EDUCATION: Climb the Ridge seeking to make a school better inside and out | Page 11 SPORTS: Super Bowl

SPORTS: Super Bowl to feature former DeKalb football players | Page 14

the DeKalb FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • VOL. 23, NO 51 • FREE

Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker • A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS

BETTER THAN
THE REST
DeKalb County Public Library
named Library of the Year
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Diverse programs and
multiple locations, are among
the factors that led the Georgia
Public Library Service to name
the DeKalb County Public
Library as Georgia’s Public
Library of the Year. The county
is set to receive the award on
Jan. 31.
Georgia Public Library
officials said DeKalb’s library
was recognized for offering
public programming and
embracing DeKalb’s diverse
community.
Weissinger
“DeKalb County Public
Library is a system of
DeKalb County Public Library was named Library of the Year by the Georgia Public Library Service.
individual library locations
serving diverse interests and
needs. We created the Read
More Campaign to coalesce
all 22 library locations under
a common goal of promotion,
outreach and unity,” said
DeKalb Library Director
Alison Weissinger.
According to the Georgia
Public Library,the DeKalb
library system was recognized
for four “innovative” campaign
efforts.
These campaigns include
PRIME TIME preschool,
which introduces children
between ages of 3 and 4 and
their families to literature.
The campaign features play
time with trained facilitators.
Fine Free Summer is another
campaign created by DeKalb
library officials. The initiative
exempted all children’s and
youth books from overdue
fees from June to September
in 2018. The program also
encouraged parents and
children to check out books
throughout the summer months
to encourage children to learn
to encourage children to learn
while out of school.
In 2018 the library also
featured a Take the Internet
Home with You campaign,
which offers library patrons
free mobile hotspot devices

SEE LIBRARY ON PAGE 6

Additional police vehicles purchased with SPLOST funds

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Approximately $1.8 million
in Special Purpose Local Option
Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds were
approved by the DeKalb County
board of commissioners to
purchase 50 new patrol vehicles
for the DeKalb County Police
Department.
“This investment of SPLOST
funding supports DeKalb’s
commitment to enhancing public
safety throughout the county by
providing our first responders
with well-equipped vehicles to
help them safely and efficiently
perform their jobs,” said
DeKalb County CEO Michael
SEE VEHICLES ON PAGE 6

Visit www.TheChampionNewspaper.com for local, real DeKalb County news.

LOCAL
CLARKSTON
Mayor voices opposition to border
wall, government shutdown
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry
in an email sent Jan. 14. spoke
against the partial government
shutdown and President
Donald Trump’s mission to
build an additional section of
the border wall between the
United States and Mexico
border.
The partial shutdown
started Dec. 22 because of a
standoff between Trump and
Congress over funding for
Trump’s campaign promise to
build a border wall. Trump is
demanding $5 billion for the
wall.
The shutdown has
affected an estimated 800,000
federal workers with some
working without pay or being
furloughed.
“It’s dangerous, has left
hundreds of thousands of
federal employees without
pay, and has shuttered critical
Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry voiced his
opposition to the partial government
shutdown and the proposed border wall.
government services,” Terry
said in an email. “And for
what? All so Trump can make
good on a campaign promise
to build a racist, expensive,
ineffective wall to shut out
immigrant families seeking
refuge.”
Terry said he ran for mayor
of Clarkston knowing the
diversity in the city is what
makes it a place for everyone
to live, work, attend school and
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 2
DECATUR
pursue the American dream.
“It’s precisely why here in
Clarkston we’ve welcomed
over 40,000 refugees in the past
25 years,” Terry said. “And
that’s also why I’m fed up with
Trump.”
Terry started a petition on
actionnetwork.org for those
who want to tell Trump to end Decatur hosted its second open house workshop for the redesign of Atlanta Avenue
the shutdown. railroad crossing Jan. 16 at Atlanta Friends Meeting House at 701 West Howard Avenue
in Decatur.
“We all know that Trump’s
war on immigrants is nothing
new,” Terry said. “His travel
ban, racist rhetoric and family
Residents give input on
separation policy were all
designed to sow fear in ‘confusing’ Decatur intersection
immigrant communities and confusing” intersection that
frighten refugees seeking BY HORACE HOLLOMAN poses a threat to public safety.
asylum. And now, his border The workshop was held Jan.
horace@dekalbchamp.com
wall will do that and more, and 16 at the Atlanta Friends
will cost billions. This wall Meeting House at 701 West
does not represent who we are Decatur hosted its second Howard Avenue in Decatur.
in Clarkston, in Georgia or in open house workshop for the During the workshop,
America.” redesign of the Atlanta Avenue community members had
As of Jan. 22, the petition railroad crossing. the opportunity to give
had 338 signatures, 62 fewer Some residents called feedback on how to improve
from its 400-signature goal. the crossing an “absolutely
SEE INTERSECTION ON PAGE 8
OPINION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 3

Ugly side of Super Bowl mania

Excitement is building in metro
Atlanta. The 53rd Super Bowl is a
little more than a week away.
Hordes of sports fans, celebrities,
athletes and folks who just love
the whirlwind of mega events will
descend on Atlanta for the big NFL
face-off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
on Feb. 3. Whether they have tickets
for the game or not, thousands will
come to attend the free concerts
and activities planned at Centennial
Olympic Park and ticketed events
scheduled for other venues in the
city and surrounding areas.
Businesses such as hotels and
restaurants as well as smaller
entrepreneurs such as food truck
owners and T-shirt vendors are
hoping to cash in as visitors invade
the city to play and spend.
Unfortunately, a mega event
such as the Super Bowl also
has a dark side, attracting those
enforcement agencies, public and
private groups, faith-based and civic
organizations in metro Atlanta—
including the DeKalb County
District Attorney’s Office—has been
Gale Horton Gay working on a three-year strategic
plan to accelerate efforts to end
gale@dekalbchamp.com human trafficking.
January is National Slavery
and Human Trafficking Prevention
Month with events taking place
who will exploit children, teens nationwide to increase awareness
and vulnerable adults in the sex and efforts to aid the victims of this
trade. Metro Atlanta has already
exploitation of children and adults
established itself as a place where and put an end to the ugly practice.
human trafficking thrives. It is
On Jan. 18, the 4th annual Human
one of the top cities for human Trafficking Forum is scheduled to
trafficking, according to numerous
take place at Agnes Scott College.
sources. Major sporting events The daylong forum is put on by
escalate sex trade activities with the Tapestri, a nonprofit dedicated to
young and defenseless most at risk. ending violence and oppression
The Super Bowl has a reputation as among immigrant and refugee
such an event. communities.
A coalition of more than 30 law Among efforts individuals can
take to become part of the solution:
• Educate yourself and others on
what’s taking place locally.
• Know the signs of human traffick-
ing.
• Lobby for legislation that address-
es the issue.
• Volunteer for one of the many
anti-trafficking nonprofits.
• Donate financially or with in-kind
gifts to groups working to assist
victims.
The coming of Super Bowl LIII
is a flashpoint that should make us
all more aware and hopefully more
responsive to the dire circumstances
of those being victimized.
Find a way to help.

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Tax Sales/Ads for Bids
Trade Name Registrations
Public Notices/Public meetings
Sheriff Sales/Local Legislation
Notices of Incorporation
To subscribe, visit DeKalbLegalNotices.com
or call 404-373-7779, X 0

#ItsInTheChampion
OPINION
“We’re not subtracting anything
Addition, not subtraction
from the Confederate monuments or the
history of Stone Mountain Park. We’re
just adding to it. And we didn’t know
we had this treasure of history until we
did this study of it,” said Bill Stephens,
CEO, Stone Mountain Park Memorial
Association (SMMA).
In 1965, the Stone Mountain
Memorial Association rescued and
relocated an ailing and structurally
damaged wooden, covered bridge from
downtown Athens to Stone Mountain
Park. The old bridge, rare even then,
was originally constructed in 1891 and
linked downtown Athens, via College
Street, to more rural Clarke County
farms and beyond.    voted unanimously to dedicate and
The SMMA offered in 1963 to
relocate the bridge which had been
structurally damaged by severe
flooding of the Oconee River, as part of
the creation of a historic district within
the park. The bridge was designed and
constructed for $2470 in 1891, and
relocated 60 miles for only $18,000 in
1965.    to tell the stories and history of
The SMMA cut the bridge into
segments and later reassembled it
atop new concrete and granite peers to
connect the park mainland with small
Indian Island in the middle of Stone
Mountain Lake. There the unique and
historic Town Truss Bridge has ably
served park visitors for another more
than five decades.
 In recent years, the more complete
history and detail of the bridge’s
construction was unearthed by
DeKalb History Center, and shared
in a presentation attended by DeKalb
County CEO, and later SMMA board
member Michael Thurmond, who
also happens to be an Athens native
and often traveled across that same
bridge as a child, accompanying his
sharecropper father into town to sell
produce.
 The bridge was designed and
constructed by famed African-
American master bridge builder
Washington W. King, the second of
a three-generation family of bridge
builders. There are only four remaining
examples of King’s work, though he
and his family constructed bridges all
across the South.   more natural part of the park. Sounds
Thurmond was so taken with the
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 4
moving water nearby or the occasional series of small steps, some purpose and
sounds of the passing Stone Mountain a general direction of where you are
‘One Man’s Scenic Railroad train. The other side wanting to go. 
Opinion’ of the lake, on the far side of the island
is Gwinnett County, but once you Bill Crane also serves as a political
cross that bridge you feel like you are analyst and commentator for Channel 2’s
Bill Crane miles away from civilization and in the Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk 750
bill.csicrane@gmail.com middle of a historic wilderness.  and now 95.5 FM, as well as a columnist
 And as we celebrate the memory for The Champion, DeKalb Free Press
and teachings of the reverend King as and Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
bridge that he created an annual award, well as Black History Month ahead native and business owner, living in
DeKalb Bridge Builders, at his second in February, you might remember Scottdale. You can reach him or comment
State of the County address as DeKalb that crossing any bridge begins with a on a column at bill.csicrane@gmail.com.
CEO last year.
Additional research was completed
by the SMMA, and on Jan. 15, 2019,
the actual birthday of the Rev. Martin
Luther King Jr., the SMMA board
rename the historic crossing as the
Washington W. King Bridge. In
addition to an upgraded historic marker
and interpretive exhibit signage, the
SMMA’s staff was directed to seek
placement of the bridge on the National
Register of Historic Places.
“We are always looking for ways
Georgia. The story of our covered
bridge and of Washington W. King
will now be more prominently told and
shared with the over 3 million visitors
to Stone Mountain Park,” said Bill
Stephens, CEO of the SMMA.
 I can recall my own first trip across
that bridge with my brother and father
in the late 1960s; it was the beginning
of a short and wondrous weekend of
Indian Guides camping and pine-derby
racing. Exploring the small island
and leaving our tiny campsite had me
feeling like a young Tom Sawyer. The
noisy, wood rattling bridge added to
that effect, and made those crossing it
feel like they were leaving decades, if
not a century, behind as they crossed
over. On a recent walk across that same
span, I experienced warm and pleasant
memories and feelings of deja vu. I
suspect thousands, if not more, Georgia
families and park visitors may share
similar memories and experiences.
 If you haven’t recently been to
Stone Mountain Park, the King bridge
is on the back side of the park, near
the old grist mill and the mountain’s
granite quarry exhibit. It’s a quieter,
are often limited to wildlife and
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
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LOCAL
Henderson Park awarded habitat restoration grant
BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
Henderson Park in
Tucker will receive
bird-friendly habitat
improvements.
Atlanta Audubon
announced Jan. 14 that
the park was awarded a
habitat restoration grant to
implement bird-friendly
habitat improvements to the
Native Plant and Wildlife
Walk in the park. The
grant was awarded after
the DeKalb County Master
Gardeners, a volunteer
group that manages
trail maintenance in the
park, submitted a grant
application.
The improvement project
will take place along the
Native Plant and Wildlife
Walk, a paved path in the
park. Atlanta Audubon
officials said the goal is to
restore a natural Georgia
Piedmont habitat to provide
sanctuary for birds and
other wildlife and offer
educational opportunities
for the community,
including bird walks and
seminars for adults and
youth.
Master Gardener Trecia
Neal, who submitted the
application, said there is a
high-quality forest in the
VEHICLES Continued From Page 1
Thurmond. “Thanks to the
approval of the board of
commissioners, our police
department will have 100
new cars on the road.”
According to the
change order approved
by commissioners, the
additional vehicles will
provide replacement
vehicles, so police personnel
can complete daily police
activity and operations that
require the vans and trucks.
According to the county,
some officers will receive a
2018 Chevrolet Tahoes as
officer take-home vehicles
to increase community
visibility and reduce crime.     technology he can monitor
“Providing our dedicated
men and women in uniform
with the best equipment,
such as these police patrol
vehicles, will improve the
Atlanta Audubon awarded a habitat restoration grant to Henderson Park
to implement bird-friendly habitat improvements to the Native Plant and
Wildlife Walk in the park. Photo provided
park with more than 300
types of birds.
“The species that are in
that forest are amazing,”
Neal said. “There is quite a
high number of species in
that forest.”
Neal said she hopes the
improvements to the park
will attract more birds as
well. Atlanta Audubon will
work with Henderson Park
and DeKalb County Master
Gardeners to provide
services that will benefit
park users as well as birds
and other wildlife that
inhabit the park.
Those services include
invasive and exotic plant
removal, bird-friendly and
native plant installation,
bird species abundance
morale, satisfaction and
performance of our officers
as we continuously enhance
effective police services to
DeKalb citizens,” said Jack
Lumpkin, director of public
safety.
County officials said
patrol vehicles will be
equipped with technology
that allows vehicles to
immediately contact
the county’s emergency
dispatch center. Officers will
also be equipped with body-
worn cameras.
DeKalb County Police
Chief James Conroy
said with the vehicles’
each police vehicle from his
desk and determine how fast
the vehicles are being driven
as well as how many times a
police vehicle has patrolled
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 5
monitoring, seasonal
on-site bird banding,
volunteer work days and
citizen science monitoring,
community outreach
programs at project site and
nearby facilities, and an
Atlanta Audubon Wildlife
Sanctuary certification.
Once the invasive and
non-native plants are
removed, Atlanta Audubon
will install bird-friendly
native trees and shrubs
that provide fruit, seeds,
and nectar for birds and
others wildlife. In addition,
Henderson Park plans to
install educational kiosks
and signs along the trail,
and park officials will also
add a water feature, bird
feeders and bird houses,
an area or address.
“Police vehicles have
evolved,” Conroy said.
“We used to drive the Ford
Crown Victoria and they
stopped making it. Then
we switched to the Chevy
Caprice and they stopped
making that. Now the top
vehicle in the county is the
Chevrolet Tahoe.”
During a board
of commissioners
meeting, DeKalb
County commissioners
expressed concern on
SPLOST spending and
a lack of information
available. DeKalb
County Commissioner
Kathie Gannon said
commissioners need to have
a comprehensive SPLOST
meeting to help county
officials understand how the
according to Atlanta
Audubon. The restored
habitat along the trail
will serve as an outdoor
education center for
bird walks, bird banding
demonstrations, seminars
for the community and
outdoor education classes
for children.
“Atlanta Audubon is
delighted to award this
Habitat Restoration Grant
to Henderson Park to help
offset land that is being lost
to development and urban
sprawl,” Atlanta Audubon
Executive Director Nikki
Belmonte said in a released
statement. “After the
project is completed, the
Native Plant and Wildlife
Walk will be certified as an
Atlanta Audubon Wildlife
Sanctuary and will not
only benefit birds and other
wildlife who rely on these
areas but also serve as a
demonstration area, so
the public can learn how
incorporating native plants
into the landscape can
benefit birds and wildlife.”
The Habitat Restoration
Fund is a new grant
program of Atlanta
Audubon sponsored by a
private donor. Henderson
Park is the first grant
recipient.
county is spending SPLOST
revenue.
“Everyone is waiting
for me to give my SPLOST
speech and I don’t want to
disappoint,” Gannon said,
laughing. “We’ve never had
our comprehensive meeting
on SPLOST. Many months
ago, we did item 1695 and
purchased 10 fire vehicles
and the first 50 vehicles and
it’s not clear how much we
spent on those vehicles.”
DeKalb County COO
Zach Williams said
the county will plan a
comprehensive SPLOST
meeting by the end of the
month.
“I can only speak for
myself, but I’m sure some
others would agree, we
should have been ready
before the referendum
LIBRARY
Continued From Page 1
for checkout at five libraries.
Funding has been secured to
expand the program to more
branches in 2019.
DeKalb County CEO
Michael Thurmond said the
county increased the libraries’
funding budget by $2.2
million.
“DeKalb County is
extremely proud of our
public library system and
the critical role it plays in
promoting lifelong learning,”
said Thurmond. “Under the
outstanding leadership of the
Library Board of Trustees,
Library Director Alison
Weissinger and her staff, the
county provides exceptional
services, programs and
resources to our residents.”
DeKalb County Public
Library also hosts the Georgia
Center for the Book. Library
officials said it’s one of the
library’s most visible and
popular programs. According
to DeKalb County Public
Library, the program was
created to preserve Georgia’s
rich literary heritage by
providing free author talks
and sponsoring other literary
engagement events such as
the annual list of 10 Books All
Georgians Should Read and
the Book as Art exhibits.
passed [in 2017]. Other
cities have deployed their
SPLOST money far faster
and with more efficiency
regarding paving.”
DeKalb County will
receive an estimated $388
million in SPLOST revenue
over the next six years
to improve county roads,
infrastructure and public
safety. Additional planned
public safety improvements
include upgrading the fire
radio system, repairing
police precincts and fire
stations and designing a
new public safety training
facility.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 6

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners will hold Public Hearings on the 2019 Proposed Budget at the times and places listed below:
Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 10:00AM Tuesday, February 26, 2019, 10:00 AM
Maloof Center Auditorium Maloof Center Auditorium
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur
All interested citizens are invited to attend these hearings and have the right to present comments pertaining to the proposed budget.
The recommended budget is available for public inspection in the Office of Management & Budget, 6th Floor, Maloof Center, at all DeKalb County Libraries
during normal business hours, and electronically at www.dekalbcountyga.gov.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 7

1,273,537,123
LOCAL
COUNTY
DeKalb County Admiration Lodge No. 25 hosted its annual job fair event Jan. 16.
Local lodge giving back
to community
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Admiration Lodge No. 25,
a local fraternal organization,
in partnership with DeKalb
County Commissioner Larry
Johnson, hosted a job fair in
Decatur Jan. 16 at Community
Achievement Center.
The job fair featured
employers including AT&T,
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, Department
of Transportation, as well
as organizations offering
customer service positions and
law enforcement positions.
The event was the fifth
annual career fair, according to
job fair organizers.
Miguel Ramos, a member
of the lodge for more than
a decade, said the event has
grown every year.
“We wanted to come up
with an idea that gives back to
the community and gets our
people to work,” Ramos said.
Ramos said the job fair
caters to potential employees
who may have served in the
military, have a disability or do
not have a college degree.   appropriate clothing for their
According to Ramos, in the
job fair’s first year 93 people
registered. The subsequent
year, 147 people registered.
This year, Ramos said more
than 320 people registered for
the event.
“It’s a wonderful feeling
for us,” Ramos said. “We’re
actually helping people get
to work and we also follow
up with employers. People
let us know how much they
appreciate [this event]. It’s a
beautiful thing.”
Officials with DeKalb
County Solicitor General’s
Office attended the job fair to
help individuals understand
how to get their criminal
records expunged.
Admiration Lodge No.
25 also partnered with The
Stewart Foundation, created
by Poet Laureate Hank
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 8
Stewart, and with organizers
of the I Am a Father 5K walk/
run to provide free suits
for individuals in need of
interviews.
Torez Miller said he didn’t
have any professional outfits
to wear during interviews and
selected a gray suit and a few
ties at the job fair.
Miller said it was the first
time he had a suit since his
high school prom.
“This is really about to
be my first suit,” Miller said.
“I came in here and they
provided me with a nice
suit and I just want to thank
them for providing me with
a really nice suit. I just want
to thank everyone who came
out and are trying to help the
community.”
Next year, Ramos said, the
lodge plans to have employers
who accept employees with
criminal records.
A Decatur resident views potential redesigns for the Atlanta Avenue Intersection at
an open workshop meeting.
INTERSECTION Continued From Page 7
the intersection and review
the scope of the overall
project. The project will cost
approximately $5 million for
improvements.
City officials and design
team leads with Landis-Evans
& Partners and Atkins spoke
with residents about possible
concerns and unveiled at least
seven possible designs for the
intersection.
Decatur City Manager
Hugh Saxon said it’s
important to engage the
community and some of the
city’s best ideas come from
residents.
“We’re trying to develop at
least two or three alternatives
that we will consider and make
a recommendation to the city
commission in the next couple
of months,” Saxon said.
Saxon said he hopes
the city can start work on
the project in 2020. The
challenging part of the project
will be getting different
stakeholders on the same page,
according to Saxon. Decatur
must get approval from CSX,
which owns the railroad tracks
at the crossing. Saxon said
DeKalb County will also be
responsible for operating the
traffic signals.
“Hopefully we’ll have
a final plan by the spring
[of this year] and get it into
construction early in 2020,”
Saxon said. “We are oriented
toward improving safety
for everybody. This is a
complicated intersection, and
nothing lines up. Everything is
offset, so it doesn’t lend itself
to an easy solution.”
Jeremy Buckmaster,
a Decatur resident for six
years, said he’s worried about
his children having to cross
the Atlanta Avenue railroad
crossing on the way to school.
Three schools, Renfroe
Middle School, Decatur High
School and 4/5 Academy at
Fifth Avenue, are in close
proximity to Atlanta Avenue
crossing.
“There are days when I use
the intersection on a car, on a
bike and on foot,” Buckmaster
said. “I’ve got a lot invested
in this. My top priority is
usability for pedestrians and
cyclists. I have two daughters
who will be walking through
that intersection probably
through middle school and
high school.”
Buckmaster said the
intersection in the morning is
“chaos.”
“It’s hard to navigate for
everybody,” Buckmaster said.
Ideas for how to redesign
the Atlanta Avenue railroad
crossing included single,
double and triple roundabouts
and creating a “T” shaped
intersection at Adair Street.
Suzanne Elbon said she
lives on Olympic Place in
Decatur and travels through
the intersection daily.
“The challenge for me is
taking in the concepts, then
trying to imagine how [the
concepts] will actually work,”
Elbon said. “I’m trying to look
at each one then imagine what
that would be like.”
Elbon said she was happy
her concerns were heard.
“Obviously there’s a lot of
thought going into this. There’s
traffic patterns, railroads,
cyclists and residential houses
on these main roads that will
be impacted. I don’t imagine
everyone will be made 100
percent happy, but hopefully a
solution will make it easier for
most people,” Elbon said.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

Billy Heaton has been chosen as the principal for City Schools of Decatur’s newest unnamed elementary school.
Chamblee’s Zachary Mackson guards Lakeside’s Eli Chandler. Lakeside won the game 64-59.
(Photo courtesy of City Schools of Decatur)
Photo by Mark Brock

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond honors Shelley Anthony III, owner of DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond honors Charles Greene, owner of Matthews Cafeteria, at the 35th Annual MLK Celebration.
This Is It BBQ & Seafood at the 35th Annual MLK Celebration. Photo by DCTV.

Have you created programming you’d like to air on TV?

Do you have an interest in Public Access TV in DeKalb County?
Submit your show to DeKalb County’s Public Access channel, DeKalb 25.
Drop off DVD or USB copies to the Manuel J. Maloof Center at
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030, or upload your content via the internet.

(404) 371-2325 DeKalb25@outlook.com DeKalb25.com

EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 10

COUNTY EDUCATION BRIEFS

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com

Williams, Abdullah granted degrees in

December ceremonies
University of Nebraska-Lincoln conferred 1,551 degrees
during commencement exercises Dec. 14 and 15.
Aaron Brian Williams of Stone Mountain graduated
with a bachelor of arts degree from the college of arts and
sciences and Tigist Kifetew Abdullah of Tucker graduated
with a master of science degree.

Local resident embarks on undergraduate

career at Tufts University
A local student joined more than 1,500 undergraduate
students from around the world as they began their
academic careers at Tufts University, located in Medford/
Somerville, Mass.
The university’s class of 2022 includes Emma Downey
of Brookhaven.
Only 14.6 percent of a record-breaking 21,501
Local children are fed food from Quality Care for Children. Photo provided by Quality Care for Children applicants were admitted to the university, the second-
lowest acceptance rate in university history.

Quality Care for Children offers Rubin earns perfect 4.0 GPA
Eva Rubin, a theater arts major from Decatur, is among

new nutritional programs

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Quality Care for Children
announced that it added
four new early childhood
learning programs to its U.S.
Department of Agriculture
sponsored Child and Adult
Care Food Program Dec. 27.
Of the four new programs
being served by the QCC
sponsored program, one
is located in DeKalb
County─Kiddie World in
Decatur.
“The Child and Adult Care
Food Program is a great way
for child care providers to
make sure that their snacks
and meals meet all of the
nutrition guidelines while
providing the children with
food that tastes delicious,”
said Pam Tatum, president
and chief executive officer
for Quality Care for Children.
“Parents love the program
too, and many say that their
children are asking for
vegetables they’ve eaten
at school to be prepared at
home.”
QCC programs help child
care providers deliver a
better-quality food program
and assist children living in
food insecure homes have
access to healthy food. The
program also provides food
for after school programs for
both DeKalb County School
District and City Schools of
Decatur, along with assisted
living for elders.
QCC supports more
than 100 child care centers
throughout Georgia, including
50 in DeKalb County.
Approximately 11,000
children in the state have been
served by the program.
CACFP said it is important
to serve food insecure areas
because without consistent
and nutritious foods,
children’s brains and bodies
do not develop as they should.
In the Atlanta area, one in
four children lives in a food
insecure home.
875 students at Coastal Carolina University who earned
a perfect 4.0 GPA during the fall 2018 semester. The
academic achievement earns them a spot on the President’s
List.
Gallagher awarded degree
Andrew Gallagher of Brookhaven graduated with a
bachelor of business administration and marketing degree
from Lincoln Memorial University Dec. 8.
Gallagher was one of more than 350 graduates to
participate in LMU’s winter commencement exercises in
Tex Turner arena.
Glenn named to fall 2018 dean’s list at Eastern
New Mexico University
Marquise Glenn of Stone Mountain has been named to
the Eastern New Mexico University Dean’s List for the fall
2018 semester.
To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must
complete a minimum of 15 credit hours with a GPA
between 3.25 and 4.00.

CALL FOR AND NOTICE OF GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION

CITY OF PINE LAKE
NOVEMBER 5, 2019

#ItsInTheChampion TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF CITY OF PINE LAKE, WITHIN DEKALB COUNTY,
GEORGIA:
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on the 5th day of November, a general municipal

Visit us online @
election will be held in the CITY OF PINE LAKE to fill the positions of Mayor and two Coun-
cil positions.
Each candidate will file notice of his or her candidacy and the appropriate affidavit in the
Office of City Clerk, 425 Allgood Road, Stone Mountain, Georgia. Qualifying for candidates
will begin on Monday, August 19, 2019 through August 21, 2019, between 8:30 AM and
4:30 PM each day. The qualifying fee is $108 for the office of Mayor and $18.00 for Coun-
TheChampionNewspaper.com cil.
The last day to register to be eligible to vote in this special election is October 7, 2019.
The special election will be held in the regular polling place, City of Pine Lake Clubhouse,
300 Clubhouse Drive, Pine Lake, Georgia 30072. The polls will open at 7:00 AM and close
at 7:00 PM.
This call is issued by the City of Pine Lake.
EDUCATION
DECATUR
Climb the Ridge volunteers help to paint games of Laurel Ridge Elementary school’s blacktop playground in November. Photos provided by Lauren Andrews
Climb the Ridge seeking to make
a school better inside and out
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
A parent group at Decatur’s
Laurel Ridge Elementary
School (LRES) is actively
enhancing the building and
the students' learning quality
through community and
student engagement.
Climb the Ridge, which
was recently spearheaded by
the school’s PTA building
and grounds committee, is
designed to improve school
beautification projects. The
initiative seeks to spark
student interest and passion
in environmental education
while increasing community
engagement.
According to Lauren
Andrews, co-chair of Climb
the Ridge and the LRES
PTA Building and Grounds
Committee, research showed
that a student having pride and
a safe learning environment
directly impacts student
achievement.
“We would work all day
and every day for that sole
purpose,” said Andrews.
Climbing the Ridge's
first project, completed
in September, made
improvements to the
school’s entrance. The group
did landscaping around
the school’s playground
in October and painted
playground games such as hop
scotch and four square on the
blacktop in November.
With the help of a parent
donation, the group also
A Laurel Ridge Elementary School
student helps to make improvements to
her school.
pressure washed the school
grounds, including sidewalks.
During the group’s projects,
parent, community members,
school administrators and
students work together for
the betterment of the school
building.
Climb the Ridge has
since established monthly
schoolwide workdays when
volunteers can contribute time
and tools to projects such
as new outdoor games and
playground clean-up. Their
next project is Jan. 26, when
they will make improvements
to the school’s restrooms.
“The more we do, the more
we can really impact student
achievement,” Andrews said.
Future plans for Climb the
Ridge include painting the
school building and improving
the school’s HVAC system to
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 11
work better during extreme
weather.
More than 100 people
have assisted the group in
its projects, according to
Andrews.
The group also wants
to increase environmental
learning for the students with
an outdoor classroom. Climb
the Ridge leaders say they
want to make improvements
to the school’s courtyard
and greenhouse to achieve
environmental learning.
The group also hopes to
build new gardening beds for
all Laurel Ridge classrooms so
each has its own garden.
“Research shows there
is educational, physical,
cognitive and social value in
nature-based programming
and health benefits from just
from being outdoors,” said
Kari Schrock, principal of
Laurel Ridge Elementary
School. “With an outdoor
classroom we won’t always
have to rely on field trips
to bring education to life
beyond our building’s walls.
We envision our outdoor
classroom being a gathering
spot for Laurel Ridge
Elementary School teachers,
students and the community
to engage in environmental
Katy loves animals. And they love her back. And because you
education and awareness, play the Georgia Lottery, her chances of growing up to achieve
and integrate nature for every her dream of being a veterinarian have an excellent prognosis.
subject and every season.” For the past 25 years, the Georgia Lottery and you have been
To learn more about helping our students reach their true potential. According to
Climb the Ridge, visit www. Katy, it’s kind of like a “booster shot.”
laurelridgeelementary.com/
climb-the-ridge.
BUSINESS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 12

DECATUR

Dancing to fitness a 50-year success story

BY KATHY MITCHELL
Freelance Reporter
The new year for many
sparks an interest in starting
a fitness program, but not
everyone is still faithful to
their resolution months later.
The owner of a Decatur
exercise studio said she
believes she has found a
program that many find easy to
stick with.
Vanita Johnson, who
is just entering her second
year as owner of a Jazzercise
franchise in downtown
Decatur, said much of the
appeal of Jazzercise, which
this year celebrates its 50th
anniversary, is its adaptability.
“I love that our program has
something for everyone no
matter your fitness level. We
have a client who has run a
marathon in all 50 states and
is working on covering all the
continents. She uses Jazzercise
to cross-train for her races
because our strength training
is so effective. At the other
end of the spectrum, we have
a husband and wife team who
have attended Jazzercise for
over 30 years and still dance
high-impact classes since
Jazzercise has kept them in
such great shape. All these
folks can be on the dance floor
at the same time working at
their individual fitness levels.
Jazzercise is a judgment-free
zone.”
Johnson said another
reason the Jazzercise method
has stood the test of time is
“because we know how to get
results and how to keep our
program fresh. We constantly
evolve our workouts, mixing
in new beats, new moves and
new classes.”
She said she has been
interested in fitness since her
childhood. “I started tumbling
classes as an elementary
student and became interested
in gymnastics. This led me to
CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Stone Mountain hereby gives notice that
the Governing Body of the City of Stone Mountain,
Georgia has declared vacant the seat of Council
Member Steve Wells, Post 2. Mayor and Council
will accept Letters of Interest for the position through
February 8, 2019.
Please submit Letters of Interest to the City of Stone
Mountain, Administration, 875 Main Street, Stone
Mountain, GA 30083.
cheerleading and track teams
during junior high and high
school.” Over the years, she
added, she has been involved
in several exercise programs.
She was introduced to
Jazzercise when she was in the
third trimester of a pregnancy.
Johnson said she found that
moves she had learned in
other programs “translated
perfectly into the moves of
Jazzercise. I was hooked and
my owner at the time asked if
I was interested in becoming
an instructor, pregnancy
notwithstanding.”
Certified as a Jazzercise
instructor in 2011, Johnson
decided Jazzercise would be
a great vehicle for those with
multiple health issues. She
considered starting a class
focused on patients who need
a low-impact exercise option.
“While I still believe this—and
have seen the results of this
in current clients—I quickly
realized that I needed to take
time to learn the business of
Jazzercise before opening my
own classes. I was afforded
that opportunity by the
previous owner [of the Decatur
studio], Michele Runge, when
I became first a class manager,
and then the center manager of
our location. Over the years,
she built a good business and
passed the torch to me as
owner in January 2018.”
While she has operated
businesses before, Johnson
said her biggest surprise as
a Jazzercise owner is how
much time is spent on the
“little things.” “I knew I would
spend time on marketing
and promotions and class
schedules, but just as much
time is spent on smaller
tasks such as cleaning touch
ups between classes. My
running joke with myself is
‘Why hasn’t someone done
something about …?’ Then I
realize, ‘Hey, that someone to
resolve the issue is now me.’
“Our center has been in its
current location for 10 years,”
she continued. “Our customers
have become accustomed to a
high degree of excellence in
everything that happens in our
center. With the designation
of Premier Center from
Jazzercise Inc., we have an
added layer of expectations
and deliverables to meet. There
are times when the weight of
what has been entrusted to me
is tremendous.”
Johnson said she has been
pleased with Jazzercise Inc.
as a parent company, noting
that it provides “tremendous
support to its franchise owners.
We are provided guidelines
and training materials on
every topic imaginable. We
receive choregraphed routines
five times per year, marketing
materials for all promotions,
one-on-one support from
our center sales managers,
business navigation training
on social media, etc. If we as
franchise owners determine
a need, corporate works
tirelessly to meet it. I love that
our brand supports so many
women entrepreneurs from
so many walks of life,” she
added.
Locally the Jazzercise
50th anniversary celebration
will include a Community
Business Fair Extravaganza
in May, according to Johnson.
“Businesses from all over Franchise owner Vanita Johnson says she loves that Jazzercise has something for
Atlanta—of all sizes—are everyone no matter the fitness level.
invited to a community
business fair and family fun
day. It will be an amazing clients and a day of fun for charities here in Decatur,” she
opportunity for local business your entire family. A portion said.
owners to market to new of our proceeds will go to
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: CITY OF CHAMBLEE
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Chamblee, Georgia will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February
14, 2019 at the Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341 at 6:00 p.m. to receive public
comments regarding the following matters:
•TA2019-001: The City of Chamblee Georgia proposes to amend the Official City Code of Ordinances,
Appendix A, Unified Development Ordinance, Title 2, Land Use and Zoning, Section 250-21, Dumpsters, to update
regulations for dumpster service near residential uses.
•PZ2018-404: Applicant and Owner: Ryan Egan requests approval of a stream buffer variance from the City
of Chamblee Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 310-19 to allow a sunroom to
encroach the 75-foot no impervious surface and 50-foot stream buffer. The property is located at 3801 Ensign Dr,
being DeKalb County tax parcel 18 324 03 024, and zoned Neighborhood Residential 1.
•PZ2019-402: Applicant: Michael Braddy, Premier Auto Services, INC; Owner: Fusco II, LLC requests
approval of a variance from the City of Chamblee Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Unified Development Ordinance,
Sec. 230-29(b)(3) to allow a motor vehicle-related use and accessory structures to be located on a storefront street;
Sec. 250-2 to provide less than the required number of parking spaces. The property is located at 5640 Peachtree
Blvd, being DeKalb County tax parcel 18 323 03 044, and zoned Corridor Commercial (CC).
•PZ2018-391: Applicant: Vince Riggio, Trinity Development; Owner: Decide DeKalb Development Authority
requests approval of a Development of Community Impact and associated variances for the expansion of an existing
shopping center, from the City of Chamblee Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Unified Development Ordinance,
Sec. 230-27(a)(2) to allow fenestration to be provided for less than 65% of façade; Sec. 230-27(a)(2)(d) to allow
the length of a façade to exceed 20 feet without intervening fenestration. The property is located at 5544 Peachtree
Blvd, being DeKalb County tax parcel 18 308 05 008, and zoned Village Commercial (VC).
LOCAL

AROUNDDeKalb
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 13

BROOKHAVEN DeKalb County School District will

compare their knowledge Jan. 26 at
Daddies get in step with daughters Arabia Mountain High School, 6610
at annual Valentine dance Browns Mill Road in Lithonia.
Each grade level will be asked
Fathers and daughters will have questions from respective book lists in
the chance to spend a special evening a quiz bowl format.
together when Brookhaven’s Parks and Registration for the competition
Recreation Department hosts its annual will begin at 8 a.m. on the same day
Daddy-Daughter Valentine’s Dance at the school.
on Saturday, Feb. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at
Lynwood Park Recreation Center, 3360 Students invited to participate in
Osborne Road. technology fair
The event costs $25 per daddy and
daughter and $5 per extra child. The Tech savvy students throughout
DeKalb County School District are
event is intended for girls ages 5 to
invited to the 2019 DeKalb County
15. To register call (404) 637-0512 or
School District technology fair at
visit the Parks and Recreation online
Elizabeth Andrews High School, 1701
registration site.
Mountain Industrial Boulevard in
Stone Mountain, Jan. 26.
COUNTYWIDE The event will be from 9 a.m.
until 1 p.m. This year’s theme is
DCSD students to compete in 2019 “Digital Dreamers Shine.” In addition,
Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl the technology fair will feature
Techpolooza, a playground where
members have an opportunity to try
out various tools and activities.
Winners from the DCSD tech fair
have the opportunity to compete in
the 2019 Georgia State Tech Fair Mar.
9 in Macon at Middle Georgia State
University.
Find more information on the
DCSD website.
LITHONIA
Church to host community health
fair
Exousia Light House International
will host a free community health
fair Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event is designed to encourage
healthy lifestyles, prevent and
manage disease and connect the
community to resources. There will
be free product samples, snacks and
drinks. The church is located at 2562
Bond Street. For more information,
call (404) 452-5594.
TUCKER
School district to host community
meeting
DeKalb County School District will
provide updates on the construction
of the new Smoke Rise Elementary
School Jan. 29 from 6:30 to 7:30
p.m. The meeting will be held at the
current Smoke Rise Elementary School
at 1991 Silver Hill Road in Stone
Mountain. For more information, visit
www.tuckerga.gov.
STONE MOUNTAIN
Masonic Lodge to host breakfast
Stone Mountain Masonic Lodge will
host its monthly breakfast Feb. 2 from
7:30 to 10 a.m. The breakfast is $7 for all
you can eat. The lodge is located at 840
VFW Drive. For more information, www.
stonemountaincity.org.

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New Jerusalem Adult Day Care is hiring a
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Location is 5721 Miller Grove Road,
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based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status.
SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Super Bowl to feature former
DeKalb football players
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Two former DeKalb County football
players will return home to play in
Super Bowl LIII (53) in Atlanta Feb. 3.
Former Marist quarterback and
current Los Angeles Rams head coach
Sean McVay will coach the Rams in
the Super Bowl and former Columbia
High School tight end Gerald Everett
will play for the Rams. McVay, will be
the youngest NFL coach ever to coach
in a Super Bowl at age 32.
McVay graduated from Marist in
2004. He led the War Eagles to a 14-1
record his senior year, including the
21-6 win over Statesboro in the Class
AAAA title game. He was the first
player in school history to accumulate
1,000 yards rushing and passing
in consecutive seasons. He totaled
2,600 yards rushing and 40 rushing
touchdowns during his high school
career and also passed for 2,500 yards
and 18 touchdowns.
He was hired by the Rams in 2017,
becoming the youngest NFL head
coach at age 30.
WEEKLY BASKETBALL SCORES
Jan. 18
Boys
Chamblee 59, Arabia Mountain 37
Druid Hills 71, Luella 50
Dunwoody 68, Pope 56
Greenforest 88, Landmark Christian 61
Lithonia 57, Clarkston 41
Marist 79, Chestatee 40
Paideia 68, Atlanta International 28
Redan 61, Cedar Grove 48
Southwest DeKalb 52, Miller Grove 51
Stone Mountain 64, Towers 58
Tucker 67, Drew 35
Central Gwinnett 68, Lakeside 52
Grady 51, Decatur 42
Girls
Arabia Mountain 65, Chamblee 49
VISIT US ONLINE THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM
Marist graduate Sean McVay will coach the Los
Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.
McVay graduated from Miami
University (Ohio) where he played
wide receiver from 2004 to 2007,
earning Miami’s Scholar-Athlete
Award in 2007. He entered the
National Football League as an
offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers in 2008.
In 2009, he was the wide receiver
Decatur 41, Grady 39
Lithonia 43, Clarkston 28
Marist 61, Chestatee 42
Paideia 57, Atlanta International 38
Southwest DeKalb 64, Miller Grove 21
Stone Mountain 73, Towers 31
Central Gwinnett 59, Lakeside 45
Drew 48, Tucker 34
Landmark Christian 67, Greenforest 65
Luella 55, Druid Hills 51
Pope 58, Dunwoody 15
Jan. 19
Boys
Druid Hills 71, Clarkston 58
Lakeside 71, Towers 54
Marist 74, Flowery Branch 48
Miller Grove 68, Tucker 63
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 14
Everett was drafted by the Rams in
2017 in the second round (44th overall
pick). He finished the 2018 regular
season with 33 receptions for 320
yards and caught three touchdowns. In
his senior year at Columbia, Everett
finished third on the team in receiving
with 13 receptions for 224 yards and
three touchdowns.
After graduating from Columbia
in 2012, Everett attended Hutchinson
Community College in 2012 and
2013 and the University of Alabama
at Birmingham (UAB) in 2014. After
the UAB football program was shut
down, he transferred to the University
of South Alabama in 2015 and played
Columbia High School graduate Gerald Everett there for two seasons.
will play in the Super Bowl for the Los Angeles In his junior season, he had 41
Rams. receptions for 575 yards and eight
touchdowns and earned first-team All-
coach and quality control coordinator Sun Belt notice. In his senior year, he
for the Florida Tuskers of the now had 49 receptions for 717 yards and
defunct United Football League. four touchdowns.
He returned to the NFL in 2010 The Rams will face the New
as the assistant tight end coach for England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.
Washington. He was promoted to
tight end coach in 2011 and was
Washington’s offensive coordinator in
2014.
McNair 65, Cross Keys 17
Chattahoochee 96, Dunwoody 75
Carver 68, M.L. King 64
Grayson 64, Stephenson 46
Landmark Christian 90, Paideia 48
Girls
Druid Hills 44, Clarkston 28
Dunwoody 58, Chattahoochee 43
Lakeside 74, Towers 5
M.L. King 81, Carver 24
Paideia 63, Landmark Christian 44
Flowery Branch 64, Marist 48
Grayson 68, Stephenson 67
SPORTS
BASKETBALL
PLAYER PROFILE
KADARIUS “KD” JOHNSON
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Southwest DeKalb junior
guard Kadarius “KD”
Johnson came into the 2018-
19 basketball season focused
on being a better team leader.
His leadership skills are
paying off as the county-
leading scorer has helped
the No. 3-ranked Southwest
DeKalb Panthers be one of
the top 10 best teams in Class
AAAAA. Johnson is averaging
23.5 points, 5.3 assists and 4.5
steals per game. The Panthers
are 16-6 as of Jan. 21 and at
the top of region 5-AAAAA.
Johnson said improving his
leadership skills helped him
become a better team leader
and player.
“I really wanted to be a
great teammate and get my
teammates more involved,” he
said. I wanted to lead the team
in every aspect, so we can go
further in our season.”
His leadership was put to
the test when the team lost a
player due to transferring and
junior guard Eugene Brown
III after a leg injury four
games into the season. Johnson
said Brown’s injury brought
the team closer.
“We just stuck [together] as
a team,” he said. “We used that
as a motivation factor. We said
we were going to [win] for
[Brown] and to get going, and
right now it’s been good.”
NEXT
LEVEL
Each week The Champion spotlights
former high school players from the
county who are succeeding in athletics
on the college level.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 15
Southwest DeKalb guard Kadarius “KD”
Johnson leads the county in scoring.
Photo by Carla Parker
Johnson’s biggest game
of the season so far was Jan.
8 against Clarkston where he
scored a season-high 41 points,
leading the Panthers to a 78-60
win. Johnson said he did not
plan to score that many points
that day.
“I was on that day, so my
coach just let me loose,” he
said.
According to 247Sports.
com, Johnson is considered a
4-star recruit and is ranked the
fourth best player in the state
in the 2020 recruiting class.
He has received college offers
from Florida, Florida State, KD Johnson scored 20 points against Lithonia Dec. 4. Photo by Mark Brock
Georgia, Georgia Tech, James
Madison, Mississippi State
team to have a family-type teammates are not looking far can come in and beat you
and Ohio State. Johnson said atmosphere, so we can all be ahead but are focusing on the unexpectantly,” he said. “So,
his selection of a college team
together and on one accord.” game in front of them we like to take games one by
will come down to the type of With the region tournament “[We’re] taking games one, so we can make sure we
coach the team has.
and state playoffs around the step by step because if you get the seeding we can get.”
“He has to be a player’s corner, Johnson said he and his look over games, a team
coach,” he said. “I want the
Kevon Harris, Stephen F. Austin Alterique Gilbert, Connecticut Daisa Alexander, Auburn
(basketball): The junior guard/ (basketball): The sophomore (basketball): The junior guard
forward from M.L. King led the guard from Miller Grove scored from Southwest DeKalb
team in scoring with 25 points in 12 points in the 87-71 win over scored 14 points in the 70-72
the 74-71 win against Incarnate Tulane Jan. 19. win over Vanderbilt Jan. 17.
Word Jan. 19.
LOCAL
DUNWOODY
Not all heroes wear tights and capes
Crime fighting residents celebrated
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Two Dunwoody residents prove that
heroes aren’t just in comic books or feature
films as Dunwoody gave special recognition
for their crime fighting during a Jan. 14 city
council meeting.
Craig Charles Dowling and Kevin
Addison were presented with citizen
commendation awards by Dunwoody Police
Chief Billy Grogan at Dunwoody City
Hall.
Dowling chased a man who snatched
a wallet from a resident at a local Publix
grocery store Nov. 8. Dowling held the
alleged thief until Dunwoody Police
Detective Jared Bradley arrived to take the
suspect into custody.
The victim’s property was returned.
Addison, who was presented his award
by Councilwoman Pam Tallmadge and
Grogan is a 37-year U.S. Postal Service
employee who also helped to catch a thief.
Addison noticed unusual mail holds
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2019 • Page 16
along his 15-year routine route in
Dunwoody late last year. He then alerted his
supervisors.
Dunwoody Police investigated,
conducted a sting and arrested a suspect
on charges, including identity theft. Police
were able to identify an additional three
victims because of Addison’s actions.
Tallmadge lives in the neighborhood
Kevin Addison, center, was celebrated at a recent Dunwoody city council meeting for catching a thief.
targeted by the suspect.
“We are very fortunate that Kevin knows
us all very well and watches out for us,”
Tallmadge said. “I have story after story of
Kevin going beyond the call of duty.”
“Since the creation of the Dunwoody
Police Department in 2009, we have made
it a priority to work in close partnership
with the residents and businesses to provide
a safe and secure environment,” said
Dunwoody Police Sgt. Robert Parsons.
“These two extraordinary acts highlight
how by working closely together, the
Dunwoody Police Department and those we
serve can reduce crime and bring offenders
Craig Dowling, left, and Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan, right, pose for a picture after Dowling was
to justice,” Parsons added. presented an award for catching a thief. Photos provided by the city of Dunwoody