Feeling like fall
Oct. 17 — Early voting started this week and runs through Oct. 31. Here’s a list of the locations in Fulton County you can cast your ballot in advance of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
🗳️ You can go to the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page to confirm if your registered to vote and to check out a sample ballot.
✅ And don’t forget to watch the WSB-TV/Rough Draft Atlanta Sandy Springs Mayoral Forum and the Rough Draft City Council Candidate Forums to learn more about the candidates before heading to the polls. LOCAL HEADLINES
📝 Educators are trying to determine why North Springs High School average SAT scores dropped 54 points this year while the school district’s overall average rose.
⚖️ The national defense litigation firm Coffey Modica LLP has opened an office in Sandy Springs at the River Ridge office complex.
🏀 Atlanta – the Hawks are back for the 2025-26 season on October 22 vs the Raptors for Opening Night presented by State Farm. All fans in attendance will receive a Hawks t-shirt. Get tickets today to get in on the action. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Suspect in custody after Sandy Springs standoff
🚨 A suspect has been taken into custody and an officer is being treated for a gunshot wound after Sandy Springs Police responded to a shots-fired call on Carroll Manor Drive at 11:15 a.m. today.
The officers who arrived on the scene near Sandy Springs Middle School were told a subject was inside a home, Officer Jerrell Greene, the SSPD’s public information officer on the scene, told Rough Draft Atlanta.
When the officers went inside the home to make contact with that subject, they were met by gunfire, which they returned.
A Sandy Springs Police officer was injured when his thumb was grazed by a bullet.
🚔 Read more about the incident.
Hilltop Bottle Shop Satisfies Sandy Springs Community
SPONSORED BY HILLTOP BOTTLE SHOP
🍾 Located at 7277 Roswell Road, Hilltop Bottle Shop offers an unmatched selection of curated wines, rare whiskeys, and a wide range of beers—from everyday sips to local favorites.
🛒 Guests can shop in-store or online with delivery available. Hilltop also hosts tastings led by knowledgeable beverage partners alongside the Hilltop Staff and features a growing party goods section. Keeping it local, Owner Brian Hicks and partner David Abes of DASH Hospitality Group grew up and live in the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody community.
🤝 The team provides quality customer service and options for the entire community.
Fulton Board of Ethics rejects complaint against Thorne
⚖️ The Fulton County Board of Ethics found no probable cause during a hearing on Oct. 16 regarding a complaint filed against Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne.
Fulton Commissioner Dana Barrett filed an ethics complaint against Thorne on Sept. 17. Barrett alleged Thorne violated the Fulton County Code of Ethics during a discussion about Republic nominees to the Fulton County Board of Registrations and Elections. Barrett said Thorne claimed she could control and direct what the GOP nominees would do if they were appointed.
After the ethics board hearing, Thorne told Rough Draft Atlanta she thought Barrett made a bogus ethics complaint, and the failure to find probable cause on the four allegations showed she was innocent.
“My comment of wanting to correct anybody who’s breaking the law or suppressing a person’s vote – I would hope every commissioner would do that,” Thorne said.
Community Assistance Center announces an $18 million fundraising campaign
💰 The Community Assistance Center launched an $18 million fundraising campaign during its Broadway Lights Gala last month.
The record-breaking crowd, which approached 400 attendees, witnessed the CAC’s launch of its three-year Compassion in Action comprehensive fundraising campaign. The event raised $480,000 toward the goal.
The funds raised will address growing community needs for Sandy Springs and Dunwoody and enable the expansion of the organization’s operational capacity.
👉🏼 Read more about the campaign.
✅ For 70 years, Peachtree Orthopedics has provided expert, specialized care for all your orthopedic needs. With 43 fellowship-trained physicians and convenient UrgentORTHO clinics, we help you recover quickly and Get Better.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
What’s doing around Sandy Springs
🍿 Oct. 17: Movie on the ‘Hooch: The Lorax! At Chattahoochee River National Recreational Area
🛝 Oct. 18: Kids Day at Hammond Park
🐶 Oct. 18: Paws and Pastries at Morgan Falls Dog Park
🧁 Oct. 18: Halloween cupcake decorating workshop at Young Chefs Academy
🍻 Oct. 18 and 19: OktoberFEAST at City Green
Oct. 21: Pop In and Paint at Painting with a Twist (every Tuesday)
✊🏼 Oct. 22: Greater Perimeter Chamber Women of Distinction Signature Luncheon at Sinclair Premier Event Venue
NEXT WEEKEND
🏃🏽♂️Oct. 25: Lightning Run 5K/10K sponsored by The Sandy Springs Education Force
🗓️ Add your event to our free, online event calendar.
The Sports Section
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE ATLANTA
🏈 FOOTBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (5-3): Oct. 25 @ Washington (2-6)
- Lovett (5-2): Friday vs. Hapeville Charter (3-4)
- Mt. Vernon (3-5): Oct. 24 vs. King’s Ridge (6-2)
- North Springs (1-7): Friday @ Tucker (4-3)
- Pace Academy (2-6): Oct. 24 vs. Forest Park (2-5)
- Riverwood (1-7): Oct. 24 vs. Woodstock (5-3)
- Westminster (2-6): Friday vs. Blessed Trinity (4-3)
🥎 SOFTBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (10-11): Oct. 22-23 vs. Christian Heritage (7-18)
- Lovett (6-12): Oct. 22-23 vs. Providence Christian (14-13)
- Mt. Vernon (20-6): Oct. 22-23 vs. St. Francis (12-10)
- North Springs (9-16): Season Completed
- Pace Academy (12-9): Oct. 20-21 vs. Walnut Grove (11-13)
- Riverwood (13-12): Season Completed
- Westminster (14-15): Season Completed
🏐 VOLLEYBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (17-16): Saturday @ Savannah Christian (29-10)
- Lovett (36-3): Saturday vs. Athens Academy (26-12)
- Mt. Vernon (24-20): Season Completed
- North Springs (4-22): Season Completed
- Pace Academy (32-7): Saturday vs. East Forsyth (23-11)
- Riverwood (19-16): Season Completed
- Westminster (35-10): Saturday @ Central-Carrollton (35-9)
🏈 Score Atlanta game of the week: Friday’s matchup between the Northgate Vikings (7-0) at the Langston Hughes Panthers (7-0) will be televised live at 8 p.m. on Atlanta News First (Channel 46) and the Peachtree Sports Network (cable and YouTube TV), and streamed digitally on the Atlanta News First (ANF) website/app and the NFHS Network.
Tune in at 7:30 for the Georgia High School Countdown to Kickoff for pregame festivities and our guest picker, and stay tuned after the game for the Georgia High School Postgame Show.
☑️ We appreciate everyone who has been encouraging people to sign up for our newsletter. Here is the link. 👋 And here’s a link to subscribe to some of our other newsletters. SPONSOR MESSAGE