School voucher bill emerges from Georgia House ► PAGE 3
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Congress funds segment of Top End I-285 Trail in Dunwoody PERIMETER CENTER — A segment of the Top End I-285 Trail in Dunwoody received $850,000 in funding March 9 as a part of a federal package of spending bills. The city requested $3 million in funds for a segment of the Top End I-285 Trail, connecting the Georgetown Shopping Center to Perimeter Center. The proposed Dunwoody portion of the Top End Trail runs along the southern city limits from PATH 400 in Sandy Springs to North Shallowford Road, with a crossing into Chamblee. The westside trails in the Dunwoody Trail Master Plan, including the Georgetown area, are focused on Perimeter Center. The proposed network calls for more north-south connections via the North Nancy Creek Greenway and east-west routes via the Top End Trail. A proposed I-285 underpass in the Dunwoody Trail Master Plan would connect the city’s path network to Brookhaven’s Murphy Candler Park. The $850,000 will be used for constructing a paved bicycle and walking path along the proposed I-285 Top End Express Lanes project, which adds two new, barrier-separated express lanes in both directions of a portion of I-285 and Ga. 400. The proposed project spans three counties, Cobb, Fulton and DeKalb, and crosses several cities including Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, and Tucker.
See TRAIL, Page 13
Kemp praises fight against trafficking By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks about the statewide effort to combat human trafficking March 14 during a Roswell Rotary Club meeting . Kemp thanked Roswell Police Detective Natalie Fields for her work investigating a human trafficking network operating in massage parlors throughout Metro Atlanta, including one in Sandy Springs.
ROSWELL, Ga. — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp stopped by Roswell Area Park March 14 for a Rotary Club meeting to advocate for ending human trafficking statewide. More than 250 people, including Rotarians and public officials, packed the gym in the Bill Johnson Community Building to discuss commitments to veteran families and the fight against trafficking. The same day, the Georgia House of Representatives approved final passage of the ninth anti-human trafficking bill, SB 370, under Gov. Kemp. The bill, if signed by the governor, would require certain establishments to post human trafficking hotline information. The bill also secures awareness training and inspections for massage practices, with requirements for the display of licenses. Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson touted the local push to update ordinances on massage practices, implement more regulations and enhance enforcement. “The City Council and I made it our top priority to eradicate illicit activities in massage parlors and put an end to human trafficking in the City of Roswell,” Wilson said. “The safety and protection of our residents, especially those who cannot defend themselves, is a solemn duty and responsibility.” He also spoke about the Sept. 20 joint operation led by Roswell Police, in which several spas around Metro Atlanta saw criminal charges, and the subsequent ordinance changes the City Council made March 11 regarding massage establishments.
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H&A Inter nat i ona l Je wel r y • 7 7 0 -396-3 4 5 6
See KEMP, Page 15