the DeKalb FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • VOL. 24, NO.

48 • 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

Dancers from Dance 411 in Atlanta began their performance inside a fence during DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston’s human trafficking awareness forum Jan. 23. Mary Beth
Nelson, director of forensic sciences at the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy described the fence as an “emotional cage” of manipulation and control that sex trafficking victims are often
subjected to. Photo from DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office

A 20/20 view of domestic sex trafficking

Local experts weigh in on human
trafficking at DeKalb forum
BY ASIA ASHLEY
asia@dekalbchamp.com
With DeKalb County having more
interstates than any other county in
Georgia, the county can be seen at the
“nucleus of moving through the state,”
thus potentially increasing access to
sex trafficking victims, said DeKalb
County District Attorney Sherry
Boston during her human trafficking
awareness forum Jan. 23. The FBI
has named Atlanta one of 14 cities
nationwide with the highest rates of
human trafficking of children.
“This is happening to our children
and if we are not showing and talking
about it, then we are denying that it
is happening to our children,” she
said. “We should be talking about
this everywhere. It does not matter
where you live. It’s not a metro Atlanta
problem, it’s not a Georgia problem.
It’s a United States of America
problem.”
According to statistics from the
National Human Trafficking Hotline,
Georgia has the seventh highest
number of human trafficking cases in
the nation. Approximately 300 to 500
children are
commercial
and sexually
exploited in
Georgia each
month, Boston
said, and
that number
continues to
climb. The
DeKalb County District Urban Institute
Attorney Sherry Boston estimated in
2014 that the
underground sex economy ranged from
$39 million in Denver to $290 million
in Atlanta.
While the average age of entry
into the commercial sex market for
girls is 12 to 14 years old, according
to state statistics, boys, too, are often
victims.
Kayti Batya, sex trafficking
survivor and member of anti-sex
trafficking nonprofit Street Grace, was
the keynote speaker during Boston’s
forum and resource fair held at the
Porter Sanford III Performing Arts
Center in Decatur. A panel of “experts”
within various fields that encounter
human trafficking victims, were part of
the forum:
Elizabeth Ford, DeKalb County public health director; Tyrone Oliver, commissioner
of Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice; Santwaa Roberson, program director for
Georgia DFCS; and DeKalb County School District social worker Gloria Leslie were part
of a panel during the Jan. 23 forum. Photo by Asia Ashley
What is sex trafficking and who families where the families aren’t
is most at risk? able to provide what they think
Santwaa Roberson, program they need such as name brand items
director for Georgia DFCS, defined or getting their hair done. They’re
sex trafficking as involving anyone looking for someone else to be able
forced to have sex for drug or to provide that for them,” explained
money purposes by someone Roberson.
else. Those most at risk for sex Unsupervised children, whose
trafficking include children who families often can’t afford after
have severe parent-child conflict, school care, are also often victims.
delinquent children, low-income “When someone sees that
families and runaways, said in the community, they’re taking
Roberson. advantage of that, unfortunately,”
“They’re looking to get said Roberson.
that attention or what they need Recruitment
from individuals other than their Social media is a common
caregivers or parents…Low income recruitment tool for sex traffickers,
SEE TRAFFICKING ON PAGE 6

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

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 2

Keep making
history.
This Black History Month, we celebrate
chefs who are inspiring the next generation.
Watch at publix.com/BlackHistoryMonth.

ROP: 10" x 13.5"

LOCAL
BROOKHAVEN
Brookhaven most recent city
to adopt nondiscrimination laws
BY ASIA ASHLEY
Asia@dekalbchamp.com
The city of Brookhaven
has recently adopted an anti-
discrimination ordinance,
making it reportedly the
seventh city in Georgia to
do so.
The ordinance
prohibits businesses from
discriminating based on
sexual orientation or gender
identity, race, religion, color,
sex, disability, national
origin, ancestry, age or
military status. Currently,
no federal or Georgia
law expressly prohibits
discrimination based on
sexual orientation or gender
identity.
“This ordinance helps
Brookhaven make a step
in the right direction as it
could improve the business
climate for the entire state
of Georgia,” said Jeff
Graham, executive director
of LGBT advocacy group
Georgia Equality, prior to
the city council Jan. 14 vote.
“Most importantly, it can
serve as a way to insulate
Brookhaven should there be
bad legislation that passes
on the state level or the
constant ongoing debate of
whether or not LGBT folks
are worth human rights,
dignity or protection against
discrimination.”
Several Brookhaven
residents spoke in support
of the ordinance during the
public hearing.
“It’s important as we
attract businesses here
that we are vocal and
upfront about our lack of
discrimination in the area,”
said Jeff Hancock, a local
business consultant. “This
personally affects me and
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Brookhaven City Hall. File photo
my family, so I strongly
encourage you to support the
ordinance.”
“I think it’s important
to support the rights of
marginalized groups and I
don’t why anyone would
think differently. Dr. [Martin
Luther] King said, ‘The arch
of [the moral universe] is
long, but it bends toward
justice.’ But it doesn’t bend
itself. We have to get out and
push.”
Resident Michael
Southern, however, was
the lone speaker against the
ordinance, stating the issue
felt rushed and should be
addressed at a higher level.
“I strongly oppose
this. Congress and the state
legislature have not even
addressed some of these
issues. It seems that it’s not
appropriate for Brookhaven
to jump ahead of federal and
state efforts to try to deal
with this,” said Southern.
The ordinance was
approved unanimously by
the city council. The cities
of Doraville, Clarkston,
Chamblee, Dunwoody,
Decatur and Atlanta have
approved similar ordinances.
DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 3
“We want to do
everything we can to send
the message to people that
come to Brookhaven that
you do belong here,” said
council member Linley
Jones, who sponsored the
ordinance with council
member Madeleine
Simmons. “Until the state or
federal government do the
right thing and protects the
civil right of all Americans,
all we can do here is what
we can do as a city that is
in our means. To all people,
you belong here, you are
welcome here and you are
safe here.”
The ordinance allows
citizens to file complaints
to the city manager if they
feel that a business or entity
licensed by the city has
denied them employment, a
home or service on grounds
of factors specified in
the ordinance. A hearing
and an investigation will
be conducted. A person
or business can be fined
$1,000 for first offense and
it doubles for the second
offense. A business could
lose its license after the third
offense.
STONE MOUNTAIN
Stone Mountain theater academy
wins award at festival
Stone Mountain’s Smoke Rise Academy of Arts Drama
received a national award during the 2020 Junior Theater
Festival Atlanta, which was held Jan. 17 to 19 at the Cobb
Galleria in Atlanta.
The festival united 7,000 students and educators from
128 educational musical theater groups representing 31
states, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K.,
according to a press release from Junior Theater Festival
Atlanta.
Smoke Rise Academy of Arts Drama won a Freddie G
Outstanding Production award and performed for festival
attendees during the closing ceremony.
The academy’s students performed selections from
Disney’s and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins for
Deborah Wicks La Puma, composer, music director and
orchestrator (Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in A Play and
Frida Libre), and Michael J. Bobbitt, artistic director of the
Adventure Theatre MTC in Maryland.
“This group had amazing character work. I fell in love
with everyone in the Banks household [the family depicted
in Mary Poppins]. They transported me to London with their
bodies and voices,” said La Puma.
Jeremiah Bailey, a student at the academy, was
one of 150 students selected for call-backs for future
Broadway Junior shoots. The shoots will include “how-to”
choreography videos for soon-to-be released Broadway
Junior musicals and be taped in New York City this
summer. The final cast will be determined later this year
and videos will be used in schools across the country and
internationally.
Snellville Performing Arts in Snellville also was a metro
Atlanta group to receive an award during the festival.
OPINION
DeKalb History Center to present unique Black history event
With the proliferation of events
throughout the nation designed to
recognize the many contributions
of Black Americans, it is difficult
to produce a Black History Month
program that is both historically
accurate and entertaining, but DeKalb
History Center board member
Tiffany Parks has managed to do so.
Parks began coordinating and
planning DeKalb History Center’s
Black History events in 2015 and has
devoted an incredible amount of time
to planning this year’s event which
celebrates the 100th anniversary of
the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz
Age, and the influences of Black
Americans during that period of our
nation’s history.
Parks said she has continued to
coordinate Black history events for
the history center because she “loves
to see diverse audiences greeting
each other, discovering something
new, laughing and appreciating
the complexities and richness of
American history.” Parks also said
the leadership of DeKalb History
Center Executive Director Melissa
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JOHN HEWITT
johnh@dekalbchamp.com
Forgey, who “sees and understands
the need and importance to provide
the community with a myriad of
programs that reflect the diverse
history of DeKalb,” motivates her to
continue her efforts to develop Black
history events that appeal to the entire
DeKalb County community.
For this year’s program, the
Historic DeKalb Courthouse will
be transformed into a speakeasy
and attendees are encouraged to
wear clothing, hats or accessories
that represent the Roaring Twenties,
according to Parks. She said her
inspiration for this year’s event
came from her knowledge of Black
Americans’ influences during the Jazz
Age from a Northern perspective,
but she wanted to better understand
DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 • PAGE 4
what life was like for Southern Black
Americans during this time.
Georgia State University’s
award-winning jazz band will provide
entertainment for this year’s event as
they play jazz standards from Duke
Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Bix
Beiderbecke and other well-known
musicians of that era.
The program will also feature
presentations that will detail the
progress and dangers the Roaring
Twenties decade entailed for African
Americans. Dr. Dwight Andrews,
professor of music theory and
African American music at Emory
University, will discuss the impacts
of jazz during the Roaring Twenties
and historian and author Velma Fann
will discuss African-American life
and Bible Belt contradictions.
During the Roaring Twenties,
Atlanta’s Auburn Avenue was
considered the richest “Negro Street”
in America. Many Black residents
of DeKalb County shopped at the
businesses on Auburn Avenue,
visited the churches, danced to
jazz favorites at the Odd Fellows
Building’s roof garden and enjoyed
their cocktails in an era of strict
prohibition. However, many Bible
Belt politicians and conservative
community leaders blamed jazz for
some of the ills of society, including
destroying marriages and promoting
promiscuity.
Jazz is considered by many to
be the soundtrack of the Twenties
when people of all races began to
appreciate its mesmerizing sound.
According to Andrews, “Jazz
reflected an essential aspect of
African-American life and expression
that is the whole notion of a music
that is freely improvised that you
make the music whenever and
wherever you want to make it.”
DeKalb History Center’s
Black History Month celebration
will be held at the Historic
DeKalb Courthouse in downtown
Decatur Feb. 13, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
For additional information, visit
dekalbhistory.org/programs/black-
history-month-celebration/
OPINION
“Congressman John Lewis
(D-GA, 5th Congressional District),
in paying tribute to his longtime
friend Senator Johnny Isakson,
recently reminded his colleagues
in Congress that you can cross the
aisle without compromising your
values,” Georgia House Speaker
David Ralston (R-District 18),
during his remarks to the Legacy
Dinner of the Conservative Policy
Leadership Institute (CPLI) January
24 at the Capital City Club in
Atlanta.
Founded as Coverdell Policy
Institute, named for two-term U.S.
Senator and Georgia GOP pioneer
Paul Coverdell, CPLI educates and
trains future potential conservative
leaders for public service and policy
development in Georgia. Last year’s
Legacy Dinner keynote was newly
elected Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, and
this year’s remarks and lessons in
leadership were shared by his State
House peer Georgia House Speaker
David Ralston.
Ralston has led the Georgia
House now for just over a decade,
and focused his remarks on lessons
in leadership and principles he
had drawn and learned from
three outstanding and memorable
Georgians—Sen. Johnny Isakson,
governor and later U.S. Senator
Zell Miller and his father Willard
Ralston, who served as the clerk
of court for Gilmer County for 28
years.
Ralston, who was Republican
before it was “cool” in Georgia
referenced the days when folks
like Coverdell and Isakson could
combine and hold their House and
State Senate GOP Caucus meetings
together fitting inside a phone booth
on the Capitol’s fourth floor.
Ralston reminded the crowd
that leaders such as Isakson might
be hard to find today. Johnny, as he
is known to most, served Georgia
and our nation first in the National
Guard and subsequently was elected
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DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2019 • PAGE 5
Speaking of leading
principles,” even if that meant Miller Leading in hard times is
‘One Man’s did not secure his vote. challenging but leading in good
Clerk Ralston repeatedly times is no picnic. Ralston hopes
Opinion’ told his son, “If you want to be to lead the Georgia GOP caucus
principled, worry more about what not only to victory, but to regaining
BILL CRANE you do, than what folks think about several of metro area seats lost in
bill.csicrane@gmail.com you.” the shifting purple tide of the last
Fortunately, the son received election cycle. A few folks in that
that message well from his CPLI audience may be among those
to the State House, State Senate, father. Running a chamber of 180 seeking to shift those tides back.
U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well members in two parties and sub- There are few places or people
as appointed to critical positions factions too numerous to tally they might seek for better counsel,
such as chair of the State School does not work well if you seek to or even learning some shared
Board. Isakson has a public service win a popularity contest. Whether mentoring lessons from a few of the
and leadership record of 45 years, leveling the playing field for sales greats than Speaker Ralston. Hear,
echoed by simultaneous successes tax collections between brick and hear Mr. Speaker.
in the business world and private mortar merchants and the growing
sector. E-commerce sector, attempting Bill Crane also serves as a
Ralston was raised in north to honor campaign promises and political analyst and commentator
Georgia, and regardless of one’s financial commitments made for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-
political leanings in his lifetime and to Georgia educators or further AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5
home territory, it was hard to escape whittling down the tax burden on FM, as well as a columnist for The
the teachings, wit and wisdom of Georgia taxpayers, the speaker’s job Champion, DeKalb Free Press and
longtime lieutenant governor, later must continually build consensus, Georgia Trend. Crane is a DeKalb
two-term governor and U.S. Senator while being respectful and listening native and business owner, living
Zell Miller. The former college to all voices, and ultimately in Scottdale. You can reach him
history teacher and Marine was a delivering a balanced budget for or comment on a column at bill.
lifelong Democrat, though many sign-off by the State Senate and csicrane@gmail.com.
believed he switched his allegiance governor.
while supporting George W. Bush
for re-election as president in 2004.
Miller, who is perhaps the
only man to have the honor of
keynoting both the Democratic
National Convention in 1992 (while
nominating William Jefferson
Clinton for president) and later the
GOP gathering in NYC in 2004,
pointed out that national security
concerns simply trumped party
loyalty. At his funeral in Atlanta
in 2018, Miller was eulogized by
former presidents, George W. Bush,
Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.
Miller was a devout Democrat,
just as the speaker and his family
were lifelong Republicans. The
speaker’s father greatly admired
Miller, but never voted for
him. Miller, who understood that
kind of thinking and loyalty once
told the senior Ralston that he
was right about “sticking to his
Publisher: Staff Reporters:
STATEMENT FROM THE
John Hewitt Asia Ashley PUBLISHER
Jay Phillips We sincerely appreciate the
Chief Financial Officer: discussion surrounding this and any
issue of interest to DeKalb County.
Dr. Earl D. Glenn Social Media Manager: The Champion was founded in
SEND LETTERS TO EDITOR, Donna Seay 1991 expressly to provide a forum
Production Manager: for discourse for all community
The DeKalb Free Press, residents on all sides of an issue. We
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only to report news and opinions to
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 6

Road improvements start Feb. 3 at busy Brookhaven intersection

BY ASIA ASHLEY
Asia@dekalbchamp.com
Drivers in the Ashford
Dunwoody Road and
Johnson Ferry Road area of
Brookhaven should expect
traffic delays beginning
Feb. 3 as a four-month road
improvement project is
planned to start.
According to a
press release from the
city of Brookhaven, the
$500,000 project includes
improvements to the
southeast corner of the
intersection by extending
the right lane on northbound
Ashford Dunwoody Road
to create a dedicated left
turn lane and a longer left/
through/right turn lane.
New signs and pavement
markings will be installed
as needed, sidewalks will be
widened, and sidewalk gaps
will be filled along the east
side of Ashford Dunwoody
Road. The timing of the
traffic signal will be adjusted
in coordination with the
Georgia DOT. Sidewalks
will be widened, and
sidewalk gaps will be filled
along the east side of Ashford
Dunwoody Road.
“This important project
will greatly improve traffic
flow, especially from the
south end of Ashford
Dunwoody, simply by
reengineering our existing
resources in the right-of-
way, and straightening out
the right turn lane,” said
Brookhaven Public Works
Director Hari Karikaran
in the press release. “We
appreciate everyone’s
patience and understanding
as we install these necessary
upgrades.”
The release indicates
that efforts will be made
to minimize the impact to
the traffic in this area as
construction progresses. The
project work hours will be
Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7
p.m. On Saturdays, the work
hours will be from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. No construction
is planned on holidays. The
restrictive work hours, or
hours in which traffic lanes
can be closed, will be from 9
a.m. to 4 p.m.
“The city has completed
seven of the 10 short-term
projects. Now construction
by the city is underway
on the eighth short-term
project. Once completed, the
northbound traffic flow will
significantly improve through
the intersection and provide
safe passage to pedestrians
and bicyclists,” said District Part of the city of Brookhaven’s Ashford Dunwoody Road and Johnson
1 Council member Linley Ferry Road intersection improvement project includes extending the
Jones in the press release. right lane on northbound Ashford Dunwoody Road to create a dedicated
“We are making steady left turn lane and a longer left/through/right turn lane. Photo provided
progress on implementing by city of Brookhaven
the improvements originally
identified in the Ashford community input.” selected by the Brookhaven
Dunwoody Corridor Study, The contractor for the City Council after a
created with significant project, DAF Concrete, was competitive bid process.

TRAFFICKING Many sex trafficking victims

Continued From Page 1
said Tyrone Oliver, commissioner
of Georgia Department of Juvenile
Justice.
“I encourage everyone who has
kids to monitor what they’re doing
on social media,” he said. “It’s a huge
platform for them to gain access to
your children.”
Boston added that sex trafficking
victims are often themselves used to
recruit other children.
“Once they have been victimized
and brought in, they are then forced
to go out and recruit other young
people in their circle.”
Signs of sex trafficking
DeKalb County School
District social worker Gloria
Leslie said common signs school
employees and other adults should
look for in students include a
child’s unaccounted for time and
attendance, whether they’re dressed
inappropriately and their association
with older people.
“Learn who their friends really
are and what’s going on in the
community and where their child is in
relation to those things,” said Leslie.
“A lot of parents have to work in the
evenings. Know where your child is.
We also try to educate the registrar to
look for things like why is the child
with a ‘guardian?’ Where are the
parents?”
don’t see themselves as victims and
are often emotionally attached to their
perpetrators, said Mary Beth Nelson,
director of forensic sciences at the
Georgia Center for Child Advocacy.
“We think all of our sex
trafficking victims are literally
trapped in cages, but what it is is an
emotional cage… It is manipulation
and control,” said Nelson. “We see
lot of times the victims are very
connected to the person — we call
it trauma bond — that is victimizing
them though they don’t enjoy what’s
happening or their experiences. They
love the person that is profiting from
them.”
In the medical community,
there are several initiatives that are
being implemented to train medical
professionals on identifying potential
sex trafficking victims, said Dr.
Elizabeth Ford, DeKalb County
public health director.
One of them is to become
more alert to young patients who
are repeatedly treated for health
issues such as sexually transmitted
diseases or urinary tract infections.
Most victims, however, are often
taken to urgent care centers as
opposed to regular doctors’ office,
explained Ford, since urgent cares
are often busier and not as much time
is dedicated to the patient’s health
history.
“We tell the doctors if they
repeatedly see someone coming in
with UTIs or STDs, look at their
bodies, look for bruises, look for
scratches, look for tattoos,” said Ford.
“We need to start doing a full survey
with these kids that are coming in and
get them in the room by themselves.
Usually a girl that is trafficked, the
adult answers all the questions for
them.”
Some doctor’s offices have
implemented a way for victims to
discreetly indicate if they are in
danger, away from the adult who may
have taken them to the doctor.
Ford added that medical
professionals are also working on an
application that will allow doctors to
alert police officers if they feel a child
is in danger.
Successes
Victims of sex trafficking
are often discovered through
investigations, regular police
patrolling and calls from concerned
citizens, said Det. Casey Benton of
DeKalb County Police Department
(DCPD)’s Special Victims Unit and
Internet Crimes Against Children
(ICAC) unit. Victims are often found
in hotels, homes and schools.
“Just yesterday we located a girl
being sex trafficked out of her home,”
said Benton.
DCPD’s ICAC unit was
recognized by the GBI in 2019 for
rescuing more victims than any other
agency in the state.
“We rescued 19 victims last year.
Of those 19 victims, we were able to
either make arrests or have warrants
issued for 10 of the traffickers,” said
Benton.
Twenty-two arrests were made
last year of men seeking to engage in
sexual activity with minors.
“We have high hopes for this
year too,” said Benton.
Mirna Andrews, deputy chief
assistant district attorney for DeKalb
County and the court’s Crime Against
Children unit, said the unit has led
to approximately 70 guilty pleas
over the years and 16 trials in which
sex traffickers were found guilty.
Prosecutors seek the maximum
sentencing of 25 years to life in
prison after a trial is won.
In 2019, Georgia Cares — the
coordinating agency connecting
services and treatment care for child
victims of sexual exploitation and
trafficking — serviced 1,053 youth, a
33 percent increase from the previous
year, according to Shanequa Stepps,
director of programming for Georgia
Cares.
“We have had a 100 percent
success rate where [victims] have not
re-entered the life of sex trafficking,”
said Stepps.
Georgia Cares offers a 24 hour
hotline that provides information
to those who might be victims,
assistance to law enforcement on the
rescue of a victim and referrals for
victim assistance. If you or someone
you know is a victim of child sex
trafficking, call 911 or the Georgia
Cares hotline at 1-844-8GA-DMST
(842-3678).
LOCAL
AVONDALE ESTATES
Lost Druid’s solar panels. Photo provided by Lost Druid
Lost Druid going green
BY JAY PHILLIPS
Jay@dekalbchamp.com
Lost Druid Brewery in
Avondale Estates has taken
another step toward going
green after having solar
panels installed on the roof
of its brewery by the Atlanta
based firm Velo Solar.
Stacia Familo-Hopek,
co-founder and CEO of
Lost Druid, said the solar
panels are a step toward
making the brewery more
environmentally friendly.
The money saved from the
solar panels could go a long
way for Lost Druid, and the
added publicity also helps,
she said.
“There are customers
that look for businesses [that
are] good environmental
citizens,” Familo-Hopek
said. “I think that can
certainly help us attract
another customer base that
might not have known
about us. Is that the primary
driver? No. We’re doing it
because we think it’s the
right thing to do.”
Regardless of the
publicity, Familo-Hopek
said that Lost Druid, a local
brewery and restaurant that
was built from the ground
up, takes pride in being
environmentally friendly.
“One thing is it’s good
for the environment,”
Familo-Hopek said. “It’s
trying to utilize the resources
available, and the second
thing it’s good [for us]
financially. We’re a new
DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 7
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CE C E
% %
business, we’re trying to
save money where we can.”
Lost Druid is also an
electric brewery. As an
TO
electric brewery, it doesn’t
have to use gas or a boiler
and can use solar power for
many operations. Being an
electric brewery also allows
Lost Druid to use a brewing
method that repurposes
♥
♥♥
water and eliminates some
of the wastewater created.
“We are using more ♥ ♥
electricity than some
breweries, but we’re using
OFF OUR LOWEST TICKETED PRICES!
SELECTED COSMETICS, FRAGRANCES AND BRANDS EXCLUDED
less gas,” Familo-Hopek
said. “So, it’s kind of a
tradeoff, and if we can
utilize the sun to power that
[electricity] versus using the
♥♥ JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINES!
ESS! ♥
50 20
THIS WEEKEND ONLY ... ALL FINE JEWELRY
♥
power grid, all the better for
% %
us…We’re just trying to take
on whatever initiatives are FIRST THEN
TAKE AN
feasible for us and that make TAKE OFF EXTRA O F!
OFF
OFF!
sense.”
Familo-Hopek said
EVERYTHING MUST GO!
that Lost Druid hopes to
get about 15 percent of
it electricity via the solar
panels, and the solar panels
HURRY! TAKE ADVANTAGE WHILE YOU STILL CAN!
could reduce the Lost
Druid’s carbon footprint FIXTURES FOR SALE! See Store For Details.
by 42 metric tons of CO2
each year, according to
BrewBound. ONLY AT OUR DECATUR LOCATION!
Lost Druid also is
giving its spent grain to
farmers, so it doesn’t go SOUTH DEKALB MALL
directly to landfills. 2731 CANDLER RD (404) 243-2611
Lost Druid has been
MON, TUE & WED 10AM-8PM, THU 10-9PM, FRI & SAT 10AM-10PM, SUN 12-7PM
keeping the environment
in mind since the brewery
was built, according to ALL SALES FINAL.
management. They used
EXCLUDES PRIOR SALES. “ORIGINAL” & “REGULAR” PRICES ARE OFFERING PRICES THAT MAY NOT HAVE RESULTED IN SALES, AND INTERMEDIATE MARKDOWNS
equipment and material that MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN. ACTUAL SAVINGS MAY EXCEED STATED PERCENTAGE OFF. OFFERS VALID AT THIS LOCATION ONLY. AS OF 1/13/2020 ALL SALES
made conserving energy ARE FINAL, NO RETURNS, NO ADJUSTMENTS. FOR MERCHANDISE SOLD PRIOR TO 1/13/2020, RETURNS WILL BE ACCEPTED WITH PROOF OF PURCHASE
THROUGH 2/12/2020. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS SALE, WE CAN NO LONGER HONOR COUPONS, MALL CERTIFICATES OR ADVERTISED PRICES OFFERED
and reusing resources such
AT OTHER MACY’S STORES OR MACYS.COM. THE RUG DEPARTMENT IS A LEASED DEPARTMENT AND DISCOUNTS MAY VARY FROM STOREWIDE DISCOUNTS.
SEE GREEN ON PAGE 11 SELECTED VENDORS, COSMETICS AND FRAGRANCES ARE EXCLUDED FROM SALE PRICES.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 8

COUNTYWIDE

DeKalb launches survey to study blighted properties

The DeKalb County Community
Development Department is surveying
unincorporated areas of the county to
eradicate blight and revitalize properties.
The county has begun collecting data for the
Comprehensive Property Conditions Survey,
which will provide a detailed inventory of
property conditions within unincorporated
DeKalb.
“The survey is an additional tool to
revitalize DeKalb,” said DeKalb County
CEO Michael Thurmond in a press release
from the county. “The data collected from
the survey will help to create an interactive
database that will track and record blighted
properties in the county.”
Data collection, including street-level
photos, will be conducted by Cyclomedia
Technologies Inc.
The survey will include the condition
and characteristics of nearly 140,000 parcels
within unincorporated DeKalb, including
pictures and occupancy status. Anticipated to
be completed by June 2020, the final survey
results will be used to develop a long-term
intervention strategy for blight removal.
Since January 2017, county blight
fighting initiatives to address derelict
properties within the county have included
demolishing or abating more than 420
properties, according to the press release.
Additionally, the county has focused on litter
removal, illegal dumping, grass mowing,
curb bumping, and removing debris, trash and
grass from county streets, sidewalks, roadway
drains and rights of way through Operation
Clean Sweep.
The Comprehensive Property Conditions
Survey was approved by the DeKalb County
Board of Commissioners on Dec. 17, 2019.
File photo

New design firm aims to create messages that are ‘bold, clear and resonate’
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
Owners of businesses,
large and small, work to
distinguish their enterprise
from others offering
similar goods and services.
Resonant Pixel Company,
LLC, which launched in
Tucker earlier this month,
was created to help other
businesses stand out in the
marketplace.
“I’ve worked in
marketing and design more
than 20 years,” said Wayne
Pelletier, principal and
creative director of Resonant
Pixel. “I’ve seen what works
and what doesn’t work, and
I feel we’re able to offer
an innovative approach to
graphic and web design
to help marketers and
brands generate strategic
communication systems that
resonate across all marketing
channels.”
Pelletier said as he
worked in the marketing
industry, he saw a gap in
Wayne Pelletier
available services that a
company such as his could
close. “I founded Resonate
Pixel to help businesses pull
it all together. Consumers
are constantly bombarded
by messages from friends,
influencers and brands. Our
lives, both online and off,
have become filled with
noise. It’s harder than ever
for a brand to stand out.
We’re here to help marketers
be bold, clear and resonate—
to hit the mark and drive
engagement. We are highly
knowledgeable of the ways
today’s consumers receive
and respond to information.”
Pelletier, founder
of Resonant Pixel, is at
present the company’s only
fulltime employee. “I have
professional relationships
with experts in every area
from graphic design to
copywriting to social media.
My associates are located
across the country and even
outside the U.S.; we have
associates in the United
Kingdom, for example. I
met and worked with these
people during my years as a
freelancer. I know that I can
offer my clients top-notch,
world-class talent.”
He explained that he
starts by talking to clients
about their company’s
vision and goals. “Then
I help guide them to an
approach I feel will work for
them,” Pelletier continued.
“Marketing, when done
correctly, can give a
business a big return on its
investment. That’s what
we’re looking to help them
do.”
With today’s
technology, specialists
can work together on a
project even though they
are thousands of miles
from one another, he
noted, adding that when he
needs local services such
as audio engineering, the
Atlanta area has some of
the best. “Resonant Pixel
is about bringing teams
together to improve market
responsiveness and solve
challenging marketing
problems,” according to
Pelletier.
He described Resonant
Pixel’s structure as a
“flexible staffing model”
that saves money for the
company and its clients.
“I don’t need a big fancy
office or to keep people on
payroll who might not have
a current project with me.
They are all free to work
with other clients as they
complete projects with me—
so it works out well.”
In explaining how
he chose the company’s
name, Pelletier compared
successful marketing to
playing music. “Resonant
Pixel blends two concepts.
When hit, a drum resonates
sound,” he said. “Design
and marketing are similar
to a percussion instrument.
If you broadcast your
signal in a frequency that
truly resonates, people
will continue to tune in. In
digital marketing, pixels are
the smallest unit in which
design prices are measured.
Each pixel must resonate
with the audience to break
through the noise and foster
engagement.”
Pelletier said he is
especially pleased that he
can operate his business in
Tucker, a city he and his
wife have grown to love.
“We love this area. Tucker
is a unique city that’s
becoming better all the time.
Aside from being supportive
of business, Tucker has
a charm that makes it a
pleasure to live and work
here. My wife called the
downtown area ‘super cute,’
and I agree with her,” he
said.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER

LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 9

WEEK in PICTURES... As seen on DCTV

On January 20, the NAACP DeKalb County branch held their 18th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade.

DeKalb County’s District Attorney, Sherry Boston held her inaugural Human Trafficking Forum and Resource Fair, “Towards the Light: A 20/20 View of Domestic Sex Trafficking,” in honor of
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

23
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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 10

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LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 11

DUNWOODY
Dunwoody, DeKalb County
continue sustainability efforts
BY JAY PHILLIPS
Jay@dekalbchamp.com
City of Dunwoody was
upgraded to the Gold Level
under the Atlanta Regional
Commission’s (ARC) Green
Communities Program. This
recognition demonstrates
Dunwoody’s commitment to
environmental stewardship,
according to the city.
Dunwoody listed certain
initiatives the city took to
get to the gold level, such
as installing a bioswale at
Dunwoody Nature Center
to handle stormwater runoff
and educate residents about
the function and purpose
of green infrastructure,
supporting the city’s
resident-led Sustainability
Committee in implementing
its Sustainability Plan and
providing monthly meeting
space, installing bike racks
at 18 community and school
properties across the city
and developing Dunwoody
Green.
According to ARC’s
Sustainability Coordinator
with the Natural Resources
Group Kelsey Waidhas,
Dunwoody stands out thanks
to its recycling and waste
management options. Not
only does the city offer
traditional recycling options,
but it also offers recycling
for items such as batteries
and cell phones.
According to Dunwoody
Community Development
Director Richard McLeod,
many of these initiatives Dunwoody accepts their gold level certification from ARC. From left to right: Doug Hooker, Executive Director
have made the city more Atlanta Regional Commission Jason Metzger, Sustainability Committee Member Daniel Gaddis, Planner City of
sustainable, have cut costs Dunwoody Rebecca Keefer, Senior Planner City of Chamblee and former Sustainability Director Michael Cowan,
and have set the city apart as Chair Sustainability Committee Kelsey Waidhas, Water Resources Planner & Sustainability Coordinator Atlanta
a leader. Regional Commission Kerry Armstrong, Atlanta Regional Commission Board Chairman. Photo provided by the
“Other communities can city of Dunwoody.
follow us,” McLeod said.
“We are very proud of our
environmental stewardship.”
category,” said Waidhas. around and jumped up to our Cities in DeKalb
There is still room for
“It’s kind of like a pick your highest level, and they’ve County and the county have
improvement for Dunwoody.
own adventure.” maintained that ever since.” been pushing in the same
Even though the city has
City of Decatur already Decatur isn’t the only direction.
reached the gold level, it has
reached the platinum level other city in the county “DeKalb County is
a chance to take the next step
and has maintained it ever making strides with ARC, certified on the silver level,”
and get to platinum. On top
since. as Chamblee and others are Waidhas said.
of that, cities must do certain
“DeKalb County has close behind. ARC is open to new
things to maintain their level
a lot of cities that are great “Chamblee is one of entries from all over the
or they will be dropped back
representatives in our our newest entries into the Atlanta metro area and is
down.
program,” Waidhas said. program, and they’re a focused on helping cities
“[Dunwoody has]
“Decatur immediately got really strong contender,” become more sustainable,
opportunities to improve in
certified in 2009…when we Waidhas said. “They’re on according to Waidhas.
our transportation category
started the program…and the gold level along with
and our water efficiency
in 2010 [Decatur] turned Dunwoody.”

Violence prevention event set for National Gun Violence Survivors Week GREEN
Feb. 1 declared prevention of violence awareness day in Georgia Continued From Page 7

BY JAY PHILLIPS
Jay@dekalbchamp.com
A free event for youths, teens,
parents and the community geared
toward preventing violence in the
community and its schools is scheduled
for the Stonecrest Library Feb. 1. and
will feature Stonecrest Mayor Jason
Lary as a guest speaker.
Sharmaine Brown, a community
leader and the founder of the nonprofit
Jared’s Heart of Success, Inc is
organizing the event, and is holding
the event on Feb. 1 due to the date’s
significance in Georgia.
“I received a proclamation from
the governor proclaiming, Feb. 1 as
‘Prevention of Violence Awareness
Day,’ in Georgia, in honor of all victims
affected by violence,” said Brown.
Governor Brian Kemp issued the
proclamation stating, “The safety and
well-being of Georgia’s children is of
critical importance on the local and
national levels and especially in our
schools and communities.”
The first week of February also
holds significance as National Gun
Violence Survivors Week.
The event is important to Brown,
because she has been personally
impacted by gun violence.
“I lost my son Jared to senseless
gun violence and I continue to advocate
on behalf of everyone,” said Brown.
Brown has been in DeKalb County
for 30 years, and she said that has been
motivated to work toward preventing
a similar tragedy from happening to
others ever since her son was killed
through the creation of Jared’s Heart of
Success in 2016.
Now, Jared’s Heart of Success, Inc.
will partner with the Stonecrest mayor’s
office to spread awareness and educate
the community.
The youth will be expressing their
talent through mediums like art, dance
and song at the event, said Brown.
“Our overall goal is to bring
awareness to the violence going on in
the community and to educate everyone
about it,” Brown said. “We also want to
give positive ways to help.”
Lary will give greetings at the
event and Major Kenrich Banks of the
DeKalb County Police Department’s
Lithonia precinct will be the keynote
speaker.
This will be the first event of the
sort put on by Jared’s Heart of Success,
but Brown said she wants to do it
annually.
“We want to welcome people in
the community to come out and support
the event,” Brown said. “If there are
survivors, we’d love them to come out.”
The event will be held at the
Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Rd,
Lithonia, Georgia, Feb. 1 from 1:15-
3:15 p.m.
as water, easier. The solar
panels were the next step in
that direction. The brewery
doesn’t have any plans for
their next environmental
project, but it does have
plans to expand the business.
Familo-Hopek said Lost
Druid hopes to do to-go
packaging, such as single
serving canned beers and
possibly distribute to some
restaurants in the near future.
“It takes people a little
longer to find us because
we aren’t on store shelves,”
Familo-Hopek said. “So,
doing something like [going
solar] and being able to get
some awareness out about it
might help draw people in.”
EDUCATION DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 12

COUNTYWIDE

GPS tracking system approved for DeKalb County school buses

BY ASIA ASHLEY
Asia@dekalbchamp.com
Students and parents
will soon be able to track
the location of school
buses as DeKalb County
Board of Education
approved the purchase of
a bus GPS system at their
Jan. 13 meeting.
The $4.7 million
investment over a five-
year period, awarded
to Education Logistics,
LLC, will include labor,
materials, equipment
and implementation
File photo
for a GPS Technology
Solution System that will
allow students, parents
and school transportation
systems to view and track
the real-time location of
their buses. The system
also will include a parent
notification system,
through the EDULOG’s
Parent Portal Lite phone
app, that sends push alerts
when their child checks in
and off the bus.
In addition, the
system will allow for
more efficient routing
and planning that allow
deterrence from hazard
zones to help bus drivers
route around busy streets
and dangerous areas.
The GPS system
is scheduled for
implementation beginning
February 2020 through
May 2020, according to a
district spokesperson.
The initial cost
of installation and
implementation is an
estimated $1.5 million
for the first year, and then
an annual cost of nearly
$800,000 during the
remainder of the five year
period. The yearly cost
will be funded from the
school district’s general
fund, while the initial
payment will be funded
through the district’s
E-SPLOST 5 technology
budget.

COUNTYWIDE

DCSD plans second annual

student film festival
BY JAY PHILLIPS
Jay@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School
District will hold its second
annual DCSD Student Film
Festival Feb. 19 at 6 p.m.
at the AMC North DeKalb
Theater in Decatur.
Last year’s film
festival—which came
about through a partnership
between DCSD’s Career,
Technical & Agricultural
Education Department,
DeKalb Entertainment
Commission, Imagine ATL,
and the Southeast Emmy
Awards—featured more
than 30 short films from
13 DCSD high schools and
Tucker Middle School.
Entries were evaluated by
judges from the Georgia
Film Academy, the Screen
Actors Guild, and other
industry leaders, according
to DCSD.
DCSD listed DeKalb
School of the Arts as the
winner of the Overall Award
in all three categories last
year, and the Audience’s
Choice Award in the
Advanced Category for
the school’s three films,
Invisible (Beginner), Blind
Spot (Intermediate), and
Locked Out (Advanced).
Lakeside High School
won Audience’s Choice
Awards for the submissions
of Joust (Beginner), and
Sciophobia (Intermediate).
Arts, AV/Technology
and Communications is
one of 17 career clusters
offered by the DCSD
CTAE Department and
allows students to tailor
part of their educations
toward a possible career
path, according to DCSD.
It also allows the county
and schools to put together Three of last year’s winner with their awards from the DCSD Student Film Festival. Photo provided by DCSD.
events such as the DCSD
Film Festival.
Last year, winners from opportunities, according to World Turns, One Life to Cedar Grove, Chamblee
each category received DCSD. Live, As the World Turns, Charter, Columbia, DeKalb
invitations to the Student This year’s judges Your Worst Nightmare, High School of Technology
Production Awards hosted haven’t been announced, Dead Silent, Prisoners, South, DeKalb School
by the Southeast Emmy but the county said last 42, American Made, Baby of the Arts, Dunwoody,
Awards in June 2019. All year’s judges included Driver, The Walking Dead, Lakeside, Miller Grove,
attending students were film, television and theatre Atlanta, Sleepy Hollow, Martin Luther King, Jr.,
advised to enter their films professionals from such Dawson’s Creek, One Tree McNair, Southwest DeKalb,
into the organization’s projects as The Accountant, Hill. Stephenson, Towers, and
own film festival for House of Pain, Drop Dead This year’s Tucker high schools.
opportunities that include Diva, The Vampire Diaries, participating schools
scholarships and job Sex and the City, As the include Arabia Mountain,
BUSINESS DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 13

CHAMBLEE

Photos by Gale Horton Gay

Chamblee Tucker Road Kroger closing

New expanded grocery store to be rebuilt
BY GALE HORTON GAY
FREELANCE REPORTER
A new and expanded Kroger
store is coming to Embry Hills.
But before it opens, neighbors will
have to do without a local Kroger
while the existing store closes, is
demolished and a new store built.
The Kroger at 3559 Chamblee
Tucker Road in Atlanta is expected
to close sometime in February and
the new store finished and opened
during the third quarter of 2020,
according to a Kroger official.
The 18-year-old store is
currently 55,696 square feet and the
new store is expected to be twice the
size—113,531 square feet, according
to Felix B. Turner, Kroger’s
corporate affairs manager. It also
will have expanded parking.
“Kroger is building a larger
store with more offerings to suit the
unique needs of our customers in the
surrounding trade area,” said Turner
via email. “The new store will
include an expanded natural foods
and organic assortment of products,
extensive prepared foods, grocery
pickup online option and several
other amenities to offer even more
choices and convenience for our
loyal customers.”
Work already has begun on the
land adjacent to the existing store
with the site fenced off with laborers
and construction equipment present.
However, the change is not
sitting well with all customers.
Travis Allen has lived at the
Henderson Mill Condominiums on
Henderson Mill Road around the
corner from the store since 1996.
He said he has been
disappointed in the lack of
communication between Kroger
corporate and customers such as
himself.
Allen, who used to walk to
the Chamblee Tucker Road Kroger
twice a week before he had foot
surgery in December, said he learned
of the closing in “bits and pieces.”
He said he doesn’t understand why
the store’s management, which has
contact information for its Kroger
Plus customers, didn’t share details
of what’s happening.
“They could have
communicated to us through the
Kroger Plus program,” Allen said.
“They have all our information. I am
one of their best customers. I feel
sad but then again I don’t know what
they are really doing to the store.”
Allen said that in the meantime
if he wants to shop at the Kroger
on LaVista Road or the Publix in
Briarcliff Village Shopping Center
across from Northlake Mall, he’ll
have to take one or two buses to get
there.
He said an alternative is using
one of the grocery stores’ shopping
services, which include annual or
delivery fees as well as optional
tips, and he added that through those
services prices on some grocery
items are higher and many coupons
are restricted.
Kroger officials said provisions
are being arranged for employees,.
“All 119 associates will be
considered for reassignment to other
Kroger locations as outlined in the
company’s collective bargaining
agreement,” said Turner. “The
new staffing model calls for
approximately 250 associates.”
Customers who have
prescriptions at the current
Embry Hills store can have their
prescriptions filled at any other
Kroger store, Turner said.
The two closest Kroger
locations are in Tucker at 3959-
A Lavista Road and 4357
Lawrenceville Highway.
The store has been discounting
some merchandise in preparation
of the closing. A banner outside the
store states that 50 percent discounts
are being offered on select items
related to the closing.

PET of the WEEK- YUKON

Yukon (ID# 43503859) is a one-year-old girl who is quickly becoming a staff and volunteer
favorite because of her gentle and loving demeanor. She is easy to walk on leash and really enjoys
people. Yukon is quick to warm up and smother you with kisses. Meet Yukon today.

If you would like to expand your family by 4 furry little feet; ask to meet Yukon and have a loving
friend forever. “RING IN THE ROARING 20s” $20 adoptions for all dogs over 25 lbs. and all
cats this January! All adoptions include your new pet's spay or neuter, vaccinations, microchip and
more! For more information about Yukon please call (404) 294-2165 or email adoption@dekalb-
animalservices.com. All potential adopters will be screened to ensure Yukon goes to a good home.
LOCAL DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 14

AROUNDDEKALB
AVONDALE
visit the Brookhaven Library or conversation on teen mental health. 2020 Election. There will be voter
https://events.dekalblibrary.org/ During this public forum, mental registration and demonstrations

ESTATES event/3351489 health leaders and providers will

DeKalb School of the Arts Black
History Theater presents “USS
Smalls”
DeKalb School of the Arts
will perform “USS Smalls,” which
follows the life of Robert Smalls, a
deckhand slave for the Confederates.
The play was written by the school’s
writing students and is directed by
Dr. Shana Hunt-Martin. The play
will be performed at DeKalb School
of the Arts, 1192 Clarendon Ave., on
Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased
online at brownpapertickets.com/
event/4501155.
COUNTYWIDE
Father-daughter event offers night
of dancing
DeKalb County Department of
Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs
is hosting its 5th Annual Father
Daughter Dance on Feb. 5 from
6:30 to 9 p.m. at Callanwolde Fine
Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Road
Northeast in Atlanta. This event
offers fathers and their daughter|s|
a night of dancing, refreshments
and memories. Tickets are $15 per
couple and $5 for each additional
daughter. Tickets can be purchased
conduct a Q&A session and share
information on valuable resources.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m.
on Jan. 30 at Porter Sanford III
Performing Arts & Community
Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive.
Jacobson Violin Studio to host
children’s concert
Students of the Jacobson Violin
Studio will perform under the
direction of Gloria Jacobson and
Leah Jacobson. Students are taught
via the Suzuki Method and the
repertoire includes light classical,
folk and fiddle songs. The concert
will be held Feb. 1 at the Decatur
Library, 215 Sycamore St. and
begins at 4 p.m.
on how to correctly use the voting
machines properly. The townhall
will begin at 6 p.m. at Porter
Sanford III Performing Arts &
Community Center, 3181 Rainbow
Drive.
LITHONIA
AWARE tours offered at Arabia
Mountain
The Atlanta Wild Animal
Rescue Effort, an organization that
rehabilitates injured and orphaned
wildlife, offers free tours every
Saturday and Sunday, including on
Feb. 8. Park goers will meet some
of the animals that AWARE helps

BROOKHAVEN
Guess the president activity
offered at library
Throughout the month of
February, Brookhaven Library
will be providing clues to visitors
to see if they can guess who each
United States president is based on
limited clues. For more information,
online at dekalbffd.eventbrite.com.
DECATUR
Teen mental illness to be discussed
at forum
Join the Fulton-DeKalb
Hospital Authority and DeKalb
County District 3 Commissioner
Larry Johnson, for a community
DeKalb commissioner to host
voting townhall
DeKalb County District 7
Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-
Johnson will host a voting townhall
Feb. 5 where information will
be shared regarding Georgia’s
new voting machines and what
an individual’s vote means in the
and learn about their habitats. To
attend, park in the public parking
area at 4158 Klondike Road and
then walk through the AWARE
gate. No registration is required.
For more information, visit: http://
arabiaalliance.org/event/aware_
tour/2020-02-08/

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SPORTS DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 15

2020 DCSD middle school basketball championships underway

FOOTBALL on the defending champion
BY MARK BROCK

DeKalb alum plays in Senior Bowl

Stephenson Jaguars (3-10)
Tournament action started who made the tournament at
at various schools Jan. 29 the No. 3 wildcard.
in the 2020 DeKalb County In other girls single
BY JAY PHILLIPS on South Carolina’s all-time games, Region 1 No. 2
list. He was a four-time School District Middle School
Jay@dekalbchamp.com Basketball Championships. seed Tucker gets a home
SEC Defensive Player date against Region 3 No. 3
or Lineman of the Week Middle schools hosting
Stephenson High games include Chapel Hill, Redan (6-7), Region 2 champ
selection, a two-time team Stephenson (9-4) hosts No.
School alum DJ Wonnum Chamblee, Champion,
captain and one of just 1 wildcard entry Salem (5-
was one of 14 players with Stone Mountain, Tucker and
three sophomores who was 8), Region 3 No. 2 Freedom
Georgia connections, and Columbia High School.
named a permanent team (8-5) faces Region 1 No. 3
the only player from DeKalb Girls’ play started at 5
captain in South Carolina Henderson (6-7) and No.
County, who played in the p.m. at all sites including
history, according to 2 wildcard Peachtree (5-8)
2020 Senior Bowl at Ladd- undefeated and Region 4
GamecocksOnline. travels to Region 3 champ
Peebles Stadium in Mobile, champion Chapel Hill (13-0),
As a senior at Lithonia (11-2).
Alabama Jan. 25. will host No. 4 wildcard Cedar
Stephenson, Wonnum was Five single boys’ games
Wonnum impressed Grove (2-11). Chapel Hill
listed as the No. 77 weakside started at 5 p.m. Jan. 29,
scouts with his practice went undefeated on the way
DJ Wonnum defensive end in the country topped by Region 3 champ
and weight room sessions, to the 2018 title and is looking
and the No. 115 player and 2019 tournament runner-
according to John Whittle for its second title in three
2019 All-SEC honorable in Georgia by 247Sports’ up Salem (11-2) hosting No. 2
of The Big Spur, and years.
mention, 2019 comeback composite recruiting wildcard Chapel Hill (4-9).
Wonnum’s time at the Senior Chamblee (12-1) which
player of the year, multiple rankings. Four No. 2 seeds will also
Bowl earned him a visit with tied Tucker (12-1) for the
SEC defensive player of According to host games, including Region
the Philadelphia Eagles, Region 1 title won the coin
the week awards, multiple GamecocksOnline, Wonnum 1 No. 2 seed Peachtree taking
according to Logan Banker, toss to get the No. 1 seed and
SEC academic honor roll was named to the All-Region on Region 3 No. 3 Redan
who independently covers hosted No. 3 wildcard Miller
recognitions, and appeared team for Class 6 – 5A as a (8-5). Redan is coming off
the Eagles. Grove (4-9) at 5 p.m.
on Athlon Sports’ second senior at Stephenson after an upset of Region 3 champ
Wonnum totaled 137 Champion is also
team All-SEC freshmen collecting 38 tackles, 11 Salem.
tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss hosting a double-header as
team. tackles for loss and 2.5 Region 3 No. 2 seed
and 14 sacks during his four the defending girls’ champs
As a senior at South sacks. Miller Grove (9-4) entertains
years at South Carolina. entertain McNair (6-7) at 5 pm
Carolina, Wonnum was The NFL coaching Region 1 No. 3 seed
The Stephenson alum following by the Champion
selected to the Associated staffs from the Lions’ and Henderson (5-8), Region 4 No.
played in 41 games for the boys’ (12-1) squad tipping off
Press’ All-SEC second team Bengals’ teams coached the 2 Bethune (9-4) faces Region
Gamecocks after playing in at 6:15 pm against the No. 4
after finishing the season two Senior Bowl teams, and 2 No. 3 seed Druid Hills (9-
all 14 of South Carolina’s wildcard Tucker (2-11).
with 37 tackles, including the Lions’ team won 34-17. 4) and Region 2 No. 2 Stone
games as a freshman. Another doubleheader
9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 The NFL Draft will be Mountain (9-4) has Region 4
While at South Carolina tipped at 5 p.m. at Columbia
sacks. held April 23 in Nevada, No. 3 Cedar Grove coming in
Wonnum accumulated High School with the girls’
Wonnum recorded and Wonnum will be one of to play.
many awards and honors, hosting Region 2 No. 3 seed
29.5 career tackles for loss the players available to be *Results were unavailable
including 2019 team captain, Druid Hills (7-6) followed at
ranks which ranked ninth drafted. at press time.*
6:15 by the boys’ team taking

BASKETBALL
DeKalb coaches hit milestone
Tucker boys basketball coach James Hartry and Southwest
DeKalb girls basketball coach Kathy Walton have both reached
400 career wins since December 2019.
Hartry reached 400 wins with a 69-68 road win over Morrow
on Jan. 21. As Tucker’s head coach, he is 400-179 (20-3 this
season) in 20 seasons and won a Class 4A state championship in
2007.
Walton, whose team is 16-6 and undefeated in region play,
picked up her 400th win Dec. 13 against Chamblee. She is second
all time in wins for DeKalb County, according to the county, and
has won five state championships.
Walton’s state championships at Southwest DeKalb came
when she won three straight state championships in 2008, 2009
and 2010, with the others coming in 2013 and 2016. James Hartry and Kathy Walton have both picked up their 400th career win this season. File photos

THIS WEEK IN SPORTS:

Boys – Southwest DeKalb beat Miller
Grove 51-49. Zyair Greene – 15 points,
Tyreik Boyd – 14 points. Eugene Brown
– 19 points, 10 rebounds, Chandler
Sanders had 18 points.
Girls – Southwest DeKalb defeats Miller
Grove 56-29. Southwest DeKalb: Jayla
Kimbrough 19 points, 6 rebounds.
Taylor Christmas added 8 points and
8 rebounds, Adrieanna Brownlee
contributed 7 points and 7 rebounds
and Destiny Remy pulled down a
game-high 12 rebounds. Miller Grove:
Jalina Robinson 14 points while Maya
Berry finished with 7 points and six
rebounds. Jaylen Clark had a team-high
8 rebounds.
Middle school boys – Champion
defeated Salem, the last undefeated
team in the county, 56-49.
Middle school tournaments start Jan. 29
at locations around the county. (check
sports for more details)
SPORTS
BASKETBALL
Raheem Swain dunking on a fast break.
Columbia girls survive double overtime
BY JAY PHILLIPS
Jay@dekalbchamp.com
Columbia’s girls’ basketball
team beat Lithonia 52-47 in a double
overtime thriller in Lithonia Jan. 24,
while Lithonia’s top ranked boys’
team powered through Columbia
68-39.
Lithonia looked to be in control
of the girls’ game heading into the
final quarter of regulation, after
Laila Williams led the Bulldogs to a
22-point third quarter.
Williams shook a defender
midway through the third quarter,
and then drained a three to give the
Bulldogs a two-point lead.
Williams then picked up an
assist to Alivia Mathis on the next
possession before Zaryana Mitchell
Diamond Jones shooting a free
throw.
Diamonds Jones following through on a three
pointer.
extended the Bulldogs’ lead to six
points with a basket of her own
moments later.
The third quarter ended the
same way Lithonia’s run started,
with another three from Williams,
and the Bulldogs held a 38-33 lead
heading into the fourth quarter.
However, Columbia fought
back to get the game within one
point with 1:47 left. India Terrell
then converted an and-one for the
Eagles to tie the game and send it to
overtime.
Both overtime periods saw
Columbia shut down Lithonia’s
offense. At the end of regulation
play, the teams were tied at 45, and
Columbia would only give up two
points to Lithonia in the following
eight minutes of overtime play.
DEKALB FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2020 • PAGE 16
Elise Harden leading Columbia on a fast break. Photos by Jay Phillips
Franklin Champion shooting a
free throw.
Terrell finished with a game-
high 19 points and had nine
rebounds for Columbia. Daija Carr
scored 17 points and Elise Harden
grabbed 15 rebounds. Williams had
a team high 14 points for Lithonia,
while Mitchell added 11 points.
Mathis had 12 rebounds while
Diamond Jones added 11 for the
Bulldogs.
The boys’ game was controlled
by Lithonia (22-1, 10-0) from
start to finish, especially with the
Bulldogs back at full strength with
Eric Gaines returning from injury.
Even though Gaines was back in
action, it was Franklin Champion
who led the charge for Lithonia
against Columbia.
Columbia (13-8, 6-4) got
within striking distance when
Eric Gaines waiting to defend Devin
Longstreet.
Devin Longstreet sparked an 11-2
run for the Eagles. That run ended
after Nigel Emile made a three and
Lorenzo Wilkerson scored on an
offensive rebound, cutting the lead
to 30-21, but that would be as close
as Columbia would get to Lithonia.
Champion scored nine points
in the first five minutes of the
second half to help turn Columbia’s
14-point half time lead into a
23-point lead heading into the fourth
quarter.
Champion finished the night
with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-
double, while Gaines added 13
points and Raheem Swain finished
with 12 points.
Longstreet led the way for
Columbia and finished the game
with 12 points.