CrossRoadsNews, August 15, 2015 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

Kudos ...

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... to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for improving its corner of Candler Road with recent renovations, including paving and striping the parking lot.

... we hope DeKalb County will follow up plans to reallocate sanitation resources to litter pickup with an anti-littering campaign to eliminate scenes like this on our local streets.

Welcome to “Kudos & Come On Now,” the CrossRoads News initiative that highlights the people, businesses or groups who are going the extra mile to make our communities look better, as well as those who aren’t doing nearly enough. When you see examples at either extreme, tweet a photo and the location to us @CRNews_DeKalb or post it to facebook.com/crossroadsnews with #KudosDeKalb or #ComeOnDeKalb. For more examples of Kudos & Come On Now, visit crossroadsnews.com/kudos.

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

August 15, 2015

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Volume 21, Number 16

May wants facts, recommendations in final corruption report By Ken Watts

Special investigators hunting corruption in DeKalb government need to come up with facts and recommendations in a final report soon, says interim DeKalb CEO Lee May. Speaking to a crowd of reporters, county employees and elected officials outside the DeKalb Administration building in Decatur, May said on Aug. 12 that he is upset that former Georgia Attorney General Mike Bowers

and investigator Richard Hyde used “broad inappropriate language” in a two-and-a-halfpage letter that did not name offenders. “If you don’t give specifics or name names, you impugn the reputation of all 6,500 county employees,” May said. District 2 Commissioner Jeff Rader, who attended the news conference, said Bowers and Hyde are men to be taken seriously. “The language itself was strident and that worries me because if it’s justified, that’s a big

as well as their recommendations to protect our operations from those opportunities for waste, fraud and abuse,” he said. “If they find any criminal offenses, they are supposed to immediately turn over their evidence to the proper authorities.” Asked if he has regrets about hiring an outside firm, May said there is “no conflict” between him and his anti-corruption team. “I still think the [probe] was the right thing to do. We have to move forward.”

problem,” Rader said. May hired Bowers on March 18 and gave him 120 days to root out corruption in county government. But instead of a report on Aug. 1, Bowers and his team hand-delivered the Aug. 5 letter and asked for more time. May said he wants a final report by the end of the month. “They were charged with delivering a detailed report that will lay out their findings

Commissioners, citizens demand accountability DeKalb Commissioners Nancy Jester (at microphone), Kathie Gannon (purple top) and Jeff Rader (at left, hand in pocket) are joined by 29 residents at an Aug. 11 news conference calling for accountability on the Arthur Blank soccer deal.

Vow to track county spending on soccer deal By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb Commissioners Kathie Gannon, Jeff Rader and Nancy Jester and a host of supporters have put interim CEO Lee May on notice that they will be watching every penny the county spends on the Atlanta United Major League Soccer team’s corporate headquarters, stadium and practice fields near Memorial Drive and I-285. Under a Memorandum of Understanding approved by the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4, the county will chip in $12 million in cash, land, and demolition and other costs to make the deal with Atlanta United ownLee May er Arthur Blank work. Blank, a billionaire, is investing $30 million to construct the headquarters, a 3,500seat stadium, and three practice soccer fields for the professional team. He also is building 6,000 square feet of office space for the DeKalb Parks & Recreation Department. At an Aug. 11 news conference “introducing an initiative for accountability,” the group said it wants monthly statements from the administration outlining expenditures. “We demand for all of our constituents and stakeholders a complete program timeline and an accounting, on a monthly basis, of the expenditures for that month on all aspects of this project, from site preparation, facilities relocations, environmental mitigation, permitting, development, employment data, revenue, and contracts,” the commissioners said in the letter. The three commissioners, who are white, were joined by a diverse mix of 29 citizens from across the county, including Clarkston, Ellenwood, Decatur, Lithonia and Stone Mountain. Among them, South DeKalb Neighborhoods Coalition President Gil Turman; community advocates Faye Coffield, Joel Edwards, Joe Arrington and Calvin Sims; former District 5 candidates Gregory Adams and Harmel Codi; and Viola

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

and Ruby Davis from the Unhappy Taxpayer & Voter organization. The commissioners, who opposed what they call “the giveaway” of county funds, said they want to know “who and what is behind the curtain.” “Don’t make frustrated private citizens resort to open records filings to get the information they deserve,” the letter said.

‘I am on the side of right’ Gannon, whose Super District 6 includes portions of South DeKalb, and Jester and Rader, the District 1 and 2 commissioners, said anyone, including subcontractors, wanting to do business with DeKalb should expect and want to have the details out in plain view, available to the public at a mouse click. “It is time to go the extra mile, disclosing more and disclosing earlier than the bare minimum required to stay more-or-less legal,” they wrote. The open letter, released over signatures of the three, noted that approval of the MOU was “extraordinary, as it occurred with no opportunity for public input and only six days after the proposed deal became public.” “News reports on competing proposals available at the time of the decision confirmed that our DeKalb County community could have given Arthur Blank a very good deal at a much lower cost,” the commission-

ers said. “It didn’t need to be a giveaway.” The MOU was approved by four of the five commissioners representing South DeKalb – districts 3, 4, 5 and 7 Commissioners Larry Johnson, Sharon Barnes Sutton, Mereda Davis Johnson and Stan Watson. Turman, a 40-year county resident, said it was irresponsible and brazen of the BOC to approve the deal without public input. “This has nothing to do with white or black,” he said. “I am on the side of right. A transaction of that magnitude should never have been made without the people paying for it.” Edwards, vice president of the Kings Ridge Home Owners Association, said he stood with Gannon, Jester and Rader to ensure there will be accountability. “We have money being spent on other things beside the necessities for the county – roads, cutting grass, and so on, and they are spending $12 million on a soccer field and tell us, the citizens, they have no money,” Edwards said. “Where is that money coming from? Don’t get me wrong, I am for economic development, but with no resources coming back to the county for 30 years, that is not positive economic development.” While Gannon now opposes the project, in an April 21 letter of support she told Blank she was extremely excited and was look-

ing forward to working with May and the DeKalb Development Authority to identify incentives that solidify the project. “I am certain that this project will serve as an anchor for the revitalization of the Memorial Drive and the Kensington Drive corridor,” Gannon wrote. At an Aug. 12 press conference to answer growing opposition to the project, May reiterated that giving the level of incentives in the agreement was the right thing to do. “This project will help bring economic activity and jobs,” he said. “I’ll stand by it. The deal is done, and it’s a good deal for DeKalb County.” May apologized to DeKalb residents for not giving them a chance to comment on the deal before the BOC voted 4-3 to approve it. During the public comment session at the BOC’s Aug. 11 meeting, dozens of residents lined up to speak to commissioners about their Aug. 4 decision to exclude public comment before they voted. Coffield, who also attended May’s news conference, said the $12 million would have been better spent on infrastructure improvements in South DeKalb. “How many people are gonna walk past a jail to get to a soccer field that they’re not going to be able to play on?” she asked. “It’s a waste of money.” Ken Watts contributed to this story.

CrossRoadsNews

Scene

August 15, 2015

Hilliard was a founding member of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations and National Black Child Development Institute.

ITC hosting ‘To Be an Afrikan Teacher Institute’ DeKalb Parks photo contest Parents, teachers and students can attend the seventh annual “To Be an Afrikan Teacher Institute” on Aug. 22 at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta that honors Dr. Asa G. Hilliard III. The program takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Franklin Auditorium and classroom building. The Sankofa Center Asa G. Hilliard III for Quality Enhancement at ITC and its community partner, the Jegna Collective, are hosts. Sankofa, an Akan word that means “go back and fetch,” symbolizes the educational distinction of a historically black college and university committed to embodying the best of the African-American educational experience and African people worldwide.

The Jegna Collective developed out of the philosophy and work of Hilliard, known as Nana Baffour Amankwatia II, an author, historian, scholar, educator and activist, and is committed to continuing his work. Kofi Lomotey Hilliard (1933-2007) wrote articles and technical papers on African-centered pedagogy, curricula, cultural styles, public policy, child growth and development, and African history. He was a founding member of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations and National Black Child Development Institute. The morning and afternoon plenary presenters at “Raise Up and Teach Excellence” on the birthday weekend of Hilliard are Dr. Kofi

Lomotey, who has served as provost at Medgar Evers College-CUNY and Fisk University, chancellor at Southern University and president at Fort Valley State University, and Dr. Itihari Toure, Sankofa Center director. Itihari Toure Toure, an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church, is Christian education director for the Center for African Biblical Studies. She also has served as a curriculum specialist and college professor at Loyola Marymount, Morris Brown, Reinhardt, Clark Atlanta and Georgia State. Participating educators include Newburn Reynolds, Wekesa and Afiya Madzimoyo, Esi Willis, James Young and Eniola Kalimara. ITC is at 700 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. For more information, call 404-527-7729.

Soca music acts, talent showcase at Caribbean festival Soca artist Princess Imani Ray, Caribbean artist/songwriter Guche Londan and Antigua’s former soca monarch King Danskie headline the sixth annual South Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival on Aug. 22 in Jonesboro. The free festival takes place from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Clayton County International Park and features a kid’s zone, games, talent showcase and free medical screenings in addition to vendors and food. Musical acts also include Da Famous Boyzz reunion tour, Magnum Sound Int. and DJ Sniper & Anthony C with Dr. Kameron Stevenson of WIGO 1570 AM as emcee. The park is at 2300 Highway 138 S.E. For more information, call 404-453-6349, 404-858-4260 or 404-542-2453 or visit www.caribbeangeorgia.org.

King Danskie

Guche Londan

Princess Imani Ray

Book clubs read ‘Save the Date,’ ‘God Help the Child’ Book clubs will share insights on novels by New York Times best-selling author Mary Kay Andrews and Nobel Prize laureate Toni Morrison at book discussions next week at library branches. On Aug. 18, Andrews’ Mary Kay Andrews “Save the Date” is the book of choice at the Scott Candler Library in Decatur. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. In the 2014 novel, a Savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime – one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik

doesn’t believe in love, even though she creates beautiful arrangements to celebrate them. But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, she must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Andrews is the pen name of metro Atlanta resident Kathy Hogan Trocheck, a University of Georgia graduate and former reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The library is at 1917 Candler Road. For more information, call 404-286-6986. Readers tackle Morrison’s “God Help the Child” at 2 p.m. on Aug. 22 at the Clarkston Library. The 2015 novel weaves a tale about the way the sufferings of childhood can shape – and misshape – the life of the adult.

Central characters are Bride, whose stunning blue-black skin is only one element of her beauty, boldness and success in life but caused her lightskinned mother to deny her the simplest forms of love; Booker, the man she Toni Morrison loves; Rain, a mysterious white child; and Bride’s mother, Sweetness. Morrison, who won a Pulitzer Prize for “Beloved,” was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. The library is at 951 N. Indian Creek Drive in Clarkston. Call 404-508-7175.

Amateur and professional photographers have until Aug. 31 to enter a photo contest focused on increasing awareness of DeKalb’s parks and recreational facilities. The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with The Champion Newspaper, Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Southern Airways Express, is hosting the contest and has extended the deadline. #DeKalbParksPics is held in conjunction with National Park and Recreation Month. Entrants may submit photos in the categories Natural World, People, Places, Activities, Altered Images, and Mobile. To be eligible, a photo must have been shot by the entrant between Jan. 1, 2014, and Aug. 31, 2015. All photos submitted must be taken in the parks that are owned, managed and listed by the Parks Department and be original works. Winning photographers and their work will be recognized at an event in October at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and featured in the Champion, Convention & Visitors Bureau publications, and DCTV Channel 23. Prizes that include flights on Southern Airways Express will be awarded for first, second and third place. For full contest details and information, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/DeKalbParksPics or call 404-371-3695.

Photos-to-video class at library Turn all of those vacation and reunion photos into a video at Pictures for Posterity on Aug. 19 at the Lithonia-Davidson Library in Lithonia. The one-hour class starts at 10 a.m. and is open to the first eight patrons. Call or visit the branch to register. Michelle Norfolk will walk participants through easy video creation. A valid, unblocked DeKalb Library card and a USB drive are required. The library is at 6821 Church St. For more information, call 770-482-3820.

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October 17, 2015 • Noon - 5 p.m. at the Mall at Stonecrest

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CrossRoadsNews

August 15, 2015

Community

“The trio diverted thousands of dollars in county funds to their own personal bank accounts by exploiting … Boyer’s position.”

Ethics charges over disclosures filed against DA Robert James By Ken Watts

Weeks after winning the conviction of suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis on attempted theft by extortion and perjury charges, District Attorney Robert James is facing ethics questions about how he has handled his personal finances and campaign debt. Beatrice Williams of Lithonia filed a complaint with the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission on July 29, alleging that James violated his

oath of office by failing to provide transparency into his 2012 campaign funds. Williams is a member of Saint Philip AME, where Ellis is also a member. “Mr. James has been focusing intently on prosecuting DeKalb CEO BurRobert James rell Ellis for alleged corruption and perjury,” her cover letter to the State Board of Ethics said, “but Mr. James has neglected his own ethical obligations and

failed to provide transparency into his campaign funds. It is time that DeKalb residents find out about Mr. James’ own glass house.” Her complaint said James is required to file a personal financial disclosure form, “yet he failed to file the statement” in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. She documented 15 instances in which he failed to comply with requirements of the Campaign Finance Act. Williams said James underreported his campaign’s indebtedness on his Sept. 30, 2012, disclosure report and gave his campaign a total of $23,874.02 in personal loans

in 2010 and 2012. She questions how he was able to make the loan. She also said James failed to file “affidavits of public officer” in 2012, 2013 and 2014 regarding his appointment to the Judicial Nominating Committee by Gov. Nathan Deal. The affidavit is supposed to be filed each year to affirm that James took no action on the committee that had an effect on his personal financial interests. James, who admits to reporting errors, said the lack of reporting was an oversight and he is working to rectify the situation.

Evangelist indicted on conspiracy, theft charges in Boyer fraud case By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Marion Rooks Boynton, the evangelist who allegedly helped former DeKalb District 1 Commissioner Elaine Boyer defraud DeKalb County taxpayers of $85,000, has been indicted by a federal grand jury. On Aug. 11, the grand jury indicted Boynton, 73, on charges of conspiracy and substantive federal program theft. He is the third person indicted in the case that caused Boyer, a 22-year commissioner, to resign her office and sent her to federal prison for 14 months. The indictment said Boynton, a resident of St. Simons Island, posed as Boyer’s legislative adviser and accepted more than 35 checks totaling about $85,000 for consulting services he never performed and kicked back about $60,000 to the personal bank accounts of Boyer and her husband. It said Boynton kept and spent about $25,000 that he received from the county. Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn, who announced the indictment on Aug. 13, said Boynton allegedly conspired with the Boyers to steal taxpayer money. “The trio diverted thousands of dollars in county funds to their own personal bank accounts by exploiting former DeKalb County Commissioner Boyer’s position,” Horn said.

Evangelist Marion Rooks Boynton, shown at the National Day of Prayer at Brunswick City Hall in May 2010, has been charged in an alleged kickback scheme.

Bobby Haven / Brunswick News

J. Britt Johnson, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta field office, said that elected officials who violate the public trust remain a priority investigative matter for the FBI, “but those who entice or assist those public officials as they engage in their corrupt criminal conduct are equally subject to federal investigation and prosecution.” Horn said each of DeKalb’s seven commissioners is responsible for management of their respective offices, including controlling the offices’ $250,000 budgets and hiring staff members, contractors and consultants. He said the commissioners may use their budget only for county-related business.

No arrests for guards in mall beating By Ken Watts

The three security guards caught on video beating a 15-year-old boy at the Mall at Stonecrest will not be arrested, a DeKalb County magistrate judge ruled this week. John Battle, 48, of Covington; Glenn Russell, 53, of Stone Mountain; and Howard Bell, 37, of Conyers were captured on a cell phone camera pummeling the teen on June 27 outside the mall. At an Aug. 10 probable cause hearing, DeKalb Magistrate Judge Howard Indermark decided not to issue arrest warrants for the guards or anyone else in the incident. The teen’s name has not been released because he is a minor. Indermark said there was too much conflicting evidence. The teen’s family asked for the hearing after DeKalb Police declined to file charges. Investigators said they couldn’t determine

who started the fight. The scuffle started about 7 p.m. as security guards were trying to get a group of teens to leave before curfew. Witnesses told police that a guard threw the first punch. Decatur lawyer Mawuli Davis, who represents the family, argued that the video speaks for itself, but Indermark disagreed. “We have a snippet of a video that the court recognizes does show unprofessional behavior on the part of the security guards,” Indermark said. “The court does not have all the information on how the fight started or who started it.” Attorney Ken Hodges, who represented the three security guards, pointed out that despite an investigation by police, no charges were ever filed against his clients. “It’s clearly posturing for a civil lawsuit,” Hodges said. “It’s a waste of government resources and the court has more important things to deal with.”

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Boyer, who was elected to the BOC in 1992, represented residents in North DeKalb, including Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Tucker and Smoke Rise. In 2009, investigators say she and her husband began experiencing financial difficulties and devised the kickback scheme.

The indictment said that in or about September 2009, Boyer hired Boynton, a longtime family friend, “as a purported political advisor,” allegedly to assist her with government consulting. As part of the scheme, false invoices were submitted to Boyer’s office between September 2009 and November 2011 for services supposedly rendered by Boynton. “In fact, Boynton performed no services for DeKalb County government, Elaine Boyer’s Office, or the citizens of DeKalb County,” the indictment said. Boyer, 59, resigned in August 2014 and was charged with conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud the next day. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 months on March 20 and ordered to pay about $87,000 in restitution. John Boyer, 63, pleaded guilty on Feb. 24 to conspiring to commit mail fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19. It was unclear Thursday when Boynton would be arraigned.

Rev. Dr. Mark A. Lomax

www.gptc.edu 404-297-9522

CrossRoadsNews

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

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Assistant Editor Brenda Yarbrough Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Circulation Manager Alexandria LeKae Ford Graphic Design Curtis 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. Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

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August 15, 2015

“We’ve had our challenges in the past. … It was highly publicized, but that’s in the rear-view mirror now.”

New school year kicks off with smooth start By Ken Watts

DeKalb Count y Schools’ 102,000 students returned to class for the 2015-2016 school year on Aug. 10 with new Superintendent R. Stephen Green eager to put his stamp on the district’s future. Administrators reported no major problems as parents and the district’s 850 buses shuttled students back to its 137 schools after summer vacation. Green spoke to reporters in the just-completed $20 million Peachcrest Elementary in Decatur, the first of seven schools to be built under the district’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program. After a tour of the campus and watching students settle into classrooms, Green said the district is poised to soar beyond its troubled past with its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, that landed it on probation from 2012 to 2014 for governance, financial and student achievement issues. In 2014, SACS upgraded the district’s status to “accredited advised,” one step below full accreditation. “We’ve had our challenges in the past. Everybody knows about that. It was highly publicized, but that’s in the rear-view mirror now,” said Green, who succeeded Michael Thurmond on July 1, promising to build upon his predecessor’s improvements and bring “laser-like” focus on instruction and quality of learning. Using the title of an old school hit, Green said the “theme going into this school year is ‘ain’t no stopping us now.’” Green said the district is on target to fulfill SACS’ remaining three required actions for full accreditation. “Two are in governance, one pertains to the academic area, and we’re locked in on that,” Green said. “So we think we have a strong case to make an appeal for a change in classification very soon.” Making the rounds, Green vis-

Photos by Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Fairington Elementary students in Lithonia were dressed in uniforms for the first day of school on Aug. 10.

Salem Middle students, also wearing uniforms, return to campus in Lithonia on Aug. 10. Parents and the district’s 850 buses shuttled 102,000 students.

ited seven schools on the first day He started the day at 7:15 a.m. of class, one school for each School in District 2 at Hawthorne ElemenBoard district. tary in Atlanta. From there he went

Girl Scout Night at Gladys Chicken & Waffles Master ventriloquist William & Wilson will entertain girls and their parents on Aug. 24 during Girl Scout Night at Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles at Stonecrest. The event is part of the Girl Scouts National Recruitment Day festivities, and girls ages 5 to 11 will eat free when accompanied by an adult who orders an entree. Families who pre-register also will get a free dessert. Girl Scout Night at Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The restaurant is at 7301 Stonecrest Concourse, outside the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. For more information, contact Joni McRae at jmcrae@ Ventriloquist William & Wilson and free meals for girls ages gsgatl.org or at 770-702-9414. 5 to 11 are on tap at Girl Scout Night on Aug. 24.

to Cross Keys High in Chamblee in District 1; Cedar Grove Middle in Decatur in District 3; Peachcrest Elementary in Atlanta in District 7; Chapel Hill Middle in Decatur in District 5; and Stone Mountain High in District 6. He finished up at 12:30 p.m. at Tucker High in District 4. Green encouraged sixth-graders at Chapel Hill Middle to focus on consistently achieving excellence in their studies during the whole school year. But he told CrossRoadsNews that parents are the key to their children’s scholastic improvement. “I don’t think the journey can be made successfully without parental engagement, parental participation and parental involvement,” he said. “Parental engagement, participation and involvement are all different, but with all three we have the greatest opportunity for success.”

Refugee nonprofit celebrates 20 years Refugee and immigrant human rights activist Azadeh N. Shahshahani will speak at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Refugee Women’s Network on Aug. 20 in Decatur. It begins at 6 p.m. at the Solarium at Old Scottish Rite. Shahshahani, former director of the ACLU National Security/ Immigrants’ Rights Project, is president of the National Lawyers Guild. The globally inspired celebraA. Shahshahani tion features a sampling of foods from around the world, henna artists, a belly dancer, and a silent auction. For tickets, visit https://www. eventbrite.com/e/refugee-womens-network-20thyear-anniversary-tickets-17437503041. The Decatur nonprofit helps refugee and immigrant women become leaders in their homes, businesses and communities. The venue is at 321 W. Hill St.

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People

CrossRoadsNews

August 15, 2015

Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, recently finished a nationwide book tour for “A Full Life: Reflections at 90.” Former President Jimmy Carter, 90, has been diagnosed with cancer. He said he will undergo treatment by physicians at Emory Healthcare.

Former President Jimmy Carter has cancer Former U.S. President and Plains resident Jimmy Carter has cancer. Carter, who is 90, said Wednesday that the cancer was revealed during an Aug. 3 surgery to remove a small mass on his liver. He said the cancer has spread to other parts of his body. Carter did not identify the kind of cancer that he has, but his father, brother and two sisters died of pancre-

atic cancer. In a three-sentence statement from the Atlanta-based Carter Center, Carter, who served one term as president from 1976 to 1980, said that he will rearrange his schedule to undergo treatment by physicians at Emory Healthcare. Carter, a peanut farmer and former Georgia governor, defeated Republican Gerald Ford in 1976 to become the na-

tion’s 39th president. He has spent much of his life since the presidency building Habitat for Humanity homes and championing voting rights and democracy around the world. Carter also won a Nobel Peace Prize and recently finished a nationwide tour for his latest book, “A Full Life: Reflections at 90.”

Reuters / Adam Hunger

CrossRoadsNews

Finance

August 15, 2015

Johnson has said the county needs to clean up and beautify the district to help attract economic development.

New District 5 commissioner to share plans Newly elected DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson will share her plans for District 5 at the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce’s Third Wednesday Lunch on Aug. 19 at This Is It in Lithonia. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. The district had been without representation on the Board of Commissioners for two years after its commissioner, Lee May, was tapped as interim CEO Mereda Johnson when Burrell Ellis was suspended by Gov. Nathan Deal in July 2013. Ellis is appealing his five-year sentence for attempted theft by extortion and perjury. Johnson, who was sworn in on July 20 after winning the July 14 runoff, has said the county needs to clean up and beautify the district and all of South DeKalb to help attract economic development. She will be up for re-election in 2016. The restaurant is at 2853 Panola Road. For more information or to register, visit http://greaterlithoniachamber.com or call 770-482-1808.

Leadership DeKalb class boasts 60 members The 60 members of Leadership DeKalb’s Class of 2016 represent diverse fields, from human resources and education to economic development and public safety. Maria Balais, executive director, said the program is making history on the brink of its 30th anniversary. “This will be the largest class ever,” Balais said in announcing the new class on Aug. 11. Modifications also Maria Balais have been made to the core program.

During the 10-month training program, the class of established and emerging leaders will participate in full-day sessions, community service projects, and police/ fire ride-alongs. In addition, members will take part in a half-day session on integrity and ethics. David Payne, a 2009 class member and program chair of Leadership David Payne DeKalb, said he looks forward “to engaging the class in a robust and meaningful program experience where they learn about the many

facets of DeKalb and current issues.” “The Class of 2016 shares a common desire to make a positive impact in DeKalb County,” said Payne, senior director of operations for business and administration at Emory University. The nonprofit Leadership DeKalb, founded in 1986, is a community program that works to build a network of stakeholders committed to addressing and resolving issues that impact the quality of life in DeKalb and the metro region. The program has more than 1,000 alumni. For more information, visit www.leadershipdekalb.org or call 404-373-2491.

Vending spaces available for Heart of South DeKalb fest Vending spots are available for the third annual Heart of South DeKalb Festival on Sept. 26 at the Gallery at South DeKalb. Email hosd13@yahoo.com for an application for the 10x10 spaces – the deadline to book is Sept. 1. The theme for the 8:30 a.m.-to-5 p.m. festival is “Investing in our future … our children,” and scholarships and awards will be available for School District 5 students. The free outdoor event, which features a bike rodeo this year, begins with a parade of high school bands, community organizations and community leaders from New Life Church on Candler Road to the mall.

A parade on Candler Road will kick off the Heart of South DeKalb Festival on Sept. 26.

The festival includes food and retail vendors, book giveaways provided by DeKalb Public Library, bike giveaways with DeKalb Police (South and East precincts), a bike

rodeo for ages 6-14 (limit 75 – registration required), gaming truck, car show, job fair, and health screenings. To register for the bike rodeo, call 404-286-7900 or 770-482-0330. Kids can bring their bikes and learn how to improve their riding techniques. All-day entertainment will include various performers with music mixer by DJ Rudy and the featured band EZ Access. The mall is at 2801 Candler Road in Decatur. For sponsorships, vendor spaces, advertising opportunities, and scholarship information, contact festival coordinator Paula Tate at hosd13@yahoo.com or 404683-3599.

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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.

08/01, 08/08, 08/15, 08/22

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++15CV7163-2++ Kizuwanda Boyd Plaintiff Vs. Dwayne A. Hawkins Defendant To: By Order of the Court for service by

publication dated July 15, 2015 you are hereby notified that on Jul. 09, 2015, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Kizuwanda Boyd, 2844 Valley Ridge Drive, Decatur, GA 30032. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of July 15, 2015. Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 16th day of July, 2015 08/01, 08/08, 08/15, 08/22

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++15CV7162-2++ Shandar L. Smith Plaintiff Vs. Jason D. Smith Defendant To: Jason D. Smith 3560 Emerald Pointe Circle College Park, GA 30037

By Order of the Court for service by publication dated July 15, 2015 you are hereby notified that on Jul. 09, 2015, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Shandar L. Smith, 3841 Kensington Rd., Apt. E44, Decatur, GA 30032. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of July 15, 2015. Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 16th day of July, 2015

CrossRoadsNews

August 15, 2015

Wellness

“MedShare’s 11th consecutive year of earning the coveted 4-star rating puts it in a very select group of high-performing charities.”

Recovery Consultants receives ACA funding MedShare earns Recovery Consultants of Atlanta Inc. received $556,667 in Affordable Care Act funding. The faith-based nonprofit, based in Decatur, was one of five Georgia community health centers sharing $2,467,175 from HHS awarded during National Health Center Week, Aug. 9-15. Recovery Consultants, founded in 1999, provides peer-led support services to recovering addicts. Services include transitional housing, relationship coaching, employment

assistance, certified addiction counseling, and recovery center. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell who announced the funding on Aug. 11, said that with the funding the health center are projected to increase access for 14,030 patients. Nationwide, $169 million in ACA funding will go to 266 new sites in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, increasing access for a projected 1.2 million patients.

The funding builds on the $101 million awarded to 164 new sites in May 2015. Acting Deputy Secretary Mary Wakefield said health centers have provided highquality primary care for people in rural and urban communities for 50 years. “These Affordable Care Act funds build on the strong legacy of the health center program and provide even more individuals and families in Georgia with access to the care they need the most,” Wakefield said. Visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

Striders’ 5K for Hope to benefit homeless families Runners and walkers will pound the pavement for a good cause on Aug. 22 at the 23rd annual 5K for Hope that seeks to end homelessness. The charitable event sponsored by the South DeKalb Striders Running Club takes place at Georgia Perimeter College, Decatur Campus, and registration begins at 6:30 a.m. The one-mile fun run starts at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K begins at 8. The road race is held on the fourth Saturday in August annually, and all proceeds are donated to Our House Inc., a child care and support facility for homeless families in Decatur. Our House was founded in March 1988 to provide quality early childhood education and comprehensive support services for families who are experiencing homelessness. For a registration form or to register

The South DeKalb Striders’ 23rd annual 5K for Hope on Aug. 22 will aid Our House, a child care and support facility for the homeless.

online, visit southdekalbstriders.org. Registration also is available at all metro Atlanta Big Peach running stores. The club was established in March 1990 and its members consist of runners of all classes as well as walkers. The purpose is to have fun as well as stay fit.

For more information, email southdekalbstriders@gmail.com, visit www.southdekalbstriders.org, or contact Terrence Franklin at 404-275-3513 or Robert Truesdale at 404-733-0370. The GPC Decatur Campus is at 3251 Panthersville Road.

4-star rating

South DeKalb-based nonprofit MedShare International has received the highest fiscal responsibility rating for the 11th consecutive year, placing it in the top 1 percent of all charities. MedShare collects and redistributes surplus medical supplies and equipment. Its fiscal management practices, accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating, the top distinction from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. Charles Redding, MedShare CEO and president, said the organization uses donor dollars to advance its mission of improving the quality of life for people around the world in a fiscally reCharles Redding sponsible way. “MedShare’s 11th consecutive year of earning the coveted 4-star rating puts it in a very select group of high-performing charities,” Redding said in an Aug. 4 statement. “Out of the thousands of nonprofits Charity Navigator evaluates, only one out of four earns 4 stars – a rating that demands rigor, responsibility and commitment to openness.” MedShare was founded in 1998 with headquarters in Decatur and it has locations in San Leandro, Calif., and Secaucus, N.J. Visit www.medshare.org.

legal

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GARAGE SALES Everyday @ 7 am beginning Sat., Aug. 15 until everything is sold; furniture; tools, lawn equipment; 4710 Riverwood Circle, Decatur.

HELP WANTED Drivers: SE DEDICATED RUN; NC,SC, FL, GA, TN, MS, AL Areas; Home Weekly/Full Benefit Pkg.; 100% No Touch/75% Drop & Hook; CDL A with 1 yr. experience; 1-888-406-9046

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MARKETPLACE RATES Place your MarketPlace line ad here – up to 20 words for $25. Additional words are $3 per block of five words (maximum 45 words). Boxed Ads (with up to 3 lines bold headline): $35 plus cost of the classified ad. Send ad copy with check or credit card information and contact phone number (if different from ad) to MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to marketplace@ crossroadsnews.com. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.

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August 15, 2015

Join Plenti for free and start earning points today!

Plenti is a new way to get rewards at Macy’s and lots of other places! Join for free to earn points at one place and use them at another, all with a single rewards card. See a Sales Associate or visit macys.com/plentiinfo to sign up and get more details. Plenti points cannot be earned or used on fees and services or on some purchases, such as at certain food establishments and leased departments within Macy’s stores. To be eligible to join Plenti, you must be at least 13 years of age and have a residence in the United States or its territories, or Canada. Plenti is only available in the United States and its territories. For complete terms and conditions, including a complete list of exclusions, see Sales Associate or visit macys.com/plentiinfo

ONE DAY SALE BUY ONLINE, PICK UP IN-STORE

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 SHOP 9AM-1OPM (IT’S A SALE TOO BIG TO FIT IN A DAY!)

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VALID 8/14 ‘TIL 2PM OR 8/15/15 ‘TIL 2PM. LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER

EXCLUDES: Everyday Values (EDV), specials, super buys, cosmetics/ fragrances, electrics/electronics, floor coverings, furniture, mattresses, rugs. Also excludes: athletic apparel, shoes & accessories; Dallas Cowboys merchandise, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, Macy’s Backstage merchandise/locations, New Era, Nike on Field, previous purchases, selected licensed depts., services, special orders, special purchases, macys.com. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/ coupon, extra discount or credit offer, except opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash, used to purchase gift cards or applied as payment or credit to your account. Purchase must be $25 or more, exclusive of tax & delivery fees.

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8/4/15 10:02 AM