Rough Draft in print - August 2026

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

This column first appeared as an email to our newsletter subscribers. Text DRAFT to 66866 to subscribe for free.

KEITH PEPPER

Mid-June to mid-July were not my most productive days at work. It would be easy to blame a home sale, moving, and some bigger-than-expected renovations,

more people.” Which Atlanta community needs more consistent local coverage, and what stories are currently being missed? Let me know via email or by commenting on our IG post via this QR Code.

Local is hot

People who follow the media business often ask me what the difference is between Rough Draft and Axios, the national media company that is owned by Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises. I’m flattered by the question because it means that people are thinking of us in the same breath as one of the biggest players

The answer centers on the analogy of your favorite local coffee shop and Starbucks. The Seattle-based coffee behemoth created a world where consumers don’t bat an eye at an $8 oat milk latte, allowing independent coffee

Similarly, Axios, via its 2020 acquisition of the trailblazing Charlotte Agenda, set the market for personalitydriven, daily, local newsletters, and the growth of companies like 6AM City has validated it. Newsletter advertising is now one of the fastest-growing segments in digital media, growing 30% annually. Beehiiv, a platform popular with independent media startups, reported nearly 140% growth in paid

So, it’s understandable why industry pundits took note of the recent news that The New York Times is launching a local newsletter in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

I think The Times, arguably the most successful media business in the world, moving into the local space is actually a reason to celebrate. It’s a very loud signal that there’s a demand for reliable, non-sensational local news, and it supports our focus on newsletters as a key distribution channel.

Sure, competition can be annoying, but it should be something that makes us all better. The Times’ move will put a brighter spotlight on local newsletters. I have no insight into whether it will come to Atlanta or not, but with everything happening in our state, I would not be

Still, we diversify

All of these reasons are why we are increasing our efforts to grow our direct relationships with our audience through newsletters, the Rough Draft Dinner Club, and a membership program we are continuing to build.

Whether it’s Rough Draft or another independent, local media company, please do what you can to support local. Thank you again for reading. Please let me know what you think by emailing me directly at keith@roughdraft.news.

Celebrating the Energy of the TOUR Championship

Every year, the TOUR Championship brings the world’s best golfers to Atlanta’s historic East Lake Golf Club for the thrilling conclusion of the PGA TOUR season. While the competition captures national attention, the tournament’s most enduring impact is felt far beyond the fairways. For Southern Company, a Proud Partner of the TOUR Championship and Official Energy Company of the PGA TOUR, the event represents far more than a sporting spectacle - it is a powerful platform for strengthening communities, aiding classrooms and creating opportunities that last generations. A partnership with a purpose

As one of Atlanta’s most recognizable corporate citizens, Southern Company has built its reputation on the belief that success should be measured not only by business performance, but also by the positive difference made in the communities it serves. That philosophy is on full display through its decades-long involvement with the TOUR Championship and the many charitable initiatives connected to the tournament.

Here in Atlanta, the TOUR Championship has raised more than $71 million for local nonprofit organizations since the event was first played at East Lake Golf Club in 1998. Southern Company, alongside fellow Proud Partners, has played a significant role in helping make those contributions possible. The beneficiaries of these efforts are organizations that are transforming lives across Metro Atlanta. From the East Lake Foundation and First Tee – Metro Atlanta to Purpose Built Schools Atlanta, Focused Community Strategies and the Grove Park Foundation, funds generated through the tournament support education, youth development, neighborhood revitalization and pathways to economic opportunity. These organizations share a common mission: creating stronger, more vibrant communities where individuals and families can thrive.

Payne Stewart Award presented by Southern Company

That commitment to community also extends to the Payne Stewart Award, which is presented annually during the week of the TOUR Championship to a professional golfer who best exemplifies 12-time PGA Tour winner Payne Stewart’s steadfast values of character, charity and sportsmanship.

This year’s recipient, Notah Begay III, is a four-time PGA TOUR winner and has remained deeply connected to the Native American community, using his platform to mentor Native American youth and expand access to golf within their communities. A National

Begay III, the only full-blooded Native American to compete on the PGA TOUR, shares a similar mission of helping others with his NB3 Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to addressing health and wellness challenges fac-

ing Native American youth and their communities. Through its programs, the NB3 Foundation has reached more than 80,000 Native American youth and their families across the United States, supporting initiatives focused on physical activity, nutrition, youth development and cultural connection.

The Payne Stewart Award includes a $500,000 charitable grant, with $300,000 directed to causes selected by the recipient and $200,000 to the Stewart Family Foundation. Begay III has chosen to direct his funds to his NB3 Foundation and the Albuquerque Community Foundation, which aids in promoting educational, healthcare, and economic opportunities in Albuquerque, New Mexico and its surrounding communities. Begay III’s commitment to improving the game of golf and the lives of those who play it seamlessly aligns with the mission and values of both the Stewart Family Foundation and Southern Company.

Driving good energy

Southern Company views community impact as a yearround commitment, not a once-a-year obligation. The TOUR Championship serves as a catalyst for collaboration among nonprofits, business leaders and community stakeholders working toward common goals. By leveraging the visibility and influence of professional golf, Southern Company helps generate resources that create meaningful change across Atlanta’s neighborhoods.

As the TOUR Championship continues to grow, so does its impact. Each charitable milestone reflects what can be achieved when corporate leadership, community organizations and civic partners work together toward a shared purpose. For Southern Company, the TOUR Championship is more than a world-class event - it is an opportunity to deliver on a promise. A promise to invest in the future, expand opportunity and ensure that the communities it serves are better because of its presence. That’s what it means to drive good energy on the course and off.

Native American Hall of Fame inductee, Begay III’s continued impact reflects a career defined not only by performance, but by purpose.

SPORTS High School Football Preview

Score Atlanta, founded in 2004 as a weekly sports paper, is now one of the state's largest producers of television and digital broadcasts of Georgia high school sports and has a multitude of promotional print projects for partners such as the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, the Georgia High School Association, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Score Atlanta has the most-used app for Georgia high school sports scores and operates events such as the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic, the Great Atlanta Bash, the Drive for the GHSA State Title, the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Elite Classic. Score Atlanta also introduced its very own High School Football & Flag Awards, with an annual award ceremony that last year crowned the first-ever Mr. and Miss Georgia for football and flag football, respectively. Additionally, Score Atlanta produces the daily show "Georgia High School Sports Daily" which airs weekdays from noon - 1 p.m. on the Peachtree Sports Network, and covers anything and everything Georgia high school sports. In partnership with Rough Draft, these team previews were authored by Graham David, Craig Sager II, Seth Ellerbee, Hayden Gilbert, Max Wolborsky, Will Thorogood and Wesley Powell. Please check with your school to determine the location of each game.

Chamblee Bulldogs

Head Coach: Bob Swank

Coach Record: 45-78

2025 Record: 4-7

2025 Region: 4-5A

2025 Region Record: 4-3

2026 Region: 4-6A

Stadium Name: North DeKalb Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ Miller Grove

8/28 Arabia Mountain (North DeKalb Stadium)

9/11 Dunwoody

9/18 @ Heritage-Conyers

9/25 Midtown

10/01 Meadowcreek (North DeKalb Stadium)

10/16 @ Lakeside-DeKalb (Adams Stadium)

10/23 @ Shiloh

10/29 Decatur (North DeKalb Stadium)

11/06 Alcovy

Chamblee is entering a “transition” season, according to head coach Bob Swank, who is expecting to play his stars on both sides of the ball more often than in previous years. “There was a time not too long ago when we were really playing well and we played all of our guys on both sides of the ball,” Swank said. “We went down to Ware County and played them very tough, but they wore us out and so we decided you can’t play both ways and both sides of the ball and really compete at a high level, but I think we’ve circled back in that direction. We are going to have to do that and we have guys training on both sides of the ball, and probably our top 18 guys are going to be playing a lot of snaps.”

Swank expects Kaleb Tate to play every snap on the defensive line and at left tackle on the offense this season. Tate is joined by Harrison Jones and rising junior nose guard Naeem Mendez. Additionally, multi-sport athlete Maddox Butler came out for football last season and, at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, has turned into a standout tight end in addition to defensive end,which he played last season. Defensively, starting middle linebacker Ahmad Barry is back along with safety Jack Robinson. Another player to watch is sophomore Antwan Middleton—a three-star wide receiver and defensive back that started at safety last season as a freshman.

Cross Keys Phoenix

Head Coach: Eric Quarles

Coach Record: 1-27

2025 Record: 1-9

2025 Region: 5-4A

2025 Region Record: 0-0

2026 Region: 5-5A

Stadium Name: Adams Stadium, Avondale Stadium, Halford Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ Central-Talbotton

8/28 @ Heritage School

9/04 Loganville Academy

9/11 @ Clarkston

9/18 @ Kings Academy

9/25 Johnson-Gainesville

10/02 Southwest Georgia STEM

10/16 @ Stone Mountain (AV)

10/23 Cherokee Academy

10/30 @ Rock Springs Christian Academy

Head coach Eric Quarles has been at Cross Keys for three seasons, and entering his fourth, Quarles will look to build upon the success from last season’s finish. A 1-9 record might not seem like a celebratory season, but that lone victory marked the program’s first since 2020. Entering the final game of the season with a 0-9 record, the Phoenix upended Skipstone Academy 20-12 on October 23 to finish the year with a victory. Quarles took over the Cross Keys football program in 2023 and went 0-10 and 0-8 in his first two seasons. Since 2000, Cross Keys has won just 16 games with a 3-7 tally in 2004 under head coach Douglas Blackwell.

Quarles is chasing the success the program saw in 1994 under head coach Bill Harris when the team finished with an 8-2 record. Quarles is 1-27 in three seasons at the helm, but moving in the right direction entering 2026. The team will open the season at Central-Talbotton on August 21 and Heritage on August 28 before its first home stand against Loganville Academy on Sept. 4. The hope is that the Phoenix will achieve multiple victories for the first time since the 2010 season with Quarles leading the way.

Dunwoody Wildcats

Head Coach: Matthew Schmitz

Coach Record: 5-6

2025 Record: 5-6

2025 Region: 4-5A

2025 Region Record: 4-3

2026 Region: 4-6A

Stadium Name: Seacrest Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/20 Centennial (Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic)

8/28 @ Riverwood

9/11 @ Chamblee

9/18 Midtown

9/25 Alcovy

10/02 Lakeside-DeKalb

10/16 Shiloh

10/23 @ Decatur

10/30 Heritage-Conyers

11/06 @ Meadowcreek

Dunwoody established a new culture last season in its first year under head coach Matthew Schmitz after he was promoted to the lead role following three seasons as the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator. Dunwoody began the season with three close games as the Wildcats lost 15-12 to St. Pius X at the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, defeated Pope 24-16 and dropped the final non-region game 32-24 to Lumpkin County. They opened region play with double-digit wins over Tri-Cities, Lakeside-DeKalb and Arabia Mountain, beginning the region slate 3-1. Dunwoody then suffered a loss to Woodward Academy, dominated Chamblee, and lost by a touchdown in the regular season finale to Shiloh. For the third straight year, the Wildcats’ season ended in the first round of the playoffs as they were handed a 48-3 loss by Gainesville, extending the program’s playoff win drought to 16 years. Quarterbacks William Whitehurst and Jack Quartararo both saw the field last year, but Quartararo got the majority of the snaps. Quartararo finished the season with 1,064 passing yards on 97 completions with six touchdowns, while Whitehurst tallied 273 yards on 28 completions with three touchdowns. In the run game, Bradley Stephens, who had nine rushing touchdowns last year, has one more season before he graduates. Defensively, Dunwoody has junior Darius Hall and senior Chase Casey leading the way. Last season, Hall recorded 10 tackles for loss and four sacks while Casey commanded the secondary with seven pass deflections and an interception.

Dunwoody Wildcats (Score Atlanta)

Druid Hills Red Devils

Head Coach: Deuce Roberson

Coach Record: 14-38

2025 Record: 4-6

2025 Region: 5-4A

2025 Region Record: 3-5

2026 Region: 5-5A

Stadium Name: Adams Memorial

2026 Schedule:

8/20 Clarkston (Adams Stadium)

8/28 @ Marist

9/04 @ Landmark Christian

9/10 @ Redan (AV)

9/25 @ Tucker (Adams Stadium)

10/02 Southwest DeKalb (Adams Stadium)

10/09 Lithonia (Hallford Stadium)

10/15 Banneker (North Dekalb Stadium)

10/30 Mays (Adams Stadium)

11/06 @ Jackson-Atlanta (Henderson Stadium)

Entering 2026, Druid Hills will have their eighth head coach since 2005. Deuce Roberson enters his first season at the helm, taking over for Frederick Greene who served as head coach for the last five seasons. Roberson had his first stint as a head coach at Savannah High School in 2017 where he led the Blue Jackets to a 7-5 record. He then became the head football coach at Stone Mountain in 2022 before becoming the head coach at Riverdale in 2023. After spending three seasons leading the Raiders, Roberson will be taking on a Druid Hills team seeking its first postseason appearance since 1985 and first double-digit win season since 1956. The Red Devils have won four games in back-to-back seasons and are looking for a fifth win this year. Quarterback Malachi Pace returns to the Red Devils as he enters his third season as the starting quarterback. Pace threw for 885 yards and six touchdowns last season while averaging 12 completions per game.

Pace leads a young roster that graduated its top-five leading rushers as well as its top-six leading pass catchers. The Red Devils will need to replace that production this year. Leading tackler Caleb Rourk returns for his senior season after finishing with a team-high 80 total tackles and just over seven tackles for loss along with an interception last season while leading the Red Devil defense.

Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans

Head Coach: Tim Hardy

Coach Record: 145-59

2025 Record: 10-3

2025 Region: 6-3A

2025 Region Record: 6-1

2026 Region: 5-4A

Stadium Name: Spartan Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 North Hall

8/28 @ Calhoun

9/11 @ Prince Avenue Christian

9/18 Landmark Christian

10/03 @ Douglass-Atlanta (Lakewood Stadium)

10/09 Stephenson

10/16 @ North Springs (Riverwood HS)

10/23 Salem

10/30 @ Pace Academy

11/06 Westminster

Greater Atlanta Christian is coming off a 10-3 season in which the Spartans were runners-up in their region. This included going on two five-game winning streaks and defeating Landmark Christian and Athens Academy in the playoffs. The Spartans’ season came to an end at the hands of the eventual champs, Hebron Christian. Their offense was incredible, scoring below 20 points on only one occasion, and putting up 40-plus points in every game during the second five-game winning streak that stretched into the playoffs. The Spartans return quarterback Michael Miller, who threw for 21 touchdowns last season and ran for over 1,000 yards. They also return 1,000yard rusher Pierce Wilson and last season’s receiving yards leader, Adrian Hughes.

On the defensive side of the ball, Florida State commit CJ Ohuabunwa and Alabama commit Tyler Younger will take command. Another key returner is Roe Williams, who led the team with five sacks last season. Overall, this Greater Atlanta Christian squad is full of returning players, and this could be a big year for the Spartans. They open the year against North Hall before taking on Calhoun, Prince Avenue Christian and Landmark Christian. Then, they begin region play against Douglass-Atlanta before taking on Stephenson in what could be a preview of the region championship. The Spartans close out the year with games versus North Springs, Salem, Pace Academy, and finally Westminster. If all goes well this year, the Spartans could end up making another deep postseason run, and might even be playing in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in December.

Holy Innocents’ Golden Bears

Head Coach: Nick Perrotta

Coach Record: 13-10

2025 Record: 8-4

2025 Region: 5-2A

2025 Region Record: 4-2

2026 Region: 5-3A

Stadium Name: Riverwood Stadium/Baker Field

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ Pace Academy (Riverview Sports Complex)

8/28 @ Athens Academy

9/04 Mount Vernon

9/11 @ Haralson County

9/18 @ Therrell (Lakewood Stadium)

9/25 Temple (Riverwood HS)

10/02 Lovett

10/09 Wesleyan

10/23 KIPP Atlanta Collegiate (Riverwood HS)

11/06 @ North Cobb Christian

Holy Innocents’ took another step forward in 2025, improving from a 5-6 finish in 2024 to an 8-4 record. During 2024, then first-year head coach Nick Perrotta was tasked with replacing 19 starters, and he turned to a group of talented underclassmen to step into major roles and help modernize the offense. Among those contributors are starting quarterback Ryan Woods and two-way playmaker Brayden Bailey—the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey. Additionally, Perrotta is bringing back four starters on the offensive line, including center Vance Lane, left tackle George Peeler, guard Colt McNamara and right guard Thomas Dougherty. Mitchell Bainbridge will handle the kicking duties and was a perfect 10-of-10 last season in field goals less than 45 yards.

Defensively, linebacker Finn Ferrero returns after leading the team in tackles last season. Perrotta is replacing some size on the defensive line, but is expecting the group to be more athletic than past seasons. “I think we are a little bit more athletic than we have been in the past defensively,” said Perrotta. “We gave up 13 points per game last year and have consistently been in that 12-to-13 points per game average, so we have been a team that is built on defense and built on stopping the run and these guys this year are going to have to do it a little bit differently.” Holy Innocents’ will open the season against cross-town rival Pace Academy before travelling to Athens Academy with an opportunity to avenge last year’s 48-37 second-round loss.

Holy Spirit Prep Cougars

Head Coach: Mark Stafford

Coach Record: 49-97

2025 Record: 2-7

2025 Region: GIAA 8-Man Region 1

2025 Region Record: 2-4

2026 Region: GIAA 8-Man Region 1

Stadium Name: N/A

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ Augusta Eagles

8/28 Horizon Christian Academy

9/4 Praise Academy

9/11 @ Covenant Christian Academy

9/25 Westminster Christian Academy

10/9 John Hancock Academy

10/16 @ Crisp Academy

10/23 Vidalia Heritage Academy

Holy Spirit Prep finished the 2025 season with a 2-7 record after going 5-5 and 11-2 across the previous two seasons, respectively. The team’s 2025 campaign featured some tough losses, including a 50-49 defeat to the Augusta Eagles, but the team ended the season on a two-game win streak. The Cougars begin their 2026 campaign taking on the Augusta Eagles as they look to avenge last season’s loss. This is followed by a game against Horizon Christian Academy, which did not win a game last season, giving the Cougars a good chance to start out the year on a better note than last. They then take on Praise Academy, who went 5-7 last season and finished second in its region. After that, they travel to Covenant Christian Academy to take on the Rams before a stretch of region games. They begin region play by facing off with Westminster Christian Academy, which had an impressive 2025 season, going 7-3 after starting the season off with five straight wins. After that, the Cougars play John Hancock Academy, one of the two teams they beat last season. Then, they take on Crisp Academy, who went 0-10 last season, again providing a winnable game for the Cougars. Their final game of the season comes against a very good opponent in Vidalia Heritage Academy. In all, Holy Spirit Prep is primed to have a bounceback season.

Lakeside-DeKalb Vikings

Head Coach: Morris Starr

Coach Record: 46-104

2025 Record: 3-7

2025 Region: 4-5A

2025 Region Record: 1-6

2026 Region: 4-6A

Stadium Name: Adams Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ Central Gwinnett

8/28 @ Spalding (Griffin Memorial)

9/04 @ Midtown (Henderson Stadium)

9/11 Decatur

9/25 Shiloh

10/02 @ Dunwoody

10/09 @ Alcovy

10/16 Chamblee

10/30 Meadowcreek

11/06 @ Heritage-Conyers

The Vikings are looking to take the next step forward in the program’s total rebuild that began when head coach Morris Starr took over in 2019. Since then, the team has gone from back-to-back winless seasons in 2019 and 2020 to playing a non-region schedule in 2022 and 2023 before returning to region play over the last two years. The team is losing a good bit of production from last year’s squad but is also returning some of its top players. On offense, the biggest returning player is leading receiver Canon Davis, who was named All-Region Honorable Mention last year as a sophomore. They are losing star athlete Spencer Wise, who was a second-team All-Region wide receiver and the team’s leading tackler. The Vikings will return their second-leading tackler in 4-star safety Seth Williams. Williams is a long 6-foot-2, 180-pound safety who is a hard hitter and isn’t afraid to play in the run game. The team will have a new quarterback, with Ayden Grubel the most likely player to take control of the position. Additionally, on the offensive line, Ben Novak Sosa has transferred in from Druid Hills. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 300 pounds, he is a massive lineman with the ability to dominate in the trenches. The team will have the chance to make a run at its first playoff appearance since the 2015 season. With no dominant team in the region, anyone can come out on top, and the Vikings could be primed to win enough games to make the playoffs.

Holy Innocents’ Golden Bears (Score Atlanta)

Lovett Lions

Head Coach: Mike Muschamp

Coach Record: 202-115

2025 Record: 6-5

2025 Region: 5-2A

2025 Region Record: 3-3

2026 Region: 5-3A

Stadium Name:

Conley-Oakley Field at Kilpatrick Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ Westminster

8/28 Pace Academy

9/04 Fellowship Christian

9/18 @ Wesleyan

9/25 @ KIPP Atlanta Collegiate

10/02 @ Holy Innocents’

10/09 North Cobb Christian

10/23 Haralson County

10/30 @ Temple

11/06 Therrell

The Lovett Lions are heading into the 2026 season under head coach Mike Muschamp for the 22nd straight season

Muschamp has called Lovett home since 2005 and has led the Lions to 177 wins over his 21 years at the helm. Since 2002, the Lions have made the postseason every year including three region titles (2009, 2012-13) along with state championship in 2013. Last season, Lovett lost in the first round of the playoffs to Trinity Christian, but this season, they have a young roster that has had time to develop in the offseason. After winning six games in 2025 and adding another playoff appearance to his resume, Muschamp will have his Lions ready to head into another season of Lovett football. Some of Lovett’s young talent includes quarterback Sam Abney, who is entering his junior season after his first year leading the Lovett offense. Rising junior running back Knox Thomason and a pair of senior wide receivers in Thomas Strang and Luke Darsey are ready to make an impact in the new year. With the new GHSA reclassification, Lovett moved from Class 2A to 3A where they will face new region foes such as North Cobb Christian, Haralson County, Temple and Wesleyan. The Lions won three games in their division last season, including victories over KIPP Atlanta, Therrell and Washington. Lovett will open its season at Westminster and will have numerous tough matchups on the road including games at Wesleyan, KIPP Atlanta, Holy Innocents’ and Temple.

Marist War Eagles

Head Coach: Alan Chadwick

Coach Record: 457-83

2025 Record: 12-2

2025 Region: 5-4A

2025 Region Record: 8-0

2026 Region: 6-5A

Stadium Name: Hughes Spalding Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ Woodward Academy

8/28 Druid Hills

9/11 Brookwood

9/18 @ Campbell

9/25 Blessed Trinity

10/09 Cambridge

10/16 @ Sprayberry

10/23 @ Chattahoochee

10/30 Centennial

11/06 @ St. Pius X

After opening last season with a 19-0 loss at Jefferson, Marist was able to use a 16-12 win over Woodward Academy to kick its regular season into gear. Wins over Northview, Druid Hills, Southwest DeKalb, and North Springs by a combined score of 199-13 helped the War Eagles take the driver’s seat in Region 5-4A early in the season. St. Pius X gave them a good test, but the Golden Lions could not get the job done as Marist won, 28-21. The War Eagles closed out the regular season with dominant wins over Clarkston, Lithonia and Tucker, finishing undefeated in the region. In the playoffs, Marist dominated Starr’s Mill and Blessed Trinity to extend its streak of making it to at least the quarterfinals to nine years. The War Eagles then faced North Oconee, which defeated them in the 2024 Class 4A state championship. They got their revenge, winning 23-20 in a chaotic road game. Marist’s season came to an end with a 28-20 loss to Benedictine in the semifinals, and the War Eagles were unable to return to the state championship.

Marist has multiple gaps to fill on offense in 2026, as James Lasco will not be quarterbacking the team. Lasco threw for 739 yards last year and scored 11 times on the ground. The team also loses Parks Kaiser, who graduated after dominating the run game with 10 touchdowns. Engin McCarthy does return to command the defense, a big help for Chadwick’s 2026 squad.

Meadowcreek Mustangs

Head Coach: Johnny Burdette

Coach Record: 1-23

2025 Record: 1-8

2025 Region: 7-6A

2025 Region Record: 1-6

2026 Region: 4-6A

Stadium Name:

Meadowcreek Football Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ Berkmar

8/28 Morrow

9/04 Alcovy

9/18 @ Decatur

9/25 Heritage-Conyers

10/01 @ Chamblee (North DeKalb Stadium)

10/09 @ Shiloh

10/23 Midtown

10/30 @ Lakeside-DeKalb (Adams Stadium)

11/06 Dunwoody

Meadowcreek is excited for what is possible in 2026 heading into its second season under head coach Johnny Burdette. Burdette is a longtime Gwinnett County assistant coach who started his career at Berkmar and helped the Mustangs snap a 17-game losing streak that dated back to 2024 when his team rallied to defeat the Patriots 21-14 last October. Getting that victory saved the program from consecutive winless seasons and instilled confidence that has driven the team through what Burdette believes has been a tremendous offseason. “We are definitely ahead of schedule and way ahead of where we were last year with it being my first year and I was still leading the track and field team,” said Burdette. “This year I didn’t have to do that, so we were able to be in the weight room and out there doing field work, and that is putting us way ahead of where we were last year. We played Osborne in the spring game and saw a lot of good things there,so we are building off that.” Seniors Patrique Prioleau and Savion Mitchell return after leading the team in tackles last season. Additionally, receivers Ty Samuel, Demetrius Hardy, Brian Hicks and Dontarius Sanders are phenomenal athletes that Burdette says will help drive the success of the team this season. At quarterback, sophomore Carter Bryant is a 6-foot-3 prospect who has the opportunity to be the team’s quarterback for the next three seasons.

Mt. Vernon Mustangs

Head Coach: Terrence Edwards

Coach Record: 11-11

2025 Record: 6-6

2025 Region: 5-A Div. 1

2025 Region Record: 2-2

2026 Region: 9-2A

Stadium Name: Ron Hill Field

2026 Schedule:

8/21 McNair

8/28 @ Whitefield Academy

9/04 @ Holy Innocents’

9/11 @ St. Anne-Pacelli

9/18 Mt. Bethel Christian

9/25 @ King’s Ridge

10/02 Fellowship Christian

10/16 @ Walker

10/30 Mt. Paran Christian

11/06 @ Mt. Pisgah Christian

Mt. Vernon is heading into a big season in year three under head coach Terrence Edwards. The first two seasons have seen immense growth in both play and talent, and the 2026 season should continue that upward trajectory. The team has had two straight .500 seasons, going 5-5 and losing in the first round in 2024 before going 6-6 and losing in the second round of the playoffs in 2025. Over the last decade, the program has made the playoffs every year and advanced past the first round five times. However, the team has never made it past the second round. The team will be returning some high-end players from last year’s squad. Mr. Do-It-All Keon Clealand will be back after posting one of the most interesting stat lines in the state last year. Clealand threw for over 800 yards with 10 touchdowns, rushed for over 700 yards with eight touchdowns, and caught 14 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Additionally, Georgia commit Taurean Rawlins will be back at wide receiver after a 1,395-yard, 17-touchdown junior season. This season, the team will be in Class 2A Region 9, giving the Mustangs an opportunity to battle in a region that doesn’t have a clear front-runner. Fellowship Christian may be the favorite, but with a new coaching staff, Mt. Vernon can close the gap and contend for the region title and beyond.

North Springs Spartans

Head Coach: Walter Vaughn

Coach Record: N/A

2025 Record: 1-9

2025 Region: 5-4A

2025 Region Record: 1-7

2026 Region: 5-4A

Stadium Name: Thermopylae Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 Riverwood (Riverwood HS)

8/28 @ Creekview

9/04 @ Woodland-Cartersville

9/11 Kennesaw Mountain (Chattachoochee HS)

9/25 @ Westminster

10/02 Pace Academy (Riverwood HS)

10/09 @ Salem

10/16 Greater Atlanta Christian (Riverwood HS)

10/30 @ Stephenson

11/06 Douglass-Atlanta (Northview HS)

North Springs is coming off a 1-9 season in which the Spartans’ only win came against region opponent Clarkston, 28-6. While there were some disappointing performances last season, the Spartans showed grit at the end of the season, although they would ultimately fall short to Northview, 21-13. After the classification shakeups, North Springs will be competing in Class 4A this coming season, with a region that consists mostly of teams from their region last season. Interestingly, due to the way the region works, they do not play every team in the region as most do. Despite Clarkston and Stone Mountain being in their region, they will not face either this fall. The Spartans open their 2026 season with a matchup against Riverwood before two road games against Creekview and Woodland-Cartersville. They then take on Kennesaw Mountain, which is also their final non-region game of the season. North Springs opens region play against Westminster before taking on Pace Academy and Salem. The final three games of North Springs’ season might just be its hardest. The Spartans take on Greater Atlanta Christian in a Spartans vs. Spartans matchup. Then they take on Stephenson, who has 5-star edge rusher KJ Green in addition to one of the most talented rosters in the classification. Finally, the Spartans close the season by taking on Douglass-Atlanta.

Marist War Eagles (Score Atlanta)

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Experience

North Atlanta Warriors

Head Coach: Jamie Aull

Coach Record: 61-53

2025 Record: 5-5

2025 Region: 6-6A

2025 Region Record: 4-3

2026 Region: 3-7A

Stadium Name:

Eddie S. Henderson Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ Hughes

8/27 @ Midtown (Henderson Stadium)

9/04 Jackson-Atlanta

9/11 Norcross

9/18 @ McEachern

10/02 Harrison

10/09 @ Kennesaw Mountain

10/23 @ Hillgrove

10/30 Campbell

11/06 Pebblebrook

After three straight seasons with eight or more wins, North Atlanta took a step back last season with a 5-5 record and its first year without a playoff appearance since 2021. The Warriors began their 2025 campaign by putting up a great fight against defending state champion Hebron Christian, but ultimately losing, 29-22, the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic at West Forsyth High School. North Atlanta rebounded with a 38-6 win against Paulding County, but returned to the loss column with a narrow 35-34 defeat to Wheeler in overtime. The Warriors grabbed midseason momentum with double-digit wins over Forsyth Central, South Forsyth and Alpharetta to sit 4-2 entering October. Again, North Atlanta had a chance to win the next two games, but the Warriors fell short in a 33-31 triple-overtime loss to Lambert and a 10-6 low-scoring defeat to North Forsyth. A 31-17 upset win over West Forsyth put the Warriors in position to make the playoffs, but that would not come to fruition as they lost 31-9 to Denmark to end their season. Returning on offense this season is quarterback Weston Goodman, who set a new school record with 22 passing touchdowns last season. The receiving corps will need guys to step up after Jack Ellenburg and Josh McCullough, who co-led the team in receiving touchdowns with seven apiece, graduated, while the running back room has to replace Bryce Little and Cayden Edwards. Defensively, Quinn Herring returns to build off a monster 57-tackle junior season.

Norcross Blue Devils

Head Coach: Corey Richardson

Coach Record: 6-5

2025 Record: 6-5

2025 Region: 7-6A

2025 Region Record: 4-3

2026 Region: 7-7A

Stadium Name:

Blue Devils Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 Mill Creek

8/28 @ West Forsyth

9/11 @ North Atlanta (Henderson Stadium)

9/18 North Forsyth

9/25 Brookwood

10/02 @ Berkmar

10/09 Peachtree Ridge

10/23 @ Parkview

10/30 North Gwinnett

11/06 @ Duluth

Aprogram that is no stranger to success, the Norcross Blue Devils are looking to spring back into prominence in 2026. Entering Corey Richardson’s second season as head coach, the Blue Devils are seeking their 17th straight postseason appearance after a first-round exit a year ago. Richardson, a long-time assistant on the Norcross staff, took over for longtime Norcross head coach Keith Maloof in 2025. Maloof spent 26 successful seasons leading the Blue Devils, winning back-to-back state championships in 2012 and 2013, along with seven region titles. Richardson began his tenure with the Blue Devils by leading Norcross to a winning season, going 6-5 in the regular season with a 4-3 record in Region 7-6A. Even with the new reclassification beginning this season, the Blue Devils will see most of the same teams this season as they made the jump from Class 6A to Class 7A. Region 7-7A consists of Berkmar, Brookwood, Duluth, North Gwinnett, Parkview, Peachtree Ridge and Norcross as Meadowcreek is the only team missing from last season’s region. Following the graduation of last year’s starting quarterback PJ Wolfe, the Blue Devils will undergo a quarterback battle with rising senior Logan Herring and Luqman Baig as they both hold tons of potential to lead the offense. The Blue Devils lost tons of talent on both sides of the ball but are returning a handful of playmakers to make an impact. Anthony Allen and Jayson Jones return to the Blue Devils in 2026 ready to lead the defensive unit.

Pace Academy Knights

Head Coach: Kevin Johnson

Coach Record: 0-0

2025 Record: 3-7

2025 Region: 4-4A

2025 Region Record: 2-5

2026 Region: 5-4A

Stadium Name: Walsh Field

2026 Schedule:

8/21 Holy Innocents’ (Riverview Sports Complex)

8/28 @ Lovett

9/10 @ Trinity Christian

9/18 @ Lithia Springs

9/25 Stephenson (Riverview Sports Complex)

10/02 @ North Springs (Riverview HS)

10/09 Westminster (Riverview Sports Complex)

10/23 @ Douglass-Atlanta (Lakewood Stadium)

10/30 Greater Atlanta Christian

11/06 @ Salem

Riverwood Raiders

Head Coach: Josh Coffey

Coach Record: 0-0

2025 Record: 1-9

2025 Region: 6-5A

2025 Region Record: 0-7

2026 Region: 7-6A

Stadium Name:

Bill Hoskyn Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 @ North Springs (Riverwood HS)

8/28 Dunwoody

9/11 Pebblebrook

9/18 @ Westminster

10/02 @ Alpharetta

10/09 Lanier

10/16 @ Gainesville (City Park)

10/23 @ Roswell

10/30 Milton

11/06 Johns Creek

New head coach Josh Coffey will begin his Riverwood career following the departure of Shawn Cahill. The Raiders are coming off back-to-back 1-9 seasons and looking to right the ship under Coffey’s leadership. Coffey served as the offensive coordinator at Denmark and previously held coaching jobs at Union Grove, Lamar County, Chattahoochee and Spalding County. Coffey takes over the program, Since 1971, Riverwood has only advanced to the playoffs seven times with just two playoff victories (2001, 2019). In 2019, head coach Robert Edwards led the Raiders to the program’s only undefeated regular season, first region title and just second-ever playoff victory, a 17-14 win over Loganville. He led the program to a 9-2 record in 2021 and the team’s second region title. Since those high points, however, Riverwood has struggled through finishes of 2-9, 3-7 and two 1-9 seasons. The trek toward coaching stability and culture development is key to building the success of the Riverwood team after last season’s disappointing finish, which included five scoreless games. At Denmark, Coffey helped organize an offense that scored 257 points in 2025 and 258 points in 2024.If that translates to Riverwood’s offense, the team could thrive. The team returns rising senior quarterback Aj Rahal, who went 69-of-167 passing for 772 yards and eight touchdowns, in addition to two touchdowns on the ground. On defense, Lawrence Levine returns after a team-high 98 total tackles in 2025.

Pace Academy is hoping to return to the playoffs in 2026 after two straight losing seasons. The Knights finished 3-7 last season under Sean Weatherspoon, which was the fewest wins in a season since 2012, and the program turned to longtime offensive line coach Kevin Johnson to step in as head coach. Pace Academy has not won a playoff game since its state championship season in 2015. Johnson has made changing the culture his chief priority this offseason. “To turn this thing around, it might take two seasons to be honest with you,” Johnson said. “The buy-in is there. When you have new guys coming in and old guys, you have to figure out how to break the old ways, so we have more guys that know the new way than the old way. Now everyone is getting on the same page.” Since the second week of June workouts, players have been leading their own additional conditioning workouts after practices, which has shown Johnson that this team is determined to achieve bigger things in 2026. The offseason wasn’t without its warts, however, as 4-star defensive lineman Justin Weeks transferred out of the program. Defensively, Jaxson Gasque is a senior that has been with the program for four years and Randall Foster is a junior with collegiate potential.Both will be on the Knights’ defensive front. Additionally, James Jayson can play safety and corner and will also be used at receiver. According to Johnson, those three guys will be the pillars of the defense. Offensively, quarterback Kaiden Harley is back for his senior season.

St.

Pius X Golden Lions

Head Coach: Adam Pullen

Coach Record: 0-0

2025 Record: 6-4

2025 Region: 5-4A

2025 Region Record: 4-4

2026 Region: 6-5A

Stadium Name:

George B. Maloof Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 Dacula

8/28 McNair

9/04 @ Calvary Day School

9/18 Winder-Barrow

10/02 @ Chattahoochee

10/09 Centennial

10/16 Blessed Trinity

10/23 @ Cambridge

10/30 @ Sprayberry

11/06 Marist

St. Pius X is entering a new era under first-year head coach Adam Pullen. The team will look very different than it has for most of its history. The Golden Lions will be making the shift from their traditional triple-option offense to a more modern spread offense. The transition may take some time to fully take hold; the team has shown growth on the offensive side of the ball but still looked like a group adjusting to those changes. Last year, St. Pius X missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The Golden Lions went 6-4 but lost their final three games of the season to miss the postseason. The season also marked the end of the Chad Garrison/Paul Standard era, which dated back to 2001. The team will be led by the defensive back duo of Aidan Brown and Nathan Hildreth. The pair was named to the allregion team last year. Defense has been the strength of the program over the past several years, and it should remain that way heading into next season. The only all-region player returning on offense is fullback John Taylor. Taylor is a 6-foot, 230-pound back who can dominate as both a runner and a blocker. St. Pius X will now compete in Region 6-5A, a much different region featuring the likes of Marist, Blessed Trinity, Cambridge and Sprayberry, all of which have made the quarterfinals in the past two years.

Norcross Blue Devils (Photo by James Blackburn GDP)

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Tucker Tigers

Head Coach: Wayne Jones

Coach Record: 19-51

2025 Record: 6-5

2025 Region: 5-4A

2025 Region Record: 5-3

2026 Region: 5-5A

Stadium Name:

Adams Memorial Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/22 @ Columbia (Hallford Stadium)

8/28 @ Rome (BA)

9/04 Stephenson (Hallford Stadium)

9/18 @ Central Gwinnett

9/25 Druid Hills (Adams Stadium)

10/09 @ Southwest DeKalb (Hallford Stadium)

10/16 @ Jackson-Atlanta (Henderson Stadium)

10/23 Banneker (Adams Stadium)

10/30 Lithonia (Adams Stadium)

11/06 @ Mays

Tucker has made it to the postseason every year since 2007 and is seeking to make it out of the first round for the first time since 2017. In the last two decades, the Tigers have won seven region titles and have appeared in the state championship four times, winning two of them in 2008 and 2011. Wayne Jones enters his fifth season at the helm and is looking to take the Tigers back to the top. Jones has led the Tigers to three straight sixplus win seasons and is looking to add to his 23-21 overall record in the new season.. Tucker enters a new region in 2026 as the Tigers will now face off against the likes of Cross Keys, Druid Hills, Maynard Jackson, Lithonia, Mays and Southwest DeKalb in Region 5-5A. Jace German is set to lead a talented Tucker offense after accounting for 1,530 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns through the air to go along with 610 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in his junior season a year ago. German is a 3-star quarterback recruit who committed to Boston College in June of 2026 after receiving more than 10 offers from programs around the country. German has thrown for over 3,300 yards in his career and is looking to dominate his senior season. Jamare Tolliver led the team in tackles in 2025 and will lead the Tiger defense in the new season.

Wesleyan Wolves

Head Coach: Franklin Pridgen

Coach Record: 162-81

2025 Record: 8-4

2025 Region: 5-A Div. 1

2025 Region Record: 3-1

2026 Region: 5-3A

Stadium Name:

Robinson Field at Henderson Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 Whitefield Academy

8/28 @ Elbert County (The Granite Bowl)

9/11 @ North Cobb Christian

9/18 Lovett

9/25 Gilmer

10/02 Haralson County

10/09 @ Holy Innocents’

10/23 Therrell

10/30 @ KIPP Atlanta Collegiate

11/06 Temple

In the quest for its second state title under head coach Franklin Pridgen, Wesleyan came up short in the 2025 postseason with a second-round exit after two consecutive quarterfinal appearances. The Wolves started the season with a dominant 45-27 win over Commerce before suffering a 41-7 loss to North Hall. They responded with their first win over Elbert County since 2010 after losing the revival game of the Granite Bowl in 2024, and a 55-0 win over B.E.S.T. Academy before the first bye week. Wesleyan was on the wrong side of a 24-21 nail-biter against Ambassador Christian (NC), but wins over Mount Pisgah Christian, Mount Vernon, and King’s Ridge Christian put the Wolves in position to clinch the Region 5-A Division I title. Unfortunately, the Wolves suffered a 4114 loss at the hands of eventual region champion Fellowship Christian the following week. Wesleyan capped the regular season with a 28-21 win over Landmark Christian and began the playoffs with a commanding 48-7 win over Providence Christian. The Wolves were then eliminated following a 41-6 loss to Prince Avenue Christian in the second round. Wesleyan has the chance to return to form in 2026 with quarterback Jameson Hilton keeping the reins after a 12-touchdown, 843-yard junior season. While running back remains a question, Geno Houchins IV has the opportunity to step up in the receiving game after four touchdowns last year. Defensively, the team returns Carter Overdyke, who was the only non-senior in 2025 to reach 30-plus total tackles.

Westminster Wildcats

Head Coach: Nelson Stewart

Coach Record: 2-8

2025 Record: 2-8

2025 Region: 6-4A

2025 Region Record: 0-4

2026 Region: 5-4A

Stadium Name: Alfred E. Thompson Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 Lovett

8/28 @ King’s Ridge

9/11 @ Chattanooga Christian, TN.

9/18 Riverwood

9/25 North Springs

10/09 @ Pace Academy (Riverview Sports Complex)

10/16 Salem (Hallford Stadium)

10/23 Stephenson

10/30 @ Douglass-Atlanta (Lakewood Stadium)

11/06 @ Greater Atlanta Christian

Heading into year two under head coach Nelson Stewart, the Wildcats are looking to improve upon their 2-8 season last year. They opened the year with back-to-back wins over Lovett (14-8) and Pace Academy (17-7) before dropping the final eight games of the season. 2028 tight end Owen Moore has been turning heads on the gridiron. Heading into his junior season, he will be a key piece of this Wildcats offense if they are to succeed as he is poised to be one of quarterback Wyatt Garfinkle’s favorite targets. The Wildcats open the year against Lovett and then take a trip to King’s Ridge Christian before crossing the border to Tennessee to take on Chattanooga Christian. They return to the Peach State for a matchup against Riverwood. After that, they take on North Springs in the “Pigskin Picnic.” Then, they take on West Paces Ferry rival Pace Academy. This is followed by games against Salem, Stephenson, Douglass-Atlanta and finally, Greater Atlanta Christian. All of these games will be very important for the Wildcats if they are to make the playoffs. Pace Academy and Salem will be the two games to keep an eye on for Westminster in that playoff push. If the Wildcats can win both of those games, there is a good chance they can return to the playoffs.

Woodward Academy War Eagles

Head Coach: John Hunt

Coach Record: 149-43

2025 Record: 10-3

2025 Region: 4-5A

2025 Region Record: 7-0

2026 Region: 3-6A

Stadium Name: Graham Hixon Field at Colquitt Stadium

2026 Schedule:

8/21 Marist

8/28 @ Chapel Hill

9/11 @ Tri-Cities

9/18 McIntosh

9/24 @ Northside-Columbus

10/09 Newnan

10/16 @ Hughes

10/23 Morrow

10/30 Lovejoy

11/06 @ Creekside

After following up the 2023 state championship appearance season with a disappointing second-round exit in 2024, Woodward Academy returned to form last year with a 10-3 record and a quarterfinal appearance that coincided with the War Eagles’ fifth straight region title and tenth under head coach John Hunt. The 2025 season did not get off to a great start when Woodward suffered a 48-21 loss to Carrollton in the season opener, but the War Eagles responded by holding off Collins Hill for a 13-7 win the following week. Woodward’s record went back under .500 with a 16-12 loss to Marist before the start of region play. The first bye week provided the War Eagles with large momentum that led to a clean sweep of the region, as Shiloh was the only opponent that gave them any trouble. The playoffs saw the energy remain, as Seckinger and Statesboro fell to Woodward in the first two rounds before Woodward fell in the quarterfinals to the eventual state champions, Thomas County Central. The time is now for Woodward to get Hunt his first state title at the school and the program’s first since 1980. The majority of the offense remains the same with Ryan Harrigan at quarterback and Princeton Woods at running back. The receiving corps is the question after the top three receivers from last year graduated, but Langston Hakeem could be the next man up. Defensively, Elijah Lyles returns for his senior season after recording a team-high 76 total tackles in 2025 alongside rising junior Myles Tate.

Wesleyan football (Photo by Brian Morgan)

THE FIRST LOCAL PRODUCTION IN OVER A DECADE

AS JAVERT

FROM BROADWAY JACOBWATSONKEITH AS JEAN VALJEAN

Council experiences gains and losses at July meeting

By Cathy Cobbs

The Brookhaven City Council celebrated a milestone and mourned another on July 14 as the city approved a financial agreement with Emory University to fund the vast majority of the construction of the Peachtree Creek Greenway Connector Bridge, and learned that District 2 Council Member Jen Owens is vacating her seat.

Emory will contribute $15.8 million toward the construction of the Peachtree Creek Greenway Connector Bridge, which will span Interstate 85 and create a direct pedestrian and bicycle connection between

Emory University’s Executive Park, the Peachtree Creek Greenway, and DeKalb County’s trail network.

According to a staff memo about the resolution, “in the attached MOU [memorandum of understanding], Emory University has agreed to make PILOT payments totaling $15.8 million over 10 years.”

“This project is the result of visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment to partnership,” said Brookhaven Mayor John Park in a press release. “I want to thank Emory University, DeKalb County’s CEO Office, GDOT, Asbury Automotive Group, The Brookhaven Development Authority,

Peachtree Creek Greenway, Inc., and the many stakeholders who have worked together to bring this vision closer to reality.”

The agreement represents years of collaboration among DeKalb County, Brookhaven, Emory University, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), the Brookhaven Development Authority, Peachtree Creek Greenway, Inc., Asbury Automotive Group, and numerous community stakeholders, the release said.

Once completed, the bridge will provide residents along the Buford Highway corridor and surrounding communities with access to employment centers, healthcare services, parks, and recreational opportunities.

City officials said the bridge will also serve as a critical link between the Peachtree Creek Greenway, DeKalb County’s Trails and Greenways Network, PATH400, and the Atlanta Beltline.

The agreement also ensures that no residential property taxes will be used to fund the design or construction of the Peachtree Creek Greenway Connector Bridge, according to city officials.

Final design of the Peachtree Creek Greenway Connector Bridge is expected to be completed in late 2027, with construction anticipated to begin in 2028.

In other news, District 2 Jennifer Owens stated at the end of the meeting that she is resigning her seat immediately as she is moving out of the district to accommodate her “Brady Bunch family.”

Owens, recently engaged, said she is moving out of Brookhaven to nearby Chamblee.

“I’m very excited to start this new chapter, but working with you has been an honor,” she told her fellow council members.

In a social media post, Owens said she is proud of the accomplishments achieved during her time on council, including

improvements to parks, walking paths, streets, and stormwater projects.

Park announced that current Brookhaven Planning Commission Chair Conor Sen will fill her seat until November, when a special election will be held. Sen, surrounded by his family, was sworn in after the meeting by Brookhaven Municipal Judge Bryon Ramos. Sen, who has two children at Ashford Park Elementary, thanked Park and former Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst for encouraging him to become involved with city government.

In other action:

■ The council accepted a donation of six acres of land at 1578 Lenox Overlook Road to be converted into a public park.

■ Park announced, based on community feedback, that he will resume the mayor’s town hall meeting, the first of which will be held Sept. 18.

■ The council commended Sheila Hayes, executive assistant to the mayor and council, for her service and announced her retirement.

“Thank you for allowing me to serve you, but I’m going to enjoy my life –Woohoo!” she said.

■ During staff reports at the council’s 4:30 session, the panel learned that the process to bury power lines along Dresden Drive is progressing.

■ Police Chief Brandon Gurley announced that crime in the city is continuing its downward trend, except for fraud. “If you get a call saying that we have a warrant for your arrest if you miss jury duty, it’s probably fraud,” he said.

■ Summit Coffee, located on the first floor of City Centre, is changing its operating hours to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Conor Sen, surrounded by his family, is sworn in as the new District 2 Council Member by Judge Bryan Ramos (Photo by Cathy Cobbs)

BUCKHEAD

Clash deepens over $1.3 billion jail plan, tax allocation districts

By Hayden Sumlin

Atlanta Mayor Andrew Dickens penned a July 30 letter to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, blasting its denial of his proposed extension of six tax allocation districts (TADs).

“The choice is yours,” Dickens wrote. “Fulton County still can join us, choose a path other than constructing a new $1.3 billion jail, and lean into comprehensive solutions for public safety. Real, impactful change begins long before someone enters the criminal justice system.”

North Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis said Dickens is mischaracterizing the county’s investments in inmate housing and healthcare, while pursuing a TAD extension “that violates the state constitution.” The county commission passed a July 15 resolution citing its opposition.

“Number one, it’s a measure that’s not permissible by state law: extension of these TADs for 30 years, which brings in a legal question,” Ellis said. “In addition to that, it results in diversion of $1 billion of Fulton County tax money that we otherwise need to fund projects that we are doing right now that we have committed to.”

Mayor batters county commission

Dickens, who grew up in southwest Atlanta’s Adamsville neighborhood, wrote that the county commission’s recent votes show its priorities, committing “approximately $1.3 billion toward a new Fulton County Jail” and declining to extend six tax allocation districts.

“One commits taxpayers to pay for the consequences of decades of failed leadership, while the other rejects a proactive investment intended to strengthen neighborhoods before they reach a point of crisis,” Dickens wrote. “It is a contrast that reflects a governing philosophy that values paying for failure over investing in prevention.”

In a tax allocation district, growth in property tax revenue is diverted away from government entities to a separate fund, which is then invested within the district. The goal is to promote redevelopment and economic growth in areas that would not otherwise attract private investment.

Ellis said the jail overhaul has two components: building a new 1,800bed facility for intake, medical and psychiatric needs, and general inmate housing, and then renovating Rice Street.

Dickens wrote that the $1.3 billion jail overhaul is the “wrong answer,” “an unnecessarily heavy drain on taxpayer dollars,” and “does nothing to break systemic inequity, create safe and stable neighborhoods, or provide opportunity for future generations.”

The mayor’s office argues that by purchasing the Atlanta City Detention Center, Fulton County can reduce the size of its planned new detention facility and eliminate the need for a new temporary facility.

Despite the mayor rescinding an $80 million offer for the ACDC (which he says is appraised at about $144 million), Dickens left open the door for county officials to change course.

Fulton commissioner fires back

Ellis, serving northwest Fulton County since 2015, represents parts of Alpharetta, Roswell, and Sandy Springs, and the cities of Milton and Mountain Park.

He said the county appraised ACDC at about $65 million while also claiming renovations would cost $100 million, not $40 million as Dickens cited.

“The offers that have been made around the Atlanta Civic Detention Center are not valid offers, because they have had material, financial contingencies that harm Fulton County taxpayers,” he said. “One piece that’s not clearly emphasized in any of the real material press is that what he’s pitching is not a legal financing mechanism permitted under state law.”

Ellis said the topic of TADs and state law is complex, but reported that state Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) has received clear legal opinions on the matter. He said his job is to protect county taxpayers.

“We’ve known that these tax allocation districts will be clipping off starting in around 2031,” Ellis said. “[Property taxes] are just being diverted into these TADs right now. They’re Fulton County property taxes, so we’ll receive those and apply those to the jail facilities, building the hospital in South Fulton, constructing the health and human services facilities … that’s how we’re funding those things.”

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NORCROSS

Downtown retailers call for better support

By Hayden Sumlin

Mary Dowdy, a longtime officer with the Historic Norcross Business Association, spoke about some of the challenges facing local entrepreneurs at the July 22 Norcross Progressive Development Committee meeting in the heart of downtown.

More than 50 people, including residents, business owners, and city staff, attended the community meetup. Attendees shared reasons why the community feels its historic downtown has lost some of its vitality and regional competitiveness over the last decade.

Dowdy said she thinks today’s sales cycle mirrors the Great Recession era.

“We’re not making tons of money; it seems like we’re making less and less every year,” Dowdy said. “In 2008, we had more people trying to sell us stuff than buy stuff. And this past weekend, I had three people in line all trying to sell me things and somebody on the phone.”

Dowdy said foot traffic is sparse on weekdays and customers are less willing to spend cash at several downtown shops. Her business is inside Hazel and Lorraine White’s shop, Antique Traditions, along South Peachtree Street.

“We [the Historic Norcross Business Association] established ourselves in 2018 when the Holcomb Bridge Road intersection was going to be shut down for several months to make road improvements,” Dowdy said. “We were concerned about getting people in and out of town.”

Dowdy attends most city council and downtown development authority

meetings. While she said the city’s business occupational taxes are increasing an average of 150% based on employee totals, Dowdy said it’s a small, calculable cost.

The nonprofit’s mission is to work with the city to promote members’ businesses, whether it be through community and city-sponsored events or increased public parking.

“The city is moving fast and furious and trying to improve downtown, improve parking conditions, and promote the merchants,” Dowdy said.

Staying open downtown

While downtown business owners appear optimistic about next year’s occupational tax increase, there is concern that shops will close if the city leans too much on its commercial tax base.

Dowdy said a lot of Heart of Norcross businesses won’t move to another nearby town; they’ll just shut down.

“The city is moving toward assessing us based on gross revenues,” she said. “This is where it gets kinda difficult. Most of us don’t understand why it’s gross revenues and not net. At the same time, there has also been discussion about having us pay into a parking fund. This is not a novel method; all the surrounding towns use this.”

City officials have discussed the need to increase revenues after the passage of last year’s city-specific homestead exemptions throughout this year. With less residential property tax revenue and plenty of city projects and initiatives to fund, Norcross’ annual budget has unanswered questions.

Mary Dowdy, secretary of the Heart of Norcross Business Association, discusses the city’s existing business occupation tax increase. (Photo by Hayden Sumlin)

The Instagram page for the “Heart of Norcross” is active. The business association’s annual events include the popular “Witches Night Out” and Christmas Village. Backing local business

Crowd members expressed frustration at city officials, including elected council members and staff, for “allowing Norcross to fall way behind its peers in Gwinnett County,” as one person put it.

Some attendees said they think the city is wasting taxpayer dollars and needs to focus on giving local businesses a break. Others wanted to see city staff do more to attract companies and local entrepreneurs.

David Versel, the city’s economic development director and interim community development head, said despite a couple of empty storefronts downtown, the city doesn’t have much

retail space available.

“You look up and down Buford Highway and Jimmy Carter … we only have one retail space in the city of more than 2,000 square feet,” Versel said.

“We have to bring in new commercial development with modern spaces to bring those businesses into, which is a much harder process.”

Anna Balkan, jewelry designer and downtown entrepreneur, said she thinks Historic Downtown Business Association members do more to promote the city and its downtown than the local government.

“The cost to run a brick-and-mortar retail location is not just people coming through the door and employees,” Balkan said. “Our costs … quadrupled. Now we have to have social media managers. Anybody who has a small business knows.”

Norcross PD to receive $450k for new Real-Time Crime Center

By Hayden Sumlin

Georgia’s U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock announced that the Norcross Police Department is receiving $450,000 for a new Real-Time Crime Center to strengthen crime prevention.

“According to the Norcross Police Department, the city has seen an increase in property crime, vehicle thefts, and violent incidents in recent years,” the announcement said. “To address these crimes, with the help of federal funding by Sens. Ossoff and Rev. Warnock, Norcross aims to establish a Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) to serve as a centralized command hub that will enable law enforcement to respond more swiftly to incidents and analyze critical public safety data.”

Investing in crime prevention

While the Real-Time Crime Center won’t be up and running when the Norcross Public Safety Building first opens, its new home will be in the city’s new state-of-the-art complex at Buford Highway and Stevens Road. There’s a 1,600-square-foot room waiting for the city’s new RTCC.

“Coordination between law enforcement is necessary to better prevent crime,” Ossoff said. “That’s why Senator Reverend Warnock and I brought Republicans and Democrats together to help build a new central law enforcement command center in Norcross.”

Completion of the new Norcross Public Safety Building is anticipated for mid-August. In a July 1 update, city officials reported that construction crews are in the final stages, preparing the building for daily operations.

After construction is complete in a couple of weeks, city officials have planned multiple community tours and open houses while staff trains on the building’s new systems before transitioning.

The Norcross Police Department is expected to begin operating from the new building on Sept. 8. Municipal Court operations will follow, with the first court session scheduled for Sept. 14.

Norcross police chief updates

While the senators’ press release cites increasing crime, local officials tell a different story.

In February, Norcross officials reported a roughly 25% drop in overall crime in 2025, with nearly all major categories now well below 10- and 15-year averages. While incidents are declining from pandemic-era peaks, available data indicates the city is well below the national average.

Last year, Norcross activated its real-time camera integration platform, Axon Fusus, which provides a network of license-plate readers and centralizes data for command staff. A similar platform, Flock Safety, has generated more controversy in metro Atlanta and across the country.

Despite concern on both sides of the aisle about privacy violations, mass surveillance, and abuse of AI-powered automated license plate readers (ALPRs), law enforcement agencies have said the technology is critical.

Norcross Police Chief Bill Grogan said his department has not yet received the federal funding but has been aware of the grant. Grogan said some of the Real-Time Crime Center is being implemented next month, but the majority of the project will be completed later this year.

Rise Innovation Center leaving the city

By Katie Burkholder

Rise Baking Company, a leading manufacturer for in-store bakeries and food service operators, has announced that it will be relocating its Innovation Center from Tucker to Atlanta after 20 years.

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Rise’s Innovation Center will be relocating to 575 Main Street NE in the Lindbergh neighborhood of Atlanta after its current lease in Tucker ends later this year. The facility will be located in Uptown Atlanta, a 47-acre mixed-use district with nearly a million square feet of office space and 120,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space.

The new Commercial and Customer Center of Excellence will offer more than 30,000 square feet of combined office and R&D space.

The Innovation Center is currently located on 1912 Montreal Road in Tucker. A spokesperson for Rise told Rough Draft

that the relocation would not impact jobs, and the company will continue operating its Tucker-based manufacturing facility.

“Our Innovation Center in Tucker has played an important role in Rise Baking Company’s growth over the past two decades, and we’re grateful to the community for being part of that journey,” the spokesperson said. “This relocation is an investment in a modern Commercial and Customer Center of Excellence designed to better support collaboration and innovation. Current employees will transition to the new location, and Rise will continue operating its manufacturing facilities in Tucker and Douglasville, maintaining a strong production presence in the Atlanta area.”

The Minnesota-based company is home to several brands, including Brill, South Coast Baking, Best Maid Cookie Company, and New French Bakery.

Youth Council applications open

By Katie Burkholder

Applications are currently open for the City of Tucker’s inaugural Tucker Youth Council. The group of high school students will help the city create projects and community activities and assist in the municipal decision-making process.

“The creation of a youth council has been a dream of mine for a while now,” Sonja Szubski, the communications director for the City of Tucker, said.

“Teaming up with Parks and Recreation was a logical step and is really what made this possible. I hope our high schoolers are as excited as we are to get started.”

The Youth Council, approved by the City Council in May, will include 14

sophomores, juniors, and seniors who will meet monthly from September 2026 to May 2027. Participants must be in their sophomore through senior years of high school and reside within the City of Tucker.

Applicants have until August 19 to submit their applications. Once applications are reviewed, a panel of city staff will conduct interviews in late August and early September to select the cohort before the kickoff meeting Sept. 16. The Youth Council will continue to meet the third Wednesday of each month through April and may attend an optional end-ofyear celebration in May.

Any application questions can be sent to info@tuckerga.gov.

State approves elementary school charter

By Hayden Sumlin

Nearly two years after Fulton County Schools announced its intentions to shutter Spalding Drive Elementary in Sandy Springs, the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia approved a parent-led nonprofit’s petition for a new charter

school.

Save Spalding Committee Board Chair Raymond Grote said nearly 180 families in Sandy Springs (and surrounding communities, like Dunwoody and East Cobb) have expressed interest in sending their children to the new charter school.

“We made the argument before they closed the school ... you’re going to create a negative selfreinforcing cycle,” Grote said. “You close the school, people lose faith in the system, they leave, they move, and so even without the charter school, they lost a lot of kids.”

Spalding community rallies

Grote said he and fellow board members are extremely excited to reach the milestone. He said his group has been “learning on the fly.”

“It has been a long process that started with a loss,” Grote said. “The application process is a lot of work and then a lot of wait-and-see ... Now, we get to actually start building something, which is the fun part for me.”

The Save Spalding Committee is working with a charter operator, National Heritage Academies, to open the Spalding Academy for Innovation and Learning by the start of the 202728 school year.

The nonprofit was formed last February, around the time the school board members voted to close the more than 60-year-old neighborhood elementary school. Despite a chorus of opposition from elected officials, parents, and even some teachers, the site is now a teaching museum and administrative space.

Grote said state law required the committee to apply to the county before initiating the process with the state. He said his group’s first interview with state officials was June 1.

“The state doesn’t look at it unless the county rejects it,” Grote said, explaining that board members never really expected approval from school district leadership. “We interviewed with the state in early June ... got a recommendation two weeks ago, and then yesterday [July 29] was the approval vote.”

Charter school next steps

Grote said the nonprofit’s selected operator, National Heritage Academies, played an “instrumental” role in helping parents with the technical side

of the application. NHA is a private for-profit management company with more than 100 charter schools in nine states.

National Heritage Academies operates two charter schools in Georgia: Atlanta Heights on the west side and Four Points Preparatory Academy in Braselton. All NHA schools are tuitionfree, according to its website.

Grote mentioned community members who helped in the effort, including SSC board members Aja Burks, Erin Carey, Mary Elizabeth Crowell, Nora Robb, Mark Silver, and Jennifer Lord Wilson. Also, he said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, council member Melody Kelley, former council member Andy Bauman, and city staff are big supporters, most recently helping identify potential properties.

“Outside of that, our general counsel is Edward Lindsey, who was one of the folks who actually helped draft and pass the first charter school law in the state,” Grote said. “It’s been a top-to-bottom community effort.”

Grote said many families moved to the neighborhood specifically to send their kids to a high-performing public elementary school. Now many have left the district by moving or going private, he said.

“They chose not to approve us, and so we’re going to be a state charter school,” Grote said. “We’re going to draw directly from their population ... they will lose, my guess, hundreds of students.”

Save Spalding Committee Board Chair Raymond Grote. (Provided by the Save Spalding Committee)

Spalding Drive Elementary School (File photo)

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By Cathy Cobbs

The Dunwoody City Council at its July 27 meeting approved on second reading several variances and a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) for a new Kroger grocery store on Ashford Dunwoody Road.

The council, in a split vote, approved a SLUP and four other variances as Kroger redevelops the former Walmart store at Perimeter Village, which will include a drive-thru pharmacy and a gas station.

Kroger is taking about 166,000 square feet of the Walmart footprint, and representatives from owner Kimco said they are negotiating a lease with another

entity that would use the remaining 60,000 square feet.

The council complimented Kroger officials for agreeing to restrict delivery hours to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in response to nearby residents’ concerns about the proposed hours (6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday).

However, at least one council member voted against two of the proposed agenda items.

John Heneghan had previously proposed a condition requiring gas hoses to be at least 12 feet long so that each pump could be accessible from both sides of the lane, which failed. But he voted for

the SLUP, which passed unanimously.

For the second measure, to allow for a drive-thru pharmacy, Seconder was the dissenting vote, and Catherine Lautenbacher voted against a proposed master sign plan that included several modifications.

In other action, the council discussed possible modifications to the city’s open container districts that could extend the zones to other commercial districts, including Jett Ferry and Georgetown. One version proposed an open-container district throughout the city, an option the council said was neither viable nor enforceable.

The council also listened to a presentation about housing and commercial options for the Georgetown area that outlined priorities such as the construction of low-rise residential, the buildout of the Dunwoody Green, developing plazas and passages as gathering places, and connections to nature.

By Cathy Cobbs

The Dunwoody Planning Commission at its Aug. 11 meeting will consider a request from the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta to allow it to build a four-court indoor pickleball facility.

According to a letter to the city, the organization is asking for a Special Land Use Permit (SLUP), or an extension of one that was granted in 2023, to allow the addition of a 10,000-square-foot indoor facility near the existing courts.

An outdoor facility containing 12 courts opened in June 2024 as part of an extensive renovation on the 50-acre site that included the construction of an outdoor pool and other amenities.

“The proposed indoor pickleball building furthers the JCC’s mission of fostering a vibrant community without burdening the public in any way,” the application said.

Community meeting July 2

community meeting was dedicated to addressing numerous comments made by one attendee, who stated she was opposed to the existing pickleball courts.”

The application said the JCC held a community meeting at the property on July 2, after mailing a letter to the owners of 342 properties located within 1,000 feet of the property. At the meeting, which 13 people attended, among the questions asked was whether membership dues would increase to fund the facility’s construction, which JCC officials said would not happen.

The application said “while most attendees seemed either favorably inclined or neutral towards the proposed indoor pickleball building, much of the

The unnamed attendee accused the JCC of scheduling the meeting on July 2 so fewer people would come, said the JCC’s use of the property “is detrimental to the quality of life of nearby property owners,” and that the conversation of players is “annoying.”

The attendee also said that the rooflines of the buildings on the campus were visible during the winter months, and that the JCC has violated limits on the hours of operation.

The memo provided detailed responses to the attendee’s concerns, including a statement that the facility has no record of complaints regarding its operating hours.

Other attendees, the application said, “privately expressed their support for the JCC and the proposed pickleball building.”

Project specifics

A letter from the Galloway Law Group, representing the applicant, said the new pickleball building’s roofline is proposed to be lower in height than adjacent buildings.

“The nearest adjoining lots are located to the south and thus outside of the proposed building’s shadow zone created by the sun’s daily movement over the building,” the letter said. “Moreover, the property provides a 40-foot-wide buffer along the property line shared with these adjoining lots, further reducing any impacts the proposed building might have on them.”

A rendering of the Kroger store at the former Walmart site on Ashford Dunwoody Road. (Via City of Dunwoody)

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Y Bar opens in Buckhead Village

By Beth McKibben

Backed by Y Hospitality, the restaurant group behind Yeppa & Co., Storico Fresco, and Forza Storico, Y Bar takes over the former Storico Vino and Pachengo spaces at the luxury Peachtree Road retail and dining complex.

Taking inspiration from cafes and bars of 1960s Italy, specifically the Adriatic coastal town of Rimini, where partner Stephen Peterson grew up, the design for Y Bar leans into the era with a U-shaped bar, vintage fixtures, and old family photographs and prints on the walls.

Y bar also features a covered patio with wooden bistro tables and a terraced

outdoor seating area behind the building along the pedestrian alleyway, styled after the piazzas of Santarcangelo di Romagna, a town near Rimini.

Like the group’s other restaurants, Y Bar’s name traces back to Peterson’s mentor Roberto, known as “Yeppa,” an exclamation he’d make whenever he got excited.

Expect dishes based on Peterson’s family recipes at Y Bar, including Aunt Becky’s artichoke dip, burro

e alici, prosciutto e piadina, pinzimonio, cacio e burro, and a mini meatball sub called I’m Workin’ With 3 Inches.

Cocktails take cues from Italian aperitivo culture, like the bruschetta martini, Coppa de Nonno, Negroni Fruttato, and Margarita Pizza. While the wine list favors producers from around Italy, some bottles on the list come from Y Hospitality’s own vineyard, Enio Ottaviani Winery.

Y Bar e Ristorante, 3065 Peachtree Road, Buckhead Village. Open Tuesday – Thursday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Starting at 9 p.m., Y Bar is 21+. Kitchen closes at 10 p.m.

Popular Yemeni-Ethiopian coffee shop turning the page

By Hayden Sumlin

Five years after opening on Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Tucker, Hesham Abdulla will close his popular YemeniEthiopian coffee shop, Mokhaport, before December.

But rather than shut down the business completely, Abdulla told Rough Draft Atlanta he wants to focus on online sales.

“After much reflection, we have made the decision to scale back our operations and close our physical location in the months to come,” Abdulla wrote in a social media post. “This decision wasn’t easy, but it allows us to slow down, refocus our energy, and prepare for our next chapter … We aren’t gone just yet! We still have a few months left.”

Abdulla said he’s still brainstorming for the future of Mokhaport Coffee & Smoothie, but believes a more scalable model will help him get his organic, health-focused food and drinks to more people.

Yemen to Atlanta to GSU to Tucker

The Abdulla family immigrated from Yemen to Atlanta in 2008 when Abdulla was 14. He attended Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville, then Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs.

During a Georgia State University (GSU) internship, part of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Abdulla began consulting with coffee shops and local businesses at the International Trade Mall in Stone Mountain. He soon found himself focused on one particular coffee shop at the mall.

“The business was all God’s will, if that makes sense,” Abdulla said. “Everything is,

but it was not planned for … I stumbled on it.”

Having earned his bachelor’s degree in 2020 – and as the coffee shop started to expand – Abdulla offered to buy into the business, operating under a different name, and entering into a 50/50 partnership.

The current address on Mountain Industrial Boulevard was supposed to be the coffee shop’s third location. By this time, however, Abdulla said the business partnership was strained.

“I decided to let go, reopen this in June 2021, and revamp the entire menu … change everything up,” he said. “We were more sugary, junk, just give the people what they want. [At Mokhaport,] I’ll give you what you want, but let me help you consume less garbage, especially sugar.”

The Mokhaport mission

The name, Mokhaport, harkens back to one of Yemen’s ports near the strait connecting the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Abdulla’s goal with Mokhaport is to introduce people to the story of how coffee spread globally.

“I’m selling Yemeni and Ethiopian coffee … how do they connect?” Abdulla said. “It’s the origin of coffee beans … Based on my research, the Yemenis, who were Muslims and business people, went to Ethiopia, took the bean to Yemen, and started growing it there. From there,

it spread from the Port of Mokha to the world because it was occupied by the British at the time.”

The British originally called highquality Yemeni coffee “mocha.” Today, it’s a distinct cafe beverage with milk and chocolate.

Along with coffee, Mokhaport specializes in smoothies, as well as vegan and halal dishes and sweets, made mostly in-house with organic and wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour.

Abdulla said he learned to cook by observing family members and taking note of their different styles. His grandparents on both sides of the family are YemeniEthiopian couples. Abdulla uses their cooking methods to recreate vegetarian, egg-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free dishes and desserts.

Some dishes and drinks are specific to one country, whether that’s traditional Ethiopian black coffee, or Yemeni honeycomb bread. Many of Mokhaport’s

entrees, smoothies, and desserts, including the shop’s tres leches cake, are not specifically inspired by Abdulla’s family heritage, but rather his passion for healthier eating.

“I don’t consider our stuff to be uniquely Yemeni, nor uniquely Ethiopian,” Abdulla said. “It’s just a Yemeni guy creating stuff.”

Even after he transitions Mokhaport to an online business later this year, Abdulla said he has no plans to leave Georgia. His immediate family still lives in metro Atlanta, and his whole life is here.

“I don’t think I’ll go anywhere else,” Abdulla said. “I like Georgia. The weather is perfect, and [the] people are diverse, too. Everything is here.”

Mokhaport Coffee & Smoothie, 1861 Mountain Industrial Blvd, Tucker. Open Monday-Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closing before December 2026.

Provided by Caren West PR

Mokhaport owner Hesham Abdulla beside a mural depicting the history of coffee, from the Ethiopian highlands to Yemen. (Photo by Hayden Sumlin)

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The Margaret Mitchell House reckons with ‘Gone With the Wind’ 90 years later

By Sammie Purcell

In June of 2020, HBO pulled the 1939 classic film “Gone With the Wind” from its streaming service.

The decision came after John Ridley, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter behind “12 Years a Slave,” wrote an op-ed for the LA Times calling out the film’s racism and sanitization of the institution of slavery. Later that month, HBO rereleased the film on streaming, now with an accompanying video from African American cinema scholar Jacqueline Stewart breaking down the context surrounding the release of the film. The new version also included a written disclaimer prior to the film’s beginning that includes the words: “To create a more just, equitable, and inclusive future, we must first acknowledge and understand our history.”

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Atlanta-born Margaret Mitchell, “Gone With the Wind”

has been a mainstay of popular culture since the novel’s release in 1936 – exactly 90 years ago this year. It follows Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh in the film), the daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, and her life through the years of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Despite its ever-present popularity, there is no doubt that both the novel and the film are racist. While conversations about the work’s depictions of Black people and the institution of slavery have been ongoing since the novel’s release, Ridley’s essay – which published just after George Floyd’s murder on May 25, 2020 – sparked a larger conversation about how to reckon with influential works of art that make us uncomfortable or angry.

The Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta is a part of that conversation. The museum revamped its exhibit in 2024 and functions as an examination of Mitchell, her life, and her creation of “Gone With the Wind.” This includes close looks at both the book and the film’s portrayals of

slavery and the Reconstruction period after the Civil War.

Claire Haley, the vice president of special projects at the Atlanta History Center, recently took me on a tour of the exhibit, which starts in the two-bedroom, 650-square-foot apartment where Mitchell wrote most of “Gone With the Wind” before extending into other rooms in the house. In the early parts of the exhibit, you see the actual desk where Mitchell worked (it’s one of only a few original pieces of furniture left), learn about her time as a journalist for The Atlanta Journal, and learn why she began writing the novel in the first place.

You also learn about her grandparents, who served as the basis for her knowledge about the Civil War and the Antebellum period in the South. Both of Mitchell’s grandfathers fought for the Confederacy, and letters from Mitchell detail how she spent much of her youth listening, rapt, to stories about the war from her grandparents and their friends.

“When we’re trying to understand why Margaret Mitchell channeled the version of history that she did in ‘Gone With the Wind,’ I go right back to these four people you see on the wall,” Haley said, pointing to photos of Mitchell’s grandparents. “They brought a very specific perspective about the conflict and about what it meant – or didn’t mean – that she heard growing up.”

By Mitchell’s own admission, she was 10 years old when she finally learned that the South lost the war, and it came as a “violent shock.” And growing up as a white person in a very segregated Atlanta, she wouldn’t have necessarily come across different perspectives about slavery and the war from the city’s Black community – even if one of those leading perspectives was only a few miles away.

Always controversial

While it might be true that Ridley’s piece had a further reach than most, he is not the first person to publicly quarrel with “Gone With the Wind.” Far from it. During my tour, Haley showed me letters that Walter White, the head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at that time, wrote to producer David O. Selznick when the film adaptation was announced.

White implored Selznick to hire a Black historian to offer some advice on how to approach the film (Selznick did not), and he also suggested that Selznick read “Black Reconstruction in America” by activist and historian W.E.B. Du Bois.

Du Bois’ book was published the same

year as “Gone With the Wind,” and when he lived in Atlanta (he taught at Atlanta University), he and Mitchell lived about 4.5 miles away from each other, according to Haley. There is no evidence that the two ever met or that Mitchell ever read “Black Reconstruction in America,” and their shared interest in Reconstruction led them down two divergent paths.

When she was researching “Gone With the Wind,” Mitchell relied heavily on C. Mildred Thompson’s book “Reconstruction in Georgia.” Thompson was part of the Dunning School, a school of thought that saw Reconstruction as a failure because of the ostensible ineptitude of formerly enslaved Black people and the imposition of their civil rights upon the South. Du Bois argued that newly freed slaves were the primary agents of democracy during the time and frequently denounced the Dunning School and its views on Reconstruction, including at the American Historical Association’s annual conference in 1909.

“The version of Reconstruction that Du Bois presents very thoroughly in this [book] is largely what historians today recognize as being the correct version,” Haley said.

While conversations about the depictions of slavery and Reconstruction were ongoing in conjunction with the novel and the film, the Black community was also heavily invested in the Black actors who chose to participate – namely, Hattie McDaniel.

McDaniel, who became the first Black person to win an Oscar for her role in “Gone With the Wind,” plays Mammy, a character steeped in racist stereotypes. Although she won an Oscar, McDaniel was not allowed to sit with her white castmates during the ceremony. Although she is one of the film’s main characters – and certainly the film’s main Black character – when the film premiered in a segregated theater in Atlanta, the program did not include a photo of McDaniel. She was included in the program for the New York premiere. McDaniel herself is a fascinating figure. Her parents were born into slavery, but she was born after the war in 1893. By 1914, she and her sister Etta made names for themselves by mounting an all-female minstrel show designed for Black audiences. According to McDaniel’s biographer Jill Watts, the point was to poke fun at white minstrel shows and offer a cultural critique of racist stereotypes. Throughout her movie career, McDaniel often played a “Mammy” type figure –becoming most famous for the stereotype

The desk where Margaret Mitchell wrote ‘Gone with the Wind,’ (Photo by Sammie Purcell)

she spent her early career critiquing. McDaniel seemed to see these roles as a way to support herself and continue to work in a field she loved. According to Watts, she once said: “I can be a maid for $7 a week, or I can play a maid for $700 a week.” Some members of the Black press, understandably, did not take kindly to that sentiment. For the Pittsburgh Courier, Earl Morris wrote: “It means about $2,000 for Miss McDaniel in individual advancement…[and] nothing in racial advancement.”

“There were conversations happening in the Black press, in particular about how should they think about these types of roles?” Haley said. “That on the one hand were reinforcing inaccurate narratives about the South, about the Civil War, about race relations and slavery, but on the other hand were offering visibility, and real paychecks and real money to Black artists.”

Jade Petermon, a professor in the School of Film, Media, and Theatre at Georgia State University who is working on a book about Black women in film and television in the Obama Era, compared the

McDaniel.”

Continuing popularity

I hadn’t seen “Gone With the Wind” since college when I sat down to rewatch it a couple of weeks ago. It certainly has things to recommend – the production design and scale are tremendously impressive, and as Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler, Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable burn up the screen with their chemistry. But at every turn, you’re hit with a moment of racism that’s deeply upsetting or completely divorced from reality. One of the scenes that stood out most to me was a moment where Ashley (Leslie Howard) expresses discomfort about using forced prison labor instead of paying people to work in Scarlett’s mill. When Scarlett reminds him that he didn’t care so much when it was slave labor, he says, with great earnestness: “That was different. We didn’t treat them that way.”

“Gone With the Wind” is filled with depictions of happy, smiling slaves, with moments so obvious in their inaccuracy that it’s almost laughable. But watching these types of movies gives us a window

conversation around McDaniel’s decision to take the role to Viola Davis’ decision to play a maid in the 2011 film “The Help.” In 2020, Davis expressed regret over taking the role.

“They’re navigating being artists in a system that wasn’t built for them. So, do they just not do their art? They’re faced with this impossible choice,” Petermon said. “I personally don’t think it’s fair to condemn them for doing the work that’s available to them in the way that makes sense to them.”

Watching “Gone With the Wind” – as I did leading up to my visit – it’s impossible to ignore the stereotypes that the character of Mammy upholds. But McDaniel herself is a wonderful performer, and you can see her trying her hardest to imbue the character with any sort of humanity where none is given to her freely.

“Mammy in the movie, in my personal opinion, has a lot more … autonomy than the Mammy character in the book,” Haley said. “I credit that a little bit to the writing, but I mostly credit that to Hattie

According to Haley, “Gone With the Wind” tends to become popular in other countries after moments of great national strife – the movie was immensely popular in the United Kingdom during World War II, and became equally as popular in Japan when it was released there in 1952. When it comes to its popularity in America, Haley thinks that some of the book’s and film’s themes, particularly Scarlett’s determination in the face of poverty, spoke to the national feeling at the time.

“The country was in the middle of the Great Depression. I think that the story of resistance and perseverance and survival [was appealing],” Haley said. “Scarlett is a very modern woman, so she’s an appealing character in that sense – I think all of that really spoke to people during a very difficult time in their personal lives.”

Haley first read “Gone With the Wind” when she was in elementary school (she doesn’t recommend this – it’s not a hard read, but young kids might not understand the context). She also read Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” that year, a book that takes a look at the Civil War from a

vastly different point of view, following a group of sisters whose father is serving in the Union Army.

“I remember thinking that there must have been two Civil Wars, because they presented the war so differently,” Haley said.

I’ve never read “Gone With the Wind,” but Haley has several times. She maintains that Mitchell is an excellent storyteller –but it’s that prowess that makes it easy for some to dismiss the novel’s inaccuracies.

“Because she’s such a great storyteller, it can mask a lot of the historical inaccuracies and give people a perspective of the war, of slavery in the south, that’s just not accurate,” Haley said.

Haley said. “A way for us to understand one another, to understand why we are where we are, and maybe have some inspiration on how to find a solution to solve it.”

To read the rest of the story, scan the QR code or go to roughdraft.news.

Atlanta History Center opens new Civil War exhibition

By Collin Kelley

As part of its centennial celebration, the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead has opened its new exhibition, “More Perfect Union: The American Civil War Era.”

The expansive new exhibition debuts in the fully renovated DuBose Gallery and serves as the first phase of Atlanta History Center’s new Civil War-era exhibition experience. The second phase, “Hard Hand of War: Soldiers, Weapons, and Mass Production,” will open in the Goldstein Gallery this winter.

into the past and also reminds us of our societal and cultural values now – how those values have changed, and how they’ve stayed the same.

“Yes, things are very different now, but they’re also, in a lot of ways, not, if you look at the political landscape of the moment” Petermon said. “I do think it’s important that we have these texts, because they reveal to us why – why things have changed a lot, and not a lot at the same time.”

“Gone With the Wind’s” continuing popularity despite its racism offers a window into that question. While “Gone With the Wind” has always been popular among white southerners, those are not its only champions. The book was a national hit, Haley said, selling over a million copies in just six months. While not every part of the country had the South’s strict Jim Crow laws, large portions of the national population turned a blind eye – whether due to ignorance or apathy – to the book and film’s racism.

Together, the two galleries will comprise more than 15,400 square feet of interpretive space, almost doubling the footprint of the Center’s recently retired “Turning Point: The American Civil War,” which educated millions of visitors over its nearly 30-year run, according to a press release.

Through immersive storytelling, personal accounts from people who were there, deeply researched interpretation, and rare, never-before-seen artifacts, the exhibition examines the central questions that shaped the nation: Who was included in the promise of American democracy? Who was excluded? What does a more perfect union look like?

Among the featured objects are an original copy of Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”, the Confederate flag that flew over Atlanta at the time of the city’s surrender, Major General William T. Sherman’s personal copy of “Photographic Views of

Sherman’s Campaign,” and the battle flag of the 127th U.S. Colored Troops bearing the words “We will prove ourselves men.” Upon entering, visitors immediately step into an immersive media experience. Photographs, headlines, political cartoons, and other imagery flash across multiple screens, while period voices collide in a cacophony of political debate. These are the words of real Americans, revealing the deep divisions, conflicting opinions, and uncertainty that defined the era.

As visitors continue through the exhibition, interactive digital maps and animated timelines provide historical context and allow visitors to explore stories and connections at their own pace, while keeping original artifacts and primarysource interpretation at the center of the experience.

Learn more at AtlantaHistoryCenter. com.

Courtesy Atlanta History Center

The Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta (Photo by Linea).

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AROUND ATLANTA

Leaders celebrate FIFA World Cup success

By Logan C. Ritchie

Mayor Andre Dickens thanked the thousands of city and public safety employees who kept the City of Atlanta thriving as soccer fans from across the world arrived to experience the culture, food, and businesses during six weeks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Dickens said at a July 22 press conference that the city never missed a beat hosting the World Cup in addition to Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, the Peachtree Road Race, and regular city business.

“No single person, no single organization, and no single level of government can accomplish something of this magnitude alone,” Dickens said. “Our greatest accomplishments happen when we work together.”

Drawing a parallel to the 1996 Summer Olympics, the mayor said the tournament’s exposure — including a semifinal match that drew more than 1 billion viewers worldwide — could translate into business investment, conference bookings, and tourism for the city. Dickens said officials are already applying lessons learned to prepare for the 2028 Super Bowl scheduled to be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

A look at the numbers

Atlanta COO LaChandra Burks, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, Assistant Fire Chief Terrance Simon, and Department of Transportation

Commissioner Solomon Caviness detailed how their departments prepared for and managed the events from June 11 to July 19, including eight matches in Downtown

and 16 nights of Fan Fest programming at Centennial Olympic Park and across the metro area.

Employees kept up their regular duties — from permitting to payroll to neighborhood services — while also absorbing the added workload of the World Cup.

“You woke up early. You stayed up late. You solved problems. You stepped up when no one else would, all for the benefit of the City of Atlanta,” Burks said.

Schierbaum said the same security framework used for large-scale events like the Atlanta Pride Parade was applied to World Cup sites, adjusted in real time as crowds gravitated toward South Downtown and Centennial Yards.

Schierbaum said the Atlanta Police Department was fully mobilized for six weeks, deploying more than 1,800 sworn officers on 12-hour shifts alongside 500 civilian staff who ran two 911 call centers. The department drew support from 33 outside law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and regional level.

Officers took 212 guns off the streets and served six high-risk warrants during the tournament, according to Schierbaum. About 150 people were arrested by federal agents n connection to human trafficking and child exploitation charges. He said crime citywide fell 18% compared to the same six-week period in 2025. More than 300 unattended packages found Downtown were flagged for clearance, a nod to post-1996 Olympics security awareness campaigns urging residents to “see something, say something.”

The department’s backup 911 center fielded 122,004 calls in multiple languages over the six weeks, with an average answer

time of 5.7 seconds, Schierbaum said. Georgia State University helped by bussing officers, housing visiting teams, and serving more than 24,000 meals to police staff. Chastain Park housed horses from Memphis and Savannah, doubling the size of Atlanta’s mounted patrol unit.

During days of extreme heat and humidity, roughly 20,952 bottles of water and 25,020 pounds of ice were used by officers, Schierbaum said.

Assistant Fire Chief Simon said emergency teams handled 833 patients at an infield hospital with only 27 patients requiring transport to area emergency rooms.

Transportation and infrastructure

Before the tournament, the city resurfaced more than 25 miles of downtown roadway, eliminated about 60% of downtown potholes, repaired 11 miles of sidewalk and installed 80

ADA-compliant curb ramps, according to Caviness.

The Atlanta Department of Transportation coordinated more than 4 million MARTA trips and 600,000 micromobility trips on scooters and e-bikes.

Dickens said that the city processed 2,000 permits and business licenses in preparation for the tournament, including liquor and vendor licenses for pop-ups.

“From our airport to our neighborhoods, from Atlanta Stadium [Mercedes-Benz Stadium] to five neighborhood watch parties across our city, Atlanta’s spirit could be seen and felt everywhere. But one, thing’s for sure: that did not happen by accident. For years, countless people across the city government, community organizations, volunteers, and partners worked together to prepare for this very moment. And Atlanta delivered,” COO Burks said.

Soccer fans at the FIFA Fan Fest at Centennial Olympic Park. (Photos by Ansley Kelly)