Appen Media buys Decaturish.com, staff to stay on ► PAGE 19 J u l y 1 1 , 2 0 2 4 | 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 2 8 , N o . 2 8
Two brothers qualify for Olympic trials
Fireworks and more
By HANNAH FRAZER hannah@appenmedia.com
Johns Creek turns out for Independence Day celebration By AMBER PERRY | amber@appenmedia JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Thousands of visitors turned out for Johns Creek’s Independence Day Celebration at Newtown Park July 3. Boogilicious, an Atlanta cover band, provided the sounds from the Mark Burkhalter Amphitheater stage as children and adults danced among the packed crowd. More than a dozen food trucks were also posted up on-site in the adjacent parking lot. At the nearby turf field, where more families gathered with their lawn chairs and blankets an inflatable obstacle course added to entertainment. The night culminated in a near-20-minute fireworks display, the anticipated finale followed by an applause. See a photo gallery at appenmedia.com.
See more photos ► PAGES 8-9
PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/ APPEN MEDIA
Above: A family watches the fireworks display at Johns Creek’s Independence Day Celebration at Newtown Park July 3. Thousands turned out for the event, which featured Atlanta cover band Boogilicious and more than a dozen food trucks.
NORTH METRO ATLANTA — Owen McDonald and his younger brother Cooper fulfilled their aspirations of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in swimming. It’s not everyday that sibling rivalry occurs at the most elite level of athletic competition, but for the McDonald brothers, it was pure excitement to be living their dream together rather than competing against each other during the trials in Indianapolis. “It was like a big dream come true,” Cooper said. “I am doing this with my brother, and there is no one else I would rather do it with.” The Rivers Academy graduates, from Milton, got their start at Dynamo Swim Club in Alpharetta. The company, with two more locations in Chamblee and Oakhurst, is home to many competitive swimmers. Dynamo was also the starting ground for fellow Rivers Academy graduate Brooks Curry, whose team earned gold in the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 4-by-200-meter relay. Curry, from Dunwoody, is set to compete again this year in the same style. Owen, 20, qualified in the trials for the 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter backstroke and 200-meter individual medley.
See BROTHERS, Page 23