Sandy Springs Crier - July 30, 2026 by Appen Media Group

Sandy Springs teen assists at coin toss of FIFA World Cup

By ANNABELLE REITER annabelle@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Riverwood High student Nicholas Nackley got an experience of a lifetime. He served as a coin-toss assistant on June 18 for the South Africa versus Czechia World Cup match.

Nackley’s mom, Janey Riley, watching at home, received a flurry of messages from friends and one of her son’s teachers, who were in the stadium for the match and saw him on the Jumbotron.

Special Olympics to send one athlete to be a coin-toss assistant at Atlanta Stadium, more commonly known as Mercedes-Benz. Nackley’s adaptive physical education teacher, Jason Russo, accompanied him to the game.

Russo, who has been with Fulton County Schools for eight years, also teaches at Lake Forest and Heards Ferry Elementary Schools and serves as an assistant baseball coach for Riverwood.

See NACKLEY, Page 10

RIVERWOOD ATHLETICS/PROVIDED

Sandy Springs teen Nicholas Nackley, center, shakes hands with South Africa national team captain Ronwen Williams, right, at Atlanta Stadium June 18 before Williams’ World Cup pool match against Czechia. The photo shows the view from the stands of the coin toss ceremony on the Jumbotron.

City council approves funding for sidepath fix

► PAGE 3

From June 11 through

MARTA logs 4.7M rail trips, no major crimes

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

ATLANTA — Across 35 days of World Cup matches, fan festivals, concerts and other associated events, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority provided around 4.7 million rail passenger trips.

“Team MARTA showed up and showed out during the World Cup tournament, providing frequent service, ensuring the system was secure and riders were safe,” Jonathan Hunt, MARTA interim general manager and CEO, said.

On match days, MARTA experienced

approximately 2 to 3.5 times its normal daily rail ridership, generating an average of nearly 130,000 additional rail passenger trips each day. Fan festival-only days generated an average of 37,000 additional rail passenger trips per day, resulting in daily rail ridership approximately 1 to 2 times the normal ridership.

Hundreds of MARTA transit ambassadors worked alongside 100 multilingual FIFA volunteers throughout the tournament to help visitors navigate the public transportation system and downtown Atlanta.

MARTA/PROVIDED Riders scan to exit MARTA and walk to the FIFA Fan Festival and Mercedes-Benz (Atlanta) Stadium.

July 15, MARTA provided around 4.7 million rail passenger trips.

See MARTA, Page 10

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Grandmother charged in toddler’s Roswell pool drowning

By ATLANTA NEWS FIRST

ATLANTA, Ga. — The grandmother of a 2-year-old boy who drowned at a Roswell apartment complex in June has been charged in his death, according to arrest warrants.

Emelisa Paz-Santos was booked July 15 in the Fulton County Jail on felony second-degree cruelty to children and misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of her grandson Axel Delgado.

She also has a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold, jail records show.

On the night of June 21, Roswell police responded to The Lake House at Martin’s Landing after reports of a young child drowning at the clubhouse pool.

There, first responders provided aid to the child, who died the next day at a hospital

Investigators determined Paz-Santos was in charge of supervising Delgado at the pool, but she “failed to provide adequate supervision” for “an extended period of time,” according to the arrest warrants.

Appen Media partner Atlanta News First provided this story.

POLICE BLOTTER

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Man charged with DUI after crash into Roswell shop

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police charged an Alpharetta man with driving under the influence after his car crashed into a bottle shop on Houze Road July 14. When given a breathalyzer test, police reported the man had a breath alcohol concentration of .277 and was unable to complete field sobriety evaluations.

Police arrived after 7 p.m. to find a Nissan Rogue embedded in the front doors and windows of the store. According to bystanders, the car reversed in the parking lot and backed into a light pole

ATLANTA NEWS FIRST/PROVIDED

Roswell police responded to The Lake House at Martin’s Landing June 21 after reports of a child drowning at the clubhouse pool.

before accelerating rapidly into the front of the building. The 59-year-old suspected driver was in the bathroom when police arrived.

While interacting with police, police said the man had droopy eyelids, a staggering walk and the odor of alcohol on his breath. When asked about the crash, the man admitted he “had too much to drink” and said the crash was caused by a vehicle malfunction.

The man said he drank alcohol early that morning but could not remember how much. He consented to field sobriety exams but allegedly struggled to balance and follow instructions.

Officers arrested the driver and charged him with driving under the influence and reckless driving. They transported him to a hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during the collision, drew his blood for state-administered chemical testing and booked him into Cherokee County Jail.

— Hannah Yahne

Erratic driver strikes mailbox, flees street

ROSWELL, Ga. — A driver knocked down a mailbox in a neighborhood on Old Oak Trace the evening of July 14 after residents observed a car speeding and moving erratically.

Before 10 p.m., a resident saw a sedan parked in the cul-de-sac before it accelerated suddenly, jumping the curb before briefly stopping in front of his house. The vehicle struck a mailbox as it sped away.

When a Roswell officer arrived, residents said an unknown vehicle had been driving erratically through the neighborhood and had nearly struck several parked vehicles.

None of the residents had surveillance footage that captured a clear description of the suspect’s vehicle or license plate.

— Hannah Yahne

GOOGLE EARTH

The view in February of a sidepath along Glenridge Drive ending before the Interstate 285 overpass. The Sandy Springs City Council approved a contract that will connect this sidepath with another that’s roughly 100 feet away.

Sandy Springs OKs funding for Glenridge Drive sidepath fix

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs City Council members voted July 21 to approve funding the city’s half of a $300,000 fix for a sidepath gap along Glenridge Drive near the Interstate 285 interchange.

The addition will complete a sidepath leading underneath the interstate to the intersection of Glenridge Drive and Johnson Ferry Road. New sidepaths in the area were included in the Georgia Department of Transportation I-285 and Georgia 400 improvement project, but Sandy Springs Public Works Director Marty Martin said this project covers a portion that was not included in that plan.

The cost will be split with the Fulton Perimeter Community Improvement District, which approved the agreement in February. Sandy Springs’ portion of the cost is included in its fiscal year 2027 budget.

The council also approved a rightof-way agreement and temporary construction easement necessary to construct a sidepath from Hammond Drive to Wellington Trace. The $322,000 cost will be funded through the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

Roswell Road safety project

In other business, council members awarded a $223,750 contract to Gresham Smith, an architectural,

engineering and design firm, to develop a safety study for both sides of Georgia 9/Roswell Road from Hammond Drive to Cliftwood Drive. The Sandy Springs Safety Action Plan, also produced by the firm, identified that stretch as the No. 2 high-injury network in the city.

Martin said the project will identify key locations where staff can evaluate and plan for safety and operational improvements. Sandy Springs intends to complete the Roswell Road safety project within five to 15 years to help reduce citywide crash trends.

Other items

Council members also:

• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Fulton County for the distribution of transportation sales tax revenue from 2027 through 2032 if voters approve a new TSPLOST in November. Depending on total collections, Sandy Springs could receive between $95 million and $129 million to allocate toward projects, such as improving major intersections, alleviating traffic congestion through roadway projects and continuing the multiuse path on Holcomb Bridge Road.

• Approved a $597,900 purchase of 12 Ford Explorers to replace vehicles used by the Sandy Springs Police Department. The cost is included in Sandy Springs’ FY 2027 budget.

• Approved alcoholic beverage license applications for a Shell station and the Sandy Springs Food Mart on Roswell Road.

Tax digest delay puts Fulton County finances at risk

By HANNAH YAHNE & ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE

hannah@appenmedia.com

erlandrya@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County needs a Superior Court judge’s permission to begin collecting 2026 property taxes after delays finishing this year’s tax digest. Without that approval, the county risks missing debt payments and being unable to pay employees, while cities and the school system risk losing out on tax revenue and the ability to make their own financial decisions.

The county’s Board of Commissioners approved a petition seeking a court order July 15. If a judge agrees, the county will remain on track to bill property owners by Aug. 15 with a payment due date of Oct. 15. However, property owners would be taxed at the 2025 millage rate.

Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whitmore said her office was hoping to propose this year’s millage rate and begin the subsequent public hearing process, but a backlog of 292 unprocessed land packages has resulted in an unfinished tax digest. Those packages represent about 1,000 land parcels, many of which are not residential, according to Commissioner Dana Barrett.

Commissioner Bridget Thorne said

DRIVEWAYS & CONCRETE

collection, Fulton could risk being unable to pay its debts and employees. Government functions would be at risk of stopping, and the county’s credit rating would also be uncertain.

The ripple effects are also strong. The county’s school system and municipalities, which depend on the tax digest to set their own millage rates, have yet to be able to do so.

Downstream effects

Days after the Fulton commission voted to ask a judge to authorize interim collection, the city of Milton passed a resolution to join the petition.

City Manager Steven Krokoff said a prolonged interruption of property tax collections could put at risk city operations, employee paychecks and the payment of financial obligations. He said the matter is procedural and not a change in tax policy or a sign Milton is experiencing financial difficulties.

the delay is happening because only one employee has been using Esri, the county’s geographic information system. That system integrates maps and records to analyze data for tax purposes. Chief Information Officer Keven Kerrigan said they are working to add more users to the platform.

Whitmore said staff members are actively working to resolve the issue that caused the delay, and they are also looking at how to ensure it does not happen again.

The backlog has prompted a number of issues. Without a court order allowing the county to move forward with interim

DRIVEWAYS

“The purpose of the resolution is to prevent a disruption before one occurs,” Krokoff added.

Ken Jerrard, city attorney for both Milton and Alpharetta, said the Alpharetta City Council is considering a similar resolution.

See DIGEST, Page 15

FULTON COUNTY/PROVIDED

The Fulton County Government Center at 141 Pryor St. in Atlanta is where the Board of Commissioners meets twice a month.

Puzzles

Each line in the puzzle below 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, with 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!

SPORTING IMPLEMENTS

1. Uniform material. Hockey necessity. Like Krypton.

2. Latin dance. Bawl out. Pub game piece.

3. Archery item. On one’s guard. Give up.

4. Moonfish. Soccer necessity. Brouhaha.

5. Curling playthings. Speaker’s platform. Auction shout.

6. Soup scoop. Winter warmer. Fencing item.

7. Golf item. Repair. Like hen’s teeth.

1 Uniform material. Hockey necessity. Like krypton

2. Latin dance. Bawl out. Pub game piece

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. Archery item. On one’s guard. Give up

4. Moonfish. Soccer necessity. Brouhaha

5. Curling playthings. Speaker’s platform. Auction shout.

North Fulton nonprofit gives 1,300 students school supplies

By ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE erlandrya@appenmedia.com

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities provided more than 1,300 local students with school supplies after a strong response to its annual call for donations.

Around 200 volunteers collected supplies — binders, dividers, composition notebooks, backpacks and more — July 20-22. They then sorted and filled backpacks for students who might need them. The group had strong demand from its clients, distributing supplies through July 25.

North Fulton Community Charities started the school supply drive in 1998. It partnered with Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, which helped found the nonprofit organization in 1982. Seven more churches soon joined the effort to collect and distribute school supplies.

SaraSpring Weston, the nonprofit’s community engagement manager, said the drive’s success depends on the generosity of people throughout the area.

“Everything is donated to

us, whether that’s through faith organizations, civic organizations, business and corporate groups … it’s the community standing up and bringing all of it,” Weston said.

The nonprofit provides other services for local families, including food, clothing and financial assistance as well as skills workshops. Current clients served by the group — families who have used its services in the past 12 months — were eligible to receive school supplies.

“We know how many people are in their household, so we know how many children, how many backpacks to have ready,” Weston added.

Debbie Halper has volunteered with the nonprofit for more than 10 years. She said her favorite part of her service is interacting with people and “seeing their faces.”

“I do the food pantry also, and we get to know people … and find out things about them,” she said.

Weston said she estimated the group gave supplies to 450 elementary schoolers, 500 middle schoolers and 400 high schoolers. Any remaining supplies were distributed to other area nonprofits and schools.

JOIN US

The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile will be at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market Saturday, Aug. 1.

Weinermobile coming to Farmers Market

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Families and their four-legged friends are invited to the City Green, 1 Galambos Way, on Saturday, Aug. 1, for the dog days of summer at the Sandy Springs Farmers Market starting at 8:30 a.m. Every week, more than 50 unique vendors line the streets, and, this

Saturday, Bruster’s will be offering pup cups for furry friends and hot dogs for the humans. The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile will also be on display. The market will be open until noon.

ERLANDRYA RUTLEDGE/APPEN MEDIA Volunteers Sharon Rocchio, left, and Meredith King prepare backpacks July 23 during the North Fulton Community Charities school supplies drive.

— Hannah Yahne

RICH POLK/PROVIDED

Sandy Springs to host inaugural paddleboarding competition

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The city of Sandy Springs is hosting its first standup paddleboarding showdown on Saturday, Aug. 15, at Morgan Falls Overlook Park.

Participants can expect a 7 a.m start. They will navigate a six-mile out-and-back course along the Chattahoochee River and Bull Sluice Lake. It costs $75 to register; the registration deadline is Aug. 12.

Prize money will be awarded to the top three overall male and female finishers.

The event is presented through a partnership between Murph’s Surf and the city’s recreation and parks department. Catalyst Sports is providing support for adaptive kayak athletes.

City officials said the event aims to create a new tradition

for paddle sports enthusiasts while introducing more residents and visitors to the city’s outdoor recreation opportunities along the Chattahoochee River.

For registration information and event details, visit www. SandySpringsGa.gov/events/sandysprings-sup-showdown.

— Elle Girard

Organizers prep for Blue Stone fest, call for poster ideas

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Blue Stone Arts and Music Festival returns to Sandy Springs for its fourth year Sept. 25-26, and organizers are calling on artists to submit proposals for the festival poster.

Creators can submit entries through July 31 for the poster, which will represent the spirit of the festival, organizers said. The event features live music from nationally acclaimed acts, a market showcasing more than 60 artists, an emerging artists exhibit, and

a kids and sports zone.

The festival will also provide an opportunity for fans to enjoy Allen Stone’s final performance before beginning his international tour. Stone, the festival’s headliner, brings a signature blend of soul, R&B, funk and pop and will perform on Sept. 26. The Washington state native is currently touring alongside Chris Stapleton and is scheduled to join Teddy Swims later this fall.

Nicotine Dolls, a New York City-

based alt-rock and pop band, will open the festival. The Georgia premiere of Squonk’s Joy Machine, described as “an immersive outdoor music spectacle fueled by the energy of the audience,” is set for both festival days.

Vendor applications are now open, with interested artisans asked to submit applications at sandyspringsga.gov/ bluestone by Sept. 18. Early applications are encouraged.

The Blue Stone 5K-9 will also return, inviting participants of all ages to join

a family-friendly run with a beloved furry friend. Running, jogging and walking are welcome — with or without a companion.

The 5K race is a qualifier for the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race. Officials said they are committed to making the event accessible for all, and a limited number of adaptive handcycles will be available.

The festival’s full schedule and music line-up will be announced soon on the city’s website.

The Sandy Springs standup paddleboarding showdown will take place Aug. 15.

PRESERVING THE PAST

Mountain Park celebrates a century of history

BOB MEYERS

Georgia is home to roughly 35–40 incorporated ultra small cities, each with about 500 or fewer residents.

Many of these towns were founded in the late 19th to mid-20th centuries to secure a post office, school district or railroad stop. Incorporation also offered local autonomy — their own government and taxing authority. Over time, some communities have faded from the map, while a handful continue to thrive.

Mountain Park, incorporated in 1927, has about 550 residents in an area of 0.5 square miles, making it the smallest city in Fulton County. Located on the North Fulton-Cherokee line between Roswell and Woodstock, it is wooded, has two lakes and mostly narrow roads. To those fortunate enough to live there, it is paradise.

Trish Hill is the city’s unofficial historian. She has lived in the community for 43 years and worked for one of the first computer distributorships during the pioneering days of the industry. Later, she and her husband, now deceased, developed a marketing agency with a specialty in international business.

She says that living in a very small town has many advantages.

“I live on a lake and enjoy the herons, turtles and ducks,” she says. “It is a city of trees and is very different from the hustle and bustle of a large city. There is a strong sense of community. We know each other. We are a diverse city with young people, old people and rich and not so rich. The Atlanta Journal used to say that going to Mountain Park was like going back 100 years and 100 miles north.”

Among the city’s founders were six businessmen operating together as the Mountain Park Improvement Club. Three of them were with Southern Railway, a major employer in the 1920s. Trish says that all the men and their wives were frequently featured in the social pages of various newspapers. The group’s attorney was Stephens Mitchell, president of the Atlanta Bar Association whose sister was Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind.”

In its early years before incorporation, the future lakeside city was known as a summer resort for Atlantans, many of whom drove to Mountain Park on roads of varying quality. A series of ads in the Atlanta Journal in 1925 promoted the sale of 1,000 50x150 “camp sites” at $10 each.

The first lot was sold on April 1, 1925, according to Trish’s research.

In 1929, the Atlanta Constitution reported that Mountain Park had “about a hundred cottages already built and occupied and more under construction. Many of Atlanta’s businesses and social clubs here have commodious clubhouses where their members and friends may spend weekends during the summer.”

In 1934, the Mountain Park Skeet Club opened as the newest skeet club in the area with traps installed in the community’s valley. One member was famous baseball star Nap Rucker. It is no longer in operation.

The only store ever operated in the city was The Stand, a country store and restaurant with a dance floor adjacent to the neighborhood pool and a small jail. It was established in the late 1930s and closed in the late 1970s.

The Mountain Park Elementary School is part of the Fulton County School District and is in Roswell just outside the Mountain Park city limits.

A non-denominational Sunday school opened in 1956 which, according to Trish Hill, is the “longest standing continuous organization in Mountain Park other than the City Council.”

In 1989, Mountain Park became the first city in Georgia to require a recycling program.

The city has a volunteer Fire and Rescue Department and relies on Fulton County for police services. It also has contracts with Roswell for

police and fire department services as needed.

The city is currently gearing up for next year’s centennial celebration.

Bill Kolbrener became mayor of Mountain Park 2 ½ years ago, following in the footsteps of longtime mayor Jim Still. The new mayor says, “I want to honor the past while taking the city to a new level.”

Bill has been a developer for the past 30 years, and he is using his experience to focus on some needed infrastructure and erosion control issues. He also wants to help Mountain Park become more involved with other Fulton County cities.

Bill says, “We are a great and proud city. We are also an anomaly. We have no income from businesses, so we must

be wise and efficient with money. We are fortunate that we have a great local government team building on the strong foundation put in place by Jim Still.”

The history of Mountain Park invites all of us to appreciate a special place that enjoys a unique way of life.

Thanks to Jacqueline Venchi, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited Crabapple/ Roswell for suggesting this topic.

Bob is a member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission, director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and trustee on the Board of Directors 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.

Columnist

PHOTOS BY: MARY G. PACKARD/PROVIDED Mountain Park City Hall

The city’s two lakes are home to abundant wildlife.

OPINION

Going home again, back to the water

You might not know this, but there was once a time when I didn’t fish for trout. Sure, I fished for other things — for bream, mostly, and usually with a glob of worms. Red wigglers were good. Super-jumpers were better. But catalpa worms, those colorful caterpillars from the trees down by the pond, were always best of all. It’s a fact, Dad would say, that you just can’t find a better bait for bream, even as he reminded one and all that the proper way to say it was “catawba.”

From the time I was about 12 years old, Dad always had a pond. The house he built for us back in the mid-60s had one, a nice little farm pond of about an acre. Near the upper end, where a tiny creek flowed in, we built a boat dock sized just right for the Sears aluminum john boat which was such an essential part of my childhood.

It was a nice pond. One bank was open and sunny; the other was shaded and dark and mysterious, especially right before rain on a summer afternoon.

What was it about an impending storm that always seemed to make the fishing better? The air got thick and heavy. The sky morphed from blue to gray, the same gray as a sheet of stainless steel. The wind slowed and then stopped completely. The earth held its breath. Premonition?

And then the bream went wild. You just knew you were going to catch a mess of fish. And we did too — big bream, lots of them, each bending the rod in a battle of epic proportions. We’d catch a mess of them and then clean them and carry them up to the kitchen, where Mom had hush puppies (made from cornbread mix and sweet onions and other stuff, but never from a recipe)

all mixed up ready to go. In the massive pot sitting on the stove, the grease was hot and ready for frying. Hush puppies went in first. Then, while those drained on paper towels folded over a big cookie sheet, she’d bread and salt and pepper the fish and set them in the hot grease, too, where they bubbled merrily until she deemed them just right.

By the time the fish were done, the hush puppies were cool enough to eat without burning your tongue. And then — then! — we’d sit at the round table, that platter of fried bream on the lazy Susan, and we would bask in heavenly bliss right here on earth until the platter was bare and the real world drifted back into view.

Oh, those bream … is it any wonder that I didn’t think about other fish? Is it any wonder, through those shimmering years between childhood and adolescent awakenings, that bream were the center of my universe?

Yeah, bream. But no trout.

The trout came a little later, and my spirit guide to their world was a buddy, Randy. Randy and I shared lots of interests — music, ham radio and fishing — but when it came to things piscatorial, Randy was sophisticated in a way that I was not.

Randy, you see, had gone beyond bream. Randy knew the ways of trout.

One day, somewhere during the high school years, he called me. I paraphrase shamelessly, but the conversation went something like this:

“Want to go trout fishing?” he asked.

Trout fishing! It was the holy grail. I’d read of it, but I’d never dabbled. Now, though, there was a way forward.

“Sure,” I said.

A couple of days later, early on a Saturday morning, he picked me up (in his pumpkin-orange Karmann Ghia) and off we went.

We were bound for Boggs Creek, the namesake stream of the U.S. Forest Service’s Boggs Creek Recreation Area up in Lumpkin County about 15 miles north of Dahlonega off U.S. 19/129. It’s easy to find — just go up 19/129 for about 15 miles, and watch for the brown-and-white sign announcing that you’ve arrived. The sign is about an eighth of a mile before you get to the access road, which turns right off the main highway.

Besides fishing, what will you find in the Boggs Creek Recreation Area today? Vehicle access is limited by a closed gate, but there’s picnicking before you reach it. Beyond the gate, foot travel opens up places that relatively few take the time to see, including waterfalls on Little Ridge Creek, a tributary to Boggs Creek proper.

But for us, that day, the trout were the thing. That’s why we were there.

We had with us two ultralight rods and a small container of bait.

Wait. Bait? Not my hallowed latter-day flies? No sir, but I was younger then and can be forgiven. Or maybe forgiveness is not required. Maybe in my neophytic enthusiasm I’d just stumbled onto a great bit of trout-catching wisdom. I’ll let you decide.

Anyway, bait (specifically, mealworms) was what we had, and so mealworms were what we would use. They are the larval form of some sort of beetle and were, as I recall, kind of cream colored and each about an inch long. Randy told me they were the thing for trout, even better than catalpa worms were for bream.

I had high hopes.

We rode a while, and pretty soon we were there. Randy parked the Karmann Ghia, and we hiked a little bit to his secret spot (some things never change) and then hunkered down by the creek to talk it through.

“That’s where they are,” Randy said, pointing to a deep run that

flowed close by a big rock.

Randy, the expert, selected a mealworm and slipped it onto my hook.

“Cast it over there and let it drift through the deep water,” he said, and I did.

Right away I had a bite. I lifted the rod and hooked the fish and brought it in, a small rainbow trout about 6 inches long. It was the first of about a half dozen we caught over the next hour or so — and (I have to be truthful here) we kept them all and cleaned them right there and sprinkled on salt and pepper and cooked them over a tiny fire right beside the sparkling water. They were delicious.

That was a long time ago. So why, just the other day, did I decide to go see Boggs Creek again? I hadn’t been there even once since that fateful day in 1970-something, so why go now, a half a century later? Was I trying to rediscover the heady thrill of a first? Was I maybe trying to atone for trout caught on wormy things and cooked?

I don’t know. But I went.

I wish I could now share with you an inspiring return-of-the-native narrative, an uplifting story of many trout now caught on tiny flies, a tale of justification or affirmation or some other such multi-syllabic arc of lofty prose.

But I can’t. I can only tell you the truth, and the truth is I didn’t catch a single fish. Not a one.

But that’s okay. Sometimes that happens. It’s the experience that matters, after all.

You know, there are things you always remember — things like the first time you kiss the love of your life … or the first time you catch a trout. They’re way different, those two things are, but they’re kind of the same too.

And you know what? That next kiss is even sweeter than the one before. Always.

Steve Hudson is an award-winning outdoor writer and fly fisherman.

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

The expensive question homebuyers never ask

D.C. AIKEN Guest Columnist dcaiken.com

If I had a dollar for every prospective homebuyer whose first question was, "What's your rate?"... well, I could probably buy down my own mortgage rate. Interest rates matter.

They influence monthly payments, affordability and long-term borrowing costs. But focusing exclusively on the rate is a bit like shopping for a car based solely on its top speed. It's an important statistic…but it tells you remarkably little about how the vehicle will perform when it matters most.

One of the biggest misconceptions in the mortgage industry is that every lender offers essentially the same experience. They don't.

When a realtor or builder recommends a lender, it is rarely because that lender advertises the lowest rate. More often, it is because that loan officer

Nackley:

Continued from Page 1

has demonstrated…over hundreds or even thousands of transactions… that they can navigate problems, communicate effectively and, most importantly, close on time. In real estate, reliability has economic value.

Of course, everyone also has "a guy."

Your friend may swear by the loan officer who handled their refinance three years ago, and that recommendation may be perfectly valid. But before entrusting someone with what is likely the largest financial transaction of your life, ask a few additional questions.

How many loans do they close each year? How long have they been originating mortgages? What do their customer reviews say? Those answers are readily available online and often reveal far more than a quoted interest rate.

Here's another question every borrower should ask:

"Can you show me the total cost of that rate?"

A surprisingly low interest rate may indeed be available…but it may also require paying discount points upfront. Buying down a rate is not inherently good

In Russo’s class, students participate in different games and exercises to stay active. Among the most popular are bowling and track and field. Students also play tennis, Unified Basketball and Wiffle ball.

Russo has worked with Nackley over the years both in school and as a coordinator for Special Olympics. Russo brings a team of students from Fulton County to the yearly Special Olympics Georgia games at Emory University to compete in track and field.

Nackley was selected for the coin-toss ceremony because, as Russo put it, “fear is not in his vocabulary.” Even in front of tens of thousands of fans, Nackley relied on his experience acting in school plays at Riverwood to channel an inner calm.

After working together every day for the last four years, Russo and Nackley have developed a bond.

“He’s just a great kid,” Russo said. “He puts a smile on your face, always willing to give you a hug. Every day, he asks me how I’m doing and how my wife is doing; he truly cares about others.”

After initially being overwhelmed after arriving at the stadium and greeting a multitude of new faces,

MARTA:

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or bad; it simply represents a financial trade-off. The important question isn't whether the rate is lower. It's whether paying additional cash at closing produces enough long-term savings to justify the investment.

Then there is the value a lender provides beyond the loan itself.

A quality mortgage professional should help you make smarter financial decisions throughout the homebuying process…not simply generate paperwork. At our office, for example, we routinely obtain multiple homeowners insurance quotes so clients can compare premiums before closing.

That extra step recently saved one family nearly $100 per month on a $500,000 home. Ironically, even if another lender had offered an interest rate one-eighth of a percent lower, the insurance savings more than offset the payment difference.

That's the kind of math that actually improves a family's financial position… not just the headline rate advertised on a website.

The mortgage industry loves to

Russo said Nackley got into his comfort zone quickly and became his normal bubbly self.

Russo said it’s a moment they will both remember for the rest of their lives.

Nackley is just one of many Special Olympics athletes who had an experience of a lifetime on the pitch this summer.

jurisdictions and Denver transit, patrolled trains, buses and their stations, in addition to staffing response teams in case of emergencies. A press release from MARTA said these efforts resulted in no major crimes reported and the apprehension of three suspects

advertise rates because they're easy to compare. The problem is that buying a home isn't a rate-shopping contest. It's a financial strategy.

So, the next time you're interviewing lenders, don't stop at, "What's your rate?"

Ask about experience. Ask about closing costs. Ask about service. Ask what happens if something goes wrong. And ask what they can do to save you money beyond the mortgage itself.

Because choosing a lender based solely on the interest rate is a little like choosing a surgeon because they offered the cheapest scalpel.

It makes for a great advertisement. It doesn't always make for the best outcome.

DC Aiken is senior vice president of lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS#658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.

The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.

Kym Jordan, vice president of global corporate engagement at Special Olympics International, said their organization sent athletes to 18 2026 FIFA World Cup matches across the U.S. and Canada.

“It’s just really special to incorporate people with intellectual disabilities at this level of sport,” Jordan said. “Making sure that sport really encompasses everyone and is really leveling the playing field… that’s really our mission as well.”

Special Olympics has partnered with Coca-Cola for more than 50 years. Bringing athletes to the World Cup is just the latest installment of a long-standing series of collaborations.

Megan Gausemel, vice president of marketing communications at Special Olympics International, spoke to the organization’s mission.

“Sport is for all, and we at Special Olympics drive that home,” Gausemel said. “We at Special Olympics say ‘Special Olympics is for everyone,’ because anyone can be a part of Special Olympics, whether it’s a volunteer, coach, referee or an athlete.”

Their staff has numerous future events in the works, including the women’s World Cup next year and future Olympic Games. At Special Olympics, the work never stops.

“Every single day throughout the year and all over the world, we offer sports for everyone and an equal playing field,” Gausemel said.

wanted for previous violent incidents.

Hunt thanked law enforcement officers, frontline staff and transit ambassadors for their dedicated work and applauded MARTA passengers for their ridership.

“Whether you were headed to a

match, fan festival, watch party or one of the many celebrations, concerts and events around our region or to work, to run errands, or to a holiday get together, thank you for trusting us and for riding with us during this historic summer,” Hunt said.

MARTA police officers, along with law enforcement from other local

RIVERWOOD ATHLETICS/PROVIDED

From left, Fulton County Schools adaptive physical education teacher Jason Russo and his student from Riverwood High School, Nicholas Nackley, prepare for their coin toss duties to begin at Atlanta Stadium June 18.

DC Aiken

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Digest:

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Johns Creek could also join in, with Assistant City Manager Kay Love saying its council will vote on the matter July 27.

Matt Holmes, director of communications and engagement for the city of Roswell, said the situation does not halt his city’s process. Sandy Springs city officials said that, without figures, it is too early to release a statement on the matter.

Without the 2026 tax digest, the county school system’s short-term cash flow is also at risk. Local tax revenue projections total more than 60% of the system’s budget. Combined with a new homestead exemption that decreases

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DEATH NOTICES

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the educational tax obligations owed by senior citizens, the district could see a drop in incoming funds.

Brian Noyes, chief communications officer for Fulton Schools, said a prolonged delay in the tax digest could affect the timing of incoming revenue and require the system to consider short-term financing options to meet its financial obligations while continuing to provide for students.

Commissioner Thorne was sympathetic to the school system’s troubles and said the court order could also help Fulton Schools.

“They’re blindly having to set budgets,” Thorne said. “And they have all these implications with new tax breaks for seniors. They don’t know how their tax digest has been affected by that.”

The county has yet to provide an

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estimate on the delivery date of the tax digest. County Commissioner Bob Ellis described the situation as unacceptable.

“You had one job and it didn’t get done,” Ellis said. “That’s a failure that impacts us and all of our jurisdictions.”

Processes and next steps

The process for assembling the tax digest begins with the Fulton County Board of Assessors appraising and assessing property. They provide those values to the county tax commissioner, who reviews the digest and certifies it. That official then sends the certified digest to the state revenue commissioner, historically around Aug. 1. The county can only bill and collect property taxes after the revenue commissioner reviews and approves the digest.

Fulton County, however, is stuck in the appraisal and assessment stage. If a judge allows the county to move forward with collection without the new tax digest, interim tax bills will go out ahead of a final millage rate. Those bills would be calculated using 2026 assessed values, where available, but the 2025 millage rate. Commissioners are unable to set the 2026 millage rate without first having a state-mandated public hearing process.

If the judge approves that step, property owners will get the interim bill and later another property tax notice. That notice could come with an additional amount owed to the county or news of a refund from the county, Whitmore said.

A hearing on the matter has been set for 4 p.m. Aug. 4 in the Superior Court of Fulton County.

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