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Higher property values could raise ’22 taxes

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Cooper announces cancer diagnosis

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A large crowd of community members and local dignitaries gathered July 17 for the long-awaited grand opening of East Forsyth High School. The $85 million school is situated on nearly 90 acres off Jot-Em-Down Road and will open for students on Aug. 5. It will be the 7th traditional high school in the Forsyth County School System. The school was originally projected to open

in 2011, but was delayed because of the economic slowdown. Jeff Cheney will serve as the school’s first principal. He previously served as principal at North Forsyth High, South Forsyth High, and Oglethorpe Middle School in Savannah. East Forsyth High is similar in design to neighboring Denmark High School, and can accommodate 2,125 students.

Local lacrosse players named All-Americans

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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.

Uninvited party guest accused of pulling gun FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies arrested a Cumming teen who reportedly drew a gun on a man hosting a June 16 party at Cloud 9 Events along Atlanta Highway. Giovany Michell Lira-Gomez, 19, was arrested July 14 at his Jonabell Lane residence. He was charged with pointing or aiming a gun or pistol at another and carrying a weapon without a license. According to deputies, Lira-Gomez was an uninvited guest who tried to crash the family get together at Cloud 9. LiraGomez was not a member of the family, according to deputies. The victim told the security guard not to let him in because he’d had a previous altercation with a woman in attendance. The victim said Lira-Gomez pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it directly at him, then left the business.

Deputies find woman sleeping in stolen car FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Canton woman found sleeping in a stolen car was arrested July 14 on Pilgrim Mill Road. Alicia Dortch, 33, was charged with theft by receiving stolen property. Deputies responded to Daniel’s Gas Station for a call about a suspicious vehicle parked in the lot.

When officers arrived, they encountered Dortch sleeping inside the vehicle. She said she ran out of gas and parked outside the gas station overnight. Deputies ran the vehicle’s tag, and it proved to have been reported stolen from Roswell. Investigators determined Dortch took the vehicle from her boyfriend’s roommate without the owner’s permission.

Deputies receive report of robbery at food mart FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies were dispatched to Aagnee Food Mart along Hutchinson Road for a robbery report July 15 after someone activated the store’s silent alarm. According to investigators, a man armed with a small handgun tried to rob the business. It was not clear if the suspect successfully stole anything. No one was injured during the incident and the suspect was not captured.

Kentucky man drowns in Lake Lanier FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities pulled the body of a Louisville, Kentucky, man from Lake Lanier after he drowned July 16. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources identified the deceased as 55-year-old Jeffrey McElfresh. Investigators say McElfresh was paddle boarding without a lifejacket near West Bank Park. He jumped in the lake to fetch a pool noodle that floated away from him, became exhausted and went underwater. Investigators said he resurfaced briefly a short time later but went under a second time and never came back up. Divers from Hall County Fire Service recovered McElfresh’s body from the lake.

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DRUG & DUI arrests Justin Shane Preston Callicott, 45, of Mayfair Drive, Cumming, was arrested June 28 on Atlanta Road for DUI, failure to maintain lane and fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement. Mark Edward Webb, 56, of Wesley Oaks Circle, Cumming, was arrested June 30 on Atlanta Road for pedestrian under influence, pedestrian crossing road diagonally and possession of marijuana. Raymond Jerome Jenkins, 55, of Winshire Cove, Alpharetta, was arrested July 5 on Union Hill Road for DUI. Michael Wilkes Mixon, 22, of Snowshoe Bend, Bethlehem, was arrested July 6 on Ga. 400 for possession of schedule I controlled substance and possession/purchase of any controlled substance. Daniel L. Hendrick, 27, of Saddle Club Road, Gainesville, was arrested July 6 on Jot Em Down Road for DUI, first-degree burglary, theft: entering automobile and failure to maintain lane. Lindsey Dyan Stewart, 38, of Leonard Court, Lawrenceville, was arrested July 6 on Buford Highway for DUI. Justin Samuel Downey, 28, of Boggs Road, Duluth, was arrested July 6 on Allendale Drive for DUI, public indecency, failure to maintain insurance and expired registration/invalid plates or decal. Amy Lynn Kalb, 35, of Jefferson River Road, Jefferson, was arrested July 7 on Karr Road for DUI, speeding and failure to maintain lane. John Albert Markley Villegas, 29, of Shihloh Road, Cumming, was arrested July 7 on Port Royale Drive for DUI, defective or no brake lights/turn signals and exSee ARRESTS, Page 12

NEWS

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Despite steady tax rate, many Forsyth Commissioner Cooper Forsyth County homeowners announces cancer diagnosis will owe more in 2022 By JOE PARKER joe@appenmedia.com

Millage rate primer

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Commission voted July 22 to retain the county’s millage rate for 2022, but many residents will see a higher tax bill next year due to an increase in property values. Forsyth County saw an increase of 4.54 percent in the county’s overall digest, so while the tax rate remains unchanged, the county will collect more in taxes from property owners in 2022. About 2 percent of the increase to the tax digest stems from higher value assessments on existing properties. The remaining 2.5 percent comes from new construction. The County Commission approved rates of 4.791 mills to fund its day-today operations, the same rate the county has used since 2019. The board also approved to keep its rate of 2.175 mills for the county fire department and 0.93 mills to pay down bonds. Property tax rates are expressed in “mills.” Each mill brings in $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value on a property. Under Georgia law, when the county establishes an updated total value for property — its tax digest — it must calculate a rollback millage rate that would produce the same total revenue that was produced on the current year’s digest had no reassessments occurred. With the increase in property values, the county will collect about 2 percent more than in 2021. Homeowners of a property with a fair market value of $400,000 will pay about $1,260 in property taxes to the county next year. That does not include taxes paid to Forsyth County Schools. The school system’s 19.718 rate, which covers maintenance, operations and bond payments, will remain unchanged from fiscal year 2021. Residents can decrease taxes owed

To help fund their budgets, governments set a millage rates — or tax rate — on property. One mill brings in $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. In Georgia, a property’s taxable value equals 40 percent of its appraised — or real — value. A home with a real value of $400,000, for example, would have a taxable value of $160,000.

through homestead exemptions. Homeowners can apply for a regular homestead exemption, which deducts $8,000 from the assessed value of a home when calculating taxes owed on the Maintenance and Operations and fire department portions of the millage rate. The school and state portion of the millage rate is reduced by $2,000 of assessed value. Some residents are eligible for other exemptions. Residents 65 or older before January 1 can apply for a school tax homestead exemption, and those 62 or older can apply for a separate school tax exemption based on income. Seniors may also be eligible for a “double homestead,” provided their total gross household income does not exceed $40,000. The county also makes available exemptions for disabled residents, disabled veterans and to non-married surviving spouses of members of the U.S. armed forces killed in war or conflict who receive spousal benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Residents can apply for exemptions throughout the year, but they must apply by April 1 to receive the exemption for that tax year, so homeowners applying now would not see any exemptions applied until 2023 taxes are levied.

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Commissioner Molly Cooper has announced she was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A July 21 release from the county stated Cooper was diagnosed following a routine doctor visit for an illness. Cooper is the District 1 Commissioner for Forsyth County, which includes portions of the county in the middle portion of the county from around Ga. 400 to its western border. She was elected to the post in 2018 and is currently serving a 4-year term. “Commissioner Cooper is doing well and has a positive prognosis from her medical team,” County Manager Kevin Tanner, said. “She is still actively involved in the day-today operations of her district and her constituents’ concerns. As she begins

treatment, we hope that residents will join me, as well as County staff and elected officials, in sending prayers and good wishes to Commissioner Cooper for her recovery.” Commissioner Cooper has been a resident of Forsyth County for the past 28 years. During that time, she has served as President of the Republican Women of Forsyth County, President of Civitan and was the first the vice-chair of Forsyth County GOP. Commissioner Cooper has owned and operated a local business for over 16 years. Commissioner Cooper and her husband, Dr. Scott Cooper, are the parents of three children and grandparents of four. All three generations call Forsyth County home. — Joe Parker

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City, county officials talk dollars with ARC officials By JOE PARKER joe@appenmedia.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Commission and City of Cumming held a joint meeting July 22 with officials from the Atlanta Regional Commission following the county’s recent move into the planning organization. The overriding theme was how the county and city could get a slice of the ARC’s dollars. County Commission Chairwoman Cindy Jones Mills joked that when asked about what she wanted from joining the ARC, it was “money.” With the county joining the group July 1 — ending a 60-year stint with the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission — the county and Cumming will now be eligible to receive funding grants from the ARC. Much of the talk at the July 22 surrounded the group’s Livable Centers Initiative. Through the program, funds are allocated to counties and cities within the ARC to “incentivize local jurisdictions to re-envision their communities as vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles and provide improved access to jobs and services.” Since 2000, the initiative has funded about $300 million in improvement projects and about $20 million in funding studies to improve areas within the ARC region. A representative with the ARC said the group doles out about $2 million per year to fund studies that can lead to real-world improvements. These can include “reimagining town centers or downtowns,” expanding a transit network, studying who can live in downtown districts, arts and culture, and green infrastructure. Transportation funding is also on the table as the county continues to grow and traffic is snarled. Mike Anderson, senior director for the Livable Centers Initiative, said Cumming and the county can undertake transportation studies and become eligible for a “large pot” of dollars. “It’s another stream of funding that

Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Doug Hooker (standing, left) addresses the Cumming City Council and the Forsyth County Commission at a joint meeting of the two governing bodies July 22. will help you improve your quality of life,” Anderson said. With infrastructure improvements a hot topic at the federal level, the ARC, as one of just two “metropolitan planning organizations” in the state, could be in line to receive its own additional funding for transportation improvements under the Biden administration. However, Cumming Mayor Troy Brumbalow said his city’s main traffic issues are on state roads, which would not be eligible for improvements through ARC grants. ARC Chair Kerry Armstrong sug-

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gested Cumming could look at transportation improvements through a wider lens. He said focusing on a specific intersection improvement only impacts those who use it, but creating a “livable center,” where people can walk around and live, creates excitement. While neither the city or county have dipped their feet into the ARC’s programs, Armstrong said both jurisdictions should begin brainstorming on where ARC grants could come into play, including for transportation projects or areas in need of redevelopment. “Find those places you need to work

on, and call us up,” he said. “We have no interest in sitting on pots of money.” Anderson added that he was “thrilled to have Forsyth join us in the bigger picture of what the ARC does.” Forsyth County became the 11th county to join the ARC on July 1. Other members include Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties. The organization also includes a 41-member board with representatives from counties and cities in the region. Mills and Brumbalow were recently sworn-in to serve on the ARC board.

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Alpharetta gives nod to revised Greenway link to Forsyth County By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmedia.com NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — With its final leg of the Big Creek Greenway completed up to Union Hill Park, Alpharetta is exploring how to connect the popular trail with its neighbors to the north in Forsyth County. The docking procedure is an unexpected complication in a process that has gone on for more than five years. Original plans called for extending the concrete path at Union Hill Park north under a proposed bridge on McGinnis Ferry Road, which is part of a widening project between the city and Forsyth County. But Forsyth County is not planning to run its Greenway trail to the bridge, so Alpharetta is forced to backtrack. At a July 19 workshop, Alpharetta Public Works Director Pete Sewczwicz said the plan now calls for adding a 10-foot sidewalk on the west side of Union Hill Road which would then tie into a 10-foot sidewalk along the yetto-be widened McGinnis Ferry Road. Forsyth County has said it won’t bid the road project until probably early next year, and it won’t begin to link the Greenway until that project is completed. Meanwhile, representatives from Alpharetta Public Works and the Parks and Recreation departments have developed a working solution, a 12-footwide trail that crosses over Union Hill Road and through the cul de sac at Little Pine Trail and around the existing skateboard rink at the park. The cost for the newly devised path would be $275,000, and Sewczwicz said the department has the funds available in the existing contract allocation. All of the money, including project oversight, would come from the 2016 parks bond passed by voters. “We know that funds are tight throughout the whole capital project program, so we want to get approval from you,” Sewczwicz told the council. Councilman Jason Binder said he was uncomfortable spending that kind of money on a project if it couldn’t be incorporated into the existing master plan for Union Hill Park. Sewczwicz assured the council that he had consulted with Parks and Recreation Director Morgan Rodgers, and they agreed the master plan could accommodate the new path. City officials cut the ribbon on the

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Since 2015, the Innovation Center has raised $100 million in investor funding, graduated more than a dozen companies and created nearly 600 new tech and service industry jobs for Alpharetta and a total of 1,000 jobs statewide. 8 | Forsyth Herald | July 29, 2021

City extends lease for Tech Alpharetta operation

Sawnee EMC draws high rank nationally among its customers

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Tech Alpharetta continues to win the city’s endorsement with the July 19 approval of an agreement with the Alpharetta Development Authority to extend the lease for the business incubator’s headquarters on Webb Bridge Road. The three-year lease runs through June 30, 2024, and it is for a “nominal consideration” of $10. Community Development Director Kathi Cook said the city has not performed a study to determine the actual market value of the lease. The city has provided a boost to the nonprofit ever since its inception in 2015, with annual contributions generally of more than $100,000. In recent years, at the urging of the City Council, Tech Alpharetta has broadened its private support by expanding its board of directors and by initiating other measures to become more self-sustaining. The annual city stipend has been lowered to around $95,000 and comes through the Development Authority. The tech incubator has leased space for its Innovation Center behind the fire station on Webb Bridge Road since 2017. Tech Alpharetta was founded in 2012 by the city to promote growth and the development of technology industry in Alpharetta. The organization is composed of the area’s leading technology companies, and members are charged with identifying and pursuing key investment opportunities and providing young start-ups with mentoring services and other assistance. Tech Alpharetta CEO Karen Cashion said that through the city’s help, the Innovation Center has helped launch

CUMMING, Ga. – Sawnee EMC recently completed its annual memberwide satisfaction survey, asking more than 166,000 member-owners were asked to participate. Surveys were completed online, via an email invitation, or by using a printed postcard included in all May billing statements. Member responses were sent to the developers of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), a national group who measures customer satisfaction across multiple industries throughout the entire United States. For 2021, Sawnee EMC received an ACSI score of 93 out of a maximum score of 100, one of the highest in the nation among utilities. Sawnee’s score is higher than all 2021 investor-owned utility scores and it places Sawnee 21 points higher than the average cooperative utility score of 72, and 22 points higher than the municipal utilities score of 71, as per the ACSI Utility Sector Report. “This year’s ACSI score provides a unique benchmark for us and our members and is a great measure of our members overall satisfaction with us as a company,” said Michael A. Goodroe, Sawnee EMC President and CEO.

By PATRICK FOX pat@appenmedia.com

Tech Alpharetta opened its Innovation Center in 2015. The startup incubator is home to more than 50 young companies.

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scores of young companies, many based in Alpharetta, providing a boost to the local economy. Cashion reported late last year that since 2015, the Innovation Center has raised $100 million in investor funding, graduated more than a dozen companies and created nearly 600 new tech and service industry jobs for Alpharetta and a total of 1,000 jobs statewide. One of the Innovation Center’s newest graduates is FUSmobile, a medical device company that joined Tech Alpharetta’s incubator in June 2018. The company advances non-invasive solutions for interventional pain management. FUSmobile has grown from two to seven employees during its time at the Innovation Center and has now headquartered in commercial office space in Alpharetta. More recently, Tech Alpharetta announced its 17th graduate, Veryable an on-demand marketplace for manufacturing, logistics and warehousing labor. The company’s flexible labor solution connects businesses with high quality workers at the click of a button, enabling higher productivity and a competitive edge. Veryable joined Tech Alpharetta’s

incubator in October 2018. The company has grown from one to 11 employees during its time at Tech Alpharetta’s startup incubator, and has now moved into commercial office space in Alpharetta. Tech Alpharetta also sponsors a series of workshops headed by industry leaders. Veryable an on-demand marketplace for manufacturing, logistics and warehousing labor. The company’s flexible labor solution connects businesses with high quality workers at the click of a button, enabling higher productivity and a competitive edge. Veryable joined Tech Alpharetta’s incubator in October 2018. The company has grown from one to 11 employees during its time at Tech Alpharetta’s startup incubator and has now moved into commercial office space in Alpharetta. “The connections, support and resources that we’ve received as members of Tech Alpharetta’s startup incubator have been tremendous, and it was the perfect place for us to grow,” Veryable Vice President of Operations Daniel Lubosco said.

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OPINION

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Look for the message in the trees I, happily, am in a zone in the sense that I have a few books ahead of me ready to be read, and I am reading a good one right now. About a year ago, I read what is now maybe my second RAY APPEN or third favorite Publisher Emeritus book of all time ray@appenmedia.com — “Overstory,” by Richard Powers. It is an epic book in every sense of the word, one that took me on a wild roller coaster ride of experience and imagination and reality. Among other things, “Overstory” was a book about trees and our connection to them — embedded within an epic story of human spirit, success, and chilling failure. As in the past, from “Overstory” I began a series of related books. I spot references to other books when reading and also fairly often mine the sources listed at the end of some books to find my “next read.” From “Overstory” I found “The Hidden Life of Trees,” which I am sure must have been a primary source of

material that Powers used to research his book. It is a brief book that, once read, forever altered my “relationship” with and understanding of the role of trees in our lives and history. From “The Hidden Life of Trees,” I discovered “Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest,” which I just now finished. It further altered my reality, my understanding, my perception, and my priorities as they relate to the world around me. And, I am embarrassed to say, it also led me to start re-reading “Overstory.” The last time I was on a roll like this was when I discovered author Janisse Ray via an anthology (“Between Two Rivers: Stories from the Red Hills to the Gulf”) of essays written about Southern life — the flora and fauna closest to my heart. She is an environmental activist, poet, farmer, novelist and speaker, who lives in South Georgia. The more I read her books, the more I wanted to read her until I finally ran out of her published works. Now, I have to wait for her to write more. From “Ecology of a Cracker Childhood,” to “The (wonderful) Seed Underground,” to her books about South-

ern rivers — “Drifting into Darien: A Personal and Natural History of the Altamaha River” and others — I simply couldn’t get enough of her writing and the lessons she had to share. She is probably about my age, and we overlap in many ways from our childhoods to our interests. She is one person I really want to meet. I am even more indebted to Janisse Ray because, from a reference somewhere in one of her books, I discovered Wendell Berry, who has been called our own modern-day Thoreau/Mark Twain and surely is a national treasure. Ha! I wonder if I was the only person in existence to not know this author already. My Appalachian Trail hike taught me about our humanity and how much good there is still left in our world. I also will never be able to drive down any road, past acres and acres of trees and forest, and feel the same way again. My books have taught me — repeatedly — the simple lesson of how completely connected and dependent we are on each other and with the natural world around us. And that message is universal and timeless. “No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the

continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less…. Any man’s death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind.” John Donne. Thank you, 10th grade lit class! Donne wrote that in 1624 — almost 400 years ago — before our country was formed, before the atomic bomb, before Rachael Carson’s “Silent Spring,” before the internet, before fake news, and before the pandemic of 2020/21. The message is there. It continues to be spoon fed to us by authors and artists, by philosophers and by our faith. It is clear and concise and as immutable and constant as any law of physics or math; we are all connected and our collective welfare — our ultimate existence — is utterly and completely dependent upon each other and our relationship with the natural world around us. We are our brother’s keeper and keepers of our physical world: the land, sea, and air, all flora and fauna. When are we going to learn? Surely before it’s too late? We have less time than we think. The proof is everywhere; just look around at what is going on in our world.

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10 | July 29, 2021 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

OPINION

Nothing beats fishing with the grandkids

STEVE HUDSON Get Outside Georgia, aa4bw@comcast.net

We’ve been fortunate to have the grandkids visit us twice in the last three or four weeks. Yes, our son and daughter-in-law were here too. It was great to have them as well. But the grandkids? Well, if you have grandkids yourself, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You know who the stars

really are. The big question, of course, is which of the myriad possible activities should we choose to enjoy while said grandkids are visiting. The list is a long one and includes things like rock collecting (I think I told you about that a couple of weeks ago) and lightning bug hunting (a perpetual favorite) and all manner of art-and-craft projects (my wife knows just the right ones to pick). And, of course, fishing. “FISHING!” the kids shout in enthusiastic unison. “Let’s go FISHING, Granddaddy!” In my vast experience, I’ve learned some things about fishing with kids. Actually, there’s only one thing you have to remember when fishing with the kids. And it’s this: Remember that they’re kids, and kids see the world in unique ways. Sure, 8- and 5-year-olds want to catch fish. But they also want to catch bugs. And look for tadpoles. And chase butterflies. And throw sticks in the water. And maybe even play in the mud. Still, I want ’em to catch some fish. So here, to show you how it might be done, is the inside story on my fishing adventure with the grandkids. First, I got ’em a couple of brand-new spinning rigs – you know, the kind with the pushbutton reels. It took them all of five minutes to master those rods, which are surely God’s gift to fishing-inclined grandparents everywhere. They were soon throwing practice plugs all the way across the yard (let me tell you, those kids can cast) and sometimes into the trees. In fact, several practice plugs remain in the oaks and magnolias (and probably will for years to come) anchored securely to various limbs with 8-pound-test nylon line, spinning and sparkling like very early Christmas decorations, which (knowing me) the neighbors just might think they are. Practice plugs work fine for learning, but when it comes to actual fishing, my advice is to forget that tackle box full of crankbaits and inline spinners and go, instead, with worms. “WORMS!” say the kids in unison. “Granddaddy, let’s go buy some worms! Where can we buy worms, Granddaddy?” Aha! Interest is piqued! And then, in

PHOTOS BY: STEVE HUDSON/PROVIDED

a moment of calculated brilliance, I tell a small fib. “I don’t know where to buy worms,” I say (though actually I do – Walmart has ‘em – but digging in dirt is fun!). “But we can DIG some worms of our own,” I add. “Want to go dig some worms?” “YES GRANDDADDY!” they chorus. “LET’S GO DIG SOME WORMS!!!” The plan is simple. We go out in the backyard where the dirt is soft, and I dig up a shovelful of loam. Then I stand back and the kids go to work grabbing earthworms left and right. The worms go into a little container which, conveniently, just happens to be sitting there. And we soon have worms enough for all. Then it’s off to the pond. At the pond, step one is to mash down the barbs on the hooks. Again, if you have grandchildren, you’ll understand why. Then it’s time to choose some worms. “Want me to pick out some good ones?” I ask. “No, Granddaddy, I can do it,” the youngest says, immediately rummaging through our worm vault and, a moment later, bringing me a couple of really good ones. “Great job!” I say, for one must affirm such initiative at every opportunity. Then, “Want me to put them on the hook?” “I can do it, Granddaddy!” says the oldest, and (sure enough) he baits his hook like a pro. “But you can put the worms on MY

hook,” says the youngest. “Would you, Granddaddy? I’m a princess, and princesses don’t put worms on hooks.” So I do, and pretty soon there are two floats bobbing on the lake, worms hanging tantalizingly in the water below. And then… “Granddaddy!” says the youngest. “GRANDDADDY! You said to watch the floaty thing, and if the float goes under then I am getting a bite, and Granddaddy I THINK I AM GETTING A BITE!!!” Great excitement ensues. And pretty soon, there’s the first fish of the day: a big ol’ bass! I’d have been thrilled to land that one on my fancy flyrod, but it would have been nothing compared to seeing the child bring it in.

Then, a few minutes later, the other grandchild hooks and lands its twin! We catch more bass and some nice bluegill. Then we stop to look for tadpoles. And then we go back to fishing. It was a timeless moment, there by the pond, a moment when life really was good. And I found myself wondering. I wondered if I’d have more fun with my fancy flyfishing if I did that, too, stopping now and then to look for tadpoles… But the thought remains unresolved, for my reverie is interrupted by an excited shout. “GRANDDADDY!” comes the call. “Granddaddy, the floaty thing is going under, and I think I am getting a bite!” It was a good day. It was a very good day indeed.

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | July 29, 2021 | 11

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12 | July 29, 2021 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

SPORTS

Local lacrosse players earn All-American honors By JOE PARKER joe@appenmedia.com NORTH FULTON/FORYSTH COUNTY, Ga. — North Fulton and Forsyth County’s status as a hotbed for high school lacrosse was further solidified July 19 with scores of local athletes earning All-American honors from USA Lacrosse, the national governing body for the sport. Over a dozen local players earned All-American nods, Academic All-American accolades and individual designations for the premier players in the state for their role on their team and community. USA Lacrosse oversees the selection of the awards, which are based on voting by coaches within each geographical area. Two local players also earned individual awards recognizing their “above and beyond” service to their team, school and community, which are given to one girls and one boys player from each state. West Forsyth attacker Cami Merkel earned the Jackie Pitts Award. TJ Scott, a midfielder with Blessed Trinity, was named the Bob Scott Award winner. Milton girls lacrosse had the highest number of players earn All-America honors among local teams. The Eagles captured their 14th state championship in 16 years this season. Senior attacker Maddie Dora, senior midfielders Skylar Carrasquillo and Brie Catts and senior defender Marley Scott all earned All-American honors. Dora was named the USA South Lacrosse Player of the Year earlier this month. West Forsyth, which finished as state runner-up behind Milton, had four players — defender Bella

Arrests: Continued from Page 2 pired or no license plate or decal. Christopher Thomas Sosebee, 37, of Burt Creek Road, Dawsonville, was arrested July 8 on McFarland Parkway for DUI, improper/erratic lane change and possession of open alcohol container by driver. Raymond Luis Reyes, 57, of Foxcroft Lane, Cumming, was arrested July 8 on Majors Road for DUI and failure to maintain lane. Farah Naz Alam, 42, of Cold Spring Court, Cumming, was arrested July 8 on Hospital Boulevard for DUI, endangering child by DUI of alcohol or drugs and following too closely. Montravius R. Hardrick, 32, of Estuary Trail, Alpharetta, was arrested July 9 on McFarland Parkway for possession of a schedule I controlled substance, possession of marijuana and failure to maintain lane. Jacob Reagan Palmer, 25, of Churchill Downs, Cumming, was arrested July 9 on Peachtree Parkway for DUI and location/illumination of taillights. Steven Robert Ladwig, 32, of Soap-

Steigerwalt, goalie Emma Anderson, midfielder Jenna Burrow and Cami Merkel — named to the 2021 AllAmerican team. Attacker Abby Vane, defender Kate Vane and midfielder Katie Witcher, all juniors from Johns Creek, were also named to the 2021 team. Blessed Trinity had three players earn the distinction, including juniors Elizabeth Shipley, Reese Hart and Marisa Inoa. Roswell juniors Riley Davis and Caroline Kardian, Fellowship Christian attacker Brooke Beard, Chattahoochee midfielder Meaghan Trainer, Northview’s Holyn Trautwein and Cambridge senior attacker Emma Earwood were also named All-Americans. Of the 22 girls players from Georgia to be named to the team, 18 were from North Fulton or Forsyth County schools. Local players were also well represented on the boys All-American team. Blessed Trinity, which went 24-0 during the 2021 season and captured the program’s second state title, had three players named to the team, the most among local boys teams. Senior attackers Riley Sullivan and Finn McCarthy and senior midfielder Wilson Van Buren earned All-America honors. Junior Lambert attacker Danny Kesselring, Roswell senior midfielder Evan Plunkett and Johns Creek senior defender Ethan Storey were also named to the 2021 squad. Local boys All-Academic honorees include; Josh McLaughlin (Fellowship Christian); Michael Schenken (Fellowship Christian); Drew Kotanian (Lambert); Greg Steckel (Lambert). Girls All-Academic winners include; Cami Merkel

stone Lane, Gainesville, was arrested July 10 on Ronald Reagan Boulevard for DUI, possession of marijuana and failure to maintain lane. John Patrick Evans, 40, of Victor, Idaho, was arrested July 10 on Wildbrooke Parkway for DUI and driving while license suspended or revoked. Dylan William Tieku, 26, of Oak Hill Terrace, Cumming, was arrested July 10 on Bethelview Road for DUI. Arseniy Navotniy, 37, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested July 10 on Peachtree Parkway for DUI, possession of methamphetamine, possession/purchase of any controlled substance, possession of schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug related objects. Milena Kormalis, 45, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested July 10 on Peachtree Parkway for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug related objects. Chanthavong Tito Senymanola, 23, of Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville, was arrested July 10 on Ga. 400 for DUI, possession of a schedule I controlled substance and failure to maintain lane. Tyler James Hlavac, 25, of Wilkie Road, Ball Ground, was arrested July 11 on Browns Bridge Road for DUI

FILE PHOTO

Milton’s Brie Catts one of about two dozen local high school boys and girls lacrosse players to be named All-Americans by USA Lacrosse for 2021.

(West Forsyth); Marley Scott (Milton); Madelaine Dora (Milton); Abby Vane (Johns Creek); Kate Vane (Johns Creek); Taylor Kozina (Milton); Madison Vane (Johns Creek); Elizabeth Shipley (Blessed Trinity); Reese Hart (Blessed Trinity); Marisa Inoa (Blessed Trinity); Katie Witcher (Johns Creek); Riley Davis (Roswell); Caroline Kardian (Roswell); Emma Earwood (Cambridge).

and possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. Michael Glen Leaptrot, 38, of Archgate Court, Alpharetta, was arrested July 11 on McFarland Parkway for DUI, failure to obey traffic control device and possession of marijuana. Barbara Ann Gunter, 57, of Helena, Alabama, was arrested July 11 on Atlanta Road for DUI, possession of open alcohol container by driver and failure to maintain lane. Carl Eugene Varesi, 60, of Pony Lake Road, Dahlonega, was arrested July 11 on Peachtree Parkway for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug related objects. Sherri Lynn Varesi, 60, of Holly Brook Road, Dahlonega, was arrested July 11 on Peachtree Parkway for possession of methamphetamine, possession of schedule IV controlled substance, possession of drug related objects and failure to maintain insurance. Anthony Michael MacArthur, 47, of Post Gate Drive, Cumming, was arrested July 11 on Hurt Bridge Road for DUI and failure to maintain lane. Gabriel Colon, 61, of Ivy Summit Court, Cumming, was arrested July 11 on Ronald Reagan Boulevard for pedestrian under the influence.

Greenway: Continued from Page 6 $11 million Greenway extension last month, a 12-foot-wide concrete path that runs from Marconi Drive to Union Hill Park. The linkup with Forsyth County is one complication the city hadn’t anticipated. “This thing’s never going to end,” Mayor Jim Gilvin said, half-joking. “We’re just going to keep extending it. We’ll connect it to the Alpha Loop next.” Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Director Jim Pryor said his department stands ready to proceed south from the county’s portion of the Greenway at its current terminus at Halcyon, but that work won’t start until the McGinnis Ferry Road widening occurs. The $60 million widening project is in its beginning stages and work isn’t expected to begin until winter. Earlier this year, Forsyth County opened two segments of its Greenway a combined distance of 5 miles as far north as the Sawnee Mountain Preserve.

COMMUNITY

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | July 29, 2021 | 13

Johns Creek City Council passes cemetery desecration ordinance By SYDNEY DANGREMOND sydney@appenmedia.com JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — For years, the Macedonia African Methodist Church Cemetery has been used as a dumping ground for lawn debris and garbage. Tucked behind homes in the St. Ives neighborhood and up a gravel drive off Medlock Bridge Road, many are unaware of its existence at all. Kirk Canaday first learned of the cemetery in 2017 when residents were campaigning to fight construction of billboards in Johns Creek. He has been dedicated to the project ever since. “It’s one of those things, something needs to be done, and it wasn’t being done,” Canaday said. He is not alone in his efforts to preserve Macedonia after years of near neglect. He has allies in the Johns Creek Historical Society, Girl Scout troops, Student Leadership Johns Creek, volunteers and most recently, the City Council. An ordinance, submitted by council members Stephanie Endres, Chris Coughlin and Erin Elwood, addresses defacement and tampering with the cemetery and includes maximum penalties of $1,000 or six months in jail. Passed on June 21, the law will work in coordination with existing cemetery desecration laws in Georgia. This is only the beginning of efforts to preserve Macedonia Cemetery and honor the people buried there, Canaday said. The city is in the process of buying the land from Fulton County, and until it’s finalized, historic landmark status and efforts to restore the area have been placed reluctantly on the back burner. Canaday has been lobbying the City Council and city manager for years to

SYDNEY DANGREMOND/APPEN

Kirk Canaday visits Macedonia African Methodist Church Cemetery weekly, helping clear debris and tend to unmarked and desecrated graves.

add a line item in the budget for the cemetery to no avail, he said. This year, however, Councilwoman Endres plans to change that. Endres said that at the July 12 work session, she will propose allocating $100,000 of the budget to maintenance and preservation efforts based in part on estimates for necessary work submitted by Canaday. First steps would include clearing the area of overgrowth and performing ground penetrating radar to get a clearer picture of the location and total number burial sites within the cemetery. Many grave sites are unmarked or have had their headstones stolen. Estimates by New South Associates, which performed a survey on the land in 2016, said there could be as many as 114 graves in the cemetery with burial dates ranging from 1893 to 1988.

Several of the deceased are known to have been enslaved people, while others were descendants of slaves, some of whom were lynched, Canaday said. Student Leadership Johns Creek has raised more than $3,000 to aid in restoration. Funds have been used to mend headstones and perform research, Canaday said. SLJC Executive Director Irene Sanders said the organization has also been awarded a grant to develop four documentary films to tell the story of Macedonia. The projects intend to bring awareness and educate the public, but Canaday made sure to communicate with Sanders that this was not a “feel good” story. The peoples buried in Macedonia were mistreated in both life and death, whether in the form of enslavement, lynchings or desecration of their graves, Canaday said. Despite its dreary history, Canaday said he remains hopeful that one day the site will be Solution properly honored. He has plans to turn the cemetery into a V O W S

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beautiful memorial garden that pays homage to those buried and allows visitors to wander comfortably and learn the history. He also hopes to rebuild the church that anchored the cemetery. Until then, Canaday will continue to lobby on behalf of the deceased and clear the land himself with a rake at least once a week.

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DEATH NOTICES James Davis Carlisle, 79, of Cumming, passed away July 17, 2021. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory.

Leonard Michael Jones, 67, of Alpharetta, passed away July 12, 2021. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Director & Crematory.

Eva Moss Cook, 97, of Cumming, passed away July 18, 2021. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory.

Homer Lee, 79, of Alpharetta, passed away July 15, 2021. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.

Ronald Bruce Downs, Sr., 81, of Cumming, passed away July 12, 2021. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory.

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Wilma Lucas, 97, of Roswell, passed away July 19, 2021. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.

Melvin Covell Nichols, 93, Roswell Funeral Homeof Cumming, passed away Green Lawn Cemetary July 20, 2021. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory. Faithfully Serving Roswell Since 1839

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Margaret Lowry, 95, of Alpharetta, passed away July 16, 2021. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.

Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Roswell Since 1839

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Mary Jane Scanlon, 93, of Milton, passed away July 19, 2021. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.

Nancy Jean Ware, 73, of passed away July 18, 2021. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory.

Roswell Funeral HomeAlpharetta, Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Roswell Since 1839

Roswell Funeral Home Green Lawn Cemetary Faithfully Serving Families Since 1839

Huijun Yin, 87, of Alpharetta, passed away July 14, 2021. Arrangements by Roswell Funeral Home and Green Lawn Cemetery.

14 | July 29, 2021 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

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270-3785 Directv Now. No Satellite. $40/mo 65 Channels. Stream news, live events, sports & on demand titles. No contract/ commitment. 1-866-825-6523 New authors wanted! Page Publishing will help selfpublish your book. Free author submission kit! Limited offer! 866-951-7214 Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-995-2490 AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/ month w/12-mo agmt. 1 TB of data/mo. Ask how to bundle & SAVE! Geo & svc restrictions

HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866499-0141

apply. 1-888-796-8850

DISH TV $64.99 for 190 channels + $14.95 high speed internet. Free installation, smart HD DVR included, free voice remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo expires 1/21/22. 1-833-872-2545

Call: 855-761-1725

30009. Saturday 7/31,

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. HOME BREAK-INS take less than 60 SECONDS. Don’t wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets NOW for as little as 70¢ a day! Call 866-409-0308

Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, CO 80201

Education & Training Train online to do medical billing! Become a Medical Office Professional at CTI! Get trained & certified to work in months! 888-572-6790. (M-F 8-6 ET)

Health & Fitness

Miscellaneous

Prepare for unexpected power outages with a Generac home standby generator 844-334-8353

Extended Warranty* A $695 Value! FREE 7-Year

Limited Time Offer – Call for Details

Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval.

*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.

Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www. dental50plus.com/58 #6258

Home & Garden

Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Español

BOLD TYPE WILL MAKE YOUR AD STAND OUT.

For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. *Offer valid at time of estimate only 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” Manufactured in Plainwell, Michigan and processed at LMT Mercer Group in Ohio. See Representative for full warranty details. CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114

In the HERALD CLASSIFIEDS

d e c o r a t i o n s , miscellaneous

Cemetery Cemetery R E S T H A V E N

YOUR AD

Milton Ave, Alpharetta.

CEMETERY: 20’x20’ plot. State of Georgia deed. $40,000. 770-362-2506

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

BUY IT, SELL IT, FIND IT!

Christmas

WILL MAKE STAND OUT.

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-855-

Wanted to Buy

Help Wanted Autos

Furniture

Homes

Services

Bargins

Household Haulers Gutters

COVERING NORTH ATLANTA – IN PRINT AND ONLINE!

Alpharetta-Roswell Herald • Milton Herald • Johns Creek Herald • Forsyth Herald • NorthFulton.com

AppenMedia.com/Forsyth | Forsyth Herald | July 29, 2021 | 15

SERVICE DIRECTORY Concrete/Asphalt

Gutters

RETAINING WALLS

AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aaronsgutters.com. Senior citizen discount! 770-934-2766

Block or Wood

Contact Ralph Rucker. Many local references. Honest, punctual, professional and reasonable prices!

678-898-7237

Handyman Matthew the Handyman - Interior/Exterior Work 404-547-2079.

Haulers

Home Improvement

Roofing

Finegan Home Improvements LLC: License #RBQA004932. R e m o d e l i n g , handyman. 34 years experience. Basements finished, decks, screen porches, doors, drywall, painting, flooring, custom kitchens, bathrooms. All insurance. Paul Finegan 404-353-5611

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Mention this ad. Concrete driveway specialists. Driveways, Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs. A+ BBB rating. FREE ESTIMATE. Call Rachael at 678-250-4546 to schedule a FREE Estimate. 30 years of experience. ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC. Please note we do have a minimum charge on accepted jobs of $5,000.

Flooring PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Re-grouting is also available. Call 678-8871868 for free estimate.

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling, Etc. Many local references-

Call Ralph Rucker

678-898-7237 Home Improvement Phillips Home Improvement We offer drywall, painting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical. Basements finished, kitchen and bath rehabs. All types flooring. Also total home rehab for those who have a rental house or one to sell. Call 678-887-1868 for a free estimate

ADVERTISE HERE!

PINESTRAW, mulch delivery/installation available. Firewood available. Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612.

Pressure Washing

PRESSURE WASHING

Residential & Commercial. Best service and most reasonable prices since 1999. Appen-Rated 99. Home: Driveways, Fences, Decks, Home exteriors, more. Commercial: Offices, Restaurants, Tennis Courts, Pools, Apt. Complexes, more. All Pro Pressurewash call 770-766-5566 for Mark.

The Herald and Crier newspapers reach 93,000 homes and thousands more online!

• Ceiling Spots • Blistering • Rotting • Buckling Spots Call For A

99 Top Rated • Appen Rated • BBB • Angie’s List

ROOF REPAIR & REPLACE

LEAKS

Call for a FREE Estimate! 770-284-3123

STOP

$200 Leak Repairs or 10% OFF New Roof

$200 leak repair. Up to 8 penetrations. (1-story house, up to 7/12 pitch). Some restrictions apply

$500 OFF* New Roof Purchase

Cannot combine with any other offer or discount. Valid GA only. Present coupon AFTER getting quote.

ROOF LEAKING? Call us for roof repair or roof replacement. FREE quotes. $200 OFF Leak Repairs or 10% off New Roof. Affordable, quality roofing. Based in Roswell. Serving North Atlanta since 1983. Call to schedule FREE Quote: 770-284-3123. Christian Brothers Roofing

Roof Repair and Replacement

*Offer expires 10 days after publication

CONCRETE

CONCRETE CONCRETE DRIVEWAY SPECIALIST

McKemey concrete

Driveways • Patios • Walls • More Call or Text to

678.648.2010

Tree Services COMPLETE TREE SERVICES Appen-Rated 98 Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment. Tree removal, Pruning, Stump grinding, Free mulch, Fully insured, Emergency 24/7 770-450-8188

99 Serving North Atlanta Since 1983. Affordable Quality Roofing. Based in Roswell.

*Offer expires 10 days after publication

Call Us For A FREE Quote

$150 OFF

Any service over $1500

Competitive Pricing Many Local References

30 Years Experience

NEW DRIVEWAYS

Pool Decks, Patios, Walkways, Slabs

$250 OFF*

Mention ad for $250 Off. New Driveway. Cannot combine coupons.

BBB A+ Rating

FREE ESTIMATE Call 678-250-4546 Minimum job is $5,000

ARBOR HILLS CONSTRUCTION INC.

TREE SERVICE

770.744.2200

770.450.8188

BOLD TYPE WILL MAKE YOUR AD STAND OUT.

Tree Services

Call or Text to

Call Us For A FREE Quote

CALL 770-442-3278 TO PLACE AN AD

ROOF TROUBLE? FREE Roof Analysis 770.744.5700

Pinestraw Driveway

ROOF

24 hour emergency service. Licensed, insured. Workers Comp, insurance claims. 25+ years experience. Family business. Free estimates. We Love Challenges! Yellow Ribbon Tree Experts 770-512-8733 • www.yellowribbontree.com

• Highest rated by customers • Tree removal and tree trimming

• We save trees too • Certified arborist • Licensed/insured

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2011 thru 2017

Call Us For A FREE Quote

98 • Tree Removal • Tree Pruning • Stump Grinding

• Full Insured • Free Mulch • Emergency 24/7

16 | July 29, 2021 | Forsyth Herald | AppenMedia.com/Forsyth

‘I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer – its dust and lowering skies.’ – Toni Morrison

August is STRAWBERRY COBBLER month at ‘Cue. Hurry in and try something amazing! And be SWEET to each other! Homemade Everything y’all!

’cue caters y’all! WINNER 2014

Best Of North Atlanta Presented By

WINNER 2015

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WINNER 2016

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WINNER 2017

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WINNER 2018

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MILTON | CUMMING | PEACHTREE CORNERS | LAWRENCEVILLE | BUFORD

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