COMMUNITY
BLACK HISTORY
Odyssey of collage
Training put to the test
Five of six co-defendants plead guilty to stealing $1.68 million from artists who paint with their mouths or feet. 3
Artist Romare Bearden’s works bridging classical mythology and African-American culture will be discussed at Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum. 6
Stone Mountain High’s Navy JROTC cadets will show off their leadership skills and more at their Annual Inspection & Pass-inReview. 7
Victimized by thieves
YOUTH
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER
Copyright © 2014 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
February 15, 2014
Volume 19, Number 42
www.crossroadsnews.com
President hikes minimum wage for federal contractors By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
“The the new minimum wage will benefit hundreds of thousands of people working under contracts with the federal government who are making less than $10.10 an hour,” the administration said. “It will also improve the value that taxpayers are getting from the federal government’s investment.” The White House said that studies show that boosting low wages will reduce turnover and absenteeism, while also boosting morale and improving the incentives for workers, leading to higher productivity overall, lower turnover and absenteeism, and increased
President Barack Obama, speaking to the joint session of Congress during his Jan. 18 State of the Union address, made good on his promise to raise the minimum wage for federal workers to $10.10.
The minimum wage for federal contract workers will be $10.10 an hour effective Jan. 1, 2015. Making good on his State of the Union address promise, President Barack Obama signed the Executive Order on Feb. 12, and called on Congress to pass the Harkin-Miller Bill to make the minimum wage $10.10 for all workers. The new rate is a $2.85 increase in the federal minimum wage of $7.25. It will apply to new contracts and replacements for expiring contracts, the White House said in a statement Wednesday. Please see MINIMUM, page 2
Winter storm leaves power outages, slush School, business, government shut down for 3 days By Jennifer Ffrench Parker and Ken Watts
Mother Nature threw her icy arsenal at metro Atlanta this week, shutting down schools and governments, and paralyzing business, commerce and social life for three days. The Feb. 11-12 “catastrophic” winter storm dumped sleet and ice overnight Tuesday and by late Wednesday evening began coating the ice covered roads and trees with fluffy white snow. The storm knocked out electricity to more than 764,000 people statewide as icecoated power lines and trees snapped. Across the area, Atlantans scraped grocery shelves clean of milk, eggs and other essentials. There was also a run on batteries, generators and snow cleaning materials. More than 830 flights were canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. DeKalb Schools remained closed Friday for a total of four days. Ice slick roads made driving treacherous but most residents took the advice of officials and stayed off the streets. Families woke up Thursday morning to a bright white winter wonderland that began melting by noon as the sun came out and temperatures warmed up into the 40s. “The sun appears to be trying to shine on us,” Gov. Nathan Deal said with a smile at a noon press briefing on Thursday. He said the effects of the storm were not nearly as dramatic and traumatic as it should have been. “We think the human response has been remarkable,” he said. “We feel good about what we have done. It’s been the cooperation that has made the difference.” Deal praised metro-Atlantans for staying off the highways and said that this time the state’s response worked well.
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
As the sun came out Thursday, motorists braved the ice-and-snow-covered Wesley Chapel Road/I-20 overpass Thursday at 10 a.m.
“For someone sitting at home with no power that is a bad place,” he said, adding that every effort was being made to restore electricty to those who lost it. By late Thursday, the state’s electric providers said that 505,000 customers who had lost power were restored, but 254,471 customers were still without electricity. Georgia Power, the state’s largest single provider, said 150,724 of its customers still had no electricity. Another 103,747 customers, served by the 41 members of the Georgia Electric Membership Corp. were also without power. On Monday ahead of the storm, Deal declared a state of emergency for 91 counties. On Thursday, he extended it to Sunday to enable the state to deal with debris removal and the storm’s aftereffects and to enable the state to share costs with the federal government.
On the storm’s march down I-20, Deal said the storm had knocked out electricity to most of the residents in Augusta, more the state’s hardest hit area. Thursday’s warmer temperatures turned the ice and snow into slush, but it was expected to refreeze overnight as temperatures dipped. “The roads are still dangerous,” Deal warned, encouraging Atlantans to stay put if they could for another day. State Public Health Direcor Brenda Fitzpatrick encouraged residents who had power outages of more than four hours to throw out the food in their refrigerators. “We don’t want to come out of this and be dealing with food poisoning,” she said. For residents using space heaters and ovens to keep warm, Fitzpatrick said they should be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide posioning, which is both colorless
and odorless. The Feb. 11 and 12 winter storm was the second to hit the area in two weeks. The Jan. 28 snow storm that dumped 2.5 inches of snow on metro-Atlanta trapped hundreds of commuters on the area interstates and students in their schools’ gyms. DeKalb Government which was closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday reopened Friday and resumed garbage collections. It said residential and business customers with Tuesday scheduled collection will be picked up Feb. 14; Thursday pickups will be collected Feb. 15; and Friday collection will be picked up on Feb. 16. Yard trimmings and recycling collections will resume next week. The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures in the 50s for Saturday and Sunday. It is expected to be sunny during the days and partly cloudy with low 30s both nights.
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CrossRoadsNews
Finance
February 15, 2014
All individuals working under service or concessions contracts with the federal government will be covered by the same $10.10 per hour.
Dozens of employers for Business forum offers inside track on hiring Employers can find out about a number of DeKalb employers a subsidy/reimbursement of up to 50 percent job fair to hire war vets Workforce Development initiatives to put jobless of the the employee’s wages. The subsidy covers the costs More than 60 employers are expected at a “Hiring Our Heroes” job fair on Feb. 18 at the DeKalb Learning Center in Atlanta. The group includes government agencies, public safety departments, and private businesses. The Hiring Our Heroes campaign is engaging employers to hire half a million veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014. The event begins at 9 a.m. with an employment workshop. The job fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Suite 200 at the University of Phoenix building, 2600 Century Parkway. Job seekers are urged to pre-register at HiringOurHeroes. org. The job fair partners include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Veteran Affairs, the American Legion, the U.S. and state Labor, departments. Pre-registered participants will be fast-tracked into the event. Walk-ins are welcome but space is not guaranteed. Bring plenty of resumes and dress appropriately. For more information, call Michael Kotler at 770-840-2200, Ext. 161.
workers back on the job at a Feb. 19 Business Breakfast Forum. The forum, which was rescheduled for Feb. 11 because of this week’s severe winter weather, takes place at 9 a.m. at the DWD’s facility at 774 Jordan Lane, Building 4, in Decatur. Seating is limited, and registration is available at http://tinyurl.com/mfr5w34. During the session, employers will find out how to improve their bottom line by reducing staffing and training costs; identifying subsidies to fill open positions; improving employee selection and advancement procedures; reducing turnover and increasing productivity and employee morale; and mitigating legal challenges to hiring processes. Information also will be available on DWD’s Learn & Earn on-the-Job Training; Incumbent Worker Training; and Workforce Innovation Grant Work Experience initiatives. The Learn & Earn on-the-job training offers qualified
of training for up to a 90-day period. Employers must agree to hire eligible individuals, provide them with skills training over a specific period of time, and pay wages at the same rates as similarly situated employees. The Incumbent Worker Training Initiative offers existing businesses funding for skills-upgrade training for existing full-time employees to help them retain employees and stay competitive. It is designed to avert layoffs and possible business closings. The Workforce Innovation Grant Work Experience Initiative offers employers wage subsidies for up to six months to give work experience to people who have been unemployed for one year or longer to increase their chance of landing jobs. Employers work directly with Manpower to identify qualified candidates for open positions. For more information, call 404-687-3400.
Georgia one of four states with minimum wage lower than federal rate MINIMUM,
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employee morale. “Raising wages for those at the bottom will improve the quality and efficiency of services provided to the government,” the statement said. In his Jan. 28 State of the Union Address, President Obama pledged to both take executive action wherever he can, and work with Congress to increase opportunity for all Americans. “Consistent with that pledge, the President will continue to work with Congress to finish the job to raise the minimum wage for all Americans and pass the Harkin-Miller bill so that all workers can be paid at least a $10.10 minimum wage,” the White House statement said. Congress last increased the minimum wage in 2007 from $5.85 to $6.55 in July 2008, and to the current $7.25 in July 2009. Adjusted for inflation, the White House said the real value of minimum wage is roughly the same today as the $.75 cents it was in the 1950s. Today, a full-time minimum wage worker makes $14,500 a year. After accounting for programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit, a family of four supported by a minimum wage worker still ends up living below the poverty line.
Disabled gets same rate The new minimum wage for federal contracted employees applies to hundreds of thousand of people, including nursing assistants providing care to war veterans at nursing homes; concessions workers in National Parks; people serving food to US troops; and individuals with disabilities working to maintain the grounds on military bases. Obama’s executive order also includes provisions to ensure that federal contracted workers paid by a combination of tips and base wage, earn at least $10.10 overall. The White House said that employers are currently required to pay a minimum base wage of $2.13 per hour, a base that is more than 20 years old, and if a worker’s tips do not add up to the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference. “Under the executive order, employers are required to ensure that tipped workers earn at least $10.10 an hour,” the statement said. The executive order also requires that employers pay a minimum base wage of $4.90 for new contracts and replacements for expiring contracts put out for bid after Jan. 1, 2015. That amount increases by 95 cents per year until it reaches 70 percent of the regular minimum wage. Here too, if a worker’s tips do not add up to at least $10.10, the employer will be required to pay the difference.
States with minimum wage rates higher than the Federal States with minimum wage rates the same as the Federal States with no minimum wage law States with minimum wage rates lower than the Federal American Samoa has special minimum wage rates U.S. Department of Labor - Wage & Hour Division
The federal minimum wage It took the Federal Minimum Wage 76 years to move to its current $7.25 from $.25. Here are some of the major milestones in that march. Hourly Date Minimum Wage Oct. 24, 1938 $0.25 March 1, 1956 $1.00 May 1, 1974 $2.00 Jan. 1, 1980 $3.10 April 1, 1991 $4.25 Sept. 1, 1997 $5.15 July 24, 2008 $6.55 July 24, 2009 $7.25* *Georgia’s Minimum Wage is $5.15. It is one of four states with a minimum wage that is less than the Federal Minimum. The others are Arkansa, Minnesota and Wyoming.
The executive order also covers individuals with disabilities. Under current law, workers whose productivity is affected by their disabilities may be paid less than the wage paid to others doing the same job under certain specialized certificate programs. “Under this Executive Order, all individuals working under service or conces-
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm
sions contracts with the federal government will be covered by the same $10.10 per hour minimum wage protections,” the White House said.
76 years of minimum wage Since it was first established in 1938, the federal minimum wage has been increased 22 times, but because of inflation, it was eroded 19 percent to 40 percent over several prolonged periods between increases. The White House said that last year alone, workers earning the minimum wage basically got the equivalent of a $200 pay cut because the minimum wage stayed the same while the cost of living went up. “Democrats and Republicans agree that indexing the minimum wage to inflation would ensure that working families can keep up with expenses,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, those families will continue suffer if Congress continues to not act.” Women account for around 60 percent of workers making minimum wage. In 2011, workers making minimum-wage brought home 46 percent of their household’s total wage and salary income. Because many women are heads of household with children, the White House said increasing the minimum wage will directly help parents make ends meet and support their families. The Harkin-Miller bill is seeking to
raise the federal minimum wage in stages to $10.10, and index it to inflation thereafter. It also aims to increase the minimum wage for tipped workers for the first time in 23 years. The White House said the President will also continue to support and encourage state, local and private sector efforts to increase wages and help more working families. Nationally, 21 states and the District of Columbia have minimum wages higher than the federal government’s; 24 equal the federal rate; and four states – Georgia and Wyoming at $5.15; and Arkansa at $6.25 and Minnesota at $6.15 – have lower minimum wages. Four states--Alamaba, Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina--have no minimum wage. Since Obama first called for an increase in the minimum wage in 2013, four states – Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island – passed laws to raise the minimum wage. The White House said that businesse like Costco have supported past increases to the minimum wage because it helps build a strong workforce and profitability over the long run. “Low wages are also bad for business, as paying low wages lowers employee morale, encourages low productivity, and leads to frequent employee turnover — all of which impose costs,” it said.
February 15, 2014
Community
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CrossRoadsNews
“These individuals worked over the course of five years to manipulate and siphon a considerable amount of funds from the MFPA .”
Five plead guilty in $1.7 million theft racketeering scheme By Ken Watts
Five of six co-defendants accused of stealing $1.68 million from the disabled Mouth and Foot Painting Artists are going to jail for five to 20 years and must pay nearly $603,000 in restitution. Christina Kelly; her daughters Tyleshia Avant and Kiante Smith; and Tujuana Ross and her former husband Rory Ross pleaded guilty on Feb. 10 and were sentenced by DeKalb Superior Court Christina Kelly Judge Daniel Coursey for stealing the money from the disabled artists who paint with their mouths or feet because they are unable to use their hands due to an illness or birth defect. The case was dismissed against the sixth Tyleshia Avant defendant, Glenn Kelly, who is Christina Kelly’s former husband. Prosecutors said Kelly and Tujuana Ross, while working at a local MFPA office, developed a scheme to deposit thousands of MFPA checks into a fraudulent bank account Tujuana Ross from which they wrote checks to themselves and the other defendants, and used debit cards connected to the account for their own benefit. A DeKalb grand jury indicted them May 23, 2013 under the Georgia Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act. Kelly and Tujuana Ross were each sentenced to 20 years. Rory Ross got 20 years of probation; and Smith and Avant, 15 years of probation. Kelly will be required to serve seven years behind bars and pay $250,000 in restitution. Tujuana Ross will be required to serve five years behind bars and pay $176,953.50 in restitution.
The five defendants pleaded guilty to stealing from the international Mouth & Foot Artists group that represents disabled artists who can’t use their hands because of birth defects and other disabilities.
Rory Ross was ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution. Smith and Avant were ordered to pay $103,195 and $22,680 in restitution respectively. District Attorney Robert James said they had no regard for their victims. “These individuals worked over the course of five years to manipulate and siphon a considerable amount of funds from the MFPA without any regard for the individuals and families affected by their criminal acts,” James said. The for-profit MFPA association is owned and operated by disabled artists globally. The artists create cards, calendars, books and other holiday gifts which they send to prospective donors for monetary donations. MFPA receives donations in unpredictable amounts and the checks, which are mailed to MFPA, are sorted and placed into the organization’s bank account for the benefit of the disabled artists. The indictment said that Christina Kelly
DeKalb hosting two budget hearings DeKalb residents can weigh in on the county’s proposed budget for 2014 at two public hearings on Feb. 20 and 27 at the Maloof Auditorium in downtown Decatur. The DeKalb Board of Commissioners is hosting the meetings at 10 a.m. on both days. The $561.5 million recommended budget includes hiring more police officers, pay raises for county employees, jobs and economic development and beautifying and maintaining public rights of way along nine
major corridors. It is $1.4 million more than the current $560.1 million budget. No tax increase is proposed and the county’s 21.21 millage rate is expected to remain unchanged. The proposed budget is available for public inspection in the office of the Director of Finance, 6th Floor, Maloof Center, and at all DeKalb County libraries during normal business hours. It can also be viewed at www. dekalbcountyga.gov. The Maloof Center is at 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur.
Blueprint meeting reset for Feb. 20 A diverse group of citizens from across DeKalb County will meet on Feb. 20 at the Decatur Library to discuss a “Blueprint to Redefine DeKalb County.” The meeting was rescheduled from Feb. 11 because of this week’s ice and snow storm. The Blueprint was drafted by Super District 6 Commissioner Kathie Kathie Gannon Gannon, with input from several sources. She says it’s a framework for a conversation that the county needs to have about the myriad of problems facing it. “We need a set of solutions that are as broad as the problems we face,” Gannon said. “There is no silver bullet that will fix DeKalb. It will take a consensus building effort.” The Blueprint contains recommenda-
tions regarding cityhood, Board of Ethics, purchasing procedures and other issues. Gannon says it is a beginning. “I don’t expect everyone will agree with everything,” she said. “But I hope we can agree on the general direction in the Blueprint. There will be give and take as we reach a consensus.” Gannon said the Blueprint has been circulated to the Board of Commissioners and citizens, and that action is needed. “If the citizens and leadership of DeKalb do not find solutions and consensus, our future will be determined by the General Assembly and a series of isolated events,” she said. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the ground floor meeting room. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. For more information and the complete Blueprint document, visit www.KathieGannon.com.
worked as a seasonal employee for MFPA beginning in 2002, and that at some point prior to 2006, opened a checking account at Main Street Bank in the name of ‘C. Kelly DBA MFPA’ and started stealing the MFPA checks from its offices and depositing them to the fraudulent MFPA account. Tujuana Ross, who was a full-time employee, joined the scheme in 2006, stealing and delivering the checks to C. Kelly. In return C. Kelly wrote checks to Ross from the fraudulent acccount. She also wrote checks to Kiante Smith, her daughter who was an MFPA seasonal
employee; Tyleshia Avant, her daughter and seasonal employee; Rory Ross, former husband of Tujuana Ross; and Glenn Kelly, her former husband. Glenn Kelly was not present at the sentencing hearing. DeKalb District Attorney spokesman Erik Burton said his case was dismissed. James said the crime came to light because of the diligence and awareness of a MFPA donor. “We are pleased that this case has been resolved and that the artists of MFPA will be able to recover a considerable amount of the stolen funds,” he said.
CLAUDIA G. LAWSON Tax Commissioner DeKalb County, GA
ATTENTION ALL DEKALB COUNTY HOMEOWNERS The 2014 Property Tax Exemption Deadline is Fast Approaching! If you owned and resided in a home in DeKalb County on January 1st, you may apply for a Basic Homestead Exemption and Property Assessment Freeze with theCounty by April 1st of this year. The home must be your primary domicile and legal residence for all purposes, including the registration of your vehicles and the filing of your Federal and State income taxes. Applications received after April 1st will be processed for 2015. In addition to the basic homestead exemption available to all homeowners, there are special exemptions available for residents 62 and older, disabled veterans or their un-remarried spouses, and other disabled residents. Eligibility for special exemptions is based upon age or disability, total household income, and must be applied for in person. When applying, please bring your State and Federal income tax forms, Social Security 1099, and any other forms of income you may receive, to one of our three offices across the County.
North Office
1358 Dresden Dr., NE Atlanta, GA 30319
Main Office
4380 Memorial Dr. Suite 100 Decatur, GA 30032
South Office
2801 Candler Rd. #66 South DeKalb Mall Decatur, GA 30034
Remember, the deadline for applying for all homesteads is April 1st! Apply for the Basic Homestead Exemption, the Property Assessment Freeze, or renew your tag registration online at: www.dekalbcountyga.gov/taxcommissioner Questions? Call (404) 298-4000 or email us at proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov
4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 100, Decatur, Georgia 30032 (404-298-4000)
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February 15, 2014
“The NFL, its owners, its coaches and players should understand that it is time to step up.”
Parity needed for AP and dual-enrolled students By Andrea P. Hart
In the DeKalb Schools System, as well as other schools systems statewide, students are awarded Quality Points for taking certain rigorous courses. Currently, DeKalb Schools awards one Quality Point to those students who take Advanced Placement or “AP” courses, and also awards one Quality Point to students who take classes within it’s International Baccalaureate or “IB” program. The number of Quality Points awarded to students can vary from one county to the next. In at least one nearby county, students in the AP and IB programs are awarded 10 quality points for their participation in those programs. Upon passage of an AP exam, students can earn college credits that are usually accepted by most colleges and universities, nationally. Quality Points boost students’ grade point averages. Dual Enrollment is another academic offering in DeKalb Schools. It is reserved for any high school junior or senior who meets certain prerequisites, but some ninth and 10th-grade students also participate. Generally, students may take classes at a local junior college, usually at Georgia Perimeter College. Students who are enrolled at
“The DeKalb Schools System Quality Point Program should continue for high achieving students, but it must be expanded to include all duallyenrolled students. The district must lead the way in righting this wrong and ending disparate treatment of dual-enrollment students.” Andrea P. Hart
the DeKalb Early College Academy, however, attend their high school for their freshman and sophomore years, and upon successful completion of the 9th and 10th grade years, coupled with passage of the national junior college entrance COMPASS exam, attend GPC’s Clarkston Campus, on a full-time basis. Dual-enrolled students have their college tuition covered by ACCEL, which is a part of the HOPE scholarship program. Parents, however, must pay college fees, each semester, and when available secured grants to cover the cost of books. Students who are dually enrolled may earn 3 to 62 college credits. Some earn an Associate’s Degree and their high school diploma concurrently. But while dually-enrolled students work just as hard and are just as driven and motivated to achieve as their AP and IB counterparts, they do not enjoy the same
benefits as AP and IB students. Specifically, in the DeKalb school district, dual-enrollment students are not awarded Quality Points for earning college credits in the same manner that AP and IB students are awarded them for taking classes within those programs. AP and IB courses are more challenging than the typical and regular course that a majority of high school students take. AP courses are supposed to be similar to college courses, but taught at a high school. AP students earn Quality Points that increase their grade point average, whether they pass the AP exam or not. In contrast, dual-enrollment students have one opportunity to submit assignments under the University System of Georgia guidelines, and don’t have multiple opportunities to submit assigned work. They also are not awarded a Quality Point for their efforts. One could argue that the whole idea of giving students something
extra for taking on more challenging academic work is ridiculous; that students and their parents should be satisfied with just the ability to participate in more rigorous courses. DeKalb’s dual-enrolled students must be included in the Quality Point Program and awarded, at the very least, one or more Quality Point, in light of the all of the work that is required for a dual enrollment student to be successful. Since July 23, 2013, Georgia, through the HOPE program, has recognized dual-enrollment students in determining HOPE eligibility. Surely DeKalb Schools can follow the state’s lead in recognizing dually-enrolled students for promotion and grade point averages (GPAs) calculations. Current dual-enrollment students must be included in the Quality Point Program and their grades re-calculated, retroactive to July 2013. This would ensure that hard-working, academically-talented students are treated similarly to other high-achieving students. DeKalb Schools must lead the way in ending disparate treatment of dual-enrollment students. It is simply the right thing to do. Andrea P. Hart lives in Stone Moutain. Her daughter is an 11thgrader who is a full-time student at Georgia Perimeter College.
Michael Sam’s announcement puts the NFL to the test By the Rev. Jesse Jackson
“I’m a football player, and I’m gay.” With those words, Michael Sam, an All-American defensive end from the University of Missouri, demonstrated courage far beyond that demanded on the football field. And America may, for the first time, witness an openly gay man playing professional football. “I just want to own my own truth,” said Sam, fully aware of what he risked by standing up. There are no openly gay athletes in the NFL, NBA, NHL or major league baseball. That’s not to say there are no gay professional athletes. There have always been gays in professional sports, just as there have been in all professions — lawyers, doctors, bricklayers and steelworkers. Some came out of the closet after they retired. Many gays were known, or widely suspected, by teammates but not admitted publicly. When Jerry Smith, a tight end for the Washington Redskins, died of AIDS, some of his teammates served as pallbearers. It was rumored that he was gay when he was playing. His teammates rallied to him, partly because he could play. Sam has put his career of choice at risk. He’s a 6-foot-2, 260-pound menace on the football field. He was the Associated Press Player of the Year in the Southeast Conference, considered the elite football conference. He was expected to be
SEC Defensive Player of the Year Michael Sam’s Feb. 9th announcement could make him the first openly gay man to play professional football.
An Opinion Jesse Jackson Sr.
drafted high in the early rounds of the draft before the announcement. His announcement will now put the NFL and its owners to the test. As a path-breaker, Sam will face obstacles. Last week, Jonathan Vilma, a star linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, said openly that he wouldn’t want a gay teammate. The NFL locker room is already known as notoriously tough on rookies. Sam will no doubt face an even harsher introduction. When African Americans broke into segregated institutions, they knew that they would have to
perform better and act better to compete. For Sam to survive in the NFL, he’ll no doubt have to perform better and play better than other rookies. But he’s been through this before. At the beginning of this season, he told his teammates at Mizzou that he was gay. Many already knew or suspected. The team worked through the problems. Sam dominated on the field. And at the end of the season, they voted him their most valuable player. Sam is part of a movement for equality that is sweeping all before it. In 2000, Republicans used same-sex marriage as a wedge issue to help win elections. Now, Americans’ attitudes have been transformed. Same-sex marriage laws have been passed in several states with more to come. On Mon-
day, Attorney General Eric Holder issued orders to the Justice Department to recognize the federal rights of legally married same sex couples no matter where they are living. A millennial generation is growing up that scorns those who would discriminate on the basis of whom one chooses to love. Even Pope Francis has asked, “Who am I to judge?” arguing that people “should not be marginalized” because of their sexual orientation and “must be integrated into society.” But this kind of change doesn’t come on its own. It takes courageous citizens of conscience to stand up. It requires organizing, marching and protests. Lives and careers are put at risk. The most courageous often pay the highest price, as exemplified by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The courage of Michael Sam should be saluted. But we should also stand with him. The NFL, its owners, its coaches and players should understand that it is time to step up. The football field is a level playing field. All play by the same set of rules. There is no place for exclusion or discrimination in professional athletics. Michael Sam asks only to be graded by his performance on the field. And if history is any guide, if he is given a fair shot, he will do just fine. The Rev. Jesse Jackson is the founder and president of the Rainbow Push Coalition. Keep up with him at www.rainbowpush.org.
index to advertisers Abbott’s Hair Studio....................................... 11 Affordable Health Care.................................. 11 DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court.................... 10 DeKalb County Tax Commissioner.................. 3 Fabric Joint, LLC............................................. 11 Georgia Military College................................. 7
Georgia Perimeter College............................. 7 I-Storage....................................................... 10 Johnny Harris CPA......................................... 11 LAK Enterprises, Inc....................................... 11 LR Robinson, LLC........................................... 11
Macy’s............................................................12 Mount Zion AME Church............................... 11 PICR Clinic..................................................... 11 The Law Office of B.A. Thomas..................... 11 The Law Office of Melissa J. Sawyers............. 11
Walmart.......................................................... 5 Westgate Resorts............................................ 8 Best Buy Co. Inc......................................Inserts Walgreen’s..............................................Inserts Walmart..................................................Inserts
February 15, 2014
Wellness
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CrossRoadsNews
“If we need to notify the public about public safety hazards such as weather, CodeRED is one of the tools we will use to reach people directly.”
Tips to stay safe during bad weather conditions Residents can
still sign up for CodeRED alerts
With two severe winter events two weeks apart, county officials are offering tips to weather snow and ice the next time they hit. Here are a few from DeKalb interim CEO Lee May and the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency officials:
In a vehicle: n Always avoid driving in icy conditions. If you must drive, drive slowly as there may be unexpected patches of ice. Have blankets and winter wear in your car in case you get stuck for long hours in your vehicle. n If your car crashes and cannot move, do not leave your car. Call for help immediately. Be visible and tie a colored cloth, preferably red, to your antenna or door. n Stay in the vehicle and run the motor for 10 minutes each hour for heat. Open the car window a little for fresh air and to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. n Ensure that your vehicle has at least half a tank of gas to prevent the fuel line from freezing. In your home: n Exercise safety and use proper ventilation when using alternative heat sources, such as fireplaces and electric heaters. Do not use your oven to heat your house. Do not bring grills, generators, kerosene heaters, and other outside heating devices inside to heat your home because they emit poisonous carbon monoxide. n If you have no heat, close off unneeded rooms, stuff towels in cracks under doors and cover windows at night. n Keep pets inside and ensure their food and water are not frozen.
Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Home owners in the Chapel Lake subdivision and across metro Atlanta lost electricity during the Feb. 11 and 12 iwinter storm that blanketed the area in ice and snow.
not needed. n Find the house master water shutoff valve. It may be near the water heater or washing machine. More likely it’s where the water line comes into your house from the street. If a pipe bursts anywhere in the house, turn off this valve. n Leave a thin stream of water flowing from a bathroom faucet during the worst of a cold spell. Running water has a lesser chance of freezing but it may increase your water bill. If a pipe freezes and you don’t want to call a plumber, do not try to thaw it using a torch with an open flame. This is a fire hazard, and To protect plumbing and pipes n Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses. De- it also could melt pipe solder or burst the taching the hose allows water to drain from pipe. The safest tool is a hair dryer with a the pipe, otherwise a hard freeze can burst low heat setting. Wave the warm air back and forth along the pipe, not on one spot. either the faucet or the pipe. n Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas. If you have pipelines in an unheated garage Outdoors or cold crawl space under the house, wrap the n Dress appropriately for cold weather conwater pipes before temperatures plummet. ditions by layering clothing. Try to stay dry n Hardware stores carry heat tapes that can and limit time outdoors. either be wrapped or run lengthwise on n Exercise caution when walking on sideexposed pipes. If you use a heat tape, use a walks and walkways. Ice may have formed on GFI outlet and be sure to unplug it when it’s these surfaces and may cause a fall hazard.
n Do not approach downed wires. They may
be an electrical hazard. Call 911 to report downed wires. n If stranded, build a fire for heat and to attract attention.
In general n Ensure that you have an adequate supply of prescription medication on hand in case you cannot leave your house for a few days. n Check on elderly neighbors, friends and family members. n Sign up for DeKalb County’s high-speed notification system, CodeRED. This emergency notification system has the ability to quickly deliver time-sensitive messages via voice, email, and text to targeted areas of the county during emergency situations or disasters. To sign up, visit www.dekalbcountyga. gov and follow the link to the CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment page. Those without Internet access should call DeKalb Emergency Management at 770-2700413 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to register via phone.
With this week’s winter storm still fresh in everyone’s mind, DeKalb County Government is reminding residents and businesses to sign up for its CodeRED system that notifies them about impending bad weather. On Tuesday as the ice and snow storm headed to metro Atlanta, the county sent a Lee May robo call to more than 150,000 residents warning them of the storm and encouraging them to stay home and off the highways. This week DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May and officials of the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency urged all stakeholders to sign up for the high-speed emergency notification system. They say the system has the ability to quickly deliver time-sensitive messages via voice, email, and text to targeted areas during emergency situations or disasters. “If we need to notify the public about public safety hazards such as weather, CodeRED is one of the tools we will use to reach people directly,” May said. To sign up, residents and businesses should visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov and follow the link to the CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment page. Those without Internet access should call DeKalb Emergency Management at 770-270-0413 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to register via phone. Required information includes first and last name, physical street address, and primary phone number. To receive weather warnings, subscribers should select the Severe Weather Warning link. Individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number must also register to receive notification.
6
Black History
CrossRoadsNews
February 15, 2014
“If this war is to be forgotten, then I ask in the name of all things sacred what shall men remember?”
Emory lecture to delve into Romare Bearden’s Odyssey Dr. Robert O’Meally will lecture on “Love and Gender: Homer, Bearden, and Eros,” on Feb. 18 at Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum. The lecture, which begins at 7:30 p.m. will explore themes in art of Romare Bearden, a modernist, who depicted a wide variety of American scenes: Northern and Southern, urban and rural, and contemporary and historical. The “Odyssey” series, rich in symbolism and allegorical content, created an artistic bridge between classical mythology and African-American culture. O’Meally, Columbia University’s Zora Neale Hurston Professor of English and Comparative Literature, is curator of the exhibition “Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey,” an exhibition of collages and other works by one of the most powerful and original artists of the 20th century. It is on display at the Michael C. Carlos Museum through March 9. He is also the founder and former director of the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University. The lecture takes place in the reception hall on Level 3. It is free to attend and no ticket is required. Works by Bearden (1911-1988) often include forms from literature and music. He experimented with many different media and artistic styles and may be best known for his richly textured collages depicting universal images using African-American subjects. The Michael C. Carlos Museum is at 571 S. Kilgo Circle in Atlanta. Visit www.carlos.emory.edu or call 404-727-4282. An exhibition of Romare Bearden’s work is on display through March 9 at Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum.
African-American life during the Civil War on display in photo exhibit A photographic exhibit, inspired by “Native Guard,” a Civil War poem written by U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey is on display this month at Emory University’s Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. “What Must Be Remembered,” offers vignettes of Civil War-era materials from Emory’s Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library. The five-peice compositions reflect on aspects of African-American life during the war, including womanhood, manhood, labor and commerce, childhood and education, and life as a soldier. They are created using photographs, letters, journals and other ephemera and books drawn from several collections at MARBL, including its Civil War collections and the Robert Langmuir African American Photograph Collection. The compositions are accompanied by quotes from African-American civil and human rights advocates Sarah Parker Images like these are featured in the exhibit “What Must Be Remond (1826-1894), Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), John Remembered,” at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts.
Mercer Langston (1829-1897), William H. Crogman (18411931), and Anna Julia Cooper (1858-1964). Trethewey, the current two-term U.S. poet laureate, is director of Emory’s creative writing program. “Native Guard” begins with an epigraph by abolitionist Frederick Douglass: “If this war is to be forgotten, then I ask in the name of all things sacred what shall men remember?” The exhibit’s co-curators are Pellom McDaniels III, MARBL’s African American Collections faculty curator and Emory associate professor of African American Studies, and Paige Knight, Emory Libraries archival photographer and digital photography coordinator. Knight created the compositions using MARBL materials selected by McDaniels as well as shells, dried flowers, old pocket watches, and 19th-century clay marbles. The Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts is at 1700 N. Decatur Road. For more information, visit http://marbl. library.emory.edu.
Kimbrough for Heritage service Read-In supports African-American authors Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough, the seventh president of Dillard University in New Orleans, will help Columbia Drive United Methodist Church celebrate Heritage Month on Feb. 16. The theme for the month is “Looking Back … Moving Forward. The service begins at 10 a.m. Columbia Drive’s annual monthlong observance features spirited speakers, meaningful worship services, and a rousing musical performance. Kimbrough, one of the nation’s youngest college presidents, is known as the “Hip-Hop President.” He will deliver a message of hope and inspiration. On Feb. 23, the Metropolitan Atlanta Community Band Walter Kimbrough returns for a second year in a row to participate in the observance. The band will offer a soul-stirring performance during a special service at 4 p.m. The church is at 2067 Columbia Drive in Decatur. For more information, call 404-284-4151.
Adults and kids who love to read can participate in the 25th Annual African-American Read-In on Feb. 22 at the Decatur Library. During the noon to 1:30 p.m. event, participants will read a five-minute selection written by a black author. All readings must be appropriate for ages 5 and older. The African-American Read-In, established by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English, encourages the selection and reading of books, poems and speeches written by African-Americans. Its purpose is not only to get as many people as possible reading works by black authors, but also to create a greater awareness among the
general American population about the diversity of voices among African-American writers. It gives the participants an opportunity to read the works of well-known African-American greats as well as those whose works are not as widely circulated. Participants who want to read at the event should register by Feb. 15 at 404-370-8450, Ext. 2257. Light refreshments will be served. The program is sponsored by KUUMBA Storytellers of Georgia, the Organization of DeKalb Educators and DeKalb County Public Library. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, visit www.dekalblibrary.org or call 404-370-3070.
7
CrossRoadsNews
February 15, 2014
Youth
“Students from every corner of our state will be able to take what they have learned and apply it to today’s legal, social and political climates.”
Luncheon to honor STAR students DeKalb STAR Students and their teachers will be honored by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 27 at its annual STAR Luncheon at the Double Tree Hotel in Atlanta. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program honors the state’s highest achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have most instrumental in their academic development. It recognizes high school seniors who have the highest SAT score in their graduating class and meet all the other program requirements. In the last 55 years, the STAR Program has honored more than 23,500 high school seniors who in turn choose their STAR Teachers to share in this recognition. The Professional Association of Georgia
Educators (PAGE) Foundation, Inc. was selected in 1994 by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to coordinate the Georgia’s STAR program in association with the Chamber and the Georgia Department of Education. The 2014 STAR Awards Luncheon honors students and teachers from DeKalb County Schools and City of Decatur Schools. It is also open to family members, school administrations and event and scholarship sponsors. Registration starts at 11:15 a.m. and the luncheon takes place at 11:45 a.m. The hotel is at 4156 Lavista Road. For more information, call 404-3788000, email dwalton@dekalbchamber.org, or visit http://dekalbchamber.org/upcomingevent/.
Healthy program seeks 5th-grade girls Fifth-grade girls can learn how to make shampoo for their hair at the Feb. 22 Healthy Me Day at Midway Recreation Center. The “Learn ‘Science’ in Making Shapoo For Healthier Hair” program takes place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Helen Riley, a Stephenson High School master science teacher, will demonstrate how to use tea and other natural ingredients to make shampoo.
The session is part of the Healthy Me program that meets fourth Saturday’s through May. It focusses on health and nutrition topics. It is free to attend. Parents must accompany and sign in their children. The center is at 3181 Midway Road in Decatur. For more information call Lisa HaginsThornton or Kia Church at 404-286-3328.
$1,000 scholarship up for grabs College-bound high school seniors can vie for a $1,000 grand prize scholarship in the 7th Amendment Scholarship Essay sponsored by the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. In the Scholarship Essay Competition, students address the following question: “Since the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791, the 7th Amendment Right to Trial by Jury has been the cornerstone of the Civil Justice System. And yet, in the two-plus centuries since, the Right to Trial by Jury has been under near-constant assault. In your opinion, what role does the 7th Amendment play in the 21st Century, and why do you believe that it is important to safeguard this Right? The deadline for completed applications and essays is April 7. Emily Wring, the Georgia Trial Lawyers
Association’s executive director, said the scholarship competition will recognize some of Georgia’s best and brightest students. “Through this competition, students from every corner of our state will be able to take what they have learned about the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution and apply it to today’s legal, social and political climates,” she said. “It is our hope that, through this one-of-a-kind opportunity, they will expand and reaffirm their belief in the Constitutional Right to Trial by Jury.” A $500 first runner-up scholarship will also be awarded. The two one-time scholarships are non-renewable, and checks will be issued jointly to the educational institution and the recipients. For more information and application, visit www.gtla.org/scholarship.
Stone Mountain High School’s Naby JROTC will demonstrate their training on Feb. 20 for Cmdr. David Neal. Parents and community are invited to see the display.
Pirates’ Navy JROTC for inspection The Stone Mountain Navy JROTC Pirates will show off their organizational leadership skills, military bearing, knowledge, and precision marching abilities on Feb. 20 at their Annual Inspection & Pass-in-Review. Cmdr. David Neal, commanding officer of Navy Recruiting District Atlanta will
inspect the 110 cadets. The ceremonial phase starts at 10:30 a.m. Navy JROTC is a leadership development elective offered to students in grades 9-12. The school is at 4555 Central Drive in Stone Mountain. For more information, call 678-676-6363.
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8
Scene
CrossRoadsNews
February 15, 2014
The book shows a view of veterans often absent from current American media – the love between two battle-traumatized U.S. Army veterans.
Author to offer the inside story on famed civil rights lawyer The back story of Georgia’s famed chief civil rights attorney Donald L. Hollowell’s defense of African-American men accused or convicted of capital crimes in a racially charged 1950s and ’60s will be told on Feb. 24 at Donald Hollowell the Decatur Library. Author Maurice C. Daniels will discuss his book “In Saving the Soul of Georgia: Donald L. Hollowell and the Struggle for Civil Rights” at 7:15 p.m.
The book. published in December 2013, is the first biography of Hollowell, a pivotal but unsung hero of the civil rights movement It tells the story of the behind-the-scenes civil rights lawyer, who also Maurice Daniels represented activists arrested for their civil rights work and fought to overturn the laws that maintained statesanctioned racial discrimination. Among his many cases, Hollowell sued
the University of Georgia, charging the institution with racist admission policies. The suit ended in 1961 with a federal court order demanding the admission of two African American students – Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton E. Holmes. In 1960, Hollowell and co-counsel Horace Ward won a victory in the Georgia Court of Appeals that secured the release of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from the Georgia State Prison. In another case, he and members of his firm prevented the electrocution of a 15-year-old black youth from Monticello, Ga., five days before the
scheduled execution. Hollowell died on Dec. 27, 2004, of heart failure at 87 years old. Daniels is dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Georgia and is founder and director of The Foot Soldier Project for Civil Rights Studies. He is also the author of “Horace T. Ward: Desegregation of the University of Georgia, Civil Rights and Jurisprudence and executive producer of a number of civil rights documentaries. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur.
Iraq War vet’s personal story portrayed in book about Bronze Star hubby Author and Iraq War veteran Kayla Williams will discuss the plight of the nation’s returning veterans on Feb. 18 at the Decatur Library. The talk, which is part of the Georgia Center for the Book’s Festival of Writers, takes place from 7:15 to 9 p.m. In her book, “Plenty of Time When We Get Home: Love and Recovery in the Aftermath of War” published on Feb. 7, Williams writes about a lack of essential support for returning veterans from the Kayla Williams military and from Veterans Affairs; her struggles to reintegrate into a country still oblivious to women veterans; and what seemed the callous, consumerist indifference of civilian society at large. Williams served in the the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq, as did her husband, Sgt. Brian McGrough, who was injured when shrapnel from a roadside bomb went through his brain. She was an Arabic linguist and he was a staff sergeant
with a Bronze Star. The two met at a mountain outpost in Iraq in 2003, and began a tentative romance. They married after McGrough’s injury that left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and physical and cognitive problems from which he is still recovering. He has experienced periods of depression, paranoia and rage. They married in 2005 and have stayed together in spite of the obstacles, including the rages that he directs at her. Critics say that the book shows a view of veterans often absent from current American media – the love between two battle-traumatized U.S. Army veterans exhausted from facing inner demons and struggling with bureaucratic red tape. Williams is also the author of the 2007 book “Love My Rifle More Than You,” a no-holds-barred account of what it is like to be young and female in the U.S. Army. She lives in Virgina with her husband and two children. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, visit www.dekalblibrary.org or call Kayla Williams and her husband Brian McGrough met in Iraq, shortly before he was injured in a roadside blast. 404-370-3070.
Lots of bargains at library book sale Murder mystery author to dish on book More than 4,000 books in great condition will be available at bargain prices at the Friends of the Wesley Chapel Library’s book sale on Feb. 22. Organizers promise that there is something for everyone and that there will be 500 books covering wars of the world. Other book categories include adventure, romance, fiction, culture, education, entertainment, mystery, rare books, AfricanAmerican literature, children’s books, encyclopedias, textbooks, and references as well
as CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes and other special offerings. The sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For a $10 fee, dealers will be treated to a private visit on Feb. 21 only. Electronic and cell phone scanners will not be allowed during the Feb. 22 sale to the public. The library is at 2861 Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur. For more information, call 404-2866980.
Sarah Churchwell’s new book, “Careless People: Murder, Mayhem and the Invention of The Great Gatsby,” will be discussed at the Decatur Library on Feb. 19. The 7:15 to 9 p.m. event is the first in the Sarah Churchwell branch’s “University at the Library” lecture series. “Careless People” is a unique literary
investigation narrative that combines a forensic search for clues to an unsolved crime in late 1922 and its relationship to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” It overturns much of the perceived wisdom of the period, and blends biography and history with lost newspaper accounts, letters, and newly-discovered archival materials to reconstruct the events of that pivotal autumn. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur.
9
CrossRoadsNews
February 15, 2014
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Due to weather uncertainties, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners will hold Public Hearings on the 2014 Proposed Budget at the times and places listed below: Thursday, February 20, 2014, 10:00AM Thursday, February 27, 2014, 10:00AM Maloof Center Auditorium Maloof Center Auditorium 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur All interested citizens are invited to attend these hearings and have the right to present comments pertaining to the proposed budget. The recommended budget is available for public inspection in the office of the Director of Finance, 6th Floor, Maloof Center, at all DeKalb County Libraries during normal business hours, and electronically at www.dekalbcountyga.gov BUDGET RESOLUTION 2014 CEO Recommended TAX FUNDS GENERAL FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Taxes $206,413,531 Licenses and Permits 93,013 Intergovernmental 2,428,680 Charges for Services 34,180,817 Fines and Forfeitures 12,291,029 Miscellaneous 4,209,144 Other Financing Sources 2,444,789 Fund Balance Carried Forward 24,810,618 TOTAL - GENERAL FUND $286,871,621 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Chief Executive Officer $2,342,504 Board of Commissioners 2,638,518 Ethics Board 118,000 Law Department 3,195,025 Geographic Info Systems 1,975,175 Facilities Management 14,038,503 Purchasing 2,854,759 Human Resources & Merit System 2,866,741 Information Systems 17,204,763 Finance 5,745,956 Property Appraisal 4,348,270 Tax Commissioner 7,028,612 Registrar 3,800,080 Sheriff 75,818,336 Juvenile Court 9,146,290 Superior Court 8,426,869 Clerk of Superior Court 6,438,212 State Court 13,230,468 Solicitor - General 6,002,207 District Attorney 12,173,303 Child Advocate’s Office 1,926,259 Probate Court 1,550,176 Medical Examiner 2,411,858 Public Defender 6,900,703 Police 3,833,867 Magistrate Court 2,582,868 Fire & Rescue Services 8,096,259 Planning & Development 1,194,952 Public Works - Director 281,392 Economic Development 750,000 Library 12,701,400 Cooperative Extension 515,543 Public Health 3,955,634 Community Service Board 1,497,257 D F A C S 1,179,220 Human Services 3,945,795 Contributions to Capital Projects 6,000,000 Non - Departmental 28,155,847 TOTAL - GENERAL FUND $286,871,621 FIRE FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Property Taxes $53,056,834 Licenses & Permits 670,296 Charges for Services 21,302 Fund Balance Carried Forward 4,524,279 TOTAL - FIRE FUND $58,272,711 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Fire & Rescue Services $48,326,657 Non - Departmental 9,946,054 TOTAL - FIRE FUND $58,272,711 SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT - DESIGNATED SERVICES ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Taxes $11,835,607 Charges for Services 891,068 Miscellaneous 259,737 Other Financing Sources 16,730,491 Fund Balance Carried Forward 1,269,932 TOTAL - S T D - DESIGNATED SERVICES FUND $30,986,835 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Public Works - Transportation $3,374,388 Public Works - Roads & Drainage 9,330,944 Parks & Recreation 9,791,338 Non - Departmental 8,490,165 TOTAL - S T D - DESIGNATED SERVICES FUND $30,986,835 SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT - UNINCORPORATED ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Taxes $30,805,314 Licenses and Permits 20,862,265 Fines and Forfeitures 21,749,811 Miscellaneous (101,998) Other Financing Sources (53,518,190) Fund Balance Carried Forward (7,734,058) TOTAL - S T D - UNINCORPORATED FUND $12,063,144 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: C E O Office - Cable TV Support $379,680 Finance - Business License 776,780 Recorder’s Court 3,957,262 Planning & Development- Zoning Analysis 3,208,864 Non - Departmental 3,740,558 TOTAL - S T D - UNINCORPORATED FUND $12,063,144 HOSPITAL FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Taxes $17,354,121 Fund Balance Carried Forward (5,605,232) TOTAL - HOSPITAL FUND $11,748,889 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $11,748,889 POLICE SERVICES FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Taxes $57,857,226 Licenses and Permits 1,027,952 Charges for Services 477,817 Miscellaneous 165,342 Other Financing Sources 39,037,812 Fund Balance Carried Forward 17,572,163 $116,138,312 TOTAL - POLICE SERVICES FUND PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $116,138,312 DEBT SERVICE FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Taxes $1,442,010 Fund Balance Carried Forward 6,608,662 TOTAL - DEBT SERVICE FUND $8,050,672 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $8,050,672 SPECIAL TAX DISTRICT - DEBT SERVICE FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Taxes $26,470,313 Fund Balance Carried Forward 10,903,349 TOTAL - STD - DEBT SERVICE FUND $37,373,662 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $37,373,662 TOTAL RECOMMENDED 2014 TAX FUNDS BUDGET
$561,505,846
BUDGET RESOLUTION 2014 CEO Recommended
SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS DEVELOPMENT FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Licenses and Permits $5,061,400 Charges for Services 26,000 Investment Income 1,500 Miscellaneous (7,200) Fund Balance Carried Forward 667,871 TOTAL - DEVELOPMENT FUND $5,749,571 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Planning & Sustainability $5,749,571 TOTAL - DEVELOPMENT FUND $5,749,571 PUBLIC EDUCATION & GOVERNMENT ACCESS FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Investment Income $10,000 Miscellaneous 145,000 Fund Balance Carried Forward 1,830,066 TOTAL - P E G FUND $1,985,066 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,985,066 COUNTY JAIL FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Intergovernmental $110,000 Fines and Forfeitures 807,288 Fund Balance Carried Forward 200,210 TOTAL - COUNTY JAIL FUND $1,117,498 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,117,498 FORECLOSURE REGISTRY FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $240,000 Fund Balance Carried Forward 940,620 TOTAL - FORECLOSURE REGISTRY FUND $1,180,620 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,180,620 HOTEL / MOTEL TAX FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Taxes $4,000,000 Fund Balance Carried Forward 1,074,462 TOTAL - HOTEL / MOTEL TAX FUND $5,074,462 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $5,074,462 RENTAL MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,435,737 VICTIM ASSISTANCE FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Intergovernmental $380,000 Fines and Forfeitures 1,000,000 Fund Balance Carried Forward 100,000 TOTAL - VICTIM ASSISTANCE FUND $1,480,000 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,480,000 RECREATION FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $962,168 Fund Balance Carried Forward (354,235) TOTAL - RECREATION FUND $607,933 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $607,933 LAW ENFORCEMENT CONFISCATED MONIES FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Fund Balance Carried Forward $6,946,410 TOTAL - L.E.C.M. FUND $6,946,410 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Sheriff $814,562 District Attorney 110,486 State Court Marshal 9,212 Public Safety - Police 6,012,150 TOTAL - L.E.C.M. FUND $6,946,410 JUVENILE SERVICES FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $30,000 Investment Income 225 Fund Balance Carried Forward 219,122 TOTAL - JUVENILE SERVICES FUND $249,347 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $249,347 DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT & EDUCATION FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Fines and Forfeitures $130,000 Investment Income 125 Fund Balance Carried Forward 133,329 TOTAL - D.A.T.E. FUND $263,454 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $263,454 STREET LIGHT FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $4,500,000 Investment Income 900 Fund Balance Carried Forward 2,123,666 TOTAL - STREET LIGHT FUND $6,624,566 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $6,624,566 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Investment Income $5,000 Miscellaneous 9,700,000 Fund Balance Carried Forward 4,420,021 TOTAL - EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM FUND $14,125,021 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $14,125,021 SPEED HUMPS MAINTENANCE FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $312,000 Investment Income 3,000 Fund Balance Carried Forward 1,897,157 TOTAL - SPEED HUMPS MAINTENANCE FUND $2,212,157 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $2,212,157 GRANT - IN - AID FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Miscellaneous Revenue $34,877,510 TOTAL - GRANT - IN - AID FUND $34,877,510 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Community Development $17,007,973 Workforce Development 5,500,840 Other 840,801 Justice Assistance Grants 11,527,896 TOTAL - GRANT - IN - AID FUND $34,877,510 ENTERPRISE FUNDS WATER & SEWERAGE OPERATING FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services Investment Income
$257,655,000 160,000
BUDGET RESOLUTION 2014 CEO Recommended Miscellaneous 1,500,000 Fund Balance Carried Forward 24,242,377 TOTAL - WATER & SEWERAGE OPERATING FUND $283,557,377 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Public Works - Water & Sewer $276,146,587 Finance - Revenue Collections 7,410,790 TOTAL - WATER & SEWERAGE OPERATING FUND $283,557,377 WATER & SEWERAGE SINKING FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Miscellaneous $583,114 Other Financing Sources 45,784,058 Fund Balance Carried Forward 21,461,052 TOTAL - WATER & SEWERAGE SINKING FUND $67,828,224 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $67,828,224 SANITATION FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $62,576,776 Investment Income 4,000 Miscellaneous 46,500 Other Financing Sources 147,143 Fund Balance Carried Forward 3,599,140 TOTAL - SANITATION FUND $66,373,559 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Public Works - Sanitation $66,123,925 Finance - Revenue Collections 249,634 TOTAL - SANITATION FUND $66,373,559 DEKALB - PEACHTREE AIRPORT ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Miscellaneous $5,071,400 Fund Balance Carried Forward 8,088,755 TOTAL - DEKALB - PEACHTREE AIRPORT $13,160,155 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Airport Operations $11,160,155 Transfer to Capital Projects 2,000,000 TOTAL - DEKALB - PEACHTREE AIRPORT $13,160,155 STORMWATER UTILITY OPERATING FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $14,750,000 Investment Income 12,000 Fund Balance Carried Forward 9,345,087 TOTAL - STORMWATER UTILITY FUND $24,107,087 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Stormwater Operations $22,017,246 Reserve for Appropriations 2,089,841 TOTAL - STORMWATER UTILITY FUND $24,107,087 INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS FLEET MAINTENANCE ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Intergovernmental $200,000 Charges for Services 33,100,000 Miscellaneous 600,000 TOTAL - FLEET MAINTENANCE $33,900,000 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Public Works - Fleet Maintenance $33,900,000 TOTAL - FLEET MAINTENANCE $33,900,000 VEHICLE FUND ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $14,339,570 Investment Income 7,500 Miscellaneous 5,562,484 Other Financing Sources 500,000 Fund Balance Carried Forward 6,608,667 TOTAL - VEHICLE FUND $27,018,221 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Vehicle Acquisitions $25,145,484 Interdepartmental Services 19,634 Reserves and Other Miscellaneous 1,853,103 TOTAL - VEHICLE FUND $27,018,221 RISK MANAGEMENT ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $9,549,743 Payroll Deductions and Matches 99,295,898 Fund Balance Carried Forward 12,358,275 TOTAL - RISK MANAGEMENT $121,203,916 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: Unemployment Compensation $500,000 Group Health & Life 99,845,898 Buildings & Contents 1,326,500 Boiler & Machinery 51,000 Non- Immunity Expenses 2,000,000 Vehicle 4,452,655 Airport Liability 6,588 Helicopter 150,000 Money & Securities 35,000 Loss Control 478,000 Other 12,358,275 TOTAL - RISK MANAGEMENT $121,203,916 WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Charges for Services $1,628,318 Fund Balance Carried Forward 5,005,998 TOTAL - WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FUND $6,634,316 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $6,634,316 REVENUE BONDS LEASE PAYMENT FUNDS BUILDING AUTHORITY LEASE PAYMENTS ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Miscellaneous $3,712,324 Fund Balance Carried Forward 140,049 TOTAL - BUILDING AUTHORITY $3,852,373 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $3,852,373 PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUDICIAL FACILITIES AUTHORITY LEASE PAYMENTS ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Miscellaneous $4,012,880 Fund Balance Carried Forward (906,279) TOTAL - PS&J FACILITIES AUTHORITY $3,106,601 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $3,106,601 URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BONDS DEBT SERVICE ANTICIPATED REVENUES: Miscellaneous $950,165 Fund Balance Carried Forward 211,367 TOTAL - URA DEBT SERVICE FUND $1,161,532 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES: $1,161,532
10
CrossRoadsNews
Legal Notices 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++14CV1171-3++ Edith Meeks Plaintiff Vs. Richard Meeks Defendant 248 Quincy Place Canton , Ga 30114 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated January 15, 2014 you are hereby notified that on January 7, 2014 the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is Edith Meeks 1303 Constitution Rd SE Atlanta, Ga 30316. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, January 15, 2014 Witness the Honorable Clarence Seeliger Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 15th day of January, 2014. 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15
Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV1295-2++
Bianca Lynn Hudson filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on January 14, 2014 to change the name from: Bianca Lynn Hudson to Hudson Lynn Marr. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: January 10, 2014 Bianca Lynn Hudson Petitioner, Pro se 3261 Pinehill Dr Decatur, Ga 30032 (404)-633-3668 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++13CV12860-3++ Eric Tchamako Plaintiff Vs. Angela Francis Defendant TO: Angela Francis 4370 Northwest 22nd Ave Opa Locka, FL 33054 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated January 15, 2014 you are hereby notified that on December 20, 2013 the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Compliant for Divorce You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is Eric Tchamako 2916
Clairmont Road, Atlanta, Ga 30329 .Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, January 15, 2014. Witness the Honorable Clarience Seeliger Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. 02/8, 2/15, 2/22 3/1
February 15, 2014
State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++14CV1165-3++ Leontyne Scott Plaintiff Vs. Anthony Jackson Defendant By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated January 15,2014 you are hereby notified that on January 7, 2014 the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce
You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is553 Wynbrooke Pkwy, Stone Mountain Ga, 30087. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, January 15, 2014 Witness the Honorable Clarence Seeliger Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 15th day of January, 2014. 2/15, 2/22, 3/1 ,3/8
Notice of Petition to Change Name of Adult in the Superior Court of DeKalb County
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action # ++13CV10657-10++ Erika Garcia Valente Plaintiff Vs. Marco Lorenzo Bibiano Defendant By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated January 28, 2014 you are hereby notified that on November 4, 2013 the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Divorce You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is Angela J. Ricetti Atlanta Legal Aid Soc. 246 Sycamore St, Suite 120 Decatur, Ga 30030-3434. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, January 31, 2014 Witness the Honorable Tangela M. Barrie Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 31st day of January, 2014. 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
PUBLIC NOTICE PURSUANT TO THE GEORGIA SELF STORAGE ACT (210-214) ISTORAGE, LLC, LOCATED @ 2804 HF SHEPHERD DR DECATUR GA, 30034, WILL HOLD A PUBLIC AUCTION ON SITE FEBRUARY 25, 2014 AT 11:00 AM OR THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. UNITS CONTAIN: FURNITURE, BOX, HOUSE HOLD GOODS, MISC ITEMS. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS, TO WITHDRAW ANY UNITS FROM THE SALE. PURCHASERS MUST VACATE UNIT WITHIN 48 HOURS. SALE TERMS ARE CASH ONLY. TAXES WILL APPLY. S. Grimes B. C. Mary V. Bussell B. Alford R. Christopher S. Huntley R. Ake
M. Johnson B. Brockington C. McWhorter M. Character H. Grogan E. Banks J. Jacobs
K. Perry C. Weems S. MonFort C. Boyd R. Tobin G. Washington V. Irvin
J. Hale A. Person T. Ross A. Jimenez J. Nunn Y. Huff R. Jones
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Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV11908-7++ Karen Lee Walker filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on February 7, 2014 to change the name from: Karen Lee Walker to Karen Zachery Coton. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: February 4, 2014 Karen Cotton Petitioner, Pro se 3649 Platina Pk Ct Decatur, Ga 30034 (770)-323-1127
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Reader Notice As a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertisement that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. They may have records or documented complaints that will serve to caution you about doing business with those advertisers. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaranteed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good to be true – it may in fact be exactly that. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertisers. Thank you.
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CrossRoadsNews
February 15, 2014
Marketplace
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MARKETPLACE RATES Place your MarketPlace line ad here – up to 20 words for $25. Additional words are $3 per block of five words (maximum 45 words). Boxed Ads (with up to 3 lines bold headline): $35 plus cost of the classified ad. Send ad copy with check or credit card information and contact phone number (if different from ad) to MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to marketplace@crossroadsnews.com. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.
events
144th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
MOUNT ZION A.M.E. CHURCH 2977 LaVista Road Decatur, GA 30033
Sunday, Feb. 23 • 3pm “Pew Rally Program” All are Welcome. Tax-deductible donations will be appreciated.
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CrossRoadsNews
February 15, 2014
Presidents’ day
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presidenTs’ day sale prices in effecT 2/11-2/17/2014. “Of the season” refers to Macy’s spring season from february 1 to april 30, 2014; prices may be lowered at part of a clearance. OPEN A MACY’S ACCOUNT FOR EXTRA 20% SAVINGS THE FIRST 2 DAYS, UP TO $100, WITH MORE REWARDS TO COME. Macy’s credit card is available subject to credit approval; new account savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludes services, selected licensed departments, gift cards, restaurants, gourmet food & wine. The new account savings are limited to a total of $100; application must qualify for immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible. N4010138F.indd 1
2/6/14 10:35 AM