DeKalb FreePress 5-20-16

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CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER CHAMPIONNEWS CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER CHAMPIONNEWS

hechampionnewspaper.com F REE P RESS FRiDaY, MaY 20, 2016 • Vol. 19, no. 5 • 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.

CHAMPION The

See Dunwoody on Page 5ASee Beauti cation on Page 5A

County launches beautication unitDunwoody moves fwith city hall purchby R. Scott Belzer [email protected]

Dunwoody’s police department, city staff, council,mayor and municipal court will call a new buildinghome in late 2017 or early 2018.

Following a two-year search for an “optimumlocation,” Dunwoody city council approved the pur-chase of an of ce building at 4800 Ashford Dun-woody Road with the intent of establishing a new

city hall.The new building will cost the city approximately$8.25 million. Another $20,000 will be used to obtaina professional evaluation of the building.

Dunwoody has used an of ce building behind theCrowne Plaza Ravinia across from Perimeter Mallas its city hall since 2009. According to city of cials,Dunwoody’s city staff and police department cur-rently occupy approximately 33,000 square feet.

The new location, offering 45,000 square feet and180 parking spaces, is approximately 1 mile northalong Ashford Dunwoody Road near Ashford GablesDrive and Valley View Road. The facility was built in1994 and currently houses Community & SouthernBank.

Done deDunwoody is set to relocated its city hall to 4800 Ashford DunwoodyRoad, which currently houses Community & Southern Bank. Photoprovided by the city of Dunwoody

by Andrew [email protected]

Being smarter about keep-ng the county clean is the

goal of a new entity in DeKalbCounty.

With the May 12 launch ofhe Keep DeKalb Beautiful

Beauti cation Unit, severalxisting entities under one

umbrella: Code Enforcement,Foreclosure/Vacant PropertyRegistry, the mowing and her-bicide and the litter abatementgroup.

Previously housed invarious buildings around thecounty, the beauti cation unitwill be located at 1807 Can-dler Road in Decatur in theold community developmentbuilding.

The new unit, which even-ually will have approximately

190 staff members, will “allow

Marcus Kellum is the head of the new beauti cation unit.

nterim DeKalb County CEO Lee May and Commissioner Larry Johnson plant owers outside the new codenforcement building.

The county’s new code enforcement building is on Candler Road.

Business .................................17A Classied ..............................20A Education .........................18-19A Opinion ......................................7A Sports ................................21-24A

QUICK FINDER

BUSINESS, 17A

COMMUNITY LEADERSEXPRESS SUPPORT FORDORAVILLE TAD

LOCAL, 12A

FALLEN OFFICERSREMEMBERED

LOCAL, 8A

PUBLIC, OFFICIALSDISCUSS E-SPLOSTBEFORE MAY 24 VOTE


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LOCAL The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, May 20, 2016 • Page 2A

DeKalb super: Students make ʻeconomy of toby R. Scott Belzer [email protected]

DeKalb County SchoolDistrict (DCSD) Superin-endent Stephen Green weighed in on the contro-versial tax allocation districtTAD) conversation in an es-ay released May 5.

A TAD being proposed inDoraville would help nancemulti-purpose redevelopmentof the 165-acre former GMssembly plant. The projectequires participation fromhe school district and countyommission, but DCSD has

denied formal presentationsrom developers, Doravillend other project supporters

on the grounds that the ma-

ority of the school board doesnot support the project.In addition, Green has

tated the district is in thebusiness of education, notunding private projects.

Doraville Mayor DonnaPittman has released an OP-ED piece and taken the timen Doraville’s 2016 State ofhe City Address to discusshe topic’s importance. Thedevelopers have since saidhe project may be downgrad-d from a multi-use complexo strip malls, residential build-ngs and auto-dealerships ifhe TAD is not established.

On May 5, Green’s essayThe little engine that does,”quated DCSD to the chil-

dren’s story The Little EngineThat Could in supporting its02,000 student body and re-

gional economy.“Let’s be clear; rst and

oremost, our school districtoffers children a safe, stableetting for their schoolworknd social life,” Green writes.And we offer parents andamilies the assurance thatvery child will be respected

nd taught in a healthy, holis-ic environment.”Green then detailed how

DCSD nancially supports therea through preparing the

next generation for job cre-tion, wage earning, tax pay-ng and responsible citizenry.

“We also create theconomy of tomorrow in ourlassrooms,” Green writes.

The rst part of this en-gine, according to Green, ishe 15,407 employees, includ-ng 6,543 teachers.

“This makes the districthe second largest employern the county right behindhe Emory University com-plex,” Green writes. “Most ofhe $634 million these good

people make annually in com-petitive salaries goes straightback into our Atlanta-areaeconomy, not into the coffersof corporations in other statesor into the pockets of realtyspeculators.”

Green writes the schooldistrict has spent more than$128 million in E-SPLOSTfunds in partnership with localbusinesses in the Atlanta re-gion. The superintendent saidthis amount was between$210 million to $255 million ifone were “include a multipliereffect for local sub-contractorsand other services.”

“The fact is that our littleeconomic engine turns out

not to be so little after all,”

Green writes.Green also mentions how

an improving school districthas been responsible for at-tracting new residents andbusinesses, speci cally cit-ing the district’s 11 percentincrease in graduation rates,workshops for un- and under-employed parents, dual-de-gree programs and advancedplacement (AP) test expan-sion.

“When Daimler BenzNorth American recently an-nounced the relocation of itsheadquarters to the area, itpartly based the decision onthe quality of local educa-tion,” Green writes. “And

Ray Gilley , president of the

Decide DeKalb Develop-ment Authority, recently saidDeKalb County is enteringa period where we will “con-tinue seeing growth.” Onereason Gilley cited [being] our‘very much improving schooldistrict’ and a large, qualityworkforce (thank you, DeKalbschools).”

Green concludes in ask-ing businesses, local andstate governments to supportits local system, “instead of[being] at odds with it.”

“The sparks thrown offby the school district’s eco-nomic engine glow all aroundus,” Green writes. “Someexamples may surprise – we

deliver economic value, with-

out pavement or pollution, inunexpected, non-traditionalways.”

Green has found supportfrom the county he serves atpublic meetings held in Apriland May.

On April 18, former DCSDboard of education memberPaul Womack commendedthe current board for oppos-ing the TAD. Womack saidthe developers knew the costbefore investing in the projectand should take responsibility.Womack also echoed Green’ssentiments of being an eco-nomic developer by way ofeducating young minds.

“In 2009, we were askedas a board to support a TADon Peachtree Road,” Wom-

ack said. “This board turned itdown because we realized wehad taken an oath to educatechildren, not become bankersfor people who invest money.Your oath is the same as wetook – to educate children.You’re not in the business ofmaking millions of dollars forpeople.”

On May 9, the board re-ceived similar support fromErnest Brown , who com-mended Womack’s initiative.

See related story on page17A.

On May 24, VoteTo Keep Judge

Clarence Seeliger• Over 30 years’ Judicial Experience

• Life me Commitment to EndingDomes c Abuse

• Dignity in DeKalb Courts

VOTE MAY 24THReelectSeeligerAgain.ComFacebook: SeeligerForJudge2016

Stephen Green, right, has been supported and opposed in his opinions regarding the Doraville TAD.


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AROUND DEKALBAVONDALE ESTATESCommunity club to host auction

The Avondale Community Club will hold its annual auction May 21 at

the club, 59 Lakeshore Drive. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. For moreinformation, visit www.avondaleestates.org.

BROOKHAVENCity to host dog event

Brookhaven second annual “Bark in the Park” will be held June 4,10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brookhaven Park. The event will feature music, dogtrick demonstrations, dog-related vendors, pet adoptions, food trucksand beverages. All dogs will receive a gift to take home. All dogs mustbe on a leash. Admission is free. The park is located at 4158 PeachtreeRoad. Call (404) 637-0518 for more information.

CHAMBLEECity digitizes court paymentsThe city of Chamblee is now offering a more convenient way to pay traf c

tickets.In late April, Chamblee announced it had partnered with nCourt, a

“nationally recognized electronic payment provider,” to allow online paymentsfor traf c citations and other similar nes.

The website will allow for payments to be made “quickly and safely,”according to city of cials. The website will be available at any time, day ornight.

“Not all citations require the defendant to appear in court,” readsChamblee’s website. “Depending upon the charges, many citations may bepaid before the court date in lieu of appearing in traf c court.”

MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover cards are acceptedas forms of payment in addition to debit cards. Customers may also pay byphone by calling (855) 619-0150.

For more information, visit Chamblee’s municipal court website atwww.chambleega.gov/court.

CLARKSTONMilam pool celebrates opening

Clarkston will open Milam Park Pool, located at 3867 Norman Road,on May 27. The event will include free admission, door prize giveawaysand music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The park will remain open until Labor Day2016.

Milam Park’s pool features a toddler pool, a kid’s pool as well as a lappool. It also features umbrella shaped fountains. The park also features adog park, tennis courts, playground, soccer eld and baseball eld.

Following Milam Park Pool’s opening, a $2 fee will be required foradmission for children and $3 for adults. Non-residents will pay more andseasonal passes are also available.

For more information,visit clarkstonga.gov/parks-recreation/milam-park-pool.html.

DECATURCommunity service board to meet

The May 26 board meeting of the DeKalb Community Service Boardis open to the public for those who are interested in services for mentalhealth, addiction and developmental disabilities.

The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at 445 Winn Way, Room 421,Decatur.

The advocacy committee meeting will be held in the same room at 3

p.m. and is also open to the public.The audit, nance and compliance meeting will be held in the sameroom on Tuesday, May 24, at noon, and also is open to the public.

Those with disabilities in need of assistance or accommodations toparticipate in the meeting, please notify Community Relations at (404)508-7875.

Farmers market owner to address DeKalb Chamberawards luncheon

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce has announced that Robert Blazer , founder and owner of Your DeKalb Farmers Market, will be thekeynote speaker for its 2016 APEX Business Awards on Wednesday,May 25.

The market, which was founded 40 years ago, employs anethnically diverse staff representing 50 countries. The farmers marketserves an average of 100,000 customers per week, the news releasestates.

The awards luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.at the Atlanta Marriott Century Center, 2000 Industrial Boulevard NE,

Atlanta. Tickets to attend are $60 for chamber members and $75 for

nonmembers and guests. For more information and to register, visitwww.bit.ly/2016ApexAwards.

DUNWOODY City to host public input meeting on growth

Residents wishing to voice their opinions on Dunwoody’s growth cando so at Dunwoody City Hall May 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Dunwoody will host a public information and input meeting at whichresidents have the opportunity to have impact info the city’s parks andrecreation master plan. The master plan is used to guide the city’sgrowth in infrastructure as well as green space.

The meeting will also allow citizens to discuss survey ndingsregarding the city with of cials.

Dunwoody City Hall is located at 41 Perimeter Center East. Formore information visit www.dunwoodyga.gov

Nature Center to host summer campsRegistration is now open for a series of summer camps at the

Dunwoody Nature Center.Beginning May 31, the center will host a series of full and half-day summer camps for kids aged 3 to 11 years old (or pre-K to fth

grade). The four-day camps will feature such themes as “Up in the Air,”“Nature’s Hide and Seek,” “Wilderness Adventure,” “Reptile Roundup,”“Creek Week,” “Jeepers Creepers,” “Forest Adventures,” and more.

Each camp will allow students to participate in nature discoveries,trail walks, arts and crafts, science experiments, games, free play andlunches.

In 2015, the Nature Center “served nearly 800 children through [the]camps at Dunwoody Park and Island Ford.”

“Were their parents satis ed?” asks the event’s description. “Youbet! Among surveyed respondents, 99 percent said that they wouldrecommend the Nature Center’s camps to a friend and 98 percent planto return this summer.”

Camps will run until August 18. Half day camps for 3 and 4 year-oldswill cost $150 for members and $185 for non-members. Full day campswill cost $240 for members and $275 for non-members. Camps takingplace at Island Ford Park will cost $265 for members and $290 for non-members.For more information, contact Holly Loveland , summer campdirector, at [email protected].

STONE MOUNTAINCity to host music event

The Hannah Thomas Duo will perform May 27 at Stone Mountain’sTunes By The Tracks event in the Municipal Parking Lot, next to thegazebo. Attendees can bring their lawn chairs. The two-hour concertbegins at 7 p.m. Tunes By The Tracks will be held every Friday untilJune 24. For more information, visit www.stonemountaincity.org.


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Efrain Espinosa

Efrain Espinosa

Volunteers honored by Sheriffʼs Ofceby Andrew [email protected]

Pastor Ron Brown , a ministerat Spirit and Truth Sanctuary inDecatur, has been a chaplainat the DeKalb County Jail forapproximately 20 years.

His motivation for volunteeringat the jail is personal.

“Well, I was in jail myself once,and for that reason I know that—’m not trying to brag on myself—ome of the best men in the world

pass through here,” Brown said.So you never know who you’re

going to meet. You just come andry to do what you think God wants

you to do.”Brown was one of

approximately 80 volunteerswho provide services to inmatesand their families recognizedby the DeKalb County Sheriff’sOf ce May 12 during an AnnualVolunteer Appreciation Banquet.

The volunteers supportDeKalb County Jail’s multiculturalChaplaincy Service Program,

Sheriff’s Of ce Inmate EducationalServices and court-mandated drugprograms.

As a chaplain, Brown said hisjob is to try to come get [inmates],f I can, before things get tooerious. My job is—if there’somebody that’s maybe has doneome time before but they’re

almost out—to try to encouragehem to get out and stay out.

“That’s why I do it,” Brownaid. “Jesus says, ‘I was in jail

and you came to visit me not.’Somebody’s got to do it.”

Col. Larry Tolbert , DeKalb’schief jailer, said the appreciationbanquet is held because “it isssential to tell our volunteers how

grateful we are for their committedervice.

“Your actions consistently helpto ease the spiritual burden of ourinmate population, thus easing theburden of our staff,” Tolbert toldvolunteers. “For that, we are trulygrateful.”

Melissa Manroe , director ofaccreditation and inmate service,told volunteers that they deservemore than a meal “because weknow, coming to work here everyday, that this is not an easy placeto come into.

“For those who are hereunwillingly, it’s incredibly dif cult,”Manroe said. “For those who keepwatch over those who are hereunwillingly, it can be as dif cult inmany ways. A volunteer such as[you] can make all the difference.”

DeKalb County Sheriff JeffreyMann told volunteers, “Wecannot…manage this environmentand this sheriff’s of ce withoutyour servant leadership.

“What you do makes adifference in the lives of the more

than 2,300 individuals we have inthis facility here today who havetemporarily lost their freedom ofmovement,” Mann said. “We aregrateful for your help to make their

lives better during such a dif culttime.”

Mann said the volunteers helphim ful ll one of his objectiveswhich is to “make sure...that

people who come into this facilityleave just a little bit better off thanwhen they rst came to the facility.

“The entire community ofDeKalb County...owes a great debt

of gratitude to you all for reshapingthe behaviors of those individualsthat we see here,” Mann said.

Mann thanked the chaplaincyprogram for logging more than

5,100 hours of volunteer servicein 2015 and “for bringing hope toinmates by providing them a link totheir faith-based beliefs while theyare incarcerated here.”

For approximately 25 years,Efrain Espinosa has been visitingnmates at the DeKalb County Jail.

Espinosa, a member ofAtlanta’s Holy Cross Catholic

Church, is one of approximately 80volunteer chaplains.“I’m visiting the Hispanic

nmates,” Espinosa said about hisvolunteer role. “I just try to bringhem the good word, the good

news that they are not alone, thatesus is with them and that there’s

hope for them.”Espinosa said he tries to get

nmates to realize that “there canbe a change in them.”

“We just pray to God that [the

change] would be soon,” saidEspinosa, who visits the jail everySaturday.

To augment his ministry at the jail, Espinosa has recruited nineothers to ensure that the “Hispaniccommunity has more opportunitiesto receive the word of God. Theyare in need.”

“Doing it by myself, I’m not ableto ful ll my goal–to bring the wordof God at least two or three timesa month,” said Espinosa, addingthat he was unable to visit all of theHispanic inmates each month.

“Inmates on one side of the jailwould not be seen for two or threemonths,” Espinosa said. “I needed

more volunteers so [inmates]could receive the good news moreoften.”

Espinosa said his fellowvolunteers “like to keep comingbecause they feel it from thebottom of their hearts. This is agood ministry for them.

“In the near future we’replanning to bring in some morevolunteers,” Espinosa said.

Working with the inmates hasbeen very rewarding, he said.

“I [am] appreciative verymuch to God that he gave me theopportunity to come over here andalso to the sheriff to allow us to doour ministry,” Espinosa said.

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey Mann saidvolunteers provide an essential service toinmates.

More than 80 volunteers who provide services for inmates and their families werehonored by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Of ce. Photos by Andrew Cauthen


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The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, May 20, 2016 local Page 5A

DUNWOODYContinued From Page 1A

BEAUTIFICATION Continued From Page 1A

“We performed extensive assessments andevaluations of available, existing or vacantproperties within the city to see which mightbe the most bene cial solution for our citizensand city staff,” said Dunwoody Mayor DenisShortal . “As city leaders and staff reviewedoptions, the 4800 building rose to the top ofour list as the most scally prudent and logisti -cally sound choice.”

City Manager Eric Linton formally present-ed the item before the Dunwoody council forapproval with a slide presentation during its bi-weekly meeting held May 9. Linton explainedthe city has a 90-day period to look over theproperty before making a nal decision, afterwhich the city will move into a 30-day closingperiod.

“The purchase is contingent upon council’sapproval on it tonight,” Linton said. “It’s an ac-tive building so, at rst glance, we don’t fore -

see any major issues with it. We do want tocheck the mechanical and roof system to seewhat kind of condition they are in.”

Other city of cials said the purchase seeksto ful ll multiple goals: allowing for futuregrowth, obtaining a central identity, obtainingan identity and building equity.

Shortal said the new building would giveDunwoody City Hall a visibility that’s “secondto none.”

Councilman John Heneghan said thebuilding is a good t for the city. The District 6representative’s only concern involved beingin compliance in terms of sustainability.

“Great building, great location, good price,”

Heneghan said. “It’s going to suit our needsfor a long time.”Councilman Terry Nall said the building

could serve either short or long term, as Dun-woody has considered properties closer to thenewly opened Park at Pernoshal Court withactive leases.

“That’s still on the horizon; it’s not forgot-ten,” Nall said.

According to the purchase agreement be -tween Dunwoody, JHJ 4800 Ashford, LLC, andRCB 4800 Ashford, LLC, current tenants haveuntil January and May, 2017 to relocate.

The council unanimously passed the reso-lution to purchase the property at 4800 Ash -ford Dunwoody Road. The city has alreadymade a $50,000 refundable deposit on theproperty according to its city manager.

us to focus on the beauti cation of the en -irety of this county,” interim DeKalb County

CEO Lee May said. “We want our countyo be beautiful, visually aesthetic. We have

o be smarter in how we deliver those [ser-vices].“So with this new beauti cation unit, we

are now bringing in many different functionsunder one business unit,” he said.

As part of the new endeavor the county isdeploying a new litter abatement unit.

“We are hiring employees to do one thingand one thing only—go around the countyand pick up litter...in the public right of way,”May said.

“When people won’t do the right things—when they take the Coke bottles andChurch’s chicken bags and dump them onhe side of the street, we now have staff that

will work to help pick that up,” he said.“I know this is something that has been aong time coming,” said Commissioner Ka-hie Gannon.

“We are a beautiful county,” Gannon said.We just need to get this to layer off the

ground so everyone can see that and begino take pride in that and begin to take re-ponsibility for it. In the meantime we’re go-ng to help you along by picking some of thattuff up ourselves.”

Gannon said some of the causes of littermust be addressed through legislation thatshe plans to work on.

“There are entirely too many fast food

restaurants without garbage cans, andpeople walking around with fast food in theirhands and when they’re done, they throw it,”Gannon said. “For those people who don’tknow where to put their Coke bottles...andtheir trash, we have a lot of education to do.

“This is our county,” Gannon said. “Weneed to start pick up after ourselves.”

Commissioner Larry Johnson said coun-ty beauti cation is “a village effort.”

The beauti cation unit “is not the pana -cea for…all the litter being picked up in thecounty, because government cannot do thisby itself,” Johnson said.

“The government is not throwing down

the trash,” he said. “It’s going to take all ofus working together” on beauti cation.Johnson said he is excited about the

beauti cation unit because “it’s going tomake a difference in this community.”

Marcus Kellum , head of the beauti ca -tion unit, said the unit is “the natural synergythat we always needed.”

The unit will “prove to folks that we careabout our county and how it looks,” Kellumsaid.

Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May saidthe county needs to be smarter aboutbeauti cation. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

DeKalb County CommissionerKathie Gannon said she will focuson legislation addressing the litterproblem.

DeKalb County Commissioner Larryohnson said the beauti cation unit

will make a difference in the county.


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The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, May 20, 2016 opinion Page 6A

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Newslady’s slate of candida

A lesson to learn from the death of

by Steen Miles

Early voting began May 2head of the May 24 primary.would like to offer my

houghts about candidatesor various DeKalb Countyf ces in the Democratic

Primary.Who am I to be so bold as

o suggest who one shouldtrongly consider votingor? I am asked so often

privately that it makes senseo offer my thoughts publicly.

Here are my credentials. Im a 36-year resident and

observer of DeKalb Countypeople and politics. My twodaughters attended DeKalbpublic schools. I worship in

he county. I reported on theounty as a multiple award-winning reporter with theocal NBC af liate. I servedhe county in numerousapacities including PTA,

business, education, social/ivic organizations, the

Chamber of Commerce andeceived nearly 300 awardsor community service–nothe least of which is havingerved as senator for the

43rd district.I’m a senior citizen who

peaks only that which Iknow. I know where thebodies are buried and whoburied them!

I will only offer myopinion on the contestedaces. Those on the ballot

unopposed speaks volumesas to the need to keep them.So, fasten your seatbelts!Here we go!

State Senate District43 –Hands down for Dee

Dawkins-Haigler for theseat I once held. Shehas the experience, thecommitment and the moxieto take her legislative skillsfrom the House side to theupper chamber. In addition,she connects with thecommunity and has deepties to it. Haigler has beenat the forefront of criticalissues facing the state andhas worked tirelessly tohelp move us forward inthe right direction whetherit is education, legislation tocombat human traf cking,domestic violence and insanegun legislation. To vote foranyone else guarantees thetemporary Republican now inthe seat will keep it!

DeKalb DistrictAttorney – Sherry Boston ,the current solicitor is thechoice. It saddens me not togo with the incumbent, butsometimes the damage incredibility is just irreparable.Boston is bright, articulate,and ethical—a young womanof integrity, free from any hintof impropriety. She will doextremely well as our nextdistrict attorney.

Tax Commissioner -Here is another instancewhere we need to keep whowe have! Irvin Johnson hitthe ground running the intax commissioner’s of ce

just as Claudia Lawson didafter the late Tom Scott .

Johnson has the know-how,experience and integrity forthe job of keeping tabs onthe half billion dollars thatcome through that of ce. Ifnot Irvin, attorney SusannahScott, daughter of the latetax commissioner, would bea good second choice. Thereis nothing more worth saying!Drop the mike. Walk awayfrom the podium.

CEO – Mike Thurmond gets an enthusiastic nodas our next CEO. He is thequintessential public servantthe little engine that could.This Athens native has agood name maintained overthe years from his days sell-ing his daddy’s vegetables.The former legislator, state la-

bor commissioner and super-intendent of DeKalb CountySchools can right our shipand steer us to shine again.Thurmond is a man of princi-ple and integrity. He is scallyresponsible and an excellentleader. He is reasonable, ap-proachable and a people per-son par excellence. This manknows how to take lemonsand make lemonade!

Connie Stokes is a re-ally nice person with plentyof moxie and Joe Bembry is right on the money on somany issues but is viewedas comedic relief. DeKalb’scurrent state of affairs is nolaughing matter.

We need Mike Thurmond.

He is the right man, at theright time for all the right rea-sons.

Commissioners District4 – Lance Lawyer Ham-monds is the choice here.For Hammonds, it is peopleover politics. He is a man ofimpeccable integrity, a com-munity servant who has beencontent to work behind thescenes. There is no ego hereor bravado. Because of Ham-mond’s years of devotionto community, he is keenlyaware of the critical issuesfacing the district and thecounty. As an executive leveldistrict sales manager he hasthe experience and skill setsto know what to do. Also, hepossesses the temperament

to know how to interact withhis fellow commissioners andconstituents to get thingsdone. The effectiveness ofthe incumbent is severelycompromised by personalissues that have spilled overinto questionable public prac-tices.

Commission District 6 –Keep Kathie Gannon. Whileone doesn’t always agreewith her, Gannon is a womanof great intellect and integrity.She works hard for her dis-trict. She is fair and tries hardto balance representation ofall her constituents. One ofGannon’s greatest assets iscommunication. She keepsher constituents informed,

invites their input and listensto them. She is a great publicservant and is visible in herdistrict throughout the year,not just at election time. Weneed more like her.

These are my choicesbased on years of observa-tion and interaction with mostof the candidates. Whomeveryou choose, just vote. Thevitality of our county dependson it. Our lives, the lives ofour children and grandchil-dren depend on it.

Steen “The News Lady”Miles, a retired Emmy-awardwinning journalist and formerGeorgia state senator whoremains active in county af-fairs.

Gale Horton [email protected]

Lifestyle Editor

The untimely death ofmusic phenomenon Prince has left fans around the worldeeling.

The tributes on radio, TV

nd social media continue topour in as the enormity of hisody of work and in uence

on contemporary culture isbeginning to be fully realizednd appreciated. Many, too,re learning just how savvy

Prince Rogers Nelson wasn his business dealings. Not

only did his genius result inuch iconic hits as Purple

Rain and Little Red Corvette ,he also masterminded aplan for independence andreative freedom in the

business of making music.After getting out of a contractwith Warner Bros., the singer/

songwriter/musician/produceralso was an innovator,distributing his own musicand creating his own studio.His estate is estimated to beworth $300 million.

However, the life and

death of Prince is also acautionary tale for the restof us—die without a will andthose we love are likely tobe left with a mess on their

hands. Prince’s family—onesister, several half-siblingsand other relatives comingout of the woodwork to claimkinship to the late artist—are at the very beginningof what’s likely to be along process of interactionwith a court-appointedadministrator, lawyers andother representatives to seewho gets what.

One doesn’t have to bea superstar or have assets inthe millions to cause turmoilupon one’s demise.

For those who dieintestate, without a will,

there’s no guarantee who willinherit their estate—savings,investments, real estateand other property. In caseswhere there’s no spouse, the

state steps in to determinehow and to whom the assetsshould be distributed. Incontested situations, theprocess could be long andtedious and the outcome isnot guaranteed to satisfy theparties involved.

The term “estate” soundsgrand but legally it refers toany possessions—everythingfrom a few meager itemsto extensive holdings andinvestments.

According to a survey byRocket Lawyer, 51 percentof Americans age 55 to 64don’t have a will and among

the general population 64percent of people havenot documented their nalwishes.

Unless one has a wicked

sense of humor or despisestheir loved ones, why putthem through the additionalemotional upheaval ofdealing with lawyers andcourts and trying to gure outwhat to do with what’s leftbehind?

Prince will be longremembered for his brilliancein music and the musicindustry. Maybe the spotlighton the battle over his assetswill spur some of us to getour affairs in order so ourloved ones don’t face similardrama when we die.

Miles


7/24

Emotions—particularlyanger and fear—but thank-ully also humor, haveended to trump logic, liter-lly and guratively, thislection season. It is quite

understandable that Ameri-ans of all political stripes

and most every demo-graphic are disenchantedor simply disgusted by theack of action and results

against many of the chal-enges facing our communi-ies and nation at the local,

tate and federal levels.This polarization, whichhills so much of all dia-ogue between groups of

any difference in demo-graphics, backgroundor thought only movesus all further and furtherapart. With literally dozensof signi cant and real chal-enges facing our publicducation system, we willikely sit back and let de-

bates over “potty policy”dominate the public arenaall summer. Pardon me, buthat is bull@*^#.

There you go—a reac-ion in anger. Not appropri-

ate for a family newspaper,and certainly not best forpolite adult commentary.

My mother used to re-mind me when I resortedo cussing, that I had very

quickly exhausted all ratio-

nal thought and justi ca-tion. Fighting words are thelanguage of the ignorant, orof those nearing the end oftheir rope. It should not bewhere we start a conversa-tion or the environment inwhich we select our lead-ers.

I realize that the bulkof my Trump supporterfriends won’t bother to readthis, but in the event thatyou do, please follow alongwith my logic here. Youthink that Obamacare, orthe Affordable Care Act, isan abomination. Pun in-tended. So, you go and hirea butcher you know well toconduct the next surgeryyou need, as you know heis good with a knife.

You believe that thetrade policies of this and

several past administrationsare horri c, so we unilater-ally break multi-nation, insome case cross-continenttreaties, to build tariff andtrade walls back up around

America, and a real walldown near the southernborder (on land we don’town, so it will have to beacquired rst). Perhapswhile we are waiting on theconstruction and the tradebarriers to move in place,we can go visit the presi-

dential museum of the lastpresident who advocatedsuch trade barriers, hightariffs and U.S. protection-ism and isolation from theglobal economy. His namewas Herbert Hoover .

Both Trump and Sand-ers would have you believethat they disdain the po-litical elites and consultantclass who built this riggedsystem. It would not bepopular to acknowledgeor point out that getting tothis point also required awhole lot of acquiescence,compliance and incumbent-friendly voting by the same

Americans now roiling to aboil.

I do not favor or recom-mend term limits, as it tipsthe balance of power in thedirection of the appointedand non-elected bureaucra-

cy; but we can, and likelyshould, restructure the cal-endar and primary electionsystem. California now hasan open primary system, allcandidates from every partyrun on one ballot, then thetop two vote-getters pro-ceed to a runoff.

So, in your anger youhave had some great sur-gery by your local butcher,resurrected Hoover’spolicy recommendations tostrengthen our U.S. econo-

my (Hoover was presidentduring the great nancialmarket crash of 1929). Sonow let’s hand regulationof the aviation industryto an exciting stunt pilot,guaranteed to shake thingsup despite a complete lackof understanding of ightschedules, jet avionics orthe complexities of ightlanes and routing.

Congress has spentmost of the past severalyears with an approval rat-ing barely in double dig-its. The House speaker wasrun out by his own partythough yes, technically hestepped down on his own–and few are reviled morethan U.S. Senate MajorityLeader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and yet, as ofthis writing, not one singlecongressional incumbent in

either major political partyhas lost a primary or runoffelection. I suspect morethan a few seats may belost in November, but thatmay actually come as adown-ticket result from an-ger voting.

Georgia’s General Pri-mary Election is Tuesday,May 24, runoffs will followin less than a month. Earlyvoting ended on May 20. Ifyou don’t know, and don’tcare, don’t vote. But if you

do care and do plan to vote,exercise your brain, talkwith those whose opinionyou trust, do some reading,a bit of Googling and makean informed decision. Thereis a lot riding on it.

Bill Crane also servesas a political analyst andcommentator for Channel2’s Action News, WSB-AMNews/Talk 750 and now95.5 FM, as well as a col-umnist for The Champion,Champion Free Press andGeorgia Trend . Crane is aDeKalb native and businessowner, living in Scottdale.You can reach him or com-ment on a column at [email protected].

Bill [email protected]

Columnist

ONE MAN’S OPINION

The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, May 20, 2016 opinion Page 7A

THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS encourages opinionsfrom its readers. Please write to us and express yourviews. Letters should be brief, typewritten and containthe writer’s name, address and telephone number forverication. All letters will be considered for publica-tion.

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a more educated citizenry that willultimately move our communityforward. We are happy to presentideas for discussion; however,we make every effort to avoidprinting information submitted tous that is known to be false and/orassumptions penned as fact.

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The folly of voting in


8/24


DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management Public Advisory Interstate 85 & Oakcliff Industrial Court Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation

May 6, 2016 June 6, 2016 Advisory Issue Date Advisory Close Date

This advisory is issued to inform the public of a receipt of an application for a variance submitted pursuant to a State Environmental Law. The Public is invited to comment during a 30 ‐day period on the proposed activity. Since the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has no authority to zone property or determine land use, only those comments addressing environmental issues related to air,

water and land protection will be considered in the application review process. Written comments should be submitted to: Program Manager, Non ‐Point Source Program, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101, Atlanta, Georgia 30354.

Type of Permit Application: Variance to encroach within the 25 ‐foot Sate Waters Buffer. Applicable Law: Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Act O.C.G.A. 12 ‐7 ‐1 ET seq. Applicable Rules: Erosion and Sedimentation Control Chapter 391 ‐3 ‐7. Basis under which variance shall be considered {391 ‐3 ‐7.05(2) (A‐K)}: A

Project Description & Reason for Initiating : I‐85 and Oakcliff Industrial Ct. Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project is a rehabilitation project of an existing sanitary sewer located between the North Fork of Peachtree Creek and just northwest of Oakcliff Industrial Ct. in the City of Doraville, GA. Specifically, the site is located in land lot 314 & 318 of the 18th district in DeKalb County, GA. The proposed construction will include the rehabilitation of approximately 2,275 linear feet of 10", 12", and 15" sewer pipe. The project is needed due to the numerous sewer spills along the existing sewer outfall.

Project Location: This project is located in land lot 314 and 318 of the 18 th district of DeKalb County. Beginning at terminus of Oak Cliff Industrial Court and running south to Interstate 85 and continuing south to the confluence of

the North Fork of Peachtree Creek for a total distance of approximately one mile. The Public can review site plans at 1580 Roadhaven Drive Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083. Phone: 770 ‐724 ‐1450.

REPORT OFSTONE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY

IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTOF PROPOSEDMILLAGE RATE

In compliance with O.C.G.A. §48-5, the Stone MountainCommunity Improvement District (“CID”) reports thatat its mee ng on June 3, 2016, beginning at 9:30 A.M.at the Pierre Construc on Group, 1677 Lewis Way,Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia 30083, theStone Mountain CID Board of Directors will vote upon aproposal to levy an ad valorem taxa on rate of 5 mills,and will set its millage rate for the lawful purposes of theDistrict for the current calendar year. Set forth below arethe assessed taxable values of the proper es subject totaxes for the current year and the immediately preceding

ve calendar years, the total dollar amount of advalorem taxes proposed to be levied for the current yearand levied in the immediately preceding ve calendaryears, as well as the percentage and dollar increases ordecreases with respect to each immediately precedingcalendar year. All property levied upon is real property.

Assessed Value Taxes Levied % Change $ Change

2011 $99,233,165 $496,165 100% $ 496,165

2012 $95,086,670 $475,433 - 4% - $ 20,732

2013 $125,777,273 $628,886 32% $ 153,453

2014 $136,005,547 $680,028 8% $ 51,142

2015 $142,901,125 $714,505 5% $ 34,477

2016 * $172,551,407 $862,757 21% $ 148,252*Proposed

J. Lynn Rainey, PC, 358 Roswell Street, Suite 1130, Marie a, Georgia30060; (770) 421-6040. A orney for CID - State Bar No. 592350

‘It’s ourmoney’

by R. Scott Belzer [email protected]

F or six minutes onMay 9, an audiencein DeKalb County’sJ. David WilliamsonBoard Room sat attentiveand silent while elementary

students Isaiah Stevensand Elijah Stephensspoke.

The words echoingthrough the auditorium-likeroom were precise as theyoutlined needs for DeKalbSchool of the Arts, includ-ing a proper auditorium andclassroom expansion tohonor the school’s name.

Speakers mentionedthe education speci c spe -cial local option sales tax(E-SPLOST) to be votedon May 24 and asked theboard of education, Super-intendent Stephen Green and other staff to use theanticipated funds wisely.

“In 2011, E-SPLOST IVreferendum voters madeit possible for us to get abig auditorium and converttwo large classrooms intodance rooms,” said IsaiahStevens, a third-grader atDeKalb School of the Arts.“These rooms would have

dance oors, wall mirrorsand wall bars. It’s our mon-ey. [The amenities] werepromised to us!”

Isaiah, 8 years old, de-tailed how he enjoys privatedance lessons and wouldlike to take his talents to thestage in a school setting.He also said that many ofhis classmates would liketo do the same, but do nothave access to private les-sons, as DeKalb School ofthe Arts is a Title I school.

Title I schools servehigh numbers of low-incomefamilies and students andactivities outside the class-room are often set aside.

“Just think of how manystudents could train and bebetter prepared at DESA ifwe had better facilities andequipment,” Isaiah said.“There are more than 500students enrolled at ourschool and they come fromall across the county.”

Elijah Stephens, 7 yearsold and in rst grade atDeKalb School of the Arts,continued the plea.

“I am speaking tonightbecause I want a big au-ditorium and two morebig dance rooms for ourschool,” Elijah said. “In2011, there were manypeople who voted for E-SPLOST IV. Their votesmade it possible for us toget $4.3 million. Do youknow how much $4.3 millionis? I know–it would pay fora big auditorium and pay fortwo large dance rooms.”

The Stephens’ concernsstarted a trend that would

last more than 40 minutesand nearly all of the timeallotted for public input atthe DeKalb County SchoolDistrict’s (DCSD) monthlyboard meeting.

An E-SPLOST lastsve years and the current

E-SPLOST is scheduled to

last until 2017. However,the school district is takingthe expansion vote, whichwould outline projects fromJuly 2017 to June 2022,on May 24. It is estimatedto bring an additional $500million to DCSD.

“Approval in May 2016would ensure that the pen-ny tax continues to be col-lected,” reads a statementon DCSD’s website. “Withthat knowledge, the DCSDcould more aggressivelyplan the next building pro-gram to meet our students’

needs through June 2022.”The majority of speak-ers supported the E-SPLOST, or the 1 percentsales tax used speci callyfor construction and main-

Public, officials discuss E-SPLOST before May 24 vote

See E-SPLOST on Page 9A


9/24


E-SPLOST Continued From Page 8A

Mountain Industrial Boulevard getsby Carla Parker [email protected]

The Stone Mountain CommunityImprovement District (CID) hopesMountain Industrial Boulevard will be saferafter the addition of 10 light posts alongthe bridge over Highway 78.

The light poles were installed May10 and 11 to help increase safety andvisibility, according to the CID. Crews fromR.J. Haynie and Associates and MassanaConstruction began modifying the bridge inJanuary to install the light poles and attachLED lights and light assemblies.

CID President Emory Morsbergersaid in a released statement that leadersidenti ed the bridge lighting project as akey traf c safety improvement.

“Bridge lighting provides a distinctgateway into our business community,welcoming all of those who are part ofthe continued success happening here,”Morsberger said. “In addition to thelighting, the CID has completed substantiallandscaping upgrades at the interchange

along with tree plantings and overallupkeep throughout the district. We wanteveryone to see the investments thatour businesses make into this incrediblecorridor.”

In the last two years, the CID hasdone various projects to spruce theroad to attract more businesses to thedistrict. In 2014, the CID and DeKalbCounty partnered to implement landscapeimprovements and beautify the exit rampsat the Highway 78 and Mountain IndustrialBoulevard interchange.

In 2015, the CID partnered withDeKalb County Board of Commissioners,Keep DeKalb Beautiful and DeKalb CountyOf ce of Planning and Sustainability toplant hundreds of trees as along MountainIndustrial Boulevard and East Ponce deLeon.

The bridge lighting project was fundedthrough a grant from the State Road andTollway Authority’s Georgia TransportationInfrastructure Bank, according to the CID.The CID funded the project’s design andinspection costs.

enance throughout schooldistricts, but said certainneeds were not being met.

DeKalb School of theArts teacher Irenea Seufertasked the board to allo-cate funds for her schooland cited the school’s na-ional ranking in US News

& World Report (third inGeorgia, 102nd in the US)and a growing student bodyas reasons to invest in thechool.

“Our facilities are failingand not keeping pace withhe incredible achievements

going on inside the walls,”Seufert said. “Plumbing,HVAC systems, safety andother facility-speci c issuespose a challenge. Space forhe arts – the main focus for

our school – is reaching acritical level with insuf cientpaces for practice and per-ormance.”

DeKalb parent Al-yson Gervertz thankedhe board and Green forheir approach to the new

E-SPLOST. She cited pasteadership as using politicso create a project list ratherhan empirical data and

commended leadership’s

fforts.“I acknowledge votingyes’ for E-SPLOST boils

down to trust in Dr. Green’s

leadership,” Gervertz said.“The determination of newschool locations has all hap-

pened with community inputalong the way. This is totallyunprecedented in DekalbCounty.”

Teacher Ernest Brownalso voiced support of E-SPLOST and called uponfellow members of the pub-lic to vote ‘yes’ in its expan-sion. Brown cited the $2billion spent on school facili-ties since the tax’s imple-mentation.

“This type of investmentis consistent with this lead-ership team,” Brown said.“If we need improvementsto our homes, we addressthem as quickly as possible.That is how we should viewE-SPLOST for schools.”

City Schools of DecaturSuperintendent David Dude said the district would bedistributing iers and notesin newsletters before May24 to garner support. Dudesaid if the county did not re-new E-SPLOST the effectswould be felt throughout theregion.

“It would affect the entirecounty,” Dude said. “It would

affect east Atlanta, part ofthe Atlanta Public Schoolssystem, it would affect theentire city of Decatur.”

DeKalb School of the Arts elementary student Isaiah Stevensvoiced his own concerns over the use of E-SPLOST V funds onMay 9, calling for a new auditorium and dance rooms. Photo by R.Scott Belzer

Construction crews began working May 10 to install light poles along the Mountain IndustrialBoulevard bridge. Photo from Stone Mountain CID


10/24


Media clerk reinstatedBy R. Scott Belzer [email protected]

Those familiar with CitySchools of Decatur(CSD) media clerkusan Riley characterizeer as welcoming, kind andven inspirational to thoseround her, especially whencomes to students.

Following a two-month ordeal involvingproar, outcries and manyassionate pleas for aympathetic ear, City

chools of Decatur can addnother characterization toRiley’s persona: expensive.

On Feb. 26, Riley waseleased from her positions media clerk for Decatur

High School, promptingublic demonstrations anddvocacy on her behalf.

Riley was cited asone of the most belovedmployees at Decatur Highchool” and even “a second

mother” by some.City Schools of Decatur

id not release an of cialeason behind Riley’sermination due to iteing a personnel matter.

Matters dealing with schoolmployees, includingerminations and hiring, takelace behind closed doorsnd have no obligation to be

made public. According to Decaturish ,

Riley’s attorney DavidHughes said Riley waserminated for four reasons:

misappropriating schoolquipment, not adhering tonew job plan, discussing auman resources complaint

nd complaining about aoworker’s mistreatment ofer.

The district neveruali ed nor disquali edhese claims.

An emergency executiveession was held by CSD’soard of education two daysater to discuss the matterue to public outcry.

Riley was placedn administrative leaveending a review of the

matter. The public outcrywas enough to give

uperintendent DavidDude pause and havedministration bring in a “fullnd impartial” review of thease.

“Over the last two

days, some signi cantaccusations have beenraised regarding the validityof the investigation, andresulting information, thatled to the termination ofMrs. Riley’s employment,”said Dude in a publicstatement. “In fairnessto all involved, I havesuspended the terminationand provided Mrs. Riley withpaid leave while I bring athird party in to conduct afull and impartial review.”

A third-party

investigation began onMarch 3 and Riley wasreinstated on April 13.

In the interim, a rallywas held outside DecaturHigh School by staff,teachers and students.Friends and coworkers suchas Tom Stubbs repeatedlyattended City Schools ofDecatur board meetings toplead on Riley’s behalf.

On May 11, City Schoolsof Decatur released aninvoice detailing a $14,757employee terminationinvestigation from StricklandBrockington Lewis, LLP.The invoice describes aninvestigation by JonathanPoole in which 16 districtemployees, including DavidDude , were interviewed.

Individual employeesoutside of Dude, Riley andHughes are not named forcon dentiality purposes.

Poole charged thedistrict $185 per hour toinvestigate the matter, adecrease in price fromthe $235 originally quotedfor the investigation. The

invoice begins on March 7and concludes on April 21.Hourly rates were

calculated on a decimalscale, logging suchactivities as interviewpreparation (0.70 hoursor $129.50), researchinto potential issues (0.20hours or $37) and evenemail correspondence withprincipal players (0.10 hoursor $18.50).

The invoice lists0.50 hours of review inregards to Riley’s overallevaluations. However, italso details interviews withemployees lasting morethan three hours at a time.Certain employees werecontinually spoken to via

email and telephone whileothers provided unnameddocuments. Employeeswere interviewed until April12, one day before Riley’sreinstatement.

After interviewing threeCSD employees, Poolereviewed personnel policiesfor the district. The interviewwith Riley herself tookplace on March 17 after11 employees had beeninterviewed and lasted fourhours.

A total of 79.60 hourswere logged by Poole,amounting to more than$14,000. Throughout theinvestigation, it appearsRiley’s attorney, DavidHughes , was kept in theloop via email. According to

the document, Hughes also“suggested questions” forinterviewees.

An attorney for anunnamed employee,referred to as “A. Lightcap,”was also contactedmultiple times during theinvestigation.

No formal writtenreport was issued by CSDfollowing the investigation,citing personnel reasons,but Dude did offer a publicapology.

“My decision toterminate Mrs. Riley’semployment with the schooldistrict was not a ‘rightdecision’ as I believed,”Dude wrote. “I made awrong decision based onfacts I belived were more

clear than they actuallywere; for that I haveapologized to Mrs. Riley andto the [Decatur High School]staff and hereby apologizeto the greater community forwhich I caused unnecessarystrife.”

Dude also made severalpersonnel proceduralchanges following Riley’sreinstatement, includinghaving Human Resourcesdirector David Adams report directly to thesuperintendent over ChiefOperating Of cer NoelMaloof .

Dude also said a taskforce would be assembledto look into employeegrievance, technology useand promotion processes.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE 2016 ‐2017 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, GEORGIA

There will be public hearings on the proposed 2016 ‐2017 budget for the City of Decatur at 7:30 p.m. on June 6, 2016; at 6:00 p.m. on June 13, 2016; and, at 7:30 p.m. on June 20, 2016 in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur. The proposed budget is summarized below and is available in its entirety for public inspection at Decatur City Hall and at the Decatur Library on Sycamore Street. After May 18 th , the budget will be available on the City’s website at www.decaturga.com/budget. All citizens are invited to attend the public hearings, to provide written and oral comments, and ask questions concerning the entire budget.

FY 2016

‐2017

PROPOSED

GENERAL

FUND

REVENUES

AND

EXPENDITURES

REVENUES

Taxes 18,846,500 Licenses, Permits & Inspections 1,031,250 Penalties, Fines & Forfeitures 1,110,000 Interest 0 Charges for Current Services 1,854,250 Intergovernmental Revenues 432,700 Miscellaneous Revenue 122,000 Sale of Fixed Assets 25,000 Operating Transfers 169,000 Appropriation From (To) Fund Balance 658,140 TOTAL REVENUES $24,248,840

EXPENDITURES Governmental Control Department 180,600 General Government Department 1,874,440 Community & Economic Development Department 2,013,620 Administrative Services Department 3,674,700 Police Department 5,739,870

Fire & Rescue Department 3,630,150 Public Works Department 3,103,960 Design, Environment & Construction Division 1,936,130 Active Living Division 2,095,370 TOTAL EXPENDITURES $24,248,840

City Schools of Decatur spends more than $14,000 on investigation

City Schools of Decatur has been the center of controversy due to the ring and rehiring of mediaclerk Susan Riley, which eventually cost the district more than $14,000. Photo by Travis Hudgons


11/24


Dr. Jabari Simama, Presidentand

The Board of Directors of Georgia Piedmont Technical Collegewith

The Board of Trustees of theGeorgia Piedmont Technical College Foundation

Invite you to a end our

2016 Spring CommencementSaturday, the Twenty- rst Day of May,

Two Thousand SixteenatTen o’clock in the morning

Ms. Suzanne Shank, Keynote SpeakerFounding Partner, Siebert Brandford Shank & Company

at the

Georgia World Congress Center285 Andrew Young International Boulevard, N. W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Georgia Piedmont Technical College

2016 Spring Commencement Announcement

GEORGIA PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE495 N. Indian Creek Dr., Clarkston, GA 30021 • 404-297-9522

Equal Opportunity Institution

Lithonia farmers market to provide healthy options y Carla Parker [email protected]

Lithonia and the

DeKalb CountyBoard of Health havepartnered to bring a

armers market to the city.The Lithonia Farmers

Market will kick off Juneat Lithonia Park. Along

with selling fresh fruitsnd vegetables, the grandpening will also includeZumba class as wells a DJ to entertain therowd. There also will beooking demonstrations,resentations aboututrition, and discussionsifferent types ofntertainment on future

market dates.Lithonia Mayor Deborah

ackson said the city hasxplored opportunities torovide fresh locally grownood to the community since010, when residents beganequesting a communityarden program.

“In November 2014, theity sponsored a farmers

market as part of NationalRecycling Day with theommunity responding veryavorably,” Jackson said.

As a result, during 2015, aocal business had a localarmer available to sell freshroduce and homemadeoods several weekendshroughout the year.

Additionally, the city signedp to be one of the locationsor the newly launched

DeKalb Mobile FarmersMarket.”

In October, the DeKalbBoard of Health contactedthe city to partner inestablishing a farmersmarket.

“We responded with [a]de nite yes because werecognize the need for moreopportunities to provideaccess to fresh fruits andvegetables,” Jackson said.

“The city is very excitedabout the opportunity towork with the Board ofHealth on this initiativeand looks forward tocontributing to improvedhealth outcomes in southDeKalb,” Jackson added.“I have established aCommunity AdvisoryCommittee that will beheaded by councilmember

Diane Howard to work withthe non-pro t group, ActionNot Words Project, whichis assisting the city with the

management of the farmersmarket.”The Board of Health is

funding the market throughthe REACH grant from theCenters for Disease Controland Prevention.

“The grant is part of anoverall initiative to improvehealth outcomes in southDeKalb by supportingphysical activity programsand farmers’ markets,”Jackson said.

Jackson said the citywants to have a variety offarmers and vendors tomake the market attractiveand interesting for thecommunity. The applicationprocess is still open forfarmers to apply.

“Potential vendors needto complete the applicationand submit it for reviewby the market manager,”she said. “Inquiries canbe submitted to [email protected].”

Jackson said she hopesthis market will encouragefarmers or healthy food-typebusiness owners to open

businesses in Lithonia.“We already have theGreen Love Kitchen, whichis specializing in healthyfood options, includingvegan dishes,” Jacksonsaid. “I believe the LithoniaFarmers Market will helpto educate the communityabout eating healthy as wellas encourage more people

to engage in some form ofgardening. We also want tosupport gardening projectsat the elementary school

and recreation center tohelp our children learnwhere food comes from andhow to grow it.”

The Lithonia Farmers Market will kick off June 5 at Lithonia Park.

Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson

said she hopes this market willencourage farmers or healthyfood-type business owners toopen businesses in Lithonia.

ELECTION DAY IS MAY 24


12/24


Fallen officers rememberedby Andrew [email protected]

When local law enforcementof cials and families of 42 fallenof cers gathered May 11 for thennual law enforcement memorial

program, there was a new name onhe memorial.

“This year we have added onedditional of cer to this memorial

wall: DeKalb County Master PoliceOf cer Kevin Toatley ,” saidDeKalb County Police Chief JamesConroy .

“Of cer Toatley left a greategacy through the of cers herained and mentored, through hiseammates and opponents on the

basketball court and through hiswife,” Conroy said.

Toatley, a seven-year veteranof the department, was killed Sept.9, 2015, while driving home in his

patrol car in south Fulton County.His patrol vehicle was struck by awrong-way driver.

“Each year when we gatherhere to remember our brother and

sister law enforcement of cers whomade the ultimate sacri ce, ourpolice survivors join us to remembertheir sons and daughters, husbandsand wives, fathers and motherswho gave their lives while servingas law enforcement of cers,”Conroy said.

Among the policesurvivors in attendance wasCharkesha Toatley , the widow ofthe latest fallen of cer.

Charkesha Toatley said she is“trying to gure out what the newnormal is” and “trying to rememberhim and honor him in the best way Iknow how.”

Wearing the couple’swedding bands on a necklace,Charkesha Toatley said the policememorial was “truly honorable.”

“It’s great to know that no matterthe day or time that he’ll never beforgotten and as long as peoplekeep him in their hearts and on theirminds...his legacy continues,” shesaid.

“He was a good man,”Charkesha Toatley said.

Interim DeKalb County CEOLee May said, “It’s dif cult toacknowledge the life and thelegacies of those who have stoodbefore us and have given theirlives.

“These are men and women [towhom] we say ‘Thank you. Thankyou for your lives, thank you foryour commitment to our county,thank you for what you have meantto all of us,” May said.

To the families of fallenof cers May said, “Thank youfrom the bottom of my heart forlending us your loved ones [and]for supporting them while they werehere.

“Your very presence here isempowering to us who remain tomake sure that we never forgetwhat the commitment that our menand women in law enforcement...really [means] to us,” May said.

The 42 fallen law enforcementof cers represented the policedepartments of DeKalb County,Decatur, Doraville, Clarkston, PineLake and MARTA.

“The sacri ce made by the 42of cers shall never be forgotten,”Chief Conroy said. “We willcontinue to remember and honorthem. Each of us owes a great debtto these fallen law enforcementof cers. Our repayment of thatdebt is to continue the mission thatthey started. We owe it to themto continue serving each day withpride, honor and integrity.”

Cedric Alexander , deputy chiefoperating of cer for public safety,said, “We will never forget. We will[always] recognize the importanceof supporting the men and womenwho are out here doing this jobevery day.

“To those who have given theirlives and to those who will givetheir lives in the future, there is notenough ‘thank you,’ but…we willnever, ever, ever stop supportingour police, and we must never stopbeing here every year recognizingthose who have paid and giventheir lives.”

DeKalb County Police of cers prepare to give a 21-gun salute during a memorial service for fallen of cers May1. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

A bell is rung as the names of fallen of cers are read.

Charkesha Toatley, widow of DeKalb Of cer KevinToatley, receives a hug.

Of cers salute during the memorial. A new name was added to the Fallen Of cerMemorial.


13/24


PHOTOS BROUGHT TO YOU BY DCTV

WEEK in PICTURES

DeKalb County implements changes to garbage and recycling container requirements and collectionprocedures April 18, 2016.

Only county-provided garbage and recycling containers are approved for sanitation collection service.

For more info, call or visit: (404) 294-2900

www.rollingforwardtoone.com

Decatur Lantern ParadeThe annual Decatur Lantern Parade took place May 13. More that 2,000 participants marched throughDecatur’s streets carrying hand-crafted, luminated lanterns accompanied by live music from the Black SheepMarching Ensemble. The parade was co-sponsored by the Decatur Education Foundation, Decatur ArtsAlliance, Decatur Downtown Development Authority and Color Wheel Studio. Photos by Travis Hudgons


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Bethune Middle lives up to namesake

COMBINED NOTICE: NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANTIMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDSMay 19, 2016

DeKalb County Community Development Department330 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, 6th Floor Decatur, Georgia 30030Telephone (404) 371-2727

TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS: The DeKalb County Community Development Department gives notice that it willsubmit a request for release of grant funds and an environmental certi cation pertainingto the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 15 days following thispublication. The request and certi cati on relate to the following projects.Project: Columbia Avondale Senior ResidencesLocation: 590 East Freeman Street, Decatur, GA 30030-4134(Preliminary Address: property located between Sams Street and Derrydown Way, Decatur,GA 30030)Purpose: Columbia Residential will develop a market quality product as part of a mixed-use development in DeKalb County at 590 East Freeman Street off of Sams Street andadjacent to the Avondale Marta Station in the City of Decatur . The subject is a proposed92-unit senior Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)/HOME/market rate project, where86 units will be restricted to senior households 62 and older earning 50 and 60 percent ofthe Area Median Income (AMI) or less and 12 units will operate as unrestricted market rateunits also targeting seniors 62 and older. Of the 86 affordable housing units, there will be15 units that will operate with additional project-based rental assistance and tenants willcontribute 30 percent of their income towards rent. All units will be incorporated into one 5story 96,000 SF (gross) / 74,000 SF (net) building served by an elevator.

Funding for the project includes 15 Units of Project Based Vouchers (PBV) along with the$1,600,000 of HOME funds. The Senior Housing will be part of the new mixed-use Transit Oriented Development(TOD) located at the Avondale MARTA station called E.Co. Decatur. This vibrant urbanmixed-use node includes this senior living community as well as market rateapartments, on-site commercial space and a MARTA station for bus and rail. Columbia Avondale Senior will include a dining/dance room, business center, movietheater, state of the art tness center and more. The structure itself will lower resident’swater and power bills by certifying EarthCraft Multifamily and the greater E.Co. DecaturTOD is pursuing LEED ND certi cation; ensuring site wide sustainability and walkabilityis achieved. This new community will provide high quality, affordable senior housing toseniors with Avondale MARTA rail and bus transit station and retail just steps away. The 92Units at Columbia Avondale Senior will consists of the following ratios: 10% of units HOME,16% as Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) and 7% market rate. A total of 93% ofunits are set-aside for affordable rentals. Units will be 1 and 2 bedrooms in a well-testedsenior con guration typical of Columbia Residential senior communities.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) It has been determined that such request for release of funds will not constitute an actionsigni cantly affecting the quality of the human environment and, accordingly, DeKalbCounty has decided not to prepare Environmental Impact Statements under the NationalEnvironmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190). The reasons for such decision not to prepare such Statements are as follows:

An Environmental Assessment has been made for the project which concludes thatall adverse effects will be minor, short-term impacts will be mitigated by either therequirements of the construction contract documents or by the requirements of applicablelocal, state or federal permits and environmental ordinances. The positive effects ofeliminating public health hazards and improving environmental conditions for low andmoderate-income families outweigh any potential negative impacts. This project isconsistent with the goals and objectives of DeKalb County Government and the CommunityDevelopment Department. The Environmental Review Record, respecting the proposed project, has been made byDeKalb County which documents the environmental review of the project and fully setsforth the reasons why such Environmental Impact Statements are not required. The Environmental Review Record is on le at the DeKalb County Human andCommunity Development Department, 330 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, 6th Floor, Decatur,Georgia 30030 and is available for public examination and copying upon request betweenthe hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. No further environmental reviews of the subject project are proposed to be conductedprior to the request for release of Federal funds.

Public Comments on FONSI All interested agencies, groups, and persons disagreeing with this decision are invited tosubmit written comments for consideration by DeKalb County Community DevelopmentDirector. Written comments will be received at 330 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, 6th Floor,Decatur, Georgia on or before June 3, 2016. All comments received will be consideredand DeKalb County will not request the release of Federal funds or take any administrativeaction on the proposed projects prior to the date speci ed in the preceding sentence. NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS (NOI/RROF) At least one day after the termination of the public comment period for the FONSI, butnot before comments on the FONSI have been considered and resolved, DeKalb Countywill submit a Request for Release of Funds (RROF) and certi cation to HUD. By so doingDeKalb County will ask HUD to allow it to commit funds to this project, certifying that (1) ithas performed the environmental reviews prescribed by HUD regulations (“EnvironmentalReview Procedures for Title I Community Development Block Grant Program” - 24 CFRpart 58), and (2) the Certifying Of cer, Allen Mitchell, Director, DeKalb County Human andCommunity Development Department, consents to accept and enforce responsibilities inrelation to the environmental reviews or resulting decision-making and action. The legaleffect of the certi cation is that by approving it, HUD will have satis ed its responsibilitiesunder the National Environmental Protection Act, thus allowing DeKalb County to commitCDBG funds to this project.

Objection to Release of Funds HUD will accept objections to its approval of the release of funds and the certi cat ion onlyif it is on one of the following basis: (a) that the certi cation was not in fact executed by theCertifying Of cer; or (b) that the applicant’s Environmental Review Record for the projectindicated omission of a required decision, funding, or step applicable to the project in theenvironmental review process. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordanceto HUD at the Regional Environmental Branch, U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment, 40 Marietta Street N.W., 15th oor, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-9812. Objections to the release of funds on basis other than those stated above will not beconsidered by HUD. No objection received after June 18, 2016 will be considered by HUD.

Allen Mitchell, DirectorDeKalb County Community Development Department150 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue Suite 330Decatur, Georgia 30030Date of Publication andDissemination of NoticeMay 19, 2016

by R. Scott Belzer [email protected]

Mary McLeod Bethune may have passed away in955, but her spirit was alivend well in Decatur on May3 and 14.

For two days, thegymnasium at BethuneMiddle School, whichowes its name to Bethune,ransformed into a hub foreading, education anditeracy. Over the course

of 14 hours, more than20,000 books were cartednto the gymnasium before

being given away to theommunity.

The event wasoordinated by the Delta

Sigma Theta (DST)orority’s Decatur alumnaehapter, the DeKalb Branch

of the National Council ofNegro Women (NCNW)nd First Book, a non-pro tpecializing in providing

books for young people inneed.

The event was open toducators and registered

groups May 13 and thegeneral public May 14.

“We have 20,000 bookswe’re giving away to youngpeople aged 0 to 18,” saidDeirdre Pearce with DSTnd NCNW. “We’re helpinghem increase their literacykills, summer reading andstablishing a home library.”

While the event lastedor two days, event of cialsay it had been in the

works since the beginningof the 2015-2016 schoolyear. First Book beginsollecting unsold books from

bookstores and publishinghouses before distributinghem across the country.

“It took us a lot longerhan we thought [to get

20,000 books],” said Pearce.

“But once we hit 1,000registrations, we quali ed.”

Pearce said totalregistrations have reached1,400 and that the variousgroups plan to continueto 2,000 to receive morebooks.

“We’re going to keepit going until we just gettired and fall out,” Pearcesaid. “The response fromthe community has beenoverwhelming and thequality of books has beenexceptional.”

Bethune Middle principalMyron Broome said theevent captured the essenceof the pioneer it was namedafter by bringing reading toDeKalb County.

“As we already know,reading is fundamentaland this is some of the rststeps we have in developingchildren’s educationalstanding and foundation,”Broome said. “We’re namedand founded after one ofthe most historic women inhistory; the founder of the[NCNW]; the founder ofcolleges and universities; apolitical activist; a stalwart

in education. Why nothave a reading campaignin a building named aftera woman who believed ineducation?”

Broome said BethuneMiddle was proud to hostthe event and would beready, willing and able tohost the next 60,000 booksif necessary.

“We should be ableto have something atour school that positivelyrepresents Mary McLoudBethune, the middle school,the community as well asthe school district,” Broomesaid.

Bethune Middle eighthgraders Di’El Johnson ,

Jakeria Daniels , DeshawnWilliams and Tyrees

Lindsey said they hadbeen hard at work for twodays unloading palletsstacked with books. DeltaSigma Theta’s CarolynTrammell said the eventwould have been impossiblewithout students organizing,shelving and replenishingbooks.

“It’s a nice thing tohelp the community,” saidJohnson. “I like to helppeople in general and I loveto read.”

The event gaveeducators a chance tostock up on much neededresources in the classroom.Grif n Parrott , a speechtherapist in several DeKalbCounty schools, said shewas collecting books for herday-to-day responsibilitiesin helping children andteenagers.

“Since I work with awide range of ages, I’m hereto get books for all ages,”Parrott said. “They helpwith decoding, phonemicawareness, vocabularydevelopment, narrative

development. When astudent learns parts of thestory, it helps them downthe road with developinga story with a more robustvocabulary.”

Community leaderssuch as Mark Richards ,youth director for the MilitaryFamilies’ Service Branch,said Bethune Middle’sevent provided an excellentopportunity to serve childrenin the community. Richardssaid the program servesmore than 300 kids in themetro Atlanta area.

“We started a literacyprogram and this goes handin hand with that,” Richards.“When we’re doing read-

along events, it will be greatto share books with them to

take home.”For more information,

including registration inobtaining 20,000 more

books, visit www. rstbook.org/DTECDeKalbCO.

Deirdre Pearce poses with Military Family Support Branchouth director Mark Richards along with Sergeant Glenn andpecialist Trent.

Eugenia Crawford of Jennis Childcare was one ofmany to take park in the 20,000 book giveaway onMay 13.

Eighth-graders Jakeria Daniels, Tyrees Lindseyand Deshawn Williams help an educator selectbooks at Bethune Middle School.


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16/24


Taxi carjacker convicted A DeKalb County jury convicted

a man who led a 2011 crime spreeobbing taxi drivers at gunpoint,

according to a news release by theDeKalb County District Attorney’sOf ce.

Tyre Gay was found guilty ofhree counts of armed robbery,hree counts of possession of arearm by a felon, and one countach of aggravated assault and

hijacking a motor vehicle, the newselease stated.

During a ve-day period in July 2011, approximately10 cab drivers in Fulton, Clayton and DeKalb countieseported being robbed and pistol-whipped by a trio

of passengers once they arrived at their destination,according to the news release.

Gay’s conviction involved for three of those robberies.Gay, 23, was charged with two other men. Ladarrius

Marquas Robinson pleaded guilty and will serve 12years in prison followed by three years of probation, thenews release stated.

Jermaine Devonte Cheeks will stand trial at a laterime.

Gay will be sentenced at a later date, but faces up toour life sentences plus 45 years in prison.

Junior deputy sheriff summer camp toeach leadership, gang resistance

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Of ce Reserve Unit willhost a Junior Deputy Summer Camp program at the ArmyNational Guard Armory in Decatur June 20 to July 1.

The camp is open to boys and girls ages 8 through16. Applications are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30p.m. weekdays at the Sheriff’s Of ce AdministrativeLobby, 4425 Memorial Drive, Decatur. The deadline forapplications is noon on Friday, June 10. The program fees $65 per week.

Included in the curriculum are eld trips and tours ofhe jail and county courtrooms. Speakers will addresseadership skill-building, positive attitudes, staying inchool and graduating, preventing bullying, internet andocial media safety, resisting gang involvement, and

abstaining from crime and violence

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX HEARING

The Mayor and the Atlanta City Council will adopt a millage rate which will

require no tax increase.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings to be held at the

Atlanta City Hall Complex, 55 Trinity Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia in the City

Council Chamber located on the Second Floor on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

General Fund Special Funds Nutrition Fund Capital FundsESTIMATED REVENUESLocal Taxes 30,679,476$ 3,480,000$Local Other 2,785,380 1,281,500$State General 24,025,174State Other 740,000$ 37,500 Federal 1,554,266 657,147 Transfers from Other Funds 241,700General Fund Balance Obligated 2,988,913Capital Fund Balance Restricted 45,590,328Total Revenues 60,478,943$ 2,535,966$ 1,976,147$ 49,070,328$

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURESInstruction 42,785,113$ 2,203,949$Pupil Services 2,551,386 67,427Improvement of Instructional Services 1,616,004 183,142Educational Media Services 1,397,922Federal Grant Administration 59,362General Administration 1,003,582School Administration 440,975Support Services - Business 482,178Maint enance and Ope ration of Plant Se rvic es 5,2 55, 482Student Transportation Service 1,334,324 5,648Support Services - Central 1,079,712Other Support Services 107,000 16,438School Nutrition Program 971,437 1,976,147$Community Services Operations 90,289Facilities Acquisition and Construction Services 45,900,000$Transfers to Other Funds 241,700

Debt Service 1,121,839 3,170,328 Total Expenditures 60,478,943$ 2,535,966$ 1,976,147$ 49,070,328$

Board Room of the Central Office at 125 Electric Avenue.

City Schools of DecaturBudget for Fiscal Year 2017

July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017

The Fiscal Year 2017 Tentative Budget will be considered for final adoption by the Board of Education at6:30 PM at the regular board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 2016. The meeting will be held in the

Pilot dies in crash during performance at airshow(AP) A pilot was killed May 14 when his

biplane crashed while performing a stunt at ametro Atlanta airshow.

The pilot crashed and died while ying intandem with another plane during an aerialacrobatics stunt the afternoon of May 14 at theGood Neighbor Day Open House Airshow atDeKalb Peachtree Airport, said DeKalb CountyPublic Information Of cer Sheira Campbell . Theairport is about 11 miles northeast of downtownAtlanta.

The pilot was the only one aboard the planewhen it crashed at 4:49 p.m., DeKalb Countyspokesman Burke Brennan said in an emailedstatement. It was the rst accident in 30 years ofthe PDK Good Neighbor Day Airshow, Brennansaid.

Campbell said the pilot was identi ed as 50year-old Greg Connell . Campbell also said therewere no other injuries on the ground and therewas no other damage other than the aircraft.

She said the National Transportation SafetyBoard and Federal Aviation Administration were

both on the scene and investigating. File photo

Tyre Gay


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EDUCATION The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, May 20, 2016 • Page 18A

City Schools of Decatur to be recognizedby R. Scott Belzer [email protected]

It’s a four-step processthat is constantlyhappening. A new building isplanned. The structure goesrom imaginary to a penciled

or painted rendering.The building is built.

Glass, steel and stonecome together to forge ahaven for enterprise, shelteror learning.

The building is used andmaintained. People travelhroughout the edi ce; they

clean its corridors; theyun water through its steel

veins; they breathe air intots vents.

The building is updatedor renovated. Segments of

teel, portions of glass andpieces of stone are replacedo allow new technology

or aesthetics. In certaincases, the building is simplyeplaced and the processtarts over again.

Like any other lengthyprocess, this cycle is oftencompleted with time ashe rst priority. Little to

no attention is paid to thebuilding’s surroundingnvironment. Even less is

paid to the health of peoplewalking in, out and aroundhe building every day.

City Schools of DecaturCSD) has proven to be anxception.

On April 22, or EarthDay 2016, the U.S.

Department of Education(DOE) announced CitySchools of Decatur as aGreen Ribbon School anda recipient of the U.S. DOEGreen Ribbon SchoolsDistrict Sustainability Award.

The award is given toschool systems throughoutthe country excelling in“green practices,” includingreducing environmentalimpact, improving the healthof students and staff aswell as providing effectiveenvironmental education.

The distinction isawarded each year to 47independent schools, 15districts, and 11 highereducation facilitiesthroughout the country. OnJuly 20, the district will behonored in Washington,

D.C., during a nationalcelebration.CSD was speci cally

recognized for sustainabilitypractices in its newerbuildings as well as retro tsin its older buildings.

“It’s very dif cult to have100-plus-year-old buildings,brand new buildings andintegrate them all in,” saidCSD Chief OperatingOf cer Noel Maloof . “Froma facility and maintenancestandpoint, we have done alot of work over the last veyears to really retro t.”

Maloof also mentionedthe district’s energy ef cientbus eet and integrationof new technologies asmoney-saving practices that

allow CSD to stand out.CSD’s partnership

with the city of Decatur in

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