Health & Wellness Sponsored section ►►PAGE 20
Heroin use grows in suburbs Drug is lethal, cheap, more powerful than ever ►►PAGE 15
5.6 tons of Oreos
Alpharetta Methodist collects cookies for Operation Oreo ►►PAGE 27
Performing on Broadway
Duo compete in National High School Musical Theatre Awards ►►PAGE 6
July 8, 2015 | miltonherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 10, No. 28
State unveils Ga. 9 upgrades Widening, walkways, intersection improvements planned By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com NORTH FULTON, Ga. – The state plans to widen and improve the Ga. 9 corridor significantly between Upper Hembree Road in Roswell and Windward Parkway, near Milton. Georgia Department of Transportation officials say the improvements are needed to help with traffic flow. As bad as some sections of the road are now, future population patterns show many more people driving it in the coming years.
Elder Doran Erickson, of Cumming, left, and Elder Jordan Hayes, of Bountiful, Utah, right, roast and grind koko (Cocoa) with a local in Samoa.
LOCAL YOUTHS ON A MISSION:
20 head for 2-year mission trips By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – While mission trips are common in many local church congregations, the Milton Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an unusually high number of young men and women who have committed to serving full-time missions for two years. Twenty youths, ages 18 to 22, have put aside their schooling, social lives and daily contact with their families to serve in 12 different coun-
tries. While on assignment in their various locations, they do not date, watch TV, take vacations or spend hours on social media. Instead, they spend their time proselyting and giving service. “They don’t come home during that time,” said Lori Wynne, of the church. “They will spend their time 100 percent in service and proselytizing.” These 20 young men and women come from 19 families in the North Fulton and South Forsyth areas. They undergo several
TUTORING
weeks of training, including languages if necessary, before being sent off to areas of the world where they are needed. One missionary currently serving is Tyler Simpson. The son of Janine and Kevin Simpson, he is in Bahia Blanca, Argentina from February 2014 through February 2016. He frequently writes to his parents and tells of his travels and what he learned through his work. “I learned something important, or was reminded
See MISSION, Page 14
DON’T LET YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING STOP JUST BECAUSE SUMMER STARTS.
Widening will help this problem – the road will be made at least two lanes in either direction for the length of the project, with either a median or a center turn lane in the middle. Multi-use paths will also line the streets in either direction, allowing for pedestrians as well as bicycles. These paths vary from 10 feet wide to 12 feet. While much of the improvements are simply widening, some streets will look different. The intersection of Ga. 9 with
See GA 9, Page 5
Milton sees first transfer of development rights transaction 5 acres sold to preserve green space By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – The first private transfer of development rights (TDR) transaction to preserve green space in Milton was completed June 25 at Milton City Hall. Milton landowner Robbie Brannon sold 5 acres of development rights from his Taylor Road property to developer David Vickers. Brannon’s property will now have a permanent land easement of 5 acres held by the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust to protect the land from future development while al-
lowing strategic growth and density in areas defined by the community. Vickers will transfer the acquired TDR to create Brickmont AsFIELD sisted Living on Webb Road, a denser site than zoning originally allowed. “Yesterday’s transaction is the product of more than five years of work to create the vision and framework for smart
See TDR, Page 5
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