Dunwoody Crier - August 27, 2026

NEWS

Slain officer honored with memorial plaque and parkway

Real Estate Reinvented

► PAGE 8

770.605.7545 | Together, Opening Doors

August 27, 2026 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

DeKalb sued over data center pause By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

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 Transition Authority, more commonly known as MARTA.

MARTA riders want World Cup-level service to continue By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — Two months ago, Jackson Lee said his experience riding on Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority trains was “seamless.” MARTA trains were coming within 15 minutes of one another and he did not find himself waiting, particularly in the Five Points Station — a popular spot to transfer. MARTA reported a surge in ridership June 11 through July 15, driven largely by FIFA World

Cup matches and watch parties. The system logged 4.7 million rail passengers over those 35 days and increased rail service to accommodate the crowds. On match and fan fest days, MARTA ran trains every five minutes. Manager of Communications Payson Schwin said MARTA ran four-car trains on the east-west blue line, with a shuttle train on the green line running between Ashby and Bankhead stations. MARTA also deployed specialized shuttle trains to clear crowds from Mercedes-Benz

Stadium and maintained standby bus fleets to respond to real-time ridership surges. A month later, Lee, a Midtown resident and Decatur native, said he has waited 20-25 minutes for trains at the Georgia State and Decatur stations, both on the blue and green lines. That was not something that happened during the World Cup, he said. “During the World Cup, it really showed me what [MARTA] can be in this city, but it’s not funded,” Lee said.

See MARTA, Page 16

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Shadowbox Studios and an affiliated real estate company want a judge to rule that DeKalb County’s moratorium on data centers is illegal and give the companies the go-ahead to build a massive facility in south DeKalb. According to a lawsuit filed Aug. 5 in DeKalb County Superior Court, Shadowbox Studios and Henrico 183

See LAWSUIT, Page 23

SHADOWBOX STUDIOS/PROVIDED

An aerial view of Shadowbox Studios on Constitution Road in south DeKalb.

#1 TEAM COMPANYWIDE 2025 THE ROBIN BLASS GROUP

have spent more than $30 million to develop a data center on a nearly 200-acre property at 3600 International Park Drive. The lawsuit said county officials told the companies a data center would be allowed on the site. The lawsuit also says that the county’s moratorium on data centers, now more than a year old, has diminished the property’s value by $200 million.

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2 | August 27, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

PUBLIC SAFETY

Police chase ends with four bystanders injured By DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com 319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009 HANS APPEN Publisher DICK WILLIAMS Publisher Emeritus CONTACT NEWS TIPS Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com. LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance. ADVERTISING For information about advertising in the Dunwoody Crier or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278. CIRCULATION To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County police chase of a suspected impaired driver on Friday night, Aug. 14, ended with injuries to four bystanders who were in another vehicle. The crash occurred about 10 p.m. at the intersection of Scott Boulevard and Clairemont Avenue near Decatur. The pursuit began on North Decatur Road and Scott Boulevard when an officer saw a vehicle moving “erratically” and suspected the driver was impaired or experiencing a medical emergency. “The officer attempted a traffic stop to assess the situation,” a police spokesperson said. The driver did not stop, and the officer gave chase. Witnesses who heard the incident reported vehicles flying down the street. When Decaturish visited the scene, there were about a dozen police vehicles and two vehicles being towed away. Decatur police assisted with traffic control but did not participate in the pursuit. The DeKalb police spokesperson said officers did not use the precision immobilization technique, known as the PIT maneuver, or otherwise make contact with the vehicle during the chase. A PIT maneuver is a tactic police can use to end chases, and DeKalb County police are allowed to use it if they’re properly trained. The chase ended at Scott Boulevard and Clairemont Avenue after the suspect struck another vehicle. “The suspect exited the vehicle and was acting uncontrollably as officers took him into custody,” the spokesperson said. “He was transported to a hospital for evaluation. Charges, including DUI, reckless driving, felony fleeing and attempting to elude, and red-light violation, are pending.” The four people inside the other vehicle were all taken to the hospital. One received “moderate, non-lifethreatening injuries,” and the other three received minor injuries. No officers were injured. A Decaturish investigation found that police pursuits in DeKalb County jumped nearly 500% in 2025 after the county announced a new chase policy. Police were given permission to pursue people for nonviolent crimes, such as property crimes. In 2024, the department reported 17 vehicle pursuits to the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. In 2025, the year the new policy was announced, the number of chases increased to 99. “A pursuit may be initiated if there is probable cause to believe that the suspect being pursued has committed

DAN WHISENHUNT/APPEN MEDIA

The aftermath of a police pursuit that occurred on Friday, Aug. 14. Four bystanders were sent to the hospital after an officer chased someone suspected of driving under the influence or having a medical emergency. any crime — whether felony, misdemeanor, or any traffic offense,” the updated policy says. Previously, the county used a more restrictive policy, resulting in far fewer chases. The expanded chase policy has known risks. Chases account for hundreds of deaths every year, though there’s no reliable national database tracking this information. Those killed are often bystanders, according to a 2015 USA Today analysis. In early April 2026, The Associated Press reported police pursuits had caused eight deaths nationwide in less than a week. In April, a DeKalb County police pursuit that ended in a crash near Miller Grove Middle School. The crash killed a pedestrian, Antionette Catchings, and seriously injured her 14-year-old grandson, Robert Stuckey. In 2023, the Police Executive Research Forum recommended limiting chases to life-or-death situations. Chases should be limited to when someone has committed a violent crime or is an imminent threat, PERF advised. The 2023 PERF report describes chasing someone suspected of being under the influence as a “controversial standard” contained in some agency policies. “All fleeing vehicles can present a threat to the public, but it is important to consider whether pursuing such vehicles increases that threat,” the report said. “A driver who is already operating recklessly may take even more risks to escape police, so deciding not to pursue the suspect may reduce the risk to the community.” PERF advised that agencies should not adopt a blanket provision that allows reckless driving to justify a pursuit. The 2023 PERF report quotes

Geoffrey Alpert, a University of South Carolina professor in the department of criminology and criminal justice. “Chasing reckless drivers or DUI suspects does not make intuitive sense,” he said. Alpert said there are two issues worth considering. The first is whether the driver was driving safely before the stop and became reckless only by fleeing — in which case police intervention created the danger. The second is that a driver already handling a vehicle poorly at low speed is unlikely to handle it better at high speed while watching the rearview mirror. “The key question is, ‘What is the likelihood of getting the outcome you want?’ Even when a traffic stop is justified, what is the likely outcome of a continued pursuit of a reckless driver?” he said. “And how will you explain that decision to family members of an innocent bystander who is injured or killed in a crash?” Alpert said a member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving once told him that there is only one thing worse than a drunk driver: a drunk driver being chased by police. In 2025, the county reported a total of three third-party injuries, including one serious injury. The county’s pursuit policy says officers should use discretion and account for the threat to other people when initiating a chase. “Officers operating police vehicles shall exercise due regard for the safety of all persons,” the policy says. “Officers and supervisors shall avoid increasing the danger already caused by the subject being pursued and are cautioned that they are accountable for the consequences if there is a reckless disregard for the safety of others.” The county’s 2025 report did not include any pursuits involving impaired drivers.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | August 27, 2026 | 3

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4 | August 27, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

OPINION

TALK BACK TO THE CRIER

This was the straw that broke the camel’s back On Feb. 20, 2007, I had a telephone conversation with DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones that changed the course of my involvement in the effort to make Dunwoody a city. Jones told me that he planned to move the historic Donaldson-Bannister House to south DeKalb County. Three days later, as co-president of the Dunwoody Preservation Trust, I put my objection in writing and asked him to reconsider. At the time, Queenie and I were serving as co-presidents of the Dunwoody Preservation Trust. The trust had negotiated with Linda and David Chesnut for an option to purchase the property at a price substantially below its appraised value. DeKalb County subsequently used $1.2 million in green space funds to acquire it. Jones deserves credit for the county’s role in making that purchase possible. The property was much more than one old house. The main house, built in 1867, stood with a collection of historic farm buildings on land that had once been part of the much larger James Donaldson farm. Together they represented a surviving piece of the agricultural community from which modern Dunwoody grew. Moving the house would have separated it from the land and the other structures that gave it historical meaning. The trust had a plan for the property. We proposed a farm-life museum depicting life on a Georgia farm in the 1870s. We planned to hire a full-time curator with a background in Georgia history and preservation, and I proposed leading a substantial private fundraising effort so the property could be maintained and enhanced without requiring continuing public financing. We envisioned an educational resource that could serve children throughout DeKalb County and metro Atlanta. That was the proposal I placed before Jones in my Feb. 23 letter. I asked him to reconsider moving the house and to approve a lease that would allow the trust to begin implementing the plan. My letter ended with a simple thought: By working together, we could make it happen. Instead, the possibility of moving the farmhouse became a symbol of something larger. When Jones subsequently wrote to me defending the county’s position, I sent his letter to the Dunwoody Crier, which published it. I wanted the community to know what was happening to a property that Dunwoody citizens had worked so hard to preserve. For me, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The issue was no longer simply about an old farmhouse. It was about who should make decisions affecting a community and how accountable those decision-makers should be to the people who live there. I became convinced that Dunwoody needed not only local control,

TALK BACK TO THE CRIER: You talk, we listen. The Crier is parking the Talk Back section at the front of the paper for the foreseeable future. Send your letters to newsroom@appenmedia.com by Sunday night and they’ll end up here that week. Rules of engagement: • Typically we restrict letters to 300 words. To limit fury from the copy desk, try and stay below that line. • We normally do not publish letters written in response to other letters. We are going to waive that policy for the time being. • We won’t publish your letter or name without explicitly getting your approval.

The Donaldson-Bannister House. but local responsibility. In 2007, I testified at a Georgia House of Representatives hearing on legislation that would allow Dunwoody residents to vote on becoming a city. I spoke about the work of the Dunwoody Preservation Trust and explained the significance of DonaldsonBannister and the threat to move the historic home. The following year, the General Assembly gave the people of Dunwoody the right to decide for themselves. They answered overwhelmingly in favor of cityhood, and Dunwoody officially became a city on Dec. 1, 2008. We had won the right to govern ourselves, but that right came with an equally important responsibility: to build a government that would remain close to its citizens, listen to them, explain its decisions and be accountable for the choices it made. The story of Donaldson-Bannister did not end with cityhood. One of the early tasks of the new city was determining how park property would be transferred from DeKalb County. In 2010, the city acquired the Donaldson-Bannister property from the county for $5,300: $5,000 for the historic farmhouse and $100 per acre for its 3 acres. In fact, Dunwoody acquired its parkland from DeKalb County using this same basic formula — $100 an acre, with an additional amount when a building was involved. The historic farm that once seemed in danger of being moved away from Dunwoody was finally in the hands of the community that had fought to preserve it. The purchase price is worth remembering. For $5,300, Dunwoody acquired a historic farmhouse, 3 acres of land and a piece of its own history that would be extraordinarily expensive, if not impossible, to replace today. The price was small. The value to the community has proved immeasurable. Restoring it was another challenge. A master plan commissioned by the Dunwoody Preservation Trust estimated that

APPEN MEDIA FILE PHOTO

rehabilitation could cost millions of dollars. Melanie Williams and Dolores Lauderdale, who were then serving as co-presidents of the trust, began the active rehabilitation process by breaking the restoration into a series of smaller, manageable projects rather than attempting the entire undertaking at once. Jim Williams, serving as vice president of properties, was instrumental in starting and managing the process and deserves much of the credit for getting the actual work done. The trust began setting aside proceeds from Lemonade Days, and individual projects were undertaken with the help of volunteers and funding from the trust and the city. Little by little, the work gained momentum, accomplishing at a much lower cost what had once seemed almost impossible. During the restoration, a large live oak tree on the property had to be removed. Instead of being discarded, the tree was cut lengthwise into wide wooden slabs. Local artist Tom Williams was selected to transform the wood into something that would preserve another part of the community’s history. He carved a diorama of Dunwoody’s history into the wood, turning a tree that had stood on the property into a permanent historical record. Today, that remarkable work can be viewed next to the historic three-stall barn at Donaldson-Bannister Farm. There is something fitting about that diorama. Donaldson-Bannister preserves the history of Dunwoody not only through the farmhouse, barns and land, but through the story carved into a tree that once grew there. The property itself has become a place where Dunwoody can remember its origins. Donaldson-Bannister is not simply a historic property that was restored and preserved for people to admire from a distance. It is a living part of our community. Each summer, hundreds of young people attend camp on the farm, where they experience

and learn about life on a Georgia farm in the mid-1800s. In many ways, that fulfills the educational vision the Dunwoody Preservation Trust had for the property nearly two decades ago. The farm has also become a gathering place for the community. Business retreats, wedding receptions, farm-to-table dinners and other special events are held on the property. Families, businesses and community organizations gather amid the farmhouse, barns and open spaces, giving new life to a place whose history reaches back to Dunwoody’s agricultural beginnings. What was once threatened with being separated from its land has instead become a place where new generations can experience Dunwoody’s history. Donaldson-Bannister is more than an old farmhouse. It is a treasure worth preserving. The experience reinforced something I have believed ever since: The strength of our community rests in our nonprofits and volunteers working together in concert with our city. Local control is not valuable simply because City Hall is geographically closer than the county government. It is valuable because responsibility is closer to the people affected by the decisions. There is a lesson in what happened at Donaldson-Bannister. Preservation is not simply about protecting the past. It is about deciding what we value enough to carry into the future. The citizens who fought to save this property could not have known all the ways it would eventually serve their community. They simply knew that once something irreplaceable is lost, it cannot be recreated. Sometimes history turns on great events. Sometimes it turns on an old farmhouse. For me, Donaldson-Bannister was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Today, it also stands as proof that the fight was worth it.

Danny Ross

Founding member, Dunwoody City Council

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | August 27, 2026 | 5

6 | August 27, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

OPINION

PAST TENSE

The Sandy Springs home of John and Margaret Ball On Roswell Road, at the site of Big Trees Forest Preserve, James Tilden Lamberth lived on the farm of his grandparents, John W. Ball (18401920) and Margaret VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Adams Ball (18451905). The history Columnist in this article comes from Lamberth’s memories, as told to his daughter, Virginia Lamberth Allison, and shared by Burt Terrell, a great-grandchild of John and Margaret Ball. John W. Ball was one of 10

children of Peter and Margaret Robertson Ball, who came to Georgia from South Carolina in 1829. Their farmland extended from Georgia 400 to the intersection of Mount Vernon and Ashford Dunwoody roads. Margaret’s parents were Salathiel and Sarah Harris Adams, who arrived in 1835 and owned a farm where Murphey Candler Park is today. When John Ball returned home after fighting with the Confederate Army, he built a log cabin on his land. The cabin was one room, 15 feet by 30 feet, with a fireplace at one end and a door at the other. He later added two bedrooms. When the family was ready for a larger two-story house,

dunwoodyga.gov | 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody GA 30338 | 678.382.6700 dunwoodyga.gov | 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody GA 30338 | 678.382.6700

he connected the two homes with a breezeway. Ball built both homes and the furniture inside them. James Tilden Lamberth was born March 18, 1902. His father was Jerry Tilden Lamberth, and his mother was Mary Lenora Ball Perkins. Jerry Lamberth died of pneumonia before James was born. His mother remarried, and her new husband had teenage children. James ended up living with his grandparents. Lamberth recalled that his grandmother was a seamstress who worked in the attic of the home. She carded cotton and used a spinning wheel to turn it into thread, and the thread was made into cloth. She also made bar soap from hardwood ashes. “Water poured over the ashes would seep out the bottom of the pit as lye, which she made into soap in a wash pot,” Lamberth said. Margaret Ball died when Lamberth was 5 years old. Two large barns stood on the farm. One held corn and wheat, plus a pea thresher. The other had a corn sheller and was used to store feed for the mules and cows. John Ball built the pea thresher and the corn sheller. The family grew cotton for many years, until that was no longer

profitable. Their farm provided all the food they needed except for items such as coffee, sugar, salt and soap powder, which they bought at the grocery store. One night in the middle of a cold winter, John Ball decided to try something new. “Sitting around the huge fireplace, my grandfather got out the Sears Roebuck catalog, which was only about an inch thick at that time, and found a sorghum cane juice extractor powered by a one-cylinder gas engine with two huge flywheels,” Lamberth said. Ball ordered the extractor without the engine and put his mule, Ol’ Ned, to work providing the power. Lamberth remembered that the mule worked hard and was cooperative when spoken to in a kind voice, but did the opposite if anyone shouted at him. John and Margaret Ball are buried in the Ball family cemetery, next door to the former site of their home. Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. Write her at pasttensega@gmail.com. Learn more at pasttensega.com.

United in Memory 25 years of reflection and resolve

Join us for Quiet Reflection | Commemorative Exhibit | Recorded Memories Dunwoody City Hall | 8 am - 4 pm

September Highlights

1 Art Commission Meeting Called Alcohol Review 2 Special Board Meeting City Hall | 7:30 a.m.

City Hall | 8 a.m.

3 Zoning Board of Appeals in the Park: 4 Pics “Fantastic Four: First Steps” City Hall | 6 p.m.

Pernoshal Park | 9 p.m.

4-5 Butterfly Experience Called Sustainability 8 Special Committee Meeting

12 Groovin’ on the Green Heritage 13 Latino-Hispanic Celebration

featuring Piano Man vs. Rocket Man Brook Run Park Amphitheater | 6 - 9 p.m.

Ashford Lane | 4 - 7:30 p.m.

14 City Council Meeting 17 Development Authority Meeting City Hall | 6 p.m.

City Hall | 5 p.m.

Broadway at Brook Run with Callanwolde Concert Band

Dunwoody Nature Center

City Hall | 9:30 a.m.

Planning Commission Meeting

Brook Run Amphitheater | 7 p.m.

18 Park(ing) Day

Williamsburg Shopping Center 10 a.m - 6 p.m.

Household Hazardous Waste 19 Recycling Event Sustainability Committee Meeting City Hall | 6 p.m.

10 11 Day of Reflection City Hall | 8 a.m.

Dunwoody City Hall | 8 a.m - 4 p.m.

City Hall | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

28

City Council Meeting City Hall | 6 p.m.

“IMAGES OF AMERICA: SANDY SPRINGS,” KIMBERLY M. BRIGANCE AND MORRIS V. MOORE

In 1915, John Ball (center, behind table) gathered at home with his family for his 75th birthday. The home was located along Roswell Road where Big Trees Forest Preserve is today.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | August 27, 2026 | 7

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8 | August 27, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

NEWS

Parkway name, plaque honor officer slain in CDC shooting By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County police officer who died after responding to a shooting at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters has been honored with a permanent memorial plaque and a road name a year later. A ceremony was held Friday, Aug. 7, at the CDC’s Roybal Campus at 1600 Clifton Road to unveil Office David Rose Parkway and the plaque. Both are at the entrance to the campus. A makeshift memorial was put at the entrance last year. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended the ceremony. Rose was 33 and on the job with the DeKalb County Police Department DEKALB COUNTY POLICE/PROVIDED for about a year when he and other Officer David Rose died following an law enforcement responded to an active shooting incident that occurred active shooter at the CDC on Aug. 8, near the Emory University campus on 2025. Rose was one of the first officers Aug. 8. on the scene near the CVS at Emory Point, across Clifton Road from the The shooter was identified CDC, when he was shot. as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of He later died at Emory University Kennesaw. He was found dead in Hospital. Rose was a Marine Corps the second floor of the CVS. Officials veteran and left behind young said it appeared White targeted the children. CDC because he left behind writings “Thank you to the Centers for that expressed his “discontent” with Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 vaccines. 12-28-2016_HindsonMelton_01-19-11_HindsonMelton.qxp 12/15/16 11:22Page AM 1Page 1 12-28-2016_HindsonMelton_01-19-11_HindsonMelton.qxp 12/15/16 11:22 AM for honoring Officer David Rose by The shooting led to an outpouring renaming a roadway in his memory. of anger from CDC staff about antiThis lasting tribute ensures his vaccine conspiracy theories. They courage, service, and sacrifice will demanded increased safety measures never be forgotten,” DeKalb County at the building, which was hit with Police said in a statement. “Officer close to 200 bullets during the DEKALB COUNTY POLICE/PROVIDED Rose’s dedication to protecting others incident. A memorial plaque was unveiled Aug. 7 that honors David Rose, a DeKalb County continues to inspire us all. His service police officer who died after responding to a shooting at the Centers for Disease will always be remembered, and his Dan Whisenhunt contributed to this our clients and community with honesty, integrity, and courage.” Control and Prevention one year ago. “Serving our clients and community withreport. honesty, integrity, and courage.” legacy“Serving will live on.”

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | August 27, 2026 | 9

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10 | August 27, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

DeKalb updates zoning rules for adult establishments By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Commissioners voted Aug. 11 to approve an ordinance that updates how the county regulates adult entertainment businesses in unincorporated DeKalb County, including banning them from commercial districts to only allow them in industrial districts. The updates were needed after inconsistencies were found last year in the zoning code and in the requirements for business licenses for adult entertainment businesses, Deputy Director of Planning & Sustainability Rachel Bragg told the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. The primary change is to establish consistent definitions for the types of businesses covered by the ordinance, Bragg said. Other updates simply clean up and modernize existing regulations and ensure the business license and zoning provisions are coherent and consistent with one another, she explained. “This is primarily a cleanup and coordination effort to make sure that we’re using current terminology and applying it consistently throughout the different sections of the county code,”

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The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners listen to public comments at their Aug. 11 meeting. Bragg said. She noted that local governments are able to regulate adult establishments to address documented “secondary effects” associated with them, such as prostitution, urban blight and other crime. Last October, county officials revoked a building permit for Tokyo Valentino, an adult entertainment business that

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was in the process of building out a new location at 1850 Lawrenceville Highway in Greater Decatur. County officials said at the time the permit was revoked because the Tokyo Valentino applications did not properly disclose the property’s intended use, including the sale of sex toys. This area is zoned commercial. The county also approved last October

a 100-day moratorium on new adult entertainment stores. The moratorium was extended in May and commissioners were to consider extending it again at the Aug. 11 meeting. However, because the updates were approved, the moratorium can be lifted when it expires Sept. 3, Bragg said. Bragg explained that since last October, the planning department has worked with the county law department and also with an outside law firm that specializes in regulating adult entertainment businesses to conduct a comprehensive review of the county’s existing regulations. The updates ensure that zoning and business license provisions work together and are not part of a broader policy discussion on adult establishments, Bragg said.

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Puzzles

rier 8/27/26 Connect-It

PuzzleJunction.com

Connect-It

Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com

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

Dunwoody Crier.................................August 27, 2026 | 11

1

FAUNA SPEAK 1. Hurried. Snake speak. Sailing vessel with 2 masts. 2. Conundrum. Chick speak. Worker’s demand. 3. Dog speak. Watery part of milk. Smooth-tongued. 4. Owl speak. Certain football player. The Old Sod. 5. Donkey speak. Little angel. Spill the beans. 6. Indian princess. Found on the shoreline. Lion speak. 7. Breakfast sizzler. Lackluster. Horse speak. PuzzleJunction.com

Dunwoody Crier 8/27/26 Crossword

Across

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1 Giraffe cousin 6 Renown 10 Pesky insect 14 Speeder’s bane 3 15 Legal claim 16 NV city 17 Karate experts 4 19 Consequently 20 18-wheeler 21 Foolhardy 5 22 Western film classic, The Magnificent ___ 6 23 Showman Ziegfeld 25 Tin can /27/26 Sudoku7 appliance Fauna Speak 8/27/26 Kakuro PuzzleJunction.com 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 27 Large bird of 1. first Hurried. speak. Sailing with 2 masts. the letter ofSnake the second answer, and sovessel on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each prey, the Great 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. Conundrum. Chick speak. Worker’s demand. Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number for 3 answers on thepuzzle, line. Buteach here’srow, the catch! Theand clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually To the solve the Sudoku column Filth 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 line31 is the sum be the speak. second orWatery thirdnumbers answer line. Smooth-tongued. Got it? Good luck! boxfor must contain the 1that to 9. 3. Dog partinof milk. 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 any32 sequence. Cereal grain 33 Condo division 4. Owl speak. Certain football player. The Old Sod. 35 Knitting ___ 5. Donkey speak. Little angel. Spill the beans. 39 All excited 41 Type of stare or 6. Indian princess. They are usually found on the shoreline. cartridge Lion speak. 43 Diva’s song 7. Breakfast sizzler. Lackluster. Horse speak. 44 Indicate 46 Moonshine mix 48 Mornings, for short 49 Burden 51 Gainsborough painting 53 Withstand 55 Hostel 56 Explosion 57 Wilted 60 Jason’s ship 64 Final notice 65 Embarrassed to How to Solve:Copyright Kakuro,©2026 also PuzzleJunction.com known as Cross Sums, is a the hilt challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid.

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Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com

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

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.

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Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com

67 Exploding star 68 Above 69 The Republic writer 70 Water pitcher 71 Sets 72 Brusque Down 1 Globes 2 Curly cabbage 3 Comic Sandler 4 Appease 5 Aggravate 6 Chigger 7 Suffers 8 Modus operandi 9 Print measures

10 Healthy Chinese beverage 11 Audacity 12 Infuriate 13 Warner Bros. creation 18 Grizzly, e.g. 22 Arid 24 Singer Rawls 26 Walking papers 27 Egg on 28 The latest thing 29 Town on the Thames 30 ___ Abner 34 Scottish cap 36 Ho-hum 37 Airport pickup 38 Effortless

40 Kindergarten reward 42 Apprehend 45 Race track tipster 47 4th century barbarian 50 Computer key 52 Empower 53 Pasta shape 54 Gullible 56 Dog treat 58 Matinee ___ 59 Driving direction finders 61 Back 62 Catches on 63 Native Nebraskan 65 Dust remover 66 Pertinent

See puzzle solutions on Page 21

What do you want to know about the community?

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Researchers, school districts study screen time use By JIM BASS jim@appenmedia.com DECATUR, 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 two-part 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 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.

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.

“[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 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 3000 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 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-and-paper 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.

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MARTA: Continued from Page 1 MARTA receives no operational funding from the state. The authority’s primary source of funding is sales tax revenue collected in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties and the city of Atlanta, which is supplemented by federal grants. For the World Cup, the authority received $8 million in federal funding, distributed through the Federal Transit Administration, to handle the increased frequency. While the authority made noticeable changes for a little more than a month, dedicated riders have also seen service scale back since tourists left town. “I think that the biggest thing for me was the more frequent trains on game days,” Decatur resident Stacey Mohr said. “I understand that maybe that’s not doable regularly, but that made it … so much easier.” A sense of security remains riders’ top concern Station-specific improvements, like increased signage and volunteers offering assistance, also made the MARTA experience better, riders said. John O’Brien of Decatur said stations felt secure during the World Cup, with someone always on hand to help. He worries the system will now slide back into problems that make riders feel unsafe. “A lot of them were volunteers … but still, there was a security presence,” O’Brien said. “I noticed that immediately after it was over, they vanished. There’s not a policeman in any of the stations again.” As a regular MARTA rider since it launched in 1972, O’Brien said he has a vested interest in the transportation system. He loves the convenience it provides getting to the airport and how it enables him to easily explore neighborhoods and restaurants outside of Decatur. O’Brien thinks the biggest thing MARTA needs to overcome is a perceived lack of security. He’d like to see more officers patrolling stations, a critique

Dilemma: Continued from Page 14 “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 Kindergar-

NEWS

shared by Dunwoody resident Matt Moseley, who has been consistently riding MARTA since 2012. Moseley said he’s “always felt at peace” on MARTA but takes that for granted; his fiancee has told him she feels uneasy and “on guard” while riding. “I wish they could create a better sense of safety and security,” Moseley said. “I want people to be able to relax when taking MARTA.” Behind the scrutiny, and how MARTA is responding MARTA made national headlines over the summer after several violent incidents, including a stabbing at the Georgia State station May 24, the fatal stabbing of 66-year-old Margaret Swan on a train May 30 and a shooting on a train June 5. Before World Cup matches started in Atlanta in June, the Federal Transit Administration was directed to investigate the transit authority’s security spending, safety protocols, and risks to riders and workers. MARTA spokesperson Schwin said crimes committed in the authority’s jurisdiction are down 24% since 2025, and incidents on train lines have dropped from 200 in 2020 to 103 last year. Mohr said she noticed and appreciated the heavier police presence after the May and June incidents. She added that she doesn’t think MARTA has more safety issues than other cities’ transit systems. Atlanta resident Liane Hunter said the atmosphere on MARTA transit modes has improved over the past 15 years, and she doesn’t think those violent crimes are entirely reflective of MARTA. “I think maybe it’s more reflective of society as a whole, unfortunately,” Hunter said. “I think that there’s violence everywhere, and my experience with MARTA, specifically, is that I feel safe.” MARTA also received a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help cover additional security needs during the World Cup. MARTA Police Department officers worked 10- to 12-hour shifts six days a week, patrolling trains, stations, buses, transfer hubs and parking lots. ten 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

METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY/CONTRIBUTED

A CQ400 railcar sits at a station. Its open gangway design allows riders — and police officers — to walk the length of the train without exiting between cars. The new railcars will soon replace existing cars in the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, or MARTA, system.

Key department personnel also staffed the authority’s emergency operations center on all match and fan fest days starting June 11 to monitor developments and respond quickly. Schwin said riders can expect continued security improvements as MARTA rolls out its new CQ400 railcars. The authority will have a full-time police officer assigned to each train, the spokesperson noted. The new railcars also feature more than a dozen closed-circuit television cameras, microphones that can detect loud disturbances and alert MARTA personnel, and open gangways that allow officers to patrol every car in a train. The authority has been growing its police force to prepare for the increased officer presence, according to a briefing given to local NPR affiliate WABE. According to WABE, MARTA plans to boost its police force to approximately 400 officers from the current number of around 270. The new railcars are expected to roll out in stages and be completely in place by 2030. Schwin said MARTA also plans to add transit ambassadors and more safety personnel during major events, including Labor Day weekend, when both Dragon Con and the Aflac Kickoff Game will take place in Atlanta. its 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.

Riders wait on delayed railcars and more access MARTA delayed the launch of the new railcars in June while the authority works through a safety certification process. Once running, Schwin said the new cars will ride more smoothly and also be more mechanically reliable than the current ones. The spokesperson, however, didn’t indicate when the first set of new railcars would launch. Swiss train manufacturer Stadler is also equipping the rail system with new technology meant to improve performance and train frequency. Long-term capital programs will eventually replace aging rails, giving another boost to reliability, MARTA personnel noted. O’Brien said riders seem “perplexed and frustrated” about the delays surrounding the new railcars. Lee said he was also confused by the holdup. “I know they have been manufactured, and they were meant to be rolled out in June,” he said. Hunter said riders also want more trains and stops near places they actually want to go, including pedestrian hubs like the Atlanta Beltline or Pullman Yards, which have minimal station access despite being close to existing lines. She added that station amenities — like public art — would help riders see MARTA’s infrastructure “as a piece of the community instead of a safety hazard or a place where people are just getting from point A to point B.” MARTA personnel didn’t respond to a request for comment from Appen Media about potentially expanding rail access. Overall, Lee said he’d like to see MARTA get more funding to make the system more efficient and give commuters a reason to leave their vehicles behind. O’Brien said MARTA, with those promised improvements, has to make the case directly to Atlantans. “They’re going to have to prove that sitting in traffic three hours of your life every day is not an advantage over maybe a 40-minute train ride,” O’Brien said.

Technology should be used strictly as a supplement and enhancement, and not a replacement for a teacher.” JENNIFER BURTON CSD Assistant Superintendent

OPINION

AIKENOMICS

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | August 27, 2026 | 17

Oil’s retreat gives mortgage rates a respite After weeks of geopolitical tensions helping drive mortgage rates higher, financial markets finally found a measure of relief as easing concerns over global oil supplies sent energy prices lower. The decline followed two developments investors viewed as reducing near -term supply D.C. AIKEN risks. Reports that the United Guest Columnist dcaiken.com States is pursuing diplomatic engagement with Iran, rather than immediate military action, eased fears of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. At the same time, OPEC+ announced another increase in oil production, signaling that additional supply could reach the market in the months ahead. Together, those developments removed much of the geopolitical “risk premium” that had been supporting crude prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is trading near $80 per barrel, down roughly 5.3%, while Brent crude has fallen nearly 4.7% to about $84 per barrel, marking one of the largest one-day declines in recent months. For the mortgage market, lower oil prices carry implications beyond the gas pump. Energy costs influence inflation across the economy. As oil prices decline, transportation and production costs often ease, helping moderate inflation expectations. Investors typically respond

move was limited, it marked the first meaningful improvement in several weeks. The market’s attention now shifts from geopolitics to economic data. The Labor Department will soon release its monthly Employment Situation Report, one of the Federal Reserve’s most closely watched indicators. A softer -than-expected report could reinforce expectations that inflation continues to cool, providing additional support for lower mortgage rates. A stronger -than-expected reading, however, could renew concerns that interest rates will remain elevated for longer, reversing much of this week’s progress. For now, markets have welcomed a pause in geopolitical uncertainty. Whether that develops into a sustained decline in mortgage rates — or proves to be only a temporary reprieve — will likely depend on the economic data released in the days ahead. And finally, for what it’s worth: I’ll be on vacation next week. If history is any indication, mortgage rates have a funny habit of moving lower whenever I’m out of town. Here’s hoping that streak stays alive. IMAGE PROVIDED TO APPEN MEDIA

by increasing purchases of longer -term Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds, pushing yields—and ultimately mortgage rates- lower. That relationship was evident recently as Treasury yields edged lower, allowing mortgage rates to improve modestly after climbing to their highest levels in nearly two years. While the

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.

Local news, mostly fun days and many stories to tell

JOSHUA WILSON Managing Editor joshua@appenmedia.com

It’s time for me to say hello. I’m Joshua, the newish managing editor at Appen Media Group. I started in July and have been off to the races since day one, working with our incredible team to boost our news coverage of the Atlanta metro. I’m

having a blast. I’m relatively new to the metro. I previously lived in Macon, where I oversaw a small and scrappy news startup. I’m a native Mississippian, though, and the Magnolia State will always have a piece of my heart. I fell in love with the Atlanta area years ago during my first visit. I was born and raised in the sticks, so this sprawling place was truly “the Big City” in my eyes. I was captivated by the tall buildings, the numerous

things to do and yes, even the traffic. During that trip, I decided that one day I’d move to Atlanta. It took 15 years, but I finally did. I’m glad to be here and honored to be playing a key role in the perseverance and growth of our local news ecosystem. I’m a community journalist at heart. I’ve never aspired to work in the national news space. Instead, I’ve always enjoyed talking to locals about the issues that affect their daily lives — things like education, crime, healthcare access, economic development, government accountability and more. I care about an area’s quality of life, the transparency of its government and the civic participation of its people. I also care about telling captivating stories, highlighting people from every walk of life and doing my work in an ethical and fair manner. I think journalists, who advocate for transparency from other organizations, should themselves be transparent, and I

Appen Press Club Support local news that follows the story. Join the Appen Press Club today at appenmedia.com/join. often publish notes or explainers on how and why stories were covered. My commitment to you is to continue these efforts and to have fun while doing it. My career has been many things — strange, transformative, winding — but on 95% of the days, I sit down on my couch and think, “Well, that was a fun day. I made a difference, or at least I tried to do so.” I suspect most journalists share those same reflections, even if their number isn’t quite 95%. When I started in this business 21 years ago, newspapers were still king. Journalists were still respected. Advertising dollars poured

in and allowed for big staffs and ambitious reporting projects. Those things have certainly changed, but I will always believe in the value and future of local news. Without it, research has found civic participation drops, governments become corrupt and secretive, false and misleading information spreads, and communities become increasingly polarized. Local news, long the uncontested glue of a community, has lost some of its tack, but it hasn’t let go. I think the news business is in an exciting time of its life — a time to adapt, to hone our craft and to reconnect with audiences by finding new ways to reach them. I’m honored to be doing that work in this area and with this team. We’ll continue to grow, adjust and build on our solid foundation. Thank you for reading local news. I’m always just a note away, and I look forward to connecting with you.

18 | August 27, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

OPINION

Milestone! I killed my phone, at least for a day.

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny." — attributed to Lao Tzu

Recently I did a little experiment. I did not touch my phone or laptop — or stare at a screen — for 24 hours. I never went online. I didn't text, email or call anyone. The phone never moved. No emergency needed me. Nothing important or meaningful happened on social media that I can tell. The only thing I really missed was my camera, because I often use it to take notes. So I made the notes by hand instead. The sun still came up the next morning. My blood pressure probably went down. I was less angry. I didn't miss the news — any news. And I figure I added two to five hours back to my life that otherwise would have been discarded,

like food scraps at a restaurant, into the trash can of the digi-verse. Instead of screens, I watched birds on the beach, clouds and ghost crabs, and I read more than usual. How did I feel? Lighter, a bit more alive and a bit more rested. But the change was subtle. There was no earthquake, no shock. I just felt better. Watch your actions; they become your habits. I talked to an old friend later about my little experiment, and he told me he was headed in the same direction. He said he was tired of the noise — the distraction — and wanted, as he put it, "my own life back." His own life back. That idea struck me. It resonated. It made me think that not having your own life sounds a lot like what happens with addiction: A person serves the addiction instead of the self. Life becomes centered on something else, not you. Addictions by any other name are habits — except with teeth. Denial is part of the story, too. Someone addicted to opioids often doesn't recognize the addiction until the supply runs out, and even then is apt to deny it: "I just feel better when I take them." Screens are not unlike opioids. Think about it. Try leaving your phone

at home. Try going to the store without your phone in your pocket or purse. Try not picking up that phone for 24 hours. Taking the phone with you is the action. Staring at the screen is the habit. A habit taken to the extreme is called addiction — something that controls how you spend your time. The screen and the content it delivers subtly become reality, and reality is no longer real. If we no longer live each moment with intent, with direct engagement in the world around us, then we begin to live as if in a matrix: something synthetic, something else, something not us. Watch your habits. They become your character. Examples of what screens do to people — to their character and their judgment — are everywhere. Consider the rise of mass shootings, the conspiracy theories that multiply within minutes of any major event, the return of diseases that vaccines had all but eliminated, and the social and political polarization that plagues this country. The effect of substituting screens and digital experience for direct personal engagement cannot be overstated. We become what we see through the screens, and our values follow. Our character becomes our destiny.

Merriam-Webster defines character as "the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation." No one wants a destiny of war, poverty, disease or hatred. Screens by themselves do not control our destiny. It is when we substitute screens for direct interaction — with people, culture and organizations — that we hand over control of our lives, and our destiny, to someone or something other than ourselves. We need balance, moderation and engagement. Screens give us access to unlimited information, which can be a good thing, but that information has to pass through the filter of steady, direct human experience to do us any good. I have drastically reduced my screen time since my little experiment. It is work, though. My goal is to touch my phone twice a day — once in the morning and once in the late afternoon, to check messages. I am going to join a book club. I am going to get back on the tennis court and socialize more. I hope to re-engage with people. It is a worthwhile goal, I think, and one that will be good for my physical and mental health. What do you think? Email me at rayappen@gmail.com, or talk to me at book club or on the tennis court.

BRADSHAW’S BRIEF

The most wonderful time of the year I don't mean the holiday season. I mean football season! Professional football. College football. High school football. Peewee football. I love it all. STEVE BRADSHAW But I tend to prefer Columnist pro football. decaturish@appenmedia.com My NFL awakening occurred when I was a young boy in the 1970s. The team of that decade was the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was easy to root for a team with players like Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount and of course "Mean" Joe Greene. Throughout those Super Bowlwinning seasons, their quarterback was Terry Bradshaw. Since I was a kid, I assumed that he and I were related somehow. So I became a fan, and my love of black and gold remains firmly in place. Last year I attended my first Steelers home game, and it was awesome. During our few days in

Pittsburgh, I met fans who had come in for the game from all over the country, which made the entire experience even more enjoyable. Two years ago, my wife took me to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. This was also a lot of fun! As someone who has lived in metro Atlanta for more than 30 years, I am also an Atlanta Falcons fan. But at times they make it difficult. Candidly, I don't think I have fully recovered from the Super Bowl LI debacle in February 2017. I am sure I am not alone in this feeling. But I won't dwell on that. I start every season with high hopes for my Dirty Birds. This season will be no exception. We'll see how long it lasts. I enjoy college football as well, although I'm still not completely sure how the transfer portal or the name, image and likeness system works. At the Division I level, most of the athletes are very talented, and the pageantry around college football is unrivaled. During the first five seasons of Georgia State University football — my graduate school alma mater — we were

season ticket holders. The Panthers initially played their home games at the old Georgia Dome, and attending was a lot of fun and easy to get to via MARTA. The team now plays at Center Parc Stadium, the reconfigured former Turner Field, which is very nice. I still try to get to one or two home games a year. I haven't attended a high school football game in years. While I do appreciate Friday night lights, most weeks, by Friday evening, the thought of hanging out in a crowd at a football game does not outweigh the appeal of sitting in my easy chair at home. It has been even longer since I attended a peewee football game. But watching the little kids play was always a hoot for me. Once, when my nephew was about 10, I was watching a game in which he was playing running back. On one play, he broke through the line and had some good open-field running. Then, all of a sudden, he was clotheslined, and for a second I was horrified.

See BRADSHAW, Page 19

FILE PHOTO

Former DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Steve Bradshaw speaks during Tucker’s Juneteenth Jubilee hosted by Citizens for Family Activities in Tucker on Saturday, June 18, 2022.

Bradshaw: Continued from Page 18 But he popped right back up and trotted back to his team's huddle, so I didn't worry about it. To underscore how long ago that was, that same nephew will be getting married within the next few weeks. But that anecdote highlights a larger and irrefutable point. Football at every level is a violent game. Consequently, many contemporary parents are opting not to allow their kids to play tackle football. Flag football is an alternative. But it is not the same game. Not even close. And for those of us who are football fans, we must come to terms with the notion that the violence of the game is part of the attraction. I like to use the term "controlled violence." But it is violence nonetheless. When large human beings collide at high speeds, people will get hurt. Today, the equipment is much better than it was years ago, and certain rules have been put in place to make the

OPINION game safer for players. I suppose more can be done at the margins. But the nature of the game remains the same. As a kid, I played a lot of football in the neighborhood, which some might call sandlot football. I remember at least a couple of occasions after getting my bell rung when I went home a little woozy. I probably had concussions and didn't even know what they were. By the time high school rolled around, I was way too skinny to play at the varsity level. I would have been crushed. If only I weighed what I weigh now. I like to think I would have had the smarts and mental toughness to play quarterback, but I still probably lacked the arm strength to throw the deep ball accurately and consistently. More than likely, I would have played strong safety with a linebacker's mentality and derived great pleasure from tackling people. Irrespective of the downsides, I still love the game. And soon my Sunday afternoons will be spoken for. The ideal Sunday would unfold like this: At noon I would watch one of the pregame shows, probably "Fox NFL

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | August 27, 2026 | 19

The anticipation is building. Football season is indeed the most wonderful time of the year.” STEVE BRADSHAW Former DeKalb County District 4 Commissioner Sunday," where my cousin Terry Bradshaw is one of the hosts. Then I would be primed for the 1 p.m. game. I would fall asleep in my easy chair about halfway through the second quarter, then wake up late in the third or early in the fourth to watch the end of the game. Then I would be rested and ready for the 4:30 p.m. game, with enough reserve energy to last until halftime of the Sunday night game. A perfect day! The anticipation is building. Football season is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. I can't wait!

The Parkinson's Foundation Georgia Chapter will host Moving Day Atlanta, a community walk and celebration, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody, GA. Moving Day is a signature fundraising event that unites people living with Parkinson's disease, their care partners, families, friends, and supporters. The event will feature a walk, movement-based activities, resource booths, and family-friendly entertainment. Event Details: . Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026 . Location: Brook Run Park, Dunwoody, GA . Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (set-up to begin earlier) · Anticipated Attendance: 500-700 participants . Purpose: Raise awareness and funds to support Parkinson's research, care, and education This community gathering will include music, speeches, and activities designed to highlight the importance of movement for those living with Parkinson's. Volunteers and staff will be on-site to assist with parking, accessibility needs, and general event coordination. For more information, please visit Moving DayAtlanta.org or contact: Anna Kimberly, Development Manager Parkinson's Foundation Georgia Chapter akimberly@parkinson.org | 678-515-5143

PUBLIC NOTICE DREAM Dachshund Rescue Howl-O-Weenie 2026 September 26, 2026 11am-3pm Brook Run Park - Large Pavilion Save the date for DREAM Dachshund Rescue’s biggest fundraiser of the year - Howl-O-Weenie! Join us for a day full of fun with music, games, costume contests, local vendors, food trucks, beverages, and plenty of dachshund excitement. It’s a can’tmiss event in support of our mission to rescue and rehome deserving doxies. It’s a tail-wagging good time you won’t want to miss!

dreamrescue.org

DEATH NOTICES Patricia Dendinger, age 94, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 16, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Robert Hausleiter, age 80, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 15, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Maryann Dunphy, age 94, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 12, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Gary Johnson, age 76, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 11, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jackson Marcano, age 43, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 10, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

20 | August 27, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Zoning: Continued from Page 10

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Any store that makes at least 20% of its revenue from the sale of such adult items or has at least 20% of its floor space dedicated to adult materials and devices is considered an adult establishment. • Removing the permitted use of adult establishments in C-2 (general commercial) districts and adding the permitted use in M (industrial) districts. • Removing the permitted use of adult establishments in overlay districts, including Stonecrest, Emory Village, Tucker, Northlake, Scottdale, Bouldercrest-Cedar Grove-Moreland, Covington and Indian Creek. • Requiring a 150-foot separation between locations selling sexual devices and residentially zoned districts. This is a new requirement. • Requiring applications for an adult establishment business license include a legal description of the property and a sketch or diagram showing the configuration of the building, including a statement of what percentage of the floor area is dedicated to the sale and display of adult materials. The legislation also states the county can revoke an adult establishment license if the business knowingly gives false information about its intended use. To appeal a revocation of a license, the business owner or applicant has 10 days to request a hearing to present evidence. “These amendments are not intended to resolve any broader policy questions related generally to adult establishments,” Bragg said. “The focus is much narrower, just to bring our existing regulations up to date, make them internally consistent, and ensure that the zoning and business license provisions work together.”

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Continued from Page 1 The companies are asking a judge to declare the moratorium invalid and give them the OK to build a data center. They are also asking for “just compensation” for the alleged violation of property rights as well as attorneys’ fees. A DeKalb County spokesperson said the county does not comment on pending litigation. Shadowbox Studios was formerly Blackhall Studios, founded by Ryan Millsap. Millsap sold the studios to Commonwealth Group, a private equity firm, in 2021, and the studios were rebranded as Shadowbox. Its main campus at 1415 Constitution Road spans about 100 acres and includes nine sound stages and several support buildings. In 2021, Henrico purchased nearly 200 acres on International Park Drive, south of Constitution Road, with plans to expand Shadowbox Studios and build another film studio. The land is zoned M for light industrial, which allows film studios, manufacturing businesses, warehousing and distribution centers, and truck and equipment parking. In 2022, the county issued a land

disturbance permit to the companies to build a film studio. But after receiving the permit, Shadowbox and Henrico saw market demand for studio space decline and decided to explore building a data center alongside a film studio, according to the lawsuit. Before spending money on a data center project, Shadowbox and Henrico representatives asked county planning officials whether the zoning on International Park Drive permitted data centers. Planning officials told them in separate emails and letters between June 2023 and February 2025 that, while data centers are not specified in the county zoning code, they would be designated as a communication utility or a warehouse and allowed to be built on the property, according to the complaint. In 2024, Shadowbox and Henrico asked Georgia Power for 651 megawatts of power, “a power allocation of a magnitude that is only necessary for a significant data center development.” For comparison, officials with a planned $5.18 billion data center in Columbus, Georgia, have asked for an energy feasibility study of 600 megawatts to power the hyperscale campus — more power than used by the city’s residential and commercial users. The population of Columbus is about 202,000.

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On July 8, 2025, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 to implement a temporary moratorium on data centers to give planning staff time to come up with data center zoning regulations. Planning officials at the time acknowledged they had sent zoning certification letters to Shadowbox, Henrico and Blackhall Real Estate, another company tied to Millsap. Blackhall owns 2235 Bouldercrest Road, which was part of a controversial land swap with the county. The letters said data centers would be allowed to be built under the zoning of these properties. Planning officials also said at the time the letters were not legally binding. Shadowbox and Henrico allege in the lawsuit that they were scheduled to meet with county planning officials on July 17, 2025 — just over a week after the moratorium vote — to discuss changing their land disturbance permit from a film studio to a data center. “County staff knew the county was in the process of freezing all [land

disturbance permit] applications and further permits of data center uses when it agreed to a meeting after the freeze went into effect,” the lawsuit states. “The county deliberately misled plaintiffs into thinking they were on track to secure an LDP revision that explicitly permitted them to construct a data center on the property.” Since July 8, 2025, county commissioners have approved extending the moratorium several times. On July 7 — almost a year to the day after the first moratorium — commissioners voted to extend it again, this time through March 30, 2027. The newest vote followed the surprising commission vote just weeks earlier to reject the planning staff’s recommended land-use regulations for data centers. The lawsuit said that the rejection of the regulations shows that the county’s justification for the moratorium is a ruse to indefinitely ban data center developments in the county “without any rational basis.” Earlier this year, on March 6, Shadowbox and Henrico attempted to have the film studio land disturbance permit changed to a data center permit. County officials denied it. A Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is set for Sept. 9.

24 | August 27, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

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