🌱 Controlled Burn In Milton + Winter Solstice Lantern Walk Canceled

Hello, everybody. It's Wednesday in Alpharetta-Milton and I'm back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town, including updates on...

• Controlled burn in Milton
• Alpharetta's winter solstice lantern walk canceled due to weather
• Milton municipal elections will be run by the city instead of Fulton County
• Man charged in Kennesaw murders pleads not guilty

But first, today's weather:

Today will be cloudy with a high of 45 and low of 35.

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Here are the top stories today in Alpharetta-Milton:

1. There will be a controlled burn in Milton near the Providence Road-New Providence Road-Birmingham Highway roundabout. The purpose of the burn, which is following EPA guidelines, is to dispose of organic materials and waste. Therefore, there may be smoke in the area, especially during the morning. The burn is scheduled from now until Dec. 30, and residents can contact Milton's Fire Marshall's office at fire.marshal@miltonga.gov. with questions. (City of Milton)
2. Unfortunately, the Winter Solstice Lantern Walk in Alpharetta scheduled for this evening has been canceled. The reason for the cancellation is the weather forecast. (City of Alpharetta)
3. Great news for Milton residents — its City Council voted to run its own municipal elections instead of Fulton County. This change should save the city money, as the County recently increased their cost for elections to Milton by 100 percent. Fulton County will continue to run federal, state and county elections in Milton unless there is a change to state law. (City of Milton)
4. The man charged in three deaths in nearby Kennesaw pleaded not guilty earlier this week. Bryan Anthony Rhoden allegedly shot three men at the Pinetree Country Club golf course in July of 2021; they are Henry Valdez, Paul Pierson and golf pro Gene Siller. Police believe the initial shooting was drug related, and Siller witnessed an active crime. Rhoden is currently in jail. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

Today in Alpharetta-Milton:

• Story time (ages 5 and under) at the Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza (10:30 AM)
• English/ESL Class at the Alpharetta Library (10:30 AM)
• Live Music at Palm 78, 5325 Windward Parkway in Alpharetta (6:00 PM)
• Sheet Pan Dinners cooking class at Publix Aprons Cooking School, 4305 State Bridge Road in Alpharetta (6:30 PM)
• Music Bingo at Truck & Tap, 30 Milton Ave. in Alpharetta (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• It will be very cold at the end of this week. The forecast shows that the coldest weather of the year will be Thursday through Saturday; temperatures could hit the single digits! Make sure your outdoor water is turned off and leave your heat on if you're going out of town. Also, watch for ice on the roadways. In addition, the City of Alpharetta is creating a list of warming centers for those who might need one. (City of Alpharetta)
• Many of us are planning to be out of town during the holidays. Here are some tips to help keep your house safe from intruders. Milton residents can request a vacation patrol, where a police officer or safety ambassador checks your house while you're gone. Here is a link to request that service. https://www.miltonga.gov/.../police/vacation-patrol-request/ . Here is a link to a similar service in Alpharetta https://alpharetta.policetocitizen.com/SecurityWatch. Other tips include making sure your alarm system is on, using your outdoor/indoor lights, asking neighbors to watch for packages and newspapers and calling the police if you see something suspicious. (Milton Police Department via Facebook)
  
• The city of Milton Fire Department held a "push-in" ceremony last week of the new quint! it was attended by neighbors, city officials and the fire department. This truck has new technology, including a ladder that can extend higher than the prior quint. The new quint will be housed at Station 41 on the corner of Arnold Mill and Providence roads. (City of Milton)

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Featured businesses:

• Claire Pearson Coaching — (Visit website)
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Events:

• Christmas Lights at North Point Community Church (December 23)
• Christmas Eve Carols Service at Influencers Church Alpharetta (December 24)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Gail Lafleche

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Alpharetta-Milton Daily? Contact me at Alpharetta@Patch.com