Forsyth Herald - August 14, 2025

Forsyth County commissioners discuss 2025’s millage rate, which was set at 7.896 mills for the fifth year in a row.

County holds tax rate steady

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — For the fifth consecutive year, the Forsyth County Commission has voted to maintain the tax rate on property at 7.896 mills.

Under state law, the action counts as a tax increase, because the levy will generate more revenue than last year. Homestead exempted properties should see little or no tax increase.

Much of the new revenue will be

from new construction and reassessments on existing properties. Commercial properties do not receive homestead exemptions.

One mill brings in $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which by state law, is 40 percent of a property’s real – or fair market –value. A home worth $100,000 on the market would have a taxable value of $40,000, and a levy of 1 mill would cost the property owner $40 in taxes.

See RATE, Page 3

Qualifying is Aug. 18-22 for municipal elections

By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com

NORTH METRO ATLANTA — The window for residents wishing to seek public office to file paperwork and pay a fee to officially enter the race opens Aug. 18.

While the state prescribes a general date window for qualification, cities determine days times, costs and eligibility standards.

The requirements differ slightly from city to city. Generally, candidates must be at least 18 years of age, have lived in the commission or council district for at least one year before qualifying, and be a qualified elector. For seats that represent specific districts, candidates must live in the district they seek to represent.

Here are the seats up for election in cities we cover and their qualifying details:

• Cumming mayor, City Council Posts 1 and 2, which are both at-large

- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

- The qualifying fee is $360 for mayor,

ELECTIONS

and is $180 for council members.

- For more information, visit www.cityofcumming.net/electioninformation

• Johns Creek mayor, City Council Posts 1, 2 and 3

- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

- The qualifying fee is $750 for mayor, and is $450 for council seats.

- For more information, visit johnscreekga.gov/departments/city-clerk/ municipal-elections/

• Milton mayor and three Post 1 seats on the City Council.

- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 22, from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

- The qualifying fee is $894 for mayor, and is $594 for council seats.

- For more information, visit www. miltonga.gov/government/elections/ qualifying-period/

See ELECTIONS, Page 13

Appen Media will closely follow the November elections and aims to help readers cast educated votes. What’s on your mind as you head to the ballot box? Send questions and ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

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POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Phony jury duty fines scam woman for $9,000

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 38-year-old Cumming woman reported she had been defrauded of $9,000 in a phone scam July 30.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said the woman told deputies that a person had called to tell her she had outstanding tickets from missing jury duty. The caller allegedly threatened her with arrest if she refused to pay a fine.

The woman transferred money via Apple Pay and Zelle with six transactions.

The woman said she spoke with three separate people who identified themselves as sheriff’s officials.

Deputies advised the woman to contact her bank.

The incident was classified as a felony theft by extortion.

— Jon Wilcox

Decatur man arrested on DUI, drug charges

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 34-year-old Decatur man was arrested on drug charges Aug. 3.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to Hopewell Road at Jot Em Down Road about 3 a.m. after a caller reported a vehicle had crashed.

Deputies located the vehicle and spoke to its driver.

The man allegedly had a strong odor of alcohol and appeared confused. He agreed to participate in a field sobriety test.

During the test, the man had trouble understanding the instructions and was unsteady, the sheriff’s report said.

Deputies arrested the man after the test. After his arrest, the man allegedly provided a false name to deputies.

A search of the vehicle allegedly revealed suspected amphetamine and hydrocodone.

The man was charged with felony possession of hydrocodone and misdemeanor driving under the influence of multiple substances and giving a false name, address or birthday to law enforcement.

— Jon Wilcox

Woman loses 2 iPhones while grocery shopping

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 56-year-old Alpharetta woman reported two phones were stolen while she shopped at a grocery store on Old Milton Parkway July 25.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to the business about 5:30 p.m.

The woman said she noticed her phones were missing after leaving them on a produce stand while looking at some fruit.

Officers spoke with the store manager, who provided security camera footage of the produce section. The video showed a woman wearing a black dress with a small tattoo on her forearm picking up the phones.

The suspect left the store about 10 minutes after the theft, police said.

Both phones are black Apple iPhone 16 Maxes. The Alpharetta woman said one is her personal phone and the other is a work phone.

The phones are valued at $2,000 each.

The store manager said no cameras are located in the parking lot, preventing officers from obtaining information about the suspect’s vehicle.

The incident was classified as a felony theft by taking greater than $1,500.

— Jon Wilcox

Police cite female driver for felony drug possession

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell Police arrested a 26-year-old Lawrenceville woman July 27 after a traffic stop

allegedly turned up more than 4 ounces of marijuana and just under $1,000 in cash.

Officers eventually charged the woman with open container, erratic lane change and felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance with intent to distribute.

An officer said he spotted the suspect’s vehicle, a black Infiniti Q50, crossing over marked lines in an eastbound lane at Holcomb Bridge and Barnwell roads. After the officer performed a traffic stop, he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle.

According to the report, the driver eventually admitted to smoking in the vehicle earlier that day and told them “whatever is in the car is on me.”

During a search of the car, officers said they found 135 grams of marijuana in individual packages, 23 THC oil cartridges, vape pens, $940 in cash and a small weight scale.

The passenger of the Infiniti, a 23-year-old Norcross man, said he was unaware of anything illegal inside his friend’s vehicle.

The driver was then transported to the Fulton County Jail. She was released on a $1,500 bond July 27.

— Hayden Sumlin

Vandals damage car at Kaolin Court home

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A Johns Creek man called police after finding his car had been vandalized at Kaolin Court the morning of July 25.

The owner said he found his car covered in either sand or flour, as well as eggs. The driveway had been spray painted in blue.

He told police that a mechanic told him the cost to fix and clean the car would be around $10,000. He had no camera footage of the event but said he suspects it may be someone trying to send a message to his daughter.

The man requested to press charges if the individuals were identified.

— Sarah Coyne

Rate:

Continued from Page 1

Components of the county levy include: 4.791 mills for maintenance and operations, steady from last year; 2.505 mills for fire, up slightly from last year; and bond payments lowered by half to 0.3 mills.

The county’s combined tax levy has remained around 8 mills for at least a decade.

Forsyth County’s 2025 budget is set at $215.5 million. Public safety receives the largest share, followed by general government expenses and cultural and recreational costs.

County CFO Brian Clark noted the growth of commercial developments in contributing to revenue. The county’s commercial tax spiked, outpacing growth of residential properties.

More information

• In 2014 and 2015, Forsyth County property owners paid a rate of 7.656 mills.

• From 2016 to 2017, it was maintained at 8.036 mills before declining to 7.936 mills in 2019 and 2020.

• This year’s levy is among the lowest in the area. In Cherokee County, property owners pay 8.31 mills. Cobb County collects 8.46 mills, and in Fulton County, the rate is set at 8.87 mills. Gwinnett County property owners pay 14.71 mills.

“That is definitely something we are interested in seeing,” he said previously. The county’s school district will collect another 15.208 mills for operations and 1.418 mills for bonds.

Just opened?

Metro Atlanta golf courses make magazine’s ‘Best’ list

ATLANTA — GOLF magazine released its annual state-by-state course rankings in December, with Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta topping the list of Georgia's best golf courses for 2024-25.

Some courses that made the list are in North Metro Atlanta.

The rankings, compiled by more than 100 panelists, evaluated 609 courses nationwide using an 11-tier scoring system, according to GOLF. Electors ranked courses from top three in the U.S. down to those deserving removal from consideration.

Atlanta Athletic Club had two Metro Atlanta courses named to the list, with Riverside placing

7th and Highlands at the 9 spot.

Johns Creek’s Rivermont Golf Club came in at no. 13.

Augusta National, home of the Masters Tournament and designed by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, earned recognition as the state’s best course and one of the magazine's Top

100 Courses in the U.S.

Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta ranked 2nd, followed by Ohoopee Match Club in Cobbtown. Six of the top 20 courses offer public access.

— Carl Appen

GOLF magazine’s top 20 golf courses in Georgia

Business brings Indian artistry to downtown Alpharetta store

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Ginny & Daughters, a local handcrafted luxury home goods brand, opened its first brick-andmortar store Aug. 6 at 225 Market Street within Alpharetta City Center.

The family-run business, inspired by generations of textile artisans in India, offers a curated collection of high-quality, organic, hand block-painted cotton products made with natural dyes and unique design techniques.

Founded by Ginny and Saheb Banga in 2023, Ginny & Daughters began as a passion project to carry on Ginny’s family traditions and honor their two daughters.

The Bangas sold their products at local flea markets around Metro Atlanta before settling on a store location at Alpharetta City Center due to growing demand and interest from their customers.

Ginny & Daughters offers a wide range of home and lifestyle goods, including quilts, shams, bathrobes, cushion covers, table linens, bed sheets and duvet covers.

All products are made with non-toxic inks and hand-stitched, ensuring they are safe for children to use as well.

I know an (ex)CEO with a giant heart

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away… Wait a minute. I’ll not be writing about Star Wars since I only watched the first three movies, which in reality were the fourth, fifth, and sixth in the series.

I kinda, sorta, maybe understood those three. Just a little bit. Enough to know that Luke’s Daddy was Darth. Any other Star Wars offering makes me scramble for the remote and looking for a Western.

Oh yeah, back to the long time ago. The far away galaxy was actually in a classroom at Fresno State University, where journalism was taught as a major and not as some afterthought. Remember, this was when everyone in those classes fancied themselves as Woodward and Bernstein wannabes.

It seemed everyone wanted to be an “investigative journalist,” standing at the ready to expose the next corrupt conspiracy. Not me, I was more concerned about baseball box scores and whether going to law school for three more years made sense to anyone but my parents.

After a miserable year of studying to be a lawyer in San Diego, I should have known “lawyering” was an iffy career path, especially since I was more excited about playing intramural softball than analyzing boring legal cases.

I’m sure those exam answers were nonsensical and gave my soon-to-be

former law school professors cause to wonder how they could have failed this student who didn’t write like a lawyer. In fact, one “Blue Book” exam was returned to me with a “70” (barely passing) with a comment: “No legal rationale. You write like a writer.”

Oops. Sorry. I spent the next three years doing what I had done in college: writing about sports.

One pearl I learned was to “write what you see and write what you feel.”

That’s why, after a recent lunch at Giorgio’s, I felt compelled to write about my forever friend, Shaun Callahan.

A quick back story: Shaun and I met at the old Lanier Golf Club where we played every Saturday morning. I can honestly say playing with Shaun and his two boys, Bobby and Michael, were some of the best golf experiences of my life. I was blessed to watch the boys grow up and observe Shaun being a dad. The lessons came in handy when my sons hit those less-than-magical teenage years.

To us, golf was always a game that was played for fun. The gambling stakes were minimal, but the highlight every weekend, along with all those belly laughs, was ordering a “Mike Tasos” sandwich (bacon, egg, cheese on toasted rye).

Sadly, that wonderful, wooded course has been reduced to a high-density subdivision of cookie cutter homes, where there is no evidence that there was a superb place to play golf and a pool where my boys learned to swim.

See TASOS, Page 12

How being a bad golfer can be hazardous to your health

Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology

I recently had a conversation with a patient about tick-borne illnesses, and our discussion reminded me of an interesting study that I Iearned about in medical school – a tale that ended with the warning “don’t go into the rough.” If you haven’t heard of it, ehrlichiosisis is one of numerous diseases that ticks carry and that humans can catch when ticks bite them, but this disease was not always so well known.

The year is 1993, and four men who lived in a golf-oriented retirement community in Tennessee were hospitalized with fever, headache, vomiting and abdominal pain. Blood tests revealed abnormally low white blood cell counts, low platelets, as well as inflammation of the liver. Two of these men ended up in the intensive care unit. An astute physician ordered a test for ehrlichiosis, and all four men tested positive for this illness.

This outbreak prompted the physician to assign several residents and medical students (aka “underlings”) to tramp through the woods and go door to door in this golf community gathering information about other people who might be infected. People were asked for blood samples and patients admitted to the local hospital with fever of unknown origin also had their blood tested. An “environmental survey” was conducted of local animals to identify ticks and the diseases that they carried.

As the results came in, a picture began to emerge. Most of the patients were golfers. There was a trend towards higher rates of infection in people who golfed more often. But, compellingly, it was only the bad golfers – those who averaged high scores –who seemed to be getting infected.

What could be causing the bad golfers to be infected while the good golfers remained healthy? Were their immune systems, like their golf swings, simply superior to those of the bad golfers? Is charisma a factor?

No, it turned out that the single factor that was most strongly associated with ehrlichiosis infection was retrieving a golf ball that was hit off the golf course instead of using a new ball. And bad golfers hit the golf ball in the rough or in the woods more often than the good golfers. In fact, golfers who retrieved their balls from the woods were 270% more likely to be infected than those who simply used a new ball. The case was cracked, and the lesson was clear – don’t go into the rough. Or, if you do, use a lot of insect repellant.

This tick season, remember to protect yourself. If you know a golfer, warn him or her about ehrlichiosis. And if you or a loved one has a spot worrisome for skin cancer or any other dermatologic complaint, please consider Dr. Brent Taylor and Kathryn Filipek, PA-C of Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta for your skin care needs.

Insist

Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.

He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.

Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.

Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.

Tips for defiant behavior

If your child is struggling with defiant, aggressive, impulsive, irritable behaviors and can be especially difficult with obeying rules and respecting authority these may be signs of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) symptoms. Raising kids can be challenging but it can be even more of a challenge when setting structure for your child and they refuse to follow it. Listed below are suggestions to help parents if the behaviors listed above are present or if parents have received a diagnosis of ODD.

1. Try to separate their behavior from their identity. They are likely not engaging in the behavior intentionally, but it may be a response to some internal struggles they are experiencing.

2. Try not to compare your struggles to theirs. Adults have a stronger threshold because they have lived longer. In this case, do not compete against what they may be going through with what you have experienced or may be experiencing now. Listen and understand the challenges they may face so you can hear how things look and feel from their perspective. It is not about anyone being right or wrong. Healthy relationships require us to understand others’ struggles and viewpoints to support them in those areas. For example, if the child thinks no one listens to them, it would be helpful to carve out intentional time to let them speak without offering any comments but just letting them talk. This does not mean they were right or that anyone was wrong, but this is an identified area where we can provide support.

3. Remember the positives and try to speak about them as much as possible. You may say things like “You are so amazing at articulating how you feel, and it helps me when you do that.” Avoid saying aggressive or negative things. You can still be assertive by saying “No” but avoid name-calling. Sometimes they may not want to get in trouble even though they know the behavior can lead to trouble.

Impulsivity for negative behaviors is common for a variety of reasons, including control or attention.

4. Pick your battles. It could be helpful to create a discipline system that prevents you from having to engage in arguments. If they did not do the dishes and the consequence is there is no screen time for the night, you can avoid having to argue or go back and forth even if the child tries to disagree. Decide the rules (write them down) and be consistent with them. Try not to add or change anything. You can create a daily routine or checklist to earn rewards when items are completed.

5. Unfortunately, their struggles may be triggered by aggressive or negative talk and negative attention. Responding in these ways will only feed and continue the cycle. The idea is to break the cycle and create a healthier one.

These things are time-consuming. However, these steps are designed to help parents maintain peace and create balance in the household. Rules are healthy for every child. Our goal is to learn how to implement them so the child can grasp and understand. Parents starting individual therapy can be helpful to have a safe space to practice self-care and confront personal emotions that could be arising.

Back to school care

Checking in on your child’s health

Brought to you by – Wellstar

As your family begins the new school year, help your child start off strong. Make sure their health is up to date by scheduling a checkup.

Before heading back to the classroom, prioritize your child’s physical and emotional well-being with a visit to your family’s Wellstar pediatrician. Our compassionate pediatricians share your goal of keeping children healthy as they grow.

“I believe in treating the whole child. What I mean by that is their physical health is very important, but I also feel that their emotional health is imperative,” said Wellstar Pediatrician Dr. Brandi Lewis. “My goal is for all my patients to be resilient, happy and healthy. My role is to work with families to help accomplish that goal.”

Preventative check-ups and screenings help children stay ahead of health issues. Our pediatricians will ensure your child is up to date on their vaccines and discuss which immunizations are needed to prevent disease. Your family’s pediatrician can also help you navigate health requirements at your child’s school.

Heading back to school healthy

Teach your child healthy habits so they can feel their best throughout the school year.

• Practice good hygiene. Show children how to wash their hands properly and remind them to do it frequently. Do not send your children to school if they are sick.

• Get moving. Children should have about 30 to 60 minutes of moderate activity every day. Staying active can be as simple as a fun family bike ride around the block, a game of tag in the yard or going for a walk in the park.

• Eat healthy. Teach children about good nutrition by encouraging them to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and by limiting sugary drinks.

• Get plenty of sleep. Children ages 3 to 5 should get about 10 to 13 hours of sleep a day. Children 6 to 12 years old should get nine to 12 hours, and teenagers need about 8 to 10 hours.

While the end of summer is often a busy time, planning ahead now will help ensure the entire family has a healthy, successful year.

Find a Wellstar pediatrician near you at wellstar.org/kidcare.

At Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, PeopleCare means getting more of the expert care you deserve so you can enjoy more of what you love.

Equipped with the latest technology and medical expertise, we are committed to delivering quality, personalized care— tailored to you. Wellstar North Fulton is a Level II Emergency Cardiac Care Center , Level II Trauma Center and Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center , so you can get the advanced care you need close to home. wellstar.org/northfulton

At Home Helpers, our focus every day is matching the right caregiver with each of our clients. We guarantee a good match. Finding the right caregiver is much more than just seeking a professional with great skills. It’s about finding a caregiver with the heart and spirit to make a difference in someone’s life.

Navigating senior living

to residents.

The need for senior care often presents families with a daunting decision: should their older loved one stay at home with supportive care, or would an assisted living community better serve their needs? The basic activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, fall prevention, nurturing social ties and ensuring good nutrition are critical considerations. It’s also important to look ahead to when these needs become more intensive and difficult, called high acuity.

Home Helpers offers one-on-one dedicated care for your loved ones needs, allowing them to age in place in the comfort and safety of home even as acuity needs progress.

Assisted Living Communities (ALCs) offer a balance of independence and assistance, with social opportunities and scheduled activities, positioned between independent living and nursing homes. They do not provide one-on-one care, with an average assisted living tenure of 22 months. Here are questions to help plan for high acuity needs and what comes next.

How quickly will a call for assistance be answered and how often each day? When your loved one pushes an ALC button and now needs help with incontinence or transferring from a bed to a chair, an hour wait versus a prompt response makes a major difference in their sense of dignity, personal cleanliness and well-being. Georgia requires a minimum of one awake direct-care daytime staff member for every 15 residents and one per 20 residents overnight. Quality communities keep response times under 10 minutes. Ask how much total time a caregiver will spend daily with a resident and the ratio of direct care staff

A dedicated Home Helpers caregiver provides the immediate response only one-on-one care can offer.

If your fall risk increases, what happens? Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. At an ALC you may have to advance to a different level of care there, leave for another facility, or have the added cost of hiring your own private caregiver to supplement care. A daytime fall risk could mean 12 hours of added private care, or 24 hours if night time fall care is also needed. There is no set level of care you have to fit in with Home Helpers, only the care plan that’s right for your safety. We can adjust your care level if you’re recuperating from surgery, need more support at night, or include other providers such as in-home nursing support if necessary.

How do you recruit and what kind of training does the care staff receive? Some ALCs no longer do their own recruiting and now use an outside staffing agency, depending on an outside resource to vet their caregivers.

We know the importance of carefully recruiting heart centered caregivers with strong skills, who are key to our earning the Best Home Care for Seniors in North Atlanta Award 8 years running.

How stable is the ownership and management? A change of ALC ownership could mean changes in levels of continued high acuity care. Take a close look at the history and financial health of the facility.

A proud member of our community for 13 years, we know how important it is for the promise of care to be one that is delivered. We’re here to help, from six hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. For a free consultation call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta at (770) 681-0323.

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Good luck!

1 Pigeon’s hangout. Watersking venue. Kick out

2. Beginner. Water deliverer. Smell

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

1. Pigeon’s hangout. Watersking venue. Kick out.

2. Beginner. Water deliverer. Smell.

3. Food. Love god. Store bought water.

4. Indian bread. Salt water. Point of lowest despair.

5. Playground item. Hold tight. Ducks found here.

6. Water holder. One-pot meal. Fireman’s need.

7. Chess piece. Where to find rapids. Hate.

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. Food. Love god. Store bought water

4. Indian bread. Salt water. Point of lowest despair

5. Playground item. Hold tight.

Montana report: tan-and-yellow hoppers…and no redbugs!

Last time, you’ll recall, the topic was redbugs. Also known as chiggers, they are those nefarious little creatures that live in the grass and like to eat things like you and me. The sneaky little devils creep up on you and then enjoy dinner, leaving you with red bite spots and an itch of Biblical proportions.

When I get to Heaven, I would like to ask why redbugs were part of the plan. Might we have been just as well off without them? Inquiring minds want to know.

But I digress. The burning (itching) question that I left you with was this: Would I find redbugs in Montana, too?

I asked our host and guide, Craig DeMark of On DeMark Lodge (an incredible place, if I may say so) if redbugs were a thing in Montana. He said no. That was good to hear, because I wanted to spend the last hour of daylight fishing from the bank. I’d be walking through the tall grass along the river’s edge. At home, it would be Redbug City.

And so, once we finished another extraordinary dinner prepared by Craig’s wife Becky, I set off down the gravel road to the water to look for trout.

“Take your time,” my wife said, and so off I went.

My plan was to cast a grasshopper imitation into the current close to the bank in hopes that a big brown or rainbow trout might be lurking there waiting for a nice, juicy hopper to come floating by. I’d be casting the same hopper imitation I’d used earlier in the day, and it had brought me several nice fish already. That fly had the power, it seemed! The thick grass along the river was perfect hopper habitat (now there’s a phrase that rolls smoothly off the tongue), and I hoped that the evening breeze might blow enough of the real bugs into the river to make the fish interested in my optimistic imitation.

But tall grass, I thought to myself… Craig had said redbugs were not an issue. And so, relieved and reassured, I set off down the hill.

We had floated through this section of the river earlier in the day, and I tried to remember what I’d seen from the perspective of the boat. There was deep water there, and a good edge where fish might hold there, and we had seen fish working there. There was plenty of water to explore, and I could reach a lot of it from the bank without even getting my feet wet.

I worked my way down to within a few feet of the water’s edge. At that moment, there was a gust of wind. But it eased up quickly, allowing me to cast in the relative calm.

I did, and the cast was not a bad one. The fly line rolled out and settled to the

river’s surface. I lifted the rod and pulled in line to keep things tight, and then – as I reached to retrieve a little more line – there came what I’ve come to call a “Missouri River strike” and a monster of a fish nailed the fly, and I tried to set the hook. Adrenaline surged! But adrenaline does bad things to one’s cast, especially if one is not used to such things, and I yanked the fly right out of the fish’s mouth and sent it zooming at supersonic speed into some of that same tall, tall grass that I had been worried about.

Of course, the grass was in a place where I could not retrieve the fly. I fiddled with it from a distance, for a bit, but finally gave up and broke it off.

If you happen to find a tan and yellow grasshopper fly stuck in the grass on the Missouri River near Cascade, Montana, it’s mine. But you can keep it.

It’s a lucky one. Anyway, grasshopper gone, I switched to a minnow imitation called a “Sparkle Minnow.” It’s a spectacularly flashy fly, sure to grab the attention of any nearby fish. That’s my kind of fly! I cast the streamer out-and-across, let it sink a few seconds, and then began to retrieve it in regular foot-long strips. Strip…strip…strip…

The strike was strong, hard, and definite. I lifted the rod and felt the pull as the rod bent into the fish. Wow! Upriver it ran, then it turned and headed out toward the middle and then dashed downstream. I lifted the rod to keep the line away from snags. Through the line, I felt the unseen fish shake its head and then felt another surging run as it once more took off across the flow.

But the fish was tiring. I could tell. Time to think about landing it.

Redbugs forgotten, I moved up the bank into a better position to bring it to the net. “Please hold, knot!” I said half out loud. Admonition? Prayer? Both?

Maybe my knot was good, or maybe the same God that made redbugs heard my plea and smiled on my line. For everything stayed together, and four minutes later a beautiful Montana brown trout of about 19 inches was resting in my net.

I admired the fish, measuring it against my rod so I’d know for sure, and then eased it gently back into the water. What a wonderful way to end a Montana day. And there was not a single redbug bite. God really does work in mysterious ways.

Later, I told her about the fish. I told her about the cast, and the lost hopper, and the switch to the streamer, and the other cast and the strike and the battle.

“And,” I told her, “there were no redbugs!”

She looked at me in that way that she does.

Later, I dreamt of big rivers and big trout and the goodness of it all. Everything comes together, doesn’t it?

But I still don’t know why we have redbugs.

Continued from Page 6

Shaun and wife Kathy are two of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet. Shaun is a retired CEO and plays golf and tennis regularly. He’s a grandpa now and the day we had lunch, he was about to take the “grands” out for an afternoon movie. I got a laugh picturing my friend at

the pictures, seeing “The Smurfs.” I hope the seats were those plush ones and that the popcorn was sufficiently buttered. Shaun and Kathy are doing retirement the right way. They had just returned from a weekend jaunt to Bristol Motor Speedway to watch the Braves play the Cincinnati Reds at that funky stadium setup. His leftfield seats meant Shaun needed a high-powered telescope to see the game.

We’ve all met someone who inspires

awe because the just can’t seem to say “nope.” My money is on him not staying retired for long. After all, how many movies featuring blue characters can one man take? Besides, there will be someone who needs something, and I figure Shaun will be there.

The problem with guys like Shaun is that doing anything to reciprocate is darned near impossible. That’s why I was nimble enough to snag the check at Giorgio’s.

Beating him to the punch was gratifying, especially with Shaun’s “Hey you bought last time” protestations. That’s right. And I got the next one too. Money spends but friends are priceless.

Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

OPINION

Personal choice may help keep AI genie in the bottle

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

I have written about this more than a few times. Technological growth continues to outpace our ability to process what that technology provides – personally and as a society. We keep trying to play catch-up, but the gap keeps growing. And AI is only the next big leap in tech, one of many more to come.

“Information” is the foundation. It feels like that amount of information available to us is growing exponentially while our ability to deal with it is growing arithmetically. Thus, information is creating brave new worlds; it is also destroying worlds. It is a paradox that I keep thinking about but one that is way outside my ability to really understand.

The central paradox to me is the idea that scarcity is the foundation – or part of the core basis – of “value.” Something that is very abundant – like for example, sand

Elections:

Continued from Page 1

• Alpharetta City Council Posts 1, 2 and 3

- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- The qualifying fee is $450.

- For more information, visit www.alpharetta.ga.us/361/Running-for-Office

• Dunwoody City Council Post 1 (District 1), Post 2 (District 2) and Post 3 (District 3).

- Qualifying for these races will be Aug.

Business:

Continued from Page 5

Ginny Banga said her goal is to create products that feel good, look beautiful and honor the people and process behind them.

“We’re grateful to our loyal customer base here in Metro Atlanta, whose continued support has created the need for a physical store location,” Banga said. “We are thrilled to open our doors at ACC and give shoppers the opportunity to see our full range of elegant, first-class products in person, seven days a week.”

Drawing on her familial textile heritage in India, Ginny designs each

– is worth much less than something that is acutely scarce – like diamonds or a cure for cancer.

While AI doesn’t actually create or substantially increase the amount of information in existence, it does increase our access to greater amounts of information – something that feels like close to the same thing. And greater abundance means less value. And since our lives are so information-centric, a greater abundance of information must suggest that our lives have less value – or that the quality of our lives is decreasing. Bear with me.

Herbert Simon, 1978 Nobel Prize winner in economics, described my paradox succinctly. He said that “In an information-rich world, the wealth of information means a dearth of something else: a scarcity of whatever it is that information consumes. What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information

18 to 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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product herself, partnering with skilled artisans to bring her vision to life. The pieces are made in a factory in India that has been in operation for over 100 years, and every product is hand-printed using traditional block printing methods, high-quality breathable cotton and eco-friendly materials.

The store also partners with select artisans and makers, including Le Jacquard Français, a French textile manufacturer known for its high-end table linens and home goods, and Terrafirma Ceramics, a studio based in New York City offering a collection of handmade, hand-painted ceramics.

Islanna McNeally, property manager at Alpharetta City Center, said the shop’s thoughtfully made prod -

resources that might consume it.”

That is, this technology-driven, ever-increasing amount of information that we are trying to process is taking our “pie” – the amount of time and attention that we have at our disposal – compressing it and slicing it into smaller and smaller pieces which, in turn, is making our lives less connected, less meaningful, less engaged and less happy. A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.

So collectively, I don’t believe that we can go home again. We cannot undo technological advancement; it is already too hard-wired into society – all aspects of it. However, is it possible that we can –individually – roll back the clock, at least a little? Perhaps that is the $64 question. Can we? What do you think?

It is hard for me not to think about the Amish and their way of life. Isn’t that what they have done – choose to avoid at least some of this modern high-tech world and remain more or less “analogue” – and still function relatively successfully?

What the Amish have done involves making choices, and isn’t it fair to believe

prior to Election Day.

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• Sandy Springs mayor and all six City Council seats.

- Qualifying for these races will be Aug. 18 to 21, from 8:30 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; as well as Aug. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon.

- The qualifying fee is $1,260 for mayor, and is $780 for council seats.

- Those seeking office must have lived in the city for a year prior to Election Day and six months in the district

ucts will be a great addition to the community, reflecting the quality and character visitors value.

Alpharetta City Center is a 26-acre mixed-use development in downtown Alpharetta, including the new City Hall, luxury living community Amorance and more than 30 shops and restaurants.

Also new downtown is Sunset Alpharetta, a restaurant blending chefcrafted cuisines and an immersive cocktail and wine program.

Ginny & Daughters will be open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit ginnyanddaughters.com.

— Hayden Sumlin

that our ability to make choices remains relatively in place despite the avalanche of technology that threatens to swallow “life as we know it” whole? Is it realistic to consider this possibility? I want to think that it may be – within a measured expectation. Yes, there is more information permeating life as we know it than ever before in the history of the world. Yes, we cannot sweep it out the back door or sequester it somewhere underground like radioactive fuel rods. But can’t we make small, personal, manageable and wise incremental choices that walk back some of the weight of all that information on our lives – and replace it with choices that do enhance and nurture who we are and how we live? Can we not be intentional about this? Surely, we have ability to see what is happening.

The noise of AI is deafening. Technology never sleeps. It is our world today, but surely, we do have the ability to protect some of what we know to be missioncritical for our kind – to muddle forward in a “more/most” sustainable way. Isn’t that choice still out there?

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