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DEA reports 53-pound fentanyl seizure in Sandy Springs
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — A joint operation between local and federal law enforcement netted the largest fentanyl bust in state history March 21 at an affluent apartment community in Sandy Springs.
The bust netted around 240,000 – or 53 pounds – of fentanyl pills, 11 pounds of powdered fentanyl, more than 2 pounds of cocaine, 1 pound of methamphetamine and two firearms, according to the agencies’ social media
POLICE BLOTTER
All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Police still searching for forgery suspect
MILTON, Ga. — A Milton pharmacist at the Walmart Pharmacy on Windward Parkway called police after receiving an alert on a refill for 90 pills of Xanax.
The pharmacist told police that he had filled a prescription for the same person from the same doctor in early February. However, the person trying to pick up the current prescription was not the same.
The doctor reported that he has no clients matching the name of the man seeking the refill, and he did not write any prescriptions for him. Police advised the doctor, who operates in Alpharetta, that the prescription was made electronically and that he should report it to the Alpharetta Police Department.
A detective arrived at the pharmacy, made a call to inform the man that his prescription was ready, but the suspect never showed.
post.
Because 1 gram of fentanyl can kill up to 500 people, the seized narcotics had the potential to kill up to 14.5 million people. Fentanyl is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance due to its limited medical use and high potential for abuse.
Jae W. Chung, acting special agent in charge of the Atlanta DEA Division, told Appen Media that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has opened a federal case.
According to the agency, the arrestee
Police are still searching for the suspect.
— Sarah Coyne
Man falls victim to extortion attempt
MILTON, Ga. — A 49-year-old Milton man reported he was the victim of extortion after he went to a massage establishment in California while on a trip.
The man told Milton Police that upon returning home he began receiving texts and calls from a person claiming to be the owner of the massage establishment. The “owner” threatened the man with “hit men” waiting to ensure payment of what he “owed,” claiming the man failed to “settle up” with one of the employees during his visit.
The man told police that while at the massage establishment, he was offered a “happy ending” massage but declined and left with no issues. In the subsequent texts, the “owner” demanded that the man owed him $4,000 to keep him safe. The man complied with the request and gave the money via Zelle.
He said he continued to get threats and was told that he needed to send an additional $10,000 to keep his family
is a 39-year-old Alpharetta man.
“They’re in the process of what we call ‘adopting the case’ from our local partners,” he said. “There was just one [suspect] at the time of the arrest; there could be other arrests to follow, it just depends on where our investigation leads us.”
Chung said the Sandy Springs Police Department received information about potential drug trafficking activity near the apartment complex before the March 21 operation.
See SEIZURE, Page 28
safe. The two negotiated the fee, but before sending the money, the man realized the threats would continue. So, he called police.
Police advised the man to contact Wells Fargo, as well as the three main credit bureaus to ensure no accounts were opened using his personal information.
— Sarah Coyne
Vehicle reported stolen at apartment complex
MILTON, Ga. — A Milton woman reported her car stolen sometime overnight March 26 at the IMT Deerfield Apartments on Deer Trail.
The woman said made the discovery around 7:30 a.m. March 27.
The woman told police she thinks she left her car keys inside her unlocked vehicle. She said she is not aware of anyone suspicious who may have stolen the vehicle.
Apartment complex employees agreed to review footage and notify police if they saw anything suspicious. Alpharetta dispatchers entered the vehicle into the Georgia Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center databases as stolen.
— Sarah Coyne
THE PICTURE FRAMER
THERESA ADAMS HALEY LENKER
BONNIE SMITH
KATHRYN GILBERT
PLANT SALE AND MORE!
Saturday, April 12 • 9am–3pm
The Grove @ Wills Park • 175 Roswell Street
Free parking and shuttle from/to the Amana Academy parking lot
Brought to you by THE NORTH FULTON MASTER GARDENERS
in partnership with Georgia Native Plant Society & the Alpharetta Community AG Program
Educational speakers, Fleatique, Children’s activities, Plant vendors, Food vendors, and Master Gardeners to answer your gardening questions. For more information: www.nfmg.net/garden-faire
The popular North Fulton Master Gardeners
Passalong Plant Sale will feature more than 2000 beautiful plants suitable for sun or shade.
The North Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society will have a selection of approximately 2000 native perennials, shrubs, vines, and trees.
The Alpharetta Community Agriculture Program will have around 5000 unique and carefully selected varieties of organic, heirloom, and non-GMO plants, grown from seed at Old Rucker Farm.
Members of the Sandy Springs City Council debate time limits on public comment during public hearings on three First Amendment-related ordinances April 1. The City Council voted to approve all three, banning overnight door-to-door canvassing, prohibiting the blockage of public/private access and requiring consent to engage with others.
Sandy Springs adopts forms of speech laws
By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Sandy Springs City Council voted to approve three First Amendment-related ordinances April 1 restricting ways residents and visitors can interact.
The city ordinances took effect after each was approved at the meeting.
It is now a misdemeanor to solicit at residences between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. It is also a crime to block the entrance to a property or to remain within 8 feet of someone who objects.
During discussion between city officials, proponents of the ordinances referenced “time, place and manner” restrictions on speech. While the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, governments can impose reasonable “time, place and manner” restrictions that are content-neutral.
The ordinances were sparked, in part, by incidents over the past few years in which antisemitic flyers were distributed onto residential driveways under the cover of night.
In advance of the meeting, the Ameri-
or email classifieds@appenmediagroup.com Opinion: Mind what you say while in Sandy Springs ► PAGE 27
can Civil Liberties Union of Georgia wrote a letter to the Sandy Springs City Council urging officials to vote against the ordinances.
“We share your dismay at the distribution of antisemitic propaganda across the City of Sandy Springs and Metro Atlanta more broadly,” the letter says. “We write to express our deep concerns that, despite their good intentions, the Ordinances would violate speakers’ right to free speech.”
The ACLU’s letter references three U.S. Supreme Court cases, including Hill v. Colorado (2000), McCullen v. Coakley (2014) and Snyder v. Phelps (2011), to argue that the city’s buffer zone ordinance’s expansive prohibitions burden speech more than is necessary to quell antisemitism.
MILTON, Ga. — The North Fulton Emergency Medical Response Oversight Committee held its first meeting April 3 with its newest and largest member on board.
The meeting, held at Milton City Hall, included representatives from the cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell and, for the first time, Sandy Springs.
“It really is a cool day,” Alpharetta City Administrator Chris Lagerbloom said.
The committee was formed to improve efficiency and economy in emergency medical response services throughout North Fulton County. The collaboration will help subsidize regional ambulance services.
Originally formed as a partnership between four North Fulton cities, officials chose to re-form the committee when Sandy Springs opted in last summer. Sandy Springs had originally formed its own model for enhanced emergency services in 2008 because it wanted a more built-up version with more ambulances. It came on board with the other four cities recently to avoid a massive price hike.
Under its new organizational plan, the contract requires a $2 million subsidy for the first year, split between the five cities based on a three-year average number of service calls and population.
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Members of the newly established North Fulton Emergency Medical Response Oversight Committee discuss rules and bylaws at an April 3 meeting at Milton City Hall.
The North Fulton Emergency Medical Response Oversight Committee consists of city managers or administrators and fire and emergency medical services chiefs. Alpharetta City Administrator Lagerbloom was named committee chairman at the April 3 meeting. Milton City Manager Steve Krokoff will serve as vice chair, and Roswell City Administrator Randy Knighton was elected secretary on the Board of the Directors for a one-year term.
Johns Creek City Manager Kimberly Greer recommended the three for their posts based on their public safety background.
The assembly also named Sandy Springs Fire Chief Keith Sanders, Roswell Interim Fire Chief Pabel Troche, Johns Creek Fire Chief Chris Coons, Alpharetta Fire Division Chief Jim Darling and Milton Fire Chief Gabe Benmoussa as members of the executive committee.
The executive committee will meet regularly to review the work of the sub-committees and bring forward recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Members also named a subcommittee. Members include: Johns Creek Captain of Professional Standards Brian Johnson, Roswell Division Chief of Operations Danny Thompson, Milton Medical Services Officer and Capt. Mark Haskins, Alpharetta Fire Division Chief Darling and Sandy Springs EMS Section Chief Patrick Flaherty.
“There will be two committees here, the Executive Committee, which is the fire chiefs, and the subcommittee, which is the division chiefs that we ask are responsible for the day-to-day compliance,” Benmoussa said.
The board of directors alongside members of the oversight committee will meet quarterly to implement policies and practices to improve coordination of emergency medical responses, oversee any adopted service level agreements with ambulance service providers and enact rules and regulation as necessary.
The committee will meet next at Roswell City Hall at 10 a.m. July 8.
Gardener creates custom spaces for natural reflection, recharging
By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Shelly Hoddeson paints with flowers, trees and stones. Your yard is her easel.
“It’s art,” Hoddeson said. “It really is a living art.”
Hoddeson, owner of Johns-Creekbased Southern Estate Classic Gardens, makes custom gardens and outdoor spaces for North Metro Atlanta residents, drawing on years of landscaping experience.
“It should bring them joy, peace and tranquility,” Hoddeson said.
Hoddeson, a Johns Creek resident, has gardening in her blood.
She inherited a love for flowers from her grandmother, who filled her home with irises, day lilies, hydrangeas, hostas and other blooms. African violets, cultivated in indoor pots, were her grandmother’s favorite.
“She loved them,” she said.
Hoddeson learned an appreciation for gardening from her mother, spending hours pulling weeds and planting pots along with her sister. The work was hardly a chore but rather a time for bonding for the three.
“We would chat and feel the earth — get grounded,” Hoddeson said. “I loved getting my hands dirty. I always did.”
As an adult, Hoddeson still gets her hands dirty.
Her business can handle almost any
outdoor task, including flower beds, patios, paths, erosion control, water features, soil conditioning and more, but she prides herself in bringing them together in an inspired design.
The process starts with a face-toface meeting, which can run from two minutes to three hours depending on how involved a client is. Hoddeson walks the property, taking photos, learning about personal tastes and discussing
goals.
She then brainstorms, occasionally bouncing ideas, sketches and designs off her client. She returns with ideas in hand, often literally in the form of a vision board, to discuss her concepts for the space.
Lastly, she finalizes an agreed design, comes up with a cost estimate and gets started.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s also her
To learn more about Southern Estate Classic Gardens, call 770-570-6060, email shelly@secgardens.com or visit secgardens.com.
passion, she said.
Flowers and their bounty of colors are Hoddeson’s favorite part of a garden.
During her 15 years spent in the gardening industry, she has become an expert, learning each’s growth habits from how much water and sun they need to big or small they will grow.
“They are like an instant pop of color,” she said.
Rock, often natural flagstones from Tennessee or Oklahoma, are shaped by a contracted mason’s hammer and chisel. They can serve as stepping stones, guide the flow of water and fill other ornamental needs.
“I really try to incorporate something into the living space that both looks good and solves a problem,” she said.
Hoddeson loves to surround her stones with aggregate gravels or groundcover plants like blue star creeper, ajuga or mazus, which can boast tiny, vivid blossoms.
Trees, especially flowering ones like dogwoods, redbuds and cherry trees, can create shade, offer elegant forms and attract pollinators.
See GARDENS, Page 9
For more information or to apply, email heidi@appenmedia.com and include a paragraph or two about who you are and any relevant background/experience. In the subject line of the email please put “Delivery Route Application.”
SHELLY HODDESON/PROVIDED
A bed of flowers add vivid colors at a client’s property. Southern Estate Classic Gardens owner Shelly Hoddeson said flowers are her favorite element of a garden.
BUSINESSPOSTS
Gardens:
Continued from Page 8
“You got to make sure you are putting the right tree in the right place because some trees can be really massive,” she said. “Removing them is sad for the tree, and it’s sad for your wallet.”
Hoddeson is capable with almost any style, whether that be the trimmed hedges and meticulous symmetry of a formal garden or the raked gravel and serenity of a Japanese-inspired space.
But her specialty is the cottage style, which embraces the inherent beauty of the natural environment with crooked lines, unrestrained growths and wildlife.
“It’s calming,” she said. “It’s a lot of color, and it gives me energy.”
Hoddeson’s first big project was a validation that she was in the right business.
Filled with dying grass, the backyard had few plants and a water feature that was waiting to be properly used.
Hoddeson added nutrient-rich soil, leveled ground to create a tan-and-gray flagstone path and intermingled mazus to create a luxurious ground cover. The result was a serene path perfect for recharging and reflection.
At another property where erosion was taking a serious toll, she placed stepping stones into a dry creek bed.
A weeping blue atlas cedar serves as the centerpiece amid a bed of flowers. Shelly Hoddeson said she brings a wealth of knowledge for all things growing to every job.
When she was finished, the client was able to take strolls through a yard that resembled a fruit orchard filled with figs and blueberries.
Hoddeson brings a wealth of creative experience to any job, but her primary goal is to make a client’s dream come true.
Receiving feedback and insights on personal tastes is never necessary, but it does make work more rewarding.
At the end of the day, it is all about creating a space that someone will find personal satisfaction in.
Shelly Hoddeson says garden paths are one of her specialties. She often uses flagstones from Tennessee and Oklahoma chiseled to just the right shape before surrounding them with gravel or groundcover plants.
“I’m making a space for them that’s their oasis,” she said.
PHOTOS BY: SHELLY HODDESON/PROVIDED
Laws:
Continued from Page 4
First Amendment implications
While no one from the public spoke in support of the new laws, a couple of residents voiced concerns against them, citing their effect on the exercise of First Amendment rights.
Sandy Springs resident Mike Petchenik, CEO of a media consulting company and former WSB-TV reporter, spoke against the first ordinance banning overnight door-to-door solicitation and canvassing between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
“Back in 2023, a neo-Nazi group littered my neighborhood’s lawns, including my own, with hate-filled leaflets seeking to sow fear in the Jewish community, of which I am a part,” he said. “As a proponent of free speech, I urge you to proceed with caution and not throw the baby out with the bath water.”
Petchenik emphasized that hate has no place in the community and asked elected officials to make an exception for free deliveries of the Sandy Springs Crier newspaper to residences.
City Attorney Dan Lee said the ordinance would limit solicitations and the delivery of “uncontracted for literature,” including the Crier.
“We believe that it meets the freedom of the press/ freedom of speech issues that have been discussed,” Lee said.
Lee told council members that it is already a crime to drop off something or enter onto the property if there is a visible sign barring solicitation and canvassing at the entrance of the home or neighborhood.
City Councilwoman Melody Kelley then asked why the new ordinance was necessary.
“To bring clarity and make it well known that it is contrary to the laws of Sandy Springs,” Lee answered.
The ordinance passed 5-1, with Councilwoman Jody Reichel dissenting.
“I have some concerns about this ordinance, that it violates First Amendment protections,” Reichel said. “I don’t want to get into another lawsuit.”
Reichel also asked Lee what would happen if a newspaper was delivered at 6:50 a.m., during the restricted time window.
“The police will come and handle whatever needs to be handled just like every other ordinance,” Lee said.
Elected officials approved the second ordinance unanimously 6-0 following a short discussion. It prohibits individuals from blocking the entrance to private and public property. City officials, including Lee, Paul and Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone, said the Police Department has experienced the problem at hospitals and consulates.
City Councilman Andy Bauman voted in favor of the second ordinance, he said, because of assurances that it’s constitutional and in the state law.
“I think we can all be really candid about what’s going on here; we’re sending a message, it’s prophylactic,” Bauman said. “Let’s keep our eye on the ball, we’ve got bigger fish to fry in Sandy Springs.”
Protest discussion draws pushback
The third ordinance establishes an 8-foot buffer between an individual who is “passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to or engaging in oral protest, education, counseling or harassment with such other person.”
Under the new law, people must obtain consent from others before engaging with them. If they object, and you encroach withing 8 feet from them, you face a disorderly
Sandy Springs Police Chief Kenneth DeSimone gives an example of how the 8-foot buffer between individuals could apply at local gatherings and protests on the City Green. His example led to a fiery debate about the nature of protests with City Councilwoman Jody Reichel.
conduct charge.
The restriction is not limited to specific areas and applies across the city.
Police Chief DeSimone said the personal encroachment ordinance would assist public safety in Sandy Springs. He cited a case recently where two individuals silently walked across the City Green during the Oct. 10, 2023 “Stand in Solidarity with Israel” vigil wearing “Arab headdresses with two Palestinian flags that walked into the crowd.”
“My guys had to grab them pretty quick and get them out of there; this ordinance will help us do that because they walked through there for only one reason, to intimidate,” DeSimone said.
Councilwoman Reichel asked DeSimone if that meant his department, “would arrest someone just for walking through a group of people?”
“Yes,” the police chief answered. “If they were walking with a Nazi flag, under this ordinance we would arrest them. Palestinian flag, we would arrest them. Because they are doing it for only one reason and that is to intimidate the Jewish community.”
Councilwomen Reichel and Kelley pushed back on his comments (from 1:27:25-1:33:25) about the ordinance and Palestinian people. To view the clip or the whole meeting, visit youtube.com/ watch?v=YcYvr3zIBLg&t=5405s.
At one point DeSimone asked Reichel, who is Jewish, if she would consider it harassment for someone to walk by her with a Palestinian flag at a pro-Jewish event.
“I don’t think that would be harassing me. I mean, if they came up to me and started getting in my face or started pushing me, or started to physically touch me, that is harassing, yes,” she said. “But I do believe in the First Amendment and I believe in freedom of speech.”
The police chief addressed the council and public speakers who had raised concerns about the First Amendment implications, saying the ordinance is necessary to keep Sandy Springs safe.
“You can’t be like the reporter who says ‘I’m for free speech, but this is intimidating so I’m going to call the police,”’ he said.
For the second time in the meeting, DeSimone was referencing Petchenik’s earlier comments at the podium.
Petchenik had called 9-11 when antisemitic flyers showed up on his lawn.
“It’s on us [the Sandy Springs Police Department] to prevent chaos, and if you don’t help us out, chaos will ensue,” DeSimone said. “You’ve got to help us out.”
It was also noted that earlier the day of the meeting, the city uploaded a new agenda packet that expanded the application of the third ordinance. Earlier versions of the law limited the applicability of the 8-foot buffer to those within 50 feet of a school, place of worship or any public right-of-way.
After Kelley raised concerns about the public right-ofways application, the city removed the entire clause and extended the restriction to everywhere in the city. That was the version under consideration at the meeting.
“I respect the spirit in which these are brought; I’m not going to be able to support this language today,” Kelley said. “I’m all for considering the protection of schools, places of worship and first responders, so when we have language that’s specific to that stuff … I’m open to that conversation.”
The ordinances were crafted by the Anti-Defamation League to address what it says is a surge in extremism and antisemitic incidents across the country and to protect public safety.
During the meeting, officials asked the ADL to speak on some of their concerns about the laws’ balance of First Amendment protections and limiting harassment.
“… I do fear that we are entering territory here that maybe is not the best place for a city council to be breaking ground,” City Councilman Andy Bauman said.
“It is your job as a legislative body to determine what is appropriate for Sandy Springs,” ADL Southeast Regional Director Eytan Davidson said. “This is a difficult decision; these are tough calls, but that’s why you guys are elected officials.”
Davidson said Sandy Springs is forging new ground.
“I do think that this will stand up to constitutional scrutiny,” he said. “I think you will be on the right side not only of the law, but of history, by taking this step.”
City Attorney Lee said the buffer ordinance only prohibits interactions with other individuals if they do not consent.
“If it’s deemed harassment and somebody doesn’t want it, that person has a right not to be accosted, not be solicited,” Lee said. “This ordinance says you can’t do it within 8 feet of someone who doesn’t want it.”
Sandy Springs resident Bill Grifith, who spoke against the first and third ordinance, said the 8-foot buffer would prevent him from approaching Lee with a question about his interpretation of the law.
The city attorney responded.
“If he came and I told him I didn’t want to talk to him and he stayed, he would be in violation of it,” Lee said. “There’s a difference, that’s the purpose of this ordinance … if one doesn’t want to talk to the other, the other does not have a right to be closer than 8 feet to them.”
The ordinance passed 4-2 with Bauman, Tibby DeJulio, Melissa Mular and John Paulson voting in favor.
City council members Jody Reichel and Melody Kelley dissented.
After the meeting, ACLU representatives said they were disappointed in the city's decisions. They issued the following statement to Appen Media;
"Repressing speech across the entire city of Sandy Springs is a broad and dangerous overreach that does nothing to make residents safer. Instead, it violates core constitutional protections and sets a troubling precedent for government overreach. We are actively exploring all legal options and urge the City Council to reconsider and reverse their decision."
SCREENSHOT
GrillFest is a celebration of all of our favorite foods that can be prepared on the grill, smoker, or flattop griddle. Guests will enjoy unlimited samples of juicy burgers, smoked BBQ, and an array of grilled meats from wings to steaks. Don’t worry veggie lovers—we’ve got you covered, too, as our restaurant partners and chefs will also have your
Union Hill Park - Alpharetta, Georgia
Saturday, April 26th 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
General Admission: $65
favorites fired up on the grill. GrillFest will include craft beer and craft cocktails, along with bourbon and tequila tastings from our spirits partners. Enjoy live entertainment all day and visit with our vendor sponsors just in time for summer—think outdoor living, summer fun, and grills and gadgets for the outdoor chef.
Is Lidocaine a secret weapon against cancer?
We always worry about the negative side-effects that a medicine might have. At the end of a pharmaceutical company’s commercials, an auctioneer very quickly states the twenty terrible things that might happen if you take the advertised medicine. Side effects range from your ear falling off when you sneeze to the belief that you are Elvis. Side-effects make almost any medicine sound scary. But occasionally, a positive side effect emerges. Sometimes, we discover something wonderful about a medicine that is wholly unexpected. Examples of positive side-effects are not hard to find. The medicine finasteride was first being used to help decrease the size of the prostate in men who were having difficulty urinating. An unexpected positive side-effect was discovered when it was noticed that many of the men were re-growing their scalp hair. With finasteride, male pattern baldness was often partially reversed or stopped in its tracks.
One of the most recent medications discovered to have a possible positive side effect is lidocaine, which has been around since 1943. Lidocaine is an injectable anesthetic. We use lidocaine for skin biopsies, excisions, Mohs surgeries and countless other procedures every day in the dermatology office. Amazingly, lidocaine may be more than an anesthetic. It may also have anti-cancer effects.
A team of surgeons in India operating on breast cancer divided patients into two groups. One group had standard breast cancer surgery. The other group received a lidocaine injection around the tumor 7-10 minutes prior to surgery. During the 5 years after surgery, the group that received the lidocaine injection had an 8.5% rate of the cancer recurring (popping up again) at a distant site versus an 11.6% rate of distant recurrence in the surgeryonly (no lidocaine) group. The study has some limitations including not being a double-blind trial and being a single-
center study, but it is intriguing enough to warrant further investigation. The authors reported that injecting lidocaine around breast cancer before removing it increased survival in their study.
What made the surgeons perform this study in the first place? Why lidocaine? Over the last few years, researchers have discovered that electrical gradients maintained across the membranes of cancer cells are important to their ability to metastasize or spread. Our cells have pumps in them called “ion channels.” They allow certain ions to pass across the cell membrane. The resulting ion concentration gradient creates an electrical charge across a cell. This gradient affects the way other proteins in the cell function. Importantly, some of the proteins affected by the charge across a cell membrane are important for healthy cells’ growth and development as well as for cancers’ ability to grow and spread.
Lidocaine works by blocking sodium channels in cell membranes. Disrupting the electric charge across a cancer cell membrane was suspected to have the potential to weaken the cancer itself. Preclinical studies supported this hypothesis, and the breast cancer surgeons took the next step of performing a trial with breast cancer patients and peritumoral lidocaine injections.
I don’t know if breast cancer surgeons in the United States consider these results valid, are awaiting confirmatory studies or are already injecting lidocaine. However, in dermatology, these results are exciting because, for now, we do not need to change anything that we are already doing. Every day that I perform Mohs surgery, we inject the area around a tumor with lidocaine prior to surgically removing the cancer. If lidocaine is more than an anesthetic, then our patients are likely already benefiting from any anti-cancer properties that lidocaine has.
Mohs surgery is the gold standard for treating most skin cancers and has a cure rate that is usually at or above 99%. Perhaps lidocaine is one of the secrets to this success.
Insist
Dr. Brent Taylor is a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, and is certified by the Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine in the field of Vein Care.
He is an expert in skin cancer and melanoma treatment, endovenous laser ablation, minimally invasive vein procedures and cosmetics procedures such as Botox and injectables.
Kathryn is a certified physician assistant with over 22 years experience as a Dermatology PA and cosmetic dermatology.
Her specialties include general dermatology such as acne, eczema, rashes, hair loss, full body skin exams, abnormal growths etc. Kathryn also specializes in cosmetic dermatology including lasers, injectables, micro-needling, PRP, facial peels, sclerotherapy for spider veins and at home skin care.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C
Brought to you by – Dr. Brent Taylor, Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta
Why do I get so many Cavities?!
At Roswell Dental Care, we take pride in our ability to educate our patients about their oral health. One question we frequently hear from our patients, “Why do I get so many cavities? I brush my teeth every day!” We understand the frustration that comes from putting the work in to maintain your teeth and still ending up with cavities, we are here to help break those reasons down for you.
4. Your flossing habits: Flossing removes plaque and bacteria from the sides of your teeth, so not flossing on a consistent basis increases your risk of developing cavities between your teeth.
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1. How deep your grooves are: How your teeth are shaped, including the grooves of your teeth, are inherited. These grooves are too small for your toothbrush bristles to get in and clean properly. Some teeth have deeper grooves, which increases the risk of biting surface cavities. We can prevent these types by placing sealants (plastic) over the grooves of the teeth.
2. Your oral bacteria: Did you know, you inherit the genetic layout of your oral bacteria from your mom? The types of oral bacteria can impact your oral health, including your likelihood of cavities and developing periodontal disease. Staying on a cleaning schedule with your dental hygienist will help reduce the number of bacteria you have in your mouth.
3. Your frequency of sugar intake: Your habits also play a significant role in your oral health. Your frequency of sugar intake has a direct tie into the frequency of the occurrence of cavities. The more times you consume sugar, the more opportunities for cavities to take hold.
5. Your medications: When you eat or drink anything other than water, the pH of your mouth becomes acidic. Saliva’s job is to neutralize the acidic environment. Some medications cause xerostomia (or dry mouth). If your saliva is reduced or becomes thicker, your teeth have an increased risk of developing decay, especially along the gumline. Products containing xylitol are “mouth wetters,” and xylitol prevents bacteria from adhering to tooth structure, helping to prevent the effects of a dry mouth.
The above reasons are just a few of the many complex factors that go into why cavities develop. As dental professionals, we strive to keep our patients educated in their oral hygiene. Good or bad oral hygiene plays a role in overall health, and we are here to get your oral health in excellent condition so that your overall health can be too.
Dr. Hood at Roswell Dental Care understands and customizes treatment for each person. We assure you will feel confident in the solution you choose before beginning any treatment. For enhanced comfort, we offer FREE nitrous oxide. You can rest assured that your experience will be positive, relaxing, and rewarding on many levels. Give our office a call at 770.998.6736, or visit us at www.roswelldentalcare. com, to begin your journey to happy and pain-free oral healthcare!
Dr. Destinee Hood
Brought to You by - Dr. Destinee Hood, Roswell Dental Care
Obtaining labs for Integrated Wellness: Unlocking the blueprint to optimal health
Brought to you by – OlympusMD
When it comes to taking charge of your health, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. Especially in integrated wellness, where personalized care is the key to unlocking your body’s full potential, understanding your unique physiology becomes essential. This is where lab results come into play—providing an in-depth look at your body’s inner workings and guiding you toward the best IV therapy, peptide therapy, nutraceuticals, or gut health solutions for your needs. Whether you’re new to these advanced wellness options or looking to optimize your current routine, lab testing acts as your personalized roadmap to better health.
Why labs are essential for personalized wellness
Your health is unique, and so are your body’s needs. Reviewing labs consists of analyzing specific biomarkers that provide insight into your overall health and highlight areas for improvement. By understanding these markers, healthcare providers
can tailor treatments to your body’s specific requirements, ensuring you’re not wasting time or effort on generic solutions that may not work for you. When you have this information in hand, you can make informed decisions about your integrated wellness plan, knowing that every treatment or supplement you choose is backed by science.
How labs determine the best wellness solutions
IV Therapy is a direct and effective way to replenish essential vitamins, minerals, and hydration. But not all IV treatments are created equal. By obtaining labs, your healthcare provider can pinpoint what your body is lacking— whether it’s vitamin C, magnesium, or a combination of nutrients—and create a thoughtfully curated IV therapy plan. This precision ensures you receive exactly what your body needs, whether you’re addressing chronic fatigue, boosting immunity, or recovering from a tough workout. Peptides, small chains of amino acids, are increasingly popular for enhancing cellular function, metabolism,
and tissue repair. However, their effectiveness hinges on understanding your body’s baseline. For example, labs can determine your growth hormone levels, insulin sensitivity, or even inflammatory markers. This data allows experts to select the best peptides, such as CJC-1295 for growth hormone optimization or BPC-157 for injury recovery and gut health, tailored to your specific needs.
Open: Mon. – Fri. 9 am – 6 pm Sat. - Sun. 9 am – 4 pm olympusmdwellness.com
and pharmaceuticals—think vitamins, minerals, and plant-based compounds tailored to address specific health goals. Without labs, selecting nutraceuticals can feel like guesswork. With lab results, you can cut through the noise and focus only on what your body truly needs. For instance, labs may reveal that you’re low in omega-3 fatty acids, prompting the inclusion of a high-quality fish oil supplement in your routine. Gut Health is often considered the gateway to overall health, influencing everything from immunity to mental well-being. Labs allow practitioners to look deep into your gut health using tools like microbiome mapping, stool analysis, and inflammation markers. This information forms the foundation for a tailored gut health plan, addressing problems like leaky gut, food intolerances, or microbiome imbalances.
Curious about how lab results could transform your health? Connect with a wellness expert today to explore your options. Start uncovering the insights hidden in your health profile and take the first step toward a more vibrant life. Contact OlympusmdWellness.com today.
Your youthful smile
In order to understand a youthful smile, one needs to know the look of aging teeth. An aging smile can occur as a person gets older, however, they can be influenced by various factors such as oral habits, lifestyle choices, and dental hygiene care…at any age!
Some of the most common features of an aging smile are:
1. Teeth yellowing: Over time, and many coffee/tea, chocolate, wine and tobacco indulgences later, teeth can lose their natural brightness and present more yellow.
2. Tooth wear and tear: Years of grinding, taking out one’s stress on one’s teeth, and misaligned teeth can contribute to excessive and uneven tooth wear and flatter and shorter surfaces.
3. Gum recession: gum recession exposes the darker root surfaces and makes teeth look longer and less esthetic.
4. Tooth loss: missing teeth can impact the appearance of one’s smile and contribute to decreased lip and cheek support and fullness causing facial changes.
5. Teeth crowding: As we age our teeth have a tendency to shift in a forward direction, causing the front teeth to become more crowded.
To maintain a youthful smile here are a few tips:
1. Avoid staining: Avoid tobacco and limit stain causing and enamel eroding acidic foods and drinks.
2. Whitening: professional dental whitening can remove most stains and bring back the luster and brightness to one’s teeth.
3. Resin bonding: Tooth colored fillings do a beautiful job of masking exposed root surfaces and restoring the beautiful shape of the teeth, and thus enhance one’s smile.
4. Tooth replacement: In today’s world, replacing a tooth with implant therapy is the gold standard of dentistry and has long lasting benefits in maintaining the longevity of one’s dentition.
5. Orthodontics: Crooked and misaligned teeth can be corrected using braces or aligners and immediately restore the “wellness” of the smile. It is amazing what a straight smile does to restore youthfulness and confidence! 6. Occlusal guard: A bite guard can shield the teeth from the harmful effects of clenching and grinding.
Maintaining a youthful smile is a lifelong commitment to YOURSELF! Regularly consulting with a good dentist who is committed to your optimal dental health and smile will help ensure personalized advice and appropriate care and methods keep your smile healthy and youthful.
Call us for a free consultation (upon mention of this article) on how we can help you rejuvenate your smile!
Brought to you by – North Fulton Smiles
What is play therapy and is it right for my child?
Brought to you byHaley Aguero M.A., Licensed Associate Professional Counselor at Summit Counseling Center
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”
-Plato
Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is the oldest and most researched therapy for children. Children are at a different developmental age than adults and do not have the cognitive ability to discuss their feelings like adults do. Play is the natural language of children; therefore, play therapy does not force the child to come up to the level of communication of the therapist but invites children to express themselves and explore their feelings through a medium that is optimal for them. Play therapy hopes to meet children where they are, allowing them to express thoughts and feelings that may be frightening or that they cannot verbalize. Gary Landreth states in his book, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship, “Children express themselves more fully and more directly through self-initiated, spontaneous plan than they do verbally because they are more comfortable with play.”
CCPT is rooted in person-centered therapy and follows certain conditions that are required for effective personcentered therapy. If all conditions are met, therapy will result in positive change for the child.
1. The therapist experiences unconditional positive regard for the child, showing complete support and acceptance of a person no matter what they say or do
2. The therapist experiences an empathetic understanding of the child and communicates this understanding to the child, understanding one’s experience as if it were being experienced by the self.
3. The child can receive the communication of unconditional positive regard and empathetic understanding.
Play sessions manifest by allowing the child to lead and direct their play. The therapist provides numerous materials and creates an environment of acceptance while exercising reasonable limits. Toys are selected, not
collected. These toys fall into specific categories that include aggression toys, fantasy, real life and nurturing, and creative expression. Through their relationship with the therapist and the availability of a safe and comfortable environment, children develop greater self-responsibility, self-acceptance, and self-control.
On top of being developmentally appropriate for the child, it has many emotional benefits that parents should be aware of. Play supports a flexible nervous system that can apply to a wide range of life events. This allows their window of tolerance to expand to include both calm and
intense emotions. During high-energy interactions like playtime, each person responds to the other with laughter and rapid changes in movements, heart rate, and breathing as their energy state fluctuates. If these high-arousal states alternate with calming, soothing interactions, the child also learns to enjoy quiet low-arousal states of serenity, tenderness, deep relaxation, and contentment.
Child-Centered Play Therapy is great for kids aged 3-12 and allows a safe space for children to work on anxiety, how to express healthy emotions, build social skills, work through grief, and so much more. Live playfully!
PEXELS
AGUERO
Amazing tooth replacements
– Dr. Bradley Hepler, Atlanta Center for Dental Health
Dental implants are popular and effective for individuals who have lost one or more teeth. They offer several advantages and can significantly improve a person’s oral health, appearance, and quality of life. Here are the reasons that so many people are choosing to have dental implants:
1. Replacement of missing teeth: Dental Implants are used to replace missing teeth, whether it’s a single tooth or multiple teeth. This is important for restoring proper chewing function and maintaining the alignment of surrounding teeth.
2. Improved aesthetics: Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth. They can enhance your smile, boost your self-confidence, and provide a more natural appearance compared to other tooth replacement options like dentures or bridges.
3. Enhanced eating ability: Dental implants provide strong biting and chewing capabilities, allowing you to enjoy a full range of foods, including hard and crunchy items without restrictions.
4. Comfort: Dental implants are comfortable and stable. Unlike removable dentures, they do not slip or move when eating or speaking, providing a natural and comfortable experience.
5. Convenience: Dental implants eliminate the need for messy adhesives or removal at night, as required with dentures. They function just like natural teeth, making daily oral hygiene routines simple and hasslefree. Dental implants are brushed and flossed like all your other teeth.
6. Durability: Implants are a longlasting solution. With proper care and maintenance, they can last a lifetime, whereas other options like dentures will require periodic adjustments or replacement.
7. Preservation of jawbone: When a tooth is lost, the underlying jawbone can start to deteriorate over time. Dental implants act as artificial tooth roots and stimulate the bone, preventing bone loss and maintaining the integrity of the jawbone.
8. Improved speech: Missing teeth, especially front teeth can affect
speech clarity. Dental implants can restore normal speech patterns by replacing missing teeth.
9. No impact on adjacent teeth: Unlike dental bridges, which require the reduction of adjacent healthy teeth, dental implants do not affect nearby teeth. This helps preserve the long-term health of your natural teeth.
10. Whole body health: Dental implants and no missing teeth contribute to better oral and overall health by allowing you to eat all types
of food without restrictions and eat a healthier diet. Filling the gaps left by missing teeth, preventing the shifting of neighboring teeth, and reducing the risk of gum disease and further tooth loss help feel and look better.
It is essential to consult with a dental professional to determine if dental implants are the right solution for your specific oral health needs. Factors like bone density, overall health, and personal preferences will influence the suitability of dental implants as a treatment option.
“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.”
-Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic
Dr. Bradley Hepler and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide the most modern advances in dentistry. Experience immediate results with procedures to greatly enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complimentary consultation to discover the best options for you, please call us at 770-992-2236.
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of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, with each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
GROUPS
1. Rock bottom. Fashionable. Group of witches.
2. Toss. Group of criminals. Cold weather warmer.
3. Syrup type. Fixed costs. Group of bees.
4. Theater group. Door sign. Mountain pool.
5. Juicy fruit. Group of cattle. Burger condiment.
6. Sporting group. Office note. Heavy drinking vessel for Beowulf.
7. Musical group. Pub game. Cookbook suggestion.
1 Rock bottom. Fashionable. Group of witches
2. Toss. Group of criminals. Cold weather warmer
How to Solve: Each line in the puzzle above has three clues and three answers. The last letter in the first answer on each line is the first letter of the second answer, and so on. The connecting letter is outlined, giving you the correct number of letters for each answer (the answers in line 1 are 4, 5 and 5 letters). The clues are numbered 1 through 7, which each number containing 3 clues for the 3 answers on the line. But here’s the catch! The clues are not in order - so the first clue in Line 1 may (or may not) actually be for the second or third answer in that line. Got it? Good luck!
3. Syrup type. Fixed costs. Group of bees
4. Theater group. Door sign. Mountain pool
5. Juicy fruit. Group of cattle. Burger condiment
6. Sporting group. Office note. Heavy drinking vessel for Beowulf.
7. Musical group. Pub game. Cookbook
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Mulch:
Continued from Page 1
Akin said the fundraiser has evolved with the help of parents and the greater community since it started the year before he began coaching at Cambridge. Getting to know homeowners over the years and sharing stories of how the school has impacted their lives has been one of the most meaningful takeaways for him.
Junior Drew Barrett joined the delivery team enthusiastically for his third year and shared his favorite memory from the Mulch Madness fundraiser last year where coping with humor helped the team to make the best of a backyard covered in dog waste.
“I love doing this because you get to come out here and help the community,” he said. “It’s also good for team bonding and getting to hang out with guys you don’t normally get to.”
Barrett’s fellow teammate gearing up for his senior season, Christian Fraiser, also shared some fond memories of fundraisers with the team.
“The whole bonding part of it is what I love about it the most, when we do it as a team it’s a lot better,” he said. “Senior year will be fun, having the opportunity to go out there and make something happen, not just for the betterment of myself specifically but for the program. That’s why we’re out here today.”
Mulch Madness
Scan
To place orders for mulch service through the Cambridge High School boys basketball team, visit: cambridgebears.com; click on Sports, then navigate to Boys Basketball.
ANNABELLE REITER/APPEN MEDIA A Milton homeowner’s front lawn is prepared for the team to come through and spread the bags of mulch as a part of the Mulch Madness fundraiser.
Atlanta Regional Commission seeks public input
METRO ATLANTA — The Atlanta Regional Commission is seeking public comment through April 16 for a proposed amendment to the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan / FY 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program.
The Transportation Improvement Program serves as a short-term regional mechanism where federal, state and local funds can gain approval for all significant surface transportation projects and programs. The program is updated several times throughout the year, as changes are made to projects or new funding becomes available.
The 2050 Metro Transportation Plan is a long-term program that
details the investments that will be made in the next 25 years to ensure the future success and improvement of quality of life in the region.
Both programs are run by the Atlanta Regional Commission to help improve mobility and quality of life in the 19 Metro Atlanta counties, as federally recognized by the Metropolitan Planning Organization.
As a requirement the amendment will reflect cost increases, changes to project timelines and new projects that are exempt from air quality requirements.
Included in the amendment is a cost increase of $207 million for 25 projects across the Atlanta region which include cost adjustments
to the following projects: I-75 commercial vehicle lanes in Henry County, SR 20 (Cumming Highway/ Knox Bridge Highway) widening in Cherokee County, Upper Riverdale Road bridge upgrade in Clayton County and the SR 13 (Peters Street) Bridge replacement in the City of Atlanta.
Also included in the amendment are the following projects that will be exempt from air quality requirements in the 2024 Transportation Improvement Program Solicitation; the City of Atlanta and Midtown Alliance Peachtree Safe Street project and the City of Atlanta Marietta Boulevard Safe Street project. The following Federal
Recreational Trail Programs will also be exempt: Clayton County Rivers Edge Trail extension, City of Smyrna Chattahoochee RiverLands Recreational Trail and Riverview Trailhead and the City of Chattahoochee Hills Wheel Beautiful – Riverlands Scenic Universal Access Trail.
The Amendment is scheduled to be considered by the Board and Transportation & Air Quality Committee on May 14.
For more information on how to leave a public comment visit http:// www.atlantaregional.org/amendment.
— Sarah Coyne
This is the Webb Bridge Road entry to Windward. The photo was taken in 2023, but the entrance has not changed since Windward was established. It will change this year due to the reconstruction of Webb Bridge Road.
Windward – a community that ages well
No matter where you turn these days in North Fulton, it seems that a new development is under construction or recently completed. However, there is one decades-old community that has stood the test of time.
That is Windward in Alpharetta.
The land where Windward was developed in the 1980s by Mobil Land Development was farmland and woods. Today, Windward covers some 3,400 acres and features a beautiful 200acre lake with 6 ½ miles of shoreline. The community consists of 44 different neighborhoods with a variety of home styles. More than 2,000 detached singlefamily homes adorn the landscape. Several thousand residents call Windward home.
According to long-time realtor Linda Jacobs, who lives in Windward, people continue to be attracted in part because Alpharetta has become a technology hub, with 750 high tech firms in the city.
“People are moving in from all over the world,” Linda says. “Many home buyers today are in their 30s and 40s. The lake is a big attraction. Many residents swim in the lake and everyone loves boating, kayaking and paddle boarding.”
The Windward Association of Retired Men (WARM) was established in 1989 and promoted the creation of a concrete encased fiber optic network in the Windward commercial section which
contributed to Atlanta’s selection to host the 1996 Olympics. All the scoring and tabulation of Olympic game results took place in Windward, says Windward resident Paul Barrow.
The Spinnakers is an example of a neighborhood in Windward. Investment Capital Company bought the land from Mobil and built most of the houses under the direction of Paul Barrow who still lives in the Spinnakers with his wife Georgia. It is a New England style village of 55 medium density homes uniquely positioned on a peninsula projecting into Lake Windward.
Alpharetta was a rural town of about 1,300 in the early 1980s when Windward was under construction. The city was just beginning to feel its oats, thanks in part to Ga. 400 built in the late 1960s. Windward happened at just the right time, and was a big factor in the development of Alpharetta.
Don Rifenberg is an engineer who was vice president of Development Operations for Mobil Land Development. He was largely responsible for the design and implementation of the Windward project. Don had worked on other Mobil projects, such as Reston, Virginia, one of the first modern planned communities in the United States, and the Horseshoe Bend community in Roswell.
In 1978, Mobil had a lot of cash due to the high price of oil at the time. Mobil considered land to be a particularly good investment. They purchased properties until they owned about 3,500 acres in what would become Windward.
“Atlanta was growing,” Rifenberg said. “We figured the city would have to grow
somewhere, and we predicted it would grow north.”
Mobil’s plan was to design a community blending residential, commercial and recreational spaces with amenities such as parks, trails and a recreational lake. Rifenberg’s first responsibility was to design and build a dam for the lake.
Although Rifenberg had successfully built two dams in Reston, Va., he was acutely aware of the catastrophic failure in 1976 of the Teton Dam in Idaho. He did not want to take any chances in Windward, so he made certain that the dam was over-engineered.
“The dam had to be perfect, so we hired a Georgia Tech professor from the Law Engineering Testing Company to be absolutely certain,” Rifenberg says. ”We took two years to build the dam and had to do a lot of special things to assure its strength.”
His caution paid off. After more than 40 years the dam still works perfectly.
David Baker was the first marketing director for Windward. He was responsible for sales for Mobil Land Development beginning in 1983 as the lake was being finished and streets were being installed in the first neighborhoods of Clipper Bay and The Bluffs.
“We were selling Windward as a whole concept because people didn’t know about the development,” Baker says. “Realtors were not showing properties north of the Chattahoochee. Business leaders gradually started to move into the area, but their employees had long commutes so they began to move to Windward, too.”
Mobil Land Development advertised Windward in the AJC Sunday home section, in magazines and even the classified section. Gradually Windward became a drawing card for buyers, builders and realtors.
“We thought Windward would be about a 30-year sellout, but It ended up being about 18 years,” Baker says. “The commercial section exploded. They sold out their tracts of land years ago.”
Baker is impressed with the role the City of Alpharetta has played. The leadership understood what quality development is about.
“They did a remarkable job putting all the pieces together so there was never any ‘would of, could of, should of,’” he says.
Baker credits Brandon Beach, who was president and CEO of the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce at the time, for using the lake to persuade corporate executives to relocate their companies in Windward or Alpharetta or Roswell.
“Brandon would take an executive for a ride in his car and park on the dam so the executive could experience the beauty of the lake,” says Baker.
Beach was recently appointed Treasurer of the United States, the first Georgian to ever hold that position.
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.
PAUL BARROW/PROVIDED
BOB MEYERS Columnist
Athletes:
Continued from Page 1
Morgan’s Message is a national advocacy nonprofit which seeks to end the stigma of mental health in student athletes. Founded in 2020, the group was created by parents and teammates of Morgan Rodgers, a Duke University lacrosse player who took her own life after a “dream-shattering” injury and mental health struggle.
“Morgan’s Message is the idea of taking the stigma away. Mental health is a disease where you should talk about it,” Masinko said.
Cambridge girls varsity lacrosse team captain Jenna Lundstedt has been an ambassador with the nonprofit for three years. She encourages student athletes at her high school to come to her if they are struggling with their mental health.
“I’m always willing to talk about it and it’s just not something to be ashamed of,” Lundstedt said.
She said she hopes to continue the campaign during her time playing on the
Seizure:
Continued from Page 2
University of Southern California’s team next year.
“There is such a negative connotation to suffering with mental health, and it’s something we’ve all gone through,” Lundstedt said.
Before the run, former Milton High School and Mercer University Women’s lacrosse player Erin Degnan spoke to the participants about what it means to be an ambassador for the nonprofit.
“Being an athlete can be so difficult, and seeing a lot of them transition from high school to college it can get really intense and mentally draining,” Degnan said.
Degnan said that is “really awesome” to see younger athletes join in on the run. Athletes of all ages, including students from Cambridge feeder schools were able to hear how important it is to express your feelings toward teammates and coaches.
“It’s cool to see how much of a change and how much Morgan’s Message has grown over the years, not only teams adopting it, but really seeing a lot of athletes change their perspective,” Degnan said.
“We have investigators assigned to the DEA from a number of our state and local law enforcement partners, and they become what’s called ‘task force officers,’” he said.
“We work collaboratively with them … it’s basically just like a special agent with the DEA.”
The duties of a special agent include gathering and processing evidence, helping prosecute major violators of U.S. drug laws, partnering with other agencies to target violent offenders, arresting subjects and seizing assets connected to drug trafficking.
“[The Sandy Springs Police Department] asked us to assist with that investigation, which we did,” Chung said. “It’s a two-way street, and it happens quite often.”
He said it ultimately led to two search warrants, one for the suspect’s residence and one for his vehicle, which is where he said most of the drugs were found.
“All the fentanyl was found in the trunk of the vehicle,” Chueng said. “The two weapons, I believe, were found inside the house with some other small amounts of drugs.”
Local law enforcements across the United States have task force officers assigned to the DEA, and the federal agency has personnel dedicated to local agencies, which is the two-way street that Chung references. He said the DEA has been working with local partners in a similar manner since its inception in 1973.
“We leverage our relationships,” Chung said. “Collaboration with state and local partners is paramount to our mission and to build those relationships so that when things like this happen, they can call us and we become a force multiplier, or vice versa.”
The operation set a record for the largest fentanyl bust in state history.
DEA ATLANTA DIVISION/PROVIDED
A censored bag of narcotics tests positive for fentanyl after a March 21 seizure by the Sandy Springs Police Department and Drug Enforcement Agency’s Atlanta Division. Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung said it’s the largest fentanyl seizure in state history.
“In a single-seizure event, it’s the largest that we’ve had here in Metro Atlanta when it comes to pills [53 pounds],” Chung said. “Unfortunately, we’ve had larger seizures of fentanyl powder.”
Neither Sandy Springs nor the DEA would disclose where in the city the operation took place. However, Appen Media obtained a SSPD case number associated with the bust. The department’s online dashboard
returns two drug-related items with that file number that list the address of an apartment building on Aria Boulevard.
To view the agencies’ post and comments from the public, visit www.instagram.com/p/DHo7MFvs_5/?hl=en.
City Councilman Andy Bauman mentioned the bust during the public hearings and eventual passage of three First Amendment-related ordinances governing expression at the April 1 meeting.
“The city of Sandy Springs needs to focus on the public safety of the citizens of Sandy Springs and find out why the largest drug bust in the state occurred on our watch,” Bauman said. “We also had a single-family home in my neighborhood busted a year ago with a large stash of weapons and drugs … I just hope we keep out eye on the ball.”
Because of the magnitude of the seized fentanyl, Chung said the suspect is not working by themselves and is likely supplied by the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation or Nuevo La Familia Cartel.
“They are the ones that can provide this type of weight to the local organizations,” he said.
Around two milligrams of fentanyl, just a few grains that can sit at the tip of a pencil, is considered a lethal dose.
“It is very lethal; drug poisoning is killing more Americans than gun violence and automobile crashes, between the ages of 18 and 45,” Chung said. “You just don’t know what you’re getting, and that’s the problem.”
Chung said fentanyl pills are often disguised as other narcotics like oxycodone, which is the case during recent seizure.
“You name it, we’ve seen it,” Chung said, referencing fentanyl found in nearly all street drugs. “In 2024, out of 10 pills we see that’s been tested by the DEA lab, five have tested positive for a lethal dose.”
The good news is that ratio is down from seven out of 10 in 2023 and so are overdose deaths, Chung said.
“If we lose one life to drug poisoning, it’s bad,” he said. “I think every effort helps, it’s all hands on deck.”
SARAH COYNE/APPEN MEDIA
Cambridge High School varsity girls lacrosse coach Pam Masinko speaks to the crowd before the Run for the Mind 3K on April 1 at Milton’s Bell Memorial Park.
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