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Annual Autumn Shindig showcases Milton history By JAMIE GODIN newsroom@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Some 200 people experienced the fusion of oldtime farm life and Native American culture Sept. 28 at the 5th annual Autumn Shindig at Wildberry Creek Farm in Milton. Sponsored by the Milton Historical Society, the event provided visitors a hands-on look at farm life and Milton’s history, including hayrides, exhibits in the barn, antique farm equipment and cars. Bluegrass band The Heard provided music from a gazebo, adding to the festive atmosphere. On the hayrides, cows trailed behind wagons, occasionally tugging at the hay, while a newborn calf could be seen resting in the pasture. John Ousley and his wife Lisa opened the Shindig with a performance that blended Native American flute and harmonica. Ousley, who spent five years living on the Navajo reservation as a teacher, said he wanted to create a mixture of cultures through music. “I just turned 69 years old,” he said. “My friend gave me these Native American arrowheads for my birthday. When I look at them, I know there were other people here long before us.”
See SHINDIG, Page 28
John Ousley, a dog trainer and former teacher, plays a Native American flute while his wife, Lisa, holds a Native American hand drum during the opening performance at the Milton Historical Society’s Shindig Sept. 28 at Wildberry Creek Farm. JAMIE GODIN/APPEN MEDIA
Fulton graduation rates continue to climb FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Setting itself apart as a national outlier, Fulton County Schools is celebrating a 91.9 percent graduation rate, a record bucking the post-pandemic trend of declining student performance. The school district announced its fifth year of breaking graduation records Sept. 29. Fulton County Schools says the past five years have shown a steady rise in
graduation rates after spring 2020 when percentages dipped for the first time since 2012. This year’s all-time high represents a 6.4 percent increase since the pandemicera low. While many districts nationwide are struggling with academic recovery, attendance problems and expired federal funding, the district says it is leading the way.
Georgia's high school graduation rate for the class of 2025 is 87.2 percent, also marking a record high for the state since 2011. With enrollment declining in schools north of Atlanta, it’s not certain whether more students are receiving diplomas each year.
Fulton County OKs rate hike on water, sewer ► PAGE 4
See GRAD, Page 37
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