Sandy Springs Crier - June 18, 2026

Fulton County Schools faces revenue shortfall

► PAGE 4

North Fulton SWAT force merges 4 cities into 1 team

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

NORTH FULTON, Ga. — When students leave school for the summer, the North Fulton SWAT team moves in.

Police officers from across four cities gathered at Chattahoochee High School June 9 to run through a range of scenarios – including active shooter response – in what Zachary Frommer, commander of North Fulton SWAT and a captain of the Roswell Police

Department, called a routine training.

The North Fulton SWAT team was formed in 2012 and consists of 65 officers who respond to highstakes situations, such as barricaded subjects or hostage negotiations.

In addition to training together twice a month, officers from Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek and Milton routinely respond to critical incidents together, because “crime knows no borders or jurisdictions,” Frommer said.

“We’re generally going to go back

up the other teams anyway,” he said. “So, it makes sense to train together and combine resources.”

Learning the layout

One of the primary objectives of joint training is to remove unknowns before officers respond to a crisis. For instance, when walking into Chattahoochee High School, officers recognized the layout as similar to other area high schools – knowledge that can be critical under pressure. “Immediately, that takes away a

lot of unknowns,” Capt. Rick Fiorenza of Fulton County Schools Police said. “The more familiarity we can bring in to that, it eliminates a lot of these unknowns and makes it a lot more comfortable, a lot more effective to respond … should something happen.”

Fulton County Schools has its own police force that responds with South Fulton SWAT to supplement personnel in that area.

World Cup watch parties planned for City Springs

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — World Cup fever is coming to Sandy Springs.

Soccer fans are invited to come to city-owned CityBar. & Cafe at City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, to watch and celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2026 international soccer matches taking place in Atlanta.

The multi-week “Fútbol Fever Watch Party” series runs through July 19 with a championship finale celebration closing out the tournament. The event is presented in partnership with Casamigos Tequila and Visit Sandy Springs, the city’s tourism agency.

The venue will feature live match coverage on a 15.7-foot LED screen along with team-inspired cocktails,

globally influenced food specials and interactive halftime entertainment including trivia, jersey contests and fan competitions.

On select dates — June 19, July 11, July 18 and July 19 — the adjacent patio will host the Visit Sandy Springs Clubhouse, an open-air gathering space featuring locker room–inspired décor, exclusive merchandise, and interactive fan moments.

The events are free and open to the public. CityBar. & Cafe is in the City Springs development in Sandy Springs. Organizers encourage fans to arrive early for prime viewing spots.

Dyana Bagby

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SWAT:

Continued from Page 1

Inter-city collaboration allows departments to pool resources, share equipment and specialized skill sets that individual agencies may lack on their own. Cities can even purchase equipment together, such as armored vehicles or robots, and divide costs based on populations.

“When you combine these efforts, … you have it all right there as one team,” Commander Frommer said.

Emerging technology

That shared investment extends to emerging technology, which Frommer said is used in nearly every SWAT operation. Remotely operated robots and drones allow officers to gather intelligence without putting personnel in harm’s way.

“Any time you can put a robot or a drone in instead of a person, you’re better off,” Frommer said.

One robot can navigate stairs while transmitting live video. Drones serve different tactical functions depending on the situation, like opening doors or accessing attics to give officers an idea of the scene.

“The technology is always changing,” Frommer said. “But luckily, the cities up here, we all support each other enough. We can keep up with it.”

The collaborative spirit between cities carries into how their police departments prepare for critical scenarios.

Johns Creek Public Information Officer Todd Hood said the training opportunities are a great collaborative effort that, at times, extends beyond the four cities to include the Fulton County Schools Police Department.

“Just in case the day you have to [respond] comes, we’ve all worked together, we’re all on the same page and we know what the expectation is,” Hood said.

North Fulton SWAT officers receive instruction while attending a training exercise at Chattahoochee High School June 9.

ASK APPEN

From left, Mary Laborde and Allie Parker, both rising seniors at Mount Vernon School in Sandy Springs, received honorable mentions in the World of 8 Billion International Student Video Contest sponsored by Population Connection. Mary’s video highlights the dangers of microplastics to wetlands. Allie’s video explores how vacant buildings could be transformed into affordable housing.

PROVIDED

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Two students at Mount Vernon School in Sandy Springs earned honorable mentions in an international contest that asked participants to tackle pressing global challenges in a one-minute video.

Rising seniors Mary Laborde and Allie Parker received honorable mentions in the World of 8 Billion International Student Video Contest, an annual competition sponsored by Population Connection, a nonprofit advocating for population stabilization based in Washington, D.C. The contest drew nearly 5,000 entries from 63 countries, organizers said. Winners were judged by a panel of educators, filmmakers and subject matter experts.

Laborde earned her honor in the wetlands category for “Wetlands: Nature’s Microplastics Battlefield.” The video examines the environmental and economic damage caused by microplastics and proposes the use of bioretention cells to filter contaminated runoff. Judges noted the video’s LEGOthemed animation and analysis of the growing microplastics threat.

“Before starting this project, I had always felt wetlands to be underappreciated, left unprotected and not properly understood by most,” Laborde told Appen Media. “They do so much to support biodiversity and human activity, and I wanted to share their importance. Furthermore, I chose microplastics because I had recently learned, during a discussion with my dad, how common they are in manufactured goods, products and dryers.”

Parker received honorable mention in the economics category for “Affordable Housing for 8 Billion,” which explores how vacant buildings could be converted into affordable housing to address rising homelessness. Judges praised her clear explanation of policy incentives for repurposing empty structures.

“I learned a lot about how interconnected homelessness is with

bigger economic forces,” Parker said in a statement. “I plan to keep educating people in my community about affordable housing issues, whether through social media, school projects or getting involved with local organizations.”

The contest challenged students to create a one-minute video connecting human population growth to one of three global topics — wetlands, energy or economics — and propose a sustainable solution. This year’s competition drew entries exploring topics ranging from artificial intelligence's water consumption to fast fashion.

Both students completed the project through their AP Environmental Science class, taught by Lisa Lariscy. The assignment required students to research complex global issues, write a precisely timed script and produce the video within a few days.

“The challenge is fitting something incredibly complex into one minute,” Lariscy said in a Mount Vernon School story. “You have to show what the problem is, why it matters in a world of 8 billion people, and then come up with a sustainable solution. All with clarity and purpose.”

John Seager, president of Population Connection, praised both entries.

“These students explain complex issues clearly and think creatively about how we collectively can build a more sustainable future,” he said in a statement.

Honorable mention winners in the high school division each receive a $300 prize.

Mount Vernon School, founded in 1972, is an independent school in Sandy Springs serving more than 1,250 students from preschool through 12th grade.

To watch the videos, visit mountvernonschool.org/blog/apesworldof8billion.

— Dyana Bagby

Fulton Schools faces $57 million revenue shortfall for ’27

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Fulton County Board of Education will decide June 11 on approval of a $2.3 billion budget for 2026-27 that includes a projected revenue shortfall of nearly $57 million.

The board gave preliminary approval to the budget at its second public hearing May 12.

The tentative general fund budget for Fiscal Year 2027 shows a 5.71 percent spending decrease from the current budget of $1.5 billion.

General fund revenues are projected to total $1.4 billion – a nearly 3 percent decrease from this year’s budget. The general fund covers day-to-day operating expenses, like salaries, student services and transportation.

Based on new property tax exemptions that passed this year, Fulton Schools’ Finance Department is projecting a reduction in local revenue to $891 million. Federal revenues will also decrease by 10 percent because two grant programs are set to end by June 30.

Because general fund spending exceeds projected revenues by $56.9 million, the district must use roughly 20 percent of its remaining fund balance from this year to cover the difference. Chief Financial

Officer Marvin Dereef said the general fund balance is estimated to total $282.9 million by the end of Fiscal Year 2026.

In a budget presentation last month, Dereef highlighted statemandated increases in school districts’ contributions to the Teacher Retirement System and health insurance for all employees without additional funding for non-certified employees.

The general fund budget also includes supplementing a mid-year step in pay for all employees totaling $7.8 million.

Elementary schools will receive a slight increase in funding. Middle and high schools will see less due to declining enrollment and allocation adjustments, Dereef said.

Overall, schools will receive 1.6 percent less than the current year. Even so, their share of the general fund increased to 79 percent – more than $1.16 billion – as the district reduced spending in other departments.

The budget for most departments within the general fund are decreased as well, as the school district worked to reduce positions and expenditures, “reflecting efforts to streamline operations and improve efficiency,” Dereef said.

Additional funds

The school district will have to continue tapping into its existing funds

to cover the $56.9 million deficit set to accrue next year.

All funds are projected to result in a deficit except for the pension and student activity funds.

The capital project fund is the second largest, and revenues are projected to total $254.4 million which will be collected in advance to finance upcoming projects. The fund is currently balanced, and it is projected to remain in the black at the end of the year as education sales tax dollars are collected, Dereef said.

Much of this funding will go to expanding technological support in schools and education centers, as well as enhancing cybersecurity.

The special revenue fund expenditures span various line items related to student services, instructional training and administrative duties totaling $66.5 million and showing a more than $3 million deficit in revenues. The deficit is attributable to the pre-K grant program, which is partially funded by the district’s general fund.

Rising health insurance and food costs will result in a $1.3 million deficit in the school nutrition program which is projected to take in $56.5 million in revenues.

The fund will be balanced using carryover from the current budget and by raising school meal prices by 25 cents.

G.L.I.D.E. initiative

Since last year, Fulton County Schools has been developing a data-informed strategy focused on finding cost-savings and revenue-generating strategies. The initiative, called G.L.I.D.E., stands for growth opportunities, lean operations, investment in innovation, diversified revenue and enhanced efficiency.

G.L.I.D.E. strategy recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget are projected to save the district around $50 million.

These include implementing a districtwide furlough day to shorten the instructional calendar by one day which will save around $4.5 million. The district also removed the ability for high school students to have reduced schedules, increasing full-time student enrollment to gain an additional $1.2 million in funding.

Other strategies being deliberated include reducing take-home vehicle usage and reducing the number of external rental facilities the district uses.

With forecasted G.L.I.D.E. adjustments, Fulton County Schools predicts a positive change in its fund balance by Fiscal Year 2030.

The Fulton County Board of Education will take a final vote on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget at its June 11 meeting, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the North Learning Center, 450 Northridge Parkway in Sandy Springs.

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 5, 5 and 4 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!

SPORTS PERSONALITIES

1. Dark black. Slightly obese. San Diego sportsman.

2. Thighbone. Baltimore sportsman. Bread unit.

3. Farm structure. Cincinnati sportsman. Arm, for one.

4. Tennessee sportsman. Turnpike sign. Wanderer.

5. Pricy gem. Edmonton sportsman. King or queen, e.g.

6. Miami sportsman. Marianas island. Urban haze.

7. Pipe problem. Military clique. Los Angeles sportsman.

1 Dark black. Slightly obese. San Diego sportsman

2. Thighbone. Baltimore sportsman. Bread unit

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. Farm structure. Cincinnati sportsman. Arm, for one.

4. Tennessee sportsman. Turnpike sign. Wanderer

5. Pricy gem. Edmonton sportsman. King or queen, e.g.

6. Miami

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

in a black square is the sum of the white squares to the right of it. A number below the diagonal line is the sum of the white squares in the sequence below it. You may only use the digits 1 to 9, and a digit can only be used once in any sequence.

Roswell Cops ’N Cars strengthens community through shared interests

By STANLEY LEARY newsroom@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — Classic cars brought people together, but community connection was the real focus of the annual Cops ’N Cars held Saturday, June 6, at Lebanon Baptist Church.

Hosted by the Friends of Roswell Police Foundation in partnership with the Roswell Police Department, the event attracted residents, law enforcement officers, car enthusiasts and local businesses for an afternoon of family-friendly activities and vehicle displays.

Rows of classic and custom vehicles filled the church grounds. Families explored exhibits, visited food trucks and spoke with vehicle owners. Children climbed into police vehicles, examined equipment and interacted with officers in a relaxed environment.

Roswell Police Public Information Officer Tim Lupo said the event provides valuable opportunities for officers and residents to connect outside emergency situations.

“For most people, their first interaction with the police occurs when something has gone wrong,” Lupo said. “Events like Cops ’N Cars flip that dynamic, providing a meaningful opportunity for our officers to engage with our residents in a positive, relaxed environment.”

Lupo said the event helps residents see officers as fellow community members while also supporting local outreach efforts.

“Connecting over a shared interest like cars reinforces that we are members of this community right alongside those we serve,” he said. “Equally important, the success of this event allows us to directly reinvest in our city by supporting initiatives like OPERATION: Holiday Heroes, our annual holiday shopping event for local children.”

The Friends of Roswell Police Foundation, established in 2021, serves as the official Qualified Law Enforcement Foundation supporting the Roswell Police Department. Funds raised through events such as Cops ’N Cars help support community programs and departmental initiatives.

Lupo was pleased with this year’s event.

“This year's event was a resounding success by every metric,” he said. “We packed out the parking lot with an outstanding variety of show cars and auto enthusiasts, and saw great attendance from the public.”

While the vehicles attracted attention, the strongest moments involved people — neighbors meeting neighbors, families spending time together and officers spending time with the community they serve.

JOIN US

Police agencies pitch in for Special Olympics Georgia

By HANNAH YAHNE hannah@appenmedia.com

NORTH FULTON, Ga. — Local police departments across the state spent time at their local Dunkin’ Donuts June 5 to raise money and awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia.

Cops at Donut Shops is held annually in National Donut Day, and more than 30 cities participated in fundraising, including police departments in Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Roswell and Milton.

The Roswell Police Department has participated in fundraising since 2021, when the event was still called “Cops on Donut Shops,” a name that the department took literally and still does. By the end of the morning, officers were on the roof at the Dunkin’ Donuts on Holcomb Bridge Road.

In just a couple of hours, the department raised $1,300 to support Special Olympics athletes. Public Information Officer Tim Lupo said the organization’s goal of creating a more inclusive and supportive community for individuals with intellectual disabilities deeply aligns with the core values of the Roswell Police Department.

“We look forward to any opportunity we have to throw our support behind their mission,” Lupo said.

Lt. Andrew Noblett, public information officer for the Milton Police Department, said supporting Special Olympics Georgia is more than a partnership, it’s about building meaningful relationships and demonstrating our commitment to every member of the community.

“The athletes of Special Olympics embody courage, determination and perseverance – values that align closely with the mission of the Milton Police Department,” Noblett said. “We are proud to stand alongside these incredible individuals, support their achievements and help create opportunities for inclusion, respect and success both on and off the field.”

Police cadets participated alongside Milton officers to raise nearly $800 to support Special Olympics Georgia.

The Dunwoody Police Department raised more than half of its fundraising goal of $5,000 to support Special Olympics athletes during Cops at Donut Shops.

In Johns Creek, the Police Department raised around $3,000 for Special Olympics Georgia. The department thanked those who donated on Facebook writing, “Your support helped make this event a great success, and we truly appreciate our community coming together for such an important mission.”

OPINION

Ralph Rucker – goodbye my friend – que te vaya con dios

RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com

I just got the call. My friend Ralph Rucker died. Ralph? How can this be?

Ralph has been my friend for a very long time. My mind is now filled with floating memories.

Ralph and I go all the way back to when we first started our newspapers in 1990. Rucker Turf and Tractor was one of our first advertisers — a John Deere dealership on North Main Street in Alpharetta, just south of Windward Parkway.

That friendship lasted through all the changes we both encountered through the decades — different jobs, businesses, kids, successes, failures, in health and out, and sure, time.

At one point, we were partners in a concrete business — foundations, walls, grading — in Greenville, South Carolina, 50-50, just before the financial collapse of 2007-08. Our timing wasn’t the best. When we first started, I was taking time off from the newspaper each week to drive up and try to find new customers for the business. Ralph was doing the same, but he was more on the operations side. That business probably would have done quite well in any other time.

In all the years I knew Ralph, he was never still. He would start

businesses, get them up and running and making money, then either sell them or hand them over to one of his partners. I am not sure that money was a primary focus for him. I think he liked the challenge; he liked building things and creating value; he liked helping other people — especially his partners; and he liked to stay busy. He liked to work — a lot. That was just who he was.

Work, hard work, was one side that defined Ralph, and his faith was the other. We talked a lot over the years, and his faith was one topic that was never far away. After his family, after his wife Sarah, his faith seemed like his “home” — his never-any-doubt why, how and where. To be around Ralph was to almost by osmosis be comforted and assured that his faith — if you were interested — could also be your home, your “why” also. There was never doubt, and that idea, that way, showed through his person clearly, quietly and confidently to anyone in his orbit. But he never pushed what he believed on you; that was for you to find, to figure out. He would help if you asked, but only then.

In all the years I knew him, I don’t think I ever heard Ralph say a disparaging thing — not a single sentence — about another person. Of course, I never had the presence of mind to ask him why he was like that. I suspect he saw everyone as just another person — like he was — someone who wanted to earn their way, someone who wanted respect,

someone who felt joy and pain, someone who had a family close or far that they cared about, nurtured, and who gave them reasons to get up every morning. I don’t think it mattered to Ralph how much money they had or didn’t have, who they voted for, what language they spoke, what faith they had or how they got here. Everyone deserved a fair shake to Ralph — until they proved they didn’t.

We should all try to be more like Ralph; it would be a far better world than the one we currently know. I think Ralph simply saw humanity as people — people just like him — and as long as they were honest and treated him with respect, he would reciprocate accordingly. Ralph was one of those people who, if you only had one lifeline, could only call one person because you needed help in some way — he would be one of the few you would think to call. He was old-school. His word was his bond and a handshake was better than anything written on a piece of paper. His belief in right and wrong was immutable. If he believed he was right, no person or organization could move him; he didn’t move. It got him in trouble sometimes, but acting otherwise was not a club in his bag — not even a remote possibility. That part of the world was black and white for Ralph. There was right and there was wrong and almost nothing in the middle. It made life easy to see — simple.

I never recall Ralph not looking

for ways to help other people; that seemed also to be something just hard-wired into his nature. He didn’t just talk about helping other people; he did it. For years he supported outreaches in Appalachia. Up until just a few months ago — in his mid80s — he was driving up to Kentucky to deliver health and sanitary supplies to poor communities there; I know because I drove with him. I recall trips to Africa where he took supplies, money, medical equipment and anything else he believed was needed. He recruited others to help. His caring and his willingness to walk that walk was infectious; his light shone through any dark night and was always a beacon for good. It is really hard for me to think that he is not here now. He would call me usually once a month or so just to check in. And I would do the same for him. He was a big man in so many ways — I always thought maybe a cross between John Wayne, Gen. George Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower. But he also was a lot of Mother Teresa and Albert Schweitzer at the same time. I thought for some reason he was indestructible. But he wasn’t. His life, though, will live on. His example, I know, will remain in the minds of everyone who worked with him or knew him in any direct way. His works will not be forgotten. His legacy, unlike the man, will endure. Of that, I am 100% sure — just like he was 100% sure of his faith and his reasons to do good and be good.

1926 Mt.Vernon Highway, 1936 Mt. Vernon Road

Jim Perkins researched the history behind road names in the mid1990s and shared his findings in the Past Tense column of the Dunwoody Crier newspaper. He discovered the road that became known as Mt. Vernon was previously known as Lawrenceville Road because traveling toward the east took you to Lawrenceville. Traveling west from Lawrenceville to Dunwoody and Sandy Springs the road was called Powers Ferry Road. (“The Story of Dunwoody,” by Elizabeth L. Davis,

Ethel W. Spruill, Joyce Amacher and Lynne Byrd)

Perkins said the road was his favorite in Dunwoody because, “… oddly enough, it leads to Fulton County in both directions.”

He found old maps showing Mt. Vernon was the only east-west path across DeKalb County north of Peachtree Road.

“It follows an east-west ridge, which is a natural divide that does not cross a running stream in its approximate five-mile route through Fulton County,” he wrote. “Streams on the north side of Mount Vernon Road flow into the Chattahoochee River. Those on the south side of the road flow into Nancy Creek and reach the river via Peachtree Creek on the

northwest side of Atlanta.”

Perkins asked his sources in Dunwoody if they knew the story of why the road name changed to Mt. Vernon. After not finding any answers, he asked Eugene Cofield, a retired chemist for Scripto who researched road names and boundaries in his retirement years. He spent hours studying maps in the archives of Atlanta History Center. (Atlanta Journal obituaries, August 11, 1997)

Cofield said the road name changed to Mt. Vernon Highway in Fulton County in 1926, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and honoring President George Washington. Perkins further

confirmed this piece of history with Atlanta historian Franklin Garrett.

In a 1994 oral history of longtime Dunwoody citizens, Ethel Spruill suggested the name change might be associated with Arlington Memorial Cemetery coming to Sandy Springs. I have not found records to confirm this part of the story, but the first burial took place at Arlington Memorial in 1922. (“I Remember Hour, Dunwoody 1994,” DeKalb History Center)

In 1936, DeKalb County decided to change Lawrenceville Highway to Mt. Vernon Road, using the word “road” to distinguish between the two counties.

VERNON, Page 11

Nurse Ginny, a Vietnam heroine who saved lives

This is the history of a nurse who did amazing work over 43 years of service mainly in the Army Nurse Corps. Her accomplishments are many, and the number of people who owe her their lives would be difficult to count.

Her name is Ginny Deardorff Dornheggen and she is worthy of a special place in local history. She is familiar to Milton residents who heard her speak at this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony at Milton City Hall.

Ginny was born and raised in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Her family had an extensive military background. Her father served in the Corps of Engineers in World War II, and his brother was a doctor serving in Europe. Her mother’s brother was in the Navy in Korea. As a young girl, Ginny was determined to become a nurse. After high school she entered nursing school where, in her senior year, she enrolled in the Army student nurse program.

After graduation, she joined the Army Nurse Corps as a Second Lieutenant and went through basic training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where medics and nurses traditionally trained. Her first assignment was the surgery recovery room at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. She took care of wounded Vietnam soldiers and families of the soldiers.

“It was one of the most wonderful places I have ever worked, and the preparation for Vietnam was thorough,” Ginny says.

In September 1970 at age 22 she was ordered to Quy Nhon, Vietnam, a provincial city on the central coast where she worked in the 67th Evacuation Hospital’s surgical intensive care unit and recovery room. A large runway allowed C130s to bring supplies and personnel to the hospital, and helicopter pads were used for wounded soldiers, sailors and marines. Medevac helicopters landed very close to the hospital entrance to reduce the time required to begin treatments. During the Vietnam War, Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopter ambulances moved more than 900,000 wounded troops.

Most of the wounds were due to explosions and gunshots. They involved loss of limbs, head injuries and the effects of punji sticks, bamboo sticks sharpened at one end and jammed into camouflaged pits where American troops often fell and became impaled. The tips of the sticks were often covered in feces to cause infections.

Nurses also cared for delayed wound closures, which meant carefully monitoring non-critical wounds for several days before they were surgically repaired to prevent infection.

Nurses were on duty 12 hours or longer six days a week and sometimes seven days if mass casualties occurred. At times taking care of the sudden arrival of large numbers of wounded was overwhelming.

One night in January 1971 the Viet Cong detonated 5,000 tons of explosives on an ammunition dump near the hospital. The attack lasted 10 hours. Ginny and her fellow nurses had to move quickly to get the wounded soldiers to safety under their metal bed frames using their mattresses for additional cover. The nurses saved the soldiers, but the terror of that night stayed with Ginny for many years.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious

PROVIDED

of 1st Lt. Army Nurse Ginny Dornheggen in the 67th Evacuation Hospital’s intensive care unit recovery ward in Quy Nhon, Vietnam in September 1970.

health condition caused by a traumatic event. For a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, effects of the trauma must last for months or years. Ginny relived the horror of that night for years but did not talk to anyone about it. She suffered her nightmares in silence and continued as a wife, mother and nurse.

“Anyone who goes through combat will likely have PTSD,” Ginny says. “I feel I have it under control. I do have episodes, but I am married to a phenomenal man who helps me through them.”

During the final 30 days of their one-year assignments, nurses often maintained a shorttimes calendar with a “Freedom Bird.” These were pictures of Snoopy, and with each passing day, nurses marked Snoopy with a different color. It helped relieve the stress of those final days.

About 7,000 women served as nurses in Vietnam during the war. Nurses received very little recognition after the war, and many did not want to talk about their experiences. In 1984, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Project, originally called the Vietnam Nurses Memorial Project, was founded. After a nine-year struggle, a 15-foot bronze memorial statue was dedicated in November 1993 on the Mall in Washington D.C. as part of the famous Vietnam

Veterans Memorial. The memorial features a nurse supporting a wounded soldier lying across her lap and is a tribute to all women who served during the Vietnam war years.

The novel “The Women” by Kristin Hannah published in 2024 opened the door for nurses who served in Vietnam to talk about their experiences. In the book, a nurse serving in Vietnam returns to the United States only to find that the country is hostile to veterans and dismissive of women's contributions in the war. The book is about her struggles in the midst of war and her return to “the world” after her service time coping with depression and acceptance.

In another book, “Women in War” by David Yuzuk, published in 2024, the opening chapter is about Ginny, and her photo is on the cover. Yuzuk had read about Ginny on the internet. She was contacted by Yuzuk to get permission to use her story in the book and to ask for other nurses who might want their stories told.

In recent years Ginny has become a popular public speaker. One of her most celebrated presentations is a video interview by the Atlanta History Center in July 2017 as part of the Library of Congress Vietnam History Project. It is a beautiful presentation that you can see at https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.110993/.

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

OPINION

OUTSIDE,

It’s time to get to work on Georgia Bass Slam

STEVE HUDSON Columnist

Everybody likes a challenge.

Some, for example, travel across the world to climb high mountains. They say the challenge is extreme and the view can be pretty good too.

Others drive hundreds of miles with a kayak strapped to the car to paddle down raging rivers so rough they’ll take your breath away. A buddy of mine used to do that, at least until it dawned on him one day just how much his kayak resembled a coffin. He sold his boat the very next day and took up stamp collecting instead.

That’s all well and good. But what if you want a challenge that’s a little less risky to life and limb…or one that you can pursue a little closer to home?

Well, I may have something for you. Have you thought about going for the Georgia Bass Slam?

“Slams” seem to be a thing these days. For instance, a “trout slam” might be catching a rainbow trout, and brown trout, and a brook trout all in the same day.

Similarly, kind of, a Grand Slam breakfast might be eating a waffle, some bacon, some hashbrowns, a couple of eggs and some toast down at the Waffle House on the way to catch those trout – or at least it used to be, back in those long-ago days when I didn’t worry too much about things like calories and cholesterol.

But let me get back to the Bass Slam.

The Georgia Bass Slam award is earned by anglers who catch at least five of Georgia’s 10 black bass species within

a single calendar year.

Which species qualify? The list includes largemouth, smallmouth, shoal, Suwannee, spotted, redeye, Chattahoochee, Tallapoosa, Altamaha, and Bartram’s bass. Some of those may be familiar. Others may be fish you’ve never heard of. But all are out there, somewhere in Georgia’s diverse waters. And they’re waiting for you.

Georgia’s Bass Slam challenge is a great thing on a lot of levels. Chief among them, I think, is the fact that it encourages anglers to learn more about our state’s bass and to explore and track down some diverse fishing opportunities that otherwise might go ignored.

Recognizing knowledge, skill

It also provides recognition for what is, by any measure, an impressive angling accomplishment. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Bass Slam challenge recognizes anglers who have “the knowledge and skill to catch five different species of black bass in a variety of habitats across the state. Who doesn’t enjoy a little recognition now and then?

One thing that pursuers of Bass Slam status tell me they enjoy is the challenge of identifying the various types of black bass that call Georgia home. Different species can have remarkably similar appearances, so you’ll need to learn those nuances that let you distinguish one from the next.

To help get you going, DNR offers some great online resources through BassSlam.com. One that’s particularly helpful is an interactive map which shows the general range where each of the species might be found. That’s a huge help in figuring out where to fish, especially if you’re going after a species

program designed to create more jobs through public works projects during the Depression.

with which you’re less familiar.

There’s also abundant info to help you conclusively identify the fish you catch – and that’s important, since your catches must be verified before you’re eligible for the Bass Slam award. You’ll also find insights on what sort of water or cover you should focus on as well as on what kind of bait or lure might be best. You’ll find this for each of the Bass Slam species.

Then it’s just up to you to hit the water and put some qualifying fish in your net.

What do you need to keep in mind when actually fishing for these bass? In waters where length limits are in place, eligible fish must be of legal size. For places or species with no minimum length limit, Bass Slam contenders must be at least 8 inches long.

When you land an eligible fish, document it with photos, which are an important part of your entry. Photos must include at least one shot showing you with the fish. You must also include a side view of the fish on a measuring board or next to a measuring tape or ruler. Add other photos that you think may help confirm the ID of each fish.

Mark your calendar

Since this is a calendar-year contest, your entry must be wrapped up and submitted online by midnight Dec. 31. Include your photos as well as your name, DNR customer number, the length of each fish (weight is optional), and the county and body of water where each fish was caught. Check the complete rules on BassSlam.com.

Then, once your catch is verified, you’re a Georgia Bass Slam winner!

If you achieve Bass Slam status, you’ll earn not only bragging rights but

also a personalized certificate, two passes to the Go Fish Education Center in Perry and some commemorative stickers for your tackle box or cooler or car. You’ll also be recognized on the Bass Slam website and at the Go Fish Education Center in Perry.

In addition, you’ll be entered into a random drawing for the year’s special Bass Slam grand prize. Last year’s grand prize winner was William Strasburg of Marietta, one of 68 anglers to earn Georgia Bass Slam status in 2025. Strasburg has been participating in the program since 2017 and has earned six Bass Slams over the years. As grand prize for 2025, he received a cooler, camp chair, tackle box and a framed bass print.

There’s no doubt that Georgia’s Bass Slam program is growing in popularity every year. But a bigger question might be this: Why has bass fishing so captured the imagination of the fishing world?

Black bass have long been appreciated by the angling community. Back in 1881, for example, Dr. James A. Henshall wrote a book (actually, the first book ever written on bass fishing) entitled “Book of the Black Bass.”

“No doubt the Black Bass is the appointed successor of the Lordly Trout,” he wrote. He added that in his view, black bass “will eventually become the leading game fish of America.”

I’d say the good doctor nailed it. The mystique of trout notwithstanding, there’s really no doubt that bass are the most-pursued fish in America today –and Georgia, with its 10 resident black bass species, is a fine place to go after them.

Get out there and get to work on that slam!

Continued from Page 9

The road was paved by the Works Progress Administration during the 1930s. The WPA was a government

Advertisements for real estate in the 1927 Atlanta Journal verify the road name change. An April 17, 1927, ad for an American Land Company property auction describes property

on Mt. Vernon Highway: 79½ acres on Mt. Vernon Highway, including three houses, was advertised on July 7, 1927, by Burdette Realty. The price was $15,000.

Real estate is advertised for sale on Mt. Vernon Road in Dunwoody in April 1937. Seven acres on Mt. Vernon Road

works.

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