By Amy Wenk
amywenk @ reporternewspapers . net
If you drove down Roswell Road Sept. 1, you likely couldn’t help but slow down around the former Arby’s restaurant in the 6500 block, next to Steak ‘n Shake.
That was because drivers were gazing at the abandoned fast food restaurant, which swarmed with movie production crews.
Atlanta filmmaker Tyler Perry chose the location for his new movie, “Madea’s Big Happy Family.”
Producer Roger Bobb said Sept. 1 was the final day of filming and that the 178-member crew had spent 19 days working on the movie.
The former Arby’s was set up as fast food restaurant called Smax, where the main character, Madea (played by Perry), argues with a drive-thru cashier.
In one scene, a Cadillac de Ville is crashed through the side of the restaurant.
Bobb said the film will be released in spring 2011.



























27-Aug-2010
Posted by : Joe Earle
Comments: (2)
Green light: Time for a change … for the worse
Category : Sandy Springs Commentary, Sandy Springs Public Safety, Sandy Springs Reporter
Tags: Johnson Ferry Road, red light, sandy springs reporter, tamper, traffic light
By Amy Wenk
amywenk @ reporternewspapers . net
Someone – perhaps fed up with Sandy Springs’ traffic congestion — felt it was time for a change.
So he or she broke into the traffic signal cabinet, that silver box that controls the signal time, and added 45 to 50 seconds to the traffic signals at Johnson Ferry and Abernathy roads, as well as Abernathy and Brandon Mill roads, said Chris Waters, Sandy Springs traffic services manager.
But their sneaky efforts were in vain.
Waters said lengthening the time the lights were
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