CrossRoadsNews, August 23, 2014 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

SCENE

Residents inquiring about the status of the planned RaceTrac on Wesley Chapel Road have been told its construction has been put on hold. 3

The DeKalb Operations Task Force’s subcommittee on governance will discuss new cities and other issues on Aug. 27. 6

Bird lovers can seek out winged wonders at an Atlanta Audubon Society Bird Walk at Panola Mountain State Park on Aug. 30. 9

RaceTrac placed in slow lane

Governmental impact

Finding feathered friends

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

August 23, 2014

Volume 20, Number 17

www.crossroadsnews.com

Atlantans protest police shooting of unarmed black teen By Ken Watts

Young people braved stormy weather on Monday to march in downtown Atlanta in protest of the police shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., on Aug. 9.

Brown, 18, was shot on Aug. 9 in the streets of Ferguson, just outside St. Louis, by Officer Darren Wilson. His death sparked 10 nights of often violent clashes between police and demonstrators. Witnesses say he had his hands up in the air and was crying, “Don’t shoot,” when he was hit by six or more bullets. He died on the spot. Marchers, many of them Brown’s age, chanted “I am Mike Brown” and “Hands up! Don’t shoot!” As they set out on Marietta Street, the skies turned dark with an approaching storm and a deluge drenched them.

The protests in Ferguson, Mo., over the shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a white police officer came to the streets of downtown Atlanta on Monday. More than 1,500 demonstrators, who were encouraged by social media to wear their “Sunday best” or graduation caps, Michael Brown marched peacefully from the CNN Center on Marietta Street to the Center for Civil and Human Rights at Centennial Olympic Park and back. Please see PROTEST, page 2

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

DeKalb demolishes 3 vacant school buildings Properties being turned to green space for now By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Three closed schools that educated thousands of DeKalb County students between 1935 and 2009 no longer exist. This week, the wrecking ball fell on two of the schools in Decatur – Hooper Alexander Elementary on Memorial Drive and Tilson Elementary on Bixler Court – and the old Chamblee Middle School in Dunwoody. The three facilities, among 10 vacant and closed buildings owned by the DeKalb School System, were demolished ahead of schedule. The properties on which all three sat are being returned to green space while the school district decides what to do with the land. The 68,906-square-foot Hooper Alexander Elementary was named for a DeKalb attorney and state legislator who served in the House with his law partner, Charles Murphey Candler, in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Alexander and Candler are credited with being the architects of Georgia’s public school law. Hooper Alexander Elementary closed in 2009 when the DeKalb Elementary School for the Arts relocated to Terry Mill Elementary on Fayetteville Road Southeast in Atlanta. DESA was county’s first magnet elementary arts school. It had arts students from 1990 but became an all-magnet school in 2002. More than 1,400 students applied for its 580 slots. In 2009, it was one of three schools relocated by the school system at a cost of $10 million. The DeKalb School of the Arts, the high school magnet program, and the Elizabeth Andrews High School that were sharing the Old Briarcliff School Building on North Druid Hills Road were the other two. The 57,549-square-foot Tilson Elementary, which opened in 1958, closed in 2009

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Hooper Alexander Elementary on Memorial Drive is reduced to rubble (above and left). At far left, crews seed the campus of Tilson Elementary, which also was demolished.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

because of declining enrollment and district cutbacks. On Wednesday, all evidence of the building was gone. A crew of three men was spraying grass seeds on the property, which has been graded for green space. The 63,792-square-foot old Chamblee Middle/Shallowford School on Chamblee Dunwoody Road has been abandoned for nearly six years, when a new middle school

was built at 3601 Sexton Woods Drive, also in Dunwoody. The old school was built in 1969 and a gymnasium building and covered walkway were added in 1998. Its 9.4 acres also are being returned to green space.

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

were ahead of schedule. And even as school spokesman Quinn Hudson was telling CrossRoadsNews on Monday that pest mitigation efforts would be completed this week and that the structure was scheduled to be removed between Aug. 25 and Sept. 15, tractors were knocking down the Hooper Alexander Elementary buildings

Demolition moved up The demolitions of all three facilities by school contractor Atlanta Demolition Inc. Please see DEMOLITION, page 6

Community

CrossRoadsNews

August 23, 2014

“This is a great turnout and a way of taking action, but we have to vote as well.”

Local lawyers visit Ferguson to observe protests PROTEST,

from page

Instead of dispersing, they cheered and continued their route around Centennial Park before looping back to CNN Center. Fred Wheat of Decatur was among the crowd. He expressed frustration with another police killing of an unarmed AfricanAmerican. “This injustice has been going on for a long time and people are fed up,” said Wheat, 41, promotions director at hip-hop record label GODN. Protest organizer Elle Lucier told the crowd that she was 19 years old. “I am upset at the way our country handles people of color,” she said. “I have 17-year-old brothers and I can’t imagine them lying in the street for hours without anyone calling me, my mother or an ambulance.” Brown was killed after the officer confronted him and another young man as the two walked down the middle of a Ferguson street. Police and witnesses have given differing accounts of what happened in the moments before the shooting, though most agree there was a struggle between the teen and the officer. Brown’s death touched off a string of violent clashes between demonstrators and police in Ferguson and demonstrations in other U.S. cities. There was a candlelight vigil in front of the DeKalb Courthouse in downtown Decatur on Aug. 14. The National Guard was called in to help in the Ferguson protests. Since they started the night of Brown’s death, two people were shot and more than 160 demonstrators have been arrested. One of the shooting victims was rescued by officers using an armored vehicle. Wednesday was the calmest night of protests and Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson said no one was arrested. Arrested protesters have come from as far away as California and New York. There also were two fires reported, one at a business and another at an unoccupied residence. Johnson said demonstrators were not the ones committing crimes. “This was not an act of protesters,” he said. “This was an act of violent criminals.” U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. visited Ferguson on Wednesday and met with local and federal law enforcement officials, civil rights activists, residents, and Brown’s parEric Holder ents Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr. He promised a “full, fair and independent” investigation. In an Aug. 19 St. Louis Post Dispatch editorial, he wrote about a broader concern on the state of the nation’s criminal justice system at the core of the Ferguson demonstrations. He said that the full resources of the Department of Justice have been committed to the investigation into Brown’s death. “This inquiry will take time to complete, but we have already taken significant steps. Approximately 40 FBI agents and some of the Civil Rights Division’s most experienced prosecutors have been deployed to lead this process with the assistance of the United States attorney in St. Louis,” Holder said. “Hundreds of people have already been interviewed in connection with this matter. On Monday, at my direction, a team of federal medical examiners conducted an independent autopsy.” Holder said the Justice Department will defend the right of protesters to peacefully demonstrate and for the media to cover a story that must be told, but violence cannot be condoned. “I urge the citizens of Ferguson who have been peacefully exercising their First Amend-

More than 1,500 young protesters in Atlanta carried signs and marched peacefully on Aug. 18 from the CNN Center to the Center for Civil and Human Rights and back.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

ment rights to join with law enforcement in condemning the actions of looters, vandals and others seeking to inflame tensions and sow discord,” he said. Addressing the issue of race, at the core of the protests, Holder said arrest patterns must not lead to disparate treatment under the law and that police forces should reflect the diversity of the community they serve. In Ferguson, which is more than 70 percent black, the police force has only three African-Americans. Statistics from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office show that blacks are three times as likely as whites to be stopped by police in Ferguson and twice as likely to be searched and arrested.

Young people took lead in Atlanta The Atlanta demonstrations on Monday took place without incident. Ann Selser of Atlanta was pleased to be part of a well-behaved crowd. “This is a great turnout and a way of taking action,” she said, “but we have to vote as well.” Decatur attorney Mawuli Mel Davis said his Davis Bozeman Law Firm helped the young organizers pull together their plans. “We provided a sound system and logistical help,” said Davis, who left Tuesday with three other Atlanta area attorneys to spend

two days in Ferguson with a legal observation team. He credited the young people with planning the march. “It was their effort and energy that made this happen,” Davis said. While in Ferguson, Davis and the Atlanta team serve as legal observers of both the day and night demonstrations as part of a National Council of Black Lawyers and National Lawyers Guild effort to ensure that protesters’ rights are not infringed upon by police or the National Guard. On Aug. 20, Davis videotaped the arrest a legal observer. “He was standing next to us filming an arrest and was suddenly pointed out, pushed, then arrested,” Davis said. “The human and civil rights violations here in Ferguson are deeply disturbing.” Lucier, the Atlanta protest lead organizer, said students from about 20 colleges, including Clark Atlanta University, Spelman and Morehouse colleges, and Kennesaw State and Georgia State universities, spearheaded the Atlanta protest. Over the weekend, the group circulated a flier on social media titled #itsbiggerthanyou. “It’s time for us to fight for our right to be human,” the flier said. Lucier, a creative director at the nonprofit

arts group Word Works, said that as young people they have watched their ancestors create a legacy in the civil rights movement. “Then we considered the fight over,” she said. “We did not realize or acknowledge that the civil rights movement was a bravely won battle in the ongoing war against the color of our skin.” Word Works mobilizes young people through the written and spoken word. As the rally ended, Lucier urged demonstrators to educate themselves and get registered to vote. “It’s bigger than you,” she repeated over and over. DeKalb SCLC President Nathan Knight watched with pride as the event unfolded. “These young people are energizing the civil rights effort the way kids did back in the 1960s,” he said. “They invited me to come participate in this march, but it’s time for them to lead.” Knight left for Ferguson on Aug. 19 with state SCLC President Samuel Mosteller to help quell the violence that’s plagued the St. Louis suburb since Brown’s shooting. “We want to talk with the demonstrators to get them to scale back their night protests to give the city a chance to recover and to give the Brown family emotional room to mourn their son,” he said.

Show Your PRIDE, South DeKalb! R Don’t Litter R Mow, Trim & Paint R Clean to the Curb

A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE FROM CROSSROADSNEWS

Are you planning a street cleanup in your area? Let us know so we can applaud your efforts! Call 404-284-1888 with the date, time & location.

August 23, 2014

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“From an overall company standpoint, this site became too expensive due to the many requirements on and off our site compared to other stores.”

Landscaping requirement derails Wesley Chapel RaceTrac By Ken Watts

The controversial RaceTrac gas station and convenience store that was planned for the corner of Wesley Chapel Road and Snapfinger Woods Drive in Decatur is not happening anytime soon. RaceTrac officials finally told the Wesley Chapel Curb Appeal Task Force this week that the $2.5 million project has been put on hold indefinitely. In an Aug. 14 email to Kevin Chapman, the task force president, RaceTrac’s engineering project manager Justin Story said that after a few internal discussions, “a decision was made to temporarily put this project on hold mostly due to costs.” “We are disappointed to not be moving forward with the store at the moment, especially our members on the Georgia team that spent a lot of effort on this project,” Story wrote in the email responding to Chapman’s inquiries Justin Story about the status of the project. “From an overall company standpoint, this site became too expensive due to the many requirements on and off our site compared to other stores we are trying to build throughout the company.” Story said that they have not established a timeline for the Wesley Chapel store. “But we are constantly analyzing our store-build list based on what financially makes sense at the time and hope to proceed with this project in the near future,” he said. The community had fought the ninepump gas station project, saying there were already five gas stations on the Wesley Chapel corridor. The project included a 5,928-square-foot brick and stack-stone

RaceTrac, which had been trying to build the project since 2011, agreed to landscape the median and install gateway landscaping at the I-20 ramps. The company now says the additional costs have moved the Wesley Chapel project down on its priority list.

convenience store selling yogurt and fresh fruits and equipped with Wi-Fi and outdoor seating. Residents gave grudging support only after RaceTrac offered to landscape the median from its store and install gateway landscaping on the Wesley Chapel/I-20 entrance and exit ramps. It also agreed to care for the landscaped areas until they could be handed off to the area’s new Community Improvement District. The company, which had been trying to build the project since 2011, also committed to being a part of and supporting the CID. Since the county approved the project

with 19 conditions in May 2013, Kroger has begun construction on a multipump station on the site of the old Scores sports bar that was demolished earlier this year. In light of RaceTrac’s response, Chapman said Kevin Chapman this week that he thinks the project is dead but that is not necessarily a bad thing. In an Aug. 15 email to task force members, Chapman said they need to figure out how to get the Wesley Chapel Road/I-20 exit

designated as a gateway exit by the county like the Stonecrest and other exits that are being landscaped with county funds. He said that he will contact Keep DeKalb Beautiful Director Gordon Burkett, who was also copied on his email, to find out whether trees and shrubs from the county’s tree bank and any left over from its seven gateway beautification projects along I-20, I-285 and U.S. 78 can be installed on Wesley Chapel Road. The Wesley Chapel exit was skipped by the county because of the agreement with RaceTrac. “Fall would be the perfect time to begin the planting,” he said.

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5197 Salem Road Lithonia, GA 30038

770-981-2601

Join us for Bible Study Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

“We are building far beyond our years.”

Rev. Dr. Mark A. Lomax

Elect

CONNIE

S T O K E S

" Lt. Governor "

November 4, 2014

Former State Senator Former County Commissioner Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

A detour sign on Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain is covered on Aug. 21 before the start of repair work on Stone Mountain Creek Bridge between Rock Chapel and South Deshon roads.

Bridge repair on Rockbridge Road Rockbridge Road between Rock Chapel Road and South Deshon Road in Stone Mountain is closed to through traffic through Aug. 25. The 1.7-mile closure is to facilitate the repair of the Stone Mountain Creek Bridge. Crews are putting new beams in place to strengthen the structure. Road closure signs are posted in the area.

Byron E. Guthrie, president of B.E. Construction Co. Inc., which is handling the work, said that traffic can detour around the construction by taking Stephenson Road. “The work should be finished this weekend but could carry over to the weekend of Sept. 7,” Guthrie said. For more information, call 404-2862277.

Toll and Fleming Fellow Japanese Exchange Program Foreign Policy Institute

Georgia State University BBA - Marketing California State University MPA - Public Management UNC Chapel Hill Leadership College

CONNIE IS COMMITTED TO:

Open and Honest Government Jobs right now Raising the minimum wage Preserving the Enviroment Transportation and Infrastructure Medicaid Expansion Contribute at www.conniestokes.com or Connie Stokes for Lt. Governor P.O. BOX 360382 Decatur, Ga 30036 Paid for by Connie Stokes for Lt. Governor, Inc

CrossRoadsNews

Forum

August 23, 2014

Like any good 12-step program, the first is to recognize there is a problem. Next … create a workable budget.

Middle class deserves a Congress that’s working for it 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Graphic Design Curtis Parker Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner Office Manager Catherine Guy 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 CrossRoadsN ews 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.

By Hank Johnson

Georgians are tired of the distraction and inaction in Washington, and rightly so. Hard-working American families deserve a Congress that is working hard for them, committed to creating jobs, expanding opportunity, and strengthening the middle class. Unfortunately, it seems like the House Republican majority is too busy fighting for the special interests to fight for middle-class families. Republicans want to put the special interests before everyone else – advancing an agenda of obstruction and dysfunction that is stalling the middle class, stacking the deck for the wealthy and well-connected, and costing our country jobs. Instead of tax incentives to create good-paying jobs to “Make It in America,” Republicans give tax favors to corporations that ship jobs overseas. Instead of allowing college students to refinance staggering student debts, they protect bank profits. Instead of passing legislation to ensure women receive equal pay for equal work, they

“Our three-pronged plan will grow the middle class with good-paying jobs, with support for education that is more affordable and accessible for working families, and by unleashing the full potential of America’s women.” 4th District Rep. Hank Johnson

support putting bosses in charge of women’s health freedoms. They even threatened to shut down the government to stop women from accessing Planned Parenthood. Democrats have a better way. Last month, while Republicans discussed their plan to sue the president, House Democrats gathered on the steps of the Capitol to lay out a bold, concrete agenda of 100 days of action for the middle class: the Middle Class Jumpstart. Our three-pronged plan will grow the middle class with goodpaying jobs, with support for education that is more affordable and accessible for working families, and by unleashing the full potential of America’s women. Under our plan, we’ll act to create jobs here in America, raising the minimum wage and modernizing

Financial discipline needed to realize dream of wealth By Aaron Scott

America is the wealthiest nation the world has ever seen. Yet a majority of Americans will leave the workplace, call it retirement if you will, with little money saved. Why? Well, you probably already know: lack of financial discipline. But before you opine about living paycheck to paycheck, take a quick inventory of some of your own financial decisions. Did you go to college or a trade school to improve your earning power? Was your latest purchase something that increases in value or decreases in value? Does your family eat out often? A friend of mine once told me that his aunt had been a maid all her adult working life. Yet when she

Own the Money Aaron Scott

died, she left behind $250,000 and three paid-off rental houses. In fact, she was richer than the people whose houses she cleaned. Back in the day, she would get up at 5 in the morning and collect cardboard boxes from local businesses and sell them to recyclers. She always had a job and a side hustle, I am told. But most of all, she was known to the family as someone who lived below her means. Now, I do not know if this story is true or not, but I would like to believe it. Without financial discipline,

Quick Read

Atlantans protest police shooting of black teen

the dream of wealth is a broken vessel that an ocean of money cannot fill. Most pro athletes will leave their mansions a few years after their playing days are over and return to far humbler residences, indeed, if they are not homeless. For every Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan succeeding in the business world, there are hundreds of their former cohorts now in dire financial straits. You probably have already witnessed legends of financial falls splashed across newspaper headlines. Mike Tyson is reported to have squandered $300 million; Allen Iverson, $154 million lost; Terrell Owens, $80 million gone. So, where do we go from here? Like any good 12-step program, the first step is to recognize there is

a problem. The next step is to create a workable budget. Know exactly how much money is coming in and going out each month. Think about it this way: Is it OK for you to spend money in a business and not keep records or have an accounting of expenses? No, right? The same should be true of your home and personal expenses. Write down your current expenses and keep good records. Create a plan of action and stick to it. The good news is there is a way out of financial darkness and into the light of financial freedom. Let us walk together. Next time, I will talk about how to create a workable budget. Aaron Scott is a financial adviser at the Corporate Investments Group in Atlanta. He lives in Decatur.

$4.6M grant to fight veterans’ Play about all-female battalion homelessness 6 coming to Porter Sanford 8

The protests in Ferguson, Mo., over the shooting of unarmed black teenager came to Atlanta on Monday.

Metro Atlanta-based groups have been awarded more than $4.6 million to fight veterans’ homelessness.

The fictional historical play “Six Triple Eight” will be on stage at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center this fall.

Landscaping requirement derails RaceTrac

Marketplace still enrolling 7

Book a librarian for help

Nearly 148,000 uninsured adults in Georgia are still eligible to enroll in health coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace through a special enrollment period.

Individuals who need help surfing the Internet or conducting research can BookA-Librarian at Salem-Panola Library.

The controversial RaceTrac gas station and convenience store planned for Wesley Chapel Road and Snapfinger Woods Drive in Decatur is not happening anytime soon.

Rockbridge Road repair Circulation Audited By

America’s infrastructure by building roads, bridges and broadband technology while investing in clean energy initiatives – paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. We’ll also pass the CEO/Employee Pay Fairness Act to deny CEOs the ability to claim tax deductions for pay over $1 million unless they give their employees a raise. We’ll empower women and families with the tools they need to thrive because we know when women succeed, America succeeds. We’ll pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to guarantee men and women get equal pay for equal work, ensure paid sick leave for men and women, and increase access to affordable child care. We’ll strengthen the Violence Against Women Act and expand women’s access to comprehensive health care and family

planning. We’ll stand for affordable education to keep America No. 1. We’ll increase access to effective early childhood learning, expand Pell Grants for higher education, and address the crushing burden of student loan debt that is holding back a generation of young people. With the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, we’ll empower Americans to refinance their college loans to new, lower rates. Our Middle Class Jumpstart is our pledge to America – to fight for the middle class, put families before special interests, and build an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few. For more, visit http://www. democraticleader.gov/middleclass-jumpstart. U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) is a member of the House Armed Services and Judiciary committees and is a ranking member of the Judiciary subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law. He has introduced, co-sponsored and passed legislation to level the playing field and create opportunity for working American families.

Rockbridge Road between Rock Chapel Road and South Deshon Road is closed to through traffic through Aug. 25.

New gym hosts Friends and Family Day 7 Adults and kids can sample exercise and fitness classes on Aug. 23 at Results Central’s Hairston Road facility in Decatur.

Bird watching all the rage at Panola State Park 9 Children and adults can commune with a few fine-feathered friends at the Atlanta Audubon Society Bird Walk on Aug. 30 at Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge.

index to advertisers Comcast.......................................................... 5 Committee To Elect Connie Stokes................. 3 DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court.................... 10 Fabric Joint, LLC.............................................12 First African Presbyterian Church.................... 3

Flaming Grill & Buffet.....................................9 Ga Health Services Network............................ 7 Golden Care Errand Services For Seniors, LLC.12 Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home........6 Johnson Hopewell Coleman LLC..................12

New Creations Fitness....................................12 Ousley United Methodist Church...................12 The Law Office of B.A. Thomas.....................12 The Lupus Initiative......................................... 7 Wright Vision Care.......................................... 7

Best Buy Co. Inc......................................Inserts Holistic Health Management Inc.............Inserts Walgreens...............................................Inserts Walmart..................................................Inserts The Davis Bozeman Law Firm, P.C......... Online

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August 23, 2014

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Community

“I’m pleased to have voted on the VA health reform bill, and I’m committed … to help our veterans get their lives back on track.”

$4.6M grant to fight veterans’ homelessness Decatur Cooperative Ministry Inc. and three other Atlanta-based groups have been awarded more than $4.6 million from the Department of Veterans Affairs to fight veterans’ homelessness, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson announced on Aug. 19. The other agencies are United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, Action Ministries Inc. and Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc. All will receive a share of funds to provide services to very low-income veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing in the 4th District and throughout metro Atlanta. Johnson, who has been a member of the House Armed Services Committee since 2007, said that every day he is inspired to work on behalf of men and women in uniform and their families. “I’m pleased to have voted on the VA

August 23, 2014

health reform bill last month, and I’m committed to doing what I can to help our veterans get their lives back on track,” said Johnson, who sent letters of support to the VA for the grants. The grants are part of a $300 million nationwide Supportive Services for Veterans Families effort in homeless prevention. More than 301 community nonprofits in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia will benefit. The agencies will help more than 115,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. Supportive Services for Veterans Families is part of President Obama’s pledge to “be relentless” in his pursuit of ending veterans’ homelessness within the decade. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald said that by working with community nonprofits, they have enlisted

valuable partners in the fight to end homelessness. “The work of SSVF grantees has already helped thousands of homeless veterans and their families find homes and thousands more have been able to stay in their own homes,” McDonald said. Through its Eliminating Veteran Homelessness Initiative, the VA has committed more than $1 billion in fiscal 2014 to strengthen programs that prevent and end homelessness among veterans. The VA provides a range of services to homeless veterans, including health care, housing, job training and education. Details about the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program are at www.va.gov/ homeless/ssvf.asp. More information about VA’s homeless programs is available at www. va.gov/homeless.

Operations Task Force subcommittee to meet Aug. 27 DeKalb’s Operations Task Force subcommittee on governance is meeting Aug. 27 at the Maloof Auditorium in downtown Decatur. The task force, which was impaneled on June 5, is studying the financial, business, zoning and quality of life impact on residents and government operations caused by the creation of new cities and annexations. It’s also examining ethics and transparency in county operations and the equitable distribution of Homestead Option Sales Tax proceeds and legacy pension costs between DeKalb County and its cities and other related matters. The task force will make recommendations in December that can be forwarded to the Georgia General Assembly for consideration during the 2015 legislative session. The Maloof Auditorium is at 1300 Commerce Drive in Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews Decatur. The task force meeting schedule is at www.onedekalb. The task force subcommittee is studying how the creation of new cities and annexations have affected residents and government operations. com/pdf/task_force_meeting_schedule.pdf.

May reviewing his year at two more meetings Interim CEO Lee May will talk with residents at the Maloof Auditorium on Aug. 26 and at the Dunwoody Library on Aug. 27 in his series of community meetings reviewing his first year in office. “A Retrospective Look Back, A Progressive Move Forward: A Candid Conversation With CEO Lee May” will focus on the county’s accomplishments and issues over the past Lee May 12 months and some of the challenges in DeKalb’s future regarding governance structure, cityhood and other issues. Gov. Nathan Deal appointed May, the District 5 commissioner, to interim CEO on July 13, 2013, to replace CEO Burrell Ellis, who was removed from office after he was indicted on theft and corruption charges. Ellis is scheduled to go to trial on Sept. 8. If he is acquitted, he will return to office and May will resume his commission seat. May also has held meetings in Ellenwood and Tucker. The Aug. 26 meeting takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Maloof Auditorium is at 1300 Commerce Drive in downtown Decatur. The Aug. 27 meeting takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Dunwoody Library is at 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. May’s annual report, of the same name, is available at www.dekalbcountyga.gov.

District hasn’t yet decided what to do with former school properties DEMOLITION,

from page

on Memorial Drive. Hudson did not respond to queries about the reason for the more aggressive time line. Hudson did say that the school district received a $1,001,623.05 insurance settlement for the Hooper Alexander Elementary buildings. Crews began demolishing Hooper Alexander on Aug. 18, and by Wednesday, the buildings were reduced to a rubble of broken concrete blocks and mangled metal.

The school district took out all the buildings – the ones constructed in 1935; the additions that were made in 1953, 1969, and 1994; and the gymnasium that was built in 2000. In January, portions of the school were damaged in a fire, believed to have been caused by homeless people taking refuge from winter cold weather. But even before the fire, the district’s 2011 Comprehensive Facility Assessment Report, prepared by Parsons Commercial Technology Group and MGT of America Inc., noted the poor conditions of the buildings and

Seven vacant school facilities remain Vacant / Closed Facilities Address Old District Offices 3770 N. Decatur Road Doraville Drivers Ed 3932 Flowers Road, Atlanta Forrest Hills Elem. 923 Forrest Blvd., Decatur Heritage School 2225 Heritage Drive NE, Atlanta H. Alexander Elem. (demolished) 3414 Memorial Drive Misty Waters (land only) 2801 Misty Waters, Decatur Old Briarcliff Open Campus 2415 N. Druid Hills Road NE, Atlanta Old Chamblee Middle 4680 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, (demolished) Dunwoody South Campus (closed) 3251 Panthersville Road, Decatur Tilson Elem. (demolished) 2100 Bixler Court, Decatur

Year Built 1973 1952 1954 1968 1932 1980 1958 1968

Square footage 81,000 5,545 68,430 35,132 68,906 28.7 acres 154,855 63,792

1977 1958

5,333 57,549

Gregory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc. announce the opening of our Rockdale Chapel

grounds and said that its water, sanitary, and electrical systems were “inoperable and unsafe due to frequent vandalism and burglaries.” Residents of the Midway Community, which backs up onto the school property, also had complained on social media that the vacant buildings had become a haven for criminals.

Open House SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2014 • TIME: 5PM Please come by the chapel and register daily mon.--fri. from 9am--6pm and sat. 9am--4pm

WIN an Entire Home Entertainment Center to Include one 60” LED TV and a complete Surround Sound Theater System. The drawing will be held at our Grand Opening.

10 vacant and closed facilities The DeKalb School System operates 151 school facilities. The three demolished schools were among 10 vacant and closed facilities it owns. Three years ago in 2011, its report listed 19 vacant facilities. The remaining seven vacant school buildings are the 81,000-square-foot old district headquarters on North Decatur Road; the 5,545-square-foot Doraville Drivers Ed buildings in Atlanta; the 68,430-squarefoot Forrest Hills Elementary School; the 35,132-square-foot Heritage School; the 28.7-acre Misty Waters property; the 154,855-square-foot Old Briarcliff Open Campus buildings in Atlanta; and the 5,333-square-foot South Campus. The district consolidated and relocated

Rockdale Chapel 1999 Hwy. 138 Conyers, GA 30013 (770) 285-6673 Gregory and Betty Levett, Sr.

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offices that were in three places in 2010 to Mountain Industrial Boulevard after a $31 million retrofit of an old 262,000-square-foot Cub Food grocery store. The building also houses the Elizabeth Andrews High School and the DeKalb Early College Academy. The 2011 Comprehensive Facility Assessment Report estimated the maintenance cost of the 10 buildings at $24 million. The district’s 2020 Master Plan, presented to the School Board Committee of the Whole on May 27, 2011, called for the sale of the old headquarters buildings on North Decatur Road, Hooper Alexander and Tilson elementary schools, and the old Chamblee Middle School. It also called for the Misty Waters property, the Doraville Drivers Ed buildings and Heritage School to be repurposed. Hudson said that at this time, no formal decision has been made about the future use of properties. “Our Operations Division is in the process of securing a professional service firm to assist with developing a comprehensive plan for all surplus properties within the district,” he said. “This plan will include a formal community engagement process which will be developed over the next several months.”

August 23, 2014

Wellness Healthcare Marketplace still enrolling some Nearly 148,000 uninsured adults in Georgia are still eligible to enroll in health coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace through a special enrollment period. A report by the nonprofit Enroll America says that these Georgians will likely experience a qualifying life event, like moving, getting married, adopting or giving birth, gaining Danté McKay citizenship or losing their insurance, that triggers a special enrollment period, allowing them to get covered before 2015 open enrollment begins on Nov. 15. The report shows that about 2.7 million Americans may be eligible to sign up before open enrollment. Danté McKay, Georgia state director for Get Covered America, said many uninsured Georgians are unaware of the special enrollment period. “While we made great strides in getting Georgians covered during the first open enrollment period, there are still many who remain uninsured and unaware of their new options,” he said in an Aug. 18 statement. McKay said if adults experience any of the qualifying life events, they can find quality, affordable health insurance in the Marketplace. When the historic first open enrollment period ended on March 31, more than 8 million Americans had enrolled through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010-2012 American Community Survey and previous studies, Enroll America estimates that, nationally, almost 7 million Americans ages 18-64 are likely to experience a qualifying life event that could make them eligible for a special enrollment. For more information, visit www. EnrollAmerica.org and www.GetCovered America.org.

“We pride ourselves on ‘results’ and truly care about the health and wellness of the community.”

Ebola patients go home, grateful for recovery Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, both missionaries who were being treated at Emory University Hospital for infection by the deadly Ebola virus, have been released from the hospital. Writebol, a hygienist, Kent Brantly was sent home on Aug. 19, and Brantly, a medical doctor, was released Aug. 21. Both were infected by the virus while working in Liberia. At a news conference on Thursday before walking out of the hospital, Brantly said it was a miraculous day. “I am thrilled to be alive and to be well and to be reunited with my family,” he said. As a medical missionary, Brantly said he and his wife, Amber, and their children moved to Liberia in October to work with Samaritan’s Purse. “Ebola was not on the radar,” he said. “We moved to Liberia because God called us to serve the people of Liberia.” He said their first Ebola patient arrived in June, and for the next two months their Ebola patients increased steadily. “On July 23, I woke up feeling under the weather and then my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with Ebola virus disease,” he said. “As I lay in my bed in Liberia for the following nine days getting sicker and weaker each day, I prayed that God would keep me faithful even in my illness and I prayed that in my life or in my death, he would be glorified.” Brantly said he didn’t know then but found out later that millions of people around the world prayed for him that week and even still today. “I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and your support,” he said, “but what I can tell you is that I serve a faithful God who answers prayers.” Brantly thanked Samaritan’s Purse and the doctors and nurses who cared for him with such compassion and hugged all of them before leaving. “You cared for me and administered to me during the most different experience of my life and you did so with the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.” He said the Emory team in the isolation

New gym hosts Friends and Family Day Adults and kids can sample exercise and fitness classes on Aug. 23 at Results Central’s Hairston Road facility in Decatur. The new gym is hosting Friends and Family Day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to introduce residents to its facility and program. Vendors are welcome. The event is free and open to members of the public, who can meet the instructors and trainers, tour the facility, attend group exercise classes, and relax with chair massages. There will be door prizes and giveaways, and all classes will be free to seniors. There is a nominal fee for participation in the classes

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ranging from Ab Lab to Soul Line Dancing. Proceeds from the class participation will benefit Results Kids Club events. Co-owner Barbara Curlin said Results Central’s goal is to make exercising something you look forward to doing. “We pride ourselves on ‘results’ and truly care about the health and wellness of the community,” she said. “We want everyone to reach those health and wellness goals.” Vendor tables are available. The gym is at 2532 S. Hairston Road, Suite H. For more information, visit resultscentral fitness.com or call 770-987-7999.

unit treated him with expertise and such tenderness and compassion. “For the last three weeks, you have been my friends and my family, and so many of you have ministered to me, not only physically, but also Nancy Writebol spiritually, which has been an important part of my recovery,” he said. “I will not forget you and all that you have done for me.” Brantly thanked everyone who lifted him up in prayer asking for his healing and recovery and asked them not to forget Liberia. “Please, do not stop praying for the people of Liberia and West Africa and for a quick end to this Ebola epidemic,” he said, adding that he glad for any attention that his sickness has attracted to the plight of West Africa. “Please continue to pray for Liberia and the people of West Africa and encourage those in positions of leadership and influence to do everything possible to bring this Ebola outbreak to an end.” The Ebola virus kills up to 90 percent of the people infected. Through this week, the virus has killed more than 1,400 people in West Africa in the midst of this epidemic.

Emory Hospital said both Brantly and Writebol are cured of the virus. “These patients pose no public health threat,” the hospital said. Dr. Bruce Ribner, Emory’s Infectious Disease Unit director, said that after a rigorous and successful course of treatment and testing, both patients “have recovered from the Ebola virus and can return to their families and Bruce Ribner community without concern for spreading this infection to others.” He said there was no longer any evidence of virus in their blood or urine and the Emory Healthcare team is extremely pleased with Brantly and Writebol’s recovery. “We were inspired by their spirit and strength as well as by the steadfast support of their families,” he said. When she left the hospital Tuesday, Writebol asked for privacy for her family. Brantly said Thursday that he and his family were going away for a period of time to reconnect, to decompress, to continue to recover physically and emotionally, and to regain his strength. For more information, visit www.emory. edu and www.cdc.gov.

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Best Practices for Managing Lupus Saturday, Aug. 30 • 10am– 1pm

The American College of Rheumatology’s Lupus Initiative

An interactive discussion for people with lupus, friends and family of people with lupus, and healthcare professionals. This event is free and open to the public. Hilton Garden Inn-Homewood Suites • 97 10th Street NW, Atlanta (two blocks from the Midtown MARTA Station)

Join the American College of Rheumatology's The Lupus Initiative (TLI), in collaboration with the Lupus Foundation of America Georgia Chapter (LFA) and Georgians Organized Against Lupus (GOAL) for an interactive discussion on Best Practices for Managing Lupus. There will be discussions and information on best practices for managing Lupus, the research, diagnosis and available resources. There will be resources for people with lupus, family and friends of people with lupus, and healthcare professionals. This event is also for those interested in learning more about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Lupus. Refreshments and valet parking are provided. Please visit us at http://thelupusinitiative.org// to register. Seating is limited.

Did you know? • Lupus is 6-10 times more likely to be found in women? • Lupus affects women of color 2-3 times more often than women of European descent? • African American lupus patients have more seizures and strokes, while Hispanic American/Latina patients have more heart problems?

• More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women between the ages of 15 and 45? • Both African Americans and Hispanic Americans/Latinas tend to develop lupus at a younger age and have more symptoms at diagnosis (including kidney problems)?

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August 23, 2014

“Teachers have the opportunity to create lessons to incorporate the little-known history of African-American women and their service.”

Play about all-female battalion coming to Porter Sanford The fictional historical play “Six Triple Eight” will be on stage at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center this fall, and schools and art teachers can begin reserving tickets now. The story of six black women who served in World War II, written by Mary McCallum, will be performed on Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. It will be followed by a “Talk Back.” The play follows the 6888 Central Postal Battalion, the first AfricanAmerican female battalion arriving in Europe. Under the direction of Maj. Clarissa Dixon, they are faced with a seemingly impossible task – to distribute 7 million pieces of undelivered mail to soldiers in three months. A limited number of free and reduced tickets are available at www .AtlantaBTF.org while the supply lasts. The play is part of an Oct. 9-12 festival. More than 200 artists and 3,000 patrons are expected to attend. Atlanta Black Theatre Festival “Student Day” offers 400 tweens and teens the opportunity to see a live stage play and learn history through the cultural and educational event. Canangela Robertson, a former DeKalb County teacher, who attended last year’s event and was impressed by the quality of the performance, said that the production will be a first-time theater experience for many students. “Teachers have the opportunity to create lessons to incorporate the littleknown history of African-American women and their service to our country in World War II,” she said. The third annual Atlanta Black Theatre Festival offers 40 plays in four days in metro Atlanta covering every genre from dramas and musicals to comedies and classical plays. A full event schedule is available at AtlantaBTF.org. The Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center is at The 6888 Central Postal Battalion was the first African-American female battalion to arrive in Europe. 3181 Rainbow Drive.

Muslim Series at Candler Library Women’s clinic at chamber tourney has been made possible Imam Plemon El-Amin through a grant from the will lead a discussion of National Endowment for “Children of Abraham: Juthe Humanities in coopdaism, Christianity, Islam” eration with the Ameriby F.E. Peters on Aug. 26 at can Library Association. Scott Candler Library. It is designed to foster opThe two-hour book talk portunities for informed is part of Let’s Talk About community conversations It: Muslim Journeys. about the histories, faith It begins at 6 p.m. and cultures of Muslims The discussion will around the world and look at Peters’ comparisons within the United States. of holy scriptures, rituals, Local support is procommunities of believers, vided by the Georgia Hulaws, theological systems, Imam Plemon El-Amin will manities Council and One and traditions of mysti- facilitate Let’s Talk About It. Region Atlanta. Call or visit the branch to cism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. El-Amin, the facilitator, is imam emeritus register. The library is at 1917 Candler Road in of the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam. Let’s Talk About It: Muslim Journeys, a Decatur. For more information and to regscholar-led reading and discussion series, ister, call 404-286-6986.

Women golfers can raise their game in the 10th annual DeKalb Chamber Golf Tournament set for Sept. 15 at the Druid Hills Golf Club with the addition of a Women’s Golf Clinic. Women Executive Leaders of DeKalb – WELD – will host the hourlong group lesson for women who need practice with their golf swing. Registration begins at 1

p.m. and the clinic starts at 2. The chamber’s 18-holes tourney takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It culminates in an award ceremony and reception. The golf club is at 740 Clifton Road N.E. in Atlanta. For cost and other information, visit www.dekalbchamber.org or contact Noelle Lloyd at nlloyd@dekalbchamber.org or 404-378-8000, Ext. 224.

Book a librarian for extra help Individuals who need help surfing the Internet or conducting research can BookA-Librarian for Aug. 27 at Salem-Panola Library. The one-on-one sessions with a librarian take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Librarians will help with questions about email, Internet searches, and creat-

ing a Microsoft Word document. They also will offer assistance with starting the research process, finding good books to read and downloading e-books. To book a session, call or visit the library at 5137 Salem Road in Lithonia. For more information and to register, call 770-987-6900.

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August 23, 2014

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The family-friendly event will raise awareness about CASA and child abuse and neglect.

Bishop Holston for Ousley’s Men’s Day

Bird watchers must bring their binoculars and wear long pants and sleeves to the three-hour hike on Aug. 30.

Bishop Jonathan Holston, South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church resident bishop, will be the guest speaker at Ousley UMC’s Men’s Day on Aug. 31. The theme of the program, which begins at 10 a.m., is “United and Committed Disciples Making a Difference.” Prior to Holston’s election and consecration in July 2012, he served seven years as senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church in Atlanta. Holston is former superintendent of the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District. He has traveled extensively on missions to Uganda, Costa Rica, Haiti, Honduras, Jonathan Holston Zimbabwe, Kenya, India, China and Hong Kong. A reception brunch will follow the Men’s Day program. The church is at 3261 Panola Road in Lithonia. For more information, visit http://ousleyumc.org or call 770981-0180.

Bird watching all the rage at Panola State Park Children and adults can commune with a few finefeathered friends at the Atlanta Audubon Society Bird Walk on Aug. 30 at Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge. The three-hour walk gets under way at 8 a.m. Long pants and sleeves are recommended, and participants should bring their binoculars for the gentle hike through the park’s Power of Flight area. Basic identification techniques and common birds will be discussed. The birding focus will be breeding residents

of wetlands and forest, including warblers, sparrows, blackbirds, raptors, waterfowl, waders and shorebirds. Organizers say the walk is good for all ages and donations of birdseed are appreciated. Participants must pre-register and meet at the Alexander Lake Area. Parking is $5. Panola Mountain State Park is at 2600 Ga. 155 S.W. For more information, visit http://gastateparks.org/Panola Mountain. Call 770-389-7801 to register.

Tour de’ CASA bike ride to focus on child abuse Child advocates and their friends and supporters will bike in the DeKalb CASA Tour de’ CASA at Milam Park in Clarkston on Sept. 6. The inaugural “10K Bike Ride Advocacy” takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The family-friendly event hosted by DeKalb County Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc. will raise awareness about CASA and child abuse and neglect. CASA provides qualified, compassionate adults to fight for and protect a child’s right to be safe, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to learn and grow in the safe embrace of a loving family. DeKalb CASA is an affiliate of Georgia CASA, a nonprofit with 47 affiliate programs. Milam Park is at 3816 Poplar Drive. For more information, email dekalbcasa@dekalbcasa.org or call 404-3780038.

Fall Book Preview offers the scoop on new tomes Can’t wait to get your hands on the latest reads? Then make your way to the 2014 Fall Book Preview on Aug. 27 at the Decatur Library and find out what books you need to watch for. The preview, which is back by popular demand, is free and open to the public. It takes place from 7:15 to 9 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Representatives from America’s biggest publishers will

return to the library to talk about new books that will be published this fall in the fields of biography, fiction, history, young adult, mystery, fantasy and others. Patrons can meet and chat with the representatives. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, visit georgiacenterforthebook .org, dekalblibrary.org or call 404-370-3070, Ext. 2285.

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Hike, bike, golf at state parks in fall Nature lovers looking forward to cooler fall weather can hike, bike and golf in Georgia State Parks as well as take part in fall festivals and hayrides. Eight Georgia State Parks golf courses offer overnight “Stay and Play” accommodations featuring two-day, two-night stay packages from $58 to $180. The fees include accommodations in lodges, cottages or nearby hotels and cart and greens fees for 18 holes per day. For a challenge, tackle the Creek Golf Course at Hard Labor State Park, which Golf Digest Frugal Golfer magazine appropriately named “the fourth sweetest deal in the United States.” The Lakes at Laura S. Walker State Park also offers a challenging yet fun test of golf along with overnight stays at lakeside cottages. GolfWeek says the course is “the seventh best municipal course in the nation.”

Trails and festivals Biking and hiking trails are some of the best ways to explore state parks’ beautiful scenery this fall. An array of biking trails offers recreational bikers miles of paths to roam at Panola Mountain, Red Top Mountain, Hart, Smithgall Woods, and Victoria

Bryant state parks. Fort Mountain, Tallulah George, Unicoi, Richard B. Russell, Mistletoe, Fort Yargo and Hard Labor Creek state parks are loaded with steep grades, bridges and fast berms designed to provide a challenge for the more experienced cyclers. Hikers can stretch their legs on scenic hiking trails. From the challenging backcountry trails of Black Rock Mountain State Park to the paved trails suitable for wheelchairs and strollers at Mistletoe State Park, there is a trail for all ages and fitness levels. Hiking excursions include breathtaking waterfalls of the North Georgia mountains at Fort Mountain State Park, Vogel State Park and Amicalola Falls. For guests who prefer to explore the trails after sunset, Tallulah George State Park even offers full moon hikes. Fall-themed events include the familyfriendly Harvest on the Homestead at Red Top Mountain State Park in September with toys and games, crafts, blacksmithing, cooking and contests. At Florence Marina State Park, a family-friendly Oktoberfest features haunted hayrides, games for kids, a costume contest, and silent auction. For more information, visit www .GaStateParks.org.

3455 Memorial Drive • Decatur, GA 30032 404-288-8806 Open 7 Days a Week

Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Sunday: 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

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3455 Memorial Drive • Decatur, GA

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Finance

August 23, 2014

“She brings a background of impressive scholarship and strong skills in academic administration.”

Goizueta Business School puts first black woman at its helm Erika Hayes James has taken the helm as dean of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, marking the first time a minority woman will lead a fulltime MBA program at a top-25 business school. James assumed her new role on July 15. She comes to Emory from the Darden Graduate School Erika James of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, where she served most recently as senior associate dean for executive education. While three minority women are currently deans at American colleges of busi-

ness, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business says James is the first to lead a full-time MBA program at a top-25 business school. The Goizueta full-time MBA program is ranked No. 1 by Bloomberg BusinessWeek for job placement. Four of its degree programs rank in the top 25. James is also among a handful of women leading American business school programs. Nationally, 22 percent of American business schools have female deans. In a recent Bloomberg interview, James said she feels a responsibility to make business school more accessible for minorities. Provost Claire Sterk, who led the international search that landed James, said she has all the qualities Emory wanted to lead

Goizueta. “She brings a background of impressive scholarship and strong skills in academic administration,” Sterk said, “and she will work collaboratively with faculty, students, staff, alumni and supporters to take the school to the next level – all the while honoring the principled leadership of [Coca-Cola CEO Roberto C.] Goizueta’s legacy.” James said she hopes to deepen the connections between Goizueta and Atlanta’s business community, nonprofit organizations and other universities. “I see a real opportunity to align business thought leadership in Atlanta and, in the tradition of the academy, to bring research to bear on challenges,” she said.

James, who has a Ph.D. in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan, said she also sees opportunities to align Goizueta’s business acumen with Emory’s health care expertise to address national challenges facing health care delivery systems. Olga Goizueta Rawls, Goizueta Foundation chair and CEO, said the foundation anticipates even greater successes for the business school and its graduates under James’ leadership. “I am sure our father would consider Erika James to be an inspired choice, given their shared interest in innovative teaching and learning, and developing business leaders who are committed to excellence and integrity,” she said.

Jobs Bus heads to Tucker, Decatur

Metro Atlanta jobless rate rises to 8% in July

DeKalb’s Mobile Career Center is on the road again and will make stops on Aug. 26 and 27 in Tucker and Decatur. The bus had been out of service for critical maintenance. On Aug. 26, it will be at Northlake-Barbara Loar Library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library is at 3772 LaVista Road in Tucker. On Aug. 27, it will be at the Department of Family and Children Services, 178 Sams St. in Decatur, also from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The mobile center, funded by a Workforce Investment Act grant, offers residents job search assistance, adult workshops and training, resume writing pointers, and interviewing tips. All its services are free of charge. Businesses also are able to use the mobile unit for recruiting, pre-employment screenings, interviewing, and training. For more information, visit www.onedekalb.com.

Metro Atlanta’s jobless rate rose to 8 percent in July, and seasonal factors such as temporary layoffs in educational services and manufacturing were cited again as the cause for the increase. Most of the laid-off workers have returned to their jobs, the state Department of Labor reported Aug. 21. DeKalb’s unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in July, and it was among 27 counties with a jobless rate ranging from 8 to 8.9 percent. Metro Atlanta’s July rate was up five-tenths of a percentage point from 7.5 percent in June. The July 2013 rate was 8.3 percent. There were 2,461,200 jobs in Atlanta in July, down by 2,700, or 0.1 percent, from June. Most of the loss came in local government.

Legal Notices 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/06

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV7813-1++ Carlos R. Clark filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on July 23, 2014, to change the name from: Corey Roberta Clark to Corey Roberta Clark. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: July 23, 2014 Corey R. Clark Petitioner, Pro se 507 Walden Walk Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30088 (818) 239-2998 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/06

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV7747-8++ Barbara Ann Nicholson filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on July 30, 2014, to change the name from: Barbara Ann Nicholson Arbogast to Barbara Ann Nicholson. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: July 30, 2014 Barbara A. Nicholson Petitioner, Pro se P.O. Box 190872 Atlanta, GA 31119 (404) 213-2351 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/06

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV8018-3++ Raymond Dementrus Jones filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior

Court on August 8, 2014, to change the name from: Raymond Dementrus Jones to Raymond-D’Ontario Dementrius Jones. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: August 8, 2014 Raymond Dementrus Jones Petitioner, Pro se P.O. Box 297 Stone Mountain, GA 30086 (470) 315-5068 8/23, 8/30, 9/06, 9/13

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV7998-2++ ASdebola Alabi filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on August 8, 2014, to change the name from: Adebola Oluwayomi Alabi to David Adebola Oluwayomi Alabi. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: August 8, 2014 Adebola Alabi Petitioner, Pro se 2177 Tudor Castle Way Decatur, GA 30035 (404) 438-4860 8/2, 8/9, 8/16, 8/23