FreePress: 10-11-2013

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Weekly newspaper and legal organ for DeKalb County, GA. Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain.

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Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain.

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school approved a separation agreement with her. Shortly after Thurmond was hired, six members of the school board were suspended and replaced by Gov. Nathan Deal after the school district was placed on accreditation probation by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the agency that accredits the school district through its parent company, AdvancED. Thurmond said he decided to stay in the position longer “to continue to stabilize the district.” “My ultimate goal, of course, is to turn it over to a permanent superintendent, a more traditional superintendent,” he said. “We’ve made a significant amount of progress but there’s work to be done and I think it’s just in the best interest of the

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DeKalb school superintendent no longer interim
by Andrew Cauthen [email protected] The DeKalb County school board voted unanimously Oct. 7 to extend Superintendent Mike Thurmond’s contract until June 2015. The audience applauded and school board chairman Melvin Johnson hugged Thurmond after the vote. “Mr. Superintendent, congratulations,” Johnson said. “You are no longer interim; you’re the superintendent.” “I’m excited and I’m proud and I’m delighted that the board demonstrated their support for what we’re trying to accomplish in our work,” Thurmond after the board meeting. “I’m just looking forward to coming to work tomorrow and continuing to try to move the district forward. Thurmond said he is

Thurmond

“blessed to be surrounded by great individuals, outstanding educators who are very focused. We’ve got great stakeholders. Clearly from all objective accounts we’re moving in the right direction and I’m just excited to be able to continue in that regard.” Thurmond, a former commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor, replaced Cheryl Atkinson after the

Joanna Richardson occasionally dances in the Atlanta area, where she grew up.

Decatur dancer is living her dream with the world-famous Rockettes
by Kathy Mitchell [email protected] s the daughter of the owner of Vista Grove Dance Center in Decatur, Joanna Richardson found learning to dance as natural as learning to walk. She started taking lessons at age 3 from her mother, a professional dancer who has appeared in such Broadway hits as Hello, Dolly. “As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a dancer,” Richardson said. Then when she was in the eighth or ninth grade something happened that pulled her ambition into focus. The Rockettes—the high-kicking, precisionformation dance troupe out of New York City’s Radio City Music Hall—came to the Atlanta area, and her mother took her to see them. “I knew I had to be part of that,” she recalled. At age 18 she went to New York for her first audition. When she wasn’t selected, she was disappointed, but not discouraged. The year she initially auditioned, Richardson was one of more than 400 young women demonstrating proficiency in in a range of dance styles, including ballet, tap and modern. On her fourth try, she finally got the call offering her a spot with one of the touring companies.

See Thurmond on Page 15A

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Federal employees and members of the Atlanta Rainbow Push Coalition protested in front of Atlanta’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention Oct. 8. Officials at the CDC said that the shutdown is preventing the center from performing important public health research. Photo by Daniel Beauregard

Government shut down takes a toll on some in DeKalb County
by Daniel Beauregard [email protected] As lawmakers continue to debate the solution to the government shutdown, the lack of funding for federal programs is taking its toll on residents in DeKalb County. One institution being drastically affected by the shutdown is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Decatur. CDC was the site of a protest Oct. 8 as a dozen people gathered there to protest the government shut down.  Janice Mathis, vice president of the Atlanta chapter of

the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, said that she blamed House Republicans for the shutdown. Mathis and several others “We’re out here to make a point that it’s time for our representatives to find a solution and put our government back to work,” Mathis said. “We’re putting people’s lives, aspira-

She remembers breathlessly calling her mother to tell her the news, “I was so proud and honored to have been chosen,” she said, calling her mother, Cory Richardson, her biggest cheerleader. Even the auditions in which she wasn’t chosen were valuable learning experiences, Richardson said. She has now been part of one of the world’s most famous dance troupes since 2005. A central feature of Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular since the 1930s, the Rockettes are known for their precision as well as their ability to perform their signature eye-high rapid kicks. “I’m not naturally that flexible,” Richardson confessed. “It has taken a lot of practice to get there—night after night of stretching and moving while I was watching television.” While for many of their numbers the Rockettes create the illusion of one dancer duplicated 20 times, it’s not true that they are all precisely the same height, Richardson said. “There is a height range—and you must fall in that range to audition—but we are lined up with the tallest girls in the middle so it looks as though we are all the same height,” she said. Being chosen is only the start of the journey, Richard-

See Furlough on Page 15A

See Rockettes on Page 15A

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

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Oakhurst Elementary School’s second annual health fair featured dancing, exercising, planting and vegetable tasting Oct. 4. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

Oakhurst Elementary students learn ‘healthy can be fun’
by Andrew Cauthen [email protected] Students at Oakhurst Elementary School in Decatur danced, planted, played, stretched and washed as part the school’s second annual Health and Wellness Fall Festival Oct. 4. “A day like today is important because it shows [students] that being healthy can be fun,” said Elizabeth Hanna, coordinator of school health for City Schools of Decatur. “It engages them and really helps them learn in a way that’s different than what they’re doing in the classroom.” Outside and inside the building, several health education stations were set up. Students learned about germs at a hand-washing station. At a teambuilding station, a sign read, “I can work with my friends to solve problems and share challenges.” At this station, students participated in a group juggle where they tossed stuffed animals to each other while in a circle. Students sampled two types of lettuce and planted seeds in garden as they
See Oakhurst on Page 3A

日 本 も C み じ 祭

Gibbs Gardens presents The Japanese Maples Festival
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” ~ Albert Camus

elebrate autumn at Gibbs Gardens’ Japanese Maples Festival from October 1 through November 15. More than 2,000 Japanese maples in 100 varieties paint a gold, yellow, orange and flame red panorama on every vista. Hundreds of bright red Burning Bush and thousands of vibrant yellow Sweetshrub blend with the remarkable reds of Sourwood, Sassafras and Dogwood trees to color the hills with sweeping splashes of color. Our blossom-filled eight-acre Wildflower Meadow carpets the fields in shades of yellow, gold, purple and red. Jim Gibbs invites you to experience the serene beauty of Japanese culture set against the singular splendor of the largest Japanese Gardens in the nation on Saturday and Sunday, October 26 & 27 and November 2 & 3. Learn about the Japanese arts of ikebana, origami, kimono dressing, the Japanese green tea ceremony, bonsai, Japanese calligraphy . . . and so much more.

GI B B S GA R D E N S
SEASONS OF COLOR
®

1987 Gibbs Drive Ball Ground, GA 30107 770-893-1880 www.gibbsgardens.com
 

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

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DeKalb teacher found fatally shot in Atlanta
by Carla Parker [email protected] A Martin Luther King Jr. High School social studies teacher was gunned down Sept. 28 during a block party in downtown Atlanta. Joe Frierson IV, 37, was found with a fatal gunshot wound on Walker Street. According to police, officers responding to the Castleberry Hill neighborhood on an unrelated call found Frierson in the grass. The case remains under investigation and no arrests have been made, according to reports. Frierson, who performed as rapper “Bravo Young” part time, was in his first year at M. L. King and previously taught social studies at Clarkston High School. On his First Class webpage, Frierson wrote that his belief in education is seeded deeply in his spirituality. “I truly believe that I am predestined to make my contribution to humanity in the classroom or at least my journey begins with my students,” he said. “My true passion or with children.” On his online obituary, friends, co-workers and students described Frierson as great teacher and a hero. “Not only did I have the privilege of working with Joe at Clarkston High School but I also worked with his father in Atlanta Public Schools,” Bobbi Sterin wrote. “Joe followed in his father’s footsteps. He made American history truly exciting! He taught ‘out of the box!’ Joe was a caring, phenomenal teacher who was loaded with personality.” “I am shocked and devastated by the loss of a true hero,” Rebekah Carrington wrote. “Mr. Frierson, as I knew him at Clarkston High School, was a true role model for students who didn’t have one. I have nothing but grief in my heart for the students who will never know him, and true joy for the honor of knowing him; however brief.” Frierson was laid to rest Oct. 4. He leaves behind his wife, parents and two sisters.

OAKHURST Continued From Page 2A
learned about vegetables in the outdoor classroom. “Every child is planting something,” said Mary Mack, Oakhurst Elementary’s principal. “They will have the opportunity to watch those things grow. They’ll come back out, they’ll harvest it and then they’ll eat some of it or some of it will be delivered to a food bank.” At the Spanish station students learned to dance the merengue while exploring other cultures. “They’re learning why it’s important to wash their hands, how that can keep them healthy,” Hanna said. “They’re learning about food and how healthy food can fuel your body and your brain. They’re learning about the pleasure in movements—dancing, doing calisthenics and various interactive games.” Marcia Bryant-Fowler, an instructional coach at the school said the event was “a celebration of health education.” “It really started about three years ago when I started working with the school counselor and the school nurse,” Bryant-Fowler said. “We started to look at a way to make health education more engaging. “The bottom line is we wanted them to start the foundation for making healthy choices and to be fit,” she said. “It started out in the classroom and we thought a good way during fall is to get everyone outside and engaged. Although it’s a lot of fun, everything has an instructional focus.” Bryant-Fowler said parents gave very positive feedback last year after the pilot program. “Last year we were careful to create a blueprint so that other schools can follow that,” Bryant-Fowler said. “Other schools actually use that blueprint to create their own version of the health and wellness festival. We’re excited that something we started here is spreading.”

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OPINION
One Man’s Opinion

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11 , 2013

No way to run a country
ing resolutions are funding what remains of essential government services, and all of government prior to the shutdown, as the United States government enters its fifth consecutive fiscal year without Congress and the White House being able to reach agreement and produce a budget. I never thought I would yearn for a return to the White House by President Bill Clinton, but he knew and understood that there was almost always a middle ground and a solution that could be found—if you were willing to listen and willing to actually try. Workfare, the line item veto, the first balanced budgets since the 1950s—each of these major governmental reforms came after Clinton and the Democratic Party badly lost the 1994 mid-term elections and the GOP gained power and the control of Congress.  House Speaker Newt Gingrich later overreached, pouted in the back of Air Force One, badly managed and messaged an earlier government shutdown and then began accepting advances on a book deal all too similar to the one he used to chase former Speaker Jim Wright out of office. Regardless of party or political style, voters have a low threshold for hypocrisy. Yes, I’m clear that President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are absolute in their resolve that Congress (or at least the U.S. Senate) will pay no visitation, debate or votes to discuss revisions or delay implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This massive multi-trillion-dollar legislation, which continues weekly to deliver new costs, unintended consequences and major glitches in service delivery, passed only by the narrowest of straight party vote margins. Even in the U.S. House, where at the time Democrats enjoyed a healthy majority, the act passed after midnight by only seven votes.  And while House Speaker John Boehner and his GOP majority may look like the “party of No,” Congressional Republicans have actually suggested and offered multiple alternatives and pilots to this omnibus bill and even taken the first steps toward a compromise on the budget impasse by requesting a one-year delay in the individual mandate of the ACA. Though perhaps an ill-advised strategy, it is an effort toward finding a solution. I’m not choosing sides here. I think both parties and their respective leadership are playing a game of brinkmanship which only lessens America in the eyes of the world, de-stabilizes our nascent economic recovery and frankly jeopardizes the long held belief that the American economy is the only one in the world actually too big to fail. Heard that one before? Compromise does not always bear out the best or most long-lasting solutions. The 1986 Immigration Reform Act comes to mind.  That said, complicated problems unfortunately also required multilayered and complex solutions. And compromise or meeting in the middle is as old and well-established and appropriate adult behavior as sharing. And yet strangely in this anti-matter universe Washington we can all view on T.V., our few remaining WWII veterans are being denied wheelchair access to a memorial built in their honor—and the bad actors involved in leading this nonsense can’t even be bothered to share the blame.  We deserve better, America, and though I am hardly advocating taking pitchforks and torches to Washington, D.C., this mess needs clean up and there need to be real political consequences. Keep all these same folks in place, and don’t expect any real improvements or changes come 2015.

“As soon as we get a clean piece of legislation that reopens the government—and there is a majority for that right now in the House of Representatives—until we get that done, until we make sure that Congress allows Treasury to pay for things that Congress already authorized, we are not going to engage in a series of negotiations.”—President Barack Obama on CNBC. It is almost as if all of Washington’s political elite and leadership are now living on Bizarro World, where only absolutes and backwards logic rule. Playing the blame game and finger-pointing at the other side seem to have long ago trumped conducting the people’s business.  Come Oct. 17, the nation is again expected to reach its multitrillion-dollar debt ceiling, and yet this president and both chambers of Congress have been simply content to repeatedly kick this can down the road, without making any real, structural and lasting spending, budget or revenue reforms for more than three years now. Continu-

Bill Crane also serves as a political analyst and commentator for Channel 2’s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk 750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a columnist for The Champion, 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.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

OPINION

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It’s all their fault
ugly squabbles that do nothing but make things worse. It reminds you of those stories about lottery winners who, given an instant fortune, immediately squander it and wind up broke. One of the popular misconceptions about this sad state of affairs is that it’s equally the fault of all concerned — Democrats as well as Republicans. Polls taken beforehand indicate that only about 45 percent of Americans would blame the Republicans for the government shutdown. A third think the Democrats are at Donald Kaul fault. And an additional 13 percent say both are to blame. Guest Columnist No. Not true. Wrong. This mess — the shutdown as well as the looming debt ceiling Everyone pretty much agrees that crisis — is entirely a Republican what’s going on in Washington right Party production. The Republicans now ranks up there with the dumbcreated it out of thin air, motivated est, most destructive episodes in our by a fear of the tea party and an odd history. obsession with standing in the way We are a great and powerful of an expansion of health care for country, on the cusp of achieving millions of Americans who are gothat “Shining City upon a Hill” ing without it. status that Puritan leader John They’ve called the Affordable Winthrop talked about nearly 400 Care Act a train wreck, a disaster, years ago. and another Pearl Harbor. I mean it. We have the ability to What utter nonsense. It is inhave it all: peace, prosperity, health, stead a law passed by Congress and happiness. signed by the president of the UnitInstead we see our governed States, who then won re-election ment locked in a series of petty, by five million votes. The Supreme

The shutdown as well as the looming debt ceiling crisis is entirely a Republican Party production.

Court has ruled it constitutional. What more do you want, the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval? Republicans say that polls show that a slim majority of Americans don’t support the law. What they don’t say is that a full quarter of those people favor a further extension of the law, not repeal. The opposition to it is largely the result of the constant drumfire of lies, exaggerations, and propaganda that Republicans have sent out over the past two years. The law isn’t perfect — no one claims it is — but the message from the voters is clear: Don’t kill it, make it better. Another general misconception is that the national debt is our biggest problem and the budget must be cut to shave it. No and no. Cutting government spending in hard times only makes times harder. We’re already hurting the economy by cutting government employment too much. You can’t cut your way out of a recession. That’s what Europe is trying to do, with dismal results. The time to cut spending is when things are going good. Jobs or the lack of them is the biggest problem right now. Yet another misconception is that

the fallout from a failure to raise the debt limit would not be that big a deal. It would be. Shutting down the government is a bad idea but somehow we’ll stagger through it out to the other side. If we default on our debts, however, it would be a catastrophe that would bring our economy to its knees and have ramifications that stretch far into the future. You don’t mess with something like that. You don’t try to make it into a bargaining chip. You spent the money and now it’s time pay for what you bought. If that demands a higher level of debt, so be it. President Barack Obama is right to refuse to even consider giving in to the threats of the House Republicans. If he were to bargain on the debt ceiling, he would leave himself and the nation open to continued blackmail. What I really don’t understand is why normal, sensible Republicans — conservative but reasonable — are allowing their party to be taken over by a gang of lame-brained thugs.

OtherWords columnist Donald Kaul lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. OtherWords.org

FreePress
Let Us Know What You Think!
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS encourages opinions from its readers. Please write to us and express your views. Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain the writer’s name, address and telephone number for verification. All letters will be considered for publication.
Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P. O. Box 1347, Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send E-Mail to [email protected] FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779 Deadline for news releases and advertising: Thursday, one week prior to publication date. EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contributing editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement at any time. The Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts.

Publisher: John Hewitt Chief Financial Officer Dr. Earl D. Glenn Managing Editor: Kathy Mitchell News Editor: Andrew Cauthen Production Manager: Kemesha Hunt Photographer: Travis Hudgons The Champion Free Press is published each Friday by ACE III Communications, Inc., 114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030 Phone (404) 373-7779.

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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 assumptions penned as fact.

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

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DeKalb hosts third annual International Food & Music Festival
The third annual DeKalb International Food & Music Festival will be held Oct. 19, noon – 6 p.m. at Northlake Mall, 4800 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta. Coordinated by DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson, the festival will feature multicultural cuisine and entertainment representing more than 32 countries. Retail vendors will highlight their respective country’s markets. “We are excited to bring back the DeKalb International Food & Music Festival and I am confident that the festival will unite the dynamic blend of cultures and traditions that continue to exist in our county,” Watson said. The festival’s organizing committee includes Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May; former DeKalb CEO and state senator Liane Levetan; DeKalb Chamber of Commerce; DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Champion Newspaper and representatives from the Asian, European, West Indian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic and African communities. “As Georgia’s most diverse county, we are proud to have numerous cultural groups call DeKalb home, this event is a great look at DeKalb’s vibrant population, traditions and cultures,” May said. There will also be an interactive Children’s Village with bouncy houses, puppet shows, face painting and additional festival surprises for the kids. In addition, agencies with an objective to serve the interests of the international community are encouraged to attend. Proceeds from the festival will be donated to the DeKalb County Police Alliance to use toward the insurance premium that covers sworn county and municipal law enforcement officers in DeKalb County. To date, festival sponsors include Gas South, Frontier Management, Georgia Pacific, Georgia Power, CH2M Hill and Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited. Festival admission and parking are free. Food vendors will price their products and taste samples. The Children’s Village has a one-time, all-day admission cost of $10. For more information, call (404) 371-7031 or (404) 3713681.

Champion of the Week
Melissa Schoene
Melissa Schoene of Decatur has always been an animal lover, specifically dogs and cats. So it is no surprise that an advertisement from the DeKalb County Animal Services promoting its C.H.A.R.M (Changing Habits And Reinforcing Manners) program caught her attention. “I started going once a week then I just kept going and going and now I go all the time,” she said. Schoene, a chemistry teacher at Georgia Perimeter College, said she has always had a love for animals. “I’ve had pets all my life and have always considered them part of the family,” she said. She has been volunteering at the animal shelter for a year and a half. Some of her duties include transporting animals, fostering animals, walking the dogs and helping train the dogs. Schoene, who has two dogs and two cats, said she always feels good after leaving the shelter. “I love the appreciation that the dogs give you for just being out of their cage and having someone show them attention and get them out in the sunshine and grass,” she said. “To watch a dog sit in a cage for 23 hours and then get outside and roll in the grass that’s just makes me feel happy.” The DeKalb Animal Shelter is currently run by Lifeline Animal Project Inc., a program that is working to end the euthanasia of healthy and treatable dogs and cats in animal shelters. Schoene said volunteering at the shelter is a great service for those who love animals and she added that Lifeline needs more volunteers. “No experience is necessary and it doesn’t take any time at all,” she said. “You can [volunteer] for 15 minutes or an hour. There really is something to do at the shelter for anybody who likes animals.”

Correction in “Charges dismissed against wrongly accused man”
In the Oct. 3 issue of The Champion and the Oct. 4 issue is of The Champion Free Press, an article titled “Charges dismissed against wrongly accused man” reported that on Sept. 24, NAACP leaders announced that charges were dropped against Nathan Dwight, who was accused of carjacking a woman in 2009. According to a statement released by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office on Oct. 7, the office decided to not bring charges against Dwight because the victim of the carjacking “expressed her desire not to participate as a primary witness in another trial following her experience in Rockdale County.” “Out of respect for her wishes, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office made a decision not to bring formal charges,” the statement read. “Furthermore, without her testimony, it would not be possible to move forward with these charges. “DNA evidence, or lack thereof, had no bearing on the dismissal.”

If you would like to nominate someone to be considered as a future Champion of the Week, please contact Kathy Mitchell at [email protected] or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 104.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

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Lakeside to host basketball clinic The Lakeside High School Tip-Off Club is hosting a “No School” Basketball Clinic Oct. 14, 9-2 p.m. in the Lakeside High School Gym. Boys and girls in grades two through eight of all skill levels are invited to join the Lakeside coaches and players for a day of fun, instruction and scrimmages. The cost is $45 for pre-registration and $50 on the day of the clinic. The event will include a pizza lunch. For more information or to register, contact Susie Adams at [email protected] or call (404) 754-3676. Fernbank to celebrate National Fossil Day Fernbank Science Center is hosting its annual National Fossil Day on Saturday, Oct. 19. From 12:30 to 4 p.m., the center will be full of displays of fossils and fun activities for all ages, including the ever-popular shark tooth dig. Fernbank geologist Bill Witherspoon will make a presentation, and there will be samples of Georgia fossils for sale. National Fossil Day is a nationwide celebration organized by the National Park Service to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational value. Sites all across the country host their own events. Fernbank Science Center’s Fossil Day has become one of the center’s most popular events. Fernbank Science Center is located at 156 Heaton Park Drive, Atlanta. For more information, call (678) 874-7102 or visit www.fsc.fernbank.edu.

Library to host book sale The Friends of the Clarkston Library will host a book sale Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Books for all ages will be on sale. The Clarkston Library is located at 951 North Indian Creek Drive. For more information, call (404) 508-7175.
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Fish fry to aid the homeless Lady T’s Homeless Ministry is holding a fish fry fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 12, 1-5 p.m.at Clairmont Presbyterian Church, 1994 Clairmont Road, Decatur. There will be a live band with a DJ, a 50/50 raffle, face painting and other family entertainment. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 years old and younger. Donations of cases of water and packages of men’s white socks will be appreciated. Session to teach writers how to earn income The presentation Funding Streams for Writers Saturday, Oct.12, at the Decatur Recreation Center, will offer writers ideas for earning income “from several directions and how to better organize your writing journey so that it begins to earn an income, including through grants, contests, magazines, eBooks and more. Learn to incorporate several resources into your writing plan.” Presented by C. Hope Clark, editor of FundsforWriters.com, selected for Writer’s Digest’s 101 Best Websites for Writers for the past 13 years. Clark’s work has appeared in

Writer’s Digest, The Writer, The Guide to Literary Agents, Writer’s Markets, and the upcoming Guide to Indie Publishing by Writer’s Digest Books. Clark is also author of The Carolina Slade Mystery Series, published by Bell Bridge Books, which include the award-winning Lowcountry Bribe and Tidewater Murder. The session, which will be noon - 2 p.m., is a partnership between the Georgia Writers’ Association and DeKalb County Public Library. The Decatur Recreation Center is located at 207 Sycamore Street, Decatur.

www.dunwoodypto.com. Dunwoody Elementary School is located at 1923 Womack Road, Dunwoody.

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Church to celebrate 114th anniversary Turner Monumental AME Church will observe its 114th Church anniversary during the morning service on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m. The speaker is the Rev. Jai S. Haithco Sr., the newly appointed pastor of this Kirkwood community church. The theme for this celebration is “1899 – 2013: A Journey on the Old Ship of Zion.” Turner Monumental AME is located at 66 Howard Street, NE, Atlanta. The public is also invited to attend the Captain’s Ball immediately following the morning service. This special event will feature upbeat musical selections, festivities and a variety of food/beverages. Attire for this anniversary celebration is church wear, dressy or after 5 chic. For more information, contact the church office at (404) 3785970.

in Tucker. The series, now in its 15th season, was conceived “to offer the community quality performances, in a wonderful facility and to provide artists a place to perform.” No tickets are sold and no admission is charged. The audience is offered an opportunity to give an offering. Lawrenceville Road Methodist Church is located at 3142 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker. Taste of Tucker to offer food, music Taste of Tucker returns for the fourth year Saturday, Oct. 19, on Main Street, 1-6 p.m. While bands perform on a raised stage, attendees can purchase tickets that allow them to sample food from a bazaar of local restaurants. Proceeds will support the charitable work of NETworks Cooperative Ministry, a coalition of 20 area churches that provides emergency assistance for rent, utility bills and food for those in need. Mouth-watering fare will be available in a wide variety of tastes. Restaurants featured include Matthew’s Cafeteria, Greater Good Bar-B-Q, Marlow’s Tavern, Longhorn Steaks and Local 7. There will be ethnic cuisine from Grecian Gyro, Kochi Sushi & Hibachi, and Las Colinas. Desserts will be offered from Sweet Dee’s. The music headliners are Five Star Iris, an alternative rock band that has performed in 17 countries, and rockabilly favorite BO5 (Buck O’ Five). The designated charity, NETworks, in 2012 assisted 1,126 clients, provided nearly $32,000 in housing and utility assistance and distributed more than 28,000 pounds of food. For more information, visit www.tasteoftucker. com.  

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Tour de Dunwoody biking event set for Oct. 19 Dunwoody’s third annual Tour de Dunwoody bike event is set for Saturday, Oct. 19. With the help of the Dunwoody Police Department, participants can enjoy a 3-mile family fun ride around Dunwoody. Cyclists will leave from Dunwoody Elementary School, travel south on Tilly Mill to Peeler then back to the school through the Village Mill neighborhood. The younger participants can join a “Trike Ride” and a “Cub Ride”–two shorter routes through the Dunwoody Elementary School parking lot. Sponsors for the event include Kaplan Orthodontics; Dunwoody Nature Center; Strength in Moms; Huntington Learning Center; Primrose School of Dunwoody; Mad Italian; Chandler, Britt, Jay, Beck & Zwald; RMZ Properties; Account & Compliance Consulting; FundAmerica; Sweets ‘n Dreams; Mathnasium; Dunwoody Homeowner’s Association; Farm Burger and more. Register by going to the Dunwoody Elementary School PTO website at

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Rock group to perform at church fundraiser United Methodist Men at Lawrenceville Road on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. will feature Tom Hill and the Midnight Suns as part of its Music for Missions series. Tom Hill and the Midnight Suns, according to the sponsors, is “a very popular rock and roll band whose quality and easy listening music will remind the audience of the golden age of rock and roll.” Music for Missions is a program sponsored by Lawrenceville Road United Methodist Church

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

local news

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DeKalb County Fire Rescue personnel responded to a fire set in the lobby of Peachcrest Elementary School Oct. 6. The school has been repeatedly vandalized since it closed in 2011. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

Fire started at closed Peachcrest Elementary
by Andrew Cauthen [email protected] Smoke escaped from windows and doors at Peachcrest Elementary School on Oct. 6 as multiple DeKalb County Fire Rescue units responded to an afternoon fire there. DeKalb County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief William Roberts said fire personnel “had a quick knock down of the fire.” “Upon arrival, we [found] a small fire set in the lobby area of the school here,” Roberts said. “We had the units go in and check everything out. It looks like we’ve had some forced entry from some vandals, possibly. It’s hard to say at this time.” “I think someone was in there and either deliberately or accidentally started a fire,” said Janet Reisenwitz, who has lived a block from the school since her family moved into the then newly developed neighborhood in the 1950s. “I think it’s malicious. I think a lot of kids go in there and destroy things. I believe it was children [or] young adults.” Peachcrest Elementary has been plagued with vandalism since it was closed by the school district in 2011. Scores of window panes have been broken and then boarded up. Various rooms in the building have been ransacked. Reisenwitz, who attended Peachcrest from grades one through seven, said she is heartbroken about the condition of the school. “I’m just saddened by what it’s become,” Reisenwitz said. “It’s been deserted. They closed the school and right after that the break-ins started.” Reisenwitz said she has witnessed “people coming and hanging out and staying in the school.” “It’s dangerous,” she said. “It’s just not a safe place for anybody to be.” Reisenwitz said she has called police several times about various incidents at the school. “I’m very protective of this school,” she said. “It was my childhood.” The fire is being investigated by arson investigators and school district police.

local news Decatur Police asking neighborhoods to join community alerts website
The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013 by Carla Parker [email protected] will not hinder ongoing investigations,” she said. Residents were recently alertThe Decatur Police Departed about three overnight burment is using a website to send glaries in Winonna Park and the information about criminal acSouth Candler Street areas Sept. tivity to Decatur communities. 29. The first burglary happened The Nation of Neighbors at 1:32 a.m. at a home in the 500 (NON) is a website that sends block of Kirk Road. Ross said crime alerts, updates and inforthe homeowners reported hearmation to residents. The police ing their burglar alarm activate department said there are curand then hearing a commotion rently six Decatur communities downstairs. that have joined NON and the Officers located a cut in the department is hoping more will. screen door leading to a rear The communities a participating porch, which had previously in NON are Sycamore Ridge, been latched. A screen had been Decatur Heights, Oakhurst, removed from an unsecured Lenox Place, Winnona Park and rear window leading from the Parkwood Park. porch into the living room, acSgt. Jennifer Ross said the cording to police. A television department started posting on was ripped from its mounting NON in July and the feedback bracket and taken from the livhas been positive. ing room. “There are new members No items were taken in the joining every day,” Ross said. second burglary, which hap“There are many other Decatur pened at 2:18 a.m., according communities and neighborhoods to police. Police responded to a that could benefit if someone burglar alarm in the 100 block will take the initiative to esof Hilldale Drive. The hometablish the boundaries for their owner told the alarm company community, neighborhood or someone had attempted to open street, invite their neighbors to the front window, but the person join and manage membership were unsure if they had gained approval if you choose to restrict entry, according to police. Ofmembership to confirmed neigh- ficers checked the residence and bors.” found a window on the front of This site gives residents the the house opened approximately option to control how often they 3 inches. receive the alerts. Membership At 10:15 a.m., police recan also be restricted to those sponded to the 200 block of confirmed to live in the commu- Buchanan Terrace in reference nity or neighborhood. to a burglary. The homeowner “The site works as a webreported he went to sleep the based community watch and previous night at approximately network to enable neighbors to 11 p.m. and woke to find a storshare local crime, suspicious ac- age closet door, which was pretivity and other community con- viously secured with a padlock, cerns in real time,” Ross said. opened. “An example would be a resi“It appeared the latch was dent having a suspicious person pried off,” Ross said. “Miscelcome to their door and sending laneous tools were missing from an alert to their neighbors or the the storage closet. An officer lopolice department sending an cated the missing tools inside of alert regarding recent burglaries a vehicle parked in the carport.” in the area via the NON site.” There was also a bicycle Ross said the department missing from the front porch of does not post information about the residence. An auto burglary every case filed or investigated was reported at the residence on NON. across the street. An unsecured “The site is utilized to provehicle was entered and a walvide more detailed information let was taken. A bicycle that did about critical cases, current not belong to either victim was crime trends and issues and located in the second victim’s crime prevention information front yard, according to police. when the release of information

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Decatur Commissioner Scott Drake, Mayor Pro Tem Kecia Cunningham, Commissioner Patti Garrett and Eric Bosman, president of the Georgia chapter of the American Planning Association, stands in the gazebo after the city was presented the award from Bosman.

Downtown Decatur named a Top 10 Great Neighborhood for 2013
The American Planning Association (APA) announced the designation of downtown Decatur as one of 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2013. Each year during National Community Planning Month, APA’s Great Places in America program names 30 exemplary neighborhoods, streets and public spaces to highlight the role planning and planners play in adding value to communities, including fostering economic growth and jobs. APA singled out downtown Decatur for the neighborhood’s emphasis on sustainability, transportation alternatives and mixed uses; community engagement and long-term commitment to downtown revitalization; and measures to protect neighborhood character, such as building height limits so as to not compromise the downtown skyline. “Our downtown neighborhood, built around a traditional courthouse square, is the heart and soul of Decatur and continues to evolve into a thriving, mixed-use center that is walkable, safe and inviting for people of all ages,” Mayor Jim Baskett said. “We are honored to be recognized by the American Planning Association as a Great American Neighborhood.” APA CEO Paul Farmer said downtown Decatur is a longtime proponent of sustainable practices considering the first trolley line to operate between Decatur and Atlanta dates back to the 1840s. “Through its plans and revitalization efforts, downtown Decatur is managing change so the neighborhood is attractive to people of all ages, from new professionals to families with children to retirees,” he said. Guiding downtown Decatur’s redevelopment was the 1982 Decatur Town Center Plan, which came out of a citizen-based advisory board. Among the plan’s recommendations: renovating the MARTA station and implementing various smart growth measures, including adding more downtown housing and making the area more pedestrian friendly. To improve the MARTA station and enhance the surrounding streetscape, the city made improvements valued at more than $10 million during the past 25 years. The station–which connects Decatur to Atlanta and lies beneath Old Courthouse Square–had been an aesthetic concern since opening in 1979. To enhance downtown for pedestrians, lane widths for downtown streets were reduced; sidewalks were widened; more than 400 street trees were planted; and public art and upgraded street furnishings were added. Also, new public parking located behind buildings encouraged visitors to “park once” and then walk where they need to go. The city also added dedicated bicycle lanes throughout downtown, doubled the number of bike racks, and made Zipcars and scooter parking available.

Correction in “DeKalb school board to vote on demolishing Briarcliff High School”
In the Sept. 26, 2013 issue of The Champion Newspaper and Sept. 27, 2013, issue of The Champion Free Press, the “DeKalb school board to vote on demolishing Briarcliff High School” article contained incorrect information. The DeKalb County School District is considering whether it will sell, reuse or demolish Briarcliff High School. A member of the Briarcliff High School Coalition said he was told that the demolition of the building could cost between $500,000-$750,000. The Briarcliff site was once used as a location for shooting MTV’s Teen Wolf series. The Champion apologizes for the errors.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

local news

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Oglethorpe University student Awet Woldegebriel has set out to show a different side of homelessness with his new film series “One Hundred Cups, One Hundred Stories.” Photos provided

Student seeks to dispel stigma of homelessness
by Daniel Beauregard [email protected] Oglethorpe University student Awet Goitom Woldegebriel said he wants to break through the misconception that most homeless people are alcoholics, drug addicts or are homeless because of bad life choices. He has created a short film series to highlight stories of Georgia’s diverse homeless population titled “One Hundred Cups, One Hundred Stories.” Throughout the series, viewers will meet 100 Georgians from vastly different walks of life: families, military veterans, those with professional degrees, and former business owners who are part of the state’s 75,000 homeless. Each story is chronicled online at www.100hundredcups100stories. com. “In the end this is someone’s mom, someone’s sister or someone’s little brother and I’m sure they didn’t expect this to be their life,” Woldegebriel said. “These people do not ask for this—some of them have made mistakes in their life, I don’t want to shy away from that, but we all make mistakes.” Also involved in the project is filmmaker Arthur Thompson, a graduate of New York’s Pratt University, Nick Kostopoulos, a screenwriter and recent graduate of the University of Southern California and Chloey Mayo, a writer/photographer and Oglethorpe alumna. He is now a junior at Oglethorpe and works at the Coca Cola Company but when Woldegebriel first came to the United States, he was a refugee from Eritrea, located on the horn of Africa. Woldegebriel said the word homelessness, much like the word refugee, has a powerful stigma attached to it that isn’t always accurate. Crime shows such as Law & Order and CSI usually depict the homeless as people who are criminals, drug addicts or mentally disabled. Although that may be true in some cases, Woldegebriel said, perpetuating this idea makes it easier for people to excuse themselves from feeling compassion for them. “It’s used an excuse to make us not feel sorry,” Woldegebriel said. “I want someone to say, ‘Why don’t I try to get to know them?’ and it’s hard to do that with the stigma we’ve created throughout society.” The project is entirely dedicated to creating awareness, Woldegebriel said, and is currently in its fourth month. “We’ve learned that many of the homeless population in our local area don’t ‘fit the mold,’ as it were….they do not all fit the stereotype of a lifetime drunk who never went to school or a prostitute who’s always been hooked on drugs. They do not live under a bridge. Many are families, students, hard-working adults and most importantly, our neighbors,” Woldegebriel said. According to the Metro Atlanta

Task Force for the Homeless, 40-60 percent of the country’s homeless have jobs and the fastest growing demographic of homeless persons is children under the age of nine. Atlanta is the poorest city in the United States for children–more children in Atlanta live in poverty than in any other city, according to the task force. “By introducing people [who are more stable] to the homeless in their community, we are hoping to generate dialogue and a sense of urgency to help others.” Woldegebriel said he has been humbled by many of the stories he’s heard, especially from a 21-year-old woman named Lacy. “You would never know how much pain she has gone through in her life to bring her where she is and she has so much hope,” Woldegebriel said. “These are the kind of stories that I want to document, I think that’s what’s needed to create real change and real passion and create results.”

Father accused of killing daughter while driving drunk appears in court
was his 15-year-old daughter Corliss, who was killed in the crash, his 11-year-old daughter Joi who was seriA DeKalb County man ously injured and his two accused of killing his sons. daughter while driving According to police, drunk appeared in court Oct. 3 for a formal reading of his Johnson crashed his 2006 Chrysler Pacifica into a tree charges. Anthony Eugene John- east of Hugh Howell Road. After Johnson crashed, he son, 35, has been indicted on charges that he was driv- was unable to find his cellphone and he walked to a ing drunk the night of June diner in Gwinnett with his 3, 2012, when he lost contwo sons to seek help. trol of his car and crashed Police said that when ofinto a tree on U.S. Hwy. 78 ficers arrived at the accident near Stone Mountain. scene, they found Corliss Johnson was present as dead in the car. Joi suffered his charges were read and a serious brain injury. pleaded not guilty. Johnson is charged with In the car with Johnson by Daniel Beauregard [email protected] four counts of endangering a child while driving under the influence, four counts of serious injury by vehicle, two counts each of driving under the influence and homicide. According to the indictment, the crash rendered one of Joi’s legs and one of her ears “useless.” At an earlier court appearance, prosecutors revealed Johnson had two prior DUI arrests from 2002 and 2004. He was released on $12,500 bond. A trial date is expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

local news

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Pet Blessings

All creatures great and small were welcomed at the pet blessing held at Columbia Presbyterian Church, Decatur, Oct. 5. Rev. Tom Hagood led the intimate ceremony for pets (all dogs and a picture of two cats) and their owners. Hagood led the attendees in prayer and a brief song before he knelt and spoke a personal, loving blessing over each animal. Photos by Travis Hudgons

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
A HEALTHCARE INFORMATION EVENT

of GEORGIA’S FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HOSTS

Congressman Hank Johnson

Furthering Your Education Takes Courage. Be Fearless.
Business Administration student Bruce Bochicchio recently received a first place $10,000 National Executive Women International ASIST scholarship.

GEORGIA PIEDMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE
In conjunction with Dept. of Health & Human Services.
Helping small businesses and individuals apply for health insurance through marketplace exchanges. Community Health Centers & navigators will assist with the application process.

Learn more about advancing your education by attending a GPC open house from October 19-24. See website for campus dates and times. Get a FREE GPC application fee waiver*—a $20 savings!
* Advance sign up and student attendance are required to receive fee waiver. Application fee waivers must be used by December 31, 2013. Limit one fee waiver per household.

openhouse.gpc.edu

Friday, October 18 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 495 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021

To Sign Up For Hank’s Free E-Newsletter: hankjohnson.house.gov

FOR MORE: HANKJOHNSON.HOUSE.GOV | 770-987-2291

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

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Pine Lake held its annual lakeside festival Oct. 5-6 bringing together artists, vendors, live music, a sand sculpture contest, chalk art contest, pet show, and FLOATZILLA – a floating parade of wildly decorated watercraft. Photos by Travis Hudgons

Lakefest 2013

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Please Join Us for Our 3rd Annual Community Resource Fair and Symposium on building bridges, Making connections: coordinating a coMMunity response to doMestic Violence

 

Solicitor General

THURSDAY, OcTObeR 24, 2013 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
open to the public

(free breakfast to begin at 8:00 a.m.)
please bring your used cell phones to donate through hopeline

Manuel Maloof Auditorium 1300 commerce Drive, Decatur, Georgia
RSVP By OCtOBeR 17, 2013 tO: COMMUNity PROSeCUtOR SONJA BROwN 404.371.2234 [email protected]

Sherry Boston
dekalb county solicitor-general

www.dekalbsolicitorgeneral.org 404.371.2201

co-sponsored by Verizon Wireless

Making dekalb safer for all

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

local news

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Oct. 4. Heather Whitman, a teacher at Oakhurst Elementary School in Decatur, dressed in costume to educate students about bike safety. Photo by Andrew Cauthen

Redan High School band members stand on the sideline. Photo by Carla Parker

Oct. 7. The DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce presents representatives of county school district with a check for $18,000 for school board leadership training. Photo by Andrew Cauthen

Oct. 5. Eight week old English bulldog Brooklyn attends her first Pine Lake Fest dressed as a pumpkin. Photo by Travis Hudgons

Oct. 8. Sign of unknown meaning at the intersection of East Ponce de Leon and Laredo Drive. Photo by John Hewitt

Searching for Our Sons and Daughters:
Stories of our missing residents offer profound insights and hope for a positive reunion.
For a programming guide, visit www.yourdekalb.com/dctv

This week in photos brought to you by DCTV
Finding DeKalb County’s Missing
Now showing on DCTV!

DCTV – Your Emmy® Award-winning news source of DeKalb County news. Available on Comcast Cable Channel 23.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

On Oct. 2, the day after open enrollment began for the Affordable Care Act health care plans, The Champion Newspaper asked people in the city of Decatur about the new insurance system, also known as Obamacare.

Man on the Street

local news
Sheryce Jones
Are you in favor of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare? They’re the same thing, so I’m in favor of it all. Why are you in favor of it? Because a lot of people need health care. I’ve always said the poor can’t afford to be sick and I’ve known a lot of sick people. They just dealt with it

Page 14A Interview by Andrew Cauthen Photos by Travis Hudgons

and died or whatever rather than have those bills. Is it something you yourself would apply for? Of course. Have you tried yet? Yeah, I tried. I couldn’t get on the website on the first day. I tried at like 12 a.m.

people without insurance it provides a lot of options and for people who have had cancer or preexisting conditions I think it’s great. I just don’t know that we have the money to support it without there being endless amount of funding. I can’t say that there will no longer be the million dollar policy through a lifetime. I’m not sure how that will continue on, how we can even provide that for everyone if there are no limits. I also think it’s going to increase drug pricing and prescriptions because I think that anytime there’s no limit people will try to raise pricing just because they can.

Cordale Thurman
Are you in favor of Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act? I’m in favor of it because, you know, we’ve got to make sure our little loved ones are taken care of–child[ren], older folks, elders, you know what I mean? Is it something that you would recommend to other people without insurance? Yeah. I recommend that you…always got to be protected. You know what I mean? This right here is 2013. Health is real serious out here. Anything else you want to say about Obamacare? Go get it.

Patrick McNally
Which do you prefer? Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act? I don’t know yet. I haven’t studied either or. I’m happy with what I’ve got now. I’m 82 years old. I get my Social Security check. I’ve got Medicare, Medicaid, so forth and so on. That’s good. I like that, but, however, I don’t know what’s going to happen to that with the new systems that they’re going to put in. It’s not a happy time in my life in this country.

Anita Harris
What is Obamacare vs. the Affordable Care Act? I believe they’re one in the same. I believe Obamacare has become a pseudonym or a name that has been coined for the Affordable Care Act for people on a certain side that want to attach a negative connotation to the word ‘Obamacare.’ I believe the Affordable Care Act is Obamacare. I could be mistaken. Are you in favor of Obamacare? I am in favor of being open because if we’re not open as a democratic society then we will not make progress. You can speculate all day about ‘what if,’ the hypothesis and that kind of thing but until you actually move forward you really won’t know what the actual results will be.

Lacell Joseph
What do you think about Obamacare? At the moment with no kids and a nonprofit worker, I think it’s helpful for those that have a lower income to be able to get some coverage that they might not otherwise qualify for. Will you need to get it? I won’t. At my job we already have group insurance. Years priors, if it were available I think I would have benefitted from it.

Taylor Austin
What do you think of Obamacare? I know there are millions without insurance so in theory it’s great. Will it be implemented in Georgia? That’s still unknown. How do you think it would benefit the country? That’s a really tough question. I still don’t know if it will or not. I think for the 41 million

Do you think Obamacare is something that will be good for the uninsured and good for the country as a whole? There’s so many millions of people—there’s not going to be a cookie-cutter answer to that. There are going to be some people that come out smelling really like roses and some people who have glitches. But overall at least it’s a step in the right direction to try to assist people and take the burden off of the government for the astounding amount of money that we’re paying for the uninsured.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

LOCAL NEWS
Rockettes
Continued From Page 1A

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Furlough
Continued From Page 1A

tions, careers and safety at risk.” At the top of the CDC’s website, a bright red banner lists the following statement: “Due to the lapse in government funding, only websites supporting excepted functions will be updated unless otherwise funded. As a result, the information on this website may not be up to date, the transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.” Barbara Reynolds, director of the public affairs division at the CDC, said 9,000 out of the organization’s staff of 13,000 have been furloughed. Since lawmakers have yet to come to any agreement as to how to fund certain programs, those being furloughed are unsure if they will receive pay for their time spent away from work.  “The blind spots are just going to get bigger as this goes on,” Reynolds said. “What we do know now is that every day this continues it’s one more day important public health work isn’t being done.” Reynolds said approximately 6,000 of the center’s 8,500 Atlanta staff members have been furloughed. Although there is a small number of

CDC staffers still going to work each day, Reynolds said, the center’s capacity for finding disease-related problems, stopping imminent public health threats and preventing those threats have been greatly reduced.  “We’ve had major staffing reductions in our flu program and our foodborne illness labs,” Reynolds said. “Where we would normally have eight people looking into a foodborne outbreak we have one.” In an internal letter sent to employees CDC Director Tom Frieden, said he remains “frustrated and concerned” about the center’s ability to protect the health and safety of the public.  “We will continue to monitor the situation, and continue to respond to imminent health issues as we are able,” Frieden said. “CDC staff and their families affected by this closure are on my mind every day, and I wish I could tell each one individually how valuable they are.  Practical challenges, derailed work projects, and not being able to do our jobs affect every one of us.” Brandon Camarda, a graduate student at Georgia State University (GSU) who lives in East Atlanta, said he was surprised to learn when he showed up for class Oct. 2 that they had all been dropped.  Camarda can afford to attend GSU through the use of his father’s post

9/11 GI Bill, which was transferred to him. He said he called the school and was told that due to the shutdown, his classes were dropped and university officials couldn’t say when they will be reinstated.  “I guess all payments have been held,” Camarda said. “The school doesn’t know if they will be reinstated or not so it’s kind of in limbo as to what will happen with it for now.” According to Camarda, school officials told him there are approximately 800 students who are being similarly affected and no one seems to know what will happen in the next few weeks. Camarda said right now he is just waiting it out.  “I figure, I can only do so much in the situation so if they come back they come back; if they don’t then I’m not sure what will happen,” Camarda said. Other areas throughout Georgia and state being affected by the shutdown include state and national parks, such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent and Social Change.  Additionally, many of the state’s prekindergarten programs that rely on federal funding are being affected although according to Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning spokesman Reg Griffin there are none in DeKalb County. 

Thurmond Continued From Page 1A
district,” Thurmond said. “We need stability and to have an additional turnover as it relates to the superintendent right now with SACS pending would not be a good idea.” Thurmond said he is encouraged by the district’s progress towards addressing the concerns of AdvancED. “We’re investing a tremendous amount of time and energy and resources in that, reaching out to all stakeholders throughout the community, so I feel positive,” Thurmond said. “We just have to really focus and work hard and be prepared when they arrive.” Thurmond said a top goal of his is to continue to build the district’s fund balance. “We have a $9.5 million fund balance for the first time in several years, but that’s nowhere near where we need it to be,” he said. “We’re going to continue to create fiscal stability, continue to be a trust among our stakeholders, return to a fully accredited district with no caveat and, most importantly, invest time and energy in improving academic achievement and performance of our students.” Thurmond’s biggest challenge in the district has been “working and encouraging people to believe again,” he said. “There’s been so many disappointments. There was so much distrust and frustration and sometimes even anger. “We’re building support throughout the district,” Thurmond said. “And people are hopeful and they are happy, to some extent, and we’re working together, so that’s good. At the end of his contract, Thurmond said he hopes to turn a restored district over to a more traditional superintendent. “No superintendent should ever have to face what I faced when I came in February,” Thurmond said. “That is my goal—when I turn the keys over in June 2015—and I will turn the keys over in June 2015—we will have a more stable district. We’ll have a district that’s focused on improving academic achievement and a district that works to continue to build trust among the stakeholders.” David Schutten, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators, said he is “delighted” with Thurmond’s extension. “He’s really empowered employees,” Schutten said. “He’s turning the school system around and he’s provided good vision and leadership for the school system. He really does believe in not making all of the decisions out of the central office. He is empowering principals and in turn teachers will be empowered.”

son explained. Leading up to the Rockettes’ world famous Christmas show each year, the group practices six hours a day, six days a week for weeks. It’s very physically demanding and requires not only flexibility, but strength and eye and muscle control, she said. During the Christmas season, the Rockettes perform up to four shows a day and that means staying in top condition, Richardson said. “It’s important to get proper rest, eat a good breakfast and arrive at the theater in plenty of time to dress and do your hair and makeup so that when you go out on stage you can be relaxed and confident,” she added. While the group is best known for the Christmas Spectacular, the Rockettes also perform for other special events such as the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—and even were part of President George H. W. Bush’s presidential inauguration. The dancers, Richardson said, are just part of the staff required to put on the show. A crew of approximately 100 people supports them. In spite of the years of experience and meticulous attention to detail, occasionally something goes wrong. “It’s not unheard of for a piece of a costume to fall off or for someone to make a slight misstep or for something to go wrong with the music,” said Richardson, who recalled a performance in which the power went off for a few seconds, causing the lights and music to go off. “You just keep dancing.” Those in the Atlanta area who would like to see this year’s Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular don’t have to travel to New York. The show will come to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Nov. 7-23. “The Rockettes will dance their way through an awe-inspiring journey with new scenes, an array of glamorous new costumes, dramatic lighting effects, and a 50-foot LED screen that will enhance the show with breathtaking new imagery,” according to a news release. For more information, visit www.cobbenergycentre. com.

Congressman announces $920,000 grant for DeKalb County Police Department
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, announced Sept. 27 that the DeKalb County Police Department will receive a $920,000 grant from Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office to hire 10 additional police officers. It is part of funding awards that will go to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions. More than $125 million will be awarded across the country, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions. “There isn’t anything we do that is more important than supporting local law enforcement and giving them the tools needed to keep our communities safe,” said Johnson, who has voted to protect the COPS program against budget cuts and provided a letter of support for the DeKalb COPS grant. “These funds will help protect our children while they’re at school.” “In the wake of past tragedies, it’s clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department’s latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.” DeKalb Police Chief Cedric Alexander said the COPS funding would go a long way in boosting the county’s law enforcement efforts. “The continued support from our federal partners strengthens the efforts of this department to protect the community, and [putting] additional officers on the street is a crucial component to combating crime,” said Chief Alexander.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

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by Daniel Beauregard [email protected]

DeKalb County sanitation workers will get union

Cheers arose from DeKalb County sanitation workers Oct. 8 as commissioners removed the final hurdle to allow them to begin forming a union. The board of commissioners voted unanimously to amend Chapter 20 of the DeKalb County Code to allow sanitation workers to organize in much the same way as DeKalb County police and firefighter have. The agenda item was presented by Commissioner Stan Watson several months ago. Ben Speight, organizing director for the Teamsters Local 728, said that sanitation workers in DeKalb County have been asking to be recognized as a union for 40 years or more. “This will begin to address the concerns and issues that the drivers and collections workers have raised since we began organizing them about a year ago,”

Speight said. Recently, Forbes listed “refuse and recyclable material collectors” as the sixth deadliest job in the United States, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Speight said sanitation workers face a lot of dangers on the job, which consists of more than just picking up trash. Interim CEO Lee May said he understood the concerns of the sanitation workers and agreed they should have an opportunity to voice their concerns. However, May wouldn’t say whether he was for or against, a union. “The number one duty that I have is to make sure that all of our employees have a voice—that they have an open door not just to the administration but also to me,” May said. After the large group of sanitation workers exited the meeting, they lined up outside and began a group The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted Oct. 8 to amend an ordinance to allow for chant. sanitation workers to organize a union. Photos by Daniel Beauregard

Two years later, group still pursuing good growth in DeKalb
by Andrew Cauthen [email protected] After 13 rallies, one march and more than 100 meetings, Good Growth DeKalb is still going strong. The genesis of Good Growth DeKalb was a parking variance hearing in December 2011 for a proposed Walmart in Suburban Plaza in unincorporated Decatur. A group of residents then formed Good Growth DeKalb in early January 2012 to oppose the Walmart and promote economic growth around Suburban Plaza. “From the beginning we had said we were for sustainable growth in greater Decatur,” said Good Growth DeKalb member Louise Runyon said. “And thus the name Good Growth DeKalb,” said Betty Blondeau, a member of the organization who is now a member of the District 2 Community Council. “We support growth and development–good growth, not just haphazard, can-wemake-a-little-bit-of-moneytoday kind of growth, but sustainable growth.” The group’s initial rallying point was opposition to Suburban Plaza developer Selig Enterprises’ plan to bring in a 150,000-squarefoot Walmart, store which would have groceries, deli, a pharmacy and an optical center. The Walmart would be part of an improved shopping center, which will increase in size by 30,000 square feet, would add 600800 jobs and spur redevelopment in the corridor, according to Selig representatives. Good Growth DeKalb goals have expanded to opposing another developer’s plan to build a mixed-use retail center at the site of Scott Boulevard Baptist Church at the intersection of Scott Boulevard and North Decatur Road in Decatur. The group has also taken on the county’s proposed revisions of its zoning code. Runyon said Good Growth DeKalb has come “a really long way” from its beginnings as what one member described in January 2012 as “just a loosely knit group of people to protest.” “When we started out, our elected officials wouldn’t give us the time of day,” Runyon said of county officials. “We could hardly get a meeting with them.” “As time has gone on and we have stayed with it and we have organized and we have been serious and mounted a lawsuit and kept up the pressure, they’ve started to call us,” Runyon said. “We don’t think that means everything is going to be fine, but we know that they…are having to pay attention.” In March 2013, Good Growth DeKalb filed suit in DeKalb County Superior Court contending that the county granted a building permit for construction of the Walmart in violation of its own ordinances. That lawsuit is still pending. Blondeau said one challenge the group has is to “dispel is this idea that we’re not about growth and economic development.” “We are [for], just like our name says: good growth,” she said. “We’re for what is good for this county, this wonderful county where I grew up. DeKalb County has been my home and I’ve seen it in its heyday. We want to see positive things happen.” “So the county doesn’t get split up and decimated by the cityhood movements which have a basis,” Runyon added. Blondeau said, “We want the whole county to be prosperous. We want to work together to make that happen. Let’s not break [the county] up. Let’s try to stay with what we’ve got and strengthen that.”

It's Homecoming 2013 at Albany State University! Support ASU scholarships and have fun while doing it. Wear casual black attire to the Dinner and Party on Thursday-Oct. 17, 8pm at the Hilton Garden Inn-Albany. Live music will be provided by the Soul Cartel Band from Atlanta. Tickets may be purchased for $35 from the ASU Office of Alumni Affairs or at www.asuramsnationalalumni.com. For additional information contact Maria Boynton-Event Chair [email protected] or (404) 862-2345

Homecoming events at Albany State University

"All Black Affair"

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

Business

Page 17A

Walmart Superstore comes to Stonecrest Corridor
by Kathy Mitchell [email protected] A project that interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May described as having been “on-off, on-off, onoff, for quite a while” was definitely on the morning of Oct. 2 as he, along with other elected officials, community leaders and Walmart officials opened a Walmart Superstore on Mall Parkway near the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. “People have wanted a good grocery store in this area for a long time. We’ve talked about it for quite a while,” May said. “Now we’re excited about the jobs that have been created and about the continued growth in this vibrant Stonecrest Corridor.” While the store that opened Oct. 2 with a ribboncutting ceremony offers a full line of groceries, including fresh produce with organic and natural selections, it is more than a grocery store. It has a bakery, a full-service deli and prepared meals. The 148,000-square-foot retail facility also has general merchandise such as clothing, jewelry, electronics, hardware, toys and health and beauty items. It has lawn and garden items, a vision center, a pharmacy and a photo processing department. Store Manager John Moreno described the store as bringing “one-stop shopping convenience for [customers’] grocery and general merchandise needs.” After the ribbon-cutting, customers who had been waiting outside for the 7:30 a.m. opening flooded into the store. The Walmart is the newest addition to the growing list of retail stores, restaurants, service stores and motels that have come to the Stonecrest Corridor since the Mall at Stonecrest opened 12 years ago. DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson spoke of the community partnership between county government and Walmart, which with the Stonecrest store brings 300 new jobs to the area. “We are making a commitment to provide public safety, transportation and other support amenities,” he said. The store is expected to bring $4.5 million in sales tax annually, according to Walmart officials. The grand-opening celebration also included presentations of $8,000 in grants from Walmart to local community groups. State Sen. Ronald Ramsey noted that Walmart in the past has given food to help families in need, a tradition the new store has committed to continuing. “During the past year, Walmart helped more than 100 families in need from this area,” he said. The facility opened with festivities that included snacks provided by such companies as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Tasty Kake, Community Coffee, Bimbo— makers of Sara Lee products—and others. Store associates danced with elected officials as students from nearby Arabia Mountain High School joined in. “I’m proud to have been chosen to manage this new store,” said Moreno, who began his Walmart career in 2005 as a sales associate in the produce department in Madison, Ga. “I’m excited to train our associates from the ground up, the Walmart way.” Store officials continued the celebration on Oct. 5 with what they called a Big Family Welcome for area residents. Family activities included face painting, cupcake decorating and free food samples.

Among those welcoming the community to the new Stonecrest area Walmart are DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson, left, state Sen. Ronald Ramsey, center, and store Manager John Moreno, right.

Students from Arabia Mountain High School join in the celebration leading to the ribbon cutting for the new Walmart.

The presentation of colors opens the formal program launching the new superstore. Photos by Kathy Mitchell

DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

The Voice of Business in DeKalb County

Two Decatur Town Center, 125 Clairemont Ave., Suite 235, Decatur, GA 30030 404.378.8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

education

Page 18A

State Sen. Emanuel Jones reads to children at Alpha Academy in Decatur. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

Politicians read to children during Georgia Pre-K Week
by Andrew Cauthen [email protected] With three children of his own—ages 16, 19 and 23—Sen. Emanuel Jones said he’s “daddy-qualified.” Jones spent some time Oct. 3 reading to pre-K children at Alpha Academy on Snapfinger Woods Drive in Decatur. “I was just overjoyed,” Jones said after sitting of the floor with the children and reading Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons and other books.“Sometimes adults tend to talk down to kids,” Jones said. “These kids already have the mental capacity to really understand when adults are doing that. “It makes a difference when you can interact with them at their level,” Jones said. “My goal is to imprint myself on the kids and create moments that they can remember their entire lives.” Jones was one of approximately 150 officials who visited some of the approximately 3,800 pre-K classrooms around the state during Georgia’s Pre-K Week, Sept. 30–Oct. 4, hosted by Voices for Georgia’s Children and its Pre-K Week partners. Jones said the event was a “great opportunity to read to kids and to have them see their elected officials.” “These kids are young,” Jones said. “They may not comprehend all of what we do as elected officials, but any time an adult, a responsible adult, can invest in a child’s life it makes all the difference.” Jones said countless studies have shown that early learning in pre-K is critical in a child’s development. “If we can start children on that career path to reading and comprehending what they’re read and loving it, then those kids…are much more likely to stay in school and they become much more competitive, which increases our productivity in the United States.” “It’s very important that we promote reading,” said Monica Williams, director and owner of Alpha Academy since 1996. She said it is also helpful for elected officials to participate in Georgia Pre-K Week. “They make laws that affect us and so they need to come and see how these laws affect us, how it’s being implemented and how it promotes the education and wellbeing of the children,” she said. “We encourage them to come and see what is at stake here because this is an investment for the future.”

“It makes a difference when you can interact with [children] at their level,” Jones said.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

education

Page 19A

Suttiwan Cox, principal of PATH Academy, was recently recognized by the Georgia Charter Schools Association. “People said, ‘You will never be successful.’ I said, ‘I will prove them wrong,’” she said. Photos by Andrew Cauthen

PATH Academy principal named Charter School Leader of the Year
by Andrew Cauthen [email protected] Suttiwan Cox, principal and CEO of DeKalb PATH Academy, is proud of her students. “We have the best kids in the world, because they have the best teachers in the world,” Cox said Sept. 26, a day after receiving the Georgia Charter Schools Association’s “Shoot for the Moon” award recognizing her as the 2013-14 Charter School Leader of the Year. “The teachers are hardworking and then they show that we really love them,” Cox said. “We just love them to death and they know it.” DeKalb PATH Academy, located behind Oglethorpe University, is a charter school that “strives to create a safe and nurturing learning environment in which refugee, immigrant and local children from the Chamblee, Doraville and Clarkston areas in DeKalb County, Georgia can develop the knowledge, skills, and character needed to succeed in top-quality high schools, colleges, and the competitive world beyond regardless of their socio-economic and linguistic barriers,” according to its website. Cox, who ran a school in a refugee camp in Thailand after the Vietnam War, said she started PATH Academy after she saw the need. She was working as an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher at Cross Keys High School. “I saw that the children—my ESOL children— nobody wanted them because it’s hard to teach [them] and then their test scores go down because of their English,” Cox said. “So I said, ‘I need to do something for these children.’” She set up the school and began recruiting students from Clarkston and the Buford Highway area. “People said, ‘You will never be successful. These are ESOL—there’s no way they can make it, no way they will be able to pass.’ I said, ‘I will prove them wrong.’ And I actually did with the little money that we have,” Cox said. “I work hard and my students show a lot of improvement,” Cox said. “We have the best test scores in DeKalb County, especially when we have 38 percent ESOL students.” On the 2013 CRCT test, 100 percent of DeKalb PATH eighth-graders met or exceeded the reading standards. For language arts, 97 percent met or exceeded the standards and in social studies the percentage was 93.4. For math, PATH’s eighth graders were the best in the DeKalb County School District with 99 percent meeting or exceeding the standards. Cox said those results are significant for the school, in its 12th year, considering it is a Title 1 school where 97 percent of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Many of the students are also two or three years below their grade level when they start attending PATH, she said. “They come in unprepared,” Cox said. “Some of them don’t even know that the world is not flat. They say one plus one is 11. And these are some that have been in the system since birth in Georgia–born in this country.” Students are being passed from grade to grade even though they are not learning the material. This is due to the language barrier and parents’ inability to understand what is required of students and parents. By the time the students leave PATH, which has a waiting list of 300 students, “they are at or above grade level,” Cox said. When principals from other schools see the success rate at PATH, “they keep thinking we are stealing their children,” Cox said, adding that PATH is not a magnet school that attracts gifted students. “We take whomever.” Aside from her duties of running a school and raising funds to keep it going, Cox said her first love is teaching. “As an administrator, I teach,” Cox said. “I always teach a class or two because I love teaching. I do believe I have a gift in teaching. What I like best is being in the class with the kids.”

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

sports
For Prices, Deadlines and Information

Page 20A

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YOGA CLASSES (Basic Yoga & Yin Yoga) Want to keep your joints healthy, become stronger and loose weight. Call Ms. Maull 404557-9091 Harmony Yoga & Wellness Center, Tucker, GA 0084. Offering Group and Indivdual classes.

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WELDING CAREERS. – Hands on training for career a education opportunities in aviation, MEDICAL OFFICE TRAINEES automotive, manufacturing NEEDED! Train to become a and more. Financial aid for adriver Medical Office Assistant. No qualified students – Housexperience needed! Online ing available. Job placement Experienced OTR Flatbed assistance. Call AIM (877) training at SC gets you job Drivers earn 50 up to 55 205-1779. ready! HS Diploma/GED & cpm loaded. $1000 sign on PC/Internet Needed! 1-888- HIGH-SPEED Internet is now to qualified drivers. Home available where you ive for 407-7162. most weekends. Call: 843only $39.99 per mo. New 266-3731/www.bulldoghiSuperfast Satellite Internet CUSTOMER SERVICE & OFway.com EOE FICE TRAINING! SC Train can get you certified & ready COVENANT NEEDS DRIVto work! NO EXPERIENCE ERS! Truck Drivers are in DeKalb County School Board is selling the Hooper Alexander property as-is NEEDED! Job placement Demand! Great benefits, through a competitive sealed bid process. The property is located at 3414 Memorial after online training comstability, and earning poten- pleted. HS Diploma.GED & Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30032 and contains a 68,900 square feet school facility on tial! The avg. truck driver PC/Internet needed! 1-888- approximately 8.1 acres. earns $700+/wk*! No CDL? 748-4126. Sealed Bids, from Bidders, will be received by the DeKalb County Board of Education 16 Day training avail! CALL (the “Owner”) at the Sam A. Moss Service Center, 1780 Montreal Road, Tucker, TODAY! N. GA 866-494Georgia 30084, until 12:00 Noon local time on Monday, November 25, 2013 for all aFor rent 7434 OR S. GA 866-557labor, materials and services necessary for both projects. Residential 9244. *DOL/BLS 2012. Bidding Documents may be obtained by Bidders at:

School Property Sales

House For Rent 4 bedroom, 2.5 baths 2 story home, living room with fire place, dining room, kitchen with all appliances, laundry room and two car garage. Home is over 2700 square feet with ceiling fans in each bedroom and carpet throughout. Built in 2000 Drivers – CDL-A. Train and this home is located in work for us! Professional, Lithonia in a great theme focused CDL training available. Choose Company Driv- school district. 1150/month 1000/deposit. Contact jim er, Owner Operator, Lease 770-331-3641 Operator or Lease Trainer. DEDICATED driving opportunities for team and solo drivers. Quality home time, steady miles, high earnings. Enjoy Transport America’s great driver experience! TAdrivers.com or 866-2040648.

http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/solicitations/ All questions about this Advertisement for Bids must be directed in writing to Stephen Wilkins, Chief Operations Officer not later than Friday, November 8th, 2013 at 12:00 Noon. Contact Mr. Stephen M. Wilkins, Chief Operations Officer, Sam Moss Center, 1780 Montreal Road, Tucker, Georgia 30084.; email: [email protected]; Fax 678.676.1350. Except as expressly provided in, or permitted by, the Bidding Documents, from the date of issuance of the Advertisement for Bids until final Owner action of approval of contract award, the Bidder shall not initiate any communication or discussion concerning the Project or the Bidder’s Bid or any part thereof with any employee, agent, or representative of the Owner. Any violation of this restriction may result in the rejection of the Bidder’s Bid. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all Bids, and to waive technicalities and informalities. Site visits are scheduled for Tuesday October 29th, 2013 at 9:00 am and Tuesday November 5th, 2013 at 9:00 am. 

DISCLAIMER: We do not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate, or intend to discriminate, on any illegal basis. Nor do we knowingly accept employment advertisements that are not bona-fide job offers. All real estate advertisements are subject to the fair housing act and we do not accept advertising that is in violation of the law. The law prohibits discrimination based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

sports

Page 21A

Redan High School baseball team won the Class AAAA state title in May, the program’s first state title. Head Coach Marvin Pruitt (far left) and assistant coach Chris Hardnett were named Class AAAA Co-Coaches of the Year

Redan coaches, player win Georgia Dugout Club honors
by Mark Brock
Erykah Davenpor

Tucker’s Erykah Davenport commits to Miami
by Carla Parker [email protected] Tucker Lady Tigers power forward Erykah Davenport committed to play college basketball at the University of Miami Sept. 29. Davenport made her announcement at the inaugural Full Court Fresh 50 Invitational held at Westlake High School in Atlanta. The 6-foot-2 senior chose Miami over Florida State, Georgia, North Carolina State and Texas A&M. She said she chose Miami because of the coaching staff and her familiarity with the city. “I have family down there,” she said. “The

school overall is just a great school to be at. It has a high graduation rate and I feel really good with my decision.” Davenport was one of the top players in the county last season, leading Tucker in points (14.8 per game), rebounding (7.3 per game) and blocks (2.3 per game). She said Miami will be getting a versatile player. “I can play well on defense as well as finishing at the rim,” she said. Davenport said she is looking forward to continuing her basketball career at Miami and “growing as a person and becoming a better ball player,” she said.

the title. Baker was the winRedan head Coach ning pitcher in that 4-3 Marvin Pruitt, assistant title clinching win for coach Chris Hardnett the Raiders and acceptand former pitcher Braned a scholarship to the don Baker all recently University of Missouri picked up honors for the where he is currently 2013 state championship enrolled. season from the Georgia The Redan Raiders Dugout Club. made their mark on Pruitt, the all-time high school baseball leader in wins for a not only as a school, DeKalb County baseball but for the DeKalb coach at 488-325-5 overCounty School District all, and Hardnett were and the Atlanta Metro named Class AAAA Coarea with their Class Coaches of the Year for AAAA state championleading the Raiders to ship series sweep of the their first state championMarist War Eagles. ship in 2013. The 11-0 and 4-3 Pruitt, who became ill wins to sweep the bestearly in the season, turned of-three title series the reins over to Hardnett gave a storied baseball who along with Harry program its first ever Former pitcher Brandon Baker was named the Class AAAA Player of the Year. Sapp kept the Raiders baseball state title, the rolling into the playoffs. 10th for DeKalb County Redan went 10-1 during the Schools, and the first ever playoffs and finished the season with a two for a team made up completely of Blacks game sweep of 12-time champion Marist in from metro Atlanta to win a Georgia High the finals. Pruitt attended all the state playSchool Association baseball state title. off games in support of his players as they Redan’s 10-1 record in the playoffs imworked toward that elusive state title. proved its overall in the state playoffs record The Georgia Dugout Club named Baker, a to 48-41 and atop the DeKalb standings. The left-handed pitcher, the Class AAAA Player Raiders also set a new school record for wins of the Year for his performance during the with the 30-7 mark this season breaking the season on the mound. Baker went 8-1 with old mark of 26-7 set in 1982 and repeated in a 1.41 earned run average during the regular 1988. season and was 4-1 in the postseason run to

pleAse recycle this pAper

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

sports
by Mark Brock Champion and Redan middle school football teams set up championship games in their respective regions with key victories Oct. 5. Tyrese Gilliam had three rushing touchdowns to lead Champion to a 28-26 win over Henderson (2-3, 1-2). Champion (4-1, 3-0) moved into a first place tie with Tucker (5-0, 3-0) for the Region 1 lead and secured the program’s first playoff berth while setting up a showdown with the Tigers for the region title Oct. 12. Redan (3-2, 3-0) also secured the program’s first playoff appearance with a comefrom-behind 14-8 victory over defending champion Lithonia (2-3, 1-2) Oct. 5. Quarterback Darren Parker hit all his pass attempts in the final drive to lead his team to the victory. The Raider defense held Lithonia to just eight points. Redan is tied with Columbia in Region 3 standings at 3-0 and the two teams meet Oct. 12 to decide the first and second seed for the playoffs. Miller Grove (4-1, 2-1) shut out Stone Mountain (3-2, 2-1) by a score of 34-0 to edge in front for one of the two playoff spots from Region 4. Franklin Smith led the Wol-

Page 22A

Big wins solidify playoff hopes for DeKalb middle school teams
verines with a touchdown on both sides of the football, including a 10-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jaylen Stuckey and a 70-yard fumble recovery for a score. Charlie Cooper, Joel France and Brandon Booker all had rushing touchdowns in the Miller Grove win. Ace Benton-Lyde led the defense with two interceptions. The Wolverines and Pirates are a game behind Region 4 leader Chapel Hill (5-0, 3-0). Nuru Tinch rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Stephenson Jaguars (4-1, 3-0) to a 34-0 win over Salem (2-4, 1-3) to stay ahead in the Region 2 standings. Wide receiver Amenra Bey had two receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown, quarterback David Smith passed for 94 yards and a touchdown, and Donny Harris and Zytekeat Tillman had rushing touchdowns. The Jaguar defense was led by Jordan Sessom with four tackles, Dylan Wonnum with two forced fumbles, Jamal McDonald with two fumble recoveries and Jacquavious Lane added an interception. Renfroe (4-1, 2-1) set up a key Region 2 game with Stephenson by knocking off Chamblee by a score of 38-0.

Jon Gruden (center with cap) presented a $1,000 check to Towers High School football program as part of his meeting with area high school coaches.

Towers receives $1,000 award from ESPN’s Jon Gruden
The Towers High School football program was the recipient of a $1,000 donation from ESPN NFL football analyst Jon Gruden and his FFCA charity. Towers was one of four high schools in metro Atlanta chosen to meet with Gruden, including Therrell, Osborne and Forest Park. The staffs and players met with Gruden in downtown Atlanta for two hours Oct. 5. Gruden was in town to announce the Oct. 7 Monday Night Football game between the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets. The four schools were chosen with the help of local media and coaches to meet Gruden, who asked for schools showing improvement while battling against demographic and monetary odds. Towers is currently 4-2 on the season after going winless a year ago and is having its best year since the 2009 playoff season. Towers head football coach James Holloway said the visit with Gruden was a great time for everyone. “Being able to sit down and talk to a Super Bowl champion coach and get ideas from him on building a program is something that only comes around once in a lifetime,” he said. Gruden, who won Super Bowl XXXVII as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2002 season, spoke to the coaching staffs and players about being tough and working on fundamentals. “He said he knew how tough it is to build a program, but that we had to keep on keeping on,” Holloway said. “He gave a general overview on building a program and being not only tough physically but mentally and honing the fundamentals of the game.” Holloway brought his staff of Emmanuel Lewis, Mark Evans, Eric Brinn and William Ward along with players tight end Jeffery Lovett, lineman Stevenson Derival, wide receiver Daemyon Hassell and tight end Emmanuel Badru. “The staff and players all enjoyed the event,” Holloway said. “Of course the players are a bit young to appreciate the contributions to football and the history Gruden made as a coach. It was a great event and means so much to our program as we try to build it into a winner and playoff contender.” The coaching staff and players also got to enjoy a free buffet meal and each team received a camera for filming practice and dry fit shirts.

NOTICE OF LOCATION AND DESIGN APPROVAL
P. I. NUMBER 0009024 DEKALB COUNTY
Notice is hereby given in compliance with Georgia Code 22-2-109 and 32-3-5 that the Georgia Department of Transportation has approved the Location and Design of this project. The date of location approval is December 2, 2011. The purpose of this project, which is located in the City of Chamblee, DeKalb County, Georgia, is to construct approximately 1750 linear feet of new sidewalk and streetscape on the southeast side of Peachtree Road from the intersection of Pierce Drive to 5449 Peachtree Road which is across the street from Chamblee City Hall. The proposed sidewalk and streetscape will run adjacent to the Norfolk Southern Railroad line and connect to existing sidewalks at both project termini. The project will also involve narrowing the traffic lanes on Peachtree Road to 11 feet and shifting some of the traffic lanes further away from the train tracks to provide additional room for the new sidewalk and streetscape. The project is located within Land District 18, Land Lots 298 & 299 of DeKalb County. Drawings or maps or plats of the proposed project, as approved, are on file and are available for public inspection at the City of Chamblee: City of Chamblee, Georgia Gary Cornell, Development Director [email protected] 5468 Peachtree Rd, Chamblee, GA, 30341 770-986-5010 Or from: Georgia Department of Transportation Office of Program Delivery [email protected] Any written request or communication in reference to this project or notice should include the P. I. Number as noted at the top of this notice.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF CALLED MEETING The Mayor and Council of the City of Pine Lake will hold a Public Hearing on the 2014 Budget on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 in the Council Chambers/Courtroom, 459 Pine Drive, Pine Lake, GA 30072, beginning at 7:30 PM. The proposed budget will be available for public inspection on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 during normal business hours.

The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

sports

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Chamblee quarterback Kendrew Wynn looks for a receiver down field while Redan defenders pressure him.

Chamblee running back Xzavier Shugars (left and center) score three touchdowns against Redan Oct. 4.

Chamblee running backs coach Curtis Mattair talks to some of the players on the sideline. Chamblee strong safety Courtland Rogers goes after Redan quarterback Dontavius Withers.

Xzavier Shugars scores three touchdowns in Chamblee win over Redan
by Carla Parker [email protected] Junior Xzavier Shugars seemed unstoppable Oct. 4 as the running back scored three touchdowns in the Chamblee Bulldogs’ 45-0 win over Region 6-AAAA opponent Redan (0-5) at Hallford Stadium. After Chamblee took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, Shugars gave the Bulldogs a 17-0 lead at halftime with two rushing touchdowns of 1 yard and 45 yards. Chamblee (4-1) was up 24-0 in the third quarter after Shugars took a punt 65 yards to the end zone. Chamblee head coach Allen Johnson called Shugars a “baller” who does what he is supposed to on and off the field. “When you get a kid like that that does what he’s supposed to do, listens to his coaches and does his assignments nothing but great things are going to happen for him,” Johnson said. Senior wide receiver Raford Kelly extended Chamblee’s lead to 31-0 after an 8-yard touchdown run. Senior running back Ja’Tavaian Johnson had the biggest play of the night with a 63-yard touchdown run, which gave the Bulldogs a 38-0 lead. Senior running back James Ellis added a 1-yard touchdown run to round out the scoring for the Bulldogs. Johnson said the team’s performance as a whole was better than in the previous games. “We came out and played assignment football,” he said. “It’s a work in progress. We’re trying to build each week to get better.” Cedar Grove 45, Towers 6 Quarterback James Hartsfield and receiver Brandon Norwood connected for three touchdown passes to lead Cedar Grove to a 45-6 Region 6-AAA win over the Towers Titans at Panthersville Stadium Oct. 4. Hartsfield hooked up with Norwood on touchdown passes of 25, 13 and 24 yards as the Saints (5-1, 2-0) pulled away from an early 6-6 tie with the Titans (4-2, 0-2). Hartsfield also had a pair of rushing touchdowns, including a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to give Cedar Grove a 6-0 lead. Towers wider receiver Tu’Quinta Whitlock tied the game with a 4-yard touchdown run. Hartsfield found Norwood for a 25-yard touchdown pass and added a 7-yard touchdown run to give the Saints a 20-6 lead at halftime. Norwood added another touchdown run in the third quarter to increase the lead to 27-6 and then connected with Norwood again on a 24-yard touchdown pass to make it 33-6. The Saints defense held Towers to 57 yards of offense in the game and came up with three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble). Saints running back Anthony Lattimore added a 5-yard touchdown run and running back Labron Morris scored on a 17-yard run to make the final 45-6. Lithonia 22, Stone Mountain 18 The Lithonia Bulldogs (2-3, 1-0) opened Region 6-AAAA play with a 22-18 victory over the Stone Mountain Pirates (2-3, 0-1) at Avondale Stadium Oct. 4 Lithonia’s win put the Bulldogs in a tie for the Sub Region A lead with Marist and Chamblee, who both won region openers over the weekend.

Oct. 4 results St. Francis (4-2) 55, Cross Keys (1-5) 3 Cedar Grove (5-1) 45, Towers (4-2) 6 Chamblee (4-1) 45, Redan (0-5) 0 Marist (3-2) 35, Columbia (2-3) 0 Lithonia (2-3) 22, Stone Mountain (2-3) 18 St. Pius (5-1) 38, McNair (1-4) 7 Luella (3-3) 37, Druid Hills (2-3) 0 Woodward Academy (4-2) 37, Decatur (4-2) 7

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The Champion Free Press, Friday, October 11, 2013

AutumnFest Arts & Music Festival 2013
The annual AutumnFest, organized by the Avondale Arts Alliance, featured an art show and artists' market with more than 60 regional artists and craftsman selling original works. New features included a chef demonstration and a community art project on the festival grounds. There were various food vendors and live music acts during the two-day event. And the popular Southeast Snake Encounter crew brought a reptile, or two. Photos by Travis Hudgons

Scoop up hugs, kisses, and

Savings.

What can make “Mommy and me” time even sweeter? How about the money you save shopping at Publix for your favorite treats and other items your family loves? With a little planning, you can enjoy great Buy One Get One Free deals and weekly specials throughout the store. Bring in your coupons, and save even more. With all the ways Publix helps you stretch your grocery dollars, you can indulge and have something left over: money.

Love To Shop Here. Love To Save Here.
For a list of current Buy One Get One Free deals, weekly specials, and coupons, visit publix.com/save. To view deals on your smartphone, scan the code.

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