CrossRoadsNews, December 4, 2010 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

FINANCE

WELLNESS

YOUTH

Deal-hunting shoppers flocked to the stores early for Black Friday sales locally and nationally and spent more money than they did last year. 6

The National Sleep Foundation says the number of motorists who drive while drowsy should be a “wake up call” to lawmakers. 7

For students visiting the Mayfield Dairy Farms in Braselton, it could mean an ice cream party if they come up with the winning name for dairy’s Jersey cow replica. 9

Black Friday delivers

Road napping can kill

December 4, 2010

What’s in a name?

Volume 16, Number 32

www.crossroadsnews.com

DeKalb picking new MARTA board from old By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb County members on the MARTA board will be headed to the Maloof Center on Dec. 7 for interviews that will help determine whether they get a seat on the new MARTA board in January. JoAnn McClinton, Jim Durrett, Fred Daniels, Harold Buckley and Keith Adams are among seven candidates invited for interviews by the Board of Commissioners’ Planning, Economic Development and Public Works Committee. The years of service of the five range from Daniels with 11 months on the board to Buckley, who was appointed in

Gov. Sonny Perdue signed into law on June 2. The law reconfigures the MARTA board from 18 members to 11. It requires all current members to vacate their seats on Dec. 31 and new members be appointed for the new board that will begin sitting on Jan. 1, 2011. On Wednesday, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce submitted a list of names – Daniels; Durrett; retired AGL Resource CEO Keith Adams Harold Buckley Fred Daniels Jim Durrett JoAnn McClinton Isaac Blythers, who lives in Stone Mountain; Lithonia accountant and 100 Black Men of 1985 and has 25 years of continuous service. The seven are being screened for four DeKalb President Matthew Ware; and Stone Also joining the current board members for DeKalb seats on a new, slimmed-down Mountain Chrysler Dodge owner Darryl interviews are attorney Wendy Butler and MARTA board created by House Bill 277, the former MARTA board member Ed Walls. Transportation Investment Act of 2010 that Please see MARTA, page 2

Residents balk at proposed water rate hike County: System needs $1.4 billion in improvements By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Years of neglect and population growth now equal a huge price tag to fix DeKalb’s aging water and sewer system, and taxpayers are being called upon to foot the bill. At a Dec. 1 public meeting about proposed improvements totaling $1.4 billion, Ted Rhinehart, deputy chief operating officer for the county’s infrastructure group, and Dr. Francis Kung’u, the county’s watershed management director, said the choice is simple – pay $1.4 billion now, or pay more later. They say the proposed repairs and improvements are Ted Rhinehart critical to overhauling the county’s 40- to 50-year-old system that is threatening public health and the environment with spills of untreated sewage. “We are unfortunately at this critical juncture where a lot of the old water mains are really on borrowed time,” Rhinehart said. “We can’t avoid the major investments. We can’t avoid the major improvements.” Over the five-year capital improvement program, the county plans to spend: n $600 million to repair, replace and update the wastewater collection system. n $378 million to rebuild, upgrade and expand the Snapfinger Wastewater Treatment Plant. n $179 million to repair, replace and update parts of the water distribution system. n $82 million to begin water reuse and to return treated wastewater to the Chattahoochee River.

Jennifer Parker / CrossRoadsNews

John Evans, president of the DeKalb NAACP, questioned the timing of the proposed $1.4 billion investment in the county’s water-sewer system. “People are out of work. People don’t want to be taxed any more, whether it’s a fee or sales tax,” he said.

n $65 million to upgrade sections of Pole missioners for a full vote on Dec. 7.

bridge Wastewater Treatment Plant. n $38 million to upgrade the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant. n $36 million for vehicles and equipment. Representatives of community groups and residents who spoke at the meeting questioned the timing of the hefty price tag that residents are being asked to absorb in increased compounded water rates that rise to 110 percent by 2012. DeKalb District 6 Commissioner Kathie Gannon organized the Dec. 1 meeting after uproar from residents and community groups that there had not been enough public input into the proposal, which had been scheduled to come before the Board of Com-

More than 100 people from the South DeKalb Neighborhoods Coalition and representatives from homeowners groups like Brook Glen, Kings Ridge and Chapel Lake subdivisions attended the meeting at the Maloof Auditorium. Rhinehart said that the county plans to sell bonds and spread the payments over time. The payments will increase water and sewer rates 13 percent compounded over five years, elevating DeKalb among metro Atlanta counties with the highest water rates. John Evans, president of the DeKalb NAACP, wanted to know whether this is the right time for such a major investment and what other options for funding the county

looked at before seeking to burden taxpayers with water rate increases. “You know what is happening in this country and this county,” he said. “People are out of work. People don’t want to be taxed any more, whether it’s a fee or sales tax. It doesn’t matter. The major question is what would happen to this county if it postponed this decision for a later date. I don’t think this county would fold up and go away because we didn’t do it now.” Evans said there should be a referendum in the county to let the people decide if they want to pay higher water rates. County spokesman Burke Brennan said Please see WATER, page 6

Community

CrossRoadsNews

December 4, 2010

Maddox insisted he had done nothing wrong but told the Ethics Board he would be more cautious in the future.

Maddox, Williams cleared of ethics allegations Lithonia picks By Jim Walls

Two DeKalb County housing officials were cleared Wednesday of ethics charges stemming from their solicitation of political and charitable contributions from a private developer. George Maddox and Dorothy Williams, both board members of the DeKalb Housing Authority, each accepted $2,500 in donations from the authority’s NorSouth Cos., its “development partner” George Maddox on a North DeKalb project, and the company’s owner. But the DeKalb Board of Ethics found no evidence that the transactions influenced the officials’ public actions. Maddox and Williams voted last year to table NorSouth’s request to modify the terms of their development agreement so the project could move forward. In Williams’ case, since the donations went to the nonprofit DeKalb for Seniors Inc., and not her personally, the Ethics Board dismissed the charges without even hearing evidence. In doing so, the board accepted the argument of her attorney, Fred Wright, that soliciting charitable contributions is not covered by the county’s ethics code. DeKalb’s ethics code bars officials from accepting or requesting anything of value if “it tends to influence him in the discharge of his official duties.” It does not address whether officials may solicit non-charitable gifts from employees, vendors or others with a financial interest in the officials’ decisions. Williams acknowledged during a break that she also had requested and received donations from Greg Worthy, the authority’s attorney; Sterling Bethea, its former executive director; Eugene “Pete” Walker, then the authority’s financial adviser and now its executive director; and an unnamed consultant

Charges against DeKalb Housing Authority board member Dorothy Williams (shown with attorney Fred Wright) were dismissed without hearing evidence.

to the authority. She said she did so at the request of Carleen Cumberbatch, another authority member who serves with Williams on the board of DeKalb for Seniors. Maddox, who represented himself and did not have a lawyer with him, confirmed he had solicited and received campaign donations from NorSouth, Worthy and Walker. He also asked Matthew McClammey, then the authority’s deputy executive director, for a charitable donation to help put a new roof on a church building. “I asked everybody I knew,” he said. Only NorSouth’s donations were at issue in Wednesday’s hearing. McClammey said he felt some pressure when asked to give to Maddox’s church, but he was not trying to curry favor. “I received an envelope with a card. I wrote a check just to get it off my desk.” McClammey said he had expressed concerns about Maddox’s behavior as an authority official but declined to be specific. “There have been things that have caused me to have many questions,” he said. But ultimately, “you do your job and you move on.” Maddox insisted he had done nothing wrong but told the Ethics Board he would

be more cautious in the future. “Going forward, I would not ask for any contribution of any kind from anybody.” The NorSouth gifts came to light after the firm’s vice president, David Dixon, told Bethea in an e-mail that he had made “generous” donations in response to requests by Williams and Maddox. Dixon said he felt that he knew them well enough as a result to call them to discuss the importance of moving the redevelopment forward. Dixon said he later called Maddox about the proposal but not Williams. Bethea forwarded the e-mail in April – six months later, and shortly before his own resignation from the authority – to DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis’ office, which passed it on to the Ethics Board. Ethics officials noted disapprovingly the absence of Worthy and Bethea, who had been subpoenaed to attend. Cumberbatch, who was also to testify, sent word that she was ill and unable to attend. Worthy gave only a few hours’ notice that he was out of town and could not appear, just as he had done prior to an earlier hearing, Ethics Board Chairman Bryan Smith said. “I was a little disappointed about that.”

DeKalb officer as new chief DeKalb police veteran Kennis R. Harrell is the city of Lithonia’s new police chief. He began his tenure on Nov. 29. He was picked from a field of 21 applicants. “Chief Harrell’s Kennis Harrell very high standard of professionalism and long-term dedicated performance made him the ideal choice for this very important leadership position,” Mayor Tonya Peterson Anderson said Thursday. Harrell, a 24-year law enforcement officer, is a former deputy chief with the DeKalb County Police Department. “We will be committed to the ethical treatment of those we serve,” Harrell said. “We will seek to improve the quality of life by partnering with the community we serve, to protect the lives and property of its citizens.”

PRISM luncheon will honor officers Police officers and firefighters in the Stone Mountain and Tucker areas will get some love from Pride Rings in Stone Mountain on Dec. 10 during its annual Police Appreciation Luncheon. The event, in its 12th year, takes place at Georgia Perimeter College’s Clarkston campus. There also will be door prizes. Firefighters at seven stations will receive food and supermarket gift cards. To donate, e-mail Betty Efird at befird@bell south.net or call 404-292-0161.

DeKalb loses one seat on MARTA board under new state law MARTA,

from page

Ford for consideration. Commissioner Lee May, who chairs the PEP Committee, said that he requested suggestions from the Metro Chamber months ago but that their list arrived too late to be included in Dec. 7 interviews. “The chamber has been very involved with transportation issues and we thought they might be helpful in identifying someone with business savvy. But now it’s kind of late in the day. We sent our invitations for the interviews weeks ago and will proceed with the folks suggested by commissioners.” May said that if the committee feels that it needs more after those interviews are completed, it might revisit the chamber’s list. District 6 Commissioner Kathie Gannon, one of the committee members interviewing nominees, said the new law is a tipping point for MARTA and underscores the need for

board members who have integrity, presence, and demonstrated experience and knowledge in regional transportation issues. “Transit and transportation will be the most important issue we will face in the next two years,” she said. “The arena has changed and I don’t think we can have the same old, same old. We need a mix of some experience, new fresh thinking and an understanding of transportation issues.” DeKalb currently has five members on the MARTA board and will lose one seat as part of the legislated changes. May said the committee will recommend four members to the full Board of Commissioners for approval at its Dec. 14 meeting. Because of the Christmas holidays, commissioners are holding their two December meetings on consecutive weeks. May said he is looking for board members who can navigate the new political reality created by the transportation bill.

“We need people who have business savvy, who understand the needs of DeKalb and have political influence. The state is imposing its will on us and telling us to reconfigure the board, but it is still not giving anything to MARTA. That is problematic.” May said the PEP Committee will recommend the best four candidates. “I think we will have some new members and some old ones.” For Commissioner Larry Johnson, the Board of Commissioners’ presiding officer, having MARTA board members who understand DeKalb’s priorities is essential. “We want rail down I-20 to spur economic development to our county,” he said. “We want to get the state to work with MARTA, and with the upcoming transportation referendum, we want to make sure that our transportation needs are met.” To get there, Johnson said the county needs MARTA board members who can be

advocates. “We need some people with some history and some with innovative new ideas. We are looking for some new outcomes.” HB 277 allows for residents in a dozen special tax districts to vote on a referendum on a 1 percent, 10-year regional sales tax to fund transportation improvements. It designates those funds to develop new transportation and prohibits any of it to be used for maintaining MARTA’s infrastructure. Gannon called that stipulation “an unfair discrepancy.” “The backbone of the whole transit is MARTA but it only looks for new transit. It doesn’t allow for new money to be spent on maintenance and upkeep on MARTA.” Gannon said DeKalb’s MARTA board members will have to work with a state Legislature that is not pro-MARTA. “It is going to take a great deal of ability to change that. We are looking for people who can work to change that.”

Community

CrossRoadsNews

December 4, 2010

“Both sides seemed to be pretty open to discussion of a quick resolution of the case whether through trial or negotiation settlements.”

Metro jobless rate dips Long heads to mediation New faces for Metro Atlanta’s jobless rate fell to 9.7 percent in October. The Georgia Department of Labor said the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate went down two-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 9.9 percent in September. The number of unemployed workers in the area decreased to 254,874, down 7,397 from 262,271. The metro jobless rate in October 2009 was 10.3 percent. In DeKalb County, initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits stood at 3,934 in October, down 47 – or 1.2 percent – from 3,981 in September. In October 2009, there were 4,476 initial claims. The state’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate was unchanged at 9.9 percent from September to October. The rate was 10.2 percent in October 2009. This is the 37th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, currently 9.6 percent. Although the state’s jobless rate was unchanged, the number of payroll jobs increased 22,300, or six-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,815,400 in September to 3,837,700 in October. In metro Atlanta, the number of payroll jobs increased 12,500, from 2,261,900 in September to 2,274,400. For more information, visit www.dol.state.ga.us.

Hearing for 13th District DeKalb parents who reside in the 13th Congressional District can meet with State Board of Education member Mary Sue Murray at a Dec. 16 public hearing in Jonesboro. The 7 p.m.-to-8 p.m. hearing will be at the Clayton County Board of Education, 1058 Fifth Ave. Board of Education members have been hosting hearings across the state seeking input from parents to ensure that all students receive an excellent public education. Congressman David Scott represents District 13. The district includes Clayton and por- Mary Sue Murray tions of Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton and Henry counties. Those wishing to speak at the meeting must sign in when they arrive. For more information, contact Jackie Clarke Dodd at 404657-7410 or e-mail jclarkedodd@doe.k12.ga.us.

Bishop Eddie Long and his accusers will meet for mediation in February before going to court next summer. At a Nov. 19 status conference hearing in DeKalb State Court, lawyers for both sides met with Judge Johnny Panos and tentatively set February for a mediation session and July 11, 2011, for a pre-trial conference. “Both sides seemed to be pretty open to Eddie Long discussion of a quick resolution of the case whether through trial or negotiation settlements,” Panos said. In September, four men – Maurice Robinson, Anthony Flagg, Jamal Parris and Spencer LeGrande – filed lawsuits against Long, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and the Longfellows Youth Academy, a program based at New Birth that caters to young males ages 13 to 18. They allege that Long coerced them into sexual acts in exchange for lavish trips, cars and money. The four allege the sexual relations occurred when they were 16 or older, the legal age of consent in Georgia. Long responded to all four lawsuits last month, denying the allegations of sexual misconduct. He did admit to sharing hotel rooms with his accusers and buying them gifts. New Birth also filed responses to the lawsuits, saying they could not confirm or deny whether Long had sex with them.

Tucker streetscape begins The $1.3 million Tucker streetscape project has moved a step closer to reality with a ceremonial ground-breaking on Dec. 1. DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, the Board of Commissioners, and area business and civic leaders attended the launching of the long-awaited Tucker Main Street upgrades. Wider sidewalks will be installed on both sides of Main Street to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, and the road will be reduced to two lanes from its present four lanes. The project, which includes intersection improvements and decorative streetlights, will leave intact the current number of parking spaces and enhance and unify Main Street from Lawrenceville Highway to LaVista Road by coordinating elements such as landscape, signage, lighting and architecture. Special consideration will be paid toward existing businesses to ensure access.

! ! W E W

the bench and school board

Former DeKalb Assistant District Attorney Courtney Johnson will be taking her seat on the DeKalb Superior Court in January and the DeKalb School Board will have two new members. Lithonia accountant Donna Edler and Nancy Jester, who describes herself as an involved parent, unseated incumbents in the Nov. 30 runoff elec- Courtney Johnson tion. Johnson won 61 percent of the vote and defeated Decatur attorney Michael Rothenberg. She will succeed Robert Castellani, who is retiring Dec. 31. She called her victory “a resounding vote Donna Edler of confidence.” “I look forward to serving the citizens of DeKalb County on the Superior Court bench with honesty and integrity,” she said. “I pledge to be fair and to follow the law at all times.” Edler got 72 percent Nancy Jester vote to defeat District 7 two-term incumbent Zepora Roberts. In District 1, Nancy Jester won over incumbent Jim Redovian with 55 percent of the vote. Only 27,728 or 7.1 percent, of the county’s voters 389,452 registered voters went to the polls on Nov. 30.

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CrossRoadsNews

Forum

December 4, 2010

The law specifically designates “computer records” as public records subject to the law.

Church scandals should draw Christians closer to Jesus 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

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Over the past 10 years we have witnessed how “men of God have fallen from grace,” into the grip of sexual temptations and biblical abominations. Religious arrogance, pride, and lack of prayer time with God have contributed to the downfalls of highly visible ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There have been so many in the last 10 years that to single any one of them out would be pointless. The fact is, it’s happening in churches more than what people want to talk about. Before I continue, let me say that I am not passing judgment on any one person, because sin is sin. The Bible declares that “all have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God.” However, there is a distinct difference between committing a sin and living a lifestyle of sin that abuses the grace of God. Temptation to sin is ever-present, but falling into temptations is quite different from trying to justify a sinful lifestyle. Jesus said in the Gospel of St. John, Chapter 4:24, that God is a spirit and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. So what is spirit and truth? Spirit means the intent of heart

A lot of these modern-day Christian leaders who have fallen from grace were warned privately before they were publicly exposed. However, they chose to dismiss and overrule God’s warning of judgment and reaped the shame of public humiliation. Kevin Oliveira

in worship. Truth means the actions of your deeds as a lifestyle of worship. Worship is not just about singing in church or singing in the choir. Worship is the consistent actions in one’s Christian walk/ lifestyle and commitment to the service of people of the Christian faith and the greater community as a whole – to reflect the love and grace of God. High-profile ministers have fallen hard from grace because they were gods unto themselves, that their congregations worshipped them instead of Jesus himself. Jesus said if he be lifted up, he would draw all men unto himself. Jesus’ message of redemption and eternal salvation outweighs any bless-me prosperity theology message. Christian sex scandals come to make the true Christians focus on the main thing: Jesus Christ – not the blessings of Jesus Christ. Jesus

‘Citizens Governmental Oversight Review Panel’ needed There is a systemic concern regarding the gray cloud associated with a lot of decisions made by elected officials on the voter’s behalf. Newton County Commissioner Nancy Shultz has said, “The people need to decide if they’re willing to put up with back room politics and deal making.” Her comments signal a call to arms for all citizens who want our public business conducted in the light of day. It’s time to circle the wagons and make a stand. We need a “Citizens Governmental Oversight Review Panel” that can analyze the votes our decision makers cast. This

Insights

with Jocco Clyde “Jocco” Baccus

review panel should be comprised of residents who will look at past and present documented evidence and conclude whether there is any cause to question if special interest or personal gain may have played a part for their vote. If a just cause conclusion is reached, we can submit a written request to the grand jury for consideration. An organized effort toward this

Quick Read

end can use Georgia’s Sunshine Laws as the governing legal tool to access information needed to reach a documented conclusion. Under GSL, the law specifically designates “computer records” as public records subject to the law. The Open Records Act mandates that if a county maintains a computerized index of county real estate deed records, the index must be printed and made available for public inspection no less than every 30 days. Additionally, courts have held that government may not keep details of litigation settlements secret. GSL mandates that public records be available to “any citizen

of this state” and must be available to non-residents as well. If a citizens review panel sounds like something you would like to do, or if you prefer to form a “committee of one,” there is a sample Open Records Request letter on Page 31 in Georgia’s Sunshine Laws Handbook, available at www.gfaf .org/resources/sunshine_laws.pdf. Words of warning are resonating from some of our elected officials. Don’t allow street gossip to detour the truth and send accountability to timeout. Clyde “Jocco” Baccus is president of the Learning Tree Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to voter education.

Maddox, Williams cleared of ethics allegations 2

Retailers ring up impressive sales on Black Friday 6

Negro baseball exhibit staying put in Decatur 8

Two DeKalb County housing officials were cleared Wednesday of ethics charges stemming from their solicitation of contributions from a private developer.

Black Friday’s shopping frenzy paid off in a big way for retailers this year with consumers parting with $45 billion over the Thanksgiving weekend.

“Pride and Passion: the African-American Baseball Experience” is remaining at the Decatur Library through Jan. 7.

PRISM luncheon will honor officers 2

Drowsy driving crashes prevalent, preventable

Police officers and firefighters in the Stone Mountain and Tucker areas will get some love from Pride Rings in Stone Mountain on Dec. 10 during its annual Police Appreciation Luncheon.

It’s the holiday season and thousands of us will be taking road trips to visit friends and family. Many of us will experience drowsiness behind the wheel.

Long heads to mediation Circulation Audited By

dying on the cross and raising from the dead is the salvation Gospel. These ministerial falls from grace should not be excuses for any true Christian to backslide or fall away from their true faith. On the contrary, scandals should draw Christians closer to Jesus through prayer, fasting, and supplications on behalf of the fallen and oneself. In times of scandal in the Old Testament, when God exposed leadership sins, it was the prophets who brought the rebuking words to the leaders. When King Saul disobeyed God’s command to utterly destroy the enemies of God and he did not, God sent the prophet Samuel to tell Saul that God was taking his kingdom from him. When King David committed adultery and ordered the murder of an innocent man, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to bring David the Lord’s condemning news against David’s household.

So what am I saying? A lot of these modern-day Christian leaders who have fallen from grace were warned privately before they were publicly exposed. However, they chose to dismiss and overrule God’s warning of judgment and reaped the shame of public humiliation. How do I know? Because God does not change. God’s method of chastising and correcting his leaders and followers does not change. The mercy and the grace of God would never publicly shame someone unnecessarily. That is why the Bible says Christians should walk in the light. Will we make mistakes? Yes, but that does not give anyone the right or excuse to live a sinful lifestyle. Spiritual pride is dangerous. Spiritual ignorance is even more dangerous. People need to pray and read their Bibles more for themselves and stop worshipping men. It’s still all about Jesus. Even through human scandals in churches, God can and will save true believers. Don’t you lose your faith because of someone else’s problem. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; in the end, you are only responsible for your faith. Kevin Oliveira lives in McDonough.

Bishop Eddie Long and his accusers will meet for mediation in February before going to court next summer.

Forum offers tips to seniors 7 Older DeKalb County residents can get tips to tackle 2011 at the Dec. 10 “New Year, New You” community health forum at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia.

Choirs to sing for toys at annual Joyful Noise concert 8 The Saint Philip AME Church choirs will be singing of toys on Dec. 12 at their 26th annual Joyful Noise for Toys by Candlelight Concert.

Students improve on writing test 9 DeKalb high school juniors are making strides on the Department of Education’s Georgia High School Writing Test.

index to advertisers Acts of Valor Salon.........................................9 Agape Christian Counseling Center............... 11 Best Boom! Strategies.................................... 11 Best Friend Auto Repair................................. 11 Chase.............................................................. 3 DeKalb Medical............................................... 7

Diginity Memorial ..........................................6 Ella’s Caring Hands Adult Day Care............... 11 Gibbs Garage................................................. 11 Home Free USA............................................. 11 Law Office of Trichelle Griggs Simmons........ 11 Macy’s............................................................. 5

Malcolm Cunningham Auto Gallery..............12 MARTA............................................................ 2 Metro Self Storage......................................... 11 Mini Mall........................................................ 11 Mystery Valley Golf ........................................9 SWH Apparel................................................. 11

The Eye Care Studio........................................ 7 The Law Office of B.A. Thomas..................... 11 The Law Offices of Diann Moseley................. 11 The Middle Man Entertainment..................... 11 Tuskegee Graduates & Friends...................... 11

CrossRoadsNews

December 4, 2010

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CrossRoadsNews

Finance

December 4, 2010

“Consumers still have concerns about the economy, jobs, and paying down debt,” said Phil Rist of BIGresearch.

Retailers ring up impressive sales figures on Black Friday By Jennifer Ffrench Parker and Carla Parker

Black Friday’s shopping frenzy paid off in a big way for retailers this year with consumers parting with $45 billion over the Thanksgiving weekend. The National Retail Federation said more shoppers visited stores and Web sites over Black Friday weekend and spent more than they did a year ago. The BIGresearch survey said 212 million shoppers visited stores and Web sites, up from 195 million last year. They spent an average of $365.34, up from $343.31 last year. That trend held true locally with east metro consumers taking the bait and heading out to stores before dawn for doorbuster deals. At the Mall at Stonecrest, Kohl’s opened at 3 a.m. and had long lines through early afternoon. Ditto for JC Penney, which opened at 4 a.m., and area Wal-Marts packed the crowds in for its blockbuster 5 a.m. sale on flat-screen televisions, iPods and DVD players. Henry Greene, store manager of the Memorial Drive Wal-Mart, said people began lining up at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving for the 5 a.m. electronics sale. “We were sold out of televisions within half an hour,” he said. Mary Siskey of Stockbridge; her daughter, Amy Dameron; and friend Melissa Leathers left home at 2:30 a.m. They went to two Kohl’s, Wal-Mart, Target, Toys “R” Us twice, and Southlake Mall. By 11 a.m. she was resting on a bench on the upper level at the Mall at Stonecrest while her daughter was going through the line in Kohl’s. “I prepare all year for this,” she said. “Our husbands know it will be dark before we get home.”

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Shoppers began their hunt for bargains early at the Mall at Stonecrest on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Nationally, consumers parted with $45 billion over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Siskey said the sales weren’t any better than last year but that she will be spending $500 more this year. She said this year she saw more people shopping. “I do believe people seem happier this year. My gut says things are going to be better next year.” Just after 4 .a.m., Albert and Suzanne Liabastre of Atlanta were in line waiting to pay for a home theater system at the Northlake Mall’s Sears. “We get up for Black Friday every year,” Suzanne Liabastre said. “This is a Thanksgiving tradition for us.” She said that they save $100 every year by shopping on Black Friday. “We like the thrill of it – rushing to get

the last item of the shelf,” she said with a laugh. “Last year we got the last flat-screen TV at Target.” Crystal Choates of Decatur was on the hunt for a puff vest at Northlake Mall. “I got up at 3:30 a.m. for this,” she said. “I’ve never done this before and I wanted to see what the hype was about, get the experience.” Her first stop was at Target, but she said the line was too long. “So I got one from Sears,” she said. Choates said the Black Friday expedition would probably be her last. “This is just a little too early for me,” she said. “I am a bargain hunter but not at this cost.”

Nationally, more and more shoppers are starting their holiday shopping earlier and earlier. The survey found that the number of people who began their Black Friday shopping at midnight tripled this year, from 3.3 percent in 2009 to 9.5 percent this year. By 4 a.m., nearly one-fourth (24 percent) of Black Friday shoppers were already at the stores. Carol Trim Bagot and her granddaughters Sierra and Damali didn’t leave their Snellville home until 8 a.m., but three hours later, they were laden with bags and on their way to their fifth store. Bagot said her shopping was tempered by the economy. “I am trying to hold on to as much of my money as I can,” she said. “We are shopping for needs, not wants. I don’t know where the economy is going. There is still a lot of uncertainty.” Mall at Stonecrest marketing director Donald Bieler said the crowds grew all day Friday at the 1.3 million square-foot, twostory mall. “We were near capacity at 3 p.m.,” he said. Phil Rist, BIGresearch executive vice president, said that the surge in shoppers was largely driven by the hunt for bargains rather than comfort with the economy. “Consumers still have concerns about the economy, jobs, and paying down debt,” he said. Matthew Shay, the National Federation of Retailers president and CEO, said retailers have to keep the deals going. “As retailers look ahead to the first few weeks of December, it will be important for them to keep momentum going with savings and incentives that holiday shoppers simply can’t pass up,” he said.

DeKalb raises public health issues WATER,

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Thursday that a referendum is not applicable because the water increases are for usage fees. “It’s not a tax,” he said. “A referendum is not a mechanism for a usage fee.” Rhinehart said that as the operator of a water system serving more than 700,000 people, the county has a serious obligation to protect public health and provide safe drinking water. “We have to make a high level of investment into the system,” he said. “If we try to delay this, what then happens as mains break and sewer overflows increase, the state and federal government will come in and order us to do these things faster and at a higher price tag.” Rhinehart said they are making the cost more affordable by selling bonds and spreading the payments over 25 or 30 years and scaling up the water rates over time. Joan Walker, who chairs the South DeKalb Neighborhoods Coalition’s environmental committee, said the population projections on which the county is basing the increase in water and sewer capacity are outdated. She said Atlanta Regional Commission statistics show that DeKalb had the slowest population growth and the lowest housing growth in metro Atlanta and that DeKalb’s 2009 building permit activity was down 91.5 percent, the largest decrease in the 20-county metro area. “Given these numbers, we are not going to have the projected growth that we thought in 2006 that we were going to have.” While the improvements are necessary, Walker said, the SDNC has concerns about the amount of money being spent. “We do know that Snapfinger Treatment Plant needs to be upgraded, but we are not so sure that it needs to have the capacity increased. This needs to be revisited because

given the density of the population around that plant, we don’t have any more room to put any more people in that basin.” Gil Turman, SDNC’s president, said he is concerned about the county undertaking a billion-dollar project at a time when the people and the county are in dire financial straits. “I am speaking in regards to senior citizens, folks that are on fixed income, folks that are out of jobs, that are going to shoulder this situation,” he said. “From the economic forecast, we don’t know what’s to come. What we are hearing is that the worst is still to come. That is the concern that a lot of people have. Is there a source of revenues, recognizing that there is a problem, have we checked every base of revenues? Does it have to be the water bill?” Turman said a 110 percent increase is a very large jump in water bills. “That’s a lot of money and folk can hardly pay their house note, can hardly pay their rent,” he said. “There ought to be a mandate coming from somewhere that we can sit down and collaborate and see what we can come up with. You got some people that have excellent intelligence in this county who can come up with some ideas as to how we can get through this situation without a lot of folks suffering and losing their homes.” The next public meeting will be Dec. 7 in the Dunwoody City Hall. Rhinehart said it will be up to the Board of Commissioners whether there will be further dialogue about the plan or whether it is ready to move along with the investment. “As the owners of a large water system, there are public health and environmental obligations under state and federal law and there is not a lot of elbow room in what we can choose to do or not do,” he said. “We have to maintain our system. The sooner we can start some of these critical repairs, the less we are living on borrowed time.”

Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

December 4, 2010

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not being able to remember the past few miles, yawning frequently, or jerking back into your lane are all signs that you may be driving drowsy.â&#x20AC;?

Drowsy driving crashes prevalent, preventable Campaign seeks to curb teen drinking Sleepiness can adversely affect drivers by causing slower reaction times, lapses in judgment, vision impairment and delays in processing information, experts say.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to change the culture so that drivers recognize the dangers, appreciate the consequences and, most importantly, stop driving while sleepy,â&#x20AC;? he said. Experts say drowsy driving crashes are both prevalent and preventable. Massey Arrington, director of DeKalb Medicalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sleep Disorders Center, calls drowsy driving a serious issue, especially in the busy metropolitan Atlanta area, and that drivers need to recognize the signs of drowsiness and identify the causes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not being able to remember the past few miles, yawning frequently, or jerking back into your lane are all signs that you may be driving drowsy,â&#x20AC;? Arrington said. He said the Sleep Disorders Center can get to the source of the problem. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With our diagnostic testing services and fully boardcertified sleep specialist team, we can identify the cause of the drowsiness and get patients the treatment they need to keep them safe on the road.â&#x20AC;? The AAA Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Traffic Safety

Forum offers tips to seniors Older DeKalb County residents can get tips to tackle 2011 at the Dec. 10 â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Year, New Youâ&#x20AC;? community health forum at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia. During the free 8:15 a.m.-to-2 p.m. forum, S. Elizabeth Ford health experts will share information about chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer and the adoption of healthy lifestyle changes. There also will be free health screenings, breakfast, lunch, educational materials, musical entertainment, health education materials, and giveaways. It is hosted by DeKalb Commissioner Connie Stokes, District Health Director S. Elizabeth Ford, and Kaiser Permanente.

Stokes said the forum will teach seniors how to live longer, healthier lives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know that our seniors should be leading healthy, active lives especially during their golden retirement years. Connie Stokes However, too many seniors in DeKalb County are sick and dying prematurely from preventable chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer.â&#x20AC;? Pre-registration is required. To register, call the DeKalb County Board of Health at 404-294-3700. For more information, contact Connie Stokes at 404-371-3053, e-mail conniestokes@co.dekalb.ga.us, or visit www .conniestokes.org.

study shows that more than a quarter of adults surveyed admitted they drove in the previous month despite being so tired that they had difficulty keeping their eyes open. Cloud said it was shocking so many people admitted they often drive while drowsy. To prevent drowsy driving: n Get a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep â&#x20AC;&#x201C; seven to nine hours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; before you hit the road. n Use the buddy system. A buddy who remains awake for the journey can take a turn behind the wheel and help identify the warning signs of fatigue. n Take a break every 100 miles or two hours. n Avoid alcohol and medications that cause drowsiness. n Avoid driving at times when you would normally be asleep. n Consume caffeine. The equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours. For more information, visit www .DrowsyDriving.org.

DeKalb Community Promiseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s yearlong campaign targeting underage drinking kicks off Dec. 11 with a communitywide celebration at Word Church International in Decatur. During the 11 a.m.-to-4 p.m. event, participants will learn about ways they can help curb underage drinking. There also will be entertainment and free food. S a n d r a Wa l ke r, DeKalb Community Promise project director, said anyone concerned about the use of alcohol among kids should attend the program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our underlining Sandra Walker belief is that alcohol is a serious social and public health issue that when addressed will create safe neighborhoods, safe streets, healthy youth, caring communities and education for all.â&#x20AC;? Walker said DCPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to reduce the incidence of arrests among youth due to the possession of alcohol and alcoholrelated products. It is funded by Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant. During the campaign, it will target social and community norms as well as retail and social availability of alcohol in the city of Lithonia, the city of Decatur and East Atlanta. Word Church International is at 2030 Wesley Chapel Road. For more information, call 770-235-8108.

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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the holiday season and thousands of us will be taking road trips to visit friends and family. Many of us will experience drowsiness behind the wheel, a contributing factor to one in eight fatal crashes. But that is not all. A recent AAA Foundation Traffic Safety study also found that one in 10 crashes resulting in hospitalization and one in 20 crashes that caused a vehicle to be towed also were due to drowsiness behind the wheel. In 2009, the National Sleep Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sleep in Americaâ&#x20AC;? poll also found that about one-third or 28 percent of Americans admitted that they have fallen asleep behind the wheel within the past year, and more than half (54 percent) said they have driven while drowsy. Sleepiness can affect drivers by causing slower reaction times, vision impairment, lapses in judgment, and delays in processing information. Studies show that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, the legal limit in all states. It is also possible to fall into a three- to foursecond microsleep without realizing it. David Cloud, the Sleep Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CEO, said the surveyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s findings should be â&#x20AC;&#x153;a wake-up callâ&#x20AC;? to lawmakers and elected officials. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Driving while drowsy seriously affects our safety on the road. More action and education are needed to combat this problem.â&#x20AC;? Peter Kissinger, AAA Foundation president and CEO, said drowsy Peter Kissinger driving is a major traffic safety problem that, unfortunately, is largely unrecognized.

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CrossRoadsNews

December 4, 2010

“We’re trying to collect 100 bicycles. All of our church members and church organizations will donate one bike.”

Choirs to sing for toys at annual Joyful Noise concert

The exhibit about baseball’s Negro League will complete its run at the Decatur Library. It will be there until Jan. 7

Negro baseball exhibit staying put in Decatur “Pride and Passion: the African-American Baseball Experience” is remaining at the Decatur Library through Jan. 7. The exhibit was scheduled to relocate to the Hairston Crossing Library on Dec. 4, but the opening of the renovated branch has been delayed. All December programs related to the exhibit, which opened Nov. 6, will be at the Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore St. in Decatur. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum traveling exhibit, examines the impact of black players in baseball from the 1860s to the present, with a focus on the Negro Leagues. During the 1930s and 40s, black athletes could not play in the major leagues. To counter this discrimination, they organized teams made up entirely of black players and formed leagues known as the Negro Leagues. The Negro Leagues had their highest level of success in the 1940s and continued into the 1960s. The last team disbanded in 1961. Upcoming special programs, which are free and take place around the exhibit, include: n Grand Slam Film Festival – “Soul of the Game” on Dec. 8. n Role of Baseball in Our Culture on Dec. 13. Emory University professor Dana White will discuss the important role of baseball at 7 p.m. n The screening of “Only the Ball Was White” on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit dekalblibrary.org.

For 26 years, thhe Saint Philip AME Church choirs have performed to raise toys for disadvantaged kids. An unwrapped toys gains you admission to the concert at the church at the corner of Candler Road and Memorial Drive.

The Saint Philip AME Church choirs will be singing of toys on Dec. 12 at their 26th annual Joyful Noise for Toys by Candlelight Concert. The annual concert, which requires an unwrapped toy to enter, raises toys for disadvantage families. Rosie Austin, church administrator, said the concert will help 150 families with an

average of four children. She said the concert will also include a bike drive. “We’re trying to collect 100 bicycles,” Austin said. “All of our church members and church organizations will donate one bike.” The concert will feature the church’s Choir No. 1 and its Sanctuary Choir. The Holy Dance Ministry and the Christian Education Ministry will perform.

Since it began collecting toys for needy children in 1984, Saint Philip has served more than 20,000 children. The Joyful Noise for Toys by Candlelight concert, which began in 1991, culminates a month-long toy drive at the church. Donors who can’t make the concert can drop off toys at the church, at 240 Candler Road in Atlanta. For more information, call 404-371-0749.

Preachers for advent festival Winter concert to Drs. Marvin Frank Thomas and Mark aid feeding program Lomax will be featured speakers at the Good News Community CME Church in Lithonia on Dec. 12. The two preachers will deliver sermons during the church’s spirit-filled Advent Festival that begins at 11 a.m. with Family and Friends Day. Thomas, who is president and dean Mark Lomax Marvin Thomas of the Phillips School of Theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center, will speak at the 11 a.m. service. Lomax, who is pastor of First Afrikan Presbyterian Church in Lithonia and interim dean of the Johnson C. Smith Seminary at ITC, will speak at 3 p.m. Good News Community CME Church is at 2547 Parkway Drive. For more information, contact Karen Searcy at krnsearcy@yahoo.com or 770-5583886.

Gospel singer Yvonne Johnson will headline the Dec. 11 Winter Gospel Homecoming Concert at Pillars of Faith Church in Stone Mountain. The concert, which starts at 6 p.m., will include performances by More than Conquerors band from Dominica, the Evans Sisters of Jamaica, and Paul Anderson, who is based in Florida. It is hosted by the Kingdom Restoration Ministries Church and will help raise funds to expand the church’s fellowship hall to accommodate its feeding program. Tickets are $20. Pillars of Faith Church is at 6788 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain. For more information, call Winsome Smith-Barker at 678-690-5315

Cantata at Lithonia church

Clarkston Santa cometh

The Christmas cantata, “Touched by a Child,” will be performed Dec. 12 at New Covenant Christian Ministries in Lithonia. The program begins at 6 p.m after a reception that starts at 5:15 p.m. Admission is free. New Covenant Christian Ministries is at 1760 Phillips Road. For more information, call 770-484-9300.

The city of Clarkston’s Santa will fly in by helicopter on Dec. 11 for the Annual Tree Lighting at the Clarkston Women’s Club. Santa will light the tree at 6:30 p.m. A fireworks display will follow. Refreshments will be served as well. The Women’s Club is at 3913 Church St. For more information, call 404-296-6489.

CrossRoadsNews

December 4, 2010

Youth

In 2009, toy-related injuries sent more than 250,000 children – 90,000 under the age of 5 – to emergency rooms.

Report warns of dangerous toys Parents and other gift-givers should be on the lookout for toxic toys as they shop this year. In its 25th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report last week, the Georgia Public Interest Research Group said it found toxic chemicals and toys that pose choking hazards. Stephanie Ali, Georgia PIRG program associate, said a lot of progress has been made but that there is still danger in the toy box. “Georgia PIRG’s report and the resources we offer will help consumers identify and avoid the Stephanie Ali worst threats and keep their children safe this year,” she said. Key findings include: n In 2009, many toys and other children’s products containing more than 0.1 percent of phthalates – chemicals used as softeners in plastics – were banned. Still, Georgia PIRG found children’s products, including a baby doll, that contained concentrations of phthalates up to 30 percent. n Despite a ban on small parts in toys for children under 3, there are still toys available that pose serious choking hazards, including a toy train with a wooden peg that, while compliant with current standards, nearly led to the choking death of a District of Columbia-area toddler. n Lead and other metals have been severely restricted in toys in the past two years, but researchers found toys containing toxic lead and antimony on store shelves. Lead has negative health effects on almost every organ and system in the human body, and antimony is classified as a human carcinogen,

a substance that causes cancer. Laboratory testing revealed one preschool book with antimony far above the limits, and Georgia PIRG has notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Georgia PIRG noted that progress has been made on toy safety in the past two years thanks to a 2008 PIRG-backed law overhauling the CPSC as well as new leadership at the agency. “The CPSC is doing a good job under its expanded authority, but there is still more work to be done, especially when it comes to eliminating choking hazards and regulating the tens of thousands of chemicals that are in the toys our children play with every day,” Ali said. State Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, who was present for the report’s release, said that toys should bring joy to kids at the holidays, but sometimes they unfor- S. Stuckey Benfield tunately bring injury and harm. “As a mother of two young children, I am thankful to Georgia PIRG for doing the tough research to uncover which toys should stay on the shelves at the store and not make it into our toy boxes at home.” In 2009, toy-related injuries sent more than 250,000 children – 90,000 under the age of 5 – to emergency rooms. Twelve children died from toy-related injuries that year. Georgia PIRG provides an interactive Web site with tips for safe toy shopping that consumers can access on their smartphones at www.toysafety.mobi. To view the full Trouble in Toyland report or for more information, visit www.georgiapirg.org.

Contest seeks name for Mayfield cow The Mayfield Jersey cow needs a name and students can submit names to Mayfield Dairy Farms for a chance to win a Mayfield Ice Cream party. The winning name will be given to the life-sized working replica of a Jersey cow at the Mayfield Visitor Center in Braselton, Ga. Students visiting the Mayfield Dairy Farms in Braselton can enter the contest, which closes Jan. 31. Daw n Thompson, the Braselton visitor center’s manager, said the cow-naming contest is part of the dairy’s efforts to attract more visitors to the family-friendly dairy this fall. “We hope the chance to win a Mayfield Ice Cream party will attract a few more visitors, but The prize in the cow-naming contest is a Mayfield Ice Cream the attraction really is the dairy party. The dairy is located in Braselton, Ga. itself – there’s so much to see and do here,” she said. Mayfield Dairy, which winning student also will receive a certificate used to have headquarters on Rainbow from Mayfield Dairy Farms, personally preDrive in Decatur on land that is now home sented by a Mayfield representative. Mayfield Dairy Farms is at 1160 Broadto Greenforest Baptist Church, Wonderland Garden and the Porter Sanford III Perform- way Ave. in Braselton. For more information or to schedule a ing Arts Center, has issued a call to students field trip, visit www.mayfielddairy.com or to submit cow names. In addition to an ice cream party, the call 1-800-MAYFIELD.

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The 66-member MLK Jr. High School Wind Ensemble has an invitation to the Music for All National Festival but must raise $40,000 to cover the cost of the trip.

MLK band raising funds with cans The Martin Luther King Jr. High School Wind Ensemble has an invitation to the prestigious Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis but not enough money for its 66 members to make the trip. To help fund the March 17-19 trip, band members are collecting empty aluminum cans to raise $40,000. They are hoping that the “Cash for Cans” campaign will raise enough to cover the cost of transportation, food, and hotel stay. The Music for All National Concert Band Festival is one of the premier educational events for America’s high school concert bands. Hundreds apply each year but only 12 to 16 are picked by a committee of university professors and professional conductors. MLK band director Travis Kimber said the trip to the Music for All National Festival

will be a great experience for the students as well as historic. “MLK is the third African-American high school band accepted to the festival,” Kimber said. “So this is a big deal for the students and for the community.” Before the trip to Indianapolis, the Wind Ensemble will perform at the Honor Bands of Georgia in Columbus, Ga. All aluminum can donations can be dropped off at the MLK band room, 3991 Snapfinger Road in Lithonia. Monetary donations can be sent to the MLK Band Booster at P.O. Box 361396, Decatur, GA 30036. The band booster also will provide a small storage container and will pick up the cans upon request. For more information, contact Teresa Stafford at 404-4053056 or teresa@wenmarr.com.

Students improve on writing test Dr. Morcease J. Beasley, the DeKalb high school juniors school system’s interim deputy are making strides on the Departsuperintendent for teaching and ment of Education’s Georgia High learning, said these results show School Writing Test. that the high expectations for Ninety-four percent of DeKateaching and learning are paying lb’s 11th-graders who took the off for our students. Georgia High School Writing Test “We are proud of the fact that this fall passed, up 5 percent over our principals are leading at highlast year’s results. Morcease Beasley er levels, our teachers are teaching All Georgia 11th-grade students must take and pass the two-hour Writing at higher levels, and, most importantly, our students are learning at higher levels. These Test to earn a high school diploma. In the 2010 test, DeKalb high schools results reflect that,” he said. showed improvement. The only exceptions were DeKalb Early College Academy, DeKalb School of the Arts, and Gateway Charter, which all earned the same 100 percent passing in 2009 and 2010. Southwest DeKalb High School earned the same 93 percent passing rate both years. An all-day celebration of Ujamaa, the Towers had the highest increase with Kwanzaa principle of cooperative economics, 16 percent. It went from 76 percent in will take place Dec. 11 at the Wesley Chapel2009 to 92 percent this year. The majority William C. Brown Library, 2871 Wesley of the schools scored 90 and above with Chapel Road in Decatur. the exception of Avondale, which had 85 Vendor tables are available for $15 for the percent; Clarkston with 88 percent; Cross 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. event, which is sponsored Keys, 89 percent; and DeKalb Alternative by the Friends of the library. To reserve a School with 85 percent. table, call 404-286-6980.

Library to celebrate Ujamaa on Dec. 11

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Inter www.cros commutestate and local sroadsne ws.com this week through soutmotorists will end. find h DeK alb Cou their I-20 Start east nty nigh Georgia ing at 9 p.m. Weekend tmarish ongoing Department on Friday, work wrap Moto weather of Tran ColumbiaI-20 resurfacin permitting to acces rists traveling s up at 5 a.m. spor Drive, g proje tation said s It will and Evan ct that the, continue either north eastbound onon Monday. also s Mill will close east I-285 nort cut off acces or sout (Exit hboundI-20 who wish h and sout s from and Turner ramps at The 68), and on I-20; exit Thomas Hill road I-285 I-20 eastb return at Wesl should Parker, h. s. Evan resurfacing will be west ey ound lanes DOT signi s Mill and will cont bound on Chapel Road to inue for I-20 to “We wouficant delay ’s area engin Turn The s thro eer, eastbound er Hill road I-285 two mile The ramp ld ask sible,” the publ ughout this said that there I-20 and he s from s betw . s. entra crews themselvesaid. “And een Hill will the eastbound nce ramp continue I-20 eastb if they ic to avoid thecorridor. ound s extra work on must drive area outside be closed thro exit ramp from Evans The time the ongo to I-285 will Mill from I-20 lane through if posughout under $28.6 milli and be extre E ing resurfacinbe closed this The resur of I-20 betw it, on way the to Turn to SCEN weekend g proje I-20 betw since June resurfacingmely careful.” allow and een the weekend, er ct. as weekendsfacing proje as 18. It is proj The proje een Columbia ct will two interchan will the resurfacin ect has been It will ges. be comuntil temperatu continue on Drive commute ct has snar g 9.8 mile weeknigh pleted week res get Former difficult led traffic and Turner s of Hill Roadof continuo ts from 9 p.m.in the sprin too cool to nights and for resid g. Wor ents and made the week Secretary o. on Mon usly from until 5 E k hour pave. a.m. interstate Friday end day. SCEN State Cond night at and on weeks are travelers. For more Rice a 9 p.m. leezz about org. informati until 5 ends on, call a.m. will talk sign and 511 or “Pride visit www her and at The .511ga. memoir at UNITY Passion: merCOMM the Mall st on African-A ball By Jenni Stonecre fer Ffren ican Base e” 8 ch Parke Nov. 3. Experienc r on MARTA off Get read will be d y Sout time. at the has duste to h DeK exhibit Library osal alb. It’s tur After years its prop ce Deca clean to 6 servi spaces, up of litter extend Mall from Nov. Board DeKalb CEO and neglect 8 of from the st Dec. 2. Great DeKCommissioneBurrell Ellis of public ecre at Ston town and rs have alb Clea ews.com The launched the nup. to down ssroadsn the DeKalb effort kicks off and is www.cro Atlanta resiOct. 9 Flat ShoaCommunity at 7a.m Achievem ls gathering . 3 . ent Cent at the input The counParkway in Deca dents’ ty says every week tur. 16, Ner, on 27 end thro the cleanups “As ugh Oct. V will be held propertypart of a com mitted 31. values Grea10 effor througho t to stabi 20t DeKalb Clea ut unin corporate nup will the county, lize er 30,not the address Octob been main d DeKalb areas of in a state tained,” County that Inc. ing have have the ment. “The the CEO’s the exist dsNews, . office said up isofdesig CrossRoa worst affecmaximum cleancare she said © 2010 lem,” nedstill sitvolvemen ted areas level ofprob impawe are to s Copyright by ct on thesand in polic t and investmenenco“He uragre thou ing the t of the the futuring and main ting with res thate that closuintaining ofcom e.” mun itybe don n, said thesefore The ing can sociatio kept from heels of Great DeKalb nothareas in fact was . page artica Sept. 25 Cleanup com about.” Turman, pres to ents not Cros Parker on the the South not apply neglect le that docu sRoadsNe es Gil ls resid“Th at was ented Ffrench ifer idua . of ws of men t stry does indiv ion pres ted long idenfront Neig hbo rBy Jenn south DeK sidewalks re Regi effective date it was ps and , who alb Foreclosu 27, its DeKing ity grou implementat stry how said Pace ber cial corri alb County, andan mediansstand thought re Oct. ty’s new Regi including dors and Gil Turm num to us,” acrohe too with the Commun ting the lb Coun losed befo n, said ss deal closure not apIn its Pace ded a its com most awai ings litio help Same sidewalk, DeKaerties forec merdoes erties atten lic hear da Aug. 28 issue trave spotlight eagerly alb’s new Fore lled e was to ds Coa Sanitation that it aprop pub hoo nance Bren week apart , the nancarter ies. an help workers of DeK this week 15,500 prop tive of t the ordi erlyHill Roadedto overgrow . Since thenordinewspaper Y, page 6 out mowed abou eag at Ston e than ntationleadieng also port media REGISTR – its effec than found the weed Oct. 2, this was impleme to the entra mor ecres the mor re Oct. 27 ions of stretch see on Turner s and with t. It its sence ply to of and of sidew trimmed the med The Road. d befo d deal cut Plea es. ty’swas coun alk along back the owners to awaiting hborhoobega days laterto the Mall ian take hom foreclose ires on to d g 27 Flat Shoa kudzu, Wesley . the goin South her neignt foreclose nwas cleanup Sanitation leaving only requafter Oct. Chapel ls Parkw date. DeKalb Crew Departm presi this a clean on Neighbor ugly situa 50 vaca thought The lawforeclosed county. sidewalk ay near Snap ent footbdent Gil Turm walk on s cleared the Oct. 2. s “We finge of the the for pede all gam an was hoods Coalition on these tion. I saw peop propertiethem with pres iden t d AsnewspapeFlat Shoals Parkkudzu-covered strians r Road has e Satu was streets.” on le picki a new and this way pictu side- out pleasantly surp rday mor his way to He look. DeKa register da Pace , Neighborhoo up trash r’s Sept. 25 ng up trash happy ning when a hold said it was red cyclist. Bren Terrace lb . Wesley along port front page, and on the ton along Wesley rised to see a beau On Oct. he peop ions of Highway Chap tiful thing Chapel 9, East Lake Flat Shoa picked Road. picking el Road and le fanned orgaTurman said to be- munity servi county emp “I saw Crews ls and up trash Covingthat ce nizat remove loyees truck also mulc some . and com illega workers will plan to ion of resid he is working hed fines looked like s,” he said. “I docu with an of-ways, cut lly posted priso saw , trying is bette ensure that goinents to put signs on ment and to do someners working people, r main g forward, in place a shrubs, pick back over grow n the rightoff their CEO spoktained. up litter thing to the road the coun weeds beautify and way that ty lowi esma this Depacleanup effor n Burke ng day. for sanitationplace debris and Brennan near was rtment’s pickup the folschedulepart of the Sani said GreaThe Quality of Life d clean t DeK tation alb Clea Improvem up. nup (GD ent (QO Please C) Team L)/ see CLEA will NUP

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are er towers Candler Road ch Park obile or near a structure ifer Ffren h T-M eral foot-hig Fun including Candler, next t a 154- Lincoln facing to erec is the at 1816 the DeKalb A plan tower on dler Road say it Precinct door to ne Can South ents who es in at cell phoproperty on Police and one d from resid their hom Home opposition (far left), ler behin close to s. major be located too county codeh owns the 202 Candn station at at ing Exxo (left). whic , the would erty Drive of exist LLC prop at the Memorial violatione J Holdings eral Home alb County signs Fun uThre DeK Above, at 1816 to Lincoln , wants telecomm d structure Road seem zone 5.1-acre dler Road nce for the entially Candler that T-Mobile dista 2321 Can a resid the required r ce the indicate has a towe to redu s tower from feet from the 10-foot 85 already and that rs nication to 70 and ts to waive area, towe in the to the property It also wan allow heatlh proximity 200 feet. e buffer to potential r. carries landscap d the towe will risks. it to buil Jackson, who her Judy from tower backsee the window and rt, Cou en ley kitch on Ous reason why yard e is a buffer son said ther ty set the Judy Jack the coun resifeet. of the at 200 is to protect health y both “It oved, they will . nger the tivel she said nce is appr ents, enda ldren, nega urobile say ators. dents,” varia ed resid grandchi and enco and T-M If the ne operg the apand challeng values, lies from the owner cell pho Zon- our children property ne of property e to more r accompanyin to the ger fami our ie Gree s to ent and Thursday, 73 impact flight of youn lease spacSept. 1 lette nce, Lann plan ugh obile g the age the varia t Departm In a for 2 for the said T-M its tower eals. Thro ion opposin elopmen ER, page plication South LLC iders on the Dev Board of App ed a petit see TOW property r prov will ad-y Please that the ide the reducing their ing ents had signthe tower. T-Mobile othe ect and that s outs two r r in nd resid this proj dy physicall tion of locate of three user ons say the towe to othe lease grou put them. tion construc believe that th of alrea subdivisi a total intends to fenced-in area heal Valley will literallydetriment to “We truc the er t ose osed cons a own affec prop the purp ble, distance s and be ose the ,” they said/ versely T-Mobileproviders. county that relia backyard strongly opp backyard Planning ty’s wireless ne told the provide safe, ar cover“We r in our Gree is to ing and in-c Avenue, a towe r to the coun facility nd lette of such uild Oct. 5 of this pted in-b nded by Seco I-20. y in an and bou uninterru fee Road or and Tone the area age in Road, McAOusley Man Candlerresidents of But

By Jenn

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.

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CrossRoadsNews

December 4, 2010

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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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Please join the DeKalb County Tuskegee Alumni Club (DCTAC) for an evening of fun, fund fellowship at 2317 Titan Ridge Drive in Decatur on Friday Dec.10, 2010 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Let’s kick off the spirit of Christmas by joining others who love Tuskegee! We cannot have Christmas without you!

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public notice Notice of Public Sale of Personal Property Georgia Self Storage Act (210-215) Metro Self Storage Notice is hereby given that the undersigned self storage units will be sold at a public sale by competitive bidding, in their entirety to the highest bidder, on or after December 21, 2010 to satisfy the lien of the Lessor, with Metro LLC as managing agent for Lessor, for rental and other charges due from the undersigned. The said property has been stored and is located at the respective address below. The sale will be held at the first of the following addresses, listed in order, and will begin at 9:30 am or after on said date and will continue hour by hour until all units are sold at each location. Metro Self Storage: 5951 Covington Hwy, Decatur GA. 30035 B209 Allen, Lysa Lynette I942 Crump, Faye B212 Bucknor, Darius J003 Jones, III, Willie Thomas B213 Alford, Nathaniel, Jr. J155 Beadle, Lauriston C302 Holmes, Benjamin F. J190 Mosezar, Katrina L. C335 Ealey, Candice M. P101 Lawn Max, LMM, LLC E551 Lightsey, Ron B. K1103 Belyeu, Timothy D. E579 Alston, Fawn T. K1104 Dreamers Foundation E606 Whitfield, Marquitta K1104 Mills, Viollette E612 Dozier, Terrance K1110 Mcmath, Paula F627 Card, Caritas K1138 Lomax, Stephen F627 Rodricus Livsey K1144 Scruggs, Antwan F630 Cornwell, Wesley T. L1212 Carroll, Jimmie F645 Wheeler, Sandra L1219 Blanson, Claudette G745 Williams, Allan R. L1222 Watts, Shanterria H843 Hughes, Sabrina L1226 Barnes, Laquisha I939 Mouzon, Carrie Ann The contents consist of general household goods, furniture, boxes, mattresses and miscellaneous items. The terms of the sale will be cash only and must be paid for at the time of sale. All goods are sold as is. Metro Self Storage reserves the right to withdraw any or all units, partial or entire, from the sale at any time. All contents must be removed completely from the property within 48 hours or sooner.

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CrossRoadsNews

December 4, 2010

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