Sandy Springs notches records lawsuit loss ► PAGE 5
Fe b r u a r y 5 , 2 0 2 6 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 3 0 , N o . 6
Cherokee, Forsyth counties align youth sports leagues
LUKE MACY/APPEN MEDIA
Superintendent Mitch Young welcomes Forsyth County Board of Education members and principals to a retreat on Jan. 30. Young planned for the retreat to strengthen relationships between board members and school staff.
Forsyth County School Board taps into principals for insight By LUKE MACY newsroom@appenmedia.com GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — County school administrators and principals got a chance to touch base with the Board of Education at a recent two-day retreat at Atlanta Tech Park in Peachtree Corners. The meetings, held Jan. 29 and 30, allowed board members to talk with principals – from elementary to high school – about their challenges and explore opportunities to improve the education system at the ground level. With three second-year board members — Trisha Hoyes, Dorian Usherwood and Chris Grimes — Super-
ROI
matters.
intendent Mitch Young said the purpose of the retreat was to forge relationships between the board and administrators. “You don’t know anybody until you get to know their backstory,” Young told the educators. Principals and board members shared their backstories in group sessions. Stories often had overlapping themes, such as religious healing, familial struggles, immigrant backgrounds, and poor childhoods. Some brought their own props to add a visual element. The backstories ended the same way, with attendees saying why they decided to step into their roles.
See BOARD, Page 4
Targeted local marketing in the most trusted local media works. Alpharetta | Roswell | Milton | Johns Creek Forsyth | Dunwoody | Sandy Springs Local community newspapers – Heralds & Criers – that matter.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A partnership between Forsyth and Cherokee counties has been arranged to strengthen youth football and cheerleading league opportunities. The Forsyth County Youth Football and Cheerleading leagues will join in 2026 to expand program opportunities with their neighboring county, Forsyth County said Jan. 27. The move reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the programs while creating a positive, community-focused experience for athletes, families, coaches and volunteers. Kirk Franz, Forsyth County Parks and Recreation director, said the alignment is an opportunity to enhance local youth sports. “By working together, we can provide a stronger league structure and continue to foster an environment that emphasizes sportsmanship, development and fun for our young athletes,” he said. League officials from both counties will spend the coming months finalizing organizational structure, operations and season details. Additional information, including scheduling and program updates, will be shared as they are completed. Registration for the Forsyth County Football and Cheerleading League opened Feb. 1. — Jon Wilcox
FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED
Cherokee and Forsyth counties are combining youth football and cheerleading programs for 2026.
Partner with Appen Local Media: Local: Print | Websites | Email Newsletters | Podcasts Use the power of trusted local to grow your business. APPEN Marketing: 770-442-3278 Advertising@AppenMedia.com