Johns Creek Herald - September 4, 2025

Georgia Senate explores need-based scholarships

► PAGE 3

City officials hint confidential leaks taint council vote

Embry Farms residential project wins approval by narrow margin

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — In the wake of possible ethics questions involving leaked information from an executive session, the Johns Creek City Council voted Aug. 25 to allow construction of a major subdivision amid opposition from residents.

Council members who voted in favor of the development said apparent leaks of confidential information compromised the public hearing’s impartiality, leaving them little legal choice.

“I came in thinking I would vote a different way, but our hand has been forced,” Mayor John Bradberry said.

The council approved zoning changes for a 204-acre property dubbed Embry Farms, near 10505 Embry Farm Road in the Shakerag District of western Johns Creek. Developer Toll Brothers asked to reduce the number of lots to 189 and increase the minimum lot size to about 21,800 square feet to accommodate a roundabout.

The vote was 3-2, with two council members recusing themselves.

Councilman Bob Erramilli recused himself stating as reason “the appearance of improprieties in case if there is any communications between one of the parties.”

In his recusal from participating in the matter, Councilman Dilip Tunki said he already had his own text communications reviewed by the city attorney, who confirmed there is nothing requiring him to recuse.

“However,” he said, “out of an abundance of caution and

to avoid any perception of bias, I have chosen to take this step.”

Mayor Bradberry and council members Chris Coughlin and Erin Elwood voted in favor of the zoning changes. Councilmembers Larry DiBiase and Stacy Skinner voted no.

At the meeting, residents in opposition wore green T-shirts emblazoned with the website saveshakerag.org. Many spoke publicly asking the council to reconsider.

The development “threatens to urbanize Johns Creek's last rural area, a region rich in Cherokee heritage and designated for preservation in the 2018 Comprehensive Plan,” the website said.

See COUNCIL, Page 25

By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — A State Superior Court Judge has found the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in civil contempt and imposed a $10,000 per day fine beginning Friday, Aug. 29, unless Republican nominees are appointed to the County Elections Board.

In his Aug. 27 court order, Senior Superior Court Judge David Emerson wrote “local legislation does not include language authorizing the Commission to veto the selection of any qualified nominee.” He wrote that the legislation provides that the County Commission “shall” appoint the nominees submitted by the party executive officer if they are otherwise qualified.

“As was recently the argument by the defendant Fulton County in Adams v. Fulton County, [Julie] Adams had a mandatory duty to certify election results because of the word ‘shall’ is ‘generally a word of command,’” the judge wrote.

The months-long scrummage between the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, the Registration and Elections Board, elected officials on both sides and the courts revolves around the 2020 presidential election, several lawsuits against the county and partisan politics.

Page 29

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‘Officer Rose, we will take it from here’

Family,

colleagues honor fallen hero

By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — David Rose, a DeKalb County Police Officer, was a loving husband and father, and a dedicated public servant. Rose was fearless, but a quiet leader. He was a family man, above everything else.

Rose, 33, died in the line of duty Aug. 8 while responding to a shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Clifton Road in Atlanta. He was married with two children and a third on the way.

The DeKalb County community and notable dignitaries gathered Aug. 22 at First Baptist Church Atlanta for a public memorial service honoring Rose.

“There are ones who run toward danger while others run away, and their service is the very foundation of our safety and the peace that we all take for granted,” DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said. “Officer Rose was a husband. He was a father. He was a son. He was a brother, and he was a protector of people. His life reminds us that true greatness is not found in what we receive, but what we give, and he gave his all.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the shooter as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw. White fired 500 shots and hit the CDC buildings with about 200 bullets during the incident.

Rose was the first officer to respond to the scene. White was outside the CVS on Clifton Road, firing rounds at the CDC. When Rose arrived, he pulled up to the intersection of Clifton Road and the CDC entrance, right in front of the CVS.

White fired at Rose and retreated inside the store. Other responding

A member of the DeKalb County Honor Guard presents a folded flag to fallen Officer David Rose’s daughter during a memorial ceremony Aug. 22 at First Baptist Church Atlanta.

officers found White dead inside the CVS from a self-inflicted gunshot.

White broke into his father’s gun safe and had expressed “discontent” about the COVID-19 vaccine in writings, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Decaturish media partner Atlanta News First viewed some of the material. White wrote that the COVID-19 vaccines were “always meant to indiscriminately murder as many people as possible.”

The shooting and Rose’s death, occurring amid anti-vaccine rhetoric, prompted CDC employees to speak out. CDC employees and their union have called for greater security measures at the CDC facilities, including bulletproof glass.

Amid the anger, the community has paid respects to Rose at memorials placed at the CDC and DeKalb County Police headquarters. A GoFundMe campaign created to support Rose’s family raised more than $567,000.

‘The world is your home’ Before joining the department, Rose served four years in the Marine Corps and was deployed to Afghanistan. Rose was fearless and a protector, always putting others before himself. He was also a do-gooder, his mother DeVeane Atkinson-Burnett said.

She taught Rose to give 100 percent effort to everything. Rose was always trying to do the right thing. Atkinson-Burnett told her son that the world is his home before he was deployed.

“Wherever you are on this earth, I'm there with you, so don't ever feel like you're leaving home to go protect someone else’s home. The world is your home,” she said. Rose told his mother that he took her advice.

Born in Boston, Rose moved to Georgia when he was 10 years old. He grew up in the Suwanee area and moved to DeKalb County as an adult.

See ROSE, Page 29

State Senate eyes need-based college scholarships

By DAVE WILLIAMS Capitol Beat

ATLANTA — The state’s lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship program has been highly successful, covering most or all of college tuition for more than 2.2 million Georgians since its inception in 1993.

But Georgia lawmakers are considering expanding state aid to public college and university students beyond the merit-based HOPE program to a need-based scholarship initiative. The newly formed state Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability will hold its first meeting on Monday at the state Capitol.

“In my conversations on both sides of the aisle, there’s been a recognition that

getting more students into college is a must,” said Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, who will chair the committee. “[But] we have not turned our attention to needbased support.”

“I’m very concerned about the level of debt students come out of college with,” added Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee and a member of the new study panel. “The study committee is designed to explore as many avenues as we can to expand our graduation rates.”

The University System of Georgia’s six-year graduation rate has increased significantly during the last decade, surpassing 80% for the system as a whole and surging beyond 90% at the system’s

research universities including the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech.

The university system has taken various steps to boost graduation rates. The system has participated in the Complete College America program since 2011.

In 2022, the system launched the website Georgia Degrees Pay to show the value of a degree. The following year saw the start of GEORGIA MATCH, a direct admission program that involves sending letters to high school seniors listing the public universities, colleges and technical colleges they are academically eligible to attend and explaining how to claim a spot being held for them at the institution of their choice.

But Orrock said there remains room for improvement.

“Our workforce shortages are well documented,” she said. “More college graduates are a way for our state to attract businesses looking for the skill sets of college graduates.”

Georgia and New Hampshire are currently the only states that don’t offer a need-based scholarship program in their four-year public colleges and universities. But bringing need-based scholarships to Georgia will have to overcome an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality.

University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue noted that the system’s Board of Regents has held the line on tuition for seven of the last 10 years.

See SENATE, Page 28

County library volunteer finds community

By SARAH COYNE Sarah@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga.. — Jacob Moore’s favorite interests include reading and collecting books, something he has loved since the age of two.

Moore’s home is like a library, with books of all sorts including vintage Disney collections and dictionaries from across the globe.

Once a week, residents of Milton can find Moore volunteering in the Milton Library, registering, sorting and putting away books. He was recently recognized for his five years of service to the Milton Library.

The only difference between Moore and the avid-book reader, is that he is diagnosed with Down syndrome, autism and is a cancer survivor.

“He is a contributing member of society,” Jacob’s mother Heidi said. “He's volunteering, he's making friends, he's making a difference. And to be honest with you, I feel like more people need to emulate him and be like him.”

Volunteering at the library helps Jacob with his behavior, social, communication and community skills.

When Heidi was 18 weeks pregnant with Jacob the doctors found some irregularities, through testing two weeks later they determined that he had Down syndrome, excess water in the brain and a severe heart defect.

“He was one of the most prayed for little boys,” she said.

Jacob was born Jan. 9, 2000, and had open heart surgery at only seven weeks old.

“By the time Jacob was born on January 9, 2000, I had already mourned the loss of a typical child,” Heidi said.

Heidi became a stay-at-home mom to

help take care of Jacob.

Growing up, Jacob found a love for reading. By the time he was two and a half years old he had more than 26 sight words.

“He's had a lot of medical [issues] over the years, but he was able to be fully included in elementary school,” Heidi said.

In 2003, Heidi began her journey advocating for her son and others with disabilities. It all started when the state of Georgia denied paying for Jacob’s Augmentative and Alternative Communication device.

“This is like taking away his voice box,” she said.

Heidi used her skillsets that she learned as an engineer to contact Tom Price, who was a U.S. Representative at the time. Within a day, Jacob was approved for Medicaid, and 55 other families were able to get off the waiting list for the communication device.

“It showed me the power of your voice, and bringing people together for the common good,” Heidi said.

In 2009, Jacob was diagnosed with cancer. Due to his diagnosis, he lost all of his ability to walk, eat or self-help.

“He almost went to a newborn child state, he couldn't do anything, and he was in extreme pain,” Heidi said.

Jacob underwent three and a half years of chemotherapy for leukemia and became a survivor in 2013. During this time, Heidi and her husband discovered the lack of research that goes toward childhood cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, only four percent of all government-allocated cancer research funds goes towards pediatric work.

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City Springs Theatre Company returns with ‘The Producers’

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City Springs Theatre Company is opening its eighth season at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center Sept. 5-21 with Mel Brooks’ musical-comedy “The Producers.”

“The Producers: A Mel Brooks Musical” at the Byers Theatre is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), a leading New York-based licensing agency granting local theaters access to Broadway classics.

In 2001, American comedy legend Mel Brooks changed the face of Broadway forever with the musical version of his own 1967 film, “The Producers.” Hailed as an instant classic, the musical won a record 12 Tony Awards and has kept audiences across the globe laughing ever since.

One of Brooks’ collaborators, James Gray, is directing and choreographing “The Producers: A Mel Brooks Musical,” having appeared as an actor in the show on both Broadway and in London’s West End.

In the stage adaptation of the 1967 satirical comedy, a down-on-his-luck New York producer teams up with his mild-mannered accountant to produce the biggest disaster in Broadway history, allowing them to run off with

the surplus of money they raise.

Together they do everything in their power to make sure the show, titled “Springtime for Hitler,” is a sure-fire flop, only to have their efforts spectacularly backfire.

Brooks, 99, has been vocal over the years, defending his comedy.

“After all the people that he was responsible for killing and after utterly destroying half the world,” he said in a widely quoted 2012 interview with Salon. “I just thought the only weapon I’ve re-

ally got is comedy. And if I can make this guy ludicrous, if I can make you laugh at him, then it’s a victory of sorts.”

The Producers: A Mel Brooks Musical contains adult language and situations, also including mention and depictions of Adolf Hitler and Nazis. It is recommended for audiences aged 13 and older.

Tony-award winner Shuler Hensley is City Springs Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, and has had the pleasure of working with Mel Brooks on stage. Hensley said

calling the legend a friend is an unqualified privilege.

“He’s a one-of-a-kind voice, a true craftsman of comedy, finding humor in impossible situations and maddening injustices,” Hensley said. “Nothing unifies an audience like the kind of outrageous, gut-busting laughter that has been Mel’s hallmark for decades. It’s his superpower, and it’s why he is still thriving at 99!”

The cast includes New York-based actor Adam B. Shapiro, making his City Springs debut as the larger-than-life producer Max Bialystock; Tyler Pirrung (CSTC’s Jersey Boys, Spamalot) as the timid accountant Leo Bloom; Atlanta favorites Jeff McKerley as Roger DeBris, Blake Fountain as Franz Liebkend, and Frankie Marasa as Carmen Ghia. City Springs Theatre Company productions take place in the Byers Theatre at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, 1 Galambos Way.

Individual tickets to “The Producers: A Mel Brooks Musical” are on sale now. Prices range from $70 to $172, including all fees with discounts for seniors, students, groups, as well as active and retired military personnel.

For more information, visit cityspringstheatre.com.

— Hayden Sumlin

Appen Media launches online merch store supporting journalism

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Appen Media Group announced Aug. 19 the launch of its official online merchandise store, available at appenmediastore. com. The new store gives readers, supporters, and community members a way to show their pride in local journalism while directly funding the work of Appen’s newsroom.

All proceeds from the store will go toward supporting Appen Media’s mission of delivering trusted, independent reporting across North Fulton, south Forsyth and DeKalb counties.

“Local journalism is at the heart of our communities, and this store provides a new way for readers to

Join Us As We Celebrate The Work Of The Yonkofa Project

Enjoy great food, wine, and an art auction - all to benefit Yonkofa’s clinical and education projects! Scan the QR to the right or go to www.yonkofa.org/2025-atlanta-event to purchase your tickets today.

The Yonkofa Project operates medical centers and clinics in the rural areas of Ghana staffing them with full-time, local healthcare providers. Every donation goes towards equipping healthcare providers with the latest resources, ensuring they can care for the patients in a safe manner.

take part in sustaining that mission,” said Hans Appen, Publisher of Appen Media Group. “Every shirt, mug, or tote bag purchased helps ensure we can continue telling the stories that matter most to our neighbors.”

The store offers a variety of branded items designed to celebrate both community pride and support for independent journalism. Purchases not only help expand Appen Media’s reporting resources but also serve as a visible reminder of the importance of local news.

To shop the collection and support local journalism, visit appenmediastore.com.

— Hans Appen

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8 | Johns Creek Herald | September 4, 2025

Beloved bagel shop returns months after fire

By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A beloved Forsyth County bagel shop rose like a phoenix from the ashes, months after fire destroyed its previous location.

At an Aug. 23 grand reopening, hundreds celebrated the end of the BB’s Bagels drought, visiting its new location, 6835 Shiloh Road East.

Dozens of customers lined up outside the bagel shop’s front doors sandwiched between tool and cabinet businesses at a sleepy office park in southern Forsyth County. Inside, staff were scrambling, taking orders and ringing up customers beneath an enormous, illuminated Bronx Bagels sign.

Despite the chaos, it felt great to be back in the bagel business, said owner Anna Siino.

“It feels amazing,” she said.

On Feb. 2, fire gutted the former location on McFarland Parkway after 18 years of business and memories there. Siino said she is not sure what caused the fire but suspects it was related to the vent hoods, which were cleaned that day.

“We watched many, many families grow from kids coming in from elementary to high school, coming in with their girlfriends through college, getting engaged,” she said. “So, that was tough, but having to find a spot was even harder.”

The fire hit Siino’s family hard, but the business’ die-hard customer base stepped up. Online, customers lamented the loss but also rallied, raising more than $76,000 on a GoFundMe page.

See BAGELS, Page 9

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET ADOPTION

The proposed FY2026 Budget was presented to the Council during their Monday, July 14, 2025 5:00 p.m. Work Session. A Public Hearing was held during the July 28, 2025 7:00 p.m. City Council Meeting. Council will hold a second Public Hearing and consider adopting the FY2026 Budget at their regularly scheduled meeting on September 8, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Council Meetings are held in the Council Chambers at Johns Creek City Hall, located at 11360 Lakefield Drive, in Johns Creek, GA 30097. The proposed budget is available on the City website and a copy is available at City Hall for review.

Allison Tarpley City Clerk

Bagels:

Continued from Page 8

At the reopening, Siino recognized the faces of at least 50 regulars returning.

She also found strong support among her staff, many of whom returned to work after the months-long hiatus.

“We had 30 people employed at the time, and a lot of them were with us from the very beginning, so it was really a rough transition,” Siino said.

Siino, who was born and raised in the Bronx, said she grew up loving bagels.

When she moved to Atlanta, her family found the city’s bagel scene lacking and decided to take matters into their own hands.

“There are a lot of bagel shops, but there's only a few of us who are still doing it the way it should be done,” Siino said.

Doing it right means hand-rolling dough, boiling it in kettles and finishing the bagels in an oven. The result is a light and airy bagel that is crunchy on the outside and chewy inside.

Popular offerings include breakfast, French toast and veggie bagels.

Despite Atlanta’s limited bagel heritage, local customers have taken notice.

Peachtree Corners resident Rebecca Phillips was relieved to learn BBs was reopening and made sure to show up Aug. 23.

For the past six years, BBs has become an essential part of her routine, visiting regularly to buy their bagels and storing them in her freezer. After the fire, she rationed her supply, making them last as long as she could.

Prior to her visit, she finally allowed herself to eat the last of her reserves.

“When you toast them, they're crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside,” she said. “They're delicious.”

Kennesaw resident Shelley Coleburn said she and her family have been visiting BBs for most of her life. She was heartbroken to learn of the fire but ecstatic about the restaurant’s return.

She said she loves “everything” about their doughy creations but particularly loves their texture.

“They’re warm, and they are gooey,” she said. “You never get skimped on cream cheese.”

Kendall Bridger agreed. Bridger, who has visited New York several times, even prefers the bagels at BBs to those in the Big Apple.

“They are fresher and taste better,” she said.

BUSINESSPOSTS

Customers line up outside BBs Bagels, 6835 Shiloh Road East, Aug. 23, the day of the business’ reopening after a fire de stroyed a previous location.

BBs Bagels returns to a new location at 6835 Shiloh Road East ,Aug. 23, months after a fire destroyed a former location the business operated for almost 20 years.

Siino admits she misses the previous location, but she also looks forward to a new era for BBs. She loves the Shiloh Road location’s spaciousness and looks forward to many more years of business.

“Before the fire happened, we were like, ‘Oh, we're going to have a fiveyear retirement plan,’” Siino said. “But after seven months at home. We're like, ‘We're not retiring ever. It's not happen ing.’”

Fall Home Maintenance

Protecting your investment and boosting your home’s value

Brought to you by- Caroline Nalisnick, The Kloster Group at HOME Real Estate

With the kids back in school and summer vacations behind us, fall is the perfect time to turn your attention back to your home. The shift in season isn’t just about cooler weather and changing leaves, it is also an opportunity to protect what is likely your largest financial investment.

A well-maintained home saves money over the long run by preventing surprise repairs and helping maximize your home’s value when it’s time to sell. With higher mortgage rates and prices impacting affordability, buyers today are discerning and truly want homes they feel are move-in ready. A house that shows pride of ownership not only stands out but can also command a stronger sales price

Start by walking around your property and looking

for areas that may need attention. A proactive approach now can save you thousands later. Here are a few essential fall tasks to put on your list:

• Inspect and refresh paint. Paint isn’t just cosmetic. It seals and protects your home’s exterior materials so pay close attention to trim, windows, and siding. Address peeling or cracking areas as needed.

• Clean your gutters. Clearing out debris now prevents clogs and water damage once autumn leaves begin to fall.

• Repair cracks in driveways and walkways. Monitor your driveway and walkways for cracks. Sealing them promptly will prevent costly damage down the road.

• Service your HVAC system. Change filters and schedule a furnace inspection to ensure your heating system is ready for cooler weather.

• Check for drafts. Walk through your home and feel around doors and windows. Adding weather stripping or caulk is a simple fix that lowers heating costs all winter long.

• Fertilize your lawn. Protect your grass against the cold and keep it healthy through the winter months.

• Test safety devices. Replace the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

• Winterize outdoor faucets. Drain and disconnect hoses then shut off exterior spigots to prevent frozen pipes and water damage.

For more personalized guidance or to request a detailed Home Maintenance Guide, reach out to Caroline Nalisnick with The Kloster Group at caroline@homegeorgia.com . Preparing today ensures your home is ready for tomorrow’s market.

Upcoming HOME Sponsored Events

Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest Crabapple Festival 2025

Saturday, September 27

6:00PM - 10:30PM @ Downtown Alpharetta

Rock the night away in Downtown Alpharetta with a true “Dancing in the Street” party featuring your favorite beers, live music from Bogey and the Viceroy, plus a variety of food tents and local eateries. We’re showing the Georgia vs. Alabama game on a 17-foot screen!

Saturday, October 4

10:00AM - 5:00PM @ Downtown Crabapple

Join us in and around Crabapple Road, an area that will be transformed into a bustling market showcasing more than 100 local antique, craft, and art vendors featuring countless, handmade, and must-have items. Swing by our tent to grab a HOME tote and other goodies!

Brought to you by

– Kristi Davis, HOME Real Estate

From House to HOME

What makes a house truly feel like HOME? Is it the square footage, architecture, or the paint color? I don’t think so. It’s the way sunlight spills across the kitchen counter during your morning coffee. It’s the corner shelf filled with books and memories. It’s that subtle sense that the space was meant just for you.

Every home tells a story — yours! The colors you choose, the photos on the wall, even the way you arrange your favorite chair by the window all say something about who you are and what you love. A well-loved space becomes a reflection of your journey, holding little chapters of your life in its corners.

In our current market, the story of your home matters. We are seeing a rising inventory requiring sellers to make concessions and allowing buyers more time to make their choice. Buyers want homes that feel loved. Your home can tell your story without closing the book for someone else’s. A little personality makes a space memorable, but too much can be overwhelming. A home office doesn’t have to look like a magazine spread, but if it’s doubling as a

jungle-themed nursery with murals and ceiling clouds, it may be worth simplifying before you sell. The same goes for custom features. A velvet green built in bar might be your dream, but to a buyer, it could look like a big project.

So, where should you begin? Designers and agents agree: kitchens and bathrooms carry the most weight when selling - think quartz countertops, simple cabinetry, and classic fixtures. These spaces should feel fresh, modern, and

neutral enough to stand the test of time. And don’t forget layout and lighting. A simplified well-lit home feels bigger and more welcoming. Layered lighting (overhead, lamps, and accent) can make a room feel warm and adaptable. Smart layouts simply make life easier. Thoughtful design can boost resale value, but the greatest return is emotional. Living in a space that truly reflects who you are creates a deep sense of wellbeing. And when a home feels

cared for, that energy carries through — buyers notice it, and they’re more likely to fall in love.

So hang the family photos, display your favorite records, paint that reading nook in your favorite moody shade. With the right balance, you don’t have to choose between soul and saleability.

After all, a house holds people. A home holds stories.

And when your story is told with care, the next chapter writes itself.

✨ Design Now, Sell Later — Quick Tips ✨

• Stay neutral: Timeless walls and floors, add color with rugs, art, & pillows

• Avoid fads: Bold tiles or themes hurt resale

• Layer lighting: Layer overhead, task, and accent

• Prioritize function: Create flexible, easy flow

• Track upgrades: Save receipts and before/after photos

• Plan ahead: Design for now, but allow flexibility.

• Ask a pro: A quick designer consult can help!

Ready to begin your next chapter? Contact me at Kristi@HOMEgeorgia.com or 770.367.224

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Trusts versus Wills: What's right for you?

Brought to you by - Estates Law Center USA

A Will is a legal document that takes effect after your death. It specifies how you want your assets distributed and allows you to name a guardian for minor children. Wills must be signed and witnessed according to your state's laws, and they are filed with a probate court after your death. Probate is a public process, meaning anyone can access the details of your Will, and the court oversees the settlement of your estate. Probate on average costs 5-15% of your gross estate and even more if there is litigation and fighting between family members over your assets. While this might sound complicated, a Will is often the simplest and most affordable option, especially for smaller estates with no property or business and no minor or disabled children.

A Trust allows someone, called a trustee, to manage and eventually distribute your assets according to your instructions without going through the government Probate process. This can be beneficial if you want to control how your family receives their inheritance, such as in stages or at a certain age. Trusts can also be used to support minor or disabled children, care for a loved one with special needs or protect assets for someone who may not be finan-

cially responsible.

Because Trusts bypass long and expensive probate, they can speed up the transfer of wealth, reduce legal costs and keep your financial affairs private. Even though Trust obviously costs more than setting up a Will but Trust is significantly cheaper than paying for 5-15% or more of your assets in Probate for the public to view.

Understanding trusts

There are two main types of Trusts. Both can be in effect while you are still alive and can continue after your death. A revocable trust, also called a living trust, can be changed or canceled during your lifetime. Your control and access to the assets in the revocable trust does not change. This Trust offers flexibility but does not protect

assets from estate taxes if your estate exceeds the federal exemption, which is $15 million starting January 1, 2026, adjusted annually for inflation. More advance revocable trusts can also protect your assets generationally if your children get divorced, sued, bankrupt or disabled. It can also prevent your children from being disinherited if your surviving spouse remarries.

An irrevocable trust cannot generally be changed once created with some exceptions. It removes assets from your taxable estate and can provide strong protection from creditors, but it requires you to relinquish control of the assets permanently to avoid 40% estate tax. There are unique types of irrevocable trusts to give access and control between spouses and unique irrevocable trusts to protect from medicaid and lawsuits that allow different levels of control and access. Upon your death, both trusts transfer your assets automatically without Probate.

Choosing the right approach

If your estate is small with no real property; no minor or disabled children, no ownership of a company and your wishes are straightforward, a Will may be all you need. However, if you own property or business and/or have minor or disabled children, your estate can be more complicated because Probate is required. Thus, if you desire greater control, privacy or asset protection, as well as avoid Probate, you must utilize a Trust.

Estate planning is not one-size-fits-all. Consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to create documents tailored to your needs, your family and your long-term goals. Attend our in person workshops to learn more to make the most important decision for your family and your assets.

Low-Maintenance, Stylish, and Affordable

options

Brought to you by – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties

Across Atlanta, homebuyers are discovering the advantages of townhome living - where comfort meets convenience and affordability. With low-maintenance lifestyles that make it easy to simply lock and leave, townhomes are the perfect fit for busy professionals, frequent travelers, first-time buyers, and families who want stylish design without the upkeep of a single-family home. From vibrant downtown settings to walkable historic neighborhoods, four standout new communities are redefining townhome living while keeping homeownership within reach.

In Dawsonville, Downtown Fausett by awardwinning builder David Patterson Homes offers incredible value with pricing from the mid-$300s. This intimate community of 24 European transitional-style townhomes includes several move-in ready

options, each with three bedrooms and two-and-ahalf baths. With its prime downtown location and proximity to Lake Lanier, Downtown Fausett blends small-town charm with easy access to outdoor recreation.

Also, by David Patterson Homes, Sharon Commons in Loganville delivers a perfect balance of space and style. Priced from the high $300s, these large three- and four-bedroom townhomes provide all the benefits of low-maintenance living while giving homeowners the room they need to spread out. With two homes ready now, Sharon Commons is an ideal opportunity for buyers eager to make their move.

For those seeking refined living in a vibrant community setting, Palmyra Terrace Homes by awardwinning Patrick Malloy at Trilith in Fayetteville offer an elevated townhome experience. Starting in the low $700s, these residences showcase soaring 11-foot ceilings, a chef’s kitchen with breakfast bar, cozy fireplace, and a serene east-facing terrace. The

luxurious primary suite features a spa-like bath and generous walk-in closet, while thoughtful design touches like flex space, ample storage, and a twocar garage complete the package. Buyers can also take advantage of a limited-time incentive of up to 6% toward rate buydown and closing costs.

Rounding out the list, The Townhomes at Park Place in historic Powder Springs offer the perfect blend of location and lifestyle, priced from $349,900. With four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, these homes combine modern luxury with small-town charm. Residents enjoy walkability to quaint shops, local restaurants, the Powder Springs Amphitheater with live entertainment and direct access to the Silver Comet Trail.

David Patterson Homes and Patrick Malloy Communities are proudly represented by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. For more information on these and other new home communities, visit BHHSGANewHomes.com. An Equal Housing Opportunity.

COMMUNITY

New studio dances its way into Milton

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Kelsey Shackleford has been a dancer for as long as she can remember and now, she wants to gift her love of dance to others.

Shackleford began dancing at 3. When she turned 18, she signed a contract with The Georgia Ballet. She danced with the company for 11 seasons and retired in 2023 to start a family.

“But I kept on teaching,” she said. “I've been teaching for 12 years.”

She taught as the assistant school director for the Georgia Ballet for two years but then became a stay-at-home mom. Shackleford said that she loves to teach.

“My husband really pushed for me to start my own program so I would have the flexibility to be with my baby but also teach,” Shackleford said.

She reached out to the Milton Parks and Recreation department and discovered they needed a new program provider for a dance class. She created her studio, Little River Ballet, and secured an LLC.

Little River Ballet, named after the venue where she and her husband got married, will open classes Oct. 21.

Although she’s new in town, Shackleford said she wants parents to know that her studio will be a supportive and loving environment.

The school will offer classes such as creative movement, pre-ballet, beginner ballet and beginner contemporary for ages 3 to 10. Tuition will range from $10 to $22.50 per class.

Shackleford said that she’s most excited to teach the older kids.

“I really love the 7- to 10-year-olds, just because they're a little older and they can understand a little bit more,” she said.

Shackleford says dance can teach children new life skills. For her, dance

Kelsey Shackleford will begin offering dance classes at Little River Ballet at the Milton Community Center in October.

helped with her shy personality.

“Dance was a way for me to express myself without having to talk to a bunch of people,” Shackleford said.

While the studio’s main goals teaching dance, they will also teach musicality, coordination and listening skills.

“Starting at a really young age, at 3, you're still learning really good skills that will last your lifetime,” she said. “Perseverance, hardworking, creativity — I just think those are really good skills to have, even at a really young age.”

Classes are open to anyone, including residents outside of the City of Milton. The dance classes will be taught at the Milton Community Center.

In the future, Shackleford said she hopes to create a huge program for all ages and create a track for professional students.

To learn more about Little River Ballet, visit littleriverballet.com.

Milton florist grows into small business

By SARAH COYNE sarah@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Some husbands buy their wives flowers. Jacqueline Breuker’s husband bought her the whole store.

Kate Austin created Flowerfolk, Milton’s hometown flower shop in October 2024. But, in July, Breuker’s husband found out that Kate and her family were relocating to San Diego and that the shop was for sale.

“She said when she was creating it that she always felt like she was creating it for somebody else,” Breuker said.

Jacqueline had been creating her own floral arrangements in her basement for the past six years. Her small business had been named, For Something Beautiful, something she carried on into the next business venture.

“I think everybody's looking for something beautiful,” Brueker said. “When we're looking for a gift and arrangement, we're really looking for something beautiful to just embrace the moment, and celebrate the moment, whether it's a happy moment or even a sad moment, it's recognized through flowers in such a special way.”

She picked up the hobby when she was caring for her mother and oldest daughter, who had recently become a single foster mom and adopted children. Two of the Breuker’s grandchildren have special needs.

“I felt a burden on my heart for what they would do for an income when they grew up,” she said.

While searching for options, Breuker stumbled upon floristry. She picked up some flowers, and the rest is history.

“I know that to learn something, you got to practice,” she said. “And I would just go down to my basement and get all sorts of flowers.”

Learning just from YouTube videos,

CITY

Breuker was able to arrange a full display for her mother’s casket.

“It was like the last thing I could do for my mom,” Breuker said. “It was an honor.”

Breuker continues her passion for

OF JOHNS CREEK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER COMMUNITY MEETING

The City of Johns Creek will hold a series of community meetings related to the General Obligation Bond Referendum for the purpose of a Performing Arts Center (PAC):

Thursday, September 18th 6pm Johns Creek City Hall

Wednesday, October 1st 6pm Park Place at Newtown Park

Thursday, October 16th 6pm Johns Creek City Hall

All meetings at City Hall will be held in the Council Chambers located at 11360 Lakefield Drive. Meetings at Newtown Park will be held in Park Place located at 3125 Old Alabama Road. Please contact the City Clerk’s office at 678-512-3212 should you have any questions.

Allison Tarpley, City Clerk

floristry through the purchase of Flowerfolk. Within a month, Breuker became the newest owner of the flower shop.

“We’ve just had tons of new people every day,” she said.

Breuker said that her favorite part of becoming an owner is creating new art with customers.

Breuker and her assistant Jane Donaldson give customers the options to choose from bright and fun or soft and neutral. The pair then tries to get a vision in their head to create the perfect piece for anyone.

Donaldson has been with the store since its opening in October. She said she has never seen it so busy.

“It's so beautiful in here, and I love working here because I feel invested in making it successful for the community,” Donaldson said.

Through the new ownership, the flower shop now offers a Bloom Bar, where guests can create custom bouquets, custom silk arrangements, dried flowers, artwork and terrariums. The flowers are sourced through local farms like Little Flora Farm in Wood -

stock and Posie Fields in Milton.

The store also offers a subscription for those who want to bring lively flowers into their home. The subscription comes with a 10 percent discount on flowers, among many other perks

“I want to employ a bunch of people to do a lot of different things,” Brueker said. “I'm trying to make the shop more interactive.”

In the future, Brueker hopes to employ a range of helpers, including her two grandchildren. She said she also hopes to employ other members of the community who have disabilities.

Through it all, Breuker’s main goal is to spread her love for flowers and share the joy.

“I just think even one stem in the room, in a bud vase brings life to that room and brings joy to that room,” she said.

To order or learn more about For Something Beautiful, visit forsomethingbeautiful.com. Breuker also encourages customers to keep up with their Instagram @forsomethingbeautiful for updates.

I thought she was long dead: notes on a friend who is alive

RAY APPEN

Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

I was going through the address book on my phone and texting folks to remind them to vote.

At present I am through the letter “J.” Her name was in the Cs and initially I skipped her because, frankly, I was fairly sure that she was not with the living. The last time I had seen her she had serious health problems. Then one day she had put a note on the door of her business which said she was “done” – closed – out of the blue. It had been, I think, somewhere close to 10 years, and I had encountered nothing from or about her. I asked folks and no one knew anything. That’s why I was so surprised when – a short time after I messaged her, I got a reply.

It was almost like getting a second chance.

Oddly enough, that happened to us once before – years ago. A dear friend was in hospice in his home in Florida and was not expected to live much longer. We got the dreaded call – “Johnie passed.” Even though we knew it was coming, it felt like we had been punched in the stomach. Later that night, the phone rang again. It was the same person who had given us the awful news. This time the message was different – “Johnie didn’t die. He is alive. It was a mistake.”

We went into shock. What? How? It was now past midnight.

“What are you doing,” our son Carl demanded? We just looked at him. What was he talking about?

“You’re going to bed instead of getting dressed and driving down tonight to be with Johnnie” he almost shouted. You see, Johnie was part of all our lives; he was just as important to Carl as he was to us. “How many times do you get a second chance to be with someone you love after they have died,” he asked. Carl – cool head in windy spaces. Of course, of course Carl, what are we thinking?

We left about 30 minutes later, around 1 a.m. The eight-hour drive to Oviedo – just outside of Orlando –seemed to go by in a blink of an eye. I think we were in shock the entire way; time stalled – stopped. We arrived just before dawn. One moment we were in our living room in Alpharetta getting ready for bed and being lectured to by our son. The next moment we were by

Johnie’s bedside.

“You’re looking more beautiful than ever, Christina,” were the first words from his mouth when he noticed us walk in. I thought I was going to pass out and looked around furtively for something to land on just in case.

When we finally took our gaze off him, we realized that our other friends were also there in the living room – the ones who counted most –the ones who had received the same wonderful magical call. Noone seemed to be anxious or in a hurry or distracted. We talked. We held his hand. We ate. We waited. We circled up without touching and just were there. And he didn’t seem to understand why all his friends were making such a fuss about him. That was just how he was.

The sparkle in his eyes still showed through, undiminished. The imp in him that always seemed to be just on the other side of the curtain, seemed to be watching us, ready to poke fun. And he made each one of us feel as if we were the only ones in the room and the only focus of his attention. He was concerned that we needed sleep and asked Glenda – his wife – to make sure we were all OK/ taken care of.

Getting the text from Ann was a gift – just like the one from Johnie. We met for coffee the next day and talked for hours. She lives near South Carolina now on a small farm. When I last saw her, she was not in great shape and was the worse for wear from years of work in her businesses. Now she works out every day and reads a lot about world news and hikes. She just finished a 500-mile hike in Portugal and is planning what sounds like an amazing trek to Egypt. I think she is really focused on making up for lost time, although it is hard for me to consider what she did “before” as lost.

So, don’t overthink life. Covet time with friends. Don’t wait until someone dies to start to appreciate them and wish you had made the time while they were still alive. And don’t forget how random things seem to magically occur when you step outside your regular envelope and decide to remind people to vote or something equally generous.

I think I need to give Ann a shout and see if she doesn’t want to go hike a few miles of the AT. I’d like that –and so would she.

Carpe diem.

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PAST TENSE

Remembering an 1800s singing school tradition

VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist

According to the Library of Congress, “the singing school was a common fixture in many American communities during the nineteenth century.” The invention of shapenote or Sacred Harp singing helped the singing school movement further in the mid-1800s.

Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church, now closed, is in Sandy Springs and on the edge of Dunwoody. The church followed the tradition of Sacred Harp singing. Primitive Baptist churches do not use accompanying musical instruments. The voice is the instrument.

Singing instructors traveled to various locations to conduct schools and teach musical sight reading. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, singing schools were often held at a local church or school. Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church sometimes hosted these events, as well as Sacred Harp Singing Festivals.

The photo that accompanies this article was among the archives of the Anderson family. They were shared with me by Ken Anderson in 2009. He did not know the identity of the building where Webb’s singing school was held, but the assumption is it was a Dunwoody School. It could have been Dunwoody, Tilly, Chestnut or Ebenezer School. Chestnut and Ebenezer were in Milton County, just over the line from DeKalb. Ebenezer School was on church property.

The location could also be Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church. The two front doors in the photo are typical of churches in the late 1800s. Men and women entered the church separately.

Professor J. L. Webb of Alpharetta

conducted the 1892 Dunwoody singing school. He had been leading singing schools since at least 1881. On October 26, 1881, the Weekly Gwinnett Herald announced an upcoming singing event. “I have been requested by Mr. J. L. Webb, professor of vocal music, and who has taught several classes in the county recently, to say that arrangements have been made to organize a Vocal Musical convention for this county (Gwinnett).”

The event was held at Chestnut Grove Church near Lawrenceville. “All singing schools, societies or classes are

requested to send four delegates. All teachers of leaders in vocal music are invited to be present. In fact, everybody that feels interested are cordially invited to come.”

Webb offered his singing school program in 1885 at the Mt. Zion Church in Canton, Georgia. “Professor J. L. Webb of Alpharetta conducted an excellent singing at Mt. Zion Church Sunday.” (The Cherokee Advance, Canton, GA, May 22, 1885)

A shape-note songbook, “The Sacred Harp,” was published in 1844 by B. F. White and E.J. King of

Georgia. A Georgia historical marker dedicated to Sacred Harp singing is located on the property of Holly Springs Church in Bremen, Georgia. The marker recognizes White and King for compiling a songbook that would continue the Sacred Harp singing tradition.

Award-winning author Valerie Biggerstaff is a longtime columnist for Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier. She lives in Atlanta. You can email Valerie at pasttensega@gmail.com or visit her website at pasttensega.com.

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!

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

1. Links hazard. Ceiling brace. Breakfast item.

2. Hacienda brick. Foe. Polynesian rain dance.

3. Lacking taste, flavor or tang. Accounting entry. Roofing material.

4. Garden resident. Cement. Coffee, to some.

5. Wildcat. Ford flop. Fireplace material.

6. Hot rum drink. Window and door material. Seasonal visitor.

7. Adhesive. Bird venerated by ancient Egyptians. Clapboard.

1 Links hazard. Ceiling brace. Breakfast item

2. Hacienda brick. Foe. Polynesian rain dance

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. Lacking taste, flavor or tang. Accounting entry. Roofing material.

4. Garden resident. Cement. Coffee, to some

5. Wildcat.

6.

A

What is creating all the tunnels in my yard?

Could it be moles or voles? If you’re like me, you’ve probably been told the difference between these two small rodents and have since forgotten. I just learned a wonderful way to help remember the difference using a mnemonic or memory device. Moles begin with an “m” and are meat eaters. These small creatures spend their entire life underground, searching for earthworms, grubs and small insects. As they search for their next meal, they create a series of tunnels much to the distress of homeowners.

The word vole begins with a “v.” Voles, on the other hand, are vegetarians and search underground to find roots or aboveground to find stems to provide the nourishment to survive. When voles begin to search underground, they create an opening about the size of a golf ball and do not create a continuous tunnel underground. Sometimes they skip the task of digging a tunnel and use former mole tunnels. Vole tunnels are usually deeper than mole tunnels and cannot be seen from the surface.

Take a look at the pictures that accompany this column, and you can see how the bodies of moles are adapted for survival. The mole has the most unique set of front legs. They are paddle-shaped with five digging claws that enable them to form the tunnels necessary to find their food underground. They are highoctane diggers! They can plow through your grass, creating 150 feet of tunnels in one day, a necessity since they need to find the equivalent of 60% to 100% of their body weight in food each day.

Mole senses are modified for life underground. They have an excellent sense of smell and touch but no exterior ears, and as a result, they have poor hearing. They are color-blind and have small eyes that allow them to differentiate between light and dark. Recently it was discovered they are sensitive to light even with their eyes closed. Another adaptation is their pointed snout, which they use to accomplish the task of tunneling through their underground world in search of worms, insect larvae and other small invertebrates.

Voles are about the same size and appearance as a field mouse but have strong jaws and sharp, orange front teeth that enable them to chew through woody roots as well as soft herbaceous roots. Because they destroy the roots of plants, one day a plant will be healthy and the next day it will show no signs of life as a

Note its adaptations for digging, its pointed nose and its paddle-like front

Note a vole has mouse-like features because they live above and belowground. They have brown fur and are usually 5 inches long. Mice are smaller and are usually 3 inches long.

result of its damaged root system. I hate to suggest killing anything, but there is no other solution to the mole/ vole problem. Some wild animals can be captured and released, but this is not suggested for moles or voles. If you find the opening the vole uses to enter its underground world, you can place a mouse trap at the entrance. Load the trap with peanut butter, apples or oatmeal and add a shoe box or similar size box on top of it and secure it with wire to prevent any harm to domestic animals. Do not try to kill them with poison, as this can also be

a risk to pets. If you find a vole or mole in the trap, use gloves to remove the animal from the trap and dispose of the animal by placing it in a sealed plastic bag along with the gloves and disposing of the bag in the trash to avoid spreading any possible disease they might carry.

Before you decide to take drastic measures to remove moles from your property, I have read that taking a firm foot to flatten each and every one of their tunnels will discourage them from continuing to tunnel through your lawn, landscape plants and shrubs. The only problem is they need to eat and will probably move on to your neighbor’s property. Another issue is that they can live three to six years, and they will reproduce and have offspring! The best way to eliminate mole damage is to use a trap. Please consult your county Extension agent for the best way to use these traps and where to place them.

Happy Gardening!

North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to educate its members and the public in the areas of horticulture and ecology in order to promote and foster community enrichment. Master Gardener

Volunteers are trained and certified by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Learn more at nfmg.net. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at https://appenmedia.com/opinion/columnists/garden_buzz/.

About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Carole MacMullan, a North Fulton Master Gardener and a Milton resident. She taught biology for 35 years in the Pittsburgh area. In 2012 after moving to Milton, Carole completed the Master Gardener training program and joined the North Fulton Master Gardeners (NFMG) and the Milton Garden Club. Carole uses her teaching skills to create a variety of presentations on gardening topics for the NFMG Lecture Series and Speakers Bureau. She also volunteers weekly at the Assistance League of Atlanta (ALA) thrift store and acts as chair of their Links to Education scholarship program. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, hiking, biking and reading.

Plans call for a subdivision on 204 acres near the Chattahoochee River in Johns Creek’s Shakerag District.

Council:

Continued from Page 1

The curated, executive-style, singlefamily community will feature “unique and crafted” architecture and resort-like amenities, attorneys for the developer said.

Homes will be priced between $1.5 million and $2 million.

Plans call for the homes to be constructed in pastures near the Chatta-

hoochee River.

The subdivision will emphasize open spaces with multiple connections to public trails and parks.

The development may consider upgrades to roadways to mitigate traffic impacts. It also will provide connectivity to Cauley Creek and Shakerag parks.

Before the vote, Elwood said suspected confidential information protected by attorney-client privilege had been leaked to residents. She also said she was unconvinced the development compromises the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

“I know that is very disappointing to all of you who came out here today,” Elwood said. “We have to follow due process. We have to be impartial decision makers.”

She said she received emails from residents who cited confidential information they could have only learned from another council member. That alleged leaking of information deprived the council from reviewing the matter purely from a factual perspective, she said.

“That is extremely concerning to me,” she said, adding she placed no blame

SCREENSHOT/PROVIDED

on residents for trusting that leadership abides by the city’s ethics ordinance and proper zoning protocols.

“This process was not handled properly by one of our council members in my opinion,” she said.

Bradberry said the council is expected to be impartial in public hearings. He said compromising the public hearing’s impartiality could allow the county’s Superior Court to impose an increased density.

“I feel like the corners were cut,” Bradberry said.

Moore:

Continued from Page 4

The couple also discovered that children and adolescents with Down syndrome are 10 to 30 times more likely to develop leukemia.

Heidi kept the momentum going with her advocacy and began to lobby for childhood cancer.

Today Jacob and Heidi are a part of a research project with St. Jude through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that commits a $5 million grant over five years.

“We are making huge progress,” Heidi said. “And so that's why I feel like God gave me Jacob, because I felt that I could fill the gaps and help other families.”

Now 25-years-old, Jacob has undergone more than 200 surgeries and has 15 specialty doctors and four therapists.

Jacob’s caretaker, Katia Tarnovskaya said that her favorite part of working with Jacob is learning how many people he has touched. Tarnovskaya works with Jacob once a week.

“You never know, looking at one person, how big of an impact they have on everyone around them,” she said.

It’s been 12 years since Jacob has been off of chemotherapy, but he still is not back to where he was before he started the treatment.

In combination with her disability advocacy work, Heidi has become involved in health care reform. There are many moving parts to Heidi’s work, which involves advocating for disability waivers and a home and community-based waiver.

“One of the biggest concerns families have now is how nationally, things are going with cuts,” she said. “And the concern in the disability world is how this is going to affect Medicaid.”

Heidi, among other families fear that Medicaid, as well as the waivers will be cut. The home and community-based waiver helps to provide families with caregivers and other programming. Medicaid also helps the Moore’s provide Jacob with PediaSure, which is his primary form of nutrition.

Heidi works with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, stating that disabilities and cancer are a bipartisan issue.

“If we can't take care of the most vulnerable population in the United States, I have a hard time with that,” she said. “I don't care if you're Republican or Democrat.”

While the Moore’s use Medicaid as a secondary insurance for Jacob, Heidi makes sure that she advocates for the families that depend on it as a primary insurance.

These services that families with disabilities depend on are at risk of getting cut off. Heidi, along with other advocates have fought against the One Big Beautiful Bill for months.

“I’m afraid that the intent was not to cut those services, but in reality, that's what's going to happen,” Heidi said.

The One Big Beautiful Bill act is an omnibus, that will require more state funding to pay for programs such as Medicaid, that formerly received federal funding.

“We don't know the implications of what the cuts are going to be,” Heidi said. “My issue is okay let's go ahead and start putting protections in place to make sure it never happens.”

Heidi says one of her biggest concerns is that the possible cuts will remove all the work that has been accomplished for those with disabilities.

“It will implode on itself, and people will die,” Heidi said.

Since the introduction of the Trump administration, families like the Moore’s have seen some changes.

“We're seeing how society is responding to some of the things that are being said, and we're just not as much of a supportive society for everybody, including those with disabilities,” Heidi said.

Although she has her concerns, Heidi stated that she believes education and moral components could help the vulnerable community.

Despite it all, Jacob, his younger brother, mother and father have found time to find the joy in the little things. Heidi has taken up watercolor to calm her mind, and the family frequently goes to Walt Disney World to get away from the craziness.

No matter how hard things get, Jacob still finds a way to be around his favorite thing, books. Heidi hopes that families who have children with disabilities can find something their child loves and run with it.

“Find what your child loves,” she said. “It's amazing how many people want to support you in whatever that passion is for your child.”

Heidi has two goals for the future. She said she hopes that she wants to help make sure that elected officials are educated on the issues associated with disabilities and how they can support the community in all aspects.

Although she says her second goal is radical, she believes it will happen.

“My goal is, before I leave this earth, that we find a cure for leukemia, through the research, through Down syndrome,” Heidi said.

Heidi and her family say they will continue to fight for Jacob and others with disabilities for as long as they can.

Big

Amour

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Senate:

Continued from Page 3

Decisions by the General Assembly eliminating the special institutional fees the system began charging students during the Great Recession and restoring the funding cuts to HOPE made during the same economic downturn have helped keep tuition in check, he said.

“We welcome the discussion,” Perdue said of the upcoming study committee. “We’ve got a great story to tell.”

“We have some of the highest quality education at the lowest cost in the nation,” Burns added. “That’s a positive for Georgia.”

A key issue shaping the upcoming debate over higher education affordability will be whether the state should focus more on helping deserving high school students who can’t afford college gain access to postsecondary education or on students who are nearing a degree but struggling to pay for the final credits they need to graduate.

Orrock said high school counselors have told lawmakers that some highachieving high school students are not enrolling in college because their families can’t afford it. While the GEORGIA MATCH program has helped, she said many students receiving letters informing them of university system institutions they are qualified to attend don’t end up enrolling.

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DEATH NOTICES

Carlos Bosch, 61, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 14, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Clara Cruz, 94, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 18, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Melinda Harmon, 79, of Roswell, passed away on August 14, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Murray Mann, 74, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 12, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Orrock said the late Hank Huckaby, who as a senior staff member helped thenGov. Zell Miller launch HOPE and later served as university system chancellor, was a proponent of need-based scholarships.

“He said, ‘If you want the biggest game changer to make your workforce, economy, and families thrive, it’s need-based,’ ” she said.

But state Rep. Chuck Martin, RAlpharetta, chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, said giving a financial boost to college students nearing a degree is more important. Martin was the lead sponsor of legislation the General Assembly passed in 2022 offering students who have earned at least 80% of the credits required for their college degree grants of up to $2,500 to help pay their tuition.

“If you want to start a need-based scholarship, you start at the end,” he said. “At that point, students have proven they can do the work.”

Another factor lawmakers will have to consider is the cost to Georgia taxpayers of launching a need-based scholarship program.

The HOPE program is currently running a surplus of $1.6 billion, according to the resolution that created the study

committee. But Martin said the legislature shouldn’t put those funds toward need-based scholarships without careful consideration.

“Just because there’s money doesn’t mean you spend it,” he said. “We shouldn’t put any new program in because we happen to have a surplus in the lottery or otherwise.”

While Martin and other conservative Republicans are wary of the potential fiscal impact of offering need-based scholarships, Orrock said there’s been GOP buy-in to at least giving the idea serious consideration.

Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who presides over the state Senate, got behind Orrock’s resolution to form the study committee and appointed the Democrat to chair the effort, a rare opportunity in the legislature for a member of the minority party.

“There’s interest in it by leadership,” Orrock said. “If we can put together a good-faith grant program, it will be winwin for Georgia and a win-win for bipartisanship.”

This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.

Barbara Murphy, 87, of Roswell, passed away on August 14, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Ronald Robichaud, 80, of Alpharetta, passed away on August 17, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

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Arlene Struchtemeyer, 79, of Roswell, passed away on August 18, 2025. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.

Ruling:

Continued from Page 1

In June, commissioners voted along party lines and failed to reappoint sitting board member Julie Adams and twice-nominated Jason Frazier, both Republicans. Democratic commissioners questioned the nominees’ ethics, qualifications and records of questioning election results and challenging registrations.

The Fulton County Republican Party filed suit in response to compel the Board of Commissioners to accept the nominations of Adams and Frazier. The Board then appealed the lawsuit after Emerson ruled that state law requires it to approve GOP nominations.

At the Aug. 20 Board of Commissioners meeting, three Democrat commissioners were absent the nomination votes – Chairman Robb Pitts and commissioners Marvin Arrington Jr. and Khadijah Abdur-Rahman.

North Fulton commissioners Bob Ellis and Bridget Thorne, the only two Republicans on the seven-member board, split the vote with commissioners Dana Barrett and Mo Ivory. Because four votes are needed for board approval, both nominations failed.

Rose:

Continued from Page 2

“David believed in our community,” DeKalb County Police Chief Greg Padrick said during the memorial service. “He served you with dedication…He gave his very best to it, and seeing your love and support assures us that his sacrifice was not in vain.”

Some of the officers, as well as Rose’s mother, said they never saw him upset, and he always had a smile on his face.

At 6-years-old, Rose was in the Boston newspaper because he got stuck head-first in a jungle gym. Boston emergency responders had to cut him out of the playground equipment.

“When I got there, they were putting an airbag around him to take his head out of it, and then one of the firefighters said, ‘Little boy, it’s not your time,” Atkinson-Burnett said. “You’ve got a long way to go.”

Atkinson-Burnett shared another story from when Rose was a teenager.

“I remember there was a light bulb I had to put up, and it was probably like 8 feet [high]. He was 6-foot-2, or 6-foot-3, but he was a teenager at the

AAPPEN PRESSCLU

Thorne, who has accused the county of election fraud herself, pointed to the Adams v. Fulton County case, which found that Registrations and Election Board members are required to certify elections. She said the appointment of Election Board members is similar, and the court’s interpretation of the word “shall” should be applied consistently.

Ivory represents midtown and downtown Atlanta, Hapeville and portions of East Point and College Park in District 4. Barrett represents Buckhead, parts of midtown Atlanta and southern Sandy Springs in District 3.

The two commissioners held a press conference an hour before the Aug. 27 emergency hearing after the Fulton County Republican Party requested all five Democrat commissioners be held in contempt of court. They discussed why they think the lawsuit threatens local election integrity and highlighted its broader local and national implications.

time,” Atkinson-Burnett said. “I said, ‘Oh, David, go on the ladder and just put that light bulb up,’ and he goes, ‘I'm afraid of heights.’”

But when Rose joined the Marines, Atkinson-Burnett saw photos of him and some of the things he was doing.

“I said ‘Isn’t that 20 feet, and there’s nothing holding you but a rope?’ He’s like, ‘I’m not afraid of heights anymore,’” she said.

Atkinson-Burnett also recalled a time in school when Rose stood up for a disabled student getting on the bus when other students were picking on him.

“He got up in the bus and was yelling at them, ‘Stop, don’t be yelling at him,’” Atkinson-Burnett said.

The bus driver told her at the time that she had never seen a child get so angry, almost to the point of tears, due to how someone was being treated.

“She was like, ‘That is good,’” Atkinson-Burnett said.

The memories will endure, but so will Rose’s absence.

“I just want my son back,” his mother said.

'Part of something greater’

Rose joined the DeKalb County Police Department in September 2024 and graduated from the police

Barrett echoed comments made during the Aug. 20 discussion, saying she would rather face jail time and fines than appoint the Republican nominees. The court declined to hold anyone in criminal contempt.

Ivory released a statement after the Aug. 27 court order, saying she “carefully reviewed the nominees and reached a decision that [she] believe[s] best protects the integrity of our election system and the interests of Fulton County’s voters.”

“Today’s court ruling is deeply concerning because it attempts to strip elected officials of the very power and discretion that come with the office,” Ivory said. “If our role is reduced to automatic approval, then the voice of the people who chose us is silenced.”

Earlier this year, Ivory said Adams sowed “discord and chaos” when she refused to certify the county’s primary results last year. She also cited comments from Georgia Secretary of State

academy in March. He served at the North Central Precinct in Tucker.

“We wanted to serve,” Rose said during his graduation speech. “We want it to be part of something greater than ourselves. We wanted to wear the badge, not for the sake of a title, but for the responsibility that comes with it. … From the very first day, we learned this job isn’t just about enforcing the law, it’s about protecting the vulnerable, standing for justice, and being the person who runs towards danger when others run away.”

Sgt. Trey Jones, who was the lead instructor of Rose’s police academy class, said Rose stood out early and quickly became the class leader.

“Being a class leader is no small feat,” Jones said. “It means being held to the highest standards constantly. You're asked to carry yourself with confidence, often before you even fully grasp the responsibility of the badge you're training to wear. There's no margin for error. And yet, David Rose answered that call, although I admit I had to persuade him a little bit.”

Instructors typically choose their class leaders after about four weeks into the police academy session, but Jones knew right away who the class leader would be.

Brad Raffensperger about the county’s well-run 2024 election, saying she can work with some Republicans.

Democratic commissioners made similar comments about Frazier, saying he has “an egregious record of voter suppression.”

Frazier characterizes his work as “fighting for election integrity,” showing one of the stark divides in American politics.

Gabriel Sterling, a Sandy Springs resident who recently stepped down as chief operating officer for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, said the fine of $10,000 per day comes from the pocket of county taxpayers.

Sterling received nationwide coverage for his denunciation of President Donald Trump’s false claims about voter fraud during the 2020 presential election. The Republican civil servant and former city councilman criticized members of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in an Aug. 27 X post at 4:18 p.m.

“Judge also says they have been ‘stubbornly litigious’ and ‘acted in bad faith,’” Sterling wrote. “[The Fulton County Commission] must seat the GOP nominees to the Board of Elections and allow their challenge to work its way through the court system. Their lawlessness and irresponsible behavior needs to end.”

“It takes time to observe to see who naturally rises to the top under pressure, but with Rose, there wasn't a question,” Jones said. “He carried himself with a calm presence, a quiet confidence and a clear sense of purpose that made it undeniable he was going to lead, not just in title, but in every action every single day, and he did just that.”

Rose was also a man with a mission. He was a private man in many ways, but he talked about three things often – food, his motorcycle and his family.

“He was proud to be a family man,” Jones said.

Rose’s family was his purpose.

“That’s the lasting image I will always carry with me of Officer Rose – a man devoted to his values, grounded in family and giving his full heart to everything he did, whether in uniform, on the court or at home,” Jones said. “The world lost a truly remarkable man when we lost Officer David Rose.”

Also during the ceremony, as Chief Padrick concluded his remarks, he paused, tears filling his eyes.

“Rest easy, brother,” he said. “We will take it from here.”

Editor Dan Whisenhunt contributed to this article.

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