FREEPRESS

the DeKalb FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017 VOL. 19, NO. 50 FREE

Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest and Tucker A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS

Several Stone Mountain residents

want a dog park to return to the city
after Red Dog Park was shut down.
Photo by Donna Seay

Future officer Oliver Knowles sits in the lap of Officer Kersey during his Oliver Knowles has become a regular visitor at A dogs
place
visit. the Decatur Police Department and recently met

Playing police
with Chief of Police Mike Booker March 16.

Stone Mountain council

Decatur boy brings smiles to local police department
by Horace Holloman
horace@dekalbchamp.com
The job of a police officer
isnt an easy one. At times
facing criticism, the profession
can be stressful as well as life-
threatening.
However, one 4-year-old
Decatur boy helped lighten
the mood of a local precinct by
bringing smiles to officers at the
Decatur Police Department.
Oliver Knowles, known by
the Decatur Police Department as
future officer Oliver, recently met
with officers and Decatur Police
Chief Mike Booker. Oliver has
his own custom police uniform,
complete with his name officer
Oliver stitched on the front.
What started out as a nice
gesture has turned to love and
admiration for Oliver, said a
Decatur Police spokesperson.
I was very excited to have
him come. I was out on medical
[leave] when he came by the
first time and I really wanted to
see him this time, said Booker,
who met Oliver on March 17.
Oliver Knowles takes a photo with Sgt. Nembheard and Officer Alexander.
Hes getting to know the officers
as people and what the job of a
police officer is all about.
It all started on social
media during the departments
recruitment process. In January,
the department posted on its
Facebook page asking if anyone
was interested in joining the
Decatur Police Department.
Olivers mother Jill Knowles
begins discussion on
new dog park location
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Red Dog Park in Stone
Mountain has been closed
since 2011 but there are
citizens who are willing to help
bring it back.
The Stone Mountain City
Council discussed the future
of the dog park at its March
7 regular meeting. The park,
which was located at 5392
Third Street, was closed in
December 2011 following
complaints from residents who
live the park.
Public Works Director Jim
Tavenner said the complaints
responded with a picture of her varied from parking to noise.
son in his custom uniform riding There were complaints
a toy police motorcycle with the about parking issues down
message I know someone who there. Its kind of a residential
would love to join the force, but area and the streets are
theres one tiny problem-hes very narrow, Tavenner said.
4. But keep him in mind for one The times that people were
day. Hed love to come to the going into the dog park [were]
station and visit, if you guys another issue. Some were
allow that sort of thing. getting there early in the
See Oliver on page 5 See Dog Park on page 5

Visit www.championnewspaper.com for local, real DeKalb County news. @DeKalbChampNews

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 2

A different complexion
DeKalb County Online Judicial System classifies Asian mans skin as yellow

by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com

Merriam-Webster
dictionary defines complexion
in four different ways.
One definition is the
combination of the hot, cold,
moist, and dry qualities
held in medieval physiology
to determine the quality
of a body. A second is an
individual complex of ways of
thinking or feeling. A third is
an overall aspect or character. John Cho mugshot.
The fourth is the hue or
appearance of the skin and (driving under the influence),
especially of the face. height (66 inches), weight (161
One DeKalb County pounds), race (Asian), hair
agency is using the last color (black) and eye color
DeKalb County Superior Courts online judicial system, which lists inmates, refers to an Asian man as yellow in its com-
definition on its website, often (brown) are all listed online plexion description. Photos courtesy of DeKalb County Sheriffs Office.
toeing racial lines. through the countys Online
On March 1, Dunwoody Judicial System (OJS) for
public viewing. reads yellow. America, the term yellow in a broad range of skin colors
resident John Cho was booked
One more characteristic is According to Asian to describe Asians is both and huesto think otherwise
into DeKalb County jail for a
also listed on DeKalb County American blogger Koji offensive and racist. is ignorant, Stevens said. In
misdemeanor crime. As with
OJScomplexion. Chos listing Stevens, who writes about People of all races come fact, if you have yellow skin,
other inmates, his charges
issues faced by Asians in
See Complexion Page 4A
LOCAL
AROUNDDEKALB
AVONDALE
Avondale Estates Mens Club to hold meeting
The Avondale Estates Mens Club will hold its
monthly meeting March 29 at noon. The meeting
will be held at American Legion Post 66, located at
30 Covington Highway. At this months meeting,
mens club member John Pomberg will share his
experience working in an Iowa prison. For more in-
formation, visit www.avondaleestates.org.
CHAMBLEE
New sanitation schedule coming in April
The city of Chamblees Public Works Department
will adjust its sanitation schedule to make its work-
load more manageable.
Customers who live on Caldwell Road, Clair-
wood Terrace, Dyer Circle, 8th Street, 4th Street,
Hardee Avenue, Knox Avenue, Parkridge Crescent,
Skyland Drive, Canfield Drive, Hickory Road, Law-
son Drive, 5th Street, Ham Drive, Jefferson Street,
Park Lane, 6th Street and Wingate Road will have
brush, recycling and garbage pickup on Wednesdays
instead of Mondays beginning April 1.
For more information and to have concerns
addressed, contact the Public Works department at
(770) 986-5019 or visit www.chambleega.gov.
DECATUR
DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court to host free
notary training
DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk Debra
DeBerry and the Georgia Superior Court Clerks
Cooperative Authority are hosting two free notary
training sessions on Friday, March 24. The first ses-
sion is 9 10:30 a.m. and the second session is 11
a.m. 12:30 p.m. The training sessions will be held
at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive in
downtown Decatur.
This training workshop is open to the public and
recommended to anyone who is a notary public in
the State of Georgia or would like to become one.
It is important to remember that a notary public
should perform his or her duties to the utmost ex-
tent of the law, failure to do so could result in costly
lawsuits and penalties as a notary is liable for his or
her actions.
Contact Twinette Jones to reserve your seat to
attend either session at (404)-371-2250 or tajones@
dekalbcountyga.gov
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 3
City to host touch-a-truck event
Decatur Active Living will host its annual Touch-
a-Truck event March 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The
event gives children of all ages an opportunity to
touch, explore and see their favorite government
trucks or equipment on wheels. The city of Decatur
and DeKalb County dump trucks, fire trucks, trac-
tors, police cars and motorcycles, and other types of
vehicles will be on display. This years event will be
held in the East Lake MARTA station north park-
ing lot. In case of inclement weather, the event will
be rescheduled for April 15. For more information,
contact Cheryl Burnette (678) 553-6541 or cheryl.
burnette@decaturga.com.
DUNWOODY
Brook Run Park to host Rescue Dog Olympics
Brook Run Park in Dunwoodylocated at 4770
N. Peachtree Roadwill host a Rescue Dog Olym-
pics on March 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event, described as a romping fun-silly
field day to celebrate your rescue dog, is free to the
public and will include live music, a beer garden,
food vendors and local shops. Informational booths
regarding pet cancer, pet spas, adoption agencies and
pet products will also be available to attendees.
Owners can also compete in fun, easy dog
Olympic competitions to celebrate their rescued
companion. Each Olympic game station will have a
gold, silver and bronze winner and participants are
encouraged to practice.
To receive more information, including top-
secret info on the various games, participants are
encouraged to pre-register at www.rescuedogolym-
pics.com.
LITHONIA
Library to host book sale
The Friends of the Lithonia-Davidson Library
will be hosting a Book Sale April 7 and April 8
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library is located at 6821
Church Street. For more information, call (770) 482-
3820.
STONE MOUNTAIN
Resume writing workshop to take place at
Grace Church for All Nations
Grace Church for All Nationslocated at 650
Rowland Road in Stone Mountainwill host a
resume writing and job seeking workshop on March
25 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Part one, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., will feature
Andrew Cauthen, an award-winning journalist and
the current communications manager for DeKalb
Countys CEO office. Cauthen will teach attendees
to use action words and bulleted sentences to make
resumes more attention-grabbing as well as how to
structure resumes to highlight strengths.
Part two, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, will feature
WorkSource DeKalbs mobile team connecting job-
seekers with employment opportunities.
For more information, visit yourehiredresume-
workshop.eventbrite.com.
Library to host after school movie screening
Pre-teens and teens ages 9 to 14 can attend an
after-school movie screening March 27 at Stone
Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
The title of the movie will be announced on the
day of the screening. The event is open to the first
35 participants. The library is located at 952 Leon
Street. For more information, call (770) 413-2020.
TUCKER
Prayer breakfast plans announced
The Kingdom Builders Gospel Awards will host
its first prayer breakfast on March 25 from 9 a.m.
1 p.m. at Restoration Church of Deliverance, 4874
North Royal Atlanta Road in Tucker. The theme,
Activate Your Now Faith, will equip, empower and
enable men and women to pray with greater power,
according to an announcement.
Speaker Evangelist Valerie Curtis of Open Door
Outreach Center in Riverdale, will be the keynote
speaker. Curtis serves as an associate minister of
the Open Door Outreach Center and a ministerial
liaison to Apostle Mary D. Lawrence.
The prayer breakfast will highlight the impor-
tance of the relationship between prayer and faith
and engage attendees in lively praise and worship
with recording artist Patrick Parker Jr., producer of
Unified Praise and Waiting. Elder Donna Frazier of
Worshippers Interceding For Excellence Church and
Executive Producer of Metro Caf: Sanctified in the
City will serve as mistress of ceremonies.
Prophetess Alicia Cardwell Alston, who founded
the Kingdom Builders Gospel Awards three years
ago, said the attendees can look forward to being
spiritually recharged and rejuvenated. This prayer
breakfast is timely as many are seeking answers to
life challenges and constant changes in their lives.
Prayer is the foundation to a life of faith in God,
Alston said.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 4

Drew Charter receives $2.5 million grant

Funds will benefit early childhood education
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
Charles R. Drew Charter
Schoollocated at 301 E Lake
Blvd SEwas announced as
the recipient of a five-year $2.5
million grant by way of the
East Lake Foundation and the
James M. Cox Foundation on
March 13.
The funds will contribute
to research-based professional
development classes and
e-coaching for early childhood
teachers, according to Cox Drew Charter School and the East Lake Foundation were named the recipient of a five-year $2.5 million grant courtesy of the James M. Cox Foundation, which will
be used for the schools Pre-K and early childhood education program. Photos submitted.
Foundation spokesman and
Cox Enterprises Chairman Jim charter school with a current Foundation said the grant support and investment. second received from the
Kennedy. enrollment of more than will provide an extra teacher The Cox Foundation was James M. Cox Foundation.
My grandfather started out 1,750 students in preschool to in the classroom and that the an early believer in the power She said obtaining it involves a
as a teacher and my daughter, 12th grade. The school is part professional development and of early childhood education five-month application process.
sister and cousin have been of a holistic neighborhood e-coaching may serve as a as a way of eliminating The first of five payments was
teachers. We are proud to revitalization effort by East model to schools throughout the achievement gap for received in December.
support Drew Charter School Lake Foundation, which is the the country. economically disadvantaged In December 2011, the
because it plays an important, actual recipient of the grant. The Cox Pre-K Program children, Shoy said. [This] East Lake Foundation was
hands-on role in educating The East Lake Foundation at Drew Charter provides will ensure that the Pre-K awarded a $2.5 million grant
both young children and describes itself as a provider professional development for program provides a high over five years to support
teachers, Kennedy said. It of the tools for families of early education, according to quality early education for the Pre-K program at Drew
also serves as a learning lab the Villages of East Lake and officials. This includes on-site our youngest scholars and a Charter School, Woodling
and provides great resources students of Drew Charter training, coaching, and free replicable model for programs said.
that can be accessed online by School to build a better life online resourcesall funded across Georgia and the nation. For more information on
teachers across the nation for themselves and future through grants from the James According to Catherine Drew Charter School and the
creating a far-reaching impact. generations through education, M. Cox Foundation. Woodling, director of East Lake Foundation, visit
Opened in 2000, Drew mixed-income housing and East Lake Foundation communications and www.eastlakefoundation.org.
Charter is Atlantas first public community wellness. president Daniel Shoy, Jr., marketing at the East Lake
Officials from the East Lake said it was an honor to receive Foundation, the grant is the

COMPLEXION Continued From Page 1A

Asian or otherwise, you might have jaundice. If you
dont have jaundice, there are 432 causes of yellow
skin.
Stevens said the origin of the term is based
on the works of Carl Linnaeus and his protg
Johann Blumenbach, whose worknow referred
to as scientific racism by expertsattempted to
anthropologically define race as Caucasian or white,
Mongolian or yellow, Malayan or brown, Ethiopian
or black, and American or red.
Linnaeus and Blumenbachs work attempts to
create racial hierarchy between the races based on
physical similarities.
According to Jiang Tsus Failure, Nationalism and
Literature: The Making of Modern Chinese Identity
and Tim Yangs The Malleable Yet Undying Nature of
the Yellow Peril, when people from Asian countries
began to immigrate to the United States, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand, it was classified by
nationalists as the yellow peril, the yellow terror
and the yellow spectre.
According to Stephanie Cho, who serves as the
executive director for Asian Americans Advancing
Justices Atlanta chapter, the term yellow is an
antiquated term used to describe and even mock
Asian Americans.
Its deeply offensive to use that word to describe
Asian Americans, Cho said. It comes from a time
when it was associated with yellow face, which was
used to mock Asians skin tones in America and
a time when Asians werent able to act in films as
Asian.
Cho said no one would use the word yellow
to describe an Asian in the modern world, instead
calling them Asian or naming their country of origin
as a descriptor, such as Korean, Chinese, Japanese or
Malaysian.
Cho said the issue may be that people do not
realize yellow is offensive and outdated.
People just dont realize its a slur, Cho said. We
still have incidents where a child will be at school and
have a chinky-eyed incident. People literally dont
understand that its offensive so people dont actually
know its a problem.
Cho suggested DeKalb County Superior Court,
which handles OJS, rid the website of such a
classification and educate its members on proper
terminology.
The reality is that people need to understand
fully that its an antiquated termits not just a matter
of sensitivitythat yellow is not a way to describe
an Asian person, Cho said. Sometimes people
just dont know that people dont use those words
anymore. There needs to be some level of education
about it.
When scanning other entries on OJS, complexion
descriptions vary.
Inmates whose race is listed as Black, for example,
are described as fair skinned, black, dark brown,
dark skinned, medium brown, medium, or the
description is left blank.
Hispanic inmates are either listed as olive, light
skinned, light brown, medium or left blank. No
description is put down for White inmates other
than light skinned or light brown. Races listed as
other range the entire spectrum.
Chos was the only one described as yellow in
February. Others classified as Asian were listed as
fair skinned, and olive.
According to DeKalb County Sheriff s Office
spokesman Cynthia Williams, the description for
Chos March arrest has been deleted. In addition,
Williams said DeKalb County is in the process of
switching to a new operating system that will be
easier to use and will have a different classification
system.
The personal identification description to which
[inquiries] referred to has been deleted from his files,
Williams said. We regret that this occurred and will
reiterate with our officers the use of standardized
terminology when processing individuals into the jail
database.
Chos previous arrest, which occurred in
November 2015, still retains the complexion
description.
As of press time, Williams did not clarify who
makes complexion descriptions, if such a description
is checked or what safeguards are used by the agency
to prevent such descriptions from occurring.
According to the New York Daily News, a
description of Shamir Allen as a dark negro by
the Lockport Police Department in Illinois caused
controversy in 2014. At the time, county legislators,
authors and NAACP officials called the description
insensitive, ignorant and disgusting.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 5

Oliver Knowles stands in front of Decatur Chief of Police Mike Bookers desk during his visit to Olivers mother Jill Knowles sent in this photo to Decatur Police via
the Decatur Police Department Facebook after the department asked if anyone wanted to join the
department.

OLIVER Continued From Page 1

Not only did the department allow
that sort of thing, but the Decatur Police
Department welcomed Oliver and he
met with Sgt. Nembheard and Officer
Alexander and toured the department.
Since his initial meeting, Oliver has become
somewhat of a mascot for Decatur Police.
This can enhance our relationship
between [community] and police. Im glad
that he came and Im glad that we could do
this for him, Booker said.
Booker said it was refreshing to see
someone so young becoming so receptive
toward police officers. Jill Knowles said her
son wasnt always so unabashed when it
came to uniformed officers.
He showed some interest in police
officers, but he was also a little skittish
around them. I just wanted him to not be
afraid and hopefully encourage him to feel
comfortable, Jill Knowles said. If there was
ever an emergency I would want him to seek
out a police officer and not be afraid.
Oliver has received several gifts from
the Decatur Police Department including a
necklace, pencils and pens, safety manuals
and a book bag. His mother said shes been
overwhelmed by the departments response.
The Knowles family moved from Clayton
County to Decatur in August 2016 and they
say they enjoy the family environment and
atmosphere.
I just wanted to show [the officers] that
they had a fan and I just thought they would
get a kick out of it. I thought they might say
thank you but I didnt expect this. This is
huge. Sometimes it feels like I have dust in
my eye, She said, laughing while wiping
away a tear. These officers have a lot more
important things to worry about, but to let
him come down here and meet with them is
just tremendous.
At just 4 years old, Oliver isnt quite sure
what he wants to do when he gets older.
In an interview with The Champion he said
hed like to do all the jobs, most of which
involve public safety.
Olivers meet and greet with Chief
Booker lasted a few hours with different
Decatur officers dropping by to say hello to
future officer Oliver.
Hes kind of a local celebrity, whether
he realizes it or not, Jill Knowles said. This
makes me feel really good. I submitted that
photo to make [the officers] feel better and
let them know we supported them and they
turned around and made us feel better. It
means a lot to me and him.
Booker said Oliver could have a bright
future with the Decatur Police Department.
Now all Oliver must do is wait patientlyfor
about 17 years.

DOG PARK Continued From Page 1

morning and there are houses
right across from the dog park
and behind the dog park.
There were a lot of issues
about people letting their dogs
run and bark at [certain] times
in the morning. And there were
certain issues about people
bringing dogs that wouldnt
play nice with other dogs.
A verbal confrontation
broke out once between a
resident and a dog owner
because the dog owner
parked in front of the
residents driveway, blocking
the resident in, according to
Tavenner. He also said there
were talks in the past about
possibly moving the dog park
to V.F.W. Park on Gordon
Street.
Im not sure how far they
have gotten with that, he said.
During the regular council
meeting, Mayor Patricia
Wheeler said she and
councilmember Susan Coletti
have communicated with
several residents who want
the dog park to return.
Susan is keeping a list of
people who are interested in
the dog park, Wheeler said.
We will be having a meeting
with them to see exactly where
were going and we have
looked at some of the ideas of
how were going to operate it.
Coletti said those residents
have gotten together and
discussed what they would like
to see and how they would like
to have the dog park operated.
There are different ideas
from each person and theyre
all very willing to flush it out
because they all want it to be
successful, Coletti said. We
dont want it to be an expense
to the city, so were looking at
locations that might possibly
work without any construction.
The people who are interested
in [the dog park] are interested
in getting out there and
physically helping.
To me, this is a very
good base to start from and a
good foundation, she added.
Instead of having us run it we
want the people who are going
to be involved in it to run it. It
might take a little while but I
think were off to a good start.
Hopefully well keep moving
forward.
OPINION DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 6

Time is on our side for enjoying spring

Once again those of us
fortunate to live in the South
have dodged a bullet. This
winter has been relatively mild
and for folks living in DeKalb
County and metro Atlanta,
weve not had to contend with
snow, ice and endless days of
bitter cold. What a blessing!
Now weve turned back the
clocks for Daylight Saving Time
and on March 20, it is officially
spring.
The days are growing
longer, plants are blooming
and animals are ending their
hibernation and beginning their
migration. As part of the animal
kingdom, we, too, should end
our hibernation inside our
Gale Horton Gay
gale@dekalbchamp.com
homes and start spending
more time outside reconnecting
with nature, our neighbors
and community members and
exploring the places around us.
In DeKalb County theres
so much to explorewhether
its new places to discover or
spots weve been before but are
so worth revisits. Many of our
favorite haunts are undergoing
or have undergone facelifts
renovations or expansionthat
might leave us surprised at the
changes.
Among my favorites are
Arabia Mountain, Woodland
Gardens, Wildwoods and
Fernbank Forest, Stone
Mountain Park and so many
of the countys public parks.
Driving through Pine Lake,
Lithonia, Doraville, Tucker and
Stone Mountain Village can
open ones eyes to changes
taking place in these cities
and opportunities to get out
of the car and get involved in
something new.
There is no shortage of
festivals and outdoor events
that are beginning including
outdoor art, nature, food and
music events in Dunwoody,
Brookhaven, Clarkston,
Avondale Estates, Decatur and
Chamblee. Later in the spring
and summer, it will be hard not
to find a beer, wine, crafts or
barbecue event taking place in
one of DeKalbs communities
on a weekend.
The diversity of DeKalb
County provides us with
enormous opportunities for
enjoying the spring season.
Now its up to us to leave our
couch potato ways behind us.
Spring is here and its time for
us to spring into action.

Subscribe to The Champion Newspaper

To subscribe, visit TheChampionNewspaper.com or call 404.373.7779
OPINION
Boogeyman - Mother Russia
Mankind must put an end
to war, or war will put an end to
mankind. President John F.
Kennedy, September 25, 1961.
As a Baby Boomer and
child of the Cold War, I can well
remember weekly bomb drills
of duck and cover under our
school desks and the weekly
Wednesday midday air raid
warning sirens.The threat
of assured mutual and mass
destruction by nuclear warhead,
between the United States and
former United Soviet Social
Republics (U.S.S.R.) was real.
The sentiment of volatility
was strongand fed by
leaders of the day, such as the
U.S.S.R.sNikita Khrushchev-
If you dont like us, dont accept
our invitation and dont invite us
to come to see you. Whether
you like it or not, history is on our
side. We will bury you.
Then as now, the words
of our world leaders matter.
Khrushchev fueled, as well as
lit the spark, which led to the
Cuban Missile Crisis, which
brought the world to a level
of brinkmanship seldom seen
before or since.The long road
to power and lasting longevity
of Russian PresidentVladimir
Putinhas again imperiled U.S./
Russia relations and increased
tensions between our two
countries.
But there is a H-U-U-G-E
difference between being in the
periscope sites of a U.S.S.R.
submarine carrying nukes, or
living in a named target city
for Soviet-controlled inter-
continental ballistic missiles and
being on the receiving end of a
supposed Russian-led attempt to
hack or influence U.S. elections.
As a reminder, there is no
huge main-frame computer
system tallying presidential
election results. U.S. elections
are controlled at the local and
state level, with results tallied
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
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EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions
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Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 7
term of U.S. PresidentBarack Soviet enemies and their
One Mans Obama. The ambassador
attended both the Democratic
motivations as a child, I also
well remember the oft-told
Opinion and Republican National tale of young Russian Peter,
Conventions during 2016, and his constant warnings
Bill Crane and is known to the leaders of of a hungry wolf threatening
bill.csicrane@gmail.com both national political parties, the children and people of his
the U.S. Senate and the U.S. village.Peter, who too often
House.Developing relationships cried wolf, soon found the ears
independently and then shared and access to centers of power of his friends and neighbors to
electronically, later re-tabulated and influenceis in fact what be deaf to his warning cries.As
and certified.In Georgia alone ambassadors and consul they look ahead to the 2018
there are more than 3,300 generals do. mid-term elections, Democratic
voting precincts spread across Among more ardent leaders might similarly heed the
159 counties, each with its own supporters of former Secretary downsides of their repeated cries
elections superintendent. of StateHillary Clintonas well ofThe Russians are coming!
In the case of the most as more vocal opponents of The Russians are coming!
recent U.S. presidential election, PresidentDonald Trump,it
close contests in Pennsylvania, appears simpler and easier to
Wisconsin and Michigan gave constantly tout the latest Russian Bill Crane also serves as a
the Electoral College majority interference conspiracy theory political analyst and commentator
and three recently reliable Blue than to accept the results and for Channel 2s Action News,
states to Team Trump and the will of the voters during the 2016 WSB-AM News/Talk 750 and
GOP.The combined winning elections.If the Russian hackers now 95.5 FM, as well as a
margin in those three states was are all that good, it would seem columnist for The Champion,
slightly more than 110,000 votes. that we might have seen pieces Champion Free Press and
If in factRussian hackers of their work all across the Georgia Trend. Crane is a
were smart enough to hack and country, not just in a handful of DeKalb native and business
crack the elections tabulations states where it would be difficult owner, living in Scottdale. You
or precinct machines in three to know in advance which states can reach him or comment on a
stateshow would they have election results might be close. column at bill.csicrane@gmail.
known, in advance, which In addition to fearing our com.
states and precincts to hack
to give Trumps candidacy a
majority when turn-out is not
known in advance and ballots
are not tabulated until the polls
close on election day? How
would the Russians know which
precincts to flood with Trump
votes?Which states could be
swayed without touching/hacking
every precinct?Only one of
these states prior to the election
was forecast as being close,
with two being predicted as safe
Clinton territory.
And for all the fuss being
raised about U.S. senators and
or Cabinet level appointees
having contact with Russian
government representatives, the
current Russian ambassador
to the United States isSergey
Kislyak.Kislyak was appointed
in July of 2008, during the first
Publisher: Photographer: STATEMENT FROM THE
John Hewitt Travis Hudgons
PUBLISHER
Chief Financial Officer: Staff Reporters: We sincerely appreciate the
discussion surrounding this and any
Dr. Earl D. Glenn Carla Parker issue of interest to DeKalb County.
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR, R. Scott Belzer The Champion was founded in 1991
Production Manager: Horace Holloman expressly to provide a forum for
The DeKalb Free Press, discourse for all community residents
P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Kemesha Wadley on all sides of an issue. We have no
Send email to Johnh@dekalbchamp.com desire to make the news only to
FAX To: (404) 370-3903; Phone: (404) 373-7779. The DeKalb Free Press is published each Friday report news and opinions to effect
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114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030 ultimately move our community
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www.championnewspaper.com we make every effort to avoid
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LOCAL
Dave Schmit of Integral Corporation was one of many officials to host a tour of the former General Motors as-
sembly plant site, now known as Assembly. Photo by R. Scott Belzer
Assembly CID to issue
$55 million in bonds
Community Improvement District issues funds
to start Assembly site pending court approval
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
Doravilles Assemby Community
Improvement District (CID) is set to issue
$55 million in assessment bonds for the
Assembly development, according to a
March 2017 public notice.
According to the notice, the Assembly
CID and Doraville city officials will plead
their case to DeKalb County Superior Court
on March 28, which will potentially clear
the bonds for issuance. Judge Asha Jackson
is scheduled to hear the case at 2 p.m.
The $55 million will fund Doravilles
Assembly project, which is designed to
bring multi-family housing, office, retail
and other commercial space to the former
General Motors assembly plant site.
The funds also will be placed in accounts
related to administrative costs, debt service
reserves and capitalized interests.
Doraville City Council approved the
creation of the Assembly CID in May 2016.
CIDs are self-taxing districts created to
help fund infrastructure improvements. Tax
revenues collected in CIDs go toward street
construction and maintenance, parks and
recreational areas, sewage and stormwater
systems, public transportation, parking and
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 8
Construction has begun on the future Tucker City Hall Annex meeting room.
Renovations underway
for Tucker city hall annex
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Tucker will soon have a permanent meeting room for city council
meetings.
On Feb. 27, the Tucker city council voted to approve rehabbing a
city hall annex and meeting space on First Avenue. The rehab project
was awarded to Tucker-based construction company D.K. Lippy
Construction, which placed a $71,155 bid on the project.
In a video posted on Tuckers Facebook page, work has already
begun on the meeting space.
We came in and took all of the walls down, removed sheetrock,
said Dennis Lippy of D.K. Lippy Construction. Right now, were in
the process of tearing the ceiling outthe ceiling grids, the ceiling
tilesremoving abandoned wiring.
Lippy said theyve also begun working on the plumbing.
Its going along pretty good, Lippy said. Its going to be a nice
meeting room. I think the idea of going in and removing the ceiling
and putting in new ceiling tiles, fresh paint, new carpet is really going
to make a good presence for the city.
Its exciting, Lippy added. The opportunity to be doing it, being
Tucker-based and being a part of the new city, its very exciting.
The city said it expects construction to be completed in April, with
a grand opening celebration and open house planned for May 12.
other facilities, according to the resolution
passed by council.
Tucker creates web page
In addition, Doraville created a
tax allocation district (TAD) with
DeKalb County on Feb. 7 through an
for city budget
intergovernmental agreement. The TAD
also collects tax revenue to be used for
infrastructure improvements.
Tucker has posted its approved budgets and itemized monthly
On March 7, Doraville City Council
financial reports to its website, the city announced March 16.
held a special-called meeting to approve an
The new webpage will show monthly revenues and expenses
agreement between the city and Assembly
dating back to Tuckers incorporation in May 2016. The numbers are
CID. Approval allows the CID to levy taxes
expressed in detailed spreadsheets. Residents can look at specific line
should the site run low on funds.
items to see how much money is coming into the city and being spent
As you recall, we created a special tax
by the city.
district then created a CID, said Doraville
When we campaigned for cityhood, we promised transparency,
city manager Shawn Gillen. The CID will
Mayor Frank Auman said. Just to say youre transparent isnt
be issuing bonds for infrastructure on the
enough. Its incumbent upon us to make sure residents can easily find
Assembly site. The CID is there as a credit
and understand these budget numbers. An informed community will
enhancement. If theres ever a shortfall of
make for a stronger city.
CID revenue, we would levy taxes in the
The webpage will be updated after the second city council meeting
special district.
of each month, meaning the financial report for February 2017 will
Councilwoman Pam Fleming said
be made public by March 27.
she is excited to get the Assembly started
The citys accounting manager Jennifer Davis, who has overseen
and going vertical, while Mayor Donna
development of the webpage, said this has been an important project
Pittman said the project is one of the most
for the city.
exciting things going on in the city.
Were going to make sure that residents know about every cent of
Im very excited to see whats going to
revenue that comes into and out of the city, she said.
happen, Pittman said. I know its going to
Tucker is currently on a six-month budget which expires on June
be great.
30. City staff is in the process of building its first 12-month budget,
which will cover Fiscal Year 2018.
LOCAL
Fifty tons of debris collected
by Horace Holloman
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Streets in DeKalb County may be a
little cleaner after a recent cleanup effort
by county officials. In the first Saturday of
the countys Operation Clean Sweep, 50
tons of debris were removed from a 12-
mile stretch of south Stone Mountain and
Lithonia on Panola and Redan roads by
county crews.
On March 11, crews from sanitation,
beautification, roads and drainage and
parks and recreation removed litter
and debris along street curbs and storm
drains, performed street sweeping on
sidewalks and mowed the area.
The initiative will be year-round and
improve the livability and cleanliness of
the county by targeting litter and debris
in storm drains, streets, sidewalks and
rights-of-way, said DeKalb County CEO
Michael Thurmond.
Anyone who lives, works or who
visits here should be able to walk and
drive along the streets of DeKalb County
without encountering excessive litter and
debris, said Thurmond in a statement.
Blight in DeKalb County has been
a longstanding issue. Marcus Kellum,
director of beautification, said Operation
Clean Sweep helps bring together
different DeKalb departments to focus on
a common goal.
Weve received some very positive
DeKalb County officials kicked off the Operation Clean Sweep initiative
March 11.
community responses and while we
were out there people were clapping
and saying thank you for cleaning the
streets, Kellum said. This is the new face
of DeKalb and our focus is to deliver a
product and service that the residents can
be proud of.
The initiative is one of several
amendments added to the CEOs 2017
budget. The funds for the $2.6 million
project were already available for the
operation and were reallocated, a county
official said.
Kellum said the departments are using
a phased approach to handle debris in
DeKalb. He said the plan put forth by the
administration should be successful.
We knew [debris] was an issue and
this is a start. This is an effort that will
continue and the initiative adds that extra
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 9
DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond honors the inspiration for Operation Clean
Sweep, Cynthia Houston, as District 7 Commissioner Greg Adams looks on.
simplified, classic version of their current logo. Image courtesy of the city
of Dunwoody.
effort on Saturdays. This adds that level of on the side of the road, picking up trash,
detail to make sure the streets are clean, no matter the weather, said Thurmond
Kellum said. during the event. Were kicking off
During the budget meeting, Operation Clean Sweep today in her
Thurmond told commissioners it was honor.
important the amendment be approved so On March 18, the operation clean
road crews could get to work. sweep crew traveled north on Panola
I want to thank the staff for putting Road from Snapfinger Road to Salem
[Operation Clean Sweep] together. It Road. The clean sweep crew plans to
was a great outcome and outpour of continue work each Saturday through
concerned citizens trying to keep DeKalb August to clear grass, trash and debris.
beautiful, Commissioner Greg Adams According to the county, once the
said. initial clearing of roadways is complete,
During the operation kickoff street sweepers will service and maintain
event, Thurmond recognized DeKalb all 2,000 miles of DeKalb roadway and
County resident Cynthia Houston as 4,000 miles of curbs four times a year.
the inspiration behind Operation Clean You have to have respect for where
Sweep. you live and your environment, said
Long before I ever thought about Houston. If you dont, then nobody else
being CEO, I noticed Houston always out will.
REPORT SEWAGE SPILLS ASAP
Call 770.270.6243 and press 2 report
or email dekalbwaterops@dekalbcountyga.gov
LOCAL
After candidates challenged his financial status, Jason Lary released his
tax returns and FICO score to be more transparent. He called the move
unprecedented in a local race for mayor.
Stonecrest mayoral candidate
releases tax returns, challenges
other candidates to do same
by Horace Holloman
horace@dekalbchamp.com
After accusations of a poor
financial status, Jason Lary
decided to do something he
considers unprecedented for
a mayoral candidate before
an electionrelease his tax
returns.
During a press conference
at This is It! BBQ and Seafood
restaurant in Lithonia, Lary
displayed his tax returns,
FICO score and the deed to
his house. After showing the
documents, Lary challenged
his opponents, Charles Hill
and Douglas Favors II, to do
the same.
Lary also signed a medical
records request to prove he has
the stamina to do the job.
I challenge Mr. Favors and
Mr. Hill to do the same. I know
Im mentally and physically
fit to do exactly what we need
to do in regards to the city of
Stonecrest, Lary said. This
is part of being transparent.
If you want to be out there
and you want to make these
statements share everything
that Im sharing.
In candidate forums and in
interviews, Hill has suggested
that Lary is not qualified to be
mayor of Stonecrest due to his
bankruptcy filings.
I take pride in this
statement. I am a real grownup
TheChampionNewspaper.com
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 10
Blue Breeze Cards
must be replaced
with Silver Cards!
with real bills and real
opportunities and real kids that
we put through real colleges,
said Lary. Then you can start
to judge the type of person I
am and judge what kind of grit
and determination I have.
Larys FICO numbers
showed a score of 728.
According to nerdwallet.
com, anything above 720 is
an excellent credit score.
In 2015 Lary earned more After March 31, 2017
than $150,000 and more than
$160,000 in 2014. In 2013 he Blue Breeze cards cannot be reloaded.
earned more than $172,000.
Clearly Im not [running
for mayor] for the money,
After July 9, 2017
Lary said.
On March 21, voters
Blue Breeze cards will not be accepted.
decided the makeup of the
local government of the new
city of Stonecrest by voting for
the citys first mayor and five Avoid losing any trips or value still loaded on
council seats.
In an interview with The your Blue Breeze card: Use all remaining trips or
Champion, Lary said he value on your Blue card before July 9, 2017.
plans to continue being as
transparent as possible. He said Purchase a new, secure Silver Breeze card for
he would like to see Stonecrest
create an independent review
$2.00 at any rail station vending machine, Ride Store
board. or online at www.Breezecard.com.
To take us to the next level
and beat other cities we have
to do things that are different.
It cannot be the status quo. We
have to continue to do things
that are unprecedented, Lary
said. Were going to create Go to www.itsmarta.com for FAQs or call
a transparency commission MARTAs Customer Service at 404-848-5000, M-F 8-5.
so they can determine at all
times that were doing the right
thing.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 11

WEEKinPICTURES

Valorie Wilson, executive director for the Georgia School Board Association, talks to a crowd in downtown Decatur during the
stand up for Democracy event March 11. Photo by Horace Holloman.

Stonecrest mayoral candidate Jason Lary talks to DeKalb residents after

releasing his tax returns at a press conference at This it it!

In areas too thick for the street sweeper to clean, crews manually dig debris to clear the curb at the first Operation Clean
Sweep March 11. Photo provided by DeKalb County.

The Dunwoody Nature Center celebrated the grand opening of its Wildcat
Mayor Denis Shortal administers the oath of office to new Dunwoody Police Officer Jordan Laverty on March 13. Photo submit- Creek restoration project on March 10, welcoming dozens of residents.
ted. Photo submitted.

Have you created programming youd like to air on TV?

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

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

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 12

Dunwoody City Council unanimously approved allowing elected officials into the citys 457(b) plan, which allows retirement benefits and savings. Photo submitted.

Elected officials granted retirement benefits in Dunwoody

Councilmen, mayor allowed tax-funded salary referrals, vesting, investments
by R. Scott Belzer money for retirement at the potentially limited amounts of The item was unanimously of city councils Feb. 27 consent
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com same time. Since federal time. approved via Dunwoody City agenda where it received
income taxes are calculated Councilman John Councils March 13 consent zero discussion and received
on your income after your Heneghan, who stated he would agenda. The plan was also part unanimous approval.
Dunwoody councilmen retirement plan contribution not be taking part in the 457(b)
and Mayor Denis Shortal will has been deducted, you may plan, requested City Manager

!
be granted retirement benefits pay less in federal income Eric Linton and Mayor Shortal

N
following a city council-

GEORGIA PIEDMONT
taxes. Thus, you may actually explain the agenda item for the

O
approved amendment to the

I
have more spendable income publics benefit.

citys employee handbook on
March 13.
Dunwoody City Council
unanimously approved to
amend the citys tax-funded
457(b) Comprehensive
Retirement Plan to include
elected officials.
According to OneAmerica,
the company that facilitates
Dunwoodys retirement plan,
a 457(b) is a retirement plan
where contributions are
made on a pre-tax basis until
withdrawn.
Participating in a 457(b)
plan is a great way to invest
money for retirement, reads a
statement from OneAmerica.
You can reduce your current
income taxes and set aside
than you would if you were
contributing a comparable
amount to a savings account
where contributions and
earnings are subject to current
income tax rules.
According to the citys
employee handbook, the plan
provides employees a plan to
dedicate paychecks to savings
under $18,000; catch-up
contributions up to $6,000 for
those ages 50 and older; as well
as investment options.
Following the amendment,
elected officials as well as
employees are eligible for such
savings, despite the mayor and
council being paid amounts
lower than $20,000 per year for
T
According to Linton, this
!
C W
allows city council members
O
A ENRO LN
to put away any funds they
earn while in office with no
match or additional city funds.
L 2017
Linton called the 457(b) the SUMMER Semester
government version of a
401(k). HIGH JOB PLACEMENT RATE98.7%
Theres no cost or
LOW COST1/3rd of the cost of other institutions
additional cost to the city,
Linton said. Of course, theres FLEXIBLE SCHEDULESonline, hybrid, evenings,
weekends
always an administrative cost
when adding new members. IN-DEMAND PROGRAMS40+ programs in
There are no additional high-demand fields
public funds coming to myself ACCREDITEDcontinuously for 50 years
or anyone else on council, said
Shortal. This will only be the PLUS!
funds we earn in our salary FREE COLLEGE CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTSHigh School students can earn
you know, those giant salaries college credits by enrolling in summer
classes through MOVE ON WHEN READY.
we earn.

Stone Mountain to hold

contractor to sidewalk contract
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The Stone Mountain City Council has decided
to hold a contractor to a contract involving the
East Mountain Street Sidewalk project, the city
announced.
In a statement posted on the citys website, the
council, after a March 7 executive session, agreed
to have the construction contract attorney inform
the contractor of the citys intent to enforce the
terms of the contract as executed.
The city is currently involved in a contract
dispute with the contractor of record, the
statement reads. There have been overages
invoiced within pay requests issued by the
contractor. The city is expecting a response
from the contractor immediately following the
contractors receipt of the citys letter of intent.
Last month, the city ordered work to stop on
the project, which includes the Second Street
project phase, due to a dispute with the contractor
over the project expenditures. City officials said
they are working with the contactor and engineer
to provide a timely resolution.
At this time, there is nothing further to
report; however, the constituents of the city will
be notified as updates arise, a statement from the
city said. The city understands that construction
projects often render an inconvenience to the CHOOSE THE BEST CAMPUS FOR YOU!
community and the construction site currently
paints an unsightly picture. Please know that
the city is working towards a timely project MAIN CAMPUS
Equal LOCATIONS:
Opportunity Institution
completion and is hopeful of a finished product
DEKALB CAMPUS SOUTH DEKALB CAMPUS
that citizens, business and property owners, and 495 N. Indian Creek Dr. 2460 Wesley Chapel Rd.
visitors alike will enjoy. Clarkston, GA 30021 Decatur, GA 30035
The city council awarded the $22,507 404-297-9522 ext. 1602 404-297-9522 ext. 6000
contract to Atwell LLC to construct the side
walk in April 2016. According to the minutes NEWTON CAMPUS
16200 Alcovy Rd.,
from several council meetings, the council had Covington, GA 30014
several discussions about additional payments for 404-297-9522 ext. 3100
materials and other changes.
The city previously added sidewalks on Main
Street from Manor Drive to Poole Street and on
Manor Drive from Main Street to Third Street in Contact us at (404) 297-9522 | www.gptc.edu | Equal Opportunity Institution
Phase I of the project. www.gptc.edu/gainfulemployment
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 13

Brookhaven launches city council meeting childrens program

Brookhaven has launched
Kids Night In, a pilot Parks
and Recreation Department
program designed to provide
supervised recreation activities
for children while their parents
attend city council meetings at
Brookhaven city hall.
The city of Brookhaven
should be as open and available
as it can be for residents,
Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst
said. People who want to
engage their government can
do so in Brookhaven without
worrying about what to do
with the children. They can
bring them here.
The pilot program, which
the city said is the first of its
kind in local government, has
its origins in the private sector.
Large entities like Ikea,
Home Depot and Childrens
Healthcare of Atlanta utilize
on-site child care to promote
families while achieving
maximum engagement in the
workplace, City Manager
Christian Sigman said. We
thought, why not modify that
strategy to make our local
government more accessible in
Brookhaven?
Kids Night In will feature
a supervised area for children
to play games, watch movies
or work on homework during
city council work sessions and
business meetings, beginning
at 3:30 p.m. on the second
and fourth Tuesdays of every
month. The program will
continue until the end of the
city council meeting, no matter
how late.
Well have professional
Parks Department staff on
hand at city hall until the
closing gavel, Parks and
Recreation Director Brian
Borden said. Well be here
until the very end.
Children must be in good
health, and between 5 and 12
years old to attend Kids Night
In. Light refreshments will be
available.
As a single parent who
wants to stay informed and
engaged with the many
exciting things happening in
Brookhaven, this initiative by
the city is great news, resident
Marian Liou said. I love this
idea and I hope many families
with young children take this
opportunity to get involved.
Date night at city hall, see you
there.
After the six-month pilot
concludes, the program will be
reviewed and evaluated.
By September, we should
have a clearer idea on whether
we should make this a
permanent program, Sigman
said.
Ernst said he believes
Kids Night In will be very
successful.
Citizen involvement
should not compete with
families or family values, he
said. I think that if families
arent forced to make that
choice, they will choose
to participate. If this is as
successful as I think it will be,
youll see other cities following
Brookhavens lead.

Vista Gove community forms group to address issues, possible cityhood

by Horace Holloman
horace@dekalbchamp.com
Residents in the Vista
Grove footprint are exploring
potential cityhood in an
unincorporated area of North
DeKalb.
Andrew Flake, one of the
founding members of the Vista
Grove Initiativea nonprofit
group of residents in the Vista
Grove footprint (VGI)said
the groups objective is to
preserve our areas civic options
for discussion, including
possible cityhood.
VGI is taking a fresh look
at the questions related to both
annexation and cityhood,
said Flake. Vista Grove is the
unincorporated area between
Brookhaven and Tucker. A
group of us were looking
at ways to communicate
issues across different areas
and we came up with the
idea of creating our own
communications platform.
VGI had its first town hall
meeting March 2 at Oak Grove
United Methodist Church
in Decatur with about 70
individuals in attendance, Flake
said.
According to a release, VGI
plans to have future discussions
about a potential cityhood.
The group hopes to introduce
legislation in the 2017 session
about the proposed city.
Regulations about
introducing a cityhood bill
in the General Assembly
would require legislation to be
introduced this year for a city
of Vista Grove to be possible
within the next two years.
We think theres some conducting collaborative If this discussion is done way toward healing the divide,
value to starting the legislative discussions in the future. the right way, it can go a long Flake said.
process early and having a
placeholder bill introduced,
Flake said. What weve heard
is that our approach to this is Proposed Substantial Amendment to the 2014-2018
refreshing.
Flake, 43, a lifetime DeKalb Consolidated Plan, including the
County resident and father 2016 Annual Action Plan
of two, said he hopes VGIs
commitment to informing
and engaging the community
DeKalb County is proposing to amend to the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan,
will help restore trust between including the 2016 Annual Action Plan in order to provide a more efficient
residents after the talks of a city
and effective revolving loan fund for DeKalb County small businesses.
of LaVista Hills went sour. Specifically, prior committed funds for the Doraville Downtown Development
In 2015, a referendum
Authority will be combined with prior committed funds for Access to Capital
to create a city of Vista Hills for Entrepreneurs (ACE) to reflect one aggregate Revolving Loan Fund for
failed. Flake said talks of
the County, in an amount not to exceed $450,000.
creating a city during that time
became divisive.
In an effort to create a more streamlined small business loan model and to
The level of redirect got leverage economies of scale, the $200,000 in CDBG funding which was set
very heated and it became a
aside in 2016 for the Doraville Downtown Development Authority Revolving
bit negative, Flake said about Loan Fund will be moved to the ACE Revolving Loan Fund. The ACE
discussions leading up to the
Revolving Loan Fund which was previously funded at $250,000 will now have
denial of the city of LaVista a budgeted funding amount of $450,000 and will service all of DeKalb County,
Hills. Some of the debates
to include Doraville.
seemed to be more about
criticisms and less about
All citizens are invited to review the proposed substantial amendment
building up the community. to these programs from March 23, 2017 April 7, 2017 on the DeKalb
Many of us have spent our
County Community Development website, https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/
whole lives in the county community-development/public-notices, and at the locations identified below.
and we love the potential for
growth and new leadership.
Flake said VGI is committed
to hearing everyones concerns. DeKalb County Community Development Department
In a release the group said 3486 Covington Hwy, Decatur, Georgia 30032
members of VGIs leadership
(404) 371-2727
team were not involved in
LaVista Hills or any previous
cityhood effort in the area. Chamblee Branch Library Decatur Branch Library
If residents seem receptive 4115 Clairmont Road, 215 Sycamore Street,
to the idea of a new city, Flake Chamblee Decatur
said the group will try to raise (770-936-1380) (404-370-3070)
funds to conduct a feasibility
study for the area. Please contact the libraries for days and hours of operation.
Whether or not residents
Comment forms may be obtained and completed at each of the above listed locations.
agree to a new city in DeKalb Comments may also be faxed or emailed to the Community Development Department.
County, Flake said, VGI will
Fax: (404) 371-2742
Email: bhcamp@dekalbcountyga.gov
EDUCATION
Burnette Elementary School student Abhiram Kapaganty won the 56th
Annual Georgia Association of Educators State Spelling Bee and a place
at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland in May, representing
Georgia. Also pictured, Sid Chapman of Georgia Association of Educators.
Photo by R. Scott Belzer
Druid Hills 7th grader places well at State Spelling Bee
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
Merriam-Webster
dictionary defines the word
nisi as taking effect at
a specified time unless
previously modified or avoided
by cause shown, further
proceedings, or a condition
fulfilled.
The word has Latin roots
and its first recorded use dates
back to 1738.
On March 17, it became
known as the word that
eliminated Druid Hills Middle
School student Aditi Shankar
from the 56th Annual Georgia
Association of Educators
(GAE) State Spelling Bee
competition at Georgia State
University.
Shankar competing on
March 17 means she outspelled
more than 69,000 students in
Georgia that come from 1,112
public schools, 81 private
schools, 16 parochial schools,
15 charter schools, and four
homeschools.
Shankar was also the only
student to represent DeKalb
County.
Shankar, 12, was the 10th
contestant eliminated overall
and one of eight students
eliminated in the ninth
round. Shankar successfully
spelled macaroni, praline,
denture, rupee, tatami,
vernacular, ameliorate, and
vaquero until faced with
Jahnvi Bhagat was the runner-up on March 17, and will take
Kapagantys place should he not be able to compete at Scripps
National Spelling Bee in Maryland in May.
Nisi trips up DeKalb County middle schooler eliminated in 9th round
nisi.
Other troublesome words
for students were quesadilla,
junco, succotash,
embarcadero, vapidity,
solace, hoick, exigible,
minestrone, panary,
epistrophe, hircine, vireo,
and fluoroscope.
Dozens of parents looked
on as students were eliminated.
Certain parents appealed
words, found favorable
spellings online, but could only
look on as words knocked out
one student after another.
For example, one parent
found a favorable spelling for
hoick online, but judges
referenced a giant Collegiate
Dictionary as the central
authority. In another instance,
parents swore they heard a
child spell a word correctly
but judges blamed the false
acoustics of Georgia States
State Ballroom.
More than 30 minutes
passed between rounds
10 and round 16, which
featured students Sophie
Fang (Cobb), Aya Salma
Haddad (Gwinnett), Jahnvi
Bhagat (Cobb) and Abhiram
Kapaganty (Gwinnett) spelling
such words as balalaika,
pfeffernusse, zwinger,
pogrom, engastromythic,
zeitgeber, prosciutto, and
more.
Reniform knocked out
Fang, while autophagy
eliminated Haddad in the
20th round. The pair faced-off
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 14
until round 23, when Bhagat
misspelled vorlage with an
f .
Kapaganty, who was
required to spell two words
correctly to claim victory, then
spelled both schipperke and
wedel without fault, and
won this years state title. The
Burnette Elementary School
11-year-old earned a place at
the Scripps National Spelling
Bee in Maryland in May,
Druid Hills Middle School student Aditi Shankar competed at the
56th Annual Georgia Association of Educators State Spelling Bee
on March 17 and was eliminated in the 9th round.
representing Georgia. McIntyrefeatured more
I feel really good about than 200 words, including law
going to nationals, Kapaganty terms, Itlalian dishes, German
said. I have never been to terminology and unheard-of
the Washington [D.C.] area. I adjectives.
thought I wasnt going to win Usually, the competition
because so many others were goes about 15 rounds,
in the spelling bee last year. McIntyre said. This year,
The 23-round because the students are so
competitionone of the smart, its gone well over 20
longest in memory, according rounds.
to event proctor and GAE
Spelling Bee chairman Richard
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Hours: Mon-Fri; 11am-7pm / Sat-Sun;
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EDUCATION
Puppets conclude Stone Mill afterschool program
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
Thirty Stone Mill Elementary
students received a two-hour
lesson on puppetry on March
16 as part of the schools
homework-centered afterschool
program.
Paticipants in Stone Mills
SCANA Energy-sponsored
homework center were visited
by WSBTVs Rikki Klaus and
Atlanta Center for Puppetry
Arts education coordinator
Jeff Domke as part of a puppet
building workshop celebrating
the end of the school year.
While Atlanta anchor Klaus
read stories to students, Domke
guided students through the
history of puppetry, various
puppetry styles, how to create
the perfect puppet and basic
puppet manipulation.
Domke said the event was
all in a days work, as the 15-
year puppet master spends the
majority of his time traveling
to classrooms across the metro
Atlanta area and educating
students on puppetry. Students
were wowed by each type of
puppet as Domke made a jester
talk, a dragon dance and donned
a full-body puppet uniform and
even made a container talk with
full personality.
I bring puppets from
around the globe to show kids
and give them the five basic
types of puppets seen around
the world, Domke said. The
five basics are hand puppets, rod
puppets, shadow puppets, string
puppets and body puppets.
Its one of my passions; I love
inspiring younger minds and
older minds with creativity and
ways to tell stories.
Stone Mill principal Kyia
Clark said she has had great
experiences in working with
SCANA Energys homework
center at her former school,
Princeton Elementary in
Lithonia. She called the event
an in-school field trip and very
important to participating
students.
A lot of these students
dont travel outside of the Stone
Mountain area, Clark said.
Being able to be exposed to this
enriched program and seeing
how learning can be fun and
exciting is a very rewarding
opportunity for our children.
Clark thanked SCANA
Energy for providing a program
that translates into academic
results.
Ive seen how this program
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 15
Atlantas Center for the Puppetry Arts visit Stone Mountain school
thrivestracking attendance,
weve seen results. Weve seen
homework improve; weve seen
academic growth, Clark said.
Children get excited about
turning their homework in the
next day. Children have turned
around and become peer tutors
to other children. This is an
enlightening experience and
were very appreciative.
Fourth-grade student
Mikayla Jones said she only
missed one homework center
session and appreciates getting
homework done and having fun
at the same time.
According to SCANA Energy
community relations manager
Simone McKinney, SCANA
Energy funds Stone Mill
Elementarys homework center
and seven others in East Point,
Lilburn, Lithonia, Marietta and
Norcross.
Jeff Domke with the Center for Puppetry Arts visited Stone Mill Elementarys afterschool homework cen-
We fund teachers salaries, ter to celebrate the end of the year on March 17. Photo by R. Scott Belzer
snacks, incentives and events
like the one were hosting today,
McKinney said. This is our
first year [at Stone Mill] and we
always like to have something
extra fun and special for
students at the end of the year
where they can learn something
as well. Puppetry is always a
big hit with studentsand for
adults too!
McKinney said SCANA
Energy works with community
leaders, superintendents and
others to identify schools
needing sponsored homework
centers. The centers provide
space for students to complete
class assignments, learn proper
study skills and receive certified-
teacher input on an intimate
basis.
McKinney said help in math
and English has translated into
improved grades, behavior and
attendance in students.
Nicole Meadows, Sponsored by SCANA Energy, the event featured reading by WSBTVs Rikki Klaus as well as a puppet dem-
development coordinator with onstration and building workshop. Photo by R. Scott Belzer
21st Century Leadersthe
nonprofit that manages SCANA
Energys homework centers
said students are selected on
criteria involving academic
goals.
Math is especially an area
that students need extra help
in, Meadows said. We give
them enrichment and different
opportunities to enhance their
learning. Weve seen a lot of
growth in kids confidence,
study skills, problem solving
and peer tutoring. Its a great
program.
For more information on
SCANA Energys Homework
Centers, visit www.scanaenergy. Jeff Domke with the Center for Puppetry Arts said inspiring students is one of his passions. Photo by R.
com. Scott Belzer
BUSINESS
Sean Black, front row right, joins partners and associates in celebrating Knocks launch in the Atlanta real estate market.
Online home-selling platform debuts in Atlanta area
by Kathy Mitchell
For many families selling
the place they have called
home for many years can come
with a number of stressful
complications. Nearly 27
percent of Atlanta homes
sellers take price reductions
of 8.8 percent or more and
offer an average of $2,500
in concessions as they try to
complete the sale, according to
Knock, an online home-selling
platform recently introduced
in the Atlanta area market.
Sean Black, Knock co-
founder and CEO, said his
company offers an easier way.
He said Knock is changing the
industry by offering the only
foolproof, full-service way to
sell a home in six weeks or less
or it will purchase the home at
full market value.
The internet has certainly
changed the way buyers look
for homes; however, the selling
process is about the same as it
was 50 years ago, said Black,
who founded Knock along
with partners Karan Sakhuja
and Jamie Glenn.
Black said he and his
partners are changing what he
calls an antiquated industry
with a service that guarantees
a home will be sold within six
weeks for full market value.
The partners earlier
founded Trulia.com, designed
to simplify the home search
process for buyers. We
decided technology also could
improve the process from the
sellers perspective, said Black,
adding that the name Knock
was chosen to suggest the
time-honored way of seeking
entry to a home.
Often people selling their
homes are in the process of
buying another and they are
depending on money from the
sale of their current home for
the down payment on the new
one. If the home sale takes too
long, the deal on the new home
may fall through. We guarantee
the house will sell in six weeks
or less, or we buy it ourselves
at the market price we agreed
on, he said. When a home sells
for more than the price Knock
has established, the additional
money is returned to the
homeowner, Black added.
The key to being able
to make such a guarantee,
according to Black, is using
competitive and accurate
home pricing.
He said Knock uses
data science to price homes
accurately. In addition to a
proprietary algorithm and
a 200-point inspection we
use local market expertise
to ensure homes are priced
right the first time, he said.
DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 16
Often homes dont sell quickly there are approximately arranging paperwork and
because they are priced too 1,550 listings on the market, coordinating the closing. Using
high for the market. After the according to Knock, which this platform, sellers can see
home has been on the market reports that in 2016 the then accept, counter or reject
a while, the seller may reduce median sale price for a DeKalb offers. Black said that Knock
the price sharply to get a quick County home was $222,600 prescreens perspective buyers
sale. All this can be avoided by with the original listing price so that only serious perspective
setting the right price at the averaging $239,400. That same buyers visit the home. The
start. year, approximately 10,175 homeowner doesnt have the
The inspection, Black said, DeKalb County properties inconvenience of dealing with
identifies needed repairs and were sold. They averaged 54 people who are just curious or
modifications. Knock then days on the market. who do not have the approved
arranges for the work and Black said a mobile web credit to buy the home, he
monitors its progress. platform streamlines the said.
Atlanta listings see far process of showing the home,
too many price reductions
and failed sales, Glenn stated
in an announcement of the
program. In fact, more than
25 percent of metro Atlanta
homes see a price reduction
before a sale is complete and
more than10 percentof deals
fall through. With pricing and
sale certainty, Knock removes
the stress of selling a home and
puts the power of home selling
back into the hands of the
homeowner.
Atlanta is the first market
in which Knock is available.
Black said his company chose
the Atlanta area for the rollout
of the program because its a
vigorous real estate market.
He said later this year the
company will expand to
another market that it is not
yet ready to identify.
In DeKalb County alone
CLASSIFIED DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 17

The
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SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 18

SWD tennis teams give

back to communities
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com

Southwest DeKalb boys and girls tennis teams recently took

time off the tennis court to lend a helping hand.
Tennis coach Lance Thomas-Davenport said 20 tennis
players volunteered at Atlantas Grace Fellowship, in partnership
with Hands on Atlantas Teen Service Feb. 18.
The team sorted and packed donated clothing items, [and]
worked in the kitchen preparing meals, Thomas-Davenport
said. They also packed food into care package boxes. The
clothes and meals were prepared to be delivered to metro-area
families and residents in need.
The following Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 members of the team
spent time in the Hartwood Estates Subdivision in Decatur for
the communitys common property revitalization. Thomas-
Davenport said players cut and removed overgrown bushes
and trees, assisted with mulching, prepared the area to build a
walking trail and build piers around the Hartwood Estates lake.
Hartwood Estates subdivision is located less than one mile
from Southwest DeKalb High School. The newly renovated
30-acre common area will include a path and trail around the
community lake, lakefront piers, creek-crossing bridges, and a
community pavilion, according to Thomas-Davenport.
Southwest DeKalb tennis teams involvement in these worthy
community service efforts is a part of its coach-mandated annual
day of service and volunteerism, he said.
Thomas-Davenport said he requires players to actively engage
in community service, which connects them to and places them
in service of their community. He said he also hopes to influence
the students in the direction of continuing such community
Members of the Southwest DeKalb tennis teams participated in community service projects. Photos by service work beyond high school, into their adult lives.
Lance Thomas-Davenport

The Emory mens and womens swim and dive team won the Division III national championship.

Emory swim teams win national championship

by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The Emory University swimming and diving teams
dominated the Division III championship swim meets
in Shenandoah, Texas.
The womens swim and dive team won its eighth
consecutive national championship and the 10th
overall in program history, while the mens team won
its first national championship in program history
March 18. The two titles mark the 21st and 22nd
Division III championships in the history of the Emory
Athletics program.
The womens team won nine event national titles,
including a sweep of all five relay events for the second
consecutive year. Emory set four new Division III
records and collected 28 All-American finishes23
individual and five relays and added 15 honorable
mention All-America certificates. Emory finished
with 645.5 team points, more than 200 points ahead of
second place Williams (445).
Head Coach Jon Howell was named the Collegiate
Swimmers Coaches Association of America (CSCAA)
Womens Swimming Coach of the Year after the
meet for the sixth time in his career and the second
consecutive year. Howell was also named the CSCAA
Mens Coach of the Year.
Sophomore Julia Durmer won the 1,650-freestyle
title with a school record time of 16:27.82, more than
12 seconds faster than the second-place finisher. Fiona
Muir followed by winning the 100-freestyle, also
setting a school record at 49.28.
The 400-freestyle relay team featuring Muir, seniors
Marcela Sanchez-Aizcorbe, Marissa Bergh and
freshman Caroline Olson won the event with a time of
3:19.56, a new Division III record.
Adding All-America honors for Emory were
Bergh (5th, 50.60) and Sanchez-Aizcorbe (6th, 50.77)
in the 100-freestyle, junior Cindy Cheng in the
200-backstroke (3rd, 1:58.62) and senior Annelise
Kowalsky (4th, 2:15.63) and sophomore Ashley
Daniels (6th, 2:17.50) in the 200-breaststroke.
Emorys honorable mention All-Americans
were junior Ming Ong in the 1,650-freestyle (11th,
See Swimming on Page 20A
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 19

Arabia Mountain defeated Southwest DeKalb 9-3 on March 20.

Cedar Grove fell to Lovett 10-0 on March 15. Photos by Travis Hudgons

March 15
WEEKLY BASEBALL SCORES
Arabia Mountain 11, Clarkston 1 March 16
Druid Hills 6, Luella 3
Marist 5, Chestatee 0
Columbia 7, Chamblee 6 Arabia Mountain 17, Clarkston 2 Marist 11, Chestatee 1
Druid Hills 10, Luella 2 Chamblee 12, Columbia 3 Miller Grove 9, Lithonia 5
Lithonia 15, Cross Keys 0 Decatur 14, Grady 1 Redan 17, McNair 0
Redan 21, McNair 1 Dunwoody 10, Cambridge 3 Stephenson 15, Mt. Zion 5
Stephenson 8, Mt. Zion 6 Redan 5, St. Pius X 4 Tucker 10, Drew 6
Tucker 13, Drew 1 Southwest DeKalb 12, Miller Grove 5 Johns Creek 9, Dunwoody 8
Lovett 10, Cedar Grove 0 Lovett 10, Cedar Grove 0
Northview 6, Dunwoody 4 March 17 Mundys Mill 8, M.L. King 3
Mundys Mill 12, M.L. King 2 Arabia Mountain 11, Southwest DeKalb 4 Norcross 4, St. Pius X 2
Norcross 3, St. Pius X 1 Chamblee 15, Cross Keys 0 Pace Academy 14, Towers 1
Pace Academy 13, Towers 1 Columbia 9, Clarkston 4
Westminster 12, Stone Mountain 0 Decatur 10, Grady 0
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS Friday, March 24, 2017 Page 20

FREE CUSTOMER SERVICE CLASSES

SWIMMING Continued From Page 18A AND REUNION PLANNING WORKSHOPS
17:06.48), Olson (11th, 50.77) in the 100-freestyle, junior Sia
Beasley in the 200-backstroke (15th, 2:03.24), sophomore
Hannah Lally (10th, 2:18.16) and junior Megan Campbell in the
200-breaststroke (15th, 2:20.87).
The mens national title comes after the program finished in the
top-three at nationals 13 times including second-place finishes in
2001, 2004, 2005 and 2009. In past championship meets, Emory
never won more than three events. The Eagles won eight during
the four-day championship meet.
Emory finished with 438 points, 54 more than second place
Kenyon College. Emory also set five Division III records, had
16 All-America finishes and had four honorable mention All-
Americans.
Senior Andrew Wilson was named the Swimmer of the
Year for the second time in his career after winning three April 11 (Customer Service) / May 20 (Reunions)
individual titles200-individual medley, 100-breaststroke and Preregistration is required - 770-492-5000
200-breaststroke. He was also a part of the 200- and 400-medley
relay teams that won the events. All of Wilsons five wins set new Discover how to provide outstanding Customer Service at our
Division III records. Service Centric Academy.
Following Wilsons win in the 200-breaststroke, the
400-freestyle relay team of sophomore Trey Kolleck, juniors Learn everything you need to know to plan the perfect
Alexander Hardwick, Oliver Smith and senior Hayes Burdette- Family Reunion in DeKalb County at our Planning Workshops.
Sapp defended their title, breaking the school record with a time
of 2:56.68. Visit us at
DiscoverDeKalb.com to learn more about our free services.
All-America honors went to Smith in the 100-freestyle, who
finished third overall. During preliminaries, he broke his previous
#DISCOVERDEKALB
school record, touching the wall at 43.54. Sophomore Matt Rogers,
who also received All-American honors, finished fifth overall in
the 200-backstroke.
Junior Henry Copses, Kolleck and freshman Sage Ono also
earned honorable mention All-America honors. Copses was 14th

WWW.THECHAMPIONNEWSPAPER.COM
in the 1650-freestyle (15:46.31), Kolleck was 16th overall in the
100-freestyle, while Ono was 14th in the 200-backstroke.

THERES STRENGTH IN GIVING

$
62 million Publix would like to thank our associates and
Publix Super Markets Charities for strengthening our
communities through their generous support of United Way.