the DeKalb FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • VOL.

23, NO 31 • 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

Lakeside High School’s Viking Marching Band and Concert Band perform in the annual Dragon Con parade in

LAKESIDE HIGH
downtown Atlanta Sept. 1. (Photo provided by Julie Herron Carson)

PARTICIPATES
IN DRAGON CON
TAYLOR ROBBINS
derek@dekalbchamp.com

F or the fourth year, Lakeside downtown Atlanta Sept. 1.

High School’s award-winning “I watched the parade with
Viking Marching Band and several other parents of Lakeside
Concert Band performed in the band members and we were all
annual Dragon Con parade in so proud of the marching band,”

SEE LAKESIDE ON PAGE 6

Dragon Con attendees dressed as The Little Mermaid’s Ursula, left, and Ariel, right, at Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Attendees pose with a Black Panther cosplayer during Dragon Con. A spooky Dragon Con attendee in downtown Atlanta Sept. 1. Photos by Taylor Robins

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

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 2

Chamblee,
Doraville
go mobile
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com

Support and information

about local areas are now at
residents’ fingertips.
The cities of Chamblee
and Doraville have recently
launched new free applications
for smartphone users.
“MyChamblee” and
“Doraville at Your Service”
are both service request
programs that help residents
report sanitation and recycling
requests, trash pickup or storm
water issues, potholes, graffiti,
crime tips and more.
Both programs are available
at a user’s convenience, where
the status of a submitted
request can be monitored.
MyChamblee uses GPS
technology to identify a user’s
location. The program also
allows the user to submit a Advancing medicine.
photo with a service request.
Requests are then sent
In step with your every need.
to city departments for This is a partnership that brings you
resolution.
“The new system will give the best of both worlds: the advances of
residents a much more robust
method for engaging with the academic medicine in a community hospital setting.
city,” Chamblee city manager
Jon Walker said. “This latest
iteration adds features such
DeKalb Medical is now part of Emory Healthcare...
as a new public-facing map,
which is much more interactive
and enables the city to provide Georgia’s most comprehensive academic health system. For you, this
quicker, more reliable service means even stronger, more accessible, high-quality care. All close to home.
to our stakeholders.”
Chamblee’s new app will Exciting things are on the horizon… and we can’t wait to share them with you.
replace its first app, “Chamblee
Connect.”
Users of the old program Partnering together for you.
must delete the existing app
and install the newest version.
Chamblee Connect
launched in 2015, according to
a Chamblee press release.
The journey to exceptional health care begins here.
Doraville states in a
news release that Doraville
at Your Service is not to be
used for emergency requests.
MyChamblee is for non-
emergency requests as well.
New users can visit Google
Play or the Apple App Store
to download and install both
programs. Learn more at emoryhealthcare.org/dekalbmedical.
Residents wanting to
download the Doraville
program must download the
IWorQ Service Request app,
enter the agency code “Dor01”
to create an account.
LOCAL
AROUNDDEKALB
AVONDALE
ESTATES
Sip ‘n Stoll rides through
for another year
Avondale Estates
Business Association (AEBA)
will host the annual Sip ‘n
Stroll in Avondale Estates on
Sept. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m.
The Sip ‘n Stroll will
feature 25 Avondale Estates
businesses, and 50 wines
from around the world.
AEBA will also
have a FurBus for free
transportation during the
stroll.
Tickets are $35. Tickets
purchased the day of event
are $45. Participants must
pick up a souvenir wine
glass before 5:30 p.m. on the
day of the event to be able
to participate in the stroll.
Registration and wine
glass pick up will be at the
old bank building parking
lot at 64 N. Avondale Rd.
at Oak Street. Personal
identification must be
provided. Participants must
be 21 or older.
The AEBA Sip ‘n Stroll
supports community events
to promote the city and
its businesses. The event is
partially funded by the
Downtown Development
Association.
BROOKHAVEN
Brookhaven to host blood
drive
The city of Brookhaven
will host an American Red
Cross Blood Drive Sept. 14.
The blood drive will be
held at Brookhaven’s City
Hall, 4362 Peachtree Road,
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To schedule an
appointment, visit www.
redcrossblood.org and
enter the sponsor code:
brookhaven. Walk-ins are
also welcome.
Brookhaven’s Citizen’s
Police Academy starts
Brookhaven Police
Department Citizen’s Police
Academy is designed to give
residents an overview of
how their police department
works.
Class will meet every
Thursday night from 7-9:30
p.m. The first meeting will
be held at the Brookhaven
Police Department. The fall
2018 academy will start
on Tuesday, Sept. 18, and
continue through Nov. 20.
Anyone who lives or
works in Brookhaven is
invited to attend. The class
is open to those more than
those over 21 years of age
and it is free of charge. A
criminal background check
is required for all applicants
and the police department
reserves the right to deny
enrollment to those with a
criminal history.
LITHONIA
Church hosting
community cookout
Union Missionary Baptist
Church will host its annual
homecoming celebration
weekend in Lithonia on
Sept. 15.
The church will have a
community cookout and will
be open to the public.
The cookout will take
place at the church
beginning at noon. Church
officials said the community
is also invited to worship
for homecoming on Sept.
16 at the 10:45 a.m. service.
Dinner will be served
immediately after service.
If you have any
questions, please contact
the church at (770) 482-
7088.
SCOTTDALE
Taste of the world dinner
announced
Positive Growth Inc. will
host a fundraising event,
“Taste of the World Dinner,”
Sept. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 3
Attendees will partake in a
five-course meal with each
eventbrite.com. by the Track series will begin
Sept. 21. The free concert
dish prepared by one of will be held at 922 Main
Positive Growth’s refugee
clients representing their
STONE Street near the gazebo
from 7 to 9 p.m. For more
native country. Tickets are
$50. The dinner will be MOUNTAIN information, visit www.
stonemountaincity.org.
held at 3155 East Ponce de ntastakepublicaffairs@
Leon Avenue in Scottdale. Tunes by the Track begins
For more information or to soon gmail.com or call (404)
382-8255.
purchase a ticket, visit www.
Stone Mountain’s Tunes
DeKalb County Continuum of Care for Homeless Programs
FY 2018 Continuum of Care (CoC) NOFA
Consolidated Application and Priority Ranking
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of
Care (CoC) program supports national efforts to prevent and end homelessness and
provides critical funding to support local efforts to permanently house and support
individuals and families experiencing homelessness in DeKalb County, Georgia.
Each year HUD releases a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) which marks the
beginning of a national funding competition among approximately 450 CoCs across
the country.
The DeKalb County Community Development Department, as the designated
Collaborative Applicant for the DeKalb CoC, has responsibility for administering the
local competition to determine which homeless assistance projects will be included
in the Consolidated CoC NOFA Application to HUD, and submitting the Consolidated
Applications along with the priority ranking for projects. The local competition rating
and review of applications for new and renewal projects commenced on July 9, 2018
and concluded on August 28, 2018.
A copy of the Consolidated Application for 2018 HUD CoC funding, along with all local
project applications and their respective priority ranking, will be posted and available
for public review on the DeKalb County website On or before September 16, 2018,
at https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/community-development/grant-application.
Questions or comments may be made to (404) 371-2727 or by email at adpope@
dekalbcountyga.gov.
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM CONCERNING THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES BY THE DRINK ON SUNDAYS WITHIN THE CITY OF
BROOKHAVEN
TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF BROOKHAVEN, GEORGIA
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that on November 6, 2018, an election will be
held in all of the election districts of the City of Brookhaven, Georgia (the “City”),
at which election there will be submitted to the qualified voters of the City the
question for their determination of whether the City should amend section 4-302
of the Code of the City of Brookhaven to allow for the sale of beer, wine, and
distilled spirits for on-premises consumption at restaurants within the City of
Brookhaven.
Voters desiring to vote for the amendment to the Code shall do so by voting
“YES” and voters desiring to vote against the amendment to the Code shall do
so by voting “NO” as to the question propounded substantially as follows:
“Shall the governing authority of the City of Brookhaven be authorized
to permit and regulate Sunday sales of distilled spirits or alcoholic
beverages for beverage purposes by the drink from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30
P.M.”
The several places for holding said election shall be in the regular and
established election districts of the City, and the polls will be open from 7:00
A.M. to 7:00 P.M. on the said date fixed for the election. Those qualified to
vote at said election shall be determined in all respects in accordance and in
conformity with the laws of the State of Georgia.
The last day to register to vote in this election shall be October 9, 2018.
Those residents qualified to vote at said election shall be determined in all
respects in accordance with election laws of the State of Georgia.
This notice is given pursuant to joint action of the City Council and Board of
Elections of Dekalb County.
OPINION
Judging a man’s character based on his actions
I recently had the pleasure of
meeting two men who refer to
themselves as “home-free travelers.”
They have no running water, no
electricity and no roof over their heads.
However, these men are not destitute,
they are not suffering, and both say
their lifestyles are by choice.
Since meeting these two, my sister-
in-law and I have taken camping
equipment, food and other supplies to
them in an effort to make their lives a
bit more pleasant. They have a nice set-
up that includes a canopy, tents, cots,
sports chairs, a grill and coolers. Nature
is their backdrop, the open sky their
ceiling.
Hailing from different backgrounds,
these two men have found peace in
a lifestyle that most of us would find
challenging and humiliating. They
both acknowledge the challenges of
being home-free but say the life they
have chosen is rewarding to them
and neither would want it to be any
different.
In his mid-20s, “Tarzan” is a
recovered heroin addict who has a
mission of helping those he encounters
in his travels. He estimates that 99
percent of those commonly referred to
as homeless have at least one addiction
to a potentially deadly substance;
he wants to help them kick their
addictions. He has been traveling for
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#ItsInTheChampion
John Hewitt
johnh@dekalbchamp.com
more than seven years and said that he
has no plans to change his way of living.
The second, a somewhat older
gentleman who goes by the name of
“Sidekick,” has been traveling for more
than 11 years—the last two with his
faithful and extremely well-cared-for pit
bull, Skylar. Sidekick told me that not
only is Skylar his constant companion,
but he is also a form of protection. He
said Skylar is normally awake all night
guarding the camp and sleeps for most
of the day.
On my most recent visit, the
temperature was hovering in the low
90s and the humidity was extremely
high. As I neared the encampment in
an isolated wooded area, I yelled “hello”
several times to alert the men that I was
nearby. Sidekick responded with a “who
is it?” as I got closer to his camp.
Entering the camp site, I saw
Sidekick slowly rising from the cot we
have given him two days earlier. He
wiped sweat from his brows and face
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 4
and extended his hand in friendship
to welcome me to his home. What
I saw next made me reconsider my
preconceptions about the homeless
population and restored my faith in
man.
In addition to the many other
supplies, we took two battery powered
fans—one for each of the men.
However, one of the fans was being put
to another use.
Lying on the ground beside
Sidekick’s cot was Skylar. The fan was
sitting on the ground and was aimed
directly at Skylar. There was also a
bowl of fresh clean water beside Skylar.
Sidekick had told me earlier that he was
concerned about running the batteries
down quickly, but he had made the
decision to direct the breezes from
the fan toward his canine companion
rather than toward himself.
This simple gesture showed me that
this man was more concerned about
the comfort and well-being of his dog
than he was about his own comfort. It
reminded me of a quote from Mahatma
Gandhi that reads, “The greatness of
a nation and its moral progress can
be judged by the way its animals are
treated.” However, in this case, the
greatness of an individual man was
judged by his treatment of animals
and it was truly an impressive sight to
witness.
I believe that individuals who put
others—including animals—above
themselves are the best that humankind
has to offer. Sidekick’s compassion for
his dog is obvious. He has a dog bag
that contains collars, leashes, dry and
canned dog food as well as flea and tick
prevention medications.
Sidekick told me he will soon leave
his temporary home to go where the
winter months aren’t as cold as they can
sometimes be in northeast Georgia.
He further explained that when the
weather is as hot as it has been recently
that it is not conducive to traveling for
he or Skylar and that he will wait for
cooler temperatures.
This man who lacks the basic need
of shelter consciously puts his canine
companion’s needs and comfort above
his. These seemingly small gestures
speak volumes about his character.
He is a man for whom I have a great
amount of respect and admiration.
Before I see Sidekick and Skylar
next, I’ll stock up on fresh batteries and
will also look for a source of heat that
does not require electricity.
I think I’ll also take a full meal
for the men, the dog and for me. I
would be proud to share food with a
gentleman of his character.
OPINION
When less really means more
“The most frequent complaint
we hear at MARTA about transit is
that we simply need more of it. We’re
working on that now.” said longtime
MARTA Board Chair Robbie Ashe.
The metro Atlanta region gained
nearly 80,000 residents during 2017.
The largest population increase was
in Gwinnett County and the highest
percentage gains against base
population in the nine-county core
metro were in Cherokee and Henry
counties.
 At the same time, growing
recognition of the benefits of
mass transit for the metropolitan
Atlanta region, as well as improved
connectivity and performance by
existing transit agencies in Clayton,
Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett
counties—along with state players
at the Atlanta-Region Transit Link
and the Georgia Department of
Transportation—have the region
on the real cusp of region-wide
transportation system planning and
expansion.
 Much fretting has been done by
some during these discussions of a
nationwide decline in transit riders
in most every major metropolitan
jurisdiction. From San Francisco’s
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to
metro New York’s MTA, the Chicago
subway and L-Train and metro
Washington, D.C.’s Metro, most
every major system has seen a year-
over-year ridership decline in the 5
percent range.
 Near full employment, near
record minority employment
and growth in the second quarter
exceeding 4 percent all mean that
a healthier economy means more
consumers with greater incomes and
more choices. Greater employment
options and higher wages among
lower skill workers also typically
mean there will be fewer transit
dependent riders.  in NYC begin or end in the outer
Atlanta United soccer team
now brings an average 70,000
soccer fans—predominantly via
FREEPRESS
the DeKalb
Let Us Know What You Think!
THE DEKALB FREE PRESS encourages opinions from
its readers. Please write to us and express your views.
Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain the
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cation. All letters will be considered for publication.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions
of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The
Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.
‘One Man’s
Opinion’
Bill Crane
bill.csicrane@gmail.com
MARTA—to the new Mercedes
Benz stadium for 17-18 home games
per year. Taking a round trip, that’s
well over two million new riders
for MARTA per season, many from
the outer suburbs. We call these
folks “choice riders,” and by every
indication, those numbers are
rapidly on the rise.
 Commercial and residential real
estate adjacent to our new MARTA
Transit Oriented Developments
(TODs), as well as the Atlanta
BeltLine, are among the highest in
demand residential addresses in the
region. Transit access appears to be
one of the primary factors on real
estate developers' radar.
 The mayor and council in
New York City recently placed a
one-year moratorium on new for-
hire vehicle licenses, primarily
impacting potential drivers for the
ride-sharing services of Uber and
Lyft. The two services now largely
split more than 100,000 existing
ride-share licenses. Comparatively,
there are only 13,000 Yellow Cabs in
Manhattan, and a capped number
of taxi medallions, as the cab drivers
are seeking protection.
 Uber and Lyft estimate annual
driver turnover in the 25-30 percent
range, as most of their drivers
are part-time workers seeking to
supplement their income. The pain
of fewer ride-share drivers will
be felt most sharply in the outer
boroughs of NYC where subway and
bus service are also more limited.
Currently 80 percent of Lyft’s rides
boroughs. For Uber, that percentage
is 60 percent, excluding airport
fares. 
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR,
The DeKalb Free Press,
P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347;
Send email to Johnh@dekalbchamp.com
FAX To: (404) 370-3903; Phone: (404) 373-7779.
Deadline for news releases and advertising:
Thursday, one week prior to publication date.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 5
Limiting transit options will
likely raise rates on the remaining
rides, and potentially push some
riders back toward more expensive
cabs.
Here in Atlanta, the latest
arrival on the streets of Midtown,
downtown and Buckhead are
electric scooter rentals from two
ride-sharing services called Bird
and Lime. These smart phone
enabled scooters are an inexpensive,
sustainable and privately funded
"last-mile" transit option, ideal for
that short hop from a MARTA rail
station to your final home, work or
play destination.
 These threads, woven together
form a flowing mobility tapestry.
Some will be on the rise, others
plateau and new options will likely
yet enter the market. If you have
the benefit of regular travel, try out
some of these options locally, but
also experience similar networks
in other cities and metro regions,
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
John Hewitt Carla Parker
Horace Holloman
Chief Financial Officer: Taylor Robins
Dr. Earl D. Glenn
Social Media Manager:
Production Manager: Donna Seay
Kemesha Wadley
The DeKalb Free Press is published each Friday
by ACE III Communications, Inc.,
114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030
Phone (404) 373-7779.
www.championnewspaper.com
DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110
check out the signage, ease of use
and connectivity. Pick up a few "best
practices" that you might bring
home to your community. That is of
course your choice, just like being a
"choice rider," but I think if you give
it a shot, you will also find out that
not always being on a packed train
or bus is a good thing, and that if
we can spread demand from rush
hours and drive-time to a broader
cross section of each day, less really
is more.
Bill Crane also serves as a political
analyst and commentator for Channel
2’s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk
750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a
columnist for The Champion, DeKalb
Free Press and Georgia Trend. Crane
is a DeKalb native and business owner,
living in Scottdale. You can reach
him or comment on a column at bill.
csicrane@gmail.com.
STATEMENT FROM THE
PUBLISHER
We sincerely appreciate the
discussion surrounding this and any
issue of interest to DeKalb County.
The Champion was founded in 1991
expressly to provide a forum for
discourse for all community residents
on all sides of an issue. We have no
desire to make the news only to
report news and opinions to effect
a more educated citizenry that will
ultimately move our community
forward. We are happy to present
ideas for discussion; however,
we make every effort to avoid
printing information submitted to
us that is known to be false and/or
assumptions penned as fact.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 6
An aerial view of some of the Dragon Con attendees at Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Photos by Taylor Robins
LAKESIDE Continued From Page 1
said Julie Herron Carson,
member of the Lakeside Band
Association. “They sounded
terrific and really energized the
crowd.”
Lakeside was the only high
school band to perform in the
parade that stretched along
Atlanta’s Peachtree Street.
“This was the marching
band’s first public appearance
in their new uniforms and
they all looked so polished
and professional,” Herron said.
“I think having the Lakeside
Marching Viking Band in the
Dragon Con parade is great fun
for everyone, and it gives the
students the opportunity to play
for tens of thousands of people.”
Cosplayers during the Dragon Con parade in downtown Atlanta. David Fairchild directs the
band.
“To date no other high
school marching band has
approached us to be in the
parade. While the Dragon
Con Parade is famous for its
outstanding costumes and geeky
themes, we are always happy to
have Lakeside representing the
larger Atlanta community,” said
Dan Carroll, media relations
director for Dragon Con.
Dragon Con, along with
the parade, is a multi-genre
convention that is held annually
on Labor Day weekend. More
than 80,000 people attended
this year’s event, according to
Dragon Con.
Fans came from all 50 states
and around the world, with this
A local cosplayer lights up her costume at Atlanta Marriott Marquis Sept. 1. year’s convention attracting
people from as far away as
Australia, New Zealand, Japan
and other Pacific Rim countries.
After the parade, those
in costumes kept the party
going on the streets and at
the convention’s five host
hotels – Hyatt Regecy Atlanta,
Marriott Marquis, Hilton
Atlanta, Westin Peachtree and
Sheraton Atlanta− and both
AmericasMart buildings.
Some of this year’s top guests
included Once Upon a Time’s
Jennifer Morrison, Ant Man
& The Wasp’s Evangeline Lilly,
Luke Cage’s Mike Colter, and
Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb
McLaughlin from Stranger
Things.
In addition to Ant-Man
and The Wasp and Stranger
Things, other movies and
television shows made in
Georgia were well represented,
including Avengers: Infinity
War, Guardians of the Galaxy
vol. 2, Jumanji and CW’s Black
Lightning.
In its fundraising efforts,
Dragon Con raised at least
$85,000, according to Dragon
Con officials, including the
convention’s match, for its 2018
official charity, Literacy Action
Inc.
The charity helps build better
futures for undereducated
adults in the Atlanta area by
teaching literacy, life skills and
work skills that empower them
to reach their highest potential.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 7

CHAMBLEE

The historic bomber plane that took flight locally is nicknamed the “Madras Maiden.” Photos by Taylor The scenic view from the glass nose that sits underneath the plane’s cockpit.
Robins

A view of the Madras Maiden from under the left wing One of four engines that help the Madras Maiden to soar. Needed materials for battle are located in the plane’s radio room.

The glass nose of the Madras Maiden that sits under the plane’s cockpit. The sitting area of the plane that is located at the entrance. The sitting area is

History flies over DeKalb

located ahead of the plane’s tail.

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
It wasn’t a bird and it wasn’t just
any plane flying over DeKalb County
during the Labor Day weekend.
The Liberty Foundation’s 2018
“Salute to Veterans” tour gave residents
an opportunity to fly and tour the
famous Boeing B-17 “Madras Maiden”
plane at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.
History lovers were able to take
advantage of public flights and ground
tours Sept. 1-2
Boeing B-17 planes are the most
famous bomber planes of World War
II. The planes as a group are nicknamed
“Flying Fortresses” because of their
defensive firepower, according to the
Liberty Foundation.
The 74-year-old “Madras Maiden”
was built in 1944 and spent its entire
military career as a research and
development aircraft. It is one of only
12 B-17s that still fly today.
“It is only through the public’s
support that we can continue to keep
the B-17 on tour and from being
permanently silenced to sit in a
museum,” Liberty Foundation stated in
a press release.
Raymond Fowler of Carrollton
piloted the Madras Maiden as Liberty
Foundation’s chief pilot and Cullen
Underwood of Woodstock served as
first officer.
“I do this on my days off,” Fowler
said. “This plane is fun to fly.”
Fowler said that most people, even if
not associated with planes or aviation,
have heard of the B-17 plane.
“All we want to do is educate people
to this aircraft to keep it flying and
people’s donations help to do that,” the
pilot said.
Rides could be purchased for $450
per person and ground tours were free.
On Aug. 27, Liberty Foundation
invited The Champion to fly and tour
the historic plane.
The plane took off from the airport
with ease and glided toward Stone
Mountain and back to Chamblee.
After takeoff, media members
walked around the plane where
passengers could visit the cockpit,
cockpit glass nose, radio room and the
different combat crew positions to see
the viewpoints that thousands of our
heroes saw in combat more than 70
years ago.
Residents were also able to do the
same that weekend.
For additional information visit
www.libertyfoundation.org.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 8

COUNTYWIDE

Solar deal dims

BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com

Some county officials called a potential deal with Georgia

Power and Hannah Solar a “win-win” situation for DeKalb, but
after months of conversation, the deal stalled.
In June, commissioners unanimously voted to approve
Georgia Power’s Redi Program to construct and
maintain a floating solar array at Scott Candler Water
Filter Plant. The array uses solar panels to convert sunlight to
electricity.
During the Aug. 28 board of commissioners meeting, DeKalb
County officials announced Hannah Solar had sent an email to
the county requesting a withdrawal from the agreement.
The email read in part, “It is with greatest regret that...due to
an inability to provide the necessary documents and provide a
timeline for this Georgia Power REDI project, it’s no longer in
consideration. We will promptly notify Georgia Power about
this termination….It’s been difficult knowing DeKalb had
such an incredible, environmental, financial and promotional
opportunity so close at hand but let it slip away.”
According to Georgia Power, the REDI initiative was
developed through the company’s 2016 Integrated Resource
Plan process and is designed to increase renewable energy use
in Georgia and help commercial and industrial customers meet
renewable energy goals.
The letter stated the solar program would have created a
“nationally recognized” project for the county.
DeKalb County Commissioner Nancy Jester said she was
“disappointed” the project ended before it got started.
“To me, this was a no brainer,” Jester said. “As
[Commissioner] Kathie Gannon pointed out, there were ways in
and out of the agreement if it went wrong and they would pay us
to lease space on the reservoir. The administration dragged their
feet on this. My take is someone in the bureaucracy didn’t want
this project to happen.”
Gannon said the project received “positive feedback” from
commissioners. According to Jester—the commission’s sole
Republican—the “green” project received bipartisan support.
“We talked to the administration about it and we had lots of Hannah Solar decided to withdraw from an agreement to install solar arrays at Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant.
positive feedback from other commissioners,” Gannon said. “We
asked to usher it through and we were told, ‘no, no we got this,’
by the administration.”
Gannon said the delays eventually resulted in Hannah Solar
withdrawing its proposal.
“It was slowed down and slowed down until it could die,”
Gannon said. “There were some new things we hadn’t tried
before, and I understand that, but this is an area where the
county could have had a very positive, forward, one-of-a-kind
opportunity in sustainability.”
DeKalb County COO Zach Williams said Hannah Solar did
not provide county officials with certain information regarding
the project, including the effect the project would have on
Thursday
drinking water, methods for accessing the reservoir and ways to
ensure compliance with Environmental Protection Agency.
September 27
“To date, [the information] has not been received. We
requested schematics from Hannah Solar which would be of 7:00 p.m.
great assistance when determining the impact on the reservoir
and on drinking water and so forth,” Williams said.   Decatur Marriott Conference Center • 130 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030
Williams said the information was crucial to further the Free event parking!
discussion.
All proceeds from the event support DeKalb County Public Library’s new family literacy program PRIME TIME Preschool.
“Without it, we couldn’t have the full conversation. It’s not
as if the administration said ‘no.’ We continued to try to get the Tickets may be purchased for $70.00 per person online at
information,” Williams said. “Maybe they felt the hurdles were dekalblibraryfoundation.org
too great, but they indicated they no longer wanted to negotiate.”
Sponsors
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 9

WEEK in PICTURES

DeKalb County Public Safety personnel encircle the 9-11 memorial.

M.L. King senior Demetrius Carson won the second boys’ varsity DeKalb
County cross country race Sept. 4. Photo by Mark Brock

Spectators at 9-11 ceremony observe a moment of silence DeKalb County Color Guard present the colors to attendees of
Daisy Troop 18574 from Glennwood Elementary visit and toured 9-11 ceremony
Decatur Police Department.

Have you created programming you’d like to air on TV?

Do you have an interest in Public Access TV in DeKalb County?
Submit your show to DeKalb County’s 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, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 10

LITHONIA

Employees from Lowe’s on Fairington Road partnered with Healing Hearts of Families USA Ministries to do repair work at Fairington Park. Photos by Bonita Lacy

Lowe’s, nonprofit partner on Fairington Park project

BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Healing Hearts of Families USA
Ministries was back at Fairington Park
for another community project recently.
The nonprofit partnered with the
Fairington Road Lowe’s to do repairs at
the park as a joint community project
Sept. 7-8. Healing Hearts of Families
USA Ministries has done numerous
community projects at the park since
2010, from cleaning and beautifying the
park to adding a new playground.
This time around, the organization
and Lowe’s repaired the pergola,
painted benches and put a cover over
the chalkboard. They also did some
cleaning.
In 2014, Healing Hearts of Families
USA Ministries executive director
Bonita Lacy told The Champion that
she wanted to change the look of the
park and provide a safe, fun area for
children in the Fairington community.
She said that the mission to change
the park began in 2008 when she
was working with President Barack
Obama’s campaign.
“He told us to go back into the
community and find a worthy cause,”
she said in 2014. “And this park had
been neglected for 15 years. Most
people in the neighborhood didn’t
know it was a park.”
Now, Lacy said can she see the
benefits of all the work that she, the
community and businesses put in to
resurrect the park.
“I see residents coming out every
day,” she said. “They came out [during
the recent project] and walked the trail
and children were playing. I do see the
park really being utilized.”
Lacy said she contacted Lowe’s
asking for an employee who could help
make repairs to a few benches and
other deteriorating wood at the park.
The store manager told her the project
was perfect for the Lowe’s Heroes
project, a program that encourages
employees in a location to team
together, adopt a volunteer project with
a local nonprofit organization or public
school.
Lacy said she was elated that Lowe’s
agreed to help with the repairs because
she has been disappointed with the
county’s lack of response to the park’s
needs.
“I’ve been asking DeKalb County
about the asphalt [for the parking
lot] and the different things that were
committed to the park [in] 2014 that
hasn’t been done yet,” Lacy said. “I
asked them at the beginning of this
project where are we at with [other
improvements]. They [said] they were
going to check into it, but they have not
yet.”
Chuck Ellis, who was appointed
as director of the county’s recreation,
parks and cultural affairs department,
said there isn’t funding currently
identified for capital improvements at
Fairington Park.
“Our department does do routine
maintenance such as mowing, trash
removal [and more],” Ellis said.
Lacy said there was bond money
to redo the fence at the park, but the
county reallocated those funds.
“Some of that money, DeKalb
County said, they put into the ground
structure for the playground and some
of the other things they did for the
playground, which is good,” Lacy said.
“But I just think that they should do
more and I know they should’ve done
more within 20 years to this park.”

DORAVILLE

Doraville zones for pubs and breweries

BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Attendees at the Sept. 4
Doraville city council meeting
witnessed approval of an
amendment concerning zoning
for pubs and breweries passed
with 6-0 votes.
“I’m really excited and I’m
glad we’re stepping into this
century,” said Donna Pittman,
mayor of Doraville. “We’ve
been a little bit behind.”
The city passed an
amendment that will
implement a zoning
recommendation from
Doraville’s adopted 2017-
2037 comprehensive plan
to promote economic
development in the area.
Brewpubs, breweries,
micro-breweries, micro-
distilleries and micro-wineries
are now allowed in certain
zoning districts in Doraville.
Brewpubs are now allowed
in the C2, T5 and T6 districts.
Micro-breweries, micro-
distilleries and micro-wineries
are allowed in the Assembly
District.
According to Doraville
officials, the plan would
promote economic
development by diversifying
Doraville’s manufacturing
industry, encouraging small
start-up businesses, enhancing
restaurant and entertainment
offerings, creating
opportunities for communal
gatherings and expanding the
employment base.
“Hopefully this is just the
beginning for our new growth
in Doraville,” said Stephe
Koontz, city councilmember.
After the 6-0 vote, the
audience applauded.
“We can have a beer to
celebrate, or water,” Pittman
said.
This amendment comes
after the Aug. 20 city
council meeting, where two
ordinances that relate to the
manufacturing and selling of
alcoholic beverages in the city
were approved.
One of the ordinances,
which passed with a 6-0 second
read vote, was an amendment
to an existing law that will
provide for the licensing of
brewpubs, microbreweries,
micro-wineries and micro-
distilleries.
The other ordinance, which
also passed with a 6-0 second
read vote, will allow the sale
of alcoholic beverages within
Doraville’s Assembly District.
EDUCATION
Education Briefs
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
Troy University recognizes students for
completing IMPACT
Troy University (Troy, Ala.) recognized
new students who have completed IMPACT
orientation and enrolled in classes for the
fall 2018 semester. The local students are:
Gene Foster, Jonathan Adams and Mantrell
Simmons all of Stone Mountain.
Collier makes the summer 2018 Merit List
at Brenau University
Tiffany Nicole Collier of Decatur
achieved Brenau University’s (Gainesville)
Merit List Honors for the summer 2018
semester. Collier is a class of 2021 student
majoring in health science-pre nursing. Merit
list students must maintain a 3.5 grade point
average while carrying 12 to 14 semester
hours of course work with no grade lower
than B in that semester.
New cadet recruits join UNG Corps of
Cadets
University of North Georgia’s (Dahlonega)
Freshman Recruit Orientation Group week,
which ran Aug. 12-18, marked the transition
of more than 200 incoming freshmen to the
Corps of Cadets from civilians to cadets at
REDUCE
REUSE
RECYCLE
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 11
UNG, one of six senior military colleges in
the nation. FROG Week is a tradition dating
back to at least the 1960s at UNG. Freshman
recruits include Fahhad Amir Ali of Stone
Mountain, Leah James of Ellenwood and
Christina Sands of Decatur.
Valdosta State University announces 2018-
2019 foundation scholarship recipients
Valdosta State University offered
scholarships to 169 currently enrolled,
incoming first-year and transfer students
for the 2018-2019 academic year. These
scholarships were established by private
donors and are awarded each year by VSU
Foundation Inc. to students with excellent
academic achievement and/or students with
financial need. This list includes Cyle Clark
and Jahnelle Smithson, both of Lithonia,
who earned the Frances Wood Wilson
Foundation Inc. Scholarship.
Area residents make academic achievement
list at Georgia Southwestern State
University
Local residents who made the summer
2018 Academic Achievement List at Georgia
Southwestern State University (Americus)
are: Danielle Harrison-Powder of Lithonia,
Rhonda Johnson of Lithonia, Gabrielle
Pointer of Lithonia and Sidney Walker of
Decatur.
The students were among 400 recognized
for scholastic achievement.
Wilson makes summer 2018 Dean’s List at
Georgia Southwestern State University
Jarome Wilson of Stone Mountain made
the summer 2018 Dean’s List at Georgia
Southwestern State University (Americus)
and was among 400 students recognized for
scholastic achievement.
To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student
must earn a semester GPA of 3.5 or better
and take a minimum of 12 credit hours.
Daley awarded gold stars for spring 2018
academic achievements at The Citadel
Savanna Daley of Dunwoody was awarded
gold stars by The Citadel (Charleston, S.C.)
for achieving a 3.7 grade point average or
higher during the 2018 spring semester.
Cadets and students who achieve gold star
recognition are also placed on The Citadel’s
dean’s list.

ESTATE SALE
EVERYTHING MUST
GO! HUGE Estate Sale!
Grandfather clock, China
Hutch, Curio Cabinets, and
other great items. Sat.
(9/15) 7:30 am-12:00 pm
Pendley Hills S/D 3963 Sue
Ln., Decatur.
HELP WANTED
Empire Corporation
of Tennessee, Inc. is
contracted to renovate
The Retreat at Spring Hill
located at 4947 Memorial
Drive, Stone Mountain, GA
30083. Empire has Section
3 opportunities through
employment with trade
specific subcontractors. In
accordance with Section 3,
these jobs are targeted to
residents of Public Housing,
Low-and Very-Low
Income persons who live
in the Atlanta metropolitan
area where the project
is located, or Section
3 Business Concerns.
Section 3 residents must
demonstrate that they meet
the qualifications for new
employment opportunities
and ability to perform
successfully under the
terms and conditions of the
proposed contract. Trade
Specific Job Opportunities:
General Labor, Cleaning,
Framing and Drywall,
Flooring, Painting,
Electrical, Plumbing, Please
bring resume and/or job
application information to
the Empire Construction
Trailer located at the Job
Site for to be handed out to
The Champion is not responsible for any damages resulting from advertisements. All sales final.
RATES: $30 for up to 40 words, each
additional word $0.60. All ads are
prepaid. All major credit cards accepted.
subcontractors.
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DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 12
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AUCTION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH
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GAL 274
DISCLAIMER: We do not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate,
or intend to discriminate, on any illegal basis. Nor do we knowingly accept
employment advertisements that are not bona-fide job offers. All real estate
advertisements are subject to the fair housing act and we do not accept
advertising that is in violation of the law. The law prohibits discrimination
based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status.
BUSINESS
EAST ATLANTA
Family ‘food journey’ becomes a business
BY KATHY MITCHELL
Freelance Reporter
What started as an effort
to meet the needs of her
household, Jessica McMorris
has turned into a business, The
Allergy Friendly Vegetarian. She
recalled that years ago she had
multiple health issues and was
frustrated that the doctors she
visited were unable to help.
“I was lethargic, fuzzy-
minded, overweight and
unhappy, “she noted, listing just
a few of the maladies she recalls
having when she moved to
Atlanta in 2004. Finally, she said,
she found a doctor who could
address her problems. Although
a medical doctor, he was also
a naturopathist, who followed
the advice of Hippocrates, the
man considered the father of
modern medicine, “Let food be
thy medicine and medicine be
thy food.”
McMorris made changes to
her diet that resulted in what she
calls a “radical transformation”
and began studying the
relationship between health
issues and diet. She soon
included her husband and their
son in her health approach and
found that they, too, benefited.
Over time she learned that she
and her son have intolerances
to gluten, dairy and soy, and her
husband is intolerant to dairy,
and sensitive to gluten and
soy. “And he’s deathly allergic
to certain fruits, including
strawberries, pineapple, pitted
fruits, and pears and apples,” she
said.
While McMorris found
foods on the market and
recipes that met her family’s
requirements, they often weren’t
impressed with the taste.
“Pumpkin spiced muffins are
my husband’s favorite, but we
couldn’t find any that tasted
good and didn’t cause an allergic
reaction. I remember one day
craving something sweet and
I put together my own recipe
that I originally intended as
pancakes. I ended up baking
the batter in muffin tins. The
muffins were so light and fluffy
it took all my willpower not
to eat them all. My husband
tasted them and said, ‘You’ve
got something here. You need to
market these.’ So I tried making
other flavors—including
pumpkin spice—and was really
pleased at the results.”
McMorris started developing
recipes that avoid the most
common food allergies and
sensitivities, including wheat,
dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts,
fish, shellfish, corn and sesame.
“A very small percentage of
the population suffers from
celiac disease, which brings on
extreme reactions to gluten,
however, a good many more
people have gluten issues,” she
said.
Noting that she used to
eat everything, McMorris
acknowledged that excluding
certain foods hasn’t been
easy. “I love food, which can
be frustrating if you can’t eat
most of it. We get emotionally
attached to foods. There is an
actual grieving process for foods
we can no longer eat.”
Helping others on what
she calls a “food journey”—a
quest for a diet each individual
finds healthful, satisfying
and enjoyable—has become
a mission for McMorris. She
estimates that 17 percent of the
population would benefit from
adjusting their diets to avoid
foods they are sensitive to.
McMorris created Muff ’n
Stuff, a dry muffin mix that
is vegan and free of the 10
common allergens. She has
other products such as a vegan
pie crust mix in development.
She said her husband Sean
is a professional musician
but worked in the restaurant
industry for more than 20 years.
“He brought all that professional
knowledge to the table to help
me set up the business. Our son
[Giovanni] was the official taste
tester before he developed a gut
issue.” McMorris added that
both help when the products are
offered in farmer’s markets.  at all hearings.
She credits the East Lake
unit of Start:Me, the business
training program run by Emory
University’s Goizueta Business
School, with helping her
over the hurdles to become a
business.
On its website, Start:Me
quotes McMorris as saying,
“With Start:ME, I was able
to dive into the financials of
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 13
bounds ahead of where I was would buy a cookbook by
before participating in the someone they never heard of?”
program.” Once she had created a brand,
Creating food products for however, she started a two-year
the market has been an on- process through which she
again, off-again process, she published an online cookbook.
explained. “Even as a cottage McMorris, who now calls
industry, I must have a certified The Allergy Free Vegetarian her
kitchen to create food products full-time focus, said her dream
to sell. I had one, but we moved is to have Disney Corporation
and had to start the process use her recipes and products in
over. I just recently again got a its theme parks. “The people at
certified kitchen,” she said. Disney are very responsive to
“From the beginning food allergy issues. I think my
my business in a meaningful people suggested that I write a products would be perfect for
way that made me more cookbook, but I thought, there them.”
confident talking with potential are already 50 million and one
investors….I feel leaps and cookbooks out there—who
METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY
Notice of Public Hearings
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority will hold public
hearings for the purpose of considering the
Proposed bus service modifications for
December 8, 2018 for the following routes:
Route 79: Sylvan Hills;
Route 82: Camp Creek / South Fulton Parkway;
Route 89: Old National Highway / Union City;
Route 95: Metropolitan Parkway;
Route 143: Windward Park & Ride;
Route 172: [Replaced by Rt. 872] Sylvan Road / Virginia Avenue;
Route 178: Empire Boulevard / Southside Industrial Park;
All route information, a video with hearing information and
comment forms are available at www.itsmarta.com
Mon., Sept. 17 Tues., Sept. 18 Wed., Sept. 19
DeKalb
Fulton County Clayton County
Government Center Water Authority Maloof Auditorium
1300 Commerce Drive
141 Pryor Street Community Room
Decatur, GA 30030
Atlanta, GA 30303 1600 Battle Creek Road
Community Exchange:
Community Exchange: Morrow, GA 30260
6-7 p.m.
6-7 p.m. Community Exchange:
6-7 p.m. HEARING: 7 p.m.
HEARING: 7 p.m. Riding MARTA: Blue Line to
Riding MARTA: Bus Rts. 21, HEARING: 7 p.m. Decatur Station, walk one
42, and 55. Riding MARTA: Bus Rt. 193. block west.
Copies of the proposed bus service modifications will also be available for public viewing at MARTA’s Headquar-
ters Department of Planning, 2424 Piedmont Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30324 during regular business hours,
Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 5 pm.
For formats (FREE of charge) in accordance with the ADA and Limited English Proficiency regulations contact,
(404) 848-4037. For those patrons requiring further accommodations, information can be obtained by calling the
Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (404) 848-5665. In addition, a sign language interpreter will be available
IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE HEARINGS AND WANT TO PROVIDE COMMENTS YOU MAY:
(1) leave a message at (404) 848-5299; (2) write to MARTA’s Department of Planning, 2424 Piedmont Road, N.E. Atlanta,
Georgia 30324-3330; (3) complete an online comment card at www.itsmarta.com; (4) or fax your comments no later
than September 24, 2018 to (404) 848-4179.
All citizens of the City of Atlanta and the counties of Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton and Gwinnett whose interests are af-
fected by the subjects to be considered at these hearings are hereby notified and invited to appear at said times
and places and present such evidence, comment or objection as their interests require.
Jeffrey A. Parker, General Manager/CEO
SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 14

FOOTBALL

Cedar Grove falls

to McEachern
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
The Cedar Grove Saints got
their first loss of the season
after falling to McEachern 24-
17 Sept. 7.
Cedar Grove, the No.
2-ranked team in Class AAA,
went toe-to-toe with Class
AAAAAAA No. 8-ranked
McEachern for a majority
of the game, but turnovers
and special teams blunders
were too much to overcome.
The Saints scored the first
touchdown on a 47-yard run
by Robert Jones III, giving
Cedar Grove a 7-0 lead in the
first quarter.
McEachern didn’t take long
to respond. On the following
kickoff, McEachern’s Valerian
Agbaw Jr. returned the kickoff
for a touchdown after a fake
reverse. Later in the quarter,
a scary scene occurred on the
Saints’ sideline when junior
linebacker Joshua Walker
collapsed.
According to news reports,
McEachern trainers rushed to
Walker’s aide and performed
CPR and used an AED to
revive him. Walker was alert
when he was taken to the
hospital, according to reports.
Cedar Grove coach Jermaine
Smith said on Facebook that
Walker is doing well.
Cedar Grove extended
its lead to 10-7 in the second
quarter after a 36-yard field
goal by Oral Ashe. Another
big return on the kickoff led to
a touchdown for McEachern.
Quarterback Carlos Del
Rio-Wilson connected with
Jordon Simmons on a 19-
yard touchdown pass, giving
McEachern a 14-10 lead.
On the following kickoff,
Cedar Grove could not recover
after two players collided
trying to catch the ball, leading
to a fumble that was recovered
by McEachern. That special
teams mistake led to a field
goal for McEachern, extending
its lead to 17-10 before
halftime.
In the third quarter, Cedar
Grove’s Jadon Haselwood,
the No. 1-ranked receiver in
the nation, made a big play
on defense, intercepting a
pass and returning it for a
touchdown, tying the game at
17-17.
Twenty-five seconds later,
Simmons got his second
touchdown of the game, when
he caught a swing pass and
ran 70 yards to the end zone,
giving McEachern a 24-17 lead.
Cedar Grove had opportunities
to even the score, but turnovers
and more mistakes on special
teams killed any comeback
attempt.
Cedar Grove (3-1) will
return to the football field Sept.
21 at Godfrey Stadium to host
Lovett.
Other scores
Sept. 7
Druid Hills (2-1) 20, Towers
(0-4) 12
Marist (3-0) 24, Westminster
(2-2) 7
Southwest DeKalb (4-0) 41, Cedar Grove fell to McEachern on the road. File photo by Mark Brock
Redan (0-4) 0
St. Pius X (3-1) 27, Decatur
(1-2) 6 Chester Co. (SC) (4-0) 26, Stone Mountain (0-4) 14
Stephenson (2-1) 41, Mt. Zion- Columbia (1-3) 16 Riverdale (3-1) 12, Miller
Jonesboro (0-3) 8 Duluth (2-2) 23, Lakeside (1- Grove (1-2) 8
Callaway (3-0) 50, Cross Keys 2) 14
(0-4) 0 Lithia Springs (2-1) 37, Open: Chamblee (0-3),
Cambridge (1-2) 16, Clarkston (0-4) 0 Lithonia (3-0), M.L. King (0-
Dunwoody (1-2) 14 Newton Co. (2-1) 41, Arabia 2), Tucker (1-2)
Cartersville (3-0) 70, McNair Mountain (2-2) 21
(2-1) 0 Northwest Whitfield (2-1) 46,

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SPORTS
FOOTBALL
Jadon Haselwood is considered the best senior wide receiver in the nation.
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
Cedar Grove wide receiver Jadon
Haselwood surprised many people when
he announced his college commitment
during his sophomore year.
Haselwood said he did not need
another two years to decide where he
would play college football. The No.
1-ranked receiver said he knew then that
the University of Georgia was going to be
his future home.
“I felt like [Georgia] was the place for
me,” he said. “My parents loved it and I
liked it. We all talked about it and I just did
it.”
As with Haselwood’s early commit,
it also did not take long for him to be
considered one of the best football players
in the nation from the 2019 class. A year
after catching the winning touchdown
pass in the DeKalb County middle school
championship game for Cedar Grove,
Haselwood was considered the best wide
receiver in the 2019 class.
He said he was surprised at how fast his
success came on the football field.
“Yeah, I was kind of surprised. It was a
blessing,” he said. “That was my first year
back playing football, in eighth grade, since
I started middle school. I didn’t play park
ball in sixth and seventh grade. I’d just
came back that year and just balled.”
ESPN and 247 Sports have Haselwood
ranked as the No. 1 receiver in the nation,
while Rivals has him ranked No. 2 behind
Theo Wease of Allen, Texas. Haselwood
said he doesn’t pay much attention to
player rankings and isn’t bothered by being
ranked No. 2 on Rivals.
“I didn’t even know I was the No. 1
receiver until one of the reporters told me,”
he said. “My teammates remind me of that
all the time though. The dude that they got
ahead of me is a good receiver, so I’m not
even mad. At least they didn’t put anybody
in front of me that wasn’t good.”
Two years after helping Cedar Grove
Middle win its first football county
championship, Haselwood helped lead
the high school to its first football state
championship. In his first three seasons
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 15
LIVING UP
TO THE HYPE
Haselwood shows he’s the best
with the Saints, Haselwood caught 100
passes for 1,840 yards and scored 29
touchdowns.
Haselwood credits his head coach
Jermaine Smith with helping him become
the player he is now.
“I wouldn’t be the receiver I am if I
didn’t come to Cedar Grove and play for
coach Jim,” he said. “In eighth grade I just
had a lot of raw talent; I didn’t really know
much. But when I got [to Cedar Grove] I
learned a lot—how to critique and run my
routes better.”
Although Haselwood has achieved a lot
on the football field, there is one goal he
hopes to finally accomplish this season—
reaching the 1,000-yard mark. He also
wants there to be no doubt about Cedar
Grove being one of the best teams in the
nation.
“I just want us to do everything the
right way,” he said. “I don’t want us to
win by a fluke, I want us to win by a lot of
points.”
The Saints have already proven they are
not a fluke. They won their first two games
of the season, which were out-of-state and
against tough competition. Cedar Grove
defeated Summerville, a Class AAAAA
team in South Carolina, 21-7, and traveled
to Alabama the following week and took
down Class AAAAAAA’s Hewitt-Trussville
34-30 on national television.
Haselwood said he and his teammates
wanted to prove that they can play with any
team, no matter the classification.
“We wanted to show that we’re bigger
than just AAA ball,” he said. “We can go
anywhere and win. All we have to do is
work hard and keep doing what we’re
doing, then they’re going to stop sleeping
on us.”
Haselwood will graduate from Cedar
Grove in December and enroll early at
Georgia. He said he is looking forward to
making plays for the Georgia Bulldogs and Jadon Haselwood helped win a championship for Cedar Grove,
playing at a high level against other top the first in program history, his sophomore year.
competition.
When he leaves Cedar Grove, he said,
he hopes he is remembered as an all-
around good guy and student.
“I just want to be remembered as not Cedar Grove receiver Jadon Haselwood had a breakout year his sophomore year, finishing third in
being an a-hole,” he said. “I want everyone DeKalb County’s receiving statistics with 46 catches for 811 yards and 12 touchdowns. Photos by
Travis Hudgons/iShootAtlanta Photography
to remember me for the good.”
LOCAL
COUNTYWIDE
SHOULD IT STAY OR GO?
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
When someone searches “Bobby
Burgess building” in Google, an
article appears describing exit 41 near
Interstate 285 south on Memorial Drive
as “home to the most astoundingly
horrifying collection of government
buildings in the entire city.”
The area includes DeKalb
County Jail, DeKalb County Tax
Commissioner’s Office, DeKalb County
Juvenile Justice Center and the Robert
T. “Bobby” Burgess Building.
The building is named after former
DeKalb County Police Chief Robert
Burgess.
The county will pay for the building’s
repair or replacement with Special Local
Option Sales Tax proceeds. SPLOST
is expected to generate $636 million
over the next six years for capital
improvements for county and city
governments in DeKalb County.
DeKalb’s exact plans for the building
have not been made public, however.
The building houses the county’s IT
department, magistrate, drug, state/
traffic courts and special operations
police.
DEKALB FREE PRESS • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 • Page 16
DeKalb County officials plan to replace or repair the Robert T. “Bobby” Burgess Building with SPLOST
proceeds.
When The Champion Newspaper
requested more information regarding
plans for the building, a county official
stated “there is no further information
to provide at this point,” but said
the county has a SPLOST program
FOR A LIMITED TIME
County plans to repair or replace
Bobby Burgess building
management team to help study
and develop a plan for repairs and
replacement.
In June, DeKalb County officials
selected Moreland Altobelli Associates
as the program management services.
The firm will be paid an amount not to
exceed approximately $15 million to
manage SPLOST projects.
During a SPLOST open house
meeting introducing Moreland Altobelli
Associates, DeKalb County CEO
Michael Thurmond said, “I have no
reservations or concerns that [Moreland
Altobelli Associates], by far, was the best
recommendation for this county.”
According to the provisions of
Senate Bill 156, SPLOST money must
be spent on transportation projects
such as roads, bridges, public transit,
airports, buses and seaports and can
also include upgrades to parks and
recreation facilities as well as public
safety facilities.
According to county documents,
the replacement/repair of Robert T.
“Bobby” Burgess Building is expected
to cost $27.3 million—which is
approximately 27 percent of the
SPLOST public safety facilities and
courts $101.2 million budget.
The Champion Newspaper asked
county officials why the Bobby Burgess
building was selected for the final
SPLOST project list and how it was
chosen for the list but had not receive a
response by press time.
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