Free Press 12-30-11

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WWW.CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2011 VOL. 14, NO. 39 FREE

FREEPRESS A PUBLICATION OF ACE III C OMMUNICATIONS

Residents recall the highs and lows of2011 as they prepare to enter the new year

Sgt. V. Dix places gifts in the bag of 3-year-old Dontavious Brown as Lt. C.Bivins, Capt. R. Stringer and Maj. L. Tolbert look on. I am just so very proud ofmy team here at the DeKalb Sheriffs Ofce and their wonderful gifts of giving,

Sheriff Thomas Brown said.

DeKalb County Detention ofcers J. Powell and D. Burroughs give gifts and receive ahigh ve from an excited child. Sheriff Thomas Brown and his staff partnered with TotalGrace Christian Ministries and New Life Church to provide gifts for 37 children and 13amilies.

Sharing the holiday spirit ..see more on page 20A

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See New Year on Page 15A

by Nigel Roberts

As the sun sets on 2011,it is only natural toreflect while lookingforward to the new

year. One cannot help but wonderwhether this was a good year forother DeKalb residents and whatplans or resolutions they have made

for 2012.Gelia Dolcimascolo described2011 as a productive year. Amongother accolades, she won poetryprizes from the Atlanta Writers Cluband Kennesaw Universitys the Artof the Golden Generation competi-ion.

For more than two decades,Dolcimascolo has worked as awriting tutor at Georgia PerimeterColleges Dunwoody campus. Shealso facilitates the colleges Writ-ers Circle, a group of writers thathe said ranges from published au-hors, those on the cusp of gettingpublished and beginning writers.Though several of her poems havebeen published, Dolcimascolo is anew writer of sorts.

This year she completed a 15-year labor of love: a fairytale bookfor adults. Im slow, she admitted,but steady when it comes to work-

ing on longer pieces.In 2012, Dolcimascolo looks

forward to exhibiting her work atthe Marietta-Cobb Museum of Art

and the Poetry Pallet at Georgia Pe-rimeter College. Now in her upper60s, she also plans to get back intothe ballet studio to take classes, af-ter her sprained ankle heals.

A native New Yorker, Dolci-mascolo began dancing when shewas 12 years old. The former pro-

fessional modern dancer describeddancing as part of her ID. Afterreaching a certain age, she said it isimportant to stay physically active.

In addition to dancing, she plans todo more swimming and walking in2012.

Another DeKalb educator madea significant mark in 2011. RedanHigh School language arts teacherJulius Thompson published thefinal installment of his trilogy this

yearGhost of Atlantaand won the2011 National Gold Medal awardfor it. His mission to compose thetrilogy began in 1995.

Ive waited for over 15 yearsfor a chance to see my novels rec-ognized on a national level, saidThompson, who also teaches cre-ative writing courses at Emory Uni-versity. Now I could use the phrase

award winning author in my de-scription.Thompson also finished writing

his fourth novel this year. The for-mer sports reporter forThe Phila-delphia Bulletin completedPurplePhantom, a story about the hauntingof a mythical high school basketballteam, which he said is now on hiseditors desk.

He is thankful for all he achievedthis year and expects an equally fruit-ful 2012. My mother used to tell me,Reach for the berries on the highestbranch. They are closest to the sunand the sweetest, he recalled. Withthat advice in mind, Thompson plansto reach higher and achieve greaterthings as he pens 10,000 to 15,000words next year for his fifth novel. In2012, he also plans to have a closerspiritual walk with God and maintaingreat health.

Gelia Dolcimascolo looks forward to exhibiting her poetry at local venues

in 2012. Photo provided

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Page 2A The Champion Free Press, Friday December 30, 2011

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Water, sewer rates to increaseby 11 percent in 2012by Andrew [email protected]

After being warned for ayear, county residents willee their water bills go up

effective Jan. 1.DeKalb Countys water

and sewer rates will in-crease by 11 percent to helpnance more than $1 billiondollars in improvements

o the countys water andewer system. The rate will

also increase in 2013 and2014 by 11 percent, accord-ng to a plan adopted by the

Board of Commissioners inDecember 2010.

The increases mean cus-omers with county water

and sewer services cur-ently using 6,000 gallons

per month would see theirates increase from $59.52n 2010 to $94.41 in 2014.

This gives us the neces-ary revenue to support the

ong-term payment of thebonds, said Joe Basista,director of the countys wa-ershed management depart-

ment.In December, the Board

of Commissioners approveda $381 million water andewer bond. With an inter-

est rate of 4.46 percent, theoans will cost taxpayers

$766 million over the 30year loan period. The coun-y plans to secure a $390

million bond in 2012 as partof several anticipated bondsduring the watershed im-

provement process.Of the $1.345 billion in

capital improvement proj-ects, approximately $1 bil-ion will be funded by the

bonds and the rest will benanced by the watersheddepartments cash reserves,Basista said.

In 2012, the countywill begin approximately$400 million of capitalimprovement projects. Ofthat amount, approximately$250 million will go to re-build, upgrade and expandthe Snapnger Wastewater

Treatment Plant.This is simply the big-

gest project we will do inthe capital improvementplan, Basista said.

Bid requests for the rstphase of the Snapngerproject, which will entailclearing and grading thesite where the new structurewill be built, will go out inJanuary. The actual con-struction phase is expectedto be bid out in the secondor third quarter of 2012.

Approximately $150

million will be used for thedesign and construction of20-25 other projects.

We will see actual con-struction in 2012, Basistasaid. You wont see mas-sive construction in 2012,but we will be at a prettygood pace.

DeKalb CEO BurrellEllis has touted the capitalimprovement plan, whichhe says will create approxi-mately 4,000 jobs, as thecountys stimulus plan.

This is the heart of oureconomic development pro-

gram, Basista said.The countys water and

sewer system, which servesmore than 730,000 peopleand 20,000 businesses, has

about 5,200 miles of waterand sewer lines, one treat-ment facility for drinkingwater and two for wastewater.

The system is plaguedwith pipe breaks and sewerspills. As of Dec. 20, therehave been 187 county sewerspills, many caused bygrease blockages in pipes.

According to county of-

cials, approximately $20million-$30 million willbe allocated to address re-quirements of a proposedconsent decree in which thecounty would agree to paya $453,000 penalty fromthe federal EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA)for excessive sewage spills.The county also agreedto implement a $600,000stream cleanup project, fo-cusing on debris removalfrom parts of the SouthRiver, South Fork Peachtree

Creek and SnapngerCreek.Basista said the wa-

tershed department hasalready begun addressingsome of the issues thatbrought about the proposedconsent decree. The countyis in the process of physi-cally surveying the entiresewer system, with 70 per-cent of the mapping alreadycomplete. Workers are alsoin the process of building acomputerized hydrologicalmodel of the system.

Some limited system

rehabilitation and closed-circuit monitoring is alsounder way, Basista said.

Deadbeat dadsarrested in roundup

Ten deadbeat dads werearrested on Dec. 21 by aspecial task force of DeKalbCounty Sheriffs Ofce depu-ties.

There are some fathersout there that could help theirbabies to have a nice Christ-mas, said SheriffThomasBrown about the roundupthat was conducted overnight.

Although the departmentserves warrants throughoutthe year for noncustodialparents charged with aban-donment or child supportnegligence, the roundup putsa real special emphasis on

serving the warrants, Brownsaid.An original list of 400

warrants was narrowed downto 189 for the roundup. Ofthat number, the task forceattempted to serve 114 war-rants. Brown said the 10 ar-rests could help 10 familiesduring the holiday season.If these guys have moneyand want to get out of jail forChristmas, thats 10 morefamilies that will be helped,Brown said.

This was the sixth year ofthe holiday season roundup.

Bring One for theChipper event set

Keep DeKalb Beautifuls(KDB) annual Bring One forthe Chipper event is Jan.2-7at several locations through-out the county. Monday,Jan. 2 Saturday, Jan. 7.

KDB encourages DeKalbresidents to recycle theirChristmas trees after theholidays through DeKalbCounty Sanitation Divisions

Curbside Recycling Programor by drop-off at the Semi-nole Road Landll and threeHome Depot locations acrossthe county. DeKalb residentsreceiving sanitation servicescan place their tree at the curbfor pick-up on regular yarddebris collection day. Treesshould not exceed four feet inlength for curbside pick-up.The recycled trees will bechipped into mulch or usedas wildlife habitat. Mulch isused for public beauticationprojects and is free to DeKalb

residents.Christmas tree recyclingdrop-off locations are listedbelow:Seminole Road Landll

4203 Clevemont Road, El-lenwood(Monday Friday, 8 a.m. 5p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. 4p.m.)

Home Depot2295 Lawrenceville High-way, Decatur,4343 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta4325 New Snapnger WoodsDrive, Decatur

Atlanta VA nurseswin awards

Five nurses from the At-lanta VA Medical Center inDecatur have been named2011 nurses of the year by

Georgia March of Dimes.The winners were selectedfrom nearly 500 nomina-tions throughout Georgia andrecognized for their work toprovide care, comfort andsupport to patients in thecommunity. The Atlanta VA,with 46 finalists, capturedfive of the 16 categories.

The winning nurses areMary Roberts, MSHA,BSN, RN, for behavioralhealth; Rita Walker, MS,BSN, RN, for general medi-cal/surgical services; OraDouglass, MN, RN, for hos-pice, home health and pallia-tive care; Marie Mompoint,DNP, RN, FNP-BC, OCN,CHPN, for nursing admin-istration; and Zina Floyd,MSN, RN-BC, for long termacute care/rehabilitation.

Green woodworkingdemo to be held

The DeKalb CountyRecreation, Parks and Cul-tural Affairs will host a greenwoodworking demonstrationon how to make hiking sticks,

Dec. 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at theDavidson-Arabia MountainNature Preserve, at 3787Klondike Road in Lithonia.

The demonstration willteach patrons how to createhiking sticks out of naturalresources. After each demon-stration, hiking sticks will bedistributed to one person perhousehold. All materials willbe provided by the recreationstaff.

For more information,contact Monica Hayes orCharlie Monroe at 404-484-

3060.

NEWS BRIEFS

Construction on the Snapnger Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is expected to begin in 2012. Theplants price tag will be paid by an 11 percent water and sewer rate hike which goes into effect inJanuary. Photo by Andrew Cauthen

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Dear Readers:

I hope you had a MerryChristmas, a Happy Hanukkahand are having a Happy Kwanzaaas we move toward a gloriousNew Year. Whether or not wemake resolutions, each yearone thing never changes. Weeagerly anticipate new andrenewed relationships and newopportunities. We also knowhat there will be challenges and

obstacles to overcome. But weook forward with great optimism.

There were so many sad and

tragic occurrences in 2011. Toomany to recount and quite franklythere is no desire to. For manyof us our faith in our institutions

and leaders was shattered. Butimportant to remember is themotto coined by our foundingfathers, In God We Trust.

Those four words arepowerful. For those of us whobelieve in a higher power there isthe understanding that men andwomen will often fail us one wayor another. But the Creator ofthis vast universe and everythingtherein will never fail nor forsakeus. Everything else is just thisjourney called life. We experiencesorrow and joy, tragedy andtriumph, prosperity and lack.Unless we give up and give in,somehow we manage to make itthrough just as we did in 2011 andjust as we will in 2012. As longas there is breath, there is anotherday, another opportunity to get it

right or at least make the attempt.So dear readers for 2012 I

sincerely wish you health, love,joy, peace and prosperity. When

the health challenges come, whenlove is lost, when joy turns tosorrow and peace and prosperityseem unattainable, please knowthat as long as you have faith ina God who loves us infinitelyand unconditionally as ScarlettOHara opined, Tomorrow isanother day. Two-thousand andtwelve is another year.

A profound lesson came tomind for this writer in 2011and that is the importance ofeach and every one of us nomatter the endeavor. Removethe sanitation workers fromthe county. Remove the police.Remove the doctors and nursesfrom the hospitals. Remove theclerks and the teachers. Removethe homemakers. Sad to say,they would be missed in some

instances more than some ofthe leaders weve lamented thepast year. While we strive tobe one nation under God, let

us understand that we are onefamily under God with distinctcharacteristics, abilities andtalents. Everyone is important.

So for this last thought in2011, I leave a favorite old Irishblessing: May the road rise up tomeet you. May the wind alwaysbe at your back. May the sunshine brightly on your face andthe rain fall softly on your fields.And until we meet again (in thenew year) may God hold you inthe palm of his hand.

Steen Miles, The Newslady,is a retired journalist and formerGeorgia state senator. ContactSteen Milies at [email protected].

The Newslady

Happy New Year!

The Champion Free Press, Friday December 30, 2011 Page 4AOpinion

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Capitalism works better than itsounds, while socialism soundsbetter than it works, RichardM. Nixon(1913-1994), Americas37th President, in his bookBeyondPeace (posthumously published in

994).Several years ago, retail gi-

ant Wal-Mart had been holding

quiet negotiations with the mayorand council of Avondale Estateso acquire the nearby abandoned

Avondale Mall. Avondale Estateswas to annex the parcel, and Wal-Mart had agreed to a long list ofequests regarding the store exte-ior, entrances to the property and

even to not sell guns or ammuni-ion.

Word of the deal and comingeconomic development strangelywas not welcomed by the com-munity. Avondale City Hall soonfound itself under assault byAvondale Estates residents, as the

front lawns along the citys mainboulevard, Clarendon Avenue, be-came littered with placards shout-ng NO WALMART!!!!

Being both a capitalist, oc-

casional contrarian and someonewho had plenty of experiencewith Wal-Mart in other locations,I created a handcrafted sign, ina bright and patriotic color em-blazoned, YES WALMART!!!and plunked it out in front of mycondo unit. My sign went solo forquite a while.

You will not be surprisedto hear that Avondale City Hallquickly caved, and reversed its of-fer of annexation. Wal-Mart thensimply moved its negotiationsto the DeKalb County Commis-sion, bought and tore down theold mall, and built a traditionalWal-Mart Super Center withoutany of the many concessions ithad previously made to the city

of Avondale Estates. The storeopened in roughly a year, and hasbeen tremendously successfulever since, bringing in nearly 300full-time jobs, many filled by arearesidents, and millions in sales taxand property tax dollars to DeKalbCounty (not to Avondale Estates)as well as millions more in chari-table donations and man hoursgiven back to the community.

Though I dont do all my shop-ping there, I find myself pickingup the basics and often compari-son price shopping big ticket itemsa couple of times a month at thisstore. I take tremendous delight inrunning into many of my Avondaleneighborsmore than a few ofwhom sported NO WALMARTsigns in front of their homesand

touted the store entering theircommunity as being akin to theend of civilization as we know it.

Im happy to report that anoth-er Wal-Mart may soon be comingto similarly save the day at Subur-ban Plaza, an ailing strip center inDecatur. Once home to Belk-Gal-lant, Eckerd Drugs, Winn-Dixie,H.H. Kress (parent of K-Mart) andother leading retailers, SuburbanPlaza is now just hanging on.

DeveloperSteve Selig recentlycleared the first hurdle to bring-ing a smaller Wal-Mart to the ag-ing plaza with a parking varianceapproved by the DeKalb CountyCommission. His battle is farfrom over as there will certainlybe organized opposition from

within the socialist stronghold ofDecatur. Selig is fighting a similarand concurrent battle in Athens, tolocate a Wal-Mart just on the otherside of downtown on a currentlyblighted parcel near the OconeeRiver.

In both cases, based on theopposition arguments, you mightthink that Wal-Mart exists to de-stroy small businesses and com-munities. However, if you goinside the modern Wal-Mart, youwill find small business tenantsthriving, in space provided by theretail giant, at a significant persquare foot market discount. Youwill also find other businessessurrounding that same Wal-Martdoing quite well off the traffic andspillover. Wal-Mart customers are

also often themselves small busi-nesses.

Pardon my ignorance, but athriving enterprise, employing acouple hundred folks, with healthcare and other benefits, offeringcustomers a wide array of compet-itively priced merchandise, payingmillions in property and sales tax-es and even supporting other smallbusinesses in the area (Wal-Martis an occasional advertiser inTheChampionFree Press) all soundlike good news to me.

Unemployment across Georgiaremains in double-digits, includ-ing the discouraged unemployed,and those no longer eligible forbenefits. It is estimated to exceed15 percent in several counties, in-

cluding DeKalb. I am a taxpayerand property owner in DeKalb, aswell as Athens-Clarke County. Asmy neighbors in Avondale can tellyou, I know a thing or two aboutyard signs. So where I can, andwhenever Wal-Mart wants to comein to my neighborhood, be on thelookout for a sign that reads, HellYES Walmart!!! Ill be look-ing for yall later in the check-outlines.

Bill Crane is a DeKalb Countynative and business owner, liv-ing in Scottdale. He also servesas chief political analyst andcommentator for 11Alive Newsand WSB Radio, News/Talk 750.Contact Bill Crane at [email protected].

One Mans Opinion

Hell YES Wal-Mart

Let Us Know What You Think!

THE CHAMPION FREE PRESSencourages opinionsfrom its readers. Please write to us and express yourviews. Letters should be brief, typewritten and containthe writers name, address and telephone number forverication. All letters will be considered for publication.

Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P. O. Box 1347,Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send E-Mail to [email protected]

FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779Deadline for news releases and advertising: Thursday, one week prior

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EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributingeditors do not necessarily reect the opinions of the editor or publishers.The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement atany time. The Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, December 30, 2011 Page 5AOpinion

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The Champion Free Press, Friday December 30, 2011 Page 6AOpinion

Reading frog entrailsAlthough the media may behave otherwise, Iowa's oddball

caucuses are as apt to choose a loser as a winner.

DeKalb County physician indicted forMedicaid fraud

Actually, its the patients and not the doctorwho are defrauding all of us by acceptingMedicaid - a program for the greed of thosewho choose to take from society and not give.Gimmee my benets!

Telkonequi posted this on 12/21/11 at 9:50 p.m.

FAMU students death ruled homicideas a result of hazing

This is not hazing. This is murder. Call it like itis.

Nancy Verhey posted this on 12/22/11 at 9:28 a.m.

Police departments tell residents howto stay safe for the holidays

1. Buy a gun.2. Fence your yard.3. Put bad dog in yard.4. Good video camera.

-- The SnoopyDog posted this on 12/21/11 at 12:03 a.m.

The following comments are pulled straight from our website and are notedited for content or grammar.

The Iowa caucuses may be overby the time you read this. But itdoesnt matter. The caucuses are theecond-most fraudulent event on the

nation's political calendar.The first, of course, is the Ames

Straw Poll. It's entirely meaningless,but political reporters pay attention tot because if they didnt, their editors

would make them cover a real story,ike a meeting of the local water

board.

Quick! Who won the Ames StrawPoll in August?Did you forget already? I thought

o.Michele Bachmann won it and

was immediately anointed a seriousontender for the presidency. Thats

of the United States, mind you. ByThanksgiving, her candidacy hadhrunk to Lilliputian proportions.

Told you so.The Iowa caucuses are the oddest

oddball of the political year. Theyhave virtually no predictive value,but reporters and commentators act ashough they do. Historically, they ares apt to choose a loser as a winner.

Don't believe me? Here are someof the people who have won the cau-uses that preceded presidential elec-ions past: Democrats Tom Harkinnd Dick Gephardt, and Republi-ans Mike Huckabee and Pat Rob-rtson. None of them ever got withinpitting distance of their party's

nomination. Bob Dole won the Iowaaucuses once. It wasn't the year heecured the GOP nomination.

In 1988, Democrat Mike Dukakisnd Republican George H. W. Bush

both finished third in their respectiveparty caucuses and went on to winheir nominations. In 1980, Ronald

Reagan finished second in Iowa andirst in the hearts of his countrymen.The first President Bush won Iowa

he year he lost the nomination toReagan. He lost it in 1988, the yearhe defeated Dukakis.

In 1976, Democrats put up atrong array of strong candidates. Theontenders for their party's nomina-ion included Sen. Birch Bayh ofndiana, former Sen. Fred Harris of

Oklahoma, Rep. Morris Udall of Ar-zona, Sen. Scoop Jackson of Wash-ngton state, and Sargent Shriver,

who had been George McGovern'srunning mate four years earlier. Oh,and the relatively unknown former

governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter.Carter finished ahead of them all

in Iowa and was propelled to a suc-cessful run for the presidency, moresthe pity. In fairness to Iowa voters, itshould be pointed out that Carter fin-ished second to uncommitted.

The rules for the caucusesone setfor Democrats, another for Republi-cansare almost impossible to fullyunderstand, though in my many yearsof covering them as a reporter andnewspaper columnist I always foundthat drinking helped. The Democratskeep breaking apart into ever-smallergroups with more emphasis on mak-

ing sure every group, gender, raceand sexual preference is representedthan on whom the candidate shouldbe.

The Republicans, as I understandit, vote in their precincts on caucusnight, pass the results on to the press,then forget about them. Months later,at the state convention where del-egates to the national convention areactually chosen, everyone votes forwhomever they choose without refer-ence to the caucuses.

These things take place at hun-dreds of venues in the dead of anIowa winter and can consume asmuch as two or three hours, with noabsentee voting. Nor is there a secretballot.

It's no more or less democraticthan a Russian election, I suppose.

Out of this mess comes an ava-lanche of stories. I'm guessing thatmany will have headlines such as thisone: Newt Gingrich has seized thereins of the campaign."

The best thing about the caucusesis that they are really fun. Iowa cam-paigns are retail politics at their mostcharming, and the people are great.

I remember one caucus at whichOrville Armstrong, a legendary ifrough-hewn Polk County supervisor,

became incensed at what the speakerin front of him was saying, so hepunched him between the shoulderblades, sending him flying over a rowof chairs. You don't get action likethat with a secret ballot.

As far as being a crystal ball intothe future, however, reporters wouldbe better served by reading the en-trails of frogs.

OtherWords columnist DonaldKaul lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.http://otherwords.org

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The Champion Free Press, Friday December 30, 2011 Page 7ALocal News

If you would like to nominate someone to

be considered as a future Champion of the

Week, please contactKathy Mitchellat

[email protected] or at

404-373-7779, ext. 104.

Champion ofthe Week

David Gaynes

DeKalb County physicianindicted for Medicaid fraudby Daniel [email protected]

A DeKalb County physi-cian has been indicted oncharges that heand his formerofce managerfraudulently usedMedicaid pay-ments to fundabortions.

Dr. TyroneMalloy andCathyAnn War-ner were indictedby a DeKalbCounty grand juryon Dec. 8 on two counts of

Medicaid fraud.According to a press

elease from the GeorgiaAttorney Generals Ofce,Malloy owns and operatesOld National Gynecology,a medical practice locatedn College Park, which per-

forms abortions.The indictment alleges

hat beginning around Dec.9, 2007 and continuing un-il approximately Aug. 9,

2010, both Malloy and War-ner knowingly and willful-

ly received approximately$131,615 they were notentitled to for billing ser-

vices associated withperforming electiveabortions.

Malloy andWarner were alsocharged in the in-dictment for billingGeorgia Medic-aid approximately$255,024 for detailedultrasounds that werenever performed.

The GeorgiaMedicaid program is funded

by the state of Georgia andby the United States Depart-ment of Health and HumanServices, acting through theCenters for Medicare andMedicaid Services.

Since 1976, a federal lawknown as the Hyde Amend-menthas prohibited the useof federal funds to pay forelective abortions and ser-vices associated with them.Abortions are only covered

by Medicaid in cases wherethe pregnancy is the result

of rape, incest or circum-stances where continuingthe pregnancy will endangerthe life of the mother.

According to the Attor-ney Generals Ofce, Med-icaid fraud is punishable byone to 10 years in prisonand a ne of $10,000. Se-nior Assistant AttorneyGeneral Nancy Allstrom isprosecuting the case on be-half of the state of Georgia.

Malloy could not bereached for comment andthe Attorney Generals Of-ce would not comment

any further on an ongoinginvestigation.

Reports state the reasonthe case is being tried inDeKalb County Court rath-er than Fulton County Courtis because the Medicaidpayments were allegedlysent to Malloys AtlantaOb-Gyn ofce located offRainbow Drive near Deca-tur.

David Gaynes wasborn at DeKalb GeneralHospital, owns a nancialbusiness in the county andis a product of the DeKalbCounty School System.Now, he says, it his turn togive back.

Volunteering was justinstilled in me from a lotof my family members.My mom and grandmoth-er were very communityoriented, Gaynes said.

Recently, Gaynes wasnamed chairman of the

Senior Connections boardof directors. Senior Con-nections is a non-protorganization that providesservices by professionalsand volunteers such asMeals on Wheels, housecleaning, home repairsand nancial assistance.

Gaynes grew up giv-ing a helping hand inhis neighborhood doingchores and odd jobs. Af-ter graduating college herealized he could havea greater impact by vol-unteering his nancialknowledge to those whoneeded it.

I started volunteer-ing doing tax returns forthe elderly over at the

Avis Williams Libraryin Toco Hills, Gaynessaid. The elderly seemto have a lot of issueswith retirement, taxesand planning. I wantedto give some of thatknowledge back topeople who might notbe able to afford it.

Soon, Gaynes foundhimself chairing theboard at Life Enrich-ment Services, another

non-prot organizationin the area. There he real-ized many non-prot andvolunteer organizationswere competing for thesame grants and offeringthe same services. So,he began speaking withSenior Connections CEODebra Furtado and ayear later, the organiza-tions merged.

Gaynes, who has beenworking for Senior Con-nections for three years,said volunteering is im-portant for another reason:

his children.Were trying to pass

it on and teach them, partof your job as a good citi-zen is to donate time andserve your community,Gaynes said.

He said whether itsrepairing a home, helpingwith taxes or deliveringmeals, anything he can doto help people help them-selves gives him a goodfeeling at the end of theday.

If you ever are having

a bad day, all you have todo is deliver meals to snapout of it, Gaynes said.

Malloy

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See Year in Review on Page 9A

The settlement of a lawsuit filed by fourmen claiming sexual coercion by mega-church pastor Eddie Long in May was notthe end of Longs problems. Terms of thesettlement were not disclosed by attorneyson either side.

Five months later several members ofNew Birth Missionary Baptist Church inLithonia filed suit against Long, alleginghe was responsible for the members los-ing nearly $1 million in a fraudulent invest-ment scheme. According to the lawsuit, inOctober 2009 Long sponsored a series ofinvestment seminars at the church titledThe Wealth Tour Live. The suit alleges thatLong used his position at the church to co-erce those in attendance to trust EphrenTaylor, then CEO of the City Capitol Corp.

Taylor, who was in his early 20s at the time,was presented by Long as a self-made mil-lionaire, and an ordained minister.

Then, on Dec. 4 Long announced he

was taking time off to focus on his family af-ter his wifeVanessa filed for divorce.

There were school cancellations,slippery driving conditions, road clo-sures and empty government officesacross DeKalb County the secondfull week in January, when a winterstorm dumped four to five inches ofsnow on the Atlanta area.

Much of north Georgia came to astandstill for nearly a week as frigidtemperatures and cloud cover pre-vented inch-thick ice from melting offinterstates and roads.

Because of the inclement weath-er, DeKalb County schools used anunusual five snow days in a row. Be-tween Sunday, Jan. 9, and Wednes-day, Jan. 12, the DeKalb County 911center received 13,967 calls. Thepolice department responded to 165vehicle accidents on Jan. 12 alone,but there were no fatalities or seriousinjuries.

After a long search, the DeKalb CountySchool System hired Cheryl Atkinson torun the nearly 100,000 student system as

superintendent. Earlier in the search, leaksto the media by board members impededthe process and cause at least one candi-date in the running to pull out of the raceafter contract negotiations were revealed.

Atkinson, formerly the superintendent ofLorain City Schools in Ohio, replaced Ra-mona Tyson. Tyson was appointed interimsuperintendent after former SuperintendentCrawford Lewis and former Chief Opera-tions Officer Patricia Reid were indicted in2010 for allegedly running a criminal enter-prise within the school system.

20112011 Top DeKalb news storiesYear in Review

Long steps downat New Birth

Snow and ice shutdown county

DeKalb Schools hiresDr. Cheryl Atkinson asnew superintendent

The accidental shooting death of a 4-year-old boy led toa state resolution calling for an end to celebratory gunfire

on holidays such as the Fourth of July and New Years Eve.Marquel Peters was killed by celebratory gunfire as he satin church on New Years Eve 2009. Police said the gun thatfired the bullet that killed the boy could have been fired fromas far as a mile away.

Peters family embarked on a crusade to alert the publicto the dangers of celebratory gunfire. In March 2010, theGeorgia House of Representatives voted 139-23 to pass HR341, a measure that urges increased public awareness ofthe dangers of celebratory gunfire.

By adopting the resolution the house committed tostudying and adopting tougher criminal sanctions for thosewho commit celebratory gunfire which results in injury ordeath to another person.

Death of 4-year-old promptsstate resolution

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Year in Review Continued From Page 8A

Hemy Neuman, a supervisor at GEElectric Energy in Marietta, was arrestedin January and charged with the murder ofRussell Sneiderman, a 36-year-old entre-preneur who was shot several times outsideDunwoody Prep daycare, where he had justdropped off his son.

Neuman, who was the supervisor ofAndrea Sneiderman, the victims wife, atfirst pleaded not guilty but in Septemberchanged his plea to not guilty by reason ofinsanity.

Investigators for DeKalb District AttorneyRobert James said they believe that anextramarital affair between Neuman and thevictims wife was a motive for the killing.

In February, Neumans wifeAriela, filedfor legal separation alleging an affair be-tween her husband and the victims wife.

The trial is scheduled to begin in Febru-ary.

First lady Michelle Obama broughther campaign against childhood obe-sity to DeKalb County Feb. 9, when shevisited the Burgess-Peterson Academyin a section of Atlanta thats within thecounty.

Were going to need you to bebig and strong because we need youto grow up and do important things,Obama told the excited elementaryschool pupils, reminding them to exer-cise regularly and eat lots of fruits andveggies. She is working to combat whatmany health experts are calling a na-tional epidemic of obesity, particularlyin childrenone in three U.S. children isoverweight or obese.

Dunwoody daycare

suspect arrested, setto use insanity plea

First lady bringstness campaignto DeKalb

An Atlanta man has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial inconnection with the rape of a female church worker at St.

Timothy United Methodist Church in Stone Mountain. JohnRussell Carter, 50, was indicted in April for the assault andcharges in the 12-count indictment include rape, armed robbery,aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment,kidnapping, burglary and possession of a knife duringcommission of a felony. According to police, the 53-year-oldfemale victim was working in a church office on a Saturdayafternoon. When she answered an exterior office door, thesuspect allegedly forced his way into the building and attackedthe victim.

DeKalb County firefighter Doug Harms led an effort to build aSept. 11 memorial in front of the police and fire rescue headquartersin Tucker. The memorial, built on a 2,200 square-foot roundabout,is in the shape of a cross that is part of the insignia of the New YorkFire Department. The memorial was dedicated to commemoratethe 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World

Trade Center and the Pentagon. In the center of the memorial is a22,000-pound piece of granite in the shape of the pentagon. Flightmarkers on pedestals surround the pentagon and there are sevenflags representing the United States, Georgia, DeKalb County, firedepartment, police department, POW/MIAs and 9/11.The granite istopped by a phoenix-winged sculpture and a piece of steel from theWorld Trade Center.

Man awaits trial for rape ofchurch worker

Fireghter helps make 9/11

memorial a reality

After a community debate that last-ed several months, the Board of Com-missioners approved the constructionof a so-called gasication plant out-side the city of Lithonia.

The companys planners said theproposed 10-megawatt facility wouldconvert yard waste into renewablenatural gas using a method called py-rolysis and would employee nearly 100people.

Citing environmental concerns, res-idents led a lawsuit against DeKalbCounty to prevent the construction ofthe plant, which subsequently failedto get proper permitting from a stateagency.

Commissionapproves Lithoniagasication plant

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Four DeKalb County Fire Rescueemployees were demoted in February aftera month-long investigation concerningalleged drinking on duty during the Januarysnowstorm.

Assistant ChiefJoseph Tinsleywasdemoted to captain; Capt. Marcus Reedwas demoted two ranks to firefighter level2; and fire apparatus operator WilliamCorbett and firefighter Joshua Crawfordalso were demoted, according to Fire ChiefEddie OBrien.

The incident happened on Jan. 11.Several firefighters met at Savage Pizza in

Avondale Estates for dinner and consumedalcohol, then most of them went to TwainsBilliard & Tap in Decatur where more foodand alcohol was consumed, according tothe report. Reed, Corbett and Crawford allbrought alcohol back to the fire house.

Alcohol incident leads todemotion of reghters

Amid much controversy, interim SuperintendentRamona Tyson saw her redistricting plan for theDeKalb County School System come to a close thisyear. The vote to implement the plan was passed bythe board of education on March 7. The redistrictingplan closed eight schools and was projected tosave approximately $12 million. The eight schoolsclosed under the plan were Atherton, Glen Haven,Gresham Park, Medlock, Peachcrest and Sky Havenelementary schools, Avondale High School and

Avondale Middle School. However, part of AvondaleHigh has remained open to house the DeKalbSchool of the Arts. Recently, the board of educationapproved the International Community School, aK-6 grade charter school, to use the building as a

new location.

DeKalb School System completesschool closing/redistricting

On Nov. 8, voters in each city inDeKalb passed a referendum allowingthe sale of alcohol by retail establish-ments on Sundays from 12:30 to 11:30p.m. The controversial vote came afterGov. Nathan Deal signed SB 10 intolaw, allowing each local governmentwithin the state to decide whether to al-low the sales. Each city in DeKalb votedyes and Avondale Estates was the rstone in DeKalb to sell on Sunday, Nov.20. DeKalb County has elected to holdthe vote for Sunday sales in unincorpo-rated areas of the county on March 6,2012, during the presidential primary.

Voters pass Sunday retail

alcohol sales

In an effort to reduce trafc congestion,a 16-mile stretch of I-85 high occupancyvehicle (HOV) lanes were converted totolled express lanes. Residents looking fora quicker ride to work would be tolled ata rate between 10 and 90 cents per mile,depending on congestion. However, soonafter the new lanes were opened on Oct.1, Gov. Nathan Deal reduced the maxi-mum charge to travel the full 16 miles from$5.50 to $3.05 after the lanes had a badrush-hour showing. The lanes are avail-able to two classes of drivers: those witha Peach Pass (an electronic toll collectiondevice also used on Georgia 400) who paynothing, and those with a Peach Pass andtwo or fewer people who are willing to paya toll (motorcyclists and alternative-fuel ve-hicles also travel free.)

State implements I-85 hotlanes

DeKalb County voters passed a referen-dum to allow a Special Purpose Local Op-tion Sales Tax (SPLOST) to be implementedto pay for school construction projects. Thetax, which is a 1 percent sales tax, is pro-

jected to bring approximately $450 millionin revenue for the DeKalb County SchoolSystem. The recent vote, which occursevery five years, was the fourth one imple-mented by DeKalb County and will helppay for school renovations, capital improve-ment projects and revamping technology inschools.

Voters pass SPLOST toimprove schools

Eric Boe, a 1983 graduate of HendersonHigh School was the pilot on the final SpaceShuttle Discovery mission in March. It wasBoes second space shuttle trip.

The 46-year-old has logged a total of 27days in space on the two missions. Boe,46, attended the United States Air Force

Academy after graduating from Henderson.He graduated from the Air Force Academyin 1987 with a bachelor of science degreein astronautical engineering and earneda master of science degree in electricalengineering from Georgia Tech in 1997. Boenow lives in Texas with his wife and twochildren. He was selected as a pilot by NASAin 2000 and was a member of the space

shuttle Endeavor crew in 2008.Boe became interested in becoming anastronaut in elementary school and attendeda 10-week science course at FernbankScience Center. He has returned to DeKalbCounty many times to speak about spacetravel to students.

Henderson High grad pilotsspace shuttle

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The case over who legitimately holds the position ofthe countys clerk of Superior Court was settled quietlyin October at a cost of $75,000 plus $10,000 in attorneyfees.

DeKalb County reached a settlement with formerSuperior Court ClerkLinda Carter who sued thecounty and current clerkDebra DeBerryto get her jobback. Carter, who is being treated for early stages of

Alzheimers disease, claimed that she was tricked intoresigning during a period of dementia.

In March, Gov. Nathan Deals office received a letterof resignation which purported to be from Carter andnamed DeBerry, who was Carters chief deputy clerk, asCarters replacement.

Carter was first elected to the Superior Court clerkposition in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.She would have been up for re-election in 2012.

Former Superior Court clerk receives $75,000 settlement over job

Carter DeBerry

Voters in Avondale Estates and Li-thonia chose their mayors in a Nov. 8election, while leadership for Doravilleand Dunwoody was decided in a Dec. 6runoff.

In Avondale Estates, voters re-electedincumbent Mayor Edward Rieker whowas running against mayor pro temporeDavid Milliron.

In Lithonia, where four candidateswere running for mayor, former councilmember Deborah Jackson was se-lected as the new mayor after defeatingincumbent Tonya Peterson Anderson.

Donna Pittman had to run for mayorfour times during 2011, but in the endwas selected for the post. A specialelection following the February death oflongtime mayor Ray Jenkins required a

runoff, which Pittman won. But becauseJenkins term was to expire at the endof the year, a November election, whichalso required a runoff, was held.

The election to choose Dunwoodyssecond mayor also required a runoff,which resulted in the triumph of busi-nessman Mike Davis over attorney BobDallas.

Cities choose their mayors

Implemented in October 2010, DeKalbCountys foreclosure registry is designedto protect residential neighborhoodsfrom becoming blighted through the lackof adequate maintenance and security ofabandoned properties as a result of theforeclosure crisis, according to the ordi-nance passed.

The foreclosure ordinance requiresany beneciary or trustee of a foreclosedproperty to register the property and payan annual fee. It also requires trustees tomaintain the property or pay a ne.

A year later, some residents declared

the program a success; others said it onlycreated a slush fund and a few jobs.State and county ofcials are imple-

menting measures to assure the programis working as intended, including legisla-tion to limit registry fees and a county planto account for the funds collected anddocument the delivery of services.

Foreclosure registry gets

mixed reviews

Dr. Earl and Carolyn Glenn, publishersofThe Champion Newspaper, decided tocelebrate the newspapers 20th anniversaryby honoring DeKalb County residents whohave dedicated their time, talents and inmany cases financial resources, to makingDeKalb County a better place for all.

Nominations of individuals and organiza-tions were accepted from the communityat large and narrowed by a committee toa list of 20 winners. Those selected wererecognized at the Celebration of CommunityChampions Gala luncheon in September

and received a commemorative trophy anda financial contribution to enable them tocontinue their community work in DeKalb.

An exhibit at the DeKalb History Center gaveresidents the opportunity to read about theCommunity Champions and view mementosof their lives and work.

Newspaper celebrates 20

years; recognizes CommunityChampions

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Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcasts current performance underthe current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests ofyour community to www.dekalbcountyga.gov.

DeKalb County Wants to Hear From YouRegarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal

with Comcast Cable Communications


The funeral servicefor radio personalityRoyal Marshall onJan. 22, at Ray of HopeChristian Church inDecatur was filled withstories of professionalaccomplishment, dedi-cated volunteer workand close personal re-lationships, punctuatedwith funny stories andrecollections.

A longtime DeKalbCounty resident, Mar-

shall was honored bytalk show hosts NealBoortz and Rahul Bali,both colleagues at WSBRadio, and by DeKalbCounty CEO BurrellEllis, who presented aproclamation on behalfof the citizens of DeKalbCounty.

Like many otherswho spoke that day,Ray of Hope PastorCynthia Hale remem-bered Marshall for hisdevotion to his family,his church and his com-

munity. If there is oneword that describesRoyal its faithful, shesaid.

Communitysays farewellto radiopersonalityRoyal Marshall

FAMU hazing results in death and ongoing scandal

On Dec. 16 officials ruled the recent deathofRobert Champion a homicide as the result

of hazing. Champion was a Decatur residentattending Florida A&M University (FAMU), whowas a member of the colleges famous March-ing 100 band. On Nov. 19, Champion, whoattended Southwest DeKalb High School, wasfound unresponsive on the bands bus. Soonafter his death, band FAMU Band Director Ju-lian White was fired.

In a press release, FAMU President JamesAmmons said White was dismissed for al-leged misconduct and incompetence involvingconfirmed reports and allegations of hazing.

Several weeks after Champions death,another member of the Marching 100 came

forward alleging a hazing incident caused herto suffer a cracked thigh bone. Bria ShanteHunter, said the incident occurred severalweeks before the death of Champion.

Both Hunter, who is suing FAMU, andChampion were members of a group within theband called the Red Dawg Order, made upstrictly of members from Atlanta. Hunter saidher injuries were from a hazing incident induct-ing her into the group. Investigations into bothof the incidents are ongoing.

First

1/1

Last

1/16

The Northeast will see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rain an

snow today through Saturday, with the highest temperature of 53 in East St.

Louis, Ill. The Southeast will see mostly clear skies today through Saturday,

with the highest temperature of 75 in Hollywood, Fla. The Northwest will see scattered

rain today and Friday, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain Saturday, with the

highest temperature of 62 in Colville, Wash. The Southwest will see mostly clear skies

today through Saturday, with the highest temperature of 82 in Chino, Calif.

THURSDAY

Sunny

High: 55 Low:37

Full

1/9

The Champion Weather Dec. 29, 2011Seven Day Forecast

Local UV Index

WEDNESDAYSunny

High: 52 Low: 34

TUESDAY

Sunny

High: 57 Low:35

MONDAY

Sunny

High: 52 Low:31

SUNDAY

Sunny

High: 63 Low:37

SATURDAY

Sunny

High: 61 Low:44

FRIDAY

Sunny

High: 58 Low:39

In-Depth Local Forecast Today's Regional Map

Sunrise

7:41 a.m.

7:41 a.m.

7:41 a.m.

7:42 a.m.7:42 a.m.

7:42 a.m.

7:42 a.m.

Sunset

5:38 p.m.

5:38 p.m.

5:39 p.m.

5:40 p.m.5:40 p.m.

5:41 p.m.

5:42 p.m.

Moonset

10:57 p.m.

11:52 p.m.

Next Day

12:47 a.m.1:42 a.m.

2:37 a.m.

3:32 a.m.

Moonrise

10:49 a.m.

11:18 a.m.

11:47 a.m.

12:17 p.m.12:49 p.m.

1:23 p.m.

2:02 p.m.

New

1/23

www.WhatsOurWeather.com

Weather History

Dec. 29, 1830 - A very heavy

snowstorm ushered in the

winter of the deep snow. The

storm produced 30 inches of

snow at Peoria, Ill. and 36 inches

at Kansas City, Mo. The snowcontinued until the middle of

February, causing great suffering

among pioneers.

Weather Trivia

Tonight's Planets

How many years is the

sun's solar cycle?

Answer: Eleven years.

?

Day

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

SundayMonday

Tuesday

Wednesday

National Weather Summary This Week

Local Sun/Moon Chart This Week

StarWatch By Gary Becker - Cold Quadrantids Await

Today we will see sunny skies with a high

temperature of 55, humidity of 57%. West wind

5 to 15 mph. The record high temperature for

today is 72 set in 1984. Expect mostly clear

skies tonight with an overnight low of 37. The

record low for tonight is 17 set in 1961.

Dec. 30, 1988 - Unseasonably

cold weather prevailed in the

southwestern United States. A

week of subfreezing temperatures

in Southern California claimed the

lives of five people. Redding,

Calif. was blanketed with four

inches of snow.

The one page article in Sky and Telescope magazine began with Have you ever seen a single Quadrantid meteor? I smiled because I had seen a whole bunch of them back

in the mid-1970s. My single Quadrantid observing experience involved taking a group of students to Pulpit Rock, my local astronomy clubs dark sky observing site west

of Allentown, PA. The evening started cold and windy, but clear. Then it got partly cloudy; and then it snowed for a while. Afterwards it got even colder. One of my students

forgot his gloves. He was the lucky one because he got banished to the car. Those were the days when observing meant staying out the entire night; thats 15 hours in early

January. You may have already guessed that my stalwart group and I did not last for more than a couple hoursfour to be exact. But we did see Quadrantid meteors flash in between scud-

ding low clouds and more during a few clear patches. Except for the big chill that comes along with winter star watching, this year is idea for Quadrantid viewing. The shower peaksbetween 2-3 a.m., EST, January 4th, and the moon sets by 3 a.m. The Quadrantid shower has a very short duration of maximum activity, so by 5 a.m. things should be pretty much over.

Be outside by 1:30 a.m. Face NE and observe near the zenith, usually the darkest part of the sky. If shooting stars seem to be fanning away from a location below and to the left of the Big

Dippers handle, you will be seeing Quadrantid meteors. Make sure head, hands, and feet are well insulated against the cold. Long johns are a must and so is a sleeping bag. Consider pur-

chasing disposable charcoal hand and feet warmers from a local hardware store for added comfort from the cold. Remember, even if you see nothing, the best part of Quadrantid watch-

ing is the long, hot shower that awaits your reentry into the house at the end of the night. www.astronomy.org

Rise Set

Mercury 6:07 a.m. 4:11 p.m.

Venus 9:53 a.m. 8:12 p.m.

Mars 11:10 p.m.11:53 a.m.Jupiter 1:29 p.m. 2:34 a.m.

Saturn 2:16 a.m. 1:33 p.m.

Uranus 12:08 p.m.12:14 a.m.

3 50 - 2 4 6 8 107 9 11+

UV Index

0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate,

6-7: High, 8-10: Very High

11+: Extreme Exposure

Atlanta

55/37

Decatur

55/37

Doraville

54/37

Dunwoody

53/36 Lilburn

54/37

Snellville

55/37

Lithonia

56/37

Morrow

56/37

Smyrna

54/37

Hampton

57/38

Union City

56/37

College Park

56/37

*Last Weeks Almanac

Date Hi Lo Normals Precip

Tuesday 59 44 54/35 0.30"

Wednesday 65 56 53/35 0.85"

Thursday 67 55 53/35 1.04"

Friday 56 43 53/35 0.00"

Saturday 58 38 53/35 0.00"

Sunday 49 41 53/35 0.47"

Monday 53 34 53/34 0.02"Rainfall . . . . . . .2.68" Average temp . .51.3

Normal rainfall . .0.85" Average normal 44.0

Departure . . . . .+1.83" Departure . . . . .+7.3*Data as reported from De Kalb-Peachtree Airport

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At 64, he is preparing for re-tirement in three years and plansto work earnestly in the meantime to prepare his students forcollege. Although Thompsonhas retirement in sight, he is

still going strong. He staysyoung by coaching basketballand heeding the twin admonish-ments of a friend who lived to104 years old: Dont let stressget to you and drink a glass ofcabernet every day.

For some of our neighbors,2011 has been a year of sig-nificant career advancementsmingled with difficult personalchallenges. Barbara Emman-uel, a psychotherapist with anaddiction and recovery-focusedpractice in downtown Decatur,became president of the Geor-gia Society for Clinical Social

Work this year. In 2011, shealso learned that a close familymember has an aggressive formof cancer.

This experience has taughtme how important it is to liveeach day by appreciating ourloved ones, Emmanuel said. Iresolve in 2012 to cherish thoseI love and to appreciate life.

Professionally, she plansnext year to learn and ultimatelyteach a method of stress andanxiety reduction called Mind-fulness-based Stress Reduction.This method, she explained,

involves meditation (sitting ormoving) with light yoga.ForDebraKelley, owner of

Decatur Yoga & Pilates, 2011had its trials. Surgery sidelinedthe yoga instructor. Conse-quently, she has not been able topractice fully the exercises andpostures of the discipline. Andthe death of her beloved petboxer created not only personalgrief but also a void in her life.

But Kelley is resilient. Sheadopts the practical Buddhistview of accepting life as it isnot how one thinks life shouldbewhile moving forward.

Accordingly, she now workswith Atlanta Boxer Rescue,a nonprofit organization thatrescues, rehabilitates and findshomes for unwanted or aban-doned boxers in the metro area.Kelley temporarily providesfoster care for two boxers thathave brought joy to her life.

Although she is moving to-ward a full yoga practice again,her recent surgical recoverieshave led her to offer therapeuticyoga classes and private thera-peutic sessions as a bridge forthose who are on a healing jour-

ney. I am so grateful that Ivecreated this business, she said.It is a labor of love.

Still, Kelley expressed the

need for balance between herprofessional and personal life.In 2012, my goal is to moveforward by slowing down, shesaid. I need to carve out moretime for myself, and I am takingthe responsibility to do that.

In a quintessentially Eastern

way of approaching this typeof challenge, Kelley explainedthat moving forward and slow-ing down are not contradictory.Rather, these opposites balanceeach other to create harmony.

With classes at her studiobecoming more popular, Kel-ley has plans in 2012 to expandinto a space across the hall atthe current downtown Decaturlocation. She stated: I want thebusiness to grow in an organicway by addressing needs as theyarise.

For many DeKalb families,

financial hardships in 2011created numerous difficulties.Yet this year offered reasons tocheer, said DeKalb State Rep.

Stephanie Benfield. The Demo-crat stated that, though her partywas in the minority during thelegislative session, they heardthe outcry from families andteachers when the GOP pusheda plan to make cuts to the statespre-kindergarten program. She

said her colleagues successfullypressured the governor to sal-vage full day pre-K.

The lawmaker, a mother oftwo, said in 2012 she plans onspending more time with herfamily. A longtime proponentof pre-K, Benfield added thatshe will focus on a handful ofissues next year: promoting fullpre-K funding, improving thequality of school lunches andexpanding recycling in DeKalbschools.

Shortly, 2011 will appear inthe rearview mirror. For DeKalb

residents it was a year of highsand lows. But many are drivinginto the new year with confi-dence.

Julius Thompson spoke about Ghost of Atlanta at his 2011 book

launch at Eagle Eye Bookstore in Decatur. Photo provided

Debra Kelley shares a happy moment with her beloved pet boxer that

died this year. Photo provided

The Champion Free Press, Friday, December 30, 2011 Page 15ALocal News

New YearContinued From Page 1AFAMU studentsdeath ruledhomicide as a

result of hazingby Daniel [email protected]

The death of 26-year-old FloridaA&M University student RobertChampion was the result ofhemorrhaging incurred during a hazingncident, according to medical reports.

Champions death was ruled ahomicide by Orange County officials onDec. 16.

A graduate of Southwest DeKalbHigh School, Champion was a memberof FAMUs famous Marching 100band. According to reports, on Nov. 19

Champion was found unresponsive onhe bands bus. Several days afterward

officials stated hazing as a possiblecause of death.

In the medical report, officialsconcluded the death of RobertChampion, a 26-year-old male, is theesult of hemorrhagic shock due to aoft tissue hemorrhage, incurred by

blunt force trauma sustained during ahazing incident.

According to a statement releasedby the Orange County SherriffsOffice, homicide investigators haventerviewed the majority of individuals

present during the incident that led to

Champions death.In the coming days and weeksnvestigators will be working to identifyhe charges that are applicable,

officials stated. No additionalnformation will be available until

charges are announced.Several days after Champions

death, FAMU Band DirectorJulianWhite was fired. In a press release,FAMU President James Ammonsaid White was dismissed for alleged

misconduct and incompetencenvolving confirmed reports and

allegations of hazing.Recently, Marching 100 band

member, Bria Shante Hunter, another

Southwest DeKalb High Schoolgraduate has come forward allegingband members beat her so badly sheuffered a cracked thigh bone and hado be taken to the hospital. This incident

allegedly occurred several weeks beforehe death of Champion.

Both Hunter, who is suing FAMU,and Champion were members of agroup within the band called the RedDawg Order, made up strictly ofmembers from Atlanta. Her injurieswere from an alleged hazing incidentnducting her into the group.

According to reports, SeanHobson, 23, Aaron Golson, 19 and

James Harris, 22, were charged withassaulting Hunter. Hobson is a graduateof Southwest DeKalb High Schooland Harris attended Druid Hills HighSchool.

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DeKalbs CEO vetoes form of government study

Officials promisesweeping changes

in DeKalb Schools

by Andrew [email protected]

In a rare use of his veto power,DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis tried touppress the discussion on changing

the countys form ofgovernment.

Ellis is opposed toa resolution passedby the Board ofCommissioners onDec. 13 that wouldask DeKalbs state

legislative delegationto create a commis-

ion to study the countys form ofgovernment.

Currently, the county is run byhe seven-member Board of Com-

missioners, which is the legislativebranch, and an elected CEO whouns the day-to-day operations of the

government.A change in the form of govern-

ment would, at this time, bring insta-bility and create a distraction fromaddressing the ongoing nancial is-ues that the county faces, Ellis saidn his veto memo to the commission-

ers.To study the form of governmentwould send the wrong signal tonancial rating agencies that couldeopardize the recent restoration of

the countys credit ratings, Ellis saidin the statement.

Two agencies have upgraded thecountys credit ratings on outstand-ing debt after the ratings were down-graded earlier in 2011.

The rating agencies expect sta-bility in managementand that all branchesof government willwork in concert toaddress structural -nancial issues, Ellissaid.

CommissionerLee May, in a state-

ment after the veto, said Ellis rea-soning for vetoing the resolution isawed.

The rating agencies do not carewhat form of government we have aslong as it is professionally run, Maysaid. These are the same agenciesthat earlier this year stated that CEOEllis administration has a budget-ing methodology that, in (the ratingagencys view), incorporates revenueassumptions that are unrealistic.

It was [Ellis] failure to managethe county that caused the uncertain-

ty, May said. They even criticizedhim for not having a nancial plan. Itwas astonishing to me after threeyears in ofce, CEO Ellis did nothave a sound nancial plan to run

this county.Ellis also cited the Georgia Gen-

eral Assemblys 2008 adoption ofa bill that gave the Board of Com-missioners the authority to chair itsown meetings. This change gave the

board additionalpowers and responsi-bilities to bolster thechecks and balance,Ellis said.

Three years isnot enough time tofully determine the

effectiveness of thebill, Ellis said.

CommissionerElaine Boyer,in the statement, said the law wasa great change, but it didnt go farenough. There still seems to be adaily intertwining of the politicaland professional management of thiscounty.

To not allow the citizens ofDeKalb to study the form of govern-ment is beyond belief, Boyer said.The fact that [Ellis] does not wantto have an objective study is thehardest thing to swallow. Only peo-ple trying to protect their own power

would be against having public dis-cussions on the topic.Kathie Gannon, the sole com-

missioner who opposed the resolu-tion, said the move to study the form

of government is simply an issue ofpower.

I think it has personal agendawritten all over it, Gannon said.Some commissioners didnt com-plain when they had power on theirside with a different county admin-

istration.Gannon said

it would be verypolitical to put theBoard of Commis-sioners, which shesaid does not use the

power it already has,in charge of making

day-to-day decisions for the county.If people dont like the way the

CEO is managing, they can vote oneperson out, Gannon said. Changewould be more difcult with sevencommissioners in charge.

The Board of Commissionersis expected to address Ellis veto,which could be overridden with vevotes, at its Committee of the Wholemeeting on Jan. 3.

One thing I was incredibly proudof was that this resolution passed6-1, May said. It was not a partisan

resolution. For CEO Ellis to veto aresolution that had that much supportshows that he is out of touch with thecitizens of this county.

by Daniel [email protected]

DeKalb County Schoolofcials said that Superin-endent Cheryl Atkinson

has promised signicantpersonnel changes at everyevel of the school system athe beginning of 2012.

Atkinson is nearly n-shed with her 90-day entry

plan and school spokesmanWalter Woods said the

personnel changes, whichwould occur throughout Jan-uary, would bring the plano a close.

We are expecting sig-nicant changes throughouthe district at all levels, par-icularly the higher central

ofce levels, Woods said.Woods said the reason

for the personnel changes is

to ensure the system has theright staff in place to carryout the mission both the su-perintendent and the boardare committed to, which isto improve student successthroughout all areas of theschool system.

We have pockets ofexcellence; we need asystem-wide school systemof excellence and to do thatwe need the right people inplace, Woods said.

Recently, the systembegan a complete person-nel audit, which is slated tobe nished Jan. 13. Woodssaid some of the personnelchanges would come as a re-sult of the audit. He said thechanges include principals.

I think that we haveto make sure that theres aleader in every building,

he said. This has come upwith every parent forumweve had and this hascome up with every employ-ee forum weve had over the

past couple of weeks andthe superintendent can tellyou theres going to be ma-jor changes.

Woods would not be

specic about any changesin particular but said theywould be drastic.

Ellis May Boyer Gannon

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The Champion Free Press, Friday December 30, 2011 Page 17A

Two Decatur Town Center, 125 Clairemont Ave., Suite 235, Decatur, GA 30030

404-378-8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org

The Voice of Business in DeKalb CountyDeKalb Chamber of Commerce

Notice of Availability

DeKalb County 2012 Executive Budget Recommendation

The Chief Executive Officer of DeKalb County presented the 2012 ExecutiveBudget Recommendation to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners onDecember 15, 2011 for their consideration.

A copy of the entire Executive Budget Recommendation is available for publicinspection in the office of the Director of Finance, 6th Floor, Maloof Centerduring normal business hours. The Executive Budget Recommendation is alsoavailable electronically at www.dekalbcountyga.gov and at DeKalb CountyLibrary locations.

The DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer and Board of Commissioners willhold Public Hearings on the 2012 Executive Budget Recommendation at timesand places to be announced later.

y Andrew [email protected]

A Lithonia woman willace a jury beginning Jan. on charges that her two

dogs attacked and severelynjured an 8-year-old girl in

March 2010.Twyann Vaughn,

he owner of the dogs, isacing two counts each ofeckless conduct, violation

of the vicious dog act andviolation of the rabiesordinance. If convicted,Vaughn could spend up tove years in prison.

Erin Ingram, a Rock

Chapel Elementary Schooltudent, was allegedlyttacked while playing in

her neighborhood on March, 2010. The animals were

usually kept in Vaughnsgarage.

According to a policeeport, several witnesses

unsuccessfully tried to tearhe dogs away from the girl

before a DeKalb Countypolice ofcer arrived andpulled the dogs off the girl.The ofcer shot one of thedogs in the head when itumped toward the ofcer.

The other dog, which ranway, was later located anduthanized.

Ingram lost part of anrm in the attack and sheuffered severe injuries to

her other arm, includingcarring and muscle atrophyhat has caused some

deformation, according toSherry Boston, the countysolicitor general who will be

prosecuting the case.This was one of the

more severe victim caseswith a] child victim that

ustained life-changing

injuries, Boston said.Ingram also suffered

bites and scarring on her

face and legs. Undergoingseveral surgeries, she hashad multiple skin graftsfrom her leg to her arm.

The doctors werelucky to save the one arm,Boston said. Her injurieswere extensive. Erin islucky to be alive.

Boston said that if itwerent for the neighborsand the police ofcerassisting Ingram, itsextremely likely that shewould have lost her life.

This is one of the more

egregious dog bite casesour ofce has prosecuted,Boston said about the case,which is only the secondcase prosecuted by Bostonsofce under the ViciousDog Act.

We expect the evidenceto show that [Vaughn]had knowledge of prioraggression toward otherson the part of the dogs,Boston said. We absolutelybelieve that the tragedy wasavoidable.

Boston said she believesthat owners of aggressivedogs have a responsibilityto control their animals toprotect the public, and saidher ofce will prosecutethose who do not controltheir animals.

We hope to bringclosure to the nightmarethat this family has gonethrough, Boston said.Erin will wear those scarsforever.

Jury selection will beginon Jan. 3 and the victim isexpected to testify in thetrial with Judge Dax Lopez

presiding.

After a jury trial overa stolen dog, a familyspet is home in time for theholidays.

DeKalb County SolicitorGeneral Sherry Bostonannounced that a guiltyverdict was returned Dec. 19in a theft case against JamesJeffrey Berryhill, who hadbeen charged with theft oflost property, for refusingto return a shih tzu namedChipper to his rightfulowners.

Chipper, who belongsto the Saade family ofDecatur, dissappeared inDecember 2010, and waslater discovered to be livingin Berryhills home across

the street from the Saadefamily.

Berryhill, who renamedthe dog Ralph, claimed thathe had bought the dog fromhis housekeeper for $400in June 2010. Despite thefamilys pleas, Berryhillrefused to return Chipper.In January 2011, when hetook the dog to be micro-chipped, groomed andvacinated, Berryhill couldnot provide any paperworkthat linked him to the dogprior to Jan. 29.

Judge Janis Gordonsentenced Berryhill to 12months of probation, a$700 ne, reimbursementto the solicitor generals

ofce of $295 for the cost ofboarding the dog, no contactwith the Saade family orChipper, and submissionof a surrender letter soBerryhill can make no claimof ownership of Chipper.

We thank the jury fortheir service and returningthe pet to its family, Bostonsaid in a statement. Thisreunion is a special holidayblessing for this family andtheir children.

The case was tried byAssistant SolicitorJocelynWhiteld with assistancefrom Assistant SolicitorTimothy Owens andinvestigatorChristopherEmerson.

Decatur man found guilty ofstealing neighbors shih tzu

Dogs attack couldland owner in jail

The Saade family of Decatur is happy to have Chipper, their 6-year-old shih tzu, home for the holidaysafter a neighbor was convicted of stealing the dog. Photo provided

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The Champion Free Press, Friday December 30, 2011 Page 18AEducation

Oglethorpe receives grant from

Ofce of Highway Safety

The Governors Ofce of HighwaySafety has awarded a $5,000 grant toOglethorpe University to continue itsparticipation in the Georgia Young AdultProgram, a statewide initiative to combatalcohol abuse.

This is the fourth year in a row theuniversity has been awarded the grant. TheGeorgia Young Adult Program focuses onpeer education in order to promote andbring awareness to highway safety issuesincluding alcohol education, alcohol abuseprevention, impaired driving, underagedrinking, safety belts, speeding, risk

reductions and other destructive decisions.Oglethorpe University will use this Peer

Education grant to continue to educate itsstudents about the detriments of drinkingand driving and other alcohol misuse.

Emory announces climate actionplan, carbon reduction goals

Emory University has adopted aClimate Action Plan that chroniclesthe universitys sustainability efforts todate, and sets forth a series of goals andrecommendations for reducing greenhouse

gas emissions in the future by 85 percentper square foot by 2050.

The plan proposes a comprehensiveapproach to reach these goals andrecommends emission reduction strategiesin a number of categories. Theseareas include sustainable building andconstruction, energy, transportation, wastemanagement, food, procurement, academicprograms and individual action.

At the mid-point of Emorys 10-yearstrategic plan, the university is on trackto achieve many goals outlined in itssustainability initiative. The university hasmade steady progress in the area of energyreduction. Over the last ve years, totalenergy use is down more than 15 percentper square foot.

Immaculate Heart of Mary holdsopen house in January

Immaculate Heart of Mary School(IHM) Catholic School will hold an openhouse on Sunday, January 22, from 3 to 5p.m. for all prospective K-8 students andtheir parents. A special presentation at3:15 p.m. will provide an overview of IHMfrom both the administrative and studentperspective. Students and parents will beable to meet teachers and administratorsand tour the campus.

EDUCATION BRIEFSOglethorpeUniversity receiveslandmark grant for

new construction

Total

Nonmajor

Food Lottery Federal Investment Governmental

Services Programs Programs Commission Funds

REVENUESFederal sources $ 517,232 $ 31,997 $ 2,312,431 $ - $ 2,861,660

State sources 32,476 923,774 - - 956,250

Local sources 655,026 - - - 655,026

Total revenues 1,204,734 955,771 2,312,431 - 4,472,936

EXPENDITURES

Instruction - 862,410 1,729,802 - 2,592,212

Support services:

Pupil services - 68,950 68,878 - 137,828

Improvement of instructional services - - 506,170 - 506,170

Educational Media Services - 6,740 - - 6,740

General administration - - 2,000 - 2,000

Student transportation services - 5,672 8,390 - 14,062

Food services operation 1,158,080 - - - 1,158,080

Community services operation - 21,122 11,821 - 32,943

Total expenditures 1,158,080 964,894 2,327,061 - 4,450,035

Excess (deficiency) of revenues over (under) expenditure 46,654 (9,123) (14,630) - 22,901

OTHER FINANCING USES

Transfers out (13,442) - - - (13,442)

Net change in fund balance 33,212 (9,123) (14,630) - 9,459

FUND BALANCE, beginning of year (8,089) - 109,272 168,250 269,433

FUND BALANCE (DEFICIT), end of year $ 25,123 $ (9,123) $ 94,642 $ 168,250 $ 278,892

Projects

COMBINING STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND

CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES

School

CITY OF DECATUR BOARD OF EDUCATION

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2011

Financing and

Georgia State

CapitalSpecial

NONMAJOR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS

Revenue

y Daniel [email protected]

Oglethorpe Universityecently received a $5 mil-ion grant, the largest in itsistory, to replace a studententer currently housed in auilding more than 50 yearsld.

The university is in thelanning stages of a com-

rehensive campaign andhe grant from the Lettieate Evans Foundation willelp complete one of sev-ral capital projects outlinedn the effort.

According to OglethorpeUniversity President Law-ence Schall, more than30 million has been raiseduring the past nine monthso go toward revamping thechool both cosmeticallynd academically.

The board of trustees inhe spring of 2010 adoptedseries of strategic initia-

ives and one of them washe new campus center,chall said. We also want

o connect the experiencewe have with our studentsn the real world by build-ng internships, studybroad and civic engage-

ment.Additionally, Schall said

ome of the $30 millionwill be offered to studentshrough scholarships.

Over the past ve years,chall said, Oglethorpesull-time enrollment has

rown more than 20 percentnd tuition revenue hasncreased more than 30 per-ent. He attributed this tohe location and the learn-ng environment.

I think with the twinaims of providing studentsan education where theylearn how to think and be-ing in Atlanta gives us anopportunity to connect ourstudents with the real worldthat other schools nd hardto do because of where theyare, Schall said.

Schall said there was awave of students recently

graduating college withbusiness and communica-tions degrees who werefocused on the idea of be-ing trained for a job. Schallsaid that students need to beexible because of the jobmarket and economy.

Oglethorpes enrollmentis 1,100 and Schall said ithopes to grow to 1,500 overthe next eight yearstheyreceive more than 5,000 ap-plications a year.

Our strategic plan hasus growing at about 5 per-cent a year and weve gen-

erally exceeded that, Schallsaid.

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The Champion Free Press, Friday December 30, 2011 Page 19ABusiness

European-style pastries come to Stone Mountain Villagey Kathy [email protected]

As downtown Stone Mountainontinues to revitalize as an artsommunity, those who come to visithe galleries and other attractionsave a new place to grab a bite toat. Kalonji Bakery, which openedecently around the corner from

ART Station, is more than a bakedoods shop. Its a caf that also of-ers salads, sandwiches, ice creamnd other food and drink that can beonsumed on the premises.

Actually, we want a homey feelike at our other bakery on Law-enceville Highway, said Bruno

Kalonji, son of ownerAngelicaKalonji

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