FreePress 11-27-15

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C HA MP IO NN EW SPA PE R C HA MP IO NN EW S CHAMPIONNEWSPAPER CHAMPIONNEWS

thechampionnewspaper.com F REE P RESS FRIDAY, novembeR 27, 2015 • voL. 18, no. 34 • 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.

Food bank gives food tofamilies for Thanksgiving

County leaders discussdysfunction with pastors

See Food Bank on Page 13A

by Carla [email protected]

This year has been diffi-cult for Martha Shropshire and her family.

The single mother, whoives in Stone Mountain, lost

her mother in March. Beforeher mother died, she movedto South Carolina to carefor her. That is when hersituation took a turn for theworse.

“Everything was fineuntil my mom got sick, and

I had to go see about her,”Shropshire said. “I ended uposing everything. I ended

up losing my Section 8. I’mon disability and I’m payinga whole month’s rent that Icannot afford. It takes all ofmy check, but I have to dowhat I have to do to keep aroof over my babies’ heads. Ihave to go to different placesbecause they don’t give mevery many food stamps. So Ihave to go to different placesto get food.”

One of those places is

by Andrew [email protected]

“Bury the hatchet” was amessage a group of DeKalbCounty pastors gave theBoard of Commissioners andinterim CEO during a Nov.23 meeting.

Approximately a dozen

ministers with interim coun-ty CEO Lee May and Com-missioners Nancy Jester,Larry Johnson, Jeff Rader,Sharon Barnes Sutton andStan Watson to discuss vari-ous issues in the county.

“All of y’all are injuredby one another, so every timeyou sit down…and whensomebody starts talking, allkinds of stuff starts mov-ing inside and automaticallywe’ve got a war going onbefore we get the facts on thetable because ‘you called the

media on me,’ ‘you did thisto me,’ ‘you stabbed me inthe back,’ ‘I heard about themeeting you had about this,’”Bishop Eddie Long , pastorof Lithonia’s New Birth Mis-sionary Baptist Church, toldcounty leaders.

“You don’t’ trust oneanother with good reason,”Long said. “There should bea meeting where we have apeace treaty.”

Rev. Steven N. DialSr., pastor of Rainbow ParkBaptist Church, where the

meeting was held, said, “Thepurpose of the meeting isto have the commissionerscome and have a discussionwith us on all different top-ics that we’ve been hearingabout.

“We thought it would bebest to hear it straight fromyou all—you all’s perspective

on the things that are goingon in our county,” he said.“It’s a very friendly, laid-backinformational meeting.”

The meeting turned loudand heated at times, and atone point Dial had to raisehis voice to calm the countyleaders down. The meetingended with the pastors andcommissioners joining handsin prayer.

Various topics were dis-cussed during the two-hourmeeting including the faileddeal with the Atlanta United

professional soccer team tobring its headquarters toDeKalb; interpersonal rela-tions among commissionersand the interim CEO; southDeKalb versus north DeKalb;and alleged government cor-ruption.

May said, “People willsay over the last decadeDeKalb County has gonedown. That’s a lie. What yousee now is really an ongoingeffect of decades—I wouldsay it goes back to Manuel Maloof ,” a former CEO of

Volunteers place canned good items on the shelves of a food bank.

Stone Mountain Cooperative Ecumenical Ministry provides various fooditems including canned goods, meats and vegetables.

Martha Shropshire places food items for Thanksgiving in her trunk. See Leaders on Page 13A

DeKalb County commissioners join hands during a prayer for DeKalbCounty’s government. Photo by Andrew Cauthen

LocAL, 2A LocAL, 8A spoRts, 18A

Business .................................14A

Education................................17A

Sports ................................18-19A

Opinion ......................................5A claifed .............................. 16A

QuIck FInDeRcenteR to ADDResscAnceR AmongbLAcks

mILLeR gRoveSWEEPSSTEPHENSON

countY DAtAbAseson DIspLAY DuRIng

AnnuAL event

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The Champion FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, November 27, 2015 LOCAL Page 2A

County databaseson display duringannual eventby Andrew [email protected]

It was all about data—andthe people who manipulatet—when DeKalb County

held its annual GeographicInformation Systems (GIS)Day on Nov. 18.

“Basically GIS is a data-base that links descriptivenformation—what things areike—with geographic infor-

mation—where things are,”said Stacy Grear, director of

the county’s GIS department.GIS Day is a time to“demonstrate real-world ap-plications [about] how GISs used on a daily basis…in] the delivery of all public

services—fire, public safety,911, planning, communitydevelopment, economic de-velopment,” Grear said. “Webasically support every de-partment within the county.”

DeKalb’s GIS awarenessevent was part of an annualnternational event during

which information is dissemi-nated about the field of geo-

graphic information systemsand the contributions theymake in the fields of science,technology, information, andthe humanities.

Representatives fromcounty departments and citygovernments that use GIS da-tabases had tables in MaloofAuditorium during the event.

Grear said one of theGIS department’s tasks is tomaintain land records for thecounty’s estimated 235 landparcels.

“Those parcels have to

be assessed and taxed,” Grearsaid. “We have to accuratelydepict each one of those par-cels in terms of maintainingand…subdividing. When anew subdivision comes in ithas to be displayed so the taxassessor can put an accurateassessment on it.”

Additionally, the GISdepartment maintains acounty database of more than400,000 addresses. One of theuses of this database is for the911 system.

Accurate GIS records are“critical to response times interms of public safety, 911,police, fire [and] EMS,” Grearsaid.

During a fuel or chemicalspill from a tanker, for exam-

ple, the GIS department “caninstantaneously do a five-mileradius [search]…and tell youall the affected properties…and get some type of notifica-tion out to them,” Grear said.“In the past you wouldn’t havebeen able to do that.”

The 25-year-old GIS de-partment maintains informa-tion on county-owned surplusproperties, easements, roadmanagement and land swaps.Recently, it played a crucialrole in the sanitation service

delivery change in which thecounty switched to one-day-a-week collection for all sani-tation services.

“It’s an asset to be ableto instantaneously know theeffect of a decision you’vemade,” Grear said about thebenefits of the GIS depart-ment. “The beauty of GIS is itallows you to show those ana-lytics, which is very impor-tant in terms of governance,in terms of service delivery, interms of public engagement[and] in terms of constituentengagement.”

County spokesman BurkeBrennan said DeKalb’s GISdepartment “is a fully inte-grated repository of data on aparcel level. With a couple ofclicks of the button you canbreak it down by planningand land use, or we can breakit down by some other appli-cation like infrastructure.”

The department is “veryadvanced in terms of technol-ogy,” he said. “The same stuffthat you see on MapQuestand Google Maps—the sameinfrastructure that drills

down that type of data thatyou need instantly—they’regetting it from our GIS de-partment and others of thissame caliber of technology.”

Grear said the county’sGIS department is “groundzero” for companies such asGoogle and MapQuest.

“They have to get thatdata from us because we’reground zero for it,” Grearsaid. “When a new subdivi-sion comes in, Google doesn’tknow when that subdivisioncomes.

“When you go on your

phone and you want to[know] how to get from pointA to point B, that’s GIS,” headded. County and city departments that benet from geographical information systems (GIS) were on display Nov.

18 during DeKalb’s annual GIS Day. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

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by Ashley Oglesby [email protected]

Georgia-certified familyviolence programs providedhelter for more than 4,500

adults and 4,700 childrenwith 234,834 shelter nightsn 2006, according to Geor-

gia Department of HumanResources.

Great Expressions DentalCenters (GEDC) officialsaid that number is ris-ng and more women and

children seeking refuge inGeorgia domestic violencehelters with just the clothes

on their backs.

To provide aid to victimsn crisis, the organizationaunched its second annual

Dental Deputies program,a community-based initia-ive to collect dental hygienetems to donate to victims in

metro Atlanta shelters.GEDC partnered with

preschools and daycareshroughout Decatur to gath-

er donations.On Nov. 16 through Nov.

22 students at the PhoenixSchool collected more than60 toothbrushes, toothpastes

and floss. GEDC matched eachtem collected to increase the

amount of supplies donatedo families in need.

The Phoenix SchoolExecutive Director BobbieDent said the students werehappy to give back.

“We’re a neighborhoodchool and we try to par-icipate with the community

at all times anyway we can.The community is wonderfulo us, we love to give back,”

Dent added.Upon picking up the do-

nation, GEDC officials pro-vided free dental care educa-ion for each participatingchool.

“Great Expressions Den-tal Centers of Decatur wasdelighted to work with ThePhoenix School to help area victims of domestic vio-lence,” said Dr. Ulpa Patel.“These students put in tre-mendous effort, collectingitems for those in need. It’sour pleasure to match thoseitems while also teaching thestudents about the impor-tance of oral health.”

More than 48 other pre-schools and daycare centerstook part in the drive.

Donations will be deliv-

ered to shelters in more than20 communities throughoutthe area, such as YWCA ofNorthwest Georgia, Partner-ship Against Domestic Vio-lence, International Women’sHouse Inc. and WomenMoving On Inc. in Decatur.

CEO of Great Expres-sions Dental Centers Rich-ard Beckman said, “The ef-fects of domestic violence aredevastating, often uprooting victims from the lives theyonce knew. Great Expres-sions and its partners com-munity are working to provide relief to these victimsthrough access to essentialtoiletries, collecting critical

dental supplies for those tak-ing refuge while also makingsure our shelters have thesupplies needed to keep car-ing for those who are suffer-ing.”

Local students supportdomestic violence program

HappyThanksgiving

thechampionnewspaper.com

#ItsInThechampion

Preschools learn about dental hygiene from Great Expressions DentalCenters staff.

Phoenix School Executive Director Bobbie Dent poses in front of theschool’s main ofce.

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KATHERINE TANNER

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

Stone Mountain considers annexation

Brookhaven mayor calls for outside review of councilman’s employment

Katherine Tanner spent afew hours on Nov. 18 talkingto students and other resi-dents about emergency pre-paredness during a DeKalbCounty event promoting geo-

graphic information systemsawareness.

She talked about the needfor weather radios, signingup for the county’s CodeRedemergency notification sys-tem and having enough food,water and supplies during anemergency.

Tanner volunteers as annstructor with the DeKalb

County Emergency Manage-

ment Agency’s CommunityEmergency Response Team(CERT). She also volunteerswith the DeKalb CountyFire Rescue Reserves and theDeKalb County Amateur Ra-

dio Emergency Services.A retired county tax com-

missioner’s office employeeand former school safety of-ficer, Tanner has been volun-teering with the county since

April 2008.She got started with the

community emergency re-sponse team after receivingan email about the organiza-tion.

“I thought it would be a very interesting program togo into for how to take care ofmyself and my family,” Tan-ner said. “I took the CERTcourse and… the next step

was to volunteer with the firedepartment.”

Working with CERT “isthe best thing we could dobecause we like to give backto the county because our

guys…don’t get the credit,they’re overworked and un-derpaid. And we’re there forthem,” Tanner said.

Tanner said she volun-teers “because it’s fun.”

“I like helping people,”she said. “It’s just a great joyto give back to help someoneelse.”

Tanner said she encour-ages others to join her in vol-

unteering.“It’s just fun to interact

with people and you feel goodabout yourself because you’rehelping somebody else, espe-cially somebody that really

can’t help themselves,” Tannersaid. “We thoroughly enjoyit.”

Tanner and her husbandare volunteers in their church,Connect Point Christian Cen-ter in Snellville, where theywork with media, SundaySchool and the church’s café.

“Anything that needs tobe done, we’re there,” Tannersaid.


After the passing of theTucker cityhood referendum,Stone Mountain has begundiscussions about possible an-nexation.

The Stone Mountain An-

nexation Task Force, whichconsists of city and elected of-icials, met Nov. 18 to discusshe possibility of annexation.

Mayor Patricia Wheeler saidhe purpose of the meeting

was to decide what areas toook at annexing should they

decide to present an annexa-ion plan during the 2017 leg-slative session.

“We’re here to determinef we really want to go for an-

nexation, to see what we want

and then how we want to goforward with it,” Wheelersaid. “Do we think it’s feasibleto look at it, and what do wewant to do? I’m here to dowhat the council wants to do.”

The areas being consid-ered include six industrialparks along E. Ponce de Leon

Avenue, and properties alongMemorial Drive to NorthHairston Road and to Rock-bridge Road. The city will alsoconsider the Walmart on thecorner of Memorial Drive andNorth Hairston Road. Thecity will look to see if theseareas could be annexed with-out raising taxes.

City Manager Gary Peetsaid he has previously re-searched some of these prop-erties for possible annexation.

One of those area includedSmoke Rise, which is now apart of the city of Tucker.

“I did some research intosome smaller areas,” Peet said.“As soon as you cut out SmokeRise, everything is lower in-come, lower real estate valueareas. It just does not work at

all.” “We realistically don’tneed to spend so muchmoney and time if it’s not fea-sible,” Councilman RichardMailman said. “If it’s feasibleto do, then let’s get a map ofwhat we really want. Let’smake sure that we have all thepeople in those areas take thetime to have conversations,make sure they want to comein, give that area to Gary andsay—without having to raise

…taxes.”Councilman Steve Wells

said the city should considerthe property values beyond2015.

“We obviously have tolook 100 years down the roadand say what are these prop-erty values are going to look

like,” Wells said. “If Green-haven comes in, they’re goingto take everything, and thenwe’re truly stuck.”

The proposed city ofGreenhaven’s map includes allunincorporated areas in southDeKalb, including the areassurrounding Stone Mountain.Although the Greenhavencityhood bill did not pass thelast legislative session, it is stillunder consideration.

However, Wheeler said

she has heard from severallegislators that they do notwant to work on any cityhoodor annexation bills during theupcoming session because ofthe 2016 election.

“A lot of them are up forre-election, they all want outof there [by the March prima-

ry election] so they’re goingto push back on doing a lot ofstuff, and annexation is onething they don’t want to do,”Wheeler said. “I’ve alreadyheard that from too many ofthem. If we pushed and reallywanted to [present an annexa-tion proposal], they wouldprobably look at it.”

Peet will do research onthe areas discussed before thecity moves forward with anyplans.


Brookhaven elected officials arequestioning whether a city council-man made an ethics violation foraccepting a job with Brookhaven In-novation Academy (BIA).

Brookhaven Mayor RebeccaChase Williams said in a Nov. 16press release that no ethical complainthas been filed; however, she and thecouncil requested legal opinion con-

cerning the ethics of CouncilmanBates Mattison accepting a full timeob with academy.

“The mayor and council wouldike to clarify and have a better under-

standing of any legal, ethical or charterproblems, violations or conflicts of in-terest for Mr. Mattison to serve as botha Brookhaven city councilman anddirector of the BIA,” Williams said.“That is why I am calling for an inde-pendent inquiry into the questions.”

Mattison has led the charge forthe creation of the academy. In 2013,the city allocated funds in the bud-get for an education initiative, whichincluded submitting a petition to theDeKalb County and the state for an

independent charter school. However,the petition was denied.

The city council voted again thisyear to fund an education initiativeand to submit another petition for the

charter school, which was approved.On Oct. 16, the BIA Board of Di-

rectors voted to have Mattison serve asexecutive director through “openingof school or Sept. 30, 2016.” At its Nov.19 meeting, the board voted to removecommissions from current Mattison’scontract at his request and setup anexecutive compensation committee.

Williams said she “asked for guid-ance on any votes Mr. Mattison makesthat might prove to be a conflict orethical problem given his contract to

earn a portion of funds he raises forthe BIA.”

She also asked that the “same pro-cedure be used that is called for in thecity’s ethics ordinance: the city clerk

randomly chooses an attorney she hascompiled from a list of four attorneyschosen for their independence, in-tegrity and ability to render a fair andimpartial decision.”

“I ask that this review be made asexpeditiously as possible so the coun-cil can move forward with its manypressing issues without a distractionor hint of controversy,” Williams said.“We also believe Councilman Mat-tison deserves a fair and impartialanswer as quickly as possible. I am

anxious to clear up any questions, aswe must hold ourselves to the highestof standards.”

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th chamio FRee pRess, FRIDAY, novmbr 27, 2015 OPINION pag 4A

When can the police search your cell phone?

John Hewitt

[email protected]

Chief Operating Officer

As the old saying goes,“you win some and you loseome.” Atlanta United’s de-

cision to not locate its cor-porate offices and practicefields in DeKalb on county-owned land is not a loss,however.

When the announcementwas first made that land ad-acent to the DeKalb Countyail would be the new cor-

porate headquarters for mil-ionaire Arthur Blank ’s pro-

fessional soccer team, countyofficials admitted that theiroffer to Blank was madehastily and details were keptprivate due to concerns that

the deal would go to anothermetro Atlanta county andDeKalb would miss a greatopportunity.

Blank and company havenow announced that themuch-touted soccer com-plex will be located in CobbCounty. The official explana-tion is that the cost of landremediation would too great.This strikes me as an oddreason for Atlanta United toabruptly change its mind—especially since DeKalbCounty had already agreedto absorb the costs of prepar-ing the land for the complex.

Arthur Blank is not arookie in successful businessoperations. As the cofounderof The Home Depot, ownerof the Atlanta Falcons, chair-

man of The Arthur BlankFamily Foundation and fartoo many other accolades tomention, Blank has a provenrecord of sound business de-cisions.

Could the ongoingclimate of legal and ethi-cal concerns surroundingDeKalb officials be morethan Blank cares to be as-sociated with? According toreports, the deal struck withCobb County isn’t nearly asmuch of a sweetheart deal asthe DeKalb offer. There hadto have been considerationsother than the cost of landremediation that came into

play for a sudden change of venue that will ultimatelycost Atlanta United muchmore than locating the com-plex in DeKalb.

Whatever the real rea-sons for this sudden reversalof plans are, it’s not a loss forDeKalb County.

The Memorial Drive cor-ridor does, without question,need economic stimulusand development; perhapsa comprehensive land useassessment coupled withtaxpayer input would yieldsuggestions that would ulti-mately be more beneficial forall involved.

Soccer complex deal is not a loss

by Blair Chintella

I recently took a breakfrom my regular news sourc-es (as I sometimes do) andhere is what I learned fromwatching about 30 minutesof the “mainstream” news.First, “terrorists” are goingto destroy our way of life inthe near future. Second, bothDemocrats and Republicanswill say almost anything toget elected. Third, someone’sfunny cat video on YouTubewent viral. And lastly, WolfBlitzer’s beard hasn’t grownsince the last time I tuned in.

Now don’t get me wrong,these stories deserve someattention–well, maybe notBlitzer’s beard–but I’d like totake a break from the normal24/7 news cycle to share withyou (on a serious note) a re-

cent issue that’s been impor-tant to me both personallyand professionally.

I was pleasantly sur-prised recently when I readthe Supreme Court’s recentdecision of Riley v. Califor-nia, which held that it isunconstitutional to searcha person’s cell phone simplybecause he or she is beingarrested (also known as a“search incident to arrest)”.In my opinion, Riley is im-mensely important because itcould determine the consti-

tutionality of searches involv-ing new electronic devices inthe foreseeable future.

In Riley , the namesakedefendant was pulled overfor an expired tag. The po-

lice arrested Riley and thensearched his cell phone with-out a warrant nearly 90 min-utes later. The governmentargued at trial that a warrantwas not required because thesearch was done “incident toarrest,” to prevent evidencefrom being destroyed. Previ-

ously, the Supreme Court hasupheld such searches for thisreason, correctly in my opin-ion, for this reason and alsoto protect officers or preventan escape.

Fortunately, the SupremeCourt disagreed with thegovernment and, in a verywell-written opinion, out-lined how it will likely inter-pret constitutional rights inthe context of new technolo-gies in the future. The gistof the court’s reasoning isthe commonsense recogni-tion that “smartphones” are

no longer merely used tomake phone calls. They canbe a camera, a video/audiorecorder, a diary or a picturealbum. Moreover, they’re

frequently used to makepurchases, browse the Inter-net, view a bank statementor email friends or family. Ithink that Riley recognizesthe basic notion that invad-ing of all of these personalaspects of a person’s life isunacceptable based solelyon the fact that he or she isbeing arrested–at least get awarrant first.

I spoke about Riley at thisyear’s DragonCon event, andI’ve talked with many peopleabout this and similar issuesin years past. I’d like to sharea few observations based onmy experience that I thinkRiley highlights. The first is

the basic idea that everybody,whether they admit it or not,has some an inner sense ofliberty, justice and privacy.Additionally, I believe that itis much easier to browbeat orsuppress these traits in peo-ple than it is to foster them.

We need to be more care-

ful in the future that as wecontinue innovating newertechnologies we don’t alien-ate ourselves in the process.“Civil liberties” is not acatchphrase or a partisan is-sue. They are something thatuniversally increases people’senjoyment of life, and oursoldiers fight wars for thisbelief. And I would point

out, as a practical matter, fos-tering these uniquely humantraits helps induce personaldevelopment, maturity and amore cohesive and produc-tive society. Riley implicitlyrecognized these truths andI hope that we’ll see morecases like it in the future.

Blair Chintella is an at-torney residing in DeKalbCounty. He has a general practice including civil liti- gation, criminal law, andconstitutional challenges tosearches and seizures. He canbe reached at (404) 931-2090or [email protected].

GUEST EDITORIAL

Chintella

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

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STATEMENT FROM THE

PUBLISHERWe sincerely appreciate thediscussion surrounding this and anyissue of interest to DeKalb County.The Champion was founded in 1991expressly to provide a forum fordiscourse for all community residentson all sides of an issue. We have nodesire to make the news only toreport news and opinions to effect

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

Our friend, Capitalism

Bill Crane

[email protected]

Columnist

ONE MAN’S OPINION

“The inherent vice of cap-talism is the unequal sharingf its blessings. The inherentlessing of socialism is the

qual sharing of its miseries,”British Prime Minister Win-ton Churchill (1874-1965).

That monument to capi-alism, showcased at its bestnd worst, are the looming

kick-off days of the holidayhopping season, Black Fri-

day, Cyber Monday...andlas, increasingly, Thanks-iving Day. But like it or

not, millions will rush likemadmen...and madwomeno the nearest Kohl’s, others

will camp in parking lots at

Walmart and Target, oftenreating friends and neigh-ors like the last remnantsf civilization as they race

down the store aisles as thedoors open on the big saledays. Ahhh....Christmas ishere.

A recent Gallup pollmeasured the general ac-eptance of the once deadlyhrase, “Socialist,” withinhe American political spec-rum. It asked the simple

question of how likely a votermight be in supporting a

ocialist on a presidential

lection ballot. Among 18-0 year olds, the “Yes” an-wer was an astonishing 69ercent. Yes, Socialism, theolitical structure of choice

n China, the former U.S.S.Rnd hometown favorite ofur good friend, Kim Jong Il

Jr. in North Korea.Yet this nation and a

healthy majority of thebenefits we enjoy as a freesociety are strongly tied toa system of free and openmarkets and yes, capitalism. I’m not exactly sure when orhow the axis tilted and thepoles switched places, whenre-distribution of wealth andtaking from the producersto make sure everyone’s pilesare equal, however as hasbeen proven, time and again,Socialism may sound goodin theory, but in practice...itseldom works as planned.

You may remember thispast April, how an enterpris-ing Seattle tech entrepreneur,

Dan Price of Gravity Pay-ments, gave himself a 90 per-cent pay-cut, and gave a hugeraise to all of his employeesto $70,000 per year. Se-attle and the Seatac Airportarea are also the first majorAmerican communities ex-

perimenting with a manda-tory $15 an hour minimumwage within certain indus-tries.

Price’s change doubledthe pay of nearly 30 employ-ees, gave a significant boostto another 40 and severelyreduced the pay of all se-nior managers. This changewas funded by the pay cutsand taking a sizable biteout of the growing enter-prise’s $2 million in annualprofit. Most entrepreneursplow profits back into the en-terprise during early years togrow their businesses.

Besides freaking out hislargest customers who began

to wonder how this start-upenterprise could afford to dothis...other dominoes beganto quickly fall. The seniormanagers of the company,many of whom had workedlong hours and paid theirdues during the humble be-ginnings of the corporation,suddenly saw their highersalaries vanish. Overnightthere were no incentives toperform, log over-time orput in all the ‘extra’ effort toclimb the ladder or continueto build that company. Thefounder’s brother filed a

lawsuit for several million,challenging his brother’s au-thority and asserting Pricewas ruining the long-term value of a company which hehelped his brother build. Se-nior talent of Gravity begandropping like flies, heading

for other companies, ques-tioning Price’s judgment,business sense and puttingtheir own careers and fami-

lies first.Gravity Payments is still

in business , and the juryremains out on whether ornot Price is right... But I willmention that although hedid take a huge pay cut him-self, Price did not relinquishcontrol of the company, giveup his stock or future stockwarrants or surrender whathe had built to the controlof government...all thingswhich would have occurredunder a true Socialist regime.

Consider perhaps the

gifts given by the ultimateposter-boy for this sea-son, Jesus Christ. Whichof Christ’s miracles do youthink provided more benefit,changing water into winefor all of the wedding guestsat Galilee (John 2:1-11) orhelping a struggling fisher-man improve his catch offish (Luke 5:3-10). Me, I’ll gowith that full kettle of fish,for selling, sharing and con-suming.

May you and yours alsohave a turkey on the tableand a full pot at every meal

this holiday season...butremember, you will mostlikely appreciate the feastswhich you help to earn...ver-sus those chosen or placedon your plate by Uncle Samor some other socialist en-terprise. Just like cooking

and serving your own mealseems to taste better andmore satisfying than nukingsomething in the microwave.

Wishing you and yoursall the best this holiday sea-son.

Bill Crane also serves asa political analyst and com-mentator for Channel 2’s Ac-tion News, WSB-AM News/ Talk 750 and now 95.5 FM,as well as a columnist for TheChampion, Champion Free

Press and Georgia Trend.Crane is a DeKalb nativeand business owner, living inScottdale. You can reach him

or comment on a column [email protected].

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AROUNDDeKalbBrookhavenCity to host Christmas event

Brookhaven will host its “Light Up Brookhav-en” event Dec. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at BlackburnPark. The free event will feature a special musicalperformance, visits with Santa, holiday crafts, hotchocolate sale benefitting Montgomery Elemen-tary, refreshments and Christmas tree and dreidelightings. The park is located at 3493 Ashford

Dunwoody Road. For more information, visitwww.brookhavenga.gov.

City facilities serving as Toys for Tots

donation sites

Brookhaven residents can drop off donationsfor Toys for Tots through Dec. 18 at Brookhavenfacilities, including City Hall, the BrookhavenPolice Department, and Lynwood and Briarwoodrecreation centers.

New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off atany of the four facilities between the hours of 8:30a.m. and 5 p.m. Donations also will be acceptedat the city’s Light Up Brookhaven event on Dec. 3,from 6 to 8 p.m. at Blackburn Park, 3493 AshfordDunwoody Road.

Collection sites:

•Brookhaven City Hall, 4362 Peachtree Road•Brookhaven Police Department, 2665 BufordHighway

•Lynwood Recreation Center: 3360 OsborneRoad

•Briarwood Recreation Center: 2235 BriarwoodWay

For more information, call (404) 637-0508.

Visit www.toysfortots.org for additional collec-tion sites.

Community invited to open house

The city of Brookhaven will hold its third andfinal Brookhaven Bike, Ped & Trail Plan openhouse on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. The

study team will discuss the draft recommenda-tions from the planning effort and will be avail-able to answer questions.

The meeting will be held in the Coun-cil Chambers at Brookhaven City Hall, 4362Peachtree Road.

DecaturCredit union donates food to GreenforestSocial Ministry

Peach State Federal Credit Union recentlydonated food to the Greenforest Social Ministry

Food Bank of Decatur. The credit union collectsnonperishable food items throughout the yearand makes quarterly donations to food banks intheir service area.

“Hunger doesn’t just happen during the holi-

days—that’s why we have chosen to collect food

to be donated throughout the year. No one shouldhave to wonder where their next meal is comingfrom and it’s unfortunate that so many peoplein our community do,” said Marshall Boutwell,president/CEO for Peach State.

“Most people wouldn’t believe how difficult itis to keep food on our shelves, so donations likethe one from Peach State help to meet the needsof our community/the people we serve,” saidDeborah Segue, social worker for the Greenfor-est Social Ministry.

The Greenforest Social Ministry is an emer-gency service provider dedicated to the reductionof hunger and the elimination of homelessness inDeKalb County. The church’s outreach ministryand supportive services play an integral role inmeeting emergency food and short-term housing

needs of at-risk individuals and families.

Music photographer to host local exhibit

On Dec. 2 Three Taverns Brewery will kickoff a five day exhibit of music photographer Mi-chael Weintrob and his “Instrumenthead” collec-tion.

Weintrob will be in The Parlour to share hisexperience as a music photographer, his inspira-tion for “Instrumenthead” and talk about hissoon to be released book, “Instrumenthead; TheBook.”

There will be local musicians who have beenphotographed by Weintrob at the exhibit.

There will also be food and music from upand coming group, Royal Johnson, whose musiccrosses genres of funk, folk and soul, countryblues and rock and roll.

Tickets for the tour and tasting are $25, whichincludes a Three Taverns Brewery tour and com-plimentary tastings of Three Taverns’ year-roundbeers.

The event will be held on Dec. 2 from 6-9p.m., Dec. 3 from 5:30-9 p.m., Dec. 4 from 5:30-9p.m., Dec. 5 from 1-5 p.m. and Dec. 6 from 1-5p.m. at 121 New St. Decatur.

To purchase tickets for the event visit freshtix.com.

DoravilleMayor’s tree lighting set for Dec. 4The public is invited to join Doraville Mayor

Donna Pittman, city council members and stafffor the Mayor’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremonyat 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, at Doraville City Hall,3725 Park Avenue.

“As the sparkling lights glow on the great treein front of City Hall, youngsters are invited toparticipate in arts and crafts, including decorat-ing ornaments that will be hung on a smallertree just outside the entrance to City Hall, as wellas ornaments that may be taken home,” an an-nouncement about the event states.

Refreshments and hot cocoa sponsored bylocal businesses will be provided.Sponsors for the event include Buford High-

way Farmers Market, Krispy Kreme, WhiteWindmill Bakery and Xelapan Cafeteria!

Lithonia

City to host tree lighting

Lithonia will host its annual tree lighting andholiday celebration with Santa Dee Dec. 6 from5:30 to 6:30 p.m. There will be refreshments,

Christmas Carols and local vendors. The eventwill be held at Kelly Park, located on the cornerof Main Street and Max Cleland Boulevard Formore information, contact Lithonia City Hall at(770) 482-8136.

Stone Mountain

Ministry to host ‘Breakfast with Santa’

Stone Mountain Cooperative EcumenicalMinistry will host “Breakfast with Santa” Dec. 5 atSt. Timothy United Methodist Church, 8-11 a.m.All proceeds will benefit the Christmas season

for the ministry’s clients. The church is locatedat 5365 Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain. Formore information, call (770) 879-5977.

CountywideCASA collecting donations for holidayseason

The DeKalb County Court Appointed SpecialAdvocates (CASA) Program is collecting dona-tions for the upcoming holiday season. They areasking for donations of unwrapped toys and giftcards that are suitable for children ages 2 to 18.For more information about the CASA program

and this year’s donation collection, call (404) 378-0038.

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Center to address cancer among Blacksby Andrew [email protected]

Approximately two dozen people gatheredNov. 20 for the ceremonial groundbreaking for theAfrican-American Cancer Initiative Health, Well-ness and Education Center.

A partnership between Greater Faith BaptistChurch and various 501(c)(3) organizations, thenitiative has as its goal raising funding to produce

a healthier and cancer-free Black community. Thecenter will provide cancer screening, health edu-cation and holistic resources.

The center is located at 958 South HairstonRoad, Stone Mountain, in a building owned byGreater Faith Baptist Church.

Tony Barrs, a DeKalb resident and self-de-scribed think tank, said he came up with the ideaafter meeting a dump truck driver named MarvinTeague years ago.

“He said, ‘Tony, you’ve got to do somethingabout Blacks and cancer,’” Barrs said. Eventually,Barrs came up with the idea of painting Teague’sdump truck pink and starting a “help dump can-cer” campaign.

“We were going to collect money for aware-

ness and screening,…but before we could launchthe campaign—he had survived multiple myelomacancer for 15 years, and it came back with a ven-geance all of a sudden—he died and that kind ofsucked the air out of the campaign at that time,”Barrs said.

Later, after reading “staggering” researchabout cancer in the Black population, Barrs tookup the cause again.

“I found out that the American Cancer Societyraises about a $1 billion a year, and only gives $28million to African-American cancer research,”Barrs said.

“Most of the research that is done is secondaryfor [Blacks] in a sense,” Barrs said. “If it’s done onCaucasians, they hope it works on us. But, our ge-netic markers call for specific research.

“It’s such a hit and miss science for us becausewe don’t know enough about our own geneticmarkers to make a difference.

“The only way [that’s] going to change is we’regoing to have to do an independent project that’sfree of university and government,” he said. “Wecan bring in our own scientists and researchers.”

Barrs said the goal of the initiative is to setup outreach centers and research centers, and to

provide financial assistance to families with cancerpatients.

The Hairston Road facility will feature class-rooms, a gymnasium and a health and wellnessteam providing information and classes on exer-cise and proper cooking.

“This will be more for the community to getresources and educated,” Barrs said.

Art Terrell, KISS 104.1 radio personality andemcee for the groundbreaking ceremony, said,“This is very important to our community. Everythree minutes, two people in the U.S. die fromcancer. That’s alarming. One in two African-American men and one in three African-Ameri-can women will be diagnosed with cancer.

“My wife is currently going through breastcancer,” Terrell said. “Sometimes it just leaves mespeechless to see my wife going through what she’sgoing through. My mother passed away from pan-creatic cancer. Cancer really has touched my fam-ily in an unheard of way.

“The reason why we’re here this morning is tohelp…the people going through this horrible dis-ease, and hopefully to get a little bit closer to find-ing a cure,” Terrell said.

rom left, vocalist Yasmeen Williams, violinist Lewis Eichelberger and KISS 104 Radio Personality Art Terrell participated in the Nov. 20 groundbreaking ceremony for the African-Ameri-an Cancer Center, the brainchild of Tony Barrs.

Participants ceremonially break ground at the African-American Cancer Center. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

8/20/2019 FreePress 11-27-15

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Community project becomes professional theater

Time to investin yourself.

gpc.edu/apply

It’s not too late to apply for Spring classes.

Soon to be part of the new Georgia State University.

. :

by Kathy Mitchell

“If you had told me 10years ago that I was going toake a community theater

and turn it into a profes-ional theater that competesor awards with the major

downtown theaters I wouldhave said you were crazy,”emarked Robert Egizio,

who did just that with Dun-woody’s Stage Door Players.

The theater was foundedn 1974 as a Dunwoody

Woman’s Club communitymprovement project. It was

housed in several placesaround Dunwoody beforemoving in 1988 into its pres-nt home. The building,

which originally was Dun-

woody Elementary Schooland is now called the NorthDeKalb Cultural Center,also houses the DunwoodyLibrary and the Spruill ArtsCenter.

“I came on part time in2004 when the theater wasun largely by volunteers,”aid Egizio, who is now The

Stage Door Players’ full-timeartistic director. “In 2005 wemade the leap to become aprofessional theater.”

Although Egizio saidhere hasn’t been a timeince his high school years

when he wasn’t involved inheater at some level, he took

a corporate job for a periodduring which he workedpart time in the theater. “Ina corporate downsizing Iook a buyout package thatnabled me to work at whatlove without having to

worry about money. Initially,didn’t take a salary so any

money that came in could gooward hiring other profes-

sionals as well as productioncosts.”

Money, Egizio said, con-tinues to be the Stage DoorPlayers’ biggest challenge.“We’re a nonprofit, but westill have to pay our ownway,” he explained. “We payrent and other expenses herein addition to the actual pro-duction costs such as sala-

ries, props, costumes, royal-ties and the like. I’m pleasedto say that in my years withthe Stage Door Players a playhas never gone in the red—but it’s a challenge everytime.”

Egizio said a nonmusicalproduction costs between$12,000 and $20,000 tobring to the stage. Musicalscost $25,000 and more. Herecalled that a production

in this year’s lineup, The Mystery of Edwin Drood ,cost more than $40,000 toproduce.

“We’re fortunate to havea very supportive commu-nity. We depend not onlyon ticket sales, but also onadvertising and business andindividual sponsors. We’renot yet to the level where we

can attract big grants andcorporate sponsorships,” henoted.

Egizio chooses the proj-ects with help from a fewcolleagues. “Before I committo a play I have a few otherpeople look at it. I mightthink it’s hilarious, but if oth-er people who know theaterdon’t think it will go over Imove on to something else.”

He said he takes commu-

nity tastes into considerationas well. “Most of our seasonticket holders are older, fairlyconservative people. I mightchoose something a bit edgyonce in a while, but nothingover the top. You’re not goingto find any nudity or really vile language here. That’s notwhat our audience wants.One of the plays we did this

year, Rounding Third , whichis about Little League base-ball, was suggested by a sea-son ticket holder.”

Egizio said that choiceof productions also is influ-enced by the physical pos-sibilities. “We don’t have thewing space to make severalmajor scene changes so welook for plays that have oneor two sets. We have incred-ibly inventive set designers—

I keep being amazed at whatthey can do—but if they tellme that a particular playcan’t be done on this stage, Idon’t attempt it.”

Atlanta, Egizio said, has

in recent years become atheater city, rich in talent inall aspects of the theater. “Itused to be that an actor ordirector who was successfulin Atlanta started looking tomove to New York or someother place with a thrivingtheater community. Nowit’s possible to earn a reli-able living acting in Atlanta,particularly now that manymovies and television showsare being made here. Wehave excellent talent to drawfrom when we audition for a

play.”While The Stage DoorPlayers initially drew audi-ences almost entirely fromDunwoody, it has gained areputation throughout themetropolitan Atlanta area,according to Egizio. “WhenI came about 90 percent ofseason ticket holders lived inDunwoody. Now about 60percent live in Dunwoodyand 40 percent live elsewherein the metro area. People arelearning that they can seereally high quality theaterwithout downtown traffic,

high ticket prices and payingfor parking,” he said.

In addition to its full sea-son of professional theater,the Stage Door Players of-fers the Stage Door Canteencabaret series, and StageDoor Jr., a series of Saturdayproductions for children.

For more information onThe Stage Door Players, visitstagedoorplayers.net.

Artistic Director Robert Egizio helped the Stage Door Players make the leap from volunteer-run communitytheater to professional theater.

8/20/2019 FreePress 11-27-15

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Three defendants plead not guilty in gang case

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Three alleged gang mem-bers pleaded not guilty dur-ng a Nov. 23 arraignment.

Joseph Broxton, DanielPena and Christopher Ham-ett are three of the nine peo-

ple mentioned in a 45-countndictment against members

of the HATE Committee, aubgroup of the Gangster

Disciples criminal streetgang. HATE is an acronymor “Helping All To Eat.”

The gang members areuspected of at least five

murders since May.Hamlett’s lawyer also

iled a motion for a bond,which was denied by Judge

Daniel Coursey . Hamlett isharged with malice murder,elony murder, aggravated as-ault, violation of street gangerrorism and prevention

act, and criminal attempt toommit armed robbery.

Broxton is accused ofmalice murder, felony mur-der, aggravated assault, viola-ion of street gang terrorism

and prevention act, andriminal attempt to commit

armed robbery.Pena is charged with

riminal attempt to commitarmed robbery, malice mur-der and violation of streetgang terrorism and preven-ion act.

According to the indict-ment, HATE Committee’seader, Donald Lee Glass,

aka “Smurf,” approved theobbery and eventual killing

of Torey Austin based onhe gang’s need for money.

He also approved the killingof the Bloods gang membersbecause one of their mem-bers was disrespected.

The Gangster Discipleswere also allegedly target-

ng individuals that theyaid were ‘not right’ with theorganization. By ‘not right,’hey had not paid their dues,

according to the indictment.

Three alleged gang members plead not guilty during their arraignments.

8/20/2019 FreePress 11-27-15

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Photo brought t you by DCTV

DeKalb County begins one-day-a-week sanitation collection service July 6, 2015

Residential customers will have same-day garbage, recyclable materials and yard trimmings collection

For more info, call or visit:

(404) 294-2900

www.rollingforwardtoone.com

WEEKPICTURESIn

Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May, with the help of Senior Connections, delivers food to the homes ofelderly residents. Photo provided

Larry “Gator” Rivers, a legendary Harlem Globetrotter, performs during the groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 20 for the African American Cancer center on Hairston Road. Photos by AndrewCauthen

DeKalb County resident Lucy Chandler poses in front of a Christmas treet Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

8/20/2019 FreePress 11-27-15

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Since the terror attacks in

Paris, governors from manytates have announced they

will not accept Syrian refu-gees including Georgia Gov.Nathan Deal.

Deal announced Nov.6 that he will not accept

Syrian refugees in Georgiaand requested that PresidentBarack Obama suspend theesettlement program in the

United States. Following theannouncement Deal directedall state agencies to suspendparticipation in the resettle-ment of Syrian refugees inGeorgia.

In Deal’s request toObama to place a ban on

Syrian refugee resettlementn the United States he wrote:

“As I am sure you areaware, recent reports indicatehat at least one of the suicide

bombers involved in Friday’sragedy made his way to Eu-ope from Syria under claim

of political refugee status.This, I fear, is reflective ofa broader problem with theprocess by which govern-ments screen those from warorn areas who seek refugeetatus.”

International Rescue

Committee (IRC) Execu-ive Director J.D. McCrary aid he is “disappointed byhe governor’s reaction and

his decision to re-victimizehose most vulnerable to the

kind of attacks that occurredn Paris.”

McCrary added, “Geor-gia should remain a hospi-able and welcoming com-

munity for those seeking aafe haven from persecution

and violence.”According to McCrary,

Syrians have been coming to

Georgia for approximatelytwo years.

He said, “The security

fears are unsubstantiated.Refugees are the single mostscrutinized individuals vet-ted to travel to the UnitedStates.” McCrary said, “Ban-ning Syrian refugees will notmake Americans safer it willonly make refugees moredesperate.”

Through the IRC Mc-Crary has worked withfamilies in the Clarkstoncommunity for more than 10years to help with efforts torestore health, safety, educa-tion, economic wellbeing and

power to people devastatedby conflict and disaster.

He added, “Neither the

concerns for security or ca-

pacity are substantiated inany way. Georgia has morethan enough capacity to wel-

come refugees to our state

and the vetting process is themost rigorous and substan-

See Ban on Page 20A

PUBLIC NOTICE TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF ATLANTA

NOTICE OF SALES AND USE TAX SPECIAL ELECTION

MARCH 1, 2016

There is hereby called a City of Atlanta Special Election in conjunction with the

Presidential Preference Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. The

purpose of said Special Election is to present a referendum question to voters to

determine the reimposition or non‐reimposition of a 1% Sales and Use Tax to fund

water and sewer projects and costs.

The ballot shall have printed thereon the question as follows:

"Shall

a

special

1

percent

sales

and

use

tax

be

reimposed

in

the

City

of Atlanta for a period of time not to exceed 16 calendar quarters

and for the raising of not more than‐Seven Hundred Fifty Million

Dollars and Zero Cents ($750,000,000.00) for the purpose of

funding water and sewer projects and costs?"

Voters desiring to vote for the reimposition of such 1% sales and use tax shall do so by

voting "YES;" Voters desiring to vote against the reimposition of such 1% sales and use

tax shall do so by voting "NO."

The election shall be held at all of the precincts within the City of Atlanta, and the polls

shall be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Qualified voters must be registered to vote

by February 1, 2016 to vote in this Special Election.

(This notice is provided pursuant to the authorization of the Atlanta City Council and is

published per the intergovernmental agreement between the City of Atlanta and the

Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections.)

Rhonda

Dauphin

Johnson

Municipal Clerk/Election Superintendent City of Atlanta

Public Notifcation:

Application has been made to the Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) for a new communications structure along

railroad right of way near Mile Post 626.30 Goodwin, Atlanta,

GA 30341. The FCC Form 854 le number is A0983510. The

structure type is a non-lighted monopole with a total height

including antenna of 63 feet to tip. Interested persons may

review the application by going to www.fcc.gov/asr/applications

and entering the Form 854 File Number. Interested per-

sons may raise environmental concerns about the proposed

structure by ling a Request for Environmental Review with

the FCC. The FCC strongly encourages interested parties to

le online any Requests for Environmental Review; instruc-

tions for making such lings can be found at www.fcc.gov/asr/environmentalrequest , or by paper copy to FCC Requests for

Environmental Review, Attn: Ramon Williams, 445 12th Street

SW, Washington, DC 20554.

Clarkston mayor speaks out against Syrian ban

For more than two decades Clarkston has accepted refugees from dozens of countries in Africa, Europe and Asia.

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th chami FRee pRess, FRIDAY, nvmbr 27, 2015 LocAL pag 13A

LEADERS Continued From Page 1A

FOOD BANK Continued From Page 1A

he Stone Mountain CooperativeEcumenical Ministry. The ministry’sfood bank has provided for those inneed for 15 years. The ministry givesfood to its clients every two weeks,and gave food the week prior toThanksgiving, something Shropshireaid she desperately needed for her,

her daughter and three grandchil-dren.

“I need help with Thanksgiv-ng,” Shropshire said. “It’s hard. I’m aingle parent and my bills are over-

whelming, so I won’t be able to buy

Thanksgiving [food] this year.”Angela Callahan, executive di-

rector of Cooperative EcumenicalMinistry, said they service 25 fami-ies on a daily basis, but the numbers

increase during the holidays.“We get about 35 families during

the holidays,” Callahan said.Callahan said their clients come

from everywhere—recommenda-tions from churches and Divisionof Family and Children Services(DFCS).

“When people sign up for foodstamps they have to wait until theirfood stamps, come in, and [DFCS]sends people to us,” she said. “If peo-ple are in an emergency situation—after a fire or a domestic violence

incident—they can be sent here bya case worker and we can help themthen.”

The ministry also has helpedpeople pay utilities bills and rent.

“Right now we are down onfunds so much that we can’t helpwith that anymore,” Callahan said.“Hopefully, in January things willturn around and we start helpingagain with utilities.”

The ministry provides variousfood items including canned goods,meats and vegetables.

“We have a partnership witha community garden here,” Calla-han said. “So far this year the StoneMountain Community Garden hasgiven us 1,000 pounds of fresh food.

So we give [those seeking help] fresh vegetables.”

Callahan said the ministry hasbeen a very important asset to thecommunity.

“I think it helps a great deal,”she said. “We have a lot of seniorsin this community. This communityis growing older, and a third of ourclients are senior citizens on fixedincomes and that’s our biggest demo-graphic in the area. We have somesingle moms too and we have a big veteran community here. So we havea lot of veteran men.”

Shropshire has been coming tothe ministry’s food bank for a whileand she is thankful for it.

“They have been really helpful to

me and I thank God for them,” shesaid. “They’re really good people.”

he county.He said the special investigation by former at-

orney general Mike Bowers was designed to be adeep dive into what’s going on” in the county gov-rnment’s administration.

Bowers’ preliminary report, which stated theounty is “rotten to the core” and called for May’sesignation, “it went down the road of politicalraziness,” May said.

Commissioner Rader said, “Maloof, in hisnfluence over our Organizational Act, our con-titution, embedded a great deal of discretionary

authority in the office of the CEO.”The CEO’s position is “unilaterally powerful

and…not particularly accountable to the Board ofCommissioners and…to the public,” Rader said.This discretionary authority issue…is a chal-enge.”

Dr. Cynthia Hale, pastor of Ray of HopeChristian Church, said, “I’m clear that there isorruption everywhere. And I know that DeKalb

County is not rotten to the core.”Hale asked the commissioners what they are

doing about the obvious problems in the county,for example, the conflict that is constant.”

“That’s more telling to me: the fact that com-missioners and…the interim CEO [are in] a con-tant conflict [and]…that there’s no unity on the

board,” she said. “If a report really did identifyome real issues, I would have no hope that…theounty could turnaround.”

Commissioner Watson said the county has aproblem with a balance of power.

“Sometimes with a balance of power peopleould get twisted. We could be self-centered. Weould even practice some racism,” Watson said.We’re not rotten to the core just because there’s

Black folks in charge of it right now. Do we havehallenges? Yes, we do.”

“There are great things going on in DeKalb—hat’s true—but there are also real problems inDeKalb County that we have to deal with,” Com-missioner Jester said. “If we ignore them…we willontinue to have this…conflict.”

One problem, she said, is the CEO positioncreates a number of strategic and operational

problems for the county.”“I think we need to go to a county manager/

Board of Commissioners setup,” Jester said. “Ihink that would create more unity and more abil-ty to effectively go forward with one vision.”

Commissioner Sutton said, “We don’t haveommon goals.

“You have a group of people in power whowant more power and they’re going to do whateverit takes to get it, including being dishonest,” shesaid. “We have to have more meetings like this so

that we’ll understand the real problems, what’s re-ally going on behind the scenes.”While agreeing that there are problems, Com-

missioner Johnson told the pastors that the countyis still conducting its business. He asked the pas-tors to look at the county’s budget to see the pri-orities of the county government. He cited fundingfor the mobile mental health crisis unit; parks andrecreation department and the free lunches servesto youth during the summer; sanitation servicesimprovements; and the hiring of additional firepersonnel.

May said county leaders have a problem withthe “unity thing.”

“When you have politics and personal at-tacks, it’s hard for people to work together,” hesaid. “When Mike Bowers did the crazy thing that

happened…, six of the seven commissioners, theydidn’t say anything. And I was thankful.

“But one commissioner came out with her signsaying ‘Lee May resign,’” May said. “So it’s difficultfor me to sit down and have a conversation [withCommissioner Jester].

“I don’t expect your first call to be to AdamMurphy with CBS Atlanta to expose somethingthat’s going on that you didn’t even give me an op-portunity to fix,” May said.

“That’s just some of the challenges,” he added.Long told the county leaders that “it seems

like…you have inherited a functional system prob-

lem that needs to be addressed. If the legacy of thisboard is to address that system so it doesn’t keepperpetuating itself, then I think that is a vision anda goal that must be done.

“What I hear you saying is we really can’t besuccessful in saving DeKalb with the system thatwe’re in at this moment,” Long said. “Somebodyhas to stand up and say, ‘This won’t work.’”

Bishop Quincy Lavelle Carswell, of the Con- vent Church, said, “My first inclination for all ofyou was that you do us a favor and resign when wehear and heard all of the reports…and see all thedysfunction.

“How are you dealing with this dysfunction?How are you all going to come together?” Carswellsaid. “Personally, I’m tired of seeing our electedofficials constantly bickering, not getting any-thing done commission meeting after commissionmeeting.”

He suggested that a teambuilding retreat may

be necessary county leaders.May thanked the pastors for organizing the

meeting and asked them schedule similar meet-ings on a quarterly basis.

“What I think you have seen here today is alevel of transparency,” May said. “We’re puttingour cards on the table and we don’t do that be-cause we want you to think we got it all together.And we don’t [have] it all together.

“It’s a tough conversation but if it stops righthere, we’ve all failed,” May said, also asking thepastors to pray for the county’s leadership “collec-tively and individually.”

From left, interim DeKalb County Lee May and Bishop Eddie Long participate in a meeting between county ofcials andlocal pastors about issues in the county. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

8/20/2019 FreePress 11-27-15

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The Champion FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, November 27, 2015 BUSINESS Page 14A

DeKalb Chamber of Commerce • Two Decatur Town Center, 125 Clairemont Ave., Suite, Decatur, GA 30030 • 404.378.8000 • www.dekalbchamber.org

INFLUENTIAL

Federal Reserve official:

Economy on track for ‘normalization’ phaseby Kathy Mitchell

“I believe the national economys on a reasonably solid trajectory,”aid Dennis Lockhart, president and

chief executive officer of the FederalReserve Bank of Atlanta.

Speaking Nov. 19 at a DeKalbChamber of Commerce general busi-ness meeting at the Georgia Aquar-um, Lockhart added, “Certainly,here are some important aspects ofhe economic picture that are weakerhan, say, a year ago. The energy sec-or—both investment and employ-

ment—is a prime example. The ex-ernal sector—computed in the GDPgross domestic product) accounting

as net exports—is another aspect ofhe economy that is weaker than in2014. Domestic manufacturing hasbeen a bit softer as a result.”

Lockhart said national trendsclosely parallel those in the South-east. “What’s going on nationally iswhat you can expect to see in yourcommunities and your businesses.”

Addressing his views on the posi-ion of the economy, the stance ofnterest-rate policy and what is to be

expected in what he called “the nor-malization phase,” Lockhart notedhis observations are his personal

views and may not reflect those ofcolleagues on the Federal Open Mar-

ket Committee (FOMC) or in theFederal Reserve System.

The FOMC, a group within thenational Federal Reserve that meetseight times a year to review econom-ic conditions and determines federalpolicy with regard to such monetarymatters as interest rates and the U.S.money supply, is scheduled to meetin mid-December. “I won’t predictthe outcome,” Lockhart said. “Thereare more data points to evaluate overthe next four weeks. I will be process-ing that information to see whetherthe incoming data change my senseof the health and momentum of theeconomy.

“On balance, the data have beenencouraging and affirm that theeconomy is growing at a moderatepace. Real final domestic demanddata have been quite solid, driven inlarge part by robust consumer spend-ing,” he continued.

Lockhart said the inflation pictureis not clear. “Inflation has been run-ning below the committee’s longer-run target for a while. However, Iexpect the gap to close gradually….Akey point regarding inflation is thatconditions have not been deteriorat-

ing, just hanging below the target….Survey measures of inflation expec-

tations are not signaling imminentbroad disinflation.”At their October meeting, the

committee members decided to leaverates unchanged, a policy decision,Lockhart said he supported “becausenot enough new information hadaccumulated regarding the driversof the August volatility. I’m nowreasonably satisfied the situation hassettled down.

“I’m comfortable with moving offzero soon, conditioned on no markeddeterioration in economic condi-tions. Given my reading of currentconditions and my outlook views, Ibelieve it will soon be appropriate tobegin a new policy phase,” he said.

The next phase, he explained, iswhat is often termed “normalization,”following a “lift-off” phase duringwhich the federal government putstimulus initiatives in place to boosta sagging economy.

“I think the normalization phasemight look somewhat different thanone’s sense of normal based on his-toric episodes of rising rates,” Lock-hart said, adding that three factorsare key in determining the timingof the start of normalization. First,

some committee members may feeleconomic conditions are not yet close

enough to the committee’s objectiveof full employment.“Second, there could be concern

that we have seen little or no evi-dence of inflation moving in the de-sired direction. This has been calledthe ‘whites of their eyes perspective,’”he said referring to a RevolutionaryWar officer’s command not to actuntil the enemy was close enough fortroops to see the whites of their eyes.“In this case, the idea is not to raisethe policy rate until evidence of infla-tion moving higher is in hand.”

The third consideration, he said,concerns risks associated the globalconditions “along with the prospect,for example, of further dollar appre-ciation weighing on domestic activitymore than is currently estimated.”

Lockhart said these are seriousconcerns, but he does not find thempersuasive enough to dissuade himfrom supporting a near-term firstmove to raise rates. “The decision toraise the bedrock policy rate, whenand if it comes, should be seen as af-firming that the economic outlook ispositive.”

Dennis Lockhart, president and chief executive ofcer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, far right, addressed a packed room at the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce’s November meet-ng. Among those he greeted are the chamber staff, upper left.

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DA’s Ofce receives grant to combat gangshrough technology

The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Officeeceived $385,118 to combat local gangs throughechnology. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Depart-

ment of Justice, provides the District Attorney’sOffice with software that interfaces with local lawnforcement organizations as well as federal and

nationwide agencies.“Gang violence and crimes have become an

ver growing problem,” said DA Robert James.The ability to share data, leads and informations a critical step in our office curbing gang-related

rime.”The Technology Innovation for Public SafetyTIPS) grant will help purchase the IBM i2 Analy-is software, which is currently used in other juris-

dictions throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area.This software shares information across jurisdic-ions and enables law enforcement to connect re-ated gang and violent crime activities.

In 2013 and 2014, the DA’s Office handledmore than 30 gang cases charged under the StreetGang Terrorism Prevention Act. Earlier this year,he office announced a 45-count indictment

against memebers of an alleged street gang knownas the Hate Committee. Other identified gangsn the metropolitan Atlanta area includes: Bloods,

Crips, Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings and ViceLords – all with national affiliations.

“The gangs in DeKalb range from local hybridorganizations all the way to highly, sophisticatedriminal enterprises,” James said. “In order to com-

bat this problem, we have to arm ourselves with thenformation and technology to stay one step ahead

of these gangs.”This grant was approved by the DeKalb County

Board of Commissioners on Oct. 1.

Ofcials urge residents to sign up forCodeRed

With possible severe winter weather approach-ing, DeKalb Emergency Management Agency(DEMA) officials are encouraging DeKalb resi-dents and stakeholders to sign up for the county’shigh-speed notification system, CodeRED. Thisemergency notification system has the ability toquickly deliver time-sensitive messages via voice,email and text messages to targeted areas or the

county during emergency situations or disasters.To sign up for CodeRED, residents and busi-nesses should visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov andfollow the link to the CodeRED Community Noti-fication Enrollment page. Those without Internetaccess should call DeKalb Emergency Managementat (770) 270-0413, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.to register via phone. Required information in-cludes first and last names, physical street address,and primary phone number. To receive weatherwarnings, subscribers should select the SevereWeather Warning link.

Businesses are encouraged to register for Co-deRED, as well as al l individuals who have unlistedphone numbers, who have changed their phonenumber or address within the past year, and thosewho use a cellular phone or Internet-based phoneas their primary number.

Annual 5K run/walk to benet individuals with rare disorder

The annual One Love, One Heart 5K Run/Walk for CdLS is scheduled for Dec. 5 at Decatur’sMedlock Park for a morning of family fun andcommunity support.

Event organizers Jim and Jen Pomfret of De-catur have hosted the event since 2005 in honor oftheir daughter, Maya, who has Cornelia de LangeSyndrome (CdLS), a genetic disorder that causesa variety of physical, cognitive and developmentaldisabilities.

“When asked why we started the 5K, it is al-ways a good reminder to reflect on our purpose,”

Jen Pomfret said. “This journey with Maya andCdLS is not always easy and the 5K gives us achance to engage in something positive and pro-ductive that will not only help Maya but all withCornelia de Lange Syndrome. This day is so goodfor the soul and it is such a great day surroundedby community runners and friends and family.”

Refreshments will be available, as well as aplayground. There will be long sleeved T-shirts forall preregistered runners. The T-shirts will be avail-able while supplies last for onsite registrants. Newthis year, gift card awards will be given to the win-ners in various categories.

After Nov. 21, registration is $30. Race day reg-istration begins at 8:45 a.m., and the 5K begins at10 a.m.

Proceeds benefit the CdLS Foundation. For

more information, call Jen or Jim Pomfret at (404)838-8184 or register for the event at www.rungeor-gia.com/cdlsrun.html. To make a donation to thefoundation, call 1 (800)-753-2357 or visit www.cdlsusa.org.

NEWS BRIEFS

by Carla Parker

[email protected]

Lithonia has seen a positive trendn its business district and city offi-

cials hope it continues.Several businesses have opened

this year in Lithonia, including theSkinny Chef Café, Luxor Lounge andBistro and TWO clothing boutique.Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jacksonsaid new businesses in the city are atrend moving in the right direction.

“We’re slated to have two addi-tional restaurants opening probably atthe beginning of the year—a barbecuerestaurant and a Caribbean vegan res-taurant,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the rise in new busi-nesses in the area is a sign that peoplesee the “great potential” that the cityhas.

“We’ve had stable and enthusiasticeadership and good staff,” Jackson

said. “When [business owners] comento city hall to get information [the

staff] has been very helpful. There isreally a spirit of progress that’s in the

city. I think people are feeling that and

want to be a part of it.”The progress being made on rede- veloping the Lithonia Plaza has alsobeen a positive sign for business own-ers, according to Jackson. Asbestoswas removed from the city portion ofthe plaza in preparation for demoli-tion. The city has been working withdevelopers on ideas on what to de- velop in place of the plaza.

One of those ideas a proposed $12million apartment complex. The com-plex would include 75 units consistingof 24 one-bedroom, 45 two-bedroomand six three-bedroom apartments.

“Once we have the plaza torndown that will be a visible sign thatsomething is happening in the city,”Jackson said. “We’re really encourag-ing people that this is a great oppor-tunity to come in on the ground floorbecause it is our intention to help thecity redevelop. We know that it has agood infrastructure in place. We justneed to add a little more refinementto make things happen


Congressman Hank Johnson

announced Nov.17 that studentsin the DeKalb County SchoolDistrict will have the opportunityto participate in a CongressionalApp Challenge, an app devel-opment competition for highschool students.

The nationwide competi-tion is designed to promoteinnovation and engagement inscience, technology, engineeringand math (STEM) among highschool students who will com-pete by creating and exhibiting asoftware application, for mobile,tablet or computer devices on a

platform of their choice.The competition aims toencourage high school studentsto learn how to code by creatingtheir own application.

Johnson said in a statement,“We can’t allow our kids to fallbehind when it comes to beinga part of this new technologicaleconomy. In fact, the time is nowfor us to help our kids get aheadof the curve.”

The Bureau of Labor Statis-tics estimates that there will beone million unfilled jobs for pro-grammers in the United States by

2020.The deadline for students to

submit apps is Jan. 15. Studentscan submit individually or as ateam. If a student or group ofstudents has designed an app inthe last calendar year, the app iseligible for consideration.

All submissions must be ex-plained in a two-three minute video using YouTube or Vimeo.

Once the video is completestudents must submit their con-tent on www.challege.gov.

The winning app in eachparticipating congressional dis-

trict will be featured on the U.S.House of Representatives’ web-site and displayed in a U.S. Capi-tol exhibit.

The school that produces thegreatest number of student sub-missions will also be rewarded.

For additional information,contact app challenge coordi-nator Joshua Smith at (770)987-2291 or [email protected].

Congressman announcesapp challenge

Lithonia businessdistrict growing

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The Champion FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, November 27, 2015 EDUCATION Page 17A

Ivan Harrell II has been appointed asxecutive vice president for academic andtudent affairs at Georgia Piedmont Techni-al College (GPTC).

Harrell’s appointment was on Oct. 21.Previously, he was vice president of studentuccess at Lone Star College in Texas, as wells dean of students at Anne Arundel Com-

munity College in Maryland.GPTC President Jabari Simama said in

Nov. 16 news release, “I am delighted towelcome Harrell to my management team.He has demonstrated strong leadership abil-ty in his previous roles, and I am excitedhat he will be bringing his skills and exper-ise to implement best practices at our col-ege as they relate to academic and studentffairs.”

In his new role, Harrell will be respon-ible for implementing GPTC’s vision andtrategic priorities throughout the college.

Harrell said in a statement, “At some in-titutions, the academic affairs and studentffairs divisions are separate. But at some

point, these two become inextricably linked.

“The house must connect with its foun-dation,” he continued. “I view this job asn opportunity to build on great things that

have already been established, but keepingn mind the importance of being effectivend efficient in providing academic andechnical programs that can have a posi-ive impact on the lives of our students andtakeholders,” Harrell said.

Prior to joining GPTC, Harrell also heldeadership positions at J. Sargeant Reynolds

Community College in Richmond, Va., andt Tallahassee Community College in Tal-ahassee, Fla. He was a lecturer at the Uni-

versity of Houston, where he taught “HigherEducation in the United States” in the M.Ed.higher education program. In addition toholding staff positions in higher education,Harrell has been an associate professor, ad-unct instructor and instructor at variousnstitutions.

Early in his career, he taught scienceourses at Stephenson High School. Harrellompleted his doctor of philosophy degreet Florida State University in Tallahassee,

where he defended his dissertation, titledUsing Student Characteristics to Predicthe Persistence of Community Collegetudents in Online Courses.” He holds a

master’s degree from Vanderbilt Universitynd a bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg

University.“I’m planning to work with faculty and

taff to increase the quality of instruction;ncrease enrollment; and increase the level

of creative engagement with faculty andtaff here at Georgia Piedmont,” Harrellaid.

Technical college appointsnew executive vice president

Learning math and scienceis fun, and students in MarjorieLewkowicz’s math classes want toprove it. For the past three years,the Georgia Perimeter Dunwoodymath professor’s students have volunteered at Austin, Dun-woody and Vanderlyn elementaryschools. Their mission: to createa carnival-like atmosphere tohelp elementary school studentsunderstand math and scienceconcepts.

From the science behindmaking ice cream—and then en- joying its creamy goodness—to

creating and launching paperrockets; to hosting the “Math-emagical Show,” GPC studentsdevise games that keep elementa-ry-age students engaged, Lewko-wicz said.

“We have so much fun—Ireally enjoy the experience,”said GPC student Justin Fred-ericksen. Fredericksen and fel-low student Joe Caggiano havedevised magic card games behindthe “Math-e-magical Show” forthe STEM (science, technology,engineering and math) field trips.“My strong suit was never in

math as a child—I never saw howit could be fun and exciting. NowI enjoy getting kids interestedin math and showing them thatmath can be applied in many dif-ferent areas.”

First launched as math nightat Vanderlyn Elementary in 2012,the program has expanded toinclude other Dunwoody elemen-tary schools. It also has grown to

include science and engineeringgames and projects. “The stu-dents always do a super job, andit’s a good learning experience

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