Milton Herald - December 18, 2025 by Appen Media Group

D e c e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 2 5 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 0 , N o . 5 1

Fast track Milton teen stays the course to professional racing career By HANNAH YAHNE | hannah@appenmedia.com

RORY MALLOY/PROVIDED

Luke Yarbrough sits in his pro late model racecar Dec. 7 on the track at Five Flags Speedway in Florida. This model is the first race car he bought at a price point between $40-50,000, which is low for stock cars, Yarbrough said.

MILTON, Ga. — Luke Yarbrough was driving electric Power Wheels cars before he could walk, so his parents weren’t surprised when he began racing cars at 13. His journey was humbling at the beginning, racing quarter midget cars against drivers who were 5 to 7 years old in the rookie classes. Yarbrough progressed to racing legend cars at 15, which he said was a big step up. “I remember being really happy that I got to join a team,” Yarbrough, now 19 years old, said. There was a big disadvantage when it was just him and his dad as the pit crew. Now, they had a level playing field, with professionals working on his car to make it faster. Yarbrough races every weekend, whether in a legend car or the pro late model car he has advanced to. Moving up from legend cars, Yarbrough’s family committed to the sport and bought their first pro late model car. “It’s eye-opening to see the kind of equipment and … procedures that the high-level teams have,” Yarbrough said.

See RACING, Page 20

Area graduates competing in the CFP By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com NORTH METRO ATLANTA — Teams are gearing up for the College Football Playoff with the first games taking place Dec. 19, and their rosters include plenty of players from North Metro Atlanta. The Southeastern Conference is the most popular in this region of the country for top high school players to attend for college, and it also coincidentally has the

most teams in the playoff. The University of Alabama has two familiar names, senior defensive lineman LT Overton, a Milton graduate, and Vito Perri, a linebacker and redshirt junior from Alpharetta. The University of Oklahoma brought in one Cambridge graduate from the transfer portal in tight end Carson Kent. Kent played for Kennesaw State for two years before becoming a Sooner. Ole Miss has a pair of high school

rivals that have figured out working together after playing against each other just two seasons ago in a 70-year rivalry: Sophomores Mark Trigg Jr., a linebacker from Roswell, and Wyatt Smalley, a tight end from Milton. The Georgia Bulldogs tally up with the most players from Appen Media’s coverage area, with three graduates each from Westminster and West Forsyth High School.

County forecasts property tax hike for 2026 expenses ► PAGE 4

See FOOTBALL, Page 18

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Man charged with racketeering, drug trafficking alprazolam, or Xanax, in addition to the firearms and marijuana. The Sandy Springs Police Department’s crime dashboard logs the arrest as occurring Dec. 4 at 7:33 p.m. at 620 Morgan Falls Road, which is the SSPD Headquarters and Municipal Court. A police report is not publicly available. The GBI said the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office executed the operation with help from the Atlanta Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Agency Narcotics

Squad, the Sandy Springs Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The GBI says the operation is the continuation of a lengthy drug investigation into a criminal drug trafficking organization. Records show Davy was booked at Fulton County Jail Dec. 5 for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was bonded out Dec. 6 for $15,000. — Hayden Sumlin

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FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of a 34-year -old Sandy Springs man Dec. 10 after seizing more than 400 pounds of suspected marijuana and six firearms. The GBI identified the Sandy Springs man as Travys Davy, charging him with racketeering, marijuana trafficking, possession of a schedule IV drug with intent to distribute and possession of firearm by a felon. On Thursday, Dec. 4, agents and officers executed two search warrants in Atlanta and Sandy Springs, seizing around 6 ounces of suspected

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GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION/PROVIDED

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation seized more than 400 pounds of marijuana, six firearms and 6 ounces of Xanax during the execution of two search warrants in Sandy Springs and Atlanta. The GBI said the arrest of a 34-year-old Sandy Springs man and convicted felon is the continuation of a lengthy drug investigation into a criminal drug trafficking organization.

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Regional housing experts offer tips to navigate unaffordable market By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com METRO ATLANTA — MarketNsight’s latest peek into the housing industry Dec. 11 indicates troubled times for some areas of the country as home prices continue to outpace purchasing power. The update, delivered twice annually, is geared to help clients navigate a shifting market, discussing the relationship between declining interest rates and affordability. The business is centered around providing real-time data, expert forecasts and strategic insights to homebuilders, developers and other real estate professionals. The firm is unique in the industry for tracking pending sales

and inventory trends every week across several U.S. markets. To open the program, the company paid tribute to its former CEO and cofounder John Hunt, who passed away in late July. Michelle Hunt, John’s wife, company co-founder and former chief operating officer, transitioned to CEO of MarketNsight. “Since the beginning of the MarketNsight, John noticed this trend in affordability, and he predicted the current housing affordability crisis,” she said. “He could see this coming way down the road. This is how he said it during our last MarketWatch and it’s even more true today … it’s an indisputable fact that we have a housing

shortage of epic proportions in this country.” Michelle shared some of John’s routine advice for prospective homebuyers: drive until you qualify. For homebuilders looking to create an attainable product: consider reducing square footage. In its September update to clients, MarketNsight reported that some of its metro-based markets increased their housing supply to six months, a metric indicating how long it would take to sell all homes on the market at their current listing price. Increased supply puts downward pressure on prices. “Younger buyers continue to depend on their savings, or inherit, for their down

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Economist forecasts Fed moves Rajeev Dhawan, Ph.D., director at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University, provided his insights. “The forecast is for aggressive rate cuts,” Dhawan said, predicting cuts totaling 150 basis points in the first half of 2026. “They need to get done now.”

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County forecasts property tax hike for 2026 expenses

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By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — Along with a looming tax increase, Fulton County is forecasting a roughly $57 million deficit in its proposed $1.05 billion operating budget for next year. Officials are predicting a roughly 4.5 percent property tax increase to make up for the shortfall. Fulton County operates on a calendar year budget. The County Commission approves annual operating or general fund budgets in January, then in August approves a property tax or millage rate to pay for it. Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for Fulton County’s general fund. The general fund pays for constituent services, including senior and behavioral health, the Grady Health System, the Sheriff’s Office and all jail facilities, election management, libraries and animal services. Next year’s proposed budget, months into its development, calls for spending $57 million of the county’s operating reserves, or about 25 percent of its rainy-day fund. Commissioners are expected to adopt the final 2026 budget at their Jan. 7 or Jan. 21 meeting. Fulton County CFO Sharon Whitmore said her team is projecting the county to end 2026 with reserves totaling $175.6 million, which complies with the required minimum. The county jail along Rice Street has long-standing problems requiring a lengthy and costly process with a federal consent decree monitor reviewing conditions to ensure the rights of incarcerated citizens are not violated. “Of note on the revenue side, there is an additional $32 million of property tax, which corresponds with the $32 million in incremental spend[ing] associated with the consent decree,” she said. “To generate the appropriate property tax revenue based on those assumptions, that millage rate would be 9.26 mills.” This August, commissioners approved a long-term plan to build a new 1,813-bed jail facility for around $1.1 billion, specifically for people with medical, mental health and special needs. That spending also includes repairs at Rice Street. Whitmore said her team expects more compliance recommendations

from the monitoring team within the next month. While some commissioners pushed for a nearly 12.5 percent property tax increase this past summer, they eventually approved keeping the millage rate flat at 8.87 mills. If the County Commission approves the proposed tax hike next August, property owners will need to cover a roughly 4.5 percent increase. The county’s property tax rate has remained flat since 2022, declining steadily from 10.5 mills in 2015. That represents a net decrease of 16 percent in a decade. After the chief operating officer’s budget update, County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. said consent decree compliance may require an additional $30 million in spending. In November, the county projected a $66.7 million to $96.7 million deficit for 2026, mostly due to costs for repairs and improvements to its jail system. Whitmore said $30 million in spending would require a property tax rate around 9.6 mills, a more than 8 percent increase. County Commissioner Dana Barrett said the Fulton jail system is under a consent decree because the commission has failed to put enough money toward staffing and maintenance. “I do think there’s a lot of questions about how we’re moving forward here,” Barrett said. “I understand the goal that we’re going to have to raise the millage rate to pay for these items that we’re going to need in order to be in compliance with the consent decree.” County Commissioner Mo Ivory said “the scary truth” is that the county needs to raise more revenue to pay for consent decree-related costs. Ivory said she wants the budget to fund all the county’s needs. County Commissioner Bob Ellis said the county’s proposed budget increases expenditures 12 percent. Ellis said the County Commission has invested heavily in the justice system and Sheriff’s Office, a major point of contention. He has stated that the county should maintain its current tax rate and cut other expenses. “So, we’re not cutting,” Ellis said. “I don’t think many of our households are seeing jumps at 12 percent. There are a handful of people on this board who seem to be darned and determined to raise taxes on people regardless, and I’m not one of those folks.”

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | December 18, 2025 | 5

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6 | December 18, 2025 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

COMMUNITY

Centennial High senior marches in Macy’s Thanksgiving parade By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — It was 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning when Centennial High School senior Madeline Hazelwood boarded a bus in freezing cold for a final rehearsal before performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Being part of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band was a surreal experience for Hazelwood. She was one of six students from Georgia and the only one from Centennial High School. Hazelwood’s journey in color guard started her sophomore year after she was inspired by Friday morning pep rallies and halftime performances. “Starting out, it was really challenging,” Hazelwood said, “I had no idea what I was doing, but I thought, ‘Why not go ahead and challenge myself?’” Her hard work paid off when she was selected as captain of the high school’s color guard team in her junior year, a title she retained as a senior. “I tried really hard to learn everything before everyone else, because I know that I can’t lead until I know what I’m doing,” she said. That ambition led Hazelwood to submit an audition video for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, showcasing drop spins and her marching ability. She found out in April she would be marching through Manhattan on Thanksgiving morning. Alongside 245 fellow high school students, Hazelwood performed “Joy to the World” to an estimated 3.5 million people. She greeted onlookers throughout the performance and snuck a wave to her best friend who was there to support her. The 2.5-mile-long parade route ended with another performance in Herald Square. “It was amazing to see people very excited about the marching and be really loud the entire time,” Hazelwood said. She said it was nice to have the experience performing in a large band, because the color guard program at Centennial High School is small with around 10 people participating each season. Hazelwood made fast friends with her bandmates while singing on the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty and visiting the Empire State Building. They also visited Times Square and saw “Six” on Broadway. “We were all able to meet … and we were all best friends,” Hazelwood said. “We were kind of like a family.” As a keepsake, Hazelwood took home a drum head signed by members of the band. “It was really cool to take home,” she

MILTON FRIENDS OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH/PROVIDED

At left, Audrey Edmonds stands next to a mailbox she styled as a part of the 2025 Mailbox Brigade hosted by Milton Friends of Children’s Health. At right, Ashley Edmonds, former Milton Friends of Children’s co-chair, volunteers with her daughter throughout November for the organization’s 2025 Mailbox Brigade.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Madeline Hazelwood, a senior at Centennial High School, holds the flag for the Macy’s Great All American Marching Band. Hazelwood was part of a group from across the country to participate in the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Madeline Hazelwood, center, visits Times Square with bandmates while in New York City the week of Thanksgiving. said. “It was like I was taking a piece of the family home with me.” Color guard gave Hazelwood a family when she needed it most, whether during training camps, at Centennial High School or in New York. “It gave me a group that taught me how to be better,” Hazelwood said. “We have a similar passion as one another, and it became a little family because we all had something in common.” Hazelwood will continue in color guard at the University of South Alabama while in pursuit of becoming a meteorologist.

Milton Friends spread joy by decorating mailboxes MILTON, Ga. — A record 350 families decorated mailboxes around Milton with fresh greenery, berries and bows during the 2025 Mailbox Brigade hosted by Milton Friends of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The annual Milton Mailbox Brigade Holiday Fundraiser, raised $23,000 this year to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and brought together dozens of volunteers who have worked since November to adorn mailboxes in and around Milton. The Mailbox Brigade was created in 1990 by Brookhaven resident Toni Rhett after her 9-month-old daughter, Alix, had a one-week stay at Scottish Rite Hospital, which is now part of Children’s. Rhett started the first mailbox brigade in her neighborhood to raise money to support of the hospital. Now, more than 250 Friends chapters exist in and around Atlanta and participate in the annual event. “The success of this year’s Mailbox Brigade, and the incredible growth we’ve absorbed for this project just over the past year, has been a phenomenal demonstration of teamwork and community at its finest,” said Jennifer Linn, co-chair of Milton Friends of Children’s. “Ultimately, though, to hear such positive feedback from our donors who love their beautifully decorated mailboxes, and to know that our efforts will support one of the nations’ top pediatric hospitals is the ultimate gift to everyone associated with this project.” Co-chairs of the 2025 Holiday Brigade Aleisha Porto and Beth Moon

recruited and trained 50 volunteers with detailed instructions and photos to create cohesive arrangements throughout Milton. Ribbons and wire were provided by Children’s Hospital while clippings were secured from local retailers. Materials were dropped off at different pickup locations in Milton, with many volunteers adding natural touches of magnolia branches and holly berry. Hayfield resident Ashley Edmonds embraced the opportunity to work directly with her daughter, Audrey, as they adorned mailboxes in her subdivision. Another first-time decorator took both her mother and daughter along to decorate during the Thanksgiving holiday, sharing the heartwarming experience. Another addition to the 2025 Mailbox Brigade was the inclusion of Milton High School’s Friends of Children’s Junior Group, founded by Milton High School student McKenna Leach. Since its founding in 2022, Milton Friends has raised nearly $1 million to support patient programs such as specialized summer camps, Music and Artist in Residence programs and Children’s “Fund a Need” program. There is no fee to become a Milton Friend of Children’s. The group meets monthly at retailers and small businesses around town to help support the local economy. To learn more about how you can become involved, please follow the Milton Friends of Children’s on Instagram, @friendsofchoa_milton, or email friendsofchoamilton@gmail.com. — Hannah Yahne

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | December 18, 2025 | 7

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Big Play Entertainment opens in Dunwoody center By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — Brandon and Ray Wooldridge, the father and son who own Big Play Entertainment Atlanta, picked a spot in Dunwoody after a tornado demolished the family’s business outside of Nashville. Like the City of Dunwoody itself, the Wooldridge family knows how to bounce back from the destruction of high-speed winds. A little more than 24 hours before its 5 p.m. grand opening Dec. 11, Brandon Wooldridge announced Big Play Entertainment cleared its last hurdle, passing a grease-trap inspection from DeKalb County Watershed Management. Brandon Wooldridge is the general manager of Big Play Entertainment, spending the past couple of weeks training his staff of around 30 employees. “We thought we were going to open this summer,” Wooldridge said. “Because of knocking down walls and dealing with older buildings, we ran into all kinds of different delays and problems.” Big Play Entertainment resembles entertainment centers like Main Event in Alpharetta, Cobb County and Suwanee. Its 44,000-square-foot space within the Mount Vernon Shopping Center has 16 bowling lanes, a 24-person laser tag arena, an’80s themed mini-golf course and some 80 arcade games. There’s been a lot of chatter about Big Play Entertainment in the Dunwoody community and on social media. Matt Weber interviewed Valerie Inglesby, who is handling property management of the shopping center, on the What’s Up Dunwoody podcast a few days before the grand opening. Inglesby confirmed the CVS Pharmacy renewed its lease and will be staying.

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Big Play Entertainment, opening at the Mount Vernon Shopping Center in northeast Dunwoody just before the holidays, features 16 bowling lanes next to a full-service restaurant and bar. After the city approved a rezoning of the shopping center earlier this year, Big Play purchased the site and renovated a former grocery store into an entertainment center. Wooldridge also addressed another controversy. He said a parking agreement with Crema Espresso Gourmet went through a couple of iterations but taking on liability didn’t make sense for his business. He said it’s possible the two businesses forge an agreement next year.

Family business picks Dunwoody The Wooldridge family is from Sandy Springs. The library and academic center at the Marist School, a private K-12 Catholic school in Brookhaven, is named after longtime benefactor Raymond Wooldridge. The family gives

discreetly to other nonprofits, including the Northside Youth Organization at Chastain Park. Brandon Wooldridge, a Lovett School graduate, is back in Metro Atlanta after a couple of decades on the Gulf Coast.

See PLAY, Page 9

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Play: Continued from Page 8 “I started Big Play with my dad in 2010 in Biloxi, Mississippi,” Brandon Wooldridge said. “It started just as a mini-golf course, and over the years we added on go-carts, bumper cars, arcade and eventually in 2016, built the bowling alley there with a restaurant and bar.” The Biloxi venue has grown into a popular beachside tourist destination. Wooldridge said northeast Dunwoody’s new entertainment center won’t have bumper cars but will still feature other attractions at the company’s flagship. After the tornado destroyed the Hendersonville, Tennessee, location in 2023, he said the family took a couple of months to see how the insurance situation played out. “We’ve been trying to get back here,” he said. “We had a deal during COVID to come back, then prices went through the roof, and everything got crazy.” Brandon Wooldrige said the family business purchased the Mount Vernon Shopping Center in February from Branch Properties, including all three parcels rezoned by the city in January. The previous owner spent fall 2024 working on a rezoning of three parcels, forming a triangle at Jett Ferry Road and Dunwoody Club Drive, necessary for an entertainment center. “My dad has been getting his hair cut next door [at Dunwoody Hair Co.] for 30 years and kept seeing the space was sitting here and a few things had failed,” Wooldridge said. Just 18 months ago, the shopping center was struggling with a quarter of its commercial space vacant after a revolving door of grocery stores at 2480 Mount Vernon Road failed. Big Play Entertainment closed on the purchase of the Mount Vernon Shopping Center in February for an undisclosed amount. As of early December, DeKalb County property tax records online have not been updated to record the transaction, or the shopping center’s trading price.

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | December 18, 2025 | 9

Big Play Entertainment Atlanta, anchoring the Mount Vernon Shopping Center in northeast Dunwoody, has 16 bowling lanes, 80 arcade games, laser tag, mini golf and fullservice dining. After months of renovations and some delays, Big Play Entertainment held its grand opening Dec. 11.

Brandon Wooldridge declined to say how much the family business paid but said “a sizable investment, a lot of money.” He described expensive improvements to conform the building to updated codes, on top of security cameras and improvements to the parking lot and pedestrian safety. What patrons can expect Big Play has transformed the former Lidl grocery store site into the city’s only entertainment center, offering hours of bowling, arcade games, mini golf and laser tag. “We’re priced competitively with the market,” Wooldridge said. “We’ve got to make money, but we do have what we call our Happy Days specials, trying to make it more accessible, especially during the week.” There are bargains for patrons Sunday through Friday, offering half off food and beverage, a free kid’s meal, “buy one, get one free” deals or family bundles, depending on the day. Besides offering enough games and activities to fill an afternoon, Big Play has Woody’s, a full-service restaurant, bar and private event space. The entertainment center bills itself as a community hangout where residents can schedule a kid’s birthday party, corporate team building activity or night out with friends. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Wooldridge said he’s grateful for an outpouring of support from the community of the family business’s new location. “We’re not a kiddie, kiddie place, but we are an entertainment center that is just very family friendly,” he said. “We use bowling as the anchor attraction because it’s the number one participatory sport in America.” Wooldridge said most people just wanted to know when Big Play would open. “I would not feel good if I was a grocery store coming into this space,” he said. “We never planned to open the week before Christmas break. It’s about to be our busiest two weeks of the year.” To learn more, visit bigplayatl.com.

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SPORTS

10 | December 18, 2025 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

Dozen Alpharetta athletes sign to play college sports By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA

Alpharetta seniors celebrate signing their letters of intent to compete at the next level at Alpharetta High School Dec. 3.

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta High School hosted a National Signing Day Dec. 3 at lunchtime to celebrate 12 athletes committing to play at the next level. From the boys lacrosse team, attacker Phoenix Young joins another area player, Roswell’s Jack Dowdy, at Anderson University. Attackman Davis Baumblatt signed to Lander University. In girls lacrosse, Violet Demko committed to Chatham University. Demko has played club lacrosse for Eagle Stix in Milton. Noah Bright will play soccer for Mercer University. As a standout freshman three years ago, Bright was moved up to varsity after just a few days on the JV squad. Kate Brennan, another four-year varsity player, will suit up for the University of Georgia in softball. Brennan was ranked in the top 50 players in the country for her graduating class. From the baseball team, Jack Ryan O’Neill signed to Piedmont University. Rhys David Rahm is off to Augusta University. Anthony White committed to Emmanuel University. Palmer McRaney committed to Southern Union State Community College.

With a change in NCAA eligibility rules, many top baseball players are taking a “free” junior college year to develop further before enrolling at a four-year university. McRaney’s coach at Alpharetta, Allen Strohecker, was coached by Palmer’s father, Chris, at St. Francis in Milton. It was a full-circle moment for the McRaney family and for Strohecker. Chris founded Team Georgia Baseball Academy which has sent almost 1,000 players to college on scholarship. He said that his family is grateful for the opportunity Palmer has gotten at Southern Union State, and what happens now is up to Palmer. “This is what it’s all about, is the opportunity to continue their career and education at the next level,” Chris said. “Really cool being on this side of it, because usually I am on the coaching side of it. But on both sides, you see the hard work that goes into it, and it truly is harder to play at the next level than it’s ever been before.” Palmer plays outfield for the Raiders. “I know there’s a lot of hard work coming up, but I’m ready for it and I’m excited,” Palmer said. Three volleyball players signed at the ceremony to high-level programs.

See SPORTS, Page 21

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | December 18, 2025 | 11

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14 | December 18, 2025 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

OPINION

Giant footprints in Georgia’s history Georgia is famous for many wonders, such as cotton, peanuts, peaches, Southern hospitality, football teams, civil rights, the world’s largest and busiest airport, carpets, Coca-Cola, UPS, BOB MEYERS Delta Air Lines, Home Columnist Depot, the largest college campus in the world (Berry College) – the list goes on. But what about wonders less known and frequently unseen? Georgia has had them as well for eons. One of the best known is the legendary Bigfoot, also known by its Indian name Sasquatch. Reportedly seen in Georgia and other states throughout the United States, Bigfoot is so well known that the ape-like creature is part of Georgia’s folklore. Bigfoot represents mystery, the unexplained and the unexplored wilderness that will likely entice Georgians for centuries to come. Shyness, intelligence and a nocturnal nature make a Bigfoot elusive and rarely seen. Bigfoot is not a single creature. Several Bigfoot may gather together at any time. Sasquatch is described as a tall, hairy creature who walks on two legs and leaves huge footprints. Several North American Indian tribes especially on the West Coast have legends of human-like hairy forest creatures sometimes seen as spiritual guardians. The Hoopa Valley Tribe in northern California, for example, views a Bigfoot as the guardian of mountains who chooses to live away from people. Georgia has one of four museums in the United States devoted to Bigfoot. Expedition Bigfoot! The Sasquatch Museum in Blue Ridge says on its website, “We believe in the existence of Bigfoot/ Sasquatch either from personal experience and encounters or from witness testimony and evidence. Our museum provides a lot of that evidence and leaves the question of Bigfoot's existence up to you.” David Bakara and his wife Malinda opened the museum in 2016 which David says has some 70,000 visitors annually. About half of them are believers and half are tourists looking for something interesting to do. The Bakara’s encourage people to tell of their sightings of a Bigfoot at the Bakara’s website, expeditionbigfootblueridge@gmail.com. When asked why so many people are skeptical about Bigfoot, David explains that many people who have seen a Bigfoot are afraid to talk about it because of the reaction of others.

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Still from a famous 1967 film shot by Roger Patterson in Northern California thought by many to show a Bigfoot. Like all photos of Bigfoot, the image is not clear due to the nocturnal nature of the ape-like creature and its reluctance to be near people. RICK JACOB/PROVIDED

In 2007, hunter Rick Jacob captured several Bigfoot images with a camera mounted on a tree in a Pennsylvania forest. He also took photos of bear cubs, which helped viewers claim that the tall creature was not a bear. “They learn not to talk about it,” says David. There have been more than 145 reported credible and checked Bigfoot sightings in Georgia according to Matt Moneymaker, president of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO). “We believe that for every sighting that gets reported, there are at least ten that are not reported,” Matt says. In Georgia, most sightings have been in mountainous areas, around Macon and most recently near the town of Folkston on the Florida border. BFRO seeks to “derive conclusive documentation of the species’ existence…through collection of empirical data and physical evidence…. These large apes are spotted mostly in forested regions with abundant protein sources. “ One of the biggest points of confusion that causes skepticism is references to Bigfoot as a singular creature. “Bigfoot is a population of animals

and not a singular folklore creature. People continue to see them today and sometimes more than one at a time,” Matt says. The Bigfoot species is most likely descended from Gigantopithecus, the largest apes ever known, estimated to be more than 10 feet tall based on fossils. They existed some 2 million years ago before becoming extinct about 100,000 years ago. Many photos have been put forward claiming to be a Bigfoot or Bigfoot group. Since Bigfoot is nocturnal, all of the photos are blurry, a fact that skeptics seize upon. Many of the photos, which can be found with a Google search, appear to be bears or individuals in gorilla suits. However, a few have been characterized as legitimate images of ape-like creatures. The most famous photos are stills from a film taken by Roger Patterson in 1967 and photos by hunter Rick Jacob in 2007.

Dozens of serious books have been written about the Bigfoot. Just check out Amazon. Bigfoot is known by other names in other countries: Yowie in Australia, Yeti in the Himalayas and Alma in Russia. Many other mysterious creatures have been studied. One of the better known is the Altamaha-ha or Altie, which supposedly inhabits Georgia’s Altamaha River and nearby marshes. Stories of Altie originated with the Muscogee (Creek) tribe prior to the arrival of European settlers. Scottish settlers brought stories of the Loch Ness Monster to Georgia. Other cryptids (animal whose existence is disputed) are the Mantis Man, Georgia Booger, Beast of Bladenboro, Chupacabra, Florida Skunk Ape, Thunderbird and others. Subjects for future columns? We shall see. Bob is a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission and Director Emeritus of the Milton Historical Society. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | December 18, 2025 | 15

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16 | December 18, 2025 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

OPINION

My Christmas wish: One more Christmas After being bombarded with Christmas advertisements since BEFORE Halloween, I believe it’s prudent for me to get in on this early holiday action, even though I am miffed as to why there is such a frenetic MIKE TASOS pace to spend holiday Columnist money. I refuse. At least give me a chance to digest some turkey, enjoy Vicki’s worldclass stuffing/cranberry daily double and maybe, just maybe, cheat a bit for a small morsel of apple pie. And as has become our usual modus operandi, we’ll buy our tree the Friday after Turkey Day. But first things first. Having turned 70 this past June, a plethora of health issues continue to make me grateful for every day. Spending a hitch at the Encompass facility in Cumming and observing others with a tougher lot in life than me, I’ll go day-by-

day and remain thankful for getting to be around for at least one more Christmas. I thought it wise, a month before Christmas, to assemble a list that is not only doable, but one that will allow me to sleep the sleep of an angel with bags of sugarplums dancing in my noggin. • I’m longing for one more frigid Christmas morning, one that looks like a Norman Rockwell painting. A roaring fire will keep my tootsies warm. After two stints in the hospital, just being in familiar surroundings will trump any gift card. There are so many good holiday movies that will allow me to nap. • There will be a lot less wrapping paper to pick up since being with family requires no bows or Scotch tape. Having family close by is way better than anything Amazon will deliver. • There’s no way to wish my brothers a Merry Christmas, so good thoughts and visions of them reliving all those childhood Christmas fetes will have to suffice. Besides, I’m lucky enough to have a special

stepbrother, so I know Allan will fill in. I can better appreciate why there is a measure of sadness associated with Christmas. Formerly, until real life inserted reality, I found it unfathomable that anyone could have the blues in December. • I want to call nieces and nephews, making sure they know Uncle Mikey is there for them when and if needed. A spectacular gift will be to continue to stay in contact with them. • I’m one lucky guy to have friends like Larry, Jerry, Shaun, Tom, David and others. Hopefully a visit or two will come to fruition. Like Cousin Eddie said in “Christmas Vacation: It’s a gift that keeps on giving.” Too bad Eddie was talking about the Jelly of the Month Club. • The pain of my brother Matt’s death allowed me to re-connect with my cousin Doug Tudor. We might be in a select number that finds knee-slapping hilarity at having numerous BB gun wars. And yes, neither of us lost an eye. • I know it’s a selfish request, but Notre

Dame making the College Football Playoff field would tickle me. As an SEC fan, I’d like both Georgia and Alabama to show the nation why there’s nothing better than “our” conference. • I know John at Ferguson’s will set me up with a yummy prime rib. I only pray I can cook at as well as Larry Suarez does. • I want to take a drive in the mountains, maybe even a Harley ride. Being cooped up isn’t chicken soup for the soul, albeit it’s something else to do with chicken. • As usual, I don’t plan on going to stores, except for See’s Candies. Those will put a smile on any recipient’s face. It might be a little selfish, but I’d like to live better and be around for a few more Christmases. I’m blessed to have so many great memories. Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

Joe Lunch Pail has insights Federal Reserve ignores Leading up to this week’s Federal Reserve meeting, markets are placing slightly better than even odds on a 25-basis-point rate cut — far from the 50-basis-point move that was circulating D.C. AIKEN among analysts Guest Columnist back in October. The Fed continues to express skepticism about post-shutdown economic data, questioning whether the recent softness truly reflects an economy losing momentum or merely reflects outdated, distorted or incomplete datasets. But while policymakers debate the credibility of month-old surveys, a different kind of economic barometer is available in plain sight: the lived experience of everyday Americans. I’ve argued repeatedly that while hard data is essential, it does not capture the full picture. If members of the Federal Reserve spent more time talking with workers, families, and small businesses

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matters.

— those who feel economic pressures in real time — the story would be far less ambiguous. Take my friend “Joe Lunch Pail.” We met for a beer recently to catch up. I immediately noticed Joe wasn’t drinking his usual craft IPA. Instead, he was back to Bud Light — a brand that has clawed its way back into market relevance after several years of turmoil. When I asked about the switch, Joe’s answer was simple economics: everything costs more, and discretionary spending is the first casualty. Even his occasional bourbon — what he jokingly calls his “brown water” — has become a luxury at $12 a pour. Beer is cheaper, so beer it is. Joe’s pressures don’t stop at the bar tab. His kids’ travel baseball now costs $4,000 just to join, not including equipment, fuel for weekend tournaments across the Southeast, hotel nights or food. The cumulative effect is what economists would call “compressed real household purchasing power.” Joe explains it more directly: “My income just isn’t keeping up.” And to bridge the widening gap

between wages and expenses? Joe is “mastering it” with his MasterCard — at more than 20 percent interest. That’s consumer-finance inflation in its purest form. Joe remembers when life felt easier: a 2.5 percent mortgage rate, gas under $2.25 a gallon, grocery trips that didn’t routinely cross the $100 threshold, and fast-food meals that didn’t cost nearly $20 for a parent and child. Those days feel increasingly distant. And Joe isn’t alone. We talked about several mutual friends who have recently been laid off, forced to downsize homes or make lifestyle changes that seemed unimaginable just five years ago. This is the economy real people are living in, one where data releases lag reality and household budgets tighten long before official reports acknowledge the strain. Yet the Federal Reserve continues to rely heavily on backwardlooking indicators, many of which predate the shutdown and fail to capture the deterioration occurring at the ground level.

If policymakers observed the realworld signals flashing in front of them — from shrinking consumer discretionary spending to rising reliance on high-interest credit — they might not be debating whether the economy is slowing; they would be acknowledging that the slowdown is already here. Perhaps then the conversation would still include a 50-basis-point cut next week — and the possibility of an additional 150 basis points or more in 2026. It shouldn’t take stale data to recognize what millions of families already know. If the Fed wants real insight, they don’t need another spreadsheet. They just need to ask Joe. 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.

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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:

1 Give via the online portal at appenmedia.com/deliverytip or scan this QR Code 2 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

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18 | December 18, 2025 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

OPINION

The overwhelming sound of a silent press In another life I worked at the Miami Herald, which was owned by KnightRidder. I was there for about seven years in the 1980s. At that time, newspapers were still hugely profitable – RAY APPEN rolling in money. Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com Corporate Knight-Ridder was in the Miami Herald building where I worked – on the 6th floor overlooking Biscayne Bay. Knight-Ridder had been formed by the merger of the Ridder and Knight newspaper chains in 1974 and combined, created a company that operated 35 daily newspapers with a combined circulation of just under 4 million – the largest circulation in the country at the time. This was probably in the early 1980s. Alvah Chapman, KnightRidder’s CEO, was driven into work daily. One day, he noticed a homeless person in downtown Miami at an intersection with a cardboard sign asking to work for food. After he got to his office, Mr. Chapman called someone at the Herald and instructed him to go find the homeless man; pick him

Football: Continued from Page 1 Kirby Smart grabbed two players from Milton’s class of 2025 – tight end Ethan Barbour, who suffered an injury early this season but is now back in action, and wide receiver CJ Wiley. Another player from Milton, sophomore wide receiver Will Taylor, was a 2024 Cambridge graduate. Next year, he will be joined by another standout Cambridge receiver, AJC Super 11 Craig Dandridge. From Johns Creek, junior tight end Patrick Hester is a graduate of Northview High, and junior running back Gannon Hearst went to Greater Atlanta Christian before playing for the Bulldogs. University of Miami boasts a pair of brothers who graduated from Milton High School, Jack and Luke Nickel. Luke won Mr. Georgia last year after leading the Eagles to their second straight state title. Luke, a quarterback, graduated early from Milton to join his brother Jack, a tight end, in south Florida. Tulane University sophomore

up and find a place for him to stay and feed him. I have never forgotten the story. I remembered that story as I was reading my Sunday AJC this week – reading stories about the history of the paper – past reporters, editors and events through the years – as the slow countdown continues, the last few weeks before the final print edition of the Atlanta Journal Constitution rolls off the press in December 2025 after 157 years. What happens when the newspaper is gone? I thought. What happens when the guy being chauffeured into work is no longer there to help the homeless guy – figuratively? Stay with me. The answer, I’m afraid, is that a great big black hole is created – a void with no one left/nothing left to fill it. It’s not that newspapers were not businesses and motivated by making a profit; they were. It’s not that they didn’t have agendas at times ; they did. The difference however, between those newspapers and other businesses, was the “why”– the mission. You see, no matter how negatively you might view today’s media – including the “mainstream media” – the local newspaper in the small town or in the big city has always been part of the Jack Tchienchou, a 2023 St. Pius X graduate, won the Mike Aresco Most Outstanding Player for his remarkable performance Dec. 6. The safety posted an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery and a team-high nine tackles against North Texas to boost his team to the conference title. Defensive back Isaiah Wadsworth is a graduate of St. Francis in Milton and transferred to the Green Wave after four years with Wofford College. James Madison University has two Roswell graduates on the roster, freshman tight end Ethan Gurela and sophomore wide receiver Dylan Williams. The Associated Press’s No. 1 team in the country, Indiana University, has two veteran players from North Fulton. Holden Staes, a senior tight end, is a Westminster graduate and previously played for Notre Dame and Tennessee. Running back Solomon Vanhorse is a Milton graduate and transferred to the Hoosiers after five seasons with James Madison. Ohio State is the current betting favorite to win a national title, though they just lost the Big 10 championship to the Hoosiers.

heartbeat, part of the soul, part of the security and belief that when all else fails, the local newspaper was always there to help right a wrong, celebrate a victory, rally the troops to save a park, a theater, or create a shelter, help raise funds for a museum or a school team, and hold crooked politicians or business people to account. The local newspaper was part and parcel to our humanity, our security, our sense of “its going to be OK.” The AJC has been that heartbeat for Atlanta since 1868. During that time, others also contributed – The Coca-Cola company, Home Depot, Georgia Power to name a few. But their mission was not the same as the AJC. One of the last publishers of The Miami Herald under Knight-Ridder was Dick Capen. His primarily responsibility I think was to be the head cheerleader – the talking head, the public face – for the Herald. I heard him speak many times, and I don’t think I ever listened to him that he didn’t invoke the core “idea” of the Herald – its “sacred trust.” That is, it’s obligation to report what was true to its readers. “Truth” was that “sacred trust” he referred to time and time again.

Said very simply, when the last print issue of the AJC rolls off the press, we all are going to lose something “sacred” – our local advocate for what is “good and true” and our local defender against what is “bad and corrupt.” Yes, there will still be a digital effort to continue that mission, but it will not be the same. Converting to digital from analog will not be unlike fighting a war via proxy* – with drones and missiles – instead of with boots on the ground – presses, press operators, circulation / delivery people, reporters reporting without using Ai, local defenders of community, working in-person face to face – on site - whose marching orders are simply to get it right, find what is true, and report it – locally. We'll never get that from Zuckerberg, Google, Musk or their digital ilk. Never. When that last print issue rolls off the press and the press becomes silent forever, the sound will be deafening. I can hear it already.

*The current publisher of the AJC – Andrew Morse – doesn’t even live in Georgia. That is how far Cox has fallen from its core mission.

CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA

Teams gearing up for the College Football Playoff include plenty of players from North Metro Atlanta.

Puzzles

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Connect-It

Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 5, 5 and 4 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 .........................................December 18, 2025 | 19

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

1. Sheik’s bevy. Small songbird. Catchall abbreviation. 2. Pickle choice. Aerospace acronym. Wine bottle size. 3. Stock exchange abbreviation. Daybreak. Give up. 4. Alpha’s opposite. Mishmash. Treaty acronym. 5. UN acronym. Make believe. Know-it-all. 6. California wine valley. Director’s cry. Weather abbreviation. 7. Smell bad. Weather acronym. Dislike to the max. PuzzleJunction.com

3 4 5 6

2/18/25 Sudoku 7

Acronyms & Abbreviations 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 1. Sheik’s bevy. Small songbird. Catchall abbr. 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 solve the Sudoku column forTothe 3 answers on the puzzle, line. But each here’srow, the catch! Theand clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually 2. Pickle choice. Aerospace acronym. Wine bottle size. contain the numbers to line. 9. Got it? Good luck! bebox for must the second or third answer in 1that 3. Stock exchange abbr. Daybreak. Give up. 4. Alpha’s opposite. Mishmash. Treaty acronym.

5. UN acronym. Make believe, Know-it-all.

3 7. Smell bad. Weather acronym. Dislike to the max. 7 1 8 9 9 1 4 2 3 6 1 2 6 9 5 5 3 9 8 How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. 7 3 The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a 8 4

6. California wine valley. Director’s cry. Weather abbr.

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

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.

Dunwoody Crier 12/18/25 Crossword

Across

1 “Woe is me!” 5 Stately trees 9 Flu source 13 Supermarket section 14 Navy commando 15 Cake topper 16 Carbon compound 17 Pseudonym of H. H. Munro 18 Poet’s “below” 19 Peddle 21 Chooses 23 Bygone bird 24 Kind of welder 27 Country club ﬁgure 28 Thick spicy stew 31 Aquarium denizen 32 Engine part 35 Abysmal test score 36 Debt instrument 38 Dodge 40 Jessica of Sin City 41 Bone china name 43 Hubbubs 44 Nero’s instrument 46 Hibernia 47 Twins, e.g. (Abbr.) 48 Cambodian coin 49 Round Table title 51 Allergic reaction 53 Bake sale org. 54 Scoundrel 55 Card game for two 58 Goes bad

PuzzleJunction.com

16 19

21 25

9 1 7 6 2 4 8 3 5

3 8 2 7 5 1 4 9 6

6 4 5 3 9 8 2 1 7

7 6 4 5 1 2 9 8 3

2 9 1 8 3 7 5 6 4

8 5 3 9 4 6 1 7 2

40 45

39 43

53 56

20 24

60 67

61 69

60 Jai ___ 64 Stood up 66 Gossip tidbit 69 Chances 71 Not quite right 72 Lyra’s brightest star 73 Big party 74 Brain wave 75 Heroic poem 76 Old World duck Down 1 Citrus drink 2 Lorgnette part 3 Cream additive 4 Window ledge 5 Double curve

6 Grassland 7 Ocean menace 8 Spinal vertebrae rupture 9 Air hero 10 Thailand, once 11 Division word 12 Turkish ofﬁcial 15 Boot part 20 Fall behind 22 Three (Ital.) 25 Holds up 26 Helpful 28 Contradict 29 Type of renewal 30 Stable color 32 Gulf of ___, Spain 33 Hacienda brick 34 Military meal

35 Nukes 37 ___’easter 39 Bud holder 42 Sicilian resort 45 Fish hawk 50 “What was ___ do?” 52 Writer LeShan 55 Dry riverbed 56 Desiccated 57 Lasso 59 Aerobic bit 61 Records 62 Comic Sandler 63 Loaﬁng 65 Hot springs 67 Conceit 68 More, in Madrid 70 Toothed tool

See puzzle solutions on Page 23

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20 | December 18, 2025 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

Racing: Continued from Page 1 His success came quickly behind the wheel of legend cars. He was named champion in multiple races, and soon progressed to racing pro late models with Ty King Motorsports. Yarbrough’s talent was noticed by FR8 Racing, a professional pro late model racing team based in Dawsonville that has developed many professional race car drivers. He underwent a year-long consideration process before being selected for the team in 2024, and he occasionally practices alongside NASCAR driver Chase Elliott. “It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” Yarbrough said. “I feel like I’ve been doing stuff right to get that chance.” Yarbrough’s list of accomplishments continues to grow under the guidance of FR8 Racing. He finished in the top 10 at every race he competed in this year and drove the track of the Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida, which Yarbrough said was the race of his dreams. He competed in the Snowflake 125 on Dec. 7, which is 125 laps compared to the 300 in the Snowball Derby. Despite weather delays, the stands remained full as Yarbrough prepared to race around 3 a.m. “With it being that late, I was tired … I had no idea what time it was,” Yarbrough said. His youth was on his side though, as he was racing against drivers that were in their 40s. Yarbrough was positioned 36 out of 37 at the start. He crossed the finish line in sixth place at the Snowball 125. “It’s important to be patient,” Yarbrough said. “You have to look at the big picture to figure out what’s going to affect you at the end of the race versus just the next couple of minutes.” The pressure of making every race count isn’t lost on Yarbrough, especially since he races pro late models less frequently than other cars. He said racing correctly when

Market: Continued from Page 3 The day before, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarterpoint or 25 basis points to 3.50 percent to 3.75 percent, marking a third consecutive cut to combat a weakening job market. Dhawan said he expected the move while other economists expected a more hawkish decision to tighten monetary

Luke Yarbrough waves to spectators Sept. 27 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. he has the chance is important. “When you come off after a tough race … think about that in the best way that you can so that you can figure out how to get it better for next time,” he said. Yarbrough said the competition grows as he moves up in the racing classes. “It’s definitely different to be a part of it,” Yarbrough said. “You just have to be ready for how competitive it gets and … be on your A-game when you get there.” Next on Yarbrough’s list is progressing to super late

policy and control inflation, which is hovering around 3 percent. “The economy is much weaker than what you think in terms of spending power,” Dhawan said. “The first six to nine months of next year will be very crucial in how the Fed moves. My forecast is they will be aggressive because they are going to get … a dump of data between now and the end of the year.” Dhawan titled his MarketWatch presentation, “Outlook in an Era of Shutdown-Induced Lack of Official Data.”

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model cars which are faster and designed for 300 laps. It’s the last step before racing in NASCAR, Yarbrough’s ultimate goal. “We’re going to get the most that we can out of [2026],” Yarbrough said. His first race in 2026 will be SpeedFest at Cordele Motor Speedway in late January. To keep up with Yarbrough’s racing journey or become a sponsor of race car No. 35, follow @lukeyarbroughracing on Instagram and Facebook.

Because the federal government’s record 43-day shutdown in the fall, Dhawan said he is using “soft data,” like state tax collections. He also mentioned several news headlines over the past few months, announcing thousands of corporate layoffs. Because of the white-collar layoffs and tightening job market, there are fewer potential homebuyers out there. Dhawan said the data shows Social Security collections have grown weaker since the start of 2025. “In the third quarter, the collections were negative,” he said. “So even though the jobs data will be delayed, this thing was clearly telling me, just like 20 years ago, that the economy is much weaker than what the official numbers imply.” The Fed’s recent rate cut, Dhawan said, will do little to improve housing affordability for the middle class, later offering a way to help. “Can the housing market be helped?” he said. “Cutting the interest rates will not bring down the mortgage rates forever. They will start going back up. At 6 percent, very few people can re-finance.” A path to affordability Freddie Mac, which issues and

guarantees mortgage-backed securities in support of the U.S. housing market, reported the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate averaged 6.22 percent Dec. 11. That’s up from the first week of December when it averaged 6.19 percent. A year ago, the 30-year rate averaged 6.60 percent. “So, what can help them?” Dhawan said. “[Mortgage rates were super high last year and are beginning to come down, but it’s not as low as the boom we saw after COVID, when the Federal Reserve was buying the mortgage-backed securities with both hands.” When first-time homebuyers are looking to purchase a family home, they often don’t have enough cash and borrow money from a bank, called a mortgage. If there aren’t enough people buying homes, the Federal Reserve can purchase mortgage-backed securities from banks to give the financial institutions more cash to lend homebuyers. That eventually lowers mortgage rates. “[The Fed] should buy mortgage-backed securities,” Dhawan said. “That will bring that mortgage premium number that is running about 200 basis point down to 50, and there you have your mortgage rates below 5.5 or 5 percent, easily.”

AppenMedia.com/Milton | Milton Herald | December 18, 2025 | 21

Continued from Page 10

RESS NP

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Libero Kailey Leonard is graduating early to head off to Tulane University, joining former Raider Madison McLin. “I’m very excited just to get into a good routine and being around my new team all the time,” Leonard said. “I’m just excited for this next chapter and to see what it has in store for me.” Middle blocker and region Player of the Year Audrey Simpson committed to the University of Alabama. Simpson said going back to being a freshman will be tough, but she welcomes all the challenges that come along with the Crimson Tide. “I’m very proud of myself because this has been a lifelong goal,” she said. “I’m very blessed to be able to move on from this program that has put so much support into me. I’m so excited to play against teams like Texas and see how I can perform at the next level.” Outside hitter and two-time Offensive Player of the Year Kennedi White signed to Emory University. White said it hasn’t set in yet that her time at Alpharetta is ending, but she is looking forward to show what she’s

made of at the next level. “I’m just really excited to be able to go to college and compete and allow my talent to show,” she said. “I’m really grateful and I’ve worked so hard for this opportunity to play at Emory.” Athletic Director Alejandro Romero said the administration is always proud to show off students’ achievements to represent the City of Alpharetta. “I’m super excited for these kids,” he said. “They’ve put so much time and work into their goals. We want to celebrate our athletes and embody the ‘All In, All Raider’ attitude.”

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CITY OF MILTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING DESIGN REVIEW BOARD Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. Location: Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004 678-242-2540 On the date and time, and at the location stated above, the Design Review Board shall conduct a public hearing to consider the following applications for Certificate of Appropriateness. 1.

Demolition Permit Review:

Address: 16495 Phillips Road Applicant: Marty Anker

B. Address: 13365 Cogburn Road Applicant: Frank Esparza

Notice of Public Hearing Notice is hereby given that the first Public Hearing related to Milton's Comprehensive Plan Update will be held at Milton City Hall, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton, 30004, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. before Milton’s City Council. The State of Georgia requires the City's Comprehensive Plan be updated every 5-years and the Public Hearing will serve to brief the community on the process to be used to develop the plan, opportunities for public participation in development of the plan, and to obtain input on the proposed planning process. The Comprehensive Plan will involve public engagement with a Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and the general public and should be adopted by the end of October 2026. Public comments related to the City's Comprehensive Plan or the Comprehensive Plan process are welcome at this public hearing.

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/ Invitation to Bid Pool Patio Cover Addition - MCPP ITB NUMBER 26-PR01 Bid Due Date: January 7, 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 installation of a pool patio cover addition of the city pool at the Milton City Park and Preserve located at 1785 Dinsmore Road, Milton, Georgia 30004. 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-PR01, Pool Patio Cover Addition MCPP will be posted on the following websites the week of December 4, 2025: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/finance/bids-rfps and https://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/gpr/ City of Milton Notice of Special Called Planning Commission Meeting Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: City of Milton 2006 Heritage Walk Council Chambers Milton, Georgia 30004 On the date and time and at the location listed above, the City of Milton Planning Commission will conduct a Special Called Meeting, the purpose of which is to conduct a public hearing with respect to item U25-03/VC25-01 for a Use Permit for Multifamily (Sec. 8.3.1.I of the UDC) in order to accommodate a mixed-use development on 24.92 acres to develop multifamily residential units, townhouse units, loft apartments, and retail space along with two, existing six-story office buildings and a concurrent variance to reduce the number of parking spaces required by Sec. 9.1.2. of the UDC.

22 | December 18, 2025 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

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SOLUTIONS

A L A S E L M S A S I A S E A L I C I N G D E L I S A K I N E A T H E N O L S E L L O P T S M O A A R C P R O B U R G O O E E L C A M B O N D E V A D E Z E R O S P O D E A D O S A L B A E R I N S I B S P I A N O S I R S N E E Z E S E N P T A C A D W A R R O T S A L A I A R O S E I T E M O D D S V E G A G A L A D I P P Y E P O S S M E W I D E A

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8 5 3 9 4 6 1 7 2

5 3 8 2 6 9 7 4 1

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24 | December 18, 2025 | Milton Herald | AppenMedia.com/Milton

Season's Greetings My favorite time of year ― a season for family, friends and togetherness. As we celebrate the holiday season and surround ourselves with those we love, I'm especially grateful for your friendship, your trust and your referrals. Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy, peace and the people who make life most meaningful.

Wishing you a blessed and happy holiday season!

Julie Martin m. 770.668.4680 o. 770.442.7300 juliemartin@atlantafinehomes.com juliemartin.atlantafinehomes.com © 2025 Sotheby's International Realty. All Righ¬ts 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. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity. 8000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 800, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009.