CrossRoadsNews, December 25, 2010

Page 1

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

HOLIDAY

A sour economy couldn’t keep toy-givers down as Larry Johnson’s Tree of Love program was able to provide toys to all 400 children on its list. 3

People who get a thrill from riding through neighborhoods to see beautiful Christmas light displays should be sure to visit these must-see locations. 4

Folks will be gathering at churches, libraries and museums in metro Atlanta to celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa. 8

Love donors come through

Copyright © 2010 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

The lights fantastic

December 25, 2010

Celebrating Kwanzaa

Volume 16, Number 35

www.crossroadsnews.com

Fix on the way for interchange By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to install CollectorDistributor lanes to manage the logjam at the I-20 eastbound and I-285 interchange near Wesley Chapel Road.

and entering from I-285. “There conflicts cause traffic to back up on both I-20 inside the Perimeter and on I-285,” GDOT engineers say. The problem is further exacerbated by the dropping of two of the five I-20 lanes at the Wesley Chapel Road exit, which leaves three lanes to handle 8,400 vehicles per hour. The project will address the system deficiency and create safer travel conditions by adding Collector-Distributor lanes and modifying the

South DeKalb motorists terrified of the congested I-20/I-285 interchange will soon have some relief. The Georgia Department of Transportation is set to let a $67.8 million project to overhaul the interchange on Jan. 21. The project, which has been in the works for years, will redesign 4.5 miles of I-20 eastbound to eliminate the significant weaving that takes place between I-20 eastbound exiting at Wesley Chapel Please see INTERSTATE, page 2

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Unexpected Holiday Gifts Delmarkco Ingram is touched by the generosity of Malcolm and Dee Dee Cunningham. The couple adopted his family and provided gifts for him and his three sons.

Photos by Carla Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Nonprofit and sponsors bless struggling families By Carla Parker

After nine months without a job, single father Delmarkco Ingram was facing a Christmas with no tree and no presents for his three sons, ages 6 to 11 years. Ingram, 30, said life has been a struggle since he was laid off from his job in February. Two months later, the family lost their home and they now live in a homeless shelter. Ingram says it’s been difficult. “I’ve been struggling so hard just to make ends meet,” he said. Then on Dec. 18, a miracle happened. He and his boys – Jamal, 11; Darius, 9; and Michael, 6­ ­– were invited to a Christmas party at the Malcolm Cunningham Auto Gallery on Snapfinger Woods Drive in Decatur. Ingram thought they would get some refreshments and enjoy some music.

and hats, gift cards to Kroger and Piccadilly, a Bible, and a MARTA card for a month. Ingram could not hold back the tears. “They’ve been asking for a DS for two years,” Ingram said. “Seeing my kids happy makes me forget about my problems.” The Ingrams were one of 14 families from around Atlanta who got gifts from the nonprofit Blessing on Wheels Grant-a-Wish event. The organization collected unwrapped gifts, food, clothes, toys, and gift cards to fulfill the wishes of homeless and low-income families. All of the families were surprised at the Six-year-old Michael Ingram, whose family is generosity. homeless, is all smiles at his holiday gifts. Ingram, who is raising his sons on his Instead, he and his children were show- own, said they first lived with his mother in ered with Christmas gifts, including a Nin- Atlanta, but when her bills got overwhelmtendo DS, game boards, and toy trucks and cars for Michael. The family also got coats Please see WISH, page 3

Interim chief gets more for expenses By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Ramona Tyson is getting an extra $2,000 a month for expenses from the DeKalb School Board, but the interim school superintendent will have to wait until a new superintendent is hired to get a bigger paycheck. With her contract that was amended on Dec. 17, Tyson, who also gets a $500 travel allowance in lieu of Ramona Tyson an automobile, “will not be required to furnish receipts” for the combined $2,500 for expenses. Under the new contract, when the School Board hires a new superintendent, it will make Tyson a special assistant to the superintendent and transition and pay her a salary of $240,000 through June 30, 2012. In that senior Cabinet-level position, the board said Tyson will “assist with the transition occurring in the district due to the selection of a new superintendent.” The amended contract – which covers the period from Dec. 17, 2010, to June 30, 2011 ­– also: n Provides Tyson with 20 days of additional paid vacation. n Allows her to take accrued vacation when she vacates the position. n Provides for her to return to her position of deputy chief superintendent, business operations and finance, on July 1, 2012, “at the salary that is attached to the position at that time. Plus the same or similar benefits awarded to other Cabinetlevel employees.” Please see TYSON, page 2


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