PAST TENSE
Biggerstaff: Recalling Thompson’s Grocery ► PAGE 8
Januar y 15, 2026 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976
WAR EAGLES 72, WILDCATS 66
Woodward staves off Dunwoody By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com
South DeKalb County, he invited the crowd to write down a simple reminder. “After you get a piece of paper and a pen, write this down, ‘Today is going to be my peaceful day,’” Pannakara said. “Read it over and over and then read it out loud to tell the universe that today is my peaceful day. No one can mess it up.”
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Woodward Academy boys basketball outlasted Dunwoody Jan. 6 in a 72-66 victory at Dunwoody High School. Both teams had not played since school let out for winter break, so a bit of rust was evident on a missed lob as the first play of the game out of tip-off. Both teams went back-and-forth in the first quarter, but Woodward opened the second frame with a 6-0 run to establish the tone. The War Eagles extended their lead initially and repeatedly quashed comeback attempts from the Wildcats. Standout Emerson Mitchell lit up the scoring chart for Dunwoody in the first half and led the charge to cut the deficit on four separate momentum swings. He put up 23 points and eight assists in the loss. Facing up against three members of the USA Basketball U16 national team and a major height discrepancy in their starting lineups, Dunwoody fought an uphill battle but proved their right to compete.
See WALK, Page 18
See BASKETBALL, Page 19
DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
Buddhist monks on a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace arrive at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center on Rainbow Drive in Greater Decatur Dec. 30.
Buddhist monks stop in Georgia By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com DECATUR, Ga. — Georgians celebrated a peaceful day on Tuesday, Dec. 30, as Buddhist monks visited the Decatur area on their 2,300-mile walk for peace. Excitement and connection were in the air as thousands gathered throughout the day to hear blessings from the monks.
The Decatur stops marked day 66 of their 120-day journey. The Buddhist monks and peace dog Aloka began the walk Oct. 26 in Fort Worth, Texas, and are making their way to Washington to promote peace, loving kindness and compassion. Peace of mind The Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara is leading the group on its trek. In