CrossRoadsNews, April 26, 2014 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

SCENE

The National Association of Letter Carriers will collect food for distribution to local food banks during its annual Stamp Out Hunger drive on May 10. 2

DeKalb County is taking steps to help prevent unauthorized parties like the one that took place at Wade Walker Park. 6

The Secret Service agent who protected first lady Jackie Kennedy will discuss his book “Five Days in November” on May 5. 8

Postal food drive

Out of control parties

Fateful day remembered

EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER

April 26, 2014

Volume 19, Number 52

www.crossroadsnews.com

DeKalb is home to two of Ga.’s top five high schools By Ken Watts

DeKalb Early College Academy is the state’s highest performing high school with a score of 99.3 on the College & Career Ready Performance Index that ranked 447 high schools.

cipal Edward Conner. Ranking second, third and fourth were Johnson Magnet in Richmond County, Gwinnett School of Mathematics and Columbus High in Muscogee County. DeKalb School of the Arts ranked fifth with a Michael Thurmond CCRPI score of 95 in the results released April 21 by the state Department of Education. DeKalb Schools Superintendent Michael

Stone Mountain-based DeKalb Early College Academy is Georgia’s highest performing high school. The school, which has 66 percent of its students from low-income families, is one of two DeKalb County schools in the top five on the state’s College & Career Ready Performance Index that ranked 447 high schools across the state. DECA had a CCRPI score of 99.3. “Obviously we’re thrilled because it shows that the early college model for high school is effective even though it’s only been here in DeKalb since 2006,” said DECA Prin- Please see RANKINGS, page 2

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Two with ties to suspended CEO relieved of posts Walton, Hall placed on leave pending outcome of trial By Ken Watts

DeKalb Purchasing Director Kelvin Walton has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of suspended CEO Burrell Ellis’ trial, and an acting director will take his position on April 28. Walton, named an unindicted co-conspirator in Ellis’ case, was one of two county employees relieved of their posts on April 21 by interim CEO Lee May. Nina Hall, Ellis’ former secretary who was a special projects manager in DeKalb Watershed Management, also was put on paid leave. Wa l t o n m a k e s $153,000 a year and Hall, Nina Hall $75,000. May said the two had become a distraction for the county and their presence was hurting its ability to rebuild public trust. He said they were “one big cloud” that just kept him up at night. “We want to show the public that we are making the tough decisions,” he said. Hall testified before the special purpose grand jury that indicted Ellis in June 2013 on 14 felony counts of theft by extortion and theft by taking that Walton took money from vendors and funneled it to her while she served on at least 15 selection committees for county projects. The indictment alleges that Ellis directed Walton to prevent county vendor Power and Energy Inc. from getting additional work from the county and to place a note in their files that they do not return telephone calls. Ellis was suspended by Gov. Nathan Deal on July 16, 2013. He also is receiving his full annual salary of $150,000. Ellis is accused of shaking down county

WSB-TV

Kelvin Walton, DeKalb purchasing director, has been placed on administrative leave. He was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Ellis case.

vendors for campaign contributions in exchange for county business. He is scheduled to go to trial on Sept. 8. Scott Callan, president and co-founder of CalStrat Consulting LLC, a Suwanee-based supply management advisory Scott Callan

consulting firm, will become acting purchasing director on April 28. Burke Brennan, the county’s press secretary, said Thursday that contract details were being finalized but that he is expected to make about the same salary as Walton. Callan’s firm specializes in third-party contract negotiations, advisory services, and training. He is a former Gwinnett County purchasing director and has 14 years of

public-sector contracting, procurement and budget experience. May said Callan is well-qualified to head the department. “Scott Callan is a consummate professional that brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, ensuring the highest quality of best practices are maintained in the DeKalb County Purchasing and Contracting Department,” he said.

CrossRoadsNews

Community

April 26, 2014

“The DeKalb School District is placing a greater emphasis on academic growth and achievement.” Residents are asked to leave nonperishable food items in bags near their mailboxes on May 10 for Stamp Out Hunger.

Help Stamp Out Hunger on May 10 DeKalb residents can help Stamp Out Hunger by leaving nonperishable food items in a bag near their mailboxes on May 10. The food drive by the National Association of Letter Carriers collects food for distribution to local food banks. It is in its 22nd year. The postal workers are seeking foods high in protein, such as canned tuna, salmon, beans and peanut butter. Canned fruits and vegetables; whole grain, low-sugar cereals; macaroni and

cheese dinners; and 100 percent fruit juice are also welcomed. Last year, with the help of thousands of volunteers, letter carriers nationwide collected more than 74.4 million pounds of nonperishable food, the second-highest amount since the Stamp Out Hunger drive began in 1992. Since its inception, the Stamp Out Hunger campaign has raised just under 1.3 billion pounds of food. Check with your local post office for participation.

Three DeKalb elementary schools among top 25 as state revises index RANKINGS,

from page

Thurmond said they are encouraged that DeKalb is the only district in the state to have two high schools in the top five. “We have planted the seeds for far more academic growth and achievement throughout our school system and we expect for them to bear fruit in coming years in this and other critical measurements,” he said in a news release on April 21. Three DeKalb elementary schools – Wadsworth (96.9), Austin (96.5) and Kittredge (96.1) – placed in the top 25 of the state’s more than 2,000 elementary schools. Several other DeKalb schools showed remarkable improvement on the index that was reformulated in 2012 to place greater emphasis on academic progress. Cedar Grove, a Title I high school with seven of 10 students from low-income families, posted significant gains, as did Clarkston High School and Cross Keys, which have high percentages of English Language Learners. The results are based on data from the 2012 and 2013 school years. The state said

the scores were revised and refined based on “valuable feedback” from education partners and the public. Statewide, elementary schools saw a oneyear increase in scores to 78.5 from 74.9. Middle schools increased their scores to 75, up from 73.9, while high schools saw a one-year decrease to 72 from 73. The DeKalb School District, which has an enrollment of 113,327, scored 62.4. The CCRPI is Georgia’s statewide accountability system. It was implemented in 2012 to replace the No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly Progress measurement after the U.S. Department of Education granted Georgia’s waiver from NCLB on Feb. 9, 2012. The state says it measures schools and districts on a 100-point scale, helping parents and the public better understand how schools are performing in John Barge a more comprehensive manner than the pass/ fail system in place under AYP.

State School Superintendent John Barge said many people worked hard to make sure the index provides the most accurate, effective measure possible of the work schools are doing to prepare students for success. “This is an index that is both comprehensive and simple to understand, and it is an important component of our efforts to ensure that all students graduate from high school ready for whatever they choose to do, whether that be going to college, joining the military, or immediately beginning a career,” he said. DECA, founded in 2006 with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Woodruff Foundation, graduated its third class in May 2013. That graduating class of 36 was the district’s smallest but among its most accomplished. Because of DECA’s unique partnership with Georgia Perimeter College, all of the 2013 class graduated with some college credit under their belts, and 15 students earned 60 hours of university credit and an Associate of Arts degree in addition to their high school diplomas. That wealth of credit hours

enabled them to move on to higher education as juniors. Thirty of the graduates were accepted at four-year universities. For ninth and 10th grades, its curriculum is similar to other DeKalb high schools. But 11th- and 12th-graders follow a rigorous college schedule, taking classes solely at GPC. The school selects students from middle schools based on the recommendation of teachers and counselors, transcripts, and student/parent interviews. It looks for rising ninth-graders who are academically at risk and may be underserved in the traditional high school setting. The student body is about 98 percent minority, and a lot of them come from struggling middle schools. The academic culture in the program is proving to be a good way to jump start their secondary and college education. Thurmond said efforts to improve student performance are beginning to pay off. “The DeKalb County School District is placing a greater emphasis on academic growth and achievement, just as the state has recalibrated its performance index.”

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April 26, 2014

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“All P-Card transactions should be limited to businessrelated goods and services.”

Debit card users have two weeks to sign new P-Card policy By Ken Watts and Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb commissioners and more than 253 other officials and employees have until May 9 to sign enhanced agreements governing use of the county’s P-Cards. Interim CEO Lee May announced the new policy and procedures for using the debit cards on April 21 and signed the agreement on April 22. The new policy moves oversight of all county Lee May debit cards to the county’s Finance Department and named Felton Williams as the PCard manager and Travis Cherry as P-Card administrator. Users can charge up to $1,000 per transaction but have a $2,000 monthly limit. They are prohibited from splitting a transaction between two or more transactions on a single account, or two or more transactions on multiple accounts, to circumvent competitive solicitation requirements or the single transaction limit. May said the P-Card is an administrative function. “We’ve got to do a better job of monitoring it,” he said. The new policies come in the wake of revelations Elaine Boyer that District 1 Commissioner Elaine Boyer paid for more than $12,000 of personal expenses, including a family vacation, airline tickets, rental cars and other travel expenses, with her county-issued Visa. A county 2011 P-Card audit that reviewed transactions between Dec. 1, 2010, and May 31, 2011, found widespread abuse of the program at all levels of county government. In addition to Boyer, the audit found that commissioners for districts 4 and 5 – Sha-

New P-Card policy and procedures The enhanced policy announced April 21 includes: n Daily limit of $1,000 and monthly limit of $2,000. n Prohibits splitting and spreading charges over multiple transactions and cards to skirt competitive solicitation requirements and single transaction limit. n Limits one P-Card per cardholder. n Limits P-Card use to county employees and elected officials. n Prohibits the sharing of P-Cards among multiple employees. Department director and finance director must approve all P-Card transactions. n Users must complete P-Card Transaction Logs for approval. n Requires P-Card training for all cardholders. n All users must sign new policy by May 9 or lose use of cards.

ron Barnes Sutton and Lee May – and the chief of staff to the BOC, Morris Williams, did not comply, and the county clerk of the CEO and the BOC, Barbara Sanders, did not fully comply with the procedures for using the P-Card. For example, the audit found that: n Williams only submitted receipts for 30 of the 57 transactions he made. n Boyer’s office only submitted receipts for 12 of the 50 transactions and that 60 percent of all transactions were for food-related purchases. n On BOC meeting days, eight purchases for cakes, totaling $499.74, were made from a Piece of Cake Bakery with P-Cards. n Barnes Sutton’s office submitted only nine receipts out of 49 transactions. n May’s commission office submitted only

four receipts out of 45 transactions. n Food purchases totaling of $3,520.75 made for the benefit of county employee(s) during regular BOC staff meetings of the Clerk’s Office and Central Staff members. The auditors recommended that cardholders should not review and approve their own transaction logs and that the approvers should be higher-level employees than the cardholder employee. After finding an $839.96 purchase to replace office furniture sold to a previous term county employee, the auditors recommended that purchases for office equipment/furniture must be procured through the county’s Purchasing & Contracting Department. “All P-Card transactions should be limited to business-related goods and services, and efforts should be made to reduce the frequent use of the P-Card at restaurants,” the audit said. Boyer reimbursed many of the charges when an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter began asking questions about the purchases. Boyer, who signed an agreement not to use the card on personal expenses, said she was unaware that she had done anything wrong. The county’s enhanced Purchasing Card Policy and Procedures removes any ambiguity.

“The card is the property of the county and it prohibits users from using it to purchase any goods and services ‘not directly related to job responsibilities or official county business,’” it says. The card is non-transferable and can only be used by the official or employee whose name appears on it. The P-Card Program uses Visa credit cards issued by Bank of America. The new policy and procedures also make it clear that the restrictions also apply to county elected officials. “Elected Officials and Constitutional Officers who elect to participate in the P-Card Program are also liable for all unauthorized charges,” it says. “The improper use of a P-Card may result in civil action, criminal prosecution, and/or disciplinary action, which will result in P-Card privileges being suspended and revoked. Additionally, all P-Card transactions require maintaining proper documentation.” The policy now requires monthly reconciliation of all purchases and annual audits of all P-Card usage. If a cardholder fails to provide proper documentation, P-Card privileges may be revoked at the discretion of the department head, CEO or executive assistant, it says. The cardholder agreement that users will sign authorizes the county to deduct an amount “equal to the total of the discrepancy and that the county can terminate their right to use the card at any time and for any reason.” Users also will sign that: “I further understand that improper use of this card may result in civil action, criminal prosecution, and/or disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.” Existing cardholders have 14 days to sign the agreement. “Any cardholder who does not agree in this time frame will lose their P-Card privileges,” the agreement says.

Forum 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphic Design Curtis Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner Cherie Esteves Billing Clerk Charmyne Montfort Circulation Manager Jami Ffrench-Parker CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

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If our candidates for sheriff don’t obey the rules, then what message are they sending to others like the guy who confronted me.

Fast-food restaurants, dollar stores flooding area By Laurita Burley

Your April 19, 2014, article, “McDonald’s makes case for 2nd Wesley Chapel store,” prompts concern about the types of commercial establishments that flood predominantly African-American neighborhoods. Last December, I was driving eastward along I-20 with one of my twin grandsons who, at the time, was 8 years old. Apparently enjoying our time alone, he said, “Grandma, I would like us to go to a restaurant, just the two of us. I am talking about a restaurant where we sit down and look at the menu.” I was amazed by such a request

“When my grandson is old enough to take a young lady on a dinner date, I hope that he does not have to travel far to find a non-chain, sit-down restaurant (i.e., one in which he is not likely to have memorized the menu).” Laurita Burley

coming from a young child and was determined to honor it. As we approached the Wesley Chapel exit, I began thinking, “Do I keep going or get off here and ‘When safe, make a legal U-turn’ to go back to Atlanta or to Decatur?” The proposal to build a McDonald’s restaurant in the lot once occupied by Hardee’s on Wesley Chapel Road reminded me of the

above incident and raised the question of what does it take to limit the number of fast-food restaurants (and the invasion of dollar stores) that flood the Wesley Chapel and Panola Road corridors of south DeKalb County? Yes, these establishments create jobs and provide affordable food and goods, but what does it take to expand the types of choices avail-

able in this vicinity? When my grandson is old enough to take a young lady on a dinner date, I hope that he does not have to travel far to find a nonchain, sit-down restaurant (i.e., one in which he is not likely to have memorized the menu). Until we gain control of the number of fast-food developments that crop up in black neighborhoods, we as African-American parents and grandparents have an obligation to sit at the dinner table with our children to make sure that they eat nutritiously and to properly use a knife and fork. Laurita Burley has lived in Decatur for 34 years.

Hold candidates responsible for placement of their signs By Dr. Kathryn Rice

I re ce n t l y had an incident regarding the pulling up of signs. It’s a personal incident but I’m sharing it because it reKathryn Rice flects something important – the maintenance of standards, which is what improves the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I attempted to work toward these standards and found my

personal safety potentially compromised. And this was from pulling up signs mostly by people running for sheriff of our county. If our candidates for sheriff don’t obey the rules, then what message are they sending to others like the guy who confronted me. In essence, I believe those candidates that allow their people to put their signs wherever (and I hold the candidates responsible for the placement of their signs) actually put me (the person trying to uphold standards) in greater danger because it emboldens the people putting down the signs. After careful thought and seek-

ing advice from my fellow board members at the South DeKalb Improvement Association, I decided that I am going to continue taking down the signs. I’m not going to let threats or fear stop me. We have a choice to make. We can continue to live in fear from all these people who attack us or we can choose to confront our fears and be Men and Women. I thought of Martin Luther King Jr. and the people in the civil rights movement who were targeted, vilified, put in jail and threatened by people who really would and did kill them.

By them facing their fears, we were rescued from segregation in America. In us facing our fears, we will rescue ourselves from those who burglarize us and destroy our sense of personal safety. I am not at all proposing that you confront violators. Don’t. I do propose that just as they did in the civil rights movement, we organize and strategize about how we are going to turn things around. Dr. Kathryn Rice is a co-founder of the South DeKalb Improvement Association. She lives in Stone Mountain.

Small changes can make impact on air quality in Georgia On Monday, Apr il 28, we will kick off Air Quality Awareness Week with G ov. Na t h a n Deal to educate metro Atlantans about the health effects of air pol- Tedra Cheatham lution and celebrate the real progress being made for cleaner air in Georgia. With warmer weather on the

way, it is important that we all be well-informed about air quality in our community and how to protect it. Air quality has improved dramatically in Georgia over the past decade. But with half of smogforming emissions in many areas throughout the state coming from vehicle tailpipes, it’s up to all of us to take meaningful action. Air Quality Awareness Week is a reminder to residents and workplaces that small changes can make an

immediate impact on the air we all breathe. There are a number of ways you can make a difference. Sign up for Smog Alerts distributed by the Clean Air Campaign so you can be informed when air quality is expected to be poor. Additionally, commuters can commit to carpooling, van pooling, biking, walking or riding transit to work. Also, avoid unnecessary idling and combine trips and errands when possible. There are a wealth of free services

and programs to help you weigh your commute options and start using alternatives to driving alone. Call 1-877-9-GA-OPTIONS or visit GACommuteOptions.com to learn more. Your actions at home, at work and on the go can make a difference during Air Quality Awareness Week and every week. Please get involved so we can all breathe a little easier. Tedra Cheatham is executive director of Clean Air Campaign.

index to advertisers Art Awakening............................................... 11 Avon.............................................................. 11 Braids By Theresa.......................................... 11 Chapel Hill Orthodontics.................................6 DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court......................9 DeKalb County Watershed Mgmt.................... 3

DeKalb County Watershed Mgmt.................... 5 Georgia Military College.................................6 Henry Mitchell, CPA, PC................................. 11 JenCare Medical Centers................................. 5 LawnMax, Inc................................................. 11 Macy’s............................................................12

Mini Mall........................................................ 11 Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center.......... 8 Soul Discount Fabrics..................................... 11 The Mall at Stonecrest.................................... 7 The Samuel Group......................................... 11 Best Buy..................................................Inserts

Walgreen’s..............................................Inserts Walmart..................................................Inserts Allstate - Rochelle Bridges Johnson....... Online Decatur Business Association................. Online Georgia Military College........................ Online

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April 26, 2014

2014

“Vernon Jones knows DeKalb and DeKalb knows Vernon Jones. He will continue to carry his message to the citizens throughout DeKalb

Jones makes brief appearance at sheriff ’s forum in Lithonia By Jennifer Ffrench-Parker

After missing two forums this month, former CEO Vernon Jones, one of eight candidates for DeKalb County sheriff, showed up at an April 22 forum at Stonecrest Library. But he did not stay Vernon Jones long. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Stone Mountain/Lithonia Tau Pi Omega and DeKalb Lambda Epsilon Omega chapters, who presented the forum, said Jones came late and left early. “In a manner of speaking, he stormed out,” said Diane Reynolds, who chairs the Stone Mountain chapter. Reynolds and others said Jones arrived about 10 minutes into the event. “We weren’t expecting him because he told us he a previous engagement but we were prepared anyway,” she said. “We pulled up a chair for him at one end of the table.” With Jones’ arrival, all eight candidates on the May 20 ballot – incumbent Sheriff Jeffrey Mann, and challengers Dale Collins, Ted Golden, Melody Maddox, Melvin Mitchell, Tony Hughes, and Lasalle Smith Sr. – were at a forum together for the first time. Jones answered a few of the questions given to the candidates before balking at one that asked for the candidates to say something positive about one other. When it was his turn, instead of offering a positive comment about his opponents, Jones reiterated his credentials before walking out on the standing-room-only crowd

of 178. “There was a gasp and murmurring,” Martin said. “People were saying they couldn’t believe he did that,” Reynolds said. Before he left, Aidra Martin, the chapter’s publicity chair, said the other candidates took jabs at him by saying that he was good a marketing because of the large number of his signs placed illegally around the county. “As he pushed past me at the door, he muttered, ‘this is charade,’” Reynolds said. In the 45 minutes that he stayed, Jones answered many questions and even apologised for his overzealous supporters whom he said are responsible for his signs being every where. Some of them plastered more than 50 signs along Klondike Road bewtween Mall Parkway and the library. Reynolds said that as she was driving to the library at 5 p.m. to prepare for the 6:30 p.m forum when she saw a man putting out the red and white “Vernon Your Sheriff ” signs. Later, a woman, who arrived for the forum complained about the large number of signs. “She was asking if it was legal to put that many signs out on one street,” Reynolds said. An officer on the scene went to pick them up. Jones was out of town Thursday, but spokeswoman Cynthia Newton said he left “due to an overwhelming amount of requests for his attendance at community and neighborhood association meetings.” “Before leaving, he informed the citizens and apologized for having to leave the AKA

forum early,” she said. Newton said that Jones’ previous engagements conflicted with an April 6 forum in Clarkston and an April 8 forum at the Victory Church in Stone Mountain that he did not attend. “His record of attending meetings, forums and public gatherings with citizens over the past 20 years is solid,” she said in a written statement. “Vernon Jones knows DeKalb and DeKalb knows Vernon Jones. He will continue to carry his message to the citizens throughout DeKalb at neighborhood and community meetings, homeowner associations, churches and synagogues.” Despite the drama at the AKA forum, organizers said the audience appreciated seeing all the candidates side by side, even if Jones

missed the last 45 minutes of the forum. “One young woman came up afterwards and said she didn’t know that a woman was running for sheriff,” Reynolds said. For herself, Reynolds, who has lived in the county for 21 years, said the forum helped her narrow her choices for the May 20 special election. “It helped me cut it down to two candidates,” she said. Phyllis Cole, who chairs the DeKalb Chapter’s Connections political arm, said the forum was informative. “Most of the candidates I did not know anything about,” she said. “It gave me an idea about their prorities, and what they would do if they became sheriff. It gave me a good sense of who they are.”

Early voting begins April 28 at three locations Voters can start casting ballots on April 28 in the May 20 primary, nonpartisan and special election for DeKalb Sheriff. Early voting opens at three locations through May 12, and then expands to six locations through May 16. Maxine Daniels, DeKalb’s Election Supervisor, says the pools will open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., plus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. The three locations that open April 28 are: n The Voter Registration & Elections Office. 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 330 in Decatur. n The Community Achievement Center, 4522 Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur n The Tucker Recreation Center, 4898 LaVista Road in Tucker. On May 12, three additional locations open at:

n Berean Christian Church Commu-

nity Center, 2440 Young Road in Stone Mountain. n The Clark Harrison Building, 330 W. Ponce de Leon Road, Room A Downtown Decatur. n The Chamblee Civic Center, 3540 Broad Street in Chamblee For more information, visit http:// web.co.dekalb.ga.us/voter/VoterInformation.html.

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Community

April 26, 2014

“We definitely need a bigger police presence and response times have been a problem.”

Out-of-control party at Wade Walker Park leads to change By Ken Watts

DeKalb County will monitor social media and beef up patrols at some parks to help prevent unauthorized parties like the mammoth Easter Sunday cookout that attracted more than 1,500 people to Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain. Police also want residents to alert them early before crowds get out of control. The April 20 gathering that occurred without a county permit ended with the shooting of two 19-year-old women, who sustained minor injuries. The gunfire followed an argument. Dennis Morgan, who lives in the Mountain Woods neighborhood near Wade Walker Park, said the incident underscores the need for more security at county parks. “We definitely need a bigger police presence and response times have been a problem,” Morgan said. He was among more than 40 residents who attended an April 23 Community Public Safety Meeting hosted by District 4 Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton at the Wade Walker YMCA to discuss the incident. Residents questioned Parks and Recreation Director Roy Wilson and interim Police Chief James Conroy about how such a large number of people could gather at a park without the knowledge of police and parks officials. James Conroy Partygoers were lured to the park by hashtag “bigasscookout.” Wilson said his department doesn’t have the staff to monitor every park but that it uses a strict permitting process that requires large gatherings to supply their own security. “We have 115 parks and don’t have a dedicated security person at each one monitoring the facilities,” he said April 24. “We have a director of security who travels around and checks on parks, but he’s one person so we depend on the police do the

An unauthorized party at Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain promoted on social media swelled to 1,500 and ended with the shooting of two 19-yearold women. They sustained minor injuries.

majority of the patrols.” Police are still looking for the shooter. Officers say the gathering was filled with other illegal activity, including drug use, open containers, urinating in public and general mischief. A woman at the meeting wanted to know whether there is a way to get more patrols, especially when the weather is nice and people are gathering in the park.

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Conroy said police participated in the annual Easter Eggstravaganza hosted by Commissioner Stan Watson and state Rep. Billy Mitchell that ended at 4:40 p.m. The renegade party started after that event. Photos posted on Instagram by partygoers show a sea of cars and the huge crowd that flooded the park. Police said the gathering, called by four college-age promoters, caught them off-guard. There were no officers on the scene as the party swelled to 1,500. About 5:30 p.m., an officer on routine patrol spotted the crowd. Conroy said they need help from the public to head off trouble. “We got one 911 call later in the evening, nothing from the citizens earlier, and that call came about two hours after we had already been on the scene,” Conroy said. “If you see an event like this starting, call us as soon as you see it starting to get out of control before the 1,500 people show up.” Police say the public should call 911 for

emergencies and 404-294-2911 to report suspicious activity. Colleen Morgan, who also lives in Stone Mountain, wanted to know the limit on the number of people who can gather in a park. “One thousand is about capacity in most cases,” Conroy said. The police chief said the department will beef up patrols around “problem parks” and surrounding neighborhoods. Cedric Alexander, DeKalb’s deputy chief operating officer who attended the meeting but did not speak to the crowd, said officers will talk with the party promoters to make sure they never try anything like that again. “We’ve had preliminary conversations with them and plan to call them in for a talk in the next few days,” Alexander said. “We also have assigned an officer to monitor social media for notices that could lead to problems. In today’s world with the prevalence of those sites, you can draw a huge crowd in just a couple of hours.”

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April 26, 2014

CrossRoadsNews

Scene

April 26, 2014

“We hope to see history buffs, families and people who just want to learn more about our village enjoying the day.”

Stone Mountain Village showcases heritage

Agent recounts JFK assassination

History buffs can take a tour of Stone Mountain’s historic cemetery, participate in an Archaeology Field Day, attend a book signing, and sashay at a May Day Dance on May 3. All the festivities are part of the city of Stone Mountain’s 175th anniversary. Stone Mountain Mayor Patricia Wheeler said the village is proud to show off its Patricia Wheeler heritage. “Days like this hold something for everyone,” Wheeler said. “We hope to see history buffs, families and people who just want to learn more about our village enjoying the day.” Mary Beth Reed, chair of the organizing committee for the 175th anniversary,

Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who protected first lady Jackie Kennedy, will discuss “Five Days in November” at the Carter Library & Museum in Atlanta on May 5. The reading/book signing, which is free to attend, gets under way at 7 p.m. in the theater. Hill is remembered as the agent racing to the back of the presidential limousine when President John F. Kennedy was shot on Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas. He is credited with saving the first lady’s life. Clint Hill Fifty years after the assassination, Hill, along with co-author Lisa McCubbin, tells his story of what happened that fateful day. He was assigned to the White House and served Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford. After rising through the ranks of the Secret Service, he retired in 1975 as assistant director, responsible for all protective forces. He remains in contact with the current U.S. Secret Service and is actively involved in training activities. McCubbin, who also collaborated with Hill on “Mrs. Kennedy and Me: An Intimate Memoir,” is the author of two New York Times best-selling books and a former TV journalist. In November 2010, she published her first book, “The Kennedy Detail: JFK’s Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence,” in collaboration with former Secret Service agent Gerald Blaine. After a stint at ABC News, McCubbin became co-anchor of NBC’s “Sunrise,” a twohour morning newscast preceding “Today.” The Carter Library & Museum is at 441 Freedom Parkway in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov or call 404-865-7100.

said it will be “a fun-filled day” for Stone Mountain Village. “Volunteers have been working for several months to gather stories to tell about the people and families who have found their final resting place in the cemetery,” she said. The City Cemetery dates to before the city’s incorporation in 1839. The tours take place from 10 a.m. to noon. It begins at the granite entry gate at the intersection of Main Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue and will highlight the significant individuals buried there. Their family members also will talk about them. The cemetery’s distinctive features include monuments crafted by the area’s stonecutters and a mass burial grave that dates to the Civil War. The Basket Bakery across from the cemetery will offer box lunches after the tour. May is Archaeology Month in Georgia,

12 vie for Senior of the Year Twelve finalists are vying for Senior of the Year honors on May 3 at the Lou Walker Center in Lithonia. A Senior of the Year and two runners-up will be named at the Theresa Walker Senior of the Year Silver Gala Awards, which will start at noon. Radio gospel giant Larry Tinsley, host of V-103/WAOK “Sunday Morning Praise,” will be master of ceremonies. The finalists are Elayne W. Hunter, Jessie Greene, Elder Lula Levy, Col. Hank Woolard, Iula Wright, Dorothy M. Spencer-Amey, Mary Oneita Randall, J.D. Hall, Vivian Granger, Delores Orr, Arlene Fitts Winfrey, and Martha P. Epps. For tickets and other information, call 678-982-9805 or 770-322-2932. Proceeds benefit the center. The Lou Walker Senior Center is at 2538 Panola Road. For more information, contact Donna Dees at silvergala2014@gmail.com or 678-982-9805.

and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., New South Associates will host Archaeology Field Day at 6150 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. The interactive outdoor event for adults and children will feature Abby the Archaeobus, prehistoric pottery making, stone tool production, a mock excavation and archaeological exhibits, and storyteller Barry Mann from the Woodruff Arts Center’s Young Audiences. It is free to attend. Local historian and author George Coletti will sign copies of his book, “The Granite Sentinel,” at the Village Corner Restaurant at noon, and at 4 p.m., the restaurant will host a May Day Dance to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Maypole dances also will be held at 5 and 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.stone mountainvillage.com or contact Mechel McKinley at mmckinley@stonemountain city.org or 770-498-8984, Ext. 137.

Kids can have tea, fun with Peter Rabbit Families with children 4 and older can enjoy a Peter Rabbit Tea on May 3 at the Decatur Library. During the 11 a.m.-to-12:30 p.m. tea, kids can visit with Peter Rabbit, listen to tales from storyteller Tracy Sue Walker, and finish the afternoon with rabbitinspired crafts and a snack. Parents can bring cameras for a picture with Peter Rabbit. The event is open to the first 164 participants. Funding is provided by the Friends of the Decatur Library. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, visit www.dekalblibrary. org or call 404-370-3070.

Olympic silver medalist to address child abuse prevention at breakfast Margaret Hoelzer, who survived child abuse to become a U.S. Olympian, will be the keynote speaker at a child abuse prevention and awareness breakfast on April 30 at The Temple in Atlanta. The Change Makers Breakfast takes place from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the SchwartzGoldstein Hall. The fundraiser is presented by the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month observed in April.

Hoelzer, a spokeswoman for the National Children’s Advocacy Center, is a 2004-2008 Olympian with three medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympics in swimming. She won bronze in the 100 backstroke, silver in the 200 backstroke, and a silver medal for being a member of the preliminary team in the 400 medley relay. In 2013, she received the Voice of Courage award from the Darkness to Light organization for stepping forward to share her story

Margaret Hoelzer will speak at the Change Makers Breakfast on April 30 at The Temple. Hoelzer is a child abuse survivor.

of triumph over sexual abuse. Hoelzer, who majored in psychology in college and spent time studying sexual abuse cases, says she wants to use her past to help others. Statistics show one in four girls and one in seven boys under the age of 18 will be the victims of sexual abuse. The Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, established in 1987, serves an average of 600 abuse victims annually in DeKalb and Fulton counties. The Temple is at 1589 Peachtree St. For tickets and more information, contact Brenda Vazquez at brendav@gacfca.org or 678-904-2880, Ext. 227.

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CrossRoadsNews

April 26, 2014

Wellness

“Births to younger teens pose the greatest risk of poor medical, social and economic outcomes.”

Far too many young teens still having babies, CDC reports Younger teens still account for one in four teen births, and racial and ethnic disparities in teen pregnancy rates remain, the CDC reports. Although births to teens 15 to 17 have declined, they still represent more than a quarter of teen births – nearly 1,700 births a week, according to the April issue of Vital Signs, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to prevent teen pregnancy. Dr. Tom Frieden, the CDC’s director, said there has been significant progress in reducing teen pregnancy, but far too many teens are still having babies. “Births to younger teens pose the greatest risk of poor medical, social and economic outcomes,” Frieden said. “Efforts to prevent teen childbearing need to focus on evidencebased approaches to delaying sexual activ-

ity and increasing use of the most effective methods of contraception for those teens who are sexually active.” CDC researchers analyzed birth data from the National Vital Statistics System and adolescent health behavior data from the National Survey of Family Growth. Findings include: n The rate of births per 1,000 teens ages 15 to 17 years declined 63 percent, from 38.6 in 1991 to 14.1 in 2012. n The birth rate to younger teens is higher for Hispanic, non-Hispanic black and American Indian/Alaska Native teens. In 2012, the birth rate per 1,000 teens ages 15 to 17 years was 25.5 for Hispanic teens, 21.9 for non-Hispanic black teens, 17 for American Indian/Alaska Native teens, 8.4 for non-Hispanic white teens, and 4.1 for Asian/ Bicyclists from beginners to seasoned pros can find an array of activities, including group rides and classes, during May in Decatur.

Decatur celebrates Bike Month Biking enthusiasts can celebrate National Bike Month every Saturday in May with the city of the Decatur. The Sam’s Freight Room Ride pushes off at 2 p.m. from 415 E. Howard Ave. The easy 11-mile ride goes through Avondale Estates, Oakhurst and Decatur. On May 2, a free Women’s Bike Class takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. and continues on May 3 at 2 p.m. outdoors to practice skills. May 8 is Bike to School Day, and there will be a free Introduction to Group Riding Skills on May 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants meet at Glennwood Elementary School. Bike to Work Week is May 12-16. Riders are invited to stop by the Decatur Recreation Center between 7 and 10 a.m. for coffee and pastries before their bike commute to work.

The Third Friday Decatur Fun Ride takes place at 6:30 p.m. on May 16. Participants meet at the Church Street MARTA station for a fun, slow-paced, fivemile ride around Decatur, followed by a visit to a local pub or restaurant for refreshments. The Children’s Bike Rodeo takes place on May 17. On May 18, Bicycle South at 2098 N. Decatur Road offers an easy no-drop ride to Stone Mountain Park beginning from the store at 9 a.m. On May 24-25, Bike Valet parking is offered at the Decatur Arts Festival, which is sponsored by Bicycle South, the Decatur Arts Alliance and the city of Decatur. For more information, visit decaturga. com/biking.

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Pacific Islander teens. n Most teens ages 15-17 (73 percent) had not had sex yet. n Nearly one in 4 teens in this age group never spoke with their parents or guardians about sex. n More than 80 percent had not received any formal sex education before they had sex for the first time. n More than 90 percent of teens used some form of contraception the last time they had sex, but most of them relied on methods that are among the least effective. n Racial and ethnic disparities in teen pregnancy rates remain, suggesting the continued need for culturally appropriate interventions and services. n Parents and guardians can play an influential role in helping pre-teens and teens avoid

risky sexual behaviors. Shanna Cox, a scientist with the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health, said teens need more help to make informed choices. “We need to provide young people with the support and opportunities they need to empower themselves,” she said. “Trying to balance the task of childbearing Shanna Cox while trying to complete their high school education is a difficult set of circumstances, even with the help of family and others.” May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. For more information, visit http:// www.cdc.gov/TeenPregnancy/.

Take ‘Small Steps’ at health fair resources; door prizes; student competitions; entertainment; and food. A forum for adults, “What About Health: A Dialogue on Wellness,” takes place at 11 a.m. At 1 p.m., there will be a Teen Summit. A farmers market will be take place in the lower parking lot. The school is at 6610 Browns Mill Road. For more information, visit www.arabiaptsa .org, email amhshealthandwellness@gmail .com or contact Mark Saulny at 770-8750213.

Families and individuals can take “Small Steps for a Healthier Way of Life” at the fourth annual Community Health and Wellness Fair on April 26 at Arabia Mountain High School in Lithonia. The 10:30 a.m.-to-3 p.m. fair, sponsored by the school’s PTSA, is open to the community and free to attend. There will be health screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index or BMI; on-site mammography screenings; health literature and

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CrossRoadsNews

April 26, 2014

Pilot program participants will have their garbage, recycling and yard trimmings collected on the same day in separate containers.

Selected households begin test of once-a-week trash pickups for trash pickup. Beginning Monday, thousands of residents Residents in the pilot program should place household Currently, the county picks trash up three in unincorporated DeKalb and portions of trash in the 65-gallon green container, recycling in the Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody and Liblue bins and bags, and yard waste in paper containers. days a week from 160,000 households with 120 sanitation trucks. thonia will help the county test once-a-week Pilot program participants will have their pickup of household trash, recycling and yard garbage, recycling and yard trimmings colwaste. lected on the same day in separate containOver the Easter weekend, the DeKalb Saniers. Their pickup day will be their current tation Department delivered 65-gallon green day for recycling.Residents will store their containers and literature explaining the program household garbage in the green roll cart and its objectives to 28,000 households it selected container provided by the county at no cost for the program. South DeKalb households – in to them. They will continue to use their blue neighborhoods along Columbia and Rainbow drives recycling bins and blue bags and place yard and Candler, Boring, Wesley Chapel, South Hairston, trimmings in customer-supplied paper bags Kelley Chapel and Glenwood roads – account for nearly or other appropriate containers. 10,000 of those participating in the pilot program. The new containers also allow the DeKalb DeKalb hopes the three-month pilot program, which DeKalb County photo Sanitation Division to test new semi- and is being implemented at a cost of $1.9 million, will lead fully automated equipment on sanitation trucks, to a major change in the way the county collects residential which the county says will reduce injuries to trash. with tippers to pick up the carts. The program is being The cost includes the purchase of 33,000 65-gallon carts financed by the county’s sanitation enterprise fund that workers. For more information, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov. for $1.5 million and $400,000 to outfit 40 sanitation trucks comes from sanitation fees paid by residents and businesses

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CrossRoadsNews

April 26, 2014

Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult

Legal Notices 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3731-6++ Dexter Williams Lamar II Plaintiff Vs. Kerri Suzanne Gunter 4010 Allenwood Way Tucker, Ga 30084 Defendant By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated April 8, 2014 you are hereby notified that on April 3, 2014 Dexter Williams 5099 W. Mountain Street, Stone Mountain, Ga 30083 filed suit against you for: Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is 2014 Dexter Williams 5099 W. Mountain Street, Stone Mountain, Ga 30083. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of the first date of publication. Witness the Honorable Cynthia J. Becker. Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 9th day of April, 2014 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26

Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3499-3++ Adilah Hanan Rashid Hasan filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on March 27, 2014 to change the name from: Adilah Hanan Rashid Hasan to Noomiy Bat’EL YisraEL. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30

days after the petition was filed. Dated: March 26, 2014 Adilah Hanan Rashid Hasan Petitioner, Pro se 5449 Pepperwood Court Stone Mountain, Ga 30083 (770) 797-5917 4/12, 4/19, 4/26 5/3

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action # ++14CV3401-3++ Tyree D. McIntyre Plaintiff Vs. Kenya M. Miller Defendant 87 Oak Lake Stone Mountain, Ga 30083 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated April 7, 2014 you are hereby notified that on March 26, 2014 the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Legitimation You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is Tyree McIntyre 3713 Water Ford Place Clarkston, Ga. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, April 7, 2014 Witness the Honorable Clarence Seeliger Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 7th day of April, 2014. 4/12, 4/19, 4/26 5/3

NOTICE OF Publication In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action # ++14CV3495-6++ Yuliana Garcia Silva Plaintiff Vs. Jose Jovier Arevalo

Defendant 2737 Shallowford Road Atlanta, Ga 30341 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated April 4, 2014 you are hereby notified that on March 26, 2014 the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Petition for Declaration of Custody. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is Donald M. Coleman Atlanta Legal Aid Soc. 246 Sycamore St, Suite 120 Decatur, Ga 30030. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, April 4, 2014 Witness the Honorable Cynthia J. Becker Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 8th day of April, 2014. 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3280-2++ Kimberly N. Bynes Plaintiff Vs. Kenneth G. Bynes 2988 E. 149th Street Euclid, Ohio 44123 Defendant By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated April 10, 2014 you are hereby notified that on March 27, 2014 the above name filed suit against you for: Compliant for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is Kimbery Bynes 6503 East Briar Drive Lithonia, Ga 30058. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of April 10, 2014. Witness the Honorable Ashe F. Jackson.

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 16th day of April, 2014 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3942-7++ Katie Rebecca Nix filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on April 10, 2014 to change the name from: Katie Rebecca Nix to Sebastian Beckham Nix. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: April 4, 2014 Katie Rebecca Nix Petitioner, Pro se 2811Glenwood Ave Atlanta, Ga 30317 (404) 514-6723 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3986-4++ Larny E. Warren Plaintiff Vs. Candace L. Warren 1606 Cicila Drive Columbus, Ga 31907 Defendant By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated April 15, 2014 you are hereby notified that on April 11, 2014 the above name filed suit against you for: Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is 633 Windchase Pl. Lithonia, Ga 30058. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of April 15, 2014. Witness the Honorable Gail C. Flake. Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 16th day of April, 2014 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4204-3++ Kelly Ne Veil Johnson filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on April 17, 2014 to change the name from: Kelly Ne Veil Johnson to Kelly NeVelle Johnson. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: April 17, 2014 Joseph Kaufmann Attorney for Petitioner 4/19, 4/26, 5/3, 5/10

Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3937-3++ Sterling D. Penix filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on April 7, 2014 to change the name from: Sterling D. Penix to Sterling Deon Humphrey. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: April 47, 2014 Sterling D. Penix Petitioner, Pro se 100 Leslie Darks Drive #8302 Lithonia, Ga 30058 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26

Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

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Petitioner, Pro se 5449 Pepperwood Court Stone Mountain, Ga 30083 (770) 797-5917 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17

Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4204-3++ Kelly Ne Veil Johnson filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on April 17, 2014 to change the name from: Kelly Ne Veil Johnson to Kelly NeVelle Johnson. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: April 17, 2014 Respectfully Submitted Joseph Kaufmann Attorney Petitioner Georgia Bar No. 598038 Georgia Law Center for the Homeless 100 Edgewood Avenue, NE Suite 1625 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 (404)681-0680 (404)681-0681 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17

Notice of Petition to Change Name(S) OF MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3699-8++ Princess Holder filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on March 26, 2014 to change the name(s) of the following minor children from: Kennedi Holder to Kennedi Fracois from Kinsely Holder to Kinsely Francois. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA§§19-12-1(f) (2) and (3). Dated: March 26, 2014 Princess Holder Petitioner, Pro se 7226 Wheeler Trl Lithonia, Ga 30058 (678)-254-8440

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Reader Notice As a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertisement that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. They may have records or documented complaints that will serve to caution you about doing business with those advertisers. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaranteed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good to be true – it may in fact be exactly that. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertisers. Thank you.

CrossRoadsNews

April 26, 2014