SPRING FORWARD A DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME 03.10.

19 @2AM
the DeKalb FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 • VOL. 24, NO 4 • 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

Residents rejoice
after demolition
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

D
eKalb residents who have been waiting more than five
years for a dilapidated property in Stone Mountain to
be torn down got their wish March 1.
The demolition at 1264 Muirforest Drive was the first such
project for DeKalb County in 2019. DeKalb County officials
Obert Jordan, Stone Mountain resident, at the site of the demolition March 1. Photos by Horace Holloman. said the county is working to eradicate blight.
Obert Jordan, a resident of Stone Mountain for more
than three decades, said she was overjoyed to see the property
finally come down. Jordan said the property quickly became a
safety concern.
“Kids used to come over here and do things they weren’t
supposed to do. We got it boarded up and now I’m happy. Now
that it’s gone and they’re talking about doing [the same with]
other properties in the neighborhood, we’re satisfied,” Jordan
said.
DeKalb County officials said they plan to demolish two
other properties near Muirforest Drive in Stone Mountain.
DeKalb County officials approved $3.8 million in 2017
to enhance blight-fighting initiatives and address blighted
properties in DeKalb. Under a blight remediation program,
DeKalb has demolished or abated approximately 300 vacant,
abandoned or poorly maintained properties since 2017.
“I am happy and the neighbors are happy too,” said Jordan.
“Ride through any subdivision and you see property boarded
up and windows broken, it brings the property value down.
Getting this down and getting this leveled makes the entire
street look nice.”
DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson
Crews demolished an abandoned property in Stone Mountain March 1. spoke to residents during the demolition. In an interview with
The Champion, she said residents have complained about the
property for more than a year.
“I just want the residents to know that we’re listening
and we’re doing everything we can to eradicate blight in
our community and it will not be tolerated,” Davis-Johnson
said. “If you do not take care of your property, it will be
demolished.”
Davis-Johnson said DeKalb officials have been working to
get the property remediatied since 2013. The process of getting
property demolished takes time, she said.
In 2017 the DeKalb Magistrate Court and Solicitor-
General’s office created blight programs to target dilapidated
properties. Chief Magistrate Judge Berryl Anderson formed
a three-judge Magistrate Court Ordinance Division to review
cases involving properties that have failed to improve despite
repeated citations.
DeKalb County commissioner Mereda Davis-Johnson looks on with excitement as crews prepare to tear down a dilapidated
property in Stone Mountain. SEE DEMOLITION ON PAGE 6

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

LOCAL
STONE MOUNTAIN
To expand or not
to expand?
Residents give opinions on GMC’s
expansion plan
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Stone Mountain residents
voiced their opinions on a
proposal to expand Georgia
Military College’s campus.
The city council held a
public hearing Feb. 26 on
a zoning variance request
for Georgia Military
College (GMC) as part
of an expansion plan that
would add more classrooms.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 2
Georgia Military College Stone Mountain campus is proposing to expand and to add classrooms. Photo by Carla Parker
The expansion would
eliminate parking spaces
on the property. The Stone
Mountain Downtown
Development Authority,
which owns the building
where GMC operates, filed
the variance request of “14
feet for the front setback
distance from Manor Drive
to the property located at
5325 Manor Drive,” the
variance application read.
At a Jan. 28
SEE EXPAND ON PAGE 16 There is support and opposition to the expansion.
LOCAL
DUNWOODY
New bridge to connect
neighborhoods
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Dunwoody has recently
completed construction
of a pedestrian bridge that
connects Georgetown
Community to Perimeter
Center.
The bridge, completed
Feb. 27, is part of the
Dunwoody Trailway. Along
with a new section of the
Dunwoody Trailway, it is
expected to open in the
coming weeks, according to
Dunwoody officials.
“By completing this
section of the Dunwoody
Trailway, we’re one step
closer to connecting Brook
Run Park to Perimeter
Center,” said Dunwoody
Parks Director Brent
Walker. “The goal is to get
STONE MOUNTAIN
City moves to phase II
of annexation plan those services, and this
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The city of Stone
Mountain will move forward
with its annexation plan.
The city council
unanimously voted at a Feb.
26 special called meeting to
move forward with phase
two of a proposal from
Nickel Works Consulting on
its annexation plan.
City Manager ChaQuias
Miller-Thornton said city
staff received an updated
proposal for annexation
support services from the
consulting firm.
“This particular proposal
provides the foundation
for services such as an
annexation start-up plan
review,” Miller-Thornton
said. “The proposal is
estimated at $29,500 for
people out of their cars so
they can walk, run or bike
throughout Dunwoody.”
The 145-foot bridge was
delivered in three pieces and
was set in place by a crane.
It crosses the North Fork
of Nancy Creek near the
Georgetown Recreation Club
on Old Spring House Lane.
According to Dunwoody
officials, the total cost
of the bridge, boardwalk
ramps and walking trail
on the Georgetown side of
the bridge was $428,572.
Perimeter Community
Improvement District
contributed $200,000 to
the bridge’s total cost. City
council originally budgeted
$600,000 for the project.
Townsend at Perimeter
Townhomes paid for the
trailway on the Perimeter
will take us through the
legislative session until a bill
execution by the governor.”
In 2016, the Stone
Mountain Annexation 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
DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 3
A close view of the newly installed pedestrian bridge in Dunwoody. Photo provided by the city of Dunwoody
Center side of the bridge.
The bridge goes across
the creek and continues
behind the new Townsend
at Perimeter Townhomes
on Perimeter Center East.
A future phase of the
Dunwoody Trailway will
connect this new section to
Ashford Dunwoody Road
and Perimeter Mall.
tax base from 20 to 36
percent.
Miller-Thornton said city
staff initially determined
that this was the route that
city council would want to
take because of the push
by Greenhaven supporters
of a bill for the proposed
south DeKalb city. Stone
Mountain’s annexation
plans would have been in
jeopardy if a Greenhaven bill
had passed the legislative
session. Greenhaven’s map
includes areas that are in
Stone Mountain’s annexation
map.
“I think one of the driving
forces, I know for me
personally, with continued
annexation this year is the
possibility of the new city of
Greenhavn forming,” said
Mayor Pro Tem Chakira
Johnson. “If that new city
SEE ANNEXATION ON PAGE 16
OPINION
Uninspired writer can’t find anything
I offer my apologies in advance.
Although I haven’t even finished, I
know that this column that I’m writing
isn’t up to my usual standards.
Writing a newspaper opinion piece
every other week requires that the
writer have opinions. Anything from
law enforcement, politics, business,
education, local leaders, criminal
justice, community developments,
observances in one’s neighborhood or
even personal experiences can be the
subject matter for an opinion piece.
Sometimes the pieces are heavy hitting
and passionate, other times they are
light-hearted and humorous.
I’m no newcomer to writing opinion
pieces and editorials. I was taught the
basics while a student in journalism
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
Gale Horton Gay
fastgale@hotmail.com
school decades ago and have honed
my skills throughout my career. I’ve
even won a first-place award for how I
express myself in print.
In 2018, I penned more than 30
opinion columns for The Champion
Newspaper ranging from road
improvements on Rockbridge Road, the
Kavanaugh/Blasey Ford controversy,
racial bias, suicide rates, teen activism,
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 4
distracted driving and even a most
personal piece about the graciousness
strangers showed to my 92-year-old
mom.
When an idea takes hold in my
mind about something that I have a
strong opinion about, it usually doesn’t
take long—sometimes 30 minutes to an
hour—to express my thoughts on my
laptop.
However, there are the other
times—which brings me to my
apology.
This week I couldn’t find
anything—not one damn thing—on
which to share my thoughts. Sure,
there’s plenty going on in the world
and our corner of it here in DeKalb—
the ongoing battle over Trump’s wall,
school officials making corrections
to teacher pay, people continuing to
give their time to volunteer projects,
the coming of spring, protests on a
number of issues across the country
and so much more. However, none of
these or the many other subjects that I
mulled over grabbed me, inspired me,
delighted, angered me enough to turn it
into a decent opinion piece.
Call it writer’s block, wariness over
a tumultuous world or just a temporary
lapse in editorial productivity, all I can
say is “sorry.” I promise that two weeks
from now when it’s my time again to
deliver a column that it will bring you
my best.
OPINION
“My style of deal-making is
quite simple and straightforward. I
aim very high, and then I just keep
pushing and pushing and pushing
to get what I’m after. Sometimes
I settle for less than I sought,
but in most cases I still end up
with what I want.” from Donald
Trump’s autobiographical memoir,
The Art of the Deal published in
1987.
 As an entrepreneur, reality
TV star, later presidential aspirant
and now president, Donald Trump
frequently reminds us all, on Twitter
and elsewhere, of his powers of
persuasion and big deal making.  12 million residents. Imagine New
I give President Trump credit
for opening discussions with North
Korea and its odd dictator, Kim
Jong Un. Three generations of the
Kim family have ruled North Korea
since 1948. And standing down the
nuclear weapons program of the tiny
first world regime has vexed U.S.
presidents ever since.  or the Paris Peace Treaties of 1947,
Following the first summit,
Trump was able to cause Kim to halt
missile launches over such allies
as Japan as well as active testing of
his nuclear arsenal. Kim was also
persuaded, by Trump or by history,
to take the first steps across his
border and the demilitarized zone, to
walk and talk with his South Korean
counterpart, and to possibly begin
what might actually become the full
armistice and end of the Korean
War.  father or grandfather, in part to
 Kim has partially closed,
dismantled and imploded the
primary underground weapon testing
facility, but hundreds of buildings
remain, sprawling across a nearly
30-mile military installation that
is the center of Kim’s weapons
program. And Kim has offered no
assurances that existing missiles
will be dismantled, as the 35-year-
old, third generation dictator
believes that his armaments, nuclear,
chemical and conventional are all
that prevent an all-out U.S. led
invasion to remove him from power.  go around. Though Secretary of
 
Kim and the U.S. share a view of
FREEPRESS
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Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
The art of no deal
‘One Man’s
Opinion’
Bill Crane
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
an eventually reunified Korea, with
Vietnam and Germany being the
most relevant models.  gain and the most to lose during any
Seoul, the capital of South Korea,
less than 30 miles from the North
Korean border, is one of the world’s
largest cities, teeming with nearing
York’s, Chicago’s, Los Angeles’
and metro Atlanta’s populations
combined, all in an area of roughly
233 square miles. The 20-county
metro Atlanta region is 8,376 square
miles, and roughly the size of the
state of Massachusetts.  completed anything resembling true
 Whether Appomattox, or Yalta,
which formally ended the war in
Western Europe, or the Korean
War Armistice Agreement of 1953,
which ended fighting between
the United States/United Nations
Command and the Korean People’s
Army and PRC, months of statecraft
and staff work typically precede an
actual summit, treaty signing and big
meeting.
 Presidents preceding Trump
chose not to meet with Kim, his
prevent elevating any of the despot
trio on the world stage. Trump has
crossed that bridge, and perhaps
believes that the younger, pudgier
fellow “playboy” would choose
history and moving his country
out of the darkness, in exchange
for global celebrity and eventual
prosperity for his people, in
exchange for his eventual loss of
ruling power. But giving for the
greater good doesn’t quite seem very
Kim family. 
There is plenty of blame to
State Mike Pompeo is recognized
and credited with establishing a
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR,
The DeKalb Free Press,
P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347;
Send email to Johnh@dekalbchamp.com
FAX To: (404) 370-3903; Phone: (404) 373-7779.
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 5
format and delivery method for the
president’s daily national security
briefing, it’s clear that the president
had also not signed off on a template
or preagreement that had been
previewed by Pompeo’s counterparts
in either Korea. This is again evident
in part by the way these negotiations
continue to blindside South Korean
President Moon Jae-In, who
continues to have both the most to
potential Korean reunification.  No Deal.”
 It was Trump’s gift of
postponing scheduled war games
exercises with South Korea—a
result of Kim’s request at the earlier
summit—that made the dictator
view the developer as an easy
mark. Thankfully, it was Trump who
balked and walked this time, as Kim
pushed for a full rollback of U.S.
economic sanctions before his nation
denuclearization.  csicrane@gmail.com.
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
John Hewitt Carla Parker
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Social Media Manager:
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The DeKalb Free Press is published each Friday
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Phone (404) 373-7779.
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We would hope that our president
won’t return to the negotiating
table with the tyrant unless there
is an actual document to sign,
following our previously stated
and clear objections to nuclear
weapons and related weaponry in
the region. Perhaps then, as part of a
nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize,
Trump supporters can pin a second
novel, “The Art of the Summit,”
versus another episode of “Deal or
Bill Crane also serves as a
political analyst and commentator
for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-
AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
FM, as well as a columnist for The
Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
native and business owner, living
in Scottdale. You can reach him
or comment on a column at bill.
STATEMENT FROM THE
PUBLISHER
We sincerely appreciate the
discussion surrounding this and any
issue of interest to DeKalb County.
The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
discourse for all community residents
on all sides of an issue. We have no
desire to make the news only to
report news and opinions to effect
a more educated citizenry that will
ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
ideas for discussion; however,
we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
assumptions penned as fact.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 • Page 6

DEMOLITION
Continued From Page 1
In 2019, the county
plans to conduct a first-
ever comprehensive study
of blighted properties in
DeKalb. Approximately
139,000 parcels will be
reviewed.
“It’s a process and that
process has to go through
the courts. In the end, we’re
going to get it done just like
today,” Davis-Johnson said.
“Blight affects property
values, quality of life and
there’s safety concerns. We
know that. We’re able now
to go to court and get these
properties demolished in a
timely fashion.”
BROOKHAVEN
Road rage shooting results in 12 charges
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
After an alleged Feb. 28
road rage incident in which
gunshots were fired near E.
Roxboro Road and North
Druid Hills, suspect and
Decatur resident Knokeisha
Tonisha Jones was arrested
on multiple charges.
Around 9:25 a.m.
Brookhaven police were
dispatched to calls regarding
shots fired.
According to
Brookhaven police, the

SUBSCRIBE
unnamed victim and
Acworth resident was
TO THE driving with his wife and
three children─ages 6, 4
One of two bullet holes found on the victim’s car after a Feb. 28 road rage incident. Photo provided by the city of Brookhaven.

CHAMPION and 3. When the victim

NEWSPAPER
attempted to merge into
traffic, he was cut off by
404.373.7779 Jones who was driving a
2016 Acura.
EXT. 100 Jones admitted to police
that she brandished a
weapon but did not fire it.
The victim’s car had two
bullet holes, according to
police.
Police believe two to
seven shots were fired.
Jones was arrested and
charged with six counts of
aggravated assault, three
counts of cruelty to children
in the third degree─which
were dropped, and three
counts of cruelty to children
causing excessive physical
or mental pain in the first
degree.
2.
Jones bonded out March

REDUCE • REUSE • RECYCLE

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 7

PUFF, PUFF,
POSSESSION
Penalties could be reduced
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN considered a misdemeanor;
SB 10 would amend
horace@dekalbchamp.com possession of up to two

A pproximately ounces a misdemeanor.

two years ago, Some advocates say the
Clarkston leaders legislation is a step toward
reduced the charges for decriminalizing marijuana
possession of less than in Georgia.
an ounce of marijuana to “I absolutely support
a ticket-only offense. A this legislation,” said
year later Atlanta followed Senator Elena Parent.
by reducing the fine for “We have been in this
possession of less than an mode of locking people up
ounce of marijuana to $75. who don’t pose any risk
State lawmakers are to society. They’re being
now addressing marijuana locked up over a substance
possession by introducing that has been legalized in
Senate Bill 10. Under some states.”
current state law, one Parent, who is one
ounce of marijuana is of the sponsors of the
bill, said she listened to
SEE MARIJUANA ON PAGE 16

GOT A NEWS TIP?

We’d love to hear from you.

HORACE HOLLOMAN
Horace@DeKalbChamp.com
Local news editor: covers county government
crime • courts • Decatur • Avondale Estates

CARLA PARKER
Carla@DeKalbChamp.com
Sports editor: covers sports plus Stonecrest
Clarkston • Lithonia • Stone Mountain • Tucker

TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@DeKalbChamp.com
Education editor: covers all things education-related
Brookhaven • Doraville • Chamblee • Dunwoody • Pine Lake.
TheCHAMPION
LOCAL
DECATUR
Customers in line to order at Souper Jenny in
downtown Decatur. Photo by Jenny Levison.
Business cites parking issues as reason for closing
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Popular restaurant Souper
Jenny closed the doors at its
Decatur location for the last
time in February
Jenny Levison, the
store’s owner, announced the
close on social media.
“(Feb. 23) is the last day
one of our locations will
be open. We’re closing our
Souper Jenny in Decatur,
which has been a really
tough decision to make,”
Levison said.
According to Levison,
lack of downtown parking
and high rent were issues
the business could not
overcome.
“We love Decatur. It’s a
fantastic community. It has
just been a tough parking
situation, and our lease is
up. Rent is going up in the
area and it’s a decision that
I had to make,” Levison
said. “I’m still feeling sad
DUNWOODY
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to get more sidewalks
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Dunwoody took a
step to become more
of a pedestrian-friendly
community as it started
improving and filling in
gaps of sidewalks at the end
of February.
“Our goal is to make
this area safer and more
accessible for everyone in
the area,” said Dunwoody
Public Works Director
Michael Smith. “This
project will improve
connectivity for residents
who need access to
City officials said they are working to increase turnover at desirable parking locations around Decatur. File photos
because we’re not a chain
of restaurants. I’m the sole
owner of the Souper Jennys
and I have an incredible team
around me. We built that
place with a lot of love.”
Management for Thumbs
Up Diner on West Ponce
de Leon Avenue also cited
rising rent as a reason for
closing. The business closed
in October of last year. A
note posted on the door
prior to closing read: “I
know I speak for the rest
of the staff when I say we
feel very lucky to have been
able to get to know all of
you and making memories
that we will cherish for a
lifetime. We urge everyone
to use their voices to protest
the rising rents in this area.
Unfortunately, it’s too late
for us but you may be able to
save other local businesses.”
Lyn Menne, Decatur
assistant city manager,
said the city tries to build
relationships with local
employers, educators and
local retail centers.”
Improvements are being
made on sidewalks on the
southbound access road
along Peachtree Industrial
Boulevard from Winters
Chapel Road to Homeland
Drive, where Dunwoody
meets Doraville.
According to city
officials, the project will
eliminate more than 900
feet of sidewalk gaps and
provide new Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA)
accessible curb ramps and
crosswalks.
City officials estimate
DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 8
 
businesses. download the Park Mobile spaces and pay for parking
“We never like to hear app to find available parking via phone.
that a business is closing,
and we try hard to work
together with our businesses
and restaurants. Our job is to T HE 12TH A NNUA L
get people to Decatur. Their
job is to get them to walk in
the door,” Menne said. CONGRESS ON THE
STATE OF BLACK BUSINESS
Menne said Decatur
has approximately 10,000
available parking spaces. In
September of last year, city IN METRO ATLANTA
officials agreed to increase
parking rates and extend
parking enforcement. On-
“Growing Businesses: Sustaining and
street parking rates in the Expanding in Times of Change”
downtown district will
increase to $3 per hour.
Menne said the goal is to
THE OBJECTIVE of this year’s Congress is to under-
increase parking turnover in
highly desirable areas and
stand the changing economic climate, emerging hurdles, and
encourage drivers with long how businesses can adapt, thrive and sustain this change in
term parking needs to use 2019 and beyond.
parking decks.
Whether you are a business owner or a professional seeking
“Typically, when I hear a to make connections for the future, you can take advantage
business cite parking as an
excuse, we take that with a
of this opportunity. Come to the Congress to meet key deci-
grain of salt,” Menne said. sion makers, and to learn how to grow your business and
Menne said residents can grow our community’s wealth.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
• Meet key decision makers at organizations who will
create billions of dollars in economic activity
• Network with potential partners, customers or employers
• Learn from successful business owners who will
share tips on how they succeeded
that the project will cost
$94,387. The city will
pay an estimated 30
percent of the cost with MEET TOP EXECUTIVES FROM MAJOR ORGANIZATIONS
the Georgia Department of WHO WILL SHARE PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Transportation committing
to pay $60,065 through
a Multimodal Safety and WHEN
Access grant. Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 8:00a.m.-3:00p.m.
The need for better WHERE
Dunwoody sidewalks was The Shirley A. Massey Executive Conference
highlighted in the City of Center at Morehouse College
Dunwoody’s Sidewalk 830 Westview Drive, SW
Priority List. Sidewalks Atlanta, GA 30314
scored high based on the
demonstrated demand, Visit atlantabusinessleague.org for more information and to register online,
access to transit and or call us at 404-584-8126.
adjacent multifamily land
use.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

The Southwest DeKalb High School Tennis Team prepared 800 meals for Open Hand Atlanta. Photo provided by Twenty members of the Southwest DeKalb High School Tennis Team performed community service work
Lance Thomas-Davenport at Open Hand Atlanta. Photo provided by Lance Thomas-Davenport

A Read Across America volunteer visits a DeKalb County School District classroom March 1. From left, Dr. Dwayne Turner, First-Place Winner Issahaku Alhassan, Dr. Leslie Richmond; Alhassan won this year’s
Photo provided by DeKalb County School District Twitter Dental Quiz Bowl by demonstrating his knowledge about dental health. Photo provided by DeKalb County Board of Health
Twitter.

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

EDUCATION
ATLANTA IN DEKALB
McNair High School students shipped 101 bags of shoes to Guatemala Feb. 25. Photo provided by Maronda Hastie.
Students ship shoes
to Guatemala
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
After a two-month
long shoe drive, McNair
High School’s travel club
sent 101 bags of shoes to
Guatemala Feb. 25.
“That was a lot of shoes
to pack up,” said Thomas
Rivers III, McNair High
School senior.
In partnership with The
Funds2Orgs Group, the
travel club sent 2,525 pairs
of shoes to Guatemala. The
shoe drive will also benefit
other countries such as
Haiti. The Feb. 25 sendoff
was the first shipment.
Students continued to
collect shoes from donors
throughout the first week of
March and expect to send a
second shipment.
“It feels very awesome,”
Rivers said. “Actually doing
something that doesn’t
involve money or wealth, it
just feels so great. I know
it’s just shoes to us but to
[those receiving them] it’s
something even greater.”
Rivers said the shoe
drive has made him
become a better person
after asking the community
for donations and that his
family is proud of him,
“They encouraged me to
keep doing what I’m doing
because it’s not only helping
me out as a person but also
helping people that need the
Students load bags of shoes into a truck to ship to Guatemala Feb. 25. Photo by Taylor
Robins.
shoes.”
The travel club
conducted a previous shoe
drive that resulted in 2,600
pairs of shoes shipped to
Honduras, Bolivia, Ghana
and Haiti. The idea to start
shoe drives came when
the club took a trip to
Guatemala in 2016 to help
build schools.
“I’m very proud to
see the teamwork of the
students,” said Maronda
Hastie, McNair High
School teacher and travel
club leader. “I’m proud
to see the leadership and
how they contacted other
companies to assist us. They
got their families involved
and the community, so it
was definitely a collective
effort. It was nice to see
the final product and to see
them make an impact.”
DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 10
COUNTYWIDE
Cameras for DeKalb County School District buses are under consideration. Photo by
Taylor Robins.
Special needs school bus cameras
‘remain under consideration’
BY TAYLOR ROBINS Stephen Green said he had
taylor@dekalbchamp.com not heard of the incident
regarding the second grader
and that incidents that occur
DeKalb County School
on special needs school
District (DCSD) officials
buses are a “blind spot”
are considering placing
for the district due to some
cameras in school buses that
students being nonverbal.
do not have them after a
“I will commit to looking
parent raised concerns at the
into that and seeing what
Jan. 24 On the Scene with
the cost would be and move
Dr. Green.
forward with what we can
The parent of a Bob
do to address that need,”
Mathis Elementary School
Green said to the parent.
second grader named
The Champion
Malachi informed school
Newspaper followed up
district officials and event
with district officials on
attendees that her son rides
the matter and received a
on a special needs bus and
statement Feb. 21 that says,
had fallen earlier in the
“DCSD has 387 specially
school year, hit his head and
equipped school buses that
was sent to the hospital.
service between 2,045 and
The parent said she was
2,060 students on any given
not notified of the incident
day. District personnel
by the district; however, she
are always reviewing
was notified from her older
equipment, technology,
child that Malachi had come
and tools that help to keep
home from school with
our students safe, as it
blood on his shirt.
remains a top priority. A
The parent also said
budget proposal has been
that an investigation of the
developed to purchase
incident involving Malachi
cameras for the 750 school
revealed that DCSD special
buses without cameras. The
needs school buses are not
cost for this proposed effort
equipped with operating and
is more than $1.5 million.
functioning cameras “so a
This effort remains under
lot of our babies who are
consideration.”
special needs are nonverbal
and aren’t able to articulate
what has happened to FREE BREAKFAST AND
them.” LUNCH EVERY SUNDAY!
The parent asked district Sunday School 9:15-10:15 a.m.
officials if any money is Sunday Service
available to equip buses for 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
special needs students with Wed. Bible Study: 7-8 p.m.
cameras.
“How are we to know Looking for new ushers, choir
what truly happens to our
members and praise team.
children when they are hurt New Jerusalem
Outreach Ministries
on the school bus?” the (770) 981-7408
parent asked.
DCSD Superintendent R. Sr. Pastor,
Dr. Julius Edmondson, Sr.
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 11

DUNWOODY
EDUCATION BRIEFS
BY TAYLOR ROBINS • TAYLOR@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Lee receives dental scholarship, wants to help elderly
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Decatur student on Wofford College Dean’s List taylor@dekalbchamp.com

Helen Grace Davidson of Decatur is among the
students named to Wofford College’s Dean’s List for the
fall 2018 semester.
Valdosta State University fall 2018 graduates include
local students
Valdosta State University announced the members of its
graduating class of fall 2018.
The list includes Julia Allison of Decatur, Gabrielle
Ash of Decatur, Eva Cameron of Stone Mountain,
Christopher Cribb of Tucker, Kyra Dickens of
Stone Mountain, Jaisen Edwards of Stone Mountain,
Christopher Evans of Decatur, Hakeem Greenhill
of Lithonia, Laney Hamilton of Decatur, Kamyshia
Jackson of Decatur, Destini Jones of Lithonia, Taylor
Keels of Stone Mountain, Brian McMichael of Decatur,
Khafra Mills of Stone Mountain, Kim Peters of
Chamblee, Saydralynn Quashie of Lithonia, Brittany
Shy of Decatur, Deborah Webb of Decatur and Khadijah
Wright of Decatur.
More than 900 undergraduate and graduate students
completed the requirements for their respective degrees
during the fall 2018 semester.
Jones enrolled in Carleton College
Sydney Jones of Decatur has enrolled at Carleton
College as a member of the Class of 2022.
The 532 students in the Carleton Class of 2022 were
selected from a pool of 7,095 applicants. The incoming
students represent 48 states and 24 countries.
Sheard completes newspaper internship
Zoie Sheard of Lithonia recently completed an
internship at The Valdosta Daily Times.
Sheard is one of 55 students from Valdosta State
University’s Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business
Administration who completed internships during the fall
2018 semester.
Markiton makes honor roll at Spokane Falls
Community College
Payton Lee, a dental hygiene student at
West Georgia Technical College, recently
received a $1,000 Knowledge Matters
Scholarship from Flax Dental.
Out of 67 applications, Lee was chosen as
this year’s winner because of her essay that
expressed her desire to help the elderly with
dental care─a desire that was birthed while
she was working as a private caregiver for
senior citizens.
“Payton has a high level of enthusiasm
and determination,” said Hugh Flax, owner
and dentist of Flax Dental in Dunwoody.
“Her authenticity and commitment to dental
care for seniors makes her stand apart from
the crowd. That’s a sign of leadership.”
She said she enjoys working with her
patients and helping them live healthier lives.
She also witnessed senior citizens suffering
from dental problems due to poor hygiene
habits. Lee found that many care programs
focus exclusively on hair and bathing but
exclude dental health. She will graduate from
West Georgia Technical College in 2019.
“After graduating from dental hygiene
school, it is my goal to develop an elderly
outreach program that provides dental
services to those in assisted living homes,
nursing homes, and possibly even those still
living in their own residence,” Lee said.
“Dental health should also be assessed on a
regular basis because too often it is pushed to
the side in the elderly population.”
Flax said that he likes Lee’s goal and, “I
love her vision of helping seniors.”
“The dental profession needs wonderful
Proposed Substantial Amendment to the 2014-2018
Consolidated Plan, including the 2017 and 2018 Annual Action Plans
“Lou Walker Senior Center Facility Upgrades, Security Enhancements,
and ADA Parking Expansion”
Hugh Flax, left, presents Payton Lee with a scholarship check
that she won with an essay based on dental care for the
elderly. Photo provided by Flax Dental
people who have great purpose and
empathy,” Flax said. “The scholarship is
designed to find the special person who
personifies a ‘higher standard of care’ like
we have at Flax Dental. We are happy to
provide a token of appreciation to help
defray some of the costs of becoming a new
dental professional.”
Annually, eligible students compete based
on a 400-600 word essay on the importance
of pursuing a career in dentistry. This is the
third year Flax has offered the Knowledge
Matters Scholarship.
“I’ve always believed in finding ways
to give back. If you care about something
you should find ways to be part of helping it
grow and succeed,” Flax said. “Offering our
scholarship is work and a sacrifice, but we
love hearing from students and supporting
their success. Practices are only as good
as the people in them and the skills and
compassion they bring to their work.”

Van Markiton of Stone Mountain was one of more

than 1,900 students on the fall 2018 honor roll list at
Spokane Falls Community College.
DCSD students named Posse Scholars
Eight students from DeKalb County School District
(DCSD) have earned all-expenses paid trips to colleges.
The students from seven DCSD high schools have
been named Posse Scholars for the 2018-2019 school
year. Recipients will receive full tuition at a college or
university of their choice for up to four years.
They are Robert Felton of Chamblee Charter High,
Isabelle Yap of Chamblee Charter High, Mariya
Kurbatova of DeKalb School of the Arts, Emmanuel
Zelalem of Druid Hills High, Maya Lavender of
Dunwoody High, Caleb Wyatt of Stephenson High,
Bawi Par of Stone Mountain High and Xavier Butler of
Tapestry Public Charter.
DeKalb County is proposing to amend to the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan,
including the 2017 and 2018 Action Plans. Specifically, the Community Development
Department seeks to utilize $140,604 in 2017 CDBG funding in order to carryout
upgrades to the facility and enhance building security at the Lou Walker Senior Center.
Additionally, the Community Development Department seeks to use $20,550 in 2018
CDBG funding in order to expand ADA parking at the Lou Walker Senior Center.
All citizens are invited to view the proposed substantial amendment to this
programs from March 7, 2019 to March 22, 2019 on the DeKalb County Community
Development website, https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/community-development/
public-notice.
DeKalb County Community Development Department
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 401, Decatur, Georgia 30030
(404) 371-2727
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Comment forms may be obtained and completed at the above listed location.
Comments may also be faxed or emailed to the
Community Development Department.
Fax: (404) 371-2742
Email: bkcampbell@dekalbcountyga.gov
 AROUNDDeKalb
DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 12

COUNTYWIDE custodians, railroad conductors, Skyride team

It’s time to for daylight saving time
Residents should remember to set their
clocks forward for daylight saving time. The
hour change will happen March 10 at 2 a.m.
DUNWOODY
Learn about health with Walk with a Doc
event
Dunwoody is hosting a free Walk with a Doc
event that serves as a monthly exercise and
education initiative March 9 at 9 a.m.
The program is focused on getting
participants active in a Dunwoody park while
speaking with a healthcare professional host
who can provide support to walkers and answer
questions during the walk.
The event will take place at Brook Run Park
on the front field, opposite the playground.
TUCKER
Group to host chili cook-off
The Old Town Tucker Merchants Association
will host the eighth annual Tucker Chili Cook-
Off March 9 from 1 to 5 p.m. All the festivities
will take place on Main Street. The entry fee $5,
which will grant attendees access to taste chili
prepared by event contestants and gives them
one vote toward the People’s Choice prize. For
more information or to find out how to take part
in the event, email jameywilson@gmail.com or
call (404) 556-7666.
STONE MOUNTAIN
Park hiring for part-time jobs
Stone Mountain Park is recruiting nearly
300 seasonal and part-time employees for
spring and summer events. Stone Mountain
Park offers employment opportunities in
food service, attractions, merchandise and
entertainment. Positions include team
members, cooks, bussers, servers, dishwashers,
members, SkyHike team members, educational
interpreters, gardeners, 4-D and mini golf
team members, ushers, performers, stage
managers, show technicians and more. For more
information about job openings and how to
apply, visit stonemountainpark.com/Careers.
All applications must be completed online, with
training beginning soon for many positions. The
park intends to fill all positions by April 1.
STONECREST
Library to host movie screening
Academy Award winner for best picture
“Green Book” will be screened March 12 at
Stonecrest Library from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The movie stars Academy Award winner
Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. The
library is located at 3123 Klondike Road. For
more information, call (770) 482-3828.

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BUSINESS
COUNTYWIDE
Event to spotlight Black-owned
businesses in south DeKalb
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
The men and women
striding across the stage
of the Porter Sanford
III Performing Arts
and Community Center
last year to give brief
presentations were neither
orators nor professional
performers. They were
owners of businesses in the
surrounding south DeKalb
neighborhood and the event
was so well received that it
will be repeated this year.
“We wanted business
owners in this area to get
to know each other and to
have those who live in the
area get to know businesses
in their neighborhood, too,”
explained Alice Bussey,
coordinator of the event.
“Some of them had never
had an opportunity to do
something like this—tell
a large audience about
themselves and their
business. This was really
exciting.”
Although billed as a
Black history celebration,
“Reclaiming our Roots”
hosted by DeKalb County
3rd District Commissioner
Larry Johnson in
partnership with DeKalb
County CEO Michael
Thurmond, will take
place March 12, after
the traditional February
recognition of Black history.
“[County officials] asked
me to put together a Black
history event and I decided
to use the opportunity to
promote Black businesses,
Visit us online @
TheChampionNewspaper.com
large and small. Although
February is Black History
Month, March is Black
Business Month,” Bussey
said, noting that while
the February focus
looks back at past Black
achievements, the March
focus looks ahead to the
future. The event includes
Black Business Showcase
2019 and The Business
Exchange Networking
Reception, which will
offer information on the
DeKalb County Small
Business Loan Program,
economic development
opportunities, and the Allen
Entrepreneurial Institute
(AEI) StartUP Factory’s
business services, including
coaching, business training
and shared-office space.
Under the theme
“Partnering for Success,”
hundreds of Black-owned
businesses will come
together to teach, learn
and celebrate, Bussey said.
“We will have longtime
successful business
owners such as Juanita
Baranco, the owner of
the Mercedes Benz of
Buckhead dealership, who
can share what they have
learned during many years
in business with those who
are relatively new to the
business world.”
Baranco will speak on
the challenges of creating
successful partnerships.
Others scheduled to be
present include Stonecrest
Mayor Jason Lary; Teresa
Hardy, president of DeKalb
County NAACP, who
will speak on supporting
DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 13
Black businesses and the for DeKalb County to to be part of it,” said Bussey,
importance of voting; improve its infrastructure, who is the owner of Bussey
and Vanessa Williams, transportation, parks, Florist.
CEO/secretary general of senior centers, libraries and Bussey said these
the Conference of Black economic development.” projects will help area
Mayors, who will bring As a result of SPOST, businesses in several ways.
information on opportunities the state of Georgia will “They will provide jobs,
for cities to do business in distribute an estimated but they also will make our
the global marketplace. $249 million directly to communities more attractive
Thurmond will bring the 12 cities in DeKalb to those who might be
an update on the DeKalb County; however, an inclined to come here for
County Special Purpose additional anticipated $388 business, dining, recreation
Local Option Sales Tax million is to be spent in and the like,” she said.
(SPLOST) referendum unincorporated DeKalb. A follow-up event, Black
adopted in the November “That means south DeKalb, Business Roundtable, is
2017 election. Bussey noted. “That’s scheduled for March 26, 6
“SPLOST will do more where most of the county’s until 8 p.m. at AEI’s StartUP
for us than most people unincorporated area is. Factory, 7310 Stonecrest
know,” said Bussey, who The south side of the Concourse. The roundtable
serves on the committee county will be undergoing is designed to “to allow
that chooses projects to a transformation over Black businesses, elected
be funded by SPLOST. the next six years. For officials and community
“People know about road example, because there are leaders to have a detailed
repairs, but they might not so many landfills in this discussion on subjects
know there will also be part of the county, we will of interests to create the
quality of life projects such be paying special attention connection needed to
as upgrades to the parks. to air quality. A lot will be partner for success,” Bussey
The referendum affords a going on and we want our said.
unique funding opportunity businesses, large and small,
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
DeKalb County Community Development Department
2018 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
The DeKalb County Community Development Department is preparing to submit its Consolidated Annual
Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to the United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD). The report covers the status of activities and programs carried out through the use
of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME),
and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds during the most recently completed program year that ended
December 31, 2018.
The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (Draft) is available for citizens’ review and
comments from March 07, 2019 through March 22, 2019 at the following address:
DeKalb County Community Development Department
750 Commerce Drive – Suite 401
Decatur, GA 30031
Telephone: 404-371-2727
The office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The document may also be reviewed at the libraries listed below, as well as on the
DeKalb County Community Development website at:
https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/community-development/consolidated-annual-performance-and-evaluation-report-caper
Please contact the libraries for hours of operation.
Chamblee Branch Decatur Branch
4115 Clairmont Road, Chamblee 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur
(770-936-1380) (404-370-3070)
Redan-Trotti Branch
1569 Wellborn Road, Redan
Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Branch
2861 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur
(770-482-3821)
(404-286-6980)
Written comments should be submitted to the Community Development Department
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 401,Decatur, GA 30031.
All locations are accessible to persons with disabilities.
SPORTS
BASKETBALL
Coach James Hartry talks to his team during their state semifinal matchup against Heritage. Photo by Lester Wright
TIGERS MARCHING TO MACON
Tucker boys to play for Class AAAAAA state basketball title
by Mark Brock
Junior Braylen Seals
hit six consecutive free
throws down the stretch
to lead the Tucker Tigers
to a 52-46 win over the
Heritage-Conyers Patriots in
the Class AAAAAA boys’
state semifinals March 2 at
West Georgia University in
Carrollton.
Tucker (28-4) and the
Patriots (17-13) played a
back-and-forth game over
the first three quarters.
Heritage led 9-8 at the end
of the first quarter with
Tucker taking a 19-18 lead
into the half. Tucker held a
DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 14
NEXT
LEVEL
Each week The Champion spotlights
former high school players from the
county who are succeeding in athletics
on the college level.
Bryce Brown, Auburn
(basketball): The
senior guard from
Tucker led the team in
scoring with 24 points
in the 80-75 win over
Mississippi State
March 2.
Justin Washington,
Savannah State
(baseball): The junior
center fielder from
slim 30-29 lead going into of reach.
the fourth quarter. The 19 points by Seals Columbia had two
Senior Nate Ogbu hit a in the game led the Tigers hits and one run-
pair of free throws with 2:38 and Ogbu contributed 17 scored in the 5-4
to play as Tucker extended points, 11 rebounds and four
the lead to 46-40 heading blocks. Junior Jermontae
win over Nebraska-
into the final two minutes. Hill had eight points to go Omaha March 2.
Heritage trailed 48-40 with 10 rebounds and two
with 54 seconds to play after blocks. Deyonce Lewis,
two Seals free throws. The No. 5-ranked Tucker will
Patriots managed to close face the Tri-Cities Bulldogs Georgia Highlands
the gap to 48-46 with 20 (23-6) March 9 in the Class (softball): The
seconds to play when Seals AAAAAA state title game freshman infielder
hit two more free throws to at the Centreplex in Macon
make it a four-point lead at at 3 p.m. from Miller Grove
50-46. It will be Tucker’s had one hit and one
Seals would go to the seventh championship RBI in three at-bats in
line with 10 seconds to appearance, including state
play and hit two more free titles in 1996 and 2007. the 4-1 win over East
throws to put the game out Georgia State March
2.
SPORTS
BASKETBALL
Columbia senior Shontrice Austin dribbles by Villa Rica’s Aliyah Hindsman. Photo by Mark Brock
DeKalb goes 0-for-4 in Columbus
BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
It was a disappointing day for DeKalb County
basketball in Columbus after the four remaining
teams in the Class AAAAA state playoffs fell
short of playing for a state championship.
Columbia girls, Lithonia boys and Southwest
DeKalb boys and girls lost their Final Four
matchups on March 2 at Columbus State
University. In the first game of the day, turnovers
derailed the Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers’
chances of upsetting No. 1-ranked Buford, losing
51-38.
Southwest DeKalb went on a 9-0 run before
halftime to get within two points (22-20) of
Buford, but the Lady Panthers could not get
past Buford’s full court defense and turned the
ball over 17 times in the second half. Buford
outscored Southwest DeKalb 29-18 in in the
second half with 12 of those points coming from
the free throw line.
Sophomore Adrieanna Brownlee led
Southwest DeKalb with 13 points. The No.
5-ranked Lady Panthers finished the season 24-7.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 15
Southwest DeKalb boys also fell to Buford,
losing to the No. 1-ranked team 59-50. The No.
3-ranked Panthers fell behind early and never
recovered. The Panthers got within five points
(21-16) midway through the second quarter,
but Buford went on an 8-1 run before halftime,
extending its lead to 29-19.
Junior KD Johnson led Southwest DeKalb in
scoring with 17 points and senior James Glisson
had 12 points. The Panthers finished the season
24-7.
In the third game of the day, the Columbia
Lady Eagles took No. 2-ranked Villa Rica down
to the wire, but late free throws propelled the
Lady Wildcats over Columbia 57-50.
With 2:13 left in the game, Columbia climbed
within one point (49-48) after a three-pointer by
junior Daija Carr. With 29.6 second remaining,
a foul sent Villa Rica senior and Kentucky-
commit Deasia Merrill to the free throw line
where she hit one of two attempts.
Carr missed a three-point attempt that
would’ve tied the game and Merrill hit four more
free throws to seal the victory for the undefeated
Lady Wildcats. Merrill led all scorers with 26
points and had 19 rebounds.
Columbia senior Shontrice Austin led the
Lady Eagles with a double-double of 16 points
and 12 rebounds. Columbia finished the season
22-8.
The No. 8-ranked Lithonia Bulldogs let
a four-point lead slip away late in the fourth
quarter and No. 6-ranked Fayette County
made them pay, beating the Bulldogs 69-62 in
overtime.
Lithonia was leading 58-54 with 28.8 seconds
remaining when junior Zephaniah Corker lost
the ball out of bounds for a turnover. Fayette
County’s Ricky Knight hit one of two free
throws to cut the score to 58-55.
Corker was fouled and sent to the line for one
free throw attempt, which he missed. Knight hit a
three-pointer with 5.4 second remaining to tie the
game. Lithonia senior Eric Gaines couldn’t get
a good shot off before time ran out and the game
went into overtime.
Fayette County went on a 7-0 run in overtime
and the Bulldogs could not respond. Gaines and
Justin Myles each scored 16 points. Lithonia
finished the season 21-10.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • MARCH 8, 2019 • Page 16

MARIJUANA Continued From Page 7 EXPAND Continued From Page 2 ANNEXATION

testimony of individuals who had trouble finding employment special called meeting, the city’s Continued From Page 3
after being charged with minor drug offenses. planning and zoning committee forms, it will envelop our existing
Parent said Georgia may not be ready to decriminalize approved the application with a 2-1 vote. boundaries, making it hard to
marijuana completely, but the proposed legislation is a At the public hearing, the room was split expand in the future. Speaking
“reasonable” law that will have a positive effect on some people. down the middle in support or opposition to the with [State Sen. Steve Henson I
Anyone found guilty of possession of less than one-half expansion. Supporters said GMC has been a learned that], currently, no one has
ounce of marijuana can be fined up to $300, according to SB positive influence on the city and an increase in
10. Individuals found guilty of possession of more than one- dropped a bill for Greenhaven.”
half ounce, but less than two ounces, could face one year of student population would benefit the business Councilman Richard
imprisonment and/or a fine up to $1,000. district. Mailman said the city does not
According to Wikileaf.com, the value of two ounces of “GMC students that choose to come to our need to solely depend on whether
marijuana is approximately $650 in states where recreational city to attend college are coming here because Greenhaven becomes a city to
marijuana use is illegal. they want to be here,” Susan Coletti said. move forward with annexation.
“If we’re going to be serious about criminal justice reform, this “They want to learn, they want to further their “I think in the long term if
is a good step in the right direction,” said Gerald Griggs during a education and some of them stay in the city. they were to come into existence
SB 10 hearing. They do frequent our restaurants. They’re here it will not limit us, it will actually
Griggs, a Decatur-based defense attorney, said Georgia is for lunch or dinner or breakfast. It’s just a good completely stifle us from being
beginning to take marijuana reform seriously. positive addition to our city and their expansion able to grow,” Mailman said. “I
“I think [SB 10] will release the burden on many courts that is extremely important to us and the surrounding think we need to get as close to
are dealing with low-level drug offenders. They can have an areas.”
opportunity to rehabilitate them or give them a small fine,” Griggs being able to do something about
said. Some residents argued that there is not this as we possibly can before we
The DeKalb Solicitor General’s office prosecutes all enough parking in Stone Mountain Village for an find out that Greenhaven is going
misdemeanor cases in DeKalb County. Misdemeanor marijuana increase in students, and that not many students forward.”
charges represent less than 20 percent of caseloads, according to support the businesses in the city. Joan Monroe “It is time to do something,”
DeKalb Solicitor General Donna Coleman-Stribling. said there have not been any studies done on Johnson said.
Coleman-Stribling said many of the misdemeanor pot charges parking or traffic and expansion could reduce Johnson said minor changes
are attached to other crimes such as driving while under the access to the library. need to made to the map because
influence. She said the courts try to help first-time drug offenders. “Regardless of what you can get away with, Tucker previously annexed
“Singular marijuana charge cases are regularly reviewed for with or without breaking laws, proper conscious parcels of the industrial area into
our diversion programs to ensure first-time offenders have the demands looking after those citizens, merchants its city limits.
opportunity and resources they need to make better choices rather and the children at Champion Middle School are “There are some minor
than receiving a conviction,” Coleman-Stribling said. worthy of our respect and consideration, even adjustments to the map,” Johnson
though some of their parents do not vote here,” said.
Monroe said.

$65.3 MILLION TO UNITED WAY!

A special thank you to Publix associates and Publix Super Markets Charities for helping
our communities by generously supporting United Way in 2018.

Publix associates pledged $38.7 million, and Publix Charities donated $26.6 million.
Learn more at publix.com/community.