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MJCCA announces lineup for annual book festival ► PAGE 4

770.605.7545 | Together, Opening Doors

September 10, 2026 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976

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Demonstrators hold a “No Data Centers” sign toward Gresham Road during a Sunday, Aug. 30 protest against Shadowbox Studios.

Data center fight pits film studio against DeKalb County and its residents By DYANA BAGBY dyana@appenmedia.com

pollute neighborhoods surrounded by an interstate and an DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — industrial park. They A south DeKalb County also accuse Shadowbox film studio says the county of trying to sidestep a promised it could build a countywide pause on new massive data center. The data centers through the county says it didn’t. appeal. Shadowbox Studios is In the past month, the asking DeKalb County’s dispute has spilled from Zoning Board of Appeals to the courthouse to a studio overturn a June decision meeting with residents denying its request to and, finally, to the streets. build the project. A hearing is set for Sept. 9. Why the county said no The company says the In June, DeKalb data center would bring County’s planning millions of dollars a year to department denied local schools and county Shadowbox’s request to services. Opponents say change how it is allowed the project would sap to use the property — electricity from nearby from a film studio to a residents, strain the data center. county’s already burdened See SHADOWBOX, Page 16 water system and further

Dunwoody man remembers his 9/11 escape 25 years later By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — When Anthony Yorio recounts his experience in the south tower of the World Trade Center complex in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, he knows he is lucky to be alive. When the north tower was struck at 8:46 a.m., Yorio — who was then an employee at the Guy Carpenter risk and reinsurance firm — was on the phone while seated at his desk on the 54th floor of the south tower. He saw papers flying through the outside air and looked up to see the north tower burning from its 93rd floor.

See ESCAPE, Page 15

Appen Media sues Georgia over media access to executions By JOSHUA WILSON joshua@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group, which publishes seven newspapers and operates numerous digital news properties in metro Atlanta, has sued the state of Georgia, arguing that rules set by corrections officials governing media access to executions violate the First Amendment. The family-owned media group is asking a federal court to

intervene before the state’s next scheduled execution Sept. 16. The lawsuit, filed Sept. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, names Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver, Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison Warden Jason Beasley and state Attorney General Chris Carr as defendants. Each defendant was sued in their official capacity.

See LAWSUIT, Page 23

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Anthony Yorio survived the collapse of the World Trade Center’s south tower on Sept. 11, 2001. He holds a trifold brochure listing the names of more than 300 Guy Carpenter colleagues who died that day.w

Atlanta Perimeter Office | 4848 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30338 | HarryNorman.com | (D) 404-495-8233 (O) 770-394-2131 | Harry Norman, REALTORS® is an exclusive member of Forbes Global Properties in Georgia. Forbes® is a registered trademark used under license.

APPEN MEDIA GROUP/PROVIDED

Appen Media Group of Alpharetta, a family-owned publisher that owns seven newspapers and numerous digital news properties in metro Atlanta, has sued the state of Georgia. The company argues that rules set by corrections officials governing media access to executions violate the First Amendment.

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Teen arrested for murder in Sandy Springs apartment By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

770-442-3278 AppenMedia.com

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

319 N. Main Street Alpharetta, GA 30009 HANS APPEN Publisher DICK WILLIAMS Publisher Emeritus

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

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

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

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

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

— Jon Wilcox

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

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

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4 | September 10, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

MJCCA book festival marks 35 years with star lineup

MARCUS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF ATLANTA/PROVIDED

Former First Lady Jill Biden, author of “View from the East Wing,” is one of the featured authors at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s 35th book festival, which runs Nov. 1-22 in Dunwoody and features author talks, book signings and culinary programs.

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DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta has announced the lineup for its 35th book festival, which includes former First Lady Jill Biden, singer and pianist Harry Connick Jr. and multiple James Beard Award winners. Starting Nov. 1, attendees can enjoy author talks, question-and-answer sessions, book signings, and culinary and experiential programs. Event organizers called this year’s festival a “milestone edition,” with one of the most dynamic and diverse lineups yet. “The legacy of our beloved book festival of the MJCCA is one filled with pride for literature, learning and community,” festival co-chair Debbie Kurzweil said. “Through stories and ideas, our community comes together to celebrate a love of books. We are beyond proud of how these events invite the broader community to join us to hear the best and brightest current authors.” The MJCCA will host prologue events on Thursday, Sept. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 25. The September event will feature New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben, who will discuss his memoir, “Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft.” The book gives an inside look into the mystery writer’s creative process. The October event will feature Billy Planer, a native Atlantan and national leader of conversations about civil discourse. He will discuss his new book, “Conversations That

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Matter: How Americans Can Talk About Tough Issues And Remain United” with Atlanta Journal-Constitution political journalist Greg Bluestein. The festival will begin Sunday, Nov. 1, with local author Dena Schusterman and her memoir, “Stories Carry,” which revolves around faith, belonging and the stories that shaped her. Dozens of authors will be featured throughout the month, including Biden, author of the “View from the East Wing,” on Saturday, Nov. 7, and Connick, author of “Babe: Elaboratio,” on Saturday, Nov. 14. The closing conversation will be Sunday, Nov. 22, with Dara Horn as she confronts the myths and lies that have spread antisemitism and discusses a vision for the future as outlined in her book, “The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living.” “The festival offers something we all need — a place to gather, learn, share ideas and be reminded that we are part of a vibrant, resilient community,” festival co-chair Staci Libowsky said. “That sense of connection and hope is one of the festival’s greatest gifts, and it feels especially meaningful in our 35th year.” All events will occur at the MJCCA’s headquarters at 5342 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody. Tickets are on sale to the general public at atlantajcc.org/bookfestival, where a full schedule and series pass options are also available. — Hannah Yahne

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6 | September 10, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

PAID CONTENT

DUNWOODY HOME TOUR

A Home Reimagined for Modern Family Living Where Watercolors, Wildflowers, and Six Decades of Family Memories Meet Provided by the Dunwoody Woman’s Club Visitors stepping through the doors of this beautifully transformed 1967 home will discover a residence that has evolved gracefully over nearly six decades. Thoughtfully renovated five to six times to meet the changing needs of a growing family, the home blends timeless character with modern comfort while remaining true to its original purpose: a dedicated place for gathering.

This beautiful home is one of the featured residences on the 53rd annual Dunwoody Woman’s Club Home Tour, taking place Friday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds from the tour support the Dunwoody Woman’s Club’s charitable initiatives and community projects. Home tour tickets are available through several purchase options, listed at the end of this article. Having raised four children in this house, the homeowners have carefully reimagined the space over the years. Together, they have created a warm, welcoming retreat that reflects their philosophy of casual, comfortable living and effortless entertaining. The home’s most recent transforma-

Featuring Artistsonfrom Fine Tickets SaleDunwoody Now! Art Association painting live in the GFWCgardens Dunwoody Woman’s of the homes. Club st 51 Annual Home Tour

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Raffle Tickets �� and DFAA �� Artists’ Paintings �� for Sale

FRIDAY, October 2, 2026 from 10am – 2pm. Purchase your tickets now by scanning the QR Code $35 Advance or $40 on Tour Day. ��–�� www.dunwoodywomansclub.com Purchase your tickets online now to the Annual Dunwoody Home Tour via the QR code or checkout our website below. Will Call is hosted at The Spruill Center for the Arts (5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.) beginning Mon., Sept. 28 – Oct. 1 from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm and Friday, October 2 between 9:30 am and Noon.

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1317 Mill Gate will be featured on the Dunwoody Woman’s Club Home Tour.

tion was completed in October 2025 with the addition of an 850-square-foot screened porch overlooking the backyard gardens. Designed for year-round enjoyment, the porch features: • Vaulted ceilings accented by rustic exposed beams. • Skylights that flood the space with natural light. • Three built-in ceiling heaters for cool autumn and winter nights. • A pass-through window connecting directly to the kitchen. The result is a seamless indoor-outdoor living area that serves as the heart of family gatherings. Connected to the porch is an expanded family room designed to bring everyone together. The room has standout architectural features, including custom built-in bookshelves, decorative wall paneling, a stackedstone fireplace and a locker and drop-zone area that once kept a busy household with four children organized. The open layout creates an atmosphere that is both elegant and approachable. Throughout the home, relaxed furnishings, soft color palettes and natural textures reinforce the owners’ vision of a comfortable haven. The upper level features four bedrooms, three full bathrooms and a home office, providing space for both family life and remote work. The basement includes casual seating for teen sleepovers, movie nights or game nights. There is an additional bedroom and bath for overnight guests. Beyond the home’s walls, the lush gardens reveal another of the homeowners’ passions. About half of the garden is devoted to pollinator-friendly perennials that attract local bees and butterflies, while the remaining beds produce fresh vegetables and herbs enjoyed throughout the year. Inside, the home’s decor features a deeply personal touch: a collection of vibrant watercolor paintings displayed throughout the rooms. Many of these pieces were created by the homeowner’s mother, artist Sherrie Portley, whose work celebrates landscapes and nature, serving as a lasting connection to family history. After nearly 60 years and numerous thoughtful updates, this Mill Glen classic remains true to its roots — a place where

Experience Art in the Gardens and the Return of Our Popular Raffle New for 2026, the Dunwoody Woman’s Club is partnering with the Dunwoody Fine Art Association to bring en plein air artists to the gardens of two featured homes. Watch the artists paint outdoors, purchase original artwork directly from the easel, or visit a boutique gallery at one of the featured homes showcasing additional works by local artists. The raffle returns with three prizes: • An original, matted and framed painting, “Cloisters, Sorrento,” by artist Pat Fiorello. • A $1,000 shopping spree at Lauderhill’s Fine Jewelry. • A Face Haven Spa gift basket valued at $1,000. Raffle tickets, original artwork from the en plein air artists and artwork featured in the boutique gallery will be available for purchase exclusively during the home tour. Bring cash or a credit card to enter the raffle and shop for one-of-a-kind artwork. Purchase tickets now in any of the following ways: • Online: dunwoodywomansclub.com/ event-tickets/ • In person: The Enchanted Forest (Dunwoody Hall Shopping Center) or Judy & Grace Boutique (The Shops of Dunwoody) • From a club member: Purchase directly from any Dunwoody Woman’s Club member • QR code: Scan the QR code on the right to purchase tickets instantly. Will call Tickets purchased online may be picked up at the Spruill Center for the Arts in the Dunwoody Cultural Arts Center, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Additional home tour tickets will be available for sale during these times: • Monday through Thursday, Sept. 28 to Oct. 1: 1 to 3:30 p.m. • Friday, Oct. 2 (tour day): 9:30 a.m. to noon The Spruill entrance is in the center of the building. Parking is available directly in front of the entrance and on the right side of the building near the Dunwoody Library. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 on tour day. Proceeds from the tour help fund the club’s charitable projects. For more information about the Dunwoody Woman’s Club, go to dunwoodywomansclub.com.

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | September 10, 2026 | 7

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | September 10, 2026 | 11

Skin Care Awareness Month Understanding your skin’s unique needs

Brought to you by – Dr. Kehinde R. Olumesi, Epiphany Dermatology September is Skin Care Awareness Month, a wonderful reminder that healthy skin begins with understanding your skin’s unique needs. While a consistent skincare routine is important for everyone, no two people have the same skin, which is why individualized care is so valuable. As a dermatologist, I believe that awareness is the first step toward healthier skin. That means protecting your skin from the sun every day, becoming familiar with new or changing spots, and seeking care for concerns such as acne, eczema, hair loss, or persistent rashes before they become more difficult to manage. Preventive care and early intervention can make a meaningful difference in both your skin’s health and your confidence. For patients with skin of color, there are often additional considerations. Conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis may present differently than they do in lighter skin tones, and inflammation can sometimes lead to lingering dark spots, known as post-inflammatory

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Every September we celebrate Healthy Aging Month, marking ways to thrive while we age. It’s a time to recognize that learning is a lifelong process, with engagement and wellness habits that we can adopt to enhance our quality of life. Far from denying aging or health challenges that come our way, thriving emphasizes resilience, adaptability and a positive mindset to meet them and find joy and value in life. The daily choices we make over the years impact how we age, and actively managing or changing our daily habits in key areas can make a critical difference. Physical activity and vitality are partners. There are many options like brisk walking, dancing, gardening, yoga or online work out videos that provide an appropriate exercise level that helps move your body daily. Strength and resistance training helps maintain muscle mass and bone density. Your doctor can help advise a course of regular moderate exercise that reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease, lowers stress levels and decreases your fall risk. Prioritize supporting your nutritional needs and you’ll find that the saying “you are what you eat” was right. Choose whole foods over ultra-processed options and follow a nutrient rich diet with vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Hydration is also important because our sense of thirst diminishes as we age. Following a water consumption schedule can help prevent dizziness, confusion and UTI’s. Avoiding smoking and moderating alcohol

use helps round out your healthy path. Cognitive engagement keeps our minds in shape by learning new skills, taking classes, playing music, singing, doing puzzles or brain games - even spending time in nature to boost our brain power. Curiosity has no age limit, and keeping your brain active can help mental sharpness. Social connections are one of the most powerful keys to a longer, healthier and happier life. Studies show that loneliness and isolation increase illness and depression. The Harvard Study of Adult Development followed participants for over 80 years and found that the strongest predictor of longevity was the quality of relationships. A positive mindset is also linked to a significantly longer lifespan. Embracing aging and focusing on practices like keeping a gratitude journal, maintaining a sense of purpose, and facing changes with a “can do” attitude improves our well-being and our ability to face change. A heart-centered and skilled Home Helpers caregiver can help your loved one with these ways to thrive and focus on their safety, wellness and independence in the warmth and comfort of home. We can assist with all personal care needs, support recovery from surgery, a stroke or return home from a rehabilitation stay. Along with specialized Alzheimer’s, Dementia or Parkinson’s care, we now have Nursing Services as an added support for families. From four hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care we’re here to help. For a free consultation call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.

HEALTH & WELLNESS • Sponsored Section

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AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | September 10, 2026 | 13

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14 | September 10, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Coming home after a hospital stay The equipment plan that keeps your loved one safe (and you sane)

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A hospital discharge date can arrive with surprisingly little notice. One day the care team is talking about “a few more days,” and the next, you’re told your parent or spouse can go home tomorrow — and the house isn’t ready. With the right plan — and the right provider — most families can have a home fully ready in the days between “discharge is happening” and “discharge day.” Before discharge day: What needs to happen Hospital discharge planners and case managers are focused on medical readiness — medication, follow-up appointments, home health referrals. The physical readiness of the home is often left to the family. The first few weeks home: Priority checklist The first two to three weeks after discharge are typically the highest-risk period for a fall or a re-hospitalization. A few things matter most during this window: • Entryway: A safe way to get in and out of the house, whether that’s a threshold ramp, a portable ramp for a few steps or a more substantial ramp system or vertical platform lift at the garage steps. • Bedroom: A safe, appropriately positioned sleeping setup. Whether that’s a fully electric hospital bed with adjustable height, head and foot elevation, or simply repositioning furniture, the goal is a bed that supports safe, independent (or assisted) transfers in and out. Additionally, an unobstructed and well-lit path to the bathroom is vital! • Bathroom: This is where properly anchored grab bars in the water closet and shower and a shower chair and bedside commode by the bed for emergencies really matter! Mitigating fall risk and avoiding hospital readmission are the goals! • Transfer Strategy: A transfer plan for anyone who needs hands-on help moving from bed to chair or chair to toilet is a must. A sit-to-stand lift or a full Hoyer-style patient lift protects both the patient and the caregiver’s back. Why one provider changes the math for family caregivers Working with one provider who can

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NEWS

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | September 10, 2026 | 15

New CEO appointed to lead Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com ATLANTA, Ga. — Dr. Patrick Frias has taken over as chief executive officer of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "Dr. Patrick Frias is an exceptional leader who understands where healthcare is headed and what children and families need right now," Paul Brown, chair of Children's board of trustees, said. "Under Patrick's leadership, Children's is well-positioned to continue accelerating what's possible for pediatric healthcare in Georgia and beyond." Frias previously served as Children's chief operating officer and chief physician officer, and as a cardiologist. He will lead the healthcare system's More Than Possible initiative, which aims to eliminate healthcare deserts in metro Atlanta by opening a pediatric clinic within 30 minutes of every family in the area. "We want to make sure there are no boundaries for our kids, and Children's has always challenged itself to think

Escape: Continued from Page 1 He thought “maybe a small plane or something” had crashed into the tower. Only a few people ran when they heard the “hollow boom” from the plane crash. They didn’t yet know that American Airlines Flight 11 — a Boeing 767200ER with 92 occupants, including five hijackers — had been deliberately flown into the skyscraper. Yorio stayed behind, answering phone calls from people asking if he and his colleagues were OK. Thinking the crash would prompt a building closure and he wouldn’t be back for days, he started making copies of his work. While walking back from the copier, Yorio said he felt the south tower shake. He was tossed through the air, his ears filled with what he described as the “horrible grinding noise” of metal on metal. Pieces of the 110-story building, covered in flames, fell to the ground. “I’m like, ‘Oh, my God,’” Yorio said. “I waited. I shouldn’t have stayed.” The time was 9:03 a.m., and United Airlines Flight 175 — a Boeing 767200 with 65 occupants, including five hijackers — had just been flown into the building’s facade between floors 77 and 85. Yorio ran to the stairwell along with others from his floor. Despite the chaos, their evacuation, he said, was orderly and silent.

bigger when it comes to our children and families across Georgia," Frias said. "Even though a million kids come through our doors every year — nearly 3,000 a day — we know we can do more." Children's is adding pediatricians and expanding its expertise in rural Georgia through a partnership with Mercer University School of Medicine and the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center. The partnership includes a program that provides medical school scholarships to students who commit to practicing pediatrics in rural areas. Thirty-four students have made that commitment. Children's is also buying land to support future growth across metro Atlanta, including a recent purchase in Sandy Springs. Children's said it will announce more about that site later, along with plans to expand existing locations and add new ones to meet community needs. To find a location or schedule an appointment at Children's, visit choa. org. “We just kept moving,” Yorio said. “I remember saying to myself, ‘Okay, we’re not going to start counting [down] until the 40th floor.’” It took about 30 minutes for him to escape the tower. He walked about five blocks to a church, where he called his family, and was huddled in the church’s kitchen with his fellow survivors, sipping soup and water, when the first tower fell. “All of a sudden, [I heard] this absolute roar,” Yorio said. “Some of the people inside [started] screaming. And then outside you could just see this brownish, gray dust just take over the whole road.” He thought the north tower, the first of the Twin Towers struck, had fallen — but it was the south tower, his workplace, that had collapsed. “Little did I know that if I had stayed there another 20 minutes, I’d be dead,” Yorio said. The south tower had burned for 56 minutes before falling. The north tower collapsed about 30 minutes later. Three other buildings fell, too, and other structures, streets and infrastructure were in disarray. The attacks, carried out by the terror group al-Qaida, resulted in 2,606 deaths at the World Trade Center complex and surrounding sites. Overall, 2,996 people — representing more than 90 countries — died during the attacks, which also included a plane striking the Pentagon and another hijacked plane, nearly recaptured by its passengers, crashing into a rural

CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA/PROVIDED

Patrick Frias, left, stands with a medical laboratory technician on Aug. 17 — his first day as chief executive officer at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Pennsylvania field. The attacks would, in many ways, alter the course of world history, with the U.S. and its allies starting a global “war on terror,” which would eventually encompass military action in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya. In 2011, U.S. military special operations forces killed the leader of al-Qaida and organizer of 9/11, Osama bin Laden. They would also change the trajectory of Yorio’s life. In the weeks and months after, he grieved. On the 25th anniversary of the event, he still does. The weeks after Yorio returned to work just a few days after the attacks, working from a space in the Rockefeller Center complex. As a reinsurer, he was busier than ever while handling claims related to 9/11. “That’s all we were dealing with,” Yorio said. “And then, of course, you’d … be getting notices every day of someone’s remains being found and a service. We were constantly grieving.” He spoke to a psychiatrist to confront a haunting memory from that day. He saw two people fall to their deaths from the north tower before he evacuated from the south tower. At the sight of the first fall, he turned away to avoid seeing someone die. The second time, he watched the person fall. Yorio couldn’t understand why he watched such a terrible sight. The

psychiatrist’s answer to this still makes him emotional a quarter-century later. “She said, ‘Well, as human beings, we don’t want people to die alone,’” Yorio recalled, tears filling his eyes. Still with him The events of the day are “always there,” Yorio said. Talking openly about them is still difficult. His company merged with another firm in 2009, and he moved to Dunwoody. He said his chest still tightens in a crowded stairwell. Yorio has a pamphlet from the memorial service that he attended for colleagues 17 days after the attacks. He also has a brochure, made on 9/11’s first anniversary, containing the names of more than 300 colleagues lost on that day. He said it’s still hard to comprehend what happened and why it happened. He does, however, remember what helped him stay alive, even as burning building components fell around him. “We survived that day by being united,” Yorio said, remembering his colleagues who helped him escape the doomed building and the strangers that helped him get home. “We were united, and I think that was important.” He said that, on the 25th anniversary, he’ll be thinking about the victims. “I think about the poor people that just had no chance,” Yorio said. “And I think I’m just very fortunate to be here. And, you know, you just do the best you can.”

16 | September 10, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

Shadowbox:

NEWS

Continued from Page 1 The company wants to build several buildings spanning more than 1 million square feet on 155 acres at 3600 International Park Drive near Interstate 285 and Bouldercrest Road. The buildings would house computer servers, data storage equipment and networking hardware used to process, store and transmit digital information. The company had planned to expand its film studio there but nixed those plans after demand for studio space fell and demand for data centers surged. The site is just south of Shadowbox’s existing campus at 1415 Constitution Road, which has nine sound stages for film and television production. The South Fork River runs near the property close to a row of Georgia Power transmission towers. The metal structures stand about 10 stories high. Across the street from the studio is the entrance to the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. The proposed switch from a film studio to a data center also raises questions about what happens to the $68 million incentive package approved for the original studio expansion project. In 2022, Decide DeKalb, the economic development arm of the county, approved a $34 million tax break over 20 years for the film studio expansion, according to an article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Decide DeKalb also awarded the studio a $34 million “infrastructure credit” to be used for utilities, removing bedrock and building two bridges needed to develop the site. The $380 million expansion was expected to add more than 20 new studios and bring in 2,400 jobs. The deal was hailed at the time by county officials as “the largest investment in South DeKalb.” The denial was made because of DeKalb’s ongoing moratorium on new data center applications, county officials said. The moratorium was first approved in July 2025 and has been extended multiple times, most recently through March 2027. Shadowbox says that moratorium shouldn’t apply to its project because county officials told the company in writing — three separate times, in June 2023, April 2024 and February 2025 — that a data center was allowed on the property. Shadowbox says those approvals created a “vested right” — essentially, a legal right to go ahead with the project under the zoning rules that existed when the company acted — that cannot be taken away by the county’s later moratorium. Shadowbox says it has spent tens of millions of dollars moving the project

DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA

Demonstrators gather on Gresham Road near Flat Shoals Road on Sunday, Aug. 30, to protest against Shadowbox Studios, which is asking DeKalb County's Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 9 to overturn a staff decision denying its bid to build a data center on 155 acres at 3600 International Drive in southwest DeKalb County, once eyed for a studio expansion. forward, though the company has cited different totals at different times: nearly $37 million in its zoning appeal, more than $30 million in its lawsuit and more than $100 million according to CEO Peter Rumbold at an Aug. 27 meeting with invited guests. DeKalb disagrees, and planning staff have said the letters were never meant to be legally binding promises. A county spokesperson said DeKalb doesn’t comment on pending lawsuits. Shadowbox filed suit in DeKalb Superior Court and is asking a judge to rule the county’s moratorium invalid. The company’s argument is essentially the same as what it is saying in its zoning appeal. The company’s pitch Shadowbox tried to make its case directly to residents on Aug. 27, inviting about 30 people to a meeting at its studio. Studio executives knew they had a fight on their hands. “We know that the narrative around data centers is very negative at the moment, and we are aware that a lot of you do not support our project,” Rumbold said at the start of the meeting. “But we do want to make sure that your opinion, whatever it ends up being, is supported by facts.” The land has a fraught history. In 2021, the studio’s previous owner — Blackhall Studios, founded by Ryan Millsap — traded 53 acres of its land on Constitution Road to DeKalb County for 40 acres of Intrenchment Creek Park. As part of the land swap, Blackhall agreed to build new park amenities but never followed through. The county attempted last year to get the land back, but the effort has

stalled. Rumbold said Shadowbox has no relationship to the swap or to Ryan Millsap. “Our relationship with Ryan concluded when we acquired this studio from him in 2021, and we have had no commercial dealings with him since,” Rumbold said. “Further, we are not in any way associated with the land swap parcel across the street, nor have we gone back on any commitments that we’ve made to DeKalb County or the local community.” Rumbold also denied any “backroom dealings” with county officials to gain favor for the data center project. The data center would be a $42 billion investment over 20 years, according to company officials. How that amount is established was not explained. Rumbold said the project would generate an estimated $133 million per year in local tax revenue. About $56 million would go to DeKalb County, about $63 million would go to DeKalb County Schools and the remaining $14 million would go to the Metro South Community Improvement District, he said. Commercial property owners within the district — mostly logistics and trucking companies, plus Shadowbox — pay higher property taxes to fund local infrastructure projects. “What that means is about $70 million total stays right here in South DeKalb,” Rumbold said. “That’s money for classrooms, roads, public parks — and again, these are recurring annual figures. That’s not a one-time sum.” The project would support more than 9,000 jobs over the estimated three years it would take to build the data center, he said. About 275 permanent jobs are

needed to run the data center and are projected to have an average annual wage of more than $100,000. “These are good, high-paying jobs that will be available to members of the community,” Rumbold said. Jeff Weber, chief development officer for Shadowbox, wanted to make clear that the 155-acre undeveloped site is “sandwiched between” I-285 and Atlanta International Industrial Park, where warehouses and trucking companies are clustered. The site is in an industrial area, with the nearest homes about 1,300 feet away, just south of I-285, he said. Neighborhoods in the area include Boulder Forest and West Side Place. “The nature of this particular community is heavily industrial, but it does have some residential neighborhoods that we need to respect, and we will,” Weber said. Water is essential to keep the humming computer servers cool so they can run 24 hours a day and ensure speedy access to people and businesses using the internet and artificial intelligence services. But the project won’t use millions of gallons a day, thanks to a closed-loop design, said Jason Leone with Strategic Mission Critical, a company that helps build massive data centers and is consulting for Shadowbox. Instead of using new water constantly, a closed-loop system keeps the same batch of liquid sealed inside a loop of pipes. That liquid absorbs heat from the servers, carries it away, gets cooled back down and then recirculates in a closed cycle instead of being lost to evaporation, he said. The Shadowbox data center would use 2,800 gallons of water a day — the same amount 24 apartments or eight single-family homes would use, or the same amount it takes to operate a McDonald’s, Weber said. He said only a third of the 2,800 gallons would actually be used for cooling; the remaining two-thirds would be used for employee bathrooms and landscaping. Heidi Rous, a senior environmental lead with engineering, design and planning firm Kimley-Horn and Associates, tackled air quality and explained emissions would come almost entirely from diesel backup generators. These generators are highly regulated and limited by permit to true emergencies and brief monthly test runs that total about 50 hours a year, she said. She also described ongoing noise measurements around the site and said the project will use quieter equipment, enclosures and berms to keep sound within code limits at the property line. “What about what we can’t hear?” one attendee asked at the end of the meeting.

See SHADOWBOX, Page 18

Puzzles

7/17/25 Connect-it

PuzzleJunction.com

Connect-It

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...........................September 10, 2026 | 17

Dunwoody Crier 7/17/25 Crossword

GROUPS OF THINGS 1. Royal flush card. Burglar. Group of birds. 2. Group of cattle. Passe. Dining room cabinet. 3. Texas shrine. Work group. Wax-covered cheese. 4. Sporting group. Kick out. Evening wear. 5. Stringed instrument. Education group. Football play. 6. Musical group. Big cat. Break in friendly relations. 7. Gung-ho. Western group. Envelope part. PuzzleJunction.com

2 3 4 5 6

7 /10/25 Sudoku

Groups 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, so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each 1. Royal flush card. Burglar.andGroup of birds. 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 3 answers on thepuzzle, line. Buteach here’s the catch! clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually 2. Group ofSudoku cattle. Passe. Dining roomThe cabinet. To the solve the row, column and be the second or the thirdnumbers answer in1that line. Got it? Good luck! boxformust contain to 9.

3. Texas shrine. Work group. Wax-covered cheese. 4. Sporting group. Kick out. Evening wear.

2 9 6. Musical group. Big cat. Break in friendly relations. 2 5 8 7. Gung-ho. Western group. Envelope part. 3 8 2 1 4 5 4 9 1 6 5 3 4 8 9 8 3 How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. 2 4 7 The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a 5. Stringed instrument. Education group. Football play.

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

Solution 7 1 5 3 6 4 2 8 9

4 3 6 8 2 9 5 7 1

8 2 9 7 1 5 3 6 4

2 5 4 6 8 3 1 9 7

9 6 3 5 7 1 4 2 8

1 8 7 9 4 2 6 5 3

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.

Across

1 CEO’s degree 4 Maid’s cloth 7 Figured out 10 Menu phrase 13 In poor health 14 Honest one 15 Hail, to Caesar 16 Bagel topper 17 Small bag 19 Crêpe 21 “Scram!” 22 Cigar residue 24 Haven 25 URL ender 27 Smells 30 Whip 32 Exposed 33 Harbor posting 36 Companion of Artemis 37 Decrees 39 Dated 41 Roll of bills 42 Grimm character 44 Decompose 45 Female rabbit 46 Car nut 47 Kind of spray 49 Lock horns 51 Easy chair site 53 Exceedingly 54 Marsh growth 55 Quartz variety 57 ___ judicata 58 Hiker’s path 61 Sweet drink 63 Present mo. 67 Unfortunate 70 Hotel offering 72 Helm heading 73 Sgt.’s address 74 Nonexistent

PuzzleJunction.com 2

13 17

29 33

47 52 55

6 4 1 2 9 7 8 3 5

5 7 8 1 3 6 9 4 2

61 68

62 70

75 See 30 Down 76 Combine 77 Mother’s Day month 78 Money dispenser 79 Lamb’s mother Down 1 Overlook 2 Lackluster 3 Kind of sax 4 “Go, team!” 5 Crosswise, on deck 6 Salon supply 7 Breach 8 Egg cells 9 Pavarotti, e.g. 10 Woeful word

11 Norse god of discord 12 Lumberjacks’ tools 18 Winter warmer 20 Detective’s assignment 23 Pueblo dweller 26 Utah town 28 ___ beloved 29 Savvy about 30 Deception 31 Pigeon’s perch 32 Printer type 34 Sidestep 35 Vocally 36 Mouse catcher 38 Rubberneck 40 Irish Sea feeder

43 Kind of lamp 48 Atlas stat 50 Pine product 52 Hammer’s target 56 Twinkle 57 Invoice word 58 Not us 59 Indian princess 60 Mountaintop 62 Comedian Carvey 64 Riviera city 65 Pack away 66 Daly of Judging Amy 68 Jacuzzi 69 ___ sauce 71 Freddy Krueger’s street

See puzzle solutions on Page 21

Is Your Company Hiring? Solution on next page

3 9 2 4 5 8 7 1 6

10 16

19 22

Submit your opening at appenmedia.com/hire

18 | September 10, 2026 | Dunwoody Crier | AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody

AIKENOMICS

OPINION

Realtors, are you targeting the wrong buyer?

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist dcaiken.com

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

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

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

Shadowbox: Continued from Page 16 “Those are the things that are causing hearing loss and mental health issues. … What about when 10 years down the line, when people start getting sick?” There was no answer to that question. Representatives asked her to submit it online, along with a study she cited. Shadowbox officials also said they did not yet have contracts with any companies wanting to use the data center. ‘My guard has been up from Day 1’ Jackie Malcolm was wearing a “No Data Centers” T-shirt during the meeting. She lives on Bouldercrest Road, close to the data center property, and has been fighting data center projects in south DeKalb since at least December 2025, when she was focused on a different one proposed for Ellenwood. Commissioners rejected that project in August, but Malcolm said the win hasn’t eased her worry about Shadowbox. “They got the county in a lawsuit, and if you got the county in a lawsuit, you got all us taxpayers in a lawsuit, too,” said Malcolm, who is one of several data center critics who speak out regularly at board of commissioners meetings. “Wouldn’t it be nice if they didn’t file the lawsuit and say, look, let us work with y’all? Maybe we can do something.” She also questioned the company’s data. “They said, well, I heard you had a white paper — we do, would you like it?” she said. “But guess what — what people are researching, our studies show different than

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

IMAGE PROVIDED TO APPEN MEDIA

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

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

what you say. “My guard has been up from Day 1,” Malcolm said. ‘People over profit’ Three days after Shadowbox’s meeting with invited guests, opponents took their fight to the street. On Sunday, Aug. 30, demonstrators gathered at Gresham Road and Flat Shoals Road, waving signs at passing traffic in front of the busy Walmart. The protest drew several community groups, including the DeKalb Citizens Coalition, North Decatur Action and Black Lives Matter Grassroots East Atlanta-DeKalb. “This is like saying, ‘I can’t rent my building out, so I’m just going to change my business,’” said Jennifer Baugh, a DeKalb voter who attended the protest. She expressed disdain for Shadowbox’s appeal to the zoning board. “There’s a moratorium on data centers, but they’re trying to get around that through zoning appeals,” Baugh said. Bentley Hudgins — who won the Democratic primary for state House District 90, which includes part of south DeKalb — said his opposition is about more than this one project. He cited water use, environmental strain and surveillance concerns tied to data centers broadly and said he’d push for a statewide moratorium if elected. Gina Mangham, an organizer with the DeKalb Citizens Coalition, criticized the company for suing the county while also seeking community buy-in. “You watched us go down to every single board of commissioners meeting, and you never once engaged with us,” Mangham said. Another resident at the protest, Jawahir Sharwany, said, “We say no data center, people over profit.” What happens next DeKalb’s Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to

DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA

Gina Mangham, an organizer with the DeKalb Citizens Coalition, right, and other demonstrators stand along Gresham Road on Sunday, Aug. 30 to protest Shadowbox Studios. hear Shadowbox’s appeal at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, via Zoom. The board’s decision could determine whether the company can pursue the data center under its claim that the county previously gave it the right to build. Editor’s note: This edition of Dunwoody Crier was sent to the press before the Sept. 9 hearing but was published the day after the hearing. For an update on the hearing, visit appenmedia.com

GARDEN BUZZ

OPINION

AppenMedia.com/Dunwoody | Dunwoody Crier | September 10, 2026 | 19

Joro Spiders: Here, there and hanging across your walkway These days, you probably don’t have to look much farther than your backyard, mailbox or favorite walking trail to spot a Joro spider. Joro spiders (Trichonephila clavata) have GABRIELLE LATORA become one of the Guest Columnist most abundant and conspicuous spider species in north Georgia landscapes in the last several years. First detected in the United States in Georgia in 2014, Joros are native to East Asia. University of Georgia researchers think Joros were introduced to Georgia on imported plants, crates or pallets as early as 2010. Since their introduction, they have also made themselves at home in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee and continue to claim new territory. Scientists have already detected small populations in Florida, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and California. Joros are orb-weaving spiders, similar to our native garden spiders, forming large, irregular webs in trees and across walkways and clearings. They have one generation per year and are most visible in September and October, when the large females’ abdomens carry developing eggs. Despite taking hold in Georgia more than a decade ago, Joro spiders didn’t become especially numerous in the Atlanta area until 2022 or so. Since then, the number of reports on iNaturalist and EDDMapS has skyrocketed in our area year after year. How to spot a Joro spider The adult females are the easiest to spot thanks to their impressive size, reaching up to a whopping 1¼ inches long before you even count their legs. They have yellow abdomens with broad blue-green bands on the back and yellow-red markings on the belly. Their legs are long and black, often with yellow bands and tufts of short hair. The adult males are much smaller— about a quarter-inch long—and brown. Their abdomen is an elongated oval with two long yellowish stripes on each side and a dark brown stripe in the middle. Joros first captured the internet’s attention when headlines started warning about giant “flying” spiders parachuting into neighborhoods. As alarming as that sounds, the story wasn’t entirely fiction. In June, newly

What we do know is that Joros are generalists who eat lots of common types of insects, such as moths, flies, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, beetles and stinkbugs. With large webs, often several feet wide, they capture plenty of flying insects. DNA analysis of their stomach contents found that they eat more flies than other insect types.

JESICA BAIN/BUGWOOD.ORG

Female Joro spiders will be at their largest in late September and October. They have distinctive yellow abdomens with horizontal blue-green bands.

hatched spiderlings can release a little silk and become airborne in a process called ballooning. With the right weather conditions, they can travel miles and miles this way. Joros also move into new areas on vehicles, cargo, plants and other materials. Are Joro spiders dangerous? Despite their intimidating look, Joro spiders aren’t aggressive or particularly dangerous. They are actually very timid and will probably run away from you. UGA researchers found they were unlikely to bite, even when handled roughly in experiments. A rare bite from a Joro will cause temporary discomfort but is not a cause for medical concern. Many ask if they are considered invasive. According to the Joro Watch website, “Invasive means that a species is introduced to a new ecosystem and… has the potential to cause economic harm, environmental harm or harm to human health.” Short answer: we don’t know yet if Joros will cause harm or simply be a nuisance.

Should I kill Joros? Whether you kill Joro spiders when you find them is up to you. Yes, they are an introduced and rapidly spreading species. And yes, they can be a nuisance, especially if your idea of a good morning does not include walking face-first into a giant web. These may be good enough reasons for you to decide to control them. Diligent control in your landscape, whether by killing them or disrupting their webs, will probably reduce how many you see in that immediate area in the short-term. However, local control by residents is unlikely to have much impact on the overall spread. It’s impossible to completely eradicate them at this point. Early trials show that the most effective ways to kill them are manual (wrap their web onto a stick and step on them) and using insecticides labeled for spiders, including Black Flag Spider & Scorpion Killer (lambdacyhalothrin 0.03% and prallethrin 0.025%) and Zevo Insect Killer Spray for Ant, Roach and Spider (sodium lauryl sulfate 5.96% and essential oils). Researchers from Clemson University found that household products, like bleach, hairspray, isopropyl alcohol and vinegar were not effective – most spiders were unharmed or fully recovered. When using insecticides, always follow all label instructions, and reach out to your county Extension agent with questions. Researchers are still learning exactly how Joros fit into Georgia’s ecosystems, and many questions remain unanswered. In the meantime, these eye-catching spiders are here to

About the author This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Gabrielle LaTora, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for UGA Extension Fulton County. An entomologist by training, Gabrielle is interested in insects on farms and in gardens and is passionate about closing the gap between people and their food. In addition to helping coordinate Fulton’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program, Gabrielle oversees the North Fulton Community Garden, answers clients’ questions about gardening and natural resources, works with urban farmers, and delivers educational programs for Fulton County residents. stay, spinning their enormous webs and inspiring equal parts curiosity and annoyance. If you’d like to help scientists track their spread, report any Joro sightings to Joro Watch and explore the latest maps and research updates online. One thing is certain: few newcomers have managed to make themselves at home in Georgia quite as dramatically as the Joro spider. 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. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/ opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/. Come visit us at the Alpharetta Farmers Market and the Sandy Springs Farmers Market. We will also have a booth at the Crabapple Festival in Milton on Oct. 3rd, 2026.

DEATH NOTICES Linda Bagley, age 85, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 25, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Christopher Farnsworth, age 52, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 27, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Mary Dripps Johnson, age 90, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 20, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Bobbie Eddins, age 91, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 22, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

John Hathorn, age 82, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 26, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Lawrence O’Brien, age 92, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 17, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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Continued from Page 1 The media group is represented by the ACLU Foundation of Georgia and Atlanta attorney Gerald Weber. Alongside the complaint, the media group filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and expedited preliminary injunction, asking the court to bar the state from carrying out its Sept. 16 execution of Stacey Ian Humphreys under the current media access rules unless officials first expand what media representatives are allowed to see and hear. The media group has covered the convicted double-murderer’s case since November 2003, when he shot and killed two female real estate agents at a Powder Springs business. Humphreys was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and kidnapping with bodily injury in 2007. A jury unanimously recommended the death penalty, and he was sentenced to death that same year. The U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeal in October 2025, and a stay of execution was lifted in March. The 53-year-old is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection Sept. 16. A hearing date on the temporary restraining order motion has not yet been set. The lawsuit challenges the state’s lethal injection procedures, which govern how executions are carried out at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Butts County. Under those procedures, the state Department of Corrections allows only five media representatives — one from the Associated Press, two from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and two from the Georgia Press Association — to observe any part of an execution. The AP is a cooperative news agency with an Atlanta hub, while the broadcasters association is a membership organization for Georgiabased radio and TV news outlets. The press association is the same but for the state’s newspapers. During the execution process, the AP journalist and the four journalists from the two associations are required to relay what they witness to other news outlets waiting in a separate media staging area. According to the complaint, the state gives media no visual or auditory access at all to several steps that happen in the two hours before an execution, including delivery of the lethal injection drugs, equipment checks and preparation of the syringes. A single “media monitor” — who, the complaint says, is often

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The Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison in Butts County is where Georgia carries out executions and where the state’s next execution is scheduled for Sept. 16. someone with no prior experience witnessing an execution — is allowed to watch, without audio, as the condemned prisoner is secured to a gurney and connected to an IV line. The complaint calls that step “often the most fraught segment of an execution by lethal injection,” citing recent botched IV insertions during executions in Tennessee, Arizona, Idaho and Alabama. The complaint also mentions cases in Georgia where, during a 2001 and 2007 execution, officials struggled to establish IV access. The lawsuit also says media witnesses are given no audio or visual access to the chemical room, where the lethal drugs are injected through tubing that runs through a wall into the execution chamber, and that a microphone in the execution chamber itself is turned on only for the prisoner’s final statement and the state’s official pronouncement of death. Appen Media Group argues the state has offered no justification for those restrictions, and they appear to exist to shield its own conduct from scrutiny. The group also says that the Georgia Department of Corrections has “unbridled discretion” to decide who can watch an execution and what they are allowed to see without any statute or written standard governing those decisions. The complaint seeks a court order declaring the state’s current media access scheme unconstitutional and

Transparency is not a favor the government grants the press — it is an essential safeguard of public accountability. HANS APPEN Publisher and CEO of Appen Media Group

requiring officials to give all five media representatives visual and auditory access to the preparatory steps, the IV insertion and the chemical room, including by remote camera or microphone if necessary. The media group, founded in 1990, publishes the Alpharetta RoswellHerald, Dunwoody Crier, Sandy Springs Crier, Johns Creek Herald, Forsyth Herald, Milton Herald and Decaturish INK. It also operates the digital outlets appenmedia.com, decaturish.com and georgiapress. com. The company is a member of the Georgia Press Association. “The public shouldn’t have to take the government’s word for what happens behind prison walls during an execution,” said Hans Appen, publisher and CEO of Appen Media Group. “Furthermore, transparency is

not a favor the government grants the press — it is an essential safeguard of public accountability. The case is about whether Georgians can trust that the government’s most consequential actions are being conducted openly and lawfully.” Cory Isaacson, legal director for ACLU of Georgia, said in a press release that the state “currently holds absolute power to hide key components of executions from the press and the public, and the Constitution doesn’t allow that.” “If the state can limit access whenever and however it wants, it can too easily hide mistakes or misconduct,” Isaacson continued. The execution lawsuit is the latest instance of the Alpharettabased media group pressing Georgia governments in court over public access to information. The company has been engaged in a separate, long-running Georgia Open Records Act lawsuit against the city of Sandy Springs since May 2023. After city officials declined to release full narrative reports from police officers on open investigations, the company sued the city. A Fulton County judge initially ruled for Sandy Springs, but the Georgia Court of Appeals reversed that decision in March 2025. The case is now back before the Fulton County Superior Court. In January, a superior court judge ordered Sandy Springs to produce documents it previously withheld from the media group.

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