FreePress 08-28-14

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championnewspaper championnewspaper champnewspaperchampionnews

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 VOL. 17, NO. 23 FREE

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

FREEPRESS

o the projects.Tat dollar value is strictly just the money that was

approved by the county to get the engineering done,Brown said. Tats not the construction dollar value.

Construction on pipe work along Allgood Roadrom Rockbridge Road to Redan Road is expected tobe completed in two weeks, Brown said.

Te $2.78 million project includes repaving theroad and replacing fire hydrants, as well as increasing

the number o them. Hydrants will be on both sides othe streets and will be between 600 to 1,000 eet apart.Currently, hydrants are 2,500 to 3,000 eet apart insome areas, Brown said.

When asked about the state o the CIP, Brown said,I think its in good hands. Te program teamis agood team.

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

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

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

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

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

QUICK FINDER

LOCAL, 6A SPORTS, 21ALOCAL, 2A

NEW ETHICS COMPLAINT

FILED AGAINST

COMMISSIONER

STEPHENSON

DOMINATES ARABIA

MOUNTAIN

POLITICAL SIGNS MAY

LAST LONGER THAN

CAMPAIGN

Commissioner resigns, federal charges filedby Andrew [email protected]

DeKalb County Commissioner ElaineBoyeris out.

Te 22-year veteran commissionerresigned her position Aug. 25, a day beoreederal charges o mail raud conspiracyand wire raud were brought against her.Bond was set at $25,000.

Te charges filed in U.S. District Court

I want to express my heartfelt

gratitude for the opportunity to

have served in this capacity for

the last 22 years. Elaine Boyer

See Watershed on page 15A

by Andrew [email protected]

DeKalb County will hold a cer-emonial ribbon cutting or twobooster pump stations con-structed as part o the countys

$1.35 billion watershed capital improve-ment project (CIP).

Booster pump stations at North Shal-oword and illy Mill in Dunwoody will

be on display during the ceremony.Te $3.9 million North Shalloword

booster pump station was moved rom an

underground location in a street islandnto a newly constructed nearby building.Te project, which contains our

pumps, was completed in late July andook eight months to construct, accordingo Wendell Brown, the countys CIP con-truction manager.

At a cost o $1.5 million, the two-pump illy Mill booster station servesDunwoody High School, Georgia Perim-eter Colleges Dunwoody campus and sur-rounding areas.

Currently there are more than 48watershed projects underway includingconstruction, planning and design, Brownaid.

On Aug. 12, the DeKalb County Board

o Commissioners approved approximate-y $10 million in contracts to restart many

Two completedwatershed projectsto be unveiled

Water, water [projects]everywhere

County workers replace pipes on Allgood Road as part of the countys billion-dollar watershed capital improvement proj-ect. Photo by Andrew Cauthen

See Boyer on page 15APhoto by Andrew Cauthen

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PAGE 2A THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

See Signs on page 3A

Political signs outlast campaigns

by Lauren [email protected]

Both the primary and runo elections aredone in DeKalb County but that doesntmean all the signs advocating or certain

candidates have disappeared.hough most have been taken down or

tashed or use closer to the Nov. 4 elections,ome political signs stil l abound around the

county.James Adams, interim special operations

upervisor o code compliance, said theres notmuch he or his oicers can do or out-o dateigns. here is currently no county ordinanceequiring signs or deeated candidates to beaken down.

As long as [the property owner] has given theperson permission, as the ordinance is writtenhat is what we have to go by, Adams said. With

political signs and signage in general it is aouchy subject. We have to make sure we abide byhe letter o the law.

he law can be ound in appendix B, articleXIII, section 702 o the DeKalb County Code. Inegards to political signs, the code only speciies

where signs can and cannot be placed. In codechapter 21, article II, section 21-3, the codetipulates that each sign erected, even on private

property, must have a permit issued through

the county. In section 21-11, the code says signsmay not be dilapidated or constructed o non-durable material including, but not limited to,

paper, cardboard or lexible plastic that has beendisplayed or more than sixty (60) days. hough,

No county law requires removing signs afer election

At an apartment complex off Columbia Drive, a large sign encourages voters to elect Atticus LeBlanc to the countyschool board. LeBlanc lost in the July 22 runoff to Michael Erwin. Photo by Lauren Ramsdell

393police ofcers

youYou may not see us, but were nearby.Maybe just a few seats away. To make

sure you have a pleasant, uneventfulride. We could use your eyes, too. If

you see something thats not right,call us. Well take it from there.

Chief Wanda Dunham

SeeSay

something

something

If you

Use MARTAsSee & Say

App.

Txt MPD: (404) 334-5355or

Call (404) 848-4911if you see something out of the ordinary.

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THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 PAGE 3A

$4.6M grant to help

homeless veteransCongressman HankJohnson(GA-

04) recently announced that our Atlan-a-based groups will receive more than

$4.6 million rom the Department oVeterans Aairs (VA) to ight veteranshomelessness.

United Way o Metropolitan Atlanta,Action Ministries Inc., ravelers Aid oMetropolitan Atlanta Inc. and DecaturCooperative Ministry Inc. will receive a share o undso provide services to low-income veteran amilies livingn, or transitioning to, permanent housing in the Fourth

District and throughout metro Atlanta.Every day Im inspired to work on behal o our men

and womenand their amiliesin uniorm, said John-on, who sent letters o support to the VA or the grants.

Im committed to doing what I can to help our veter-ans get their lives back on track.

he grants are part o a more than $300 million na-ionwide eort in homeless prevention that is going to

301 non-proit community agencies in 50 states, PuertoRico and the District o Columbia that will help morehan 115,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their

amilies.he program, Supportive Services or Veterans Fami-

ies, is part o President BarackObamas pledge to beelentless in his pursuit o ending veterans homeless-

ness within the decade.

the code states state the sign canbe replaced with no penalty.

hose are the rules, and younotice that section 21-11 gives adramatic breakdown in regardsto signs in general, Adamssaid. What we tend to do is weenorce the sign ordinances everytwo weeks. We do biweekly signsweeps and pull signs.

Adams and the codecompliance oicers can writecourt summons, and do, or sign

violations. he inraction countsas a misdemeanor and comes witha $250 to $1,000 ine.

Right-o-way issues are theprime issues, Adams said. I theyare in the public right-o-way,those are immediately pulled. Wedo run into it where we wouldhave to issue a court summons

and make sure its brought intocompliance.Adams said most complaints

and violations come rom theseright-o-way issues. He said thatsigns in the public right-o-way,requently the strip o grassbetween the sidewalk and thestreet, can distract drivers. heyalso cant be attached to telephonepoles, trees in the right-o-way orstreet signs.

So that yard sale sign tied tothe stop sign at the end o thecul-de-sac? hat is absolutely a

violation, he said, We would takethat down immediately.

Altogether, signs are a hottopic, not just ater elections.Adams said he does getcomplaints rom neighbors aboutdisruptive signs.

Signs are a nationwideproblem, not only here in DeKalbCounty or the metropolitan area,Adams said. We do have to stayon top o signs because they canbe an eyesore.

SignsContinued From Page 2ANEWS BRIEFS

Authorities search for masked armed robbersJ. Britt Johnson, special agent in

harge o the FBI Atlanta Field Oice,long with Dekalb Police Chie James

Conroyand Brookhaven Police ChieGary Yandura, request the publicsssistance with identiying and ap-

prehending those responsible or anrmed robbery in DeKalb County.

On uesday, Aug. 12, at ap-proximately 9:30 a.m., three armedndividuals entered the Navy Federal

Credit Union located at 2470 Briar-li Road, NE, Suite #43, Atlanta,nd announced a robbery. Duringhe robbery the suspects brandished

handguns and ordered the customers

and employees to the ground whiledemanding money.

One o the robbers vaulted theteller counter prior to all three de-parting the bank with an undisclosedamount o money, according to anFBI statement.

One suspect is described as aBlack male, approximately 6 eet tall,medium build, 20 to 30 years old, car-rying a handgun and wearing a maskand dark clothing.

A second suspect is described ashaving a light complexion (race un-known), approximately 6 eet tall, 20to 30 years old o age, and wearing a

mask, sunglasses, blue jeans, whitesneakers, and carrying a handgun.

he suspect who jumped thecounter is described as a heavysetBlack male, wearing gloves and amask, and carrying a handgun and abag with a white strap.

he robbers led the bank in a sil-ver Nissan Altima.

he FBI is oering a reward orinormation leading to the arrest andconviction o those involved.

Anyone with inormation re-garding this robbery should contactCrime Stoppers Atlanta at (404) 577-8477.

Johnson

Former Decatur mayor

directs local cities grouphe Georgia Municipal Association (GMA)

has named ormer Decatur mayor Bill Floydasthe managing director o the DeKalb MunicipalAssociation. Floyd is also a consultant with thePendleton Group.

I look orward to working on issues relatedto the complex and evolving local governmentsituation in DeKalb County, Floyd said. I knowcity leaders are prepared to collaborate andind solutions that will best serve the needs andaspirations o residents.

Floyd served as mayor o Decatur rom 1998 to2012 and began a one-year term as GMA presidentin 2009. He became DeKalb Municipal Associationmanaging director on Aug. 1.

Bill has extensive knowledge o city operationsand is a relationship builder, said GMA ExecutiveDirector Lamar Norton. He knows the politicalhistory and players in DeKalb County, and webelieve he will do an excellent job or the 10 cities inthe county.

he DeKalb Municipal Association wasestablished in 2011 to oster better understandingbetween government authorities o all levelso government. It also seeks to ensure DeKalbmunicipal residents are provided eectiveand eicient services rom DeKalb Countygovernment.

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OPINIONTHE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 PAGE 5A

Let Us Know What You Think!

THE CHAMPION FREE PRESSencourages opinions from its readers.Please write to us and express your views. Letters should be brief, type-written and contain the writers name, address and telephone numberfor verification. All letters will be considered for publication.

Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send email to [email protected] FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone:(404) 373-7779 . Deadline for news releases and advertising: Thursday, one week priorto publication date.

EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do notnecessarily reect the opinions of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves theright to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The Publisher is not responsiblefor unsolicited manuscripts.

Publisher:John HewittChief Financial Ocer: Dr. Earl D. GlennManaging Editor: Andrew CauthenProduction Manager: Kemesha HuntPhotographer: Travis HudgonsSta Reporters: Carla Parker, Lauren RamsdellAdvertising Sales: Louise Dyrenforth Acker

The Champion Free Press is published each Friday by ACE IIICommunications, Inc., 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA.

30030 Phone (404) 373-7779.

www.championnewspaper.com

DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110

FREEPRESS

STATEMENT FROM THE PUBLISHERWe sincerely appreciate the discussion surrounding this andany issue of interest to DeKalb County. The Championwasfounded in 1991 expressly to provide a forum for discourse

for allcommunity residents on all sides of an issue. We haveno desire to make the news only to report news and opinionsto effect a more educated citizenry that will ultimately moveour community forward. We are happy to present ideas fordiscussion; however, we make every effort to avoid printinginformation submitted to us that is known to be false and/orassumptions penned as fact.

Thoughts on Ferguson, MO.As a former resident of the metro

aint Louis, East Saint Louis area, myheart has been heavy watching the

olice dogs and tear gas being used to

disperse peaceful protesters standingup for their right to be treated withdignity and respect. Te photos re-minded me of a throwback to the 60snd the Civil Rights Movement. We

have made progress as a people but wehave so far to go.

I have been silent on the St. Louisiots but no more!

Hopelessness is a formula for di-aster. Te Bible says where there is noision the people parish.

While I in no shape or form en-dorse the destruction of our ownneighborhoods by violent acts car-ied out by frustrated and desperate

eople, I do think its important toealize how weve gotten here and thettitudes that drive such behavior.

When a person lacks hope or faith

in tomorrows possibilities, by defaultthey will seek to abort or destroytheir present reality. Teir tolerancefor risky behavior increases because

in their minds, they have nothingto live for anyway. Te question hasbeen asked over and over, why arethese young Black men and womendestroying their own communities?My first response is do they really ownthem? Te fact that there is very littlepride of ownership in many of ourcommunities is a part of the problem.

Ten we have to deal with themental state of a people that woulddestroy everything and anything thatis around them (people included).Te same hopelessness that can cause63-year-old comedian Robin Wil-liamsto use a belt to hang himself, is

the same spirit of depression and defeatthat justifies torching a community.Not logical or reasonable think-

ing, but a fact! As for why the citizens

of Ferguson, Mo., are torching theircommunity, while there is no logicalreason to justify it, the problem formany is a lack of pride, respect and a

sense of ownership.Absent these basic and funda-

mental human traits, society helps tocreate a subculture of people who seethemselves as worthless. Te unfor-tunate reality is that many of us riseor fall to level of expectations of thosearound us.

Every day young Black men arekilling each other over turf and streetcorners they dont own. Why? Whatthey are seeking is respect! Feeling de-nied the odds of achieving the respectthey desire through the boardroomsof corporate America and mainstreamlegitimate channels they compromise

their goals by seeking the pride andrespect they desire through streetcredibility.

Tis is a different world they seek

to rule that operates by a different anddefiant set of rules. Denied access tomainstream success, they resort tocreating their own world run by their

own rules of engagement. oday itsMike Brown, yesterday it was Tray-

von Martin.What mainstream society needs

to understand is every time the scab isripped off this national crisis amongpeople of color and the disadvantagedof this nation, it oozes the same infec-tious pus and blood.

oday, more than ever a time inthis nations history, we need to beabout the business of giving peoplehope!

People of DeKalb, we have workto do!

Cornelius Stafford ispresident of100 Black Men of DeKalb County Inc.and author of recently released bookPathway to Purpose.

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PAGE 6A THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

If you would like to nominate someone to be

considered as a future Champion of the Week,

please contact Andrew Cauthen at andrew@

dekalbchamp.com or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 117.

Mary Davis lives inPhilips ower in downtownDecatur, but it took a whileor community managers toake her up on her oers to

volunteer.Ater a long career withAmerican Express, Davismoved to Decatur abouthree years ago. At irst, she

approached managers at Phil-ps ower and asked i they needed any help or volun-eers. hey said no, initially.

hey didnt utilize me until they realized I hadgone outside the building, she said. he people thatun the building here approached me then. I dont lethings interere with the things I have promised to giveo the visitors center. When I say Im going to be there,m there.

Davis volunteers about three days per week at theDecatur visitors center on Clairemont Avenue. She hasince becoming a de acto ambassador or the city.

I always enjoy the visitors center because you geto meet so many people: people who are visiting ourittle city, people who live in the city and say they dont

know this is here. I took Decatur 101. I really becamejust totally aware o the great activities that take placein our little our-square mile city.

Davis said that growing up, her mother always toldher and her siblings to give back whenever they could.

I have always had to give some o my time to thecommunity, she said. hats what I do.

Davis said she originally volunteered at the visitorscenter so oten that people thought she was homeless.Beore the center had a permanent space, she sat inDecatur Square handing out pamphlets touting Deca-tur to residents and visitors alike.

She inally did get to volunteer at Philips ower.She also tries to volunteer at Decatur events such asthe beach party and book estival. She said her work

with American Express took her around the country,as well as her earlier career in the travel industry, aswell as a stint in the air orce, let her with a need orvariety in her lie.

I believe that i you have any type o talent at a ll,

even i its just smiling and saying hello to people, itmakes your lie more interesting, Davis said. Particu-larly seniors. Just because youre retired doesnt meanyou just sit and do nothing.

Davis said while she was younger, she volunteeredbecause it was the right thing to do and she had gitsto share. While she still enjoys giving back and oer-ing a smile, it has become more important as she getsolder to maintain connections and give back.

I have lived or 77 years, she said. And I lovemy lie. I think its important that seniors rememberthat you have something to give. Youve lived this lie.Youre ortunate.

MARY DAVIS

I have lived for 77 years,

she said. And I love my life. I

think its important that seniors

remember that you havesomething to give. Youve lived

this life. Youre fortunate.

New ethics complaints filed against commissionerby Andrew [email protected]

L

ess than a week ater DeKalbCountys ethics board dis-missed a complaint againstcounty Commissioner Jeff

Rader, a new one has been iledagainst him.he complaint was iled Aug. 18

by Warren Mosby, a DeKalb resi-dent and senior consultant with HSISystems & Consultants.

In his complaint, Mosby allegesthat Rader ailed to acknowledgehis inherent conlict o interestat each and every meeting o theBoard o Commissioners whereina decision was made regardingDeKalb Countys Contractual rela-tionship with Commissioner Radersthen employer, Jacobs Engineeringand its subsidiaries.

heres not much new there in

the accusation, Rader said Aug. 20.his I think is a politically moti-vated distraction.

In response to a similar com-plaint dismissed Aug. 14 by theethics board, Rader said that whenhe was irst elected, he sought andreceived rom the ethics board anadvisory opinion on how to avoidconlict o interest regarding his em-ployment.

Mosbys complaint states theethics board in in 2007 should havespeciied the need or ull disclosureby Commissioner Rader along withother actions (such as not voting,

abstaining or otherwise being ab-sent rom a vote) or each and everyndividual item coming beore the

DeKalb County Commission thatpresents a conlict o interest to in-

sure compliance.he complaint also states that

the ethics boards decision to notact on a complaint on the groundso lack o investigatory authoritydoes not preclude the Ethics Boardsresponsibility to address this sepa-rate complaint.

Both ethics complaints try towork around the act there is anadvisory opinion that inormed myconduct, Rader said. hey all say,well he might have done what theadvisory opinion said, but its still an

ethical violation.I think thats a tough case to

make, Rader said. How else are we

supposed to conduct ourselves?Additionally, Rader is accused

o using county purchasing card(P-card) to pay more than $3,400 inbills or his personal cell phone.

Mosby also states that Rader hasused his P-Card to pay $500 annualmembership dues to ProessionalPlanning Organizations that hethen uses in his line o work (notcommission only) and to purchasetravel and hotel accommodations toconventions or Planners instead opaying or the employment-relatedexpense out o his own pocket.

Rader said that each expendi-

ture has been vetted when reviewedby the countys internal audit unc-tion [and] by the district attorney.he complaint is without merit.

he irst ethics complaint

against Rader was not dismissedon the merits but the lack o speci-icity, Rader said. his one has

more speciic accusations so I dontknow that it would be dismissed ona irst review. In any event, Im veryconident that the accusationsare invalid and I ultimately will beexonerated.

In June, Mosby was mentionedin an ethics complaint against Com-missioner Sharon Barnes Sutton.hat complaint alleges that Sut-ton had a conlict o interest whenshe hired Mosby or at least threecontract jobs totaling more than$35,000. he alleged projects in-clude the design o a program orthe Youth Leadership Academy

kick-o ($1,336); District 4 commis-sioner newsletter ($4,212); Board oCommissioners transition advisorycapacity ($10,000); and proessionalservices or District 4 ($20,000).

Theres not much new there

in the accusation. This I thinkis a politically motivated

distraction. Commissioner Jeff Rader

Mosby Rader

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THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 PAGE 7A

COMMUNITY

AROUNDDEKALB

BrookhavenNew toy donation policy announced

he city o Brookhaven announced recently thatt will begin reviewing toys donated at city parkso ensure the saety o all Brookhavens park users,

especially children.A neighborhood tradition o leaving old or

outgrown toys at Ashord Park presented a seriouschallenge to Brookhavens Parks and RecreationDepartment, according to a statement rom thecity.

We appreciate the spirit o community andgenerosity that the parents o Ashord Park havebeen demonstrating by leaving toys on the play-ground at Ashord Park, said GarySchussler,assistant parks director. Its our responsibility tokeep all city parks neat and make sure that toysand equipment are sae to use and in good workingorder.

Rather than just discarding toys their childrenhave outgrown, parents or others who wish to do-nate toys should bring them to Brookhavens ParksDepartment or a saety check. o keep the cityparks sae and visually attractive or all visitors,oys that are unsae, worn out or broken will not be

distributed in city parks.Brookhaven residents who wish to donate toys

or other items to Brookhaven Parks can access adonation request orm on the Parks and RecreationDepartment webpage and drop the orm and thetems o at the Lynwood Park Recreation Center,ocated at 3360 Osborne Road in Brookhaven.

o review the donation policy and donationequest orm, see the oy Donation Policy on the

citys website at www.brookhavenga.gov.

DoravilleNASCAR driver to meet fans

Dylan Kwasniewski, driver o Camaros No.31 and No. 42 or urner Scott Motorsports, willattend a meet-and-greet or ans at the Doraville

Fraternal Order o Eagles. he international F.O.E.ponsors Kwasniewskis No. 31 car.Kwasniewski will be at the chapter building, lo-

cated at 3118 Chestnut Drive, rom 7 to 8 p.m. Ac-cording to the chapters Facebook page, there will

be rales, races and a dinner. Register by indingthe event on the Fraternal Order o Eagles Atlanta714 Facebook page.

DunwoodyDistrict 1 Citizen Connectionmeeting announced

Dunwoodys district 1 city council representa-tives, erryNalland DennisShortall, will host acitizen connection meeting at the Dunwoody Na-

ture Center Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. he event will be a o-rum where participants can write and send in ques-tions on paper or electronically. Representatives willanswer questions and take eedback rom residents.Residents can send in their ideas ahead o time atconnectdunwoody.co/contact-us/

LithoniaLibrary to host movie screening

Stonecrest Library will host a special screeningo The Abolitionists, a ilm that brings to lie theintertwined stories o Frederick Douglass, Wil-liam Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimke, Harriet

Beecher Stoweand John Brown.The Abolitioniststakes place during some o themost violent decades in American history and re-veals how the movement shaped history by expos-ing the atal law o a republic ounded on libertyor some and bondage or others. he screening isa part o the Created Equal: Americas Civil RightsStruggleseries. he series is made possible througha grant rom the National Endowment or the Hu-manities, as part o its Bridging Cultures initiative,in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Instituteo American History. For more inormation, call(770) 482-3828.

Stone MountainArt Station hosting exhibit

LOCAION, LOCAION, LOCAION anexhibit o renowned plein air painters will be held

at the AR Station Contemporary art center inStone Mountain until Sept. 28. A Paint Out willalso take place Sept. 13, rom 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. tocelebrate the artistic tradition o plein air painting.For more inormation about the exhibit or the PaintOut, call AR Station at (770)-469-1105.

Commissioner to hold monthlycommunity breakfast

DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watsonistaking his monthly community cabinet breakaston the road. He will partner with Stephenson HighSchool PSA which will acilitate the communitybreakast Saturday, Sept. 6, rom 9 to 11 a.m.

Stephenson High School is located at 701 Ste-phenson Road, Stone Mountain.

During the breakast, Watson launch the count-down to his annual Stephenson Road communityclean up, scheduled or Saturday, Sept. 13.

Representatives rom Comcast Cable, DiscoverDeKalb/DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureauand Georgia Department o ransportation willupdate attendees on services, initiatives and pro-grams.

he breakast is ree and open to the public.here is no registration required. For additionalinormation, call (404) 371-3681.

CountywideCharter district public hearingsscheduled

he DeKalb County School District is consider-ing a bid to become an all-charter school district,which would be the largest in Georgia i accepted.he district is seeking community input to go to-wards a petition to be submitted to the state boardo education.

Five meetings, one or each district, have beenscheduled around the county. All meetings willtake place at 6 p.m.

Region 1 Dunwoody High School Aug. 28,

Region 2 Lakeside High School Aug. 27Region 3 Stephenson High School Sept. 3

Region 4 Lithonia High School Aug. 26

Region 5 owers High School September 2

Avondale EstatesCity to host Labor Day race

Avondale Estates will host its 36th An-nual Labor Day 5K Race and 1 Mile RaceSept. 1. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., the1 mile race will start at 8:30 a.m. and the 5Krace will begin at 8 a.m. o register the daybeore the race, visit active.com. For moreinormation, contact Karen Holmesat (404)294-5400 or [email protected].

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THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 PAGE 8ALOCAL NEWS

NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING

The

Mayor

and

City

Council

of

the

City

of

Chamblee,

Georgia

will

hold

a

public

hearing

on

Thursday,

September

11,

2014,

at

the

Chamblee

Civic

Center,

3540

Broad

Street,

Chamblee,

GA30341at6:00p.m.toreceivepubliccommentsregardingthefollowingmatter:

1. Text

amendment

to

Article

X,

Section

1002.

Permitted

Uses

of

Appendix

A,

Zoning

Ordinanceasfollows:

toindicatethattheuseAutomobilewashserviceispermittedonlyinthe

IndustrialTransitional(IT)andLightIndustrial(I)zoningdistrictsandtherefore

is

prohibited

in

the

Corridor

Commercial

(CC)

zoning

district;

and

toreplacetheuseAutomobileandtruckrepairasaprimaryusewiththeuse

Automobileandtruckrepair,bodywork,andmodificationasaprincipaluse.

to

replace

the

use,

Automobile

and

truck

sales

and

service

with

repair

and

bodyworkasanaccessoryusewiththeuse,Automobileandtrucksalesand

service

with

repair,

body

work,

and

modification

as

an

accessory

use.

Amusement machines cause nuisance in Clarkston

by Lauren [email protected]

Clarkston has a bit o aproblem.

According to city

manager Keith Barker,coin-operated amusementmachines you may knowhem as video poker or videolots have prolierated in

Clarkston. Most restaurantsn the town have at least one

machine, and they can beound at local conveniencetores, too.

Under Georgia law andaccording to trade groups,coin-operated amusementmachines include claw ma-chines, oosball machinesand target or shooting gallerymachines in addition to sim-

ulated gambling types. How-ver, these are not the kinds

o machines in Clarkstonbusinesses.

Sometimes theyre di-erent types o games, Barkeraid. Teyre more o the

poker type. Its not pinballand its not Frogger. Teyreprimarily gambling themed.

Coin-operated amuse-ment machines are regulatedby the Georgia Lottery Cor-poration. According to law,hey arent allowed to dis-

pense more than five dollars

worth o tokens, tickets ornovelty items and are not al-owed to dispense cash at all.

Barker said he has heard, an-cdotally, that the machinesn Clarkston are not ollow-ng those rules.

It has been told to mehat there are people who

have won big jackpots, six,even and eight thousand

dollars, Barker said. I dontknow the details o how theymanage that. When you have52 machines], when you

have a town that is 1.1 square

mile, and you see thesemachines, six and seven inrestaurants at lunchtime, andtheres nobody eating lunchand there are people playingthe machines and you hearamilies say He worked allweek at the actory, and be-ore he came home he went

to the restaurant and lost allthe rent, or hes in significantdebt to the owner, you puttwo and two and two togeth-er and get six.

Clarkston also had twosuicides in the last year, andBarker said interviews withamily members indicatedthat problem gambling mayhave been a stress actor lead-ing to the suicides. Te ma-chines are also primarily usedby members o Clarkstonsreugee communities.

We havent had any

problems with it as ar aslaw enorcement goes, saidClarkston police chie Chris-tine Hudson. Tese pooramilies people go in thereand gamble their moneyaway. Teyve lost their mon-ey; they cant pay their billsand unortunately they take

their lie.Hudson said the ma-chines are more o a publicnuisance right now, becauseany alleged crimes or illegalpayouts have not been sub-stantiated.

Its very hard to get intothese places, especially herein Clarkston, Hudson said.I cant send one o my o-ficers in there because theyknow us. rying to infiltratethat is kind o hard even withan undercover officer. Youhave to be the right national-

ity; you have to look the rightway.

Barker said city ordi-nance stipulates that to beconsidered a restaurant abusiness must receive 51 per-cent or more o its revenuerom ood sales. But, he said,the city may not have done a

thorough job veriying thosepercentages.Tats something we

are struggling to do now,with limited resources,Barker said. Its difficult orus to pay auditors, but weare working on that and weare going to figure that outquickly.

o study the issue ocoin-operated amusementmachines, Clarkston createdan ad-hoc committee, led bycity Councilman Robert Ho-gan. According to Barker, thecommittee is looking at the

problem and propose solu-tions; solutions that cant in-volve banning the machines,because they are legal in thestate.

We know that we cannotprohibit the coin-operatedmachines outright, Barkersaid. However we havegreater latitude with our abil-ity to grant who and whatestablishments can sell beerand wine and package stores.

One such example isan ordinance passed by thecity last year that orced

convenience store owners tochoosekeep selling beerand wine and ditch the videomachines, or lose the beerand wine license and keep

the machines. Most opted tocontinue selling alcohol.

Tis tells you some-thing: you know conveniencestores beer and wine salesare a significant part o theirrevenue stream, Barker said.One o our conveniencestores opted to give up the

license to sell beer and wine,so the amusement machinesmust be a significant revenuesource. Its hard or me toathom, i indeed the payoutis something nominal, whywould I sit there and eedthat machine or hours.

Barker said his goal is notto legislate away the problem,but rather to spur economicdevelopment in Clarkston tosuch a degree that the gamesare no longer profitable.

We have a $5.7 millionstreetscape project, and itsour hope that when we make

these public improvementsto the inrastructure tree-lined streets, improvedpedestrian pathways, newsidewalks that these res-taurants and other businesseswill leverage that and willmake improvements to theiracades and their buildings,Barker said. I think, big pic-ture, I want these restaurantsto be successul to the pointwhere every square oot otheir available space will bedesignated table space ordiners. Tey will be mak-

ing significant and sufficientrevenue rom ood sales sothat the space that is now ormachines will be turned intodining space.

Coin-operated amusement machines, like these that simulate slots, are becoming a public nuisance in Clarkston. Photo by Lauren Ramsdell

Theyremore ofthe pokertype. Itsnot pinballand its notFrogger.Theyreprimarilygambling

themed. Clarkston citymanager Keith Barker

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Four to seek vacant Brookhaven council seat

Tucker CID welcomes Northlake

businesses, changes name

by Carla [email protected]

Four people have qualified toun or the Brookhaven District

2 Council seat in a Nov. 4 specialelection.

Brookhaven residents Charles P.BarryIII, Bill Brown, im Namaand John Parkwill appear on cityballots in the November election.

Te District 2 seat became openafer ormer city council memberimEyreresigned in April. Hisesignation came afer he criticizedeports that city taxpayers paid city

manager MarieGarretts salary andconsultant ees or more than a year.

In June, the city council passeda resolution authorizing a specialelection or the vacated council seat.Early voting will begin on Oct. 6and continue through election day.

I no candidate obtains a majority, arunoff election will be held Dec. 2.

Barry is an associate at Cruser& Mitchell, LLP, who specializes incivil tort litigation. He also workedwith the DeKalb County District

Attorneys Office, according to hisFacebook page.

Brown is the owner o TereBrookhaven, a restaurant locatedin own Brookhaven. Nama isa business owner and served as

chairman o the citys zoning boardo appeals beore he resigned romhis position to run or the councilseat.

Park works as a sofwareengineer at Revegy.

Barry NamaBrown Park


Te ucker CID is now the ucker-Northlake CID.

Tis week the ucker Communitymprovement District voted to changets name to the ucker-Northlake

CID. According to CID officials, thenew name reflects the CIDs ocus oneconomic development and inrastructuremprovements or the communities to the

east and west o the I-285/LaVista Roadnterchange. Along with downtown ucker,he CID boundaries extend down Lavista,

Henderson Mill, and Northlake Parkwayhrough the Northlake shopping district andhe Montreal industrial corridor.

We certainly believe there is strengthn numbers, which is why a CID is so

appealing to community business leaders,aid Ann Rosenthal, president o the

ucker-Northlake CID. Commercialproperty owners within the CID pay ael-imposed tax, and the unds are used

within the CID area or transportation and

nrastructure improvements, public saety,economic development and quality o liemprovements.

Even though the ucker-NorthlakeCID is only a year old, we have already

improved the I-285/LaVista Roadintersection and are preparing to kick off amajor master planning process or the area,Rosenthal added.

In May, the DeKalb County Board oCommissioners approved the ucker CIDsrequest to annex the Northlake commercialproperties. Te expansion adds over $110million in property value.

Te ucker-Northlake CID nowincludes more than 166 commercialproperty owners, representingapproximately $157 million in property

value.More than 67 Northlake commercial

properties into the organization Aug. 7.were welcomed.

In addition to renaming the CID,the organization elected two new boardmembers to serve with the existing boardor 2014-2015. Te new board members areFrank Gouldingo Newell Recycling andPeggy Bergo the Hampton Inn. Existingboard members returning or 2014-2015 areCID chairman Bill Rosenfeldo RoseneldJewelry, vice chairman John Martino John

Martin State Farm, treasurer Annie Gibson-Ervino Kaiser Permanente, secretary

See Tucker CID on page 16A

Photo by Carla Parker

8/11/2019 FreePress 08-28-14

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Ebola patients released from Emory Hospital

Dr. Kent Brantly


wo Ebola patients who were being treatedat Emory University Hospital have testedclear o the deadly virus and were dis-

charged rom the hospital.Doctors announced Aug. 21 that NancyWriteboland Dr. Kent Brantlywere not a threato public health.

Afer a rigorous course o treatment and test-ng, the Emory Healthcare team has determinedhat both patients have recovered rom the Ebola

virus and can return to their amilies and com-munity without concern or spreading this inec-ion to others, said Dr. Bruce Ribner, director o

Emorys Inectious Disease Unit.Writebol was discharged rom the hospital

Aug. 19 and she and her husband, David, havegone to an undisclosed location to rest, accordingo a representative o the missionary organization

SIM. Brantly was released rom Emory Aug. 21,and called the day miraculous at a press coner-nce at the hospital.

I am thrilled to be alive, to be well and to beeunited with my amily, Brantly said. Above all,am orever thankul to God or sparing my lie

and am glad or any attention my sickness has at-

tracted or the plight o West Arica in the midsto this epidemic.

Te patients discharges were based on bloodand urine diagnostic tests and standard inectiousdisease protocols. Tey received a dose o an ex-perimental serum while still in Liberia. Brantlyalso received a unit o blood rom a 14-year-oldboy who had survived Ebola under his care. Em-ory said its medical team maintained its extensivesaety procedures throughout the treatment pro-cess and is confident the discharge o the patientsposes no public health threat.

Te Emory Healthcare team is extremelypleased with Dr. Brantlys and Mrs. Writebolsrecovery, and was inspired by their spirit andstrength, as well as by the steadast support o

their amilies, Ribner said.Writebol was serving with her husband at

SIMs Eternal Love Inning Arica (ELWA) mis-sion campus in Monrovia, Liberia, when she andBrantly contracted Ebola. Brantly was serving at

the ELWA Hospital as part o a cooperative workbetween SIM and Samaritans Purse. Brantly saidhe began to eel ill July 23.

As I lay in my bed in Liberia or the ollow-ing nine days, getting sicker and weaker each day,I prayed that God would help me to be aithuleven in my illness, and I prayed that in my lie orin my death, he would be glorified, he said.

Afer treatment in Liberia, Brantly and Write-bol were flown to Atlanta earlier this month andwas admitted to Emory University Hospital,where they were treated in isolation rom otherhospital patients at a special unit set up in collab-oration with the Centers or Disease Control andPrevention to care or patients exposed to certainserious inectious diseases.

I am incredibly thankul to all o those whowere involved in my care, rom the first day o myillness all the way up to todaythe day o my re-lease rom Emory, he said.

Afer giving his statement, Brantly huggedthe five doctors and 21 nurses who treated him.Brantly said he and his amily were going awayor a period o time to reconnect, to decompress

and to continue to recover physically and emo-tionally.Beore he lef, he shared a message rom

Writebol.My dear riend Nancy Writebol, upon her

release rom the hospital, wanted me to share hergratitude or all the prayers on her behal, Brantlysaid. As she walked out o her isolation room, allshe could say was, o God be the glory.

In a released statement, Writebols husbandalso thanked the staff at Emory.

Nancy joined the ranks o a small, but hope-ully growing number o survivors o the Ebolavirus disease when she walked out o the EmoryUniversity Hospital Isolation Unit on Aug. 19,David Writebol said. She had been in isolationfighting the disease since July 26. Nancy is ree

o the virus, but the lingering effects o the battlehave lef her in a significantly weakened condi-tion. Tus, we decided it would be best to leavethe hospital privately to be able to give her the restand recuperation she needs at this time.

I am thrilled to be alive.

Dr. Kent Brantly reads a statement after he was released from Emory University Hospital where he was treated for Ebola. Photos provided

Dr. Kent Brantly ran out of the isolation area giving highives to his treatment team who had lined the halls.

Nancy Writebol and her husband David went toan undisclosed location to rest after she was dis-charged from Emory University Hospital and testedclear of Ebola.

8/11/2019 FreePress 08-28-14

11/24


Funds, fun raised at annual Labor Day race

Discover DeKalbs Reunion Specialist will teach you everything youneed to know to plan the perfect Family Reunion in DeKalb County!

Workshop - 10 a.m. to Noon Showcase - Noon to 2 p.m.

Saturday, September 20th, 2014

DoubleTree Hotel Atlanta NE/Northlake

4156 Lavista Road, Tucker, GA 30084

Family Reunion Capital of the South

Call 770-492-5018

Pre-registration is required

FREE Family Reunion Planning

Workshop & Showcase

AtlantasDeKalb.com

Pet of the WeekPeppa is a supersweet, happy,affectionate 2 yearold pointer mix wholoves people andis excited aboutexploring the worldaround her. Shewould love to get outof the shelter and intoa home where shecan have many longyears of adventureswith you. Throughoutthe month of Augustall dogs and puppies may be adopted for only $20.All cats and kittens may be adopted for only $10.Adoption fee includes spay/neuter, vaccinations,microchip and more!

Please call (404) 294-2165 or [email protected] additional information.

by Kathy Mitchell

Te Fourth o July or manyrunners means gathering or thepopular Peachtree Road Race indowntown Atlanta. For a smaller butdedicated group Labor Day means

putting on running shoes early inthe morning and dashing throughthe streets o Avondale Estates.

Between 200 and 300 runnersand walkers rom those just beyondthe toddling stage to olks well pasttheir 70th birthdays are expected tobe on handSept. 1 when the 36thedition o this holiday traditiontakes place. Te event, which startsat Willis Park, is or racers o allages and athletic levels, according toAvondale Estates website.

Te race started simply as acommunity event, but severalyears ago became a undraiser to

benefit research or AmyotrophicLateral Sclerosis Association,according to Karen Holmes, whohas been one o the race organizersor 15 years. Amyotrophic lateral

sclerosis, more commonly knownas ALS or Lou Gehrigs Disease, is arapidly progressive, invariably atalneurological disease.

A prominent Avondale Estatesresident died o ALS. Afer that,the city turned the event into anALS benefit, Holmes explained,adding that it continues to be aestive annual event that brings thecommunity together.

She noted that there areactually two races. Teres a one-mile race geared toward childrenand a five-kilometer race or moreserious runners. With each race,trophies are awarded to male andemale first, second and third placewinners in groupings by ageatotal o 14 groups. In addition tothat breakdown, there are maleand emale winners or the overalland master categories. Te two

overall winners are the first maleand emale to cross the finish line.Te two master winners are the firstmale and emale over age 40 to crossthe finish line, according to race

organizers. As with the Peachtree,finishers receive a -shirt designedor each years event.

Racers pay a ee$10 to $12 orthe one-mile and $20 to $25 or theull 5K, with early registrants payingthe lower ee.

Tats where some o the moneycomes rom, but we depend on ourcommunity sponsors or most o it,said Holmes noted, noting that thisyear more than 20 local businessessigned on as sponsors and a numbero local residents donated as riendso the race.

Last year we were able to give$5,900 to ALS research, she said.

First Baptist Church o AvondaleEstates comes through each yearnot only as a financial sponsor,but a supporter o the race with

volunteers and tables o ruit andbeverages to nourish the runners.

Te Bishop restaurant, whichopened in downtown AvondaleEstates earlier this year, is providingree brunch or winning runners inall categories.

New or this year, the 5K willuse chip timing or more accuraterace results. In races with hundredso participants, the first runners tocross the finish line may have hadthe advantage o being in ront oother runners at the starting line.Chip timingusing a chip attachedto the runnermeasures the actualtime it takes or the runner to reachthe finish line rom the starting line.

Although late summer weathercan be unpredictable, the eventgoes on rain or shine, accordingto Holmes. Pictures rom the 2013race, or example, show youngstersrolicking in rain as they wait to startthe one-mile event. Te weatherhas affected the race some years, buttheres never been a cancellation,she said.

Te event starts early and endsearly, leaving participants lots o

time or holiday cookouts andpicnics. Onsite registration beginsat 7:30 a.m. and the one-mile race isunder way at 8:30 a.m. Te 5K racebegins at 9 a.m.

Volunteers from First Baptist Church of Avondale Estates wait with fruit, sportsdrinks and water for the runners.

Hundreds of runners wait to start the 5K race.

8/11/2019 FreePress 08-28-14

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DeKalb family faces ALS togetherby Lauren [email protected]

Alittle more than a year ago, Ernestand Synetha Gilchrist got news thatany parent would dread to hear.

Teir son, Darius Gilchrist,had just been diagnosed withamyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALSor Lou Gehrigs disease.

I knew exactly what it was, Synetha, whoworks as a physical therapist, said. My childdidnt know what [the doctor] was saying. Whenhe got the inormation, he was pretty brave, but

mysel had to try to keep it together. One thinghey have is counselors on the spot. I just broke

down and cried.ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that

progresses quickly, with weakness and prooundoss o muscle tone that eventually affects

breathing and swallowing. According to theALS Association, more than 5,600 new cases oALS are diagnosed every year. Te average ALS

patient will survive two to five years afer initialdiagnosis.

In Darius case, the diagnosis came afer ayear o medical interventions trying to pinpointhe cause o his puzzling weakness. An athletic

child, the most serious medical issue he hadaced to that point was asthma.

It was a bittersweet moment that we finallygot a diagnosis, Synetha said. He had bilateralelbow surgeries, a spinal tap, brain imaging; hewent through this or a whole year. It was goodo have a diagnosis, but it was not good to havehis particular one.

ALS is one o the more commonneurodegenerative diseases but remainselatively unknown because it affects a small

population. Ernest said he had not made theconnection between ALS and Lou Gehrigsdisease until Darius was diagnosed.

Darius is a talented musician and a hugeports an, cheering on Atlantas Braves and

Falcons every season. Ernest said that, at first,Darius had a hard time finding motivation tocontinue school. ALS usually advances rapidly,but, one year into his diagnosis, Ernest saidDarius has come out more determined than ever.

He did end up graduating, cum laudeat Georgia State University with a degree inexercise science. He works in an occupationalherapy assistant program ull-time, has a part-ime job at Lietime Fitness three days a week

and interns at radio station 680 AM two days perweek.

Hes determined to live lie to the ullest,Ernest said. He has parents that are basicallyaying what his medical team says: you have to

keep going. Were not going to know the day thatyou lose the ability to use your hands, or walk, sokeep living now. We are hopeul or a cure.

Te ALS Association is also hopeul or acure. According to its website, a ormer BostonCollege baseball player, Pete Frates, started theIce Bucket Challenge, where participants are

challenged to film themselves dumping a bucketo ice water over their heads and donate $10 tohe ALS Association. I the person challenged

does not douse themselves in water, they areasked to donate $100.

Frates has lived with ALS since 2012, a year

beore Darius got his diagnosis. Te challengepread quickly over social media, increasingdonations to ALS-related charities by morehan 3000 percent. As o August 25, donationso the ALS Association reached $79.7 million,

compared to $2.5 million received in the sametime period last year.

I am glad to see that people are hearing theword about ALS because its a disease that I dontthink people know about, Synetha said. We aredefinitely looking or a cure, and you cant dothat without money. And even though people arehaving un with it, giving the oundation moneywill give us hope.

Te ALS Association provides researchgrants to scientists and pharmaceuticalcompanies to better treat ALS. According to theGilchrists, there is only one drug on the marketto treat ALS, and it can only slow the diseasesprogression, not stop it. Since the disease is veryrare, it may not be profitable or companies toresearch it without grants. Te association also

provides services such as mobility equipmentand caretakers or ALS patients as the diseaseprogresses.

In a tearul video posted to his Facebookpage, Darius shows how ALS has affected him:

he is kept up by twitching extremities thatprevent him sleeping.

I just want to thank all the people that havehelped already and all o the people that aregoing to, Darius said in the video. And justknow that the people that you are doing this orreally care and are really thankul or what youall are doing or this population o people whohave been orgotten about. I just want to say,personally, thank you.

Te Gilchrists are a very spiritual amily.Synetha said that she, Ernest, Darius and hissister amara requently cry and pray together.But they have aith that there will be progressmade in Darius lietime.

We were talking about this morning, themiracle o giving, Ernest said. Sometimes its

not Jesus raising Lazarus rom the dead. Its notthe parting o the Red Sea. Its something unique,such as the ice bucket challenge, that really getsto that part o people, tugs at their heart and theyare led to give.

The Gilchrist family, from left to right Synetha, Darius, Tamara and Ernest, at last years Georgia Walk to DefeatALS in Atlanta. Darius led a team of walkers, Young and Moving Forward, that donate to the ALS Associationsfght against the disease. Photo provided

ALS is one of the morecommon neurodegenerative

diseases but remains

relatively unknown because it

affects a small population.

8/11/2019 FreePress 08-28-14

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WEEKPICTURESIn

Searching for Our Sons and Daughters:

For a programming guide, visit www.yourdekalb.com/dctvNow showing on DCTV!

Finding DeKalb Countys MissingStories of our missing residents offer profound

insights and hope for a positive reunion.

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

Photos brought to you by DCTV

Canadian geese scour the grass for a meal near a water sewer facility. Photo byAndrew Cauthen

nterim CEO Lee May and wife Robin May take the ALS ice bucket challenge. Photo provided A county worker takes a morning break from working on a roadproject. Photo by Andrew Cauthen

Assistant Principal Tarristine Simmons gets ice water poured on her head as part ofhe ice bucket challenge. One of the teachers at the school, Winona Maloud, sponsors

an annual ALS walk and helped raise $700 from the school to go towards ALSresearch in honor of her mother, who died from ALS. Photo by Lauren Ramsdell

8/11/2019 FreePress 08-28-14

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by Andrew [email protected]

When it comes to DeKalbs cityhood trend,unincorporated Druid Hills has a choiceto make: ask to be annexed into the city

o Atlanta or maintain the status quo.A third option is to become a township, but

hat would require a change in the states constitu-ion.

It all began nearly two years ago when cityhoodwas irst discussed at a Druid Hills Civic Associa-ion (DHCA) meeting, according to DHCA presi-

dent JustinCritz.All these discussions really started when we got

he irst air o Lakeside two to two and a hal yearsago, he said. We kind o saw it coming whenBrookhaven ormed. [We saw] the general trend omunicipalization to the north o us.

When we heard about Lakeside and realizedhat this is reaching down and touching our

borders, basically, we got to really thinking, Critzaid.

At the time the residents identiied three op-ions: incorporate into Lakeside or Briarcli, be

annexed into Atlanta or stay in unincorporatedDeKalb, Critz said.

In August 2013 a town hall meeting was heldn Druid Hills about municipalization. At the timehere were three proposed cities with overlapping

borders: Briarcli, Lakeside and ucker. All threeproposals stalled in committees in the GeneralAssembly; they were told to compromise their bor-ders.

When the legislature didnt do anything every-body let their breath out, Critz said about DruidHills residents. But the sigh was shortlived as talksbetween proponents o Lakeside and Briarcli be-gan, excluding the Druid Hills community.

Its my understanding with Emory [University]opting out o any new city, or at least expressinga desire not to be included in one, that any mapincluding Druid Hills] that was drawn would not

quite work, Critz said.

hats eectively narrowed our options to two:remain in unincorporated [DeKalb] or talk to At-lanta about annexation, he said.

he Druid Hills Civic Association is currentlynot taking a deinite position on what option weshould take, Critz said.

One reason some residents would like to bein the city o Atlanta could be the uniication o

Druid Hills within a single jurisdiction, Critz said.A portion o Druid Hills is already in the city oAtlanta.

It would be nice to be united under a single ju-risdiction, and it would clear up a lot o conusionthat some o our residents eel about whom to callor various things, Critz said. Do you call DeKalbPolice or city o Atlanta Police?

And then theres the variabilities betweenthe Atlanta Urban Design Commission and theDeKalb Historic Preservation Commission, Critzsaid. hose cause a lot o conusion or people.

heres also the general problems with DeKalbCounty government. Its disheartening, Critzsaid. Contrast that with a perception that Atlantagovernment has cleaned up its act.

Even i Druid Hills annexed into Atlanta, Critzadded, it would remain in DeKalb County andwould still have to deal with DeKalb County gov-ernmental issues.

here are a signiicant number o people in the

neighborhood who are not happy with the way thehistoric preservation ordinance has been enorced,and applied.

On the other side o the incorporation ence arethose who want to remain outside o a city.

Generally what Ive heard rom my unincor-porated neighbors is that they are pretty happywith the service delivery, particularly sanitation,Critz said. People are pretty satisied with DeKalbCountys level o taxation compared with the cityo Atlanta.

Critz said a next step in the municipalizationconversation is conducting a survey or vote togauge the tenor o the neighborhood.

CommissionerJeffRader, whose district in-cludes Druid Hills, said the communitys work ineducating residents and gathering a consensus isa valid process or being able to better inorm the

various legislative decisions that will have to bemade in order to enable any course o action.

Being able to speak authoritatively to the pub-lic preerences isimportant, Rader said. o beable to document your expectations and assump-

tions [makes a]...more compelling case with theGeneral Assembly, Rader said.

Rader said county leaders would hope that weare providing good services to the area and we arerepresenting the constituency satisactorily.

We know that one o the reasons that DruidHills is eeling like they need to address this is [be-cause] annexation or incorporation is being thrustupon them, Rader said. hey eel as though theyneed to do something; they cant just ignore theprocess because either theyre going to be incor-porated into a new city or theyre not going to beincorporated and will bein a balkanized out-o-service delivery [area] within DeKalb Countyor theyre araid the attractive tax base will beannexed by other municipalities that will make

service delivery even less economically easible.It is my responsibility to do what the pub-lic wants to do within that context, and I standready to respond to whatever they want to do,Rader said.

Druid Hills community has municipal decision

Crime decreased in DeKalb during the summerby Carla [email protected]

DeKalb County Police increasedts directed patrol and say it has ledo a decrease in crime during theummer.

he change in patrolling was apart o the departments SummerCrime Initiative. he initiative wasdeveloped to ocus on three speciiccrime types; residential burglaries,pedestrian robberies and enteringautos. Historically the departmenthas experienced a spike in theseareas during the summer months.nterim DeKalb County Police Chieames Conroy said oicers ocused

on areas that had high numbers inhose crimes.

Our basic philosophy is anntelligence-led policing, Conroyaid. Every day we review the crime

rends and patterns and then adjustour plans based on the days activi-ies. During the day time is promi-

nently day time burglaries, so wearget those areas that have a high

number o day time burglaries.An analysis o the results ollow-

ing the three-month period begin-ning in May indicated a continueddownward trend in the numbers ocrimes committed in the targetedcategories. Residential burglaries aredown 17 percent, pedestrian rob-beries are down 10 percent and thenumber o entering autos reported

is down 9 percent.he reduction in crime statisticsproves that the investments we aremaking in police and ire personnelpay dividends. Beore the end o the

year, we will have 160 more swornoicers and 100 more patrol cars onthe street, as public saety remainsa top priority, said interim DeKalbCounty CEO Lee May.

Conroy said the departmenthired 123 oicers so ar this year,which is an increase compared tolast year.

Oicer visibility, just the ability

to respond to calls and do proac-tive patrols is extremely important,Conroy said. hats the bread andbutter o what we do.

he department credits a num-

ber o strategies to achieving thisreduction. hose strategies include24-hour specialized operations, bikepatrols, increased directed patrolsand curew ordinance enorcement.he curew ordinance says minorsunder 17 must be o the streets

rom midnight to 5 a.m.hese numbers are certainly

promising and continue to trend ina positive direction especially withour limited resources; however;we will not relent on our ocus toidentiy and reduce criminal activitywithin this community, said CedricAlexander, deputy chie operatingoicer o public saety.

A review o departmental crimenumbers indicates year to date, anoverall seven percent reduction in

violent crime and an overall 17 per-cent reduction in property crimes.Residential burglaries are also down

18 percent, pedestrian robberieshave reduced by 19 percent and thenumber o reported entering autoshas decreased by more than 20 per-cent year to date compared to 2013.

Photo by Andrew Cauthen

Photo by Travis Hudgons

8/11/2019 FreePress 08-28-14

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Watershed Continued From Page 1A

Boyer Continued From Page 1A

At the beginning o 2015 when all the team members willbe in place, we will have a better fix on the budget, how muchmoney [will be] each year., Brown said. We will see what weneed to play catch up on [or] projects we didnt make our dead-line on.

Te county has hired CH2M Hill to be its management firmor projects in the consent decree the county entered with theederal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or excessivesewage spills.

Tey are looking at all o the areas that are mandated by thecourts that we have to do to fix all o these spills, leaks and sew-age problems, Brown said.

A CIP program management firm will manage the variousengineering firms and consultants needed or the CIP.

In the past, the county was trying to put these jobs out, dothe inspections, handle it, manage it, and all the risk was on us,Brown said. Were taking all o the risk out o the county andgiving it to consultants. Te consultants will write the contractsout, put it out or bid, select the low bid, award the jobs, dothe kick-off meeting, do the management and do the progressmeetings.

A request or proposal will be advertised in September and

the firm selected by January, Brown said.

Wendell Brown, DeKalbs watershed capital improvement project construction manager, demonstrates aconsole in the North Shallowford Road pump station.

The North Shallowford Road pump station serves parts of Dunwoody. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

A pipe replacement project on Allgood Road is expected to becompleted in two weeks.

accuse Boyer o conspiring betweenSeptember 2009 and November2011 to deraud DeKalb Countyby authorizing 35 payments or alsenvoices or consulting services that

were never perormed.In total, DeKalb County paid

more than $78,000 to an unidenti-fied financial advisor, according tohe charges. Te advisor then un-

neled approximately 75 percent ohe moneyinto Boyers personal

bank account.Boyer used the moneyto pay

personal expenses, including pur-chases at hotels and high-end de-partment stores, the charges state.

Te charges also allege thatbetween October 2010 and February2014 Boyer used her county-issuedpurchasing card (P-card) to makemore than 50 personal purchases,ncluding airline tickets and hotelooms or her amily.

Tese personal charges totalmore than $15,000.

Afer allegations about misuse

o her P-card suraced, Boyer in aMarch 25 statement said, Over thepast several years I have on occasionpurchased airare and related travelexpenses using my County P-card

which is a debit card. Over thatsame period I reimbursed over 90percent o these charges. Tere wasno expense to the county taxpayers.

She also said that a reporterbrought to my attention that I hadnot reimbursed some o these ex-penses or 2012 and 2013. Tat wasan oversight or which I accept re-sponsibility and or that I apologize.

Boyer added that sheimmediately reimbursed theexpenses rom that two-year timerame.

Boyer subsequently suspendedher use o the card and said she wasunaware that she was in violation oany county policy.

In an Aug. 25 letter to Gov.Nathan Deal, Boyer resignedeffective 5 p.m. that day, saying,I want to express my hearteltgratitude or the opportunity to haveserved in this capacity or the last 22years.

Te letter made no mention othe investigations against her.

Interim DeKalb County CEOLee May said Boyers resignationwill allow DeKalb to moveorward.

Weve gone through a lot over

the last year and a hal, and we needto begin to move orward, Maysaid. I believe the decision thatshe made allows DeKalb County tomove in the right direction, to healand to begin to make progressivesteps orward.

Every commissioner has tomake their own decision abouttheir uture and uture o DeKalbCounty, May said. Elaine Boyerhas madea tough decision or her,probably embarrassing as well, but Ithink it was the right decision.

May said her seat will be vacantuntil a special election is held toreplace her. Te special election hasbeen set or Nov. 4. qualiying orthe seat begins Sept. 8. Boyers termexpires in 2016.

Boyer and her aide BobLundsten are also acing ethicscomplaints which alleged misuseo their county P-card or personalpurchases.

At the Aug. 26 board ocommissioners meeting, Stone

Mountain residentJoe Arringtonaddressed commissioners torecognize and give appreciation orthe 22 years o service by Boyer.

You dont get reelected six times

i you arent doing something right,he said. I also want to commendher or stepping orward to do whatshe thought was the right thing todo. I interpret that as being a majorstep in the reorm thats overdue inDeKalb County.

In public comments during theirAug. 26 regular meeting, DeKalbCounty commissioners also recalledBoyers service.

Regardless o the other thingsthat are coming to light, it is impor-tant that we recognize that commit-ment that she had or the countyand the work that she did and thepositive part o her service here,said Commissioner Sharon BarnesSutton.

I dont eel that it is my place tocriticize her during this time Tepowers that be are taking care o thatpart, she added.

Commissioner KathieGannonsaid, I appreciate that Commis-sioner Boyer stepped up and steppeddown. It was the right thing to do,

and I think theres probably moreproblems to come and we have totry to continue to maintain keepingour ocus on whats best or DeKalbCounty.

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Residents express opinions to state BOE repsby Lauren [email protected]

C

ommon Core curriculum standardswere the main topic o discussion atan Aug. 20 town hall meeting o thestate sixth congressional district. Te

meeting, held at Dunwoody High School washosted by state board o education member BarbHampton and time kept by state department oeducation associate superintendent or policy andcharters Louis Erste.

Currently, the board is in the listeningstage o its review o the Common Core GeorgiaPerormance Standards, Hampton said in anemail. Each state board member is holding apublic hearing in their congressional district sothat people in every part o Georgia have theopportunity to speak. We have also conductedextensive surveys o educators. Any action wetake will be based on the eedback provided byparents, educators, and other stakeholders.

An inormal tally counted slightly morespeakers in avor o Common Core than against.Educators and parents spoke on both sides o theissue.

Common Core ull name Common CoreState Standards Initiative is a set o curriculumstandards, but not curricula, outlining what eachgrade should learn and master by the end othe school year. Te standards were sponsoredand written by representatives o the NationalGovernors Association in 2009. By 2012, thestandards were available or states to implement.oday, 43 states, including Georgia, havevoluntarily adopted the standards as part o theirstate education standards.

Residents rom all over the sixth district,which includes parts o Cobb and Fultoncounties, as well as northern DeKalb, turned out

or the one-hour listening session.While other issues were raised at the listeningsession, including the impact o Common Coreon special education and issues relating to theDeKalb County School Board, Common Corewas in the ore.

Steve Dolinger, president o GeorgiaPartnership or Excellence in Education, said hisgroup approved o the standards in Georgia ornow.

Our message would be to stay the course,he said. Stay the course not only in terms othe standards but also with the other goodeducation reorms we have finally put in placein Georgia. Why is Georgia underperormingstates with similar demographics? Part o thatreason is that [other states] are putting our, fivepieces [o reorm] in place and then crankingstudent improvement or a number o years. Wefinally now have in place high standards, a clear

curriculum; we have accountability system withthe new College and Career Ready PerormanceIndex, a statewide system and strong leadership

development program. Its not those individualpieces, its the connectivity and how they all cometogether.

Georgia adopted the standards in 2012. Testandards leave states ree to pick curriculumindependently,

NormLahey, a Dunwoody resident who hadsix children go through DeKalb County schools,spoke against the standards.

I am an employer so I will speak as anemployer, he said. I oppose Common Core. Itsanother ederal bribe to dumb down the schoolsystem. Children are sovereign. Tey dontbelong to us. Tey dont belong to the state. Weare here to shepherd their education. Te goalo that is to give them the basic skills that theyneeds so that they can discover and find what itis that they love to do. Successul people do whatthey love.

Lahey said he preers classical background

and efficient math. Te Common Corestandards emphasize nonfiction reading andanalysis alongside literature, and puts emphasis

on critical thinking and problem solving skills inscience and math, not only on memorization orormulas.

Some people are against the standardsbecause in 2009 the ederal government linkedan increased chance or Race to the op undsor states implementing new standards. TeCommon Core was avored by awardingadditional points in each states Race to the opapplication or early adoption o the core.

I would add that keeping the standards asthey are, or abandoning the standards entirely,are not the only options, Hampton said. TeBoard is also open to tweaking the standards andmaking changes in areas pointed out by thoseproviding eedback.

Hampton said residents can provide thateedback by attending a listening session in theirarea or contacting the state board o educationrepresentative rom their area.

I oppose Common Core. Itsanother federal bribe to dumb

down the school system. Norm Lahey, Dunwoody resident

District six state board of education representative Barb Hampton and state department of education associatesuperintendent for policy and charters Louis Erste hosted a listening session for members of the states sixthcongressional district. Photo by Lauren Ramsdell

The Tucker-Northlake CID now includes more than 166 commercial property owners,representing approximately $157 million in property value. Photo by Carla Parker

Michelle Westono Bank o North Georgia, Louis Browno rustAssociates and Barry Schrenko aggarts Driving School.

Currently, there are 18 Community Improvement Districts inmetropolitan Atlanta, including Dunwoody and Stone Mountain. CIDsare public-private partnerships that allow commercial districts to sel-und major inrastructure, security, transportation, and quality-o-liemprovements through a special tax paid only by the non-residential,

commercial property owners within the district.Tese unds are urther leverage or multi-million dollar state and

ederal grants applied to massive re-engineering projects. Funds raised byCIDs remain in the districts and use o those unds are determined by theCID board o directors elected rom the consenting commercial propertyowners. Representatives o the cities and counties where CIDs are ormedalso sit on CID boards.

Tucker CID Continued From Page 9A

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THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 PAGE 17ABUSINESS

The Voice of Business in DeKalb CountyDeKalb Chamber of Commerce

404.378.8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org

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

DeKalb Chamber presents ApexAwards to small businesses

by Kathy Mitchell

We have more than 15,000businesses in DeKalb County thathave 50 or ewer employees. Wewant to work with the chamber toupport them and help them grow,aid DeKalb County interim CEO

Lee May, in remarks at the DeKalbChamber o Commerces 2014 ApexAwards Program. Were doingubstantive things to make DeKalb

County competitive as a place to dobusiness. Were putting our moneywhere our mouth is.

Te Apex Awards were createdby the chamber to recognize andncourage small businesses inhe county. At the presentationuncheon, held Aug. 20 at the Talia

Carlos Hellenic Center, the chambergave eight awards in seven categories.

Te keynote speaker, MarkWilson, who is now president andCEO o Atlanta-based eVerifile Inc.,old o his personal journey as anntrepreneur. I worked at Dunn

and Bradstreet or 15 years and athe time I wasnt sure whether I

wanted to own my own business.Fate intervened when Wilsonscompany decided to outsource hisdepartments unction. He was toldhat i he wanted to start his own

company Dunn and Bradstreetwould offer him a small contract.

I was working out o mybasement at first, he recalled, notinghat rom there he built a company

that when he sold it was worth morethan $200 million. So i youreworking out o your basement rightnow, take heart.

By the way, he said, I youare the owner o a small business,you should never be too busy togo to events like this. Tis is where

you meet people. Tis is where younetwork and build relationships, andrelationships are the key to buildingbusinesses.

Wilson said business ownersmake an important difference intheir communities For every job youcreate, the impact is tremendousnot just on the economy, but also oneducation, housing and more otherareas than you can imagine.

Te Emerging Business o theYear Award went to addas FitnessCenter. LaTasha Tadda Lewis isa registered nurse whostarted herDecatur-based fitness business aferseeingmany patients whose healthcould be improved with liestylechanges. Like the other awardrecipients, she was recognized notonly or developing a successulbusiness but or making positivecontributions to the community.

Angela Grahamaccepted theaward in the $1 million - $5 millionannual revenues category. Herconstruction company, Graham &Associates, ocuses on inrastructureconstruction, energy efficiency andrenewable energy projects. Tepresenter, Commissioner Kathie

Gannon, noted that the awardrecognizes not only the expedientialgrowth o her company, butalso level o company-sponsoredvolunteerism.

Stone Mountain-based PierreConstruction Group, headed byFounder and President David

Pierre Westcott, was cited inthe $5 million - $10 millionannual revenues category or itscommitment to service, saety andopen communication. Te companybuilds metal roos, canopies, awningsand other building eatures.

Te award winner in the $10million - $20 million annualrevenues category was 93-year-old Citizens rust Bank. Startedat a time when Black businessowners and individuals rarelywere granted loans by mainstreambanks, Citizens rust sought tobuild communities with such loans.Te financial institution was citedor its continuing commitmentto economically empoweringthe people and communities itserves. Te award was accepted byPresident and CEO Cynthia Day.

Arnie Silverman, owner oSilverman Construction Program,was presented the Small BusinessAdvocacy Award or the help he andhis company have extended in thecommunity, particularly in helpingnonprofit companies structure theirfinances.

Te Youth Entrepreneur

Award went to Donte Watkinsor his Second Chanceutoring. Combining hispassions or math, tutoring andentrepreneurship, Watkins set out tofind a solution to the achievementgap affecting millions o Americanstudents who initially ailed to meet

their academic goals.Te Community WorkorceAward, which recognizes companiesthat provide employment orunemployed and underemployedworkers with a goal o placingthem in positions that pay abovethe minimum wage, was given totwo companies, Inland Seaoodand MARA. Established in 1977,Inland Seaood supplies seaoodshipped directly rom coastal areato approximately 3, 500 restaurantsand 900 retail establishments.MARA has provided bus andrail transportation in Fulton andDeKalb counties since 1972.

In their closing remarks, EarlWalker, president and CEO oImage 360, and edCummings,president and CEO o Onyx MSGroupchair and vice chair,respectively, o the chambers smallbusiness committeesurprisedthe audience with an award notlisted on the program. It went to thechamber staff. We know how hardthey work to support the chambermembers, Walker said. We call onthem all the time, and they alwayscome through.

Construction company owner AngelaGraham accepts the Apex Award in the $1million - $5 million annual revenues category.

merging Business of the Year Awardwent to LaTasha Tadda Lewis, owner of

addas Fitness Center.

Jerry Stains, second from left, and Robert Pidgeon, second from right,accept a Community Workforce Award on behalf of Inland Seafood.

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THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 PAGE 18AEDUCATION

McNair HS may become career academyby Lauren [email protected]

A proposal or convertingMcNair High School into a collegeand career charter academy waspresented to parents Aug. 21 in the

schools auditorium.Weve got one o the finest

structures in DeKalb County; werein it right now, said DeKalb CountySchool District superintendentMichael Turmond. But abouthal o it goes unused. And so whatwere trying to do is add someopportunities here that will not onlyserve the young people that are inthis attendance pattern, but it willgive students rom across DeKalbthe chance to come and enroll here.

Many school systems in Georgiaalready have college and careeracademies. Trough partnerships

with local technical colleges, theacademies offer technical educationalongside traditional schoolsubjects. DeKalb already has one,but its a part o City Schools oDecaturs Decatur High School.DeKalb County School District doesnot have a career academy.

I you want to be an autotechnician and make more moneythan you would teaching, thats justas well, Turmond said. Whatwe want to recognize is we havestudents and parents who seemultiple ways to be successul.

Te proposed charter officialssaid they are pursuing a charter

system in order to qualiy or a $3million grant will be open tostudents already zoned to attendMcNair High School. Additionalstudents would have to apply and, i

necessary, participate in a lottery orenrollment. But first priority goesto local students. eachers currentlyemployed at the school also will beable to stay at the campus.

Officials say that even i thegrant is denied, they have plans

to move orward with the careeracademy anyway.

Te school also will be a part o

the DeKalb County School System,meaning there will be no additionalcost to attend outside o existingproperty taxes. Turmond said thatan estimated 80 percent o DeKalbgraduates do not go on to a our-year college and instead need careerinstruction beore high school ends.

New instruction pathways atMcNair will fit into the 17 GeorgiaCareer Clusters, which includes

areas like agriculture, ood andnatural resources; education andteaching; hospitality and tourism;and manuacturing. Some o theinstruction pathways may be

aviation flight operations, fire andemergency services, health supportproessionals and robotics.

Delmas Watkins, director ocareer technology instructionalprograms or DeKalb Countyschools, said that McNair will offer

only those tracks not currentlyoffered at other DeKalb County highschools, like DeKalb Early College

Academy, so as not to compete orstudents.

Te curriculum still will becollege prep, but the theme will becareer readiness or those studentswishing to go straight into a career.Industry certifications, collegecredit and project- and work-basedlearning all will be a part o thecareer academy.

Tere are going to be some

students that can accelerate andthey can graduate with associatesdegrees, and theres going to besome students that graduate with

just their high school diploma,

Watkins said. Tats fine too.Te academy also proposes

an extended-year calendar withlengthened school days to maximizeinstruction time. Tere will also bean increased introduction to SEM(science, engineering, technology

and math) in the elementaryand middle school years. One oMcNairs eeder elementary schools,

Ronald E. McNair DiscoveryLearning Academy, already has aSEM theme.

Its a college AND careeracademy, Turmond said,emphasizing the programs unity.Were already trying to get asmany kids as possible to collegeand technical school. So we areocusing on the AND and gettingas many people as possible. Tere

are students that are perectlyhappy with the education they arereceiving here, and they will not beprohibited rom receiving that.

Were already trying to get

as many kids as possible to

college and technical school. DeKalb County School District superintendent Michael Thurmond

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THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014 PAGE 19AEDUCATION

Science teacher finalist for national awardby Lauren [email protected]

Sixth-grade earth scienceteacher Susan Oltmanound

out she was a state inalistor a national teaching award

ater a summer spent preparing orschool and learning about sustain-able ishing at the coast.

Oltman is a Georgia inalist orhe Presidential Awards or Excel-ence in Mathematics and Science

eaching (PAEMS). She and twoother teachers rom Georgia werenominated and submitted an appli-cation to the state department o ed-ucation. hey were selected as stateinalists and will move on to the na-ional level. Oltman was nominated

by a colleague at, Kittredge Magnet

School.here is a lengthy application:

a video recording o a lesson up to45 minutes, you make notes o yourinstructional and assessment strate-gies, what makes you stand out andhow you meet all those dierent

objectives, Oltman said. You alsoneed ormal letters o recommenda-tion, one rom your principal andtwo more rom proessionals in thescience ield, ormer students par-ents, and things like that.

Sixth grade in Georgia meansexploring all o the ologies in thenatural world. Oltman teaches geol-ogy, oceanography, astronomy andmeteorology, though she said she isascinated by oceanography.

I am a certiied SCUBA diver,she said. I have done a lot o extraproessional development and a loto teaching development. he ocean

is 71 percent o our planet and itslargely unexplored, which I indvery exciting.

Kittredge is a magnet elemen-tary or gited students grades ourthrough six, meaning Oltmans class-es are the senior classes on campus.

hese children have all met

a certain high bar to even qualiyor the lottery so we go beyondand do a lot o enrichment here,Oltman said. A lot o the thingsthat are in the textbook at the sixth-grade level are things they havealready mastered. So, we are ableto do extension activities. We area quarter o a mile rom Murphy-Candler Park where we can dowater quality testing. We havethe time to do that because ourchildren have mastered the watercycle already.

he PAEMS award alternatesevery other yearin odd years

it is awarded to math or sc ienceteachers in grades 7-12, while ineven years its awarded to teachers

in grades K-6.hough Oltman wont know i

shes won or several months, shewill attend a banquet or all stateinalists sometime in May 2015. She

said she received oicial recognitionon Aug. 14 and will receive a plaqueo recognition.

But, i she is selected as one othe national winnersthere is usu-ally one per stateshell be eligibleto win $10,000.

hat would be wonderul to re-ceive, she said, but hasnt had timeto think o how she might use theprize.

Over the summer it kind o gotpushed to the back o my mind,she said. I just yesterday receivedthe ormal certiicate in the mail. Ieel like Kittredge is the jewel o the

DeKalb County School System andthe prize would bring some well-deserved recognition.

Kittredge Middle School science teacher Susan Oltman (center) is a nalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. She leads her students inexperience-based

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