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Nonprofit music program holds first concert with Ivy Prep studentsby Daniel [email protected]

The halls of Ivy Preparatory Academy forBoys and Girls at Kirkwood were quiet March28. Class had ended and there was hardly anyonen the hallway save a janitor or the occasionaleacherthe cafeteria was a different story.

Parents, students, teachers, friends andfamily of Ivy Prep packed the auditorium forhe schools first choral concert since it began

partnering with the Atlanta Music ProjectAMP) more than six weeks ago.

Were so excited that were able to providehis opportunity for our scholars, Ivy Prep for

Girls Principal KendraShipman said. The

tudents have been working so hard towardhis.AMP began by offering orchestra programs

and this year it also started its vocal programAMPlify. Each week, more than 150 studentsattend three to five two-hour classes after schoolo for voice training, or to learn how to play

donated classical instruments.Now in its third year, AMP has been

providing music education to youth inunderserved schools throughout metro Atlantao enact social change. AMP directorAisha

Bowden said that what the students learn in theprogram goes far beyond a rigorous musicaleducation.

In the pursuit of musical excellence theywill develop skills that they can use later on

n life. Weve found a wonderful home for theprogram, Bowden said.

Bowden said AMP is currently evaluatingts program and each student has been provided

a questionnaire to give to their parents. Sincemany of the students at Ivy Prep started theAMP program, Bowden said their grades andbehavior at school have both improved.

Thats what the parents are telling us, sincehey started AMP theyre more responsible andheyre better with their time, Bowden said.

The first group to sing, the Marian AndersonPrimary Choir, consists of elementary schooltudents and was conducted by James Dekle.

The students sang several short songs, includingBob Marleys Three Little Birds, which

featured student-soloist Nyanza Paulk.Bowden conducted the middle school choir,named the R. Nathaniel Dett Concert Choir.Before beginning, Bowden said that each of thechoirs selections represented music written byan inspiring Black composer. The students alsoang a Ghanaian folk song.

The only thing required for the classess that the students show up; there is a strict

attendance policy and students are expected toattend every class.

During their time at AMP, Bowden saidtudents learn a range of things such as howo read and write music, improvise, perform

onstage in a choral ensemble or orchestra, andcompose and arrange music.

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Ivy Prep Academy at Kirkwood held its first choral performance in conjunction with the Atlanta Music Project,which has been teaching the students to sing for the past six weeks. Photos by Daniel Beauregard

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 5, 2013 Page 2ALOCAL NEWS

City announces rst police chiefubrookhaven ubrookhaven

City approves operating budget

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The Brookhaven mayorand City Council voted unani-mously March 26 in support ofa $16.465 million budget forscal year 2013.

The budget includes op-

erating expenses for the city,ncluding administration, po-ice, community development,

parks and recreation, publicworks, legal and other city ser-vices. This includes money toestablish a police department.

The budget does not in-clude a nal tax rate. Thecouncil set a temporary 3.35millage rate, but anticipatessetting a lower millage rateduring the mid-year budgetadjustments in the summer.

We are committed tomaintaining a lean and scallyresponsible budget, MayorJ.

Max Davis said. We are wait-ng to receive the tax digest

and [Homestead Option SalesTax (HOST)] gures fromDeKalb, but will continue towork diligently to obtain theowest millage rate possible

now and in successive years.Brookhavens city charter

prohibits the council from rais-ng the millage rate above 3.35

mills.The budget is contingent

on DeKalb County setting theHOST sales tax credit, thetax digest and property as-sessments, as well as the cityreceiving franchise fees. Thecitys revenue for this rst yearbudget will be less than futureyears because the city is notdrawing from a full year ofrevenue.

Brookhaven anticipates

receiving $5 million in real es-tate tax, $3.5 million in HOSTsales tax, $400,000 in personalproperty tax and $350,000 inmotor vehicle tax, along with$1.8 million in business and

occupation tax and $1.3 mil-lion in franchise fees.

This budgeted revenue doesnot include the full amountthat Brookhaven anticipatedreceiving from DeKalb forpolice services. Several daysbefore the city referendum,DeKalb County CEO BurrellEllis reduced the level of rev-enue that goes to city residents,effectively raising taxes onall city residents. DeKalb re-moved money intended onlyfor police services and placedit into the countys generalfund, which ultimately im-

pacted the amount of revenuecoming to all cities in DeKalb.

Ga. Rep. Mike Jacobs(R-Brookhaven) has sent aletter to Attorney GeneralSam Olens, requesting a legalopinion on DeKalb Countysability to raise the millage ratebeyond the rollback rate with-out holding public hearings asrequired by state law.

This budget is a work inprogress and contingent onrevenue from DeKalb Coun-ty, Davis said. Our goal re-mains the same: for Brookhav-en taxpayers to pay equal orless than their previous tax ratewhile receiving better qualitycity services.

To view the full budget,visit www.brookhavenga.gov.

Brookhaven MayorJ.Max Davis on April 1 an-nounced Gary Yandura asthe citys rst police chief.

Yandura, a 38-year veter-an law enforcement ofcer,will be tasked with buildingBrookhavens new policedepartment.

Today is a historic daybecause it is the start ofBrookhaven becoming a saf-er community, Davis said.Chief Yanduras record ofreducing crime, buildingcommunity partnershipsand leading with integrityis exactly what Brookhavenneeds for us to meet thisgoal.

Yandura previouslyserved as chief of police in

Hiram and College Park.During his tenure in Col-lege Park, he managed 160employees and a $12 millionannual budget. He is credit-ed with reducing crime dras-tically during his rst tenureas College Parks chief.

Yandura started his lawenforcement career in Lake

Forest, Ill., where he spent24 years.

Yandura is a graduateof the FBI Academy andcertied by the Georgia Po-lice Ofcers Standards andTraining Council. He has amasters in public admin-istration from RooseveltUniversity in Chicago and a

bachelors degree in criminaljustice from the Universityof Illinois.

City ManagerMarie L.Garrett selected Yanduraafter reviewing 98 applica-tions from around the nationand interviewing 10 nal-ists. The Brookhaven charterspecies that the city man-ager has sole discretion onthe chief appointment.

I am excited to haveChief Yandura join ourteam, Garrett said. We re-ceived a lot of interest fromexperienced candidates, butYandura was the right personto help build a new policedepartment from the groundup.

In addition to stafng,

the new chief will be taskedwith establishing an organi-zational structure, develop-ing policies and procedures,helping set up a policestation, creating an annual

budget and managing dailyoperations.

I am honored to helpbuild a new police depart-ment that the Brookhavenresidents and businesses can

be proud of, Yandura said.My rst task will be to as-sess the communitys needsand determine the numberof ofcers needed to protectand serve the city. I willwork closely with city staffto hire the best ofcers to

patrol Brookhaven.Yanduras rst day is

April 15.Brookhaven currently hasan intergovernmental agree-ment with DeKalb County to

provide police services. Thegoal is to have Brookhavenofcers on the road by theend of the summer.

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Page 3A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 5, 2013

Former school board chairman:

This isnt about academicsThis is the second installment of

a two-part series in which TheChampion Newspapers AndrewCauthen talked with former DeKalbschool board chairman GeneWalker, who was suspended alongwith fve other board members byGov.Nathan Dealafter the schooldistrict was placed on accreditationprobation.

Do you think that there wasanother way you could havegone about paying for the schooldistrict lawsuit against thegovernor? Maybe seeking non-

school district funds?

No, no, no. Remember, we evenpaid SACS. We had money payingSACS for 10 years to work withus and monitor us. Everythingis geared toward money. Senseof value seems to have no place.Im amazed, Andrew. You keepfocusing on money instead of theempirical values of a constitutionand the values of decent living forpeople. What price do you pay onliberty? Youre supposed to sacriceghting for whats constitutionallyright or whats a challenge to thatConstitution? My sense of whats

constitutional is being challengedand you have a responsibility toght it and you dont put a priceon the cost. Its amazing it alwayscomes back to money.

To me thats one of the keypurposes of taxpayers money; toght to preserve the constitutionalityof the system youre working in.Thats why we go to court. Thatswhy we handle personnel cases.

Now you asked a question aboutSACS and that law. What is soamazing to me is that you peoplehave not questioned one thing SACShas said or done. If youve seen that

report, youve got to know that theydont corroborate a thing in there.But worse, theres misleading andmisinformation in there. Take me,for example, one case in particular.They quote a letter that I wrote tothe superintendent referencing ayoung man who wanted to teach inspecial education. And the way theyquote that letter, they say the chairof the board sent this letter to thesuperintendent telling her to hirethe brother of a board. Whatdoes that suggest to you?

A board member?

To me its clear; thats exactlywhat it says. That wasnt what itwas. This was a secretarywho[had a] brother with great credentialswho wanted to see if he could get

a job in special education teaching,which was an area where we had asevere need for qualied people. Outof the 18 months the superintendenthad been there, this was the rsttime I ever brought somebody to herattention for her to consider. Notice,I didnt send it to [the] personnel[department]. Who did I send it to?I sent it to the superintendentaletter referencing the brother of a

board secretary, who was no relationto me. [SACS] used that letter asan example of the chair promoting

nepotism and favoritism.

What went wrong in DeKalbschools?

Oh, my God! Whats goingright in DeKalb schools? I am sodisappointed that yall dont talkabout whats right.

Aint none of this dealing withacademics. Weve made more

progress in the school systemacademically this year than wevemade in the past ve. SACS saidwe didnt. Weve got CRCT scoresimproving all across the board. Ouryoung people did better than a 9

percent jump in SAT scores. Our APclasses are just outstanding. Eventhough we have larger classes, ourdedicated and dutiful teachers aredoing a magnicent job.

This is so painful to me. Peopleare dealing with the politics of all ofthis stuff and theyre not looking atthe performance of our children andthe working of our school system.The thing that has gone wrong isthat the public has bought the hypeand the rumors and the fears that theDeKalb school system is broken.But the facts and the record dont

bear them out.

So when you ask me whats gonewrong, the state, through austerity,has taken better than $6 millionfrom us. The property value hasdeclined in DeKalb where four years

ago one mill would bring in $21

million. Today, one mill brings in$14 million. Weve lost signicantrevenue.

But in spite of that, we werebalancing the budget every yearexcept this one. We not only

balanced the budget, we had a fundbalance every year except the onewe just now ended with [formersuperintendent CherylAtkinson].

Remember, nobody on ourboard has been arrested. Ourboard members have not been ina ght with each other. Weve hadserious disagreements because our

philosophies and our politics differ,

but we still managed to take care ofschool business.

Do you think all of this stuff thathas happened in the past fewmonths is all because of SACS?

What has happened in the pasttwo months couldnt have happenedwithout the law. Its because of thelaw. SACS placing us on probationtriggered this unconstitutional law.So we have two dynamics thatneed to be closely monitored andassessed as to their value and theircontributionthats that law and, tome, the shaky way in which SACS

made its review.

What would you do today if youwere on the board? What wouldbe your top priority?

Meeting the 11 requirementsof SACS. People tend to forgetwe were on advisement. They hadgiven us eight directives. As I recall,we had completed six and wereworking on the other two, whichwould take some time. Some dealingwith computers and some comingup with a system of better nancialaccountability, which are all good

things we should do. Thats why Imso eager and committed to do thethings SACS had requested becausethey cant help but make us a better

board. Were not a perfect boardand theyve identied some thingsthat could certainly strengthen andmake the board better in the areaof communication, in the area ofrelationships with the superintendentand the larger community. Thoseare some good directives and wemust nish them to make us a better

board. And thats what we want tobe.

That would be the rst thingI would do if I were still on

remember Im still on the boardifI were still active on the board. SoIm not off the board. Im not activeon the board. I have no inuence onthe board.

You have the ability to reapply forreinstatement.

Im going to do that because Idont see why I should have beenoff in the rst place. So naturally,Im going to apply. The real sinister

part about this whole process isthat it criminalizes board members.When youre taken out of publicofce youre supposed to be donecommitted a crime. It criminalizes

board members to suspend andtake them off the board when theyhave not broken the law. That isunconstitutional. You dont put

people off the board for theseambivalent elusive terms such asdysfunction and micromanaging.

Will you run again?

I aint thinking about runningfor no ofce. Im thinking about

preserving our constitutional rightsand the rights of our people to selecta candidate of their choice.

Do you have any regrets for thepast few months?

Are you kidding me? I regretand resent the predicament Im

in through no fault of my own,but because of some politicalmoves. This had nothing to dowith performance. Our board has

performed, and, in my opinion,performed well. What standard didwe violate? What rule did we breakthats measurable? What did wedo? What is a dysfunctional board?When you gure that out, you tellme.tell the whole community.All the community hears is thisundenable term dysfunction.And, from where I sit, we functionas well, if not better than theGeneral Assembly, the county

commissioners or any governingbody. What did this board do, or failto do, that made it dysfunctional?Because we fuss among ourselves?Because we disagree? Are youtelling me that a political body thathas differences of opinionsthatsdysfunctional? Why are you goingto hold the notion that school boardmembers cant disagree?

We elected a superintendent. Weterminated a superintendent. The

board did this. How are you goingto call this board dysfunctional? Wemay have made some bad choices,

but no one makes perfect choicesin everything. Now you could fault

us for making what turned out to besome bad choices in things, but wedid it as a board.

Walker

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Big ups and kudos in the cus-omer service department for

waitress Morgan at the StonecrestOlive Garden and evening managerSamantha. What could have been

horrible dining experience turnednto a very pleasant demonstrationf excellent customer service I feelompelled to share. It is the antith-sis of what one usually encoun-ers excuses and dismissals asf somehow a botched order is the

ustomers fault.One evening last week my mealwas not prepared to Olive Gardentandards and was quite unaccept-ble. Because I was hungry and

didnt want to cause a fuss, I plowedn and endured. I did indicate to

Morgan in a joking way that theook must have been really off that

night. She apologized and offered

to redo the meal. I insisted that Iwould be OK. Five minutes laterwithout my asking to see her, themanager on duty, Samantha, cameover and again offered to replace

the meal. Again I declined the offer.But she insisted on having anotherone made for me to take home andhave at another time. Not only didshe give me a fresh order to takeout, she gave me a gift certificatefor my next visit. My general expe-rience is that this brand of customerservice is a rare commodity in mysouth DeKalb community. I tippedMorgan almost half my tab. She de-served it.

On two other recent occasionsthe customer service was quitethe opposite of the Olive Gardenexperience. At one popular Stone-

crest restaurant, I was dismissedwith excuses and a look as if tosay, What do you want me to doabout it? Offering no apology, thewaitress, a really pleasant youngwoman, merely said it was a mix-up in communications that left mewithout an item in my order. In theother instance, the jolly gentlemanleft off my delicious tilapia and

insisted that it was in the box whenthere was clearly nothing in the boxexcept rice. To add insult to injury,when shown the rice without fish,he offered no apology, saying, Oh,

well get that out as soon as pos-sible. Oye!

Is there a fear among some ofus of being wrong? Is there an in-creased lack of accountability orresponsibility for our actions? Iscustomer service training pass inthese difficult economic times? Es-tablishments would do well to learnto treat the customer as if they werethe most important person on theplanet when they choose to spendtheir money with them. Some mar-keting guru once said for every 10people who do complain, 20 do notbut will tell their friends. Word of

mouth advertising can be of greatbenefit to a company or can help toshutter it especially when it comesto the quality of the product andservice.

Marketing experts say there aresome eight simple rules to provid-ing good customer service; includedamong them doing the very thingsMorgan and Samantha did. They ad-

dressed the situation/complaint byoffering to redo the meal. They tookthe extra step by preparing a newmeal for me to take with me andthey threw in something extra which

was the gift card for my next visit.It is very gratifying to know

that there are still people out thereserving this public like Morganand Samantha who understand andembrace this concept that old Gen-eral Electric slogan, People areour most important product. Andwe the people might do well to re-member that waiters and waitressesare not our personal slaves to orderabout, but should be treated withdignity. They are people trying toearn a minimum wage living. Wedont have to lower our standards,but sometimes in a diplomatic, tact-

ful way perhaps help to raise theirs.Thank you, Morgan and Samantha.

Steen Miles, The Newslady, is aretired journalist and former Geor-gia state senator. Contact SteenMiles at [email protected].

Customer serviceThe Newslady

Page 4A The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 5, 2013OPINION

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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

to publication date.

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.

Publisher: Dr. Earl D. Glenn

Managing Editor: Kathy Mitchell

News Editor: Andrew Cauthen

Production Manager: Kemesha Hunt

Graphic Designer: Travis Hudgons

The Champion Free Press is published each

Friday by ACE III Communications, Inc.,

114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030

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We sincerely appreciate the discussion surrounding this and any

issue of interest to DeKalb County. The Champion was founded in1991 expressly to provide a forum for discourse forallcommunityresidents on all sides of an issue. We have no desire to make thenews only to report news and opinions to effect a more educatedcitizenry that will ultimately move our community forward. We arehappy to present ideas for discussion; however, we make everyeffort to avoid printing information submitted to us that is known tobe false and/or assumptions penned as fact.

One Mans Opinion

Its always been my plan...tostay single any way I can.Im just a happy man, Im not themarrying kind...not the marryingkind.as recorded by Dean Mar-tin on his album Thats Amore.

In the beginning, if you trustin the accuracy of The Bible, Godcreated Adam and Eve, and then hemarried them, and Eve bore Cain

and Abel, as well as later Seth andother sons and daughters. Centuriesand millenniums have since passed,and the institution of marriage hasbecome much more deeply embed-ded in the bedrock and foundationof our society.

To many, marriage representsthe family and the thread weavingtogether the tapestry of our socialfabric. Dont kid yourself though,there have been and are many dif-ferent types of marriages that havealso evolvedsome driven byquests for power, others by lust andstill others by differences of faith.There have been arranged mar-riages to consolidate kingdoms andthrones, or maintain a caste system;

marriages to children and even big-amy and polygamy (look them up).All, at one time or another, with thefull support of their respective gov-ernments.

Here in the United States, ourlocal, state and federal governmentsdo have an appropriate role in theestablishment and maintenance ofthe rule of law. This includes civiland contract law and many of theissues impacting a household or amarriage, including rights of survi-vorship, parenting and child rearing,property transfer and tax treatment,etc. As I said at the outset, thoughthat covenant of faith was originallydefined as being between a man anda woman, they also just happened tobe the first and only two people onthe planet.

That covenant and pledge isboth personal and binding, but itis not granted by the government,it is granted by the individuals toeach other, most often in the wit-ness of friends and family, and withthe support of same. There are fewrelationships more inspiring to wit-ness than a strong, long and lastingmarriage. My parents will celebratetheir 53rd anniversary in June,another pair of close friends their56th this summer, and a gay coupleof long friendship will also crosstheir 25-year Golden Anniversarytogether as a committed couple in a

few months.I celebrate and recognize eachand all of those unions.

That said, the institution and itswell-documented ups and downsare hardly a panacea for lifesills. And all those making such pas-sionate arguments in favor of accessto marriage, please remember thatyou take on this institution in sick-ness and in health, for richer andfor poorer andforsaking all othersas long as you both shall live. Yep,its still a pretty tall order. And forall the passion you have now toenter the union of marriage, an ad-ditional word of warning is that formany, passionappears to be amongthe first casualties of the institution.

One other carryover from ourPuritan founding appears to be aninordinate amount of interest aboutwhat goes on and with whom ineveryone elses bedroom. I have

been married once for nearly sevenyears. At least in our house I cantell you that once we were married,the amount of bedroom activitywent into a rather steep decline. Wehave proof that it happened, butcounting those occasions becamea much shorter exercise once weentered into wedded bliss. Thesocial safety net, dual incomehouseholds, fewer multi-generation-al households, texting, email andthe Internet as well as our long agoshift away from being an agrarianand hand labor intensive society,have all helped to provide substi-

tutes and other options for compan-ionship once almost entirely rootedin marriage and family.

Im not certain or even remotelyconvinced all of that is for the bet-terbut it is what it is. Our U.S.Supreme Court may again chooseto dodge or pass this hot potato, andlet the lower appellate court rulingstand. This cultural divide and bat-tle is far from over either way. Butif I did have a vote, we would letanyone willing to sign on the dot-ted line and commit their asses andassets to joint ownership, parentingand communal property do just that,with the full backing of their gov-ernment, and let them decide whichchurch, synagogue or temple theywish (or dont) to give more com-plete and spiritual recognition oftheir vows and covenant. Godspeed,everyone.

Bill Crane also serves as apolit ical analyst and commenta-tor for Channel 2s Action News,WSB-AM News/Talk 750 and now95.5 FM, as well as a columnist

forThe Champion, Champion FreePress andGeorgia Trend. Craneis a DeKalb native and businessowner, living in Scottdale. You canreach him or comment on a col-umn [email protected].

Not the marryin kind

The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 5, 2013 Page 5AOPINION

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 5, 2013 Page 6ACOMMUNITY

Champion of the Week

if you ould lke to nomnate someone to be onsdered as a

future champon of the week, please ontat Kathy Mthell at

[email protected] or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 104.

James Bryan

It was a companytransfer in 1973 thatbrought James Bryanand his family to DeKalbCounty. At the time,Bryan, who lives in Deca-tur, was working with theLouisville Slugger base-ball bat company.

The company trans-ferred him from Louis-ville, Ky., to open a ware-house in DeKalb County.When the warehouseclosed in 1998, Bryan wasoffered a transfer to Los

Angeles.He refused. West Vir-ginia boys have no busi-ness living west of theMississippi, he said.

Now 73 and retired,Bryan spends some of his

time volunteering at theLou Walker Senior Center.He is one of the many se-niors who wear the signa-ture burgundy volunteersblazer.

The Lou Walker SeniorCenter is the countys firstmultipurpose facility forseniors. Home of a non-residential program foractive independent adultsages 55 and older, the

40,000-square-foot facil-ity has amenities such asa heated therapeutic pool,fitness center, computerlab, art studios, lounges,library, conference meet-ing rooms, classrooms,billiard and game room,mirrored aerobics/danceroom, beauty/barber shop,gift shop, cafeteria andformal multipurpose hall.Volunteers run many ofthe programs at the center.

Bryan has been vol-unteering for two of thethree years he and his

wife have been membersat the center. As a volun-teer, Bryan assists withvarious events and mem-ber services.

He helps out wherever

and whenever, Bryansaid.

His wife, Linda, alsois a volunteer, teachinga jewelry-making class.The couple volunteersthree to four days a week,depending on whats go-ing on. The Bryans havea daughter who lives inLoganville and a son wholives in Seattle, Wash.

Bryan said he volun-

teers to keep active.I also love to go outand socialize with peo-ple, he said.

Volunteering helps theparticipant, Bryan said.

The more they getout and move around in-stead of going in, turningon the TV and watchingevery ball game thats on,[the better] Theyre betteroff if they use these legsand handsto do thingswith, Bryan said. It canalso help one forget aboutbad things, he added.

Bryans advice to newvolunteers is to clearyour mind. Come overand meet somebody, talkto them. I think that helpsa whole lot.

Community invited to celebrate Israelsanniversary with series of discussions

by Nigel Roberts

This year marks Israels 65th anniversary as a nation. Ithas been an arduous journey for the Jewish state, born incontroversy and surrounded by enemies.

The Marcus Jewish Community Center in Dunwoody

nvites the public to observe this milestone by attendinga four-part series of discussions throughout April. Theeries, titled Celebrating Israel at 65, will be held at the

Marcus Hillel Center at Emory University.ProfessorKenneth Stein, director of Emorys Institute

for the Study of Modern Israel (ISMI), will lead therst discussion on April 4, in which he will explore thenished and unnished business of the 65-year-oldnation.

Next, on April 11, Rabbi Russ Shulkes will speakabout Israels new parliament and the implications forhe Jewish Diaspora. Shulkes is the executive director of

Hillels of Georgia, an organization that promotes Jewishife and culture at college campuses throughout the state.

ISMIs Associate DirectorRichard Walter willdiscuss the relationship between American Jews andsrael on April 18. Dr. Shelley Buxbaum follows on April

25 with an investigation of changes in Israeli society.Buxbaum is the director of the Lisa Brill Institute ofewish Learning.

Some of the discussions will center on the unresolvedssues regarding the Palestinians. When Israel came into

existence in 1948, the United Nations voted to partitionPalestine to create a Jewish and Arab state. However,years of conict has prevented the so-called two-stateolution from coming to fruition.

Last year, more than 130 countries voted at a U.N.meeting to upgrade Palestine to a nonmember observertate of the United Nations, despite Israeli and American

objections.Another issue that will be explored is the relationship

between American Jews and the Israeli government.Bradley Burston, a columnist and senior editor of

Haaretz, Israels oldest daily newspaper, asked in anopinion piece: Will 2013 be the year American Jewsecede from Israel?

He points out that American Jews are, by and large,iberal and committed to tolerance, human rights and

peace. Those values, Burston suggested, are at odds withsraels policies that are seemingly dismissive of theights of Palestinians and other non-Jews.

For further information or to register, contact LaurieFinkelstein at (678) 812-3723 or [email protected].

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 5, 2013 Page 7ACOMMUNITY

aRouNdDEKALBatLaNta

mory to host Health and Humanitarian Summit

Emory University will be the site of this years Globalealth and Humanitarian Summit, a two-day forum forose dedicated to improving the lives of others and forose who aspire to lend their time, energy and talents

o making a difference in the world. The format includeseynote speakers, talks, movie screenings, interactivexhibits and volunteer education and recruiting. Topicsill include care for the elderly, community development,conomic development, education, global health, violence,olunteerism and more.

From across the United States, the Middle East,frica, South America and Asia, experts and extraordinaryuman beings have come together to share theirumanitarian experience and expertise. The interactionsnd humanitarian values of people gathered to collectivelyddress the current and seemingly expanding challenges

f the current day are inspiring and offer new ideas andinking to the evolving inquiry into a better way of lifer all, according to an announcement from summitrganizers.

The summit, scheduled for April 12, 13 and 14, isee and open to all people. For more information, visithhs2013.org.

ernbank to host Sid the Science Kid

Fernbank Science Center will host Celebrate Scienceith Sid the Science Kid on Saturday, April 6, from 10m. until noon. This fun, interactive family event includes

creenings of a Sid the Science Kidepisode, experiments,veaways, a Sid the Science Kid look-alike contest, andore. Guests will also be able to purchase the newlyleased Sid the Science Kid: The Movie for $10 with theurchase of a ticket to the noon full-dome planetariumhow, Earths Wild Ride.

NCircle Entertainment and The Jim Henson Companyre cooperating with Fernbank Science Center on thisvent, to help promote the release ofSid the Science Kid:he Movie. This fast-paced, science-filled adventure isds first feature length movie. Sid and his friend win aontest that allows them to tour a brand new museumefore its grand opening. When one of the robots goesaywire, its up to Sid and his friends to find the rogueobot and fix him. The film features the voice of actorhristopher Lloyd.

Sid the Science Kid is the perfect tool to help get kidsxcited about science, because Sid shows that scienceall around us and encourages children to think like

cientists, said Debbie Ries, senior vice president andeneral manager of NCircle Entertainment. We are thrilledo partner with Fernbank Science Center to bring the firstelebrate Science with Sid the Science Kid events tomilies in Atlanta.

For more information, contact Joyce Gamble at (678)74-7112 or [email protected].

BRooKHaVeN

onprofit foundation hosts free mediation seminar

A free, one-hour guided meditation will be held April 9the Brookhaven Library, located at 1242 N. Druid Hills

d. NE in Atlanta.The event takes place from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and is

osted by the nonprofit Isha Foundation, which teaches a0-minute process of meditation to improve health, energy,tality, enhanced mental focus and reduce stress.

The session will be open to the first 25 participants andcilitated by a trained Isha Kriya instructor. No previouseditation experience is necessary.

For more information call (404) 848-7140.

brary to host Earth Day celebration

Children, ages 5-12, will be taught about recycling ate Earth Day celebration on Wednesday, April 10, 3-3:45m. The event will also include discussion about otherings people can do to make the planet better and turningash into treasure with a recycling craft.

The event, which is presented by Sarah Brodd from

DeKalb Cooperative Extension, is open to first 15 par-ticipants. Brookhaven library is located at 1242 N. DruidHills Road, NE in Atlanta. For more information, (404) 848-7140.

cHaMBLee

Library to host book discussion

The book, My Antonia will be discussed Monday, April8, 10 a.m. - noon. The book tells the story of Antonia Shi-merda, who arrives on the Nebraska frontier as part of afamily of Bohemian immigrants. The story commemoratesthe spirit and courage of the immigrant pioneers whosepersistence and strength helped to build America.

Chamblee library is located at 4115 Clairmont Road.For more information, call (770) 936-1380.

cLaRKstoNLibrary series to focus on Muslim culture

The series, Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Jour-neys, starts at the Clarkston Library Saturday, April 6, andcontinues on subsequent Saturdays in April. These pro-grams offer an opportunity to learn about and discuss thecomplex history, culture and beliefs of Muslims in the Unit-ed States and around the world. The opening program,which will be 2-3 p.m., will be an audience participationdiscussion led by Zaynab Ansari and Mansour Ansariof The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta on AmericanMuslims and their faith.

This is a project of the National Endowment for theHumanities, conducted in cooperation with the AmericanLibrary Association. Support was provided by a grant fromthe Carnegie Corporation of New York. Additional sup-port for the arts and media components was provided bythe Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. The Clarkston

Library is located at 951 N. Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston.For more information, call (404) 508-7175.

decatuR

Class for nonprofits to be at library

Starting a Nonprofit Organization: Seven Things YouShould Know comes to the Wesley Chapel-William C.Brown Library Saturday, April 6, noon-1 p.m. This class willtell participants about essentials nonprofit business own-ers must know to ensure the success of their organization.This is a basic class for anyone interested in starting anonprofit business as well as those who can use additionalinsight into growing their organization. Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library is located at 2861 Wesley ChapelRoad, Decatur. For more information, call. (404) 286-6980.

Church celebrates 14th anniversary

New Life International Family Church and Bishop Dr.Jeronn C. Williams are celebrating the churchs 14th an-niversary this week with the theme Go After It (Josh 3:3).Remaining events include an artistic production, Thursday,April 4, at 7:30 p.m., Homecoming Service, Friday, April5, at 7:30 p.m., Worship Service, Sunday, April 7, 11:15a.m., followed by dinner and a concert Sunday, April 7, at5 p.m. The church is located at 5349 Snapfinger WoodsDrive, Decatur. For more information, visit NLIFC.ORG orcall (678) 325-3326.

duNwoodY

Nonprofit gets 501(C)3 designation

Co-founder Scott Parrish said hes thrilled. Whatstarted as an idea by two childhood friends is now Square

Care Ministries, a 501(C)3 non profit organization providingits signature brown boxes to those in need. Square CareMinistries assembles boxes with a one months supply ofhygiene or cleaning products for women, men and fami-lies. Trial size hygiene products are also available in smallercustomizable kits for the homeless.

Over the past year, Square Care Ministries has devel-oped relationships with food banks, churches and otherestablished human service agencies across the Metro-politan Atlanta area. According to Rob Johnson, vicepresident of community services at the Atlanta CommunityFood Bank, Square Care is more efficiently filling the needfor non-food household necessities that are in short supplyto front-line agencies serving people in need.

For more information, visit www.squarecare.org .

LitHoNia

DeKalb Medical to host Puberty Rocks

DeKalb Medical will host Puberty Rocks, a session forparents trying to guide their daughters into adolescenceFriday, April 12, 6-8 p.m. at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale inLithonia. Learn how to navigate the turbulent tween andteen years with the help of DeKalb Medical physicians.

This fun night out for you and your youngster will coverbody changes, mood swings, peer pressure and more,the announcement from DeKalb Medical states. This ses-sion of Puberty Rocks is for girls only. It will be led by Dr.Caryn Johnson. DeKalb Medicals North Decatur campusis located at 2801 DeKalb Medical Parkway, Lithonia. Lightrefreshments will be served. These programs are free, butrequire registration. To register, call 404-501-WELL.

For more information, visit www.dekalbmedical.org.

stoNe MouNtaiN

PTA needs clean-up day volunteers

The Stephenson High School PTA is seeking volun-teers for its Outdoor Classroom and Community GardenCleanup Day Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Volunteersign in and schedule assignment will be 8-8:30 a.m. The

morning session will be 9 a.m. until noon, after a 30-min-ute break, the afternoon session will start at 12:30 andcontinue until 3 p.m.

Volunteers are needed for: general cleaning, weedingand lawn maintenance, trash removal (for items replaced/repaired), painting, planting and ground prep, light building(tables and benches, refreshment hosting and assistancewith the volunteer sign up and registration table. Contribu-tions of gardening tools, gardening gloves, seeds, paintbrushes, sunscreen and other maintenance items are wel-come. Volunteers are encouraged to bring any tools theymight need. Stephenson High School is located at 701Stephenson Road, Stone Mountain. For more informationthe pre-register, call S. Harper at (678) 471-6819.

tucKeR

Georgia State University ensemble to perform at

churchLawrenceville Road United Methodist Churchs Music

for Missions program will present Georgia State Univer-sity School of Musics mens vocal ensemble Ring Spoton Sunday, April 14, at 7 p.m. The quartet will present amixed musical fare.

I was very impressed with their musical qualities andstage presence, even at their youthful age, in a musicalsampler at a recent function at Georgia State, said JackSartain, producer of Music for Missions. These collegemen are all students ofRichard Rick Clement, a gradu-ate of Tucker High School and now a professor at GSUSchool of Music. Rick is an internationally renowned tenorsoloist and much sought after voice teacher by emergingvocally talented men and women. Ring Spot is composedofJames Moonsuk Kang, tenor; Matt Talley, lead; Nick

Yaquinto, baritone; and Stephen McCluskey, tenor. Allthese men carry strong experience in many musical genresincluding barbershop, opera, classical solo performances

and staged popular musicals.The event is part of a 14-season project of UnitedMethodist Men at Lawrenceville Road United MethodistChurch in Tucker. The church is located at 3142 Law-renceville Highway, Tucker. For further information call (770)939-5717.

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ubrookhaven

City to placesmoratorium onoverlay district

DeKalb legislators file placeholder bill for Tucker

by Carla [email protected]

The city of Brookhaven hasplaced a moratorium on theBrookhaven-Peachtree OverlayDistrict that will last until mid-night on June 25. The overlaydistrict includes the PeachtreeRoad corridor from East ClubDrive to Redding Road.

The Brookhaven CityCouncil voted unanimouslyon March 27 to place a mora-orium on the citys accep-ance, review and processing

of any new applications foramendments to the text of the

Brookhaven-Peachtree OverlayDistrict, including ofcial zon-ng map amendments, compre-

hensive land use plan amend-ments, variances, administra-ive variances, special excep-ions, special land use permits,and disturbance permits, new

building permits, new land de-velopment permits, new clear-ng or grading permits, and any

and all new permits or licenseselated to the development ofand for property located with-n the district.

Brookhaven CommunityDevelopment DirectorSusanCanon said the moratoriumwas put in place to ensureesponsible governance over

zoning, land use, variances,and other statutory controls onhe use of property within the

boundaries of the BrookhavenPeachtree Overlay District.

It also allows staff time toevaluate the overlay district inelation to underlying zoning

and to determine whether anyevisions are necessary for ap-

propriate implementation, sheaid.

Any applications submit-

ed prior to March 27 will beprocessed. Canon said themoratorium applies only to theproperties located within theBrookhaven Peachtree OverlayDistrict, not the entire city.

The goal of the district iso promote a more dynamic

mixed-use district of appro-priate scale and magnitudeurrounding the Brookhaven

MARTA station and alongPeachtree Road. It also pro-motes a community that isnviting and walkable, as well

as connectivity of streets andcommunities to reduce the de-pendence on automobiles byncreasing opportunities for al-ernative modes of travel.

by Carla [email protected]

A placeholder bill was led onbehalf of Tucker on March 26 by StateRepresentatives Billy Mitchell, Mi-chele Henson and Earnest Coach

Williams.House Bill 677 provides time for

discussions on the potential of turn-ing Tucker into a incorporated city. OnMarch 25, State Rep. Mary MargaretOliver lled a placeholder bill on

behalf of Druid Hills and other commu-nities to give the opportunity to decidewhether they wish to be consider a newDeKalb County City in the 2014 Ses-sion.

State Sen. Fran Millar also led abill on behalf of the Lakeside communi-ty. Henson said the bill will give Tuckeran opportunity to be part of discussionsthat will be going on this summer oncityhood.

Folks in the area were concerned

[about the Lakeside bill], especiallythose in the Tucker area, she said. Inorder for Tucker to be at the table dur-ing the discussions if they want to doanything, because of the rules in theHouse something had to be dropped toenable them to do it.

The debate on whether Tuckershould be incorporated as a city has

been ongoing. On Feb. 27, Tucker citybusiness owners signed the papers tobegin the process of establishing a Com-munity Improvement District (CID).

A CID is district in which commer-cial property owners vote to tax them-selves to raise funds for various com-munity improvement projects.

The Tucker CID, which is consider-ing a three-mill tax, is planning to usethe funds for increased lighting, beau-tication and road improvements. TheCID would also allow the community toseek grants and help attract more busi-nesses.

Even though were self-imposing

a little bit of tax, its a better way thancityhood, Bill Rosenfeld, president ofthe Tucker Business Association andowner of Rosenfeld International Jewel-ry on LaVista Road, said. Its the next

best thing we can do for ourselves.Honey Van de Kreke, vice president

of Elrep Sales in Tucker and one of therst business owners to sign the consentforms, said the CID costs the taxpay-ers nothing and is the best alternative toforming a city.

We have had three previous meet-ings with some of our largest com-mercial property owners and so far theresponse has been overwhelming tolaunch a CID in Tucker, Van de Krekesaid.

The placeholder bills could bedebated, changed or withdrawn overthe next year before any of them moveforward for a vote before the GeneralAssembly.

See related story on page 13A

NewsBriefsCommissioner to host communitybreakfast forum

DeKalb County CommissionerStanWatson will host his monthly DeKalbLegislative Community Cabinet Break-fast Saturday, April 6, at Chapel HillMiddle School, located at 3535 Dog-wood Farms Road, Decatur, from 9-11a.m.

Guest speakers this month include

DeKalb State Court Judge Johnny Pa-nos speaking about the positive impactthat his Project Achieve is making forindividuals in his court; representativesof DeKalb County Public Works depart-ment, who will provide the communityanother opportunity to weigh in on a

proposed storm utility rate increase; andAtlanta Gas Light Company representa-tives, who will share information aboutvarious energy assistance programsavailable to residents.

Watson, along with several ofDeKalbs hometown heroes, will recog-nize Southwest DeKalb football CoachBuck Godfrey and Cedar Grove footballCoach Ray Bonner for their contribu-

tions to the student-athletes, respectivehigh school athletic programs, and thefuture of the game itself.

There is no charge for the commu-nity breakfast and RSVP is not required.For additional information, call NicholeSimms (404) 371-7031 orKelly LaJoie(404) 371-3681.

DeKalb County hosts household haz-ardous waste event

DeKalb County will hold its 2013Household Hazardous Waste EventSaturday, April 6, 8 a.m.noon at theDeKalb County Central Transfer Station,3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur.

The event, sponsored by KeepDeKalb Beautiful (KDB) and theDeKalb County Sanitation Division, in

partnership with Clean Harbors Environ-mental Services, Inc., gives county resi-dents an opportunity to dispose of their

household hazardous wastes properlyand free of charge.

Household hazardous waste is classi-ed as products that contain potentiallydangerous chemicals and are no longerused. These products should not bemixed with regular trash and can be po-tentially harmful to the environment ifnot disposed of properly.

DeKalb County encourages residentsto take advantage of this opportunity to

clear their homes of unneeded or unusedhousehold hazardous waste and to helpkeep county landlls and the environ-ment safe for everyone.

Items accepted include aerosols, mer-cury, batteries, adhesives, ammables,lawn-care products, automotive products,uorescent bulbs, hobby and artists sup-

plies, paints and paint-related products,cleaners and swimming pool chemicals,and photo chemicals.

Items not accepted include biohaz-ardous/biomedical waste, agriculturalwaste, ammunition, explosives, pharma-ceuticals, radioactive materials and non-hazardous waste.

The event is free for DeKalb resi-

dents; IDs are required and early arrivalis recommended. Residents are limited to10 gallons of paint per vehicle. No com-mercial vehicles will be allowed.

If you have questions about the eventor would like to volunteer, please contactKeep DeKalb Beautiful at (404) 371-2654 or [email protected].

New officers, member named to healthsystem board

DeKalb Regional Health System Inc.(DRHS) has named new ofcers and anew member to its 12-person board ofdirectors, the group that oversees anddirects the vision and mission of DeKalb

Medical, DeKalb Medical at Hillandale,DeKalb Medical Long Term Acute Care,the DeKalb Medical Physicians Groupand the DeKalb Medical Foundation.

David L. Jollay was elected chair-man, replacing Oliver Lee, who passed

away in February. Robert E. Wilsonwas named vice chairman; Daniel J.Thompson, as secretary; and CharlesClifton, M.D., treasurer. Cathy Bonk,M.D., joined the board, replacingGulshan Harjee, M.D., who resigned inJanuary after serving since 1997.

Jollay was appointed to the DRHSboard in 2003 and most recently servedas treasurer. He serves on the DeKalbMedical Center board and the Decatur

Health Resources board. In addition,he serves on the nance committee andchairs the executive compensation com-mittee of the DRHS board. He is presi-dent of Jollay Masonry Contractors inAvondale Estates.

Wilson joined the DRHS Board in2005 and previously served as secretary.He chairs the strategic planning/commit-tee of the DRHS board, and was a found-er and is past chairman of the DeKalbMedical Foundation. Wilson is a prac-ticing attorney with the rm of Wilson,Morton & Downs, and has previouslyserved as chief public defender and alsofor DeKalb County.

Thompson has been a member of

the DRHS board since 2003 and chairsits human resources committee. He is aretired corporate attorney, formerly vice

president, general counsel and corporatesecretary of the BellSouth Advertisingand Publishing Group in Atlanta.

Clifton is a board certied anesthe-siologist, who has been a member ofthe DeKalb Medical medical staff since1990. He was elected to the DRHS boardin 2008.

A practicing physician at AtlantaGynecology & Obstetrics since 1993,Bonk is a certied fellow at the Ameri-can College of Obstetricians and is aCertied Physician Executive. She cur-rently serves as a board member for the

DeKalb Physician Hospital Organizationand is treasurer of the Georgia OB/GYNSociety. Her DeKalb Medical leadership

positions included chief of obstetrics andgynecology and member of the medicalexecutive committee.

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Vietnam vet receives Purple Heart 44 years lateby Andrew [email protected]

Retired Army Staff Sgt.ClarenceBostwick, 65, saidhe Purple Heart Medal he

earned in the Vietnam wasway late.

Bostwick, a DeKalbesident for 45 years, was

ofcially presented with thePurple Heart Medal by Con-gressman HankJohnsonGA-04) during a March 28

ceremony at the Lou WalkerSenior Center for wounds heeceived in action in Vietnam

n 1968.We were in a reght onenight, Feb. 10, 1968, Bost-wick said. While on guardduty his unit, the 39th engi-neer battalion, came underattack. He received shrapnelwounds from a Chinese gre-nade on the right side of hishead, right arm and right leg.

Bostwick spent a weekor so in a hospital beforeeturning to duty. After two

years of active duty, Bostwickoined the Army Reserves,

from which he retired in994.

But because of a clericaloversight, Bostwick did noteceive a Purple Heart.

Nobody put me in for it,Bostwick said. The peopleover me just didnt do theirobs.

I had to do all the paper-work myself, had to proveeverything myself, Bostwickaid. The Army said they

dont have to prove anythingo you, youve got to prove ito them. Thats what I did.

Ive been trying to getmy records changed everince back in the 90s,

Bostwick said. They keptelling me that they didnt

have no record on me, wasntno hospital records. Finally,

got my hospital record in

2012 and thats how I got myPurple Heart.Bostwicks records were

corrected in 2012, and he wasawarded the Purple Heart,the Good Conduct Medal, theMeritorious Unit Commenda-tion and the Vietnam ServiceMedal.

All I can say is, itsabout time after 44 years,he said.

Johnson called Bostwicka living hero and a man ofcourage.

Staff Sgt. Bostwick is thevery epitome of a hero and

a patriot, and I am proud topresent him with the PurpleHeart Medal, said Johnson, amember of the House ArmedServices Committee. I can-not think of a more deservingveteran for this honorableaward.

Across the country chil-dren and their parents arefree to go to school and go towork, to live their lives andpursue their ideas of happi-ness because people like StaffSgt. Bostwick served theircountry with distinction,Johnson said.

When Bostwick retiredfrom the military, there weresome wounds that had notbeen addressed on his servicerecord, Johnson said.

For people to give ofthemselves like Staff Sgt.Bostwick, and many othershave done, they deserve betterthan for their records to getlost or burned somewhere,Johnson said. Theres noexcuse. We must look at howgovernment treats our veter-ans.

JohnWilder, state com-mander of the Department

of Georgia Military Order ofthe Purple Heart, said it wasa common occurrence for themedal to be omitted becauseof a clerical error.

Retired Army Staff Sgt. Clarence Bostwick nally gets his Vietnam Purple Heart after a clerical error was cleared up four decades later. Congressman Hank Johnson pinshe award on Bostwick during a special ceremony. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

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Columbia High seniorshot to death March 28

by Mark Davis

TUCKER, Ga. (AP) Rob-ert Beton is a restless man.Even at 89, he cannot staystill long, and small wonder:This is a guy who, sevendecades ago, did most of hiswork at nightwhen thetroops tried to rest, when thebig guns fell silent.

Thats when he and hisbuddies headed into the sky,twin engines droning. Thefellows on the ground heardthem, and knew the nightghters had their backs.

Night ghter. Even now, a

lifetime removed from WorldWar II, the old man embracesthe term with all the swaggerof a youngster just issued hisrst ight jacket.

There were times, saidBeton, that I gured Idnever get home.

Home was Atlanta, and hemade it back after spendingyears on the West Coast as atax attorney who hobnobbedwith starlets.

On April 7, the Tuckerresident is throwing himself a90th birthday party at the RitzCarlton to celebrate a life that

could easily have ended inthe dark, over a hostile land-scape.

He was born just south ofdowntown Atlanta and grewup near the intersection ofPryor Street and Central Av-enue. Beton attended Com-mercial High School, class of1941. He graduated in spring,a few months shy of an attackthat would draw the UnitedStates into a global conict.

He was riding in a carwith a couple of other guysthat Dec. 7. The radio playing

music when the announcerbroke in: Attack at Pearl Har-bor.

I didnt even know wherePearl Harbor was.

The nation called for vol-unteers, and he answered.Beton, whod once taken aight from Candler Field in asingle-engine airplane, signedup for the U.S. Army AirForces, precursor to todays

U.S. Air Force.

The Army sent him toAtlantic City, where it had atraining aireld. The trip wasBetons introduction to travel:He strolled the boardwalk,admired the big hotels facingthe Atlantic, and vowed hedsee more of this big worldprovided he got through thewar.

In May 1943, he shippedoff to England, where hetrained with the Royal AirForce, learning to y theBristol Beaughter. A twin-engine aircraft, it featuredcutting-edge technology not

found on U.S. planesradar.It could detect objects in thenight that pilots could notsee. That made it capableof repelling enemy aircraftmaking nighttime assaults ontroops or installations.

But there was a catch, saidSteve McFarland, a NorthCarolina university adminis-trator who wrote a history ofnight ghters for the U.S. AirForce. Early radar machinerywas heavy, said McFarland, aformer Air Force ofcer.

It (Beaughter) was not

designed to carry all thatweight, he said. It was notthe safest aircraft.

They also were loud, coldand not built for comfort,Beton said. They were war-planes, he said, shrugging.

The Army assigned Betonto the 417th Night FighterSquadron, a contingent of100 Beaughters and about250 pilots and radar opera-tors. Their squadron patchdepicted two characters, amagician and a swami hold-ing a crystal ball, astride abroom zipping through a star-lit sky.

The squadron was sta-tioned near Oran, on thenorthwestern coast of Mo-rocco. Daily, nightly, theyew sorties to support troopslocked in a struggle againsttanks corps commanded byGerman Gen. Erwin Rom-mel. The work was hot, dan-gerous and constant.

They had an occasional

dogght over the desert, but

we chased them away, pri-marily, Beton said. When Iwent out, I gured Id nevercome back.

The night ghters pressednorth, following the ghtingas Allied forces pushed backat the Axis powers. In Cor-sica, the yers and guys onthe ground learned to listenfor Bed Check Charlie, amoniker they gave what-ever German craft ew overtheir installations at night.Sometimes Charlie merelypassed over; other times hestrafed the troops, eeing

when Allied night ghters ze-roed in on his location.

In 1944, Beton foundhimself in Paris. On Nov.11Armistice Day, whichwe now call Veterans Dayhe sat on a wall and watchedFrench leaderCharles deGaulle and British PrimeMinisterWinston Churchillpass by in a motorcade. At-lanta had never seemed so faraway.

The Army dischargedBeton in 1945. He returnedto Atlanta, but, giving in

to wanderlust, enrolled atthe University of SouthernCalifornia. He got a degreein accounting and landed ajob with the Internal RevenueService. A few years later,Beton returned to school,got his law degree and soldhis services as a tax lawyer.In time, his business puthim in touch with the starsof the dayMarilyn Mon-roe, Jane Wyman, FrankSinatra. Beton has a stack ofsnapshots to prove it.

And, in one particularlytelling photo, framed andhanging on his den wall, is animage of Beton standing be-side Jayne Mansfeld, llingthe frame with her smile andother star qualities.

Beton likes that photo. Itsa metaphor for his lifetherestless Atlanta boy, samplinglifes adventures.

Its been a good life, hesaid. I am not complaining.

WWII flier looks back onlife at high altitude

NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARINGTheCityofChambleewillholdapublichearingtodiscusstheadoptionofanUrbanRedevelopmentPlan. AnUrbanRedevelopmentPlanisageneralblueprintforredevelopmentandtargetingofpublicinvestmentsintheredevelopmentarea.ThepublichearingwillbeheldonThursday,April11,2013,attheChambleeCivicCenter,3540BroadStreet,Chamblee,GA30341at6:00p.m.

by Andrew [email protected]

A Columbia High Schoolstudent was shot and killedn south DeKalb March 28.

According to DeKalbCounty Police spokeswom-an Mekka Parish, ofcerswere called to the AustinOak Apartments at 4371Glenwood Road, at approxi-mately 4:45 p.m.

When ofcers arrivedhey found one male victim

suffering from a gunshotwound, Parish said.

The victim, identiedas 18-year-old DominiqueBoyer, was transported to a

ocal hospital where he laterdied.

According to detectives,he victim, along with a

group of people, was stand-ng outside an apartment

building when a tan SUVentered the complex, Parishsaid.

Witnesses said a passen-ger in the SUV began ringfrom the car in the directionof the group, Parrish said.Wilson was the only personstruck.

Detectives have not

conrmed a clear motive,but the Gang Unit is assist-ng in the investigation to

determine if this shooting isgang related, Parish said.

From grades 9-11, ToniTerry, a program coordi-nator atCommunities in

Schools of Atlanta, moni-tored Boyers grades andclasses and provided men-tors for him as part of thedropout prevention organi-zation.

Terry said she was devas-tated when she heard abouthis death.

He was such a sweet,soft-spoken guy, Terrysaid. He was actually kindof shy, very laid back.

The teenager, who livedwith his grandmother at thetime, faced various family,social and academic chal-

lenges.The fact that he was on

track to graduate was a veryhuge feat for him, Terrysaid.

Boyer, who was reallysearching to belong inninth grade, found a groupof friends and really beganto blossom in high school,Terry said. He really devel-oped and grew.

A friend of Boyers sincemiddle school, KristinM.,said he had a lot of friends.

He was funny. He was

always trying to make peo-ple laugh, she said.I just hate it, she said

about the death. I just keepcrying every ve minutes.

Community Heroesto be honored

A ceremony to honor the 2013 CEOs CommunityHeroes will be held Sunday, April 14, at 4 p.m. atCallanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Road NE,Atlanta. The public is invited to attend.

Hosted in partnership with The Champion Newspaper,he fourth annual CEOs Community Hero Awards

celebration honors individuals and organizations makinga signicant impact in DeKalb County. 11Alive newsanchorman DeMarco Morgan will serve as the master ofceremonies.

Those to be honored include: Community ChampionAward (individual)India Pullin; Community ChampionAward (organization)KimGokce and the Cross KeysFoundation; Environmental Change Award (individual)RobbyAstrove, Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve;Environmental Change Award (individual)CynthiaHouston, Adopt-a-Road and Adopt a MARTA Bus Stop;Youth Volunteer Award (individual)AshleyWrushmen;Neighborhood Empowerment Award (organization)TheBeulah Boys All Male Soul Line Dancers; Neighborhood

Empowerment Award (organization)SamuelBelet and theEthiopian Community Association; The Vanguard Award(individual)The Honorable Berryl A. Anderson, DeKalbCounty chief magistrate judge; and The Vanguard Award(individual)Doug Harms, DeKalb County Fire Rescue.

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Sneidermans attorneys askto have charges dismissed

Diamonds are ChrisNelsons best friends

Im proud to protect homes in our community.

Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Northbrook, IL. 2012 Allstate Insurance Company

Cecil S. Moore

(404) 692-5632

7185 Rockbridge Rd., Suite C

Stone Mountain

[email protected]

When it comes to protecting your home, its nice

to have an agent who knows the area. I can help

customize a policy just for you, so you pay only for

the protection you need. Call me today!

by Phil Dorian

Following his .301batting average n-sh with the Colorado

Rockies in 2012, RedanHigh School gradu-ate Chris Nelson hada busy off-season,working on his hittingechnique with a bat-ing instructor, setting

nutritional goals withhe help of a registered

dietitian and, oh yes,becoming engaged to

his girlfriend of severalyears.Having been drafted

No.1 by the Rockies outof Redan in 2004, Nel-on, a Decatur native,

made his way throughRookie, Low-A, High-A, Double-A andTriple-A leagues to ndhimself now the startinghird-baseman on the Major

League club.The third-base job is a

ign not only of Nelsonskills at the position, but

also of his versatility. Afterall, his selection as Louis-ville Sluggers 2004 HighSchool Player of the Year inof Georgia was as a short-top. That position on the

Rockies is all-starTroyTulowitzkis, but team man-agement was condent thatNelson, a productive base-unner as well as accom-

plished hitter and elder,ould master another ineld

position. He accomplishedhe rst-ever straight steal

of home in Rockies history.The teams condence

paid off when, in 2011, Nel-on split his playing timevenly between second andhird base, with a couple of

games at shortstop as well.

By 2012 he was settledat third, appearing in 111games at the position andnishing with a .301 bat-ting average. During springtraining this year he was

named the Rockies opening-day starting third baseman.

Nelson credits his battinginstructor with schoolinghim in making contact witha wider variety of pitches,coaching that has paid off inhis ability to hit to all elds.He also cites his nutritionistconsultant with tailoring adiet that maximizes his en-durance and overall physicalcondition.

As comfortable as Nel-son has become on the base-

ball diamond, he says the

diamond ring he presentedto his ance is an equallysatisfying accomplishment.He and Brittany Freeman

became engaged while on

by Daniel [email protected]

Attorneys for a DeKalbCounty widow accused of

conspir-ing tomurderher hus-band leda motionMarch 26to dismiss13 of the16 charg-es againsther.

Andrea Sneiderman,whose husband RustySneiderman was murderedoutside a Dunwoody daycare center in 2010, facescharges that include sevencounts of perjury, malicemurder, felony murder andaggravated assault.

Sneidermans attorneysare now reportedly ask-ing that the seven perjurycounts and several othersbe dropped from her in-dictment because they arevague and dont followdue process.

Prosecutors allege Snei-derman and her former bossHemy Neuman plotted tokill her husband. According

to prosecutors, she was hav-ing an affair with Neuman,who later confessed to themurder and is now servinglife in prison without pa-role.

DeKalb County SuperiorCourt Judge Gregory Ad-ams set a tentative date ofJuly 29 to begin jury selec-tion for Sneidermans trial.

At a recent hearing,prosecutors said Sneider-man may have set up Neu-man to kill her husband soshe could be with JosephDell, whom they said was atone point her live-in boy-

friend.Dell was later added to

the prosecutions witnesslist.

Sneiderman is currently

out on bond under housearrest awaiting trial. Sheis staying at her parentshouse in Johns Creek. Oneof Sneidermans bond con-ditions is that she is not al-lowed to have contact withany witnesses.

Adams has allowed Snei-derman to have contact withDell, whose relationshipwith Sneiderman defenseattorneys have described asnothing more than a strongfriendship. Sneidermandefense attorney ThomasClegg accused prosecutorsof describing a false rela-tionship between Sneider-man and Dell in open courtto smoke out Neuman totestify against her.

There is nothing thatJoseph Dell can testify toand nothing concerningany relationship he haswith Mrs. Sneiderman thatwould have anything to dowith this indictment, Cleggsaid.

Clegg also stated thatprosecutors have yet tocontact Dell even though it

has been six months sincehis name was added to thewitness list; DeKalb CountyDistrict Attorney RobertJames conrmed that fact.

James said Dells namewas added to the list afterprosecutors learned of sev-eral hours of conversationsthat occurred between Delland Sneiderman while shewas in jail.

A hearing for all pendingmotions pertaining to Snei-dermans case has been setfor April 4 at 1:30 p.m. inJudge Adams courtroom.

vacation in the Ba-hamas last fall. Hesurprised Freemanwith the proposal, buthe had informed hisand Brittanys motherin advance, pledg-ing them to secrecy.I couldnt even tellmy sisters, Nelsonsmom said. Thankgoodness he also toldBrittanys mom so Ihad someone to talkwith about it. (Thetwo women have be-

come close; Brittanysmother visited in De-catur last November.)

Nelson and Free-man, both 27, met in2010 when she camefrom her home in Ma-con to a birthday par-ty in Stone Mountainfor her roommate at

Savannah State College.Since then, Freeman has be-come not just a cheerleaderfor her future husband, but aknowledgeable baseball fanas well. The couple is plan-ning a December wedding inAtlanta.

Nelson and his ance Brittany Freeman, seat-ed, join Nelsons parents, Decatur residentsDaryl and Linda Nelson, for dinner at a Scotts-dale, Ariz., restaurant during spring training.

Redan graduate Chris Nelson is now the starting third baseman for the Colorado Rockies, after nish-ng last season with a .300 batting average. Photo by Phil Dorian

Sneiderman

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Dunwoody do-gooders:

DeKalb group knits itself a reputationby Deborah Held

Theyve been meeting inparts of Atlanta since 1985an ever-evolving group ofknitting enthusiasts from allhroughout the city, with far

more than yarn-buying incommon.

Its often said that allknitters share this one com-mon trait: an innate kindnessoward others. The non-

prot Atlanta Knitting GuildAKG) has grown over time

from its original roster ofve to todays membershipof more than 270 womenand yes, even some men) of

all ages and demographics.They have proven year afteryear that they are a mostought-after group of do-

gooders.They are more than OK

with that reputation.

DeKalb County roots

It all started when an areayarn shop offered space fora spot of knitting and socialime. Five women showed

up for that rst knittinggroup and decided to meetweekly thereafter.

When the groups or-ganizer had to back out,Oak Grove resident WhitRobbins stepped up to takecharge. Robbins was certainhere were more knitters inhe area. She blanketed every

metro newspaper that shecould think of with ads, seek-

ng like-minded enthusiasts.Soon Robbins phone rangoff the hook with callers ea-ger for more information.

On Feb. 6, 1985, the rstofcial meeting of the Atlan-ta Knitting Guild took placewith 52 attendees.

In 1998 the AKG foundits home in DeKalb CountysSt. Patricks EpiscopalChurch, where it has re-mained since. Today there isan average of 100 membersat every meeting. Approxi-mately 36 percent of themembership is from DeKalb

County.

Finding a purpose

From the outset, the AKGfound itself ripe with un-usual talent and energy, anda non-prot organization wasformed. This group serves togather together those devotedto the craft of knitting, and tohelp those devotees stretchtheir knowledge via work-shops, lectures and throughone anothers skills.

That sense of sharing hasbeen passed on to countlessothers in the Atlanta commu-nity, as the guild is dedicatedto knitting it forward. Thelist of community projectsthrough the years is exten-sive, and it includes: knittingheadbands for Americantroops in Bosnia, collectingtoiletries and clothing forthe Atlanta Day Shelter forWomen and Children, knit-ting lap robes for hospicepatients, teaching teens toknit, knitting stoma coversfor patients with trache-

otomies, knitting scarves forU.S. armed forces stationedoverseas, knitting (and as-sembling) afghan squares

See Do-gooder on Page 14A

Needlework enthusiasts in spring of 2012 celebrate Gov. Nathan Deals signing of a proclamation declaring Knit and Crochet Day in Georgia by knitting and crochetingon the steps of the Capitol.

A group gets together to knit at a Northlake restaurant. In the photo at left are Delia Jaquette, left, andRanusia Howe; in the photo at right are Sue Holley, left, and Jeanne Knox.

8/23/2019 Free Press: 4-5-2013

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, April 5, 2013 Page 13A

DeKalb County may see more new cities in coming years

For India PullinKim Gokce and the Cross Keys Foundation

India PullinKim Gokce and the Cross Keys Foundation

Robby Astrove, Arabia Mountain Nature PreserveEnvironmental Change Award (individual) Cynthia Houston, Adopt-a-Road and Adopt a MARTA Bus Stop

Ashley Wrushmen

For a programming guide, visit www.yourdekalb.com/dctv

DCTV Your Emmy Award-winning news source of DeKalb County news. Available on Comcast Cable Channel 23.

Attend the 2013 CEOs Community Hero Awards CeremonySunday, April 14 at 4 p.m., Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarclif Rd. NE

Honorees include: India Pullin, Kim Gokce & the Cross Keys Foundation,Robby Astrove, Cynthia Houston, Ashley Wrushmen, The Beulah Boys Dancers,

Samuel Belet & the Ethiopian Community Association,The Honorable Berryl A. Anderson, and Doug Harms.


Several DeKalb Countyegislators led place-

holder bills before the end

of this years congressionalession to enable different

areas throughout the countyo explore cityhood.

Rep. Mary Marga-ret Oliver said she thinkspeople are unsure of what todo and the recent creation ofhe city of Brookhaven has

been a destabilizing event.We need to have a dis-

cussion, Oliver said.Since the creation of

Brookhaven last year, neigh-borhoods such as NorthDruid Hills, Lakeside, Stone

Crest and Tucker have beenvocal about exploring city-hood as an option.

Oliver led a House Bill,665 to incorporate a newmunicipality in DeKalbCounty. She described it asa place holder bill to al-ow residents of Druid Hills

and other neighborhoods todecide whether they wish tobe considered a new DeKalbCounty city in 2014.

A bill that creates anew city cannot be passedn less than two years, so

Oliver said ling HB 665was procedurally necessary.Although the bill proposedhe creation of a new city, it

does not go into detail.Its the notice of the

ntent to create a new city,Oliver said. It also reectshat the discussion has be-

gun on north DeKalb and itwas our intent to le a pack-age of bills.

Representatives MicheleHenson and Pam Stephen-on have led similar place

holder bills (HB 667 andHB 687). Oliver said the in-

ent is to offer the maximumamount of notice possible toconstituents and to give thebest possible opportunitiesfor discussion and negotia-ion over the next years.

Sen. Fran Millar led amore extensive bill propos-ng the creation of the city

of Lakeside (SB 270). Mil-ars bill includes guidelinesegarding animal regula-ions, appropriations and ex-

penditures of revenue, busi-ness regulation and taxation,general fees and more.

Additionally, the bill pro-poses having a millage rateno higher than 3.04 millsand calls for the establish-

ment of a six-member citycouncil and mayor who rep-resent six districts. The billalso establishes an annualsalary of $16,000 for themayor and $12,000 for each

council member.Burke Brennan, a

spokesman for DeKalbCounty CEO Burrell Ellis,said although the countyhas fared well economically

over the past several years,the incorporation of citiesdoes present challenges forthe countys bottom line.

Brennan said Ellis be-lieves the law allowing

municipal incorporationshas allowed revenue to shiftfrom the county to city gov-ernments.

This harms the entirecounty, whether we live in

incorporated or unincorpo-rated portions of the county.As a result, the CEO be-lieves we have now reacheda tipping point where con-tinued incorporations may

hamper the ability of thecounty to adequately fundessential servicesfromcourts and criminal justice,to libraries and electionsthat all of our citizens de-

pend upon, Brennan said.However, Brennan said

Ellis is committed to pro-moting a dialogue betweencounty and city leaders tond collaborative solutions

to the issues and concernsthat support the currentmovement toward incorpo-ration.

See related story on page8A.

The Northeast will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies with a few showers today, scattered

rain Friday, mostly clear to partly cloudy skies Saturday, with the highest temperature of 65 in

Cincinnati, Ohio. The Southeast will experience scattered showers and thunderstorms today

and Friday, mostly clear skies Saturday, with the highest temperature of 86 in Naples, Fla. In the Northwest,

there will be partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered showers today through Saturday, with the highest

temperature of 74 in Lewiston, Idaho. The Southwest will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies today through

Saturday, with the highest temperature of 95 in Gila Bend, Ariz.

Weather History

April 4, 1989 - Thunderstorms

produced severe weather from

the Lower Mississippi Valley

to the southern Appalachians.

The thunderstorms spawned 17

tornadoes, including one that

caused two million dollars in

damage at Baldwin, Ala.

April 5, 1955 - The Northern

Rockies and the Northern High

Plains were in the midst of a

four day storm which produced

52 inches of snow at Lead,

located in the Black Hills of

western South Dakota.

Weather Trivia

What is the earliest an

Atlantic hurricane has

formed? ?Answer:In1955,ahurricane

formedonJan.2.

Detailed Local Forecast

Today we will see cloudy skies with a 90% chance

of rain, high temperature of 50, humidity of 71%.

East wind 20 mph. The record high temperature

for today is 85 set in 1969. Expect mostly cloudy

skies tonight with a 90% chance of showers,

overnight low of 43.

THURSDAYRain Likely

High: 50 Low: 43

FRIDAYFew Showers

High: 60 Low: 42

SATURDAYSunny

High: 67 Low: 47

SUNDAYMostly Sunny

High: 70 Low: 51

MONDAYPartly Cloudy

High: 74 Low: 52

TUESDAYPartly Cloudy

High: 75 Low: 54

WEDNESDAYPartly Cloudy

High: 71 Low: 51

Local Sun/Moon Chart This Week

Day

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Sunrise

7:19 a.m.

7:17 a.m.

7:16 a.m.

7:15 a.m.

7:13 a.m.

7:12 a.m.

7:11 a.m.

Sunset

8:00 p.m.

8:01 p.m.

8:02 p.m.

8:02 p.m.

8:03 p.m.

8:04 p.m.

8:05 p.m.

Moonrise

3:31 a.m.

4:13 a.m.

4:51 a.m.

5:26 a.m.

6:01 a.m.

6:35 a.m.

7:10 a.m.

Moonset

2:33 p.m.

3:37 p.m.

4:39 p.m.

5:40 p.m.

6:40 p.m.

7:39 p.m.

8:37 p.m.

New

4/10

First

4/18

Full

4/25

Last

5/2

Last Week's Local Almanac

Date Hi Lo Normals Precip

Tuesday 42 32 68/46 0.00"

Wednesday 54 29 68/46 0.00"

Thursday 61 30 68/46 0.00"

Friday 67 33 69/46 0.00"Saturday 73 49 69/47 0.32"

Sunday 69 55 69/47 0.01"

Monday 72 54 69/47 0.01"

Rainfall. . . . . . . . 0.34" Average temp. . 51.4

Normal rainfall. . 1.08" Average normal 57.5

Departure . . . . . .-0.74" Departure . . . . . -6.1

Local UV Index

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

The Champion Weather April 4, 2013Seven Day Forecast Todays Regional Map

Tonights Planets

Rise Set

Mercury 6:18 a.m. 5:47 p.m.

Venus 7:31 a.m. 8:07 p.m.

Mars 7:32 a.m. 8:12 p.m.

Jupiter 10:24 a.m. 12:36 a.m.

Saturn 9:47 p.m. 8:48 a.m.

Uranus 7:09 a.m. 7:28 p.m.

National Weather Summary This Week

StarWatch By Gary Becker - Comet ISON: No April Fools' Joke

While much deserved attention has been focused on Comet PanSTARRS during the last three weeks, another hairy interloper is sun bound for an autumn rendezvous with

Sol. ISON (C/2012 S1) could be one of the great comets of all times, and this is not an April Fools joke. First imaged by two Russian amateur astronomers, Vitali Nevski and

Artyom Novichonok, on September 21, 2012, ISON was named for the telescope of the International Scientic Optical Network that took the discovery photograph. There are

several criteria which make Comet ISON noteworthy. It is classied as a sungrazer. When it makes its closest approach to the sun on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 2013, it will

be a scant 1.1 million miles from Sols light-emitting surface, and well within its multimillion degree corona. The physical processes which create the tail structures of comets

will literally be on steroids during the pre- and post perihelion days and could produce a spectacle visible from the largest cities in the Northern Hemisphere. On the other hand, the heat and

gravitational disruptions which ISON will experience during its close solar encounter could simply make it go puff, creating unprecedented space photos, but literally nothing of importanceto see for Earths inhabitants. The other interesting consideration is that ISON is following an orbit which is very similar to the Great Comet of 1680. This comet, visible during daylight as it

rounded the sun, produced a bright tail of some 70 degrees in length as witnessed by Dutch settlers living on Manhattan Island in New Amsterdam during the late autumn of 1680. ISON will

probably not shine that brightly, but should it survive its close passage around the sun, it will become one of the great popular astronomical events of the 21st century. Photos representative of

the appearance of Comet ISON may be found at www.astronomy.org/StarWatch/March/index-3-13.html#3-31-13

Dunwoody

48/42Lilburn

49/43

Snellville

50/43Decatur

50/43

Morrow

51/43

Hampton

52/44

Union City

51/43

College Park

51/43

Atlanta

50/43

Doraville

49/43

Smyrna

49/43

Lithonia

51/43

8/23/2019 Free Press: 4-5-2013

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Ellis moves money around to pay for staff

DEKALBCOUNTYBOARDOFEDUCATION

STATEMENTOFACTUALFINANCIALOPERATIONS

FISCALYEARENDEDJUNE30,2012

ALL

GENERAL OTHER

FUND FUNDS

REVENUES

StateFunds $ 359,297,550.74 $ 1 2, 67 8, 53 0. 01

FederalFunds 231,045.00 120,505,813.57

Taxes 396,626,390.68 108,983,108.88

OtherFunds 10,301,941.24 48,589,951.76

TotalRevenues $ 766,456,927.66 $ 290,757,404.22

EXPENDITURES

Current

Instruction $ 555,151,138.64 $ 8 0, 61 1, 39 4. 66

SupportServices

PupilServices 30,410,353.02 5,550,359.33

Improvementof

Instructional

Services 10,469,264.35

26,243,122.12

EducationalMediaServices 14,336,001.40 117,888.50

FederalGrantAdministration 2,074,740.73

GeneralAdministration 14,876,684.33 1,972,022.81

SchoolAdministration 59,469,375.57 337,902.71

BusinessAdministration 4,136,873.41 482,336.86

MaintenanceandOperationofPlant 75,499,938.22 15,665.75

StudentTransportationServices 48,100,254.91 470,396.24

CentralSupportServices 15,545,729.95 123,944.48

OtherSupportServices 686,430.00 2,559,753.84

FoodServicesOperation 54,598,350.13

EnterpriseOperations 2,793,621.79

OtherOperationsofNonInstructional

Services 16,534,545.08

CapitalOutlay 47,710,213.03

DebtService 95,938,758.76

TotalExpenditures $ 828,682,043.80 $ 338,135,016.82

ExcessofRevenuesover(under)Expenditures $ ( 62,225,116.14) $ ( 47,377,612.60)

OTHERFINANCING

SOURCES

(USES)

OtherSources $ 625,725.76 $ 100,439,186.44

OtherUses 3,596,977.76 97,467,934.44

TotalOtherFinancingSources(Uses) $ (2,971,252.00) $ 2, 971, 252.00

ExcessofRevenuesandOtherFinancingSources

over(under)ExpendituresandOther

FinancingUses $ (65,196,368.14) $ ( 44,406,360.60)

FUNDBALANCEJULY1,2011 54,357,703.62 1,225,834,403.43

AdjustmentstoFundBalance

PriorYearCorrections

Other (3,624,307.53) 15,610,619.43

FUNDBALANCEJUNE30,2012 $ (14,462,972.05) $ 1,197,038,662.26

ThesalaryaccrualsatJune30,2012forQBEfundedteachersandtherelatedrevenues

duefromtheGeorgiaDepartmentofEducation

X

havebeen

included

in

this

statement.

havenotbeenincludedinthisstatement.

TheFundBalanceatJune30,2012,representsanoperating

unassignedfundbalance.

X deficit.


DeKalb County CEOBurrell Ellis has been usingmoney from different countydepartments to pay membersof his staff.

In March, Ellis hiredformer broadcast journalistJill Strickland Luse to headhe countys communica-ions department, which alsoncludes the 24-hour govern-

ment access station DeKalbCounty Television (DCTV).

Strickland Luses salarywas p

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