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championnewspaper championnewspaper champnewschampionnews

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FRIDAY, Feb. 27, 2015 • VOL. 17, NO. 48 • FREE

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

F REE P RESS

See Life on page 15A

Business ........................17A

Education ..............18-19A

Sports......................21-23A

Opinion ...........................5A

Classified .......................20A

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BEWARE OF MEETINGONLINE CROOKSOFFLINE

NEW BIG GREEN EGGHEADQUARTERSHATCHES

NORTH DEKALB SENIORCENTER CONSTRUCTIONHALTED

by Andrew [email protected]

Two men who used a clas-ified advertisements websiteo lure and kill a potential

customer were sentenced toife without the possibility of

parole Feb. 18.A jury had recently found

he so-called “Craigslist kill-ers”— Contevious Stepp-McCommons and MalikRice— guilty of setting up abogus Craigslist ad and kill-ng 56-year-old Clarence

Gardenhire.The pair used a fake ad

for an iPhone for sale to lureGardenhire and his son, Ja-mar Perry, in 2013, to anabandoned house in South-east Atlanta. Gardenhire washot and later died at a local

hospital after the attemptedobbery.

“Whenever we get a re-

ult like this, we’re alwayspleased,” said DeKalb Coun-y District Attorney Robert

James. “A father, a grand-father has been taken awayfrom us before his time ina violent manner. No one ishrowing a party here, but inerms of our level of satisfac-ion, because of justice, we

are satisfied.”Superior Court Judge

Cynthia Becker sentenced Stepp-McCommons, 20, toife without the possibility of

parole with an additional 35

years to serve. Rice, 19, wasentenced to life without thepossibility of parole with anadditional 55 years to serve.The two were convicted offelony murder, possession ofa firearm during commissionof a felony, criminal attempto commit a felony and two

counts of aggravated assault.“This was a senseless act,”

ames said. Gardenhire, aesident of Tallahassee, Fla.,

was in town for the birth ofhis ninth grandchild.

“He was going to buy an

Craigslist murderers get life without parole

“The sentence will not bring my husband back,” said Joan Gardenhire, after a judge sentenced two men to life in prison for the shootingdeath of her husband Clarence during a Craigslist transaction. “My heart hurts. When I think of Clarence, I cry.”

DeKalb DA Robert James called the shooting “senseless.”Senior assistant public defender Bill Hankins said the defen-dants “made a bad decision.” Photos by Andrew Cauthen

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Page 2A The Champion Free Press, Friday, Feb. 27, 2015

LOCAL

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The Stone Mountain Ro-ary Club lit up the moun-ain with images from Rota-y International’s “End Polio

Now” campaign Feb. 23.Other Atlanta metro

Rotary clubs joined theStone Mountain club topromote the organization’sfight against polio. Rotarynternational officials sayhe organization’s efforts are

on track to achieve full polioeradication by 2018.

“It is an amazing effortfrom a service organizationo work together around the

world,” said Chris Brand,president of the Rotary Clubof Stone Mountain.

“What is amazing to me

s just how much effort I seehappening in that realm,”

Brand said. Approximately“$34 million were just re-leased a few months agofrom the Rotary Foundationto really ramp up stamping

out polio in places like Nige-ria…and Pakistan.”

The fight against polio“hits home,” Brand said, “be-cause if you just ask a crowdof people, anyone who’s intheir 40s, 50s or 60s, how

many of you know some-one…who’s been affected

by polio, it’s amazing howmany people you would findraising their hands.

“There’s a member inour club who had poliowhen he was young. Andhis dad had polio,” Brandsaid. “We forget about itbut around the world, withair travel and the pandemicability of it to spread, it isalways there.”

Brand said, “Personally,I’ve known of [polio] andhow much people are stilldealing with the effects ofthat as adults. They’re livinglong lives with polio effectsand it is very, very difficult.It has different levels of howit affects people but it canbe completely physically in-capacitating to having small

remnants of effects on thebody.

“The work being donearound the world to endpolio is impressive,” Brandsaid. “I don’t think peopleunderstand that…[health-care workers] are being toldin communities that ‘we’regoing to kill you,’ and they’restill immunizing the chil-dren” in areas of politicalunrest.

“People are workinghard at great risk to theirlives to immunize,” Brandsaid.

The Decatur RotaryClub joined the internation-al commemoration by light-ing up the Old Courthouseon the square in Decatur onFeb. 23.

Rotarians light up Stone Mountain to end polio

by Ashley Oglesby [email protected]

Ivy Preparatory YoungMen’s Leadership Academy

School is one of two charterchools on Gov. Nathan

Deal’s list of 141 perenniallyailing schools that could

be at risk of takeover if law-makers and voters approvehis plan for an OpportunitySchool District.

The governor’s proposalwould create a new schooldistrict, which would re-quire voters to approve achange to the Georgia Con-titution.

The state would haveotal authority over the

chools put into the specialdistrict, and it could removeprincipals and teachers,change what students arebeing taught and control thechools’ budgets.

Executive Director ofvy Preparatory Academies

Victoria Wiley said, “A lotof our students unfortu-nately come from under-performing schools. Out ofhe schools that are on thatist, 27 of those schools are

DeKalb County schools,”Wiley said. She added, “Amajority of those DeKalb

County schools are elemen-ary schools where our stu-

dents come from.”In the governor’s pro-

posal, persistently failing

Local school respondsto failing schools plan

schools are defined as thosescoring below 60 on theGeorgia Department ofEducation’s accountabilitymeasure, the College and

Career Performance Index(CCRPI), for three consecu-

tive years.Wiley said, “We are not

happy about our score thatwe received from CCRPI. Itwas no surprise to us, but we

are definitely making surethat we can work with our

See School on page 16A

Rotarians from the Stone Mountain, Carrollton Dawn Breakers, Buck-head, Sandy Springs, Northlake and Gwinnett Mosaic Rotary clubs metat Stone Mountain Park to bring attention to Rotary’s “End Polio Now”campaign. Photo provided

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 Page 3ALOCAL

Lithonia mayor: ‘2015 is Lithonia’s year to shine’by Carla [email protected]

Last year, was a year of cityhoodmovements and annexation, andLithonia plans to join the party in

2015.Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jack-son said city officials have been ap-proached by a couple of propertyowners who have expressed interestn being annexed into the city.

“We are working on accomplish-ng that,” Jackson said. “There has

been a lot of talk about these massannexations, and the city is con-cerned about making sure that thecity does have an opportunity togrow over a period of time. There areome concerns about these very ag-

gressive new cities that don’t provideroom for existing cities to be able toexpand in the future if they want tobe successful.”

Jackson said the city has not hadany formal meetings some annexa-ion, but plans to have on this year.

Residents have expressed their inter-est in seeing the city grow.

“The question is: what is a goodize?” Jackson said.

Annexation is one aspect the citywill focus on as it transitions froma “successful 2014” to a “promising2015. The city got many things donen 2014, including opening the new

city hall building.“I would say that 2014 had a

number of accomplishments,” Jack-

on said. “We completed the renova-ions for the city hall and were ableo move in; we’ve done some reorga-

nizing with the staff on hand. I thinkwe are ready to start 2015 with aburst of energy.”

The city also updated its zoningordinance and began preliminarywork for a new sign ordinance.

“We’ll probably adopt [the signordinance] at the upcoming meet-ing,” Jackson said. “We did accom-plish a lot of goals. The main priority

that we’re really going to focus on in2015 is to have something positivehappen with the Lithonia Plaza.”

The city has tried unsuccessfully

to redevelop the plaza since it did aLivable Centers Initiative (LCI) studyin 2003. In 2012. The city workedwith the Georgia Conservancy tocreate the Lithonia Blueprints, whichfocuses on providing recommenda-

tions for the redesign of LithoniaPlaza. The plaza was once a vibrantpart of the city that was developedinto a strip mall, but now has several vacant spaces.

“The challenge has been pullingtogether the resources to do whatwe want to do with it,” Jackson said.“This is something that the commu-nity has been looking to see happensince we did our LCI study back in2003. It’s been kind of a reccurringtheme.”

Jackson said the city also plansto increase the number of activitiesthe city this year. The city council isworking with Lithonia DowntownDevelopment Authority to re-launcha cultural program at the LithoniaAmphitheater for this spring. Thecity will also launch a farmer’s mar-ket.

“We’re just looking at a numberof activities to continue to bring peo-ple downtown and to promote theculture of the city,” Jackson said. “Wehave a number of new businessesthat are moving onto Main Street,and so we would like to work withthe property owners of the vacantspaces to see what can be done to getthose spaces filled.

“Lithonia is a very exciting place

to be and has such tremendous po-tential,” Jackson added. “We’ve beenworking to establish relationshipswith new partners to help the cityrealize its potential. There is noth-ing wrong with being a small city. Ithink small cities can be great cities,and I think 2015 is Lithonia’s year toshine.”

Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson said the city accomplished many things in 2014 andplans to do more in 2015. File photos

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The Champion Free Press, Friday Feb. 27, 2015 Page 4AOPINION

@AndrewChampNews

Andrew [email protected]

Managing Editor

Medgar, Malcolm, Martin, and now, MarkelI had the opportunity

o talk with Rev. MarkelHutchins recently. When Iaught up with him, he wasn the nursing home where

his ather lives. Hutchins hadeen visiting residents and

was looking over notes or ahort message he was about to

deliver at the acility.“Te problem with too

many o our children,”Hutchins later said to thelderly residents, many o

whom were in wheelchairs,is we bring children into this

world, and we try to work sohard to give them the thingshat we did not have, that wenadvertently neglect to givehem the things we did have.”

Tese include a sense odecency and dignity; “a re-

pect or where you camerom;” honor or your el-

ders; and a good work ethic,Hutchins said.

“So ofentimes we work toive our kids the best sneakershey can put on their eet but

don’t give them the direction

in which to walk,” he said,speaking in a voice reminis-cent o Dr. Martin LutherKing Jr., to whom Hutchinsofen reers.

Hutchins, a 37-year-oldcivil and human rights ac-tivist and DeKalb native,

is no stranger to news. Hecriticized the Atlanta PoliceDepartment or the Novem-ber 2006 shooting death oa 92-year-old woman dur-ing a “no-knock” police raid.In 2008, Hutchins made anunsuccessul bid to unseat

Congressman John Lewis. Hespearheaded a large, “I Amrayvon Martin” prayer vigiland rally that attracted thou-sands in Atlanta in July 2013.Locally, Hutchins has beenworking with members oravelers Rest Baptist Churchin Scottdale who are protest-ing the poor, constructionzone conditions surroundingtheir church.

But when I met him, therewere no rallies, marches, pro-tests or police.

Hutchins said a commonmistake about his work inministry “is that only what Ido that’s captured in the me-dia is what I actually do.”

Much o his time is spent“just talking people throughcrises,” preparing sermons

and speeches, caring or hisparents and “being responsiveto the needs o people.”

He is also working on abook titled Fit to Lead, Calledto Serve.

Te book “that chroniclesmy journey o having lost

over 100 pounds and kind oparablistically [makes] theconnection between being fitto lead in terms o losing thatmuch weight but also howthe mentorship that I havebeen ortunate to have romthe civil and human rightsicons…as well as some o thechallenges that I aced in myown lie and how those thingshave equipped me….”

Part o what equippedHutchins “to serve God andserve humanity” was sometraumatic amily experiences.His ather, a small business-man who provided well orthe amily, struggled withdrug addiction or approxi-mately 15 years.

“When the drug addictioncame we lost…all the things

that he had worked so hard toacquire,” Hutchins said. “I callthat the period o trial andchallenge or me. Tat wasa oundational period in mylie. I thank God or that pe-riod because had it not beenor what we went through as

a amily, I don’t know how Iever could have the kind oheart or people, the desire toserve, and a good basic un-derstanding o how you cango rom being on top to beingon the bottom [rungs] o liein a very short time period.”

Just as Martin Luther KingJr. did 58 years ago, Hutchinsrecently assembled a group aministers “to begin the pro-cess o propelling new civiland human rights leaders.”

Hutchins, according to aquote rom ormer AtlantaMayor Shirley Franklin onHutchins’ website, is “one othe brightest and most prom-ising civil rights leaders toemerge in recent history.”

Another quote onHutchins’ website, the late

Dr. C. DeLores Tucker, apolitical, civil and women’srights icon, states “Wehad Medgar. We had Mal-colm. We had Martin. Andnow, we have another M. Wehave Markel.”

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OPINIONThe Champion Free Press, Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 Page 5A

Lt us Know What Yo Think!

THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS encour-ages opinions from its readers. Pleasewrite to us and express your views. Lettersshould be brief, typewritten and containthe writer’s name, address and telephonenumber for verification. All letters will beconsidered for publication.

Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P.

O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send emailto [email protected] • FAX To: (404)370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779 . Deadline for newsreleases and advertising: Thursday, one week priorto publication date.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions written by colum-nists and contributing editors do not necessarilyreect the opinions of the editor or publishers. ThePublisher reserves the right to reject or cancel anyadvertisement at any time. The Publisher is notresponsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

Publisher: John Hwitt Chief Financial Ocer:Dr. earl D. GlnnManaging Editor:Andrw cathnProduction Manager:Kmsha Hnt Photographer:Travis HdgonsSta Reporters:carla Parkr, Ashly Oglsby

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F REE P RESS

STATEMENT FROM THE

PUBLISHERW sinrly appriat thdisssion srronding this and anyiss of intrst to DKalb conty.The Champion was fondd in 1991xprssly to provid a form fordisors for all ommnity rsidntson all sids of an iss. W hav nodsir to mak th nws only torport nws and opinions to fft

a mor datd itiznry that willltimatly mov or ommnityforward. W ar happy to prsntidas for disssion; howvr,w mak vry ffort to avoidprinting information sbmittd tos that is known to b fals and/orassmptions pnnd as fat.

ONE MAN’S OPINION

Just Say No!Being an Atlanta native,

one comes to know ourmany diverse neighbor-hoods and communities by

their architecture, historicspots, landmarks, majorintersections and of course,area resident behavior.

As early as the 1960s,Georgia’s Department ofTransportation (DOT)was developing a toll roadplan which would link theStone Mountain Freeway(Interstate 78), with thedowntown connector (I-75/85) and extend Georgia400 south to the currententrance to I-675, now asoutheastern spur off I-285.

That original DOT route

would have essentiallyswallowed and paved overseveral green belts of parksalong Ponce de Leon Av-enue, now known as the Ol-mstead Linear Park systemand designed originally byFrederick Law Olmstead,the father of landscape ar-chitecture, as well as the de-signer of New York’s CentralPark and Atlanta’s PiedmontPark. The damage mighthave been as irreparable asthe earlier construction ofI-20 was to Grant Park. But

unlike the Grant Park, Peo-plestown or Mechanicsvilleof the 1950s, the residentsof Druid Hills, Lake Claire,Poncey Highlands andDruid Hills understood thebenefits and value of bothpolitical activism and hiringa good lawyer.

A group named CAU-TION (Citizens AgainstUnnecessary Thoroughfaresin Older Neighborhoods)formed to battle the Geor-gia DOT and plans forparkway construction. TheDruid Hills Civic Associa-tion financed and prevailedin lengthy litigation to slowdown potential condemna-tion and stop the parkway,and some more emboldenedactivists chained themselvesto trees in the Olmsteadparks when park clear-ing was even discussed.Finally, not long prior toAtlanta hosting the Centen-nial Olympic Games, a me-diation led by then-Lt. Gov.

Pierre Howard protectedthe parks and led to thecompromise constructionof what we now know as theFreedom Parkway, connect-ing only the Carter Centerand the King Center, on thefar side of Poncey-High-lands, nearly in Midtown.

Emboldened by theirability to halt the GeorgiaDOT, a former Presidentand Mayor Andrew Young

and the residents of DruidHills developed a strongreputation for just saying“no.” The original design forthe Fernbank Museum ofNatural History would havefronted Ponce de Leon andfaced across from the Olm-stead Parks, but required thedemolition of many statelyand historic mansions ap-proaching the intersectionof Ponce and Clifton roads.The Druid Hills Civic As-sociation and its supporterssimply said “no,” and, lo andbehold, site plans were re-

vised, and the museum sitsalmost invisible, well backfrom Ponce and even a bitchallenging to locate its cur-rent entrance off of Clifton.

And now another battlelooms, one that could po-tentially play an even moredivisive role in the historyof Atlanta as well as DeKalbCounty. Begun as a battleover the creation of a char-ter school cluster in DeKalbCounty and supported by a

vote of more than 80 percentof the affected and par-

ticipating households withchildren in the impactedschools, a well-planned andorganized petition was pre-sented to our DeKalb Coun-ty School District (DCSD),first the Superintendentand later to a vote by theschool board. The petition

would have created a clus-ter of Druid Hills CharterCluster, comprised of onehigh school, two middle

schools and five elementaryschools—all currently partof the DCSD. Suffice it tosay here that after a mara-thon school board meeting,charged with hot languageand racial under- and over-tones, the charter petitionerswere told “No.”

Since that time, a planwas hatched to cleave DruidHills High School, the Fern-bank Science Center andtwo elementary schools, aswell as Emory University,the Clifton Corridor CDCand all that is now “Druid

Hills” out of DeKalb Countyinto Fulton and fully intothe city of Atlanta. A refer-endum is being discussed,and plans are for this schoolsystem change/integrationto be in place in time for the2016-2017 academic year.

And so, I am asking ourgood friends and neighborsin Druid Hills and the sur-rounding historic and statelyhomes and civic associationsto do what they have proven,time and again that they cando so well. Please, first say

“whoa” and then “just sayno.” As with the PresidentialParkway compromise, thereis, at the end of the day, away to move forward whichdoes not require leaving thestate, nor our county. Thereis a way to secure the excel-lence of your neighborhood

Bill Crane

[email protected]

Columnist

schools without abandoningthe school system which alsohelped get them there. Thereis a path where we can live

and hang together, versus the very unpleasant picture of usall hanging separately.

Bill Crane also serves as a political analyst and commen-tator for Channel 2’s ActionNews, WSB-AM News/Talk750 and now 95.5 FM, as wellas a columnist for The Cham-pion, Champion Free Pressand Georgia Trend. Crane isa DeKalb native and businessowner, living in Scottdale. Youcan reach him or comment

on a column at bill.csicrane@ gmail.com.

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LOCAL

If you would like to nominate someone to be considered as a future Champion of the Week, please contact Andrew Cauthenat [email protected] or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 117.

BETTY BRAMBLETT

Suburban Lanes fighting to stay open

Betty Bramblett of Decaturhelps out a lot at DeKalb Medicaland she loves it.

“I really enjoy being with peo-ple and enjoy the volunteering that

have done with different activi-ies I have done,” she said. “It hasmeant a lot to me and added a loto my life.”

Bramblett has been a volunteerwith Senior Spectrum of DeKalbMedical for 15 years. An organiza-ion for active adults ages 55 and

older, Senior Spectrum sponsorshealth education programs ledby DeKalb Medical physicianshat are appropriate for seniors,

Bramblett said. Upcoming topicsnclude cholesterol and Parkinson’s

disease.For Senior Spectrum, Bram-

blett volunteers by leading the

folding, stuffing and distributionof Senior Spectrum’s quarterlynewsletter. She also makes com-memorative refrigerator mag-nets—approximately 54 each

time—for participants of the vari-ous social trips and outings thegroup goes on.

Bramblett also has made flow-er arrangements from her gardenfor several years for Senior Spec-trum meetings.

Volunteering with the DeKalbMedical Auxiliary for approxi-mately six years, Bramblett knitscaps for newborn babies andmakes reminder calls to potentialdonors for blood drives at themain hospital and the Hillendalelocation.

When she’s not volunteering,Bramblett is working in her yard,

knitting baby hats or spendingtime with her friends and family.

“I encourage anybody that is55 or older to take advantage ofthe senior citizens program be-

cause it is very educational and thepeople that participate in it canreally learn a lot from the doctorsand the different lectures that theyhave,” Bramblett said.

“Betty is one of our favor-ite volunteers here at DeKalbMedical,” said Beth Jansa, DeKalbMedical’s community outreachmanager. “From her assistancewith the Senior Spectrum to justbeing a wonderful presence in theWellness Center when she is get-ting in a quick workout, she is oneof the people that make this hospi-tal so special.”

by Carla [email protected]

Suburban Lanes will

oon close its doors forgood, but supporters arerying to keep the bowling

alley open.Selig Enterprises, the

developer of Suburban Pla-za, said it cannot keep thebowling alley at the shop-ping center. Scott Selig ,vice president of acquisi-ions and development, saidhe company and the bowl-ng alley could not come up

with an arrangement thatworked for both parties.”

“It was the whole agree-ment [we couldn’t agreeon],” Selig said. “There isinancial...[and] what thepace will end up lookingike.”

Selig did not know ex-actly when Suburban Laneswill close but indicates itwould be “in the near fu-ure.” He also said there are

a few tenants that are be-ng looked at, “but nothinginal.”

Trisha Walker, one ofhe owners of suburbanane, posted a petition on

Change.org asking people

o voice their thoughts onSuburban Lanes.“We are hopeful that if

enough voices are heard, a

buyer of the bowling centerwill come forward,” Walkersaid on the petition.

The petition has 471

supporters so far. PeggyBumgardner of Decaturwrote on the petition thatshe loves the bowling alley.

“It has been a part ofour family celebrations for[years],” she said. “We’veenjoyed league bowling andmy 17-year-old son has justtaken a serious interest inthe sport.”

Paul Carpenter of De-catur wrote that he has beengoing to Suburban Lanesfor more than 40 years.

“We go on birthdaysand every day all summerlong,” he said. “This willbe a huge loss for Decatur.Please find a way to savethe alley!”

Selig has begun con-struction plans to revitalizethe 60-year-old SuburbanPlaza. It soon will havea 150,000-square-footWalmart store, whichwould have groceries, deli,a pharmacy and an opti-cal center. Walmart wouldbe part of the shoppingcenter, which will increaseby 30,000 square feet, add

600-800 jobs and spur rede- velopment in the corridor,according to Selig represen-tatives.

Some Decatur residents and patrons of Suburban Lanes are trying to keep the bowling alley open. Selig Enter-prises and the bowling alley could not come up with an agreement. Photos by Carla Parker

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BrookhavenRegistration open for adultbasketball league

Registration for Brookhaven’s015 Spring Adult Basketball

League is open now through March. The league, for males 17 yearsnd older, has a 10-game schedule,

with the first game scheduled forMarch 30. Registration requires aommitment form to reserve a teampot in the league and a fee of $450er team.

Teams can sign up at the parksnd recreation office at Lynwood

Park Community Center or viaweb, mail or fax to (404) 637-0515.Mailed or faxed registrations formshould include payment and beeceived by March 4 at the parks &

Recreation office at 3360 OsborneRoad, NE, Brookhaven, Ga., 30319.

Participants in the city’s SpringAdult Basketball League must haveurned 17 prior to Jan. 1. For morenformation, call Brookhaven Parks

& Recreation Department at (404)37-0542 or visit www.brookhaven-a.gov/city-departments/parks-ecreation.

Road closures announced

Brookhaven Public WorksDepartment announced that EastRoxboro Road will be closed be-ween 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondayhrough Friday for the installationf storm water and sanitary seweripes between Goodwin Road and

Wright Avenue. Traffic on EastRoxboro Road will be detoured toLenox Park Boulevard and NorthDruid Hills Road. Access will bemaintained for local traffic to accesshe properties and neighborhoodslong East Roxboro south of Lenox

Park Boulevard. The construction isxpected to take no more than twoweeks.

Clarkston

ommunity Center to hostashion show

On March 7 from 1 – 4 p.m.Clarkston’s Community Centerwill host its inaugural Women ofClarkston International Fashion

how. For additional informationnd vendor opportunities contact

vent and communications managerNefertiti Williams at [email protected]. Adultickets are $15, children tickets are5.

ChambleeCity to hold open house

The City of Chamblee will holda public open house on the city’sUnified Development Ordinancefrom 7 to 8:30 p.m. on March, 10 atthe Chamblee Civic Center.

The purpose of the open houseis for staff to provide an overviewof the Unified Development Ordi-nance and why it is important. Thecity invites the public to drop inand make comments or suggestionsbefore it becomes a public hearingitem. Attendees will be able to askquestions directly and also fill outcomment cards if they want to makespecific comments.

DecaturCity replaces CodeRed emergencynotifications with Smart911

The City of Decatur recentlytransitioned to an enhancedSmart911 system to make commu-nication between residents and pub-lic safety agencies easier and moreconvenient.

In addition to providing de-tails about their household to E911dispatchers on emergency calls,Smart911 now gives users the op-tion to opt-in to receive emergencyand general notifications from thecity. This Smart911 option replacesthe CodeRed emergency and weath-er notifications.

All CodeRed users who wish tocontinue to receive emergency alertsfrom the city should create a privateand secure Safety Profile at www.Smart911.com. Anyone already reg-

istered with a safety profile at www.Smart911.com can simply log intotheir account to opt-in to the newenhanced features.

Members of the communitycan visit www.smart911.com to signup and create a free Safety Profilefor their household, providing in-formation such as the names andphotos of family members, healthconditions, medications, pets in thehome, vehicle details and emergen-cy contacts. All profile informationis voluntary and each household candetermine what details are impor-tant to include.

Because a Safety Profile can betied to a mobile number, if a per-son dials 911 in any communityacross the United States that utilizesSmart911, his or her safety profilewill be available to dispatchers to aid

in emergency response. In Georgia,Smart911 is available in Alpharetta,Atlanta, Chamblee, Decatur, Dun-woody, DeKalb County, John’sCreek, Milton and Sandy Springs.

Covington Library friends groupto host book sale

The Friends of the CovingtonLibrary group will have a book sale10 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 20-21. Theproceeds be used to fund children’sprograms.

Covington Library is located at3500 Covington Highway, Decatur,at the corner of Memorial Drive andCovington Highway. For more in-formation, call (404) 508-7180.

Druid HillsGone Digital: 100+ years ofEmory yearbooks now online

Now through March 7, EmoryUniversity will hold an exhibit onthe digitization of Emory Univer-sity yearbooks from 1893-1999,which are now online, with morerecent years to be added soon. Theshow features digital access to the

yearbooks, a narrative on how theannuals show societal changes overtime and an oversized yearbookimage with face cutouts so visitorscan pose in the fashions of yester-year. The digital collection docu-ments not only the history of theuniversity, but also of changes ineducation, popular culture, poli-tics and economics. It’s also a goodway to research family membersand friends in their younger years.Emory University, 540 AsburyCircle Atlanta; (404) 727-6861. Foradditional information visit: web.library.emory.edu.

StoneMountainGeorgia Lakes Society brings itslake workshop to Stone MountainPark

Georgia Lakes Society, 501(c)3nonprofit organization, hosts LakeUniversity Workshops around thestate. The upcoming workshop willbe at Stone Mountain Park at theConfederate Museum EducationalCenter on Feb. 28, from 9:30 a.m.to noon. Previous workshops overthe past two years have been heldin Milledgeville, Columbus, Athensand Roswell.

The purpose of the StoneMountain workshop is to providehomeowner associations, lakeshorehomeowners and those responsiblefor the lake on their property infor-mation about the management ofthe lake.

The workshop at Stone Moun-tain will cover dam maintenance,sedimentation, lakeshore landscap-ing, and an introduction to theadopt-a-lake program. Opportuni-ties to network with lake managersand other lake professionals will beavailable.

Sponsors of the Stone Moun-tain Lake University Workshopare Integrated Lake Management,

Aquascape Environmental, AquaticRestoration and Siltbusters Dredg-ing Service.

Pre-registrants have free admis-sion to the park in addition to theworkshop. Coffee and a morningsnack will be provided. Register atwww.georgialakes.org by clicking onthe link for Lake University.

Traffic signal fix relievescongestion at major intersection

The commute on MountainIndustrial Boulevard may have justgotten shorter for some thanks to

traffic signal enhancements at theintersection of Hugh Howell Roadand Mountain Industrial Boulevard.

The bottleneck has been re-duced at peak times by traffic signaltiming and operational enhance-ments by Tucker-based SunbeltTraffic LLC, and funded by the StoneMountain Community Improve-ment District (CID). Currentlymore than 35,000 vehicles travel theroadway each day, and one of everyseven completing trips is carried outby a commercial vehicle such as afreight truck.

The signal timing effort has

reduced corridor trips by an aver-age of 50 seconds during the busiestmorning and afternoon drive times,according to before and after videomeasurements of the intersection.

Beyond the signal timing work,the CID has focused on improvedarea signage and enhanced lightedstreet signs to promote better navi-gation throughout the corridor. Ad-ditionally, the CID has assisted insecuring pavement repairs and otherinfrastructure upgrades in areasmost heavily traveled by commercial vehicle traffic.

A more detailed traffic flowstudy to evaluate improvements to

further decrease travel times alongMountain Industrial Boulevard isunderway.

AROUNDDEKALB

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LOCAL

Senior center construction halted

CITY OF BROOKHAVEN

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING:

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015 AT 7:00 P.M.

CITY OF BROOKHAVEN COUNCIL CHAMBERADDRESS: 4362 Peachtree Road, Brookhaven, Georgia 30319

The following Traffic Calming Petition involving streets located within the City of Brookhaven is

scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above.

TRAFFIC CALMING PETITION: TC14-02

STREETS AFFECTED: CANMONT DR FROM

SKYLAND DR TO CLAIRMONT RD

SKYLAND DR FROMDRESDEN DR TO SKYLAND TR

PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING SPEED HUMPS

SCHOOLSBUSINESS

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Pet of the Week


Construction on theNorth DeKalb Senior Centern Chamblee was halted Feb.9 by DeKalb County offi-

cials.Bricks, pipes, sand, un-assembled scaffolding andother construction materi-als remain on the ground allaround the unfinished proj-ect, located at 3393 MaloneDrive, which was scheduledo be open August 2014.

Britt Hand, who livesacross the street from theconstruction site, said he hasnoticed problems there.

“It seemed like when aub crew would start…they

would only do half the job,”Hand said. “Or when theywould come to put in thewindows, they didn’t finishhe front or anything.

“I don’t know if [thecontractors] weren’t just pay-ng their subs. I don’t know,”

Hand said.“But at this point it seems

ike the subs aren’t showingup. The superintendent justits…and doesn’t do any-hing,” he said. “This is what’ve been looking at for two

years.”Hand said he was watch-

ng Feb. 20 as “a guy showed

up in a DeKalb County truck,ike an inspector, made a

couple of phone calls andeverybody packed up andeft. It looked like the super-ntendent was cleaning his

office out. He was taking allof his papers and blueprintsand putting them in his car.They’re gone.”

The DeKalb CountyBoard of Commissioners onFeb. 10 voted to terminate

the contract with Talbot Con-struction Inc.

In an email, countyspokesman Burke Brennan said the county will hold “anemergency” invitation-to-bidpre-bid meeting with several

prequalified general contrac-tors at that site.“A new contract to com-

plete construction of thatfacility is anticipated to beissued by the county withinthe next few weeks,” Brennansaid.

Zach Williams, the coun-ty’s chief operating officer,said the termination cameafter several months of tryingto “work with the contrac-tor…to bring the project tocompletion.”

“We are simply at apoint where we believe it’s inthe best interest of DeKalbCounty to move on, to termi-nate the contract with TalbotConstruction, to seek thesurety, to find us a contractorwho will bring the project tocompletion in short order,”Williams said.

The county tried to get an“acceptable” revised schedulewith the contractor, Williamssaid.

“We came to the boardbefore with change orders onthe project, and we feel thatwe need to move on and find

a contractor that will finishthe project,” he said.

County officials said theproject has experienced manydelays, including unforeseensoil conditions, groundwaterissues and “multiple subcon-

tractor issues.”“An environmental sitestudy done on the property…failed to turn up that therewere these large concrete pil-lars that were buried beneaththe surface that had to beremoved,” Brennan said lastyear. “That was an unexpect-ed delay and expense. Thatwas a huge setback on thatproject.”

At the time, Brennan saidthat according to the county’srevised estimate the projectwould be completed by theend of 2014.

Once completed, the $5million senior center will bea 15,000-square-foot facil-ity with amenities includingcommunity meeting rooms,a computer lab, a fitness areaand more. Additionally, thecenter will include classroomsto accommodate the variousactivities requested by thecommunity and a dining hallseating approximately 120.

By press time, TalbotConstruction had not returnphone calls made by TheChampion.

No one is working on the North DeKalb Senior Center after the countyterminated the contract. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

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Online buyers and sellersbeware.

Law enforcement agen-cies are warning the publicabout criminals who areusing online ads to commitcrimes. They may set up bo-gus ads or respond to genuineads by sellers.

“When people purchasetems off of Craigslist, EBay,or] any online system, they

need to be careful,” saidDeKalb County District At-orney Robert James. On

Feb. 18, two men were sen-enced to life without the pos-

sibility of parole for settingup a bogus Craigslist ad andkilling 56-year-old Clarence Gardenhire.

The two men used a fakead for an iPhone to lure Gar-denhire and his son in 2013o an abandoned house in

DeKalb County. During anattempted robbery, Garden-hire was shot and later died ata local hospital.

In January, a man waskilled in DeKalb County afterresponding to an ad onlinead to purchase a pit bull atmidnight.

According to reports,Winder dog breeder Wal-ter Gonzalez and a friendwent to Stone Mountain tosell a dog. The 40-year-oldresponder pulled out a gunand tried to steal the dog. Thebreeder’s friend, who alsohad a gun, shot and killed thewould-be robber. Police saidhe man, in other instances,

had stolen a dog and anPhone.

“There are individualsout there that prey on peopleike that,” James said. “We’ve

seen it recently in CobbCounty. We’ve seen it the cityof Atlanta and we’re dealingwith it here in DeKalb Coun-

y as well.”James said, “There aresome common sense thingshat you need to do.”

At the top of the list ismeeting “in an area that isvery public,” James said.

“Don’t go to a private lo-cation,” James said. “Do notgo to a prearranged meetingat someone’s house or a clan-destine area.

“And if you show up andt appears that it is not a pub-ic place, you need to turn

around and leave,” he said.“That property is not worthyour life.”

“A good place to meets at a police station,” James

said. “That’s a very publicplace and it’s also a place

where an individual is prob-ably not going to rob youor start shooting. And wehave police precincts all overDeKalb County.

The Brookhaven PoliceDepartment recently releaseda statement urging residentsto “please use our parking lotto make a purchase or saleusing Craigslist or any otherwebsite.

“Do not meet anyone thatis not willing to make the ex-change in the parking lot of apolice department,” the state-ment read.

James additionally urgedthose using websites to meet

a stranger for a financialtransaction to “Make surethat someone knows thatyou’re going there” and “takesomeone else with you.”

The Craigslist websitestates, “With billions of hu-man interactions facilitated,the incidence of violent crimeis extremely low. Neverthe-less, please take the samecommon sense precautionsonline as you would offline.”

The website suggeststhat users should not invitestrangers into their homes;take a cell phone along fortransactions; and “trust yourinstincts.”

“These are some commonsense things that people canuse to make sure they don’tbecome a victim in cases likethis,” James said.

The Craigslist murder victim’s wife, Joan Garden-hire, said, “Just be mindful.Then you will know if thesepeople are serious.”

NOTICE

OF

BOND

ELECTION

TO

THE

QUALIFIED

VOTERS

OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on Tuesday, the 17th day of March, 2015, an election will be held in the City of Atlanta (the "City"), at which election there

will be submitted to the qualified voters of the City for their determination the question of whether General Obligation Public Improvement Bonds in an

aggregate principal amount not to exceed $187,945,000 should be issued by the City for the purpose of providing funds to pay, or to be applied or

contributed toward,

the

costs

of

the

acquisition,

construction,

reconstruction,

renovation,

repair,

improvement,

critical

capital

maintenance

and

equipping of public streets, traffic control infrastructure and equipment, curbing, storm water drainage, street name and directional signage, bridges,

viaducts and related public improvements including, but not limited to, streetlights, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and transit stops so as to improve the

pedestrian and transit environment, the cost of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for such improvements and other costs incident

thereto.

Each of the bonds of such bond issue, if approved by the voters, shall be dated as of the first day of the month in which the bonds are issued, shall be

in such denomination or denominations, shall bear interest from the date thereof at such rate or rates, but in no event exceeding the maximum rate

of interest of five and one‐half percent (5.50%) per annum, shall provide for interest to be payable semi‐annually on the first day of June and December

of each year, until the bonds are paid in full, all as shall be determined by the City Council of the City of Atlanta (the "Council") in a supplemental ordinance

with respect to the issuance of said bonds, and shall provide for principal to be paid on the first day of December in the years and the amounts set

forth below:

GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR PUBLIC STREETS, TRAFFIC CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT, BRIDGES, VIADUCTS AND RELATED

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

Year

2017

Amount

$ 6,600,000

Year

2026

Amount

$10,355,000

2018 6,940,000 2027 10,885,000

2019

7,295,000

2028

11,445,000

2020 7,670,000 2029 12,030,000

2021 8,065,000 2030 12,645,000

2022 8,475,000 2031 13,295,000

2023 8,910,000 2032 13,975,000

2024 9,370,000 2033 14,695,000

2025 9,850,000 2034 15,445,000

The bonds may be made subject to redemption prior to maturity, to the extent permitted by law, upon terms and conditions to be determined by the

Council in a supplemental ordinance.

Voters desiring to vote for the issuance of such Public Improvement Bonds shall do so by voting "YES" and voters desiring to vote against the issuance

of such Public Improvement Bonds shall do so by voting "NO" as to the question written or printed on the ballot labels with respect to the bonds. Such

question shall be substantially as follows:

"SHALL

GENERAL

OBLIGATION

PUBLIC

IMPROVEMENT

BONDS

IN

AN

AGGREGATE

PRINCIPAL

AMOUNT

NOT

TO

EXCEED $187,945,000 BE

ISSUED BY THE CITY OF ATLANTA FOR THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, REPAIR, IMPROVEMENT,

CRITICAL CAPITAL MAINTENANCE AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC STREETS, TRAFFIC CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT, CURBING,

STORM WATER DRAINAGE, STREET NAME AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE, BRIDGES, VIADUCTS AND RELATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO STREETLIGHTS, SIDEWALKS, BICYCLE LANES, AND TRANSIT STOPS SO AS TO IMPROVE THE

PEDESTRIAN AND TRANSIT ENVIRONMENT, THE COST OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 FOR SUCH

IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA?"

The ballot labels for the question propounded above shall have printed thereon the word "YES" and the word "NO" in order that each voter may

cast his or her vote in either the affirmative or the negative as to the question propounded.

The several places for holding the election shall be the regular and established polling places for holding elections in each precinct in the City.

Each polling place shall be opened at 7:00 o’clock a.m. and closed at 7:00p.m. on March 17, 2015.

Those qualified to vote at this election shall be determined in all respects in accordance and in conformity with the Constitution and laws of the

United States of America and of the State of Georgia.

FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REGISTER AND WHERE TO VOTE, YOU MAY CALL THE FULTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATIONS

AND ELECTIONS AT 404‐612‐7020 OR INQUIRE AT THE OFFICES OF THE FULTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATIONS AND ELECTIONS AT 130

PEACHTREE STREET, SUITE 2186, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THE FINAL DAY FOR REGISTRATION TO VOTE IN SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE FEBRUARY 17, 2015.

EARLY VOTING OPPORTUNITY SHALL BE FEBRUARY 23, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 13, 2015.

This notice is given pursuant to the authority of a resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Atlanta.

CITY OF ATLANTA

Rhonda Dauphin Johnson

Municipal Clerk

FAST TAX REFUND/FREE QUOTE

PGA TAXCONSULTANTS LLC

4600 Rockbridge Rd. St D, Stone MountainPH: 404.883.3204 FAX: 404.883.3514

www.PGATAX.com

FREE TAX SEMINAR

March 17th 6:30-8:30pmMainstreet Community Center

5001 Mainstreet Park Dr., Stone Mountain

Beware of meeting online crooks offline

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LOCAL

Community celebrates Chinese New Yearby Kathy Mitchell

Although Valentine’s Day2015 has come and gone, cel-ebratory red is again aroundto brighten February. Red isthe favored color for ChineseNew Year, which is notedon the calendar this year as

Feb. 19 but is traditionallycelebrated for at least a week,often much longer.

Red clothes, poems onred paper and red envelopesof “lucky money” presentedto children are all popularduring Chinese New Year,according to several websites,which note that red symbol-izes fire, which according tolegend drives away bad luck.

Lani Wong , chairwomanof the Atlanta chapter ofthe National Association ofChinese Americans (NACA),estimates that approximately3 percent of DeKalb County’spopulation has Chinese an-cestry, “They are from Tai-wan, from China, Hong Kongor from all over South east

Asia,” she said, noting thatmost are likely to join in theholiday celebration.

“The Chinese New Yearis the most important holidayin China; it’s is a weeklongnational holiday,” Wongexplained. “Most people gohome to spent time with fam-

ily. There is a massive move-ment of people traveling allover China. Airline ticketsand train tickets are hard toget with millions and millionsof people traveling.

“As our tourist visa is eas-ily obtained to come to theUnited States, we are seeingan increase of Chinese tour-ists coming to the U.S. forChinese New Year celebra-tions,” she continued, addingthat the most popular desti-nation is Las Vegas.

Because few Americanemployers give a day off for

the Chinese New Year, “weobserve the holiday by havingNew Year’s Eve dinner withfamily and sometimes withgood friends,” Wong said.

“As this year Chinese NewYear [was] Feb. 19, whichis a weeknight, many [had]dinner with friends and fam-ily members at a restaurant.Most Chinese restaurants hada full house that night.”

Those observing theholiday are welcoming the

Chinese year 4713, which onthe Chinese calendar is theyear of the goat (or sheep,depending on the transla-tion). The Chinese zodiacfollows a 12-year cycle witheach year named for an ani-mal. People are said to sharetraits with the animal of theyear in which they were born.Those born in the year of thegoat are believed to be gentle,mild-mannered and gener-ous and to have fewer healthproblems than those bornunder different zodiac signs,according to International

Business Times. Locally, NACA holds a

New Year celebration witha dinner and entertainmentevent that in recent years has

sold out. When the eventstarted in 1979, approximate-ly 60 members and friendsattended, Wong recalled.“Now we’re going to outgrowthe restaurant [on BufordHighway where the event hasbeen held in recent years],as we can take a maximum

of 330 guests for everyoneto enjoy the celebration. Wehave to turn down many re-quests from those who wantto join us.”

This year’s NACA-Atlantacelebration on Feb. 21 in-cluded a dinner served familystyle with more than a dozenChinese specialties served.

“The best part of the cele-bration is about giving back,”Wong said. “Sharing is im-portant for us, so we use theNew Year celebration to pro-mote our mission of buildingbridges, building leaders and

benefiting our community.”She noted that part of the

celebration is the awardingof scholarship funds to Geor-gia Perimeter College. “For

the past 10 years, we havedonated more than $100,000to the scholarship fund. Thebi-lingual nursing scholar-ship is our main focus,” shesaid. “We have supportedGood Shepherded Servicesfor almost 20 years. The past10 years we have focused on

their after-school programthat serves the refugee com-munity. This year NACA alsois supporting Global HealthAction in its outreach pro-gram in China.

“The New Year celebra-tion provides an opportunityfor people from all walks oflife to come together, to expe-rience the culture, the won-derful banquet, most impor-tantly is the sharing of friend-ship, as we have Chinesegovernment officials, Chinesebusiness leaders and our lo-cal government officials, and

business community cometogether to share one eveningto celebrate the New Year,”Wong said.

ostumed lion dancers entertain at the National Association of Chinese Americans-Atlanta celebration as drummers provide a beat.

City approves stormwater project increasey Ashley Oglesby [email protected]

On Feb. 15 Doraville cityouncil members met with

Keck & Wood project man-

ger Sam Serio and approvedbudget increase for the

tormwater retrofit projectcross McClave Drive.

Last month the councilapproved Gary’s Grading andPipeline Company’s (GG-PCI) bid package to performthe work for the McClaveDrive project, but Serio said

the project needs additionalfunds.

Following the January de-cision to hire GGPCI, How-

ard Koontz, city planner, andSerio visited with owners ofseven property that are lo-cated along the length of theproject site to survey ownersfor a temporary construction

easement that will allow GG-PCI to begin construction.

Serio said while meetingwith several of the property

owners they pointed out ad-ditional items that needimprovement and as a re-sult, some site adjustmentsconsisting of additional timeand materials will have to be

made that are in excess of theoriginally approved contractamount of $110,676.

The field adjustments

included additional squareyards of concrete for drive-way replacements, one addi-tional tree removal, a sectionof new curb and gutter alongthe edge of McClave Drive.

The new project price is now$117,591, a change order addof 6.25 percent.

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DeKalb Medical is a baby-friendly

hospital.The hospital is the first in Georgia to

earn the international “Baby-Friendly”Hospital Initiative designation fromBaby-Friendly USA Inc. Additionally,he hospital was also awarded a 5-STAR

Hospital Recognition from the GeorgiaDepartment of Public Health.

“We are very proud of this elite des-gnation and it speaks volumes to what

we stand for here at DeKalb Medical,”aid DeKalb Medical President and CEOohn Shelton. “Our mission is to earn

our patients’ trust every day, throughour uncompromising commitment toquality. The baby-friendly designa-

ion and 5-STAR rating exemplify thecommitment of our physicians, nursesand staff to providing the best possiblepatient care which ensures a healthiercommunity.”

“The baby-friendly initiative isan achievement of an internationalbreastfeeding quality designation thatwas started by UNICEF and the WorldHealth Organization in the 1990s,” said

Catherine M. Bonk , physician andboard member DeKalb Regional HealthSystem.

“The CDC and the state of Georgia

have really pushed it to try to make hos-pitals in the United States become baby-friendly,” said Bonk, who referred toherself as “the OB champion for DeKalbMedical’s baby-friendly initiative.

In June 2012, DeKalb Medical wasas one of 90 hospitals in the nationchosen to participate in the Best FedBeginnings Collaborative, a project forimproving breastfeeding rates in the U.S.by the National Initiative for Children’sHealthcare Quality, with support fromthe Centers for Disease Control and Pre-

vention (CDC) and aligned with Baby-Friendly USA.

There are more than 20,000 desig-

nated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birthcenters worldwide, including 227 in theUnited States.

“The designation consists of achiev-ing 10 steps that promote breastfeedingmothers and helps them learn and ac-complish their task breastfeeding theirbaby exclusively for as long as possible,”Bonk said.

“Breastfeeding is so important for

DeKalb Medical is state’s only“baby-friendly” hospital

See Hospital on page 16A DeKalb Medical ofcials are proud of the hospital’s new “baby-friendly” des-ignation. Photo by Andrew Cauthen

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LOCAL

by Ashley Oglesby

[email protected]

Children who have experiencedoral health issues are four times moreikely to have lower grade point aver-ges than their counterparts, accordingo the Renaissance Family Foundation.

As a part of the foundation’s mis-ion to improve oral and overall healthnd well-being of children and fami-ies, the foundation awarded the localffiliate of Renaissance Dental $45,000o the Georgia Department of Public

Health during an assembly at LilburnElementary School on Feb. 19.

The program also sponsored an oralhealth clinic on Feb. 20 at HightowerElementary School.

“What we’re trying to do from aocal and national perspective is to

make sure that kids understand themportance of good oral health. It’s somportant for them to do the routinetuff on a daily basis,” Renaissance

Dental Senior Account Executive BillCzajkoski said.

He added, “Ultimately these pre-ventative measures help them be morelert in class and help them have a bet-er experience in the school without

having any pain.”The school event focused on oral-

health education for students and

eachers, including an oral-health edu-ation program and activity stationsmphasizing the importance of good

oral and overall health.

“For students who participate inthe sealant program, over half of theirtooth decay may be prevented andmoney may be saved on their treat-ment costs. School-based sealant pro-grams reduce oral health disparities inchildren,” said Dr. Dwayne Turner.

“Sealants have been shown to re-duce decay by more than 70 percent,”Turner said. “The combination ofsealants and fluoride has the poten-tial to nearly eliminate tooth decayin school-aged children. Sealants aremost cost-effective when provided tochildren who are at highest risk fortooth decay.”

Students in f irst through fifthgrades received dental sealants andfluoride treatments, which Turner saidcan be vital to reducing tooth decayand other oral-health problems if re-ceived at a young age.

“Hightower Elementary school stu-dents will benefit from the partnershipby the Georgia Department of PublicHealth Oral Health Prevention Pro-gram, Renaissance Family Foundation,DeKalb Board of Health, and GeorgiaPerimeter College Dental Hygiene pro-gram,” Turner said.

“The sealant event included freedental services, dental sealants, fluo-ride varnish, and oral health items

(toothbrush, floss, backpacks, etc.) forapproximately 675 students,” he added.

Oral health education was also

Grant awards $45,000to support oral health

See Health on Page 14A

Renaissance Dental staff members answer questions and teach students the basics of maintaining good oral hygiene. Photos by Ashley Oglesby

A Hightower Elementary School student colors in a tooth drawing after an informaldental session with Renaissance Dental staff.

Third grader Jalil Abdullah receives free sealants.

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 Page 13AWEEK IN PICTURES

WEEKPICTURESIn

Photos brought to you by DCTV

23

DCTV Channel 23

@DCTVChannel23

DeKalb County Gov

Ustream.tv/channle/DCTV-Channel-23

VISIT US AT WWW.DCTVChannel23.tv E-mail us at [email protected]

Get your front row seat to all things DeKalb County

through your EMMY Award-winning station

2323

Girls hold a press conference at the Georgia Center for Nonprots sponsored by Amerigroup for the release of Girl Scout’s Digital Cookie Program, the new Digital Platform, and two newavors–Rah Rah Raisin and Toffee-Tastic.

The Tuck Everlasting crew rehearses back-stage for its performances at the AllianceTheater. Photos by Ashley Oglesby

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LOCAL

provided. Hightower Elementarychool teachers received oral health

materials (posters, dvds, coloringbooks, etc.) for classroom instructionand follow-up, according to Turner.

“A lot of these kids do not have

dental insurance and have nevereen a dentist and it’s one of the most

preventable chronic diseases,” Re-naissance Dental Account ExecutiveAndy Berli said.

“Getting these kids the sealantnsures that we keep them in thelassrooms and not have them miss

out on school.”The schools were selected to par-

icipate in the program after a study

conducted by Georgia Departmentof Public Health and local board ofeducation officials.

Georgia Department of PublicHealth official Jorge Bernal said thedepartment met with and local boardof education leaders and ascertainedthat 50 percent or more of the stu-dents in the DeKalb County SchoolDistrict were registered in free and

reduced lunch programs.“Our mission is to provide more

access to oral health care for low-in-come people. We’re trying to delivera lot more education and preventionprograms throughout Georgia,” Ber-nal said.

Georgia currently ranks 49 inthe country in the number of den-tists per capita, with 4.4 dentists per10,000 people.

Through the foundation’s grant,the DeKalb Board of Health OralHealth program will be able to pur-chase new portable equipment, den-tal chairs and curing lights for theschool-based sealant program.

Hightower Elementary SchoolPrincipal Sheila George said the pro-gram is especially helpful since theschool has only one school nurse.

“We do our best here to try andtrain them but for them to learn howto take care of themselves and theiroral hygiene–it really helps.”

She added, “Our kids are so ex-cited, they’re learning in a new way,it’s fun, it’s interactive–they’ll retainthe information a lot better.”

The funding marks the Renais-sance Family Foundation’s thirdgrant to programs in Georgia fo-

cusing on improving oral healthand literacy, following grants to theGOHPP in 2014 and the GeorgiaPublic Libraries in 2013.

“Oral health is a very impor-tant part of overall health, and weare committed to doing our part tohelp make sure children show up toschool healthy, pain free and ready tolearn,” said Teri Battaglieri director

of the Renaissance Family Founda-tion, in a recent press release. “Welaunched the Renaissance FamilyFoundation in Atlanta in 2013, andconsider Georgia our second home.It is important to us, as a companythat we work to improve oral healthin communities that need our sup-port the most.”

HealthContinued From Page 12A

NEWS BRIEFS

Dunwoody Police seeking bank robber

On Feb. 19 at 2:39 p.m. an unidentified sus-pect entered the SunTrust bank located at 121Perimeter Center West, presented a note to theeller implying he had a gun and demanded cash,

according to a news release from the department.According to police, the suspect fled the scene

on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.The suspect was described as a 23- to 24-year-

old Black male, light complexion, 5-foot-7 to5-foot-8, 150 lbs. He was wearing blue sweat-pants, dark jacket, brown fur-lined cap, andgloves.

Anyone with information regarding the case,hould contact Detective Ehlbeck at (678) 382-

6925 or [email protected].

DeKalb Workforce Development announcesunds for employers and job seekers

DeKalb Workforce Development recently an-

nounced the Workforce Innovation Fund for em-

ployers seeking to help those experiencing long-term unemployment re-enter the workforce.“Employers can use the funds to prepare

ready-to-work DeKalb job seekers with ready-to-fill jobs,” according to a news release from thecounty.

The Workforce Innovation Fund provides re-cent opportunities for work experience to work-ers unemployed for one year or longer. Thesequalified candidates are often overlooked due totheir length of unemployment.

Participating employers receive wage subsi-dies to provide work experience to the programparticipants. Employers will work directly with astaffing agency to identify qualified candidates foropen positions.

Employers must be stable, established busi-nesses, able to demonstrate financial viability.Employers and program participants will bescreened by DeKalb Workforce Development foreligibility prior to program participation.

“To date, the program has placed 60 candi-dates in industries ranging from administrative tohealth care,” said Varonia Walker, the fund grantmanager for Workforce Innovation.

Interested employers are encouraged to con-tact Cynthia Robinson at (404) 371-6217.

K-9 memorial fundraising at halfway mark

The campaign to raise money for the designand installation of a K-9 memorial statue hasreached its halfway mark. The estimated cost ofthe project is $10,000; $5,510 has been donated sofar.

The monument, titled “Hero, Partner, Friend,”will be located at DeKalb County Police Head-quarters, 1960 West Exchange Place, Tucker. Itwill sit on the hill where the current police head-quarters signage is, overlooking the projected po-lice and firefighter monuments. It is purposefullylocated behind the other monuments as dogsalways have officers’ backs.

“It really touched my heart how many peoplehave supported this important project,” said Xan Rawls, DeKalb County’s director of animal ser-

vices and fundraising coordinator. “These dogs goto work every day and put their lives on the linealongside their human partners. They deserve to

be honored at the end of their watch, like any of-ficer.”The DeKalb County Police Alliance is accept-

ing donations through the organization’s 501-C-3account. Donations also can be made through the

K-9 memorial Go Fund Me account at www.go-fundme.com/j04jvk.Plans for the memorial began after a discus-

sion between DeKalb K-9 Officer Mark Taylor and Rawls after the death of the officer’s K-9 com-panion. The statue and memorial are to be dedi-cated May 15, 2015, as part of the observance ofthe 100th year of DeKalb County police services.

The Wylde Center announces 2015 board oftrustees

The Wylde Center has named its 2015 boardof trustees and officers of the board.

The new board officers are: Shelby Buso,director of sustainability for Central AtlantaProgress, chairman; Josh Becker, partner, Alston& Bird LLP, vice chair; KC Boyce, director ofcustom research for Chartwell Inc., treasurer; andJenna Mobley , teacher, Atlanta Public Schools,secretary.

Board members include: Caroline Branch,assistant rector, St. Bede’s Episcopal Church;Elena Conis, assistant professor, Emory Univer-sity; Allison Germaneso Dixon, senior director,marketing and creative services, Meeting Expec-tations Inc.; Ardath Grills, epidemiologist, CDC;Rex Hamre, senior sustainability manager, JonesLang LaSalle; Caroline Herring , singer/songwrit-er; Jeremy Jeffers, business development man-

ager, Gault Millau Inc.; Beth Krebs, managementconsultant; Jessica Neese, owner, In Bloom Inc.;Lynn Russell, partner, Russell & Herrera; andMike Sage, senior advisor and guest researcher,CDC.

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Life Continued From Page 1A


Phone,” James said. “They wereust going to purchase a phone and

he was killed in the process over apiece of property, and that makes noense.”

Bill Hankins, senior assistantpublic defender for DeKalb County

epresenting Contevious Stepp-McCommons, called the defendants “young men [who] made a bad de-cision over the course of a few min-utes. It’s a tragedy.”

Hankins told reporters that thecase was hard to defend.

“Anytime there are shots fired,t’s very difficult on the defense

when there is a deceased involved,”Hankins said. “That’s the biggestobstacle every time. And the facthat the codefendant was gone for3 months didn’t help.”

Jennifer Lopez-Pierrelus, thevictim’s stepdaughter, said, dis-

played a picture of her immediatefamily. “My husband didn’t have afather,” she said. “So my dad cameinto his life and showed him what itmeant to be a good man, a stand-upman, a good dad, a good son.

Lopez-Pierrelus called her father

the family’s “support system.”“My sons have delayed their

education because they just gotdepressed over the [loss of] theirgranddad,” she said in court as partof the victim’s family’s impactstatements.

“My parents came up here forthe birth of their grandson Joshua.Joshua was 3 days old when my dadwas killed,” Lopez-Pierrelus said.“Joshua will never get to experiencehow wonderful his grandfather was.He’ll never get to have those con-versations with him telling [Joshua],‘I want you to go to school. I want

you to get a college education. Iwant you to really be somebody.’”

Lopez-Pierrelus said her mother“was robbed of the man who choseto love her and her children, andtake care of her, and always be therefor her.”

“I watched my mom lose somuch weight,” she said. “I watched people come into our driveway andrepossess my mother’s Jaguar thatmy dad was buying her, becauseit was in his name. I now see mymother’s home in foreclosure be-cause her help mate, her support isgone.”

Lopez-Pierrelus said she is intherapy for depression “because mysupport, my encourager, the onewho always, always told me youcould be whatever you wanted to be—he’s gone.”

“I just ask that the court give

the same leniency to the two defen-dents that they gave to my father,”Lopez-Pierrelus said. “I want mychildren…to know that justice has been served.”

The shooting victim’s wife, JoanGardenhire, said the sentencing was

“what we prayed for.” “There are consequences for

your actions,” she said. “‘Ven-geance is mine. I will repay.’ That’swhat God said and that’s what we believe we got. They made thatdecision to kill my husband. Theymade the decision not to show himany mercy.

“The sentence will not bring myhusband back,” Joan Gardenhiresaid. “My heart hurts. When I thinkof Clarence, I cry.”


Afer more political wrangling onFeb. 24, the DeKalb County Boardo Commissioners ended with thesame result—no representation orDistrict 5.

Tis round started with the

agenda item to appoint KathrynRice to temporarily fill the Dis-trict 5 seat which has been vacantsince July 2013, when Lee May , theelected District 5 commissioner, wasappointed interim DeKalb CountyCEO by Gov. Nathan Deal, ollow-ing the indictment and suspensiono DeKalb County CEO Burrell El-lis.

On Feb. 10, afer months o astalemate, the board decided todeny the appointment o May’sfirst choice to fill his seat, GeorgeTurner.

Beore the board voted to rejectthe nomination, Commissioner

Stan Watson said, “We had Mr.George urner in ront o us or anumber o meetings and we actu-ally could not come to a consensusor Mr. urner, based on the process

that people said was not compliantor was not what was intended bystate law.

“Tis is the same scenario thatwe have again with [Rice] that is notsupposedly compliant with state lawand also that the process is not cor-rect,” Watson said. “[As] one o thespeakers said, I think we may have

to ride this out because I think thatthe commission has another processin mind...to scuttle the whole thingto make sure we can put our personin place.”

Commissioner Jeff Rader, whohas opposed the process in whichMay nominated his potential inter-im successor, reversed his opposi-tion and supported Rice.

“I’ve heard people stand up hereor months and months asking orus to make a decision on this ap-pointment,” Rader said.

“Whereas I also don’t agree withthe process o the CEO making thisnomination, this is not his first pick

and is a pick that is the consequenceo a top ranking by [a] citizens’group,” Rader said. “o the extentthat it doesn’t seem like this processwill be resolved or quite some time

unless we act now, I’m willing to ac-cept that second pick.”

Rader said Rice “has shown alevel o independence and commu-nity leadership that recommendsher or this job. Her name is amiliarto many o you in so ar as she hasbeen working to improve DeKalb.”

“I believe we need elected leader-

ship in District 5 and I hope that wesoon have elected leadership there,but ailing the resignation o theinterim CEO rom that District 5,we need to move ahead and proveseven seats on this board o com-missioners,” Rader said.

Commissioner Kathie Gannon,who also opposed the original pro-cess o choosing an interim com-missioner, said, “We can’t have anelection which has been my firstchoice. I’ve been very vocal aboutthe desire to allow the people o Dis-trict 5 to vote or their representa-tive, but that’s not going to happen.

Gannon said she would support

Rice even though she doesn’t “knowi that is who the citizens want inDistrict 5. I know they want some-one, so I’m willing to go orwardwith that, i that’s who the commis-

sion wants.”Commissioner Sharon Barnes

Sutton made substitute motion to“elect Mr. George urner…since weare no longer concerned about theprocess.”

“I do know that the peoplein that community support Mr.urner,” Sutton said. “I think that i

we’re going to do the right thing, weshould do the right thing and nottry to wait until we get someone thatwe want.

“I the process is not going to bea concern let’s go with the first picko the committee that selected [thenominees],” Sutton said.

Rader pointed out that urner’snomination was not beore theboard and could not be considered.

When the commissioners’ voteor Rice tied, it was up to May, ona government trip to Washington,D.C., to break the tie.

Reached by phone during theboard’s meeting, the interim CEO

voted to deny the approval o Rice.Now it is up to the board o com-

missioners to come up with its owninterim commissioner.

Political wrangling continues to keep District 5 seat open

District 5 residents are still looking for representation on the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. File photo

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LOCAL

NOTICE

OF BOND ELECTION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on Tuesday, the 17th day of March, 2015, an election will be held in the City of Atlanta (the "City"), at

which election there will be submitted to the qualified voters of the City for their determination the question of whether General Obligation Public

Improvement Bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $64,055,000 should be issued by the City for the purpose of providing funds to

pay, or

to

be

applied

or

contributed

toward,

the

costs

of

the

acquisition,

construction,

reconstruction,

renovation,

repair,

improvement,

critical

capital

maintenance and equipping of municipal facilities, including buildings, recreation centers and other facilities and related public improvements and the

cost of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for such facilities and improvements and other costs incident thereto.

Each of the bonds of such bond issue, if approved by the voters, shall be dated as of the first day of the month in which the bonds are issued,

shall be in such denomination or denominations, shall bear interest from the date thereof at such rate or rates, but in no event exceeding the

maximum rate of interest of five and one‐half percent (5.50%) per annum, shall provide for interest to be payable semi‐annually on the first day of June

and December of each year, until the bonds are paid in full, all as shall be determined by the City Council of the City of Atlanta (the "Council") in a

supplemental ordinance with respect to the issuance of said bonds, and shall provide for principal to be paid on the first day of December in the

years and the amounts set forth below:

GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS

FOR

MUNICIPAL

FACILITIES AND

RELATED

PUBLIC

IMPROVEMENTS

Year

2017

Amount

$ 2,250,000

Year

2026

Amount

$ 3,530,000

2018 2,365,000 2027 3,710,000

2019

2,485,000

2028

3,900,000

2020 2,615,000 2029 4,100,000

2021 2,750,000 2030 4,310,000

2022 2,890,000 2031 4,530,000

2023 3,035,000 2032 4,765,000

2024 3,195,000 2033 5,005,000

2025 3,355,000 2034 5,265,000

The bonds may be made subject to redemption prior to maturity, to the extent permitted by law, upon terms and conditions to be determined by the

Council in a supplemental ordinance.

Voters desiring to vote for the issuance of such Public Improvement Bonds shall do so by voting "YES" and voters desiring to vote against the

issuance of such Public Improvement Bonds shall do so by voting "NO" as to the question written or printed on the ballot labels with respect to the

bonds. Such question shall be substantially as follows:

"SHALL

GENERAL

OBLIGATION

PUBLIC

IMPROVEMENT

BONDS

IN

AN

AGGREGATE

PRINCIPAL

AMOUNT

NOT

TO

EXCEED $64,055,000

BE

ISSUED

BY

THE

CITY

OF

ATLANTA

FOR

THE

PURPOSE

OF

PAYING

THE

COSTS

OF

THE

ACQUISITION,

CONSTRUCTION,

RECONSTRUCTION,

RENOVATION,

REPAIR,

IMPROVEMENT,

CRITICAL

CAPITAL

MAINTENANCE

AND

EQUIPPING

OF

MUNICIPAL

FACILITIES,

INCLUDING

BUILDINGS,

RECREATION CENTERS AND OTHER FACILITIES AND RELATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND THE COST OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS

WITH

DISABILITIES

ACT

OF

1990

FOR

SUCH

FACILITIES

AND

IMPROVEMENTS

IN

THE

CITY

OF

ATLANTA,

GEORGIA?"

The ballot labels for the question propounded above shall have printed thereon the word "YES" and the word "NO" in order that each voter

may cast his or her vote in either the affirmative or the negative as to the question propounded.

The several places for holding the election shall be the regular and established polling places for holding elections in each precinct in the City. Each

polling place shall be opened at 7:00 o’clock a.m. and closed at 7:00 o’clock p.m. on March 17, 2015.

Those qualified to vote at this election shall be determined in all respects in accordance and in conformity with the Constitution and laws of the

United States of America and of the State of Georgia.

FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REGISTER AND WHERE TO VOTE, YOU MAY CALL THE FULTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATIONS AND

ELECTIONS AT 404‐612‐7020 OR INQUIRE AT THE OFFICES OF THE FULTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATIONS AND ELECTIONS AT 130

PEACHTREE STREET, SUITE 2186, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. THE FINAL DAY FOR REGISTRATION TO VOTE IN SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE FEBRUARY 17, 2015.

EARLY VOTING OPPORTUNITY SHALL BE FEBRUARY 23, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 13, 2015.

This notice

is

given

pursuant

to

the

authority

of

a resolution

adopted

by

the

Council

of

the

City

of

Atlanta.

CITY OF ATLANTA

Rhonda Dauphin Johnson

Municipal Clerk

he health and well-beingof the infants, and it hasremendous health benefitso the mother,” she said. “It’she right way to feed a baby.t’s what God intended.

The baby-friendly des-gnation shows that DeKalb

Medical is “committed tofamily-center, quality-drivenobstetric and neonatal care,”Bonk said.

Leah Aldridge, boardpresident of the HealthyMothers, Healthy BabiesCoalition of Georgia, said,We know from the Ameri-

can Academy of Pediatricshat breastfeeding reduceshe rates of ear infections,owers respiratory infec-ions, gastrointestinal infec-

ions, risks of leukemia forour babies. For our momst reduces the risk of car-

diovascular disease, ovariancancer and breast cancer.And when you put the costavings associated with theower incidences of thoseisks you realize that there’s

a lot of healthcare dollaravings associated with in-

creasing the rates of breast-feeding.

“It’s so important forhospitals like DeKalbMedical…to provide an op-portunity for support andeducation for our moms,”Aldridge said.

Seventy percent of Geor-gia mothers start breastfeed-ng, she said.

“There’s only a verymall percentage of our

Georgia moms that don’tknow that breastfeedings good for their baby and

want to breastfeed,” Al-dridge said. “But 75 percentof moms run into problemsn the first few weeks.

“What we need to do,and what DeKalb [Medi-

cal] is poised to do, is helphose moms overcome thosedifficulties, so that theycan reap the real rewards—health rewards and financialewards—that breastfeed-ng offers,” she said. “When

mom run into trouble theyneed to know they can comeo DeKalb Medical.”

Aldridge said “only14 percent are exclusivelybreastfeeding at six months.That ranks Georgia 40th outof 50 states.”

HospitalContinued From Page 11A

School Continued From Page 2A

student’s individually to meet each oftheir needs and increase performance.”

The Opportunity School Districtwould take in no more than 20 schoolsper year, meaning it would governno more than 100 at any given time.Schools would stay in the district for

no less than five years but no morethan 10 years.“That’s not something we’re really

focused on right now, we’re focused onmaking sure that every day we are giv-ing our students the best,” Wiley said.

She added, “Ivy Prep is commit-ted to making sure that our school issuccessful and making sure that weimprove and that’s what we’re going to

keep our focus on.”In May the school hired the Yard-

stick consultancy group to assist inimproving student academic perfor-mance.

Wiley said the turnaround plan isnow being implemented.

The changes include an Ivy Univer-sity program led by its founder NinaGilbert with assistance from teachersand school leaders, aimed at offeringmore coaching to teachers. An Aca-demic Parent Teacher Team was alsolaunched to get parents more involvedwith their students’ academic perfor-mance. Wiley said the emphasis of theprogram is on fluency.

“We believe that the person infront of our students is the most criti-cal, so this year we have done a strate-gic outline for professional develop forthem,” Wiley said.

“We’ve invited a lot of externalconsultants to come our school before,

and so this year we wanted to use theexpertise that we have in-house.”Deal said on Feb. 17 he was con-

sidering whether to exempt charterschools from his program.

The move is meant to calm crit-ics who said the focus of the initiativeshould be on more traditional publicschools.

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 Page 17ABUSINESS

New Big Green Egg headquarters hatches

The Voice of Business in DeKalb CountyDeKal

freepress 2-26-15

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