FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • VOL. 23, NO.

1 • FREE
the DeKalb

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

ANOTHER BIG SIGNING DAY CLASS FOR DEKALB

Tucker led DeKalb County with the largest signing class with 17 players. Photo by Matt Holmes/City of Tucker

BY CARLA PARKER Carolina and Trevon Flowers is

carla@dekalbchamp.com also heading to the Southeastern

A
Conference, signing with
'I ENJOYED MY TIME fter nine former DeKalb
County football players
played on the big stage in
Tennessee. Flowers, who picked
Tennessee over Clemson, said
Tennessee is the best fit for him.
the college national championship “I enjoyed my time up there
UP THERE [DURING MY game, some recent college signees
hope to also play on that big stage
[during my visit],” Flowers said. “I
built a good relationship with all
soon. of the coaches and I’m looking
Nearly 80 senior football players
VISIT]. I BUILT A GOOD
forward to [helping] building up
from the county’s public and the programs.”
private schools, as well as Decatur Tucker coach Bryan Lamar said
High School, signed on the dotted it’s a blessing to see another big

RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL

line for National Signing Day Feb. signing class at Tucker and seeing
7. Seventy-two players from 16 his players reach their goals.
schools in the DeKalb County “It’s a blessing to be able to
School District signed their letters coach talented guys,” Lamar said.

OF THE COACHES AND of intent during the sports holiday,

while Decatur and Marist had three
players each and St. Pius X had one
football player.
I’M LOOKING FORWARD The numbers also include the
nine players who signed early
during the early signing period in
December. Tucker was on top this
TO [HELPING] BUILDING year with the most signees—17,
including four who signed early.
Wide receiver Josh Vann (South
Carolina), defensive end Antonio
UP THE PROGRAMS.'
Showers (Troy), linebacker Michael
Harris (Auburn) and linebacker
Gerry Vaughn (Iowa State) all
- Trevon Flowers signed early.
Offensive lineman Dylan
Wonnum also signed with South
“A lot of them have worked really
hard on the field and off the field
to be able to get this opportunity.
So, I’m really proud of them. I know
they still have a lot to do, but we’re
proud that they’ve gotten to this
point and we want to see them
finish it.”
Stephenson had the second-
largest signing class with eight
players, including offensive lineman
Jalil Irvin, who signed early to
Auburn. Miller Grove and Columbia
tied with seven players. Miller
Grove linebacker Caleb Tannor
was the star of signing day, tossing
several caps off the stage before he
SEE SIGNING DAY ON PAGE 5

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

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 2

COUNTYWIDE

Hopewell calls out Courtney Johnson in bid for Superior Court

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN said.
Hopewell has served as
horace@dekalbchamp.com an assistant county attorney,
she also served as a DeKalb
magistrate court judge, a
DeKalb County native juvenile court judge and
Genet McIntosh Hopewell recorder’s court judge.
said it’s time for a change “An incumbent doesn’t
as she announced the start own the job. The job is there
of her campaign to run for the person who can do Genet McIntosh Hopewell,
for Division 1 Judge of the alongside Commissioner Mereda
the job the best and I think Davis Johnson and former DeKalb
Superior Court of DeKalb I’m that person,” Hopewell County CEO Burrell Ellis, announces
County. said. her campaign to run for judge of
On Feb. 7 at the Trinity Division 1 Superior Court.
Office Building, Hopewell said
she intends to replace current
DeKalb County Superior
Court Judge Courtney
Johnson.
“There’s an open position
that I could have run for if I
wanted to be a judge. That’s
not what this is about,” said
Hopewell. “This is about
me doing a job that will
improve the quality of life for
[residents] in DeKalb County.”
Hopewell said
Johnson cost the county
approximately $1 million
in taxpayer funds due to a
unanimous reversal of one
of her decisions by Georgia
Supreme Court. Johnson also
has a complaint pending
against her with the judicial
ethics and oversight board.
“It is time for us to end
an era of judicial bias here in
Division 1 of DeKalb County
Superior Court,” Hopewell
said. “I just think the
[residents] of DeKalb County
deserve better than what
is being offered during her
tenure on the bench.”
According to court filings,
Johnson is accused of not
allowing public defender
Jan Hankins to take a break
to use the bathroom during
a murder trial. Hankins said
she eventually urinated on
herself, which led to an ethics
investigation.
Johnson also served as
judge during the corruption
trial against former DeKalb
CEO Burrell Ellis in 2015.
Ellis, along with DeKalb
County Commissioner
Mereda Davis Johnson,
were in attendance during
Hopewell’s announcement.
Hopewell said she
appreciated the support from
DeKalb officials and residents.
The election is scheduled for
May 22.
“It goes to show when
people care about an issue
and think something needs
to be done they will support
somebody [who is] going to
step out and do it,” Hopewell
LOCAL
AROUNDDEKALB
CLARKSTON
Every child ready to read workshop
The “Every Child Ready to Read”
workshop for children ages 3 to 5 will be
held Feb. 21, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at
Clarkston Library. The workshop is open
to the first 25 participants. Groups of five
or more are asked to call the library for
an appointment. To register or for more
information, call (404) 508-7175. The library
is located at 951 N. Indian Creek Drive.
DUNWOODY
Dunwoody to celebrate Georgia Arbor Day
The city of Dunwoody and Trees Atlanta
will host a tree planting Feb. 17 from 9 a.m.
to noon. at the Brook Run Park Baseball
Fields, which are under construction, in
honor of Georgia Arbor Day.
The planting will be on the park side, near
the trail. Volunteers may park at the Veterans
Memorial or near the Brook Run Pavilion.
To sign up for the tree planting, visit Trees
Atlanta at https://treesatlanta.org/event/
tree-planting-dunwoody/.
BROOKHAVEN
Brookhaven to host community yard sale
The city of Brookhaven invites residents
to sell unwanted items at the Brookhaven
Parks and Recreation Department’s annual
Community Yard Sale.
The event takes place March 3 from 9
a.m. to noon at Briarwood Park gym, 2235
Briarwood Way.
The event is free to attend. Tables to sell
items will be available for $20 for an 8-foot
table and $30 for two tables. Call (404) 637-
0512 or email Philip Mitchell at philip.
mitchell@brookhavenga.gov to secure a
table.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 3
LITHONIA
Free workshop on renters’ rights
The National Coalition of 100 Black
Women, Inc. Decatur-DeKalb chapter
will host a free renters’ rights workshop
to educate the community about
discrimination protections, elements of a
lease and evictions. The workshop will be
held Feb. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the
Lithonia-Davidson Library, 6821 Church
Street in Lithonia. To register, visit https://
www.eventbrite.com/e/renters-rights-
workshop-knowing-your-rights-when-
leasing-a-place-to-live-tickets-42769545863.
STONECREST
Black history film series
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the
Revolution will be shown Feb. 21, 6 to 8:30
p.m. at Stonecrest Library. The documentary
explores the Black Panther Party, its
significance in American culture and its
cultural and political awakening for Black
people. The event is open to the first 155
participants. The library is located at 3123
Klondike Road. For more information, call
(770) 482-3828.
COUNTYWIDE
DeKalb recycling exchange events begin
March 24
The DeKalb County Sanitation Division
will host a series of recycling roll cart
exchange events throughout the county.
Starting next month, subscribers will
have the opportunity to complete the
exchange process by trading in their
18-gallon recycling bin for a complimentary
35-gallon recycling roll cart, or upgrading to
a 65-gallon recycling cart for a one-time $15
prepaid fee. Existing recycling subscribers
should trade in 18-gallon bins by Dec. 28.
A limited number of roll carts will
be available at each event and new
subscriptions can also be processed. All
event participants are required to complete
a recycling subscription form, which can be
obtained by visiting www.dekalbsanitation.
com. For more information about the
exchange process, call (404) 294-2900 or go
to the sanitation division’s administrative
office located at 3720 Leroy Scott Drive in
Decatur.
DeKalb youth track and field registration
open
DeKalb Recreation, Parks and Cultural
Affairs Youth Track and Field registration is
open until March 3.
The program is open to children ages
5 to 14 and the season will include four
track meets. Practice dates and times will
be determined by recreation centers.
Participants must present birth certificates at
the time of registration. The registration fee
is $40 per participant. To register, visit www.
dekalbcountyga.gov/parks.
For more information, call the Parks
Athletics Office at (770) 414-2111.
Park groups to meet at fire headquarters
The joint regular meeting of the DeKalb
Parks Bond Citizen Advisory Committee
and the initiative for a Green DeKalb
Advisory Council is scheduled for Feb. 21
at 6 p.m. at the DeKalb County Fire Rescue
Headquarters, 1950 West Exchange Place,
Tucker.
The meeting will take place on the first
floor in room 111. Information will be
provided on greenspace acquisitions and
current parks and recreation projects.
For more information, contact Carol
Underwood, administrative coordinator,
at (404) 371-2927 or cjunderw@
dekalbcountyga.gov.
LOCAL
COUNTYWIDE
Officials offering ‘second chance’ for residents
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
What started out as
an opportunity to help
members of Saint Philip AME
Church find employment,
transformed into a county
wide job fair as DeKalb
officials announced dates for
a record restriction summit.
Record restriction,
formerly known as
expungement, may be
available to residents who
had arrests by DeKalb County
Police Department or Sheriff’s
Office that did not result in
a conviction, according to
DeKalb officials.
On Feb. 7, DeKalb officials
and multiple law enforcement
agencies announced
the county’s first record
restriction summit, formerly
known as expungement, in
partnership with Saint Philip
AME Church.
Rev. Elliott Robinson, a
DeKalb County resident for 16
years, said the event has been
a year in the making.   together and reached out to
“One day I was stopped
in the hallway and one of
our members over our career
resource ministry told me
we had a problem. “She said
‘We can’t get people jobs,’”
Robinson said.
Robinson said he
proposed the idea of creating
ARABIA MOUNTAIN
Two join Arabia Alliance board of directors
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Sue Sanders and Joel
Thibodeaux have been
elected as new board
members of the Arabia
Mountain Heritage Area
Alliance Board of Directors.
The two are replacing
former board members
Jackie Lundsford
and George Turner.
#ITSINTHECHAMPION
DeKalb officials announce DeKalb’s first record restriction summit, formerly known as expungement, in
partnership with Saint Philip AME Church at a news conference Feb. 7
a record restriction event in
DeKalb and pitched the idea
to Saint Philip AME Church
Senior Pastor William Watley.
“We’ve been working
the county to figure out how
we could make this all merge
together,” Robinson said. “It’s
overwhelming a little bit and
it’s a little humbling. There
was a need and as a church
we’re trying to do God’s work.”
DeKalb County’s job
Thibodeaux
Lundsford resigned after
retiring as Rockdale
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 4
fair and record restriction
summit will take place
April 21 at Saint Philip AME
Church, but applications for
record restrictions must be
submitted in advance and are
limited to 250 residents.
“This is an important
initiative in our county,”
DeKalb County CEO Michael
Thurmond said. “This will
allow citizens in our county
to improve and increase the
chances of them accessing
Sanders
County’s park director and
Turner, a Stonecrest city
gainful employment.”
Individuals wanting to
participate in the event
must register online by
March 23. Applications
will not be accepted at the
summit. To apply, residents
can visit dekalbcounty.gov/
recordrestriction.
In total, 17 community
groups and agencies
partnered together for the
event. They are: DeKalb
County
councilmember, retired at
the end of his term on the
board.
“We are very pleased
to welcome these two
outstanding leaders to the
board,” Board Chair Ron
Williams said in a press
release. “The talent and
diverse experience they
bring to the table will
further strengthen the
Arabia Alliance.”
Sanders is the director of
recreation and maintenance
Saint Philip AME Church,
DeKalb County government,
DeKalb County District
Attorney’s Office, DeKalb
County Solicitor-General’s
Office, DeKalb County Circuit
Public Defender, DeKalb
County Police Department,
DeKalb County Sheriff’s
Office, DeKalb County
Marshal’s Office, DeKalb
County Superior Court,
DeKalb County State Court,
DeKalb County Superior
Court Clerk, DeKalb County
State Court Clerk, WorkSource
DeKalb, Georgia Bureau of
Investigation, Georgia Justice
Project, Georgia Department
of Labor and the Georgia
Department of Community
Supervision.
“It’s a long list of partners
and I want everybody to
understand how hard we all
worked to get together and
make sure we covered every
aspect of what’s important
to have a successful record
restriction day,” said DeKalb
County District Attorney
Sherry Boston. “We wanted
to make sure our community
could come into one place,
on one day and potentially
have all of the issues within
the criminal justice system
addressed. This is not an easy
feat to pull off.”
for Rockdale County
and also serves as the
recreation a senior services
departmental adviser to
the SPLOST committee.
Thibodeaux is the chairman
emeritus of the Governor’s
Commission on Stonecrest
and serves as the director
of audits and compliance at
the DeKalb County School
District.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 5

SIGNING DAY
Continued From Page 1

announced his selection of

Nebraska.
“I’m extremely proud,”
Miller Grove coach Justin
Larmond said of his
players. “I knew I was
already proud [before
signing day], but I was
even prouder seeing these
guys on that stage.”
Lithonia and Southwest
DeKalb had five signees;
Cedar Grove, Martin Luther
King Jr. and Towers had
four each; Redan had three
signees; Arabia Mountain
and Dunwoody had two
signees and Chamblee,
Druid Hills, Lakeside and
McNair each had one.
Three former DeKalb
football players were
also a part of this year’s
signing class after
working their way to
Division I scholarships.
Towers defensive lineman
Devonte Wyatt (class of
2017) signed with Georgia
Tucker offensive lineman Dylan Wonnum signed with South Carolina. Photos by Carla Parker after spending the fall
semester at Hutchinson
Community College in
Kansas. Wyatt had 30
tackles, 4.5 tackles for
loss, three sacks and a
blocked PAT in 11 games
at Hutchinson and was
the No. 8-ranked junior
college-community
college (JUCO) recruit in
the country.
Former Redan defensive
end Jeremiah Jordan
is heading to Utah. He
signed with Limestone
College out of high school
and transferred to Mt. San
Jacinto College (California)
for his sophomore season.
He had 45 tackles, 12 for
a loss and 4.5 sacks while
playing for Mt. San Jacinto.
Former Decatur
offensive lineman
Demetrius Cooley is
heading to Tennessee
State after playing for
Eastern Arizona.
Four players are headed
to service academies—
Arabia Mountain’s Justin
Nelson (Navy), Decatur’s
Jake Broom (Air Force),
Dunwoody’s Turner Nims
(Air Force) and Marist’s
Paul Stanely (Army).
See more signees on
page 18.
Miller Grove linebacker Caleb Tannor signed with Nebraska.
OPINION DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 6

Proposed marijuana legislation a good thing for county

My favorite television show of required to pursue and arrest any keeping score at home, neither side
all time is HBO’s The Wire—a gritty driver going 10 miles an hour is coming out on top.
look into the crime and poverty above the speed limit? However, That brings me to my second
of Baltimore and its surrounding chances are you won’t get stopped point. Lessening the punishment for
characters. for exceeding the speed limit by marijuana possession would help
In season three, episode eight, Horrace Holloman 10 miles. Why? Because there the community by allowing the
a character by the name of Howard horrace@dekalbchamp.com seems to be an understanding county’s youth to avoid what could
“Bunny” Colvin—a police major in between citizens and police. That be a life-altering criminal record.
the western district of Baltimore— understanding is if you drive at a According to two studies
called a special meeting with reasonable pace, police will look by Devah Pager involving
DeKalb officials are considering
his officers to discuss how the the other way and focus on “real” employment audits of males in
a proposal that would allow
department would police drug use police work. Milwaukee and New York City, both
DeKalb and possibly other Georgia
moving forward. If police had to crack down on studies found that a criminal record
counties to create local rules for
In the meeting, Colvin used every violator going slightly above reduces the likelihood of a job
possession of less than an ounce of
a brown paper bag and a bottle the speed limit, the courts would callback or offer by approximately
marijuana. DeKalb officials said they
containing an alcoholic beverage as be overrun with violators, public 50 percent.
would create an ordinance similar
a prop. Due to alcohol ordinances, defenders would be overworked The same study also noted that
to the one in the city of Atlanta,
drinking in public was illegal in and taxpayers would foot the bill. the likelihood of a job callback
making possession of marijuana
west Baltimore. Residents began to The same common-sense significantly decreases if the
punishable by a maximum fine of
put a brown paper bag over their policing should apply to marijuana. applicant is Black.
$75 as opposed to a maximum fine
alcoholic beverages to conceal In the aftermath of Atlanta’s There have been numerous
of $1,000 and up to six months jail
them from officers. Officers would decision to lessen punishment studies that suggest marijuana
time.
look the other way so they could do for less than an ounce of weed, has several social and medical
DeKalb County could greatly
“real” police work instead of hauling Carlos Campos, the director of benefits. A fine of $75 for less than
benefit from this legislation for
off people to jail for getting drunk public affairs for the Atlanta Police an ounce seems like a reasonable
two reasons. The first, less stress
on their front porch. Department, said, “We’re not out civic compromise to an ongoing
for the overworked and underpaid
Colvin called the brown paper there looking to drag people to problem. It’s the first step in much-
police force. Changing minor pot
bag strategy a “great moment of jail for smoking a joint or having a needed drug reform in America.
possession from a criminal matter
civic compromise.” small bag of weed. We want to fill It’s time to give the residents of
to an ordinance violation would
DeKalb County is in the midst of jails with armed robbers, rapists, DeKalb County and its police force a
allow an officer to write a ticket and
creating its own civic compromise burglars, home invaders.” “brown paper bag.”
get back to patrolling the streets.  
with its proposed legislation to It’s time to start seriously
Could you imagine if police
reduce penalties for less than an considering how America fights its
officers in the metro area were
ounce of marijuana. “war on drugs.” Because if you’re
OPINION
The parade  charade
“We simply don’t think a national-
level parade is appropriate while
we continue to have America’s sons
and daughters in harm’s way,” Col.
David Lapan, then-spokesman for
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman
of Joint Chiefs of Staff, in 2012
responding to calls for a ticker tape
parade in New York City to mark the
end of the second Iraq war.
Following the return of
sovereignty to the nation of
Kuwait, and the U.S. and allied
forces victory in the first Persian
Gulf War, returning American
veterans were greeted with a
ticker tape parade in Manhattan.
Large-scale national celebrations
of victory and truce also followed
the announcements of victory
over Japan (VJ Day) and victory in
Europe (VE Day) in the aftermath
of World War II.
But largely since the Korean
conflict, celebrations of our
military might and nation’s
military have become more
a fixture of local and regional
celebrations of the Fourth of
July, Veteran’s Day and other
community celebrations of
significance.
Marching thousands of armed
soldiers followed by rows of
rolling tanks and missiles have
long been much more the
province of Hitler’s Germany,
and authoritarian-led countries
such as Russia, China and North
Korea. We now know that during
the later days of the Cold War,
as the then-U.S.S.R.’s system
began to internally implode,
the parades marched on, with
frequently empty silo shells
repainted as missiles, often with
no payload; and large tanks and
other technology on display were
regularly rigged to minimally
function, and was often damaged
equipment recovered from
multiple battlefields.
While on a recent state visit
to France, hosted by President
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 7
‘One Man’s make a higher priority of training
and hiring returning military service
missiles off of submarines and
out of missile silos, in this unsafe
Opinion’ personnel and veterans. Our nation world we live in, simply to fulfill a
is facing shortages among multiple president’s desire to play show and
Bill Crane categories of first responders, as tell on the world stage.
bill.csicrane@gmail.com well as an ongoing nursing short- Mr. President, let’s celebrate
age. These career paths have some and honor commitments made
training overlap, particularly among to our veterans and our men and
Emmanuel Macron and his first medics and service branch law en- women in uniform, but let’s leave
lady, President Donald Trump
forcement personnel.  expensive, time intensive and poser
and our first lady, Melania Trump, Care for military service parades to others. We don’t need a
sat in the review stand during families and children: With low parade to tell the rest of the planet
France’s Bastille Day, a holiday
pay and increasing percentages of that America’s military is great
and military parade celebrated active duty and reserve personnel again. That is at least one aspect
there on the 14th of July since
positioned overseas, it is frequently of our national heritage which has
1880. President Trump was their families who also suffer during seldom been in question since
impressed, and now he wants
deployment. Give veteran families WWII.
a similar parade and annual priority for housing opportunities
tradition stateside. The president
through HUD and the VA, as well Bill Crane also serves as a political
has pressed this request on our as Pell Grants for college education analyst and commentator for Channel
Joints Chief of Staff since his
and lower interest rate federally 2’s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk
return stateside this summer, and guaranteed grants and loans for 750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a
reportedly not long since the start
furthering education after service, columnist for The Champion, DeKalb
of 2018, our generals, though along the lines of the G.I. Bill. Free Press and Georgia Trend. Crane
initially resistant, are relenting
Though our nuclear arsenal and is a DeKalb native and business owner,
and plans for a major parade in several other weapon systems are in living in Scottdale. You can reach him or
Washington, D.C. are underway.
the process of being updated, and comment on a column at bill.csicrane@
If we truly want to honor our some replaced, it seems strange to gmail.com.
nation’s military and veteran
consider moving active and loaded
communities, perhaps let’s ask
them first what matters to them—
and move in those directions. 
Some suggestions:
Finish fixing the Veteran’s Ad-
ministration: Following the lead
of Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson,
let’s establish ongoing funding
for the Veteran’s Choice Act, al-
lowing veterans to select and re-
ceive treatment outside of the VA
Healthcare system for any need,
treatment or procedure with a
longer than 30-day wait time. Fo-
cus on head trauma injuries and
the PTSD cases coming home
with hundreds of thousands of
younger veterans, now surviv-
ing the battlefield, but finding it
harder and harder to reintegrate
back into society upon their re-
turn home.
Honor existing promis-
es made: Emulating the work of
private organizations such as the
USO and ESGR (Employers’ Sup-
port for the Guard and Reserve),
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
John Hewitt Carla Parker STATEMENT FROM THE
Horace Holloman PUBLISHER
Chief Financial Officer: Derek Smith We sincerely appreciate the
Dr. Earl D. Glenn discussion surrounding this and any
Social Media Manager: issue of interest to DeKalb County.
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LOCAL
ATLANTA
Marist Principal to become auxiliary
bishop for Archdiocese of Atlanta
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
Marist School Principal
Father Joel Konzen, S.M., has
been named by Pope Francis
the new auxiliary bishop for
the Archdiocese of Atlanta,
The United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops
announced Feb. 5.
Konzen, who was set
to become Marist School
President July 1, will be
ordained to the Episcopacy
April 3, which will end his 28-
year tenure with Marist.
“The loss of Father Konzen
from Marist School is an
indisputable gain for the
people of the Archdiocese
of Atlanta,” commented
Father William Rowland,
S.M., who was appointed
acting president of the school
when former president
Father John Harhager, S.M.
stepped down in October to
become vicar general of the
international Society of Mary
in Rome, Italy. “In many ways,
Father Konzen’s commitment
to Catholic education, his
fidelity to the mission of the
Society of Mary, and his many
COUNTYWIDE
County schools to make up days using virtual learning
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
A survey of more than
21,000 DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) stakeholders
has determined that students
will make up two January
days lost to inclement
weather through virtual
learning.
According to DCSD
officials, about 63 percent of
respondents chose virtual
learning as their preferred
way of making up the final
two days of instruction the
district needed to schedule
to comply with state law
requiring 180 days. The
district cancelled school due
to inclement weather Jan. 8,
positive personal qualities
have readied him, thanks
to God’s guiding hand, to
serve the Church in Atlanta
as bishop. He will be greatly
missed at Marist School, but
we look forward to his visits
back to campus to celebrate
Mass for our students and
community in his new role as
bishop.”
In response to the news
of Konzen’s appointment,
the Very Reverend Paul
Frechette, S.M., provincial
superior of the Society of
then again Jan. 17, 18 and 19.
The DCSD Digital
Dreamers Initiative, which
district officials describe as a
comprehensive technology
program that provides
Chromebook laptops to
every DCSD teacher as well
as all middle and high school
students, will facilitate the
virtual learning days.
According to district
officials, assignments will
be given to parents by their
child’s teacher the week
of Feb. 20. Virtual learning
access will be made available
to students over two weeks –
Feb. 27 through March 6; and
March 8 through March 15.
Students will have five school
days plus a weekend to
complete their assignments.
Assignments may involve
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 8
BROOKHAVEN
Mary U.S. Province, removed
“acting” from Rowland’s
current title and named him
president of Marist School,
effective immediately.
“I welcome this
appointment and feel
fortunate to have worked
closely with both Fr. Harhager
and Fr. Konzen for the past
eight years,” Rowland said.
Country artists to headline
“This experience has allowed
me to become more familiar
Cherry Blossom Festival
with Marist’s students,
was inducted as a member of
parents, faculty, staff, BY DEREK SMITH
the Grand Ole Opry in 2008.
administrators, alumni, and
derek@dekalbchamp.com He hosts the award-
Board of Trustees, all of whom
winning TV show Craig
I respect and very much
Morgan: All Access Outdoors,
appreciate. I look forward to
engaging with them further Country music stars Craig which is set to air its ninth
as we move forward to Morgan and Keith Anderson season on Outdoor Channel.
This spring, UP TV will
continue the longstanding will headline the Brookhaven
premiere Morgan Family
and important mission of Cherry Blossom Festival
Strong. The docuseries will
Marist School.” March 24 and 25, the city
follow Morgan and his family
Vice Principal and announced.
as they launch Morgan Farms.
Academic Dean Kevin Morgan has 25 Billboard-
Anderson’s latest song
Mullally, who was set charted songs including
is “I’ll Bring The Music.” His
to succeed Konzen as “Bonfire,” “Almost Home,”
debut CD, Three Chord
principal beginning July 1, “Redneck Yacht Club,”
Country and American Rock
will step into the role early, “International Harvester,” “This
& Roll, was certified Gold
becoming principal effective Ole Boy,” Wake Up Loving You”
and garnered two Top 10
immediately. A press release and the four-week number
hits, “Pickin’ Wildflowers,”
from Marist School states one, “That’s What I Love About
and “Every Time I Hear Your
Konzen will assist with the Sunday.” His newest album, A
Name,” along with two Top
transition as he is able until Whole Lot More to Me, features
30 hits “XXL” and “Podunk”.
his ordination. singles “I’ll Be Home Soon”
This success prompted music
and “When I’m Gone.” Morgan
SEE FESTIVAL ON PAGE 9A
reading, writing, conducting full school days. “[With virtual learning
research, performing mini The virtual learning days days,] we are able to make
labs, completing practice were chosen in the survey up precious teaching and
problems, taking notes, and/ over other options, including learning time without
or answering questions. adding an additional period sacrificing rigor,” Green said.
Students will be given one onto the school day.
week to complete and submit
the virtual assignment.
District officials said the
assignments will be content-
specific and relevant.
“With our Digital Dreamers
initiative, DCSD is able to
be increasingly innovative
in extending the classroom
outside the walls of the
schoolhouse,” Superintendent
R. Stephen Green said.
The DCSD Board of
Education previously voted
to make up two of the four
inclement weather days by
converting Feb. 16 and March
9 from teacher work days to
 DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 9

DECATUR

DeKalb officers responded to a hostage situation Feb. 5 at 3999 Appleton Court near Wesley Chapel.

‘Job well done’ after police standoff

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
After four hours and 14 minutes of
an ordeal at a home in Decatur, SWAT
officers successfully apprehended
a teen who is being charged with
kidnapping and aggravated assault.
The incident occurred Feb. 5 when
officers responded to a call at 3999
Appleton Court reporting a person
armed inside a home.
According to police, a teen was
attempting to break into a vehicle at
the residence. While in the driveway,
the teen was confronted by one
of the residents; he then drew a
handgun on the resident and walked
inside the house. Three individuals
were inside the home at the time.
Public information officer Lonzy
Robertson said DeKalb police acted
fast and two of the three persons
inside the home, a 33-year-old man
and 73-year-old man, were able to
escape.
“He got distracted when officers
started to arrive,” Robertson said.
Robertson said the teen was
unaware that a third person, a
63-year-old woman was hiding in the
home.
“Once officers interviewed
the father and son [police] knew
someone else was in the house, but
determined she wasn’t in immediate
danger. The suspect never knew she
was in the home through the entire
ordeal.”
During the standoff the teen
attempted to escape out of a rear
window while officers were setting
up a perimeter around the home and
property.
At 12:20 p.m. SWAT officers took
the teen into custody.
“This incident is a testament to
the professionalism and utilization of
training that our officers display every
day. Officers were able to quickly
respond to the location and prevent
the suspect’s escape,” Robertson said.
“The best part is that a 63-year-old
mother was safely returned to her
family unharmed. It was a job well
done by everyone involved. This is the
type of outcome the DeKalb Police
Department seeks in any incident of
this nature.”
Due to the age of the suspect,
authorities will not release his name.

FESTIVAL Continued From Page 9A

trades Billboard and Radio &
Records to name him country
music’s No. 1 New Male Artist
of 2005 and the top new solo
country artist of the year.
Anderson was also named
one of People Magazine’s “50
Hottest Bachelors”, and Men’s
Fitness Magazine’s, “Ultimate
Country Star.” Anderson’s
sophomore CD garnered the
biggest hit of his career, “I Still
Miss You,” which peaked at
No. 2, and another Top 25 hit,
“Sunday Morning In America.”
Anderson has co-written hits
for other artists, most notably
“Lost In This Moment,” the
No. 1 hit for Big & Rich, which
garnered him a CMA and ACM
Song of the Year nomination.
Anderson also co-wrote the
Grammy-nominated “Beer Run
(B Double E Double Are You
In?)” for Garth Brooks and
George Jones, “The Bed” for
Gretchen Wilson and “Barn
Burner” for Jason Michael
Carroll.
In October, the Brookhaven
City Council approved a
contract with Splash Festivals
to operate the Arts & Crafts
Market and handle logistics
for the event. Splash Festivals
also manages the festivals in
Dunwoody, Norcross, Johns
Creek, Alpharetta and other
locations. So far, Splash
Festivals has registered 100
vendors for the Brookhaven
event.
Both artists will perform
March 24. Entertainment for
March 25 will be announced
later.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 10

LITHONIA

Lithonia hires firm to investigate complaints against police chief

BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com

In 2016, The Champion

first reported on complaints
made by former and current
Lithonia police officers who
said Police Chief Roosevelt
Smith created a hostile work
environment and engaged
in corrupt and unethical
practices.
The allegations were not
investigated then, but they
soon will be.
On Feb. 8, the Lithonia City The Lithonia City Council voted to hire an investigative firm to look into Sgt. Pserda Dickerson, pictured right, was appointed
allegations made against Police Chief Roosevelt Smith. interim chief, replacing Roosevelt Smith, pictured top,
Council voted unanimously who is under investigation.
to hire an investigative firm
to review the complaints.
Southern Professional
Investigations was hired by 12 to enter into a contract an anonymous source. promoted to city scope of work.”
the council to investigate with Southern Professional The document was administrator, recommended However, Moody retired
claims brought forth by Investigations. brought to light after the Smith to succeed him as four months after committing
an officer who left the Complaints of a hostile city opened an internal police chief. When the to investigate the allegations
department in December. His work environment, retaliation, investigation into an alleged complaints were made and there has been no word
complaints were supported low morale, favoritism and assault on a 17-year-old two years ago, Moody told on whether the complaints
by 30 other officers, according a high turnover rate in the male who was in custody for The Champion he would were investigated.
to the council. department were also listed burglary. Smith and Lithonia investigate all complaints. In the document of
Smith, who has denied two years ago in a document Police Captain Lloyd Owens “I’m going to look at this complaints given to The
the allegations, is on paid titled “The Problems with the were accused of assaulting whole thing in totality,” he Champion, officers said
leave while the complaints Lithonia Police Department: A the teen. Both were cleared of said. “I’m taking the most previous complaints against
are being investigated. Sgt. Collection of Issues Complied any wrongdoing by then City recent thing [the alleged Smith were filed but resulted
Pserda Dickerson was by Lithonia Police Officers, Administrator Eddie Moody. assault] first and then I’m in no “real action, reaction or
appointed interim chief. both Past and Present” that Moody, who was the city’s going to work backwards. It resolution.”
The city council voted Feb. The Champion received from police chief before being will be a part of a whole big

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could
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 11

WEEK in PICTURES

Cheryl Burnette, who has worked 15 years for the city of Decatur,
received recognition at the state of the city address in January. Photo by
Decatur Active Living.

Chamblee Police Department Officer Beth Frye (second from left) was named Chamblee Officer of the Year
by The Rotary Club of North Atlanta. Photo courtesy the city of Chamblee.

DeKalb County officials prepare for a paper drive.

Oak Grove Elementary hosted its career day on Feb. 9. Photo by Oak Grove Elementary.
EDUCATION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018 • Page 12

COUNTYWIDE

Students prepare projects at a table at the 2018 DeKalb County School District Technology Fair at Elizabeth Andrews High School Feb. 3. Photo courtesy DeKalb County
School District.

Students show skills at technology fair

The wide age range of students Georgia State University in Macon. Middle School, Henderson Middle
BY DEREK SMITH competing presented a challenge for Dunwoody Elementary School School, DeKalb School of the Arts and
derek@dekalbchamp.com judges. will have the most representation Peachtree Charter Middle School.
“Some [projects] are more in Macon, with students advancing Chamblee Charter High School
complex, and some students are to the state competition in eight claimed the most first-place finishes
More than 530 students competed
doing their own coding,” game design categories. Barack H. Obama Magnet for high schools, being trailed by
in 14 categories in the 2018 DeKalb
judge Viola White said. “It’s complex School of Technology students placed DeKalb Early College Academy and
County School District Technology
to judge because you’re judging them more than any other school, with 25 DeKalb High School of Technology.
Fair at Elizabeth Andrews High School
based on their understanding and first-, second- or third-place finishes. Warren Technical Center student
Feb. 3.
what they’ve accomplished, but it’s Student Chloe Pickett, who Matthew Prince competed with a
The competition—themed
still not apples to apples. Some of attends Barack H. Obama Elementary project titled “The World of Color,”
“Geniuses Dream 2”—registered a
them are more advanced than others.” and participated in the device which included a Prezi presentation
record number of DeKalb County
When not competing, students modification portion of the fair, on how to communicate through
School District (DCSD) participants
could spend time in a common transformed a tablet computer into a color.
from third through 12th grade.
area called Techpolooza, which model for a desktop. “It’s my first time doing this, so
Students have worked throughout
highlighted the latest in educational “I wanted to show my creativity,” I’m a little nervous—but I’m going to
the school year to produce projects
technology and games, or they could Pickett said. “I feel inspired by my art.” shake it off,” Prince said. “I put a lot of
in device modification, graphic
take pictures with family members, She said more students would be effort into it, so I’m going to try my
design, mobile apps, photography,
teachers and staff using props. attracted to technology if it had the best. [Competitors are] all different
robotics, video production and other
First-place winners in the right flair and decoration. and we think differently.”
categories.
competition will represent DCSD Chamblee Middle School earned Winners will now face more than
Judges graded projects on
at the Georgia Student Technology the most first-place finishes for 1,000 other students presenting more
documentation, functionality,
Competition March 10 at Middle middle school, trailed by McNair than 750 projects at the state level.
creativity and intended purpose.

Follow us on Social Media @Dekalbchampnews

EDUCATION
CHAMBLEE
Students launch
anti-bullying program
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
Chamblee Charter High
School (CCCHS) students are
taking a stand against bullying
with a new program that’s
gaining traction in Georgia and
beyond.
Be the Voice, a peer-led,
video-based anti-bullying
program recently launched at
CCHS but has been growing
since its inception in 2015.
The program was launched
after nine months of research
by members of the Roswell
Rotary Club into ways to better
manage bullying in schools.
It started in eight Roswell
schools, facilitated by each
school’s Interact Club. The
Interact Clubs—school-based
youth Rotary clubs—enlist
different student groups to
record a short introduction to
a weekly video that teaches
students how to manage
bullying.
The videos are short—
usually two to three minutes—
and the program only lasts 12
weeks, but program officials
said it’s effective. Program
co-founder Debbie Cwalina,
who has spent 30 years in the
marketing and advertising
industry, said kids respond
more to video than to teachers
or authority figures speaking.
And she has numbers to back
up the claim.
A pre- and post-program
survey after its first year
showed that Be the Voice
resulted in a 56 percent drop in
bullying.
Cwalina said the success is
due to an approach no other
anti-bullying program offers.
According to Cwalina,
the program uses videos to
encourage students to use
positivity in the face of bullying.
“It has nothing to do with
the bully and really everything
to do with the target,” she told
The Champion.
Rather than trying to
discipline the bully, Cwalina
said Be the Voice works
to minimize or eliminate
the effects of bullying by
encouraging bystanders to
positively reinforce the target.
While still offering advice
for in-person dealings with
bullying, the program has a
strong focus on online bullying.
Cwalina referred to social
media as “a monster,” and said,
“it takes a village” to try to
counteract the types of abuse
students might encounter
online.
Be the Voice encourages
students to act when they see
posts from bullies online by
reacting the opposite way the
bully expects. According to
Cwalina, bullies are empowered
when others join their
negativity, but if they instead
see positive comments, it
discourages further bullying.
“If they see that the only
response they’re getting is all
this positivity, then that defeats
the purpose,” Cwalina said.
CCHS is one of 17 schools
now using Be the Voice, and
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2018 • Page 13
Students from the Chamblee Charter High School Interact Club pose with a Be the Voice banner. Photo
courtesy of Be the Voice.
the first in DeKalb County.
Cwalina hopes the program
will grow throughout DeKalb,
but she said that will require
sponsors who are willing to
put forward the $1,500 per
school price. CCHS is sponsored
through its Interact Club by the
Rotary Club of North Atlanta,
but according to Cwalina, the
program isn’t exclusive to
Rotary Clubs. Any business or
organization can be a sponsor
if there is a corresponding
student club or panel to
Ga Lottery
facilitate the program at the
school, she said.
“We’re hoping, with a little
more exposure, more schools
[in DeKalb County] will be
interested in learning about the
program and bringing it in,” she
said.
For the schools that have
joined though, she said, the
success of the first year has
continued, and students
continue to buy in every year.
“The kids love it,” she said.
“So, we’re doing something
right.”
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 14

ATLANTA
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 15

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BUSINESS
COUNTYWIDE
Expert advises filing taxes early
BY KATHY MITCHELL
Freelance Reporter
American taxpayers
should now have their
1099s, W-2s and other forms
required to file individual
2017 income tax returns. Yet
many find tax preparation so
distasteful that they postpone
filing even if they anticipate a
refund, according to DeKalb
County resident and Merrill
Lynch wealth management
advisor Tom Singh.
“For most of us it feels
like a homework assignment
we dread, so we treat it like
homework we don’t want
to do and put it off until the
last minute. That’s usually a
mistake,” Singh said.
Even though filers this
year have a slight extension
beyond the usual April 15
deadline, taxpayers still would
do well to file early, Singh
said, explaining that April 15
this year falls on a Sunday and
a District of Columbia holiday
is being observed on April 16,
moving the tax deadline to
April 17.
“For one thing, if we
wait until the last minute,
we don’t do a thorough job
and we could end up leaving
money on the table that
we’re actually entitled to,”
he said. “For example, many
people don’t take the time
to go back and look for all
the tax-deductible charitable
contributions they’re eligible
to report. It may just be $25
here and $30 there, but it
adds up.”
Singh advised looking
through the year’s bank
statements for checks written
to nonprofit organizations.
“It may take a few minutes,
but it’s usually worth it,” he
said, reminding taxpayers to
also remember to include the
value of donated items, which
is also tax deductible.
Mileage expenses on
work-related driving outside
regular commuting may
also be tax deductible so it’s
prudent to keep a driving log,
Singh suggested.
Singh said that some
taxpayers who are eager
to get refund money sign
on with firms that promise
an instant refund. “This is
actually a loan,” he cautioned,
“usually a high-interest loan.”
He said that “instant-refund”
loans typically charge 10
or 20 percent—or more. “It
makes much more sense to
wait a few weeks and get all
your money. Again, if you’re in
a hurry for the refund, just file
early.” professional, but this time of
According to the U.S.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
website, more than nine out
of 10 federal tax refunds are
issued in less than 21 days.
The IRS also reports that it
expects more than 70 percent
of taxpayers to get tax
refunds this year. Last year,
nearly 112 million refunds
were issued, with an average
refund of $2,895
Many people are asking
about recent changes in
federal income tax laws and
how those changes affect
their tax filing, Singh said.
“The changes affect our 2018
taxes and what we’re filing
right now are 2017 taxes, so
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 17
IRS tips for selecting a tax return
preparer:
the old rules are still in effect,”
he explained.
He said there are things
taxpayers can do now
in preparation for filing
2018 taxes. “Everyone’s tax
situation is different so it’s
best to consult a tax expert
who can advise you on your
individual situation,” Singh
said. One change that can
affect many people, he said, is
that interest on home equity
loans is no longer deductible.
“Some people may benefit
from consolidating such loans
into a principal mortgage.”
Mortgage interest on
homes purchased at more
than $750,000 also is handled
differently under the new
rules. “Your tax advisor can
tell you what’s best for you,”
Singh said.
Doing one’s own tax
returns can be daunting,
Singh acknowledged.
“It makes sense to hire a
year tax preparation services
appear to be everywhere.
It’s important to be careful
to select a reputable firm
that stands behind its work.
You want to be sure of both
competence and integrity,
even when there are cheaper
options out there.”
The IRS website issues
this reminder: “No matter
who prepares a federal tax
return, by signing the return,
the taxpayer becomes legally
responsible for the accuracy
of all information included.”
The government agency
provides tips for selecting a
reliable tax return provider.
•B
 e wary of tax return preparers
who claim they can obtain larger
refunds than others can.
•A
 void tax return preparers who
base their fees on a percentage of
the refund or who offer to deposit
all or part of your refund into their
financial accounts.
• E nsure you use a preparer with a
preparer tax identification number
(PTIN). Paid tax return preparers
must have a PTIN to prepare all or
substantially all of a tax return.
•U
 se a reputable tax professional
who enters his or her PTIN on the
tax return, signs the tax return, and
provides you a copy of the return
(as required).
•C
 onsider whether the individual
or firm will be around for months
or years after filing the return
to answer questions about the
preparation of the tax return.
• Never sign a blank tax form.
•C
 heck the person’s credentials.
Only attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled
agents can represent taxpayers
before the IRS in all matters,
including audits, collections, and
appeals. Other tax return preparers
who participate in the IRS Annual
Filing Season Program have
limited practice rights to represent
taxpayers for audits of returns they
prepared and signed.
 SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 18

FOOTBALL SIGNEES FOOTBALL

2018 DEKALB COUNTY FOOTBALL SIGNEES

Position Name School College
DB Justin Nelson Arabia Mountain Navy
OL Khalil Miller Arabia Mountain Davidson
DL Rogerick Hamilton Cedar Grove Henderson State
DB Malik Johnson Cedar Grove Malone
RB Darrell Neal Cedar Grove Reinhardt
WR Israel Spivey Cedar Grove North Carolina A&T
OL Hamilton Hall Chamblee Ole Miss
QB Tremaine Calloway Columbia Dean College
LB Lavar Gardner Columbia Samford
LB Telvin Godfrey Columbia Edward Waters College
WR Greg Morris Columbia Edward Waters College
DL Chavez Oliver Columbia Edward Waters College
OL Dimiel Powell Columbia Edward Waters College
WR Yahaziah Brown Columbia Wheeling Jesuit University
LB Jake Broom Decatur Air Force
OL Demetrius Cooley Decatur Tennessee State
LB Dearies Wilson Decatur Hutchinson CC
LB Xavier Perkins Druid Hills Mercer
OL Dylan Rosenstein Dunwoody Maryville
WR Turner Nims Dunwoody Air Force
QB Matthew Holt Lakeside Reinhardt
WR Stephen Smith Lithonia Mount Union
OL Zion Dorsett Lithonia Fort Scott CC
RB Rayshad Baldwin Lithonia Fort Scott CC Miller Grove defensive end Caleb Tannor signed with Nebraska.
LB Zion Cain Lithonia Brevard College

IT’S NEBRASKA
QB Foday Tarawally Lithonia LaGrange College
DB Donovan Corbett M.L. King Jr. William Penn
DB Antonio Fletcher M.L. King Jr. Arkansas State
DB Antonio Keenan M.L. King Jr. Tuskegee

FOR TANNOR
WR Kevin Epps M.L. King Jr. Fort Valley State
TE John Fitzpatrick Marist Georgia
DB Dean Johnson Marist Washington & Lee
LB Paul Stanley Marist Army
DB Christopher Brown McNair Miles College
DL Jon-Ross Burns Miller Grove Allen University
DB Keyshawn Varner Miller Grove Middle Georgia State
DB Brandon Booker Miller Grove West Georgia BY CARLA PARKER were the leading candidates
DB Jalan Williams Miller Grove Husson University carla@dekalbchamp.com heading into National Signing
WR Larry Miller Miller Grove Middle Georgia State Day.
WR Jalen Stuckey Miller Grove Delta State “I feel like at Nebraska I
DE Caleb Tannor Miller Grove Nebraska can go there and be the guy
DB DeAnthony Colbert Redan Coffeyville CC Miller Grove defensive end and have an impact early,” he
OL Kendric Matthews Redan Miles College Caleb Tannor is headed to said. “So, that’s why I chose
DE Jeremiah Jordan Redan Utah (Limestone College) Lincoln, Neb. to play college
QB Justin Tomlin SW DeKalb Georgia Southern Nebraska.”
football for the Nebraska Tannor, who played
OL Ta’Quavious Pierce SW DeKalb Albany State Cornhuskers.
RB Barry Williams SW DeKalb Fort Scott CC linebacker his senior year,
Tannor signed his letter finished the season with 47
DE Bryan Powell SW DeKalb Fort Scott CC
RB Francisco Hunter SW DeKalb Bluefield College
of intent to Nebraska during total tackles, 28 of which
RB Nkem Njoku St. Pius X The Citadel National Signing Day Feb. 7. were solos. He had 12 tackles
DB Justin Birdsong Stephenson Georgia Southern He selected the Huskers over for a loss, four sacks and one
DB Deonta Bembry Stephenson Georgia Southern Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss and fumble recovery. He said
OL Jalil Irvin Stephenson Auburn Mississippi State. Nebraska will be getting a
OL Jordan Jammison Stephenson Benedict “I feel like it’s the best “versatile outside linebacker.”
DE Dionte Gipson Stephenson Hutchinson CC place for me and my family,” Miller Grove coach Justin
DE Darius Perry Stephenson Hutchinson CC he said.
DL Roy Mercer Stephenson Fort Scott CC Larmond said Tannor meant
The four-star recruit put a lot to him and the program.
OL Adrian Lane Stephenson Avila on a show as he made his
DL Devonte Wyatt Towers Georgia (Hutchinson CC) “I learned a lot from him,
decision. There were five caps learned a lot going through
DB David Manigo Towers Florida A&M
DL Janathian Turner Towers Gardner-Webb
on the table in front of Tannor this process with [and] seen
LB Haussan Harris Towers Illinois College representing the final five him grow,” he said. “When
DB Malachi Buckner Tucker Gardner-Webb schools he was considering. I got here [two years ago]
LB Cameron Carter Tucker Colorado State He put on the Mississippi he was really shy and I saw
DB Trevon Flowers Tucker Tennessee State cap first before taking him come out of his shell
LB Mike Harris Tucker Auburn it off and tossing it. He did and grow into a leader and
DB Jalen Jefferson Tucker Davidson the same with the Ole Miss become outspoken and
WR Jakobi Jones Tucker Lincoln University cap and the Nebraska cap
LB Tre Leslie Tucker Western Kentucky started making mature
before knocking all the caps choices and just matured as a
DB Garen McKinney Tucker Lincoln University off the table. He then pulled
DB Tyler Oglesby Tucker Lincoln University young man.”
out another Nebraska cap, Tannor said he is looking
DL Terrell Paxton Tucker Kennesaw State
LB Malik Ransom Tucker Reinhardt
surprising everyone in the forward to hitting the field in
DE Antonio Showers Tucker Troy Miller Grove High School Lincoln.
RB Taurean Taylor Tucker Tuskegee auditorium. “[I’m looking forward to]
WR Joshua Vann Tucker South Carolina Tannor first committed just being able to play early,
LB Gerry Vaughn Tucker Iowa State to Georgia last July, but play as a freshman because
DL Nick Williams Tucker Miles College decommitted and reopened that’s what I really wanted to
OL Dylan Wonnum Tucker South Carolina his recruitment in November. do.”
Nebraska, Florida and Auburn
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 19

BASKETBALL

The Cedar Grove Saints won the Region 5-AAA title. The Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers won the Region The Lithonia Bulldogs won the Region 5-AAAAA
5-AAAAA title. title.

The Marist Lady War Eagles won the Region 7-AAAA The St. Pius Golden Lions won the Region 8-AAAA The Stephenson Jaguars won the Region 4-AAAAAA
title. championship. title.

Six teams claim region basketball

titles, 24 going to state playoffs
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County will be well
represented in the basketball
state playoffs beginning Feb.
16.
DeKalb will have 24 teams
from its public and private
schools, as well as a team
from Decatur High School,
in the playoffs. This number
does not include the schools
in Classification A-Private
because the playoff brackets
for the classification have not
been posted.
Six of the teams will
enter the playoffs as a No. 1
seed after winning region
titles. In Class AAAAAA, the
Stephenson Jaguars won the
Region 4 title after beating
Jonesboro 56-53 Feb. 10. The
Jaguars will be a No. 1 seed in
the playoffs. The Tucker Tigers
will be a three-seed in the
Class AAAAAA playoffs.
On the girls’ side in Class
AAAAAA, the Tucker Lady
Tigers will be a two-seed,
the M.L. King Lady Lions
will be a three-seed and the
Stephenson Lady Jaguars will
be a four-seed playoff team.
In Class AAAAA, the
Lithonia Bulldogs and the
Southwest DeKalb Lady
Panthers will be No. 1 seeds
after winning the Region 5
titles. Lithonia beat Southwest
DeKalb 53-46 in the boys’
Region 5 championship
game, and the Lady Panthers
defeated Arabia Mountain 55-
53 in the girls’ game Feb. 10.
Southwest DeKalb boys and
the Arabia Mountain Lady
Rams will be No. 2-seeds in
the playoffs.
Miller Grove boys’ and
girls’ basketball teams
will be three-seeds in the
Class AAAAA playoffs and
the Columbia Eagles and
Chamblee Lady Bulldogs will
be four-seeds. The Decatur
Lady Bulldogs, which finished
third in Region 6, will be a
three-seed, and will face
Arabia Mountain in the first
round.
In Class AAAA, the Marist
Lady War Eagles and the St.
Pius X Golden Lions will be
one-seeds in the playoffs.
Marist won the Region 7 title
after beating White County
39-24. They will face rival St.
Pius, a No. 4 seed, in the first
round. St. Pius boys won the
Region 8 championship after
beating Jefferson 82-50.
Marist boys finished
second in Region 7 and will
be a two-seed in Class AAAA,
and Druid Hills boys will be
a four-seed after finishing
fourth in Region 4.
The Class AAA playoffs
will have five DeKalb
representatives. The Cedar
Grove Saints earned a one-
seed after beating Pace
Academy 45-44 in the Region
5 championship game Feb.
9. The Lady Saints are a three
seed in the girls’ playoffs. The
Towers Titians are a three-
seed, the Redan Raiders are
a four-seed and the Stone
Mountain Lady Pirates are a
four-seed.
Although the Class
A-Private brackets have not
been released, the defending
champions Greenforest
Eagles are expected to return
to the playoffs as a two seed
after falling to Eagle’s Landing
Christian Academy 66-54.

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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2018 • Page 20

STONE MOUNTAIN

Stone Mountain
seeking residents’
input on annexation
BY CARLA PARKER 14 questions asking residents
about their knowledge of
carla@dekalbchamp.com annexation and their concerns.
In 2016, the Stone
Stone Mountain officials
Mountain Annexation Task
are still having discussions
Force recommended a
about annexation and have
proposed map that would
requested the input of
annex 1.635 square miles into
residents.
the 1.869-square-mile city.
The city posted a
The areas being considered
questionnaire online for
include industrial parks along
residents to “determine the
E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, to 36 percent. past, but it failed because of the house,” Deloach said. “We
desires of the residents in the
properties along Memorial The task force said the number of cityhood bills. had a verbal commitment
proposed annexation area.”
Drive to North Hairston Road annexation would improve During a town hall meeting from the Senate, so we would
“Your feedback will assist
and to Rockbridge Road and public safety, improve code in 2016, task force member have been OK. Had we gotten
the city in working with
the Walmart at Memorial Drive enforcement—specifically Thom Deloach said he was two more signatures we
Georgia legislators to have
and North Hairston Road. along Memorial Drive— confident the city would get would’ve had a chance to get
a referendum added to the
The proposed annexation expand public works and give enough signatures from the to the floor last time around.
ballot in November 2018
would bring the city’s the city more local control local delegation to create an So, I’m thinking at a time that
to decide the results of the
population from an estimated of unincorporated Stone annexation bill. it’s less contentious that we
city’s annexation efforts,”
6,100 residents to more than Mountain. “We got really close last have a really good chance,
the introduction to the
9,200. The annexation also The city tried to have an time—we got seven out of particularly if we start with the
questionnaire reads.
would increase the commercial annexation bill passed by the nine signatures needed [delegates] who said yes last
The questionnaire features
and industrial tax base from 20 the local delegation in the from the local delegation of time.”