Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - July 30, 2026

July 30, 2026 | AppenMedia .com

Nonprofit

By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities provided more than 1,300 local students with school supplies after a strong response to its annual call for donations.

Around 200 volunteers collected supplies — binders, dividers, composition notebooks, backpacks

Roswell City Council approves growth plan ► PAGE 4

and more — July 20-22. They then sorted and filled backpacks for students who might need them. The group had strong demand from its clients, distributing supplies through July 25.

North Fulton Community Charities started the school supply drive in 1998. It partnered with Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, which helped found the nonprofit

Local residents win wedding giveaway

PAGE 5

organization in 1982. Seven more churches soon joined the effort to collect and distribute school supplies.

SaraSpring Weston, the nonprofit’s community engagement manager, said the drive’s success depends on the generosity of people throughout the area.

See SUPPLIES, Page 10

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Tax digest delay puts Fulton County finances at risk

By HANNAH YAHNE & ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE hannah@appenmedia.com

erlandrya@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County needs a Superior Court judge’s permission to begin collecting 2026 property taxes after delays finishing this year’s tax digest. Without that approval, the county risks missing debt payments and being unable to pay employees, while cities and the school system risk losing out on tax revenue and the ability to make their own financial decisions.

The county’s Board of Commissioners approved a petition seeking a court order July 15. If a judge agrees, the county will remain on track to bill property owners by Aug. 15 with a payment due date of Oct. 15. However, property owners would be taxed at the 2025 millage rate.

Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whitmore said her office was hoping to propose this year’s millage rate and begin the subsequent public hearing process, but a backlog of 292 unprocessed land packages has resulted in an unfinished tax digest. Those packages represent about 1,000 land parcels, many of which are not residential, according to Commissioner Dana Barrett.

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Shooting that injured 2 on MARTA bus ‘accidental’

By ATLANTA NEWS FIRST

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Two people were shot on a MARTA bus in what police are calling an “accidental discharge” of a firearm.

The bus, which had several passengers on board, came to a stop in the 5000 block of Roswell Road after gunfire

POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Roswell police intervene in attempted bank fraud

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police recently confronted a woman allegedly posing as an employee of Bank of America’s fraud department.

Police were alerted to the scam by a Roswell man who had withdrawn $21,500 in cash at the woman’s direction.

When police arrived at the scene on Alpharetta Highway July 20, the man was standing in front of a silver Honda Accord he alleged was involved in the crime. The man told police he had been directed over the phone to withdraw $10,000 at one Bank of America location and an additional $11,500 from a separate location to cover charges on his American Express card.

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He was told to call back when the money had been obtained. With police present, the man called the alleged bank employee, who instructed him to place the money in a plastic bag to pass off to someone in a silver Honda Accord. An assisting officer detained the driver of the car while another spoke on the phone to the alleged bank employee.

The woman told police the driver was

erupted late Wednesday.

Both victims were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One of the gunshot victims — a man — was arrested and will be charged with reckless conduct and aggravated assault upon his release, police said.

Police identified the suspect as Cruz Velazquez Guillermo. Authorities said

not part of the attempted crime. When asked why she was instructing the man to give cash to a courier, the woman began scolding the officer for stopping a crime in progress before hanging up.

Police determined the driver of the silver Honda Accord worked for Uber, was unaware of the attempted scam and was only responding to a call. He provided his account details for further investigation and was released.

The Roswell man and his wife thought the call was legitimate because the alleged bank employee provided a correct cellphone number, driver’s license information and Social Security number.

Police told them that information can be found in public records.

— Hannah Yahne

E-cigarettes reported stolen in robbery

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Officers investigated a reported robbery of electronic cigarettes from an Old Milton Parkway gas station June 30.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the gas station about 5:15 a.m.

A 43-year-old Norcross woman told officers a man wearing a mask stole e-cigarettes from a display before fleeing in the direction of a nearby hotel. The woman said she saw no weapon but feared he was armed.

The stolen items had a value of $83. Officers reviewed a video camera recording from the gas station, seeing

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that after the gunfire, Guillermo ran from the bus and officers tracked him down to a parking lot near the Church of Scientology, just steps away from the bus.

MARTA police are taking the lead in the investigation, which is ongoing.

Appen Media partner Atlanta News First provided this story.

the suspect forcing himself past the woman to steal the items, police said.

— Jon Wilcox

Roswell man reports sports cards missing

ROSWELL, Ga. — A Roswell man recently reported that nine packages containing sports cards valued at $5,805 were stolen from his P.O. box on Holcomb Bridge Road.

He reported the theft to the Roswell Police Department July 21 after tracking information showed the packages had been delivered the previous day.

The man resells sports cards purchased in high volumes from various sellers through the online retail site Fanatics. He told police that his P.O. box is not always big enough to hold all his packages. When that happens, UPS Store staff typically put the overflow packages in a bag kept behind the service counter for pickup.

The man told police there are multiple sports cards posted on eBay that he believes are from the missing packages. He said photos of the cards feature his Fanatics username, indicating they are the ones he bought. He was told to audit all of his transactions with Fanatics to see if other packages had been previously stolen. The man is asking police to pursue charges against whoever stole the packages.

— Hannah Yahne

Roswell council approves 2045 growth plan after public input

By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — After a number of community feedback opportunities and much discussion, the 2045 comprehensive growth plan for the city of Roswell was approved Monday by the Roswell City Council.

The growth plan brought forward 17 public comments at the evening meeting. Some residents thanked the council and city staff for the work put into the plan and for including environmental and residential character area language in it. Others criticized parts of the plan, calling them “vague.”

One resident, Karen Parish, said the city’s objective of housing that supports economic development has, in her opinion, shifted, with housing becoming the economic development strategy itself.

“If a project doesn’t pencil out, we add high-density housing; if an aging shopping center struggles, we add highdensity housing,” Parish said.

She said the council should define “vague” housing terms included throughout the plan.

The comprehensive plan provides a shared vision for Roswell’s future growth and development. It guides the city’s

DRIVEWAYS & CONCRETE

strategies to preserve neighborhood character while also supporting appropriate redevelopment. It also tackles ways to improve transportation, mobility and connectivity.

Additionally, the plan sets goals for parks, recreation, environmental stewardship and community resilience. Included in it are implementation strategies to help guide future planning initiatives and capital investments.

The plan is required by the state of Georgia and must be updated every five years. City officials updated the

plan with the previous 2040 plan in mind, building on its goals around infrastructure investment.

The new plan identifies five activity centers that are tied to the economic success of Roswell, including Holcomb Bridge Road/Georgia 400, downtown, midtown, uptown and east Roswell. These centers include specific redevelopment sites designed to attract more visitors and services.

The plan also includes language to provide for appropriate transitions and buffers to protect existing

DRIVEWAYS

neighborhoods.

While preparing for the 2045 plan, city leaders held six stakeholder meetings and three community events. They also launched a community survey, which received 1,038 responses.

The vote to approve the 2045 plan and transmit it to the state was 5-1, with Councilmember Sarah Beeson voting in opposition.

Roof replacement, rezoning deferral

In other business, the council unanimously approved a $7 million contract to The Cool Roofing Co. for the replacement of the City Hall roof. Construction is set to begin Nov. 1.

Council members deferred deciding on a rezoning request from Dennis Webb with Pope & Land Enterprises.

Webb wants to rezone approximately 10 acres of land on Old Roswell Road from commercial/mixed-use status to office/residential status.

The development, which would consist of 62 townhomes, would also require a variance to allow almost 39,000 square feet of encroachment into the city’s 100- and 150-foot stream buffer and impervious setback.

The city planning commission, along with city staff members, have recommended denying the application.

couple wins $40,000 dream wedding giveaway

By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Local residents Caden Steele and Makenzie Pilgrim were recently selected as the 2026 recipients of a surprise wedding giveaway valued at $40,000 by the Weddings to Warriors community initiative.

Organizer Brandy Yungel said she has always had a special place in her heart for service members. Her Weddings to Warriors initiative came out of that love and is funded by 16 local businesses.

“Weddings to Warriors was created as a way for our local wedding community to come together and give back in a meaningful way,” Yungel said. “We wanted to honor one deserving military couple by giving them the wedding of their dreams, something they may never have been able to experience otherwise.”

To qualify, at least one person in the couple had to be an active-duty service member or veteran. Each couple submitted their love story and a photo. Yungel received five applications from military couples across Georgia and selected the winning couple based on the votes of participating businesses.

Steele and Pilgrim were surprised at the news. They arrived at the Pardue

Family Foundation Center in Milton on July 16 believing they were attending a finalists meeting. Now, they will get their dream wedding, which is planned for the summer of 2027.

The couple originally planned to get married at the local courthouse but decided to push the ceremony back after they had their daughter. They are high school sweethearts.

Pilgrim said what initially drew her to Steele was his lively personality.

“He was crazy and wild; I liked that about him,” Pilgrim said. “I was very shy and still am, and Caden likes to bring me out of that. He likes to make me the best version of me, always puts me first and makes sure we’re good.”

Steele originally had a full-ride golf scholarship to a Wisconsin school but turned it down to join the Marine Corps and build his relationship with Pilgrim.

“I met Makenzie and she’s been an inspiration to me,” Steele, who is currently stationed at Twentynine Palms Base in California, said. “She’s mainly the reason I turned down college. I knew I had the one and I’d do anything to make sure we were capable of [supporting] each other financially and spiritually.”

Yungel said interested military couples can follow the initiative’s social media channels to watch for updates and next year’s application window.

The Emory Winship Cancer Institute’s Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Bus travels the state offering free prostate cancer screenings via a blood test. It will be open to the public from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Country Club of Roswell on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Drive for the Cure offers free prostate cancer screenings

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — When Ed Hoppe learned about Drive for the Cure from friends more than 20 years ago, he thought the annual golf tournament, which raises funds for prostate cancer research, was a worthy cause and that he should get involved.

“One in eight men will, presumably, be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, so it’s a good thing,” Hoppe said. “It’s a worthy cause for us men.”

Drive for the Cure was started in 1999 by a group of men at the Country Club of Roswell. As the tournament heads into its 28th year, the nonprofit organization has raised around $1.5 million for the Emory Winship Cancer Institute.

Last year’s tournament offered an exciting addition, volunteer Dan Gordon said. Golfers could receive free screenings at the course through

a blood test at Emory’s Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Bus.

About 20% of men screened last year were recommended for further testing after their results flagged concerns. This year, community members not participating in the tournament are also able to take advantage of the free screenings.

“Early detection for men is key to making sure that there’s no longterm issues,” Gordon said. “That bus screening has been fantastic.

Community members are invited to receive a free mobile screening at the Country Club of Roswell, 2500 Club Springs Drive, from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. the day of the fundraiser, Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Participation in the golf fundraiser is filled. Anyone interested in donating to the cause or participating in the silent auction to bid on vacations, golf packages and memorabilia can visit birdease.com/ DrivefortheCure.

Program connects backyard gardeners with in-need residents

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — For backyard gardeners, half the fun is sharing their harvest.

“Gardeners are giving people,” said Jessica Jackson, an Alpharetta mom who cultivates vegetables and herbs. “We love to grow, and we love to give. We’re always trying to pawn our produce off on our neighbors, and nobody wants it, to be honest.”

Jackson is one of more than 20 local gardeners who will contribute homegrown produce to families experiencing food insecurity. Organized by the nonprofit North Fulton Community Charities and Alpharetta’s Community Agriculture Program, the Homegrown Harvest program launched July 1 in response to growing demand at the nonprofit’s food pantry.

Amanda Musilli, community agriculture and sustainability services manager for the city of Alpharetta, said Homegrown Harvest is a win-win, connecting locals who love gardening with residents who have a real need for fresh vegetables.

“Homegrown Harvest gives backyard gardeners an opportunity to turn that passion into meaningful community service,” Musilli said. “Every tomato, pepper, bean or bunch of herbs grown through this program helps put fresh, healthy food on the table for a local family.”

Tucked behind Jackson’s home

Gasthaus Tirol

are numerous raised beds where she already grows tomatoes, beans, beets, kale, chard, muscadines, basil and other herbs.

“I’m out there every single day,” she said. “I don’t need to be, but that’s my

favorite place to be.”

Tending her garden is hardly work for Jackson, who finds immense relaxation in its care. She loves spending time walking among the plots, “talking to bugs” and ensuring the plants are thriving, she said.

“It’s just peaceful,” she said.

Jackson has agreed to dedicate several plots in her garden to the program and plans to deliver her first batch of crops in a few months.

Kara Mucklow, a Milton gardener who is also participating in the program, said she is excited to help out.

She plans to dedicate one of her newly established plots to Homegrown Harvest. Mucklow, who has grown tomatoes, basil, bell peppers, cucumbers and raspberries, said there’s something special about homegrown produce.

“It’s as fresh as you can get,” she said.

As Mucklow prepares to plant for the program, she said she is most looking forward to simply helping those in her community.

“It nourishes the community in a very basic way,” she said. “It shows the community that support is there for the people who need assistance.”

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Confetti Jar connects parents with party vendors

By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Less than three years after its launch, nearly 10,000 parents a month are using ConfettiJar. com, an Atlanta-based platform that, according to its founders, connects families with trusted local vendors for birthday parties and other events.

Jessica Vicars, who moved to the Atlanta area 18 years ago, and Roy Duvall, a lifelong Georgian, founded the website. They worked together in healthcare information technology before founding Confetti Jar to solve an ongoing issue — birthday parties that required parents to find service providers and vendors through blind social media or internet searches.

Confetti Jar makes that process more simple, bringing those businesses together on one website. Its staff members spend time with vendors, helping them get exposure and build trust with customers.

It’s free for parents to use, with a small commission fee charged to businesses when their services are booked through it, the founders said. The latest update, they said, allows customers to book services from local vendors directly through Confetti Jar. The new booking feature cuts out the back-and-forth quote requests that used to define party planning, they said.

“It’s bringing everything together

A screenshot shows the homepage of ConfettiJar.com. The Atlanta-based platform connects parents with local vendors for birthday parties and other events.

for both sides to make a seamless experience,” Duvall said.

The website now has 150 participating businesses. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have been the biggest driver of Confetti Jar’s visibility.

“[I’m] a real mom [who] genuinely cares about other families having a

great birthday party experience, and we really aim for that to come through in [our] social media pages, where people get a chance to get to know us,” Vicars said.

Vicars and Duvall have plans to branch out to other cities but are more invested in Atlanta right now, they said, wanting to ensure local

businesses are seeing growth.

“[Our local businesses are] so collaborative, fun and friendly,” Vicars said. “It’s been an amazing community to get to connect with, and we certainly couldn’t do something like this without the local businesses being so excited about what we’re building.”

MARTA logs 4.7M rail trips, no major crimes

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Across 35 days of World Cup matches, fan festivals, concerts and other associated events, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority provided around 4.7 million rail passenger trips.

“Team MARTA showed up and showed out during the World Cup tournament, providing frequent service, ensuring the system was secure and riders were safe,” Jonathan Hunt, MARTA interim general manager and CEO, said.

On match days, MARTA experienced approximately 2 to 3.5 times its normal daily rail ridership, generating an average of nearly 130,000 additional rail passenger trips each day. Fan festival-only days generated an average of 37,000 additional rail passenger trips per day, resulting in daily rail ridership approximately 1 to 2 times the normal ridership.

Hundreds of MARTA transit

ambassadors worked alongside 100 multilingual FIFA volunteers throughout the tournament to help visitors navigate the public transportation system and downtown Atlanta.

MARTA police officers, along with law enforcement from other local jurisdictions and Denver transit, patrolled trains, buses and their stations, in addition to staffing response teams in case of emergencies. A press release from MARTA said these efforts resulted in no major crimes reported and the apprehension of three suspects wanted for previous violent incidents.

Hunt thanked law enforcement officers, frontline staff and transit ambassadors for their dedicated work and applauded MARTA passengers for their ridership.

“Whether you were headed to a match, fan festival, watch party or one of the many celebrations, concerts and events around our region or to work, to run errands, or to a holiday get together, thank you for trusting us and for riding with us during this historic summer,” Hunt said.

Digest:

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Commissioner Bridget Thorne said the delay is happening because only one employee has been using Esri, the county’s geographic information system. That system integrates maps and records to analyze data for tax purposes. Chief Information Officer Keven Kerrigan said they are working to add more users to the platform.

Whitmore said staff members are actively working to resolve the issue that caused the delay, and they are also looking at how to ensure it does not happen again.

The backlog has prompted a number of issues. Without a court order allowing the county to move forward with interim collection, Fulton could risk being unable to pay its debts and employees. Government functions would be at risk of stopping, and the county’s credit rating would also be uncertain.

The ripple effects are also strong. The county’s school system and municipalities, which depend on the tax digest to set their own millage rates, have yet to be able to do so.

Downstream effects

Days after the Fulton commission voted to ask a judge to authorize interim collection, the city of Milton passed a resolution to join the petition.

City Manager Steven Krokoff said a prolonged interruption of property tax collections could put at risk city operations, employee paychecks and the payment of financial obligations. He said the matter is procedural and not a change in tax policy or a sign Milton is experiencing financial difficulties.

“The purpose of the resolution is to prevent a disruption before one occurs,” Krokoff added.

Ken Jerrard, city attorney for both Milton and Alpharetta, said the Alpharetta City Council is considering a similar resolution.

Johns Creek could also join in, with Assistant City Manager Kay Love saying its council will vote on the matter July 27.

Matt Holmes, director of communications and engagement for the city of Roswell, said the situation does not halt his city’s process. Sandy

Supplies:

Continued from Page 1

“Everything is donated to us, whether that’s through faith organizations, civic organizations, business and corporate groups … it’s the community standing

Springs city officials said that, without figures, it is too early to release a statement on the matter.

Without the 2026 tax digest, the county school system’s short-term cash flow is also at risk. Local tax revenue projections total more than 60% of the system’s budget. Combined with a new homestead exemption that decreases the educational tax obligations owed by senior citizens, the district could see a drop in incoming funds.

Brian Noyes, chief communications officer for Fulton Schools, said a prolonged delay in the tax digest could affect the timing of incoming revenue and require the system to consider short-term financing options to meet its financial obligations while continuing to provide for students.

Commissioner Thorne was sympathetic to the school system’s troubles and said the court order could also help Fulton Schools.

“They’re blindly having to set

up and bringing all of it,” Weston said.

The nonprofit provides other services for local families, including food, clothing and financial assistance as well as skills workshops. Current clients served by the group — families who have used its services in the past 12 months — were eligible to receive school supplies.

budgets,” Thorne said. “And they have all these implications with new tax breaks for seniors. They don’t know how their tax digest has been affected by that.”

The county has yet to provide an estimate on the delivery date of the tax digest. County Commissioner Bob Ellis described the situation as unacceptable.

“You had one job and it didn’t get done,” Ellis said. “That’s a failure that impacts us and all of our jurisdictions.”

Processes and next steps

The process for assembling the tax digest begins with the Fulton County Board of Assessors appraising and assessing property. They provide those values to the county tax commissioner, who reviews the digest and certifies it. That official then sends the certified digest to the state revenue commissioner, historically around Aug. 1. The county can only bill and

“We know how many people are in their household, so we know how many children, how many backpacks to have ready,” Weston added.

Debbie Halper has volunteered with the nonprofit for more than 10 years. She said her favorite part of her service is interacting with people and “seeing their faces.”

collect property taxes after the revenue commissioner reviews and approves the digest.

Fulton County, however, is stuck in the appraisal and assessment stage. If a judge allows the county to move forward with collection without the new tax digest, interim tax bills will go out ahead of a final millage rate. Those bills would be calculated using 2026 assessed values, where available, but the 2025 millage rate. Commissioners are unable to set the 2026 millage rate without first having a state-mandated public hearing process.

If the judge approves that step, property owners will get the interim bill and later another property tax notice. That notice could come with an additional amount owed to the county or news of a refund from the county, Whitmore said.

A hearing on the matter has been set for 4 p.m. Aug. 4 in the Superior Court of Fulton County.

“I do the food pantry also, and we get to know people … and find out things about them,” she said.

Weston said she estimated the group gave supplies to 450 elementary schoolers, 500 middle schoolers and 400 high schoolers. Any remaining supplies were distributed to other area nonprofits and schools.

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Connect-It

Each line in the puzzle below has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

SPORTING IMPLEMENTS

1. Uniform material. Hockey necessity. Like Krypton.

2. Latin dance. Bawl out. Pub game piece.

3. Archery item. On one’s guard. Give up.

4. Moonfish. Soccer necessity. Brouhaha.

5. Curling playthings. Speaker’s platform. Auction shout.

6. Soup scoop. Winter warmer. Fencing item.

7. Golf item. Repair. Like hen’s teeth.

1 Uniform material. Hockey necessity. Like krypton

2. Latin dance. Bawl out. Pub game piece

How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

3. Archery item. On one’s guard. Give up 4. Moonfish. Soccer necessity. Brouhaha

5. Curling playthings. Speaker’s platform. Auction shout.

6. Soup scoop. Winter warmer. Fencing item

Golf item. Repair. Like hen’s teeth

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

Mountain Park celebrates a century of history

BOB MEYERS Columnist

Georgia is home to roughly 35–40 incorporated ultra small cities, each with about 500 or fewer residents. Many of these towns were founded in the late 19th to mid-20th centuries to secure a post office, school district or railroad stop. Incorporation also offered local autonomy — their own government and taxing authority. Over time, some communities have faded from the map, while a handful continue to thrive.

Mountain Park, incorporated in 1927, has about 550 residents in an area of 0.5 square miles, making it the smallest city in Fulton County. Located on the North Fulton-Cherokee line between Roswell and Woodstock, it is wooded, has two lakes and mostly narrow roads. To those fortunate enough to live there, it is paradise.

Trish Hill is the city’s unofficial historian. She has lived in the community for 43 years and worked for one of the first computer distributorships during the pioneering days of the industry. Later, she and her husband, now deceased, developed a marketing agency with a specialty in international business.

She says that living in a very small town has many advantages.

“I live on a lake and enjoy the herons, turtles and ducks,” she says. “It is a city of trees and is very different from the hustle and bustle of a large city. There is a strong sense of community. We know each other. We are a diverse city with young people, old people and rich and not so rich. The Atlanta Journal used to say that going to Mountain Park was like going back 100 years and 100 miles north.”

Among the city’s founders were six businessmen operating together as the Mountain Park Improvement Club. Three of them were with Southern Railway, a major employer in the 1920s. Trish says that all the men and their wives were frequently featured in the social pages of various newspapers. The group’s attorney was Stephens Mitchell, president of the Atlanta Bar Association whose sister was Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind.”

In its early years before incorporation, the future lakeside city was known as a summer resort for Atlantans, many of whom drove to Mountain Park on roads of varying quality. A series of ads in the Atlanta Journal in 1925 promoted the sale of 1,000 50x150 “camp sites” at $10 each. The first lot was sold on April 1, 1925, according to Trish’s research.

In 1929, the Atlanta Constitution reported that Mountain Park had “about a hundred cottages already built and

Editor’s note: The July 23, 2026, print edition of the AlpharettaRoswell Herald included the headline and photos from this column but had article text from a previous column. We apologize for the error.

occupied and more under construction. Many of Atlanta’s businesses and social clubs here have commodious clubhouses where their members and friends may spend weekends during the summer.”

In 1934, the Mountain Park Skeet Club opened as the newest skeet club in the area with traps installed in the community’s valley. One member was famous baseball star Nap Rucker. It is no longer in operation.

The only store ever operated in the city was The Stand, a country store and restaurant with a dance floor adjacent to the neighborhood pool and a small jail. It was established in the late 1930s and closed in the late 1970s.

The Mountain Park Elementary School is part of the Fulton County School District and is in Roswell just outside the Mountain Park city limits.

A non-denominational Sunday school opened in 1956 which, according to Trish Hill, is the “longest standing continuous organization in Mountain Park other than the City Council.”

In 1989, Mountain Park became the first city in Georgia to require a recycling program.

The city has a volunteer Fire and Rescue

Department and relies on Fulton County for police services. It also has contracts with Roswell for police and fire department services as needed.

The city is currently gearing up for next year’s centennial celebration.

Bill Kolbrener became mayor of Mountain Park 2 ½ years ago, following in the footsteps of longtime mayor Jim Still. The new mayor says, “I want to honor the past while taking the city to a new level.”

Bill has been a developer for the past 30 years, and he is using his experience to focus on some needed infrastructure and erosion control issues. He also wants to help Mountain Park become more involved with other Fulton County cities.

Bill says, “We are a great and proud city. We are also an anomaly. We have no income from businesses, so we must

be wise and efficient with money. We are fortunate that we have a great local government team building on the strong foundation put in place by Jim Still.”

The history of Mountain Park invites all of us to appreciate a special place that enjoys a unique way of life.

Thanks to Jacqueline Venchi, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited Crabapple/Roswell for suggesting this topic.

Bob is a member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission, director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and trustee on the Board of Directors of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

OPINION

The expensive question homebuyers never ask

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist

If I had a dollar for every prospective homebuyer whose first question was, "What's your rate?"... well, I could probably buy down my own mortgage rate. Interest rates matter.

They influence monthly payments, affordability and long-term borrowing costs. But focusing exclusively on the rate is a bit like shopping for a car based solely on its top speed. It's an important statistic…but it tells you remarkably little about how the vehicle will perform when it matters most.

One of the biggest misconceptions in the mortgage industry is that every lender offers essentially the same experience. They don't.

When a realtor or builder recommends a lender, it is rarely because that lender advertises the lowest rate. More often, it is because that loan officer

PAST TENSE

has demonstrated…over hundreds or even thousands of transactions… that they can navigate problems, communicate effectively and, most importantly, close on time. In real estate, reliability has economic value.

Of course, everyone also has "a guy."

Your friend may swear by the loan officer who handled their refinance three years ago, and that recommendation may be perfectly valid. But before entrusting someone with what is likely the largest financial transaction of your life, ask a few additional questions.

How many loans do they close each year? How long have they been originating mortgages? What do their customer reviews say? Those answers are readily available online and often reveal far more than a quoted interest rate.

Here's another question every borrower should ask:

"Can you show me the total cost of that rate?"

A surprisingly low interest rate may indeed be available…but it may also require paying discount points upfront. Buying down a rate is not inherently good

or bad; it simply represents a financial trade-off. The important question isn't whether the rate is lower. It's whether paying additional cash at closing produces enough long-term savings to justify the investment.

Then there is the value a lender provides beyond the loan itself.

A quality mortgage professional should help you make smarter financial decisions throughout the homebuying process…not simply generate paperwork. At our office, for example, we routinely obtain multiple homeowners insurance quotes so clients can compare premiums before closing.

That extra step recently saved one family nearly $100 per month on a $500,000 home. Ironically, even if another lender had offered an interest rate one-eighth of a percent lower, the insurance savings more than offset the payment difference.

That's the kind of math that actually improves a family's financial position… not just the headline rate advertised on a website.

The mortgage industry loves to

advertise rates because they're easy to compare. The problem is that buying a home isn't a rate-shopping contest. It's a financial strategy.

So, the next time you're interviewing lenders, don't stop at, "What's your rate?"

Ask about experience. Ask about closing costs. Ask about service. Ask what happens if something goes wrong. And ask what they can do to save you money beyond the mortgage itself.

Because choosing a lender based solely on the interest rate is a little like choosing a surgeon because they offered the cheapest scalpel.

It makes for a great advertisement. It doesn't always make for the best outcome.

DC Aiken is senior vice president of lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS#658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.

1971 fire ended era of Morgan Falls School

In the early hours of Jan.13, 1971, Morgan Falls Elementary School caught fire. The fire started in the part of the school that was built in 1932. Seven classrooms were destroyed. The 226 students were given the rest of the week off. The next week, they began attending Mimosa Elementary School in Roswell.

The first Morgan Falls School opened in 1907 on the west side of Roswell Road along what is now Morgan Falls Road but was then known as Bull Sluice Road. A school was needed in the area as more people were working with Atlanta Water and Power Co. on the construction of Morgan Falls Dam. The first school was built with the assistance of that company, founded by Forrest Adair and Jack Spalding.

In 1932, Atlanta attorney and chairman of the state board of regents Hughes Spalding donated land on the east side of Roswell Road for the second Morgan Falls School to be built. Additions

This January 1971 photo of Morgan Falls Elementary School following a devastating fire was captured by the family of a student. The photo was contributed to the Fulton County School Archives.

were made to the school in 1953.

The 1971 students of Morgan Falls were already scheduled to transfer to the new Woodland Elementary School on Spalding Drive at the beginning of the next school year. In the meantime, county school buses transported them to Mimosa Elementary School.

Later that month, an Atlanta Journal article included the thoughts a few students had written regarding their old

PROVIDED

school. One student wrote, “I realize now that Morgan Falls had more personality than any new school ever could.”

Another child shared, “I think it had a lot of character like bats in the belfry. We had great lunches. The lunch ladies were super. The school was the most different school in the world.” Children were concerned about how their teachers and principal were going to handle the tragedy.

Some of the women from Morgan Falls PTA asked for permission to look through the charred rubble for pictures, clocks, teaching aids and flags. They placed the charred objects in two station wagons, hoping to clean them and put the items back in use.

A former student shared photos of the school’s destruction after the fire with me. These photos have been donated to the Fulton County School archives.

In 1973, Fulton County commissioners asked the county school board to donate the 4.5 acres that was home to Morgan Falls Elementary School for a “new satellite courthouse” in North Fulton. Today that is the North Fulton County Government Service Center on Roswell Road.

Sources for this article include 1907, 1971 and 1973 pieces published in The Atlanta Constitution and a 1971 piece published in The Atlanta Journal.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. Write her at pasttensega@gmail.com. Learn more at pasttensega.com.

BRADSHAW'S BRIEF

Five-sided clown show damaging military

Columnist

decaturish@appenmedia.com

Gen. Colin Powell became chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Oct. 1, 1989. This is the highest military position in the Department of Defense. At that time, I was a young captain serving in a tank battalion in Kitzingen, West Germany.

As an African American Army officer, it is hard for me to overstate the profound sense of pride that I felt seeing that someone who looked like me could ascend to that position. Although wearing the stars of a general was never my ambition, it was still a wonderful thing to see.

African Americans have always been willing to serve in uniform as a testament to our love for this country, despite its deep flaws. We serve with the hope and expectation that the demonstration of our service and sacrifice would be met with the respect and acceptance that we deserve. Of course, this has not always been the case.

I am mindful of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, which was composed of African American soldiers who saw extensive action in the Union Army during the Civil War. Their story was wonderfully depicted in the 1989 movie “Glory,” starring Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington.

I also highlight the Tuskegee Airmen, who were among the first Black pilots who distinguished themselves in the skies over Europe during World War II. Their story was wonderfully depicted in the 1995 movie “The Tuskegee Airmen,” starring Laurence Fishburne, Andre Braugher and Cuba Gooding Jr.

I will also mention the 761st Tank Battalion, which was an African American armored unit that earned renown for its combat effectiveness during World War II. As a tanker myself, their distinguished service was especially salient to me. Gen. George S. Patton once opined that Blacks didn’t have the mental aptitude to serve as tankers. The 761st certainly proved him wrong and consequently earned his respect as he came to depend upon these capable warriors. I would like to think that old Gen. Patton would have respected my tanker skills as well.

Then there is my father, Mr. Raymond L. Bradshaw, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy only a decade after President Harry Truman’s executive

DEATH NOTICES

Rose Barbarino, age 85, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 14, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Katie Brandon, age 91, of Milton, GA passed away on July 14, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

order desegregating the military. During my tenure in public office, I displayed a photo of the graduating class of February 1957 from Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. Over 60 recruits are pictured, with only one of them being African American. As folks entered my office, they were somehow drawn to that photograph. As a test, I would ask them if they could guess which one of those young recruits was my father.

I have no idea how much crap my father put up with, not only from the instructors, but from his fellow recruits. He has never really talked about it. Nor do I know how many other Black guys started that training. What I do know is that my father was there at the end, which makes me very proud. That is why I displayed that picture so prominently.

Fast forward to Jan. 20, 2025, the day Donald J. Trump was inaugurated for a second term as president of the United States. Four days later, Pete Hegseth was confirmed as the secretary of defense in a process that required Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate.

At that time, Gen. C.Q. Brown was serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, only the second African American to hold that position. Less than

Fred Casteel, age 89, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 15, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Kendall Hunnewell III, age 63, of Roswell, GA passed away on July 12, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

one month after Hegseth’s confirmation, Brown was abruptly dismissed from his position. Apparently, his advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military rubbed the new Pentagon leadership the wrong way. Consequently, he had to go.

I freely acknowledge that any official at that level serves at the pleasure of the president. Likewise, the president has the right to nominate whom he chooses for a cabinet post. But Pete Hegseth is probably the most unqualified person to ever serve in that role, especially when compared to predecessors like Lloyd Austin, Jim Mattis and Robert Gates.

I also acknowledge Hegseth’s military service, which included deployments to a war zone. Then again, so did mine, and likewise, I am woefully unqualified to manage one of the world’s largest bureaucracies.

Hegseth’s tenure has been questionable at best. Examples include the “Signalgate” episode, which may have threatened national security; a press policy that severely limits the media from accurately reporting on the actions of the department that we pay for; and the renaming of the Defense Department to the Department of War, a throwback to a bygone era and a name that misrepresents what that department is supposed to be about.

Personally, I find the way the secretary presents himself cartoonish. It is as if he is playing a role in a TV show rather than discharging the solemn duties of high office. And his seeming purge of minority and female officers, in the name of combating DEI, is what I find the most offensive. These actions dishonor so many who have sacrificed so much to serve this great country.

The Pentagon’s five-sided building design by architect George Bergstrom makes it one of the most recognized and iconic buildings in the world. As the headquarters of our armed forces, it stands as a fortress and a symbol of service and sacrifice.

I believe that Pete Hegseth’s tenure as defense secretary has debased that office and turned the Pentagon into a clown show. Consequently, I believe that some of the esteem that our military holds in the hearts and minds of the American people has been eroded. Hopefully this can be regained when his time in that role ends.

Perhaps by the time this publishes President Trump will have come to realize that Pete Hegseth’s presence in his cabinet is a net negative. And that this will hasten the end of his tenure. One can hope.

Beverly Lindsey, age 93, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 11, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

William Orr, age 93, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 16, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Caroll Thomas, age 76, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on July 13, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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info@northsidechapel.com www.northsidechapel.com

During these turbulent times, we would like to highlight the continued courage and commitment of everyone who works in the health care, law enforcement, childcare, food service and utility sectors. We are extremely grateful.

12050 Crabapple Road • Roswell, GA 30075

City of Roswell Notice of Neighborhood Meeting & Public Hearing

The following item will be considered at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, 7:00 PM, Roswell City Hall, Council Chambers, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, GA 30075.

a. Text Amendment – Impact Fees

Amendment to Section 11.6.2 of the Unified Development Code that impact fees are to be calculated and collected based on the impact fee schedule in place at the time that the building permit is issued.

The following item will be considered at the following public hearings held by the Mayor & City Council, Monday, September 14, 2026, 7:00 PM (first read), and on Monday, September 28, 2026, 7:00 PM (second read), Roswell City Hall, Council Chambers, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, GA, 30075.

a. Amendment to Section 11.6.2 of the Unified Development Code that impact fees are to be calculated and collected based on the impact fee schedule in place at the time that the building permit is issued.

Note: Georgia law requires that all parties who have made campaign contributions to the Mayor or to a Council Member in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), within two (2) years, file a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law is available in the office of the City Attorney.

The complete file is available for public view at the Roswell Planning & Zoning Office, 38 Hill Street, Suite G-30, Roswell, GA, (770) 817-6720 or planningandzoning@roswellgov.com. Refer to www.roswellgov.com.

NOTICE CITY OF ROSWELL PUBLIC HEARING

PLACE: ROSWELL CITY HALL

38 HILL STREET, SUITE 215

DATE & TIME: August 6, 2026 10:00 A.M.

PURPOSE: APPLICATION FOR: Package License

APPLICANT: Aakanksha Patangay

BUSINESS NAME: Roswell Corner Mart Inc – DBA Roswell Mini Mart

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 146 Norcross St, Roswell, GA 30075

NOTICE CITY OF ROSWELL PUBLIC HEARING

PLACE: ROSWELL CITY HALL

38 HILL STREET, SUITE 215

DATE & TIME: August 6th, 2026 10:00 A.M.

PURPOSE: APPLICATION FOR: Limited COP/Beer & Wine/ No Sundays

APPLICANT: Bui Eng Doyle

BUSINESS NAME: Kaya Sushi & Ramen / Kaya Restaurant Inc.

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 10707 Alpharetta Hwy, Roswell, GA 30076

Appen Media Wins 2026 Georgia Press Association

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Bringing Journalistic Excellence to North Atlanta

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Newspaper Website – Decaturish.com

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Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

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THE APPEN PRESS CLUB

One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.

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Sawnee EMC is seeking an Accounts Payable Clerk to process invoices, purchase orders, payments, reports, and vendor files while assisting with audits, closings, and customer inquiries. Requires: high school diploma or equivalency, proficiency in mathematics, monetary, and general office skills. A minimum of two years of related work experience, as well as a degree in a related field preferred. Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings and weekends.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, July 31, 2026. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Protected Veterans. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

US 21 International Inc. DBA SOONI & TOMMI seeks Social Media PR Specialist to Write, edit, and distribute social media press releases and media kits to promote new cosmetic product launches and related business. Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, business, or related req’d. Send resume to job loc: 10820 Abbots Bridge RD Suite 330, Duluth, GA 30097.

Staff Full Stack Engineer sought by Airia LLC in Alpharetta (Atlanta), GA. Design & develop AI solutions. Reqs: BSc or for. equiv. in SW Eng, Comp Sci, or a rel + 10 yrs SW dev experience. P/t telecommute permitted w/n Atlanta, GA MSA. Apply at https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/airia/ jobs/5130475007 or email hr@airia.com, ref. SK202.

SOFTWARE ENGINEERS: Cumming, GA & various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S.: Dsgn & impl highly sclbl dstrbtd sw & rbst data sys that process lrg vlms of strctrd & unstrctrd data. Archt end-to-end prcsng wrkflws inclu ingstn, trnsfrmtn, vldtn, strg & srvng layers & dvlp backend srvcs & APIs. Mdl cmplx datasets u/advncd SQL & data engg tchnqs & apply sttstcl & ML mthds. Bld data-drvn feats lvrgng applied AI. Invstgt rlblty issues thru rca & impl long-term solns to trnslt ambgs rqmts into sclbl, mntnbl tech dsgns suprt biz-crtcl pltfrms. Master’s in Sci, Tech, or Engg (any) is req’d. Mail CV: HR, Jobly Solutions, LLC., itservices@joblysolutions.com.

Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk III –Financial Services to retrieve and deliver mail, file/ scan documents, operate office equipment, and assist internal customers. Requires: high school diploma or equivalency, valid Georgia Driver’s License, basic office/ computer skills, and 12 months’ related experience or equivalent education. Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings and weekends.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, July 31, 2026. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/ careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Protected Veterans. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

Midway Preschool is looking for an experienced Young 5’s/Prek teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Contact Beth at beth@midwayumc.org.

Food Pantry Manager

NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the full-time Food Pantry Manager position. Under the direction of the Food Pantry Director, the Food Pantry Manager leads back of house food pantry operations including inventory control, receiving products, client orders, managing volunteers, entering data and creating reports.

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys managing people and process! Volunteer and inventory management, operations and data entry are primary responsibilities of this role.

The applicant should have a desire to join the team of a mission-driven non-profit where we work to ease hardship and build financial stability throughout our community. We offer one of the most competitive total rewards packages among Atlanta’s nonprofit organizations, making this role both meaningful and rewarding.

Please send resumes to jobs@nfcchelp.org

Sawnee EMC is seeking a Mapping Technician to update, maintain and operate Geographic Information System (GIS), related mapping systems and peripheral equipment to create integrated circuit designs for an electrical distribution system. Provide technical assistance in database maintenance and map production for the GIS. Requires an Associate degree or technical school certificate in GIS or related mapping or associated field, with a minimum of two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Must have advanced computer skills with MS Office products, ESRI GIS mapping and Auto CAD. Must be available for alternate shift assignments and irregular work hours, including evenings and weekends as necessitated by circumstances and on-call functions.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, July 31, 2026. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled and Protected Veterans. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

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