Champion FreePress 4-29-16

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FRiDaY, apRil 29, 2016 Vol. 19, no. 2 FREE
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DEKALB BOE WORK

SESSION
SOLICITOR-GENERALS
RACE IS BETWEEN
COWORKERS
FUNDS ALLOCATED TO
ADDRESS CROSS KEYS
CLUSTER
LOCAL, 2A
LOCAL, 8A
EDUCATION, 15A
From left, Mayor Donna Pittman, DeKalb County Commissioner Nancy Jester and Rip Robertson all addressed the public at the
2016 Doraville State of the City address. Photos by R. Scott Belzer
Doraville mayor, others

discuss TAD at State of the City
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
Discussions on a development dominated Doravilles

annual State of the City event
held April 21.
More than 100 were in attendance for the event held in
Doraville City Halls parking
lot. A stage was constructed
to host speakers Mayor
Donna Pittman and DeKalb
commissioner Nancy Jester,
while Rip Robertson provided emcee services for the
evening.
While the speakers highlighted Doravilles past, future
and current achievements,
discussion topics also included making a portion of
the city a tax allocation district (TAD). The district would
aid in the redevelopment of
the former General Motors
assembly site now known
as The Assembly and faced
opposition from participants
such as the DeKalb County
School District.
Jester, whose husband
More than 100 were present at Doravilles annual State of the City address which
focused on the Assembly development.
serves on the districts board

of education, was the first
to mention the project at the
event while simultaneously
praising the citys achievements.
Mayor Pittman and
[Doravilles entire city council] have worked very hard
to invigorate whats going
on in Doraville, Jester said.
We have the GM site here;
no one is working harder on
development in Georgia right
now than Mayor Pittman and
the council. I continue to pray

every day that all my fellow elected officials on other
boards will see the wisdom of
what youre working on.
Jester went on to say
she happens to be married
to one of them and knows
where he stands.
I cant wait to see what I
know is going to be an amazing development there at
the former GM site, Jester
said. Please keep up the
hard work; its amazing. Dont
Chavella Hamm says her teenage son was attacked

by Stonecrest Mall security guards. Photo by Andrew
Cauthen
Mother files
lawsuit in sons
mall guard attack
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
The mother of a teenager allegedly

injured during an altercation with
Stonecrest Mall security guards in June
2015 wants justice for her son.
On April 20, attorneys for the mother,
Chavella Hamm, filed a lawsuit against
Stonecrest Mall, the three security
guards involved in the incident
John Battle, Howard Bell and Glenn
Russelland their employer, Securitas
Security Services USA.
People need to understand that you
cannot go around victimizing children,
said Hamm during a news conference
after the lawsuit was filed.
According to the lawsuit, Hamms
son, who was 15 at the time, and a
group of his friends were ordered out of
Stonecrest Mall because they were not
accompanied by an adult per the malls
policy.
One of the teens told the guards that
his mother was en route from a nearby
store to pick them up, according to the
lawsuit, but the guards insisted that the
teens exit the mall immediately.
Because it was raining heavily
outside, one of the teens asked to wait
inside until his mother picked them up,
the lawsuit stated.
In response, one of the guards
See Doraville on Page 5A
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local
The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016 Page 2A
Tension clouds DeKalb BOE work session

by R. Scott Belzer
Stan Jester. File photo/Travis Hudgons
When youre demeaning a population

and saying things that could reflect
negatively on the children we serve,
Im greatly disappointed.
Joyce Morley
Are we allowed to
actively recruit by race, age
or gender? Jester said.
We might get in trouble with
that.
Morley assured Jester
she wanted to keep a
diverse pool of teachers in

DeKalb County to match its
diverse population.
We have to be realistic;
sometimes when people
dont see someone that
looks like them it has
emotional and psychological

impact on ones growth and
development, academically,
socially and otherwise,
Morley said. We want to be
See BOE on Page 8A
20
RD
285
PE
L
155
285
clarification.
Wow scary
neighborhoods, Morley
said. We have to get to
the point of defining scary.
We have to be careful
about how were labeling
neighborhoods and labeling
people. Whats a scary
neighborhood? Are there
goblins, ghosts and spooks
and all that? What makes it
scary?
Jester said the high
crime rate of the Grant
Park area is what made it
scary, but Morley remained
unconvinced.
This should have
nothing to do with it, Morley
said. You keep wanting to
put down neighborhoods
When we label people
and label neighborhoods,
were labeling our children.
Were saying to our children
Youre scary too, look at
your neighborhood.
Jester did not comment
further, other than request
that the board members
remember their roles and
how they should execute
them. However, when
Morley later questioned Leo
McAuley Browns monthly
human capital report and
recruitment methods, things
took a similar turn.
Theres a [news story]
about a lack of males,
especially males of color,
where children are not
seeing males that look like
them, Morely said. What
are we doing to try to recruit
males, especially males of
color, so that our children
have role models and they
may see theres nothing
wrong with education?
Brown said part of the
recruitment process is
visiting historically Black
colleges throughout the
country, among other top
universities, to strategically
search for qualified male
teachers.
Joyce Morley. File photo/Travis Hudgons
W
ES
LE
Y
iscussions on
contract renewal
and human
capital took
surprising turns
during a DeKalb County
board of education work
session.
On April 18, District 1
board member Stan Jester
elicited responses from
board members Joyce
Morley and Vickie Turner
with remarks involving
Boulevard Cold Storage,
located in the Grant Park
neighborhood of Atlanta.
The discussion
became tense enough to
require a statement from
Superintendent Stephen
Green.
Jester questioned
renewing Boulevard Cold
Storages contract in
providing food storage
services due to its distance
from the district and
because DeKalb County
was not given competitive
pricing. Jester also gave
his opinion on the buildings
appearance and location,
which he termed being in a
scary neighborhood, which
subsequently silenced the
room.
Its run down and
it looks really bad, but I
went inside and I talked
to the dock workers and
the actual storage facility
is very respectable,
Jester said. Its in a scary
neighborhood, but its a legit
service.
Morley was the first to
respond, requesting Jester
trust personnel in the school
districts Food & Nutrition
Services division to do their
job. She also requested
Jester take a more sensitive
approach to his public
commentary, stating the
neighborhood itself has
nothing to do with the
service being provided.
I do get concerned
when we talk about scary
neighborhoods and places
like that, Morley said.
The place is for storage of
products and not people.
Jester continued without
clarification, stating he
didnt mind it being in a
scary neighborhood and
if anything, that might
save [the district] money,
prompting chuckling and
throat clearing.
Morley continued by
explicitly asking Jester for
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local
aRounddeKalB
countYWide
DeKalb Board of Equalization relocating April 28
claRKston
DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry recently

announced that the Board of Equalization is moving to the Manuel J.
Maloof Annex, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, as of April 28.
Limited parking is available at the location and additional parking
is provided directly across the street in the West Trinity Place parking
deck for $6.
All hearings scheduled on and after April 28 will be heard at the
originally scheduled time in the new location.
For more information, call (404) 687-3876.
County to collect household hazardous waste

DeKalb County will hold its semiannual household hazardous
waste event April 30.
Residents will have the opportunity to responsibly dispose of
dangerous household chemicals that are no longer of use.
Hazardous materials such as aerosols, batteries, adhesives,
flammables, lawn care products, fluorescent light bulbs, photo
chemicals, artist supplies, household cleaning supplies, and paint
and paint-related products, will be accepted.
The event will be Saturday, April 30, 8 a.m. to noon, at DeKalb
County Sanitation Divisions Central Transfer Station, 3720 Leroy
Scott Drive, Decatur.
bRooKHaVen
City to host stream cleanup event

Brookhaven is seeking volunteer support when it hosts the
2016 Stream Cleanup Event on April 30, from 10 a.m. to noon at
the stream at Montclair Elementary School, 1680 Clairmont Place.
The event is being held in recognition of Water Appreciation Day,
a full-day celebration of water cleanups around the metro Atlanta
area. Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and
long pants, and sunscreen is recommended. If possible, bring any
tools that would be helpful in collecting trash. The city will provide
everything else needed for the cleanup, including bags, light
gardening gloves and bottled water as well as waiver forms. For
questions and to RSVP, e-mail stormwater@brookhavenga.gov.
cHaMblee
Library hosts reading initiative

The DeKalb County Public Library and DeKalb Library
Foundation will be hosting an educational program at Chamblee
Library on Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m.
The program, titled 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
encourages parents, caregivers and mentors to read on a regular
basis with toddlers and babies to encourage mental development.
Research shows that when parents talk, read and sing with their
young children, connections that build language, literacy and socialemotional skills are formed in their childrens brains, reads a release
about the event.
Attendees will receive a free starter book, reading logbooks, tips
on engaging their children as well as prize incentives. Participants
will also receive information on story time programs aimed at
toddlers and a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten library card.
A family reading three books a day will read 1,095 in one year.
A family reading one book a day will reach the goal in three years,
said Jill Joplin, DeKalb County Library Foundation executive
director. In addition, books read at storytime programs will count
toward the goal, and reading the same book many times counts each
time.
For more information, visit www.dekalblibrary.org/1000books.
File photo/Travis Hudgons
Culture festival scheduled

The city of Clarkston will be celebrating its diversity on Saturday,
April 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Clarkstons 2016 Culture Fest will celebrate the citys array of
cultures with a 5k walk and run, performances, entertainment for
children, food trucks, sports activities, vendors and more.
This years performers include Tom Wolfe, Brown Dog Band, the
Pork Brothers, Michael Bradley, the Burundi Drummers, Solid State,
Proskuneo School of the Arts as well as Indian Creek Elementary
School.
All throughout the day, we will have performances from Clarkston
area musicians and artists both professional and amateur, including
some of our local schools performing groups, reads the events
website. These performances will portray the cultural diversity of
Clarkston, delight the audience with beautiful artistry, and encourage
audience participation and engagement.
For more information, visit www.clarkstonculturefest.org or call (404)
292-5686, ext. 239.
decatuR
Retail store grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony

The public is invited to Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store, 2655 N.
Decatur Road, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 28, 8:45 a.m. The
event commences the stores grand opening celebration.
The first 120 guests each day will receive a Jo-Ann Gift Card
ranging in value from $10-$250. Customers who spend $25 or more will
receive a free tote bag (while supplies last).Children who visit the store
will have an opportunity to make their own crafts April 30,11 a.m. - 2
p.m.
dunWoodY
City celebrates Pernoshal Park opening

The city of Dunwoody is inviting members of DeKalb County to join
them in celebrating the grand opening of the Park at Pernoshal Court,
located at 4575 North Shallowford Road.
Beginning at 4 p.m., the park, which also served as host for
Dunwoodys Earth Day celebration on April 22, will host an honorary
ribbon cutting, a bike loop and walk around Brook Run Trail for all ages,
soccer games and fun for kids as well as a concluding Movie on the
Meadow (The Good Dinosaur (PG)).
Food trucks will also be available for attendees.
For more information, including information on contacting the events
organizers, visit www.dunwoodyga.gov.
local
Peter Lee
Peter Lee, a junior at Druid Hills

High School, said he isdedicated to
whatever hes trying to do.
Lee is a first-year member of
the Fernbank LINKS robotic team,
which will be participating in an international robotics competition at
the end of the month.
A high-achieving student in
Druid Hills InternationalBaccalaureateprogram, Lee said he has
done atremendous amount of volunteer work.
He has worked in six training
sessions for younger students who
want to learn about FIRST Lego
Leagueand to really immerse
themselves into STEM.
Additionally, Lee volunteers
withFernbank LINKS Science Night
Out, a program held at the Fernbank Science Center to provide
third- to sixth-graders50 at each
eventwith an opportunity to learn
about STEM through...science experiments and Lego robotics.

Lee also helped the LINKS program when it took over the Georgia
BEST robotics program, which offers free robotics competitions to 12
state teams.
They built robots and I helped
set up the field and I helped ensure
that the kids had all of the materials for their robots, Lee said.
Lee founded his schools chapter of the Science National Honor
Society when he saw that there
was a dwindling STEM community.
I really wanted to revitalize it,
Lee said.
The Science National Honor
Society is meant to promote
STEM, Lee said. Right now were
just trying to promote events around
our community.
Lee is president of his schools
chapter of Future Business Leaders
of America and won an economics

award from the state organization.
Lee, who volunteers with the
business side of LINKS robotics
team, said his economic knowledge really helps out.
At a state robotics competition April 16, Lee was one of two
Georgia finalists for the Deans List
Award which is given to students
who exemplify the ideals of FIRST
and those who are really trying to
grow program itselfthose who really show what FIRST is all about...
which is training the next generation of scientists, engineers, technicians and mathematicians through
STEM, Lee said.
I never expected to get this
award because Im so new to the
team, but I dived head first into
FIRST to ensure that our team is
highly successful, he said.
Peter Lee
DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

1ST PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2017
Monday, May 9, 2016
TIME
5:45 p.m.
LOCATION
J. David Williamson Board Room
Administrative & Instructional Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Avondale Police Chief Gary Broden will retire in June after 10 years as chief.
Avondale Estates police chief to retire

by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Avondale Estates city officials
announced April 22 that Police Chief Gary
Broden will retire in June.
Broden has been in law enforcement
for 40 years. He began his law
enforcement career after graduating from
the Military Police Academy in 1974,
at Fort Gordon, Ga. He has served in
both the Air Force Reserve and Georgia
International Guard in the security
police field. He graduated from the
139th Session of the Federal Bureau of
Investigations National Academy.
He worked for the Cartersville Police
Department for 26 years, which included
a term as police chief before he retired.
He has been the Avondale Estates police
chief for 10 years.
Broden said in a released statement
that the Avondale Estates community
embraces its police department.
The community chooses who it wants
to serve and protect them and they have
selected a group of officers who provide

quality and personalized service, Broden
said. Some of our citizens have taken
ownership and become involved with their
police department by volunteering their
time and service to the neighborhood
watch program, the citizens police
academy and the citizens on patrol
program. The relationship with our
community has been and continues to be
far different than many other communities
across the nation, especially in recent
times.
I have been privileged to be a small
part in the evolution and development of
the Avondale Estates Police Department,
proving that bigger is not always better,
Broden added. Professionalism is not
based upon the size of the agency, but
upon the size of the hearts of those who
make up the agency. It is my belief that
being a law enforcement officer is a calling
and a privilege. I cannot think of another
community in which I would have wanted
to complete my law enforcement career. I
appreciate the opportunity I was given.
The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold a public budget

hearing to solicit feedback from the public regarding the 20162017 school systems budget.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 678-676-0069.
The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016
local
Page 5A
lawsuit Continued From Page 1A

began cursing at the teen and insisted they
exit the mall into the rain, the lawsuit stated.
An animated exchange then ensued
between the teens and the security guard
who punched Hamms son in the face,
according to the legal document. The other
guards joined the first guard in physically
attacking Hamms son, the lawsuit states.
In a cellphone video recording of the
incident, you can see [the guards] throwing
punches at [the teens] head and face, then
grab him and throw him out of the bushes
into a bench, said Hamms attorney Mawuli
Davis during a news conference last year.
Hamms sons head hits the bench and his
eye is split open. It is only at that point, when
he is dazed, that [the guards] stop throwing
blows against him.
Hamm said the assault was due to the
unprofessionalism of the security guards.
Once I got the callI was there...only
right around the corner from where he
wasI was in shock, Hamm said about
The teenager allegedly received a cut above his eye during
arriving on the scene after the altercation.
an altercation with the security guards.
My child was bleeding. His clothes [were]
Photos by Andrew Cauthen
off his body. He had all these scars and
scratches.
to secure justice through the criminal justice
To see him like that, it frightened me,
system.
she said. I was really scared. Then when I
Unfortunately these three adult security
found out who did it, I went from scared to... officers have not been criminally charged,
very upset.
Davis said. We cant wait any longer for
Hamm said before filing the lawsuit her
justice.
focus was to get these three individuals in
We are here because the criminal
jail where they need to be because what
justice system has failed this family, Davis
they did was wrong.
said. What we have seen is this pattern,
Davis said his law firm initially attempted unfortunately, oflaw enforcement as well
as law enforcement types or even vigilantes

getting away with the physical abuse of
young African-American men.
From Trayvon Martin forward it has
been very difficult for the criminal justice
system...to find justice for these young men
who have been physically assaulted, and
in some cases even killed, by those that we
would expect...to protect them and other
patrons, Davis said.
Davis said the civil lawsuit was filed to
not only hold these officers accountable
for their abuse and their negligence and
their physical attacks against him, but also
to bring a suit against...Securitas Security
Services USA as well as the Stonecrest
Mall.
We want to hold the individual and
corporate wrongdoers accountable for the
harm they caused this young man, said
Harold Spence, the lead attorney in the
case. We know that we cannot reverse
what happened to him. The punches and
kicks that met their targetwe cant reverse
those. The profane and vulgar insults that
he had to endurewe cant reverse those
either.
But what we can do is pursue this lawsuit
to hold these wrongdoers accountable for
the harm that they did to this young man,
Spence said.
Hamm said her son has healed physically,
but mentally were still dealing with, day
to day, how he was mistreated by adult
individuals at the mall.
Doraville Continued From Page 1A

stop.
Pittman mentioned the project as one important to her, the city council and the city of
Doraville. The mayor said the development
reflects Doravilles vision of rebirth and
maximum connectivity.
The name Assembly reflects on the
sites past as a GM assembly plant and the
recognition of the projects potential to bring
together assemble parts of a city that
has been fractured by the [closing] of the
plant, Pittman said.
Pittman said the DeKalb County school
system currently receives $358,000 in property tax from The Assembly. At buildout, she
said, the school system will receive $135
million in additional tax revenues if the TAD
is in effect with $17 million annually in property taxes.
Can you imagine what that can do for our
kids and our schools? Pittman said. This
is an opportunity to transform our city, the
region and our surrounding cities. This is an
opportunity for a divided DeKalb to unite and
move beyond the past.
Pittman mentioned Third Rail Studios,
which will be housed at The Assembly as
an opportunity to join the $6 billion state film
industry. Pittman said it is critical for economic development in job creation and expanded lifestyle creation.
Pittman also mentioned Doravilles accomplishments in street development, park
development and pedestrian improvements.
Specifically, Pittman mentioned the development of a historic downtown redevelopment
plan and an approved Peachtree Roadscapes project.
The mayor said Doravilles economy is on
the rise. She named The Nexus Project, a
$200 million redevelopment of an old K-Mart
along Buford Highway, which will include
60,000 square feet of retail, residential and
senior living, and a hotel, as well as a $30
million McCall Drive industrial complex offering hundreds of jobs.
We have seen more than $400 million in
investments in our city this past year, Pittman said.
Pittman also mentioned Doraville as
ranked second for starting a new business in
Georgia, first for where millennials would like
to live and one of the 50 safest cities.
When it came to policing, Pittman commended the Doraville Police Department
for answering approximately 45,440 calls in
2015. She attributed the statistic to an increase in service due to annexation, and
implementation of new technology.
Pittman said she was proud of Doravilles
library in welcoming 64,378 visitors and circulating 59,530 items throughout the city last
year. More than 180 library programs were
also available to residents in 2015.
For the past three years I have stood before you and told you of all the great things
that are going to happen in our city, Pittman
said. Today, I stand before you with great
pride that they are becoming a reality.
Rev. Winston Worrell gave an invocation
while the Frank Lisco Duo provided entertainment for the evening. Dunwoody High
Schools JROTC presented colors during
the events pledge of allegiance and national
anthem.
We thank [God] for the amount of vitality
and work in this city, Worrell said. We pray
for all city leaders, police officers, fire men
and women, all workers and employees in
this city; we pray for a bright future of prosperity and for all Gods provisions for all of
Doravilles families and residents.
opinion
Page 6A
New government center may be tough to sell

At the southeast
intersection of Memorial
Drive and Kensington Road,
DeKalb County government
owns acres of prime real
estate.
It is across Memorial
Drive from the Kensington
MARTA Station. East of
the property is the DeKalb
County Juvenile Court. Its
also near the proposed site
of the failed Atlanta United
professional soccer training
facility.
It is here that some
DeKalb officials, particularly
interim CEO Lee May,
want to build a new county
government center.
The concept is for an
eight-story, 300,000-squarefoot building that would cost
an estimated $90 million to
construct.
May introduced the
idea in his 2015 State of
Andrew Cauthen
Managing Editor
@AndrewChampNews
the County address when

he espoused the idea of
redeveloping Memorial
Drive into Downtown
DeKalb.
The catalyst for this
whole transformation will be
the creation of a new government center at the heart
of Memorial Drive, May
said in 2015. With access
to the interstate, MARTA rail

station and the hundreds
of acres of publicly owned
land, this area is ripe for development.
of using some of the proceeds from proposed penny

sales tax to supplement the
cost of the government centers construction.
There has been more

talk about this government
center, and Downtown
DeKalb, in recent weeks.
On April 12, the countys
board of commissioners
unanimously voted to sell
the countys Clark Harrison
government office building
located at 330 West Ponce
de Leon Avenue in Decatur.
Commissioners also voted
to hold on to $12 million
from the sale to put toward
a new government center.
The idea of a new central government center is a

good one. It would reduce
the countys office space by
300,000 square feet and set
the county up to be more
efficient with its time and
better stewards of taxpayers money. It is a building
that should be constructed
as soon as possible and it
could spur economic development along Memorial
Drive.
A week later, the countys Special Local Option

Sales Tax (SPLOST) Citizen
Advisory Committee discussed the county proposal
The proposal to use

SPLOST funds to pay for
the government center
could be problematic for
the centers construction
because the idea may be
tough to sell to taxpayers.

Taxpayers are often
resistant about approving
tax increaseseven 1 percent taxes. Many taxpayers
probably will want to focus
new taxes on capital improvements closer to their
heartsthe paving of roads,
construction of fire stations
and maybe a park or two. A
government office building
that many will rarely visit
probably wont be a top priority for taxpayers.
So county leaders have
their work cut out for them
to get voters to not only approve the tax, but to want
to pay for the government
center. Otherwise leaders
should begin thinking about
Plan B for the funding the
Downtown DeKalb center.
opinion
Page 7A
One Mans Opinion
How national political conventions work

Reagan understood
the rules. Without
complaint, he supported
the winner. Thats how
it works, from an open
letter to Republican
National Convention
delegates, the media
and public regarding
the GOPs nominating
process by former RNC
Chairs Bill Brock, Bob
Dole, Haley Barbour,
Jim Nicholson, Clayton
Yeutter, Marc Racicot
and Mel Martinez.
The first national

political convention in
the United States was
held by the Anti-Masonic
Party in 1831.The AntiMasonic Party was a
third-party opponent of
Freemasonry, which its
viewed as a corrupt and
elitist secret society,
seeking control of the
United States.The AntiMasons later merged into
the Whig Party, which
essentially self-destructed
over divisions on the
issue of slavery around
the presidential election
of 1856.
The GOP held its first
convention during the
presidential election of
1860 in Chicago. That
contest began with an
initial eight-man field
including Abraham
Lincoln of Illinois. The
front runner was William
H. Seward of New
York, who later served
as Lincolns secretary
of state and another
strong contender was
banker Salmon P.
The
Champion
Bill Crane
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
Columnist
Chase of Ohio (yes, that

Chase family).Chase
would later become
Lincolns secretary of
the treasury, introduce
a national currency (our
greenbacks), and later be
appointed chief justice of
the U.S. Supreme Court.
No candidate
entered the convention
with a majority of
delegates from state
conventions, and each
had baggage.Lincoln,
considered a moderate,
won the nomination on
the third ballot.For the
remainder of the 1800s
and through the national
conventions as late as
1968, the Democratic
and Republican parties
continued to decide their
nominees via national
conventions.Most third
parties, including the
Libertarian, Green Party
and Peoples Party still
nominate via convention.
Those floor contests
once also produced
some pretty dramatic
and compelling network
television coverage
Then in 1968, the DNC
gathered in Chicago with

the party establishment
strongly supporting
Vice President Hubert
Humphrey as their
nominee.Humphrey sat
out all state primary and
caucus contests, planning
to seek the nomination at
the convention.Following
the assassination of
candidate and New
York Senator Robert
Kennedy, Humphreys
former U.S. Senate
seat-mate, Senator
Eugene McCarthy of
Minnesota was racking
up an impressive string of
primary wins, largely due
to his staunch opposition
to the Vietnam War.
Riots and numerous
convention-related
protests on the streets
of Chicago resulted in
one fatality and hundreds
of injuries of protesters
and law enforcement
alike.Following
that convention, the
Democratic Party
decided to substantially
broaden the adoption of
presidential preference
primaries and caucuses
to better involve the
public and voters in
speaking their minds and
support for the candidates
of their choice.The GOP
followed suit.
The most recent GOP
contested convention
was in 1976.Appointed
incumbent President
Gerald R. Ford, politically
wounded by pardoning
President Richard
Nixon, limped through
primary and caucus
FreePress
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contests, arriving at the

Kansas City convention
without a majority of
delegates.Former
California Gov. Ronald
Reagan had won strong
victories across the south
and the particularly visible
Reagans Raiders of
Texas came to Kansas
seeking to win a floor
fight for the Gipper.
Reagan supporters tried
to use convention rules
to move the contest for
vice president ahead of
president, forcing Ford,
who was dumping his VP
Nelson Rockefeller of
New York to eventually
select Kansas Sen. Bob
Dole as his running mate.
A co-presidency
was bandied about for
Ford/Reagan in the first
days of the convention.
Realizing that would
require a Constitutional
amendment, Ford
supporters pushed
ahead on a floor vote,
which Ford won by 1,170
delegates and a modest
majority victory over
Reagan.Reagan gave
what is still the mostremembered speech
of that convention, and
laid the foundation of
what would become his
1980 campaign for the
White House, beginning
almost immediately
after President Jimmy
Carters election.
The GOP and
Democratic presidential
contests are presidential
preference primaries or
caucuses...as with the
General Election when
Publisher:
John Hewitt
Production Manager:
Kemesha Hunt
Chief Financial Officer:

Dr. Earl D. Glenn
Photographer:
Travis Hudgons
Managing Editor:
Andrew Cauthen
Staff Reporters:
Carla Parker
R. Scott Belzer
The Champion Free Press is published each Friday

by ACE III Communications, Inc.,
114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030
Phone (404) 373-7779.
www.championnewspaper.com
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voters actually choose

electors for their party/
candidate of choice,
there is actually no direct
balloting of U.S. voters
for president. The popular
votes or caucus tallies, by
party rules and state law,
bind or obligate selected
and elected party
delegates to support
a particular candidate
on the first convention
ballot. Georgia law binds
delegates for the first two
ballots. After that, much
like our representatives
in Congress, delegates
vote their conscience
and beliefs.As with the
2000 election when
suddenly the voting public
discovered the existence
of the Electoral College,
we have been conducting
presidential elections
this way for more than
two centuries...and in
our next civics class, we
will review The Electoral
College and You.
Bill Crane also serves

as a political analyst and
commentator for Channel
2s Action News, WSBAM News/Talk 750 and
now 95.5 FM, as well as a
columnist for The Champion, Champion Free
Press and Georgia Trend.
Crane is a DeKalb native
and business owner, living in Scottdale. You can
reach him or comment on
a column at bill.csicrane@
gmail.com.
Statement from the

publisher
We sincerely appreciate the
discussion surrounding this and any
issue of interest to DeKalb County.
The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
discourse for all community residents
on all sides of an issue. We have no
desire to make the news only to
report news and opinions to effect
a more educated citizenry that will
ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
ideas for discussion; however,
we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
assumptions penned as fact.
local
Solicitor-generals race is between coworkers
by Andrew Cauthen
The race for DeKalb Countys
next solicitor-general is pitting two
coworkers against each other.
Nicole Marchand Golden,
the countys chief assistant district
attorney, and Donna ColemanStribling, a deputy chief assistant
district attorney, answered questions
for approximately 20 minutes during
an April 12 forum sponsored by the
League of Women Voters of AtlantaFulton County.
Nicole Marchand Golden
Donna Coleman-Stribling
In describing the role of a
solicitor general and what she
of those people and make some
differences between each other,
would bring to the office, Golden
changes in their lives, she said.
Coleman-Stribling said, My
said, The solicitor-general is both
Coleman-Stribling, who as
relationship with Nicole [Golden] is
a prosecutor and an administrator
deputy chief assistant district
that she is in fact my supervisor.
and...policymaker. So you set the
attorney oversees the SolicitorBut let me tell you whats
tone for the office. The opinion of
generals Crimes against Children
different. I have been a defense
how you look at crime passes down
Unit, manages and supervises
attorney. I have run an office as a
to the people that you supervise.
defense attorney. I have managed
Additionally, the solicitor-general more than 400 cases a year,
three attorneys, four investigators,
an office as a defense attorney.
manages a $6 million to $7 million
two victim advocates and a legal
I have had to also deal with the
budget, Golden said.
assistant.
budget, Coleman-Stribling said.
So Im familiar with the office.
So I have the management
My career is not just in
Ive run the office. I did that as chief
skills as well as the supervisory skills prosecution, she said. My career
assistant district attorney, she said.
to manage a group of individuals to
is also with regards to defense.
Golden said she plans to
deal with these cases every single
And addition to that, I have worked
address low level offenders, if
day, Coleman-Stribling said. I deal
outside of DeKalb County, which
elected.
with cases that I consider to be
allows me to bring some leadership
These are the folks who have
some of the hardest cases in this
skills that could [be]...positive.
just come into the criminal justice
county.
I have worked under a number
system, quite a few of them, so its
In addition to working as a
of district attorneys and [seen] the
important, its an opportunity ...for
prosecutor for a decade, Colemangood and recognized sometimes the
the solicitors office to get those inbad, Coleman-Stribling said. I can
dividuals, put them through rigorous Stribling has experience as a
defense attorney.
bring a different perspective to this
programming as opposed to proseAnd that brings a balanced
office.
cution and/or jail, and give them the
perspective to the office of solicitorGolden answered the question
opportunity to rehabilitate...so that
by describing the candidates and
they dont progress to...more serious general, Coleman-Stribling said.
Ive worked on both sides and that
coworkers as friends.
crimes, like felonies, Golden said.
allows me to run this office in a way
This has been a very cordial
Ive worked both as a
to deal with alternative resolutions to election process and I am very
misdemeanor prosecutor and as
some of these cases.
happy with that, Golden said.
a felony prosecutor, so I know that
When asked to describe the
The thing that sets us apart,
this is the opportunity to grab most
BOE Continued From Page 2A
careful were not being exclusive

and not inclusive.
Jester agreed but said he
wanted to make sure DeKalb
County is doing that for all races,
stating [the board] might be low
on Latinos and everybody else and
not just recruiting Black people.
Morley said the word Black
did not come up and that Jester
missed the point of the discussion.
We are going after people who
are going from good to great, to
better to best, Morley said. I dont
care what color they are. If they
happen to be Black, we want them.
If they happen to be green, we
want them. If theyre good, we want
them We want Latinos, we want
Asians and we want everybody.
Vickie Turner spoke to
caution Jester not to be insensitive
or disrespectful. Turner pointed
out how the board has entrusted
Green and his staff to seek out the

most qualified individuals and bring
them into the school system.
Green stepped in to assure
the community and the board that
DeKalb County School District
(DCSD) is an equal-opportunity
employer keenly aware of where
their shortages are.
Regardless of race, creed
or ethnicity, our focus will be on
creating a balance that reflects our
population [Were] recognizing
where our shortages are and
shoring up those shortages,
wherever they may be, Green
said.
On April 22, Morley said
no further discussion occurred
between herself, Jester or Green
and that this sort of conversation
happens frequently at work
sessions. She reiterated how board
members should be careful, as
public officials and human beings,

about what they say.
When youre demeaning
a population and saying things
that could reflect negatively on
the children we serve, Im greatly
disappointed, Morley said. When
were putting things out in the
public, it puts a value on people, a
value on where they live. Thats not
why we are there.
Morley instead proposed
intensely understanding in an
effort to make positive growth
and make more effective
communication.
Jester released a statement
stating he remained concerned
about [DCSDs] procurement
process in regards to storage
service due to a lack of competitive
bidding. He did not comment on
the language used during the work
session.
from my perspective is I have done

this job, Golden said. Ive set
policy. Ive managed peoplelarge
numbers of people. Ive managed
large budgets. And Ive put together
a lot of the programs that we
have talked aboutfrom low-level
offender [programs] to mental health
court [and] diversion programs. You
name it, Ive been instrumental in
creating those programs, in not only
the solicitors office but the DAs
office.
I could start from day one, she
said. I could do this job. I have the
experience to do it.
The candidates also were asked
to describe the strengths of the other
person.
Golden described ColemanStribling as compassionate.
What Ive seen in Donna
[Coleman-Stribling], and what Ive
always admired about her is her
compassion for children, and for the
work she does with the child victims
of DeKalb County, Golden said.
About Golden, ColemanStribling said, She does have some
knowledge, working knowledge of
what goes on in DeKalb County. But
Id actually prefer to take my last few
seconds to talk about myself.
The day-to-day work that Ive
done inside of these courtrooms is
significant, Coleman-Stribling said.
I am daily in court. I deal with
law enforcement officers. I deal
with child abuse protocol. Im head
of the child fatality review team,
Coleman-Stribling said, adding that
the relationships she has formed
will allow her to run the solicitorgenerals office.
The two candidates will
face each other in the May 24
Democratic primary in the race to fill
the solicitor-generals seat.
Jester also stated DeKalb

County was sued for employment
discrimination in Federal Court in
2010 and wanted to make sure
that DeKalb complies in spirit and
practice with all relevant state and
federal laws on these issues.
Jester also provided 2010
census data showing DeKalbs
teachers are 23 percent male and
67 percent African American.
My focus is to advocate for
hiring the best, most effective
teachers, for the over 100,000
students in DeKalb County, Jester
said. Our students and taxpayers
deserve nothing less. DeKalb has
the second highest percentage of
teachers that are African American
and the highest percentage of male
teachers. The district is significantly
below the countys general
population for percentages of Asian
and Latino teachers.
local
Challengers eye two-term commissioners seat
compiled by Andrew Cauthen

DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes

Sutton is one of two incumbent commissioners facing
challengers this year for their
elected positions.
Sutton, who has been
a commissioner for eight
years, is facing two Democratic challengers: business
development manager Steve
Bradshaw and Lance Lawyer Hammonds, who works
in chemical sales.
They will face each other
in the May 24 Democratic primary. In November the winner of the primary will face
a Republican tax examiner,
Willie Willis, who also qualified to run for the commission seat.
Each candidate was
given a questionnaire by The
Champion with instructions
to limit answers to 50 words.
Answers that were more than
the limit were truncated.
The Champion was unable to get in touch with Willis
after several attempts.
Name: Steve Bradshaw
Education: MPA, Georgia
State University; BA, Armstrong State University
Occupation: Business development manager, most
recently with Delta Global
Staffing (Delta Airlines)
What political ofces have
you held in the past: I have
not held political office before. I think this will enable
me to bring the fresh and independent perspective to the
position that is needed.
Why are you seeking this
ofce? DeKalb Countys
story has been tainted by
examples of corruption and
incompetence. This story will
not change until there is a
leadership change, particularly in District 4. The constituents of our district deserve a
leader who will respect them
and fight for their best interest. I am that leader.
What expertise do you
have that will help you
fulll the duties of this ofce? I bring a diverse set
of professional experiences
that will help me serve the
citizens of District 4. As a
private sector business development manager, adjunct
professor of public policy and
United States Army captain I

bring discipline and decision
making based on solid reasoning and sound judgment.
Why should you be elected

(or re-elected) to this ofce? I will work diligently and
with integrity for District 4 and
the entire DeKalb County
community. My vision is that
of a thriving DeKalb County
that is working together to
ensure a quality of life that all
residents expect and desire.
What is your campaign
website address? www.
votestevebradshaw.com
Name: Lance Lawyer
Hammonds
Education: BS in biology,
minor chemistry, University of
Redlands, Redlands, Calif.;
MBA, Keller Graduate School
of Management, Atlanta
Occupation: chemical sales
you held in the past? This
is my first run for elected office.
ofce? Im running to be part
of the solution and not the
problem, by initiating policies
that put families first and by
building an economic structure that is viable for both
businesses and residents. I
believe by actively engaging
residents in their county government we can restore their
trust in it.
fulll the duties of this ofce? Forty years of successful management experience
with some of the largest fortune 500 corporations in the
world. I have proven analytical, business development
and interpersonal skills that
have created positive change
and growth in organizations.
My spiritual gift is the ability
to get diverse groups to work
together.
(or re-elected) to this ofce? I have spent 31 years
in DeKalb in positions of
service and leadership to
this community. I am committed to total transparency
in county government and
economic development that
results in jobs and the restoration of Memorial Drive and
other commercial areas in
Steve Bradshaw
Lance Lawyer Hammonds
District 4.
past eight years

website address?
www.hammonds4dekalb
commissioner.com

ofce? I am seeking this office to continue working with
and serving my neighbors
for a Better DeKalb. As commissioner I have improved
public safety, facilitated jobs
and economic development,
promoted fiscal integrity,
improved the countys credit
rating, invested in employees as well as developed
and maintained sustainable
neighborhoods and communities.
Name: Sharon BarnesSutton

Education: Master of business administration; bachelor
of science in commerce and
business administration;
T-5 certification in business
education; doctoral studies in
educational leadership
Occupation: DeKalb County Commissioner
What political ofces
have you held in the
past? DeKalb County Commissioner, District 4 for the

fulll the duties of this ofce? As District 4 Commissioner, I have been elected
to serve in leadership positions including presiding and
deputy presiding officers and
Sharon Barnes-Sutton
finance, audit and budget

committee chair. For over
three years I have been
responsible for leading the
appropriations process having allocated over $3.6 billion
without a single tax increase.
(or re-elected) to this ofce? As the only candidate
who has done so for the past
seven years, I will continue
to fight to improve the lives
of the citizens of District 4. I
have the experience, courage and perseverance to
protect their interests from
those who would betray them
for their own hidden agendas.
website address? www.
VoteSharonBarnesSutton.
com
local
Clarkston City Hall was lled with public and media alike during a public health
committee meeting discussing marijuana decriminalization.
From left, Mayor Ted Terry and Councilman Dean Moore serve on the public health
committee. Photos by R. Scott Belzer
Clarkston discusses decriminalization with expert witnesses

by R. Scott Belzer
larkstons public safety

committee discussed marijuana decriminalization for
more than two hours April
22, calling on expert witness testimony and input from the
public.
Five scheduled speakers discussed the issue with Mayor Ted
Terry and council member Dean
Moore as well as a speaker on behalf
of Mario Williams from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Unscheduled speakers, made up of
residents and Clarkston police chief
Christine Hudson, also provided
views on decriminalization.
Marijuana decriminalization in
Clarkston became a popular topic following a February city council meeting
in which a resolution was adopted
to heavily reduce punishments for
misdemeanor possession within city
limits.
According to georgiacourts.org,
municipalities such as Clarkston use
concurrent jurisdiction to enforce violations such as ordinance violations,
shoplifting and misdemeanor marijuana possession under their own laws.
Chief Hudson noted that
Clarkston currently enforces its own
ordinance which rarely lands people
in jail and has a fine hovering around
$660. According to the Georgia Code,
an offender has the option of arguing
for a conditional discharge or diversion, meaning a judge can refer the
offender to probation and clear the
marijuana charge from his or her record.
If a conditional discharge is not
granted, the charge can result in a jail
sentence for up to a year, a $1,000
fine or both. The drug charge will also
stay on the offenders record.
Hudson said that within the past
two years, there have been 77 marijuana cases involving less than an
ounce. Of those 77, 15 were handled
as state charges due to other state
level offenses. The majority (38) were
given citations and released on scene
while the others (24) were taken to jail
and brought to court.
Terry said, due to high incarcera-
Kenneth Glasgow served as an expert

witness on April 22 in favor of marijuana
decriminalization.
Clarkston Police Chief Christine

Hudson offered statistics and
ordinance expertise on marijuana
decriminalization.
Stephen Bradley of Law Enforcement

Against Prohibition spoke on the issue
from a law enforcement perspective.
tion rates, United States courts have

affected millions of lives, dreams,
hopes and opportunities with irrevocable [damage]. Terry said this could
come to an end by reexamining the
criminal justice system.
Terry also proposed examining
marijuana use from a public health
standpoint. The mayor said examining tobacco and alcohol in such a way
has curbed use.
The biggest issue is having
people becoming incarcerated and
ending up in poverty or homeless,
Moore said. These are the kinds of
things were trying to avoid throughout
the system.
Stephen Bradley of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition was the
first to speak at the meeting. Bradley
offered expertise as a former police
officer in Forsyth County. Bradley
cited 5 percent of the worlds prison
population and 50 percent of inmates
being in jail for drug-related offenses
as problems worthy of addressing.
Bradley said in the late 60s, law
enforcement made an average of two
marijuana arrests per hour. Today,
he said, law enforcement makes approximately 80 per hour, accounting
for 750,000 people per year and even
more in tax dollars. Bradley said the
majority of his encounters involving
marijuana were young people and
rarely as a result of driving under the
influence.
According to Bradley, these
numbers come despite government
reported marijuana use staying on or
around 20 percent. The rate of use

has also stayed the same despite
several states and cities allowing recreational use.
Bradley stated Black people are
3.7 times more likely to be arrested
for marijuana throughout the country
and 5.8 times more likely in DeKalb
County.
Sue Rusche with National
Families in Action brought up issues
involving public health if marijuana
were decriminalized. While she called
decriminalization shifting low-level
marijuana possession from a criminal
justice model to a public health model
a good goal, Rusche said combating use and addiction in addition to
an increase in mental, physical and
behavioral problems outweighed that
goals end.
Specifically, Rusche said
Clarkston could also expect to see
an increase in traffic incidents, school
failure and youth underachievement.
While Rusche said the current punishments and laws reduce these problems, she also said Clarkston has a
unique opportunity to document and
study decriminalization for Georgiabased evidence.
James Bell of Georgias Campaign for Access Reform and Education spoke in support Clarkstons
initiative on the grounds of public
safety in that low-level possession is
a misdemeanor with no victim and no
criminal.
Bell said public opinion in Georgia
shows that more than 70 percent of
residents would like to see some sort

of reform while 84 percent support instate cultivation. Bell said 62 percent
of residents support some form of decriminalization.
Stephanie Guillod of Project South in Atlanta commended
Clarkston for taking steps in addressing wider systemic problems. Guillod
said Clarkston shows young people
throughout the metro Atlanta area that
the democratic process does work.
Guillod said a single drug offense
can often derail young peoples lives
with fines, parole demands and probation demands, especially in more
diverse neighborhoods.
What we know for sure and have
seen many times is that a single drug
offense can be a one-way ticket to a
spiral downward, Guillod said.
Kenneth Glasgow of the Formerly Incarcerated People Movement
spoke to support Clarkstons initiative
and called the current criminal justice
system barbaric and oppressive.
Glasgow said Clarkston had a unique
opportunity to conduct research and
be a model on decriminalization.
Glasgow attributed most first-year
college dropout rates to low-level marijuana possession, a statistic he said
is not commonly mentioned.
The burden of a person going
to jail or prison the supervision of
being under probation, all adds up,
Glasgow said.
Clarkstons next public meeting
will be a regularly scheduled monthly
city council meeting on May 2.
local
WeeKinPICTURES
Rep. Hank Johnson announced the winners of his 2015 Congressional Arts Competition and awarded four college scholarships worth a total of $35,000 on April 23 at the
Lou Walker Senior Center. Photo by Joshua Smith
Atlanta-based musicians Frank Lisco Duo provided entertainment

for Doravilles State of the City address held April 21.
Dunwoody High Schools JROTC color guard displayed the national and state ags at Doravilles
2016 State of the City. Photos by R. Scott Belzer
PHOTOS BROUGHT TO YOU BY DCTV

DeKalb County implements changes to garbage and recycling container requirements and collection
procedures April 18, 2016.
Only county-provided garbage and recycling containers are approved for sanitation collection service.
For more info, call or visit:
(404) 294-2900
www.rollingforwardtoone.com
local
Avondale Estates and Euramex Management are still in discussions about a development for the Fenner Dunlop property. Photos by Travis Hudgons
Avondale Estates, Euramex still in discussion on Fenner Dunlop

by Carla Parker
Mayor Jonathan Elmore

said he does not know how close
Avondale Estates and Euramex
Management are in coming to an
agreement on a development plan
for the Fenner Dunlop property.
Euramex Management
purchased the 13-acre Fenner
Dunlop property in October 2014.
The city owns four acres of the
property. City officials and Euramex
have been meeting for months to
come up with a proposed plan to
present to residents.
Euramex is proposing
townhouses and apartments,
a parking deck, greenspace, a
grocery store, retail spaces and
a public space for the property.
Elmore said the city wants
everything Euramex is proposing,
but in a city-grid configuration.
Elmore said the city and its
downtown development authority
presented five schemes to the
public that outlined their vision for
the property.
Those were very well
received, Elmore said. So the
city has seen our side of it, or at
least five flavors of it. They all
basically had the same grid it just
had different locations for the Town
Green.
The city would like Euramex to
add a town greena parkthat
would belong to the city in its plans.

[Euramex] have their own
thoughts about the configuration of
the street, the size and location of
Town Green, he said. They are
required to provide greenspace. We
want them to provide greenspace
that is dedicated back to the city
that belongs to the city, we maintain
it, and we hold events when we
want. Its not really a control issue,
its a public park.
Elmore said the city and
Euramex are also in disagreement
about the location of the proposed
grocery. According to Elmore,

Euramex is proposing that the
grocery store be built near the
Tudor Village. However, Elmore
said he thinks the store would be
more appropriately fit for the old
erector set site on the corner of
East College Avenue and Maple
Street.
There are a couple of traffic
lights down there, there are a
couple of gas stations and it
just seems to be a little more
commercial and a little more
appropriate, he said. We didnt
feel like that size store was

appropriate near the Tudor Village
where we want walkability and a
pedestrian-oriented development.
Elmore said he and other
city officials are working to
accommodate Euramex and its
plans.
We were trying to allow
enough room for all the apartments
they want, the town houses
and all of that. So we werent
saying no to everything, he said.
We were trying to do a plan
that accommodated everything
they wanted but in a city-grid
configuration that we wanted. We
were trying very hard. It can be
done.
Im afraid it may be a case
where we say, well this is our
vision, our master plan and were
going to start doing it, Elmore
added. When they finally submit
something maybe we can work
with it, maybe we cant. I think we
have to move forward. We own
prime real estate thats at the front
door and I think that if we can
move forward on that it will trigger
other things to start happening on
[Highway] 278. We hope that they
build their apartments because we
need those residents. We need
those apartments for younger folks,
folks who arent ready to buy [a
home]. We need [those people]
in our restaurants and in our
businesses.
local
Meal prices to rise in DeKalb County schools
by R. Scott Belzer
Students in the DeKalb County

School District (DCSD) can
expect to pay more for lunch at
the start of the 2016-2017 school
year with price increases coming
in the next three.
Beginning in 2016, elementary
students can expect to pay $2.25
while middle and high school
students can expect to pay $2.50.
This is an increase of 5 and 10
cents, respectively, from current
prices.
By the start of the 2017-2018
school year, elementary students
will pay $2.35 for lunch and $1.50
for breakfast, a 10 cent increase
in both areas. Middle and high
school students will pay $1.55 for
breakfast a 5 cent increase
while paying $2.60 for lunch, a 10
cent increase.
By the 2018-2019 school
year, elementary students will see
another increase in lunch to $2.40
while middle and high schoolers
will see a similar increase to
$2.70. No changes in breakfast
will be made at either level.
Adults who eat through
DCSDs nutrition program, who
currently pay $3.20, can expect a
10 cent increase in lunch for the
next three years and an increase
from $1.90 to $2 for breakfast
during the 2017-2018 school year.
Snack prices across the board
will increase from 80 cents to
85 cents next year and will not
increase again until the 2018-2019
school year, when prices rise to
$0.90. Milk prices will remain at 65
cents.
The expected revenue to
be realized from the increase
at lunch is $420,819.30 in the
first year, according to the items
agenda listing.
The three-year meal plan
was approved by DCSDs Board
of Education during its regularly
scheduled monthly meeting.
Michael Bell, chief financial
officer for the division of finance,
as well as Joyce Wimberly,
school nutrition services director,
presented the item before the
board on its consent agenda
where it received a 4 to 1 vote,
with Stan Jester opposing,
Marshall Orson and Michael
Nine seek Super

District 7 seat
Nine candidates have qualified for a special
election to replace former Super District 7
Commissioner Stan Watson who resigned to run for
the tax commissioner position.
The candidates include: Gregory Adams, a pastor
and former police officer; Diane Daniels Adoma,
owner of Diane Adoma Consulting LLC and H&R
Block franchise owner; George Chidi, a Pine Lake
city councilman; Faye Cofeld, a private investigator
and former police sergeant, Jerome Edmondson,
business consultant and senior partner of Edmondson
Associates; Randal Mangham, an attorney and former
state representative;
Edward Patton, a real estate agent; Rita
Robinzine, a DeKalb County school teacher; and
John E. Tolbert Jr., an automotive dealer relationship
manager.
The super district seat represents the eastern half
of DeKalb County with a population of approximately
350,000.
The special election will be held on Nov. 8 in
conjunction with the general election. If a runoff is
needed, it will be on Dec. 6.
Erwin absent.
Bell explained how DCSD
receives a $50 to 55 million federal
grant to provide school nutrition
functions. One of the requirements
of the grant, Bell said, is to not
have free or reduced meals paid
for by the grant, subsidize paid
meals. Wimberly and her staff
are responsible for creating an
optimal price range to stay within
these boundaries.
We need to charge what it
costs to produce a paid meal,
Wimberly said. The prices we
have outlined are very modest
in comparison to neighboring
districts.
DCSDs current meal prices
rank in the middle compared to

other school systems in the metro
Atlanta area. DeKalb has higher
prices than Douglas, Rockdale,
Henry and Cobb counties but
lower than Atlanta, Fayette, Fulton
and Gwinnett.
DeKalb currently has the third
most expensive breakfast after
Fayette ($1.45) and Gwinnett
($1.50) counties. Prices for
breakfast in nearby districts vary
from $0.75 (Atlanta) to $1.40
(Forsyth).
Bell said these school systems
will be going through the same
place adjustments process this
year.
We dont know where theyre
going, but [weve outlined] where
we think we have to go to in
relation to the federal regulation of
non-subsidization, Bell said.
According to Wimberly,
increases in prices for school
meals stem from increases in
expenses and other internal
variables such as free and
reduced percentages and
contributions from the general
fund.
We currently do not lower
prices, Wimberly told Jester prior
to the April 18 meeting. According
to federal regulations, this can
only be done if the board decides
to subsidize the program with
revenue from the general fund.
According to DCSD school
nutrition budget documents
outlining the 2015-2016 fiscal
year, the district pays $60.7
million in expenses for school
nutrition and receives only $841
more in revenue.
education
DeKalb School of the Arts and Decatur High School ranked third and 13th respectively as best high schools in Georgia, according to US News & World Report.
Local schools rank high in Georgia

by R. Scott Belzer
While DeKalb County is

well-known for its diversity
and ability to represent
many sides of many
spectrums, a recently
released ranking system
from US News & World
Report is also placing local
schools high on the list for
academic achievement.
The report named
DeKalb School of the Arts
(DSA), part of DeKalb
County School District,
as well as Decatur High
School from City Schools
of Decatur as the third and
thirteenth best schools in
the state, respectively.
Its incredible; its a
reflection of the hard work
we put in here every day
in both academics and the
arts, said DSA principal
Susan McCauley. Its nice
to be recognized.
Only Gwinnett School
of Mathematics, Science
and Technology in Gwinnett
and Columbus High School
ranked higher than DSA.
Schools from Fulton County,
Savannah, Augusta and
Cobb comprised the rest of
the top 10.
McCauley said it was
humbling to be ranked
along other art schools in
the top 10 and see how
DSAs program compares to
similar schools.
There are three other
art schools ranked in the
top 10 and theres always
a little healthy competition,
McCauley said. We like
to see were performing
on par with them as they
have a tradition of high
achievement.
The rankings include

both public and charter
school systems. Chamblee
Charter High School also
ranked high at 21 and
marked the only other local
school in the top 100.
DSA is also ranked as
the 102nd best school in the
country by Report whereas
Decatur High School is
ranked 403rd.
McCauley said she
believed three things set
DSA apart from other
schools in Georgia: an
incredible staff, motivated
students and a supportive
group of parents. Students
attending DSA, a specialty
arts school, must first apply
and maintain certain artistic
and academic standards.
Our staff is made up
of passionate teachers,
McCauley said. We have
intrinsically motivated
students who have worked
hard to be here and work
hard to stay. We have
extremely supportive
parents whose focus is
making sure their children
get the best education
possible.
McCauley also credits
the DeKalb County School
District with offering its
students many school
choice programs, allowing
students to find something
to engage them and feel
passionate about to show
up every day to continue
their learning.
The publication states
it partnered with RTI
International, a global
nonprofit social science
research firm, in calculating
the 2016 rankings. Criteria
used included that a great
high school must serve
all of its students well,

not just those who are
college bound as well as
[the school] must be able
to produce measurable
academic outcomes to
show it is successfully
educating its student
body across a range of
performance indicators.
According to the
publications methodology,
national rankings aid in
determining state rankings.
A four-step process is used
in determining national
rankings.
The first step
determined whether each
schools students were
performing better than
statistically expected for
students in that state,
reads the methodology.
For schools passing the
first step, the second
step assessed whether
their disadvantaged
students black,
Hispanic and low-income
were outperforming
disadvantaged students
in the state. U.S. News
introduced a new [third
step] to the methodology for
the 2016 rankings. Schools
now have to meet or
surpass a basic benchmark
for their graduation rate.
The fourth step, which
served as the third in past
years, used Advanced
Placement (AP) exams and
International Baccalaureate
(IB) test data as a
benchmark for success,
and to determine college
readiness.
DSA passed all criteria
with flying colors. According
to the schools overview
on USnews.com, the DSA
AP exam participation rate
is 100 percent (with a 76
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percent passage rate), the

minority enrollment is 65
percent and the student to
teacher ratio is 16 students
for every teacher (16:1).
The schools college
readiness index, or
percentage of students
ready for college, was listed
as 82.4 percent.
Decatur High Schools
numbers seem to be
equally impressive. The
schools overview states the
schools AP participation
rate as 78 percent (with a
58 percent passage rate)
and a 45 percent minority
enrollment. The student to
teacher ratio is 14 students
per teacher (14:1), which is
significantly lower than the
state average.
Decatur High Schools
college readiness index
was listed as 59.4 percent.
education
DeKalb County School Districts April board of education meeting saw more than $4 million in funds approved to address overcrowding in the Cross Keys cluster.
Funds allocated to address Cross Keys cluster

by R. Scott Belzer
he DeKalb County School

District has begun the
process of building
two new schools and
renovating a former
school to address overcrowding in
the Cross Keys cluster.
On April 18, the board of
education approved one $375,000
education special purpose local
option sales tax (E-SPLOST)
purchase and one $3.9 million
fund transfer for the purpose of
purchasing land and renovating the
former International Student Center.
The item was presented by
Joshua Williams, the districts
chief operations officer in the
division of operations, during the
boards regularly scheduled monthly
work session and later approved
during its business meeting.
The $375,000 purchase will
combine with $500,000 of the $4
million fund transfer to provide
$875,000 in funding for furniture,
fixtures, equipment and renovations
at the former International Student

Center, which is set to reopen in fall
2016.
This recommendation [for
purchase] is in direct support of
the superintendents redistricting
plan approved by the board on
March 7, Williams said. The
former International Student Center
is scheduled to reopen this fall
as a K-12 elementary school to
help address current and future
overcrowding in the Cross Keys
cluster.
The board originally approved
renovation purchases for the former
International Student Center in
October 2015, according to district
agenda documents.
The remaining $3.5 million will
be used to purchase land for two
new 900-seat elementary schools.
The funds were transferred from
a $1.9 million renovation project
involving Terry Mill Elementary
School and another $1.9 million
project involving Warren Technical
School.
E-SPLOST funds allocated
for new facilities and additions
projects will be used to relieve

the longstanding and critical
overcrowding in the Cross Keys
cluster, Williams said. As per
the recently approved board
redistricting plan, these facilities
are no longer being considered
as options for relief for the
overcrowding schools in the Cross
Keys cluster.
The temporary redistricting
plan, approved March 7, requires
that 1,469 elementary students and
232 high school students attend
different schools in the 2016-2017
school year, with Chamblee High
School, Briar Vista, Fernbank,
the former International Student
Center, Montclair and Dresden
elementary schools offering seats in
classrooms.
The staff-proposed plan was
previewed at four community
meetings from September 2015
to February 2016 before being
approved. The district states
attendance at these meetings, in
which various plans were proposed,
numbered more than 1,900
community members who voiced
1,400 comments.
No specific details were
discussed regarding land being
acquisitioned or considered.
However, board member James
McMahon questioned Williams and
board chairman Melvin Johnson
about the legality of such a
discussion in a public setting.
From a process standpoint,
is this an executive session dialog
to have or is it OK to have in open
public? McMahon said. Were
[being asked] to approve $3.9
million.
Williams said the item would be
discussed in further detail later that
day in executive session, which is
not open to the public.
The intent of this agenda item
is to allow for the creation of a
project so that we can have the
funds available to acquire land
to support the two elementary
schools, Williams said. There will
be further discussion in executive
session later today that will actually
talk about some details relative
to the acquisition of particular
properties and the like.
business
Petite Auberge hits the road
by Kathy Mitchell
Petite Auberge Restaurant

has been a fixture in the Toco Hills
shopping complex for more than 40
years. Now fans of the restaurants
food can find it at fairs, festivals
and concerts around the metroAtlanta area. Brothers Michael and
Anthony Gropp, owners of Petite
Auberge, recently announced they
have acquired the Scratch Cuisine
Food Truck, formerly owned by
Matt Grigg.
Grigg worked at Petite Auberge
under the restaurants founder and
original chef Wolfgang Gropp
while studying at Le Cordon Bleu
College of Culinary Arts Atlanta.
Matt and I worked together at
the restaurant and remained friends
over the years, said Anthony
Gropp, who remains the head chef
at Petite Auberge. He went on to
work with some of Atlantas top
chefspeople like Paul Albrecht
and Tom Colicchio before he
opened his own business, Scratch
Cuisine Food Truck.
When Grigg decided to leave
Georgia, he approached the
Gropps about acquiring his truck.
We were having dinner together
one night, Anthony recalled, and
I told him that if he ever wanted
to sell his business, we were
interested. Within a week, he
called and said he was ready to go

forward with the deal.
Anthony said Petite Auberge
had been considering the possibility
of a food truck for a while and
he found the opportunity perfect
for its needs. Scratch Cuisine
Food Truck had been in midtown
Atlanta throughout the week and
at festivals and concerts around
the metro Atlanta area for years.
It already had a following and a
reputation for excellent food.
The food truck business has
changed dramatically in recent
decades, Anthony said. Food
trucks have come a long way
from the lunch wagons that sold
coffee and pre-made sandwiches
to people at temporary work sites.
Today, many of them, and Scratch
is certainly an example, are mobile
restaurants capable of preparing
and serving fresh, high quality
food. The name Scratch, he said,
was chosen to convey that food
is prepared on site from fresh
ingredients.
Under its new ownership,
Scratch will continue to offer freshly
made upscale food, some from
Petite Auberges menu The great
thing about the food truck is that
we are not pigeonholed by the type
of food we can serve. We dont
have to stick to one type of cuisine.
We can mix traditional food truck
offerings with many of the dishes

that put Petite Auberge on the map
for the last 42 years. Usually, we
have one or two of our signature
dishes. We recently visited a
festival where the attendance
was less than had been expected
because of the weather and we still
sold out of bread pudding.
A combination of improved
technology and changes in dining
habits has turned food trucks into
a booming trend, according to
Anthony. A food truck today can
prepare anything a restaurant
kitchen can. They are now more
energy efficient and everything from
food storage to the cooking itself
can be done with no more effort
than is required in a restaurant
kitchen. I was actually amazed the
first time I tried cooking in one.
He added that Americans now
eat out more, but want variety
beyond hamburgers, hot dogs and
pizzas. You see that everywhere.
Even sports stadiums these days
offer seafood, pastathings you
were unlikely to find there 20 years
ago.
Petite Auberge acquired
Scratch late in 2015 and now, in
addition to the midtown location,
visits festivals, concerts and
community events throughout metro
Atlanta nearly every weekend. It
is, for example, scheduled to be at
the Atlanta Food Truck and Music

Festival at Stone Mountain June
11-12.
Right now, during the warm
months, there are outdoor events
every weekend. That will slow down
during the winter and well focus
on catering. A lot of movie and
television production companies
shoot in this area and we expect
to get a lot of business from them,
Anthony said.
Petite Auberge has for years
had a catering service and the
food truck, the owners say, is a
natural evolution. Calling the food
truck a fun, interesting and new
way to bring the restaurants
food to customers, Anthony said
there are still some differences
between catering and food truck
operations, but overlap between
the two is increasing. Catering
usually involves delivering food
prepared at the restaurant to an
event, but the food trucks mobile
kitchen opens up new possibilities,
he commented. Were talking with
some of our long-term customers
about what can be done, he said.
The food truck, he said, takes
catering to the next level. We can
cook items fresh on the spot and
expose a whole new market to our
classic Petite Auberge dishes.
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sports
Dunwoody girls golf team
Dunwoody boys golf team
Dunwoody sweeps county golf championships

by Mark Brock
The Dunwoody Wildcats
continued their domination of the
DeKalb County School District Golf
Championships by winning the
championships title for the eighth
consecutive season 311-318 over
Lakeside April 12 at Sugar Creek
Golf Club.
The Wildcats won the title for
the seventh time in the past eight
seasons, having shared the title
with Arabia Mountain in 2014 as
the two teams finished in a tie after
playing three playoff holes before
darkness ended play.
Freshman Jackson Perry led
the way for Dunwoody as his round
of 73 tied with Cedar Grove junior
Noah Kuranga, who also shot a
73. The pair played sudden death
with Perry paring the par 4 first hole
to a bogey for Kuranga to get the
medalist honors.
It was the second consecutive
year for Kuranga to fall in a playoff

for the top spot, having lost in a
three-hole playoff a year ago.
Senior Tim Trembath (77) tied
for third, junior Davis Brainard (79)
tied for fourth and sophomore Nick
Trembath (82) was fifth to account
for the Dunwoody scoring.
Lakeside was the runner-up
for the eighth consecutive season
behind the play of senior Drew
Smith, who tied for third with a
77 and senior Tony Bryant and
sophomore Zach Garlow, who
were tied for fourth with a 79.
Senior Imran Dewjee rounded
out the scoring for the Vikings with
an 83 to tie for sixth with Dunwoody
sophomore Ben Warren.
Arabia Mountain was in third
with a team score of 365, led by
junior Nylan Washingtons 77
which was in a three-way tie for
third.
A three-way tie for 10th involved
Arabia Mountain senior Charles
Porch and freshman Torance

Allen and Chamblee sophomore
Jimmy McClendon at 92 on the
day.
McClendons 92 along with
sophomore Phil McCrerys 94
helped the Bulldogs come in under
400 at 394 to take fourth place in
the team standings.
The Dunwoody Lady Wildcats
made it three consecutive titles with
a 190-229 win over Tuckers Lady
Tigers, who set a record for the
their highest finish since the girls
tournament was instituted in 2005.
Redan finished third with a
team score of 251.
Dunwoody juniors Lauren
Callahan and Olivia Vergura both
shot 95 to tie for second in the
individual standings and propel the
Lady Wildcats to their three-peat.
Callahan improved her score by
nine strokes from a year ago when
she also finished second. Vergura
improved by 12 strokes from her
third-place finish last season.

Sophomore Pearl Arno
contributed to the team win by
qualifying for the full 18 holes and
shooting a 132 to finish eighth
overall.
Tucker junior Megan Hayes put
together a round of 112 for fourth
and fellow junior Daja Nicholson
was fifth with a round of 117 to
qualify Tucker for its second-place
finish.
Redan junior Nathanael Michel
was sixth with her 123 and senior
Satchell Wright was seventh
with a total of 128 to put the Lady
Raiders in third.
Cedar Grove junior Mariah
Kuranga won the individual honors
for the third consecutive season
with a round of 80 on the day.
She won the 2014 and 2015 titles
as a freshman and sophomore,
respectively.
sports
Cedar Grove boys won the Region 4-AAA title on April 18. Photo by Travis Hudgons
Three DeKalb teams win region track titles
by Carla Parker
Three DeKalb County trackand-field teams will head into the
state track meet in May as region
champions.
Cedar Grove boys won the
Region 4-AAA title on April 18;
Chamblee girls won the Region
6-AAAA title on April 21; and
Southwest DeKalb boys defended
their Region 6-AAAAA title on April
21.
The Cedar Grove Saints
outscored Westminster 160.50-105
to claim the title. The Saints won
nine gold medals and 10 athletes,
including two relay teams, qualified
for the Class AAA state sectionals
in May. Andre Burrell and Jessie
Reverio both brought home
multiple gold medals.
Burrell won the 200-meter dash
(22.05) and the 400-meter dash
(48.61). Reverio won the 110-meter
hurdles (15.26) and the 300-meter
hurdles (37.86).
Israel Spivey won the
100-meter dash (11.07); Johnny
Thomas won the shot put (5108.50); and Elijah Bandy won
the discus throw (161-04). Cedar
Groves A team won the 4x100meter relay (41.85), with the B team
coming in second (42.39); the A
team also won the 4x400-meter
relay (3:19.70).
On the girls side, Cedar
Groves Tayler Smith won gold
in the 300-meter hurdles (45.77)
and Amani Taylor won gold in the
discus throw (117-09).
Region 6-AAAA
The Chamblee Lady Bulldogs
took down defending region
champions Marist 146-129.50
behind six gold medal victories to
claim the Region 6-AAAA title on

April 21. St. Pius X finished third
with 78 points.
Chamblee was led by Elena
Brown-Soler who brought home
two gold medals. Brown-Soler won
the high jump (5-06.00) and the
long jump (18-08.50).
Venida Fagan won gold in the
400-meter dash (55.13) and silver
in the 200-meter dash (24.92)
behind St. Pius Xs Myia Dorsey
(24.56). Rachel Edler won gold
in the triple jump with a 37-01.50
jump. Edler also finished second in
the long jump (18-00.25).
Chamblee also won gold in the
4x100-meter relay (47.84) and the
4x400-meter relay (3:56.96).
Marist was led by gold
medalists Meg Fennelly (800-meter
dash), Josie Wirtz (1,600- and
3,200-meter run), Tamira Gitonga
(300-meter hurdles), Anais
Marenco (pole vault) and Kamryn
Brinson.
Other gold medal winners were
Columbias Alexandria Andrews
(100-meter dash) and Arabia
Mountains Destinee Rocker
(100-meter hurdles).
In the boys region meet, Arabia
Mountain finished second to Grady
133-123.50, with Marist finishing
third with 110.
Arabia Mountain was led by
Priest Foust, who won gold in
the 100-meter dash (10.95) and
second in the 200-meter dash
(21.99). Arabia Mountains Wilson
Quincey won gold in the 400-meter
dash (48.49), Tyler Jones won the
triple jump (45-06.00) and Michael
Willingham won the discus throw
(153-11).
Arabia Mountain also won the
4x100-meter relay (41.59).
Marist gold medalists were
Brian Faust (800-meter run),
Frank Pittman (1,600- and
3,200-meter run) and McAuley

Holmes (high jump).
Chamblee had two gold
medalists in Jordan Muse (shot
put) and Will West (pole vault).
Region 6-AAAAA
The Southwest DeKalb
Panthers had to win the final
eventthe 4x400 relayto defend
their Region 6-AAAAA title on April
21.
The Panthers pulled out a 118114 win over Stephenson to win
the title. The Panthers 4x400 relay
team of Marcellus Boykins, Terry
Conwell, Jaylan Muhammad and
Justin Tomlin tied their season
record of 3:13.92 (the state record)
to win the relay and the region
championships. Stephenson
finished third in 3:23.44.
Southwest DeKalbs 4x100
relay team (Boykins, Terryon
Conwell, Muhammad and Tomlin)
also won gold with a time of 41.49.
Terryon Conwell also won gold in
the 100-meter dash (10.68), and
his brother Terry won the 400-meter
dash (46.78) and the 200-meter
dash (21.30)with Terryon coming
in a close second at 21.33.
Southwest DeKalbs Tariq
Bradford won gold medals in the
high jump (6-02.00) and the triple
jump (46-08.00).
Stephenson gold medalists
were Brandon Hines (1,600-meter
run) and Denzel Harper, who won
three gold medals110-meter
hurdles (14.92), 300-meter hurdles
(38.81) and the long jump (2311.50).
Clarkstons Suheib Mohamed
won the 3,200-meter run (9:53.55)
and Dunwoodys Sam Haas won
gold in the pole vault (11-06.00).
In the girls region meet,
Dunwoody finished second to
Mays with a score of 130-93.50.

Stephenson finished third with
91 points. Dunwoody was led by
Samantha Cameron, who won
the 3,200 (12:19.88), and Rachel
Sinclair, who won the pole vault
(9-07.00).
Stephensons Timberly Molden
brought home gold medalsshot
put (39-11.00) and in the discus
throw (124-03.50). Simone Harper
won the long jump with a jump of
18-01.00.
Druid Hills Keaghan Peppers
won the 100-meter dash (12.22)
and Southwest DeKalbs Lanee
Edwards won the 1,600-meter run
(5:23.31).
Region 2-AAAAAA
Tucker girls and Lakeside boys
finished second at the Region
2-AAAAAA on April 19. The Tucker
Lady Tigers were led by Kaylah
Lumsden (100-meter dash; 12.01
and 200-meter dash; 24.56), Emoni
Coleman (800-meter run; 2:28.30
and 1,600-meter run; 5:10.51),
Antonia Frazier (high jump) and
Elise Harwell (discus throw). The
4x400 relay team also won gold.
Lakesides Alaina Smith won
the 3,200-meter run (12:25.29) and
Sarah Breeden won the pole vault
(7-06.00).
For Lakeside, Brian Herron
won the 200-meter dash (21.56),
Chance Boyd won the 800-meter
run wheelchair, Davis Stockwell
won the 1,600-meter run (4:42.47),
Andrew Kent won the 3,200-meter
run (9:14.24), Daniel Herron won
the 110-meter hurdles (15.62), Mike
Haug won the pole vault (9-06.00)
and Gordon Lewis won the discus
throw (139.09.50).
Tuckers Dion Watkins won the
300-meter hurdles.
local
Veteran Superior Court judges seat challenged by attorney
compiled by Andrew Cauthen

DeKalb County Superior Court
Judge Gail Flake has sat on the
Division 4 bench since being
elected in 1993. In the May 24
primary she is facing challenger
Angela Brown, a lawyer who has
served as an appointed judge in
four courts.
Each candidate was given a
questionnaire by The Champion
with instructions to limit answers to
50 words. Answers that were more
than the limit were truncated.
Name: Angela Z. Brown
sure that I thoroughly listen to

both sides of the case, apply the
law fairly, and treat everyone with
courtesy, dignity and respect.
Angela Brown
Gail Flake
bench and DeKalb County. An

incumbent Judge has not been
defeated in an election in this
county for over 30 years. I feel that
it is time for a change and I can
bring my expertise and knowledge
to the people in DeKalb County.
(answer truncated)

you held in the past? Judge by
Designation for the State Courts
of DeKalb and Cobb County, the
Recorders Court of DeKalb County
and the Superior Court of DeKalb
County.
What expertise do you have that

will help you fulll the duties
of this ofce? Brown has been
an attorney for approximately 25
years and has a wealth of legal
experience in diverse areas. She
began her professional career as
a litigation associate in the law
firm of Davis Wright Tremaine in
Seattle, Wash. She has prosecuted
criminals as an assistant district
attorney in the.(answer truncated)

ofce? I have much to offer the
Why should you be elected (or

re-elected) to this ofce? I make
Education: Brown University,

University of San Diego School of Law
Occupation: Attorney
What is your campaign website

address?
Angelabrownforjudge.com
Name: Gail C. Flake

Education: Emory School of Law,
JD Degree; Georgia Institute of
Technology, Masters Degree;
University of Memphis, Bachelor of
Arts degree
Occupation: Superior Court judge
What political offices have you held
in the past?
Judge, Superior Court of DeKalb
County, 1993 to present. Judge,
State Court of DeKalb County, 1991
to 1993. Judge, Recorders Court of
DeKalb County, 1986 to 1991 (parttime)
ofce? I am seeking re-election
to the Superior Court because
I believe that the citizens of
DeKalb County deserve the most

qualified and experienced Judges
who possess the knowledge and
judgment to make decisions, not
only according to the law, but also
fairly and without bias towards any
person.
What expertise do you have that
will help you fulll the duties
of this ofce? Expertise gained
through 25 years experience as a
full time Superior and State Court
Judge handling hundreds of felony
jury trials as well as thousands
of criminal pleas, divorce, child
custody and general civil cases.
Why should you be elected (or
re-elected) to this ofce? As
reflected by the diversity of my
campaign committee, which
includes prosecutors and defense
attorneys, as well as family law and
civil attorneys, I believe that I have
earned a broad-based reputation
for fairness, lack of bias, knowledge
of the law and efficient case
management practices.
What is your campaign website
address?
www.reelectjudgeflake.com
Were
Happy
Youre
here.
How
Can I
Help
You?

Champion FreePress 4-29-16

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FreePress

FRiDaY, apRil 29, 2016 Vol. 19, no. 2 FREE

QUICK FINDER TENSION CLOUDS

DEKALB BOE WORK

Doraville mayor, others

Discussions on a development dominated Doravilles

serves on the districts board

the council. I continue to pray

Chavella Hamm says her teenage son was attacked

The mother of a teenager allegedly

See Doraville on Page 5A

A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS

See Lawsuit on Page 5A

The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016 Page 2A

Tension clouds DeKalb BOE work session

Stan Jester. File photo/Travis Hudgons

When youre demeaning a population

diverse pool of teachers in

emotional and psychological

See BOE on Page 8A

Joyce Morley. File photo/Travis Hudgons

FLAT SHOALS PWY

4153-B FLAT SHOALS PWY

Daryl Sherrod, M.D.

John Oliga, M.D.

Where doctor meets neighbor

The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016 Page 3A

DeKalb Board of Equalization relocating April 28

DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry recently

County to collect household hazardous waste

City to host stream cleanup event

Library hosts reading initiative

File photo/Travis Hudgons

Culture festival scheduled

Retail store grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony

City celebrates Pernoshal Park opening

The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016 Page 4A

Peter Lee, a junior at Druid Hills

about STEM through...science experiments and Lego robotics.

of America and won an economics

DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Avondale Estates police chief to retire

selected a group of officers who provide

The DeKalb County Board of Education will hold a public budget

The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016

lawsuit Continued From Page 1A

as law enforcement types or even vigilantes

Doraville Continued From Page 1A

The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016

New government center may be tough to sell

the County address when

to the interstate, MARTA rail

of using some of the proceeds from proposed penny

There has been more

The idea of a new central government center is a

A week later, the countys Special Local Option

The proposal to use

tough to sell to taxpayers.

The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016

One Mans Opinion

How national political conventions work

The first national

Chase of Ohio (yes, that

gathered in Chicago with

The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016

The Champion FREE PRESS, Friday, April 29, 2016