Freepress 06-20-14

by Daniel Beauregard
[email protected]
D
eKalb County Sherif Jef Mann
and former CEO Vernon Jones
face each other in a runof elec-
tion July 22. In the primary elections in
May, Mann received approximately 39
percent of the overall vote with Jones
trailing at approximately 22 percent.
Mann has worked for the DeKalb Coun-
ty Sherif’s Of ce for more than 14 years
and replaced outgoing Sherif Tomas
Brown, who lef to run for Congress.
Jones served as DeKalb County CEO
from 2001-09 and prior to that served
in the Georgia House of Representatives
from 1993-2001.
For Te Champion’s question and an-
swer article, both candidates were asked
to limit their responses to 50 words or
the responses would be cut afer they
passed the 50-word mark.
What qualifcations do you have that
makes you the best choice to run the
DeKalb County Sherif’s Of ce?
Mann: I have worked within the DeKalb
County government for more than 20
years, creating and maintaining good
working relationships with the Board of
Commissioners, constitutional of cers,
to include judges, as well as county de-
partment heads. Tis experience gives
me a level of insight on how to work
with the judicial…
Jones: I love DeKalb County, and I
love the people who live here. We are a
diverse and faithful community, full of
resilience and the perseverance to over-
come the many challenges laid before us
over the years. As CEO, I led our county
through the largest economic expansion
in our nearly…
What lessons did you learn through-
out this campaign?
Mann: Voters are sincerely interested in
understanding the relative roles of the
Sherif’s Of ce and the police depart-
ment, and when discussed, appreci-
ate the cooperation between the two
agencies but understand duplication of
services is not in the best interest of the
county. Conduct yourself as the chief
law enforcement of cer of…
Jones: I have been impressed by the
grassroots eforts of neighborhood
groups and the faith-based community
banding together to stop crime in their
championnewspaper championnewspaper champnewspaper championnews
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We’re Social
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014 • VOL. 17, NO. 13 • FREE
• A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS • Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain.
FREEPRESS
Sutton: ‘I am good with everything I’ve done’
A Q&A with DeKalb County sherif candidates
A runoff election will be held July 22 between DeKalb County Sheriff Jeff Mann and former
DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones. Photos by Travis Hudgons
See Q&A on page 15A
See P-card on page 15A
Business ........................17A
Classifed .......................20A
Education .............. 18-19A
Sports ...................... 21-23A
QUICK FINDER
LOCAL, 6A
SOUTH DEKALB
YMCA VOTE
DELAYED
LOCAL, 11A
LOCAL, 14A
DORAVILLE
NEIGHBORHOOD GETS
HISTORIC STATUS
FORMER
COUNTY POLICE
CHIEF DIES
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.
com
“There has been no mis-
use, no overspending.”
That’s what DeKalb
County Commissioner Sha-
ron Barnes Sutton told The
Champion on June 16 about
the handling of her budget,
which was $274,400 for 2013
and is $262,800 for 2014.
“You can sensationalize the
spending if you don’t look at
all of the numbers.”
As the FBI and the coun-
ty ethics board are looking
into how DeKalb County
commissioners handle their
budgets and county purchas-
ing cards (P-cards), Sutton
said she has been fiscally
responsible.
Sutton admitted that
“there have been some re-
ceipts that have been lost,”
but added she now has a
plan in place to better save
receipts and to record them
much sooner.
One of the receipts that
were missing when The
Champion filed an Open
Records Request was for a
$239.97 purchase from Bed,
Bath & Beyond in September
2013. Sutton’s P-Card log
lists the purchase as a chair,
but Sutton said, “I don’t
know what chair that was.
That’s a typo. I don’t know.”
Sutton recollected that
she purchased a fan, office
supplies and air freshener
from the store for her office.
On Sept. 3, 2013, she also
spent $1,465 at Office Depot
to set up her home office.
Although no receipt was
provided to The Champion,
Sutton said she purchased
furniture, including a desk,
printer table and side table.
“I was setting up my
home office after all these
years,” said Sutton, who
began serving as a com-
missioner in 2009. “I was
supposed to do that my first
year, but I was using my own
equipment. It was so old that
it wouldn’t support today’s
technology and software, so
I…set up my home office.”
Since commissioners’ P-
card usage has been under
the public microscope, Sut-
ton said she has learned that
the county needs to “have
Sutton
‘I was setting up my home
offi ce after all these years.’
–Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 2A
LOCAL NEWS
Explore GPC this
summer and fall.
Learn more at gpc.edu
A BETTER WAY FORWARD
Did you know there is still time to apply and/or register for
second-half summer and fall classes? Maybe you’re already
taking a summer class at GPC and want to continue. Perhaps
you’ve been accepted recently and haven’t yet enrolled, or
you’re thinking about applying. Visit our website to see how
you can jump-start your educational journey.
TheChampionAd.indd 1 6/9/14 12:52 PM
See Sanitation on page 14A
by Lauren Ramsdell
[email protected]
A countywide pilot pro-
gram has been launched to
ease traffic and streamline
waste collection in DeKalb.
The county sanitation
department is experiment-
ing with single-stream col-
lection of recyclables and
reducing pickup service–for
all waste–to once per week.
This is in contrast to the
current system where gar-
bage is collected twice per
week and recycling and yard
waste collected another day.
“That is more than most
places have,” said Burke
Brennan, the chief commu-
nications officer for DeKalb.
“And, we have not had a rate
increase since 2004.”
Brennan said the county
was forced to reevaluate its
pickup program and either
adjust service or raise rates
from the current $268 per
year. Through surveys con-
ducted through the county
and through Kennesaw State
University, a majority of
residents said they would
support additional recycling
efforts to decrease trash
pickup to one day per week,
according to county Com-
missioner Kathie Gannon,
who champions recycling
for DeKalb residents.
The county selected
28,000 homes in every area
of the county, in each city
and in unincorporated ar-
eas for a three-month trial
run of single-day pickup of
garbage, recycling and yard
waste.
“What we want to show
is what we know intuitively:
if you are recycling we don’t
need two-day-a-week trash
pickup,” Gannon said.
In the pilot program,
garbage is picked up in one
truck, while another comes
for recycling and another
for yard waste. The mixed
recycling is put in one truck
and separated out at a pro-
cessing facility. If the study
proves this method feasible,
DeKalb authorities will con-
sider making the single-day
pickup for all customers.
“You get your garbage
picked up twice a week. If
you subscribe to recycling
services, that’s another day,
and yard waste another day,”
Brennan said. “The trucks
are coming by four times
per week over the course of
three days. This might be a
better way of doing it and
has the added benefit of
keeping the garbage trucks
off the street but for one day
a week.”
Residents participating
in the pilot program have
been providing feedback to
a third-party vendor who
will then share the results
with the county. According
to the sanitation website, the
results will determine how
DeKalb proceeds with its
sanitation services.
County sanitation cur-
rently serves 165,000 house-
holds, with approximately
33 percent of those house-
holds participating in recy-
cling. Gannon said the goal
Sanitation pilot program tests streamlined trash pickup
DeKalb County is exploring new ways to collect residential waste through a pilot program collecting trash on
only one day per week. Photo by Travis Hudgons
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 3A
Crime Briefs
Alzheimer’s patients make new memories delivering Meals on Wheels
by Andrew Cauthen
[email protected]
Alzheimer’s and dementia patients in Deca-
tur have something new to think about as they
volunteer with Senior Connections’ Meals on
Wheels program.
Every other Thursday, up to 10 residents of
Peregrine’s Landing at Emory Heights, a memory
care community, deliver meals “house to house
to other seniors that are also in need of assistance
and are still able to stay home,” said Zannette
Austin, memory care program director for the
residential care facility.
“We were always told that we needed vol-
unteers to come into our building,” Austin said
about the program’s initiation. “However, I
thought,…‘Why not volunteer outside the build-
ing, which gives our residents a sense of meaning
and purpose?’”
In its second year, the Meals on Wheels work
allows the residents to leave the residential facility
and the volunteer activity also helps the residents
to “jog their memory,” Austin said. They have
delivered more than 300 meals to DeKalb County
residents.
“It allows them to be able to still do some of
the things they used to do,” Austin said. “It brings
back memory for some of our residents that have
actually participated in Meals on Wheels or have
been volunteers in their lifetime.
“It gives them a chance to be able to still expe-
rience everyday life and be able to see they’re giv-
ing back and they’re helping someone else,” Aus-
tin said. “They don’t feel like they’re always the
one in need, but they can help someone else along
the way, and that life doesn’t stop at this point.”
The program gives “seniors a chance to help
other seniors—someone that’s in their …age
range,” she said. “They can relate to some of the
people they encounter.”
Jenny Dobbs, Peregrine’s executive director,
said residents who are normally reluctant to par-
ticipate in group activities are enthusiastic about
helping others.
“Even if some of our memory impaired resi-
dents do not remember all of the details later, I
notice an improvement in their mood,” Dobbs
said. “The experience of working together to do
something for others increases their sense of self
worth. Recipients of this service also benefit by
receiving a meal, having a visitor and having the
chance to socialize.”
“I think it’s inspiring to see the joy that our
residents get from helping others despite their
cognitive impairments,” said Wayman Parks,
community relations director for Peregrine’s
Landing, located at 475 Irvin Court in Decatur.
“When you think about memory care,” Austin
said, “you think that most of the people won’t
remember what they’re doing or remember the
event But our residents can tell you that they love
going out on Meals on Wheels [deliveries].
“And you would think that it’s something that
they can’t remember since it’s something that’s
been going on for a while, but you can see that it’s
actually carving a time stamp for them,” Austin
said.
The activity also reduces behavioral problems,
keeps the residents active and “gives them some-
thing to look forward to,” she said.
“It allows for a calmer atmosphere, and it re-
duces even depression for some of the residents,”
Austin said.
During the volunteer activity, the residents eat
out at a fast food restaurant.
“It brings back memories,” Austin said about
the meal. “If you ask most residents what’s one
thing they want to eat when they go out on an
outing, they’ll tell you pizza or hamburgers.
At the restaurant, residents “talk about their
experience of being out doing Wheels on Meals
and then they’ll reminiscence about going to that
particular restaurant,” she said.
“It engages their long-term memory as well as
fortifies their short-term (memory),” Austin said.
“Our residents can do a lot more than bingo,”
Austin added. “Most people would be surprised
by how much.”
Beverly Brown, a resident of the Peregrine’s Landing at Emory
Heights memory care community, delivers a meal as part of
Meals on Wheels. Photos provided
Residents of Peregrine’s Landing gather after delivering Meals
on Wheels.
From left, Alice Stringfellow and Dorothy Busky.
ONE MAN’S OPINION
LETTER TO EDITOR
Doctoring Jekyll so tourists won’t hide
Shinseki’s departure from the VA is a blow
“Jekyll Island has become the best
and soundest investment which the state
has ever made, all of which is a result
of Gov. Thompson’s keen foresight and
acumen,” from a resolution by the Geor-
gia General Assembly, April 2, 1963,
in honor of former Georgia Gov. M.E.
Thompson, who served from 1947-48.
Thompson purchased Jekyll for the state
of Georgia using a writ of condemna-
tion in 1947.
Summertime and most any beach
trip conjure warm childhood memo-
ries of Jekyll Island. I suspect many
Georgians who grew up in the ‘60s or
‘70s feel a similar kinship to this bar-
rier island and state park. But after ex-
periencing some heady Georgia tour-
ism heydays, the ‘90s and more recent
decades brought a tourism drought
to Jekyll. The once vibrant Summer
Waves Water Park-struggled to attract
visitors, while aging and poorly main-
tained hotels closed and the island’s
sole seaside restaurant was shuttered. 
The island is still beautiful, but the
bulk of its tourism product had grown
stale, mildewed and largely vacant,
with the exception of the spectacular
and historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel in
the historic village on the island’s riv-
erside. Thankfully, more recent devel-
opments, following a decade of battles
primarily with island locals, regional
tree huggers and those who prefer the
island as a semi-private refuge for mi-
grating retirees, have finally allowed
the completion of a beautiful new con-
vention center and nearly 1,000 new
hotel rooms to move in the pipeline or
final stages of completion.
First came a mid-priced beach-
front Hampton Inn, operated by the
team behind the Jekyll Island Club,
and soon a new 200-room Westin
will open oceanside, adjacent to the
convention center. Nearby a retail/
restaurant development of two dozen
shops will replace the current tempo-
rary ‘trailer park’ cluster of merchants
housed there since the demolition of
Jekyll’s aging retail strip center.
Another 670 new hotel rooms will
follow, utilizing the existing footprints
of previously closed and demolished
properties. Hyatt, Courtyard Marriott
and SpringHill Suites are all slated to
open prior to the end of next year. And
the Holiday Inn brand is also slated for
return, renovating and reopening the
gutted and vacant Ocean Suites toward
the island’s north end.
All Jekyll projects are height lim-
ited, and there will be no towering
beachfront highrise condos, as have
become the norm along the Alabama,
Florida and even Mississippi Gulf
coasts. No more than 35 percent of the
island’s land mass can be disturbed in
any fashion by man, and this includes
the golf courses, soccer fields, bike
and walking trails and even the access
paths to the beach.
If the island had been left in its nat-
ural state, as still exists at it northern
tip, most modern beach views would
be obscured by naturally created sand
dunes. Ill-informed development re-
moved most of those dunes from the
island during the ‘60s and ‘70s, yet
now a handful of NIMBY (not in my
backyard) transplants are fighting to
preserve those views as well as those
most often empty beachfront parking
lots.
The marketing challenges faced
by the island are still current and
real. The College of Coastal Georgia
recently abandoned plans to take over
management and operations of the
closed ocean-side eatery as an adjunct
offering of its culinary and business
schools to be staffed by students and
recent graduates. The college will not
reopen the restaurant, despite already
having $150,000 in funding committed
to the program in hand.
If a quality beachfront eatery, with
a price point located between Captain
D’s and the Red Lobster can’t make
it, there is still lagging demand in the
market. Hotels and restaurants are la-
bor-intensive industries, most typically
operated with low double-digit profit
margins, and single-digit franchise
fees paid by the owners. 
Hotels require annual occupancy
at or above the 65 percent range to
operate at a profit at all. Though in my
childhood it was not difficult to find
beachfront rooms for $39.00 a night,
those days and rates are gone with the
wind. The latest attack on new Jekyll
development is about the affordability
for average Georgians of room rates
for the new hotels.
Just two miles west of Interstate 95,
and not far from Jekyll, is the Hostel
in the Forest (www.foresthostel.com),
operating and hosting students and
international travelers since 1975.  The
hostel does require reservations, can
house up to 40 and the $25.00 daily
rate does include meals. Accommo-
dations are unique and a bit spartan,
there is no air conditioning, showers
are communal and the quaint tree
house cottages use composting toilets,
but if you want to get ‘close to nature’
at an affordable price, this might be
your kind of place.
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 col-
umnist for The Champion, Champion
Free Press and Georgia Trend. Crane
is a DeKalb native and business owner,
living in Scottdale. You can reach him
or comment on a column at billcrane@
earthlink.net. 
Bill Crane
Columnist
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014 PAGE 4A
OPINION
by Stephen R. “Steve” Bradshaw
It saddened me to learn of Eric
Shinseki’s recent resignation as the
U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
When I knew him he was Col. Shin-
seki, commander of the 2nd Brigade,
3rd Infantry Division, and I was 1st
Lt. Bradshaw, executive officer of
Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 69th
Armor. As he was my brigade com-
mander to say that I knew him is a
bit of a stretch. It’s not like we were
hanging out together at the Kitzin-
gen, West Germany Officer’s Club,
throwing back beers (although I
did do my share of that). Generally
speaking colonels and lieutenants
don’t hang out together. But from my
lowly position I was able to observe
a leader in action. What I saw was a
calm, professional, highly competent
leader who struck me as being com-
pletely not full of himself.
Several months before the end of
my tour, I was promoted to the rank
of captain and assumed the role of
Battalion S-1 (personnel and admin-
istration officer). As such it fell upon
me to organize and execute a dining
out or formal dinner. On such occa-
sions, we all got decked out in our
dress blue uniforms, and I have to
admit that we looked pretty sharp.
Our wives looked pretty good too.
But since the Army had trained me
to be a tank commander as opposed
to an event planner, the prospect of
discharging this mission stressed me
out to no end.
At any rate, the mission date
arrived and things seemed to be
evolving quite well, but as you might
imagine, I was unable to com-
pletely relax and enjoy the evening.
I anticipated that at any moment
something could go wrong. Maybe
he sensed my uneasiness because
at some point during the evening
Col. Shinseki surreptitiously showed
me the “victory suspenders” he was
wearing under his uniform. I re-
call them being these multicolored
things that were anything but Army
regulation, and it made me smile.
This was indicative of a great sense
of humor on his part. Also, I think
he had been an S-1 sometime prior
in his career, so he had a firsthand
appreciation of what I was going
through that evening. He went out
of his way to make a young captain
feel a little less stressed which made
a considerable impression on me.
Needless to say, I was not sur-
prised to learn that several years later
Col. Shinseki had achieved the rank
of four-star general and then became
Army chief of staff. Even though I
had been out of the Army for a num-
ber of years at that point, I could not
think of a better man to serve in that
role.
Several years after that, I was
very pleased when President Obama
picked Gen. Shinseki to lead the
Veterans Affairs Department. My
thought was, “Who would be bet-
ter than a wounded war veteran and
distinguished general officer to lead
that department and look out for the
interests of fellow veterans?”
Of course the recent revelations
regarding the Veterans Affairs De-
partment have induced nearly uni-
versal shock and outrage, and rightly
so. If it holds that the leader of any
organization is ultimately responsible
for everything that organization does
and fails to do, Secretary Shinseki
had to step down. Frankly, that was
not even a close call. Moreover, even
if he now has the solutions to fix
the problems his ongoing presence
would have served as cannon fodder
for politicos of all stripes, especially
in an election year.
I’ll leave it to others to get under
the hood and put together the orga-
nizational, personnel, program and
incentive changes required to turn
the department around. But, for the
record, I would personally love to be
engaged in helping my fellow veter-
ans in any way possible, and I will
seek out those opportunities.
Finally, to Gen. Shinseki, if I
could I would say the following: “Sir,
I hope that you manage to enjoy
your retirement. You have most cer-
tainly earned it. I hope that you can
take comfort in a lifetime of dedi-
cated and distinguished service to
our country. Thank you for making a
stressed out young captain feel a little
bit better some 25 years ago. And I
hope you have a beer on me.”
Without a doubt, one of the best
kept secrets in DeKalb County is the
outstanding educational value that
Georgia Piedmont Technical Col-
lege (GPTC) brings to residents of
DeKalb and surrounding counties,
under the outstanding leadership of
Dr. Jabari Simama.
Recently, I witnessed the gradu-
ation ceremony of the 2014 class for
GPTC. The nearly three-hour cer-
emony was special for three reasons:
the 2,700 students were the largest
graduating class in the colleges’
52-year history; Rev. C.T. Vivian, a
civil rights legend, and recipient of
the President’s Medal of Freedom
Award, was commencement speak-
er; and Simama, the college’s first
Black president, presided.
Vivian set the tone and issued
the principle charge to the graduates
when he told them, “And, here you
are. You have what America needs at
this moment. That’s not an accident.
That’s a plan larger than the plans
that we think of. You are going to
be greater in America than you now
think. America cannot revive itself
without you.... It used to be what
America gave to us. Now, it’s what
we will give to America.”
Presenting his commencement
remarks with a blend of preach-
ing, teaching and fatherly advice,
Simama built upon the metaphor of
the Sankofa Bird, and cited lessons
from the life of Vivian.
Following are some excerpts
from his remarks: “At Georgia Pied-
mont Technical College, we do not
only aspire for educational excel-
lence, but also, to be excellent global
citizens who operate under the phi-
losophy of the Sankofa Bird—the
bird that always returns home to
help bring along others who have
not made it on their own.
History is a reminder of what
once was and a cautionary tale of
what can be if we are unwilling to
listen and act accordingly.
“The Rev. Vivian understands
the struggle continues. Maybe not
in the streets of Selma, or Jackson or
Albany; but in board rooms of many
of our Fortune 500 corporations; in
the battle for access to our nation’s
top educational institutions; in the
ongoing fight for economic justice,
universal healthcare, the eradication
of poverty, and the right to love and
live as free Americans.
Dr. Vivian also knows that edu-
cation has been and always will be
the key to true liberation. The 21st
century battle for civil rights is a
battle for authentic education of our
children—all of our children.
“At GPTC, we are committed to
the principles and values represent-
ed by the Sankofa bird. As we move
forward we intend to inspire great-
ness within every person who walks
onto our campus.
“We intend to meet the chal-
lenges of the 21st century global
economy by providing the best
education possible. But, we will not
leave anyone behind.
“Like the Sankofa Bird, keep
your eyes fixed forward, but keep
reaching back to bring others
along. Georgia Piedmont knows it
can count on you to be excellent in
what you do in life, but also follow
in the example of our leaders like
Dr. Vivian who never forgot those
who were left behind and was will-
ing to forgo the luxury of cynicism,
apathy, and self-absorption in order
to make the world a better place for
all.
“Go in this spirit. Keep your head
to the sky. Remember—your at-
titude will determine your altitude.
Fly high like a Sankofa Bird. Now it
is time to leave the nests, fly over the
desert, fly over the river Jordan and
enter into the Promised Land. This
is my hope. This is my prayer. Fly
high Sankofa Birds. Fly high.”
Simama’s message is one for the
21st century. Indeed the civil rights
struggle today is for the minds
and education of our children. He
wants to educate all, leaving no one
behind. We can help by spreading
the word and sending students to
him who we know can benefit from
receiving a first-rate education and
work skills necessary to be powers
for good in our communities.
To find out how to register for
classes at GPTC or for scholarship
information visit www.gptc.edu.
OPINION
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 5A
Gene Walkerk
Columnist

Let Us Know What You Think!
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Publisher: John Hewitt
Chief Financial Of cer: Dr. Earl D. Glenn
Managing Editor: Andrew Cauthen
Production Manager: Kemesha Hunt
Photographer: Travis Hudgons
Staf Reporters: Daniel Beauregard
Carla Parker
Lauren Ramsdell
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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
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Graduates forgo cynicism to revive America
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 6A

COMMUNITY
If you would like to nominate someone
to be considered as a future Champion
of the Week, please contact Andrew
Cauthen at [email protected]
or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 117.
TERRI RICHARDSON
Champion
of
theWeek
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE


The DeKalb County School District has tentatively adopted a millage rate which
will require an increase in property taxes by 6.54 percent.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be
held at 6:00 p.m. June 25, 2014, DeKalb County School District J. David
Williamson Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain,
Georgia

Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at:

11:00 a.m. (NEW TIME) July 7, 2014, DeKalb County School District J. David
Williamson Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain,
Georgia

6:30 p.m. July 7, 2014, DeKalb County School District J. David Williamson
Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, Georgia

This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 23.98 mills, an increase of
1.471 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more
than 22.509 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value
of $150,000 is approximately $69.87 and the proposed tax increase for
nonhomestead property with a fair market value of $250,000 is approximately
$147.10. 
by Daniel Beauregard
[email protected]
DeKalb County commissioners and
residents were clearly divided June 10 on
whether to approve a $5 million public/
private partnership with the South DeKalb
YMCA to help the facility implement im-
provements.
The Board of Commissioners did not
have the required votes to pass the item,
which will come before the board again June
24.
“I encourage you to ask why is it the
YMCA can raise money on a regional basis
for facilities in certain areas of the county
but for some reason they think that they
can’t raise money for facilities in south
DeKalb County,” Commissioner Jeff Rad-
er said.
If approved, the partnership will be
funded through the use of county parks
bonds designated for green space acquisi-
tion. Rader said the partnership was a busi-
ness decision, not a public policy one, and
county taxpayers should not be required to
foot the bill.
Additionally, Rader said, the South
DeKalb YMCA would not be performing
any drastic renovations to its facilities.
“I think that it’s regrettable that the
people of DeKalb are being polarized in this
way,” Rader said.
Commissioner Kathie Gannon, who vot-
ed against the proposal, said the partnership
was not made public until several months
ago when the item appeared on the commis-
sioners’ agenda.
“There is a lot of emotion going around
this room and when you’re encouraged to
make decisions based on emotions instead
of facts, you get in trouble,” Gannon said.
Additionally, Gannon said there are
parks and recreation centers in disrepair
located throughout the county in disrepair
because there isn’t money to update their
facilities.
“I’m not going to support this; I cannot
support this, the facts do not allow me to
support this,” Gannon said.
Decatur resident Mary Shellman, who
is a member of the county’s parks bonds
committee, said the deal needs to be studied
further.
“I’m not convinced this is a solid invest-
ment for the county, and I still don’t feel
that I have all the facts,” Shellman said. “The
greater Atlanta YMCA should pay for these
upgrades themselves like they did with the
other Y’s in the area instead of coming to the
county for a taxpayer handout.”
At the June 10 commission meeting,
several residents supporting the partnership
said the proposal is no different than the
county’s partnership with the Wade Walker
YMCA several years ago. DeKalb County
interim CEO Lee May said the partnership
is an “identical deal.”
However, Shellman said the deal between
the county and the Wade Walker YMCA
was different, stating the facility was built on
park land owned by the county. Addition-
ally, she said that the Wade Walker YMCA
was built in a “needs assessed area” and the
county already had plans for a recreation
center in the area.
Commissioners Larry Johnson and Stan
Watson both expressed their support for the
proposal, as well as DeKalb County NAACP
President John Evans and representatives
from the DeKalb County School District.
“It’s a win-win-win for everyone in-
volved, especially for the Y in terms of
building capacity,” said Eston Hood, chief
operating officer of the YMCA of Metro At-
lanta.
Commissioners postpone
YMCA vote yet again
Terri Richardson,
DeKalb Medical’s manager
of cancer data services,
was recently installed as
the president of the Na-
tional Cancer Registrars
Association (NCRA) at its
annual educational con-
ference in Nashville, Tenn.
 NCRA is a nonprofit
organization that repre-
sents more than 5,500
cancer registry profes-
sionals, data information
specialists that capture a
complete history, diagno-
sis, treatment and health
status for every cancer pa-
tient in the U.S.
In her role as president,
Richardson will represent
the organization at region-
al and national meetings
and support its mission to
promote education, cre-
dentialing and advocacy
for cancer registry profes-
sionals.
 An active member
of NCRA for more than
17 years, Richardson has
served as treasurer, junior
treasurer and as an advo-
cacy and technical prac-
tice director.
“I started doing volun-
teer work with the organi-
zation because I was hold-
ing the top position for my
field here at the hospital,
so there was really no
place to grow profession-
ally within the [hospital]
because there are only six
of us here…in the profes-
sion,” Richardson said.
Richardson will focus
her year as president on
promoting issues of im-
portance to her and the
cancer registry profes-
sion. She will concentrate
her efforts on pursuing a
classification code with
the Department of Labor
for Medical Registries,
seeking opportunities for
streamlining processes to
create an efficient work
environment and finding
new ways to promote the
use of cancer registry data.
Richardson also has
been active at the state
level, serving as both the
secretary and education
chairwoman for the Geor-
gia Tumor Registrars As-
sociation.  
Her volunteer work
with NCRA “helps the
hospital in the fact that I
get to meet with various
standard setters that deter-
mine the standards for the
way we report cancer,” she
said. “I get to give input
on changes that are being
made and sometimes it
allows us to have a better
outcome on what we think
the standards should be
changed to.
“It allows me to be a
voice for hospital regis-
trars.”
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 7A

COMMUNITY
AROUND
DEKALB
Atlanta
Group ofers free summer lunch at
local high school
Family Choices Inc. is providing
free lunch to all children ages 18 or
younger without charge at McNair
High School, located at 1804 Boulder-
crest Road in Atlanta.
The group is offering meals at the
high school from June 2-July 25 from
2:30-4 p.m. as part of the Summer
Food Service Program.
Avondale
Estates
City to hold crime prevention
training class
 
“Crime traditionally increases in
the summer, so brush up on your safe-
ty and crime prevention knowledge
in this one-hour training class at city
hall,” states an announcement from
Avondale Estates.
The community is invited to hear
suggestions on personal, home and
automobile safety from the Avondale
Estates Police Department.
“It doesn’t take much to be a victim
of a crime—attend this class and learn
preventative tips that everyone should
be practicing to deter crime,” the an-
nouncement states.
The class will be Wednesday, June
25, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Avon-
dale Estates city hall, 21 North Avon-
dale Plaza, Avondale Estates.
Holiday signs and T-shirts
available for pre-ordering
City of Avondale Estates 4th of July
signs and T-shirts are in production
and ready for pre-ordering.
The cost is $15 for shirts and $25
for signs. White T-shirts are available
in sizes youth small through large, and
adult small through XXX large.
Contact Karen Holmes at
[email protected] to pre-
order.
Decatur
Free yoga classes on Decatur square
The Decatur Active Living Depart-
ment will host a free yoga program
June 21, at 9 a.m. at the old court-
house square, to celebrate the begin-
ning of summer and this year’s sum-
mer solstice.
Marti Yura and Cheryl Burnette
will host the morning event, which
will include several different yoga
poses and chanting exercises.
The event is free but donations
for the Decatur Youth Fund will be
accepted. Attendees are required to
bring their own mat and RSVP by
emailing cheryl.burnette@decaturga.
com or calling (678) 553-6541.
Library hosts ‘Book Buddies’ book
club
Friends of the Decatur Library is
hosting a monthly book club July 15,
from 4-5 p.m., for early chapter book
readers at the Decatur Library, located
at 215 Sycamore Street in Decatur.
The event is geared toward chil-
dren between 7-8 years of age and fea-
tures a book each month, followed by
activities, snacks and discussion.
Those interested in participating
can sign up at the front desk of the
Decatur Library or call (404) 370-
8450.
The book club is open to the first
10 participants to sign up.
Sports centers to ofer summer
breakfast, lunch
Sport Center Academy, located at
5330 Snapfinger Woods Dr., Decatur,
and CheerTyme Allstars of GA, lo-
cated at 2575 Park Central Blvd., De-
catur, are offering free breakfast and
lunch to DeKalb County children ages
5-18 through the U.S.D.A. summer
food service program.
Breakfast will be served from 8
a.m. to 9 a.m., lunch will be from
noon to 1:30 p.m. through Aug. 8.
For more information, call (770)
593-3149.
Church concert to fund scholarships
The Mt. Welcome Missionary
Baptist Church of Decatur will pres-
ent “Love in Any Language,” a benefit
concert.
The concert will feature soprano
Sherry Dukes, and classical, spirituals
and inspirational selections by Jean
Derricotte-Murphy, Ruth Randall
and Zipporah Taylor with accompa-
nist Ella Lewis.
The event is a fundraiser for the
church’s Myrtice Bell Memorial Scholarship
Fund to help youth attend college or
any other certified program.
The benefit concert will be held at
the church, located at 581 Parker Av-
enue in Decatur, on Saturday, June 28,
at 6 p.m.
 The admission is free and dona-
tions will be collected. For more infor-
mation, contact Rose Porter at (770)
279-2999.
Dunwoody
Library to host memoir writing
workshop with local coach
The Dunwoody Public Library is
hosting a writing workshop to help
residents put their memories on the
page. Local writing coach Wayne
South Smith will instruct writers on
crafting their memoirs, including how
to write real-life characters and scenes.
Smith will discuss research, dialogue,
revision and the memoir format.
“Just like life, writing memoirs is
a personal exploration with choices,”
Smith said. “My goal is to encourage
writers, whatever their experience, to
set aside blocks and hindrances. These
can be healed in the process so they
can connect to their passion for per-
sonal stories and write them.”
More information can be found by
contacting the Dunwoody Public Li-
brary at (404) 508-7190.
Annual restaurant week promises
good food, full bellies
The third annual Dunwoody Res-
taurant Week is June 21 through June
28. Area restaurants will showcase
their culinary creations for lunch
and dinner. Thirteen restaurants are
participating in the lunch special,
while 19 are signed on for dinner. The
menus will be price-fixe, with lunch
prices ranging from $10 to $25 and
dinner prices in the $20 to $45 range.
Some of the participating restau-
rants include The Viceroy, Alon’s,
McKendrick’s Steak House and Vino
Venue. Some restaurants will require a
reservation, which can be made online
through OpenTable.com
More information can be found at
www.cvbdunwoody.com and hovering
on the “Things to Do” tab, followed by
clicking “Annual Events.”
Lithonia
City to launch EcoDistrict project
Lithonia was one of three commu-
nities selected by Sustainable Atlanta
to be part of the EcoDistrict project.
The goal of the is to develop strategies
and a model for creating communi-
ties that are economically vibrant and
environmentally sustainable. The
launching of the project will be held
June 19, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Lithonia
First United Methodist Church, 3099
Stone Mountain St. For more informa-
tion, visit www.eco.district@lithonia-
city.org.
Stone Mountain
City to host children’s festival
Stone Mountain will host the Sec-
ond Street Children’s Festival June 28
from 5 to 7 p.m. The festival is a part
of the city’s 175th anniversary celebra-
tion. The day will also include a com-
munity concert on the Baptist Lawn
from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For more informa-
tion, visit www.stonemountainvillage.
com.
Nonproft group to hold annual
block party, charity ride
The Beverly Cunningham Out-
reach Program will hold its third an-
nual Domestic Violence Block Party &
Charity Ride on June 21.
The motorcycle riders will arrive
at the parking lot of Berean Christian
Church, 2201 Young Road, Stone
Mountain, between 12:45 p.m. and 1
p.m.
The focus of the event is to edu-
cate, empower, provide resources for
victims/survivors, and raise funding
for domestic violence and economic
empowerment programs.
Contact Stephanie Lee for more
information at (770) 906-2636 or via
email at [email protected].
Countywide
Superior Court ofers free notary
training
DeKalb County Superior Court
Clerk Debra DeBerry and the Geor-
gia Superior Court Clerks’ Coopera-
tive Authority are hosting two free
notary training sessions Aug. 1, from
9-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The workshop will take place at the
Maloof Auditorium, located at 1300
Commerce Drive in Decatur, and is
open to the public.
For more information or to RSVP
contact Twinette Jones at (404) 371-
2250 or [email protected].
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 8A
LOCAL NEWS
Doraville proposed budget includes
public safety, library increases
Restaurant Inspections
Establishment Name: Zoes Kitchen
Address: 2490 Briarclif Road, Suite 48
Current Score/Grade: 84/B
Inspecton Date: 06/11/2014
Establishment Name: Hunan Dragon III
Address: 1248 Clairmont Road, Suite 4-D
Current Score/Grade: 83/B
Inspecton Date: 06/10/2014
Establishment Name: Tifany’s Popcorn Cafe
Address: 6124 Covington Highway
Current Score/Grade: 98/A
Inspecton Date: 06/10/2014
Establishment Name: McDonald’s
Address: 370 North Deshon Road
Current Score/Grade: 97/A
Inspecton Date: 06/10/2014

Observed employees engaging in food prep with bracelet and
watch on wrists. Informed employees other than plain wedding
band, no jewelry is allowed on hands, arms or wrists while
engaging in food prep. Advised employees to remove jewelry. COS-
employees removed jewelry. Corrected On-Site. New Violaton.
Observed employee handle French fries with loose ponytail.
Informed employee hair must have an efectve means of restraint
while engaging in food prep. Advised employee to restrain hair.
COS- employee restrained hair.
Establishment Name: 3 Dollar Cafe
Address: 4034 Glenwood Road
Current Score/Grade: 81/B
Inspecton Date: 06/10/2014
Observatons and Correctve Actons
Cold-held potentally hazardous foods not maintained below 41F;
no tme controls/documentaton in place.
PIC advised that proper cold hold temperature shall not exceed
41F. COS- PHF were removed from white cooler at 50F and PIC
were placed on ice. Corrected On-Site. Chemicals stored in a
manner that presents a contaminaton risk to food, equipment,
utensils, linens, and/or single-service artcles. Observed Windex
and Ajax next to to go plastc bowls for soup, papertowels and to
go plates. COS- chemicals were relocated. Corrected On-Site. New
Violaton. Correct By: 06/20/2014
In-use utensils for hot-held potentally hazardous foods not stored
in a container of 135F water. Advised PIC to remove utensils from
stagnant water at 83F and place on a dry clean plate and clean
every 4 hours. COS- utensils were removed from water and placed
on a dry clean pan. Corrected On-Site. New Violaton.
Botom screen door in back kitchen not efectvely protectng the
establishment from weather or the entry of pests. Advised PIC to
place sweep at the botom of the screen door and to close main
door to prevent pest entry. COS- PIC closed door.
Establishment Name: Super China Restaurant
Address: 374 North Deshon Road, Suite B
Current Score/Grade: 96/A
Inspecton Date: 06/10/2014
Establishment Name: Charlie’s Wings & Fins
Address: 4779 Rockbridge Road
Current Score/Grade: 99/A
Inspecton Date: 06/10/2014
Establishment Name: Atlanta Wings
Address: 4421 Glenwood Road, Suite 300
Current Score/Grade: 85/B
Inspecton Date: 06/11/2014

Observatons and Correctve Actons
Observed PIC removing raw beef philly from deli paper and placing
onto grill and then removing hoagie bread from package and
placing on grill, then PIC proceded to take of gloves. Advised PIC
afer handling raw meats, gloved must be removed to wash hands
immediately prior to working with ready to eat food. PIC was also
observed sweeping foor and not washing hands prior to touching
french fry bag to place french fries in fryer. COS- PIC washed
hands.
Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentally hazardous food prepared
and held in the establishment for more than 24 hours not clearly
marked to indicate the date by which the food must be consumed,
sold, or discarded. Advised PIC to date mark fried boneless chicken
(6/9), egg rolls, sweet n sour chicken (6/9), general tso’s chicken
(6/9), sliced cheeses (6/10), watermelon (6/9). COS- PIC date
marked foods.
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
The City of Pine Lake has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in
property taxes by 10.04 percent.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase which will be held as
follows:
June 12, 2014 beginning at 7:00 AM in the Courtroom located at 459 Pine Drive, Pine Lake GA
June 12, 2014 beginning at 7:00 PM in the Courtroom located at 459 Pine Drive, Pine Lake GA
June 24, 2014 beginning at 7:15 PM in the Clubhouse located at 300 Clubhouse Dr. Pine Lake
GA
The meeting at which the millage rate will be set is scheduled for June 26, 2014 beginning at 7:30
PM in the Clubhouse located at 300 Clubhouse Dr. Pine Lake GA.
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 29.824 mills, an increase of 2.722 mills.
Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate would be no more than 27.102 mills. The
proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $150,000 is approximately $153 and
the proposed tax increase for a commercial/non-homestead property with a fair market value of
$200,000 would be approximately $188.00.
 
 
by Lauren Ramsdell
[email protected]
Doraville has big plans
for its 2015 budget.
Starting with promoting
one of its part-time librar-
ians to full-time, adding a
part-time librarian and hir-
ing five more police officers,
the city is attempting to do
it all while still lowering the
millage rate.
Doraville’s budget was
first read June 2, read
a second time June
9 and was approved
June 16. The budget
predicts a total gen-
eral fund of $10.5
million.
“The budget
looks really good this
year,” said Shawn
Gillen, Doraville’s city man-
ager. “We are being very
conservative in our revenue
estimates because of the an-
nexation.”
Doraville will gain an
expanse of industrial land
south of the current city
limits effective Dec. 31.
“We have to do some
expansion of public safety
and public works to meet
the needs of the annexation
area,” Gillen said. “We are
going to be adding five ad-
ditional police officers over
the next six to 10 months
and doing some really ag-
gressive capital improve-
ments in that area. We be-
lieve we are able to do that
and still lower the millage
rate.”
An additional area of
focus for the budget is the
Doraville library. One is-
sue is its lack of accessible
bathrooms for handicapped
patrons.
At the June 2 meeting,
Councilwoman Pam Flem-
ing said the city has a “ten-
dency to neglect” the library.
“The library has 6,000
patrons they serve each
month,” she said. “They are
the largest service entity
in our city, even above our
courts and above the police
department.”
Fleming recommended
promoting the library’s part-
time employee to full-time,
adding an additional part-
time employee and renovat-
ing the bathrooms to make
them accessible.
Gillen said the June 9
budget proposal includes
these changes. At the June
2 meeting, he said bidding
for library renovation would
begin as soon as the budget
and its amendments are
passed. He told The Cham-
pion that the city plans to
pay for the improvements
and hiring by shifting mon-
ey from other funds into the
library budget.
“One of the issues we had
was with the pay increases
as well, so we lowered the
cost of the pay increase,”
he said. “There were some
minor changes to some line
items, but it wasn’t a lot of
money to come up with. We
are just rearranging
the priority in the
budget.”
The pay increase
was a proposed 3
percent across the
board pay increase
for all city employ-
ees, who have not
had a raise in several
years. Gillen said the new
proposal is for merit-based
raises for employees, in
order to shift some of that
money elsewhere.
“We want to reward
people; we don’t want people
to think they’re not appreci-
ated,” said Councilwoman
Maria Alexander at the
June 2 meeting. “We think
that something can be com-
promised here, but I don’t
think we can do 3 percent
across the board.”
“If we tell people we are
bringing something to the
board, it is better than what
we have now,” she said.
‘The budget looks
really good this year.’
-Shawn Gillen
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 9A
LOCAL NEWS


NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE


The City of Chamblee has tentatively adopted a new millage rate of 6.40 mills for the portion of the City annexed on December
30, 2013.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the Chamblee Civic Center located at
3540 Broad St, Chamblee Georgia on June 12, 2014. There will be one hearing at 11:30 AM and another at 6:00 PM.

An additional public hearing on this tax increase will be held at the Chamblee Civic Center on June 30, 2014 at 6:00 PM.

This tentative new millage rate of 6.40 mills for the newly annexed properties will result in an increase of 6.40 mills. Without this
tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be 0 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $125,000 is
approximately $320.00 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $450,000 is
approximately $1,152.00.

State of Georgia statues do not specifically address the setting of the initial millage rate for a newly annexed area by a municipality but the City of Chamblee is
advertising a Notice of Property Tax Increase, with associated public hearing notification, in order to ensure full disclosure of its intent to levy property taxes in the
area annexed on December 30, 2013. The millage rate of 6.40 proposed for the annexed area is the same as that proposed for the rest of the City and is below the
rollback millage rate and therefore would not constitute a tax increase for the rest of the City.







The City of Chamblee City Council does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at the Chamblee Civic 
Center located at 3540 Broad Street, Chamblee, Georgia on June 30, 2014 at 6:00 PM and pursuant to the requirements of Ga. Code 
48‐5‐32 does herby publish the following presentation of the current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest
and levy for the past five years.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Real & Personal 575,089,705 533,197,959 797,623,949 729,978,100 723,574,965 996,371,051
Motor Vehicles & Heavy Equipment 16,118,770 14,546,770 14,131,410 22,076,110 27,471,830 23,809,872
Public Utilities 10,769,822 9,563,181 11,087,937 9,128,386 9,726,659 10,289,198
Gross Digest 601,978,297 557,307,910 822,843,296 761,182,596 760,773,454 1,030,470,121
Less Exemptions 44,074,131 44,896,783 88,432,680 83,119,557 86,685,769 135,524,124
Adjusted Net Digest 557,904,166 512,411,127 734,410,616 678,063,039 674,087,685 894,945,997
Gross Millage Rage 6.31 7.95 7.4 7.4 6.4 6.4
Net Taxes Levied 3,520,375 4,073,668 5,434,639 5,017,666 4,314,161 5,727,654
Net Taxes $ Increase 762,814 553,293 1,360,970 (416,972) (703,505) 1,413,493
Net Taxes % increase 27.66% 15.72% 33.41% ‐7.67% ‐14.02% 32.76%
CURRENT 2014 TAX DIGEST AND FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
NOTICE
by Carla Parker
[email protected]
Young boaters planning
to hit the lakes this summer
must take a class beginning
July 1, according to a new
state law.
The Georgia Department
of Natural Resources’ (DNR)
Law Enforcement Division
announced June 6 that boat-
ers born on or after Jan. 1,
1998, that plan to operate
any boat on Georgia waters
must complete a boater edu-
cation course approved by
the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources prior to
boating.
“In an effort to provide
a mechanism for ensuring
that Georgia boaters are
knowledgeable, boaters will
be required to complete a
boating education course,”
said DNR Lt. Col. Jeff
Weaver, assistant director of
law enforcement. “After all,
tragedy can happen quickly
and making an effort to
learn boating laws, rules and
regulations can potentially
save a life, including your
own.”
Some of the topics that
will be taught in the class
New state law will require young boaters to take classes
include life jacket safety, the
100-foot law, minimum age
limits for boat operators,
boating under the influence
and more.
Exemptions for the class
are people who are licensed
by the Coast Guard as a
master of a vessel, operating
a boat on a private lake or
pond, or nonresident who
has in his or her possession
proof that he or she has
completed a National Asso-
ciation of State Boating Law
Administrators (NASBLA)-
approved boater education
course or equivalency exam-
ination from another state.
According to the 2013
boating statistics from the
Georgia Department of
Natural Resources, there
were 112 boating incidents
on Georgia lakes, with 160
boating under the influence
(BUIs) incidents. There were
27 drownings, 59 injuries
and 16 fatalities across the
state.
At Lake Lanier, a popular
destination for metro At-
lanta residents, there were
30 boating incidents with
43 BUIs, 15 injuries and five
fatalities.
For information on the
mandatory boater education
requirement, visit www.gad-
nrle.org/node/42.
State Rep. Billy Mitchell
(D-Stone Mountain) will
host a town hall meeting
on gun safety on Thursday,
June 19, at 7 p.m. at the
Wade Walker YMCA in
Stone Mountain.
Mitchell will review HB
60, the controversial gun
bill, and representatives
from the police department
will be present to teach con-
stituents about proper gun
use, storage and safety. Only
law enforcement officers
will be allowed entry with
a firearm as Wade Walker
YMCA is a gun-free zone.
For more information,
contact Emily Oh at (770)
362-0123 or emily@gahous-
edems.com.
State
representative
to hold town hall
meeting on gun
safety
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 10A
LOCAL NEWS
Public Hearings on the proposed tax increase have been scheduled as follow:
June 12, 2014 beginning at 7:00 am in the Courtroom located at 459 Pine Drive, Pine Lake, GA
June 12, 2014 beginning at 7:00 pm in the Courtroom located at 459 Pine Drive, Pine Lake, GA
June 24, 2014 beginning at 7:15 pm in the Clubhouse located 300 Clubhouse Drive, Pine Lake, GA
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 29.824 mills, an increase of 2.722 mills. Without this increase
the millage rate would be no more than 27.102 mills. The property tax increase for a home with a fair market value of
$150,000 would be approximately $153 and the proposed tax increase for a commercial/non-homestead property
with a fair market value of $200,000 would be approximately $188.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 48-5-32 the City hereby publishes the following presentation of the current year's tax digest
INCORPORATED 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Real & Personal 23,763,315 23,212,367 19,484,475 15,898,594 12,792,852 14,339,521
Motor Vehicles 1,246,900 1,182,020 1,119,240 1,141,400 1,177,580 977,730
Mobile Homes
Timber - 100%
Heavy Duty Equipment
Gross Digest 25,010,215 24,394,387 20,603,715 17,039,994 13,970,412 15,317,251
Less M& O Exemptions 1,063,817 1,069,933 1,059,679 1,003,602 968,437 927,770
Net M & O Digest $23,946,398 $23,324,454 $19,544,036 $16,036,392 $13,001,975 $14,389,481
State Forest Land Assistance
Grant Value 0
Adjusted Net M&O Digest 23,946,398 23,324,454 19,544,036 16,036,392 13,001,975 14,389,481
Gross M&O Millage 14.300 17.100 20.604 24.190 29.824 29.824
Less Rollbacks
Net M&O Millage 14.300 17.100 19.600 24.190 29.824 29.824
Net Taxes Levied $342,433 $398,849 $383,063 $387,210 $387,770 $429,152
Net Taxes $ Increase/Decrease -$10,226 $56,416 $15,786 $3,489 $1,014 $39,169
Net Taxes % Increase/Decrease -2.90% 14.00% -3.90% -0.79% 0.02% 10.04%
CURRENT 2014 TAX DIGEST AND 5 YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
NOTICE
at the Pine Lake Clubhouse located at 300 Clubhouse Drive, Pine Lake, GA 30072 on June 26, 2014 beginning at 7:30 PM
The Mayor and Council of the City of Pine Lake hereby announces that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held
and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/ptd/download/index.aspx
Golf tournament raises
$300,000 for Jewish center
programs, scholarships
The Marcus Jewish Com-
munity Center of Atlanta
(MJCCA) presented the
MJCCA BB&T Harry Ma-
ziar Classic, an annual golf
tournament on June 2 at the
Atlanta Country Club in
Marietta. The tournament
raised $300,000 through
sponsorships, contributions
and auction items.
Each year, the tourna-
ment honors an outstanding
member of the community.
This year’s tournament hon-
ored Doug Hertz, president
and CEO of United Distribu-
tors, in appreciation of his
dedication to Atlanta’s Jew-
ish community.
Proceeds from the golf
tournament help the MJCCA
provide more than $500,000
a year in scholarships and
financial aid. The MJCCA
currently has the highest
user rates in its history and
serves more than 55,000
people every year through
its innovative programs and
vital services, including pre-
schools, sports leagues, sum-
mer camps, programming
for people with special needs
and more.
A record 140 golfers
played in the tournament.
Tournament winners
include putting contest, Mi-
chael Coles; longest drive
(male), Jay Dermer; longest
drive (female), Virginia
Hepner; first-place team net
score, Paul Freeman, Adam
Freeman, Jay Dermer and
Scott Alterman; second-
place team net score, Gar-
rett Van de Grift, Russell
Breier, Michael Elmore and
Bob Crean; third-place team
net score, David Johnson,
Tom Bethel, Ben Wilson
and Chad Burchfield; and
fourth-place team net score,
Andrew Steinberg, Jim
Pfeifer, Leo Yerashunas and
Keith Brennan.
Clarkston City Hall
Annex receives historic
preservation award
 
The Clarkston City Hall
Annex received the Excel-
lence in Rehabilitation award
from the Georgia Trust for
Historic Preservation during
it’s 37th annual Preservation
Awards ceremony in Cart-
ersville recently.
The city hall annex is
located in a house previ-
ously owned by longtime
Clarkston resident Mary
Morris who passed away in
late 2011. Built sometime
in the 1850s, the house was
purchased by the city in
April 2012 and renovated
to provide additional office
space.
“The city’s intent with
this project was to not only
provide adequate space for
city administrative func-
tions but also preserve the
historic character of the
property and building,”
stated Clarkston City Man-
ager Keith Barker. “The city
realized the potential for the
structure as an important
community landmark and
tried to maintain as much of
the historical architecture as
possible.”
The project was complet-
ed in June 2013.
See Briefs on page 17A
DA chides judge’s decision to
reject Lewis’ plea agreement
by Daniel Beauregard
[email protected]
In recently filed court
briefs, the DeKalb County
District Attorney’s Office
accused the trial court of
breaching its promise re-
garding a plea agreement
with former DeKalb County
School Superintendent
Crawford Lewis.
According to briefs filed
with the Georgia Court of
Appeals, the state expected
that Lewis would receive the
negotiated plea agreement
arranged before the trial be-
gan. Additionally, prosecu-
tors stated that it is clear that
the trial court bound itself in
accepting Lewis’ plea.
“It appears equally clear
on the record that Lewis was
never given an opportunity
to withdraw his plea as a
matter of right,” the brief
states. “It appears clear that
on Dec. 9, 2013, the trial
court breached the negoti-
ated promises that had been
ratified and certified by the
trial court on Oct. 16, 2013,
both verbally and in writ-
ing,”
Lewis has appealed
DeKalb County Superior
Court Judge Cynthia Beck-
er’s decision to reject a plea
agreement he made with
prosecutors in the trial in-
volving him, former school
construction chief Pat Reid,
and her former husband
Tony Pope.
At the time he was sen-
tenced, Becker said she had
changed her mind regarding
Lewis’ plea agreement based
on the testimony he had of-
fered during the trial.
“I disagree with the state’s
recommendation,” Becker
told Lewis. “You are a public
official and this was on your
watch and for you to have
hindered their investiga-
tion to the detriment of the
DeKalb County School [Dis-
trict] is abhorrent.”
According to prosecutors,
Lewis agreed to serve as a
key witness for the state and
in return was told he would
avoid jail time for the charg-
es against him. However, at
Lewis’ sentencing hearing,
Becker rejected the agree-
ment last year and sentenced
him to serve a year behind
bars.
Lewis originally faced
charges including violation
of the Racketeer Influenced
and Corrupt Organizations
Act and three counts of theft.
Becker said if the state chose
to, it could prosecute him
under its original indictment
and he could face up to 65
years in prison.
“The other thing that
happens is, not only will
you be subject to that pros-
ecution, but in fact you’ve
already testified so they can
use that testimony against
you in further prosecution,”
Becker said.
Defense attorney Mike
Brown has argued that when
Lewis’ plea agreement was
discussed in Becker’s cham-
bers, the judge had ample
opportunity to challenge it
and Becker did not.
News Briefs
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 11A
LOCAL NEWS
See Doraville on page 24A
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Doraville neighborhood granted historic status
by Lauren Ramsdell
[email protected]
Doraville resident John
Maloney was born on Stew-
art Street in the Northwoods
neighborhood. During his
62 years, he has lived in four
different houses on that same
street.
“I have always lived here,”
Maloney said. “My grandpar-
ents ran a dairy by the Gener-
al Motors facility back in the
‘40s and granddaddy ran an
American Oil filling station
in downtown Doraville in the
‘50s. I’ve just got a lot of con-
nections here, and it’s always
been a good place to live.”
That kind of history and
sense of place has paid off
for Northwoods, which was
officially recognized on the
National Register of Historic
Places June 3. The designa-
tion recognizes buildings that
are associated with important
historical events; the lives
of historical figures; have
yielded or may be likely to
yield historical information;
or that have distinctive char-
acteristics of a time period,
particular style or work of a
master craftsman, according
to the registry’s website.
In the case of North-
woods, it is the latter. The
neighborhood was first
started around 1949-1950 as
part of Georgia’s first planned
community. In the postwar
years, many “cities within
cities” sprang up across the
country to account for the
civilian rush to the suburbs.
These communities were
designed with residential
blocks, churches, a business
district and shops within easy
walking or driving distance.
“It was started for the
General Motors executives
at the Doraville plant,” said
Bonnie Flynt, president
of the Northwoods Area
Neighborhood Association,
or NANA. “The reason they
chose this location was it
was right smack-dab in the
middle between the plant and
the PDK Airport.”
The J.A. Jones Construc-
tion Company, based in
Charlotte, N.C., snatched up
the land, betting on Atlanta’s
rapid growth. They hired
Walter Tally, a local builder,
who then hired two Georgia
Tech graduates, Ernest Mas-
tin and John Summer, pro-
ponents of the then-radical
ranch house with open floor
plans and ample yards.
In developing North-
woods, lenders initially
refused to front the money
because the style was so out-
landish. However, once hous-
es began selling before they
were even built, Tally was able
to secure funding and wild
success.
“Northwoods and its sur-
rounding neighborhoods
are a perfect representation
of a mid-century modern
neighborhood due to the
high integrity of the district,
the strong history, and the
eagerness of the homeowners
to designate and protect the
sense of place they so love,”
reads the historic district in-
formation form, initially sub-
mitted to the state of Georgia
for the state’s historic places
registry.
“Helping Northwoods
achieve this designation is a
small act our class can do.”
Those lines were written by
Richard Laub, the director
of Georgia State University’s
Master in Heritage Preserva-
tion program. Students in
that program became inter-
ested in the community after
the Army Corps of Engineers
did a floodplain study in the
area in 2009. The report came
to the attention of the Geor-
gia Department of Natural
Resources, and then to Laub.
“Because of its age and
because people did live there
so long, or moved there from
somewhere else and stayed,
we have people who are alive
now who were there in the
‘50s and ‘60s,” Laub said.
“That’s something you don’t
get in preservation very often,
those people are often long
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 12A
LOCAL NEWS
393 police offcers
you
You may not see us, but we’re nearby.
Maybe just a few seats away. To make
sure you have a pleasant, uneventful
ride. We could use your eyes, too. If
you see something that’s not right,
call us. We’ll take it from there.
Chief Wanda Dunham
See
Say
something
something
If you
Use MARTA’s See & Say App.
Txt MPD: (404) 334-5355
or
Call (404) 848-4911 if you see something out of the ordinary.
by Lauren Ramsdell
[email protected]
Brook Run Dog Park in Dun-
woody is under fire again from park
neighbors and city councilmembers
who want it moved.
Citing environmental damage
and noise concerns, those opposed
to the current dog park location
wish to have it moved to another
part of the park. Supporters ex-
pressed their love of the community
and the dog park’s draw to members
of other municipalities.
Established in what was original-
ly unincorporated DeKalb, the dog
park is four acres of fenced, heavily
wooded land in the western part of
the park, off of Georgia Way. Dog
park supporters tout the shade cast
by the mature trees as a unique ben-
efit of the park, while opponents cite
arborists’ surveys that demonstrate
tree damage from overuse.
Supporters and opponents in ap-
proximately equal numbers packed
the chamber for the public comment
portion of the June 9 Dunwoody
City Council meeting. The ultimate
fate of the dog park–to move it or
maintain it where it currently lies–
will be voted on June 24.
“I have lived on Lake Village
Drive since 1989,” said resident
Beverly Armento. “I urge you to
accept your park manager’s recom-
mendation to move the dog park to
an alternative location in Brook Run
Park. If we … keep the dog park
where it is, all the remaining trees
will be dead in seven to 10 years.”
The seven to 10 years statistic
comes from a report commissioned
by the council to study the effects of
the dog park on the standing trees.
Further studies by arborists com-
missioned by the Brook Run Dog
Park Association (BRDPA), a 501(c)
(3) nonprofit, found there was no
damage to trees.
Supporters, including many from
the BRDPA wore red to make a “vi-
sual impact,” according to the asso-
ciation’s Facebook page.
Resident Saul Sloman said he ap-
proached the chamber “dressed as a
tomato” in support of maintaining
the park where it is.
“I have lived here for 14 years,
and my parents have lived here since
1982,” he said. “The proposed new
location is in full sun. The current
location requires little maintenance
while the new location would re-
quire regular re-sodding. We would
be trading one problem for another.”
The proposed new dog park
location would be moved closer to
Peeler Road, away from residents in
Lakeview Oaks but toward houses
on Peeler Road.
Moving the park has been dis-
cussed since at least 2013, when it
was included in the city budget to
the tune of around $195,000. In De-
cember of 2013, BRDPA members
presented a compromise plan that
ceded moving the fence away from
Brook Run Dog Park location again up for debate
Supporters of the Brook Run Dog Park wore red to the June 9 council meeting to “make a
visual impact” according to the Brook Run Dog Park Association’s Facebook page. Photo
by Lauren Ramsdell
See Brook Run on page 18A
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 13A
LOCAL NEWS
WEEK
PICTURES
In
Searching for Our Sons and Daughters:

For a programming guide, visit www.yourdekalb.com/dctv
Now showing on DCTV!
Finding DeKalb County’s Missing
Stories of our missing residents offer profound
insights and hope for a positive reunion.
DCTV – Your Emmy® Award-winning news source of DeKalb County news. Available on Comcast Cable Channel 23.
Photos brought to you by DCTV
Representatives of the Clarkston Farmers Market recently received a $500 grant from AgSouth Farm Credit.
Photo provided
At former police chief Bobby Burgess Sr.’s burial, DeKalb County Police
helicopters offered a salute in a fve-copter flyover. Photo by Lauren
Ramsdell
Geese frolicking in the South River at Panola Shoals. Photo by Carla Parker
Stone Mountain Park prepares for the summer season with an improved laser show. Photo by Travis
Hudgons
Mural at Fellini’s Pizza in Decatur. Photo by John Hewitt
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 14A
LOCAL NEWS
is to increase that percentage to 40,
around the national average.
Brennan said that recycling is im-
portant in the long run for DeKalb’s
sanitation services. According to
DeKalb’s sanitation website, more
than half of the waste destined for
the county landfill could have been
recycled. Recycling has been free
in DeKalb since 2012, but residents
must register with the county and
receive county-approved recycling
bags and bins.
“It’s certainly the earth-friendly
and green solution,” he said. “The
more stuff we keep out of the land-
fill, the longer our landfill lasts, the
longer we can keep our rates low by
comparison.”
The Seminole Road Landfill in
Ellenwood, the only one operated
by the county, was built in 1975
and should be able to continue in
operation until 2071, according to
the county sanitation department
website. The landfill also accepts
recycling from county residents, in-
cluding specialty items such as scrap
metal and tires.
“We started recycling in 2005,
so we’ve been at it for a long time,”
Gannon said. “We make a little bit of
money selling the recycling, about
$600,000 in revenue, but every little
bit helps.”
She also said that while participa-
tion rates continue to increase, they
are still not where they could be.
“When we dropped the fee for
recycling and just in that we saw
54 percent increase from those that
were recycling,” she said. “Hopefully,
through the pilot it will increase
even more since there will be more
publicity and focus the benefits to
the county and also to the person
recycling.”
Sanitation Continued From Page 2A
Former DeKalb County police chief dies at 83
by Lauren Ramsdell
[email protected]
R
etired DeKalb Police
Chief Robert “Bobby”
T. Burgess Sr., passed
away June 6 of natural
causes. He was 83.
Burgess was a 45-year
veteran of the DeKalb
County Police Department,
including a 22-year stint as
chief of police until his re-
tirement in 2001. The munic-
ipal building at 3630 Camp
Circle, next to the jail, was
renamed the Robert T. Bur-
gess Building in his honor.
Funeral services were
held June 10 at Avondale
First Baptist Church with the
burial at Melwood Cemetery
in Stone Mountain. The
burial included bagpipe ren-
ditions of “Marine’s Hymn”
and “Amazing Grace,” a
bugle delivery of “Taps,”
a 21-gun salute and a fve-
copter fyover.
Burgess was preceded in
death by his frst wife, Betty
B. Burgess; father, Theron
S. Burgess; and mother,
Doris C. Burgess. He is sur-
vived by his wife, Shirley;
three sons, Robert Theron
Jr. and Kathy Burgess of
Dacula; Joel S. Burgess
of Decatur; David B. and
Kayren Burgess of Dacula;
two stepdaughters, Sandy
Pendley and Terry Pendley;
a stepson, Robby Lanier;
seven grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.
A DeKalb native, he was
“ultra conservative, loved
America and never lived
more than three miles from
the DeKalb County Court-
house,” according to his on-
line obituary.
“Bobby Burgess was a
good man whose life was
guided by a deep and abid-
ing faith and a commitment
to public service,” said inter-
im DeKalb CEO Lee May in
a statement. “His incredible
45 years in DeKalb County
spanned fve decades. He
meant a great deal to us all
and served as an inspiration
with his ongoing efforts to
give back and improve his
community, about which he
cared so deeply.”
DeKalb County Commis-
sioner Larry Johnson said
in a statement, “Burgess set
the standard he was a true
servant-leader and he leaves
a legacy of dedicated service
not only to the police depart-
ment but to the citizens of
DeKalb County.”
“Bobby Burgess was a
hands-on leader who cared
deeply about DeKalb Coun-
ty,” stated DeKalb County
Commissioner Elaine Boy-
er. “Throughout his years of
service he was always full
of energy and willing to do
whatever was needed to keep
DeKalb residents safe. He
was a tremendous communi-
ty servant who will be sorely
missed.”
Comments on the web-
site of A.S. Turner and Sons
funeral home remembered
a man committed to public
service and as an “old school
cop’s cop” who never for-
got anyone with whom he
served.
“He was a natural leader
who ran a tight ship,” said
former county CEO Liane
Levetan in a statement. “He
always fought to ensure that
DeKalb County had the best-
equipped police force. My
thoughts and prayers remain
with his family during this
diffcult time.”
Members of Bobby Burgess Sr.’s family mourns at his burial June 10.
Former DeKalb police chief Bobby Burgess Sr. was a
member of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Offcers and honor guards attended the burial. Burgess was preceded by his
frst wife, Betty Burgess. Photos by Lauren Ramsdell
Bobby Burgess Sr. worked in the county police
department for 45 years, before retiring in 2001.
Q&A Continued From Page 1A
P-card Continued From Page 1A
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 15A LOCAL NEWS
neighborhoods. But they can’t do it
alone. Tey need a sherif who will
work hand in hand to create a safer
community. I’m ready to work with
them.
Is there a particular anecdote or ex-
perience you recently had with a resi-
dent in DeKalb County that made an
impression on you?
Mann: I was moved by the sense of
relief a citizen expressed regarding the
mental health care and the appropriate
treatment her son received while in the
Jail. She was most impressed with the
amount of resources our agency com-
mits to mental health care and treat-
ment, to include counseling services,
patient…
Jones: I was brought to tears when I
heard the story of the home invasion
and shooting death of a nine-month-
old baby in Stone Mountain. Tis
crime was tragic and shocking, and it
has motivated me more than ever to
work hard every day to make our com-
munity safer. Tis should…
How have you prepared yourself to
manage the more than $70 million
budget of the DeKalb County Sher-
if’s Ofce?
Mann: As chief deputy sherif, I di-
rectly managed the budget, with fscal
restraint and without a hint of mis-
management or fnancial impropriety.
I have a good working relationship
with the CEO and the Board of Com-
missioners as evidenced by my en-
dorsements. Tese relationships are
critical to efectively manage the Sher-
if’s Ofce.
Jones: Leading DeKalb County dur-
ing the largest economic expansion in
DeKalb County’s history gave me the
skills and experience to manage a large
operation. We had an annual budget
of close to $1 billion, with 7,000+ em-
ployees, the highest triple AAA bond
rating, and I’m proud to say that we
always…
What areas of the budget would you
change to save taxpayer money?
Mann: We have managed an austere
budget over the last 14 years, saving
the taxpayers millions of dollars. To
reduce the amount of overtime at local
hospitals, I intend to bring more health
related services directly to the jail that
will greatly reduce the transportation
budget and the ofcer resources that…
Jones: We have to be more efcient at
the Sherif’s Ofce. Tere is an over-
lap in the duties performed by sworn
deputies and civilian personnel. We
also must make tracking down the
most egregious of the 17,000+ out-
standing warrants, collect those fees,
and take the most violent ofenders of
the street...
What is your experience in law en-
forcement? Do you think it’s impor-
tant for the DeKalb County sherif to
have prior experience in law enforce-
ment?
Mann: I represented the DeKalb Police
Department and Sherif’s Ofce in le-
gal matters for 8 years. I have worked
directly for the Sherif’s Ofce the past
13 years, obtaining peace ofcer certif-
cation (POST) in 2006.
Jones: As CEO of DeKalb County, I
was commander in chief of the police
and fre forces. I created the frst home-
land security ofce for our county and
managed a force of 1,000+ people. Fi-
nally, I established the police insurance
fund that compensated the families of
ofcers who lose their lives.
What did you do to connect with
residents, such as attend debates or
political forums, or go campaigning
door-to-door?
Mann: I listened as many citizens as
possible. I attended 13 sherif’s politi-
cal forums during the special election;
campaigned door-to-door; visited
churches and synagogues, dialogued
with faith based and community
leaders about the prevailing needs of
DeKalb citizens, telephoned citizens;
attended meet and greets in citizens’
homes and attended numerous home-
owner’s…
Jones: I have spent as much time as
possible speaking one-on-one with
the people of DeKalb. Politicians love
to talk and tell everybody what their
“plan” is. And I have a plan - but I am
more interested in listening. Te ideas
that will solve our crime spree will
come directly from…
What is the frst thing you will do to
make the DeKalb County Sherif’s
Ofce a better place to work?
Mann: Te Sherif’s Ofce is a na-
tionally recognized agency with the
National Sherif’s Association Triple
Crown Distinction, which only one
percent of sherif’s ofces in the nation
maintain. Notwithstanding, increasing
detention ofcer pay will be the num-
ber one priority.
Jones: I will end nepotism and crony-
ism and institute a fairer system that
will respect the rights of workers under
my command. Commanders get re-
spect when you treat your soldiers with
respect.
Do you think that deputies should be
provided a county-issued, take home
vehicle? Why or why not?
Mann: Undercover deputies already
have take-home vehicles. If the bud-
get allows for a sufcient number of
marked vehicles to be purchased for
uniform deputies, those deputies living
within the county will be allowed take
home vehicles.
Jones: Visibility and presence in a
community is the simplest crime pre-
vention measure we can undertake.
Trough GPS tracking and fuel ef-
fcient upgrades to our vehicles we
can ensure appropriate use of sherif
property and save money on longer
commutes.
clear policies that are applicable to the
position of the person with the P-card.”
“One of the problems that we had
was that policies were designed for em-
ployees of the CEO,” Sutton said. “What
is appropriate for an employee who
only maybe orders supplies in a depart-
ment and maybe travels once every five
years…is different from what an elected
official does.”
Business trips are
‘invaluable’
Sutton’s summary of travel expenses
for the past three years shows that her
office spent $16,496 in 2011; $1,648 in
2012; and $6,431 in 2013.
In March 2013, Sutton spent $170 in
baggage fees, $52 for taxis, $48 for meals
and $1,276 for a hotel room during a
trip to Washington, D.C., for the Na-
tional Association of Counties (NACo)
legislative conference. Such trips are in-
valuable, she said.
“That is where you get to get all of
your legislative and policy training,” Sut-
ton said. “If you do not do that, you’re
not fully able to represent your con-
stituents. You know nothing about the
most current legislation that affects your
population.”
During the same trip, Judy Brown-
lee, Sutton’s chief of staff who is also a
member of NACo, had another hotel
room with a $1,311 price tag. Sharing a
room was not an option, Sutton said.
“I’m a 54-year-old woman,” Sutton
said. “Why am I going to roommate
with my staff? I don’t think anyone
would ask the governor if he should
share with his chief of staff. Would you
ask Congressman Johnson if he should
share with his chief of staff?”
Laundry charge ‘appropriate’
During that same trip, Sutton
charged $47 for room service and an-
other $43 for laundry.
“I didn’t have a washing machine in
my room and something spilled on my
clothes,” she said about the expense. “I
didn’t think [taxpayers] would want me
to represent them with clothes that were
dirty.
“I think that’s an appropriate ex-
pense,” Sutton said. “If I had not been
away working, it would not have been
an issue. I would have put them in my
washing machine and washed it myself
or I would take it to the dry cleaners. I
had no other option. They had the ser-
vice available. To have them cleaned, I
don’t think that there’s a problem with
that.”
Wine charge was an
‘oversight’
A $61.72 receipt for a lunch meeting
in July 2013 with first responders at Blue
Ribbon Grill shows that two glasses of
wine were purchased with Brownlee’s
P-card.
“Normally when we have wine with
a dinner, they are paid for separately.
That must have been an oversight,” Sut-
ton said about the lunch at Blue Ribbon
Grill. “Normally whoever has the alco-
hol pays for the alcohol.”
From Jan. 1, 2013, to April 1, 2014,
Sutton’s office spent $1,077 for lunch
and dinner meetings at various restau-
rants. When asked how lunch meetings
were more helpful than office meetings,
she said, “It depends on the meeting and
the time of day and the location…and
the purpose of the meeting.
“There are times when it’s appropri-
ate to meet in the office and there are
times when it’s appropriate not to,” she
said, “especially when you’re working
with people that you want support and
help from and you’re going to inconve-
nience them and they have to squeeze
you in around a meal time, I think you
should go on and pay for the meal.”
Donation supports approved
nonprofit
In October 2013, Sutton spent
$1,100 at a silent auction supporting
the Africa’s Children Fund. The money,
which Sutton said was a donation to the
nonprofit, bought a picture of President
Barack Obama for her office.
Based in Chamblee, the Africa’s
Children Fund “provides assistance to
under-served children and their families
to improve the quality of their lives and
civic contribution through educational,
medical, housing and nutritional pro-
grams,” according to its website.
“Tat’s a charity that the county sup-
ports,” Sutton said. “We have supported
that charity for many years. Tat year
we were not able to support them at the
level they requested through the general
fund. Tey were having a fundraiser,
and I committed to at least $1,000 from
my budget.”
“I could have just given the $1,100
straight from my budget,” she added.
Sutton believes she is a
political target
Sutton said she believes she is “abso-
lutely” being targeted for her P-card use.
“It’s for political reasons and [by]
people with controlling natures…to fur-
ther political agendas,” she said, adding
that she knows who has been targeting
her but would not name the person.
“For years when people have been
doing disingenuous stories about me
and misrepresenting the facts, I’ve been
silent,” Sutton said. But at this point in
my life, I’ve got to set the facts straight
and set the record straight.
“Te commissioners aren’t the only
elected ofcials that use the county P-
cards…but our usage has been targeted,”
Sutton said. “I can’t say one way or the
other if there has been improprieties in
anybody else’s P-cards, but when you
only target a small number of people—
seven, and only a couple out of the
seven—you’re being disingenuous.”
Sutton said she has handled her bud-
get well and even saved the county mon-
ey, underspending by $19,366 in 2011;
$11,354 in 2012; and $26,073 in 2013.
“As people follow the money, I want
people to understand it and I want them
to follow my service and see how well I
serve the people of this district,” Sutton
said.
“I am good with everything I’ve
done,” she said.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 16A
LOCAL NEWS
Stone Mountain couple to host learning
station at Juneteenth celebration
by Kathy Mitchell
[email protected]
As the nation commemorates the
American Civil War’s 150th anni-
versary, many Americans are taking
a special interest in the role their an-
cestors played in the pivotal conflict.
Although Rob Williams lives in
the shadow of Stone Mountain with
its famous carving commemorating
Confederate heroes, his interest is in
educating people on the role Black
people played in America’s wars—
especially the American Revolution
and the Civil War.
“There is so much that people
don’t know about Black involve-
ment in the military,” said Williams,
who was a civilian employee of the
Department of the Army before he
retired in 2007. Williams said that
a prominent historian in the 1920s
wrote that Blacks are the only en-
slaved people who played no role se-
curing their own freedom. “He said
we just sat around train stations play-
ing banjos and waiting for Union
soldiers to come do something for
us. Many people believed that until
the [1989] movie Glory came out.”
Williams now spends much of his
time teaching about Black soldiers
who fought on both sides in the Civil
War. “People don’t want to believe
that there were Black soldiers in the
Confederate Army, but there were,”
he said.
“Many Blacks joined the Union
Army because they were guaranteed
the opportunity to learn to read,
write and understand numbers. Black
soldiers may have been critical in
the Union victory because so many
White soldiers were wounded or
killed or went home after their tour
of duty was up. The Union desper-
ately needed men. Lincoln’s deci-
sion to enlist Black soldiers may
have turned the tide for the Union,”
Williams continued.
There were also Black spies, he
said, citing the story of Mary Eliza-
beth Bowser, who served as a maid
in the Confederate White House.
“They held important conversa-
tions with her in the room because
they assumed she was too ignorant to
know what they were talking about,
but this woman had been to college
and she had a photographic memory.
There also was a Black coachman
for Confederate President Jefferson
Davis who spied for the Union.”
Williams has created a collec-
tion of uniformed Black military
figures and at the urging of friends
has started displaying them at public
events, where he shares information
on Black military history.
“There is nothing like this any-
place else,” Williams said of his col-
lection. “I hope seeing the display
and hearing my talks will pique
someone’s interest in this subject.
I hope they will go on the Internet
or get a book if only to confirm that
what I said is correct.”
Williams and his wife, Deb, will
host one of the learning stations at
the Juneteenth Celebration June 20
at the Atlanta Cyclorama in Grant
Park. As part of the city of Atlanta
and the Atlanta History Center’s
commemoration of the 150th An-
niversary of the Civil War’s Battle
of Atlanta, the organizations are
holding an event that focuses on the
war’s part in ending slavery.
Juneteenth commemorates the
arrival of Major General Gordon
Granger to Galveston, Texas, on
June 19, 1865, to deliver General
Order Number 3 informing enslaved
persons that they were free. The
news reached these former slaves
two and a half years after President
Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation in 1863.
“We will present a day of fun
and educational activities, includ-
ing theatrical performances, a youth
open mic experience, arts and crafts
stations, and Civil War re-enactors,”
Camille Russell Love, executive di-
rector of the city of Atlanta Mayor’s
Office of Cultural Affairs, said in an-
nouncing the Juneteenth commemo-
ration. There also will be genealogy
workshops and children’s activities
in connection with the event, which
Love said “is in honor of all former-
ly enslaved African Americans.” The
free event will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During the Juneteenth event, ad-
mission will be free to the Atlanta
Cyclorama & Civil War Museum,
which opened in 1921. The circu-
lar 42-foot-by-358-foot painting–
“cyclorama”–according to city of-
ficials is the world’s largest oil paint-
ing. It depicts the series of conflicts
that encompass the Battle of Atlanta.
Rob and Deb Williams frequently participate in events to educate the public on the role of Black Americans in
military history.
Uniformed fgures in Rob Williams’ collection illustrate Black
participation in America’s wars.
Rob Williams says he hopes his displays with uniformed fgures
stimulate interest in the roles Black Americans have played in the
nation’s wars.
A display at the Atlanta History Center tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen who served in
World War II.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 17A
LOCAL NEWS
Briefs
Continued From Page 10A
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE 
 
   The City of Brookhaven has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will 
require  an  increase  in  property  taxes  by  10.94  percent  over  the  Rollback 
Millage rate.  This increase is due solely to the revaluation of real property 
tax assessments. 
   All  concerned  citizens  are  invited  to  the  public  hearings  on  this  tax 
increase  to  be  held  at  Brookhaven  City  Hall  at  4362  Peachtree  Road, 
Brookhaven,  GA  30319  at  special  called  meetings  on  June  17,  2014  at 
10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and also on June 30 at 10:30 a.m.  After the final 
public  hearing  at  10:30  a.m.  on  June  30,  2014,  the  millage  rate  will  be 
voted on and formally adopted. 
   The  tentative  increase  will  result  in  a  millage  rate  of  2.85  mills,  an 
increase of .281 mills.  Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate 
will  be  no  more  than  2.569  mills.    The  proposed  tax  increase  for  a  home 
with  a  fair  market  value  of  $300,000  is  approximately  $28  and  the 
proposed tax increase for nonhomestead property with a fair market value 
of $200,000 is approximately $22. 
Adopt-A-Stream water
quality workshop
scheduled for June 27
DeKalb Adopt-A-Stream
is hosting a workshop to get
residents involved in protect-
ing DeKalb County’s water
resources. The workshop
is designed to train volun-
teers on how to collect water
samples from DeKalb County
streams and how to interpret
water quality data.
The workshop will be held
on Saturday, June 21 from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stone
Mountain’s Confederate Hall
Historical and Environmen-
tal Education Center, located
at 2003 Robert E. Lee Boule-
vard, Stone Mountain.
The focus of the workshop
will be on chemical monitor-
ing. At the conclusion of the
workshop, volunteers will
be able to earn a certificate
that will allow them to enter
information into a state-wide
database. There is no fee for
the class, but preregistration
is required and limited to the
first 20 people.
DeKalb Adopt-A-Stream
is a volunteer water quality
program coordinated by the
DeKalb County Department
of Watershed Management in
conjunction with the Georgia
Department of Natural Re-
sources.
For more information or
to register for the workshop,
contact Michael O’Shield,
environmental education
specialist, at (770) 724-1456
or by email at msoshield@
dekalbcountyga.gov.
Suspects arrested, one
at large in May shooting
deaths of two Decatur
women
Arrests have been made in
the May 19 shooting that left
two women dead.
Demetre Mason, 20, was
arrested May 30 for the kill-
ing of Shaniqua Camacho,
20, and Sonia Williams,
21, earlier this month. The
women were found dead of
apparent gunshot wounds
near the Walden Pond apart-
ments on Shellbark Road in
Decatur.
Police spokeswoman
Mekka Parish said that the
incident is not related to
any previous shootings in
DeKalb, and that Mason had
an “ongoing dispute” with
one of the victims.
Jamie Harrell, 33, was
also arrested on May 30.
On June 10, DeKalb
county police arrested
Frankland Henderson, 21,
and Michael Hasker Jen-
kins, 21, in connection with
the crime. Police say they
are still searching for a fifth
suspect.
Police searching for
suspects in fatal barber
shooting
DeKalb Police are on the
hunt for two men involved
in the shooting and killing
of a barber June 12 at a shop
on Memorial Drive in Stone
Mountain.
Salahuddin Salaam, 36,
was killed after giving one of
the suspects a haircut. Cap-
tain Steven Fore, a spokes-
man for the DeKalb County
Police Department, said a
man went to the Hair We Are
Family Salon for a haircut
and shortly after he allegedly
shot Salaam several times
and robbed him.
“The barber was trans-
ported to Grady Hospital
where he later died from
those gunshot wounds,” he
said.
According to the police
report, Salaam told officers
at the scene that the suspects
took him to the back of the
shop and made him take off
his pants. He was then shot
in his right side in the upper
rib and in his left elbow, ac-
cording to the report.
Fore said Salaam was the
only barber in the shop dur-
ing the incident. A witness,
who was in a business next
door, saw two Black males
walking back and forth in
front of the barbershop sev-
eral times before the shooting
occurred, according to the
report.
One of the men was de-
scribed as having a dark
complexion with shoulder
length dreads and the other
suspect is of light complexion
with a short haircut, accord-
ing to the police report. Both
men were wearing white tee
shirts.
Fore said the investigation
is ongoing.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 18A
LOCAL NEWS
See Wrestling on page 19A
Pet
of the
Week
Alpine (ID# 22894129) is an active, silly boy who loves people. He is a one year old Weimaraner mix. Alpine gets along
great with other dogs! He has a sunny disposition and would be a sweet addition to any home. Alpine would love an
active household that will give him positive outlets for his energy. Throughout June all dogs and cats ages six months or
older are only $25! Adoption fee includes spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchip and more! Come meet Alpine at
the DeKalb shelter or for more information please call (404) 294-2165 or email [email protected].

Throughout June all dogs and cats ages six months or older are only $25! Adoption fee includes spay/neuter, vaccina-
tions and microchip and more! Come meet Pittas at the DeKalb shelter or for more information please call (404) 294-
2165 or email [email protected]
The adoptions number: (404) 294-2165 • For adoption inquiries: [email protected]
For rescue inquiries: [email protected]
For volunteer and foster inquiries: [email protected]
Notice of Public Hearing for
Clarkston Millage Rate

Notice is hereby given that prior to setting the tax millage
rate for 2014, the Clarkston Mayor and Council will hold
a Public Hearing at City Hall, 3921 Church Street,
Clarkston Georgia, on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 7:00pm on
the proposed millage rate. The City Council is proposing
to adopt a millage rate for 2014 that exceed the rollback
rate by 27.23 percent. All concerned citizens are invited
to attend.

OBITUARY NOTICE 
Luther Douglas (“Doug”) Fuller Sr, 
Mr. Fuller, age 87, a resident at Milstead Nursing home in Conyers, 
Georgia passed away on June 4, 2014 following an illness.  Doug, as he 
was known to family, was born in Atlanta, Georgia to the late Thomas 
and Olivia Fuller on October 10, 1926.  He married Pauline Crews on 
December 24, 1946 and resided in DeKalb County before becoming a 
long‐time resident of Loganville, Georgia where he attended several 
churches over the years including Landmark Baptist Church and 
eventually became a member of Loganville Church of God where he’d 
“preach” every time he had the opportunity to “testify.”  He made a 
career as a transportation foreman, where he was known as “L.D.” in 
DeKalb County where he retired from DeKalb County Roads and 
Transportation Department.  His father also retired from DeKalb 
County but from the Fire Department and his sons carried on the 
family tradition of working for “the county.”  All three sons work(ed) 
for DeKalb County as well.  “Junior” and Tommy both retired from 
DeKalb County Water Department where his youngest son, Mark, is 
still employed.  He loved to fish and was particularly fond of fishing 
with Catawba worms from his beloved Catawba tree!  Every one of his 
sons and grandsons (and granddaughters too) probably has a fishing 
story to tell.  In addition to fishing, he loved to read the Bible (and 
preach to you about it). 
 
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 
65 years, Pauline Fuller, son Luther Doug Fuller Jr. (called “Junior”), a 
veteran of U.S. Army, an infant daughter, and grandson Tristan 
Pendley.  He was also preceded in death by sisters, Joan Fuller, Dora 
Ann Fuller, Siney Fuller, and Colleen Williams and brother, Edsel 
Fuller.  He is survived by children Tommy (Jenny) Fuller of Shadydale, 
GA; Judy (Michael) Pendley of Flowery Branch, Nora Lynn Fuller of 
Flowery Branch, Mark (Amanda) Fuller of Walnut Grove, GA, three 
sisters, Joyce Daniel, Janette, and Frances Fuller; brother John Fuller; 
Grandchildren Brian Fuller, Todd Fuller, Bonita Daniel, Vernee Green‐
Myers, Edsel Fuller, and Mason Fuller, and numerous great 
grandchildren, great‐great grandchildren, and a host of other family 
and friends who will cherish him in their memories. 
 
Funeral services for Mr. Fuller were held on Wednesday June 11, 2014 
at 11 O'clock in the morning, at Gospel Mission Church, 755 Almon Rd, 
Covington, Georgia with burial following at Prospect Cemetery in 
Chamblee at 1:30 PM. 
 
Condolences may be expressed by signing the guest registry at 
http://www.phoenixfuneralservicesinc.com.  Arrangements were 
under the direction of Phoenix Funeral Services in Conyers, Georgia. 
 
 
the Lakeview Oaks neigh-
borhood and provisions for
environmentally-friendly
maintenance. The dog park
is currently maintained by
volunteers from the BRDPA.
“I am talking tonight on
behalf of a compromise,”
said Kerry Coghill, a resi-
dent of 29 years. “I would
like to suggest you return
to the proposal that was put
forward at the December
meeting. We can explore
moving the fence, putting up
sound barriers such as cedar
trees.”
Coghill said that during
the week there is little noise
in the area, and that the pro-
posed new location would
need additional mainte-
nance due to grass cover be-
ing killed by dog urine.
Parks and Recreation
Manager Brent Walker pre-
sented his department’s fea-
sibility study of moving the
dog park and concluded that
moving the park was the
staff ’s recommendation.
“Our biggest concern is
with maintaining the un-
derstory vegetation,” Walker
said. “We may be able to ro-
tate the dogs out of that area
and give it a time of rest.
There will be costs associ-
ated with maintaining either
a new location or the cur-
rent one. And, we are happy
to work with the dog park
association.”
Councilmembers ap-
peared to be split on the
issue. Councilmen Doug
Thompson and John
Heneghan wore red ties in
apparent support of the dog
park. Heneghan spoke of
the unique nature of the dog
park’s shade and its active
volunteer base.
“I disagree with the plan
for moving it because it will
kill that community,” he
said. “I am in favor of build-
ing communities, not killing
them.”
“I agree with John,”
Thompson said.
Councilwoman Lynn
Deutsch said she is not nec-
essarily for or against mov-
ing the park, but acknowl-
edged that there are serious
problems with the park’s
location because of the hap-
hazard way it was first put
down.
“There are best practices
for building dog parks and
this park meets virtually
none of those best practices,”
she said. “[The park] was
not done with any planning.
There was no community
input, there was no effort
to mitigate impacts on the
neighbors.”
Councilman Terry Nall
said he is in favor of keep-
ing the dog park in the same
general area, but shifting
the fence significantly away
from the neighborhood and
perhaps re-purposing part
of the parking lot serving
that portion of the park.
“Keeping the dog park
as it is today is not an op-
tion,” he said, “nor is it
transferring it to another
set of neighbors. We can
make better use of the grassy
area near the parking lot, or
repurpose a section of the
parking lot. … But this is
not a request. We need to
be far more aggressive than
what has been provided [in
compromise plans.]”
Councilmen Denny
Shortall and Jim Riticher
said they are more aligned
with Nall or Deutsch’s plans
to relocate the park with
some compromise with the
dog park association.
Mayor Mike Davis told
parks and recreation man-
ager Walker to continue ex-
ploring options to move the
dog park, including alternate
places in the park or Nall’s
suggestion of shifting the
boundaries of the dog park
in its same general area.
“The dog park needs to
be relocated,” Davis said.
“The assessments conclude
that should the dog park
continue to be used, in sev-
en to 10 years all the trees
will be dead. If we kick this
can down the road again
we’re going to be looking at
three acres of dead trees.”
“If we can’t get a better
solution, we may have to
shut down the dog park un-
til we do have a solution,” he
concluded.
Mayor Mike Davis
Brook Run Continued From Page 12A
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 19A
BUSINESS
The Voice of Business in DeKalb County
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
404.378.8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org
Two Decatur Town Center, 125 Clairemont Ave., Suite 235, Decatur, GA 30030
NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE 
 
The Governing Authority of the City of Clarkston has tentatively 
adopted a millage rate which will require an increase in property 
taxes by 27.23 percent.       
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax 
increase to be held at City Hall on July 1, 2014 at 10:30 am and on July 
1, 2014 at 7:00pm.             
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 21.15 mills, an 
increase of 3.2 mills.  Without this tentative tax increase, the millage 
rate will be no more than 16.623 mills.         
The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of 
$65,000 is approximately $117.70.   
The proposed increase on a non‐homestead property with a fair 
market value of $185,000 is approximately $334.60.     
   
             
Notice of Public Hearing for
Clarkston Millage Rate

Notice is hereby given that prior to setting the tax millage
rate for 2014, the Clarkston Mayor and Council will hold a
Public Hearing at City Hall, 3921 Church Street, Clarkston
Georgia, on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 10:00am on the
proposed millage rate. The City Council is proposing to
adopt a millage rate for 2014 that exceed the rollback rate
by 27.23 percent. All concerned citizens are invited to
attend.

by Kathy Mitchell
[email protected]
Villa Christina is a pow-
erful social brand that will
expand into the adjacent
Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at
Villa Christina, according
to Vincent Bucci, the ho-
tel’s general manager. The
Hyatt, which greeted dozens
of public officials, business
executives and other guests
at its grand opening June 12,
flows seamlessly from the
hotel lobby into the extist-
ing, a multi-level restaurant
and special events venue
that features Northern Ital-
ian cuisine.
“With Villa Christina,
there is already a loyal fol-
lowing and a precedent of
impeccable service—a cul-
ture of excellence—which
will also carry into the ser-
vice principles of this hotel,”
Bucci said of the upscale
dining facility that opened
in 1995.
Like Villa Christina, the
new Hyatt is designed to
attract special events. Its
Jasmine Room, for example,
can accommodate a small
wedding that can move onto
the adjacent patio for the re-
ception. The hotel, which is
part of an 83-area develop-
ment, has more than 13,000
square feet of indoor and
outdoor function space with
onsite catering. Its expansive
outdoor garden area is de-
signed for entertaining with
tables and seating as well as
areas for a band, and food
and bar service.
The grand ballroom and
several other public areas in
the hotel feature large win-
dows and glass doorways
creating a panoramic view of
the meticulously manicured
gardens. High ceilings, dra-
matic lighting, open design
and other features that are
part of what Hyatt calls its
“smartly designed, high-tech
and modern environment.”
Just after the ribbon was
cut on the hotel, Brookhav-
en Mayor J. Max Davis, who
grew up in the area, said he
New Hyatt hotel fows seamlessly into Villa Christina
Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis and other offcials cut the ribbon to offcially open the Hyatt
Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina.
A lobby stairway is part of the facility’s
“smartly designed, high tech, modern
environment.”
An array of desserts at the opening
is typical of the cuisine that will be
available to guests at the new hotel.
remembers when it was all
residential. “Now we have
the types of development
here that not only bring
jobs, but high quality jobs.
I can tell you I’ve met some
of these folks and the Hyatt
has hired some wonderful
people.” The opening of the
Hyatt brought in 150 new
jobs.
Davis said government
should work with business,
not interfere with it. “We
look forward to partnering
in the future with many de-
velopments such as this. In
Brookhaven, we want to be
part of the solution, not part
of the problem,” he added.
Hotel executives also
hope to accommodate cor-
porate meetings and busi-
ness and leisure travelers. It
is the first new full-service
hotel built in Atlanta’s Cen-
tral Perimeter market in 25
years and the first built in
Georgia within the past two
years, according to Hyatt
officials. Bucci said every
aspect of the hotel was de-
signed with today’s traveler
in mind. “Our business and
leisure guests demand high-
tech, stylish hotels that cater
to their 24/7 lifestyles, and
that is what we deliver,” he
said.
The property includes
outdoor pool a 24-hour
fitness center, the Villa
Christina Hyatt has a na-
ture conservation area with
walking trails. It has 177
guest rooms, including 15
suites—one called the presi-
dential suite.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 20A
EDUCATION
DFCS, faith helps teen turn life around
School district’s TV station available on mobile devices
The DeKalb County School District’s TV station has
gone mobile.
The school district’s communications department has
announced that PDS-TV24 will be available 24 hours a day
on Android or iOS tablets and cell phones.
Broadcasts include live programs such as board of edu-
cation meetings.
“DeKalb County School District is a national leader in
being one of the few school districts to offer this level of
technological transparency,” according to an announce-
ment from the school district. “The upgrade comes with
greater convenience as well as greater quality than the
previous web streaming solution. Better quality, greater
access, DeKalb County is pushing the envelope to provide
the community with access anytime, anywhere.”
For more information about PDSTV-24 programming,
visit www.dekalb.k12.ga.us.
Renfroe Middle School is GA Safe Routes to School
Resource Center partner of the year
Renfroe Middle School in Decatur was recently selected
as Georgia Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Resource Center’s
Partner of the Year for the metro Atlanta area. Winners of
this award are chosen based on the progress of their SRTS
programs during the past year in getting more students to
walk and bike to school and increasing the awareness of
SRTS within its community.
The Georgia Safe Routes to School Resource Center has
recognized outstanding partners with the Partner of the
Year Award since 2011.
“The school SRTS team, led by Champion and Renfroe
middle school parent, Tamara Jones, has done an out-
standing job motivating children at the school  to walk and
bicycle to school,” according to a news release. “In Octo-
ber, 55 percent of the students participated in International
Walk to School Day. More than one-third of the students
rode bicycles or walked on Georgia Walk to School Day,
too.
For more information on the City of Decatur Safe
Routes to School program visit www.decaturga.com/srts
and for information on the Georgia Safe Routes to School
program visit www.saferoutesga.org.
Sixteen Gates Millennium scholars recognized
Sixteen DeKalb County School District students from
nine high schools have been awarded full scholarships
through the Gates Millennium scholarship program.
The 2014 DeKalb County Gates Scholars are Njeri Ben-
nett, Amera Dixon, David Shoneye and Juwan Thomp-
son, Arabia Mountain High; Yusra Ahmedin, Chamblee
High; Muhozi Aimable, Tluang Cer and Kim An Ta,
Clarkston High; Chao Lin, Cross Keys High; Ashton
Jordan, Dunwoody High; David Smith, Lithonia High;
Deona Clayton, McNair High; Vy Huynh, Ekue Kagni
and Thi Thong, Stone Mountain High; and Peri Green,
Southwest DeKalb High.
Each of the students will receive a scholarship that can
be used to pursue a degree in any undergraduate major at
the accredited college or university of his or her choice.
Nationwide, a total of 1,000 students were selected repre-
senting 44 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S.
territories.
“These worthy students were chosen because of their
strong leadership skills, commitment to community ser-
vice and overall academic achievement,” said Michael
Thurmond, DeKalb County school superintendent.
“These awards are both recognition of achievement and an
investment in the futures of our children.”
by Andrew Cauthen
[email protected]
Plagued with behavioral,
legal and family problems,
life has not been easy for
18-year-old Givonti Young-
blood of Decatur.
For the past two years, he
was in the care of the state
Department of Family and
Children Services (DFCS),
living in Rowley Residence
Group Home in Decatur.
“My life has changed
now,” said Youngblood, who
graduated from Towers
High School in May. “When
I came to DFCS they just
changed my life a whole
lot because they got me a
job, and my grades started
to turn around because I
was making all Fs. It just
changed my whole mindset.”
From ages 3-16, Young-
blood lived with his grand-
parents—“actually that was
my great-auntie and uncle,
but everybody in the family
called them grandfather and
grandmother,” he said.
Youngblood’s mother has
“a mental problem” and he
has only met his father once.
And he has no siblings.
Life growing up for the
DeKalb native included
limited freedom, “a bad
neighborhood, a whole lot
of drugs [and] gang activity,”
Youngblood said.
When he was 16, his be-
havioral problems increased
and his grandfather died. He
engaged in substance abuse,
fights and criminal activity.
This activity led to Young-
blood being locked up for
eight days in juvenile deten-
tion.
After he was released to
his grandparents, his life
changed.
“I went to court and I was
put into DFCS [care]. A few
days [later], I had to go back
to court and my guardians
had committed me for two
years. I didn’t have a choice,”
he said.
Two years later, on May
22, four hours before his
graduation, Youngblood was
a bit anxious.
“I’m kind of nervous, but
I’m also excited,” he said
about his pending gradua-
tion. “It’s just so big and I’m
waiting for it all to just hap-
pen. I’m going into a new
step in life—a new begin-
ning.”
After graduating, Young-
blood moved into DFCS
group housing with limited
supervision.
“Really it’s like living on
your own,” he said, adding
that he had plans to get a job
and look into going to col-
lege.
“I like several things. I
like music, so [I want to be]
a music producer or I want
to be a chef,” Youngblood
said, adding that his favor-
ite dish is “dirty rice. I love
dirty rice.”
Youngblood credits “go-
ing to church and having
faith” with helping him turn
his life around.
“It seems like every time I
pray something really big al-
ways happens,” Youngblood
said. I prayed to get out of
this class I was struggling
in and I got out a week and
a half later. I prayed for my
book fines that I had. The
next day I got them paid
for—something like $80.
DFCS paid for them.”
Youngblood said he got
to this point with support
and “a change of mindset
and hope.”
“You’ve got to think of
things in a different way,”
he said. “Just because some-
thing is hard doesn’t mean
you can’t achieve some-
thing.”
Education Briefs
Youngblood poses with Towers High principal Ralph Simpson after receiving his diploma. Photos by Andrew
Cauthen
Givonti Youngblood overcame many odds to graduate from Towers High School in May.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 21A
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THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 22A
SPORTS
DeKalb teams participate in 7-on-7 tournament
Notice of Public Hearing 
The Mayor and City Council of the City of Chamblee, Georgia will hold a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 
10, 2014 at the Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad Street, Chamblee, GA 30341 to receive public comments 
regarding the following matters: 
1. Charlie G. Rogers requests  a variance from the following provisions of the City of Chamblee Code of 
Ordinances, Appendix A, Zoning Ordinance in order to build a single‐family residence on a parcel zoned NR‐2 
consisting of 0.25 acre(s) located at 3677 Spring Street, Chamblee, GA  being Tax Parcel 18‐308‐07‐010: 
 Section 512: The newly built threshold shall be the equivalent elevation and within three feet of distance 
from the right‐of‐way (as measured in the front yard) as the existing or previous threshold. No part of the 
newly built home can extend beyond three feet of the newly established threshold (excluding porches). 
2. Mike Wadsworth in c/o Russell Pirkle requests  a variance from the following provisions of the City of Chamblee 
Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Zoning Ordinance in order to build single‐family residence on a parcel zoned 
NR‐1 consisting of 0.275 acre(s) located at 3847 Donaldson Drive, Chamblee, GA  being Tax Parcel  18‐307‐12‐
002: 
 Section 512: The newly built threshold shall be the equivalent elevation and within three feet of distance 
from the right‐of‐way (as measured in the front yard) as the existing or previous threshold. No part of the 
newly built home can extend beyond three feet of the newly established threshold (excluding porches). 
3. John W. Shimonsky in c/o HTWT Bus Lines Inc. requests a variance from the following provisions of the City of 
Chamblee Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Zoning Ordinance in order to build a bus terminal on a parcel that is 
zoned Commercial Corridor (CC) consisting of 5.021 acre(s) located at 4897 Buford Highway, Chamblee, GA  
being Tax Parcel  18‐281‐02‐036: 
 Section 301.A.106: Station, bus: A freestanding building in which patrons of a for‐pay motor carrier may 
purchase tickets for passage on such motor carrier, may board and disembark such motor carrier, but 
which does not allow any motor carrier to remain on the premises for more than one hour at a time, 
except under extraordinary circumstances, such as inclement weather or mechanical failure. All motor 
carriers located on the station property shall require the driver or chauffeur to be actually present and in 
charge thereof. 
4. Mark Robillard c/o Interactive Learning Systems, Inc. requests  variances from the following provisions of the 
City of Chamblee Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Zoning Ordinance in order to build/renovate an existing 
30,000 square foot retail building on a parcel zoned Village Commercial (VC) consisting of 2.046 acre(s) located 
at 5241 New Peachtree Road, Chamblee, GA  being Tax Parcel 18‐299‐04‐004: 
 Section 902.A: Public sidewalks shall be located along both sides of all streets and shall have minimum 
widths as specified in the street type dimensions table. Sidewalks shall consist of two zones: A landscape 
zone and a sidewalk clear zone; 
 Section 902.B: Landscape zone requirements. Said zone shall be located immediately adjacent to the curb 
and shall be continuous, except along State Routes;  
 Section 904.A.2: Automobile parking shall be prohibited from being located within the front yard, except 
where otherwise permitted in subsection 904A.6. 
 Section 1202.D: Driveway curb cuts shall not be permitted on any street that functions as an arterial 
street or collector street when access may be provided from a side or rear street located immediately 
adjacent to a contiguous property, with the exception of hotel patron drop‐off drives. 
 Section 1202.F: No more than one curb cut shall be permitted for each development, provided that 
properties with more than one street frontage may have one curb cut located on each street frontage. 
However, developments on properties with a single street frontage greater than 400 feet shall be 
permitted two curb cuts along one street frontage. 
5. David Blumenthal c/o Suntrust Bank, requests  a variance from the following provisions of the City of Chamblee 
Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Zoning Ordinance in order to build a freestanding Automatic Teller Machine 
(ATM) on a parcel  zoned Corridor Commercial (CC) consisting of 23.9 acre(s) located at 4166 Buford Highway, 
Chamblee, GA  being Tax Parcel 18‐244‐05‐001: 
 Section 908.C.1: Drive‐through service windows and drive‐in facilities shall not be located between a 
building and the street. 
 
CITY OF BROOKHAVEN
CALL OF ELECTION
QUALIFYING PERIOD

Notice is hereby given that a Special Election for the City of
Brookhaven will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 in
conjunction with the General Election for the purpose of filling
the unexpired term of District 2 Brookhaven City Council
member, Jim Eyre.
Qualifying for said election will be held Tuesday, August 19,
2014, Wednesday, August 20
th
, and Thursday, August 21, 2014
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.
and 4:30 p.m. (Georgia Election Code 21-2-132(c) (3)). Each
candidate shall file a notice of candidacy in the office of the
City Clerk of Brookhaven, 4362 Peachtree Road, Brookhaven,
Georgia. Each candidate must meet the qualifications of the
Charter and Code of the City of Brookhaven, as well as
applicable State law. The qualifying fee for the council seat is
$360.00 which is 3% of the total gross salary of a council
person for the preceding year (Georgia Election Code 21-2-131
(a) (1) (A)).
The last day a person may register and be eligible to vote in
the Municipal Special Election and Runoff is Monday, October
6, 2014 (Georgia Election Code 21-2-224(a)). The polls will be
open on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, 2014 from 7:00
a.m. until 7:00 p.m. The date of the Special Election Run-off, if
necessary, is Tuesday, December 2, 2014.
Questions should be directed to Susan Hiott, City Clerk, at
(404) 637-0464 or [email protected].
Susan D. Hiott 
City Clerk  
 
 
by Carla Parker
[email protected]
A few DeKalb County
football teams took a small
break from summer practice
and got an opportunity to
work on their passing game
against other teams in the
DTLR’s 7-on-7 Invitational
Tournament.
Atlanta Falcons Jonathan
Babineaux, and former NFL
players Chauncey Davis and
Daniel Wilcox hosted the
tournament at Grady Sta-
dium in Atlanta. The tour-
nament featured 10 teams
from DeKalb, Clayton and
Fulton counties, and Atlanta
Public Schools. Represent-
ing DeKalb were Cedar
Grove, Martin Luther King,
McNair and Redan.
Babineaux, Davis and
Wilcox designed the 7-on-
7 Invitational Tournament
(7 offense/7 defense) three
years ago to showcase tal-
ented football players. Wil-
cox, a 1996 Decatur High
School graduate, said they
previously hosted free one-
on-one camps for players
but decided to change the
concept of the camp.
“We decided to bring on
the 7-on-7 so we can bring
another element to the
camp,” Wilcox said. “The
[players] really like the pass-
ing camps and the coaches
like the passing camps.
“It’s super good to get
this competition in before
the season starts because
the offense is all about tim-
ing,” Wilcox added. “Then
you get a chance to get your
defensive backs and line-
backers together to learn the
coverages, drops and all that
stuff.”
The 7-on-7 games are all
passing, played on a 40-yard
field plus end zone and al-
low scoring on both the of-
fense and defense.
“Everyone is converting
to the spread offense,” Wil-
cox said. “[This tournament]
puts you miles ahead before
football season starts.”
Cedar Grove head coach
Jermaine Smith said the
7-on-7 tournaments usu-
ally give his coaching staff
an opportunity to check out
the skill set of the receiv-
ers. However, this year the
coaches are focusing on an-
other position.
“For us this year it’s an
opportunity to analyze our
quarterbacks to see who’s
going to start us off at the
beginning of the year,” Smith
said. “It’s also giving us an
opportunity to see a lot of
things with our receivers
and figuring out our depth
chart.”
The battle at quarterback
for the Cedar Grove Saints
is between sophomore
Jelani Woods and senior
Terrance Williams. Senior
James Hartfield, who was
the starting quarterback last
season, is also returning this
season, but Smith said he
wants to start Hartfield at
other positions.
“He’s so effective in other
positions — cornerback and
receiver,” he said. “I’m trying
to give him an opportunity
to do that if I can get these
two going. Right now it’s a
tight battle. Jelani is doing a
really great job and Terrance
is coming along well also.”
For M.L. King’s coach-
ing staff, under the recently
hired head coach Nicolas
Kashama, the tournament
allowed the staff to get in
more work with the team
and to get a good look at its
offense. Kashama said he
noticed his receivers drop-
ping too many balls.
“We have to do a better
job on that,” Kashama said.
“But as far as effort, the ef-
fort is there. We just have to
finish plays.”
Participating in the tour-
nament allowed McNair
players to get in extra repeti-
tions. Head coach Shelton
Carleton said the more
“reps” his team gets the bet-
ter they will get.
“That’s what it’s all
about,” Carleton said. “Every
time you line up you see dif-
ferent things; you get better.”
Wilcox said they plan
to expand the camp in the
future–invite more teams,
invite college recruiters and
find a larger facility.
“We want to start travel-
ing with the camp a little
bit,” Wilcox said. “We got a
lot of stuff we have to do in
order to improve the camp.”
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 23A
SPORTS
Decatur Bulldogs
Briarclif community
sports hosting reunion
World Cup gearing up more excitement for Atlanta’s future soccer team
Carla Parker
[email protected]
Sports Reporter
CARLA’S CORNER
The 2014 FIFA World Cup
opened June 12 in Brazil with the
host country winning 3-1 in an ex-
citing match against Croatia.
I watched most of the game and
was on the edge of my seat as Bra-
zil struggled in the beginning of
the match with an own-goal score
by Brazil’s Marcelo (last names not
available) to give Croatia a 1-0 lead
in the 11th minute of the match.
However, Brazil’s Neymar
became the star of the show as
he scored two goals, one on a
second-half penalty kick, to give
Brazil a comfortable 2-1 lead. Os-
car scored at the 90-minute mark
to give Brazil a 3-1 and the win.
I will admit that I am not the
biggest soccer fan in the world, but
I have always enjoyed watching the
World Cup and soccer during the
summer Olympics. I love watching
the passion of the fans and hear-
ing the game announcer scream
“GOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL”
after a team scores. I also enjoy
watching each country compete
as hard as it can to claim world-
bragging rights.
I still remember the disappoint-
ment I felt when the U S men’s na-
tional soccer team was eliminated
by Ghana, losing 2-1, in 2010
—failing yet again to win a World
Cup. However, I was also happy
to see Spain win its country’s first
World Cup.
Soccer may not be the most
watched sport in America, but I
believe it is becoming more popu-
lar every day and that was proven
in April when Major League Soc-
cer (MLS) announced that a team
is coming to Atlanta and will begin
play in 2017.
There was a lot of excitement
in the air when the announcement
was made, and Atlanta soccer fans
proudly wore the black, red and
gold colors of the future team.
With the World Cup currently in
action, it should build more excite-
ment for Atlanta’s MLS team.
Atlanta already has a large soc-
cer fan base with its international
population, and I believe that fan
base will grow once the team’s
name is announced and it begins
playing. I know I am getting more
excited as the days go by, and I
cannot wait to attend my first MLS
game in 2017.
I believe all of Atlanta sports
fans should feel the same way.

by Carla Parker
[email protected]
Players and coaches who participated in Briarcliff Com-
munity Sports will reminisce about the old days at the an-
nual Briarcliff Community Sports Reunion June 21.
The 3rd annual reunion will take place at Mason Mill
Park in Decatur from noon to 5 p.m. The reunion is for
former players and coaches who participated in baseball,
football and softball at Briarcliff Community Sports before
the organization dissolved in the 2000s.
“We’re just a bunch of old folks trying to get together and
reminisce,” said Joe Willingham, who was active in the or-
ganization from 1962 to 1974.
Briarcliff Community Sports was established in the early
1960s. Willingham joined the organization when his son
was 8-years-old and stayed as a coach until 1974. He said at
the time there were only two fields to play on: behind Kit-
tredge Elementary and at Thompson Park on Mason Mill
Road.
When the children got older, Willingham said they real-
ized they needed to have a place in the area for the “13, 14
and 15-year-old kids to play.”
“I was president at the time and I found out you can get
park and recreation money from federal sources to develop
things,” Willingham said. “So I went to Brince Manning Sr.,
the [DeKalb] commissioner at the time, and we applied for
and got money to build at Mason Mill Park. We built a ten-
nis center and two baseball fields.”
After the organization dissolved, due to the lack of chil-
dren in the area, the baseball fields close, and Mason Mill
Park became a recreation center and the DeKalb Tennis
Center. Although Briarcliff Community Sports is no longer
in existence, Willingham said the organization was good for
everyone in the community.
“I’ve always enjoyed it and the kids did too,” he said. “A
lot of the kids went on to play sports at [Briarcliff] High
School.”
Reunion attendees can bring food to the event. For more
information on the reunion, search Briarcliff Community
Sports on www.facebook.com.
Former players and coaches of Briarcliff Community Sports will gather
June 21 for the annual Briarcliff Community Sports Reunion.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 PAGE 24A
LOCAL NEWS
gone and many generations
have passed since then. The
neighborhood not only kept
people there, but it was a very
stable neighborhood. Not
a lot was torn down. It was
obviously a place people had
pride in, had what we call his-
toric integrity.”
Laub’s students ap-
proached the neighborhood
association, NANA, and
asked if residents might be
interested in participating
in the historic designation
process. They were, and the
students completed the highly
detailed application process,
only asking neighbors to pay
for their printing costs.
“When I became president
four years ago, they asked us
if we would be willing to sup-
port it and get some of the
original homeowners togeth-
er to share photographs and
share stories and memories.
We had several community
meetings where we got that
together for them,” Flynt said.
Residents turned out in
droves, and the neighbor-
hood was accepted to the
Georgia Register of Historic
Places Feb. 22, 2013. This
new designation means that
the neighborhood is eligible
for certain tax provisions and
grants. However, the designa-
tion is not binding, so resi-
dents may choose to renovate
their houses in any style they
wish.
“We were incredibly sup-
portive of it because we’re
very proud of that designa-
tion,” Flynt said.
Flynt also said another
resident, Cindy Bradford,
has been instrumental in
driving the public force be-
hind the designation. Brad-
ford helped spearhead a new
signage drive, paid for by
NANA donations, that reflect
the community’s iconic style.
“It’s one of the only com-
munities like this in the area,”
Flynt said. “Some of them are
in impeccable condition and
some of them are not. We
are hoping that people will
preserve their homes in that
way.”
In addition to the students
and the grassroots effort by
residents, Doraville Mayor
Donna Pittman also has
been a proponent of getting
the neighborhood recognized
for its historic value.
“It’s really, really exciting,”
she said. “It’s one of the older
communities that we have.
There were a lot of North-
woods citizens that were
involved with it, and we are
excited and honored.
“It certainly puts our name
on the map in a very positive
way. We have a lot of good
things happening, and it’s one
of the better things that we
have going on now,” Pittman
said.
Longtime resident Malo-
ney agreed.
“I think it’s great for the
Doraville community as a
whole. We needed something
like this to give Doraville a
little recognition and some
boost trying to get people to
come here and stay here,” he
said.
“My roots are deep here,
still living right next to where
I was born. I have told people
I probably plan to die here in
Doraville.”
Doraville Continued From Page 11A
From left, 2621 McClave Drive was the home of architect Ernest Mastin and family. Architect Ernest Mastin and his wife Anita with Northwoods Area Neighborhood
Association president Bonnie Flynt at a retro cocktail reception for the
neighborhood.