Milton Herald - February 12, 2026

Milton High football roster logs more college signings

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Milton High School’s juggernaut football program sent off two more recruits to play at the next level with a signing day ceremony Feb. 4.

Uniball pen company sponsors all of Milton’s signing day events.

Head coach Ben Reaves reiterated what the team had recently learned in a recruiting seminar that between 6 and 7 percent of high school football players move on to play at the collegiate level.

“No matter where you sign, where it is, who it is, it’s a rare opportunity,” he said. “It’s really hard to play at the next level, the name of the game now is just go find somewhere to play ball. These kids just love foot-

ball, and they want to go play somewhere where they’re a fit and can get a good education.”

Running back Bentley Hickman, who transferred halfway through junior year from Homestead High in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, announced his commitment to Morehouse College.

He joins his teammate, wide receiver Ayden Williams at Morehouse next season.

Reaves said he knew Hickman would be successful from watching his work ethic in the weight room from the day he joined the team.

Reaves said Hickman separated himself early as a leader on a team where many of the kids had played together for six to eight years.

See SIGNINGS, Page 10

Police: Body of missing person found in lake

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — Divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department say they believe they recovered the body of 27-year-old Nathan Smith shortly before noon Friday, Feb. 6.

Positive identification is pending

confirmation by the Fulton County Coroner’s Office.

Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, is the son of rapper Lil Jon. He was reported missing Tuesday, Feb. 3 after leaving his residence on Baldwin Drive around 6 a.m.

Based on the investigation, Milton

Police does not suspect foul play. The Milton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division will continue treating the case as open and active until the official cause and manner of death is determine by the Fulton County Medical Examiner.

See PERSON, Page 26

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Former Heards Ferry student detained in playground attack

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A former student at Heards Ferry Elementary School in Sandy Springs attacked students and a staff member on the playground Wednesday, Feb. 4 around 10 a.m., a spokesperson with Fulton County Schools confirmed.

The middle school-aged boy gained access to the playground without their parent and assaulted several fourthgrade students and a staff member with a stick, authorities said. Students were medically evaluated, and there were no

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major injuries reported.

A spokesperson with the school district said the boy was apprehended quickly and detained until his parents arrived. An investigation is underway, and it is not known if charges will be filed.

"We can confirm that a middleschool-aged former Heards Ferry Elementary School student entered the school campus playground and assaulted several students and a staff member," the district said in a statement. "The child was apprehended quickly by Fulton County Schools police, and was detained as the parent was brought in.

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Students sustained minor injuries and were medically evaluated. A full investigation is in progress. We do not have any information yet about possible charges."

In a letter to parents, Principal Karen Cooke said the older child assaulted several students from a fourth grade class on the playground. She said school police responded immediately.

“We are reviewing the situation thoroughly and will continue working closely with district safety personnel to ensure all safety protocols are reinforced, Cooke wrote.

This story will be updated if more information is received.

Milton council approves plans for Deerfield development

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

MILTON, Ga. — The first proposed development project in the Deerfield District is progressing after the City Council approved a use permit Feb. 2 allowing for construction of 140 multifamily apartments.

A representative for the applicant, Guido Barbagallo, said they have been working with staff for four years to create plans they think will fit in Milton.

In addition to the multifamily units, the 25-acre site on Morris Road near Webb Road will provide 20 townhomes, 10 loft apartments over retail space and 955 parking spaces. Two existing office buildings will be remodeled to allow retail and office space. Plans include constructing a civic building and restrooms near designated trailheads within the development.

Milton offers incentives within the Deerfield District that allow developments to increase its ratio of residential properties versus commercial by up to 65 percent. Rather than a 50-50 split, each incentive offers a 5 percent adjustment for residential properties.

The development has a ratio of 57 percent residential and 43 percent commercial space, which is allowed with the incentives applied. Staff said they wouldn’t be able to

PHOTOS BY: HANNAH YAHNE/APPEN MEDIA

Director of Special Project Robert Buscemi presents development plans for residential and office space within the Deerfield District to the Milton City Council Feb. 3 at City Hall.

add more units because of density limitations.

“We understand this doesn’t belong everywhere in Milton, but this is your key hub for your commercial uses and this type of housing in the city,” applicant at-

Attorney Ethan Underwood presents the case for a use permit to the Milton City Council Feb. 3. It will allow 140 multifamily residential units to be constructed as part of a development proposed for the Deerfield District.

torney Ethan Underwood said.

Next steps for the applicant include presenting design plans to Milton’s Design and Review Board before construction can begin.

Other agenda items included extending

the moratorium on permit applications for subdivisions with lots less than 3 acres on land zoned Agricultural Residential (AG-1).

The City Council voted to extend the moratorium through Feb. 10 to allow for a public hearing on proposed changes to AG-1 standards.

The public hearing, which was scheduled for Feb. 9, is to provide an analysis of information surrounding AG-1 standards, including results of a survey that was sent out to around 70 stakeholders, City Manager Steven Krokoff said.

Following input from the hearing, the City Council will decide whether there’s enough evidence for staff to continue proposing changes to AG-1 standards.

The City Council also approved a conflict waiver for City Attorney Ken Jarrard to represent both Milton and Alpharetta in upcoming service delivery strategy negotiations with Fulton County. After the county updated its comprehensive plan in August, all cities are working to renegotiate their service delivery strategies by the end of the year.

The public hearing on AG-1 standards will take place Monday, Feb. 9, instead of the City Council work session. The City Council’s next meeting has been moved to Wednesday, Feb. 18, in recognition of Presidents Day.

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Volunteer efforts alone leaves homeless wanting

By AMRITHA ALLADI JOSEPH newsroom@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. – Before Allison Vrolijk found him sleeping in the Walmart parking lot on Mansell Road, Spencer Jones was planning to brave the weekend’s wintry weather camped in his 2007 Lexus ES 350.

Jones, who moved to Atlanta from New York in 2018, has been through a number of service jobs and temporary housing situations, including the Economy Hotel in Roswell, which closed its doors last May. Since Jan. 6, Jones has lived in his car.

“I didn’t come out here to be homeless, though. I came out here to advance, and I know that this is just a moment,” he said.

Jones was among the 30 unsheltered individuals a network of volunteers found warm shelter for during the recent winter cold snap.

More than two dozen North Fulton volunteers, partnering with Roswell and Alpharetta public safety officers, conducted wellness checks and outreach, provided transportation, food and donations to get unhoused people into safe, warm hotel rooms over the weekend. The cost of the rooms was primarily paid for by local church organizations.

While volunteers were able to successfully identify and shelter the homeless – proving the need for an emergency solution – Fulton County Continuum of Care Board Chair Maggie Goldman said a volunteer-led initiative is not a long-term option.

“It’s not sustainable to ask volunteers to run this entire program again for another cold spell,” she said, pointing to the logistical complexity faced by volunteer Kathleen Cherry. Cherry fielded a makeshift “hotline” connecting unhoused people to transportation and hotels. She said her phone rang continuously on Saturday night, and she answered calls until 2 a.m.

The Fulton County CoC represents a

network of service providers and government agencies committed to ending homelessness across the county, excluding Atlanta, which has its own CoC.

In the days leading up the wintry weekend, Goldman and Kelvin Thompson, the newest appointee to the Fulton CoC board, urged North Fulton city leaders and Fulton County commissioners to help set up a temporary warming center in a region that lacked an emergency overnight solution.

In an email to Goldman, Fulton County Chief Operating Officer Pamela Roshell responded that there is no legal requirement under Georgia law that mandates Fulton County activate or operate warming centers due to inclement weather.

“Any county involvement is a policy and operational choice,” Roshell wrote.

To Goldman, the absence of a state mandate doesn’t preclude the county from stepping in, particularly along city borders where handoffs and care coverage become confusing.

“Both the cities and the county are pointing fingers at each other saying it’s the other’s job. Both cannot be true. It seems what really should happen is a collaboration of resources to put something together,” Goldman wrote to the county manager.

Like Goldman, CoC Board Secretary Sheila Louder said elected officials should be more involved. At the CoC board’s Jan. 15 meeting, Louder said she hoped the board’s five-year strategic plan will include initiatives to promote greater engagement with elected officials. The strategic plan currently includes measures to improve communication and information sharing, build advocacy and leadership, strengthen housing access, and improve long-term support for increasing the housing stock, according to Fulton County Director of External Affairs Jessica Corbitt.

The plan will be presented to the CoC Board for adoption at its March 19 meeting.

Fulton County Continuum of Care Board Chair Maggie Goldman, left, and the board’s newest member, Kelvin Thompson, work on a case during the weekend operations of the temporary shelter solution for unhoused individuals.

February 18th

6:30am – 8:00am: Ashes To-Go

5:00pm: Free Pancake Dinner

6:30pm: Ash Wednesday Worship Service

Milton Fire-Rescue Department schedules free wellness clinics

MILTON, Ga. — Firefighter and registered nurse Derek Hofmann will conduct free wellness clinics starting Feb. 11 as part of Milton CARES, a mobile health program provided the Milton Fire-Rescue Department.

Attendees can receive an EKG, blood pressure and glucose checks, among other services.

No advance sign up or insurance is

needed.

All clinics will take place on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Clinics on Feb. 11, March 11 and March 25 will take place at Community Place, the building next to City Hall at 2006 Heritage Walk. The clinic on Feb. 25 will be at the Bethwell Community Center, 2595 Hopewell Road.

— Hannah Yahne

Closure to affect sidewalks on Birmingham Highway

MILTON, Ga. — Significant construction activity started on Birmingham Highway Feb. 6 as crews work to install an entrance to the Rosemary subdivision that it under construction.

Due to construction on the Rosemary subdivision, the sidewalk across from

Crabapple Crossing Elementary School, Northwestern Middle School and Milton High School has to be closed for pedestrians’ safety.

Construction is expected to span two weeks.

— Hannah Yahne

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Alpharetta signing day includes three students

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Alpharetta High School hosted a signing day Feb. 4 to celebrate another round of seniors moving on to compete in college.

The signing day was held in the media center and was well-attended by students, faculty and family.

Cross country and track runner Lidia Faro signed to the University of Chicago to continue her athletic and academic career.

Faro is a multi-sport athlete at Alpharetta while also taking part in the IB program. She joined the cross country team as a sophomore.

Faro holds two school records – the 5K and track 1500m. Faro recorded the top two times in the 5K, a record that hadn’t been broken in 10 years.

Cross country head coach Holly Baron said she carried silly string in her meet bag for two years, knowing she would eventually need it when Faro broke the 5K record.

“She just keeps showing up and spreading support to the whole team, and even competitors in the area,” she said. “Her discipline and having to trust the process of day to day, putting in 8 to 10 miles swimming or running.”

Quinn Nobles committed to the University of Indianapolis to play lacrosse. Despite multiple previous offers to play lacrosse in college, Nobles only decided to continue his athletic career last week upon finding out that Indianapolis offered his preferred

Signings:

WILLIAM GALLAGHER/PROVIDED Alpharetta seniors Lidia Faro, left, and Quinn Nobles, right, sign to continue their athletic and academic careers in college. Faro committed to run cross country for the University of Chicago and Nobles will play lacrosse for the University of Indianapolis.

major, mechanical engineering.

Nobles said his career aspirations are outweighing potential lacrosse opportunities at this point, but he is excited to play in the same conference as his older brother Lucas, who attends the University of Alabama-Huntsville.

Alpharetta boys lacrosse head coach Jon Paul said Nobles is the “single best overall lacrosse player [he’s] ever seen,” after a coaching history at multiple colleges.

“There’s not a position on the field that he’s not the best at,” Paul said. “He holds himself to a really high standard, which helps him hold everybody else around him to a really high standard.”

During his speech at the signing day ceremony, Paul highlighted Nobles’ involvement in multiple school organizations and

described the senior as “the definition of a Renaissance man,” who can do anything on the field.

Duke Condie will suit up for Murray State University next season.

“Every football player’s childhood dream was to make it to the NFL, and this is just one step closer to it,” he said. “So just being able to play on a [Division] 1 field, that’s just almost like a dream come true.”

Alpharetta strength coach Ron Jankovich spoke in Condie’s absence. Jankovich said Condie is a “Hall of Famer… right now.”

Jankovich said the hard work Condie put into being successful speaks for itself, as does his natural athletic abilities at 6’1” and 265 pounds.

“I can’t speak highly enough,” Jankovich said. “There’s no words to express how much I love Duke, how great a kid he is, and the passion he has for Alpharetta. He could have easily gone anywhere in the state and dominated, but he stayed here because he loves this place and he loves all of you.”

Condie said transferring never crossed his mind. He said the brotherhood of the team that especially developed this year has been meaningful to him.

Condie said he and his friends sometimes joke that he might re-class to spend another year with his brothers.

He said head coach Brian Landis’s slogan of “choose hard” resonated with him and three close friends. Seeing each other grow, bleeding together and facing adversity

Leading with positivity and encouragement, it didn’t take Reaves long to “realize how amazing of a kid and person he is.”

Hickman and his dad Rodney Hickman moved to Milton last January. Bentley’s mom Nicole Johnson is still back in Milwaukee, but his older brother Rodney Jr. is close by in the Atlanta area.

Johnson was able to come to the first game of the season against Buford and the first round of the state tournament against Shiloh. Rodney Sr.’s parents, Bennie and Lee, live in Mississippi and attended several Milton games this season along with the signing day event at the school.

Elliott Johnson also signed to continue his athletic and academic career, heading off to Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

Elliott transferred as a senior from Eagles Landing Christian Academy. He suffered an injury near the end of his junior season that interrupted most of the offseason preparation.

Reaves said once he was medically cleared, Johnson’s adaptability stuck out and he became “fearless.” Continued from Page 1

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Pizzeria wins praise from ‘One Bite’ review

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. —Pizza by Yandys in Sandy Springs received recognition from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy in one of his recent “One Bite” pizza reviews.

Everybody knows the rules: Portnoy takes one bite (often two) before rating the pizza on a scale from 1-10. He’s ranked hundreds of pizza restaurants since launching the series over a decade ago.

Portnoy ranked a slice of cheese pizza from Pizza by Yandys at a 7.7, higher than the other two pizza locations he tried while in Atlanta.

“What a little hidden gem,” Portnoy said in a video posted on his social media accounts. “This is, for Atlanta, very good pizza.”

Pizza by Yandy’s opened in December 2024 inside Carniceria Los Pinos, a Mexican grocery store at 6342 Roswell Road N.E.

A true family-run business, Yenara works the cash register as her husband, Diego, slides pizzas into the oven. His specialties include a buffalo chicken pizza, and one of their most popular pies, the hot honey char pepperoni pizza topped with swirls of ricotta cheese. The pizza alla vodka offers a different take on the classic margherita and they have a Hawaiian pizza topped with pineapple and ham.

Pizza by Yandy’s offers takeout and there’s seating inside the grocery store for visitors to enjoy their fresh pizza pies.

Their son works on the weekends, and Yenara described the owner of the grocery store they occupy as a brother.

Before moving to Atlanta in 2020, Diego had dreamed of opening a pizza restaurant where they lived in New York City. Now, his dream is a reality that has gained the attention of multiple influencers in the past year helping grow the community that Pizza by Yandy’s serves.

“I’m very happy and I’m glad that my husband got his dream,” Yenara said.

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8 heart health facts moms-to-be should know

Brought to you by – Wellstar

Pregnancy is a time of excitement and change, but it also puts added strain on the heart. Here’s what every expectant mom should know about heart health during pregnancy.

1. High blood pressure can be silent— and dangerous.

Some women develop high blood pressure during pregnancy. High blood pressure can lead to preeclampsia, a condition that can cause organ damage and, in severe cases, seizures.

If you have a history of high blood pressure, heart disease or a family history of cardiovascular conditions, tell your care team. Your physician may recommend that you monitor your blood pressure at home.

2. Heart failure can happen—even in healthy moms.

A rare but serious condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy weakens the heart, usually in the last month of pregnancy or the months following delivery.

Talk to your clinician immediately if everyday activities leave you exhausted or struggling to breathe. Other concerning symptoms include persistent coughing, swelling in your legs or feet and dizziness.

3. Pre-existing heart conditions and hypertensive disorders require extra care.

If you’ve ever had heart disease, a heart defect or high blood pressure—including hypertension or hypertensive disorders—pregnancy can increase your risks. Even women without symptoms before pregnancy may need extra monitoring.

Talk with your clinician early about a care plan. High-risk pregnancies may require specialist support, like a maternalfetal medicine physician or cardiologist.

4. Blood clots are more common during pregnancy.

Pregnancy increases the risk of thromboembolism, a serious condition where blood clots can travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. The risk is even higher for women with a history of clotting disorders, obesity or limited mobility.

To reduce your risk of blood clots, stay active, stay hydrated and watch for warning signs like leg swelling, redness or pain. If you notice these, call your care team right away.

5. A racing heartbeat may be abnormal.

You can expect some changes in heart rhythm during pregnancy, but arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) can be a sign of something more serious. Hormone changes, increased blood volume and underlying conditions like thyroid disorders can all contribute to an irregular heartbeat.

If your heart races often, feels like it’s skipping beats or you feel dizzy or faint, let your clinician know immediately. Keep track of when these symptoms happen.

6. Postpartum recovery still puts stress on the heart.

Keep all postpartum checkups, even if you feel fine. Watch for new symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath or extreme fatigue. If you had high blood pressure during pregnancy, continue monitoring it after delivery.

7. Your hospital choice matters

For women at high risk, delivering in a hospital with access to specialized prenatal tests, genetic testing like amniocentesis, fetal evaluations and emergency cardiac care can make all the difference.

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8. Mental health and stress impact heart health . Anxiety and stress can affect your heart. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to someone. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. If you are pregnant and have questions about your heart health, talk to your obstetrician about a referral to our cardio obstetrics team. Wellstar provides specialized cardio obstetrics care in Alpharetta and Roswell. Find an obstetrician at wellstar.org/ womenshealth.

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Honored to be Voted: Best Dermatologist and Best Vein Specialist

Insist on the BEST

Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.

He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.

Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 23 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.

Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.

Is Lidocaine a secret weapon against cancer?

of Atlanta

We always worry about the negative side-effects that a medicine might have. At the end of a pharmaceutical company’s commercials, an auctioneer very quickly states the twenty terrible things that might happen if you take the advertised medicine. Side effects range from your ear falling off when you sneeze to the belief that you are Elvis. Side-effects make almost any medicine sound scary. But occasionally, a positive side effect emerges. Sometimes, we discover something wonderful about a medicine that is wholly unexpected.

Examples of positive side-effects are not hard to find. The medicine finasteride was first being used to help decrease the size of the prostate in men who were having difficulty urinating. An unexpected positive side-effect was discovered when it was noticed that many of the men were re-growing their scalp hair. With finasteride, male pattern baldness was often partially reversed or stopped in its tracks.

One of the most recent medications discovered to have a possible positive side effect is lidocaine, which has been around since 1943. Lidocaine is an injectable anesthetic. We use lidocaine for skin biopsies, excisions, Mohs surgeries and countless other procedures every day in the dermatology office. Amazingly, lidocaine may be more than an anesthetic. It may also have anti-cancer effects.

electrical gradients maintained across the membranes of cancer cells are important to their ability to metastasize or spread. Our cells have pumps in them called “ion channels.” They allow certain ions to pass across the cell membrane. The resulting ion concentration gradient creates an electrical charge across a cell. This gradient affects the way other proteins in the cell function. Importantly, some of the proteins affected by the charge across a cell membrane are important for healthy cells’ growth and development as well as for cancers’ ability to grow and spread.

Accepting

A team of surgeons in India operating on breast cancer divided patients into two groups. One group had standard breast cancer surgery. The other group received a lidocaine injection around the tumor 7-10 minutes prior to surgery. During the 5 years after surgery, the group that received the lidocaine injection had an 8.5% rate of the cancer recurring (popping up again) at a distant site versus an 11.6% rate of distant recurrence in the surgery-only (no lidocaine) group. The study has some limitations including not being a double-blind trial and being a single-center study, but it is intriguing enough to warrant further investigation. The authors reported that injecting lidocaine around breast cancer before removing it increased survival in their study.

What made the surgeons perform this study in the first place? Why lidocaine? Over the last few years, researchers have discovered that

Lidocaine works by blocking sodium channels in cell membranes. Disrupting the electric charge across a cancer cell membrane was suspected to have the potential to weaken the cancer itself. Pre-clinical studies supported this hypothesis, and the breast cancer surgeons took the next step of performing a trial with breast cancer patients and peritumoral lidocaine injections.

I don’t know if breast cancer surgeons in the United States consider these results valid, are awaiting confirmatory studies or are already injecting lidocaine. However, in dermatology, these results are exciting because, for now, we do not need to change anything that we are already doing. Every day that I perform Mohs surgery, we inject the area around a tumor with lidocaine prior to surgically removing the cancer. If lidocaine is more than an anesthetic, then our patients are likely already benefiting from any anti-cancer properties that lidocaine has.

Mohs surgery is the gold standard for treating most skin cancers and has a cure rate that is usually at or above 99%. Perhaps lidocaine is one of the secrets to this success.

Navigating anxiety for the best dentist experience

Many people get nervous going to the dentist. So many people have had bad experiences in the past or just don’t like it. Fear of the dentist is common and affects people of all ages. Whether it’s the sound of the drill or fear of potential pain, dental anxiety can prevent people from seeking the oral care that they need. Sedation Dentistry allows patients to relax while undergoing dental procedures.

There is an alternative. You can have comfortable, anxiety-free visits to the dentist with Sedation Dentistry. Dental offices like the Atlanta Center for Dental Health offer comfort amenities including bottled water, snacks, courtesy Wi-Fi, a warm inviting environment, relaxing music, noise-cancelling headphones, Netflix movies, lavender eye pillows and warm neck pillows, cozy blankets, and warm face towels to make your visit as comfortable as possible. In addition to all those amazing benefits, you can also choose from a range of sedation options.

Sedation Dentistry uses medications to help patients relax during their dental procedures. The goal is to create a calm, anxiety-free environment, making it easier for individuals to receive necessary dental care. This benefits not only anxious patients, but also patients with extensive needs that may require a longer visit, patients with a low pain threshold, or time efficiency allowing more to be done in a single visit.

Sedation Dentistry focuses on keeping the patient comfortable and relaxed while receiving much needed dental care. Some patients choose to have their mouth numb so they don’t feel anything and then just relax with their eyes closed while listening to music.

Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, inhalation sedation is a popular option that relaxes you while your procedures are completed. At the end of your visit, you simply breathe pure oxygen and then can drive yourself home.

Many people choose Oral Sedation that allows you to sleep through the dental visit, have all your work completed in one visit, be easily awakened, and not remember the experience of your visit. With Oral Sedation, you simply swallow some pills prescribed for you, lay back and fall asleep, and wake up at the end with your procedures complete and your new smile. All dental procedures can be completed with Sedation Dentistry from routine preventive care to a complete Smile Makeover.

“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life." - Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic

A healthy mouth is part of a healthy body. Our wish for you is that you look and feel your best! Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide the most modern advances in complete dentistry. Experience immediate results with procedures to greatly enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complimentary consultation to discover which of these options is best for you, please call us at 770-992-2236. Dr. Hepler is highly trained to provide you with the latest and best techniques to allow you to achieve your cosmetic and restorative goals.

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Copper Peptides: Powerful, popular

— and not always better together

Brought to you by – OlympusMD Milton

Copper peptides have become one of the fastest-growing trends in regenerative and aesthetic medicine. Best known for supporting skin health, collagen production, tissue repair, and overall cellular function, copper peptides—most commonly GHK-Cu— are now frequently included in popular injectable options such as “Glow” blends and various slow-aging protocols, often referred to as “KLO” blends

As demand increases, so does experimentation. A growing trend is combining copper peptides with other well-known peptides like BPC157, TB-500, or KPV into a single vial for convenience. While this may seem efficient, experts caution that blending these peptides can unintentionally reduce their effectiveness.

The issue comes down to pH , a basic but critical concept in chemistry.

Every peptide has a specific pH range where it remains stable and biologically active. Copper peptides prefer a slightly acidic environment, while BPC-157, TB-500, and KPV perform best closer to the body’s natural, neutral pH. When mixed together, one or more peptides may begin to break down.

A simple way to think about it: it’s like mixing vinegar and milk. Both are useful on their own, but when combined, one can cause the other to curdle. In peptide formulations, this “curdling” can mean loss of potency, clumping, or reduced absorption— sometimes within hours of mixing. That means a blend intended to last 30 days may begin losing effectiveness within hours of being mixed, according to some stability studies.

This does not mean copper peptides—or Glow- or KLO-style blends— are a bad idea. When formulated correctly and used thoughtfully, they can be powerful tools. However, peptides are not supplements. They are biologically active signaling molecules, and how they are prepared matters just as much as which peptides are used.

Important Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Peptide therapies should always be discussed with qualified medical professionals who understand formulation, dosing, and safety.

As peptide-based therapies continue to grow in popularity, working with experienced providers helps ensure protocols are designed for real results—not just trends.

Why did my dentist refer me?

If you’ve ever been told, “I’m going to refer you to a specialist,” it’s normal to feel curious or even a little concerned. A dental referral doesn’t mean something is wrong with your care. It simply means your general dentist wants you to get the best possible treatment from a professional who focuses on a specific area of dentistry.

Here’s a quick, clear look at the most common dental specialties and what they do.

General Dentistry

Your general dentist is your primary dental care provider. They handle routine exams, cleanings, fillings, crowns, preventive care, and basic restorative treatments. When a procedure requires advanced training, specialized equipment, or complex planning, that’s when a referral comes in.

Endodontics (Root Canal Specialists)

Endodontists specialize in treating the inside of the tooth, specifically the pulp and root canals. If you need a root canal, have severe tooth pain, or an infection deep in the tooth, your dentist may refer you to an endodontist. They have advanced tools and training to manage complex or painful cases comfortably.

Periodontics (Gum Specialists)

Periodontists focus on the health of the gums and supporting bone. Referrals are common for advanced gum disease (periodontitis), gum recession, bone loss, or dental implant placement. They also perform procedures like deep cleanings, gum grafts, and bone regeneration.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral surgeons handle surgical procedures involving the mouth, jaw, and face. This includes wisdom tooth removal, tooth extractions, dental implants, jaw surgery, and treatment of facial injuries or pathology. If a procedure requires surgery or IV sedation, an oral surgeon is often the right choice.

Orthodontics (Braces and Aligners)

Orthodontists specialize in correcting bite issues and aligning teeth. Referrals typically involve braces, clear aligners, crowding, spacing, or jaw alignment problems. Orthodontic treatment improves both function and appearance over time.

Prosthodontics (Tooth Replacement and Complex Restorations)

Prosthodontists focus on restoring and replacing missing or damaged teeth.

This includes dentures, bridges, crowns, veneers, and full-mouth rehabilitation. They are often involved in complex cases where aesthetics, bite, and long-term function are critical.

Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric dentists specialize in caring for children’s teeth, from infancy through adolescence. They are trained to manage child-specific dental needs, behavior guidance, and growth-related issues in a kid-friendly environment.

Why Referrals Are a Good Thing

A referral means your dentist is prioritizing precision, safety, and long-term success. Specialists work closely with general dentists to ensure your treatment is coordinated and tailored to your needs. Dr. Hood has advanced training in residency to handle most dental procedures in-office, and she has built a tremendous team of skilled specialist colleagues for more complex cases. As your general dentist, Dr. Hood and team give your comfort and trust top priority. We assure you feel confident in any dental solution before beginning treatment. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE conscious sedation, including nitrous oxide. Rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding. Take the first step in feeling great about your smile. Schedule your comprehensive dental exam by calling 770-9986736 or scanning the QR code below.

At Home Helpers, our focus every day is matching the right caregiver with each of our clients. We guarantee a good match. Finding the right caregiver is much more than just seeking a professional with great skills. It’s about finding a caregiver with the heart and spirit to make a difference in someone’s life.

Supporting senior heart health with in-home care

February is American Heart Month, a time to take stock of your heart health and understand risks of heart disease and how to manage related heart conditions. This is especially important as we age. The CDC says most adults over 60 live with at least one factor for heart disease, and it remains the leading cause of death for seniors. For older adults, heart health takes a daily commitment that goes beyond an occasional visit to the doctor’s office.

There are four areas that make a major difference and are critical to improving your heart health: monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol, regular exercise, following a heart-friendly diet and consistently taking prescribed medications.

It’s important to know your numbers. High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease, and while almost half of all US adults have high blood pressure, only 1 in 4 have it under control. Scheduling regular screenings for blood pressure and cholesterol is a key first step. Use February as a time for lifestyle review, whether it’s adjusting home routines to establish a consistent sleep schedule or following recommended changes like the Mediterranean Diet to replace recipes heavy in salt.

In-Home care plays a critical role supporting the heart health of your older loved one and identifying concerns early. Subtle changes like fatigue, shortness of breath, decreasing social interactions,

less interest in eating, weight loss or swelling, unsteady gait, forgotten medications or appointments can all signal the need to examine new symptoms.

A skilled and well-matched caregiver provides daily support for heart healthy routines to prevent or manage chronic conditions like congestive heart failure or hypertension. This includes maintaining physician approved physical exercise to improve circulation and reduce fall risks. Your caregiver can provide reliable reminders to take medications and monitor vital signs like blood pressure. Support for nutritional needs include heart-healthy food preparation, watching sodium levels and encouraging hydration. Following a consistent sleep schedule and addressing social isolation, which can contribute to loneliness and chronic stress, are important measures for well-being. Your caregiver can also help with visits to the doctor and coordinating communication with family members.

At Home Helpers we know that aging in the warmth and comfort of home is the preference of most seniors. Our team has the depth and skill to assist with all personal care, help around the house, provide specialized care for Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and help with recuperative care after surgery or a changing health condition. We’re here to help, from four hours a day, several days a week to 24/7 care. For a free consultation, please call Home Helpers of Alpharetta and North Atlanta Suburbs at (770) 681-0323.

Exploring ways to help your marriage

If your marriage feels like it’s slipping or slipping away, your instinct might be to try harder —buy flowers, do more around the house, say “yes” to everything she asks. But the hard truth? Overcompensating with niceness can actually push her further away.

It’s not that kindness is bad—it’s that acting “nice” out of fear, guilt, or anxiety isn’t attractive.

Think about hiring for an important role at work.

The first candidate agrees with everything you say, even when they’re wrong. Eager to please, but for some reason you don’t fully trust them.

The second candidate listens well and stands firm in their values. They’re steady, confident, empathetic, and bring clarity in tough situations.

Who would you hire?

Your wife wants candidate #2 — a man who’s self-assured, present, and strong. She doesn’t want someone who either bends to keep the peace or reacts with anger and frustration; she wants someone she can count on.

How do you start showing up that way?

The Gottman Method, a worldrenowned, research-backed approach to relationships, offers three key strategies to help.

1. Self-Soothing: Stay Calm Under Pressure

One of the biggest mistakes men make in struggling marriages is reacting to their wife’s moods versus responding. If she’s distant, guys panic. If she’s frustrated, we either get defensive or overcompensate with niceness.

Instead, practice self-soothing—a Gottman technique to stay calm and present.

Action Steps:

• The next time you feel anxious or frustrated, take a deep breath, lean back, and count backwards from five to one before responding.

• As your heart rate slows down, remind yourself that her emotions aren’t a reflection of your worth.

• Then, instead of reacting out of fear, focus on providing clarity from your perspective or seeking clarity from her perspective.

A man who can handle conflict without losing control is far more attractive than one who scrambles to “fix” things or blows up in frustration.

2. Create Small, Meaningful Bids for Connection

Many men try to fix their marriage with big gestures, but what really matters are small, consistent moments of connection.

Dr. John Gottman calls these “bids for connection”—the little ways we reach out for attention and intimacy. The problem? In struggling marriages, these moments seem to disappear.

Action Steps:

• Instead of asking, “How was your day?” ask, “What were some favorite parts of your day?”

• Make a habit of putting down the phone and turning towards her when

she speaks, showing you’re fully present.

• Offer a light touch on the shoulder, a smile and summarize what you’re hearing.

These micro-moments rebuild trust and intimacy in ways grand gestures cannot.

3. Stand Firm in Your Values (Without Being Defensive)

If your wife is upset, do you apologize constantly or change your stance just to avoid conflict? While it might seem like the “nice” thing to do, it often comes across as weak or insincere.

Instead, practice owning your actions while standing firm in your values.

Action Steps:

• If you made a mistake, acknowledge it—but don’t grovel. A simple, “You’re right, I could have handled that better,” is enough.

• If she criticizes you unfairly, don’t get defensive. Instead, say, “I hear what you’re saying, and I want to understand more.” or “I’ve apologized for what happened, help me understand what I’m missing.”

• Be clear about your own needs and boundaries—you can be both loving and signal you want respect without coming across as out of touch or demanding.

A man who respects himself is far more attractive than one who shrinks himself to keep the peace.

The Key to Winning Her Back: Show Up as Your Best Self

Fixing your marriage doesn’t mean trying harder to please her. It means becoming the man she fell in love with again—confident, steady, and engaged. Start small. Stay calm under pressure, create meaningful moments of connection, and stand firm in who you are. These small shifts can make a big impact over time.

And remember: You’re not alone in this. Every effort you make matters.

The DAR in Georgia and the Revolutionary War

BOB MEYERS

This year marks the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. States, cities and patriotic groups will celebrate and honor the event in many ways. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will play an important role. This column will focus on the war, the history of DAR and one local DAR chapter.

The Revolutionary War was a conflict between the 13 American colonies and Great Britain. It began as a demand for reform in the early 1770s and ended in the complete separation of the colonies from Great Britain. George Washington was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. In 1776 the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. In 1781, colonial forces won the decisive battle of Yorktown and forced King George III to acknowledge American independence which was formalized by the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

Many Georgians in the early 1770s were reluctant to oppose the British because the colony had prospered under its rule. Those who remained loyal to the king were called Tories or Loyalists. Anti-British Georgians were called Whigs or Patriots.

Significant White settlement did not begin until the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830 and the subsequent Trail of Tears. However, many of the pioneer families who later settled in North Fulton were descended from Revolutionary War patriots from the Carolinas. While North Fulton did not experience serious battles, significant battles took place in other parts of Georgia.

The DAR, founded in 1890, has some 190,000 members in about 3,000 chapters throughout the U.S. While it is a huge organization, it is also highly local. There are almost 8,000 members in Georgia in 111 chapters.

DAR chapters in this area have been very active because of the many Patriot ancestors that settled here attracted by Georgia’s post-war land policies.

One of the most active Georgia DAR chapters is the Patriots of Liberty Chapter in Alpharetta. Their 100 members exemplify the mission of the DAR: historic preservation, education and patriotism through civic involvement. They, like other chapters, support veterans and active-duty military, promote education through scholarships and relations with schools, help preserve local historic sites and participate in patriotic and local community events. A requirement for DAR membership is demonstrable direct descent from a Patriot of the American Revolution, either a soldier

PUBLIC DOMAIN/METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

“Washington Crossing the Delaware,” is a 12’5” x 21’3” oil-on-canvas painted by German artist Emanuel Leutze in 1851. The New York Times said on Nov 1,1851 when the work was put on public display, “It is a work of extraordinary merit, full of patriotic feeling and executed with uncommon power.” It depicts General George Washington leading the Continental Army across the Delaware River on Christmas night 1776 to surprise a garrison of 1,500 Hessian mercenaries at Trenton.

who fought in the war or someone who actively supported the war effort.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with four members of the Alpharetta chapter, each of whom has adopted a Revolutionary War patriot. Each member at the meeting described her documented patriot:

Alicia King, Chapter Regent. Her direct line Patriot is Preston Goforth, Jr (17391780), one of four brothers all killed at the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. Preston’s three brothers fought on the Loyalist side. The battle was described as the “war’s largest all-American fight.” It is thought possible that Preston and his brother John simultaneously shot and killed each other. Most of those killed in the battle were not properly buried. Preston’s wife Nancy went to the battlefield, found his body and brought it home to be buried in the family cemetery.

Jennifer Boren Honorary Regent. Her direct descendant William Noel Battles (1757-1840) was a private who crossed the Delaware River with Gen. George Washington on Christmas 1776 and took part in the surprise attack at Trenton the next

day. He fought in several other battles including Brandywine, among the largest battles of the war which led to the British capture of Philadelphia, and the Battle of Monmouth, another protracted battle. According to his pension application he was often barefoot, poorly clothed and hungry in freezing cold. He had been promised 200 acres after his service and had to turn in his discharge papers to apply. His application was in headquarters that burned down, and he never received his land.

Debra Kielly, Honorary Regent. Debra’s direct descendant is Abraham Guseman (1753-1821), who at the age of 17 immigrated from Germany to America. He worked at the Colonial Armory in Harpers Ferry until 1776 when the war began. He enlisted in the Patriot militia and fought in several battles. Wounded three times by bullet and saber, he had to leave the military. He returned to Harpers Ferry and continued to serve by repairing flintlock weapons. After the war, he began a silversmithing and clockmaking business. He married three times and was killed when a

wooden beam in a mill he built fell on him. Bonnie Steadman, Chair of the Project Patriot Committee working with Blue Star Military Support Group which sends care packages to an active-duty U.S. Army unit in Kuwait. Her patriot is Andrew Meloan (1754-1834) from France (he changed his name in America to Andrew Malone). He fought in the battles of Long Island, Staten Island, Brandywine, White Plains, Princeton, Stoney Point and the key Battle of Monmouth. After the Battle of Germantown in 1777-1778, Meloan’s regiment spent the winter in Valley Forge where about 2,000 soldiers died during the sixmonth encampment, mostly from dysentery, typhus, typhoid, pneumonia and malnutrition from lack of food.

Bob is a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission, Director Emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and member of the Alpharetta and Old Milton County Historical Society. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

OPINION

Me versus my cell phone, a battle worth the effort

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

The morning keeps getting older. I have texted one of my sisters, a couple friends and talked to Christina but other than that, I have not caved and looked at the news or any social media on my phone. Well, I have almost eliminated social media anyway, but sometimes I regress, but not this morning.

The longer I go without being sucked in by that phone, the stronger the reward feels. The morning is still mine. I am exercising some restraint – control over my time. I am maintaining my peace and staying focused – focused on me and the moment instead of torturing myself in cyber space. Why do I do that?

It dawns on me: I need to turn off “notifications” on my phone – one less distraction, one less unwelcomed and unneeded Pavlovian stimuli. Damn them. Stupid me to have turned “notifications” on in the first place. If I counted, I bet I get at least three notifications an hour, sometimes more, between texts and news updates. Why would I want that?

It is funny. It reminds me of all those attempts to stop smoking cigarettes and fighting the urges, the cravings. And going just a moment at a time, one step then another. Same thing. How startling it is to realize – to internalize – that this small metal plastic-encased battery with cameras made by a fruit company called Apple has such control over me. Let’s see how much longer I can go and not pick it up this morning.

Instead, I am reading, and after I read for a while, I’m going to sit down at my keyboard and work on my music, then paint. I’ll do work in my blues book, work on some chord progressions, and then painstakingly continue work reading music – from my complete Beatles anthology. I thought “Hey Jude” would not be that hard to learn to play; it sounds easy, but, at least for an old guy who is still trying to relearn/reeducate his brain, eyes and hands to coordinate, that song is not so easy – at least as easy as it sounds.

I found another Ann Patchett book on one of the bookshelves, “Truth & Beauty.” What joy. I just finished her “The Story of a Happy Marriage,” which I loved. After I finished it, I started looking for a new book to read. I picked up and read maybe 20 pages in four different books before giving up on each one – Michael Cunningham’s “A Home at the End of the World,” Frazen’s “Freedon,” Doerr’s “Cloud Cuckoo Land” and “Year of Wonders” – Geraldine Brooks. Frustrating.

I’m afraid I think Ann Patchett has spoiled me. She had me before I even finished reading page 1 of her “Truth & Beauty.” It reminded me of how instantly I was hooked into Richard Powers’ “The Overstory.” Same deal.

I am not sure why I am so comfortable reading Ann. It may be her honesty – her candor – and how she so unflinchingly shares so much with her readers so fearlessly. I can’t imagine being so free. She makes it look so easy, so effortless, so natural. It may be the amount of trust she has for herself and, again, in her audience.

“After the dishes were washed and put away, Lucy put a tape in the little stereo box, and we danced in the kitchen. No matter how dismal things seemed, ungraded papers, brutal weather; we could find the energy to spin around the table under the bright fluorescent lights of our apartment…. Kitchen dancing was the only hope for girls like me who needed to find their way in privacy. On Governor Street we would dance for hours. We laughed so hard, and the music was so loud… We danced until our hair was damp and our feet ached from the linoleum floor.”

Her writing seems like a living room conversation among old friends or a sleepover back in the day. It reminds me of a night at the theater or an intense debate over “The Great Gatsby” in a small university classroom setting among a dozen grad students or maybe freshmen.

Or maybe she is just easy to read because she doesn’t ask so much from her audience. No, I don’t think that is it, but maybe.

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Do not fear pruning trees and shrubs

Pruning our woody trees and shrubs is one of the most important parts of caring for them. There is a purpose for every plant you have in your landscape: it could be there for privacy, for flowers or fruit, or to support local wildlife. The urban environment causes plants to grow differently than they would in their native habitat. Trees in a subdivision get much more sun than they would growing in a forest where their growth is focused upward toward the sun. In a subdivision, trees can develop heavy side branches and uneven growth that leads to splitting, breaking and falling on our homes and cars. Structural pruning safeguards the function of large shade trees and protects property. Shrubs grown for hedges are often enthusiastic, vigorous growers requiring attention to keep them in the desired bounds. If flowers are the desired goal, the timing of pruning is critical. Pruning a young plant creates the framework for the plant to do what you want later on. The earlier you begin guiding the plant in the direction you want, the better.

In order to do that, you must have a basic understanding of plant growth and how plants respond to pruning. When a seed germinates and begins to grow, it only grows from one point, the very tip, called the apex or the terminal bud. This apex produces a hormone, auxin, that flows down through the plant and inhibits the growth of any lateral or side buds. This is called apical dominance, and the strength of it varies from species to species. When the apex is cut off, the flow of auxin is stopped and directed to lateral (side) buds, which begin to grow.

Pruning stimulates new growth. The size of the root system remains the same, and it’s now supplying a smaller plant. The remaining leaves and branches are getting an increased flow of nutrients and more light, and the plant will respond with greater growth.

There are two basic pruning cuts: heading and thinning.

Heading cuts off the terminal buds, eliminating apical dominance and stimulating growth near the cuts. This is the most invigorating, sometimes aggressive, type of pruning and results in dense compact growth and loss of the natural plant form. This is the type of pruning best used for hedges and

can be used to rejuvenate some, not all, overgrown ornamental broadleaf shrubs, such as crape myrtle, holly, and ligustrum. These shrubs can be cut back severely to 12 inches and they will recover.

Thinning retains the natural form of the plant and is the least invigorating style of pruning. It is accomplished by cutting back an entire branch to its point of origin. Because apical dominance is undisturbed, there is not a lot of bushy side shoot growth. Thinning is important in maintenance: to guide the direction of growth, shorten branches, and let light and air into the crown.

The best time for structural pruning of trees is in the winter when sap flow is at a minimum. The worst time is in spring when sap is surging to push out new growth. When the leaves are off the trees it’s easy to see the form of the tree and think about what the goal is for the tree. Look for the four Ds: dead, diseased, dying or damaged wood. That is the first and easiest step to take. DYI trimming can be done up to 12 feet without a ladder, and up to 20 feet with a pole tool. Wear a hard hat for trimming tall limbs and always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. With anything taller it is best to hire an ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified arborist. Flowering Shrubs. Pruning flowering shrubs, on the other hand,

can be a little more complicated, as pruning at the incorrect time can prevent future flowering. Prune spring-flowering shrubs (lilac, azalea, spirea, etc.) right after they finish blooming, before they set buds for next year. Summer- and fall-blooming shrubs should be pruned in late winter or early spring.

These techniques do not apply to conifers, or cone-producing evergreens with needle-like leaves. Conifers will not grow back if pruned past the green part of a branch.

It is important to care for your pruning tools by keeping blades sanitized, sharp and clean. Painting wounds made by pruning is not advised. Correct cutting technique is the best guarantee of clean healing. When pruning, it’s important not to damage the branch collar, a ring of tissue at the base of a branch, and the bark ridge, a ridge of tissue where two branches come together. Prune just outside of these areas, and don’t leave a stub. Stubs slow healing and provide entry for disease.

Now is the time to take this information out into your landscape. Start with the easy step first: identify the four Ds – dead, damaged, dying, and diseased. Then look at your trees and shrubs through the lens of purpose and ask yourself what you want this tree or shrub to do. Form follows function, literally in this case!

Happy Gardening!

About the author

Marcia O’Shaughnessy is a Master Gardener who believes in the value the Extension Service plays in improving the lives of Georgians by returning to them the information and advances made at the University of Georgia. In 1995 she was given a copy of ‘Gardening with Native Plants of the South’ by Sally Wasowski and had an epiphany after reading the book, becoming a staunch believer in the importance of native plants, especially in the suburban landscape. She is very happy that they are no longer the sole province of specialty nurseries, but readily available most places plants are sold.

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. Previous Garden Buzz columns are featured at: https:// appenmedia.com/opinion/columists/ garden buzz/.

Save the date for NFMG’s 2025 signature event: Garden Faire on April 11. Learn more at nfmg.net.

WHAT THEY ARE KNOWN FOR

1. Wander. Hooded snake. Clint Eastwood, e.g.

2. Aldous Huxley, e.g. Tie. Hurry.

3. Dress. Coffee order.

Alfred the Great, e.g.

4. Family girl. City on the Ruhr.

John Paul II, e.g.

5. Small change. Rodney Dangerfield, e.g. Ape.

6. Rob Bean, e.g. Hayseed. Catch sight of.

2/12/26 Sudoku PuzzleJunction.com

7. Geronimo, e.g. Bunsen burner. Grotto.

1 Wander. Hooded snake. Clint Eastwood, e.g.

2. Aldous Huxley, e.g. Tie. Hurry

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. Dress. Coffee order. Alfred the Great, e.g.

4. Family girl. City on the Ruhr. John Paul II, e.g

5. Small change. Rodney Dangerfield, e.g. Ap

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. 1 1 8 2 8 6

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

How to Solve: Kakuro, also known as Cross Sums, is a challenging number puzzle, solved in a crossword style grid. 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.

Person:

Continued from Page 1

Divers had been searching the lake at 1000 Mayfield Road since Tuesday morning. Milton Police led the investigation with assistance from Milton Fire and Rescue, K-9 units and Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services.

The roped-off crime scene expanded after crews began searching the area. Residents of the neighborhood said police asked to review door camera footage after he went missing.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Smith family during this time,” Milton Police said in a statement.

CITY OF MILTON NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING DESIGN REVIEW BOARD

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 6:00 P.M.

Location: Milton City Hall – Council Chambers 2006 Heritage Walk Milton, GA 30004

678-242-2528

On the date and time, and at the location stated above, the Design Review Board shall conduct a public hearing to consider the following applications for Certificate of Appropriateness.

1. Demolition Permit Review:

A. Address: 14735 Birmingham Highway

Applicant: Kellan Quinn

B. Address: 16475 Westbrook Road

Applicant: Jonathan White

C. Address: 13210 Birmingham Highway

Applicant: Scott D. Reece

D. Address: 15385 Birmingham Highway

Applicant: Andrew Kelly

City of Milton Notice of Public Hearing Board of Zoning Appeals

The City of Milton Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a public hearing for the variances described below at the following time and place:

Date & Time: March 17, 2026, 6:00 P.M.

Location: City of Milton 2006 Heritage Walk, Council Chambers Milton, Georgia 30004-6119 678-242-2524

Consideration of Primary Variances

V26-02, 12780 New Providence Road

Applicant: Kendall Cannon Request(s):

Sec. 3.1.4.B – Unified Development Code. To reduce the 25 feet minimum side yard to 21.8 feet adjacent to the north property line for an existing garage addition.

Sec. 3.1.4.D – Unified Development Code. To reduce the 50 feet minimum rear yard to 44.2 feet adjacent to the west property line for an existing garage addition.

Sec. 3.1.4.B – Unified Development Code. To reduce the 25 feet minimum side yard to 23.4 feet and 22.5 feet adjacent to the south property line for an existing deck.

V26-03, 13250 Birmingham Highway - Parcel ID 22 398009910409, 0 Birmingham Highway – Parcel ID 22 398009910417

Applicant: Robert & Sarah Strange Request(s):

Sec. 8.8.13.B.3 - Unified Development Code. To increase the 1,500 square feet guest house accessory structure heated floor area maximum to 2,550 square feet for an existing single-family home to be converted into a new guest house. Sec. 8.8.13.B.5 - Unified Development Code. To allow an existing single-family home to serve as a new guest house accessory structure to be located to the side and to the front of a proposed new single-family home.

Sec. 3.1.4, Accessory Structure Setbacks - Unified Development Code. To allow six (6) existing accessory structures to remain in front of a proposed new single-family home.

V26-04, 580 Hopewell Downs Drive

Applicant: Joey Bodiford Request:

Sec. 3.1.4.B – Unified Development Code. To reduce the 25 feet minimum side yard to 14.875 feet adjacent to the west property line for a proposed

Big

David

Barbara Anderson

Kerry Arias

Scott Baynton

Joseph Bell

Rita Brown

Carl Abernathy

Bruce Ackley

Salpi Adrouny

Alpharetta Lions Club

Omar Altalib

Dave Altman

Ron Altman

Joel Alvis

American Legion Post 201

Alice & Dr. Richard Appen

Stewart Applbaum

Gaye Armstrong

Mary Asbury

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IT Professionals: Ent. Lvl to Sen. Lvl (multiple positions), QA Engnrs., Comp. Prgrmrs., & IT Project Mngrs. are needed for our Alpharetta, GA Office. May req travel. Pls send resume, Cvr Ltr., & Sal. Req. to Ecovue Solutions LLC at 6110 McFarland Station Dr, Ste 203, Alpharetta, GA 30004.

Sawnee EMC is seeking an Accounts Receivable Clerk to reconcile consumer accounts and process members’ transactions (i.e., Cash, Check, Credit Card, or Money Order). Will supply information to customers and resolve customer inquiries through face-to-face communication. Requires: high school diploma or equivalency, proficiency in mathematics, monetary, and general office skills. A minimum of two years of related experience preferred. Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings and weekends.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, February 20, 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 Employer including Disabled and Protected Veterans. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

Hargrove & Associates, Inc. (dba Hargrove Engineers + Constructors) seeks a Mechanical Engineer III in Johns Creek, GA, to provide onsite assistance during startup. Apply at https:// www.jobpostingtoday.com/Ref #88233.

Sawnee EMC is seeking a General Clerk III –Customer Service to assist in a high-volume call center. Requires high school diploma or equivalency, computer, communication, and general office skills. Requires one (1) year experience in a customer service call center or service-type organization, utility, finance, banking, or equivalent industry. Bilingual is preferred, fluent in English and Spanish (written and verbal).

Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings, weekends and holidays.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5PM, February 27, 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 Employer including Disabled and Protected Veterans. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

Senior Systems Administration needed by AT&T Services, Inc. in Alpharetta, GA to be responsible for 24x7 operations, administration and maintenance of server infrastructure in AT&T’s NC (Network Cloud) Linux based environment. Apply at http:// att.jobs/, select JOB SEARCH and APPLY and select Search by Requisition Number at the left bottom of the page and enter Job Number: R-86715.

SR SOFTWARE ENGINEER: Design, dev, tst & maint complex software systems ensuring scalability, perf & security. Lead tech design discussions & code reviews. Collab w/ product, QA & ops teams. Translate biz & functional reqmts into tech specs & architecture. Write clean, maint & efficient code using modern langs & frameworks. Troubleshoot & resolve software issues. Implement & maint CI/CD pipelines. Perform perf tuning, code optimization & system refactoring. Stay current w/ emrg’ng tech & eval potential appli. to business. FT, perm position. Travel in the cntxt of reloc may be required at least 1-2 times/yr based on clients’ needs. Apply with 2 copies of resume to HR, Blue Fusion Enterprise Technologies, 11205 Alpharetta Hwy, Suite E3 Roswell GA 30076

Remote/part-time/flexible/contract work for seasoned accountants/bookkeepers. NonProfit/ For-Profit Clients. QBO and payroll expertise required. Sue@playbook-cloud.com

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