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Academics vs. athletics:

• A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS •

Teens get mixed messages

by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com

Cassandra Dan-Fodio got a first-

hand glimpse of how American culture
promotes athletics over academics while
visiting several universities with her son
Akil, a Redan High School senior.
Akil has a 3.9 grade point average,
was a Governors Honors and Georgia
Merit Scholar finalist and will gradu-
ate in the top 5 percent of his class. He
played three sports at Redan and was
recruited to play college football, even-
tually signing a scholarship with Florida Redan High School senior Akil Dan-Fodio was the only high school student on a panel that included fromer pro athletes
Dikembe Mutombo, left photo, and Brian Jordan, right photo. Photos by Robert Naddra
International University in Miami.
“We visited 11 schools and only two
were interested in academics—Harvard Kym Lee, far left, started a silk flower business that employs
sisters-in-law Shayma Yousif and Nahida Haji.
and FIU,” Cassandra Dan-Fodio said. “I
was offended as a parent.”
That made for an easy choice.
“The first person [Akil] met at FIU
was the president of the university,”
Cassandra Dan-Fodio said. “That made
a big impression on him. He felt like
he could make an impact on the players
there.”
That’s just one example of how
student-athletes get mixed messages
regarding academics and athletics. But
Cassandra and her husband Musa, both
of whom have law degrees, are exam-
ples of parents who showed their son the
proper balance between the two.
“I always teach him to practice this
muscle first (pointing to her head),”
Cassandra Dan-Fodio said.
Akil Dan-Fodio spoke recently
about the challenges of balancing aca-
demics and athletics at a panel discus-
sion at Piedmont Park sponsored by the
W.E.B. DuBois Society. Dan-Fodio was
the only amateur athlete on the panel
that featured former Atlanta Brave and

Hope blooms in Clarkston

Atlanta Falcon Brian Jordan; former
NBA all-star Dikembe Mutombo; for-
mer Detroit Lion Ryan McNeil; Atlanta
Falcon fullback Ovie Mughelli; and

via floral startup

Bryan Scott of the Buffalo Bills.
The discussion began with the ques-
tion “Is there a greater focus in commu-
nities, families and schools on athletics
than on academics for young Black by Gale Horton Gay States, they have yet to land a
men?”

A
job.
“Sports are one of the first things rose, carnation, sprig of However through Lee’s start-
you’re introduced to right out of the baby’s breath and some up they are part of an entrepre-
womb,” Akil Dan-Fodio said. “As you greenery are the makings neurial effort that brings some
get older, that’s what’s on TV. That’s of a corsage or boutonniere. In money to their households.
what you want to be. Kids talk about it the hands of three Clarkston Lee became familiar and fas-
all the time.” women, these floral elements cinated with Clarkston through
He related a story that revealed a have the potential to transform an outreach program at her Dulu-
common perception among Black stu- into more than just things of th church. She said she likes the
dents. beauty. diversity of the community with
“At career day, people don’t listen Kym Lee has launched a silk “20 to 30 countries in this neigh-
until an athlete or a producer comes in,” flower business, Love Silk Flow- borhood.” About two years ago,
he said. “Even then, it’s ‘who do you ers, which she hopes will pro- she and her husband moved from
work with?’ People don’t relate to other vide the two Iraqi refugees she Doraville to Clarkston.
people with professional careers.” employs with income. Both are “I got to know them, un-
Both Akil and his mother agree that mothers and wives who say that derstand their needs,” said Lee
how the media portrays athletics is one despite applying for multiple jobs of her refugee neighbors. She
reason why perception may be skewed since they arrived in the United pitched in to tutor children and
See Teens on Page 15A See Flowers on Page 15A
neWs
County remembers slain police officers
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
A
lthough it’s been three
years since her hus-
band was killed in the
line of duty, LaToya
Bryant was teary-eyed during
a memorial last week for slain
DeKalb County law enforce-
ment officers.
“I thought it was going to
be better this time, but I still
couldn’t hold back the emo-
tions,” Bryant said.
Hundreds of officers, com-
‘These folks have
sacrificed their lives in
the line of duty out here
protecting and serving the
citizens of the county.”
– DeKalb County Police
munity leaders and family mem-
bers gathered on May 11 for the
annual DeKalb Officers’ Memo-
rial to honor the lives of fallen
police officers.
Since 1852, DeKalb County
has lost 33 law enforcement of-
ficers in the line of duty. Since
May 2010, nine officers in Geor-
gia have died on the job.
“Every day our officers place
themselves in harm’s way to
protect the more than 700,000
citizens who call DeKalb Coun-
ty home,” DeKalb County CEO
Burrell Ellis said.
“We also salute their loved
ones and we want you to know
you do not grieve alone,” Ellis
said.
Bryant’s husband, DeKalb
County Police Officer Ricky
Bryant, was one of the officers
memorialized at event. He and
another officer, Eric Barker,
were killed in January 2008 at an
apartment complex where they
were hired to provide part-time
security. Both officers were mar-
ried with four children.
Every time she hears of an
officer being injured or killed,
it is difficult to handle, Bryant
said.
“It’s like reliving the same
situation and you feel sorry
for that person that has to go
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 2A
through the same situation you
did,” Bryant said. “My heart
goes out for those families,
because I know it’s not easy at
all having to go through losing
someone like that.
“It’s not much you can say
to heal those wounds or to make
them feel better,” Bryant said.
“People call and they say, ‘If
you need me, I’m here.’ All
that’s nice and all, but [there’s]
nothing that’s as comforting as
that person still being here.”
DeKalb County Police Chief
William O’Brien said the me-
An officer rings a bell each time the name of fallen policeman is read during DeKalb’s Officers
Memorial last week. The children of former DeKalb Police Officer Ricky Bryant, who was slain in
2008, led the Pledge of Allegiance during the annual event attended by hundreds. Photos by Andrew
Cauthen
Chief William O’Brien
morial is “a day for us to pull
together and reflect on the lives
of these that have left us.
“These are obviously emo-
tional days for us, but it is a
must-do so that we always re-
member, not only the families
but these men and women that
we served with and some that
we didn’t even serve with,”
O’Brien said.
DeKalb residents would
“be remiss not to recognize
and remember these folks for
their commitment to service,”
O’Brien said. “These folks
have sacrificed their lives in the
line of duty out here protecting
and serving the citizens of the
county.”
O’Brien said when he hears
the roll call of officers he has
served with, he tries not to re-
flect on the loss, but on the posi-
tive and the good about them.
“Many of them I did serve
arm-in-arm with here in the
county and was friends with,”
O’Brien said. “I try to remember
the dedicated hard work that
they did and the fun we used to
have when they were here.
“And I always hope that
they’re looking down on us pro-
tecting us and making sure that
we make the right decisions,”
O’Brien said.
www.championnewspaper.com
Decatur Schools OK new bell plan
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
The City Schools of De-
catur board adopted a new
school bell schedule despite
some parents’ concerns that
it would make it harder to
get their children to school
in the morning.
Decatur High School
will now begin and end ap-
proximately 30 minutes
earlier. All of the elementary
schools will begin at 8 a.m.
and Renfroe Middle School
will begin 15 minutes later
than usual, 8:45 a.m. and
end at 2:30 p.m.
Some, like Julie Hotch-
kiss, said that they were
concerned changing the bell
plan would do more harm
than good. Hotchkiss said
she didn’t really see the
point of it.
“I have not really seen
any reason, other than
[the] coordination of ath-
letic fields and scheduling,
for putting [Decatur High
School] in the earliest start-
ing time slot,” Hotchkiss
said.
Emily Kandetzki, who
has a sixth grader at Renfroe
Middle School, said she
asked the board members to
consider making the middle
school start at the same time
as the high school. She also
asked the board to consider
eliminating school buses for
the high school.
“In a city as walkable
as Decatur I just don’t think
these healthy high school
[kids] need buses…if any-
thing they could just ride
with middle school [stu-
dents]. I think that would be
a great compromise,” Kan-
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 3A
New Bell Schedule
Decatur High 8 a.m. -3 p.m.
Clairemont Elementary 8 a.m. -2:30 p.m
Glennwood Elementary 8 a.m. -2:30 p.m
Oakhurst Elementary 8 a.m. -2:30 p.m
Winnona Park Elementary 8 a.m. -2:30 p.m
Fifth Avenue 4/5 Academy8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m
Renfroe Middle 8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m
detzki said. but we could wait a month; amid cuts in several areas to Renfroe Middle School and
Some parents were con- there’s no compelling reason find the revenue for a 1.25 the K-3 elementary schools
cerned about earlier start to do this tonight,” Ahmann percent teacher pay increase have been reduced as well
times. Shannon Putnam said. and the opening of the new as the operating portion of
said that with the 8:45 a.m. Ahmann’s motion failed Fifth Avenue 4/5 Academy school and departmental
start time of Fifth Avenue and the board passed the and turning Glennwood El- budgets.
4/5 Academy, it would make plan with only Ahmann vot- ementary into a K-3 school. “There has been such a
it difficult for her and her ing against it. Vice-Chair The district absorbed dramatic drop off in educa-
husband to get to work. Bernadette Seals was not some positions that had been tion funding that different
“My husband and I both present for the vote. previously funded by federal districts are doing different
work and have to be at work The board also passed stimulus dollars and will add things,” Finance Director
early and the 8:45 a.m. start the tentative 2012 general two nurses to the district bud- Greta Tinaglia said of the
time puts us in a predica- budget, which is approxi- get because they are no longer cuts.
ment [as to] how to get our mately $41.5 million com- continuing their partnership The board also voted on
fourth grader to school pared to the $37 million last with DeKalb Medical. a tentative increase of the
because he is going to be a year. Also, positions at the millage rate from 19.90 to
young fourth grader so we The new budget comes central office, Decatur High, 20.2 mills.
don’t feel comfortable leav-
ing him home alone to catch
a bus or to walk to school,”
Putnam said.
Superintendent Phyllis
Edwards said that coming
up with the bell plan was a
balancing act and that it was
very difficult to make every-
body happy no matter what
type of plan they proposed.
“I guess it is confusing
when you’re trying to meet
different needs and you hear
from different people every
time, but we’re at the end
of the school year and we’d
like to move on and tell [the
parents] what time we’re
supposed to pick [their kids]
up,” Edwards said.
Board member John
Ahmann, had proposed an
alternative plan. He also
put forth a motion to table
the bill, suggesting that the
board wait until June to ap-
prove a plan so they could
conduct further research.
“I would think that giv-
en the interest in the com-
munity and given the data,
the decision making process
could have been [clearer],
for whatever set of reasons,
OPINION The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 4A

The Newslady
ZIP code justice
measure, I thought, was an invitation
to violence, increased vigilantism and
would unfairly target African Ameri-
cans.
Perhaps the arresting officers in
the case of the pastor thought throw-
ing rocks did not rise to the level of
imminent danger or threat. Unless the
law has been repealed, and there is
no indication it has been, legally, the
Two systems of justice and in- charges should be dropped against
terpretation of the law played out the good reverend.
recently here in Georgia. One in an Rev. Alex Williams shot a
Atlanta ghetto called Mechanicsville 13-year-old in the hip for breaking
and the other in Gwinnett County. A out the window of his van. He might
preacher shoots and wounds a men- be guilty of failing to exercise pa-
acing youth and gets carted off to jail, tience, one of the nine fruits of the
paraded in front of the news cameras. Holy Spirit as detailed in the New
A Gwinnett County woman shoots Testament. Perhaps Rev. Williams
and kills an intruder and it’s ruled self could have been more kindly and
defense, prima facie. One set of of- loving to the young marauders who,
ficers knew the law, the other appar- according to the reverend’s family,
ently didn’t. have terrorized him for months.
There is a law on the books It all came to a boiling point dur-
signed in 2006 that allows Geor- ing one recent event. Fed up with the
gians to use deadly force in public crime and violence and intimidation,
places—sidewalks and in parking the pastor shot the rock thrower,
lots—to defend themselves and their wounding him in the rear end or the
property. While a legislator, I voted hip. For this he sits in jail. One might
against the “shoot first law” now ask why a pastor would be carrying
known as the Castle Law. Backed a gun in the first place. The answer
by the National Rife Association, the is simple. It’s Mechanicsville, not
Wholesomeville, USA. Life is differ-
ent there. Daily survival is sometimes
like dodging suicide bombers in the
Middle East—and that is no exag-
geration.
Now some mama is defending
her baby’s drama saying the good
reverend didn’t have to shoot him.
After all, the boy is only 13 years old
and surely the reverend has insurance
on his vehicle. First of all, we cannot
look at some of these 13-year-olds as
mere juvenile pranksters sowing their
wild oats. I’ve been on those streets
and seen firsthand the carnage some
of the young teens can leave in their
wake.
They are often deadlier than men
twice their age. I recall the case of
“Lil B,” who robbed and killed a
grown man in front of the man’s two
young sons in broad open daylight.
Not trying to justify his actions, but
it seems the reverend was tired and
not taking any more chances with the
thug-life hooligans terrorizing him
and the neighborhood.
The Castle Law allows Georgians
to shoot first and ask questions later.
Gwinnett County authorities appar-
ently know the law. A thug somehow
gained entry into a woman’s home
threatening to rape and rob her. She
shot him. Didn’t maim him, but
killed him. No charges were placed
against the woman. She was not even
taken to jail as a formality. It was
clearly self-defense said authorities.
The case remains under investigation
but essentially, it is closed.
One might argue the perp was in
her home not out on the street. Under
the old Georgia statutes an attacker
would have to be in your home. The
new law says if a person is threaten-
ing you or your property in a public
place you can use deadly force. Es-
sentially, better to be judged by 12
than carried by six.
When he is freed, the reverend
runs the risk of having the trouble es-
calate with other young thugs seeking
revenge. There is also a great chance,
however, that the young thugs might
now think the preacher crazy and in
the future leave him and his property
alone. For now, it’s the tale of two
views in the eyes of the law. It boils
down to the ZIP code.
Steen Miles, The Newslady, is a
retired journalist and former Georgia
state senator. Contact Steen Milies at
Steen@dekalbchamp.com.

Ex-offender discrimination
by Judge Greg Mathis
When pundits discuss America’s still-
too-high unemployment rate, they usually
tell stories of individuals with impressive
work histories and college degrees who are
having a hard time finding a job after being
downsized. Or, they relate tales of
former manufacturing employees
lost in our new, more tech-driven
economy. Rarely does anyone share
the plight of the more than 65 mil-
lion Americans with some sort of
criminal past who have a hard time
finding work.
We need to talk about this popu-
lation more often and come up with
solutions to help them secure em- Mathis
ployment. The reality is that more
and more people with criminal his-
tories are trying to enter the work force but
failed background checks keep thousands
of people from getting hired, some for of-
fenses that are decades old and as minor as
disorderly conduct, drinking and having too
much fun in the street with friends. Some
of those being denied work have never been
convicted of a crime, only arrested.
Every year, more than 700,000 people
are released from state and federal prisons.
They all need to find work so that they
may support themselves and their families,
contribute to their communities and to en-
sure poverty, frustration and desperation
don’t force them to return to a life of crime.
There are no federal laws that protect in-
dividuals with a criminal past from being
discriminated against by employers. The
Equal Employment Opportunity Commis-
sion, however, does suggest that employers
take in account the severity of the offense,
the amount of time that has passed since the
crime was committed and how the crime re-
lates to the position being applied for.
We need more than EEOC guidelines.
There has to be a conscious ef-
fort by the business community
to weed out practices that dis-
criminate against ex-offenders.
Most accept that some with a
criminal past will not be able to
work in certain sectors; for ex-
ample, a child predator cannot
work with children. But there
are countless other positions this
individual can hold that won’t
present a danger to society. Em-
ployers also need to understand
that just because someone committed a
crime once does not mean he or she will do
it again. In fact, research shows that the fur-
ther back the crime occurred, the less likely
the offender will be to repeat that mistake.
Current hiring practices are locking
millions out of the work force. This dis-
crimination not only hurts the individuals in
question, it damages America’s long-term
economic health. We’re losing millions of
workers and need to help keep our country
moving forward.
Judge Greg Mathis currently provides le-
gal advice to more than three million listen-
ers on the Steve Harvey Morning Show and
also on his website, www.askjudgemathis.
com.
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 5A

One Man’s Opinion

Yes, you can fight city hall—and win!
and Goliath is city hall. But happily offered the airport and the city of At- leadership of Atlanta’s Mayor Kasim
we can report, that if you have the lanta more up front cash, as well as Reed, the city of Atlanta recently
fortitude, and can afford the lawyers, a larger percentage of future ad rev- settled that litigation, ending further
you can still fight city hall—and win. enues. The winner was the incum- appeals by agreeing to a payment of
Driving east from DeKalb Coun- bent vendor, a Minority Business En- $3.9 million to Corey. The city will
ty along Memorial Drive toward terprise (MBE) partnership between also soon re-open bidding on the lu-
our Georgia Capitol’s Gold Dome, Clear Channel Communications (the crative airport advertising contract.
it is almost impossible to miss the country’s largest outdoor company), Corey is hopeful to reach similar
towering white smokestack labeled and longtime associate of former settlements with Clear Channel and
COREY. The smokestack is part of Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, Ms. Fouch on their larger portion of the
“Among a people generally cor- the corporate headquarters of Corey Barbara Fouch. damages, though the settlement by
rupt, liberty cannot long exist,” Ed- Enterprises, and what was once a Corey eventually won his fed- the city of Atlanta does not acknowl-
mund Burke, in a letter to the Sher- smaller Georgia Power production eral lawsuit, originally filed in 2004, edge any wrongdoing.
iff of Bristol, England, April 3, 1777 plant. Besides hosting a “sit in” by only after spending millions on legal “I believe that this is the right
The biggest threat to emerging de- a failed U.S. Senate candidate, the fees and appeals—more than some thing to do,” said Reed, hoping to
mocracies around the globe is not the smokestack is viewed as a creative believe his business could have ever close a less than positive chapter in
iron fist of the dictator or strong man use of an outdoor advertising space, received if it had successfully won the annals of city government and
oppressing that nation’s people or and to some an apparent single, the original vendor contract. the operations of one of the world’s
freedoms, it is more often the corrup- white “finger”sticking up in the air, “This has been a long hard battle most successful airports.
tion and cronyism quickly established aimed somewhat at the political for me,” said Corey, who reportedly Corey, who is a man of simple
by the new regime that follows. power structure of the city of Atlanta. has spent nearly $3.5 million to date tastes, can perhaps now break out
Any review of the struggles of If you’ve met Billy Corey, the in legal fees. a celebratory cigar, resembling that
the younger governments of Iraq, Af- owner of that smokestack, you can But Corey pursued this moral vic- smokestack, or reach for his adult
ghanistan and many of Africa’s newer find a smile in both of those inter- tory like a bulldog, and he occasional- beverage of choice knowing that in at
democracies are replete with instances pretations. Corey is a self-made and ly spit in the eye of those who deemed least this instance he won the battle.
of bribery and pay offs as well as a successful entrepreneur with mul- him wrong-headed. His “Corruption Whereas it relates to ongoing govern-
transferred sense of entitlement from tiple business interests. For nearly Wagon” billboard, often circling ment corruption, he will have to hope
one power structure to another. a decade he has become best known I-285 or the airport became not only there are others still braver and like
Though ours may be among the for his almost Don Quixote like a source of talk radio commentary, him to keep on fighting the war.
most established republics in the quest to fight corruption, bid rigging but a symbol and nearly constant re- Bill Crane is a DeKalb County
modern world, we are in no way im- and cronyism in awarding vendor minder that despite being the world’s native and business owner, living in
mune to the threats posed to our civil contracts at Hartsfield-Jackson At- busiest airport, something was “not Scottdale, Georgia. He also serves
liberties by government corruption. lanta International Airport. quite right” down at Hartsfield. as chief political analyst and com-
However, blowing the whistle, or Corey Outdoor lost a contract The federal jury awarded Corey mentator for 11Alive News and WSB
standing up and saying “no more” is to handle outdoor advertising at the $17.5 million in compensatory and Radio, News/Talk 750. Contact Bill
still a challenge when you are David airport in 2002, despite a bid that punitive damages, and under the Crane at Bill@dekalbchamp.com.

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Page 6A
Making an exception
for Osama bin Laden
We are afraid as once we were not, not
even in the darkest days of World War II
when the Nazi monster threatened us.
by Donald Kaul
Columnist
I don’t like to exult in the death of
people, not even people I don’t like. I
think it’s bad form.
I’m making an exception in the case
of Osama bin Laden, however. From
the point of view of a comfortable mid-
dle-class American (which I certainly
am), he was evil incarnate — a ruthless
mass murderer who inspired the mas-
sacre of thousands of innocent men,
women and children without a trace of
remorse. He was our implacable enemy
and I’m glad he is dead.
To many on the other side of reality,
however — a stateless Palestinian or an
aggrieved Arab nationalist — he was a
great hero. This was no tin-pot dictator
lining his pockets with money stolen
from the Arab people, after all.
No, he was a rich kid, a billionaire’s
son who forsook the easy life to dedi-
cate himself and his fortune to return-
ing the Islamic world to its former
glory. His worldview called for accom-
plishing this by crushing Israel, driving
Western “Crusaders” from Muslim soil,
and resurrecting an Islamic caliphate
that harkened back to the Middle Ages.
There are many street-corner imams
in the Middle East who want the same
things, but they don’t have what Osama
bin Laden had:
Money, which he spent to finance
paramilitary operations and training
centers around the world.
If the War on Terror is really a war,
then Sept. 11, 2001 marks one of the
most brilliant and successful military
attacks in the history of warfare.
In a single stroke, an army of less
than two dozen barely trained troops,
armed mainly with box cutters, brought
the world’s greatest military power to
its knees.
It wasn’t merely that the attack took
the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans.
Nor, astonishingly, that it utterly de-
stroyed the most iconic symbol of our
capitalist system. It wasn’t even that it
Printed on 100% post-
consumer recycled paper
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com
struck a blow at the very citadel of our
military might.
It was that it attacked our self-confi-
dence and delivered a blow to our sense The following comments are pulled straight from our website and
of well being from which we have yet are not edited for content or grammar.
to recover, a decade later.
Many Americans now find them- Academics vs. athletics: Teens get mixed messages
selves insecure and nervous in the
presence of people who look like they I agree with Mrs. Dan-Fodio and her son. We need to
might be Muslims. We allow ourselves focus on academics more so our children will be balanced
to be subjected to all manner of indig- knowledge and althletic abilities.
nities at airports in the name of secu-
rity. We go to war without hesitation –Inell A. Young posted this on 5/13/11 at 7:10 p.m.
and spill endless blood and treasure in
an attempt to ensure it won’t happen
again. Business, community leaders unite for Memorial Drive
We are afraid as once we were not, renewal
not even in the darkest days of World
War II when the Nazi monster threat- Although this may cost money upfront, this could actually do
ened us. a lot to add much-needed money to the area, especially if it
That was what bin Laden accom- is attractive to visitors. Overall, I think this is a great move in
plished, his life’s work. If he wasn’t the the right direction.
mastermind of the 9-11 assaults, he cer-
tainly was its animating force. And that – John Evan Miller posted this on 5/11/11 at 5:38 p.m.
is why I’m glad he’s dead.
Will his demise end the Global War
on Terror? I very much doubt it. But he DeKalb residents uneasy about pre-K
was the global face of terrorism and, as
such, a powerful symbol. That symbol
is no more. This whole taxpayer babysitting service should be abol-
Certainly, there will be retaliation. ished. No more free lunch !!
But you can’t fight a war by being
afraid of retaliation. – Inga posted this on 5/10/11 at 12:05 a.m.
I was much amused by the response
of many Republican presidential can- I don’t understand why they had to take it away from kids
didates to bin Laden’s assassination. that are starting to get an education verse the ones that
They praised the work of our troops, of have complete 12 years of education. I had four kids that
course, but it was hard to find the name went though pre k and it makes a great difference. Maybe
of President Obama in their state- some one or group will figure it out.
ments. It was as though the troops had
done it all on their own, without leader- – LiTwuan Latner posted this on 5/9/11 at 6:45 p.m.
ship.
As much as they would have it oth-
erwise, Barack Obama is the president
of the United States and our command-
er in chief. He deserves full marks for
his leadership. He made his Republican
rivals look like the pipsqueaks they are.
Just a few days before, he had taken the
air out of the “birther” movement by
releasing his long-form birth certificate,
proving to all who respond to proof that
he’s a natural-born American.
It was a bad week for Republican
politicians. It was a good week for the
rest of us.
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 7A

Champion of
the Week
Gail Smith
The ailing woman
has a brother, but he is

Task force takes on rising in The Georgia State

Penitentiary in Reids-
ville. Arrangements are

animal euthanizations
being made to test him
as a possible donor.
He is willing, but prison
by Andrew Cauthen During an eight-month period, animal regulations require
andrew@dekalbchamp.com task force members will review existing that the family pay his
practices in DeKalb and other communities expenses, including
A private animal shelter in DeKalb to determine ways to protect animals in the room, board, medical
County says it is turning away a record county. expenses and the cost
number of animals every day. The task force will consider promoting of around-the-clock
Because of the economy, pet owners are good choices by pet owners; restructuring guards, if he is allowed
losing their jobs and homes, and moving to DeKalb Animal Services; enhancing and Gail Smith said she to come to Atlanta for
apartments that do not allow pets. Others, developing new collaborations between loves that her church, the surgery.
simply can not afford to keep their pets, agencies, non-profit organizations and con- New World Harvest “I’m going down
said Tara Mitchell, director of operations cerned residents; improving enforcement Church in Stone Moun- there next month and
for Paws Atlanta. tools and practices; and enhancing facilities tain, is so involved in talk to the warden and
And an increasing number of animals used to institutionally house or manage pets helping people in the make the arrange-
are being euthanized in DeKalb County. in DeKalb County. community. ments for him to be
Between 2007 and 2009, the number of Mitchell said the answer to the pet over- Smith is the tested and to find out
euthanized cats and dogs has risen from population is to enforce laws for spaying church’s outreach co- exactly what we need
3,800 to nearly 5,500, according to county and neutering. ordinator and in that to do if the temporary
records. “It’s the only way we’re going to make role she helps prepare release is granted,”
The county “has no choice but to eutha- a dent in the problem,” Mitchell said. Thanksgiving and she said. In the mean-
nize,” Mitchell said. “We can’t store a mil- Janet Hart, president of A Welcome Christmas baskets time, she is busy trying
lion animals in one building.” Home Animal Rescue, said the animal for those in need as to raise the neces-
In response to those numbers, the coun- overpopulation is a fact of life. well as collecting and sary funds in case
ty has formed the DeKalb Animal Services “There aren’t enough homes for ani- distributing toys. She the brother proves to
Task Force to implement strategies that will mals,” Hart said. “People are too irrespon- also coordinates pro- be a match. She car-
improve quality of life for animals and re- sible to take care of them.” grams with children in ries around a box of
duce the numbers of euthanized healthy or “I hate euthanasia, but I hate worse the neighborhood and scarves that she has
treatable animals. keeping animals in cages for years,” Hart with a nearby nursing handmade and sells
According Susan Neugent, chair- said. “It’s better than keeping animals in home. to raise money for the
woman of the task force, 17,000 animals cages for years and it’s better than letting “We try to help project. “I’ll be doing
were taken in between 2009-10. Of those, stray animals fend for themselves on the anyone who needs some other fundrais-
1,200 were adopted and 2,200 were rescued streets.” help. We’re not a rich ers, too,” she said. “I
by private shelters. The county euthanized Residents can help the task force by church, but we’re rich want to do whatever I
10,000 animals during that time and spends participating in a brief online survey at in spirit,” she said. can to help this lady.
approximately $1.75 million annually on www.dekalbcountyga.gov/astf. Her most recent “She’s such a fine
euthanizations. project involves helping Christian woman and is
a fellow church mem- the mother of four chil-
ber who is receiving dren—the youngest is
dialysis and in need of just 6. Her husband is
a kidney transplant. a deacon at the church
“She is on a wait- and they are a wonder-
ing list, however, the ful family. I want to do
doctors say she will do whatever I can to help
much better if she gets her live and see all of
a living donor,” said her children go through
Smith, who has taken all the milestones in
the search on as a per- their lives,” Smith said.
sonal ministry.

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.
 Page 8A The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

New YMCA could become most popular in DeKalb

by Andrew Cauthen munity,” said Eston Hood, chief opera-
andrew@dekalbchamp.com tions officer for the Metro-Atlanta YMCA.

C
onstruction is under way in Stone
Mountain on a new YMCA officials
believe could become the most vis-
ited recreation center in the county.
An official groundbreaking ceremony
was held last week on the 60,000-square-
foot facility at Wade Walker Park. The
facility will be operated as a partnership
between DeKalb County and the YMCA.
“It is a great model for collaboration,”
said DeKalb County Commissioner Sha-
ron Barnes Sutton. “We’re just so happy
this project is finally off the ground.”
The new Wade Walker YMCA will
provide health and wellness, child care,
youth sports and indoor/outdoor aquatic
services to more than 140,000 households,
half of which have children younger than
18.
“It will be a state-of-the-art recreation
center,” Sutton said.
The facility will be one the YMCA’s
larger facilities and will have a double
gym, teen multipurpose rooms, an aero-
bics studio, a sauna, a whirlpool and an
indoor track. It will be the county’s sixth
YMCA.
“It will become a hub for that com-
Based on preliminary studies, YMCA offi-
cials believe the Wade Walker YMCA will
become the most used of its facilities.
DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis
said the center will serve “citizens with an
inner childhood passion for recreation.”
“In the midst of these challenging
economic times, spending time with our
families and participating in health and
recreational opportunities are extremely
important,” Ellis said.
“This public-private partnership has
been about six years in the making, truly
a collaborative effort with the Board of
Commissioners and the YMCA,” Ellis
said. “It just illustrates the power of ev-
eryone working toward a common goal.”
Initially, DeKalb County and the
YMCA were each considering construct-
ing smaller recreation centers, Hood said.
But the two entities combined funding to
build the $18 million facility.
“This is a shining example of what
can happen in a public-private partner-
ship,” Hood said. The county’s collabora-
tion with the YMCA is not new. The two
worked together to establish two childcare Construction of a new 60,000-square-foot YMCA facility at Wade
academies, one in 1995 and another in Walker Park in Stone Mountain is expected to be completed by the
2000. summer of 2012. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

DeKalb School Board tables budget
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
The DeKalb County School Board voted
to table the adoption of its proposed 2011-12
budget on May 9, because of questions some
board members had.
“The motion was to table it to have more
time for questions to be answered but there
were no questions given,” Board Chairman
Tom Bowen said.
Vice Chair Paul Womack voted
with members Nancy Jester, Donald
McChesney, Pam Speaks, and Sarah
Copelin-Wood to wait several weeks for the
final vote.
David Schutten, president of the Or-
NEWS BRIEFS
ganization of DeKalb Educators, said that
board members only raised vague concerns
and that the tabling of the budget only serves
to prolong the superintendent search, which
he thinks should be the board’s top priority.
“I think it’s very demoralizing for the
employees. We want to know why all of a
sudden when they’ve asked no questions at
previous meetings, they’ve now voted to de-
lay the budget,” Schutten said.
Said McChesney: “It’s not an attempt to
scuttle the budget; it’s an attempt to look at
[whether] we’re using reserves and if we’re
using reserves we need to know why we’re
using them. That’s all and as soon as we get
our answers, which should be within two
weeks, we’ll move.”
Dear, Craytor honored at
Cedar Grove
A DeKalb County Municipal Court judge and an attor-
ney were honored May 12 by Cedar Grove High School’s
Business Law students at inaugural One Leader Engaged in
Student Success (One LESS) Community Honors Break-
fast.
Stone Mountain Municipal Court Judge La Tisha
Dear, and Deborah Craytor, director of law-related edu-
cation at the State Bar of Georgia, were the honorees. The
honors breakfast was designed by the students to recognize
the contributions of individuals from the community whose
commitment to partnering with curriculum-related areas
invoke the ideals of effective teaching and learning beyond
the classroom. Dear and Craytor have served as guest lec-
turers, job shadow host, corporate field trip liaisons, and
mentors over the past two years.

Ellis meets with HUD officials
DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer
Burrell Ellis met with Ron Sims, deputy
secretary for the U.S. Department of Hous-
ing and Urban Development (HUD), and Ed
Jennings, regional administrator for HUD,
May 12 to discuss regional sustainability.
“It is imperative we take a regional and
collaborative approach to addressing hous-
ing, transportation and environmental issues
in our community, and we must remain
focused on job creation right here at home,”
said Ellis. “In order for us to make meaning-
ful and sustainable progress in this area, we
must also continue to leverage our relation-
ships in Washington, D.C.”
Conversations also centered around the
county’s efforts to combat the foreclosure
crisis that continues to grip communities
across the nation, including DeKalb’s new
foreclosure registry and the creation of a
DeKalb County Land Bank.
The foreclosure registry, established in
2010, requires owners of foreclosed proper-
ties to register with the county as a means
to protect neighborhoods from becoming
blighted by the lack of adequate mainte-
nance and security of vacant properties. The
county is also exploring the feasibility of
creating a land bank authority to acquire and
dispose of vacant, abandoned and under-uti-
lized properties with the goal of stabilizing
neighborhoods.
County adds new recycling site
DeKalb County opened on May 16 a new recycling
drop-off center for residents to support the county’s on-
going green initiatives. Keep DeKalb Beautiful (KDB),
in conjunction with DeKalb County Sanitation Division
and Atlanta Recycling Solutions, offers north and central
DeKalb residents a permanent site to recycle their old
electronic items as 3643 Camp Circle in Decatur becomes
the second permanent recycling drop off site in DeKalb
County.
Equipment that will be accepted includes stereos, mi-
crowave ovens, computer equipment, copiers, telephones,
CD players, video machines, CB radios, fax machines, pro-
jectors, speakers, modems, portable radios, cameras, cell
phones, VCRs, record players and UBS battery back ups.
Items not accepted include televisions, vacuum clean-
ers, refrigerators, washers, dryers and freezers.
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 9A

Smoking ban would regulate smokeless e-cigarettes

by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County is con-
sidering a smoking ban so
tough it restricts the use of
electronic cigarettes, which
do not produce smoke.
Gregory Conley, a
board member with the non-
profit Consumer Advocates
for Smoke-free Alternatives
Association (CASAA),
said “it is very dishonest to
include them in the smoke-
free ordinance because they
don’t produce smoke.”
The group is not op-
posed to smoking bans, said
Elaine Keller,, CASAA’s
vice president.
“We’re opposed to in-
cluding electronic cigarettes
in the smoke-free ordi-
nance,” Keller said.
“Smoke is created by
burning organic material,”
Keller said. Instead, the
electronic cigarette produces
a mist.
“It’s the same mist as in
artificial fog machines used
at parties and concerts and
by some fire departments to
simulate smoke,” Keller said.
Conley described
electronic cigarettes as a
battery-operated device con-
taining an atomizer which
produces a mist. Electronic
cigarettes are refilled with a
liquid containing propylene
glycol or vegetable glycerin
and flavoring. The devic-
es, which cost approxi-
mately $50 may or may
not contain nicotine.
“These function as
replacements for smok-
ing,” Keller said. “They
help people refrain from
smoking.”
DeKalb’s Board of
Health wants to toughen
the county’s current smok-
ing ordinance. Passed in
2002, the ordinance cur-
rently bans smoking “in all
public places, and places
of employment within
unincorporated DeKalb
County,” but allows smok-
ing outdoors as long as it
occurs 20 feet or more from
any entrance.
The current ordinance
also allows smoking in
free-standing bars, retail
tobacco stores, adult en-
tertainment establish-
ments and private
residences unless
they are used
as childcare,
adult day care or healthcare smoking rooms in hotels. cigarettes. The proposed or-
facilities and designated The proposed amend- dinance comes up for a vote
ment would now ban in June.
smoking in free-standing Warner said the Board of
bars, adult entertainment Health has not talked with
establishments, outdoor any e-cigarette users to get
venues, parks, playgrounds, their opinions about the or-
entrances and exits to build- dinance.
ings, outdoor entertainment “We can’t make health
venues and outdoor service decisions based on anecdot-
areas, such as the waiting al opinions,” Warner said.
line at an ATM. “We’re looking at protecting
The proposal also de- the total health of every-
creases the number of rooms one.”
a hotel can designate for Jim Luftman, president
smoking from 25 percent to of the Georgia Premium
10 percent. Retail Tobacconists As-
Because of the rela- sociation, said the tougher
tive newness of electronic ordinance will definitely
cigarettes, the U.S. Food hurt bars and night clubs in
and Drug Administration DeKalb County.
(FDA) and surgeon gen- “There are plenty of bars
eral have not determined outside of DeKalb where
whether there are any you can smoke,” Luftman
health risks associated with said.
the devices, according to The county should al-
Jason Warner, a policy an- low economics to determine
alyst for the county’s Board whether bar owners allow
of Health. smoking in their establish-
Warner said the FDA ments.
also has not approved the “People can vote with
devices for smoking cessa- their feet,” Luftman said. “If
tion programs. enough non-smokers want
The county’s health a non-smoking bar they
board is leaving it up to the should have one. If enough
Board of Commission- smokers want a smoking
ers to make the final bar they should have it. It’s
decision about a little ridiculous that the
the safety of government is trying to take
electronic away rights.”

Watson gets OK for film DeKalb spending .

$2 million for parks
commission creation upgrade
DeKalb is planning to spend $2 million to The projects include: Briarwood Pool
several of its parks and recreation centers. plumbing system repairs, $100,000; repair
County commissioner Stan Watson has received The Board of Commissioners voted on and replace pool equipment at several pools,
unanimous approval by his fellow board members to May 10 to authorize the county’s administra- $80,000; roof replacements, $70,000; play-
launch the DeKalb Film Commission for DeKalb Coun- tion to begin the capital improvements, which ground repairs and improvements at several
ty. The film industry had an economic impact of more will be funded by accumulated interest in the parks, $1 million; sprinkler system repairs
than $1 billion in Georgia in 2010, and the state has tax 2006 parks bond fund. The fund currently has and upgrades, $300,000; and athletic field turf
incentives available. more than $4.4 million. renovations, $450,000.
The DeKalb Film Commission will serve as the
single point of contact for the film industry and all oth- City of Decatur Georgia Ad Valorem Tax Digest History

ers interested in filming or movie production in DeKalb Decatur - Digest

County. The commission will include staff from the 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

DeKalb County Department of Economic Develop- Assessment Ratio 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%
ment, Office of Communication, Department of Parks Real Property $ 1,040,878,000 $1,088,563,600 $ 1,124,007,000 $ 1,162,026,500 $ 1,157,883,900 $ 1,150,949,000
and Recreation, Roads and Drainage Division of Public Personal Property $ 18,709,100 $17,577,800 $ 18,342,500 $ 20,387,500 $ 20,069,600 $ 20,069,600
Works, Transportation Division of Public Works, Public Public Utilities
Motor Vehicle
$
$
19,348,397
43,697,000
$18,632,600
$47,267,600
$
$
16,893,389
49,014,800 $
16,473,600
50,081,000
$
$
11,673,700
46,119,000
$
$
11,673,700
46,119,000
Safety Departments, DeKalb Historical Society, DeKalb
Convention and Visitors Bureau, DeKalb colleges and Total Digest $1,122,632,497 $1,172,041,600 $1,208,257,689 $1,248,968,600 $1,235,746,200 $1,228,811,300

universities, two DeKalb County commissioners and City Operations

two representatives of the film industry. General Fund Exemptions $164,790,000 $157,384,000 $ 157,384,000 $ 118,900,000 $122,579,000 $ 125,075,000

Net City Operations Digest $957,842,497 $1,014,657,600 $1,050,873,689 $1,130,068,600 $1,113,167,200 $1,103,736,300

City Operations Millage 13.035 13.035 13.035 13.035 13.035 13.000

DeKalb employees walk for babies City Operations Levy $12,485,477 $13,226,062 $13,698,139 $14,730,444 $14,510,134 $14,348,572

DeKalb County employees raised more than $43,000 in Percent Change 19.61 5.93 3.57 7.54 -1.50 -1.11
the “March for Babies” walk on April 30 and additional funds Dollar Amount Change $2,047,355 $740,585 $472,077 $1,032,306 ($220,310) ($161,563)

are still being collected for the March of Dimes. Led by State
Sen. Ronald Ramsey, who served as the grand walker, the
DeKalb County team far exceeded their goal of $30,000. This
marks the county’s ninth year of participation.
The Decatur City Commission announces that the 2011 tentative millage rate was adopted at their meeting on Monday, May 16,
2011. Hearings on the budget and millage rate will be held on:
Monday, June 6, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 7:30 pm
The hearings will be held at Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA. Final adoption of the 2011 millage rate and
fiscal year 2011-2012 budget is scheduled for consideration at the Decatur City Commission meeting on Monday, June 20, 2011.
The above table is presented pursuant to O.C.G.A. 48-5-32 showing the estimated current year's digest and proposed millage rates
along with a five-year history of the tax digest and millage rates.
 Page 10A
Residents oppose cell towers in DeKalb Schools
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
Tempers flared at Med-
lock Elementary on May 12,
during one of the last com-
munity meetings held for
residents to discuss T-Mo-
bile’s proposal to install 12
cell towers at some DeKalb
schools.
T-Mobile representatives
were barraged with questions
and comments ranging from
health concerns to the amount
of money the system would
make if the towers were in-
stalled.
Medlock Elementary is
one of the proposed sites and
some in the community felt
the timing was wrong and
complained that they were
still reeling from having the
school closed under Interim
Superintendent Ramona Ty-
son’s redistricting plan.
“My son is in fifth grade
so he won’t be going to
school here anymore but I
want at least the option that
another school will open here.
You have to understand that
the reason why we’re so emo-
tional about it is because we
were fighting to keep Med-
lock open,” Barbara Melton
said.
Melton said that the cell
tower might prevent other
uses for the building and said
that the idea the school board
was already negotiating with
T-Mobile a year ago while
they were working on redis-
tricting was, to her, “abhor-
rent.”
“The board has blatantly
disregarded our wishes and
the wishes of so many in our
community. If the board has
disregarded our wishes before
in this manner, what’s to say
that they won’t go against our
wishes again?” Melton said.
Ed Trego, a representa-
tive from T-Mobile, said he
understood the community’s
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011
frustration and pointed out
that no deal was yet made. He
said that the purpose of the
meeting was to inform resi-
dents of what the company
was trying to do.
“This is not an all or noth-
ing proposal. If this group of
individuals feels that this is
inappropriate for this loca-
tion, that’s the purpose of
this meeting; call your board
of education representatives
and pass that along to them,”
Trego said. “We need cover-
age in this area; it is a finan-
cial benefit to the school and
to the school board so it was a
proposal.”
Some residents like
Amanda Sabetai, were
worried about the long-term
health risks of cell phone
towers, especially to children
in the area. Sabetai said that
she and her husband are plan-
ning on having kids and the
elementary school was one of
the selling points when they
bought their house a year and
a half ago.
“We were really disap-
pointed that they closed the
school but it’s really scary
that they might put a cell
phone tower here. It’s less
than half a mile from my
house,” Sabetai said. “The
way that I look at it is, if I
were on the school board, I
would want to be absolutely
certain it’s safe and I don’t
think they can be.”
Sabetai said that if a tow-
er is installed she will most
likely move.
Jennifer Moore, who
lives down the road from the
school, said that she did not
begrudge T-Mobile for doing
what it was doing but mem-
bers of her community lacked
trust in the school board.
“There seems to be the
talking points and the face
time that they give to constit-
uents in order to get the vote.
Behind the scenes–and we all
www.championnewspaper.com
From left, T-Mobile representatives Ed Trego, Lannie Greene, Rob Linders, Mark Robinette and Julie
Corum discuss the company’s proposal to build 12 cell towers at DeKalb Schools at a community
meeting at Medlock Elementary. Photos by Emma Harger
know this happens–they do
basically what they want,”
Moore said.
Board member Donald
McChesney, who represents
District 2, said at the meeting
that he was going to tell his
fellow board members that
the community around Med-
lock was completely opposed
to any tower going up in the
area.
“They can e-mail their
board members because they
look at what people tell them.
I look at my e-mails every
day to see what’s there so that
will do it,” McChesney said.
He also urged residents to at- The location of the proposed cell tower at Medlock Elementary
tend and comment publicly at
the next board meeting so the
entire board could hear them. it’s over a 15-year horizon so arlake, Brockett, Flat Rock,
School spokesman Wal- it’s hard to get a view of what Jolly, Princeton, Smoke
ter Woods said that if the exactly we’re talking about,” Rise, Narvie J. Harris, Mead-
board approved the plan, Woods said. owview and Medlock el-
the revenue from the towers Woods said that several ementary schools, and Lake-
would be split by the board board members had presented side and Martin Luther King,
with the Parent Teachers the idea for the towers as an Jr. high schools.
Associations of the schools alternative source of revenue Woods said that in some
where they were located. because they had seen other cases the PTA could receive
“The contract over time counties in the metro Atlanta approximately $25,000, and
could generate from some area pursuing similar contracts. the board could approve it as
$300,000 to $1 million per The potential sites are early as this summer.
site. I’ve seen the range and Margaret Harris Center, Bri-
Beyond the Bell Inc and DeKalb Community Promise
would like to invite you to a town hall meeting focusing on the
Dangers of Underage Drinking
This social event will provide a great opportunity for teens, parents, business
owners, law enforcement and community members to meet and discuss current
issues surrounding underage drinking in our DeKalb County community.
This event will include a workshop provided by MADD addressing the influence
that parents have on underage drinking.
Dinner will be served and local senior citizens will have their “Divine” baked
goods for sale. For information please contact Sandra Walker at 404-288-2766 or
404-374-8624 beyondthebell@comcast.edu.
Senior Citizens Connections
25 Warren Street Atlanta, GA 30317
(Senior Citizen Center)
Tuesday, May 24 6:00-7:30 pm
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 11A

Beefed-up applications give students better shot at college

by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
Eighteen-year-old Jessica Norton
said that when she was getting ready
for college she made it a point not to
spread herself too thin; instead, she
immersed herself as a leader in the
things she really loved.
Norton, the valedictorian at Decatur
High School, will be in the honors pro-
gram at the University of Georgia in the
fall and is planning to double major in
chemistry and print journalism. She was
a member of the mock trial club and the
journalism club and also worked for the
school magazine for three years, two of
those as an editor.
“I tried to find two things that I
really liked. My opinion is that it’s
better to have depth in a few things,”
Norton said.
Norton also said that applying for
the earliest application deadline will
definitely increase a student’s chances
at getting into the school of his or her
choice.
Jeremy Sale, assistant director of
admissions at Oglethorpe University,
said that when he looks at a student’s
application he is not necessarily look-
ing for a student who is the president
of several clubs at school but one who
is deeply involved in a few activities.
He also said it is a plus if they are vol-
unteering outside of school.
“If they are an athlete we want to
see them doing something outside of
athletics to give them a more rounded
look,” Sale said.
Admissions officers at Emory and
Oglethorpe universities said that they
have seen an increase in the number
of applications students are filling out
each year and that students who pay
close attention to detail during the
process have a better chance of get-
ting accepted.
“With the college applications,
because of the current economy,
we’re seeing more students apply to
many more colleges than before and
now you can engage the students by
looking at how in-depth the applica-
tion is,” Sale said.
Sale said the college also looks
at grade trending and that if they see
a student has tried to glide through
their senior year and their grades have
dropped, this will most likely lessen
their chances of admission.
“The first thing that’s really kind of
paramount in the past few years is the
lack of review,” Sale said. “It seems
that students are just kind of putting
things together and not having a par-
ent, teacher or advisor look over it.”
Emory Dean of Admissions Jean
Jordan said that students who apply
to Emory do a good job of proofing
but she echoed Sale on the importance
of depth.
“What we do get is students not
spending the time they should in giv-
ing us their activity information, and
it’s clear that they haven’t done re-
search,” Jordan said.
Jordan said that the most impor-
tant factors for Emory are a student’s
curriculum and getting to know the
high school where they come from.
She also considers the qualities that
a student will be able to bring to the
university.
“Certainly students won’t be able
to predict what a college might need
but we always tell students don’t go
out and join every club out there;
what we want to see is sustained and
deep involvement in the organizations
that you’re interested in,” Jordan said.
Ken Jackson, a counselor at De-
catur High School, said an important
factor for students getting into the
school of their choice is the difficulty
of courses taken and a student’s over-
all grades.
“It is important to perform at least
adequately on the college entrance
exams but they’re not everything and
I think that they’re a pretty poor pre-
dictor of how successful a student will
be in college,” Jackson said.
Jackson said it is very important
for students to show interest in the
colleges of their choice early by going
to events and participating with the
school as much as possible. For ex-
ample, Emory offers interviews with
alumni that students can participate in.
“Colleges don’t want to ask you
out on a date if you’re going to reject
them…no one wants to be let down,”
Jackson said.
STONE MOUNTAIN
VILLAGE
CITY-WIDE YARD SALE
922 Main St., behind Gazebo
Saturday, May 28
8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Setup begins 7:30 a.m. on
day of sale
For info call City Hall
770-498-8984

Two murder suspects arrested

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE
2011-2012 PROPOSED BUDGET
FOR THE CITY OF DECATUR, GEORGIA

by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
Two men suspected of
murder in separate incidents
were arrested recently by
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Of-
fice Fugitive Squad members.
Antoine Willis was ar-
rested May 11 as he was
trying to get out of a rented
Hyundai Elantra with a
loaded handgun. He was
wanted for the Jan. 29 murder
of Marcus Anthony Hollo-
Reed Willis
harm Willis.”
Willis, who was treated
and released for minor injuries
at an area hospital, was taken
to DeKalb County Jail and
There will be public hearings on the Proposed 2011-2012 Budget for the City of Decatur
was working outside on the at 7:30pm on June 6, 2011 and on June 20, 2011 in the City Commission Meeting Room
church grounds. The elder at City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur. The Proposed Budget is summarized
below and is available in its entirety for public inspection at Decatur City Hall. All
Reed said that he had no idea citizens are invited to attend the public hearing, to provide written and oral comments,
and ask questions concerning the entire budget.
that his son was in trouble or
wanted for murder, according FY 2011-2012
PROPOSED GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
to authorities.
Fugitive squad investiga- REVENUES
Taxes 14,597,400
tors discovered Reed’s tod- Licenses, Permits & Inspections 530,500
dler son in the truck along Penalties, Fines & Forfeitures
Interest
1,105,000
10,000
with another passenger. Reed Charges for Current Services 1,192,950
is charged with felony mur- Intergovernmental Revenues
Miscellaneous Revenue
304,470
229,600
der and arson. Additional Sale of Fixed Assets 15,000
charges of felony fleeing and Operating Transfers
Appropriation From (To) Fund Balance
(464,420)
1,294,500
attempting to elude, cruelty to
children and seven stop sign TOTAL REVENUES $18,815,000

way, who was allegedly shot
near his home on Columbia
Drive by Willis and four co-
defendants.
An investigator realized
charged with felony murder. violations are pending. EXPENDITURES
Governmental Control Department 95,390
The following day, May General Government Department 1,471,130
12, fugitive squad members Community & Economic Development Department
Planning, Zoning & Inspections Division
993,500
652,330
arrested 34-year-old Tora CHRIST THE Administrative Services Department 2,826,710
Reed after a high-speed chase REDEEMER Police Department 4,799,000

Willis was trying to run away
and drove his squad car close
to the door of the Hyundai,
pinning the suspect in the
that ended in the parking lot
of Fairfield Baptist Church
on Redan Road. Reed was
ChristTheRedeemerChurch.org 404.317.0038
wanted in connection with
ANGLICAN CHURCH Fire & Rescue Department
Public Works-Sanitation & Facilities Maintenance
3,303,550
2,595,410
Sundays at 9 a.m. Serving Conyers,
Covington, McDonough & Stockbridge
Public Works-Engineering
Active Living Division
716,890
1,361,090
1500 Klondike Road, Ste. A105, Conyers
TOTAL EXPENDITURES $18,815,000

doorway. the Feb. 4 killing of Martin

“He was getting out of
the car to shoot you,” a pas-
senger told one of the investi-
gators. There were three pas-
sengers in the car at the time
of the arrest.
“An officer’s quick think-
ing saved the lives of 12 un-
dercover officers who assist-
ed in the arrest and the three
Hyundai passengers,” said
Fugitive Squad Commander
Lt. Jeffrey Leslie. “It also
kept us from being forced to
Villa Gomez, who was shot
twice in the head. His body
was then set on fire inside his
Ford truck.
According to authori-
ties, Reed drove his black
Chevrolet Trailblazer through
neighborhoods in the South
Deshon area at speeds of up
to 65 mph while being pur-
sued. Reed surrendered in
front of his father Thomas
Jefferson Reed, a church
maintenance employee, who
Notice of Proposed Amendment to the Charter of the City of Chamblee, GA
Notice is hereby given that an ordinance has been introduced to amend the Charter of the City
of Chamblee, Georgia (Ga. L. 1935 p. 976 et seq., approved March 28, 1935) so as to amend
Article 3, Section 1.1 of the Charter so as to reapportion election districts, to repeal conflicting
portions of the Charter and for all other lawful purposes.
A copy of the proposed Ordinance to amend the Charter is on file in the Office of the City Clerk
of the City of Chamblee, Georgia and the Office of the Clerk of Superior Court, DeKalb County,
Georgia for the purpose of examination and inspection by the public.
This 19th day of May, 2011.
Nancy Williams, CMC
City Clerk, City of Chamblee, Georgia
Page 12A
Relay For Life celebrates cancer survivors
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
W
hen Rhonda Watson was
diagnosed with Stage IIIC
ovarian cancer in Decem-
ber 2007, her daughter was just 2
years old.
“So I didn’t have time for can-
cer,” said Watson, who participated
in the American Cancer Society’s
Relay For Life in DeKalb on May 13
along with more than 100 other can-
cer survivors.
After the diagnosis, Watson, who
was 36 at the time, began a very ag-
gressive chemotherapy treatment
using two combined drugs. She had
an eight-hour-long treatment every
three weeks for six sessions
The side effects—nausea, vomit-
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011
ing, hair loss—worsened after the
third round.
“When I lost my hair, I could no
longer lie to myself,” Watson said. “I
could not ignore that I was fighting
cancer.”
Watson remembers seeing her
reflection in mirrors and windows.
“It was a constant reminder,” she
said.
After the chemotherapy was
over, Watson was given the option
of undergoing 12 rounds of main-
tenance chemotherapy and she ac-
cepted because she did not want a
recurrence.
“When it comes back, it’s really,
really angry,” Watson said. “It comes
back with a vengeance. I wanted to
land the knockout blow.”
More than 1,000 people par-
ticipated in DeKalb Relay For Life
event at Adams Stadium. The event
raised more than $409,000 which
will be used to support advocacy and
research. The funds also help finance
the Hope Lodge facility, a place
where out-of-town caregivers can
stay for free while cancer patients are
receiving treatment.
“This is American Cancer So-
ciety’s premier fundraising event,”
said Cristina Pastore, chairwoman
of the event’s planning committee.
Participants in the event formed
teams who walked around the sta-
dium’s track for 12 hours to celebrate
the lives of people who have battled
cancer, remember loved ones lost,
and fight back against the disease.
Ironically, four months before
her diagnosis, Watson was hired as
www.championnewspaper.com
Photos by Andrew Cauthen
project lead for the American Cancer
Society.
“I could not have been at a better
place,” said Watson, who currently is
an information technology messag-
ing process lead for the ACS. “So for
me, it’s personal.”
When Watson attended her first
Relay For Life, she was still bald
from her chemotherapy. Now Wat-
son is the volunteer committee chair-
woman for DeKalb Adams Relay
For Life.
“Relay For Life for me is a
healing experience,” Watson said.
“There’s no more giving people than
those survivors.
“I am so thankful that I was for-
tunate in my struggle and that I get
to celebrate more birthdays,” Watson
said.
www.championnewspaper.com The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 13A

37 students graduate from Youth Leadership DeKalb program

by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
After 10 weeks of training,
37 DeKalb County high school
students have graduated from
the Youth Leadership DeKalb
program.
Graduation ceremonies for
the class of 2011 took place
May 2 at Georgia Perimeter
College. The 37 students, who
represented 16 county high
schools, received leadership
training on county subjects
including criminal justice,
health, quality of life, business,
government, finance and civic
engagement.
“With Leadership DeKalb, Thirty-seven high school students representing 16 schools in DeKalb County recently graduated from the 2010-11 Youth Leadership
I’ve learned so much and DeKalb program. Photo provided
gained a lot of civic awareness,
self-awareness and overall
awareness about my commu-
nity,” said Jennifer Thomas, DeKalb County Wants to Hear From You
a junior at Druid Hills High
School. “I’ve learned about
Regarding the Proposed Franchise Agreement Renewal
what we’re really doing to with Comcast Cable Communications
change DeKalb County and
make it better.” Thomas will Send your comments and/or concerns regarding Comcast’s current performance under
also serve as an intern for next the current franchise agreement and/or the future cable-related needs and interests of
year’s Leadership DeKalb your community to cable@co.dekalb.ga.us.
2011-12 program.
GPC President Dr. An-
thony Tricoli, who gave the
keynote address at the gradua-
tion ceremony, encouraged the
graduates to get involved with
civic projects and to encourage
other youth to become leaders
in their communities.
More than 400 high school
students have completed the
YLD program since it was cre-
ated 20 years ago. As part of
the program, some graduates
of the current class assist with
the planning and coordination
of the following year’s pro-
gram.
The 2011 graduates of
the Youth Leadership DeKalb
program are Chandra Dickey,
Cross Keys; Anna Dowling,
Kathleen Knowles, Nuri
Rasheed, Jordan Swanson
and Jennifer Thomas, Druid
Hills; Emma BeMiller, Ian
Kirchner, Samuel McK-
instry, Andrew Roberts,
Marco Roca and Madeleine
Ward, Marist School; Tim
Becker and Berkeley Moore,
St. Pius; Sandy Nguyen and
Levin Tran, Clarkston; Ra-
chel Fletcher, Trevor Lind-
say and Zahra Mohammed,
Columbia; Kenton Edwards,
Katie Peagler and Brittany
Williams, Southwest DeKalb;
Wesley Dixon, Dunwoody;
Dexter Alsobrook Jr., Cedar
Grove; Drexal Alexander,
Brianne Chriss, Megan Mc-
Call, Morgan McCall and
Karri Thomas, Arabia Moun-
tain; Joshua Grosh and Dari-
us Johnson, Lithonia; Toronto
Thomas and Alicia Thornton,
M.L. King; Candace Moon,
Miller Grove; Kiera Wil-
liams, DeKalb Early College
Academy; Tshim Tshimanga,
Redan; and JeVonda Wright,
Tucker.
health The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 14A

Y kicks off diabetes prevention program

The YMCA of Metro Atlanta is
offering a new program that targets
individuals at risk of developing
type 2 diabetes, helping them to
adopt and maintain healthy life-
styles that will reduce their chances
of developing diabetes.
“Georgia’s diabetes rate is
among the highest in the nation,”
said Bill McKoy, executive director
of the Decatur Family YMCA. “One
in 10 adults has been diagnosed
with diabetes, and many more with
diabetes are unaware of their status.
Preventing diabetes can save lives
and health care costs.”
Trained lifestyle coaches help
participants modify their lifestyles
by teaching them about healthy eat-
ing, physical activity and other be-
havior changes during 16 one-hour
sessions. After the initial 16 core
sessions, participants meet monthly
for added support to help them
maintain their progress. Program
goals are to reduce body weight by
7 percent and to increase physical
activity to 150 minutes per week.
The program is based on re-
search funded by the National In-
stitutes of Health and the Centers
for Disease Control and Preven-
tion which showed that by eating
healthier, increasing physical ac-
tivity and losing a small amount
of weight, a person diagnosed as
pre-diabetic can prevent or delay
the onset of type 2 diabetes by 58
percent.
The YMCA’s Diabetes Preven-
tion Program is offered as part of
the Diabetes Prevention and Con-
ventdiabetes.org or, contact Linda
Vaughn, YMCA Diabetes Preven-
tion Program coordinator, at (404)
527-7690 or preventdiabetes@
ymcaatlanta.org.
Additional facts about
diabetes
• About one in three American
adults – that’s 57 million
people – have pre-diabetes.
• People with pre-diabetes
are likely to develop type
2 diabetes within 10 years,
unless they take steps to
prevent or delay diabetes.
• Lifestyle changes such as
eating healthier, increased
trol Alliance, a subsidiary of Unit- physical activity and losing
edHealth Group. DPCA offers the a modest amount of weight
program to insurers and employers
can prevent or delay devel-
who wish to make it available to opment of type 2 diabetes
those they insure. Individuals can
join the program as self-pay par- in those at high risk for the
ticipants. disease.
Those who would like to see • Diabetes is a leading cause
whether they or someone else may of heart disease, stroke,
be at risk for developing diabetes
blindness, kidney disease
or pre-diabetes can visit www.ypre- and nerve disease.

Smaller is better
Researchers patent microneedle
for ocular drug delivery
A goal of ophthalmol-
ogy researchers is to
deliver medication
to the back of the eye in
a selective and minimally
invasive way. An Emory
Eye Center scientist and
two fellow researchers
have investigated oppor-
tunities and have recently
been awarded a U.S. pat-
ent for application of
microneedle technology,
designed to do just that.
Filed for in 2007 and
awarded in April 2011,
the patent (US 7,918,814)
was awarded to Henry F.
Edelhauser, Emory Eye
Center’s former director of
research, along with Mark
Prausnitz, professor of
chemical and biomedical
engineering at the Georgia
Institute of Technology,
and Ninghao Jiang, a re-
search graduate student
at Georgia Tech, now
employed at CNA, a non-
profit research organiza-
tion in Virginia.
Because the micronee-
dle apparatus is so much
smaller than currently
used intravitreal needles,
there may be less discom-
fort for the patients. Many
patients with age-related
macular degeneration have
injections on a regular ba-
sis. In the future, the same
microneedle technology
may be used to inject med-
ication directly into the
eye for many other ocular
conditions, such as glau-
coma, eliminating the need
to put drops in the eyes
every day—a real chore
for some patients.
“The beauty of this
hollow-tubed microneedle
is that it can serve as a
route for targeted drug
delivery for retinal dis-
ease using an array of
delivery suspensions such
as microbeads and micro-
bubbles,” Edelhauser said.
“Moreover, a sustained
delivery can be achieved
with proper formulation
design. In the future, this
new process should be
helpful in the treatment of
several ocular diseases.”
“In the 1990s Dr.
Edelhauser and I initially
conceived of getting drugs
from the outside of the
eye, the sclera, to the back
of the eye, the retinal
space. What we have now
found is that the supra-
choroidal space, an area
located between the sclera
and the retina, offers op-
portunity to deliver medi-
cations very effectively to
the retinal region,” said
Timothy W. Olsen, M.D.,
Emory Eye Center direc-
tor. “The microneedle
technology developed by
Edelhauser and Prausnitz
may prove to be the safest
and most effective path to
this important area of the
eye.”
www.championnewspaper.com
Teens Continued From Page 1A
in school systems such as
DeKalb, where 70 percent of
the students are Black.
“There are no rewards for
academics,” Akil Dan-Fodio
said. “If you get an athletic
scholarship, on signing day
they have a ceremony and all
the media shows up. If you
get an academic scholarship,
nobody knows about it except
the people you tell. Every kid
wants encouragement for what-
ever they do. But you get it
more with sports than with aca-
demics.”
In DeKalb County, the
school system releases to the
media a list of football players
who sign scholarships on Na-
tional Signing Day in February.
Flowers Continued From Page 1A
assist parents with tasks such
as paying bills.
“I quickly realized their
biggest need was looking for
jobs,” said Lee, who previous-
ly worked for the Center for
Pan Asian Community Servic-
es in the housing department
in Doraville.
She noted that the tough
economic climate means that
refugees are competing with
everyone else in this tight job
market. And for Muslim wom-
en—many of whom appear in
public with veiled faces—it
can be an even more challeng-
ing environment.
“It’s more wanting to train
them to do this so later they
can find jobs doing this,” said
Lee, adding that helping the
women to be financially self
sufficient is her goal. “I real-
ize it’s the whole teaching
them how to fish, having them
be empowered by this.”
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011
But the same thing is not done
for academic scholars.
“The media covers mostly
athletics,” Cassanrda Dan-
Fodio said. “The only national
media coverage of academics is
the National Spelling Bee.”
It also is easier for students
to earn athletic scholarships
than academic scholarships,
Akil said. He pointed out that a
friend who has a 3.9 GPA is still
“looking for money” to go to
college while “students with 2.4
or 2.5 averages” receive athletic
scholarships. In DeKalb, 109
student-athletes in the class of
2011 signed football scholar-
ships this year.
“You don’t even have to be
that good [at sports], somebody
Lee, who has a master
of business administration
degree from Georgia Tech,
picked up skills in floral ar-
rangement through her family,
who once owned a silk flower
business.
Lee’s two workers are
neighbors who live in her
Clarkston apartment complex,
Shayma Yousif and Nahida
Haji, sisters-in-law who came
to America a decade ago.
Yousif said she used to make
floral ornaments for her sis-
ter’s hair.
“It’s a perfect job for
them,” said Lee, noting that
the women can work from
home and still care for their
children.
“It’s good,” said Haji.
“She is helping my family.”
The business is mainly
online (www.lovesilkflowers.
com) and promoted by word
of mouth. To date it has sup-
Page 15A
will pick you up,” Akil Dan-Fo-
dio said. “Maybe 10 or 20 kids
get academic scholarships but
a lot more get athletic scholar-
ships.”
Dan-Fodio said he still
would like the opportunity to
play professional sports, but
recognizes that academics is the
path that will take him there.
“My parents have always
stressed academics since I was
young,” said Dan-Fodio, who
plans to study business man-
Photo provided
agement at FIU. “You have to
make academics be the cool
thing, and that’s what I’ve tried
to do with my friends at school.
The standard was to get an
athletic scholarship, but now
they’re going for academics.”
plied the floral arrangements
for about 10 weddings. While
the focus is on weddings, it
also makes arrangements for
display in homes and offices.
Lee and her husband,
Brian, are so committed to
the project that they decided
that she would give up her
full-time job to devote more
time to launching the floral
business.
“It was so much more
work,” said Lee of ordering
materials, pricing, develop-
ment of a website and train-
ing of workers. Her living
room and a second bedroom
are overrun with silk flowers,
supplies and finished arrange-
ments.
Although it was slow going
at first when the online busi-
ness was launched in January,
Lee said traffic on the website
has picked up and now receives
about 60 hits a day.
eDuCatiOn The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 16A

Agnes Scott student awarded Fulbright Scholarship

by Daniel Beauregard ship will be taking her to a small ments and prepare for interviews,”
daniel@dekalbchamp.com town called Kaohsiung for 11 Wallace said.

E
sther Wallace knew even
as a small child that she
would love to have the
opportunity to immerse
herself in the culture of another
country, and now she will see that
dream come true.
The 21-year-old Wallace, who
grew up outside of Decatur and
went to Agnes Scott College, was
awarded a Fulbright Scholarship
on April 26 to travel to Taiwan
and teach English to grade-school
students.
“I was sort of awestruck when
the notification came in the mail. I
knew that ‘Yes’ notifications usu-
ally come in large manila enve-
lopes and when I opened the mail-
box and found just that, I think I
just held the envelope in my hands
for a couple of minutes and stared
at it,” Wallace said.
After she opened the envelope
and read the acceptance letter,
Wallace said she ran around and
hugged all of her roommates then
quickly called and e-mailed all
of her professors, mentors and
friends whom she needed to thank.
Wallace’s Fulbright scholar-
months and covers all her travel
expenses and provides medical
insurance. The Fulbright Program
and the government of Taiwan will
also pay her a monthly stipend as
a teacher that covers room, board,
food and other necessities.
When she first started college
in 2007 she had no interest in be-
ing an Asian studies major; that
was until she enrolled in Intro to
Japanese History her freshman
year and fell in love with the sub-
ject.
“I took a very wonderful class
with a very wonderful professor
named Shu-chin Wu,” Wallace
said.
Wallace said that she studied
Latin, French and Spanish in high
school and none of them ever re-
ally “clicked” with her. So, she
tried Mandarin as a last resort to
meet her language distributional
requirement at Agnes Scott.
“It totally clicked. I loved ev-
erything about Mandarin from the
first class—the sounds, the vocal
tones, the characters. I was really
lucky that Agnes offered Mandarin
classes,” Wallace said.
Wallace, who spent the entire
Agnes Scott graduate Esther Wallace
was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to
teach English in Taiwan for a year. Photo
provided
summer last year researching and
preparing essays for the Fulbright,
said that the credit for the scholar-
ship really goes to the community
of people who surrounded her
throughout the process.
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude
to my mentors and advisors at
Agnes Scott, who encouraged me
to apply and reapply for Fulbright
and worked tirelessly with me for
two years to revise grant state-
She is expected in Kaohsiung
Aug. 1 and said that she wouldn’t
be going anywhere if it weren’t
for the support, patience and love
of her family, friends and loved
ones.
Wallace is looking forward to
being in the classroom and getting
to know her students, and is excit-
ed to discover new cultures, ideas
and meet new people. While she
never imagined herself in Taiwan
she has always known she wanted
to spend at least a period of her
life traveling internationally.
“I really just hope to learn
about the community I’m living in
and everything I can about the cul-
ture, and to share the best of who I
am as an American,” Wallace said.
Wallace said that anyone who
wants to pursue a Fulbright should
first study up on the program and
do some research; if it seems like
it is right for you she said “just go
for it and shoot the moon,” and
look for the support and advice of
your professors.
“The Fulbright contract lasts
11 months; however, I might
choose to stay longer. We’ll see,”
Wallace said.

2011 DeKalb County high school graduation schedule

May 19
Eagle Woods Academy 12:30 p.m. Eagle Woods Academy
DeKalb Alternative and 2 p.m. New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church
Elizabeth Andrews High
Avondale High 4:30 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
Stone Mountain High 6 p.m. Georgia Dome
McNair High 7 p.m. The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church

May 20
Stephenson High 4:30 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
Druid Hills High 5 p.m. World Congress Center
Chamblee High 5:30 p.m. North DeKalb Stadium
Clarkston High 5:30 p.m. Hallford Stadium
Dunwoody High 5:30 p.m. First Baptists Church of Atlanta
Columbia High 7 p.m. Georgia State University Sports Arena
DeKalb School of the Arts 7 p.m. Avondale Baptist Church
Towers High 7 p.m. The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church
Cross Keys High 7:30 p.m. Adams Stadium

May 21
Cedar Grove High 10 a.m. Panthersville Stadium
DeKalb Early College 10 a.m. AIC Auditorium
Academy
Lithonia High 10 a.m. The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church
Redan High 10 a.m. Georgia Dome
Tucker High 10 a.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
Lakeside High 2 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
Martin L. King, Jr. High 2 p.m. Georgia Dome
Miller Grove High 5 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

May 22
Southwest DeKalb High 3:30 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
Arabia Mountain High 7:30 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
www.championnewspaper.com
First lady Sandra Deal read to students from the Phoenix School to promote the Destination College Savings Sweepstakes. Photos by Daniel Beauregard
First lady Deal reads to DeKalb kids
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
Georgia first lady San-
dra Deal sat down and
read to a group of DeKalb
pre-school students at the
Toco Hills-Avis G. Williams
Library on May 12 to kick
off the Destination College
Savings Sweepstakes.
The sweepstakes is held
each year by the Georgia
Public Library Service in
partnership with the Path-
2College 529 Plan to help
promote the summer read-
ing program and get chil-
dren and parents interested
in saving for college at an
early age.
As she sat in a chair
with children huddled on the
floor around her feet, Deal
told them that she thought
education, especially read-
ing, is very important.
“How many of you can
read already?” she asked,
and after she had watched
every little hand in the
room go up in the air, she
said, “Wow, that is great…
that tells you that you need
to come to the library all
throughout the summer to
check out books.”
Deal then read the book
Mortimer’s First Garden to
the children.
Deal, who started out
as a third grade teacher,
said afterward that training
children at an early age is
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 17A
very important and much of $1,529 will be awarded to the library to sign up for the our first customers and our
it happens before a child is the Georgia library with the summer reading program… future customers. We’re all
enrolled at school. greatest number of entries they can go online, enter the about lifelong learning and
“There are sacrifices to in the sweepstakes and the sweepstakes and have the we want to build that love
be made and too many times library with the greatest per- chance to win money for of learning and love of read-
parents don’t realize that centage of registered users, college,” Alison Weissing- ing and information seeking
that’s some of their respon- which the Toco Hills-Avis er, director of the DeKalb from the ground up,” Weiss-
sibility,” Deal said. G. Williams Library won County Library said. inger said.
The Path2College 529 last year. “We look at kids as our
Plan is a state of Georgia “[As] the kids come to future customers—they’re
program that helps families
prepare for future college
tuition and other expenses
for colleges both in Georgia
and nationwide. Parents
can open an account online
with as little as $25 and
any earnings in the plan are
federal and state income tax
deferred.
“We’re very happy to
partner with the Georgia Li-
brary System to encourage
you to read and get ready
for college…and we want to
help your parents get ready
to pay for college, that’s go-
ing to be an important part,”
Chuck Penuel, director of
the Path2College 529 Plan
told the kids.
Children will be en-
couraged to sign up for the
sweepstakes when they visit
their local libraries to enter
the summer reading pro-
gram, which opened on May
1. The winner of the $5,529
prize will be chosen at ran-
dom from the participants
and the library where the
child registered will also be
awarded $1,529.
Two additional prizes of
business The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 18A

Creatures great and small

Veterinarian Tarah Hadley
treats almost anything that
walks, slithers or flies
by Kathy Mitchell courages people to open their
kathy@dekalbchamp.com minds to the possibility of
owning animals other than
As those who have seen dogs and cats. “Sometimes
the recently released movie people are surprised at how
Water for Elephants know, well they interact with an-
not all veterinarians treat just other type of animal. They’re
dogs and house cats. Some very complex,” she noted.
treat horses, circus animals, A native of Boston, Had-
zoo animals—and as Dr. ley came south to do her
Tarah Hadley does—birds, residency at the Knoxville,
snakes, monkeys, guinea Tenn., zoo. “I decided to stay
pigs, ferrets, rabbits, turtles, because I have family in this
potbelly pigs and more. part of the country and the
In her office on Coving- weather is nicer. Besides,
ton Highway in Lithonia, there aren’t many veterinar-
Hadley sees a wide range of ians around here who do
members of the animal king- what I do,” she noted, adding
dom. “One week we had so that she sees animals not only
many potbelly pigs coming from all around Georgia, but
in I wondered if we were run- from Alabama, Tennessee
ning a special on them,” re- and Florida, as she stroked
called Hadley, who’s worked an umbrella cockatoo whose
in the area about five years. owner had brought her from
“People call so often to Morgan County to have her
ask me what animals I work claws trimmed.
on that I put a list on my Hadley said that one rea-
website, but I’m not sure that son she likes working with
even that’s complete,” said exotic animals is that “not
Hadley, who has worked on everything has been figured
everything from mountain out.”
lions to gorillas to iguanas. “Most veterinarians are
Hadley shares a clinic familiar with the diseases that
with two other veterinarians cats and dogs get. There’s a
who—like most—specialize lot we still don’t know about

So many reasons to join!

in cats and dogs. “If I’m not other animals. I enjoy the
in one of them might take a challenge of helping to figure
look at a bird or a rabbit, but that out,” she said. Dr. Tarah Hadley said she has a special place in her heart for birds, but enjoys working with all the
animals she treats. Photos by Kathy Mitchell
for the most part I see any an-
imal that’s not a cat or dog.”
Unlike many doctors,
Hadley likes making house DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
Hadley said she first be- calls. “It’s
100helpful to seeCenter
Crescent the Pkwy., Suite 680. Tucker, GA 30084 (404) 378-8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org
came interested in exotic ani- environment the animal lives
mals when a friend gave her in. In fact, sometimes I ask
Looking for new customers? We can help!
a bird. “I had never thought
of owning a bird before, but
after that I was hooked on
clients to send me digital
photographs of the animal
in its environment so I can
them,” she said.
While birds have a100spe-Crescent
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
make recommendations,” she
said.Center Pkwy., Suite 680. Tucker, GA 30084 (404) 378-8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org
cial place in her heart, Had- Hadley said that her aim
ley said she has no favorite is to give compassionate care
animal. “I enjoy working no matter what the animal
with all of them. They are all is. “Sometimes people call,
The Voice of Business in DeKalb County
so different, and they all have almost apologizing, and
their own personalities. Most say ‘I know it’s just a para-
people don’t think of turtles
as having personalities, but
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
keet.’ That doesn’t matter.
It doesn’t100
haveCrescent
to be rareCenter
or Pkwy., Suite 680. Tucker, GA 30084
they do.” expensive,404-378-8000
if I can help an www.DeKalbChamber.org
Hadley said that she en- animal I will,” she said. Lady, a 15-year-old umbrella cockatoo, was brought from Morgan County to have her claws
trimmed.

Your competitor is likely a member!

DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
100 Crescent Center Pkwy., Suite 680. Tucker, GA 30084 (404) 378-8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org
www.championnewspaper.com
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
N O T I C E O F L O C AT I O N
AND DESIGN APPROVAL
Streetscape Design Services:
Lake Hearn Drive, Perimeter
Summit Parkway, and Park-
side Place DeKalb County P. I.
No. 0010164 Notice is hereby
given in compliance with Geor-
gia Code 22-2-109 and 32-3-5
that the Georgia Department
of Transportation has approved
the Location and Design of this
project. The date of location ap-
proval is April 18,2011 Proposed
streetscape construction along
Perimeter Summit Parkway
(0.74 miles), Lake Hearn Drive
(0.61 miles), and Parkside Place
(0.27 miles) includes overall pe-
destrian access improvements
that include the addition and/or
renovation of sidewalks, Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
compliant facilities, street and
pedestrian lighting, street furni-
ture, landscape improvements
including new/larger medians
and islands, restriping and/or
addition of crosswalks. Lane
widths will be narrowed on Lake
Hearn Drive, Perimeter Summit
Parkway (from Parkside Place
to Ashford Dunwoody Road),
and Parkside Place for traffic
calming and to accommodate
the landscape and pedestrian
improvements. Furthermore, the
driveway for the Hilton Garden
Inn hotel on the one way por-
tion of Lake Hearn Drive will be
modified to restrict exiting traffic
to turning movements in one
direction only. Intersection im-
provements will consist of traffic
signal upgrades to mast arm type
installations at the intersections
of Perimeter Summit Parkway
and Parkside Place and Lake
Hearn Drive and Parkside Place.
The intersections of Lake Hearn
Drive and Parkside Place and
Lake Hearn Drive at the Cox
Enterprises, Inc. driveway will be
raised to help mitigate excessive
vehicle speed along Lake Hearn
Drive. An 8 foot to 10 foot wide
concrete multi-use trail is pro-
posed on the south side of Lake
Hearn Drive/Perimeter Summit
Parkway extending from Perim-
eter Center Parkway to Ashford
Dunwoody Road. This project is
located in DeKalb County in Land
Lots 329 and 330; and is in Land
District 18. Drawings or maps or
plats of the proposed project,
as approved, are on file and are
available for public inspection
at the Georgia Department of
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011
Classifieds
national origin, handicap or familial status.
Transportation: Thomas Parker
Area Engineer 805 George Lu-
ther Drive Decatur, GA 30032
404-299-4386 tparker@dot.
ga.gov Any interested party may
obtain a copy of the drawings or
maps or plats or portions thereof
by paying a nominal fee and
requesting in writing to: Bobby
Hilliard, P. E. State Program De-
livery Engineer Georgia Depart-
ment of Transportation 600 West
Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA
30308 404-631-1122 bhilliard@
dot. ga.gov Any written request
or communication in reference
to this project or notice SHOULD
include the Project and P. I.
Numbers as noted at the top of
this notice.
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Page 19A
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 Page 20A
AROUND
ATLANTA
Republican women to meet
The North DeKalb Republican Wom-
en will hold its next meeting at the DeKalb
Republican Party Headquarters, 3583-G
Chamblee Tucker Road (Embry Hills
Shopping Village) at 10 a.m. on Saturday,
May 21. The guest speaker will be Dr.
Brian Hill, speaking on the state of health
care in America. The public is invited.
The NDRW is a non-profit organiza-
tion involved in public service working
with the USO, Ronald McDonald House,
the V.A. Hospital and local schools.
The NDRW prepared food for and
served more than 200 men and women in
the armed forces at the USO on April 30.
Six club members were present to meet
and greet the troops and serve home-
made chili and potato salad, hot dogs and
coleslaw throughout the day.
Also, the NDRW is collecting diapers
for military families. Those who would like
to contribute should bring the diapers to
the DeKalb GOP Headquarters on any
meeting date.
For more information, contact Wy-
olene Richardson at (770) 491-8708.
DECATUR
History center to hold adult
history camp
The DeKalb History Center has an-
nounced a three-day exploration into
DeKalb’s history. With history center staff
as guides, participants will receive a crash
course in local history with visits to historic
sites throughout the county and lectures
by local historians. Highlights include vis-
its to the Flat Rock Archives, Lyon Plan-
tation, Agnes Scott College, Sylvester
Cemetery and the Shermantown Com-
munity of Stone Mountain. Participants
will receive a behind the scenes introduc-
tion to the center’s Archives & Research
Center and a lecture on DeKalb history by
local author and historian Vivian Price.
The event will be June 7 - 9 from 8:30
a.m. until 3 p.m. Each day will begin at
the DeKalb History Center, 101 E. Court
Square, Decatur. The cost is $50 for DHC
members and $75 for non-members (in-
cludes a new membership). Space is lim-
ited. For more information or to register,
contact Leslie Borger at (404)373-1088
ext. 20 or dhs@dekalbhistory.org.
Christian center to offer help
for abused
Branch Outreach Center is offering
support sessions to those in the com-
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011
munity who have been affected sexual
abuse. The center is currently enrolling for
its upcoming session, which begins June
6. This group is open to anyone who has
been the victim of sexual abuse. It is a 12-
week Christian-based program. Sessions
will be at The Hand of the Lord, Interna-
tional, 1399 Austin Drive, Decatur, 7 – 9
p.m., Mondays June 6, through Aug. 29.
For more information, call (404) 288-1033
or visit http://www.thehand.org.
PushPush Theater
announces film camp
This year is the 100th anniversary
of the birth of Tennessee Williams, and
the staff and crew of PushPush will be
celebrating his work throughout the year.
The summer production will focus on Wil-
liams’ later writing, and specifically, a play
about ghosts, zombies and making true
friends.
The summer camp shows will fea-
ture Williams’ writings for both stage
and film The production will feature 20
individual scenes with many main roles
which will provide opportunities for camp
participants of all levels of experience.
The first camp runs June 13 – July
1 and the second camp is scheduled for
July 11 – July 29.
Camp is open to ages: 8 – 12 and
teens 13 and older (participating sepa-
rately). For additional information call
(404) 377-6332, or e-mail pushpushthe-
ater@gmail.com.
Registration ongoing for
Camp Superstars
Two dates remain for registration
for the Camp Superstars summer camp.
Registration will be held May 21 and 28,
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Exchange Recre-
ation Center at 2771 Columbia Drive in
Decatur.
The camp, for boys and girls ages
5-15, will be held May 31-July 29 Monday
through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The
cost of the camp is $55 per week, and
breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Camp activities include field trips,
swim lessons, arts and crafts, fun with
nature, sports, health and wellness
clinics, team games and more. The
camp includes Inclusion Camp, which
is designed and staffed specifically for
children ages 5-18 with mild to moderate
disabilities.
Registration applications are avail-
able online at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/
parks. Applications can be printed and
returned to Exchange Recreation Center
along with the first week fee. For more
information, contact Bernita Reese,
recreation program manager, at (404)
371-6273.
DEKALB
STONE MOUNTAIN AVONDALE
ART Station receives award ESTATES
ART Station on May 12 received the
“Rock of the Community Award,” pre-
sented to businesses in Stone Mountain
Village that have exhibited long-standing
commitment to the community.
Recently celebrating its 25th an-
niversary, ART Station has been a major
player in the Village of Stone Mountain,
offering quality arts programming services
to more than 50,000 patrons annually.
Current programs include: elementary
and middle school summer arts camps; a
season of 14 gallery exhibitions, a profes-
sional theatre company producing seven
productions annually; a folk art storytell-
ing festival with an annual attendance
of 15,000; a performance company for
youth; a performance company for teens;
and classes in the visual, performing and
literary arts for adults and children.
ART Station’s management of the
Stone Mountain Artists Micro-enterprise
program is in its first year. The mission
of the arts incubator program is to plan,
build, develop, foster and to nurture a cre-
ative economy in the City of Stone Moun-
tain and in 2011 has been recognized as
the most creative economic development
program in Metro Atlanta by the Atlanta
Regional Commission.
Event will benefit brain
tumor patients
The Moving Towards a Cure Brain
Tumor 5K Awareness Walk/Run will be
held on Saturday, May 21, at 8 a.m. at
Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain.
The walk’s presented by Miles For Hope
Inc. and proceeds will fund brain tumor
research and provide travel assistance to
brain tumor patients.
The event is open to all ages. Regis-
tration is May 21 at 7 a.m. and the event
begins at 8 a.m. Registration is $25 is for
adults and is free for children younger
than 5 years old. Participants can walk/
run individually or form a team. A post-
event celebration will follow the race and
includes an award presentation, and re-
membrance of those battling brain tumor
disease as well as those who lost their
battle.
Miles for Hope Inc. is a non-profit
organization dedicated to funding cut-
ting-edge brain tumor research, raising
awareness of brain tumors and providing
travel assistance to brain tumor patients
enrolled in clinical trials.
Wade Walker Park is at 5585 Rock-
bridge Road, Stone Mountain. Parking is
available on site. For more information,
please visit the website, www.braintumor-
events.org/atlanta or call (727) 781-4673.
www.championnewspaper.com
Public hearing for dog
park set
A public hearing is set for May 23 at
7:30 p.m. for residents to comment on the
proposed dog park in Avondale Estates.
The proposed location of the park is south
of Berkeley Road at Wiltshire Drive.
The Avondale Estates Board of May-
or and Commissioners (BOMC) agreed
in March on a committee to research
options associated with the proposed
dog park. The committee is in charge of
planning and making recommendations
regarding all aspects of the park, from
layout and equipment to materials and
rules and regulations. The committee
has been researching options and costs
associated with fencing, ground cover,
benches and fountains, as well as other
items. The committee gave additional in-
formation and fine updated cost estimates
at a BOMC hearing on May 19.
To view the proposed dog park Pow-
erPoint presentation, go to http://www.
avondaleestates.org/dog_park.html Avon-
dale Estates Proposed Dog Park
LITHONIA
Purple Warriors to lead walk
for abuse survivors
Saving Our Children and Families
Inc. (SOCAF) will host a 4-mile Purple
Warrior’s Walk/Run, starting at 8 a.m.
at Arabia Mountain. The Movement to
Stop Child Sexual Abuse/Child Exploi-
tation in Our Communities event will be
held Saturday, May 21.
This first Survivor’s Walk is an op-
portunity for organizations to raise their
visibility and demonstrate commitment
to the community. The walk is designed
to raise awareness in the community
surrounding child sexual abuse and
child exploitation. The event is open to
the public and will include information,
resources, entertainment and a scenic
paved trail for both professional runners
and walkers.
Registration for individuals is $20
each; for groups/families/teams it’s $15
each and for SOCAF, Inc. members it’s
$10 each. The public is welcome. The
event is at 3787 Klondike Road, Litho-
nia. For more information, e-mail info@
savingourchildrenandfamilies.org.
sPORts The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011
Sweeping success
St. Pius earns boys and girls AAA soccer titles
by Robert Naddra
H
robert@dekalbchamp.com
aving just witnessed their
soccer teams win back-
to-back championships,
some St. Pius students
and fans could no longer
hold back their enthusiasm.
Dozens of fans ignored the public
address announcer’s pleas and rushed
onto the field after the St. Pius boys
beat Woodward Academy 5-4 on May
14 to win the Class AAA state title.
A couple of hours earlier, the Golden
Lions girls’ team blanked Woodward
Academy 4-0 for their third straight
championship. It was the second time
in three seasons that St. Pius has swept
the AAA soccer titles.
Boys coach David O’Shea, soak-
ing wet after he was doused with a
bucket of water in celebration, sur-
veyed the frenetic scene from the field.
“We have a terrific fan base,”
Photos by Bruce James O’Shea said. “Look at the type of at-
mosphere this creates for our school.
We’ve developed a great tradition
here.”
While the outcome of the girls’
game was never in question, the boys
battled back from an early 2-0 deficit.
Tyler Alexander scored two goals
during a four-goal surge in a 10-min-
ute span that put the Golden Lions
ahead 4-2 at halftime. A second-half
goal by Alex Kowalski made it 5-2,
but St. Pius weathered a comeback as
Woodward’s Cameron Mosley scored
his third goal of the game to cut the
lead to 5-4 with 22 minutes to play.
Drew Morgan and Sam Bonnie also
scored goals for St. Pius.
The win was another chapter in a
building rivalry between the two pri-
vate schools. It was the third straight
time the two teams have met in the
state playoffs with St. Pius (20-0-1)
winning a quarterfinals match in 2009
and Woodward winning in the semifi-
nals last season.
Of the 14 goals allowed by the
Golden Lions this season, Woodward
scored six in two games. Senior goal-
keeper Andrew Wolverton earned 13
Page 21A
shutouts and has signed a scholarship
to Penn State University.
“We’re two of the top teams in
Georgia right now so that’s going to
add to the anticipation,” O’Shea said.
“It definitely makes it sweeter to beat
[Woodward] in the finals.”
While the boys’ team was em-
broiled in a shootout, the St. Pius girls
added another shutout to their playoff
resume. The St. Pius girls’ (19-2-1)
extended their streak of postseason
shutouts to 15 games over the past
three seasons. The win in the finals
was the Golden Lions’ seventh straight
shutout of the season.
Tiffany Rodriguez, Diana So-
laga, Kelsey Keown and Kaitlyn
Orman scored the goals for St. Pius.
As they had done in the previous four
playoffs games, the Golden Eagles
used their speed and aggressive play
to create plays on both ends of the
field.
“Speed has been our biggest
advantage this season,” girls coach
Sara Geiger said. “We have speed all
over the field and a lot of people have
stepped up all season, from the starters
to girls coming off the bench.”
Five of St. Pius’ six seniors have
signed scholarships—Keown, Rhodes
College; Bryana Gold, Villanova;
Grace Raines, The Citadel; Andrea
Papania, University of Dallas; and
Elizabeth Kinsel, Georgia State.
“To be able to end my high school
career with another state champion-
ship is an amazing feeling,” Gold said.
“We have so much faith in each other
and we have a wonderful group of
freshmen.”
St. Pius’ depth was evident as
three of the goal scorers were under-
classmen. For Orman, the lone fresh-
man to score for the Golden Eagles,
the aftermath of the victory gave her a
chance for reflection and to look to the
future.
“Words can’t describe how it
feels,” Orman said. “We’ve worked
hard all year and we’ve been doing
this for the seniors. We wanted to give
them a three-peat. Now we have so
much to live up to.”
Page 22A The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 www.championnewspaper.com

Marist seniors Blake Stevens, left, and Brandon Liebrandt have allowed just one earned run in four games over the first two rounds of the Class AAAA state baseball play-
offs. Photos by Bruce James

Pitching powers Marist in playoffs

by Robert Naddra two aces exclusively. Together five home runs in the two games called Bancroft, who was recov-

B
robert@dekalbchamp.com they have given up only one against Creekview. Chesny ering from surgery in a hospital
earned run in the playoffs. Young, Kevin Gale and Georg- bed. The Wildcats responded with
lake Stevens and Liebrandt, a left-hander who es Durot hit solo homers and an 18-10 win to advance to the
Brandon Liebrandt has signed a college scholarship Mitchell Anderson had a two-run quarterfinals.
form one of the most with Florida State, allowed two homer in Game 1. Senior Daniel The Wildcats trailed 2-0 in
dominant high school hits and a walk in the 11-1 Game Spingola hit a home run and had Game 2 heading to the bottom of
pitching tandems in the 1 win over the Grizzlies. He en- three hits overall in the second the seventh inning. With two outs
state. Players from Creekview and tered the quarterfinal series with game. and Dunwoody trailing 2-1, Cam
Madison County will attest to that. a 10-0 record and has not allowed Dunwoody also has advanced Young struck out but reached
The Marist seniors have an earned run in the past five to the Class AAAA quarterfinals, first base on a passed ball. With
helped the War Eagles cruise games. but had to rely on its bats and runners on first and third, Dun-
through the first two rounds The right-handed Stevens has some good fortune in the second woody scored its final two runs
of the Class AAAA state base- kept pace. He has amassed 16 round. The Wildcats (24-7) were on two more passed balls. Logan
ball playoffs. After dispatching strikeouts and allowed only five without pitching ace Wes Ban- Elliot pitched his fourth complete
Madison 4-0 and 10-0 in the first hits in his first two state playoff croft for their second-round se- game of the season for the win.
round in a best-of-three series, starts, including six strikeouts ries against Lambert May 11-12. He allowed only five hits and one
the War Eagles (27-3) routed against Creekview in the 13-1 Bancroft had emergency surgery walk while striking out five.
Creekview 11-1 and 13-1 on May Game 2 win. to have his spleen removed just In Game 3, Jerric Johnson
11 in the second round. The War Marist, which has outscored before the start of the series. and Stelen Stulberger each had
Eagles faced Greenbrier in the its opposition 38-2 in four games The Wildcats lost the opener three hits while Jared Martin
quarterfinals May 17. in the state playoffs, has been to Lambert 15-5 but won the had two hits and two RBIs.
The best-of-three series for- as strong at the plate as it has second game 3-2. Before the The Wildcats faced Effingham
mat in the playoffs has allowed been on the mound. The War deciding game on May 12 the County in the quarterfinals on
coach Mike Strickland to use his Eagles pounded out 30 hits and Dunwoody players from the field May 17.
www.championnewspaper.com
County brings home three state track titles
by Robert Naddra
robert@dekalbchamp.com
D e c a t u r, S o u t h w e s t
DeKalb and M.L. King
proved that there is more than
one way to win a state cham-
pionship. The three schools
all won state girls track titles
May 14 in Albany in different
classifications.
Decatur needed a victory
in the 4x400 relay, the final
event, to hold off Therrell
45-41 for the Class AA title. It
was the Bulldogs’ second state
title in the past five seasons.
Southwest DeKalb got
points from all seven of its
participants en route to its
fourth Class AAAA state title
in the past five seasons, with
Morgan Snow claiming the
lone individual championship
in the triple jump.
M.L. King won its first
state title in any sport, win-
ning Class AAAAA by plac-
ing first in six events. The
Lions, who finished second
in the Region 2-AAAAA to
Westlake, turned the tables
at state and beat their rivals
66-50.33.
In all, DeKalb participants
accounted for 10 individu-
al state titles and five relay
championships.
Two athletes won two
individual state titles. M.L.
King sophomore Jada Mar-
tin won both the 100 and 200
meter races. In the AA meet,
Shunika Jarrells of Avondale
also swept the 100 and 200.
Also for M.L. King, Feli-
cia Brown won the 400 and
Jalisa Terrells won the high
jump.
Other individual state
champions were Shelby Ashe
(shot put) and Erin Osment
(3,200) of St. Pius; and Chris-
tian Pryor (800) of Cedar
Grove.
“I always tell people. ‘If
you want to see good running,
come to DeKalb County,’”
said Southwest coach Antoi-
nette Tyrell. “It’s one of the
best places in the nation when
it comes to track. If you look
at the girls’ results at state,
county [participants] were
very dominating.”
M.L. King accomplished
its feat with mostly underclass-
men. Terrells and Cree’anna
Williams, who placed fourth
in the triple jump, were the
only seniors participating
for the Lions. Coach Brandi
Bush tried to help her team
get rid of nervous tension
before the meet.
“We had three pep talks,”
Bush said. “As we pulled up
The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011 Page 23A
to the track when we first got relay in the Class AAAA Cedar Grove in AAA, Kayla in the shot put for Redan;
there, we talked for 10 min- meet. Pryor was second in the Dunwoody’s Jessika Banks
utes about focus and getting There were several other 800 and Christian Pryor was was third in the 300 hurdles;
rid of distractions. We had to top finishes at the state meets. fourth in the 400. In AAAA, Marist’s Peyton Cambas
teach them how to get in the For St. Pius in AAA, Ashe was Alyssa Felton of Chamblee was third in the pole vault;
zone.” second in the discus, Devon was third in the long jump; Tucker’s Tamera Harris was
The underclassmen Dabney was second in the India Hammond was third second in the 300 hurdles; and
learned their lesson. The Li- 3,200 and third in the 1,600, in the 100 hurdles, Crystal Lakeside’s Meghan Wetter-
ons’ winning 4x100 relay and Danielle Penck was Gray was third in the 400 and hall was fourth in the 1,600
team (Martin, Brown, Tiffany fourth in the pole vault. For Aneesah Daniels was fourth and 3,200.
Camper and Alexis Smith)
set a state record of 46.5 sec-
onds in a qualifying heat.
“We have a lot to build
on—we’re only losing our
high jumper and triple jump-
er,” Bush said. “In all the
running events we have the
exact same girls coming back
next season. If we come out
and continue to work hard and
keep the chemistry going, I
don’t see a team that can beat
us next year.”
While M.L. King’s win is
the first step toward establish-
ing a dominant tradition in
girls track, Southwest DeKalb
expanded on its tradition at
state. Snow, who has signed
a scholarship with the Uni-
versity of Texas, was the
high scorer among county
participants with 28.5 points.
In addition to her triple jump
win, she placed second in the
100 and the 100 hurdles, and
was part of the record-setting
relay team.
Also, Kenya Wheeler
placed second in the shot put
and Greciana Cooper was
second in the 800 for South-
west.
“This one was a little dif-
ferent because usually when
we win we have to come back
from way in a hole and do it on
the track,” Tyrell said. “This
time the field events were re-
ally big for us and there wasn’t
a lot of pressure on the final
day in the running events.”
The Panthers racked up
19 points in field events, plus
four more from Cooper’s
fifth-place finish in the 1600,
which is run on the first day
of the meet along with the
field events. Southwest’s total
of 23 points heading into the
final day was only nine points
shy of the total for second-
place finishers Dutchtown and
Lakeside-Evans.
For Decatur, Ashleigh
Reed won the triple jump at
38 feet, 9 inches to give the
Bulldogs a good start. In the
running events, Rosie Parker
placed second in the 400 and
Alaina Cook was third in the
100 hurdles. The Bulldogs
finished second in the 4x100
relay.
Dunwoody also claimed a
state title, winning the 4x400
Page 24A The Champion Free Press, Friday, May 20, 2011
Snow among 4 Panthers to
sign track scholarships
Morgan Snow is one of four members of
the Southwest DeKalb girls track team to sign
college scholarships recently. Snow, who won a
state title in the triple jump and was part of the
Panthers’ first-place finish in the 4x100 relay,
signed with the University of Texas. Also, Kenya
Scott signed with Georgia Tech, Mercedes Per-
ez with Mississippi Valley State and Adrienne
Jemison with Chattahoochee Technical College.
Oglethorpe’s Todd Ward receives a plaque for scoring All four were honored at a signing ceremony
1,000 points in his career. Photo provided May 11 at the school.
Oglethorpe’s Ward to have
jersey retired Chamblee basketball
Oglethorpe University graduating senior
players sign scholarships
Todd Ward will have his jersey retired during Four Chamblee boys’ basketball players were
the 2011-12 basketball season, according to honored at the school May 13 for signing college
the university. Ward amassed 1,416 points basketball scholarships. Fred Miller signed
(fourth most in OU history) and 860 career with South Carolina-Upstate, Victor Bowden
rebounds (third most in OU history). He is the with South Carolina-Aiken, Sedarius Boyd with
second Oglethorpe men’s basketball player to Atlanta Metro Junior College and Charles Savoy
be selected first team all-Southern Collegiate with Raleigh Prep in Oklahoma. Boyd averaged
Athletic Conference three straight seasons. Ward 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Miller
also is the SCAC career leader in rebounds. averaged 17 points per game as a senior.
www.championnewspaper.com
Miller Grove receives
national recognition
The Miller Grove boys’ basketball team was
presented with an Army National Guard national
ranking trophy by MaxPreps on May 16 as part of
its Tour of Champions. Miller Grove, which fin-
ished 32-1 last season and won its third consecu-
tive Class AAAA state championship, is among
only 10 teams in the country to be honored. Miller
Grove ended the season ranked No. 56 in the na-
tion by MaxPreps, which ranks more than 20,000
boys high school basketball teams across the
country. The trophy was presented to coach Shar-
man White and the team at a pep rally.
Southwest DeKalb
sponsors tennis camp
The Southwest DeKalb Panther Community
Camp, for boys and girls ages 5-18, will be held
June 6-10 and July 11-15. The camp is at the Dot-
tie Bridges Tennis Center at Flat Shoals Park,
4522 Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur. Each camp
is 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Campers are expected to report
at 8:15 a.m. each day. Lunch and a light snack will
be provided. For more information or to register,
call (404) 610-1840 or visit www.swdtennis.com.