the DeKalb FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • VOL.

23, NO 6 • FREE

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

MONADNOCK MADNESS
Sixth annual
event continues
to grow
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
For the last six years,
Monadnock Madness has
entertained outdoor and hiking
enthusiasts throughout the month
of March.
The triple hike challenge, which
features a hike of some of Georgia’s
most popular trails, is part of the
“madness” that continues to grow
each year, according to event
organizers.
The annual event features three
local monadnocks—an isolated hill
or ridge or erosion-resistant rock—
including Arabia Mountain, Panola
Mountain and Stone Mountain.
“We wanted to create a program

SEE MONADNOCK ON PAGE 5

Monadnock Madness hikers getting a glimpse of rare diamorpha on the pristine granite outcrop at Panola Mountain.

Ethics complaint filed against commissioners' pay raise

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
While some DeKalb County
residents expressed their
dissatisfaction during the public
comment session of a recent board
of commissioners meeting, others
decided to submit their complaints in
writing.
Residents Ed Williams and
Faye Coffield submitted a formal
complaint to the county’s ethics board
March 6. The complaint, against the
DeKalb Board of Commissioners,
excluding Commissioner Nancy
Jester, alleges the commissioners
violated state law when they voted to
increase their salaries.
According to the complaint,
commissioners violated state law
O.C.G.A. 36-5-24, which states, in
short “Unless otherwise provided by
local law, the governing authority
of each county is authorized to fix
'If that’s the last law passed
by the general assembly,
then anything done after
that is unconstitutional.'
the salary, compensation, expenses,
and expenses in the nature of
compensation of the members of the
governing authority subject to the
following conditions.”
Ed Williams
Williams said a law governing
commissioner’s salary is already on
the books, which supersedes O.C.G.A.
36-5-24.
“Right now they have not
dismissed my complaint. They said
there may be some merit to my
complaint,” Williams said.
According to GA. L. 1197 p
3822 section 2.1, “notwithstanding
any other provisions of law to the
contrary, the chief executive officer of
DeKalb County shall receive an annual
salary of $93,806 and the members of
the Board of County Commissioners
shall receive an annual salary of
$19,443.”
Williams said this is the most
recent law passed by the Georgia
General Assembly, which addresses
county commissioner compensation.
“If that’s the last law passed
SEE PAY RAISE ON PAGE 5

Visit www.championnewspaper.com for local, real DeKalb County news.

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 20188 • Page 2

County accused of violations of consent decree

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

Weeks prior to a top

DeKalb official resigning
from the county’s watershed
management department,
the South River Watershed
Alliance (SRWA) requested
in writing that the
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) investigate
violations of the DeKalb
County Consent Decree.
The decree, which the
county entered into in 2011
with the EPA and Georgia
Environmental Protection
Division, states DeKalb must The South River Watershed Alliance has requested an investigation into whether DeKalb County has violated the consent decree
implement certain sanitary
sewer system programs and “Sometimes I think sewer violations of the consent by June 2020, which is decree standards, whether
improvements. spills are so common in the decree including failure required by the consent the hydraulic model is
In an interview with county that people have to develop a system wide decree. certified and for an update
The Champion, Jacqueline become jaded to it. When hydraulic model, not having The Champion contacted on the progress of the sewer
Echols, president of the you get to that point, we’re in an approved capacity county officials March 6 assessment and rehabilitation
SWRA, said DeKalb County “is trouble unless there’s some assurance program and regarding SWRA’s allegations, program, but did not receive
in trouble,” if the county does push for change. That’s what capacity certifications not asking whether the county’s a reply by press time.
not address the issues listed the South River Watershed signed by a certified engineer. current Dynamic Peak Echols said the EPA needs
in the investigation request. Alliance is doing.” The request also Hydraulic Model, which to enforce the requirements
“Sewer spills affect the The investigation request alleges the county’s sewer helps to determine sewer of the consent decree.
environment. There is a lot from SRWA accuses DeKalb assessment and rehabilitation capacity, meets consent “The lack of enforcement
at stake here,” Echols said. County officials of five program will not be complete
SEE WATERSHED ON PAGE 16
LOCAL
AROUNDDEKALB
CLARKSTON
Active shooting awareness
The Clarkston Police Department will
conduct a free active shooter awareness
class March 28 at the Clarkston Library from
6 to 8 p.m. Police officers will cover how to
survive and how to prepare for an active
shooting. The library is located at 951 North
Indian Creek Drive. For more information,
visit www.clarkstonga.gov.
DUNWOODY
Women’s self-defense class
The city of Dunwoody, Dunwoody Police
Department and UFC Gym will offer a free
self-defense class March 24 at 10 a.m. for
women ages 13 and older. These classes are
held monthly at Georgetown Park at 4400
Dunwoody Park courtesy of the Dunwoody
Parks Department. Before each class, a
Dunwoody Police Officer will speak briefly
about crime stats and basic safety. Each class
is 90 minutes and is limited to 30 people.
Register at https://secure.rec1.com/GA/
dunwoody-ga/catalog.
STONE MOUNTAIN
ART Station’s auction event scheduled
ART Station will host its annual Rising of
the Green event March 17, 6 to10 p.m. The
event will include a silent and live auction
for hundreds of items, a tasting showcase
of foods from local restaurants and caterers
along with a raffle for $500, a live band and
free green beer. ART Station is located at
5384 Manor Drive. For more information, call
(770) 469-1105.
TUCKER
Henderson Park work day announced
Volunteers are needed to help install new
trail markers at Henderson Park in Tucker
March 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. The trail
markers will help park visitors navigate the
park. Volunteers are asked to meet at the
playground by the lake, bring work gloves
and sturdy shoes. The park is located at
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 3
2723 Henderson Road. Use the Livsey Road
entrance. For more information, visit www.
friendsofhendersonpark.org.
COUNTYWIDE
Registration reopens for DeKalb Returning
Citizens Career Readiness Expo
WorkSource DeKalb and Georgia
Piedmont Technical College are partnering
to host the annual Returning Citizens Career
Readiness Expo March 22 from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. at Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s
conference center located in Clarkston.
The expo is geared to equip those who
have recorded arrests or served prison
time with the knowledge and resources to
overcome barriers to employment, education
and economic development.
This event will feature a workshops
including the following topics:
expungements and pardons; The Offender
Parolee Probationer State Training Program
(TOPPSTEP); The Federal Bonding Program;
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC); résumé
writing; dressing for success; interview
skills; networking; overcoming barriers for
youth, female and veteran ex-offenders; and
transition and re-entry resources.
After completing the job-readiness
workshops, candidates will be referred to the
DeKalb County 2018 Job Fair and Records
Restriction Summit to pursue employment
opportunities.
The event is free and open to the public.
Registration is required due to limited
seating.
Returning citizens may register online
at http://conta.cc/2Fv975j; employers and
community agencies may request a booth at
http://conta.cc/2Ic1cvw.
For more information about WorkSource
DeKalb call (404)-687-3400.
Discover DeKalb prepares for 2018
Wedding Expo and Fashion Show
Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors
Bureau announced its 2018 Wedding Expo
and Fashion Show on March 17 at Stone
Ridge Event Center.
The expo, which starts at noon, will offer
attendees the opportunity to interact with
wedding planning professionals including
event venues, photographers, cake designers,
bridal gown and tuxedo vendors, musicians
and caterers.
Also, a fashion show will begin at 3 p.m.
This portion of the event will showcase
wedding gowns and tuxedos.
Stone Ridge Event Center is located at
1750 Stone Ridge Drive Suite A in Stone
Mountain.
For more information on planning a
wedding in DeKalb County visit www.
discoverdekalb.com/wedding.
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and
Cultural Affairs to hold mini camp
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and
Cultural Affairs will hold a spring break mini
camp April 2 through April 6, from 7 a.m. to 6
p.m.
The cost is $10 for a day of activities for
children ages 5-15. Participants must provide
their own breakfasts, lunches and snacks.
To access online registration, visit www.
dekalbcountyga.gov/parks and click the
register online button on the department’s
homepage, or register in person at any of the
locations listed below:
• Browns Mill Recreation Center, 5101 Browns
Mill Road, Lithonia, GA 30038
• Exchange Recreation Center, 2771 Columbia
Drive, Decatur, GA 30034
• Gresham Recreation Center, 3113 Gresham
Road, Atlanta, GA 30316
• Hamilton Recreation Center, 3263 Chapel
Street, Scottdale, GA 30079
• Lucious Sanders Recreation Center, 2484
Bruce Street, Lithonia, GA 30058
• Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340-B
McConnell Drive, Decatur, GA 30033
• Midway Recreation Center, 3181 Midway
Road, Decatur, GA 30032
• N.H. Scott Recreation Center, 2230 Tilson
Road, Decatur, GA 30032
• Tobie Grant Recreation Center, 644 Parkdale
Drive, Scottdale, GA 30079
For more information, contact LaShanda
Davis, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs
public relations specialist, at 404-371-3643 or
lsdavis@dekalbcountyga.gov.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 20188 • Page 4

Watershed management official resigns “The county has been

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Watershed Management
Director Scott Towler
has been at the helm of
the county’s watershed
department for nearly three
years. But as of March 5, he
said he’s had enough.
In a two-page resignation
letter, Towler said his last day
will be March 16 and accused
DeKalb County CEO Michael
Thurmond and watershed
management COO William
Rhinehart of “ongoing
retaliatory actions.”
“Although this has been
going on for some time, the
retaliation and interference
with my ability to do my job as director
has escalated significantly in the
past few weeks,” Towler said. “At this
point, by all accounts, it is undisputed
[among] all of my staff that you are the
person running [DeKalb Watershed
Management.”
Towler said he has been “stripped of
all authority,” and asserts that DeKalb
County officials have prevented him
from performing his duties as director
by changing department policies,
excluding him from department
meetings and providing direction to
staff which is the opposite of Towler’s
in constant contact and
'There is no doubt in my mind collaboration with both the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and the Georgia
that, had I stood by and allowed Environmental Protection
Division throughout the
the unlawful actions by this development of all policies
and protocols and we are
confident that those policies
administration to proceed and all actions taken by
the county related to the
without objection, I would not be consent decree have been
in full compliance with
all applicable laws and
in the position I am today.' standards,” Thurmond said.
Towler said working
for DeKalb County has
- Scott Towler irreparably impacted his
credibility as a professional
and negatively affected his
health and blood pressure.
directives. activities in the operation of the
“I have also not been included in DeKalb County Department of “I will take pride in the
accomplishments that the staff
significant staffing decisions and my Watershed Management,” Thurmond
recommendations are being ignored said. “Mr. Towler is a disgruntled of the Department of Watershed
Management have been able to
regarding hiring and management employee who has made a series
decisions, which has led me to the of slanderous statements about achieve over the past three years,
despite the many unprecedented
conclusion that I have no choice but to county leadership that contradict
leave,” Towler said. verifiable and documented progress in challenges, large and small,” Towler
Thurmond issued a statement addressing long-festering issues with said. “There is no doubt in my mind
that, had I stood by and allowed the
regarding Towler’s resignation, stating the DeKalb Department of Watershed
that his allegations have no merit.   Management.” unlawful actions by this administration
“Mr. Towler’s resignation letter, In Towler’s letter, he accuses DeKalb to proceed without objection, I would
accepted on March 6, contained County of being in violation of the not be in the position I am today.”
baseless allegations of unspecified county’s consent decree. Thurmond
violations of law and unlawful denied the claims.

Atlanta Regional Commission approves $560,000

for Ashford Dunwoody intersection improvements
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
The Atlanta Regional
Commission (ARC) has
voted to award the city
of Brookhaven $560,000
in federal Transportation
Improvement Plan (TIP)
funding toward the Ashford
Dunwoody/ Windsor Parkway
intersection and complete
street improvements to
Ashford Dunwoody Road
between Oglethorpe Drive
and Windsor Parkway.  financial burden on our
According to Brookhaven
officials, this is the first project
from the Ashford Dunwoody
Corridor Study to be placed
in the regional plan and
approved for federal funding.
In 2019, $240,000 will
be used to offset expenses
associated with planning
and engineering intersection
improvements, city officials
said.  This represents 80
percent of the total funding
needed for these phases.
Inclusion in the regional plan
qualifies the project for federal
construction funding once
these steps are complete. In
2021, an additional $320,000
is budgeted for right-of-way
acquisition.
Recommendations
for specific intersection
improvements were in the
Ashford Dunwoody Corridor
Study, which was adopted in
April 2017 after public input.
“Placement of critical
Brookhaven projects into the
TIP allows us to uphold our
transportation improvement
commitments with minimal
taxpayers,” said Brookhaven
Mayor John Ernst.
Ernst said this award
highlights the importance of
working with Brookhaven’s
neighbors, as Chamblee
Mayor Eric Clarkson sits on
the ARC board as a DeKalb
County representative and
supported the award.
This award is in addition to
$2.7 million the ARC awarded
Brookhaven for Phase II of the
Peachtree Creek Greenway,
also incorporated into the TIP.
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 5

PAY RAISE Continued From Page 1

by the general assembly, then anything done after that is
unconstitutional,” Williams said.
According to county officials, as of Jan. 1, DeKalb County
CEO Michael Thurmond currently makes $162,120. The
lowest-paid commissioners are Jester, Mereda Johnson,
Gregory Adams and Steve Bradshaw, making $40,530 each.
The highest-paid commissioners are Larry Johnson and
Kathie Gannon, making $45,183 each.
A legal notice was published in the Feb. 8, 2018 issue of The
Champion Newspaper which states “Notice of intent to increase
the compensation of members of the governing authority of
DeKalb County, Georgia Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 36-5-24,” and ran
for three consecutive weeks prior to a commission meeting
Feb. 27.  
During the Feb. 27 meeting, the resolution was introduced
as a walk-on item. According to the resolution, the fiscal
impact of the pay increases will be $229,660.22.
“I think the commissioners did this because they didn’t
want the public to know,” Williams said. “That’s why it wasn’t on
the agenda initially.”
Gannon said she supports the raise and said the hours
commissioners work support the increase.
“I imagine we’re going to be raked over the coals, but
I’m not going to belabor the salary increase,” Gannon said. “I Monadnock Madness hikers completing the triple hike challenge at Panola Mountain.

MONADNOCK Continued From Page 1

absolutely think it’s justified and if anyone would like to see
what the hours are that I work, I’d invite them to spend a week
with me and I’d be glad to fill up their calendar day and night.
Or you can talk to my husband who I rarely get to see in the
evenings.”
Purvis
Fugitive arrested in
connection with hotel murder
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
The DeKalb County
Sheriff’s Office fugitive unit
made an arrest of a suspect
wanted in a motel shootout
in Stone Mountain that
resulted in the death of one
man.
The sheriff’s office
announced March 9 that
deputies arrested 22-year-
old Jerrell De’Ante Shorter.
Shorter had a warrant for
his arrest that stemmed
from him allegedly firing a
semi-automatic pistol into
the motel room of Ellis
Beauford.
The incident started at
an extended stay motel at
4893 Memorial Drive Feb.
23. According to warrants
Shorter
obtained by The Champion
Newspaper, 22-year-old
Neenahjah Rae-Kwon
Purvis and Maliki Holt
entered the room of Beauford by how many people look
with their guns drawn.
A gun fight ensued,
and Holt was killed in the
incident.
According to the warrant, include mountaintop yoga,
video tape shows Holt and
Purvis entering the location.
Holt died as a result of
gunfire between himself and ranger camp. This is also
Beauford.
Purvis is charged with
felony murder and first-
degree home invasion. He
was arrested Feb. 38.
Shorter was arrested in
Decatur and taken to the
DeKalb County Jail without
incident, according to
deputies.
to get people outside
and start exploring,” said
Mera Cardenas, executive
director of Arabia Mountain
Heritage Area Alliance.
Cardenas said each
year she’s surprised by the
amount of support the
event receives.
During March,
participants can participate
in more than 40 scheduled
activities. One of the most
popular is the triple hike
challenge.
During the challenge,
hikers climb three
Monadnock Madness hikers during the Triple Hike Challenge at Arabia
monadnocks starting at Mountain.
Stone Mountain, then
Arabia Mountain and
concluding at Panola
Mountain with s’mores by a
campfire.  
Stone Mountain parks,” said
Cardenas. “That’s on top of
also enjoyed the other two
monadnocks, Arabia and
“I’ve been surprised by earning a special souvenir Panola mountains, and the
how many people embrace for visiting all three camaraderie with the other
the experience,” Cardenas monadnocks.” hikers.”
said. “And I’m surprised Cardenas said the event Each park also offers
is held in March due to the visitors the “hike when
forward to this program annual appearance of red you like” option to earn
again and again.” diamorphas with white “passport” stamps to
Some of the events blooms.   qualify for a prize. Passports
“My favorite part of are available online at
in this year’s madness
Monadnock Madness was monadnockmadness.
guided hikes, photography getting to experience com and available at
the parts of Panola each monadnock site.
workshops and junior
Mountain available only Participants must get their
the first year the annual on the guided hike. The passport stamped by park
Monadnock Madness will views are refreshing staff at each mountain
feature a photo contest. and breathtaking. The and fill out information to
“This year we have our trees and plants are just qualify for their prize.
very first photo contest, starting to wake up for “This event has become
which gives photography spring and lovely to see. really special,” Cardenas
workshop participants a Panola is pristine and said. “It lets everyone know
such a wonderful treat that winter is breaking, and
shot at winning prizes and
having their work displayed to explore,” said past spring is here.”
at Arabia, Panola and participant Cindy Hays. “I
OPINION
Its happened again! Despite
the shocking headlines, terrifying
images, heart-wrenching
teary-eyed narratives and
countless hours of counseling,
the unimaginable tragedy has
happened again. Once again
a student has opened fire on
his classmates and teachers.
The number of people dead is
unacceptable and the number of
people injured is unbearable. How
could he do it? Why did he do it?
And what can we do to prevent a
recurrence?
The how of the matter
appears to be straightforward.
The student went to school with
a gun and began shooting. This
was an action performed by the
student. Therefore as we review
the incident, we should realize
that the kind of gun used is
irrelevant. The life of even one
Guest Opinion
SCHOOL SHOOTING!
student is too much to lose so
conversations about whether
the gun was a revolver or an
automatic capable of firing one
thousand rounds per minute will
only lead us further away from
the solution. Additionally, we
should understand that the place
from which he got the gun is also
irrelevant. Let’s not be naive; A
person motivated to commit such
an atrocity will search, find and
use the needed weapon. Therefore
we should steer the conversation
towards the real heart of the issue;
the student.
What thoughts are playing in
his mind as he stalks through the
familiar hallways of his school
aiming and shooting to kill? We
need to understand his thought
process in that moment. Secondly,
we must examine how he planned
this heinous crime. What was the
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 6
timeline? Was there a particular
route picked out? An escape plan?
How would he live with himself
afterwards? Third of all, we should
investigate the initial motivation
that has led to so many deaths.
At what point did the idea of
gunning down classmates and
teachers enter into his mind? How
was the inkling of the idea fed and
nurtured? Was it instantaneous
or was it gradual? The mental
framework of the murderer is the
single most important element
of the entire incident. Only after
resolving its role should we
consider the other contributing
factors.
School shootings have been
happening before this nation was
even considered a country. Why
have we allowed this menace
to persist for so long? Have we
accepted them as a natural part
of life? That would be inexcusable;
but are we doing enough to
prevent them? Are metal detectors,
gun laws, police presence, and
locked doors really helping? Or are
they making the problem worse?
Are the horrific images, gruesome
first person accounts and twenty
four hour coverage helping or
glorying the event and giving the
gunman his ‘fifteen minutes of
fame’? There are no easy answers
but one thing is for certain. At
some point, within the mind of
the student, he decided that it
was fine to kill his classmates and
teachers. It is our responsibility to
find the point when this happens
and help the student find a better
alternative. This is how we can
prevent school shootings.
David Amankwah
Resident of Stone Mountain
OPINION
My money is on Sonny
“We’re taking a bold innovative
approach to providing nutritious
food to people who need assistance
feeding themselves and their
families,” Sonny Perdue, secretary,
U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
Perdue, 71, is one of President
Donald Trump’s oldest and last-
confirmed cabinet members. He is
among many other nontraditional
picks, but as our former Georgia
governor buckles down in his new
job, I will go ahead and forecast
that if, or when, this Trump
administration comes to an end,
Perdue will be among the last
men standing, if not the last man.
Though the USDA is primarily
known for building U.S. exports
markets and regulating agri-
business and farming, the
largest portion of its budget is
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program), formerly
known as the Food Stamp
program.  an entrenched black market for
SNAP began modestly in
1933 as part of the Agricultural
Adjustment Act (AAA), and
the program was initially
administered by the Federal
Surplus Relief Corporation.
 The Great Depression
dramatically reduced crop prices
across the country and farmers
were struggling to deal with
their excess supply. The federal
government purchased basic farm
commodities in bulk at discount
prices, distributing the goods
among hunger relief agencies in
state and local communities.  shipping a box of dry goods and
This model, with several
expansions, continued in place
as late as the mid-1980s, with
regular distribution of generically
packaged dry milk, cheese,
canned fruits and vegetables and
other dry goods to economically
challenged communities. And
with the Food Stamps Acts of
1964 and 1977, paper currency
‘stamps’ were made available for
FREEPRESS
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 7
as well as the president’s Perdue, being a man of faith,
‘One Man’s endorsement of same were and also knowing well that this
Opinion’ immediately ridiculed by president does not always seek or
Democrats on Capitol Hill. White take counsel from his own cabinet,
Bill Crane House Budget Director Nick advised the farmers that their best
Mulvaney is projecting that short-term option was to pray.
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
switching benefits in part to the So with Vegas oddsmakers
food box will save the USDA and taking bets on the direction of
purchasing food for qualifying taxpayers as much as $130 billion commodity prices in relation to the
households at or below the over the next decade. This program incoming Trump tariffs, and odds
federal poverty income level. change would impact any SNAP even being laid on who might be
During the most recent household receiving $90.00 or indicted and when in the ongoing
recession, SNAP enrollment more in monthly benefits—nearly Mueller investigation, I will make
mushroomed to more than 80 percent of current recipients. it again clear, though we may have
50 million Americans, and During the past year, Perdue but one Georgian in the middle of
nearly 20 percent of American and the FDA also have increased this administration cabinet, and
households. The resulting U.S. agricultural exports by 9 he regularly relies on prayer and a
budget increases have been percent, following several back-to- higher power to help him choose
staggering, making SNAP an back years of decline. This growth the best path—tell the bookies that
annual investment of nearly $71 includes a 25 percent increase in my money is on Sonny.
billion, comprising by far the vast exported beef and a 16 percent
majority of the USDA’s budget. increase in dairy.
Perdue understands both the Perdue recently met with Bill Crane also serves as a political
budget concerns as well as the a group of Mid-west farmers analyst and commentator for Channel
program drift of SNAP, including concerned about the potential 2’s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk
significant fraud challenges and impact of tariffs and a potential 750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a
trade war, aimed at U.S. agricultural columnist for The Champion, DeKalb
purchasing and reselling benefits exports and commodities. The Free Press and Georgia Trend. Crane
loaded onto recipient EBT cards, farmers sought guidance or is a DeKalb native and business owner,
which replaced physical food assurances from Perdue on how living in Scottdale. You can reach
stamps.  the tariffs might impact their grains him or comment on a column at bill.
Though EBT card usage has and other export commodities. csicrane@gmail.com.
been declining in many states
since the recovery, on average
households are remaining longer
on this temporary assistance
program. Perdue, himself a
farmer and agri-business owner,
also knows that U.S. farmers still
produce excess supplies of many
foodstuffs. 
Perdue recently proposed
U.S. grown farm products to
replace roughly half the amount
of the current EBT cash transfer
benefit. The USDA, back to its
roots, would buy commodities
in bulk at discounted rates, and
arrange for their packaging,
delivery and distribution, as
they did when the program was
founded. 
Perdue’s food box suggestion
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
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Dr. Earl D. Glenn discussion surrounding this and any
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 20188 • Page 8

Water main break affects surrounding communities, businesses

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

After almost two days of uncertainty, things

returned to “normal” as DeKalb County officials
reported the countywide boil water advisory had
been lifted and water being restored county wide.
On March 7, the county issued the advisory
after a water main erupted around Buford
Highway along Interstate 285.
The break affected several DeKalb cities
including Decatur, which is approximately 14
miles from the water main break.
In Decatur, city officials provided residents
with clean, drinkable water while the boil water
advisory was still in effect.
According to a Decatur spokesperson, the city
sourced a 6,000-gallon tanker truck of potable
water. The tanker was parked at the Decatur
Recreation Center on Sycamore Street March 8
and 9.
“Our public works director immediately went
into action and thought of getting a water tanker,”
said Decatur spokesperson Renae Madison.
“Once we got the information from DeKalb
County, we tried to act fast. We sent out our
message through Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor
and other platforms.”
Madison said city officials also contacted
senior living liaisons to help spread the message. A boil water advisory has been cancelled after crews repair a broken water main. Photo provided
“We encouraged the community to reach out
to their neighbors and our lifelong community
coordinator made phone calls,” Madison said. “We
always encourage everyone in the community to
get to know their neighbors.”
DeKalb’s four-legged animals were also in
need during the boil water advisory. Lifeline
Animal Project, which has shelters in Chamblee
and Avondale, posted messages on social media
urging the community to make donations of
bottled water.
Within hours of Lifeline’s plea, donations
of bottled water began to accumulate in the
shelter’s common area.
“As soon as we found out DeKalb and
Avondale weren’t getting water we knew we had
to find an alternative source,” said Lifeline Animal
Project spokesperson Karen Hirsch.  
According to Hirsch, the dogs and cats at the
shelter needed water to drink and water to clean
kennels.
Lifeline houses and serves approximately 350
animals daily at its DeKalb locations.
“We’re so thankful for the community stepping
The city of Decatur provided its residents with a 6,000 gallon portable tanked filled with drinkable water. Photo by Horace
up in a big way because water is such a large part Holloman.
of our operation. Not having any water would
cause a lot of problems,” Hirsch said.
After a series of microbiological tests, the
Georgia Environmental Protection Division
authorized the advisory to be lifted.
“Thanks to the quick response and hard work
of DeKalb County crews, residents and businesses
can now return to using county water without
taking precautions,” said DeKalb County CEO
Michael Thurmond in a statement. “I apologize
for the inconvenience, understand the frustration
and thank our citizens and business owners for
their support and encouragement while we
worked to restore our water system.”
County officials said the newly installed water
main section has been covered by soil.
Remediation contractors are contacting and
working with businesses in the Buford Highway
area that incurred structural and property
damage due to water that escaped from the
broken main. A boil water advisory has been cancelled after crews repair a broken water main. Photo by DeKalb County.
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

Doraville Mayor Donna Pittman speaks to the Oakcliff Elementary BETA Club about leadership and community service March 8. Photo courtesy Dr. Delores Paschall

Students from Barack Obama Elementary take part in the 13th Annual Spring Into Janice Law, center, and the Tucker City Hall staff took home the second place award in the
Reading event hosted by the Delta Sigma Theta sorority at The Gallery at South judges’ choice category at the annual Tucker Chili Cookoff March 10. Photo from Tucker’s
DeKalb March 3. Photo courtesy McNair High School Facebook page

Have you created programming you’d like to air on TV?

Do you have an interest in Public Access TV in DeKalb County?
Submit your show to DeKalb County’s Public Access channel, DeKalb 25.
Drop off DVD or USB copies to the Manuel J. Maloof Center at
1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030, or upload your content via the internet.

(404) 371-2325 DeKalb25@outlook.com DeKalb25.com

LOCAL
LifeLine Animal Project
planning new shelter
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
LifeLine Animal Project,
which oversees the shelter
operations for animal shelters
in Avondale Estates and
Chamblee, will undertake its
first capital campaign to fund
an animal center.
LifeLine officials
announced March 8 plans to
build a community animal
center. The 25,000-square-foot
public facility will feature full-
service, low-cost veterinary
care and an adoption center.
“The center’s clinic will
allow us to ultimately serve
an additional 20,000 animals
annually, while the new
adoption center is expected
to facilitate more than 2,000
adoptions a year,” said LifeLine
Animal Project CEO Rebecca
Guinn. “The establishment of
a community animal center
is the next critical step in
LifeLine’s continued effort
to make Atlanta a no-kill
community.”
The goal of the community
animal center is to keep
more animals from being
surrendered to shelters by
providing affordable wellness
care, according to LifeLine
officials.
LifeLine spokesperson
Karen Hirsch said the
community center will help
service metro-Atlanta and
DeKalb County.
“It’s the first time we’ve
ever built our own building
and we feel like it will address
the amount of animal
surrenders we get,” Hirsch said.
“One of the biggest issues is
affordable vet care.”
Hirsch said the center’s
clinic will offer full service care
at reduced rates to anyone
who needs it, including
heartworm care.
Currently, Lifeline Cares for
approximately 30,000 animals
per year at its clinics and
shelters.
The center’s cat adoption
area will include space for
116 cats and overflow space
for up to 168 cats, including a
bottle-fed kitten nursery and
two pre-adoption bonding
areas.
The dog adoption center
will have space for 60 dogs
and overflow space for up
to 110 dogs, including a
volunteer training area,
restrooms, laundry facilities,
four pre-adoption bonding
areas and food storage.
During a board of
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 20188 • Page 10
commissioners meeting in
November, county officials
approved a resolution to
make DeKalb’s animal shelters
no-kill shelters, which means
the shelters will be committed
to a national standard of
saving 90 percent of the
animals it intakes.
According to LifeLine
officials, since taking over
management of DeKalb
County Animal Services
in 2013, adoptions have
increased by 150 percent.
Hirsch said the new center
will be in the Spaghetti
Junction area. LifeLine has
already received $3.2 million
in pledges toward the new
building but is still taking
donations.
Stone Mountain receives
mixed feedback from
annexation survey
Residents want to vote on issue
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Stone Mountain residents
want the opportunity to vote
on annexation, according
to the Stone Mountain
Annexation Task Force.
Stone Mountain Mayor
Pro Tem Chakira Johnson,
who is the chairwoman
of the task force, gave an
update on the proposed
annexation plan during the
March 6 city council meeting.
In February, the city posted
a questionnaire online to
“determine the desires of the
residents in the proposed
annexation area.”
Johnson said the
overwhelming feedback from
the survey is that residents
want a say on annexation.
“The citizens [want] to
vote on the issue,” Johnson
said. “We got negative and
positive [feedback], but I think
people just want the right to
vote on it.”
In 2016, the task force
recommended a proposed
map that would annex 1.6
square miles into the 1.8
square-mile city. The areas
being considered include
industrial parks along E.
Ponce de Leon Avenue,
properties along Memorial
Drive to North Hairston Road
and to Rockbridge Road and
the Walmart at Memorial
Drive and North Hairston
Road.
The proposed annexation
would bring the city’s
population from an estimated
6,100 residents to more
than 9,200. The annexation
also would increase the
commercial and industrial tax
base from 20 to 36 percent.
Stone Mountain’s
annexation plans would
have been in jeopardy if the
proposed Greenhaven bill
had moved forward in the
recent legislative session.
Greenhaven’s map includes
areas that are in Stone
Mountain’s annexation map.
“With the legislation,
fortunately, the [proposed]
city of Greenhaven bill, so far,
has stalled and looks like it
will not happen, which helps
us,” Johnson said. “But, it also
looks like we will not be able
to get a bill in this year.”
Johnson said feedback
received from the survey
suggested reducing some of
the residential areas from the
map or expanding in other
areas.
“We’ve heard ‘kick me out
of it,’ we’ve heard feedback
from people who want it to
go all the way down to Redan
[Road] or further down Stone
Mountain-Lithonia [Road],”
Johnson said. “Some want us
to go all the way to 285. So,
there is some merit to looking
at the map again and I think
everybody involved wants to
make sure that any plan that
we put forward is responsible
for both the city and the
citizens, [and] that we can
provide responsible services if
we get to that point.”
Johnson said it will be up
to the city council to revisit
the proposed map or have
the task force revise the map
and offer suggestions.
“If we do move forward,
we need to jump on it
quickly,” City Manager
ChaQuias Miller-Thornton
said. “The new legislative
session will be upon us
quickly and we don’t want to
be behind the eight ball, like
we were this year.”
Mayor Patricia Wheeler
added that the DeKalb
Municipal Association, which
includes all the cities in the
county, is beginning to work
with the county on a study
that will be conducted by the
Carl Vinson Institute.
“What the county and
cities are looking at is the
municipalization of the whole
county,” Wheeler said. “That
study has already begun, so
we should have that back
before mid-summer. So, that
would make a difference with
our annexation if it were to
come about. It would be a big
change not only for the city
of Stone Mountain but for the
whole county.”
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 11

Diva brings paint and party studio to East Atlanta

BY KATHY MITCHELL all the business owners present so that communities in the Atlanta area. “Some
others interested in their services could places had the vibe I was looking for
FREELANCE REPORTER make their acquaintance. but were too expensive and others had
She said that she has partnered in no readily available parking. I don’t
Local radio personality Sasha The other businesses, including restaurants want people’s good mood spoiled
Diva is taking her love of high-energy and real estate firms, but Paint Sip before they get here because they had
music and vivacious socializing to her Socialize is the first of its type she has such a hassle finding a place to park.
new business. March 3 she opened been involved in. “I’m not an artist; I Our location has free parking in the
Paint Sip Socialize on Glenwood Road will not be teaching. My role will be back of the building.”
in East Atlanta Village. more as host—making sure everyone is She said East Atlanta Village is
Sasha The Diva said she and her having a good time,” Sasha said, adding exactly the type of vibrant area she was
husband visited a paint-and-sip there will be “talented artist instructors looking for. “There are many popular
business a few months ago and she to teach, guide and help patrons restaurants and bars around here and
was immediately taken with the uncover those hidden passions in a lots of people walking around the
concept. “As I was leaving, I turned to creative and fun environment.” village. As soon as I saw this building,
my husband and said, ‘I want one,’” The mantra for the business, she I said, ‘This is it.’ This is where I want to
she recalled. “We looked into buying said, is “bring your favorite drink and be. I knew before I even walked in.”
a franchise, but we didn’t like the favorite people— Paint Sip Socialize In a city of Atlanta announcement
arrangements, so we decided to create will take care of the rest.” She said of the new business, District 5 City
our own.” sessions can be customized for group Councilmember Natalyn Archibong
mimic Barbara Walters. I’ve always had
The new business owner said she events. “We can choose music—R and said she is pleased to welcome East
a bold, outgoing style. For the past 20
plans to create a livelier atmosphere B, classic rock, contemporary, gospel— Atlanta Village’s newest business to
years I’ve been Sasha The Diva. I don’t
than patrons may find at similar to match the group’s preferences. They what she calls “one of the city’s most
use any other name.
studios. She described the ambiance can also tell us what kind of art they distinctive districts.”
“Paint Sip Socialize is more about
at her studio as “cool and edgy meets like. We can accommodate any age “We are excited to have a
socializing than painting. When a
spunk and flair.” group, including children. We just want new business in the East Atlanta
group of friends go to happy hour
Sasha The Diva brings to her people to have fun while they paint Village. Sasha the Diva is to be
together they usually end up talking
business a “fabulous and fun” style that something awesome, sip on a favorite commended for deciding to locate her
with each other. I want to encourage
she said has characterized her since beverage and jam to their favorite new business venture in the diverse
people to get to know each other and
childhood. “My father started calling tunes.” and eclectic East Atlanta business
maybe make new friends or business
me his little diva when I was a child. I Sasha said she chose East Atlanta community,” Archibong said. 
associates,” Sasha said, adding that at
liked to stand in front of the mirror and Village after looking at a number of
one of the first sessions she introduced

Emory team vies for best social bot via Amazon’s Alexa Prize
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
A team of Emory
University students from the
Department of Mathematics
and Computer Science are
trying to help Amazon’s Alexa
personal assistant device
develop conversational skills.
They are among eight
university teams selected
from around the world
to create a social bot and
compete for this year’s Alexa
Prize. Amazon is sponsoring
the $3.5 million university
challenge to advance the
conversational capabilities
of software that responds to
voice commands through a
growing list of devices.
“Conversational [artificial
intelligence] is one of the
most difficult problems in the
field of artificial intelligence,”
said Zihao Wang, a graduate
student and the leader of
the Emory team. “Human
language is so rich. We use
combinations of words to
form different expressions
and idioms. It’s difficult to
represent them in computer
language.”
Wang’s teammates
include graduate students
Ali Ahmadvand, Jason Choi,
Harshita Sahijwani and
Sergey Volokhin and senior
Mingyang Sun.
Each university team
received a $250,000 research
grant, Alexa-enabled devices,
plus other tools, data and
support from Amazon. A
$500,000 prize will be given
next November to the team
that creates the best social
bot; while second- and third-
place teams will receive
$100,000 and $50,000,
respectively.
Additionally, a $1 million
research grant will be
awarded to the winning
team’s university if its social
bot achieves the grand
challenge—conversing
coherently and engagingly
with humans for 20 minutes
with a user rating of 4.0 or
higher.
“The contest is a
wonderful way for students
to get hands-on experience
developing a social bot using
state-of-the-art technology,”
the team’s faculty advisor,
Eugene Agichtein, said.
“Their work will be tested
out by millions of real-world
consumers through Amazon.
And Amazon provides
support and training so they
can get experience with data
and computing environments
that are usually only
accessible to those within
major corporations.”
Agichtein, an associate
professor of mathematics
and computer science at
Emory , said his Intelligent
Information Access Lab is
developing new techniques
for intelligent information
access, including Web search
and automated question
answering. Conversational
search capabilities are a key
emerging trend, he said.
Agichtein said his children
love asking Alexa trivia
questions or about music and
sports.
“It’s natural for them to talk
to devices instead of having
to type in a question because
they’re growing up amid this
technology,” he said. “And as
time goes on, it’s clear that
voice-based communication
devices are going to keep
improving and become more
ubiquitous.”
Wang is a native of China
who earned his master’s in
civil engineering at Carnegie
Mellon University. A robotics
project sparked his interest in
information retrieval powered
by machine learning, leading
him to Emory and Agichtein’s
lab to work on his PhD.
“Machine learning is
widely applied in the real
world,” Wang said. “It’s
changing peoples' lives in
every way.”
Autonomous vehicles,
drones, online shopping
mechanisms and robots
designed to detect and
remove dangerous objects
are just a few examples of
how machine learning is
being applied, he said.
While a machine learning
algorithm to simulate natural
human conversation is a
difficult challenge, Wang said
it’s one worth pursuing.
Wang also led an Emory
team in the inaugural Alexa
contest last year, but the team
did not make it to the finals.
“We learned a lot from the
experience,” he said.
The working title for the
Emory social bot this year
is IRIS, which stands for
information retrieval and
informative suggestion agent.
“Our focus will be on the
accuracy and usefulness of
information that we provide
to users,” Wang said. “And
we will add conversational
functionality to our design to
make the responses as natural
and engaging as possible.”
IRIS will incorporate “ideas
from each member of the
team,” he said. “That’s one of
the most fun things about the
contest, working as a team.”
Starting in May, the public
can access competing bots
to provide feedback and rate
them by saying, “Alexa, let’s
chat,” to an Echo device, or
to the Amazon mobile app.
The bots will be randomly
assigned and remain
anonymous, so that people
providing feedback cannot
identify the university that
generated them.
By August, Amazon will
have used this feedback
to narrow the contestants
to three finalists that will
continue to get more
consumer feedback until
the winner is announced in
November.
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 12

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EDUCATION
Private schools call for
new gun legislation
BY DEREK SMITH cameras and automated
locks; we invest in mental
derek@dekalbchamp.com wellness programming and
employ the very best school
counselors; our youngest
Two DeKalb County students crouch in closets
private school leaders and behind closed doors as
joined 45 others across we conduct active-shooter
Georgia in signing a letter drills; our teachers attend
asking lawmakers to enact training sessions in which we
legislation to prevent future ask them to risk their lives for
school shootings. the sake of their students,” the
Paul Bianchi of The letter reads.
Paideia School and Waman The letter also explains
French of The Friends School the limits of preparation the
of Atlanta added their schools face.
signatures to the letter, which “Despite our best efforts,
appeared in the March 9 we recognize that we do not
issue of The Atlanta Journal- have the power to prevent
Constitution. individuals bent on violence
The letter, which joins a from acquiring the weapons
wave of national pressure used in recent school
on legislators following the shootings,” it reads. “We are
Feb. 14 school shooting in writing because you have
Parkland, Fla., outlines ways that power.”
independent school leaders While the letter does not
plan to prevent similar outline specific reforms, it
violence from happening in concludes with a call to action
their own schools. for lawmakers.
“We prepare and plan; “On behalf of our students,
we consider arming security parents, faculty and staff,
guards and outfit our we plan to continue to do
campuses with panic buttons, our best to protect our
DeKalb schools challenged after water main break
companies as well as several
BY DEREK SMITH staff members, community
derek@dekalbchamp.com members and parents
totaling 75,000 bottles of
water. According to district
After closing early March
officials, DCSD purchased
7 due to a massive water
another 125,000 bottles of
main break in DeKalb County,
water for distribution to every
DeKalb County School
school by the morning of
District (DCSD) schools
March 9.
reopened March 8, but with
Students on social media
the county still under a boil
complained of no water
water advisory, there were
through the school day March
challenges to overcome.
8, and the district failed to
“We will reopen schools
meet its stated goal to have
while taking great care to
bottled water to every school
ensure we have a healthy
by 10 a.m. March 9.
learning environment,” DCSD
DCSD Director of
Superintendent Stephen
Operations Joshua Williams
Green said after the decision
told The Champion in a
to reopen was made. “We
statement that the second
have a good plan that covers
round of deliveries started
sanitation, food service
the morning of March 9 and
and other aspects of our
continued into the evening
operations impacted by the
and weekend.
water event.”
According to district
DCSD asked businesses
officials, 20 trucks made
and community members
deliveries to more than 120
to donate water and hand
district facilities across DeKalb
sanitizer directly to school
County which made it difficult
campuses. As of March 9,
to reach everyone. One DCSD
the district had received
teacher told The Champion
donations from at least 17
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 13
school communities and
we challenge you to do the
same,” it reads. “Now is the
time for action.”
According to French,
the idea for the letter came
from Pace Academy Head
of School Fred Assaf who
collected the 47 signatures
from school leaders.
French told The Champion
he was “excited and proud”
to be a part of the effort
to persuade legislators to
enact “common-sense gun
legislation.”
“The letter speaks to
all the ways schools are
attempting to provide safe
environments for students,”
French said. “The obvious
missing piece is legislation
that could prevent someone
from walking into a school
and shooting.”
The Friends School, a
private Quaker school located
on Columbia Drive in Decatur,
the national school walkout in Georgia.
hosts students from pre-
March 14. French said he has The Champion also asked
kindergarten to eighth grade.
personally contacted state for comment from Bianchi but
According to French,
legislators about potentially did not receive a response by
students from The Friends
making changes to gun laws press time.
School plan to take part in
NOTICE OF
NONDISCRIMINATORY
POLICY AS TO EMPLOYEES,
STUDENTS AND
COMMUNITY
It is a policy of ExtraOrdinary
Educational Enterprises,
Incorporated not to discriminate
in an email that students at 7 but opened March 8. CSD
her school received no water superintendent David Dude
on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, national
on March 8 and her group of said on social media that origin, age or disability in
its educational programs or
more than 130 students were students were advised to employment practices as
required by the Georgia Civil
given 90 bottles of water bring a full bottle of water. Rights Act Code Section 34-1-2
March 9. He said breakfast and lunch (Age); 45-19-20, et seq. (Public
Employment), Titles VI and VII
When the boil water would be served as normal of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
advisory was in effect, the and nutrition staff would the Equal Pay Act of 1973,
Title IX (1972) Educational
district elected to serve food boil water used in food Amendments), and Section
that didn’t require water in preparation. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973.athletic and other school
preparation. administered programs.
“Students [received]
a modified prepackaged DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
breakfast/snack. The
district [also provided] a PUBLIC BUDGET INPUT HEARING
lunch consisting of water- FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2019
free preparation such as a
sandwich, tossed salad and
Monday, March 19, 2018
other similar foods,” DCSD
officials said in a March 8 TIME LOCATION
release.
5:30 p.m. J. David Williamson Board Room
DeKalb County officials Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
announced March 9 that the 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.
broken water main had been Stone Mountain, GA 30083
fully repaired 24 hours ahead
of schedule. The boil water The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold a public budget
advisory was lifted later in the input hearing to solicit feedback from the public regarding the
day. 2018-2019 school district’s budget.
City Schools of Decatur
(CSD) was also affected by the
FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE
water main break. Schools in CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 678-676-0069.
the district closed on March
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 14

Revenge attempt falls

flat for St. Pius X
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
It was a revenge game
for the St. Pius X Golden
Lions against the Upson-Lee
Knights in the rematch of the
Class AAAA finals.
However, the Knights
proved again that they are
the better team and defeated
St. Pius for the second
consecutive year in the
Miller Grove coach Rasul Chester gives Timothy Stargell Jr. instructions on the sideline. championship game with a
final score of 70-54 at Georgia
coach Aaron Parr said.
The first half was a tight
game with St. Pius going into
halftime with a one-point
lead (33-32). The Golden
Lions forced nine turnovers
in the first half and scored 11
points off of those turnovers.
St. Pius’ bench players were
dominant in the first half,
outscoring Upson-Lee’s
bench 11-0.
However, the Golden
Lions’ offense went cold
in the second half. St. Pius

Miller Grove Tech. The game came down
to rebounding, which Upson-
Lee dominated.
falls to Warner Upson-Lee outrebounded
St. Pius 43-28, with 34 of
shot 3-14 (21.4 percent, nine
points) in the third quarter
and 4-18 (22.2 percent, 12
points) in the fourth quarter.
Upson-Lee had eight blocked

Robins on last Upson-Lee’s rebounds

second three-
pointer
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
For the first time in
program history, the Miller
Grove Wolverines lost a state
championship game.
Miller Grove fell to Warner
Robins 67-64 in the Class
AAAAA title game March 8 at
the Macon Centreplex. Before
the loss, the Wolverines were
7-0 (2009-2014, 2016) in state
championship games. With 51
seconds left, the Wolverines
tied the game at 64-64 after
two free throws each by
Lorenzo Anderson and
Maurice Harvey.
Warner Robins ran the
clock down before Jacobley
Owens hit a long three-
pointer with 1.3 seconds
remaining to give the Demons
a three-point lead. After a
timeout, Miller Grove got the
ball inbound for a potential
three-pointer to tie the
game, but Kevin Paige’s pass
attempt to Harvey was out of
reach and time ran out on the
Wolverines.
Miller Grove coach Rasul
Chester said the play started
out the way they wanted it to
but wasn’t executed correctly
at the end.
“[Paige] got the ball but
just made the wrong pass,”
Chester said.
Miller Grove got off to a
fast start early in the game,
going up 15-10 in the first
quarter. However, Warner
coming on the defensive
shots in the second half and
11 total. Walker led the team
with five blocked shots.
end. Two players for Upson-
Lee had double-figure
rebounds—Travon Walker
“I think their defense
was really good,” Parr said.
(12) and Tavias Fagan (10).
No St. Pius player got more
“Sometimes you just don’t
make shots, and when you
than four rebounds in the don’t make shots you have
game. to defend a little better. We
“They’re probably the best have to give a lot of credit
rebounding team in 4A and to Upson-Lee, they earned it
maybe in the state, and we tonight.”
just couldn’t get rebounds Everett Lane led St. Pius
in the second half,” St. Pius in scoring with 11 points.
Miller Grove guard Terrence Edwards makes the jumper over
Warner Robins Jaydon Norman. Photos by Ty Freeman/Ty
Photography
Robins amped up its pressure
on defense, and Miller Grove
struggled offensively in the
second and third quarter and
were out-scored 41-22.
The Wolverines shot 38.5
percent from the field in the
third quarter
“It was just a tough game,
a tough battle,” Chester said.
“[The shots] just didn’t fall
tonight.”
Miller Grove went on a run
in the fourth quarter, coming
back from a 10-point deficit
to tie the game twice before
Owens’ game-winning three-
pointer.
“We knew what they were
going to do [defensively],”
Chester said. “We played our
game of basketball and it was
just a game of runs. At the
end, the ball bounced on their
side at the end of the horn.”
Anderson led Miller Grove
in scoring with 19 points and
Harvey had a double-double
of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Owens led all scorers with
24 points.
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018 • Page 15

DeKalb County's first team wrestling all-stars. Photo by Carla Parker

ALL-STAR WRESTLERS HONORED Honorable Mention: Corey Langner

BY CARLA PARKER Clarkston
CARLA@DEKALBCHAMP.COM 1st Team: Ekou Kangi McNair
Honorable Mention: Tyrell Simmons 1st Team: Terrence Randle
The top DeKalb County high school wrestlers Honorable Mention: Deejay McNeil
were honored March 6 for their success on the Columbia
wrestling mat this past season. 1st Team: Kionte Brown Miller Grove
The wrestlers received awards during the all- Honorable Mention: Knief Bryant 1st Team: Miguel Bynum
star celebration held at the Northlake Chick-fil-A Honorable Mention: Avery Towns
on LaVista Road. The school district’s athletic Cross Keys
department and Southwest DeKalb coach Keith 1st Team: Cleyber Ventura Redan
Johnson partnered with Chick-fil-A to hold the Honorable Mention: Vanesa Rubio 1st Team: Rahsaan Ali-Gadson
celebration. Honorable Mention: Deljuane Mitchell
McNair coach Ramon Tillery was named coach Decatur
of the year. He led the Mustangs to a fourth-place 1st Team: Kaden Span Southwest Dekalb
finish in the Class AAA state traditional wrestling Honorable Mention: Jared Lester 1st Team: Eris Walker
tournament last month. It was the team’s second Honorable Mention: Rodre Fears
top 10 finish in program history. Druid Hills
Each DeKalb school, including Decatur, Marist 1st Team: Artavis Brown St. Pius X
and St. Pius X, had a wrestler named to the first Honorable Mention: Jack Floyd 1st Team: Max Spearman
team and an honorable mention. Members of the Honorable Mention: Will Pentecost
first team received plaques, which were sponsored Dunwoody
by Diijon and Tiijon DaCosta, former Redan High 1st Team: Jacob Starks Stephenson
School wrestlers and founders of DeKalb Kids Honorable Mention: Cullen Anthony 1st Team: Taquel Young
Project Inc. Honorable Mention: Micah Godwin
Lakeside
Wrestlers who were honored included: 1st Team: Cody Domingue Stone Mountain
Honorable Mention: Mathew Watkins 1st Team: Jessie Cadet
Arabia Mountain Honorable Mention: Demonte Peeples
1st Team: Christian Phillips Lithonia
Honorable Mention: Ahroya Coley 1st Team: John Webb Towers
Honorable Mention: Christopher Glover 1st Team: Mysta-Prince Ayers
Cedar Grove Honorable Mention: Jyquan Roberts
1st Team: William Flounory M.L. King
Honorable Mention: Maurice Beasley 1st Team: Isiah Rodgers Tucker
Honorable Mention: Keion Cush 1st Team: Justin Carter
Chamblee Honorable Mention: Jeremy Murphy
1st Team: Bart Turney Marist
Honorable Mention: Cameron VandeWiele 1st Team: Jer’Miah Fantroy
LOCAL
Water main break causes issues countywide
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
Thousands of gallons of water
poured across Buford Highway
just northeast of I-285 in the
early morning hours of March 7,
the result of a break in a 48-inch
transmission water main.
Effects of the break were
felt countywide, as DeKalb
County officials issued a boil
water advisory and urged
residents and businesses to
conserve water.
County officials located
the area of the break by 10
a.m. and began installing
isolation valves to help
restore water pressure while
repairs took place.
“I want to assure the
citizens of DeKalb County
that as soon as humanly
possible, we will have service
restored,” DeKalb County CEO
Michael Thurmond said in a
press conference.
In the meantime, many
services throughout the county
ceased. City Schools of Decatur
schools closed for the day, and
DeKalb County School District
schools closed early.
DeKalb County libraries
closed for the day and many
10 x 6.5
businesses were forced to close
due to a lack of water.
Buford Highway was
reopened by the afternoon of
March 7, but interim DeKalb
County Watershed Director
Reggie Wells said he expected
significant damage to the
asphalt.
Thurmond promised a “full-
'We will determine whether
the break was the result of a
systematic failure, improper
maintenance, wear and
tear or physical tampering.'
Michael Thurmond
scale investigation” into the
cause of the break.
“We will determine whether
the break was the result of a
systematic failure, improper
maintenance, wear and tear or
physical tampering,” Thurmond
said in a statement.
Running water was restored
throughout the county by
the morning of March 8. The
water main was repaired by the
morning of March 9, and the boil county down for days.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 20188 • Page 16
water advisory was lifted later in
the day.
According to county officials,
it took workers 36 hours to
complete the installation of
four replacement sections of
46-inch pipe, totaling 90 linear
feet. The pipe sections for the
repairs came from Cobb County-
Marietta Water Authority and
DeKalb County’s
inventory, as well
as an order from a
company in Alabama.
Thurmond
said at least three
businesses in the area
of the break were
flooded and would
be reimbursed by
the county for the
damage.
“Any business
owners who have
been impacted either
by flood or other damage—we
will make them whole,” he said.
Emory University economist
Tom Smith told The Champion
that while some businesses
and workers might have seen
significant financial loss, the
broad economic impact of the
break would be negligible,
especially in comparison to other
disasters such as hurricanes or
snowstorms that could close the
PUBLIX DELI HOT & SPICY CHICKEN WINGS
WATERSHED
Continued From Page 2A
by the EPA and [Georgia Environmental Protection
Division] has created a vacuum that is being
sealed by political policy and interest and that’s
problematic,” Echols said.
In December 2017, county officials held a
meeting to update residents on the county’s
progress in meeting deadlines of the consent
decree. During the meeting, CEO Michael
Thurmond said the county wants to “go above
and beyond the consent decree requirements
to protect public health and the county’s natural
resources.”
According to SWRA’s inquiry, the county’s
current Dynamic Peak Hydraulic Model does not
meet the consent decree standards. The letter
also cites a memo from Margaret Tanner, deputy
director for DeKalb’s department of watershed
management, to Scott Towler, who at the time
was director of the watershed management
department, with the subject; “Static Maximum
Monthly Average Day Modeling Approach.” SWRA
says the memo supports the model’s “inadequacy.”
Towler issued his resignation March 7. His last
day will be March 16.
“I want to ensure that the regulators know, and
DeKalb County knows, that this is a really serious
issue that has to be resolved,” Echols said. “It’s
coming up on nine years and that’s a really long
time. There is not a plan in place. I keep repeating
this. I recognize it will take time to fix the problem,
but there has to be a plan to move forward and
without a plan we’re not going anywhere with the
consent decree.”
If a response is received by the DeKalb County
Department of Watershed Management, this story
will be updated accordingly.