🌱 Wills Road Closure + School Bus Accident + 'Buggy' Art Needed

Hey, neighbors! It's me, Gail Lafleche, your host of the Alpharetta-Milton Patch newsletter. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening locally, including...

• Wills Road in Alpharetta closed near State Route 9.
• Accident involving a car, school bus and garbage truck.
• Art needed for Community Art Garden Walk.

But first, today's weather: Today will be mostly sunny and humid. The high will be 88 with a low of 71.

Here are the top stories today in Alpharetta-Milton:

1. Soon, there will be more traffic congestion and detours in Alpharetta. Starting on Monday, Aug. 7, Wills Road, at its intersection with State Route 9, will be closed through February 2024. This closure is due to the State Route 9 Improvement project; motorists are encouraged to reduce their speed in this area and watch the signs for detours. Here is a link to a map of the affected area: https://bit.ly/449v44F. (Alpharetta Department of Public Safety via Facebook)
2. There was a crash near the intersection of Birmingham Highway and Batesville Road in Milton on Thursday afternoon that involved a car, school bus and garbage truck. After the accident, the school bus was on its side; there had been no students riding the bus. The garbage truck was smashed in. Two people were taken to the hospital and nearby roads were closed for hours. Investigators are checking if the storms that afternoon could have caused the crash; there were many that day. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
3. The Alpharetta Recreation, Parks & Cultural Services Division needs artists to create art that has a bug theme for the Community Art Garden Walk behind the Arts Center. Since it will be outdoors, it must be weatherproof and include any type of bug(s). All ages are welcome to contribute! Please submit photos to arts-culture@alpharetta.ga.us along with an application found at https://bit.ly/ArtistOpenCall23. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
4. Did you know that the Alpharetta Public Safety Department receives funding as a result of assets that are seized due to illegal drug activity? The U.S. Department of Justice has a program where these assets are liquidated, and the proceeds can be used for a variety of items excluding salaries and recurring costs. The types of assets typically include land, homes and vehicles. The department has used these funds for equipment, firearms, training and supplies. (Appen Media)

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Today in Alpharetta-Milton:

Saturday, August 5

• Downtown Alpharetta Farmers Market at North and South Broad Street (8:30 AM)
• Milton Farmers Market at 2006 Heritage Walk in the City Hall Plaza (8:30 AM)
• Total Fitness at Wills Park Recreation Center, 11925 Wills Road in Alpharetta (9:30 AM)
• Alpharetta Summer Wine Festival at The Hotel at Avalon & Alpharetta Conference Center, 9000 Avalon Blvd. in Alpharetta (1:00 PM)
• Bret Michaels - Parti Gras Tour 2023 at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, 2200 Encore Parkway in Alpharetta (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The City of Milton is making improvements to several roads; they are adding a HA5 Pavement Preservation Treatment that will extend its life. It is a high-density material being applied to roads in the following subdivisions: "Bellmeade Farms, Bent Grass Farms, Canterbury on the Lake, Champions View, Cobblestone Farms, Fieldstone, Laurel Grove, Pleasant Hollow Farms, Stratforde, and Wyndham Farms." They are sealing cracks in the asphalt prior to adding the HA5. (City of Milton, Georgia - Government via Facebook)
• This summer has been extremely hot, and the temperatures could be dangerous for those who don't have access to air conditioning. If you or anyone you know is at risk, they can take advantage of the "My Watch Alpharetta, our Community Paramedic Program within the Alpharetta Fire Department" for assistance. (Alpharetta Department of Public Safety via Facebook)
• The Alpharetta City Council is meeting next Monday starting at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The public is invited to attend, either online or in person. Here is a link to the agenda and packet: https://bit.ly/3qfwBYU (City of Alpharetta GA via Facebook)
• If you need to go to the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, please note that roads around it will be closed starting next Monday, Aug. 7. Pryor Street will be shut down between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Mitchell Road. The reason is that there is a possible indictment of former President Donald Trump and others; it's "part of a grand jury investigation into alleged interference in Georgia's 2020 election." (FOX 5 Atlanta)

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Featured events:

• HUGE YARD SALE! Lots of stuff MUST go! (August 5)
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• Taxes in Retirement Seminar on August 7th and 9th at Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical (August 7)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— Gail Lafleche

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