S e p t e m b e r 2 8 , 2 0 2 3 | 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 1 8 , N o . 3 9
Email hack inquiry sparks city interest to launch 2nd probe By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
The Piedmont Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution presents the colors to honor national Constitution Day at the Milton Historical Society’s annual Autumn Shindig Sept. 17. The sold-out event was held on Wildberry Creek Farm, a 48-acre Black Angus cattle farm in Milton.
Fossils, antiques highlight Shindig hosted by Milton Historical Society By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — The Autumn Shindig, an annual celebration of Milton Historical Society’s accomplishments, took place Sept. 17, featuring familiar and new activities. Like last year, the sold-out event was held on Wildberry Creek Farm, a 48-acre Black Angus cattle farm owned by Byron and Laura Foster. Guests could peruse a pop-up bookstore with local authors and
take in an antique car show, while listening to The Heard, an acoustic bluegrass band set up in the area’s gazebo. Kids could play cornhole or go on a hayride. ’Cue Barbecue provided dinner and dessert, and Six Bridges Brewing, the adult beverages. About an hour into the Sunday afternoon event, Milton Historical Society President Jeff Dufresne made opening remarks to the crowd.
See SHINDIG, Page 19
October author events celebrate local writers ► PAGE 9
MILTON, Ga. — Milton city staff has concluded an investigation into an alleged system security breach. But, Mayor Peyton Jamison, with support from at least two other councilmembers, is considering a closer look. In an interview at City Hall Sept. 21, Jamison and City Manager Steve Krokoff confirmed that at the heart of the second investigation is City Councilman Rick Mohrig’s election activities. They said the probe likely will be led by an attorney. Parameters of the investigation have yet to be clearly defined. Earlier this month, Milton city leaders received an Outlook calendar invite from Mohrig’s official city email. Mohrig claimed the Sept. 5 email was not from him and subsequently filed a police report Sept. 14, reiterating his claim, saying his account had been hacked. The calendar event appeared to be related to Mohrig’s campaign in his bid for re-election to the District 3, Post 2 seat this November. The invite was titled “Strategic Planning Session - Save the Date!,” mirroring event headings created by Milton’s city clerk in 2021. But, it was scheduled for Sept. 7 at the home of two Milton poll workers in the Crooked Creek subdivision which falls within Mohrig’s district. One of the poll workers was assigned to the city’s tabulation team, a group expected to handcount all ballots at the end of Election Day.
Krokoff said the pair had previously contacted city staff to ask if they could work on a campaign. Though it is legal for poll workers to engage in campaign activities outside of their official roles, he said both have since resigned and have MOHRIG been replaced. But Krokoff also provided an eye-witness account of the meeting, because he went to Crooked Creek himself at the date and time stated in the invitation to observe the subdivision’s entrance. “As mentioned previously, my professional training as a police officer is to act on initial concerns as quietly and unobtrusively as possible, as one might not get the chance later,” Krokoff said in a Sept. 22 email to the City Council. “… Please don’t interpret any of this to be an indictment of the two poll workers. While I don’t know them personally, I understand them to be upstanding, civic-minded citizens.” Investigation #1 A day after the invite was sent out, Mohrig alleged to Krokoff and the city’s Information Technology director that his email had been hacked and requested an investigation into the matter. Mohrig also dropped off his city-issued tablet for inspection, according to emails obtained
See MILTON, Page 6