FreePress 4-10-15

FreePress
FRIDAY, april 10, 2015 VOL. 18, NO. 2 FREE
thechampionnewspaper.com
Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain.
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A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS
County plans
to fill 1,100
potholes
School board member

refuses to resign
amid allegations
Chamblee girls,
SWD boys win track
championships
local, 8A
education, 18A
sports, 21A
LaVista Hills,
Tucker bills pass
General Assembly
DeKalb officials and employees talk to residents in front of the Windy Ridge Way house in Lithonia moments
before it was demolished.
County demolishes blighted house

by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
When Gerard Dyson moved to
the Windy Ridge Way neighborhood
in Lithonia three years ago, an
abandoned, burnt house was two
houses away.
It looks like a war zone; it looks
like a bomb fell on the house,
said Dyson, a veteran. Its just
devastating. Its embarrassing.
Everybody always asks, What
is that house doing up in this nice
neighborhood? Why hasnt anyone
knocked it down? Why is it taking
three years for someone to come
into this community to knock it
down when some other houses
in some other communities and
theyve already demolished them?
Dyson said.
Those questions were answered
early April 3 when county sanitation
workers quickly bulldozed the house
into a pile of rubble.
To see this go down is a really,
really good thing today, Dyson said.
The demolition is part of a
county program to during which
the county goes to court to get
authority to go onto the property
to either abate the issues that
arethere because they qualify
as uninhabitable or dangerous
properties, or to demolish it,
Marcus Kellum, DeKalb Countys
code enforcement administrator,
said in a March interview.
During the in-rem proceeding,
the owner retains ownership of
See House on page 15A
A Conference Committee redrew the boundaries lines

for LaVista Hills (above) and Tucker maps before it was
passed in the General Assembly.
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.
com
The shell of a burned house was leveled by DeKalb County workers as part of a program to rid the county of uninhabitable houses.
Photos by Andrew Cauthen
championnewspaper
championnews
Two proposed cities

in DeKalb County are
a step closer to reality
after both cityhood bills
passed the Georgia General Assembly April 2.
Residents in the
boundaries of the proposed cities of LaVista
Hills and Tucker will
have the opportunity to
vote on incorporation if
Gov. Nathan Deal signs
the bills.
According to reports,
last-minute negotiations
were made between the
state House and Senate
over a disputed area in
the Livsey Elementary
School area. The House
did not agree with the
altered maps the Senate
State and Local Governmental Operations
Committee that shifted
2,000 residents from
Tuckers map to LaVista
Hills.
A Conference Com-
championnewspaper
mittee was formed, and

it voted 5-1 to return
500 residents, along
with a Wal-Mart and
a QuikTrip to Tucker,
and 1,500 residents remained in LaVista Hills,
according to reports.
The committee also
removed the Medlock
and Mason Mills neighborhoods from LaVista
Hills map.
The House passed
LaVista Hills (HB 520)
112-52 and Tucker 13133 (HB 515). The Senate passed LaVista Hills
36-8 and Tucker 43-4.
In a released statement, Michelle Penkava
of Tucker 2015 thanked
community members
for their work during
this process.
Although the map
that was approved
does not reflect the
entirety of the traditional boundaries of the
Tucker community because of changes made
by Sen. Fran Millar,
Tucker remains a solid
See Map on page 15A
champnews
local
Page 2A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015
Wade Walker
Easter Egg Hunt
Hundreds participate in Wade Walker Park Family YMCAs annual
Easter egg hunt. In addition to the egg hunt, there were familyfriendly activities such as face painting, musical chairs, arts and
crafts, and dancing. Photos by Travis Hudgons
APR
17 18
Sign-Up
Atlanta
Enroll Now! Special Enrollment Period*
Stop by the Sign-Up Atlanta event at the Gallery at South DeKalb

2801 Candler Road Decatur, GA Center Mall Court
Friday April 17 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday April 18 12 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Tax credits may be available

to help lower the cost of
health insurance
If you paid a penalty on your federal taxes because you didnt have health coverage
in 2014, and you need to get health coverage for 2015 to reduce the penalty you may
owe, you have from now until April 30th to apply for special enrollment.
A licensed agent can help you

make the right choice for you
and your family
Get personal advice for FREE!
*Those eligible for the special enrollment period must: Live in states with a federally-facilitated marketplace (FFM); Currently not be enrolled in coverage through the FFM for 2015;
Attest that when they led their 2014 tax return they paid the fee for not having health coverage in 2014; and Attest that they rst became aware of, or understood the implications of, the
Shared Responsibility Payment after the end of open enrollment (February 15) in connection with preparing their 2014 taxes.
Offered by Humana Employers Health Plan of Georgia, Inc. and/or insured by Humana Insurance Company
GCHJ8AAES_GA 0315
The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015
local
Page 3A
Demolition images from the former General Motors site exhibit where vendor spaces and offices like Third Rail Studios will be located.
Film studio to be first business on GM Site

by Ashley Oglesby
ashley@dekalbchamp.com
Metro Atlantas newest movie
studio will be the first major project at the site of the former General
Motors (GM) plant in Doraville a
development that will be known as
the Assembly.
The Integral Group, which acquired the GM site last year, partnered with Capstone South Properties to develop Third Rail Studios
on a six-acre section of the 165-acre
development.
The first phase of construction
will be an adaptive reuse of an existing 130,000-square-foot building to
accommodate 60,000 square feet of
sound stages, 20,000 square feet of
production support plus mill shops,
related vendor spaces and administrative offices.
Doraville Mayor Donna Pittman said residents are excited and
have provided positive feedback.
She said, We look forward to
creating a public realm and atmo-
sphere from a service and infrastructure standpoint that maximizes

their success.
nities, has ever led.

The completed media complex
will be a 270,000-square-foot facil-
We could not have asked for better partners

who have actively provided the support to
attract jobs and businesses that will begin to
transform the area.
-Eric Pinckney
Planning commission chairman
Jason Jones said, This was quite a
long arduous process.
The development has the potential to be the largest project that
Integral CEO Egbert Perry, who
has overseen the transformation of
several Atlanta public housing complexes into mixed-income commu-
ity.
We could not have asked for

better partners than the City of
Doraville, their mayor Donna Pittman and DeKalb County who have
actively provided the support necessary to promote an environment
at the site to attract jobs and businesses that will begin to transform
the area, Integrals Project Executive

Eric Pinckney said in an April 3
news release.
The studios will anchor the
Yards District portion of the redevelopment. Officials have discussed
a walkable and transit-connected
residential and business hub almost
30 acres larger than Atlantic Station
that could bring new parks, restaurants and other amenities.
The design for Third Rail Studios is led by Janson Tsai, a division
of Perkins Eastman. Previous work
includes design of Kaufman/Astoria
Film Studios and Steiner Film Studios in New York, as well as projects
with Imagine Films, CBS Television,
NBC Universal, ESPN, Disney and
Sonyamong others.
Third Rail Studios first phase is
projected to be completed during
the fourth quarter of 2015.
For more information on Third
Rail Studios and up-to-date news on
the latest developments, visit www.
thirdrailfilm.com.
opinion
Page 4A
Anthony Hill did not have to die

Anthony Hill did not
have to die.
He was the naked, unarmed, bipolar man killed
by a DeKalb County Police
officer March 9. The officer was responding to
a call about a man acting
deranged, knocking on
apartment doors and crawling on the ground, according
to DeKalbs Deputy Chief
Operating Officer for Public
Safety Cedric Alexander.
Alexander is now requiring more mental health
training for officers. Hes requiring officers to complete
40 hours of crisis interven-
Andrew Cauthen
Managing Editor
@AndrewChampNews
tion training so they can recognize behavioral problems

caused by mental illness or
substance abuse.
This training is needed

in DeKalb and around the
nation as police officers are
usually the first responders
for those with a mental illness. As first responders,
police officers need to know
that the mentally ill are not
primarily criminals and do
not need to be in jail. They
need the help that psychiatrists and doctors offer, not
the orders of a jailer.
Part of that training for
DeKalbs police officers
also should include an introduction to the countys
mobile crisis unit. This unit,
made up of a registered
nurse and a police officer,

responds every day to mental illness and substance
abuse calls. The unit works
from 1 to 9 p.m. and covers
the entire county. The call
about Anthony Hill came in
shortly after 1 p.m.
In addition to increasing the training for police,
Alexander and interim CEO
Lee May and the DeKalb
Community Service Board
should work together to
come up with a plan to fund
a round-the-clock mobile
crisis unit.
If the mobile crisis unit
had been able to respond
to the Anthony Hill call,

perhaps he would be alive
today and getting the help
he needed. Instead Hill was
shot to death by an officer
whose training and experience led him to believe that
a fellow human being who
needed help and a little bit
of attention was instead a
danger to society.
Hopefully the next time,
with additional training and
an expanded mobile crisis
unit, will be different and
there will be no more Anthony Hills, because Anthony Hill did not have to die.
opinion
Page 5A
One Mans Opinion
What have you done for me lately?

Were making progress.
If we continue fighting, were
going to end up winning, Julia Antonio, a McDonalds
restaurant franchise employee, as reported by The
New York Times on Monday,
April 6, 2015.
I have long held that
the best gift one can give is
a job, the opportunity for
gainful employment and all
of the benefits which follow.Not every job is equal,
nor are the benefits even
similar, but each is an opportunity, offered in the
marketplace, to perform
work or services, in exchange for compensation.
Most of you are likely
aware of the ongoing discussion of raising the minimum
wage to as much as $15 an
hour.The Fight for Fifteen,
largely financed by labor
unions and paid activists,
has led to protests and restaurant walkouts, primarily
in big cities and strong labor
union markets.
Though the battle to raise
the minimum wage has received significant national
media attention, and even
support, comparatively little
discussion or attention is
given when major employers raise their wage floor
voluntarily and of their own
volition.
A bit over a month ago,
Walmart, our nations largest employer, announced
it will be raising its start-
Bill Crane
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
Columnist
ing and minimum wage for

Walmart associates to $9 an
hour.And though Walmarts
home is the right-to-work
state of Arkansas, you have
not yet seen a market follow
move by other retail giants
including Sears/K-Mart
(Chicago), Target (Dayton,
Oh.), or Federated Department Stores (Cincinnati,
Oh.), each based in strong
midwestern Union states.
Chicago-based McDonalds did announce that it
will raise the starting salary
for employees at all of its
1,500 company-owned and
operated locations, to $10 an
hour.This potentially and
directly impacts 90,000 McDonalds employees, but not
yet affects the other 750,000
full- and part-time employees of 3,100 franchisees who
operate 12,500 locations in
the United States.Both of
these voluntary wage hikes
are major market moves
and will cause upward wage

pressure on competitors as
well as from franchisees.
Though both companies
are well-run enterprises
and longtime members of
the Dow Jones Index, I will
make the case that this is
much less in response to
the protests and Fight for
Fifteen, and more about the
thawing recession, qualified
and trained labor shortages
and a tightening and improving job markets.
Though McDonalds
and Walmart are generally
generous and excellent corporate citizens, this move is
less about largesse and doing
social good, and more about
wanting to hire, train and
employ, as well as build better career paths, for the top
producers in the retail and
restaurant industries.
Walmart, the more often
villified of this pair, also recently flexed its significant
political muscle at home in
Arkansas, publicly urging
the states governor to reject
proposed religious freedom
legislation which it believed
might result in discrimination against gay men and
women.No peeps so far as
of Easter weekend from other major retailers, who also
have a significant presence
in that same state.
And yet, short of celebrating these spring bounties and potential increases
for hundreds of thousands
of Walmart and McDonalds

workers, instead most of the
protest community retorted,
too little, too late, we go
after more hours next and/
or and now we seek improved fulltime benefits.
Life is not always fair
or equal in terms of the opportunities we are given,
but I do believe it is incumbent upon the individual
to try and make the most
and best of what is offered
and afforded.Walmart and
McDonalds both took a
lead, in a direction which
market forces are calling for
and support.Outside forces
mandating a doubling or tripling of base wages, with no
reality considering cash flow
or the facts of operating that
enterprise, will simply shutter restaurants, reduce new
hires and likely eliminate the
Dollar Menu.Doubling
or tripling the largest single
expense (labor) for any enterprise will have a significant and upward impact on
prices...moving many menu
items out of reach of those
less fortunate.
In the real world, choices
and actions have costs and
consequences.Like, love
or loathe them, McDonalds and Walmart both get
that.And as those two decisions will cost billions to implement and hopefully raise
the standard of living for
dozens of thousands of their
employees, instead of asking,
What have you done for me

lately? how about if even
the protest crowd puts their
placards down for a moment
and puts their hands together? You deserve a break
today, and a thank you, and
so does this pair.
Bill Crane also serves as a
political analyst and commentator for Channel 2s Action
News, WSB-AM News/Talk
750 and now 95.5 FM, as well
as a columnist for The Champion, Champion Free Press
and Georgia Trend. Crane is
a DeKalb native and business
owner, living in Scottdale. You
can reach him or comment
on a column at bill.csicrane@
gmail.com.
F ree P ress
Let Us Know What You Think!
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS encourages opinions from its readers. Please
write to us and express your views. Letters
should be brief, typewritten and contain
the writers name, address and telephone
number for verification. All letters will be
considered for publication.
Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P.
O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send email
to Andrew@dekalbchamp.com FAX To: (404)
370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779 . Deadline for news
releases and advertising: Thursday, one week prior
to publication date.
EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the editor or publishers. The
Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any
advertisement at any time. The Publisher is not
responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
Publisher:
John Hewitt
Chief Financial Officer:
Dr. Earl D. Glenn
Managing Editor:
Andrew Cauthen
Production Manager:
Kemesha Hunt
Photographer:
Travis Hudgons
Staff Reporters:
Carla Parker, Ashley Oglesby
The Champion Free Press is published
each Friday by ACE III Communications,
Inc., 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur,
GA. 30030 Phone (404) 373-7779.
www.championnewspaper.com
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Statement from the

publisher
We sincerely appreciate the
discussion surrounding this and any
issue of interest to DeKalb County.
The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
discourse for all community residents
on all sides of an issue. We have no
desire to make the news only to
report news and opinions to effect
a more educated citizenry that will
ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
ideas for discussion; however,
we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
assumptions penned as fact.
local
Jack Kovalski
After he was injured in
an accident in June 1998,
Jack Kovalski said he didnt
do anything for about 10
years.
I wasnt doing nothing
but sitting in front of the
TV or the computer all day,
said Kovalski, 66. I was
gettingmore and more depressed. My health was not
that great, so I figured Id be
better off if I got busy.
A friend suggested that
he check volunteer opportunities at Friends of Disabled Adults and Children,
a Stone Mountain-based
nonprofit organization that
provides refurbished home
medical equipment and
home modifications to the

recipients at little or no cost.
Kovalski visited FODAC
and determined that the
organization was a good
match for him, he said. He
has been volunteering with
the group since the fall of

2008.
At FODAC, he does
just about anything they
want me to, but mostly
I work in the thrift store
and I go through all the
electronics thats donated,
Kovalski said. If it doesnt
work, it doesnt go out. If its
not safe it doesnt go out.
Kovalski also does some
of FODACs videography
and photography.
The most fun is representing them at trade shows
and health fairs, Kovalski
said.
At the shows and fairs,
well have a table set up
and Ill hand out our infor-
mation and just try to tell

people about FODACjust
try to spread the word, he
said. Sometimes I still think
FODAC is the best kept secret in Atlanta.
Kovalski said he felt
very comfortable when he
first visited FODAC.
Im also, I guess, considered disabled, Kovalski
said. I walk with leg braces
and crutches and I also have
a wheelchair, so I can feel
some empathy for a lot of
those folks [at FODAC].
Because he wasnt able to
work a full day, volunteering seemed perfect, said
Kovalski, who occasion-
ally volunteers at Roosevelt

Warm Springs Institute for
Rehabilitation, where he has
helped establish a museum.
Its like a family there,
he said about FODAC. We
can use just about any skill
that you might have from
being a wheelchair mechanic to someone who works
in the thrift store to clerical
and administrative work.
Its just really a nice
place with nice people,
Kovalski said.
If you would like to nominate someone to be considered as a future Champion of the Week, please contact Andrew Cauthen
at andrew@dekalbchamp.com or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 117.
Lump crab cake with sauted spinach, photo at left, was among the heart-healthy entrees offered at the AKA lunch event. Jackie Epps, second photo from left, chose a grilled chicken
salad and fitness expert Jackie Madison, second photo from right, chose the crab cake. In the extreme right photo, chapter President Betty Stuckey, left, and program chairwoman
Raquel Jackson show a shrimp cocktail appetizer offered at the event.
Sorority efforts encourage good health habits

by Kathy Mitchell
According to the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), approximately 25 percent of
deaths among Americans are caused
by heart disease. Instances of heart
disease and other cardiovascular
illnesses are especially high in the
South, the federal agency states.
The CDC also reports that high
blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and smoking are key risk factors
for heart disease along with excess
weight, physical inactivity and poor
diet. Thus the risk of heart disease
and strokes can often be lowered
with lifestyle changes.
These facts are among the reasons the Lambda Epsilon Omega
chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. has chosen health education as a community service initiative. Program Committee Chairwoman Racquel Jackson said the
sorority will be hosting a series of
activities throughout the year aimed
at promoting community health.
The women of Lambda Epsilon
Omega arranged for Arizonas, a
Stonecrest area restaurant, to offer

a special healthy heart menu on the
afternoon of March 28. Members
served as hostesses and encouraged
patrons to select from among such
low sodium/low calorie items as
grilled lobster tail, vegetable plate,
grilled lemon pepper chicken with
a micro green salad, grilled salmon
atop Mediterranean salad and lump
crab cake with sauted spinach. Ten
percent of the proceeds from the
sale of items on the special menu
were donated to the American Heart
and Stroke associations.
Jackson noted that lifestyle
changes also can lower the risk for
other diseases such as Alzheimers
and cancer. Besides, she added,
people who are in good health enjoy an overall higher quality of life.
She said the DeKalb County-based
chapter has been focused on community service since its founding in
1976. We want to show our community that we care.
Jackson said her sorority is
taking a multifaceted approach to
improving community health. We
want to educate people to the dan-
gers of a poor diet and a sedentary

lifestyle. At the same time, we want
to show them that changes are doable. They can eat a healthy diet
without exceeding the family budget
as they eat meals that are enjoyable
and easy to prepare, she said, adding that the restaurant lunch event
was to show that healthful choices
can be made from a restaurant
menu.
When you educate a person
about lifestyle choices you dont
just impact that person, Jackson
said. The person takes what he or
she learns to the rest of the family.
Parents start teaching their children
from an early age to enjoy healthful
foods and make smart choices. Habits that may be generations old are
broken. The person who grew up
grabbing a soda and a bag of chips
when they were hungry may out of
habit select the same snack for their
children, but if they learn the value
of choosing fresh fruit or vegetables
or other nutrient-rich foods instead
they help create better habits for
their children who in turn will pass
good health habits on to their chil-
dren.
She said the same principle applies to an active lifestyle. Children
who see their parents walking, exercising and engaging in sports will be
encouraged to come from in front of
the television and become physically
active.
Its awesome that the chapter
is doing this, said Jackie Epps, a
Lithonia educator who attended the
March 28 lunch event. Its not easy
for people to change their eating
habitswe like what we like and we
dont want to give those things up.
By showing us that healthy alternatives can also be tasty they help
us rethink those habits. Its nice to
know that eating healthier doesnt
mean eating the same old thing day
after daytheres lots of variety.
Jackson said throughout the
year the chapter will sponsor such
activities as health fairs and walks
to raise money for health organizations while encouraging people to
be more active.
local
AroundDeKalb
Avondale Estates
Police to offer operation pill drop
The Avondale Estates Police Department

will host an Operation Pill Drop April 11. The
event allows residents to dispose of surplus, outdated and unwanted medications in a safe manner, thus keeping them out of the wrong hands
and out of the water supply. All types of medications will be accepted. The police department
also accepts unwanted medications year-round
for the communitys convenience. The event will
be held behind Avondale Estates City Hall, 21
North Avondale Plaza. For more information,
contact Sgt. Jason Browen at (404) 294-5400 or
email jbrowen@avondaleestates.org.
Second Century Avondale to host meeting

Avondale Estates residents are invited to
attend a meeting of the citizen group Second
Century Avondale April 11 at Avondale Pizza
Caf, 2823 East College Avenue. After a short
presentation, discussion will focus on the role of
and need for green space in urban development
and, more specifically, in downtown Avondale
Estates. For more information, contact SecondCenturyAvondale@gmail.com.
Decatur
Teen summit to address healthy relationships
On April 18, teens will gather in Decatur for

straight talk about relationships.
This free teen healthy relationship education event is planned by PEERsuaders, a group
of teens who are part of a youth development
program of More Than Conquerors Inc.
The purpose is to help other teens develop
healthy relationships and understand what a
normal relationship is. Topics such as dating
violence, money, sex abuse, communication, and
self-respect will be presented using board game
themes. Highlights of the day will include special
performances, music, prizes and gifts.
The summit is open to teens ages 13-19 and
will be held at New Life Church & Community
Center, 3592 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur, from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. Free breakfast and lunch is included. Youth groups are welcome. Register online at
mtci-teensummit2015.eventbrite.com.
For more information regarding the summit, contact MTCI at (770) 483-3299 or email
PEERmanagement@mtcimp.org.
Dunwoody
Local organizations arrange summer dog jog
On May 2 VetHeart of Georgia and Canine
Companions for Independence will present the
28thannual Atlanta dog jog at Brook Run Dog Park
in Dunwoody, 4770 Georgia Way S.
The community event will feature a 5K at

8:30 a.m., and a one-mile run or walk with dogs
at 8 a.m. Packet pick-up and on-site check-in or
same day registration will be from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Registration prices range from $20-$40.
Last years Atlanta dog jog was the biggest in its
28-year history and attracted TV, print and radio
exposure, and it is expected that this year it will be
even bigger.
The event has become a tradition for hundreds
of dogs and their owners to meet, run or walk and
to help charities that support pet wellness and those
who can most benefit from the companionship and
care that specially trained dogs can provide.
Proceeds of the 2015 event will benefit VetHeart
of Georgia (formerly the Georgia Veterinary
Medical Association Foundation) and Canine
Companions for Independence.
Lithonia
Wellness center to offer free workshop
The Healing Art and Wellness Center will
offer free mind, body and soul workshops every
first Saturday in April from 10 a.m. to noon.
During the workshops, participants can
learn about meditation, fasting, detoxing, nutrition and stress relief. Workshops will include a
question-and-answer session followed by spoken
word and poetry. Organic coffee, herbal tea and
pastries will be available during the sessions.
The workshops will be at the Healing Art
and Wellness Center , 6984 Main Street, Lithonia.
The center will also hold a Leading Ladies,
Rebirth and Resurrection Conference, April 20
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Monastery of Holy
Spirit, 2625 GA-212, Conyers.
The speaker is Pastor Dr. Debra B. Morton.
For more information, contact Dr. Nancy J.
Williams at (770) 484-4745.
Stone Mountain
Citywide yard sale announced
The city of Stone Mountain will hold its
annual citywide yard sale on Saturday, April
25, 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. on the First Baptist
Church, 5301 Mimosa Drive.
Set up begins at 7:30 a.m. on the day of the
sale. Tables will not be provided. A limited number of 10-foot by 10-foot spaces under the pavilion are available at $20 each on a first come, first
served basis or 10-foot by 10-foot lawn spaces
may be rented for $10 each.
For a fee of $5 city residents may have private yard sales and be listed on the yard sale trail
map. A list of trail participants will be given to
shoppers who visit the pavilion and lawn on the
day of the sale. For more information, contact
Susan Coletti at (404) 444-5607 or City Hall at
(770) 498-8984. No food vendors, no refunds
and no rain date.
Page 7A
Granite Grasshopper Festival has something

for everyone
The City of Stone Mountain Downtown
Development Authority (DDA) along with the
city of Stone Mountain is sponsoring the Granite
Grasshopper Festival on Saturday, April 18, in
Stone Mountain Village. The festival begins at
8:30 a.m. with the Granite Grasshopper 5K and
Fun Run. Music begins on the festival stage at
10:45 a.m. and continues until 9:30 p.m. Arts
and crafts vendors and food trucks will be on
hand along with childrens activities.
Registration is available online at active.com.
To register, search Granite Grasshopper 5K. Applications are also available on the Stone Mountain website.
Music genres range from Latin jazz to R&B
to beach music. The music line-up includes Tito
Gato (formerly Wild Rice), Nancy Gerber &
Friends, JugTime Rag Band, Seminole Jackson,
Kerri Hill Band, Pullin Strings, Tommy Talton,
and headliner, The Gold Standard Band.
The mission of the DDA is to foster an environment that sustains current businesses and encourages future growth and development while
enhancing the historic character of the city using the Main Street approach.
For more information, contact Mechel
McKinley by phone at (770) 498-8984, x137,
or (678) 357-5202, or by email at mmckinley@
stonemountaincity.org.
Countywide
Recreation department accepting
registrations for youth flag football
Youth flag football registration is being held
until April 11.
The program is designed to instill skill development and maintain an interest in physical
fitness.
Youth flag football is for ages 510 and includes six games with a culminating single elimination tournament play. Registration is $40 per
child. Participants must present a birth certificate at registration.
To register online, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the Register Now button on the departments homepage or register at
nflflag.com/form/player.
For more information, call the athletics office at (770) 414-2113.
local
Peggy Allen, associate director of the roads and drainage division,

interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May, and Commissioner Nancy Jester
look on as a pothole is filled on Carter Road.
On April 1, DeKalb County officials kicked off Pothole Palooza, a monthlong campaign to fill at least 1,100 potholes.
William Brown, a general foreman for the countys asphalt crew, fills a pothole. Photos by Andrew Cauthen
County plans to fill 1,100 potholes

by Andrew Cauthen
DeKalb County is looking for potholes to fill.
As part of National
County Government Month,
DeKalb County kicked off
its annual month-long Pothole Palooza on April 1.
During last years Pothole Palooza, DeKalbs
annual intensive road infrastructure improvement
campaign, the county filled
approximately 1,074 potholes.
We expect to do even
more this year, said interim
DeKalb County CEO Lee
May.
For us, there is nothing really as important as
our infrastructure here in

DeKalb County, said May
as workers filled a pothole
on Carter Road near Memorial Drive.
As employees worked, a
resident driving by stopped
to get information to report
other potholes.
There are literally
thousands of people just
like thatwanting to get
their streets repaved, to get
potholes filled, May said.
In DeKalb County we are
about 400 miles behind in
repaving roads because we
just dont have the funding
stream to handle that.
Fortunately this General Assembly just passed a
piece of legislation last night
that will allow us eventually
to move forward with a 1

percent sales tax to address
that, May said. That would
yield about $100 million
[a year] for us in DeKalb
County.
That tax revenue would
be used to fund the repaving
of roads, filling potholes and
for capital infrastructure
needs. The bill for catching up on the repaving in
the county is approximately
$125 million, May said.
A benefit of improved
roads is economic development, May said.
Weve been very aggressive with economic
development here, he said.
Economic development is
closely connected to transportation and our infra-
structure needs. We have

been very proactive in addressing our infrastructure
needs. We believe that will
translate into corporations
wanting to make DeKalb
County home.
DeKalb County Commissioner Nancy Jester,
who attended the kickoff,
said, Pothole Palooza is
huge because one of the
biggest complaints we get
is .potholes that damage
cars and basically make your
commute around DeKalb
uncomfortable.
I get lots of calls from
constituents about the concerns with road safety due
to potholes, she said. Everyone pays taxes and they
want their roads fixed.
We all have commutes,

Jester said. We go to work,
we go to school, and its very
disruptive to have to avoid
potholes and damage your
car when you drive through
them.
Its a quality of life issue,
and I hope the citizens of
DeKalb see it as dedication
to the effort of improving
the roads in DeKalb County, she said. This is the
month where we are taking
seriously the concerns and
safety issues regarding potholes and marshalling the
resources of the [roads and
drainage] department to fix
them. Im looking forward
to us having smoother commutes.
local
News
briefs
Interim director
takes over watershed
department
DeKalb County has a new
acting director of watershed
management.
Charles Lambert assumed the role immediately,
according to an April 3 memo
by Zachary Williams, the
countys chief operating officer.
Lambert is a longtime
employee of the division and
has served as the assistant
director for several years.
He takes over for James
Chansler, who retired March
20.
A nationwide search
for a replacement director is
under way and in the interim
Mr. Lambert will be handling
the day-to-day operations of
the watershed division, including oversight of the Capital Improvement Program/
Consent Decree Program,
stated Williams in a letter
to county commissioners,
department heads and employees.
Former DeKalb and

Georgia World Congress
Center official pleads
guilty to corruption
Patrick Jackson, a former
janitorial services manager
for DeKalb County and Georgia World Congress Center
(GWCC), has pleaded guilty
to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, admitting
that he used his position as a
public official to obtain benefits for himself.
Jackson abused his position as a public official by
accepting a bribe in exchange
for helping a company attain
and maintain government
contracts at both the Georgia
World Congress Center and
DeKalb County, said acting U.S. Attorney John A.
Horn.This dishonest conduct threatens to undermine
the integrity of the contracting system and the quality
of the goods and services
produced pursuant to those
contracts. Today Jackson admitted his wrongdoing.
According to Acting U.S.
Attorney Horn, the charges,
the plea agreement, and other
information presented in
See Briefs on page 24A
Page 9A
METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY
Notice of Public Hearings: April 13, 14 & 16, 2015

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will hold public hearings for the purpose of considering
Proposed Bus Service Modifications for August 8, 2015

Proposed routing and/or adjustments for the following bus routes:
Route 8 North Druid Hills: Add Sunday service. Route proposed to operate seven (7)
days a week.
Route 21-Memorial Drive
Route 21 service will be extended along Memorial Drive to Capitol Ave. inbound and outbound to GA State Station. The inbound routing will maintain current routing to Hill Street,
then continue Memorial Drive, Right-Capitol Ave., continue Piedmont Ave. then continue
current routing along Piedmont Ave., Gilmer Street, and Jesse Hill Jr. Dr. to designated bus
bay. The outbound routing to King Memorial Station will operate via continue Jesse Hill Jr.
Dr., Left-M.L.King Jr. Dr., Left-Washington St., Left-Capitol Square, Right-Capitol Ave., LeftMemorial Dr., Left-Grant St., Right-Decatur St. into King Memorial Station. The segments
along Hill and Decatur Streets will be discontinued. The routing to/from King Memorial
Station to Kensington Station remains unchanged.
Route 74-Flat Shoals
Route 74 Whites Mill Rd. segment will be realigned to operate via Lloyd Rd. inbound and
outbound from Five Points. The outbound routing from Five Points will maintain current
routing to Whites Mill and Lloyd Roads then Right-Lloyd Rd., Left-Flat Shoals, Left-Candler
Rd., Right-Ember Dr., Left-Rainbow Way to current terminus location. The Inbound routing
will operate via Left-Candler Rd., Right-Flat Shoals Rd., Right-Lloyd Rd., Left-Whites Mill Rd.
then continue current routing to Five Points (Pryor & Wall Streets). The segment along H. F.
Shepard Dr. will be discontinued.
Pkwy., Into GRTA/XPRESS Park & Ride, continue Right-Lamar Hutcheson Pkwy., Left-Valley
Hill Rd., Bear Left at fork to continue Valley Hill Rd., Continue across SR 85, continue Main
Street (SR 139), Right-Church Street, continue Riverdale Rd. (SR 139), Right-Garden Walk
Blvd., Left-SR 85, Right-Forest Pkwy., Left-Old Dixie Rd., Left-Old Dixie Hwy., Left-Charles
W. Grant Pkwy., Continue into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (International
Terminal along Maynard H. Jackson Jr. Blvd.)
Route 193-Jonesboro Road/ Forest Parkway/Justice Center
Route 193 will operate from the Clayton County Justice Center to East Point Station via: LeftTara Blvd., alternating trips (every other trip)between Smith & N. Main Streets and Battle
Creek Rd., Jonesboro Rd. (SR 54), service Clayton State University, continue Jonesboro Rd.
(SR 54), Left-Forest Parkway, Right-Old Dixie Rd., Left-Old Dixie Hwy., continue Porsche Ave.,
continue S. Central Ave., continue Central Ave., Left-Irene Kidd Pkwy., Left-Main Street into
East Point Station.
Route 195 Forest Parkway/Rosevelt Highway
Route 195 will operate from College Park Station North Bus Bay to Anvil Block Rd. &
Lunsford Drive via Left-Harvard Ave., Left-E. Main Street, Right-Lee Street, Left-Main Street,
continue Roosevelt Highway, Right-Herschel Rd., Left-Old National Highway, continue Old
National Highway, Left-Godby Rd., continue S. Hampton Rd., Right- W. Fayetteville Rd. (SR
314), Left-Phoenix Blvd., continue Forest Parkway, Left-Bouldercrest Rd., Left-Anvil Block Rd.
to Lunsford Dr. which will be the terminus. Inbound to College Park Route 195 will operate
via I-675 South to Forest Parkway Exit then continue regular route.
Route 75 Tucker: Add Sunday service. Route proposed to operate seven (7) days a week.
Lovejoy/Justice Center Flex Route
Route 148 Medical Center/Riveredge Parkwy:

Route 148 will be realigned to operate from MARTAs Sandy Spring Station to Riveredge
Pkwy., instead of Medical Center Station, to improve schedule adherence. Route 148 will
operate from Sandy Springs station via: Right- Perimeter Center West, Left-Mt. Vernon Hwy.,
Left-Roswell Rd., Right-Mt. Vernon Hwy., Right-Powers Ferry Rd., continue Powers Ferry Rd.,
Right-New Northside Dr., Left-Interstate North Pkwy., Right-Riveredge Pkwy., Right-Northside
Dr., Left-Powers Ferry Rd., Left-Mt. Vernon Hwy., then continue routing to return to Sandy
Springs Station. Route 148 will be renamed 148-Sandy Springs/Riveredge Pkwy.
This service will be operated utilizing a smaller vehicle (30 foot with 15-24 seat capacity depending upon wheelchair accommodations) along a fixed route alignment between Clayton
County Justice Center and the City of Lovejoy. The proposed fixed route alignment will operate via Tara Blvd., Left-McDonough Rd., continue straight onto Hastings Bridge Rd., service
the Lovejoy Community Center, Right-Hastings Bridge Rd., continue straight onto McDonough
Rd., Left- Tara Blvd, Left-Lovejoy Rd., Right-Talmadge Rd., service Lovejoy City Hall, continue
Talmadge Rd., Right-Tara Blvd., Left-Lovejoy Rd., Right-Panhandle Rd., Right-McDonough Rd.,
Left-Tara Blvd. to Justice Center. This service may deviate up miles of proposed fixed route
service upon request.
Route 191-SR 85-Riverdale Road/ Forest Parkway/Justice Center
Mobility:
Route 191 will operate from the Clayton County Justice Center to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport (International Terminal) via: Left-Tara Blvd., alternating trips (every other
trip) between Flint River Rd. and GA-138 (North Ave.), Right-SR-85, Right-Lamar Hutcheson
Monday April 13
374 Valley Hill Road SW,
Riverdale, 30274
Living Waters
International Church
231 Sycamore Street,

Decatur, 30030
Decatur
Recreation Center
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Community Exchange: 6-7 p.m.
Staff available to discuss MARTA initiatives.
Riding MARTA: Bus Route 196
Riding MARTA: Walk one block east

of Decatur Station.
Copies of the proposed bus service modifications will also be

available at MARTAs Office of External Affairs, 2424 Piedmont
Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30324 during regular business hours,
Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For formats (FREE of charge) in accordance with the ADA and
Limited English Proficiency regulations contact (404) 848-4037.
For those patrons requiring further accommodations, information
can be obtained by calling the Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD)
at 404 848-5665.
Implement complementary ADA service for the above new and extended routes to comply
with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Tuesday, April 14
Thursday, April 16
2424 Piedmont Road NE

Atlanta, 30324
7741 Roswell Rd,

Sandy Springs, 30350
MARTA
Headquarters
North Fulton
Service Center
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Riding MARTA: Across the street from north end

of the Lindbergh Center Rail Station.
Riding MARTA: Bus Route 87

from Dunwoody or North Springs
Rail Stations.
In addition, a sign language interpreter will be available

at all hearings. If you cannot attend the hearings and want to
provide comments you may: (1) leave a message at (404)
848-5299; (2) write to MARTAs Office of External Affairs,
2424 Piedmont Road, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30324-3330; (3)
complete an online Comment Card at www.itsmarta.com;
(4) or fax your comments no later than April 21, 2015 to (404)
848-4179.
All citizens of the City of Atlanta and the counties of Fulton,

DeKalb, Clayton and Gwinnett whose interests are affected by the
subjects to be considered at these hearings are hereby notified
and invited to appear at said times and places and present such
evidence, comment or objection as their interests require.
Keith T. Parker, AICP General Manager/CEO
local
Senior
apartments open
on Columbia
Drive
by Andrew Cauthen
Development officials, community and DeKalb
County leaders convened on Columbia Drive April 1 for
the official opening of an 80-unit senior living development.
Columbia Senior Residences at Forrest Hills, located
at 1048 Columbia Drive, Decatur, is one of the three
housing developments in DeKalb County approved by
the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
The apartments, for seniors 62 and older, feature
spacious floor plans, 9-foot ceilings, fully equipped
kitchens, walk-in closets and wheelchair accessible
showers. Forrest Hills also has a community garden, fitness center, community room, dining room, computer
lab and theater, and mail room.
Noel Khalil, CEO of Columbia Residential, said at
the ribbon-cutting event, This is something that is very
emotional for me, to be able to come back to where you
started. And to continue to improve the communities
that you invest in. What we have tried to do as a company is focus primarily on the quality of our work.
Khalil said his company bought the previous apartment complex more than 24 years ago, redeveloped it
and transferred it to a nonprofit to operate it.
About three years ago it had fallen into a blighted
condition, Khalil said. We approached the nonprofit
about taking control of the property and forging an alliance with the state and the county on a redevelopment
plan.
We came up with the vision of doing a senior housing development, he said. Weve been working on that
for the last three years and it has now come to fruition.
Before moving to the complex approximately three
weeks ago, Mary Ramsey was living with her daughter
in Atlanta. Looking for a residence, she found Columbia
Senior Residences during a web search.
I love it. I fell in love with it, Ramsey said. Its convenient. Its luxury, affordable and the staff [are] very
pleasant people.
Commissioner Larry Johnson said the development
represents the type of expectation we need to have in
terms of senior living.
Im excited about this. This is the first of many that
we can expect to have in the district, he said.
Residents in surrounding neighbors also are pleased
with the development, according to Michele Ritan,
president of Forrest Hills Neighborhood Association.
Before Columbia Residential acquired this property
it was a blight on our neighborhood, Ritan said. It had
fallen into disrepair and was a haven for drug dealers
and the scene of gun violence.
She added, We are proud of this development that
adds so much to the beauty of our community.
Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May said the development is the outgrowth of a wonderful relationship
between federal, state and county governments.
It is exciting to be a part of something like this. Its
about people and adding value to their lives, May said.
With more that 25 percent of the countys population
being senior citizens, May said, we have to do something right now to make sure that we have affordable
developments that our seniorsour crown jewelscan
take advantage of.
After 30 to 40 years of waking up at 4 and 5 oclock
in the morning, and working hard and paying their taxes seniors can come and live in a place like this and do
it with dignity and respect, May said.
The recently opened Columbia Senior Residences at Forrest Hills in Decatur is already 60 percent filled.
County and community leaders participated in a ribbon-cutting event

with developers April 1.
DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson
The complex has an organic community garden with a gazebo.
Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May
Residents enjoy their community room. Photos by Andrew Cauthen
Page 11A
local
Decatur organization brings awareness to underage drinking
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Underage drinking has
become a problem in Decatur and an organization is
addressing it.
Decatur Prevention
Initiative (DPI) held a town
hall meeting April 2 to
bring awareness to underage
drinking. The meeting included guest speakers Terrie
Moore of DPI, Sgt. Jennifer Ross of Decatur Police,
Wendy Jefferson from
Emory University School of
Medicine, and Diane Hill
of Juvenile Court of DeKalb
County.
According to a poll DPI
Diane Hill of Juvenile Court of DeKalb County explains Wendy Jefferson from Emory University School of
did among Decatur teens,
the laws for underage drinking. Photos by Carla Parker Medicine talks about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
16 percent of Decatur youth
between the ages of 9 and 17 underage youth, according
sumed in the United States,
reported drinking in the last to the CDC.
according to the CDC. More
30 days.
Moore said most of Dethan 90 percent is consumed
Even though a lot of
catur teens reported drinkin the form of binge drinktimes the other drugs get a
ing at weekend parties, at a
ing. On average, underage
little bit more media attenfriends house at night or if
drinkers consume more
tion, alcohol still remains
the parents did not know, at drinks per drinking occathe biggest problem among
home and parents knew, and sion than adult drinkers, acour youth, Moore said.
after school events.
cording to the CDC.
Thats why we have focused
Teen drinking continIn 2010, there were apso much on alcohol.
ues to increase, she said.
proximately 189,000 emerAccording to the Centers Unfortunately, if you would gency rooms visits by perfor Disease Control and Pre- walk into any liquor you will sons younger than age 21 for
vention (CDC), alcohol use
see that there is so much
injuries and other conditions
by people younger than age
alcohol that is focused tolinked to alcohol, according
21 is a major public health
wards tasting good, tasting
to the CDC.
problem. Alcohol is the most sweet. There is so much stuff
Moore said more than
commonly used and abused that is pushing our youth to- 50 percent of Decatur teens
drug among youth in the
ward drinking.
find it acceptable for persons
United States, more than toAlthough underage
to drink at family events and
bacco and illicit drugs, and
drinking is illegal, people
16 percent of Decatur adults
is responsible for more than ages 12 to 20 years drink 11
agree. Fifty-five percent of
4,300 annual deaths among
percent of all alcohol conDecatur teens also believe
there are parents in the

community who allow alcohol at parties.
Most of our youth in
Decatur are getting their
alcohol through nontraditional sources. Theyre not
going to buy it, she said.
Theyre getting it through
family, friends. Maybe their
families dont know that
they are stealing it from
their liquor cabinet, but
some families do provide
it. So, were doing a community wide [approach] to
change the environment.
DPI will have another
town hall meeting April 23,
6:30 to 8 p.m. at Church at
Decatur Heights.
Support. Share. Savor.
April 19-25 is Crime Victims Rights Week
Please Join Us for Our Crime Victims Rights Week Ceremony:
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES, EMPOWERING VICTIMS

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 n 12:30 p.m.
Gazebo on the Square, 101 East Court Square, Decatur, Georgia
Sherry Boston
dekalb county solicitor-general
dekalbsolicitorgeneral.org 404.371.2201
MAKING DEKALB SAFER FOR ALL
this project is supported by a national crime victims right week community awareness project subgrant awarded by the national association of voca
assistance administrators under a victims of crime act (voca) grant from the office for victims of crime, office of justice programs, u.s. department of justice.
Saturday, April 25, 2015

11:00AM to 5:00PM
For tickets visit

www.jldekalb.org/tok
local
Brookhaven
Easter
Egg Hunt
Nearly 100 children rushed the field
of Blackburn Park to collect eggs
during Brookhavens first Easter
Egg Hunt April 4. The event included a bounce house, face painting
and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
Photos by Carla Parker
Because money does

not grow on trees.
Thats why I installed a programmable thermostat

and got a $100 rebate.
I saved money by installing the thermostat myself. I also qualified for the full $100 Georgia Power rebate.
B y f o l l o w i n g j u s t a f e w o f t h e e a s y, m o n e y - s a v i n g t i p s o n G e o r g i a P o w e r s w e b s i t e , I v e b e e n a b l e t o r e a p
some great cash rewards. For more information on tips and other rebates, visit georgiapower.com/save.
Georgia Power customers may be eligible to receive a rebate of 50% of the installed cost up to $100 for upgrading from a standard to a programmable thermostat. Certain preconditions
and requirements must be met in order to qualify for this rebate. Rebate available through December 2014. Application and receipt/invoice must be submitted within 60 days of purchase
or installation. 2014. Georgia Power Company. All rights reserved.
In
WEEK
local
Page 13A
Pictures
The annual Antique Car Parade was held in Avondale Estates April 5, featuring several
dozen vintage automobiles such as Model A Fords, Cadillacs, Buicks, MGs, Woodies and
Rolls Royces. The Sunday drivers cruised through Avondale Estates residential streets
before settling at Willis Park. Photo by Travis Hudgons.
Members of the Allgood Road United Methodist Church gather for a friendly spades tournament. Photos by Travis Hudgons
Ayanna Habeel of Decatur was honored April 1 as the January 2015 APIVEO Player of
the Month sponsored by Zaxbys. Habeel helped Zaxbys donate $1,000 in her honor to
Sporty Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization that gives young minority girls the opportunity to participate in nontraditional sports.
Allgood Road UMC Senior Pastor Tariq Cumming and elder church member Mattie Hudgons.
A massive puddle of pollen accumulated after heavy rains. Photo by John Hewitt
23
Photos brought to you by DCTV

DCTV Channel 23
@DCTVChannel23
Get your front row seat to all things DeKalb County

through your EMMY Award-winning station
DeKalb County Gov

Ustream.tv/channle/DCTV-Channel-23
VISIT US AT WWW.DCTVChannel23.tv
E-mail us at DCTV@DeKalbCountyGA.gov
local
Rowland Elementary Career Day

Students at Rowland
Elementary School had the
opportunity to learn about
the real world as parents
and volunteers visited the
school to tell them about
various careers. Students
were allowed to get inside
a cherry pickers boom and
walk through a fire truck
as part of the schools
annual career day. Some
students practiced an
impromptu commercial
with radio personality Reec
of Hot 107.9 FM. Photos by
Andrew Cauthen
Enjoyment
for All Ages
Find it in our
Lifestyle section
every week. Get a
breakdown of the
weeks events, plus
a sneak peek of
whats to come.
404.373.7779
TheChampionNewspaper.com.
local
Stone Mountain Fish Fry
Page 15A
Stone Mill Elementary held its Family and

Friends Fish Fry April 3. According principal
Dr. Marchell Boston II, it was an opportunity
to bring parents and partners in educations
together to fellowship. Events such as this
encourage parental involvement, Boston said.
Photos by Travis Hudgons
House Continued From Page 1A

the property; the cost of the demolition is
placed as a lien on the property.
Kellum said April 3 that the demolition
represents the combination of efforts and
collaboration throughout the departments
of DeKalb County to help fight the blight in
the community.
This is the beginning of an incredible
opportunity for us to address the issues that
you the residents have been working with in
the communities and living with, Kellum
said. What we have here is the beginning of
a new way of dealing with these issues that
are blight in the community.
The countys sanitation department
has been knocking down residential and
commercial properties since 2000, said Billy
Malone, sanitation director.
All of them have been county owned
properties. This is the first private property
that we will be tearing down, Malone said,
adding that there are a dozen more houses
pending demolition by the county.
Retiree Karen Hackley-Cole has lived in
the subdivision since 2006 when it opened.
When we toured the neighborhood I

was impressed with lake and the walking
trails and just the beautiful neighborhood,
Hackley-Cole said.
After moving to the community,
Hackley-Cole said she welcomed all
the young people, encouraged them and
embraced them and theyve all maintained
their homes and their properties and theyre
hardworking people.
Then approximately four years ago, a
fire reduced the home a burned out shell,
Hackley-Cole said.
It was just an eyesore, she said. It was a
blemish on our community.
Residents said they emailed and met
with county officials until the house was
demolished.
It has been just a long time coming. We
were discouraged, but we were diligent. We
were persistent. Today to see it go down so
fast is a wonderful blessing, Hackley-Cole
said as the house was being knocked down.
Today is a wonderful day for us.
Map Continued From Page 1A
community that we can all be proud of, Penkava said. We

are heartbroken that many of you find yourselves removed
from the Tucker map. Remember you will always be a part
of the greater Tucker community city boundaries will
never change that.
We havent crossed the finish line yet - there remains a
tremendous amount of work to be done between now and
the referendum to educate neighbors and friends about the
benefits of cityhood for Tucker, Penkava added.
Mary Kay Woodworth, LaVista Hills YES co-chair, said
her group is that an agreement was made.
We appreciate the unwavering support of Representatives Tom Taylor and Scott Holcomb and Sen. Fran Millar, and the strong bi-partisan support from our local legislators, Woodworth said. We are excited about the prospect
of improving local government for our community in
DeKalb County and look forward to winning a referendum
in November.
According to a post on LaVista Hills YES Facebook page,
they will have an updated feasibility study from the Carl
Vinson Institute to include the final boundaries.
local
Clarkston annexation bill passes, Avondale and Decatur bills fail
by Carla Parker
Clarkstons annexation
bill was the only successful
annexation bill in DeKalb
County.
House Bill 661 passed
the Georgia General Assembly April 2. The Senate
passed the bill 44-4, and
the House passed it 162-0.
Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry
said the annexation allows
Clarkston to control the
western gateway into the
city.
The annexation that
passed last year helped us
control the gateway to the
eastern part of Clarkston,
and this new annexation
helps us control the western
part, he said. Its also going to provide a lot more
economic opportunities. We
have thousands of people
who live in Clarkston who
have to go elsewhere for
jobs; they have to leave
Clarkston for work. With
the additions of the indus-
trial area and more commercial area were going to

be able to work with business owners and property
owners, who need more
economical opportunities,
to hopefully bring in new
businessesnew light manufacturing, hopefullyto
Clarkston, that would provide jobs.
Clarkstons annexation
map includes two sections.
One section of the map is a
charter change, which goes
into effect Jan. 1, 2016. That
section includes a car wash
on Church Street and area
across I-285 to North Decatur Road.
The other section of
the map includes a residential area north of the train
tracks, between I-285 and
Mell Avenue. Residents in
that area will vote in November on whether to be
annexed into the city.
Terry said state legislators advised the city to do
their due diligence with residents, property owners and
business owners in that area.

The vast majority
agreed and wanted to be a
part of Clarkston, Terry
said. That was key because
if you have people who dont
want to be a part of a city
then you ought to get their
approval first. We were able
to secure support of the
property owners and residents.
Opposition to annexation is what killed the Avondale Estates and Decatur
annexation bills.
Avondale Estates annexation plan was resisted
by some commercial property owners, including Your
DeKalb Farmers Market,
and the bill passed without
the commercial property,
according to reports. The
city decided to pull the bill.
Despite the bills failure
to pass the General Assembly, Avondale Estates Mayor
Jonathan Elmore said the
annexation plan will serve
as a placeholder for renewed
efforts next year.
Clarkston joins Georgia

Native Plant Society
by Ashley Oglesby
The Georgia Native
Plant Society is a nonprofit
organization that aims to
promote stewardship and
conservation of Georgias
native plants and their habitats.
On April 1, city of
Clarkston officials announced that the citys
membership with the society had been approved,
making Clarkston the first
municipal government
member.
Clarkston Mayor Ted
Terry said he was pleased
to hear that the city had become a part of the society.
Clarkston and the state
of Georgia boast some of the
most beautiful native plant
species in the western hemisphere. Our city is proud
to join with the Georgia
Native Plant Society, as its
first municipal government
member. We look forward
to working with GNPS in
cultivating respect, appreciation and conservation for
our native plant species in
the Clarkston community,
he said.
Council member and
volunteer caretaker for

Friendship Forest, Warren
Hadlock said he looks forward to the partnership.
We want to publicize
Clarkston as a city thats
very much in the forefront
of municipalities that are
committed to environmental
conservation and improvement, Hadlock said.
Friendship Forest Nature Preserve was deeded
to Clarkston from DeKalb
County in 1981. The reserve is approximately 15
acres located in the heart of
Clarkston that officials aim
NOTICE OF
NONDISCRIMINATORY
POLICY AS TO
STUDENTS
The Sudbury School of Atlanta

admits students of any race, color,
national and ethnic origin to all the
rights, privileges, programs and
activities generally accorded or
made available to students at the
school. It does not discriminate on
the basis of race, color, national
and ethnic origin in administration
of its educational policies,
admissions policies, scholarship
and loan programs, and athletic
and other school administered
programs.
www.sudburyschoolofatlanta.org
to manage as a native forest

and floodplain habitat.
Peachtree Creek, flows
through Friendship Forest.
Hadlock said as a result, city
See Clarkston on page 24A
I will continue to support annexation because it

will enrich our community
with new citizens and businesses as well as diversifying
and increasing our tax base
for improvements, Elmore
said. I would like to thank
our Board, City Manager
Clai Brown, our city staff,
and especially Rep. Karla
Drenner and Sen. Elena
Parent for all their hard
work and dedication to this
effort.
Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett also thanked Drenner
and Parent for the Decatur
Annexation efforts to move
the bill forward.
Regretfully, HB 663 was
not successful during their
2015 legislative session,
Baskett said in a released
statement. It is our understanding that opposition
from neighborhoods in the
city of Atlanta annexation
plan and concerns about
potential lost revenue to the
DeKalb County school system resulted in the bill not
receiving consideration in
the Georgia Senate. During
the remainder of 2015, the
Decatur City Commission
will assess how, or if, we
want to move forward on
annexation issues in 2016.
Baskett also said the Decatur City Commission supported legislation to increase
homestead exemptions for
Decatur taxes, which failed
to pass.
We are highly disappointed that property tax
relief for our taxpayers, particularly for low and moderate income seniors was defeated in the Georgia House
of Representatives, he said.
Adoption of the proposed
legislation would have made
a real difference in the lives
of our seniors by providing
over $1,100 of annual tax
savings. The Decatur City
Commission will try again
in 2016 to secure reconsideration of the legislation by
the General Assembly.
business
Page 17A
Rebranded spa opens

first DeKalb location
by Kathy Mitchell
The Planet Beach Spa that
opened recently in Dunwoody
Village is the first in DeKalb
County and the first Atlanta-area
version of the rebranded international chain.
Founded originally in New
Orleans in the mid-1990s as a
tanning salon, Planet Beach was
rebranded in 2005 after founder
Stephen Smith had what he describes on the businesss website
as a moment of inspiration.
Although the first tanning
spaand the spas that followed
were an overnight success, according to website, with health
experts questioning the safety of
even sunless tanning, the company shifted its emphasis from
tanning to health and wellness spa
services. The name Planet Beach
was chosen to represent the desire to escape to the beach and
have an otherworldly and relaxing
experience.
Our industry was changing:
demand for tanning was diminishing and demand for day spa
services was increasing. It became
very clear to me that we needed to
reposition our brand to become a
more successful franchise and to
better serve our customers, Smith
is quoted on the website as saying. He states that with automated
spa services he has broken into an
untapped niche that he predicts
will be the wave of the future.
There are a couple of other
Planet Beach locations in the Atlanta area, explained Adrianne
Grant, who does marketing for
the Dunwoody location, but
were excited to be the first in the
area to open under the new model. The Dunwoody spa is among
more than 250 franchise units in
36 states and six foreign countries.
Grant said owner Delicia
Smalls explored several metro
areas before settling on the Dunwoody location. The demographics here are right, she said.
Dunwoody is a thriving, growing
city with great schools and active
families. Many moms like to come
for a spa visit after dropping their
kids off at school. Most clients,
according to Grant, are women
but there are men members. The
location, which opened in early
March, has been enrolling mem-
bers since October of 2014, she

said.
The fully automated concept
has to be seen to be understood,
Grant said. Clients are taken to
a private room where machines
controlled by the client provide
such services as massage and
oxygen therapy. A services consultant, who escorts the client to the
appropriate room, familiarizes her
or him with the equipment and
answers any questions the client
might have. The client is left in
privacy to receive the automated
service.
A massage, for example, can
instead of being performed by
human handsbe provided by
a DreamWave Chair that adjusts
to body size and provides movements designed to relieve pain
and tension. A client can climb
into the slim capsule, where
heat and steam work together to
burn calories, eliminate waste and
deep clean pores.
Its nothing like the old steam
cabinets of the 1950s; this is
completely different technology,
Grant explained.
Planet Beach does still offer
both UV and UV-free tanning,
Grant said, but the emphasis is on
health and wellness. Services, she
said, are available on an a la carte
basis, but membership is by far
the more economical way to go.
Automation, Planet Beachs materials state, allows clients to receive
traditional spa results in less time
and at a lower price than they
typically find at conventional spas.
With a membership the client has unlimited access to our
services. Ive seen clients come
in and spend hours having one
service after anotherreally
treating themselves to a spa day,
said Grant, who added that stress
reduction is a major reason clients have spa treatments. People
come for anti-aging treatments,
weight management and cosmetic
treatments, but most clients want
to leave feeling healthy and refreshed. Thats our goal with everyone who comes in. Our slogan
is relax, glow, renew.
She said the spa offers a line of
all-natural professional products
to accompany and enhance the
spa services. Plant Beach also sells
meal replacement shakes for those
trying to lose weight.
Delicia Smalls owns one of the 250 Planet Beach franchises units in 36 states and six foreign countries. Photos by Kathy Mitchell
Planet Beach offers a line of products to accompany and enhance the spa services.
The Voice of Business in DeKalb County
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
Two Decatur Town Center, 125 Clairemont Ave., Suite 235, Decatur, GA 30030
404.378.8000
www.DeKalbChamber.org
Editorial
Education
The
Press, Friday,
10, 2015
The Champion
Champion,Free
Thursday,
April 9 -April
15, 2015
Page 18A
Page
18A
School board member refuses to resign amid allegations

by Ashley Oglesby
DeKalb County school
board member Marshall
Orson said he will not resign on April 1 despite repeated calls for him to step
down from his position.
Orson has been accused
of violating board policy
and the boards code of ethics after a television station
CBS46 investigation reported he was involved in a
recent push to annex part of
DeKalb County into Atlanta.
Orson denied the allegation and insisted his emails
were misunderstood.
My goal is and has always been for us to understand and engage on a difficult issue and to address it as
a school district. The Druid
Hills Cluster, in particular,
represents the diversity and
strength of DeKalb. On
this issue and others, I have
engaged with a variety of
groups and individuals
DeKalb County resident Chris Beck calls for board member Marshall Orson to step down. Photo by Travis
Hudgons
across our community. I

have no plans to resign and
will continue to serve the
children and citizens of
DeKalb County. This matter
is closed.
Board chair Dr. Melvin

Johnson told CBS46 that the
board addressed the allegations during an executive
session but wouldnt explain
what action was taken.
During the board meeting, citizens expressed outrage at Orson and asked him
to resign.
Ive never witnessed
a school board member so
blatantly throw the district

and the children attending schools in the district
under the bus the way you
have, said Dawn Forman to
Orson during a public comment session.
We have a board member who mistakenly believes
the schools are his to give
away, said Dianne Joy.
Chris Beck told the
board he believes Orson
violated at least four policies
of the boards code of ethics and asked Orson to step
down.
Orsons emails, obtained
through an open records
request, showed the District
2 representative arranged
meetings to help plan efforts
to annex part of unincorporated DeKalb. The plan
would have meant making
Druid Hills High School,
Fernbank Elementary and
several other schools part of
Atlanta Public Schools.
School superintendent
proposes raises for
district employees
DeKalb County School
District Superintendent Michael
Thurmond in an April 1
presentation to the DeKalb Board
of Education recommended a
three-tier salary increase that
emphasizes salary increases for
veteran teachers for fiscal year
2015-2016.
The proposed increases
include:
4 percent cost-of-livingadjustment (COLA) for all
veteran teachers with six or
more years of experience
3 percent COLA increase to
teachers with five or fewer years
of experience; and,
2 percent COLA increase for all
other employees.
The salary increase
recommendations for teachers
and employees will add an
estimated $20 million to the
district budget for fiscal year
2015-2016.
The past several years
have created difficult economic
circumstances for our
employees and their families,
Superintendent Michael
Thurmond said. Our highest
budget priority is to increase
salaries for our highly qualified
veteran teachers.
In addition, an analysis of
the salary and pay scale for the
lowest paid employees will be
conducted.
The DeKalb County Board
of Education recognizes the
hard work and dedication of
our teachers and employees
during trying times, said Dr.
Melvin Johnson, chairmen of
the DeKalb County Board of
Education. We stand ready
to work with Superintendent
Thurmond on a budget that fairly
compensates them for their good
work.
The district budgeting process
for fiscal year 2015-2016
includes the following schedule:
April 1 Board of Education
and public comment input
May 4 Proposed budget and
revenue projections presented to
the board
May 28 Tentative budget
published in The Champion
June 1 Board adopts tentative
budget and has first millage rate
hearing
June 4 Five-year millage
rate history published in The
Champion
June 17 Final budget adoption
vote and second and third
DeKalb County School Superintendent Michael Thurmond addresses city council and board meeting attendees regarding a pay raise for employees. Photo by Travis Hudgons
millage hearings
The
Press, Friday,
10, 2015
The Champion
Champion,Free
Thursday,
April 9 -April
15, 2015
Editorial
Education
Page 19A
Page
18A
GPC student receives

Goldwater scholarship
by Ashley Oglesby
Gary Brantley, the school districts chief information officer, accepts

award on behalf of DeKalb County School District from Alan Cox, the
director of the Center for Digital Education.
DeKalb school district

receives digital school
survey award
DeKalb County School District was among the top 10
winners of the 2014-2015 Digital School Districts Survey
Award. The district received ninth place in the Center for
Digital Educations and National School Boards Associations 10th anniversary Digital School Districts Survey for
the use of innovative technologies and fully implementing
technology benchmarks in the evolution of digital education. All U.S. public school districts were eligible to participate in the survey.
The district was recognized for its BYOD (Bring Your
Own Device), STEM curriculum, flipped classroom instruction and the mobile app. The mobile app, free to all
stakeholders, launched in January 2014, and enables parents to stay up-to-date on district news, calendars, weather
alerts, lunch menus, social media updates, Infinite Campus
(parent portal) and more.
All DeKalb schools are 100 percent wireless and aim to
improve digital communication with students, parents and
community, and improve the learning environment and district operations.
Sheena Vasquez, chemistry major at Georgia Perimeter College, is one of

four Georgia college students
and 260 undergraduates nationwide to receive the Barry
Goldwater Scholarship.
The one- and two-year
scholarships will cover the
cost of tuition, fees, books,
and room and board up to a
maximum of $7,500 per year.
I am very grateful to
have the opportunity to be
awarded this year, Vasques
said. It validates that what
Sheena Vasquez completed an internship at a research institute affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Photo by Bill Roa
Im doing is working.
She added, I have a
Institute of Biomedical Rescience majors. Many of the
strong support system besearch in 2014. The research scholars have dual majors in
hind me, people that contin- institute is affiliated with
a variety of mathematics, sciue to motivate me and advise the Massachusetts Institute
ence, engineering and comme correctly between family
of Technology. During that
puter disciplines.
and mentors that Ive develinternship, she worked with
The Barry Goldwater
oped. I am more motivated
research scientists to explore, Scholarship and Excellence
to continue my passion for
an enzyme associated with
in Education Program was
research and the sciences and plant color.
established by Congress in
see what becomes of it.
I plan on achieving
1986 to honor Sen. Barry
The Decatur resident in- these goals by first finishGoldwater, who served his
tends to study and research
ing my undergraduate and
country for 56 years as a solcompounds in plants that
graduate studies in biochem- dier and statesman, including
can further pharmaceutiistry to ultimately become
30 years of service in the U.S.
cal drug development, or
a researcher in academia or
Senate.
research compounds in bioindustry, she said.
The foundations purpose
luminescent plants which
The Goldwater Scholars
is
to
provide a continuing
will provide a cheaper alwere selected on the basis
source
of qualified scientists,
ternative to energy sources.
of academic merit from a
mathematicians
and engiShe is currently awaiting her field of 1,206 mathematics,
neers
by
awarding
scholaracceptance status at several
science, and engineering stu- ships to college students who
universities.
dents who were nominated
intend to pursue careers in
A STEM (science, techby the faculties of colleges
mathematics, natural scinology, engineering, matheand universities nationwide. ences and engineering.
matics) scholar, Georgia State
Thirty-four scholars are
Since its first award in
research lab volunteer and
mathematics majors, 154 are 1989, the foundation has
honor student, Vasquez com- science and related majors,
bestowed 7,428 scholarships
pleted a 10-week research
68 are majoring in engineer- worth approximately $48
internship at the Whitehead
ing and four are computer
million.
Discover your passion.

Attend a GPC Open House.
March 26 May 2
GPC application fee waiver a $20 savings!*

Meet GPC faculty, staff and students Take a campus tour and enjoy refreshments
RSVP online at openhouse.gpc.edu
#OpenGPC
* Advance sign up and student attendance are required to receive
fee waiver. Fee waivers must be used by July 1, 2015. Limit one
fee waiver per household.
A BETTER WAY FORWARD
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DISCLAIMER: We do not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate, or intend to discriminate, on any illegal basis. Nor do we knowingly accept employment advertisements that are not
bona-fide job offers. All real estate advertisements are subject to the fair housing act and we do not accept advertising that is in violation of the law. The law prohibits discrimination based on color,
religion, sex, nationalorigin, handicap or familial status.
Sports
Page 21A
Chamblee girls track-and-field team won its first DeKalb County title in program history.
Terryon Conwell won the 100-meter dash.
Southwest DeKalbs boys track team won its first county title since 2010, and its 13th overall.
Chamblees Venida Fagan won the 100-meter dash.
Chamblee girls, SWD boys win

county track championships
by Carla Parker
It was a long time coming, but
the Chamblee girls track-and-field
team raced its way to its first ever
DeKalb County Track and Field
Championship, March 30.
The Lady Bulldogs outscored
Redan 102-96.5. Defending champions Miller Grove finished third with
83.5 points. Chamblee coach Curtis
Mattrir said it felt great knowing
that the girls made a commitment to
the program.
Its always good to see the
kidswhen they put in the time,
the energy and the effortto see it
come to fruition, he said. We talked about [winning] in the beginning
of the season. We had high hopes
for the year, and I was telling them,
You all have a chance to win it. And
because weve never won it, [it was]
kind of hard to convince some of
them, but I think after days of work
and going to track meets week after
week and them actually placing in
the top three or four they started to
believe it. To come out today and
actually win the title in DeKalb
County, knowing how tough DeKalb
County is, it feels great.
Chamblees success began early
in the field events March 28 with
four medals. Chamblee took gold

and silver in the long jump with
sophomore Rachel Edler placing
first (17-05.00) and junior Elena
Brown-Solar coming in second (1701.00).
Brown-Solar won gold in the
high jump with a 5-04.00 jump.
Junior Sydney Holmes rounded
out the field medals for Chamblee
with a silver medal in the pole vault.
Dunwoodys Amy Last won gold (800.00) in the pole vault.
Redan senior Promise Clark
won gold in the triple jump (3603.50), and teammate Tanzanie
Brown tied for second in the high
jump with Miller Groves Sarai Blissett with a 5-02.00 jump. Redans
Shequilla McClain placed third
in the discus throw behind Cedar
Groves Amani Taylor and Druid
Hills Airian Riddick, who placed
first and second, respectively.
Stephenson junior Timberly
Molden won gold in the shot put
(39-02.50).
Venida Fagan led Chamblee on
the second day in the track events
with two individual gold medals.
She won the 100-meter dash (12.22),
and the 200-meter (24.88).
Clark won gold in the 400-meter
dash (57.84), and McClain won gold
in the 100-meter and 300-meter
hurdles. Redan picked up gold in

the 4x400-meter relay (3:51.99) and
Miller Grove won gold in the 4x100meter relay.
Tuckers Kiera Washington won
the 800-meter run, and Dunwoodys
Ansley Heavern won gold in the
1600-meter and 3200-meter run.
Boys
Southwest DeKalbs boys track
team won its first county title since
2010, and its 13th overall. The Panthers outscored defending champions Stephenson 98-88.5 to claim the
title. Lakeside placed third with 64
points.
The title was special for coach
Napoleon Cobb, who is retiring after the season.
This is my farewell tour; this
is it for me, Cobb said. This is my
50th year. Its real special. Im glad
to go out winning another county
championship. Thats great and its
real pleasing.
Cobb said he was surprised his
team won the title.
They performed a little bit better than we expected, but its good,
he said. We didnt think this team
had enough depth to win the county, but its good.
Southwest DeKalb brought
home seven gold medals with sophomore twins Terry and Terryon
Conwell leading the way. The twins
were part of the relay teams that
won the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays. They also picked up individual
gold medals with Terry winning the
400-meter dash and Terryon winning the 100-meter dash.
The Conwells had a one-two
finish in the 200-meter dash with
Terryon (21.71) winning and Terry
(21.87) finishing second.
Senior Montavius Coleman
won gold in the discus throw (14902) for Southwest DeKalb and his
teammate Tariq Bradford won gold
in the high jump (6-00.00). Bradford
also picked up a silver medal in the
triple jump.
Redans Chris McBride won
gold in the triple jump (44-08.00)
and the long jump (23-04.00).
Junior Denzel Harper led Stephenson with gold medals in the
110-meter (14.81) and 300-meter
hurdles (30.59). He also won silver
in the long jump.
Other gold medalists included
Clarkstons Abbas Abbkar, who won
the 800-meter and 1600-meter run.
Lakesides Davis Stockwell won the
3200-meter run, Druid Hills Javier
Lee won the shot put and Chamblees Will West won the pole vault.
Sports
Page 22A
Cedar Grove pitcher Corey Robinson had two RBIs and threw three strikeouts, allowing only four hits and one run against Washington.
Saints hoping to come together as a team for playoffs

by Carla Parker
The regular season has
ended for the Cedar Grove
Saints baseball team, and it
will be heading into a tough
Region 4-AAA tournament
April 14.
The Saints (6-3 region
record, 9-7 overall record)
currently sit fourth in the
region standings behind No.
1 ranked Blessed Trinity
(11-0, 15-2), Westminster
(10-1, 13-5) and Decatur (92, 16-4). Cedar Grove is 0-3
overall against those three
teams, but head coach Lavato Byrd hopes his team can
come together to take down
these teams in the region
tournament.
Basically [we have
to] start thinking playoff
baseball, Byrd said. Our
baseball IQ is there, but we
just have to play as a team.
I think sometimes when we
play the powerhouses we
play as individuals rather
than a team.
The Saints will enter
the region tournament on
a high note after defeating
Washington 15-1 in four
innings in a region regular
season game April 3. Pitcher
Corey Robinson played well
with three strikeouts allowing only four hits and one
run.
Although a number of
errors by Washington aided
the Saints offense, Cedar
Grove still played well offensively with nine hits. Junior Jaquarious Glover had
the biggest hit of the game
in the second inning with
an infield home run that
sent two other base runners

home.
Glover is leading the
team with a .475 batting
average as of March 30 and
leads the county in hits (19).
He also has 15 RBIs, 10
runs, 4 doubles and 1 triple.
Sophomore pitcher Jenard
Morris is leading the county
in pitching with a 0.00 ERA.
He has a 2-1 record and has
thrown 23 strikeouts in 17
innings.
Senior James Hartsfield
is leading the county in stolen bases (19) as of March
30. Byrd described the season as ugly and beautiful
but said the team is right
where he wants them to be.
We didnt start the
season the way I wanted to
start the season, he said.
I returned the majority of
my team [from last season],
but we started out a little
sluggisha lot of it could be
due to the weather. But once
we got three or four games
under our belts and [were]
able to play consistently, we
got hot.
Byrd believes his team
has the talent to get into the
state playoffs.
I think we could either
get the No. 2, 3 or 4 seed,
he said. Im not going to be
Superman and say we can
get the No. 1 [seed] in the
state. Even though I think
we played [Blessed Trinity,
Westminster and Decatur]
a good game in the regular
season, but I have to be honest. Well have to make a
huge step that I think these
guys can do, but we all have
to believe.
Senior James Hartsfield is leading the county in stolen bases (19) as of March 30.
4203686944/9,4/16,4/23,4/30
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originalprincipalamountof$86,800.00,lasttransferredtoRaulSandovalbyassignmentrecordedJanuary27,2015inDeedBook
24758,Page681,DeKalbCounty,Georgiarecordswithinterestthereonassetforththerein,therewillbesoldatapublicoutcrytothe
highestbidderforcashbeforetheCourthousedoorofDeKalbCounty,Georgia,betweenthelegalhoursofsaleonthefirstTuesdayin
May,2015,byRaulSandovalasAttorneyinFactforJerroldD.Winfordthefollowingpropertytowit:
Allthatcertainpiece,parcelorlotoflandwithimprovementsthereon,lyingandbeinginLandLot40ofthe18thLandDistrict,DeKalb
County,StateofGeorgiashownanddesignatedasLot17,MonticelloSubdivisionasperplatfiledinPlatBook80,page124,DeKalb
County,Georgiarecordswhichplatisincorporatedhereinbyreferenceandmadeaparthereof.Beingpropertycommonlyknownas
4618ThomasJeffersonCourt,StoneMountain,Georgia30083
Theabovedescribedpropertyisalsoknownas4816ThomasJeffersonCourt,StoneMountain,GA30083;howeverpleaserelyonlyon
theabovelegaldescriptionforlocationoftheproperty.Ifthepropertycontainsmultiplelotsorparcels,theundersignedreservesthe
righttosellthepropertyoranyportionthereofinseparatelots,parcelsorasawhole.
TheindebtednesssecuredbysaidDeedtoSecureDebthavingbeendeclareddueandpayablebecauseofamongotherpossible
eventsofdefault,failuretopayindebtednessasandwhenduepursuanttosaidDeedtoSecureDebtandNote.Thedebtremainingin
default,thissalewillbemadeforthepurposesofpayingthesameandallexpensesofsale,includingattorneysfees,ifapplicable.
ThepropertywillbesoldasthepropertyofJerroldD.Winfordsubjecttothefollowing:allpriorrestrictivecovenants,easements,
rightsofway,securitydeedsorotherencumbrancesofrecord;allvalidzoningordinances;matterswhichwouldbedisclosedbyan
accuratesurveyofthepropertyorbyanyinspectionoftheproperty;alloutstandingtaxes,assessments,unpaidbills,chargesand
expensesthatarealienagainstthepropertywhetherdueandpayableornotyetdueandpayable.
Thissalewillbeconductedsubjectto(1)confirmationthatthesaleisnotprohibitedundertheU.S.BankruptcyCodeand(2)tofinal
confirmationandauditastotheamountandstatusoftheloanwiththeholderoftheSecurityDeed.
PursuanttoO.C.G.A.Sec.4414162.2,thename,addressandtelephonenumberoftheindividualorentitywhoshallhavethefull
authoritytonegotiate,amendormodifyalltermsoftheabovedescribedmortgageisasfollows:RaulSandoval,5245HurtBridge,
Cumming,GA30028.7708439352
Theforegoingnotwithstanding,nothinginO.C.G.A.Sec.4414162.2shallbeconstruedtorequireRaulSandovaltonegotiate,amend
ormodifythetermsoftheDeedtoSecureDebtdescribedherein.
RaulSandoval,AsAttorneyinFactforJerroldD.Winford,OKELLEY&SOROHANATTORNEYSATLAW,LLC,BrianS.Goldberg,2170
SatelliteBlvd.,Ste.375,Duluth,GA30097(770)6222662
FileNo.L007877THISCOMMUNICATIONISFROMADEBTCOLLECTORATTEMPTINGTOCOLLECTADEBT;ANYINFORMATION
OBTAINEDWILLBEUSEDFORTHATPURPOSE.HOWEVER,IFTHEDEBTISINACTIVEBANKRUPTCYORHASBEENDISCHARGED
THROUGHBANKRUPTCY,THISCOMMUNICATIONISNOTINTENDEDASANDDOESNOTCONSTITUTEANATTEMPTTOCOLLECTA
DEBT.
Sports
Page 23A
Former Southwest DeKalb High School football coach William Buck Godfrey smiles Some of Godfreys former players and supporters were at the school board meeting to celebrate his
to the crowd after the Board of Education voted to rename Panthersville Stadium
latest honor.
after him. Photos by Travis Hudgons
Whats in a name?
Panthersville Stadium renamed to honor Godfrey
by Carla Parker
ormer Southwest
DeKalb High
School football
coach William
Buck Godfrey
won many games at
Panthersville Stadium.
The next time he enters
the facility, the stadium will
display his nameWilliam
Buck Godfrey Stadium. The
DeKalb County Board of
Education voted April 1 to
rename Panthersville Stadium
after the legendary coach.
Godfreys family, friends
and former players were at
the school board meeting to
celebrate his latest honor.
Godfrey, who began his
coaching career in 1974 as
a baseball coach, said the
thought of having a stadium
named after him never
crossed his mind during his
coaching days.
You really dont think
beyond the next game, and
I didnt, he said. When
I came into the county it
was a little rough from the
standpoint of some of the
things you had to face from
a racial standpointwith the
referees. You have to explain
some things to your kids that
should never have happened,
and we would have to do that
week in and week out.
But through it all we
maintained the integrity, the
dignity and the character
to be successful, Godfrey
added. After a while, the
flags they were throwing
they didnt throw anymore
Godfrey with his family.
because this team is doing

things like its supposed to
do. I think we cleared the
way for a lot of guys right
now, and I think thats the
greatest legacy we got.
Godfrey coached baseball
and swimming in DeKalb
before he was hired to coach
football at Southwest DeKalb
in 1983.
I never intended to be
a football coach. In fact, I
didnt intend to be a coach
at all, but I was good in
baseball, he said. So, when
I came down here, I coached
baseball and I thought that
was going to be it for me.
Godfrey said he had to
study football to understand
the game, and after he was
hired by Southwest DeKalb
he got the hang of it.
Not without tripping
a little bit, but I got it, and
inherited some guys who
werent used to having
a Black coach, he said.
None of the players were
From left, Godfrey is congratulated by DeKalb County School District

Athletics Director Horace Dunson, Superintendent Michael Thurmond,
and Board of Education Chairman Dr. Melvin Johnson.
coached by a Black coach at

all, and that was one hurdle
right there. Black players
are against you because
they figured you dont know
[anything]. Once we cleared
that hurdle it became a
program that was the envy of
everyone.
During his 30 years
at Southwest DeKalb,
Godfrey won 273 games (the
winningest football coach
in DeKalb), won the 1995
Class AAAA Georgia High
School Association state
championship, 13 region
is congratulated by former Southwest DeKalb Principal Gilbert
titles, and helped hundreds of Godfrey
Doc Turman.
players earn scholarships to
of Fame. Godfrey said it is
college. Godfrey never had
genuinely out of the love
hard to rank the naming of
a losing record at Southwest
from your heart for stuff that
the stadium with his other
DeKalb and missed the
youve work on, it means a
accomplishments.
postseason just three times.
lot from the standpoint.
Where its ranked?
Godfrey has received
Although he has not been
Right now, I wont know
many honors, including his
in Panthersville Stadium as
induction in the 2010 Atlanta for another 10 years, he
much since his retirement,
said. But right now I got to
Sports Hall of Fame class
he plans to be at the newly
say its right along with the
and in the 2014 class of the
named stadium more often.
GACA and all the rest of [the
Georgia Athletic Coaches
I will do as many as I
honors]. When you do things can, he said.
Association (GACA) Hall
local
Briefs Continued From Page 9A
court, Jackson simultaneously worked

for two governmental entities: DeKalb
County and GWCC from 2006 through
2012.He served as the manager of janitorial services for both entities without
the knowledge of either entity.
In court, Jackson admitted to using
his position as a public official to obtain
favors from a company that provided
janitorial services to both DeKalb County and GWCC. Jackson worked for the
company before he began working for
the governmental entities.
While employed by the two entities,
Jackson lived in a luxury apartment in
Atlanta that the company furnished and
paid for.In exchange, Jackson used his
position as a public official to benefit the
company a in its business dealings with
DeKalb County and GWCC.During that
time, the company obtained government
contracts in excess of $1 million with the
entities.
Countys recreation department to

hold Camp FUNtastic registration
Camp FUNtastic Summer Camp
registration is now open at Mason Mill
Recreation Center.
Camp FUNtastic is a summer day
camp designed older for children ages
10 and up with mild to moderate disabilities. Summer camp will run June 8
to July 24 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, at a charge of $75 per
week.
Participants must bring their own
breakfast and lunch. An individualized
education program must be provided
upon registration.
To access online registration, visit
www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and
click the Register Online button on
the departments homepage, or go to the
Mason Mill Recreation Center to register
in person.
For more information, contact Gentry Buchanon, recreation center director, at (404) 679-1349.
Public meeting scheduled for

proposed 46-acre park
DeKalb County Commissioner
Larry Johnson, in partnership with
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and
Cultural Affairs, will host a public community meeting on Tuesday, April 21, at
6:30 p.m. at Narvie Harris Elementary
School.
This meeting will be the third installment of public meetings to discuss
a proposed 46-acre park in the County
Line and Ellenwood communities. Facilitated by Johnson and the DeKalb parks
and recreation department, in conjunction with the consultants and architects
for this project, stakeholders have discussed uses for this space that are said
to align with the communitys vision for
the land.
Narvie Harris Elementary School is

located at 3981 McGill Drive, Decatur.
Clarkston
Continued From Page 16A
officials feel very strongly

that we have a certain ownership with maintaining that
and trying to improve the
conditions through our city
The Live Healthy DeKalb Physical
with that creek.
Activity Team is working to identify
He added, Friendship
walking groups in DeKalb County. The
Forest
has such a diversity
team would like to know the walking
of
habitats.
Were moving
groups schedule and average attendance.
forward
with
trying to eradThe information will be used to
icate
a
lot
of
non-native
spedevelop baseline data to determine
cies
and
unfortunately
there
how many individuals and/or groups in
DeKalb County are walking. The group is a lot of that in Friendship
information also will be included in the Forest.
The nature preserve has
Live Healthy DeKalb Community Rebeen
a place where local
source Guide. All groups that register
school
groups and youth orwill be entered in a drawing to win a
ganizations
work to expand
special Walk Healthy DeKalb prize.
the
nature
trails
and create
Groups are asked to send their insignage.
formation to livehealthydekalb@gmail.
Hadlock said that he ancom by April 30 to be included in the
ticipates
more volunteerism
Community Resource Guide. Include
from
residents
to assist in
the name of the walking group, day and
rescuing
plants
and adding
time, location of meetings, average nummore
native
species
to the
ber of walkers and contact person.
preserve.
Live Healthy DeKalb is a coalition of
individuals, community and faith-based
organizations, healthy professionals,
educators, businesses and others working to promote healthy people living in
healthy communities. For more information on LHD visit www.dekalbhealth.
net/office-of-chronic-disease-prevention/live-healthy-dekalb.
Walking groups encouraged to

register for Walk Healthy DeKalb

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FRIDAY, april 10, 2015 VOL. 18, NO. 2 FREE

A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS

School board member

County demolishes blighted house

See House on page 15A

A Conference Committee redrew the boundaries lines

Two proposed cities

mittee was formed, and

See Map on page 15A

Page 2A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

Enroll Now! Special Enrollment Period*

Stop by the Sign-Up Atlanta event at the Gallery at South DeKalb

Friday April 17 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Tax credits may be available

A licensed agent can help you

Get personal advice for FREE!

The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

Film studio to be first business on GM Site

sphere from a service and infrastructure standpoint that maximizes

nities, has ever led.

We could not have asked for better partners

We could not have asked for

the area, Integrals Project Executive

The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

Anthony Hill did not have to die

tion training so they can recognize behavioral problems

This training is needed

nurse and a police officer,

to the Anthony Hill call,

The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

One Mans Opinion

What have you done for me lately?

ing and minimum wage for

and will cause upward wage

of Walmart and McDonalds

What have you done for me

Statement from the

Page 6A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

home modifications to the

the group since the fall of

mation and just try to tell

ally volunteers at Roosevelt

Sorority efforts encourage good health habits

According to the Centers for

Stonecrest area restaurant, to offer

gers of a poor diet and a sedentary

The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

The Avondale Estates Police Department

Second Century Avondale to host meeting

On April 18, teens will gather in Decatur for

The community event will feature a 5K at

Granite Grasshopper Festival has something

Page 8A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

Peggy Allen, associate director of the roads and drainage division,

County plans to fill 1,100 potholes

our infrastructure here in

to move forward with a 1

structure needs. We have

We all have commutes,

The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

Former DeKalb and

See Briefs on page 24A

METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Page 2A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

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Page 6A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015

The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 10, 2015