Milton, GA. Local news that matters here.
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026 · Issue No. 7
Top of Mind
Tomorrow is the last day to vote early. Here's what you need to know.
Georgia's May 19 primary is five days away, and early voting ends tomorrow — Friday, May 15. If you haven't voted yet and want to skip the Tuesday lines, Friday is your only remaining window. Milton's early voting location is the Milton Library at 855 Mayfield Road.
What's on your ballot depends on your address. Milton spans two state House districts: HD-47 (parts of western and northern Milton, covering an open seat — Jan Jones is retiring after 24 years) and HD-49 (parts of the Alpharetta-side of Milton, where Chuck Martin is running for reelection). You can find your sample ballot at mvp.sos.ga.gov.
The HD-47 Republican primary is the most contested local race: three candidates — Brian Cochran, Phoebe Eckhardt, and Jack Miller — are competing for the open seat. If no candidate clears 50%, a runoff goes to June 16. The full candidate voter guide ran in Tuesday's Issue #6.
Bring a valid Georgia photo ID. Free Georgia voter ID cards are available at any county registrar's office for anyone who needs one.
Sources: Georgia Secretary of State — early voting · My Voter Page
School Beat
Milton High's baseball team swept Lakeside-DeKalb in the first home playoff series the Eagles have hosted since 2019. The series was played April 24 at Milton. A home series is meaningful: it means you finished high enough in your region to earn the hosting rights, and it means Milton's field was where the crowd packed the stands. From there, the Eagles advanced in the GHSA bracket.
Source: Appen Media — Milton dominates Lakeside-DeKalb
Fulton County Schools ranked first in the state for 2025 Academic Performance and Growth Awards — the district's highest showing yet. That ranking reflects both the raw achievement scores and the year-over-year growth rates that capture whether students are actually learning more. Milton's two high schools, Cambridge and Milton High, are among FCS's strongest performers.
Separately, FCS took center stage at the Schuler Competition, earning top awards for the district's performing arts programs. Details on which specific school(s) earned top honors weren't included in the district release.
And four Milton High seniors with a passion for the arts received the Hogan Family Arts Scholarship — $1,000 each to support their higher education in fine arts. The awards were announced this week.
Sources: FCS — Academic Performance Awards · FCS — Schuler Competition · Appen Media — Hogan scholarship
Council Watch
The state's annual burn ban kicked in May 1 and runs through September 30. That means no open burning of yard waste or land-clearing debris anywhere in North Georgia — including Milton — until October. Violations carry a fine of up to $25,000. If you've got brush piles or debris to clear, county-approved debris services are the legal route. The ban is a standing annual rule, not new this year, but it's easy to forget once warm weather arrives and the yard work piles up.
Source: Appen Media — Seasonal burn ban
The Drive
If you drive southbound on GA-400, road construction at McFarland Parkway West has the left lane blocked. The impact is listed as minor, but during peak hours (7–9 AM and 4–6 PM) it's worth leaving a few extra minutes. This is separate from the long-running express lane project on the $4.6B GA-400 widening, which continues through 2031.
Source: 511GA — GA-400 at McFarland Pkwy West
Calendar
- →Fri, May 15 — Last day of early voting, Fulton County. Milton location: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Rd
- →Mon, May 18 — Board of Zoning Appeals, City Hall, 6 PM
- →Tue, May 19 — ELECTION DAY: Georgia primary + local races. Polls open 7 AM–7 PM. Check your polling place at mvp.sos.ga.gov
- →Tue, May 19 — Milton Equestrian Committee, City Hall, 6:30 PM
- →Wed, May 27 — City Hall closed — Memorial Day
One More Thing
Fulton County Schools tops the state in academic performance. Milton's baseball team just hosted their first home playoff series in seven years. Four seniors are heading to fine arts programs with an extra $1,000 in their pocket. Whatever you think about local government or the ballot on May 19, there's something worth pausing on this Thursday: a lot of things are going well in this 38-square-mile city.
—Ryan
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