arts, and results from that won’t be released until later this fall. Students improved math test scores by 2.5% from the previous year. Eighth grade students improved in both social studies and U.S. history. Science proficiency increased to 55.8%, led by student gains in biology. While celebrating the district’s progress, Superintendent Mike Looney emphasized the importance of building on this momentum. “These gains reflect the hard work of our teachers, school leaders, support staff, students and families,” Looney said. “While we are proud of the progress our students have made, we also know there is more work to do to ensure every student reaches their full potential.”

See FOOTBALL, Page 25

See STUDENTS, Page 25

MEEKS PRO MEDIA/PROVIDED

Cambridge senior Brooks Malone rushes for a first down at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Aug. 13 in the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic. The running back rushed for over 1,100 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.

Milton chases another title, Cambridge grows up fast By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — Milton head coach Ben Reaves used his opening moments at the July 24 Fulton County Schools media day podium to give flowers to the entire county. His Eagles have won two of the last four county titles, but you’d have to go back another 12 years to find a stretch with as many

champions as Fulton has had the last four seasons. Milton kicked off the season with a scrimmage against Grayson Aug. 6, defeating the Rams 10-7 after lightning canceled the second half of the game. Their official season opener is Aug. 21 against North Cobb. Reaves brought four seniors to media day, each biting at the chance to leave a leg-

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2 | August 20, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

What to know about West Nile virus after park closure

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus CONTACT NEWS TIPS Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com. LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance. ADVERTISING For information about advertising in the Milton Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@ appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278. CIRCULATION To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

A familiar mosquito-borne threat West Nile virus isn’t new to the U.S., with infections first showing up in New York City in 1999. It spread across the country within a few years and peaked with nearly 10,000 reported cases in 2003. The virus is carried by mosquitoes. The small flies pick it up from infected birds and then pass it along to humans — and many animals, including dogs, cats and horses — through bites. There is still no vaccine, which is why prevention is key. A record pace — and likely an undercount Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report the country is seeing its earliest start to West Nile season on record. By July 28, 2026, 113 human cases had been reported nationally — more than double the 44 cases reported by the same point in 2003,

A mosquito feeds on human skin.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES/UNSPLASH

the worst West Nile season since the virus arrived in the U.S. As of Aug. 11, there were 181 reported cases across 30 states. Fulton County’s own mosquito surveillance program picked up the trend locally, with positive traps turning up in the Grant Park area of Atlanta earlier this summer. DeKalb County followed with its own detections — positive samples out of two ZIP codes, 30088 covering unincorporated DeKalb and Redan and 30360 in Doraville — though officials from both counties say there have been no reported human cases so far this year. Human cases in Georgia have stayed relatively rare so far this season, with the CDC counting just one reported case in the state as of Aug. 11. But the numbers can undercount reality. Health officials believe actual infections each year run higher since approximately 80% of people who are infected will not show any symptoms. Also, people with mild cases never seek medical care or get lab tests. Georgia logged 18 reported cases of West Nile virus in 2025 and 54 confirmed cases — and five deaths — in 2024. Dry conditions, more mosquitoes CDC officials say the rise in West Nile detections and infections stems from the virus circulating earlier in the season,

which infectious disease specialists attribute in part to warmer weather nationwide. Heat speeds up the mosquito life cycle and shortens the time it takes the virus to become transmissible once a mosquito picks it up from an infected bird. Georgia and several other states are also seeing increased West Nile activity due to the worst drought in decades. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, approximately 49% of the lower 48 U.S. states are in drought as of Aug. 4. About 19% of the total area of Georgia is currently in drought. Elmer Gray, a public health extension specialist and research professional at the University of Georgia, says this spring’s drought conditions across the Peach State impacted more than just the land. The dry conditions spawned prime breeding grounds for the southern house mosquito and one other bird-feeding mosquito. Elmer said the lack of rain means storm drain systems have not been flushed out by currents of water after typical rain events, leading to stagnant water and an attractive home for larval development.

See VIRUS, Page 25

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SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — South Fulton closed Old National Park to the public last week after mosquitoes collected during routine surveillance tested positive for West Nile virus. City officials told CBS News Atlanta the South Fulton Parks and Recreation Department learned of the result Aug. 11 and shut the park down as a precaution while Fulton County coordinates treatment of the property. Any programming planned for the park will be canceled or rescheduled, with the county’s health department expected to spray targeted insecticides and apply larvicides to any standing water sources. Officials will then decide when the park can reopen. The park’s temporary closing is the latest development in a summer that has brought West Nile back into local headlines. Here is a primer on the virus itself and what is actually driving this year’s attention.

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4 | August 20, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

Outdoor event space opens at Market District Crabapple By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — A new outdoor event space has opened in downtown Milton. The space is part of Market District Crabapple and offers opportunities for visitors to connect, explore and make memories. One of the outdoor space’s first events was the Aug. 7 All-Nashville Roadshow, which first came to Milton and the market district last year. The country music concert featured a rotating lineup of Nashville artists, including Charlie Argo, SLAW, Summerlyn Powers, Gloria Anderson, The Woods and Meagan Allen. The outdoor space helps more people venture downtown, and city officials said they hope it will spur further economic success and continue to invigorate the community. The space — located along the eastern side of Heritage Walk across from Hyde Brewing — is already home to several restaurants, beverage stops, offices and even a yoga studio. “This new outdoor space at Market District Crabapple is an exciting addition to downtown Milton,” said Mayor Peyton Jamison. “It will create another welcoming place for people to gather, connect and enjoy all that Crabapple has to offer while supporting the local businesses that make this area so special.” Officials are looking to add a permanent stage that would make the space more flexible for various activities. An office building and extensive landscaping will serve as a buffer between that stage and nearby residences. The entire project will reflect the character of other buildings in the development and the overall aesthetic of Milton’s downtown. Officials are also planning an outdoor skating rink, which would begin in November, and are hoping to resume the monthly Crabapple Live mini-festival as soon as next spring.

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NEWS

Fulton Schools eye first millage hike in 7 years By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO

Fulton County School System Superintendent Mike Looney says he will propose a one-mill tax increase at the Aug. 20 Fulton County Board of Education meeting.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — At the Fulton County Board of Education’s Aug. 11 work session, Superintendent Mike Looney announced he will propose a one-mill tax increase at the board’s next meeting. Looney said the increase — which, if approved, would bring the millage rate to 18.08 mills — is “unwelcome” but is in the best interest of the school district and its students. For residents, the increase means $18.08 will be collected per $1,000 of assessed property value. Based on that rate, a homeowner with a house valued at $450,000 on the market — or $180,000 in assessed value, per Georgia’s 40% assessment ratio — will owe $3,254 in school taxes before applicable homestead exemptions. It is the first time in seven years that the Fulton County School System has proposed a millage rate increase. The DeKalb County School District recently approved a millage rate of 22.78 mills, and the Cobb County School District has tentatively adopted a rate of 18.70 mills. In June, the Fulton school system adopted its 2027 budget with a deficit

If something changes in the interim … then I will gladly work with staff to reduce that increase to something less.” MIKE LOONEY Fulton County School System Superintendent of roughly $57 million and a plan to use 20% of the system’s reserve fund balance to cover this year’s shortfall. The proposed millage increase would help reduce the school system’s reliance on its reserves. Looney said the system has been living off its fund balance for years and still has “a ways to go” toward a balanced budget. More than 60% of the school system’s budget depends on local tax revenue. Last year, Fulton County voters approved two homestead exemptions for older residents that are projected to decrease the system’s revenue by approximately $50 million.

In June, local revenue projections stood at $891 million. Those numbers cannot be finalized until the school system receives the tax digest from Fulton County. The list of all taxable properties within the county and their assessed values is typically shared with local municipalities by early August. The tax digest has been delayed this year. The Fulton County Superior Court granted a temporary collection order Aug. 4, letting the tax commissioner send estimated bills using 2025 millage rates while the county board of assessors finishes processing what they call an unprecedented backlog of land packages. Once the digest is certified, the school system and other jurisdictions will set final rates. Looney said if the finalized tax digest warrants a different recommendation, he will work with staff members to adjust the increase. “If something changes in the interim … then I will gladly work with staff to reduce that increase to something less,” Looney said. The Fulton County Board of Education will vote on the tentative millage rate at its Aug. 20 meeting and then will set dates for state-required public hearings on the millage rate.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | August 20, 2026 | 7

National Make-A-Will Month is your cue to get it done By JOSHUA WILSON joshua@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — It takes about 20 minutes. It’s often free. And more than half of American adults still haven’t done it. August is National Make-A-Will Month, an annual reminder to close one of the most persistent gaps in personal finance: the last will and testament you keep meaning to write. According to the Trust & Will 2026 Estate Planning Report, 56% of U.S. adults have no estate planning documents at all, and only 26% have a will — down from 31% in 2025. The decline comes even though 73% of adults say estate planning is personally important to them, according to the report. The gap carries particular weight in Georgia, where state law — not personal wishes — decides who inherits when someone dies without a will. “I would strongly encourage everyone regardless of wealth or age to be intentional about estate planning and end-of-life planning, and sooner rather than later,” said Brennan Breeland, a New York City-based attorney. “Even for someone without a great deal of assets, a will can be an important instrument, as it can do other things aside from disposing of property.” Breeland told Appen Media wills “commonly provide that the expenses of the deceased’s final illness or hospitalization, funeral, burial and related costs be paid out of specific funds.” Wills can also, the attorney noted, “direct the means by which debts are repaid, indicate the deceased’s desires for the disposition for their remains, provide for the appointment of guardians of minor children in the event that both parents die simultaneously and much more.” Estate planners say the most common reason people skip a will isn’t cost or complexity — it’s the belief they don’t have enough to justify one. Trust & Will’s research found 27% of adults without a will cite insufficient assets as the reason. But even that calculus depends on understanding what an estate actually includes — and what it doesn’t. “Estate planning in this context is largely focused on what happens to the property of the deceased,” Breeland said. “The deceased’s estate consists of the property held by the deceased and does not, for example, include property jointly held with a surviving spouse.”

See WILL, Page 16

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Just opened? Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness. 8 | Milton Herald | August 20, 2026

Roaring Social selling $10K martini with diamond necklace By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

celebrates the art of indulgence, pairing our signature hospitality with the timeless elegance of Solomon Brothers Jewelers. Whether marking ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Roaring Social in Alpharetta a milestone, raising a glass for a special and Decatur has partnered with Solomon Brothers occasion, or simply embracing an unforgettable Jewelers to create a $10,000 martini experience moment, this is an experience unlike anything that pairs a crafted martini topped with a spoonful else in Atlanta.” of beluga caviar and a 5-carat diamond necklace. The Roaring Jewel Martini is available at Guests can now order the Roaring Jewel both the Alpharetta and Decatur Roaring Social Martini accompanied by the Roaring Social locations. Upon purchase, guests receive a bottle experience featuring a custom marquee certificate of purchase, a cubic zirconia replica sign and sparkler presentation. The signature necklace and pickup instructions. The necklace martini is made with Beluga Gold Line vodka, a can be redeemed at any of Solomon Brothers’ dry vermouth rinse, a float of Billecart-Salmon three locations in Sharpsburg, Buckhead or Champagne Le Réserve. Alpharetta. It’s topped with a spoonfull of premium “We’re excited to introduce this one-of-abeluga caviar. The drink is accompanied by a full kind luxury experience in the city we proudly bottle of Billecart-Salmon Champagne Le Réserve call home,” Solmon Brothers Jewelers President and a 5-carat natural diamond tennis necklace Jaron Solomon said. “Partnering with Roaring in 14K white gold from Solomon Brothers Social felt like a natural fit, not only because Jewelers. The necklace is valued at $11,700. we’re both rooted in Atlanta, but because we “Roaring Social is built around creating share a passion for creating unforgettable extraordinary experiences, and we wanted to experiences.” bring our guests something truly exceptional,” Roaring Social is also launching its specialty said Brian Harper, chief operating officer martini list alongside the Roaring Jewel Martini, of Competitive Social Ventures, the parent introducing six new martinis that put a twist on company of Roaring Social. “This collaboration the classic martini or limoncello.

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The Roaring Jewel Martini, now offered at Roaring Social in Alpharetta and Decatur, is a $10K crafted martini topped with a spoonful of beluga caviar with paired with a 5-carat diamond necklace valued at more than $11,0000 that guests can redeem at a Solomon Brothers location.

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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

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See FIREWORKS, Page 24

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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.

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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

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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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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

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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

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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.

Residents celebrate, remember meaning behind Juneteenth

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

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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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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By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com 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,

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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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.

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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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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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For Roswell senior, Meals on Wheels means more than food By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — William “Tommy” Bloodworth Jr. knows there are days he would have gone hungry without access to Meals on Wheels through Senior Services North Fulton. Bloodworth, who was diagnosed with heart disease in 2014, estimates he spends 30% of his monthly disability check on medications. He needs them to live. His financial situation was even more dire at the time of his diagnosis. Some months, after spending $200 on blood thinners, he said there was little money left for food. The Fulton nonprofit, which delivers nutritious meals to seniors in need of them, filled the gap. “I think I was getting $1,400 a month then,” he said, referring to his Social Security Administration disability benefit. “That doesn’t go very far when you don’t have insurance to buy the medicine you need.” Bloodworth struggled to make ends meet while applying and waiting for Medicaid approval. It took several years for him to get enrolled in the federal health insurance program. “Once I started getting meals from Meals on Wheels, my food situation didn’t become so tight anymore,” Bloodworth said. “I was able to relax a little bit.” The 71-year-old Roswell senior is not alone in his financial struggles. Local seniors are experiencing food insecurity at rapidly increasing rates. In the past six months, participation in the North Fulton Meals on Wheels program has jumped by 20%, according to officials with the nonprofit. Michelle Williams, the organization’s director of meals and volunteer services, said every meal delivery enables seniors to allocate more of their fixed income toward rent, medications and other essentials. The meals also offer seniors something else to look forward to — companionship. After years as a Meals on Wheels client, Bloodworth said he is always excited to see the volunteers who bring by those meals. He knows them on a first-name basis. “People have always been there for me,” Bloodworth said. “Some of my best friends are people who come and bring me a meal five days a week.” Once a month, those volunteers also bring food to Bloodworth’s house for his cat, Princess Cleo, through the Meals on Wheels for Pets program. “I’m very grateful … not just for the food,” Bloodworth said. “It’s the people caring enough to come that means a lot to me.”

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A volunteer with Senior Services North Fulton’s Meals on Wheels program brings a client her lunch. The nonprofit organization served more than 59,000 meals throughout Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek and Sandy Springs in 2025.

TOMMY BLOODWORTH/PROVIDED

Meals on Wheels client Tommy Bloodworth’s cat, Princess Cleo, also benefits from Senior Services North Fulton’s work. She receives monthly food deliveries through the group’s pet food program. Her dad says the weekday meal deliveries have been a source of comfort throughout his health and financial struggles. In April, Bloodworth was hospitalized and was also in rehabilitation after a health scare. Meals on Wheels volunteers checked in on him throughout that ordeal. “They didn’t have to do that,” Bloodworth said. “But it was nice to see a friendly face … I’m just extremely grateful.” On pleasant afternoons, Bloodworth

said he waits on his back porch for the familiar cars to roll up his driveway. He knows “his friend from Meals” is on the way. “Until you’ve been in that situation, you don’t know what it’s like,” Bloodworth said, referring to his financial crisis after his diagnosis. However, he now takes comfort in his friends at Meals on Wheels — and

in knowing that he will “never be stuck without food.” Williams said Senior Services North Fulton’s work would not be possible without the organization’s more than 500 volunteers. The majority of those serve through the Meals on Wheels program, she noted. “Their commitment allows hundreds of meals to be delivered throughout North Fulton each week, helping older adults maintain their independence [while] reducing feelings of isolation,” Williams added. Senior Services North Fulton offers more than just meals, she said. In 2025, the organization provided more than 2,000 rides to medical appointments, thousands of hours of personal care assistance and homemaker services, and more than 1,240 hours of programing at their seven senior centers throughout North Fulton. As demand increases, Williams said the nonprofit remains committed to ensuring that no older adult has to choose between buying food, paying rent or filling a prescription. To donate or learn more about Senior Services North Fulton, visit ssnorthfulton.org.

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | August 20, 2026 | 11

Ukrainian music, culture celebrated at Alpharetta concert By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A country’s soul can be heard in the melodies of its folk songs, Ukrainian composer Tar Sahno said. “When people hear those melodies, and when they join in the singing, they’re helping keep the culture alive,” Sahno said after a July 31 concert he organized. Hosted at the Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta, the event featured a half dozen Ukrainian songs and attracted about 50 residents, many of whom are Ukrainian. Some musicians wore traditional Ukrainian vyshyvankas — white linen clothing with colorful handstitched embroidery. Between songs, audience members conversed in Ukrainian. During the hourlong performance, Sahno led an ensemble that included vocalists, percussionists, violin players and a woman who played a traditional Ukrainian stringed instrument known as a bandura. They played songs like the Ukrainian national anthem and “Carol of the Bells,” which is based on the Ukrainian New Year’s song “Shchedryk.” During the folk song “Chervona Ruta,” audience members sang along. Celebrating Ukrainian culture, whether through clothing, music or language, has become ever more important with the Russian invasion now in its fifth year, Sahno said. Russian authorities have sought to impose Russian curriculum and propaganda in Ukrainian schools within occupied areas, Human Rights Watch has reported. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Putin has long denounced the Ukrainian national identity and the country’s sovereignty. Throughout history, Ukrainians have faced repeated pressure to suppress their language, art and identity, Sahno said. “The history is the willingness to keep the Ukrainian identity from just being destroyed,” he said. For example, in 1863, the Russian Empire issued a decree forbidding the teaching of the Ukrainian language in textbooks. In the 1930s, Soviet Union officials arrested, censored and executed many Ukrainian authors. The country’s music also holds a personal importance for Sahno, who was born in 1993, a few years after

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Two Ukrainian vocalists perform during a July 31 concert at the Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union in Alpharetta. Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet state. During the 1990s, Ukrainian folk music experienced a popular revival, he said. Because his grandfather was a conductor and his grandmother a music teacher, Sahno was exposed to folk music from an early age. “That built my personal identity,” he said. Liudmyla Zapukhliak, a vocalist who sang several songs, proudly wore a vyshyvanka that was made about 100 years ago. Stitched with orange and red designs, the clothing has been passed down for generations. Zapukhliak said although she now lives in Lawrenceville, her home nation still is very much on her mind. Her mother currently resides in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, where Zapukhliak was born. Her brother serves in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and has spent time on the front line. “My whole family is there,” she said. “My mom is in Kyiv, and she went to a bomb shelter last night.”

Tar Sahno leads an ensemble in a Ukrainian song during a July 31 concert at the Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union in Alpharetta.

12 | August 20, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

COMMUNITY

STANLEY LEARY/APPEN MEDIA

From left, bass clarinet players Trenton Leach and Aubri Franklin, and saxophone players Alexander Amar, Sebastien Laurent and Parker Brown practice on the field during marching band camp at Roswell High School July 17.

For band students, summer camp builds more than music By STANLEY LEARY newsroom@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Before most students have cracked open a textbook this fall, hundreds of teenagers across Fulton and Forsyth counties will have already spent two weeks together in the summer heat, learning drill formations, memorizing music and, in many cases, finding the friend group that will carry them through high school. Johns Creek, Milton, Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Roswell and the Forsyth County high schools were among the programs running fullensemble band camps in mid-to-late July, ahead of the fall football season and competition marching band. For band directors, the two-week stretch is logistics and rehearsal. For families, it’s something more. “When they were coming into ninth grade, band camp had already happened,” said Amy Kingry, whose two sons are percussionists. “When they came into school the first day, they already had friends, they already knew where everything was in the school, they already had a family started.” Tara Glaspey, whose sons play

trombone and French horn, described the same effect. “You’ve got a family already of people that have your back,” she said. “It’s a support system.” For the students themselves, the appeal is less about strategy and more about connection. Sydney Godoy, drum major and senior clarinet player, said the band offers something few other school activities can match. “Music is the universal language,” Godoy said. “Everybody can get into music, and there are so many different kinds of music, and you just find your people here.” Cooper Glaspey, a sophomore French horn player and section leader, said band has taught him skills that go beyond music. “It helps with people,” Glaspey said. “You get to meet all kinds of new people. You can be in the leadership, learn how to lead, learn how to communicate. I think it helps with other things like school because you learn how to manage your time.” The research bears out at least part of what parents suspect. According to data published by the College Board from its Student Descriptive Questionnaire, students with

coursework in music performance have historically scored dozens of points higher on both the verbal and math sections of the SAT than students with no arts participation — a gap that has shown up consistently across multiple years of College Board reporting. Some researchers caution that the relationship is correlational, since students drawn to music also tend to come from backgrounds associated with higher academic performance. But directors and parents in North Atlanta say the daily habits built in band — practicing outside of class, managing a packed schedule, learning music that doesn’t come easily — mirror the discipline colleges look for. Randy McDow, executive director of the Stamps Scholars Program and a former staffer for the Georgia Tech President’s Scholarship Program, said music students often arrive at college already equipped for its demands. “You’re used to having regularly scheduled lessons, practice or homework outside of that session, working together with others who may be just like you or might not be just like you,” McDow said. He added that music, like

competitive sports, teaches students to keep working at something they aren’t immediately good at. “You eventually run up against a piece of music that forces you to really dig deep and work on it, to master it,” he said. “Those are very good experiences, leadership-wise, habit-building type situations.” Glaspey said that the lesson in discipline is something she tells other parents directly. “There’s also just the discipline aspect — to be able to be on the field and march a show, you have to practice. You can’t just show up and make it happen,” she said. “In the culture we live in now, with instant gratification from our phones, we’re missing out on a lot of that discipline.” For Godoy, who plans to study music composition at the University of Georgia, the payoff is already clear. “I think everyone should play an instrument,” she said. “The way it makes you feel, the act of doing it — I fell in love with everything about music.” Directors say the two weeks of long, hot rehearsals are laying groundwork that goes well beyond the football field — for students who, in many cases, haven’t even started their freshman year.

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | August 20, 2026 | 13

PHOTOS BY: STANLEY LEARY/APPEN MEDIA

Inemesit Ubom practices during a trumpet sectional at marching band camp at Roswell High School July 17.

From left, Winston Scoggins, Ethan Young, Hayden Kingry and Finn Kingry practice during a drum sectional at marching band camp at Roswell High School July 17, as instructor Sarah Mottram Nesbitt works with Bella Izquierdo.

Kaylee Roselli plays bass drum during marching band camp at Roswell High School July 17.

Stephen Gheen and Nat Vincent play sousaphone during marching band camp at Roswell High School July 17.

A drone view shows the full marching band rehearsing on the practice field during marching band camp at Roswell High School July 17.

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August 20, 2026 | Milton Herald | 14

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AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | August 20, 2026 | 15

North Point hockey arena plan clears planning commission By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta residents spoke overwhelmingly in favor of a North Point entertainment and sports district anchored by a national hockey team during an Aug. 6 planning commission meeting. Commission members approved the plan in a 4-3 vote. The project will go before the Alpharetta City Council Aug. 24. North Point Mall property owner New York Life has partnered with developer Jamestown to redesign the mall into a massive entertainment and sports district. Officials said the project could transform the mall and its surrounding area, revitalizing it as property values continue to decline. This is the fourth application to reenvision the mall property to come before the planning commission since 2019. The project would be anchored by a 20,000-seat hockey arena and feature ample shopping, dining, residential and office space. Planned amenities include a 2,000-seat community hockey rink, 4,000-seat music hall, 500-seat movie theater, 45,000-square-foot conference center, 400-room full-service hotel, 300-room hybrid hotel, 750,000 square feet of office and 1,385 for-rent multifamily homes. The project has a competitor, The Gathering at South Forsyth, in attracting a National Hockey League franchise. Commission member Karen Richard, who voted against the measure along with Jill Reynolds and Dennis Mitchell, said she is in support of the project but wanted the entire plan to be contingent on the awarding of the hockey team. The approved plan makes construction of only the for-rent homes contingent on the hockey team being awarded. “I understand this is a regional draw and a regional development,” Richard said after the meeting. “But at the same time, it is critical for the city to create a development that is additive

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A conceptual rendering shows the proposed North Point entertainment and sports district, anchored by a hockey arena, in Alpharetta. to Alpharetta and continues to move our city forward.” Before the vote, numerous residents spoke in favor of the project, saying the area is long overdue for redevelopment. Only one person spoke against the project. John Lamb said as an Atlanta sports fan he loves attending Braves and Falcons games but hates the long drive to their stadiums. “I live here, and I work here, and I want to play here,” he said. He pointed to recent crowds at World Cup watch parties in the Town Green as evidence that there is love for professional sports in Alpharetta. The event reinforced the city’s sense of community and strengthened his pride

for his hometown, he said. “I’ve never seen the Green so crowded,” he said. He also said the success of hockey franchises in Tampa, Florida, and Nashville, Tennessee, show another team could succeed in the South. “It’s booming, and we are right here in the middle,” he said. Parker Welton, a commercial real estate broker who grew up in Alpharetta, said she spent considerable time at North Point Mall in her youth. “It’s where our parents took us to dinner, where I got an American Girl doll, where I rode the carousel, where they dropped me off to hang out with my friends,” she said. Although the mall was once

Alpharetta’s “front porch,” times have changed and the mall is no longer the draw it once was, she said. “The legacy mall format that made this place special in 1993 is simply outdated today,” she said. “That’s not a loss. It’s an opportunity.” Melton said she sees the entertainment and sports district project as more than a renovation and more of a chance to transform the area. The district would join Avalon and downtown as a third center of gravity, providing economic opportunities and off-hours recreation for the entire city, she said. “The missing part of the trifecta is North Point,” she said.

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Continued from Page 7 The attorney said estate planning “also concerns not only what happens to the estate, but what is properly considered part of the estate.” As a result, Breeland said, estate planning “may ultimately involve strategic decisions about whether and how to make a will or otherwise providing for the disposition of assets and liabilities, including through trusts, [transferable on death or payable on death] designations, joint titling or other means.” What happens in Georgia without a will The stakes are higher for residents who die without a last will and testament. In Georgia, dying without a valid will triggers intestate succession, and the state — not the deceased — decides who inherits. Georgia’s succession order starts with a surviving spouse and children. If both survive, they split the estate, but the spouse is guaranteed at least one-third regardless of how many children are involved. If there’s a spouse but no children, the spouse typically inherits the full estate. Without a spouse or children, the estate passes to more distant relatives — parents, then siblings, then further down the family tree. If no heir can be found, the property is ultimately distributed to the county board of education in which the estate was probated. Georgia law also requires a probate court to appoint an administrator to manage an intestate estate, since there’s no executor named to do the job. That process applies only to probate assets — property that doesn’t already have a beneficiary designation, isn’t jointly owned with survivorship rights and isn’t in a trust or transferon-death arrangement. Breeland said intestate succession generally produces outcomes similar to what most people would put in a will anyway — distributing the estate to heirs under the laws of the state where the deceased lived. The attorney said the laws of each state vary, and “in any event, proper disposition will usually require [a] ... judicial proceeding for enforcing and effectuating a will. When they are properly planned for, these proceedings are not usually difficult, protracted or expensive.” When someone has not done the work on the front end to plan for this eventuality, the process “can become procedurally and administratively complicated, take a long time and cost a great deal more, whether it goes

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A “Last Will and Testament” template sits on a desk. August is National Make-A-Will Month, an annual reminder for adults to put their estate plans in writing. through administration or probate,” Breeland noted. “In rare instances, the estate could become property of the state by virtue of a process known as escheatment, whereby unclaimed property without a readily identifiable heir is declared abandoned,” he said. Breeland added he would “not go so far as to say that everyone’s best interests are served by having a will, but I strongly suggest that everyone speak with an estate planning attorney and a CPA or financial advisor specializing in estate and tax planning for such purposes.” Georgia also has its own rules for making a will legally valid. The document must be in writing, signed by the person making it, and attested and subscribed by two or more competent witnesses in that person’s presence. Where AI tools fit — and where they don’t A growing number of people are turning to AI chatbots to draft a first pass at a will or make sense of estateplanning jargon before ever calling an attorney. Estate planners say that can be a reasonable starting point, but it comes with real limits. “AI tools, specifically [large language model] engines such as ChatGPT and Claude, are exactly that

— tools,” Breeland said. “They are not substitutes for legal and financial expertise, nor should their outputs be taken or trusted at face value. These tools are learning, of course, but they are far from perfect.” He said some lawyers have filed litigation documents generated by AI chatbots, and those papers have included “inaccurate statements of law and cited statutes and case law that does not exist.” As a result, Breeland advised, “it is therefore even more important that non-attorneys be extremely careful when using these tools to assist in estate planning because it is not necessarily the case that the engine’s legal analysis is correct.” “To be fair, they can be very helpful in ensuring that people build lists of everything they will need to consider in the estate planning process — and can offer valuable insights into some aspects of strategic thinking — but people should treat whatever information these tools provide with a healthy skepticism,” he said. The attorney added it’s “good advice in general” to “always, always, always make sure to seek independent counsel” from a licensed attorney. How to actually get it done • List your assets — bank

accounts, property, retirement accounts, vehicles, valuables — and who you want to receive each. • Name an executor and at least one backup. • If you have minor children, name a guardian and a backup guardian. • Decide whether you need a simple will or a more complex estate plan, including trusts, powers of attorney or health care directives. • Use an online service or AI tool, if you like, to organize this information and build a checklist — but don’t stop there. • Have an estate planning attorney licensed in Georgia draft or review the final document. • Sign it in the presence of two witnesses, as Georgia law requires. • Store the original somewhere safe and tell your executor where to find it. • Revisit it every few years, or after a marriage, divorce, new child or move across state lines. Resources for Georgia residents • Georgians seeking legal aid to create a will can find a lawyer on the State Bar of Georgia’s website at gabar.org. • Free legal help is available through the state for Georgians age 60 and older. Learn more about the Elderly Legal Assistance Program at aging.georgia.gov.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | August 20, 2026 | 17

Johns Creek officials prepare for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a newly opened pedestrian tunnel under Medlock Bridge Road Aug. 12.

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Johns Creek officials cut ribbon on new pedestrian tunnel By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The city of Johns Creek officially opened a pedestrian tunnel at the edge of one of its latest recreation and gathering spaces Aug. 12. The 124-foot-long, 42-foot-wide tunnel provides passage for pedestrians and cyclists into The Boardwalk under Medlock Bridge Road near Johns Creek Parkway. City officials and community members marked its completion by gathering at the tunnel for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. At the ceremony, Mayor John Bradberry thanked staff members and contractors for their work and acknowledged the residents and businesses that will use the tunnel.

“Our council had the foresight and vision to choose this tunnel option, and I think that was the correct decision,” he said. Funded by Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax dollars, the $6.5 million project broke ground in 2024. The project totaled $7 million with right-of-way and engineering costs. City officials said the tunnel is an important piece of transportation infrastructure in creating a vibrant, walkable town center, officials said. The tunnel, which is lighted and has artificial turf, can also serve as an event space. After the ceremony, a resident made quick use of the tunnel, riding a recumbent bicycle through it into the nearby trail.

Two Johns Creek officials walk through a pedestrian tunnel under Medlock Bridge Road Aug. 12.

18 | August 20, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

NEWS

Alpharetta Pokémon prodigy earns spot at world championships ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Soren Pitchford’s fourth grade teacher handed him his first pack of Pokémon cards. Now, less than a year later, the 11-year-old Alpharetta native is headed to the world championships. Soren is the top junior Pokémon Trading Card Game player in the Atlanta area, often beating players in the senior and master divisions. The Pokémon World Championships are from Aug. 2830 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. The annual tournament brings together the world’s top Pokémon card players, who qualify through regional and international competitions. His father Tyler said Soren’s qualification was highly unlikely. He scored zero points at his final tournament in New Orleans, but the top 85 players advance — and he placed 85th. Had he lost his final match, he would not have qualified at all. That match, against a player named Cage, earned Soren a Top 8 finish

and remains his favorite and most memorable. “I got there by the skin of my teeth and was so extremely excited,” Soren said. “That was a good day for me.” After learning the rules of the game, his parents bought him more cards, leading to Soren placing in the Top 100 out of 6,000 junior players in North America in his first year of competing. “When I started playing, it was a bit overwhelming, but I’m just regularly beating [other contestants] now,” Soren said. The youngster has traveled to tournaments in Puerto Rico — where he placed in the Top 8 — as well as in Pittsburgh, Toronto, London, Seattle, Orlando and New Orleans. Getting to Puerto Rico was a challenge in itself. Soren’s first flight from Atlanta was delayed by lightning, and the second one was halted by hail. The third flight was delayed, but he finally made it. He slept for two hours at a hotel before competing at 7 a.m. “At the start, I was like this might be a fun hobby, and then I realized I like playing casually but was kind of

envious of the players that were up there,” he said. Soren said preparing for the world championships means practicing, choosing a deck and analyzing competitive strategies. He plays two to three times a week locally and competes once a month regionally or internationally, practicing on his own and taking private lessons from other players. “He’s a good strategic thinker; he plays well, and I think part of it is pattern recognition,” Tyler said. “He plays at a high level, but he’s played enough of the same people in this area that he’s developed a strategy.” Soren also started a Pokémon club at the Alpharetta library, teaching around 15 kids how to play. He said he hopes to keep competing and coaching and eventually become a professional player. Outside of Pokémon, Soren plays piano and fencing — although he has put his sword away for a year to focus on competing with cards. He is also a member of the Lego Robotics team at Fulton Science Academy Middle School and has been a member of the Cambridge Youth Track team for the past four years.

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Tyler Pitchford posing with son, Soren, in Puerto Rico after placing Top 8.

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

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

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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.

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

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20 | August 20, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

OPINION

GARDEN BUZZ

What’s up Doc? Why are carrots great to grow? We love carrots in our house, but that wasn’t always the case. When my kids were little, I would sneak finely grated carrots into pasta sauce, soup and pancakes. No one knew — until I was caught orange-handed. Thankfully, I no longer need to sneak around with my grater. Carrots are a great, easy snack when you need a good crunch packed ANNE FALLON with fiber, potassium, calcium and Guest Columnist vitamins A, C and B-6. Carrots are also low in sodium and contain no cholesterol. Other health benefits can include improved bone health and lower blood sugar levels. Of course, carrots can be enjoyed raw, cooked and in sweet and savory recipes. With few pests, carrots are easy to grow in Georgia, particularly when planted in raised garden beds. They come in varied sizes and many colors, including orange, yellow, red, purple, white and black, making them a nice cool-season crop. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offers a complete list of varieties that thrive in our climate. Once you have chosen your seeds, prepare the soil and test it weeks before you plant to address nutrient needs, including fertilizer and the addition of recommended minerals. Test the soil if it has not been tested in more than three years, or if you haven’t planted carrots in that spot before. Visit extension.uga.edu for soil testing instructions. Carrot seeds are tiny and best sown directly when soil temperatures are 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit in late winter or early fall. Use the UGA Weather Network to find out when average temperatures fall into that range. Because the seeds are so small, you may want to plant the carrot seeds with radishes to help keep your row of carrots defined. As a bonus, you’ll have radishes to eat in 25 to 30 days. Allowing a few carrot plants to bolt, or go to seed, is a nice treat for pollinators that visit the lovely flat-topped flower heads called umbels. An umbel is actually a cluster of flowers, with smaller clusters of flowers and even smaller clusters of flowers. The umbel has a beautiful, unusual shape, and a single umbel can produce hundreds of seeds. Carrots are biennials, which means they produce viable seed in their second year. However, seed-saving gardeners may be disappointed to learn that UGA Extension does not recommend saving carrot seeds in Georgia and instead suggests sowing new carrot seeds each year. One reason is that carrots easily cross-pollinate with other crops and will not produce reliable seed like the parent carrot. What a great excuse to plant a purple carrot crop after your orange carrot crop. When you plant your new carrot seeds, remember to rotate your crops. Do not plant them in the same spot every year or in a spot where plants of the same family were planted. Carrots are in the Apiaceae family, which also includes cilantro, dill, parsley, celery and parsnips. Because plants in the same family use the same nutrients from the soil, planting in the same spot will deplete your soil of these necessary nutrients, resulting in inferior produce. They are also susceptible to the same pests and diseases, which can build up in the soil and attack your new plants if you do not rotate your crops. Included is an easy carrot salad recipe that offers endless opportunities for substitutions and additions. North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment.

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Classic Carrot and Raisin Salad Yield: 8 to 10 servings Ingredients: •4 cups shredded carrots (12 to 16 medium carrots, about 1 pound) •1 cup raisins •1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon mayonnaise •1 tablespoon honey •1 teaspoon maple syrup (or use more honey) •2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar •Pinch of salt

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Instructions: 1. Combine carrots and raisins in a medium bowl. Set aside. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and salt. 3. Add the shredded carrots and raisins to the large bowl and mix until evenly coated. Substitutions: Use Greek yogurt instead of the mayonnaise, or use half mayonnaise and half yogurt. You can also use freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of the apple

cider vinegar, or use all honey or all maple syrup. Additions: Try adding 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, diced apples or diced pineapple. You can also try 1/3 cup of pomegranate seeds or 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro. If substituting yogurt for mayonnaise, consider adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of chopped mint. Don’t be afraid to try growing this nutrient-dense, reliable, cool-season crop at your home.

Roswell Resident Anne Fallon caught the gardening bug while working for a garden magazine in New York City. At the time, she only had a single potted plant in an apartment in Hoboken, NJ. Twenty-nine years and countless potted plants and gardens later, Anne has been a UGA-trained Master Gardener since 2024. Anne is also an AVID tutor and the longtime manager of the Crabapple Middle School Learn and Serve Garden, where she loves teaching students how to grow vegetables that nourish their minds and bodies and serve the community.

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Oil's retreat gives mortgage rates a respite

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After weeks of geopolitical tensions helping drive mortgage rates higher, financial markets finally found a measure of relief as easing concerns over global oil supplies sent energy prices D.C. AIKEN lower. Guest Columnist The decline foldcaiken.com lowed two developments investors viewed as reducing near-term supply risks. Reports that the United States is pursuing diplomatic engagement with Iran, rather than immediate military action, eased fears of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. At the same time, OPEC+ announced another increase in oil production, signaling that additional supply could reach the market in the months ahead. Together, those developments removed much of the geopolitical "risk premium" that had been supporting crude prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is trading near $80 per barrel, down roughly 5.3%, while Brent crude has fallen nearly 4.7% to about $84 per barrel, marking one of the largest one-day declines in recent months. For the mortgage market, lower oil prices carry implications beyond the gas pump. Energy costs influence inflation across the economy. As oil prices decline, transportation and production costs often ease, helping moderate inflation expectations. Investors typically respond by increasing purchases of longer-term Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds, pushing

yields—and ultimately mortgage rateslower. That relationship was evident recently as Treasury yields edged lower, allowing mortgage rates to improve modestly after climbing to their highest levels in nearly two years. While the move was limited, it marked the first meaningful improvement in several weeks. The market's attention now shifts from geopolitics to economic data. The Labor Department will soon release its monthly Employment Situation Report, one of the Federal Reserve's most closely watched indicators. A softerthan-expected report could reinforce expectations that inflation continues to cool, providing additional support for lower mortgage rates. A stronger-thanexpected reading, however, could renew concerns that interest rates will remain elevated for longer, reversing much of this week's progress. For now, markets have welcomed a pause in geopolitical uncertainty. Whether that develops into a sustained decline in mortgage rates — or proves to be only a temporary reprieve — will likely depend on the economic data released in the days ahead. And finally, for what it's worth: I'll be on vacation next week. If history is any indication, mortgage rates have a funny habit of moving lower whenever I'm out of town. Here's hoping that streak stays alive. DC Aiken is Senior Vice President of Lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS#658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com. The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | August 20, 2026 | 23

BRADSHAW’S BRIEF

Appeasement just will not work I like Michael Smerconish. His Saturday morning show on CNN is appointment TV for me. His commentary is thoughtful and reasonable, and I STEVE BRADSHAW find myself agreeing Columnist with his take on decaturish@appenmedia.com things most of the time. But in a recent episode, he said something that struck me as off base. It was shortly after Democratic Socialists of America candidates had won primary elections in congressional districts around New York City. In response, Smerconish said the Democratic establishment would need to find a way to appease the DSA folks without blowing their chances to win in more competitive districts, or words to that effect. It was the word "appease" that struck me as off the mark. Based upon what I have seen from a distance, my interactions with local folks of the DSA mindset and my understanding of history, appeasement won't work. I would advise the Democratic establishment to steer clear of that strategy. Here it is important to make a few points. I think it is imperative that the Democrats take back at least the U.S. House of Representatives this election cycle. The Trump administration has proven itself to be a rogue operation. And the Republicans in Congress have proven unwilling to check the president's actions by operating as a coequal branch of government. This paradigm must be broken. However, whenever a DSA candidate defeats a so-called establishment candidate in an already blue district, we come no closer to achieving that objective. By necessity, for the Democrats to win back control of the House of Representatives, they will have to win in districts currently represented by Republicans. Meaning they are not naturally left-leaning districts. Meaning they are not likely to embrace the DSA platform. Speaking of which, there are elements of the DSA platform that strike me as self-indulgent, shortsighted and not grounded in anything approximating reality. I will leave it to you to do your own research to discern if you agree with

my assessment. But two platform items in particular strike me as "tells." One is a proposal to eliminate the U.S. Senate. The other is the replacement of the president and the Supreme Court with an executive and judiciary chosen by and subordinate to Congress. I interpret these platform items as a tacit recognition by the DSA that its proposals do not have broad appeal. Meaning U.S. senators must be elected statewide, rather than from highly gerrymandered congressional districts. Of course, the president must be elected nationwide. Does anyone who has even a rudimentary understanding of how our governmental construct is supposed to work think that things would be better if we had a unicameral national legislature that functions like the current House of Representatives? I don't think so. Aside from a platform that I cannot support, there is something else about this group that bothers me, and it is stylistic. Many of these folks demonstrate the two qualities that offend me most in other people. Those qualities are arrogance and intolerance. Arrogance in that they seem to be so sure that they are right. I don't think the word humility is a part of their active vocabularies. And intolerance in that they seem to regard those who don't agree with any of their policy prescriptions as heretics and sellouts and any other manner of pejorative adjectives. They cast themselves as revolutionaries determined to "tear it all down." This is why appeasement won't work. It is certainly not my intent to demean or disregard them in any way. On the contrary. I think a lot of these DSA types are very smart and very charismatic. This makes them attractive to a certain part of the electorate. But I think they know that as a standalone political party their chances of achieving their stated objectives are close to zero. Instead, they seem determined to hijack the Democratic Party. And if the Democratic Party — the party of FDR and Truman, JFK and LBJ, Carter and Clinton, Obama and Biden — allows this takeover to happen, then it will deserve what it gets. Considering this loud and growing movement, what is the Democratic

Party to do? I can distill it to one word: Fight! Since most of these DSA types are big on supporting "fighters," the establishment Democratic Party should show these folks what a fight looks like. I was recently watching a show on MS NOW, and one of the panelists was haranguing the Democratic establishment. In response, former Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison politely but forcefully chided the other panelist, asking in effect: When you talk about the establishment, who do you mean? Do you mean the folks who have been organizing, raising money and getting Democrats elected across this country for years? Is that who you mean? I loved that spirited defense of normal. And I want to see more of it, especially from people who supposedly know better. Therefore, I'll be looking to at least some of the 2028 presidential

candidates to see if they have anything approximating a backbone. Will they push back hard against the nonsense, or will they capitulate to crazy? The next president needs to be able to stand up to Vladimir Putin in Russia and Xi Jinping in China and a host of other bad actors around the world. But to earn my vote, candidates must first demonstrate that they can stand up to these wellmeaning but misguided upstarts. For the sake of our party and the sake of our country. Finally, if I thought that reasoning with some of these folks and trying to come together as an actual "big tent" party was a viable option, I would certainly advocate for that. But based on what I have seen so far, I don't see that as feasible. There is no reasoning with revolutionaries. I sincerely hope that I am wrong. But if not, so be it. This reckoning is long overdue.

24 | August 20, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

OPINION

PAST TENSE

The Roswell Railroad is worth remembering Before the Civil War, the King family of Roswell Manufacturing Company determined that a railroad to carry goods produced at their mills to Atlanta VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF via Chamblee would benefit their Columnist business. Grading work to prepare for tracks began but was halted with the onset of the war. In the 1870s, construction resumed and a narrow-gauge track was laid. Later, the track was changed to double gauge. The two engines that traveled on the Roswell Railroad were Dinky and Old Buck. Dinky was a generic term for many small steam engines. From 1881 until 1921, the railroad’s 9.8-mile path ran from the Chamblee Depot to where Chamblee Plaza is today, passing through the property of Chamblee First United Methodist Church. There was a trestle bridge over Nancy Creek near the church. The tracks went through present-day Interstate 285, Dunwoody’s Georgetown Park, and past Donaldson-Bannister Farm. At the fork of Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Roberts Drive, the tracks continued to follow Chamblee Dunwoody, curving to the right at Spalding Drive then left at

KEN ANDERSON FAMILY COLLECTION

This drawing of Old Buck appeared along with Willanita Cook’s article in the July 3, 1969 DeKalb Neighbor newspaper. Roberts Drive. Roberts Drive is named after engineer Ike Roberts, who kept that job for the duration of the Roswell Railroad. The engine went forward toward Roswell and backward to Chamblee, as there was not room for a turnaround. Nandina Lane, formerly known as Spruill Street, originated as part of the railroad. There was a deep cut for the

Invitation to Bid Holiday Lighting & Décor Services ITB NUMBER 26-PW09 Bid Due Date: September 2, 2026, by 2:00PM Local Time Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps Bid submissions will be publicly announced via a virtual bid opening 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. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the lowest reliable bidder whose bid meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the invitation for bids. The City of Milton is requesting bids from qualified parties to provide annual holiday lighting and décor installation at City facilities. The scope of work for this project generally consists of providing holiday lighting and décor material, and installation and removal services for various facilities owned and operated by the City of Milton. The Contractor will be required to install the material between November 1st -22nd and removal must take place between January 4th- 22nd. All qualified bids will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The time and terms of payment, along with the plans and specifications can be found in the solicitation of bids posted on the websites below. The request for electronic bids for ITB 26-PW09, Holiday Lighting & Décor Services will be posted on the following websites the week of August 13, 2026: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/

railroad on Chamblee Dunwoody Road where it meets Mount Vernon Road. This meant wagons could not cross and needed another way to get around. Nandina served that purpose. (“The Writings of Jim Perkins,” Dunwoody Crier columnist) The Roswell Railroad made four stops. From Chamblee, the first stop was Wilson’s Mill flag stop. The next

was Dunwoody Depot, located on Chamblee Dunwoody Road between where CVS Pharmacy and the Chevron gas station are today. Powers Station was in the area where Chamblee Dunwoody Road meets Spalding Drive. Next stop was the Roswell Depot, located on the south side of the Chattahoochee River in what is now Sandy Springs. A bridge over the Chattahoochee River was planned, but cost prevented its construction. A spur was built from the Powers Station to Morgan Falls in the early 1900s when the Morgan Falls Dam was under construction. Supplies were carried to the site by the spur. Carl Wallace, of Chamblee, recalled his dog Bo “running down the field at the sound of the train whistle to fetch the evening paper as it was thrown to him from the train.” (DeKalb Neighbor, “Old Buck still lingers in memory,” July 3, 1969) Wallace also told the story of the day the engine fell off the track “as Carl and his brothers watched in awe.” The group applauded when everyone worked together to get the engine back on the track and on its way. Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. Write her at pasttensega@gmail.com. Learn more at pasttensega.com.

Football: Continued from Page 1 Baker sat out for nearly the entire season last year after injuring his wrist in the season opener against Buford. The Tennessee commit told Appen Media that he is ready to get back on the field with his brothers. He said the team had a workout several weeks ago put on by an Army representative. It was a surprise to the team, but Baker said team bonding exercises like that have strengthened the team on and off the field. Milton’s QB1 concluded his OT7 career earlier this year. He etched his name in the California seven-on-seven league’s records book with 105 passing touchdowns and bested the passing yards record. Baker participated with Cam Newton’s team and said Newton has become an irreplaceable mentor. Reaves described the Eagles’ 8-4 season and second-round finish last year as “a good cleanse” and said it was exactly what the team needed to catapult them back to state championship heights, even if it didn’t measure up to the program’s standards. One big difference from last year will be the usage rate of four-star tight end Grant Haviland. The Vanderbilt commit took on a different role last year, but with some new additions to

Virus: Continued from Page 2 He recommends treating those habitats with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved larvicides, several of which are available from local hardware and feed and seed stores. He also advises the public to empty planter trays, recycle used tires, clean up debris, and position boats, wheelbarrows and other items so they will not hold water. What infection actually looks like Most people who get bitten by an infected mosquito never know it. Only about 1 in 150 infected people develop a serious illness. Most infections bring about mild symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, and pass within days. Serious cases, however, can attack the central nervous system, potentially causing encephalitis or meningitis. Older people and those with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of these severe complications. No treatment is available for West Nile virus. Providers recommend

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | August 20, 2026 | 25

the offensive line, Haviland will have more opportunity to score this season, according to Reaves and Baker. Milton is returning 15 of 22 starters from last year, including junior cornerback Keelan Wonsley, who is shaping up to potentially be the third Eagle recruited by the Volunteers DB staff. He has already received an offer to join Milton alumni Dylan Lewis and Ty Redmond, who are entering their sophomore years at Tennessee. Redmond has been tabbed as one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC, in one of the best defensive back cores in college football. Cambridge head coach Tyler Jones said that his team is ready to compete at a high level despite being the newest school in Fulton County. This year’s team is young, too, but the senior captains Jones brought to media day are leading by example. The players said they prepared to show up big in the season opener against Brookwood at the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic. Matching up with a top-rated offense proved difficult, and the game concluded 52-7. The Bears have their work cut out for them in the rest of the season. “Experience matters,” Jones said after the game. “We’re going to take the next two weeks to get prepared for Woodstock [on Aug. 28] and then we’ll take it from there.” Senior quarterback Marcus Turk was the only Bear to make it to the

end zone on a diving rush late in the second half. Star receiver Craig Dandridge is the latest Bear wideout to go on to suit up for UGA after graduating last year, leaving running back Brooks Malone to carry the offense. Malone rushed for 15 touchdowns and over 1,150 yards in his junior season and said he is ready to leave his mark this year. Cambridge’s defensive line is anchored this year by senior Luke Huffman and the son of a former Falcon, Kroy (K.J.) Biermann Jr. Biermann made the all-region second team as a freshman last year and hopes to see his younger brother Kash return from injury for his freshman year. K.J. told Appen Media at practice that his dad didn’t let him or his brothers play football until seventh grade. Before middle school, it was wrestling, baseball and basketball only. Kane Biermann began his football career this season for the junior Bears, playing offensive guard and defensive tackle, per K.J. K.J. said even with an NFL veteran dad, there’s no pressure on his shoulders. His motivation comes from a drive to “be better than” his dad. When Kash and he began to display their athletic awards on the wall next to their father’s, that only grew their desires to be the best athlete in the family. “Get ready to see a lot of sacks, and great defense and a great offense this year,” K.J. said.

rest, hydration and over-the-counter medications to minimize symptoms of mild cases. Patients with severe symptoms might require pain control drugs and vomiting suppressants, rehydration therapies and closer monitoring.

agency has an online search tool that identifies repellants by protection time and active ingredient. View it at epa. gov/insect-repellants. DeKalb County officials recommend repellants containing the ingredients DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin and R3535. • Wear long, loose-fitting shirts and pants when outdoors. • Avoid being outside between dusk and dawn, which is when mosquitoes are the most active. • Use screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside.

How to keep from getting bitten The CDC and local health officials point to a handful of basic habits that cut your risk of infection substantially: • Use an insect repellent that is registered with the EPA. The federal

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Students: Continued from Page 1 The annual Georgia Milestones assessments provide insights into student learning and help district and school leaders make informed decisions to strengthen instruction and improve student outcomes. Fulton County Board of Education President Kristin McCabe said this progress demonstrates a continued investment from teachers, staff and families. The complete executive summary — which includes grade-level and course-specific performance, student growth trends and subjectlevel highlights — is available at fultonschools.org/milestones2526.

Puzzles

rier 8/6/26 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 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

Milton Herald ...................................August 20, 2026 | 26

THE PLANETS 1. Muse of poetry. Fine fur. The Red Planet. 2. Our home planet. Doctor’s order. Mold-ripened cheese. 3. Colorful salamander. Jovian planet. Musical work. 4. Giant outer planet. Mexican money. Mischief maker. 5. Lock name. Ostrich relative. Planet nearest to the sun. 6. Test. Planet with a ring of ice. Computer command. 7. Chubby. Links feature. Small planet farthest from the sun. PuzzleJunction.com

Dunwoody Crier 8/6/26 Crossword

Across

1 Limit 4 Trade punches 8 Dejected 11 One of the 3 Osmonds 13 Western director Sergio 4 14 Top gun 15 Patagonia native 17 Map abbr. 5 18 Not me 19 Apr. addressee 20 Rarely 6 22 Ghent native 25 Small dam 26 Current unit /6/26 Sudoku 7 27 Decree The Planets 8/6/26and Kakuro PuzzleJunction.com How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle Dunwoody above has Crier three clues three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is 30 Asp 1. first Muse ofofpoetry. Fine fur. The Planet. the letter the second answer, and soRed on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each 33 Courtroom event 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 34 Wrath 2. Our home planet. Doctor’s order, at times. Mold-ripened Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number for 3 answers on thepuzzle, line. Buteach here’srow, the catch! Theand clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually To the solve the Sudoku column 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 is37 the Arduous sum cheese 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. 38 A Smothers 3. Colorful salamander. Jovian planet. Musical work. brother 39 Tense 4. Giant outer planet. Mexican money. Mischief maker. 40 Alias 5. Lock name. Ostrich relative. Planet nearest to the sun. 41 French impressionist 6. Test. Planet with a ring of ice. Computer command. painter 42 Gamut 7. Chubby. Links feature. Small planet farthest from the sun. 43 Gem mineral 45 Via 46 Urban center 47 Bratislava natives 51 Donnybrooks 53 Bullﬁght cheer 54 Grassland 56 Samuel’s teacher 57 Belgrade native, once 61 Carte start 62 Chip away at How to Solve:Copyright Kakuro,©2026 also PuzzleJunction.com known as Cross Sums, is a 63 Like a dryer trap

2 4 6 9 5 1 7

8 9 2 6 5

9 2 5 4 8

4 1

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.

PuzzleJunction.com

5 1 6 7 3 2 4 9 8

1 5 9 4 8 7 6 2 3

7 4 3 6 2 1 8 5 9

6 2 8 3 5 9 1 4 7

4 6 5 8 1 3 9 7 2

2 8 1 9 7 5 3 6 4

3 9 7 2 6 4 5 8 1

14 17

18 22

26 30

21 25

33 38

40 43

60 63 66

64 Heavy weight 65 Lifeless 66 Latin foot Down 1 Locust pod 2 Bicker 3 Pastry 4 Japanese coin 5 Luau dish 6 Literary collections 7 Restoration 8 Mediterranean island native 9 Role player 10 View as 11 Might

12 Mystery 13 Actress Kudrow 16 Excursion 21 Waikiki wear 23 Fat 24 Cherbourg natives, once 28 Lens holders 29 Calendar square 30 Chinese tea 31 Furniture wood 32 São Paulo native 33 African nation 35 Carpet 36 Summer on the Seine 38 Gumshoe, to some 39 Mitchell mansion

41 Free from tears 42 Divulge 44 Mineral suffix 45 After straw or exit 46 Bowed stringed instrument 48 Misplace 49 French Kiss star Kevin 50 Airline assignments 51 Butcher’s stock 52 Certain 55 Unspecified number 58 Indian state 59 Eccentric 60 Big shot, briefly

See puzzle solutions on Page 29

$17

Solution 8 7 4 1 9 6 2 3 5

Solution

9 3 2 5 4 8 7 1 6

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Appen Media Wins 2026 Georgia Press Association General Excellence Bringing Journalistic Excellence to North Atlanta 1st Place

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2 R E H A B R I E A R T H 3 O P U S A T U R N E W T 4 V E N U S C A M P E S O 5 M E R C U R Y A L E M U 6 U R A N U S A V E X A M

Solution

7 T R A P L U M P L U T O

9 3 2 5 4 8 7 1 6

3 9 7 2 6 4 5 8 1

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AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | August 20, 2026 | 31

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Full-time Veeam Software Corporation in Alpharetta, GA seeks Security Architect. Dvlp & maintain enterprise-wide security policies, standards, procedures, & guides. Must have Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) & at least one cloud architecture cert (AWS, Azure, or GCP). Reqs 10% domestic & int’l travel, fully reimbursed by employer. Some telecommuting permitted (hybrid). $149,968 to $233,854/yr. To apply, send resume to Veeam.HR.NA.Paperwork@ veeam.com specifying job code 92138. EOE. Principal System Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA to Lead and manage SOX Audits related to ITGC and ITAC. Role requires a deep understanding of audit requirements, collaborate with functional and technical teams, and the ability to accumulate evidences efficiently over time. Apply at http://att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-116487.

Senior Quality Assurance role needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA to ensure the quality and performance of new and existing applications and interfaces by systematically validating and verifying software functionality, performance, and security through comprehensive testing methodologies. Apply at http://att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-118675. Midway Preschool is looking for an experienced Young 5’s/Prek teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Contact Beth at beth@midwayumc.org.

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Health & Fitness

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Miscellaneous

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32 | August 20, 2026 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

Your new season starts here. For Sale | 195 Heatherton Lane M I LTO N | O F F E R E D F O R $ 3 , 4 9 5 ,0 0 0

For Sale | 245 Heatherton Way

For Sale | 2029 Heritage Walk

For Sale | 240 Heatherton Way

M I LTO N | O F F E R E D F O R $ 3 ,0 9 9,0 0 0

M I LTO N | O F F E R E D F O R $ 1 , 4 1 5 ,0 0 0

M I LTO N | O F F E R E D F O R $ 3 , 4 9 5 ,0 0 0

For Sale | 12609 Lecoma Trace M I LTO N | O F F E R E D F O R $ 9 7 5 ,0 0 0

For Sale | 740 Windsor Court

For Sale | 6645 Will Allen Road

For Sale | 235 Winterberry Way

A L P H A R E T TA | O F F E R E D F O R $ 8 7 5 ,0 0 0

C U M M I N G | O F F E R E D F O R $ 1 ,0 6 9,0 0 0

R O S W E L L | O F F E R E D F O R $ 1 ,7 5 0,0 0 0

JULIE MARTIN N O. 1 I N D I V I D U A L A DV I S O R , VO LU M E N O R T H AT L A N TA O F F I C E , 2 0 2 5

m. 770.668.4680 o. 770.442.7300 juliemartin@atlantafinehomes.com J U L I E M A R T I N . AT L A N TA F I N E H O M E S .C O M

© Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. 8000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 800, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009.