Brookhaven News - Reporter Newspapers

Transform 285/400 traffic changes through Sept. 25

by John Ruch | Sep 18, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Dunwoody Reporter, Public Safety, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

The Georgia Department of Transportation has announced the latest round of lane and ramp closures and other traffic changes for Transform 285/400, its massive project to reconstruct the I-285/Ga. 400 interchange. Schedules may change based on the work and the weather. Ashford-Dunwoody Road closures Sept. 23-24, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., closed between Hammond Drive and Lake Hearn Drive. Ashford-Dunwoody Road ramp closures Sept. 23-24, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., ramp to I-285 westbound closed. Ga. 400 ramp closures Sept. 18 and 24-25, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., northbound and southbound ramps to I-285 westbound closed. Sept. 19 and...

Brookhaven man stabbed while defending wife from home invader, police say

by Erin Schilling | Sep 18, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Public Safety, Top Stories | 0

A Brookhaven man was stabbed in the face and stomach Sept. 17 while attempting to defend his wife from a home invader who entered the bathroom while she was showering, according to police. A suspect was later arrested after allegedly trying to break into another Brookhaven home. Authorities say the suspect is on parole for a 2015 crime where he also broke into a Brookhaven home and assaulted two women while armed with a knife. The victim received treatment for his injuries and was discharged from the hospital that same night and is expected to recover, according to the...

Fallen trees, wires cause road closures across north Atlanta cities

by Erin Schilling | Sep 18, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Dunwoody Reporter, Public Safety, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

Local cities saw road closures from flooding or fallen trees and wires Sept. 16 and 17 as Hurricane Sally made landfall at the Alabama-Florida border. No injuries were reported in Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. According to the National Weather Service, the Atlanta area saw 3 to 4 inches of rain over 24 hours starting at 5 p.m. on Sept. 16. Flash flood warnings were issued around the metro area, and residents and businesses experienced power outages. In Dunwoody, a massive oak tree fell from the historic Cheek-Spruill House property Sept. 17, blocking the intersection of Mount Vernon and...

Brookhaven hosts virtual ‘Paint the Park’ art contest

by Erin Schilling | Sep 17, 2020 | Arts & Entertainment, Brookhaven Reporter | 0

The city of Brookhaven has transformed its annual “Paint the Park” art contest into a virtual format. The contest is free and open to all ages. Submissions should be sent to Parks and Recreation Event Coordinator Mallory Izbicki at Mallory.Izbicki@BrookhavenGA.gov. The deadline is Oct. 14, according to a press release. “This event really demonstrates that we are ‘Brookhaven Strong’ by creating an avenue to showcase our city’s art and artists in the midst of the pandemic,” said Councilmember Linley Jones in the press release. The artwork, which can be created in any medium, should use one of the city’s...

Papa John’s pizza company to open new metro Atlanta headquarters; site to be determined

by John Ruch | Sep 17, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Dunwoody Reporter, Perimeter Business, Sandy Springs Reporter, Top Stories | 0

The pizza restaurant company Papa John’s International will open a 200-employee global headquarters in metro Atlanta next year at a site to be determined. The deal, announced Sept. 17 by the company and Gov. Brian Kemp, involves “government incentives” that the state would not disclose. The company’s executive headquarters is currently in the metro area of its original hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, and it will maintain a headquarters there for certain departments after the metro Atlanta move, according to a spokesperson. Atlanta, Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs are frequently in contention for such headquarters. Papa John’s CEO and President...

Brookhaven approves funding for Trees Atlanta program to plant more front-yard trees

by Erin Schilling | Sep 17, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Making a Difference, Top Stories | 0

Brookhaven will participate in the Trees Atlanta “Neighborwoods Program” for the second year in a row, hoping to have more trees planted than last year. During a Sept. 8 meeting, City Council approved a $10,000 contract with Trees Atlanta to support the city’s Front Yard Tree Program, where members of the nonprofit will plant trees in residents’ front yards. Trees Atlanta, a nonprofit that aims to protect Atlanta’s trees and green space, started the Neighborwoods Program in 2001 to plant more trees and educate residents in the metro Atlanta area about the importance of trees. The program operates in...

Brookhaven and Dunwoody’s ZIP code COVID-19 diagnoses surpass 1,300 cases

by Erin Schilling | Sep 16, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Public Safety, Top Stories | 0

COVID-19 diagnoses in the areas of Brookhaven and Dunwoody within the cities’ main ZIP codes have surpassed 1,300 cases, according to a DeKalb County Board of Health case tracker. The local ZIP code diagnoses are at 1,315 as of the county’s Sept. 13 report, compared to 1,292 as of the last report on Sept. 8. As of Sept. 13, Dunwoody’s main 30338 and 30346 ZIP codes had about 542 cases, which is up 11 cases since Sept. 8. Brookhaven’t main 30319 ZIP code had about 773, which is up 12 cases since Sept. 8. The county does not track...

DeKalb Library Foundation hosts online fundraiser for internet assistance program

by Erin Schilling | Sep 16, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Dunwoody Reporter, Making a Difference | 0

DeKalb Library Foundation is hosting an online fundraiser to support the DeKalb County Public Library’s internet assistance program. The online “Stay Home to Support the Library” fundraiser replaces the foundation’s annual “A Novel Affair: Tapas + Trivia” event, which will not happen this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations will go toward the Take the Internet Home with You program, which allows people to check out an internet hotspot from any branch of the library for 21 days, according to a press release. The foundation asks people to donate by Sept. 30 here. “The COVID-19 pandemic exposed just...

Gov. Kemp extends pandemic safety rules through Sept. 30

by John Ruch | Sep 15, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Public Safety, Sandy Springs Reporter, Top Stories | 0

Gov. Brian Kemp has extended the state pandemic safety rules through Sept. 30. The order, signed Sept. 15, extends such provisions as requiring social distancing; banning gatherings of more than 50 people unless there is six feet between each person; various specific rules for restaurants, salons and other businesses; mandatory requiring sheltering in place for those in long-term care facilities and the medically fragile. The order continues to allow local governments to mandate mask-wearing when COVID-19 cases are at a threshold of 100 per 100,000 people over a 14-day period. The order also allows some types of visitation to...

Brookhaven to start planning process to choose projects for federal grant

by Erin Schilling | Sep 15, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Top Stories | 0

The city of Brookhaven has created a public input plan to decide how to use a federal grant that aims to help “economically distressed” areas of the city. The city expects to receive about $375,000 annually for the next five years through the Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money will be spent on projects to help underserved communities in the city, which will be decided on during the public input process. “Economically distressed areas” are U.S. Census blocks in which a majority of the residents...

DeKalb Schools anticipate hybrid reopening by Oct. 5 if COVID-19 cases trend downward

by Erin Schilling | Sep 14, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Education, Top Stories | 0

If the COVID-19 cases in DeKalb County continue declining, DeKalb County School District officials anticipate starting the phased reopening of schools by Oct. 5. But some Board of Education members are skeptical. Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris and the DCSD COVID-19 Task Force presented a tentative schedule and plan to start phasing back into face-to-face learning during a Sept. 14 DeKalb County Board of Education meeting. “I’m just a ball of anxiety, to be honest with you,” said board member Vickie Turner, who thought it was too soon to reintroduce students and staff into schools. “I don’t want to lose any...

Local hospitals’ COVID-19 teamwork a highlight of upcoming conference

by Reporter Newspapers | Sep 13, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Perimeter Business, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders of local health care systems have been holding conference calls daily to share information about the challenges they face. Operations officers of heavyweight hospital systems Piedmont, Emory, Wellstar, Grady, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Northeast Georgia have used these sessions to talk over issues like surges in cases and shortages of supplies. CEOs also have been heavily involved, and have worked together to write opinion pieces about the pandemic. These leaders have shared best medical practices and worked to create common messaging to an uncertain public. Communication on when to stop...