LOCAL: Furloughed employees offered assistance| Page 8 LOCAL: Commercial ghost town returns to life with an international flair

mmercial ghost town returns to life with an international flair | Page 12

the DeKalb FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • VOL. 23, NO 52 • 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

DeKalb County Public Library

named Library of the Year
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

Weissinger

Elizabeth Alier, originally from South Sudan, has been a member of the Refugee Sewing Society for five years.

Sewing isn’t only goal

of sewing society
BY GALE HORTON GAY
Working side by side, a Burmese
woman and Ethiopian woman labor
over sewing machines stitching
fabric into tote bags. Elsewhere a
woman is sewing leather pieces into
straps for handbags and another
woman is stringing beads into a
necklace. Almost all the women
in this room hail from different
countries and have made Georgia
their home after fleeing their
homelands—some under the most
dire of circumstances.
In Clarkston several days each
week, these women come to learn
sewing techniques, chat, laugh,
improve their English skills and
enjoy each other’s company. In
time, they may even earn some
money when the goods they make
sell and they get a portion of the
proceeds.
The Refugee Sewing Society
was started 10 years ago by former
local resident Kathy Palmer, who
grew up in Kenya and became
a missionary. Upon moving to
DeKalb County, she sought to find
a place to bring together refugee
women for camaraderie and
activity.
Its slogan is “mending hearts,
weaving hope.”
“It’s a place for the women to
come for social gathering, build
relations with women, give them
hope, help them heal and some
might get a job,” said Susie Helton,
who currently heads the program.
The women attending the
society—some weekly, some
periodically—come from South
Sudan, Eritrea, Bhutan, Morocco,
Syria, Iraq and other countries.
“We hope [it helps] just being
here and loving them, sharing
with them, spending time, giving
them encouragement and a sense
that they have a purpose and

SEE SEWING ON PAGE 5

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

LOCAL
COUNTYWIDE
Stonecrest tackling pothole problem
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Potholes will be filled
and streets will be paved in
Stonecrest this year.
Stonecrest City Council
approved 3-2 at its Jan. 28
regular meeting to execute a
digital road analysis to assess
road conditions in the city
and provide an estimated cost
for repairs. The vote came
after the city was advised to
immediately start the process
of analyzing the roads to be
prepared for paving season,
which runs from April to early
November.
At a previous council
meeting, civil engineer Kerry
Williams—who is also a
member of the city’s SPLOST
Advisory Committee—advised
the council to use a pavement
management system so
that the data collected will
enable the city to “wisely and
systematically” spend money
on road improvements.
“We recommend that
the council move forward
without the procurements of a
project manager, instead hire
somebody immediately that
will do your road evaluations.
This will allow the city
to begin paving in July,”
Williams told the council.
The city council can now
use Special Local Option Sales
Tax (SPLOST) Funds to pay
for road repairs, according to
city officials.
The council voted to have
Stantec Consulting Firm
conduct a digital road analysis
to cost no more than $70,000.
The city will use analysis from
the firm, as well as an analysis
previously done by DeKalb
County, to determine repairs
needed on roads in the city.
“We have an opportunity
to have a digital road analysis,
and a road analysis from
the county that we can have
evaluated, for $70,000,”
Mayor Jason Lary said.
“We’re in the cold season right
now. That means we have an
opportunity to evaluate these
roads from two stand points.”
The firm is expected
to conduct a digital laser
pavement analysis by using
the pavement condition
index (PCI), which measures
pavement distresses such
as potholes and cracking.
According to the firm, digital
laser analysis “provides a
rigorous assessment of the
entire road system providing
road repair and road
maintenance feedback that
cannot be obtained via visual
inspection and/or random road
core analysis.
The analysis is expected
to be completed within
two weeks. Stonecrest city
engineer Ken Hildebrandt
said Brookhaven, Dunwoody
and Tucker have used digital
laser analysis for their roads.
Lary said the road analysis
will also include a streetlight
inventory.
“Let’s get this digital road
analysis so that we can cover
all of the basis across the
board—that’s the digital road
analysis road itself, being able
to compare with the work that
the county has already put
together, and we’ll have an
opportunity to not miss paving
season.”
Several council members
expressed their concerns
on the cost of the analysis.
Hildebrandt said the firm will
give the city council a budget
on how to spend the money.
“They’ll do the analysis
that will rate all of the streets,
then we’ll bring that back
to council and we’ll give
[the council] four different
scenarios and we’ll ask for
your direction on how to
proceed,” Hildebrandt said.
“Then we’ll go back to the
firm and ask them to finish up
the study.”
Councilwoman Diane
Adoma, who voted against
having the analysis done,
questioned why the city
could not negotiate an
intergovernmental agreement
(IGA) with DeKalb County—
which is responsible for
maintenance of roads in
Stonecrest—before doing a
road analysis.
“The reason I’m saying
that is because I think
[highways] 155 and 124 are
state routes, so there are shared
responsibilities,” Adoma said.
“So, there are a lot of things
that go into getting the roads
resurfaced and paving them
right. I just think that the first
step should be to get our IGA,
get the road analysis and pave
like mad and get rid of the
potholes.”
Hildebrandt said if the city
goes that route then they will
miss this year’s paving season.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 2
“By the time that you enter
into your IGA and you do
the 12-month road analysis,
and then you go through the
procurement process, then
you select a contractor and
the contractor mobilizes,
it’s going to be well past the
paving season,” he said. “So,
you probably won’t start until
spring of 2020.”
“I’m just trying to come
up with the most efficient way
and the most cost-effective
way to get all of these roads
paved in Stonecrest,” Adoma
said.
The city of Stonecrest will fill potholes and repave roads after the city council
approved to have a digital road analysis done on city roads. Photo from Stonecrest
City’s Facebook page
CITY HALL ADDITIONAL PARKING PROJECT
PROJECT BID NO. PARK10-18
STONE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA
The City of Stone Mountain is soliciting competitive sealed bids from qualified con-
tractors for construction of a parking lot adjacent to city hall. Sealed bids will be
received by the City of Stone Mountain, 875 Main Street, Stone Mountain, Georgia
30083, until 2:00 p.m. local time on Friday, February 15, 2019. Any bid received after
2:00 p.m. will not be accepted. Bids will be publicly opened on Friday, February 15,
2019 at 2:00 p.m. in the Stone Mountain City Hall, 875 Main Street, Stone Mountain,
Georgia 30083. The bid envelope must be marked on the outside with Bid Number,
name of Bidder, date and time of opening.
Work required under this Contract includes furnishing materials, labor, equipment, etc.
for the construction of a new parking lot and attendant structures adjacent to Stone
Mountain City Hall. Construction Drawings and Specifications are available from the
engineer by contacting:
Kate Langman
Clark Patterson Lee
3011 Sutton Gate Drive, Suite 130
Suwanee, Georgia 30024
klangman@clarkpatterson.com
770-831-9000
Bids shall be entered on a lump sum basis and as described in the project manual.
One complete set of drawings and specifications shall be provided to General Con-
tractors only, for no cost. No partial sets of working drawings or specifications shall be
issued.
Bids in the case of Corporations not chartered in Georgia, must be accompanied by
proper certification stating that said Corporation is authorized to do business in the
State of Georgia.
No Bidder may withdraw his Bid within sixty (60) days after the actual date of the
opening thereof.
All Bidders are required to submit a Bid Bond or a certified check made payable to
the City of Stone Mountain in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total amount
bid. The successful bidder will be required to furnish a contract performance bond
and payment bond in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the total amount
bid and provide insurance coverage as required by the contract documents. The Bid
Bond or certified check must be enclosed in the envelope with the sealed bid.
Bonding Company must be licensed to do business in Georgia, licensed to do busi-
ness by the Georgia Secretary of State, authorized to do business in Georgia by the
Georgia Insurance Department, listed in the Department of the Treasury’s Publica-
tion of Companies Holding Certificates of Authority as Acceptable Surety on Federal
Bonds and as Acceptable Reinsuring Companies and have an A.M. Best rating of A-,
Class V or higher.
The Owner will award the Contract to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder,
subject with the Owner’s right to reject any or all bids, to waive technicalities, and to
make an award deemed in its best interests.
CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN
OPINION
Welcome the masses to the ATL
The eyes of the nation and the world
will be on Atlanta as the city hosts the
53rd Super Bowl Feb. 3 at Mercedes-
Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.
Hundreds of thousands of fans,
media and athletes will descend on the
metro area for several days prior to
and following the big game and will
likely be judging our city on safety,
cleanliness, food and drink choices,
accommodations, traffic congestion
and good ole Southern hospitality.
For decades, Atlanta has been called
a city too busy to hate but also has
consistently had a disproportionate
number of safety concerns. Forbes.
com’s list of the 10 most dangerous
cities in the United States includes
Atlanta in the No. 6 position citing a
violent crime rate of 1,433 crimes per
100,000 residents and adds “Atlanta’s
position as an ideal drug transit point
Foreclosures
Tax Sales/Ads for Bids
Trade Name Registrations
Public Notices/Public meetings
Sheriff Sales/Local Legislation
Notices of Incorporation
To subscribe, visit DeKalbLegalNotices.com
or call 404-373-7779, X 0
#ItsInTheChampion
John Hewitt
johnh@dekalbchamp.com
helps keep it high on the list of the
most dangerous cities. The violent
crime rate rose 6 percent last year,
driven mostly by robbery and assault,"
according to Forbes.
The big game is an opportunity to
showcase our region to the world at
large, much as was done during the
Centennial Olympic Games held in
1996. Each of us should do our part, no
matter how large or small, to make our
guests feel safe and welcome.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 3
Most who were reared in the South
have been told throughout our lives that
we should always treat guests in our
homes with respect and do everything
possible to make them feel welcome.
No matter which two teams
end up battling it out for the NFL
championship title, all of Atlanta
must keep in mind that even though
these teams may have defeated the
Falcons in previous games and may
be considered one of our top rivals,
the teams, staff and fans should be
treated with the utmost respect. Those
responsible for securing the Super
Bowl bid worked tirelessly to position
Atlanta as the host city. The game and
events associated with it are expected
to produce more than $400 million in
revenue, according to the Metro Atlanta
Chamber.
Over the next couple of weeks, as
the football and media worlds descend
on our city, let's make a concerted
effort to extend a helping hand to those
in need, to be a bit more tolerant of
drivers making poor decisions and to
show the world our very best. These
guests were invited to our city and it is
our responsibility to make every effort
to ensure they enjoy their time and
leave with good impressions.
Visitors and residents alike will
have opportunities to attend a number
of both free and paid admission
concerts and football-related activities
being held throughout the city in
the days leading up to the game that
will determine the National Football
League’s 2018 champion team.
Let’s do our best to show our
Southern charm, the world truly will be
watching and critiquing.
OPINION
“We are giving Republicans the
The Mexican stand-off
opportunity to take yes for an answer,”
said U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
(D-California).
Our president is a man very prone
to hyperbole, exaggeration and yes,
the more than occasional outright
falsehoods. He is first and foremost a
marketeer and salesman, and whether
we like it or not, after more than four
decades in the public eye, he is unlikely
to change those stripes. And with his
proposed “border wall” with Mexico,
he has a signature campaign issue/
promise he views as critical toward his
reelection, supported by millions of
Americans, and in many ways a nation
divided by a barrier much deeper and
taller than what the president is now
actually proposing.
Trump’s budget request of $5.7
billion however is not simply for the
construction of a wall—though it
would partially fund 200 miles of such
a barrier—600 miles of fencing and
vehicle barriers already exist along our
U.S./Mexico border, stretching from
the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of
Tijuana, Mexico to Yuma, Ariz. The
types of structure vary, but even the
president has come to realize that his
original vision of a 50-foot concrete
barrier with significant underground
roots to block tunneling and extending
for 2,000 miles is both impractical, and
in some respects impossible.
And given that last year Congress
spent nearly $4.5 trillion (a trillion is
1,000 billion, or a million), including
a deficit of one trillion, less than $6
billion is spit in the Pacific Ocean. It is
also a trifle compared to the waste built
into the original Affordable Care Act
of 2010. Yes, there are better and more
critical places in greater need of that
kind of infrastructure spend; but this
president also understands the stakes,
what this symbol means to his base and
despite his recently agreeing to allow
government to reopen, he is much more
likely to declare a national emergency
than he is going to cave on this.Our
Texas/Mexico border is largely defined
by the Rio Grande river. A wall, due to
the cavernous terrain, would need to be
nearly a mile inward on the U.S. side
of the border, across predominantly
privately owned ranch land. The bulk
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
Let Us Know What You Think!
THE DEKALB FREE PRESS encourages opinions from
its readers. Please write to us and express your views.
Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain the
writer’s name, address and telephone number for verifi-
cation. All letters will be considered for publication.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions
of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The
Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 4
their families. I will support your of Washington, D.C.—Americans,
steel barrier, slats or border wall Mr. Mexicans and immigrants alike.
‘One Man’s President, but after the construction
Opinion’ starts, please get off Twitter, hire
and keep some good folks who Bill Crane also serves as a political
understand all this better than you do analyst and commentator for Channel 2’s
Bill Crane and do what a president is supposed Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk 750
bill.csicrane@gmail.com to do–lead. Tweeting and screaming and now 95.5 FM, as well as a columnist
aren’t leading, and I am in no way for The Champion, DeKalb Free Press
suggesting that Senator Schumer or and Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
of the current 600 miles of existing Speaker Pelosi are doing much better native and business owner, living in
fencing and barriers in California, on the other side of the aisle. But I Scottdale. You can reach him or comment
New Mexico and Arizona were am suggesting that we all deserve on a column at bill.csicrane@gmail.com.
completed during the administrations much better than we are getting out
of presidents George W. Bush and
Barack Obama, supported with
more than $6 billion in funding by
Congress when controlled by both
Democrats and Republicans. The
Secure Fence Act of 2006 followed the
recommendations of the U.S. Border
Patrol and the then department of
Immigration and Naturalization, now
Homeland Security. Trump’s budget
request includes funding thousands
of new border agents, hundreds of
new judges for immigration courts
for hearing asylum requests, hundreds
of millions in humanitarian aid for
refugees and those seeking asylum,
hardening those existing border
barriers, as well as giving him a span of
wall to point to and stand in front of for
photo opportunities come 2020.I say let
him have his wall. And I also suggest
to Congressional Democratic Party
leadership that to end this Mexican
stand-off, make yours a big ask—
perhaps even start with a bluff.
Consider the following big asks -
1. A timeline, penalties and a path
to citizenship for the nearly 800,000
DACA recipients, brought into this
nation as infants or toddlers, without
making a choice of their own.
2. Universal gun sale background
checks, expanded to include online,
private and gun show sales—a loophole
in current law large enough to drive a
tractor trailer through (loaded to the
gills).
3. Revise the process, and codify it,
of unescorted or minor-aged children
entering any U.S. port of entry or
illegally crossing the border, as it
relates to reconnecting them with
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
John Hewitt Carla Parker STATEMENT FROM THE
Horace Holloman PUBLISHER
Chief Financial Officer: Taylor Robins We sincerely appreciate the
Dr. Earl D. Glenn discussion surrounding this and any
Social Media Manager: issue of interest to DeKalb County.
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR, Production Manager: Donna Seay The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
The DeKalb Free Press, Kemesha Wadley discourse for all community residents
P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; on all sides of an issue. We have no
Send email to Johnh@dekalbchamp.com desire to make the news only to
FAX To: (404) 370-3903; Phone: (404) 373-7779. The DeKalb Free Press is published each Friday report news and opinions to effect
Deadline for news releases and advertising: by ACE III Communications, Inc., a more educated citizenry that will
Thursday, one week prior to publication date. 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030 ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
Phone (404) 373-7779. ideas for discussion; however,
www.championnewspaper.com we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110 assumptions penned as fact.
LOCAL
Ethiopia-born Nuria Muhamed said she likes to practice her sewing skills at the
society’s gatherings.
SEWING Continued From Page 1
are precious to God and to us,” said
Helton, who noted that often older
women who have been refugees feel
isolated in their new country.
“You have women from so many
different backgrounds,” she added.
“They would never associate with each
other outside of class.”
Asked about communication with
such an international group, Helton
said various techniques such as
demonstrating and speaking simply and
slowly are employed.
“It’s interesting,” said Helton,
“sewing is a skill, you don’t have to
know the language.”
However, the society also offers
English as a second language classes
and sometimes impromptu mini
English lessons are weaved into the
sewing time. For example, she said
they might explain what “off white”
means as a shade of thread or what a
“bobbin” is in a sewing machine.
A volunteer, center, works with two women on jewelry making.
“It’s one of the ways they
will be successful in this country,”
said Helton of improving their English
skills. “It touches every area of their
lives.”
The society operates out of a trailer
on property owned by Clarkston
International Bible Church, which also
offers English and citizenship classes.
The church is in the process of building
a new facility and since November
the sewing society has functioned out
of the trailer turned into a production
facility, storage space and store for the
handmade goods. The group will be
moving into one of the church’s new
buildings in about 18 months, Helton
said.
The women gather on Mondays,
Tuesdays and Wednesday to learn to
sew, knit, crochet and create jewelry.
They sell a wide assortment of items
such as bags, purses, aprons, coin
purses, makeup bags, necklaces,
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 5
earrings and more at their trailer store
as well as at craft fairs. Crossbody
totes sell for $30-$45, coin purses $10,
aprons $29 and makeup bags $20. Each
has a tag with the maker’s name and
story such as one found on a necklace
that states, “I am Ruk Mya. I escaped
war and geocide in Bhutan. Thank you
for helping me start a new life.”
The women receive 60 percent of
the sale prices of the items, according
to Helton.
“It’s a good skill to have, but it’s
also very rewarding,” she said.
Wearing a colorful head scarf,
Ethiopia-born Nuria Muhamed
stitches a green tote bag. She lives
in Stone Mountain and has been in
the United States for eight years. She
began coming to the sewing society
three years ago.
Muhamed said she likes coming to
the gathering to practice her sewing
skills.
JaDoi Aung of Burma said she
didn’t know much about sewing before
joining the society and enjoys attending
the sessions, in part, because of the
friendships she’s developed with some
of the women.
Elizabeth Alier of South Sudan
came to the United States in 2012 and
started coming to the sewing society
a year later. She explained that she
used to work on a black foot pedal
operated sewing machine when she
was in Africa and she sewed bedsheets.
In addition to wanting to expand her
sewing skills, Alier said she enjoys
the environment at the gatherings and
spending time with the other women.
The society is also supported by
volunteers who teach and assist the
women, cut fabric and keep supplies
such as threads and zippers tidy.
LOCAL
BROOKHAVEN
Transit, education and census
discussed at DMA retreat
STAFF REPORTS
newstips@dekalbchamp.com
Discussions on school
system priorities, the
upcoming 2020 federal census,
and the local effects of sewer
spills and overflows topped
the agenda at the DeKalb
Municipal Association’s
(DMA) first policy retreat
hosted by Brookhaven Mayor
John Ernst at city hall Jan.
16.
DeKalb County mayors,
city managers and other
county and municipal leaders
gathered to discuss mutually
relevant issues planned for
2019 and beyond.
“This retreat provided a
forum for leaders of major
cities in DeKalb County to
meet, discuss ideas, hear plans
from important players in
transportation, education and
infrastructure and how these
plans will affect each of our
cities,” Ernst said.
Ernst serves as chairman
of the DMA policy committee.
The group will be working
with the Georgia General
Assembly, the county and
nearby cities to shape policy
and legislation issues, tackling
matters that residents feel are
important to the city.
Mike Carnathan, manager
of the Atlanta Regional
Commission’s research and
analytic division, said the
upcoming census “is going to
be the most expensive census
in U.S. history, costing an
estimated $16 billion.”
  The census will require
counting an increasingly
diverse and growing
population of around 330
million people in more than
140 million housing units in
the United States.
“This information is
important locally in helping
to determine congressional
representation and how
state and federal dollars are
CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Stone Mountain hereby gives notice that
the Governing Body of the City of Stone Mountain,
Georgia has set its qualification fees at 3% of total
gross annual salary for elected officials.
distributed, where businesses
choose to ship products
and build new stores, and
securing funds allocated for
grants, schools and hospitals,”
Carnathan said.
Darren Eastall, assistant
director for the county’s
Department of Watershed
Management’s Engineering
and Construction Management
Services Division (ECMS),
shared county plans regarding
sewer overflows and discussed
their effect on the county and
municipal cities.
“Spills and overflows
are what we are most
concerned about,” Eastall said,
“especially those resulting
from the record-breaking rains
we have had this past fall.  Gwinnett County votes
Despite the rains, sanitary
sewer overflows for 2018 were
down with 283 as opposed to
311 in 2017. Spills had a slight
reduction with 182 in 2018
down from 186 in 2017.”
Eastall noted that the
record-setting rains in October,
November and December led
to multiple flooding events
in DeKalb County, including
Nancy, Northfolk and
Peachtree creeks as well as the
Yellow River.
DeKalb County
School District (DCSD)
Superintendent Dr. Stephen
Green discussed priorities
and goals for the county
school system and ways
DeKalb’s cities can help
the county reach some of
its goals. “In 2019, we will
continue initiatives we have
already launched such as
improving student test scores,
raising graduation levels,
and increasing our financial
stability,” said Green.
Green spoke about mobile
units that will offer medical
exams to students, early
learning opportunities and
how the district plans to
provide meals outside of the
tradition school year.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 6
DCSD also has launched
a GED program for parents
through its new Parent
IMPACT Hub to get more
diplomas for parents.
Engineering consultants
Todd Long with Moreland
Altobelli and Eric Bosman DeKalb County School District Superintendent Stephen Green discusses county
with Kimley-Horn & school initiatives relevant to cities such as Brookhaven. (Picture provided by the city
Associates discussed transit of Brookhaven)
plans being considered for the
area and the possible impacts
on DeKalb County transit
needs. 
Some highlighted plans
include the Top-End 285
transit study that could connect
Doraville to the Braves
Stadium that Brookhaven
is taking a lead on and the
connections to DeKalb if
in March to contract with
MARTA.
Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst, who hosted the retreat, offers an opinion on one of the
presentations at the DMA’s first annual retreat
PUBLIC NOTICE
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-131(1)(A), the following qualifying fees for the
November 5, 2019 Municipal General Election were set by the City of Doraville
City Council during the regular City Council meeting of January 22, 2019:
Municipal Office Qualifying Fee
Mayor $540.00
Councilmember District 1 $432.00
Councilmember District 2 $432.00
Councilmember District 3 $432.00
Qualifying for the offices listed above will be held at Doraville City Hall located at 3725
Park Avenue, Doraville, Georgia 30340, beginning on Monday, August 19, 2019 and
ending on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Hours of qualifying are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
O.C.G.A. 21-2-132(c)(3) & SB199
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
SIGN ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS
Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Lithonia, Georgia
will hold a public hearing concerning proposed amendments to Chapter 21, Article V
of the City of Lithonia, Georgia Code of Ordinances, known as the “City of Lithonia
Sign Ordinance,” on Monday, February 18, 2019 at 6:00 PM, in the Lithonia City Hall
located at 6920 Main Street, Lithonia, Georgia. The amendments pertain to Article
3. General Rules, Section 8. General Sign Regulations, specifically to the standards
concerning projecting and suspended signs.
Written comments concerning the proposed amendments may be submitted to the City
Clerk prior to the public hearing or submitted at the hearing. Individuals interested in
commenting on the proposed amendments, either in writing or verbally, will be given
the opportunity to be heard at the above mentioned time and place. Findings and
recommendations contained in a report by the Zoning Administrator may be examined
at Lithonia City Hall. Further information may be obtained by contacting Ms. Robin
Blount, Interim City Clerk, at 770.482.8136.
Deborah A. Jackson
Mayor, City of Lithonia
LOCAL
STONECREST
GDOT will construct a roundabout at the Browns Mill and Salem roads intersection.
The illustrations do not represent the finished project for the intersection.
Roundabout to be constructed
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
A traffic solution is coming
to the intersection of Browns
Mills and Salem roads in
Stonecrest.
The Georgia Department
of Transportation (GDOT)
announced in a letter to
residents and stakeholders
that construction began in
January for a roundabout at
the busy intersection near
Browns Mill Elementary
School, Browns Mill Recreation
Center and Browns Mill Park.
Currently, a stop sign on Salem
Road controls traffic at the
intersection.
The roundabout will feature
two 12-foot lanes, 5-foot
sidewalks, 4-foot bike lanes,
pedestrian crosswalk markings,
lighting and landscaping,
according to GDOT.
A left turn lane from Browns
Mill Road into Browns Mill
Elementary School will also
be added. GDOT officials said
the improvements are designed
to enhance safety for vehicles,
bikes and pedestrians in the
area.
Area residents lobbied
for more than 10 years to
have a traffic light installed
at the intersection. Stonecrest
Councilman George Turner,
who represents the Browns
Mill area, said he had been
part of the South Lithonia
Neighborhood Coalition that
advocated more than 10 years
ago to have a traffic light at the
intersection.
“We fought with the county,
we fought with the state and we
were under the impression that
nothing was going to happen,”
Turner said. “I was just elated
when I found out almost a year
ago that [GDOT] had decided
to construct a roundabout. It
wasn’t what we were looking
for, but I think it is a welcome
addition and it might even work
better than the traffic light that
we were fighting for 10 years
ago.
“Just looking at the design,
it will open that whole area up,
and it exposes Browns Mill
Park,” Turner added. “It will
give new life to that whole area.
So, I love it.”
Turner said he did not know
why GDOT decided to address
the traffic issue now.
“We were rattling a lot
of doors and making a lot of
phone calls and we just didn’t
believe we were being heard,”
Turner said. “Apparently, they
were listening, and we just
didn’t realize it. Someone,
perhaps, made a visit to the area
and realized how serious the
situation was.”
The Champion asked
GDOT why it waited until
now to reconfigure the
intersection; however, District
7 Communications Specialist
Tori Brown did not give a
direct answer.
An announcement letter
from GDOT states that many
residents attended an open
house hosted in October 2014
to review plans for the proposed
project. Officials said their data
tracked traffic speeds above the
posted 45 miles per hour speed
limit, increased traffic volumes
and dozens of vehicular
collisions with injuries.
“National studies have
shown that roundabouts reduce
fatal and serious injury crashes
by 80 percent as a result of
slower speeds and fewer points
for traffic conflicts,” GDOT
said.
The project is scheduled for
completion in summer 2019,
according to GDOT. Turner
said he was somewhat leery at
first about the roundabout but
changed his mind after driving
through roundabouts at other
intersections.
“I think people are going to
love it and probably demand
more of them because you
really don’t have to stop there
unless there is an abundance of
traffic, and I think that’s what
they are going to like,” he said.
“It gives a chance to renew
parts of Salem Road and parts
of Browns Mill Road as well
and kind of beautify it. That’s
something else we wanted
to see—streetscaping and to
beautify the area."
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 7
LITHONIA
Finalists announced for city
administrator position
candidates, according to the Residents will be able to
BY CARLA PARKER city. meet the finalists Feb. 4 at 6
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The new city administrator p.m. before the city council
Four people have been will replace former city meeting at city hall, located at
selected as finalists for
Lithonia’s city administrator
administrator Cheryl Foster,
who resigned in May 2018.
O’Briant is currently an
6920 Main Street.
“This is an important
decision and we want to
position.
The city announced Jan. assistant to the city manager make sure we select someone
23 that Timothy E. O’Briant, for business development that will help take the city of
Alan C. Peterson, Meschery for the city of Aiken, S.C., Lithonia to the next level,”
according to his LinkedIn Lithonia Deborah Jackson
Pollard and Lathaydra
L. Sands were selected page. Peterson is an said in a press release. “We
for the final process for the administrative manager with have accomplished a lot over
city administrator position. Leadership DeKalb, Pollard the past several years and are
is the city administrator of looking forward to the next
The four were selected
after a “thorough search” Keysville, Ga., and Sands is phase of our development.”
the city clerk of Monticello,
and evaluation of multiple
Ga.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS
Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Lithonia, Georgia
will hold a public hearing concerning proposed amendments to the Official Zoning
Map of the City of Lithonia on Monday, February 18, 2019 at 6:00 PM, in the Lithonia
City Hall located at 6920 Main Street, Lithonia, Georgia. The map amendments seek
to correct a limited number of erroneous property zoning designations that may have
been created during previous Map updates.
Written comments concerning the proposed map amendments may be submitted to the
City Clerk prior to the public hearing or submitted at the hearing. Individuals interested
in commenting on the proposed map amendments, either in writing or verbally, will be
given the opportunity to be heard at the above mentioned time and place. Findings and
recommendations contained in a report by the Zoning Administrator may be examined
at Lithonia City Hall. Further information may be obtained by contacting Ms. Robin
Blount, Interim City Clerk, at 770.482.8136.
Deborah A. Jackson
Mayor, City of Lithonia
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENTS
Notice is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Lithonia,
Georgia will hold a public hearing concerning proposed amendments to Chapter 27,
the City of Lithonia Zoning Ordinance, on Monday, February 18, 2019 at 6:00 PM, in
the Lithonia City Hall located at 6920 Main Street, Lithonia, Georgia. The amendments
pertain to Article I, Division 2, Section 27-31. Definitions, to Article IV. Supplemental
Regulations and to Article II which encompasses the Single Family Residential
Districts of the Ordinance. The proposed amendments will define and establish
standards for “accessory dwellings,” and introduce this dwelling type as a permitted
use in the R-85 Single Family Residential District, the R-60 Single Family Residential
District, the R-A5 Single Family Residential District, the R-50 Single Family Residential
District, the R-A8 Single Family Residential District and the NCD Neighborhood
Conservation District.
Written comments concerning the proposed amendments may be submitted to the
City Clerk prior to the public hearing or submitted at the hearing. Individuals interested
in commenting on the proposed amendments, either in writing or verbally, will be given
the opportunity to be heard at the above mentioned time and place. Findings and
recommendations contained in a report by the Zoning Administrator may be examined
at Lithonia City Hall. Further information may be obtained by contacting Ms. Robin
Blount, Interim City Clerk, at 770.482.8136.
Deborah A. Jackson
Mayor, City of Lithonia
This 22nd day of January, 2019.
LOCAL
COUNTYWIDE
DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court officials with donated items to be given to
furloughed employees affected by the government shutdown.
Furloughed employees offered assistance
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
The federal government
shutdown began on Dec. 22,
2018, and on Jan. 12 became
the longest government
shutdown in United States
history.
Throughout the duration
of the shutdown, several
government agencies and
operations did not receive
funding and employees were
not paid—affecting nearly
800,000 federal employees.
In DeKalb County, several
businesses and organizations
stepped in to help those who
were impacted. Farm Burger,
which has two locations in
DeKalb County, initiated
TUCKER
City designated as age-friendly
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Tucker is now known as an
age-friendly city.
City officials announced
Jan. 23 that Tucker
received the World Health
Organization’s (WHO) Age-
Friendly City designation,
an honor that recognizes
municipalities’ efforts to
promote health and growth
for residents of all ages. Dr.
Lois Ricci of Tucker Civic
Association (TCA) led the
effort for the designation with
support from city staff and
elected officials.
Volunteers donate items to DeKalb County Clerk of
Superior Court’s toiletry items drive.
Furlough Fridays for impacted
federal employees. Every
Friday, furloughed federal
employees who showed
identification were given a free
chicken burger, fries and an
iced tea.
“Farm Burger wants to
offer a small gesture of support
and say thank you to federal
employees for their service,”
said Jason Mann, co-founder
and CEO of Farm Burger. “If
we can provide a free meal and
an enjoyable experience while
they are out of work, that just
might make their Friday a little
bit brighter.”
Dawn Law, Farm Burger
marketing director, said Farm
Burger gave away 250 combo
meals on the first Furlough
Friday to government
employees.
“I have been an advocate
for community issues for a
long time,” Ricci said. “I work
with the Atlanta Regional
Commission and I teach issues
on aging. [Being an] age-
friendly community does not
mean it’s for old people. It’s a
lifelong process.”
Five cities in Georgia
have been designated as age-
friendly. There are 517 cities in
the county that have received
that designation.
In 2013, Tucker was
added to the Atlanta Regional
Commission’s list of Lifelong
Communities. With the age-
friendly designation from
the WHO, residents and
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 8
“When you’re watching
the news, it can be really
defeating because there are so
many things in this world that
are beyond our control,” Law
said. “We realize that while we
don’t have the power to end
the shutdown, we do have the
power to do something.”
In January, DeKalb County
Clerk of Superior Court Debra
DeBerry partnered with
DeKalb Sheriff Jeff Mann,
Berean Christian Church,
New Birth Missionary Baptist
Church, DeKalb Section of
National Council of Negro
Women (NCNW), South
DeKalb Rotary and JABY Inc.
to provide relief to impacted
families of the government
shutdown.
The organization collected
community leaders will be
asked to focus on sustaining
eight domains that can
influence the community’s
overall health and quality
of life. Those domains are
outdoor spaces and buildings;
transportation; housing;
social participation; respect
and social inclusion; civic
participation and employment;
communication and
information; and community
support and health services.
“One of the biggest
projects that we’ve taken
on to date is the Yellow Dot
Program through the Georgia
Department of Public Health,”
Ricci said. “We’re very excited
Nonperishable food and toiletry items to be distributed to furloughed
employees.
nonperishable food and
toiletry items to distribute
to furloughed employees
throughout the shutdown.
“The partial government
shutdown is affecting many
fellow public servants,
some still reporting to work
without pay. These families
are a priority and need any
assistance we can provide
during this difficult time. It is
only right and humane,” said
DeBerry.
On Jan. 22, DeKalb County
commissioners approved a
resolution petitioning the
U.S. government to restore
appropriations for federal
agencies experiencing
difficulties during the
shutdown.
“I want to thank the
commissioners for joining in
about that.”
The Yellow Dot Program is
a free statewide program that
tells first responders where
to find residents important
medical information so that
they can provide care quickly
in an emergency.
“It’s spreading across the
state and we’re very excited
about it,” Ricci said. “Tucker
was one of the first three cities
asked to pilot [the program].”
The WHO Network for
Age-Friendly Cities and
Communities was established
in 2007, with support from
AARP. It currently includes
more than 700 cities in nearly
40 countries worldwide.
this resolution as we seek to
represent the interests of our
constituents affected by this
action,” said DeKalb County
Board of Commissioners
presiding officer Jeff Rader.
DeKalb County
Commissioner Mereda Davis-
Johnson said it’s important to
help those who are in need.
“We have to reach out
and help our neighbors that
we know are furloughed or
working without pay,” Davis-
Johnson said. “A lot of them
may not ask for help, but we
know that they need help.”
On Jan. 25, President
Donald Trump signed a bill
agreeing to reopen the federal
government for three weeks.
“AARP is an integral part
of the whole process,” Ricci
said. “Their foundation funds
this for our state. They’ll help
support us with the projects
we’ll take on.”
“We were glad to support
TCA as they pushed for this
important designation,” Tucker
City-Community Connector
Sonja Szubski said in a
press release. “The city looks
forward to supporting TCA
and all of our volunteer-led
community groups as they
continue to focus on the tenets
of being an age-friendly city.”
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

A Cedar Grove swimmer competes in the 100-yard butterfly at the

DeKalb County School District Swim & Dive meet Jan. 26 at Chamblee
Charter High School. Photo by Carla Parker

Chamblee Charter High School ladies’ tennis team won back to back state championships. Chamblee Police Chief Kerry Thomas supported the
team by attending the Jan. 15 ring ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Chamblee Police Twitter Page)

A Cross Keys swimmer competes in the 100-yard butterfly at the

DeKalb County School District Swim & Dive meet Jan. 26 at Chamblee
Charter High School. Photo by Carla Parker

DeKalb County officer Norman Larsen and K-9 officer Indi were Smoke Rise Academy of the Arts will present Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka Jr.” Feb. 8-9 at the school. The performances will be presented free to
recognized with an Award of Bravery from Animal Law Source. the public. (Photo provided by Smoke Rise Academy)

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 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 10

DORAVILLE COUNTYWIDE

Doraville city officials and community members celebrate the proclamation of Fred
Korimatsu Day Jan. 22. Photo by Taylor Robins

Civil rights activist

gets day of honor
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Fred T. Korimatsu, who
was a Japanese American civil
rights activist during World
War II, was honored during the
Doraville city council meeting
Jan. 22.
Korimatsu Day was
celebrated in the city Jan. 30.
was overturned 40 years later.
“This is a reminder that
everyday citizens standing on
their conviction for the greater
good can be a catalyst for
change,” Pittman said. “[The
Korimatsu case] is considered
a landmark case in this nation’s
fight of civil liberties.”
Korimatsu died in 2005 in
California, where he was born.
Jacqueline James reads to children as a part of Jacqueline and Joshua’s Reading Place. (Photo provided by Jacqueline James)
Korimatsu Day is meant to

James makes reading

“We urge all residents to
remember his legacy and work
as we continue to work in
building a more just society for
all,” Doraville Mayor Donna
recognize all American citizens
whose parents are Japanese
immigrants, as Korimatsu was.
“I think it’s a wonderful
way to celebrate the diversity

and writing life’s mission

Pittman said. in the community as well as
Korimatsu, an American the social justice movements
citizen whose parents were of our past Americans,”
Japanese immigrants, was Doraville Senior Planner
arrested and convicted of Frank Lee said. “I feel like it’s
not complying with an a big step in the right direction
executive order that instructed even for a small city.” who were involved in the Civil words.”
Japanese Americans to report BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Lee, who is of Asian Rights Movement along with Books published under
to internment camps in descent, said he felt a taylor@dekalbchamp.com King. According to James, James’ company are mostly
1942, during World War II, personal connection to the those people include Cordy education focused. James
regardless of their citizenship. proclamation. A DeKalb County resident Tindell Vivian, Norma published a book titled My
He appealed his conviction Doraville city officials bundles writing, reading and Clayton, Frederick Lee Tutu that was written by a then
before the United States adopted the One Region civil rights together and makes Shuttlesworth, Wyatt Tee 9-year-old and taught about
Supreme Court. Despite losing Welcoming Plan Aug. 20 and the three easily available for Walker and Dorothy Cotton. colors and the days of the
his appeal, he continued a citywide nondiscrimination youth and adults. “A lot of people don’t have week.
to fight for civil liberties ordinance concerning Jacqueline James, who a clue that there’s someone Joshua Dickerson, a
for persons of diverse businesses Nov. 5. moved from Michigan to else besides King that had former student of James from
communities. Korimatsu’s case DeKalb County in 1995, wears a hand in the Civil Rights 30 years ago, located James
many hats. She is a retired Movement,” James said. “It 10 years ago. He let her know
PUBLIC NOTICE teacher who opened her own was a team effort.” how she influenced him in the
publishing company in 2006, James said she became fifth grade with poetry. She
CITY OF TUCKER, GA when she published her first interested in the Civil Rights later published two books of
The date of the Municipal Election for the office of book. Movement as it unfolded his.
Councilmember District 1 Post 2, Councilmember “I saw how expensive it in real time. While living James and Dickerson then
District 2 Post 2, and Councilmember District 3 Post 2 was to go the other way and
is Tuesday, November 5, 2019. The qualifying fee for in Michigan, she noted that formed a nonprofit company
how if you went through people who look like her lived called Jacqueline and Joshua’s
the office of City Council seat is $420.00, which is 3% of
the total gross councilmember salary of the preceding a traditional publisher you differently in the South. Reading Place, in honor of
year (O.C.G.A. 21-2-131(a)(1)(A)). Each candidate shall wouldn’t own your own Along with publishing their past classroom memories.
file notice of candidacy in the office of the City Clerk of property, they would own multiple books about the topic, The duo, and volunteers, read
Tucker, 4119 Adrian Street, Tucker, Georgia 30084. The it,” James said. “I researched James also has published five to kindergarten classes and
qualifying dates will be Monday, August 19, 2019 through and I decided that it was best books for other authors. gave students books.
Thursday, August 22, 2019 during the hours of 9:00 to publish my own. So I set “I like publishing because “I don’t think kids can do
am to 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. and Friday, up Jax Publications and I’ve my friends and former students anything without reading,”
August 23, 2019 will be from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. published six books of my get their information out James said. “I can’t imagine
(O.C.G.A. 21-2-132(d)(4)). Each candidate must meet own.” and say what they want to not reading or not knowing
the qualifications of the Charter and Code of the City of James has a series of books
Tucker, as well as applicable State Laws say for an affordable price,” how to read.”
called Friends of Martin James said. “I really like The motto that James and
Bonnie Warne, CMC Luther King Jr. through which helping people because it’s Dickerson go by is, “any place
City Clerk/Qualifying Officer people of all ages can learn so rewarding to see people is a good place to read.”
about the men and women express themselves through
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 11

COUNTYWIDE

Local libraries and library advocate recognized

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
The Georgia Public
Library Service has named
the DeKalb County Public
Library as Georgia’s Public
Library of the Year. DeKalb
was recognized for offering
public programming that
embraces the county’s diverse
community.
“DeKalb County is
extremely proud of our public
library system and the critical
role it plays in promoting
lifelong learning,” said DeKalb
CEO Michael Thurmond.
“Under the outstanding
leadership of the Library
Board of Trustees, Library
Director Alison Weissinger
and her staff, the county
provides exceptional services,
programs and resources to our
residents.”
Georgia Public Library
Service also will be
recognizing Dan Aldridge,
current president of Friends
of Georgia Libraries, with
the Public Library Champion
of the Year at the Braselton
Public Library Feb. 17.
Aldridge has given
presentations to DeKalb
County libraries and libraries
across the state highlighting
the importance of volunteering
on behalf of Friends of
Georgia Libraries.
“It’s quite an honor to
win this award and I say
that for a number of reasons
but primarily because of the
people that won it before
me,” Aldridge said. “Those
are individuals that I was
just amazed at what they did
concerning libraries. I don’t
feel like I’ve reached their
level. I think I still have some
things to do.”
Aldridge is a part of
Friends of Georgia Libraries,
which is an organization
that helps the director of that
Georgia library organize a
friends group, raise money
to able to provide certain
programs that otherwise the
budget wouldn’t allow for
like summer reading program
for children. The group
also helps with fundraisers
so that libraries can meet
technological needs and
purchases.
The group also volunteers
their time in the library
assisting library staff where
help is needed.
According to Aldridge,
a person who wins Public
Library Champion of the
Year is an individual who is
not an employee or staff of
a library. The individual is
strictly a volunteer that makes
significant contributions to
the Georgia Public Library
System.
Aldridge explains how
the group will go above and
beyond for the library system,
“We’ve had a situation in
Georgia where some counties,
because of government short
falls, entertained the idea of
completely shutting down the
library system in the county.
So that would be an example
of when our group goes in and
helps the local friends group
argue and explain to the people
Dan Aldridge named Public Library
Champion of the Year. (Photo provided by
Dan Aldridge)
who are in charge setting the
budget.”
In 2018, DeKalb County
Board of Commissioners
approved Thurmond’s budget
increasing funding for libraries
by $2.2 million. County
leadership also raised the
minimum wage to $14 an hour,
affecting 90 library employees,
according to the DeKalb
County Communications
Department.
“I make it a point to ask
him every time I see him if he
is taking care of the libraries in
the budget,” Aldridge said.
According to Georgia
Public Library Service and the
honoree, Aldridge dedicates
his time as a volunteer and
personal funds traveling
across the state of Georgia to
advocate for public libraries,
including DeKalb county
libraries, and assist numerous
local friends of library groups
in organization by sharing
ways to strengthen their
advocacy efforts.
Aldridge tries to encourage
local members of the
community to volunteer and
participate in a friends group
to help their library because
to Aldridge libraries have
the potential to reach every
member of its community.
“Young, old, White or Black,
there is no other organization
that is more inclusive than a
library.”

by Taylor Robins • Taylor@dekalbchamp.com

EDUCATION BRIEFS
New School at Talley Street Principal
Announcement
City Schools of Decatur recently
announced that Billy Heaton has
been selected as principal for the new
elementary school opening in fall 2019
on Talley Street.   Troy University announces fall and
CSD received 27 applications for
the position.
Heaton has been the principal at
Clairemont Elementary since 2016.
Before joining the Clairemont crew,
he served as a middle school and
elementary school principal in Oconee
County and Madison County. Heaton
began his career as an upper elementary
teacher and said that he recognizes
the importance of developing upper
elementary learners so that they have a
solid foundation on which to build their
success.
“Opening a new school is an
exciting time for our district,” said
CSD Superintendent David Dude.
“I look forward to working with Mr.
Heaton and the team of principals in
our elementary schools during this
transition.”
term two graduates
Troy University recognized students
who completed the requirements for
graduation during the fall semester and
term two of the 2018-2019 academic
year.
Local residents who graduated
are Latwice Dixon of Doraville, who
graduated with a master of science
in counseling-rehabilitation; Hugo
Goicoechea of Decatur, received a
master of science in international
relations; and Ashley Huger of
Lithonia, received a master of science
in strategic communication.
The fall semester includes graduates
from the Troy, Ala., campus. Term two
graduates include students at Troy’s
campuses in Dothan, Phenix City and
Montgomery, Ala., along with teaching
sites outside of Alabama and online.
Local student named to University of
Rhode Island dean’s list
The University of Rhode Island
announced that more than 5,500
undergraduates have qualified for the
fall 2018 Dean’s List.
Grant West of Decatur was named
to the list.
To be included on the Dean’s List,
students must have completed 12 or
more credits during a semester for letter
grades with at least a 3.30 quality point
average. Part-time students qualify
with the accumulation of 12 credits
with a 3.30 quality point average.
The list includes students who have
not yet declared their majors as well
as those from all of the university’s
undergraduate academic colleges.
Lithonia resident named to Curry
College dean’s list
Curry College announced that
Monika Porter of Lithonia was named
to the dean’s list for the fall 2018
semester.
To qualify for the dean’s list,
students must earn a 3.30 GPA, have no
incompletes, and have no grade lower
than a “C” for the semester.

CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN PUBLIC NOTICE

The City of Stone Mountain hereby gives notice that

the Governing Body of the City of Stone Mountain,
Georgia has declared vacant the seat of Council
Member Steve Wells, Post 2. Mayor and Council
will accept Letters of Interest for the position through
February 8, 2019.

Please submit Letters of Interest to the City of Stone

Mountain, Administration, 875 Main Street, Stone
Mountain, GA 30083.
BUSINESS
STONE MOUNTAIN
Ali Katoot describes the 30,0000-square-foot International
Trade mall as a global bazaar.
Commercial ghost town returns to life with an international flair
BY KATHY MITCHELL
Freelance Reporter
The stretch of Memorial
Drive north of I-285 30 years
ago was a thriving business
area. A strip mall anchored
by a large grocery store near
Hambrick Road in Stone
Mountain was among its
prominent features. By the
dawn of the 21st century, most
of the stores and restaurants
that had once filled the area
were shuttered, leaving only a
spattering of small shops and
eateries, opening and closing
over the years. The grocery
store and many surrounding
shops were gone.
More than a year ago, real
estate developer Ali Katoot
looked over the area and saw
not a commercial ghost town,
but an opportunity for the
future. Katoot said he wasn’t
sure when he first purchased
the property what he would
do with it. “The area was
starting to make a comeback
and there were a number of
options,” he recalled, “but
I couldn’t help noticing the
international ambiance of the
area. I understand that this
area, where Stone Mountain
and Clarkston come together,
is the most ethnically diverse
area in the nation. I knew I
had to incorporate that into the
development.”
The dilapidated, largely
abandoned mall within a
few months became The
International Trade Mall, a
shopping center of more than
100 small stores operated by
entrepreneurs from across
the globe. The center opened
Nov. 1, 2018, and after what
At the grand opening shops offered food samples and
other giveaways.
Katoot described as a slow
start, held a grand opening Jan.
26 that featured entertainment,
food trucks, giveaways and
opportunities to meet business
owners.
“It took a lot of work to
bring us to this point,” he said.
“The building was run down
with leaks everywhere. It
needed a major renovation to
make it usable again.”
The mall, which has 106
current businesses with room
for almost as many more,
features a wide variety of
goods and services, including
clothing, food, textiles,
jewelry, gift and home décor
items, technology services
and hair styling. Katoot
described the 30,0000-square-
foot facility as a global
bazaar where shoppers can
find authentic products from
approximately 30 countries.
There are unique, hand-crafted
items from India, Africa, Asia,
Jamaica, the Middle East and
other places, he said.
Katoot said he is especially
proud that The International
Trade Mall is not just another
business venture, but an
opportunity to help the refugee
community. “This is an
especially good opportunity
women refugees, who might
not have many job prospects
otherwise. More than 55
percent of the businesses
here are owned exclusively
by women and many others
are owned by husband-wife
teams with the wife actually
operating the business while
her husband earns money
someplace else,” he noted.
Because most of the retail
spaces are small, they are
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 12
Authentic clothing items from other nations Although it has been open since November The
are among the goods available in the mall. International Trade Mall held its grand opening
Jan. 26.
affordable for business owners enthusiasm for it. We quickly Thurman and the county
just starting out, Katoot said. had a lot of small business commissioners, along with city
“People who don’t have a lot owners, refugees especially, of Clarkston officials, with the
of money to invest in a startup who were interested in coming resurgence of the Memorial
business can have a brick-and- here,” Katoot recalled. Drive business area. “They
mortar space with parking, In addition to the have been encouraging and
Wi-Fi and other amenities in businesses, there is a children’s supportive not just to us but to
which they can grow at their play area. “We want The other business ventures that are
own pace. International Trade Mall to be coming to his area,” he said.
“Our first challenge was to a family destination, a place “It was a good business de-
let people know we’re here. where the entire family can cision,” Katoot said of the cre-
This place had been closed shop and have fun. It’s colorful ation of the International Trade
for a while, so we wanted to and exciting, like taking an Mall, “but more than that it
invite the public back to the international trip without was the right decision for the
area. We went to churches leaving DeKalb County.” community. I see so many hap-
and mosques as well as to Katoot credits DeKalb py business owners here and I
businesses already operating in County government, know we did the right thing.”
the area and told them what we particularly CEO Michael
were doing. There was a lot of
CALL FOR AND NOTICE OF ELECTION
CITY OF LITHONIA GENERAL ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL POSITIONS
NOVEMBER 5, 2019 GENERAL ELECTION
TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF LITHONIA, WITHIN
DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA:
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on the 5th day of November, 2019, a general
election will be held in the CITY OF LITHONIA for the position of Mayor and two
positions on the City of Lithonia City Council.
Each candidate will file notice of his or her candidacy and the appropriate affidavit in
the office of the City Clerk, Lithonia City Hall, 6920 Main Street, Lithonia GA 30058.
Qualifying for candidates will begin on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 and end on Thursday,
August 22, 2019 between the hours of 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM (The office is closed for
lunch from 1:30-2:30 pm). The qualifying fee is $234.00 for the position of Mayor and
$122.40 for the position of Council Member.
The last day to register to be eligible to vote in this general election is Monday, October
7, 2019.
The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 in the polling place at
Lithonia Municipal Complex, 6920 Main Street, Lithonia, GA 30058. The polls will open
at 7:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM.
This call is issued by the City of Lithonia.
This 22nd day of January, 2019.
LOCAL

AROUNDDeKalb
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 13

BROOKHAVEN emergency situation and provide

Brookhaven drive announced
Brookhaven will be host a blood drive sign up for this free three-hour class,
Feb. 5 at Lynwood Park, 3360 Osborne which will be held at the Chamblee Civic
Road, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, visit www.
brookhavenga.gov or contact Parks
and Recreation Director Brian
Borden at (404)637-0542.
CHAMBLEE
“Until Help Arrives” FEMA class
scheduled
The Chamblee Police Department
will hold a class designed to educate
the public on how to respond to an
lifesaving care before professional first
responders arrive. Chamblee residents,
business owners and/or educators may
Center, 3540 Broad Street, on Saturday,
Feb. 23, from either 9 a.m. to noon or
1–4 p.m.
CLARKSTON
Library to host movie screening
The movie Queen of Katwe will be
shown Feb. 2 at Clarkston Library from
11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The movie is based
on the true story of a young girl from
the streets of Uganda whose world
changes when she is introduced to the
game of chess. The library is located at
951 North Indian Creek Drive. For more
information, call (404) 508-7175.
TUCKER
Gymnastics group to host
Valentine invitational
STONECREST
Library to host Black History Tucker Elite Gymnastics will host
a Valentine Invitational Feb. 9 from
trivia challenge
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tucker Recreation
Stonecrest Library will host a Black Center. Admission is $6 for adults
history trivia challenge throughout and $40 for seniors and children. The
February during library hours. Those recreation center is located at 4898
interested can pick up the trivia Lavista Road. For more information,
challenge at the circulation desk. A visit www.tuckerga.gov.
prize will be awarded to the person
who answers all the questions
correctly. The library is located
at 3123 Klondike Road. For more
information, call (770) 482-3828.

AUCTION
CLASSIFIEDSection qualified. Call Aviation Institute Georgia Press Educational hiring a full-time driver. Must pass
of Maintenance (866) 564-9634 Foundation offers scholarships & background, drug test and MVR.
Advertise Your Auction in 100 plus www.FixJets.com internships to Georgians studying Contact Dr. Julius Edmondson, Sr.
papers for $350. Your 25-word journalism. www.gapress.org/ (770) 981-7408. Location is 5721
classified ad reaches1 million plus Healthcare Career Training scholarships-internships/ Miller Grove Road, Lithonia, GA
readers. Call Bruce at Georgia Online. Start a New Career in 30058.
Newspaper Service 770-454-6776. Medical Billing & Coding. Medical New Jerusalem Adult Day Care is
Ask about our new quarter page Administrative Assistant. To hiring a full-time driver. Must pass
network ads! learn more, call Ultimate Medical background, drug test and MVR. MISCELLANEOUS
Academy 855-658-3012. Contact Dr. Julius Edmondson, Sr.
(770) 981-7408. Location is 5721 GOT LAND? Our Hunters will Pay
EDUCATION /CAREER PHARMACY TECHNICIAN-Online Miller Grove Road, Lithonia, GA Top $$$ To hunt your land. Call for
TRAINING Training Available! Take the first 30058. a FREE info packet & Quote. 1-866-
309-1507 www.BaseCampLeasing.
AIRLINE Career. AVIATION Grads step into a new career! Call now, com
ork work with Delta, Boeing, and 888-622-0679. DRIVER
others. Get hands on training for Do you know a student interested
FAA certification. Financial aid if in a career in newspapers? New Jerusalem Adult Day Care is

The Champion is not responsible for any damages resulting from advertisements. All sales final.
RATES: $30 for up to 40 words, each Ads due by Friday at noon for next publication DISCLAIMER: We do not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate,
or intend to discriminate, on any illegal basis. Nor do we knowingly accept
additional word $0.60. All ads are prepaid. All date. For more information visit www. employment advertisements that are not bona-fide job offers. All real estate
advertisements are subject to the fair housing act and we do not accept
major credit cards accepted. championclassifieds.com advertising that is in violation of the law. The law prohibits discrimination
based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status.
SPORTS
SWIMMING
The girls’ 100-yard breaststroke was a tight race.
Chamblee, Lakeside win county swim titles
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
For the first time in 34 years,
Chamblee Charter High School girls’
swim and dive team is a DeKalb
County School District champion.
The Chamblee Bullsharks won the
girls’ county title Jan. 26 at Chamblee
High after accumulating 249 points,
beating out four-time consecutive
winner Dunwoody (210.50 points).
Lakeside placed third with 185.50
points.
Chamblee finished the last three
WEEKLY BASKETBALL SCORES
Jan. 22
Boys
Cedar Grove 67, Lovett 54
Columbia 59, Lithonia 58
Dunwoody 87, Johns Creek 84 (OT)
Greenforest 92, Fulton Leadership Academy 42
M.L. King 68, Drew 53
Marist 55, Blessed Trinity 53 (OT)
Miller Grove 75, Clarkston 49
Southwest DeKalb 54, Chamblee 52 (OT)
St. Pius X 57, Stephens County 42
Stephenson 72, Mt. Zion 67 (OT)
Tucker 55, Morrow 49
W.D. Mohammed 58, Paideia 45
Banneker 64, Decatur 51
Eastside 60, Druid Hills 51
KIPP 85, McNair 69
Pace Academy 61, Towers 47
Westminster 63, Stone Mountain 60
Girls
Cedar Grove 60, Lovett 49
Columbia 69, Lithonia 22
Decatur 49, Banneker 43
M.L. King 53, Drew 41
Marist 52, Blessed Trinity 39
Miller Grove 50, Clarkston 29
county meets as runners-up. Coach
Lorri Reynolds said it feels awesome
to win county for the first time since
1985.
“We had a good group of freshmen
that have come in and we’re solid,” she
said. “For once, we have pretty good
depth and the girls are really talented
swimmers. I’m really happy and proud
of them.”
Chamblee senior Jade Foelske
broke a 13-year county record in the
200-yard individual medley with a time
of 2:07.08. Lakeside’s Katie Suhr
previously held the record with a time
of 2:09.57. Foelske, senior Teresa
Paideia 62, W.D. Mohammed 42
Southwest DeKalb 65, Chamblee 16
St. Pius X 72, Stephens County 68 (OT)
Stephenson 57, Mt. Zion 50
Stone Mountain 62, Westminster 36
Tucker 69, Morrow 38
Eastside 54, Druid Hills 52
Johns Creek 45, Dunwoody 33
KIPP 49, McNair 28
Pace Academy 55, Towers 16
Jan. 23
Boys
Southwest Atlanta Christian 88, Cross Keys 26
Girls
Southwest Atlanta Christian 63, Cross Keys 14
Jan. 24
Boys
Paideia 64, The Weber School 43
Jan. 25
Boys
Cedar Grove 57, Stone Mountain 54
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 14
Chamblee girls’ won its first county title since 1985.
Lakeside boys’ first county title since 2012 and 20th title overall.
Maloney, freshman Kyla Maloney and
sophomore Sophia Bell broke the 200-
yard medley relay record with a time of
1:50.77. The previous record was set in
2015 by Dunwoody (1:52.15).
With many talented swimmers on
this year’s team, Reynolds said she
thinks her team can place in the top five
at the state meet Feb. 7-9 at Georgia
Tech.
“We’ll see what happens; we have
some strong swimmers and we’re going
to give it our all,” she said.
Lakeside took home the boys’
county title with 226 points. It was the
team’s first county title since 2012 and
Chamblee 46, Clarkston 35
Decatur 51, North Springs
Druid Hills 58, Henry County 53
Greenforest 109, Strong Rock Christian 32
Lithonia 68, Arabia Mountain 42
Marist 70, Flowery Branch 34
Miller Grove 62, Columbia 51
Redan 83, Towers 61
St. Pius X 78, Oconee County 47
Stephenson 65, Drew 53
Tucker 76, Mt. Zion 45
W.D. Mohemmed 75, Atlanta Classical Academy 37
Cambridge 92, Dunwoody 75
Forest Park 70, M.L. King 64
Norcross 70, Lakeside 51
North Springs 58, Decatur 31
Girls
Arabia Mountain 66, Lithonia 38
Cedar Grove 47, Stone Mountain 46
Chamblee 54, Clarkston 19
Columbia 52, Miller Grove 44
Decatur 51, North Springs 21
Dunwoody 50, Cambridge 48 (OT)
Redan 52, Towers 41
St. Pius X 45, Oconee County 27
Stephenson 51, Drew 40
Flowery Branch 77, Marist 48
20th title overall. Dunwoody finished
second with 215 points and six-time
consecutive champions Chamblee
finished third with 160 points.
Lakeside was led by senior Sam
Witcher, who broke his own diving
record of 545.65 points set last year
with a new record of 591.
Druid Hills senior Liam Bell broke
the county record in the boys’ 200-
yard individual medley with a time
of 1:53.69, breaking Tucker’s Cash
DeLoach’s record of 1:55.26 set in
2015.
Forest Park 72, M.L. King 47
Henry County 81, Druid Hills 22
Mt. Zion 42, Tucker 31
Norcross 77, Lakeside 54
Jan. 26
Boys
Cedar Grove 81, Brainerd (Tenn.) 41
Clarkston 54, Landmark Christian 51
Columbia 63, M.L. King 57
Druid Hills 78, Alcovy 59
Blessed Trinity 63, Decatur 39
Eagle’s Landing 67, St. Pius X 50
Tattnall Square Academy 45, Paideia 30
Girls
Columbia 63, M.L. King 62
Decatur 58, Blessed Trinity 47
Druid Hills 51, Alcovy 33
Eagle’s Landing 53, St. Pius X 48 (OT)
Paideia 44, Tattnall Square Academy 25
Landmark Christian 78, Clarkston 34
SPORTS
WRESTLING
Dunwoody won the 2019 DeKalb County School District wrestling title. Photo from Michael Nash’s Twitter page
Dunwoody wins county
wrestling title
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The Dunwoody Wildcats
won their third DeKalb County
School District wrestling title
in four years Jan. 26 at Druid
Hills High School.
The Wildcats had six
Hi, I'm Geo
ID# 40392822)!
I'm a very sweet boy and I
love my people and my toys!
I'm only about 8-9 months old.
I love to play, but my foster
mom says I am very calm
for a dog of my age. I sleep
quietly on my dog bed when
it's bedtime and have never
woken my foster mom up! I
am doing great with my potty-
training, basic training, and
crate training. I walk nicely
and don't pull on the leash.
The only person I ever try to
jump on when I get excited
is my foster mom, but she's
teaching me not to do that.
I can be a little timid at first
with new people, but I realize
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 15
wrestlers to receive medals at sophomore Parker Smith.
the tournament, led by junior Sophomore Ben Tarrago
Charles McCowan, who won (120), freshman Adam Starks
gold in the 195-weight class. (113) and junior Curtis
Four wrestlers took home Holloway (170) placed fourth
silver medals—senior Luke in their respective weight
Pankey (145), senior Jack class, and senior Ethan
Holloway (160), sophomore Carter finished sixth in the
Tyler Rush (182) and 152-weight class.
or kids yet, but my foster mom
thinks I would be fine with them
because I am gentle. Please
come meet me and see what a
great, loving pup I am!
If you would like to expand
your family by 4 furry little
feet; meet Geo and have
a loving friend forever. All
adoptions include spay/neuter,
vaccinations and microchip! If
geo
you would like more information
about Geo please email
foster@dekalbanimalservices.
com or call (404) 294-2165;
all potential adopters will be
screened to ensure Geo goes
you're a friend as soon as
to a good home. Hours: Mon-
you start petting me and
Fri; 11am-7pm / Sat-Sun;
my mom says you're okay.
11am-6pm
I haven't been around cats
NEXT
LEVEL
Each week The Champion spotlights former
high school players from the county who are
succeeding in athletics on the college level.
Davonte Fitzgerald,
Stephen F. Austin
(basketball): The graduate
student forward from
Tucker had a double-
double of 13 points and 10
rebounds in the 61-60 win
over Abilene Christian Jan.
23.
Taboris Griggs, Point
(basketball): The senior
forward from Southwest
DeKalb led the team in
scoring with 23 points
in the 102-93 win over
Tennessee Wesleyan Jan.
26.
Asia Durr, Louisville
(basketball): The junior
guard from St. Pius X
scored led the team in
scoring with 29 points in
the 68-49 win over Florida
State Jan. 24.
PUBLIC NOTICE
CITY OF BROOKHAVEN
FIXING OF QUALIFYING FEES
The date of the Municipal Election for the seats of
Mayor and Council Districts 1 (one) and 3 (three) is
Tuesday, November 5, 2019. The qualifying fee for
Mayor is $480 and each council seat is $360.00,
which is 3% of the total gross salary of the preced-
ing year (Georgia Election Code 21-2-131 (a) (1)
(A). Each candidate shall file a notice of candidacy
in the office of the City Clerk of Brookhaven, 4362
Peachtree Road, Georgia between Wednesday,
August 21, 2019 and Friday, August 23, 2019, be-
tween the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and
1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Georgia Election Code
21-2-132 (d) (3). Each candidate must meet the
qualifications of the Charter and Code of the City of
Brookhaven, as well as applicable State laws.
Susan D. Hiott
City Clerk
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FEBRUARY 1, 2019 • Page 16

Okra from West Africa, shrimp from the bayou,

and spices from the Caribbean all come together
in the meals we love. They’re rich in flavor,
shaped by tradition—authentic and unique. Our
culinary heritage is historic—and Black history is
American history.

Publix celebrates Black History Month and all of

the flavors that inspire our Publix Aprons® recipes.

See publix.com/BlackHistory
for recipes you can share this month.