The Gwinnett County Police Department said Braxston Ellis Harris was found safe The Gwinnett County Police Department asks the public for help locating Braxston Ellis Harris The police department said Harris’s family called 911 early Monday to report him missing Harris was last seen walking in the area of Old Suwanee Road Harris reportedly has limited communication abilities and normally uses a pen and pad to communicate Toddler had wandered from his home in to mountain lion territory when Buford A two-year-old boy who spent a night alone in the Arizona wilderness was led to safety by a rancher’s dog and was recovering safely at home with his family on Thursday Allen had wandered off from his home, ending up several miles away and in territory where mountain lions live and roam, according to a Facebook post from police officials. Search parties continued their efforts throughout the night and spotted two mountain lions along the way. After 16 hours of searching, the boy was rescued. a rancher whose property is seven miles away from Allen’s home and appeared to have protected and shepherded the missing boy to safety after discovering him The boy reportedly told the rancher he had slept under a tree “When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance,” Dunton, who owns Dunton Ranch in Kingman, said in a video posted by the sheriff’s office “I look up and the little kid’s standing there with my dog.” “I can’t believe that kid made it that far,” he added Dunton told NBC’s News12 of Phoenix that he “had heard about the missing child this morning a five-year-old Great Pyrenees-Anatolian mix “He goes out at night and just kind of patrols a mile from the house and just makes big loops The protective pooch was thanked by police for staying with the boy and bringing him to safety Boden was reunited with his parents and though he was reportedly shaken up and sustained a few scratches A rancher's dog in Arizona is being hailed as a hero after rescuing a local 2-year-old boy who had wandered nearly seven miles away from home and spent the night in the desert On Monday evening, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office got a report of the missing toddler, Boden Allen, who was reported to have walked away from his home in the small town of Seligman, Ariz., the agency said in a Facebook post. Dressed in just a tank top and pajama pants, Allen spent some 16 hours alone as he wandered, according to the sheriff's office, and the desert area he walked through had at least two mountain lion sightings that night Sheriff's office spokesperson Paul Wick told NPR that Allen's parents were "distraught" at the boy's disappearance and shared a teary reunion at his return In an interview with the sheriff's office "I'd heard about the missing child before I was going to town and when I was driving out the driveway I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance and the little kid's standing there with my dog." Dunton said he suspected the boy followed a powerline down from his house and into his property where Buford found him and brought him in I was ecstatic that he was ok and that my dog found him," Dunton said of the toddler which are noted for their size and tender nature The gentle giant guards around the house at night protecting the property from threats of coyotes Dunton told authorities that when he first got to the 2-year-old the boy needed water and food to calm himself before he explained that he had spent the night laying under a tree I can imagine he wouldn't leave him if he found him," Dunton said expressing bewilderment that the child had made it nearly seven miles from home all on his own Allen was in good health when he was found Become an NPR sponsor Jefferson in Class 3A and Buford in Class 6A have sat at or near the top of their respective classifications all season in the Scorbord.com poll. Both roll into Monday's quarterfinals of the Georgia High School Association playoffs, perhaps peaking at the right time with a pair of dominating wins in the first two rounds. The Lady Dragons, the No. 1 seed in Class 3A, outscored their first two opponents 15-0 while the Lady Wolves routed their first two opponents 17-0. Jefferson is playing host to Dawson County at Memorial Stadium on Monday while Buford takes on Brookwood at home. But they aren’t the only northeast Georgia area teams on a roll. After a shaky start to the season without a full roster, Cherokee Bluff has been as hot as any team in the state.  All three reached the semifinals or better in 2024 and are looking for return trips on Monday. The Lady Bears, a preseason favorite to also be a major player in Class 3A backed by national standout Bristol Kersh, struggled early on while Kersh and several other key players were helping the Lady Bears' basketball team win a state title. But once Kersh and the rest joined for good, Bluff (13-6) has gone 10-1 over its last 11 matches, with the only loss coming to Mill Creek, which is into the Class 6A quarterfinals. Bluff coach Heath Padgett said there weren't any major changes in strategy, only that players will play. The 13th-seeded Lady Bears take on No. 21-seed Gilmer at Yonah Field at 6 p.m. “We knew the front half of our schedule was going to be tough, especially without our full roster,” Padgett said. “Our girls stayed together, stayed positive, and gained confidence. It allowed all of our players to gain necessary experience as we moved into our region schedule. “Obviously, scoring goals and keeping the other team from scoring is how you win. Our back line -- Ashley Scott, Naomi Cornett, Ashley Cook, and Samantha Diaz -- were put to the test early and learned to communicate and work as a unit early on. Our keeper, Brooklyn Roberts, impressed and earned everyone's respect from day one.  “When we added Bristol to our attack, it allowed us to open up our play getting more players in the attack. Midfielders Genesis Gamez, Tyndal Brix, Peyton McDaniel, and Addison Dovie were able to start possessing the ball to allow our defenders to get into the attack with Haley Hunter, who has proven to be dangerous up top.” Current No. 2-ranked Buford, however, may face the toughest matchup of the playoffs, and the season, taking on top-ranked Brookwood in a monster showdown at Buford High School. Coach Megan Hill, who is trying to guide the Lady Wolves to a second-consecutive state championship match, said the message was a simple one for her squad. “The road to trying to win a state championship in the highest classification is difficult,” said Hill, whose group last year lost to West Forsyth in the title match in Class 7A. “It’s not meant to be easy. We cannot look past Monday. It will be a very challenging game. We normally focus on ourselves and what we need to do in order to be successful.” One goal could win it as both teams feature almost impenetrable defenses. Brookwood (18-0) has allowed just 3 goals while Buford (19-0) has given up just 8 goals on the season. Both offenses, however, have also been almost unstoppable. Brookwood has scored 104 goals (5.78 goals/game) and Buford has tallied 97 goals (5.1 gpg) in 2025. “They have some very dynamic attacking players and so do we,” Hill said. “Everyone has a role on the team and if our attacking players fill that role I think we can find success.” Back to Bluff, a win for the Lady Bears over the Lady Bobcats could set up a potential rematch with Jefferson in the Final 4. The Lady Dragons knocked off the Lady Bears in both teams’ Region 8-3A openers back on March 7. Padgett said they’re focused on Gilmer but also understand what possibly lies ahead. “Our eyes are set on Monday at the moment. We have to play our game (on  Monday) or it won’t matter,” he said. “Our girls love playing at home and will feed off the energy from our supporters. Everyone has to do their job. “But we’re also excited to potentially get another shot (at Jefferson). We have the utmost respect for their program. Their coaching has done a great job this year and they are very talented in every position. Playing them at full strength would make for a great game.” Those aren't the only teams with a chance to move into the Final 4 on Monday. Habersham Central (8-5A) takes on Roswell (7-5A) at Raider Stadium in a battle of region champs. William Buford Completes His Degree, Becomes an Ohio State Graduate5/4/2025 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball Receive the Latest News & Promotions A rancher's dog is being credited with helping protect a toddler who went missing in Arizona this week after he wandered away from his home and was found several miles away Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call April 14 reporting a missing 2-year-old boy, the sheriff’s office said in a post on Facebook The toddler had wandered away from his home in Seligman A search and rescue party consisting of 40 members was put together to look for the toddler But the boy wasn't found alone: he was with the rancher's dog named Buford 'I can't believe that kid made it that far'In a video posted by the sheriff's office said he had heard about the missing toddler and was headed to town when he spotted him "When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," said Dunton, who owns Dunton Ranch in Kingman "I look up and the little kid's standing there with my dog." "I can't believe that kid made it that far," he added The sheriff's office said that during the overnight search "DPS ranger rescue helicopter said they spotted 2 mountain lions among the terrain the boy traveled." Dunton's wife Dawn told USA TODAY over email that she wasn't home at the time of the rescue but the "child was in fairly good condition all things considered." "He was crying but Scotty was able to comfort him His little face was all dirty and of course he was hungry and thirsty," Dawn said "He is doing well now after some much needed rest in the safety of his home." Dunton said he believes the toddler reached the ranch by following a road right next to a power line before their dog Buford found the boy so I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him," Dunton said Dawn told USA TODAY Buford has been with them since he was a puppy "We chose him from the litter because of his chill demeanor," Dawn said adding that Buford is a livestock guardian breed and it is their nature is to roam and protect "Buford has always been a natural babysitter whether it be with baby animals or with children," Dawn added The trek would've been 7 miles had the toddler walked straight Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7 Georgia football has landed its first offensive line commitment for the 2026 class Buford’s Graham Houston told the Athens Banner-Herald Thursday night he picked the Bulldogs over Ole Miss I feel like it’s the best fit for me,” Houston said “I can end up being a great football player there the goal is to win a few national championships and I just feel like it’s the best place I can strive as a football player.” 310-pound Houston is a four-star rated prospect by the 247Sports Composite Asked where Bulldog coaches see him on the line, Houston said Georgia “thinks I can play anywhere Houston said he made the decision to commit to Georgia after talking with his family “It was definitely the right time for me,” he said Houston becomes the seventh commitment in Georgia’s 2026 class — Buford baseball coach Stuart Chester has had some frustrating moments in his career But few will probably compare to what he witnessed on Tuesday The Wolves were ousted in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs in tight 4-3 and 2-0 losses to North Paulding at Gerald McQuaig Field Buford was looking for a return trip to the Elite 8 Three of the six runs allowed in the two games came on high choppers despite rapping out 12 hits and getting 7 walks and two hit batters “I don’t know how many deep balls we hit How many balls were hit right to someone?” he said “I think they turned three double plays in the first game [two to be exact] We had the bases loaded twice with one out It's just a little harder to swallow when you lose like this and you’re so close all night.” Buford starters Braden Burton and Luke Hopper both pitched well enough to win though Burton was tagged for four runs (only three earned) in five innings in Game 1 and Hopper allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings in Game 2 The Wolves almost pulled off the ultimate rally in the bottom of the seventh of the first game they loaded the bases with one out on singles by Ian Chafin and Lio Garcia and a walk to Cannon Goldin Ryan Johansen drove in Chafin with a single to center knocked in a run and Caleb Griffin made it 4-3 with a two-out hit They could have sent Johansen from second to try and tie the game but held him up at third at the last second You don't ever want to make that last out (of the game) at the plate,” Chester said “It's like we never really got a break when we needed one.” North Paulding reliever Noah Barker got Payton Walker to pop out to right to end the game with the bases loaded stranding Johansen at third and the winning run at second The difference was the Buford offense left 11 runners on base The Wolves were just 1-of-8 with RISP until the seventh inning when they went 3-of-5 with RISP but they ran out of outs before they could complete the comeback North Paulding was 2-of-6 with 2 RBI with RISP There would be no rally in the second game as Wolfpack starter Yenli Nolasco went the distance and struck out 4 of the last 6 Buford batters to seal the series win “That’s a really good baseball team we lost to,” Chester said “I think the younger guys like Lio and Dexter and all the others coming back will be better for it and it's about failure and it's about success and it's about getting up and bouncing back “I think this group will be ready for next year and will have this experience to look back on to help them.” working around a two-out error in the first and getting the Wolfpack in order in the second But he also was living on the edge as he got to 3-2 on each of the first seven batters After needing just 8 pitches to get through the first Buford loaded the bases in the second against North Paulding starter Raedan Jones But Jones was able to get out of the mess unscathed getting Walker to pop to first and then striking out Chafin to end the inning The Buford defense got Burton out of a jam in the third turning a double play after a pair of singles Goldin ripped a single and Johansen walked in the bottom of the third with two-out for the Wolves but they could not come around to score North Paulding finally broke through in the fourth as Noah Schmid ripped an RBI double off the wall in left to give Wolfpack a 1-0 lead But Burton was able to get out of the inning without further damage by striking out Nolasco with runners at second and third The Wolfpack would open up their lead to 4-0 in the fifth plating three runs on two hits and a big Buford error Buford’s next chance came in the sixth when Bock singled and McCleon Jr But the North Paulding defense turned its second double play of the game and Walker struck out to end the inning with a runner at third Buford would get the winning run to second in the seventh but left them loaded.  the Wolves began the second game where they left off the first making it 14 LOB in the first 9 innings of the series plating a pair runs on three hits in the second Bryce Davis tripled in a run and then scored on Noah Schmid’s single to right The Wolves continued to get runners on base but just could not find that clutch hit They stranded two more in the fourth and another in the fifth North Paulding also continued to put pressure on Buford pitching came on to strike out Collin Brightwell to get out of that mess.  McCleon hit a batter and walked another in the sixth but would also strike out the side to keep the Wolves in it Habersham Central and Buford rolled into the Elite 8 of the GHSA girls soccer playoffs on Tuesday.  at Tom Riden Stadium in the Class 6A bracket.  1 Habersham Central rolled past Kennesaw Mountain Jackson County's season ended with a 3-0 loss to Greenbrier Buford, a rancher's dog in Arizona credited with helping protect and rescue a toddler who went missing in Arizona last week The 6-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix received an "Honorary Search and Rescue Certificate" and a vest by the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office on April 22 for being a "source of comfort to the family and community," and playing "a vital role in representing the spirit of keeping our community safe," the law enforcement agency said in a post on Facebook "Buford's vigilance and protective instincts, combined with Scottie Dunton's swift response, ensured Bodin's safe return to his family," Buford's certificate reads, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network "Your actions exemplify the highest standards of community service and canine heroism." Not only that, but Buford is also being showered with gifts from strangers for protecting the 2-year-old boy and leading him to safety, his owner, Scotty Dunton, told KPNX just a little bit of everything," Dunton said adding he has also been receiving messages for Buford from across the world Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. The 2-year-old, identified as Bodin Allen by the Arizona Republic according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office and he was found after approximately 16 hours with Buford in the rancher's driveway had said he spotted the toddler just as he was headed to town "When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," Dunton, who owns Dunton Ranch in Kingman told USA TODAY over email that she wasn't home at the time of the rescue she was tending to their 1-year-old child when the toddler wandered off in the afternoon of April 14 adding it was not unusual for Bodin to go outdoors and play in the dirt A few minutes later when she went outside to look for her child "My instinct was maybe he got trafficked or something," Bodin's father And that feeling just kept intensifying by the minute." which Corey described as "the weakest moment of our lives," search and rescue officials looked for the toddler far and wide "I feel like I'm about to be ended as a person," Corey told the Arizona Republic somewhere in the seven miles between the Allen property and a ranch guarded by the 150-pound dog Buford as Scotty was getting ready to go into town he saw Buford coming down the fence line with a little blond boy and alerted the family "I've just had the most emotional meltdown describing the moment before he found out his son was found Sarah said their son was completely unfazed by the incident and "acted like nothing even happened." The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office also celebrated Bodin by giving him "a challenge coin" to acknowledge "their courageous spirit and commitment to helping others." Dunton said he believes the toddler reached the ranch by following a road right next to a power line before Buford found the boy adding that Buford is a livestock guardian breed and it is their nature to roam and protect By Atlanta News First staffPublished: Apr 2025 at 7:19 PM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInATLANTA (Atlanta News First) – A Buford man was sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing a 7-year-old child and a family member of the victim was sentenced to 20 years for coaching the child to lie about the abuse was convicted of four counts of aggravated child molestation and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences with the first 80 years to serve in prison the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday who is related to the victim – and was in a relationship with Richardson at the time of the abuse – was convicted of one count of influencing a witness and one count of second-degree cruelty to children with the first seven years to serve in prison Richardson and Amin were also ordered to register as sex offenders and to have no contact with the victim and other family members The district attorney’s office said Richardson sexually abused the 7-year-old several times at a Buford apartment Richardson was arrested after the child reported the abuse to school administrators Prosecutors said it was revealed during the trial that Amin then coached the victim to change their story and lie to officials about what happened in an attempt to get Richardson released from jail “The child told (their) story from the witness stand in front of the Gwinnett County jury who then returned the guilty verdicts,” the DA’s office said any northeast Georgia area team in Class 4A and above that can advance in the second round of the Georgia High School Association playoffs this week will almost certainly be thrown into any state title conversations and Flowery Branch and East Forsyth in Class 4A all face top four ranked opponents beginning on Tuesday in best of-three series Only Buford will have the advantage of being at home The Wolves (25-7) ranked seventh in Class 6A in the final Coaches Box poll, take on third-ranked North Paulding (25-8) The Wolfpack are coming a semifinal run in Class 7A last season in a rematch of their Class 6A first round series from 2024 The Raiders (20-12) knocked off the Spartans (26-5) in three games in that series last year in Douglasville so South Paulding will be looking for a measure of revenge both Flowery Branch and East Forsyth will face stiff competition on the road as well Pius while the Falcons have fourth-ranked Wayne County. East Forsyth (21-10) hits the road against the Golden Lions (31-2) who have won eight straight and have lost just once (Marist) to a team in Class 4A this season The Falcons (18-11) take a long road trip to take on the Yellow Jackets (28-4) who advanced to the Elite 8 in Class 4A in 2024 (See below for the full schedule for Tuesday.) is ranked as a four-star interior offensive lineman 305-pound offensive lineman could play offensive guard or offensive tackle at the next level The Buford star is Georgia's seventh commitment in the class of 2026 He is UGA's first commitment along the offensive line in the 2026 cycle Head coach Kirby Smart and Georgia have the nation's No 25 recruiting class following Houston's commitment "We added another brick in the Great Wall of Georgia!" Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels said after Houston's commitment Ole Miss and Florida over the upcoming months Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application of Peytonsville-Bethesda Community passed away on April 28 He was all around “a good simple man” Alvin and Mary Francis Harper Buford; sister and Paxton Wilson; step grandchildren; Tiffany Barnes and Autumn Birdsong A Memorial Service will be conducted 12 Noon with a one-hour visitation prior to the service Services in care of Casey Stephens and Lawrence Funeral Home Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors — It never gets easier in the Georgia High School Association baseball playoffs With the second round beginning this week around the state nine northeast Georgia area teams face some stiff competition as they look to advance across five classifications Classes 4A up to 6A are up first with best-of-three matchups starting on Tuesday No one has to tell Buford just how difficult things are in the state’s largest classification The Wolves lost to Brookwood in the Elite 8 in 2024 dropping two 1-run games after taking the opening game against the Broncos They lost in the second round to Walton in 2023 the Wolves look for a return trip to the quarterfinals but will have to take on North Paulding in a matchup of two top 10 teams in Class 6A Buford (25-7) was ranked seventh in Class 6A in the final Coaches Box poll The Wolfpack were semifinalists in Class 7A in 2024 Buford coach Stuart Chester knows they will once again have their work cut out for them even though they will be in the familiar confines of Gerald McQuaig Field The Wolfpack finished third in Region 5-6A behind defending Class 6A state champ Etowah and perennial East Cobb power Walton “North Paulding is very good. They have every component of the game -- pitching defense,” Chester said.”They are very well coached and add that with talent and being battle tested: they’re a very tough opponent.” routing Chapel Hill by a combined 21-0 in a two-game sweep North Paulding needed three games to beat Tift County after dropping the opening game of the series The Wolves are a young team at several key positions with talented freshmen Lio Garcia and Dexter McCleon Jr But they also have one of the state’s top recruits in senior Cannon Goldin The Buford offense is averaging 8 runs/game with Goldin leading the way But North Paulding pitching is only yielding 3.3 runs/game on the season “Cannon has been and is a huge factor of any success we have had the last few years,” Chester said “It will definitely be a plus for him to have a great series.” averaging just under 7 runs/game on season Chester said they will need their entire arsenal and to limit the mistakes you have to rely on your entire pitching staff,” he said “Our three starters -- Braden Burton -- need to be efficient and keep their pitch count down.  and have a good approach at the plate.  I think the team who makes the fewest mistakes will have an edge.” We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Flanigan Funeral Home proudly serving families since 1990 we provide professional shipping anywhere inside the United States However WE DO NOT OFFER International shipping \u003ca href=\"/\"\u003eRead More\u003c/a\u003e Jack A. Lynn, age 72, of Buford, GA passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025. He was preceded in death by his mother, Joyce Higgins Cook; father, Elmer Lynn; grandparents, Carol and Reba Hutchins Higgins; aunt, Becky (Darrell) Born; uncle, Jerry... View Obituary & Service Information Lynn created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne A guilty verdict has been returned against a couple for reportedly abusing a 7-year-old girl at a Buford apartment The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office reported on Friday that 25-year-old Javen Tyree Richardson and his girlfriend Richardson was convicted on four counts of aggravated child molestation and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences with the first 80 years to serve in prison Amin was convicted on one count of influencing a witness and one count of cruelty to children in the second degree She was sentenced to 20 years with the first seven to serve in prison Amin and Richardson also had to register as sex offenders and must have no contact with the victim or her siblings “Justice for this young victim begins with the outcome of this trial,” Gwinnett District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said “Her family and her loved ones must continue to help her recover and heal.” It’s reported that Richardson sexually abused the girl several times and the victim disclosed the abuse at school It was revealed in court that Amin then trained the child to change her story and lie to officials about what happened to get Richardson out of jail The child told her story from the witness stand in front of the Gwinnett County jury Ga. — Callum Spivey's three-run 8th inning home run came at the right time as Habersham Central rallied past Lee County The Raiders (20-12) will travel to Region 5-5A champion South Paulding on Tuesday in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.  But Habersham Central powered back in the fifth inning on a Kreed Barrett double and a single by Micah Huff to tie the game Maverick Chitwood smashed a go-ahead home run Lee County tied the game in the bottom of the 7th as Jackson Creech recorded an RBI single to center field.  Lio Garcia had a day at the plate leading Buford past Chapel Hill and into the second round of the Class 6A playoffs on Thursday at Gerald McQuaig Field including a triple and double in the first inning and a home run in the third Mason Litt followed with a three-run triple and Garcia added an RBI triple for a 7-0 lead The Wolves tacked on another run in the second courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Johansen that extended the lead to 8-0 Payton Walker grounded out to bring in one and Garcia capped off his big day with a two-run homer to left tossing three scoreless innings while allowing just two hits Ryland Perry and Carson Reeves pitched in relief for the Wolves Litt and Garcia drove in three runs apiece Buford awaits the winner of Game 3 of the North Paulding-Tift County series They'll be at home against them on Wednesday.  After Mother Nature delayed the best-of-three series less than 24 hours Irwin County completed the sweep of Towns County on Thursday in the first round of the Class A Division 2 playoffs.  Towns County opened Game 2 with a 1-0 lead but Irwin County answered in the bottom of the first with a three-run outing.  pushing four runs home in the third inning then landed the final blow in the bottom of the sixth inning Tripp Poole's RBI single scored the go-ahead run.  Irwin County sat the Towns down in order to seal the win in the seventh.  Irwin County (23-6) grabbed the early lead in the first inning when Zack Young walked with bases loaded But it was the second inning when Irwin County flexed scoring four runs in the inning that started when a pitch struck Luke Snyder and drove in a run This was followed by a Tripp Poole single that scored a run and a Young two-RBI single to push the lead to 5-0.  Irwin County added five more runs in the third inning and three in the fifth to force the run-rule and get the Game 1 win.  Irwin County's Jaylen Martin recorded the shutout win allowing two hits and striking out nine in five innings Morgan Walker led Towns County (17-16) with two hits PREP BASEBALL 1st ROUND PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD Corrections & Clarifications: The first name of Bodin Allen was misspelled in a previous version of this column the 5-year-old Anatolian Pyrenees who patrols his owner’s northern Arizona ranch at night Buford came home the morning of April 15 with a toddler in tow Dozens of would-be rescuers combed the rough terrain the night before who had wandered away from his Seligman home on the morning of April 14 with its mountains and canyons and deep stands of trees Officers searching by helicopter spotted two mountain lions the odds of finding the little boy seemed to plummet when Buford arrived home at the ranch from his evening patrol walking up the driveway with a tow-headed tot in pajamas “I knew it was him,” Buford’s owner Scotty Dunton told NBC News And so I jumped out and ran and grabbed him and told him ‘you’re OK you’re OK,’ and took him inside and got him some water and food “He calmed down pretty quick and turned back into a 2-year-old.” The boy was seven miles from his home and apparently had slept beneath a tree before his four-legged savior arrived Dunton said he tracked foot and paw prints that showed the boy and dog had been together for at least a mile this is the hero our nation needsBuford not only saved a precious child giving us a golden opportunity to briefly pause our national fistfight over everything and celebrate a miraculous story making dogs great again (as if there ever was a time when they weren’t) Like this column? Get more opinions straight into your email inbox by signing up for our free opinions newsletter Lamont is the vice president of entertainment experience and production for the NHL’s Seattle Kraken He began his career as a media specialist with Hampton University in 2000 Subsequent posts include tenures with the Hershey Bears We spent two minutes with Lamont to learn more about his background his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.  But this question is always tricky because my father was in the military Watching an Eagles vs. Cowboys game on AFN-TV. It was the first time I saw Randall Cunningham play I’m a big fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, Chelsea and the Houston Rockets. Randall Cunningham, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Serena Williams Major League for a movie and and All American for TV New Heights, 7PM in Brooklyn With Melo and Pivot Hands sown Tecmo Super Bowl on NES. A close second would be any of the Madden games video effects and special lights to the arena Hearing the gasp from the crowd when everything launched has stayed with me all season I enjoyed a Heineken promotion that celebrated a superfan who called his wife while at a game and it became a superstitious ritual for him until they won the championship I appreciated how they took a real moment and celebrated it in a way that inspired others sports bring people together from different backgrounds 2 Minutes With is our regular interview series where we chat with creatives about their backgrounds, creative inspirations, work they admire and more. For more about 2 Minutes With, or to be considered for the series, please get in touch. Shahnaz Mahmud is a contributing writer to Muse by Clios A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 2:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Jeff Williams officiating Buford will be laid to rest with military honors provided by the United States Marine Corps at Rose Hill Cemetery from 4:00 – 8:00 PM and again on Wednesday from 1:00 – 2:00 PM at the funeral home Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements Buford was the son of the late James Ellis Moss and the late Jimmie Lee Riggins Moss (John) Aday he honorably served in the United States Marine Corps for four years He dedicated 32 years of service as an electrician at Union Carbide before retiring in 2000 Buford was a man of many talents and passions and had a deep love for music he excelled in various sports throughout his life and coached youth baseball Known for his infectious humor and kind spirit His unwavering positivity and inspiring nature left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him for 60 years until her passing on February 8 Those proudly serving as pallbearers will be Ray Tate Honorary pallbearers will include Destin Moss The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and staff at Maury Regional Medical Center and Hospice Compassus for their compassionate care during this difficult time and unwavering love for his family will be deeply missed but never forgotten at his home in the Clear Springs Community but his favorite past time was fishing with his family and friends He had a habit of always speaking his mind He is survived by his children Tina (Patrick) Sellers of the Clear Springs Community Beeman (Brenda) Harris of the Clear Springs Community his 2 sisters Gloria Harris (Tommy) Hannah and Ruby (Larry) Sullivan of Mt 5 grandchildren Kelly & Stephen Phillips Harley & Tyler Sellers and Richard Campbell Jr He was preceded in death by his loving wife Jackie Harris and his parents CD and Margie Harris He will be laid to rest by his wife at his home in the Clear Springs Community on Tuesday OTT & LEE Funeral Home of Forest is honored to serve the Harris family 16 Atlanta Bars Serving the Best Nonalcoholic Drinks 13 Best Restaurants Open 24 Hours (or Nearly) Around Atlanta The Best New Restaurants Around Atlanta, May 2025 It would be impossible to spotlight every amazing restaurant on Buford Highway, but this map highlights the essential restaurants, including several recommended by James Beard and the Atlanta Michelin Guide strap in and go restaurant-hopping on Buford Highway so you can bring a bottle of wine to pair with ginger beef or fried rice this spot takes a modern approach to Northeastern Thai cuisine while maintaining respect for the strong and fresh flavors that the region is universally known for Their menu includes several types of papaya salads and many other must-try dishes not often found in the typical westernized Thai restaurants around Atlanta The Best Thai Restaurants to Know Around Atlanta stroll up to the counter to order everything from shrimp and pork shumai and har gow (Cantonese shrimp dumplings) to sticky rice in lotus leaves There’s also a location in the food court at Great Wall Supermarket in Duluth 17 Restaurants Around Atlanta for Tasty Dumplings 14 Chinese Restaurants Around Atlanta Serving Delectable Roast Duck Feasts Many Atlantans consider the bánh mì at Quoc Huong in the Asian Square complex the best in metro Atlanta The fresh French bread contributes to this reputation The favorite order here is the barbecue pork 15 Best Affordable Restaurants Around Atlanta That Won’t Break the Bank The Best Sandwiches You’ve Got to Try in Atlanta 13 Best Atlanta Restaurants for Takeout and Delivery 14 Best Chinese Restaurants to Try Around Atlanta The Singapore noodles here are a good choice as is the lamb and leeks in a cilantro-laden hot bean sauce Originally launched as a food truck in 2016 Java Saga has since grown into a full-fledged eatery on Buford Highway offering a complete selection of Taiwanese street eats and cafe specialties The star dish is a massive Taiwanese hot chicken sandwich topped with American cheese Owner Alvin Sun affectionately calls it the “ABC” or “American Born Chinese” as an homage to his upbringing as a first-generation American Other menu highlights include their iconic Taiwanese chicken nuggets and a killer breakfast Dan Bing (egg crepe roll) Expect to see a tiny restaurant space with limited indoor and outdoor seating that focuses mainly on grab-and-go for a quick Atlanta Restaurants Serving Hot Chicken That’ll Make You Sweat 25 Iconic Atlanta Restaurant Dishes to Try Tucked in the back of Supermercado Chicago in the heart of Buford Highway this hidden and unassuming Taqueria serves up the most authentic tacos The staples here are offered all week long with specials on the weekends Be sure to stop by the meat counter and take home a pound or two of their incredible A post shared by Supermercado Chicago (@supermercadochicago) You’ll spot the smoke and smell the mouthwatering aromas from this family-owned eatery across Buford Highway char-grilled chicken here does not disappoint Paired with a sublime green salsa and out-of-this-world sides of beans you’ll be treated to the ultimate comfort meal Keep an eye out for specials on weekdays when they offer a free half chicken with every whole chicken purchased which usually results in long lines and a packed parking lot 20 Must-Try Mexican Restaurants Around Atlanta A long-time mainstay amongst the many amazing Mexican restaurants across Buford Highway El Rey Del Taco is a favorite spot for their variety of tacos and quesadillas ranging from carne asada and al pastor to rare delicacies such as lengua (beef tongue) and huitlacoche (corn fungus) Prepare for a wait during the evening and weekends but be assured it’s worth it because “The King of the Taco” stays open late with fantastic Mexican food and exceptionally strong margaritas Just south of the Buford Highway Farmer’s Market, this Korean restaurant serves up traditional meaty grilled delights in its sprawling space, batches of banchan, and lunch specials. Night owls can often satisfy their Korean barbecue cravings here. Michelin listed Han Il Kwan as a recommended restaurant to try on its Atlanta dining guide Located behind a small commercial center off of Buford Highway, this long-standing restaurant has a lot to offer. Even after some ownership changes in the past few years, Yet Tuh still holds a lot of popularity for its home-style cuisine and charming hospitality It’s the place to go if you need a comforting bowl of tofu soup or a world-class haemul-pajeon (seafood pancake) 15 Best Korean Restaurants to Hit Around Atlanta or “Halmoni (할머니)” has since retired from the kitchen at Stone Bowl House the latest owners honor her legacy by utilizing the same delicious recipes and techniques to serve exceptional traditional Korean dishes Must try is their namesake “Stone Bowl” bibimbap paired with some of the city’s best banchan Masterpiece is a family-owned and operated Sichuan restaurant with dishes created by chef Rui Liu From the Chongqing-style noodles and dry spicy eggplant to tea-smoked duck and shredded beef or pork with hot peppers few things on the menu don’t come with a bit of heat Masterpiece is worth the trek north from Atlanta and a great place to enjoy a family-style meal with friends will open its 2025 playoffs at home on Tuesday along with four other northeast Georgia area teams on Tuesday The Region 8-6A champion Lady Wolves (17-0) will play host to Region 2-6A No 4 seed Westlake as they look to make another run to the championship game But they aren't the only region champ in action on Tuesday Region 8-5A champion Habersham Central (12-2) plays host to Lee County (5-7) at Raider Stadium while 8-5A No 2 seed Jackson County (11-5) entertains Thomas County Central (10-5) in Hoschton (See the entire schedule of Tuesday's playoff games below:) GA — The Buford baseball team captured its fifth consecutive Region 8-6A championship Tuesday night with a 10-6 victory over Dacula at Gerald McQuaig Field Buford jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning behind RBI doubles from sophomore Ryan Johansen and freshman Payton Walker tossing four innings and allowing just one earned run Junior Ayden Lockett’s sun-lost double led to a three-run inning Buford pulled away again after the Falcons closed the gap to 7-6 by the sixth Senior Cannon Goldin scored on a wild pitch and freshman Dexter McCleon delivered a clutch two-out Junior Kanon Nelson shut the door with a clean seventh inning for his second save of the season 15-2 Region 8-6A) will travel to Dacula on Friday for the final game of their 3-game series with the Falcons Ryan Johansen & Payton Walker: RBI doubles Once he started playing a great big smile would shine on his face and brighten up his entire surroundings a holy ghost dance was all around the church Indiana Funeral Care - Indianapolis Chapel Buford opened its Class 6A playoffs with a dominating 10-0 win over Westlake on Tuesday at home in a game that was shoretned to 20 minutes Buford raced out to a 7-0 in the opening 10 minutes and they called it halftime there Sabrie Vargas the offense with a hat trick. Ava Rodriguez and Sophia Martelli each scored twice and Natalie Debella, Kaylen Brown and Chandler Perry all had one goal for Buford Nat Dinh recorded the shutout in goal for the Lady Wolves Buford (18-0) next will play host to Cherokee on Tuesday at home in the second round Region 8-5A champion Habersham Central also opened the playoffs with a 10-0 domination of Lee County (5-8) at Raider Stadium 2 seed Jackson County also advanced, holding Thomas County Central (10-6) off in Hoschton The Lady Raiders (13-2) will next play host to Kennesaw Mountain next Tuesday in Mt The Lady Panthers (12-5) will next travel to Region 1-5A champion Greenbrier in the second round It was the Lady Broncos' first-ever soccer playoff win guiding him to safety after the boy had spent the night alone under a tree helped with the boy's safe return to his family after he saw Bodin and Buford wandering his property receiving an honorary search-and-rescue certificate and a rescue vest Yavapai County deputies gave Bodin a challenge coin in recognition of his bravery during the ordeal remaining uninjured and avoiding wildlife spotted by authorities during the search Buford found the boy while patrolling his land and likely shepherded him to safety "Buford's vigilance and protective instincts combined with Scottie Dunton's swift response ensured Bodin's safe return to his family," Buford's certificate read — Habersham Central moved one win from clinching a playoff spot on Monday routing Alcovy 15-0 in three innings at home including a three-run home run to cap an 8-run third inning to put the game out of reach Habersham Central scored five runs in the first and two in the second 6-5 Region 8-5A) also got two RBI each from Ethan Wheeler and Callum Spivey Maverick Chitwood earned the win for the Raiders tossing a three-inning no-hitter and striking out four The two teams next will travel to Alcovy on Wednesday the Panthers staged a furious comeback that fell short with the bases loaded in a costly Region 8-5A loss on the road on Monday The loss dropped Jackson County (13-12 4-7 Region 8-5A) into fifth place in the region standings. The two teams will close out the regular season on Wednesday in Hoschton with the Panthers trying to stay alive for the final playoff berth Jackson County went to work in the top of the seventh as Justin Mills and Mitchell Bryce each had RBI singles and Bryce Garrison was hit by a pitch and Garrett Klein walked with the bases loaded to bring the go-ahead run to second base But Tripp Brown grounded out to second to end the game Jackson County led 1-0 after the first inning but the Wildcats (8-17 5-6 Region 8-5A) scored three runs second and four more in the third to grab the lead Brody Strickland took the loss for Jackson County surrendering seven runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings Buford moved one win from clinching the Region 8-6A title with a win on the road on Monday 14-2 Region 8-5A) used a four-run fourth inning to blow open a 1-0 lead and Cannon Goldin all drew bases loaded walks and Ryan Johansen added an RBI groundout in the inning Braden Burton tossed a complete-game no-hitter Buford can clinch the region title on Wednesday at Geral McQuaig Field when the two teams resume their season-ending series HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCOREBOARD FOR MONDAY — The last ride at Tom Riden Stadium 2 Buford 30-17 Friday night in the Class 6-A state semifinals.  18 Class 6-A state championship game against Grayson who beat Douglas County 35-28 in the other semifinal Buford has played in Tom Riden Stadium for 35 seasons has been home to 13 state championship teams The Wolves will move into their new stadium across from the high school next season Buford only lost 26 games at the stadium while winning 240 as turnovers and penalties hurt the Wolves in the second half Buford (12-2) led 17-14 at the half and seemed to be taking control of the game The Wolves methodically marched 60 yards in 12 plays Buford quarterback Dayton Raiola was stripped of the ball and Carrollton recovered the fumble at its 20 The Trojans drove 80 yards in six plays to take a 20-17 lead He broke free for a 47-yard run to the Buford 1 and Carrollton had a lead it would not give up The Wolves stopped the next Carrollton scoring chance when Demarious Nibbe intercepted Julian Lewis’ pass after Bryce Perry-Wright pressured Lewis the Trojans took over at the Wolves’ 28.  Farmer’s 11-yard run to the Buford 12 on third down set up his six-yard touchdown run for a 27-17 lead with 4:41 to play Buford’s offense was hurt by the loss of running back Justin Baker who was injured late in the first half and did not play in the last two quarters He ran for 99 yards on eight carries before the injury Buford jumped out to a 17-7 advantage in the first half The Wolves took the lead 5:18 into the game on Tyriq Green’s 13-yard touchdown run Carrollton answered on its next drive when Lewis hit A.J McNeil with a 48-yard touchdown pass to tie the game Andrew Ivaniciuc kicked a 39-yard field goal as Buford regained the lead 10-7 The Wolves increased their lead to 17-7 on their next drive Baker raced 75 yards on the first snap of the drive setting up the Wolves at the Trojans’ 5 Carrollton drove 56 yards to cut into the Buford lead who left last week’s game with a throwing hand injury connected with Peyton Zachary for a 22-yard scoring play.  He completed 14-of-18 passes for 193 yards Only a two teams actually were able to get their first round seres complete on Wednesday as lightnining and heavy rains hammered north Georgia most of the night East Forsyth advanced in Class 4A with 2-1 and 11-1 win over Union Grove on the road and Gainesville was eliminated in Class 5A after falling to River Ridge 8-1 and 10-0 in Woodstock As for the rest, Habersham Central split its Class 5A series with Lee County in south Georgia and the two teams will stage a Game 3 on Thursday Buford and Flowery Branch both took opening wins before rain forced the second game of their series' to Thursday The Wolves blasted Chapel 9-0 in Class 6A while the Falcons beat Jones County 7-3 in game called after six innings Both teams will try and close it out on Thursday (See below for the entire first round schedule of playoff games for Thursday.) After losing the opening game of their season-ending series with Walnut Grove Flowery Branch’s backs were certainly up against the proverbial wall if they were to snag a first round home playoff series But Falcons coach Dusty Black said he never wavered that his group would respond to having to sweep a doubleheader against the Warriors on Friday to make that happen They rolled to 2-0 and 9-1 wins to secure the No “Our guys have always had confidence in their abilities and I think that showed last Friday when they weren’t fazed by the situation,” Black said “It was good to see them come out and play our game.” The Falcons (16-11) will need the same kind of effort against Jones County (21-5) who come into the opening round series at Hog Mountain Sports Complex riding a 7-game win streak it was a similar scenario last week as they took on Johns Creek with an outside chance to win Region 7-5A the Red Elephants (12-17) were swept by the Gladiators dropping two games by 2-runs or less to finish third in the region A sluggish spring break and the flu that swept the dugout did not help Gainesville coach Chan Brown is hoping they are back to 100 percent as they head to Woodstock to take on River Ridge (19-11) to open the Class 5A playoffs “We were playing very good baseball going into Spring break but (the break) was not good to us,” Brown said “We had eight cases of the flu going through the team “But we have had a couple of good days of practice this week the kids will show up and take care of the little things that we need to do for us to play well.” The Falcons got superb pitching in the doubleheader as Javi Ojeda tossed a no-hitter and Riley Castaneda scattered three hits combining for 15 strikeouts in the two games and the Falcons have a starting staff that can contend with anyone “Starting pitching is always important when you get to the playoffs Having three guys that have shown that all year it’s a little less stress and much more optimism about how they are going to perform.,” Black said and Antonio De La Torre Mariscal have had tremendous seasons “Those three guys have had a great year but we don’t rely on one person or group to win games,” Black said “We will need everyone to do their jobs and pick someone else up when (needed).” The Red Elephants will be big underdogs against the Knights on the road but Brown said the key will be just doing the little things “We cannot give them bases in the freebie war,” he said We need to make them earn what they get and not walk (anyone) or make errors We must execute what we do offensively -- bunts and timely hitting -- and just play the game as hard as we can.” The Falcons won’t be the only ones at home on Wednesday will open their three-game series with Region 2 No 4 seed Chapel Hill at Gerald McQuaig Field (See below for the full schedule for Wednesday.) GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Gwinnett County police have just identified the person shot and killed at a Buford event venue party over the weekend Police were called to a birthday party at the Love to Dream venue on Brown Road just after 2 a.m They found a male suffering from a gunshot wound and performed chest compressions in an attempt to save his life He was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene Police have now identified the victim as 17-year-old Jayden Long of Loganville The unidentified shooter is still on the run It's still not clear what led up to the shooting Anyone with information is asked to contact Gwinnett County Police detectives at 770-513-5300. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. A cash reward is available for information leading to an arrest and indictment. The Source: The Gwinnett County police have provided most of the information in this article. A manager for Love to Dream confirmed the incident happened during a birthday party at the venue. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page the husband of Mary Glenn (Coker) Langston his daughter Doris Denise Flanagan and his son He and Mary Glenn would have been married for 50 years this September.  and he received a Bronze Star medal.  He was a crude oil trader for Tenneco Oil Company and Melon Energy He fought the Department of Energy and won He and Mary Glenn were and are members of Brenham First Baptist Church since 1987 yet all will know that he is at peace and resting in the care of Jesus Christ There will a Celebration of Life service at the Downtown Campus of Brenham First Baptist Church Service arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel To view the obituary online and post a tribute to the family please visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.  A Buford man was arrested early Thursday morning after reportedly driving 120 mph on Interstate 985 and driving under the influence The Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) reports that just after 1 a.m. a deputy noticed 22-year-old Leo Francis Hill passing other vehicles at “a high rate of speed” on the northbound side of the interstate near the Lanier Islands Parkway exit he was clocked at going 120 mph in a 70 mph zone according to officials The deputy initiated a stop and during the course of that stop the deputy smelt an odor of alcohol coming from Hill The deputy also found a THC vape cartridge and a handgun.  and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime Hill remains in the Hall County Jail without bond.