Pine beetle curse dooms trail trees at municipal park
MILTON, Ga. — Around two dozen trees at Bell Memorial Park will be removed the week of Dec. 8 due to pine beetle infestations, the City of Milton said.
The removal will take place along the trail on the eastern side of Bell Memorial Park and behind the football and lacrosse fields. Most of the trail will remain open, but visitors should follow signage and avoid areas where tree removal work is underway.
The City of Milton said the contractor from One Two Tree will work on infested trees before they fall from damage. Once trees are infected, their structural integrity declines making way for branches or the trunks to break. If the trees are not removed, the pine beetle infestation can spread quickly, damaging healthy trees.
Tree removal is expected to take a week, the City of Milton said.
— Hannah Yahne
Milton residents, City Council debate home setback changes
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — Potential zoning changes to front yard setbacks in AG-1 properties dominated discussion Dec. 1, as residents tangled with city officials.
and the rear property line.
With the exception of several commercial corridors, agriculture zoning dominates Milton’s landscape.
A proposed text amendment would alter the setback requirements for subdivisions constructed in agriculturally zoned (AG-1) areas. Currently, the setback requirements are a 60-foot front yard setback, a 50-foot setback in the rear, and 10-feet between a pool
City staff say the goal is to provide homeowners more design flexibility in their backyard by reducing the front yard setback within qualified subdivisions.
Two versions of the amendment reducing front yard setbacks were originally proposed at the Nov. 20 Planning Commission meeting.
Mark San
, a resident of the Taylor Glen subdivision, speaks in opposition of the proposed text amendment changes to AG-1 zoning during public comment. See COUNCIL, Page 29
PHOTOS BY: HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA
From left, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Cookerly and Councilman Jan Jacobus listen to a presentation on a proposal to change yard setback requirements in agricultural (AG-1) zoning at the Dec. 1 Milton City Council meeting.
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Women find tracker on their rental vehicle
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police investigated a report of unlawful surveillance Nov. 12 after a 47-year-old Hanson, Ky., woman and 24-year-old Tampa, Fla., woman found a global positioning system tracker on their rental car. The women were in Alpharetta on a business trip.
The women discovered the tracker after noticing it on their phones. It was located near the rear driver-side tire.
The car rental company said their company uses no external trackers on vehicles.
The women said they suspect the tracker was placed on their vehicle while it was parked at their Deerfield Parkway hotel. Neither woman said they knew of anyone who would want to track them.
The incident was classified as a felony unlawful surveillance.
— Jon Wilcox
Police link New Yorker to drug overdose death
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 30-year-old New York man living in Alpharetta Nov. 23 citing him for aggravated involuntary manslaughter related to the fatal overdose of a 22-year-old Dunwoody woman.
The incident leading to the man’s arrest occurred in early July. Officers said they responded to a residence for recovering addicts off Woodcreek Drive and found a woman unconscious on her bed.
The woman was pronounced deceased at the Wellstar North Fulton medical Center after receiving multiple doses of Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of a fentanyl overdose.
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Through conversations with the woman’s roommates, officers said they learned her drug of choice was fentanyl and that she had been asking a friend for “candy” the day before.
The July report stated that a detective had taken over the investigation.
On Nov. 22, Roswell police arrested the New York man in connection with the case. He was an employee of the Westside Parkway Top Golf.
Officers said he was arrested without incident and remains in the Fulton County Jail.
— Hayden Sumlin
Driver reports incident of road rage on Ga. 400
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 25-year-old woman reported a driver pointed a gun at her during a road rage incident Nov. 17.
Alpharetta police said the woman reported a driver brake checked her while traveling southbound on Ga. 400.
The woman allegedly passed the vehicle and brake checked it. The other driver then allegedly pulled up beside her and pointed a gun at her.
The woman said she was unable to identify the driver because of the vehicle’s dark window tint. She provided a license plate number to police.
The incident was classified as a misdemeanor pointing a gun at another.
— Jon Wilcox
Sandy Springs, Roswell reports conflict on arrest
ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell and Sandy Springs officers arrested a 35-year-old Jonesboro man Nov. 24 on charges involving auto theft, but jurisdiction on the arrest is cloudy.
Police were alerted after getting a license plate hit on a stolen vehicle at Ga. 400 and Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.
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A Roswell officer said dispatch notified him that the Nissan Murano had been reported stolen out of Gwinnett County and began to search the area for the vehicle.
While the Roswell officer was enroute, he said dispatch told him that Sandy Springs officers had found the vehicle in a gas station parking lot at Holcomb Bridge and Old Alabama roads in Roswell.
Eventually, Roswell and Sandy Springs officers met up at 1465 Holcomb Bridge Road and used their patrol cars to block the Nissan’s exit.
After finding the vehicle empty, a Roswell officer reported Sandy Springs officers immediately ran inside the gas station and detained the driver.
Roswell officers said Sandy Springs personnel took over the investigation from there.
The Sandy Springs Police Department’s report says the incident occurred at Ga. 400 northbound and Northridge Parkway, inside Sandy Springs.
The Roswell report indicates the car was spotted inside its city limits and the arrest occurred there.
— Hayden Sumlin Main Street restaurant reports overnight burglary
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Officers
investigated a reported burglary at a North Main Street restaurant Nov. 16.
Alpharetta police said officers cleared the building after an alarm sounded about 1:30 a.m.
No one was found inside, but police viewed a video showing three people entering the restaurant with tools and flashlights.
The three people allegedly pried open a door and stole a cash drawer.
About $800 was reported stolen, and a door valued at $500 was damaged.
The incident was classified as a felony forced burglary of a business.
— Hayden Sumlin
Pillars of Milton football sign letters to colleges
By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
MILTON, Ga. — December National Signing Day has been busy over the past few years at Milton High School, and the class of 2026 was no different. Dec. 3 saw six seniors sign to play Division I football.
Athletic Director Kory Keys said the athletic department wouldn’t be as successful as they are without the parent and community support in Milton.
“The investment starts at home,” he said. “Students come to us already having that foundation, and then our coaches and teachers do a great job at making this place a launching pad.”
Football had its first signing day of the season. Offensive guard Madden Mones signed to Georgetown University. Long snapper Graham Coady signed to Lafayette University.
Four core members of the Eagles’ defense committed – linebackers Tristan Lester to Marshall University and Billy Weivoda to the University of Iowa, cornerback Lawson Estes to Samford and defensive end Gage Lawrence to Colgate.
The six young men were instrumental in Milton’s back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.
Head coach Ben Reaves said his goal for the program is to get players to see their goals and dreams, whether on or off the field, and how their hard work would pay off.
“Today ends the season on a high note for us,” he said. “What’s really important is molding young men and helping them to grow and achieve their dreams. These seniors never stopped fighting, they just continued to try to find a way to overcome the adversities we faced this season, and that speaks to their character as people.”
Billy Weivoda, a three-star recruit, told Appen Media he picked Iowa for its history of sending linebackers to the NFL and shared his favorite memory at Milton – having to kick a 20-yard field goal to avoid a practice punishment for his team, and making it.
“It’s truly a blessing, just the opportunity that the coaches at Iowa gave me,” Weivoda said. “Tristan’s dad coached us in flag football, and I’ve been playing with him and Lawson since we were 6 years old. I’m excited for the development at the next level on and off the field.”
Tristan Lester said it will be a new experience to compete without his brothers at Milton. Lester will play defensive back for Marshall next year, a true Swiss army knife for any defense.
Lester’s video essay to say goodbye to the program thanked an extensive list of support staff but started with a message to his late father, Tim.
Milton offensive guard Madden Mones signs to play football for Georgetown University. Mones has been competing in national powerlifting competitions for more than five years and last month went six for six at the Youth Pan American Championships in Mexico, one of 23 Americans competing.
“I would like to thank my dad for planting the seeds of trusting God’s plan for me, hard work, determination and mental toughness in my life,” he said. “Even though you are not here physically, you
live through me, and you are with me every second. I promise I will make you and God proud of me.”
Lester’s mom, Natalie, said being grounded in faith has carried her family
through this hard time since losing Tim in 2021 to COVID-19. She said that she frequently tells friends that she asks God for her sons to play together in college, “wherever his plan sees fit.”
“I see Tim’s legacy through them because they glorify God and give 100 percent at everything they do,” she said. “He would tell them, ‘only you and God know if you gave 100 percent’, and I’ve now seen them push through even when they didn’t think they could. Both of my sons have dealt with so many injuries and I’m humbled and grateful to see them both on to the next level.”
Tristan and his brother TJ, a freshman running back at West Georgia, both served as captains in their senior year at Milton.
“[Lester] is one of those names I wish was always going to be on the field,” coach Reaves said. “Truly, the way both of them have impacted our program, and even the way their father Tim did, who I got to know when I first got to Milton, they’ll always be on the field, in a way. What they’ve left to the younger generations and the way they’ve passed the torch and showed the younger kids how to do things the right way, there will still be a piece of them on field even if it’s not physically.”
PHOTOS BY: ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
From left, seniors Lawson Estes, Graham Coady, Gage Lawrence, Tristan Lester, Billy Weivoda and Madden Mones stand with teammates at Milton High School Dec. 3 after signing their letters of intent to play Division I football.
A graph shows decreased enrollment numbers in Fulton County schools from 2022 through 2026. Lower student enrollment can lead to reduced funding and resources from the state.
Fulton Schools plots strategy to avoid future budget deficit
BY HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — As enrollment continues to decline, Fulton County Schools is considering a strategy to keep its budget in the black as costs rise and tax revenues fall.
At its Nov. 20 meeting, the School Board heard proposals that could help the district through a special cost-savings strategy known as Growth Opportunities, Lean Operations, Investment in Innovation, Diversify Revenue and Enhance Efficiency, or G.L.I.D.E.
The school system expects annual costs to exceed revenue every year in the coming five years, creating a deficit of nearly $94 million by 2030. Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef outlined rising healthcare costs for staff, decreased enrollment and a drop in local tax revenues as three issues facing the district.
To help offset the projected budget shortfall, proposed interventions include reducing specific operational expenses and eliminating 140 staff positions by July 1, 2026. This would result in approximately $93 to $95 million in savings over the next five years.
“At the end of the day, we have to make some tough decisions,” Superintendent Mike Looney said. “…these reductions alone will not cover all of the ground that we need to make up … to be in a good, strong financial position over the next five years … this is just part of the bigger picture.”
The district anticipates reducing the number of school-based employees by at least 100 positions and the number of central office district-level positions by at least 140. Decisions will be made through a transparent and systematic process that would include public input, Looney said. Nearly 1,000 residents have offered feedback and participated in the district’s online thought exchange platform. School Board members have conducted 14 community meetings and will continue fostering stakeholder engagement.
For those who want to provide public feedback, visit tejoin.com and take the survey using the code 354522171. A link
and more information are available on Fulton County Schools’ website.
Reductions will begin by eliminating non-essential positions that are currently vacant and by not immediately filling vacant positions that are deemed necessary. Looney said Fulton Schools’ will offer eligible employees a retirement incentive, and those who are not eligible will be offered separation agreements if their positions are eliminated.
Costs for providing Fulton County Schools’ employees with healthcare has nearly doubled over the past four years, Board President Kristin McCabe said.
It is vital that the community and district employees understand the financial strains the school system is facing, McCabe said.
School Board member Lillie Pozatek said it’s important to note that Fulton County Schools’ general fund balance fully pays for its programs for special needs students. Currently, the district is spending over $215 million to fund programs for its largest rising population of students.
McCabe added that while the federal government is supposed to fund 40 percent of special needs program, the district receives 9-11 percent of the funding promised.
In a related presentation, Chief Financial Officer Dereef said the district proposes a $10 decrease to the amount allocated per pupil to $120. The district projects to save around $850,000 with each $10 reduction, Dereef said, further enhancing the district’s ability to allocate resources.
In other action at the meeting, the School Board approved the consent agenda, which included contracts to renovate Autrey Mill Middle School and installing new audio and visual equipment at three high schools. The first read of Fulton County Schools’ 2027-28 instructional calendar was approved, nearly solidifying the week-long breaks scheduled for September and February.
All legal, land and student personnel matters discussed in the executive session that took place before the meeting were approved by the School Board.
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Christmas at Midway Christmas
December 24th
Christmas Eve
3:00 p.m. Children’s Pop-up Christmas Pageant
This family-friendly service invites children to help tell the story of the very first Christmas! Wear a costume or borrow one from the church.
5:00 p.m. Modern – Sanctuary
7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m. Traditional – Chapel
Join us for one of these candlelight and communion services as we celebrate the birth of Christ.
| www.MidwayUMC.org
County to spend $45 million for inmate healthcare plan
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The Fulton County Commission approved a $45.1 million contract renewal for inmate healthcare next year, a routine step to comply with a federal consent decree.
Fulton County has the option to renew the contract with NaphCare LLC for a ninth and final year in 2027. The Dec. 3 vote was unanimous.
Purchasing Director Felicia StrongWhitaker said her team will begin developing a request for new proposals next year for a revamped inmate medical services contract at the start of 2028.
“We do need some assistance,” Strong-Whitaker said, referencing a consultant to help with the rebid process. “I know there’s some things in the consent decree around medical healthcare, and our [contract] has not really been updated or revised since I started at the county in 2004.”
Strong-Whitaker said the county must ensure its contract for inmate medical services meets the requirements of the federal consent decree.
There are long-standing problems at the Rice Street jail requiring a lengthy and costly process with a federal consent decree monitor reviewing conditions to ensure the rights of incarcerated citizens are not violated.
The probe into the county’s Rice Street facility and three annexes, including one in Alpharetta, began in 2023 after the murder of an unindicted inmate who had been in custody for eight months. Violence at the jail has continued this year.
“I think a review is necessary to make sure that a contract that is going to exceed $45 million a year is up to date and is going to take us through the next 10 years,” StrongWhitaker said.
After County Chairman Robb Pitts asked what a consultant would cost, Strong-Whitaker said it may just involve consulting with the consent decree monitor.
Kathleen Kenney was appointed lead monitor in February, overseeing the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and compliance with specific requirements for the jail system.
In an August report, Kenney wrote that the monitoring team was focused on staffing and supervision, repairing damaged appliances and alarm systems, inmate classification and mental health.
During the Dec. 3 public hearing on the 2026 operating budget, a former
Rice Street Jail inmate spoke in detail about her experience with violence in the jail, witnessing a September attack that left a 20-year-old woman fighting for her life at Grady Memorial Hospital.
After her remarks, Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts told the audience that the hearing was for next year’s proposed budget.
The next speaker, LaQuana Alexander, a community advocate in Atlanta known as LA Pink said the discussion of next year’s operating budget revolves around the justice system.
“This is the reason why the budget is all screwed up,” Alexander said. “We can talk about these things … Y’all need to start taking your time and using it toward the things that matter. Y’all got inmates up over here [at the Rice Street jail] dying.”
County Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman said she thinks the county needs a consultant because of the federal consent decree’s requirements and potential penalties for failure to follow them.
“I know that anytime we’re talking about dollars, we must be fiscally responsible,” Abdur-Rahman said. “We built a jail that when the doors opened, it was already overcrowded. We have an opportunity now …”
In August, commissioners approved a long-term plan to build a new 1,813bed jail facility for around $1.1 billion, specifically for people with medical, mental health and special needs. That money also includes repairs at Rice Street.
County Commissioner Bob Ellis, representing the western half of North Fulton, said he thinks it’s important to have the vendor, NaphCare of Fulton County LLC, share performance metrics with county staff.
A county evaluation of the vendor reported “minimal staffing not maintained per contract,” but otherwise positive comments.
Ellis compared the $45.1 million contract for inmate healthcare to the $15.8 million the county contracts for behavioral health services for all county residents, including students, seniors, people with developmental disabilities and inmates.
“Reporting mechanisms … are really important given the size of this contract and the number of people it impacts,” Ellis said. “We just went through a very detailed report back from different contracts we have in the behavioral health area. We have very little insight into this one.”
Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson and Co-Chair of the Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board Trey Ragsdale are joined by fellow members Dec. 3 as they celebrate the new Gwinnett County career resource center at 3805 Crestwood Parkway NW, Suite 200 in Duluth.
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Gwinnett County career center links job seekers to employers
By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com
DULUTH, Ga. — The Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board celebrated the opening of its relocated career resource center Dec. 3 in Duluth that offers training and assistance with jobseeking to Gwinnett County residents.
The Workforce Development Board includes members of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and oversees the six career centers serving seven Metro Atlanta counties: Gwinnett, Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Henry and Rockdale.
The Gwinnett County career resource center is open at its new location, 3805 Crestwood Parkway NW, Suite 200 in Duluth.
The career resource center is a collaboration between Gwinnett Technical College and WorkSource Atlanta Regional, a federally funded program working to connect employers with job candidates.
“When you provide individuals with a skill set, you provide them with a life-changing opportunity to earn a viable wage, and therefore, increase their quality of life,” said Lauren Dodson, vice president of Economic Development for Gwinnett Tech. “We are thrilled to have this new facility in our backyard.”
Brett Lacy, director of the Workforce Development Board, described the career resource centers as the place for job seekers and training providers to connect, leading to further skill devel-
opment and certifications needed for employment.
“The relocation of our career resource center shows our dedication to meeting job seekers where they are and helping them succeed in the long run,” Lacy said.
Career resource centers throughout the state resulted from WorkSource Georgia, a statewide employment and training system created in 2016 after Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. When the program launched, the state’s unemployment rate hovered around 5.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Georgia’s unemployment rate now stands a full percent point lower than the nation’s average of 4.4 percent.
The ribbon-cutting for the new resource center was one piece of good news shared at the Dec. 3 meeting of the Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board.
By summer 2026, Building Georgia will launch its first training cohort as the program aims to fill the need for an estimated 136,000 jobs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The program began in 2024 and is a partnership between ARC, the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Transportation. All three are collaborating to complete the curriculum that will focus on entry-level construction skills and basic industry knowledge. Graduates from the program will be paired with participating employers throughout the state.
HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA
Just opened?
Alpharetta residents take issue with planned mixed-use project
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Residents have concerns that a mixed-use project at one of Alpharetta’s busiest intersections could add traffic and harm long-standing businesses.
Alpharetta District Places, proposed just southwest of downtown’s City Center, would include 120 for-sale units and 30,000 square feet of ground-level retail space. It also would incorporate up to 18,000 square feet of outdoor amenity space and potentially 25,000 square feet of offices. Its buildings could reach a height of four stories.
The project would be built on 3 acres bounded by Old Milton Parkway, Marietta Street and South Main Street. The site is now occupied by a strip mall that includes an Italian restaurant, salon, dry cleaner, exercise studio and other businesses.
Its design would feature historically inspired architecture and mimic a project that grows over time rather than one that springs as a large new urban development.
The Alpharetta City Council will consider a rezoning request, conditional use permit and variances for the project at its Dec. 8 meeting.
In a letter to the Planning Commission, Steven Rowe, vice president of land development firm AEC, said the project promotes quality architecture, connectivity and active street-level uses. It proposes improving the area’s walkability by providing connectivity with the Alpha Loop and downtown.
“We believe this proposal reflects a thoughtful, urban-minded approach to infill development and aligns with the city’s strategic goals for downtown Alpharetta,” he said.
Business:
Continued from Page 12
Some residents say they worry the project could have a detrimental effect on the area.
Francene Taylor, who has lived in the city since 1992, said she worries the development could contribute to traffic, detracting from the city’s mission of becoming a more walkable and bikeable place. Taylor said she particularly worries about the effect on smaller nearby roadways.
“Marietta Street and Roswell Street will become even more dangerous than they are currently,” she said.
Georgia Department of Transportation data shows about 46,000 vehicles pass daily on a nearby stretch of Old Milton Parkway.
Taylor, who lives nearby, also said she thinks the project’s businesses could result in noise, especially
during late hours.
“The sheer size of Alpharetta District Places will ramp up the noise level considerably,” Taylor said. “I’m not just talking about random restaurant music, but … there could be 4 a.m. grease trap cleanouts and 5 a.m. dumpster pickups.”
Finally, Taylor said she and other community members are concerned the businesses already at the property could be displaced by the construction. It’s a concern that is made worse by the city’s rising property values, she said.
“I don’t want to lose the restaurants and retail that I patronize, and I am concerned because I don’t believe they will find any place in the Alpharetta area that’s affordable,” she said. “We are concerned about what’s next for them.”
Alpharetta resident Teresa Volk agrees.
During a recent visit to one of the existing businesses, she said she was greeted by the owner who was crying because of fears they might be displaced. Volk said she envisions Alpharetta as
a community that makes room for small business owners instead of casting them aside for newer development.
“It’s a shame. This is their livelihood,” Volk said. “They work really, really hard.”
I’m dreaming of a White Christmas…
“Just like the ones I used to know.” I love the sound of Bing Crosby singing White Christmas. It’s getting colder and I’m getting excited for the holidays this year. I look forward to all of it. The lights, the decorations, the cookies, the food, the drinks, the special times with those you love. I could go on and on.
During the holidays, everyone is happy and smiling and thankful. An important part of that is a healthy, white smile. Your dentist can help you get a healthy, white smile for the holidays. Let’s talk about the best ways to get your smile as white as possible.
The first step is making sure that your teeth are clean. And I do mean professionally cleaned. Over time, your teeth build up surface stains and tartar. This needs to be removed with the special instruments that your dental hygienist uses. After -
wards, your gums will be healthier, and you won’t have anything in the way of getting your teeth as white as possible. You can’t whiten tartar and stains. You must remove them.
There are three ways to whiten your teeth: Whitening strips, Whitening trays, and Professional Whitening. Whitening strips are the quickest, easiest way to whiten your teeth. These are plastic strips with whitening gel on them. After cleaning your teeth, you place the whitening strips on your front teeth and adapt it as well as possible to your teeth. Whitening trays are custom trays for placing the whitening gel precisely on your teeth. Your dentist can make these for you and provide you with strong, prescription strength whiten gel for you to whiten your teeth with a series of home treatments. The best and fastest way to whiten your teeth is Professional Whitening at a dental office. In about an hour, your dentist can place a protective barrier on your gums and place
powerful whitening gel on your teeth to get your teeth super white. People love this option because your teeth are as white as they can get in about an hour and you do not have to do multiple treatments at home.
Everyone has a biologic limit to how white they can get their teeth with these whitening procedures. Porcelain veneers and cosmetic bonding can get your smile even whiter and more perfect. Modern dentistry gives you so many options to improve your smile with the advances in materials and technology. Tooth Whitening removes years of stain and discoloration. Cosmetic recontouring is a simple process of re-shaping your teeth to make them look more attractive, healthier, and straighter. Clear, nearly Invisible Aligners can straighten your teeth quickly and easily without metal braces. Cosmetic Bonding repairs chips and cracks to make your teeth look beautiful, natural, and vibrant again. Porcelain Veneers is like adding
new enamel to your teeth to make them whiter, straighter, and change the shape to the perfect length and proportions.
“May your days be merry and bright. And may all your Christmases be white.”
Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide all the modern advances that contemporary esthetic dentistry offers. You will realize immediate results with noninvasive and often inexpensive procedures to enhance your smile. If you would like a complementary consultation to discover your smile restoring options, please call the Atlanta Center for Dental Health at 770992-2236. Dr. Bradley Hepler has spent many hours dedicated to perfecting and updating the latest and best techniques in dentistry. It is with this breadth of knowledge that they provide each patient with the perfect solution to their situation, their life, and their goals. It is our pleasure to serve this community and help as many people as possible live their best life.
A pilot dies of Alpha Gal syndrome
Alpha gal syndrome, also known as “red meat allergy,” is a disease on the rise. Sadly, a November 2025 publication describes the first well-documented death resulting from alpha gal syndrome.
In the summer of 2024, a New Jerseybased airline pilot went camping with his family and suffered multiple bites believed to be either lone star tick larvae or nymphs which the family identified as “chiggers.” He and his family typically ate chicken. However, two weeks after camping, he ate a steak. Four hours later, he developed diarrhea, vomiting and such severe abdominal pain that he told his family “I thought I was going to die.” Symptoms lasted two hours, but the next day he felt so good that he saw no reason to seek medical attention.
Two weeks later, he had an additional exposure to red meat. At a barbecue, he ate a hamburger. Four hours later, he became ill again. Within minutes, he was dead. Post-mortem blood testing revealed extremely high tryptase levels – consistent with an anaphylactic reaction, a severe type of allergic reaction in which difficulty breathing or a sudden drop in blood pressure can result in death.
Alpha gal syndrome was first discovered around 2007 when a physician in Virginia identified that lone star tick bites could cause red meat allergy. A sugar called galactose-alpha 1,3-galactose (aka “alpha-gal”) is found in many types of mammal meat and dairy but not in humans, so humans can become allergic to this sugar if they are exposed in the right circumstance. A tick bite is just such a circumstance.
Lone star ticks are on the rise. Expanding deer populations and tick populations are likely resulting in an increase in tick bites and disease in humans. Increased testing certainly plays a factor, but between
2013 and 2024, a 100-fold increase in positive test results for alpha-gal occurred, and the CDC estimates as many as half a million people may be affected by this disease.
What makes the death of the New Jersey pilot so startling is the nature of the alpha gal allergic reaction. Most of the time, when we think of allergic reactions, we think of hives and rashes. If we think of death, we usually think of reactions such as those to peanuts which often involve difficulty breathing. The symptoms of the pilot would normally make someone worried for food poisoning or a severe stomach bug – not an allergy.
But diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain can be signs of an allergy. With alpha gal on the rise, severe abdominal pain following red meat or dairy ingestion should raise concern for alpha gal syndrome, which we now know can be fatal. In the right context – a recent hike, camping trip or other potential exposure to ticks, someone with severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea should consider getting tested for alpha gal before ingesting red meat, dairy or other cross-reacting substances a second time.
Reportedly, numerous individuals on Martha’s Vineyard are now unwillingly having to live essentially a vegan lifestyle due to the number of meat and dairy products that they now must avoid. Deer, ticks and alpha gal are on the rise and apparently here to stay.
As a Mohs surgeon and dermatologist, I have learned that the beach-goer has more to fear from the Sun in the sky than from a shark in the water. As someone who loves the great outdoors, I would add that I am more afraid of the tick on the leaf than the bear in the woods. If you, like me, have ever been sun-kissed or tick-bitten and are concerned about tick-born illness, Premier Dermatology is here to help.
Insist
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 23 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology
Rethinking what counseling means for children
When most people hear the word therapy, they often picture trauma, or a problem that needs to be fixed. But for children, therapy is so much more than that. It’s not just about healing, it’s about learning, growing, and building skills that help them in everyday life.
In counseling, children learn tools that don’t always get taught in the classroom. They practice handling frustration without shutting down, expressing feelings in a healthy and respectful way, making and keeping friends, and building confidence after mistakes or failures. Therapy gives kids the chance to practice these skills in a safe and supportive space. They get to experiment, learn about themselves, and feel proud of their growth along the way.
I often compare therapy to exercising, it’s about maintenance, not just repair. When children learn emotional regulation early, they develop the tools to handle life’s challenges before they start to feel too overwhelming. By building that emotional foundation early on therapy helps prevent behavioral issues, anxiety, and low self-esteem from taking place later in life. It’s about giving kids the skills and confidence to manage their big feelings.
Therapy also supports healthy relationships with family, friends, and teachers. When kids understand themselves better they are able to communicate more clearly and feel more confident in social settings. Parents often notice their child becoming more flexible, empathetic, and calm in situations that used to feel difficult or triggering.
Ultimately, therapy isn’t a sign that something is wrong or broken, it’s a way to help your child grow stronger. Whether a child is struggling, shy, or simply learning to navigate a busy world, therapy can help them build resilience, confidence, and self-awareness that they’ll carry throughout their lives.
Find expert epilepsy care at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center
Brought to you by – Wellstar Neurologist Dr. Ericka Bennett
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent seizures and affects millions of people worldwide. These seizures result from sudden abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which can cause temporary disturbances in movement, behavior, sensation or awareness. Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center provides expert, specialized care for epilepsy.
The new The Epilepsy and Seizures Program at Wellstar, one of only a few programs of its kind in Georgia, provides comprehensive care to help people manage several types of seizures, including absence, tonic, atonic, clonic, myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures. The expert team surrounds patients with support throughout their entire care journey, providing specialized outpatient and inpatient treatment.
Which types of doctors diagnose and treat epilepsy?
Diagnosing epilepsy requires the expertise of a multidisciplinary medical team. Each specialist brings a different perspective and skill set to ensure the most accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan:
• Neurologist: Performs initial assessments, orders imaging and begins treatment
• Epileptologist: This is a neurologist with specialized training in epilepsy. They lead the diagnostic process and manage complex cases.
• Neuropsychologist: They conduct cognitive and behavioral evaluations, especially in preparation for epilepsy surgery.
• Neurosurgeon: They assess whether surgical treatment is a viable and safe option for epilepsy that isn't helped by medications.
• Nurse Coordinator: They are here to help you navigate through your diagnosis and treatment. They can help with scheduling, educating you about your diagnosis and connecting you with community resources.
What is the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and how can the EMU at Wellstar North Fulton help with management of your epilepsy?
An epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) is a specialized inpatient facility designed
to diagnose and evaluate seizure disorders. Patients are voluntarily admitted, on average between three to five days, for continuous video electroencephalogram monitoring. This comprehensive assessment helps differentiate epilepsy from other conditions that mimic seizures, such as movement disorders, fainting spells or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.
Why is an EMU hospitalization essential for epilepsy diagnosis and treatment?
1. Accurate diagnosis: The EMU provides high-precision monitoring, ensuring that patients receive the correct diagnosis and, consequently, the right treatment.
2. Personalized treatment plans: By analyzing seizure patterns, neurologists can tailor a treatment plan specific to the patient and their diagnosis.
3. Identifying surgical candidates: For patients whose seizures are not well-controlled with medication, an EMU evaluation can determine if epilepsy surgery is a viable option.
What are the next steps after spending time in the EMU?
Once the EMU hospitalization is complete, your epileptologist will review important data collected from the hospitalization, confirm the diagnosis, discuss if you are a surgical candidate and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.
Learn more about neuro care at Wellstar at wellstar.org/neurocare. To schedule an appointment with Wellstar Neurologist Dr. Ericka Bennett in Roswell, call (770) 663-4649.
BENNETT
Brought to you by – Caroline Buttrey, M.S.W
BUTTREY
Expert epilepsy care means more advanced support for you.
At Wellstar, our epilepsy and seizure program, one of only a few of its kind in Georgia, provides multidisciplinary care to help people manage these neurological conditions with specialized treatment plans including advanced functional brain surgery options for those with severe seizure conditions. Our in-hospital epilepsy monitoring units use advanced technology to diagnose and treat seizures.
With Wellstar’s Neuro Care services your health is in the right hands with more than 200 neurosurgeons, neurologists, pain medicine specialists and advanced practice providers to deliver expert neuro care and surround you with support throughout your care journey. wellstar.org/epilepsy
New era for hormone therapy
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What you need to know about the FDA’s recent move
Brought to you by – OlympusMD Milton
In a significant shift, the FDA recently removed its long-standing “black box” warning from many hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications used for menopause. For years, women were told to fear HRT — associating it with increased risks of breast cancer and cardiovascular issues. That fear led many to suffer in silence through debilitating symptoms like hot flashes, weight gain, brain fog, low libido, and mood swings.
This decision acknowledges what many practitioners in integrative and regenerative medicine have observed for years: when appropriately prescribed and monitored, HRT can be life-changing — and life-enhancing — for many women. Especially when started within the first 10 years of menopause, hormone optimization may support cognitive health, bone
density, cardiovascular function, and overall vitality.
One option gaining momentum is bioidentical hormone therapy using subcutaneous pellets. This method delivers a consistent release of hormones — typically testosterone and/or estradiol — directly into the bloodstream. Pellets are customized based on labs and clinical symptoms, and only need to be placed every 3–6 months.
Many patients find that pellet therapy eliminates the hormonal “rollercoaster” that can come with pills, creams, or patches. And because the hormones are bioidentical — meaning their molecular structure is identical to the body’s own — they may be better recognized and utilized by the body.
The FDA’s shift is not just a regulatory change — it’s a green light for more women to seek individualized care and evidence-based options. If you’ve ever wondered whether hormone therapy is right for you, now is the time to have that conversation. Your journey through midlife doesn’t have to mean decline — it can be a powerful time of transformation.
9 out of 10 dentists disagree…. with insurance
Most people expect dental insurance to work like medical insurance: pay monthly premiums and be protected from large, unexpected bills. In reality, dental insurance is built very differently. It isn’t a catastrophe safety net—it’s essentially a prepaid discount plan with a small, set annual benefit. That’s why many people are surprised when significant treatment isn’t “covered.”
A cap on benefits—not on expenses
Most dental plans limit what they’ll pay each year, typically between $1,000 and $2,000. Once you reach that number, the plan stops paying regardless of what care you still need. Medical insurance usually flips that model: after you meet your outof-pocket maximum, coverage expands. With dental insurance, the ceiling is on the insurer’s payout, not on your costs.
Cost-sharing that erodes coverage
Many policies haven’t changed their reimbursement fee structure since the 1960’s and still follow an old 100/80/50 schedule—preventive care at 100%, basic care at 80%, and major care at 50%—only until the annual maximum is hit. Deductibles, waiting periods, frequency limits, “missing tooth” clauses, and downgrades (for example, paying at the rate of a silver filling instead of a tooth-colored composite) further reduce the contribution.
A quick example
If you need a root canal and crown totaling $3,000, 50% coverage suggests $1,500 from insurance. In practice, after deductibles, downgrades, and earlier hygiene visits count toward your annual max, the plan often hits its $1,000–$2,000 cap quickly, leaving the rest to you. Your oral health needs don’t pause at the cap—only the plan’s payments do.
So, is it really “insurance”?
True insurance pools risk for rare, highcost events. Dental conditions are common and largely preventable, so dental plans are designed to emphasize maintenance— cleanings, exams, and X-rays—rather than absorb the full cost of complex care. Think of dental insurance as a coupon with rules, not a blank check for treatment.
Where dental insurance helps
Most plans reward prevention. Two “healthy-mouth” cleanings, exams, and routine X-rays are often covered at or near 100%. Using these benefits consistently helps catch issues early, when they’re simpler and less expensive to treat.
A simpler, more predictable choice: our in-house Wellness Plan
If you prefer transparency over fine print, our Wellness Plan replaces uncertainty with clear value:
• Professional cleanings included
• All X-rays included
• Doctor exams included
• Plus 15% off any needed restorative treatment
Because it’s our plan, not a thirdparty policy, your care isn’t dictated by exclusions or downgrades. There are no rejected claims, no enrollment windows, no waiting periods, no racing the calendar, and no shrinking annual maximum. You and your dentist decide what’s best; the Wellness Plan makes it more affordable.
Tips to maximize value either way
• Know your numbers: annual maximum, deductible, waiting periods, frequency limits, and coverage percentages.
• Time your care: for larger cases, phasing across benefit years can stretch limited dollars.
• Use tax-advantaged funds: Use HSAs/ FSAs to lower your net cost.
• Choose quality, not just “in-network”: materials, precision, and durability matter.
Bottom line: dental “insurance” is a small yearly benefit with limits. Our Wellness Plan makes preventive care simple and takes 15% off restorative treatment so your decisions are guided by health—not caps and clauses.
At Roswell Dental Care, we offer the best of both worlds: we’re fee-for-service and will file out-of-network claims to help you maximize any insurance benefits if you choose that instead of the Wellness Plan. Dr. Hood and her team personalize care, ensure you feel confident before treatment begins, and for added comfort we offer FREE nitrous oxide. Call 770998-6736 or visit www.roswelldentalcare. com to start your path to comfortable, confident oral health.
Dr. Destinee Hood
Brought to you by - Dr. Destinee Hood at Roswell Dental Care
The brand-new OrthoXpress Bone & Joint Center in Roswell, GA is now open — bringing fast, convenient bone, joint, and sports-medicine. Headed by the experienced Ashlei Layton, PA-C, the OrthoXpress team offers everything from fracture care and sprains to treatment for tendonitis, meniscus tears, joint injections and more. OrthoXpress is redefining orthopedic services in Roswell with availability every weekday. Stop letting pain hold you back — visit us at 30 East Crossville Road, Suite 180 or make your appointment online at www. speedheals.com/roswell. Call (470) 233-7630 today and get back on your feet faster!
Geriatrics in primary care: Meeting the unique health care needs of older adults
Brought to you by – Comprehensive Internal Medicine
Geriatrics in primary care is the specialized approach used to care for people as they age. Geriatric primary care recognizes that older adults often experience multiple chronic conditions, functional limitations, and changing social circumstances.
Through this, there is an emphasis on maintaining health, independence, and quality of life.
To achieve best health, the care plan begins with a comprehensive assessment, in which a healthcare provider evaluates medical conditions, medications, cognitive function, emotional well-being, mobility, nutrition, and social support. Another essential component is medication management, since older adults often take several prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, increasing the risk of side effects or interactions. Geriatric care also includes prevention and early detection of common age-related issues such as falls, memory decline, osteoporosis, and sensory impairments. Additionally, providers coordinate care among specialists, caregivers, and community resources, ensuring
that the patient’s needs are addressed in a holistic and organized way. Advanced care planning—discussing preferences regarding future medical treatments—is also a valuable part of geriatric primary care.
The benefits of incorporating geriatrics into primary care are significant. First, it leads to better health outcomes, because problems are identified early and managed proactively. Second, geriatric-focused care improves patient safety, particularly by reducing medication-related complications and preventing avoidable hospitalizations. Third, it enhances quality of life by supporting independence, promoting mental and emotional well-being, and helping patients stay active and engaged. For families and caregivers, geriatric primary care offers guidance, reassurance, and support in navigating complex health decisions.
Overall, geriatrics in primary care ensures that older adults receive thoughtful, personalized, and coordinated care that promotes healthy aging and preserves dignity throughout life’s later stages. If you have multiple medical issues, a geriatric specialist may be the right choice to achieve your best health.
Trusted Geriatric Experts
Sudeshna Nandi M.D.
Dr. Nandi has practiced medicine in north Atlanta for over a decade and brings expertise to her patient base in the areas of elder care, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Her approach is rooted in connection—using her clinical expertise to create trust, foster meaningful relationships, and elevate the patient’s experience. she blends exceptional clinical expertise with a deep understanding of the aging journey. She builds long term relationships with her patients and coordinates care with consulting physicians. She is fluent in Hindi and Bengali.
Shruti Patel, M.D.
Dr. Patel is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. She has a special interest in geriatric care, hypertension, and diabetes management. She is passionate about providing comprehensive, patient-centered care with a focus on chronic disease management and preventive health. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Patel is eager to help patients achieve healthier and more fulfilling lives through evidence-based practices and compassionate guidance.
Kellie Kozma - is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner in family medicine with a post-master’s in geriatric medicine and more than 20 years of clinical experience. She offers a level of clinical insight that brings clarity, confidence, and comfort to her patients. Her care philosophy blends expertise with genuine human connection, creating relationships that feel both supportive and truly transformative. She specializes in both acute and chronic disease management, using an evidence-based approach that emphasizes individualized patient needs.
OPINION
The Goat Man in Georgia – a traveling folk legend
BOB MEYERS Columnist
Charles “Ches” McCartney (circa 1901-1998), better known as “the Goat Man,” roamed America, including Middle and North Georgia in his goat propelled wooden wagon between the late 1930s or early 1940s for about 40 years.
Children and adults flocked to see him when he passed through North Fulton. Those who saw him never forgot him. Here is his history.
Born on a farm in Iowa, McCartney always loved the goats his father raised. At age 14, Ches ran away from home and fell in love with Agnes Smithart, a Spanish professional knife thrower after seeing her perform in New Your City. She was about 10 years older than Ches. They married and performed together by placing a balloon on his head while she threw knives at the target. She became pregnant and they tried to settle down as farmers, but the Great Depression wiped them out.
Ches came up with the idea of becoming an itinerant preacher traveling with a goat wagon. His wife made goatskin clothes for him and their young son Albert Gene, but she did not support the wagon idea. She left, and they divorced. McCartney married twice more, then left his third wife to begin his goat journey across America.
In his autobiography Ches wrote “The good Lord gave me three wives which proved to be three too many.”
Ches traveled with a team of goats pulling his homemade wagon loaded with pots and pans, old license plates from various states, bales of hay for his goats, a variety of beat-up buckets and junk he picked up here and there. He sold some of his stash together with postcards of his journey. Lifting a side panel revealed his bed.
Drawing a crowd
His arrival in a town always created a stir. He had no known schedule. He would simply show up. Word of mouth would often precede him guaranteeing a large turnout of local children and adults. He spent winters in Georgia and Florida and camped regularly in North Fulton.
Ches traveled with about a dozen or more goats, some in front of the wagon, a few behind sometimes serving as brakes on downhill stretches. He liked to chat with people and told many stories that could not be verified. He claimed that he was born in 1879 and that he was 105 years old. Neither claim was true.
postcard
the Goat Man, and friend. The Goat Man was a living legend who visited almost every state
wagon
goats. He was a frequent visitor to North Fulton. The photo was taken near an unknown
To some folks he was the essence of freedom. To others he was a curiosity who smelled like a goat.
Don Rolader, a North Fulton attorney, recalls his family relating accounts of the Goat Man.
“My great uncle Reverend Tommy Henderson ran Henderson’s Feed Store on Hwy 9 near Cogburn Road,” Rolader says. “He used to sell feed to the Goat Man when he passed through. His checks were always good, and legend has it that he was wealthy. The bank said that he could write a check for any amount he wanted.”
Pat Miller, president of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society, remembers that the Goat Man was friends with her professor of geopolitics when she was a student at the University of Georgia.
“Whenever he passed through Athens, he would camp out with his goats in the professor’s yard,” she says. “The Goat Man came to class once and spoke about his unique lifestyle and answered a lot of questions.”
Hal Coleman, also known as Milton Crabapple, recalls that Goat Man would stay on the Lebanon Church dirt parking lot for two or three days at a time. It
was located under the trees at Holcomb Bridge Road and Crossville Road in Roswell.
“A lot of people would come and crowd around the Goat Man,” Coleman says. “They gave him money and food and he would do some preaching. I remember attending church one time when the Goat Man was in the parking lot. The preacher pointed to him through the window and said in his sermon ‘that’s not the way God wants us to be.’”
A knack for preaching
Preaching was an important part of McCartney’s life. He carried a Bible and his favorite book, Daniel Defoe’s novel “Robinson Crusoe” (1719.)
McCartney was injured by a falling tree, or according to “Facing South,” when dragged by a horse in 1935 while working for the Works Progress Administration, WPA, a New Deal program. He permanently injured his left arm. Following the accident he found religion.
Around 1941-42 he established the Free Thinking Christian Mission in Jeffersonville, Georgia, a modest structure with a dirt floor on property
he owned. From there, he continued his trips until he retired in 1987 due in part to having been attacked several times while on the road. During one attack, he was assaulted while asleep in his wagon. He suffered three broken ribs, and two of his goats were killed.
In 1978, the church which was also his home burned down, after which he purchased and lived in an old bus with his son. He entered The Eastview Nursing Center in Macon in 1987. His son was murdered in 1998 six months before Ches passed away at age 97 at the nursing center.
The famous Georgia writer Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964) mentioned the Goat Man in some of her private letters and may have based some of her characters on him.
Like the song says, he did it his way. In the process he became a celebrity and a folk legend.
Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
GADSDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Iconic
of Charles “Ches” McCarthey,
in his
pulled by
Alabama town circa 1960s.
GET OUTSIDE GEORGIA
Railroad turntable upends today’s technology
Once upon a time, when I was just a wee lad, I wanted to be a titan of the railroad industry. And I was not alone. My vision was shared by tens of thousands of my peers, and the Sears Wishbook (remember that one?) fed my addiction with endless pages of model train sets.
I pored over those pages for hours. If I was good enough, I told myself, maybe Santa would bring me one of those treasured flat boxes, loaded with dozen pieces of HO-gauge track and a tiny locomotive and maybe as many as a half dozen rail cars (boxcars and flatbeds and a tanker car, too, not to mention the prize of prizes…a red caboose!).
Cut to the chase: How good was I? Good enough, apparently, for that’s what appeared under the tree one year. Woohoo!
I remember it well, After Christmas morning chaos had settled down, I cleared out a spot and opened the box and meticulously put it all together. No NASA project was ever handled with such care and attention to detail, and soon my railroad was ready to go. It went round in an oval about 3 feet across and 4 feet long – not quite intercontinental, not yet anyway, but more than enough for an 8-year-old rail magnate-to-be.
A few days after Christmas, we even went to the local hobby shop (remember those?) where I spent my $2 in cash, a gift from Uncle Somebody-or-Other, and bought a green and gray plastic mountain with a tunnel right through the middle. Back home, I lovingly placed the mountain over the straight part of the track. My little train purred through that tunnel perhaps a thousand times, though it always went round left-toright in the same unvarying circle. Though I really had been good, I guess I hadn’t been good enough for one of the big sets with the switch tracks – unfortunate, for in railroading as in life it’s occasionally helpful to change directions.
Anyway, my miniature rail empire remained a favorite pastime for quite a while. Then other things came along to distract me. I grew older, and now I’m grown, though the call of the rails still softly echoes from some dusty corner of memory.
Anyway, the other day I had a call from a friend.
“Want to go see the trains?” he asked.
Engine No 4501, a lovingly maintained steam locomotive, takes a breather on the track in Summerville.
“The trains” referred to a model railroad layout of near-Biblical proportions, the creation of a mutual friend who had remained true to the Railroad Way from childhood on. As an adult, he had created a model train layout which filled his entire basement. Within that tangle of track were many, many switches, and his trains could go in any direction you could imagine.
It was all impressive, every single bit of it, but the star of his show was what he called “the turntable.”
A railway turntable is just what the name suggests: a rotating railroad-sized table designed to turn a locomotive so it points in a new direction.
How’s that? Well, say your train has come to the end of the line. You need to turn it around and go back from whence you came – and the easiest way to do that is to build a giant turntable and simply turn that locomotive around.
Fans of railroad lore are quick
to tell you that there really are such turntables. In fact, one of them is alive and well and still turning in Summerville, Ga., just up the road.
The Summerville turntable was built in 1916 in Birmingham, Ala., for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and has been described as “a marvel of its time.” The rotating portion of track, which measured some 100 feet long, could point trains in any of about three dozen different directions.
The turntable stayed busy for years, handling such legendary passenger trains as the Pan American and the Florida Arrow. Eventually, when it finally went out of service in the late 1990s, it was donated to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) and eventually relocated to J.R. “Dick” Dowdy Park just off US 27 in Summerville, where it was restored. Now owned by the City of Summerville and operated by the museum, it is one of the few operating turntables in the
United States.
Many railroad history fans visit to see the old turntable. If they’re lucky and their timing is right, they may also get to see one of a pair of lovingly maintained steam locomotives that use the track – the 114-year-old No. 4501 and the 121-year-old No. 630. Those locomotives pull steam train excursions from Chattanooga to Summerville and back during spring, summer and fall, though TVRM’s Penelope Gault points out that with 100-plus-year-old rolling stock “there will occasionally be a day or two when one or the other is not available to run.”
I ask her how the turntable works.
“When we pull into Summerville,” she says, “guests get off the train.”
Some wander into town for lunch, but many (especially the serious railroad history fans) stay to see what’s about to happen next. And that is this:
First, the locomotive is disconnected from the train itself. It pulls slowly onto the turntable, stopping at the center. Then the electrically driven turntable begins its slow rotation, gradually turning the locomotive around until it’s pointing back the way it came. The locomotive then pulls off the turntable and makes its way up a separate section of track to what becomes the front of the train. Everything is reconnected, and the train is ready to return to Chattanooga. The whole process takes just a few minutes.
To see the turntable in action, you’ll want to visit when the trips from Chattanooga are running. Those start in late spring and continue through summer with a couple of trips a month; later, come fall, trips run every weekend through early November. You can just drop by Summerville, or you can jump in with both feet and book a spot on one of the Chattanooga-to-Summerville excursions. Either way, start by getting current schedule info from the museum’s website at tvrail.com.
This time of year, if you just want to get in a little train time, you might check out the popular “Summerville Santa” trips. These shorter dieselpowered excursions, which run in December, start in Summerville and take you a few miles up the track to Trion and back. They don’t involve the turntable, but they do give you a chance to take a train trip with Santa. What could be better than that? A few seats may still be available on some of these trips; again, you can find out by visiting tvrail.com
By the way, if you do happen to see Santa on the train, put in a good word for me. Tell him I’ve been good. I’ll do the same for you.
TRAVIS D. GORDON/PROVIDED
STEVE HUDSON Columnist
STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA
An overview shows the massive sweep of the Summerville railroad turntable, one of the few remaining in the country.
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BEING KIND
1. Knight fight. Speech impediment. Kind of butter.
2. Up and down toy. Kind of order. Way too weighty.
3. Kind of race. Tableland. Plaster of Paris.
4. Burger topper. Kind of stick. Sag.
5. Rapids runner. Chess piece. Kind of shot.
6. Long-tailed parrot. Kind of attack. Stinger.
12/11/25 Sudoku PuzzleJunction.com
7. Chinese tea leaves. Golfer’s cry. Kind of chamber.
1 Knight fight. Speech Impediment. Kind of butter
2. Up and down toy. Kind of order. Wa
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Kind of race. Tableland. Plaster of Paris
4. Burger topper. Kind of stick. Sag
5. Rapids runner. Chess piece. Kind of shot. 6. Long-tailed parrot. Kind of attack. Stinger.
To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. 86 9 89 5 4 5 3 1 7 85 6
Chinese tea leaves. Golfer’s cry. Kind of chamber.
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How to Solve: To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a 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.
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TIP YOUR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY PERSON
Your local community newspaper lands in your driveway every week—rain or shine—bringing you the stories, events, and updates that matter most. But did you know that the person delivering it is often a dedicated individual who goes the extra mile (literally) to ensure you stay connected?
Why Tip?
• Show Appreciation: Your delivery person is out there early in the morning or late at night, navigating all kinds of weather, so you can enjoy the news with your morning coffee.
• Support Local Efforts: While the paper might be free, the effort behind it isn’t. Tipping helps reward those who keep this vital community service running smoothly.
• Brighten Their Day: A small tip can make a big difference in someone’s day, showing gratitude for their hard work and dedication.
If you enjoy receiving your free community newspaper, consider giving a small token of appreciation to the person who brings it to your driveway. A little kindness can go a long way!
Thank you for supporting your local delivery heroes!
How to give your delivery person a tip:
Give via the online portal at appenmedia.com/deliverytip or scan this QR Code
If you prefer, you can also mail a check made out to Appen Media Group and mail it to Newspaper Delivery Tip C/O Appen Media Group, 319 North Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009
100% of every dollar you contribute will be spread out evenly between the 24 newspaper delivery people that Appen Media employs. Whether you give $5 or $50, they will greatly appreciate it.
Attracting birds and pollinators to your winter garden
As temperatures drop and many plants go dormant, it is easy to assume that your garden enters a quiet, lifeless phase. But winter can be a time of surprising vibrancy and ecological value, especially if you intentionally create a haven for birds and pollinators. In Georgia’s relatively mild climate, it’s possible to support local wildlife yearround with just a few strategic choices. Attracting birds and pollinators to your winter garden doesn’t just benefit the environment, it also adds life, movement, and interest to the garden during what might otherwise be a dull season. Here's how to make your outdoor space a welcoming winter habitat.
Why Attract Wildlife in Winter?
Winter is a critical time for many species. Birds and pollinators face food shortages, fewer water sources and the loss of natural habitat due to development and tidy landscaping. By offering food, shelter and water, your garden becomes a vital sanctuary, and in return it’s possible to en-
WILL SMITH, MOUNTAIN XPRESS/PROVIDED
Black-throated Blue Warbler on beautyberry
joy bird song, pollinator activity on warmer days, and a deeper connection with the natural world.
Plant with Purpose:
Winter Food Sources
Native plants are the most important building blocks for supporting Georgia’s wildlife. While flowers may be fewer in winter, native seed heads, berries and evergreen plants offer much-needed sustenance.
Plant Winter-Blooming Flowers
Select plants with blooms or berries in the winter to provide a much-needed food source for pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Some non-native winter-blooming options for Atlanta gardens include:
• Camellias: These evergreen shrubs produce vibrant flowers in shades of pink, red and white from fall to spring. They attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
• Hellebores (lenten roses): Evergreen foliage and winter blooms in shades of white, pink and purple make hellebores an excellent choice for attracting early bees and buzz pollinators like bumblebees.
• Juniper: This evergreen shrub provides both nectar for pollinators and berries that feed birds throughout the winter.
Use Native Plants
Choosing native plants not only supports local wildlife but also helps maintain
the ecosystem's balance. Native plants have co-evolved with local wildlife, providing the best possible food and habitat. Some Georgia native plants that attract birds and pollinators include:
• Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria): Yaupon supports pollinators and provides yearround shelter and nesting opportunities for small birds, protecting them from predators and harsh weather conditions. Its red berries continue through winter, providing a crucial food source for birds. Robins, mockingbirds, thrashers, wrens and more feed on these berries.
• Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum rufidulum): This plant produces clusters of dark blue berries that persist into winter, providing an essential food source for birds when other food is scarce. Birds, like mockingbirds, thrashers, catbirds and waxwings, are known to feed on these berries.
• Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis): Wild indigo produces seed pods that provide food for goldfinches and pine siskins in winter.
• Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata): This legume produces small, peanutlike seeds that are a valuable food source for mourning doves, quails and sparrows.
Other Great Plants for Winter Wildlife in Georgia
• Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana): With vibrant purple berries, this native shrub is a magnet for cardinals and mockingbirds.
• Hollies (Ilex spp.): Both evergreen and deciduous varieties provide dense cover and berries for food.
• Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana): Offers winter berries loved by cedar waxwings.
• Coneflowers and Black-eyed Susans (Echinacea and Rudbeckia): Leave seed heads standing; finches will thank you.
• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.): Even after blooming, goldenrod stems and seeds feed small birds and provide over -
wintering shelter for beneficial insects.
Provide Shelter and Nesting Spots
Many pollinators, including native bees, overwinter in leaf litter, hollow stems or soil. Don’t over-clean your garden; a bit of wildness is healthy. Resist the urge to rake everything away, especially in naturalized parts of your garden. Here are a few shelter tips:
• Leave brush piles or stacked logs in a corner of the garden, creating ideal nesting sites.
• Avoid cutting back dried perennials and ornamental grasses, which can house overwintering insects and provide cover for birds.
• Add birdhouses or roosting boxes, which offer insulation from the cold and safety from predators.
• Trees and shrubs with dense foliage offer excellent shelter.
• Evergreen shrubs and dense hedges are valuable as natural shelter. It would be beneficial if at least 25 percent of the trees and shrubs in your landscape were evergreen.
Don’t Forget the Water
Water sources can be scarce in winter, especially when temperatures dip below freezing. Birds and insects need clean, accessible water every day.
As far as water sources go, the vessels should be filled no more than two to three inches deep (while changing the water frequently) and elevated in the middle of an open area to minimize predation by cats and other animals. Here are a few suggestions for adding water to your yard:
• Birdbaths: Use a heated birdbath or add warm water daily to keep it from freezing.
• Shallow dishes with stones: These are ideal for small birds or insects on mild days.
• Dripping water sources: Even a slowdripping container can attract birds.
By incorporating these practices into your Atlanta-area winter garden, you'll create a welcoming haven for birds and pollinators. Enjoy the beauty and satisfaction that comes from supporting local wildlife and preserving biodiversity.
Happy Gardening!
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. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columists/garden buzz/.
AMY MAGNER Guest Columnist
Council:
Continued from Page 1
The first version would reduce the front yard setback to 50 feet, allowing the house to sit 60 feet from the rear property line. With the additional space in the backyard, the pool moves farther from the property line creating a 15-foot natural separation between neighboring properties.
The second option proposed by staff would shrink the front yard setback to 40 feet, creating significant separation and greater privacy at the back of the property, Community Development Director Diana Wheeler said. The rear setback would be 70 feet with 30-feet of tree preservation, and a pool set 35 feet from the rear property line.
The Planning Commission provided a fourth recommendation proposing a 45-foot front yard setback, allowing for 65 feet in back. The pool would be set 25-feet from the property line with a 20foot tree preservation area.
The proposed changes stem from concerns about phase two of Little River Estates, a development that will back up to homes in the Taylor Glen subdivision.
Tom Gauger, a resident in Taylor Glen subdivision, said he supports the reduced front yard setback to minimize the impact on his property from the second phase of development in Little River Estates.
However, Mark San Fratello, a resident in phase one of Little River Estates, said reducing the setbacks in the development would impact property values over time and undermine Milton’s agricultural character. He said that approving the amendment would be a mistake with lasting consequences for the city’s AG-1 zoning.
City Attorney Ken Jarrard said that approving an amendment would be,
CITY OF MILTON/PROVIDED
Graphs included in a presentation given by Community Development Director Diana Wheeler presented graphs showing the current setback requirements for agricultural (AG-1) zoning, the first option presented to the Planning Commission, the version that the Planning Commission proposed, and the second version shown to the Planning Commission during its Nov. 20 meeting.
“structurally changing,” AG-1 zoning requirements.
Councilman Doug Hene said it would be a mistake to make the sweeping change, and Councilman Jan Jacobus agreed.
“I think that making a blanket change for the entire city is a mistake, personally,” Jacobus said. “I’d rather see us use a variance if it is really, truly warranted.”
Mayor Pro Tem Carol Cookerly said she favors the flexibility, saying that reducing the front yard setback seems like a minor issue.
The item will come back before the
Request for Proposals Pool Services Provider
RFP NUMBER 26-PR01
Proposal Due Date:
January 14, 2026, by 2:00PM Local Time
Electronic submission via: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bidsrfps
Names for submissions received 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 proposals. If the contract is awarded, it will be awarded to the highest scoring Offeror whose proposal meets the requirements and criteria set forth in the request for proposals.
The City of Milton is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide pool and lifeguard services at the city pool in Milton City Park and Preserve. All qualified proposals will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The request for electronic proposals for RFP 26-PR01, Pool Services Provider will be posted on the following websites the week of December 11, 2025: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
City Council for a vote in January, along with two other proposed text amendments discussed at the Dec. 1 meeting.
One amendment creates sign standards for the Arnold Mill Road Hamlet Overlay District. The other would allow for restaurants to have accessory food trucks on their property.
Discussion of a second amendment pertaining to the overlay district was removed from the meeting agenda.
Invitation to Bid
In other matters at the meeting, the City Council approved a contract to conduct another National Community Survey across Milton. The mayor and City Council did meet for executive session to discuss topics pertaining to land, legal or personnel.
The Milton City Council will hold its last meeting of the year on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 2006 Heritage Walk.
Demolition of Multiple Structures & Asbestos Remediation
ITB NUMBER 26-PW02
Bid Due Date:
January 14, 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 responsible and responsive 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 construction services for the demolition and asbestos remediation of multiple structures at multiple city-owned properties. All qualified bids will receive consideration without regard to age, handicap, religion, creed or belief, political affiliation, race, color, sex, or national origin. The plans. and specifications can be found in the solicitation of bids posted on the websites below. A bid bond of 5% is required when submitting bid response.
The request for electronic bids for ITB 26-PW02, Demolition of Multiple Structures & Asbestos Remediation will be posted on the following websites the week of December 11, 2025: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/
Lead Software Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA to lead, mentor, and inspire a team of software engineers by providing technical guidance and support. 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-85871.
Lead Data/AI Engineering needed by AT&T Services, Inc., in Alpharetta, GA to analyze, design, program, debug and modify software enhancements and new products used in distributed, large-scale analytics and visualization solutions. 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-88503.
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Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Spanish are required. Experience using Salesforce or other CRM systems is a plus.
If this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your resume to jobs@nfcchelp.org
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