Here Magazine September 2026 Issue

Dalton, GA

September & October 2026 | Volume 7

Food, Beverage, & Football

BUILT ON EXPERIENCE. Focused on Your Future.

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EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST. GUIDANCE YOU CAN COUNT ON.

WhoGOOD knew Dalton STORIES START

here.

From the pages of our magazine to the conversations on our podcast, H Local Media is telling the stories shaping life in Northwest Georgia Entrepreneurs. Community builders. Local places worth loving.

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GOOD STORIES START

here.

Because you don’t need a bigger city. You just need a better lens.

onversations on our podcast, Here ping life in Northwest Georgia.

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Local stories, local businesses people who make this place s. Local places worth loving. delivered to your mailbo y. You just need a better lens.

From the pages of our magazine to the conversations on our podcast, Here Local Media is telling the stories shaping life in Northwest Georgia.

Here. DALTONEntrepreneurs. Community builders. Local places worth loving.

has such great stories.

ocal stories, local businesses, and the people who make this placeBecause work— you don’t need a bigger city. You just need a better lens. delivered to your mailbox.

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September & October 2026

FEATU Cocktail Hopping

Breast Cancer Care Here.

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ON THE COVER Drinks at The Gallant Goat, Courtesy of Liz Caperton

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Friday Night Lights Here.

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Volume 7

URED IN EVERY ISSUE

LOCAL TASTE

LOCAL LENS

4 From the Editor 5 Contributors 6 Here.Events 8 Seen & Heard 9 Near Here.Events 14 Faces of Here.

17 Here.Kids 44 Here.People 45 There & Then

11 Cocktail Hopping 38 Holiday in the

19 Breast Cancer Care Here.

23 Students to Watch 26 Music Here.

33 Market Report 37 Fall Planting 46 Friday Night Lights Here.

Clouds

40 Eat This Story 42 Dining Guide

SPONSORED CONTENT 37 Some of Life's Best Moments are Planted in the Fall, by Fiddleheads Garden Center

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Letter from the editor Subscription Info Subscriptions are $39 for one year. To start a new subscription, renew an existing subscription, or change your address, scan the QR code below or email hello@herelocalmedia.com!

Calendar Items, Community Updates, & Dining Guide Email hello@herelocalmedia. com all information NO LATER than 8 weeks prior to the magazine cover date. Details may be edited for space.

Advertising Take advantage of Here.Dalton’s prime advertising space. Email erika@herelocalmedia.com, or visit herelocalmedia.com/ advertise.

Here Local Media, LLC is the home of Here. Magazine, Love of Here. Podcast, and local social media channels. We help people love where they live— because you don’t need a bigger city. You just need a better lens.

A year ago this month, Here.Dalton hit mailboxes for the first time. Lauren Sneary and I celebrated recently over dinner with our significant others at Cyra's Simple Goodness (the Cyra’s Sparkler is one of my favs!). One year, six issues, and a lot of stories later, we marked the milestone with good food and bubbly drinks.

That dinner got me thinking about food and memory, and the link between flavor, events, belonging, and community. Which took me back to my grandmothers and their small kitchens, even though neither of them were particularly good cooks. My Nanny once baked a fake fingernail into her famous lemon pie, which I unfortunately found on my first bite. But I still loved packing around their tiny tables, elbow to elbow, eating something made with love.

I dug into this concept a bit, and research calls this link the Proust Effect, after the scene where French writer Marcel Proust bites into a madeleine and returns to his childhood (which is recreated in Disney’s Ratatouille!).

The biology behind this effect is that the scent-processing part of your brain connects straight to the hippocampus, where memories live, and the amygdala, where emotions live. One taste, or one smell, can drop you directly into a moment from years past with no effort required.

I think about this every time I walk into Stax Grill in Greenville, SC, memories of sitting at that lunch counter with my Grandaddy and Grandmomma, surrounded by the retired crowd at an early lunch, eating mac and cheese so creamy and tea so sweet you needed a water chaser. Stax also ran the tailgate spreads at Furman University, where my brother and I grew up weaving through tables of alumni in purple Paladin gear before every game.

Food. Football. Core memories. Every culture ties certain flavors to certain moments, and something beautiful happens when a community shares a stack of memories. For my kids, I imagine the food memories will include Oakwood chicken tenders, Cyra’s avocado fries, Vocelli’s pizza, and El Maguey chicken tacos (and cheese dip, of course).

In this, the Food and Beverage issue, we cover cocktail hopping in Dalton (something that didn't exist five years ago!), the story of Hamilton's Food and Spirits, Dia de Los Muertos celebrations, and a quick visit to McLemore Resort. For the first time, we're running a Football Feature, with stories from the players who built this town's game, past, present, and future.

One year in, and we're glad to be with you around this shared experience of community, right here.

- Erika Mosteller

PS — If you’re loving Here.Dalton, would you consider subscribing?

Guaranteed 6 issues mailed directly to you for only $39 annually. Subscribe and discover more to love about Greater Dalton at this QR code.

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C I N C PIIN THE S K R PA

Enjoy our picnic shelters at: Haig Mill Lake Park Waterfall Park Civitan Park Lakeshore Park Heritage Point Park Dalton Green James Brown Park

Haig

Mill Lak

Waterfa

ll Park

e Park

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF PARK LOCATIONS & AMENITIES, PLEASE VISIT:

WWW.DALTONPARKS.ORG

Editor

Contributing Writers

Graphic Designer

Erika Mosteller

Dalton Bite Club Jim Burdick Harlan Braudlume Bryan Evans Patton Hunt Erika Mosteller Lauren Sneary Carin Watts

Jodi Wrenn

Assistant Editor Lauren Sneary

Cover Photographer Drinks from the Gallant Goat, Courtesy of Liz Caperton

Contributing Photographers TriStar Visuals Amanda Lovelace Ashlea Snell Kevin Tanenbaum

Contributing Artist Audrey Batts Jones

Sales & Operations Dayana Jaclan Julie Locke Erika Mosteller Carin Watts

Here.Dalton Photo courtesy of The Creative Arts Guild

Photo courtesy of Tunnel Hill Heritage Center

Every Tues. & Sat. September- October, 8 AM – 1 PM Dalton Green

LIVE MUSIC

Every Fri. evening Dalton Brewing Company @daltonbrewing

FINDING NEMO JR.

September 11-13 & 18-20, times vary ACT Theatre artisticcivictheatre.com

DEO CLINIC 5K RUN/WALK September 12, 9 – 11 AM Haig Mill Lake Park deoclinic.org

GREATER DALTON CHAMBER NETWALKING September 14, 12 – 1 PM Check socials for location daltonchamber.org

NIGHT TUNNEL TOURS September 18-19, 6 – 10 PM Tunnel Hill Heritage Center civilwarrailroadtunnel.com

DALTON FALL HOME SHOW September 18-20, times vary Dalton Convention Center daltonhomeshow.com

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SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER

DOWNTOWN DALTON FARMER’S MARKET

CREATIVE ARTS GUILD ARTS FEST September 19, 10 AM – 5 PM, September 20, 11 AM – 5 PM Creative Arts Guild creativeartsguild.org

GREATER DALTON CHAMBER’S BUSINESS EXPO September 24, 10 AM – 2 PM Dalton Convention Center daltonchamber.org

UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN KICK OFF & TRIKE RACE September 24, check website for time Burr Park ourunitedway.org

GIRLS MAMMA MIA SING ALONG MOVIE NIGHT September 26 Patterson Farms Follow their Socials for Details!

ANNUAL FALL INTO AUTUMN MARKET September 26, 10 AM – 4 PM Mack Gaston Community Center

LAPS FOR LUIS

September 27, 9 AM – 12:30 PM Lakeshore Park lapsforluis.org

Events Photo courtesy of Dalton Brewing Co

October 1-3, 7:30 PM ACT Theatre artisticcivictheatre.com

OCTOBER

OCTOBER

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CABARET

Photo courtesy of The Creative Arts Guild

MOONLIGHT & MOONSHINE October 17, 6 – 9 PM Tunnel Hill Heritage Center visitdaltonga.com

LANCE’S LEGACY RACE

S’MORES + MOVIE NIGHT

October 3, check website for times Haig Mill Lake Park lancesotelo.org

October 17 Patterson Farms Check socials for details

NORTH GEORGIA FRIED PICKLE FESTIVAL

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

October 3-4, check website for times North Georgia Fair Grounds northgafair.com

FESTIVAL DEL SABOR: CLILA October 4 Burr Performing Arts Park

CHAMBER COFFEE & CONNECTIONS October 6, 8:30 – 9:30 AM Check socials for details daltonchamber.org

L’ABRI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: HOW SWEET THE SOUND October 6, 7 PM First Baptist Church Dalton @labrisymphony

CIVITAN FALL FESTIVAL October 10 Burr Performing Arts Park

October 23-25 & 30- November 1, ACT Theatre artisticcivictheatre.com

FULLY YOU: WOMEN’S SUMMIT October 27, 8 AM – 3 PM Dalton Convention Center daltonchamber.org

OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATIONS Dalton Brewing Company Check socials for details

BETTIN ON THE MULE

October 30, 6 – 8 PM North Georgia Fair Grounds northgafair.com

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION October 30, 6 – 10 PM Creative Arts Guild creativeartsguild.org

PRATER’S MILL COUNTRY FAIR October 10-11, 9 AM Prater’s Mill pratersmill.org

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Seen & Heard Local News

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Now open! A brand new Zen Garden on the south side of the Wells Fargo building at 201 S. Hamilton Street, featuring a bamboo wall, a water feature, and a moon gate.

Congratulations to Doug Jensen, the Family Support Council's 2026 "Toast of the Town" recipient for his mentorship and service to our community!

More than 500 people celebrated at the Whitfield County Courthouse lawn as we opened our Bicentennial Time Capsule after being buried for fifty years.

Our celebration even made it to People Magazine!

We are honoring and remembering Coach Melvyn Ottinger (February 5, 1940 - July 6, 2026), a founding faculty member of the Dalton Junior College, who served 10 years as the Founder and Head Basketball Coach of Dalton State Basketball.

Have something to share? Email hello@herelocalmedia.com to share thoughts on living in Dalton, Georgia.

Near Here Events The Ultimate Fall Fest September 2, 10 AM – 4 PM The Colonnade, Ringgold catoosacolonnade.com Labor Day at the Post September 7, 9 AM – 9 PM Barnhardt Circle, Fort Oglethorpe letsgoforto.com

Photo courtesy of Calhoun Produce

Fall Farmer’s Market September 19, 8 AM – 12 PM Calhoun downtowncalhounfarmersmarket.com Murray Arts Council Summer Concert Series Neon Moon with opener Lou Neal September 19, 6 – 9 PM Chatsworth City Park murray-arts.com Love a Llama Day September 22, 12 – 6 PM The Colonnade, Ringgold

Photo courtesy of Unity 5K

Unity 5K September 22 Calhoun explorecalhoungordon.com Fort O Fright Fridays & Saturdays in October, 7 PM – 10 PM Stable 41, Fort Oglethorpe letsgoforto.com Rocktober Fest Calhoun October 10 downtowncalhounga.com/rocktober

Ringgold Pumpkinfest October 10, 12 – 8 PM The Colonnade, Ringgold Murray Arts Council Quilt Exhibit October 10-11 & 17-18, times vary Murray Arts Council, Chatsworth murray-arts.com Neil Simon’s Odd Couple October 16-18 Harris Arts Center, Calhoun harrisartscenter.com Black Bear Festival October 17-18 Chatsworth visitchatsworthga.com Chattanooga Oktoberfest October 17-18 First Horizon Pavillion, Chattanooga Fall Color Weekend Mid October Fort Mountain State Park, Chatsworth gastateparks.org Rabbit Valley Farmers Market Every Saturday through October, 9 AM – 1 PM rabbitvalleyfarmersmarket.com

9 Photo courtesy of Murray Arts Council

GIVING is a family affair.

For the Bethel family, giving started with their great grandmother’s trust over 4o years ago.

Each subsequent generation has chosen to support local causes they love, from Dalton High School Football to the Dalton Education Foundation to the churches they attend.

Family giving traditions continue legacies through conversations and convenient giving tools, like Donor Advised Funds.

An estimated $18 trillion is expected to transfer between generations across the country in the coming decades. The families who start giving conversations now, with an administrative partner who understands their community, are the ones whose generosity lasts for generations.

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Ready to talk about your family’s giving story?

Visit communityfoundationnwga.org.

Cocktailg Hoppinwn Dalton in Downto

by Carin Watts

Table 43 Hamilton's Still snacky? Keep walking to Hamilton's.

Split the Artichoke and Spinach Dip with a Blackberry Mule and let your taste buds do a little dance.

Head down Hamilton Street next. Stop at Table 43 for light bites, sausage balls or truffle fries, take your pick, and an Apple Manhattan to properly ring in fall.

It is Friday, and Dalton has officially hit what we call in Germany Feierabend*. Your friends have already planned the move: a cocktail crawl, different drinks, different vibes, one glorious evening. Part of the fun is the hop itself. Every venue brings its own conversation, its own little lesson, whether that's a new drink or a technique you watch the bartender pull off right in front of you.

Follow our map listed here for ideas about your own cocktail hop around downtown Dalton.

The Twist

Dalton Brewing Co.

Or keep the cocktail journey going at the Twist at the Carpentry Hotel for one of their seasonal drinks.

From here, choose your own adventure.

Head to Dalton Brewing Company for live music and an icecold Go Man Go.

The Gallant Goat

Garmony House Home before 7? End the night with an Espresso Martini at Garmony House. Good coffee, creamy liqueur. Dessert or digestif. You decide.

Start with a classic French 75 at the Gallant Goat. It tastes like the last good days of summer. Ready for something warmer?

Order a Negroni, or one of their variations.

You really can't go wrong.

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*An untranslatable German word for that light, giddy feeling of leaving work behind and stepping into the weekend.

So gather your friends, raise a glass, and toast to the end of the workweek. The best weekends start with good company.

Cocktails and Locations The Gallant Goat: French 75 or Negroni Table 43: Sausage Balls/Truffle Fries with Apple Manhattan Hamilton's: Artichoke + Spinach Dip with Blackberry Mule Dalton Brewing Company: Go Man Go The Twist: Seasonal Cocktail Garmony House: Espresso Martini

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the Year, an honor recognizing not only her excellence in the classroom but the relationships she built with students over three decades. Years later, Dalton State College honored her with its inaugural Legacy Award, which, fittingly, was presented by one of Sandra's former students, Dalton State Vice President David Elrod.

G

by Lauren Sneary

rowing up in Dalton, Sandra Whaley Derrick thought she’d pursue a career in fashion, not education. She was inspired by her mother, an accomplished seamstress who taught her to recognize quality craftsmanship and the pride that comes with lining up a plaid pattern just right, or placing the perfect buttonhole.

But after earning her degree, Sandra felt a calling to share those teachings in a different way. So she took them to the classrooms of Whitfield County.

For 30 years, Sandra taught home economics—now known as Family and Consumer Sciences—at North Whitfield Middle School and then New Hope Middle School, helping generations of students discover that they were capable of more than they believed.

"They would start by saying, 'I can't do that.' A few weeks later, they'd have the best project in the class. Watching them discover they could succeed—that was the joy of teaching."

Home Ec was never simply about recipes or sewing patterns in Sandra’s classroom. It was about preparing young people for life, helping them build confidence, perseverance and self-sufficiency.

In every class, she made sure her students understood the foundation of being part of a community, a family, a household: show up, work hard, be kind and believe in yourself.

"You can teach someone a computer program. You can teach a technical skill.

But having a good attitude, following through and being nice to people— that's what carries you through life."

During her career, Sandra was named Whitfield County Schools Teacher of

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Today, Sandra's former students are everywhere. They serve as school principals, entrepreneurs, physicians, public servants, artists, business leaders and even NASA professionals.

Here in Dalton, one former student now leads Westwood School. Another became a Dalton city council member.

Others own beloved local businesses like Native Kitchen and Getting Piggy With It. Still others now teach the next generation of children, extending the impact of Sandra's classroom in ways she could never have imagined. And that ripple effect may be her greatest legacy.

For Sandra, the connection between education and a thriving community couldn't be clearer. Strong schools produce confident students. Confident students become engaged adults. And those adults build stronger businesses, organizations and neighborhoods that benefit everyone.

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That’s why, even in retirement, she hasn’t stopped teaching.

You can find her volunteering with Dalton State College, teaching dining etiquette to business students preparing to enter the workforce. She serves on education-related advisory councils, mentors organizations, and continues sharing practical life skills wherever she can.

After decades of education and community involvement, one thing stands above everything else for Sandra when she thinks about what it means to do that work here, in Dalton.

"It's just all about the people," she says. "No matter what I've been involved in, I've found people who are willing to help, willing to learn, willing to mentor and to give back. It’s special."

And for decades, one classroom at a time, Sandra has done exactly that: teaching generations of students to believe in themselves, to finish what they start, and to carry those lessons forward, to wherever they go next.

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To meet our team and learn how we can help you, contact The Baigas, Rabinowitz, Upton Group at The_Baigas_Rabinowitz_Group@Truist.com or 706-217-3732.

Truist.com/wealth Left to Right: Jamie Necole Upton, CFP®; Amy M Jones, David Rabinowitz, Joseph F. Baigas IV. Jamie Necole Upton, David Rabinowitz, Joseph F. Baigas IV are registered representatives of Truist Investment Services, Inc. and Investment Advisor Representatives of Truist Advisory Services, Inc. Investment and insurance products: Are not FDIC or any other government agency insured • Are not bank guaranteed • May lose value

Truist Wealth is a marketing name used by Truist Financial Corporation (Truist). Services provided by the following affiliates of Truist: Banking products and services, including loans and deposit accounts, are provided by Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Trust and investment management services are provided by Truist Bank. Securities, brokerage accounts and /or annuities are offered by Truist Investment Services, Inc., which is a SEC registered broker-dealer, member FINRA, SIPC, and a licensed insurance agency. Investment advisory services are offered by Truist Advisory Services, Inc. and GFO Advisory Services, LLC, both SEC registered investment advisers.

Some insurance products offered by Truist Investment Services, Inc. Other insurance products are offered by third party insurance agencies unaffiliated with Truist Financial Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. © 2025 Truist Financial Corporation. TRUIST, the Truist logo and Truist purple are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All rights reserved.

Our friend Audrey made you something fun to do – a search & find in a classroom!

How many of the hidden items can you find below?

Original illustration by Audrey Batts Jones Answers on p. 34

Here. Kids is Proudly Sponsored By

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Early Detection + Human Kindness:

Breast Cancer Care Here.

By Erika Mosteller Across Greater Dalton, a mammography on the go unit is pulling up outside a church, a school, or a workplace. Community members will no longer have to drive to Atlanta, or take a half-day off work, for an annual breast screening and potentially life-saving chance to catch something early.

Above: Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, Hamilton's Peeples Cancer Institute, and members of the Peeples family celebrating.

Below left: Allyson Coker, Emily Ross, and Ava Knowles from the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation.

Below right: Mrs. Willena Peeples + Alan Peeples touring inside of the unit.

Photos Courtesy of Whitfield Healthcare Foundation & Amanda Lovelace

This new asset began serving our community in August, thanks to a generous gift from the Peeples Family Foundation, provided through the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, whose philanthropic support helps expand access to healthcare across our community.

The belief behind the unit stems from the vision and leadership of Dr. Adrian Miller, the breast imaging radiology specialist for Hamilton Medical Center’s Peeples Cancer Institute (PCI). Dr. Miller has spent her whole career promoting what science and her experience proves: screening saves lives, and the harder it is to get screened, the more lives slip through.

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The numbers back her up. When breast cancer is caught chose Dalton four and a half years ago, moved her family while still confined to the breast, the national five-year here, and has spent every year since partnering with the survival rate is over 99 percent. Once the cancer has PCI team to build a masterpiece of breast cancer care. spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body, that number drops to around 86 percent and 31 “We have developed this incredible breast health percent, respectively. Those percentages translate to program,” Dr. Miller explains. PCI at Hamilton Medical lives, forging a dire argument for better community Center offers breast MRI, MRI-guided biopsies, samescreening access through mammography on the go. day diagnostic results, and a dedicated breast imaging specialist reading every scan. Dr. Lisa Duhaime, PCI's "Annual breast cancer screening mammograms medical oncologist, puts it plainly: anything the Winship save lives. We know this with absolute certainty. " Cancer Institute at Emory Medical Center offers, short — Dr. Adrian Miller, Peeples Cancer Institute of an active clinical trial, patients can access right here.

Breast Imaging Radiology Specialist

“Patients are often surprised by how much advanced National breast cancer death rates have fallen 44 percent cancer care is available right here in Dalton," Dr. since 1989, and doctors credit a mix of earlier detection Duhaime said. "Our goal is to provide exceptional care and better treatment for most of that drop. Miller has close to home whenever possible, while working closely watched that play out patient by patient. She completed with trusted partners like Winship Cancer Institute of an extra year of fellowship at the Mayo Clinic just to Emory University if additional specialized services are specialize in breast imaging, training many radiologists needed. Our patients appreciate being able to receive never receive. She could practice anywhere, but she advanced cancer care close to home."

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After finding a spot in May 2022, Jana’s journey led her to Peeples Cancer Institute, where she knew she wanted to receive her treatment close to home, surrounded by a care team she trusted.

Jana credits her “Dream Team” of dedicated medical professionals for guiding her through one of the most challenging times in her life.

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Because Early Detection Made All the i

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Every donation will be matched by a generous donor.

Scan to Learn More About Our Campaign to Support Breast Health at Peeples Cancer Institute

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The state of the art technology is impressive, and so are the percentages behind the results. But ask either doctor what truly sets PCI apart, and the answer isn't a machine or a statistic. It's the people running it. “From the moment they walk through the doors [of PCI], people feel that someone actually cares. They're not just another number,” Dr. Duhaime declares. “And it is absolutely true. I've worked in several different facilities over my career, and there is something different about PCI. I like to say we feel God here… I truly believe that's the big difference.”

biopsy to a full care team within a week. The vision behind this speed is grounded in medical practitioners treating patients like they're all in it together. “We walk this road together, doctor and patient, and it’s an honor to walk with them,” Dr. Miller states.

The mammography on the go unit is that philosophy on wheels. It exists because Dr. Miller, the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation, and the PCI team decided that world-class breast screening and care shouldn't depend on how far someone can drive, how many hours they can take off work, or whether they even have a car that Dr. Miller sits in her car some mornings and cries before can make the trip. her shift starts, carrying the weight of the diagnoses she has to deliver that day. Dr. Duhaime holds deep Early detection and effective care only work if people conviction that her work is a calling, not a career, and have access, and people are more likely to get screening she says patients become friends she thinks about for and care when it's easy. That's the real power here: the years after their treatment ends. Both doctors talk latest screening and treatment technology combined about their patients the way you'd talk about neighbors, with a program built by humans who decided their neighbors deserved better odds, and then went and because that's what they are. built the odds themselves, right here in Dalton.

PCI has built a program around that same idea. New The Mammography on the go unit is currently visiting patients can meet medical oncology, radiation oncology, locations around Whitfield County. To schedule your a social worker, a case worker, and a dietician in a screening On the Go or at Peeples Cancer Institute, call single day, with every specialist reviewing every case so 706.281.8309, email MobileMammoScheduling@vhcs. nothing gets missed. The goal is to get a patient from org, or visit VitruvianHealth.com/PCI-MammoOnTheGo.

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Three Convenient Locations 1300 Cleo Way Dalton GA 30720

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For Appointments Call (706) 226-5533 or www.aosmclinic.com

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Greater Dalton is worth BELIEVING in, and worth INVESTING in.

Believe Greater Dalton works every day to make our community a stronger place for your business, home, and quality of life.

Explore Believe's 2026 Stakeholder Update to see how the work is 22 shapi reater alto ’s t re!

SCAN HERE!

Students to Watch The future looks bright here in Northwest Georgia. Across our region, students are earning national recognition, leading organizations, serving their communities and achieving academic milestones that would be impressive in any city, at any school. As these graduates prepare to head to colleges and universities across the country, we're celebrating a few whose accomplishments have already set them apart—and whose stories are just beginning.

Andrea Marsh

Edwin Salaices-Maldonado

2026 Dalton High School Honors graduate

2026 graduate of Southeast High School – Honors with Distinction

Robert W. Woodruff Scholar at Oxford College of Emory University (merit-based, full ride scholarship given to less than 5 applicants per year) Recipient of the International Baccalaureate Programme diploma Partnered with an Atlanta organization and the NAACP to run a voter registration drive before the 2026 election Led her family’s non-profit for two years and collected over 600 school supplies for local elementary schools Presented at the largest teachers’ conference in the nation, and the curriculum she helped promote is now in use in multiple schools across the country Attending Emory University with plans to major in Political Science

“I adore this community. I’m proud of what I have done to uplift people in Dalton, and I owe so much of who I am to this area.”

Gates Scholarship Scholar Questbridge Scholar President of the Interact Club, leading community service initiatives that supported families across Northwest Georgia through hygiene and toy drives Captain of Mock Trial, recipient of 15 Outstanding Attorney and team awards President of the Hispanic Organization Promoting Education (HOPE) at DSC; connected students with the national nonprofit Poder Latinx, helping launch voter registration ahead of the 2026 elections Attending Vanderbilt University with plans to major in Economics and Public Policy and then pursue law school

“I’m honored to be spotlighted, but my success is not mine alone. My family has sacrificed so much to support me, and my achievements belong to all of us.”

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Jackson Brown 2026 Christian Heritage Honors graduate and Salutatorian 2026 CHS, area and regional STAR student (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student Received a perfect score of 36 on the ACT President of Mu Alpha Theta and the Theatrical Performing Arts Society Attended 61st Georgia Governor's Honors Program majoring in mathematics 2026 Tivoli Jewel Awards Best Actor recipient for his role as Nathan Detroit in CHS’s production of Guys and Dolls Attending Princeton University with plans to major in mathematics and minor in theatre

“The people who make the greatest impact in this world are the ones who invest in others. The teachers and mentors who have shaped me most were the ones that took the time to encourage me, who saw more in me than I was able to see in the moment, who were always pushing me to make the most of myself. Simply believing in someone can change the trajectory of their entire life.”

Whitfield County Board of Commisioners

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Music Here.

L’Abri Symphony Orchestra: The Fine Art of a Committed Community

By Jim Burdick and Lauren Sneary

T

he L'Abri Symphony Orchestra, a celebrated institution of local talent and music, began with a shared belief that the arts have the power to shape lives.

In 1992, at Kinsey Drive Baptist Church in Dalton, Rev. Ron McKinney and two parishioners founded the L'Abri Academy of the Fine Arts, offering music and visual arts instruction to children in the church. Retired music educators Gene and Betty Lindauere taught strings and piano, while Rev. McKinney shared his passion for painting and sculpture.

That spirit of investing in young people wasn't new to McKinney. Just a few years earlier, he had helped establish what would become Christian Heritage School, reflecting a lifelong commitment to creating opportunities for children to learn, grow and discover their gifts.

What began as a small music learning program quickly found its rhythm. As woodwinds and brass joined the ensemble, L'Abri grew into a chamber orchestra, and by 2000 it had been invited to larger local venues, which allowed the organization to think beyond concerts and embrace a larger mission connecting performance, art and education.

Recognizing that local students had few opportunities to experience orchestral performance, L'Abri opened its doors to young musicians throughout the region, attracting students from across the state border, and by 2006 the

Two Sisters & Jane CARPET WHOLESALE OUTLET

BEFORE

once-small ensemble had blossomed into a full symphony orchestra.

Like many organizations with a long history, L'Abri's journey has included seasons of uncertainty.

In 2008, the orchestra suddenly found itself without a permanent home. For the next four years, rehearsals and performances took place wherever space could be found.

A generous patron donated a large enclosed trailer to transport timpani, percussion instruments and music stands from venue to venue. The orchestra became a familiar sight throughout the region, performing at Rock City during the Christmas season, Fort Oglethorpe's Fourth of July celebration, festivals at the Creative Arts Guild, Chattanooga's Creative Discovery Museum and churches across Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee.

Rather than diminishing the orchestra, those years reinforced its resilience.

In 2012, the organization divided amicably, with many Tennessee members choosing to continue traveling while the Georgia musicians envisioned something different: bringing L'Abri home to Dalton. After securing temporary rehearsal space at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, First Baptist Church of Dalton agreed to become L'Abri's sponsoring organization. Since 2013, the church has provided a permanent rehearsal space where the orchestra can leave instruments, chairs and music

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stands in place between rehearsals. Even more significantly, the church opened its sanctuary—one of the region's finest performance spaces—allowing audiences to experience symphonic music in an acoustically rich setting.

Returning to Dalton also marked a new chapter organizationally. L'Abri incorporated as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, established a Board of Directors and strengthened its community partnerships. Today, the orchestra remains entirely volunteer-driven, bringing together professional musicians, music educators and talented amateur performers who generously share their time and talents.

That same commitment to serving the community also reshaped the concert experience.

As Dalton weathered the effects of the Great Recession, L'Abri's Board made a decision that continues to define the organization today: admission would become free. Rather than asking people to purchase a ticket, the orchestra would simply invite those who were able to make a contribution after the performance. The goal was simple: to ensure that cost would never prevent someone from experiencing a live symphony orchestra, perhaps for the very first time.

L'Abri's greatest challenge, however, arrived in 2020. After growing to 67 members and preparing its most ambitious performance yet—a concert centered around Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue featuring a guest pianist—the pandemic brought everything to a halt. The performance was

canceled, and the orchestra remained silent until the fall of 2022.

When rehearsals resumed, only 25 musicians returned.

But, just as it has throughout its history, L'Abri rebuilt.

Today, the orchestra has grown once again to more than 50 members while continuing to recruit students from schools throughout Northwest Georgia, most recently welcoming musicians from Dalton State College. Its concert season follows the academic calendar, with performances each fall, at Christmas and each spring, continuing a tradition that has inspired audiences and musicians alike for more than three decades.

As L'Abri celebrates its 34th anniversary in 2026, its story is about far more than concerts. It is a testament to what can happen when a community and local businesses believe that music matters, when volunteers generously share their talents, and when generations come together to ensure that the next young musician has a place to learn, perform and belong.

L’Abri’s Fall Concert will be Tuesday, October 6, 7:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Dalton. It will be a concert of sacred music, titled How Sweet the Sound. Follow L’Abri Symphony Orchestra on Facebook to find more concert dates and ways to get involved.

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DALTONSTATE.EDU

The

Dead Are Never Really Gone

Long before Día de los Muertos looked anything like it does today, the Aztecs honored their dead for an entire month, presided over by Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. She watched over the bones of the departed and believed those bones could help create new life among the living.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is honored from November 1–2 and brings a wave of color, joy, and reverence. Originating thousands of years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, and Nahua peoples, the tradition has become one of the most meaningful in Mexican culture. For many Dalton families, it’s now a treasured part of fall, honoring family who’ve passed and bringing closer the ones who are still here.

Far from somber, Día de los Muertos is vibrant and life-affirming. In Mexican culture, death isn’t the end; it’s part of a greater cycle. Mourning gives way to memory; grief becomes gratitude. Families build ofrendas, which are altars adorned with marigolds, candles, sugar skulls, and favorite foods of lost loved ones.

In Dalton, the Creative Arts Guild has hosted an annual celebration for years, and it’s become a joyful tradition. The celebration includes beautiful costumes, dancing horses, and gathering with neighbors beneath fluttering papel picado. Calavera skulls are painted in bright detail. Children dress as La Catrina, the elegant skeleton symbolizing the beauty of life and death.

As Fall seasons shift, it reminds of life’s cycles, honoring lost loved ones with a simple message: You are remembered. You are still with us.

Photos Courtesy of Kevin Tanenbaum

Celebrate Local with the Creative Arts Guild: WHERE: The Spiegel Pavilion.

WHEN: Friday, October 30, 2026 from 6 to 10 PM. WHAT TO BRING: Bring a photo or a memento of someone you want to honor and add it to the collection. Want to build your own ofrenda instead?

Reach out to Sarah Murry at sarahm@ creativeartsguild.org before Friday, October 16.

DRESS UP: Enter the Catrina and Catrin costume contest. Winners announced at the end of the evening!

Free admission, open to everyone.

Come enjoy live music, food, drinks, performances, vendors, face painting, and kids crafts.

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Photo Courtesy of Kevin Tanenbaum

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36 SPONSORED CONTENT

The Best-Kept Secret in Gardening:

Fall Planting

Somewhere along the way, gardeners were sold a story.

Every spring, garden centers explode with color, everyone flocks outside, and we're told it's "planting season." We happily load up the car with flowers, shrubs, and trees, then spend the next few months watering like our lives depend on it.

But what if I told you the best planting season isn't spring at all?

I know. It sounds like garden blasphemy.

The truth is that fall may be the best-kept secret in gardening. While many people are packing away their gloves and calling it a season, experienced gardeners are quietly planting trees, shrubs, and perennials—and giving their landscapes a huge advantage.

Think about it from a plant's perspective.

Spring is hectic. Plants are expected to grow roots, push out leaves, produce flowers, and survive unpredictable weather all at once.

That's a pretty demanding job description.

Fall, on the other hand, is like checking into a relaxing spa retreat.

The soil is still warm from summer, cooler air reduces stress, and plants can devote their energy to what matters most— building strong root systems. By the time spring arrives, they're settled in and ready to take off. When summer heat returns, they're far better equipped to handle it than plants that were installed just a few months earlier.

Fall is also the perfect time to look at your landscape with fresh eyes. Maybe the front yard could use a small ornamental tree. Perhaps your foundation beds need evergreen shrubs for year-round structure, or you've always wanted a pollinator garden buzzing with butterflies and bees. A thoughtful landscape isn't just about adding plants—it's about placing the right plants in the right places so they can shine for years to come.

And don't forget your containers. Just because summer flowers are fading doesn't mean your porch has to wave the white flag. Swap them out for colorful pansies, ornamental grasses, or evergreen accents, and suddenly your containers become the happiest spot in the yard. Pansies are especially impressive. They bloom through much of fall and winter, often smiling right through frosty mornings before putting on an even bigger show in spring.

Of course, deciding what to plant is often easier than deciding where to plant it. That's where a good landscape design can make all the difference.

Whether you're refreshing a few foundation beds or creating seasonal containers that welcome guests to your front door, having a plan saves time, money, and a whole lot of "I wish I'd planted that somewhere else."

If you need a little inspiration, we're always happy to help. Designing landscapes and creating seasonal containers are some of our favorite ways to help people enjoy their outdoor spaces.

So don't put that shovel away just yet.

This fall, plant a tree, add a shrub, tuck in a few perennials, and finish it all off with cheerful pansies. Your landscape—and your future self—will be glad you did.

Sam Brown Registered Landscape Architect Owner of Fiddleheads Garden Center

A Holiday in the Clouds

T

by Erika Mosteller

here's a version of the holidays where you don't have to fly anywhere to feel like you left.

It's called Cloudland at McLemore Resort, and it sits forty-five minutes from Dalton on the edge of a cliff in Walker County, close enough for a weeknight escape and far enough to feel other worldly.

McLemore Resort is the whole picture: two golf courses, a residential community, and Cloudland at McLemore Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, perched near The Highlands Course with views that remind you of grandiose beauty. Cloudland is the hotel, and McLemore is everything around it.

Together they make a place worthy of any trip, but especially around the holidays. We left town on a Monday morning for a quick girls’ getaway, the stress melting away as soon as I hit the ridge line on the drive in.

McLemore greets visitors with excellent concierge services, roaring fires, and beautiful trees strung with lights both inside and out. This issue is about food and drink, so let's start there. Alejandro at Croft gave on-point drink recommendations for our crowd, and we discovered he's a fellow Daltonian who will talk Dalton with you if you mention it. Our favorites were the Espresso Martini and Old Fashioned.

On-site shuttles will drive you to dinner at The Creag, but wear your coat in case of light snow during winter.

At The Creag, the food was delicious: the pork belly burnt ends and hush puppies were our favorites, and dessert closed the night right with a skillet chocolate chip cookie with flaky salt, still warm. The wine list was extensive with something for every palate. A second option for dinner is the Auld Alliance, a twist of Scottish heritage and French-country flavors.

The entire vista earns its reputation. The valley has its own personality, moody at one glance and then sunlit the next. If you’re outdoorsy-ish, you can watch the clouds roll into the valley from the fire pit, hike the 1.5-mile trail to Inspiration Point, bundle up, and even bring the dog. McLemore welcomes them too. Lawn games, fireside chairs, and a library stocked with books and games invite leisure and a slower version of recreation for kids, adults, and business travellers alike. Book the massage for two at the spa (the Selah Flow is a guest favorite) if you need convincing to slow down. The attentive staff make it easy to do nothing at all, which is sort of the point. They'll even bring you water by the library fire without being asked.

Holidays at McLemore invite you to enjoy tall trees and lights, fine and casual dining, and sweeping views, all while focusing on being with the people you love.

Learn more at staycloudland.com.

Plan Your Holidays Ahead:

The Tree Lighting Ceremony, Brunch with Santa, and Wreath Making Workshops return this November and December.

Business travelers and wedding parties take note too.

Cloudland has 20,000 square feet of indoor event space plus outdoor venues built for both.

Details at staycloudland.com/ meetings and staycloudland. com/weddings.

39

Eat This

Story

By Dalton Bite Club

Hamilton’s has become the setting for proposals, anniversaries, birthdays and the kind of everyday dinners that quietly turn into family traditions.

T

he year was 2011, and downtown Dalton had seen better days. Storefronts sat empty, sidewalks grew quiet after five o'clock, and there were only a handful of places where neighbors could gather for a good meal or a drink. And our dearly departed gem, The Depot, among them. On most weekends, if you wanted a memorable night out, you drove your car north toward Chattanooga. Hamilton Street wasn't yet the bustling stretch of locally owned restaurants we know today.

But while many saw a sleepy downtown with little promise, Maureen Rogers saw an opportunity for a restaurant known today as Hamilton’s Food & Spirits/Pizzeria. “This kind of fell onto our laps,” says Rogers, “so when the space became available, we needed to take a chance.” This is where Rogers and her family

40

decided to take a leap of faith. What was once a neighborhood grocery store in the 1920’s, has become the setting for proposals, anniversaries, birthdays and the kind of everyday dinners that quietly turn into family traditions.

Hamilton's has been built through consistency and a whole lot of heart, with Rogers in the center of it all. More often than not, she's delivering waters to a busy table, greeting guests by name or catching up with families she's watched grow over the years. “I have watched it all,” says Rogers, “birthdays, anniversaries, proposals. One couple still returns every year to Booth 3, where he proposed years ago.”

But ask Rogers what she's most proud of, and she'll tell you all about the people. Alongside her daughter, Michelle, and a team that includes

Menu Highlights & Pairings Flavor-forward pairings, chosen to complement every bite.

GIRL DINNER: Lemon Drop Martini + California Salad DREAMING OF EUROPE: White Wine Sangria + Lemon Caper Salmon + Glazed Carrots SOPHISTICATED EVENING: Freakshow Petit Petit + Ahi Tuna GAME DAY: Michelin Ultra on Draft + Buffalo Chicken Pizza + Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza on Gluten Free Cauliflower Dough

employees who have been with Hamilton's for more than a decade, they have built something increasingly rare: a restaurant where hospitality feels deeply personal.

That same care doesn't stop at the dining room. It follows every plate that leaves the kitchen. Pizza dough is made fresh each morning. Mozzarella and provolone grated and blended in-house before topping their signature brick-oven pizzas. Lasagna, Alfredo sauce, pizza sauce, salad dressings and even the restaurant's ranch are made from scratch.

She still tastes new recipes before they're served, and if they don't meet her standards, they go back to the kitchen. In fact, during our interview, a cup of freshly made mashed potatoes interrupted our conversation for Rogers’ final approval before making its way onto guests' plates.

This November, Hamilton’s will celebrate 15 years of providing fine dining to our community.

And today, while downtown Dalton is alive with restaurants, conversations, and the kind of energy that once felt out of reach, Hamilton’s stands proudly as a pioneer that inspired hope to those who followed.

About the author: Dalton Bite Club spotlights Dalton’s dining scene through thoughtful storytelling and a commitment to supporting locally owned restaurants.

Follow on Instagram @daltonbiteclub.

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Dining Guide

Hamilton's Food & Spirits/Pizzeria

Spotlights

W

hether you live here, work here, or are just passing through, if you’ve spent any time in Dalton lately, you know we have one of the best local food scenes around! From bake shops and little coffee spots to pizza and local brews to fine dining and craft cocktail bars, Dalton has it all! Not to mention the best, most authentic Mexican and Latin American food you’ll find in North Georgia.

ITALIAN

Gondolier

1229 N Glenwood Ave & 900 S Thornton Ave Delicious pizza, salads, oven baked subs, pita wraps, Greek specialties, calzones, strombolies, Italian entrees, and white or red pizza. A fresh Italian dining experience.

Find the full list of 130+ locally-owned and/or locally-managed food and beverage spots on our website: herelocalmedia.com.

Here are our advertising restaurant partners, showcasing the best local flavors in town. So go ahead, put them to the (taste) test!

Table 43

BAKERY & SWEETS

Small Batch Bakery

FB: @SmallBatchBakery | IG: @smallbatch02 | (706) 264-8750 Run by sisters Deb and Lisa, they have weekly pre-orders for delicious sourdough loaves in multiple flavors, plus brown butter sourdough chocolate chip cookies and other weekly specials! Place orders by noon Wednesday each week for Friday local pickup!

Real Food Co.

FINE DINING

Table 43

263 N Hamilton St | @table43dalton | (706) 529-2243 Proudly local, Table43 serves elevated lunch and dinner made from quality ingredients—always with a warm welcome.

CATERING / GRAB & GO

Hamilton’s Food & Spirits/Pizzeria

1327 Dug Gap Rd #1 | (706) 229-9677 | @real.food.co

243 N Hamilton St | hamiltonsdining.com | (706) 270-0467 Upscale dining and casual brick-oven pizzeria, offering a diverse menu of custom-made entrées, hand-tossed pizzas, craft cocktails, and a great selection of beer and wine. Live music on weekends, outdoor patio seating, and a unique blend of fine dining on one side and casual Italian next door.

Catering available and brunch on Saturday from 11-3.

Real Food Co.

Real Food Co. was created to bring the Dalton community clean, intentional food and drinks made with ingredients you can feel good about. Through The Market and The Coffee Shop, we’re redefining what “healthy food” can look and taste like with nourishing meals, baked goods, organic coffee and matcha, and house-made specialties crafted with a commitment to wellness, quality, and flavor.

El Maguey MEXICAN, LATIN AMERICAN & SEAFOOD

El Maguey Mexican Cuisine

209 W. Cuyler Street | 706-229-9377 | @elmaguey.mex.cuisine

Mariscos Costa Alegre

Where everything is fresh and cooked to order. Family owned, with authentic recipes from home! Catering and event space available! $1.99 margaritas every Thursday.

Mariscos Costa Alegre

603 Fleming St | (706) 229-9269 | @mariscoscostaalegredalton

The taste of the sea is closer than you think! We have the best fresh seafood and cravings that will make your mouth water — plus breakfast and brunch specials like no one else!

Mariscos El Cuhhhmarón Mariscos El Cuhhmarón

229 N Hamilton St | (706) 529-9274 | @mariscoselcuhhhmaron

Mexican seafood & more, Sonoran style! But we’ll let our reviews speak for us: “The food is excellent. The staff is outstanding, the owner is great and [it’s] a great atmosphere!”

BARS & TAVERNS

The Gallant Goat The Gallant Goat

307 S Hamilton St | (706) 529-8597 | @thegallantgoat The Gallant Goat is Dalton’s elevated craft cocktail experience, with signature craft cocktails and endless options for a custom experience. Upscale ambiance, indoor and outdoor seating options and intimate vibes.

The Waggle & The Spinning Room

Inside the Mill - 825 Chattanooga Ave @the.waggle | thewaggledalton.com @spinningroomdalton | spinningroomdalton.com The Spinning Room x The Waggle

Come release some tension (or just stay out of the heat!) at The Waggle, Dalton’s state-of-the-art golf simulator bar and sports lounge. Then, grab some chef inspired flavors from The Spinning Room — small bites, wine pairing plates, soup, salad, sandwiches and crepes.

CASUAL DINING

DFood Collab D Food Collab

301 E Morris St | dfoodcollab.com | (706)529-8359 A vibrant gathering spot known for burgers, shareable appetizers, and a curated selection of beer and wine. Live music every Friday night and trivia each Tuesday!

Want to be one of our featured dining guide partners and appear in print in every issue of Here.Dalton? Email hello@herelocalmedia.com or visit our website: herelocalmedia.com/advertise

Here.

People

The people, businesses and events across our community are what make this place feel like home.

These are just a few recent snapshots that capture the connections you can find here, at home, in Dalton.

Below: Children sing at Pops in the Park annual Independence Day celebration at Burr Park

Above: Ribbon Cutting at the new Pickleball Complex at James Brown Park.

Left: Westwood Elementary students play on the school's new playground.

Above: Onlookers watch a World Cup match in Burr Park's World Futbol Celebration

44

Right: Attendees enjoy dacing at the annual Juneteenth Gala.

There & Then

Before Self-Checkout, Dalton Had the Green Spot

By Harlan Braudlume

I

f you grew up anywhere near Dalton, chances are you remember the Green Spot not as a grocery store, but as a landmark.

It anchored directions, and was a stopover for teenagers after ballgames. Mill workers grabbed dinner there on the way home.

For a whole lot of families, a trip to Green Spot was as much about conversation as groceries.

The store’s story started around 1954, when brothers Marvin and Herman Green opened a small produce stand at the corner of Morris and Pentz Streets. Over time, that little neighborhood market grew into Green Spot Superette, one of the most beloved locally owned grocery stores Dalton ever had. By the time it closed in 2014 after roughly sixty years in business, people talked about it the way Southerners talk about their first car: with a little sadness and a whole lot of affection.

What made Green Spot special was that it belonged completely to its community. Dalton was exploding during those decades, transforming from a railroad and mill town into the Carpet Capital of the World as the tufted carpet industry reshaped Whitfield County after World War II. But while the city grew bigger and busier, Green Spot somehow

stayed personal. Folks still called employees by name. Clerks helped elderly customers carry groceries to the car long before corporate stores started pretending that was a customer service innovation.

And like all true Southern grocery stores, Green Spot had its own culture. There were regulars who showed up daily just to “pick up a few things” and accidentally spent thirty minutes talking about Dalton High football, layoffs at the mills, or who had been caught acting foolish on Hamilton Street the weekend before. In many ways, stores like Green Spot served as Dalton’s unofficial social media feed decades before the internet arrived.

The store also reflected the changing face of Dalton itself, remaining one of those rare places where old Dalton and new Dalton crossed paths in the same checkout line. That is probably why people still speak about Green Spot with such warmth. It was never just about groceries, but rather it was about familiarity. Today, we call these types of environments “Third Spaces,” places to exist and feel at home. You can replace a local family grocery store with a grocery supermarket. What you cannot easily replace is sixty years of conversations.

45

Friday Night Lights Here.

First Annual Northwest Georgia Football Feature

Courtesy of 46 Photo TriStar Visuals Photography

The 2026 Season Starts Here.

by Bryan Evans

T

he end of summer signals the arrival of autumn in Northwest Georgia, bringing cooler temperatures, falling leaves, and, most importantly, the crack of shoulder pads and the roar of the crowd as high school football makes its triumphant return. The 2026 high school football season promises plenty of excitement across the area, but it also introduces changes that both first-time fans and longtime diehards will notice.

The Georgia High School Association (GHSA), the governing body for high school sports in the state, begins a new twoyear cycle this season with updated classifications and a new playoff seeding model. (It is okay to take notes while reading this article.) The GHSA eliminated one classification, leaving seven classifications that include 413 schools playing football statewide. No local schools compete in either the largest two classifications or the smallest classification. While these classification adjustments follow the GHSA's normal two-year cycle to maintain competitive balance, the playoff changes are far more significant.

Longtime fans remember when each region automatically sent four teams to the state playoffs. That is no longer the case.

Each classification still consists of eight regions, but playoff qualification will now rely on statewide power rankings.

Fans can visit the GHSA website for a detailed explanation of how those rankings are calculated. As a result, winning games and playing a challenging schedule will carry even greater importance.

Locally, the Dalton Catamounts under head coach Chris Prewitt, compete in the state's highest classification, Region 7-AAAAAA. Most of their region opponents come from farther south, with Cartersville, Cass, and Woodland all located in Bartow County. Cedartown, Villa Rica, and Allatoona round out the region. Dalton will also renew its annual rivalry with the Northwest Whitfield Bruins on August 28. The Catamounts return many playmakers from an explosive offense. Quarterback Caine Woods enters his junior season looking to improve his 2600 yards passing and 28 touchdowns. He also is the leading returning rusher, with 685 yards on the ground last season. Dalton is also loaded at receiver with pass catchers Isaac Summey, Kamdon London, Havyn Searles, and Ayden Ashlock all returning. They will

Photos Courtesy of TriStar Visuals Photography

47

Photo Courtesy of TriStar Visuals Photography

be joined by senior Bronx Stallion who led Christian Heritage with 50 receptions last year. The biggest question is whether the defense, under new defensive coordinator Greg Blue, can take a major step forward. If it does, Chris Prewitt's team could make a strong push for the state playoffs.

Region 7-AAAA features local programs Northwest Whitfield, Southeast Whitfield, Ridgeland, Heritage (Catoosa), Adairsville, and Calhoun. The region appears deep and highly competitive, with Northwest looking to build on last season's 7-4 record. Josh Robinson's Bruins must replace significant offensive production if they hope to keep pace with the region's top contenders.

Northwest will see receiver Kade Mitchell, who hauled in 42 receptions for 907 yards and 16 touchdowns, return for his senior campaign. Southeast Whitfield will play a full region schedule this season as the Raiders try to improve on last year's two-win campaign. Heritage also begins a new era under first-year head coach Jeremy New. Region 7-AAA stretches across much of Northwest Georgia and includes Coahulla Creek, North Murray, Murray County, LaFayette, Ringgold, Sonoraville, Rockmart, and Union County.

Rockmart figures to be one of the toughest opponents for the local schools in this new-look classification. Preston Poag's North Murray Mountaineers hope to build on last season's 10-2 record, which included a trip to the Round of 16 in the state playoffs. Coahulla Creek wants to make The Corral one of the area's toughest places to play as the Colts look to improve on last season's 3-7 finish. Quarterback Waelyn Baliles returns for the Colts as well as rushing leader Tyler Douglas and Baliles’ favorite receiver Wyatt Mann. Murray County finished 2-8 overall and went winless in region play in 2025. The Indians will look to build momentum early before facing a demanding region schedule.

Region 7-AA will be home to Dalton's Christian Heritage, along with perennial powers Gordon Lee and Fannin County. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe joins the region, as do Gordon Central, Dade County, and Chattooga. The region should provide plenty of competition, and Frank Barden's Lions must replace significant production on both sides of the ball. The Lions will see quarterback Charlie Baxter return to lead offense, one of the best freshman quarterbacks at any level of Georgia High School football. On the defensive side of the ball seniors Cooper Middleton, a tackling machine at linebacker, and defensive end John Stanley will act as anchors.

Whether you're new to Northwest Georgia or remember watching Billy Chappell patrol the sidelines at Harmon Field, this fall promises another memorable high school football season on the field.

Photo Courtesy of Mike Knapp

Established in 1959 as an auction house, Dalton Auction Co. sold anything & everything necessary for your home.

Photo Courtesy of Mike Knapp

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Serving our community for over 65 years now, we happily continue to serve it today!

“As fourth generation furniture salesmen, my brother Charlie and I are dedicated to providing quality furniture at a competitive price.”

-Hank Carmical

The

Legacy & Future of

Whitfield & Murray

Football

By Patton Hunt

Whitfield and Murray County were never supposed to be a football hotbed. Between them the two counties hold barely 150,000 people, spread across carpet mills, mountain roads, and small towns that empty out on Friday nights so everybody can get to the stadium. There is no recruiting hub here, no five-star pipeline. And yet for more than fifty years, this corner of northwest Georgia has kept sending players out into college and professional football, one generation handing the torch to the next without anybody planning it that way. Here is a look at where that tradition started, where it stands today, and where it is headed next.

The Legacy

The story starts with a barefoot kicker. Ricky Townsend came to Knoxville out of Dalton High as a converted quarterback and linebacker, and it was Tennessee coach Bill Battle who first noticed something: Townsend kicked better without a shoe on. That became his trademark, and it worked well enough to make him a two-time All-American in 1972 and 1973, A decade later, Dalton was still finding ways to get players to the SEC and beyond.

Jim Arnold played every position imaginable at Dalton High before longtime coach Bill Chappell made a decision that changed his life: all Arnold would do from then on was punt. Arnold hated the idea at the time, but luckily he came around as the skill sent him to Vanderbilt, where he became the program's first All-American kicking specialist, then into the NFL, where he punted for twelve seasons with the Chiefs, Lions, and Dolphins. He earned two Pro Bowl trips and a place on the Detroit Lions'

Ricky Townsend, Courtesy of utsports.com

75th Anniversary Team. When Arnold was drafted in 1983, he became the first Dalton player to hear his name called on draft day.

Not long after, Bill Mayo came up under Coach Chappell too. He grew into a four-year starter for the Volunteers, a guard so dependable he started 46 of his 47 games and finished his career known simply as Mr. Consistency. Playing through injuries his senior year, he still helped clear the way for running back Johnny Jones to run for 1,290 yards, and he earned consensus All-American honors in 1984 to go with two-time All-SEC recognition.

Bill Mitchell was making his own name at the same time. He was a four-year letterman and AllState linebacker at Dalton High before carrying that reputation to the University of Georgia, where he played four years under Vince Dooley. His senior season in 1985 he racked up 145 tackles, a total that still ranks among the program's all-time top ten.

It took forty years for another Whitfield County player to hear his name at the NFL Draft. When it finally

Bill Mayo, Courtesy of utsports.com

happened, in 2023, it was Jahmyr Gibbs, the best high school running back the area had ever produced at Dalton High, finishing with 4,882 rushing yards and 70 touchdowns. He starred at Georgia Tech, transferred to Alabama, and went 12th overall to the Detroit Lions, the highest a Lions running back had been drafted since Barry Sanders. He has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, and in 2024 he set a Lions franchise record with 20 total touchdowns while leading the league.

Jim Arnold, Courtesy of Mitchell Layton

Jahmyr Gibbs, Courtesy of AP Photo/ Terrance Williams

Gibbs did not stay the only local name in the league for long. The very next year, Ladd McConkey went in the second round to the Los Angeles Chargers, becoming the first NFL draft pick in the history of Murray County. McConkey grew up in Chatsworth, the son of Benji McConkey, a star quarterback at Dalton High, and made his own name playing quarterback, receiver, defensive back, and punter for North Murray. He won two national championships at the University of Georgia, added the Wuerffel Trophy in 2023, and set an NFL rookie record with 197 receiving yards in a single playoff game as a Charger.

Other notable Northwest Georgians who went pro include Kyric McGowan, a Dalton High graduate who played alongside Gibbs at Georgia Tech, who now plays for the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL. A few miles away at Northwest Whitfield, Isaiah Mack earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors at Chattanooga, now playing for the UFL’s Orlando Storm.

The Future

The next wave is already on campus, and not always through the expected route. Warner Ross left Dalton High for Alabama, where tenacity in the weight room gained attention and access to walk onto the football team this spring. Duncan Carpenter graduated from Christian Heritage School and headed to Athens.

He arrived off a senior year that brought Region Defensive Player of the Year honors and All-State recognition. One class behind these gentlemen, Christian Heritage's John Stanley is heading into his senior year with a full ride to North Carolina upon graduation.

The cycles of football are connected, players on the sidelines hoping to catch the eye of their coach; coaches working the same sidelines his own coach once worked. Everyone on this list held big dreams and intense work ethics. There are dozens more names from Northwest Georgia across college football history, more than any single article could hold. Whitfield and Murray County will keep sending players out into the world of football, and more likely than not, the next name on this list is out there right now, putting in the reps and working to keep the dream alive.

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Ladd McConkey, Courtesy of Getty Images/ Ian Maule

Dean Haynes: Learning from the Game

By Patton Hunt

Dean Haynes has spent most of his life being asked to pivot. Growing up in Tunnel Hill, he pictured himself at quarterback and running back, the kid with natural speed and a feel for the ball in his hands. Then his sophomore year at Northwest Whitfield, a varsity cornerback went down, and head coach Mike Fuller asked if he would step up and play corner instead. Haynes was hesitant. He wanted to stay on offense. But Fuller told him his frame and skill set fit the position, that it might be something he could play at the next level, and Haynes trusted him. It changed the direction of his career.

Attracting recruiters out of Northwest Georgia was not easy. Programs loved his film and his physicality, but they weren't always sure they could trust tape from outside the Atlanta and South Georgia pipelines. So the summer before his senior year, Fuller loaded up Haynes and a teammate and drove them to football camps himself, covering the hotel and meals so college coaches could watch him compete in person. Haynes came home with an offer from NC State. Once the Wolfpack showed interest, he never looked anywhere else.

That willingness to adapt followed him to Raleigh. He redshirted his freshman year, was sidelined with injuries his sophomore year, and then was asked to return to his first love: running back. Haynes had two weeks to learn an offense he knew little about. Offensive coordinator Dana Bible pulled him aside after a rough couple of practices and told him to make flashcards, the play drawn on one side and the name on the other, and study them every night. It worked.

Haynes started eight games at running back that season, splitting carries with Mustafa Greene, and finished as the team's third-leading rusher with 320 yards, including a 75-yard, 18-carry effort against Georgia Tech.

A concussion cost him playing time late in the year, and by the following spring the injured running backs he had originally replaced were healthy again. The coaching staff moved Haynes back to safety, and with a proven starter ahead of him and only one season left to play defense, he transferred to UTC for more playing time and an NFL opportunity.

Instead, he faced mounting injuries. He broke a bone in his foot early in his first season and played through it, then tore the soft tissue holding the tendons in place around his ankle during his final fall camp. He tried to play through, but his ankle completely gave out during practice just days before the rivalry game against Georgia Southern.

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Lying on that field, Haynes said he realized how much of his identity had been wrapped up in what he could do athletically. It forced a harder question: was he chasing the NFL because it was truly what he wanted, or because it was what everyone had always told him he was good enough to do. He decided the honest answer was no. After graduating in the winter of 2013, he came home planning to pursue chiropractic school and took a part time job at Champions of Dalton to make some money in the meantime.

Haynes started shadowing training sessions and fell in love almost immediately. Watching an athlete shave time off a sprint or add inches to a vertical jump rivaled the satisfaction his own playing days ever had.

He got certified through the Parisi Speed School and built a career his own mother questioned at first. Haynes told her the opportunity in front of him would grow if he stayed diligent with it and trusted God. He was right.

When Champions closed, Austin Culp brought Haynes over to Culprit Athletics to run the performance side of the gym, working alongside gymnastics and cheer athletes for the first time. The transition broadened how he thought about training. Ball sport athletes and gymnasts move differently in the details, he said, but the foundational patterns of force production and efficient movement carry across every sport. Today, Haynes serves as Culprit's Speed School Program Director, training athletes from a wide range of sports rather than football alone.

Twelve years into coaching, Haynes has plenty of stories about progress, from a third-string tight end who developed into a starting quarterback, to longtime athletes he has trained since middle school who stuck with the program through high school and college and are now more like family than former clients. He wants his athletes to grow in confidence and understand their worth outside of their sport, a lesson his own injuries taught him the hard way.

Haynes’ message to a kid in Dalton with big dreams is straightforward: set goals bigger than you think you can reach, but understand that the work of chasing them matters more than whether you hit the mark exactly. He has watched local athletes go on to compete at high levels in their sports, and he wants more of them to believe that is possible from right here in Northwest Georgia. You just have to be willing to pivot without losing the dream.

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There & Then

The Catamounts Who Wouldn’t Budge

By Harlan Braudlume

I

f you ever want to understand Dalton, a good place to begin is 1937. Only a few years earlier, the Great Depression had forced Dalton High’s football program to suspend play, leaving Friday nights unusually quiet. When the Catamounts returned to the field, nobody expected they were laying the foundation for one of the proudest traditions in school history.

The excitement spread well beyond the sidelines. More than a thousand spectators regularly crowded around Harmon Field, an enormous gathering for a town Dalton’s size in the late 1930s. One Friday night against Summerville when enthusiasm got the better of the crowd, fans poured onto the field in celebration, drawing a penalty against Dalton before the next snap had even been played.

As if the interruption never happened, Summerville promptly fumbled the football, and the Catamounts quickly turned the mistake into points. It’s the kind of story that says as much about Dalton as it does about football.

Around here, the line between the team and the town has always been a little blurry.

Before the carpet mills made Dalton famous, a group of boys in leather helmets gave the town something else to rally around.

In his first season as head coach, Homer Sutton led the Catamounts to a 7-0-1 record, the school’s first undefeated campaign and its second district championship.

More importantly, the season established a standard that Dalton One player embodied that football would spend generations defensive identity better trying to match. than anyone. Alfred “Snake” Anderson anchored the line with What made that team unforgettable a relentless style that earned was not how often it scored, but respect throughout Northwest how rarely anyone scored against Georgia. During a scoreless it. Week after week, opposing showdown with powerhouse offenses found themselves running Cedartown, he repeatedly into the same stubborn wall. disrupted drives near the goal line Dalton surrendered fewer than and made one memorable tackle three points per game, recorded that threw a ball carrier backward six shutouts in eight contests, and for a substantial loss. Years later, held every opponent scoreless Anderson returned to the same until Tyner finally broke through program as Dalton’s head coach, midway through the season. Even leading the Catamounts from then, the outcome was never 1947 through 1963 and helping seriously in doubt. pass the values of that remarkable

team to another generation of players and coaches, one being Anderson’s assistant coach at the time, Bill Chappell.

Graduation meant Sutton had to replace much of his roster the following season, but the culture established in 1937 endured.

Dalton closed out the decade with a combined record of 26-71, proving the undefeated season had been more than a one-year surprise. It had become the blueprint.

In a community that has always taken pride in its traditions, the legacy of the 1937 Catamounts reaches beyond wins and losses.

Long before Dalton became known around the world as the Carpet Capital, it first became known at home for a football team that refused to give ground.

Sometimes a town discovers who it is in a factory. Sometimes it discovers who it is under the Friday night lights.

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