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GOALS ON THE GREEN
Milton hosts World Cup watch party By STANLEY LEARY newsroom@appenmedia.com
STANLEY LEARY/APPEN MEDIA
Amelia Hein, of Warner Robins, kicks a ball at a Velcro target, as her sister Arabella Hein waits her turn June 19 at Crabapple Green in Milton.
MILTON, Ga. — Soccer fans young and old gathered at Crabapple Green on Friday for "Goals on the Green," the city's first World Cup watch party, as the U.S. men's national team took on Australia. The event, hosted in collaboration with Crabapple Market and Rush Union Soccer and presented by the Reid Casey Team, began at 1 p.m. with food trucks and family-friendly, soccerthemed activities before the match kicked off two hours later. Emily Salerno, the city's community outreach manager, said Milton applied for FIFA's permission to host the watch party in March and received approval on June 8 — just 11 days before the event. "We did this to capitalize on a great opportunity with the World Cup being here," Salerno said. "We applied with FIFA for permission back in March and just on June 8, 2026, got permission for today, June 19, and also for a later date on July 19." Salerno said the city evaluates these kinds of events against three criteria: whether they will draw a large crowd, whether they will have an economic impact on nearby businesses, and whether there is community buy-in.
See SOCCER, Page 24
Milton warns public against shooting fireworks near horses MILTON, Ga. — With Fourth of July approaching, Milton is reminding residents of a year-round local law that prohibits fireworks from being set off within 200 yards of an equine property. The regulation took effect last year and applies to the more than 200 properties citywide that actively house
horses, donkeys, ponies or mules. Violations of the city ordinance can lead to a minimum fine of $300. Loud and sudden noises can spook horses causing them to injure themselves or experience medical issues from extreme stress. These reactions can endanger nearby property, fellow animals and humans.
The Community Development Department in City Hall will be handing out free signs for equine owners to post on their property, alerting animals to their livestock. Milton City Hall is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. — Hannah Yahne
Milton High School student wins national acting award ► PAGE 6
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