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High schoolers to moderate Sept. 16, Oct. 5 debates ► PAGE 4 A u g u s t 2 7 , 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 . 3 5

Fulton County issues property tax bills amid digest delay By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Property tax bills were mailed to Fulton County residents Aug. 15, following a Fulton County Superior Court judge’s authorization to send out temporary bills based on valuations in the preliminary 2026 tax digest and last year’s millage rates. Fulton County sought a temporary collection order from the court after there was a delay in submitting this year’s tax digest to the Georgia Department of Revenue. The state department has to certify the tax digest before taxing authorities can set their annual millage rates. Local governments depend on property tax revenues to provide services, and a delay in certifying the tax digest postpones the issuance and collection of property taxes. It also delays the millage rate process, which is the rate at which local municipalities within Fulton County calculate property taxes. Taxpayers will have the opportunity to provide input during the millage ratesetting process. Johns Creek adopted a tentative millage rate of 3.492 in July;

See TAX, Page 18

CONTRIBUTED

A MedWish MedWorks representative accepts 20 palettes of single-use flexible endoscopes and HD image processors from PUSEN USA, a medical equipment manufacturer with an office in Johns Creek.

Johns Creek business donates medical equipment to nonprofit By ELLE GIRARD newsroom@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — PUSEN USA, a manufacturer of endoscopes and urological diagnostic tools, has partnered with MedWish MedWorks to donate $6.1 million worth of medical equipment. MedWish MedWorks is a nonprofit organization that redistributes surplus

medical supplies to communities in need around the globe. The PUSEN donation includes 20 palettes of single-use flexible endoscopes and high-definition image processors. “Through our partnership with MedWish MedWorks, our endoscopy equipment reaches clinicians serving underserved communities where access to advanced medical technology is

limited,” said PUSEN USA President Bob Evensen. “Expanding access to quality healthcare is an impact we are proud to support.” PUSEN USA, with an office in Johns Creek, is the U.S. commercial arm of Zhuhai PUSEN Medical Technology Co., a medical device company founded in 2014 that designs and manufactures single-use flexible endoscopes.

2 | August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

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Roswell firefighters check on a canine occupant of an Ashton Drive home Aug. 17. Fire crews rescued the pup from the twostory home, which was damaged in a blaze likely caused by an electrical issue. No injuries — human or dog — were reported.

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Roswell firefighters save dog from Aug. 17 house fire By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — If this Ashton Drive dog could talk, it’d surely be thanking local firefighters for an Aug. 17 assist. Roswell Fire Department employees rescued the pup from a two-story house fire just after 6:30 p.m. The department was alerted to the blaze by a neighbor, who saw smoke and called 911. The first crew arrived within six minutes and, after seeing smoke from

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the home’s roof vents, went inside and found a fire on the first floor. Crews battled the blaze from the inside of the home while also searching for any occupants of the structure. The dog was hiding under an upstairs bed when firefighters found it. They rescued the canine, giving it oxygen through a pet mask and also supplying it with water. The dog — who was uninjured — was later reunited with the home’s two residents. The residents weren’t home when the fire started, and no injuries were

reported. Investigators said the cause of the fire was likely electrical and, even though the home had a smoke alarm, it wasn’t working at the time. Firefighters said the neighbor’s vigilance helped crews get to the scene early — and they urged neighbors to continue checking on one another and reporting any suspicious activity. City officials also urged residents to test their smoke detectors and fire alarms monthly and to replace their batteries at least once a year.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | August 27, 2026 | 3

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NEWS

4 | August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

High schoolers to moderate Sept. 16, Oct. 5 debates By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Thirteen local high school students will moderate candidate debates in September and October as part of the Student Leadership North secretary of state ambassador team. The first debate will take place Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Chattahoochee High School Auditorium, 5230 Taylor Road, Johns Creek. A meet-and-greet will begin at 6 p.m., with the debate running from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Participating candidates include Shawn Still and Laura Murvartian for State Senate, District 48; Scott Hilton and Adam Cleveland for State House, District 48; and Azure Duan and Michelle Au for State House, District 50. The second debate, set for Monday, Oct. 5, features Fulton County District 1 commissioner candidates Bridget Thorne and Maggie Goldman. It will start with a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m., with the debate running from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rivermont Golf Club, 3130 Rivermont Parkway, Johns Creek. Both events are free and open to the public. Visit studentleadershipnorth.com for more information.

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Correction: A previous version of this story listed an incorrect date for the first candidate debate. The debate will take place Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the Chattahoochee High School Auditorium. The story has been updated to reflect the correct date.

This year’s ambassador team includes:

STUDENT LEADERSHIP NORTH/PROVIDED

Local high schoolers participating in Student Leadership North’s secretary of state ambassador program bond at a recent escape room team-building event. The ambassador team has spent several months preparing for the events, developing candidate questions and coordinating logistics for both debates. On debate nights, team members will serve as moderators and timekeepers, guiding the conversations and holding candidates to the clock. The secretary of state ambassador program is a student-led initiative that gives high schoolers hands-on

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experience in civic engagement, election education and nonpartisan public discourse. Student Leadership North is a nonprofit organization that works to develop, energize and activate community leaders in Johns Creek, Roswell and Alpharetta by providing insight into and interaction with city, business, healthcare and public safety executives to affect positive change.

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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | August 27, 2026 | 5

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6 | August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

NEWS

MARTA riders want World Cup-level service to continue By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — Two months ago, Jackson Lee said his experience riding on Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority trains was “seamless.” MARTA trains were coming within 15 minutes of one another and he did not find himself waiting, particularly in the Five Points Station — a popular spot to transfer. MARTA reported a surge in ridership June 11 through July 15, driven largely by FIFA World Cup matches and watch parties. The system logged 4.7 million rail passengers over those 35 days and increased rail service to accommodate the crowds. On match and fan fest days, MARTA ran trains every five minutes. Manager of Communications Payson Schwin said MARTA ran four-car trains on the east-west blue line, with a shuttle train on the green line running between Ashby and Bankhead stations. MARTA also deployed specialized shuttle trains to clear crowds from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and maintained standby bus fleets to respond to real-time ridership surges. A month later, Lee, a Midtown resident and Decatur native, said he has waited 20-25 minutes for trains at the Georgia State and Decatur stations, both on the blue and green lines. That was not something that happened during the World Cup, he said.

RECREATION & PARKS

“During the World Cup, it really showed me what [MARTA] can be in this city, but it’s not funded,” Lee said. MARTA receives no operational funding from the state. The authority’s primary source of funding is sales tax revenue collected in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties and the city of Atlanta, which is supplemented by federal grants. For the World Cup, the authority received $8 million in federal funding, distributed through the Federal Transit Administration, to handle the increased frequency. While the authority made noticeable changes for a little more than a month, dedicated riders have also seen service scale back since tourists left town. “I think that the biggest thing for me was the more frequent trains on game days,” Decatur resident Stacey Mohr said. “I understand that maybe that’s not doable regularly, but that made it … so much easier.” A sense of security remains riders’ top concern Station-specific improvements, like increased signage and volunteers offering assistance, also made the MARTA experience better, riders said. John O’Brien of Decatur said stations felt secure during the World Cup, with someone always on hand to help. He worries the system

See MARTA, Page 17

SEPTEMBER

CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS/PROVIDED

The North Springs station — located at 7010 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs — is the northern terminus for the red line of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transition Authority, more commonly known as MARTA.

City Calendar & Events! 2026

Sept. 1 Planning Commission City Hall - 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 Summer Concert: Nashville Nation The Boardwalk at Town Center - 6 p.m.

Sept. 16 Recreation & Parks Advisory Committee City Hall - 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 3 Zoning Public Participation Meeting City Hall - 7 p.m.

Sept. 14 City Council Work Session City Hall - 5 p.m.

Sept. 19 Pup-a-Palooza Newtown Park - noon

Sept. 7 Labor Day City Offices Closed

City Council Meeting City Hall - 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 Arts on the Boardwalk Boardwalk at Town Center - 1 p.m.

Sept. 11 Patriot Day Commemoration Newtown Park - 8:30 a.m.

Pubic Hearing for FY2027 Budget City Hall - 7 p.m. Sept. 15 Board of Zoning Appeals City Hall - 7 p.m.

Johns Creek City Hall | 11360 Lakefield Drive | Johns Creek, GA 30097 | JohnsCreekGA.gov

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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | August 27, 2026 | 7

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Slim Chickens to open south Forsyth County location By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Fast-casual eatery Slim Chickens is seeking to expand to southern Forsyth County. Franchise group Peach State Slims is planning a location of the chicken restaurant at 2611 Peachtree Parkway in the Forsyth County portion of Suwanee, according to documents submitted to the county commission. The franchise group obtained an alternate design variance for the reduction of the location’s landscape, sidewalk and pedestrian zones. The 4,671-square-foot restaurant will be located on 1.17 acres in a strip mall that includes Target, Home

Depot, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Your Pie Pizza and healthcare clinics. The land is zoned for central business district use. The building once housed a Steak ‘n Shake. Hundreds of Steak ‘n Shake locations have closed in recent years. Slim Chickens currently has locations in 32 states. Its menu is anchored around hand-breaded fried chicken tenders. Menu items also include sandwiches, wraps, bowls, salads, and chicken and waffles. Peach State Slims plans to build an additional 10 Slim Chickens locations in North Georgia, according to franchising.com. Competitors in south Forsyth include Popeyes and Chick-fil-A.

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | August 27, 2026 | 9

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10 | August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

SPORTS

From Milton to the world stage: Carrasquillo’s lacrosse run By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — An unexpected rain delay at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship became an unforgettable memory for Puerto Rico team captain and Milton graduate Bri Carrasquillo. Carrasquillo competed with Puerto Rico’s national team in Tokyo from July 24 through Aug. 1. She told Appen Media that the rain delay before their game against England gave the team a new outlook. “Puerto Rico is a very diverse island, and it’s awesome to get to combine so many different perspectives and get to play for something that’s bigger than ourselves,” she said before the tournament. “It’s a special moment.” Carrasquillo was the first of three Eagle lacrosse standouts from her family after they moved from Long Island in 2017. Bri’s brother Jordan is a senior at Milton this year, and her sister Skylar later joined her at Yale. Skylar is now the defensive coordinator at Ohio State. She brought on three area players since joining the Buckeyes staff, including a goalie and a defender sporting three rings with Milton. Jordan originally committed to play lacrosse at OSU as well before flipping teams and sports to play wide receiver for Indiana. Bri said when her dad informed her that his job required a move, she was convinced her lacrosse career was over due to loss of skill. Without the competition level of the lacrosse hotbed she grew up in, she thought she would arrive at Yale a completely different player than the one the Bulldogs recruited. Her junior year was the first season she put on the Eagles jersey, and as a member of the class of 2019, she was part of the last group to not be subject to the current

Puerto Rico team captain Bri Carrasquillo, center, attacks the crease in the national team’s game against Australia in Tokyo July 29. The team finished eighth in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. recruiting restrictions that prevent athletes committing before Sept. 1 of their junior year. Bri had played on the varsity team back home since seventh grade and had verbally committed to Yale as a freshman. Bri recounted the story of meeting Milton head coach Tim Godby for the first time at a club tournament, where he attempted to persuade her to join his Eagle Stix team. Bri and Skylar both went on to win several championships for the Eagles, but they remained with the Long Island Yellow Jackets until graduating from high school. Despite her worries about her new school, Bri said she “assimilated very quickly.” She said her new team was welcoming and provided her a new opportu-

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nity of out-of-state travel for games. Once she recognized the coach and program’s “go-getter” attitude, she realized she was in the right place after all.

See LACROSSE, Page 12

PUERTO RICO LACROSSE/PROVIDED

Milton High School graduate Bri Carrasquillo smiles in Tokyo ahead of the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. She served as the team captain of Team Puerto Rico and scored eight goals in the tournament.

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | August 27, 2026 | 11

Milton resident teams up with carrier to shield kids online By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com

SUZANNE PHILLIPS/CONTRIBUTED

Suzanne Phillips of Milton is the founder of Christian parenting brand Beacon Parent. She has recently partnered with Radiant Mobile, a new cellphone service provider that offers parental controls, faith-based content, and unlimited talk, text and data plans.

MILTON, Ga. — Beacon Parent, a Christian parenting brand founded by Milton resident Suzanne Phillips, has recently joined forces with Radiant Mobile, a cellphone service provider offering parental controls, faith-based content, and unlimited talk, text and data plans. Radiant Mobile — which is based in Atlanta and powered by Compax, which leverages T-Mobile’s 5G network — launched in May. Phillips said she became affiliated with the provider because of its mission and commitment to Christian values. She said she was also concerned about children being exposed to inappropriate material, especially at young ages. The advantage of Radiant Mobile, she said, is that it blocks “harmful content” at the network level — before it reaches cellphones. “Parents really, really, don’t understand the degree that our children are exposed and exploited,” Phillips said. “It still catches parents off guard, and that doesn’t even include what parents are facing now with [artificial intelligence] … not just in the education space, but AI

creating explicit content.” Phillips said children on average start seeing inappropriate material around age 11. She said that material, more than half of the time, is not sought after by children but just appears in their daily interactions with content on smartphones. She pointed to child trafficking as another consequence of unfiltered phone access. According to her, parents, when thinking of child exploitation, have an image of a white van sitting in a cul-desac waiting to grab a young victim. The reality, Phillips said, is that around 87% of trafficking starts online. “Parents have been asking for a real solution, not another app to manage,” said Chris Klimis, COO of Radiant Mobile. “Radiant blocks harmful content at the network level, so protection isn’t one more thing on a parent’s plate. It’s just how the phone works. Partnering with Beacon puts that in front of the families who’ve been looking for exactly this.” Phillips said she partnered with Radiant Mobile because the provider does not just block the “bad” content — it also puts “good” content before its customers. The provider’s plans, starting at $39.99 per month, come with a

streaming platform that shows Christian content. Some of the content, like daily devotionals and advice, is tailored to parents, while retellings of biblical stories have been crafted for kids. Phillips said she has taught Bible classes and led ministries for 20 years. Her takeaway is that parents are struggling to know how to lead their families in today’s culture, which she said is rife with change. “After all these years of serving and leading parents, my heart is to be a beacon for them, to give them both warnings about what’s happening culturally and what they need to know … but also direction on how to navigate the culture based on their own personal values,” she said. She said her brand’s overall goal is to create “unshakeable houses” and ignite a movement of parents who lead with clarity, confidence and consistency. “The term I like to use is a well-lit home,” Phillips said. “It means that the parent becomes who they want to be first, confident in their God-given role and responsibility of leading their family.” Learn more about Phillips, her brand and Radiant Mobile at beaconparent. com.

12 | August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

COMMUNITY

Paddlers tackle Chattahoochee during Sandy Springs showdown By JAMIE GODIN newsroom@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Dense fog hung over the Chattahoochee River Saturday morning, Aug. 15, as about 35 paddlers prepared for the inaugural Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park. The six-mile stand-up paddleboard (SUP) race was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., but organizers held competitors near the starting line while waiting for visibility to improve. The race began at about 8:15 a.m., sending paddlers three miles upstream to Azalea Park before turning around for the trip back to Morgan Falls. The event was organized by the Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks Department in partnership with Murph’s Surf. Jane Jarrett, leisure coordinator for Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks, said the city wanted the event to build on a paddling tradition established by High Country Outfitters, which held its Stand Up for the Hooch race before the COVID-19 pandemic. “We wanted to pay homage to High Country Outfitters,” Jarrett said. “They used to operate a Stand Up for the Hooch [race] from probably about 2016 to 2019, and then, of course, COVID happened, and so the race didn’t continue.” Jarrett said the city brought the concept back while putting its own spin on the event through its partnership with Murph’s Surf. Racers competed on an open section of the Chattahoochee, with swift-water rescue personnel and other safety crews positioned along the course. Organizers warned participants before the start about changing river conditions, submerged obstacles and the heat expected as the morning progressed. Organizers also offered an adaptive athlete division supported by Catalyst Sports, though no adaptive athletes entered this year’s race. Adaptive sports are designed for athletes with disabilities. Jarrett said including adaptive athletes is a priority across the races she organizes for the city. “With all the races that I put on, I always have an

Lacrosse: Continued from Page 10 Following high school, six games into her freshman season at Yale, the pandemic canceled the school year, and she came home to Alpharetta. Less than two months later, Bri was in for another life-changing shakeup. After losing over 20 pounds in just a few weeks, Bri was admitted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Adjusting to a new chronic illness was a challenge to overcome, but it didn’t take long for Bri to start missing her sport. So, she started to give four to six lessons a day to young lacrosse players in the area. When asked who was her biggest success story, she named a Stanford commit, Johns Creek senior Sydnee

Second-place finisher Mitch Cherry, left, receives a high five from third-place finisher Allen Alquist as first-place finisher William McCracken looks on during the awards ceremony following the Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Aug. 15. Caio Melo approaches the finish with his Pomeranian aboard his paddleboard during the Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Aug. 15. adaptive athlete component, too,” Jarrett said. She said she hopes adaptive athletes will enter future races. William McCracken of Asheville, North Carolina, finished first among the men, followed by Mitch Cherry of Atlanta and Allen Alquist of Dunnellon, Florida. Amy Carlson of Canton, Georgia, finished first among the women, followed by Emmye Cherry of Atlanta and Robbin Rolader of Woodstock, Georgia. First-place finishers received $250, with $100 awarded for second place and $50 for third. Organizers plan to bring the SUP Showdown back to Morgan Falls in 2027. concessions in this seasonal installation that is quickly becoming an annual tradition for many families.

Cane. Bri continued to pour into youth by coaching for Eagle Stix, laying the groundwork for a Division I assistant position later. After returning to lacrosse for her sophomore season in 2022 with a new chronic illness to manage, Bri said establishing a routine and having the support of her teammates allowed her to thrive in new conditions. Her athletic trainers are able to monitor her readings through a mobile app that connects to her Dexcom. The blood glucose monitor also offered her an NIL deal to represent the company and diabetic athletes. That summer, she had the opportunity to compete in her first Women’s Lacrosse World Championship alongside Skylar. “I looked at it as, hey, this is my first opportunity to play on the world stage, and also to play with diabetes on the world stage,” Bri said. “Why

PHOTOS BY: JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA

Paveena Callozzo waves toward shore while paddling past a Murph’s Surf buoy during the Sandy Springs SUP Showdown at Morgan Falls Overlook Park Aug. 15.

not use that confidence, that fuel, in tandem to make the most of a situation that not many others have the opportunity to do, lacrosse-wise or chronic illness-wise?” Bri and Skylar played together at Yale for one year before Bri transferred to Oregon to play her grad transfer season. Bri said she wanted something “completely different” from her previous school and was drawn to the nature in the Pacific Northwest. After exhausting her NCAA eligibility, she was drawn to nature once again and accepted an assistant coach position at the University of Vermont. Last year, Puerto Rico hosted the PALA Sixes Cup — where there are six players on the field as opposed to the typical 11 — and placed second. Bri said it was beyond meaningful for the team to be so successful on their home field. Returning to the world championship this year was a full-circle moment for Bri,

even if Skylar couldn’t join due to OSU recruitment interfering with the tournament. 2022 team captain Monica Negron took over as the head coach and handed the captain honor down to Bri. Puerto Rico ended up placing eighth overall out of pool play and then lost to Team USA in the quarterfinals. But the team gained numerous irreplaceable memories. After facing and overcoming major changes in high school with a cross-country move and in college with the diagnosis of a chronic illness, Bri was ready for another big change, this time in her career. She started working in Manhattan in tech sales this summer. She also continues to advocate for diabetes treatment as an ambassador in the Dexcom Warrior program. Bri said the Olympic qualifiers are next, and she’s looking forward to continuing her athletic career — with a chance for her and her sister to be part of the first group of lacrosse players in Olympic history.

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August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | 13

Odysseus and medicine in the age of Homer Brought to you by – Premier Dermatology Medical science can sometimes help us step back in time and understand the past as though centuries no longer separate us. Homer's The Odyssey has received renewed attention through Christopher Nolan's recent film adaptation, providing an opportunity to revisit medicine in Homer's world. By understanding the effects of two plants—nightshade and snowdrops—modern pharmacology sheds light on one of the epic's most perplexing episodes: the transformation of Odysseus's men into swine. Christopher Nolan's adaptation includes the startling scene in which the sorceress Circe turns Odysseus's men into pigs. In Homer's original epic, Circe poisons the soldiers' drink. The god Hermes gives Odysseus an antidote in the form of a plant called Moly, described as having a black root and a white flower. Odysseus consumes the herb, drinks Circe's poisoned brew without harm, then confronts Circe and rescues his men. To modern audiences, Circe's potion seems fantastical. But to ancient listeners familiar with local plants and traditional healing, it may have suggested something far more recognizable. One influential interpretation proposes that Circe's potion was inspired by poisonous plants of the nightshade family, which profoundly affect the nervous system. Normally, the body shifts between "rest and digest" and "fight or flight" through the action of acetylcholine. Nightshade blocks acetylcholine, pushing the nervous system toward "fight or flight." In larger doses, the consequences become severe. Poisoning by nightshade produces the classic symptoms: "blind as a bat, mad as a hatter, red as a beet, hot as a hare, dry as a bone." Victims may suffer blurred vision, impaired sweating, confusion, hallucinations, and delusions. Nightshade is among history's most famous poisons, appearing in Homer, Shakespeare, and countless ancient texts. Homer's audience would likely have recognized its effects. Nightshade could leave Odysseus's men as helpless as pigs—or even convince them they were pigs. Medical historians have suggested that

Moly may have been the snowdrop (Galanthus), which has a white flower, dark roots when freshly dug up, and which contains galantamine, a compound that increases acetylcholine activity and largely counteracts the effects of nightshade. But snowdrops are not harmless. In excessive doses, they can slow the heart, weaken breathing, lower blood pressure, and become poisonous themselves. Only a master herbalist or a hero with Hermes as his guide could have chosen the proper balance. For ancient audiences, the story likely gained another layer of suspense now largely lost on us. They may have recognized that Moly itself was dangerous. Once Odysseus swallowed it, the clock began ticking. Odysseus had to drink Circe’s nightshade before the snowdrop killed him. The antidote became the poison, and the poison became the antidote. When Odysseus consumed Moly, ancient listeners may have experienced the same suspense we feel watching heroes race to obtain an antidote in modern films. When Odysseus swallowed one poison in preparation for another, ancient listeners, too, were likely on the edge of their seats. Almost any substance can be a medicine at one dose and a poison at another. That paradox—and the knowledge that Hermes' "gift" was both antidote and toxin—deepens our understanding of the peril Odysseus faced. Between Circe and Hermes, nightshade and snowdrops, he navigates a medicinal Scylla and Charybdis in which each plant is both poison and cure. A knowledge of ancient herbal medicine and modern pharmacology makes sense of a scene of soldiers turned into pigs and helps us appreciate a moment of tremendous danger and suspense for our great ancient hero Odysseus.

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14 | August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

COMMUNITY

Forsyth fashion show saddles up to fight cancer By DEAN HESSE dean@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Local cancer survivors, dressed to the nines in western wear, strutted down the runway with confidence and attitude during Cowboy Couture for the Cure, an Aug. 14 fashion show benefiting cancer research. The evening, which honored cancer survivors and celebrated caregivers, included dinner, a silent auction and line dancing. Proceeds benefited the American Cancer Society. Among the models strutting the runway was 101-year-old Tachia Rivas, a bladder and kidney cancer survivor who is marking one year free of cancer. She said she embraces each day with gratitude and hopes she can inspire others to keep fighting, cherish every moment and believe that hope is stronger than fear. The show, held at the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College in Cumming, served as the kickoff event for the 2027 North Georgia Cattle Baron’s Ball. The ball will be held on Feb. 27, 2027, at Reid Barn on Majors Road in Cumming. It aims to bring communities together around a shared goal — finishing the fight against cancer. Barons’ balls started in Dallas in 1974 and have evolved into one of the cancer society’s premier fundraisers. Next year’s North Georgia ball will be the first one held in North Fulton and South Forsyth. Learn more about the North Georgia Cattle Baron’s Ball at nfsf.acscbb.org. — Photos by Dean Hesse

A cancer survivor modeling western wear tips his hat during the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

Line dancers perform at the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

Tachia Rivas, a 101-year-old bladder and kidney cancer survivor, struts the runway at the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

A cancer survivor turned model twirls on the runway at the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | August 27, 2026 | 15

A cancer survivor models western wear during the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

Cancer survivor Adam Rhodes draws imaginary six-shooters at the end of the runway during the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming. The fashion show, the kickoff event for the 2027 North Georgia Cattle Baron’s Ball, raised funds for the American Cancer Society.

A cancer survivor models western wear during the Aug. 14 Cowboy Couture for a Cure fashion show in Cumming.

The runway models, all cancer survivors, pose for a group picture at the "Cowboy Couture for a Cure" fashion show at the launch party for the inaugural North Georgia Cattle Baron's Ball at the Forsyth Conference Center in Cumming on Aug. 14. The ball is set for Feb. 27, 2027, at Reid Barn in Cumming and is a major fundraising event for the American Cancer Society

16 | August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

AIKENOMICS

OPINION

Oil’s retreat gives mortgage rates a respite After weeks of geopolitical tensions helping drive mortgage rates higher, financial markets finally found a measure of relief as easing concerns over global oil supplies sent energy prices lower. The decline followed two developments investors viewed as reducing near -term supply D.C. AIKEN risks. Reports that the United Guest Columnist dcaiken.com States is pursuing diplomatic engagement with Iran, rather than immediate military action, eased fears of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. At the same time, OPEC+ announced another increase in oil production, signaling that additional supply could reach the market in the months ahead. Together, those developments removed much of the geopolitical “risk premium” that had been supporting crude prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is trading near $80 per barrel, down roughly 5.3%, while Brent crude has fallen nearly 4.7% to about $84 per barrel, marking one of the largest one-day declines in recent months. For the mortgage market, lower oil prices carry implications beyond the gas pump. Energy costs influence inflation across the economy. As oil prices decline, transportation and production costs often ease, helping moderate inflation expectations. Investors typically respond

move was limited, it marked the first meaningful improvement in several weeks. The market’s attention now shifts from geopolitics to economic data. The Labor Department will soon release its monthly Employment Situation Report, one of the Federal Reserve’s most closely watched indicators. A softer -than-expected report could reinforce expectations that inflation continues to cool, providing additional support for lower mortgage rates. A stronger -than-expected reading, however, could renew concerns that interest rates will remain elevated for longer, reversing much of this week’s progress. For now, markets have welcomed a pause in geopolitical uncertainty. Whether that develops into a sustained decline in mortgage rates — or proves to be only a temporary reprieve — will likely depend on the economic data released in the days ahead. And finally, for what it’s worth: I’ll be on vacation next week. If history is any indication, mortgage rates have a funny habit of moving lower whenever I’m out of town. Here’s hoping that streak stays alive. IMAGE PROVIDED TO APPEN MEDIA

by increasing purchases of longer -term Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds, pushing yields—and ultimately mortgage rates- lower. That relationship was evident recently as Treasury yields edged lower, allowing mortgage rates to improve modestly after climbing to their highest levels in nearly two years. While the

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.

Local news, mostly fun days and many stories to tell

JOSHUA WILSON Managing Editor

joshua@appenmedia.com

It’s time for me to say hello. I’m Joshua, the newish managing editor at Appen Media Group. I started in July and have been off to the races since day one, working with our incredible team to boost our news coverage of the Atlanta metro. I’m

having a blast. I’m relatively new to the metro. I previously lived in Macon, where I oversaw a small and scrappy news startup. I’m a native Mississippian, though, and the Magnolia State will always have a piece of my heart. I fell in love with the Atlanta area years ago during my first visit. I was born and raised in the sticks, so this sprawling place was truly “the Big City” in my eyes. I was captivated by the tall buildings, the numerous

things to do and yes, even the traffic. During that trip, I decided that one day I’d move to Atlanta. It took 15 years, but I finally did. I’m glad to be here and honored to be playing a key role in the perseverance and growth of our local news ecosystem. I’m a community journalist at heart. I’ve never aspired to work in the national news space. Instead, I’ve always enjoyed talking to locals about the issues that affect their daily lives — things like education, crime, healthcare access, economic development, government accountability and more. I care about an area’s quality of life, the transparency of its government and the civic participation of its people. I also care about telling captivating stories, highlighting people from every walk of life and doing my work in an ethical and fair manner. I think journalists, who advocate for transparency from other organizations, should themselves be transparent, and I

Appen Press Club Support local news that follows the story. Join the Appen Press Club today at appenmedia.com/join. often publish notes or explainers on how and why stories were covered. My commitment to you is to continue these efforts and to have fun while doing it. My career has been many things — strange, transformative, winding — but on 95% of the days, I sit down on my couch and think, “Well, that was a fun day. I made a difference, or at least I tried to do so.” I suspect most journalists share those same reflections, even if their number isn’t quite 95%. When I started in this business 21 years ago, newspapers were still king. Journalists were still respected. Advertising dollars poured

in and allowed for big staffs and ambitious reporting projects. Those things have certainly changed, but I will always believe in the value and future of local news. Without it, research has found civic participation drops, governments become corrupt and secretive, false and misleading information spreads, and communities become increasingly polarized. Local news, long the uncontested glue of a community, has lost some of its tack, but it hasn’t let go. I think the news business is in an exciting time of its life — a time to adapt, to hone our craft and to reconnect with audiences by finding new ways to reach them. I’m honored to be doing that work in this area and with this team. We’ll continue to grow, adjust and build on our solid foundation. Thank you for reading local news. I’m always just a note away, and I look forward to connecting with you.

MARTA: Continued from Page 6 will now slide back into problems that make riders feel unsafe. “A lot of them were volunteers … but still, there was a security presence,” O’Brien said. “I noticed that immediately after it was over, they vanished. There’s not a policeman in any of the stations again.” As a regular MARTA rider since it launched in 1972, O’Brien said he has a vested interest in the transportation system. He loves the convenience it provides getting to the airport and how it enables him to easily explore neighborhoods and restaurants outside of Decatur. O’Brien thinks the biggest thing MARTA needs to overcome is a perceived lack of security. He’d like to see more officers patrolling stations, a critique shared by Dunwoody resident Matt Moseley, who has been consistently riding MARTA since 2012. Moseley said he’s “always felt at peace” on MARTA but takes that for granted; his fiancee has told him she feels uneasy and “on guard” while riding. “I wish they could create a better sense of safety and security,” Moseley said. “I want people to be able to relax when taking MARTA.” Behind the scrutiny, and how MARTA is responding MARTA made national headlines over the summer after several violent incidents, including a stabbing at the Georgia State station May 24, the fatal stabbing of 66-year-old Margaret Swan on a train May 30 and a shooting on a train June 5. Before World Cup matches started in Atlanta in June, the Federal Transit Administration was directed to investigate the transit authority’s security spending, safety protocols, and risks to riders and workers. MARTA spokesperson Schwin said crimes committed in the authority’s jurisdiction are down 24% since 2025, and incidents on train lines have dropped from 200 in 2020 to 103 last year. Mohr said she noticed and appreciated the heavier police presence after the May and June incidents. She added that she doesn’t think MARTA has more safety issues than other cities’ transit systems. Atlanta resident Liane Hunter said the atmosphere on MARTA transit modes has improved over the past 15 years, and she doesn’t think those violent crimes are entirely reflective of MARTA. “I think maybe it’s more reflective of society as a whole, unfortunately,” Hunter said. “I think that there’s violence everywhere, and my experience with MARTA, specifically, is that I feel safe.” MARTA also received a $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help

AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | August 27, 2026 | 17

cover additional security needs during the World Cup. MARTA Police Department officers worked 10- to 12-hour shifts six days a week, patrolling trains, stations, buses, transfer hubs and parking lots. Key department personnel also staffed the authority’s emergency operations center on all match and fan fest days starting June 11 to monitor developments and respond quickly. Schwin said riders can expect continued security improvements as MARTA rolls out its new CQ400 railcars. The authority will have a full-time police officer assigned to each train, the spokesperson noted. The new railcars also feature more than a dozen closed-circuit television cameras, microphones that can detect loud disturbances and alert MARTA personnel, and open gangways that allow officers to patrol every car in a train. The authority has been growing its police force to prepare for the increased officer presence, according to a briefing given to local NPR affiliate WABE. According to WABE, MARTA plans to boost its police force to approximately 400 officers from the current number of around 270. The new railcars are expected to roll out in stages and be completely in place by 2030. Schwin said MARTA also plans to add transit ambassadors and more safety personnel during major events, including Labor Day weekend, when both Dragon Con and the Aflac Kickoff Game will take place in Atlanta. Riders wait on delayed railcars and more access MARTA delayed the launch of the new railcars in June while the authority works through a safety certification process. Once running, Schwin said the new cars will ride more smoothly and also be more mechanically reliable than the current ones. The spokesperson, however, didn’t indicate when the first set of new railcars would launch. Swiss train manufacturer Stadler is also equipping the rail system with new technology meant to improve performance and train frequency. Long-term capital

programs will eventually replace aging Built for memories, rails, giving another boost to reliability, made for community Built for memories, MARTA personnel noted. O’Brien said riders seem “perplexed and for community. made frustrated” about the delays surrounding Built for memories, the new railcars. Built for memories, for made Lee said he was also confused by the forcommunity. community. made holdup. “I know they have been manufactured, and they were meant to be rolled out in June,” he said. Hunter said riders also want more trains and stops near places they actually want to go, including pedestrian hubs We’re proud to introduce our like the Atlanta Beltline or Pullman Yards, new celebration of life center, which have minimal station access despite unlike anything else in being close to existing lines. the Atlanta area. She added that station amenities — We’re proud to celebration introduce our new celebration We’re proud to introduce our new of life center, like public art — would help riders see anything else in the Atlanta area. else in the Atlanta a >unlike Cremations > Funerals unlike anything MARTA’s infrastructure “asWe’re a piece of the > new Cremations > Funerals of >> Life Celebrations proud to introduce>our celebration life center, Life Celebrations Grief Support > Cremations > Funerals > Life Celebra community instead of a safety hazardunlike or anything else > Griefin support > Catered area. events > Veteran services the Atlanta > Catered Events a place where people are just getting from > Grief support > Catered events > Vetera > Cremations > Funerals > Celebrations > Life Veteran Services Chapel point A to point B.” South Forsyth Memorial > Grief support > Catered events > Veteran services MARTA personnel didn’t respond to a Peachtree Pkwy | Suwanee, GA 30024 request for comment from Appen Media We’re proud to3545 introduce our new celebration of life center For information on preplanning, call 470-375-1192 or visit SouthForsythChapel.com. about potentially expanding rail access. unlike anything else in the Atlanta area. Overall, Lee said he’d like to see MARTA 3545 Peachtree Pkwy | Suwanee, GA 3 > Peachtree Funerals > Life Celebrations get more funding to make the system more > Cremations 3545 Pkwy. For information on preplanning, call 470-375-1192 or visit South efficient and give commuters a reason to > Grief Pkwy 3545 Peachtree | Suwanee, GA GA 30024 support > Catered events > Veteran services Suwanee, 30024 leave their vehicles behind. For information on preplanning, call 470-375-1192 or visit SouthForsythChapel.com. For information on preplanning, O’Brien said MARTA, with those call 470-375-1192 or visit promised improvements, has to make the SouthForsythChapel.com. case directly to Atlantans. “They’re going to have to prove that sitting in traffic three hours of your life 3545 Peachtree Pkwy | Suwanee, GA 30024 every day is not an advantage over maybe a For information on preplanning, call 470-375-1192 or visit SouthForsythChapel.co 40-minute train ride,” O’Brien said.

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Robert Hausleiter, age 80, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 15, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Maryann Dunphy, age 94, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 12, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Gary Johnson, age 76, of Roswell, GA passed away on August 11, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Jackson Marcano, age 43, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on August 10, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

18 | August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

OPINION

Milestone! I killed my phone, at least for a day. Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny." — attributed to Lao Tzu Recently I did a little experiment. I did not touch my phone or laptop — or stare at a screen — for 24 hours. I never went online. I didn't text, email or call anyone. The phone RAY APPEN never moved. Publisher Emeritus No emergency ray@appenmedia.com needed me. Nothing important or meaningful happened on social media that I can tell. The only thing I really missed was my camera, because I often use it to take notes. So I made the notes by hand instead. The sun still came up the next morning. My blood pressure probably went down. I was less angry. I didn't miss the news — any news. And I figure I added two to five hours back to my life that otherwise would have been discarded, like food scraps at a restaurant, into the trash can of the digi-verse. Instead of screens, I watched birds on the beach, clouds and ghost crabs,

and I read more than usual. How did I feel? Lighter, a bit more alive and a bit more rested. But the change was subtle. There was no earthquake, no shock. I just felt better. Watch your actions; they become your habits. I talked to an old friend later about my little experiment, and he told me he was headed in the same direction. He said he was tired of the noise — the distraction — and wanted, as he put it, "my own life back." His own life back. That idea struck me. It resonated. It made me think that not having your own life sounds a lot like what happens with addiction: A person serves the addiction instead of the self. Life becomes centered on something else, not you. Addictions by any other name are habits — except with teeth. Denial is part of the story, too. Someone addicted to opioids often doesn't recognize the addiction until the supply runs out, and even then is apt to deny it: "I just feel better when I take them." Screens are not unlike opioids. Think about it. Try leaving your phone at home. Try going to the store without your phone in your pocket or purse. Try not picking up that phone for 24 hours. Taking the phone with you is the action. Staring at the screen is the habit. A habit taken to the extreme is called addiction — something that controls how

Notice of Public Internet Auction Johns Creek Police Department The following is a list of property located at the Johns Creek Police Dept. If you believe that you are the owner of this property, please call (678) 474-1600 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM. Proof of ownership and a valid ID will be required to claim any property. A public internet auction of the following items will begin the week of 09/17/2026. The auction’s website is www.propertyroom.com. Items: Laptop, Backpack, Phone Charger, Headphones / US Currency / Hand Truck / Bags, Clothing, Prescription Bottle, First Aide Kit, Name Tag, Shoes, Misc. Items, US Currency, Misc. Medications / US Currency / Lighting System, Rings, Necklace, Shoes / US Currency / US Currency / Suitcase / Phone, CDs, Charger / US Currency / Bicycle parts / Backpack / US Currency / Goggles, Head Covers, T-Shirt, Bag, Shoes / Bicycle / Backpack, Tools / Hoodie, Gloves / Saws / Backpack, Ear Protection, Tool, Quick loader

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He said he was tired of the noise — the distraction — and wanted, as he put it, ‘my own life back.’” you spend your time. The screen and the content it delivers subtly become reality, and reality is no longer real. If we no longer live each moment with intent, with direct engagement in the world around us, then we begin to live as if in a matrix: something synthetic, something else, something not us. Watch your habits. They become your character. Examples of what screens do to people — to their character and their judgment — are everywhere. Consider the rise of mass shootings, the conspiracy theories that multiply within minutes of any major event, the return of diseases that vaccines had all but eliminated, and the social and political polarization that plagues this country. The effect of substituting screens and digital experience for direct personal engagement cannot be overstated. We become what

Tax: Continued from Page 1 Alpharetta held steady at 5.750 mills. In June, Sandy Springs approved its budget that included a millage rate of 4.731. Fulton County Schools will be proposing an increased rate of 18.08 mills. Once millage rates have been set, final property tax calculations will be made. A refund or revised tax bill will be issued only as needed. If a taxpayer overpaid, they will be refunded with interest. Fulton County residents living outside the city of Atlanta must pay their property taxes by Oct. 15. Tax bills can be viewed online at fultoncountytaxes.org. If you are

we see through the screens, and our values follow. Our character becomes our destiny. Merriam-Webster defines character as "the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation." No one wants a destiny of war, poverty, disease or hatred. Screens by themselves do not control our destiny. It is when we substitute screens for direct interaction — with people, culture and organizations — that we hand over control of our lives, and our destiny, to someone or something other than ourselves. We need balance, moderation and engagement. Screens give us access to unlimited information, which can be a good thing, but that information has to pass through the filter of steady, direct human experience to do us any good. I have drastically reduced my screen time since my little experiment. It is work, though. My goal is to touch my phone twice a day — once in the morning and once in the late afternoon, to check messages. I am going to join a book club. I am going to get back on the tennis court and socialize more. I hope to re-engage with people. It is a worthwhile goal, I think, and one that will be good for my physical and mental health. What do you think? Email me at rayappen@gmail.com, or talk to me at book club or on the tennis court. a property owner and do not receive an expected tax bill by Sept. 15, contact the Fulton County Tax Commissioner’s Office at 404-613-6100. If taxes are not paid by the due date, interest will begin accruing the next day and continue until the bill is paid in full. An additional 5% penalty will be charged on the 120th day after the due date and will continue to accrue 5% every 120 days thereafter until paid in full, up to a maximum of 20%. The Fulton County Tax Commissioner’s Office accepts partial payments, but interest will accrue on the unpaid principal balance until the balance is paid in full. Property tax payments can be made online at fultoncountytaxes.org/ propertyTax/search or by telephone at 404-613-6100.

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Puzzles

rier 8/27/26 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!

Johns Creek Herald...........................August 27, 2026 | 19

FAUNA SPEAK 1. Hurried. Snake speak. Sailing vessel with 2 masts. 2. Conundrum. Chick speak. Worker’s demand. 3. Dog speak. Watery part of milk. Smooth-tongued. 4. Owl speak. Certain football player. The Old Sod. 5. Donkey speak. Little angel. Spill the beans. 6. Indian princess. Found on the shoreline. Lion speak. 7. Breakfast sizzler. Lackluster. Horse speak. PuzzleJunction.com

Dunwoody Crier 8/27/26 Crossword

Across

1 Giraffe cousin 6 Renown 10 Pesky insect 14 Speeder’s bane 3 15 Legal claim 16 NV city 17 Karate experts 4 19 Consequently 20 18-wheeler 21 Foolhardy 5 22 Western ﬁlm classic, The Magniﬁcent ___ 6 23 Showman Ziegfeld 25 Tin can /27/26 Sudoku7 appliance Fauna Speak 8/27/26 Kakuro PuzzleJunction.com How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle Dunwoody above has Crier three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is 27 Large bird of 1. first Hurried. speak. Sailing with 2 masts. the letter ofSnake the second answer, and sovessel on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each prey, the Great 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 ___ 2. Conundrum. Chick speak. Worker’s demand. Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. The rules are easy: A number for 3 answers on thepuzzle, line. Buteach here’srow, the catch! Theand clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually To the solve the Sudoku column Filth above the diagonal line in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line31 is the sum be the speak. second orWatery thirdnumbers answer line. Smooth-tongued. Got it? Good luck! boxfor must contain the 1that to 9. 3. Dog partinof milk. 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 any32 sequence. Cereal grain 33 Condo division 4. Owl speak. Certain football player. The Old Sod. 35 Knitting ___ 5. Donkey speak. Little angel. Spill the beans. 39 All excited 41 Type of stare or 6. Indian princess. They are usually found on the shoreline. cartridge Lion speak. 43 Diva’s song 7. Breakfast sizzler. Lackluster. Horse speak. 44 Indicate 46 Moonshine mix 48 Mornings, for short 49 Burden 51 Gainsborough painting 53 Withstand 55 Hostel 56 Explosion 57 Wilted 60 Jason’s ship 64 Final notice 65 Embarrassed to How to Solve:Copyright Kakuro,©2026 also PuzzleJunction.com known as Cross Sums, is a the hilt challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid.

2 1 4 2 4 9

2 5 4

9 2

1 6

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

The rules are easy: A number above the diagonal line in a 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.

PuzzleJunction.com

5 8 3 2 7 6 1 9 4

9 7 1 4 5 8 6 2 3

6 2 4 3 9 1 7 8 5

4 5 7 9 8 2 3 6 1

3 9 2 1 6 5 4 7 8

8 1 6 7 4 3 2 5 9

21 23 28

25 30

39 44

7 6 9 5 1 4 8 3 2

46 50

47 51

48 52

67 Exploding star 68 Above 69 The Republic writer 70 Water pitcher 71 Sets 72 Brusque Down 1 Globes 2 Curly cabbage 3 Comic Sandler 4 Appease 5 Aggravate 6 Chigger 7 Suffers 8 Modus operandi 9 Print measures

10 Healthy Chinese beverage 11 Audacity 12 Infuriate 13 Warner Bros. creation 18 Grizzly, e.g. 22 Arid 24 Singer Rawls 26 Walking papers 27 Egg on 28 The latest thing 29 Town on the Thames 30 ___ Abner 34 Scottish cap 36 Ho-hum 37 Airport pickup 38 Effortless

40 Kindergarten reward 42 Apprehend 45 Race track tipster 47 4th century barbarian 50 Computer key 52 Empower 53 Pasta shape 54 Gullible 56 Dog treat 58 Matinee ___ 59 Driving direction ﬁnders 61 Back 62 Catches on 63 Native Nebraskan 65 Dust remover 66 Pertinent

See puzzle solutions on Page 21

What do you want to know about the community?

2 4 5 8 3 7 9 1 6

45 49

31 34

ASK APPEN

1 3 8 6 2 9 5 4 7

10 16

Solution

Submit questions at appenmedia.com/ask or scan QR code.

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3 2 SOLUTIONS Solution 9 2 4 1 8 9 4 1 4 7 Pu Dunwoody Crier 8/27/26 Kakuro 2 5 Carol Tall Mike Tasos Candice Teichert 5 4 The Small Business Advisor Suzanne & Bob Thomas William Tietjen 1 9 2 Lisa Tilt Michael Townes Connect-It Solution Trunnion LLC 6 9 1 Matthew Tyser

Support Local News Join Appen Press Club MEMBER (CONT.) Julie Martin Linda & Todd Martinez Carla Masecar Valerie Matthews Theresea Mattioli William Maxwell Nicole Mayer Rachel McCord Austin McCully Diane McDonald Evan McElroy Karen McEnerny Jack McGinnis Lynn McIntyre Mike McLoughlin Margaret McManus Jay O’ Meara Jennifer Mendoza Al Merrill Chris Miller Christine Miller Patricia Miller Milton Animal Hospital George Mobley Joe Modica Fred Moeller Sarah Moen Catherine Moore Ralph Moore Carol Morgan Kathy Morgan Stu Moring Leslie Mullis Donna Murphy Jack Murphy Aileen Nakamura George Nathan Caroline Naughton Richard Nichols

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Continued innovation in digital media has changed the ways in which people buy, sell and interact with products and services. It has caused businesses to reassess the ways in which it communicates with potential customers and advertises its products. It has been well documented that these changes have had a destructive impact on local newspapers, which continues to be a primary source for local news, but is no longer a primary source for local advertising dollars – historically the lifeblood for reporters and their coverage. At Appen Media Group we want to address this conflict head on, and build new and innovative approaches to monetizing local news and creating a sustainable future for local journalism in metro Atlanta.

Janet Sandberg Carolina Santos Kelly Sarmiento Fran Schefer Derek Scheidt Dorothy Scherr Stephanie Schniederjan The Schoenblum Family Robert Scholz Robert Schreiner Stephanie Schuette Susan Searles Frances Segars Tracy Shealy Tina Shelton Lisa Shippel Steve Short Tom Simon Cindy Simpson Robert Singleton Faye Sklar Mitchel Skyer Judith Slaughter Andy Smith Lee Smith Tia Solh Morris Soriano Heidi Sowder Gena Spears Donald Spencer Melissa Spencer Jan Stephens Judith Stewart Wesley Stewart Cathryn Stovall Celeste Strohl Diana Sullivan Andy Sumlin Kathy Swahn

G N A T F A M E O K A P I R E N O L I E N R A D A R E R G O B L A C K B E L T S S E V E N R A S H S E M I O P E N E R F L O D I R T G R E Y O W L N E E D L E U N I T O A T A R I A B L A N K A G O G A M S M A S H D E N O T E Y grid. The rules a E B O style B L inUa crossword D O A puzzle, solved Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challengingLnumber N of it. A number below the dia R Esquares toI theNright U white of the N D E sum above the diagonal line in a black square is the can only be used onc andRa digit G O M P1 to 9, A L theI digits of the white squares in the sequence below S Tonly use A may B it.L You R E D A S A B E E T O B I T P L A T O A T O P N O V A T E R S E G E L S E W E R Copyright ©2026 PuzzleJunction.com

Edward Votta Linda Wabler Ollie Wagner Lewis Walker Elizabeth Waller Valerie Walters-Gold Ann Marie Warning Terry Warnke Jonathan Washburn Michael Watson Deborah Weiss Michael Weiss Herbert Wells Benjamin Wemberly Beverly Whisenant Sally White Thom White Umpika White Mae Whiteside Ashley Whitt Jennifer Wieland Christine Williams Jamie Wimberly Jonathan Winkie Nancy & Dave Wistrand Kalle Wood Theresa Woolridge Laura Wysong Jonathan Young

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One solution is the creation of a membership driven organization called the Appen Press Club that is dedicated to recruiting people and companies to join as members. Members pay recurring monthly or annual dues that are 100% dedicated to sustainable journalism. By providing predictable revenue, Appen Press Club members and partners help fund the salaries and expenses of local reporters who will no longer be subject to the whims of marketing budgets and an ever changing advertising world. In turn, those reporters will provide the readers they serve with highly researched and qualified journalism focused on subjects that directly affect their quality of life.

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E T C H I S S 1 Q U I C K PuzzleJunction.com

2 P E E P O S E R A I S E 3 G L I B O W W O W H E Y 4 H O O T A C K L E I R E

5 C H E R U B L A B R A Y

6 R O A R A N I N L E T S

Solution

7 D R A B A C O N E I G H

5 8 3 2 7 6 1 9 4

7 6 9 5 1 4 8 3 2

22 | August 27, 2026 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek

Full-time Data Analytics Engineer (Alpharetta, GA) Help dsgn & implmt global co’s data analytics platform using SQL while collaborating w/ cross-functional Data Analysts, Data Engineers, & bus. stakeholders to dsgn robust data solutions. Partner w/ Underwriting, Reinsurance, & Engineering teams to apply expertise in quantitative analysis, data mining, & statistical prgmg languages such as Python, R, & SAS. Create interactive dashboards & reports using Power BI to visualize complex data sets & provide insights to stakeholders. Ensure proper d/base architecture, coding stds, data qlty, & integrity. Master’s in Comp Sci, Info Systems, Applied Comp Sci, or Data Analytics & 2 yrs of exp in job or 2 yrs data engg/data analytics exp specializing in data mining &/or visualization. Starr Insurance Holdings, Inc., Attn: Matt Metropulos, 3353 Peachtree Rd, NE, Ste 1000, Atlanta, GA 30326. Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc. Solutions Director Alpharetta, GA Job Description: Work with the company’s sales professionals to develop account-winning strategies by driving & managing the technology evaluation stage of the sales process & bringing new products to market. Provide product sales engineering support to successfully close deals, researching customer needs & defining technical and business solutions. Domestic travel up to 50% to unanticipated client sites. SALARY: $165,000 - $175,000/ YEAR Requirements: Bachelor’s in Electrical Engg, Comp Sci, or related field & 5 yrs exp evaluating technology & market trends in energy & utilities industry. Exp must include 3 yrs each of following: assessing potential of proposed designs for electric distribution systems; developing & executing strategic technology plans for operational technology (OT) & IT convergence in utility environments; leading strategic planning, roadmap development, & execution for industrial digital transformation initiatives; assessing integration architectures & system designs for electric distribution networks, including substation automation, SCADA, & historian systems; delivering technical presentations to utility clients, internal stakeholders, & cross-functional engineering teams; product management including concept validation, requirements definition, & crossfunctional coordination. Exp may be gained concurrently. Domestic travel up to 50% to unanticipated client sites. To apply, please send resume via email to Portia.Ehoussou@landisgyr. com or mail to Landis + Gyr Technology, Inc., c/o Portia Ehoussou, HR, 30000 Mill Creek Ave, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30022. Please reference job title (Solutions Director).

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Midway Preschool is looking for an experienced Young 5’s/Prek teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Contact Beth at beth@midwayumc.org.

Sawnee EMC is seeking a Staff Accountant – Financial Services to provide financial and accounting services in compliance with RUS accounting requirements and standards, coordinate budgeting and financial planning functions, compile and analyze financial information, prepare financial statements, statistical analyses, balance sheet and financial position statements, make recommendations on reserves, collect appropriate data to prepare tax returns, and prepare related reports to management. Requires: Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in accounting with a minimum of two years progressively responsible work experience; high level of competency in MS Office, Accounting, Spreadsheet and Database Software; knowledge of RUS System of Accounts preferred. Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, September 11, 2026. Apply online: www.sawnee.coop/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568. Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

SUPPLY CHAIN SPECIALISTS: Alpharetta, GA & various unanticipated locations throughout US: Dvlp sols for complex processes to imprve biz & oprtnl efficiency using WMS & MS Office. Dsgn, build, & execte key wrhs procss. Stratgz, create & optmze Wrhs Mgmt implmtn lfcycls w/in timeln. Scope & budget lfcycle using Excel, Visio & MS Project. Anlyze current state & idtfy gaps in procsses & sys. Redce distrbtn costs by rsrchng, dsgng, & exectng cmplx biz & sys procsses like Receiving, Putaway, Alloctn, Replnshmt, Cubing, Taskng, Routing, & Trsnprtn. Dvlp metrics, KPIs, & data vislztns using Power BI & SQL. Master’s in Business Admin, Sci, Tech, or Engg (any) req’d. Email resume: HR, ITeckSoft, Inc, support@itecksoft.com.

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Ross: City should have residents pick fiscal fate

Public Service Commission race headed to runoff election

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Wills Park brims with area visitors on Fourth of July By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

A girl waves an American flag as she dances to music by Davis and the Love at Roswell Area Park July 4.

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Kendall, from left, John, Brooks and Reid Hill sit on a picnic blanket at Roswell Area Park to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Roswell crowd celebrates America’s 249th birthday By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Food trucks, live music and fireworks were on the menu for America’s birthday in Roswell. A crowd of over 1,000 piled into Roswell Area Park July 4 to celebrate America’s 249th birthday.

Kendall and John Hill travelled from East Cobb to bring their two little ones to the show. “The kids love it,” John Hill said. Baseball fields and multi-use fields were filled with families and friends awaiting the firework show at dusk.

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From left, Traci Foreman, Chris Foreman and John Hanley watch fireworks in Wills Park July 4.

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JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The heart of the holiday was shining through the music, food and fun of Creek’s Juneteenth celebration. As the sun set on a warm Saturday evening, Midway grandmother Matilda Riles sat in a lawnchair, watching her grandchildren play on the park lawn amid the sound of booming live music and mouthwatering aroma of food trucks. Before the fun started, Riles, who attended with three generations of family, educated the kids about the reason for Juneteenth. “It's a point in time when enslaved people no longer had to be enslaved, and certain places did not relay the message at the time that it should have been relayed,” Riles said. “And, therefore this is a celebration as to when the final group of people were told you no longer had to be enslaved.” Several thousand visitors descended on the city’s annual celebration at Newtown Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, doubling last year’s attendance. The celebration resembled a giant block party with live music performances, chatting neighbors, plenty of food and rows of arts and craft vendors.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The perfect biscuit is like a warm hug, said Brandy White, owner of Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company. “It kind of warms your soul,” White said. “It feels like home to me.” Since 2001, the Sawnee Mountain Biscuit has operated out of a renovated mobile home at 104 13th St., serving perfect pillowy biscuits wrapped around eggs, cheese, bacon and other breakfast staples. With dozens of items on the menu, the restaurant features other tasty offerings from French toast to a house-made pimento cheese. Tucked into a sleepy neighborhood on the edge of Cumming, Sawnee Mountain Biscuit might easily be taken as another house, but locals say the squat, blue-clapboard building is one of the town’s best breakfast spots. Over the decades, the restaurant has earned a cult following in Cumming and the north Atlanta area, serving as many as 400 orders some mornings.

See BISCUIT, Page 6

Two-year-old Cameron holds a beach ball at the City of Roswell Fourth of July celebration at Roswell Area Park.

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Brandy White holds her 1-year-old daughter, Lennon, at the entrance to her Sawnee Mountain Biscuit Company on 13th Street just outside Cumming.

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is working to complete converting an old elementary school into a law enforcement training center. Since October, the training center has hosted a public safety academy as part of a partnership between the sheriff’s office and University of North Georgia. The academy, funded by the

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sheriff’s office, provides training for law enforcement officers in Forsyth County and surrounding jurisdictions, Capt. Rob Heagerty said. At an April 22 work session, the County Board of Commissioners discussed a proposal to allocate $47,993 for design services with ar chitectural firm Wiley Wilson to create plans, conduct inspections and

make changes to water heaters. The sheriff’s office wants to install showers and locker rooms at the building at 4805 Atlanta Highway, Heagerty said. The improvements are important because exercise and physical conditioning are essential in maintaining capable deputies, he said. The building already houses classrooms, meeting rooms, a cafeteria,

gym, simulator room and an empty wing where deputies can conduct building-clearing and other training exercises. The work is part of a second phase to transform former Midway Elementary School into a law enforcement training center.

See SHERIFF, Page 12

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County restores original funding to cultural arts

Children play in the lawn at Newtown Park during a Juneteenth celebration in Johns Creek June 21. JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA

ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to restore funding for a program within the Arts & Culture Department to $3 million a year Sept. 17. While the unanimous vote reflects unity and bipartisanship, some commissioners criticized colleagues for the delay. The item, sponsored by Democratic commissioners Khadijah AbdurRahman and Marvin Arrington Jr. and Republican commissioners Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne, includes an increase of $1.7 million for a previously requested program and its full $3 million in funding set aside in the 2026 budget.

See JUNETEENTH, Page 10

sions last January and writing false reports about each of the incidents. “The (Justice Department’s) Civil Rights Division has zero tolerance for law ATLANTA — Fulton County Jail employee has been indicted in federal court for alleg- enforcement officers who abuse public edly using excessive force against prisoners. trust through excessive force and concealThe 47-year-old sergeant is accused of ing their misconduct,” said Assistant U.S. repeatedly using tasers on compliant, non- Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “We resisting pre-trial detainees on three occawill vigorously safeguard the constitutional

Dunwoody opens doors to refine future land-use By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

PHOTOS BY: HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Front center, Ann Hanlon, executive director of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, holds the ribbon for phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 while City Councilman Tom Lambert, front right, gets ready to cut it. The Perimeter CIDs and Dunwoody split the project’s $1.5 million construction cost.

Commercial partners and city celebrate new path By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

See FULTON, Page 20

Fulton jail staff faces civil rights indictments By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

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County considers funding for sheriff’s training facility

See FOURTH, Page 23

County delays closing Alpharetta jail site

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Thousands filled Wills Park to celebrate July 4 with a bang. Hours before darkness fell, friends and families filled the park’s lawns, Equestrian Center, trails and athletic fields. Everywhere, children played, cartwheeling, running, tossing balls and waving glow sticks. Alpharettan Lindsey Landis, her husband, two children and two dogs were part the crowd, passing the golden hour on a blanket laid out on the grass.

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Biscuit eatery rises to meet high demand

rights of all individuals, including those in custody.” “Abuses of power of this kind are unconstitutional, erode our community’s trust, and will be prosecuted,” added Theodore S. Hertzberg, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Solomon faces up to 10 years in prison for each federal civil rights violation and 20

► PAGE 4

Summer Veggies Annuals Pollinator Plants and So Much More! Friday April 11- Sunday April 13

years behind bars for each false report. The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case based on a referral from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

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Miniature goldendoodle Lexi cools off at the Milton city pool on Sept. 13. Canine companions gathered there to celebrate summer’s end. See the story and more photos from Sarah Donehoo on page 18.

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A look down the completed phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path April 3 shows the two-way cycle track parallel to the revamped sidewalk.

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody elected officials, city staff and Perimeter Community Improvement Districts Executive Director Ann Hanlon cut the ribbon April 3 on phase one of the Ashford Dunwoody Road path. “We’re super proud to partner with the city of Dunwoody on building this trail project,” Hanlon

said. “And we’ll look forward to many more phases to come.” A little over two years ago, the group gathered at the same spot near the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Hammond Drive for phase one’s groundbreaking. Phase one of the corridor’s path includes a two-way raised cycle track separated from traffic by a wide landscape buffer

See PATH, Page 17

DUNWOODY, Ga. — The City of Dunwoody is streamlining development rules and updating its vision for the city’s future as part of a state-mandated overhaul. City officials and representatives from consulting firm TSW Design, which was tasked with creating a plan, gave a two-hour presentation about the changes April 1 during a special meeting at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Residents received and discussed the creation of a unified development ordinance and changes to the city’s comprehensive plan. Dunwoody is updating its comprehensive plan as part of a state mandate that requires an overhaul every five years, said Allison Stewart-Harris, an associate principal and planner at TSW. Stewart-Harris presented the changes to about 30 residents who attended the meeting.

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By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs announced that the Billboard Music Award-winning band Lit is headlining Friday night Sept. 26 at the third annual Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival. The festival will take place in the heart of Sandy Springs Friday, Sept. 26, from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Lit is an American rock band from Orange County,

California, formed in 1988. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1999 power-pop punk album “A Place in the Sun” and its massive hit single “My Own Worst Enemy.” The band is set to headline the main stage Friday night at 8 p.m. In addition to Lit, the family-friendly festival features music all day long across multiple stages, an artist market with more than 80 vendors and a Kids Zone.

See LIT, Page 9

HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA

Motorists line up at the Boylston Drive signal to turn left onto Hammond Drive Aug. 14. Sandy Springs will begin work in September to realign Boylston to the east and eliminate a nearby traffic light.

Realignment construction begins on Hammond-Boylston intersection

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Sandy Springs said Billboard Music Award-winning band, Lit, is headlining this year’s festival Sept. 26-27 at City Springs.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs contractors are set to begin work in September on realigning the intersection of Boylston and Hammond drives and removing a redundant traffic light. The city says work will last around 15 months, and the intersection will remain open during construction, but there will be occasional lane closures so crews can get the work done safely. Initially, city officials expected the project

to begin in mid-August. No explanation was given. Currently, there are two separate sets of traffic lights less than 100 feet away from one another, one at the Hammond Glen Retirement Community’s driveway and another at the office building next door. The new configuration will shift Boylston Drive to the east, aligning it with the Hammond Glen driveway and eliminating the traffic light at the driveway to the office building at 325 Hammond Drive.

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Billboard Music Award winner to headline Sandy Springs fest

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About 30 residents fill a dining room at Vintage Pizzeria on Chamblee Dunwoody Road April 1 to hear a presentation by TSW Design planner Allison Stewart-Harris, who spoke on the city’s future land-use strategy.

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