CrossRoadsNews, February 27, 2016 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

FINANCE

BLACK HISTORY

Construction under way

The past in artifacts

A new McDonald’s restaurant and stand-alone Family Dollar store are taking shape in Decatur and Lithonia. 6

James Horton’s Sights & Sounds Black Cultural Expo Museum features more than 8,000 artifacts and pieces of literature. 9

Put Litter in Its Place Let’s Do Our Part to Keep DeKalb Beautiful

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

February 27, 2016

Volume 21, Number 44

www.crossroadsnews.com

Wadsworth Magnet seeks expansion to middle school By Ken Watts

at 3039 Santa Monica Road in Decatur, about 100 parents told Green that Wadsworth’s 63,342-square-foot building has ample space to accommodate the extra two grades and keep the students together at the school. Wadsworth Elementary, which has 187 fourth- through sixth-grade students, became a magnet school in 2008 when the magnet program was relocated from Browns Mill Elementary. In 2014, it was a National Blue Ribbon School, and last year all of its students scored proficient or better on the Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests in English, math, reading, science and

Parents at Wadsworth Magnet School, who have been lobbying for expansion to middle school grades, attend a Feb. 23 meeting with DeKalb Superintendent R. Stephen Green.

DeKalb Schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green is considering a proposal from parents at Wadsworth Elementary Magnet School to add middle school grades to the Decatur school. The parents, who have been lobbying the district for years to add seventh and eighth grades to the for high achievers magnet school, say South DeKalb is lacking a high achievers magnet middle school and that it would be less disruptive than transferring the students to Chapel Hill and Champion middle schools. At a Feb. 23 meeting at the school located Please see MAGNET SCHOOL, page 4

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Panola Road project gets mixed reviews Sidewalks, bike lanes, concrete

Stacey Thibodeaux (in pink), who has lived off Browns Mill Road for 14 years, looks over the Panola Road project on Feb. 22 at the SalemPanola Library in Lithonia.

medians planned By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

A $25.6 million project that will transform a residential portion of Panola Road in Lithonia is getting mixed reviews from residents. The Panola Road Operational Improvement Project, which will make improvements along 3.8 miles on Panola and Thompson Mill roads, is designed to help reduce congestion along the corridor where daily traffic is projected to rise from 11,540 vehicles per day in 2014 to 45,880 per day in 2040. It will bring turn lanes, concrete medians, sidewalks, bike lanes and two new traffic lights. But while some residents love the sidewalks and bike lanes, others dislike the concrete medians and say they will add to, not aid, congestion and may hamper flow into the Salem Crossing Shopping Center that took seven years to attract the Food Depot after losing its grocery store in 2005. At a Feb. 22 open house at Salem-Panola Library, residents saw the latest tweaks to the design for the project that was first proposed in 2006 as part of a larger 5.3-mile project from Covington Highway/State Route 12

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

to Snapfinger Road/State Route 155 that included the Panola Road/I-20 interchange. The project was modified last year because of funding shortages and will now add a third dedicated turn lane and increase lanes to four from two along portions of Panola Road between Fairington Road/Minola Drive and Browns Mill Road where concrete

medians will be installed. Five-foot-wide sidewalks and bike lanes will be added along both sides of the project. Four homes in the path of the expansion will be condemned and removed. Christi Cleveland has lived on Rock Springs Road for 15 years. She welcomed the proposed improvements.

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“It looks like it will help ease the congestion during the morning and evening rush hours,” said Cleveland, who teaches in Clayton County and leaves for work at 6 a.m. “I like the addition of bike lanes and sidewalks. They are really good assets.” Please see PROJECT, page 2

Community

CrossRoadsNews

February 27, 2016

“This is going to affect the look of the neighborhood and our property values. Why can’t it be grass?”

Residents dislike concrete medians, say plan may not relieve congestion PROJECT,

from page

Cleveland said that during the morning rush hour, she often sits for long stretches of time waiting to make the turn from Rock Springs Road onto Panola Road. “It can take a really long time to get out,” she said. Raeleen Waters, who has lived in the Valley Oaks subdivision off Salem Road for 36 years, threw up her hands up in despair. “This is just not going to work,” she said after Raeleen Waters looking over the plans for a second time in three years. “The whole thing is going to be a train wreck.” Waters said the DOT told the community in 2013 that the project would go all the way to Snapfinger Road/State Route 155 but is now terminating just past Browns Mill Road. “It’s going to create another bottleneck where it ends,” she said. “The traffic will ease up where they make improvements, but people making turns onto Panola will still be blocked.” Waters said the project also will put a lot of homes along the primarily residential portion of Panola Road closer to the street. Ora Howell, who would like the project’s display map to stay up for a week at the library for residents who could not make Tuesday’s open house, does not like the proposed concrete medians. “This is going to affect the look of the neighborhood and affect our property values,” she told project engineer Nicole Reutlinger. “Why can’t it be grass? Why not make it look nice for the neighborhood?” Reutlinger told her that the medians are necessary for safety. “They help to prevent head-on collisions,” she told Howell, adding that concrete medians are easier to maintain. “When there is grass, it gets overgrown and cost more to maintain.” Howell also wanted to know whether all of the traffic lights will be synchronized to help move traffic along. Reutlinger told her that traffic synchronization is outside the scope of the project but residents can discuss

he aT rget t an actually o c ou! h w e l peop vote for y

$25.6 million project to improve safety, pedestrian/bike access, mobility on Panola Road The Panola Road Widening Project, which was first proposed in 2006, was modified in 2015 because of funding shortages. The current proposal would improve operations, safety, and pedestrian/bicycle access and mobility along heavily traveled Panola Road. The proposed project includes: n Adding a center two-way turn lane, 4-foot bike lanes, 5-foot sidewalks, and a 6-foot grassed buffer strip on each side of the road. n Adding short segments of 20-foot raised median along the project route to enhance aesthetics and provide traffic calming. n Adding 740 feet of continuous right-turn lane between Big Miller Grove Way and Cedar Rock Drive and from Thompson Mill Road to Panola Mill Drive. Proposed right of way width along this segment would vary from 60 to 120 feet. Adding 5-foot sidewalks within the project limits on the cross-street where none currently exists. n Adding right-turn lanes to all intersections with Panola Road. n Realigning Panola Road between Salem Road and Oaktree Trail/Big Miller Grove Way to straighten the existing curve in the road. Big Miller Grove Way would become right-in, right-out and Oaktree Trail would be a right/left-in, right-out intersection at Panola Road.

Residents can comment on the project through March 4 at www.dot.ga.gov/PS/Public/PublicOutreach. The proposal also can be viewed at DeKalb County Public Works Transportation Division, 1950 W. Exchange Place, Fourth Floor, Tucker. For more information, contact Nicole Reutlinger at nicole. reutlinger@atkinsglobal.com or 678-247-2453.

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

it with the county’s traffic department. George Turner, who has lived off Rock Springs Road for more than 30 years, said that while some people oppose the project, the improvements are needed. “For now, I might say no, it’s not neces-

sary, but we have to think of the future,” he said. “I have noticed a tremendous growth in traffic. That is the price of progress.” Turner said that if anything, DOT should take the project all the way to State Road 155.

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Bruce Nelson (right), co-owner of Excell Preparatory Academy, said the changes proposed at the intersection of Panola and Salem roads will negatively affect access to his business.

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n Adding a right-turn lane on the northbound approach at Panola Road and Cedar Rock Drive. n Adding a second left-turn lane northbound at Panola and Rock Springs roads. n Realigning Winslow Crossing with Panola Mill Drive intersection, adding right- and left-turn lanes and a traffic light. n Installing traffic lights at Panola Road and West Fairington Parkway along with other improvements between Thompson Mill Road and Fairington Road/Minola Drive.

Source: The Media Audit, Atlanta Market Surveys • 2 CrossRoadsNews distributes 28,000 copies every week, 95% of them in South DeKalb County. * Suburban Newspapers of America – 2008 Editorial Contest, 16,001-36,000 Non-Daily Circulation

Stacey Thibodeaux, who has lived off Browns Mill Road for 14 years, loved the sidewalk improvements but said the proposal is not widening the road enough to alleviate current traffic. “I am concerned that we are still going to have a bottleneck problem,” she said. Her husband, Joel, said it takes them 20 to 30 minutes during rush hour to go from the Browns Mill Road intersection to I-20. “It’s been that bad,” he said. “The turn lanes they created some years ago near Publix helped a little, but it is congested again. If they don’t make improvements all the way to the I-20 ramp, it’s still going to be a problem.” A separate project is proposed for the Panola Road/I-20 overpass bridge. Reutlinger said that project was originally ahead of this one but has been delayed and will be completed after. Eric Jackson, who has lived in the Adrian Oaks subdivision near the south end of the project for 12 years, runs for exercise and loves the sidewalks and bicycle lanes. “It will be good for the community and for kids,” he said. But he is disappointed that the project stops short of getting walkers and bikers to the Arabia Mountain South River Trail at the Panola Shoals. “They told me they ran out of money, but they need to find the funds to take it all the way to the trails,” he said. Jackson also is unhappy about the concrete median. “I think it should be grass,” he said. James Stamps, who lives on Cedar Rock Drive, said that as proposed, the project is not doing a lot to fix a James Stamps visibility problem near the Willow Brook subdivision that has contributed to a lot of traffic accidents. “There is a dip in the road and you can’t see well,” he said. “A traffic light at that intersection would be the ideal thing, but if a light is not possible, then alignment of the road so we don’t have that dip would help. Raising the elevation of the road would increase visibility in both directions.” Stamps also thinks the proposed improvement won’t help much if motorists can’t get onto I-20. “All of this won’t amount to anything if nothing is done at I-20,” he said. “If we can’t get on the interstate, everything backs up anyway.” Residents can comment on the project through March 4 at www.dot.ga.gov/PS/ Public/PublicOutreach. The proposal can be viewed at DeKalb County Public Works Transportation Division, 1950 W. Exchange Place, 4th Floor, Tucker. For more information, contact Nicole Reutlinger at nicole.reutlinger@atkinsglobal.com or 678-247-2453.

February 27, 2016

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“Our recommendation is a responsible and prudent step toward rectifying substandard pay for many DeKalb County employees.”

New budget offers pay raises for DeKalb employees Nearly 3,000 DeKalb employees, including police and firefighters, will get pay raises in May in the county’s $1.32 billion 2016 budget approved by the DeKalb Board of Commissioners on Feb. 25. The spending plan provides $5 million for a 4 percent pay hike for 2,800 county employees, including public safety workers, Watershed Management and Sanitation employees. It also funds an intergenerational center at Tobie Grant Park in the Scottdale community, and construction of the Wade Walker Library in Stone Mountain. The new budget also pays for the raises and capital improvements with $28 million earned from refinancing bonds at a lower interest rate. Interim CEO Lee May said he is proud that he was able to work collaboratively with the Board of Commissioners to maintain last year’s tax cut and build upon the progress made in 2014 with employee raises. “This action by the BOC places us on a

firm foundation to serve the stakeholders of DeKalb County in 2016 and beyond.” The board approved the budget by a vote of 4-3. Commissioners Larry Johnson, District 3; Sharon Barnes Sutton, District 4; Mereda Davis Johnson, District 5; and Stan Watson, Super District 7, voted for the budget. Commissioners Nancy Jester, District 1; Jeff Rader, District 2; and Kathie Gannon, Super District 6, voted against it, saying it drains the county’s reserve funds and could saddle taxpayers with financial obligations years from now. Barnes Sutton, chair of the Finance, Audit and Budget Committee, said the budget takes a major step toward resolving pay disparities with public employees in other metro counties. “After several weeks Sharon B. Sutton of analyzing an array of fiscal scenarios, our

recommendation is a responsible and prudent step toward rectifying substandard pay for many DeKalb County employees,” she said. Larry Johnson said the board had to strike a careful balance in its spending and was able to negotiate a spending plan that is responsive to the needs of the people, addresses the capital needs of the Larry Johnson county, fair compensation for employees and remains fiscally prudent. “We maintained a prudent budgetary reserve, which ensures that DeKalb will retain its superior credit rating,” he said. “That’s a win for taxpayers.” The 2016 budget also includes: n Maintaining the General Fund reserve at a full month of operating expenses; n Incorporating the potential financial impacts from the creation of Tucker based on the model used during the recent Incorpora-

tion and Annexation Study Committee; n Adding $200,000 for code enforcement officers and equipment to improve response times; n Allocating $1 million to fund the newly created independent Office of the Internal Auditor to perform reviews of county functions; n Dedicating $1 million in Sanitation funding to enhanced mowing and litter abatement efforts; n Contributing $4.9 million in HOST funding road resurfacing and transportation efforts, including $2.7 million in matching money for Georgia DOT efforts to leverage $3 million more of funding; n Including $1.1 million for firefighter personal safety equipment; n Allocating $200,000 to improve quality of life efforts for Parks & Recreation programs for arts and entertainment; n Adding $2 million for technology to streamline permitting and other development costs.

DeKalb voters to pick candidates in Super Tuesday presidential primary Super Tuesday is a All DeKalb polling turning point in most precincts will be open presidential election March 1 for the Presidenyears, typically serving as tial Preference Primary. the key indicator for who Super Tuesday is the the nominees will be from biggest single day for each party. presidential candidates to Former S ecretar y get delegates. of State Hillary Clinton Voters in 12 states and Bernie Sanders and Vermont Sen. Berone U.S. territory will Hillary Clinton cast ballots. Georgia is voting as part of the nie Sanders are vying for the Democratic regional “SEC Primary” involving a number nomination. Five candidates – businessman Donald of Southern states.

Trump, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson – are still seeking the Republican nomination. Democrats need 2,383 delegates to win the nomination. A total of 1,004 Democratic delegates are available on March 1. Republicans need 1,237 delegates to win the party’s nomination. There are 595 Republican delegates – about 25 percent of the total – available on Super Tuesday. There are 130 super delegates also up for grabs on Super Tuesday,

A majority of Democratic super delegates have already pledged support for Clinton. Through Feb. 24 – after 14 days of early voting – only 17,297 DeKalb voters had cast ballots. Tucker residents also will vote for their mayor and City Council members on March 1. Residents of Atlanta in DeKalb will vote on a 1 percent Sales and Use Tax for Water and Sewer Purposes, expected to raise $750 million over 16 calendar quarters. Polls are open 7 a.m to 7 p.m. Visit www.dekalbvotes.com.

The leaders you trust, trust Judge JP Boulee Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys: President Elect Tori Silas, Immediate Past President Adwoa Ghartey-Tagoe Seymour & Past President Sonja N. Brown. DeKalb Lawyers Association: Past Presidents Robert Burroughs, Genet Hopewell & Dwight Thomas; Executive Board Members MIguel Dominguez, Duane Jones & Rachel St. Fleur. Governors: Roy Barnes & Nathan Deal. 2014 Nominee Jason Carter. State Senators: Gail Davenport, Steve Henson, Emmanuel Jones, Fran Millar & Elena Parent. State Representatives: Tonya Anderson (Former), Stephanie Stuckey Benfield (Former), Karen Bennett, Taylor Bennett, Doreen Carter, Scott Holcomb, Dar’shun Kendrick, Billy Mitchell, Howard Mosby, Mary Margaret Oliver, Pamela Stephenson, Tom Taylor & Earnest “Coach” Williams. Commissioners: Katie Gannon, Nancy Jester, Larry Johnson, Mereda Davis Johnson, Jeff Rader, Sharon Barnes Sutton & Stan Watson. Mayors: Deborah Jackson, Patti Garrett, Denis Shortal & Ted Terry. Legal: Sheriff Jeff Mann, Superior Court Clerk Debra DeBerry, District Attorney Robert James & Solicitor General Sherry Boston.

www.judgejpboulee.com

CrossRoadsNews

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

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Assistant Editor Brenda Yarbrough Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Graphic Design Curtis Parker CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

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February 27, 2016

“We strongly believe our schools should be in the business of developing students.”

Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of articles discussing the DeKalb School District’s decision not to participate in the Tax Allocation District to redevelop the old General Motors Plant site in Doraville. Below, Superintendent R. Stephen Green explains why the school district prefers to spend its $63 million share on developing children.

Read also “School system should support smart growth in DeKalb” by former DeKalb School Board Chairman Eugene Walker in CrossRoadsNews’ Feb. 13, 2016, issue and “Smart growth should not trump our children’s needs” by Dr. Barbara Lee in the Feb. 20, 2016, issue of CrossRoadsNews.

Our core business is teaching, not financing development By Dr. R. Stephen Green

Is the Georgia General Assembly putting politics ahead of pupils? Last year, when I became superintendent of the DeKalb County School District, I assumed the responsibility – and privilege – of continuing to improve classroom instruction and learning. One of my major duties includes good stewardship of our financial resources. We face an ongoing challenge. Our district is just three years removed from the devastating impact of the Great Recession. Until 2013, we operated at a deficit. At one point, our district was placed on probation, one step before losing accreditation – a devastating blow for any educational system, but certainly hard for a system that serves 102,000 students in 135 schools. Those students come from 180 different countries and speak 144 different languages. Today, after much work, we have finances under control with fiscal integrity … but our system remains at a crucial stage of recovery. We still need resources to address aging classrooms, teacher pay, safety, and support services. We have a plan and a commitment … and a laser focus on classroom instruction and learning. We’ve made progress with a 103-point increase in SAT scores, an 11-point increase in graduation rates, a return to full accreditation, and pay raises for teachers and principals. We’re competitive again for talent at the front of the classroom. Now, we face a new – apparently politically motivated – obstacle. I recognize the call of some who want our school system to financially assist with the redevelopment of the former General Motors factory and the downtown area in Doraville. To secure $247 million in infrastructure bonds, our school district,

“Georgia can come up with better ways to redevelop the GM site – ways that don’t do it on the backs of students and schools for the next quarter-century. Let’s be clear: Removing critical resources now would disrupt and damage efforts to get DeKalb schools back on their feet.” Dr. R. Stephen Green

along with local city and county governments, has been asked to approve creation of a Doraville Tax Allocation District, or TAD. The debt service for this project will exceed $600 million over the life of the bonds. Unfortunately, our district is being asked to pay more than half of the public funding for this project. I have met more than half a dozen times with officials from Doraville and DeKalb County governments to discuss the proposed TAD and its impact to the district. After listening with an open mind, I remain convinced that our core business should be teaching and learning and the direction of the financial resources to our students. DeKalb schools have never before participated in tax allocation districts. Schools are our business. Our research of past TADs in DeKalb County yielded a history that concerns us. Two of three current TADs in DeKalb County have never met tax revenue projections. The Kensington and Briarcliff TADs have decreased in tax value since their start, Kensington’s by more than 20 percent. And recent headlines have documented the inability of the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Public Schools to fulfill their agreement based on a TAD for financing the BeltLine project. That impasse showcases how unforeseen pitfalls can cost a school system time, money, and focus. For the Doraville TAD, the school tax digest would be fixed for 25 years – with a best-case scenario

of nine more years before DeKalb would recoup lost taxes. What advantage does a 25year commitment to freezing the school tax digest give students and schools? We face growing pressure from powerful parties that would put politics ahead of pupils. House Bill 969, newly introduced in the Georgia General Assembly, proposes to eliminate $63 million a year from state funding of education in DeKalb County by reducing our allotment from the Quality Basic Education program. The law would only apply to DeKalb County schools. It wouldn’t reduce one penny of property taxes paid by county residents and businesses. It would take $63 million each year from DeKalb students – and give nothing at all back to DeKalb taxpayers. We recognize our role in economic development. A good school system is one of the top reasons for private investment. We believe our school system can invest $63 million more wisely. How? By contributing to Georgia’s economic development at the most basic levels: n We’ll prepare students for college and careers so they become future job creators, wage earners, taxpayers, and responsible citizens. n We’ll reinvest resources directly into our communities (not into developers’ pockets) by building new schools and facilities. n We’ll play an important role in attracting new residents and businesses. (The Daimler Benz North American headquarters recently announced its relocation here,

basing its decision, in part, on the quality of local education.) Here’s the truth: Georgia can come up with better ways to redevelop the GM site – ways that don’t do it on the backs of students and schools for the next quartercentury. Let’s be clear: Removing critical resources now would disrupt and damage efforts to get DeKalb schools back on their feet. Instead, with $63 million annually, we could: n Give three more pay raises to all teachers (similar to the raise teachers received last month), keeping and drawing top talent to classrooms. Or … n Build three new, state-of-theart, 900-student schoolhouses like those at Peachcrest and Fernbank elementary schools. (Our school buildings now average 20 years of age.) Or … n Buy more than 800 new, safe, comfortable, fuel-efficient school buses. (Our buses average 10 years of age.) Most reasonable people would agree that a smart, efficient redevelopment of the Doraville GM site has every chance to stimulate the area’s long-term economy. Most reasonable people would also agree that it would be selfdefeating to raid resources from a public school system focused on educating young people to graduate with ideas and initiatives to make the GM site a long-term success. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” We agree. We strongly believe our schools should be in the business of developing students. Given the choice between the educational well-being of our students and politically motivated land deals, we’ll choose our students every time. Dr. R. Stephen Green is superintendent of the DeKalb County School District.

Green wants collaborative effort on Wadsworth proposal MAGNET SCHOOL,

from page

social studies. Armand Gabriele, a Parent Council member, said 100 percent of the students passed the new Georgia Milestones test of academic skills in 2015. He said the test results “serve as confirmation of Wadsworth’s status among elite Georgia elementary and middle schools and underscores its ability to provide an outstanding middle school environment for children.” Green complimented the school for its record and promised to work

with parents and faculty to develop a plan that can be presented to the DeKalb School Board for consideration. But he said Wadsworth expansion has to be considered in the context of a broader struggle. “You all know the struggle I’m talking about,” he said. “We’re talking about how South DeKalb got to where it is now and the struggle that we’re in to bring it back is bigger than Wadsworth.” Green said the conversation should include social injustice and how to achieve educational excellence for all children. Wadsworth’s principal, Cornel-

lia Crum, who supports the parents’ request, said a draft of the school’s expansion proposal was sent to Green on Feb. 22. Green told CrossRoadsNews that it’s too early to set a timeline for Wadsworth expansion. He said he wants it to be a collaborative effort involving his administrative team, Wadsworth’s leaders, and principals of other South DeKalb schools. “I want to see what it might look like to spread this school’s best practices across to other schools in the area,” he said. Crum said she’s supporting the expansion to make sure Wadsworth

is doing right by its students who come from all over the county. “We will have an opportunity to maintain our exemplary status so when it’s time for them to go to high school, they’ll have chances to go to Arabia Mountain, Tucker or Chamblee High,” she said. “Those are exemplary schools.”

OUR MISTAKE Suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis is serving a sentence in a state prison. It was incorrectly reported in the Feb. 20 issue. We regret the error.

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CrossRoadsNews

February 27, 2016

Community

“We will cherish his profound contributions to MARTA and appreciate his lasting legacy of civic duty that is an example for us to follow.”

Homegoing service for MARTA board member Harold Buckley Sr. Family, friends and associates will celebrate the life of longtime DeKalb County businessman and MARTA board member Harold Buckley Sr. at a homegoing service at 1 p.m. on Feb. 27 at Greater Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. Buckley, 72, died Feb. 23 after suffering a stroke. He operated Precision Realty Inc. on Glenwood Road for decades and was the Harold Buckley Sr. longest-serving member of the MARTA board of directors, having represented DeKalb on the board since 1985. Robert Ashe III, who chairs the MARTA board, said Buckley was a wonderful man. “Harold Buckley was an unwavering advocate for MARTA. The courage of his convictions and dedication to a decades-long dream to expand transit along the I-20 corridor are lessons we all benefited from and were inspired by.” Buckley served in a leadership capacity on the MARTA

“Harold Buckley was an unwavering advocate for MARTA. The courage of his convictions and dedication to a decades-long dream to expand transit along the I-20 corridor are lessons we all benefited from and were inspired by.” Robert Ashe III, MARTA board chairman

board’s Audit Committee – either as chairman or vice chairman – since 2010. He last presided over a successful meeting on Feb. 18. He also served as board treasurer and on the Operations & Safety Committee, formerly known as the Safety & Security Committee. In addition, he was the board representative for MARTA’s Pension Committee. Keith Parker, MARTA general manager and CEO, called Buckley a tireless advocate for his community. “He had a deep and abiding commitment to public service,” Parker said. “We will cherish his profound contribu-

tions to MARTA and appreciate his lasting legacy of civic duty that is an example for us to follow.” Buckley, who lived in Decatur, was born Sept. 23, 1943 in Biloxi, Miss. He graduated from Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University and moved to the Atlanta area after a stint in the Army. He founded Precision Realty, a diversified real estate company serving residential and commercial clients. Buckley also served on the board of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, the DeKalb Board of Realtors, DeKalb Private Industry Council, Georgia Association of Realtors, Wesley Chapel YMCA, American Heart Association, and the East Metro CID. He was a member of the committee that developed the Vision 2000 Plan for DeKalb, a member of the General Advisory Council for DeKalb Technical College, and a charter member of Leadership DeKalb. He is survived by his wife, Sally; two adult children, Harold Buckley Jr. and Sarita Anderson; and two grandchildren. Greater Piney Grove is at 1879 Glenwood Ave.

Tyrone Brooks begins serving federal prison sentence for tax fraud By Ken Watts

Civil rights activist and former state Rep. Tyrone Brooks reported to a federal prison camp in Atlanta on Feb. 16 to begin serving a one year and one day sentence for Tyrone Brooks federal tax fraud. Brooks was not sure where he would be placed in the sprawling Atlanta U.S. Penitentiary complex on McDonough Street, but he appeared in good spirits as he greeted eight supporters in the parking lot of a convenience store across the street before leaving to be processed into the prison. The group included DeKalb NAACP President John Evans and Nathan Knight,

president of the DeKalb chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Brooks, 70, said his prosecution was retaliation by the FBI for his aggressive efforts to reopen the 1946 Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching case in Walton County in which two young African-American couples were killed. “This is a testament to the [civil rights] work that continues,” Brooks said. “If my name was Jamie Diamond of J.P. Morgan Chase or Brian Monahan of Bank of America, if I was running Standard and Poor’s or HSBC, I wouldn’t be standing here.” Brooks represented the 55th District in the Georgia House of Representatives for 35 years from 1980 to 2015 and led or participated in numerous civil rights battles dating back to his work with Dr. Martin Luther King

Jr. and SCLC. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2013 on 30 charges of wire, tax and mail fraud relating to his charitable work. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that from 2008 to 2011, Brooks used $1 million in charitable contributions from the Teamsters Union and major corporations including Coca-Cola, Georgia-Pacific, and Northside Hospital given to Universal Humanities and GABEO on personal expenses. In a memorandum to the court before sentencing, prosecutors said while Brooks misappropriated funds from charities, he under-reported his income to the federal government from 2008 to 2011. On his tax returns for those years, Brooks reported that he only earned $35,000 a year. Prosecutors acknowledged Brooks’

E&A Restaurant Holdings, LLC.

work with King and his efforts “promoting diversity within Georgia’s judicial branch, to helping change the Georgia state flag, to ably representing his district in the Georgia General Assembly for over 30 years.” But they said that decades of good will were tarnished by bad personal decisions that put him in conflict with the law. His “crimes ultimately were selfish,” prosecutors wrote. Brooks pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax document and no contest to five counts of mail and wire fraud in U.S. District Court on April 9, 2015. He was represented by former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes. Brooks resigned his House seat shortly before entering the plea. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg sentenced him on Nov. 9, 2015.

CrossRoadsNews

Finance

February 27, 2016

MARTA CEO and General Manager Keith Parker shared expansion plans for DeKalb, including I-20 rail service to Stonecrest.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Crews brick the new McDonald’s in the Wesley Chapel Crossing shopping center (left). Above, construction of a Family Dollar store is under way at Salem and Panola roads.

New McDonald’s, Family Dollar store under construction By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

A new McDonald’s restaurant and a new stand-alone Family Dollar store are taking shape in Decatur and Lithonia, respectively. The double drive-through McDonald’s in the Wesley Chapel Crossing/Kroger shopping center at the intersection of Wesley Chapel and South Hairston Road will be the second McDonald’s on the street. It takes the space of a long vacant Hardee’s building. Crews were bricking the 4,218-squarefoot building on Feb. 25. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-April, but an opening date for the

restaurant was not available at press time Thursday. The new Family Dollar store is under construction on 4.1 acres at the corner of Panola and Salem roads in Lithonia. It will replace the Family Dollar that took the Eckerd’s Drug store space in the Salem Crossing Shopping Center across the street in 1999. Both projects have been in the making for years. DeKalb commissioners approved the special land use permit for the McDonald’s in June 2014. The store at 2739 Wesley Chapel Road was controversial because it is just sixth-tenths of a mile from a McDonald’s that has been at the intersection of Wesley Chapel and the I-20

Brent Stone, the Garrard Group’s development manager, declined to say when construction will be completed. He referred calls to Family Dollar’s corporate office in Matthews, N.C., which did not return a phone call by press time Thursday. Family Dollar, which was acquired by Chesapeake, Va.-based Dollar Tree in July 2014, has more than 8,000 stores, including more than 27 stores in south DeKalb County. Dollar Tree, a Fortune 500 company and New discount store in Lithonia North America’s leading operator of discount In Lithonia, the Garrard Group is build- variety stores selling everything for $1 or less, ing the Family Dollar store at 3635 Panola also has Dollar Tree and Deals stores in South Road. It will replace the store across the street DeKalb. It has more than 14,038 stores in 48 at 3590 Panola Road. states and five Canadian provinces. East ramp for more than 20 years. During the permit application process, McDonald’s officials said the company needed a second store on Wesley Chapel Road to serve customers on the north side of the interstate and to prevent them from crossing I-20 and the median to get to it. The new store is expected to bring 60 to 80 jobs and landscaping and parking lot improvements to the aging Wesley Chapel shopping center.

Women filling DeKalb Chamber’s two top spots at same time By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

For the first time in its history, the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce has a female president and CEO and a female chair. The association marked that milestone on Feb. 18 when Oglethorpe Power’s Diane McClearen became chair of the chamber’s board. The group has had a female president and CEO since September 2014 when Katerina Taylor Diane McClearen took the reins as the first woman to manage the 78-year-old group. McClearen, director of Community & External Relations at Oglethorpe Power, succeeds Al Edwards, who officially passed the gavel to her before more than 400 members and guests at the chamber’s 78th Annual Meeting & Business Luncheon at the Georgia

Aquarium. McClearen said it’s an honor to become chair of the chamber’s board. “It is a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” she said, pledging to do everything in her power to build off Edward’s momentum. For 2016, she said the chamber will be “intentional” in its focus on growth opportunities for DeKalb businesses and will continue to strengthen partnerships Katerina Taylor with regular and open communications with strategic partners. “We will concentrate future resource development and programming on the areas that meet your needs, the county’s strengths, and that align with the DeKalb County strategic plan,” she said In his departure remarks, Edwards, managing director of CERM, highlighted

May to deliver last State of County DeKalb interim CEO Lee May will deliver his last State of the County address to business owners and residents at two separate events on March 10. The first event is a paid luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Thalia N. Carlos Hellenic Center in Atlanta presented by the DeKalb Chamber of ComLee May merce, the Council for Quality Growth and DeKalb County. The second program, in the Maloof Auditorium at 1300 Commerce Drive, begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. May will review 2015 accomplishments and unveil the vision for 2016 in his third State of the County address.

May, who has served as interim CEO since July 17, 2013, says he will not run for CEO and will step down on Dec. 31. The member-based DeKalb Chamber is a 78-year-old business group that recommends and provides resources through its partnerships and affiliations. The 31-year-old Council for Quality Growth works to ensure continued growth and economic success through advocacy, information and education of its members. The Carlos Hellenic Center is at 2500 Clairmont Road. For sponsorship information, contact Amanda Janaskie at aj@councilforqualitygrowth.org or 770-813-3381. For questions about registration, contact Mallory Johnson at mj@councilforqualitygrowth.org or 770-813-3372. Visit www.dekalbchamber.org.

upcoming projects like the multimilliondollar expansion of the DeKalb Farmers Market, more than $1.2 billion in construction and development leveraged by the Perimeter CID, and coming MARTA stops in Dunwoody. “DeKalb’s proximity to the world’s busiest airport and the second-largest refuge intake facility in the United States presents entrepreneurial opportunities to support development of the Memorial Drive and the surrounding corridors,” he said. During his tenure, Edwards said the chamber began conversations with a range of organizations across the county with plans to develop “a neutral sandbox” to start the process of addressing historic land use and equity issues that continue to stand in the way of progress. He said the chamber is now focused on growing an under-utilized logistics corridor that sits off Moreland Avenue. “Now we need to focus on aligning regional supply chain resources to support

economic development growth and quality of life in South DeKalb,” he said. In his keynote presentation, MARTA CEO and General Manager Keith Parker described how the transit system is utilizing technology to provide commuter access and shape economic growth and quality of life in DeKalb County. He shared expansion plans for DeKalb, including I-20 rail service to Stonecrest and mixed-use redevelopments at the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe and Avondale Estates stations. Georgia Power’s DeKalb area manager, John Kelley, was among three businesses and individuals recognized for involvement and support of the chamber and the county. He received the Sirius Award for his tireless work and vision for the county. The Ambassador of the Year Award went to PalmerHouse Properties Realtor Joshua Pacini and Michele Rucker, director of Sales at Holiday Inn Atlanta-Northlake, for volunteerism.

LeVian Trunk Show at Macy’s S. DeKalb Macy’s South DeKalb shoppers can attend the LeVian “Colors of Diamonds” Fine Jewelry Trunk Show on March 1 for a look at the latest collection. The trunk show takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Schedule an appointment, which qualifies you to receive a 156-facet +Cush’n Pillow Chocolate Quartz Gemstone (1.10 carat). The new selections from the Legendary

LeVian jewelry collection feature an array of natural colored diamond jewelry and the famed brands of LeVian, LeVian Couture, LeVian Time, Arusha Exotics, Deco Estate Collection and LeVian Red Carpet. Macy’s Fine Jewelry is at the Gallery at South DeKalb, 2731 Candler Road. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 404-243-2680.

Summer camp job applications available Food monitors, camp counselors, recreation assistants, bus drivers, and pool lifeguards can apply through March 18 for seasonal summer employment with the DeKalb Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs. Those applying for positions in aquatics are required to submit proof of current certification in CPR, first aid, lifeguarding and

water safety instruction provided by the Red Cross, YMCA or other nationally recognized aquatic training programs. Applicants selected must complete a drug/ alcohol screening and criminal background check. Applications are available at www. co.dekalb.ga.us. For more information, contact LaShanda Davis, public education specialist, at 404-371-3643.

February 27, 2016

CrossRoadsNews

Black History The artwork of Brandy Bryant is on display at the Stonecrest Library in Lithonia through March 31.

Artist honors black leaders

Brandy Bryant’s art will be on display at the Stonecrest Library through March 31. Bryant uses acrylic, pencil, pastel and oil paints to create vibrant and colorful artwork that promotes a mesBrandy Bryant sage of love, beauty and positivity within local communities. For Black History Month, the exhibit also includes original paintings and drawings of prominent black leaders who have contributed to the advancement and education of black people. The library is at 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770-482-3828.

Peek, In the Mix for ‘A Night of Jazz’

Radio personality Darryl Peek and the band In the Mix will perform at “A Night of Jazz!” on Feb. 29 at the Hairston Crossing Library. The musical program starts at 6 p.m. Darryl Peek Peek, who hosts the “In the Mix” radio show on WIGOAM/1570, is a community leader, activist and lead vocalist with the African-American Philharmonic. The library is at 4911 Redan Road. For more information, call 404-508-7170.

CrossRoadsNews

February 27, 2016

“Pick a problem and be willing to do what you can to solve it. When we all pull together, you’d be amazed at … results we can get.”

Students learn from civil rights legends By Ken Watts

Civil rights activists Xernona Clayton, the Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian, J.T. Johnson and Rita Samuels brought black history to life on Feb. 22 for 500 DeKalb students and adults at the Porter Sanford Center in Decatur. Students from Columbia, Towers, McNair and Cedar Grove high schools listened to the panelists at “Celebration of Black History: A Conversation With Living Legends of the Civil Rights Movement” hosted by DeKalb interim CEO Lee May. In 1967, Clayton became the first black person in the South to have her own TV show and was a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. She is founder, president and CEO of the Trumpet Awards, which highlight AfricanAmerican accomplishments and contributions, and coordinated events for the SCLC. In 1966, Clayton helped desegregate all hospital facilities in Atlanta. Vivian, a friend of King, participated in Freedom Rides and sit-ins across the country. He also helped found numerous civil rights organizations, including Vision, the National Anti-Klan Network, and the Center for Democratic Renewal. In 2013, Vivian, a distinguished minister and author, was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor – for his vision and leadership in the fight for social justice. Johnson, an SCLC national board member, worked closely with King. After King was assassinated in 1968, he helped mobilize the Poor People’s March on Washington. Samuels worked in the SCLC’s Operation Breadbasket under the direction of King. She is founder of the Georgia Coalition of Black Women Inc., an advocacy, training and development organization. In 1971, she became the first black woman to serve on the executive staff of a Georgia governor when Jimmy Carter named her coordinator of the Governor’s Council on Human Relations. Clayton told students that movements start with an idea and determined individuals. On a whim, she made a phone call to the White House complaining about Atlanta hospitals that discriminated while receiving federal funds. President Lyndon Johnson responded with an executive order prohibit-

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

“Living Legends” Rita Samuels (from left), J.T. Johnson, Xernona Clayton and the Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian spoke to 500 DeKalb students and adults on Feb. 22 at the Porter Sanford Center.

ing racial bias at medical facilities across the country that received federal tax dollars. “Pick a problem and be willing to do what you can to solve it,” she said. “When we all pull together, you’d be amazed at what kind of results we can get.” Vivian told the students their lives are built on the sacrifices of their ancestors. “None of the things that you have now would have happened if there hadn’t been black people willing to suffer for each other and die for each other. In fact, you wouldn’t even be able to go to school. That must never stop,” he said. Johnson, a Montezuma native, said he was living in New York when the civil rights movement hit full stride in 1962. “When I saw the demonstrations and all those people getting locked up, I caught a bus home to Georgia,” he said. “I say all this to say I thought it was my responsibility to get involved. So today you have a responsibility to take on these things yourself.” Johnson recalled that it was students from schools throughout the South who gave the movement its powerful energy. Samuels said today’s young generation faces very different issues such as bullying, but positive change still depends on how individuals respond. “I think people just allow these bullies to

take over, but they may have deep personal issues,” she said. “Change his or her attitude and maybe you can change their actions.” A student asked panelists for their opinions on the backlash against the “Black Lives Matter” movement that grew out of the recent police shootings of unarmed black men. Some critics have said “all lives matter.” Vivian said they have never come to wholly understand that black lives matter. “Everybody knows that life matters,” he said. “The point is, do we ‘treat’ people like life matters? Those who are saying that black life matters know that blacks have never been treated in America like ‘all life matters.’” Cedar Grove senior Jordan Drake said he was impressed that the heroes were ordinary folks who rose to extraordinary challenges. “That helps me to keep striving, moving forward and do better,” he said. May said he hosted the program in the hopes that it will prompt students to model themselves after civil rights heroes. “They know about Dr. King, but they don’t know about the people who walked with him and were attacked by the dogs and water hoses and thrown in jail to win the freedoms and privileges that AfricanAmericans enjoy today,” he said. “Hopefully, it plants a seed in their minds that they can make a difference today.”

CrossRoadsNews

February 27, 2016

Black History

“My ultimate goal is to share a different perspective of who we are as black people in America.”

Sights & Sounds Museum chronicles black experience By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Every February during Black History Month, James Horton knows the drill. Children and adults make their sojourn to his Sights & Sounds Black Cultural Expo Museum to explore black history through his collection of more than 8,000 artifacts and pieces of literature. “People come out of curiosity or because someone tells them they should,” said Horton, who now operates the museum from a storefront inside North DeKalb Mall. Before he opened up in the mall permanently in May 2015, Horton did Black History Month stints first at Greenbriar Mall in February 2012 and then for the next three years at North DeKalb Mall. The museum brought so much traffic to North DeKalb in February 2015, mall management invited him to stay year-round. The nonprofit Sights & Sounds Black Cultural Expo Museum got an accidental start. In 1976, a young Horton was a recreation program supervisor working with kids at the Tuscaloosa, Ala., Parks & Recreation Department during the U.S. bicentennial celebrations. As he talked about U.S. history with kids from the neighborhood where he grew up, he found them incredulous about their own history. “They knew about Dr. King and Malcolm X and Harriet Tubman, but they did not know the struggles they went through,” Horton recalled. “They weren’t aware that there were people living in their own community who marched with Dr. King.” As Horton began to search for photos and other artifacts to show the kids, he realized just how few things were readily available. That discovery set him on what was to become his life’s passion and mission. Along the way, he learned that a wrench was invented by a black man, heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson, who held the patent, and that Africa was a land with kings and queens, and not just “Tarzan of the Apes.” “I started telling the young people to be proud of their heritage,” he said. “And as I found the information, I started feeling a whole lot better about myself.” Horton said he is trying to showcase the positive things about the black experience. “My ultimate goal is to share a different perspective of who we are as black people in America and in shaping the world as it is today,” he said. The museum goes from Africa to Barack Obama, the United States’ first African-

The Rockdale NAACP’s Black History & Heritage Celebration on Feb. 27 features spoken word artist Georgia Me.

Talent showcase honors heritage Acclaimed spoken word artist Georgia Me will headline the Rockdale NAACP’s 2016 Black History & Heritage Celebration on Feb. 27 in Conyers. The event, held at the Rockdale County Auditorium, begins at 3 p.m. Gary King, Rockdale NAACP president, said Black History Month is a time to celebrate the many accomplishments of black Americans. “We are partnering with local churches to bring everyone to the Rockdale Auditorium to witness the extraordinary talent that will grace our stage,” he said. “GA Me” or Georgia Me, aka Tamika Harper, is an acronym for her life’s credo: “God’s apostle, moving everyone.” The actress and producer has appeared in “Madea Goes to Jail,” “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry,” and “Unspoken Words.” Other performers include Rockdale teen Chelsea Williams, the Uhuru Dancers, Nita Lee and gospel singer Monica Hoskins. Georgia Lottery announcer Carol Blackmon will be mistress of ceremony. The auditorium is at 903 Main St. For tickets, call Jackie Johnson-Dickson at 410-960-1662 or email Lyn Gibson at clgibson@bellsouth.net. For more information, visit www.rockdalenaacp.com or call 770-761-9928.

James Horton’s Sights & Sounds Black Cultural Expo Museum at North DeKalb Mall includes information on Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman and 8,000 artifacts and pieces of literature.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

American president. There are sections on the Underground Railroad, black inventions, famous black women, tools of the slave plantations, great-grandmother’s kitchen, advertisements dating back to the 1940s portraying blacks, Confederate currency with black images, the Buffalo Soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen, Michael Jackson, and so much more. Horton said that some museum-goers have been surprised to learn that while Tubman was the Underground Railroad’s most famous conductor, she did not create the secret routes that carried enslaved Southern blacks to freedom in Northern cities. William Still, another prominent conductor, is often called “the Father of the Underground Railroad,” although the escape network dates back to the 1780s and the

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Panel to discuss legacy black communities Dr. Richard Moriba Kelsey will facilitate a community discussion on “The Past, Present and Future of Legacy African-American Communities” on Feb. 28 at the Metropolitan Library in Atlanta. The discussion, which R. Moriba Kelsey takes place at 3 p.m., is sponsored by the Metropolitan Library in collaboration with the Auburn Avenue Research Library. It will

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Quakers. Horton said visitors also are surprised to meet Jamie the Lawn Jockey, a statue of a lantern-carrying black man that safe houses along the Underground Railroad lit to signal to fleeing slaves that they were safe havens. Horton said more than 30 percent of the museum’s artifacts are donated and he welcomes donations, which are tax-deductible. North DeKalb Mall is at 2050 Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur. The Sights & Sounds Black Cultural Expo Museum is inside the mall near Ross department store. It is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Free tours are available daily. To schedule group tours, call 404-966-2137 or 404-4541462.

Call 770-492-5014

CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

“We must do all we can to raise awareness and provide resources to educate young adults about the warning signs of unhealthy relationships.”

‘Love Run’ raises domestic violence awareness

The inaugural “Love Run 5K” on Feb. 27 in Decatur will raise awareness about domestic violence issues and funds to help support victims. The event hosted by the Office of DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston, kicks off at 8:30 a.m. from the Decatur Square, 101 E. Court Square. The 5K is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier and Sherry Boston runners will follow a fast, certified-course through historic downtown and scenic neighborhoods. All proceeds benefit the children’s pro-

grams at the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence. Boston said its a owrthy cause. “We are excited about partnering with the public in a fun and healthy way to focus attention on a very serious issue impacting our community,” she said. The race coincides with Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, which is observed during February. Boston said early intervention is key. “We must do all we can to raise awareness and provide resources to educate young adults about the warning signs of unhealthy relationships to prevent them from escalating to potentially dangerous levels,” she said. Each year, the Solicitor General’s Office

prosecutes about 3,500 misdemeanor domestic violence cases, many handled by the Special Victims Unit created by Boston. She and her team also speak regularly to young people about teen dating violence in an effort to curb those numbers. One in three teens experiences some type of abuse in his or her dating relationships but only 33 percent report that abuse. The Solicitor’s office also prosecutes misdemeanor crimes including elder abuse, cruelty to children, vehicular homicide, drunk driving, harassment and stalking, trespassing, and animal cruelty. To register for the 5K, for more information or to donate, visit www.dekalbsolicitorgeneral.org/love-run.

3-D mammography at DeKalb Medical Breast Center Starting in March, patients will be able to access 3-D mammography at DeKalb Medical’s Comprehensive Breast Center on its North Decatur Campus. Cathy Landerman, manager of the center, said the staff is excited to provide the option to its patients in the fight against breast cancer. The state-of-the-art technology – digital breast tomosynthesis or 3-D mammography – creates cross-sectional images that give radiologists better visualization of breast tissue. When used in conjunction with 2-D

mammography, it can help reduce false positives and improve cancer detection. Radiologist Gordon Hixson Jr. said the addition of 3-D mammography rounds out the center. “Invasive cancer de- Gordon Hixson Jr. tection rate may increase up to 40 percent using this technology,” Hixson said in a Feb. 16 statement. He said 3-D mammography is especially

helpful for patients with dense breast tissue. “This is definitely an opportunity for women with complex breast tissue,” Hixson said. “The need to return for additional imaging following a screening mammogram will become less frequent. Call-back rates should gradually decrease by 10 [percent] to 15 percent.” The DeKalb Medical Foundation, which raises funds for the hospital’s capital projects, special programs and research activities, supported the purchase of the 3-D mammography machine.

Blood drive at Covington Library Donors are needed for the Red Cross Blood Drive on Feb. 29 at the Covington Library in Decatur. The drive takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. Individuals who are 17 (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. The Red Cross must collect about 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. Blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims; heart surgery and organ transplant patients; and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.

February 27, 2016

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online. To learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/ RapidPass and follow the instructions. The library is at 3500 Covington Highway. For more information, call 404-508-7180. Upcoming blood drives also include: n March 5 – New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Road in Lithonia, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and on March 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. n March 6 – Tucker First United Methodist Church, 2397 Fourth St. in Tucker, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Moms support group meetings A series of Moms, Babies and Breastfeeding Support Group meetings take place through May at Scott Candler and Hairston Crossing library branches. DeKalb Public Library in partnership with the DeKalb County Board of Health is host for the group meetings. They are held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 27, March 5, April 2 and May 7 at Scott Candler, 1917 Candler Road in Decatur, and from 10:30 a.m. to noon on March 8, April 12 and May 10 at Hairston Crossing, 4911 Redan Road in Stone Mountain. For more information, call 404297-7234.

Emory University

seeking drug to treat Zika cases

Drug development experts at Emory University are joining the fight against the Zika virus. Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory and the Emory Institute for Drug Development have launched an effort to identify and develop antivirals to treat the infection caused by the virus. There are currently no treatments or vaccines against the virus, which has been declared a public health emergency and is linked to birth defects. George Painter, CEO of DRIVE and director of EIDD, said that for the past three years, they have been synthesizing and develGeorge Painter oping antivirals against alphaviruses, such as chikungunya, and flaviviruses, such as dengue. “Since Zika is a flavivirus in the same family as dengue and hepatitis C, we can apply what we have learned working on alphaviruses and flaviviruses, as well as from our past success with treatments for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and herpes viruses, in our search for an effective drug,” Painter said in a Feb. 17 statement. Abel De La Rosa, chief scientific officer of DRIVE and EIDD, said they are making progress developing a Zika RNA Polymerase Assay. “This assay would allow us to rapidly Abel De La Rosa screen our nucleoside/ nucleotide library of compounds against Zika virus, some of which have shown activity against other flaviviruses,” De La Rosa said. “Lessons learned from HIV, hepatitis C and other viral diseases, where vaccine development lagged behind effective antiviral treatment successes, suggest the best rationale against emerging viral diseases is a parallel development path for both vaccines and antivirals.” The Georgia Research Alliance is providing critical early support. Vice President H. Lee Herron said DRIVE and EIDD have “a proven track record of developing assays and effective drugs to treat many of the world’s most devastating viruses.”

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++16CV1714-3++ Deshoncia A. Lane Plaintiff Vs. Denzel L. Lewis Defendant To: Denzel L. Lewis 3841 Kensington Rd., I-76 Decatur, GA 30032

Legal Notices 01/30, 02/06, 02/13, 02/20