Forsyth Herald - August 21, 2025

BUSINESS PROFILE

Daughter follows parents’ entrepreneurial footsteps

► PAGE 6

SCREENSHOT

Commissioners discuss a proposed contract to develop a master plan for Polo Fields Park during their Aug. 12 work session.

County eyes master plan for Polo Fields project

By JON WILCOX

jon@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Polo Fields Park could receive a plan to transform it into a recreational hub for southwest Forsyth County.

At its Aug. 12 work session, the Forsyth County Commission discussed awarding a $46,770 contract to Lose Design to create a master plan to develop the 39-acre park. The park hosts soccer fields and an equestrian center and is used by thousands of residents.

Commissioners tabled the item with plans to review Lose Design because of concerns about

how the company has handled other projects. Commissioners discussed whether the county could improve accountability to ensure work is delivered on time.

Surrounded by thousands of homes, the park could become an important resource in enhancing the nearby community, said Commissioner Todd Levent.

Across Post Road from Polo Fields lies Vickery Village, which boasts 200,000 square feet of retail, office and restaurant space that includes Cherry Street Brewing. A YMCA lies adjacent to it.

See COUNTY, Page 13

Two weekend hunts planned for this fall

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County hunters can participate in two weekend hunts as part of a continued deer population control program.

At an Aug. 12 meeting, the Forsyth County Commission approved the program, which was started in 2024. The hunts are a partnership between the county and Georgia Department of Natural Resources Urban Deer Management Program.

It includes two archery hunts between dawn and dusk Oct. 4-5 and Nov. 1-2 on 287 acres near the Shakerag Water Reclamation Facility, 545 Kemp Road.

More information

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.

Aug. 18 and be open for 48 hours.

To register, visit tinyurl. com/3mvevpt2.

The first hunt is open to 16 county youths between the ages of 10 and 17. The second invites residents 18 and up.

Assistant County Manager Tony Tarnacki said the county established the program after receiving numerous complaints about deer destroying landscaping and causing vehicle crashes.

See HUNT, Page 13

FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED

A white-tailed deer pauses near the Shakerag Water Reclamation Facility. Forsyth County commissioners approved two weekend hunts to control deer populations in the fall.

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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.

Men charged with drug possession at jail

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 34-year-old Roswell man was arrested on drug and intoxicated driving charges Aug. 8.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said deputies stopped an SUV that failed to slow or move over during a traffic stop of another vehicle on the shoulder of northbound Ga. 400 near Buford Highway.

The driver of the SUV, the Roswell man, had bloodshot eyes, a flushed face and odor of alcohol, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies conducted a roadside sobriety test after the man allegedly admitted to drinking six beers.

Several open alcohol containers were located inside the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies arrested the man on intoxicated driving and open alcohol container charges.

A search of the vehicle revealed a grinder containing marijuana, the sheriff’s office said.

An 18-year-old Dawsonville man inside the SUV was arrested on an underage consumption of alcohol charge after deputies allegedly smelled alcohol on him.

At the county jail, jailers found tightly rolled dollar bills with suspected cocaine residue in the pockets of the driver and teen, the sheriff’s office said.

Both were charged with felony possession of cocaine.

— Jon Wilcox

Woman allegedly defrauded of $20,000 by scammer

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — An 83-year-old Cumming woman was allegedly defrauded of more than $20,000 by a phone scam in July.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said the woman told deputies she had spoke with an alleged scammer after receiving a text message purportedly from Apple July 10. The message asked her to confirm a payment of $599.20.

After calling a phone number on the message, the woman spoke with a man who told her that her account had been hacked and she needed to pay to close it, the sheriff’s office said.

She allegedly was advised to purchase five $500 gift cards and send their numbers to the man.

The woman said she trusted the man because he befriended her. Her husband had recently died.

Every day, the man messaged her, often sending her pictures of his dog.

The man stopped contacting her Aug. 1 after American Express began to warn her she could be the victim of a scam.

The incident was classified as a felony first-degree forgery.

— Jon Wilcox

Break-ins at apartment mailrooms reported

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Apartment mailrooms were reported burglarized July 29.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to a Rockberry Lane apartment complex about noon after the alleged crime was reported.

Doors to three mailrooms appeared forced open.

Nothing was reported missing.

Damage to the doors was valued at $200.

The incident was classified as a felony burglary of a commercial non-dwelling.

— Jon Wilcox

Peachtree Corners man reports stolen BMW

ROSWELL, Ga. — A 36-year-old Peachtree Corners man reported the theft of his green 2022 BMW M3 Aug. 4 from a retail parking lot off Holcomb Bridge Road.

An officer said he met with the man, whose family owns the store, at the Roswell Police Department to discuss the case.

The victim said his car had been parked in the same spot at the business for more than 2 weeks, and he last saw it there the evening of Aug. 2. The man also said he found no glass near the parking spot and kept the vehicle locked.

After the officer was unable to locate the $50,000 BMW using license plate readers, he listed it as stolen in a regional crime database.

The victim said he would like to press charges, and the case remains active.

— Hayden Sumlin

Man charged with assault in alleged rock attack

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A 78-year-old Alpharetta man was charged with aggravated assault after allegedly throwing rocks at a salesman July 30.

Alpharetta police said officers were dispatched to a Reece Road home about 7 p.m.

A 20-year-old Alpharetta salesman, who was following up with customers in the area, said he was approached by the 78-year-old man during a conversation with a passing driver. The salesman said he began the conversation because he was intrigued by the driver’s car.

The 20-year-old man said the elderly man began an argument with him and the driver, accusing them of being inside his home.

After the driver left, the salesman said the 78-year-old man threw rocks at him, hitting him in the chest and head, police said. The older man allegedly began yelling “stone him, stone him.”

The salesman, who showed a video of the incident to officers, removed the stones from the man’s hands and called police.

Officers said they suspected the older man of suffering from a mental health crisis. He was taken to a Fulton County hospital for evaluation.

— Jon Wilcox

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Mr. College Football previews fall season at Dunwoody Village

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — If someone watches Southeastern Conference schools compete in the fall, they call 30year Dunwoody resident Tony Barnhart “Mr. College Football.”

The legendary sportswriter stopped by his hometown Aug. 11 to chat with the Village Mill ROMEOs, a group of “retired old men eating out” once a month on Monday mornings at J. Christophers.

Dunwoody resident David Gordon, a South African immigrant, said it’s mindboggling to follow a sport where players cycle through every couple of years, but he’s working on it.

For most of the audience, listening to Barnhart talk college football is a sign the heat and humidity are waning.

After half a century covering college football, Mr. College Football said his 50th season covering the sport for newspapers, radio, television and the internet will be his last.

Barnhart has worked for the flagships of sports media: CBS Sports, ESPN’s SEC Network and College Gameday, as well as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is currently a columnist for TMG College Sports and a contributor to a weekly SEC radio show.

In a letter shared with the ROMEOs, Barnhart said his 92-year-old mother told him that 50 is a nice round number.

“I will work through the CFP National Championship game in Miami on Monday, Jan. 19. Then I will retire,” he wrote. “I never thought I would write those words.”

Mr. College Football’s season preview at the Village went through the state of the sport and its relationship with the NCAA, his predictions for each round of the 12-team playoff and some insider information on recruiting classes and new players.

“The irony with all the problems that we’re having in college football …,” Barnhart said. “While there’s financial issues going on, the game on the field is better than it’s ever been.”

He said Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals and a wide-open transfer portal is a big challenge for the sport that will require legislation or collective bargaining to resolve. Barnhart said no one knows the solution.

Tony “Mr. College Football” Barnhart and his wife Maria, a four-time president of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club, enjoy a trip to Gainesville, Florida July 26 for a reception honoring the legendary sportswriter and the couple’s friends Jerri and Steve Spurrier. After his 50th season covering the sport, Barnhart will retire to family, writing and charitable work.

If the playoffs are going to expand from 12 to 16 teams across the country in a couple of years, he said the two most prolific conferences — the SEC and the Big Ten — are going to need to agree on a format.

His top four teams at the end of this upcoming season with a first-round bye in the playoffs are the Texas Longhorns, the Penn State Nittany Lions, the Clemson Tigers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Texas quarterback Arch Manning was impressive during the 2025 SEC Football Media Days in July, he said.

“The four first-round games are played on campus at the home of the higher seed,” Barnhart said. “And basically, they said give us more on-campus games.”

He said he predicts the University of Georgia to match up with the University of Miami in Athens, setting up former Bulldog quarterback Carson Beck to face his replacement, Gunner Stockton.

“I’m just imagining that he will receive a warm reception as he drives onto Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium,” Barnhardt said. “This would be perfect,

[Beck] drives on the field in his Lamborghini and Gunner Stockton drives on with his ’79 Ford pick-up.”

A few hours later, college football fans got the first top 25 poll of the 2025-26 season from the Associated Press. Reporters from around the country agreed with Mr. College Football, ranking the Manning-led Longhorns as the nation’s preseason top team for the first time in history.

After the 2026 National Championship Jan. 19 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Barnhart is planning to retire, write some more books, work with his wife Maria on charitable endeavors and spend time with their two grandchildren.

He said the first book after his retirement will be a collection of essays from each stop on his “Thank You” tour of some of his favorite spots across schools in the Southeastern Conference.

Mr. College Football is a 1976 graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism. He got his first full-time job in the newspaper business as a one-person sports department for the Union City Times in South Carolina.

Of his six published books, the most recent, “The 19 of Greene: Football, Friendship, and Change in the Fall of 1970,” recounts his experience with racial integration in small-town Georgia as a member of the county’s first integrated football team.

Tony and his wife Maria moved to Dunwoody in 1994. Today, there are four generations of Barnharts living in Dunwoody with no plans of leaving anytime soon.

Maria has served as president of the Dunwoody Woman’s Club, a local branch of the international service organization, four times. Tony and Maria are involved in several charities, including the annual Honduras Outreach International Golf Tournament in May and the Big Game Ball Aug. 27 to benefit the National Down Syndrome Congress.

Maria said she is passionate about the work of the NDSC and programs for individuals with Down syndrome because of her younger brother who was diagnosed.

As for her husband’s retirement announcement and her relationship with Steve Spurrier, Maria said the reception honoring both college football legends was as exceptional as their legacies.

Alpharetta rock camp offers creative outlet

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The handful of kids confidently walked onto the stage, slung guitars over their shoulders and walked up to microphones. They were ready to rock.

“We are Solo Warriors, and we are going to rock your faces,” said rock band camp Director Mark Grundhoefer, introducing the band to an audience of parents.

Grundhoefer and fellow Director Victor Ezquerra molded about a dozen local kids into rock stars during a week-long summer camp. Provided through a partnership between Metro Music Makers and the Alpharetta Arts Center, the camp guided children through the basics of making rock and roll music while teaching soft skills such as creativity, music appreciation and problem solving.

About a dozen children split into two bands, the all-girls Solo Warriors and all-boys Twisted Chicken (Bake).

On July 25 in a nook at the Arts Center, the bands took turns on stage, working their way through a 10-song set that included an homage to the late Ozzy Osbourne. The performance also included two songs written by camp participants.

Under the wash of colored lighting, the kids filled the arts center, which was hosting a Juneteenth art exhibit, with the drone of electric guitars, shimmer of keyboard and thunder of drums. Custom T-shirts, bandanas and ripped

jeans helped them channel their internal swagger and banish any hint of stage fright.

The kids spent six hours each day during the preceding week, learning the songs and even writing some of their own. All of the participants have some musical background, which helped in learning the instruments.

Grundhoefer, who has led the camp in Alpharetta for almost 20 years, said he prefers a less-structured kind of class. Kids split into groups, tackling problems together as the two directors move between them, helping out when they can.

Problem solving and learning on the fly is a big part of rock music, but it is also a lesson that can come in handy elsewhere in adult life, the directors said.

Whether it be figuring out how to decorate a T-shirt, troubleshoot a guitar or get a part right, Grundhoefer said he loves it when the kids work through their battles on their own.

“You saw the gear that they have,” Ezquerra said. “One of the main things is, like, why doesn’t this work? They have to go and figure out. Is this volume on? Is it plugged in? Which one are you plugged into?”

The kids also learned how to work in groups, getting lessons on when to give feedback and when to hold back.

“They have to learn to work together,” Grundhoefer said. “It can be really frustrating, and we really try to have honest conversations about that.”

See ROCK, Page 13

MACY PETTETT,

Daughter follows parents’ entrepreneurial footsteps

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Nestled underneath her parents’ coffee shop, guests can find Macy Pettett piecing together clothing to create the perfect outfits in her store, Bungalow 1088.

The smell of coffee and pastries seep into the playful atmosphere of the boutique, where Pettett creates content and working in the store.

Pettett has been raised to be an entrepreneur, helping her parents with their coffee shop, Crazy Love Coffee House, which opened in 2017.

“I worked up there since we opened and did socials and a lot of different creative things,” Pettett said.

She continued her passion for running a business and went to Kennesaw State University to study culinary sustainability and hospitality.

“It’s just kind of helped transfer into this,” she said.

Her father introduced the idea to Macy, encouraging her to open a clothing boutique underneath the coffee shop.

“They thought, ‘why not open up a clothing boutique,’” she said.

While her parents technically own the space, Pettett runs and manages the boutique.

Like her parents coffee shop, Bungalow 1088 was founded on Christian principles. Guests can find Bible verses sprinkled throughout the store.

Pettett wants the store to be like a ministry that reaches out to the community for Jesus. She said the goal for the boutique is to make customers feel confident and feel good about what they’re wearing, while also showing Christ’s love.

“A lot of people feel very intimidated by church and different stuff,” Pettett said. “This is providing an environment to welcome people.”

Bungalow:

Continued from Page 6

Her inspiration for the store comes from places like Anthropologie and Free People. Pettett uses Pinterest to research the newest trends.

“We try to pick out a lot of clothes that would look good on everyone,” she said. “[We pick] not as much confusing styles, but more simplistic, fun colors, more solids, not as many patterns.”

When designing the store, Pettett and her mother drew inspiration from other boutiques, picking bits and pieces of their favorite colors and designs.

Although the store just opened in June, Pettett said business has been “really good and really busy.”

“We’ve had a lot of good support from the community, but also from our church and our friends,” she said.

Pettett has two favorite parts to owning a boutique, picking out the pieces of clothing and meeting people.

“I love getting to pick out stuff for people to try on, and just help people find things,” she said.

Bungalow 1088 also offers free personal styling sessions for customers to get their new favorite outfits. Customers can come in to give Pettet a vision and favorite colors, so that she can pick out some new pieces for them.

“I just thought fashion was really fun to just express yourself,” Pettett said.

The boutique also sells devotionals, purses, shoes and even hand-made furniture.

To learn more about the boutique, visit bungalow1088.com.

WAS PRESIDENT FORD RIGHT TO PARDON ROBERT E. LEE?

Join Student Leadership North and The Georgia Politics Podcast

for a special debate marking the 50th anniversary of President Gerald Ford’s controversial decision. Our panel will explore the historical, political, and cultural impacts of the pardon –and what it means for America today.

Date: Sunday, August 24th, 4 pm

Location: Thornhill Subdivision Clubhouse, 9200 Waits Ferry Crossing, Johns Creek, GA 30097 Presented by: Student Leadership North and The Georgia Politics Podcast

Come ready to challenge assumptions, hear compelling arguments, and join the conversation about how history shapes our present.

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Milton football opens season with loss to Buford

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

BUFORD, Ga — The Milton Eagles’ comeback fell short Aug. 14, dropping the season opener to the Buford Wolves, 20-13 in the inaugural game at Buford’s $62 million Phillip Beard Stadium.

It was Milton’s first loss in nearly two years and the first time losing to Buford since 2019. Snapping a 25-game win streak required Buford to capitalize on several Eagle mistakes.

Buford, ranked No. 13 in the country by MaxPreps, has a loaded senior class with eight SEC commits. Quarterback Dayton Raiola is committed to Nebraska, as well.

Facing a defense that forced four turnovers, the Eagles never trailed by more than two scores, remaining neck-and-neck with Buford until the final minute of the game.

Eagles quarterback Derrick Baker was the primary target of the Wolves’ defense. Baker said at practice the day before the matchup that Phillip Beard will be the biggest stadium he has played in.

Throughout the game, Baker had to step out several times when his helmet was knocked off during play. The native of Naples, Florida, threw 6-for-15 for 1 touchdown and two interceptions and rushed for 78 yards in his first game in an Eagles jersey.

“[Milton] is a great place with great coaches,” he said. “I’ve felt the best here

than I have in any other place.”

His 55-yard touchdown to E.B. Bailey, a transfer from Chattahoochee High School, gave the Eagles their only lead of the game in the first quarter.

Milton junior Jordan Carrasquillo led

the team in receptions with three for 44 yards and one touchdown. The score came when Baker was sitting due to helmet trouble, when 14-year-old freshman Trey Hasan kicked off his Milton career with a 28-yard touchdown to Carrasquillo in Hasan’s fifth down and second pass attempt as an Eagle.

Milton coach Ben Reaves remarked that after two years of great success, the team is ready to be back in its former “underdog” role.

“We’re hungry to prove ourselves,” he said. “With youth, with inexperience, it’s tough to make all the plays, but by the time we get into the playoffs, we have a 10-game season ahead of us. The way that we played, the way that we work, we will be ready to make all those plays.”

Returning to being underdogs has included what Reaves describes as “reloading, not rebuilding.” He explained some of his stars would be playing on both sides of the ball this year, which was not required until the state championship game last season.

The Eagles will get back on the horse Aug. 22, traveling to Orlando, Florida, for a game against The First Academy for the Royals’ season opener.

MID-SUMMER SALE

LABOR DAY SALE

Housing market offers negotiation power

Let’s turn back the clock to July 30, 2023. In Metro Atlanta, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was hovering just below 7%. Industry forecasts were awash with optimism. We were told rates would be falling soon — perhaps below 6% by year-end, with some even speculating that a 5.5% mortgage was within reach. And with that drop came the promise of increased affordability.

Two years later, reality tells a different story.

It’s now July 30, 2025. Mortgage rates remain stubbornly high, still hovering just under 7%, with only fleeting moments below 6.5%. Despite numerous economic headlines and policy pivots, the needle has barely moved on financing costs. In that same

window, Metro Atlanta home prices haven’t waited. They’ve appreciated approximately 5% across most segments of the market — some even more in desirable in-town neighborhoods and strong suburban school districts.

Let’s quantify that. A $500,000 home in July 2023 is now selling for closer to $525,000. Assuming a 5% down payment and a 6.75% fixed rate in both years, the monthly principal and interest payment today is over $150 higher than it would have been in 2023. So much for the “wait and it will be more affordable” strategy. And yet, we’re hearing the same narrative again in 2025: rates will fall, affordability will return, and home prices will stabilize. While there’s reasonable expectation that rates may soften into the high-5% range over the next 12 months, this does not necessarily equate to a better buying opportunity. Quite the opposite.

If lower rates do materialize,

Atlanta — like many competitive metros — will likely see an uptick in demand. Homes that have been sitting for 60+ days could see offers in a matter of weeks. Days on the market will compress. And prices? They may not just hold — they could rise again. This is the “double-edged sword” Atlanta buyers must contend with: lower rates reduce borrowing costs, but increased competition can drive up prices, neutralizing or even reversing the benefit. It’s a moment that reinforces a timeless principle in housing economics: “Marry the house, date the rate.”

Had a buyer followed this advice two years ago in Atlanta, not only would they have secured a lower monthly payment, but they’d also be sitting on $25,000+ in equity growth. And with a possible refinance opportunity on the horizon, monthly savings could increase further.

The bigger takeaway: Don’t be fooled again. Atlanta’s housing market today offers

something we haven’t seen in years — negotiation power. Sellers are offering closing cost incentives. Inventory is sitting longer. And while prices haven’t dropped dramatically, the lack of bidding wars has restored balance in favor of the buyer.

If you’ve been waiting on the sidelines for “the right time,” consider this: the best time to buy isn’t always when rates are at their lowest — it’s when competition is manageable, prices are still negotiable, and you have room to make the right long-term move.

That time could very well be now.

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.

1 are 4, 5 and 5 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!

WHO’S ON FIRST?

1. Muse of poetry. Clothing. Actor McQueen or Zahn

2. Actress Blanchett or Cohen. Nervous. Dig up.

3. Seabird. Parsley unit.

Actress Hamilton or Hunt

4. Actor Quaid or Hopper. Court panel. Three feet.

5. Light on one’s feet. Actor Brolin or Spader. Hayseed.

6. Austrian peaks. Actress Ryder or Keegan. Goulash.

7. Japanese robe. Aleutian island.

Actor Gooding Jr. or singer Gooding Sr.

1 Muse of poetry. Clothing. Actor McQueen or Zahn.

2. Actress Blanchett or Cohen. Nervous. Dig up

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. Seabird. Parsley unit. Actress Hamilton or Hunt

4. Actor Quaid or Hopper. Court panel. Three feet

5. Light on one’s feet. Actor Brolin or Spader. Hayseed

6. Austrian peaks. Actress Ryder or Keegan. Goulash.

7. Japanese robe. Aleutian island. Actor Gooding, Jr. or singer Gooding, Sr.

PRESERVING THE PAST

The story of a wheel and a special lady

A friend asked me if I knew anything about a wagon wheel embedded in a tree on Mayfield Road near downtown Crabapple. I did not, but I decided to investigate. It turns out that the tree is on the property where

Fannie Etris Holcombe lives. She is a lovely woman soon to celebrate her 106th birthday. I profiled Fannie and her family in a column in March 2024. The wagon wheel embedded in the tree provided an opportunity to catch up with her and to uncover a bit of intriguing local history at the same time.

I sat down with Fannie, her son Steve Holcombe and his wife Myra in Fannie’s living room. Before he retired, Steve owned a construction company and Myra worked for the Cherokee County Schools. Steve loves history and knows a lot about the area.

Fannie is spirited and vibrant. She makes her own breakfast every morning and enjoys talking about her family history. Her four children take turns visiting with her every afternoon.

Fannie was raised on Etris Road in Roswell. The road is named for her father William Samuel Etris (18751963) who was born in Milton. He came from a family of 11 children. He and his wife also raised 11 children on their Etris Road farm. Fannie, born in 1919, was the youngest child.

William Etris was a gold miner and lived in Cleveland, Georgia, as a young man. That is about 18 miles from Dahlonega, where gold had been discovered in 1828, 20 years before the Gold Rush to California.

After he married, he moved to Etris Road in Roswell where he grew cotton and corn on a 40-acre farm.

Growing up on Etris Road Fannie attended Mount Oliver Baptist Church on Hardscrabble Road next to today’s Roswell High School. The church was established in 1907 on land donated by Tommy and Alec Oliver and was dedicated in May 1909. Original membership was 5 males and 7 females.

In those days, according to Steve Holcombe, a circuit preacher held a service at the church once a month. Many country churches in the South could not afford to pay preachers for weekly sermons, and even then, many churches paid their preachers with chickens or eggs. They received cash

only during revival meetings.

For many years, Fannie went to church in the family wagon pulled by a mule and was jammed full with a dozen family members. Sometimes she walked to church which was about 2 miles away, she says.

In 1939 Fannie married Otis Holcombe (1916-2006), a trained machinist and mechanic. They lived initially on Cox Road and later on King Road in Milton. In 1961, the couple and their children moved to Crabapple to a house on a 3-acre parcel which had been part of the farm owned by John Gilford Green (1879-1963). James Cash bought the parcel and house from Green and owned it until he sold it to the Holcombe family. The house was built circa 1955.

James Cash constructed a building next to the house which was subsequently converted into a machine shop by Otis Holcombe. Steve Holcombe painted the large sign, which says Holcombe’s Machine Shop on the side of the building. The sign has faded over the years, but that adds to its charm and historic character. It is also a local landmark.

Fannie’s mother was partial to roses. She had a rose garden in front of the house next to a small pine tree. An abandoned wheel from a hay rake rested against the tree behind the flowers. Hay rakes were important to farmers who needed to gather and store dry hay for their animals.

Hay rakes date back to the early 19th century and were used primarily for gathering hay and grain. They were also used to clear fields and lawns and

for spreading soil. Early rakes were pulled by horses or mules. Later, tractors pulled them.

The rake wheel rested against the tree behind the rose garden for years. The tree gradually grew around the wheel, creating a kind of unique sculpture. The wheel adds to the character of the tree which has adapted to the metal. It looks very cool.

Thanks to Myra Holcombe for her

help with the column and to Christy McWhorter for asking the original question.

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

Rock:

Continued from Page 5

All the while, Grundhoefer and Ezquerra, who holds a doctorate in music and teaches at Spelman College, said they hope their students are also learning to love music.

Lessons such as the learning the difference between a chorus and refrain or how tone affects the sound of a guitar hopefully will stay with them throughout their lives, enhancing their appreciation for music.

It is a lesson that is more important than ever, the directors said. Learning to make music can provide immense benefits in other academic settings, but it also carries an immense value on its own.

“Music is a part of the human condition. We have never found a culture without music,” Ezquerra said. “Music, in and of itself, is beautiful. I really don’t care if any of them go on to be famous musicians. That’s not why I do it. I hope that they just love music.”

Parents Sean and Michelle Stephens said they love the lessons their two boys got from the camp.

Apart from the team building and problem solving,

County:

Continued from Page 1

Located about 1 mile from the Big Creek Greenway, Polo Fields also sits amid a network of sidewalks.

Levent said the pedestrian connectivity and adjacent amenities could enhance Polo Fields by making it an essential puzzle piece for community desirability. He said he envisions

Hunt:

Continued from Page 1

“The program showed that it not only can have an impact on curbing overpopulation to the deer population in the area,” Tarnacki said. “But

DEATH NOTICES

Christine Beldowicz, 54, of Roswell, passed away on July 31, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Donna Dutkiewicz, 61, of Roswell, passed away on July 24, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Dora Freeman, 93, of Roswell, passed away on July 27, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

they hoped their kids would learn to love music as much as they have. The couple, who grew up on Sublime and No Doubt, said music has played an important role throughout their lives. One of their first dates was at a Jack Johnson concert. Recently, the family went to see The Offspring.

Mark Hubbard agreed, saying he hopes the camp provides his daughter Sophie opportunities to grow as a person. He said he has been deeply impressed at some of the skills she has learned.

“We showed up after four days, and she was playing a full drum kit,” Hubbard said. “That challenge of ‘I’m gonna stand up in front of a bunch of people I don’t know that are older than me and singing into a mic,’ hopefully that changes who you are.”

Hubbard beamed with pride during the performance as Sophie performed “Medusa,” a song she had written. Sophie, a fan of Greek mythology, sang and played a ukulele.

She wrote the song after experiencing a falling out with friends. The creative process was cathartic during that hard time, she said.

“It helped to get it off my mind,” she said. “I get to express it.”

residents walking to the park and to nearby restaurants and shopping destinations.

“Parks are a priority for a wellbalanced community. People want to live in that environment,” Levent said.

On top of improving quality of life, enhancing parks such as Polo Fields can have bring economic benefits. Companies considering whether to move to the county will carefully consider the amenities they can offer to

it also gives a unique opportunity to engage residents, especially the youth, in outdoor recreation and the positive experiences that come from it.”

The hunts will accept 16 hunters each. The first is open to residents between the ages of 10 and 17. Youths must be accompanied by an adult.

The second hunt is open to resi -

Samuel Harrington, 90, of Roswell, passed away on July 24, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Robert McGarry, 84, of Alpharetta, passed away on July 26, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

James Puckett, 72, of Roswell, passed away on July 28, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

employees, Levent said.

“All these national and international companies won’t come here without these parks,” Levent said. “It’s all part of the plan.”

Levent said he is considering numerous amenities for the park after conversations with nearby residents have resulted.

Potential park features could include turf for fields, an amphitheater, multiuse trail, paved parking lot, pickle ball courts, pavilion and dog park.

dents 18 and older.

Applications were set to open Aug. 18 and run for 48 hours. Hunters will be selected at random and charged $20. Participants will be notified of their selection about a week after registration.

Applications are available online at tinyurl.com/3mvevpt2.

Lavone Rippeon, 86, of Roswell, passed away on July 26, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Donald Slappey, 74, of Roswell, passed away on July 25, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Nancy Veasy, 76, of Alpharetta, passed away on July 25, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

“Right now it is a diamond in the rough,” Levent said. “It needs some polishing.”

Purchased in 2022, the park was once the center of a controversial proposal to cede about 50 acres of Denmark Park. Commissioners reversed course on the decision after considerable public outcry.

Before that, it was a privately owned polo field that once hosted equestrian sports and international dignitaries.

Hunters are required to have a license, modern archery equipment and stand or blind. They also must attend a safety meeting. They will use Department of Natural Resources urban deer management tags and may harvest two deer, one of which must be antlerless.

— Jon Wilcox

Delouris West, 82, of Roswell, passed away on July 26, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Malcolm Young, 54, of Alpharetta, passed away on July 23, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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Administrative Assistant

NFCC is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the full-time Administrative Assistant position. The responsibilities of this critical role are to provide a wide variety of administrative tasks primarily to the President and other department leaders as needed. Duties include board meeting preparation, report preparation, general correspondence.

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CHEP USA seeks Senior Director, Digital Customer Solutions in Alpharetta, GA to Develop a strategy to grow market share. Telecommuting permitted up to 3 days per week. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com/Ref# 14916.

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Senior App/Prod Support needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA [Hybrid position] to work as a liaison and escalation point for clients and other IT organizations as a subject matter expert across the business and applications towers for the business processes they represent. Apply at http://att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-78041.

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Principal Engineer, System Security Architect at Landis + Gyr Technology, Inc. (Alpharetta, GA). Audit system architecture & high-level designs prior to execution by the Development team to ensure designs minimize or eliminate the security vulnerability of Landis+Gyr’s (“L+G”) products, solutions, & services. Reqts: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Electronic or Software Engineering + 5 yrs of exp in the job offered or 5 yrs of exp in software architecture. Exp must include 5 yrs each of the following: product architecture for an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Head End System; architecting product to incorporate security features; & integrating third party security solutions into products. Security certification such as CISSP or CCSP. Exp may be gained concurrently. To apply, please send resume via email to lisa.hudson@landisgyr.com or mail to Landis + Gyr Technology, Inc., c/o Lisa Hudson, 30000 Mill Creek Ave, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30022. Please reference job title (Principal Engineer, System Security Architect).

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