CrossRoadsNews, February 4, 2017

SCENE

FINANCE

African Americans profiled

Tax help available

“Race,” the movie about track star Jesse Owens, and two more films will be screened during the Scott Candler Library’s Black History Marathon Movie Fest. 4

AARP TaxAide is offering free assistance to taxpayers 60 and older, and lower- and middle-income residents, at area libraries. 7

Let’s Keep DeKalb Peachy Clean Please Don’t Litter Our Streets and Highways

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

Copyright © 2017 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

February 4, 2017

Volume 22, Number 41

www.crossroadsnews.com

80 DeKalb athletes ink scholarships on Signing Day

By Rosie Manins

signed with Edward Waters College in Jacksonville; Mitchell, 17, a defensive back, is going to Alabama A&M in Huntsville; and Jerry, 18, an offensive lineman, is headed to Columbus State University in Columbus.

Soccer player Machop Chol, 18, signed with Wake Forest University in WinstonSalem, N.C. The Southwest DeKalb athletes were among 80 who signed with colleges and universities on Feb. 1, the annual National Signing Day when most athletic scholarships for the graduating class are announced.

Athletes from 15 other DeKalb County

Jerry Marshall, 18, a Southwest DeKalb High offensive lineman, is headed to Columbus State University. Four SWD seniors inked full scholarships to attend schools in the South.

Signing Day was bittersweet this year for star athletes at Southwest DeKalb High, where four seniors inked full scholarships to attend schools in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and Georgia.

Three of the four – football players Demonte Lampkin, Mitchell Edwards, and Jerry Marshall – who picked their colleges on Feb. 1, unexpectedly lost their beloved head football coach, Michael Tanks, on Aug. 3 last year.

Tanks died of a massive stroke one day before his 49th birthday.

Demonte, 17, an offensive lineman, Please see SIGNEES, page 2

Rosie Manins / CrossRoadsNews

Schools, Clarkston respond to Trump’s ban Green reassures DeKalb’s diverse student body

Thousands of sign-carrying Atlantans converge on HartsfieldJackson International Airport on Jan. 29 to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration ban.

By Rosie Manins

President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order on immigration is hitting home in DeKalb County, where the city of Clarkston and DeKalb County Schools are home to thousands of refugees and their children.

Trump’s order issued Jan. 27 bans immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries – Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq.

In DeKalb Schools, where 644 students are from those seven countries, Superintendent R. Stephen Green hastened to reassure students that they are safe.

“I want to assure each of our students that we Stephen Green have a deep and full commitment to be culturally responsive to them,” Green said in a statement and a video posted on the district’s website. “We strongly support the diversity of our school system, and we greatly value our role in supporting our immigrant population through the benefits of quality education.”

DeKalb Schools’ 102,000 students come from more than 180 countries, speaking 140 languages.

Green said the district values and loves its students.

“And we respect what their presence here says about the goodness and generosity of America,” he said. “Our diversity is our strength.”

In reaction to Trump’s order, some DeKalb residents sought to make their neighbors feel welcome.

On Jan 30, residents placed signs supporting the predominantly immigrant and refugee students and staff at DeKalb Path

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Academy in Brookhaven and the International Community School in Decatur.

Crystal Felix-Clarke, DeKalb Path Academy’s principal, said the recent political climate has been “very frightening” and the signs made staff and students feel safe for the first time since Trump became presidentelect almost three months ago.

“My staff and I have struggled with feelings of disempowerment because we can’t guarantee the safety of all of our kids and their families,” said Felix-Clarke, a secondgeneration American whose parents are from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

“But we have hope that those who care to try will see the good in us and realize that we are

America’s asset, not a liability.”

She has eight students officially listed as refugees from Sudan, Mali, Burma and Nepal as well as others from the Congo, Ethiopia, and Latin America who are not officially listed as refugees but have fled their home country seeking refuge in the United States.

She also has teachers who are refugees from Iran and Ethiopia.

Trump’s order.

Ahmed Hassan, a Clarkston City Council member who hails from Somalia, was among the throngs who protested Trump’s ban on Jan. 29 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

“America is bigger than one man and I’m optimistic things will get Unease in Clarkston sorted out,” Hassan said In Clarkston, which is often described Feb. 2. as the Ellis Island of the South, nearly 32 In the wake of the Ahmed Hassan percent or 2,400 of its 7,554 population is order, dozens of travelers from the targeted foreign-born.

Many “are feeling unease” in the wake of Please see BAN, page 2

CrossRoadsNews

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February 4, 2017

“We feel like we are in that same fight we were in when King was alive. We stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters.”

Ga. ACLU, Legislative Black Caucus take stand against edict BAN,

from page

1

countries were removed from flights, detained for hours at airports, or denied entry into the United States, causing thousands of protesters to congregate at HartsfieldJackson and other major airports across the country and around the world.

While no one from Clarkston was detained at the airport, Hassan said there are many residents who have visas in process or are trying to bring relatives into the country. He said those efforts are now on hold indefinitely.

He is encouraging people who are worried or confused about their immigration status or that of others to seek independent legal advice.

Trump’s order caps refugee resettlements nationwide at 50,000 for 2017.

Ted Terry, Clarkston mayor, said refugees and immigrants make communities strong, and America can and should take more refugees, not less.

DeKalb residents placed signs in support of immigrant and refugee students and staff at the International Community School (left) and at DeKalb Path Academy.

“These new Americans are brave,” he said.

“They have an extreme motivation to work hard, stay out of trouble, and contribute to the overall economy and prosperity of Clarkston and America.”

The Georgia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is throwing its support behind the cities of Clarkston and Atlanta and any other municipality or institution threatened by Trump’s immigration order, Executive Director Andrea Young said on Jan. 27.

The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus also is backing protesters of Trump’s decree, saying it will work tirelessly using every tool available to ensure no person is the subject of undue scrutiny based upon race or religion. State Rep. Erica Thomas (D-Austell), GLBC communications chair, said the organization was “taking a stand against the Trump administration.”

“We feel like we are in that same fight that we were in when Martin Luther King Jr. was alive,” she said. “We stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters and we have to make sure that we are not silent on this issue.”

SWD seniors sing praises of late coach Michael Tanks on Signing Day SIGNEES,

from page

1

high schools – Arabia Mountain, Cedar Grove, Chamblee, Columbia, Cross Keys, Druid Hills, Lakeside, Lithonia, Martin Luther King Jr., McNair, Miller Grove, Stephenson, Stone Mountain, Towers, and Tucker – also signed scholarships on Wednesday.

Football players accounted for 75 of the scholarships.

Cedar Grove High in Ellenwood and Lithonia High led the list with 12 football signees each.

Stephenson High in Stone Mountain had 11 football signees.

The Southwest DeKalb High players said that their late coach’s dedication and commitment to them and the team meant a lot and they know Tanks is looking down on them.

“We did this season for him,” Mitchell said.

“I know he’ll be looking down on me, and if he was here he would have a big smile on his face.”

Assistant principal Ozzie Harrell, who is in charge of athletics at the Decatur school, said getting students into colleges was one of Tanks’ goals.

“He was willing to take those kids and make them the best they could be and he would be very proud of them today,” Harrell said.

Mitchell, who plays safety and corner positions, started playing football at age 6.

His grandmother also studied at Alabama A&M. “So I guess it’s a legacy,” he said.

“I feel it’s a great fit for me – I like the campus and I think I can be a great asset to the program.”

Demonte said Tanks was the reason he relocated to Southwest DeKalb from Columbia High in his junior year.

“He gave me an opportunity to start, and to get a scholarship,” Demonte said.

“He was the only coach that really believed in me then.”

When he enrolls in the fall, Demonte, who has been playing football since age 12, will be the first member of his family to go to a university on an athletic scholarship.

He plans to major in engineering.

“I just want to go as far as football can take me,” he said.

“I love the team effort and being physical on the field – I just feel comfortable playing football.”

Jerry, who has been playing football since he was 4, hopes to play professionally.

Machop, whose family is from South Sudan, is aiming to help Wake Forest University return to the national finals this year, but

Athletes from 16 schools sign football scholarships 75 football players in DeKalb Schools received scholarships on Feb. 1, National Signing Day. Pos. Name Arabia Mountain LB Terray Bryant DE Falcoe Johnson WR Michael Miller DB Christopher Williams Cedar Grove DB Korey Hernandez DB Tre’ Shaw QB Jelani Woods OT Maurice Campbell DB Sollee Fofana OL Netori Johnson DE DeAngelo Malone OL Justin Shaffer LB Marvin Spencer RB Grant Walker DB Tyrique Williams DB Khayree Wilson Chamblee DE Gavin Holton Columbia LB Marquavious Linner OL Michael Alexander OL Nicholas Bowman LB Quentin Palmer DB Dante Hobbs Cross Keys OL David Velazquez Druid Hills DB Isaiah Dawson Lakeside SS Michael Malinovsky Lithonia QB Robert Hatchett DB Malachi Jenkins OL Octavian Williams LB Addison Ford RB Kamarie Mullins DE Deion Hadley DB Tariq Stewart RB Courtney Lott DB Keyoundric Buchanan WR Ta’lon Mack Jaylin Bolden LB DB Keyshawn Garrett

College Youngstown State Wingate Catawba Point Arkansas North Carolina Oklahoma State Southern University North Georgia Prep Academy Georgia Western Kentucky Georgia Alderson Broaddus Georgia Southern Columbus State Cincinnati Christian Kennesaw State Bethune-Cookman Apprentice School Apprentice School Savannah State Iowa Western Georgia Prep Sports Berry College Presbyterian Tennessee Tech Morgan State Tennessee Tech Fort Valley State Fort Valley State Fort Valley State Catawba Nichols College Nichols College Nichols College Nichols College Georgia Military

he said his first commitment is to Atlanta United Soccer Team, which signed him last year.

“I thank God every day and remain humble,” said Machop, who was born in a refugee camp in Egypt.

“It’s been a dream of mine since I was little to go pro.”

Machop, one of five children, was only 2 years

Pos. Name M.L. King Jr. QB Brandon Dickerson DL Jaden Cunningham McNair DL Trae Johnson MILLER GROVE DB Dijon Williams OL Reginald Curtis Southwest DeKalb OL Jerry Marshall DB Mitchell Edwards OL Demonte Lampkin Stephenson QB D’Vonn Gibbons DB Hassan Littles WR Khalil Newton DB Myles Hannah TE Deiontray Fagin DL Ivan Staples LB Michael Makins LB Gethro Georges DB Shaun Jolly LB Aaron Greene DB Carlito Gonzalez Stone Mountain DE Darian Bernard DB Isaiah Jennings DE Thomas Incoom Towers DL Devonte Wyatt DL Adrian Burse LB Quintavious Terrell DB Malik Smith WR Irah Thompson OL Joequavious Robinson LB Da’Shon Robinson OL Jamiah Burke Tucker WR Keith Best S Eugene Brown DE Aaron Sterling RB Chris Broadwater TE Cameron Richardson OL Cedric Heard OL Parker Wiggins WR Deon Watkins

old when his family moved to Clarkston in 2000.

He has been playing soccer since he was 7.

He said that being successful in soccer requires sacrifices.

“It takes a lot of hard work,” he said.

“There’s always somebody that can take

College Shorter Hutchinson CC Hutchinson CC Georgetown Albany State Columbus State Alabama A&M Edward Waters Savannah State Ball State Ball State Ball State Miles College Campbell University Coastal Carolina Morehouse Appalachian State Avila University Auburn West Georgia LaGrange Valdosta State Georgia Shorter Shorter Arkansas Baptist Arkansas Baptist Virginia Lynchburg Arkansas Baptist Virginia Lynchburg Liberty West Virginia South Carolina UT-Chattanooga Grambling State Jacksonville University Guilford College Delta State

your spot, so you’ve got to work hard for your spot.”

Dr. Thomas Glanton, Southwest DeKalb’s principal, congratulated the student athletes, whose individual grade point averages are 3.0 or above.

He encouraged them to “finish the drill” by graduating on May 26.

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“We are in the process of reviewing [the proposals]. We are trying to move as quick as we can.”

Four companies vie to audit DeKalb County water system

By Rosie Manins

Four companies are vying for the DeKalb government contract to audit the county’s much-lamented water metering and billing system.

DeKalb County Chief Auditor John Greene received proposals from KPMG; Bambo Sonaike CPA; Banks, Finley, White & Co.; and Alexander Thomas Associates before the submission deadline John Greene of Jan. 13.

The independent audit, which will cover water meter malfunctions, installation er-

rors, data entry mistakes, billing systems and other inconsistencies, must be completed by May 15.

Greene said there is no deadline to pick the winning bid, but a decision will be made as soon as possible.

“We are in the process of reviewing [the proposals],” he said on Jan. 24. “Selection will be in the next few weeks. We are trying to move as quick as we can.”

Hundreds of DeKalb residents have been complaining about skyrocketing, inconsistent and inaccurate water bills.

A public Facebook group called Unbelievable DeKalb Water Bills has more than 2,100 members.

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond has

made it a priority to find a solution to the problem.

In announcing his proposed $1.3 billion 2017 budget on Jan. 17, he said he will submit funding proposals to address inaccurate water billing before the Board of Commissioners’ Feb. 28 deadline to approve the budget.

Thurmond said the water issue, property blight, and unemployment are “three chronic issues that are negatively impacting the quality of life in DeKalb.”

“We will inform the Board of Commissioners and the public of the results of our internal evaluations and analysis of current and past efforts,” he said.

Residents have been rejecting the county’s water invoices, many of which are based

on inaccurate readings. Complainants say they are getting billed for ridiculously high increases in usage when their habits haven’t changed. Some are threatening to sue the county.

The purpose of the audit is to determine whether there are any systemic problems with water metering and billing, and if so why. Auditors also are required to recommend solutions.

Greene said it is the first independent audit of DeKalb’s water billing that he knows of.

It is also the first audit he has called for since being appointed in August to the office that was created last year by the Georgia General Assembly after concern about county governance.

Probate Court Judge Rosh resigns Daycare provider gets 15 years

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

her intention to retire.

In her three-sentence resignaDeKalb Probate Court Jeryl tion letter to Gov. Nathan Deal, Rosh, who has been in office since Rosh said she joined the Probate 2003 and part of the court for more Court as its first law clerk more than 30 years, is leaving Feb. 28. than 30 years ago and has had “the Rosh, who was re-elected unophonor and privilege of serving as its posed in November, wrote her resjudge since 2003.” ignation letter on Jan. 3 – two days Jeryl Rosh Rosh gave no reason for her into her new four-year term. resignation. She was unavailable for By law, Rosh’s hand-picked comment at press time Thursday. successor, Associate Probate Judge The Probate Court judge, who Bedelia Hargrove, will assume the makes $162,330 a year, oversees office effective March 1. probate of wills, administration of Rosh hired Hargrove, an Atlanta estates, appoints guardians, and isattorney whose private practice sues marriage licenses and weapons specialized in personal injury, wills carry license. and estate planning, and divorce In a statement, Rosh said she and family, in December for the is confident Hargrove will serve Bedelia Hargrove $92,241-a-year associate job.

DeKalb with the same commitment On Dec. 6 when she asked the DeKalb to justice and fairness that residents expect Board of Commissioners to approve Har- and deserve. Ricxie Flor, her assistant, said grove’s appointment, she did not mention Feb. 2 that Rosh’s last day is Feb. 28.

Judges needed for regional STEM fair Volunteers who are expert in science, engineering, mathematics and technology are needed to judge the 2017 DeKalb Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Feb. 11.

Organizers are seeking about 100 volunteers with STEM degrees and/or expertise to serve between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Annually, 250 to 300 students participate in the science fair, which provides them with a platform to highlight their research projects/engineer designs. The fair also offers them the opportunity to collaborate with other scientifically minded students.

The 2017 theme is “Continuing the

Legacy of Excellence in Science Education.”

Deneen McBean-Warner, the district’s k-12 science coordinator, said the greatest need is for judges in the Senior Division for grades 9-12. She said first-time judges will be paired with an experienced partner.

The fair takes place at the Administrative and Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd. in Stone Mountain.

To register, visit https://goo.gl/forms/ dd8YGYVOi4HecuDj1. For more information, contact McBean-Warner at Deneen_ McBean-Warner@dekalbschoolsga.org or 678-676-0148.

District 5 hosting budget meeting DeKalb residents can get an update on the county’s proposed 2017 budget at a Feb. 9 town hall meeting at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia.

District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson is hosting the 6:30-to-8:30 p.m. meeting.

County officials and the Office of Man-

agement and Budget will provide details on the $1.3 billion operating budget proposed

by DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond.

The Board of Commissioners must approve the budget by Feb. 28.

The Lou Walker Center is at 2538 Panola Road. For more information, call 404-3712412.

Lawmakers seeking ‘any precinct’ vote

By Rosie Manins

A proposed amendment to legislation allowing residents to vote in any part of their home county on Election Day has been introduced to the Georgia House of Representatives.

House Bill 22, an amended version of the Any Precinct Act from the 2015-2016 legislative session, was introduced by Rep. Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta) on Jan. 24. Bruce said voting should be more convenient for the state’s citizens.

“By allowing voters to cast their ballot at any polling place in their county both during

early voting and on Election Day, we make it easier for Georgians to vote on their lunch break, when picking the kids up from school, or even on the way to work,” he said.

Voters are already allowed to cast ballots at any precinct within their home county during early voting, but on Election Day they must vote at their assigned precinct.

The new bill is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of two dozen representatives, including Judiciary Committee Chair Wendell Willard, a Republican. Three DeKalb representatives – Renitta Shannon, Doreen Carter and Coach Williams – all Democrats, signed in support of the change.

For the next 15 years, former Lithonia day care provider Evelyn Bruce-Mighty will be confined to a prison cell while the 4-year-old boy she failed to care for continues to suffer a host of medical problems after being comatose for more than a month.

Bruce-Mighty, 59, was convicted Jan. 13 by a jury on charges of aggravated battery and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree.

During a Jan. 17 sentencing hearing, Bruce-Mighty, owner of Angela’s Little Daycare in Lithonia, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.

DeKalb Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson also imposed 15 years’ probation.

Bruce-Mighty was accused of critically injuring Myles Barksdale while he was in her care on May 16, 2014.

The District Attorney’s Office said Myles, who was 16 months old at the time, was rushed to the hospital from the day care center after suffering unexplained trauma to his head. He underwent emergency brain surgery and was comatose for more than a month.

“Though the exact cause of the child’s injuries are still unknown, medical experts testified they were consistent with abusive head trauma often associated with falls from great heights and shaken baby syndrome,” the DA’s Office said. “The victim, now 4 years old, survived his injuries but still suffers from related medical issues.”

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Oto Ekpo and Mirna Andrews of the DA’s Crimes Against Children Unit with assistance from DA Investigator Tina Fleming. DeKalb Police Detective J. Menefee led the initial investigation.

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Using direct-action tactics, this generation of activists pushed the modern civil rights movement into a new chapter.

Rockdale NAACP honors cultural contributions

2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker General Manager Curtis Parker Assistant Editor Brenda Yarbrough Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Editorial Intern Rosie Manins Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams 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 CrossRoads­News are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

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Circulation Audited By

Musicians, singers, dancers, spoken word artists and a comedian will be featured at the Rockdale NAACP’s 2017 Black History & Heritage Celebration on Feb. 11 at the Rockdale County Auditorium in Conyers.

It begins at 3 p.m. with radio personality Carol Blackmon as Georgia Me Mz. Wallstreet mistress of ceremony.

The program will include per- songwriter Derrick Monk; spoken formances by producer, singer and word artist Georgia Me, a Tony,

Emmy and Peabody Award winner; Uhuru African Dance group; actress and comedian Mz. Wallstreet; gospel singer Monica Hoskins; neo soul/smooth R&B group Corey Brown and the TCB Band; youth spoken word artist Chelsea Williams; Love & Hugs Christian Tabernacle’s dancers; and the Rainbow Park Baptist Church Choir.

Rockdale NAACP President Thomas Brantley Jr. said the cel-

ebration committee chaired by Dwight Wicks worked to bring extraordinary talent to the county.

“We invite all to come out and celebrate the cultural contributions that African Americans have made to this country,” Brantley said.

The auditorium is at 903 Main St. For more information and tickets, email Lyn Gibson at clgibson@ bellsouth.net or call Jackie JohnsonDickson at 410-960-1662.

Movies feature African Americans in sports, music, politics Film buffs can watch three biographical movies about influential African Americans on Feb. 11 at Scott Candler Library’s Black History Marathon Movie Fest.

Adults can bring snacks and catch up on movies about sports, music and politics.

The fest kicks off at 10:15 a.m. with “Race” starring Stephan James, a 2016 movie about Jesse Owens’ quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history. Owens was thrust onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faced off against Adolf Hitler’s vision of Aryan supremacy and won a record-breaking four gold medals.

At 12:15 p.m., “Get on Up,” the 2014 film that chronicles James Brown’s rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history, will be screened with Chadwick Boseman in the title role.

The love story “Southside With You,” a 2016 movie about the first date of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama in the summer of 1989 in Chicago, starts at 2:15 p.m., starring Parker Sawyers and Tika Sumpter as the powerhouse couple.

The library is at 1917 Candler Road in Decatur. For more information, call 404-286-6986.

Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers star in “Southside With You,” a love story about Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date.

Historian to discuss civil rights activism in 20th century “Historian in Heels” Karcheik Sims-Alvarado will discuss “Atlanta and the Civil Rights Movement: 1944-1968” and the roles African Americans have played in American protest on K. Sims-Alvarado Feb. 9 at the Decatur Library.

The author’s talk, part of the Georgia Center for the Book’s

Festival of Writers series, begins at 7:15 p.m.

During the first half of the 20th century, a progressive group of black business, civic, and religious leaders from Atlanta challenged the status quo by using a method of gradualism to improve the social and political conditions within the city.

By the mid-20th century, a younger generation of activists emerged, seeking a more direct approach toward exercising their

Black History scavenger hunt at Salem-Panola Family members of all ages can embark on a Black History Month Scavenger Hunt on Feb. 11 at the SalemPanola Library.

The hunt, also part of Saturdays at Salem, starts at 10 a.m. and is open to the first 18 participants.

Groups of five or more should call the branch for an appointment.

Participants can work individually or in pairs. Funding is provided by the branch’s Friends.

The library is at 5137 Salem Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770-987-6900.

unconventional methods to document and teach history, is founder and CEO of the research firm Preserve Black Atlanta. She has served as a historian and consultant with the Herndon Home Museum, Georgia State University Honors College, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Humanity in Action, and Central Atlanta Progress.

The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, call 404-370-3070.

Open mic at Rhythm & Rhymes Jazz saxophonist Derwin Daniels and spoken word artist/musician Abyss return to the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library on Feb. 11 for a Black History and Love Your Library Month celebration.

The free Rhythm & Rhymes special event begins at 1:30 p.m. and is suitable for all ages. Registration is recommended – visit www.eventbrite.com/e/rhythmrhymes-at-wesley-chapel-library-tickets24710768574.

There will be open mic performances, readings of notable poems and guest ap-

Discussion on war in Syria Peabody-winning foreign correspondent Reese Erlich will share his insights at “Making Sense of Syria: What the World Can Expect” on Feb. 12 at the Decatur Recreation Center.

The 3-to-5 p.m. program is free to attend and is sponsored by the Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition.

Erlich, author of “Inside Syria: The Backstory of Their Civil War and What the World Can Expect,”

rights as full citizens. A culmination of the death of Emmett Till and the Brown v. Board of Education decision fostered the shift by bringing attention to the safety and educational concerns specific to black youth.

Using direct-action tactics, this generation of activists pushed the modern civil rights movement into a new chapter where young men and women became the voice of social unrest.

Sims-Alvarado, who seeks out

shared a Peabody Award in 2006 as a segment producer for “Crossing East,” a radio documentary on the history of Asians in the U.S. He is a print and broadcast freelance reporter.

The rec center is at 231 Sycamore St. Free parking is available at the nearby Decatur Library.

For more information, visit www.georgiapeace.org or call 404378-5424.

pearances.

To participate in the open mic, sign the list during the program or call 404286-6980.

The program is sponsored by the branch’s Friends group. Rhythm & Rhymes also is collecting new or gently used books from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for the Friends to help support the library.

The branch is at 2861 Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur. For more information, including how to become a book drop location, email info@rhythmandrhymes.org.

Friends groups to swap ideas DeKalb Public Library supporters will converge on the Northlake-Barbara Loar Library on Feb. 7 to help shape the future course of the Alliance of Friends.

The 90-minute meeting begins at 6 p.m. RSVP to ricem@ dekalblibrary.org.

The Alliance was formed more than five years ago to create a network of Friends groups

from throughout the system and to provide an umbrella organization allowing each group to enjoy taxexempt status.

Friends from all branches will exchange ideas and success stories and discuss how the Alliance might best serve the system and the county now and in the coming years.

The Northlake branch is at 3772 LaVista Road in Tucker. Visit www. dekalblibrary.org.

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“We know it will be a huge success and are excited to watch it serve as a catalyst for future development.”

$42M mixed-use development underway in Avondale Estates

By Rosie Manins

A five-story mixed-use apartment complex will soon be rising from the ground on East College Avenue in Avondale Estates.

The $42 million project, part of the city’s 2014 Downtown Master Plan, will be built on 3.17 acres between Hillyer Street and Sams Crossing across the street from the Waffle House Museum.

It will have about 197 one- and two-bedroom units in four stories above and 8,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space on the ground floor. There will be more than an acre of open space, including a gateway park that will preserve the mature trees, a rear parking deck with additional on-street parking, and generous sidewalks and street trees to enhance the pedestrian experience.

Developers South City Partners closed the deal in early January.

An official ground-breaking ceremony is likely at the beginning of March once the site is cleared. Construction is expected to take about 18 months.

On Jan. 23, workers were digging up pavement encircling the property so a safety fence could go up.

Tony Safranic, superintendent of McShane Construction Co., which is managing the project for South City Partners, said on

Rosie Manins / CrossRoadsNews

Workers dig up pavement on Jan. 23 for a safety fence at the project site in Avondale Estates.

Jan. 23 that contractors are preparing to demolish the site’s three existing buildings, including the Coyote’s Mexican Grill, which is relocating to the old Carpe Diem location in the Ice House Lofts at 105 Sycamore Place on the edge of downtown Decatur.

Safranic said the land will be cleared and leveled down to eight feet before pilings are driven in.

The project is near the city of Decatur’s $120 million transit-oriented development, which broke ground on Nov. 28. That 7.7-

acre project will house 378 apartments, 92 senior living units, and a plaza with 21,000 square feet of commercial space.

The area from Maple Street to Sams Crossing was annexed into the city in July 2012 as part of a wider plan to promote and implement redevelopment.

Avondale Estates leaders are excited about enhancing the city’s western entrance and attracting more development in the central business district.

Mayor Jonathan Elmore said the mixeduse project will be a “handsome and welcoming edifice at our western gateway and an inspiring catalyst for our entire central business district.”

“I am incredibly proud of the collaborative effort of our Downtown Development Authority, our city manager and staff, and the board in working with South City Partners to arrive at this point,” he said.

South City Partners had been negotiating with longtime landowner Joe Gargiulo since May 2015.

Matt Delicata, chair of the Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority, said the complex will be a great asset to the city.

“We know it will be a huge success and are excited to watch it serve as a catalyst for future development,” he said.

New Birth names new senior pastor to replace Bishop Eddie Long

Bishop Stephen A. Davis, shown with wife Darlene, also leads New Birth Birmingham.

Bishop Stephen A. Davis is the new senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, succeeding the late Bishop Eddie Long.

Davis, who has been a pastor since 1997, comes to the Lithonia church from New Birth Birmingham, formerly the Refiner’s House.

In a statement, New Birth’s board of directors and Long’s widow, Vanessa Long, said Davis was formally introduced as the new senior pastor to the New Birth congregation on Jan. 29. They said his installation is effective immediately.

“Bishop Davis is the person named by Bishop Long and the NBMBC board of directors to serve in this role in NBMBC’s Succession Plan, adopted in 2013,” the statement said. “The church leadership and first

lady Vanessa Long are confident that this transition will be a smooth and efficient process as the New Birth congregation is well-acquainted with and has deep respect for Bishop Davis’ gifting as a dynamic leader, pastor, teacher and speaker.”

The church says Davis has had direct ties with Long since 2006 and that Refiner’s House in Birmingham, Ala., became a New Birth church plant in 2011 as a part of the New Birth Church expansion.

Davis said he and his wife, Darlene, are blessed beyond measure and thoroughly thrilled to serve New Birth Lithonia and to build on the foundation that Long established.

“We look forward to advancing the Kingdom of God, transforming more unsaved into believers for Christ, continuing to

bridge the gap in the communities that New Birth serves and elevating New Birth to new heights,” he said.

Vanessa Long said she is confident that Davis will serve New Birth Lithonia in a manner that will fully honor God and the trust that her late husband placed in him.

“Bishop Davis is the choice of our sovereign Lord to carry forward the Kingdom vision that God placed on New Birth,” she said.

The statement said that during his tenure, Davis will continue leading New Birth Birmingham, located at 117 12th Court N.W. in Birmingham, and overseeing the extended campus of New Birth Tuscaloosa.

New Birth Lithonia is at 6400 Woodrow Road. For more information, visit www.

NewBirth.org.

CrossRoadsNews

6

Wellness

February 4, 2017

“It’s up to all of us to do everything we can to protect our children on the road.

Buckling up our children is the best way to save lives and reduce injuries.”

Registration open DeKalb shares in $166,000 mini grant for child safety seats Since 2007, the education, car seats and our children is the best way to save lives and County will share in a $166,000 for optometry clinic ChildDeKalb Passenger Safety Mini Grant funded booster seats provided through the mini reduce injuries.”

Appointment registration is open through Feb. 12 for Ray of Hope Christian Church’s free optometry clinic at its Family Life Center. The clinic takes place 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 19.

Residents must meet eligibility criteria, which include having a valid Social Security number, family income that meets federal government poverty guidelines, no Medicaid or vision insurance coverage, and not having received vision care services at the church’s health clinics within the past 12 months.

Appointments are on a first-come, first-served basis. Call 770-696-5100, Ext. 214, and leave your name and the best phone number to contact you.

The church is at 2778 Snapfinger Road in Decatur. For more information, visit www.rayofhope.org.

Free rapid HIV testing at library Free rapid HIV testing will be available on Feb. 8 at the Clarkston Library.

The DeKalb Board of Health is offering free and confidential Rapid HIV Oraquick testing with same-day results to patrons 18 and older from 1 to 5 p.m.

No registration is required.

The library is at 951 N. Indian Creek Drive in Clarkston. For more information, call 404-508-7175.

by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to purchase car seats.

The Georgia Department of Public Health’s Injury Prevention Program, which announced the 2017 recipients on Jan. 17, said the program helps county health departments and their community partners reduce the number of injuries and deaths among children in Georgia. This year’s award will be distributed in more than 125 counties.

grant prevented serious injury or death and saved at least 303 of Georgia’s children who were involved in crashes.

Public Health Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald said child passengers must be protected.

“Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children, and it’s up to all of us to do everything we can to protect our children on the road,” Fitzgerald said. “Buckling up

DPH and county health departments work with community partners to educate parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use car seats, offer car seat inspections, and provide car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families.

For more information on the Child Occupant Safety Project, email injury@dph. ga.gov, visit www.gacarseats.com or call 404-679-0500.

Love Run 5K supports domestic violence survivors Runners can support Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month by participating in DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston’s second annual Love Run 5K on Feb. 25 in downtown Decatur.

To register, visit http://dekalbda.org/161/Events. T-shirts are guaranteed to all runners who register by Feb. 19.

All proceeds will benefit the children’s programs of the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, DeKalb’s comprehensive resource for survivors of domestic violence and their families.

Start time is 8:30 a.m. at the Decatur Square, 101 E. Court Square.

The 5K, a Peachtree Road Race qualifier, will follow a fast, certified course through historic downtown and scenic neighborhoods.

Awards will be presented for overall male/female and in age groups 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 and up.

Numbers and shirts will be available from noon to 8 p.m. on Feb. 24 at Big Peach Running Co., 114 E. Trinity Place in Decatur.

Packets also will be available from 7 to 8 the morning of the race on the Square at 556 N. McDonough St. Same-day registration will be available, but T-shirts will only be guaranteed to preregistered runners.

Strollers are permitted in the event. Dogs will not be allowed to participate. For more information, email runningmanwest@bellsouth.net, visit dekalbda.org or call 404-371-4773.

Proceeds from the second annual Love Run 5K on Feb. 25 will benefit children’s programs of the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence.

Older Adults Cabinet seeks to improve well-being of senior residents Gov. Nathan Deal has created Georgia’s Older Adults Cabinet, a committee working to enhance the state’s capacity to serve its senior residents.

The committee seeks to identify ways to improve the well-being of seniors by bringing together agency heads whose work supports older residents and stakeholders in business, philanthropic and education communities.

“Georgia has one of the fastest-growing populations of older adults in the country – a statistic we expect to continue to rise as baby boomers reach the age of retirement,” Deal said on Jan. 30. “The members of this Cabinet

will be instrumental in examining issues that affect elderly Georgians and ensuring we have the infrastructure to meet their needs and the needs of their caregivers.”

First lady Sandra Deal and Human Services Commissioner Robyn A. Crittenden are its co-chairs. It will focus on issues that affect older Georgians, including health care, nutrition, transportation, housing and abuse, neglect and exploitation.

“I am honored to serve older adults in our state and be a part of the effort to develop long-term solutions that help Georgians live longer, live safely and live well, especially as

the need for services to help older adults maintain independence and remain safely in their homes and communities increases each year,” the first lady said.

The Cabinet comprises an executive committee of leaders representing DHS, Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Community Affairs, Community Health, Sandra Deal Public Health, Transportation, Early Care and Learning, Technical College System of

Georgia, Family and Children Services, and Bureau of Investigation agencies and a larger committee with partners from the University System of Georgia, providers of health care and community-based nutrition programs, advocacy groups, and legislators.

“When I became commissioner, I promised Governor Deal I would make the issues affecting the aging community a priority,” Crittenden said. “The Older Adults Cabinet will allow us as a state to prioritize and take a holistic approach to addressing the issues affecting the aging community resulting in stronger families for a stronger Georgia.”

DeKalb County Sheriff Office

Jeffrey L. Mann, Sheriff 4415 Memorial Drive • Decatur, GA 30032

Sex Offender

JC Thomas Bower 5000 Leeshire Trail Tucker, GA 30084 Charge of Child Molestation Convicted on 5/2/2001

Sex Offender

Jessica Bowie 2192 Ramblewood Circle Decatur, GA 30035 Charge of Pimping Person Under 18 YOA Convicted on 6/18/2015

Victor Boyd 3070 Springside Crossing Decatur, GA 30034 Charge of Sexual Battery Against Child Under 16 YOA Convicted on 1/10/2017

Sex Offender

David Bush Homeless Decatur, GA 30033 Charge of Lewd or Lascivious Conduct with Child Under 16 YOA Convicted on 8/15/2006

Sex Offender

Bolton Denton, Jr. 2540 Peachwood Circle Atlanta, GA 30345 Charge of Sexual Assault Convicted on 3/1/1994

Sex Offender

Gregory Dumas 848 Needle Rock Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 Charge of Rape Convicted on 1/3/2017

Sex Offender

Mark Evans 3793 Conley Downs Lane Decatur, GA 30034 Charge of Child Molestation Convicted on 3/31/2004

Sex Offender

Johnnie C. Gordon Homeless Decatur, GA 30058 Charge of Child Molestation Convicted on 3/28/2013

Sex Offender

Wylie Kopidlansky 4422 Northeast Expressway, RM 126 Doraville, GA 30340 Charge of Computer Pornography Convicted on 11/16/2010

Sex Offender

Michael Pitts 2830 Shell Bark Road Decatur, GA 30035 Charge of Child Molestation Convicted on 4/20/2011

Sex Offender

Garnett Rucker 2042 Hilda Burns Place Lithonia, GA 30058 Charge of Aggravated Sodomy Convicted on 10/30/1991

Sex Offender

Brian Shevela 8 Perimeter Ctr. E, Apt 2536 Atlanta, GA 30346 Charge of Criminal Sexual Conduct Convicted on 3/19/2004

Sex Offender

Sex Offender

Grelling Smith 5644 La Fleur Trail Lithonia, GA 30038 Charge of Child Molestation Convicted 3/28/2013

Rodney Winston 7067 Dean Court Lithonia, GA 30058 Charge of Child Molestation Convicted on 12/3/2015

Sex Offender

The DeKalb Sex Offenders List is published by the DeKalb County Sheriff Office.

For more information call the Sex Offender Unit at 404-298-8130.

Jasmine Washington 1519 Rupert Road Decatur, GA 30032 Charge of Sexual Assault Convicted on 2/7/2005

CrossRoadsNews

February 4, 2017

Finance

7

All applicants selected will be required to successfully complete a drug and alcohol screening and criminal background check.

Parks accepting applications for summer job opportunities Job seekers can apply for seasonal summer employment through the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs until March 27.

The department is accepting applications for numerous positions such as summer food monitors, camp counselors, recreation assistants and bus drivers.

Applicants must be 18 or older unless applying for lifeguard or pool manager positions. Lifeguards and pool managers are required to be 16 or older. Proof of current certification from American Red Cross or other nationally recognized aquatic train-

ing programs is required for all aquatic positions.

All applicants selected will be required to successfully complete a drug and alcohol screening and criminal background check prior to employment.

To view available positions or complete an application, visit https://chp.tbe. taleo.net/chp01/ats/careers/jobSearch. jsp?org=DKC&cws=1&rid=5785 and click Summer/Seasonal under Job Term.

For more information, contact LaShanda Davis at lsdavis@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-371-3643.

Workshop set for county vendors Vendors and small-business owners can attend the “How to Do Business With DeKalb County” workshop on Feb. 10 at the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur.

The Department of Purchasing and Contracting is host for the 10-to-11:30 a.m. event for companies and individuals interested in contracting with the county. To register, email pcadmin-ops@dekalbcountyga.gov or call 404-371-7051.

Details on the new bid and proposal guidelines will be provided as well as infor-

mation on the county’s new vendor portal, iSupplier.

The “DeKalb First” LSBE Ordinance – Local Small Business Enterprise – was enacted on Sept. 27 by the Board of Commissioners with the intention of providing earned revenue to local certified businesses through its competitive bid process.

The auditorium is at 1300 Commerce Drive. For more information, visit www. dekalbcountyga.gov/purchasing-contracting/about-purchasing-and-contracting.

Lower and middle income taxpayers and seniors can get free tax preparation through AARP Tax-Aide at DeKalb Public Library branches and other sites.

Free assistance at AARP Tax-Aide Residents 60 and older as well as lower and middle income taxpayers can get free tax assistance and preparation at DeKalb Public Library branches offering AARP Foundation Tax-Aide sessions.

Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax service. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and late arrivals may have to wait until the next day on the schedule for service.

Participating branches include: n Clarkston, 951 N. Indian Creek Drive in Clarkston (404-508-7175) – noon-4 p.m.

Mondays and Tuesdays. n Scott Candler, 1917 Candler Road in Decatur (404-286-6986) – 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Tuesdays. n Stonecrest, 3123 Klondike Road in

Stonecrest (770-482-3828) – 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays. n Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg, 952 Leon St. in Stone Mountain (770-413-2020) – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

All branches will be closed Feb. 20 in observance of Presidents Day. Other tax help locations include: n Bethesda Cathedral/Austin Drive Senior Campus, 1939 Austin Drive in Decatur – 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursdays. n Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St. in Decatur – 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. n Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road in Lithonia – 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays.

For more sites, visit www.dekalblibrary. org and www.aarp.org/taxaide.

legal notice

legal

JHC

Legal Notices 01/28. 02/04, 02/11, 02/18

Notice OF PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++17FM1087-2++ Shakita Moore Plaintiff

Vs. Karriem Shabazz Defendant To: 2929 Panthersville Rd. 2821 Zane Gray Dr. Decatur, GA 30034

By ORDER of the Court for service by publication dated Jan. 09, 2017, you are hereby notified that on Jan. 05, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against

Johnson Hopewell Coleman, LLC “EXPERIENCED LAWYERS, EXPERIENCED MINDS”

you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court and to service upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Shakita Moore; 2929Pantersville Rd., #D-21, Decatur, GA 30034. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days Jan. 09, 2017.

Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 19th day of Jan., 2017 Personal Injury & Workers Comp • Family Law/Divorce/Custody • Wills/Probate/Trusts Bankruptcy • Criminal Defense • Corporate & Business Law • Immigration Law

4153 Flat Shoals Parkway | Bldg C Suite 322 | Decatur, GA 30034

P:404.289.2244 F:404.289.2888 www.bjhlawyers.com

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tion Code. The initial registered office of the corporation is located at P.O. Box 373327 Decatur, GA 30037 and its initial registered agent; Attorney Jeffrey Gartzman at such address.

LEGAL NOTICES

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CrossRoadsNews

8

Wellness

February 4, 2017

Annual expo delivers on health and wellness

Health information was plentiful at the 12th annual CrossRoadsNews Health & Wellness Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest on Jan. 28. Here, a Georgia Piedmont Technical College nursing student goes over a “Know Your Numbers” chart with an expo visitor who had just had her blood pressure checked.

Antonio “The Chozen 1” Hinton wowed the audience with his expressive mime routine.

Expo goers and performers got their exercise on during the dance-off that wrapped up the 12th annual Health & Wellnes Expo.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and other exhibitors drew crowds in front of Macy’s on the mall’s lower level.

DeKalb Medical’s Beth Jansa check a patron’s blood pressure.

Chef Asata Reid whipped up a quick and tasty mushroom soup.

Grand prize winners Myrna Newton (center photo, second from right) and Virginia White (right photo) were all smiles after winning a gift basket of exercise gear and a $100 gift card, respectively.

Instructor Hertencer Shepherd demonstrated tai chi’s blend of controlled movements with defensive techniques.

Photos & Page Design by Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews