Sponsored sections Empty Nest ►►PAGE 28 Summer Camps ►►PAGE 31
Electric Avenue
Electric vehicles grow in popularity ►►PAGE 23
Inclement weather ahead
GDOE climate ratings leave Fulton schools out in cold ►►PAGE 6
Fighting to the top ’Hooch alumn Zachary Cooper making way as Featherweight fighter ►►PAGE 39
March 26, 2015 | johnscreekherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 19, No. 13
Milton, JC tops in earnings By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com
PHOTOS BY HATCHER HURD/STAFF
Meghana Pothukachi had the trip of a lifetime with parents Hari Pothukachi and Uma Vempati. Her singing competition took her to eight cities in six weeks.
TRMS student claims $10K singing prize Meghana Pothukachi top youth Telugu singer, but doesn’t speak the language By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Meghana Pothukachi is a pert 12-year-old Taylor Road Middle School student who has quite a story to tell about what she did over her summer vacation last July – she won a $10,000 prize for singing in her parents’ Indian language of Telugu. And by the way, she doesn’t speak it herself. Meghana took singing les-
sons with her older sister. As it turns out, she has a real ear for music. At the age of 4, she could hear a tune once or twice and then sing it. It’s a gift. She also sings in the TRMS Choir and Honor Chorus. She sings so well, her parents encouraged her to enter a special American singing contest last summer for young Telugu speakers. The Telugu language has more than 75
See PRIZE, Page 20
NORTH FULTON, Ga. – Once again, Milton and Johns Creek have shown up on wealth surveys, this time on NerdWallet as two of only 57 American cities that show households earning more than $100,000 annually. Tabulating what it calls the $100,000 Club, NerdWallet analyzed household income in 1,601 cities across the nation. Milton and Johns Creek are the only cities in Georgia to make the Club. NerdWallet researcher Courtney Miller said the
MILTON: $100K and up: 54.8% $150K and up: 37.3% $200K and up: 26.7% JOHNS CREEK: $100K and up: 50.9% $150K and up: 30.7% $200K and up: 18.6% research looked at combined households earning $100,000 or more as a way of determin-
See EARNERS, Page 45
County looks to attract top teachers with signing bonus Staff raises under consideration By CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com
Meghana Pothukachi was judged not only on her singing and diction, but for her performance, personality and stage presence.
Georgia’s $100,000 Club Cities
ATLANTA – Faced with increasing competition from area school districts for the best teachers, the Fulton County School System (FCSS) is giving signing bonuses to new teachers and salary increases for current teachers to keep them from jumping ship. Ron Wade, chief talent officer for FCSS, said all systems are looking for the experienced teachers with proven success, and those are the ones most in demand. “We have 17 other school
systems in our area, and 40 to 50 private and parochial schools, all looking for top teacher talent,” said Wade. “It’s become highly competitive, and will continue to be so [into the future].” Last month, Wade announced plans to provide all new teachers a $1,000 signing bonus, with an additional $1,500 for teachers in specialized subjects and at specific schools. “Teachers who sign contracts in high needs content areas (math, science, special
See BONUS, Page 4
IROFF& SON JEWELERS SINCE 1957 ALPHARETTA 3960 Old Milton Pkwy #300 (1.5 miles East of 400) • 770-751-7222