J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 2 2 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 2 6 , N o . 2 4
City moves to ease congestion Haynes Bridge Road, Old Alabama to get $4 million upgrade BY TIFFANY MORGAN newsroom@appenmedia.com
By JAKE DRUKMAN jake@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. –– Tens of thousands of commuters who endure delays each day at Haynes Bridge Road and Old Alabama may have some relief soon. The Johns Creek City Council approved a construction contract June 6 that will pour $4.5 million-worth of upgrades to the intersection the city hopes will reduce congestion, aid traffic flow and increase pedestrian connectivity. Construction is under contract with Summit Construction for $4 million, not including a $400,000 contingency and a construction engineering inspection allotment of $89,000. Work is scheduled to begin by the end of June or early July. Funding for the project comes from the city’s portion of the countywide transportation sales tax (TSPLOST). Brian O’Conner, TSPLOST manager with City of Johns Creek, said the construction will take up anywhere from 1218 months. Traffic at the intersection will remain open and flowing when construction begins. The improvement includes changes on two legs of the intersection: • On Old Alabama Road turning north onto Haynes Bridge Road, the single left turn lane is replaced with two left turn
lanes. • On Haynes Bridge Road headed southbound, the left/through lane is replaced with separate lanes for each movement, so once improved, Haynes Bridge Road southbound will have dual left turn lanes, a through lane and a right turn lane. Work will also include a sidewalk connection along Haynes Bridge Road from Alvin Road to Berkshire Manor Drive that will tie into the existing sidewalk in Alpharetta and provide pedestrian connectivity to the Big Creek Greenway. The City of Johns Creek Traffic Count Dashboard shows nearly 20,000 vehicles
per day travel the intersection of Old Alabama Road and Haynes Bridge Road. The latest numbers, from 2020, fell dramatically from a high of 19,843 average vehicles daily in 2018, most like influenced by a decline in work commuting from the COVID-19 pandemic. By far, the busiest intersection in Johns Creek is at Medlock Bridge and State Bridge roads, which sees more than 40,000 vehicles a day. The city is in the early stages of implementing some $13.6 million worth of upgrades at that intersection that serves as a crossroads for major east-west and north-south commuter traffic.
Leadership Johns Creek graduates 2022 class
North Fulton charity names finance chief
Festival flounders from permit denial
► PAGE 3
Church marks half century in Alpharetta
TIFFANY MORGAN/APPEN MEDIA
Johns Creek City Councilman Chris Coughlin, right, remarks on the hurdles the city has faced in clearing a path for major improvements at Haynes Bridge and Old Alabama roads. Mayor John Bradberry, at left, joined in the 7-0 vote approving a $4.5 million contract for construction and engineering for the work.
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ALPHARETTA, Ga. — St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church celebrated its 50th anniversary June 4 and 5 with a small festival on church grounds on Rucker Road. The main event took place Saturday afternoon into the evening, with children and families enjoying bounce houses, face painting, a soccer tournament and a donut eating contest while the church’s choirs sang songs of prayer. The activities were followed by a large mass delivered in English and Spanish within one of the parking lots. Atlanta Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer led Saturday’s prayer. “We call upon the Holy Spirit, as the early Christians did, to continue to guide the leadership of the church and the growth of the church and the direction of the church,” Hartmayer said during the Mass. Following mass, celebrants enjoyed refreshments from food trucks and an outdoor concert in the parking lot. The
See CHURCH, Page 17
2 | June 16, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
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From left, attorney Katherine Racz Lake and suspect James Michael Coates sit inside the Fulton County Courthouse for a motions hearing on June 2. Coates is charged with the 1988 murder of an 8-year-old boy in Roswell.
Murder suspect asks to argue own case By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com ATLANTA — A Fulton County Superior Court judge adjourned James Michael Coates’ motions hearing on June 2 after it became unclear whether he wanted to dismiss his attorney and proceed on his own behalf. Coates, 56, of Woodstock, is accused of murdering an 8-year-old Roswell boy in 1988. He was arrested July 2021 after detectives with the Roswell Police Department allegedly linked his DNA to the scene of the murder. Coates pleaded not guilty to the charges in February. He is facing eight counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated child molestation, murder, aggravated sodomy, enticing a child for indecent purposes, false imprisonment, cruelty to children in the first degree,
concealing the death of another and tampering with evidence, according to court records. On May 4, Coates filed a motion to dismiss his attorney, Katherine Racz Lake. However, at the June 2 hearing, Lake said she had spoken to Coates, and he had agreed to “reset that motion” until the motions that were on the calendar that day were addressed. “I would ask that the courts give me an opportunity to go for the motions that are on the calendar today to speak further with Mr. Coates about his wishes,” Lake said. But, Adriane Love, deputy district attorney for Fulton County’s capital case and cold case unit, said the state had already filed an affidavit in support of Coates’ motion on May 4. “I want to ensure that since he has not only filed that motion, but I believe he’s filed other motions, [that they] are invalid given that Mrs. Lake is currently representing him,” Love said. “… The state would just ask that we, in order to protect the integrity of whatever happens this point forward, the court at least require of the defendant what his preferences are at this point.” After only about half an hour, Judge Jane Barwick adjourned the hearing, saying that it was to protect both Coates’ rights and prevent from having to restart the process in case Coates decides he does want to represent himself. “We are not going to go forward on any of the motions today,” Barwick said. The motions hearing will be postponed for at least 30 days.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Police arrested a Rhode Island man in Alpharetta May 31 after finding a gun in his car while he was prohibited from possessing one. Police pulled the man over because one of his headlights was out. Police reported smelling the odor of marijuana from the vehicle, and the man said he had smoked in the car earlier but that there was no marijuana currently in the car, according to the report. Police searched the vehicle and found two “partially smoked marijuana cigarettes” in the car, along with a handgun loaded with 14 rounds on the floorboard of the passenger seat. The man said the gun belonged to his friend. Police ran the man’s information and found that he had been convicted of felonies in 2003 and 2010 in Rhode Island. Police arrested Justin Barnes, 37, of Newport, Rhode Island, and charged him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
$20,000 in items stolen from clothing store ALPHARETTA, Ga. — More than $20,000 in merchandise was reported stolen from Designer Consigner on North Main Street June 3. Police responded to a burglary alarm at the clothing store around 1:30 a.m. The alarm had been activated on both the front and back door. Upon arrival, police noticed pry marks and damage to the front door frame and lock. Nobody was inside the store when police arrived. The store’s owner came to the scene to assess whether anything had been stolen. She advised police that numerous designer bags and wallets had been taken. Police noticed that a metal bar used to secure the back door had been opened, indicating that someone had broken in the front door and left through the back door, according to the report. The owner provided police a list of 48 items she could confirm had been taken, together worth a combined $20,170. She told police she would perform a more thorough inventory later.
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New class graduates Leadership Johns Creek JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Leadership Johns Creek, a program whose goal is to energize and empower community leaders, graduated its first leadership class in the past two years on June 1. The class of one dozen — the program’s smallest class ever — completed a nine-month leadership program and worked on two community programs to benefit Johns Creek. The class has begun installing seven little free libraries around the city, including at Findley Oaks Elementary and Emory Johns Creek Hospital’s peace garden. The installations are expected to be completed in the coming months. The second project involves the installation of a sensory playground at Morton Park intended for children with autism and sensory integration disorders. Due to supply chain issues, equipment for the playground is expected to be delivered for installation this fall. The Johns Creek Leadership class of 2022 includes Brian O’Connor, Vanessa Payne, Lindsey Acciarito Monroe, Deb Erwin Powell, Richard Wright, Cassandra Littlejohn, Tiffany Davis Poke, Loretta Hale, Devon Dabney, Nashica Thompson McRath, Ge Grace Zhang and Carol Hriczov.
LEADERSHIP JOHNS CREEK/PROVIDED)
Members of the Leadership Johns Creek graduating class of 2022 stand together at a graduation ceremony. This class was the first to graduate in two years due to the pandemic.
Neighborhood raises funding for special needs tennis Tournament benefits those with intellectual disabilities
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek’s Medlock Bridge neighborhood hosted its 30th annual Calcutta tennis tournament Memorial Day weekend and raised money for Special Populations Tennis. Special Populations Tennis is a nonprofit organization that offers an adaptive tennis program designed for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The group offers free programs to individuals of all skill levels, including year-round instruction, league play and tournament competition. The tournament, an established neighborhood tradition coordinated by ACE Tennis Management, saw 67 matches completed across the 12 courts. The tournament’s Bid Night raised over $5,000 for Special Populations Tennis. The neighborhood allows the organization to use its course for play and provides volunteer work and financial sponsorship to the nonprofit.
KELLY WACHS PHOTOGRAPHY/PROVIDED)
Special Populations Tennis participants stand on the court for the annual Calcutta Tennis Tournament. The Medlock Bridge neighborhood hosted its annual tournament Memorial Day weekend and raised more than $5,000 for the nonprofit.
4 | June 16, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Newspaper wins 18 press awards Appen Media, parent company for weekly newspapers like the Dunwoody Crier and Alpharetta-Roswell Herald, won 18 awards, including first place for investigative journalism, in the Georgia Press Association’s 2022 Better Newspaper Contest. Recipients include four members of the newsroom, senior designer David Brown and columnists Valerie Bigger-
staff and Steve Hudson. Best Investigative Reporting, an award that must be given to an organization instead of an individual, was awarded to Staff for reporter Chamian Cruz’s coverage of the Oxbo Road realignment project. The company also won General Excellence for its division, which includes statewide newspapers with a circulation greater than 15,000.
Here’s the full list of honors: 1st Place - Health Care Advertising - David Brown 1st Place - News Photograph - Chamian Cruz 1st Place - Serious Column - Valerie Biggerstaff 1st Place - Investigative Reporting - Staff 1st Place - Food Advertising - David Brown 1st Place - Signature Page - David Brown 2nd Place - News Photograph - Carl Appen 2nd Place - Feature Writing - Sydney Dangremond 2nd Place - Food Advertising - David Brown 2nd Place - Service Advertising - Ingram Funeral Home 2nd Place - Special Issues/Special Sections - Staff 2nd Place - Business Writing - Staff 3rd Place - Business Writing - Pat Fox 3rd Place - Page One - Staff 3rd Place - Local News Coverage - Staff 3rd Place - Spot News Photograph - Sydney Dangremeond 3rd Place - Breaking News Writing - Sydney Dangremond 3rd Place - Lifestyle Feature Column - Steve Hudson
GARAGE SALES See more garage sales in the classifieds
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Avalon draws boutique real estate firm ALPHARETTA, Ga. — The Agency, a luxury real estate brokerage founded and headed by “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Mauricio Umansky, has opened its first Georgia location in Alpharetta. The Agency’s North Atlanta office is located in Avalon at 8000 Avalon Boulevard, Suite 214. The brokerage will serve buyers and sellers across Metro Atlanta and will be led by managing partners Chad Lagomarsino and Jeff Beal, both experienced real estate professionals. “We’re delighted to introduce The Agency brand to the state of Georgia and
enter the highly sought-after market of North Atlanta,” Umansky said. “Jeff Beal and Chad Lagomarsino’s combined impressive career success and industry experience make them the perfect duo to debut The Agency’s global network and cutting-edge solutions to this thriving southern market.” Umansky is the husband of actress Kyle Richards Umansky, another star of “Real Housewives” and a recurring cast member in the “Halloween” series of horror films. The Alpharetta location marks The Agency’s 36th franchise across the
U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean. “As the real estate market in Atlanta continues to thrive more than ever, we look forward to introducing The Agency’s cutting-edge approach to our market,” Beal said. “No other brokerage offers the unmatched marketing power, tools, and technology that The Agency is recognized for, not to mention the level of service and solutions offered to agents and their clients. We are excited for what’s to come and look forward to raising the bar for our industry here in North Atlanta.” — Jake Drukman
PROVIDED
From left, Jeff Beal and Chad Lagomarsino will lead The Agency’s North Atlanta office. The real estate brokerage is led by “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Mauricio Umansky.
North Fulton Community Charities names new financial officer NORTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — North Fulton Community Charities announced June 7 that Donna Manuels has been named the nonprofit’s new chief financial officer. Manuels joined the Roswell-based organization in November 2021 as assistant controller. She joined as part of the charity’s leadership succession plan. “In the short time since she was
hired, Donna has become an invaluable asset to our team. She brings extensive knowledge, experience and talents, and we feel fortunate to have her in a leadership role overseeing finance and administration for NFCC,” North Fulton Commu-
MANUELS
nity Charities Executive Director Holly York said. Manuels brings more than 20 years of accounting experience to the job. She graduated the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, and previously served as a manager for accounting firm Brady Ware & Company, a position she held for six years. “NFCC plays such an important
role in North Fulton by helping to ease hardship and foster financial stability for the most vulnerable residents in our community,” Manuels said. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to utilize my skills and experiences toward a mission that serves my community and one that I personally believe so much in.” — Jake Drukman
DRY AND IRRITATED EYES?
Johns Creek Research Clinic is currently seeking volunteers with dry eye symptoms to participate in our research program CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE
www.johnscreekresearchclinic.com JCRCvisionstudy@prahs.com 678-415-3800
Johns Creek Research Clinic 11460 Johns Creek Parkway Johns Creek, GA 30097 Located on the ALCON campus
Construction has started and is expected to be completed in late 2024. 6 | Johns Creek Herald | June 16, 2022
Work begins on major Roswell development By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — A $101 million luxury apartment and townhome development is expected to finally replace the East Village Shopping Center on Holcomb Bridge Road. The shopping center is at the site of a former SuperTarget, which has sat vacant for the past five years. In June 2019, the Roswell City Council approved a rezoning request to convert the property into a multi-use development with residential and commercial aspects. The proposal was approved 3-2, with council members Mike Palermo and Marcelo Zapata denying the motion. On June 6, ECI Group and joint venture partner Phoenix Capital announced construction has started and is expected to be completed in late 2024. The first stages include demolishing the existing commercial buildings and constructing the project infrastructure. The development, known as Averly East Village, will include 335 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments as part of the larger East Village mixed-use development that will have 74 townhomes, 75,000 square feet of retail and a large public central green with pavilion. The project is expected to present “resort quality” landscaping, architecture and interior finishes. It is designed by Rule Joy Trammell Rubio Architects, with Truist providing construction financing.
NOLAND CREATIVE/PROVIDED
Renderings of the Averly East Village development on Holcomb Bridge Road show plans to build 335 apartments as part of the larger East Village mixed-use development with 74 townhomes, 75,000 square feet of retail and a large public central green with pavilion. Joe Miller, development manager at ECI Group, said the redevelopment plan for the East Village Shopping Center was heavily influenced by input from neighbors and other local stake-
holders. “The inclusion of live-work units in the multifamily development will help to integrate the residential component with the adjacent retail uses,” Miller
said. He added that the community green and amenity pavilion will be available for public use, making the
See CONSTRUCTION, Page 8
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Crabapple expands event sites By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com
a.m. through 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Orkin said he expects most of the activity to occur during the day. He is expected to abide by noise and other regulations. Councilman Jan Jacobus moved to approve the use permit, which received a second from Councilwoman Andrea Verhoff. The measure passed unanimously, with Councilwoman Carol Cookerly absent. In other business at the June 6 meeting, Engineering Project Manager Robert Del-Ross said Milton has brought in $33.98 million, not including interest,
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Orkin and Associates at 12630 Crabapple Road, Suite 340 is now allowed to rent out its space as an indoor auditorium after the Milton City Council approved a use permit stipulating that there be no more than 120 people at one time and no amplified music on its adjacent outdoor patio.
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MILTON, Ga. — There’s a new place for events in downtown Crabapple. The Milton City Council approved a use permit June 6 for an indoor auditorium at 12630 Crabapple Road, Suite 340, with the condition that there be no more than 120 people and no amplified music on the adjacent outdoor patio. The space, owned by Orkin and Associates CEO Adam Orkin, consists of 2,895 square feet of interior space and 900 square feet of outdoor space on the third floor of the Crabapple Market mixed-use development. Orkin and Associates plans to lease out its rooftop to individuals or small groups for events such as business networking, off-site meetings and graduations. In February, the City Council approved a definition for an “Assembly Hall, Indoor Auditorium” and a requirement for anyone who wants to open one in the Crabapple or Deerfield districts to go through the multi-committee public hearing process. Orkin and Associates is the first to apply for this type of use permit. While the Planning Commission questioned whether there would be enough parking available before recommending approval, Zoning Manager Robyn MacDonald said there were 532 available parking spaces near the business, which was more than the 524 thought to be needed based on square footage and other tenants. Moving forward, events will be permitted in the space from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 7
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8 | June 16, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Records show Atkins consulting had limited hand in Oxbo Road By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — Records obtained by the Herald May 17 support claims by city staff that engineering consultant Atkins North America had little to zero direct involvement in the Oxbo Road realignment project. The firm, based in Atlanta, was the target of criticism May 9 after the City Council approved an initial $1 million contract with the company to manage capital improvement projects funded by the second Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or TSPLOST II. Atkins was the only company to respond to the city’s request for qualifications in March. Ostensibly, the agreement runs for five years, with payment of $1 million each year. The City Council has the option to cancel the contract during the five-year term. At the same May 9 meeting, some Roswell residents raised concerns, saying that because Atkins had served as the project manager for TSPLOST I, it should not handle TSPLOST II. While TSPLOST I helped fund the Oxbo Road realignment project, it will not receive any TSPLOST II funds. The project, proposed more than a decade ago, was intended to solve a host of safety and mobility problems at Ga. 9 and Oxbo Road near Mimosa Boulevard, among other areas. An independent investigation conducted by the law firm Jarrard & Davis revealed in September 2021 that extreme mismanagement by city staff and the city attorney had led to significant delays and millions of dollars in cash settlements for the project. It also concluded the delays were due to issues with property and right-
Construction: Continued from Page 6 project a focal point for the East Roswell community. “We appreciate the cooperation and assistance of The Ardent Companies, which owns the retail component of the center, and of the residents of The Towns at East Village in making this redevelopment possible,” Miller said. Jimmy Baugnon, chief investment officer at ECI Group, said the development comes at a “particularly opportune time” because North Atlanta is experiencing explosive job and resident growth.
FILE PHOTO
Brian Bolick, Atkins vice president and southeast senior division manager, at a Roswell City Council meeting May 9. of-way acquisition, utility relocation and slow construction, all items that fell under Atkins’ scope of work as part of their previous contract but which it did not handle. In April 2017, the City Council approved a $1.2 million contract with Atkins for three years with the option to renew for two additional one-year terms. Interim Transportation Direc-
“We are excited to play our part in helping to address the shortage of new housing by building luxury residential units on what was a mostly vacant strip center in the middle of the affluent Roswell area,” Baugnon said. Andrew Scott, senior managing director and partner at Phoenix Capital, said his company is delighted to continue its long history of investing in multifamily housing in Metro Atlanta. “Opportunities in Roswell are rare, making this project an especially exciting addition to our Fund X portfolio,” Scott said. Averly East Village will also feature a pool, pool deck with cabanas, two outdoor kitchens, clubroom with gourmet chef’s kitchen, synthetic turf dog park, dog spa, two-story state-of-the-
tor Dan Skalsky said May 9 that Atkins was tasked with handling the entire transportation funding program, including a few “very large” projects like Phase 1 and 2 of the Big Creek Parkway project, but not Oxbo Road.
Brian Bolick, Atkins vice president and southeast senior division manager, said city leadership at the time decided they wanted their own engineers and project managers to handle Oxbo. The Oxbo Road project is now expected to be completed by December 2023 and cost $18.4 million, more than double the original 2016 estimate of $7 million. On May 11, Bolick sent Skalsky more than 200 pages worth of monthly progress meeting summaries for TSPLOST I it had produced as a function of the company’s 2017 contract. “Oxbo” is mentioned 121 times in the reports. However, Bolick stated in a memo to Skalsky the reports summarize the meetings conducted by Roswell Department of Transportation leadership, which included city project managers reporting on the status of TSPLOST projects they were managing as well as other non-TSPLOST related projects. The memo also states the Roswell Department of Transportation typically held monthly meetings unless there was not sufficient activity to warrant a meeting. For example, no meetings were held in 2021, because projects were either on hold, in right-of-way or complete. Skalsky said May 9 that under the 2022 contract with Atkins, the firm will be in charge of right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation, among other things. Additionally, the contract states it is to provide expertise in program/ project management, engineering, support and oversight to assist the city with specific projects and tasks. Voters agreed to renew TSPLOST for another five-year term last fall. It is expected to generate between $70 million and $80 million for the City of Roswell over that term.
art fitness center, outdoor gym, caféstyle coffee lounge with individual work from home spaces and bicycle storage. Individual apartments include quartz countertops with under-mount sinks, stainless steel appliances including a French door fridge with a bottom freezer, designer cabinets and light fixtures, tiled kitchen backsplash, vinyl plank hardwood-style flooring, private porch or balcony in each unit, walk-in closets, full-size washer and dryer in each unit and island kitchens. Floor heights vary from 9 feet, 6 inches to 10 feet. In a post on the Facebook page Coalition for East Roswell Progress, there were mixed emotions about the development. One person, David Johnson, stated the plans looked great.
“Glad to see an empty shopping center redeveloped,” Johnson wrote. “Glad to see greenspace added.” However, Ann Sigafoos Duncan wrote she was wary about the type of retail the development would attract, citing the Sun Valley development on the corner of Alpharetta Highway the City Council approved in 2017. It was set to replace an 18-acre shopping center with a grocery store, office, retail, restaurant space and up to 300 apartments. In the end, only the apartments were built. “We have more apartments on the east side, so looking at 335 more?” Duncan stated. “I bet the apartments are built first. We need real business to Roswell! Hope that our council is looking at that!”
FILE PHOTO
Interim Director of Transportation Dan Skalsky says Atkins was hired in 2017 to work on the entire transportation funding program, including a few “very large” projects like Phase 1 and 2 of the Big Creek Parkway project, but not on Oxbo Road.
Permit: Continued from Page 7 through the first Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax approved in 2016. The .75 percent sales tax is used for transportation improvements such as roads, bridges, sidewalks and bicycle paths. While the city is no longer collecting funds through TSPLOST I, Del-Ross said Milton has spent $11.67 million on TSPLOST I projects and estimates another $22.73 million in funding. However, Dell-Ross said, the city is no longer undertaking the Windward Triple Lefts Project on Windward Parkway. Originally approved in 2015, the project started as a joint effort between the City of Alpharetta, North Fulton Community Improvement District, Fulton County and the Georgia Department of Transportation, but it was later stalled when construction bids came in nearly $1 million over budget. Since then, the North Fulton CID and State Sen. Brandon Beach have worked to secure additional funding for the project. Its scope no longer includes improvements adjacent to the Milton city limits. Del-Ross said that instead Milton has started working on Tier II projects and all other TSPLOST I projects and funding are in good shape. He said the city began collecting TSPLOST II funding in April. “We are likely going to hit a point where TSPLOST I money will run out …, but there’s nothing wrong with that,” Dell-Ross said. “At some point that TSPLOST I money will complete and TSPLOST II money, which started collections a couple of months ago, will kick in seamlessly and continue moving all these projects forward.” Additionally, the City Council approved text amendments prohibiting “outdoor storage” in areas covered under the Crabapple and Deerfield form-based codes. This means that unattended donation bins, including bags, beds and other items left outside, will no longer be allowed. MacDonald said this has historically been a problem in the area and that in the last year she’s seen about eight to 10 jurisdictions pass similar changes to their city code. City Manager Steven Krokoff also said that in the past either the city or property owners have had to clean the items “when it’s gotten out of hand.” Under the new amendments, the sale of goods displayed under sheltered portions of a building must be brought inside before the business closes for the day. “That’s really the intent of trying to keep the area the way we want it to be,” MacDonald said. The measure passed unanimously. The next City Council meeting is June 20 at 6 p.m.
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10 | June 16, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
Dunwoody Crier 6/16/22 Crossword
Scout to receive Gold Award for enhancing History Walk FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A Forsyth County Girl Scout will receive the Girl Scout Gold Award, the organization’s highest achievement, for a community project she developed for the Sawnee Mountain Preserve. Clara Hamilton, a member of Girl Scout Troop 11805, developed the Forsyth County History Walk to share the county’s history in an easily accessible format with the preserve’s visitors. The county will hold a ribbon cutting for the project at 10 a.m. June 21, where Hamilton will also
receive her Gold Award. Speakers at the ribbon cutting will include county historian George Pirkle, Natural Resources Division Manager Matthew Pate and County Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills. “While the process of earning the Girl Scout Gold Award was not without challenges, it has been a rewarding experience as I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about my community and developing skills that will be vitally important to my success later in life,” Hamilton said.
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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | June 16, 2022 | 11
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12 | June 16, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
OPINION
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | June 16, 2022 | 13
For every time there is a season
The status quo is never constant. Societies, governments and economies ebb and flow like tides. And it is a colossal mistake to assume otherwise because you will always be wrong. RAY APPEN This virus, now Publisher Emeritus combined with Rusray@appenmediagroup.com sia’s invasion of Ukraine, has been a clarion call to many on a number of levels. To me, the primary message has been the impact of our collective dependence upon each other and the scope of the colleterial damage caused by that interdependence. Collectively, we have accomplished great things in the past 150 years, but those gains have come at immense, debilitating and accelerating costs. It didn’t used to be this way. We used to be much more self-sufficient. Our food used to be “local.” Local farms provided that food, and those farms were far less dependent upon fossil fuels for production and transportation. Jobs were local because manufacturing was local. We didn’t have as much; but we didn’t need as much. The world was greener, cleaner, slower and healthier. Then something happened and all our stuff had to be cheaper and produced and consumed in ever increasing quantities – almost all of it driven by cheap unlimited energy. The virus and the war have brought it home for all to see. It feels like a convergence of forces to me, a perfect storm much of our own making that has lifted its ugly head to say, “It’s time. I have come for you. This is just a taste of things to come. Get used to it.” Networked. Interlinked. Interdependent – states to states, countries to countries, hemispheres to hemispheres, and corporate nation-states to everything – and still in denial of the cost, the imminent implosion of the natural environment that has sustained us until now, an implosion caused by our addiction to fossil fuels and owning so much stuff. It always kills me when I hear someone say that it’s not realistic to stop using coal or oil, that it costs too much to move to sustainable energy. “Compared to what,” I always think, “compared to a world unfit for life for our children and their children?” Really? “Don’t you realize that your comfort and style and little conveniences are coming at the
cost of your children’s future?” You really want that stuff that bad? “Interconnected” is a double-edged sword. No chips for cars because the car makers don’t make their own chips. No automotive wiring components because much of that was manufactured in Ukraine. No on-time transportation of bulk goods by worldwide fleets because of labor shortages in ports and container shortages – shortages caused by the impact of the virus on labor, and the unraveling of the supply chain: manufacturer-to-transporter-to aggregator to retailer to ultimately, consumer. But we can still go to Walmart and buy something cheaper than almost anywhere else, right? Is it really cheaper? China manufacturers for most of the world. Large sectors of the world economies rely on these manufactured goods produced and transported cheaply using fossil fuels. Her products are moved by great fleets that burn diesel supplied by just a few oil producing countries. In the long run, in whose best interest is this? And how cheap is it really? When we consider “price” of anything today, might it be time to start including all those other indirect costs that are now starting to wreak havoc on us all? China’s economy must grow annually in the 6-7 percent range for it to maintain domestic stability. If the Chinese economy slows down or worse, all economies take big hits. Of course, there is an upside; China cannot afford or allow Ukraine to disrupt the world economy too much. That would not be in its best interest. Stand by for that story. Famine was generally blamed for the rise of Isis in the Near and Middle East and the almost fall of Syria. Food instability threatens all governments. If people don’t have food, nothing is stable. For over a century, The United States has fed much of the world. Food has always been one of our “big sticks” we have used to “manage” the world. Now drought and fire plague agricultural production in our Midwest and West in large part because of our suicidal use of fossil fuels which is causing the climate to heat up. Before the current war, Russia and Ukraine provided a large percentage of the global food supply, accounting for 12 percent of all global food exports, almost 30 percent of global wheat exports and 20 percent of corn. Most of Africa and the Middle East rely on food produced in Russian and Ukrainian. Ye-
men imports most of its food and relies on Ukraine for half of its wheat. Lebanon imports 60 percent of its wheat from Ukraine. Egypt depends on Russia for 85 percent of its wheat and 73 percent of its sunflower oil. Anyone seen any increases in food costs at the grocery store? Plan on that getting worse, maybe a lot worse. According to the U.N. World Food Programme, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the impact of climate change that has produced widespread famine in much of Africa, and the virus has increased the number of people facing severe hunger worldwide from 80 million to 276 million. Again, there can be no social stability anywhere in the world without adequate food. Almost all of the current situation directly or indirectly is tied to the use and dependence on fossil fuels and the money associated with it. Putin’s war in Ukraine is all about energy and food – strategic geopolitical assets he wants to control. Industrial food production is absolutely oil-dependent – both in its production and transportation. Small farms used to produce our food and provide a stable employment base in small towns across America. The same can be said of the manufacturing sector that used to exist. It has largely been exported to markets where labor is cheaper and cheap oil-based energy is used to transport the finished products to market. But, at what cost? What is the cost of being so reliant upon “somewhere else” for our food, for our manufactured goods, for our energy, for our jobs? What is the cost of perpetuating our crazy out-of-control consumerism, our conveniences, our indulgences, on the back of cheap cli-
mate-killing oil and coal-based energy? Wat is the cost of trying to sustain this “life” we have created in the West – a life that is not sustainable? If we could step back and change course, even if we have to pay more for our local food, our local jobs, our local stuff, and our simpler way of life, there is still a chance. Individual change is where we start to heal – little things you and I can do. Consume less. Consider the carbon footprint of the product. Think about how far away it was made and the cost to transport it. Look at the packaging. Seek local sources. Patronize local vendors. And the politicians, that’s the easy part; vote them out. If they don’t support “green” 100 percent, if they continue to suck at the teat of the energy lobbyist and big business, vote them out, out, out. In a recent interview, Richard Powers, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning “The Overstory,” describes our current situation far more succinctly. He says: “We are now engaged in a massive, communal, consensual sleepwalk, a trance that we can’t even see, under the spell of individualist humanism and commodity culture that we call inevitable progress. The fact that the blessings of contemporary life have been won at the expense of a disastrous depletion of natural capital remains almost invisible to most of us.” Any way you spin it, he is right. We all know it. The time – the season – for change of the status quo, is now, not tomorrow. We can’t continue to not see what we are doing. For every time there is a season – turn, turn, turn. It’s not too late.
14 | June 16, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
PRESERVING THE PAST
OPINION
Baseball, tomatoes and the ‘Mater Man’ When James Ray Bagwell (1929–2021) passed away last year, our area lost a colorful and appreciated citizen. Born in Alpharetta, James attended Milton High School and the University of Georgia BOB MEYERS where he played outfield for the Bulldogs’ baseball team. He led the team in RBIs and home runs in his senior year. In 195,0 he signed with the Detroit Tigers and played with the Jamestown, N.Y. Falcons and the Thomasville, Ga. Tigers, both Tiger farm teams. He spent the next four years in the Army at Ft Rucker, Alabama, where he played baseball while earning the rank of lieutenant. He was married to Sarah Hughes Bagwell (1920–2015) in 1954. James was a baseball player at a time when baseball was king in Alpharetta, Milton and the surrounding area. Boys raised on farms played the game with bats or sticks on ball fields or open pastures. Some, like George Napoleon “Nap” Rucker (1887 – 1970) and his nephew Johnny Rucker (1917–1985) were born in Crabapple and are the stuff of legends. Nap pitched for the Brooklyn Superbas/ Dodgers and led the league in shutouts during his 10-year career. Johnny, “The Crabapple Comet,” played outfield for the New York Giants for six seasons. James Bagwell, on the other hand, decided that being a farmer took precedence over baseball. After serving in the Army, he returned home to his 30-acre family farm in Webb, Georgia, where he started a dairy business. With 200 cows he produced milk for the Atlanta Dairies cooperative until 1974 when Ga. 400 construction cut through the dairy, making it necessary for James to sell his property. His daughter, Selena Bagwell Turner, operated a feed store on the adjacent property until 1994 (Atlanta Dairies closed in 2004). Next, he bought his family’s current 15-acre property on Tidwell Road in Alpharetta adjacent to his mother’s parents’ property. He planted a few tomato plants in his garden, which through word of mouth grew to become a substantial business, earning him the title of “The Mater Man.” He grew several varieties, especially Big Beef, accounting for about half of his crop, Parks Whoppers and Early Bird. Today 1,200 to 1,500 plants are put into the ground every year by his descendants who run the tomato business. James had the gift of gab and loved
James Bagwell, The Mater Man, among his tomato plants circa 2010.
James Bagwell played outfield on the Fort Rucker, Alabama, baseball team in the early 1950s after being a star player at the University of Georgia. Bagwell is fourth from left, middle row. to talk about baseball, politics and local family history with his customers. His grandson, Kyle Turner, says “people quickly learned that they could not out talk him.” Sometimes, folks would stop by just to chat – or listen – and pick up a few tomatoes of course. Somehow baseball and tomatoes seemed to go together
when gabbing with James. Carlos Lee Bagwell, a cousin and close friend, describes James as “a hard worker and a good businessman with strong opinions that he was not afraid to express. Baseball and tomatoes were his summer passion.” Good news, Selena and her sons,
PHOTOS BAGWELL FAMILYU/APPEN MEDIA
James Bagwell played baseball at Fort Rucker, Alabama, in the early 1950s, playing outfield during his four years in the U.S. Army. Kyle and Ryan Turner, and their wives, Adrienne and Hayley, will continue to grow and sell tomatoes at the farm when the tomatoes are ready in July. Address: 180 Tidwell Drive, Alpharetta. Face Book: Mater Man Produce. Bob is the Milton Historical Society Director Emeritus. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net.
OPINION
GET OUTSIDE GEORGIA
AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | June 16, 2022 | 15
They come from below (and they sting)! We outdoor writer types live by a rigorous code, a code that’s every bit as demanding as any. We are required, among other things, to be Fearless In All Situations. That means that we must STEVE HUDSON Get Outside Georgia, be able to handle aa4bw@comcast.net outdoorsy things like avalanches and tsunamis in stride and without even blinking. Otherwise, we might miss The Big Story. Right? Say that a couple of us Outdoor Writer types are out there in the wilderness somewhere, maybe walking on the Big Creek Greenway and looking for signs of Bigfoot. Exactly why we are looking for Bigfoot on the Greenway is unclear, but there we are… and suddenly there’s a roaring avalanche! What if all that collapsing snow distracted our attention at the critical moment when Bigfoot himself splashed through the creek and then crossed the Greenway 50 feet in front of us? What if we missed that and could not report it to you? See, that’s why we have to be fearless, with steely concentration and nerves of purest steel. As it turns out, the secret international organization which governs such things actually requires a signed and notarized affirmation of “fearlessness.” This must be submitted in triplicate, by the way. And don’t even think about learning the secret handshake until this has been done! Yes, being an Outdoor Writer is a heady thing. “But why are you telling us these secret things?” you ask. To be honest, I tell you these things to set the stage for a confession. You see, when I submitted my application to the committee, it is possible that I might have fudged just a wee tiny bit on one aspect of that fearlessness thing. No, it wasn’t snakes. Or wild, deranged hogs. Or scorpions, skunks or giant killer squid. Instead, it was yellow jackets. There. I said it. I am absolutely and truly terrified of yellow jackets. I know they won’t eat me, like that killer squid might. But they’re sneaky little devils. They tend to be aggressive. And they sting (and that hurts).
So, I will go to great lengths to avoid them. My buddy and I were hiking at Sweetwater Creek the other day. He was about 20 feet in front of me on a narrow trail when he turned and called back, “Be careful as you pass these rocks. I think there might be a yellow jacket nest under that first ledge.” That was all it took. Suddenly in my mind the ledge was surrounded by flashing red “DANGER” lights! Klaxon horns were sounding! Armed guards with bazookas and swords were waving me off! Who was I to argue with swords? So, I gave the rock a wide berth, scrambling through a 5-acre patch of poison ivy and 10 miles of militarygrade thorn bushes to bypass the rock and get safely back to the trail. Alas, it was not my finest moment. Hopefully it was also not the moment that Bigfoot decided to enjoy a picnic on those very rocks. But it could have been. I’ll never know. Darn you, yellow jackets. So how does one deal with yellow jackets while enjoying the outside world? That’s a surprisingly practical question. Yellow jackets are out there by the zillions, as anyone who has spent any time in the outdoors knows, but there are some things you can do to minimize the odds of an unpleasant encounter. First, consider the casual encounter with a yellow jacket or two or three – you know, like when you stop trailside for lunch. You break out the food, and here they come. Open food draws them like magnets, it seems. But so do floral
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scents (think “shampoo” or “deodorant” or other scented products) and even bright colors or flower-like patterns on clothing. Maybe that’s why so many hiking clothes are gray or olive. The solutions to this one are straightforward. Avoid floral scents, bright colors, and (as much as you can) open but uncovered food. A second and possibly more unsettling scenario is the inadvertent encounter with an honest-to-goodness yellow jacket nest. Yellow jackets nest in enclosed places. Hollow logs are favorites. So are underground cavities such as chipmunk burrows. The portals to these nests can be anywhere, even right in the middle of your favorite hiking trail, and it may take nothing more than an unfortunate step from you (or your dog) to sound the alarm. This takes on special significance if you’re hiking single-file with a group, since the folks at the front can stir up a nest and leave a horde of riled-up stinging insects for the unsuspecting folks bringing up the rear. The best way to avoid such problems is to be “yellow jacket aware.” If you notice insects zooming into or away from a single spot on or near the trail, there’s a good chance you’re seeing yellow jackets coming and going. You might even be able to spot the entrance to their nest. Trust your ears, too, for you may be able to hear the buzzing – something which can provide a valuable (but also kind of terrifying) warning. Should you swat a yellow jacket if it comes near you? For that matter, should you throw rocks at the nest or poke it with a stick? Not good ideas! If
you aggravate even one yellow jacket, it will release alarm pheromones that quickly alert all its buddies and put them in “defense” mode. But what if, despite your best efforts at avoidance, you still accidentally stir up a yellow jacket nest? One thing NOT to do is stand there and panic. You will not be able to ward off the swarm by jumping about and flailing your arms, no matter how impressive that display may be! Instead, get away as quickly as possible. That means “run.” You may still get some stings, but by moving away fast you may be able to reduce the number. If you’re allergic to stings, it goes without saying that you should always carry an Epi pen or other emergency treatment. Yellow jackets are just part of the outdoor world, and sooner or later you’ll encounter them. Remember, when you’re in the outdoors, you’re in their backyard. But they’re as interested in leaving you alone as you are in leaving them alone. Keep that in mind. Keep your eyes and ears open, and you’ll up the odds of a good day on the trail.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PUBLIC NOTICE PURPOSE An Alcoholic Beverage License Application was summited to City on June 9, 2022 for Consumption on Premises of Malt Beverage, Wine and Distilled Spirits. BUSINESS NAME Treats Hospitality LLC Dba Treats Hospitality LLC 11705 Jones Bridge Rd Suite C201 Johns Creek, GA 30005 OWNER/OFFICERS Treats Hospitality LLC Dba Treats Hospitality LLC 11705 Jones Bridge Rd Suite C201 Johns Creek, GA 30005 Owner, Sunanda Marvanthe
16 | June 16, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
OPINION
Free speech and guns – a winning combination PAT FOX
Managing Editor pat@appenmedia.com
Let’s talk about the First and Second Amendments. Not those two – the original ones. The original First Amendment created a formula to determine the size of the House of Representatives based on the population of the United States in 1789.
It didn’t pass. The original Second Amendment set out to define when Congress can change its pay. That didn’t pass either. What we know today as the First Amendment prohibits the government from depriving us of certain freedoms – religion, speech, the press, peaceful assembly, and it allows a path to redress grievances with the government. It begins “Congress shall make no law…” Pretty clear. In his distinguished 34-year career on the Supreme Court, Associate Jus-
tice Hugo Black said as much. He was the driving force behind the 1964 Times v. Sullivan decision that declared freedom of speech protections in the First Amendment restrict public officials from suing for defamation. Black also sat solidly behind the press in the 1971 Pentagon Papers case in which The New York Times published damaging evidence about the government’s involvement in Vietnam. Black wrote: “…Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government.” I’ve made my living, raised a family, paid my mortgage thanks to the First Amendment. I get edgy whenever someone tries to mess with it. I don’t like it. And yet… People have messed with it – a lot. There are libel laws sometimes used to intimidate reporters from pursuing stories. Libel laws ostensibly restrict the press from unjustly defaming individuals and organizations. Also, newspapers cannot copy information verbatim or run a photo from a published work without facing a suit over copywrite infringement. What gives?
The Constitution says “Congress shall make no laws…” Well, I’m willing to discuss it. Pretty much everyone in the newspaper business loves discussing it. The “press” is the only profession, by the way, specifically cited for protection in the Constitution. One of the best expressions of that distinction came from Justice Potter Stewart in his dissent opinion in a 1971 case involving police searches of newsrooms. “Perhaps as a matter of abstract policy a newspaper office should receive no more protection from unannounced police searches than, say, the office of a doctor or the office of a bank. But we are here to uphold a Constitution. And our Constitution does not explicitly protect the practice of medicine or the business of banking from all abridgement by government. It does explicitly protect the freedom of the press. I love that. On the other hand, should I be able to pick out of the air some local businessman and publish an article saying he is a shady no-goodnik who parks in handicapped stalls?
I’m willing to discuss that or any other matter relating to the First Amendment and the press. Let’s hold a town hall. Now, concerning the Second Amendment… I don’t like anyone messing around with the Constitution – not the First, Second, Third or any other amendments. I grew up in the rural Midwest and spent a lot of my youth hunting, so I’m familiar with guns. Many of my friends own one. We want to keep them, too, for a variety of reasons. We all came by our firearms legally, and we all took safety courses on their proper use. By golly, we’d probably be willing to talk to other people about our guns, maybe discuss safety and care, whether we’d ever loan one to a high school senior or whether we’d give one to a certified manic depressive. There are some people who won’t talk about these sorts of things, though. Around 50 of them are in the U.S. Senate. There are a lot more in the Georgia Legislature. They won’t discuss it.
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AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek | Johns Creek Herald | June 16, 2022 | 17
Health inspector denies permit for Crawfish & Catfish festival By JAKE DRUKMAN jake@appenmedia.com
Church: Continued from Page 1
PHOTOS BY JAKE DRUKMAN/APPEN MEDIA
Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer leads Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church’s 50th anniversary celebration June 4.
celebration drew a diverse crowd of hundreds to enjoy the festivities. On Sunday, the church held its regular mass and opened an exhibit showcasing artifacts and history of its 50-year history. Monsignor Daniel Stack, St. Thomas Aquinas’ pastor, enjoyed the air of fun and family Saturday afternoon. He said that while nobody had a crystal ball, he felt good about the church’s next 50 years.
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church’s Head Pastor Monsignor Daniel Stack, left, stands with one of the church’s former pastors during its 50th anniversary celebration June 4.
Balloons commemorating St. Thomas Aquinas’ 50th anniversary float suspended from a lamppost during the church’s celebration June 4.
CITY OF JOHNS CREEK PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2022 AT 7:00 P.M. CITY OF JOHNS CREEK MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: MONDAY, MONDAY JULY 25, 2022 AT 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11360 LAKEFIELD DRIVE, JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA 30097 The following Land Use Petitions and Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment are scheduled for public hearings: LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION:
RZ-22-0003 The Providence Group 5545, 5560 Abbotts Bridge Road, 11245 Parsons Road CURRENT ZONING: AG-1 (Agricultural District) PROPOSED ZONING: CUP (Community Unit Plan District) PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: 29 lot single-family detached residential subdivision at a density of 2.86 units/acre.
CUMMING, Ga. — The North Georgia Crawfish & Catfish festival, which was scheduled for June 4 and 5 at the Cumming Fairgrounds, was forced to shut down after health inspectors denied the event vendor a food permit. The festival’s event coordinator, Michael LaHaye, had gotten two Cajun-style chefs, Jonathan “Johnny Boy” Babineaux and Louisiana Sue, to fly in for the event. Babineaux was set to cook up the crawfish and seafood along with another chef, while Louisiana Sue served as an event consultant. LaHaye had also booked a number of live musical acts, including Ashton Brooke Gill, a Louisiana musician of “American Idol” fame. With the venue secured, entertainment booked and chefs set to cook the 1,500 pounds of crawfish he’d ordered, LaHaye expected the festival — the first he’d ever organized — to go relatively smoothly. That plan fell apart the morning of June 4, just as the event kicked off. LaHaye had applied for two temporary food service permits for the event from the Forsyth County Environmental Health Department for the food vendors. The food safety inspection was scheduled for 11 a.m. the day of the event, and the inspector showed up at 10. Babineaux was setting up his cooking station when the inspector arrived. The second vendor was running late and had not yet arrived at the fairgrounds. Over the course of the inspection, the inspector cited a dozen food safety violations, including boxes of food being left on the ground, improper food storage and improper hand washing stations. The inspector denied the food service permit for Babineaux’s cooking station, prohibiting him from selling the seafood. LaHaye said that when the other chef arrived at the festival at 10:30 a.m., the inspector told him, “Don’t even bother.” A representative of the Georgia Department of Public Health District 2, which includes Forsyth County, said the violations were not able to be remedied during the inspection, resulting in the denial. LaHaye disagreed. “[The crawfish] was on the ground in a box because he’s getting ready to take it out of the box, put it on a tarp and rinse it, then start boiling,” LaHaye said. “Crawfish comes from the ground, it comes from the mud, but it’s in a box, and it’s a temporary situation.” One of the violations included the absence of a refrigeration truck that had been approved by the health department.
I really had a good time, I met a lot of people,” Babineaux said. “I just kind of made the best of it. I know it was hard for Michael, and it was hard for everybody.” JONATHAN “JOHNNY BOY” BABINEAUX Cajun-style chef LaHaye said the truck had broken down on the way to the event, and he had used ice boxes provided by the Cumming Fairgrounds to keep the crawfish cold. LaHaye said he scrambled to get food trucks to the festival to avoid having to cancel it, but only one truck came out. He said rumors began spreading on Facebook that the event had been shut down, even though it had not been canceled. Ultimately, LaHaye decided to cancel the festival’s second day. LaHaye said he heard from nearby food trucks and restaurateurs that health inspections in Forsyth County have a “reputation” for being difficult. He said one of the reasons he had difficulties securing more food trucks to come out was because they knew the health inspector was around. LaHaye said he lost about $35,000 on the festival. Babineaux said he hadn’t been able to fully set up his station because the inspector showed up early. He said he attempted to fix the issues the inspector noted, but that the inspection lacked reasonable flexibility. Babineaux has experience putting on crawfish boils, and he said he didn’t think the inspector knew how they’re usually operated. Despite the bad experience with the inspector, Babineaux said he still enjoyed the festival. He said the Cumming police and fairgrounds staff were great to work with. “I really had a good time, I met a lot of people,” Babineaux said. “I just kind of made the best of it. I know it was hard for Michael, and it was hard for everybody.” LaHaye was less optimistic about the situation. He said he initially intended for the festival to become an annual event, but he doesn’t think he would do that anymore, especially in Forsyth County. He said he may have to set up a GoFundMe to pay for expenses from the festival.
18 | June 16, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
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20 | June 16, 2022 | Johns Creek Herald | AppenMedia.com/Johns_Creek
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