CrossRoadsNews, February 16, 2013 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

SCHOOLS

Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that he will resign caught DeKalb’s Catholics by surprise and led to speculation about his departure and successor. 2

Michael Thurmond began his stint leading the DeKalb School System by meeting with state legislators to solicit their help in solving the system’s accreditation woes. 8

The Greenforest Academy Marching Band will perform in the second annual Black History Month Parade in downtown Atlanta. 8

Speculation abounds

Hit the ground running

Best feet forward

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

February 16, 2013

Volume 18, Number 42

www.crossroadsnews.com

Federal drug sting snares cops, jailers with DeKalb ties By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Tuesday “a troubling day for law enforceFive current and former DeKalb ment” in Atlanta. County law enforcement officers, “The law enforcea federal contract employee, and ment officers charged three civilians were arrested Feb. 12 today sold their badgon charges they took thousands of es by taking payoffs dollars in cash payments to provide from drug dealers that protection for drug dealers. they should have been Dorian Williams Monyette McLaurin Chase Valentine The DeKalb nine are among 15 Dennis Duren arresting,” Yates said. police officers, former county jail officers, a ing to commit extortion by accepting bribe “They not only betrayed the citizens they contract officer with the Federal Protective payments, attempted possession with intent were sworn to protect, they also betrayed the Service, and civilians charged in a federal to distribute, and possession of a firearm in thousands of honest, hard-working law enundercover operation. furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. They forcement officers who risk their lives every Their arrests come after a yearlong un- were arrested Tuesday and made their initial day to keep us safe.” dercover investigation. All of the charges appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yates said some of the officers provided involved the sale of cocaine. Alan J. Baverman. police escorts to drug dealers and did transThe defendants face charges of conspirU.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates called actions in the parking lot of a high school.

The 15 defendants arrested Feb. 12 include seven police officers; a contract federal officer who protected the undercover drugs deals; two former sheriff ’s deputies who falsely portrayed themselves to be current Sally Yates deputies; and two individuals who falsely represented themselves as officers despite having no connection to a local police department. Three individuals who are not law enforcement officers, but who acted as intermediaries between the agents and/or cooperaPlease see STING, page 2

Obama praises state’s pre-k in Decatur stop

President Barack Obama spoke to teachers, parents, students and dignitaries on his visit to Decatur on Valentine’s Day. He called Georgia’s pre-k program a model for the nation. Photos by Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

President touts early education initiative unveiled in State of Union address By Ken Watts and Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb County gave President Barack Obama a warm welcome on Valentine’s Day as he arrived in Decatur to promote his early childhood education initiative. It was the president’s first visit to the county, a Democratic stronghold that sits in one of the country’s staunchest red states. His visit came as part of a three-state swing promoting his education agenda unveiled in his State of the Union address on Feb. 12. Janet Cutter waited for hours for a glimpse of the president. “This is a historic moment,” she said. “I may never see this again.”

She was among hundreds of people who lined the sidewalks on Sycamore Street in downtown Decatur in the hopes that his motorcade would come by them. It didn’t, using a side entrance instead. Only invited guests were allowed into the newly renovated Decatur Recreation Center. Lois Pobanz, also a city of Decatur resident, walked a short distance to wait with a pink hand-written sign that said: “My Sister Loves President Obama (Sorry Michelle).” She said her older sister, Liz Doss, who lives outside Cincinnati, is an “Obamaphile.” “She loves him,” she said with a laugh. “I just like him. … I am not thrilled with his fiscal policies, but I thought if the president

could come this far, I could walk half a mile to greet him.” Obama stopped at the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center where he visited and joked with the young students before speaking before a friendly crowd of teachers, parents, students and dignitaries. “The plan I put forward says we need to make smart choices for the country, both to grow our economy and shrink our deficits in a balanced way by cutting what we don’t need, but then investing in the things that we do need to make sure everybody has a chance to get ahead,” he said. During his 15-minute speech, punctuated with applause, the president praised Georgia’s pre-k efforts as a model for the nation. In the audience were Atlanta Mayor

Kasim Reed, Fulton County Chairman John Eaves, several state senators and House representatives, DeKalb judges, pastors, and DeKalb Commissioners Lee May and Kathie Gannon, but no DeKalb School Board members nor CEO Burrell Ellis. David Schutten, president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators who was present, said it is good for Georgia to get some recognition for its pre-k program. “In school, I can tell the students who have been in pre-k,” he said. “I tutor secondgrade students and I can see the difference. Kids who go to pre-k are more prepared, have better skills, and get along with their peers.” Obama said that education has to start at Please see OBAMA, page 3

Community

CrossRoadsNews

February 16, 2013

“I’m very saddened to see him go this way, but through change there may be hope for the future.”

DeKalb Catholics speculate about pope’s departure, successor By Ken Watts

Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that he will resign on Feb. 28 caught DeKalb’s growing Catholic population by surprise and led to speculation about what his departure will mean. The 85-year-old pontiff, who announced Monday that he is leaving the Vatican because of advanced age and fragile health, is the first pope in 600 years to step down. Church law allows for pontiffs to resign for com- Pope Benedict XVI pelling personal reasons – the last one to do so was Pope Gregory XII in 1415. Reacting to the news, President Barack Obama extended appreciation and prayers on behalf of Americans. “Michelle and I warmly remember our meeting with the Holy Father in 2009, and I have appreciated our work together over these last four years,” he said. “The church plays a critical role in the United States and the world, and I wish the best to those who will gather to choose His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.” Benedict was pope for eight years, succeeding Pope John II in 2005. At 78, he was the oldest pope chosen in 300 years. Leslye Colvin of Decatur said that her faith is faith in God and the belief that Christ instituted the church. “So that doesn’t depend on one person,” she said as she left afternoon Mass on Monday at the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta complex in Smyrna.

Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, shown at a news conference this week, said Pope Benedict XVI had a special fondness for the Atlanta area.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Colvin, who works in the archdiocese Office of Justice and Peace Ministry, said she is waiting to see who might succeed Benedict. “I am waiting to see how the spirit moves,” she said. While the resignation was surprising, Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory said the pope’s action wasn’t. “His love for the church and his own awareness of his age and loss of physical stamina led him to make this decision for the good of the church that he loves with all of his heart,” Gregory said. He said Benedict had a special fondness for Atlanta that “was recently confirmed with the appointment of a second auxiliary bishop, Bishop-elect David Talley.”

Gregory Baranco, a member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Decatur, said he respects the pope’s decision. “I think it took a lot of courage and recognition of his own humanity, and responsibility of being the earthly leader of the church.” said Baranco, a well-known Atlanta car dealer who lives in Lithonia. Dr. Christopher Griffith, a fellow parishioner, said Benedict’s departure may create opportunity. “I’m very saddened to see him go this way, but through change there may be hope for the future,” said Griffith, who also lives in Lithonia. “It would be exciting to see the next pope able to reach out to broader aspects of the world.”

Griffith believes the College of Cardinals could electrify the world by selecting a pontiff from Asia, Africa or Latin America. The Roman Catholic Church has had three African popes in its history. The last one, Pope St. Gelasius, was in the Vatican between A.D. 492 and 496. The others were Pope St. Victor (186-198) and Pope St. Miltiades (311-314). Among the top candidates to succeed Benedict are two Africans, Peter Turkson of Ghana and Francis Arinze of Nigeria. Turkson, 64, heads the Vatican justice and peace bureau, backs world financial reform, and is spokesman for the church’s social conscience. Arinze, 80, is Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He is the current Cardinal Bishop of Velltri-Segni. A principal adviser to Pope John Paul II, he was considered a top candidate before the 2005 papal conclave that elected Benedict. DeKalb is home to 36,223 Catholics, according to the 2010 Census, making up 15.5 percent of the county’s Christian population. The numbers are expected to rise with the influx of immigrants from predominantly Catholic Latin American countries and from Africa and Asia where the church is expanding rapidly. The Archdiocese Office of Black Catholic Ministry estimates metro Atlanta’s black Catholic population at 22,289. Griffith speculates that the U.S. child sex abuse scandal and the normal rigors of leading 1 billion Catholics worldwide may have taken a toll on Benedict. Vatican officials say they expect to have a new pope before Easter.

‘Troubling day for law enforcement’ with arrest of 15 on drug charges STING,

from page

tors and corrupt officers and assisted with the scheme, are also among those arrested.

Ties to DeKalb The law enforcement officers and civilians with current or former ties to DeKalb County are: n DeKalb County Police Department Officers Dennis Duren, 32, of Atlanta and n Dorian Williams, 25, of Stone Mountain; n Stone Mountain Police Department Officer Denoris Carter, 42, of Lithonia; n Contract Federal Protective Service Officer Sharon Peters, 43, of Lithonia; n Former DeKalb County Sheriff ’s Office jail Officers Monyette McLaurin, 37, of Atlanta and n Chase Valentine, 44, of Covington; n Gregory Lee Harvey, 26, of Stone Mountain; n Alexander B. Hill, 22, of Ellenwood; and n Jerry B. Mannery Jr., 38, of Tucker Others arrested are: n Atlanta Police Department Officer Kelvin Allen, 42, of Atlanta; n Shannon Bass, 38, of Atlanta; n Elizabeth Coss, 35, of Atlanta; n Forest Park Police Department Sgts. Victor Middlebrook, 44, of Jonesboro and Andrew Monroe, 57, of Riverdale; n MARTA Police Department Officer Marquez Holmes, 45, of Jonesboro. In a statement Wednesday, the DeKalb County Police Department said it fully cooperated in the investigation that resulted in the arrests of Duren and Williams and that both have been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Duren has been employed by the department since Dec. 9, 2002. He was assigned to the Uniform Division/Tucker Precinct. Williams has been employed by the department since Dec. 31, 2007. He was assigned to the Uniform Division/Tucker

Precinct. Interim Police Chief Lisa Gassner said the alleged actions of the accused officers “is truly disheartening.” ”It is incomprehensible why these officers chose to aid and abet these Lisa Gassner criminals when they are sworn to protect our community from such offenders,” Gassner said. “These officers do not reflect the character of the hundreds of DeKalb County police officers that wear the badge. Their alleged actions only assist in eroding the public’s trust in those that honorably serve.” Yates, the U.S. attorney, said the undercover operation arose out of a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigation of an Atlanta area street gang in August 2011. ATF agents learned from an individual associated with the gang that police officers were involved in protecting the gang’s criminal operations, including drug trafficking crimes. The cooperating individual said that while wearing uniforms, driving police vehicles, or otherwise displaying badges, the officers provided security to the gang members during drug deals. In affidavits filed in support of the charges, an FBI agent described how drug traffickers sometimes recruit law enforcement officers to maintain a physical presence at drug deals to prevent rival drug groups from intervening and stealing their drugs or money and to keep legitimate law enforcement officers away from the scene. The police officers, usually in uniform and displaying a weapon and occasionally in their police vehicles, patrolled the parking lots where the deals took place and monitored the transactions. These transactions were audio- and video-recorded. In return for the corrupt officers’ services, the affidavits said the drug dealers often pay the officers thousands of dollars.

DeKalb defendants Investigators say between October 2011 and November 2011, DeKalb County Police Officer Dennis Duren and Shannon Bass provided protection for what they believed were four separate transactions in the Atlanta area that involved multiple kilograms of cocaine. Duren and Bass are each charged with conspiring to commit extortion by accepting bribe payments and attempted possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. Duren also is charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Between January and February 2013, DeKalb County Police Officer Dorian Williams, working together with Jerry B. Mannery Jr. and Bass, allegedly provided protection for what he and Mannery believed were three separate transactions in the Atlanta area that involved multiple kilograms of cocaine. Investigators say Williams and Mannery accepted cash payments totaling $18,000 for these services. During the transactions, Williams was dressed in his DeKalb County Police uniform and carried a gun in a holster on his belt. He patrolled the parking lots in which the undercover sales took place in his DeKalb Police vehicle. Williams and Mannery are each charged with conspiring to commit extortion by accepting bribe payments and attempted possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. Stone Mountain Police Department Between April and September 2012, Stone Mountain Police Officer Denoris Carter, working together with Mannery, allegedly provided protection for what he and Mannery believed were five separate transactions in the Atlanta area that involved multiple kilograms of cocaine. For these services, Carter and Mannery accepted cash payments totaling $23,500.

For all five transactions, Carter dressed in his Stone Mountain Police uniform. Carter is charged with conspiring to commit extortion by accepting bribe payments, attempted possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office In January 2013, former DeKalb County Sheriff jail Officer Monyette McLaurin, working together with Gregory Lee Harvey, allegedly provided protection for what they believed were two separate drug transactions in the Atlanta area that involved multiple kilograms of cocaine. Harvey allegedly then stated that he knew other police officers who wanted to protect drug deals, and in January 2013 he introduced McLaurin as one of these officers. Later in January 2013, McLaurin and Harvey allegedly introduced a second former DeKalb County Sheriff ’s jail officer, Chase Valentine, to help provide security for future drug deals. Valentine is charged with attempted possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Federal Protective Services Investigators say that in November 2012, Sharon Peters, who was a contract officer for the Federal Protective Service, worked together with Mannery to provide protection for what they believed were two separate transactions in the Atlanta area that involved multiple kilograms of cocaine. During the Feb. 12 news conference announcing the arrests at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building, Yates was joined by DeKalb Interim Police Chief Lisa Gassner, DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown, Stone Mountain Police Chief Chauncy Troutman, police chiefs from Atlanta and Forest Park, and the FBI and Federal Protective Service District.

CrossRoadsNews

February 16, 2013

Community

“The issue we have is we don’t have enough police officers on the streets in our area for the population that lives here.”

Alliance taking pulse of Lakeside neighbors on cityhood issue By Ken Watts

About 300 people packed the Lakeside High School auditorium Wednesday in the first step toward deciding if the central DeKalb neighborhoods encircling Northlake Mall want to become DeKalb’s next city. Leaders of the Lakeside City Alliance called the Feb. 13 meeting an informational session as they fielded written questions from the predominantly white audience. The proposed Lakeside City would have about 50,000 residents in an area bounded by neighborhoods that feed into Lakeside High School. It would include most of the communities near Spaghetti Junction, Northlake Mall and Century Mary Woodworth Center at Clairmont Road and I-285. One of the most popular questions was “Why do it?” Alliance chairwoman Mary Kay Woodworth said one of the prime reasons is police protection. “No reflection on the DeKalb County Police Department,” she said. “They do a fine job but are spread thin. The issue we have is we don’t have enough police officers on the streets in our area for the population that lives here. And we feel that it would possibly be better for the community to take that on as a city service.” Woodworth said the community also is concerned about

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

The Lakeside City Alliance’s informational meeting on cityhood on Feb. 13 at Lakeside High drew a large crowd.

the ongoing turmoil on the School Board, the district’s probationary status, corruption investigations into DeKalb government, and zoning issues in the Lakeside area. Some of the written questions were pointedly worded. “If cityhood is so great, why do the older cities Doraville, Chamblee, Lithonia, Stone Mountain, all have the same or worse issues than the county?” asked one. “That’s a loaded question,” Woodworth responded. “And a matter of opinion, we may disagree but we can talk about this.”

But when alliance organizer Kevin Levitas asked for a show of hands of all those who favor splitting from the county, all but a few hands went up. The Lakeside City Alliance says the neighborhood has seen its influence dwindle in recent years because the area is split between two county commissioners and the new cities of Brookhaven and Dunwoody are nearby. Woodworth said the area doesn’t have a real voice at the county level and residents want local control of government and services. DeKalb officials in recent weeks have been mounting an aggressive strategy to prevent the creation of new cities that are sucking away its commercial tax base. They say the county has lost millions of dollars in tax revenue with the creation of Brookhaven and Dunwoody, making it difficult to fund basic services for unincorporated DeKalb. Commissioners have asked the DeKalb House and Senate delegation to the General Assembly to help them fight off new annexations. A bill introduced by Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (DDecatur) would require all new cities to conduct a financial impact study on the county in which they are located. Woodworth said the alliance is confident the requirement will never pass the GOP-controlled Legislature. The alliance is trying to raise at least $20,000 from the community for a feasibility study. That study would have to be funded before the Legislature can vote to allow cityhood to go to a ballot referendum in 2014. The alliance will announce the next meeting on www.lakesidecityalliance.org.

Lack of access to quality pre-k can have impact on entire life OBAMA,

from page

the earliest possible age. “The kids I had a chance to see today, they’re some of the lucky ones. Because fewer than three in 10 4-year-olds are enrolled in a high-quality preschool program.” He said he knows that private preschool can cost a few hundred dollars a week and is out of reach of most middle-class families. “For the poor children who need it the most, the lack of access to a great preschool education can have an impact on their entire lives and we all pay a price for that,” he said to cheers and applause. Fourth District U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson was glad the president chose his district to expound on his early childhood program. “Georgia has been a leader in the pre-k movement for 20 years,” he said. “We are the first state to dedicate a revenue stream, through the lottery, so that 3- and 4-year-olds can start going to school. We are the first state to have a statewide pre-k program. It’s only fitting that the president would come here to see for himself the value of educating children from the earliest opportunity.” Statewide, about 84,000 children who are

Obama also praised teachers, saying great teachers are behind successful students. “In the end that’s what this is all about, giving our kids the best possible shot.” He stopped to shake hands with members of the audience before his motorcade left for Dobbins Air Reserve Base and the flight back to Washington aboard Air Force One. Protesters also came out to express unhappiness with Obama’s war and green poli-

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

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Protesters holding signs denouncing the use of drones also turned out for the president’s visit.

4-year-olds are enrolled in the lottery-funded pre-k. Sixty percent are from low-income families. There are 8,000 on waiting lists. “Every dollar we invest in high-quality early education can save more than $7 later on,” Obama said. “Boosting the graduation rate reduces teen pregnancy.” Without going into specifics about how he would make pre-k more affordable, he said he empathizes with parents looking for good child care and dealing with its costs. “The size of your paycheck shouldn’t determine your child’s school,” he said.

cies. Jin Zhao, Roberta Caldwell and Natalie Cornett of Decatur held signs denouncing the use of drones. Zhao said she opposed drone attacks on countries like Somali, Yemen and Pakistan that are not at war with the United States. “These are crimes against humans,” she said. “We don’t live in terror in the U.S. These people should not be living in terror either. This is wrong and it should stop.”

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

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February 16, 2013

Do they really want their myriad of e-mails over the last several years made a matter of public record?

Let’s put an end to violence affecting teens By Sherry Boston

Jasmine Benjamin was a young lady with a bright future ahead of her. The 17-yearold college freshman from Lawrenceville was studying to become a nurse at Valdosta State University because she want- Jasmine Benjamin ed to spend her life helping others. Instead, her life was tragically taken in a dormitory study room, and now her 18-year-old ex-boyfriend is charged with her murder. As a mother, a community leader and a prosecutor, I am angry and frustrated when I hear a story like this. But sadly, I am not surprised. The depressing reality is that Jasmine’s death – allegedly at the hands of an ex-boyfriend – is not that unusual. Her murder is part of a disturbing pattern we’re seeing across the country … an epidemic of violence against women with

“One in three adolescents is a victim of some type of dating abuse – whether it’s physical, sexual, emotional or verbal – and one quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.” Sherry Boston, DeKalb solicitor general

growing numbers involving teenagers and young adults. According to loveisrepect.org, one in three adolescents is a victim of some type of dating abuse – whether it’s physical, sexual, emotional or verbal – and one-quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse. Furthermore, only 33 percent of teens involved in a violent relationship have ever told anyone about the abuse. In Jasmine’s case, the relationship with the young man accused in her death was supposed to be over, but unfortunately, it seems that breaking up was not enough to save her life. My job as solicitor general of DeKalb County is to prosecute misdemeanor crimes. I want to put

Thurmond is good school choice Michael Thurmond, I believe, is a good choice to put the DeKalb County School System on the right path. I believe it will become a system the parents, children and others will be proud of. Of course we cannot expect it to happen overnight. I worked for the Georgia Department of Labor when Michael Thurmond was commissioner. He evaluated the needs of those seeking jobs. Many were without high school diplomas. Many were not computer-literate with high school diplomas. Classes were set up with counselors and volunteers to teach basic computer skills. He set up programs with business internships with possible em-

ployment. Employment counselors were encouraged to see the whole person – their needs to become employable. Commissioner Thurmond worked with two-year colleges and technical schools with a sincere effort to make the unemployed in Georgia employable. I believe given this opportunity, DeKalb students will benefit. I believe he is capable of conveying for the benefit of the students, teachers, counselors and administrators that they are a team. And, they must work together without outside interference. A. Jean Richardson lives in Decatur.

a stop to abuse before our teens are seriously hurt or killed. I understand that reaching out for help can be terrifying. That’s one reason I have created in my office a Special Victims Unit, which assists victims through the criminal justice process and connects them with important community resources. My staff speaks with parents and the community about the signs to look for and how to support those who are experiencing dating abuse. Many teens are afraid to tell anyone that something is wrong. As a result, it is important to know what signs to look for – things like changes in behavior, failing grades, dropping out of activities or avoiding friends and family. Limiting and monitoring use of digital

technology can also help keep our teens safe. In my office, we often prosecute cases of teen dating violence that are directly tied to social media Web sites, cell phones and e-mail. Jasmine Benjamin should be here with us today, pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse. This February, in remembrance of Jasmine and in recognition of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, I hope you will join me in encouraging healthy relationships because our teens deserve better than this. If someone you know is experiencing violence, always call 911 if there is immediate danger. If there is not immediate danger, please call the National Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474 (8453 TTY) or text “love is” to 77054. We must do everything we can to save lives like Jasmine’s while putting an end to this frightening increase in violence affecting our teens. Sherry Boston is the DeKalb solicitor general.

Time to recall two board members The DeKalb Board of Education should not spend taxpayer dollars to challenge the state law allowing the governor to remove them. They should use their campaign funds or raise funds from donors who still support them. I understand the concerns of citizens who question the law that overrides the voters of DeKalb. However, the fact that Dr. Eugene Walker and Ms. Sarah CopelinWood have been re-elected does not speak highly of DeKalb voters. If the governor does not remove them, perhaps it is time to recall them. Both Dr. Walker and Ms. Copelin-Wood would do a great service to the students of the DeKalb

Quick Read

Drug sting snares cops, others Time to recall two board with DeKalb ties 1 members

County School System, and all DeKalb stakeholders, if they immediately tendered their resignations so the children of DeKalb County can receive the best education possible, and the DeKalb School System can move forward. I will be submitting an Open Public Records Act Request to review all of their e-mails to district administrators over the last three or four years. Do they really want their myriad of e-mails over the last several years made a matter of public record? David Schutten is president of the Organization of DeKalb Educators. These comments were included in his thoughts on the BOE Feb. 6 meeting emailed to ODE members.

Thurmond seeks Capitol help in dealing with school crisis 8

Five current and former DeKalb County law enforcement officers were arrested on charges they took cash payments to provide protection for drug dealers.

The DeKalb Board of Education should not spend taxpayer dollars to challenge the state law allowing the governor to remove them.

DeKalb’s new interim School Superintendent told the county’s legislative delegation that he will be the point man in the battle to get the district off probation.

DeKalb Catholics speculate about pope’s departure 2

SCLC’s ‘Ground Crew’ gets overdue recognition 6

Fund-raiser to honor unsung heroes 9

Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that he will resign caught DeKalb’s Catholic population by surprise and led to speculation about what his departure will mean.

John Bascom is not well-known in the annals of America’s civil rights movement.

Decatur doctor and author Jewel Crawford will sign copies of her book, “Can’t Lose This Dream,” at a Feb. 23 scholarship fundraiser for medical students.

Alliance taking pulse of Lakeside neighbors

About 300 people met to start deciding if the neighborhoods encircling Northlake Mall want to become DeKalb’s next city.

Astronaut’s brother urges pursuit of science, math 7 Coming of age in 1966 as an AfricanAmerican teenager in rural and racially segregated Lake City, S.C., Carl McNair never imagined that for his life and career, the sky would be the limit.

Film festival celebrates the black experience 9 The third annual Black History Film Festival at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center will celebrate Black History Month.

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CrossRoadsNews

February 16, 2013

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Black History

CrossRoadsNews

February 16, 2013

“I was arrested in Resurrection City and spent 14 days in jail in Washington. After that, I was recruited into SCLC.”

SCLC’s ‘Ground Crew’ gets overdue recognition Heritage Celebration honors These 11 civil rights movement “Ground Crew” members were honored in Atlanta on Feb. 4. n John Bascom .......................... Philadelphia-Atlanta n The Rev. Willie M. Bolden ............................Atlanta n J.T. Johnson....................................................Atlanta n Brenda Davenport.........................................Atlanta n William C. Harris.....................................Albany, Ga. n Belle Harrison....................Social Circle, Ga.-Atlanta n Cleo Orange.......................Tuscaloosa, Ala.-Atlanta n Terrie Randolph.......................... Milwaukee-Atlanta n John Reynolds.................Troy, Ala.-Charleston, S.C. n The Rev. Fred Taylor........Montgomery, Ala.-Atlanta n Lula Joe Williams.............Montgomery, Ala.-Atlanta

Field staff recognized for vital role during civil rights movement By Ken Watts

John Bascom is not well-known in the annals of America’s civil rights movement. His name would not come up alongside Andrew Young, John Lewis, Jesse Jackson or James Orange, but Young, a foot soldier of the movement and close adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., says Bascom and hundreds more like him were vital to the movement. On Feb. 4, Young remembered dozens of heroes from the struggle for social change in the 1950s and ’60s whose names don’t resonate with the public but who played important roles.

The occasion was Hyatt Regency hotel’s Heritage Celebration that honored Atlanta community activist Billye Aaron. During his speech, Young recalled the gritty, courageous volunteers who went in ahead of their higher-profile comrades and prepared the way for nonviolent action against racial discrimination. They were the field staff for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. On more than one occasion, King referred to them as the “Ground Crew.” He explained that just as an aircraft could not take off and land without the work of mechanics, air traffic controllers, runway directors and baggage handlers who

remained on the ground, SCLC could not have implemented its programs without the work of the field staff. Bascom, 75, who lives in Atlanta, has vivid memories of working on the National Poor People’s Campaign, one of King’s last projects that was carried out in June 1968, two months after King’s assassination. John Bascom Fresh out of the service, he volunteered to help organize the Poor People’s March on Washington. Tens of thousands of blacks, poor whites, Na-

tive Americans and Latinos converged on the National Mall and set up a peaceful but unauthorized encampment known as “Resurrection City.” It was a demand for aid for low-income workers and a protest against the Vietnam War, which demonstrators said drained resources away from the War on Poverty. “I was arrested in Resurrection City and spent 14 days in jail in Washington,” Bascom recalled Feb. 13. “After that, I was recruited into SCLC.” He worked for the organization’s Operation Breadbasket in his native Philadelphia. “In August 1968, Andrew Young brought me to Atlanta where I worked on the staff at the national office of SCLC as a field organizer,” he said. Before long, Bascom and other members of the SCLC field team were in Pike County, Ga., setting up and taking part in demonstrations for school desegregation. “We got locked up and I spent two months in jail in Pike County for demonstrating on school property,” he said this week. Bascom served as national director of Student Affairs from 1969 to 1972. “I remember that the vast majority of demonstrators I saw were women and children,” Bascom said. “They really were the heart and soul of the movement.” Bascom remembers demonstrators like Lula Joe Williams of Montgomery, Ala., who as a student was jailed repeatedly in Selma for unlawful assembly during protests. He explained that many black men struggled with the movement’s nonviolence tactics and some Lula Joe Williams couldn’t commit to not responding passively if they were physically attacked. Williams chuckles when asked how often she was jail. “I went to jail way more than 12 times,” she said. “I was one of the few women on the field staff working in Montgomery 1964-65 during the Selma movement [for voting rights],” she said. Williams stayed with the SCLC field staff until 1968 when King asked her to work at the SCLC headquarters. She continued with SCLC after King’s death, helping with planning for the Poor People’s March on Washington. The volunteers on the SCLC’s Ground Crew did a lot of the difficult and often dangerous advance work for marches, sit-ins, voter registration and protests against police brutality all over the country from the late Please see GROUND CREW, next page

CrossRoadsNews

February 16, 2013

Black History

“I asked him how many people applied and he said 10,000. When I asked how many openings, he said 35.”

Astronaut’s brother urges students to pursue science, math By Jessica Smith

Coming of age in 1966 as an African-American teenager in rural and racially segregated Lake City, S.C., Carl McNair never imagined that for his life and career, the sky would be the limit. But his tenacious brother Ronald, 10 months Carl’s junior, had his sights set on the stars. The boys spent hours watching the TV show “Star Trek,” in particular Commander Uhura. But the McNairs’ grandmother, Mabel Montgomery, was a stickler for studying and made sure both Carl and Ron’s heads rested firmly in their books. She constantly stressed the importance of education as a means to a better life, personally returning to high school at age 65 to complete her diploma. Montgomery’s own perseverance and encouragement inspired both boys to look to a future beyond their rural hometown. The younger brother would make history as the third black person and the second AfricanAmerican in space. Guion Bluford was the first African-American to go in space in 1983, but Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, a Cuban, went in 1980. Today, two DeKalb County schools – Ronald McNair Middle and High – are named for him. Growing up, the boys were great fans of “Star Trek.” “I saw it as science fiction, but Ron saw it as science possibility,” Carl McNair said. On Feb. 9, he regaled an audience of 40 students and parents at a Fernbank Science Center Black History program with stories of his brother, Dr. Ronald E. McNair, who died in the tragic space shuttle Challenger explosion on Jan. 28, 1986. The program in the Jim Cherry Memorial Planetarium focused on African-American pioneers in space. Ronald McNair, a physicist and NASA astronaut, was one of seven astronauts who died in the Challenger disaster. During his talk, Carl McNair, founder of the Atlanta-based Dr. Ronald E. McNair Education Foundation, encouraged children to consider the importance of STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – subjects. He is author of “In the Spirit of Ronald E. McNair – Astronaut: An American Hero,” a biography published in 2005 and reprinted in May 2012. Both he and Ron pursued STEM subjects at North Carolina A&T State University. “We didn’t come from a family of scholars or high achievers,” he said. “As a matter of fact, we came from a place where there were no folks who looked like us who had successful backgrounds as

Brothers Ronald and Carl McNair are shown on graduation day from Carver High School in Lake City, S.C., in 1967. Above, astronaut Ron McNair.

doctors, lawyers or things like that.” But that didn’t stop the brothers from succeeding. After high school, Carl majored in business and went on to become a consultant at Advanced Computer Resources, a computer programming

company in Atlanta. Ron majored in engineering physics and held onto his dream of becoming an astronaut. After graduating magna cum laude in 1971, he got his Ph.D. at MIT in 1976 and shortly after signed up for the NASA astronaut program. T:7.466” McNair said he had doubts about his

brother making it into the program. “I asked him how many people applied and he said 10,000,” he said. “When I asked how many openings, he said 35.” In January 1978, Ron’s hard work paid off. He completed his first mission aboard the Challenger in 1984. The fateful 1986 mission was his second aboard the shuttle. The next month, Carl launched the foundation in honor of his brother. “It was one of those things where you just felt so grieved and overwhelmed that you just needed to do something,” Carl said. The foundation, which helps youth develop skills in STEM subjects in hopes of opening more doors for aspiring astronauts and scientists of the future, builds on his brother’s commitment to education. The DREME Foundation promotes educational programs at levels all the way to college, offering summer camps and organizing robotics clubs in schools across the nation. “We try to expose kids to some pretty cool things,” McNair said. “We help them develop a desire to do what it takes to become leaders in those critical fields. It’s important for folks to know that it doesn’t matter where you start. It’s where you finish.”

Celebrating those who celebrate our community.

GROUND CREW,

T:10”

Activists prepared for sit-ins, marches from previous page

1950s until the early ’70s. Williams said she is proud of all of it. “I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything,” she said. As an adviser to King, Young got to know the Ground Crew well and appreciated their skill and planning ability. “I want all of the people who have been volunteering to set us free for the last 50 years to come up onstage,” he said, glancing at faces he knew in the Hyatt’s crowded Centennial Ballroom. Eleven civil rights veterans answered the call, joining Young in an unfamiliar place – the spotlight. “It was an honor, a privilege and a blessing,” said Bascom, who was among those who joined Young onstage. It took a bit of prodding, but Young got them to introduce themselves individually. Then, without much prompting at all, they and Young burst out in a perfect a capella rendition of the civil rights anthem “Nobody Turn Me Around.” They got a rousing ovation, a moment of recognition and appreciation after decades of laboring in obscurity. “We didn’t do it for the recognition,” Bascom said. “We did it because it was the right thing to do.”

The month of February is a time to celebrate the visionaries and volunteers whose ties to the community remain strong year-round. Much like the leaders before them, our honorees strive for success as they continue to set paths so others may join them. We are committed to shining light on those who never fail to give back. To learn more, visit 365Black.com. From left: Tony Hansberry II, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Harold & Tina Lewis, Grant & Tamia Hill, Chaka Khan & Mary-Pat Hector. ©2013 McDonald’s

Schools

CrossRoadsNews

February 16, 2013

“The DeKalb School District needs your help, your insight, your direction. And I’m focused on listening to all sides.”

Thurmond seeks Capitol help in dealing with school crisis By Ken Watts

On his second day on the job, DeKalb’s new interim School Superintendent Michael Thurmond told the county’s House and Senate delegation to the General Assembly that he will be the point man for the School Board in its battle to get the district off probation and keep the current board in place. Thurmond, who was hired by the board on Feb. 8 with a 7-2 vote, gets a base salary of $275,000. He was sworn into office the next day and says he will be the school district’s spokesman at the Feb. 21 suspension hearing before the Georgia Board of Education. After that hearing, the state board could recommend to Gov. Nathan Deal that he remove the DeKalb School Board members. Thurmond told members of the joint delegation that he needs their help. “The DeKalb School District needs your help, your insight, your direction,” he said. “And I’m focused on listening to all sides.” Before taking the high-profile assignment on a one-year contract, Thurmond, a lawyer, author and professor, was Georgia’s labor commissioner for 12 years. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Johnny Isakson in 2010. He returned to private legal practice. Before that, he served five years as a state representative from 1987 to 1992 and head of DFACS. His return to the Capitol on Feb. 12 had the look of a class reunion as he hugged and shook hands with former colleagues. But he made it clear he was there for urgent business. Thurmond replaced Dr. Cheryl Atkinson, who was on the job for 16 months. She left with a six-month severance package totaling $114,583, plus unused vacation. Delegation members invited Thurmond

Former Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond is sworn into office on Feb. 9 as interim DeKalb School Superintendent. He took a one-year contract $275,000 contract.

to the meeting to find out how they could help him untangle the DeKalb school crisis. Rep. Howard Mosby, House delegation chairman, told Thurmond they want to be partners in getting the district, which has 99,000 students, back on firm footing. “What do you need from us,” Mosby said. “Let us know what that is and we stand ready to work with you.” The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on Dec. 17 placed DeKalb on accreditation probation after a scathing report on the state of the school system. It slammed the board for “dysfunctional governance, declining student performance” and school finances that “have deteriorated to a point

that is dangerous.” The report described the schools as being in a “state of confusion and chaos.” “The board has given me the authority and their support to make the difficult decisions that must be made to restore full accreditation, not probationary accreditation, to the DeKalb County School District,” Thurmond said. “That’s my No. 1 priority.” At his first board meeting on Feb. 11, he told the parents he has “no magic wand” to make the district’s problems disappear. But he promised to use his political clout to restore the system’s good name. On his first day on the job earlier that day, he sent an e-mail to employees telling them he needs their support and assistance. “During this critical period, we must

focus on fulfilling the school district’s core mission – providing our students with a quality education,” he said. “Please rededicate yourself to the important task of improving student academic achievement at every grade level. Together, we will move this school district forward. We cannot rest until it is once again ranked among the best public school systems in America.” At Tuesday’s meeting with the joint delegation, Sen. Jason Carter brought up the criticism by some in DeKalb that Thurmond lacks experience in education. “I had no experience working in DFACS,” he said. “I had never worked at the Georgia Department of Labor.” Thurmond is credited with turning around a troubled Georgia Department of Family and Children Services when he served as its head in the mid-1990s, and he made organizational improvements at the Department of Labor as commissioner during his three terms between 1998 and 2010. “Really, the key for a great leader is to know what you don’t know and find someone who does,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.” Thurmond promised to rely on the district’s administrators and classroom professionals, noting that the SACS report focused on governance and leadership issues as the greatest problems. Mosby said Tuesday’s meeting was the first in what he hopes will be a series of talks with Thurmond on improving the schools. Afterward, Thurmond gave insight into his strategy to deal with the crisis and the state board hearing. “We want to emphasize that some missteps were made,” he said. “But we want to focus on the future and not on the past. We want to let the state school board know that we’re committed and dedicated to doing whatever it takes.”

Greenforest band in history parade The Greenforest Academy Marching Band will take part in the second annual Black History Month Parade in downtown Atlanta on Feb. 23. The 50-piece band will march in the noon-to-2 p.m. parade from Sweet Auburn Historic District to Underground Atlanta playing “We Shall Overcome,” “Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” The parade, which celebrates the culture,

heritage and accomplishments of AfricanAmericans worldwide, features entertainers, dignitaries, civic and corporate groups, nonprofits, and artistic expressionists. Rawn Hairston, the band’s director, says the band of fifth- to 12th-grade students has garnered superior and excellent ratings in the Georgia Music Educators Solo and Ensemble Festival over the past two years and has performed at the Governor’s Mansion. For more information, visit www.black historymonthparade.com.

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CrossRoadsNews

February 16, 2013

Scene

“These students will become more caring physicians sensitized to the struggles of everyday people.”

Fund-raiser to honor unsung heroes Decatur doctor and author Jewel Crawford will sign copies of her book, “Can’t Lose This Dream,” at a Feb. 23 scholarship fund-raiser for medical students at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta. The “Keeping the Dream” Dinner and Dance, which starts at 7 p.m., is being held in association with Morehouse School of Medicine. It will honor 100 Black Men of Atlanta and 10 “Unsung Heroes” – Morehouse School of Medicine professor Meryl McNeal; Medshare International Vice President Nell Diallo; Alliance for Public Health and Associates CEO Christopher De Rosa; First Afrikan Presbyterian’s pastor, the Rev. Dr. Mark Lomax; CrossRoadsNews co-founders Jennifer and Curtis Parker; International Center for Traditional Childbearing President and CEO Shara Monroe; Wholistic Stress Control Institute founder Jennie Trotter; Sheltering Arms Early Learning Resource Center director Steven White; and acupuncturist Mark Armstrong – who work for healthy communities. McNeal is being recognized for developing the Service Learning Community Health curriculum. Crawford said she has been instrumental in taking medical students out of the classroom and into the

community to see the real-life issues patients struggle with. Through Medshare, Diallo is responsible for tons of medical supplies reaching the African continent and other places where they are desperately needed. Through his Afro-centric ministry in Lithonia, Lomax, who is also an assistant professor at the Interdenominational Theological Center, encourages parishioners to transcend the constraints of a racist society and embrace both their African heritage and the divinity within them. Through their weekly community newspaper, the Parkers host annual expos at the Mall at Stonecrest that focus on health and wellness and work tirelessly to inform the DeKalb community about issues that impact their quality of life. “Their weekly publication builds community and brings us together as neighbors and concerned citizens,” Crawford said. Armstrong, who also teaches alternative health to new practitioners, has treated thousands of patients with acupuncture and integrative medicine. State Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan will be emcee and songstress Jean Carne will perform. For tickets and more information, visit www.cantlosethisdream.com.

Film festival celebrates the black experience The third annual Black History Film Festival at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center will celebrate Black History Month on Feb. 23 with a day of movies about AfricanAmerican culture. Atlanta-based Urban Film Review, in partnership with Verizon Wireless, invites

audiences to examine the black experience through the lens of urban filmmakers from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Decatur center, 3181 Rainbow Drive. For more information, e-mail info@ urbanfilmreview.com or visit www.black historyfilmfestival.com.

SWD orchestra concert at the Ray By Jessica Smith

Music lovers can chase away the cold-weather blues on Feb. 17 during Southwest DeKalb High School Orchestra’s annual winter concert at Ray of Hope Christian Church. Thirty-seven musicians in the ninth to 12th grade will play gospel, pop, R&B, jazz and classical selections, including “Motown Forever,” a medley of classic R&B The Southwest DeKalb Orchestra students have been hits; “Take 5,” a jazz getup by Mary, rehearsing for six weeks. Mary; and “Palladio,” a classical favorite “Some children don’t take music at all made popular by De Beers’ “Diamonds Are during the school day, so they have to come Forever” commercial. after school,” she said. The funds also pay for The concert starts at 4 p.m. in the sanctu- music festival and performance trips. ary. There is no admission charge, but dona“Wherever we’re invited, we’ll show up,” tions will be solicited. Walton said. “We’ll play anywhere we can get Orchestra director Melanie Driver an audience.” says students have been rehearsing for six The booster club also pays for clinicians weeks. from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to “This is the fifth year we’ve done this work with the students. Five students are concert,” she said. “It’s the biggest fund-raiser members of the DeKalb Youth Symphony we have.” this year. Tomeka Walton, the orchestra’s booster The church is at 2778 Snapfinger Road club president, said the funds raised will help in Decatur. ensure that the kids continue to have music For more information, call Tomeka Waloutside the classroom setting. ton at 770-808-8153.

‘Black Girl Pain’ at Decatur Library “Black Girl Pain,” a photo exhibit depicting African-American beauty, art and self-expression, is on display at the Decatur Library through Feb. 28. It draws its inspiration from a hip-hop song by Talib Kweli and is the artistic creation of native Decatur photographer Gudrun

Stone Hughes. Hughes, who grew up off McAfee and Glenwood, has showcased her photos at Georgia Tech’s Ferst Center for the Arts, Embry and Stonecrest libraries, the Youngblood Gallery, and other locations. For more information, call 404-3703070.

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Miscellaneous Advertise your product or service nationwide or by region in up to 12 million households in North America’s best suburbs! Place your classified ad in over 750 suburban newspapers just like this one. Call Classified Avenue at 888-486-2466 or go to www. classifiedavenue.net Music Lessons for All Ages! Find a music teacher! TakeLessons offers affordable, safe, guaranteed music lessons with teachers in your area. Our prescreened teachers specialize in singing, guitar, piano, drums, violin and more. Call 1- 888-705-8134!

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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.

CrossRoadsNews

February 16, 2013

youth services

Still Waters, Inc.

Marketplace Business Opportunities Eat Jerky? Get Paid! $12 Biz Opp Simple. Real. Profitable. Unlimited income potential. Make money from home. Sales leaders needed. 404-975-0460 (24-hr recorded message) Brand New Cell Phone Service $49 A Month Tmobile Network Unlimited Everything. Earn While you share service with others.678-600-7964

FOR RENT/LEASE Hair Salon for Rent. Fully equipped. $500/month. Mini Mall 678-755-5955.

Soul Food Restaurant for Rent or Sale. Fully equipped. Mini Mall. 678-755-5955 DeKalb Decatur 3BR/2BA, Brick Ranch, Attached Carport, W/D Connection, C/H/A, Large Backyard, Bus line Section 8 OK, No Pets, 875/mo + Deposit. 678-592-5449. 3BR/2BA Condo Townhouse. Newly painted, new wood flooring, carpet. All electric. Located SE Atlanta Bouldercrest Rd/I-285. Section 8 Okay. $650/ month and security deposit.(770) 656-8970.

R.O.Y.A.L.S. “Mentoring youth using the Arts” real estate

HOME SERVICES Your neighborhood handyman, a Redbeacon contractor qualified in plumbing, electrical, furnace repair, drywall repair, etc. Call Chris 404-992-3663.

MISCELLANEOUS Hip-Hop dance classes elementary school children who have problems learning in a typical classroom setting. $5 monthly first class Free! Call Andrea 404610-1205.

SELLERS:

Sell your house and rent it back from the owner, and get $5,000 relocation money!! Call 1-888-269-6795 ext. 110 BUYERS:

DeKalb Bank Foreclosure, 4 br, 2.5 ba, LR, DR, Den $98,500. $1,000 down, $740 per month! Must Qualify.

1st U Realty Call 24/7

CASH FOR JUNK CARS. Call 404-492-4147.

1-888-269-6795 x115

Henry K. Mitchell, CFE, CPA Free Tax Advice Free Review of 2010/2011 Free Extension 10% oﬀ All Returns Tax Problems Resolution Accounting Services Call 678-663-6229

SPRING 2013 BASEBALL SEASON

COACHES NEEDED

Boys and Girls Ages 3-14 ONLINE REGISTRATION

Find Local Goods & Services

www.eastmetromarket.com

home services

ARTHUR’S CONTRACTING

MICKENS REPAIR SERVICE

• Handyman Services • Plumbing - Water Line Repair & Fixture Installation • Unclog & Repair Sewer and Drain • Concrete Driveways • Wood & Chainlink Fence

Call Arthur 404-838-6541

with a personal touch… COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL • Additions • Basement • Decks • Roofing • Painting • Fire Damage • Tile & Hardwood Floors • Electrical • Concrete • Plumbing • Siding • HVAC Repair & Service LICENSED & INSURED

770-906-7950

*All work and materials are guaranteed

ON-SITE REGISTRATION

Please contact January 26-March 2 January 14-March 1 coreydber@gmail.com from 10am-2pm www.wadewalkerpark.org Saturdays *Upstairs in the Concession Stand Office* to volunteer

LET’S PLAY BALL!! WADE WALKER PARK

5585 Rockbridge Road • Stone Mountain, GA 30088

senior services

Sing • Play an Instrument • Act For more info: Mr. Spencer Murray, Director 313-779-2513 5878 Covington Hwy • Decatur, Ga. 30035 • Ofﬁce: 678-570-8252

When You Miss CrossRoadsNews, You Miss News You Can Use! Call 404-284-1888 for Subscription Rates & Information

spas / salons

SALON DOLCÉ 2112

A Cut Above The Rest NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

sports

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5995 Covington Hwy - Ste C Decatur, GA 30035

770-808-4407

spas / salons

CrossRoadsNews

February 16, 2013

THE MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM AUTO GROUP

PRESIDENTS’ DAY S A L E S Save Up To

TRIPLE

BUY WITH

FACTORY REBATES

The

Example: New 2013 Ford Escape STK#136509

MSRP ..................$24,388 Factory Rebate .......$2500 Malcolm Cunningham Ford Discount .........$5000

E V E N T

KEEP

0 TAX YOUR

DOWN $ REFUND 16 888 YOU PAY

Example: New 2013 Ford Escape buy for 60 months at $318 per month with $0 down at 4.9% with approved credit. Plus tax, tag, and title.

Prices plus tax, tag, title, with approved credit. Includes all factory rebates. See dealer for complete details. Expires 2/18/2013.

770.621.0200

5675 Peachtree Industrial Blvd

w w w. Ma l c o l m C u nning ham Fo r d.c o m

MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM LINCOLN

Stylish. Intelligent. Confident.

That’s How You’ll Feel When You Buy A New Lincoln!

MKZ

Sign & Drive

Lease For $599 Per Month

0 Due at Signing

Now In Stock!

STK#L13200 • VIN#3LN6L2GXDR805846

24 month lease with $0 total due at signing including $0 security deposit. 10,500 miles per year and 15¢ per mile thereafter. Offer plus tax, tag, and title with approved credit. Offer expires 2/18/2013.

All-Inclusive Complimentary Maintenance

4-YEAR / 50,000 MILES

• Complimentary Oil Changes • Complimentary Tire Rotations • Complimentary Multi-Point Inspections • And Much More!

MKS $ Lease For 499 Per Mo. New 2013 Lincoln

STK#L13104 • VIN#1LNHL9DK3DG604516

COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART FACILITY AND SERVICE CENTER!

39 month lease with $4000 total due at signing including $0 security deposit. 10,000 miles per year and 15¢ per mile thereafter. Offer plus tax, tag, and title with approved credit. Offer expires 2/18/2013.

770.455.8232

5675 Peachtree Industrial Blvd www.MalcolmCunninghamLincoln.com

4C 10.5” × (16”) 37850-MCAQ (2-16) Crossroads FC (gc)

The All-New Completely Redesigned 2013 Lincoln