the DeKalb FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • VOL.

24, NO 25 • 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

YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN SALSA COMPETITION

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

T
hings got a little spicy
in the kitchen as a
local boys and girls
program sent four members to
participate in a salsa competition
at Georgia Tech’s Student
Success Center July 17.
The Salsa, Salsa competition
featured young chefs from
approximately 20 boys and
girls clubs from across the state,
including the Samuel L. Jones
Boys and Girls Club in Decatur,
to see who could make the best
salsa.
The competition was created
to show children alternative
and healthy ways of eating,
according to a Boys and Girls
Club spokesperson. According
to the Boys and Girls Club of Michaela Olufeso, Rubie Taylor, Autumn Lockwood and Aaron Siller participated in the annual Salsa, Salsa competition at Georgia Tech July 17.
America, Georgia has the third
highest number of overweight
children in the country.
“Through gardening
programs and cooking programs,
we teach children the importance
of healthy choices. Salsa,
Salsa teaches children about
ownership and responsibility
and overseeing the plants being
watered that will be used in the
competition,” said Boys and
Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
Marketing and Communications
Director Adrienne Leon.
Competitors must use
ingredients grown in their
own club garden, according to
Leon. Each club’s salsa was
judged based on taste, aroma,
consistency, presentation
and originality by a group of
panelists who include chefs,
restaurant owners and fitness
professionals.
Leon said it’s great to see the
Boys and Girls Club of Metro
Atlanta support initiatives that
will help benefit children beyond
the program.

SEE SALSA ON PAGE 6

The Samuel L. Jones Boys and Girls Club in Decatur participated in the Salsa, Salsa competition at Georgia Tech’s Student Success Center July 17.

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

LOCAL
A BP gas station and store that was included in the a
recent Dunwoody police alcohol bust. Photo by Taylor
Robins.
Businesses
busted for
selling alcohol
to minors
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
The Dunwoody Police Department
and the Georgia Department of
Revenue recently conducted an
operation to uncover alcohol sales to
minors in Dunwoody.
The operation was an effort to
reduce underage drinking. A total of 13
locations were checked; four of which
were confirmed to have sold alcohol to
minors.
“The Dunwoody Police Department
regularly uses alcohol sales compliance
checks as a tool in our efforts to reduce
underage drinking and the many issues
that stem from it,” Dunwoody officials
said in a statement.
The four locations were Perimeter
Bottle Shop─4719 Ashford Dunwoody
Road, Dunwoody Beverage─1418
Dunwoody Village Parkway, Mini
Food Mart─6890 Peachtree Industrial
Blvd. and BP─4368 North Peachtree
Road.
The individuals who sold alcohol
to minors were cited and face sanctions
from the Georgia Department of
Revenue.
Businesses that were checked
that did not sell alcohol to minors
were Total Wine─124 Perimeter
Center West, Exxon─77 Perimeter
Center East, BP─5418 Chamblee
Dunwoody Road, Chevron─5465
Chamblee Dunwoody Road,
Chevron─4249 Dunwoody Club
Drive, Cheveron─6900 Peachtree
Industrial Blvd., Shell─4479 Chamblee
Dunwoody Road, Shell─5020 Winters
Chapel Road and Dunwoody Food
Mart─4639 North Shallowford Road.
“The Dunwoody Police Department
would like to commend each of these
businesses for working to protect our
community and keep our youth safe
and sober,” said Dunwoody officials in
a statement.
The renovation project is expected to be completed within six to eight
months.
DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond gives remarks during the
groundbreaking ceremony.
DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw swings a sledgehammer along with DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond DeKalb County Public Library
into a wall at Stone Mountain Sue-Kellogg Library to kick off the Director Alison Weissinger helped kicked of the renovation project at Stone Mountain
renovation project.
Renovation project underway
at Stone Mountain Library
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County, Stone
Mountain and DeKalb County
Public Library officials along with
supporters of Stone Mountain
Sue-Kellogg Library held a
groundbreaking ceremony July
29 to kick off renovations to the
library.
The $1.2 million renovation
project, which was approved
by DeKalb County Board of
Commissioners, is expected to
be completed within six to eight
months. The renovation contract
was awarded to C.T. Darnell
Construction.
DeKalb County Public Library
Director Alison Weissinger said
the outside of the library isn’t
going to change much.
“It’s going to get cleaned up,
the little porch on the side is going
to get removed and we’re going
to tidy up the landscape, but most
of the work is going to happen on
the inside,” she said. “There will
be functioning air conditioning,
there will be LED lighting so
the building itself will be much
brighter and fresher looking.”
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 2
DeKalb County Commissioners Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, left, and Steve Bradshaw,
Sue-Kellogg Library.
The restrooms will also be
redone, and a family restroom will
be added. There also will be new
carpet and more space for staff.
Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg
Library was built in the 1960s.
Before the renovation project was
approved in 2017, the library was
threatened with being closed and
sold to cover costs of a proposed
new library in Wade Walker Park.
The proposal was brought forth
by former commissioner Sharon
Barnes Sutton.
Mike Cooper, president
of Friends of Stone Mountain-
Sue Kellogg Library, said he
persistently pointed out to the
county that since Wade Walker
Park was protected greenspace the
county could not build a library
there without permission from the
federal government.
“A state liaison officer
eventually came to a county
commission meeting and told the
county they could not proceed,”
Cooper said.
After District 4 Commissioner
Steve Bradshaw took office in
2017, he said he discovered that
$4 million had been previously
set aside in a capital improvement
program fund to build a new
library in Wade Walker Park.
“While the discovery of this
money was very welcoming, the
plan for its allocation struck me as
problematic,” he said.
Bradshaw said $4 million was
not enough to build a new library
and county officials would have
been searching for augmentation
funds to cover the rest of the cost.
He said the proposed site at Wade
Walker Park is grant restricted,
meaning the county would have
faced legal challenges to get a
library built on the site.
“We have existing libraries
in this district and in this county
that would benefit from some
attention,” Bradshaw said. “And
Sue Kellogg is obviously one of
those libraries. So given these
challenges, I made the decision
to reprogram that $4 million-CIP
fund.”
On June 13, 2017, DeKalb
County Board of Commission
approved Bradshaw’s request
to dedicate $1.2 million of the
$4 million to cover renovation
costs at Sue-Kellogg Library. The
remaining money is allocated to
other libraries in District 4.
SEE LIBRARY ON PAGE 15
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 3

COUNTYWIDE

DeKalb police attempt to

address break-in spike off cars and keeping keys in
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN view. Don’t make it easy for
horace@dekalbchamp.com them.” their pockets or purse while
In January, DeKalb pumping gas. Jordan also
Police officials also warned said residents can protect
According to police
residents of “slider” crimes. themselves from crime by
reports, two roommates had
Slider crimes happen when investing in a home security
their cars broken into in
a motorist gets out of his or system with cameras and
their driveway days apart,
her vehicle and leaves the motion sensors. 
with more than $400 in
door unlocked, typically at
cash stolen from one of the DeKalb County Police officials are asking residents to be aware and help prevent car
a gas station while pumping
vehicles. Another victim break-ins and “slider” crimes.
gas, and the thief will
had her car broken into and
“slide” into the car and take
valuables stolen. A few days
items or the car.  CALL FOR AND NOTICE OF ELECTION
later the suspects returned
On July 10, a man was CITY OF DECATUR BOARD OF EDUCATION OFFICE
and stole her car.
caught on surveillance
The rash of break-ins are
camera at a gas station in
part of an ongoing trend in NOVEMBER 5, 2019 SPECIAL ELECTION
DeKalb pepper spraying a
criminal activity, according
victim while he pumped gas
to DeKalb County Police TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, WITHIN
before stealing the victim’s
officials. DeKalb County
vehicle.   DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA:
Police South Precinct Major
The crimes are classified
Danny Jordan said it’s YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on the 5th day of November 2019, a
as entering auto or a motor
important for community special election will be held to fill the unexpired term of At-Large Board
vehicle theft. Jordan said
members and individuals to of Education Member Annie Caiola who resigned from office effective the
there have been a few
stay vigilant.  1st of August 2019.
“slider” crimes in DeKalb,
“When I start to
including the theft of a Each candidate will file notice of his or her candidacy and the appropriate af-
see certain trends I get
county employee’s vehicle fidavit in the office of the Election Superintendent at City Hall, 509 North Mc-
concerned and I know we
at a gas station.  Donough Street, Decatur, Georgia. The opening dates for qualifying will start
can prevent a lot of this
Jordan said social media Monday, August 19, 2019 beginning at 8:30 A.M., and continuing until Wednes-
stuff,” Jordan said. 
has had an effect on crime day August 21, 2019 at 4:30 P.M. The qualifying fee for Board of Education
In the past, thieves
trends as well. He said members is $35.00.
would see valuable items
criminals may pick up an
in a car and break into Registration for voting in the November 5, 2019 election will cut off on Tuesday,
idea from videos they have
the vehicle, Jordan said. October 7, 2019.
seen on the West Coast and
Now, criminals are going
bring it to the metro area. 
to heavily populated areas The Special Election will be held at the following polling locations within the
“If a trend is happening
such as malls and breaking City of Decatur :
on the West Coast, it used
into 15 to 20 cars at one
to take a couple years to Election District District: Polling Place for Election
time and stealing whatever
[make it] to the metro area. Clairemont East 1 First Baptist Church of Decatur,
they can. 
Now we’re seeing people 308 Clairemont Ave
“We have to go back to
start doing it in Georgia in a Clairemont West 1 The Church at Decatur Heights,
a common-sense approach.
matter of days. Social media 735 Sycamore Drive
This has to be a shared
has changed the dynamics Glenwood Precinct 1&2 Holy Trinity Parish,
responsibility,” Jordan said. 515 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
of crime,” Jordan said. 
“We need the community Oakhurst 2 Oakhurst Baptist Church,
Jordan said DeKalb
to take ownership and take 222 E. Lake Dr.
residents should continue to
responsibility. Don’t leave Ponce De Leon 1&2 First Christian Church of Decatur,
put valuable materials out
valuable things in plain 601 W. Ponce de Leon Ave
of sight as well as turning
Renfroe 2 Renfroe Middle School,
(subject to change) 220 W. College Ave.
PUBLIC NOTICE Winnona Park 2 Winnona Park Elementary School,
510 Avery St.
The City of Stone Mountain will hold a general
municipal election for three (3) Council Member Those residents qualified to vote at said election shall be determined in
seats on November 5, 2019 for four-year terms. all respects in accordance with the election laws of the State of Georgia.
All persons desiring to run for any of these offices
shall qualify at City Hall located at 875 Main Street, For the November 5, 2019 General Municipal Election, Early Voting will open
Stone Mountain, GA, 30083. The qualifying period 22 days prior to the Election (October 14, 2019). All Advance Voting (Ab-
shall begin on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 and end sentee in person) will be held at 4380 Memorial Drive. Questions concerning
on Thursday, August 22, 2019. Qualifying will be absentee voting, early voting or voter registration should be directed to DeKalb
conducted during the hours of 8:30am – 4:30pm County Elections Division at 404-298-4020.
daily during the qualifying period. The qualifying
fee for the office of Council Member will be $108.00. The Decatur City Commission gives notice this 15th day of July 2019.
The qualifying fee must be paid during the qualifying
period.
OPINION
‘We just want to fight’
The personal attacks, assumptions
and vitriol that many see and read on
social media pale in comparison to what
is going on in our nation’s capital among
those elected to serve the public.
It seems that some of our elected
officials on both sides of the aisle have
reached a point where there is more
emphasis on condemning and ridiculing
others than there is on governing for the
people and acting in the best interest of
our country.
The latest firestorm began July 14
when President Donald Trump began
tweeting messages that many believe are
about freshmen members of the U. S.
House of Representatives Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan
Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib
of Michigan and Ayanna S. Pressley
of Massachusetts. All but Omar, who is
originally from Somalia, are natural born
citizens of the United States.
Trump suggested that if they are
unhappy with America that they should
go back to where they came from. “Why
don’t they go back and help fix the
totally broken and crime infested places
from which they came. Then come
back and show us how it is done.” He
continued with “These places need your
help badly; you can’t leave fast enough.
I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be
very happy to quickly work out free
travel arrangements!”
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#ItsInTheChampion
Political implosion at the national level
John Hewitt
johnh@dekalbchamp.com
In response to Trump’s tweets, the
House on July 16 voted to condemn
Trump’s comments by labeling the
remarks as racist. But discussions of
the president’s comments quickly took
an ugly turn as members of the House
began attacking each other.
As members of the House debated
the issue, Pelosi said, “Every single
member of this institution, Democratic
and Republican, should join us in
condemning the president’s racist
tweets.”
House majority leader Steny H.
Hoyer then announced that the House
parliamentarian had ruled that Pelosi’s
comments were out of order and should
not be used in the debate. As a result,
Pelosi’s comments were struck from the
official record and she was not allowed
to comment or further participate in the
debate.
Later during the debate, Democratic
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, who was
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 4
presiding over the debate, challenged
Pelosi’s comments, saying “We aren’t
ever, ever going to pass up, it seems, an
opportunity to escalate, and that’s what
this is. We want to just fight.”
Cleaver then said, “I abandon the
chair” and left.
Prior to the blowup in the House
chamber, Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez had
a war of words over Pelosi’s comments
that Ocasio-Cortez said targeted women
of color. Pelosi was quoted in the The
New York Times as saying “All these
people have their public whatever and
their Twitter world. But they didn’t have
any following. They’re four people and
that’s how many votes they got.”
Pelosi did not reference specific
individuals, but many believe the
comments were directed toward Ocasio-
Cortez, Omar, Tlaib and Pressley for
their use of Twitter.
Ocasio-Cortez responded to Pelosi’s
comment in an interview with the Wash-
ington Post saying, “When these com-
ments first started, I kind of thought that
she was keeping the progressive flank
at more of an arm’s distance in order to
protect more moderate members, which
I understood,” Ocasio-Cortez continued
her criticism of Pelosi’s comment with
“But the persistent singling out—it got
to a point where it was just outright dis-
respectful—the explicit singling-out of
newly elected women of color.”
In response to the verbal discourse
between Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez, a
member of the Congressional Black
Caucus criticized Ocasio-Cortez and
accused her of “using the race card”
for suggesting that Pelosi was “singling
out” women of color to criticize, accord-
ing to Politico.com.
While the game of politics often
pits Democrats and Republicans against
each other in public displays of power
struggles, we now have political infight-
ing among members of the same politi-
cal party with topics such as race and age
seemingly taking center stage.
When Trump announced his candi-
dacy, it was suggested that the elector-
ate should buckle up for what would
undoubtedly be a bumpy ride. That pre-
diction was accurate then and possibly
will be just as accurate for the upcoming
2020 election cycle.
There is a positive side to all of
this, however. I would venture to guess
that the average American is now pay-
ing more attention to the goings on in
Washington than we have in decades. It
is good for the public to see this kind of
behavior by elected officials. Perhaps we
will all recall the ugliness and vote in a
new president and a new set of members
of Congress and the House of Represen-
tatives.
OPINION
“It wasn’t a single attempt. They’re
doing it as we sit here. And they
expect to do it during the next
campaign. ...I hope this is not the
new normal. I fear it is,” former
Special Counsel and FBI Director
Robert Mueller, regarding Russian
election interference attempts,
during his U.S. House testimony on
7/24/2019.
Robert Mueller wrapped up his
nearly four decades of service to
our nation with a less than glorious
farewell appearance on July 24,
before two U.S. House committees,
answering their queries about his
Special Counsel Report on Russian
interference attempts throughout the
2016 presidential election.
Some view Mueller as a patriot
and war hero, with two Bronze
Stars and a Purple Heart among
many honors from his Vietnam era
service in the Marines, or his later
work as a U.S. attorney, deputy
attorney general and F.B.I. director,
appointed and then re-appointed by
three very different presidents from
both major political parties. Others
see a biased partisan tool of
congressional Democrats and/or the
Democratic Party, and still others
see something in between.
Regardless, Mueller’s track
record, accomplishments and
career legacy include the successful
prosecution of former Panamanian
dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega,
the Libyan terrorists responsible
for the Pan Am Flight 103
(Lockerbie bombing) and John
Gotti, crime boss of the Gambino
family. Mueller was unanimously
confirmed (98-0) as FBI director,
following his nomination by
President George H. W. Bush in
July 2001, despite a then deeply
divided Senate.
Mueller also revealed what is a
well-known "secret" in Washington,
D.C., despite his name being atop
the 450-plus page tome delivered
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 5
Mulling on Mueller longer in office, who has previously Congress during the 1984 Iran-
‘One Man’s committed potential crimes, may
later be further investigated or
Contra hearings, when Reagan’s
most repeated phrase was “I don’t
Opinion’ prosecuted. There goes that White recall.” Hopefully, just as Reagan’s
House Christmas card list for 2020. full record, highs and lows, are
Bill Crane But sadly, America tends to now more fully viewed in context,
bill.csicrane@gmail.com focus on the flubs more often than Mueller can hope that historians and
the hard news. When being served the long view may later give him
up a low-inside softball, to further similar perspective. But in the near
to the U.S. attorney general in late
establish Mueller’s conservative term, he can expect more mockery
March 2019, he clearly didn’t write,
credentials, a GOP congressman, and comparison to the backbone
or possibly even read every word. In
after reciting his sterling military and consistency of the famed pasta
the view of some, he may not have
service record, smiled and asked which shares his name, and we all
even read his own report closely.
Mueller which U.S. president know what happens to overcooked
But Mueller should have
appointed him assistant U.S. pasta. It devolves into rubbery,
expected questions about the
attorney in the hard-left leaning sticky mush. Bob Mueller deserves
legal meaning of collusion and
state of Massachusetts. Mueller better.
its similarity in lay language to
first bobbled the ball, asking “Do
the legal term of conspiracy, as
you mean which senator?” Before Bill Crane also serves as a
the special counsel often made
starring into space and guessing political analyst and commentator
points on such finer distinctions in
that the answer was President for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-
the rule of law, as well as Justice
George Bush (without specifying AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
Department standing policy, so that
which Bush). The congressman, FM, as well as a columnist for The
he not conclude his second report
unprepared for this memory Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
–focused on potential obstruction
gap himself, swallowed, smiled Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
of justice concerns, with a nonlegal
nervously and said, “According to native and business owner, living
term such as exonerate.
my records, you were appointed by in Scottdale. You can reach him
And based on the ground rules
President Ronald Reagan.” Oops. or comment on a column at bill.
securing Mueller’s appearance and
I was reminded of Reagan’s own csicrane@gmail.com.
testimony, the skilled lawyer and
troubled video testimony before
bureaucrat gave himself a series
of outs. Mueller did not answer,
replied he did not recall or was
unaware, or suggested the answer to
a questioning member’s probe was
"in the report"...more than 200 times
during six hours of testimony. And
though I’m not a daily C-SPAN
watcher, I’ve sat through a few
decades of congressional hearings
and can remember no other witness
simply saying, “pass,” when
encountering a question, he did not
like or chose not to answer. For a
moment I thought I was watching
an old episode of The $64,000
Pyramid.
Mueller stuck to his report and
seldom veered from its conclusions,
and yet despite his long-known
preference for the GOP, he clearly
does not like the current president.
He responded to one congressional
query, asked several times,
regarding whether a president no
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LOCAL
Board to consider improvements at ‘confusing’ intersection
Decatur commissioners will consider a redesign of Atlanta Avenue during an Aug. 5
commission meeting.
Cars navigate around the Atlanta Avenue railroad crossing. Some residents said the
crossing is “absolutely confusing.”
SALSA Continued From Page 1A
“Knowing that we’re
doing all we can as an
organization to provide
kids with skills that will
help them outside of the
classroom gives us a sense
of purpose,” Leon said. “We
know the kids are taking
these skills home to their
family and incorporating
healthier habits.”
Samuel L. Jones Boys
and Girls Club members
Autumn Lockwood,
Michaela Olufeso, Rubie
Taylor, and Aaron Siller
participated in the Salsa,
Salsa competition with their
corn salsa recipe.
“We decided to do
corn salsa because in the
previous years of Salsa,
Salsa we had never seen
anyone do a corn salsa
recipe,” Olufeso said.
Taylor said the recipe
turned out to be a big hit at
the competition.
“It was really good,”
said Taylor. “I never liked
corn, but when I tasted the
corn salsa, I loved it so
much.”
The A Worley Brown
Boys and Girls Club in
Norcross was crowned the
winner of the competition
with a Spicy Sweet Salsa
Like Us recipe. As part
of the prize package, the
recipe will be featured at a
local Willy’s restaurant this
summer, according to boys
and girls club officials.
Despite not winning the
competition, Lockwood said
the team had fun working
together. She said she
enjoys being a part of the
girls and boys club.
“I really love all
the activities we do and
participating in events
like this,” Lockwood said.
“We’re not bored [during
the summer]. My favorites
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 6
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN scope of the project. Decatur High School and
horace@dekalbchamp.com “We started out with 4/5 Academy at Fifth
a bunch of great ideas Avenue, are located in close
After years of planning, and a bunch of proposed proximity to the Atlanta
months of open house alternatives and we have Avenue crossing.
meetings and community narrowed it down,” Saxon “We heard from the
input sessions, Decatur said. “This is the end of community to keep an
city officials said they the beginning. We are just eye on Olympic Place
plan to present a formal arriving at a point where we and a number of other
recommendation for the have a concept we’d like to people articulating that it’s
redesign of the Atlanta propose.” dangerous to get out of
Avenue railroad crossing to Saxon said the Adair Street,” Landis said.
Decatur commissioners at an challenging part of the “We’ve looked at having
Aug. 5 commission meeting. project will be getting better traffic safety.”
Some residents different stakeholders on the Landis said the most
have called the crossing same page. Decatur must efficient design would
“absolutely confusing” while get approval from CSX,
include extending Adair
others said it poses a threat which owns the railroad Street.
to public safety. tracks at the crossing, and “Some of the benefits
The project, which the Georgia Department of would be simplifying the
is being managed by Transportation. traffic movements and
Landis-Evans & Partners, Bruce Landis of Landis- reducing signal delay. This
is expected to cost Evans & Partners said the is one of the best in terms
approximately $5 million. proposed improvements of efficiency and it will
Funding for the project include reducing signal allow for plenty of right
would come from proceeds delays, simplifying turn [space] for eastbound
from the Special Purpose intersection geometry, Howard traffic,” Landis said.
Local Option Sales Tax. prioritizing traffic calming, The formal
Decatur hopes to begin improving access at Olympic recommendation is expected
construction of the project in Place and Adair Street and to be presented at the Aug.
2020. maintaining traffic flow 5 meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Decatur Deputy City during peak hours. Residents will be allowed
Manager Hugh Saxon spoke Landis also said to make public comments
to commissioners during a pedestrian and student safety before a decision is made by
commission meeting July 15 is a priority for the project. commissioners.
and provided updates on the Renfroe Middle School,
Samuel L. Jones Boys and Girls Club members created a corn salsa for the Salsa, Salsa competition at Georgia Tech.
are the cooking club and activities at the boys and we have a big field so we
talent shows.” girls club includes soccer. can run around and play,”
Siller said his favorite “My favorite part is that Siller said.

CLARKSTON
Positive Growth Inc. hosted the second annual Mental Health Symposium July 26 at the KD Moore Community Audience members at the mental health symposium asked mental health professionals questions.
Center in Clarkston.
Symposium tackles complexity of mental health and minorities
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com and collaborated with more
For many minorities
throughout the country,
there is a stigma associated
with seeking help for mental
health issues, according to
mental health professionals
at the second annual Positive
Growth Inc: Mental Health
Symposium July 26 at the
KD Moore Community
Center in Clarkston.
The second annual
symposium, titled “Minority
Mental Health Matters,”
included panel discussions,
workshops and resources
geared toward breaking
the stigma of mental health
among people of color.  mately 100 parking spaces, covered drop-off area with main entrance, service en-
According to
Mental Health America,
approximately one in five
adults in the United States
experiences a mental
health issue. Black adults
in America are 20 percent
more likely to experience
mental health issues than
the rest of the population,
according to the National
Alliance on Mental Illness. 
Kimberly Beira, clinical
director of Positive Growth
Inc., said the event gives
minorities an opportunity to
discuss sensitive topics. 
“This has been an issue
that sometimes people are
not comfortable talking
about. We have to have an
open conversation,” Beira
said. “We want to continue
doing this.”
Beira said in the second
year of the symposium,
Positive Growth Inc was
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 7
able to bring more health imperative that minority I’m dressed [in a burka] and we come together,” Ahmed
professionals to the event communities come together.  they think it’s a barrier. We said. 
“People see the way that break down barriers when
community leaders. 
“We hope this event
allows people to take care
of their mental health
and allows them to feel
comfortable to go out and
seeking help,” Beira said. Proposed Substantial Amendment to the 2014-2018
Consolidated Plan, including the
The symposium included
2018 Annual Action Plan
five workshops featuring
Districts 4 & 7 Community and Senior Center
topics such as mental
health among refugees,
DeKalb County is proposing to amend to the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan, including
generational trauma, self-
the 2018 Annual Action Plan for the Districts 4 & 7 Community and Senior Center. The
care and communication
Community Development Department seeks to utilize $300,000 in 2018 CDBG Pro-
skills.  gram Income to complete the architecture, engineering and design of the new com-
Panelist Asha Ahmed, munity and senior center.
who began working with
the Center for Torture and The proposed 24,000 sq. ft. Community and Senior Center with pool will provide a
modern, state of the art facility that is aesthetically pleasing to the community and
Trauma Surviors in 2005,
meet the needs of Districts #4 & #7 residents. The site shall accommodate approxi-
said it is important for
refugees to be included in trance, landscaping, pedestrian plaza and pool.
the conversation of mental
health among minorities.  The construction of the project will be funded from a HUD Section 108 Loan that was
awarded to DeKalb County. The project is projected to be
 Research from the
completed by spring, 2021.
International Journal of
Health Services concluded All citizens are invited to view the proposed substantial amendment to this program
minority youth are less from August 1, 2019 to August 30, 2019 on the DeKalb County Community Develop-
likely to seek professional ment website, https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/community-development/public-
help for mental health notices
issues. 
DeKalb County Community Development Department
Ahmed, who is also a
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 401, Decatur, Georgia 30030
refugee, said her community (404) 371-2727
can be overlooked at times Fax: (404) 371-2742
during discussions of mental Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
health.
Comment forms may be obtained and completed at the above listed location.
“Mostly if you’re in
Comments may also be faxed or emailed to the
America, people think of Community Development Department.
minorities as just Black Email: bhcamp@dekalbcountyga.gov
Americans,” Ahmed
said. “But there are other
minorities such as refugees.
They need these types of
conversations because they
WE ARE SOCIAL @DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
are the ones who need this
type of help to break the
stigma.”
Ahmed said it is
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 8

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office hosted the 10th annual Community Day with the Sheriff at Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center in Stone Mountain. Photos by Sheriff’s Office

Children line up for free pizza at sheriff’s office event. DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Major Akies speaks to a group of children during the
10th annual Community Day with the Sheriff.

Public safety officials prepare to distribute backpacks to children at the 10th annual Community
Day with the Sheriff.

Community and law

enforcement unite BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

DeKalb County students had the opportunity to bond with local law enforcement
agencies during an annual back-to-school event July 19. 
The 10th annual “Community Day with the Sheriff” was held at Stars and Strikes
Entertainment Center in Stone Mountain. Children from kindergarten through high
school played games, bowled and ate pizza with officials from the sheriff’s office,
marshal’s department and juvenile justice department. 
“The event was created to help foster positive relationships between law
enforcement and young people, and we certainly achieved that goal once again this
year,” said DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann. 
Each student participating in the event also received a backpack filled with school DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Major Crosby plays a few games with children during a back to school
supplies for the upcoming school year.  event.
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

Nonprofit Chris 180 hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Center of Excellence in DeKalb County. Photos by DeKalb County T.V.

The city of Brookhaven joined forces with The Salvation Army to help the homeless near Peachtree DeKalb County recycling containers at the Dunwoody Library are for glass. The library has shared photos of
Creek Greenway ease back into a stable housing environment. Shown here is an ‘urban camp’ along materials that have been illegally dumped on the property. Mixed paper recycling is available at Brook Run
Peachtree Creek under North Druid Hills Road. Photo provided by the city of Brookhaven. Park. Residents should use curbside pickup for single-stream recycling. Photo provided by the city of Dunwoody
Twitter.

If you would like to see your photo added to our Week in Pictures
page, send high resolution photos to horace@dekalbchamp.com.
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

LOCAL
LITHONIA
New greenspace, historic
gateway opens in Lithonia
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
A small plot of land in
Lithonia that once housed
an abandoned building is
now a memorial garden
filled with historic facts
about the city.
Arabia Mountain
Heritage Area Alliance
along with officials from
DeKalb County and
Lithonia unveiled the
Martha Johnson Interpretive
Garden July 26. The garden
is located on Wiggins Street
next to Lithonia Women’s
Club. The garden features
signage that celebrates
Lithonia’s history, from
the woman’s club to civic
leaders such as Lucious
Sanders, to the growth of
the quarry industry and
serves as a historic gateway
Sen. Steve Henson will not seek re-election
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
State Sen. Steve Henson
(District 41) is ready to
hang up his senate hat.
Henson, a Democrat,
told The Champion that he
will not seek re-election
after his term ends in
January 2021. He has served
in Georgia’s senate for 23
years. He was first elected in
1991 to represent District 55
and served until 1998 when
he ran for Georgia labor
commissioner.
He lost in the
Democratic primary run-
off and was elected back
into the senate in 2002
to represent District 41.
He was elected as senate
minority leader in 2011.
Henson said he won’t seek
re-election in 2020 because
to the Arabia Mountain
National Heritage Area.
The garden is named
after the late Dr. Martha
Johnson, a botanist who
taught at Georgia State
University and conducted
studies at Arabia Mountain.
Arabia Alliance Executive
Director Mera Cardenas
said the garden would not
have been possible without
the vision and dedication of
people over a long period of
time.
“[The property] had
long been abandoned and
Dr. Martha Johnson’s family
donated the original land
for the Lithonia Women’s
Club,” Cardenas said.
“[Johnson] had expressed
her desire for this spot
to become a community
garden after her death.”
Through the coordinated
efforts of Arabia
wants to focus on other
aspects of his life.
“I need to focus on my
other job, and I want to
focus on making sure we
elect Democrats statewide,”
Henson said. “Between that
and family life I found it
very challenging to spend
the time I need to do a
good job in the senate. So, I
decided it was time to hang
up that hat.”
Henson is an
administrator for seven
southeast states for a labor
union’s training program.
He said when he was first
elected to the senate, he
worked with two states—
Georgia and South Carolina.
“Last September, I got
two more states—Louisiana
and Mississippi. So, over
the years it has grown into
more and more work and
it’s tough,” Henson said.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 10
Alliance board member Officials from Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, DeKalb County and Lithonia cut
Kelly Jordan and The a ribbon to celebrate the opening of the garden. Photos by Carla Parker
Conservation Fund, Johnson
donated the property
through her estate.
“At the same time,
the Arabia Alliance had
a vision,” Cardenas said.
“We had accepted the
stewardship of the Lithonia
Women’s Club many years
ago and we wanted to create
a place that could both
welcome visitors to the city
of Lithonia and share this
city’s dynamic history.”
The garden features signage that celebrates Lithonia’s history.
Lithonia Mayor
Deborah Jackson said
the project has been in the
works for many years and
it’s exciting to see it come
to fruition.
“Often, many of us
have an opportunity to go
to community meetings,
we share ideas about things
we want to see, the plan is
SEE GREENSPACE ON PAGE 16 The garden is named after the late Dr. Martha Johnson, a botanist who taught at
Georgia State University and did studies at Arabia Mountain.
Notice for Setting Qualifying Fees for
November 5, 2019 General Election
Per the City Charter, the Council has staggered four-year
terms. The terms for the Mayor and Council Districts 2
and 4 will expire at the administration of office of his or
her successor elected in the General Municipal Election
on November, 5, 2019 as provided in Section 2.01 of the
City Charter.
The qualifying fees for Council Districts 2 and 4 are set
at $450 and for Mayor at $600. The fees are 3% of the
total gross salary of the preceding year (Georgia Election
Code 21-2-131 (a) (1) (A). Qualifying for the November
5, 2019 General Municipal Election will be held at
the Stonecrest City Hall, 3120 Stonecrest Boulevard,
Stonecrest, GA 30038 on Wednesday, August 21, 2019,
Thursday, August 22, and Friday, August 23, 2019.
The hours of qualifying shall be between the hours of
9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
(Georgia Election Code 21-2-132 (d)(3). Each candidate
shall file a notice of candidacy in the office of the City
Clerk of Stonecrest and must meet the qualifications of
the Charter and Code of the City of Stonecrest, as well as
all applicable state and constitutional laws.
State Sen. Steve Henson said he will not
seek re-election after his term ends in CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN
January 2021. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
“It’s harder than ever before The City of Stone Mountain hereby gives notice
trying to manage work, that a Public Hearing will be held to receive public
and I only have a few years comment on a Variance Application for 1056 Griffin
left [with the labor union] Street, Stone Mountain, GA 30083, Parcel #18 090
19 014. Variance is requested for deviation from the
before I retire there, so I district regulations for Traditional Residential (R2).
have to make sure that it’s
running well. The Mayor and City Council will hold a Public
“I turned 60 last March Hearing on this matter on Tuesday, August 20,
and at the end of this term 2019 at City Hall located at 875 Main Street, Stone
Mountain, GA at 6:30 P.M. Anyone wishing to attend
the public hearing may do so and be heard relative
SEE ELECTION ON PAGE 16 thereto.
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 11

DECATUR

Volunteers work on Toney Elementary’s courtward. A volunteer builds a whiteboard for Toney Elementary Volunteers paint the inside of Toney Elementary School as it got
School’s outdoor classroom July 19. renovated. Photo by Taylor Robins.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GETS CRASHED

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Toney Elementary School in Decatur was
“crashed” by volunteers, students, parents, and
stakeholders as Georgia United Credit Union
(GUCU) and Georgia United Foundation’s 2019
School Crashers program made an estimated
$100,000 in repairs and renovations to the school.
Students of the school will start the school year
with new carpet, flexible tables and chairs for the
media center, paint on interior and exterior walls, a
seating area for visitors in the front office, computer
lab tables, new classroom signage for the hallways
and an outdoor classroom courtyard and garden
area─the includes picnic tables, benches, an outdoor
whiteboard, a shade canopy, raised planter beds,
outdoor murals, a bird sanctuary area, a pollinator
garden, and landscaping, including a patio.
“When we say we’re crashing a school, we’re
really crashing a school,” said Kim Walls, director of
business and community development manager for
GUCU.
GUCU is a 60-year-old credit union that
primarily serves educators and Georgia residents.
With the company’s background in education and
financial literacy, GUCU created School Crashers
six years ago. Since then, the program has made an
estimated $1 million in improvements to 33 schools
in Georgia.
The program has an open nomination each year
during March when any accredited school in Georgia
can apply. To apply the school must submit an essay
about the school and what they would like built or
renovated and a picture.
That’s exactly what Karen Dukes─a Toney
Elementary School teacher who has taught there
for 19 years─did. Dukes was inspired to apply after
taking a student for an outside walk and realizing
the property needed beautification. Dukes submitted
a request for the school to receive an outdoor
classroom courtyard. However, after GUCU officials
visited the school’s grounds, Dukes was notified that
the school had won the School Crashers grand prize
of receiving the outdoor classroom courtyard and a
school makeover.
Dukes said when she was notified that the school
had won the grand prize, she was overwhelmed with
tears of joy. She said, “The kids are going to be so
excited.”
“I think the children will benefit greatly from this.
For them to come in and see all this and to smell the
fresh paint is going to bring so much joy to them,”
Dukes said. “To pull together the community and
the vendors is awesome. I couldn’t have done it by
myself, the Georgia United Credit Union is awesome.
We’re excited that someone outside the school system
can help us.”
During summer 2019, more than 100 volunteers
helped with the Toney Elementary makeover.
Donations of food, tools, paint and other materials
came from businesses as well. All renovations made
to the school will be complete by the first day of
school, Aug. 5.
“People want to help their local school,” Walls
said. “It’s just someone has to step up and say join
us.”
Four other schools received new carpet donated
by Mohawk Carpet and six schools received smaller
renovations from School Crashers.

EDUCATION BRIEFS by Taylor Robins • Taylor@dekalbchamp.com

Hood accepted to University of
the Cumberlands
University of the Cumberlands
has accepted Marcus Hood
of Decatur for the upcoming
academic year. Hood, a current
student at Decatur High School,
is welcomed into the UC Class of
2023.
Mather makes President’s
List at Miami University
Sophie Mather of Avondale
Estates made the 2018-19 second
semester President’s List.
Miami University students
who are ranked in the top
3 percent of undergraduate
students within each division are
recognized on the President’s List.
Students make Dean’s List at
Georgia Tech
The following students were
named to the Dean’s List at the
Georgia Institute of Technology
for spring 2019. This designation
is awarded to undergraduate
students who have a 3.0 or
higher academic average for the
semester.
Students included on the
list are Katherine Beckwith of
Brookhaven; Dawit Jekamo
and Yahuan Zhu of Clarkston;
Olive McKay, Nydrel Jack and
Katherine Markey of Decatur;
Grace Chapman, Grant
Marshall and Owen Rohm of
Dunwoody; Tia Calhoun of
Lithonia; Faisal Gedi, Mary
Clark, Kamaria Dansby, Fayaz
Josufi and Kenotia Moses of Simmeon Mammo, Trupti Patel
Stone Mountain; Henry Dang, and Revaz Sharma of Tucker.
Rebecca Entrekin, Bontu Gelan,
CITY OF AVONDALE ESTATES
2019 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION SAVE
QUALIFYING PERIOD
YOUR HOME
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-131(a)(1)(A) of the FROM
Georgia Election Code, The City of Avondale Estates FORECLOSURE
on January 28, 2019, set the qualifying fee at $216 and avoid bad credit!
for Mayoral candidates and $144 for Commissioners For free information
in the upcoming November 5, 2019 General go to
Municipal Election. The fee can be paid with cash, Foreclosurepreventionsolution.com
check or money order. Qualifying will take place from or call
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Monday, August
19, 2019 through Friday, August 23, 2019 at City (678) -662-5096
Hall, 21 North Avondale Plaza, Avondale Estates, Foreclosurepreventionsolution.com
Georgia 30002.
BUSINESS
Emory economist: Economy is complex and changing
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
President Harry
Truman once said, “I want
a one-armed economist, that
way he cannot say, ‘on the
other hand.’” As frustrating
as murky economic
predictions can be, “on the
other hand” isn’t a strong
enough qualifier, according
to Ray Hill, senior lecturer
at Emory University’s
Goizueta Business School.
In most situations, an
economist asked to predict
future events should admit
he has no idea, Hill said.
“The average person
thinks economists can
always accurately predict
what the economy is
going to do. We can look
at past patterns and see
how changes in the federal
interest rates for example
have affected the economy,
but the old models aren’t
aligning with today’s reality.
A recent increase in the
federal interest rates did
not cause consumer rates
to increase, in fact they
dropped slightly. Even
economists with the Federal
Reserve cannot say with
absolute certainty what’s
about to happen,” Hill said.
“The average
person’s finances aren’t
affected at all by changes
Ray Hill
in the federal interest rate,”
he said. “Unless you’re
a day trader, it shouldn’t
matter at all to you whether
these rates go up or down.
Anybody else should just
forget about it.
“Politicians like to
promote the idea that they
are helping the economy
by urging a reduction in
federal interest rates, but I
am pleased to say that the
Federal Reserve over the
past 40 years has remained
independent of politics,” he
said. “Politicians think short
term; economists must look
at the long-term picture.”
Hill said the 2017
restructuring of the federal
income tax code has had
some positive and negative
effects, but more positive
than negative. The cuts were
promoted with the promise
that the stimulus to the
economy would offset the
loss in federal tax revenue,
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 12
bringing the deficit down.
“We were told the tax cuts
would pay for themselves,
though few economists
believed that. That hasn’t
happened; the deficit has
continued to climb,” he said.
The new tax structure,
contrary to what many
believe, is not a boon to all
wealthy taxpayers, according
to Hill. “Some wealthy
people are benefiting; some
are now paying more taxes.
It just depends on your
situation,” he said.
“The adjustment to
corporate taxes needed
to happen. Our corporate
tax rates were far out of
line with those in other
countries,” Hill said. “People
who complain about tax
cuts to wealthy corporations
forget that corporations are
not human beings. They
support employees and
shareholders—everyday
people. Lower corporate
taxes enable companies
to hire more people, pay
better wages and increase
shareholder dividends.”
As to those who
complain that corporate
tax cuts often create
large bonuses and pay
increases for already well
compensated corporate
executives, Hill said,
“If the average person
is annoyed to see CEOs
getting more money even
when their companies aren’t
performing well, I agree completely. The idea that
with them. CEOs generally they making mortgage
are overcompensated. I’m interest tax deductible
an economist and I agree enables home ownership is
with the common man on not as true as it appears,”
this one. However, only a he said. “Typically, housing
small part of the additional prices go up and offset the
money goes into the CEO’s tax savings.”
pocket. Far more of it Some who had grown
goes to employees and accustomed to receiving
shareholders.” refunds at tax time found
Hill suggested that when they filed 2018
revisions in the income taxes that they either
tax code perhaps didn’t got no refund or owed
go far enough. “It was the government money.
an opportunity to close “That’s because they had
a lot of loopholes that less deducted from each
weren’t closed. Instead of paycheck. Overall, they
eliminating just interest ended up with more money.
rates on home equity loans, It’s just a matter of adjusting
for example, they probably to the new tax structure,”
should have eliminated Hill said.
deductions on mortgages
PUBLIC NOTICE OF QUALIFYING
CITY OF TUCKER, GA
The date of the Municipal Election for the office of
Councilmember District 1 Post 2, Councilmember
District 2 Post 2, and Councilmember District 3 Post
2 is Tuesday, November 5, 2019. The qualifying fee
for the office of City Council seat is $420.00, which
is 3% of the total gross councilmember salary of the
preceding year (O.C.G.A. 21-2-131(a)(1)(A)). Each
candidate shall file notice of candidacy in the office of
the City Clerk of Tucker, 4119 Adrian Street, Tucker,
Georgia 30084. The qualifying dates will be Monday,
August 19, 2019 through Thursday, August 22, 2019
during the hours of 9:00 am to 12:00 noon and 1:00
pm to 5:00 pm. and Friday, August 23, 2019 will be
from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. (O.C.G.A. 21-2-132(d)
(4)). Each candidate must meet the qualifications of
the Charter and Code of the City of Tucker, as well as
applicable State Laws.
Bonnie Warne, CMC
City Clerk/Qualifying Officer
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 13

AROUNDDeKalb
CLARKSTON
City to host senior night fling
Clarkston Senior Committee
will host its first senior fling Aug.
17 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Clarkston
Women’s Club. The event will
include music, food, giveaways and
more. The women’s club is located
at 3913 Church Street. For more
information, visit www.clarkstonga.
gov.
COUNTYWIDE
Church to host back-to-school
bash
The community is invited to a
back-to-school bash Saturday, Aug.
3, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., at Gresham
Park Christian Church. The event
will feature live music and free
food and school supplies for
students in attendance. Community
organizations, including the
Gresham Park Library, Gresham
Park Recreation Center, Obama
Elementary School, MARTA,
DeKalb County Public Safety and
area daycare centers, will be on
hand with information. Gresham
Park Christian Church is located
at 2819 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur.
For more information, visit
greshamparkchristianchurch.org.
DORAVILLE
Police to host night out
The Doraville Police Depart-
ment will host National Night Out
from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6, at the
Farmers Market─5600 Buford
Highway.
National Night Out is an annual
campaign that promotes police
and community partnerships and
neighborhood camaraderie with the
goal of making neighborhoods safer
to live.
National Night Out will include
activities for children and adults.
STONECREST
Church to distribute shoes to
students
New Birth Missionary Baptist
Church will help thousands of
students start the school year on the
right foot during an annual back-to-
school event Aug. 3.
This year’s event will include
the distribution of 3,000 new shoes
for school-aged students. The event
will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Doors will open at 9 a.m.
Online registration is required
to participate in this event. To
register, visit newbirth.org/events.
All students must be accompanied
by an adult or guardian. For more
information or to make a donation,
call (678) 824-1008 or email
outreach@newbirth.org.
TUCKER
Organization to host car show
Tucker Cruise-In, a nonprofit,
old-fashioned town meet and greet
car show will be held Aug. 10 on
Main Street in Tucker. There will
be a variety of vehicles, ranging
from antiques to street rods and
motorcycles to imports. The Cruise-
Ins are held on the second Saturday
of every month beginning until
September. The event begins at 5
p.m. and ends with the presentation
of awards around 8 p.m. There is a
$5 registration fee to enter a car into
judging. The cut off time to have
a car to be entered into judging is
6:30 p.m. For more information,
call (770) 527-1521.

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SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 14

Carolyn Taggart, left, hosted the first Urban Initiative Georgia Jamboree at Belvedere Little League, a tournament where other Urban Initiative leagues could play against each other.

Belvedere Little League’s Carolyn

Taggart named volunteer of the year
BY CARLA PARKER Initiative has afforded players in our has been a team mom, concessions
league the opportunity to participate manager, senior league president
carla@dekalbchamp.com
in annual tournament play, an and the league president. She has
Carolyn Taggart, a volunteer experience they may not have ever dedicated hours to the betterment
with the Belvedere Little League had if it were not for the Urban of not only her league, but to the
baseball program for the last 40 Initiative,” Taggart said. “The Urban Initiative as a whole. She
years, has been named the 2019 players have gotten the opportunity hosted the first Urban Initiative
Howard and Gail Paster Little to travel out of state to play teams Georgia Jamboree in 2010 at
League Urban Initiative Volunteer and build lasting friendships.” Belvedere Little League, a
of the Year. Taggart has worked with tournament where other Urban
The Howard and Gail Paster Belvedere Little League to ensure Initiative leagues played against
Little League Urban Initiative the growth of the league. She each other.
Volunteer of the Year award was applied for and has been awarded “I saw it as an opportunity to
created to recognize volunteer grants to support the league’s involve our players in tournament
service being performed in urban endeavors, including the Little play, as well as meet and compete
settings around the country, League Grow the Game Grant, against other teams from Georgia
according to Little League which was used for safety netting and the Southeast Region,” Taggart
Baseball and Softball. The award for fields and batting cages, and said. “Hosting the event was a
acknowledges an adult volunteer safety fence toppers. Other grants very positive experience for all
involved with a Little League were used to upgrade field lighting, involved.”
Carolyn Taggart named the 2019 Howard and Gail concessions and to secure updated Belvedere Little League was
program participating in the Urban Paster Little League Urban Initiative Volunteer of
Initiative, who has provided a the Year.
playing equipment for the league. founded on March 1, 1954. The
positive experience for children “My most rewarding moments organization provides baseball
and adults within the league’s have been to witness many of training to children ages 4-12.
Belvedere Little League is a our former players continue to “Little League is important
metropolitan neighborhood or
part of the Little League Urban play baseball in high school, because it provides a program that
community.
Initiative, a program established receive scholarships to college is dedicated to teaching the game
“It is an extreme honor to be
in 1999 to provide opportunities and acknowledge that training of baseball, as well as teamwork,
given this award,” Taggart said in
for underserved communities to at our park played a role in their sportsmanship, and fair play,”
a released statement. “I humbly
reap the benefits of having local development,” Taggart said. Taggart said. “The goal is for each
accept the honor knowing that I
Little League programs in their Throughout her four decades player to become a productive
could not have accomplished all that
neighborhoods. of service, Taggart has served in a citizen in the community.”
I have without the support of my
“Being a part of the Urban variety of roles in the league. She
family and other park volunteers.”
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 15

COACH OF THE YEAR

Miller Grove’s Keddo named
USTFCCCA Coach of the Year
by Mark Brock 2014. His teams finished in his 11 seasons with the
second in 2013 and third in program.
Miller Grove girls’ track 2015. He also coached
coach Eric Keddo was The Lady Wolverines four-time state champion
selected as the United States have won four region titles, Emoni Coleman, who won
Track and Field and Cross including three in a row the 800-meter run three
County Coaches Association (2017-19), and finished consecutive years (2017-19)
Georgia girls’ Coach of the runners-up in 2015 and third and the 1600-meter run in
Year. in 2013. They also won the 2018; and Sonni Austin,
Keddo’s Lady 2014 Region 6-AAAAA who won three consecutive
Wolverines finished as championship. state titles in the 300-meter
the runner-up in the Class Keddo won a state hurdles from 2007-2009. Eric Keddo
AAAAA state track meet in title in 2014 after winning
May while also taking home the Class AAAAA
the Region 5-AAAAA and championship behind FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE
county titles in 2019. four-time state champion
For 11 years, Keddo Tiffany Flynn, who won The City of Brookhaven has applied for Federal Emergency Management
has built a strong girls’ the 100-meter hurdles and Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding through
track program at Miller the long jump. the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/
Grove, finishing no lower Miller Grove has one HS) as a sub-recipient. Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
than third in the DeKalb third-place finish in 2013 federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and
County School District track (5A) and three fifth-place for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations.
and field meet six times, finishes in 2009 (4A), 2017 Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to con-
sider alternatives to and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in
including county titles the (5A) and 2018 (5A), giving or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide
past three seasons and in Keddo six Top 5 finishes the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider
potential impacts to minority and low-income populations. This notice may also
fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA).
LIBRARY Continued From Page 2 Special Flood Hazard Area Zone: This project includes the acquisition and
demolition of 11 residential structures listed below and located in a regulatory
“I look forward to the renovations here at Sue-Kellogg floodway, zone AE (1% annual chance flood elevation). Confirmation of loca-
library as we upgrade this wonderful facility so that the tion in an SFHA was made by reference to the latest Flood Insurance Rate
citizens of Stone Mountain, of District 4 and of DeKalb Map, Panel 13089C0052J dated 05/16/2013. The proposed work conforms to
County will be able to use it and enjoy it for many years to all applicable State of Georgia and local floodplain regulations. The proposed
come,” Bradshaw said. project is to remove existing structures from the floodplain. After demolition,
Cooper said he takes pride in the fact that the Friends properties will be deed restricted as open space in perpetuity. This project will
of Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library group and support have a beneficial effect on the floodplain.
from the Stone Mountain community led to the renovation
project being approved. Address Latitude Longitude
Date of
Construction
“I do look forward to the reopening of our library 1 1756 Dresden Dr. NE 33.863990 -84.31805 1955
branch and I hope you share in my satisfaction that we have 2 1764 Dresden Dr. NE 33.86402 -84.3179 1954
preserved this asset to downtown Stone Mountain and the 3 2652 South Bamby Ln. NE 33.86427 -84.31791 1955
greater community,” Cooper said. 4 2662 S Bamby Ln. NE 33.864663 -84.317952 1955
DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond expressed 5 2674 S Bamby Ln. NE 33.865044 -84.317941 1955
his support of libraries during the ceremony.“It’s a safe 6 2686 S Bamby Ln. NE 33.865412 -84.318009 1955
space and a safe place for our children and families,” 7 2696 S Bamby Ln NE 33.865778 -84.318255 1955
he said. “You have to have a high-quality, robust library 8 2658 S Bamby Ln NE 33.864502 -84.317943 1955
system that’s welcoming and opening and providing 9 2668 S Bamby Ln NE 33.864867 -84.317938 1955
10 2680 S Bamby Ln NE 33.865218 -84.317940 1955
educational and leisure activities for all of our citizens.” 11 2692 S Bamby Ln NE 33.865609 -84.318157 1955
During the renovation project, patrons can visit nearby A map showing the location of all properties, Proposed Work and Alternatives
branches, including Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library, Hairston is available by visiting https://www.brookhavenga.gov/publicworks/page/feder-
Crossing Library and Clarkston Library. al-emergency-management-agency-fema-hazard-mitigation-grant-notice
Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all

THIS COULD BE applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain stan-
dards, permit requirements and conditions. Comments are solicited from the

YOUR AD!
public in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project.
All comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Interested persons may submit comments, obtain more detailed information
Call 404.373.7779 Ext 110 about the proposed action, or request a copy of the findings by contacting:
Hari Karikaran, Director of Public Works at Hari.Karikaran@BrookhavenGA.
for more information. gov
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2019 • Page 16

GREENPACE Continued From Page 10

developed and sometimes it just ends up on the
shelf,” Jackson said. “But this is one of those
[projects] that we continued to work to get
done.”
Jackson said Lithonia City Council agreed to
make Wiggins Street one way so that the city can
extend the PATH trail from Council and Johnson
streets—where [the trail] ends now—to Wiggins
Street, past the garden to Main Street to help
bring more traffic to the city. The garden is a key
part of ongoing efforts to tell visitors about the
historically significant of Lithonia, which was
a hub for the quarry industry, shipping granite
to build structures, as well as the scene of civil
rights and woman’s movements.
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners
also played a role in getting the project
completed. Commissioner Mereda Davis
Johnson said she is humbled and blessed to have
been put in a position to help the project move
forward.
“I think that this signage and this
history serves as a catalyst for our children,
grandchildren and great grandchildren to come
here and see the sacrifices that were made,” she
said.
The garden is opened every day from dawn
to dusk.

ELECTION Continued From Page 10

I’ll be two months shy of
my 62nd birthday,” Henson
added. “I just felt the time
was there to go ahead and
focus on my other job and
let somebody dedicate their
time to [District 41].”
During his tenure in
the state senate, Henson
has sponsored several bills,
including a bill related to
the HOPE Scholarship—
Georgia’s scholarship and
grant program that rewards
students with financial
assistance in degree,
diploma and certificate
programs at eligible state
public and private colleges
and universities, and public
technical colleges.
“When I [was sworn
in] in 1990, we created the
HOPE scholarship, which
was [Gov.] Zell Miller’s
[initiative], but I was one
of his floor leaders in 1993
when we opened the HOPE
scholarship to everybody
regardless of income,”
Henson said. “So, that was
one of the things I was
proud of—working with the
governor and we were able
to do that.”
Henson also said he was
proud of the ethics reform
bill that he sponsored,
including a bill that capped
campaign contributions
and required reporting
of contributions. He said
one thing he regrets about
his time in the senate is
the undoing of policies
he helped put in place for
education and ethics reform. plans to work with the challenges ahead and I plan
“Teachers’ pay and Democratic Party to help to continue working for
funding that we had in more Democrats get elected and with the [Democratic]
education has been wiggled statewide. party,” he said.
back in the last few years,” “There are many
he said. “Even ethics—the
enforcement of the ethics
division—is being cut back
by this administration.
I was a sponsor of a bill
that helped extend early
voting and now we see
Reception &
Republicans trying to cut
early voting days. It’s
frustrating to see that we’re
Induction Ceremony
not moving forward in August 13, 2019, 6PM
building a stronger public
education system and Atlanta Marriott Marquis
that the state continues to 265 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303
contribute less money to
higher education.”
After he leaves office,
Henson said he still

PET WEEK Legacy Inductee

Rev. Dr. Cameron M. Alexander
Legacy Inductee
The Honorable Ivory L. Young

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Legend Inductee
Edwin Moses

Striker (ID# 35548352) is ready to become • Induction Ceremony

your best pal! This lovable, enthusiastic boy Legacy Award
enjoys running around and living his best Legends Hall of Fame
canine life with every person in your family.
Men of Influence
Striker has a condition that makes it difficult for
him to eat unless he is sitting in a special type • Men of Influence 2019-2020 Directory
of chair. Our volunteers love him so much, they • MOI Silent Auction
custom built one for him! He's accustomed to • Networking & Photo Opportunities
his chair and eats each meal in it. His chair
is included in his adoption. Striker has been 6:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
waiting a while for his special someone. Meet Reception with Silent Auction and Heavy Hors D’oeuvres
him today at LifeLine's DeKalb County Animal Complimentary Wine & Beverages
Shelter!
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
If you would like to expand your family by Men of Influence Pinning & Induction Ceremony
4 furry little feet; ask to meet Striker and have
a loving friend forever. All adoptions include
your new pet's spay or neuter, vaccinations, $105 - Open Seating (Member), $125 - Open Seating (Non-Member)
microchip and more! For more information $130 - Reserved Seating (Member), $150 - Reserved Seating (Non-Member)
about Striker please call (404) 294-2165 or RSVP by midnight, Tuesday, August 9, 2019
email adoption@dekalbanimalservices.com. All (Note: Ticket prices will increase $25, table prices will increase $50 after August 9, 2019.
potential adopters will be screened to ensure No exceptions. No refunds after August 7, 2019.)
Striker goes to a good home. Hours: Mon-Fri;
11am-7pm / Sat-Sun; 11am-6pm Sponsors

STRIKER
For more details, visit our site at www.AtlantaBusinessLeague.org