the DeKalb FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 • VOL.

24, NO 11 • 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

Gearing up for
Senior Olympics
BY CARLA PARKER his fourth consecutive gold medal
carla@dekalbchamp.com at the games this year.

D
eKalb County seniors are
loosening up their muscles
and getting their game faces
ready for the 33rd Annual DeKalb
County Senior Olympics.
The games will be held May
1-10 for residents ages 50 and
older, and will include free-throw
basketball, bowling, track and field,
billiards, swimming, table tennis,
line dancing, water volleyball
Crawford, 68, participates in
softball throw and football throw at
the games. He said his competitive
spirit is what made him enter the
Senior Olympics four years ago.
“It feels good to win,” he said.
“It keeps me going. I was ready to
retire [from the games], but [my
son] said to do it again.”
“It’s just something that I
thought would be a fun thing to
do,” Crawford said. “[Also] to get
out and mingle and have a good

I’ve always been in time with my peers.”

Crawford said he has always
been into athletics, from Little FitzRoy James, 84, will not participate in this year’s DeKalb County Senior Olympics, but he has fond
track and field sports League to the college level. He
was a two-sport athlete in high
school—playing football and
memories of the times he did. Photo by Carla Parker

and since it was for baseball—and he played baseball

for one year in college. Crawford
said he stays active by working out

seniors, I thought it
would be fun to go
back and feel the
atmosphere.. '
FitzRoy James
and more. Events will be held at
various venues throughout the
county.
Participants may compete as
a team or enter individual events
and compete for gold, silver and
bronze medals. Decatur resident
Rick Crawford will compete for
four days a week.
“I’ve been doing that for
years,” he said. “I do strength
training and cardio. The closer I
get to the Senior Olympics I spend
more time stretching and try to
strengthen my shoulder a little bit
because I’m throwing. At my age,
sometimes it will cause soreness.”
Crawford said the games are
more about having fun than being
competitive.
“I thought it would be more
competition, but you compete in
your own age group,” he said.
“Some of these guys are pretty
good for their age.”
Crawford said he is looking
forward to competing and seeing
old friends again this year. He
said he is thankful for the Senior
Olympics because it keeps senior
citizens involved.
“It gives us something to do
and lets us know that we’re not
Decatur resident Rick Crawford will compete for his fourth consecutive gold medals at the DeKalb County
SEE OLYMPICS ON PAGE 6 Senior Olympics this year. Photo provided by Omari Crawford

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

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 2

CHAMBLEE

City adopts nondiscrimination ordinance

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County leads the
state as Chamblee passed its
nondiscrimination ordinance
April 16, making it the
fourth ordinance of its kind
in Georgia and the third in
DeKalb County.
“Chamblee is one of
the most diverse cities
in the state. We are
multicultural─folks from
all walks of life,” said
Brian Mock, Chamblee
city councilmember. “We
want everyone, residents
and visitors alike, to feel
welcome, safe and respected.
I hope our nondiscrimination
ordinance conveys just that...
It says loud and clear that we
as a city have no tolerance
for discrimination of any
kind.”
According to Chamblee
City Council’s meeting
agenda packet, the ordinance
intends to “protect and
safeguard the right and
opportunity of all persons
to be free from all forms of
discrimination, including
discrimination based on
actual or perceived race,
color, religion, national
origin, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity,
age, disability, marital status,
familial status or veteran
status.”
During the city’s March
19 council meeting, a
misunderstanding occurred
in which sexual orientation
was taken out of the
ordinance to not duplicate
federal law; however, sexual
orientation is not protected
by federal or state law.
The passed ordinance now
includes sexual orientation.
The ordinance also
includes hate crimes, a
provision that other cities in
the state do not include. The
provision requires that the
city keep data on hate crimes
and that Chamblee’s police
department get training
on how to identify and
investigate hate crimes.
“While we have a pretty
large LGBTQ population,
we had no protections for
the LGBTQ community
until [April 16],” Mock said.
“While state and federal
laws cover most areas of
race, religion, national origin
and age… adoption of this
ordinance takes all of this off
the back burner and moves it
to the front.”
The ordinance took
seven months to create and
pass.
“This was a long
process, probably the most
difficult thing I’ve dealt
with on council,” Mock
said. “We mainly deal with
development, police, roads
and such. It’s not often
we delve into the world of
civil rights policy making.
So it took us a while, quite
frankly about 20 drafts
over six months. But I’m
proud that we ended up
with a comprehensive
nondiscrimination ordinance
that’s well-thought-out,
fair to all involved and we
approved it unanimously.”
The law allows residents
to report ordinance violations
to the city which would
attempt to resolve the issue
through conciliation. If the
complaint can’t be resolved,
the city’s hearing officer
would determine whether a
violation complaint is valid.
A business’s first offense
would result in a $500 fine.
Chamblee joins
Doraville, which adopted a
similar ordinance November
2018 and Clarkston, which
passed a similar ordinance
April 2. Atlanta became the
first city in Georgia to pass a
nondiscrimination ordinance
20 years ago.
“I believe Chamblee
is already a very fair and
respectful city and the best
place to call home,” Mock
said. “I’m hopeful that this is
one ordinance that will never
be needed. But I’m glad to
know it’s there in case it is
ever needed.”

Teacher Job
Fair
April 27
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lithonia High School
2440 Phillips Road
Lithonia, GA 30058
Pre-Register at www.pats.dekalb.k12.ga.us/recruit

WHAT TO BRING: Resume, Certificate, Official Transcripts, edTPA Scores & GACE Scores
(Program Admissions, Ethics and Content Assessments)

For more information, email Julie_Fincher@dekalbschoolsga.org

or call (678)-676-0224
www.dekalbschoolsga.org
LOCAL
CLARKSTON
Nonprofit Envision Atlanta hosted its third annual Renew the City community cleanup on April 13. Photos by Envision Atlanta.
Nonprofit spearheads cleanup effort at Brannon Hill
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Brannon Hill in
Clarkston was once called
“the worst neighborhood
in America,” because of its
burned down housing units,
illegal drug use and crime.
However, a local
nonprofit is trying to change
the landscape of Brannon
Hill and the surrounding
community—figuratively
and literally.  
Nonprofit Envision
Atlanta hosted a community
cleanup day in Clarkston
April 13. The clean-up,
known as Renew the City,
is an annual event hosted
by Envision Atlanta.
Renew the City efforts
started at Brannon Hill with
volunteers picking up debris,
trash and fixing damaged
properties.
“We had volunteers
come in all the way from
Niagara Falls, New York.
We sit down with [DeKalb
County] and Keep DeKalb
Beautiful and we ask, ‘What
we can do to make this
place better?’” said Pete
Brokopp, site coordinator
for Envision Atlanta.
Brokopp said hosting
the annual event helps
improve the organization’s
relationship with Clarkston
residents and refugees living
at Brannon Hill.
Brokopp said volunteers
collected approximately 600
bags of trash and filled six to
DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 3
eight dumpsters with bush bushes because they [had Brannon Hill. The county assimilate in their new
trimmings during the day of become] so overgrown also plans to demolish more environment.
service. people would hide in them buildings this year. “There’s a lot of people
“We chose Brannon Hill and do illegal activities.” Envision Atlanta also doing relief. But relief work
because it was once called provides a mobile thrift store is not enough. We want to
the worst community in County officials have for refugees as well as a see these people integrate
America,” Brokopp said. attempted to address blight literacy program that teaches into society, get better jobs,
“Keep DeKalb Beautiful issues at the condominium. Clarkston residents English. get their own homes and be
was a great partner and they In 2017, county workers Brokopp said the able to grow. We’re all about
supplied a lot of tools for demolished four buildings nonprofit strives to development,” Brokopp
us to use. We trimmed the representing 68 units at help Clarkston refugees said.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Chamblee, Georgia will hold a public hearing on Thursday, May 16, 2019
at the Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341 at 6:00 p.m. to receive public comments
regarding the following matters:
•PZ2019-461: Applicant: Kirk Demetrops, 5616 Peachtree, LLC and Owner: Michael Hahn, M&S Investors
request approval of a Development of Community Impact for the adaptive reuse of an existing building for loft
office space, and associated variances from the City of Chamblee Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Unified
Development Ordinance, Sec. 230-1(a) for impervious surfaces to exceed the maximum amount allowed; Sec. 230-
26(e) to reduce the required landscape zone width on both street frontages; Sec. 230-26(g) to reduce the required
supplemental zone on both street frontages; Sec. 230-27(a) to reduce the required amount of fenestration being
provided on both street-facing facades; Sec. 230-27(g) to allow accessory mechanical features to be visible from
the right-of-way; Sec. 230-27(a)(8) to allow the electrical room door to be located on a street-facing façade; Sec.
240-7(b)(8) to allow a dumpster to not be located in the rear yard; Sec. 250-2(a) to reduce the minimum number of
provided parking spaces; and Sec. 250-7(a)(2) to allow parking to be located between the building and the street.
The property is located at 5616 Peachtree Rd and 3621 N. Peachtree Rd, being DeKalb County tax parcels 18 309
06 011 and 18 309 06 005, and zoned Light Industrial (I).
•PZ2019-462: Applicant: Peter Drey, New City Projects, LLC and Owner: Marene C. Butler, request approval
of a Development of Community Impact for the development of 10 townhome units, and associated variances from
the City of Chamblee Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 230-1(b)(1) to reduce
the required zoning buffer; Sec. 240-1(b)(1)(o) to not provide the required amount of masonry on the facades; Sec.
240-13(b)(1)(a) to not provide the required 20-foot lot width per lot; Sec. 240-13(b)(1)(g) to not provide the required
1600-square-foot lot size per townhome; Sec. 240-13(b)(1)(i) to not provide the required 200-square-foot private
yard space per townhome; Sec. 250-2 to provide more than 110% of the required number of parking spaces; Sec.
250-2(a)(3)(b) to not construct the additional parking spaces with permeable materials; and Sec. 240-13(b)(1)(l) to
provide less than the required 18 feet between the garage and alley. The property is located at 3720 Longview Dr,
being DeKalb County tax parcel 18 305 05 009, and zoned Neighborhood Commercial 1 (NC-1).
•PZ2019-463: Applicant: Garrett Womble, Praxis3 and Owner: SAI Chamblee V, LLC request approval of a
Development of Community Impact for renovations to an existing automobile dealership, and associated variances
from the City of Chamblee Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Unified Development Ordinance, Sec. 230-27(a)(6)
(e) to allow fenestration to utilize translucent glass; Sec. 230-27(a)(10)(c) to reduce the required façade height on a
boulevard street; Sec. 260-9(a)(3)(c) to allow one façade to have three wall signs; Sec. 260-9(f)(1)(b)(3) to allow a
monument sign to be taller than eight feet; and Sec. 230-26 to not provide the required streetscape along the entire
property frontage. The property is located at 5260 and 5270 Peachtree Blvd, being DeKalb County tax parcels 18
299 01 002 and 001, and zoned Village Commercial (VC).
•TA2019-002: The City of Chamblee Georgia proposes to amend the Official City Code of Ordinances,
Appendix A, Unified Development Ordinance, Title 2 Land Use and Zoning, Chapter 280 to revise the applicability of
a Development of Community Impact.
OPINION
Brookhaven ahead of the curve with environmental consciousness
Much has been said in
support of, and in opposition to,
Brookhaven’s recent purchase of a
Tesla Model S sedan that may soon
become part of the city’s fleet of
police vehicles.
Brookhaven purchased the
electric car for $45,000 with
confiscated funds and will invest
additional funds on modifications
to make the vehicle appropriate for
use as a police patrol car. The Tesla
will then be performance tested at
the Georgia Public Safety Training
Center in Forsyth to see if it meets
the standards of gasoline-powered
patrol cars. If the Tesla performs
well during the testing, Brookhaven
may replace all city-owned vehicles
with electric cars.
A 2019 Dodge Charger has a
base price of $32,300, according to
fcausefleet.com. Additional options
needed to make the vehicle patrol
ready add thousands more to that
base cost. Fuel usage for a Charger
is estimated as 18 MPG in city
driving and 36 MPG for highway
Foreclosures
Tax Sales/Ads for Bids
Trade Name Registrations
Public Notices/Public meetings
Sheriff Sales/Local Legislation
Notices of Incorporation
To subscribe, visit DeKalbLegalNotices.com
or call 404-373-7779, X 0
#ItsInTheChampion
John Hewitt
johnh@dekalbchamp.com
driving.
In comparison, the average fuel
usage of a Tesla Model S is the
equivalant of 101 MPG for city and
102 MPG for highway usage and is
completely electric.
Brookhaven not only is
considering electric vehicles but
is also addressing environmental
and sustainability issues at many
different levels as it focuses on the
future.
According to information
provided by the city of Brookhaven,
a program called Sustainable
Brookhaven will focus on
developing environmental, financial
and organizational practices that
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 4
promote sustainability.
Brookhaven has recently
installed an electric car charging
station and will soon upgrade the
system to include four chargers at
city hall. The city also has installed
a charging station at Skyland Park
and plans to install two more at
Blackburn Park.
Additionally, Brookhaven has
plans to construct a new public
safety building that will be twice
the size of the current police
headquarters, as eco-friendly
as possible, and, according to
information from the city, will cost
less to operate than the current
building. During the planning
and design period of the proposed
building, emphasis is being placed
on using Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED)
concepts in both the building and
the surrounding landscape.
Hari Karikaran, Brookhaven’s
director of public works, said,
“While the public safety building
was just on the drawing boards,
plans to incorporate environmental
sustainability elements to the project
were front and center. We chose the
location based on the protection of
Peachtree Creek and the associated
greenway. Site development will
protect and restore the surrounding
habitat and expansion of the tree
canopy.”
Other measures being
implemented by the relatively new
city include replacing conventional
light bulbs with LED bulbs,
eliminating paper and/or Styrofoam
cups in city hall and asking
contractors to consider converting
to electric cars.
Other city and county
governments should consider
similar methods of promoting and
executing sustainability at all levels.
There is little to lose and much to
be gained by being good stewards
of our financial and environmental
resources.
OPINION
“The fact is, John Chapman might
well be the best-known figure from
our national past about whom most
people know almost nothing at all.” 
― author Howard Means, Johnny
Appleseed: The Man, the Myth, the
American Story.
 
As a child in DeKalb County
elementary schools, as well as
later in college, I was blessed to
have studied under several gifted
educators and teachers who made me
a better person, as well as a stronger
scholar. In first grade, Miss Rice, and
later in fourth grade, Mrs. Morris
each vastly expanded my vocabulary
and world view. Just as my parents
and family helped form me as a
person; loving and gifted teachers
helped to shape my mind and build a
lifelong desire for learning.  teacher makes connections with his
My older daughter, Barclay
Carson, is herself a teacher in
Gwinnett County, leaving her own
indelible and lasting mark on first
and second graders, and beginning
next fall, a promotion to the fourth
grade. Barclay is following in the
footsteps of her mother, Nancy
Lowery Powell, an educator at Trip
Elementary in Loganville.  view and reality—there is little
My younger child Olivia is
following a path more similar to my
own, with an elementary education
in the DeKalb County School
District. After some struggles at our
prior school, we moved Olivia this
past fall and she is now flying high
as an Oak Grove Eagle. Olivia has
developmental delays and Down
syndrome, and is now in a special
education classroom setting, presided
over for the past three decades by
Mark Manganello. Mr. Mark has
become both a leader and a fixture of
the school, after-care, summer school
and the community, completing his
31st year at Oak Grove this spring,
and 40 years as an educator.  decades played the unintentional
For much of that time,
Manganello has taught a multi-grade
class—third through fifth—joined
by several paraprofessionals. He
navigates the learning disabilities
and challenges, specific to each
FREEPRESS
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 5
Thanking Johnny Appleseed
recognize his legacy. Oak Grove parents, friends and family, thanks to
has an incredible organic garden Mr. Mark for being our own “Johnny
‘One Man’s within its courtyard, tended over Appleseed” and may you find your
Opinion’ by an extremely gifted and active
volunteer, Kendall Xides. Xides
coming semi-retirement as pleasant
and rewarding as you have found
Bill Crane presides over the greenspace and your decades in the classroom. 
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
children across all grade levels help Cheers with a nice glass of hard
to tend the garden. And now that cider.
little Oak Grove utopia has its first Bill Crane also serves as a
child, modifying their grade level apple tree.    political analyst and commentator
curriculum while rewarding and It is our hope that this apple tree for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-
recognizing the spark of learning in will bear fruit for the teachers and AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
each child. students at Oak Grove for many FM, as well as a columnist for The
Like tending a small fire into generations to come, just as the seeds Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
a roaring flame, it’s a joy to watch of learning that Manganello long ago Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
Mark’s rapport grow with each planted so lovingly continue bearing native and business owner, living
student, from educator to friend, to their own fruit as perhaps his most in Scottdale. You can reach him
life mentor. I have noted children no lasting legacy.  or comment on a column at bill.
longer matriculating at Oak Grove So, from your many little apples csicrane@gmail.com. 
walking toward Manganello with in the orchard, and their grateful
a beaming smile, ready for a life
update and probably a hug. This
charges that appear to be life-long. 
As we watched Olivia’s
mind open and so rapidly
expand, her vocabulary nearly
doubling, cognition and reading
comprehension more than tripling
and grasp of other subjects ranging
from social studies to math and
science each rolling clearly into
doubt in my mind of where to lay
the credit. Manganello has created
and maintains a safe and supportive
learning environment, where it is
both OK to be different and learning
at all levels is celebrated. 
A year ago, when I would pick
Olivia up at her school, I often found
her walking toward me with head
bowed, and the body language of
defeat. Now as she again runs toward
me, with head up and a smile on her
face, I know that the lessons of this
classroom and school are more than
coming off the pages of a textbook
or a laptop lesson. 
Noting how Mark has for
role of “Johnny Appleseed” planting
the seeds of learning in the minds
of so many children otherwise
often discarded by our public
education system; we wanted to find
an appropriate way to thank and
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LOCAL
OLYMPICS
Continued From Page 1A
a forgotten generation,”
he said. “People really
want to get out there and
do something. We want to
continue to be active and
this gives us a chance to
do that and to also see how
active and fit we are.
Although 84-year-old
FitzRoy James will not
participate in this year’s
games, the former track and
field star remembers what
it felt like to return to the
track.
“When I went back on
the track and met with the
other athletes of my era, it
felt good,” James said.
James, a member of the
Lou Walker Senior Center,
participated in the DeKalb
County Senior Olympic
Games in 2010 and 2013.
He won gold in the discus
throw in 2010 and 2013 and
placed second in the shot
put in 2010 and third in
2013.
“I’ve always been in
track and field sports and
since it was for seniors,
I thought it would be fun
to go back and feel the
atmosphere in track and
field and get back into the
swing of things,” James
said.
James represented
Trinidad and Tobago
in track and field in the
1960s. He was the national
champion in 1962—the
first national champion
in the triple jump from
Trinidad and Tobago. He
was selected to participate
in two Olympic Games
but did not go because
the country did not have
enough money to send him.
Participating in the
Senior Olympics brought
back great memories for
James.
“Just being out there
and competing one more
time, it was good,” he said.
“It felt good being back on
the field again.”
“I think [the Senior
Olympics] is a great thing
for the county and I tip my
hat to DeKalb County for
having the Senior Olympics
every year,” Crawford
said. “It gets a lot of people
involved.”
A released offender is greeted by a loved one.
Sylvia Gordon and her family drove from
Charleston, S.C. to greet her nephew who
was bailed out of jail by New Birth.
New Birth bails out nonviolent
offenders for Easter weekend
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Several families were
reunited with their loved
ones for Easter weekend
after New Birth Missionary
Baptist Church raised
money to bail out nonviolent
offenders.
The church, in
partnership with rapper
Clifford “T.I.” Harris,
VH1’s “Love and Hip-
Hop” personality Scrapp
Deleon and representatives
from local sheriffs’ offices
launched the “Bail Out”
program to provide bail
for first-time nonviolent
offenders in DeKalb,
Fulton, Gwinnett and
Rockdale counties. Pastor
Dr. Jamal Bryant said it
started as a $40,000 local
challenge within the church
congregation but grew
into a $120,000 regional
movement to give first-
time nonviolent offenders a
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 6
VH1’s Love and Hip-Hop personality Scrapp
Deleon talks about why he partnered with New
Birth on the bail out program.
second chance.
“We’ve got over one
million Black people under
penal supervision and
are being flushed down
the prison pipeline, and
somehow or another the
churches have become
muted,” Bryant said at an
April 20 press conference.
“I want history to be able
to record that in 2019, the
vocal, active and relevant
church in the nation was
none other than New Birth
Missionary Baptist Church.”
The church partnered
with local assistance
programs to provide services
to those whose bails were
paid.
“We want to [help] these
returning citizens with job
training and job placement
so that they are not back in
the system without giving
them a fair shake,” Bryant
said.
Other services included
education, drug treatment,
Family members and New Birth church members hold signs as they await
the arrival of those released on bail.
New Birth pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant said the church and
supporters raised $120,000 to bail out first-time nonviolent
offenders.
family counseling, mental from Charleston, S.C., said
when her family found out
health assessment, grief
that her nephew was arrested
support, parental services
in Georgia, they did not
and housing. Bryant also
know what to do.
announced that college fund
“He’s out of state,
accounts were opened at
we didn’t know what the
Citizens Trust Bank for the
procedures were, and we’ve
children of the adults in the
never had to take this route
bail out program.
before,” she said. “We didn’t
Bryant said he was
know what to do. But we
challenged by Deleon to
have such a strong belief
create such a program after
in God, so we went about
Bryant came to New Birth
doing what we could, what
earlier this year. Deleon said
we knew to do.”
he was familiar with the
Gordon said they
work Bryant did with prison
received a call from her
reform in Baltimore.
nephew a few days later
“I just came home
saying that New Birth was
myself. I did a three-year
bailing him out of jail.
bit and as soon as I heard
“We just began praising
what he was doing [with]
the Lord,” Gordon said.
prison reform and he was
“New Birth has reached far
trying to assist in the Atlanta
beyond [its] county. You’ve
community…. instantly, it
reached our county, you’ve
was a no-brainer for me to
reached into our home and
be involved,” Deleon said.
Sylvia Gordon’s into our lives and hearts, and
we are so appreciative.”
nephew is one of the people
who benefited from the bail
out program. Gordon, who is
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 7

Jones explains why

he missed 77 votes
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
State Rep. Vernon Jones said a
medical emergency caused him to
miss 59 votes on the last day of the
legislative session.
Jones came under fire recently
after a report released by the
website AllOnGeorgia.com noted
that Jones had 98 “skipped”
votes during the 2019 legislative
session. The state representative
with the second highest number of
“skipped” votes had 56.
However, according to the
Georgia legislative navigator
website, Jones did not vote 77
times, including 59 times on the last
day of the session, known as Sine
Die.
“Unfortunately, during the
last day of the session, there was
a medical emergency that caused
me to miss some votes,” Jones
said. “For me, family comes first.
I couldn’t leave the capitol fast
enough. Wouldn’t you do the
same?”
Jones said he never missed a
meeting or work session during his
tenure as DeKalb County CEO nor
missed a session or Sine Die in his
11 years in the Georgia General
Assembly until this past session.
“During my 19 years in public
service there were many urgent
matters concerning my family and
me that I neglected, especially my
Moma,” Jones said. “When I came
out of office, it was my family that
was there for me, whereas, others
got missing. I guess I couldn’t do
anything else for them.
“Never again will I let public
office come before my family
and personal well-being,” Jones
added. “I take my legislative duties
seriously and have a solid record of State Rep. Vernon Jones said a medical emergency caused him to miss a number of votes in the 2019
doing so.” legislative session.

DUNWOODY LITHONIA

Arrests and $6,279 recovered City increases

after police partnership
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
A partnership
between Dunwoody
Police Department and
the Georgia Retailers
Organized Retail Crime
Alliance (GROC), has led
to 24 arrests and $6,279
worth of merchandise being
recovered, Dunwoody
police reports.
The two groups recently
began an ongoing strategic
partnership aimed at
reducing retail crime in
Dunwoody.
“Operations such as
this one demonstrate our
continued commitment
to public [and] private
partnerships that truly
improve the safety of our
community,” said Billy
Grogan, Dunwoody police
chief.
Robert Parsons,
Dunwoody police sergeant,
told The Champion
Newspaper that the 24
arrests were made April
16-17 and the arrests were
made mostly at Perimeter
Mall, and other stores in the
Dunwoody area.
Of the arrests, 21
were adults and three
were juvenile offenders.
During the arrests, items
were recovered such as
fraudulent credit cards
and tools used for the
commission of a crime.
There were 11 felonies and
27 misdemeanors charged to
the offenders, according to
the police department.
“The Georgia Retailers
and our member companies
are extremely lucky and
very grateful to have
such great partners in
the Dunwoody Police
Department and city of
Dunwoody. Retail crimes
affect the safety and
bottom lines of our stores,
employees and customers.
However, due to this
ongoing collaboration,
we hope those who would
commit these crimes think
twice before acting in
Dunwoody.” said Thomas
Beusse, executive director
mayor and
council salaries
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Lithonia's mayor and
city council members
will make more money
beginning next year.
At its April 15 work
session, the city council
unanimously approved an
ordinance that will increase
the annual salaries for the
mayor and council. The
mayor’s annual salary
of GROC.
will increase from $7,800
According to the 2018
to $10,800 a year, and
Dunwoody police report,
councilmembers’ salaries
the department made 649
will increase from $4,080 to
shoplifting related arrests,
$5,400 per year.
compared to the 633
The salary increase will
shoplifting related arrests in
take effect in January 2020.
2017. More than 1,800 cases
of larceny were reported
in 2018. The report was
released March 26.
LOCAL
TUCKER
Zaria Brown, center, signed with Mercer University.
Tucker High celebrates academic scholars
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
More than 40 Tucker High
School seniors were honored April
18 at the school’s fourth annual
Academic Signing Day.
Students were recognized for
their academic achievements on
signing day—similar to athletics
signing days—as they announced
the school they will attend next
fall. Several students signed with
Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs); some will
remain in Georgia and attend
either Georgia Tech, Georgia State,
Georgia Southern, West Georgia or
the University of Georgia; while
others will leave the state, going as
far west as Oregon State or north to
Skidmore University in New York.
Academic Signing Day was
started in 2016 by school counselor
Deven Currie. Currie said she
was inspired by former first lady
Michelle Obama’s “Reach Higher”
initiative, an effort to inspire every
student in the United States to take
charge of their future by completing
their education past high school,
www.TheChampionNeswpaper.com
whether at a professional training
program, a community college or a
four-year college or university.
“We wanted to reach higher,”
Currie said. “We wanted to make
sure our students that are only
academically strong feel just as
appreciated as our students that are
athletically strong.”
Tucker principal Dr. Eric Parker
said Academic Signing Day is an
opportunity to recognize students
who may not get recognition for
their academic achievements.
“Part of what we’re trying to do
[at] Tucker is change our culture
and not just have a focus on what
has traditionally been athletic
signings, but to recognize students’
academic achievements and them
going to a post-secondary institution
for non-athletic scholarships,”
Parker said. “So, we’re excited
about the opportunity to celebrate
with parents, students and the
community.”
Parker said it is fantastic to see
so many graduating seniors heading
to college.
“We always emphasize and push
college readiness, so to see it come
to fruition is special and exciting
DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 8
Kameron Brooks, center, signed with Jackson State University as her parents and Tucker High School
principal Dr. Eric Parker, back, look on.
and we’re happy to celebrate with of inspiration that next year they
them.” too will sign with various schools
Parker also said he hopes the and institutions so that they can
event inspires underclassmen to continue their education.”
continue their education after high Currie said she expects
school. Academic Signing Day to continue
“We had a lot of juniors and to grow.
sophomores in the audience to see “This is something that’s going
their peers succeeding,” he said. to get bigger every year,” she said.
“So, I think that’s going to resonate “We have scholars here at Tucker
with them, excite them and High School. I’m proud to be a
motivate them to have some level counselor here.”
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

Erica Martin, left, who is a commercial front loader

Brookhaven’s first Eggstra-ordinary Easter Egg Hunt was
held at Lynwood Park April 13. The event was specifically
for children with special needs. Photo provided by city of
Brookhaven.
for the DeKalb County Sanitation Department was Lakeside High School announced its 2019 valedictorian and salutatorian. Shani
named April employee of the month. The department Edmond, left, was named salutatorian and Zoe Weiss, right, was named valedictorian.
thanks her for her compassion, diligence, team Photo provided by Lakeside High School Principal Damian Bound's Twitter page.
spirit and commitment to serving customers. Photo
provided by DeKalb County Sanitation Department
Twitter page.

Cross Keys High School's baseball team ended an 87-game losing streak with a 13-11
win over Riverdale April 13. Photo by Mark Brock

WE ARE SOCIAL

More than 50 residents participated in a rain barrel workshop event hosted by DeKalb County. Photos by Keep DeKalb @DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
Beautiful.

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.

@DEKALBCHAMPNEWS
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 • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 10

COUNTYWIDE

Learning bus makes

its way around DeKalb
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com

The human anatomy was part of the lesson plan set by students from DeKalb Academy of Technology and the Environment.
Youth learn about drones outside of the S.T.E.A.M. Bus created by
DeKalb Academy of Technology and the Environment students.
A DeKalb Academy of Technology and the Environment student shows a Scottdale Early Learning Center student a science experiment.
Photos by Taylor Robins.
A Scottsdale Early Learning Center student learns about circuits
April 12.
D
eKalb Academy of Technology and the
Environment’s (DATE) STEAM Dream
Team is spreading the joys of learning in an
interactive and mobile way.
Composed of mostly eighth graders, some
seventh graders and accelerated younger students, the
STEAM Dream Team and their festively decorated
bus took STEAM learning to Scottdale Early
Learning Center April 12.
“I think the teaching that we do is unconventional
because we are exposing younger students to a
curriculum that is not readily available to them,”
said Maury Wills, DATE C.E.O. “So it provides
them with an opportunity to explore, to think and
be creative and have hands-on experience with
learning.”
The student teachers greeted the youngsters
with song and dance as they hopped off the bus
and informed the younger students that they would
be learning about art, skeletons, catapults, slime,
physics, circuits and animals. The student teachers
then invited their pupils inside the bus.
“This is probably one of the best parts of teaching
and learning,” Wills said. “Our students are being
leaders and educators themselves and trying to get
younger students to understand concepts in a smaller
package.”
Inside the bus, students were able to play
computerized educational games, make slime and
fans out of hand-shaped paper, learn about different
bones in the human body and make circuits work.
Students also were taught the history of catapults and
made their own miniature catapults.
“I’m doing this to help out the kids and to make
sure they get some education and extra learning,”
said Akil Robinson, fourth grader and STEAM
Dream Team participant. “We’re all having fun.”
Although the classroom is located inside the bus,
the learning isn’t confined to the inside. The group
sets up tables where students can also learn about
turtles and the development of chickens. According
to DATE S.T.E.M. Coordinator and STEAM Dream
Team leader Nanette Shillingford, it takes 45 days
for a newly hatched chick to mature to adulthood.
Students also were shown how to fly a drone
outside the bus.
STEAM Dream Team started three years ago
after a conversation between Shillingford and
Wills. The school then acquired a tour bus that once
belonged to country singer Kenny Chesney. The bus
was revamped to be a mobile classroom for students
across DeKalb County.
“That’s where the story started and we just keep
growing and growing every year,” said Shillingford.
The group teaches kindergarten-aged students
through elementary grades.
DATE students who participate in the STEAM
Dream Team are required to do well in their
academics, have leadership skills and exhibit good
behavior.
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 11

OPINION

It could’ve been anyone

Many young may never know what
adults go to college, may have happened to a
and many of these drink left unattended. If
students also attend it is necessary to leave a
college parties. Taylor Robins drink for whatever reason,
When I heard taylor@dekalbchamp.com leave it with a trusted
about Caroline friend.
Smith, a Marist 3. Be mindful of mixing
School graduate cup from the large serving medications with alcohol.
and Furman University bowl; but after seeing how If taking medications, CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA IS
sophomore who died during inebriated people became be aware of how mixing SEARCHING FOR SOLICITORS
a fraternity formal April from drinking, I never filled mediations and alcohol
AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS
5 in Hilton Head Island my cup twice. can impact the body.
S.C., it reminded me of my Looking back on those 4. Don’t mix alcohol with
If you are currently qualified to practice law, have
experiences as a college-age frat party nights, still able recreational drugs. attained successful completion of the bar exam,
partygoer and the lessons to visualize the people and 5. With many options such and are interested in applying, please send your
I learned while attending the events that took place, I as Uber and Lyft, drinking resume to Mrs. ChaQuias Miller-Thornton, City
college. wonder if anyone suffered and driving shouldn’t Manager of Stone Mountain, 875 Main Street, Stone
Smith, 20, had been more than a bad hangover. I be a concern, but it is. Mountain, GA or submit by email to manager@
drinking alcohol when she went to a large college where Drunken driving often stonemountaincity.org. Resumes are being
told her boyfriend she didn’t it was normal to see people follows drinking at parties. accepted through May 3, 2019. If you have any
feel well, collapsed and died, once and never again. I often Students should consider questions, please contact City Hall at (770) 498-
according to WSB-TV2. wonder if anyone I sat next using a rideshare service 8984.
As of April 22, it is unclear to or walked past suffered a and make sure they are
what actually caused Smith’s fate similar to Smith’s. getting into the right car.
death as the autopsy report I won’t say it’s a terrible 6. Do not drink excessively;
will not be available for idea to drink alcohol in it can lead to alcohol CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN
several weeks. Drinking may college; however, there are poisoning. PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
have played a part in her tips that anyone going to What happened to Smith
death. college should know about could happen to anyone. The City of Stone Mountain hereby gives notice
For many college drinking. Those who choose to partake that a Public Hearing will be held to receive public
comment on a Variance Application for 5500
students, it is normal to 1. Never go to a college in drinking alcohol should Woodsong Trce, Stone Mountain, GA 30083, Parcel
drink, underage or not. party alone. Everyone, also be cautious in regards to #18 074 03 126. Variance is requested for deviation
Students may know how especially women, should usage. from the Single Family Residential (R1) district
to obtain alcohol, but may go to a party with at least To the family and friends development regulations for setbacks.
not know the dangers of one friend who can be of Caroline Smith, and the The Mayor and City Council will hold a Public
Hearing on this matter on Tuesday, May 21, 2019
drinking. trusted. While in college, people who knew her at at City Hall located at 875 Main Street, Stone
During my college I always went to parties Marist School and Furman Mountain, GA at 6:30 P.M. Anyone wishing to attend
experience, alcohol was as with the same two girls University, we at The the public hearing may do so and be heard relative
available as water from the because I trusted them Champion Newspaper send thereto.
time I stepped on campus with my life if I were to our condolences.
to the day I walked across become inebriated. They
the graduation stage. I felt the same about me.
would step into a fraternity We would never leave NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON
party and the house would each other. If one person AN AMENDMENT TO URBAN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN OF
reek of the famous “jungle from the group needed THE CITY OF CHAMBLEE, GEORGIA
juice,” which is basically to go to the bathroom,
a Long Island iced tea on we would all go to the TO WHOME IT MAY CONCERN:
steroids in a large serving bathroom. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on the 16th day of May, 2019, at 6:00 p.m.
bowl for everyone to drink 2. Never leave a drink in the Chamblee Civic Center, which is located at 3540 Broad Street in Chamblee,
from. I would often fill my unattended at a party. One Georgia 30341, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Chamblee will hold a public
hearing (the “Hearing”) on an amendment to the existing urban redevelopment plan
entitled “Urban Redevelopment Plan Chamblee URA 2018” (such amendment, the
“Amendment”; such existing plan, the “2018 Plan” and together with the Amendment,
CITY OF STONE MOUNTAIN the “Plan”).
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The 2018 Plan sets forth the urban redevelopment areas (the “Areas”), the initial
urban redevelopment project planned for one of the Areas and the process by which
additional urban redevelopment projects will be planned for the remaining Areas.
The City of Stone Mountain hereby gives notice The Areas covered by the 2018 Plan generally include 1) 136 acres along and
that a Public Hearing will be held to receive public proximate to Savoy Drive and the frontage of Interstate 285, 2) 56 acres in the historic
comment on a Conditional Use Application for 5363 downtown center, 3) 139 acres in the area where Buford Highway and Chamblee
Manor Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083, Parcel Tucker Road intersect, 4) 88 acres along and proximate to Buford Highway near
#18 089 27 033. Conditional Use is requested for Dresden Park (“URA 4”), and 5) 124 acres in the Shallowford interchange area and
a special use permit – Church- within the Village along and proximate to Johnson Road. Maps of the Areas are available at City Hall.
Center Mixed- Use (VCM) district. The Amendment provides for an urban redevelopment project for URA 4 (the “URA 4
The Mayor and City Council will hold a Public Project”).
Hearing on this matter on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 The general scope of the URA 4 Project is the construction of a public safety building,
including police and a municipal court, multipurpose athletic fields, and a park.
at City Hall located at 875 Main Street, Stone Any interested person may submit oral or written comments on the Amendment at the
Mountain, GA at 6:30 P.M. Anyone wishing to attend Hearing. The 2018 Plan and the proposed Amendment are on file at City Hall, and a
the public hearing may do so and be heard relative copy may be obtained from the City Clerk.
thereto.
 AROUNDDeKalb
DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 12

BROOKHAVEN rides, music, inflatables, ponies and a

Get springy for Earth Day
Murphey Candler Park
Conservancy Earth Day Spring Social
raises awareness for ongoing park
conservation efforts and volunteer
opportunities April 26 from 5:30-8:30
p.m.
Local conservation groups and
sports leagues will be on hand to
provide information. The event will be
held at 1670 West Nancy Creek Drive
and will include food trucks, music,
petting zoo, face-painting, adult
beverages and other activities.
DUNWOODY
Lemonade Days Festival coming
soon
Dunwoody Preservation Trust will
host the 20th Anniversary Lemonade
Days Festival at Brook Run Park, 4770
North Peacthtree Road, April 24-28.
Activities will include carnival
petting zoo. There will also be sponsor
booths and a food court.
STONE MOUNTAIN
FODAC to host annual walk ‘n’ roll
race
Friends of Disabled Adults and
Children (FODAC) will host its 19th
annual Run Walk ‘n’ Roll 5k race May 4
from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Participants
can run, walk or roll through the
course. Wheelchairs, strollers and
walkers are all welcome. The morning
includes a continental breakfast, music,
door prizes, clowns, and more. The
event takes place at Stone Mountain
Park—Event Meadow. Registration
and more details can be found at www.
fodac.org/walk.
Chess fair scheduled
DeKalb County School District will
host its seventh annual Chess Club
Fair. The event will be held at Stone
Mountain High School, 4301 Sarr
Parkway in Stone Mountain, May 4
from 9 a.m. to noon.
STONECREST
Library to host glass painting class
Stonecrest Library will host a glass
painting class April 25, 11 a.m. to
noon. Attendees will be taught to paint
wine glasses. The library is located
at 3123 Klondike Road. For more
information, call (770) 482-3828.
TUCKER
Organization to hold meeting
Tucker Community Action Team
will hold a meeting April 29, 10 a.m. to
11 a.m. The discussion will focus on the
next steps following the Conversation
about Addiction Prevention program
held March 26. The goal is to gauge
interest in for educating Tucker
residents on the dangers of addiction.
The meeting will be held at First
Atlanta Christian Church’s community
room, located at 4532 Lavista Road.
For more information, call Tom
Edmondson at (770) 939-4358.
City to host art event
ARTucker will be held May 4 at
Tucker Recreation Center from 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. ARTucker is an indoor art
and makers market that celebrates
local artists and makers. The event will
feature paintings, ceramics, jewelry,
photography and more. There will
be food, music and art technique
demonstrations. Tucker Recreation
Center is located at 4898 Lavista
Road. For more information, visit
ww.artucker.com

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BUSINESS
COUNTYWIDE
Preparation key to business survival of severe weather events
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
The coming of spring
means milder temperatures,
blossoming flowers and
birds chirping in the trees,
but that’s just part of the
picture. Spring weather
can be pleasant or fierce.
The season may bring
thunderstorms, tornadoes,
floods and other harsh
weather events.
For business owners,
this may mean more than
unpleasant commutes. It
may mean the business is
forced to close, causing
the owner serious losses in
revenue and leaving some
employees without work.
“Spring weather can be
unpredictable, with wide
temperature swings and
extreme weather changes—
sometimes within a 24-hour
period. Thunderstorms
along with the lightning,
tornadoes and flooding they
can bring cause most of
this severe spring weather.
Thunderstorms can occur
anywhere in the U.S.,
even in spots that don’t
experience them often. It’s
important to plan ahead,”
said Brandon Bisig of the
SERVPRO NW DeKalb/
Dunwoody/Brookhaven
franchise.
The SERVPRO franchise
reports that as many as 50
percent of businesses close
down following a severe
weather event because
they are unable to survive
long periods of business
interruption caused by a
disaster and its aftermath.
SERVPRO, a provider
of emergency cleanup
and restoration services,
urges businesses to collect
information and documents
important to operation and
recovery and have them
together in a safe place. To
help with this, the company
developed its Emergency
READY Profile (ERP).4.
Although SERVPRO’s
business is restoring
homes and businesses
after catastrophic events of
many types, the company’s
focus is always on helping
people have as little
disruption in their lives as
possible, according to Scott
Lobaugh, the SERVPRO
NW DeKalb/Dunwoody/
Brookhaven franchise’s
business development
manager. “As disaster
remediation specialists,
we know how important
planning and preparation can
be not only for surviving an
unexpected event, but also
for recovering from it once
the threat has passed,” he
said.
The company, which
provides ERPs at no cost,
outlined how they work
: “Business owners work
with their local SERVPRO
franchise professional
to implement their ERP,
beginning with a facility
assessment and employing
online tools to document
critical facility, contact,
and line-of-command
information.”
Lobaugh said
documents should include
insurance records and such
information as the location
of cutoff valves, and where
responders can set up.
Having this information in
a central, easily accessible
location helps facilitate a
prompt, appropriate and
efficient response, he added.
“It can be put on paper and
stored a safe location away
from the office, put on a disc
or sent to a cloud.”
Staff at SERVPRO of
NW DeKalb/Dunwoody/
Brookhaven got a closer
than usual look at the
devastation a natural disaster
can bring when they assisted
a SERVPRO franchise in
Panama City, Fla., in the
wake of Hurricane Michael
in October 2018, Lobaugh
recalled. SERVPRO’s
disaster recovery team
mobilizes to assist when
there are large loss and
major storm events across
the United States and
Canada.
“The Panama City office
itself was too damaged
to be used and they were
DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 13
operating out of a tent, can quickly move to safety
but they were able to keep and then take immediate
going. We were able to see steps toward recovery once
firsthand that preparation the emergency is over.
can mean the difference The company advised
between whether a weather being attentive to the
event is a temporary National Weather Service’s
setback or a business National Seasonal Safety
closing its doors forever,” Campaign, which provides
Lobaugh said. “Some of the seasonal weather hazards
businesses there had ERPs during the time they are
and they made recovery most common. The federal
much easier.” agency’s spring safety
The company advised campaign is conducted
business owners to not put March 1 to June 1,
off disaster preparation. encompassing Hurricane
“Severe weather conditions Preparedness Week, which
can develop rapidly and this year is May 5-11.
hit unexpectedly, so by For each season and its
the time you hear about an related threats, the National
approaching storm, you Weather Service provides
may have little or no time no-fee wireless emergency
to prepare for it. The time alerts (WEA) to a user’s
to prepare is now, before WEA-capable phone when
severe weather occurs,” severe weather is expected
the news release states, (warning) or possible
adding that when critical (watch) at or near the
information already has been phone’s location.
collected and stored, staff
420-422447 4/25,5/2,5/9,5/16,5/23,5/30jb
NOTICE OF SALE UNDER POWER
THIS LAW FIRM IS ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPT-
ING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL
BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
By virtue of the power of sale contained in that certain Security Deed
from Courtney A. Redmond And Wanda E. Redmond, to Mortgage
Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Flagstar
Bank, FSB, a Federally Chartered Savings Bank dated June 5, 2009,
filed for record July 28, 2009, and recorded in Deed Book 21571,
at Page 351, Dekalb County, Georgia Records, and last assigned
to Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, by Assignment of Security Deed
recorded on December 13, 2018, in Deed Book 27294, at Page 664,
Dekalb County, Georgia Records, said Security Deed having been
given to secure a Note dated June 5, 2009 in the original principal
sum of THREE HUNDRED FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED
NINETY ONE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($304,691.00), with interest
from date at the rate stated in said Note on the unpaid balance until
paid, there will be sold before the Courthouse door at Dekalb County,
Georgia, within the legal hours of sale on June 4, 2019, the property
described on Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein
by this reference. The debt has been and is hereby declared due
because of, among other possible events of default, non-payment of
the monthly installments on said loan. The debt remaining in default,
this sale will be made for the purpose of paying the same and all
expenses of this sale, including attorney’s fees.
The individual or entity that has full authority to negotiate, amend,
and modify all terms of the mortgage with the debtor is: Loancare,
as servicer for Flagstar Bank, 3637 Sentara Way, Virginia Beach, VA,
1-800-274-6600. Please understand that the secured creditor is not
required to negotiate, amend, or modify the terms of the mortgage
instrument.
Said property will be sold “as-is” without any representation, warranty,
or recourse against the above named creditor or the undersigned, and
subject to any outstanding ad valorem taxes and/or assessments, and
all easements and restrictions of record, if any, having priority over
this Security Deed
To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the owner
and party in possession of the property is Courtney A. Redmond And
Wanda E. Redmond, and/or tenant(s).
Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, as Attorney-in-Fact for Courtney A.
Redmond And Wanda E. Redmond, by its Attorney-in-Fact, Flagstar
Bank.
Attorney Contact:
C. Brent Wardrop, Esq.
Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.
10902 Crabapple Road
Roswell, Georgia 30075
EXHIBIT A
All that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Land Lot 379, 18th
District, DeKalb County, Georgia, Being Lot 28, Block D of With-
mere, Unit Two, as per plat recorded in Plat Book 58, Page 163,
DeKalb County, records, which plat is incorporated herein by refer-
ence and made a part hereof, being improved property known as
1381 Witham Drive according to the present system of numbering
houses in DeKalb County, Georgia.
SPORTS
LACROSSE
Dunwoody sweeps North
Springs on lacrosse
senior nightseasons
BY MARK BROCK
Senior night for the Dunwoody lacrosse
teams was a big success as the Wildcats
and Lady Wildcats cruised to victories over
North Springs April 16.
The Lady Wildcats evened their record
at 6-6 on the season as three seniors
combined for nine of the team’s goals in
the 20-6 victory. Senior Phoebe Ringers
led the way with six goals, including one
in the first eight minutes of the game as
Dunwoody jumped out to the early 4-0 lead.
Junior Cate Pickering, who would finish
with five goals, had a pair in that early 4-0
start along with freshman Kayla Heinrich’s
first of four goals in the game.
After North Springs scored its first goal
at the 15:40 mark of the first half, Pickering
answered with her third goal of night,
running straight at the goal to make it 5-1.
Ringers got a running start in front
of the goal following a penalty on North
Springs with 12:58 to play and 34 seconds
later Kyla Chiang hit her first of two goals
of the night to push the lead to 7-1.
North Springs answered with a goal
only to have Chiang start a 7-0 run by the
Lady Wildcats that included three goals
each from Ringers and Heinrich to extend
their advantage to 14-2 before North
Springs got another goal.
Dunwoody took a 15-3 lead into the
half and came out with two quick goals by
Ringers and Pickering to make it 17-3.
The lead continued to move forward
as goals by Heinrich and Pickering pushed
Dunwoody further ahead at 19-4.
North Springs would sandwich a goal
by senior Olivia Harbin with two goals for
the final of 20-6.
Dunwoody dominated the boys’ game
as well, rolling to a 21-7 victory as 11
different Wildcats scored on the way to
their 10th victory (10-4) of the season.
Senior Ben Sokolik got his senior night
off to a fast start with two goals within 25
Please
recycle this
paper!
DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 14
seconds of each other for a 2-0 lead just Dunwoody’s Zach Rosing, left, scored a goal in the matchup against North Springs.
1:06 in to the game. Photos by Mark Brock
Jake Reuben helped North Springs
answer with his goal to cut the lead to 2-1.
Junior Connor Brogdon was part of
three of the next four Dunwoody goals with
an assist to Noah Fox (3-1) and following
a Conner Reid goal hit back to back scores
as the lead grew to 7-1 with 2:31 to play in
the first quarter following Zach Rosing’s
goal.
Carlton Pulley picked up North
Springs’ second goal of the match, but
Anderson Nail and Fox found the net for
goals to send the Wildcats into the second
quarter with a commanding 9-2 lead.
Fox found Brogdon out front just
seconds into the second quarter to make it
10-2. Carson Bregitser added a goal at the
8:15 mark and Brogdon got off a scoring
shot while being pushed to the ground made
it 12-2. Dunwoody’s Sadie Cramer, left, attempts to pass the ball while being defended by
Reid and Sean Fox had back-to-back North Springs.
goals to increase the lead to 14-2 with 4:31
left in the opening half. Dunwoody took a
14-3 lead into the break as North Springs’
JD Kilburn scored with 3:47 to play before
the half.
Twenty-six seconds into the second half,
NEXT
LEVEL
Sean Fox flipped a pass to Bregister who
tossed a behind-the-back shot into the net
for a 15-3 lead.
Reuben hit back to back goals as the
gap was closed to 10 (15-5) with 4:32 left in
the third period. Each week The Champion spotlights former
Jack Bahr, Sam Mahle and Nail each high school players from DeKalb County who
contributed a goal in the final 3:45 of the are succeeding in athletics at the college level.
third sending the Wildcats into the final
quarter ahead 18-5.
Nail, Sam Mauldin and Josh Blank Trenton Nash, Middle Georgia State
added fourth period goals for the Wildcats (baseball): The senior infielder from
and Kilburn hit two for North Springs to Columbia had one hit, one RBI and
make the final of 21-7. one run scored in the 9-4 win over
Fox became the Wildcats' leading point Brewton Parker April 20.
man with two goals and two assists on the
night for 205 for his career to set a new Nick Spear, Mercer (baseball): The
mark for Dunwoody. senior pitcher from St. Pius X earned a
save after pitching for 2.1 innings and
allowing no hits or runs and throwing
two strikeouts in the 3-0 win over VMI
April 18.
Kayla Cato, Claflin (softball): The
senior infielder from Druid Hills had
six RBIs, two hits and two runs scored
in the 18-0 win over Livingstone April
17.
SPORTS
BASEBALL
Tucker and M.L. King clinched a playoff spot in Class AAAAAA.
McNair earns first playoff berth in 18 seasons
BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
The McNair Mustangs baseball team will
play in the state playoffs for the first time in 18
seasons.
The Mustangs (12-10-1) finished fourth in
Region 6-AA—their first season in Class AA—
and earned a four-seed in the playoffs. This is
the program’s sixth appearance in the playoffs.
McNair’s last playoff series win came in a sweep
of North Cobb in 1996.
McNair traveled to Chattooga (17-11) April
24 for the first-round doubleheader in their best-
of-three series. Scores were not available by press
time. If necessary, the third game is scheduled for
April 25 at 5 p.m.
McNair is one of 15 schools from DeKalb
County to clinch a playoff spot. In Class
AAAAAAA, the Lakeside Vikings (16-10) earned
a four-seed in the playoffs and traveled to face
No. 3-ranked North Gwinnett in the first round
with a doubleheader on April 24. Scores were
not available by press time. If necessary, the third
game is scheduled for April 25 at 6 p.m.
In Class AAAAAA, DeKalb had four teams to
reach the playoffs. The Stephenson Jaguars (19-5)
clinched a No. 1-seed after winning the Region
4-AAAAAA title. They hosted Lee County (15-
15) in the first round with a doubleheader on April
24. Scores were not available by press time. If
necessary, the third game is scheduled for April 25
at 3 p.m.
The Tucker Tigers (13-5-1) earned a two-
seed after winning a tiebreaker over M.L.
King in Region 4-AAAAAA. Tucker will host
Coffee County (12-17) in the first round with
a doubleheader on April 24. Scores were not
available by press time. If necessary, the third
DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 15
Redan went on the road for the first round of the Class AAA state
playoffs.
game is scheduled for April 25 at 4 p.m.
M.L. King (16-4-1), which made the playoffs
for the first time since 2008, earned a three-seed
and traveled to Valdosta (21-8) in the first round
with a doubleheader on April 24. Scores were
not available by press time. If necessary, the third
game is scheduled for April 25 at 3 p.m.
Dunwoody (10-14) earned a four-seed out
of Region 7-AAAAAA and traveled to face No.
3-ranked Harrison (22-6) in the first round with
a doubleheader on April 24. Scores were not
available by press time. If necessary, the third
game is scheduled for April 25 at 6 p.m.
In Class AAAAA, the Southwest DeKalb
Panthers (15-4) won the Region 5-AAAAA
title and clinched a No. 1 seed. They hosted
Clarke Central (6-17) in the first round with
a doubleheader on April 24. Scores were not
available by press time. If necessary, the third
game is scheduled for April 25 at 5 p.m.
No. 2-seed Chamblee Bulldogs (17-2) hosted
Walnut Grove (17-9) in the first round with
a doubleheader on April 24. Scores were not
available by press time. If necessary, the third
game is scheduled for April 25 at 5 p.m.
No. 3-seed Arabia Mountain (10-11) traveled
to No. 2-ranked Buford (18-9) in the first round
with a doubleheader on April 24. Scores were
not available by press time. If necessary, the third
game is scheduled for April 25 at 6 p.m.
No. 4 seed Lithonia (10-10) traveled to No.
1-ranked Loganville (21-6) in the first round
with a doubleheader on April 24. Scores were
not available by press time. If necessary, the third
game is scheduled for April 25 at 6 p.m.
No. 5-ranked Decatur Bulldogs (23-6) won
the Region 6-AAAAA title and clinched a No.
1 seed in the playoffs. They hosted Rome (16-8)
in the first round with a doubleheader on April
24. Scores were not available by press time. If
necessary, the third game is scheduled for April 25
at 6 p.m. at McKoy Park.
In Class AAAA, No. 3-ranked Marist (23-6)
earned a two-seed and hosted Pickens County
(19-11) in the first round with a doubleheader on
April 24. Scores were not available by press time.
If necessary, the third game is scheduled for April
25 at 5:30 p.m.
No. 3-seed St. Pius X (10-20) traveled to
Troup County (13-14) in the first round with
a doubleheader on April 24. Scores were not
available by press time. If necessary, the third
game is scheduled for April 25.
The Druid Hills Red Devils (13-11) earned
a No. 4 seed and traveled to No. 4-ranked Cairo
(24-3) in the first round with a doubleheader on
April 24. Scores were not available by press time.
If necessary, the third game is scheduled for April
25 at 2 p.m.
Redan (19-10) finished third in Region 5-AAA
and traveled to No. 2 ranked Morgan County (22-
8) in the first round with a doubleheader on April
24. Scores were not available by press time. If
necessary, the third game is scheduled for April 25
at 5:30 p.m.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • APRIL 26, 2019 • Page 16

DUNWOODY

Shortal to retire, spend time with family

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
While Dunwoody
celebrates its 10th
anniversary as a city, Denis
Shortal announced that his
time has as Dunwoody’s
mayor has come to an end.
“It’s one of those things
that I thought about for a
long time,” Shortal said.
“Everything just piles up
and I think it’s just time [for
me to retire].”
Shortal made the
announcement during
Dunwoody’s State of the
City address April 11, his
time as mayor will end Dec.
31 at midnight.
“I’m going to give it
everything I have until
[then] and then I’m going to
Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal
announces retirement. File picture.
drink a cold one and then go
on home,” Shortal said.
After Shortal made his
announcement, an attendee
shouted, “No!”
Shortal jokingly
responded, “Thank you.
I paid him five bucks for
that.”
According to the mayor,
his family is the reason
for his decision to leave
his position. Shortal has
children and grandchildren
spread across the country.
He said leaving office will
give him time to spend with
them.
He wants to go see his
granddaughter then go see
his grandson at Boston
College and have a beer
with him. He wants to
go see his grandson who
“thinks he’s Jerry Rice”
and watch him play a little
football, and go wrestle with
a 2-year-old and 4-year-old
for about three days and
then “get out of there while
still alive” and then see his
son and new daughter-in-
law in Arizona.
During the mayor’s
speech, he noted that he will
always have three families:
his Shortal family, his
Dunwoody family and his
Marine Corps family.
“Family is extremely
important to me,” he said.
Shortal, Dunwoody’s
only mayor, helped with
the city's inception in 2009.
He is also a retired Marine
general. To Shortal, making
Dunwoody a city “seems
like yesterday.”
Terry Nall, Dunwoody
city council member,
commented on Shortal’s
decision on his Twitter page.
“Dunwoody is grateful
for the tireless, passionate
work for the greater good,”
Nall said. “He’s literally
been walking and riding
the streets from the early
days of [Dunwoody’s] city
referendum to start-up of
the city… He served our
country and Dunwoody with
distinction.”
“We’ve come a long
way in 10 years,” Shortal
said. “We’ve accomplished
a lot of our objectives;
we’ve stayed true to our
principles and we’ve stayed
true to the needs of our
citizens. Is there still work
to be done? Yes, there’s still
work to be done. I think
we are properly positioned
in this city to have
[another] decade of great
achievements… everything
will be OK. “

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