County OKs center for safety data ► PAGE 2
High school sports hosts media day ► PAGE 6 October 2, 2025 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976
Dunwoody leaders exhale as proposed 2026 budget predicts sound financials By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
PHOTOS BY: ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA
Decatur running back Isaac McCalep rushes for a first down at Decatur High School Sept. 26. McCalep plays on both sides of the ball, logging one pass deflection, and the Bulldogs went on to beat Dunwoody 27-10.
BULLDOGS 27, WILDCATS 10
Decatur’s steel defense overpowers Dunwoody By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com DECATUR, Ga — After both offenses slowed to a lull, the Decatur Bulldogs turned on the jets for an unanswered pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure a 27-10 win over Dunwoody Sept. 26.
Decatur, playing at home, forged a 10-0 lead that would have extended into the third quarter if not for a pass interference call that helped set up a 35-yard field goal from Dunwoody senior Christian Lee with four seconds left before halftime.
See FOOTBALL, Page 17
Dunwoody quarterback Jack Quartararo hands off to running back Cameron Irastorza at Decatur High School Sept. 26.
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody city leaders were set to discuss the city’s proposed 2026 budget this week, and all signs point to a more stable spending plan without dipping into reserves. For coverage of the meeting go to appenmedia.com or check next week’s Crier. The proposed budget calls for overall spending of $70.5 million, representing a decrease of 0.15 percent from the current year. While the overall budget for 2026 remains essentially flat, the city’s general fund is ticking up by about $1 million, or 2.71 percent, to $38 million. The general fund pays for day-to-day city operations like routine maintenance and personnel costs. Much of the remainder of the budget goes toward capital projects – big-ticket items like equipment, sidewalks and street resurfacing. Capital projects are funded chiefly through sources like the special transportation sales tax and excess general fund revenues. Over the past four years, the city has faced skin-tight spending plans that included the potential of drawing from its reserve fund to cover revenue shortfalls.
See BUDGET, Page 16