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New school plan

saves $12.4
million yearly
by Maggie Lee

A recommendation to close
eight schools, down from a previ-
ous proposal of 14, will save the
DeKalb County School System
$12.4 million annually and affect
nearly 9,000 students.
Interim superintendent Ra-
mona Tyson
made her recom-
mendation to the
board in front of
more than 200
people on Feb. 8.
Tyson’s plan met
with mixed re-
views from some
Tyson of those in atten-
A DeKalb County school that was closed in 2008 reopened last week as actors and film crews from Walt Disney Pictures be-
dance. gan filming The Odd Life of Timothy Green. Approximately 160 locals filled in as extras for the movie which is being filmed at
Kevin Griffin, whose daugh- several locations in Georgia. Photos by Travis Hudgons
ter has already graduated South-
west DeKalb High School, is
nonetheless following the months-
long trudge to redraw school bor-
Old school becomes new movie set
ders and scrap the approximately
11,000 empty seats in southern
DeKalb schools while dealing
with increasing overcrowding to-
ward the north. Griffin said he’s
not convinced the schools “are
staying on the focus of our chil-
dren.” He asked rhetorically how
much money is spent in DeKalb
on trips or other unnecessary ex-
penses, adding that he sympathiz-
es with principals whose hands are
tied by too many county rules.
A mom from Briarlake El-
ementary on LaVista Road said
she’s pleased with the proposal.
“They kept our feeder plan in-
tact,” said Whitney Blackmore.
“I think they listened, made some-
thing that worked.”
The I-20 corridor would lose
the most.
Five elementary schools in the
south-central part of the county
are on the chopping block this by Andrew Cauthen Walt Disney Pictures’ The Odd Life of magical story about a Cindy and Jim

summer: Sky Haven and Gresham
Park along I-20; and Peachcrest,
Glen Haven and Atherton, all near
I-285 and Covington Highway.
Surrounding schools would
absorb those students for the next
few years. Ultimately, though,
DeKalb is looking at creating con-
solidated elementary schools in
some of those neighborhoods to
serve as many as 900 students.
In Avondale, the high school
would remain the DeKalb School
of the Arts and the middle school
would simply be shuttered and
T
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
here was a lot of activ-
ity last week outside of
Avondale Estates when a
school, shut down since
2008, reopened under a
new name.
Forest Hills Elementary School
came back to life last Monday as Mil-
lard Fillmore Elementary School as
parents walked the children to the
front door held open by a school of-
ficial.
But it wasn’t real: the school
was part of the set for a movie being
filmed in DeKalb County. The movie,
Timothy Green, stars Jennifer Gar-
ner, who played Sidney Bristow in
ABC’s Alias, which ran from 2001-
06. Also in the movie are Joel Edger-
ton who played in Star Wars Episode
II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and
CJ Adams of Dan in Real Life.
The movie is being directed by
Academy Award®–nominated writer/
director Peter Hedges (Dan in Real
Life, About a Boy, What’s Eating Gil-
bert Grape). Hedges also penned the
script, based on a story from producer
Ahmet Zappa.
According to a press release,
The Odd Life of Timothy Green is a
Green, played by Garner and Edger-
ton, who are eager to start a family but
can only dream about what their child
would be like. When young Timothy,
played by Adams, shows up on their
doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and
Jim, and their small town of Stan-
leyville, discover a whole new view of
what it is to love and be loved.
Crews were in Decatur for about a
week getting the school ready and the
filming was from Feb. 2-7.
No detail was overlooked in re-
viving the school. Construction paper
cut-outs of children’s hands adorned
the classroom windows. Crews cov-
ered Georgia license plates with ones

See Schools on Page 15A See Movie on Page 15A

NEWS
District attorney receives
federal grant for
domestic violence unit
by Nigel Roberts
DeKalb County
District Attorney
Robert James an-
nounced Jan. 25
that the department
received a fed-
eral grant of more
than $50,000 for James
its Domestic Vio-
lence/Sexual Assault Unit.
Funds from the 2011 Vio-
lence Against Women Act
(VAWA) grant will be used
to support the unit’s five-
person staff of attorneys,
investigators and victims
advocates, he said.
James said that his office
is committed to responding
aggressively to domestic vi-
olence, a crime that he said
affects families of all races
and socioeconomic levels in
DeKalb. “This grant is es-
sential in enabling our office
to fight domestic violence
and provide additional at-
tention to both our domestic
violence cases and the vic-
tims we serve,” he added.
The grant is an extension
of a four-year award to the
district attorney’s Domestic
Violence/Sexual Assault
Unit that began in 2006. It
includes a federal award
of $50,786 and a match of
$344,100 ($16,929 required
match and $327,171 in
supplemental funds), stated
Erik Burton, a spokesman
for the district attorney.
Burton said the district
attorney’s office anticipated
the match funds and in-
cluded it in the department’s
2011 operating budget re-
quest, adding that funding
the unit is one of the district
attorney’s top priorities.
In 2009, the most recent
year for which statistics are
available, there were 6,206
reported family violence
incidents in DeKalb County,
the Georgia Bureau of In-
vestigation reports. These
statistics include violence
between not only spouses
but also parents and chil-
dren.
When it comes to do-
mestic violence, catego-
rized as violence between
intimate partners,
the numbers are
also sobering. In its
2009 annual report,
The Georgia Com-
mission on Family
Violence and the
Georgia Coalition
Against Domestic
Violence reported 13
domestic violence
fatalities in DeKalb Coun-
ty—that contributed to the
123 deaths statewide. The
state’s domestic violence
organizations responded to
more than 72,000 incidents
throughout Georgia in 2010.
The domestic violence
unit’s members are experi-
enced and specially trained
to assist victims and their
families. Working as a team,
the unit has its victim ad-
vocate begin the process
because the victim is the
priority, Burton said. Meet-
ing the victim’s immediate
physical, emotional and
safety needs are the first
10.0 in.
steps. Throughout the pro-
cess, the advocate answers
the victim’s questions about
the criminal justice system
and keeps her informed.
The unit’s investigators
gather evidence to support
a legal case before it goes
to the prosecutor. Typi-
cally, the unit’s prosecutors
receive the most compli-
cated and traumatic cases to
process, which are usually
homicides, sexual assaults
or domestic violence cases
with a long history of vio-
lence, Burton explained.
Federal funds to sup-
port the unit stem from the
Violence Against Women
Act of 1994. It’s a part of a
comprehensive legislative
approach to end violence
against women, which also
seeks to reverse the legacy
of laws and social attitudes
that condone violence
against women. The VAWA
grant seeks to improve the
criminal justice system’s
responses to domestic
violence, sexual assault and
stalking, while also increas-
ing the availability of ser-
vices for domestic violence
and sexual assault victims.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 • PAGE 2A
Decatur man indicted
on federal fraud charges
by Robert Naddra Southeast.
robert@dekalbchamp.com According to the
charges, the alleged illegal
A Decatur man was activity took place from
indicted recently on fed- 2001-06. According to the
eral charges of fraud and indictment, employees at
inducing illegal aliens to Atlanta Meat Company
stay in the United States were told when they were
unlawfully, an FBI spokes- hired that they would re-
man said. ceive a certain amount as
Rhett Maughon, “take home pay,” Crosby
48, and two others were 7.0 in. said in a statement.
charged with filing fraudu- “These defendants al-
lent corporate and indi- legedly paid cash to them-
vidual tax returns by not selves and to their illegal
reporting cash wages paid alien employees and did
to himself and employ- not report the cash wages
ees at the Atlanta Meat to the IRS,” said United
Company, according to States Attorney Sally
FBI spokesman Patrick Quillian Yates. “By do-
Crosby. ing so, not only did the
Rhett and Marcus defendants violate federal
Maughon each were tax laws, but they also vio-
released on their own re- lated immigration laws by
cognizance after paying a encouraging and making
$25,000 bond. Rafael Val- it more possible for illegal
larreal Sr. was detained aliens to have the finan-
after it was learned that he cial means to continue to
is illegally residing in the live illegally in the United 7
United States. The three States.”
men jointly owned the In addition, the defen-
Norcross-based company, dants allegedly failed to 8
which is still in business. disclose the cash10wages9
Atlanta Meat Company paid to the 11
owners and
supplies meat products to employees to the ac-
13 12 who prepared
restaurants throughout the countant
21
22
20 14
19
Mobley’s request to seal charges denied
18
17 16
15
23
ATLANTA (AP) 28
39
4, when the Judi-
The Georgia Su- 26
27 49
cial Qualifications
24
preme Court is deny- 38 Commission
41 48 filed
25
ing a DeKalb County documents
29 47 that ac-
judge’s request to 46
37 cused the judge of
42
seal misconduct
30
16 violations of
charges brought 43
36 Georgia’s judicial 44
31 35
against her by a state code of conduct.
agency. The agency says
The court denied 32 misconduct by Mo-
the motion by State Mobley
33
34 bley included mis-
Court Judge Barba- use of public funds
ra Mobley on Friday, Feb. and directing probationers
Take time to
be a dad today.
C a l l 8 7 7- 4 D A D 4 11 o r v i s i t w w w . f a t h e r h o o d . g o v
the company’s corporate
tax returns, therefore, the
corporate returns for 2005
and 2006 were false and
fraudulent. Each defendant
also allegedly failed to
report the cash he received
as income on his personal
tax returns for 2005 and
2006.
“The Unemployment
Insurance Program pro-
vides vital assistance to
individuals and families
during difficult times. The
office of Inspector General
takes fraud that compro-
mises the integrity of the
unemployment insurance
system very seriously and,
with our law enforcement
partners, will continue to
safeguard Department of
Labor programs against
such fraud,” said Richard
L. Walker, special agent
in charge for the Atlanta
6
region5 of 4the U.S. Depart-
ment of Labor’s
3 2 Office of
1
Inspector General, 62 Office
of Labor Racketeering
61 and
Fraud Investigations.
60
No trial date59has been
set, Crosby said.58
56 57
54 55
53
52
40
51
50
to work on her campaign.
The judge’s attorney,
Jackie Patterson, said she
45
and Mobley were led to be-
lieve the misconduct allega-
tions would be sealed and
kept confidential because
the judge agreed to resign
from office. Patterson said
Mobley would not have
agreed to step down had she
known details of her case
were being made public.
0015_Full_MagBW
Title: 09CVZ0015 — Dino Dots Bill to: 09CVZ0015 Executive CD:
Market: REQ 91655 Creative Directo
Run/Disk Date: 08-21-09 09/15/09 13:21 Art Director: C. M
Color/Space: BW/magazine CE: 3/0 Writer:
Live: Production Artist: BK Account Executiv
 www.championnewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 Page 3A

The Daisy Dancers at the KIDDS Center for Youth Development and Performing Arts get ready to rehearse for an upcoming production. The center, which features a new
dance studio, center, and a piano class was made possible by a $50,000 grant. Photos provided

New center helps community youth develop artistically

by Matt Amato
“A tutu has magical pow-
ers,” said Pat Martin, refer-
ring to a ballet costume. “It
makes a little girl feel beauti-
After seeing seen her
4-year-old sister in a KIDDS
production, she decided to
“knock on Miss Pat’s door”
and inquire about acting
classes.
birthday two years ago.
“That turned my life
around,” she said. “They
[Pepsi] announced they were
giving away $1 million a
month.” Then, last April,
has computers, a recording
studio and entertainment
options such as a PlaySta-
tion–keeping kids occupied
as they wait to rehearse or
practice.
underlying commitment
to enhance the lives of its
children. “The center gives
kids a place to express their
feelings and emotions,” said
Martin. “They channel en-

ful.”
That observation, made
many years ago, moved the
former behavioral psychol-
ogy nurse to help children
develop through the perform-
ing arts, culminating with
a center opened in DeKalb
County last week.
Now, little girls will have
more than tutus at their cre-
ative disposal. Acting, dance,
Save
Her first role was Oprah KIDDS was awarded the Helping to attract the ergy into something positive.
Winfrey. “I enjoyed it. I grant for the center, which donors was the program’s That’s what we’re doing.”
was shy the first day but I
overcame my shyness,” she
said. “Being an actress is
something I really want to do
in life.”
Mccallister’s mother, too,
has noticed a transformation.
“It has provided my 16-year-
old a road that she has never
explored before,” said Ivy

singing, instrument instruc-
tion and even karate classes
are available to all children at
the center–fulfilling Martin’s
long-held dream, 15 years in
the making.
“It’s so wonderful to have
our own facility,” she said.
“By having more space now,
it means we can have more
kids.”
The KIDDS Center for
Youth Development and
Performing Arts in Lithonia,
20%
Mccallister. “It gave her the
ability to channel her emo-
tions through acting.”
In the past year, April Mc-
callister has become a valu-
able part of the KIDDS team,
spending weekday evenings
at the center, helping with
staff projects and receiving
classes. Her grades, too, have
significantly improved.
“April came [to us] as a
troubled child and has made
a 360 degree turn,” said

on the cost of
which received a $50,000 Martin. “It’s the greatest
Pepsi Refresh Project grant evidence of why I do what I
last year, is more than a prac- do.”

tice space.
Martin, the executive di-
rector, said it’s a safe place
for kids to positively spend
time after class, and fills a
much-needed void left by a
school system experiencing
spending cuts in arts pro-
grams.
She points to Stephenson
High School student April
Mccallister as an example of
KIDDS’ value.
Things for Mccallister, by
her own admission, “were
really looking down” before
enrolling in the center.
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she ran an arts program that Its our 20th anniversary and we’re celebrating by
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OPINION THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 • PAGE 4A

DeKalb firsts – Phil McGregor
So much is in the news about
metro Atlanta school systems,
especially Atlanta, our neighbors
to the west and our own DeKalb
County. Rarely does a day go by
that there is not a new revelation
about cheating scandals,
prosecutions and general school
board dysfunction.
The DeKalb County school
system has been in the spotlight
for many a year, particularly
several decades back with
the pitched battles and court
proceedings over racial
discrimination. There emerged a
man of impeccable integrity and
compassion who was thrust to
the forefront during the turbulent
1970s. Enter Phil McGregor,
DeKalb County’s first African-
The Newslady
American school board member.
McGregor, today an insurance
executive, was first elected to
the school board in 1983. He had
previously been another first. He
was the first African-American
male teacher at Columbia High
School. His love of students
propelled him to basketball coach
at Columbia. McGregor said there
were many days that he went
home and literally cried over the
treatment of the 59 Black students
at Columbia at the time. In 1971
there were only a handful of
Black teachers. White teachers,
according to McGregor, made fun
of the Black students and tracked
them in low-level classes.
The boiling cauldron of racial
division had to come to a head.
Tensions were so high that in
1974 McGregor left teaching and
went into the insurance business.
The very next year in 1975,
things came to a head when the
principal abruptly cancelled the
Black history program. He said
the speaker was unacceptable.
McGregor would tell the story
years later that the speaker was
former UN ambassador, former
congressman and former Atlanta
Mayor Andrew Young whom
the principal thought too radical
to address the students for a
Black history program. The most
moderate of Dr. Martin Luther
King’s inner circle was considered
too radical?
The student walkout became
a full-scale incident that
spawned activist and watchdog
organizations determined to
change things. Putting an African
American on the school board was
a first step. Phil McGregor was
elected to his first term in 1983.
His service to DeKalb County is
laudable. He served on the school
board with dignity, but with a
firm resolve to be a change agent.
McGregor did not set out to make
a name for himself or to make
history. He merely tried to do
his best to right the wrongs that
he saw and in the process made
history—a place where McGregor
says you just find yourself.
Perhaps not much is written
in the history books about Phil
McGregor as the first African-
American member of the DeKalb
County School Board. He
served without hint of scandal
or impropriety. Perhaps children
today, if asked, would have no
idea who he is. However, some
of their parents might remember
a former basketball coach at
Columbia who had a steely
resolve to help students be all
they could be. In his words,
never underestimate the power
of one. “Nothing ever occurs
without one person initiating it,”
McGregor once said. First there
was one African American on the
DeKalb County school board.
Now there are five. Thank you,
Phil McGregor. DeKalb County
owes you a debt of gratitude for
your sacrifice and service to a
generation of DeKalb County
students.
Steen Miles, The Newslady,
is a retired journalist and former
Georgia state senator. Contact
Steen Milies at Steen@dekalb-
champ.com.

Educate military recruits

by Judge Greg Mathis

As if we haven’t gotten enough bad

news lately about the ineffectiveness of
America’s education system, we now
find out that nearly 25 percent of high
school graduates who take the military
entrance exam can’t pass it.
According to a report from the
Education Trust, a national
organization that works to
promote academic from pre-K
through college, young mili-
tary recruits can’t correctly
answer basic math, reading
and science questions. This
has military leaders worried
that the number of Americans Mathis
eligible for military service
will dwindle, putting our national secu-
rity at risk.
This is just more bad news for the
country’s education system, which ranks
14th on a list of 34 developed countries
for reading skills, 17th for science and
25th for math. On an international scale,
our students are being outpaced by their
counterparts in Europe and Asia and, as
a nation, we’ve yet to develop a system
that allows our students to compete.
In his recent State of the Union ad-
dress, President Obama challenged
not only Congress but the country as
a whole: imploring us to a better job
of educating our students and prepar-
ing them for a life past high school. He
called for expanded educational fund-
ing and greater parental involvement.
Though he didn’t necessarily speak
about teacher accountability –
teachers unions fund campaigns
at high dollar amounts so that’s
a touchy political subject – we
also know this area needs to be
addressed as well.
If we don’t invest more
money and time we’ll continue
to lose jobs to countries that
better prepare their students for
the workforce. Now, we have
the added worry of the impact
our subpar schools will have on our
ability to protect ourselves as a nation.
Improving the national education system
is a priority for this country; our status
as a world power – both economically
and militarily – depends on our ability
to do better by our students.
Judge Greg Mathis currently pro-
vides legal advice to more than three
million listeners on the Steve Harvey
Morning Show and also on his website,
www.askjudgemathis.com.
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www.championnewspaper.com
William C. Crane, 1974-1992
“The best way to kill a new idea
is to put in an old line agency,” for-
mer President Lyndon Johnson in
his autobiography The Exercise of
Power, co-authored by Rowland Ev-
ans Jr. and Bob Novak, 1966.
In south DeKalb County there
are three just completed public librar-
ies, with shelves and equipment in
stock—locked up tight. These librar-
ies were funded for $16.6 million out
of a $230 million DeKalb County
bond referendum to improve trans-
portation corridors, as well as devel-
op green spaces, parks and libraries.
Roads and infrastructure are a
necessity. Parks and libraries are
important, but they are a lower pri-
ority than public safety and public
health. These new crown jewels may
sit shuttered for a while, as DeKalb
County government does not have
the funds required to hire and pay
25 full-time employees to staff these
libraries seven days a week.
I’m here to say that we can and
should open the libraries, but we
don’t need to hire 25 more full-time
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2011
One Man’s Opinion C. William “Bill” Crane, 2009 - ?
Let’s try a new model
employees to do that. We need a
new community operating model,
which recognizes these tough times.
Teen unemployment in Georgia
is currently at 36 percent. There are
literally thousands of residents in
DeKalb who have been “retired” ear-
ly by this economy who are looking
for work. We should devise a staff-
ing model that combines full-time
paid staff with part-time, volunteers
and interns/students.
My first “job” came at Heritage
Elementary School in DeKalb Coun-
ty. We had a roughly 2,000-square-
foot library with a few thousand
volumes of age-appropriate mate-
rial. This library had one full-time
employee, the regal, occasionally
imperial, and most often revered
Ms. Franklin. One of the highest
compliments ever paid, and which
we all often sought during our seven
years at Heritage was an emphatic,
“Veeeerrrrryyyy good, little one,”
from Ms. Franklin. A tall and intel-
lectual Black woman, she was the
first in her family to attend college,
receive her master’s degree and make
letters and libraries her living and
passion.
Ms. Franklin taught me the Dew-
ey Decimal System. When I won the
prize of a chess set in a first grade
reading contest, she taught me how
to play chess, and occasionally let me
win. As I went through the grades,
those of us who performed well went
from re-shelving books to acting as
mini-librarian, checking volumes in
and out, and still later, we became
monitors for “quiet time” in the li-
brary, where students who would not
behave in their regular class were
sent in lieu of detention.
Our current Georgia General
Assembly was newly elected in No-
vember, and sworn in during the first
week of January. The legislature’s
website contains a large print file
of what has come to be known as
the Legislator’s Picture Book. This
onetime responsibility of the Georgia
Secretary of State’s office is now
available in a large down-loadable
file online.
The current black-and-white
directory actually contains the mem-
bers of the prior General Assembly
(2009-2010). This document prints
out in 147 pages, nearly half a ream
of paper.
Georgia Trend magazine, with
a small full-time editorial staff also
published a current directory of
the Georgia General Assembly this
month. Theirs is in color. All new
members are included, along with
their committee assignments and
positions of leadership. And this
directory contains more information
in only 26 pages. Plus this directory
costs you and me nothing, unless you
choose to subscribe or purchase a
copy of Georgia Trend (a worthwhile
investment).
Public sector bloat, and “the way
we have always done things”—ver-
A Section • Page 5A
sus private sector lean—as well as
more cost efficient and effective? I
choose the latter, and so does my
printer cartridge.
Ms. Franklin, if you are still out
there, how about helping us identify
a few semi-retired librarians, and
training a cadre of community volun-
teers, or even some of the homeless
residents who frequent libraries, to
assist in their staffing and manage-
ment?
Let’s create library memberships
with more perks for a modest fee,
and increase fines for tardy returns,
raising new revenue to pay part-
timers and volunteers. Partner with
an area civic club, such as the Rotary,
lion’s, Kiwanis or local women’s
club to staff the library on weekends.
This recession may last awhile,
and we may need to settle in and re-
learn a bit of self-sacrifice and doing
more with less by turning a new page
on how we staff and deliver non-es-
sential government services. If you
are out there, or up there reading this
Ms. Franklin, I hope I earned another
“very goood.”
Bill Crane is a DeKalb County
native and business owner, living
in Scottdale, Georgia. He also
serves as chief political analyst and
commentator for 11Alive News and
WSB Radio, News/Talk 750. Contact
Bill Crane at Bill@dekalbchamp.
com.

Roadmap to disaster
Republicans want to rip the heart out of the
future and bury it at the intersection of crumbling
highways and a falling-down bridge to nowhere.
The Republicans told
us what they wanted to
do in their “Pledge to
America” last year: cut
government, slash taxes,
and shrink the national
debt. But they didn’t tell
us how they were going to
do it. Now they have.
Basically, it involves
ripping the heart out of
the future and burying
it at the intersection of
crumbling highways and
a falling-down bridge to
nowhere.
It’s caviar and cham-
pagne for the lucky few,
macaroni and cheese for
the rest of us.
The plan–unveiled
in the Republican Study
Committee’s proposed
Spending Reduction Act
of 2011–calls for rolling
back federal agency bud-
gets to 2006 levels, reduc-
ing the federal workforce
by 15 percent, and freez-
ing federal workers’ pay
for five years.
Seeing other people’s
salaries cut, when we’re
the ones paying them, has
some appeal I suppose.
But when you dig
deeper into the implica-
tions of the GOP’s num-
bers, you begin to get
queasy. Democrats have
pointed out that to achieve
the cuts Republicans
are pushing, 4,000 FBI
agents, 1,500 DEA agents,
and 5,700 correctional of-
ficers in the federal prison
system would have to be
fired. The government
would also have to cut
3,000 food safety inspec-
tors at the already under-
staffed FDA and sweep
389,000 children from the
Head Start early-educa-
tion program.
Amtrak? Gone.
Department of Educa-
tion? No more.
Corporation for Public
Broadcasting? Goodbye.
U.S. Agency for Inter-
national Development?
by Donald Kaul
Columnist
Don’t be silly.
They’d eliminate virtu-
ally all federal subsidies
to our capital city, includ-
ing funds to maintain its
increasingly shabby sub-
way system.
They would, in short,
throw us back to a time
when the “malefactors of
great wealth” (they don’t
make phrases like that
anymore) claimed the
lion’s share of the nation’s
resources as a matter of
right. It would take us
back to the Hoover ad-
ministration.
Ah, the good old days.
There’s nothing radi-
cal about the Republican
plan. It’s the way things
have been trending for
the past 30 years. To see
it laid out so baldly, how-
ever, is chilling.
Some Republican lead-
ers would exclude the
Pentagon, along with the
Departments of Veterans
Affairs and Homeland
Security, from the budget
cuts. Others want to cut
everything.
They would slash aid
to state governments al-
ready in dire financial
circumstances, which
would lead to additional
draconian cuts in educa-
tion, health care, research
and transportation.
They say the deficit is
the greatest threat to our
future. It isn’t. The great-
est threat is that we shall
forsake the future in favor
of a rancid, ideologically
driven plan informed by
greed and mean-spirited-
ness. The Republican plan
is a virtual roadmap to
disaster.
As President Barack
Obama said in his State
of the Union address:
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011
“To borrow an anal-
ogy, cutting the deficit
by cutting investments
in areas like educa-
tion, areas like innova-
tion–that’s like trying
to reduce the weight of
an overloaded aircraft by The following comments are pulled straight from our website and
are not edited for content or grammar.
removing its engine.”
That is so self-evident
it hurts. The reason Re- Doraville mayor Jenkins dies
publicans can’t see it is
because they are blinded,
either by ideology or by
their reliance on corporate Sorry to hear the news. I ran in that Doraville
Thanksgiving weekend 5K race twice and won
sponsors whose eyes are
on the next quarter rather some awards that were presented by Mayor
Jenkins. I was very honored and flattered to re-
than the next decade.
And they lie. ceive them from him.
They lie a lot. Rep. However, in subsequent years I had the op-
Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, portunity to work with him on community issues.
the Republican point man Whether one agreed with him or not, he took
on budget matters, deliv- interest in other people and always respected and
ered the biggest whopper considered their points of view. He was a very
of all following Obama’s fair individual and dedicated to serving the public.
State of the Union address He certainly did not take on that headache of a
when he said:
“Depending on bureau- role as mayor for the money or stepping-stone to
other positions. He did it because he loved the
cracy to foster innova-
tion, competitiveness and people of Doraville. It is hard to find a public serv-
ant as selfless in this day and age.
wise consumer choices
has never worked–and it
won’t work now.” –Survivalist posted this on 2/3/11 at 10:44 p.m.
That’s only true if you
don’t count railroads, the
interstate highway system,
the Internet, commercial Educators removed from 13 schools for CRCT
air travel, the work of the probe
Food and Drug Adminis-
tration and the National
Institutes of Health, the
electrification of rural Old Rocky Face, the only individuals that
should be identified are those that are found
America, our postal sys-
tem, and public universi- guilty. Suspicion of possible wrongdoing does not
ties that know no rival. automatically mean that one is guilty.
Did I mention the polio
vaccine and space explo- –ErnestB posted this on 2/3/11 at 1:20 p.m.
ration?
All those things are, to Investigation by the press must continue.
a greater or lesser degree, These individuals should be relentlessly pursued
creatures of government by the press. I hope at some point their photos
action. They’re products and list of misdeeds appears.
of “the bureaucracy” Re-
publicans loathe so much.
Our precious country – Old Rocky Face posted this on 2/2/11 at 6:36 p.m.
is in danger of falling into
the hands of fools, charla-
tans and mountebanks.
OtherWords columnist Trial for 2007 killing delayed
Donald Kaul lives in Ann
Arbor, Michigan. www.
otherwords.org Why is tax money being wasted defending
this?
–The Evangelist posted this on 2/4/11 at 11:26 p.m.
www.championnewspaper.com
Pittman to serve as Doraville
mayor in wake of Jenkins’ death
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
Doraville Mayor Pro
Tem Donna Pittman will
serve as acting mayor after
the death of mayor Ray
Jenkins on Feb. 2. Jenkins
died of complications from
pneumonia, according to a
Doraville spokesman.
A special election will be
held in June to fill Jenkins’
seat.
“We are devastated by
the loss of mayor Jenkins,”
Pittman said. “He was a
great man and a great pub-
lic servant. He will truly be
missed.”
After serving one term on
the city planning commis-
sion, Jenkins was elected to
the Doraville City Council
in 1974. He was re-elected
to the council for eight more
terms before winning the
election for mayor in 2003.
He was re-elected mayor
in 2007 and that term was
to expire at the end of this
year.
As a city councilman,
Jenkins was instrumental in
setting Doraville’s millage
rate at a time when most
homeowners paid no city
Printed on 100% post-con-
sumer recycled paper
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011
Jenkins
taxes on their residences. He
was a key supporter of the
Doraville parks program and
founded the city’s Animal
Control Service.
Jenkins was instrumental
in the city being designated
as a “Certified City of Eth-
ics”. Under his direction the
city had a balanced budget
for four straight years, keep-
ing the city out of debt and
financially strong enough to
weather the worst economic
crisis in 80 years, according
to a city spokesman.
His last five years in of-
fice were marked by plan-
ning of the General Motors
Plant redevelopment, pro-
fessional staffing, reductions
in crime, multi-million dol-
lar public works projects,
the launching of a new Web-
site, numerous green initia-
tives and an overhaul of the
city’s zoning ordinance.
Since April 2009, the
city has secured nearly $2
million in funding for park
renovations, sidewalks,
road and drainage improve-
ments and the design of
bicycle and pedestrian im-
provements throughout the
town center area and New
Peachtree Road.
After high school, Jen-
kins worked for a motion
picture distributor before
joining the United States
Navy in 1950. He served
two tours of duty aboard the
USS Wisconsin during the
Korean Conflict and was
honorably discharged from
the Navy in 1954.
He began a career with
the U.S. Postal Service after
leaving the Navy and retired
in 1986.
Jenkins is survived by his
wife Luella, three children
and four grandchildren.
Page 7A
Ruby Lewis
Champion of the Week
the senior center, said
Lewis is a very outgo-
ing, helpful volunteer
who masters every task
she is assigned.
“Ruby is very ener-
getic,” Robinson-Stroth-
er said. “She doesn’t
like sitting behind a
desk.”
Volunteering is a
great way to meet peo-
ple and have fun, Lewis
said. “And there’s al-
Since May 2006, ways a need for volun-
Ruby Lewis has been teers.”
a mainstay at the Lou Before retiring, Lew-
Walker Senior Center is worked for the Inter-
in Lithonia. nal Revenue Service
Volunteering 15-20 as a financial manage-
hours a week, Lewis ment analyst in budget
helps out with the
and finance.
center’s photography “I like numbers,” said
lab, class registration, Lewis, who earned a
tours, cafeteria and bachelor’s of art degree
mailings. She has also in sociology and Span-
helped with various ish from Dillard Univer-
special events such as sity. She earned her
the county’s veterans’ master’s degree from
celebration on Memo- Georgia State Univer-
rial Day; the 2010 Spirit sity in urban develop-
of the Heart forum on ment.
cardiovascular disease; When she is not vol-
the George Washington unteering at the center,
Carver harvest festival Lewis can be found on
at Stonecrest Mall; an the dance floor.
urban film festival; and “I line dance,” Lewis
various health fairs said. “That’s my favor-
around the county. ite hobby and one of
She even volunteers my favorite forms of
at a friend’s auction exercises.”
house, showing mer- Then she remem-
chandise to potential bered another hobby:
bidders. traveling.
“I like giving back,” “My most favorite
said Lewis, who has hobby is going on cruis-
lived in DeKalb County es with my daughter,”
for 40 years. “I enjoy Lewis said. Some of
helping others.” the 15 cruises she has
MaeDean Robin- gone on were to Eu-
son-Strother, the vol- rope, Cairo, Hawaii and
unteer coordinator at Alaska.
If you would like to nominate someone to
be considered as a future Champion of the
Week, please contact Kathy Mitchell at
kathy@DeKalbchamp.com or at
404-373-7779, ext. 104.
 THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Fund Balance Carried Forward

TOTAL - S T D - DESIGNATED SERVICES FUND
(21,819,830)
$142,595,663

SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT - DESIGNATED SERVICES

The DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer and Board of Commissioners will hold PROPOSED EXPENDITURES:
Public Hearings on the 2011 Proposed Budget at the times and places listed below: Police $107,004,011
Public Works - Transportation 3,190,610
Public Works - Roads & Drainage 12,982,302
Tuesday February 8, 2011 10:00AM Maloof Center Auditorium Parks & Recreation 13,907,610
1300 Commerce Drive, Non - Departmental 5,511,130
Decatur TOTAL - S T D - DESIGNATED SERVICES FUND $142,595,663

Tuesday February 22, 2011 10:00AM Maloof Center Auditorium SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT - UNINCORPORATED
1300 Commerce Drive, ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Decatur Excise Taxes $31,194,693
Other Taxes 450,000
All interested citizens are invited to attend these hearings and have the right to Licenses & Permits 22,615,000
present comments pertaining to the proposed budget. Use of Money & Property 11,862
The recommended budget is available for public inspection in the office of the Fines & Forfeitures 16,000,000
Charges for Services 83,000
Director of Finance, 6th Floor, Maloof Center, and at all DeKalb County Libraries Miscellaneous Revenue 1,500
during normal business hours. Interfunds (77,731,391)
Fund Balance Carried Forward 15,463,782
TOTAL - S T D - UNINCORPORATED FUND $8,088,446

PROPOSED EXPENDITURES:
C E O Office - Cable TV Support $379,672
Finance - Business License 652,326
BUDGET RESOLUTION Recorder’s Court 4,021,316
2011 BUDGET Planning & Development- Zoning Analysis 920,918
Police - Code Enforcement 1,903,188
TAX FUNDS Non - Departmental 211,026
TOTAL - S T D - UNINCORPORATED FUND $8,088,446
GENERAL FUND
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: HOSPITAL FUND
Property Taxes $167,907,699 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Excise Taxes 57,864,000 Property Taxes $15,500,168
Other Taxes 34,314,815 Excise Taxes 5,786,400
Use of Money & Property 395,087 Other Taxes 2,249,548
Intergovernmental Revenue 4,458,591 Use of Money & Property (41,770)
Fines & Forfeitures 10,387,500 Fund Balance Carried Forward (1,441,856)
Charges for Services 6,075,800 TOTAL - HOSPITAL FUND $22,052,490
Miscellaneous Revenue 6,220,397 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $22,052,490
Interfunds 16,630,854
Fund Balance Carried Forward (7,537,113) RENTAL MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX FUND
TOTAL - GENERAL FUND $296,717,630 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Excise Taxes $496,501
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Use of Money & Property 3,151
Chief Executive Officer $1,748,171 Fund Balance Carried Forward 391,922
Board of Commissioners 3,183,223 TOTAL - RENTAL MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX FUND $891,574
Ethics Board 9,020 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $891,574
Law Department 3,609,093
Geographic Info Systems 2,041,807 DEBT SERVICE FUND
Facilities Management 15,347,874 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Purchasing 3,118,658 Property Taxes $7,943,811
Human Resources & Merit System 3,597,081 Other Taxes 1,432,108
Information Systems 18,998,595 Use of Money & Property (58,273)
Finance 6,053,354 Fund Balance Carried Forward 278,683
Property Appraisal 4,180,985 TOTAL - DEBT SERVICE FUND $9,596,329
Tax Commissioner 6,518,846 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $9,596,329
Registrar 1,640,674
Sheriff 78,023,624 SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT - DEBT SERVICE FUND
Juvenile Court 9,602,771 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Superior Court 7,663,789 Property Taxes $14,653,695
Clerk of Superior Court 5,591,523 Other Taxes 2,920,338
State Court 1 2,653,079 Use of Money & Property 89,942
Solicitor - General 5,656,383 Fund Balance Carried Forward 10,019,384
District Attorney 12,787,181 TOTAL - STD - DEBT SERVICE FUND $27,683,359
Child Advocate’s Office 1,805,695 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $27,683,359
Probate Court 1,614,140
Medical Examiner 2,154,038 TOTAL RECOMMENDED 2011 TAX FUNDS BUDGET $563,323,804
Public Defender 7,183,517
Police 4,670,035
Magistrate Court 2,574,803 SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
Fire & Rescue Services 16,027,377
Planning & Development 1,262,317 DEVELOPMENT FUND
Public Works - Director 311,800 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Economic Development 708,354 Licenses & Permits $3,982,458
Library 13,674,420 Use of Money & Property (4,000)
Cooperative Extension $231,805 Charges for Services 20,000
Public Health 4,864,926 Fund Balance Carried Forward (951,129)
Community Service Board 1,960,223 TOTAL - DEVELOPMENT FUND $3,047,329
DFACS 1,561,000
Human Services 4,171,662 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES:
Contributions to Capital Projects 3,230,625 Planning & Development $3,047,329
Non - Departmental 26,685,162 TOTAL - DEVELOPMENT FUND $3,047,329
TOTAL - GENERAL FUND $296,717,630
PUBLIC EDUCATION & GOVERNMENT ACCESS FUND
FIRE FUND
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Property Taxes $33,773,393 Use of Money & Property $10,000
Excise Taxes 14,767,500 Miscellaneous Revenue 145,000
Other Taxes 5,336,785 Fund Balance Carried Forward 1,312,684
Use of Money & Property (60,674) TOTAL - P E G FUND $1,467,684
Miscellaneous Revenue 15,000 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,467,684
Fund Balance Carried Forward 1,866,309
TOTAL - FIRE FUND $55,698,313 COUNTY JAIL FUND
ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Intergovernmental Revenue $180,000
Fire & Rescue Services $53,151,929 Fines & Forfeitures 1,585,500
Non - Departmental 2,546,384 TOTAL - COUNTY JAIL FUND $1,765,500
TOTAL - FIRE FUND $55,698,313 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,765,500

HOTEL / MOTEL TAX FUND

SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT - DESIGNATED SERVICES ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Excise Taxes $1,200,000
Property Taxes $74,433,023 Other Taxes $0
Excise Taxes 1,928,800 Fund Balance Carried Forward 194,254
Other Taxes 6,587,323 TOTAL - HOTEL / MOTEL TAX FUND $1,394,254
Licenses & Permits 1,014,800 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,394,254
Use of Money & Property (944)
Charges for Services 2,594,300
Miscellaneous Revenue 126,800
Interfunds 77,731,391 See Budget Page 11A
www.championnewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 Page 9A

Budget Continued From Page 10A WATER & SEWERAGE SINKING FUND
ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Interfunds $38,863,634
Fund Balance Carried Forward 0
VICTIM ASSISTANCE FUND TOTAL - WATER & SEWERAGE SINKING FUND $38,863,634
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $38,863,634
Intergovernmental Revenue $300,000
Fines & Forfeitures 950,000 SANITATION FUND
Fund Balance Carried Forward 143,265 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
TOTAL - VICTIM ASSISTANCE FUND $1,393,265 Use of Money & Property $42,000
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,393,265 Charges for Services 65,725,000
Miscellaneous Revenue 155,000
RECREATION FUND Interfunds 147,143
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Fund Balance Carried Forward 9,074,932
Use of Money & Property ($226) TOTAL - SANITATION FUND $75,144,075
Charges for Services 980,000
Fund Balance Carried Forward (139,919) PROPOSED EXPENDITURES:
TOTAL - RECREATION FUND $839,855 Public Works - Sanitation $74,897,995
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $839,855 Finance - Revenue Collections 246,080
TOTAL - SANITATION FUND $75,144,075
LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFISCATED MONIES FUND
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: DEKALB - PEACHTREE AIRPORT
Fund Balance Carried Forward $6,560,468 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
TOTAL - L.E.C.M. FUND $6,560,468 Use of Money & Property $25,000
Miscellaneous Revenue 4,594,000
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Fund Balance Carried Forward 6,800,165
Sheriff $1,369,762 TOTAL - DEKALB - PEACHTREE AIRPORT $11,419,165
District Attorney 24,700
State Court Marshal 28,815 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES:
Public Safety - Police 5,137,191 Airport Operations $8,919,165
TOTAL - L.E.C.M. FUND $6,560,468 Transfer to Capital Projects 2,500,000
TOTAL - DEKALB - PEACHTREE AIRPORT $11,419,165
JUVENILE SERVICES FUND
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: STORMWATER UTILITY OPERATING FUND
Use of Money & Property $500 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Charges for Services 40,000 Use of Money & Property ($130,000)
Fund Balance Carried Forward 303,223 Charges for Services 17,500,000
TOTAL - JUVENILE SERVICES FUND $343,723 Fund Balance Carried Forward 3,732,876
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $343,723 TOTAL - STORMWATER UTILITY FUND $21,102,876
DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT & EDUCATION FUND PROPOSED EXPENDITURES:
Stormwater Operations $19,397,409
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Reserve for Appropriations 1,705,467
Use of Money & Property $1,500 TOTAL - STORMWATER UTILITY FUND $21,102,876
Fines & Forfeitures 18,000
Fund Balance Carried Forward 54,715 INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS
TOTAL - D.A.T.E. FUND $74,215
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $74,215 FLEET MAINTENANCE
ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
STREET LIGHT FUND Intergovernmental Revenue $160,000
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services 29,500,000
Use of Money & Property ($500) Miscellaneous Revenue 100,000
Charges for Services 4,533,264 Fund Balance Carried Forward 0
Fund Balance Carried Forward 285,508 TOTAL - FLEET MAINTENANCE $29,760,000
TOTAL - STREET LIGHT FUND $4,818,272
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $4,818,272 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES:
Public Works - Fleet Maintenance $29,760,000
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM FUND TOTAL - FLEET MAINTENANCE $29,760,000
ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Use of Money & Property $10,000 VEHICLE FUND
Miscellaneous Revenue 12,080,000 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Fund Balance Carried Forward 7,918,285 Use of Money & Property $30,000
TOTAL - EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM FUND $20,008,285 Charges for Services 14,179,328
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $20,008,285 Miscellaneous Revenue 300,000
Fund Balance Carried Forward 11,514,446
SPEED HUMPS MAINTENANCE FUND TOTAL - VEHICLE FUND $26,023,774
ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Use of Money & Property $3,000 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES:
Charges for Services 250,397 Vehicle Acquisitions $18,016,800
Fund Balance Carried Forward 1,487,620 Interdepartmental Services 791,943
TOTAL - SPEED HUMPS MAINTENANCE FUND $1,741,017 Reserves and Other Miscellaneous 7,215,031
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,741,017 TOTAL - VEHICLE FUND $26,023,774
GRANT - IN - AID FUND RISK MANAGEMENT
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Federal Government $87,084,296 Charges for Services $250,125
State Sources 8,041,127 Miscellaneous Revenue 76,200,395
Contributions 55,864 Payroll Deductions 399,812
Fund Balance Carried Forward 0 Fund Balance Carried Forward 34,148,162
TOTAL - GRANT - IN - AID FUND $95,181,287 TOTAL - RISK MANAGEMENT $110,998,494
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: PROPOSED EXPENDITURES:
Community Development $17,489,314 Unemployment Compensation $303,384
Workforce Development 4,106,588 Group Health & Life 110,695,110
Sheriff 320,233 TOTAL - RISK MANAGEMENT $110,998,494
Juvenile Court 169,388
Superior Court 38,480 WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
State Court 873 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Solicitor-State Court 14,984 Charges for Services $6,784,936
District Attorney 163,698 Fund Balance Carried Forward 6,608,064
Police 4,701,936 TOTAL - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FUND $13,393,000
Fire 3,650,964 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $13,393,000
Family & Children Services 1,213,910
Human Services 2,815,354 REVENUE BONDS LEASE PAYMENT FUNDS
Water & Sewer 247,938
Justice Assistance Grants 59,929,209 BUILDING AUTHORITY LEASE PAYMENTS
TOTAL - GRANT - IN - AID FUND $95,181,287
ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
ENTERPRISE FUNDS Use of Money & Property $3,731,846
Fund Balance Carried Forward 0
WATER & SEWERAGE OPERATING FUND TOTAL - BUILDING AUTHORITY $3,731,846
ANTICIPATED REVENUES: PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $3,731,846
Use of Money & Property $9,160
Charges for Services 197,916,100
Miscellaneous Revenue 20,000 PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUDICIAL FACILITIES AUTHORITY LEASE PAYMENTS
Fund Balance Carried Forward 5,555,951
TOTAL - WATER & SEWERAGE OPERATING FUND $203,501,211 ANTICIPATED REVENUES:
Use of Money & Property $3,104,676
PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Fund Balance Carried Forward 0
Public Works - Water & Sewer $196,529,018 TOTAL - PS&J FACILITIES AUTHORITY $3,104,676
Finance - Revenue Collections 6,972,193 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $3,104,676
TOTAL - WATER & SEWERAGE OPERATING FUND $203,501,211
 THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

High court hears dispute

between DeKalb and
cities for a third time
by Nigel Roberts
In a lawsuit that pits
DeKalb County against
four of its cities, the Geor-
gia Supreme Court on Feb.
8 heard arguments over
the distribution of millions
raised through the home-
stead option sales tax, or
HOST. This is the third
time that the high court has
heard the case.
In 1997, DeKalb voters
approved the one-penny
sales tax to reduce county
After a 24-year career with the DeKalb County Police Department and a retirement of less than a year, homeowners’ property
Kennis Harrell takes on the job of running the Lithonia Police Department. Photo by Andrew Cauthen taxes. Under the plan, at
Supreme Court threw out
the appeal court’s deci-
sion. The justices ruled that
the Appeals Court “over-
stepped its bounds” in its
interpretation of the state’s
Constitution. Last year, the
lower courts ruled in favor
of the county, and the cities
are once again appealing to
the Supreme Court.
In their legal brief, the
cities challenged the lower
court’s characterization of
the HOST agreement and
disputed its interpretation
of the term “services” in
the agreement. Accord-

Lithonia police chief

least 80 percent of the rev-
enues would be used for
that purpose, and up to 20
percent can be used to fund
capital improvement proj-
ing to the cities, the courts
should have found that
spending HOST revenues
on capital projects is a ser-
vice.

could not stay retired

by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
Working through the
ranks to become a deputy
chief of the DeKalb Police
Department was not enough
for Kennis Harrell. Early
retirement from the depart-
ment after 24 years of ser-
vice was not satisfactory
either. He wanted
more.
That’s why
Harrell applied
for the position of ‘I figured I’d
police chief of the
Lithonia Police
Department.
better take the
Harrell said he had a
great career with DeKalb,
and when the county offered
employees an early retire-
ment package last year, he
was one of 830 employees
that took advantage of it.
“I figured I’d better take
the money and run,” Harrell
said. “It was a pretty good
deal.”
by the state and the Com-
mission on Accreditation for
Law Enforcement Agencies,
a national organization that
seeks to improve the profes-
sionalism of law enforce-
ment agencies through ac-
creditation.
One advantage of run-
ning a small-city police
department is the ability to
know the commu-
nity.
“We are able to
have more com-
munity-oriented
policing,” Harrell
said.
In his two
ects within the county.
According to court
documents, following
the referendum, Decatur,
Chamblee, Doraville,
Stone Mountain and other
municipalities formally en-
tered into a 49-year agree-
ment with DeKalb in 1998
concerning the distribution
of HOST proceeds.
“Immediately after the
county began disbursing
the funds,” the court’s
records show, “the cities
objected to the method the
county used to calculate
the amounts due to them.”
The cities believe the
county shortchanged their
payments. Consequently,
in 2000, the cities sued
DeKalb.
However, the county
responds that “this type of
blanket revenue sharing
has long been prohibited
by Georgia law.” The Inter-
governmental Agreement
is a “tax sharing agree-
ment,” not a contract for
services. What’s more, the
cities have spent the funds
on things such as lease pur-
chase repayments and debt
service on pre-existing
debt instead of only on
capital outlay projects.
What’s at stake is mil-
lions of dollars and a reve-
nue stream to the cities for
four decades. According to
some estimates, the county
could owe Decatur, alone,
as much as $10 million.
In a related dispute, the

money and run.

After narrow-
ing down a field
of 21 applicants,
the city chose
Harrell to be the It was a pretty
police chief of the
11-member de-
partment. In No-
good deal.’
vember, he took
over the position
which had been
vacant since Feb-
ruary 2010, when then-chief
Willie Rosser resigned.
Rosser held the position for
approximately six years.
With the DeKalb Police
Department, Harrell worked
as a lieutenant, captain,
sergeant, homicide detec-
tive and academy instructor
before becoming a deputy
chief overseeing operations
of the department’s south
and east precincts.
months as the
police chief, Har-
rell said, he has
been working on
an updated po-
lice department
manual and has
been meeting
– Kennis Harrell many people. At a
recent community
breakfast to meet
the new chief,
Harrell sat at home for a approximately 125 people
while before deciding to get attended including several
back into police work. local and state politicians.
“It’s something I really Lithonia mayor Tonya
love to do,” Harrell said. Peterson said Harrell was
Harrell said his vision for chosen because his leader-
the department is to increase ship skills fit well with what
professionalism and raise was needed for Lithonia, a
the standards in the delivery city of approximately 2,400
of ethical, fair and impar- residents.
tial police services. He also “He is doing an excellent
wants to help the depart- job,” Peterson said.
ment receive certifications
County officials an-
swered the suit with the
argument that state law
prohibited certain aspects
of sharing the money with
the cities and questioned
the constitutionality of the
agreement. This dispute
sparked the lawsuit, which
has been back-and-forth in
the state’s court system.
The first time the case
went through the courts,
the DeKalb County Supe-
rior Court and the Court
of Appeals sided with the
county. But the high court
reversed the decisions and
sent the case back to the
lower court.
In 2008, the Superior
Court ruled the second
time in favor of the cit-
ies; the appellate court
reversed, but the state
high court ruled unani-
mously last year against
DeKalb’s lawsuit to block
distribution of the funds to
Dunwoody. The justices
upheld the constitutional-
ity of an amendment to the
HOST act that authorizes
distribution of funds to
newly formed municipali-
ties.
“It was the legislature’s
decision to amend the
HOST Act so as to bypass
the governing authority of
DeKalb County and the in-
tergovernmental agreement
process in order to give a
qualified municipality…
HOST capital outlay funds
directly,” Chief Justice
Carol Hunstein wrote in
the 11-page decision.
www.championnewspaper.com
Avondale Publix development on hold
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
It looks like Publix won’t be com-
ing to Avondale Estates anytime soon.
That’s after a development plan six
years in the making went under.
At the end of January, the Avon-
dale Estates city commission voted
to stop working with Century Retail,
a Florida-based developer that filed
for bankruptcy last fall. Century Re-
tail had planned to build a mixed-use
development on 5.6 acres in the city’s
downtown area.
Now that the city’s relationship
with Century Retail is over, Avondale
officials have received more calls in
the past two weeks than in the past
two years about the property.
“We’ve had a lot of interest from
other developers,” Avondale mayor
Ed Rieker said. “It’s actually been a
positive outcome.”
A 28,800-square-foot Publix
would have been the anchor grocery
store of the Century Retail shopping
center. The company expected the
development to attract a day spa, dry
cleaner, jewelry store, electronics
store, family practitioners, boutique
store, office supply store, book store,
souvenir shop, florist and card store.
There would have been under-
ground and store level parking and 80
luxury multi-family units with one or
two bedrooms.
According to the company web-
site, Century Retail has five such
properties in Georgia, including the
Budget cuts will hurt, commissioners say
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
A tax increase for DeKalb
County residents seems inevitable
unless major budget cuts are made.
That’s the message being
preached as the county’s Budgeting
101 road show traverses DeKalb
giving residents an opportunity to
discuss the proposed 2011 budget
with commissioners.
“We’re at the point where we
need to cut, cut, cut or raise taxes,”
said Commissioner Kathie Gan-
non said at one such public meet-
ing last week in Decatur. “We’re
not alone. Jurisdictions all over
Georgia and all over the country
are doing the same thing.”
Residents at the meeting urged
commissioners Lee May, Sharon
Barnes Sutton and Gannon, who
were hosting the event, to refrain
from cutting funding for the coun-
ty’s parks and recreation depart-
ment.
“The reality of cuts is, cuts
hurt,” May said. “If you make cuts
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 Page 11A
The aluminum and steel frame of a building stands as a memorial to a failed Avondale development. Photos by Travis Hudgons
30,000-square-foot Century Shoppes Florida bankruptcy judge to decide Pittsburgh, Pa., in November 2009.
of Grove Park on Powder Springs what will happen to the property. Avondale Estates city officials
Road in Marietta. “They’re still the property own- want to turn the Fenner Dunlop prop-
Originally, Century Retail planned ers,” Avondale City Manager Clai erty into a vibrant, multi-use develop-
to start construction in late 2007 with Brown said about the Century Retail ment. In December, the city annexed
completion scheduled in late 2009. developers. approximately nine acres of the prop-
A two-story, steel-and-aluminum The judge could make one of sev- erty, which were in unincorporated
skeletal frame of the only building eral decisions, including foreclosing DeKalb County.
that got started reminds residents of a on the property, Brown said. Combined, the Fenner Dunlop and
failed economy and unfulfilled plans. The failed Publix development Century Retail properties total nearly
The building, which has not been is adjacent to the vacant 13.7-acre 20 acres of prime, mixed-use real es-
touched in more than two years, was Fenner Dunlop property. Fenner tate in a city that wants to be known
supposed to be the new location of Dunlop, formerly known as Georgia as developer-friendly.
Finders Keepers, a local consignment Duck and Cordage Mill, was founded “It’s a gem of a piece of property,”
shop. in 1916. The company moved its Rieker said.
Now, the city has to wait for a headquarters from DeKalb County to
ficer Burrell Ellis, five recre-
ation centers would be closed:
Briarwood Recreation Center
in Brookhaven; Tobie Grant in
Scottdale; and the N.H. Scott in
South DeKalb; Mason Mill in
Decatur; and Lucious Sanders in
Lithonia.
The budget also calls for an
elimination of the county’s share
of the University of Georgia Co-
operative Extension program.
Sutton assured the residents
that closing recreation centers is
not a top priority for her.
“We understand that we have
to take care of the youth,” Sutton
said.
Nearly $1 million would be
saved if funding to the extension
program and the parks and rec-
reation department is cut. Other
major cuts include $1.4 million
Deep cuts will have to be made in county services to balance the 2011 budget, for the Grady Memorial Hospi-
commissioners Sharon Barnes Sutton and Kathie Gannon tell an audience during a tal fund; $872,000 for a satel-
public meeting on the proposed budget. Photo by Andrew Cauthen lite tax commission office; and
nobody’s going to be happy. You’re Under the budget proposed by a $500,000 county golf course
going to upset somebody.” DeKalb’s Chief Executive Of- subsidy.
The cuts—along with a 12.4
See Budget on Page 13A

Neuman indicted on murder charges
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
The man suspected of
killing a man in Dunwoody
outside a day care on Nov.
18 was indicted for the
crime, DeKalb County
District Attorney Robert
James announced Feb. 9.
Hemy Zvi Neuman,
Demolition of two condemned hospital buildings at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody should be completed by the end of the month. Photo by Andrew Cauthen
Demolition under way at Brook Run Park
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
Workers in Dunwoody
are in the process of de-
molishing two condemned
buildings in the city’s Brook
Run Park.
Buildings being demol-
ished include a small dor-
mitory located behind the
theater, and an office build-
ing adjacent to the dog park,
located at the west end of
Brook Run Park. The build-
ings are being torn down by
Diversified Environmental
45, was indicted by a grand
jury on one count of malice
murder and one count of
possessing a firearm during
the commission of a felony.
Neuman is accused of
killing Rusty Sneiderman,
who had just dropped off his
2-year-old son at Dunwoody
Prep on Chamblee-
Dunwoody Road.
Management Inc. The proj-
ect began on Jan. 19 and is
expected to be completed by
the end of the month.
All park facilities will
remain open and the demo-
lition should not affect park
usage.
When the two con-
demned buildings were
tested, it was determined
that they contained asbestos,
said Brent Walker, man-
ager of parks and recreation.
The park, at 4770 North
Peachtree Road in Dun-
woody, was once the site of
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011
Sneiderman, a 36-year-
old entrepreneur, was shot
several times at point-blank
range, according to police.
Police have not said how
many shots were fired or
what kind of gun was used.
James declined to discuss
those and other details of
the case, and would not say
if there were other suspects
Brook Run Hospital, which
was composed of several
buildings. Walker said it
is unknown whether the
remaining buildings in the
park have asbestos.
At 102 acres, the park is
nearly the size of Piedmont
Park in Atlanta and contains
a community garden, dog
park and skate park.
The city is in the pro-
cess of reviewing bids for
a management company to
assume responsibility for
running the concessions at
the skate park. Walker said
or if more arrests would be
made.
“If we were not
confident, we would not
have taken it to the grand
jury,” James said.
Arraignment has not
been set. It usually takes
at least a month after
an indictment before
an arraignment hearing
he expects a company to
take over that job by April.
At that time, the city is plan-
ning to keep the skate park
open during regular park
hours.
Walker said there are no
immediate plans for any
further development of the
park because there is no
funding available.
In December, the city of
Dunwoody filed a lawsuit
against DeKalb County
for more than $7 million
it claims should go to de-
veloping the park. In 2005,
takes place. James said he
expected the arraignment to
happen in the spring.
Andrea Sneiderman,
the victim’s wife, worked
under Neuman, an
operations and quality
manager at GE Electric
Energy in Marietta,
according to a company
spokesman.
county voters passed a bond
referendum that contained
$11.5 million for Brook Run
Park. To date about $4.5
million has been spent, ac-
cording to the lawsuit. Dun-
woody took over the park
from the county in August
2010.
Dunwoody’s city attor-
ney Brian Anderson said
there has been no action
concerning the lawsuit since
it was filed.
www.championnewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 Page 13A

Champion Coat Drive

comes to an end
Approximately 25 children
under the care of the DeKalb
County Department of Family
and Children Services are a little
warmer because of coats do-
nated through a coat drive held
this winter by The Champion
Newspaper.
The drive, which was sched-
uled to end on Martin Luther
King Jr. Day–Jan. 17–was
extended a week because icy
weather during part of the col-
lection period made it difficult
for donors to bring coats.
“While we would have liked
to have seen more participation,
we appreciate all who helped in
this worthwhile venture,” said
Champion Chief Operating Of-
ficer John Hewitt. “We’re sure
also that the children who now
have new or gently used coats to
wear, as one of the coldest win-
ters we had in many years con-
tinues, appreciate the generosity
of our neighbors as well.”
DFCS helps children from
infants to 18-year-olds, who for
various reasons must be sepa-
rated from their parents and are
in need of support. The Champion's Donna Turner and John Hewitt sort through the donated coats, which were then
given to DFCS employee Johnnie Carey to distribute. Photos by Travis Hudgons

DeKalb County Wants to Hear From You

Budget Regarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal
Continued From Page 11A with Comcast Cable Communications
Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcast’s current performance under
percent tax increase–are the current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests of
needed to help balance your community to cable@co.dekalb.ga.us.
the proposed $563 mil-
lion budget. The recent The Champion Weather Feb. 10, 2011
national recession caused
the county’s tax revenue Seven Day Forecast In-Depth Local Forecast Today's Regional Map Weather History
to decline by 3 percent in THURSDAY
Today we will see mostly cloudy skies with a Feb. 10, 1978 - As much as eight
2009. Snow Possible
30% chance of snow, high temperature of 45º, inches of rain drenched Southern
humidity of 39%. North wind 5 to 10 mph. The California, resulting in wide-
That was a “once-in-a- High: 45 Low: 29
Dunwoody
record high temperature for today is 76º set in spread flooding and mudslides.
lifetime occurrence,” said 1932. Expect partly cloudy skies tonight with Smyrna Doraville
43/28 Lilburn
The heavy rainfall produced a
44/29
Jay Vinicki, the policy FRIDAY an overnight low of 29º. 44/29 wall of water that ripped through
44/29
and research director for Sunny Snellville the mountain resort community
Decatur
the board of commission- High: 47 Low: 28 *Last Week’s Almanac
Atlanta 45/29
45/29 of Hidden Springs, drowning at
ers. Date Hi Lo Normals Precip
45/29 least 13 people.
“In 2010, a once-in-a- SATURDAY Tuesday 48 40 54/34 0.00" Lithonia
Sunny Wednesday 47 30 54/34 0.00" College Park 46/29 Feb. 11, 1899 - Perhaps the
lifetime occurrence hap- Thursday 40 28 54/34 0.12" 46/29 greatest of all arctic outbreaks
High: 52 Low: 31 Morrow
pened again. And in 2011, Friday 38 34 54/35 1.22" commenced on this date. The
46/29
a once-in-a-lifetime occur- SUNDAY Saturday 48 34 54/35 0.25" Union City temperature plunged to 61
rence will happen for the Sunny Sunday 53 31 55/35 0.00" 46/29 degrees below zero in Montana.
third time in our lives,” High: 59 Low: 39 Monday 52 28 55/35 0.09"
Hampton
At the same time, a “Great
Vinicki said of the con- Rainfall . . . . . . .1.68" Average temp . .39.4
47/30
Eastern Blizzard” left a blanket
tinuing decline in property MONDAY Normal rainfall . .1.17" Average normal 44.4 of snow all the way from
tax revenue. Mostly Sunny Departure . . . . .+0.51" Departure . . . . .-5.0 Georgia to New Hampshire.
*Data as reported from De Kalb-Peachtree Airport
Now officials are trying High: 60 Low: 42
to figure out the best way Local Sun/Moon Chart This Week Tonight's Planets
TUESDAY
to eliminate the $34.5 mil- Day Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset
Rise Set
Mostly Sunny First Thursday 7:26 a.m. 6:17 p.m. 11:03 a.m. 12:30 a.m. Last
lion deficit in the proposed High: 55 Low: 38 2/11 2/24
Mercury 7:02 a.m. 5:20 p.m.
Friday 7:25 a.m. 6:18 p.m. 11:45 a.m. 1:27 a.m.
budget. Saturday 7:24 a.m. 6:19 p.m. 12:32 p.m. 2:25 a.m.
Venus 4:44 a.m. 2:50 p.m.
“The money we’re WEDNESDAY Sunday 7:23 a.m. 6:20 p.m. 1:27 p.m. 3:22 a.m.
Mars 7:28 a.m. 6:07 p.m.
spending is your money, Partly Cloudy Full Monday 7:22 a.m. 6:21 p.m. 2:29 p.m. 4:16 a.m. New
Jupiter 9:27 a.m. 9:34 p.m.
Saturn 10:29 p.m.10:14 a.m.
it’s my money and you High: 54 Low: 35 2/18 Tuesday 7:21 a.m. 6:21 p.m. 3:36 p.m. 5:06 a.m. 3/4 Uranus 9:12 a.m. 9:09 p.m.
should have a say in how Wednesday 7:20 a.m. 6:22 p.m. 4:46 p.m. 5:51 a.m.
it’s spent,” May said. Local UV Index National Weather Summary This Week Weather Trivia
“We have to deal with

the issues right now, but
we also have to be for-
ward-thinking,” May said.
“The tendency has been to
get through the year, fill
any holes, deal with any
fires that happen, and get
through that year.”
“The reality is the deci-
sions that we make today
are going to effect com-
missions that are well after
us,” May said.
?
The Northeast will see mostly clear to partly cloudy skies with a few snow showers
today through Saturday, with the highest temperature of 45º in Annapolis, Md. The
What is the record for the most
consecutive hours below zero
0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ Southeast will see scattered showers today and Friday, mostly clear skies Saturday, in the lower 48 states?
with the highest temperature of 77º in Key West, Fla. The Northwest will see mostly clear to partly
UV Index
0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, cloudy skies today and Friday, isolated rain Saturday, with the highest temperature of 62º in Answer: In January 1969, Havre, Mont.
sank below zero for nearly 400 hours.
6-7: High, 8-10: Very High Brookings, Ore. The Southwest will see mostly clear skies today through Saturday, with the highest
11+: Extreme Exposure temperature of 79º in Fullerton, Calif. www.WhatsOurWeather.com
StarWatch By Gary Becker - Anaxagoras
Isaac Newton reasoned that if he had seen farther than others, it was only because he had stood on the shoulders of giants. Others, like Copernicus, Galileo, Tycho, and
Kepler, made contributions which allowed Newton to synthesize his theories to explain the motions of planets quantitatively. Similarly, Anaxagoras (500-428 BC), an early
Greek philosopher, glimpsed the future, but unlike Newton, he was unable to complete the fabrication. His construction of the universe was geocentric (Earth-centered) with
the moon, sun, and stars revolving in circular paths about a stationary, hollow Earth. He believed that the universe was composed of an infinite number of “seeds” which
were set in motion by the force of “Mind,” the controlling intelligence of the entire cosmos. The motion of these particles initiated their eventual separation into the observable bodies in
the sky, and eventually brought the Earth to the center of the universe. Anaxagoras realized that the moon shone by reflected sunlight and lunar phases were a function of the moon orbit-
ing the Earth. The Milky Way was considered a reflection phenomenon caused when the sun, a fiery hot mass of ore, was below the horizon. The stars (hot rocks) were so distant that their
heat was not evident. The assumption that the moon was closer to the Earth than the sun, which in turn was closer than the stars, allowed Anaxagoras to explain the correct geometry for
eclipses. Although Anaxagoras probably did not synthesize most of his conclusions through actual field observations of the sky, he clearly realized the importance of deductive reasoning
based upon what was considered valid information for that period. This was certainly a more powerful tool than the wild, uncontrolled speculation of his predecessors and a step toward a
more reasoned approach which would be practiced by future Greek philosophers. www.astronomy.org
hEalth
“It’s important for people of all ages, races and genders to learn ways to protect the heart and stay healthy,” said Melvina Dorsey, direc-
tor of nursing at Golden Living Center—Glenwood. Photo by Kathy Mitchell
Local health care facility says prevention,
proper care keys to heart health
February has been designated
American Heart Month to raise
awareness of heart health and heart
disease. Including stroke, heart disease
is the leading cause of death for both
women and men in the United States.
Those at higher risk for heart disease
include women ages 55 or older, men
ages 45 or older, and people with a
family history of early heart disease.
“We see a good many people with
heart health problems, especially
in this population,” said Melvina
Dorsey, director of nursing at Golden
Living Center–Glenwood, a south
DeKalb facility with predominately
older African-American residents.
GLC-Glenwood provides health care
for up to 225 patients and residents,
including those needing skilled
nursing and rehabilitative care. The
facility has been part of the Decatur
community since the early 1960s.
There are steps people can take to
decrease their risk of developing heart
disease, Dorsey said. According to the
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, to keep their hearts healthy,
people should:
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 • PAGE 14A
• Watch their weight
• Eat a healthy diet and stay active
• Manage stress
• Stop smoking
• Control their blood pressure and
cholesterol
• Drink alcohol only in moderation, if
at all
• Men older than 45 and women older
than 55 should discuss with their
doctors taking a daily aspirin
“It is important for people of all
ages, races and genders to learn ways
to protect the heart and stay healthy,”
Dorsey said, “At our center, we have
tools through Golden Living’s Cardiac
Care program to educate patients about
cardiac disease, nutrition and exercise
needed for good heart health.”
She noted that Golden Living and
Aegis Therapies care for thousands of
cardiac patients each year. Commonly
treated conditions include congestive
heart failure, hypertension, atrial
fibrillation and peripheral vascular
disease. Golden Living clinicians
study the most recent findings and
management techniques to better meet
the needs of its patients, Dorsey said.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention recently reported
that although treatment of high blood
pressure and high cholesterol is very
effective and relatively low-cost, most
people with these conditions remain at
elevated risk for heart attacks, strokes
and other problems.
The federal agency states that two
out of three U.S. adults with high
cholesterol and half of U.S. adults
with high blood pressure are not being
treated effectively. High blood pres-
sure and cholesterol are two major risk
factors for heart attacks, strokes and
related vascular diseases, which kill
more than 800,000 Americans each
year–more than any other condition.
Of these, 150,000 are younger than
age 65.
“We are committed to helping pa-
tients and residents live the best qual-
ity of life possible through careful and
strategic therapies specialized in car-
diac care,” said Florence McCauley,
rehabilitation program coordinator at
GLC-Glenwood. She said that between
70 and 80 percent of Golden Living
cardiac patients return home soon after
receiving cardiac care.
CDC: Take
someone you
love to get a
flu shot this
Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day,
instead of giving candy
hearts and chocolates, show
loved ones that you care
by encouraging them to get
a flu shot, health officials
suggest. The Centers for
Disease Control and Preven-
tion (CDC) and the Georgia
Department of Community
Health (DCH) issued this
year for the first time a uni-
versal recommendation for
everyone 6 months of age
and older to receive an in-
fluenza vaccination.
According to the CDC
and DCH’s Weekly Influ-
enza Surveillance, Georgia
has had higher than average
activity through the month
of January.
“Getting a flu shot is the
single best way to assure a
healthy and flu free Valen-
tine’s Day for you and your
loved ones,” said Interim
State Immunization Direc-
tor Dr. Anil Mangla. “I
received my flu shot this
year and want to encourage
all Georgians to do the same
so that they can be protected
against the flu.”
In the United States, in-
fluenza and its related com-
plications are responsible
for more than 200,000 hos-
pitalizations each year, and
with the CDC reporting that
influenza levels will peak
in February and March and
possibly continue well into
May, there has never been a
better time to remind friends
and loved ones to get vac-
cinated.
“Taking simple steps
such as getting a flu shot
and remembering to wash
your hands can go a long
way in preventing yourself
and others from getting the
flu. So this Valentine’s Day,
don’t take any chances; give
the gift of health and take
someone you love to get
vaccinated today,” a joint
notice from CDC and DCH
states.
For more information on
immunization visit http://
health.state.ga.us/programs/
immunization/flu.asp or
www.flu.gov.
www.championnewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 A Section • Page 15A

Schools Continued From Page 1A

perhaps one day reopened as
something else.
Medlock Elementary
School, off Scott Boulevard
in north DeKalb would also
close.
In each case, nearby
school districts shift slightly
around the edges to accom-
modate the closures. A total
of nearly 9,000 students —
that’s 9 percent of the total
— would be affected.
Tyson’s plan doesn’t
rule out more closures af-
ter the end of the 2011-12
school year. At least four
schools are still on the line:
Livsey, Bob Mathis, Rock
Chapel and Toney elemen-
tary schools, as well as
Wadsworth and Kittredge
magnets.
The redraws and clo-
sures would save some
$12.4 million annually,
according to Tyson’s pre-
sentation. It also assures
full state funding — some
monies are cut off to el-
ementary schools that serve
fewer than 450 students or
any school less than three-
quarters full. More than 20
schools fell below one or
the other of those bars.
There will be no layoffs,
said board chairman Thom-
as Bowen. “The resources
will follow the child,” he
explained.
At least one group of
very active parents appar-
ently got the draft changed
to suit them.
Before the meeting, in
the cold rain outside, about
20 men gathered under
umbrellas and their protest
signs, angry because their
apartments at a complex
called Jefferson at Perimeter
in Dunwoody would shift
from Vanderlyn Elementary
to Dunwoody Elementary
under the plan. They alleged
that the such a line is unfair
to apartment-dwellers and
cordoned off Vanderlyn
exclusively for people who
live in houses.
They talked of such a
line being something per-
haps worthy of a lawsuit.
But apparently they can
breathe easy. When a con-
sultant presented Tyson’s
proposed north side map,
he said it’s not exactly as
envisioned in an earlier
draft. One obvious change?
The red cordon that outlines
Vanderlyn’s district pokes
out a little differently, encir-
cling Jefferson at Perimeter.
The school board is
scheduled to vote on the
redistricting at its March
7 meeting . There are two
public hearings in the mean-
time, March 1 and March 3,
both at 6:30 p.m. at school
headquarters, 1701 Moun-
tain Industrial Boulevard in
Stone Mountain.

Movie Continued From Page 1A

that said “Spring County: The Best

Place To Live.” Silk trees were placed
on the grounds to add greenery to shots
that would have shown the leafless tree
trunks that were actually there. Kids’
bikes were parked near the school’s
entrance. All of this made the school
appear as if it had never been closed.
A section of Forrest Boulevard
from North Carter Road to Craigie
Avenue was closed to through traffic
during the filming and off-duty DeKalb
County Police officers controlled traffic
around the school.
In addition to the old Forest Hills
Elementary School, other sites for
the movie include Walton, Morgan,
Coweta and Cherokee counties. Film-
ing is expected to last through the end
of March.
About 80 percent of the 160-mem-
ber crew is from the local area, said
Claire Raskind, publicist for the
movie. There are also about 160 extras
in the movie, which does not yet have a
release date.
One of the actors in the movie is
local-grown. According to the Internet
Movie Database, Tim Ware, a native
of the Atlanta area, will play a mayor in
the movie. Ware worked as a captain in
the Decatur Fire Department before be-
ing discovered by a talent scout while
acting in a local dinner theater.
Director Peter Hedges, second from left, previews a shot on the monitor. Photo by Travis Hudgons
EducatioN THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 • PAGE 16A

Residents voice
concerns at school
budget hearing
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com

The release of next year’s pro-

posed DeKalb County School Sys-
tem budget is still two months away,
but residents and teachers already are
anxious to find out how they will be
affected.
There is an anticipated $50 mil-
lion shortfall for next year’s budget
and the proposed redistricting and
consolidation plan could save $15
million annually. The proposal calls
for the closure of 14 schools and the
redistricting of more than 10,000
students.
“The $15 million is only a cost
saving of 2 percent based on last
year’s budget,” said Ian Chrystall,
whose children attend Sagamore
Hills Elementary School. “That’s
not much when you look at the big
picture.”
Daniel Sobczak, a member of the
Organization of DeKalb Educators,
spoke at a recent school board public
Photos by Robert Naddra
hearing on the budget. “We need to
focus on our core business of educat-
ing the students,” he said. “We need
to make sure everything is done with
the students in mind and stop wast-
Avondale Estates charter school
students get hands-on education
ing money on experimenting with
different programs. We need to make
sure they learn what they need to
learn.”
ODE member Ayesha Baldwin
addressed concerns over teacher
furloughs. She asked that the board
restore salaries to the level they were
during the 2008-09 school year, the
last year before furloughs were in-
stated.
“We just want to make sure that
everything is appropriated properly
and fairly. I would like to request
that there be no more furloughs,”
Baldwin told the board.
Of the $15 million in annual sav-
ing under the school consolidation
proposal, $13.4 million would be
saved in cutting 180 staff positions.
The system has 11,000 empty
seats in its schools and the proposal
calls for eliminating approximately
6,000 of those empty seats. Twenty- by Robert Naddra “They learn about things and Botanical Gardens, Carlos
seven schools are not receiving some robert@dekalbchamp.com then go somewhere in the city and Museum at Emory and the Tellis
state funding because they are at less see it,” said The Museum School Museum.
than 75 percent capacity. Under the Colorful clay animal figurines counselor Debra Greenfield. “To The Museum School on Feb. 4
proposal—which has two options— adorn the walls and a long table be able to go to a museum at 5 and kicked off “Charter First Friday”
only two schools would be left at in the hallway. Brightly colored learn about what you’re looking in Georgia where a different
less than 75 percent occupancy in paper form wildlife scenes outside at, it’s phenomenal.” charter school each month
one scenario and one in the other. the classrooms. The school partners with will open its doors to parents,
Only four people spoke last week The concept of interactive several museums and other community members and partners
at the public hearing, but one ODE education is evident as soon as attractions around Atlanta and to showcase their efforts. The
member expects that to change when visitors walk through the doors of incorporates the curriculum into initiative was created by the
the budget proposal is unveiled. The Museum School of Avondale numerous field trips. Partners National Alliance of Chartered
“When the [proposal] comes out, Estates. The school opened in include ZooAtlanta, Georgia Public Schools.
then you’ll see a lot more reaction,” August 2010 after being one of Aquarium and Georgia Nature In addition to the field trips,
ODE member Lisa Morgan said. only seven schools chartered by Center. Other field trips include there is plenty of hands-on
“These meetings will be packed then the state of Georgia in 2009. visits to Fernbank, Atlanta learning inside the classrooms.
because people will have a lot more
questions.” See School on Page 17A
www.championnewspaper.com
School
Continued From Page 16A
During the First Friday event, a
third-grade class was busy making
paper mache` dinosaurs while
a first-grade class was learning
about Harriett Tubman.
“You won’t see kids sitting
around here all day with
textbooks,” Greenfield said. “We
use them, but the lessons are so
much more interactive. It amazes
me.”
The Museum School is public
and open to all students in the
attendance zone. In addition to
regular curriculum, the school
offers exploratory classes
including art, music, language and
physical education. Also, there
are gifted and special education
classes.
There are 132 students in
kindergarten through third
grade, said principal Katherine
Kelbaugh, who was an
administrator at a charter school
in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., before
coming to The Museum School.
The school will add fourth
grade next year and Kelbaugh said
she expects enrollment to reach
nearly 200 students for the 2011-
12 school year. One grade will be
added each year until the school
serves kindergarten through eighth
grade, she said. There already is
a waiting list for next year in two
grade levels.
“The curriculum focuses on
science and social studies, but
through those subjects they do
their reading and writing, and
learn math,” Kelbaugh said. “The
students learn standards, concepts
and skills here, and apply it when
we visit at least six different
museums throughout the city.”
Students at the Museum School
get a chance to show off their
creativity four times a year at open
houses, using the knowledge they
have acquired on the field trips as
well as in the classroom.
“The school actually becomes a
museum four times a year and the
students act as docents,” Kelbaugh
said. “They’re the guides and
they take the parents and visitors
through the school and talk about
what they’ve created and what
they’ve learned.”
Said Greenfield: “By taking
something and having it in their
hands, they’re going to remember
it so much more.”
In addition to hands-on
learning, the students also learn by
interacting with students in other
grades, Greenfield said.
“Learning is differentiated. We
meet them at their level,” she said.
“We’re introducing [the students]
to what the other grades are doing
so that when they get there they’ll
know what to expect.”
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 Page 17A
DeKalb Tech considers name change
DeKalb Technical system, DeKalb Tech dramatically Now we our commitment to
College (DTC) is will be seeking input are part of a statewide educational quality and
launching a re-branding from community leaders, network of Technical student success, and
initiative that will likely students, faculty and Colleges, and our helps us build on our
result in changing the staff as the rebranding service delivery area has local reputation to one
name of the 50-year-old effort moves forward. expanded to include not of being a progressive
institution. “DeKalb “In the fall of 1961, only DeKalb County, leader in education on a
Tech has established a DeKalb Area Vocational but Rockdale, Newton national level,” Hoffman
legacy of educational School was established and Morgan counties as said.
excellence since opening to serve the occupational well,” said Dr. Robin DeKalb Tech
its doors in 1961, but needs of the county at Hoffman, president is partnering with
times, the market and that time. Nearly five of DeKalb Technical marketing company
our educational footprint decades after being College. Tillman-Allen-Greer in
have expanded. It is established, a reflective “We are exploring the college’s re-branding
time for that change eye is turned to what is better ways to represent effort. A web survey
to be reflected in our now known as DeKalb the changes that have, has been established by
name,” said DeKalb Technical College. The and continue to take Tillman-Allen-Greer to
Technical College community we now place in our institution gather input from the
spokesperson Cory serve is infinitely more and the communities community on a new
Thompson. diverse in a myriad of we serve. This includes name, look, and logo.
In conjunction with ways. Our core mission a new name, a new The public can provide
the college’s 50th of education remains logo and a new image input by going to www.
anniversary and the the same, but the people that represents our dtcvision.com
conversion from a and the counties we ever-increasing service
quarter to a semester serve have changed area, communicates
DTC chosen to help pilot national accountability system
New measures to help define success of two-year institutions
DeKalb Technical College has tion of terms. “Everyone measures systems and one multi-college dis-
been selected as one of 40 commu- academic progress, graduation and trict in 29 states. DeKalb Technical
nity colleges to pilot a new Volun- retention rates differently. We need College is the only Georgia school
tary Framework of Accountability to be able to compare apples to taking part in the pilot project.
(VFA) that is designed to redefine apples at schools across the board.” The announcement of DeKalb
what “success” means for two-year The VFA is being developed by Tech’s selection to be an integral
institutions nationwide. the American Association of Com- part of this pilot project is welcome
The VFA represents the first na- munity Colleges (AACC) in col- news to the school’s president. “We
tional system to provide accurate laboration with the Association of are extremely pleased to be selected
data, operational transparency and Community College Trustees and to participate in this initiative as
the ability for colleges to bench- the College Board and with fund- one of the pilot institutions. It will
mark student progress and comple- ing from the Bill & Melinda Gates provide valuable data that will en-
tion data against peer institutions. Foundation and Lumina Foundation able us to better assess achievement
DeKalb Tech Vice President of for Education. of our mission and benchmark our
Academic Affairs Dr. Tanya Gor- The pilot colleges include success with two-year colleges
man, serves as a representative DeKalb Technical College and 36 across the country,” said Dr. Robin
on the national task force for the other institutions, two statewide Hoffman.
VFA initiative. “I was pleased to
be asked to serve, but we have no
easy task ahead of us,” Gorman
said. “We are looking to find com-
mon denominators among a vastly
diverse group of schools.”
When finished, this project will
have established standards that
can be applied to all two-year in-
stitutions across the country. “In
essence, we hope to provide that
proverbial rising tide that will lift
all boats of higher education at two-
year institutions,” said Gorman.
Terry McCamish, DeKalb Tech’s
assistant director for institutional
research, will help compile that
data.
“Some of the data will be diffi-
cult to pull. For example, gathering
student information before they get
to our school, or after they leave,”
McCamish said. He added that one
of the biggest challenges will be
getting everyone to agree on defini-

AROUND
ATLANTA
Event to raise funds for AIDS
research
Spin to End (AIDS) 2011, an
indoor cycling fundraiser to benefit
Action Cycling Atlanta (ACA) and
AIDS vaccine research, will take
place from noon to 6 p.m. Satur-
day, Feb. 12, at Emory’s woodPEC
cycling studio.
“For Spin to End, you and five
of your friends form a team or you
can join an existing team,” said
Leon Morales, co-ride director
for the Emory AIDS Vaccine Ride
this year. “Each rider spins for
an hour and raises at least $100,
for a team total of $600 or more.
Pledges can be from friends, fam-
ily, co-workers and corporations
sponsoring you.”
In its ninth year, ACA has raised
more than half a million dollars for
AIDS vaccine research. Spin to
End is a precursor to a two-day,
200-mile ride in May to raise mon-
ey for the Emory Vaccine Center.
For more information about the
event or to register to participate,
visit www.SpinToEnd.org, or call
(404) 954-CYCL (2925).
Storytellers to focus on Black
History Month
Callanwolde Fine Arts Cen-
ter is celebrating Black History
Month Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. by
showcasing stories from historical
African and African-American tradi-
tions. The show includes perform-
ers from the Kuumba Storytellers
of Georgia—Mama Koku, Akbar
Imhotep, Chaz Westbrook, Jo-
anna Maddox and more. Coordi-
nated by local storytellers Esther
Culver and La Doris Bias-Davis,
the program is for audiences of all
ages. It will be held in the indoor
courtyard of the mansion. Tickets,
which will be sold at the door, are
$3 for general admission and $1
for children. Callanwolde Fine Arts
Center is located at 980 Briarcliff
Road, Atlanta. For more informa-
tion, call (404) 872-5338.
Restored film to be screened
A screening of the film Pather
Panchali, introduced by Salman
Rushdie, distinguished writer in
residence, Department of English,
Emory University, will be held Mon-
day, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m., in Emo-
ry’s White Hall 208, 301 Dowman
Dr., Atlanta. The free event is part
of the Great Works of Fiction Made
into Great Film series. Released
originally in 1955, the print was re-
stored by Satyajit Ray through the
Preservation Project at the Acad-
emy Film Archive with funding from
the Film Foundation and was made
available courtesy of the Academy
Film Archive. Parking near White
Hall is available for free starting at
7 p.m. in the Oxford Road parking
deck. For more information, visit
www.filmstudies.emory.edu or call
(404) 727-6761.
Party to be held for medically
fragile children
Atlanta-based FOCUS cele-
brates Valentine’s Day with its med-
ically fragile children and their fami-
lies Sunday, Feb. 13, at a sweet
event held at the Greek Orthodox
Cathedral on Clairmont Road.
Children in the program can
have their pictures taken with an
enchanted princess, like Snow
White, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine or
Pocahontas—or come meet Bat-
man in person, according to Lucy
Cusick, executive director of the
non-profit organization that serves
almost 3,000 local families of chil-
dren with disabilities or ongoing
medical needs.
“Dancers from Alpharetta-based
Fleetwood Dance Theater dress as
princesses and make our children
feel so special. We will also enjoy
delicious treats prepared by the
Greek Orthodox Ladies Philopto-
chos Society, face-painting, dress-
up, music and story-telling by the
beautiful Queen Glitter,” she said.
Greek Orthodox Cathedral is lo-
cated at 2500 Clairmont Road, At-
lanta. For more information, contact
FOCUS at (770) 234-9111 or e-mail
elizabeth@focus-ga.org.
AVONDALE
Tree planting set
Avondale Estate’s annual Arbor
Day tree planting will be Friday,
Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. in front of 32 Ex-
eter Road. Two white blooming red-
buds are to be planted. The com-
munity is welcome to attend.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011
DEKALB
Studio cruise returns
The R.A.D. Studio Cruise returns
on Saturday, Feb. 12, with a greatly
expanded list of venues due to new
participation with local boutiques.
New this year, area businesses
will be hosting additional artists
to complement the area studios.
This year marks the R.A.D. Studio
Cruise’s fourth annual celebration
of local artists. The event continues
to grow, offering more to see and
do than ever. Thousands of people
attend each year to sample a
diverse group of artworks, see art
in action, have refreshments and
see performances. Participants
include Lora Rust Ceramic Designs,
Finders Keepers Furnishings,
Trilogy Book Store, Barry Rhodes
Pottery, Kudzu Antique Market,
The Little Wine Shop, MudFire
Gallery and Little Tree Rehearsal
Studios. For a full schedule and
more information, visit www.
railartsdistrict.com.
DECATUR
Tree festival announced
Decatur families and residents
are invited to attend the first Nalley
Tree Festival, a celebratory kick-
off for the Nalley Tree Campaign,
an initiative to plant 10,000 trees
in the city of Decatur and DeKalb
County. The event will include
music, children’s activities, as
well the opportunity to learn more
about planting complimentary tree
seedlings in time for Georgia’s
Arbor Day on Feb. 18. The
festival – being hosted by Nalley
dealerships in Decatur – will be
held on Saturday, Feb. 12, noon
– 3 p.m. at Decatur Square. For
more information, visit www.
NalleyDecatur.com.
Old House Fair announced
The city of Decatur, in
partnership with the DeKalb
History Center, will hold the third
annual Decatur Old House Fair.
This day-long celebration features
new ideas, practical advice,
innovative materials, and quality
services for owners of older
homes. Homeowners can attend
how-to seminars and workshops
on restoring old windows, historic
landscapes, researching an old
house, kitchen and bath ideas,
energy efficiency and much more.
The fair also includes an exhibit
hall of professionals, retailers, and
suppliers specializing in home
improvement, historic preservation
and interior furnishings.
The Decatur Old House Fair will
be held March 19 from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. at the Holiday Inn Conference
Plaza at 130 Clairemont Ave in
downtown Decatur. Seminars
begin at 10 a.m. For a complete
seminar schedule, exhibitor
details and ticket information,
visit www.DecaturOldHouseFair.
com. Tickets are $10 in advance,
$15 at the door. Tickets can be
purchased online or at select local
establishments.
DUNWOODY
Maccabeats to perform
Yeshiva University’s a capella
group The Maccabeats will perform
Saturday, Feb. 26, at 8:45 p.m.
at the Marcus Jewish Community
Center of Atlanta (MJCCA). The
harmonizing Maccabeats most
recently lit a fire on the web
with their Hanukkah anthem
“Candlelight,” sung to the tune
of Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite.” The
YouTube video of “Candlelight” has
more than 4 million views. The
Maccabeats concert is presented
by Congregation Ariel, the MJCCA,
and Yeshiva Atlanta and will be held
at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road,
Dunwoody. For tickets, call (770)
390-9071.
OAKHURST
Wine tasting to benefit business
association
The eighth annual Oakhurst
Wine Tasting will be Feb. 27,
4-6 p.m. Participants can buy
a commemorative tasting glass
for $20 and sample wines from
around the world in participating
Oakhurst businesses. The event,
a fundraiser for the Oakhurst
Business Association, is limited to
the first 750 participants. Shuttle
transportation will be provided.
For more information, visit www.
oakhurstga.org
BuSiNESS
South’s oldest feminist bookstore
still thriving in Little Five Points
by Kathy Mitchell
kathy@dekalbchamp.com
During the past 35 years
businesses have come and
gone in Atlanta’s Little Five
Points, but Charis Books and
More has stood firm. That’s
because the little lavender
house on Euclid is more than
a bookstore, according to co-
owner Sara Look, who first
worked there when she was
a student at Emory 17 years
ago. She was so taken with
the place that a few years
later she bought part of the
business.
“I knew I wanted to be
a book seller. I worked for
a time at Chapter 11, then
an opportunity opened up at
Charis. I knew this is where I
wanted to be.”
Look said that the pro-
liferation of large chains
and online book sellers has
made it difficult for indepen-
dent bookstores to survive;
still she feels Charis has a
special niche in the commu-
nity. “For one thing, we’re a
specialty bookstore. We’re
a feminist bookstore, but
we define that very broadly.
We seek to be empowering
to all people. We hand pick
every book. Not every book
relates to feminism directly,
but we look at all our choices
through that lens. We have
the same categories of books
that any other bookstore has
from fiction to mystery to
children’s books to cook-
books—everything really.”
On its website, the busi-
ness describes itself as the
South’s oldest and largest
feminist bookstore. At a
recent event, writer Pearl
Cleage called Charis as “an
unwavering beacon of femi-
nist light.”
Despite its identifica-
tion as a feminist bookstore,
Charis attracts a wide variety
of customers, according to
Look. “We have men and
women customers. Really,
I think our customer base
reflects the demographics of
the Atlanta area,” she said.
People come to Charis not
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 • PAGE 19A
only for the variety of books
and other items that might
not be readily available in
other bookstores, but because
they feel comfortable there,
Look said. “We know our
customers and choose books
and other materials with
them in mind. They like to
come here because they see
themselves reflected in the
books we offer. People know
that they can come here and
meet likeminded people.”
The word “Charis,” accord-
ing to the store’s website, is
“a Greek word that means
grace, gift, thankfulness.”
Because Charis has been
around for more than three
decades, it is being discov-
ered by a new generation,
Look said. “People whose
mothers brought them here
when they were children,
now bring their daughters
here.”
Charis has a large chil-
dren’s section that features
books with families differ-
ent from those in the “Dick
and Jane” stories likely to be
Charis co-owner Sara Look said that customers like to
come to the bookstore because they see themselves
reflected in the books, which are hand picked by Charis
staff. Photo by Kathy Mitchell
found in stores when Charis
first opened its doors. There
are blended families, single-
parent families, same-sex-
parent families, multi-ethnic
families and more. Fairytale
princesses are more likely to
be making their own way in
the world than looking for
a prince charming to rescue
them.
In addition to offering
thousands of books, peri-
odicals, stationery items and
more, Charis has a full cal-
endar of special events each
month. This month, for ex-
ample, the third installment
of an ongoing discussion
about media representation
of Black women, Writing
Real Colored Girls–a re-
sponse to the Tyler Perry
film For Colored Girls–
comes to Charis on Feb. 22.
A fundraiser for the Atlanta
Queer Literary Festival will
be on Feb. 23 and feminist
activist Sona Johnson will
celebrate her 75th birthday
there Feb. 24.
Celebrating more than 70 Years
of Service
EVENTS
February 16th – Network DeKalb Leads
Group. Take part in a pure Networking
Program. Lunch Served. Time: 11:30
am – 1:00 pm. COST: $10.00- Members
(advance) / $15.00 (door) /$20.00 Non-
members. Location: Cornerstone Bank –
125 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA
30030. Register online. at
www.dekalbchamber.org.
February 17th - The DeKalb County
School System State of the System
Address Presented by Ramona Tyson,
Interim Superintendent. Time: 7:30 AM
Refreshments. 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Program and Superintendent's Address.
Location: Holiday Inn – Atlanta
Perimeter - 4386 Chamblee Dunwoody
Road Atlanta, GA 30341. (770) 457-
6363. The event is FREE but RSVP is
MANDATORY. Please register by
Monday, February 14, 2011.
February 24th - 73rd Annual Meeting &
Legislative Reception where companies
and individuals are honored for
exemplary standards in business
development, employee programs,
business innovation, contribution to
DeKalb County. Register online at
www.dekalbchamber.org.
For more information on DeKalb Chamber related
events or to receive email updates, call 404-378-
8000 or visit www.dekalbchamber.org
www.championnewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 Page 20A

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SPoRtS THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 • PAGE 21A

Signing day:

Columbia has its best class; Tucker, Stephenson lead pack

Photo by Robert Naddra
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com

Ramon Ward’s mes-

sage is similar to that of oth-
er assistant football coaches
around DeKalb County—
hard work on the football
field and in the classroom
could result in a free college
education.
More than 100 football
players across the county
heeded that advice as they
signed scholarships last
week on National Signing
Day.
“The main thing is I let
these guys know that there
are opportunities on the next
level,” said Ward, in his
fourth year as an assistant
coach and recruiting coordi- Tucker’s Norman Hayes, seated center, and family. Photos by Travis Hudgons
nator at Columbia.
The Eagles, under sec-
ond-year head coach Mario
Allen, had a school-record
15 players sign scholar-
ships on the first day of the
national signing period,
second only to Stephenson
which had 20 players sign.
Columbia linebacker
Demarcus Sherod, who
signed with Oklahoma
State, was the only Co-
lumbia player to sign with
a Football Bowl Subdivi-
sion (formerly Division I)
school. Of the 104 county Columbia linebacker Demarcus Sherod. Photo by Robert Naddra
public school signees, 22
signed with FBS schools, 17
to Football Championship
Series (formerly Division
1-AA), 45 to Division II,
one to Division III, seven
to NAIA, six to community
colleges and six to prep
schools.
Sherod turned down of-
fers from Auburn and Ala-
bama to choose Oklahoma
State.
“Coach Allen has defi-
nitely made a difference Stanford University commit James Vaughters From left Greg Brown, James Vaughters and Norman Hayes.
See Highlights on Page 22A
www.championnewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 Page 22A

Signing Continued From Page 21A

and made it comfortable at Columbia who benefited

for everybody,” said Sherod,
who helped the Eagles make
the playoffs for the first time
since 2005. “He helped me
grow as a person and mental-
ly got me ready to be on my
own at Oklahoma State.”
Among the other top
signees in the county were
James Vaughters (Stan-
ford), Chris Sanders (Geor-
gia) and Justin Garrett
(Auburn) of Tucker, Cedar
Grove’s Vincent Dallas
(Tennessee), Demarco Rob-
inson (Kentucky), Southwest
DeKalb’s Terrance Smith
(Florida State), and Kadetrix
Tucker’s signing class: From left, Cedric Colson, Greg Brown, Norman Hayes, Craig Franklin,
Justin Garrett, Brandon Thorpe, Aaron Epps, Chris Sanders, Nigel Pierre, James Vaughters and Marcus (South Carolina),
Ramal Davis. Not pictured are Bashr Coles and Johnathan Wimberly. Photos by Travis Hudgons Jared Boyd (Duke) and Wil-
lie Davis (South Florida) of
Stephenson. Lithonia’s Ced-
ric Cooper was the only top
signee in the county to an-
nounce his decision on sign-
ing day. Cooper chose South
Carolina.
Columbia defensive back
Demarcus Brock also had a
choice, which he would not
have believed two years ago.
Brock is among the group
Chris Sanders (UGA). Justin Garrett (Auburn).
from Ward’s perseverance.
Brock had been accepted to
Georgia Southern and had
not planned on playing foot-
ball in college.
“Two years ago I didn’t
see this at all,” said Brock,
who signed a scholarship to
Clark Atlanta University, an
NCAA Division II school.
He chose Clark over offers
from Trinity University and
Concordia College.
“I was rehabbing my
knee during my freshman
year and missed the whole
season,” Brock said. “Now
that the day is here it’s a
good feeling.”
Brock, who carries a
3.3 grade point average and
scored 1100 (out of 1600) on
the reading and math portion
of the SAT, said he plans to
study engineering at Clark.
“He’s not a world-beater
on the field, but you ask him
to do something and he does
it,” Ward said. “Plus, he does
what he needs to do in the
classroom. You have to work
hard for a kid like that.”

Ramal Davis,center, (Coffeyville Community College). Each week The Champion spotlights former high
school players from the county who are succeeding in
athletics on the college level.

Cameron Tatum, Tennessee (basketball): The junior

from Tucker had 15 points and seven rebounds in a
69-56 win over Auburn, then scored 16 points and
had four assists in a 65-60 loss to Alabama last week.

Simone Rutledge, Wingate (basketball): The junior

from Southwest DeKalb scored 14 points in an 87-83
loss to Carson-Newman last week. She is averaging
11 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and leads her
team with eight blocked shot this season.

Yannick Crowder, Florida A&M (basketball): The

junior from Redan had 15 points, six rebounds and
four blocks in a 63-59 win over Morgan State on Feb.
5. He also had nine points, four rebounds and two
blocks in a loss to South Carolina State on Jan. 31.
Aaron Epps, with hat, (Louisville).
www.championnewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 Page 23A

DeKalb High School Sports Highlights

BOYS BASKETBALL
Miller Grove: The Wol-
verines went 3-0 last week,
beating Southwest DeKalb
49-46, Lakeside 91-30 and
Mays 86-63. Tony Parker
had 12 points, Brandon
Morris scored 11 and
Henry Brooks 10 in the
win over Southwest. Against
Lakeside, Parker led with
13 points and 13 rebounds,
Justin Colvin added 12
points and Brooks 10.
Devon Provost led with 23
points against Mays.
Chamblee: Fred Miller
scored 49 points in three
games as the Bulldogs (14-
8, 9-5 Region 6-AAAA)
went 2-1 last week. Miller
had 25 points in a 60-44 win
over Marist, and 12 each
in a 50-39 win over Carver
Atlanta and a 48-47 loss to
Mays. Victor Bowdon led
with 14 points against Mays.
Of the Bulldogs’ eight losses
this season, two have come
by one point, two by four
points, two in overtime and
one by seven points.
Southwest DeKalb: Wil-
liam Goodwin had 39
points and 27 rebounds as
the Panthers beat Lithonia
79-69 and lost to Miller
Grove 49-46 last week.
Against Lithonia, Goodwin
had 23 points and 15 re-
bounds, Jordan Price had
23 points and nine rebounds,
and Justin Holloman added
18 points. Goodwin had 16
points, 12 rebounds and five
blocks in the loss to Miller
Grove. Kaderius Turner
added 10 points.
Avondale: The Blue Devils
(10-12, 3-5 Region 6-AA),
went 2-1 last week. Jordan
Forte had 13 points and
seven rebounds, and Clay-
ton Humphries added 12
points in a 58-50 win over
Cross Keys. Julian Rosado
scored 14 points in a 40-37
loss to Decatur. In the Blue
Devils’ win over Clarkston,
Forte had 13 points and
eight rebounds, Rosado had
10 points and Jaquan John-
son had seven rebounds.
Paideia: Keenan Palmore
had 30 points 16 rebounds
and nine steals in a 62-54
win over Greenforest Acad-
emy, then had 28 points
and 20 rebounds in a 69-51
win over Eagle’s Landing
Christian Academy. Sidki
Muwallif also had a double-
double against ELCA with
20 points and 14 rebounds.
The Pythons (17-4, 7-0 Re-
gion 9-A) also lost to Pace
Academy 55-51 in overtime.
M.L. King: De’Aires
Tate scored 34 points and
grabbed 23 rebounds in the
Lions’ 70-59 win over Lu-
ella on Feb. 4. The Lions
have won four in a row and
are 14-7 overall and are tied
for third place with Luella at
6-5 in Region 2-AAAAA.
Dunwoody: Kelvin Brown
scored 14 points and Mar-
cus Wilson added 13 in a
54-49 loss to Carver Atlanta
last week.
Stone Mountain: Jhyree
Harris scored 17 points and
Devonte Lowe added 11
in a 61-48 win over Arabia
Mountain last week. Har-
ris led the Pirates with 17
points and Lowe had 12 in a
50-49 loss to Druid Hills.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Stone Mountain: The Pi-
rates (14-7, 7-3 Region
5-AAA) went 3-1 last
week. Muneerah Drum-
mond scored 20 points and
Chara Reeves added 16
points and eight rebounds
in a 63-51 win over Arabia
Mountain. In a 56-52 win
over Grady, Reeves had 24
points and nine rebounds,
and Tara Butts added 19
points. Drummond and She-
lita Holmes each scored 16
points, and Holmes led with
nine rebounds, in a 59-24
win over Druid Hills. The
Pirates also lost to Columbia
85-35, with Danielle Clark
scoring 14 points.
Southwest DeKalb: The
Panthers (16-6, 11-2 Region
6-AAAA) have won four in
a row after beating Lithonia
60-17 and Miller Grove 43-
41 last week. Nekia Sock-
well scored 17 points and
Olivia Gibbs added 12 in
the win over Miller Grove.
Decatur: Queen Alford
scored 23 points, Sarah
Payne added 13 and Shan
Rivers 12 in a 76-13 win
over Avondale last week.
The Bulldogs also lost to
Buford 51-27 and to Greater
Atlanta Christian 56-32.
Redan: The Raiders beat
Douglass 68-15, Mays 62-
55 and Tucker 44-35 last
week to remain tied for first
place in Region 6-AAAA,
Division B with Southwest
DeKalb. The two teams
faced each other Feb. 8.
Chamblee: The Bulldogs
(21-0, 14-0, 6-AAAA, Di-
vision), are just two wins
away from becoming only
the second team is school
history to go undefeated
during the regular season.
The 1975 team went 24-1,
losing in the second round
of the AAA state tourna-
ment.
Stephenson: The Jaguars
remained unbeaten in Re-
gion 2-AAAAA with wins
over M.L. King (71-50)
and Langston Hughes (59-
29) last week, but had its
10-game winning streak
snapped in a 65-59 loss to
Campbell. The Jaguars (18-
4, 12-0), need just two more
wins for their 10th straight
season with at least 20 wins.
Columbia: The Class AAA
defending champion Eagles
(17-5, 9-0 Region 5-AAA)
pushed its winning streak
to nine games after wins
against Stone Mountain,
Towers and McNair. The
average margin of victory
in those three games was 45
points.

Wrestling: Southwest DeKalb wins region, sends 12 to state

by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
Southwest DeKalb won
its first region wrestling
championship since 2006
and qualified 12 wrestlers
for the AAAA state section-
als this weekend at Logan-
ville. A total of 99 county
wrestlers representing 16
schools qualified at three re-
gion meets last weekend for
this weekend’s sectionals.
Fifty-seven wrestlers
from Region 6-AAAA, rep-
resenting Southwest DeKalb,
Marist, Dunwoody, Tucker,
Lakeside, Lithonia, Miller
Grove, Redan and Cham-
blee, will participate in the
sectionals at Loganville.
Fourteen wrestlers who qual-
ified from Stephenson and
M.L. King will participate in
the Class AAAAA section-
als at Central Gwinnett and
29 wrestlers who qualified
from Druid Hills, McNair,
Towers, Arabia Mountain
and St. Pius will compete in
the AAA sectionals at Wood-
ward Academy.
In the Region 6-AAAA
tournament last weekend,
Southwest DeKalb won
three weight classes en route
to winning the region 178.5-
146 over second-place
Marist. Redan and Tucker
also had three wrestlers win
individual titles.
Stephenson placed sec-
ond to East Coweta 178-153
in the Region 2-AAAAA
championships. Three Ste-
phenson wrestlers won indi-
vidual titles and M.L. King
had two individual champi-
ons to help the Lions place
fifth in the team standings.
In Region 5-AAA, Dru-
id Hills edged McNair by a
half-point for second place
in the team standings, 129-
128.5. Woodward Academy
easily won the team cham-
pionship with 247.5 points.
Both Druid Hills and Arabia
Mountain, which placed
fifth in the team standings,
had two individual champi-
ons.
Southwest DeKalb qual-
ified the most wrestlers for
the state tournament among
county teams, followed by
Stephenson with 10, and
Druid Hills and Dunwoody
with nine each.
Here is a list of region
champions from last week-
end’s tournaments.
Region 2-AAAAA: Ste-
phenson—Dexter Brown,
103; Stephen Wiley, 145;
Darian Perry, 160. M.L.
King—Michael Taylor,
152; Dean Anthony, 285.
Region 6-AAAA: Tuck-
er—Romello Swain, 103;
Gabriel Miller, 130;
Carey Cloud, 145. Miller
Grove—Nyhemah Ellison,
112; Charlton Benja-
min, 140. Redan—Jordan
Webb, 119; James Philpot,
171; Ernest Moore, 215.
Marist—Connor Carrier,
125; Adam Harmeier, 160.
Dunwoody—Keith Palmer,
152. Southwest DeKalb—
Dashun Alexander, 135;
Rafael Kelly, 189; Gabriel
Echols, 285.
Region 5-AAA: Arabia
Mountain—Aleema Fa-
vors, 103; Raheem Hill,
160. Druid Hills—Yonas
Wondafrash, 119; Gashan
Belete, 130.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Carey Cloud, Tucker (wrestling): The
senior remained undefeated on the season
and won the 145-pound weight class in the
Region 6-AAAA wrestling tournament last
weekend. He also won his weight class two
weeks ago in the county championships.
Shawn Pyne, Dunwoody (swimming): The
sophomore won both the 50- and 100-meter
freestyle races at the DeKalb County Cham-
pionships recently and was part of two
winning relay teams as Dunwoody won the
girls county title.
www.championnewspaper.com THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 Page 24A

Filled with favorite foods and full of unforgettable stories, the

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