Alpharetta-Roswell Herald - September 3, 2026 by Appen Media Group

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Fulton school board approves tentative millage rate increase By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Education has approved a tentative increase of the school system’s millage rate to 18.08 LOONEY mills. The proposed rate is up one full mill from last year’s millage rate of 17.08 mills. A mill equals $1 in tax for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. In Georgia, assessed value is 40% of a property’s fair market value, not the full market price. For a home valued at $450,000 on the market, the school tax, before any homestead exemptions, would be $3,254 a year.

See MILLAGE, Page 22

ALETIAN CREATIVE/PROVIDED

Artist R. John Ichter’s piece “36 Koi” is on display as part of self-guided audio art tour available at The Hamilton Alpharetta.

Alpharetta hotel presents free art tour By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

FEAR, VOTES AND MONEY

How attack ads actually work ► PAGE 21

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Hamilton Hotel in Alpharetta is inviting guests and the public to experience art in a new way through a permanent selfguided audio art tour featuring 47 original works by 10 acclaimed regional and internationally recognized artists. The collection, curated by Miltonbased Aletian Creative, transforms

the boutique hotel into an immersive gallery that guests can explore at their own pace. Throughout the hotel’s public spaces, visitors can scan a QR code displayed beside the artwork to learn about the artist’s inspiration for the piece and gain insight into the creative process from their own phone. The free, self-guided tour is available now at 35 Milton Avenue during the hotel’s public hours, allowing visitors to begin the experience

whenever they choose and spend as much time as they like with each work. “Our vision was to create more than an art display,” Elena Fennell, founder and curator of Aletian Creative, said. “We wanted to create an experience that encourages people to slow down, engage with original art and discover the remarkable stories behind the artists and their work.

See TOUR, Page 22

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Teen arrested for murder in Sandy Springs apartment

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Man hid meth in sock at Alpharetta jail, police say

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 35-year -old Norcross man was charged after jail staff allegedly found drugs concealed in his sock Aug. 14. Alpharetta police said officers stopped a vehicle on Georgia 120 after it made numerous traffic infractions. Officers said they noticed the vehicle had been parked behind an Old Milton Parkway hotel where drug transactions are common. Officers suspected the Norcross man, who was driving, was intoxicated after speaking with him during the traffic stop. The man and a 38-year -old passenger from Atlanta had bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, tremors and skin sores, police said. Officers also allegedly noticed crumpled aluminum foil with burn marks on the passenger floorboard. A search of the vehicle found a glass water pipe, blowtorch-style lighter, digital scale and two plastic baggies containing substances. One of the substances was white and crystalline. The other was purple and

powdery. Officers arrested the Atlanta man on a possession of methamphetamine charge and the Norcross man on an active warrant charging him with loitering and prowling. At the Alpharetta Detention Center, officers found foil and two baggies of methamphetamine concealed in the Norcross man’s sock, police said. He was charged with possession of methamphetamine, crossing a guard line with prohibited items and improper lane change.

THC vaporizer, a baggie of suspected cocaine and small plastic spoon. The man’s shoulder was dislocated in the incident, and he was taken to a nearby hospital. He was arrested on simple battery of a law enforcement officer, criminal trespass and possession of a controlled substance. — Jon Wilcox

— Jon Wilcox

Oxford man arrested after altercation at Alpharetta bar ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 30-year-old Oxford, Georgia, man was arrested on a battery of a law enforcement officer charge after he was ordered to leave a Milton Avenue bar Aug. 16. Alpharetta police said bar security personnel asked the man to leave after determining he was too intoxicated. An off-duty officer working at the bar escorted the man outside. The officer took the man’s hand and led him away after he attempted to reenter the bar, police said. The officer attempted to arrest the man after he slapped the officer’s arm. The man allegedly resisted arrest by refusing commands and pulling away. A search after his arrest found a

Residents report hearing gunshots near Martin Lake ROSWELL, Ga. — Two residents living on Quail Run near Martin Lake told Roswell Police they heard a total of six gunshots in the early morning on Friday, Aug. 28. The caller said he heard one initial gunshot around 4:45 a.m from his residence on Quail Run, a neighborhood street. Around 30 seconds later, he heard five more gunshots. Another witness from a few doors down corroborated the original story. Officers checked the premises of the surrounding apartments, condos and around Martin Lake but did not find physical evidence of gunshots in the area. Officers checked on a residence across the lake on Six Branches Drive that had been frequently calling Roswell Police, but there was no evidence that shots were fired. — Hannah Yahne

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It was determined he fled the scene before officers arrived. On Aug. 29, Cobb County police conducted a traffic stop near Ernest W. Barrett Parkway and Mall Boulevard N.W. in Town Center and took Castillo into custody. He has been charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

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SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Christopher Castillo was arrested by Cobb County police officers Aug. 29 – one day after the 17-year-old was named a suspect in the murder of a man found dead in a Sandy Springs apartment complex. Sandy Springs Police arrived at

The Celebration at Sandy Springs on Roswell Road after family members requested a welfare check on 25-yearold Williams Lopez Rodriguez. Officers found Rodriguez dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head inside his apartment. Detectives with the Sandy Springs Police Department identified Castillo as a suspect during the investigation.

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COMMUNITY

Allen Stone, Nicotine Dolls headlining Blue Stone festival By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival will return to Sandy Springs in September with a diverse lineup of performances spanning rock, soul, R&B and country. The festival will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, with a market offering original creations from more than 60 artists, kids’ activities and a sports zone. There will also be food trucks. Performances on the City Green Stage will start at 4:30 p.m. Friday with duo Carl Wockner + Cat Ridgeway. That performance will be followed at 7 p.m. by Brother Maven and, at 8:30 p.m., Nicotine Dolls. On Saturday, Sept. 26, the festival will start with the Blue Stone 5K-9, an official Peachtree Road Race qualifier. The artist market, activity zones and food trucks will open at 11 a.m., with performances scheduled on both stages throughout the day. The City Green Stage will host a Zach Bryan tribute band to begin the performances at 1 p.m. A Bon Jovi tribute band will follow at 4 p.m. Original artists will perform R&B, soul and rock music throughout the day, with a headlining performance by Allen Stone at 8:30 p.m. Squonk + Joy Machine will put on multimedia performances both days on the Hilderbrand Stage. Festival-goers won’t just watch the show; they’ll become part of it by helping power the whimsical joy machine. The Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival is produced by the city of Sandy Springs with the support of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and Nissan of Marietta.

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SCHOOLS

6 | September 3, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS/PROVIDED

A graph presented during the Aug. 11 Board of Education work session shows the average scores of Fulton County students on the 2026 spring Georgia Milestones, compared with the state and regional averages for each topic.

Fulton’s Milestones scores average higher than state, region By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Superintendent Mike Looney said he and Fulton County Board of Education members are proud of students’ spring Georgia Milestones results from the 2025-26 school year, which outperformed state and regional scores. Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins gave a presentation on last year’s end-of-year test results in math, science and social studies across certain grade levels at an Aug. 11 work session. Gaskins said there will be an in-depth presentation on the scores and the school district’s action plan to maintain the momentum in September. Results from the English language arts Milestones tests will be available in the fall due to the tests being replaced by a new assessment. Gaskins said the progress Fulton County Schools students made in math across all grade levels is “encouraging,” with more than 57% of students assessed scoring proficient or distinguished — a 2.5 percentage-point increase from last year. High school students taking Algebra: Concepts and Connections saw the largest change, with almost 45% of students showing growth in the subject matter. “While grades seven and eight remain relatively stable, the overall trend is clear,” Gaskins said. “More students are meeting or exceeding Georgia’s expectations in mathematics.” Eighth grade had the greatest gain in social studies, with an additional

2.7 percentage points of students scoring proficient or distinguished on the Milestones exam. However, fewer than 50% of students district-wide are reaching that level, with the district seeing a less than 2-percentage-point increase from last year’s scores in the subject overall. High school biology scores increased by 3.9 percentage points, raising the proportion of students’ knowledge labeled proficient or distinguished in the subject to almost 60%. Overall, nearly 2 percentage points more students scored proficient or distinguished in science. Looking at the results, Gaskins said the challenge now is to build on these practices to achieve the same level of acceleration at every grade level across the district. “The important message here is that our progress is not occurring in isolation,” he said. “Across every content area included … Fulton students are outperforming both the state and in our region.” Board Member Franchesca Warren asked about support for students who are scoring below proficient levels. Gaskins said while those students do have support systems and classes in place to help close learning gaps, it’s important that the parent or guardian is engaged in their student’s learning as well. Board Member Lillie Pozatek said while the growth is exciting, the district can’t be finished making progress. “We’re competing against ourselves,” Pozatek said, “and we have one chance to do this right.”

NEWS

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CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

The North Springs station — located at 7010 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs — is the northern terminus for the red line of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, more commonly known as MARTA.

MARTA parking fees, free period changing SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Starting Monday, Sept. 14, long-term parking rates will increase by $2 per day — after 14 hours — at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s Dunwoody, North Springs and Sandy Springs stations, along with six others throughout metro Atlanta. The free parking period at MARTA’s paid parking facilities will also decrease and require commuters to pay after 14 hours of parking, instead of 24 hours. The changes do not affect any of MARTA’s existing free daily parking locations. Once in effect, it will cost $10 per day — after 14 hours — to park at the North Springs station and $7 per day — after 14 hours — at both the Dunwoody and Sandy Springs stations. The new parking rates are estimated to generate an additional $500,000 of annual operating revenue for MARTA, according to a press release. The increased fees will help recover the cost of recent systemwide upgrades that are helping move MARTA’s parking operation toward self-sufficiency.

LETTER: MARTA needs visionary leadership ► PAGE 27 The additional revenue will also support future upgrades to lighting and other security measures at the parking facilities. MARTA stations increasing to $7 per day — after 14 hours — include: • Dunwoody • Kensington • Lenox • Medical Center • Sandy Springs MARTA stations increasing to $10 per day — after 14 hours — include: • College Park • Doraville • Lindbergh • North Springs — Hannah Yahne

MARTA Route 5 changed after intersection improvements SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority updated a portion of Route 5 in Sandy Springs effective Aug. 22 to align with the two-way travel now allowed on Johnson Ferry Road and Mount Vernon Highway. The roads opened for two-way travel in June. MARTA has simplified the bus route to run in both directions along the

south side of Veterans Park in Sandy Springs, rather than driving around it. Now, southbound stops align with existing northbound stops on Johnson Ferry Road, Mount Vernon Highway and Roswell Road. The route changes are limited to this area; more details are available at itsmarta.com/ servicechanges. — Hannah Yahne

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COMMUNITY

Milton high school student creates app to fight food waste By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Agasthya Chava, a 10th grader at Cambridge High School, created a phone app after noticing how forgotten groceries can lead to unnecessary food waste in families' homes. The app is called FreshTrack, and

it is designed to help users reduce food waste. Chava hopes to have it live and monetized by the end of the school year, with a reach that extends far beyond Georgia. Chava said food waste starts with a forgotten container behind a milk carton in the refrigerator. Then the expiration date quietly slips by, he said, wasting

another perfectly good meal. Seeing it happen at home revealed a much larger issue, he said: households, food pantries and businesses lose track of what they have, leading to unnecessary waste. "At home, spoiled groceries mean wasted meals," Chava said. "In cafeterias, unopened food gets thrown away, while

local food pantries struggle with surplus items that spoil before families get to collect them." According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food waste in the U.S. is estimated at between 30 and 40 percent of the food supply.

See APP, Page 9

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

App: Continued from Page 8 Chava created FreshTrack in January 2026, applying his knowledge of vibe coding — a way to build software by giving artificial intelligence instructions instead of writing code line by line — to solve what he called a "tracking issue." "I thought an app would be easier because you can always see what you have instead of just looking at the back of the fridge every time and making a mess everywhere," Chava said. Rather than scanning long receipts or acting only when food hits the trash, users can quickly log items with camera and voice input while tracking expiration

dates. The app's recipe and shopping list features also help reduce food waste. To bring FreshTrack to the community, he partnered with Helping Hands Ending Hunger, a nonprofit focused on alleviating food insecurity by reducing food waste in schools. Together, Chava and HHEH are introducing FreshTrack across the nonprofit's Georgia chapters so students can share the app with families and manage food inventory more efficiently. Carla Harward, CEO of Helping Hands Ending Hunger, said her organization was founded on the principle that resourceful students can be catalysts for change in their communities. "We were thrilled when Agasthya reached out to share his FreshTrack app seeking support for fine-tuning

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 3, 2026 | 9

development with features our schools' students and families could easily use to reduce food waste, a pillar of our work," Harward said. "Agasthya has created a practical, hands-on tool to solve a problem he saw in his own home, which now has broad application. He is an amazing student, and we are proud and excited to help him roll out the FreshTrack app this school year." Chava said he hopes the app makes a real difference for students and their families. "I worked really hard on the app, and the problem means a lot to me," Chava said. "So if other students actually use it, that means it's a good tool, and I feel proud of that because it's really useful for people and can reduce a main problem in the U.S."

PROVIDED

Agasthya Chava holds up his app, FreshTrack.

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

Just opened? Appen Media publishes New Business Spotlights to highlight local businesses as they get started. Submit yours for free at appenmedia.com/newbusiness. 10 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 3, 2026

Charcuterie caterer Graze Craze opens in Alpharetta By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Graze Craze, a charcuterie caterer, opened in Stonewood Village in Alpharetta Aug. 18. Located at 670 N. Main St., Suite 107, the 1,400-squarefoot shop features an assortment of meats and cheeses, seasonal produce, housemade dips and sweet treats. The shop is open Sunday and Monday by appointment only and Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Grazing offers people the flexibility to enjoy an entire meal or savor small portions of food throughout the day, the franchise’s website says. Graze Craze provides diverse meal plans through charcuterie boxes, platters or tables. Scott and Sara McNabb own the shop. They said they are excited to bring handcrafted graze-style catering to Alpharetta and neighboring areas. Scott served for 15 years in the U.S. Air Force and then spent 25 years building and leading sales teams for software companies. Sara is an artist and former marketing executive. They are members of several business associations and said they saw the franchise as an opportunity to combine their love of entertaining with their experiences in sales and marketing. “We were drawn to the beautiful, fresh, homemade products and the unique variety, from brunch items to classic charcuterie to dessert trays, all of which can be adjusted for dietary needs, including gluten-free, keto and vegetarian,” Sara said. “We’re excited about creating shared, memorable experiences, and we look forward to being part of every celebration.” Graze Craze offers selections in multiple sizes, with signature selections including classic, vegetarian and sweet. Classic features an assortment of cured meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, vegetables, crackers and sweet accents. Vegetarian is a spread with seasonal produce and housemade dips, while sweet offers chocolates, cookies, fruit and sweet dips. The franchise has locations across the U.S. and in Canada, France and Australia.

MATTHEW PACE/CONTRIBUTED

A charcuterie board from Graze Craze is shown. The franchise opened an Alpharetta location — 670 N. Main St., Suite 107, in Stonewood Village — on Aug. 18.

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NEWS

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Researchers, school districts study screen time use By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Terms like “screenagers” and “iPad kids” have become common nicknames that define Generation Alpha and part of Generation Z. Statistics show why adults are increasingly concerned about children’s and teenagers’ screen time. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study conducted between July 2021 and December 2023, 50.4% of teenagers ages 12 to 17 had four hours or more of daily screen time. The study found anxiety and depression symptoms more than doubled in teens who surpassed four hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics previously recommended that kids be limited to two hours a day; however, that recommendation has been removed, and there is no set limit in place anymore. Instead, the academy recommends “the five Cs” for parents to evaluate screen time limits — child, content, calm, crowding out and communication. Due to the rise in screen time

and easy access to social media among children and teenagers, local institutions, including school districts and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, are exploring different ways to catch up and keep kids safe and healthy. Preventative tool to save teens Outside of the classroom, students’ social media use has already been under investigation in courtrooms. According to a Los Angeles Times report, Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, was ordered to pay $942 million in total in a twopart New Mexico case, which also required the company to make its platform safer for young people. According to a Time report, it’s one of thousands of lawsuits filed alleging that social media apps owned by Meta, TikTok, Google and Snap are deliberately addictive to young users. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that more than 3,000 of those lawsuits can move forward. A Pew Research Center survey in 2025 found that 92% of teens ages 13 to 17 used YouTube daily, and over 60% used TikTok or Instagram. Of

JIM BASS/APPEN MEDIA

Children’s Chief of Behavioral and Mental Health Dr. John Constantino poses for a photo at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on Aug. 17.

those teens, around 20% of them said they use YouTube or TikTok “almost constantly.” Locally, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, in partnership with the

Georgia Institute of Technology, is beginning to conduct a study to develop a tool that detects when a child’s social media use is becoming “toxic” for the user. The study comes after an increased interest on children’s mental health following the COVID-19 pandemic, and specifically the lack of safeguards for children on social media. Children’s Chief of Behavioral and Mental Health Dr. John Constantino is leading the study at the Children’s Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech. The study will evaluate teens using a Georgia Tech-designed social media surveillance tool trained to monitor and detect mental health decline. Constantino’s team is recruiting participants ages 13-17, who will opt in to take part in the study. He said that while there is the generally perceived association with the “continued erosion of mental health of children” and screen time, he said that the Georgia Tech tool is looking to find the actual causal association, a much more difficult question.

See DILEMMA, Page 24

12 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 3, 2026

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The fall market is not a consolation prize Brought to you by – Bill Rawlings, CEO and Founder of Peachtree Town & Country For prepared sellers and decisive buyers, it is the most honest window of the year. Where the market stands Metro Atlanta enters September with roughly 30,000 homes on the market, up about five percent from a year ago, and an average detached sales price near $567,000, BILL RAWLINGS up just under four percent. Read those two figures together and you have the whole story: supply has rebuilt to healthy levels, and values are holding. This is not a market moving against anyone. It is a market that rewards the participants who take it seriously and waits out the ones who do not. Labor Day marks a real transition. The summer browsers step back, and what remains is the most serious buyer pool of the year, families who must be settled, relocations that cannot wait, and purchasers who have watched the market all year and know value when they see it.

Inside the perimeter Town has settled into genuine balance. Buckhead single-family inventory sits at approximately 4.4 months of supply, the same balanced figure the broader metro reports. Contract activity peaked in late April and has run at a calmer rhythm since, which is the normal seasonal curve, not a warning sign. The more interesting story is at the top: luxury demand has actually strengthened, with contracts above $3 million running at more than double last year’s pace. Demand at the high end has not gone anywhere. It has concentrated on the properties that deserve it. For sellers in Buckhead, Brookhaven, Morningside, and Druid Hills, the fall buyer is fewer in number but far more qualified. For buyers, the high-rise segment continues to offer the most workable negotiating conditions in years, particularly as new development adds fresh competition for resale units. Outside the perimeter Country remains steady and balanced. Alpharetta is holding at roughly 4.4 months of supply with a median of about 24 days to contract, which means accurately priced homes are still going under contract within the first month. Milton, Roswell, Johns Creek, Cumming, and Forsyth continue to draw relocation demand tied to the school calendar, and the buyers active this fall are the ones who missed the summer window and intend to be settled by the holidays. New construction remains a genuine competitor, so

resale sellers should continue to invest in preparation before going live rather than adjusting price after. The cost of money Rates spent most of August drifting in a narrow band, easing modestly before firming again in recent days. That kind of movement is the point: we are in a rate environment defined by small swings around a stable center, not a trend in either direction. We remain in the mid-six range, close to where we sat a year ago. Buyers waiting for a dramatically lower number should remember what we said last month: negotiate for a payment, not a headline rate. Structure is still doing the work. What we are advising clients right now For sellers: if closing before the holidays is the goal, September is the month. Homes that come to market prepared, priced to the last ninety days of closings, will meet the year’s most serious buyers. Homes that come to market hoping will still be sitting in November. For buyers: this is the season when selection and seriousness intersect. Inventory is the deepest it has been in years, and sellers are motivated by the calendar. Move decisively on the right property, and use terms, not just price, to win it. For both: the fall market has never been about volume. It is about intent. Everyone still at the table after Labor Day means it.

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 3, 2026 | 13

Don't let probate court run your business Why a trust matters for business owners

over you. That process is public, it takes time, and the court — not you — decides who is appointed and what authority they're given. Meanwhile, your business may have no one with clear legal authority to sign checks, make payroll, or respond to a crisis.

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If you own a business, you've spent years building something that runs on your judgment, relationships, and daily decisions. But what happens to that business the day you can no longer make those decisions — whether from death or incapacity? For many owners, the honest answer is: nobody knows, because there's no plan in place.

The problem with relying on a will alone A will only takes effect at death, and even then, it doesn't avoid probate — it has to go through it. Probate is a court-supervised process, and court supervision means delay, public record, and a judge (not your family or your business partner) overseeing what happens to your ownership interest until the estate is settled. For a business that depends on quick decisions — signing contracts, approving payroll, responding to a supplier issue — a probate delay of months isn't a paperwork inconvenience. It can be the difference be-

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tween the business surviving and the business stalling out while heirs wait for a judge's approval to act. The bigger gap: Incompetency Death planning gets most of the attention, but incapacity is arguably the more dangerous gap. If you become incapacitated — from an accident, a stroke, a progressive illness — a will does nothing at all. It has no legal effect until you die. Without other planning in place, the only way for someone to step in and manage your business interest is for a family member to petition a court for guardianship or conservatorship

How a trust changes the picture A properly funded trust holds title to your business interest during your lifetime, so there's no gap in authority if you're incapacitated. Your named successor trustee simply steps in under the terms you wrote, with no court process required. And at death, the trust doesn't need to pass through probate at all — the successor trustee already holds legal title and can continue operating or transitioning the business according to your instructions, immediately and privately. For a business owner, that difference isn't abstract. It's the difference between a seamless handoff and a court-supervised interruption at exactly the moment your business can least afford one. The bottom line If your business interest is one of your most valuable assets — and for most owners, it is — it deserves more protection than a will alone can offer. A trust, properly drafted and properly funded with your business interest, is what allows your business to keep running smoothly through incapacity and to pass to the next generation or the next owner without a probate court standing in the way. Come visit our workshops and webinars to learn more about protecting your assets.

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14 | September 3, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

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Escaping shackles of traditional & beige design Brought to you by – Bath and Kitchen Galleria If your home was built during the 1990s or early 2000s, you are likely to know this specific design aesthetic very well. It’s the sea of neutral beige. For more than a decade, builders and homeowners wrapped kitchens and bathrooms in a warm, monochromatic blanket of tan ceramic tiles, honey oak cabinets and beige walls. This beige palette and heavy crown molding was the gold standard of suburban design. Senior Designer at Bath and Kitchen Galleria, Bobbie Kohm, comments “While bulky corbels and the beige palette offered safety and mass appeal back then, today it often makes beautiful homes feel dark, dated, and heavy. Fortunately, updating your kitchen or

bathroom doesn’t require jumping to the other extreme of wild, fleeting trends. You can easily trade out the dated look for a fresh, updated aesthetic using timeless and conservative color strategies.” Modernize the kitchen core The quickest way to break the beige cycle in the kitchen is by addressing the honey oak cabinetry. If the cabinets are in good structural shape, painting them with more neutral warm off-whites, sophisticated creams, or muted stone grays will do the trick. To update the kitchen layout and incorporate a large island, new cabinets will be in order, which will allow a departure from the feel of heaviness and result in a simpler, cleaner look and feel. For countertops, replace speckled brown granite with quartz that features a

clean white background and subtle gray veining. This introduces movement and brightness without overwhelming the senses. Refresh the bathroom sanctuary Bathrooms from the turn of the millennium often suffer from an overload of beige and travertine tiles and matching grout. You can neutralize this heavy look by replacing the floors with large-format porcelain tiles in soft charcoal or light greige—a beautiful blend of gray and beige that bridges the gap between warm and cool tones. For the walls, swap out the muddy tan paint for a crisp, calming seafoam green, pale slate, or a refreshing mist gray. “These colors evoke a spalike atmosphere while maintaining a clean look that appeals to younger

generations.” Says Bobbie Kohm. Finish with contrast To tie your new palette together, focus on the details. Replace old shiny brass hardware with champagne bronze or polished nickel faucets and cabinet pulls. This adds a sharp, intentional contrast that instantly anchors the room into the modern era. Stepping away from traditional beige and traditional design doesn’t mean you have to embrace modern or loud aggressive colors. By shifting toward thoughtful neutrals and muted, natureinspired tones, you can give your 1990s home a sophisticated, timeless revival. To learn more about what’s discussed in this article contact Bobbie Kohm at Bath and Kitchen Galleria in 10591 Old Alabama Rd Conn, Alpharetta, GA, 678-459-2292.

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16 | September 3, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

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Last chance for new construction at Laurel Canyon — Now $999,950 $200,000 price reduction creates an exceptional opportunity for the final new home in this award-winning Canton community Brought to you by – Patrick Malloy Communities For homebuyers who have been waiting for the right opportunity at Laurel Canyon, this is it. The last new construction home available in this highly desirable master-planned community has recently been reduced by $200,000 and is now priced at $999,950. With approximately 1,350 homes, Laurel Canyon has become one of Canton’s most recognized communities, known for its beautiful North Georgia setting, established neighborhoods and spectacular mountain views. Residents enjoy a pool, clubhouse, tennis, pickleball, golf, and walking trails. Now, buyers have one final opportunity to own a brand-new home and enjoy everything this exceptional community has to offer.

Set against the scenic backdrop of the North Georgia mountains, this 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with a large study is set on more than one acre and features a rare, flat backyard, impressive living spaces and amazing mountain views within a well-established community. Designed with both everyday living and entertaining in mind, the home features spacious gathering areas that make it easy to host family and friends, celebrate special occasions or simply relax and enjoy the surroundings. Thoughtful design, beautiful finishes and generous living spaces create a home that feels equally suited for an intimate evening at home or a house full of guests. But one of its most memorable features may be just outside the windows. Beautiful mountain views provide a dramatic backdrop and a sense of retreat that is difficult to find this close to the conveniences of Canton. For buyers who love the idea of a new home but don’t want to wait years for a new neighborhood to take shape, this opportunity offers the best of both worlds: brand-new construction within an established 1,350home master-planned community.

Built by Patrick Malloy Communities, the recent price improvement makes the opportunity even more compelling. Originally priced $200,000 higher, the home is now offered at $999,950 as the neighborhood prepares to close out new home sales. There will not be another new construction release at Laurel Canyon. Once this home is sold, the opportunity to purchase a brand-new residence here is gone. One home. One incredible new price. One last chance. If Laurel Canyon has been on your wish list, now is the time to make your move. Tour the final new construction home today and experience the mountain views, spacious design and lifestyle that have made Laurel Canyon such a sought-after Canton address. Priced to Sell — Hurry Before It’s Gone! Horizon at Laurel Canyon 236 Laurel Vista Drive Canton, GA PMCommunities.com 770-301-1889

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AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 3, 2026 | 19

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A map shows two temporary exit routes planned by the Georgia Department of Transportation to accommodate for the construction of express lanes in both directions, starting at Exit 5C on Ga. 400 and heading into Forsyth County.

Temporary exits open southbound on Ga. 400 SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Two temporary exit ramps opened Aug. 29 past Exit 5 leading southbound on Ga. 400 for drivers to access the North Springs Station, Abernathy Road and Hammond Drive during express lane construction. Exit 5B is located approximately 0.6 miles south of the current Exit 5 and will be exclusively for drivers getting to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s North Springs Station and parking garage. w

Exit 5A will provide direct access to Abernathy Road and Hammond Drive roughly 1.1 miles south of the current exit. Construction activities are related to the Ga. 400 Express Lanes Project that’s building 16 miles of new express lanes in both directions on the state highway extending from Exit 5C in Fulton County to Exit 12 in Forsyth County. — Hannah Yahne

Puzzles

Dunwoody Crier 8/20/26 Connect-It

Connect-It

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald...............September 3, 2026 | 20 Dunwoody Crier 8/20/26 Crossword Across

1 Scarf material 5 Overdue 9 Glimpse 13 Boredom 14 Macaws 15 Blue shade 16 Island in the road 18 Swallow quickly 19 Tender 20 Tipster 21 Smacks 22 Summer (Fr.) 23 Terrarium plant 24 Big game 25 Even, in verse 26 “Shucks!” 28 Young newt 31 Ohio, for one 34 Sicilian erupter 35 Niagara River source 36 Protect those within 39 Curved shape 40 Keats, for one 41 West Pointer 42 Kitten’s cry 43 Brass component 44 Club ___ (resort) 45 Mystery writer Ambler 47 Kimono sashes 49 Stew morsel 52 Dixie drink 54 Very, in Versailles 55 Jack-in-thepulpit 56 Cutlass maker 57 In the way place 59 Old dagger 60 Dance bit 61 Torcher’s misdeed

3 28

43 45

1. Coin toss result. Barber shop call. French ___ soup. 2. Soup with a lot of fiber. Acidic. Vetoes. 3. Hawaiian feast. Vegetarian soup, usually. Recipe direction. 4. Like many a cellar. Soup with spuds. Duck hangout. 5. Cream soup made from shellfish. Hurry. Big pitcher. 6. Reindeer herder. Baby buggy. Cattle rear end soup. 7. Soup from green reptiles. Visionary. Litter member. PuzzleJunction.com

IS IT SOUP YET?

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, 4 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!

PuzzleJunction.com

Dunwoody Crier 8/20/26 Sudoku7 Is It Soup Yet?

8/20/26 Kakuro PuzzleJu How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle Dunwoody above has Crier three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is 1. first Coin toss Barber call. French ___ letter soup.is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each the letter of result. the second answer,shop and so on. The connecting 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 2. the Soup with aonlot fiber. Acidic. Kakuro, alsoThe known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, a crossword grid. The rules are easy for 3 answers theofpuzzle, line. Buteach here’srow, theVetoes. catch! clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line solved 1 mayin(or may not) style actually To solve the Sudoku column and above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal li be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck! box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. 3. Hawaiian feast. Vegetarian soup, usually. direction. of the white squaresRecipe in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in an

62 Richard Rodgers collaborator 63 Rocky peaks 64 Male turkeys Down 1 Schnoz 2 Harden 3 Crescent 4 Youngster 5 Work 6 Make a left or right and you’re there 7 Tense 8 Time zone 9 Raptor 10 Land measure (Brit.)

11 Orange feature 12 Hogs the conversation 13 Gaelic 17 Egyptian solar deity 21 Japanese coin 23 Touch 24 Doodle 25 Engrave 27 Dill seed 29 Penalty 30 Exam 31 Con game 32 Radial, e.g. 33 Machinist’s tool 34 Collar type 35 Cry of surprise 37 Colossal 38 Deck members

43 Energy 44 Soybean paste 46 Change, as a clock 48 Makes like a horn 49 Geometrical solid 50 Continental money 51 End of grace 52 One of the Brolins 53 Arm bone 54 Former Yugoslav leader 55 60’s hairdo 57 WW II craft (Abbr.) 58 Blubber

4. Like many a cellar. Soup with spuds. Duck hangout.

5. Cream soup made from shellfish. Hurry. Big pitcher. 6. Reindeer herder. Baby buggy. Cattle give up their rear ends for this soup.

5 3 8

4 6 1 7

7. Soup from green reptiles. Visionary. Litter member.

9 2

8 1 5

9 4

See puzzle solutions on Page 29

1 6 7

AMERICAN LEGION POST 201 EVENTS

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Solution

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Walk of Memories - 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11 Ceremony to Remember 9/11 Victims & Dedicate a New Section for the Walk “Conflicts Post Vietnam to Global War on Terror” Guest Speaker: Nicholas Bellenbaum, U.S. Navy Seal

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

201 Wills Road Alpharetta, GA 30009 770-475-9023 www.legion201.org

How to Solve:Copyright Kakuro,©2026 also PuzzleJunction.com known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a 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.

7 2 9 5 1 3 6 4 8

5 8 6 4 2 9 1 7 3

3 8 4 9 1 2 6

• 4Breaking • Exclusive Content 7 6 1 5 3 9 News 1 7 2 3 8 5 4 • Message 7 1 9 8 2 6the 3 Editor • Photos / Videos 6 8 5 2 9

5 2 3 9 4

3 6 7 8 5

7 4 2 6 1

4 7 9 5 6

8 1 4 3 7

9 5 8 1 2

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Fear, votes and money: The mechanics of attack ads By JOSHUA WILSON joshua@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Turn on the television in metro Atlanta this summer, and it’s hard to avoid them: ads warning that one candidate is dangerous, dishonest or simply wrong for Georgia. With hotly contested races for U.S. Senate and governor both underway, attack ads have become a fixture of daily life for Georgia voters — and one researcher said that is by design. David Schweidel, the Goizueta chair in business technology and a professor of marketing at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, has spent years studying how political advertising shapes voter behavior. He said the basic definition of an attack ad is straightforward. “Attack ads are focused on your opponent,” Schweidel said, distinguishing them from ads in which “the candidate is promoting himself, saying, here is my record.” He pointed to the Senate race between incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Mike Collins as a live example. Any Ossoff ad focused on what Collins “is doing,” what he “might do” or on the Republican’s character would be classified as an attack ad, Schweidel said — and the same holds true in reverse. Fear and anger stick Attack ads are not inherently more memorable than positive ones, according to Schweidel, but they tend to trigger the emotions that make messages stick. “What we found is the things that tend to stick with us are the things that evoke high arousal emotions,” he said. “In particular, things that evoke fear and anger tend to resonate with us. That’s the stuff that we share on social media. That’s the stuff that we choose to read online.” By contrast, he said, positive messaging rarely has the same pull. A candidate touting a strong economy might earn a shrug. “It doesn’t really excite me,” Schweidel said. “Whereas if I get you afraid of something, if I make you angry at someone — those are the things that kind of get us really riled up, and that’s what tends to be most effective.” Gabriel Sterling of Sandy Springs, the former chief operating officer of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office who ran unsuccessfully for that role earlier this year, put it more bluntly: there is no such thing as a rational voter — only a rationalizing one. “We use emotions much more as a sorting mechanism to make decisions, and then we rationalize it with our intellect after the fact,” Sterling said.

“Attack ads are a much more gut emotional thing. Issue ads on real substantive discussion things do not move the needle at all. They just become background noise.” A modest but real effect on votes Schweidel’s research has found negative advertising makes an impact on both voter turnout and vote share, though the effect of any single ad is small. Citing a 2018 study, he said a 1% increase in a candidate’s own negative advertising was associated with roughly a 0.015% increase in that candidate’s total vote share. That may sound negligible, he said, but in Georgia’s tightest statewide races — decided in recent cycles by a matter of thousands of votes — even a marginal shift can matter. Sterling said he sees that modest effect play out in a different way — not who wins, but who shows up at all. He pointed to a statewide Republican primary race this year as a case study. Operatives and scholars had projected turnout between 1.2 million and 1.35 million, he said, but the eventual nominee spent more than $100 million — most of it on attack ads — and turnout came in at 950,000. The former state elections official said the drop was concentrated in metro Atlanta among college-educated suburban voters. “It’s not fatigue so much as a pox on both their houses,” Sterling said. “[Voters end up thinking] ‘all these people suck. What’s the point?’” Beyond the ballot box The effects of heavy negative advertising don’t end on Election Day, Schweidel said. Partisan messaging from ads bleeds into ongoing media coverage, keeping conflict in the headlines long after the ads stop running. “It devolves from talking about actual issues into the mud-slinging contests,” he said. Asked whether negative ads are fueling the country’s rising “affective polarization” — the emotional, identitybased divide between the parties — Schweidel said he sees them more as a symptom than a cause. “We are in a very divided society,” he said. “It’s ‘us versus them.’ That’s how each side sees it. It’s not so much in favor of a particular candidate, but it’s ‘I can’t stand the other party, so that tells you who I’m going to vote for.’” He called Georgia “kind of a microcosm of the U.S.” as a genuinely “purple” state where large blocs of voters on the left and right — and a substantial middle — are left choosing between polarized options. “In my opinion, [that polarization]

disappeared, Schweidel said, in part because they lack the emotional punch of an attack ad. “That almost to me feels more like a rational appeal,” he said of comparative advertising. “It’s not as sexy as the extreme language.” Research on campaign advertising found that negativity itself is increasing, Schweidel said. Campaigns used to hold back and pivot from positive to negative messaging late in a race, aiming for a final push before Election Day. That is no longer the pattern. “Campaigns are going negative earlier and earlier,” he said. KELLY SIKKEMA/UNSPLASH

Paper cutouts of the Democratic donkey and Republican elephant symbolize the two parties. detracts from actually addressing the issues,” he said. Sterling called that reaction “active apathy” — not indifference, but active dislike of every option on the ballot. He said the effect compounds because suppressed turnout tends to thin out swing voters first, leaving a more partisan electorate behind. He cited the crossover voters who backed both Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, in 2022 as the kind of bloc that disappears when attack ads dominate a race.

Follow the money Negative ads also serve a fundraising function, Schweidel said, particularly in close, high-profile Senate races where out-of-state money pours in. Campaigns and parties frame contests as existential — “the Senate hangs in the balance” — to justify appeals for donations from voters who don’t even live in the state. Notably, his research found candidateand party-funded ads tend to be more persuasive than ads from outside groups such as political action committees. “Maybe viewers are kind of, maybe not consciously, but they are able to tell, ‘Oh, this is a third party attempting to persuade me. I’m going to discount that a little bit,’” he said. Sterling agreed attack ads serve campaigns’ fundraising needs but noted they cut both ways — an ad attacking a candidate raises that candidate’s negatives, but it also raises the negatives of whoever is running it. This is a particular risk for the outside groups and PACs that often produce them, the former state official said. Going negative, earlier and earlier Comparative ads — the kind that lay two records side by side and let voters judge for themselves — have all but

Little appetite — or ability — to regulate Political advertising faces few content or truthfulness regulations, Schweidel said, and enforcement is difficult given how quickly campaigns move. He traced part of the landscape back to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, which he said “opened the floodgates for third-party spending.” Sterling, however, said money “is like water.” He said it finds a way into politics regardless of the legal framework and argued the more consequential unintended effect of the ruling was weakening the political parties’ role as a moderating filter. “The parties used to act as a buffer mechanism to weed out and be a little bit more responsible,” Sterling said. “Since the parties have been disconnected from it, there’s not a mediating mechanism.” Schweidel said he supports more oversight of political advertising, including on digital and artificial intelligencegenerated content, arguing there is no reason platforms could not verify the claims made in political ads before they run. Fact-checking, however, does little to blunt an ad’s impact once it’s out in the world, he said — a dynamic that predates social media but has been accelerated by it. “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its boots on,” Schweidel said. “Even when you try to tell people this ad was wrong, the people who care about that have already made up their mind who they’re voting for. The undecideds aren’t listening to that fact check.” Ads that follow you Streaming has changed who even sees these ads, Sterling said. He estimated more than a third of Georgians now watch television through services like YouTube TV, which lets campaigns target individual voters rather than buying a broadcast time slot.

See ADS, Page 24

22 | September 3, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

NEWS

Second suspect arrested in 2025 Atlanta mass shooting By ATLANTA NEWS FIRST STAFF

ALEXI TORRES/PROVIDED

“Peace With My Past,” an original work by artist Alexi Torres, is on display at The Hamilton Alpharetta as part of a self-guided audio art tour open to the public.

Tour: Continued from Page 1 Whether someone spends 10 minutes or an hour exploring the collection, we hope they leave with a deeper appreciation for the artwork and for the role art can play in everyday spaces.” The collection showcases a diverse range of artistic styles and media, from contemporary abstraction to mixed media and sculptural works. Together, the pieces create a vibrant visual journey that reflects both the artists’ creativity and the atmosphere of The Hamilton. The audio tour offers a fresh way for residents, art enthusiasts and out-

Millage: Continued from Page 1 In a news release about the tentative increase, Fulton County Schools offered a tax rate calculator tool for homeowners to use to calculate their tax

of-town visitors to experience both art and hospitality. All artwork featured in the collection is available for purchase through Aletian Creative. “We’re proud to offer our guests something unexpected,” Tristan Haas, general manager of The Hamilton Hotel, said. “The audio art tour adds another dimension to the guest experience by combining hospitality, storytelling and original artwork in a way that is engaging, accessible and uniquely Alpharetta.” A public celebration of the new audio art tour is planned for this fall. While the celebration date is still to come, the self-guided audio tour is available now for guests and visitors to enjoy from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. bill with the 18.08-mill rate. View it at fultonschools.org. The proposed increase follows an “extensive districtwide effort to identify savings and efficiencies through the GLIDE initiative.” The district said the initiative — a data-informed strategy focused on growth opportunities, lean operations, investment in innovation,

ATLANTA — Authorities have arrested a second suspect in a mass shooting in Atlanta that killed one person and injured 10 others in summer 2025. On Aug. 25, the FBI’s Atlanta field office announced that the agency’s Violent Crime Task Force, with the assistance of Atlanta and Sandy Springs police, arrested Nasir Williams on the evening of Aug. 24. The FBI said Williams was one of the shooters in the July 28, 2025, incident on Edgewood Avenue along a popular strip of bars in the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood. Jail records show Williams is charged with murder and 10 counts of aggravated assault. Santos Wyatt, 27, died from his injuries, and 10 others — seven men and three women between the ages of 18 and 29 — were injured. Nearly two weeks after the shooting, police announced the arrest of 19-yearold Rico Arnold on charges of murder and 10 counts of aggravated assault. At the time, police said investigators believed the shooting was the result of a fight, and that they were looking for three other suspects — two men and one woman. In response to the violence, local business owners formed the Historic

King District Association earlier this year. Cyrei Daniel, the association president and owner of Sweet Me Good, said the group met with Atlanta police last month to discuss safety efforts and has noticed a heavier police presence recently. “We are grateful for that. I’ve been out meeting with officers. We see them out here on a weekly basis,” Daniel said. But Daniel said securing the area requires more than just a temporary fix. “I think now where we’re at is how do we build a long-term strategy?” Daniel said. ”We can’t just put more cameras on the street. It’s all about, how does this community come together, and how are we supported by the city?” The FBI said a third suspect remains at large and that the agency will announce more information on that suspect in the coming days. Appen Media reports that the Sandy Springs Police Department assisted the FBI Violent Crimes Unit in a separate case, arresting a man wanted by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for multiple weaponsrelated offenses. He was taken into custody and transported to the DeKalb County Jail.

FBI ATLANTA/PROVIDED

FBI Atlanta’s Violent Crime Task Force, with the assistance of Atlanta Police and Sandy Springs Police arrested wanted fugitive Nasir Williams on Aug. 25. diversified revenue and enhanced efficiency — has already saved $50 million. Superintendent Mike Looney said the increase is due to “significant uncertainty surrounding the county’s property tax process.” Fulton County does not yet have a certified tax digest, but school district officials said the

district is moving forward with its financial planning and millage rate process. Fulton County Schools will hold three public hearings — as required by state law — to provide residents an opportunity to comment on the tentative millage rate. The board will then take a final vote on the matter.

NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 3, 2026 | 23

Johns Creek resident confirmed as US ambassador to Moldova By JOSHUA WILSON joshua@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Joseph Mark Burkhalter of Johns Creek, a former leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the American ambassador to Moldova, a European nation wedged between Ukraine and Romania. The Senate approved Burkhalter’s nomination — along with a slew of other Trump administration appointments — in a 51-47 vote Aug. 7. He was nominated to the post by President Donald J. Trump June 1. In a certificate of demonstrated competence report delivered to the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations June 8, the Trump administration said Burkhalter is the owner and consultant for business development at Burkhalter International LLC. The report said Burkhalter, as senior advisor in the public policy and regulation practice at the law firm Dentons U.S. LLP, “played a significant role in Dentons’ public affairs and economic development initiatives throughout Europe.” The report noted Burkhalter’s 18 years of service in the Georgia General

Assembly. He represented north Fulton County from 1993-2011 and served as speaker pro tempore of the chamber from 2005-2010. Burkhalter was also speaker for 11 days in 2010. Burkhalter, according to the report, “built a successful career in real estate development” while serving in the state Legislature. The report said that his “decades of public service as an elected official and business leader, commitment to advancing American leadership and engagement, and broad understanding of the complexities of promoting strong economic growth make him well qualified to serve” as the country’s representative to Moldova. The city of Johns Creek named an outdoor venue, the Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater at Newtown Park, in the former state representative’s honor in September 2016. As of Aug. 26, 2026, the amphitheater holds that name in various references on the city’s website. However, in a July 13, 2026, memo to the Johns Creek mayor and city council, city staffers said the amphitheater at Newtown Park had never been officially named by the council. Trump also nominated Burkhalter to serve as an ambassador during his first presidential term, tapping him

in 2020 as the U.S. envoy to Norway. The nomination never advanced in the Senate, and the Senate returned it to the president in 2021. Then-Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey BURKHALTER and, at the time, the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson rallied against the nomination because of Burkhalter’s role in a 1994 political campaign. During that race for a seat on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Burkhalter, according to an ABC News report, “helped distribute a racist campaign flyer right before the election that distorted the image of Gordon Joyner, the Democratic incumbent.” The news report said that, according to a lawsuit, Burkhalter and others discussed how white voters in north Fulton County were unaware that Joyner is Black. The flyers, distributed to more than 100,000 white voters, darkened Joyner’s skin, painted on an afro, distorted one eye and made his

lips thicker. Burkhalter, according to ABC News, settled a libel lawsuit over the matter, paid a civil penalty for violating Georgia House ethics laws and apologized to Joyner. It is unclear when Trump will sign the necessary letter of commission to officially name Burkhalter as ambassador. After that occurs, Burkhalter will take an oath of office and present his credentials to Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Burkhalter will live in the country’s capital, Chisinau, in the ambassador’s residence near the U.S. embassy. Moldova, according to The Associated Press, is navigating major political shifts, formal accession negotiations with the European Union and ongoing regional pressures from Russia. Moldova was a constituent of the Soviet Union from 1940-1991. Editor’s note: Appen Media attempted to contact Joseph Mark Burkhalter for comment using publicly available phone numbers, an email address listed on his personal website and his website’s contact form. We did not receive a response before publication. This story will be updated online if a response is received.

24 | September 3, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

Ads: Continued from Page 21 “I can give a list to a vendor of Republican voters, or swing voters, I want to hit,” Sterling said. “It will follow you around if you go on vacation; if you open your streaming service, it will find you.” He said the result is that attack ads increasingly run with no public witness. Your neighbor may never see the ad built to move you, which means no one outside the target group is positioned to catch it, question it or call it out, he noted. Same ads, different battlefield Sterling, who has worked on presidential campaigns since 1988, agrees with Schweidel that attack ads are not the true cause of rising polarization.

Dilemma: Continued from Page 11 “[Georgia Tech] took an approach that asked a very specific question, which is, could you identify within social media activity of youth using smartphones, signatures that would directly predict risks for either erosion in their identity or literally suicidal thinking and behavior,” Constantino said. The tool tracks every exchange on a teenager’s social media use. Every time the user interacts, such as watching a video or liking a comment, it records this data as a positive or negative. If it detects too many negative interactions, it will alert researchers. The exchange is put into an algorithm run by artificial intelligence. The tool takes all that information and calculates the statistical likelihood that the exchange is related to an “erosion in that part of their psychological self.” “When there’s enough of those vectors that are moving in the wrong direction that have already been shown to predict suicide risk, that’s when we would use that information to act on that signature in real time to help that user of the smartphone course-correct themselves and recognize when it’s becoming toxic to them,” Constantino said. The tool was developed by Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing professor Munmun De Choudhury, who is trying to craft it with sensitivity, hoping to maintain the privacy of the data collected as well. Both Choudhury and Constantino are hoping it can eventually save teenagers’ lives. “We are trying to see how we can use A.I. for a good purpose,” Choudhury said. “What we are hoping is that once we can

“I do not remember a time in my political life where we didn’t have attack ads at some level,” he said. He pointed to the U.S. presidential election of 1800 between incumbent John Adams and the eventual victor Thomas Jefferson as proof the tactic predates any modern cause. “They had the yellow, you know, the partisan papers,” Sterling said. “They literally called John Adams a hermaphroditic troll.” What has changed, in his view, is that voters no longer share a common set of facts to argue over. He pointed to social media algorithms that reinforce whatever a user already clicks on, creating parallel realities even among people who agree on the underlying events. “We are living in two different realities, even though all the facts are the same,” Sterling said. “We’re only having certain ones reinforced. And I think social media, more than

NEWS the attack ads, is the bigger single problem.” Schweidel is looking at a related question from a different angle. The professor’s current research examines how attack ads shape the news coverage and social media commentary that AI systems draw on to summarize candidates for voters. “To what extent does today’s attack ad shape the way that AI talks about a candidate?” he said. “That is something that we’re looking into.” For now, Georgia voters can expect the ads to keep coming. With the Ossoff-Collins Senate race and the governor’s race between Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms both unresolved heading into the fall, Schweidel offered little hope of relief before Election Day. “Unfortunately, they’re not going to stop,” he said. “We got another two, three months.”

screen for risk, we will be able to connect this young person with the right type of intervention or care that they might need.” The tool works on a three-alert system. The first level occurs when the tool notices a teen’s social identity deteriorating but not to the level of an emergency, sending a message to the user encouraging the user to reframe, redirect or pause use. The second alert is triggered when the tool detects behavior requiring caregiver intervention, in which case a direct message is sent to the user’s parents. The third and highest level of alert triggers 911 because the tool has identified an imminent risk of harm to the smartphone user or others on their social network. Constantino said that the biggest immediate goal is to prevent teenagers from harming themselves. He said Children’s sees more than 3,000 emergency room visits annually due to suicidal crises. “Given the fact that it’s possible that a smartphone, if it included this surveillance function, could potentially save lives that would otherwise be lost because there’s no way to get to a child who is manifesting those kinds of risks ahead of time,” Constantino said. Participants will also donate their previously collected social media data, which is accessible to all users, to assist the tool. Of the 200 participants expected, most will be located in Georgia and around the metro Atlanta area. The study is currently in both “phase zero and phase one,” expected to last 18 months. Constantino hopes to have beta tests for a functioning prototype of a prospective surveillance agent in a smartphone within two years. “The technology moved faster than the grown-ups’ ability to make sure that the

We are living in two different realities, even though all the facts are the same. We’re only having certain ones reinforced. And I think social media, more than the attack ads, is the bigger single problem.” GABRIEL STERLING Former COO of Georgia’s Secretary of State’s office

technology can be harnessed by young people in a way that’s safe, and it’s our job as adults to catch up,” Constantino said. “We’re trying to help that process.” Screen time in schools In recent years, cell phones have largely been removed from the hallways and classrooms of local public school buildings. The goal is to reduce distractions and increase social engagement. However, district-issued laptops and devices that had become integral to virtual learning following the COVID-19 pandemic may also be limited in classrooms in favor of more pen-andpaper activities due to screen time concerns. Both Atlanta Public Schools and the City Schools of Decatur have begun looking into ways to limit screen time, with APS hosting a town hall meeting and considering a drafted policy that would implement screen time limits of one hour for Pre-K to 2nd grade, two hours for 3rd to 5th grade and less than half of 6th through 12th grade classes being on a screen. Decatur Schools discussed a partnership with EdTech Balance, a local parent group that is helping the district craft, implement and train teachers with screen time guidelines. CSD Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Burton emphasized in an Aug. 11 meeting that this technology should be mainly supplemental. “We know a fundamental truth in education, which is that direct instruction from a teacher is critical,” Burton said. “Technology should be used strictly as a supplement and enhancement, and not a replacement for a teacher.” Burton said that the district wants to reduce “mirroring” when students view

a PowerPoint on their screen that is also displayed on the board. The district seeks to reduce the volume of shared Google Docs and return to using more physical textbooks. “We have to minimize this digital friction and clear away that digital noise so students can focus on what matters most, which is learning,” Burton said. Burton said any guidelines would not apply to students with Individualized Education Plans or a 504 plan that may require more technology. The district will limit email access, completely disabling access to Kindergarten through 5th grade, limiting middle school’s uses, while leaving high school’s access as-is. No official screen limiting times have been set yet, as they want to first evaluate and collect data on how technology is used in the class before applying timed restrictions. Lightspeed Classroom Management evaluated the district-issued laptop’s daily screen time by grade, finding that 6th-, 8th-, and 9th-graders spent the most time on screens during class in May 2026. Earlier in the Aug. 11 meeting, vice chair Hans Utz said that he doesn’t think it’s possible to remove screen time completely, but wants the district to look into minimizing it to mostly state requirements. “My perspective is if I could take a hammer to every screen out there, I would, but that’s actually not possible,” Utz said. “There are Georgia standards that require some amount of screens, so we’re going to have to meet those standards.” The EdTech Balance guidelines are not fully in place yet; Burton said it will take time but expects them to be implemented this school year.

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 3, 2026 | 25

Fire companies replacing customer service with AI time, but this time I figured that if I told the machine I needed to speak with someone in sales “regarding purchasing a new truck,” maybe a human would come on the line. Bingo. Someone — a human — from the sales department picked up the phone. Imagine that. I thanked him for picking up and explained that I was really trying to reach someone in the service department to ask a simple question, and was there any way he could walk over and ask it for me. He did. After putting me on hold for at least another 10 minutes, he came back with the answer I needed. So the dealership will call me back if I leave a message — on its schedule, not mine. If I had wanted the answer to my question later, I would have called later. The dealership had no problem wasting my time, and not compensating me for my lost time, in order to avoid paying a receptionist to deal with a customer — to save a few minimumwage dollars. The result is twofold: I no longer get my truck serviced every 5,000 miles at the dealership, and hell will freeze over before I buy another vehicle from that dealer. I previously bought a new truck and a new SUV there. So I ask you: Has artificial intelligence saved that dealer or that restaurant money? What do you think? And, just saying, I am not picking on the dealership or the restaurant. I routinely stop doing business with those who disrespect my time — who place zero value on my time and my business — by using AI instead of going to the expense of retaining a human to answer the phone and treat me with some respect and consideration. The reverse is true as well. I go out of my way to do business with folks who do not use AI and instead make the investment in remaining a humancentric concern. Publix, for example, is running a national advertising campaign that emphasizes its continued focus on human-to-human personal service instead of AI. I will be a loyal Publix shopper forever. Publix gets it and puts its money where its values are. Smart Publix. The public will increasingly push back against much of AI-based communication and the companies that embrace it instead of valuing their clients — and especially their clients’ time. At Appen Media, our goal is always to personally answer the phone before the second ring. It is just who we are, and one of our values — to respect people’s time and humanity.

Appen Media Group publishes 7 award winning publications, home-delivered, with a combined circulation of 114,000 every week* and is the #1 source for hyper-local news in the areas we serve. Are you a business owner/manager looking to increase sales & gain new customers/clients? Learn how to reach this attentive and affluent audience with a customized marketing plan just for you! Call 770-442-3278 or email: advertising@appenmedia.com to get started!

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ink

I needed to make a reservation for nine at the restaurant. It was going to be my tab, and I guessed I would be spending hundreds of dollars. I called the restaurant. The phone rang and RAY APPEN rang. I hung up. Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com Then I called again. It rang many times again, but finally my call was answered — by an automated voice. By then I had wasted a lot of my time and energy trying to spend a lot of money locally with this restaurant. I hung up again. It happens that I live close to that restaurant in Crabapple — close enough to walk there in about five minutes. So, still very unhappy, I got in my truck and drove there to make my reservation. It was 11:30 a.m., and the restaurant was supposed to have opened at 11 a.m. The door was open, but no one seemed to be at work yet, so I waited for maybe 10 or 15 minutes until an employee finally came around the corner and took my reservation. I complained to her about the automated voice. She shook her head — in agreement with me — and replied that she also hated having to deal with machines instead of humans. I decided to find a different restaurant for my party of nine. I drive a Toyota Tundra and always get it serviced at a dealership — the one where I bought the truck new some years ago. One of the reasons for going to the dealership was its stellar — like impeccable — service. I loved going there, even though I generally paid a bit more than I could have paid elsewhere, because I enjoyed watching a business that was run so well, so spot-on amazingly. Then, one day recently, I called the dealership to ask a simple question about my truck. I needed to speak to someone in the service department. Instead of a human answering my call, I got an automated voice. The voice informed me that I needed to state which department I needed to reach and to leave a message describing my issue, and someone from that department would return my call. I hung up. I called back again and, again, was answered by a machine. I requested to speak with a human. The machine refused to transfer me to a human; it just repeated the “leave a message” response. I hung up again. By this time, I had wasted maybe 15 or more minutes. I tried a third

*Decaturish Ink currently publishes on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays of every month. All other publications publish every Thursday.

26 | September 3, 2026 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell

GET OUTSIDE GEORGIA

OPINION

Studying the fine art of getting lost Ever been lost? Well, I have, but only a little bit. You see, if you have my level of outdoor knowledge, you know that you’re never really lost. You’re only temporarily STEVE HUDSON spatially confused. Columnist Think about it. Say you’re out in the woods somewhere, and all of a sudden you realize that you don’t really know where you are. Are you lost? Only a layman would say “yes.” Those with my level of navigational acumen, however, don’t even bat an eye at that sort of thing. We realize that no matter where we are, if we head east, we’ll eventually reach the Atlantic Ocean. There, all we have to do is turn right, or maybe left, and make our way to Savannah. Then it’s simply a matter of moseying over to Interstate 95. From there, we can go just about anywhere we want. So ... lost? Never! Lost is for amateurs. Still, occasional temporary displacement is always a possibility. Sometimes that kind of displacement happens because I’m distracted a little by something important, perhaps a life-or -death matter involving armadillos or cows. But can you believe that some would say that’s just a polite way of saying I’m not paying attention? I recall one day in west Georgia. We’d been exploring a little country road that turned right off a much bigger highway. Our GPS map hinted at several promising creek crossings along the stretch of road ahead. Would one of them be a good fishing spot? Hope springs eternal when you’re looking for fishing places. Maybe so. But just how much can you trust GPS? It is, after all, just a device. It’s mere technology. How much does technology really know anyway? It doesn’t hold a candle to highly tuned, ninja-class cross-country navigation skills. Such skills are honed only after years of grass-roots exploration. Such abilities are polished only after countless outings in which one (me) masters the subtleties of navigating by stars, wind and the ways that hawks and buzzards turn as they drift through the sky. Yeah, that sort of thing is rare

and beautiful to behold. And when the grid collapses under the weight of civilization, when the GPS isn’t GPSing anymore, then me and my one-with-the-outside-world mind will be relevant! But I digress, and so back to our search for fishing spots. As it was turning out, success was proving elusive. The crossings were all overgrown and inaccessible — that is, all but one. Ahhh. The non-overgrown one was clearly the best of the batch. There was a wide place to pull off and park. There was a nice little foot trail leading down from the road to the water. There was also a beautiful pool and a gravelly patch of creek bank that sang that siren song no angler can ignore. It was just the place for a little fly-fishing, and we were ready. But then I spotted movement in the bushes nearby. Squinting, I made out shapes ... moving shapes ... animated bovine shapes ... and they were looking our way. Uh-oh. It was an angler’s worst nightmare. It appeared that this particular spot was guarded by cows. Putting my outdoors ninja skills in high gear, I immediately divined that these were not regular cows. Oh no. Instead, they were big, mean, killer cows, and one in particular (the biggest and meanest of them all) was giving us the eye. “Must be the supreme commander,” I muttered, for it definitely had that braggadocious barky look that only a Cow in Chief can have. If you’ve ever seen one, you know exactly what I mean. And you probably have. Would the fishing be worth the risk? Now I may not be the sharpest hook in the tackle box, but I do know that killer cows are not to be trifled with. How I know that is another story for another day, but let’s just say I decided it was time to turn around and head home. I turned back to the car, still watched by those cows. No doubt they were calculating whether to charge, much as their distant cousins the lions and tigers might do after spotting a particularly tasty-looking afternoon snack. Cows are devious that way, too, you know, and it appeared to my trained eyes that their plans were moving right along.

But just how much can you trust GPS? It is, after all, just a device. It’s mere technology. How much does technology really know anyway? Fortunately, being the trained woodsman that I am, I saw right through their plotting. Realizing that our very survival was at stake and that time was certainly of the essence, I picked up the pace and was soon safely back in the car. I turned around in a convenient farm road. Then we headed on down the road, none the worse for the experience and leaving the cows, disappointed, far behind. After a little bit we came again to the main highway, where I confidently turned right. Yeah, I turned right. If you’re geographically attuned like I usually am, you’ll realize that “right” was not the way to turn to head back the way we came. Had I turned “left,” which is what I should have done, we’d have been pointed back toward home. But I was no doubt distracted by our close call. So I accidentally turned the other way. You see how that could happen, of course. Unfortunately, the error in my ways was not immediately apparent. One stretch of rural highway looks pretty much like the next stretch, at least for a little while. Soon, though, we started seeing things we had not seen on the way in. On the left there was a bright red house. On the right was a country store. Just past it was a big ol’ pasture and a herd of (you guessed it) more cows — were they looking our way? — and just beyond that there was a hand-lettered sign, done up in shaky letters and bloodred paint, proclaiming that the end was near if one wasn’t careful. We hadn’t seen any of that before. Clearly, we were headed in an

unexplored direction, going toward somewhere at 65 mph. But what would that somewhere turn out to be? My brain immediately began a careful analysis of just exactly what all of this might mean. “What do you think it means?” I asked. “I think,” my wife said, “that it means we may be lost.” Lost? “Lost?” I said. “How could we be lost? One is never lost if one knows where one is, and I know that we are here!” We rode on a little longer. “But where is here?” I added at last. “Alabama,” she said. “Alabama?” “Uh-huh. We just crossed the state line.” Alabama, huh? Well, being the trained whole-earth navigator that I am, I’m sure I would have seen that. Only I’d been distracted again by yet a third battalion of cows, those ones over there (that’s a little bit of colloquial dialect-type stuff, included here to add local color). They were definitely looking our way, I saw. It dawned on me, too, that they were Alabama cows. Alabama cows, among all the cows in all of creation, are especially not to be trifled with, and that realization probably distracted me even more. So you can understand how I missed a little thing like crossing over into a whole other state. That’s all it was. Uh-huh. But when it’s time, it’s time. So I found another country road and turned around again (the correct way this time), and eventually we did get home. You know, it’s funny how some things just become legend. That story — which I have recounted here as it happened, mostly, more or less — is one of them. It’s a tale still told at family gatherings, at campgrounds, at baby showers and birthday parties and even, once, in the Walmart checkout line. In fact, it’s told pretty much anywhere such stories are told and everywhere there’s even the faintest chance of encountering cows. It’s kind of nice to be the stuff of legends. Meanwhile, I have been learning to rely more fully on GPS. I guess it’s here to stay. How the times have changed!

OPINION

AIKENOMICS

AppenMedia.com/Alpharetta_Roswell | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | September 3, 2026 | 27

Realtors, are you targeting the wrong buyer?

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist dcaiken.com

For decades, real estate agents have marketed heavily to first-time homebuyers — and for good reason. They had no home to sell and no sale contingency, and they could often make a cleaner offer than someone who needed to sell before

buying. But times have changed, and agents may want to adjust their sights. Today’s first-time buyer is considerably older than in years past, and a surprisingly large share of active buyers are older Americans. Buyers in their 60s and 70s make up more than 46% of all current homebuyers, an increasingly important part of the housing market. At first, that might sound surprising. But when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Many of these homeowners bought

their first house in their 20s or 30s. Over the decades, they either remained in that home or moved up, carrying their accumulated equity with them. Add the significant home-price appreciation of the past decade, and many are now sitting on substantial equity. And their housing needs are changing. The kids are gone. That 4,000-square-foot house that made perfect sense 20 years ago may now feel like a lot of house — and a lot of maintenance — for two people. Many are beginning to ask a simple question: Do we really need all this anymore? That creates an interesting opportunity for agents. An older homeowner considering downsizing can represent two transactions: the sale of the existing home and the purchase of a smaller one. Significant equity may also give these buyers greater flexibility when negotiating their next purchase. But there could be another benefit. When longtime homeowners sell larger homes, they add much-needed

become homeowners themselves. One downsizing transaction could put several pieces of the housing puzzle into motion, especially when the buyer who is 60 or older is ready for the next chapter and not senior living. For years, the first-time homebuyer was one of the most attractive prospects in real estate. Maybe it’s time to widen the lens. The next great opportunity may not be the buyer purchasing a first home. It may be the homeowner ready to sell the last big one. Times have changed. Maybe your target market should, too.

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inventory to the market. Some may also use a portion of their accumulated wealth to help adult children with a down payment, giving a younger generation that is struggling to save enough cash an opportunity to finally

DC Aiken is Senior Vice President of Lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS#658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com. The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

MARTA needs visionary leadership more than ever Thank you for publishing Hannah Yahne’s column, “MARTA Riders Want World Cup-Level Service to Continue.” I have been a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rider — to the airport and to events in Downtown Atlanta — for the past 30 years, and with the exception of occasional annoying panhandlers, I have been satisfied with the convenience of car-free transport, especially to the airport, and with not having to deal with Atlanta car traffic or the hassles

of parking there. I am very sad that voters in the northern Atlanta suburbs nixed a proposal several decades ago to extend MARTA rail up Georgia 400 to Alpharetta and beyond. In my opinion, this was pure racism. Now, instead, the Georgia Department of Transportation is cutting down thousands of trees to make room for more lanes on Georgia 400, leading to more cars, more traffic and more fossil-fuel pollution. Local government lacks the vision or

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funding to make MARTA rail expansion a reality, and appallingly, MARTA gets no funding from the state government, in contrast to other systems such as the New York City subway and Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco. It is also an insult to the regular MARTA rider that safety is “geared up” for special events such as the Olympics and the World Cup, while safety has not

been a priority on “ordinary” days. Visionary Atlanta Mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson founded and expanded HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest. We need such visionaries for MARTA. Salpi Adrouny, MD T:\ADS_2026\City of Roswell Legals Johns Creek

CITY OF ROSWELL SURPLUS AUCTION SALE The City of Roswell will sell at auction a variety of vehicles. The auction will be held on-line through GovDeals at www.govdeals.com. The sale of the surplus vehicles will begin Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 7:00 am and end Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 7:00 am. Payments are made directly on GovDeals site. All sales will be final to the highest bidder and sold “as is” and “where is” with no warranty expressed or implied. Randy Knighton City Administrator

Mary Robichaux Mayor

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Full-time Computer Professionals for GA based IT Firm: “Sr. Software Developer to Design, develop, code, test & deploy advance software module components in complex computing environments using latest tools & technologies. Optimize database performance through queries, indexing & schema designs. Travel to various unanticipated worksite locations with frequency dependent on Project and/or Client requirement throughout the U.S. may be required.” Apply w/2 copies of resume to HR, Powermind Solutions, Inc. 11539 Park Woods Cir, Ste # 703, Alpharetta, GA 30005. 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). Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings, weekends and holidays. 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.

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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. Must have a thorough working knowledge of administering and maintaining the latest version of Windows Operating Systems; MS Office products; Office 365; internet configuration and technologies. Must have strong verbal documentation and customer service skills. Strong abilities performing monitoring, testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, and administration of WAN/LAN infrastructure, SCCM, Power Shell, iPhone, iPad, Airwatch, MDT, Intune and KMS. 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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Sawnee EMC is seeking a Staff Accountant – Financial Services to provide financial and accounting services in compliance with RUS accounting requirements and standards, coordinate budgeting and financial planning functions, compile and analyze financial information, prepare financial statements, statistical analyses, balance sheet and financial position statements, make recommendations on reserves, collect appropriate data to prepare tax returns, and prepare related reports to management. Requires: Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in accounting with a minimum of two years progressively responsible work experience; high level of competency in MS Office, Accounting, Spreadsheet and Database Software; knowledge of RUS System of Accounts preferred.

CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER WANTED Established Milton/Alpharetta exercise studio specializing in SuperSlow training, serving mature clientele. Exhibit enthusiasm for teaching and coaching. All sessions are by appointment. Friendly, professional team environment. Onboarding provided. Luis 404-545-1443.

SERVICE DIRECTORY Electricians

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 and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

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