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Appen Media sues Georgia over media access to executions

Roswell’s park pond ready to welcome fish

By JOSHUA WILSON joshua@appenmedia.com

By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group, which publishes seven newspapers and operates numerous digital news properties in metro Atlanta, has sued the state of Georgia, arguing that rules set by corrections officials governing media access to executions violate the First Amendment. The family-owned media group is asking a federal court to intervene before the state’s next

scheduled execution Sept. 16. The lawsuit, filed Sept. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, names Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver, Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison Warden Jason Beasley and state Attorney General Chris Carr as defendants. Each defendant was sued in their official capacity.

ROSWELL, Ga. — Fifteen thousand fish will soon make Roswell Area Park Pond their home, marking the next step in the pond’s restoration. After almost a year of construction, the $3.1 million pond transformation is 98% complete, with over 3,500 cubic yards of sediment removed. The removal process allowed an increased depth in the pond, which provides a better habitat for the fish. The project, funded by Roswell’s $179.6 million voter-approved 2022 bond program, included major construction activities like dredging, reconstruction of the pond embankment and installation of a new retaining wall.

See POND, Page 26

See LAWSUIT, Page 27

CITY OF ROSWELL/PROVIDED

Newly landscaped walking paths and green space surround the restored pond at Roswell Area Park as the $3.1 million restoration project nears completion.

Roswell eyes first major tax hike in over a decade By JOSHUA WILSON AND ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE joshua@appenmedia.com erlandrya@appenmedia.com

defer aging infrastructure, fire equipment and fleet needs. The city, through a Sept. 2 press release, announced a proposed millage rate of 7.732 mills for tax year 2026, up from 4.949 mills in 2025. A state-required notice was published in the Alpharetta-Roswell Herald Sept. 3. Georgia law requires property to be assessed at 40% of fair market

value for tax purposes, and a mill equals $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. A home with a fair market value of $575,000, for example, has an assessed value of $230,000. Multiplying that assessed value by the proposed 7.732-mill rate puts the annual city property tax bill at about $1,778.

Dunwoody man recalls 9/11 escape

Roswell receiver gets advice from Nick Saban

Jill Biden joins book festival lineup

► PAGE 4

► PAGE 8

► PAGE 22

ROSWELL, Ga. — The city of Roswell is proposing its first significant property tax rate increase in more than a decade, with Mayor Mary Robichaux saying the 172-year-old city can no longer COURTESY/NEILATL, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison in Butts County is where Georgia carries out executions and where the state’s next execution is scheduled for Sept. 16.

See TAX, Page 28

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2 | September 10, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

PUBLIC SAFETY

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009 HANS APPEN Publisher RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus CONTACT NEWS TIPS Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com. LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

Speeder pursued by Roswell officer arrested in Jasper ROSWELL, Ga. — A man was arrested Sept. 1 and charged with reckless driving and felony fleeing after a vehicle pursuit that began in Cherokee County and extended into Pickens County. A Roswell officer was traveling in his patrol vehicle going north on Georgia 575 in Cherokee County when a black Audi sedan allegedly sped past him in the emergency lane going more than 120 mph. The officer reported the reckless driver to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol. The officer said the vehicle weaved through traffic and forced another vehicle off the highway and into the grass. The officer activated his emergency

lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop. As the pursuit approached Pickens County, the officer notified Roswell dispatchers and requested they alert the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and the state patrol. The Audi sedan allegedly accelerated to 124 mph — the maximum speed of the Roswell patrol car — and continued into Pickens County, running through traffic lights and using the shoulder to pass vehicles. The officer determined he could not safely use a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, to stop the car. While approaching an intersection near Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, the officer was advised to stop the pursuit and hand it off to Pickens County and the state patrol.

While at the intersection, the officer reportedly observed multiple emergency vehicles at the site of an active accident. The Audi sedan allegedly moved into the left shoulder and accelerated toward the emergency scene and its personnel. A state trooper at the intersection reentered his patrol car and took up the pursuit. When the Roswell officer saw the trooper was the only unit in pursuit, he reactivated his emergency equipment and tried to catch up, but the Audi sedan sped out of his sight. Pickens County deputies eventually blocked the Audi sedan near downtown Jasper. When the Roswell officer arrived, the driver was already in custody. The driver allegedly said he was running late to meet a woman.

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4 | September 10, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

COMMUNITY

Dunwoody man remembers his 9/11 escape 25 years later By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — When Anthony Yorio recounts his experience in the south tower of the World Trade Center complex in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, he knows he is lucky to be alive. When the north tower was struck at 8:46 a.m., Yorio — who was then an employee at the Guy Carpenter risk and reinsurance firm — was on the phone while seated at his desk on the 54th floor of the south tower. He saw papers flying through the outside air and looked up to see the north tower burning from its 93rd floor. He thought “maybe a small plane or something” had crashed into the tower. Only a few people ran when they heard the “hollow boom” from the plane crash. They didn’t yet know that American Airlines Flight 11 — a Boeing 767200ER with 92 occupants, including five hijackers — had been deliberately flown into the skyscraper. Yorio stayed behind, answering phone calls from people asking if he and his colleagues were OK. Thinking the crash would prompt a building closure and he wouldn’t be back for days, he started making copies of his work. While walking back from the copier, Yorio said he felt the south tower shake. He was tossed through the air, his ears filled with what he described as the “horrible grinding noise” of metal on metal. Pieces of the 110-story building, covered in flames, fell to the ground. “I’m like, ‘Oh, my God,’” Yorio said. “I waited. I shouldn’t have stayed.” The time was 9:03 a.m., and United Airlines Flight 175 — a Boeing 767200 with 65 occupants, including five hijackers — had just been flown into the building’s facade between floors 77 and 85. Yorio ran to the stairwell along with others from his floor. Despite the chaos, their evacuation, he said, was orderly and silent. “We just kept moving,” Yorio said. “I remember saying to myself, ‘Okay, we’re not going to start counting [down] until the 40th floor.’” It took about 30 minutes for him to escape the tower. He walked about five blocks to a church, where he called his family, and was huddled in the church’s kitchen with his fellow survivors, sipping soup and water, when the first tower fell. “All of a sudden, [I heard] this absolute roar,” Yorio said. “Some of the people inside [started] screaming. And then outside you could just see this brownish, gray dust just take over the whole road.” He thought the north tower, the first of the Twin Towers struck, had

HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

Anthony Yorio survived the collapse of the World Trade Center’s south tower on Sept. 11, 2001. He holds a trifold brochure listing the names of more than 300 Guy Carpenter colleagues who died that day. fallen — but it was the south tower, his workplace, that had collapsed. “Little did I know that if I had stayed there another 20 minutes, I’d be dead,” Yorio said. The south tower had burned for 56 minutes before falling. The north tower collapsed about 30 minutes later. Three other buildings fell, too, and other structures, streets and infrastructure were in disarray. The attacks, carried out by the terror group al-Qaida, resulted in 2,606 deaths at the World Trade Center complex and surrounding sites. Overall, 2,996 people — representing more than 90 countries — died during the attacks, which also included a plane striking the Pentagon and another hijacked plane, nearly recaptured by its passengers, crashing into a rural Pennsylvania field. The attacks would, in many ways, alter the course of world history, with the U.S. and its allies starting a global “war on terror,” which would eventually encompass military action in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya. In 2011, U.S. military special operations forces killed the leader of al-Qaida and organizer of 9/11, Osama bin Laden. They would also change the

trajectory of Yorio’s life. In the weeks and months after, he grieved. On the 25th anniversary of the event, he still does. The weeks after Yorio returned to work just a few days after the attacks, working from a space in the Rockefeller Center complex. As a reinsurer, he was busier than ever while handling claims related to 9/11. “That’s all we were dealing with,” Yorio said. “And then, of course, you’d … be getting notices every day of someone’s remains being found and a service. We were constantly grieving.” He spoke to a psychiatrist to confront a haunting memory from that day. He saw two people fall to their deaths from the north tower before he evacuated from the south tower. At the sight of the first fall, he turned away to avoid seeing someone die. The second time, he watched the person fall. Yorio couldn’t understand why he watched such a terrible sight. The psychiatrist’s answer to this still makes him emotional a quarter-century later. “She said, ‘Well, as human beings, we don’t want people to die alone,’” Yorio recalled, tears filling his eyes.

Still with him The events of the day are “always there,” Yorio said. Talking openly about them is still difficult. His company merged with another firm in 2009, and he moved to Dunwoody. He said his chest still tightens in a crowded stairwell. Yorio has a pamphlet from the memorial service that he attended for colleagues 17 days after the attacks. He also has a brochure, made on 9/11’s first anniversary, containing the names of more than 300 colleagues lost on that day. He said it’s still hard to comprehend what happened and why it happened. He does, however, remember what helped him stay alive, even as burning building components fell around him. “We survived that day by being united,” Yorio said, remembering his colleagues who helped him escape the doomed building and the strangers that helped him get home. “We were united, and I think that was important.” He said that, on the 25th anniversary, he’ll be thinking about the victims. “I think about the poor people that just had no chance,” Yorio said. “And I think I’m just very fortunate to be here. And, you know, you just do the best you can.”

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 10, 2026 | 5

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6 | September 10, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

Roswell Day of Hope returns with free resources Sept. 26

HOPE ROSWELL/PROVIDED

A volunteer speaks with an attendee at a previous Roswell Day of Hope. This year’s event is set for Sept. 26 at Roswell City Hall.

ROSWELL, Ga. — On Sept. 26, the 17th annual Roswell Day of Hope will provide free wellness and food resources to locals in need. The Roswell Day of Hope is a community tradition and project of Hope Roswell, a nondenominational network of leaders from local churches. Last year, approximately 1,100 guests enjoyed local coffee samplings, children’s games and music, as well as free resources like health care visits. The year’s event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street. North Fulton Community Charities will provide groceries for guests to take home. Community members will have also have access to haircuts, new shoes and socks, as well as the opportunity to consult with doctors and dentists. Guests can also speak to representatives from groups who provide a variety of services to those with mental health conditions. Mental health services were added after COVID-19 lockdowns caused an increase in the numbers of teens struggling with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, according to organizers. Individuals and their families can learn what signs to look

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for to recognize addiction, bullying on social media and other issues. “We want to remind our neighbors that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness,” Hope Roswell coordinator Brenda Orlans said. Among those on hand at the mental health fair will be Rev’d Up Kids, NAMI, Pathways 2 Life, Summit Counseling and Alpharetta Counseling. “[Organizers want to give] people a chance to learn practical next steps, ask questions and find support from trusted community resources before they get to the point where they don’t know where to turn,” Orlans said. Orlans encourages guests in need of jobs to talk to local employers who will be present and looking to hire. “We want to make sure our neighbors who need these jobs can actually connect with those who want to hire,” Orlans said. “City government, home health care and food services will be among the job fields represented.” New to the event this year are free manicures, which Orlans describes as a fun and meaningful way to let people enjoy a little pampering, a concept she said is not always accessible to everyone. — Erlandrya Rutledge

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marking 25th anniversary ROSWELL, Ga. — The city of Roswell will hold its annual 9/11 commemoration on the back lawn of City Hall, 38 Hill St., at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11 to honor the lives lost and the courage displayed that day. The ceremony will mark 25 years since terror attacks involving hijacked planes killed 2,977 people. The planes, taken over by members of the al-Qaida terror group, were crashed into the World Trade Center complex in New York City and the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Defense Department in Virginia. Another plane, nearly recaptured by its passengers, crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania. The Roswell ceremony will begin with a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time American Airlines Flight 11 struck the north tower of the World Trade Center complex. The program will include a prayer, a color guard presentation and remarks by city officials, including Mayor Mary Robichaux. "For those who were alive 25 years ago, we all have a story or some sort of personal connection to that terrible

CITY OF ROSWELL/PROVIDED

day,” Robichaux said. “This Sept. 11, I — along with our fire and police chiefs — will share some personal reflections on how we endured one of the worst days in U.S. history, as well as pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost.” This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit: roswell365.com. — Erlandrya Rutledge

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 10, 2026 | 7

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8 | September 10, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

SPORTS

Roswell receiver gets advice from legendary football coach By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@apenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell High School wide receiver Landon Magnuson got a rare opportunity to sit down with former Alabama football coach Nick Saban on Aug. 25. With Hornets coach Jonathan Thompson's approval, Landon missed practice to travel to Saban's home on Lake Burton with his mother, Brooke Magnuson, who coaches Roswell's girls lacrosse team. Brooke had spoken with Saban by phone and arranged an in-person meeting. Brooke said Saban and his wife, Terry Saban, who is affectionately known as "Miss Terry," treated her and her son "like family." Landon tore his anterior cruciate ligament last season and was cleared to put the pads back on a few days after his meeting with Saban, on the morning of the Hornets' game against Newton High School. Landon said the biggest piece of advice Saban gave him was to "be where your feet are." "He said, 'Look down at where your feet are. That's where you are,'" Landon recounted. "Having that setback like I did, you have to do more than what's expected and work hard, and I've been working super hard." He told Appen Media that he was seeking advice from Saban on how to stand out as a recruit after his injury limited his

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PROVIDED

Eaton Academy program helps students transition out of high school By DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com When Ally Arant, 19, finished high school, she wasn’t sure what she would do next. Arant has Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects her ability to regulate hunger. She joined Eaton Academy’s College Foundations Program, a bridge program designed to give graduating high school students real-world experience before they move on to the next stage of their lives. The program meets four days a week and combines academics, career exploration and other handson learning. It helps students build confidence as they grow, and it teaches

job skills by placing them with for-profit and nonprofit organizations. While in the program, Arant volunteered at a food bank and a library and worked at a Burlington store. She dreams of becoming a teacher or a teacher’s aide. “With my syndrome that I was born with, it’s pretty hard to go out into the world to get my own job, and the bridge program, I loved,” Arant said. “I got to experience the work world and how real life is.” Her mother, Debbie Arant, said the family enjoyed the experience so much that Ally plans to return next summer to work directly with teachers and take college courses. Brian Uitvlugt, cofounder of Eaton Academy, said last year was the trial run of the College

Foundations Program, which was limited to four or five students. He expects that number to rise. “We want to have students in this program who have the ability at some level to go to college, but they need some more seasoning,” he said. The program’s focus is independent living. Every Thursday, students prepare simple, affordable meals while learning about food safety — skills they can take to college. Moneek Brown, program director, said the idea for College Foundations came from parents. “It stemmed from a need,” she said. “These students graduated from high school and were not quite ready for college, so what can we do while we’re

figuring that out?” Brown said the program is designed for students taking a gap year between high school and college. “We focus on independent living skills, budget skills, shopping — some things we should know as adults that need to be taught,” she said. Uitvlugt said the program isn’t just about preparing students for college. It’s about preparing them for life. “We want every student to leave our program believing they can navigate their future with confidence and independence,” he said. To learn more about the College Foundations Program, visit eatonacademy.org/post-secondary/ college-foundations-program.

COMMUNITY

22 | September 10, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

MJCCA book festival marks 35 years with star lineup DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta has announced the lineup for its 35th book festival, which includes former First Lady Jill Biden, singer and pianist Harry Connick Jr. and multiple James Beard Award winners. Starting Nov. 1, attendees can enjoy author talks, question-and-answer sessions, book signings, and culinary

and experiential programs. Event organizers called this year’s festival a “milestone edition,” with one of the most dynamic and diverse lineups yet. “The legacy of our beloved book festival of the MJCCA is one filled with pride for literature, learning and community,” festival co-chair Debbie Kurzweil said. “Through stories and ideas, our community comes together

to celebrate a love of books. We are beyond proud of how these events invite the broader community to join us to hear the best and brightest current authors.” The MJCCA will host prologue events on Thursday, Sept. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 25. The September event will feature New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben, who will discuss

his memoir, “Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft.” The book gives an inside look into the mystery writer’s creative process. The October event will feature Billy Planer, a native Atlantan and national leader of conversations about civil discourse. See FESTIVAL, Page 36

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE The Mayor and Council of the City of Roswell have tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by 65.08% percent. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the City of Roswell Council Chambers, City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Georgia, 30075, on the following dates and times: September 14, 2026 – 7:00 p.m. September 21, 2026 – 6:00 p.m. September 28, 2026 – 7:00 p.m. . This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 7.732 mills, an increase of 2.5 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 5.232 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $575,000 is approximately $575 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $500,000 is approximately $500. Randy D. Knighton City Administrator

Mary Robichaux Mayor

CITY OF ROSWELL NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE EXPLANATION In an effort to increase the level of service for residents of Roswell, bolster the public safety apparatus and address critical transportation and infrastructure needs, the City of Roswell is proposing a millage rate for 2026 of 7.732. If approved, this year’s proposed increase would fund a variety of essential needs related to deferred maintenance of city facilities and equipment, transportation and road improvements, and vital public safety investments. “We didn’t come to the decision to raise taxes lightly, but this comes after a thorough review of our city’s near- and long-term needs,” said Roswell Mayor Mary Robichaux. “We owe it to our brave men and women in uniform to give them the tools they need to keep our city safe. We owe it to the people who drive our roads to ensure they aren’t riddled with potholes. We owe it to the residents who play in our parks to have grass cut and restrooms clean. This proposed millage rate would allow us to honor those commitments.” The City of Roswell is proposing to increase its property tax rate (also called a millage rate) for Tax Year 2026. Roswell’s property tax rate has remained relatively flat for more than a decade. Just as costs have risen for all Americans in the last several years, those same costs have risen for the city. Roswell is tentatively adopting a millage rate of 7.732 mills for 2026 Tax Year compared to the prior rate of 4.949 mills. There are two parts to the millage rate: Maintenance & Operations (M&O) and Debt Service. The M&O portion, proposed at 6.549 mills, funds the City’s day-to-day services, including public safety (police, fire, and E-911), recreation and parks, transportation, and general government services such as administration, finance, and community and economic development. The Debt Service portion, proposed at 1.183 mills, goes toward repaying the bond program approved by Roswell voters in November 2022, which has funded major capital projects such as the construction of the city’s new parking deck, Public Safety Headquarters, E-911 Center, and many parks and connectivity projects. With the city’s proposed 7.732 millage rate, a Roswell homeowner whose property has a fair market value of $575,000 (assessed value of $230,000) would pay about $1,778 in City property taxes. Homeowners with exemptions will pay even less. Approximately $272 of that amount goes directly toward paying debt service. For more details about Roswell’s millage rate, visit www.RoswellGov.com/Property-Taxes. Randy D. Knighton City Administrator

Mary Robichaux Mayor

COMMUNITY

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Roswell Adult Learning Center offers classes on AI ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Adult Learning Center is expanding on its mission of helping older adults thrive in today’s digital world by introducing classes focused on artificial intelligence and other computer programs. Located at the Roswell Adult Recreation Center on Grimes Bridge Road, the learning center provides small-group instruction designed specifically for adults who want to improve their computer skills, stay connected with family and friends, and confidently use today’s technology.

“Our goal is to give adults the confidence to use technology in their everyday lives,” a representative of the learning center said. “Learning new skills helps people stay connected, informed, independent and engaged with their communities.” The center’s volunteer instructors understand the unique needs of adult learners and provide patient, personalized instruction that allows participants to learn at their own pace. Whether someone is just beginning to use a computer or wants to expand their digital

knowledge, the learning center offers courses that make technology accessible and enjoyable. Popular classes include learning iPhone basics, expanding one’s knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, and best practices for internet safety and scam prevention. Other classes get down to basics and help computer users understand files and folders, internet and email essentials, and cloud computing. New technology classes include an introduction to ChatGPT, how to use AI for everyday tasks, and how

to improve and edit photos. While classes are designed primarily for adults ages 50 and older, younger adults are welcome to enroll as space permits. Prices range from $15 for a one-day class to $45 for a sixweek program. For registration information or to learn more about upcoming classes and workshops, contact the Roswell Adult Learning Center at 770-641-3950 or visit roswellalc.org. Registration is also available in person at 830 Grimes Bridge Road. — Hannah Yahne

NOTICE The City of Roswell Mayor and Council does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at meetings to be held at Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Georgia 30075 on September 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM, September 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM, and September 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.

CURRENT 2026 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY

Randy D. Knighton City Administrator

Mary Robichaux Mayor

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T:\ADS_2026\Jarrard Davis

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF FULTON COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA IN THE MATTER OF: 2026 TAX DIGEST FOR THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, 2026 TAX DIGEST FOR THE CITY OF MILTON, GEORGIA, AND 2026 TAX DIGEST FOR THE CITY OF ROSWELL, GEORGIA CIVIL ACTION 26CV012253 PETITION FOR AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE IMMEDIATE AND TEMPORARY COLLECTION OF TAXES IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310, that a hearing shall be held on the 11th day of September 2026 at 4:00 o’clock p.m. in Courtroom 7e of the Superior Court of Fulton County, before the Honorable Shukura L. Ingram to address the Cities of Alpharetta, Milton, and Roswell’s (the “Cities”) Petition for an Order Authorizing the Immediate and Temporary Collection of Taxes, wherein all intervening parties will show cause as to why this Court should not issue an order allowing for the immediate and temporary collection of taxes as requested by the Cities and as prayed for in said Petition. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(a)(1)(B), (C), (a)(2), and (j), the Cities of Alpharetta, Milton, and Roswell, Georgia (collectively, the “Cities”), petition this Court for an order authorizing the immediate and temporary collection of ad valorem taxes for tax year 2026 and show the Court as follows: Petition For the Immediate and Temporary Collection of Taxes, Generally 1. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(a)(1)(B), (a)(1)(C), (a)(2), and (j), provide that any municipality may petition the superior court of the county in which the municipality is located for an order authorizing the immediate and temporary collection of taxes. 2. Specifically, O.C.G.A. 48-5-310(b)(1) provides that any municipality may petition the court for a temporary tax collection order when it appears that, unless the court authorizes the immediate, temporary collection of the taxes, the municipality will not be able to either: (A) Pay the municipality’s debts as they mature; (B) Pay appropriate salaries of employees, other government officials, and other persons entitled to receive either compensation by or funds from the municipality as provided by law; (C) Maintain an orderly and normal function of municipal business and governmental affairs; (D) Maintain an adequate, proper, or desirable credit rating either to maintain or affect existing or future interest rates on bonded indebtedness or indebtedness on loans incurred or obligated by the municipal governing authority; or (E) Avoid by practical means the suffering of immediate and irreparable injury, loss, damage, or any other significant matter. 3. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(c), after the filing of the petition, the Court shall (A) Set a time and date for a hearing on the petition; (B) The hearing shall be held not less than ten days from the date of the filing of the petition; (C) The court shall direct that the municipal governing authority have the petition published at least once prior to the hearing in the official newspaper of the county for publication of official notices; (D) The court shall further order that the governing authority post a copy of the petition in a prominent place in the courthouse; and (E) No hearing shall be held on the petition until the petition has been so published and posted. 4. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(f), if the relief is granted, the Court’s Order shall establish the basis on which the temporary tax on each parcel of property shall be established and the manner in which the taxes shall be billed, collected, and otherwise received. 5. The basis upon which the temporary taxes may be collected shall be one of the following: (A) Any tax digest for the tax year in question which has been submitted to the Revenue Commissioner but which has been rejected or is otherwise unenforceable; (B) The most recently submitted and approved tax digest as amended to reflect changes in ownership of property; or (C) Any other reasonable method which will do substantial justice to the parties under the exigencies of all the circumstances. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(f). 6. Temporary collection is an interim measure to maintain normal governmental operations until the completed tax digest is submitted to and approved by the State Revenue Commissioner. See O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(g). Once the State Revenue Commissioner certifies the final 2026 digest, the final tax liability for property shall be determined and recalculated on the basis of the final 2026 digest. Id. For example, for each property where the final 2026 digest results in a reduction of tax liability, the excess collections will be refunded. Id. Alternatively, for each property where the final 2026 digest results in an increase of tax liability, the taxes collected under the temporary collection order will be credited to the account for each property so that only the remaining balance shall be due. Id. Parties 7. Alpharetta, Milton, and Roswell (collectively, the “Cities”) are Georgia municipal corporations located entirely within Fulton County, Georgia. 8. Jim Gilvin is the duly elected Mayor of Alpharetta, and Kirk Driskell, Katie Reeves, Douglas J. DeRito, John Hipes, Fergal M. Brady, and Dan Merkel are the duly elected members of the Alpharetta City Council. The Mayor and City Council constitute Alpharetta’s governing authority. 9. Thomas G. Harris is the Director of Finance for the City of Alpharetta. His affidavit is attached as Exhibit 1. 10. Peyton Jamison is the duly elected Mayor of Milton, and Brian Dolan, Carol Cookerly, Juliette Johnson, Doug Hene, Jan Jacobus, and Phil Cramer are the duly elected members of the Milton City Council. The Mayor and City Council constitute Milton’s governing authority. 11. Bernadette Harvill is the Deputy City Manager for the City of Milton. Her affidavit is attached as Exhibit 2. 12. Mary Robichaux is the duly elected Mayor of Roswell, and Sarah Beeson, Allen Sells, Christine Hall, Jennifer Phillippi, Eren Brumley, and Chris Zack are the duly elected members of the Roswell City Council. The Mayor and City Council constitute Roswell’s governing authority. 13. Randy Knighton is the City Administrator for the City of Roswell. His affidavit is attached as Exhibit 3. The Cities Require an Order Authorizing Immediate and Temporary Collection of Taxes 14. Each City is authorized under the Georgia Constitution to levy and collect ad valorem taxes upon taxable property located within its jurisdiction. Ga. Const. art. IX, § IV, ¶ I. 15. Each City directly bills and collects its own municipal ad valorem taxes upon taxable property located within its boundaries. 16. The Cities do not determine the fair market value of property independently for purposes of municipal ad valorem taxation. 17. Instead, O.C.G.A. § 48-5-352(a) requires municipalities to use the fair market value determined for county ad valorem tax purposes. 18. The Fulton County Board of Assessors (“FCBOA”) is responsible for determining the value of taxable property within Fulton County and compiling the assessments and exemptions that comprise the Fulton County tax digest. 19. The FCBOA-generated values are essential to the Cities’ annual tax process. Without a legally usable digest or equivalent valuation information supplied through the statutory process, the Cities cannot establish their millage rates, levy taxes, or collect property taxes. FCBOA has not Completed the 2026 Digest Values 20. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-302 provides that each county board of tax assessors shall complete its revision and assessment of taxpayer returns by July 15 and immediately forward the value information to the Fulton County Tax Commissioner (the “Tax Commissioner”). 21. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-532.1(b), the Tax Commissioner is responsible for providing the property value information and the information municipalities require in order to establish their millage rates for the year. 22. That process has not occurred for tax year 2026. 23. As of the filing of this Petition, the FCBOA has not completed the assessment of all real and personal property located within Fulton County for tax year 2026 and, therefore, the Tax Commissioner is unable to provide the necessary information to the Cities or to deliver the completed 2026 tax digest to the State Revenue Commissioner for approval. 24. Consequently, the 2026 Fulton County tax digest has not been submitted to or approved by the Revenue Commissioner and presently cannot serve as an enforceable basis for the Cities’ ordinary collection of 2026 ad valorem taxes. 25. The last Fulton County tax digest approved by the Revenue Commissioner is the Fulton County tax digest for tax year 2025. 26. In prior years, the Cities ordinarily received a substantially complete preliminary digest from Fulton County by approximately mid-June. 27. Receipt of that information by mid-June ordinarily enabled the Cities to perform the calculations required by O.C.G.A. §§ 48-5-32 and 48-5-32.1, establish their annual millage rates by approximately mid-August, and complete the other steps necessary for the annual tax process. 28. Under the ordinary schedule, the Fulton County Tax Commissioner

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2026 TAX DIGEST FOR THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA (CONTINUED) thereafter submitted the completed digest to the Revenue Commissioner in approximately early to mid-September. 29. The Revenue Commissioner ordinarily authorized the digest for collection by approximately mid-October. 30. That schedule permitted the Cities to prepare and issue municipal tax bills so that collection of their annual property-tax revenues was completed or substantially underway beginning in early December. 31. The Cities’ annual budgets are determined with the expectation that budget year property tax revenues will be collected prior to the end of the calendar year. 32. The substantial delay in completion of the 2026 Fulton County digest has disrupted that established schedule. 33. The Cities require receipt of their 2026 ad valorem tax revenues beginning in or about December 2026 to fund ongoing municipal operations and obligations. 34. It is presently unknown when the FCBOA will complete its annual assessment of all real and personal property located within Fulton County for tax year 2026, when the Tax Commissioner will be able to provide the necessary information to the Cities or to deliver the completed 2026 Tax Digest to the State Revenue Commissioner for approval, or when the State Revenue Commissioner will ultimately approve the 2026 tax digest. 35. Without immediate relief under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310, the Cities face a material risk that they will be unable to timely bill and collect their 2026 property taxes and receive the revenue on which their governmental operations depend. The Statutory Conditions for Temporary Collection Exist 36. On July 20, 2026, the Alpharetta City Council adopted and approved a resolution authorizing the filing of this Petition. A certified copy is attached as Exhibit 4. 37. On July 21, 2026, the Milton City Council adopted and approved a resolution authorizing the filing of this Petition. A certified copy is attached as Exhibit 5. 38. On August 24, 2026, the Roswell City Council adopted and approved a resolution authorizing the filing of this Petition. A certified copy is attached as Exhibit 6. 39. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310 authorizes a governing authority to seek immediate and temporary collection when, among other circumstances, the current digest has not been approved by the Revenue Commissioner or is otherwise unenforceable or uncollectable by law, and that condition prevents tax collections from being made or enforced. 40. By operation of O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(j), those procedures apply to municipalities, including the Cities, that use county-determined fair market values as the basis for municipal taxation. 41. As established by the affidavits of Thomas G. Harris, the Director of Finance for the City of Alpharetta (Exhibit 1), Bernadette Harvill, Deputy City Manager for the City of Milton (Exhibit 2), and Randy Knighton, City Administrator for the City of Roswell (Exhibit 3), unless immediate and temporary collection is authorized, the Cities will be unable timely to receive the ad valorem tax revenues necessary to: (1) Pay debts and lawful obligations as they mature; (2) Pay appropriate salaries and other amounts required by law; (3) Maintain the orderly and normal conduct of municipal business and governmental affairs; (4) Maintain adequate and desirable financial and credit conditions, including conditions affecting existing or future bonded indebtedness or other lawful indebtedness; and (5) Avoid immediate and substantial financial injury or loss. 42. The conditions contemplated by O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(b)(1) therefore exist. 43. The Cities have contemporaneously served the Revenue Commissioner with a copy of this Petition as required by O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(i). Temporary Collection Will Not Prejudice Taxpayers’ Rights When the Final 2026 Digest Is Completed 44. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(g) expressly provides that temporary collection does not affect or limit taxpayers’ rights to adjustments, benefits, refunds, or additional assessments resulting from the final disposition of the tax digest. 45. The temporary taxes collected pursuant to the requested Order will therefore remain subject to all adjustments required by law after the actual 2026 Fulton County digest is completed and becomes enforceable. 46. Georgia appellate authority recognizes that § 48-5-310 contemplates temporary collection followed, where necessary, by additional assessments or refunds after the final digest is determined. Harrington v. Baldwin County Board of Tax Assessors, 214 Ga. App. 178, 178-79, 447 S.E.2d 300 (1994). 47. The temporary collection procedure thus permits the Cities to receive essential 2026 revenues without finally adjudicating any taxpayer’s ultimate 2026 tax liability before the lawful assessment process has been completed. 48. For property under appeal, temporary billing shall remain subject to O.C.G.A. § 48-5-311 and other applicable law. The Cities Require a Temporary Collection Order by the Court 49. On July 17, 2026, Fulton County filed its own petition under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310, giving rise to Civil Action No. 26CV010167 in this Court. A copy of Fulton County’s petition is attached as Exhibit 7. 50. On August 4, 2026, this Court entered a Final Order Authorizing the Immediate and Temporary Collection of Taxes in that action. A copy is attached as Exhibit 8. 51. The Order permits all Fulton County, Fulton County Schools, and municipalities other than Alpharetta, Milton, and Roswell to immediately and temporarily bill and collect 2026 property taxes using 2025 millage rates and 2026 values determined by the FCBOA. (Exhibit 5, p. 8, ¶ 6.) 52. The August 4 Order expressly excluded Alpharetta, Milton, and Roswell from its operation because each of those Cities directly bills and collects its own municipal taxes. 53. The Court therefore has not previously authorized these Cities to collect their 2026 municipal ad valorem taxes temporarily. 54. Therefore, without relief from this Court, taxes due to the Cities cannot be timely billed and collected, and the Cities will not timely receive their 2026 ad valorem tax revenue. (Exhibit 1, Affidavit of Thomas G. Harris, ¶ 10; Exhibit 2, Affidavit of Bernadette Harvill, ¶ 10; and Exhibit 3, Affidavit of Randy Knighton, ¶ 10.) 55. The Cities therefore require an order authorizing immediate and temporary collection. 56. For the Court’s convenience, the Cities will submit proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and a Final Order Authorizing the Immediate and Temporary Collection of Taxes. Relief Requested WHEREFORE, Petitioners, the City of Alpharetta, the City of Milton, and the City of Roswell, respectfully pray that the Court: (1) Set an expedited hearing on this Petition for a date not less than ten days after the filing date of this Petition; (2) Direct the publication and posting required by O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(c); (3) Enter an order pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 48-5-310(f) establishing the basis on which the temporary tax on each parcel of property shall be established as the temporary 2026 tax digest for the Cities and the manner in which the taxes shall be billed, collected, and otherwise received; (4) Authorize temporary billing of property under the temporary 2026 tax digest in accordance with O.C.G.A. §§ 48-5-310, 48-5-311, and other applicable law; (5) Retain jurisdiction as provided by O.C.G.A. § 48-5310(h); and (6) Grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. Respectfully submitted this ____ day of _________ 2026. JARRARD & DAVIS, LLP /s/Ken Jarrard Ken Jarrard Georgia Bar No. 389550 John R. Bampfield Georgia Bar No. 341765 Molly Esswein Georgia Bar No. 912457 Attorneys for Alpharetta and Milton 222 Webb Street Cumming, Georgia 30040 678-455-7150 (telephone) kjarrard@jarrard-davis.com rbampfield@jarrard-davis.com messwein@ jarrard-davis.com CITY OF ROSWELL CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE /s/Joe Cusack David Davidson Georgia Bar No. 206527 Joseph M. Cusack Georgia Bar No. 492674 Attorneys for City of Roswell 38 Hill Street Roswell, GA 30075 Phone: (770) 594-6185 ddavidson@roswellgov.com jcusack@roswellgov.com IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF FULTON COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA IN THE MATTER OF: 2026 TAX DIGEST FOR THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, 2026 TAX DIGEST FOR THE CITY OF MILTON, GEORGIA, AND 2026 TAX DIGEST FOR THE CITY OF ROSWELL, GEORGIA CIVIL ACTION 26CV012253 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that I have, this 28th day of August 2026, served a true and correct copy of the foregoing PETITION FOR AN ORDER AUTHORIZING THE IMMEDIATE AND TEMPORARY COLLECTION OF TAXES upon the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Revenue as required by O.C.G.A. § 48-5310(i), and have provided copies to the municipalities, boards of education, independent school systems, community improvement districts, and other interested governmental entities previously served in connection with the Fulton County temporary-collection proceeding, by U.S. Mail and electronic mail at their addresses of record. The Honorable David Burge Commissioner of Revenue Georgia Department of Revenue 2595 Century Parkway NE Atlanta, Georgia 30345 revenue.

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2026 TAX DIGEST FOR THE CITY OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA (CONTINUED) commissioner@dor.ga.gov Marquetta J. Bryan City of Atlanta Department of Law 55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 5000 Atlanta, GA 30303 mbryan@atlantaga.gov Angela Couch City of Johns Creek Carothers & Mitchell, LLC 1809 Buford Highway Buford, GA 30518 Angela.couch@carmitch.com Richard P. Lindsey Lindsey & Lacy, PC City of Chattahoochee Hills, GA 2002 Commerce Drive, Suite 300 Peachtree City, GA 30269 Rick@llptc.com Brandon Lowell Bowen Jenkins & Bowen PC City of Mountain Park, GA 15 South Public Square Cartersville, GA 30120 bbowen@jbwpc.com L’Erin B. Wiggins Barnes Law LLC City of Palmetto 1588 Myrtle Lane Atlanta, GA 30349 lerin@lfbarneslaw.com Daniel W. Lee City of Sandy Springs FREEMAN, MATHIS & GARY, LLP 100 Galleria Parkway, Suite 1600 Atlanta, Georgia 30339 dlee@fmglaw.com cityattorney@sandyspringsga.gov Sara D.E. Kelly City of South Fulton 5440 Fulton Industrial Blvd South Fulton, GA 30336 sara. kelly@cityofsouthfultonga.gov J. Lynn Rainey Counsel for various Fulton County Community Improvement Districts Rainey & Phillips 358 Roswell Street, Suite 1130 Marietta, GA 30060 LRainey@pwrlaw.com Alexandra Apple Downtown Atlanta Community Improvement District Troutman Pepper Locke LLP 600 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 3000 Atlanta, GA 30308-2216 allie.apple@troutman.com Nina Gupta Suzann Wilcox Cheryl Shaw Atlanta Public Schools & Fulton County Schools Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein 1075 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 1500 Atlanta, GA 30309 ninagupta@parkerpoe.com suzannwilcox@parkerpoe.com cherylshaw@ parkerpoe.com Dennis Davenport McNally, Fox, Grant & Davenport 100 Habersham Drive Fayetteville, GA 30214 dadaven@bellsouth.net Respectfully submitted this 31st day of August, 2026. JARRARD & DAVIS, LLP /s/Ken Jarrard Ken Jarrard Georgia Bar No. 389550 John R. Bampfield Georgia Bar No. 341765 Molly Esswein Georgia Bar No. 912457 Attorneys for Alpharetta and Milton 222 Webb Street Cumming, Georgia 30040 678-455-7150 (telephone) kjarrard@jarrard-davis. com rbampfield@jarrard-davis.com messwein@jarrard-davis.com CITY OF ROSWELL CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE /s/Joe Cusack David Davidson Georgia Bar No. 206527 Joseph M. Cusack Georgia Bar No. 492674 Attorneys for City of Roswell 38 Hill Street Roswell, GA 30075 Phone: (770) 594-6185 ddavidson@roswellgov. com jcusack@roswellgov.com

Pond: Continued from Page 1 Crews applied finishing touches through grading, landscaping and paving. Working alongside the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the city is set to bring back fish to the pond beginning in late September or early October and continue through summer 2027. When the project began, the existing fish were relocated to a hatchery containing new fish. While the weight and species of the existing fish were recorded, Roswell Deputy Director for Recreation and Parks Taylor Smith said there was no report on the health of the fish. “We knew that the pond itself was [unhealthy] because of all the silt, and it was lacking oxygen; we knew it wasn’t an ideal situation,” Smith said. Before reintroducing the fish, experts will test the water’s alkalinity, pH, visibility, dissolved oxygen, temperature, phosphorus, nitrogen, hardness and algae. Smith said feeder or bait fish will be the first to be reintroduced and will be followed by more predatory fish. The species being restocked in the pond include bluegill, sunfish, flathead minnows, golden shiners, grass carp, channel catfish, largemouth bass and threadfin shad. “We have a wildlife relocation plan that was part of the project, so we let the experts kind of tell us what makes the most sense and we’re doing it in a way to maintain a healthy pond ecosystem,” Smith said. Among the improvements are new native plantings and the installation

CITY OF ROSWELL/PROVIDED

The restored pond at Roswell Area Park, seen with a small island and new stone retaining walls, is nearing completion ahead of its restocking with 15,000 fish. of turtle habitats with logs to support the pond’s ecosystem. Aquatic plants like water lilies have also been planted, which will grow and create a habitat for the pond’s residents. “That will provide additional [habitats] for the fish within those boulders [and] rock areas to hide, breed and hopefully become healthier established,” Smith said. As part of the landscaping work, 35 trees have been planted around the project area. Signs of the pond’s environmental recovery are already visible, officials said, with turtles and frogs returning to the water. Smith said he expects fowl,

including geese, and other wildlife to reintegrate naturally. He said aquatic wildlife monitoring will include regular visual inspections. Officials said the pond and surrounding areas will soon transition back to public use. They ask visitors to not fish in the pond at this time to help reestablish its fish population. Fishing is currently anticipated to resume in late summer or fall of next year. The city has put out temporary signage to ensure residents do not fish. Roswell city staffers are also working on permanent signs that will include QR codes, which visitors can scan to learn more about the

ecosystem. Despite the wait, Smith said the project has been rewarding to work on, with the community aspect being his favorite part about this process. “I love Roswell Area Park, I love the pond and I love all our parks,” Smith said. “But I take my young kids out there — to be able to see families, fishermen, neighbors and citizens enjoy it … because it’s a community park and a great location. [I’m] just looking forward to seeing that happen again.” To learn more about the fish restocking process, visit roswellconnections.com/ roswellareaparkpond.

Lawsuit:

NEWS

Continued from Page 1 The media group is represented by the ACLU Foundation of Georgia and Atlanta attorney Gerald Weber. Alongside the complaint, the media group filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and expedited preliminary injunction, asking the court to bar the state from carrying out its Sept. 16 execution of Stacey Ian Humphreys under the current media access rules unless officials first expand what media representatives are allowed to see and hear. The media group has covered the convicted double-murderer’s case since November 2003, when he shot and killed two female real estate agents at a Powder Springs business. Humphreys was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and kidnapping with bodily injury in 2007. A jury unanimously recommended the death penalty, and he was sentenced to death that same year. The U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeal in October 2025, and a stay of execution was lifted in March. The 53-year -old is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection Sept. 16. A hearing date on the temporary restraining order motion has not yet been set. The lawsuit challenges the state’s lethal injection procedures, which govern how executions are carried out at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Butts County. Under those procedures, the state Department of Corrections allows only five media representatives — one from the Associated Press, two from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and two from the Georgia Press Association — to observe any part of an execution. The AP is a cooperative news agency with an Atlanta hub, while the broadcasters association is a membership organization for Georgia-based radio and TV news outlets. The press association is the same but for the state’s newspapers. During the execution process, the AP journalist and the four journalists from the two associations are required to relay what they witness to other news outlets waiting in a separate media staging area. According to the complaint, the state gives media no visual or auditory access at all to several

APPEN MEDIA GROUP/PROVIDED

Appen Media Group of Alpharetta, a family-owned publisher that owns seven newspapers and numerous digital news properties in metro Atlanta, has sued the state of Georgia. The company argues that rules set by corrections officials governing media access to executions violate the First Amendment.

Transparency is not a favor the government grants the press — it is an essential safeguard of public accountability. HANS APPEN Publisher and CEO of Appen Media Group steps that happen in the two hours before an execution, including delivery of the lethal injection drugs, equipment checks and preparation of the syringes. A single “media monitor” — who, the complaint says, is often someone with no prior experience witnessing an execution — is allowed to watch, without audio, as the condemned prisoner is secured to a gurney and connected to an IV line. The complaint calls that step “often the most fraught segment of an execution by lethal injection,” citing recent botched IV insertions during executions in Tennessee, Arizona, Idaho and Alabama. The complaint also mentions cases in Georgia where, during a 2001 and 2007 execution, officials struggled to establish IV access. The lawsuit also says media witnesses are given no audio or visual access to the chemical room, where the lethal drugs are injected through tubing that runs through a wall into the execution chamber, and that a microphone in the execution chamber itself is turned on only for the prisoner’s final statement and the state’s official pronouncement of death. Appen Media Group argues the state has offered no justification for those restrictions, and they appear to exist to shield its own conduct from scrutiny. The group also says that the Georgia Department

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 10, 2026 | 27

of Corrections has “unbridled discretion” to decide who can watch an execution and what they are allowed to see without any statute or written standard governing those decisions. The complaint seeks a court order declaring the state’s current media access scheme unconstitutional and requiring officials to give all five media representatives visual and auditory access to the preparatory steps, the IV insertion and the chemical room, including by remote camera or microphone if necessary. The media group, founded in 1990, publishes the Alpharetta Roswell-Herald, Dunwoody Crier, Sandy Springs Crier, Johns Creek Herald, Forsyth Herald, Milton Herald and Decaturish INK. It also operates the digital outlets appenmedia.com, decaturish.com and georgiapress.com. The company is a member of the Georgia Press Association. “The public shouldn’t have to take the government’s word for what happens behind prison walls during an execution,” said Hans Appen, publisher and CEO of Appen Media Group. “Furthermore, transparency is not a favor the government grants the press — it is an essential safeguard of public accountability. The case is about whether Georgians can trust that the government’s most consequential actions are being conducted openly and lawfully.” Cory Isaacson, legal director for ACLU of Georgia, said in a press release that the state “currently holds absolute power to hide key components of executions from the press and the public, and the Constitution doesn’t allow that.” “If the state can limit access whenever and however it wants, it can too easily hide mistakes or misconduct,” Isaacson continued. The execution lawsuit is the latest instance of the Alpharettabased media group pressing Georgia governments in court over public access to information. The company has been engaged in a separate, long-running Georgia Open Records Act lawsuit against the city of Sandy Springs since May 2023. After city officials declined to release full narrative reports from police officers on open investigations, the company sued the city. A Fulton County judge initially ruled for Sandy Springs, but the Georgia Court of Appeals reversed that decision in March 2025. The case is now back before the Fulton County Superior Court. In January, a superior court judge ordered Sandy Springs to produce documents it previously withheld from the media group.

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Run it in the newspaper! WEDDINGS ENGAGEMENTS ANNIVERSARIES BIRTHS DEATHS To submit your announcement visit

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28 | September 10, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

Tax:

NEWS does not separately cap the millage rate.

Continued from Page 1 According to the city’s notice, that works out to roughly a $575 increase for that homeowner; a non-homestead property valued at $500,000 would see an increase of about $500. In a Sept. 1 interview with Appen Media, Robichaux offered a rounder, ballpark estimate of about $600 for a $500,000 home. Homestead exemptions, including options available to seniors, can lower the impact for eligible homeowners, she said. “We didn’t come to the decision to raise taxes lightly. This comes after a thorough review of our city’s near- and long-term needs,” Robichaux said in the city’s press release. “We owe it to our brave men and women in uniform to give them the tools they need to keep our city safe. We owe it to the people who drive throughout Roswell to ensure our roads aren’t riddled with potholes. And we owe it to the residents who play in our parks to have grass cut and restrooms clean.” How the numbers work The real tax increase under consideration is in the city’s operating budget, known as maintenance and operations (M&O). That rate would rise from 4.049 mills to 6.549 mills — a 2.5mill increase. The separate debt-service portion, which pays off the city’s 2022 bond, is also set to rise, from about 0.9 mills to 1.183 mills, but that increase is locked in by the terms of the bond itself. State law required the city to publish its notice by comparing the total proposed rate to a “benchmark” that keeps the operating rate flat and accounts only for the required bond increase: 4.049 mills plus 1.183 mills, for a combined 5.232 mills. Measured against that benchmark, the proposed 7.732-mill rate is a 2.5-mill increase — the same 2.5 mills as the M&O increase above. Georgia law also requires the notice to state a percentage increase — 65.08% in this case — which is calculated from total expected tax revenue rather than the millage numbers themselves. Why now Roswell is the ninth-largest city in Georgia and still in the middle of an economic redevelopment push, Robichaux said, but the tax base benefits of that growth take years to materialize. “As a little bit of an older city, we have infrastructure needs,” she said. When she took office in January, Robichaux said she began sorting through what the $179.6 million bond program voters approved in 2022

STANLEY LEARY/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell Mayor Mary Robichaux addresses attendees during a May 20 community vigil at Roswell Community Masjid, held in solidarity with victims of the San Diego mosque shooting. could and could not pay for. The bond funded major projects — including the city’s new parking deck, Public Safety Headquarters, E-911 Center and park improvements — but did not back routine maintenance, she said, which had been deferred “for various reasons.” That gap showed up quickly, with City Hall flooding this year. That incident caused nearly $700,000 in damage, and the building’s roof replacement is being funded through a separate public facility authority bond, Robichaux said. Fleet, fire equipment and roads Roswell’s roughly 480-vehicle fleet, including police cruisers and fire trucks, includes 33 vehicles in poor condition that employees still have to operate daily, Robichaux said. “We needed close to $4 million just to replace those fleet vehicles,” she said. “Hopefully, eight of those are police cars — you don’t realize how much extra stress is put on police cars and [on our firefighting vehicles.]” This will be the final year of the city’s transition to a full-time fire department, a shift that added personnel and equipment costs, Robichaux said. A typical fire engine lasts about 15 years, she said, but some Roswell engines currently in service are 22 to 23 years old, and ordering replacements takes about three years. Some firefighters’ Kevlar vests are also out of date. “I’m not willing to let our firemen not have the equipment they need — that includes some of the computers they need,” Robichaux said. “So that’s what we’re setting up.” Roads are another priority. Roswell is responsible for resurfacing 360 miles of road, and last year’s $4 million budget covered only 14 miles. The city receives a $1 million matching grant from a state program, and additional funding could come through a future transportation special purpose local option sales tax,

though that funding is not guaranteed. Robichaux said resurfacing every road that needs it would cost close to $50 million — money the city does not have. Scaling back the wish list After Roswell’s senior leadership team and department directors ranked capital needs by urgency, they identified close to $31 million in what Robichaux called “almost absolute needs.” City leaders trimmed that list, leaving about $13 million in projects that will not be funded this cycle and will instead be included in a longer-term plan. The proposed 2.5-mill increase, based on the 2025 tax digest, would generate about $18 million for the remaining priority projects, Robichaux said. She cautioned that the advertised rate represents a legal ceiling, not a final number. A tax digest is the county’s official annual accounting of assessed property values, which local governments use to calculate how much revenue a given millage rate will raise. Fulton County has not yet finalized this year’s digest, with the city receiving only an interim version. Robichaux said it is unclear which properties have actually been reassessed. “Some places have been assessed, changed; others have not,” she said. “So we’re like, which? How do we know? Is this the real thing or not?” Because of that uncertainty, the city is basing its budget math on the finalized 2025 digest instead of the incomplete 2026 figures, meaning the final millage rate could shift once the county completes the digest. “Remember, this is the proposed rate, so I don’t want people to think this is the final” figure, Robichaux said. By law, whatever millage rate the city advertises is the maximum that can ultimately be adopted; Roswell’s charter

Why a tax increase instead of more borrowing Robichaux, who spent her career in healthcare before serving four years as a state representative, said she considered issuing more bonds to cover the needs but decided against adding to the city’s debt load. Roswell is already paying off the $179.6 million bond issued in 2022 over 30 years, and the debt-service portion of the millage rate is set to rise this year regardless of the operating budget outcome. Robichaux said she expects major economic development projects — which she declined to detail — to expand the city’s tax base within two to three years. She said she would rather raise the millage rate now, fund priority projects and revisit the rate once that new revenue arrives than take on additional long-term debt. “I don’t want to put another debt on my grandchildren,” she said. The cost of waiting Robichaux pointed to the City Hall flooding as an example of what deferred maintenance can lead to, along with underground pipes she said are more than 40 years old, in a city that also operates its own water system serving about 20% of residents, maintains more than 1,000 acres of parkland, dredges the Chattahoochee River and helps manage the area’s national park land. “I don’t want a fire engine not to be able to pull out of the fire station because it’s 25 years old,” she said. Also on the tax bill Robichaux also noted that Roswell property owners receive three separate property tax bills — from Fulton County Schools, Fulton County and the city — and that the city’s portion is typically the smallest of the three, even though the city provides roughly 85% of the non-school services residents use. Public input State law requires at least one public hearing before adoption, but Roswell is holding three meetings at City Hall, 38 Hill St., plus a town hall: • Monday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m. — First reading, Roswell City Council meeting. • Wednesday, Sept. 16, 6-7:30 p.m. — Town hall, Eagles Nest Church, 2342 Holcomb Bridge Road. • Monday, Sept. 21, 6-7 p.m. — State-mandated public hearing. • Monday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. — Second reading and final vote. Robichaux said she is also open to speaking with any homeowners association, civic group or church that requests it. More information is available at roswellgov.com/property-taxes.

Puzzles

7/17/25 Connect-it

PuzzleJunction.com

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 5, 5 and 4 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!

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald............September 10, 2026 | 29

2 3 4 5 6

/10/25 Sudoku7

Groups 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, andGroup so on. The letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each 1. Royal flush card. Burglar. of connecting birds. 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 3 answers on thepuzzle, line. Buteach here’s the catch! Thecabinet. clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually 2. Group cattle. Passe. Dining room To the solve theofSudoku row, column and be the second or the thirdnumbers answer in1that line. Got it? Good luck! boxformust contain to 9.

3. Texas shrine. Work group. Wax-covered cheese. 4. Sporting group. Kick out. Evening wear.

2 9 6. Musical group. Big cat. Break in friendly relations. 2 5 8 7. Gung-ho. Western group. Envelope part. 3 8 2 1 4 5 4 9 1 6 5 3 4 8 9 8 3 How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. 2 4 7 The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a 5. Stringed instrument. Education group. Football play.

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

9 6 3 5 7 1 4 2 8

1 8 7 9 4 2 6 5 3

3 9 2 4 5 8 7 1 6

6 4 1 2 9 7 8 3 5

5 7 8 1 3 6 9 4 2

13 17

46 52 55

61 68

62 70

75 See 30 Down 76 Combine 77 Mother’s Day month 78 Money dispenser 79 Lamb’s mother Down 1 Overlook 2 Lackluster 3 Kind of sax 4 “Go, team!” 5 Crosswise, on deck 6 Salon supply 7 Breach 8 Egg cells 9 Pavarotti, e.g. 10 Woeful word

11 Norse god of discord 12 Lumberjacks’ tools 18 Winter warmer 20 Detective’s assignment 23 Pueblo dweller 26 Utah town 28 ___ beloved 29 Savvy about 30 Deception 31 Pigeon’s perch 32 Printer type 34 Sidestep 35 Vocally 36 Mouse catcher 38 Rubberneck 40 Irish Sea feeder

43 Kind of lamp 48 Atlas stat 50 Pine product 52 Hammer’s target 56 Twinkle 57 Invoice word 58 Not us 59 Indian princess 60 Mountaintop 62 Comedian Carvey 64 Riviera city 65 Pack away 66 Daly of Judging Amy 68 Jacuzzi 69 ___ sauce 71 Freddy Krueger’s street

See puzzle solutions on Page 37

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Po s

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1 CEO’s degree 4 Maid’s cloth 7 Figured out 10 Menu phrase 13 In poor health 14 Honest one 15 Hail, to Caesar 16 Bagel topper 17 Small bag 19 Crêpe 21 “Scram!” 22 Cigar residue 24 Haven 25 URL ender 27 Smells 30 Whip 32 Exposed 33 Harbor posting 36 Companion of Artemis 37 Decrees 39 Dated 41 Roll of bills 42 Grimm character 44 Decompose 45 Female rabbit 46 Car nut 47 Kind of spray 49 Lock horns 51 Easy chair site 53 Exceedingly 54 Marsh growth 55 Quartz variety 57 ___ judicata 58 Hiker’s path 61 Sweet drink 63 Present mo. 67 Unfortunate 70 Hotel offering 72 Helm heading 73 Sgt.’s address 74 Nonexistent

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Solution 7 1 5 3 6 4 2 8 9

black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

1. Royal flush card. Burglar. Group of birds. 2. Group of cattle. Passe. Dining room cabinet. 3. Texas shrine. Work group. Wax-covered cheese. 4. Sporting group. Kick out. Evening wear. 5. Stringed instrument. Education group. Football play. 6. Musical group. Big cat. Break in friendly relations. 7. Gung-ho. Western group. Envelope part. PuzzleJunction.com

Across

1 • Alpharett

GROUPS OF THINGS

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Ser v

Dunwoody Crier 7/17/25 Crossword

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30 | September 10, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

OPINION Roswell City Hall is located at 38 Hill St. JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA

Roswell’s tax increase is a sign of responsible leadership Tax increases are never popular. They shouldn’t be. Roswell residents have every right to question a proposed 2.5-mill increase, ask how the additional revenue will be spent and HANS APPEN demand that city Publisher leaders demonstrate they are making responsible financial decisions. But responsible government means making sure the services residents depend on are adequately funded — and that today’s needs aren’t simply pushed onto tomorrow’s taxpayers. That is what Roswell’s current leadership appears to be doing. Mayor Mary Robichaux and the city council are confronting a long list of basic needs: an aging vehicle fleet, outdated fire equipment, deteriorating roads and aging infrastructure. The city has 33 vehicles in poor condition, with some fire engines over 20 years old, and Roswell is responsible for maintaining 360 miles of roads. Those aren’t luxuries. They’re basic responsibilities of municipal government. The important question is how to pay for them.

Roswell could borrow more money. That’s what previous city councils did. Instead, Robichaux has said she doesn’t want to add another layer of long-term debt to the city’s books. That’s the responsible choice. Roswell already has a $179.6 million bond on the books, approved by voters in 2022, financing major projects, including a public safety headquarters, E-911 center, parking deck and park improvements. It’s worth remembering what a bond actually is: a loan. When a city issues bonds, it borrows money and agrees to repay that money over time, with interest. In Roswell’s case, the 2022 bond represents a long-term financial obligation that taxpayers will be paying off for decades. And the bill has come due. There is nothing inherently wrong with borrowing money for major capital projects. Cities routinely use bonds to finance large investments that would be difficult to pay for all at once. But borrowing should not become the answer to every financial need. A bond can pay to build a fire station. It doesn’t make sense to take out a 30-year loan every time the city needs to replace a fire engine. And that’s where previous city

councils deserve scrutiny. Roswell accumulated significant debt while routine maintenance and replacement needs were deferred. Now the current council has inherited both the debt and the consequences of those decisions. If anyone wants to point fingers over why Roswell is facing a significant financial challenge, they should look backward — not at the people who are now trying to address the problem. The answer certainly shouldn’t be to repeat the same approach. Borrowing more money might be politically easier, but it’s not responsible financial management. In fact, there is nothing responsible about keeping taxes artificially low if the result is allowing roads to deteriorate, fire engines to remain in service well beyond their expected lifespan or critical infrastructure to fail. The current council also deserves credit for prioritizing rather than simply spending. City leaders initially identified nearly $31 million in critical needs. They ultimately scaled that back, leaving about $18 million in priority projects while pushing roughly $13 million into a longer-term plan. That’s budgeting. That’s making hard choices. And that’s what taxpayers should expect from their

elected officials. Of course, residents should scrutinize the proposed increase. They should attend the public hearings. They should question spending and make sure the additional revenue is used as promised. But the conversation should be bigger than whether anyone likes paying another $500 or $600 in property taxes. The real question is whether Roswell is governing with a long-term view. A responsible city doesn’t rely on debt every time an expensive problem appears. It plans for the replacement of equipment. It invests in infrastructure before failure becomes an emergency. And it doesn’t pass today’s routine expenses on to tomorrow’s taxpayers simply because borrowing is politically easier. Robichaux has said she doesn’t want to “put another debt on my grandchildren.” That’s the right philosophy. Roswell cannot unspend money that has already been borrowed. But it can decide what kind of financial decisions it makes going forward. Residents don’t have to like the tax increase. But they should recognize responsible governing when they see it.

PRESERVING THE PAST

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 10, 2026 | 31

North Point Mall’s hidden artwork – and the story it tells When North Point Mall opened in 1993, a large store was named in honor of Rich's, a beloved Atlanta department store chain founded in 1867 as a dry goods store by Hungarian-born BOB MEYERS immigrant Morris Columnist Rich (1847-1928). His flagship store had closed two years earlier, in 1991. The iconic Rich's store occupied two blocks in Downtown Atlanta and operated from 1924 until its shutdown. The Alpharetta store at North Point Mall was named Rich's by its owner, Federated Department Stores, which had acquired the Rich's chain in 1976. In 1994 Federated acquired Macy's, one of the country's oldest department stores, founded in 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy (18221877). Thus, Rich's and Macy's became sister companies under one owner, although they continued to operate independently. Today's column tells the stories of Rich's and Macy's at North Point and the unique feature that sets both stores apart from other stores. Rich's was the first business to open in North Point Mall, drawing huge crowds on July 12, 1993, three months before the formal mall opening on Oct. 20, and it was always a highlight. Atlantans were still upset at the demise of their beloved Downtown Atlanta Rich's, and Federated was determined to create a special shopping experience. Russell Stravitz, chairman and chief executive officer of Rich's, told The Atlanta Journal, "The demographics of the population of this region indicate that the consumer is interested in upscale merchandise and wants a wide selection." For Federated, the Rich's acquisition was a major entry point into the South, because at that time Rich's consisted of 11 major department stores, three boutiques and 11 Richway discount stores in Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. Details in the interior and exterior of the Alpharetta Rich's were beautifully elaborate, an homage to the memory of the original store. Of special note to shoppers and historians, even today, is a series of eight commemorative plaques, or relief panels, on the exterior of Macy's that tell the Rich's story. In 2003, Federated announced that Rich's and several other regional chains would be merged into a single

BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

One of eight historic relief panels at Macy’s Department Store at North Point Mall that were installed during the construction of North Point Mall. The panels were installed in Rich’s which opened in 1993 as one of the original anchor stores in the mall. In 2005 the Rich’s name was retired and the store became Macy’s. Each panel illustrates an activity important to Rich’s history and each is represented by a specific year and theme, in this case 1900 and fashion. Macy's division because Macy's had become Federated's dominant flagship identity. The names of all Rich's stores were changed to Rich's-Macy's for a transitional period. In 2005, all remaining Rich's stores were renamed Macy's, and the Rich's name was fully retired after 138 years. The change was part of Federated's national strategy to dispense with regional names. Separate advertising, merchandising systems and marketing campaigns for each regional name were expensive and inefficient. Federated decided to keep the panels in place. While there has been some debate about the origin of the exterior panels on the Macy's store in Alpharetta, the consensus is that they were created new for the opening of Rich's North Point store. Rich's used precast

concrete panels. Salvaging panels from another building would have required redesigning portions of the building's facade, and there is no evidence that Rich's did that. When the Alpharetta store began its conversion to Macy's in 2003 as part of Federated's companywide consolidation, Macy's inherited the building and its panels. The panels were most likely cast off-site and installed with cranes. Off-site casting allows for more intricate bas-relief patterns than onsite casting, which produces more pronounced forms. Each panel has a shopping bag with the year written on it, identifying an important period in Rich's history. Here is a summary of each panel: — 1867. Retail era: Post-Civil War. Theme: Early specialty retail, shoes

and dry good. Description: Four figures in mid-19th century attire, including a woman in bridal attire. One young girl holds a shopping bag labeled M. Rich and Bros 1867, the year Rich’s was founded. — 1900. Theme: Fashion. Description: Two women beside a mirror, one adjusting the other’s floor length dress. A shopping bag with the year labeled M. Rich and Bros Co rests on a seat. — 1927. Era: Roaring Twenties. Theme: Retail service, shoe fitting, modern merchandising. Description: A seated women tries on shoes while a clerk kneels to assist. A standing woman holds the same dated Rich’s shopping bag. — 1944. Retail era: World War 11. Theme Toys, holiday retail. Description: Four children play with dolls, teddy bears and toy soldiers. A newly designed bag reads RICHS 1944. — 1954. Retail era: Mid-century. Theme: Personal service, fashion, hats. Description: A woman tries on a hat before a mirror. A clerk stands behind a counter and a young girl holds a hat, presumably for her mother. The bag still says Rich’s but it has a new design. — 1965. Retail era: Mid-century. Theme: Cosmetics, personal service, modern retail counters. Description: A seated woman with a mirror interacts with a clerk at the counter displaying cosmetics. The bag has a new design. — 1970. Tailoring men’s fashion. Retail era: Post war. Description: A tailor adjusts a suit on a customer standing on a platform. Theme: Men’s apparel, tailoring. Interpretation: The growth of men’s fashion, custom tailoring and the growth of department store men’s apparel sections. —1993. Retail era: North Point Mall opening. Theme: housewares, domestic goods. Description: a clerk shows a young couple a sample of dishes. The bag still says Rich’s since the name did not change to Macy’s until 2005. The fate of the panels remains unknown as discussions continue about the mall's future. Let us hope that regardless of the mall's future, the unique and very historic panels will be preserved for the benefit of this and future generations. They are part of Alpharetta's 1990s suburban identity. Thanks to reader Dianna Smeal for suggesting the topic. You can email Bob at bobmey@ bellsouth.net. To learn more about the Milton Historical Society, go to miltonhistoricalsociety-georgia.org.

32 | September 10, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

GARDEN BUZZ

OPINION

Joro Spiders: Here, there and hanging across your walkway These days, you probably don’t have to look much farther than your backyard, mailbox or favorite walking trail to spot a Joro spider. Joro spiders (Trichonephila clavata) have GABRIELLE LATORA become one of the Guest Columnist most abundant and conspicuous spider species in north Georgia landscapes in the last several years. First detected in the United States in Georgia in 2014, Joros are native to East Asia. University of Georgia researchers think Joros were introduced to Georgia on imported plants, crates or pallets as early as 2010. Since their introduction, they have also made themselves at home in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee and continue to claim new territory. Scientists have already detected small populations in Florida, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and California. Joros are orb-weaving spiders, similar to our native garden spiders, forming large, irregular webs in trees and across walkways and clearings. They have one generation per year and are most visible in September and October, when the large females’ abdomens carry developing eggs. Despite taking hold in Georgia more than a decade ago, Joro spiders didn’t become especially numerous in the Atlanta area until 2022 or so. Since then, the number of reports on iNaturalist and EDDMapS has skyrocketed in our area year after year. How to spot a Joro spider The adult females are the easiest to spot thanks to their impressive size, reaching up to a whopping 1¼ inches long before you even count their legs. They have yellow abdomens with broad blue-green bands on the back and yellow-red markings on the belly. Their legs are long and black, often with yellow bands and tufts of short hair. The adult males are much smaller—about a quarter-inch long— and brown. Their abdomen is an elongated oval with two long yellowish stripes on each side and a dark brown stripe in the middle. Joros first captured the internet’s attention when headlines started warning about giant “flying” spiders parachuting into neighborhoods. As

About the author This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Gabrielle LaTora, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for UGA Extension Fulton County. An entomologist by training, Gabrielle is interested in insects on farms and in gardens and is passionate about closing the gap between people and their food. In addition to helping coordinate Fulton’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program, Gabrielle oversees the North Fulton Community Garden, answers clients’ questions about gardening and natural resources, works with urban farmers, and delivers educational programs for Fulton County residents.

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Female Joro spiders will be at their largest in late September and October. They have distinctive yellow abdomens with horizontal blue-green bands. alarming as that sounds, the story wasn’t entirely fiction. In June, newly hatched spiderlings can release a little silk and become airborne in a process called ballooning. With the right weather conditions, they can travel miles and miles this way. Joros also move into new areas on vehicles, cargo, plants and other materials. Are Joro spiders dangerous? Despite their intimidating look, Joro spiders aren’t aggressive or particularly dangerous. They are actually very timid and will probably run away from you. UGA researchers found they were unlikely to bite, even when handled roughly in experiments. A rare bite from a Joro will cause temporary discomfort but is not a cause for medical concern. Many ask if they are considered invasive. According to the Joro Watch website, “Invasive means that a species is introduced to a new ecosystem and…has the potential to cause economic harm, environmental harm or harm to human health.” Short answer: we don’t know yet if Joros will cause harm or simply be a nuisance. What we do know is that Joros are generalists who eat lots of common types of insects, such as moths, flies, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, beetles and

stinkbugs. With large webs, often several feet wide, they capture plenty of flying insects. DNA analysis of their stomach contents found that they eat more flies than other insect types. Should I kill Joros? Whether you kill Joro spiders when you find them is up to you. Yes, they are an introduced and rapidly spreading species. And yes, they can be a nuisance, especially if your idea of a good morning does not include walking face-first into a giant web. These may be good enough reasons for you to decide to control them. Diligent control in your landscape, whether by killing them or disrupting their webs, will probably reduce how many you see in that immediate area in the short-term. However, local control by residents is unlikely to have much impact on the overall spread. It’s impossible to completely eradicate them at this point. Early trials show that the most effective ways to kill them are manual (wrap their web onto a stick and step on them) and using insecticides labeled for spiders, including Black Flag Spider & Scorpion Killer (lambdacyhalothrin 0.03% and prallethrin 0.025%) and Zevo Insect Killer Spray for Ant, Roach and Spider (sodium lauryl sulfate 5.96% and essential

oils). Researchers from Clemson University found that household products, like bleach, hairspray, isopropyl alcohol and vinegar were not effective – most spiders were unharmed or fully recovered. When using insecticides, always follow all label instructions, and reach out to your county Extension agent with questions. Researchers are still learning exactly how Joros fit into Georgia’s ecosystems, and many questions remain unanswered. In the meantime, these eye-catching spiders are here to stay, spinning their enormous webs and inspiring equal parts curiosity and annoyance. If you’d like to help scientists track their spread, report any Joro sightings to Joro Watch and explore the latest maps and research updates online. One thing is certain: few newcomers have managed to make themselves at home in Georgia quite as dramatically as the Joro spider. North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/. Come visit us at the Alpharetta Farmers Market and the Sandy Springs Farmers Market. We will also have a booth at the Crabapple Festival in Milton on Oct. 3rd, 2026

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DEATH NOTICES Linda Bagley, age 85, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 25, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Christopher Farnsworth, age 52, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 27, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Mary Dripps Johnson, age 90, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 20, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Bobbie Eddins, age 91, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 22, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Hathorn, age 82, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 26, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Lawrence O’Brien, age 92, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 17, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The following items will be considered by the Design Review Board on Friday, October 16, 2026 with a workshop commencing at 8:30 a.m. and regular meeting commencing at 9:00 a.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. 1. DRB260021 7Brew Coffee Consideration of landscape plan. The property is located at 11378 State Bridge Rd and is legally described as being in Land Lot 0129 1st District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia 2. DRB260026 Indie House Modern Fragrances Consider signage. The property is located at 50 Canton St Suite 103/104 and legally described as being in Land Lot 1269 2nd District 2nd Section, Fulton County Georgia 3. DRB260027 Ashton Residential at Continuum Consider new construction. The property is located at 1985 Westside Pkwy and 5555 Windward Pkwy and legally described as being in Land Lot 1187,1190,1191 2nd District 2nd Section, Fulton County Georgia 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 the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

CITY OF ALPHARETTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The following items will be heard at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on Thursday, October 1, 2026 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. Items forwarded by the Planning Commission will be considered by the City Council on Monday, October 26, 2026 commencing at 6:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. a. Z-26-07/V-26-15 350 Wills Lane Consideration of a rezoning and variances to allow for the subdivision of a 4.98-acre property into 3 single-family detached lots. A rezoning is requested from AG (Agriculture) to R (Dwelling, ‘For-Sale’, Residential). Variances are requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 2.2.3(D) to reduce the side setback from 25’ to 15’ and UDC Subsection 3.5.2 to modify the local street section to allow for no curb or sidewalks. The property is located at 350 Wills Lane and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 597, 598, and 599, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia. b. MP-26-13/CU-26-11/V-26-19 Royal 400 Data Center Consideration of a request for master plan amendment, conditional use, and variance to allow a Georgia Power utility substation in conjunction with an expansion at an existing data center on 38.8 acres in the Royal 400 Master Plan. A master plan amendment is requested to amend the Royal 400 Master Plan to add ‘Utility Substation’ as a conditional use, reduce an undisturbed buffer, amend security fence materials and height. A conditional use is requested to allow a ‘Utility Substation’ on the subject property and a variance is requested to Unified Development Code Subsection 2.3.6 to allow the height of a fence or wall to exceed eight feet (8’). The property is located at 4905 North Point Parkway and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 850, 851, 858 & 859, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia. c. MP-26-08/V-26-08/E-26-05 Windward Hall/Windward MP Pod 14A Consideration of a master plan amendment, variance, and exception to allow a free-standing ‘Restaurant (no drive-thru)’ on 3.75 acres in Windward. A master plan amendment is requested to the Windward Master Plan Pod 14A to allow a freestanding ‘Restaurant (no drive-thru)’ as a principal use on the property. A variance is requested to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 3.3.2(D) to allow an outdoor seating area to encroach into the impervious setback of a stream and an exception is requested to UDC Section 2.5 to eliminate parking requirements for an outdoor seating area. The property is located at 0 Windward Parkway and is legally described as being located in Land Lot 1113, 2nd District, 1st Section, Fulton County, Georgia. d. PH-26-04 Unified Development Code – Amendments Business & Recreational Vehicles Consideration of text amendments to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsection 1.4 and UDC Subsection 2.5.4(B) to assign definitions and amend the locational parking requirements for business and recreational vehicles in residential zoning districts. The following item will be considered by the Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, October 15, 2026 commencing at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpharetta City Hall Council Chambers, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia. e. PH-26-17 Karen Drive Parcels Appeal Consideration of an appeal to administrative decision regarding the permissibility of commercial access across an R-12 zoned right-of-way tract as it relates to Unified Development Code (UDC) Subsections 3.2.8(B)(1) and UDC Subsection 2.2.6(B). The properties are located at 0 & 297 Karen Drive and 0 Karen Drive Rear and is legally described as being located in Land Lots 693 & 696, 1st District, 2nd Section, Fulton County, Georgia. 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 the past two (2) years must complete a campaign contribution report with the Community Development Department. The complete text of the Georgia law and a disclosure form are available in the office of the City Clerk, 2 Park Plaza, Alpharetta, Georgia.

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Former First Lady Jill Biden, author of “View from the East Wing,” is one of the featured authors at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s 35th book festival, which runs Nov. 1-22 in Dunwoody and features author talks, book signings and culinary programs.

Festival: Continued from Page 22 He will discuss his new book, “Conversations That Matter: How Americans Can Talk About Tough Issues And Remain United” with Atlanta Journal-Constitution political journalist Greg Bluestein. The festival will begin Sunday, Nov. 1, with local author Dena Schusterman and her memoir, “Stories Carry,” which revolves around faith, belonging and the stories that shaped her. Dozens of authors will be featured throughout the month, including Biden, author of the “View from the East Wing,” on Saturday, Nov. 7, and Connick, author of “Babe: Elaboratio,” on Saturday, Nov. 14. The closing conversation will be Sunday, Nov. 22, with Dara Horn as she confronts the myths and lies that have spread antisemitism and discusses a vision for the future as outlined in her book, “The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living.” “The festival offers something we all need — a place to gather, learn, share ideas and be reminded that we are part of a vibrant, resilient community,” festival co-chair Staci Libowsky said. “That sense of connection and hope is one of the festival’s greatest gifts, and it feels especially meaningful in our 35th year.” All events will occur at the MJCCA’s headquarters at 5342 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody. Tickets are on sale to the general public at atlantajcc.org/ bookfestival, where a full schedule and series pass options are also available. — Hannah Yahne

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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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38 | September 10, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

Part-time

Full-time Landis+Gyr Technology Inc. Product Manager Alpharetta, GA Responsibilities: Lead complete product lifecycle of energy management products and solutions, including authoring Product Requirement Documents (PRDs), prioritizing sustainment activities, & managing investment plan & New Product Introduction (NPI) process for assigned products. Work closely with clients and apply functional and technical knowledge of energy management products to ensure work product & deliverables meet customer satisfaction. Salary: $100,000 - $115,500 Requirements: Bachelor’s in Comp Sci, Engg, or related field & 2 yrs of exp product management. Exp must include 2 yrs each of following: market research to address market/business needs for a product; data analysis to identify opportunities & efficiencies & measure critical metrics for a product line; gathering, synthesizing, & translating customer requirements into technical & functional product requirements & specifications; collaborating with marketing, sales, manufacturing, & engineering functions in the development and launch of new products; developing/specifying requirements for Edge computing & IoT computing technologies; & NPI (new product introduction). Experience may be gained concurrently. To apply, please send resume via email to Portia. Ehoussou@landisgyr.com or mail to Landis + Gyr Technology, Inc., c/o Portia Ehoussou, HR, 30000 Mill Creek Ave, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30022. Please reference job title (Product Manager). Director of Field Operations (Alpharetta, GA) Oversee superintendents & sr field leaders, establish & enforce company-wide field operating standards, & ensure consistent execution of safety, qlty, productivity, professionalism, & collaboration across all divisions. 50% trvl req to worksites throughout Georgia. Reqs: 5 yrs of exp in the job offered or Field Coordinator or closely rltd pos. Concurrent exp must incl 5 yrs of exp w/ construction safety compliance & audits, Construction mgmt s/w (Procore & Autodesk) & Safety mgmt sys (Hammertech, Go Contractor). Must have OSHA 510 trng certificate. Mail resumes to: KC Painting & Coatings, LLC, Daly Martinez, 345 Branch Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30004

Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk III – Customer Service to assist in a high-volume call center. Requires high school diploma or state approved High School Equivalency (HSE), computer, communication, and general office skills. Requires one (1) year experience in a customer service call center or service-type organization, utility, finance, banking, or equivalent industry. Bilingual is preferred, fluent in English and Spanish (written and verbal).

Sawnee EMC is seeking a PC Technician to review PC and network system capabilities; inspect personal computer equipment; prioritize and schedule repairs; and coordinate help desk activities. Requires an associate degree with a minimum of three years of experience in LAN/Network design, configuration, installation, and PC troubleshooting. Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours as necessary, to include evenings and weekends.

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Applicants must complete an application prior to 5PM, September 18, 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. Arxada, LLC seeks Planning Manager – Supply Chain in Alpharetta, GA (Full-time telework permitted) to analyze & coordinate the ongoing logistical functions. Salary within the range of $146,827 to $184,000 per year. 10%-30% travel within North America required. Send resume to terence.oconnor@arxada.com (Alpharetta, GA) ANDRITZ, Inc. seeks Project Engineer responsible for supporting Project Management in engineering activities, equipment specifications, and bid evaluations. Requires Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field & (5) five years of experience in boiler project engineering and/ or related field. Travel to North American project client sites 15-20% of time. Submit resumes to Suzanne. Fulton@andritz.com. Reference job title in subject line.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, September 11, 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.

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Ross: City should have residents pick fiscal fate

Public Service Commission race headed to runoff election

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Wills Park brims with area visitors on Fourth of July By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

A girl waves an American flag as she dances to music by Davis and the Love at Roswell Area Park July 4.

PHOTOS BY: SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA

Kendall, from left, John, Brooks and Reid Hill sit on a picnic blanket at Roswell Area Park to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Roswell crowd celebrates America’s 249th birthday By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Food trucks, live music and fireworks were on the menu for America’s birthday in Roswell. A crowd of over 1,000 piled into Roswell Area Park July 4 to celebrate America’s 249th birthday.

Kendall and John Hill travelled from East Cobb to bring their two little ones to the show. “The kids love it,” John Hill said. Baseball fields and multi-use fields were filled with families and friends awaiting the firework show at dusk.

OPINION

Pitts: Raising millage rate would be mistake

See FIREWORKS, Page 24

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From left, Traci Foreman, Chris Foreman and John Hanley watch fireworks in Wills Park July 4.

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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The heart of the holiday was shining through the music, food and fun of Creek’s Juneteenth celebration. As the sun set on a warm Saturday evening, Midway grandmother Matilda Riles sat in a lawnchair, watching her grandchildren play on the park lawn amid the sound of booming live music and mouthwatering aroma of food trucks. Before the fun started, Riles, who attended with three generations of family, educated the kids about the reason for Juneteenth. “It's a point in time when enslaved people no longer had to be enslaved, and certain places did not relay the message at the time that it should have been relayed,” Riles said. “And, therefore this is a celebration as to when the final group of people were told you no longer had to be enslaved.” Several thousand visitors descended on the city’s annual celebration at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, doubling last year’s attendance. The celebration resembled a giant block party with live music performances, chatting neighbors, plenty of food and rows of arts and craft vendors.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The perfect biscuit is like a warm hug, said Brandy White, owner of Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company. “It kind of warms your soul,” White said. “It feels like home to me.” Since 2001, the Sawnee Mountain Biscuit has operated out of a renovated mobile home at 104 13th St., serving perfect pillowy biscuits wrapped around eggs, cheese, bacon and other breakfast staples. With dozens of items on the menu, the restaurant features other tasty offerings from French toast to a house-made pimento cheese. Tucked into a sleepy neighborhood on the edge of Cumming, Sawnee Mountain Biscuit might easily be taken as another house, but locals say the squat, blue-clapboard building is one of the town’s best breakfast spots. Over the decades, the restaurant has earned a cult following in Cumming and the north Atlanta area, serving as many as 400 orders some mornings.

See BISCUIT, Page 6

Two-year-old Cameron holds a beach ball at the City of Roswell Fourth of July celebration at Roswell Area Park.

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Residents celebrate, remember meaning behind Juneteenth

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Brandy White holds her 1-year-old daughter, Lennon, at the entrance to her Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company on 13th Street just outside Cumming.

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is working to complete converting an old elementary school into a law enforcement training center. Since October, the training center has hosted a public safety academy as part of a partnership between the sheriff’s office and University of North Georgia. The academy, funded by the

ROI

matters.

sheriff’s office, provides training for law enforcement officers in Forsyth County and surrounding jurisdictions, Capt. Rob Heagerty said. At an April 22 work session, the County Board of Commissioners discussed a proposal to allocate $47,993 for design services with ar chitectural firm Wiley Wilson to create plans, conduct inspections and

make changes to water heaters. The sheriff’s office wants to install showers and locker rooms at the building at 4805 Atlanta Highway, Heagerty said. The improvements are important because exercise and physical conditioning are essential in maintaining capable deputies, he said. The building already houses classrooms, meeting rooms, a cafeteria,

gym, simulator room and an empty wing where deputies can conduct building-clearing and other training exercises. The work is part of a second phase to transform former Midway Elementary School into a law enforcement training center.

See SHERIFF, Page 12

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County restores original funding to cultural arts

Children play in the lawn at Newtown Park during a Juneteenth celebration in Johns Creek June 21. JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to restore funding for a program within the Arts & Culture Department to $3 million a year Sept. 17. While the unanimous vote reflects unity and bipartisanship, some commissioners criticized colleagues for the delay. The item, sponsored by Democratic commissioners Khadijah AbdurRahman and Marvin Arrington Jr. and Republican commissioners Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne, includes an increase of $1.7 million for a previously requested program and its full $3 million in funding set aside in the 2026 budget.

See JUNETEENTH, Page 10

sions last January and writing false reports about each of the incidents. “The (Justice Department’s) Civil Rights Division has zero tolerance for law ATLANTA — Fulton County Jail employee has been indicted in federal court for alleg- enforcement officers who abuse public edly using excessive force against prisoners. trust through excessive force and concealThe 47-year-old sergeant is accused of ing their misconduct,” said Assistant U.S. repeatedly using tasers on compliant, non- Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “We resisting pre-trial detainees on three occawill vigorously safeguard the constitutional

Dunwoody opens doors to refine future land-use By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Front center, Ann Hanlon, executive director of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, holds the ribbon for phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 while City Councilman Tom Lambert, front right, gets ready to cut it. The Perimeter CIDs and Dunwoody split the project’s $1.5 million construction cost.

Commercial partners and city celebrate new path By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

See FULTON, Page 20

Fulton jail staff faces civil rights indictments By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

April 10, 2025 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

By JON WILCOX | jon@appenmedia.com

County considers funding for sheriff’s training facility

See FOURTH, Page 23

County delays closing Alpharetta jail site

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thousands filled Wills Park to celebrate July 4 with a bang. Hours before darkness fell, friends and families filled the park’s lawns, Equestrian Center, trails and athletic fields. Everywhere, children played, cartwheeling, running, tossing balls and waving glow sticks. Alpharettan Lindsey Landis, her husband, two children and two dogs were part the crowd, passing the golden hour on a blanket laid out on the grass.

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Biscuit eatery rises to meet high demand

► PAGE 4

Summer Veggies Annuals Pollinator Plants and So Much More! Friday April 11- Sunday April 13

years behind bars for each false report. rights of all individuals, including those in The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is investicustody.” “Abuses of power of this kind are gating the case based on a referral from the unconstitutional, erode our community’s Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. trust, and will be prosecuted,” added This story is available through a news Theodore S. Hertzberg, U.S. attorney for the partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, Northern District of Georgia. Solomon faces up to 10 years in prison a project of the Georgia Press Educational for each federal civil rights violation and 20 Foundation.

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Miniature goldendoodle Lexi cools off at the Milton city pool on Sept. 13. Canine companions gathered there to celebrate summer’s end. See the story and more photos from Sarah Donehoo on page 18.

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A look down the completed phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 shows the two-way cycle track parallel to the revamped sidewalk.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody elected officials, city staff and Perimeter Community Improvement Districts Executive Director Ann Hanlon cut the ribbon April 3 on phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path. “We’re super proud to partner with the city of Dunwoody on building this trail project,” Hanlon

said. “And we’ll look forward to many more phases to come.” A little over two years ago, the group gathered at the same spot near the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Hammond Drive for phase one’s groundbreaking. Phase one of the corridor’s path includes a two-way raised cycle track separated from traffic by a wide landscape buffer

See PATH, Page 17

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody is streamlining development rules and updating its vision for the city’s future as part of a state-mandated overhaul. City officials and representatives from consulting firm TSW Design, which was tasked with creating a plan, gave a two-hour presentation about the changes April 1 during a special meeting at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Residents received and discussed the creation of a unified development ordinance and changes to the city’s comprehensive plan. Dunwoody is updating its comprehensive plan as part of a state mandate that requires an overhaul every five years, said Allison Stewart-Harris, an associate principal and planner at TSW. Stewart-Harris presented the changes to about 30 residents who attended the meeting.

JAN HART | REALTOR® JAN HART | REALTOR®® JAN HART | REALTOR c: 678.596.3684 c: 678.596.3684 c: o: 678.596.3684 404.480.HOME o: 404.480.HOME o: 404.480.HOME JAN@ANSLEYRE.COM JAN@ANSLEYRE.COM JAN@ANSLEYRE.COM solicitation. All data believed to be accurate but not warranted. Equal housing opportunity. If you have an existing brokerage relationship, this is not intended as a solicitation. All data believed to be accurate but not warranted.

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs announced that the Billboard Music Award-winning band Lit is headlining Friday night Sept. 26 at the third annual Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival. The festival will take place in the heart of Sandy Springs Friday, Sept. 26, from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Lit is an American rock band from Orange County,

California, formed in 1988. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1999 power-pop punk album “A Place in the Sun” and its massive hit single “My Own Worst Enemy.” The band is set to headline the main stage Friday night at 8 p.m. In addition to Lit, the family-friendly festival features music all day long across multiple stages, an artist market with more than 80 vendors and a Kids Zone.

See LIT, Page 9

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Motorists line up at the Boylston Drive signal to turn left onto Hammond Drive Aug. 14. Sandy Springs will begin work in September to realign Boylston to the east and eliminate a nearby traffic light.

Realignment construction begins on Hammond-Boylston intersection

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

Sandy Springs said Billboard Music Award-winning band, Lit, is headlining this year’s festival Sept. 26-27 at City Springs.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs contractors are set to begin work in September on realigning the intersection of Boylston and Hammond drives and removing a redundant traffic light. The city says work will last around 15 months, and the intersection will remain open during construction, but there will be occasional lane closures so crews can get the work done safely. Initially, city officials expected the project

to begin in mid-August. No explanation was given. Currently, there are two separate sets of traffic lights less than 100 feet away from one another, one at the Hammond Glen Retirement Community’s driveway and another at the office building next door. The new configuration will shift Boylston Drive to the east, aligning it with the Hammond Glen driveway and eliminating the traffic light at the driveway to the office building at 325 Hammond Drive.

Indicted superintendent resigns

Residents trying to pump brakes on I-285 express lane

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Wild Nest Bird Rehab finds roost at Legacy Park

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See BOYLSTON, Page 8

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Billboard Music Award winner to headline Sandy Springs fest

See REFINE, Page 17

About 30 residents fill a dining room at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road April 1 to hear a presentation by TSW Design planner Allison Stewart-Harris, who spoke on the city’s future land-use strategy.

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