Sandy Springs Crier - May 25, 2023

Authorities file murder charges in Sandy Springs infant death

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Appen Media files suit in Sandy Springs open records case

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Appen Media Group has filed a lawsuit against the City of Sandy Springs over access to information from police reports.

In an official complaint filed in the Superior Court of Fulton County May 12, Appen Media Group, which

publishes the Sandy Springs Crier, Alpharetta-Roswell Herald and four other weekly newspapers in north Metro Atlanta, alleged that it has repeatedly been denied access to initial police officer narratives that are routinely filed during investigations.

Excerpts from police reports included in the complaint involve cases of aggravated assault, street racing

and reckless driving, indecent exposure and weapons law violations. But in each case, the investigative report narrative contained one sentence with limited details about what allegedly occurred during the incident.

The newsgroup alleges that despite guidance from the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, the Georgia

City Council gives approval to newly redrawn districts

Some residents will have new representation

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. —Sandy Springs officials recently approved a measure to rework local City Council districts and increase the salaries of elected city officials.

At its May 16 meeting, the City Council heard a presentation from Mayor Rusty Paul on House Bill 601, which the Georgia General Assembly approved during the 2023-24 legislative session.

Paul said the legislation redistricts Sandy Springs to be more in line with the 2020 Census, which showed a 15 percent increase in the city’s population.

“This is something that happens every 10

years,” he said. “The request to the General Assembly this year was that we would make as minimal changes as possible to the traditional districts that we've always had since the start of the city and adjust those boundaries, simply to bring them in as close as possible to the population balance as guided by court decisions.”

A map of the new districts shows District 2 in north Sandy Springs will gain a portion of District 1 and District 3, while District 3 will gain portions of District 4 and District 5, District 6 in South Sandy Springs will also gain a large portion of District 3 north of I-285.

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See REPORT, Page 2 4 5 6

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Publisher CONTACT

Report:

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“In requesting the incident reports from Sandy Springs, The Newspaper has asked for arrest reports, including any supplemental reports or narratives from the reporting officer,” Brooks K. Hudson, an attorney representing Appen Media, wrote in the complaint. “Sandy Springs will then provide the Newspaper with an incident report that either has no narrative, or a one-line narrative that gives little to no detail about the incident.”

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investigation will be compromised, the city is willing to release more documents.

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Without narrative information about what occurred during initial police investigations, Appen Media executives said that neither they nor members of the public will have an accurate understanding of crimes that occur in the community.

While not referenced in the lawsuit, reports filed alongside the complaint also redact the names of officers, without any justification for why the redactions would be permitted under Georgia law.

“The law requires that all initial reports are subject to open records laws, regardless of whether they are called ‘initial incident reports’, ‘supplemental reports’, ‘narrative reports’, or something else,” Appen Media Publisher Hans Appen said. “Cities cannot avoid disclosure requirements by simply calling files something other than what they are.”

In an email from February, Sandy Springs City Attorney Dan Lee claims that Appen Media’s reading of the law is mistaken, and the city is only required to provide “public supplements” to initial police incident reports, but not other types of supplemental reports.

Lee said that when cases are closed, and there is no threat that an

“It is apparent Appen believes that more information is required in the initial incident report, but Georgia Law does not support that requirement,” Lee said. “The City prides itself on transparency and has not encountered this complaint from any other outlet.”

Appen argues they believe that Sandy Springs is violating both the intentions and spirit of Georgia’s Open Records Law by upholding a policy that provides citizens with virtually no details about what crimes are occurring in their community.

“Our ability to obtain complete reports is one of the best tools we have for giving the public an account of how their tax dollars are being spent, how police resources are being prioritized, and how safe their families are in their homes, schools and driving down the street,” Appen said. “We do this accountability journalism and file these open records requests so that the public doesn’t have to. We do need the city to their part though in supplying us the information to relay.”

Beyond that violation, Appen said that Sandy Springs is the only municipality in north Metro Atlanta that provides limited or no narrative as part of incident reports released through open records requests.

“We do not have this issue with our public safety coverage for Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, Mil -

ton, Forsyth County, or Dunwoody,” Appen said. “They generally do a good job of giving us initial incident reports, which provide the public with a baseline of the who, what, when and where a crime has occurred.”

In 2018 Appen Media Group sued the City of Roswell over similar alleged violations of the Georgia Open Records Act.

As part of the lawsuit, Appen Media alleged the Roswell Police Department had consistently withheld vital information about criminal incidents from public records. The lawsuit also alleged that the Roswell Police Department had failed to meet time requirements for supplying the reports after requests were made.

After a year of legal maneuvering on both sides of the suit, members of the Roswell City Council voted to settle the lawsuit in 2019, agreeing to pay the media company $10,500 in attorney’s fees and provide them a year’s worth of free open records requests.

“Filing suit was always our last and least desirable option,” Appen said. “We spent months and months going back and forth with the city [of Sandy Springs] giving them every opportunity to comply with the law and fill our records requests. They refused, so here we are.”

In an email, Sandy Springs Communications Director Andrew Allison said the city stands by its interpretation of the Georgia Open Records Law and they are ready to meet the complaint in a court of law.

“Sandy Springs will continue to release all appropriate information required under the Open Records Act and, if the lawsuit proceeds, the city will seek to recover costs, damages and attorneys’ fees to respond to these allegations which question the city’s integrity,” Allison stated.

Authorities file murder charges in Sandy Springs infant death

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRING, Ga. — A Sandy Spring woman has been arrested and charged with murder after her 1-yearold girl was found dead in a pool of water May 11.

Sandy Springs Police Department officials said the child’s body was found in a pool of water near Concourse Parkway after authorities received calls that a woman was having a mental health episode in the area.

Police arrived at 2 Concourse Parkway at about 6:39 p.m. Thursday, May 11, and located the woman, Asia Calabrese-Lewis, 24, in a nearby parking deck. Calabrese-Lewis allegedly told the child’s father that the 1-yearold girl was, “deceased in a pool.”

The area around Concourse Parkway has multiple pools of water that police and firefighters immediately searched. The child’s body was found in one of the pools.

Efforts to resuscitate the child were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at Children’s Health -

care of Atlanta.

Calabrese-Lewis has been charged with cruelty to children and felony murder. She has been transported to the Fulton County Jail.

Sgt. Matthew McGinnis of the Sandy Springs Police Department said investigators believe Calabrese-Lewis intentionally drowned the 1-year-old, but their investigation into this case is ongoing.

Prior to this incident, Sandy Springs police responded to a Peachtree Dunwoody Road business on May 10 to conduct a welfare check on Calabrese-Lewis and her daughter, but after an investigation, they were released.

Police determined that no crime had been committed and the parties “were not in any immediate danger,” so a referral was made to the Georgia Department of Family and Child Services for further investigation.

Anyone with information about this case has been asked to contact the Sandy Springs Police Department at 770-551-6939.

Tara Tucker

Paras

Leader

Gregory Lazzara, a licensed Behavioral Health Clinician, has been hired by the DeKalb Community Service Board to serve as a co-responder for police departments in Dunwoody and Doraville. Lazzara will respond to mental health situations with police officers.

Police co-responder selected for Dunwoody and Doraville

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Thanks to a recent partnership between Dunwoody, Doraville and DeKalb County, local first responders have a new tool when responding to mental health crisis situations.

Dunwoody Police Department officials announced May 16 that they and the Doraville Police Department have signed a contract with the DeKalb Commu-

nity Service Board to hire and share a licensed behavioral health clinician who will respond to mental health calls with police officers to provide support.

“This program gives our officers access to an expert to help recognize and de-escalate situations while also providing important resources,” Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan said. “We look forward to this important partnership with Doraville Police.”

See DUNWOODY, Page 10

DUNWOODY POLICE DEPARTMENT/PROVIDED

Officials, residents pedal Dunwoody

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody officials and residents celebrated National Bike Month Thursday, May 11, with an energetic tour of the city’s many bike-friendly amenities, while looking at upcoming projects to add more connectivity and safety on local roads.

City Councilman Joe Seconder said the yearly “Bike to Lunch” event has long been a community activity. This year, they chose a 6-mile route from City Hall on Ashford Dunwoody Road to Takorea, a restaurant in the Georgetown Shopping Center on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

With the pending approval of a Dunwoody Trail Master Plan by the PATH Foundation, Seconder said they used this year’s event to showcase projects that will continue to make Dunwoody a bike-friendly community.

“We’re gonna stop along the way and

show you what is in the plans,” he said. “We got this master trail plan and move things on the books and it’s like, ‘hey, let’s stop here and take a look.’”

Seconder said that for road cyclists, Dunwoody is already a very bike-friendly city, with its network of bike lanes added to miles of local roads over the last 12 years.

There are multiple biking clubs in and around Dunwoody, he said, and judging from online communities like Strava, local roads are getting a lot of use from cyclists. But Seconder said all you have to do is visit a farmers market on a Saturday, to see just how many Dunwoody families are casually interested in biking.

“When I think about a ‘cycling community,’ I just call it the community,” he said.

So, for casual cyclists who aren’t comfortable riding on busy roads, there aren’t many safe alternatives.

“We’re trying to build it so that the folks who have a 10-year-old child

could safely ride to Dunwoody Village and go to Village Burger or go to Brook Run Park, and our 70-year-old retirees,” he said. “So that instead of riding on the road, with just a white line separating you from a 2,000-pound motor vehicle, we want to have that separated.”

In the future, Seconder said city leaders

hope to have a “hub and spoke system” of biking connections and trails branching off from Brook Run Park so people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy biking in the community.

Dunwoody officials are expected to vote on the Dunwoody Trail Master Plan when it is presented at a meeting this summer.

Marcus Center expansion plan nears final step to city approval

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — After a series of public meetings and new noise mitigation efforts, Dunwoody officials seem to be nearing an agreement with the Marcus Jewish Community Center over plans to install new facilities at the recreation center on Tilly Mill Road.

Community center representatives and Dunwoody residents addressed the Dunwoody City Council May 8 over the proposed construction of 12 new pickleball courts and a multi-purpose court on the facility’s eastern grounds.

Kathy Zickert, an attorney with Smith, Gambrell and Russell representing the Marcus Jewish Community Center, said they intend to add four new open-air pickleball courts to the recreation center and eight covered courts, as well as a viewing platform on a nearby existing building.

Dunwoody Senior Planner Madalyn Smith said that since the project received conditional approval from the Dunwoody Planning Commission in April, the neighborhood recreation club has tweaked its plans to include new noise control efforts, which was the main community concern.

Other improvements include minor upgrades to the center’s west parking lots and pool area.

A noise study reportedly showed the neighbors closest to the proposed expan-

sion would be impacted by noise from the new pickleball courts and proposed adding several sound barrier options to the project.

“One is fencing that directly surrounds the courts, and then the other option is fencing along the setback line,” she said. “Both options, again according to the sound consultant, are appropriate and do a good job of attenuating noise from the pickleball courts.”

The project would be bound to those options, but with those noise abatement strategies, city staff recommended approval of the proposal.

“Provided they’re providing these noise abatement strategies, we don’t anticipate any adverse impacts,” she said.

Council shares thoughts

Zickert said they were happy to make the changes after hearing feedback from the community. Additionally, she said they will ensure effects from light and traffic are also mitigated.

Dunwoody City councilmembers still had questions about how the noise mitigation would work and whether it would be effective.

“If what they’re installing is not effective, we essentially have no recourse to remedy to mitigate that,” Councilman Tom Lambert said. “So, if there’s a way to do that, that would make me feel a lot more comfortable, but otherwise I’m pretty

happy with what they proposed.”

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said that beyond this specific proposal, the Marcus Jewish Community Center must have a method to address noise complaints made by neighbors, especially considering the community center’s highly popular summer camp program, which has allegedly drawn neighbors’ ire for years.

Deutsch asked community center representatives to commit to using the quietest pickleball equipment possible and to work out a system of managing neighbors’ noise concerns, as they arise.

“The JCC is a tremendous asset to Dunwoody … but you’re not always the best neighbor,” she said. “Obviously, I’m not asking you to be quiet all the time. I’m just asking you to try your hardest and your darndest to be a good neighbor all the time.”

No decision was made on the proposal, but Deutsch said it will return at a council meeting in several weeks.

Park name approved

At the meeting, the Dunwoody City Council also approved an official name for the city’s future park on Vermack Road.

Out of a list of eight, City Council voted to name the 9.3-acre park, “Homecoming Park,” after the route that Dunwoody High School’s homecoming parade takes through the city.

“I really like Homecoming Park,

because to me it’s a park that is inviting to everyone,” Councilwoman Stacey Harris said. “It’s simple. It’s homecoming, it’s warming. It’s welcoming. It’s where that homecoming parade goes.”

Councilmembers also considered naming the future park on Roberts Drive, but ultimately voted down the most popular name choice, “Old Buck Park,” which would have been named for a train that once went through the area.

“Dunwoody residents back in the 1800s used that train regularly to get into Atlanta to sell their goods. Teddy Roosevelt rode it right through Dunwoody in 1905,” Lambert said. “I think that name has a lot of ties not only to the history of Dunwoody but also specifically to that area.”

A motion to approve the name failed after Mayor Deutsch pointed out that the word “Buck” could easily be changed to an expletive if vandals were to replace one letter.

“I’m not meaning to make a crack up,” she said. “Do you know what’s going to happen to the sign when we put it up? What’s going to happen to that “B”?

City staff will have four more weeks to consider naming the park on Roberts Drive and it will be placed back on the council’s meeting agenda.

“Just remember the sign. Maybe there’s time to find something else historical,” Deutsch said.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Led by Post 5 Councilman Joe Seconder and Dunwoody police officers, cyclists head northeast on Ashford Dunwoody Road during the city’s annual Bike to Lunch event May 11.

‘THAT’S A CLOSED DOOR’

Family feels impact of transgender medical care law

By DELANEY TARR delaney@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Jordan-Grimes household in Roswell greets people with a wall of energy.

JD and Ellie Jordan share five kids, 3 dogs, two cats and a rabbit. They’re a typical “blended” family, with kids excited to show off old family photos and the “fat dog.”

But a recently passed piece of legislation looms over the family, a Georgia law that limits medical care for transgender minors. Two of the five kids are transgender — Lily Grimes Jordan, 17, is a trans woman, and Onyx Grimes, 16, is a trans man.

The legislation, which bans medical procedures for transgender minors, including genital reassignment surgeries and hormone replacement therapies, was co-sponsored by Republican State Sen. John Albers who lives just down the street.

The law bans medical procedures for transgender minors, including genital reassignment surgeries and hormone replacement therapies. Transgender youth will still have access to puberty blockers prior to turning 18.

State Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta), another co-sponsor of the legislation, spoke frankly about the reasoning behind his decision. He said young people who make “dramatic changes” at a young age may end up regretting them.

The Jordan-Grimes family is frustrated with the new law. JD says he’s angry to see it happening with the help of Albers, a Roswell legislator.

“How was this legislation informed by his constituents?” JD said.

JD and Ellie say they worry that the law will harm transgender youth.

“You have just publicly told your children you are never allowed to be this or to broach this with you,” Ellie said. “Because you co-sponsored this law.”

As parents to two transgender children, Ellie and JD are familiar with the reasoning behind the legislation. Lawmakers stated concern with children making permanent medical decisions before they turn 18.

Requests for Sen. Albers to comment on the topic went unanswered.

Ellie said those ideas are based on “assumptions” that parents are ready to let their children have surgery the moment a kid comes out. It’s not like that, she said, the process is long, complex and involves many medical steps.

Lily’s transition started not with a coming out, but with a depression diagnosis. In the summer of 2020 JD and Ellie noticed Lily showed signs of depression and took her to one-on-one therapy sessions. She eventually moved

on to an outpatient group therapy, where many of her fellow patients were also LGBTQ+. Lily didn’t come out as a transgender woman to her parents until September 2020, although the teen remembers the story differently from her parents.

“I was accidentally outed, but it didn’t end poorly,” Lily said.

She said her former significant other had outed her by accident, referring to her as “Lily” in front of her parents before the teen had shared her gender identity and chosen name. The parents don’t remember the conversation, but they recall when she came out as a transgender woman at a family dinner.

“We didn’t know what we were doing,” JD said.

The parents said it was a major adjustment at first.

“There’s so much worry and thought and research and therapy sessions poured into receiving the news and processing it,” Ellie said. “Is this a symptom of the depression or is the depression a symptom of being trans?”

Ellie said the first step was figuring out

the best course to take for Lily. The family began by using Lily’s chosen name, rather than her birth name, and began using she/her pronouns for the teen.

By December 2020 Lily met with her first doctor for a consultation. In October of 2021, she started taking Spironolactone, a hormone blocker that targets testosterone. It is also used to treat excessive hair growth in women, acne and high blood pressure.

The hormone blockers did not work well for Lily, though, and after numerous consultations and doctors’ appointments, the family decided to start the teen girl on hormone replacement therapy. Lily began taking estrogen on Nov. 1, 2022.

Ellie told Lily about the estrogen with a handwritten note and a box of the medication. She said both of them had tears in their eyes.

“The experience of telling her was very affirming,” Ellie said.

Under the newly passed Georgia law Lily’s healthcare will be grandfathered in and she will continue receiving hormone replacement therapies while still under the age of 18.

Lily’s transition journey was a learning curve for the parents, but across numerous appointments, consultations and therapy sessions they had some major takeaways. One consultant told the family to watch out for three things in transgender and questioning youth: persistence, insistence and consistency.

“As soon as she said that, it was like this lightbulb went off,” Ellie said.

Ellie kept the three words in mind when Onyx said he wanted to be a boy and get gender-affirming care.

“My mom had said ‘Alright, so I want you to keep a calendar for how many days you felt like you want to do this,’” Onyx said.

Onyx kept the calendar for almost two years. Because of the new law, he won’t be able to get gender affirming care.

“That’s a closed door until he’s 18,” Ellie said.

Onyx will have to wait two years before he can receive the healthcare he wants. Ellie said the people opposed to transgender healthcare need to talk to people that are affected by these laws, like Onyx.

“You can’t say authentically ‘I’m opposed to this’ if you don’t even understand and you haven’t made an effort,” Ellie said.

JD said he was frustrated to see the law pass in Georgia especially with a connection to Roswell via Sen. Albers.

“I don’t associate our community with being that kind of hateful,” JD said.

He said Roswell is “resistant to change” but people in the area have been largely accepting of Lily and Onyx. Lily, a student at Roswell High School, said her experience has been a mixed bag.

Teachers use her chosen name and pronouns, and many students are allies, but Lily has also faced hatred and slurs from others.

Younger brothers Sean and Malcolm Jordan are both accepting of their transgender siblings. They are religious but said their beliefs “don’t have to collide” with transgender people.

“It’s your belief, if they don’t believe the same thing, why do you have to tell them?” 12-year-old Malcolm asked.

JD said he knows there are dozens of transgender teens at Roswell High School alone, with even more across Georgia. He said Albers and his co-sponsors did not talk to them, the people the law would affect most.

Lily said she is ready and waiting for the public to approach her. When asked how she feels about being a spokesperson for transgender youth, she said her voice is a “more accurate representation” of what being trans is like.

“It’s a bit better being approached and being talked to,” Lily said.

JD JORDAN/PROVIDED

The Jordan-Grimes household consists of five children, from left; Sean Grimes, 14; Lily Grimes Jordan, 17; Jack Jordan, 15; Onyx Grimes, 16 and Malcolm Jordan, 12.

Taqueria Los Hermanos’ secret ingredient is family history

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Taqueria Los Hermanos was born from the vision of three brothers two decades ago, but its history dates back to a rich family tradition in the cuisine of southern Mexico.

Located in The Shops of Dunwoody on Chamblee Dunwoody Road, co-owner Miguel Romero said the restaurant offers a unique take on the typical Mexican fare, with a menu rich in seafood that is beloved by the community.

Romero’s personal favorite on the menu are Mama’s tamales, a spicy red chicken and a spicy green pork tamale served on a bed of warm Mexican rice with a side of black charro bean soup and handmade sauces. He said the recipe dates to his great-grandmother, who passed it down through the generations.

“That's something, I think, that a lot of other restaurants are lacking,” Romero said. “There's not really a true family recipe. It's more of just kind of same old, same old, just different kinds of varieties or whatever. But for us, everything is homemade. All of our sauces are homemade. All the marinades are family recipes.”

The fan-favorite

Romero said a fan-favorite at Taqueria Los Hermanos are the tlayudas, a Mexican-style pizza that originates from the state of Oaxaca. The dish consists of refried black beans, shredded cabbage, avocado, tomato, red onions, radishes, roasted poblano peppers, queso fresco and shredded Oaxaca cheese on a crunchy corn tortilla, topped with grilled chicken, pastor or asada steak.

Guests are also treated to an expansive list of strong margaritas, homemade-style desserts and dishes ranging from taquitos, tacos, burritos and enchiladas.

But Taqueria Los Hermanos’ standout offering is its service and dedication to quality.

“Our goal is to be number one in every aspect – in food, service, drinks, everything,” Romero said.

Much like its menu, Taqueria Los Hermanos is the product of family tradition carried down through the generations. Romero’s father and uncles opened the restaurant when Romero was 7 years old in 2001, and Romero’s first job was working as a busser.

“As I got older, I became a server and then assistant manager, general manager and then owner,” Romero said. “Obviously, Los Hermanos is very successful, so I wanted to be a part of it alongside with my brother and my cousin.”

Together, the three opened the restaurant’s Dunwoody location at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Business weathered pandemic

“It was interesting,” Romero said. “We were busy, I mean, slammed for the first week, and then it just stopped because

of the pandemic.”

Despite initial challenges and working odd hours, the restaurant persisted, and Dunwoody’s love for Taqueria Los Hermanos never waned.

A year later, the eatery was named one of the best Mexican restaurants in Gwinnett Magazine’s Best of Gwinnett awards, and Taqueria Los Hermanos

Taqueria Los Hermanos serves a plate of Mama’s tamales May 8. The dish, which was passed down by co-owner Miguel Romero’s great-grandmother, consists of a spicy green pork tamale, a spicy red chicken tamale, handmade sauces, a bed of Mexican rice and black charro bean soup.

won the same category in Appen Media’s Best of Perimeter awards in 2022 and 2023.

Romero said he studied at the University of Georgia, and there, peers from Dunwoody had told him the area needed a good Mexican restaurant. With its proximity to major state highways, Atlanta and North Fulton County cities, he said Dunwoody was the ideal spot for Taqueria Los Hermanos’ fifth location.

"I would like to thank Dunwoody in general,” Romero said. “It’s an amazing community, and it's awesome because not only are they great customers, but they also help us out a lot with sending their kids to work with us … Overall, we've had a lot of help from the community, so we'd like to say thank you for that.”

Taqueria Los Hermanos is in suite 3 at 5500 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Menus, hours and more information can be found at taquerialoshermanos.com.

PHOTOS BY SHELBY ISRAEL/APPEN MEDIA

Miguel Romero is the co-owner of Dunwoody’s Taqueria Los Hermanos, a familyoperated restaurant founded by his father and uncles in 2001. The restaurant’s menu is rich in seafood, embodying the family’s native southern Mexico.

Guests are greeted by a colorful mural along the entryway of Taqueria Los Hermanos in Dunwoody May 8. The restaurant offers a variety of Mexican dishes, ranging from tacos, enchiladas, tlayudas and tamales made from a family recipe.

Colorful décor surrounds the bar at Taqueria Los Hermanos in Dunwoody May 8. The restaurant serves an expansive menu of margaritas, which co-owner Miguel Romero said are made especially strong.

Author William Kent Krueger to headline Roswell Reads

By KATHY DES JARDINS CIOFFI newsroom@appenmedia.com

As something of an early Father’s Day gift for all Atlanta-area fans of fiction, Roswell Reads has announced its 2023 featured writer. William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of “This Tender Land,” “Ordinary Grace” and 19 acclaimed books in the Cork O’Connor mystery series, is this year’s selection.

Krueger will discuss his latest novel, “The River We Remember,” at two fall events presented by Roswell Reads, an organization of Friends of the Roswell Library, in partnership with Roswell Cultural Arts and Bookmiser. On Sept. 29, he will speak at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center at 7 p.m. And, on Sept. 30, Krueger will lead a 10 a.m. writing workshop at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center. Tickets for both events are available online at roswellcac.com, by calling 770-594-6232, or at the RCAC. Copies of “The River We Remember” can be preordered at eventbrite. com/e/632982135607.

Saturday, June 3, George Weinstein and Kim Conrey. Married authors Conrey and Weinstein will sign their latest novels, “Stealing Ares” and “Return to Hardscrabble Road.” 10:30 a.m. Free. Posman Books, 4105 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta, 470-509-5727. posmanbooks.com

Saturday, June 3, Tracy Solheim. Solheim will sign “It Had to Be You.” Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway No. 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com

Thursday, June 8, Colleen Oakley. Oakley returns to spotlight “The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise.” 7 p.m. An Oakley book purchase is required. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway No. 314, Suwanee. 770-2329331. read-it-again.com

Saturday, June 10, multiple writers. Meet and greet featuring six Red Clover authors. 1 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566.

Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Thursday, June 15, Karen White. White, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 34 titles, will chat about “The House on Prytania.” 5 p.m. Signing. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566.

Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Saturday, June 17, Juneteenth Celebration. The city of Johns Creek’s first Juneteenth Celebration will include a book fair showcasing local African American authors. 3 p.m. Free. Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. 678 5123200. JohnsCreekGA.gov

Saturday, June 17, MJ Pankey. Pankey will talk about “Epic of Helinthia.” 3 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway No. 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com

Saturday, June 17, Melanie Sue Bowles, Robert Gwaltney. The double signing event will feature Bowles’ “Liberty Biscuit” and Gwaltney’s debut novel “The Cicada Tree.” 1 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage

Meanwhile, there will be much ado about books happening locally this month. In addition to the list below, the first Juneteenth celebration planned by the city of Johns Creek is slated for June 17 and activities will include a book fair highlighting local African American authors.

“This is a great opportunity to introduce these successful writers to our community,” said Cynthia D. Jones, Juneteenth book fair coordinator. In addition to Jones, other book fair authors will include Eddie L. Johnson, Dottie Chapman Reed, Renee Bradford, Sharon-Horton Pellom, Leslie Renee Briscoe-Andrews and Celeste Johnson. Details about Juneteenth and other June events are below.

Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770-797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Tuesday, June 20, Mike Nemeth, Cherie Claire, Fatima Henson. A Novel Idea presents the trio of authors in conversation, with books available to purchase through Bookmiser. 7 p.m. Free.

Vintage Pizzeria, 5510 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-509-5611. anovelidea.us

Saturday, June 24, Mickey Dubrow. Dubrow will sign copies of “Always Agnes.” Noon. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway No. 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com

Saturday, June 24, Bonnie G. Busbin. Busbin will sign her children’s book, “Do You See Me in the Sea?” 1 p.m. Free. Poe & Company Bookstore, 1890 Heritage Walk, Suite P101, Milton. 770797-5566. Poeandcompanybookstore.com

Saturday, June 24, Terri Parlato. Atlanta Authors is hosting the debut author regarding her thriller, “All the Dark Places.” 2 p.m. Signing. Free. The B Side on the second floor of the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell. 770-5095611. bookmiser.net/book-events.html

Monday, June 26, Lewis Clayton Bryant. Bryant will discuss his nonfiction work, “The Cold Case Murder of Fred Wilkerson: Untangling the Black Widow's Web in West Georgia.” 7 p.m. Free. Read It Again Bookstore, 3630 Peachtree Parkway No. 314, Suwanee. 770-232-9331. read-it-again.com

Tuesday, June 27, Lynn Cullen. The bestselling author of historical fiction will detail “The Woman With The Cure,” based on the true story of Dr. Dorothy Horstmann, whose groundbreaking research helped make the polio vaccine possible. 1 p.m. Signing. Free. Johns Creek Books and Gifts, 6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Suite B500, Johns Creek, 770-696-9999. johnscreekbooks.com

To submit an author event for the upcoming month, email Kathy Des Jardins Cioffi at kathydesjardins3@gmail.com by the 15th.

Dunwoody:

Continued from Page 3

Dunwoody officials said the new co-responder, Gregory Lazzara, officially began his role with the two cities in late April. Lazzara has a master’s degree in community counseling from Concordia University in Chicago and has worked for the last 10 years in various roles involving crisis management, intervention and de-escalation.

"Our partnership with Dunwoody Police enables us to provide a greater level of service and support to our community," Doraville Police Chief Chuck Atkinson said. "We're pleased to welcome Mr. Lazzara and look forward to learning from him and his experiences."

For several months in 2022, the City of Dunwoody had great success with a similar position, after contracting with View Point Health for a co-responder employee, Dunwoody Deputy Police Chief Michael Carlson said during a City Council meeting in March.

“The officers that were out there thought this was just an extremely

City:

Continued from Page 1

These changes will bring Sandy Springs into compliance with court decisions and Georgia laws regarding redistricting.

“We had a fairly wide difference in the population of some of the districts,” he said. “District Six and District Two needed to grow, they needed to absorb population. District Three and District Four needed to lose population.”

Paul said they tried their best to avoid splitting up neighborhoods and subdivisions, but there was at least one large subdivision that it was impossible to hold together.

“To the extent that it could be done, it was done,” he said. “It's actually a good thing for that one subdivision, I think, they now have two voices on this council instead of one.”

Along with the redistricting, the Georgia General Assembly also approved a salary increase for members of the Sandy Springs City Council and Mayor Paul.

Under House Bill 601 the mayor’s yearly salary will increase from $40,000 to $42,000 and council member salaries will increase from $18,000 to $26,000.

“This body has no authority to raise its own salary during the course of its term,” he said. “The only people that can do that is the General Assembly. Neither the council nor I asked for the raise, but the Legislature looked at what other cities in North Fulton were being paid and determined

valuable service, due to the mental health situation that we have,” Carlson said.

Unfortunately, Carlson said, the contract was canceled in November after a new state law was passed, making local community service boards in Georgia responsible for providing coresponder services.

Under the new contract, the DeKalb Community Service Board will contribute $33,400 toward the position for the first year and $16,600 the second year, while the cities would share a percentage of the cost based on their populations.

During the first year, Dunwoody will be responsible for 83 percent of the position’s costs, or $81,020. Doraville will pay $16,653, or 17 percent. Dunwoody’s portion of the cost will be paid for through American Rescue Plan Act funding.

Dunwoody’s portion of the contract was unanimously approved as a consent agenda item during the City Council’s March 27 meeting.

"The co-responder will assist officers in the field and improve the quality of life for our community as a whole," Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch said. "This contract with the DeKalb Community Service Board is a vital step in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community."

that we were a little bit out of line with the normal salaries for city council.”

These measures were unanimously approved by the City Council after a brief discussion. They will take effect July 1.

Summer camp grant

At the meeting, officials also approved a grant from the Georgia Recreation Department Association that will allow the city to provide new field trips to kids during the 2023 Explorer Summer Camp.

Recreation and Parks Program Manager Jane Jarrett said the 2023 Explorer Summer Camp provides educational opportunities for 30 kids each week for five weeks in the summer.

The grant, called the Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time, will provide the city’s Recreation and Parks Department $2,850 to expand the summer camp program.

“This grant is just building opportunities for kids to expand on their learning,” Jarrett said. “It’s taking those science concepts they had from school and getting to have them in those out-of-school opportunities like summer camp.”

With the grant funding, Jarrett said they will be able to take underserved kids from the community to SeaQuest at Stonecrest Mall, Bricks 4 Kidz, Little Medical School and the Chattahoochee Nature Center, in addition to the field trips they already host.

“This makes our job worth it,” District 6 Councilman Andy Bauman said.

After a short discussion, the grant was unanimously approved.

KRUEGER

JONES

ALPHARETTA FOOD TRUCK ALLEY

What: Kick off the weekend a little early at Alpharetta’s Food Truck Alley. Culinary options include more than 10 food trucks every fourth Thursday of the month until October, offering a diverse range of cuisine types. This is a familyfriendly event, with limited seating available and will feature live music each month. It is recommended that attendees bring a blanket or chair and leave pets at home for these events.

When: Thursday, May 25, 5-9 p.m.

Where : Old Roswell Street, 37 Old Roswell Street, Alpharetta

More info: facebook.com/ foodtruckalley

CITY GREEN LIVE: THE BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY

What: The Black Jacket Symphony will recreate Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” album note for note, sound for sound plus more of the band’s greatest hits. Blankets, lawn chairs and umbrellas are allowed.

When: Friday, May 26, 7:30 p.m.

Where: City Green, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs

Cost: Lawn seating is free; reserved tables are $60-90 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

MILTON FARMERS MARKET

What: Every Saturday morning until Oct. 28, more than 30 vendors set up shop around Milton City Hall with fresh produce, fresh meat, sweets, coffee and tea, flowers, soaps, jewelry and more.

When: Saturday, May 27, 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.

Where: Milton City Hall plaza, 2006 Heritage Walk, Milton

More info: facebook.com/ miltongafarmersmarket

ARTISANS ARTS & CRAFT SHOW

What: Come explore and shop the arts and crafts booths set up outside in front of the Aurora Cineplex and Fringe Mini Golf, offering unique custom jewelry, embroidered towels, nail art, wood working, pottery, candles and soaps, accessories and more.

CONCERTS BY THE SPRINGS: CARPOOL

What: This event will feature Carpool, a tribute band recreating the sound, look and vibe that made The Cars worldfamous.

When: Sunday, June 4, 7 p.m.

Where: Heritage Amphitheater, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs

Cost: Lawn seating is free; reserved tables are $135-160 More info: sandyspringsga.gov

When: Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Where: Area 51-Aurora Cineplex and Fringe Miniature Golf, 5100 Commerce Parkway, Roswell More info: Email MainStreetCraftShow@gmail.com

RIVERSIDE SOUNDS - EARLY JAMES

What: Riverside Sounds, Roswell’s longest running, free outdoor concert series, will feature Early James who conjures the ghosts of great Southern gothic writers from Eudora Welty to William Faulkner, while channeling the haunted spirits of Tom Waits and Townes Van Zandt. The series will be held every fourth Saturday of the month from April through September.

When: Saturday, May 27, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Riverside Park, 575 Riverside Road, Roswell More info: roswellgov.com

FEATURE YOUR EVENT ONLINE AND IN PRINT!

It’s even easier now than ever to promote your event to hundreds of thousands of people, whether online, through our newsletters or in the Crier and Herald newspapers.

‘PETER AND THE STARCATCHER’

What: A young orphan named Peter teams up with Molly, a Starcatcherin-training, and his mates to defend a mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin from pirates led by the fearsome Black Stache. Join Stage Door Theatre for an exploration of the depths of greed and despair, along with the bonds of friendship, duty and love.

When: Up to May 28, times vary Where: Stage Door Theatre, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody Cost: $35 for adults, $20 for students and $15 for children

More info: stagedoortheatrega.org

ROTARY CLUB OF ALPHARETTA CONCERT SERIES

What: The Alpharetta Rotary Concerts are held on the Town Green by Alpharetta City Hall every first and third Friday of the month until September. The space includes plenty of room for blankets and

easy

lawn chairs and is within walking distance to more than 30 chefdriven and locally owned restaurants featuring everything from farm-totable comfort food to tasty tacos. This event features School of Rock as the opening band, followed by Across the Wide.

When: Friday, June 2, 7-10 p.m.

Where: Town Green, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta

More info: alpharetta.ga.us

PICS IN THE PARK: ‘SHANG-CHI’

What: The Pics in the Park summer movie series returns. Enjoy the free showing, free popcorn and candy, and giveaways under the stars. Top Job Beverages will also be on-site with additional concessions. The popcorn cart opens 30 minutes prior to show time and will be available until halfway through the movie.

When: Friday, June 2, 8-11 p.m.

Where: Pernoshal Park, 4575 North Shallowford Road, Dunwoody

More info : dunwoodyga.gov

RIDE FOR VETS

What: This event, which benefits veterans with PTSD, features a police-escorted motorcycle ride from Newtown Park to the Ga. 400 terminus in Dahlonega. There will be food, a static military vehicle display and a gun raffle. The registration fee is $50 per motorcycle, which includes a free T-shirt.

When: Saturday, June 3, 8 a.m.

Where: Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek

More info: studentleadershipjohnscreek.com/ student-leadership-program/ridefor-vets

CONCERTS BY THE SPRINGS: CARPOOL

What: This event will feature Carpool, a tribute band recreating the sound, look and vibe that made The Cars world-famous.

When: Sunday, June 4, 7 p.m.

Where: Heritage Amphitheater, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs

Cost: Lawn seating is free; reserved tables are $135-160

More info: sandyspringsga.gov

Exploring the source of road names along Winters Chapel Road

The story of Jeremiah Winter, who came to the area in the late 1860s and saw the need for a church has been shared in this column before.

brothers Pink Womack and W. Y. (Young) Womack. Some of the street names came to be directly attributed to the Womack family. There is a Womack Road and Womack Court.

There is also a Womack Drive off Winter’s Chapel Road, further toward where Winter’s Chapel Road meets Highway 141.

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF

Winters Chapel Methodist Church began in a grove, and then Winter decided they could cut logs from the property, “have them sawed and hull us up a church.” The church and road are named for him. (winterschapel.org)

Next door to the church is Jones Mill Road. The road stops and picks up again until it comes to a dead end into Jones Mill Court. Jones Mill continues on the other side of Highway 141 where Peachtree Corners Circle becomes Jones Mill Road.

Ralph Glaze shared his memories of the beginnings of Lockridge Forest subdivision in a 2017 video recording with Dunwoody Preservation Trust. Lockridge Forest is the neighborhood where he lives, but he grew up in the area long before subdivisions were built. Part of the neighborhood is in DeKalb County and part is in Gwinnett County.

Glaze recalls that a man named Lockridge bought the land to develop from

One of Pink Womack’s children was Geraldine, and Geraldine Court is named for her. She married Buck Kinnard, and Kinnard Drive was named for him.

Glaze recalls two sawmills along Winters Chapel Road, one just south of the entrance to Winters Chapel United Methodist Church and cemetery and the other farther north, at the entrance of Lockridge Forest today. The sawmills were still there in the 1940s and 1950s.

One sawmill was owned by Mr. Tanner from Stone Mountain, who leased the land from Pink Womack. Perhaps one of the mills was owned by someone named Jones at some point, leading to the name Jones Mill Road.

Glaze’s father Herman Glaze had a store at the corner of Peeler Road and Winters Chapel Road. Herman Glaze bought land from W.Y. Womack, Pink Womack, and Ida Morgan, accumulating about 100 acres at one point. The land purchased from Ida Morgan was where the store was

built and is today the location of Auto Zone. Glaze Road is located off Peeler Road.

Glaze believes the Womacks along Winters Chapel Road were third or fourth cousins to the Womacks who owned land at Tilly Mill Road and Womack Road, where Georgia State University Dunwoody campus to today.

As to the other names in Lockridge Forest, such as Arrie Way, Abby Court, Tilton Lane, and Sumac Court, I do not know how they fit into the picture yet. Perhaps they are family names, but a search on

ancestry.com did not provide evidence. The first thing that comes to mind when I see the word sumac is the plant, but if I discover an individual named Sumac in the families of these former landowners, I’ll let you know.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Sandy Springs. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

Alpharetta is weighing a truly dangerous idea

Alpharetta is considering placing what amounts to a three-month gag order on ethics complaints lodged against those up for re-election this year.

It’s a bad idea.

The City Council heard a report May 15 from City Attorney Molly Esswein that proposes amending the ethics ordinance to prohibit acceptance of ethics complaints against incumbents during the three months preceding a municipal election. This includes a primary or the general election.

Politics can be a nasty business, even

at the local level. Look back at the 2021 Alpharetta City Council elections. There were a lot of sleazy allegations thrown around, none substantiated, so none worth printing then or now.

An ethics complaint, legitimate or not, can bludgeon a campaign. It can also tarnish the reputation of a decent public servant.

There is no shortage of examples, but let’s consider Milton.

Before the ink had dried on its new city charter in 2006, two council members faced ethics charges, which were dismissed by the city ethics board. The charges were then refiled before the state Ethics Commission.

See FOX, Page 15

Columnist

GLAZE FAMILY PHOTO

The Glaze Store, pictured around 1940, was at the intersection of Peeler Road and Winters Chapel Road.

PAT FOX Managing Editor

Part-time

Facilities/Property Manager

for church in Alpharetta area. Benefits.

Needs basic competency of the practices, methods, and equipment utilized in facility maintenance, construction, and repair activities; including skills and abilities related to plumbing, janitorial, electrical systems, painting, carpentry, construction, and heating and air conditioning systems. Basic understanding of IT and AV technology would be helpful. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage contractors/volunteers. Requires successful completion of a criminal record and child abuse background check, a valid driver’s license and the ability to perform physical tasks.

Qualified candidates please send resume to Alpharettajobopening@gmail.com.

Administrative Assistant for Youth and Children

Protestant church in downtown Alpharetta seeks a parttime (15-18 hours per week) Administrative Assistant for Youth & Children’s Ministries. In addition to normal administrative duties the candidate will assist with scheduling, social media, securing supplies, maintaining attendance records, planning events and mission trips.

Qualified candidates are a person of outstanding character who is friendly, organized, able to prioritize, exhibits an understanding of the importance of confidentiality, and is willing and able to work in an environment that is welcoming and inclusive of all people.

A degree from an accredited college or university is preferred. Computer competence within Office 365, editing, and writing skills are required. Experience with REALM is a plus.

NEWSPAPER DELIVERY ROUTE

Appen Newspapers is looking for one or two folks to help deliver our newspapers. Work is part time and flexible. Routes can be done at night or during the day - on your schedule - within our deadlines. Comfortably earn $550 or more a month on your own schedule.

This is a great way to get out as well as contribute to helping your local newspaper! Perfect for retired person who wants to stay active or a parent with school-aged kids - deliver during school hours. Also good way to earn supplemental income at night. We have had many retired couples deliver our papers and almost all have managed a route well and enjoyed the time and the work.

Requirements include reliable vehicle, clean driving record, availability, reliability, and honesty. Prior delivery experience is good, but not required. It helps if you live relatively close as papers are picked up to be bagged and delivered from our office in Alpharetta. Delivery areas can be Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek, South Forsyth, Dunwoody, or Sandy Springs typically - depending on open routes.

Community Events Manager

The Community Events Manager is responsible for all aspects of NFCC’s community events, from inception through execution, including helping secure sponsorships. Events may include annual golf tournament, annual fundraising gala, community engagement events, donor recognition events, and other community events. Position requires a highly organized, creative, and motivated person to lead event planning, sponsorship, and community engagement. Bachelor’s Degree preferred with 2-3 years special events and fundraising experience. To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/workat-nfcc/  To apply, send a resume to Sandy Holiday, sholiday@nfcchelp.org.

VFX Supervisor. (Atlanta, GA) Resp. for prod. of visual effects on assigned show. Comm. & delegate VFX needs of show to team. Comm. Director’s feedback & delegate tasks to artists. Dvlp. workflow & pipeline strats. Manage hands-on op. of workstation & admin. duties, which incl. mentoring artists, monitoring shot prog., monitoring show resource usage, capacity planning, & gauging deliverables w/ Prod. & Mgmt. Understand VFX prod. process combined w/ relevant artistic skills. Req. Bach., or foreign equivalent, in Comp. Graphics, Multi-Media Tech. or Animation, + 5 yrs. exp. of post deg., prog. resp. exp. in any rltd. po(s). Send resume to: Crafty Apes LLC, 127 Lomita St., El Segundo, CA 90245.

Successful completion of a criminal records and child abuse background check is required. Send resumes to alpharettajobopening@gmail.com.

Please contact our Office Manager Heidi to set up an appointment to come in and fill in paper work or start the process via Email!

Call 770-442-3278 and ask for Heidi or Email Heidi@AppenMedia.com

• Easily accommodates up to 5 people

• Office has great light. Ground floor

• .7 mile to Alpharetta City Hall on Hwy. 9

• Smaller office space also available in same building

• Short or longer term lease. Reasonable $

Contact Ray Appen via Text (770-527-4042) or email me at RayAppen@Gmail.com – or just call me but best to text and I will return your call.

SANDY SPRINGS

Near 400 & Northridge. 2 offices. $475 month each, includes utilities. 770-331-3915

Donor Operations Associate

The Donor Operations Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and sorts merchandise in a designated area.  They are responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean.  This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected to provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor.  High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Ability to perform low to moderate facility maintenance tasks.  To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/work-atnfcc/  To apply, please complete an application for employment and email to Marten Jallad,  mjallad@nfcchelp.org.

Fox:

Continued from Page 12

The mayor also was targeted with a campaign-related state ethics complaint.

And it didn’t stop there. One member of the Milton ethics board filed an ethics complaint against another member of the ethics board.

Council meetings devolved into accusations pitting one, two or three councilmembers hurling charges against the others.

Even after hiring an organizational psychologist and holding two team-building sessions, the Milton City Council was still a mess, and there was no end in sight.

After five ethics complaints in its first three years, Mayor Joe Lockwood pronounced it madness, saying each case was politically motivated.

Finally, Milton City Attorney Ken Jarrard – donning his red bow tie for maximum effect – suggested the city ditch its residentbased ethics board and name three out-oftown attorneys to preside over ethics cases.

While the measure didn’t bury many hatchets in the city’s verdant pastures, governing in Milton gained traction and began operating.

Around the same time Milton was finally getting its sea legs, the young city of Dunwoody struggled with ethics warfare of

its own.

Five years after it incorporated in 2007, the entire City Council faced an ethics complaint from a resident before the ethics board even had a set of bylaws on how to operate.

That sparked another series of ethics complaints.

The city attorney was forced out for allegedly leaking closed-meeting information. He took a lie detector test to disprove the charge, but it didn’t matter. A councilwoman spent more than a year defending herself from the same charge. She countered with an ethics complaint against a member of the ethics board and the attorney for the city. And for good measure, she filed ethics complaints against the mayor, City Council and the city manager.

The complaints were withdrawn after the city rang up more than $100,000 in legal fees.

Chuck it up to growing pains, I guess, but local government can be a squalid arena.

Even with this sordid history, though, it makes little sense to do what Alpharetta is considering. As proposed, the measure would provide a three-month blanket immunity to an incumbent seeking re-election.

Most striking of all is that it would deprive the electorate knowledge of possible malfeasance in a candidate they may support. It’s striking because Alpharetta City

Attorney Molly Esswein is an associate at Jarrard & Davis law firm, which provides government counsel throughout north Metro Atlanta.

Ken Jarrard is Forsyth County Attorney and Milton City Attorney. Angela Davis is Cherokee County Attorney.

Both speak throughout the state at law conferences on the Georgia Open Meetings Act and the Open Records Act.

I’ve had my tussles with Ken Jarrard over government disclosure of information. He’s a tough hombre. But one thing I am certain of is that he or his firm would never introduce a policy to shield government officials from legitimate criticism unless they were directed to do so by their client.

That narrows things down.

This fall, Alpharetta has a mayor and three seats on the City Council up for election.

My sense is that one or more of these incumbents fear a smear is near.

This could all be avoided if Alpharetta adopted the same tack as Milton took 10 years ago. Get outside lawyers to evaluate ethics complaints and be rid of this silliness. That provision is also part of the revised ordinance Alpharetta is considering, and it should be enough.

Elected officials should be accountable through their entire terms. They deserve not one second of immunity from facing ethics charges.

Garage

Dunwoody Door Lift Co.

The