the DeKalb FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • VOL.

24, NO 8• 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

Community
celebrates
Maj. K.D.
Residents danced, ate and chatted at Johnson’s retirement cookout at south precinct.

Johnson
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com

DeKalb County residents gathered March 30 to

celebrate Maj. K.D. Johnson before his last day on the
job.
Residents had an opportunity to thank Johnson for
his service in the community at a cookout held in his
honor at the DeKalb County Police Department South
Precinct in Decatur. Johnson officially retired from the
police department March 31.
Johnson started his career at south precinct. He
worked with the department for 30 years and served as
major at south precinct since April 2015. He said it was
bittersweet to see so many people from the community
come out to celebrate him.
“It lets me know that what we started in 2015 paid
off,” Johnson said. “We had people supporting what we
were doing, [they] saw the vision and supported me.”
Long-time south DeKalb resident Faye Coffield said
Johnson has done great work in the community for many
years.
“He has run programs, programs for children,”
Coffield said. “He has been able to find jobs for
convicted felons and ex-offenders, and good paying jobs

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, left, chats with Johnson at his retirement cookout. SEE COMMUNITY ON PAGE 6

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

LOCAL
DECATUR
New roof for a
deserving vet
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
A Decatur veteran
received a new roof March
27 from Purple Heart
Home Inc., Eagle Watch
Roofing and Owens Corning
Platinum Contractors, as
gratitude for his service.
“They sacrificed more
than we ever can so we’re
just trying to help them
however we can,” Justin
West, president of Eagle
Watch Roofing, Inc. said.
“It’s the right thing to do.”
Alfred Brownlee, who
received the new roof, was
enlisted in the U.S. Air
Force from 1979-1984.
While serving in Japan,
Brownlee developed
the neurological illness
myasthenia gravis that
causes weakness in the
Stonecrest considering strengthening telecommunications ordinance
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Stonecrest City
Council’s request to create
a moratorium on future
cell phone towers was shut
down by the city attorney
due to possible federal
lawsuits.
The city council voted
at its March 11 meeting to
have a 60-day moratorium
in place after many residents
spoke in opposition to a
newly erected cell tower
on Evans Mill Road.
However, at the March
25 meeting, city attorney
Winston Denmark told
councilmembers that
enacting a moratorium on
cell towers would violate
the Telecommunication Act
of 1996.
“We are not the
first community that
has contemplated a
moratorium on cell
towers,” Denmark said.
Every local government
across the country has
Alfred Brownlee is a DeKalb resident and
U.S. Air Force veteran. Photo provided by
Purple Heart Homes.
skeletal muscles.
After transitioning back
to civilian life, Brownlee
worked for AT&T as a
technician until he was
unable to work in 2004. The
now 59-year-old Brownlee
is unable to perform tasks
such as bathing and dressing
thought of it from time
to time, but the FCC
[Federal Communications
Commission] has said in
a clear voice in a series
of opinions in 2014
and 2018 that under the
Telecommunication Act
of 1996 that any attempt
to enact a moratorium
would violate that federal
statue and it would not be
effective.”
Denmark said that
this FCC ruling has been
upheld multiple times
in federal courts and if
Stonecrest attempted to pass
a moratorium they would
be taken to federal court;
the moratorium would be
struck down and cell tower
companies and developers
would be entitled to get a
cell tower permit without
any further consideration.
“So, [a moratorium]
would be counterproductive
to all of our goals,”
Denmark said. “It’s not an
area that’s up for debate.
It is my recommendation
that the council not enact a
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 2
Construction workers install a new roof to a veteran’s Decatur home March 27. Photo by Taylor Robins.
and he has no short-term
memory capacity, according
to Purple Heart Home Inc.
“Mr. Brownlee is in
need of a new roof and a
foundation fix and it is our
pleasure to partner with
the Owens Corning Roof
Deployment project to
make it happen,” said John
Gallina, co-founder and
chief executive officer of
Purple Heart Homes Inc.
“Fixing the roof and the
foundation will create a
safe environment for Mr.
Brownlee, so he can remain
Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary said he will ask city staff to put a stop work
order on the cell tower on Evans Mill. The city will also strengthen its current
telecommunications ordinance to exercise its legal control on cell tower placement.
moratorium.”
Denmark did
recommend that city
council members revise
and strengthen the city’s
current telecommunications
ordinance so that they could
exercise control that the city
has within the “preempted
comfortably in his own
home for years to come.”
Most of Brownlee’s
family has military
background. His grandfather
served in World War I,
five of Brownlee’s uncles
served in World War II
and the Korean War and
five of his brothers served
in the Vietnam War and
Desert Storm, according to
Owens Corning Platinum
Contractors.
Eagle Watch Roofing
Inc., a locally based Owens
Corning Platinum roofing
federal landscape.”
The city council
unanimously passed a
motion to direct Denmark
to strengthen the city’s
telecommunications
ordinance.
Residents discovered
the cell tower being built
company, installed the
new roof as part of Owens
Corning National Roof
Deployment Project. Work
began on the new roof
March 27 and was finished
the same day.
The project is a
nationwide effort to show
veterans gratitude for their
service. The roofing project
started in 2016 and more
than 100 military members
have received new roofs.
Brownlee was selected
by Purple Heart Home Inc.,
to receive the repairs.
behind their neighborhood
in January. The commercial
cell phone tower was
approved for installation
on property adjacent to
First Lithonia Seventh
Day Adventist Church, the
church’s school, playground
and two subdivisions.
Residents argue that
the tower was illegally
approved because the
property was conditionally
zoned as commercial for the
summer months only for
a daycare center, and that
technically, the property
is still zoned residential
outside the summer months.
After researching,
Denmark said neither he
nor city staff have found
information on a rezoning
ordinance for that property.
“The information as it
relates to the conditional
zoning for a daycare is not
in the minutes from the
zoning decision, nor is it
anywhere else in records,”
Denmark said. “It’s in the
SEE TOWER ON PAGE 3
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 3

COUNTYWIDE

Dogs at Lifeline Animal Project in DeKalb County wait to be adopted.

Lifeline officials look at 'pawsitive' side

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Lifeline Animal Project,
which manages DeKalb
County Animal Services,
in an effort to find homes
for the animals, is trying
techniques such as free
adoption specials, discounts
on adoptions during sporting
events and listing some of
their animals on dating sites.
Lifeline officials are
doing whatever it takes
to empty the shelters and
remain a “no kill” facility,
according to a Lifeline
spokesperson.
Last month, Lifeline
offered free adoptions
in a “Your City, Your
Animals” campaign after its
Chamblee location became
overcrowded.
“Last month we had
more animals coming into
the shelter than leaving,
so we [offered] free
adoptions and are asking
the community to help
save Atlanta’s animals by
adopting or fostering a pet,” been crowded and we’re
DCAS Shelter Director
Kerry Moyers-Horton said. have to think outside the
Lifeline Animal Project
Spokesperson Karen Hirsch every day so it’s a constant
said the organization is doing hustle and a constant attempt initially looked at it, that the standards
everything it can to eliminate to take care of these animals, that are set in state law in terms of when a
overcrowding in its shelters. move them out fast, make
Approximately 100
animals were adopted
through the Your City,
Your Animals campaign.
The shelter plans to waive
animals even when the Garcia said she has a
shelter is full, reserving passion for helping animals.
euthanasia for terminally Garcia said it’s important for
ill animals or animals her to get involved with an
considered dangerous to organization such as Lifeline.
public safety. “Some days it’s harder
In 2017, DeKalb spent than others because there
$12 million to open the new are so many [animals] and
animal shelter in Chamblee we can only do so much for
and replace “the chamber of them,” Garcia said. “But we
horrors” or “the dungeon” get very excited seeing an
otherwise known as the animal get adopted. They are
shelter’s former Decatur like family members.”
location. The 33,440-square- Garcia has worked more
foot Chamblee facility than five years as a volunteer
includes 12 adoption rooms, and said the animals she
A sign outside of the Chamblee animal shelter shows individuals where they can adopt
animals. a clinic with spay and neuter works with bring her joy.
services, a surgery room and “The excitement is
a lab area. overwhelming, and we love
adoption fees April 7-14 on the cusp of “no-kill” “The [Decatur shelter] them. They accept me for
for a “Game of Homes” status. A no kill shelter was such a horrible, dreary who I am, and the feeling is
campaign where animals saves 90 percent or more place. The Chamblee mutual. They are remarkable
will dress up as “Game of of the animals entering the location is gorgeous. This is animals and I really love
Thrones” characters. Lifeline shelter, according to Lifeline the model everyone wants to them,” Garcia said.
has also done Pitbulls in officials. No kill shelters do emulate,” Hirsch said.
Pajamas promotions and put not kill healthy or treatable Shelter volunteer Mori
animals on match.com.
“What’s happening
TOWER
is more dogs are coming
in than going out through Continued From Page 2A
adoption, foster or rescue
groups,” Hirsch said. “It’s application from the applicants.” it. I looked diligently for it. There is no
Denmark said he looked at the issue and ordinance that said this is conditional. It just
filling every space, so we addressed possible areas where it may have says it’s zoned C-1.”
been problematic in terms of the conditional Residents are raising funds to retain legal
box. More dogs come in zoning and in failure to post a sign. counsel to have the cell tower removed.
“I’m in agreement with the staff that Mayor Jason Lary said at the meeting that
he was going to ask city staff the following
day to put a stop work order on the cell
conditional zoning is in place are simply tower on Evans Mill.
sure they go to a good home, not met here,” he said. “Raggedy Ann and “What that is going to do is trigger a
get more adopters and keep Andy used it for x amount of days during legion of lawyers,” Lary said. “As I said
the facility clean.” the summer—that’s in the application, earlier [to residents], know the fight that
Hirsch said shelters but it’s not in an ordinance that rezoned you are getting in and I’m willing to take
managed by Lifeline are the property, and if it is, we couldn’t find that fight.
OPINION
College admissions scandal an impetus to help
It’s difficult not to be fascinated
by the largest prosecuted college
admissions scandal in history that’s
currently playing out in the courts,
media and public opinion. It has
all the makings for a made-for-TV
movie involving celebrities, wealth
and people of privilege so desperate
to pave the way for their children
that they are willing to bribe and
game the college admissions system.
In March in Massachusetts 50
people were charged in federal court
as part of what’s been described as
a long-running national conspiracy
to gain admission for high school
students to top colleges and
universities. Those charged include
a college admissions consultant,
coaches, college entrance exam
officials, two actresses, a fashion
designer, CEOs, parents and others.
The spotlight at the moment is on
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
these misdeeds but shouldn’t more
attention be paid to:
• Countless young people who get
into college through legitimate hard
work
• Unheralded parents who give
guidance and support in all the
right ways
• High costs of prepping for college
entrance exams
• Multiple expenses of taking
entrance exams and fees related to
applying to schools
• Availability of quality college
guidance services
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 4
• Support for low- and middle-
income families in helping their
children pursue higher education
• Inequities in the overall playing
field of college admissions
Most parents want to see their
children succeed and attempt
throughout their lives to give them
advantages through education,
sports, extracurricular activities,
cultural experiences, etc. However,
that’s not the case for every child.
Many children are at a disadvantage
from the start as families struggle
with poverty, homelessness, drugs,
crime, violence, medical and mental
issues and so much more. Plus a
large number of young people come
from families in which they are the
first to pursue a college degree so
there’s no one to turn to at home
who’s knowledgeable about how to
navigate getting into and staying in
school.
While there are many groups
and organizations dedicated to
helping young people overcome
these barriers to achievement and
receiving those cherished college
acceptance letters, most need
additional human and financial
resources to reach more youth. Plus
there needs to be more efforts in
more communities.
Maybe the spotlight on the
scandal among the privileged
will remind us of the necessity to
become involved with local efforts to
support, educate and enrich the lives
of more children locally.
College isn’t for everyone, but
those willing to work the hardest in
legitimate ways should get all the
support they need and deserve to be
accepted.
OPINION
“At Goodwill, we try and
meet our clients where they are...
and then with training and the
tools we have developed, we help
them get to where they want to
be, and hopefully on their way to
a successful career,” said Keith
Parker, CEO Goodwill of North
Georgia, at a Goodwill “Atlanta
Works” panel discussion at the
Commerce Club of Atlanta.
 Long-standing legacy charitable
organizations have their challenges.
Public attention and favoritism are
often fickle, and many local and
regional charities and nonprofits
now also compete for limited
resources with their own national
chapters.
Missions change, expand
and shift, and often competition
arises–sometimes within the same
space–from newer, smaller and even
hyper-local entities with the same
good intentions, but little of the
long term experience or success in
delivering results.
 One of those most visible–and
in Georgia, among the largest in the
nonprofit arena–is Goodwill. You
most likely have seen and possibly
shopped in their thrift stores. They
collectively generated nearly $150
million in revenue during 2018.
Goodwill received more than 3
million donations during the same
period, interacting with 7.5 million
customers, donors and clients. Most
stores are now staffed and managed
by former Goodwill clients.
The organization is known
for offering job training for the
developmentally disabled and in
some markets, sheltered workshops
where the disabled could be trained
and respectfully employed in
safe, albeit somewhat segregated
surroundings, providing a modest
income, the self-respect which
comes from regular employment
and the measured independence
which follows.  trying to do something about that
Goodwill of North Georgia
(45-county service territory) is
led by its CEO, Keith Parker, who
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 5
More than goodwill
taxation or redistribution of to not only employing, but training
wealth. He was simply suggesting and promoting nontraditional
‘One Man’s greater investment in human capital employees.
Opinion’ and more work force training, in
this case privately funded.
 Having a child with Down
syndrome who is blossoming
Bill Crane  Along with Metro Atlanta more recently in school thanks to
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
Chamber CEO Hala Moddelmog, a gifted educator; we are already
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta looking ahead to transitioning to
CEO Raphael Bostic and Atlanta adulthood, higher education and
until recently headed MARTA, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, later employment opportunities. I
where he turned around metro Parker and the panel agreed it don’t know if Parker will still be
Atlanta’s long-troubled mass is incumbent upon all of the running this show by the time our
transit system. At MARTA, Parker business community to help lift child graduates high school; but if
stabilized finances–now more than and hire those most challenged he is, I have faith and confidence
$25 million in operating reserves– and vulnerable, as an employed that the developmentally disabled
improved morale and overall worker is not only productive seeking employment opportunities
operational efficiency, strengthened and contributing to society, but in north Georgia have their future in
a police force that has helped also no longer a potentially good hands–and that is more than
MARTA become one of the nation’s dependent burden, living life on goodwill.
safest transit systems, as well as the edge in the safety net or on the
won the confidence of the state’s streets. This was not only a noble Bill Crane also serves as a
business leadership, statehouse and calling to hear, but impressive political analyst and commentator
numerous city halls. to note again, that Parker, less for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-
If this Parker had chosen to stay than a year into his new gig, is AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
at MARTA, I would have wagered already shifting the landscape, FM, as well as a columnist for The
heavily in favor of the recent changing the conversation and Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
unsuccessful transit expansion building community consensus Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
referendum in Gwinnett County while defining the new mission native and business owner, living
to already be counting that new to lead. The man who reopened in Scottdale. You can reach him
penny of sales tax revenue this MARTA for business is now going or comment on a column at bill.
week. Parker is a catalytic leader to try and reopen business minds csicrane@gmail.com.
and change agent. He also walks the
factory floor and while at MARTA
he rode those trains to and from
work himself, most every weekday.
 At Goodwill, Parker
understands that the humble
workers or disabled adults who
walk through their doors may not
know where they are heading or just
how they will get there. Fortunately,
Goodwill does know, and provides
the tools, hand up (versus hand-out)
and helps to identify opportunities
to begin that climb up a career
ladder and hopefully to a middle
class or better lifestyle and standard
of living. 
Parker believes that wage
inequity is a challenge for most
urban areas, and at Goodwill, he is
as well. But during Goodwill’s
“Atlanta Works” panel discussion,
Parker was not suggesting massive
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 6

Maj. K.D. Johnson poses with a young resident. Photos by Carla Parker

COMMUNITY Continued From Page 1A

and careers. He has helped people
do a whole bunch of things. He
has functioned this precinct like a
precinct should be functioned.”
DeKalb County Commissioner
Larry Johnson said the cookout
was a fitting tribute from the
community.
“He meant a lot in this
brought the community together.
“Getting citizens to come and be
willing to work with the police no
matter what,” Johnson said. “Even
if we disagree, we can come to an
understanding and work it out. We
have a lot of work to do with our
youth. We have parents that are still
young, so we’re trying to get them
thank him enough for that.”
Johnson said he plans to spend
his free time on the golf course.
“Over the last couple of years,
I have lost a lot of golf matches
because of my dedication to
working, sometimes 10 to 12
hours,” he said. “So, all of my
friends who beat me in golf over the
past couple of years, today is a bad
day for you. I’m back. I’m coming.”

community in terms of helping us
through the turbulent times, dealing
with the police shootings,” he said.
“[We] had to have that bridge in
SUBSCRIBE
to understand that in order to be a
good parent you have to lead by
example, and you have to follow
some good examples.”

terms of community and police
working together and he helped
bring them closer together.”
Johnson said having open
TO THE CHAMPION
Maj. Danny Jordan will take
over for Johnson at south precinct.
Jordan has been with the police
department for 21 years and started

dialogue with residents helped
the community get through those
difficult times.
“We just go out and let people
NEWSPAPER
his career at south precinct.
“It’s going to be a challenge but
I’m looking at it as coming home
and being able to do something that

vent because people just want to
talk to you,” Johnson said. “They
want to talk about stuff that they
have seen and heard. A lot of times
404.373.7779
I really enjoy and that’s working
with the community,” Jordan said.
Jordan said Johnson has made
the transition a smooth one, which

what people believe is their reality,
so you sit and listen to them and
you walk them through the scenario
and get them to see both sides.”
Johnson said he wants to be
remembered as someone who
EXT. 100
he said doesn’t happen often with a
retiring major.
“Maj. Johnson is a friend of
mine,” Jordan said. “I’ve been
knowing him for a long time
throughout my career. He made this
a very smooth transition. I can’t
LOCAL
COUNTYWIDE
Decatur attorney and activist Mawuli Davis discusses details of a civil lawsuit filed against Rockdale County and others.
Family ‘won’t stop’
until justice is served
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
While an attorney
described details of her son’s
death during a press conference
on March 27 at a Decatur-
based law firm, Tynesha
Tilson could not hold her
emotions in any longer. Tilson
was briefly escorted away from
the press conference in tears.
Approximately a year
prior, Tilson’s son, Shali
Tilson, was found dead in
a Rockdale County jail.
Authorities said the cause of
death was dehydration.
“I just want to let everyone
know, we’re not going
nowhere. I don’t care how I
break down, I’m going to dust
myself off, get back up and I’m
not going to stop. I won’t stop
until I get justice for my son,”
Tynesha Tilson said.
Local activist and attorney
Mawuli Davis announced the
family of Shali Tilson filed a
civil lawsuit against Rockdale
County, Rockdale County
Sheriff Eric Levett, Sergeant
Dan Lang and two Rockdale
County deputies.
According to documents
of a 34-page lawsuit obtained
by The Champion, Shali Tilson
was arrested for misdemeanor
disorderly conduct and was
in the midst of a “psychiatric
crisis.” He was placed in
solitary confinement with no
Tynesha Tilson, the mother of Shali Tilson who died at a Rockdale County jail due to
dehydration, cries at a press conference held in Decatur.
running water for eight days
after suffering from a mental
health crisis, the lawsuit said.
Davis said law
enforcement should change its
approach on how public safety
officers deal with individuals
with mental health issues. In
DeKalb County four years
ago, former DeKalb County
Police Officer Robert Olsen
responded to a 911 call about
a nude man walking around
an apartment complex in
Chamblee. Olsen later shot and
killed Anthony Hill, who was
unarmed and reportedly having
a mental health crisis at the
time of his death.
“There’s definitely a
stigma in some communities
as it relates to mental health.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 7
STONECREST
City to purchase land
at major intersection
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The intersection at
Salem Road and Evans
Mill will soon have a
new park, botanical
garden or cultural
center due to the city
purchasing land at the
intersection.
Stonecrest City
Council on March 25
unanimously agreed
to purchase the land
at 5987 Salem Road
for an amount not
to exceed $350,000
or the appropriately
appraised value under Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary, right, and
municipal law. The
Councilman George Turner stopped the
vote came weeks after development of a gas station and the city
Mayor Jason Lary and purchased the land. Photos from City of
Councilman George Stonecrest’s Facebook page
Turner stopped the
development of a proposed convenience store and gas station
at the intersection.
Many residents in the area opposed having a gas station
at the intersection. With the purchase of the land, Lary said,
city staff will have an opportunity to evaluate the area and
how they want it to look.
“We have time to figure out exactly what to put nice
there and make it a draw for the city, but at the same time it
is equally important that the road is a crash trap,” Lary said.
“Anything can happen to you between Salem and Evans
Mill.”
Lary said he wants to have a study done on the
intersection to see the best options to address traffic
concerns, whether it’s a roundabout, streetlight or caution
light.
“With council’s permission, we’ll have the appropriate
people look at that, send in their estimates and [get] back to
you all to say this is what we’re looking at,” Lary said.
CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN
We cannot criminalize people PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
who are having mental health
issues. That can be very The City of Stone Mountain hereby gives notice that
dangerous as we see in this a Public Hearing will be held to receive public comment
case and in the case of Anthony on a Zoning Amendment Application; rezone from OPI –
Hill,” Davis said. “A mental Office Professional Institutional to VCM – Village Center
health episode is not a criminal Mixed Use for the property located at 5380 E. Mountain
act. It is a medical condition.” Street, Stone Mountain, Parcel #18 089 21 013.
A dollar amount for Proposed use for the property is an Event Space.
the civil suit was not listed. The Mayor and City Council will hold a Public Hearing
Davis said it’s not about on this matter on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at City Hall
located at 875 Main Street, Stone Mountain, GA at 6:30
the money for the family. A P.M. Anyone wishing to attend the public hearing may do
criminal investigation of Shali
so and be heard relative thereto.
Tilson’s death is still under
investigation.
WE ARE SOCIAL
“This is so much larger
than Shali’s life and Rockdale
#ITSINTHECHAMPION
County,” Davis said. “It’s
our intent to move forward
aggressively and intelligently.
This family deserves justice.”
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 8

LITHONIA

Walmart offers interview

opportunities to students
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Seniors who attend Martin
Luther King Jr. High School
were visited March 25 by
Walmart officials offering part-
time job opportunities.
Walmart partnered with the
school’s Work-Based Learning
(WBL) program for the event.
WBL Coordinator Regina
McComb describes the program
as a bridge to connect seniors'
and juniors’ academic learning
to real-world work experience.
Students who participate in the
program were able to interview
for cashier, sales associate,
stockers and cart pusher
positions.
“We teach them
employability skills,”
McComb said, “the skills that
are necessary for them to be
successful no matter where they better.”
work.”
Skills include attendance and plan to attend West Georgia
punctuality, conflict resolution,
personal finance and how to
use social media properly so it
won’t hinder a student’s chance
for employment.
“No matter what they decide
to do after high school, working
at Walmart would teach them
the importance of customer
service skills,” McComb said.
Seniors Kylah MacKall
and Kamara Williams said Leola Hatcher, Walmart personnel coordinator, talks to high school seniors. Photo by Taylor Robins.
customer service is a skill they
want to build going into their
career paths. MacKall wants
to be a criminal or real estate
lawyer, and Williams wants to
be a nurse.
“Being a registered nurse
you have to have people skills
and know how to talk to people
and deal with people,” Williams
said. “So, I want to start with
Walmart to work on those skills
and be able to communicate
Both MacKall and Williams
University and look forward to

SEE WALMART ON PAGE 16 Martin Luther King Jr. students participate in a group Walmart interview March. 25

No drivers needed for new Doraville, Chamblee shuttles

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Doraville and Chamblee
are in the process of bringing
autonomous shuttles to their
communities.
Autonomous shuttles
are driverless shuttles and
computer operated.
“Doraville is home to
the first autonomous shuttle
in the region, continuing our
city’s tradition of innovation,”
Doraville Mayor Donna
Pittman said on her Facebook
page. “We’re proud to welcome
NAVYA to Assembly Yards.”
According to Pittman’s
post, Assembly Yards is a “the
multi-phased development
[that] will include more than 10
million square feet of corporate
class A office, multifamily
housing, creative office space,
chef-driven dining, best-in-
class retail, and entertainment,
including the purpose-built
film studio Third Rail Studios,
which was completed in
the first phase. The new
250,000-square-foot Serta
Two cities plan to bring self-driving shuttles to DeKalb County. Photo provided by city
of Doraville Facebook page.
Simmons Bedding headquarters
will open in March while an
additional 1.3 million square
feet of space is anticipated to
be completed over the next 22
months.”
The Integral
Group─who owns Assembly
Yards─announced March 18
the arrival of the autonomous
vehicle partnership with
NAVYA, through private
funding.
“At Assembly, we have
hallmarked accessibility and
connectivity by providing
multiple transit options that
will accommodate and serve
a variety of users,” said
Matt Samuelson, COO of
the commercial real estate
division of The Integral
Group. “Through the NAVYA
autonomous shuttles and other
driverless-site features, we
intend to set a new, responsible
standard for transit-oriented
developments.”
The shuttles will arrive
in Doraville in the spring and
will transport residents from
Doraville’s MARTA station
to the Assembly Yards in
15-minute intervals. According
to Pittman, residents will be
able to view the shuttles during
the May 3 State of the City
event in Doraville.
According to Brian Mock,
Chamblee city council member,
the shuttles can carry up to 15
people and do not exceed more
than 25 miles per hour.
During Chamblee’s March
19 city council meeting, the
board voted unanimously to
apply for a grant from the U.S.
Department of Transportation
that would fund the self-driving
shuttles. According to Mock,
the city is expecting to receive
$10 million for the possible
public funded project.
“If we don’t get the grant,
it’s not going to happen,” Mock
said. “It’s pretty unattainable to
get these shuttles with a city our
size without public funding, but
we’re counting on it. I believe
we’ll get it.”
Upon receiving the grant,
Chamblee plans to run the
shuttles on Peachtree Road to
Third Rail Studios located in
Assembly Yards, ultimately
connecting with Doraville’s
shuttles.
“I just think it would be
super cool,” Mock said. “Our
goal is to be able to get people
into our restaurants. Chamblee
is reinventing itself and we
want to get people from point A
to point B. I also think it’ll get
people to our city just to ride
the shuttle.”
Mock and Chamblee
Mayor Eric Clarkson went
to Washington D.C. to visit a
robotics factory in October,
where they learned that the
shuttles are pedestrian friendly
and can sense and stop if
something is in the road, like
a fallen tree. The shuttles are
operated off-site, however, a
computer board is also inside
the shuttle for passenger
operation, according to Mock.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

Tucker Mayor Frank Auman, center, presented a proclamation to Tucker High School boys’ basketball coach James Hartry, left,
and school principal Dr. Eric Parker in honor of the team’s 28-5 season and a run to the GHSA AAAAAA state championship
game. Photo from Tuckerga.gov
Dunwoody junior Grant Allison was named the Class 6A boys’ swimmer of the year by
the Georgia High School Swim Coaches Association.

During the Mega Bugs media day bug challenge Sabrina Mayo, Stone Mountain Elementary School counselor, eats a chocolate Chamblee senior Jade Foelske was selected as the Class 4A-5A Girls’ Swimmer of
covered cricket March 21. Photo provided by Stone Mountain Elementary School Twitter. the Year by the Georgia High School Swim Coaches Association.

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 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 10

Non-profit honors reformed student

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Communities in Schools
of Atlanta (CIS), a nonprofit
organization that assists at-
risk students with hardships,
held its 15th annual
Choose Success Awards
Dinner to honor teens who
demonstrated improved
behavior.
Jhonatan Lopez Perez,
an 18-year-old junior who
attends Cross Keys High
School, was recognized
for improved behavior and
academics. His family is
from Guatemala.
“This award will help
me to [put in] more effort
every day for what I want
to be in the future,” Perez
said. “I feel very happy [to
win this award] because
all my efforts have been
worthwhile.”
According to CIS
officials, since Perez
became involved with the
organization he has attended
school regularly and is
passing his classes. Prior to and life taught me that I
CIS, Perez struggled with must learn the culture and
behavior, attendance and language in the place where
academics. Perez would I am to succeed in life,”
often get into fights, be late Perez said. “[Also working]
after school during the
to school or absent due to
night made me have bad
working a night job and
school attendance because I
had to repeat classes due
would come back tired from
to language barriers, a CIS
work.”
spokesperson said.
Perez said his parents,
Perez works a weeknight
uncles and bosses helped
job after school and works
him make changes in his life
weekends.
to enable him to pursue his
“I have to support
dream of becoming a pilot
myself and pay my
and moving to Florida to
expenses like my telephone,
attend technical school or
apartment and family,”
flight school.
Perez said. “I also work to
Perez specifically
save money to pay for my Jhonatan Lopez Perez was recently honored by a local non-profit organization for
referenced his CIS site
aviation pilot studies… I improved behavior problems and academics. Photo provided by Communities in
coordinator Federica Schools of Atlanta.
want to be an airplane pilot
Teodor. “She helped me
because I like everything
solve all my problems,”
that is related to machines
Perez said.
and technology. I always
Currently maintaining and I am a lucky young behave well in order to be
wanted to do something
a 3.4 GPA, Perez is man to be able to study successful and [they] should
important for society.”
learning to speak and write in the United States and I focus on [their] goals in
Before becoming
English better. Since his do not want to [spoil] the order to be a role model for
involved with CIS, Perez
involvement with CIS, opportunity I have,” Perez others,” Perez said.
said he would get in trouble
Perez said he does not take said. “For me nothing is
at school for arguing with
his education for granted. He said other students impossible because [I] can
teachers for “judging” him.
“[So] many young with behavior and academic go so far to where [I] want
“One of the main
people in my country do not problems should follow the to be,” he said.
barriers I had was that I
have the opportunity I have same path as he followed.
could not speak English
“[Students] should

EDUCATION BRIEFS
by Taylor Robins • Taylor@dekalbchamp.com

Jay one of 13 UNG students
named Fulbright semifinalists
Jillian E. Jay of Stone
Mountain is one of 13 students from
the University of North Georgia
(UNG) selected as semifinalists for
the Fulbright U.S. Student Program,
a highly competitive fellowship that
enables students to pursue academic
endeavors overseas.
Jay is a senior who is pursuing
a degree in biology with a minor
in psychology. If selected for the
fellowship, Jay hopes to be an
English teaching assistant in Turkey.
“We are thrilled to have 13 UNG
students selected as semifinalists for
the Fulbright. This record number
of semifinalists represent multiple
departments, demonstrating the
depth of our academic programs,”
said Anastasia Lin, assistant
vice president of research and
engagement. “We hope that seeing
so many students recognized as
semifinalists on a national level will
inspire future applicants to try for
scholarships like the Fulbright.”
Wesleyan University student
receives NASA award
Michael Henderson, a
Wesleyan University student from
Decatur, recently received an
award from the NASA Connecticut
Space Grant Consortium (CTSGC).
Thirty-nine students from 13
CTSGC academic affiliate
institutions were honored in total.
NASA CTSGC is a federally
mandated grant, internship and
scholarship program that is funded
as a part of NASA Education. There
are Space Grant Consortia in all 50
states, plus Washington, D.C. and
Puerto Rico.
Henderson, an astronomy
major, received a $1,000 Student
Travel Grant, which covered travel
expenses to attend the American
Astronomical Society Meeting in
Seattle, Wash., in January. There, he
presented his senior thesis research
titled “High Precision Photometry
of Faint White Dwarf Stars from K2
Data.”
Sorenson named to fall Deans’
List at Nebraska
Kennet Sorenson of Stone
Mountain has been named to the
Deans’ List and Explore Center
List of Distinguished Students at
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
for the fall semester of the 2018-19
academic year.
Sorenson, a junior pre-health
student, was named to the Explore
Center List of Distinguished
Students for the Explore Center.
EDUCATION
Redan High School students and staff, along with friends and family of music producer Swizz Beatz celebrate the unveiling of a mural March 28. Photo provided by Aaryon Williams.
Students immortalize Swizz Beatz with mural
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Grammy award-winning producer Kasseem
Dean, known as Swizz Beatz, has been honored
by 11 Redan High School students and artist
Aaryon Williams with a mural.
The mural of Dean, who is a Redan High
School alumni, was unveiled March 28 in the
school’s music hall. Dean was not able to attend
the unveiling, however his mother, Kim Pasco,
and brother André King attended in his place.
“I really hope everyone likes it because
we put a lot of time into this,” said Samariah
McKnight, Redan High School junior.
McKnight said knowing Dean would see the
mural gives her “butterflies in [her] stomach.”
Former Redan High School art teacher
Jason Moffitt chose 11 students to work on the
enrichment project.
“When choosing the students, I wanted to get
as diverse as I could concerning their talents and
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 11
what they could bring,” Moffitt said.
The project was launched after Williams
drove past the school and noticed an empty wall
space on the outside of the school.
“I like to think that God told me this school
needed a mural,” Williams said.
Williams creates murals with youth through
his Art by Bird YAMP (Youth Arts Mural
Projects). The program seeks to teach students
how to create large-scale paintings, according to
Williams. This is Williams’ 13th mural and the
first in Georgia; the Swizz Beatz mural is his fifth
celebrity mural.
Williams said he enjoys creating artwork of
Black public figures.
“Immortalizing Black figures [who] have
done well in their lives is motivating to young
Black kids,” Williams said. “This is not only
motivating for young Black kids; it’s for the
world to see the impact of Black people.”
The group began work on the mural in
October, dedicating 100 after-school hours and
finished the project in January.
The students chose Dean out of a number of
notable people who graduated from the school.
“[Dean is] connected to the number one form
of urban art form today, hip-hop,” Williams said.
The group found a picture of the producer
to re-create, and then the students were taught
drawing techniques by Williams and Moffitt.
The background of the mural was created before
the image of Dean was drawn and painted. The
finished piece has been drilled to an inside wall
of the school.
“We wanted to show him as prestigious
because he has a lot of titles to him; he’s not just
a musician,” Williams said.
Materials for the mural were paid for by
Williams.
Next, Williams hopes to create a mural of the
musical group OutKast with students from Tri-
Cities High School in East Point. Members of the
group are also alumni of Tri-Cities.
 AROUNDDeKalb
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 12

CHAMBLEE Library from 2 to 3 p.m. Poets can

Residents invited to run in the
mud
Chamblee Middle School
Education Foundation is hosting
its annual Chamblee Fun Mud Run
April 27. The 2.5 miles obstacle
course event is held at Chamblee
Middle School and begins at 8:30
a.m.
Participants are asked to gather
no later than 8:15 a.m.
Learn more information at www.
chambleefunmudrun.com/.
STONECREST
compete with original poems for
their own kite or make one at the
event’s free kites making station.
Elementary school to host color
run
prizes such as a Kindle Fire and Register online at
books by spoken word artists. kitesoverdekalb.eventbrite.com.
Livsey Elementary School will host
Judges will be selected from the a Color Run 5K April 13 from 7 to
registered audience. Poets call the 11:30 a.m. Throughout the course,
library at (770) 482-3828 to sign TUCKER participants will experience color
up. The library is located at 3123 splash zones where they will be
Klondike Road. Organizations to host community doused in color. There will also be
food experience event a final color toss celebration. Check
in starts at 7:15 a.m. and the race
STONE MOUNTAIN Atlanta Community Food starts at 8 a.m. There will be a
Bank and NETWorks Cooperative post run celebration after the run
Kites will fly over DeKalb Ministry will host “Community Food featuring vendors and a bounce
Experience” April 13 at Main Street house. To register, visit www.
DeKalb County Department Fellowship Hall from 3 to 5 p.m. The secure.getactivefundraising.com/
of Recreation Parks and Cultural event is a simulation that explores event/2019-Livsey-Elementary-GA.
Affairs will host its first Kites Over the barriers to food access faced by For more information, email Leah
DeKalb April 14 from noon to 4 p.m. thousands. Space is limited and free
The free kite festival will tickets can be obtained at www.bit.ly/
Heaver at heaver5@att.net.

Library to host poetry event be held at Wade Walker Park, CFE-NET. The fellowship hall is located
5588 Rockbridge Road in Stone at 2367 Main Street.
“Stonecrest Live!” poetry slam Mountain, and is a family event
will be held April 6 at Stonecrest for all ages. Participants can bring

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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
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based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status.
BUSINESS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 13

COUNTYWIDE

Professional organization brings location management training to Georgia

BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
Finding the ideal place
to shoot a movie, television
show or commercial is a
lot harder than most people
Because of what
Gordon called the guild’s
“expanded presence in the
Atlanta area,” LMGI is
hosting a free daylong event
“geared toward educating
there is a lot of movie
and television activity in
Georgia, the opportunity
for location professionals to
receive training is limited.
“In Los Angeles, there
into seasoned location
managers. These are
professional development
workshops designed to help
participants learn more
about what’s expected and
how to take their work to
the next level. We hope to
by Samantha Idelson
(Night School, MacGyver,
Dirty Grandpa), Kyle
Carey (Stranger Things,
Antman and the Wasp, A
Walk in the Woods), and
Mela Rayne (Zombieland
2, The Boy Who Knew

'Georgia’s
outside the industry realize, see the next generation of Too Much) with LM Matt
according to Mac Gordon, location specialists at this Chamberlin (Zombieland
a board member with event.” 2, Love is Blind, Sully)
Location Mangers Guild The daylong event starts moderating.

film industry
International (LMGI). at 10 a.m. and includes a The third workshop,
“Sometimes we have picnic and a property tour. It Location Managers
just four days to find will feature three concurrent of the Round Table, is
locations for a one-hour workshops: more loosely structured,

is on fire.'
television show. That’s not Scouting with Style according to Gordon.
a lot of time. We may find is designed for assistant Moderated by LMGI
a house that looks exactly and key assiastant location members John Latenser
like what we want, but we managers and will be taught (Front Runner, Nebraska,
have to consider where it’s Mike Fantasia by scouts Lenzi Sealy Step Sisters) and Andrea
located. Is the street wide (Brightburn, MacGyver, Keener (MacGyver, Cold
enough? Can we get a full Amazing Stories) and Case), this workshop
and connecting location are many places for such
crew there and set up? Michael Woodruff (Edge directly addresses issues
professionals and the local training, but that’s not true
We’re basically bringing of Fear, Doom Patrol, or questions about filming
Atlanta filming community” in the Atlanta area. That’s
the circus to town. It takes Brightburn) and moderated specifically in the Atlanta
on April 13 at the Evergreen why we’re bringing high
a lot of people and a lot of by location manager Ryan region and allows for a
Marriott at Stone Mountain quality training to Georgia.”
equipment to shoot movie Schaetzle. (Uncle Drew, free exchange of ideas for
Park. Calling the event “a
and television footage. American Made, Halt and improvement, he said.
“Georgia’s film industry fantastic way for those new
Many people think [location Catch Fire). Evergreen Marriott at
is on fire,” LMGI President to the craft and experienced
managers] choose the The workshop Don’t Stone Mountain Park is
Mike Fantasia said in pros alike to learn tricks of
locations. We don’t. We Panic: Life, The Universe located at 4021 Lakeview
an announcement of the the trade and to network,”
find workable options and and Everything is geared Drive, Stone Mountain.
event. “In March alone 38 Gordon added, “We are very
pass them along to higher toward “the nitty gritty To attend, or for more
movies and TV shows were excited about the interest
ups who make the final of the job,” Gordon said, information, contact Gordon
being filmed throughout we’ve received and look
decisions,” Gordon said. adding that workshop at mgordonlocations@
the state, creating a forward to a great event.”
. Founded as a nonprofit leaders will teach “vital yahoo.com or (310) 339-
huge demand for skilled He said the workshops
in 2003, LMGI describes skills and expert advice on 5201 or visit the event page
location professionals. This are for those already
itself as “a global how to do your job well at www.facebook.com/
event is the first of what working in the industry—
organization of career and not go crazy. "The events/2140426039581726.
will hopefully be many not those hoping to get into
location professionals workshop will be conducted
more bringing location it. “We are hoping that this
in the motion picture,
professionals together to will be of value to those just
television, commercial and
enhance skills and discuss starting out in the industry
print production industries

PET WEEK
local issues.” and help them develop
dedicated to upholding the
Gordon said although
highest ethical standards.”

PUBLIC NOTICE Chase (ID# 40607668)

is a dashing boy who has
beautiful eyes and a shiny
The public is hereby provided notice that the City Council of the City of coat. His favorite activities
Brookhaven may take up and consider, and may act upon, changes to the are running, playing fetch and
Charter of the City of Brookhaven pursuant to the authority of O.C.G.A. § 36- anything else that involves his
35-3. A copy of the Changes to be considered shall be on file in the office of humans. He is a smart boy
who learns fast and is eager
the City Clerk for the City of Brookhaven and in the Office of the Clerk of the to learn some commands.
Superior Court of DeKalb County, as required by the Code. A summary of the Chase also gets along well
changes to be considered includes: with other dogs and is ready
to be your best friend. Come
1. Amend Section 2.07 to provide that reimbursable expenses of the meet Chase at DeKalb
Mayor and City Council shall be set by the Annual Budget. County Animal Services.
2. Amend Section 3.01 of the Charter to remove the Mayor’s author- If you would like to expand
ity to transfer appropriations, to certify the change is authorized by your family by 4 furry little
increased revenues, and to renumber subsections.
Chase
feet; ask to meet Chase and
3. Amend Section 3.10 of the Charter to remove the finance director as have a loving friend forever.
a mayoral appointee. All adoptions include your
new pet's spay or neuter,
vaccinations, microchip and
It is the present intent of the Mayor and Council that an ordinance may be more! For more information screened to ensure Chase
considered by the Council making these changes at two consecutive meetings about Chase please call (404) goes to a good home. Hours:
Mon-Fri; 11am-7pm / Sat-
on April 23 and May 7, 2019. If the proposed changes and ordinance are 294-2165 or email adoption@
Sun; 11am-6pm
approved at each meeting, the changes will take effect immediately upon dekalbanimalservices.com.
All potential adopters will be
passage at the second meeting.
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 14

WEEKLY BASEBALL SCORES

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
scored 24 points in the
77-71 overtime win
over Kentucky March
31 in the Elite Eight
Druid Hills David McQuaig, right, tries to slide home before the tag. Photo by Mark Brock round of the NCAA
Tournament.
March 27 Marist 11, Chestatee 2
McNair 16, KIPP 8
Arabia Mountain 16, Miller Grove 4 Collins Hill 11, Lakeside 1
Chamblee 11, Clarkson 1 Holy Innocents 17, Paideia 0 Charlie Benson,
Decatur 6, Grady 3 Lovett 10, Cedar Grove 3 Georgia Tech
Lithonia 15, Columbia 2 Rockbridge Academy (Md) 10, Redan 3 (baseball): The
Marist 6, White County 3 freshman infielder
Stephenson 11, Morrow 3 March 29 from Marist had one
Tucker 4, Lovejoy 3 hit from his one at-bat
Hampton 4, Druid Hills 1 Cedar Grove 16, Pace Academy 0 in the 11-2 win over
Lovett 15, Stone Mountain 0 Marist 6, White County 3 Notre Dame March 30.
Lovett 17, Stone Mountain 0 Redan 10, Strongsville (Ohio) 4
North Atlanta 6, Dunwoody 5 (11 St. Pius X 9, North Oconee 7
innings) Stephenson 5, Morrow 1
Keteria Loney, Fort
Pace Academy 10, Cedar Grove 0 Tucker 7, Lovejoy 6
Westminster 16, Towers 1 Eastside 6, Druid Hills 0
Valley State (softball):
Xaverian (NY) 9, Redan 1 Wesleyan 4, Chamblee 1 The junior catcher from
North Oconee 3, St. Pius X 2 Columbia had four
March 28 Westminster 15, Towers 0 RBI’s, three hits from
three at-bats and one
Decatur 5, Jackson 3 March 30 run scored in the 14-0
Druid Hills 21, North Clayton 3 win over Paine College
Dunwoody 9, Northview 8 (8 innings) Parkview 12, Marist 2 March 31.
M. L. King 9, Mt. Zion 6
SPORTS
TRACK
MLK boys’ track
hoping to win more
championships
BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
After winning their DeKalb
County title, the Martin Luther
King Jr. High School boys’
track and field team members
are confident they can win at
the region, sectional and state
meets.
The M.L. King Lions
won their first county title in
program history on March 25
after scoring 88 points. They
outscored runner-up Arabia
Mountain by 15 points and
outscored defending champions
Southwest DeKalb by 21
points. Second-year head coach
Fred Hammonds said it felt
good to see his athletes’ hard
work pay off.
“Our motto this year is
‘hard work pays off,’ and it’s
good for our young men to see
that their hard work pays off,”
Hammonds said. “The work
that they’ve put in has really
been second to none and I was
really pleased that it was able
to show on such a big stage. We
came in with the mindset that
we were going to win.”
The Lions won gold in four
events, three of which were
field events. Hammonds said
his goal coming into the 2019
season was to improve in the
field events.
“We’ve always had [success
in] running events here at MLK
and I would like to assume that
we’ll always have [success in]
running events,” Hammonds
said. “But field is something
you really have to coach up and
it’s something you have to work
on.
“Last year at county, we
came in third place and we had
a pretty decent field showing,”
Hammonds added. “It’s one
of the things I wanted to make
www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 15
sure this year that we were
more competitive in.”
Junior Keion Cush won
gold in the discus throw (140-
06 distance) and shot put
(47-02.00). Hammonds said
Cush, who also plays football
and wrestles, worked hard
this season to improve in field
events.
“Coming into the season,
after he finished wrestling,
[Cush] told me that he [was MLK senior Jhivon Wilson, right, won gold in the 100-meter dash and finished second in the 200-meter dash. Photo by
going to do shot put and discus Mark Brock
throw],” Hammonds said. “He
took ownership of it. We re-
tweaked some things, changed
his form in some areas and
made him overall stronger. He’s
had a good showing all season.”
Junior TaQuan McKenzie
won gold in the high jump (6-
02.00) and senior Demario
Benton finished third in the
long jump (22-02.00). On the
track, senior Jhivon Wilson led
the Lions with a victory in the
100-meter dash (10.77 seconds)
and a second-place finish in
the 200-meter dash (21.63).
Sophomore Christan Boyd
finished third in the 800-meter
run (2:00.82)
The Lions fell short in the
relay races with the 4x100
team finishing fifth and the
4x400 team finishing sixth.
Hammonds said relay events is
one area they want to improve
in before the region, sectional The M.L. King Lions won their first DeKalb County boys’ track and field title in program history. Photo provided by Fred
and state meets. Hammonds
“It’s definitely a big
emphasis point for us going
into our region because we’re into the final meets of the season. juggernauts, those teams that have
going to need those points “We understand what is ahead of always been at the top. It’s good to
overall to complete the mission, us,” he said. “It readies us because put our name up there, not just with
which is winning,” he said. we’re battle-tested and it’s good to be them, but ahead of them. It gives us
Hammonds said winning battle-tested going into the end where confidence that we can beat them; we
the county title gave his team we’re going to see some of those can be number one.”
more confidence as they head
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019 • Page 16

LITHONIA WALMART Continued From Page 8A

Suspect in custody after child hit-and-run accident having a balance of work and study in the near future.
“I’m a busy [person],” MacKall said. “I like fast-paced
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN environments and multitasking. I’ve always had a job even
horace@dekalbchamp.com before (WBL).”
MacKall had been on an interview prior to Walmart visiting
her school, but Williams had never interviewed before. They
DeKalb County Police
both said they were nervous but were going to smile and stay
announced April 2 that
positive.
they have a suspect in a hit-
Walmart Personnel Coordinator Leola Hatcher interviewed
and-run case involving two
the seniors in groups to make for a causal interview. According
children.
to Hatcher, she spoke to the interviewees about prepping for
The incident happened
their 60-second elevator speech, dress code and strengths and
March 29 at 2233
Plywood covers the area where the car crashed into the home. weaknesses.
Cherokee Valley Drive in
Ja’Cardo Kendrick, a senior at the school, interviewed for a
Lithonia when DeKalb
Walmart position to learn working skills.
police responded to a
Alayshia Phillips, 11, was camera. The car can be “I feel good,” Kendrick said after his interview. “I’m
hit-and-run accident with
also struck by the car and seen on video jumping confident. I think everything went well. I told her everything that
serious injuries.
sustained a foot injury. a curb then crashing she needed to know to hire me.”
The car struck two
The male suspect will through the home. One According to MLK High School Principal Ennis Harvey,
female children before
be charged with hit and suspect was captured on the goal in partnering with Walmart is to make sure students are
crashing into a house. One
run, failure to maintain video exiting the vehicle productive members of society by the time they reach adulthood.
of the girls, 9-year-old
lane, stop sign violation, then fleeing the scene on Betty Mayfield, MLK High School library media assistant,
Laderihanna Holmes,
serious injury by vehicle foot. said a major reason for bringing the company into the school is
was playing in her yard at
and reckless driving. Police said they expect to help students with financial obligations that graduating and
the time of the accident.
Holmes was Both the passenger to release the name of the college brings.
and driver fled the scene. suspect after his arrest. “Some seniors aren’t going to college and are starting their
transported to a nearby
Home surveillance video career path,” Mayfield said. “So we want to help them get
hospital with a fractured
captured the incident on started.”
skull and a broken pelvis.

PUBLIX