CrossRoadsNews, December 13, 2014 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

HOLIDAY

WELLNESS

YOUTH

Healing Stream Ministries in Lithonia is seeking donations of toys for boys 7 to 14 to help provide gifts to at least 450 youngsters this year. 6

Vaccination is urged for kids over 6 months old and adults as the first line of defense against influenza. 8

Artwork of 12 DeKalb public and private school students will grace Watershed Management’s water conservation calendar. 10

Christmas toy giveaway

Fighting the flu

Conserve and protect

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

December 13, 2014

www.crossroadsnews.com

Volume 20, Number 33

DeKalb cancels contract with proposed biomass plant By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The controversial Green Energy Partners gasification plant that was planned for Lithonia will not happen with a contract from DeKalb County. The DeKalb Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 9 to cancel its July 13, 2010 contract to sell wood chips and yard waste to the $60 million plant that Green Energy Partners-DeKalb LLC has been trying to build in DeKalb for four years. Under the 20-year contract, the county was to sell 40,000 tons of wood chips annually to Green Energy Partners for $200,000 a year.

said. Cail spoke to the BOC during its public comment session Tuesday but had to leave the meeting to go to work and wasn’t there for the vote. “We have been writing and meeting with Lee May,” she said. “I told them this morning Rene Cail, President that they needed to terminate the contract. Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment Oh, My God, I can’t believe it. This shows that if you persevere and you believe in what Interim CEO Lee May said that agree- terminate this relationship.” you are doing for the welfare and wellbeing Renee Cail, president of the CHASE, of your community, you can end injustices ment stipulated that that plant had to be built Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environ- and bad projects that could harm people.” within two years. “That was more than four years ago,” ment, thanked God when a reporter broke May said Tuesday. “There is no gasification the news to her. “I am at work so I can’t scream,” she Please see PLANT, page 2 plant. This cancelation allows us to formally

“This shows that if you persevere and you believe in what you are doing for the welfare and well-being of your community, you can end injustices and bad projects that could harm people.”

Panola Slope Seeks Rebirth New Ellis Developer Vaughn Irons wants to transform the mixed-use Covington Highway project into a resort and adult playground. His rezoning application comes before the Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16

24-hour resort, amusement center proposed By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

A proposal to breathe new life into the struggling mixed-use Panola Slope development on Covington Highway in Decatur is coming before the DeKalb Board of Commissioners for a vote on Dec. 16. Residents who think the 24-hour resort and entertainment complex is a bad idea in the midst of a residential community plan to show up to oppose it while the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce has been drumming up support for it with targeted eblasts. Developer Vaughn Irons, who has deep ties with the leadership of DeKalb County government, has been trying since 2012 to transform the “white elephant” project into a moneymaking venture. Irons, who chairs the DeKalb Develop-

ment Authority and co-chairs interim CEO Lee May’s Operations Task Force, is a longtime friend of Commissioner Stan Watson and has partnered with the county on a number of home ownership projects. He bought the former Dominque’s 10.1-acre development out of foreclosure in 2012 but has failed to attract buyers for its 23 condominiums and ground-level retail space Vaughn Irons in five two-story buildings. The project includes 61,043 square feet of residential and retail space. Now he and partner Red Alligator LLC want to rezone the property from mixed use to commercial to convert it into a luxury resort and indoor amusement center for adult

patrons. He also has applied for a special land use permit to allow the project to stay open 24 hours and serve alcohol until 2 a.m. “Panola Slope will be a one-of-a-kind paradise destination in Atlanta, if not the Southeast, targeting a moderate-to-wealthy income clientele looking for the ultimate in luxury and seclusion,” he wrote to DeKalb Planning Manager Madolyn Spann in a July 9 letter. Irons, CEO of APD Solutions, a community economic development firm based at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, said the new zoning classification would make his project “a linchpin for the redevelopment of the Covington Highway corridor” and create 151 new jobs with average income of $50,000. “The development will include lodging, Please see COMPLEX, page 5

trial set for June 1 By Ken Watts

Suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis will head back to DeKalb Superior Court on June 1, 2015, for retrial on corruption charges. DeKalb Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson issued the order for his new trial on Dec. 10. Hearings for all pretrial motions will take place March 26 and Burrell Ellis March 27 in Johnson’s courtroom, and all pretrial motions are to be filed on or before Feb. 13, the order said. District Attorney Robert James and Ellis’ defense lawyers will have to submit juror questionnaires to the court by May 1 if they intend to use them during jury selection. Ellis’ first trial on bribery, extortion, theft and perjury ended in a hung jury and mistrial on Oct. 21 when jurors told Johnson they were unable to reach unanimous verdicts on any of the 13 felony counts against him. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Ellis is accused of shaking down county contractors for contributions to his 2012 re-election campaign in exchange for continued business with the county. Gov. Nathan Deal suspended him from office in July 2013 after a DeKalb grand jury indicted him on corruption charges. Deal appointed District 5 Commissioner Lee May interim CEO on July 16, 2013. Ellis will remain suspended from the elected office until the charges against him are resolved.

Community

CrossRoadsNews

December 13, 2014

“We have to rebuild credibility in District 1. I’m going to offer a new level of accessibility and disclosure.”

Jester takes seat as District 1 commissioner after runoff win By Ken Watts

Nancy Jester took her seat Dec. 9 on the DeKalb Board of Commissioners as the District 1 commissioner four months after her predecessor, Elaine Boyer, resigned in disgrace. Jester, a former DeKalb School Board member, won the seat in a Dec. 2 runoff in the special election to finish the two years left on Boyer’s term. She defeated Holmes Pyles, an 86-yearold retired state government employee who ran as an independent. The runoff election was needed because none of the five candidates in the Nov. 4 election received the required 50 percent plus one vote to claim the seat. Boyer resigned from the board days before pleading guilty to federal charges of defrauding county taxpayers of $93,000. Jester attended her first full BOC meeting on Tuesday at which the board, among other things, voted to cancel the county’s contract with Green Energy Partners and its controversial biomass gasification plant. She abstained on that vote and on the vote to seat George Turner, who was nominated by interim CEO Lee May to replace him as the

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Nancy Jester takes the oath of office from DeKalb Probate Court Judge Jeryl Rosh on Dec. 8 at the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur as family, friends, constituents and elected officials look on.

interim District 5 commissioner. After taking the oath of office from DeKalb Probate Court Judge Jeryl Rosh on Dec. 8 before a crowd that included her husband, Stan, her children and other family members, friends and constituents at the Maloof Auditorium, Jester made indirect reference to the Boyer scandal.

“We have to rebuild credibility and trust in District 1 and I’m here to do just that,” she said. “I’m going to offer a new level of accessibility and disclosure. I’m looking forward to putting initiatives together for taxpayers and families in communities in District 1 and across all of DeKalb.”

May, who officiated the ceremony, said he’s eager to work with Jester, who will represent an affluent swath of central and north DeKalb that includes nearly 150,000 residents in Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville, Dunwoody, Tucker and surrounding neighborhoods. “Today shows us that the county is beginning to move forward in the right direction and I’m excited about it – to have permanent leadership in District 1,” May said. “Nancy and I planned to talk yesterday and we ended up going back and forth and exchanging ideas for about two hours. I look forward to working with her and more conversations like that one.” Jester’s husband was elected in May to the District 1 DeKalb School Board seat. Like Boyer before her, she will be the lone Republican on the Board of Commissioners. Jester says she is working on a new Web site that will keep constituents up-to-date on BOC business. She also wants to help improve certain county services. “I’ve heard complaints from the business community about the permitting process and from residents about customer service at the Water Department,” she said.

Green Energy Partners says it intends to build plant despite county action PLANT,

from page

Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson, who long opposed the plan, called the vote a positive development for the county. “It was not a good project for the environment and people’s health,” she said. “Now there is an opportunity to work with the county to bring a project that is really about green energy such as solar or wind.” Green Energy’s proposed $60 million facility got its air permit for the 79,710-squarefoot plant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division on April 26, 2013 but never began construction. The plant, who will be built at 1770 Rogers Lake Road, just

outside the Lithonia city limits, was to process wood chip biomass fuel to generate 11.5 megawatts of electricity to sell to Georgia Power. In Feburary 2012, it secured a guarantee for $53 million bond funding Deborah Jackson from the DeKalb Development Authority to build the facility on 21.12 acres, just outside the city limits of Lithonia. Its contract with the county would have remain in effect through December 2030. CHASE, which has accused DeKalb

County government of contract zoning, sued the county on July 13, 2011. It says that the county contracted with Green Energy Partners and then approved the zoning to allow the plant to be built. The non-profit group Neville Anderson of citizens is seeking to overturn the DeKalb Board of Commissioners July 2011 approval of a special land use permit to allow the plants construction. Neville Anderson, Green Energy Partners’ president and CEO, said Tuesday that he was unaware that the contract was the BOC’s

agenda. “I did not have a chance to be there,” he said, adding that when CrossRoadsNews called him Tuesday afternoon, it was the first time he was hearing the reason for the cancellation. He asked for more time to make a full statement and on Wednesday sent an email saying that they plan to proceed with building the plant on Rogers Lake Road just outside the Lithonia city limits. “The project is not dependent on the yard waste generated by DeKalb County as its primary fuel. Green Energy Partners-DeKalb LLC remains committed to the project and intends to keep moving forward.”

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

A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE FROM CROSSROADSNEWS

CrossRoadsNews

December 13, 2014

Community

“Do the right thing for the people who elected you. When you don’t have representation, a lot of things go undone.”

17 months later, District 5 still waiting for representation By Jennifer Ffrench Parker and Ken Watts

Seventeen months after DeKalb District 5 Commissioner Lee May was tapped by Gov. Nathan Deal to be interim CEO, the 140,000 residents of his district are still without representation on the Board of Commissioners. For the seventh time, members of the BOC were deadlocked on the vote to seat George Turner, who was picked from a field of 19 applicants to fill the interim District 5 seat created by Georgia legislators George Turner in March. Even though there were five commissioners voting, and three – District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson, District 3 commissioner and Presiding Officer Larry Johnson, and District 4 Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton – have voted consistently to seat Turner, the county’s Organization Act requires four votes, not just a majority of those voting, to seat the interim commissioner. At Tuesday’s meeting, the board was once again deadlocked on the vote to seat Turner, a retired MARTA rail supervisor. Watson, Johnson and Barnes Sutton voted yes and Jeff Rader, the District 2 commissioner, and Kathie Gannon, the Super District 6 commissioner, voted no. Newly elected District 1 Commissioner Nancy Jester abstained. The seat has been vacant since July 16, 2013, when May was appointed interim CEO to replace suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, who is facing corruption and other charges. May nominated Turner for the seat on Aug. 11. The matter will come up again on the BOC’s Dec. 23 agenda. Turner who has attended all but one BOC meetings since Aug. 12 when his appointment first appeared on the BOC’s agenda, said the vote is not about him. “Its about that position,” he said. “I think they are afraid to shift the balance of power. I think they feel that I would vote in bloc but they don’t know that. I am an independent person.” Turner, who has met with all the commissioners, including Rader and Kannon, said that he has reached out to Jester and hopes to meet with her before the Dec. 16 Board of Commissioners meeting when his appointment will come up for another vote. “I want her to know who I am and what I represent,” he said. Community leaders and residents, who have grown impatient with the lack of representation in District 5, voiced their displeasure to the board during its Dec. 9 public comment session. Joel Edwards, vice president of the Kings Ridge Homeowners Association in Deca-

tur, told the commissioners that residents are tired of waiting for a representative for District 5. “We need to come together and make a decision as to what we are going to do about the 5th District representative,” he said. “I live in the 5th District. I am in limbo. We’re in limbo. Something needs to happen.” Jester was seated just four months after District 1 Commissioner Elaine Boyer resigned in disgrace in August. She won a Dec. 2 runoff for the special election to finish the two years left on Boyer’s term. Edwards said residents are hoping May and the BOC will get together and fix the problem. “Whatever the problem, you have to iron it out,” he told them. “As of next year, 2015, we want to see the 5th District representative sitting in that seat over there to represent the district, and if it’s not going to happen, we are going to have a protest around the Manuel Maloof Building.” After the BOC meeting, Edwards said that somebody has to step up and do the right thing. “This is not fair to the people in the 5th District,” he said. Willie Pringle, a Decatur community activist who also spoke during the public comment session, told commissioners that when things are not going right, they have to take a stand. “Do the right thing for the people who elected you,” he told them. “When you don’t have representation, a lot of things go undone. Please step up and do the right thing for the community. When we all come together and unite together, we can resolve our issues.” After state legislators passed SB 367 in March, the CEO’s office solicited candidates in May. Sixteen of the 19 community residents who applied were interviewed by a three- Jeff Rader member panel of residents led by state Rep. Rahn Mayo. The panel’s other members were Lisa Allen, a Lithonia resident and community activist, and Rosalind Newell, a Lithonia resident and attorney. The panel submitted two finalists – Turner and Dr. Kathryn Rice of Stone Mountain – to May. He picked Turner as his nominee and sent his name on Aug. 11 to the BOC for the appointment. Rader said he opposes Turner’s appointment because of the nomination process. He said that County Attorney O.V. Brantley’s interpretation of SB 367 that created the interim commissioner position “is contrary to the drafter’s legislative intent and places too much unelected power in the hands of Lee May.” Rader said May “not only commands the

administration by gubernatorial appointment, but also seeks to appoint his substitute on the BOC.” “May could cause the seat to be filled by election simply by resigning the BOC seat. Then an election could be held to replace him,” Rader said in a Dec. 9 email responding to questions from CrossRoadsNews. He said commissioners also have the option of choosing another name from the applicant pool. “That’s what Gannon and I have been saying for months now and the other commissioners refused to budge,” Rader said. Gannon said the issue is not about Turner but about the process used to pick him that excluded the BOC. She said the issue can be fixed in one of three ways – May should resign the seat and allow the residents to vote for a new commissioner, they Stan Watson could ask the Legislature to clarify the appointment process, or the BOC should vote the nominee down and start the selection process again. Gannon said the BOC and the CEO’s office should have handled the selection process and vetted the candidates together. She said residents are being held hostage by the impasse. “I wish they would have had a chance to vote,” she said. Watson, whose Super 7 District includes District 5 residents, said he also does not agree with the process used to pick Turner but that the county needs to move forward. “The legislation did not say Lee should appoint,” he said. “It said the body, which

‘A Gatsby Affair’ tickets available cal President and CEO John Tickets for the DeKalb County Shelton; APD Solutions CEO Black Tie Holiday Scholarship Ball Vaughn Irons; Greg Street of are now on sale. V-103; and Hollywood producer The Dec. 14 “A Gatsby Affair” Will Packer. takes place 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Tickets are $100 per person Thalia N. Carlos Hellenic Comat https://ceoscholarshipball. munity Center in Atlanta. eventbrite.com. Proceeds benThe ball begins with a VIP efit scholarships for DeKalb high reception and includes the CEO’s Vanguard Award ceremony hon- Fantasia to perform school students. Grammy winner Fantasia is oring Emory University Hospital; DeKalb Chamber of Commerce President scheduled to perform and Ryan Cameron of Katerina Taylor; Pattillo Industrial Real V-103 and Cynné Simpson of Fox 5 will be Estate CEO Larry Callahan; DeKalb Medi- master and mistress of ceremony.

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includes Board of Commissioners.” Watson said an easy way to move forward is for May to send the BOC three finalists so it can pick or he could resign from the seat so that there can be a special election. With no District 5 commissioner, Watson said his workload has increased 125 percent. “They are killing me,” he said. “There is almost not a night that I am not at a community meeting and I have to attend every land use meeting and code enforcement meeting and so on.” Watson also said that Jester, who abstained on the Turner vote on Tuesday, should talk with Turner so that she can vote at the next meeting. “District 5 residents should call her and the other commissioners and encourage them to give the district representation,” he said. Barnes Sutton said the issue is not that May sent the BOC one nominee to approve. “Jeff has not asked for more nominees,” she said. “Not having a District 5 commissioner gives Kathie and Jeff more power. They can stop everything we try to do for the unincorporated area. Jeff has been saying that it’s the most power he has ever had and why should he give it up.” Barnes Sutton said holding up the District 5 representative smacks of racism. “This would not be happening if it was a majority district,” she said. “At every board meeting, three commissioners vote it up and two vote it down. This is a travesty and the people of District 5 should step up and demand representation. There are 140,000 people who are not represented and nobody is showing up.”

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CORRECTION

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Wrap up your holiday shopping and dining in Decatur. Find festivities and local cheer anytime and special deals on our last Terrific Thursday – December 18. 12/9/14 1:02 PM

On page 12 of our December 14-20 weekly ad insert, we advertise the Canon® EOS Rebel T5i with 18-55mm IS Lens (SKU 8154046) for $649.99 after $200 savings. This is incorrect. The correct price is $699.99 after $150 savings. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Forum 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 Assistant Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner Front 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.

December 13, 2014

“Over 100 homeowners’ houses were damaged as a result of dynamite blasting by a company hired by DeKalb Watershed.”

We must love each other regardless of differences By the Rev. Byron L. Merritt

What does our community do in response to our people being murdered by the police? First, we have to be clear that the police are doing their job. They are the physical arm of the American criminal justice system. Violence is used to engender fear in our people and intimidate us not to challenge its authority. (Howard Thurman’s “Jesus and the Disinherited” has a chapter on “fear” that every black person should read.) The Dred Scott Supreme Court decision in 1857 declared that “black people have no rights that white people have to respect.” Sadly this pernicious decision has never been repudiated in American jurisprudence. This pathological attitude is now in America’s DNA, which I’m not sure we as a people understand even though we see its effects almost on a daily basis. To prevent future killings of unarmed black people by police, the criminal justice system will have to be com-

“One of the many lessons from the killing of Eric Garner and Michael Brown is that we must overcome our rage and our fear. In other words, we can’t think straight and act collectively/strategically when we are in the grip of anger and pain and fear.” The Rev. Byron L. Merritt

pletely overhauled from top to bottom. Anything less will only serve to perpetuate the “legal violence” against our community as Michelle Alexander makes clear in her book “The New Jim Crow.” We can solve this problem. We already have the answers. One of the many lessons from the killing of Eric Garner and Michael Brown is that we must overcome our rage and our fear. In other words, we can’t think straight and act collectively/strategically when we are in the grip of anger and pain and fear. Unfortunately for us, responding in anger only begets more anger. We must begin the hard work of loving ourselves to such a

high degree that we value our own black lives and move in such style and grace that others can’t help but love and appreciate our beauty/ genius as well. We have to be able to say to any who would do us harm, “We understand why you fear us and hate us even though you don’t really know us. You are projecting your own feelings of inadequacy onto us so you can feel better about yourselves.” There is a better way for all of us to live on the planet together and share in its bounty. It goes back to what Dr. King referred to as the “Beloved Community.” This is the lesson the Universe is patiently trying to teach the human family – we

must love one another, regardless of outward differences. Whether we like it or not, whether we accept it or not, we all come from the same divine creator. And there is only One Creator. We are all brothers and sisters living on planet earth and amazingly enough, human life began in Africa. So it is time to grow up and stop acting childish. Mother Earth is in the same chokehold that white New York Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo put on Eric Garner. Our very planet is crying, “I can’t breathe,” yet the forces of ignorance and greed will not let her breathe. What should we do? What will we do? My granddaughter will not understand how her parents and grandparents allowed the planet to expire. I hear the Creator calling us to respect all life and let the planet breathe, love each other and learn how to play together on planet earth. We can do this. The Rev. Byron L. Merritt lives in Decatur.

Tired of being slighted by people who work for taxpayer By Deanna Fleming

I am writing this letter because I am tired of being slighted and ignored by DeKalb County government. Over 100 homeowners’ houses were damaged as a result of dynamite blasting by a company hired by the DeKalb County Watershed Management Department. About 80 percent of those homeowners were made offers that paid for the damage to their homes. Regrettably, the offers made to the remaining 20 percent will not begin to pay in full for the damage done to our homes. We have been trying for several months to no avail to get the compensation we need to repair our homes. On Sept. 18, 2014, we sent a letter to Interim CEO Lee May and as of today have received no reply. I have called Latrese Young (Lee May’s assistant) on three different days and got her voice mail. I spoke with Bettye Davis of One DeKalb and she said she would

“If we take notice of the promises they make when they are asking for our vote, we will find they forget they are working for us – the people who put them in their positions. If it’s going to get better, we have to start holding these people accountable.” Deanna Fleming

talk to Latrese and get back with me. I called Bettye on three different days and left messages on her voice mail – no response. They have phone recordings to answer when we call for assistance – that should never be. When the office is open, there should always be a person to talk to. That is just common courtesy. There are certain behaviors that come with these positions and the most important one is treating people as you would want to be treated. When there is written communication, it should not take weeks to respond with just a note of receipt. We know some issues are timely to

resolve, however, a reply stating I received your letter is just common courtesy. We just want to live comfortably and enjoy our homes without the anxiety and bureaucracy DeKalb is inflicting on us. They should be sensitized to the stressful conditions under which we are living due to this issue and provide us relief. As taxpayers, we pay their salaries and should be able to get action. When we exercise our right to vote for people holding public office, we should try to know as much as possible about them. We should make sure we are electing people who will take the commitment

seriously. If we take notice of the promises they make when they are asking for our vote, we will find they forget they are working for us – the people who put them in their positions. If it’s going to get better, we have to start holding these people accountable. Let them know for every duty they fail to do, they discard people who have put confidence in them to enhance their lives. We have to let them know that pimp time is over. We pay taxes and they are reaping the benefits of our tax money for doing nothing. I don’t know how some of them sleep at night knowing they have not done their job and have caused negative/dreadful results in others’ lives. We have to stand up and let them know they have to do their job or they need to move out of the way so that we can find good people of integrity to work for the people. Deanna Fleming lives in Decatur.

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CrossRoadsNews

December 13, 2014

Community

“Let’s give them a chance. They are willing to invest the money. The area could do with the improvement.”

Johnson introduces bill to reform grand jury process in police killings U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson has introduced grand jury reform legislation to address the controversy surrounding the investigation of police officers in the killing of civilians. Johnson, who represents the 4th Congressional District that includes part of DeKalb, introduced the bill on Dec. 11. When reasonable grounds exist, the bill would require the appointment of a special prosecutor charged with conducting a probable cause hearing open to the public to consider whether a crime was committed by

Hank Johnson

the officer or officers involved. Johnson said passage of the bill would ensure a fair process for all parties. “The protesters demand an end to what is perceived as unequal justice and that those who are responsible for the use of excessive force be brought to justice,” Johnson said. “They do not trust a secret grand jury system that is so clearly broken. My bill will help restore that trust. No longer will communities have to rely on the secret and biased grand jury process.”

The “Grand Jury Reform Act” also specifies that in order for local law enforcement agencies to receive federal funding, they would have to comply with the new process. If enacted, the governor of the state where the incident in question occurred would appoint a prosecutor, who would present evidence on behalf of the state at the hearing. The preliminary hearing also would remain open to the public, except as determined appropriate by the presiding judge.

Neighbors divided on resort concept for Covington Highway corridor COMPLEX,

from page

dining, green space, amenities and mixed entertainment options all on the same site,” Irons wrote. “A main feature of the project will be the provision of indoor amusement to serve adult patrons concept through a first of its kind ‘Barcade’ that expands up to 425 virtual reality, simulators and coin-operated amusement machines.” Charles Peagler, president of nearby Kings Ridge Homeowners Association, said it’s an “unrealistic project” for the area. “Really now,” he said Dec. 10. “You are going to put a resort on that property on Covington Charles Peagler Highway when we can’t get a restaurant in the area.” Peagler, who chairs the Commission District 7 Community Council, said he is totally against the project in the midst of a residential community. “I just don’t see it,” he said. “I told him

[Irons], ‘Hey man, I like your dream, but it’s in the wrong place.’ I told him that I like that he dreams in Technicolor, but it’s just too far-fetched.” Peagler said a resort needs attractions to pull customers in. “You go to Hilton to play golf and to go to Sea Island,” he said. “Why would you come to Covington Highway?” Joel Edwards, Kings Ridge HOA vice president and a member of Restore DeKalb, said Irons’ proposed resort would be better placed in the Stonecrest area where there is lots of land. “It’s not a good fit for Joel Edwards a neighborhood,” he said. “We need something, but we don’t need that.” But Jan Costello, president of the Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corp., said they are fine with the project and the conditions being imposed by the Planning Department. “We wish him well,” she said Thursday.

“There hasn’t been any interest in that property. In an ideal world, it could be something else, but here we have someone willing to put money in to see if it will work.” While she won’t attend the Dec. 16 BOC meeting, Costello said that her nonprofit group, which represents 20 neighborhoods touched by the overlay district, has sent a letter of support to the board. She expressed frustration about how long it has taken the BOC to vote on the project. “It has been before five or six times and they keep deferring it,” she said. “We have someone ready to invest money but there is months and months of stalling. How are we going to attract business out here if we do not act in a timely manner? That’s what I don’t understand.” In his application package, Irons said his resort will be marketed to vacationers, conventioneers, family reunions and “those seeking a local staycation option.” Amenities include meeting facilities, 24-hour security, valet parking, space services, butler service in the villas, sports tours, outdoor seating, patio dining and shuttle service.

Steven Kennedy, who can see two of Panola Slope’s five buildings from his home in the Hidden Creek subdivision that borders the project, said he will attend the meeting to support it. He said he has been impressed with how Irons Steven Kennedy has kept up the property even though it has been vacant for years. “He has kept up the grounds,” he said. “He has kept people from loitering there and vandalizing the place. Sometimes you have to look at what someone has done in the past to know what they will do in the future.” Kennedy, who has lived in Hidden Creek since 1997, says the proposed resort sounds like it could be something to help the area. “Let’s give them a chance,” he said. “They are willing to invest the money. The area could do with the improvement.” The BOC meeting starts at 9 a.m. in Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur.

S c y h t o n ol District C u o C b l a har ter S DeK chool Celeb rates

PARENTS/GUARDIANS, FAMILY MEMBERS, SUPPORTERS, STAFF AND MOST OF ALL STUDENTS

DESTINY ACHIEVERS ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE

100% OF OUR STUDENTS PASSED THE FALL 2014 GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL WRITING TEST SHAROD T BLANDENBURG • LEONDRANIQUA C BRADY • MARQUAVIOUS J CARTER • KEVIN J COJOE • RAVEN B COX • KIANA Y DANSBY • DEMAFIA D EVANS • JAMEION J GARRETT • KENDRYANA R GRIFFIN ALKEDDRICK J GUICE • ANISA I HAMMONDS • D’ASHIA S HARRIS • TEMIA J HARRIS • MONTERRIO D HARVEY • DERRICK HAWKINS • JASMINE B HAYES • JANAE A JACKSON • LACHAUNTE S JACKSON JAYLON J JENNINGS • TOREY D JONES • JONATHAN T KEMP • BRINTAVIOUS D KING • JOSHUA A LAWSON • ZENOVIA M LESLIE • SHAMIRA C LESTER • TAQUAVIOUS T LEWIS • AALIYAH J LINDQUIST WILLIAM A MCEWAN • RYAN MCGUIRE • PATRICK S NOEL • TAYLOR M PARKS • ASIA D PRINGLE • GENICE L REED • KHIMOY O RICHARDSON • JA’WON M ROBINSON • QUENSHA L ROBINSON • VALERIE L ROY JALIAH A RUFFIN • MCCLENDON N SAMIYAN • DEANDRA L SEARCY • OMARI D SMITH • SAVANNAH L SMITH • DESTINEY S SNOW • SHAQUONZA N SOLOMON • TAVION D STAPLES • NAUTICA S THOMAS NIDARIUS D THOMAS • DE’JA M WALKER • KYNDAL S WALKER • BRIANA N WASHINGTON • AARON W WATSON • ANTIONETTE L WEBB • JERMARCUS D WILLIAMS • MARQUISHA L WILLIAMS

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK : Mom, Dad, Grandmama, Uncle Bud, Aunt Gertrude, “Ray Ray”, Toni, Naisha, Cousin Tim, Traci, “True Blood”, Lewis, “Tank”, Madea, Uncle Rob, Teresa, Nicole, Herman, Uncle George, Ramon, Rodney, et al…….. Charles K. Maxwell, Ph.D., Principal • Mrs. Tyra M. Simon, Assistant Principal

3595 Linecrest Road • Ellenwood, GA 30294 • Tel: 404.328.0898 • Fax: 404.328.1294

CrossRoadsNews

Holiday

December 13, 2014

The Tour of Homes features houses that have been sensitively restored or renovated to preserve the character of historic Avondale Estates.

Yuletide concert in Avondale Estates “Christmas in Avondale: A Festival of Lessons and Carols” takes place Dec. 14 at Avondale Estates First Baptist Church. The concert of classical, traditional and contemporary choral selections featuring the Chancel Choir and Chamber Orchestra, with special guests the Avondale Children’s Choir, begins at 7 p.m. The church is at 47 Covington Road. For more information, visit www.afbc.com.

Home tour and holiday market Shoppers can hunt for holiday gifts at Avondale Estates’ annual Christmas Tour of Homes and Holiday Market on Dec. 14. The event takes place from noon to 8 p.m. at the Avondale Community Club, 59 Lakeshore Drive. The Tour of Homes features houses that have been sensitively restored or renovated to preserve the character of historic Avondale Estates. Trolleys will be back in town to transport guests to six of the city’s most interesting homes from 3 to 8 p.m. From noon to 6 p.m., the Holiday Market at the clubhouse will feature gifts while the

Market Café offers soups and hot apple cider. Jewelry, art, clothing, Christmas ornaments, and food items will be available for purchase. The Authors’ Corner includes resident and novelist Mary Kay Andrews. For tickets and more information, visit www.avondaletourofhomes.com.

Celebration of Hanukkah Avondale Estates will light up one candle at a time on its electric menorah on Dec. 16-24 at the Dewey Brown Memorial Plaza across from City Hall for the city’s annual celebration of Hanukkah. The daily lighting takes place at 5:30 p.m. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight-day commemoration of the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees in 165 B.C. after their victory over the Syrians. Avondale Estates City Hall is at 21 N. Avondale Road. For more information, visit http:// avondaleestates.org/events.html.

Renfro 8th-grade band to perform The Renfro Middle School 8th-grade Symphonic Band will perform holiday music on Dec. 18 at North DeKalb Mall. The school is of one of several groups that have been performing in the mall’s annual free Holiday Sounds music series. The band appears at 6:30 p.m. Shoppers and children taking photos with Santa Hugh also can view a model train exhibit during mall hours through

Dec. 14 in the Macy’s wing. In lieu of an admission fee, visitors are asked to donate canned goods and other unopened, nonperishable food to help support the Atlanta Community Food Bank, one of the mall’s Community Garden partners. North DeKalb Mall is at 2050 Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur. For more information, visit www.NorthDeKalbMall .com.

Farmers from Ellenwood Farms will offer fresh vegetables for purchase on Dec. 19 at Saint Philip AME in Atlanta. The Parking Lot Market begins at 9 a.m.

Fresh produce for special meals Holiday cooks can get vegetables fresh from the farm on Dec. 19 at the Saint Philip Community Development Corp.’s Parking Lot Market. The market, back by popular demand, will take place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. or until the produce is sold out.

Residents can meet the farmers from Ellenwood Farms and purchase organic collards, mustard greens, kale, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and more. Saint Philip AME is at 240 Candler Road S.E. at Memorial Drive in Atlanta. For more information, call 404-371-0749.

Toy giveaway at Lithonia church Healing Stream Ministries is seeking donations of toys for boys 7 to 14 through Dec. 22. The Lithonia church will distribute the toys at its fourth annual Christmas toy giveaway on Dec. 23. Last year, it served nearly 400 children. This year, it hopes to serve at least 450 kids.

Families who need the toys must register by Dec. 20 by calling the church at 770-728-5372 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Toys will be available for pickup from 2 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 23 at the church located at 2470 Bruce St.

Start a new family tradition! Join us for

Christmas Worship

Sunday, December 21, 2014 7:45 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 24, 2014 • 6 p.m. Main Sanctuary (come as you are – candles provided for worshipers) Greenforest Community Baptist Church Rev. Dennis W. Mitchell, Senior Pastor 3250 Rainbow Drive • Decatur, GA 30034 www.greenforest.org • (404) 486-1120

CrossRoadsNews

December 13, 2014

Holiday

Saint Philip AME has been collecting toys for needy children since 1984. Since that time, more than 20,000 youngsters have received toys.

Georgia Boy Choir to perform 3 concerts

Admission to Saint Philip AME’s Dec. 14 annual Joyful Noise forToys Concert, featuring its two choirs is free with a new, unwrapped toy.

Saint Philip Choirs to make Joyful Noise for toys Saint Philip AME choirs will sing for toys at the church’s annual Joyful Noise for Toys Concert on Dec. 14. The concert, which is in its 30th year, features the church’s Sanctuary Choir and Choir No. 1. It begins at 5 p.m. in the sanctuary. Admission is free with a new, unwrapped toy. Toys will be distributed to more than 600 disadvantaged children in ZIP

codes surrounding the church at the intersection of Candler Road and Memorial Drive in Atlanta. Saint Philip AME has been collecting toys for needy children since 1984. Since that time, more than 20,000 youngsters have received toys. The church is at 240 Candler Road S.E. For more information, call 404-371-0749.

The Georgia Boy Choir will sing Christmas carols and other holiday favorites in concerts on Dec. 14, 19 and 20 at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta. For the Dec. 14 concert that begins at 5:30 p.m., the choir will join the Chancel Choir of Peachtree Road UMC and a full orchestra for the church’s annual Christmas concert, “The Many Moods of Christmas.” Scott Atchison will direct the performance of old and new Christmas classics, including “God Bless Us Every One,” the title song from its Christmas CD. Admission is free, but a ticket is required. Visit www.PRUMC.org for more information. “Christmas With the Georgia Boy Choir” returns on Dec. 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary. It will feature all five choirs of the Georgia Boy Choir along with a full orchestra performing carols and songs to celebrate the holiday season. It also will feature Atlanta’s largest performance of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with the audience invited to join in the fun and singing. Peachtree Road United Methodist Church is at 3180 Peachtree Road N.W. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaBoyChoir.org/events.

Toy drive for KES Inc.

Nativity re-enactment

Kids can brunch with Santa

Children served by the nonprofit KES Inc. will get gifts from the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce at its 21st Annual Holiday Lunch on Dec. 17. Members and guests are asked to bring new, unwrapped toys to the luncheon, which takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at This Is It at 2853 Panola Road in Lithonia. KES provides housing and support services for physically and developmentally disabled kids and adults. For more information, visit http://greaterlithonia chamber.com or call 770-482-1808.

The birth of Jesus will be re-enacted in a live Christmas Pageant on Dec. 20 at the First Baptist Church Pavilion in downtown Stone Mountain. The community celebration, sponsored by Stone Mountain First United Methodist Church, begins at 5 p.m. It features choirs from a number of local churches. Participants can bring their own chairs. The First Baptist Church Pavilion is in the center of town behind the old train station in the Village of Stone Mountain.

Kids and families can play games and dabble in arts and crafts at the inaugural Brunch With Santa on Dec. 20 at the Community Achievement Center in Decatur. The two-hour event for students in pre-k through fifth grade begins at 10 a.m. and includes writing letters to Santa and a live performance. Admission is $5 per person, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Pictures with Santa may be purchased for an additional fee on-site. The nonprofit Community Achievement Center is at 4522 Flat Shoals Parkway. For more information, visit www.cacdekalb.org or call Clarence Wells at 404-214-7400.

CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

December 13, 2014

“When given to women during pregnancy, the vaccine has shown to protect both the mother and her baby up to 6 months old from flu.”

Vaccinations urged as state reports five flu-related deaths For kids and adults, a flu vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting against influenza and its potentially serious complications, and health officials say that now is a good time to get flu shots. So far this year, the Georgia Department of Public Health says five flu-related deaths have been reported across the state. It adds that this flu season is likely to be a tough one because more than 90 percent of the influenza specimens tested nationwide are Influenza A H3N2, and about half of the H3N2 viruses found so far this flu season don’t match the vaccine produced for the 2014-2015 season because the virus has mutated, or changed slightly, since the vaccine was formulated early this year. Officials say the rates of hospitalization and deaths are typically higher in seasons when H3N2 is the dominant strain. While the flu can vary from season to season, the single most effective way to prevent the flu is the flu vaccine. During National Influenza Vaccination Week, observed Dec. 7-13 to raise awareness and encourage vaccination, Georgia Public Health Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald said every healthy person older than 6 months should get a flu vaccine. “It is especially important for the elderly and very young to get a flu shot,” she said in a Dec. 5 statement. “And, when given to women during pregnancy, the vaccine has shown to protect both the mother and her baby up to 6 months old from flu.” The state is urging Georgians to be especially vigilant and take extra precautions with flu that appears in long-term care facilities, schools and day care centers. H3N2 can be especially serious for children younger than 2; adults 65 and older;

DeKalb interim CEO Lee May gets a flu shot from the Board of Health in October 2013. A vaccination is the first line of defense against influenza, health officials say.

people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease or weakened immune systems; pregnant women; and people who are morbidly obese. Antiviral medications such as Tamiflu or Relenza are an important second line of defense against the flu. Treatment with antiviral drugs is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications or people who are very sick with flu. Antiviral drugs work best when started within two days of coming down with the flu, so it is important to call your doctor as soon as the first symptoms appear. Antiviral drugs given early can shorten the length of time you are sick and lessen symptoms, especially with H3N2. They also help prevent serious complications like pneumonia that can lead to hospitalization or death.

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, chills and fatigue. One of the most pronounced flu symptoms is an overall feeling of achiness and malaise that comes on quickly. Seasonal flu activity in Georgia is increasing week by week. Flu season typically peaks around the end of January or early February but can run into late April. Because of the length of the season, officials say it’s not too late to get a flu shot. To reduce chances of getting the flu: n Frequent and thorough hand washing. Alcohol-based gels are the next best thing if there is no access to soap and water. n Covering your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing to help prevent the spread of the flu. Use a tissue or cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or arm.

Free flu shots at Antioch AME

Free flu shots as well as blood pressure checks will be available on Dec. 21 at Antioch AME Church in Stone Mountain. The event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is sponsored by the Stone Mountain/Lithonia Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. in partnership with Walgreens and Antioch’s Health Ministry. To get the free flu vaccination, residents with insurance should bring their insurance card and photo identification. Walgreens will have vouchers for the uninsured. Registered nurses will provide blood pressure checks. Antioch AME Church is at 765 S. Hairston Road. For more information, visit www.akataupiomega.com. n Avoid touching your face as flu germs can get into the body through mucus membranes of the nose, mouth and eyes. n If you are sick, stay home from school or work. Flu sufferers should be free of a fever without the use of a fever reducer for at least 24 hours before returning to work or school. n See a doctor to get a prescription for antiviral drugs, if it is deemed appropriate. Antiviral drugs are most effective within one or two days of symptoms appearing. For more information, visit www.flu .gov or http://dph.georgia.gov/seasonal-flu -influenza.

Many Georgians lack health insurance More than a million Georgians currently live without health insurance, and the second enrollment period is the latest chance for them to enroll in a plan under the Affordable Care Act, Enroll America says. Thousands of Georgians who signed up during the first enrollment period also should renew their plan or select a new one with better benefits that fits their needs and budget. If you tried to enroll in the past but didn’t find something that worked for you, try again – you might qualify for new or more affordable options now. Visit healthcare.gov for more informa-

tion. The health care enrollment coalition says 87 percent of Georgians already receive financial assistance to help make their plan affordable. It has a locator service, www.get coveredamerica.org/locator, for consumers to find help and make a free appointment with a navigator in the community who can meet in-person to explain coverage options or help them renew their plan. Dec. 15 is the deadline to enroll for benefits that begin Jan. 1. Open enrollment ends on Feb. 15. For more information, visit www.Enroll America.org.

Specializing in the Detection and Treatment of Pediatric Digestive Disorders

Please join us in welcoming

Tejas R. Mehta, M.D.

Board Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist 1999 Hwy 138 Conyers, GA 30013 (770) 285-6673

4347 Flat Shoals Pkwy Decatur, GA 30034 (404) 241-5656

to our Pediatric and Adolescent Division • Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Center for Digestive Health and Nutrition, 2009-2014 • Fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Emory University School of Medicine

351 North Clarendon Ave Scottdale, GA 30079 (404) 294-5500

• Residency, Emory University School of Medicine 201 Morningside Drive Buford, GA 30518 (770) 945-9999

• MD, University of South Florida College of Medicine

5445 Meridian Mark Road NE | Suite 490

404.843.6320

Conveniently Located Near Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite 914 Scenic Highway Lawrenceville, GA 30045 (770) 338-5558

www.atlantagastro.com/pediatrics AGA is a participating provider for Medicare, Medicaid and most healthcare plans offered in Georgia.

CrossRoadsNews

December 13, 2014

Finance

“To have a vote of 74 percent on a referendum to impose a sales tax – that’s overwhelming.”

MARTA moving swiftly on Clayton expansion

Keyana Vance of Decatur won 52 boxes of glazed doughnuts for a year at grand opening.

Woman wins year of Krispy Kreme Christmas came early for Keyana Vance of Decatur when she landed the grand prize of 52 boxes of glazed doughnuts for a year at the Dec. 9 grand opening of the new Krispy Kreme Doughnut Factory in Decatur. To nail the prize, Vance stood in line for 20 hours at the new shop at 2533 Wesley Chapel Road. She was the first in line at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 8 and was still there at 6 a.m. on Dec. 9 when the store opened for its first day of business. Amanda Clark, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts regional marketing coordinator, said she gets a box of doughnuts a week for a year. The next 99 people in line won 12 boxes of doughnuts for a year – that’s a box of doughnuts a month for 12 months. In addition, the first 150 customers in line got a commemorative grand opening T-shirt. Clark said that when the 2,600-squarefoot factory opened at 6 a.m., there were 300 people in line. “The line looped around the building more than once,” she said. It hasn’t let up all week. The doughnut factory with drive-through window is the second doughnut shop to open on Wesley Chapel Road since the summer. Dunkin’ Donuts opened its new store two doors down the street in July. The Krispy Kreme store is open daily until 11 a.m. Its drive-through window is open 24 hours.

MARTA is moving aggressively to roll out the first bus service and paratransit service in Clayton County in March 2015 and grow it rapidly into a network of routes. Keith Parker, the transit system’s general manager, said Dec. 11 that MARTA is working hard to maintain that timeline. “We’re beginning to finalize what the final Keith Parker routes will look like,” he said at a briefing at MARTA headquarters. “Our Police Department is down there actively recruiting new officers, we’re recruiting new bus operators and every other type of position you can possibly imagine for bringing on that new service.” Parker said the initial Clayton service will begin in July with MARTA adding more routes, and the transit system should be fully operational there by July 1, 2016. Clayton residents voted 74 percent on Nov. 4 to impose a 1 percent sales tax on themselves and join MARTA. It was the first jurisdictional expansion for the transit system since its inception more than 40 years ago. MARTA Board Chairman Robert Ashe III, who attended the briefing, said the Clayton vote was impressive. “To have a vote of 74 percent on a referendum to impose a sales tax – that’s overwhelming,” he said. In wake of the referendum, elected officials in DeKalb and Fulton counties and the city of Atlanta – MARTA’s original service area – approved the 14th Amendment to the Rapid Transit Contract and Assistance Agreement to include Clayton. The expansion comes at a time of increased ridership and financial growth for

Ridership is up pn MARTA and Ride with Respect campaign is enhancing overall customer satisfaction.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

the transportation authority. MARTA analysts say most of the increase in passengers has been in Buckhead, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody. In fiscal 2012, MARTA began to bring in more than it spent. Chief Finance Officer Gordon Hutchinson said revenues outweighed expenditures by nearly $20 million in fiscal 2014 and have continued the trend at the beginning of this fiscal year. The system is now operating in the black with $422.8 million in revenue during the last fiscal year, up from $332.9 million in 2009. Hutchinson said the surplus is stored in reserves to be pumped back into the authority. “We’re really quite comfortable with the reserve levels,” he said. After weathering the recession and reductions in service and staff, MARTA says it wants to increase revenues and give workers a pay raise. Rather than increase fares, the authority has begun exploring concession projects in its stations to increase revenues. MARTA’s fares have not changed since they spiked to $2.50 in fiscal 2012. Ashe says

they are discussing ways to offer food and other services at the transit stations. “We, the board, have been looking for ways to increase revenues that don’t burden our riders,” he said. “The results of those have shown themselves in customer satisfaction and again in the nearly three-quarter vote we got in Clayton County.” Parker said MARTA has seen declines in fare evasion and crime reports and credits its year-old Ride With Respect campaign as a tremendous tool in making the overall customer experience more pleasant. MARTA Police Deputy Chief Wanda Dunham attributed some recent success to increased safety measures. She said crime has been decreasing over the past few years. All buses and stations are monitored by video cameras. Cameras for trains are being tested. Dunham said MARTA is developing a video analytic system – a smart system that can sense emergencies. “It will let us know if a person is fighting or if a person has stepped on a track way,” she said. “It will let us know in a timely fashion.”

Research charity before making donation to avoid scams Residents planning to donate to charities during the holiday season should do their homework to avoid scams, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp says. “At this time of year, let’s make the most of our contributions to individuals and families in need,” Kemp said in a Dec. 1 statement.

“Many wish to give back to those less fortunate through charitable organizations and I ask that donors familiarize themselves with an organization before giving to ensure legitimacy so their gifts may be used properly.” Among other tips, he urges potential contributors to research charities before making

a donation; be wary of telephone solicitors or charities that list a P.O. box instead of a physical address; and never give debit or credit card information to a phone solicitor. Residents can file complaints against a charitable organization at www.sos.ga.gov/ plb. For more information, call 404-6564793.

of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Legal Notices 11/22, 11/26, 12/6, 12/13

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV10885-7++ Billy Ray Nellams filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on November 10, 2014 to change the name from: Billy Ray Nellams to Shujaa Muhammed. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: Oct. 29, 2014 Billy Ray Nellams Petitioner, Pro se 2626 Bull Run Drive Decatur, GA 30034 (678) 596-3920 11/22, 11/26, 12/06, 12/13