Johns Creek Herald - August 31, 2023

City leaders share Town Center update

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Last week, representatives from Johns Creek’s business community got an update on the city’s Town Center development, which is poised to bring industry, park space, restaurants and retail to 192 acres near the McGinnis Ferry Road and Johns Creek Parkway intersection.

Johns Creek Economic Development Director Randal Toussaint and other city leaders

PROFILE

shared news about the project and the 42-acre Medley multiuse development, which will anchor the future Johns Creek Town Center, at the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce meeting Aug. 23.

Toussaint, who spoke at length about the project during the meeting, said that many good things are happening, and the future of the project is bright.

“Oct. 31, 2025, We’re expected to have 100 percent

See UPDATE, Page 14

Rivermont Golf Club turns 50 Page 8

BUDGET SURPLUS

City council hits pause on medical weed

Allots $8 million to Creekside Park

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — The Johns Creek City Council voted to stall medical cannabis dispensaries in the city for 90 days to study their appropriate zoning districts.

Before the vote at the Aug. 22 regular meeting, Community Development Director Ben Song said city staff received two inquiries about Johns Creek opening a medical cannabis dispensary in the past month.

“We were sort of caught off guard because generally we would treat it as just any other commercial use, which will be permitted in C-1, just like any other pharmaceutical or pharmacy,” Song said.

Since Georgia’s Hope Act passed in 2019, the possession and sale of low-level THC oil has been legalized as medicine for people with qualified conditions, like cancer, Parkinson’s disease and autism. Song said the current state law allows for up to six

PHOTOS BY ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

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Car passenger flees police with warrant

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police pulled over a Johns Creek woman Aug. 14 for driving with a suspended license but found her passenger had an active warrant for theft.

The passenger, a Johns Creek man, told police his license was “taken away” when police asked if he could take possession of the driver’s vehicle, the police report said. But when information returned that the passenger had an active warrant for theft by taking, he exited the vehicle and ran on foot westbound on Plantation Bridge Drive.

Police caught up with the passenger, placed him in handcuffs and transported him to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta. Police charged him with obstruction of law enforcement officers.

Suspects take legos, headset from Target

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police arrested two men Aug. 16 for giving false names after they were caught shoplifting from Target on State Bridge Road.

Police were provided with the suspect’s vehicle description and tag number. Store clerks were not able to identify what the suspects stole, the police report said.

Police located the suspects, a Decatur man and a man from Snellville, and saw multiple items in their backseat with security seals

including four LEGO sets, a headset and a Google Wi-Fi booster. When police confronted the two suspects, they both provided fake names.

The report said Target did not want to prosecute but wanted the suspects trespassed. So officers charged them with giving false names and were transported to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta.

Police arrest driver for excessive speed

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Police stopped a driver on McGinnis Ferry Road for speeding at 60 mph in a posted 45 mph zone Aug. 17.

When police ran tag information on the driver, a Lawrenceville woman, they learned her license was suspended for a failure to appear in Suwanee. As the officer waited for assistance to conduct a search, the driver began honking and yelling, the police report said.

Police asked the driver to exit the vehicle and placed her under arrest. As police placed the driver inside their patrol vehicle, she began calling the officer racial slurs, the report said.

Police transported the driver to the North Fulton County Jail in Alpharetta. Police charged her with speeding and for driving with a suspended license.

Victim reports $15,200 in jewelry purchases

MILTON, Ga. — A Milton woman reported to police Aug. 17 that she discovered more than $15,200 in fraudulent charges made to Kay Jewelers using her store credit card.

While the woman is in physical possession of the credit card, the police report says she never activated it but enrolled in-store during the purchase of a piece of jewelry.

The woman showed police her final

payment of $390 made on June 18 of last year, but three more purchases were made in Locust Grove and Snellville.

She filed a fraud report with Kay Jewelers in April, the police report said, but the business sent a letter to her stating its investigation was complete and that it deemed her responsible for the debit.

The woman told police she had never been to either of the locations where the purchases occurred, and that she believes there is more evidence that can be obtained from the store, including video footage and transaction information.

White Columns security reports Instacart threats

MILTON, Ga. — A man working security at White Columns guard house on Freemanville Road reported to police Aug. 19 that an Instacart driver threatened to shoot him.

The man said the driver, a Milton woman, was attempting to drop off an order in the neighborhood. When they got into an argument after he inquired about the address of the suspect’s destination, the suspect allegedly threatened to shoot him and said her husband works for the CIA. Police went to the suspect’s address to gather her account. But she told a different story, saying she never threatened the man with violence.

The man was working on obtaining video footage of the interaction, the police report said. He also told police he would testify in court if charges were pursued against the suspect.

Here are the candidates for Johns Creek council

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Johns Creek announced four candidates who have qualified for the City Councils’ post 2, 4 and 6 seats up for election on the November ballot.

Three incumbents are seeking another term, and only one has a challenger. Councilwoman Stacey Skinner will defend the Post 2 seat against Devon Dabney, who serves as the co-chair for the city’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment Committee.

Elected to fill an unexpired term in 2021, Skinner has previously served on the Johns Creek Board of Zoning Appeals and volunteers in other capacities around the community.

of assessment for a management consulting company and has served on city task forces, including one for mental health wellness.

Elected in 2019, Councilwoman Erin Elwood is seeking another term in the Post 6 seat. Elwood works as an attorney and recently became a new owner of Johns Creek Books and Gifts.

Municipal elections

Nonprofit plans program on navigating dementia

Phone: 770-442-3278 www.northfulton.com

Appen Media has covered the movement in North Fulton toward city-run municipal elections since breaking the story in August 2021.

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SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Atlanta chapter of Adult Children of Aging Parents will host a free program on communicating with loved ones who have dementia Sept. 13 at the Town Square Sandy Springs Adult Day and Alzheimer’s Resource Center.

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Retired U.S. Marine honored in Roswell

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell City Council honored a local veteran and police officer at its Aug. 14 meeting.

City leaders named United States Marine Corps Cpl. Jacob Hughes, a Roswell police officer, an “Esteemed Veteran of Roswell” for his service overseas in Romania and Japan. Huges, who was honorably discharged in 2018, has since worked for police departments in Roswell and Marietta.

“His training in the United States Marine Corps has been extremely beneficial in performing

his duties as a police officer,” officials said. “He knows that combat training in quick response and de-escalating challenging situations has helped to keep the citizens of Roswell safe.”

During his time in the Marine Corps, Hughes earned the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal and many other awards.

— Alexander Popp

Roswell Fire Department improves response times

ROSWELL, Ga. — The Roswell Fire Department reported steady improvement in its response time to calls since 2021.

From January to June, fire officials said the department’s 90th percentile response time, which records how quickly the department responds to nine out of 10 emergency calls, was a full minute and 3 seconds faster than last year’s number. It also

marked a 1 minute and 38 second improvement from June 2021.

“In June of 2023, the Roswell Fire Department achieved an average response time of 5 minutes and 46 seconds to emergency calls,” City Fire Chief Joe Pennino said.

The department attributes its success to automatic vehicle location dispatch, the dedication of its first responders and fluid

communication between employees. Automatic vehicle location, or AVL, dispatch is a technology that uses GPS data to dispatch the nearest emergency vehicle to the site of a call.

The Milton Fire-Rescue Department also uses AVL dispatch.

Alpharetta Fire Administration Chief Philip Seabolt said the Alpharetta Fire Division does not

use AVL dispatch due to signal loss in city fire stations. However, Seabolt said the department’s firefighters are trained to dispatch the nearest unit to an incident when a call is received.

Roswell fire officials said the department is seeking part-time firefighters and will soon hire fulltime positions.

— Shelby Israel

Park study: Chattahoochee River bolsters North Fulton community

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — National Park Service officials said more than 3.5 million people visited the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in 2022, spending millions of dollars and bringing thousands of jobs to North Fulton County communities.

A recent National Park Service report shows that $176.6 million was spent around the park in 2022, supporting 2,372 jobs in the area. The Chattahoochee River National Park is a 48-mile waterway corridor stretching from Buford Dam in Forsyth County to Peachtree Creek in Atlanta.

“Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area provides great opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Atlanta region and attracts many out-of-town visitors,” Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Superintendent Ann Honious said National Park Service economists gathered this data as part of a nationwide park visitor spending analysis. Officials said the study showed the lodging, hospitality and

restaurant industries were most affected by park attendance in 2022. Officials said that 312 million visitors spent nearly $24 billion directly around national parks.

“Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 300 million visitors every year.”

To learn more about the Chattahoochee River National Park visit www.nps.gov/chat.

— Alexander Popp

Metro Atlanta police agencies report 2022 asset forfeitures

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

METRO ATLANTA — While public safety departments across Metro Atlanta receive annual funding from local governments for operational costs, a portion of these agencies’ expenses are covered through local asset forfeiture.

A forfeited asset is property or currency that has been determined to be the benefit or proceed of a crime by a state superior court judge.

Once an agency is granted a forfeited asset, it is distributed among the law enforcement groups that participated in the investigation. Assets that are not currency are assigned a fair market value and may be liquidated through sales, such as on auction-based sites like GovDeals and PropertyRoom or through a Federal Firearms License holder.

State law requires departments to report annual asset forfeiture funds to the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a financial reporting database for local governments.

Alpharetta, Roswell, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs and Forsyth County each reported a list of expenses covered by forfeited assets in the 2022 fiscal year to the Carl Vinson Institute.

Combined, the Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs police departments and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office reported some $398,675 in expenses covered by forfeitures.

Milton Police Capt. Charles Barstow said the Milton Police Department initially did not provide an asset forfeiture report to the Carl Vinson Institute due to an oversight. The report has since been submitted, and it is pending approval by the institute as of publication.

Of the six Metro Atlanta agencies that have available reports, Roswell was the biggest spender, recording around $140,174 in expenditures covered by state forfeiture funds. Some of these expenses included training, employee travel, equipment and facilities.

The Dunwoody Police Department reported the lowest dollar amount of expenditures at $20,917, which covered training; law enforcement awards, museums and memorials; training; investigation; and facilities and equipment.

According to state law, local law enforcement agencies can use funds derived from forfeited assets “for any official law enforcement purpose at the discretion of the chief officer of the law enforcement agency receiving such distribution,” if the use does not replace other funds that have been appropriated for the purpose, or for salaries or rewards to employees.

DATA: CARL VINSON INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT CHART: CARL APPEN/APPEN MEDIA Data for Milton was unavailable. A police official told Appen Media the city did not submit their report due to an oversight, but had remedied it after it was brought to their attention.

Alpharetta provided a detailed list of expenses from its confiscated assets fund, including firearms, customized public safety Yeti cups and phone chargers.

Police departments can also cover specific types of training with forfeited asset funds. Roswell and Johns Creek offered its officers Brazilian jiu jitsu, which officials said is effective in reducing injury to suspects and officers during arrests.

“There's no difference in how we spend the money, whether it comes federally or locally,” Alpharetta police Lt. Andrew Splawn said. “But once we have the money, it can be spent on things like training, equipment, initiatives. In fact, much of our second floor is paid for with asset forfeiture money. We got a SWAT bus and some other high-dollar items that are typically hard to budget for.”

For aiding in federal investigations, local agencies can also participate in the Equitable Sharing Program, an asset forfeiture effort operated by the United States Department of Justice that allows assets or proceeds from federal crimes to be liquidated.

The Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation

NOTE

Funds received through the Equitable Sharing Program are counted as federal expenses but are still considered forfeited or confiscated assets in local jurisdictions’ budgets. This story contemplates only state expenditures.

participate in the program. Local task forces that participate in investigations related to each federal branch are eligible to receive funds from assets forfeited from the crimes.

Many agencies employ officers on task forces that are related to the federal law enforcement branches, such as the highdensity drug trafficking area or financial investigation teams.

Students flee carnage of Hawaiian wildfire

Local woman aids couple who lost everything

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — As the wildfires slowly enclosed Hawaii’s historic coastal town of Lahaina, Kristina Benbow quickly grabbed her laptop, wallet and passport.

“The smoke that was starting to get really black – we were starting to see orange and red,” Benbow said. “At this point, we were sobbing.”

She and her friend Natalie Moning are in their final year of pharmacy school at the University of South Carolina. To have some fun during their nine one-month rotations, they applied to a Walgreens in Lahaina and arrived at the home of Bill and Lorri Robusto July 30, about a week before the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history.

The Robustos have been integral to the Lahaina community for more than 20 years, with Bill as the pharmacist at the town’s Walgreens. He retired last year after a 46-year career in the field but continued to host students in the guest house behind his home, a 5-minute walk from the beach.

In an aerial shot taken a day after the group escaped, the Robustos’ property had been reduced to ash. Only the frame of Bill’s Ford pickup truck was left standing.

According to an Aug. 18 report from Maui Now, more than 2,100 acres have been burned in Lahaina, aided by winds from Hurricane Dora. There have been 114 deaths. Local media

have also reported more than 1,000 people remain unaccounted for.

There was no outside communication for the town of Lahaina. Power went out at 4 a.m. that Tuesday morning, Aug. 8., and cell phone service had been lost.

After Benbow and Moning were sent home from Walgreens, they arrived at the Robustos at 10 a.m., and heard

See LAHAINA, Page 11

pharmacist, and his wife Lorri for a month to work at a local Walgreens.

A part of our mission is to help businesses in Johns Creek connect, grow, and thrive. One of the ways we fulfill this mission is by helping business professionals grow their networks. All are welcome to the following networking opportunities for little to no cost, so please join us! The schedule is subject to change so to stay up to date with all the information visit the Calendar on our website or give us a call.

Wednesday 9:30 – 11:00AM

11695 Johns Creek Parkway

1st Floor Meeting Area

Come prepared with business cards and your 45-second pitch about your business! From these meetings, you will form relationships, create business opportunities, and share information with Johns Creek Business professionals.

Men’s Happy Hour Networking

4th Thursday of the Month 4:00 – 5:30 PM

Location subject to change check the calendar on our website.

This event allows male professionals in the Johns Creek area to expand their referral network. So come on join your fellow gentlemen friends – and make new ones- at this monthly event! Chamber membership is not required and there is no admission for this event, just pay your own tab.

4th Thursday of the Month 9:00 – 10:30 AM

Location subject to change check the calendar on our website.

Our Women’s Networking Connection is a great platform for women in business to come together to build strong connections with other businesswomen. Whether you own, run, or have a women targeted business you’ll enjoy great networking, great referrals, and great conversations!

Johns Creek Herald | August 31, 2023

Rivermont Golf Club celebrates after 50 years in the game

By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — It’s not often that you hear of a family owned and operated golf club, or one that takes so many environmentally green measures, but that’s Rivermont in Johns Creek.

Chris Cupit, owner and general manager of Rivermont Golf Club, is the son of one of the guys who started the place in 1973. In July the club hosted the Georgia Amateur Championship for the first time as part of a week-long celebration to mark its 50th year. There were also parties for the club’s 700 members and a night of fireworks.

Cupit and his mother Lynda are neighbors and live on the golf course. Cara, Cupit’s sister, will soon run a Pilates studio that was recently built next to the clubhouse. A brown spritely dog named Hobbes, after “Calvin and Hobbes,” acted as an escort to the new building.

Cupit said family-owned private golf clubs are an unusual model. There are member-run clubs, he said, but there’s an increasing number of companies who consolidate.

“We have to be successful, and we have to make money because it’s our livelihood,” Cupit said. “But our focus is on so much more. My mom will say it’s her ministry.”

Family history

Cupit sat in his office on the second floor of the clubhouse, stately and tastefully dated, describing the story of his father David, how he came over from a big golfing family in Texas. David, who died in 2003, was one of 10 kids, and one of five who became a golf professional.

Cupit’s father moved to Atlanta and began working at the Atlanta Country Club in the ’60s, then Ansley Golf Club. Before making Rivermont what it is today, David was the first head golf professional at Dunwoody Country Club.

The Cupits became the sole owners in 1988 and since then, have fostered a sense of community among its members and beyond, like with the Rivermont Women’s Association.

While the club never had any exclusionary policies like other clubs at the time, Cupit said his family recognized the ladies wanted to be more involved and allowed not only members, but also women in the surrounding neighborhood to join.

The association has an investment club, a book club, a lunch bunch and several bridge groups. That day, about a dozen women played the card game in the dining area. The association also regularly brings in guest speakers.

See GOLF, Page 9

PHOTOS BY AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

Chris Cupit is the owner and general manager of Rivermont Golf Club, where he lives. The club, located on Rivermont Parkway in Johns Creek, celebrated 50 years in operation this year and hosted the Georgia Amateur Championship for its first time in July.

A member drives along the cart path to his next swing. Rivermont Golf Club prides itself on environmentally green, organic course maintenance.

If we can help people find friends and develop relationships, and have fun being together, centered around golf … that’s what we want.

CHRIS CUPIT, owner and general manager,

Rivermont Golf

Club

Golf:

Continued from Page 8

Eye on environment

Rivermont Golf Club has become known for its innovative green practices.

To fertilize the course, the club’s “mad scientist” Mark Hoban brews compost tea using worm manure, or worm castings, fish hydrolysate and mycorrhizal fungi, brought in from different areas around the country like Alaska.

Hatcher Hurd, former editor and writer for Appen Media, detailed Hoban’s positive impact on Rivermont in a story from 2015. Hurd reported Hoban’s “organic maintenance philosophy” earned him the Environmental Leader in Golf award from the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation.

Cupit said Rivermont uses less than a pound of nitrogen per acre in a year, whereas golf courses tend to use four to five pounds of nitrogen per acre annually. Homeowners typically use one to two pounds of nitrogen per acre, he said.

He also said Rivermont’s irrigation uses recycled water.

“We’re the last bit before it goes in

the Chattahoochee,” Cupit said. “So instead of all the runoff going from the neighborhoods going right into the river, we capture it.”

A social sport

There’s 100 people waiting to become a member at Rivermont, Cupit said, in part due to the growth in golf’s popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Golf was one of the few things people could safely do.

The pandemic reminded everyone of how they’re social creatures, he said, contributing to the mission of Rivermont.

“If we can help people find friends and develop relationships, and have fun being together, centered around golf … that’s what we want.”

While he didn’t follow his father’s footsteps as a pro, Cupit played golf in college and involves himself with the game today whether it’s through volunteering with the Georgia State Golf Association or with the United States Golf Association as a rules official.

Cupid said he loves golf because it has some “old fashioned values,” defined by walking with a bag and not being bombarded by screens, and he enjoys that the game is “primal.”

“You get to hit a ball with a bat,” he said. “It’s fun to whack something.”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

A new Pilates studio was recently built next to the right of Rivermont’s clubhouse. Classes are expected to begin in September.

City Calendar & Events! 2023 SEPTEMBER

September 3

Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga

Newtown Park - 10 a.m.

September 4

Labor Day City Offices Closed

September 5

Free Outdoor Fitness

H.I.I.T.

Newtown Park - 9 a.m.

September 6

Free Outdoor Fitness - Barre

Newtown Park - 10:15 a.m.

Free Outdoor Fitness

Zumba

Newtown Park - 6 p.m.

September 7

Free Outdoor Fitness

Strength & Stability Class

Newtown Park - 10:30 a.m.

September 9

Summer Concert “Who’s Bad”

Newtown Park - 6 p.m.

September 10

Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga

Newtown Park - 10 a.m.

September 11

Patriot Day Commemoration

Newtown Park - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga

Newtown Park - 6 p.m.

September 12

Free Outdoor Fitness

H.I.I.T.

Newtown Park - 9 a.m.

City Council Work Session

City Hall - 5 p.m.

City Council Meeting City Hall - 7 p.m.

Public Hearing for the FY2024 Budget

City Hall - 7 p.m.

September 13

Free Outdoor Fitness - Barre

Newtown Park - 10:15 a.m.

Free Outdoor Fitness

Zumba

Newtown Park - 6 p.m.

Recreation and Park Advisory Committee

City Hall - 6:30 p.m.

September 14

Free Outdoor Fitness

Strength & Stability Class

Newtown Park - 10:30 a.m.

Arts, Culture, & Entertainment Committee

City Hall - 6:30 p.m.

September 16

Pup-a-Palooza

Newtown Park - 1 p.m.

September 17

Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga

Newtown Park - 10 a.m.

September 18

Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga

Newtown Park - 6 p.m.

September 19

Free Outdoor Fitness

H.I.I.T.

Newtown Park - 9 a.m.

September 20

Free Outdoor Fitness - Barre

Newtown Park - 10:15 a.m.

Free Outdoor Fitness

Zumba

Newtown Park - 6 p.m.

Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee

City Hall - 6:30 p.m.

September 21

Free Outdoor Fitness

Strength & Stability Class

Newtown Park - 10:30 a.m.

September 24

Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga

Newtown Park - 10 a.m.

September 25

Free Outdoor Fitness - Yoga

Newtown Park - 6 p.m.

September 26

Free Outdoor Fitness

H.I.I.T.

Newtown Park - 9 a.m.

Board of Zoning Appeals Special Called Meeting

City Hall - 7 p.m.

September 27

Free Outdoor Fitness - Barre

Newtown Park - 10:15 a.m.

Free Outdoor Fitness

Zumba

Newtown Park - 6 p.m.

September 28

Free Outdoor Fitness

Strength & Stability Class

Newtown Park - 10:30 a.m.

September 30

Summer Concert “Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra”

Newtown Park - 6 p.m. Scan

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Forsyth County officials celebrate new amenities at Lanierland Park

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County officials gathered Aug. 19 at Lanierland Park for a ribboncutting ceremony to celebrate new recreational amenities opening this fall.

The $16.5 million expansion marks phase two of the Lanierland Park

master plan and is funded through SPLOST VII revenues and impact fees.

New amenities include additional parking; a football and lacrosse fieldhouse; a walking path; an allinclusive playground; a Miracle League field; four baseball and softball fields; four pickleball courts; and six

tennis courts.

“The new amenities and facilities at the park have something for everyone to enjoy,” County Parks and Recreation Director Kirk Franz said.

Lose Design handled consulting for the project, and Astra Group Inc. provided general contracting.

Lahaina:

Continued from Page 6

shingles ripping off surrounding homes from the violent winds. Beach chairs and tables slammed into the house.

“It was like out of a movie,” Benbow said. “It was very scary.”

Flames trickled down a hill across the street from the neighborhood, first seen by Lorri who had stepped onto a neighbor’s roof. There was a fire truck out there, but no one in authority gave orders to evacuate their area.

Everyone was on their own.

“The lack of knowledge of what was happening was really difficult,” Benbow said.

It wasn’t until the group heard explosions – propane tanks at a gas station down the street – that they gave themselves five minutes to pack belongings.

They left at around 5:30 p.m., but others didn’t leave for another hour.

“We would pass by people on the road, and we’d roll down the window, and be like, ‘Hey, do you know what’s going on?’” Benbow said. “No one really knew.”

As they were leaving the neighborhood, flames were to the left

Participants of Miracle League, a nonprofit for adults and children with special needs, performed a ceremonial first pitch on the new field and held a game exhibition after the ribboncutting.

— Shelby Israel

and right, but the Robustos stayed positive with the hope that winds would go the opposite direction. They told Benbow and Moning not to worry and did what they could to distract them, with pictures of cats and videos of whales.

“They were fantastic,” Benbow said.

After hours of driving, the group finally found a hotel room outside of Wailea, and Benbow made first contact with her family in Roswell. There wasn’t any sleep that night, and Benbow says when she closes her eyes to sleep nowadays, she sees the flames coming down the hill and has thoughts about what she could have done differently.

But she says she’s getting better, surrounded by family. Moning, too, is back with family in Maryland.

Since FEMA arrived on the island, the Robustos have been placed in a condo on the other side of Maui and have seen major support from Benbow and Moning, who launched a fundraising campaign to help them rebuild their lives. As of Aug. 21, nearly $27,000 has been raised.

“We’ve been blown away,” Benbow said. “There’s been complete strangers donating. It’s been incredible. We’ve been very thankful to everyone who has donated.”

To make a donation to Bill and Lorri Robusto, visit www.gofundme.com/f/ maui-fires-robusto-family-home.

A drone image of Bill and Lorri Robusto’s home in Lahaina, Hawaii, shows it reduced to ash following wildfires that devastated the community, reported to be the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history.

KRISTINA BENBOW/PROVIDED

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Update:

Continued from Page 1

occupancy and the grand opening,” he said.

As an “eatertainment” destination and “third place” beyond work and home, Medley will consist of 200,000 square feet of commercial space, which includes 80,000 square feet of retail, 60,000 square feet of restaurants and up to 60,000 square feet of entertainment use. The site will also feature 110,000 square feet of office space, 137 feesimple townhomes and 750 luxury multifamily units.

Plans call for two multifamily parking decks, more than 12 acres of civic space and nearly 3 acres of amenity space.

In the larger Town Center project as a whole, leaders said that residents should expect to see large investments from industry-leading companies like the Massachusetts-based Boston Scientific, which has chosen to build its new facility in Johns Creek, as well as public investments in the form of park space and infrastructure improvements.

“That project alone is going to generate over 300 new jobs within the City of Johns Creek and their new research facility being constructed across the street is going to be a capital investment of about $68.5 million,” Toussaint said.

City leaders said that for too long, Johns Creek residents have looked outside of the city, to places like Alpharetta, Cumming, Sandy Springs and Buckhead for places to spend their time and money. A recent study

by the city reportedly showed they are losing about $1 billion in retail revenue each year by not having an Avalon or Halcyon-style development.

They also believe the lack of places to go in Johns Creek for shopping, dining and fun, has had a definite chilling effect on the city’s long-term prospects of attracting young, welleducated and highly-paid residents.

But all of that will end with the completion of the Johns Creek Town Center.

“Think about the spending power of those students, think about where they would want to work after they leave high school and go off to college. The answer should always be, right here in our community,” Toussaint said. “We’re at a moment in which we’re actually beginning to create the types of jobs that our amazing schools are producing talent for.”

Additionally, Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce members heard from Parks and Recreation Director Erica Madsen, who spoke about Creekside Park, a greenspace and trailway that will connect different areas of the Johns Creek Town Center with multiuse paths.

Public Works Director Chris Haggard also spoke about the many transportation and infrastructure projects that will be required to complete the Town Center project.

Officials do not have a groundbreaking date slated for the Town Center yet, but said that it will be announced in the coming months.

A groundbreaking for the Boston Scientific facility is tentatively scheduled for this September.

Amber Perry contributed to this report.

ALEX POPP/APPEN MEDIA

Public Works Director Chris Haggard answers questions about infrastructure improvements at a meeting held Aug. 23 by the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce.

Halts:

Continued from Page 1

The oil must contain less than 5 percent THC. The product is different from CBD, which does not contain THC and is already being sold in the city.

Other North Fulton cities have issued a similar moratorium on dispensaries in previous years, including Alpharetta and Roswell.

Earlier this month, Dunwoody officials finalized an amendment to their zoning ordinance, allowing medical cannabis dispensaries in all their commercial districts but with a 1,000foot separation state requirement from schools, daycare and places of worship. Dunwoody also required a 2-mile separation between the businesses.

After Song’s presentation, Mayor John Bradberry requested city staff also look into the age requirement of tobacco sales to align the city ordinance with state requirements. In 2020, Georgia enacted a law that raised the age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21.

“I’m definitely hearing some things about how the age that kids are getting access to some of these things is getting lower and lower,” Bradberry said.

Councilmembers were all in favor of the moratorium, some sharing the same sentiment as the mayor. Councilwoman Erin Elwood said she supports the decriminalization of marijuana but understands the need for proper safeguards for young people in the community.

Also at the work session, the City Council continued its discussion on how to allocate $8.5 million in fiscal year 2023 surplus funds. Bradberry brought

forth the need for $350,000 in retention bonuses for public safety and another $200,000 for city offices, and the council gave unanimous support.

Johns Creek Community Development Director Ben Song presents information on medical cannabis dispensaries and the need for a related 90-day moratorium to study the city’s zoning districts Aug. 22 at a City Council work session. Later that night, councilmembers voted unanimously to stall applications for the dispensaries. operators with 30 dispensaries statewide.

However, there was tension when discussing how the rest of the money would be spent, while keeping in mind the fiscal year 2024 budget, to be based on the newly adopted rollback rate of 3.646 mills.

Councilmembers were given a few options, but most of the conversation rested on funding Creekside Park or setting aside money to replace Fire Station 63, the city’s oldest fire station, in the future.

While the City Council conceded to send nearly $8 million to Creekside Park, it was a close call. Some stayed with their concerns about banking on next year’s surplus to fund Fire Station 63, which needs $6 million.

“That’s way too risky,” Councilwoman Stacey Skinner said.

But when Councilman Larry DiBiase later shared similar concerns, Elwood said the city will have around $19 million leftover for fiscal year 2025 after budgeting for operations to fund the fire station with certainty.

“We will have money to fund the fire station,” Elwood said. “We just may have to make some decisions.”

Using funds previously set aside, the City Council later agreed to move forward with a $418,438 design and engineering contract for the new Fire Station 63. The building will be combined with a police south substation.

“I do want to emphasize this project is important for us internally,” Recreation and Parks Director Erica Madsen said at the work session. “We’re pulling together expertise from across all the different departments to really make this project a success.”

AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA

PRESERVING THE PAST

A story of three different churches

In a sense, this week’s column is a sequel to a recent column I wrote telling the story of Amariah Hembree (17811855) and the house he built in Roswell around 1834, along with its modern day restoration and renovation. Amariah and his family together with 13 other Christians met in the Hembree home on July 16, 1836, to establish the Lebanon Baptist Church. It was named after the community of Lebanon and was to be the first church in the area to welcome black members.

Caroline Dillman in her seminal book, “Days Gone by in Alpharetta and Roswell Georgia,” described Lebanon as “a thriving village,” located in the general area from where Holcomb Bridge Road goes over Big Creek to the intersection of Highway 9 and Holcomb Bridge Road. Early Roswell pioneering residents such as Roswell King and people living in other local areas depended on Lebanon for their supplies, post office and services such as blacksmithing.

Amariah’s son James, a carpenter, built a structure, possibly a log cabin, on Houze Road about a mile from the Lebanon business center to serve as a church reportedly at a cost of $158. A cemetery was built next to the church. During the Civil War in 1864 Union soldiers badly damaged the church. Repairs were done but a new church was built at the corner of Highway 9 and Holcomb Bridge in 1866 where it remained for about 130 years.

In 1996 the Lebanon Baptist Church purchased 28 acres on Crabapple Road which is the church’s current home.

The original cemetery remains on Houze Road. The cemetery is not easy to find and is surrounded by houses. Some 145 memorials are there. Most of the tombstones are illegible. Many original church members are buried in the cemetery including at least 20 members of the Hembree family and more than 70 unmarked fieldstones, most likely anonymous black graves. One identified slave named Jone worked in the home of John Bulloch, grandfather of former president Theodore Roosevelt. Amariah Hembree and his wife Sara Minton (1781-1856) are buried in the cemetery. Burials took place until the 1980s, although most took place many years earlier.

Two slaves, Burt Hembree and his brother Alec Hembree, were ordained

as ministers by the Lebanon Presbytery circa 1839/40.

Around 1847-1855 the black congregation of the Lebanon Baptist Church established their own church, the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and cemetery. Burt Hembree was the first pastor with Alex Hembree serving as a deacon. The original church, located at the corner of Holcomb Bridge and Highway 9, is gone. The Pleasant Hill Church purchased land and built a new church on Pleasant Hill Street in 1922 with members contributing the labor. In 1963 the building was replaced by a new church in the same location. The cemetery was established in 1855 and has more than 112 graves. It is located off Old Roswell Place. Burials continued until the early 1960s.

Circa 1871 white members of Lebanon Baptist Church donated land for a missionary church and school which was built in 1885 at Zion Circle in Roswell by a group of African American Christians. The original one room Zion Missionary Baptist Church building was destroyed by fire in 1885. Its replacement was severely damaged by fire in the early 1960s and torn down in 1963 to be rebuilt the following year. In 2001, Zion moved in to a new 77,000 square-foot building on Zion Circle.

Thus, three historic and successful Roswell churches, The Lebanon Baptist Church, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church

and the Zion Missionary Baptist Church, are linked together over time in unique ways. Brian Peterson, Senior Pastor of the Lebanon Baptist Church since 2012, says “The partnership and faithfulness in the gospel of these three churches for more than a century is a clear demonstration of the sovereign grace of

God.”

Bob is director emeritus of the Milton Historical Society and a Member of the City of Alpharetta Historic Preservation Commission. You can email him at bobmey@bellsouth.net. Bob welcomes suggestions for future columns about local history.

PHOTOS BY BOB MEYERS/APPEN MEDIA

The Lebanon Baptist Church cemetery has some 145 memorials including members of the founding Hembree family and many blacks in mostly unmarked graves.

This is the sign at the entrance to the Lebanon Baptist Church cemetery on Houze Road.

BOB MEYERS

Columnist

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Have a question? Ask a master gardener.

Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEVs) assist the UGA Cooperative Extension in providing horticultural information using research and the resources of the University of Georgia. Here are a several recent questions that came to the help desk at the Fulton County Extension office.

Question: My Bartlett pear bloomed beautifully in early spring, but then the stems started turning brown and died. I’ve learned it may be due to fire blight so I cut off as much as I could and sterilized the pruners. It still looks like the tree will die. Is there any remedy for this disease?

Answer from MGEV Dana Hallberg: I’m sorry for the loss of your pear tree due to fire blight. As you have already done, prune any affected plant parts, making sure to clean pruners with isopropyl alcohol or disinfectant wipes between cuts. This will help prevent spreading the disease. Dispose of pruned limbs in the garbage or burn them. Next year, apply fungicides/bactericides preventively. Most fungicides will not make a difference on plants that are already showing symptoms. The publications above have suggestions about pruning symptomatic branches, along with information on what products to apply and when.

Question: I’ve noticed large mounds in a mulched area in the alley behind my house and huge hornets flying around the mounds. There are also some dead cicadas on the ground nearby. I managed to get a few photos of the hornets. What are they and do I need to be worried?

Answer from Extension Agent Gabrielle LaTora: Your photos confirm that these are not actually hornets, but Eastern cicada killer wasps! Cicada killers, even though they’re huge, are not aggressive and are only interested in hunting cicadas. The male wasps like to “patrol” and

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might be more interested in people than the female wasps, but they can’t sting. Females are very unlikely to sting unless they’re being handled or accidentally squeezed. The adults are busy during mid-late summer building their nests and collecting cicadas for their larvae inside the nests. They should be done flying by early September. The larvae will overwinter in the spots where the mounds are and emerge next year from those spots. I wouldn’t expect a huge explosion in the population, but you will see wasps in that area next year if you leave the mounds. If you decide to remove them, you can apply insecticides listed for wasps or grow plants or turfgrass in that spot. If you decide to disturb the mounds during the summer, I would do so at night when the females are inactive, and wear protective clothing (or leave it up to the professionals!).

I would encourage you and your neighbors not to worry about them and to leave them alone since they’re great pollinators and beneficial predators of cicadas.

Question: What can I do about ambrosia beetles in my crape myrtle and fig trees?

Answer from Extension Educator

Norlethia Harris: Unfortunately, once you start seeing signs of an ambrosia beetle infestation there is not much you can do to get rid of them. The beetles bore into the trunks of trees and produce frass (insect poop) that looks like toothpicks sticking out of the trunk. This is the main sign that you have the beetles. Ambrosia beetles also inoculate the tree with a fungus that feeds the emerging larvae. This fungus then clogs up the vascular system of the tree and affects its ability to take up water. If you are seeing signs of the beetle on a small number of branches, we recommend pruning the infected limbs and safely burning or bagging them and removing them from the site. If the damage is more extensive, you will have to remove and dispose of the entire tree to prevent the beetles spreading to other trees.

Ambrosia beetles are attracted to trees that are stressed, e.g., trees that may not be receiving the right amounts of water, nutrients from the soil, or are stressed from the environment. The two

If you have a question about your landscape or garden, contact the North Fulton UGA Extension Office at 404-613-7670 or northfulton.extension@uga. edu. Or find a local UGA Extension office by calling 1-800-ASK-UGA1 or visit https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices.html.

deep freezes we had this past winter (in December and March) resulted in trees being stressed and susceptible to the ambrosia beetles. The best solution to an ambrosia beetle attack is early identification and early removal and disposal of infected plant material. You also want to make sure that the trees remain as healthy as possible. This means planting tree species that are suited to our climate here in Georgia and to the particular characteristics of your yard or landscape and fertilizing and watering

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About the author

This week’s “Garden Buzz” guest columnist is Gabrielle LaTora, agriculture agent in Fulton County’s Extension office. An entomologist by training, Gabrielle is interested in insects on farms and in gardens and is passionate about closing the gap between people and their food. In addition to helping coordinate Fulton’s Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program, Gabrielle oversees the North Fulton Community Garden, answers clients’ questions about gardening and natural resources, works with urban farmers, and delivers educational programs for Fulton County residents.

GABRIELLE LATORA

Guest Columnist

Is tithing one of your financial imperatives?

In Newtown Park in Johns Creek there is a free lending library in what looks like a big birdhouse. Walking in the park almost every day, I always check the library to see if there’s a new book that piques my interest. Recently I finished “Blue Like Jazz,” a book by Donald Miller billed as “nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality.” A semi-autobiographical work, it’s a collection of essays and personal reflections of a young man wrestling with his conscience midst secular surroundings as he seeks to better understand the nature of God and Jesus, and the need for an authentic personal response to that understanding.

In a chapter on the subject of money, after learning that a friend, who always seemed broke and, in many ways, appeared to be nonreligious, tithed, Don confessed to his pastor that he gave no money to the church. Rick, the pastor, asked

why he didn’t give, and Don replied, “Because I have no money. Everything goes to rent and groceries. So am I exempt?” Acknowledging Don’s tough financial situation, Rick said, “Nope. We want your cash.” After a brief conversation, Don speculated that maybe he made about a thousand dollars a month as a struggling writer. Rick said the church wanted a hundred dollars, ten percent, and counseled, “You should also know how much you make. Part of the benefit of giving a portion of your money is it makes you think about where your money goes. God does not want us to be sloppy with our finances, Don.”

One reason folks engage a financial planner is because they don’t want “to be sloppy with finances.” They desire a well-thoughtout and disciplined approach based on defined goals and objectives and life transitions timelines. In planning what your money and investments should do for you, questions are posed. Writer Mitch Anthony, in his best-selling book, “The New Retirementality,” offered a way to think about money based on Abraham Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs.” At the base of a pyramid titled “Maslow Meets Retirement,” Anthony starts

with “survival money,” funds needed to handle everyday expenses and necessities. At the next level up is “safety money,” a reserve to meet “life’s unexpected turns,” emergency money.

Next you have “freedom money,” funds for life’s fun things, hobbies, travel, dining out, theater, sports, plus personal growth and education, etc. Higher on your pyramid, is “gift money,” funds for the people and causes about which you care deeply, including support and gifts to children, grandchildren, charities, etc. Sometimes “sandwich generation” needs for offspring (whether minors or adults over age 18), or aging parents or grandparents, may necessitate funding expenses out of cash reserves or deferring “freedom money” aspirations. At the top of your pyramid is “dream money,” perhaps for a second home, motor home, boat, exotic trips. Dreams often are listed as “bucket list” items.

In talking with clients early in the planning stage, it is useful to understand religious preferences and affiliations as some folks practice tithing. For many, tithing, money donated for God’s purposes comes “off of the top,” given as part of “survival money” with faith that our Lord will

provide. When Don decided to tithe, he emptied his checking account that contained only eight dollars. But shortly thereafter he got a lucrative writing gig with a magazine plus well-paid speaking engagements at retreats and conferences. Each time he took ten percent off of the top for his church and another ten percent went into a savings account. His life, attitude, earning power, net worth, and sense of wellbeing, improved dramatically. As an advisor I have heard the same story over and over; those who give time, talent, and treasure to causes about which they care report getting more done with more energy and success in work and play. Interesting how that works!

The concept of tithing one-tenth of your income first appeared in the Old Testament. Leviticus 27:30 instructs, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” The 10% requirement specifically comes from the Hebrew translation of tithe, or “ten.”

Philanthropy is an important aspect of financial planning, which can be combined with prudent tax

See TITHING, Page 20

Roxy kills a Copperhead in a late-night battle

The way I see it, there are three ways to look at snakes.

There are those who pay the creatures no mind.

Others are fascinated and will participate on social media sites trying to one-up one another when it comes to identifying whether you’ll be close to bodily harm should you step on one like it while walking barefoot in the yard.

But majority rules whenever folks are anywhere near one of these slithering creatures. They refuse to leave the house until someone has blasted the reptile to smithereens. They’re the ones who quote the Bible about snakes being “evil,” quoting Genesis and relaying how the no-good belly-crawler tricked Eve and now we have a passel of bad things because Eve didn’t refuse the apple.

In my house, everyone except me is scared to death every time someone says there is a snake in Forsyth County. We used to have a big, gorgeous white king snake that would use our yard as a thoroughfare every summer.

“Welcome back, Whitey,” I would say. “Help yourself. Treat our lot like it’s your own Golden Corral.”

Vicki and the boys, whenever there is a snake on the premises, lock the doors, close the shutters and turn out the lights, refusing to go outside until Dad has given assurances that “Mr. No Shoulders” has departed.

My brother Matt refuses to visit because there are snakes in Georgia. I’ve told him you can step around a snake to avoid it. How can you dodge an earthquake.

So far, you’re probably thinking: “Okay, he’s a little goofy and kinda likes good snakes that eat bugs and whatnots.”

A recent occurrence in the neighborhood could have turned out a lot worse. In summary, there was an

encounter where the final score turned out to be Roxy, the 80-pound pit bullmix, besting a Copperhead in a fight to the finish.

As part of a bedtime ritual, neighbors Josh and Alethea let Roxy out to do her business before bedtime. Roxy didn’t want to go to bed, instead staring at the grass.

Josh said she was very lethargic and not herself. She was producing a Niagara Falls amount of drool and still staring out into the yard.

If Roxy was a boxer, she would have been dancing with her arms stretched to the sky like she was Muhammad Ali after a win.

Josh investigated, grabbing a flashlight, paying little mind to the stick in the yard. After all, the stick wasn’t moving. Roxy had vanquished a six-foot Copperhead, but not before the snake bit Roxy an estimated five times.

It must’ve been a whale of battle. Roxy was hurting and needed help. It took two vials of antivenin and a stay at All Pets in Alpharetta, a facility that

luckily had the antidote to the poison that was coursing through Roxy’s body. She was discharged after a night of treatment and came home.

She was in excellent hands. After all, Alethea is a nurse. Roxy received antibiotics and there was no sign of infection or necrosis. All told, with the antivenin costing $495 a vial, the entire episode cost Josh and Alethea around $2,000.

It was a most unfortunate encounter and the snake didn’t mean to put a hurtin’ on Roxy. After all, it was just being a snake. And now it’s a hatband.

Copperheads are around these parts, and they aren’t looking for a fight. If you see one, don’t shoot it, unless it’s with a water hose. They just want to eat a mouse or a frog.

Mike Tasos has lived in Forsyth County for more than 30 years. He’s an American by birth and considers himself a Southerner by the grace of God. He can be reached at miketasos55@gmail.com.

LEWIS J. WALKER, CFP

Columnist

The Investment Coach

MIKE TASOS Columnist

Continued from Page 19

planning. Some Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the oppressive Roman Emperor. Pointing out that Caesar’s face appeared on the coin of the realm, Jesus replied, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s;

and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21). For those blessed with significant income and net worth, it’s prudent and acceptable to minimize taxes while doing good. Various types of trust vehicles may be employed. Gifting common stock with embedded taxable capital gains may make sense compared to giving cash. Insurance vehicles may provide tax free cash to heirs while some of the estate assets go to charity. Those taking mandatory

CITY OF JOHNS CREEK Nesbit Ferry Road Improvement Project Public Information Open House

September 14, 2023

6:00 PM

The community is invited to provide input on the Nesbit Ferry Road corridor improvement project at a Public Information Open House on Thursday, September 14 at 6:00 PM at Mount Pisgah Christian School (Student Commons), 9875 Nesbit Ferry Road.

City staff will discuss recommendations for improvements to address traffic operations, pedestrian accommodations, and safety needs along the Nesbit Ferry Road corridor between Holcomb Bridge Road and Old Alabama Road. Residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the project. For those not able to attend in-person or online, meeting materials and an online comment form will be available on the city website.

Allison Tarpley, City Clerk

Tithing: Support

distributions from qualified retirement plans like 401(k) or IRA plans, may donate up to $100,000 per year as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to approved charities while having the money excluded from taxable ordinary income. That may help to lower Part B Medicare premiums.

Mark Victor Hanson, author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” opined, “Discover the joy of giving and you will discover the reason for living.” Life

without purpose is a train wreck.

Lewis Walker, CFP®, is a life centered financial planning strategist with Capital Insight Group (CIG); 770441-3553; lewis@capitalinsightgrp. com. Securities & advisory services offered through The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), which is otherwise unaffiliated with CIG. Lewis a Gallup Certified Clifton Strengths Coach and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

See solution Page 22

PC TECHNICIAN

Sawnee EMC is seeking a PC Technician to review PC and network system capabilities; inspect personal computer equipment; prioritize and schedule repairs; and coordinate help desk activities. Requires an associate degree with a minimum of three years of experience in LAN/Network design, configuration, installation, and PC troubleshooting. Position is fulltime; must be flexible to work irregular hours as necessary, to include evenings and weekends.

Must have a thorough working knowledge of administering and maintaining the latest version of Windows Operating Systems; MS Office products; Office 365; internet configuration and technologies. Must have strong verbal documentation and customer service skills. Strong abilities performing monitoring, testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, and administration of WAN/LAN infrastructure, SCCM, Power Shell, iPhone, iPad, Airwatch, MDT, Intune and KMS.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, September 1, 2023. Apply online: www.sawnee. com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

Senior Quality Assurance Analyst – positions offered by Aptos LLC (Alpharetta, GA). Analyze the functionality of our applications and design automated tests to validate performance. Work w/ crossfunctional teams (Dev, QA, Business Analyst, DevOps) in test automation activities across the organization. The pay range for the Senior Quality Assurance Analyst position of $124,268 per year plus annual bonus. Starting salary may vary based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the position being offered, location, education, training, and/or experience. Employee reports to office in Alpharetta, GA, but may telecommute from anywhere in the U.S. Apply online: at: https://www.aptos.com/careers

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Workforce Development Coordinator is responsible for developing programs and services for NFCC clients and students seeking employment, post-secondary education, or other career options. The workforce development coordinator collaborates with local employers to help match job seekers to open positions. They work directly with clients on the job application, resumes, and interview preparations and provide tips for successfully securing and improving employment to foster financial stability.  Bachelor’s degree in a human services, human resources, or other related field required and 2 years of professional experience in human services, human resources or career counseling preferred.

To view the entire listing visit https://nfcchelp.org/ work-at-nfcc/. To apply, please submit resume to Carol Swan at cswan@nfcchelp.org.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE CLERK

Sawnee EMC is seeking an Accounts Receivable Clerk to reconcile consumer accounts and process members’ transactions (i.e., Cash, Check, Credit Card, or Money Order). Will supply information to customers and resolve customer inquiries through face-to-face communication. Requires: high school diploma or equivalency, proficiency in mathematics, monetary, and general office skills. A minimum of two years of related experience preferred. Position is full-time; must be flexible to work irregular hours, to include evenings and weekends.

Applicants must complete an application prior to 5 PM, September 8, 2023. Apply online: www.sawnee.com/careers. If you require a paper application or an alternate format, please contact us at 770-887-2363 extension 7568.

Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer of Females, Minorities, Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. Sawnee EMC is VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Drug Free Workplace.

VETERINARY TECHNICIANS & ASSISTANTS: Dunwoody Animal Medical Center is hiring! Send resume to office@dunwoodyamc.com

Part-time

Donor Operations Associate

The Donor Operations Associate greets and removes donations from vehicles and sorts merchandise in a designated area.  They are responsible for keeping the merchandise secure, all areas free of debris and the donor door area neat and clean.  This position is the face of NFCC so they are expected to provide excellent customer service and treat each donor with a professional and friendly demeanor.  High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Ability to perform low to moderate facility maintenance tasks.  To view entire listing visit: https://nfcchelp.org/work-atnfcc/  To apply, please complete an application for employment and email to Marten Jallad,  mjallad@nfcchelp.org.

Tree Services

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

COMPLETE TREE SERVICES

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Text or Call us for a FREE quote appointment.

Tree removal, Prun ng, Stump grinding, Free mulch. Fully insured. Emergency 24/7. 770-450-8188

Roofing

ROOF

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

Driveway

$250 OFF NEW DRIVEWAY!

Flooring

PHILLIPS FLOORING

Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes. Regrouting is also available. Call 678-887-1868 for free estimate.

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