TheCHAMPION

SECTION A: VOL. 28 • NO. 48

The Official Legal Organ of DeKalb County, GA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker, Stonecrest and Stone Mountain.

THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019 www.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.com 50¢

Green to step down

as superintendent
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com

D
eKalb County School District Superintendent R.
Stephen Green announced that he will remain in his
position through the 2019-2020 school year, but will not
extend his contract afterward.
“The DeKalb County Schools community is truly
inspirational. I am proud to have the opportunity to help lead
our students to achieve educational excellence alongside our
exceptional teachers and staff,” said Green. “I’m excited to see
what the future holds for our District and our students─both
have limitless potential.”
Green said the reason for his departure is for personal
reasons, “after thoughtful consideration with his family.” His last
day as DCSD superintendent will be June 30, 2020.
“We are grateful to Superintendent Green for his service to
our district for the last four years. He is a dynamic leader with a
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN strong focus on student achievement leading to higher education,
horace@dekalbchamp.com
SEE GREEN ON PAGE 6
DCSD Superintendent R. Stephen Green resigns. Photo by Taylor Robins.

Another inmate alleges

abuse at DeKalb jail
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN with the Incarcerated Workers
horace@dekalbchamp.com Organizing Committee (IWOC).
IWOC representatives said
An inmate at the DeKalb Samuel McCollum called a
County Jail said his complaints volunteer from the organization
about human rights violations are
being ignored, according to officials
SEE JAIL ON PAGE 6

QUICK FINDER WOMAN THOUSANDS ATTEND

Opinion.............................5
RECEIVES CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL
Week in Pictures.............. 11
Education................... 14-15 DIPLOMA AT 73 AND PARADE IN
Sports.........................18-19 STONECREST
PAGE 2 PAGE 10

DEKALBCHAMPNEWS DEKALBCHAMPNEWS DEKALBCHAMPNEWS

LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 2

Woman receives diploma at 73

DECATUR

“It’s never too late”

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Lillie Mae Harris recently
was awarded an honorary high
school diploma after being
removed from school in 1962
due to pregnancy.
The Monroe native attended
Carver High School in the
early 1960s. After becoming
pregnant with her first child,
Harris was told that she
couldn’t attend high school at
the age of 16.
“I didn’t tell [my children]
about my schooling until they
were adults,” Harris said. “I
couldn’t really help them with
their homework because I
didn’t know a lot.”
After having two more
children, Harris moved to
DeKalb County in the 1980s.
In 2015, she decided to enroll
in Georgia Piedmont Technical stores, a gift shop, cleaning
College at the age of 68, where services and the Faith & Power to finish high school and
she continued studies in high
school equivalency diploma.
Harris said that she
received a call from Tiers Free at DeKalb County Jail for 21
Academy─an online education years.
center located in Porterdale,
and they notified her that she
had been chosen to receive
an honorary state high school
diploma through the education daughters─Harris has two
center’s program.
“I didn’t know anyone
was watching me doing this,”
Harris said. “They know I
really worked hard. I cried. It
touched my heart. I couldn’t
believe it.”
Prior to enrolling at Georgia her,” Harris said.
Piedmont Technical College,
Harris also attempted to get
her GED through courses
at Decatur High School and
Cedar Grove High School.
Harris was able to walk the
graduation stage May 18, after
leaving high school 57 years
ago. Harris’ friends, family and
Members of the Decatur ROTC program salute a memorial wreath during the Memorial
Day Program at the Maloof Auditorium in downtown Decatur
Sen. Anderson:
‘We never stop serving’
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
Lillie Mae Harris receives an honorary high school diploma May 18. Photo provided by
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Lillie Mae Harris.
“They had a determination On May 24 at the
Manuel Maloof Auditorium
Outreach Center nonprofit college,” Harris said. “I didn’t in downtown Decatur, the
ministry. She has also written have to make them go to Veterans Affairs Advisory
two books and been chaplain school. Education is just part of Board of DeKalb County
my family, it means a lot to my hosted the 18th annual
family.” Memorial Day program to
Harris said education is The recent graduate also honor veterans who lost their
important to her for several wants to be an inspiration lives in service.
The theme for the event Sen. Tonya Anderson
reasons. One being that to younger members of her
all three of her biological family. was “serving” and featured
a keynote speech from Sen. important to honor the
“Finishing school is
Tonya Anderson. Anderson, sacrifices of veterans on
other children through important to me,” Harris said.
also a veteran, serves on the Memorial Day.
marriage─are college educated “I want all the younger people
Senate Veterans, Military “Because I’m a veteran,
and her second daughter died in my family to finish school if
I know how important
from cancer three months they have a desire. People need and Homeland Security
Committee. [Memorial Day] is,” Anderson
prior to receiving her master’s their education and it’s never
Anderson said it is said. “I served along some
degree. too late.”
“I’m doing this in honor of
SEE SERVING ON PAGE 3
The DeKalb County Board of Education does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at the
DeKalb County School District Administrative & Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain, Georgia
on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 7:00 p.m., and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. 48-5-32, does hereby publish
the following presentation of the current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy
for the past five years.
CURRENT 2019 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Real & Personal 18,945,661,424 21,114,929,747 22,708,465,405 24,341,209,784 27,176,816,870 29,255,960,658

staff from Georgia Piedmont Motor Vehicles

Mobile Homes
1,135,212,830
355,333
781,124,040
358,733
568,562,240
769,100
501,760,240
486,235
288,361,800
476,807
225,493,960
494,206
Technically College were in Timber - 100% 0 0 0 0 0 0
attendance for support. Heavy Duty Equipment 57,864 2,208 76,000 81,886 38,569 174,154
Gross Digest 20,081,287,451 21,896,414,728 23,277,872,745 24,843,538,145 27,465,694,046 29,482,122,978
“It was just awesome,” Less M& O Exemptions 2,923,178,437 3,144,309,260 3,295,536,890 3,414,913,868 3,621,177,159 3,442,877,662
Harris said. Net M & O Digest 17,158,109,014 18,752,105,468 19,982,335,855 21,428,624,277 23,844,516,887 26,039,245,316

Even though she has State Forest Land Assistance

Grant Value 0 0 0 0 0 0
received a honorary high Adjusted Net M&O Digest 17,158,109,014 18,752,105,468 19,982,335,855 21,428,624,277 23,844,516,887 26,039,245,316

school diploma, Harris has Gross M&O Millage 23.98 23.98 23.73 23.38 23.28 23.18
vowed to earn her GED. Less Rollbacks 0.00 -0.25 -0.35 -0.10 -0.10 0.00
“I put too much time into Net M&O Millage 23.98 23.73 23.38 23.28 23.18 23.18

this,” Harris saiad. “It has been Total School Taxes Levied $411,451,454 $444,987,463 $467,187,012 $498,858,373 $552,715,901 $603,589,706
five years of hard work and I
didn’t give up and I’m still not Net Taxes $ Increase $26,658,066 $33,536,009 $22,199,550 $31,671,361 $53,857,528 $50,873,805

going to give up.” Net Taxes % Increase 6.93% 8.15% 4.99% 6.78% 10.80% 9.20%

However, not having a high

school diploma didn’t stop NOTES:
1. THE NET LEVY DOES NOT REFLECT ACTUAL REVENUE RECEIVED OR AVAILABLE DUE TO VALUE ADJUSTMENTS RESULTING FROM APPEALS, DELINQUENT TAXES,
Harris from living a successful COLLECTIONS FROM PRIOR YEARS, AND A FEE OF 1.25% PAID TO THE COUNTY FOR BILLING AND COLLECTIONS.
life. Harris has owned multiple 2. THE 2019 MILLAGE RATE IS THE PROPOSED RATE. THE PROPOSED SCHOOL OPERATIONS MILLAGE IS 23.18 MILLS.

businesses such as apparel 3. 2019 DIGEST FIGURES ARE AN ESTIMATE.

LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 3

SERVING Continued From Page 2

great men and women in the armed forces. We
honor those who have paid the ultimate price for
our freedom.”
Though Anderson is retired from the
military, she said several veterans continue to
serve in other ways to help their community
because it’s what they were called to do.
“Our values are service before self. We are
selfless,” Anderson said. “I may have retired,
but I didn’t stop serving. [One] may have
retired, but I know [they] didn’t stop serving.
[They’re] not tired of serving because service is
what [they] gravitate to.”
Combat Vietnam veteran David Tucker
said Memorial Day is an emotional time for
him. Tucker is a member of the Disabled
American Veterans Chapter 91 in Decatur.
“This means a lot to me. When we leave
here, we’re going to put flags on all the
veterans’ gravesites at Hillandale Cemetery,”
Tucker said. “We work with veterans and
advocate for veterans. That’s what we do.”
Tucker said he’s proud to have served in the
war and won’t forget his fellow fallen soldiers.
The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 91
also plans to help homeless veterans in their
area.
“We’re under the table,” Tucker said. “We
don’t try to show it, but we do it all. We love Combat Vietnam veteran David Tucker sits in the audience during the 18th annual
working with our veterans.” Memorial Day program to honor veterans who lost their lives in service.

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

The DeKalb County School District has tentatively adopted a
millage rate which will require an increase in property taxes by
6.81 percent.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax
increase to be held at 11:30 a.m. June 10, 2019, DeKalb County
School District J. David Williamson Board Room, 1701 Mountain
Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, Georgia
Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase
are at:
6:15 p.m. June 10, 2019, DeKalb County School District J.
David Williamson Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.,
Stone Mountain, Georgia

6:15 p.m. June 25, 2019, DeKalb County School District J.

David Williamson Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.,
Stone Mountain, Georgia

This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 23.18 mills,

an increase of 1.477 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the
millage rate will be no more than 21.703 mills. The proposed tax
increase for a home with a fair market value of $250,000 is
approximately $129.24 and the proposed tax increase for nonhomestead
property with a fair market value of $400,000 is approximately $236.32.

CITY OF DORAVILLE
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The City of Doraville has tentatively adopted a millage rate of
10.00 which will require an increase in property taxes by 2.56
percent.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax
increase to be held at the Doraville City Hall located at 3725 Park
Avenue, Doraville, GA 30340 on June 3, 2019 at 6:00pm.

Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax

increase are at the Doraville City Hall on June 3, 2019 at 11:30am
and on June 17, 2019 at 6:00pm.

This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 10.000 mills,

an increase of 0.25 mills. Without this tentative tax increase,
the millage rate will be no more than 9.750 mills. The proposed
tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $175,000 is
approximately $17.50 and the tax increase for a non-homestead
property with a fair market value of $700,000 is approximately
$70.00.
EDITORIAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 4

The Champion $750,000 settlement leaves unanswered

www.thechampionnewspaper.com
OUR VISION:
questions about WorkSource DeKalb
To be the first choice for local news in DeKalb, Georgia’s most culturally A released statement from DeKalb the job training program are not named. Also
diverse county. To be the unbiased, county-wide voice of DeKalb County. County’s communications department states missing from the release is an explanation of
“DeKalb County has agreed to pay $750,000 the allegations that prompted the civil claims
PUBLISHER: Carolyn Jernigan Glenn to resolve alleged civil claims under federal initially, how many claims were filed and
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: Dr. Earl D. Glenn
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER: John Hewitt law that may have occurred between 2013 and exactly what the alleged wrongdoings were.
LEGAL AD MANAGER: Jacquelyn Bryant 2016. According to the allegations, former We feel that in the interest of transparency
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Kemesha Wadley WorkSource DeKalb officials improperly and accountability, the names of those involved
ADVERTISING SALES: John Hewitt
SPORTS EDITOR: Carla Parker administered an on-the-job training program.” in the alleged wrongdoings as well as the
LOCAL NEWS EDITOR: Horace Holloman According to the release, the settlement nature of the claims should be released. Those
EDUCATION EDITOR: Taylor Robins was the result of a coordinated effort by the involved should be held accountable.
LIFESTYLE EDITOR: Gale Horton Gay
BUSINESS EDITOR: Kathy Mitchell Civil Rights Division of the U. S. Attorney’s The settlement of $750,000 is a large sum
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR: Donna Seay Office for the Northern District of Georgia and of money to be paid on what is described by
DeKalb County officials. the communications office as “allegations
MAIN PHONE: (404) 373-7779
SUBSCRIPTIONS/ADVERTISING Fax: (404) 373-7721 The release also states that the settlement only, [with] no determination of liability.” The
LEGAL ADVERTISING Fax: (404) 371-1359 relates to conduct that occurred prior to public has the right to know who was involved,
DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond’s why the county has not released additional
Publication No. 015405 administration. information and how similar situations will be
The Champion is published each Thursday by ACE III Communications, Inc., 114 New
Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA 30030. Phone (404) 373-7779. Periodicals Postage Paid Oddly though, the WorkSource DeKalb avoided in the future.
at U.S. Post Office, Decatur, Georgia 30030. Postmaster: Send address changes to The officials who allegedly improperly administered
Champion, P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347.
Articles appearing in The Champion may not be reproduced without written
approval of the publisher. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed by editors and
contributing writers are not necessarily those of the publishers.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION • $39.00

RETAIL AND COIN BOX LOCATIONS

Avondale
Avondale City Hall 21 N. Avondale Plaza

Chamblee
Chamblee Civic Center 3540 Broad Street
Chamblee MARTA 5200 New Peachtree Rd.

Decatur
Champion Office 114 New Street, Suite E
DeKalb County Public Safety 3630 Camp Circle
Kroger Food Store 2875 N. Decatur Rd.
Kroger Food Store 4919 Flat Shoals Pkwy.
Kroger Food Store 2385 Wesley Chapel Rd.
Kroger Food Store 6678 Covington Hwy.
Maloof Building 1300 Commerce Dr.

Doraville
Doraville Courthouse 3675 Park Avenue
Doraville MARTA 5936 New Peachtree Rd.

Dunwoody
Dunwoody MARTA 1111 Hammond Drive
Kroger Food Store 2090 Dunwoody Club Drive
Kroger Food Store 4498 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd

Pine Lake
Pine Lake City Hall 459 Pine Lake Drive

Stone Mountain
Kroger Food Store 1232 S. Hairston Rd.
Kroger Food Store 3479 Memorial Dr.
Stone Mountain City Hall 922 Main Street

Tucker
Matthews Cafeteria 2299 Main St.
Kroger Food Store 3559 Chamblee/Tucker Rd.
Kroger Food Store 4357 Lawrenceville Hwy
Kroger Food Store 3959 Lavista Rd.
Kroger Food Store 2205 LaVista Rd.
Tucker City Hall 4119 Adrian Street

Let Us Know What You Think!

THE CHAMPION encourages opinions from its readers. Please write to us
and express your views. Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain the
writer’s name, address and telephone number for verification. All letters will be
considered for publication.
CIRCULATION
Send Letters To:
Editor, The Champion
VERIFICATION
P. O. Box 1347 C O U N C I L
Decatur, GA 30031-1347
Email: johnh@dekalbchamp.com Printed on 100%
DEADLINE FOR NEWS RELEASES: recycled paper
Thursday, 1 week prior to publication date.
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 5

The dangers of spreading falsehoods

With the deluge of misinformation
that was disseminated intentionally
and unintentionally during the 2016
election cycle, it would seem that
the public would have learned not to
believe everything they hear, read or
see; unfortunately, this does not seem
to be the case.
On the heels of Georgia, Alabama
and several other states passing
legislation limiting access to abortions,
falsehoods, misconceptions and blatant
distortion of facts are spreading like
wildfire.
It has not been uncommon to
read accusations such as Georgia’s
law includes provisions to prosecute
women who have abortions after a
heartbeat is detected and that women
John Hewitt
johnh@dekalbchamp.com
can be charged with murder if they
miscarry.
Once again, with the help of
social media, falsehoods are being
perpetuated and some in the public
are believing these falsehoods. Some
accusations are likely due simply to a
lack of knowledge and sadly, others
are likely intentionally distorting facts
to further their individual social and
political beliefs.
When false information is
intentionally disseminated, there is
no gain for anyone and in the case of
abortion issues, can lead to personal
harm, or even death, if someone takes
action based on false information. The
person sharing the false information
may be seen by some as an authority
on a particular issue and as such many
will not question the validity of the
false claims.
All are entitled to have personal
views and beliefs on any topic, but
when they fail to research the basis of
their beliefs, they are doing a disservice
to themselves and to all who may
believe their false assertions.
With the looming 2020 national
elections, we should expect another
onslaught on false information
perpetuated by candidates, followers
and supporters, special interest groups
and organizations worldwide who
intentionally create discourse to further
divide the American public.
I encourage all to become
somewhat of a citizen journalist and
to learn to not believe claims that in
some cases are so farfetched that the
premise is absurd. By doing just a little
research on any particular topic, and
validating truth or confirming falsities,
we can help many avoid undue stress
and anxiety.

Tips to keep children safe

Congratulations to Decatur law firm for
Georgia Legal Food Frenzy success
To the Editor:
On behalf of the Young
Lawyers Division (YLD) of the
State Bar of Georgia, I would like
to congratulate the attorneys and
staff of Attorney Justin Oliverio
LLC in Decatur for winning the
Sole Proprietor Division in the
recently completed eighth annual
Georgia Legal Food Frenzy.
The food and money raised by
the Oliverio Firm on behalf of the
Atlanta Community Food Bank
contributed to the record-breaking
total of 1.7 million meals raised
by the legal community across
the state. A total of 193 legal
organizations, representing more
than 13,000 members, participated
in this year’s Legal Food Frenzy.
Along with Georgia Attorney
General Chris Carr, the Georgia
YLD is honored to co-sponsor this
project to assist the Georgia Food
Bank Association and its regional
food banks. We have now raised the
equivalent of 8.9 million meals in
eight years.
Thanks again to each attorney
and legal professional who joined
us for this important cause. We are
proud to help lead an effort that
has such a significant impact on
communities across Georgia.
Sincerely,
Rizza P. O’Connor
President, Young Lawyers Division
State Bar of Georgia
from hot car deaths
(StatePoint) Fifty-two children died in hot cars nationwide in 2018 of
pediatric vehicular heatstroke—more than any other year on record in the
past 20 years. Experts say that these tragic deaths are entirely preventable.
“Even one child dying in a hot car is too many,” said Amy Artuso,
senior program manager of advocacy at the National Safety Council
(NSC), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable
deaths at work, in homes, in communities and on the road. “The good
news is that parents and caregivers can act immediately to end these
preventable deaths.”
June is National Safety Month and an excellent opportunity to review
the facts and learn more about keeping kids safe.
Understanding the Causes
According to NSC and noheatstroke.org, there are three primary
circumstances resulting in deaths of children in hot cars. Knowing what
they are can help avoid them.
1. A caregiver forgetting a child in a vehicle: Leaving a child behind
in a parked vehicle is an often—overlooked consequence of distracted
driving. NSC advises parents and caregivers to avoid distractions—such
as cell phone use—when driving and parking, in order to reduce the risk of
forgetting a child in the car. A routine that helps one remember to check n
the backseat can help, too. Placing a purse, briefcase or even a left shoe in
the backseat may force drivers to take one last look before walking away.
2. The child gaining access to the vehicle: Keep car doors locked so
children cannot gain access, and teach them that cars are not play areas.
Children should never be able to access a vehicle on their own.
3. Someone knowingly leaving a child in the vehicle: There is no safe
amount of time to leave a child in a vehicle, even if you are just running a
quick errand. Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles
can reach life-threatening levels. Leaving windows slightly open doesn’t
help. Children should never be left unattended in a vehicle.

Naturehood
Educate yourself
Acquaint yourself and anyone who cares for a child with free
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A resources providing vital information about vehicular heatstroke. For
example, NSC recently released “Children in Hot Cars,” an online training
course providing information about why cars heat up so quickly, why
children, in particular, can succumb to increasing temperatures in cars,
and what parents, caregivers and others can do to prevent these needless
deaths. The course is interactive, free and can be completed in 15 minutes
or less, with a certificate of completion available at the end. It can be
found at nsc.org/hotcars. For more information about pediatric vehicular
heatstroke, visit noheatstroke.org.
Hot car deaths have claimed the lives of children in almost all states
DiscoverTheForest.org in the U.S. However, these deaths are preventable. Learn more about the
causes to help keep family members and loved ones safe.
 LOCAL
GREEN Continued From Page 1
work and life-long learning,” said
Michael Erwin, chair of the DeKalb
County Board of Education.
A national search for DCSD’s
next superintendent will begin in June
2019, with Green helping with the
transition process.
Green’s accomplishments during
his tenure include helping DCSD
to regain full accreditation while
receiving a five-year renewal in 2017
from AdvancED.
Green became DCSD
superintendent in 2015. Prior to
his current position, Green was
superintendent of Kansas City Public
Schools for four years, according to
a 2015 Kansas City Star article. The
article listed Green’s family living
in the Atlanta area as his reason
for accepting the DCSD position.
Information about Green’s future
plans has not been announced.
He also served as superintendent
of Community School District
#28 and as an Instructional
Superintendent for Region 3 for the
New York City Board of Education.
Green was not available for
further comment.
Don’t Wait.
Communicate.
Make your
emergency plan today.
Visit Ready.gov/communicate
ADC29448_3.75x21_Newspaper_NATFire_Eng.indd
JAIL Continued From Page 1
after protests at the DeKalb Jail.
McCollum claimed he has
attempted to expose what he
considers “abusive conditions”
at the jail for months. McCollum
said he wrote a letter to the health
department regarding conditions
on the seventh and eighth floors of
the jail, which are hidden from the
public.
“Typically, when anyone is
allowed into this facility, they do
not get a chance to see the areas
of the jail that are most affected
by abuse, nor are they able to
communicate with the [inmates]
that are suffering and have to
survive in the squalor,” McCollum
wrote in a letter. “They are taken
to a clean, staged area and if they
get to speak to an inmate, [they]
will be from a group that has
been preselected and are fearful
of some sort of retaliation by the
jail’s administrators.”
On Oct. 22, 2018, McCollum
wrote a letter to the Georgia State
Health Department about the cold
temperatures on the seventh and
eighth floors. McCollum said the
floors were “bitter cold.”
“The prisoners in this jail
only get one thing [a] blanket
in addition to the short-sleeve
[t-shirts]...this problem is
particularly disturbing because
of the other unresolved problems
going on in this jail [with]
infestation, cold meals, pestilence
and mold. When are the prisoners
in this jail going to stop being
abused?” McCollum said.
A letter from the Office of
Professional Standards reviewed
1 9/25/15 3:07 PM
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 6
McCollum’s complaint and
determined it to be “unfounded.”
DeKalb County Sheriff’s
officer Major B. Akins said
officials inspected the temperature
and said the seventh floor was 72
degrees and the heating system
was discharging 84 degrees in the
housing units.
“I do understand that Georgia
temperatures fluctuate daily and
can vary from 50 to 70 degrees
within one day. This does make
it hard to maintain a comfortable
temperature at all times. So, I
recommend that you purchase
thermals from commissary to
help on the cooler times,” Akins
wrote in a response to McCullum
in November 2018. “If you do
not have access to funds on your
inmate account, you can use the
inmate handbook to help you
apply for indigent services to
request thermals.”
McCollum said the
temperature was not inspected at
the time of his complaint.
Former DeKalb inmate Blair
Gordon contacted The Champion
and also alleged abuse at the
hands of DeKalb Jail officials as
well as not receiving adequate
medical attention. He alleged food
poisoning and mold caused him to
lose 15 pounds in four days and
urinate blood.
Gordon’s complaints were also
considered “unfounded” by the
Office of Professional Standards.
According to documents
provided to The Champion,
Gordon was seen by jail
physicians a day after arriving
to DeKalb Jail. The results were
negative, and Gordon was referred
to the chronic care clinic for a
follow up.
Akins said Gordon was
released before a scheduled
doctor’s appointment with jail
staff.
“Gordon stated he lost 15
pounds in four days while in our
jail...I was unable to confirm or
deny the weight loss, but Gordon
did acknowledge the jail provided
three meals which contain at
least fruit and vegetables and
that he was able to drink out of
the [water] fountain instead of
the powdered drinks provided by
the kitchen,” Akins wrote in his
report.
On May 22, the DeKalb
branch of the NAACP toured
the DeKalb jail facilities after
allegations of abuse and protests.
DeKalb County Sheriff Jeff
Mann said inmates and residents
can file a complaint with the jail at
any time. Sheriff’s office officials
said Mann spent approximately
three hours with NAACP members
and the group toured the jail’s
medical and dental clinics, inmate
housing and classrooms. Mann
also showed visitors how to file a
grievance with the jail.
“We were pleased that the
DeKalb NAACP chose to accept
our invitation,” Mann said.  “They
are advocates for human rights in
our community, and we are glad
to share factual information with
them about our operations.”
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 7

STONECREST

Blount Construction was awarded the contract to pave and repair 18 streets in the
city, which were identified as in the worst condition.

City begins
Stonecrest kicked off its resurfacing project May 13.

NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

resurfacing project City of Tucker, GA

BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Stonecrest’s resurfacing
project is underway in
residential communities.
The city kicked off the
project May 13 on Browns
Mill Lake Court. Turner
Hill Road is the last street
scheduled to be repaved
on June 24. City officials
said residents will see large
“Stonecrest SPLOST”
resurfacing signs in
neighborhoods indicating the
date paving will take place,
pending weather conditions.
The signs also will
notify residents to remove
vehicles from the road. Blount
Construction was awarded the
contract to pave and repair
18 streets in the city which
were identified as being in the
worst condition. City officials
said Blount Construction also
will reconstruct the two-lane
portion of Turner Hill Road
The City Council has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require
The 18 streets on the
resurfacing scheduled were
an increase in property taxes by 100 percent.
singled out after a road
analysis was completed by
DeKalb County. The city All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax
updated the list by using a increase to be held at 7:00p.m. on May 28th, 2019.
digital road analysis to assess
road conditions in the city and
provide an estimated cost for Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at
repairs. 6:45pm on June 10, 2019 .
The council voted to
have Stantec Consulting Firm Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at
conduct a digital road analysis 7:00pm on June 26, 2019 .
to cost no more than $70,000.
The resurfacing project is
being funded by Special Local
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of .9 mills, an increase
Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) of .9 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no
and a Local Maintenance more than zero mills.
Improvement Grant (LMIG).
In February, the Georgia The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of
Department of Transportation $200,000 is approximately $63 and the proposed tax increase for
delivered the $536,511 in nonhomestead property with a fair market value of $200,000 is
LMIG funds to the city. approximately $72.
NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MILLAGE RATE
The City of Tucker has tentatively adopted a millage rate of .9 mills in the city. All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on the millage rate adoption to
be held at the City Hall Annex, 4228 First Avenue Suite 2-4, Tucker, GA 30084 on June 26, 2019 at 7:00 pm.

between Rockland Road and

Mall Parkway. The City of Tucker Mayor & City Council does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at the City Hall Annex, 4228 First Avenue
Suite 2-4, Tucker, GA 30084 on June 26, 2019 at 7:00 pm and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following
presentation of the current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years. There will be three publice hearings held
and duly advertised for the following dates: May 28th, June 10th and June 26th, 2019. City of Tucker expected revenue generation in the amount of $1,500,000. The
adoption of the .9 mills is lower than the previous rate for the services as provided by DeKalb County. City of Tucker is advertising at 100% increase

CURRENT 2019 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY

THIS City of Tucker
Real & Personal
Motor Vehicles
2014 2015 2016
1,679,063,795
2017
1,809,804,379
26,631,760
2018
968,019,546
18,858,550
2019
1,086,421,666
16,660,920

COULD BE Mobile Homes

Timber - 100%
Heavy Duty Equipment 50,098

YOUR AD! Gross Digest

Less M& O Exemptions
Net M & O Digest
0

0
0

0
1,679,063,795
61,277,075
1,617,786,720
1,836,436,139
670,730,920
1,165,705,219
986,878,096
220,270,453
766,607,643
1,103,132,684
175,386,008
927,746,676
State Forest Land Assistance Grant
Value 0
Call 404.373.7779 Ext 110 Adjusted Net M&O Digest 0 0 1,617,786,720 1,165,705,219 766,607,643 927,746,676

for more information. Gross M&O Millage 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Less Rollbacks (LOST)
Net M&O Millage 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Net Taxes Levied $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Net Taxes $ Increase #REF! $0 #REF! #REF! #REF!
Net Taxes % Increase #REF! 0.00% #REF! #REF! #REF!
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 8

DECATUR

Officials present 2019-2020 budget

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Decatur city officials
announced the “second phase”
of the budget process during a
city commission meeting May
20. Decatur commissioners
will have less than a month to
approve and adopt a budget for
2019-2020.
“We have been in the
budget phase for the last few
months and putting the budget
request in, working on the
expenditures, analyzing the
revenues and bringing it all
together,” said Decatur City
Manager Andrea Arnold.
According to Arnold, the
proposed general fund budget
is approximately $28.7 million
and there is a proposed millage
rate increase of 0.3 mills to
be applied to Decatur Legacy
Park debt service.
In 2017, Decatur
purchased approximately 77
acres of property on South
Columbia Drive owned by the
United Methodist Children’s
Home for $40 million. City
officials plan to add affordable
housing, a competition track
and field area and enhance
greenspace.
“The purpose for the
increase is to solely pay for the
full cost of the debt service for
Legacy Park,” Arnold said.
Other budget highlights
include a 9 percent increase
in property tax, an increase
of more than $500,000 in
health insurance costs for
city employees, a living wage
pay increase for full-time city
employees and funding for
Decatur’s 2020 strategic plan.
“Ultimately what we have
here is a budget I’m very
proud of and our employees
are proud of,” Arnold said.
“It maintains the high-level
quality service that the
community expects, and
we continue to invest in our
capital infrastructure and
invest in the people who make
it all happen.”
On June 3 and June 10, the
city will host public meetings
to discuss the budget and
millage rates at Decatur City
Hall. On June 17 at 7:30 p.m.,
the city will host a final public
hearing before commissioners
adopt the fiscal year 2019-
2020 budget and 2019 millage
rates.
Hard copies of the city’s
annual revised budget for fiscal
year 2018-2019 and proposed
budget for fiscal year 2019-
2020 are available for review
at the reference desk on the
second floor of the Decatur
Library or in the city clerk’s
office at Decatur City Hall. Decatur officials held a budget presentation and reviewed 2019 millage rates during a
city commission meeting May 20.
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The Decatur City Commission has tentatively adopted a
combined millage rate of 13.92 mills for maintenance and
operations and debt service which will require an increase in
property taxes of 9.34% for fiscal year 2019-2020. This millage
rate generates revenue necessary to fund the City of Decatur’s
general operations, downtown development authority, capital
improvements and debt service.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this
tax increase to be held at the City Commission Meeting Room,
Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, on Monday,
June 10, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. Time and place of an additional public
hearing on this tax increase is at Decatur City Hall on June 17,

GOT A NEWS TIP?

2019 at 7:30 p.m. This tentative increase will result in a millage
rate of 13.92 mills, an increase of 1.19 mills over the rollback
millage rate. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate
will be no more than 12.73 mills. The proposed tax increase for a
We’d love to hear from you. home with a fair market value of $475,000 is approximately $60.25
and the proposed tax increase for a nonhomestead property with a

404.373.7779 fair market value of $575,000 is approximately $86.25.

City of Decatur Georgia Ad Valorem Tax Digest History

Decatur - Digest
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Assessment Ratio 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%

Real Property $ 1,326,596,200 $ 1,594,612,800 $ 1,693,241,200 $ 1,835,249,100 $ 2,014,946,720 $ 2,197,960,700

Personal Property $ 22,248,300 $ 22,322,600 $ 23,627,600 $ 25,448,800 $ 26,673,465 $ 25,026,100
Public Utilities $ 15,152,700 $ 17,209,600 $ 15,658,700 $ 16,521,530 $ 16,257,600 $ 15,852,900
Motor Vehicle $ 47,331,600 $ 35,521,587 $ 26,623,700 $ 23,481,400 $ 13,249,900 $ 10,074,200

Total Digest $1,411,328,800 $1,669,666,587 $1,759,151,200 $1,900,700,830 $2,071,127,685 $2,248,913,900

City Operations

General Fund Exemptions $ 125,393,000 $ 130,639,000 $ 128,646,080 $ 169,825,080 $ 175,774,991 $ 176,630,080

PLEASE Net City Operations Digest

City Operations Millage

$1,285,935,800

11.580
$1,539,027,587

11.080
$1,630,505,120

10.680
$1,730,875,750

10.680
$1,895,352,694

10.900
$2,072,283,820

11.340

RECYCLE
City Operations Levy $14,891,137 $17,052,426 $17,413,795 $18,485,753 $20,659,344 $23,499,699

Percent Change 13.50 14.51 2.12 6.16 11.76 13.75

Dollar Amount Change $1,770,811 $2,161,289 $361,369 $1,071,958 $2,173,591 $2,840,354
The Decatur City Commission announces that the 2019 tentative millage rate was adopted at their meeting on

THIS
Monday, May 20, 2019. Hearings on the budget and millage rate will be held on:
Monday, June 3, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, June 10, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, June 17, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
The hearings will be held at Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA. Final adoption of the

PAPER!
2019 millage rate and fiscal year 2019-2020 budget is scheduled for consideration at the Decatur City
Commission meeting on Monday, June 17, 2019. The above table is presented pursuant to O.C.G.A. 48-5-32
showing the estimated current year's digest and proposed millage rates along with a five-year history of the tax
digest and millage rates.
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 9

COUNTYWIDE

Officials hope summer

program can curtail crime
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
According to statistics
from the Federal Bureau of
Investigations, crime for
seven major offenses typically
increases by 10 percent
between June and August
compared to other months of
the year.
Some law enforcement
officials said they believe this
uptick in crime is due to teens
being out of school for the
summer and getting involved
with the “wrong” crowd or
committing crimes out of
boredom.
Several local government
agencies have tried to address
this issue by offering summer
programs. This year, DeKalb
County officials announced
that 400 teens were selected
for the 2019 DeKalb Works
Summer Youth Employment
Program.
According to officials,
more than 2,700 youth applied
for intern positions. To date,
the program has provided
approximately 1,100 summer
jobs for teens.
“We are pleased with the
overwhelming response to
this youth employment and
empowerment program,” said
DeKalb County CEO Michael
Thurmond. “In addition to
receiving a paycheck, these
youth are being introduced
to job skills and a work ethic
that will benefit them as they
progress through life.”
The program is for
DeKalb residents 14 to 24
and will run from June 3 to
July 25. Individuals involved
in the program will receive a
salary of $10 an hour. Officials
said participants in this
year’s program will receive
training on topics such as
punctuality, conflict resolution,
presentation and other job
skills.
This year, 116 private
employers, such as Ricoh,
Allstate Insurance, Datum
Tech, Grady Health Systems,
Wade Walker YMCA and
Clarkston Community Center,
are providing internship
opportunities.
Among the 109 public
partners are the county’s
board of commissioners,
tax commissioner, district
attorney, sheriff’s office,
solicitor-general, Clerk of
Superior Court, CEO, DeKalb
County School District and
other county departments.
DeKalb County Sheriff
Jeff Mann said the office has
participated in the program
since its inception three years
ago.
“It’s exciting for us as well
as it is for them to have them
come in,” Mann said. “They
can get a sense of what we do
here at the sheriff’s office, and
we get a great response from
the students. It’s important
for young people to get into
productive activities instead
of getting involved with gangs
or other things they could be
doing.”
WorkSource DeKalb
provides interns with training
prior to the start of their
work assignments and also
explains payroll and workers’
compensation to the interns.
A youth helps repair a sidewalk during last year’s DeKalb Works Summer Youth
Employment Program.
CITY OF DORAVILLE
PUBLIC NOTICE
Fiscal Year 2020 Budget
Notice is hereby given that the proposed budget for the City of Doraville shall be avail-
able for public inspection beginning Monday, May 20, 2019, in the City Clerk’s office
from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at City Hall, 3725 Park Avenue, Doraville,
GA 30340.
A Public Hearing shall be held on the 3rd day of June at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 3725
Park Avenue, Doraville, GA 30340 before the Mayor and Council of the City of Doraville
at which time public comment pertaining to the Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 through
June 30, 2020) budget shall be sounded. All citizens of Doraville are invited to attend.
A Public Hearing shall be held on the 17th day of June at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 3725
Park Avenue, Doraville, GA 30340 before the Mayor and Council of the City of Doraville
at which time public comment pertaining to the Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 through
June 30, 2020) budget shall be sounded. All citizens of Doraville are invited to attend.
A Regular Meeting shall be held on the 17th day of June at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 3725
Park Avenue, Doraville, GA 30340 before the Mayor and Council of the City of Doraville
at which time the Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020) budget shall be
approved and the budget ordinance adopted in accordance with O.C.G.A. 36-81-5. All
citizens of Doraville are invited to attend.

CITY OF DORAVILLE

REDUCE NOTICE OF FIVE YEAR HISTORY

Pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year’s
tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years. All citizens of Doraville are invited to

REUSE attend.

CURRENT 2019 TAX DIGEST AND FIVE YEAR LEVY

RECYCLE Real & Personal

2014
416,515,498
2015
582,014,025
2016
586,820,583
2017
675,554,262
2018
763,728,235
2019
800,068,229

REDUCE Motor Vehicle

Mobile Homes
14,025,040
0
9,332,050
0
7,001,920
0
6,360,280
0
4,056,520
0
3,539,250
0
Timber 100% 0 0 0 0 0 0
REUSE Heavy Duty Equipment 0 0 2,222 0 4,496 2,311
Gross Tax Digest 430,540,538 591,346,075 593,824,725 681,914,542 767,789,251 803,609,790
RECYCLE Exemptions 37,551,588 64,281,530 62,253,978 76,694,898 75,080,282 80,097,910
Net Tax Digest 392,988,950 527,064,545 531,570,747 605,219,644 692,708,969 723,511,880

REDUCE Net Millage

Net Tax Levy 100%
8.75
3,438,653
8.50
4,480,049
8.371
4,449,779
8.951
5,417,321
10.000
6,927,090
10.000
7,235,119

REUSE
Net Increase/(Decrease) 50,852 1,041,395 30,270 967,542 1,509,769 308,029
Net Levy %
Increase/(Decrease) 1.50% 30.28% 0.68% 21.74% 27.87% 4.45%
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 10

Thousands attend Caribbean

carnival and parade in Stonecrest
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Thousands of people lined up along Mall Parkway in Stonecrest
in 90-degree weather to take in the sounds and colorful looks of
Caribbean culture at the annual Atlanta DeKalb Carnival and Parade
May 25.
The event celebrated cultures from all Caribbean countries and
territories and also featured international and local artists, arts and
crafts, and food.
 THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 11

WEEK in PICTURES

4-year-old Falcon Dix is being celebrated by the DeKalb County Public Library
System for reading 1,000 books before kindergarten. Photo provided by DeKalb
Library Instagram Page.
A Brookhaven Kids To Park event attendee enjoys her face paint at Brook Run Park May 18. Photo provided by city of Brookhaven
Twitter Page.

DeKalb County Police Officer Prince with students at Idlewood Elementary School during career day.

Volunteers from Atlanta Gas Light clean roads around the company’s new facility off A Brookhaven Kids To Park event attendee enjoys her face paint at Brook Run Park May 18. Photo provided by city of Brookhaven
of Interstate 20 in DeKalb. Twitter Page.

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

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

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

LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 12

DORAVILLE
Woman charged in shooting death Man arrested after school
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Alexandra Liz Bodie
was arrested in Doraville May
19 and charged with felony
murder.
DeKalb County Sheriff’s
Fugitive Unit, U.S. Marshals
and Chamblee Police
Department charged the
29-year-old suspect with the
May 11 shooting death of
40-year-old Brandy Jean
Brummett of Atlanta.
According to the warrant,
Brummett was allegedly
shot in the chest by Bodie
at 2800 NE Expressway in
Chamblee. Bodie was arrested
in Doraville and transported to
DeKalb County Jail, without
Alexandra Liz Bodie has been charged
in the shooting death of Brandy Jean
Brummett. Photo provided by DeKalb
County Sheriff’s Office.
incident.
The cause of the incident
and relationship between
Bodie and Brummett is
unknown at this time.
In 2017, Bodie was
arrested by Doraville Police
Department and charged with
three counts of violating the
Georgia Controlled Substances
Act─which were dismissed,
one count of hit and run and
one count of driving with
an instruction permit. Bodie
served seven months for the
convicted charges.
Bodie was arrested
by DeKalb County Police
Department and charged
with loitering for drug-
related purposes in 2012,
family battery in 2015 and
then arrested in 2016 for a
probation violation.
DECATUR
altercation involving gun
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
On May 23, the last day
of school for DeKalb County
School District (DCSD),
Decarlos Moses was arrested
for pulling a gun at Columbia
Elementary School.
During the morning
of May 23, an altercation
occurred between Moses
and another adult on school
grounds and a gun was
allegedly pulled out. The
altercation prompted a level
one lockdown, with police
presence, according to DCSD
officials.
The district did not say
where on the property the
altercation happened.
The two suspects were
detained and the lockdown
was lifted. No students or staff
members were harmed during
the event, according to the
district. Moses was arrested
after being charged with
carrying a weapon on school
grounds. The other adult was
released and not charged.
Moses remains in custody
as of May 24, according to jail
records. No other details have
been released.

Georgia Department of Transportation

To Hold a Series of
Location and Design Public Information Open Houses
For P.I. No. 0013914, I-285 Eastside Express Lanes
DeKalb County

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will hold a series of Public Information Open Houses
concerning the project listed above. The dates, times, and locations are as follows:

Tuesday, June 18 Clarkston First Baptist Church Gymnasium 4:30-7:30 p.m.

3999 Church St, Clarkston, GA 30021
Thursday, June 20 Peace Baptist Church Annex 4:30-7:30 p.m.
3996 Covington Hwy, Decatur, GA 30032

Tuesday, June 25 Rehoboth Baptist Church Fellowship Hall 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
2997 Lawrenceville Hwy, Tucker, GA 30084 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 27 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Atlanta - Northlake 4:30-7:30 p.m.

4156 Lavista Rd, Atlanta, GA 30084

This project proposes to construct express lanes on an approximate 10-mile section of I-285 from I-20 to
near Henderson Road in DeKalb County. The proposed express lanes would improve mobility and travel
time reliability along the east side of I-285 and provide connections to the proposed expansion of the
Georgia Express Lanes network.

The purpose of these Location and Design Public Information Open Houses is to provide the public with
an opportunity to view the proposed project, ask questions, and comment on the proposed project.

The Open Houses will be informal, and the public is invited to attend at any time during the hours listed
above. There will be no formal presentations. A court reporter will be available to allow the public an
opportunity to make verbal comments about the project.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: The meeting sites are accessible to persons with
disabilities. Accommodations for people with disabilities can be arranged with advance notice by calling
Joshua Higgins at 770-216-3896.

Written statements will be accepted concerning this project until Monday, July 15, 2019. Written
statements may be submitted to:

Mr. Eric Duff

State Environmental Administrator
Georgia Department of Transportation
600 West Peachtree Street, NW – 16th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 13

COUNTYWIDE DECATUR

Gangster Disciples
members convicted
Former officer admits involvement
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

Three DeKalb County

gang members, including a
former DeKalb County police
officer, with ties to the national The DeKalb County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers honored volunteers with more than five years of service
crime organization Gangster May 22.

Volunteers recognized for

Disciples were charged
recently with racketeering,
conspiracy involving murder,
carjacking and attempted
robbery.

Donald Glass, 31,
Decatur, was convicted of
conspiracy involving murder,
discharging a firearm during
a crime of violence and a
shooting death. Vancito
Gumbs, 27 and Kevin
Clayton, 47, both from Stone
Mountain, were convicted
of racketeering conspiracy
involving murder.
According to the U.S.
Attorney’s Office, Glass
carried out shootings,
robberies and murders for
the gang as part of a “hate
committee.” Clayton was a
chief enforcer for the state
and was responsible for
disciplining members of the
gang.
Gumbs, a former DeKalb
County Police Department
(DKPD) officer, said he was
a spy for Gangster Disciples
during his time with DKPD.
Prosecutors said evidence
showed Gumbs would relay
law enforcement information
to the gang and provide guns
to the organization.
“We hope these
convictions, along with the
previous Gangster Disciple
convictions in our local
jurisdiction, send a strong and
clear message that those who
choose to engage in violent
behavior will pay a price,”
said DeKalb County District
Attorney Sherry Boston.
Lance Cross, director of
the D.A.’s major case unit,
said he is pleased with the
cooperation between state and
community impact
Vancito Gumbs
federal agencies.
“The investigation,
arrests, and now convictions
associated with these
cases have resulted in the
dismantling of one of the most
violent and organized gangs
in the Southeast.  The DeKalb
District Attorney’s Major Case
children were in DeKalb’s foster care system,
Unit is proud to partner with
of whom more than 350 have been served by
the U.S. Attorney’s Office
the DeKalb County Court Appointed Special
and the Federal Bureau of
Advocate (CASA) volunteers.
Investigation in cases like this,
and we look forward to more
advocate for the interest of children in foster
successes in the future,” Cross
said.
The DeKalb County
District Attorney’s office
and DeKalb County Police
Department were key to
making a strong case,
according to FBI Atlanta
special agent Chris Hacker.
“I would like to thank
the FBI-led Safe Streets Gang
Task Force and its state and
local partners in particular in
this case, the Atlanta Police
Department and DeKalb
County Police Department,
for their efforts in making
this case and making our
streets safer,” said Hacker.
“The Gangster Disciples
are a ruthless gang that has
preyed upon the good people
of our communities for far
too long. We are dedicated to
continue dismantling these
organized and violent criminal
enterprises until we reach our
goal of ending their reign of
terror.”
care. On May 22 at the Gregory A. Adams
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN Juvenile Justice Center, DeKalb CASA
horace@dekalbchamp.com recognized volunteers with at least five years of
service with a pinning ceremony.
“We just wanted to take an an opportunity to
As of February 2019, more than 900
say ‘thank you’ to our volunteers. Without our
volunteers we would not be able to do what we
do,” said DeKalb Judge Shondeana Morris,
who is also a DeKalb County CASA program
board chair.
CASA trains and supports volunteers to
Tammy Stanton and Doris Savage were
honored for volunteering with the organization
SEE CASA ON PAGE 20
Proposed Substantial Amendment to the 2014-2018
Consolidated Plan, including the
2018 Annual Action Plan
Brannon Hills Condominium Sinkhole Repair Project
DeKalb County is proposing to amend to the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan,
including the 2018 Annual Action Plan for the Brannon Hills Condominium Sinkhole
Repair Project. The Community Development Department seeks to utilize $173,430
in 2018 CDBG Program Income to repair a large sinkhole that presents an urgent
and continuing threat to the public health and safety to the residents of Brannon Hill
Condominiums. Hence, the sinkhole which is approximately 100 feet long and 12 feet
wide, has been declare a public nuisance.
A Court Order allowed the County to repair, paint a new fire lane, and whatever
else is reasonably necessary to abate the sinkhole. This project will allow ingress and
egress of the County’s Fire and Rescue, Medical, and Police Departments to currently
prohibited vehicle access areas, thus increasing the public safety for Brannon Hills
residents.
All citizens are invited to view the proposed substantial amendment to this program
from May 30, 2019 to June 12, 2019 on the DeKalb County Community Development
website, https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/community-development/public-notices
DeKalb County Community Development Department
750 Commerce Drive, Suite 401, Decatur, Georgia 30030
(404) 371-2727
Fax: (404) 371-2742
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Comment forms may be obtained and completed at the above listed location.
Comments may also be faxed or emailed to the
Community Development Department.
Email: bhcamp@dekalbcountyga.gov
EDUCATION THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 14

EDUCATION BRIEFS ATL IN DEKALB

by Taylor Robins • Taylor@dekalbchamp.com

Talwar recognized for University’s College of researchers who presented

research work Education & Human their work at New York
Development, is given Institute of Technology’s
Amani Talwar of to a master’s candidate “SOURCE” (Symposium
Decatur is the 2019 in the Department of of University Research
recipient of Georgia Early Childhood and and Creative Expression). Charles R. Drew Charter School holds its annual college signing day to celebrate
seniors picking a college May 13. Photo provided by Drew Charter School.
State University’s Amy Elementary Education’s Faqeerzada presented
R. Lederberg Award for urban accelerated “Factors That Influence
Outstanding Research in certification and master’s First Time PANCE Pass
Educational Psychology. program who exhibits the Rates,” a team effort,
Established by potential for excellence in working under Professor
Carol Springer teaching, communicates Corri Wolf in NYIT’s
Sargent to honor her well with others, Department of Physician
dissertation chair, Amy translates theory into Assistant Studies.
R. Lederberg, this award practice and has a sense
is given to a student in of humor, characteristics Carr presents at student
Georgia State University’s which Blaney and White symposium
College of Education & valued highly. Jennifer McCrary, left, Christopher McCrary, center, and Jordan McCrary, right, attend
Human Development to Curry Carr of Drew Charter School Signing Day, when seniors reveal their college choice. Photo
support the development Daugherty wins first Decatur presented original provided by Drew Charter School.
of their research agenda place at research research April 25 at Ohio

Students unveil
and recognize research- conference Wesleyan University’s
related accomplishments. 2019 Student Symposium.
Amina Daugherty of Carr presented an oral

college choices
Arnold awarded Stone Mountain recently report on “The Irrational
Georgia State’s won first place for the Appeal of the Punishment
Margaret A. Jones sculpture presentation Paradigm: How ‘Tough
Scholarship “Lost and Found” in on Crime’ Subverts
the 2019 Georgia State Reason and Empathy.”
celebrates the students’
Jarold Arnold of Undergraduate Research BY TAYLOR ROBINS academic milestone annually,
Lithonia is the 2019 Conference. Taylor@dekalbchamp.com prior to graduation. The event
recipient of the Margaret celebrated 85 students, 18 of
Seniors from Charles whom have attended Charles
A. Jones Scholarship. Faqeerzada participates R. Drew Charter School R. Drew Charter School since
This scholarship, in research symposium participated May 13 in the kindergarten. During the event,
awarded by Georgia school’s Signing Day, when students announced where they
State University’s Faraiba Faqeerzada students commit to colleges have been accepted and intend
academically, as athletes do. to attend college in the fall.
College of Education & of Stone Mountain was The Atlanta school
Human Development, is among 162 student
SEE COLLEGE PICKS ON PAGE 15
given to elementary or
middle school physical
education students in
honor of Margaret DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
(Peg) Jones to recognize DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
1st and 2nd PUBLIC
her extraordinary MILLAGE RATE HEARINGS
3rd PUBLIC
achievements in
MILLAGE RATE HEARING
preservice and continuing Monday, June 10, 2019
education of physical TIME LOCATION
education teachers. Tuesday, June 25, 2019 11:30 a.m. J. David Williamson Board Room
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.
Pradhan awarded TIME LOCATION Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Georgia State University 6:15 p.m. J. David Williamson Board Room

Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex Monday, June 10, 2019
scholarship 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083 TIME LOCATION
6:15 p.m. J. David Williamson Board Room
Amber Pradhan Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
of Tucker is the 2019 Citizens interested in reviewing a detailed copy of the program 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.
based budget may do so by visiting the DeKalb County School Stone Mountain, GA 30083
recipient of the Robert L. District website at www.dekalbschoolsga.org.
Blaney and Joe C. White FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE Citizens interested in reviewing a detailed copy of the program
Scholarship. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 678-676-0069. based budget may do so by visiting the DeKalb County School
District website at www.dekalbschoolsga.org.
This $1,000 FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE
scholarship, awarded CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 678-676-0069.

by Georgia State
EDUCATION THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 15

DeKalb County School District student Valentina Barrios recites a poem during a DeKalb County DeKalb County School District and Doraville officials break ground for a new elementary school May 21. Photos by
School district event in Doraville. Photo by Taylor Robins. Taylor Robins.

New school to alleviate overcrowding

BY TAYLOR ROBINS facility will mirror the modern
design of DCSD’s Barack H.
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com Obama Elementary Magnet
School of Technology,
DeKalb County School
Fernbank Elementary and
District (DCSD) is addressing
Rockbridge Elementary,
overcrowding issues with
according to the school district.
construction of the new Cross
The new school will also
Keys North Elementary
house the original school bell
School. The groundbreaking
from the former Doraville
was held in Doraville May 21.
Elementary School, which is
The school─which will
now located at Doraville City
seat 900 students─is set to
Hall.
open in fall 2020 at 3630
“We have dreamed about
Shallowford Road.
a new school and now it’s
Valentina Barrios, a
being built,” said Doraville
third-grader at Cary Reynolds
Mayor Donna Pittman. “Not
Elementary School, and
because of its architectural
other students recited poems
design … but because of the
and the Dresden Elementary
teaching by committed teachers
School “Dresden Diamonds”
and learning by a diverse
performed a dance routine
population of students that will
for DCSD officials, teachers,
go on here… we want the best DCSD and demolished. The Dresden Elementary School “Dresden Diamonds” perform a dance routine at a
students and city officials
for each and every one of our DCSD will also open district event May 21.
attending the groundbreaking.
kids.” Austin Elementary School
Cross Keys North will
The school’s construction in Dunwoody in January
feature a student courtyard,
process began September 2018 2020. Redistricting for Austin
collaborative learning spaces,
when Shallowford Gardens
DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
flexible fixtures and improved Elementary is planned for fall
Apartments was purchased by 2019.
security measures. The new 2nd PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020

COLLEGE PICKS Continued From Page 14A
Prior to Charles R. Drew
Charter School existence,
schools in the same area
had graduation rates below
30 percent, according to the
school. Currently, Charles R.
Drew Charter School has a 98
percent graduation rate.
Students from this year’s
graduating class have been
accepted into all eight Ivy
League institutions, MIT and
more than 100 other colleges
and universities. The students
have also received $8.6
million in college scholarships
and grants collectively,
according to the school.
Students and their
choices include Courtney
Stanback (Tuskegee
University), Christopher
McCrary (Georgia Tech),
Niara Botchwey (Harvard
University) and Peyton
Rodgers (Howard University).
Rodgers is also the class
valedictorian.
A third of graduates
will become first-generation
college students, according to
the school.
The school’s 2019 senior
class graduated May 18.
Monday, June 10, 2019
TIME LOCATION
5:30 p.m. J. David Williamson Board Room
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold a public budget
hearing to solicit feedback from the public regarding the 2019-
2020 school system’s budget. FY2020 DCSD budget information
can be found on DeKalb County School System’s website at
http://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/superintendent/budget.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE
Drew Charter School senior Courtney CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 678-676-0069.
Stanback celebrates her college choice
May 13. Photo provided by Drew Charter
School.
 AROUNDDeKalb
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 16

BROOKHAVEN from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Kathmandu Kitchen

Sunset stroll for cancer announced
The Northside Hospital Cancer
Institute invites the community to raise
awareness of sarcoma and honor patients
during a leisurely sunset stroll through
the park. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.;
the stroll at 7 p.m.
The free event is planned for June
12 at Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford
Dunwoody Road in Brookhaven. Donations Callanwolde Concert Band to honor
are welcome. Food trucks will be present. veterans
CLARKSTON
Organization to host Storytelling
Café
CDF Action will host “Storytelling
Café: Serving Up Stories for Adults” June 6
& Grill. The event will feature Akbar’s
“Freedom Birds” and other stories. There
will also be door prizes, samples pf Nepali
foods and beverages. Admission is $20 at
the door or online. Kathmandu Kitchen &
Grill is located at 926 Montreal Road. For
more information, visit www.cdfaction.
org or call (404) 736-6602.
DECATUR
Callanwolde Concert Band will
perform June 2 at 3 p.m. in a concert
titled, “For Those We Remember and
Honor,” at the First Baptist Church of
Decatur. Music Director Glenn Moore will
be joined by guest conductor Ed Davis,
tenor Matt Upton and Decatur Civic
Chorus Music Director Scott Keesey in
this musical tribute to those who have
served. Admission to the concert is free.
The church is located at 308 Clairmont
Avenue. For more information, visit www.
calcb.org.
DORAVILLE
Swimming for pride
Doraville will celebrate Pride Month
with its first swim party and movie night.
Attendees will receive a free Doraville
Pride T-shirt. Food, beer and wine will be
available for sale from The Mad Italian
restaurant’s food truck. The event will take
place on June 8, at Flowers Park, 5921
New Peachtree Road.
The swim party is from 7:30-9 p.m.
and the movie starts at 9 p.m. This is a pet
friendly event but please: no aggressive
dogs; dogs must be on a leash and be
cleaned up after.
Parking will be in the First Baptist
Church of Doraville located next to the
park entrance, and poolside handicapped
parking will be available need it.
STONE MOUNTAIN
City to host music event
The Breeze Kings will perform June
7 at Stone Mountain’s Tunes by the
Tracks event in Stone Mountain Village.
Attendees can bring their lawn chairs. The
free two-hour concert begins at 7 p.m.
Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available
for purchase. For more information, visit
www.stonemountaincity.org.

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BUSINESS
Executive upgrades
trucking company with new
equipment, rebranding
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
Paula Smith, who
in January took over as
president of FEPCO Trucking,
announced that she is taking
major steps to upgrade and
grow the operation.
“We recently bought 15
new trailers. This is a first
for us,” said Smith, who has
been with FEPCO more than
20 years. “In the past we
always bought used trailers.
Usually the newest ones we
would buy would be seven or
eight years old.” She noted
that the new trailers can haul
more with greater efficiency
and are enabled with global
positioning systems to improve
logistics.
FEPCO, headquartered
in Conley in south DeKalb
County, provides trucking,
logistics and warehousing
for its customers across the
country. FEPCO uses 53-
foot dry van trailers, flatbeds,
reefers and step decks, and
their drivers are HAZMAT and
TWIC-certified. They handle
specialized oversized loads as
well.
Upgrading the company’s
fleet of trailers is a step toward
expanding the number and
type of customers FEBCO
serves, Smith explained
“Ultimately, we will replace
our entire inventory of older
trailers with new models that
are constructed with composite
materials and equipped with
innovative design features to
improve aerodynamics and
fuel efficiency.”
Smith said she ordered
the new Hyundai composite
trailers from Bryan Hammock
at a neighboring Ellenwood
company, Southeast Trailer
Mart. “We’ve been right here
in the Conley/Ellenwood area
the entire time we’ve been in
operation. It’s exciting to see
Visit us online at
www.thechampionnewspaper.com
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 17
the changes that have been
going on under the new CID,”
she commented.
The trailers include
SkyBitz, a solar-powered data
collection device that provides
better asset use and cargo
visibility through signals that
pinpoint speed, miles driven,
tire pressure and more. The
devices will work even without
direct sun exposure for up to
120 days, Smith noted.
The modern trailers allow
FEPCO to better track its
customers’ cargo, according to
Smith, who said FEPCO hauls
freight for many Fortune 100
companies and contracts to
carry mail for the U.S. postal
service. “We see our customers
as partners and they see us the
same way,” she said, adding
FEPCO operates in all 48 of
the contiguous U.S. states.
In addition to the new
trailers, Smith also rebranded
the company’s logo and tagline
– a black and red circle with a
divided road moving off to the
right and the words “Moving
Forward,” atop the circle.
The logo, which has already
been added to FEPCO’s new
trailers, will make the trailers
more readily recognizable on
the road, according to Smith.
She said in addition to
enabling FEPCO to serve
its customer better, the new
trailers give the company’s
drivers a better experience.
“Our drivers are like family
to us. We want to do what we
can to help them have as few
issues on the road as possible.
Mechanical problems with a FEPCO President Paula Smith shows the new logo being placed on the company’s fleet of new trucks. Photo provided
truck not only delay shipment
to the customer but keep the its company culture to have call me or someone else in few women executives,
driver from getting home on its drivers home weekly and management if they have an Smith said that she is proud
time. Spending less time on the provides flexible schedules. “A issue.” of her success. According to
road and more time at home driver is not just truck 428 to Smith said customers also member organization Women
with family is important to the us. We know their names–who are able to access a person— In Trucking, of the more than
current generation of drivers.” they are,” she continued. “At not an answering machine or 500,000 trucking companies
Smith said she some companies if a driver voicemail—24 hours a day, in the United States, only 5
understands that life on the calls in, he may not even be seven days a week, 365 days percent of truck drivers are
road is challenging, which able to reach an administrative a year. female and only 14 percent are
is why FEPCO is revising assistant. Here drivers can In an industry that has female managers.
SPORTS THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 18

TRACK & FIELD BASEBALL

Former Clarkston cross country
runner fulfilling longtime dream
by Mark Brock
Growing up in Clarkston
while his parents were in
his native Ethiopia, former
Clarkston High cross country
runner and soccer player
Bineyam Tumbo remembers
playing in the streets with
orphans and other parentless
children as the time he decided
he would find a way to help
orphans and children like
himself when he got older.
As a sophomore business
major and cross country
runner at Earlham College in
Richmond, Ind., Tumbo is now
beginning to make that dream
come true.
“I grew up with my mom
and dad working three jobs
in Ethiopia to send us to
Atlanta with an opportunity
to succeed,” said Tumbo.
“They weren’t around as I was
growing up and I played in the
streets with other kids whose
parents were not around, or
they were orphaned. I knew
then I would find a way to
help kids in these kinds of
situations.”
As a freshman, he worked
as an intern with the Love
Order Charity Organization
to work with orphanage in
Hosaena, Ethiopia. His school
paid his travel expenses back
to his native land for three
months to help the orphans as
he had promised himself years
earlier.
Former Clarkston cross country
runner Bineyam Tumbo helped led the
team to win three consecutive state
championships.
on marketing and a minor in
sports management, he is also
in the process of establishing
a real estate investment
business. Tumbo is also a
cross country runner and has
earned Heartland Collegiate
Athletic Conference Honorable
Mention both seasons.
“God willing, I hope to be
running multiple businesses
while helping create jobs and
helping the economy,” Tumbo
continued.
Tumbo said two of the big
influences on him growing up
were his older brother Leiso
last three years at Clarkston,
the team won two more county
titles, three more region titles
and three consecutive Class
AAAAA state championships
(2014-2016). Tumbo served The Decatur Bulldogs were honored for their playoff run to the Class AAAAA Final Four
as a team captain and finished and winning 30 games.
seventh at state in 2016.
“Coach was always
straight up with us about
everything,” said Tumbo. “He
showed us the importance of
hard work and education. He
would remind us of what our
parents sacrificed to get us to
Atlanta and how important it
was for us to succeed.”
Etienne said he continues
to serve as a father figure,
mentor and coach to his former
runners.
“Everyone at Clarkston
High School and the Southwest DeKalb was named Team of the Year.
community loves Bineyam,”
said Etienne. “I remember his
first trip back to Ethiopia the
summer before he graduated
where he saw the needs of his
home and it fueled him to do
the things he is working on
now. I’m proud of what he
has accomplished and what he
is doing. He learned that you
will have failures in life. He
learns from them and gets right
back at it. He was admitted
to around 62 colleges and we
had to tell him he could stop
applying.”
Tumbo’s and Etienne’s
relationship has continued to
grow, and both have grown Southwest DeKalb Tyrus Taylor was named Coach of the Year.
to love and respect what each

Tumbo later created an
organization called Shoes Save
which collects and distributes
used shoes to orphans in
and his high school cross
country coach Wesley Etienne.
“Leiso and I both played
soccer and in the fall, he
Top baseball
does, according to Tumbo.
“When I get back down
there, I always go check
on him,” said Tumbo. “He

Ethiopia. He is arranging for
a trip in July to transport and
distribute the donated shoes.
Currently, Tumbo is
serving an internship with
Boys’ and Girls’ Club of
Richmond helping to design
a soccer program for students
from kindergarten to sixth
grade. The program will run
through June 28, with his trip
to Ethiopia set for July 15.
In May, Tumbo and other
students were awarded a
$20,000 grant to begin their
business model for a waste
management business.
“We came up short of
winning a $1 million grant
after beating out several Ivy
League schools, but in the
end, we came up short,” said
Tumbo. “But we got back to
work and won the $20,000.”
As Tumbo studies business
management with an emphasis
convinced me to go out for
cross country,” Tumbo stated.
“Leiso was a senior and he
was my ride home. So, it was
either ride the bus home and
do nothing until soccer in the
spring or spend time with him
and learn cross country.”
He began to develop a
relationship with Etienne.
“I remember Leiso telling
me about his brother and going
to watch him run track for
Freedom Middle School in the
spring of 2013,” said Etienne.
“He came [to Clarkston] and
was a captain for three years.
He was very goal oriented and
that drive was what helped us
to win state.”
That 2013 Clarkston
team won the DeKalb County
championship, Region
6-AAAAA title and finished
runner-up in the Class AAAAA
state meet. During Tumbo’s
made us part of his family
and community. Other guys
continue to go back and spend
time with him. He continues
to be someone who mentors us
and is there for us just like he
was in high school.”
Tumbo’s future plans
include constructing a school
for students in Hosaena. “It
is going to be school to serve
street kids and orphans to
be included in the schooling
system,” said Tumbo. “It
is going to be a private
school, but the kids will have
scholarships to pay for their
education.”
Tumbo came to Atlanta in
2009 as an 11-year old without
his parents and found a way to
succeed and give back to those
in need. “I’m not sure what the
future holds for me, but I will
continue working hard and see
where it leads,” said Tumbo.
performers honored
BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County’s top baseball performers were honored
May 17 at a DeKalb County Dugout Club awards ceremony at
Southwest DeKalb High School.
Coming off their Final Four appearance in the Class AAAAA
playoffs, the Decatur Bulldogs were honored for their playoff
run and winning 30 games. Decatur junior Jordan Walker
was awarded the Greg Goodwin Award after being named the
2019 Player of the Year by the dugout club, and Decatur pitcher
Jaylen Paden was named Pitcher of the Year.
Southwest DeKalb Panthers received the Edward D.
Williams Award for Team of the Year, and their coach, Tyrus
Taylor, was named Coach of the Year—receiving the Marvin B.
Pruitt Award.
Nineteen players were named first team all-county, including
Walker and Paden, and DeKalb County School District leading
hitter Lamont Barner (M.L. King).
Seventeen players were named second team all-county and
20 players were named to the all-county third team (honorable
mention).
SPORTS THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 19

GOLF

St. Pius X won the boys Class AAAA state tournament, its first state title in program history. Photo from spx.org

St. Pius boys win first golf state title

BY CARLA PARKER
Carla@dekalbchamp.com
St. Pius X boys’ golf team made history May 21
after winning it's first state title.
St. Pius won the boys Class AAAA state
tournament after golfing a 576 (+8; eight strokes over
par) in two rounds at Country Club of Columbus in
Columbus. The Golden Lions shot a 284 in the first
round and a 292 in the second round.
Freshman Carter Loflin led St. Pius with
a second-place overall finish in the individual
standings. He shot a 139 (-3) in two rounds, one
point off from state champion Jonathan Parker of
Columbus. Loflin shot a 65 in the first round and 74
in the second round.
Senior Stephen Kinsel also finished in the top 10
in the individual standings, tied for eighth place with
a score of 144 (+2). He shot a 73 in the first round
and 71 in the second round. Senior Max Muenchen
and freshman Shaun Cook tied for 13 after shooting
a 149 (+7) and senior Jack McDonald rounded out
the top 20 finishers for St. Pius after tying for 17th
place with a 150 (+8) score.
Last year, St. Pius finished second in team
standings at the Class AAAA state tournament.

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RECYCLE
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LOCAL
STONE MOUNTAIN
Student bitten by snake on school grounds
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
Taylor@dekalbchamp.com
An unidentified DeKalb
County School District
(DCSD) student was bitten
May 21by a snake which is
believed to by nonpoisonous.
Emergency personnel
were called to Smoke Rise
Elementary School when a
second-grade student was
bitten by a snake on the
school’s playground. Although
the snake is believed to be
nonpoisonous, the student was
transported to a local hospital.
Remaining students were
sent home with a letter from
the school telling parents of
the incident.
“Emergency medical
services were contacted.
They were provided with the
snake and stated that they
believed it to be nonvenomous;
however, out of an abundance
of caution, the student was
transported to the hospital
to be fully examined,” states
Smoke Rise Elementary
School Principal Pamela
McCloud in the letter. “The
purpose of this letter is to
inform you of this incident
in a timely manner and keep
you abreast of important
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 29, 2019 • Page 20
information. We want to
encourage you to speak with
you children about wildlife,
especially as we begin out
summer break.”
The school will provide
extra staff to monitor the
playground for the remainder
of the school year. DCSD’s last
day of school is May 23.
CASA Continued From Page 13A
for seven years and 19 years, respectfully.
Savage said the organization helped her cope with the loss of
her son who was killed by a drunken driver.
“I couldn’t sleep and I was watching TV and [an
advertisement] said they needed CASA volunteers, so the next
day I called and said I wanted to join a class and I’ve been doing
it ever since,” Savage said. “I’ve had so many [foster] kids
who are doing great now. They’ve graduated college, gone into
[military] service...it has been remarkable and a blessing.”
Savage said she enjoys being a volunteer because she feels
she is making an impact on the local community.
“I see so many kids in need and sometimes the parents don’t
care. All these kids want is love and if they don’t get love from
their parents, they can get love from us,” Savage said, smiling.
Maggie Goldman received the Philanthropy Award for her
holiday contributions. Last year Goldman, with the help of local
donors, provided holiday gifts for all children who had been
assigned to a CASA volunteer.
“We’ve been giving gifts for the last five years, just
incrementally. The first year we did just my caseload, then we
did 30, 70, then 150 kids. Last Christmas, we did the whole case
load of 250 kids who were local,” Goldman said.  
Goldman said more than $10,000 was raised to buy 12
Samsung Tablets, 30 $100 gift cards and 18 Chromebooks for
children.
Goldman, who started volunteering for CASA in 2014, said
she has always had a passion for helping foster children.
“It’s very interesting thinking about what we’re able to do as
CASA and as the state and how everything comes together. This
has been a very rewarding and interesting experience,” Goldman
said.
 MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019 SECTION B

FEATURE STORY:

ARTS BIG
DRAW FOR
ASHEVILLE
SEE PAGE 6
Page 2B THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019

CONTENTS

PAGE 4 PAGE 5
Search for ancestral roots can be Music-making couple relying on new
frustrating, rewarding tech/platforms

PAGE 9 PAGE 10
Six little tricks that every cook Bell peppers and onions help boost
should know white fish’s taste
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019
a&e
ART
Different Trains Gallery
432 E. Howard Ave. No. 24
Decatur
Ruth Franklin One Woman
Show—Through June 22
England-born/Georgia-based
artist Ruth Franklin exhibits
drawings and paintings in her
show “Only When I Laugh.”
Gallery open Thursdays through
Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
DANCE
Porter Sanford III Performing
Arts and Community Center
3181 Rainbow Drive
Decatur
Spotlight—June 1
Infinite Dance Theater presents
its 3rd annual end-of-season
performance. Tickets to the 6:30
p.m. show $10-$20. For tickets,
go to eventbrite.com and search
for the event.
PAGE 3B
EDDIE’S ATTIC
THEATER Back N Black Tribute to AC/DC—
May 31
A national touring outfit
LITERARY
Stage Door Players promises an AC/DC set list that
5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road spans four decades and includes Marcus Jewish Community
Dunwoody hits such as Highway to Hell, Center Atlanta
Dirty Deed Done Dirt Cheap and 5342 Tilly Mill Road
Ain’t Misbehavin’—Through others. Tickets to the 9 p.m. Dunwoody
June 16 show $15-$20. Atlantajcc.org
A show with music and lyrics (678) 812-4000
by Thomas “Fats” Waller. This Eddie’s Attic
musical includes songs such 515-B N. McDonough St. Suite B Teri Turner—June 2
as Honeysuckle Rose, Ain’t Decatur Author talk and signing with
Misbehavin’ and I Can’t Give You Eddiesattic.com food blogger Teri Turner whose
Anything But Love. Tickets $15- (404) 377-4976 cookbook is No Crumb Left.
$33. Tickets to the 1 p.m. discussion
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram— is $36.
Art Station
5384 Manor Drive
Stone Mountain
May 30 and 31
Guitarist Christone “Kingfish”
Ingram, who’s a cousin of Dunwoody Nature Center
Artstation.org country singer Charlie Pride, 5343 Roberts Drive
(770) 469-1105 bring his talents to the stage for Dunwoody
two shows. He’s joined by the Dunwoodynature.org
Burlesque Revolution—June 6-9 Cerny Brothers known for their (770) 394-3322
“The Candybox Revue focuses on acoustic, folk and rock sound.
burlesque as theatre, and brings Tickets $15-$18. Wine and Reading Series—
both dramatic and comedic June 9
elements to the stage,” is how Dunwoody Nature Center Edith Freni’s play The Hystericals
the show is described on Art 5343 Roberts Drive will be read by Atlanta actors
Station’s website. The show Dunwoody at 2 p.m. followed by a meet
is rated PG18 and contains no Dunwoodynature.org and greet with the playwright.
nudity. Tickets $25-$29. (770) 394-3322 Tickets $20. To purchase tickets,
go to Eventbrite.com and search
Ace Suggs—June 1 for the event.
MUSIC Singer, songwriter and producer
Ace Suggs performs at 7 p.m.
The Vista Room Suggs has produced more than
2836 LaVista Road, Atlanta 25 albums for various artists.
www.thevistaroom.com Food truck Nana G’s will be on
site. Tickets $3-$5.
Page 4B THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019

Bennett offered these tips for those

embarking on ancestry search:
•Take small steps and make small goals—let this be a lifelong
hobby and it will be easier for you to succeed.
•Stay organized with your information and pedigree trees—keep
a scrapbook or a binder of your research.
•Evaluate all information and rely on prime sources over user up-
loaded resources—don’t trust everything you see.
•Stay focused on a single surname—get everything you can with
a surname and a direct line before moving to other surnames
and other family lines.

Librarian Martin Bennett says the library has many useful books for those setting out to learn about their ancestors.

Search for ancestral roots can

be frustrating, rewarding
BY KATHY MITCHELL
There are many reasons for
tracing one’s family history and many
resources to help with such a search,
according to Martin Bennett, adult
services librarian with the Dekalb
County library system, who May 7
gave the presentation Getting Started
with Genealogy at the Redan-Trotti
branch.
“Sometimes people want to
verify or put to rest family stories.
I had heard for many years that my
family was Irish, but it turned out that
wasn’t true. A practical reason for
researching your family tree is health.
Some groups are more predisposed
to certain illnesses than others. If you
know this about your heritage, you can
make lifestyle adjustments to minimize
health risks. Most people, however, are
simply curious about who they are and
where their family came from. They
want to learn about a story greater than
themselves,” Bennett said.
Before embarking on a search
for one’s ancestry, it’s important to
define goals, Bennett advised. You
might have a short-term goal such as “I
want to find a draft card for my great-
grandfather,” or a long-term goal such
as “I want to trace my family back to
the mid-19th century.”
Start with what you know,
he said. “If you already know the full
names, birth and death dates, place of
birth, dates and places of marriages
or divorces, military service—or even
some of that information—it gives you
a starting point. You can check what
you find against what you know. For
example, if you find someone with the
same name as your great-grandfather,
but that person was born in Colorado
when you know your great-grandfather
was born in Georgia, then you know
you have the wrong person.”
Bennett said family Bibles, birth
and death certificates, obituaries
and newspaper records are helpful
sources of information. He added that
many libraries and newspaper offices
have back issues of local journals on
microfiche, many dating back to the
19th century. “Even school and church
records may be useful. If your relative
had a criminal past, there would be trial
and prison records.”
The U.S. Census has been taken
every year since 1790 and often is
an excellent source of information,
according to Bennett. He noted that
much of the 1890 census was lost
to water damage though some parts
remain. The 1880 census, he said, was
the first to show family relationships
and the 1900 census was the first to
include individuals’ birth month and
date. Census records are available on
Ancestry.com for a price or can be
accessed at the library on Ancestry
Library Edition, HeritageQuest and
FamilySearch.org.
He warned that the process can be
a long and tedious one and it’s possible
to hit brick walls along the way. He
cited situations in which there is little
or no information about someone who
was orphaned or deliberately excluded
from family record because of a family
squabble.
“It is an unfortunate part of our
history that before the 1870s, African
Americans were not listed by name.
In the mid-1800s, sometimes enslaved
persons were listed on what are called
‘slave schedules,’” Bennett said.
He noted that the Afro-American
Historical and Genealogical Society,
which has a metro-Atlanta branch,
might be useful as well.
Bennett recommended focusing on
one name at a time and finding as much
as possible before moving on to other
relatives. He warned that there may
be variations in how a name is listed.
For example, John Arthur Pardew may
be listed as J. Arthur Pardew. Also,
there may be variations in spelling or
a person may be listed by a nickname,
said Bennett who found a relative
named Odessa sometimes listed as
Dessie.
Online repositories of graves may
provide information, he said, noting
that he found a picture of a relative’s
tombstone that had a freemason
symbol on it. “I learned that he had
been a mason and that gave me another
avenue to pursue,” Bennett said.
“These days we tend to expect
everything to be online, but sometimes
you have to go to actual repositories
of records such as the main Dekalb
County Library in Decatur, the DeKalb
History Center, the Atlanta History
Center or the Georgia Archives in
Morrow.
“You’ll go down a lot or rabbit
holes,” Bennett said, “but it’s so much
fun when you learn something about
your family that you didn’t know. You
won’t be able to stop.”
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019 PAGE 5B

Music-making couple relying on

new tech/platforms
BY GALE HORTON GAY

Alan and Lita Blake have

witnessed a lifetime of changes
in the music industry—from
a most close-up and personal
perspective.
Individually and as
a couple, they have been
entertainers for nearly 45
years—he as a musician and
she as a vocalist. Married for
43 years, the Blakes, who go
by the professional name The
Blake Group, now reside in
Stone Mountain.
When they started in the
music industry, vinyl was still
the rage but eight-track tapes
and cassettes were gaining
ground. Now those music
vehicles are vintage.
The Blakes met in
Philadelphia and both admit
they didn’t like each other. He
initially thought she was just a
so-so singer. She said he came
off as being on an ego trip.
But that changed when they
met again a year later. He told
her he was starting a band and
offered her the lead singer role.
Six months later they were
married.
The couple recall that
they were recognized by
record company executives
for their talents and contracts
were offered. They signed a
contract with a major label
which they say was not a good
one. They later signed with
Grover Washington Jr. but
they said it revoked due to a
misunderstanding.
“It’s a blessing that now
artists can control their own
destiny,” said Lita.
“We choose to stay
unsigned. I just don’t trust the
music industry right now,” said
Alan.
“It’s ruthless,” added Lita.
Alan and Lita Blake have been musical and life partners for more than 40 years. Photos provided
The Blakes, who relocated
to Georgia in 1996 taking on performances are mainly creates the sounds of bass, relatively easily create concerts contemporary means to make
the professional name The before private audiences drums, piano, etc. Using in their basement studios and connections for gigs, share
Two of Us, have toured with, for corporate groups and computers, software and sell the directly to fans. their music with fans and
written for and recorded with associations. They also expect related technology individuals Alan is not only a generally stay relevant with
such artists as the late-George to perform a Wine Connoisseur and duos such as the Blakes keyboardist, but he also is audiences. They currently
Howard, Jean Carne, Kevin Magazine’s festival in can create the impression of well acquainted with the more have about 50-60 videos of
Eubanks, Rachelle Ferrell, Birmingham, Ala. They’re having a multi-piece band technical side of the business. themselves performing on
Gerald Veasley and others. also planning to embark on when it’s only one or two He previously worked selling YouTube.
They’ve opened for Jeffrey a music marketing campaign people. and demonstrating digital “There’s so many outlets
Osborne, Kirk Whalum, this summer to promote a Lita said their clients often audio workstations. for musicians today,” said
Chaka Khan, Ne-Yo, Robert collaboration between the are amazed that they can create The Blakes, who are Alan.
Flack, Frankie Beverly and Blakes and jazz musician Bob the sound of having a full band one of those artists with a
Maze and others. They are Baldwin on the song Step Up. but it’s just the two of them. basement studio, have come to
known for their smooth jazz, Alan said the evolution “You don’t even have to rely on social media platforms,
R&B, Top 40, oldies and more. of the music industry is such buy instruments anymore,” streaming services, video
These days the Blakes that there’s now software that he said, adding that artists can sharing websites and other
Page 6B THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019

feature

A representative of artist Jonas Gerard shows where he paints before audiences in his Asheville River Arts District studio on select Saturdays. Photos by Gale Horton Gay

A replica of an old-time soda fountain is part of Woolworth Walk, a former Woolworth store Vibrant paintings displayed in one of Jonas Gerard’s two studios in the Asheville River Arts Distric where
where now 170 artists exhibit their work. 200 art-related businesses can be found.
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019 PAGE 7B

ARTS BIG
DRAW FOR
ASHEVILLE
BY GALE HORTON GAY

Those who are fans of the arts and are making summer travel plans might
want to set their sights on Asheville, N.C.
Known as having something of a quirky, hippy reputation, Asheville
has attracted artists of a wide variety for some time. Downtown Asheville
is a popular spot for street performers such as dancers, living statues
and musicians playing saws and washboards as well as violins, guitars,
saxophones, drums and more. Locally known as buskers, these performers are
encouraged by liberal local government regulations and a local code of giving
each other time and space to perform before moving on. Performers often can
be found near the Flat Iron statue along Battery Park Avenue, along Haywood
Street by the Grove Arcade and Pack Square.
Street art is but one of the city’s popular art forms. Visual art has
established a stronghold here as well and the River Arts District is one of the
best places to experience it.
Asheville’s River Arts District promotes itself as one of the largest art
districts in the country. Once home to the Norfolk Southern Railroad along
the French Broad River, the area previously bustled with commerce and led
to a population boom. However, a flood in 1916 devastated the area and its
businesses. It wasn’t until the 1970s that revitalization began to take place.
Today it’s home to some 200 art-related businesses: artists’ studios,
galleries and classrooms spread among 23 historic buildings. Spaces that
formerly had an industrial focus have been converted into places where
creative energies thrive. The former National Biscuit Company facility,
built in 1907, is now Lift Studios. Standard Oil Company’s old haunt is now
Curve Studios and Gardens. Two ceramic artists bought the 1887 Cotton Mill
building. A 1920s cold storage warehouse is now Pink Dog Creative.
I recently visited the district and was delighted with both the variety of
arts on display (ceramics, paintings, photography, jewelry, glass, pottery,
textiles and things that defy explanation). Meeting and talking with artists’
representatives and occasionally the artists themselves was an unexpected
bonus. Some were chatty, welcoming and informative; others more reticent. In
some studios, artists were working and what a treat that was to get a glimpse
of the creative process as I strolled among the finished pieces available for
sale
Self-taught sculptor and painter Jonas Gerard operates from two
Asheville studios in the district. His representative shared that Gerard hosts
periodic free “performances” on select Saturdays at which music is blaring
and he dramatically expresses himself on canvas with onlookers taking in the
action. His next such event is 2 p.m. June 8 at his Riverview Station Gallery
on Lyman St.
Riverview Station is also where 20 artists who paint, sculpt, photograph,
work in mixed media and create jewelry share a space called 310 Art. It’s
also where art school is located where workshops, studio classes, drawing
instruction and private lessons are held.
Another unusual gallery space is located in downtown Asheville,
Woolworth Walk. The former F. W. Woolworth store in a gallery space
with 170 artists exhibiting their fine art, jewelry and crafts in a two-level,
20,000-square-foot space. It also features an old-fashion soda fountain that
serves up egg creams, ice cream sodas, hot dogs, tuna melts, club sandwiches
and more.
In downtown Asheville, there are 26 galleries and museums offering
exhibitions, opening receptions, artist talks and demonstrations. First Friday
Art Walks are held April through December from 5 to 8 p.m.
Need more art options. There are other studios, galleries as well as
a folk art center in Asheville. For more information about the arts, go to
exploreasheville.com, riverartsdistrict.com as well as woolworthwalk.com.
A variety of art is on display in 23 historic buildings in the arts district.
Page 8B
travel briefs
DELAWARE WATER TOURS
If Delaware is on one’s vacation list,
consider scheduling some time for a tour
of the Delaware Bay. Cape Water Tour and
Taxi offers an array of tours and water taxi
services with docks in Lewes and Dewey
Beach. Narrated and non-narrated tours
as well as evening cruises, some with live
music are offered. Among the tours: Great
Horned Owl Banding Tour, Full Moon
Cruise and Spooky Lighthouse Tour. For
more information, go to capewatertaxi.
com.
HOTEL DISCOUNTS IN
ALEXANDRIA
The Love Your Summer in Alexan-
dria hotel package is in celebration of the
50th anniversary of the “Virginia is for
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019
Lovers” tourism slogan. A summer trip For more information on tours, go to
just became even more enticing with 17 ameliarivercruises.com or call (904) 261-
Alexandria hotels offering rates starting as 9972.
low as $89 per night and including more
than $200 in perks such as free overnight
parking and two-day unlimited ride water
taxi passes for two from Memorial Day LONG ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL
through Labor Day. Find more summer
Long Island’s longest running and largest
events and activities at www.VisitAlexan-
music festival is set for July 18-21. The
driaVA.com/Summer. Discover the Love
Great South Bay Music Festival takes
Your Summer hotel package at www.Visi-
place at Shorefront Park in Patchogue
tAlexandriaVA.com/Love-Your-Summer.
Village and has a lineup of 75 performers
on five stages. Expected to perform at the
FLORIDA WATER TOURS
four-day festival, which is in its 13th year,
are: America, WAR, Taking Back Sunday,
Amelia River Cruises is offering a
Edgar Winter, Lotus, Dweezil Zappa,
number of water excursions leaving from
Assembly of Dust, Blue Coupe (members
Fernandina Beach, Fl. Among the tours
of Alice Cooper and Blue Oyster Cult)
are: Cumberland Island Tour, Beach
and others. For more information, go to
Creek Tour, Family Friendly Sunset
http://bit.ly/GSB2019Tickets.
Tour and Adult Twilight BYOB Cruise.
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019
Six little tricks that every cook should know
By KATIE WORKMAN
(AP) There are certain small skills
that make life better and easier. I’m
well aware that many of them take
place outside of the kitchen, and I prob-
ably don’t know as many of those as I
should. I’m of no use if you have a flat
tire or need to calculate the circumfer-
ence of something or want to find your
way out of the woods.
But after many years of clanking
around in the kitchen, I have collected a
fair arsenal of cooking tips and short-
cuts. Here are a few that everyone
should know:
How to quickly ripen avocados
If you have a hard avocado and you
need it to be soft in a day or so, sim-
ply place it in a brown paper bag with
a banana or apple and fold the top to
close it up. The natural ethylene gases
emitted by the other fruit will cause the
avocado to ripen faster. Depending on
how hard your avocado is, it might take
a couple of days.
How to mince garlic super fine
If you are using minced garlic in
a dish, particularly a dish where the
garlic is uncooked, big chunks are not
what you are looking for. Just smash a
clove or two (or five) with the side of
a heavy knife, slip off the papery skin,
and start chopping on a cutting board.
As the garlic gets chopped, add a pinch
or so of kosher or sea salt, and keep
chopping. The salt acts as an abrasive
so the garlic gets minced fine, finer, fin-
est. Every once in a while, use the side
of the knife to smear the garlic against
the cutting board, then scrape it back up
and keep mincing. You can hear the salt
crunching under the blade as it works to
pulverize the garlic.
How to make buttermilk
Unless we are really planning
ahead, when “buttermilk” comes up as
in ingredient in a recipe, it’s unlikely
most of us have it on hand. Easy solu-
tion: Make your own. Place 1 table-
spoon lemon juice or white vinegar in a
measuring cup and then fill it with milk
to the 1 cup line. I like to use whole
milk, but you can also use 2 percent. If
you see slight curdling, don’t worry—it
won’t affect the finished product. This
may not be as thick as regular butter-
milk, but the acidity in the milk will
perform the same function—getting
you to a tender, flaky and flavorful
baked good.
How to peel ginger with a spoon
Ginger’s skin is thin enough to be
scraped off with the edge of a teaspoon.
In fact, it’s easier to use a spoon than a
vegetable peeler because the spoon can
get into the crevices and navigate over
the bumps more easily. Also, this means
you can have even a very little kid help
with this kitchen task, since they can’t
nick themselves with a spoon.
How to soften brown sugar
If you have a day or two, just place
a piece of fresh bread in a container
with the brown sugar, seal the con-
tainer, and your brown sugar will soften
right up. If you are in a hurry, place the
PAGE 9B
brown sugar in a bowl, place a damp
paper towel over it, cover the bowl
with a plate and microwave it for 20
seconds. Check to see if it’s soft, and if
not, continue microwaving in 20 second
bursts until it is. Use it pretty quickly,
and when you store any leftovers, make
sure to put a piece of fresh bread in the
container with the sugar.
How to get honey (or molasses, maple
syrup or corn syrup) out of a measur-
ing cup
Anything sticky is just plain hard
to measure. You pour it into the cup, or
spoon, and then into your bowl or pot,
and a thick coating is always left inside
the measuring cup, drip drip dripping,
but never fully getting out of the cup.
The quick hack is cooking spray. Just
spray the inside of the cup or measur-
ing spoon with nonstick cooking spray,
measure your sticky ingredient, and it
will slide right out. Cleanup is easier,
too!
Now I’m off to google “how to
change a tire.”
Page 10B THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019

recipe
Bell peppers and onions help
boost white fish’s taste
BY AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN
(AP) A brief stovetop braise is the perfect
way to cook delicate white fish such as cod,
since it keeps the fish moist and silky while cre-
ating a sauce at the same time.
To give the mild fillets a boost of flavor, we
paired them with a Spanish-style peperonata, a
combination of cooked bell peppers and onions,
to which we added tomatoes, wine, paprika, and
fresh thyme for depth of flavor.
We then simply nestled the cod right into
the pepper mixture and covered the Dutch oven.
The sauce infused the fish fillets as they braised
and protected them from the heat so they stayed
tender. Haddock and hake are good substitutes
for cod.

BRAISED COD PEPERONATA

Servings: four
Start to finish: one hour

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for

serving
1 onion, halved and sliced thin
2 red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, and sliced thin
Salt and pepper
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons paprika
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon
dried
4 (6- to 8 ounce) skinless cod fillets, 1 to 1 1/2
inches thick
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Sherry or balsamic vinegar

Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until

shimmering. Add onion, bell peppers, and 1/2 tea-
spoon salt and cook until vegetables are softened,
about five minutes. Stir in garlic and paprika and
cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in toma-
toes, wine, and thyme and bring to simmer.
Season cod with salt and pepper. Nestle cod,
skinned side down, into pot and spoon some of
sauce over fish. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low,
and cook until fish flakes apart when gently prod-
ded with paring knife and registers 140 F, about 10
minutes.
Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
Sprinkle with basil and vinegar, and drizzle with
extra oil before serving.
Nutrition information per serving: 346 calories;
81 calories from fat; 9 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g
trans fats); 99 mg cholesterol; 507 mg sodium; 15 g
carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 8 g sugar; 43 g protein.
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019
movie
Here’s what’s playing at the movies in June
LOS ANGELES (AP) Wondering what’s
coming to theaters in June. Here’s the Associated
Press guide of what’s coming to the theaters, and
on Netflix, from the biggest blockbusters to the
smallest indies:
Dark Phoenix (June 7) - Sophie Turner’s
Jean Grey gets the spotlight in this X-Men sequel
set a decade after the events of X-Men: Apoca-
lypse.
Late Night (June 7) - Mindy Kaling wrote
and stars in this comedy about an aspiring com-
edy writer who gets the dream job on the writing
staff of Emma Thompson’s late night show.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (June
2) - A gem of a film about legacy, gentrification
and the meaning of “home.”
The Secret Life of Pets 2 (June 7) - Harri-
son Ford makes his animation debut alongside
Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Patton Oswalt
and Dana Carvey in this sequel to the immense-
ly popular first film.
Men in Black: International (June 14) - Tessa
Thompson and Chris Hemsworth take up the
mantle of this franchise with Straight Outta
Compton director F. Gary Gray at the helm.
Shaft (June 14) - Samuel L. Jackson returns
to the role of John Shaft II in this Tim Story-
directed film about his FBI agent son, John “JJ”
Shaft Jr., played by Jessie Usher.
The Dead Don’t Die (June 14) - Jim Jar-
musch brought together a starry cast, including
Adam Driver, Bill Murray, Selena Gomez and
Tilda Swinton, for this zombie comedy.
Murder Mystery (June 14) - Jennifer An-
iston and Adam Sandler re-team for this film
about a cop and his wife who become suspects in
the murder of a billionaire.
Child’s Play (June 21) - Mark Hamill lends
his vocal talents to the voice of the demonic doll
Chucky in this reboot of the 1988 horror film,
with Aubrey Plaza and Brian Tyree Henry.
Toy Story 4 (June 21) - Woody, Buzz and Bo
Peep are back with old and new pals, such as
Forky, in this sure-to-be emotional sequel about
everyone’s favorite sentient toys.
Annabelle Comes Home (June 28) - In this
third Annabelle film Ed and Lorraine Warren’s
daughter (Mckenna Grace) and her baby-sitters
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are the targets of the murderous doll.
Yesterday (June 28) - A freak accident ends
up erasing The Beatles and their music from the
world’s memory except for the one struggling
musician who uses it to his advantage in this
charmer from director Danny Boyle.
Also playing: I Am Mother (June 7 on Netf-
lix); The Black Godfather (June 7 on Netflix and
in theaters); This One’s For the Ladies (June 7);
Burn Your Maps (June 7); Katie Says Goodbye
(June 7); Papi Chulo (June 7); Pavarotti (June
7); Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story
by Martin Scorsese (June 12 in theaters and
on Netflix); American Woman (June 14); Being
Frank (June 14); Daughter of the Wolf (June 14);
Deep Murder (June 14); Hampstead (June 14);
Wild Rose’’ (June 14); Beats (June 19 on Netf-
lix); The Edge of Democracy (June 19 in theaters
and on Netflix); Anna (June 21); Nightmare Cin-
ema (June 21); Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
(June 21); Killers Anonymous (June 28); Maiden
(June 28)
Page 12B THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2019