School district opens pre-K lottery process
Report: Sandy Springs officer helped girlfriend cheat Alpharetta police exam
By CARL APPEN carl@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A Sandy Springs police officer found himself in hot water after allegedly helping his girlfriend cheat on an Alpharetta Police Department exam in August, according to records obtained by Appen Media.
The Sandy Springs officer was a sergeant at the time but has been demoted after an internal investigation concluded he violated the department’s
rules of conduct. Police officials also required him to write a letter to the statewide law enforcement accreditation agency recommending his girlfriend have her certification revoked.
Appen Media and its Sandy Springs Crier newspaper obtained copies of that investigation, the board letter and other public documents that describe the allegations.
According to those materials, the woman was a Sandy Springs police officer for eight months before the
Funding the court
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners discusses enhanced budget requests to accommodate two new State Court judges and their respective courtrooms. See story, page 3.
department released her during field training in December 2024. She then applied to join the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.
Alpharetta leadership said they would not normally have hired her, according to public documents. However, according to the Sandy Springs investigation, the sergeant called an Alpharetta detective to vouch for her. He also allegedly told Alpharetta she did not have a good match with her Sandy Springs Field Training Officer
(FTO) and that the FTO had since been removed from several department assignments.
During the internal affairs probe, the sergeant told Sandy Springs officials the two were not in a relationship at that time of the phone call but became involved later.
The Alpharetta recruiter said he would not have moved the candidate forward without that recommendation.
See CHEATING, Page 8
General Assembly sets sights on affordability, literacy issues
By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Literacy and affordability are among the top priorities for lawmakers in the Georgia General Assembly going into the 2026 legislative session. The Legislature gaveled in on Monday, Jan. 12.
Crossover Day is scheduled for March 6 and the General Assembly will adjourn on April 2.
This year will see lawmakers appealing to their bases, Republican and Democrat, as many run for a statewide office. In November, voters will choose a new governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general, among other elected offices.
Rep. Scott Hilton (R - Peachtree Corners) noted there will be some
politicking. Sen. Kim Jackson (D - Senate District 41) said there will be more speeches from the Senate floor. State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) said the discussion will be driven by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ desire to run for governor.
“I think about one-third of the Senate is running for another office,” Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D - Decatur) said during a DeKalb Democrats webinar on Jan. 6. “That’s not unusual. That’s a pattern, and it’s more a pattern of the Senate than the House.”
Education
During a press conference on Jan. 7, House Speaker Jon Burns (R - Newington) said literacy is his No. 1 priority.
See LEGISLATURE, Page 8
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County weighs funding options to ensure courts are fully staffed
By ADAM DARBY newsroom@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The Fulton County Board of Commissioners spent its first meeting of the year Jan. 7 addressing the county’s justice system and how best to shore up deficiencies.
In the wake of Georgia legislation allowing the county to add two State Court judges, commissioners weighed proposals on funding and staffing.
County officials have revised down earlier budgeting requests for State Court, primarily by decreasing the number of clerks and solicitors
general sought.
Commissioners, however, did hear from a procession of court officials –including judges, clerks and public defenders – about the need to keep court divisions staffed properly.
The current 2026 State Court budget calls for expending $2.8 million for 20 total employees, including 12 judges.
“In the court system, because of having these resource challenges, a lot of cases get reset,” Solicitor General Keith Gammage said. “When prosecutors and public defenders and the system is underfunded, there is a failure of justice. How much time do we expect an
individual – a public defender, judge, prosecutor, clerk – to spend trying to determine whether or not a human being is innocent or not? I have to make the community think they are safe, but they’re not.”
These positions include state court judges, clerks, solicitor generals, public defenders, and court security. However, the proposed requests presented included a plan involving 36 positions with a budget of $5.1 million.
“I want to make sure these are comprehensive numbers so that you can use the judges to their full extent,” Commissioner Dana Barrett said. “I am in support of us
funding them fully so they can do what they’re meant to do…at the end of the day, all of this is relevant to improving the situation at the jail. We have to invest not just in fixing plumbing at the jail and helping the sheriff get staffed, but also in funding the entire justice ecosystem.”
While no official decision has been made in regard to the proposed budget funding for the two new judges and their respective courtrooms, the commission intends to provide the State Court with sufficient funding and resources.
Appen Media launches state politics site Georgia Press
By HANS APPEN hans@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — Appen Media, publisher of Decaturish and the Georgia-based Herald, Crier and Ink newspapers, announced the launch of GeorgiaPress. com, dedicated to in-depth political coverage and essential reporting on the issues shaping Georgia.
GeorgiaPress.com will focus primarily on Georgia politics—state government, elections, policy and power—while also covering other important and timely current events affecting communities across the state. The site is designed to fill critical news gaps, connect local and statewide issues, and deliver clear, independent journalism to readers across Georgia.
Publisher Hans Appen and Deputy Editor Zoe Seiler will lead GeorgiaPress.com, with the full backing and support of the entire Appen Media newsroom. Seiler continues her news coverage in DeKalb County for Decaturish.com and Decaturish Ink newspaper, as well.
“Georgia needs strong, consistent political coverage that goes beyond headlines and explains how decisions made under the Gold Dome affect people statewide,” Appen said. “GeorgiaPress. com reflects our mission to lead Georgia’s political coverage while filling gaps left by shrinking newsrooms.”
Seiler said the new platform will emphasize accountability, context and reach.
“Too many important stories, especially in underserved areas, don’t get the attention they deserve,” she said. “Our goal is to provide fair, thorough reporting that helps Georgians understand what’s happening, why it matters and how it will impact them. We want to connect
Appen Media has launched GeorgiaPress.com, a new site focused on in-depth Georgia political coverage, elections and policy, with statewide reporting, a weekly newsletter and the Georgia Politics Podcast.
readers to the Gold Dome.”
In addition to daily digital reporting, readers can subscribe to a weekly Georgia Press newsletter featuring a curated selection of political coverage and statewide news. GeorgiaPress.com will also serve as the home of The Georgia Politics Podcast, the state’s leading political commentary podcast, featuring in-depth conversations, analysis and roundtable discussions on Georgia’s political landscape.
Audiences can find additional photos, commentary and extended coverage through Georgia Press’ social media pages on Facebook and X, further expanding engagement and access to statewide reporting.
Appen Media aims for GeorgiaPress.com to become a go-to source for political news, insight and analysis grounded in real-world community impact.
GeorgiaPress.com is now live.
Fulton Schools’ pre-K lottery open to families within district
NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The lottery to secure a seat in one of Fulton County Schools’ 94 pre-K classrooms for the 2026-27 school year is open now through March 3.
The school district’s pre-K program is available to children who are 4 years old by Sept. 1 and reside within the district attendance zone. New hires of Fulton Schools and returning
employees for the 2026-27 school year are considered in school zone for all Fulton County schools.
The lottery application process is the only way to get a spot in Fulton County Schools (FCS) pre-K classrooms before May 1. Families that enter will be placed in individual school lotteries, which will be held March 23-25, and be notified by the
end of day on March 27.
Classroom seats are not secured until a child is selected through the lottery and the required documents are verified and registered with FCS.
The lottery funded pre-K classrooms are in 50 elementary schools across the school district. Classes are pending until state funding is awarded through the state’s
Commission:
Continued from Page 3
Commissioners said they plan to speak further with the proper constituents before reaching a final amount.
County Commissioner Bob Ellis suggested allocating separate funds to ensure fully staffed and resourced courtrooms.
He said the 2026 budget has enough flexibility to ensure the justice system is given the resources it needs to operate.
Bright from the Start program.
General education pre-K classes will include 20 students. Inclusion pre-K classes will have 12 general education students and six students with individualized education programs.
To join the pre-K lottery and learn more information, visit the Fulton County Schools website.
— Hannah Yahne
“I think there are more than adequate enough funds here to look at reallocating some funding in other areas into this to get it to a point where we all feel comfortable and get it right,” Ellis said.
The Board of Commissioners holds meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. The Fulton County Government Center is located at 141 Pryor Street SW in downtown Atlanta. To view previous meetings, visit www.fultoncountyga.gov. For more information about the Board of Commissioners, call 404-612-4000 or email customerservice@fultoncountyga.gov.
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MOVIES
1. Female relation. ‘75 Richard Dreyfuss horror flick. Nap.
2. Climbing vine. Hitchcock title. Can’t stand.
3. Monthly expense. Highchair part. 2009 Sam Worthington fantasy.
4. Chess piece. Demi Moore fantasy. No-no.
5. William H. Macy comedy. Mouth piece. It might be wild.
6. Bad to the bone. Closet type. ‘66 Michael Caine comedy.
7. Vociferate. Stalone boxing flick. Also-ran.
1 Female relation. ‘75 Richard Dreyfuss horror flick. Nap.
2. Climbing vine. Hitchcock title. Can’t stand.
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. Monthly expense. Highchair part. 2009 Sam Worthington fantasy.
4. Chess piece. Demi Moore fantasy. No
5. William H. Macy comedy. Mouth piece. It might be wild.
6. Bad to the bone. Closet type. ‘66 Michael Caine comedy
7. Vociferate Stalone boxing flick. Also-ran.
Northern Ridge announces team of new Eagle Scouts
ALPHARETTA, Ga.— The Northern Ridge Boy Scout District (cities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John’s Creek, Milton) is proud to announce its newest Eagle Scouts, who completed their Eagle Board of Review Dec. 30, 2025 at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.
Top row, from left Joshua Ellis, of Troop 1818, sponsored by the North Metro office of the Marcus Jewish Community Center. Joshua’s project was the design and construction of 23 wooden and epoxy mezuzah covers for the sacred mezuzah scroll, while serving as decorative and meaningful pieces for Jewish homes. These Mezuzah covers were shipped to Israel to benefit the people who lost their homes during the war through the Chabad of Eilat.
Emanuel Guzman, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church. Emanuel’s project was the design and construction of three small stool platforms, a large platform to secure the large training drainage pipe, three sets of barrels fastened together to act as a hiding place for children, replacing the shed door and lock and adding a drainage system to the shed that will also collect rainwater for irrigation purposes for the Alpha Team K9 Search and Rescue team Training Facility, for ATSAR.
Ranjithkumar Loganathan, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church. Ranjithkumar’s project was the design and construction of a seesaw, bench and mulching for the Shiva Durga Temple.
Vishvajith Murugan, of Troop 27, sponsored by the Johns Creek Christian Church. Vishvajith’s project was the design and construction of four benches and mulching a pathway leading to the benches for the Sri Shiva Durga Temple of Atlanta.
Tarun Thalluru, of Troop 2143, sponsored by The American Legion Post 251. Tarun’s project was the
refurbishment of several benches, boardwalk and the design and construction of two new benches for FurKids Animal Hospital.
Bottom row, from left
Ethan Brock, of Troop 430, sponsored by St. David’s Episcopal Church. Ethan’s project was the removal of the old boat racks and the construction of new boat racks, both the single-man and the fourman, for the St. Andrew’s Rowing Club. Ethan also cleared the pathway to the river of overgrowth.
Scott Sadow, of Troop 1818, sponsored by the North Metro office of the Marcus Jewish Community Center. Scott’s project was the design and construction of four benches for Rock Springs Park.
Justin Jern, of Troop 1134, sponsored by St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church. Justin’s project was the design and construction of an outdoor classroom with six wooden benches and a raised wooden panelboard to mount a whiteboard, and shingles on the library box for Jacob’s Ladder and school for special needs students.
Kenneth Lee Withers, of Troop 69, sponsored by Alpharetta Methodist Church. Kenneth’s project was the design and construction of six wooden benches for the outdoor basketball court at Northwestern Middle School.
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Puneeth Sreerama, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church. Puneeth’s project was the design and construction of four two-person benches with armrests, two 6-foot picnic tables and two signboards to guide visitors to place their shoes in the designated shoe storage areas for the Hanuman Mandir.
Rohan K. Dalal, of Troop 2000, sponsored by Johns Creek Presbyterian Church. Rohan’s project was the design and construction of two outdoor benches with a storage section and a balance beam with a colored tile pathway to the beam for children and adults at the Spectrum Autism Support Center.
PROVIDED
Newly-awarded Eagle Scouts stand at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.
Cheating:
Continued from Page 1
He added that he learned the two were in a relationship when the sergeant pinned on her badge during the Alpharetta swearing-in ceremony, according to the Sandy Springs report.
After the ceremony, the woman was taking an exam in order to use the less-lethal weapon Taser 7. While taking the test in a room with two other Alpharetta police officers, she called the Sandy Springs sergeant and read him questions, according to the investigative report. The sergeant, who had been a Taser 7 instructor at Sandy Springs, allegedly gave her the answers.
One of the woman’s peers reported the incident to their supervisors, Alpharetta department officials told Appen Media. After investigating the situation, they terminated the woman’s employment and notified the Sandy Springs Police Department.
“We take violations of integrity seriously and act decisively when our standards are not met,” Alpharetta officials said.
Upon receiving notice of the incident, Sandy Springs opened an internal investigation.
During that process, the sergeant admitted to helping the woman with answers but said he didn’t know she was taking a test until after the fact, according to the report.
Legislature:
Continued from Page 1
In 2025, literacy efforts included increasing access to dyslexia screening, expanding training resources and providing literacy coaches. The House will continue to build on those initiatives, Burns said.
“We’re going to put forward an initiative to put literacy coaches in every elementary school in Georgia,” Burns said. “We believe that will be a difference maker, that will give our students further hands-on support as it comes to their challenges in literacy.”
Both chambers are anticipated to take up cell phone bans in schools. Burns said the House will look at banning the devices in high schools.
“I believe that’ll be something we will certainly have a lively discussion about, and certainly want to respect parents and their freedom of security for their students,” Burns said.
Hilton agreed and has done some work on classroom technology and on ensuring schools are cell phone-free. He is the secretary of the House education committee.
He will be working to allow redshirting across school districts. This is the practice of holding a child back and delaying their start in kindergarten or first grade. Hilton said that is a topic that has come up in his district, which represents Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek and Peachtree Corners.
Gwinnett County Public Schools began standardizing its enrollment practices in 2025, requiring 5-year-olds to start in kindergarten and 6-year-olds in first grade, 11 Alive reported. But under that policy, a 5-year-old currently in preschool might
ILLUSTRATION BY DIONNA WILLIAMS/APPEN MEDIA
A Sandy Springs police sergeant was demoted after helping his girlfriend cheat on an Alpharetta Police Department Taser exam, according to documents obtained by Appen Media.
If he had known, he told investigators, he would not have answered her questions.
Following the investigation, Sandy Springs officials handed down a determination that the sergeant’s actions constituted a violation of the department’s code of conduct.
Officials took particular issue with the sergeant’s involvement in the woman’s hiring at Alpharetta and his alleged comments about the Sandy Springs field training program.
have to start first grade, instead of kindergarten, at 6.
“That’s a pretty significant jump,” Hilton said on the Georgia Politics podcast.
He will introduce legislation that gives parents that choice back.
“What it involves is those who are entering kindergarten or first grade at a younger age, parents find holding that child back for an additional year to be incredibly successful,” Hilton said.
While Burns said literacy is his top priority, affordability has become the theme of the upcoming session.
“You’re going to hear affordability coming out of GOP mouths and Democrats’ mouths,” Jackson said on the Jan. 8 episode of the Decaturish Download podcast.
Housing affordability
Legislation in the House will include property tax reform, as assessments have drastically increased across the state. The House will focus on eliminating property taxes on primary residences.
“For the vast majority of Georgians, our homes are our single largest investments in our lives,” Burns said. “For that investment of a lifetime, I don’t think any of us in Georgia should ever face the possibility of losing our home because we can’t afford to pay rent to the government.”
Oliver noted, during the webinar, that Democrats have ideas to address housing affordability as well.
“The inability of people to buy houses, to stay in houses, to be a tenant whose property is maintained according to the law, all of that is really bad right now,” she said. “This year, I think housing is going to take a more front row position.”
Hilton is passionate about housing,
The sergeant, who has been with the department since 2017, was at one point a Field Training Officer himself.
Sandy Springs officials said the woman’s performance there was lacking and noted, “at the time of her release from the SSPD Field Training program, most of the FTOs documenting her poor performance were assigned to [the sergeant’s] shift. His recommendation to Alpharetta PD was inaccurate, misleading, and damaging to the reputation of the Sandy Springs Police Department.”
As part of the prescribed disciplinary actions, the sergeant had to give an in-person apology to the Sandy Springs FTO corps and the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.
He also faced a demotion, four-day suspension, loss of take-home car for 30 days and mandatory training.
Perhaps one of the more heart-wrenching punishments was the letter he had to write to the state law enforcement standards board recommending they revoke the woman’s certification.
A week after the investigation concluded, he sent the note.
“It is our duty to remove those that are unfit to remain in this profession,” it included.
As of Jan.14, the woman is still eligible for duty, but the accreditation agency has a flag on her file for review.
While the man lost his rank of sergeant, Sandy Springs said he will be eligible to test for promotion in September.
especially for first-time homebuyers. He plans to look at how the buying process can be made easier and how the housing supply can be increased.
“We’re not building [starter homes] these days and it’s because there’s so much red tape and regulation that developers have to put up with,” Hilton said on the Georgia Politics podcast. “There are ways the state government can help reform that permitting process so that you see a larger supply of homes, which will drive down the cost.”
Senate Democrats will have legislation on corporate housing to at least examine who owns housing in Georgia.
“It’s one thing if you’re a Georgia citizen who’s like a mom and pop and you own two houses that you rent out to people,” Jackson told Georgia Press. “It’s another thing when you own hundreds of houses in an entire neighborhood; perhaps you should not be paying the same kind of property taxes that the rest of us are because you’re running a major corporation.”
Data centers and other topics
The Legislature will take up the issue of data centers, though lawmakers aren’t sure what that will look like yet.
“That’ll be interesting to see how that plays itself out. Consumers are telling us that ‘I don’t want my rates to go up to subsidize data centers,’” Rep. Scott Hilton (R - Peachtree Corners) said. “I’m supportive of that, to make sure that the consumers know that they’re not footing the bill for data centers.”
Lawmakers tried to repeal data center tax credits in 2024, and Hilton added that it may come up again.
“Based on Georgia’s cheap power and available land, I don’t see a reason right now
why we would need one. The governor said we needed some predictability in keeping that in place,” Hilton said.
During the Jan. 6 webinar, Rep. Oliver said there is legislation in the House and the resource management committee has been evaluating the issue.
“It’s something that I’m watching with interest because I think bipartisan elected people are feeling the heat on the interest of data centers because of the way it impacts our water,” Oliver said.
On the Decaturish Download, Jackson said a bill calling for a one-year moratorium of data centers will be introduced to gain a better understanding of the impact the facilities have on municipalities and resources.
Republican Senate leaders are going to look at eliminating the personal state income tax by 2032. The proposal would waive income taxes up to $50,000 a year for individuals and $100,000 for married couples starting in 2027, the Georgia Recorder reported.
“I’m sure that will take a sizable amount of debate in the Legislature this coming year,” Jackson said.
Jackson anticipates seeing legislation regarding elections.
“I suspect there will remain attempts to shut down Sunday voting, to make early voting optional for municipalities and jurisdictions,” Jackson said. “I don’t think it will be included in the omnibus, but there will certainly be a movement towards paper ballots once again.”
The General Assembly passes the state budget each year, which is the only piece of legislation they are required to approve. Oliver said it is the most important bill lawmakers take up.
Namesakes for Pitts Road have ties to Morgan Falls
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
The namesake of Pitts Road was James Stanford Pitts. Born in 1872, Pitts worked at Morgan Falls for Georgia Railway and Electric Company (later Georgia Power) in the early 1900s. Later, he was a bus driver for North Fulton High School and Liberty Guinn School.
James S. Pitts is an ancestor of Gail Pitts, who graciously shared her family history with me. She confirmed that Pitts Road in Sandy Springs was named after her great-granduncle James Stanford Pitts.
He was born in Cobb County to James Thomas (Jim) Pitts and Mary Ann Elizabeth Maudlin-Rutherford. Rutherford was Jim’s second wife. Gail Pitts’ great grandfather Namon Francis Pitts was the son of Jim’s first wife, Samantha Alzira Hardman. Jim and Namon were stepbrothers.
James S. Pitts married Martha Jane (Mattie) Black in 1905. According to the 1920 census, the couple lived on Morgan Falls Road with their three young children. James was employed as a laborer in the electric plant. Their neighbors along Morgan Falls Road were also working at the electric plant. By 1930, census records indicate the road name was Bull Sluice, the name of the lake at Morgan Falls. They had four children and two lodgers at home.
In 1940, James S. Pitts lived on Roswell Road in the Grogan’s district of Fulton County. Two daughters, Zelma and Frances, lived with him, and he was employed as a school bus driver. In 1950, James and daughter Zelma lived on Pitts Drive, which would become known as Pitts Road. The road ran between Spalding Drive and Roswell Road. (U.S. census archives, 1940 and 1950)
When James S. Pitts died in 1954, his funeral was held at First Baptist Church at Roswell. He was buried at the Roswell Methodist Cemetery. His obituary states, “He formerly was associated with Georgia Power Company. Pitts Road was named for him.” (Atlanta Journal, June 25, 1954)
Family records show that when Jim Pitts died in 1891, his children purchased some of the property in his estate. James S. Pitts deeded a portion of the land he bought to Post Oak Methodist Church on Post Oak Road in Marietta.
Gail Pitts is the daughter of Roy
PITTS FAMILY COLLECTION/PROVIDED
The James S. Pitts family in front of their Morgan Falls Road home, circa 1921. From left front: Zelma Lee Pitts, Martha Jane “Mattie” Pitts, Martha Frances Pitts in Mattie’s lap, John Thomas Pitts; Back row, from left: James S. Pitts and James Clarence Pitts.
Clifton Pitts and Juanita Ruby Clemmer. Many of her Pitts and Sullivan ancestors have a connection with Morgan Falls and Georgia Power.
Roy Clifton Pitts and his brother Curvin Thomas both attended Morgan Falls School, located along Roswell Road near where the Fulton County North Service Center stands today. Curvin worked for the Atlanta Journal; Roy worked for Georgia Power for 50 years, retiring in 1984 as supervisor of the Hammond Plant in Rome. (Atlanta Journal, July 18, 1987)
The brothers were both veterans of World War II. Curvin served with the 102nd Infantry, also known as the Ozarks. Roy served in the Army, primarily in the Aleutian Islands.
Gail’s grandparents, Roy Thomas Pitts and Irene Sullivan, married on April 28, 1918. Six months later, Roy was sent to serve in World War I, first at Camp Gordon in Chamblee for training and then overseas. He was part of the Replacement Draft, Company D, 161st Infantry. In 1950, he was working as a machinist with Georgia Power.
The next Past Tense will tell the history of others in Gail Pitts’ family tree who worked at Morgan Falls, including W. Cliff Sullivan. Sullivan became superintendent of all six of Georgia Power’s North Georgia Plants in the 1930s.
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.
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A Walk for Peace brings new mindfulness
When 19 Buddhist monks departed from the Huong Dao Buddhist Temple in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 26, 2025 on a historic Walk for Peace across 10 states to Washington DC, they knew there would be some unique challenges. They also believed deeply that the walk would inspire many people to have greater awareness of “peace, loving kindness and compassion.” Both results came to pass as thousands of people in Georgia and other states have reached out to the monks on their 120-day, 2,300-mile journey.
Buddhist monks have a long global history of walking for peace, but the 2025-2026 walk from Texas to Washington D.C. is the first large scale U.S. peace walk.
The monks have been hiking at a quick pace through towns and on rural highways, stopping only for meals and overnight hospitality. They mingled with hundreds and sometimes thousands of local residents and people who traveled long distances to meet them and to listen to short evening lectures. Being in the presence of the monks has been for virtually everyone a deeply meaningful, sometimes lifechanging experience.
Accompanying the monks is their faithful dog Aloka the Peace Dog. Aloka, who has a natural heart shaped mark on his forehead, was once a stray who followed a group of monks for 100 days on a peace walk across India that included the current March for Peace leader Venerable Bhikkhu Paññakara. Aloka is about 4 years old and has his own Facebook page, “Aloka the Peace Dog,” with about 560,000 followers. The monks often stop briefly to allow children to pet the always calm Aloka.
But the walk has not been without problems.
One monk, Bhante Dam Phommasan was seriously injured by a car near Houston on Nov. 19. He underwent surgery to amputate a leg on Dec. 3. When he was able, he flew to Atlanta and continued his recovery at the Wat Buddha Khanti Lao Buddhist temple in Snellville, his home temple. He reunited with the traveling group when they arrived at the temple after passing through
STEVE COLQUITT/PROVIDED
Bhikkhu Paññakara leads the group of monks on their Walk for Peace on Jan. 4 in Oglethorpe County. Note that Bhikkhu Paññakara is wearing only socks. The monk behind him is walking barefoot with tape and bandages on his feet. Some monks wear sandals or sneakers. Foot and calf problems are common on the walk. The monks are presently scheduled to arrive at the U.S. Capitol in Washington in mid-February.
Atlanta in late December. His return was symbolic and described as emotional and a symbol of resilience and acceptance. He has not returned to walking.
Some of the monks have suffered serious foot problems. After two months of continuous walking on roads, some hot, wet, irregular and rough, a number of the monks had serious foot problems. During their stop in Morrow, just south of Atlanta, Grady Health staff treated the monks’ sores, calluses, blisters and aching leg muscles. Many monks walk without shoes. Their training probably reduced the severity of injuries. They were used to daily walking meditation, minimal footwear and mental discipline that helped control pain and discomfort. Medical services from other counties also provide assistance.
The monks create a major impact wherever they go. They spent the night of Jan. 3 at the Oak Ridge Lodge, a popular event facility in Arnoldsville,
a rural Georgia town of some 500 inhabitants near Athens. It was the monks 70th day on the road. Wingate Downs, owner of the lodge, says more than 500 people came to hear the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññakara speak that night.
“I was struck by how quiet and respectful the public was. I loved seeing how reverent they were with their hands on their hearts or in prayer positions,” says Wingate.
The monks wanted to sleep on the floor wrapped in the blankets they carried with them.
Alpharetta residents Mike Buchanan and his girlfriend Deborah Eves waited on the side of a rural road for the Walk for Peace to pass by. Gradually, a large crowd gathered, eager to see and be inspired by the monks.
“Strangers became friends as we all waited,” says Mike.
Mike reported that the experience made people feel part of something
PROVIDED
Alpharetta residents Deborah Eves and Mike Buchanan found out how to locate the Walk for Peace via live updates of its location online. It was a very emotional experience that neither will forget.
bigger than ourselves.
He said, “People realized that if these guys can do what they are doing, it should be easy for us to be a little bit better -- to heal ourselves while helping others.”
Deborah commented, “This event was different from anything I have ever experienced. A common purpose and outlook was shared among strangers. A monk handed me a flower as they quickly walked by.”
The walkers spent the night at a farm. In his speech that evening the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññakara spoke about mindfulness and how people should treat each other. Mike summed up the experience by saying “none of us were the same people that night that we were in the morning.”
To track the Walk for Peace or for instructions on how to experience their journey in person go to Facebook Walk for Peace.
Bob is a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission and Director Emeritus of the Milton Historical Society. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.
BOB MEYERS Columnist
OPINION
Having fun exploring the story behind flower names
In the spring and summer, we are especially busy in our gardens, loving the beauty and fragrance of many familiar flowers while the bees and butterflies fly about as we work. Winter is a time of anticipated relaxation for gardeners, usually spent planning next year’s garden, often with the help of gardening books. One I recently discovered discusses the common names we use for plants, rather than their often complex and hard to remember Latin names. How did some of those names come to be used? For fun, here are a few:
Dogwood (Cornus) – This is a familiar tree whose flowering beauty is striking every spring. But, what does it have to do with dogs? Most likely this naming has to do with the hardness of the wood. There is an old English word, “dagwood.” Slender stems of the tree’s hardwood were used for “dags” (daggers, skewers and arrows). Sometime in the early 1600s, dagwood was changed to dogwood as language developed.
Bee balm (Monarda) – Sounds like a balm for the bees themselves, but if you notice, this plant does not attract bees. Hummingbirds, yes. There is a resin derived from the plant which can be used for soothing bee stings. Therefore, the balm is really for you!
Foxglove (Digitalis) – Foxglove’s spire of blooms is tall and pointed, very finger-like, thus the proper name of Digitalis. The common name of foxglove comes from this delightful story: a fox was having a hard time sneaking into the henhouse to grab a quick meal. A hint from the naughty fairies was to slip his paws into the glove-like blooms of the plant so he could silently sneak up on the chickens. If you look into the flowers, you will see the fox’s paw prints.
Forget-me-not (Myosotis) – There are many stories about how this little blue flower got its name. In every story, a lover trying to cross a river to reach his sweetheart gets swept away by the current but manages to grasp some flowers on the bank to throw to her as he calls out, “Forget me not!”
Naked ladies (Lycoris) – This lily-like flower grows from a bulb, but by the time the stalk and flower appear, the leaves at the base have disappeared and seem a bit “undressed.” I have also heard them
called surprise lilies, as no leaves were there to announce their arrival.
Obedient plant (Physostegia) –This is a beautiful native plant, but obedient it is not. I planted it only once. After it spread aggressively, I ended up having to remove it, as it threatened to take over the flower bed. But on the spike of the plentiful and lovely blooms, if you push a single flower to the side, it will stay there. Therefore, it is obedient—a little bit!
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) – This common native plant does have a striking look with red stems and purple berries that birds love to eat but then leave purple “deposits” on your car or elsewhere. The berries are poisonous to mammals, and pokeweed can cause severe dermatitis. Surprisingly, the boiled young leaves are supposedly quite tasty and were often eaten in the rural South and known as poke salet. In the 1960,s there was a popular ballad called “Poke Salad Annie” about a poor rural southern girl who gathered the leaves for salad. Maybe it’s pokeweed because it aggressively pokes its nose up through the soil everywhere!
Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) – These beautiful, shadeloving plants are popular in gardens for their color and abundant flowers. If you look closely for the seed pods, gently hold one between your fingers and give a small squeeze. The seeds will explode outward, as if impatient to get out and spread, which they do
generously. They come back every year in my garden. In the United Kingdom they are known as Busy Lizzies as they are always about the business of spreading.
St John’s wort (Hypericum) –“Wort” is an archaic word meaning plant or herb. This herb has a calming influence when ingested and was often carried by missionaries due to great regard for St. John the Baptist. It also comes into flower around June 23, which is St. John’s Day, which may also account for its common name.
Learning about these common names gave me a new perspective on some old plants. Keep in mind the reason they have botanical (Greek or Latin) names is because the same plant can be called different things in different parts of the world, emphasizing the global nature of horticulture and our shared common interests across the globe.
Happy Gardening!
North Fulton Master Gardeners, Inc. is a Georgia nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose purpose is
About the author
This week’s guest “Garden Buzz” columnist is Roswell resident, Dianne Short. Dianne has been a Master Gardener for 22 years, taking her initial training in Virginia. In 2013, she moved to Roswell to be near grandchildren and affiliated with the North Fulton Master Gardeners. Dianne is a retired school social work specialist. Her interests are organic gardening; native plants; and attracting birds, bees, and butterflies to her garden.
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/.
Mark your calendar for next year’s Garden Faire: April 11, 2026.
PHOTOS BY DIANNE SHORT/PROVIDED Pictured are forget-me-nots at the top, foxglove on the bottom left, St. John’s wort on the middle right, and Impatiens on the lower right.
DIANNE SHORT Guest Columnist
HAVEAN ANNOUNCEMENT TOSHARE?
Anyone interested in a crystal ball into the future may have just found it.
One of the few talking heads that I follow is a guy named Peter Zeihan. Peter is a demographer, an author, and a geopolitical analyst. Every weekday he sends out an email that links to his (typically) 5-minute YouTube commentary on current events ranging from financial, to geopolitical, to social and political subjects.
He is not an advocate for the left or the right. In fact, he has a very low opinion of Obama’s presidency as well as Trump’s. He also says that the numbers for electric vehicles simply do not make sense – that they contribute more to the environmental degradation than the alternatives – and that the U.S. cannot afford not to continue burning fossil fuels to meet our immediate and mid-term energy needs – as dark and forbidding as that sounds. He simply takes a hard and educated look at the numbers, especially population trends and history – which often provides critical context. Then, he gives you his opinion of what those numbers suggest and why you should care.
Population trends are one of his principal markers for what the future looks like – big picture. The larger the workforce, the more goods and services are produced and consumed. More people getting a paycheck means more people spending money. The more money that is being spent, the more credit is available in the system, and vice versa.
People in the workforce – generally those ages 18-65 – drive consumption. They are getting married, making babies, buying houses and cars and more. That is, they are making money and spending it. Then they retire and their consumption falls off the cliff. They save. They become
DEATH NOTICES
Cynthia Bratton, age 78, of Roswell, GA passed away on January 10, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Ann Gephart, age 89, of Johns Creek, GA passed away on January 8, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Michael Kincaid, age 75, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on January 6, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
William Mack, age 93, of Roswell, GA passed away on January 10, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
more frugal. They consume much less. Instead of paying into the Social Security system including Medicare and Medicaid, they begin withdrawing from it, leaving those still working to support it.
The problem, as Peter says, is those 65 and over – as a percent of the population – is rapidly increasing in most countries, while the percent under the age of 65 – those paying into Social Security –is shrinking.
Here is a comparison of the number of retired people per 100 working-age adults in 2000 and 2050 across seven major countries
Data provided by ChatGPT.
Japan is forecast to experience massive stress on its economic system by 2050. A retiree is projected to be supported by only 1.3 workers, and the country is expected to experience a projected net loss of 25 million workers (compared to the workforce in 2000). Tremendous stress occurs on pensions, health care and the labor pool. Germany and China are close behind with 2 workers per 1 retiree by 2050. Germany, China and Russia all face critical declines in both share and absolute working-age population through 2050.
The U.S. and Canada numbers look better. The U.S. is expected to realize a net increase of 50 million working-age individuals by 2050 from the year 2000 labor pool of 188 million. Mexico’s net working-age numbers are projected to
Charles MacWilliams, Jr., age 95, of Roswell, GA passed away on January 5, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Karen Miller, age 79, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on January 6, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
add approximately 40 million – a huge percentage gain from the year 2000 base of 63 million and will be in the best shape of all with 1 retiree per 3-4 workers in 2050. This could have a huge economic upside if jobs and productivity grow. Of note, Mexico is the only western country projected to realize a net percentage increase in the workforce relative to total population by 2050.
Projected total population change from the year 2000 to projected 2050 for select countries is as follows:
U.S.: +35%; Mexico: +50%; Canada: + 29%; China: 0%; Germany -13%; Japan: - 17%.
Note, when there is no absolute growth in total population – or a loss –and that is combined with an increasing aging population, economic viability and GDP growth is increasingly less viable. Fertility rates, morbidity rates and immigration are core drivers of population growth in general.
All this matters because GDP growth falls when the labor pool shrinks – in relative and absolute terms; the tax base narrows with increasing retired cohort; and pension and healthcare costs grow faster than the revenue to support it.
Overview: North America is comparatively the strongest demographic position going forward worldwide. Mexico and Canada add significantly to this favorable position. We should consider this as we make policy decisions in the future.
East Asia and Europe face significant structural headwinds, and China is in the worst shape of all.
The future looks bright for us through mid-century and probably past. This should be the “Northern Hemisphere century” – if the present administration doesn’t blow it.
Find out more about the future! Peter Zeihan’s “The End of the World is just the Beginning” offers a fascinating overview of what may be in store for us. If he is only right even half of the time, what a century we have in front of us!
Morris Moore, age 83, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on January 8, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
Marilyn Roe, age 74, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on January 6, 2026. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors & Crematory.
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