Dunwoody Crier - March 5, 2026

City Council pauses Flock agreement

By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council voted Feb. 23 to pause an agreement with Flock Safety after raising concerns about privacy and transparency of the data collected by the company’s AI-driven technology. Dunwoody is one of dozens of

cities across the country reassessing their relationships with Flock. In recent months, residents have sounded alarms about the security of data collected by Flock’s license plate readers stationed across Dunwoody. Changes to Flock’s terms and conditions two weeks ago on ownership of data raised flags for the council.

Lenten Fish Fry draws hundreds to All Saints hall

By JILLIAN DIMARCO newsroom@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — There was no shortage of patrons Feb. 27 when All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody hosted its Friday Lenten Fish Fry.

For 30 years, the Knights of Columbus has served up thousands of meals that have drawn crowds from throughout Metro Atlanta.

Organizers say the event, running every Friday this season from 5-8 p.m. through March 27, has grown in size and impact.

What began as two men cooking on a stove in the church’s social hall has grown into a largescale operation. Volunteers served 1,301 meals at this year’s first gathering Feb. 20.

Last year, the total reached a record 8,500.

See FISH, Page 16

“I have a lot of mayor friends and we’re all talking about this,” Mayor Lynn Deutsh told Kerry McCormack, a Flock representative who attended the meeting to answer questions.

“We need to own the data, we need to control how it’s retained, and we need to control how it’s accessed,” she said.

See FLOCK, Page 19

By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga.

— Dunwoody Police Maj. William “Rusty” Furman, an original member of the city’s founding police department, died Feb. 22 after battling cancer. He was 51.

The funeral service was held Feb. 26 at West Ridge Church in Dallas, Ga. Before joining the Dunwoody Police Department in 2009, Furman served 28 years with the Marietta and Cobb County Police departments.

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch took a moment to remember Furman at the Feb. 23 City Council meeting.

“The police department lost one of our most dedicated, exceptional members … who has been here since we became a city,” she said tearfully. “He was incredibly dedicated to this community … and his loss is tremendous.”

Police Chief Mike Carlson also spoke at the meeting and praised Furman’s dedication to the city.

“He is one of the most resilient employees that I’ve ever had,” Carlson said.

“He did an outstanding job, and I couldn’t have been more proud of him.

See FURMAN, Page 19

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DEA seizes 37 pounds of meth in Sandy Springs

By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operation in Sandy Springs yielded one arrest and 16 kilos of suspected methamphetamine Feb. 13, according to agency officials and documents obtained by Appen Media.

The DEA executed a search warrant on an apartment on Northwood Drive in Sandy Springs. Inside the home agents located 37 pounds of, “a crystallike substance,” which allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine, according to court documents.

The federal officers found one woman and two juveniles in the apartment. They released the children to a guardian

and arrested the adult, charging her with felony trafficking in illegal drugs. The agency also seized an undisclosed amount of money.

DEA agents conducted the investigation and apartment search, asking Sandy Springs Police detectives to assist with “perimeter security” and have a department vehicle on site. Once the arrest was complete, federal officers turned the suspect over to city police for transportation.

DEA officials told Appen Media the city will now prosecute the case.

Sandy Springs detectives took the woman to the Fulton County jail. A judge awarded her a $100,000 bond, though she now also has an immigration hold. This status, known as a detainer, is a request for jails to hold suspects,

“for up to 48 hours beyond the time they would ordinarily release them so [the Department of Homeland Security] has time to assume custody,” according to the federal agency.

Conditions surrounding the woman’s immigration status are not clear. The DEA referred further questions to the city, considering they will now pick up the drug case. Sandy Springs Police spokespeople declined to provide details of the arrest or suspect.

The incident and arrest are absent from the city’s Police to Citizen website, an online portal presented as a way for the public to see law enforcement activity.

City officials also declined to comment on why the events are missing from the dashboard.

ASK APPEN

OPINION

TALK BACK TO THE CRIER

A cap in name only is no cap at all

On the 23rd, the City Council discussed changes to our charter that would create a new mechanism for raising revenue through “special tax districts,” capital bonds and revenue bonds. Let’s call this what it is: a proposed end-run around the 3.04 tax rate cap that residents voted for and rely on today.

When the cap was adopted, it was sold as a foundational commitment to fiscal discipline. It was a promise that no matter the pressure of the moment, no matter the enthusiasm of a new initiative, there would be a guardrail.

PAST TENSE

TALK BACK TO THE CRIER: The Crier is committed to its role as Perimeter’s community thread. As readers have reminded the paper, part of that role means budgeting premium space for letters from residents. Talk Back to the Crier by Sunday night and your note will be on page 3 that week. Email letters to newsroom@ appenmedia.com. The Crier won’t publish it without explicitly getting your approval.

That guardrail is now being eyed not as a boundary to respect, but as an obstacle to work around.

Only one council member spoke clearly against this shift. Whether you agree with him on everything or not, he recognized the obvious: If you can

layer additional taxes through special districts without a direct vote of the people, then the cap is effectively meaningless.

A “special” tax is still a tax. Proponents frame special tax districts as targeted tools, precise

instruments to fund specific improvements. But money is fungible. If you create a new revenue stream for one purpose, you free up existing funds for another. The result is the same: higher overall taxation and less direct voter control.

Today, it may be framed around commercial areas or infrastructure needs. Tomorrow, it could be expanded. The language of “special” has a way of becoming ordinary once the precedent is set.

See CAP, Page 16

The cruel history of convict leasing and chain gangs

Columnist

One year after the Civil War ended, the Georgia General Assembly legalized the leasing of prisoners to individuals and businesses. Convict leasing allowed the cruelties of slavery to continue. (georgiaencylopedia.org)

Douglas

Blackmon’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, “Slavery by Another Name: The Reenslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II,” focuses on Alabama convict camps but includes Atlanta camps. Some of the oldest neighborhoods, buildings and businesses

in Atlanta have ties to these camps and have benefited from convict labor.

The author describes how convict labor camps and later chain gangs were used to arrest and imprison men, especially Black men, for minor and sometimes arbitrary charges, then forcing them into labor.

Women also became part of this system. The first all-female convict labor camp was built in Atlanta in 1885. The women made bricks for the construction of an almshouse next door to the camp. There were Black and White women in the camp, with a much larger number of Black women. Women could be arrested for arguing or cursing in public.

In the Atlanta area and beyond, there were West, East, Sandy Springs,

Roseland and River Camps. Later there were the Bellwood and McPherson camps.

Georgia Senator Felder introduced a bill to stop convict leasing. It would abolish the prison commission and replace it with a board of seven directors appointed by the governor. The directors would manage the state penitentiary going forward. (Atlanta Georgian, Aug. 10, 1908, “To abolish the Georgia prison commission and to put an end to lease system, Felder introduces comprehensive bill”)

Charles Murphey Candler wrote the legislation which ended the convict lease system. The bill that passed made leasing convicts to individuals and businesses illegal, but their labor could

still be used for government work. This included work in rock quarries, road building and other government projects. Convict leasing was replaced with the chain gang.

The Sandy Springs camp was located at the southwest corner of Roswell Road and Hammond Drive. There was a rock quarry nearby along today’s Sandy Springs Circle. There was also a quarry at Lake Forrest Drive and one on Peachtree-Dunwoody Road. (“Images of America: Sandy Springs,” by Kimberly Brigance and Morris V. Moore)

Richard Adams shared his memory of a chain gang working on the road in front of his childhood home.

See HISTORY, Page 19

Lee May appointed DeKalb Commission Chief of Staff

By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com

DECATUR, Ga. — A familiar face is returning to DeKalb County. Former Commissioner and CEO Lee May was appointed the County Commission’s chief of staff Feb. 26.

May was the District 5 commissioner from 2006 to 2013. He was appointed CEO in 2013, replacing Burrell Ellis after he was suspended by Gov. Nathan Deal. He served as CEO until 2016.

During his last State of the County Address, May said that 2015 property tax cuts showed the county was headed in the right direction. He said the county had gone from drained budgets to stronger bond ratings, according to WABE.

He also pointed to the drafting of DeKalb’s Economic Strategic Plan as another success. That plan sought to improve public safety, beautify the county and make it more business-friendly, WABE reported.

May was asked to resign in October 2015 amid corruption allegations. Former attorney Michael Bowers conducted an investigation into the county government in 2015 and stated that the DeKalb County government was “rotten to the core.” May had requested the investigation, The Champion reported.

Bowers said the corruption started at the top and affected nearly every county department. The investigation called into question the use of purchase cards.

The GBI declined to investigate DeKalb County further after Bowers completed his report, according to WABE.

In 2017, two people connected to the county pleaded guilty to charges related to a forged $4,000

check and an alleged conspiracy to steal money from the county. May was never charged in this case and said he never received money, but there was speculation that the check was a kickback, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

May is currently a pastor and the founder of Transforming Faith Church.

“I just want to say thank you,” May said. “I’m super excited about this opportunity to serve you all and serve this county by how we serve you as well. I’m excited to get to know the central staff and work with all who have been working so diligently for all of this time to make sure that this work is done here.”

The commissioners thanked Dionne McKenzie for serving as the interim chief of staff for almost two years and look forward to working with May.

“She deserves all of that for putting up with us seven commissioners for that last year and a half and doing an amazing job at that,” Presiding Officer Chakira Johnson said, after a standing ovation and applause. “We also thank Mr. Lee May for coming forward. We had a very rigorous hiring process.”

Commissioner Nicole Massiah echoed the appreciation for McKenzie’s hard work. She said McKenzie was supportive of the new commissioners as they began their first terms on the commission.

“I look forward to us having more stability and support here at the Board of Commissioners,” Massiah said. “I look forward to the wisdom, experience and ministry that Mr. and Pastor May will bring the Board of Commissioners. Like I said, we need spiritual help.”

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!

PARTNERS

1. Jekyll’s partner. Like some gas. Garbage.

2. Sea bird. Valuable fur. Clark’s partner.

3. Poe’s bird. Lum’s partner. Like a busybody.

4. Hardy’s partner. Small salmon. Kind of test.

5. Musical mark. Fibber McGee’s partner. Territory in NE Canada.

6. Baby buggy. Popeye’s partner. Latin American dance.

7. Bird venerated by ancient Egyptians. Delilah’s partner. Half-moon tide.

1 Jekyll’s partner. Like some gas. Garbage

2. Sea bird. Valuable fur. Clark’s partner.

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

3. Poe’s bird. Lum’s partner. Like a busybody

4. Hardy’s partner. Small salmon. Kind of test

5. Musical mark. Fibber McGee’s partner. Territory in NorthEastern Canada.

6. Baby buggy. Popeye’s partner. Latin American dance

7. Bird venerated by ancient Egyptians. Delilah’s partner. Halfmoon tide.

History’s forgotten women take author’s center stage

By GALYN CHATMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Friends of Sandy Springs Library (FOSSL) welcomed award-winning author and Clark Atlanta University professor Piper Huguley Feb. 21 for a free community event that drew a full house of local book lovers.

Known for her historical fiction spotlighting overlooked women in American history, Huguley spoke about her work and inspiration. The talk was part of a monthly series hosted by FOSSL, which aims to support the library through donations, book sales and community involvement.

Huguley’s latest release, “American Daughters,” explores the friendship between Portia Washington and Alice Roosevelt, the daughters of Booker T. Washington and President Theodore Roosevelt. The novel has earned praise for bringing new perspectives to the lives of two women who lived in the shadows of famous men.

“I’m preoccupied with these unnamed women in history,” Huguley said during her talk in the library’s community room. “What were the hidden lives of these unnamed women?”

Huguley’s work revives the stories of people who contributed to the nation’s cultural and social foundation but were

left out of mainstream narratives. Her books include “By Her Own Design,” which chronicles the life of African American fashion designer Ann Lowe who designed Jacqueline Bouvier’s wedding gown for her marriage to John F. Kennedy.

Devotees Tiana Odem and Erecca Simpson waited in line to purchase a signed copy of the book after Huguley’s talk.

“I’m definitely going for the one about the fashion designer” Odem said, who first hear about Piper Huguley through a local book club.

“Yeah, the description of the book alone makes me want to grab it,” Simpson added. Both women said they never would have known the name Ann Lowe had it not been for Huguley’s celebrated historical fiction.

Marsha Holcomb, a FOSSL board member and organizer, said the literary events are free to attend.

“We always try to bring in authors people will be interested in,” she said.

Events like author talks not only connect residents with writers but also further FOSSL’s mission to enrich the library’s role as a hub for cultural engagement.

FOSSL’s monthly author series continues next month, with details available through the Sandy Springs Library’s event calendar and the Friends of Sandy Springs Library Facebook page.

Spruill Center to open affordable artist studio in Chamblee

By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Spruill Center for the Arts is growing beyond Dunwoody’s borders with a new artist studio opening in downtown Chamblee.

Spruill Studios, the name of the new space, is expected to open in June in Chamblee’s former city hall building on Peachtree Road. It will offer affordable rents on 15 studios. The new studio comes two years after Spruill Center added an 8,300-square-foot wing to the Spruill Education Center in Dunwoody.

The opening of the studios is in keeping with Spruill Center’s mission to provide affordable spaces to artists in the Perimeter area north of Atlanta, said Spruill CEO Alan Mothner.

Spruill Studios will house 15 studio spaces — nine at about 200 square feet and six at 100 square feet. Rents for the larger spaces will be $300 a month and rent for the smaller spaces will be $150 a month, Mothner said.

Renovation begins March 2 and applications from artists will be accepted starting March 9.

A gallery space where artists can showcase their work is planned as part of the renovation. Mothner said the gallery will be open during major public events in Chamblee.

“During our strategic planning process two years ago, our stakeholders identified a clear need for affordable and accessible studio space in the Perimeter area,” Mothner said in a news release. “We’re thrilled to partner with the City of Chamblee to be able to offer this space and programming for area artists. Spruill Studios is the next chapter in what is now a 50-year legacy for our organization.”

Atlanta Lacrosse Invitational features college talent

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Lacrosse Invitational returned for its third year, this time at Morehouse College, for three high-level college matchups Feb. 21 featuring 13 Georgia natives on the field.

Army and Michigan fielded men’s and women’s teams. Boston College and Florida State women’s teams also competed.

This year, 285 Lacrosse’s annual games took place at Morehouse’s B.T. Harvey Stadium after two years at Georgia Tech.

The men faced off first, with a ranked matchup that drew the largest crowd despite wet conditions from earlier storms.

Army defeated Michigan 13-11 in the first match, boosting the Black Knights to No. 8 in the USA Lacrosse rankings. Michigan, though not ranked by USA Lacrosse, is in the top 10 of efficiency rankings and No. 4 in cumulative shooting percentage according to Lacrosse Reference.

The game featured the most players from Georgia – two Wolverines and four Black Knights – and one coach.

Army offensive coordinator Rick

Lewis is a Cumming native and St. Pius X graduate.

He played for Ohio State and now is in his fifth year coaching for the Black Knights and his first in the offensive coordinator role.

With four players from metro Atlanta on his team, he said he feels recruiting is going in the right direction.

“If you’re not recruiting the state

of Georgia, you’re really missing out,” Lewis said. “It’s so special to do what you love with the people you love in a place that you love. Just to come down here and get the win on a business trip, the amount of Georgia guys that we have, especially.”

He said he was satisfied with the offensive execution against Michigan’s late-game surge.

MEN’S LACROSSE: BLACK KNIGHTS 13, WOLVERINES 11

WOMEN’S LACROSSE: WOLVERINES 10, EAGLES 9

WOMEN’S LACROSSE: BLACK KNIGHTS 13, SEMINOLES 7

he said. “The development each year for both of them was like, when you think it’s getting good, it just gets better and better.” Evan was named an All-American last season by Inside Lacrosse and USILA –honorable mention by USA Lacrosse – and scored one goal and three assists against Michigan. Hill made the allconference first team with his brother last season and put up the same stat line of one goal and three assists.

The first women’s game was a ranked matchup that went to double overtime. Michigan attacker Ceci Stein’s game-winning goal put the Wolverines up 10-9 to end the match.

Seven of Stein’s shots didn’t make it to the back of the net with two being saved by Boston College goalie Shea Dolce.

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“I think we’re playing offense with 10 guys, we’ve got efforts in the cage,” Lewis said. “Just really thankful and happy that our guys stuck with the plan, they just continue to grind it out and trust us as a staff, and then we’ve got full trust that they could go out and make plays.”

Black Knights brothers Evan and Hill Plunkett are Roswell High graduates and their younger sister is a sophomore at the school.

Evan is a senior midfielder and Hill is a sophomore attacker. Roswell junior Linkin Miller plans to join Hill at Army in his senior year.

Roswell head coach Bryan Wallace was at the game standing on the sideline and said many on the Hornets team were in attendance.

All of the Georgia native players in the men’s game were also alumni of club team Thunder, where Wallace is a director. He shared his pride in being able to watch so many of his former players thriving on a big stage.

Wallace described the Plunkett brothers as exceptional on and off the field. He said they were instrumental in a culture change that has led to the program making history as the first Georgia boys team to win back-to-backto-back championships the past three years.

“They’re very different people, and the way they play is very much also like their personalities in that way,”

Boston College was ranked No. 3 in a preseason players poll, but has since fallen to 0-3 on the season. Despite a winless record, BC is still in national rankings at No. 13.

The win boosted Michigan in the USA Lacrosse rankings from No. 10 to No. 7.

In the third and final game of the day, the new Division I program in Florida State faced off against longtime juggernaut Army. The Black Knights dominated wire to wire, averaging 31 seconds in between their first three goals. At the final buzzer, the score was 13-7.

The Seminoles found their footing as the game went on, but facing off against two nominees to the Tewaaraton Watchlist in midfielder Brigid Duffy and attacker Allison Reilly proved difficult.

Reilly was nominated for Inside Lacrosse’s Player of the Week after a two-goal, eight-assist performance against the Seminoles. Duffy posted one goal and one assist.

Marleigh Sanders is a graduate transfer on Florida State who has yet to play for the Seminoles due to an ACL injury.

Sanders is a graduate of the Milton lacrosse powerhouse and played four years for Notre Dame before transferring to FSU. She said she chose Florida State for the opportunity to be involved with building a new program and growing the game.

See LACROSSE, Page 16

EAGLES 78, VIKINGS 33

Milton advances past Lakeside in state basketball tournament

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Milton girls basketball defeated the Lakeside High Vikings 7833 to advance to the second round of the GHSA 5A State Tournament.

Milton made it to the Final Four last year, the Elite Eight the year before and now want to take home the title.

The first-round game was held at Milton High School Feb. 24. The Eagles led all 32 minutes, getting out to a 22-0 lead in the first quarter.

Lakeside finally got on the board with a deep 3-pointer by standout junior Gabriella Benjamin, a familiar talent to some Eagles girls who play club basketball with her.

Eagles junior Deyva Davis led Milton in scoring with 20 points, three rebounds and six steals.

She evaluated her team’s firstround performance.

“We did good today,” Davis said. “We’ve gotten a lot better with zone stuff, and I think it’s starting to show more and more as you play these type of teams.”

Davis looked ahead to another

potential deep run.

“We gotta win it this year,” she said. Davis also shouted out senior Caroline Young, the second leading scorer with 16 points, for her 6-point run in the first quarter to set the tone. Davis also complimented the bench players who got in the game in the final frame and connected on several buckets to extend the lead to 45 points.

Head coach Triston Cooper said the goal on defense was to keep the ball out of Benjamin’s hands as much as possible and not allow her to get into rhythm.

“We are full steam ahead for the girls now to make this run,” Cooper said. “I thought our girls did a great job early on in the first half of creating a lot of pressure and tempo. Getting hands on passes and finishing around the rim, that’s been a big thing for us.”

Lakeside struggled to get momentum going against a tough Milton defense. Nearly half of their offensive production came from Benjamin, who was shut down for large portions of the game. Even so, the Vikings standout posted 15 of the team’s 33 points.

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Decatur outlasts Milton in state tourney opener

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

DECATUR, Ga. — Decatur’s boys basketball team outlasted Milton 68-64 in an overtime thriller Feb. 25 in the first round of the 5A state playoffs.

Decatur head coach Rory Welsh reflected on a hard-fought matchup with another ranked team in the Eagles.

“We expected exactly what we got, a full-fledged dogfight,” he said. “We knew it was going to be a testy game. We were hoping it wouldn’t go to overtime, but it did, and we just wanted to make sure we stuck with it because [Milton] delivered some blows.”

Decatur got out to an 15-10 lead in the first quarter before the Eagles went on an 18-7 run. That led to the biggest lead by either team, six points.

The game stayed within one possession for most of the game. The lead changed three times with seven ties mixed in.

Once the Bulldogs regained the lead 33-31 in the third quarter, the Eagles tied the game three more times but couldn’t push further.

Decatur leading scorer Tobias Brinkley posted a double-double of 19 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. He said matching up with an all-region player he grew up with in Niko Bratton was tough.

Brinkley said he worked with his teammates to contain Bratton on the boards.

“Every mistake, we came together in the huddles and just talked it up

and fixed our mistakes,” Brinkley said. “Decatur’s coming for everybody.”

Bratton posted a game-high 28 points and had a double-double by way of 13 rebounds in the loss. This year’s early exit all but guarantees a revenge streak for Milton’s junior-heavy squad next year.

Milton guard Jackson Harrison posted 19 points and kept the Eagles in the game. His sharpshooting tied the game for Milton several times, including the shot that sent the game into overtime.

Head coach Allen Whitehart highlighted how much this team has grown since the start of the season.

“Our kids got fight,” he said. “I thought they laid it on the line. I told them how proud I was and how hard they fought, when you limp out of battle, you usually fall pretty hard.”

Whitehart was commenting on a cramping bug that hit his starting lineup hard in the fourth quarter and overtime period. Bratton, Harrison and captain Tate Golden all had to exit the game at critical moments.

Only three first-round games in the 5A bracket were decided by fewer points Feb. 25. All four games featured a two against a three seed. Decatur, Tri-Cities and Woodward cemented the dominance of DeKalb basketball by nearly sweeping Region 7 in the first round.

Gainesville, the Region 7-5A first seed, is undefeated this year, nationally ranked and the only team from their region to defeat their Region 4 matchup in Chamblee.

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE CENTER/PROVIDED Employers chat face-to-face with jobseekers Sept. 10, 2025 at the Sandy Springs Connects! Career Expo.

Career expo to link Perimeter employers with job seekers

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The annual Sandy Springs Connects! Career Expo will bring job seekers and Perimeter Center employers together on March 11.

The expo runs from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, 1 Galambos Way, and is free to those looking for jobs in the Perimeter Center area.

The job fair is hosted in partnership with the City of Sandy Springs, the Greater Perimeter Chamber of Commerce and the Community Assistance Center’s Empowerment Center.

The purpose is to move hiring beyond online applications and create opportunities for face-to-face conversations and networking between employers and jobseekers, according to organizers.

“Our business community continues to grow and create strong career opportunities across multiple industries,” Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said.

Companies and organizations participating this year include Northside Hospital, State Farm, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Crowne Plaza by IHG, Fulton County

Schools, the Atlanta Police Department and the Sandy Springs Police Department.

“One of our goals is to help create opportunities for both jobseekers and the business community of the Atlanta Perimeter to come together in person to engage beyond the resume and make direct hiring connections,” said Janet Dahlstrom, Community Assistance Center Empowerment Center manager.

She said the expo helps employers quickly connect with qualified applicants to explore career paths with competitive wages, benefits, and longterm growth potential.

Sandy Springs is home to six Fortune 500 companies, hundreds of mid-size firms, and thousands of small businesses. Participating employers typically recruit for multiple roles across IT, sales, marketing, human resources, medical, legal, accounting and operations among others.

Job seekers can register for the Sandy Springs Connects! Career Expo on March 11 at www. sandyspringsconnects.com. Companies interested in participating can apply at the same link.

— Dyana

Bagby

Dyana Bagby joins staff as Appen Media reporter

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group announced Dyana Bagby has joined the staff as a reporter.

Bagby will cover local government and business in the cities of Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. She will report to Carl Appen, director of content and development, and be based in Alpharetta.

Bagby has covered local government, commercial real estate and LGBTQ+ issues in metro Atlanta. Her work has been featured in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, WABEFM, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) and The Atlanta Voice.

“Local journalism is important in providing transparency, holding local officials accountable and creating a sense of community,” Bagby said. “I am excited to join Appen Media and look forward to connecting to readers in my coverage areas.”

Appen announced Bagby’s

coverage will focus on Dunwoody and Sandy Springs, leaning on her experience in the region. “Dyana has been a staple in Metro Atlanta journalism over the years,” he said. “We are thrilled to add more experience covering the Perimeter and help be a vessel for Dyana’s critical reporting.”

For story ideas and questions, readers can reach Bagby at dyana@ appenmedia.com.

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The bathroom, a place we take for granted, transforms into one of the most hazardous areas in the home for aging seniors. With slippery surfaces, high tub walls, and the need for frequent maneuvering, the risk of falls—the leading cause of injury among older adults—spikes dramatically. John Hogan, President of Bath and Kitchen Galleria and Aging in Place Expert says, “Proactive bathroom modifications are not merely an upgrade; they are an essential investment in the long-term safety, independence, and dignity of our seniors.”

To mitigate the dangers, several specific aspects of the bathroom should be modified to create a supportive and accessible environment:

Shower and Bathtub: The single greatest fall risk is often stepping over a high tub wall. The ideal solution is a curbless or low-threshold walk-in shower to eliminate this barrier entirely. For added security, install a permanent shower seat or bench and a handheld showerhead to allow for comfortable, seated bathing. Shower floor should have non-slip tile surfaces.

Grab Bars: Strategically placed sturdy, professional-grade grab bars are critical. They must be securely anchored into wall studs, not just

the drywall. Placement is key: near the toilet to assist with sitting and standing, and both inside and just outside the shower/tub for secure entry and exit. Modern grab bars come in a variety of stylish finishes to seamlessly blend with your décor.

Toilet Area: A standard toilet can be difficult to use for those with limited mobility. Installing a comfort-height or raised toilet seat reduces the strain on joints and makes the transition from sitting to standing much easier. Pairing this with well-placed grab bars provides a significant boost in stability.

Flooring and Lighting: Replace slippery tile or remove loose bathmats and throw rugs, which are tripping

hazards. Install slip-resistant flooring throughout the bathroom. Finally, good lighting is paramount. Bright, even lighting—including motion-sensor nightlights—helps seniors navigate safely, especially during middle-of-thenight trips.

By implementing these thoughtful changes, the bathroom can evolve from a high-risk area into a secure, comfortable, and accessible space that supports an aging senior’s desire to age in place safely at home. For more information visit Bath and Kitchen Galleria’s showroom at 10591 Old Alabama Rd Connector in Alpharetta (no appointment needed) or call them at 678-459-2292.

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Passing the torch takes more than good intentions

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Fish:

Continued from Page 1

“We moved to the gymnasium, built additional kitchen space in 2013 and added more serving lines for speed and efficiency. Every year, we adjust to keep up,” said Bob Mitchell, a team captain for the fish fry and a Knight since 1997.

Today, the gym holds 60 tables and nearly 400 seats, along with a to-go section that accommodates about 30 guests at a time. Two kitchens and three serving lines help move crowds through quickly.

Organizers say the event’s success is not measured only in meals served.

“The fish fry reflects one of our order’s central pillars of charity,” said Charles Lynch, a Knight and team captain. “All proceeds support local charitable causes.”

Lynch said the original vision came from Msgr. R. Donald Kiernan, who wanted to create a social gathering for parishioners and for the broader community.

The Knights brought that vision to life, and it continues today. Parishioners and neighbors from across Dunwoody and surrounding communities have made the fish fry a longtime Friday tradition.

“It’s good fellowship that we look forward to every year,” said Becky Craven,

Cap:

Continued from Page 3

The real concern is not a single district. It is normalization. Once the charter is amended to allow taxes beyond the cap through alternative channels, what meaningful limit remains?

The discussion of capital bonds and so-called “revenue bonds” should also give residents pause. Borrowing against future revenue without voter

Lacrosse:

Continued from Page 8

Seems to be a family affair as Sanders’s parents’ company, Sports Intel, was a sponsor for the games.

“It is so awesome to be able to grow the game here in my hometown, in Atlanta, to bring it to Georgia, bring it to Morehouse, it’s just been super special,” Sanders said. “I wanted to be a part of something new, be able to not only create a legacy of my own, but to be able to create a foundation of women’s lacrosse programs in Florida, it’s only us, Florida, USF and Jacksonville.”

285 Lacrosse put on the invitational.

who has attended for nearly a decade with friends from Chamblee Methodist Church. “The food is fantastic and it’s become our Friday tradition during Lent.”

John Heneghan, a Dunwoody City Council member and longtime church member, said the fish fry brings together people of different faiths and backgrounds.

“It serves the entire community,” Heneghan said. “Neighbors sitting with neighbors and that’s what makes it special.”

More than 100 volunteers help each week, beginning preparations on Tuesday and continuing through Friday night service. Some are drawn by faith, others by fellowship.

“It’s Lent, and in the Catholic Church it’s the most sacred season,” said Tom Simon, a Dunwoody resident and main event organizer. “We want everyone to come here, enjoy the food and enjoy the camaraderie.”

As lines form and tables fill each Friday, organizers say the growth of the fish fry has never been just about numbers.

“It’s the camaraderie of the guests and the staff that makes this all happen,” Mitchell said. “We couldn’t do this without them.”

To learn more about the All Saints Catholic Church Knights of Columbus Fish Fry, visit allsaintsdunwoody.org/ programs-events/events/fish-fry/.

approval shifts financial risk forward, often beyond the terms of those voting to approve it. Debt can be a legitimate tool. But it is not free money. It is tomorrow’s obligation.

And again, the question is not whether a bond can be justified in isolation. The question is whether the people, the taxpayers, should have the final say when the city obligates them to long-term repayment.

Transparency about bypassing voters does not make bypassing voters acceptable. The issue is not whether it is written in black and white. The issue

Founder Jason Breyo started the company three years ago with the goal of growing the game in Atlanta. An upstate New York native and University of Delaware alum, he said 285’s mission is all about elevating lacrosse in Atlanta in many aspects.

“We want kids to see this game and want them to grow up and be like these girls out on the field,” he said. “We’re really happy to be here at Morehouse. Morehouse is a great institution to build leaders for the city, the state, the nations of the world.”

USA Lacrosse CEO Marc Riccio has been in the role since 2021 and signed a contract extension last year through 2028, when lacrosse will make its first Olympic appearance in Los Angeles.

is whether it preserves the spirit of the charter residents voted for.

If the 3.04 cap no longer works, then make that case directly to the voters. Put it on the ballot. Argue why circumstances have changed. Trust the public enough to let them decide.

But do not redefine the cap into irrelevance through structural maneuvering.

Charters are not meant to be casually adjusted when inconvenient. They exist to restrain impulse, especially during times when spending proposals are compelling and politically

Riccio said it was unfortunate that scheduling conflicts kept him from attending last year’s Maryland–Notre Dame matchup at Bobby Dodd, but he was glad to be there to support new hotbed areas that are generating more buzz.

“Places like Georgia in the Southeast, they care about sports,” he said. “You get a lot of great athletes, and once you give them the opportunity to play the game, develop skills, develop a lot of the game, then getting players to compete at the highest level just comes next and it adds. We’re getting so many more young athletes coming out of non-endemic markets to compete at the highest level, but that’s to the credit of what happens in the local community.”

attractive.

If this proposal moves forward, residents must ask themselves: Is this what we were promised? Is this consistent with fiscal prudence?

Are we strengthening public trust or weakening it?

A cap in name only is no cap at all. If the city believes higher taxes are necessary, it should have the courage to say so plainly and to ask the people for permission.

Danny Ross

Founding member, Dunwoody City Council

Thunder and EagleStix club lacrosse programs in Metro Atlanta boasted a dozen former players from the three games combined.

Riccio highlighted several of his team USA women’s coaches and their goalie, Boston College’s Shea Dolce, competing at the Invitational.

“Our mission at USA Lacrosse is 11 words, three objectives,” he said. “Feel the growth, enrich the experience, field the best national teams, and this is a culmination of all of that. From the standpoint of growth, so many of these young people started in local towns, community programs, people here today, young kids, watching the game, that becomes inspiration and aspiration.”

OPINION

Here are the top 5 stupid Ray things

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

We all have our little things that we do or don’t do in our own particular way that, we sometimes think, are uniquely “us” – that is, stuff that only we do. I suspect that rarely is the case; we’re all basically the same – just fleetingly different around the edges.

Coffee. I have never actually taken out a spoon or a measuring something to put a specific amount of coffee into the coffee maker. Never. Now, I will use a spoon or something similar to extract the ground coffee from the bag or can, but not to measure the amount. I typically just load up the coffee into the maker/ filter until I think it is holding the most coffee it possibly can and still have the end-result coffee drinkable. I only know a few people who like my coffee – very few – maybe no one. It’s a problem when we have guests. I try really hard to moderate the ‘darkness” of my coffee in those instances, although that usually means that the filter is only 60 percent full of the coffee instead of close to my normal

90 percent (probably 10-15 scoops). When I see brewed coffee that I can see through, I don’t even try it. It might as well be decaf. Oh yea, “decaf” is another pet peeve but , well, that is sort of a given.

Gas pumps. It drives me absolutely crazy when I see people pulling up to the pump – usually at Costco (my go-to) and their gas is not on the side of the pump – so they are stretching the hose over the top of the car and (sometimes with great difficulty) sticking the nozzle in. No idea why this bugs me, but it does. It’s something I have never done and never will – for some reason. Why would they just pull up on the correct side of the pump? Don’t get it.

Publix grocery carts. Probably my most non-negotiable/set in concrete stupid Ray-thing. I love Publix. Always have. I think it is because I don’t think I have ever been in a Publix – anywhere – that the employees weren’t just nice, wanting to help, good people. In the over 50 years I have shopped at Publix, I have never – as in “never-ever” – left my emptied cart out in the parking lot in one of those cart-corrals. I walk my empty cart all the way back inside the store so that the lowest-ranking

Publix employee who is tasked with bringing the carts back into the store from the lot has one less cart to deal with.

It is sort of the “Ray-way” of saying “thank you Publix” for who you are and what you do.

The only similar instance that comes to my mind of other people being as idiosyncratic as this was when I was hiking the Appalachian Trail. The unwritten rule on the trail is to “leave no trace.” That is, pack your trash out – every single piece no matter how tiny. Like, not even a candy wrapper, or toothpick, or water bottle cap or cigarette butt. I mean nothing – zero. In the over 2,000 miles/ 6+ months on the trail, I saw exactly not one single instance of hikers not leaving no trace. Everyone, but everyone, packed their stuff out. Down to postage stamp-sized scraps of paper. Will never forget that.

Horn honkers. OK, I have written about this before. Not everyone agreed with my stance which basically is that, other than using your horn to prevent an accident or similar, horn honkers are dirtbags – miserable excuses for humans that need to crawl back under their rocks. Enough said, except, in the same category are the low-life’s that do road rage – like

those one-finger salutes – when they have to pass you on the right side because you are only going 10-15 miles an hour over the speed limit in the fast lane. I usually try to ignore all of them and write it off to people just being miserable with their lives and taking it out on anyone close by. Turning against traffic . OK, another traffic one. This one is really stupid of me but it is what it is. I sometimes will drive an extra mileish to be able to turn left at a traffic light, and then basically do a U-turn which will then allow me to turn right somewhere and not block traffic to do so. When I see cars stopping traffic trying to turn against like 2 or 3 lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic to, for example, pick up a kid at school or something – instead of driving a little past and doing a U-turn to be able to turn right, my blood pressure shoots up unless I force myself to chill.

About three years ago, I decided to never be in a hurry again – for anything – unless we’re talking about a real emergency. It has made a huge difference in how I deal with life – for the better. However, I have to realize and accept that not everyone is in that same space and therefore, I need to chill.

Rates are down, but don’t pop the cork yet

Mortgage rates drifted modestly lower this week, with the average 30-year fixed settling near 5.99 percent, typically accompanied by 0.50–0.75 discount points. Yes, that technically places us below the psychologically stubborn 6 percent threshold. No, this is not yet the confetti moment. A sustained move meaningfully below 6 percent — not a cameo appearance — is what would likely ignite the next meaningful surge in home sales activity.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury, the bond market’s north star for mortgage pricing, is currently hovering near 4.05 percent, modestly improved from last week’s 4.07 percent highs. For perspective, that’s a two-

basis-point shift. In financialmarket terms, that’s less “breakout rally” and more “measured nod of approval.”

From a macroeconomic standpoint, the current rate environment reflects a market searching for conviction. Inflation expectations appear anchored, though not immune to surprise. The labor market is cooling but hardly collapsing. Economic growth is moderating yet remains positive. In short, there is insufficient evidence to justify a dramatic repricing of long-duration bonds — and mortgage rates move accordingly.

We also heard the president’s State of the Union Address, which featured nearly two hours of patriotic applause intervals and what can only be described as bipartisan interval training. While politically animated, the speech introduced little in the way of policy specifics that materially shifted inflation forecasts, fiscal

projections, or bond-market expectations. Traders remained unmoved — cardio notwithstanding.

Of course, markets never operate in a vacuum. Geopolitical developments, commodity price volatility and renewed tariff discussions remain potential catalysts. Tariffs, functionally a tax on imports, carry inflationary implications that bond investors monitor closely. For now, however, these risks remain in the “watch list” category rather than the “panic button” drawer.

Technically speaking, the 10year Treasury appears comfortable within its current range. A decisive break below 4.00 percent would likely invite incremental buying momentum and modest additional relief in mortgage pricing. Conversely, a sustained move higher would challenge the narrative that inflation pressures are steadily receding.

For the moment, the bond

market seems neither euphoric nor alarmed — just cautiously observant. Inflation has not staged a comeback tour. The economy has not rolled over. And traders, deprived of dramatic data releases, are doing what markets often do in such conditions: consolidating.

So yes, rates have edged to their lowest levels in roughly three years. That matters. But until we see sustained confirmation — in inflation data, employment trends, and Treasury yields — this remains progress, not a parade.

And in the mortgage world, sometimes steady is the victory.

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.

The many benefits of home rain barrels

Rain barrels provide financial, environmental and practical benefits to homeowners. Rain barrels offer a free resource for watering your lawn, garden and container plants. During the hot summer months, water consumption can become a significant portion of the city water usage and costly to many homeowners. Rain barrels offer water during

critical summer months free of unnecessary chemicals, such as chloride, fluoride and salts. It is a naturally soft water source with nutrients that are beneficial to your plants, providing an optimal growing environment.

Rain barrels reduce stormwater runoff by capturing water from your roof, thus reducing storm water drainage issues. Pesticides and unabsorbed fertilizers do not get carried away into our waterways when less water is flowing from your home into the stormwater drainage system.

Ground erosion is impeded since it reduces water rushing down from your

In Memoriam

John Barranco

July 13, 1933 – February 12, 2026

John Baptist Barranco passed away peacefully at his home in Dunwoody, Georgia, on February 12, 2026, at the age of 92, surrounded by his adoring family. He was born on July 13, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, the second son of Josephine (Fiduccia) and Sam Barranco, who both immigrated from Cefalu, Sicily as children, arriving in the U.S. through Ellis Island. John is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Suzanne (Kindberg) Barranco, his four children, son Mark (Cindy), daughter Carol (Mike Yancey), son Tom (Mayo), and son Paul (Cynthia). He was a proud and loving grandfather to nine grandchildren (Lindsay and Kellie Barranco, David, Jennifer, and Heather Yancey, Jack and Ben Barranco, and Seda and Emily Barranco), with whom he shared the joy of the last three decades of his life. He is also survived by his sister, Joanne B. Steenveld of Skokie, Illinois, three nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his older brother, Charles Barranco of San Diego, California, in November 2019. John graduated from Loyola Academy High School in Chicago in 1951 and from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1955. Following graduation, he served two years of active duty as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. He enjoyed a distinguished 41-year career as a sales executive, rising to regional and national sales management roles. He spent 29 years with the Frigidaire Division of General Motors, then continued his

career with Caloric Corporation and later Amana Corporation, both subsidiaries of Raytheon at the time. Over the course of his career, John traveled extensively and built lasting friendships and professional relationships across the country. He retired from corporate life in 1995 and continued part-time consulting in the appliance industry until 2003. John found great joy in fishing, gardening, sports, travel, cooking, and gathering with a wide circle of friends. Above all, he cherished time with his family, who remained the center of his life. A man of deep faith and service, John was a founding and active member of All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody for more than 46 years. He participated in numerous ministries, including serving as Pastoral Board President and as a longtime board member. He was also a dedicated member of the Knights of Columbus, All Saints Council #11402, and the General Motors Executive Retiree Club of Georgia, where he held various leadership and service roles. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, February 24, at 1:00 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 2443 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody, Georgia, with a reception to follow in the Social Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Knights of Columbus Council #11402. John will be remembered for his unwavering devotion to his family, his faith, his integrity, and the countless friendships he cultivated throughout his fulfilling and generous life.

drainage system.

How to get started

Rain barrels are easy to install. Just follow a few steps.

First, you should find a suitable location to source your rainwater. Identify a gutter downspout that will provide a good supply of rainwater. A roof area of 250 sq. ft. can fill a 50-gallon container in less than two hours of moderate rainfall. Place the barrel on level, sturdy ground.

Next, determine the type of rain barrel you want to use. You can either build or buy, depending on your needs. To build a rain barrel you will need, at a minimum, a 30- to 50-gallon barrel, a way of collecting water from a gutter downspout and a spigot to get the water from the barrel. Next, you need a way of funneling the water into the barrel. This can be as simple as redirecting your downspout into an opening at the top of the barrel or implementing a water diverter. Lastly, you need a way to drain the water by installing a spigot near the bottom of the container. These materials can be purchased at your local hardware store or online, usually sold in kits with all the materials and instructions needed for basic installation.

If you want more guidance, there are several online articles and videos showing you how to make one. Rain barrel-making workshops are offered by local municipalities as well as City of Atlanta Watershed Management. These are fee-based workshops typically offered in spring and summer months, requiring pre-registration. Be on the lookout for a workshop near you.

Part of home landscape

Some gardeners have shied away from rain barrels because they do not fit in their home’s landscape. The good news is that there are plenty of attractive barrels that can complement your home. Designs ranging from attractive terra cotta, Tuscan stone and modern containers are available from home stores or dedicated e-commerce shops.

Take it up a notch

If you are into home automation, you can really go wild with your beautiful rain barrel by adding an irrigation system. This will provide hands-free watering for your outdoor plants. During the summer months, you will not have to worry about when to water those precious summer blooms.

I implemented solar-powered, programmable irrigation systems, drawing water from the rain barrel, to supply over 10 plants per system. The programmable systems power the water pumps to distribute the water to the plants and have day and time duration settings, so the watering is automated. This is especially helpful when I am away from home for an extended period. Considerations

There are some considerations that you may want to address.

Many homeowners are concerned about the infestation of mosquitos during the growing season. Because the containers have water that may remain in the barrel for several days (or weeks), there is the possibility of a mosquito breeding ground. Mosquito dunks are doughnut-shaped, biodegradable tablets containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), a naturally occurring bacterium that kills mosquito larvae in standing water without harming pets, fish, wildlife or humans.

The rainwater that deposits in the containers contains natural bacteria, aiding plant nutrition and possible contaminants from the roof. However, some horticulturalists advise harvesting three weeks after rain barrel watering on the soil surface, as bacteria may get absorbed into your fruit and vegetables. To remediate, you can add a small amount of unscented bleach or calcium hypochlorite and let the chlorine smell disappear before watering (maintain a chlorine level of 0.2 mg/L of water). Avoid overhead watering onto crops, especially leafy greens, etc., with rain barrel water. Some barrels could crack during winter freezes. To avoid potential damage, you should drain the container before a forecasted cold spell or just empty for the winter months.

So, when you are watching the Georgia rain from the comfort of your home, think about how you can capture this free resource from mother nature. You help your plants grow healthy, improve the environment and save money. All while having a Rain Barrel of Fun!

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https:// appenmedia.com/opinion/columists/garden buzz/.

Save the date: 25th Annual Garden Faire, April 11, 2026 at Wills Park in Alpharetta

About the author: This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Jerry Veltri, a Sandy Springs resident. Jerry became a Certified UGA Master Gardener Volunteer after a lifetime of household gardening. He enjoys growing many types of plants and trees, especially citrus and fig trees, using rain barrels as the main source for watering many of his garden plants.

Flock:

Continued from Page 1

“It feels like this latest round of changes just sucked that away from us,” she said. “We’re your clients. We don’t need you to own our data.”

McCormack said the city does own the data, but he acknowledged that Flock’s updated terms and conditions posted online on Feb. 16 state the company can use all data collected from Dunwoody and other partner agencies to train its AI system.

The mayor and council said they support technology and recognize its value in helping to solve crimes and assist police dealing with emergencies. At the same time, they said, they worry that widespread access to data undermines trust with the public.

“Like any tool or technology, if it gets in the wrong hands with bad actors, it can be used for bad things,” Councilman Tom Lambert said.

The Dunwoody Police Department has approximately 80 Flock license

History:

Continued from Page 3

“Once each year, the county would provide manual convict labor to work the road,” he recalled. “They all had white striped suits and some of them with a ball and chains around their legs. There were a number of guards armed with high power rifles or shot guns. The convicts were given water from the family well.”

Adams’ family farm was on Old Lawrenceville Road, also known as County Line Road and included land in both DeKalb and Milton Counties. Today, that road is Dunwoody Club Drive. (Richard Adams memoir, DeKalb History Center archives)

A camp was built on Powers Ferry Road in 1916, an “experimental convict road camp” in Fulton County. Not surprisingly, the experiment found that “cleanliness, comfort and humanity in the convict camp are

Furman:

Continued from Page 1

He had the most integrity. He was an exceptional leader.”

Carlson said he and Furman started the department’s community outreach unit together. Most recently, Furman managed administrative services and criminal investigations.

“He’s going to be missed. He is a

From left, Dunwoody Police Chief Mike Carlson and Maj. Patrick Krieg stand by as Kerry McCormack, representing Flock Safety, addresses the City Council at its Feb. 23 meeting.

plate readers throughout the city, Police Maj. Patrick Krieg told the council.

The department also uses about 25 live-view cameras, has Flock gunshot detectors in the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts and has trailers with fixed cameras used at special events like Lemonade Days and the

not inconsistent with economy and efficiency in the work of the inmates.” These convicts worked on Powers Ferry and Heards Ferry roads.

Another convict camp was located near Chastain Park, where West Wieuca Road and Roswell Road meet. There were two camps, one for Black inmates and one for White inmates. There was another rock quarry near Peachtree Dunwoody Road and I-285. Granite was used for curbs and roads and in parts of Chastain Park.

Convict leasing was used to prepare Piedmont Park for the 1887 Piedmont Exposition. Chain gangs performed much of the road and sewer work along roads we still use today.

(Archive Atlanta, podcast by Victoria Lemos)

The Sandy Springs camp closed in 1933, and the prisoners were relocated to other camps. The cost of maintaining the location had become too high. There were 987 prisoners in Fulton County camps at that time. (Atlanta Constitution, Nov. 12, 1933,

true member of the Dunwoody Police Department family,” he said.

In a written statement, Carlson said the department now faces a “void that will not easily be filled.”

“Major Furman was an exceptional leader, a devoted public servant, and a deeply respected member of our department family,” he said.

“He fought his illness with the same courage he showed every day in uniform, and he will never be forgotten.”

4th of July Parade. Private partners, such as Perimeter Mall and Lazy Dog restaurant, also request use of the trailers with cameras, Krieg said.

The Dunwoody Police Department also has a Flock drone and plans to acquire a second drone through an agreement with PCIDs.

McCormack said Flock does not

“County will abandon Sandy Springs camp”)

Media coverage and an investigation into the abuse and harsh conditions of chain gang camps led to their end. Gov. Ellis Arnall abolished them in 1943.

partner with federal agencies such as ICE, but Lambert said he was provided a list of more than 1,800 agencies that the Dunwoody Police Department shares its Flock data with. That list includes Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Park Police.

Communities can opt in to share with federal agencies, McCormack said.

Council members asked whether Flock was being deliberately obscure about who can access its data and how it is used.

All contracts with Flock say its terms and conditions are available only on its website. Changes are supposed to be provided to the city, but City Attorney Ken Bernard said he has never received any notice.

“Who do they notify when a change is made, because I haven’t received a notice there is a change of their web page,” he said.

The council also asked Police Chief Mike Carlson to draft a policy that defines who it will share data with and to update the department’s transparency and data sharing portal.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@ gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

October 1, 1932 – February 13, 2026

Jared Lynn Carlson, 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 13, 2026 in Dunwoody.

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, to Quinton and Thelma Carlson. He proudly served in the Army, was a District Sales Manager at GF Office Furniture for 29 years and prior to retirement owned & operated a full service Chevron gas station. He served at the Dunwoody UMC and volunteered at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital in his retirement.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Frances Louise Carlson and his sister Janice Blackburn. He is survived by his daughter Deborah Pittman(Joe), son Jonathan(Roberta) and his grandchildren Alexandra, Erin and Madeline. He is also survived by many other dear family members.

Jerry was a family man. He built life long friendships through his work, church and neighborhood fellowship. In his early years at Boardman High School and Muskingum College he was an accomplished basketball player, including being inducted into the Boardman Hall of Fame. He studied Economics and Business Administration at Muskingum College. He was an avid outdoorsman but his true love was fishing. Jerry would fish any body of water for any species of fish which included taking his family to Florida for a Christmas bass fishing adventure. He also enjoyed playing neighborhood ALTA tennis.

His family takes comfort in knowing he will be reunited with his loved ones in heaven.

CITY OF DUNWOODY NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTION 5.03.(a) AND SEC. 5.04.(b) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY TO AMEND THE DATE OF SUBMISSION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET BY THE CITY MANAGER AND TO AMEND THE DATE OF ADOPTION BY COUNCIL

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3 that the City Council for the City of Dunwoody will hear and consider a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026 and 6:00 pm on April 27, 2026 at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, to amend Section 5.03.(a) and Section 5.04.(b) of the Charter of the City regarding the date of submission of the annual budget proposal by the city manager and to amend the date of adoption by council. A copy of the proposed Amendment is available for viewing and consideration by the public at Dunwoody City Hall by contacting Municipal Clerk Sharon Lowery and is also on file with the Clerk of the Superior Court of DeKalb County as required by O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3(b).

CITY OF DUNWOODY NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 1.03.(b)(36), (37)(A), AND (43) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY RELATED TO SPECIAL DISTRICTS, BONDS, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACTS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3 that the City Council for the City of Dunwoody will hear and consider a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026 and 6:00 pm on April 27, 2026 at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, to amend Article I, Sections 1.03.(b)(36), (37)(A), and (43) related to special districts, general obligation bonds, and intergovernmental contracts backing revenue bonds issued pursuant to law. A copy of the proposed Amendment is available for viewing and consideration by the public at Dunwoody City Hall by contacting Municipal Clerk Sharon Lowery and is also on file with the Clerk of the Superior Court of DeKalb County as required by O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3(b).

Public Notice: Create Dunwoody’s Holi in Dunwoody will take place at Wildcat Park on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Increased traffic may occur in the area, including along Roberts Dr, with minimal interruption expected. This is a free community event. For event details, visit www.createdunwoody. org/holi

CITY OF DUNWOODY NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 2.09.(a) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY AFTER A MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO THE FIRST MONDAY, EXCLUDING LEGAL HOLIDAYS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3 that the City Council for the City of Dunwoody will hear and consider a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026 and 6:00 pm on April 27, 2026 at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, to amend Article II, Section 2.09.(a) of the Charter of the City by changing the date of the first meeting in January after a municipal election to the first Monday, excluding legal holidays. A copy of the proposed Amendment is available for viewing and consideration by the public at Dunwoody City Hall by contacting Municipal Clerk Sharon Lowery and is also on file with the Clerk of the Superior Court of DeKalb County as required by O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3(b).

PUBLIC NOTICE – ROAD CLOSURE

The 18th annual VanderDash 5k and Fun Run supports Vanderlyn Elementary and will take place at Vanderlyn Elementary on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The race takes place between 8:0010:00am. There will be road closures on Vanderlyn Drive and Vermack Road from Vanderlyn Drive to Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. For more information and questions visit: runsignup.com/Race/GA/Dunwoody/VanderDash

CITY OF DUNWOODY NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4.01.; ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4.02.(c); AND ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4.03. OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY TO DESIGNATE THE TITLE AND NUMBER OF JUDGES; CONFIRM THE AUTHORITY OF JUDGES; AND CREATING TERM LIMITS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3 that the City Council for the City of Dunwoody will hear and consider a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City at 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026 and 6:00 pm on April 27, 2026 at Dunwoody City Hall, 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, Georgia 30338, to amend Article IV, Sec. 4.01. by designating the title, number, and confirming the powers and duties of judges; Article IV, Sec. 4.02.(c) to create term limits; and Article IV, Sec. 4.03. by adding the word “chief” to same. A copy of the proposed Amendment is available for viewing and consideration by the public at Dunwoody City Hall by contacting Municipal Clerk Sharon Lowery and is also on file with the Clerk of the Superior Court of DeKalb County as required by O.C.G.A. § 36-35-3(b).

DEATH NOTICES

Paul Adams, age 91, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on February 20, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Erin Athey, age 46, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 19, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Merwin Brewer, age 94, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 18, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Robert Brubaker, age 88, of Milton, GA passed away on February 19, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Willis Dockery, age 75, of Milton, GA passed away on February 22, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Troy Summey, age 95, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 22, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Kardian, age 56, of Roswell, GA passed away on February 17, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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

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