Perimeter chambers prep groundwork for 2025 merger
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Sandy Springs Perimeter and the Perimeter chambers of commerce held their first joint networking session Aug. 8 ahead of their planned merger next year.
Open to chamber members and nonmembers, August’s Vibe After Five sold out, attracting 60 leaders in the Perimeter area business community to the Dunwoody Nature Center. This month’s session featured Dunwoody Parks & Recreation Director Rachel
Waldron.
“Vibe After Five is all about gathering members and nonmembers alike socially to build networks, find common ground in business and community,” said Adam Forrand, president and CEO of the Sandy Springs Chamber.
The Sandy Springs Perimeter and the Perimeter chambers announced in July a merger that will be completed by Jan. 1. The partnership will allow the groups to expand their representation and services in the Dunwoody and
See MERGER, Page 7
Dunwoody asks for public input on Comprehensive Plan update
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody is kicking off “Direction Dunwoody,” the city’s 202545 Comprehensive Plan update, with an online survey, pop-up tent and public workshops over the next few weeks.
Elected officials stressed the need for more public input opportunities at the July 22 City Council meeting.
The Comprehensive Plan is the community’s vision for the future, guiding decisions about land use, transportation, economic development, housing and infrastructure. State law requires the city to update the plan every five years with
guidance from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
Dunwoody Community Development Director Richard McLeod said the plan is a roadmap for the next 20 years.
“Public input is key to the process,” McLeod said. “We look forward to finding
new ways to get the community involved and engaged.”
A consulting team from TSW Design is serving as project manager for the process, working with city staff to
Chamber members mingle at Vibe After Five Aug. 8 at the Dunwoody Nature Center. The event offered members and nonmembers an opportunity to network and unwind.
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Dunwoody unveils Real Time Crime Center
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody leaders were scheduled to unveil the new Real Time Crime Center to elected officials and local media inside Police Department Headquarters Aug. 15.
Because the grand opening occurred after press time, check www. appenmedia.com/ for a follow-up story.
Through the city’s Flock Safety partnership, the Real Time Crime Center is a cutting-edge addition for Dunwoody Police. Staff says it’s a comprehensive command post, centralizing the city’s license plate readers, gunshot detection, police body cameras, call geolocation and thirdparty surveillance footage.
Members of the Dunwoody City
See CENTER, Page 5
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.
Officer arrest suspect in hit and run incident
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police arrested an 18-year-old resident after he allegedly crashed into a vehicle at the Dunwoody Villas Apartments and fled the scene.
The victim, a 32-year-old Dunwoody resident, said he and his family were standing near their vehicles in the parking lot of 4655 Peachtree Place Parkway when the incident occurred around 1 a.m.
Officers did not identify the make and model of the victim’s vehicles.
The victim said a blue Honda Civic entered the parking lot at a high rate of speed before turning around and striking his vehicle. After the crash, he said the victim quickly drove off farther into the apartment complex, leaving behind parts of
his front bumper and side fender.
Officers said the victim located the suspect’s vehicle parked and unoccupied in front of a building.
As the vehicle was being impounded, the suspect emerged from a residence and asked why the vehicle was being towed.
Officers said during their conversation with the suspect, he admitted to driving the vehicle during the incident but changed his story about where the accident occurred.
Because the suspect placed himself in the vehicle during the hit-and-run incident, officers arrested him.
When asked to identify himself, the suspect said his birth year was 2012.
Officers said the suspect’s father then exited the residence and gave them his son’s correct birth year, 2005.
Officers transported the suspect to DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for striking an unattended vehicle, reckless driving, false representations and duty to report an accident.
Armed man takes items, flees Nordstrom Rack
DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody Police are
investigating an armed robbery July 31 at Nordstrom Rack off Hammond Drive after an employee said a man pointed a gun at him.
Officers said 911 dispatch told them the suspect is a Black male, age 25-40, wearing a red baseball hat, white T-shirt and black pants. Dispatch said he was last seen running toward the Dunwoody MARTA station.
Officers said they searched the area around the station but did not find any suspect matching the description. They then spoke with an asset protection employee at Nordstrom Rack who saw the suspect concealing items.
The employee said he positioned himself at the front doors to intercept the man if he did not pay for a $17 hat and $120 shoes.
When the man attempted to walk out of the store, the employee identified himself as asset protection and told him to leave the items.
The employee said the suspect pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at him.
Officers said security footage of the incident corroborated the employee’s report.
There is no suspect identified.
DUNWOODY POLICE DEPARTMENT/PROVIDED
Dunwoody’s Public Information Officer Sgt. Michael Cheek, right, checks out the new Real Time Crime Center at Police Headquarters before its unveiling Aug. 15.
County weighing legislation to regulate animal breeding
By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Animal overpopulation and overcrowding of animal shelters have been front of mind lately, and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners is considering legislation regulating animal breeding and sales.
The legislation would prohibit transient and outdoor sales of some animals and would establish a companion animal litter permit.
The county operations committee discussed the legislation on July 22 and deferred both pieces of legislation for 30 days.
The draft animal litter permit ordinance states that the county commission has found and declared there is a problem with pet overpopulation in the county “that has resulted in a threat to public safety and health, inhumane treatment of animals, mass killing of animals at the local animal shelter and escalating costs for animal care and control.”
Lifeline Animal Services, the organization that operates the shelters in DeKalb and Fulton counties, recently announced the DeKalb shelter took in a record number of animals in July. About 1,005 animals came into the DeKalb County Animal Services shelter last month.
That exceeds the DeKalb shelter’s capacity by about 500 animals. Of note, 451 of the animals were lost dogs.
As of Aug. 5, there were 555 dogs and 125 cats at the shelter. DeKalb County Animal Services also had 702 dogs and 193 cats in foster homes. The optimum capacity for the DeKalb shelter is 475 pets, according to a spokesperson for Lifeline.
Uncontrolled breeding has been
Behind the story
one cause of overpopulation, and “the commissioners find that part of the solution that regulation of the transfer of dogs and cats will help alleviate the county’s pet overpopulation crisis by allowing the county to permit Companion Animals Litters and overseeing the means of obtaining a dog or cat,” the draft ordinance states.
Claudine Wilkins, a former prosecutor and animal law expert, is working with the county on these animal-related pieces of legislation. She is trying to solve at least one problem in DeKalb – unregulated breeding.
“To give you an idea of what we’re trying to do is not to punish a breeder. There are legitimate breeders,” Wilkins said during the July 22 OPS meeting. “We’re talking about the people who go unregulated and don’t care about genetic matching, showing their dogs, standards and confirmation.”
She added that having a companion animal litter permit would help protect animals, legitimate breeders, and consumers. It would also “stop the flood of animals into the shelter,” she said.
Some highlights of the animal litter permit requirement in the draft ordinance are:
• Owners of a female animal must get a litter permit before the birth of a litter or within one week after the birth of the litter.
• There would be a limit on the number of permits an owner could apply for in one year
• Litter permits would expire six months after they are issued
• The litter could not be sold without vaccinations and a microchip or before being eight weeks old
To see the draft companion animal
See REGULATE, Page 5
Decaturish Assistant Editor Zoe Seiler has been covering DeKalb County since 2019. Appen Media acquired the news website July 1, hiring its staff and ensuring their work can continue into the future. The aim is to have a larger, more experienced and supported joint newsroom that can offer readers important reporting on the topics that matter most. Watch for more from Decaturish, the Crier and the rest of the Appen Media team.
Support the work of protecting and strengthening local news in Dunwoody but becoming a member of the Appen Press Club at appenmedia.com/join.
That simple DIY project— not really so simple
Mt. Vernon Woods, right at first traffic light on Roswell Road
The land that is now Mt. Vernon Woods was once owned by Ben Burdett, owner of Burdett Realty Company. Burdett owned 400 acres on either side of Mt. Vernon Highway. In 1900, he built an 11room home where Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church is today. (“Sandy Springs Past Tense,” by Lois Coogle)
The property was purchased by W.F. Winecoff in 1916, who donated it to Emory University in 1920. The house and 39 acres were rented and eventually purchased by Guy Sewell. The land where Mt. Vernon Woods was built was part of Burdett’s original 400 acres.
The first homes were built in 1953. The June 11, 1953, Atlanta Constitution included an advertisement for Mt. Vernon Woods. Four home styles are listed: Sutton House, Courtyard, Manor House and Early American. All homes had three bedrooms, two baths, screened porch and carport. Some homes featured a fireplace, and the Early American style had a vaulted living room.
The directions provided for Mt. Vernon Woods begin from Buckhead. From there, take Roswell Road to the Sandy Springs traffic light, turn right, and go two blocks to the property, which is just beyond Hammond School. This description leads to the conclusion that in 1953 there was one traffic light along Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. I-285 and Ga. 400 had not yet been built.
Chris Curth moved with his family to a Mt. Vernon Woods home in 1955. Their
home was at the corner of Hunting Creek Road and Mt. Vernon Highway where the Link Counseling Center was later built. He and his sisters walked to Hammond Elementary School, just two doors away. Hammond Elementary School was where Mt. Vernon Towers is today.
The Curth family moved to another home in the Mt. Vernon Woods subdivision in 1973, on Williamson Drive. Curth recalls, “The Mt. Vernon Woods Swimming Pool was one of the first in the area and remains a vibrant fixture.”
A Mt. Vernon Woods advertisement in the July 1956 Atlanta Constitution described a neighborhood where homes
were designed to blend with their wooded lots. Schools, churches, stores and transportation were conveniently located. The 1956 directions are the same as 1953, except that a left turn on Hunting Creek Road was added.
One home on Hunting Creek Road was described in detail.
“Attractive one-floor brick home on slightly elevated, wooded lot. The floor plan can be three bedrooms and two baths or two bedrooms and a den. The kitchen includes a breakfast bar and automatic dishwasher. There is a double carport with a storage room. All this for $22,300.”
Both the 1953 and 1956
advertisements list Spratlin, Harrington & Thomas Realtors.
The active Mt. Vernon Woods Garden Club regularly submitted notices to the Atlanta newspapers for their meetings from the late 1950s through the 1970s. In July 1957, meetings were held on Hunting Creek Road and Cherry Tree Lane. Chris Curth’s mom is listed as one of the hosts.
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.
VALERIE BIGGERSTAFF Columnist
CURTH FAMILY PHOTO
This Mt. Vernon Woods home once sat at the corner of Hunting Creek Road and Mt. Vernon Highway. The Curth family moved there in 1955 and the photo was taken in 1960.
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litter ordinance, click here. To see Wilkins’ full presentation, click here.
Another ordinance would restrict the transient and outdoor sales of dogs, cats, and domestic rabbits in DeKalb. This ordinance is still being evaluated by the county law department.
“That is one that will put some restrictions around selling puppies or kitties on the side of the road,” DeKalb Commissioner Michelle Long Spears told Appen Media.
In other animal-related news, the county purchased 10 prefabricated animal kennels that will be constructed and installed at the Lifeline DeKalb shelter to increase its capacity by 120 dogs.
A spokesperson for Lifeline told Appen Media that the kennel space will be located in the field next to the DeKalb shelter.
Each kennel unit can hold up to 12 dogs. Facilities Management Director Clyde Stovall said during the OPS meeting that six kennels are already being built off-site.
The department is working on getting a land disturbance permit to
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Council are set to join Police Chief Mike Carlson Aug. 15 for the unveiling.
“The RTCC makes the tools we have for responding to emergencies and investigating crimes more effective,” Carlson said. “We’ve had great success with new technologies and continue to embrace new ways to keep our community safe.”
The city dedicated the new RTCC to former Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan.
“We wanted to show our gratitude for the vision he set from the founding of the Dunwoody Police Department,” Carlson said.
The Police Department used $360,000 in Special Purpose Local
begin construction of the concrete pad that the kennels will sit on, as well as utilities and stormwater infrastructure.
Kip Robinson, the project manager for the kennels, said the first six kennels should be completed by the end of the month or the beginning of September. The construction of the pad and all 10 kennels will be finished around September or October.
Spears told Appen Media that she started to become familiar with animal-related issues by looking at the shelters, but she realized that the shelter is how the county is managing the problem, and it’s not necessarily getting to the root of the problem.
“Having the overflow means there’s going to be an extra 120 spaces for dogs, but we’re going to fill up,” Spears said. “Say perhaps we did another 120, it would just fill up. You have to get to the root of the problem.”
She added that policy, education, resources, and communication are needed to face the issue head-on.
“That’s what started my journey into looking at what are ways that we can get to the root of the problem,” Spears said. “Spay/neutering is getting to the root of the problem, and also changing policy will help get to the root of the problem so that we can actually realize some real change.”
Option Sales Tax funding to convert its roll call room to the Real Time Crime Center.
The city says crime analysts and the city’s non-sworn Public Safety Ambassadors will staff the RTCC.
City Manager Eric Linton gave his thoughts on the impact of the Real Time Crime Center on citizens.
Linton said the city’s investments in Flock Safety’s technology are already helping officers solve and prevent crimes, increasing efficiency and effectiveness.
Mayor Lynn Deutsch agrees.
“This will be a force multiplier for public safety, allowing police to cover more of our community at any given time,” Deutsch said. “Officers will have access to real-time video and audio feeds to understand the big picture and better coordinate an effective response.”
DeKalb County Schools extends free meal reach
By HANNAH FRAZER hannah@appenmedia.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga.— The DeKalb County School District is extending the free meal program to an additional 30 schools for the 2024-25 school year.
The free meal plan, known as the Community Eligibility Provision Nutrition Program, is now offered at 105 schools. Any student attending a participating school will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost.
The Community Eligibility Provision
lets schools and districts in high-poverty areas provide free breakfast and lunch to all students without requiring household applications. Schools that use CEP get reimbursed based on the percentage of students who are automatically eligible for free meals because they participate in other programs like SNAP (food stamps) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. If a particular school is not listed as part of the program, students can still be eligible to receive the reduced meals. To apply, visit: schoolcafe.com
Sandy Springs weighs higher costs on planned transportation projects
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs elected officials got the latest reading Aug. 6 on how rising construction costs are affecting city plans to spend its
share of Fulton County transportation sales tax revenue.
Residents approved a five-year extension of an existing .75-cent sales tax in 2021 to fund transportation projects. The tax runs through March 2027.
Updates on the city’s projects funded
Ordinary Out, Extraordinary In
through the prior Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program (2016 and 2021) come from Chris Burnett, the city’s member of the Fulton County TSPLOST Citizen Oversight Committee.
One resident from each Fulton County city, excluding Atlanta, sits on the oversight board.
Burnett, a former member of the Sandy Springs City Council, begins as Sandy Springs Economic Development director this month.
“My role in representing the city on the oversight committee is to attempt to determine the validity and accuracy of the process,” Burnett said. “We’re not an audit body … so we do rely heavily on the county and our intermediary firm for the accuracy of tax collections and data.”
However, Burnett said he feels good about the accounting.
He said if the county collects 100 percent of the projected sales tax revenue of around $546 million, then Sandy Springs will receive $99.7 million, based on its population.
In each round of county-wide transportation sales tax collections, TSPLOST I and II, municipalities first created three tiers of transportation projects by priority. Each would be funded based on collections at 85, 100 or 115 percent of projections.
Burnett said the good news is the program’s collections on TSPLOST II after its first 26 months are around 117 percent of projected revenues. The program runs 60 months.
Since TSPLOST II collections began in April 2022 through May 2024, Sandy Springs received $48.8 million. That’s $7 million more than projected.
“We’re tracking right now to be able to fully fund tiers one and two,” Burnett said. “But, probably not going to be able to fund tier three unless there’s a pickup in additional revenue collections.”
Sandy Springs received 129 percent of projected revenues out of the gate, from April-December 2022. Revenues have tapered off a bit this year with revenues coming in at 107 percent of projections since January.
“We know that if we go into a weakening economy, we could see a decline in
tax collections,” Burnett said. “Thus far, we’ve got an excellent head start, and we’re about halfway through.”
After questions from City Councilman Andy Bauman, Burnett clarified that collections and project costs are trending higher than forecasts, which most likely means tier three projects are cut.
The city’s TSPLOST Program Manager Allen Johnson joined Burnett to update elected officials on completed projects, construction underway and what may be cut moving forward.
“With the inflation, we should get through tier one, we’d like to get some of tier two,” Johnson said. “Some of the projects are up 30 percent [in costs].”
Johnson went over projects in the TSPLOST II program. He said 55 percent of projects are currently in design, like the Roswell Road North End Boulevard.
Enhancements to the Mount Vernon Highway bridge over I-285 are an example of a project that is nearly finished. Johnson said the city has already completed 26 percent of projects with 19 percent under construction.
The Hammond Drive Widening project, with more than $46 million in funding split between both TSPLOST programs, looks to add roundabouts and multi-use trails from Boylston to Glenridge drives.
Johnson said it’s the largest project in the TSPLOST II roster, with right-ofway acquisition underway and construction scheduled for next fall.
The presentation also covered the status of projects from TSPLOST I, which ran from 2017-2021. The tax funded $39 million in completed projects, $47 million under construction and just the Peachtree Dunwoody Road multi-use path left in design.
Johnson said the city is anticipating higher costs moving forward with projects underway coming in above forecasts.
“I have a feeling we’re going to mostly be tier one with TSPLOST II, but if we can get into tier two that’d be fantastic,” he said.
Some of the lower tier projects that could be cut include the Powers Ferry
Merger:
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Sandy Springs business communities, Forrand said.
The merger, Forrand said, will provide better business networking opportunities, more events, increased capacity to deliver resources to members.
The networking session has been a keystone event for the Perimeter Chamber since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Paula Shiver, Perimeter Chamber vice president of engagement.
“It’s business networking and a nice opportunity to unwind with the chamber community.”
Shiver said this month’s Vibe After Five was a great opportunity for the “families” of both chambers to come together.
Community members from a variety of business backgrounds mingled with drinks and snacks in hand at the venue, which sits on 22 acres of forest at Dunwoody Park. Evening sunlight filtered through treetops and floor-to-ceiling windows at the Nature Center.
Vibe After Five is an opportunity for attendees to unwind, chamber leaders said, but it’s also about
networking.
Denise Brodsky, executive director of nonprofit Clubhouse Atlanta, said she made several important connections at the event. Her organization serves adults who suffer with mental health conditions, providing them opportunities to regain their confidence and reintegrate into the community.
Brodsky is pleased to see the chambers merge.
“It will offer even more opportunities for members to not only build their businesses but network and help them get connected to other people who are like-minded,” she said.
Lauren Sok, owner of Functionize Health and Physical Therapy, said she made several important connections at the event.
“You might meet someone who does business loans or somebody who does marketing who helps you in a marketing strategy,” Sok said. “I just met a physician here who we can complement services.”
She was excited to attend more networking sessions and thinks the merger could result in more opportunities to do so.
“The chambers of commerce are growing and changing,” she said. “And these opportunities are really invaluable. They have grown more ways to connect and learn.”
JON WILCOX/APPEN MEDIA
Adam Forrand, president and CEO of the Sandy Springs Chamber, center, speaks with attendees of Aug. 8’s Vibe After Five at the Dunwoody Nature Center.
Sandy Springs first responders display services for community
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — National Night Out is a campaign to foster stronger relationships between the community and law enforcement, and Sandy Springs turns it into a party.
The “Back to School Bash” Aug. 6 welcomed hundreds of children and their families to City Springs for three hours of fun exploring local public safety.
Some activities, like Fire Medic Otis Johnson’s CPR classes, are more educational. Others like the inflatable obstacle course and Prehistoric Nation’s lifelike dinosaurs, are more geared toward getting the back-to-school jitters out.
Johnson said he loves teaching people how they can save lives, especially with his stop-the-bleed lesson. It surprised him that some parents were more enthusiastic about learning than their kids.
Throughout the evening, disk jockeys Coach D and LeoRASoul kept kids active with competitions on the City Green like hula hoop.
The Sandy Springs Police and Fire departments spread out their vehicles along Mount Vernon Highway and Galambos Way, giving attendees an opportunity to hop in and look around.
Whether a Georgia State Patrol vehicle or Sandy Springs Fire’s aerial platform truck caught a kid’s eye, first responders were standing by to show them the ropes.
Other popular attractions included North Fulton SWAT’s armored truck, special weapons and tactics personnel and a host of state and federal law enforcement partners like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fulton County Marshal’s Office.
Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone said it’s the biggest annual event for Sandy Springs law enforcement to meet with citizens, and it’s grown over time.
“Let me give you a frame of reference, last year went through a thousand hot
DINNER
BINGO!
&
dogs, and this year we ordered two thousand” DeSmone said. “At least we have a thousand people eating.”
The Sandy Springs Swiftwater Rescue boat, purchased in 2010 for use along the city’s 22 miles of the Chattahoochee River, drew dozens of elementary schoolers away from the City Green stage.
The crowd in front of the Swiftwater Rescue pales in comparison to one for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources helicopter landing on Mount Vernon Highway.
DeSimone said helicopter landings at National Night Out started a few years ago, a testament to his department’s partnerships with county and state agencies.
“In police work, and fire service as well, you have to have relationships with everybody,” DeSimone said.
Lt. Ryan Fuller, piloting the helicopter, said he had to be careful landing on
BINGO starts promptly at 7:30pm Doors Open at 6:30pm
Open to the community FUN for everyone! We will have a dinner offering and desserts (prices vary, always affordable). Beer and wine $4. Soft drinks $2. $18 admission w/cash payouts OVER $900 plus 50/50 split the cash drawing. FREE door-prize drawings.
All Saints Social Hall, 2443 Mt. Vernon Rd, Dunwoody, doors open at 6:30pm.
Limited to the first 175 people. Next BINGO following August event: September 26.
PresentedbyCitizensfor Dunwoodyinconjunctionwiththe KnightsofColumbus
Mount Vernon Highway, not typical for DNR’s wilderness-based missions.
In a recent rescue, he said his team pulled someone out of Tallulah Gorge State Park.
Fuller, who previously flew Black Hawks, said he’s managed more difficult landings in much smaller areas.
Fire Chief Keith Sanders said he’ll be able to report on how the first 60 days of operations at Fire Station 5 went at the end of August.
“We’re estimating that the improvement of response time will be up to 5 minutes,” Sanders said. “The truck that is now housed there was stationed for the last 10 years in the Roswell station on Holcomb Bridge Road.”
With the apparatus now in the heart of the Sandy Springs panhandle, Sanders said his department has already responded to a cardiac arrest and a few other calls.
Before the “Back to School Bash”
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Road muti-use path, general roadway maintenance and paving.
In other business, the Sandy Springs City Council moved forward with one of the most popular tier one projects in the TSPLOST II program: PATH400, a multiuse trail extending along Ga. 400 from Buckhead north to the top end Perimeter area.
The city approved a construction agreement with the Georgia Department of
BEHIND THE PHOTO: Dean Hesse is an award-winning photojournalist. Following Appen Media’s acquisition of Decaturish, Hesse is now part of the Crier’s newsroom. See more of his photos from the Aug. 6 National Night Out event at appenmedia.com. Support the work of protecting and strengthening local news by becoming a member of the Appen Press Club at appenmedia.com/join.
kicked off, Sanders spoke to the Sandy Springs City Council about purchasing a $1.1 million Pierce Custom Enforcer Pumper, or firetruck, to be delivered in June 2025.
The Fire Department ensures the delivery of new trucks is scheduled for when one is ready to be moved to reserve status.
“It did change when COVID happened,” Sanders said. “Now, all manufacturers when you’re ordering a custom firetruck, it’s 34 to 48 months.”
Supply chain issues have created longer delivery times for specific parts, like axles and chassis.
“It’s something that is very difficult for all fire departments,” Sanders said. “If you don’t have a good replacement schedule, forecasting and staying with the trends and the manufacturer’s changes, you get behind the eight ball and it’s bad.”
Sanders said he implemented a replacement schedule in 2016, and Sandy Springs Fire is where it needs to be.
Graduates of the Sandy Springs Citizens Police Academy passed out department merchandise and chatted with neighbors about their experiences with officers.
Anita Beyer, volunteering as a 2021 graduate of the Citizens Police Academy, said it’s an amazing nine-week program.
“It brought me to tears during my ride-along with one of the police officers,” Beyer said. “All they want to do is make sure we’re all safe.”
Transportation Aug. 7 to build two-thirds of the segments for the multi-use trail extension.
GDOT is funding 80 percent, or $16 million, of the total project cost. The city’s TSPLOST II budget contributes $4 million.
“We hope to start construction fall of this year,” Johnson said.
Public Works Director Marty Martin said it’s the next step after a lot of hard work from staff.
“The last step we need from GDOT in order to execute the award of this project will be a notice to proceed,” Martin said. “Which, hopefully, they will provide fairly shortly.”
DEAN HESSE/APPEN MEDIA
Madison and Mackenzie Saldana check out Sandy Springs Fire Department Tower 52 with Fire Apparatus Engineer Storck at the National Night Out on the City Green at City Springs Aug. 6. The event, billed as a “Back to School Bash,” drew hundreds.
Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic kicks off football season
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
ATLANTA — The 33rd annual Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic kicks off the 2024 high school football season Aug. 14-17 with 11 games across five locations, featuring some of Georgia’s top talent.
Each of the games will be shown live on Peachtree Sports Network and streamed digitally on the Atlanta News First app. The Saturday games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be broadcast on Peachtree TV and 92.9 The Game.
Half of the 22 competing teams will make their first-ever appearances in the high school football showcase this year. For the first time in school history, the Dunwoody Wildcats are playing in the Corky Kell Classic.
Last season, head coach Michael Nash and the Wildcats ended a 14-year playoff drought, exiting in the first round after a historic season.
One reason to be optimistic about the school’s first showcase invitation is star quarterback Matt Pearch, two-sport athlete pitching for Yale University in 2025.
The Dunwoody Wildcats will travel
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gather input and provide analysis of opportunities and needs.
The 2025-45 update assesses new demographic and economic trends, considers the current version of the Comprehensive Plan and makes amendments based on community feedback.
Residents are encouraged to participate early in the process:
• Fill out an online survey, which is now available on the city’s website. It includes questions about transportation concerns, housing issues and development.
• Attend the first public workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Park Place, 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road from 5-7 p.m., with presentations at 5 and 6 p.m. The workshop will be held in the retail space across from Café Intermezzo.
Dunwoody is also revising its Unified Development Ordinance as a complement to the Comprehensive Plan update. The ordinance codifies the structure for implementing the Comprehensive Plan. Staff said coordinating both will streamline the process and integrate engagement.
up Ga. 400 to Cumming and square off against the South Paulding Spartans from Douglassville Aug. 15 at 4:30 p.m. at West Forsyth High School. It’s the third game of the 2024 Corky Kell & Dave Hunter Classic.
The West Forsyth Wolverines, perennial Class 7A playoff team, takes the field right after at 7:30 p.m. against the Class A defending champions Prince
Avenue Christian.
The Alpharetta Raiders, head coach Jason Kervin and edge rusher Julius Holly have a chance to get revenge for their neighbors to the south, North Atlanta High School, when they face the Houston County Bears Aug. 17 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Bears knocked off the North Atlanta Warriors 42-32 in the first
The Unified Development Ordinance update aims to make it easier for users to understand and for city staff to administer. The process begins with assessing existing codes from technical and policy perspectives and removing conflicts to make the document internally consistent.
Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton said the Unified Development Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan are an important part of Dunwoody’s continued evolution as a young and growing city.
“We want to keep the community involved throughout the Comprehensive Plan and UDO update to make sure we put policies in place that reflect the needs and desires of the community,” Linton said.
round of the Class 6A playoffs last year. The Warriors face the Kell Longhorns at their stadium 8 p.m. Aug. 14 in the second game of the high school football showcase.
Alpharetta is led by a group of highend recruits, including quarterback D.J. Bordeaux and tight end Ethan Barbour who is committed to the University of Georgia.
Corky Kell Executive Director I.J. Rosenberg said it took three months to put together the showcase’s widest range of participants yet.
“I think if you look at the 11 games and 22 teams playing this year, you will see we worked hard to be as inclusive as possible,” Rosenberg said. “We also have made a move into South Georgia as well as going back to the northwest part of the state while getting teams from all over Metro Atlanta.”
When the football showcase began in 1992, only four Metro Atlanta high schools participated, McEachern, Brookwood, Southwest DeKalb and Newnan.
Corky Kell Classic organizers added former Brookwood Broncos head coach Dave Hunter’s name to the high school football showcase in 2023 to honor his involvement and advocacy since day one.
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
After elected officials asked consultants for more public engagement opportunities July 22, the city is ready to roll out “Direction Dunwoody.
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Dunwoody High School Football Head Coach Mike Nash stands Aug. 5 at the Corky Kell coaches’ and players’ luncheon.
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First world problems on pickleball court
From the bubble. Late morning. The Alpharetta mom walks out onto the tennis courts with her pickleball machine. She puts her stuff down on the bench, then grabs something out of her bag – a tape measure – and walks over to the net and spends the next 10 minutes measuring and adjusting its height. She sets up her pickleball machine and watches a couple of balls go over the net, then adjusts the angle twice more. Then she walks next to the adjoining court and asks the Indian couple (who were out there way before she showed up) to move off their court to another court so her pickleballs won’t get mixed up with their pickleballs. She could have just pointed her machine a different angle instead. Of course, these two Indians – so respectful and polite – move to another court and the Alpharetta mom starts practicing her pickleball with her machine. The Indian
couple – like a grandpa and his adult daughter, both in long pants – kind of just stare at her and her pickleball machine for a few moments and then return to their game.
I had a few more snarky observations of the incident that were in the original column that I sent to my son Hans for a sign-off so it could get into the papers. When he reviewed the column, he emailed this to me:
“Be curious, not judgmental.”
For context, that idea, “be curious, not judgmental,” is borrowed from a Ted Lasso episode that I have watched maybe a thousand times. I just love the scene. I have sent a link to it to all my kids and everyone I know, including Hans.
I loved the scene because if was so well scripted, so well-acted, and is simply some of the finest story telling I have ever encountered. Plus, the good guy wins! But, it took Hans to make me realize that I totally missed the point. What was so extraordinay about the scene was not the acting or the story; it was the actual message: “be curious, not judgmental.”
Hans’ reply made me stop and think.
It made me think about my attitude –an attitude that seems to get worse as I age. It also made me realize that that idea could be applied to so much more than a situation on a tennis court – like to this whole polarization thing we all find ourselves today. Instead of being curious, we judge. Instead of maybe learning something, we learn nothing.
Instead of taking advantage of an opportunity to interact in a positive way with someone who is different from us or thinks differently than we do, we judge, and in so doing, build walls and barriers that make life smaller, less meaningful, and, in the case of the Ted Lasso episode, cause folks to lose bets on dart games!
Everything important in life that I know, I have learned from my children –or my wife – everything.
Switching from judging people to being curious instead is not easy; it requires breaking a habit and replacing it with a different one. It requires will, and it requires a desire to change.
Be curious Ray, not judgmental. You’ll be a better person, learn more, and probably be happier too.
In case you want to view the scene
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for yourself, the link is below. If the link does not work, just Google “ Ted lasso darts” and the YouTube of the scene should pull up. https://youtu.be/ CDRXv80F3Us?feature=shared (https:// youtubeCDRXv80F3Us?feature=shared)
The perks of being an avid reader
I’ve been an avid reader my whole life.
In grammar school, I lived for the book fairs, and I was the girl in high school who always had a novel tucked inside her textbook. I learned all I needed to know about the Kings and Queens of England from historical novels by Phillipa Gregory, Anya Seton, Jean Plaidy, and goodness knows who else. Of course, I majored in English in college. What else was a girl to do?
The number one perk is the pure joy I get from reading a good book, which is why I read every night, often two-three books a week. Next is what I learn. It was the Maisie Dobbs series that introduced me to the impact of the first World War on England— beyond the actual bombs and devastation to a generation of young men. A dry history book is not for me. It’s novels I crave.
What I never imagined is that later
in life, I would become a world-famous columnist writing about books. Do you see my tongue firmly planted in my cheek? I’m certainly not famous, but a bit of attention has come my way because of my book columns in the Dunwoody Crier.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with book clubs to discuss my books, my path to writing, and books I recommend. When a member of Sisters in Crime Atlanta read my columns, she invited me to attend a monthly Reader Rendezvous meeting. What fun to chat with a group of mystery readers about the latest books we’ve enjoyed.
That invitation led to my joining SINC Atlanta and participating in lots of book festivals. And yes, on occasion, someone reads the byline for my columns and picks up one of my books.
The latest perk came my way when the communications manager for a major publisher noticed my columns. She wrote to ask if I’d care to read any of the mysteries and thrillers the firm planned to release this year and sent me a list to consider. The
first thing that caught my eye was an October release by Colleen Cambridge, so that went on the list. But I also found several new to me authors. This week’s review is about a debut novel described as “Maisie Dobbs meets James Bond.” How could I resist?
“A Jewel in the Crown” by David Lewis
Set in England during WWII, it features Caitrin Colline, a strong, talented female protagonist. Charged by Winston Churchill with removing the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London and driving them north to Scotland, an unlikely pair of secret agents sets out under the cover of darkness. They are to safeguard the jewels at all costs so that they don’t fall into the hands of the Nazis. It’s not long, of course, before the plan goes awry.
Is there any doubt that Caitrin Colline, a Welsh coalminer’s daughter, will save the day? Author David Lewis has given us a well-researched, actionpacked caper filled with witty dialogue. I wasn’t surprised to read that he was
an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker. That background shines through in this tale that kept me turning pages well past my bedtime several nights in a row.
Trust me when I tell you that there is not a boring moment in this novel. Lewis tells us he has more Caitrin Colline stories to share, so I’m eagerly awaiting Book II. The series may be dubbed “The Secret Churchill Files”, but like the Maisie Dobbs series I so love, I’ll read it to learn more about Caitrin Colline.
This book ticks all my boxes—set in England, strong female lead, well plotted mystery, and more. I highly recommend you grab it now. Happy reading!
Award-winning author Kathy Manos Penn is a Sandy Springs resident. Find her cozy mysteries on Amazon or locally at The Enchanted Forest, Bookmiser, Tall Tales, and Johns Creek Books. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com, and follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ KathyManosPennAuthor/.
RAY APPEN Publisher Emeritus ray@appenmedia.com
KATHY MANOS PENN Columnist
THE INK PENN
At Moccasin Creek, age has its privileges
This time last week, you’ll recall, we were in the midst of grandkids. It was much fun! We even took them fishing, she and I did, leading our entourage down to a nearby stream.
Fish were caught – many fish. Snakes were spotted too.
The kids, it turns out, are much more adept at spotting water snakes than are those of us of more advanced age. They have sharper eyes, perhaps?
Anyway, how did that go? Well, I kind of like seeing the snakes, but she is less enthusiastic. As in:
“Mimi! Look at that snake!”
And she replies, “I think it’s time we move.”
Anyway, we fished and skipped rocks and looked for snakes and climbed in and out of the creek, oh, about 150 times the kiddos made all that in-andouting look easy, hopping without misstep or pause from rock to rock and flying through the air as they did so.
She and I moved a little bit more deliberately and maybe, as the afternoon progressed, a little bit more slowly too?
Later, back home, the kids were still all energy and excitement. We, however, were (as my granddad used to say) feeling it in the knees.
Yeah. It must be that age thing I keep hearing about.
But aging isn’t all bad. For example, they say that wisdom comes with it. It has seemed to me that I’m a little wiser lately. Don’t you think?
Mostly, though (and as someone near and dear to me once put it) aging sure as heck beats the alternative.
Another eventual advantage of aging is the senior discount at the Golden Corral. I do dearly love their bourbon chicken, and now and then I just have to go get some. When I do, thanks to my maturity and wisdom, it costs me less to do so than it used to. Yay for me.
I get the same kind of age…uh, wisdom-based special treatment at the local thrift store.
At the thrift store? You bet. She got me hooked on “thrifting,” as she calls it, not long after we met. Now I can hardly pass one up, especially when it happens to be Senior Discount Day. I think I’m secretly hoping I’ll walk in and there will be a box of classic handmade English bamboo fly rods labelled “Fishing Poles
$1 Each.” I shall buy them all…but since it’ll be Senior Discount Day I won’t pay nearly what I would have if I was still a young whippersnapper and less wise. See? All you have to do is look for the silver linings.
One of the best things about this age thing, though, awaits those of a fishing bent just a few miles up the road at Moccasin Creek State Park. It’s the seniors-and-kiddos section of Moccasin Creek, a trout stream which flows through the park next to the park’s campground.
It’s a stream where age (I mean WISDOM!) is a plus!
Moccasin Creek State Park is a 32-acre park is located in northeast Georgia’s Rabun County on Georgia 197. It nestles up next to Lake Burton, and it is right across the creek from the Burton Fish Hatchery. The park offers a range of things to do too. Right there at the park is a playground where the kids can work off some energy. If you’re feeling more ambitious, you’ll find some good hiking, too, including a good trail that takes you to Hemlock Falls. The trailhead is marked by a prominent inscribed boulder. With a total in-andout length of about 2 miles, it’s a great hike to do with the kids.
Or maybe you prefer the water. Moccasin Creek State Park offers easy access to the lake, thanks to a boat ramp and dock. Don’t have a boat? Kayaks, paddleboards and canoes can be rented at the park during the warmer parts of the year.
There’s camping, too, with more than 50 tent, trailer and RV campsites. All have water and 30-amp electrical service – and (yes!) the camping is discounted for those 62 years old or older. See? Age is looking better all the time. But make your reservations early as this park is often completely booked.
During your visit, you’ll want to cross the creek and visit the Lake Burton Trout Hatchery. It’s open from 8 till 4:30 weekdays and from 10 till 3 on weekends and holidays.
But what about that fishing?
The section of Moccasin Creek through the state park is open only to seniors age 65 or older and to kids age 11 or younger, as well as to those with disabilities. This special-regulation water starts on the downstream end near the lake at a sign marking the “approximate normal pool level of
Kenneth Clayton Wright Jr. In Memoriam
Kenneth Clayton Wright Jr., 82, passed away on Sunday, August 4th, after a long battle with cancer.
Born on November 17, 1941, in Murphy, North Carolina, Ken was an only child, as his older brother died in infancy. He was the son of first-generation college graduates from the mountains of western North Carolina. Their strong faith in God and family helped shape the man Ken became. His parents eventually moved to Dallas, Texas, where they made the wise decision to enroll the rebellious Ken in the small Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas. With only 40 students per grade, Ken loved to tell the story of having the now-famous rocker Steve Miller and his brother Buddy as schoolmates until Steve was expelled.
Branches neighborhood brought them lifelong friendships.
Ken was a charming and generous man who loved people, and people naturally loved him back. With a gift for gab, genuine charisma, and charm, he could work a room of strangers like no other. He would hug random babies, chat with kids and adults sporting local school or college apparel, and offer food to strangers at the Perimeter Mall food court. Ken was endearing and a storyteller, much like his father.
Ken attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, where he met the love of his life, Carolyn (Kiki) Frandsen. A straight-A student, Tri Delt President, award winner, and Homecoming Queen, Carolyn was Ken’s winning lottery ticket. They married on June 9, 1962.
Ken had a successful career in medical supply sales and marketing, moving his family from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Deerfield, Illinois, Seattle, Washington, back to Deerfield, and finally to the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody area in 1976. This community became a place where he and his family would grow deep roots.
Constantly on the road to provide for his family, Ken traveled to international destinations such as Beirut, Iraq, Iran, UAE, and Kuwait. In his latter years, as his health deteriorated, he would mention his top-secret covert operations with the CIA in the Middle East. While this remains a mystery, it adds an intriguing legacy for future generations.
Ken and Kiki made a handful of dear friends early in his career who remained close for over six decades. Their 46 years in Dunwoody, GA’s The
Many in Dunwoody from 20082011 mistook him for the founding mayor as he handed out his son’s mayoral business cards & shared the same name. For those who didn’t know him by name, he was the white-haired gentleman at Los Rancheros on Friday nights, or perhaps at Publix, Chick-fil-A, or Jason’s Deli, always making you smile and feel glad to live in the community.
Though Ken missed many of his children’s childhood moments while on the road providing for his family, he made up for it with his cherished grandchildren. He never missed a play, swim meet, baseball game, tennis match, or squash match for over 20 years.
Ken is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn (Kiki) Frandsen Wright, his daughters Tracy Grady (Rob) of Sandy Springs and Carrie Hancock of Dunwoody, his son Ken C. Wright III (Terri) of Dunwoody, and his beloved grandchildren Shelby Grady (Gavin), Tyler Hancock (Sarah Margaret), Will Grady, Troy Hancock, Cassidy Wright, and Clayton Wright.
Ken loved the Dunwoody Police and appreciated the difference a local police department made for the community where he raised his family. In his honor, the family asks those who knew and loved him to donate to the Dunwoody Police Foundation.
We will miss you dearly Papa.
STEVE HUDSON Columnist
Creek:
Continued from Page 13
Lake Burton” on the downstream end. From there, it extends upstream under Georgia Highway 197 to the diversion dam which feeds water into the Burton Trout Hatchery.
Aha! So we who are steeped in wisdom (as well as those who are still too young to worry about such things) have our own special piece of trout stream heaven? You bet we do!
Access to this stretch of the creek is easy, even though no wading is allowed. Fishing platforms put you in good positions to cast to some of the best holding water. Creekside access is good away from the platforms, too, and a trail on the state park side provide additional fairly easy bank access to further expand the possibilities.
What swims in the creek? The big draw is the trout, of course, and the folks at the adjoining Burton Trout Hatchery regularly stock catchable-sized trout there. You’ll probably see some of these fish holding in the current near the fishing platforms…but remember that if you can see them, they can see you too. They may be harder to fool than you’d think!
What should you use when fishing the special section of Moccasin Creek?
One good bet is worms – nightcrawlers or super jumpers or whatever your favorite flavor happens to be. Another is eggs (the kind you find in jars in the fishing department of your favorite bigbox retailer, those so-called “fish eggs” of various colors). Regular-style pink or orange fish eggs are the choice of many, but others swear by different colors (you hear chartreuse mentioned quite often) or by those which are seasoned with a hint of garlic.
Another good bet can be a flashy inline spinning lure such as a Roostertail or Mepps Spinner. Fish these on a light line. If you’re fly fishing, try a Y2K, a 3-D Sucker Spawn, or a San Juan Worm. A bright streamer (that is, some sort of minnow imitation) may work for fly fishers too.
In addition to trout, you’ll see sunfish in the creek. You may catch a few of those too. All are fun!
If you don’t fall into the age brackets that let you fish the special regulations water, there’s still fishing awaiting you at Moccasin Creek State Park. You can fish the nearby lake, for example, or you can go upstream above the diversion dam and fish for trout there. Just remember that within the special regs section, you’ve got to be 65 or older, 11
or younger, or disabled.
The next time you’re looking for something to do with the grandkids, or the next time you want to really convince yourself that the aging thing isn’t all bad, take a look at Moccasin Creek State Park. It’s made to order for making memories – and you just might take home a nice trout or two as well. We had a good time at Moccasin Creek. And (despite the name) we didn’t see a single snake!
STEVE HUDSON/APPEN MEDIA
An inscribed boulder marks the start of the Hemlock Falls Trail.
