COMMUNITY
WELLNESS
Splash time winding down
Accidents waiting to happen
Four county pools and the Browns Mill Family Aquatic Center in Lithonia will be open on weekends through Labor Day. 3
AAA is asking drivers to secure loads and be mindful of road debris to reduce the number of crashes caused by people trying to avoid it. 6
Put Litter in Its Place Let’s Do Our Part to Keep DeKalb Beautiful
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER
Copyright © 2016 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
August 20, 2016
Volume 22, Number 17
www.crossroadsnews.com
DeKalb adds 6,600 residents, ranks 5th among metro counties About 6,600 more people now call DeKalb home, ranking it fifth among metro Metro Atlanta’s population growing Atlanta’s fastest-growing counties. Change Avg. Change The latest population estimates from the 2010 2015 2016 2015-2016 2010-2016 Atlanta Regional Commission show that Gwinnett 805,321 859,800 877,100 17,300 11,963 DeKalb’s newcomers arrived between April Fulton 920,581 970,400 985,700 15,300 10,853 2015 and April 2016. A year earlier, DeKalb Cobb 688,078 727,600 737,500 9,900 8,237 only added 5,500 residents. Cherokee 214,346 233,300 240,100 6,800 4,292 The county’s population now stands DeKalb 691,893 718,400 725,000 6,600 5,518 at 725,000, up from 718,400 last year and Henry 203,922 218,700 223,600 4,900 3,280 691,893 in 2010. Clayton 259,424 266,900 270,600 3,700 1,863 In contrast, Gwinnett added 17,300 Douglas 132,403 137,400 139,000 1,600 1,100 residents; Fulton, 15,300; Cobb, 9,900; city of Fayette 106,567 110,700 112,300 1,600 956 Atlanta, 7,900; and Cherokee, 6,800. Rockdale 85,215 89,400 90,900 1,500 948 Altogether, the 10-county metro area and City of Atlanta 420,003 431,700 439,600 7,900 3,266 the city of Atlanta added 69,200 residents, up Atlanta Region* 4,107,750 4,332,600 4,401,800 69,200 49,008 from 49,008 in 2015. * Not including City of Atlanta (in Fulton County numbers) Source: Atlanta Regional Commission Across the region, the metro area’s population is now 4,401,800, up from 4,332,600 The 10-county Atlanta region’s popula- is faster than at any time since the Great last year and 4,107,750 in 2010. It has more tion grew at 1.6 percent, a rate ARC says Recession. people than 24 states.
The agency, which is the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta region, said the metro population increase is being fueled by strong employment growth. The 29-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area region, which includes the 10-county area, added nearly 77,000 jobs between May 2015 and May 2016, the thirdhighest total among the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. Mike Carnathan, manager of ARC’s Research & Analytics Division, says more jobs means more people. “Newcomers are increasingly attracted to our region as our economy picks up steam post-recession,” he said. The five remaining metro counties experienced smaller growth. Henry County added 4,900; Clayton Please see GROWTH, page 3
Pine Lake post office named for fallen officer Ortega killed in front of building in August 2005
The family of Officer Francis Ortega will join Pine Lake officials and residents for the Aug. 27 dedication ceremony renaming the Pine Lake post office for Ortega, who was gunned down in front of the building on Aug. 11, 2005.
By Ken Watts
The name of fallen police Officer Francis Manuel Ortega will grace the Pine Lake post office in the tiny DeKalb city starting Aug. 27. Ortega, a Georgia Regional Hospital police corporal, was working a part-time job with the Pine Lake Police Force when he was gunned Francis Ortega down Aug. 11, 2005, in front of the post office at Rockbridge Road and Spring Drive during a routine traffic stop. He was backing up a fellow officer who had pulled over Cedric O’Neal Gordon of Wisconsin for a traffic violation. Gordon, who was wanted for violating his supervised release from prison, shot and killed Ortega before taking his own life. At his death, Ortega, 25, had a 6-year-old son, Frankey, and an 18-month-old daughter, Kaylie. He also is survived by his parents, Francisco and Luz Ortega, and sister Joann. “Officer Ortega’s commitment to justice and At his Aug. 16, 2005, funeral, a proceswillingness to face danger when others turned sion of law enforcement squad cars lined away, his desire to stand up for what was the street for 17.1 miles from the DeKalb right – not what was easy, and his compassion County Government Annex on Memorial for those in need should be applauded, Drive to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Northside Drive in Atlanta. commended and recognized in perpetuity.” Ortega was buried in his native DominiU.S. Rep. Hank Johnson can Republic. U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, who sponsored Melanie Hammet; Pine Lake Police Chief proved the resolution on June 13. H.R. 3274 calling for the post office to be re- Sarai Y-hudah-Green; and residents for the Johnson, who represents the 4th Connamed in honor of Ortega, will join Ortega’s dedication ceremony at 1 p.m. gressional District, which includes Pine Lake parents, sister and children; Pine Lake Mayor The U.S. House of Representatives ap- and part of South DeKalb, is a member of
Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews
the House Judiciary and Armed Services committees. He said Ortega made the ultimate sacrifice. “He gave his life for the protection of his community,” said Johnson, who was DeKalb’s District 5 commissioner when Ortega was killed. “Officer Ortega’s commitment to justice and willingness to face danger when others turned away, his desire to stand up for what was right – not what was easy, and his compassion for those in need should be applauded, commended and recognized in perpetuity.”