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Changing Inmates’ Lives with Man’s Best Friend

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Canine CellMates

Susan Jacobs-Meadows looks beyond the bars that confine men and the cages that hold cast-off dogs. Reaching for the good that she believes they all hold, she brings them together for mutual rehabilitation.

Canine CellMates

The Peachtree Corners resident is the founder and executive director of Canine CellMates, a nonprofit program that pairs Fulton County jail inmates with dogs caged up on potential death rows. Since its start six years ago, more than 350 men have completed the program and more than 140 dogs have been adopted.

For her program’s efforts, Jacobs-Meadows was recently named a Mercedes-Benz USA Greatness Lives Here hero. The award recognizes unsung heroes making a difference in Atlanta, where MBUSA is headquartered. It came with the gift of a promotional video filmed at the jail that shows inmates training, playing and just sharing some unconditional love with the dogs.

“I think dogs are a gift,” Jacobs-Meadows says in the video. “My belief tells me that God gave dogs something he didn’t give other animals. He gave them the ability to look inside a human being and find the good that exists in there, and then he gave them the ability to help that person see that in themselves.”

Through her program, fueled with the help of 45 active volunteers, thoroughly assessed dogs from Fulton County Animal Services are selected to live in the jail for 10 weeks. Six dogs cycle through pairs of inmates who work with Canine CellMates trainers to make them better candidates for adoption through socialization and obedience training.

The men also attend classes six days a week to focus on resume and interviewing skills, personal development, trauma support, resilience training and basic computer literacy. Speakers are brought in to motivate and inspire them, and Jacobs-Meadows advocates for them in court.

“What I knew would happen is I would fall in love with these dogs. What I didn’t know was I would fall in love with these men,” Jacobs-Meadows said. “We tell them, ‘While you’re here, you’re our family, and for as long as you want us, when you leave, you will still be our family.’”

Upon their release, Canine CellMates will help the men with everything from food, clothing and loaded MARTA cards to help finding drug rehab programs and transitional housing. The program also keeps up with the adopted dogs, some of whom can be seen on the “Happy Tails” page of the program’s website.

Jacobs-Meadows’ immediate goals include acquiring office space and creating a Canine CellMates how-to guide so the program can be replicated by others. Longer-term, she hopes to see Canine CellMates offer its own transitional housing.

The program is funded solely through donations and sponsorships, and visual images are key to telling its story, Jacobs-Meadows said. “I think one of our most important jobs in Canine CellMates is to humanize these men in the eyes of the public,” she said. “When you share their words and their faces, people almost have to start considering them as human beings.”

Learn more

Canine CellMates seeks donations, sponsorships and a wide variety of volunteers. For more info, and to see dogs available for adoption, visit canineCellMates.org. See the Greatness Lives Here video. ■

Donna Williams Lewis is a freelance journalist who covered metro Atlanta for decades as a writer and editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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City Government

The Future of Law Enforcement in Peachtree Corners: Community Meeting

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Flyer for a community meeting regarding law enforcement in Peachtree Corners.

The City of Peachtree Corners will hold an important public meeting on May 8 to discuss the future of law enforcement in our community — including the potential creation of a city police department.

This meeting will feature a presentation by City Manager Brian Johnson on the findings of a comprehensive Police Analysis & Staffing Study that evaluated the feasibility and projected costs of forming a city police department based on current workload, crime levels and community demographics.

The presentation will also include budgetary considerations, comparative models and the advantages and disadvantages of a county vs. city police department.

Following the presentation, there will be time for a Q&A and open dialogue.

In-person attendance is limited to 300. First come, first served. A livestream option will be available for those who can’t attend in person.

After the meeting, a follow-up survey will be available on the city’s project page.

Meeting details

The Future of Law Enforcement in Peachtree Corners

Date/Time: May 8, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Location: Christ the King Lutheran Church (5775 Peachtree Parkway)

For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov.

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Community

Registration Now Open for Light Up the Corners 2025

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The starting line of a community race with green, inflatable start archway and dozens of racers and specators.

It’s time to sign up for the best (and only) Glow Run and Twilight Trot in Peachtree Corners!

Registration is now open to participate in this year’s Light Up the Corners race, scheduled for Saturday, August 16 at The Forum. The 1k Twilight Trot will start at 8 p.m., and the four-mile Glow Run begins at 8:30 p.m. Once the runners have done their thing, a fun post-race party will follow.

This annual event is not only an exciting community tradition, but also a fundraiser for the Why It Matters campaign at the Fowler Family YMCA.

All proceeds from registration goes directly to helping struggling families and children in the community benefit from the life-changing programs and services offered at the YMCA.

Individual registration is $40 through July 31; $45 if you register between August 1–14; and $50 if you wait to sign up on August 15 or 16. Those registering as a team of four or more will save $5–$10 per registration.

Sponsorships available

In addition to individual and team registrations, organizers also rely on the generosity and support of local businesses to make each year’s fundraising event successful. And this year is no different. If you’d like to support their efforts through a sponsorship, information can be found on the Light Up the Corners 2025 website.

T-shirt logo contest

Another way to take part is to enter the t-shirt logo design contest. Artwork and entry forms are due by May 16, and judges will be looking for one dynamic image to represent the Light Up the Corners Glow Run on the race banner, t-shirts and all multi-media.

The winning artist will receive a $1000 check, presented during the event. An entry form and additional details can be found here.

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City of Peachtree Corners

Our Growing Deer Population: What to Do?

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Mayor Mike Mason of Peachtree Corners, wearing a white button up shirt and blue blazer

I want to take a moment to address an issue that has been increasingly affecting our community — the growing deer population.

Over the past few years, we have observed a significant increase in the number of deer within Peachtree Corners, leading to heightened concerns about public safety, property damage and ecological impacts. I want to share what we are doing to address these challenges and how you can be part of the solution.

The surge in the deer population poses several threats to our community:

1. Landscape damage: Deer feeding on ornamental plants, shrubs and trees results in significant property damage and costly repairs for homeowners.

2. Increased risk of deer-vehicle collisions: Frequent road crossings, often under low-visibility conditions, pose serious safety risks to drivers and passengers.

3. Adverse ecological impacts: Excessive browsing by deer diminishes plant diversity, impacting the availability of food for other wildlife.

4. Public health concerns: High deer densities contribute to an increase in ticks, elevating the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

To address these challenges, the City of Peachtree Corners is collaborating with wildlife officials from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) Urban Wildlife Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services.

These partnerships are vital, as GADNR holds primary authority over wildlife management, and USDA brings extensive experience in urban wildlife management. By working together, we aim to develop a comprehensive approach tailored to our community’s unique needs.

Based on recommendations from our partners, the City is actively developing a comprehensive deer management plan. The plan aims to mitigate the public safety, property damage, ecological and public health impacts caused by the growing deer population.

Here’s what we are doing:

1. Population surveys: Utilizing advanced tools like trail cameras and thermal imaging to accurately assess deer numbers.

2. Habitat assessments: Evaluating the impact of the deer population on local vegetation and biodiversity.

3. Community involvement: Updating the “PTC Report It” app to allow residents to report deer-related concerns and submit photographs.

4. Data analysis: Collaborating with federal and state partners to analyze data and determine a sustainable deer population for our community.

Once the assessment phase is complete, the city will adopt a deer management plan. Since many deer reside on private property, the plan will offer property owners city-supported options for managing deer. This includes educational programs, habitat modification techniques and access to targeted population reduction initiatives.

Our goal is to facilitate relationships between wildlife officials and residents to ensure a balanced approach that protects public safety, preserves property and maintains ecological integrity.

Here are a few ways you can help:

Complete the Deer Impact Survey: Available online. Your input will help us gather valuable data on deer population densities and their impact.

Report concerns: Use the “PTC Report It” app or go online to report deer-related issues and share photos.

Stay informed: Follow our updates and participate in any upcoming GADNR workshops to stay informed about deer management efforts.

I truly appreciate your support and cooperation as we work together to address these challenges and protect the quality of life in Peachtree Corners. Thank you for being engaged and committed to our community.

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