COMMUNITY
KING HOLIDAY
Signing off for good
Choose from three parades
Veteran television news anchor and CrossRoads News reporter Ken Watts is trading the rat race for rest and relaxing. 2
Marchers will be stepping out in DeKalb, Henry and Rockdale counties on Jan. 16 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. 4
Let’s Keep DeKalb Peachy Clean Please Don’t Litter Our Streets and Highways
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER
January 7, 2017
Copyright © 2017 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
Volume 22, Number 37
www.crossroadsnews.com
For 2017, DeKalb residents hope for less crime, more jobs Editor’s Note: As we embark on a new year, we asked some residents what improvements they would like to see in DeKalb County in 2017. Their hopes centered on increasing economic development, creating more local jobs, and finding ways to keep a lid on crime so law-abiding residents feel safer on the streets and in their homes.
Shannon Pierson, Decatur “I would have to say do anything that brings more jobs to this part of the county because it seems like everything around here is closing. But I’m encouraged about Mike Thurmond coming in as CEO. He made changes and did a good job as superintendent so I think he Shannon Pierson has good intentions as CEO.”
Calvin Copenny, Doraville, security officer “I’m hoping that people can come together and stop all the violence and division and pull together especially in the African-American community. All the break-ins and crime and not getting enough education have got to stop. We need to plan and do the right thing in our lives and not be so reactive. We need to be proactive.”
job opportunities for teens to help them stay out of trouble. Also we have a lot of economically depressed neighborhoods along Candler Road and I’d like to see the county do more to draw investors in this area.”
Calvin Copenny
Mike Harris, Decatur, limo driver “We need to see increased police presence all over the county. Crime is an issue we have tried to tackle but have never really gotten a good handle on. I would like to see the state Labor Department do a little bit more to increase
Nakisha Thomas, Decatur, Mike Harris fast-food worker “I would just like for it to be safer for our kids. I have small kids growing up here, so just more safety on the streets. And I’m hoping for better relations with the police officers. We need to be able to Nakisha Thomas Please see HOPES, page 2
Decatur church offers ‘drive-through prayers’ More than 325 cars stopped by in the past year By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
People use drive-throughs for fast food, coffee, banking, weddings, and even funerals – so why not a drive-through for prayers? That was the vision that came to Dr. Norwida Marshall, a ministry leader at Mountainside Seventh-day Adventist Church in Decatur, in October 2015. Marshall, a four-year member of the church and retired elementary and early childhood education director, said the Drive Through Prayer Ministry was “a very vivid direction” from God. “The Holy Spirit directed me,” she said. She took the idea to the church board and three months later, the church on Rainbow Drive was inviting motorists driving by to stop for prayers. Marshall, a third-generation Seventhday Adventist, said prayer is the gateway to peace. “Everyone is in search of peace and happiness,” said Marshall, who lives in Lithonia. “When you relinquish your problems in prayers, you get release from God who is greater than all of us.” Monthly on second and fourth Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., seven to 10 church volunteers hold “Need a Prayer? Drive Through” placards along the sidewalk in front of the church and beckon motorists to stop. In the past 12 months, more than 325 cars have stopped. Members will be out again this month on Jan. 11 and Jan. 25, entreating people who feel stressed or have health, relationship, and economic issues to take a moment and have someone pray for them. Richie Cenac of Decatur is one of the Mountainside SDA members who volunteers as often as he can with the Drive Through Prayer Ministry.
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Richie Cenac of Decatur is among Mountainside Seventh-day Adventist members who volunteer with the Drive Through Prayer Ministry.
“We know that people are hurting and need prayers,” he said. “And we know God will answer prayer.” Gregory Saunders, who has been pastor at Mountainside SDA for four years, said the Drive Through Prayer Ministry is part of the church’s community outreach and Dorcas Society. When he arrived at the church in 2012, Saunders said he and the congregation talked about how the church can reach into the community. “Our motto is, ‘If our church was to close, would it be missed,’” he said.
With their firm belief in prayers, Saunders said the Drive Through Prayer Ministry made sense. “We find so many people today who are distressed,” he said. “We are trying to make it better for our fellow man. Prayer changes everything.” When ministry members are not around, the church has a permanent prayer box and blank cards on the property so visitors who need prayers can leave their names and contact information so that members can call and pray with them. When people stop, members ask about
their concerns, requests and challenges. Sometimes there is a line of cars waiting for prayer in the parking lot. Over its 12 months of operation, Saunders said people of all ages have stopped for prayers. “We have had millennials, Generation X, baby boomers,” he said. “Everybody comes.” In the past year, Marshall said 20 to 25 of the people who stopped for prayers have returned for more prayers and some with testimonies. “They say they had some prayers answered,” she said.
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Community
CrossRoadsNews
“Throughout his illustrious career, Ken has made the Greater Atlanta community a better place.”
Veteran journalist Ken Watts retires By Rosie Manins
Ken Watts, who has covered DeKalb County for CrossRoadsNews since 2012, retired on Dec. 31. It is the second retirement for Watts, who joined the newspaper after retiring from television news in 2008. Watts, an Emmy Award-winning journalist with 45 years in news, was an anchor for WAGA-TV’s Channel 5 and Fox 5 programs and WXIA-TV’s 11Alive. This week, Watts, 65, fondly recalled covering his home community of South DeKalb and other highlights of his lengthy career that include covering Nelson Mandela’s first visit to the U.S. in June 1990 and witnessing President Ronald Reagan signing the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday bill into law at the White House in November 1983. His also covered national political conventions, the Jesse Jackson presidential campaign, and the 1989 San Francisco earthquake during the World Series. “In this profession, if you’re lucky, you do form a connection with the community, so in that sense I have been fortunate,” he said. Watts celebrated his last day at CrossRoadsNews with colleagues and community leaders on Dec. 30 at the Red Lobster restaurant on Candler Road. Jennifer Parker, CrossRoadsNews editor/publisher, said Watts first came to work part time but was soon all in. “Sometimes we had to remind him to go home,” she said, noting his dedication. Parker said he will be missed but deserves the time to pursue his bucket-list projects. Watts said he wasn’t thinking full-time work when he joined the paper. “It just worked that way,” he said, adding that DeKalb’s political and economic challenges over the past few years kept him and the newspaper busy.
January 7, 2017
Ken Watts (center) received proclamations from U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (at left) and Commissioners Larry Johnson (above left) and Mereda Davis Johnson (in red). With them are Genet Hopewell, and Jennifer and Curtis Parker.
He said it will be strange to take more of a back seat on local trends and issues. “I will miss the sense of being plugged in, being up-to-the-minute.” He said the paper has a tremendous impact on South DeKalb. “People depend on it,” he said. “And that felt good. There is a very powerful bond between the paper and the people who consume the news that you work so hard to put out there, so I’ll miss that.” At his retirement lunch, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson presented him with a proclamation, declaring Dec. 30 as Ken Watts Day in the 4th Congressional District. “Throughout his illustrious career, Ken has made the Greater Atlanta community a better place through his dedication, hard work and professionalism.” Proclamations honoring Watts and his achievements also were presented by DeKalb’s District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson and District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson. Watts said he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and four grandchildren. Since 2015, he has been a commentator for “Just a Minute” on CBS 46 News and will continue his involvement.
Pump station open house DeKalb residents can learn about new construction for the Honey Creek Pump Station and Force Main in the Stonecrest area on Jan. 10 at a Community Open House at the Stonecrest Library. The Department of Watershed Management is host for the event, which will provide information about the sanitary sewer collection system. It begins at 6 p.m. The construction is a new phase of a capital improvement project under the federal consent decree. The sanitary sewer collection system in the Stonecrest/Lithonia area is designed to move wastewater through a sewer pipe from a higher elevation to a lower elevation, providing more sewer capacity and reducing sanitary sewer overflows. Construction will take place throughout 2017 and will require intermittent traffic detours as work progresses. Notices about traffic flow will be posted, advising residents and motorists of construction work and traffic restrictions. The library is at 3123 Klondike Road. For more information, email projectinfo@dekalbcountyga.gov or call 1-800-986-1108.
More outreach to youth needed HOPES,
from page
1
trust them more but so much has been going on between us and them.”
Johnny Mitchell, retired postal worker “More restaurant options beside fried chicken places and other fast food and a better assortment of stores here at South DeKalb mall like they have in the northern part of the county and lower the crime rate.”
Johnny Mitchell
Jade Rodgers, Decatur, teacher “I’d like to see more recreational places for our youth to help them avoid trouble. Maybe like more YMCAs that give scholarships to kids who can’t afford to pay to be a member there. I’m thinking specifically about our teen boys because a lot of them are running the streets.” Jade Rodgers
– Compiled by Ken Watts
CrossRoadsNews
January 7, 2017
Community Diane Adoma
Jimmy Clanton
Jay Cunningham Mary-Pat Hector
Jonathan Phillips
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George Turner
Six more candidates for Stonecrest races Six more candidates have announced their intentions to seek elective offices in the city of Stonecrest. Former School Board member Jay Cunningham; Jimmy Clanton Jr., a web developer/graphic designer; nonprofit executive Jonathan Phillips; and youth activist and Spelman College student Mary-Pat Hector join George Turner and Diane Adoma, who had said earlier that they were considering runs but have now made it official. They bring to 13 the number of candidates who have announced for the new city’s March 21 elections ahead of qualifying, which runs Jan. 9-12 at the DeKalb Elections and Registration office. Clanton, a former president of the Parks of Stonecrest neighborhood, is seeking the District 1 seat. He said he will work hard for everyone in the city. “I have at the heart of my pursuit the wellbeing, preservation, safety and relevance of our awesome new city,” he said. Cunningham, Turner, Phillips and Hector are all seeking the District 4 seat. Cunningham, a businessman, said that he got several calls from people encouraging him to seek office in the new city. “I deliberated it, did my research and decided to go ahead,” he said Wednesday. “It is important to have elected officials in the city who are able to communicate and connect with the rest of the county and the state. That is what I bring to the table.” Turner said that over the past 15 years, he has worked on several boards, commissions, associations, coalitions, alliances and other volunteer groups to improve the quality of life for the residents of South DeKalb. “I pledge to represent you with integrity,
transparency, vigor and a sense of urgency,” he said. Phillips, an 18-year city resident, said he wants to be the voice of the people of District 4 and to serve others. “I want to make sure that there is integrity, openness and honesty,” he said. Hector, 19, has lived in Stonecrest for four years. She said she is running to be an advocate for residents and to offer more diversity on the council as a young person and woman. “It is important for the elderly and young people to have an advocate in the city,” she said. “I know that economic development is why Stonecrest came about, but economic development is not the only thing that a city needs.” Businesswoman Adoma, who is seeking the District 5 seat, said she will work to develop green, safe, walkable healthy communities with an emphasis on a robust tourism and convention center to generate revenues for the city. “I have seen the challenges presented to this district and how political decisions impact the citizens,” she said. “The right leader will not be afraid to make the hard decision, even when it is not popular or politically feasible. I am that leader.” Other previously announced candidates are businessman Plez Joyner and program manager Rob Turner, who are seeking the District 2 council seat; Eric Hubbard for District 3; and Charles S. Hill II for District 5. Jason Lary, Douglas Favors and Dr. Charles S. Hill have announced for mayor. Qualifying opens at 9 a.m. on Jan. 9 and closes at 4:40 p.m. on Jan. 12. The qualifying fee is $450 for council seats and $600 for mayor.
E-filing in civil cases now mandatory DeKalb Superior Court Chief Judge Tangela Barrie has signed a standing order making e-filing mandatory for civil cases. It took effect Dec. 31. Cases excepted are ex parte motions, adoptions, bond validations, domestication of foreign judgments, surrogacy declaratory judgment and termination of parental rights, and family violence temporary protective orders. Mandatory e-filing will be made via Tyler’s Odyssey eFileGA, which will enable residents and attorneys to open cases and file documents from a secure website 24/7. Debra DeBerry, clerk of Superior Court, says it simplifies the process. “We have reached a pivotal moment in our transition to electronic court records
and now documents can be digitally filed, served, distributed and delivered at any time and any place,” DeBerry said. “This transition will help us achieve greater efficiencies as well as create time savings for attorneys and clerks and enhance access to justice Debra DeBerry for self-represented litigants.” Using eFileGA helps courts streamline processes, reduce costs, and save paper. DeKalb joins ourts in most of metro Atlanta are using eFileGA. For questions, call Lisa Oakley at 404687-3875.
Free school supplies at Exchange Park Free school supplies will be available at Repack the Backpack on Jan. 11 at the Exchange Recreation Center in Decatur. It takes place 6 to 8 p.m. and is presented by Amerigroup Community Care in partnership with the DeKalb Police South Precinct. There will be free health screenings, enter-
tainment, games and activities for the whole family. School supplies are available while supplies last and the child must be present. The rec center is at 2771 Columbia Drive. For more information, visit www.myamerigroup.com/ga/georgia-home.html, click on Your Community, then Atlanta Region.
Monster Jam show moved to March 5 The Jan. 14 Monster Jam show at the Georgia Dome has been rescheduled to March 5 due to the recently scheduled Atlanta Falcons’ home playoff game. All tickets will be honored for the rescheduled show, which begins at 3:30 p.m. Customers unable to attend the rescheduled March 5 show should contact their original point of purchase. For additional
questions, contact the Georgia Dome Box Office at 1-800-635-8000 or Feld customer service at 1-800-844-3545. For group rates and information, call 770-578-5125. The scheduled March 4 show at 7 p.m. will occur as planned. To purchase tickets and Pit Party passes to the March 4 or March 5 shows, visit www. Ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000.
Apply to The Workshop at Macy’s today. If your woman or minority-owned company is ready to take the next steps toward success, then we invite you to apply for The Workshop at Macy’s – our free and exclusive vendor retail development program in New York City. Learn more and apply now at macysinc.com/workshop
CrossRoadsNews
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January 7, 2017
Dr. Martin
“Martin Luther King was for everybody, not just blacks or any one race. He was about unity.”
Volunteers needed for three King Day parades 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com
Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker General Manager Curtis Parker Assistant Editor Brenda Yarbrough Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Editorial Intern Rosie Manins Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. 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 advertisements, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.
Circulation Audited By
By Rosie Manins
For the first time, East Metro residents have three opportunities to parade in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 88th birthday and his civil rights legacy. Marchers will parade in DeKalb, Henry and Rockdale counties on Jan. 16 in observance of the annual King holiday. The DeKalb and Henry branches of the NAACP are hosting their annual parades, and the Rockdale County Think Tank is making history with Rockdale’s first ever King parade and rally. The parade committees are seeking volunteers and marchers to take part in their observances and associated activities. The Rockdale committee also has vending opportunities available. All three organizers are encouraging community, civic, service, church, social and political groups; fraternities and sororities; and homeowners associations to participate. Residents are encouraged to line parade routes. Rockdale County Think Tank CEO Josie Dean said the parades are about bringing people together and strengthening neighborhoods. “Martin Luther King was for everybody, not just blacks or any one race. He was about unity and this is about coming together as a community and as a melting pot.”
and Jonesboro, will be the keynote speaker at an 11 a.m. celebration taking place right after the parade. The celebration, which has been held annually since 2010, will include choral readings, music, dance and information on the history of the HCNAACP, with the program scheduled to last 90 minutes. Registration to march is $20. All other activities are free and open to the public. To register, contact Mildred Reed at mil_reed@bellsouth. net or 678-361-0632. The DeKalb NAACP’s 15th annual King Day Parade will proceed from Green Pastures Christian Ministries to Martin Luther King Jr. High School.
Mountain high schools will honor King’s legacy in the DeKalb NAACP’s 15th annual parade. The theme is “Remembering the Dream, Honoring the Dreamer.” The parade kicks off at noon from Green Pastures Christian Ministries, 5455 Flat Shoals Parkway in Decatur, to MLK Jr. High, 3991 Snapfinger Road in Lithonia. Participants are asked to gather in the church parking lot at 10 a.m. A short ceremony will be held just before the parade with senior pastor Dr. Collette L. Gunby and DeKalb Superintendent R. Stephen Green. The MLK Jr. High marching band will be congratulated for its participation in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, representing Georgia and the DeKalb DeKalb NAACP parade County School System. Red and Hundreds of marchers and white balloons also will be released, bands from MLK, Cedar Grove, symbolizing love and peace. Clarkston, Cross Keys and Stone Over 20 organizations have reg-
Analyst to discuss ‘Next Civil Rights Movement’ CNN political analyst Bakari Sellers will discuss “Setting the Agenda for the Next Civil Rights Movement” on Jan. 11 at Georgia Tech. The lecture begins at 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom, 350 Ferst Drive N.W. in Atlanta. To register, visit www.diversity. gatech.edu/2017-mlk-lecture. The discussion comes as the nation celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 88th birthday, as the 50th anniversary of his asBakari Sellers sassination nears, and as many of the same issues – racial discrimination, poverty and social justice – that King worked to address continue to be important to many in the nation today. Sellers, who served in South Carolina’s House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014, is an attorney at the Strom Law Firm and a Morehouse graduate.
istered for the parade, which will be led by retired DeKalb NAACP President and Operation LEAD founder John Evans as grand marshal. Participation is free but registration is required. To register, contact Vivian Moore at naacpdek@comcast.net or 404-241-8006.
Henry County peace march Marchers will be “Advancing the Dream” in the Henry NAACP’s annual King Parade/Peace March. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the Henry County Performing Arts Center, 37 Lemon St. in McDonough. Participants should line up at 9 a.m. for the march through historic downtown McDonough. Volunteers are needed to help along the parade route and all are welcome to participate. The Rev. T.J. McBride, senior pastor of Tabernacle of Praise Church International, McDonough
Rockdale’s first King parade Rockdale residents will be able to attend a King Day parade in their county for the very first time. The parade, organized by Rockdale County Think Tank CEO Josie Dean, kicks off at noon at Rockdale County High, 1174 Bulldog Circle N.E. in Conyers. Up to 150 people are expected to march down Green Street to the county’s main courthouse, where a rally will discuss King’s legacy and how the community can move forward. Three Rockdale Schools marching bands have signed on as well as several county elected officials. Dean also is organizing for police officers to volunteer their time. To be a parade partner, email josiedean59@yahoo.com or call 770-369-1507. To register a group to participate, email conyersmlkparade@mail.com or call 678-8242946. For vendor information, email blj1@comcast.net or call 770-364-8115.
Totes 2 Tots honors King’s legacy Children in Georgia’s foster care system will get backpacks and suitcases to carry their belongings because of the annual Totes 2 Tots collection drive that honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Georgia Cancer Specialists and Northside Hospital are hosting the 15th annual drive Jan. 12-14, and donations of new or nearly new backpacks, duffel bags and suitcases will be accepted at locations across the state. In DeKalb, donors can drop off items on Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Georgia Cancer Specialists locations at Hillandale, 5700 Hillandale Drive, Building 200 – Suite 250, in Lithonia, and the Stemmer Building, 2712 Lawrenceville Highway in Decatur. More than 13,000 children from infants to teens are in the foster care system, and many shuffle their belongings in garbage bags when they are moved from home to home. Since Totes 2 Tots launched in 2003,
more than 47,000 bags have been collected and distributed. Georgia Cancer Specialists and Northside partner with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services to distribute the bags in the counties in which they’re collected. DFCS Director Bobby Cagle praised those who support the program and said it allows foster children the ability to transport their belongings with a sense of dignity. “By providing backpacks and luggage, the program offers a sense of stability during a time of uncertainty,” Cagle said. Totes 2 Tots was originally held on King Day as a way to honor King’s vision of philanthropy and give back to the community. It now precedes the weekend of service for the national King holiday. For more dropoff locations, visit fb.com/totes2tots or call 1-877-716-2773. To make a donation, visit give.northside.com/totes2tots.
NAACP president on civil rights, Trump Free copies of ‘I Have rights organization’s 18th president NAACP National President and CEO. Cornell Brooks will deliver a The King Day lecture, which is keynote lecture on civil rights at in conjunction with the Black Law Emory University School of Law’s Students Association, begins at 6:30 King Day Celebration on Jan. 12. p.m. in the Tull Auditorium, GamBrooks, a civil rights attorney, brell Hall. It will be followed by a social justice advocate and fourthreception in Hunter Atrium. Seating generation ordained minister, will is limited and RSVP is encouraged lecture on “Why We Can’t Wait: Cornell Brooks at https://emorylaw.wufoo.com/ Civil Rights on the Eve of the forms/2017-emory-law-mlk-day-lecture. Trump Inauguration.” Free parking will be available after 4 p.m. Brooks, who envisions an NAACP that is “multiracial, multiethnic, multigenerational, in the Lowergate south deck, 1705 Lowergate and millions of members strong,” is the civil Drive in Atlanta. Visit law.emory.edu.
a Dream’ coloring book Kids 5 to 12 years old can pick up a free copy of a coloring book with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speech from Jan. 9 to Jan. 14 at the Scott Candler Library in Decatur. Copies of the “I Have a Dream” coloring book will be available during library hours while supplies last. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was delivered on Aug. 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The library is at 1917 Candler Road. For more information, call 404-286-6986.
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CrossRoadsNews
January 7, 2017
Luther King Jr. Day
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King Center CEO Bernice A. King said the honorees made notable strides toward improving the quality of life for all.
Stonecrest teen among 2017 Salute to Greatness honorees By Rosie Manins
A legendary pastor, a civil rights and human rights pioneer, a retail giant, and youth activists are among seven people and groups being honored at the King Center’s 2017 Salute to Greatness Gala on Jan. 14 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The SCLC’s Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery and Costco CEO Craig Jelinek will receive the Salute to Greatness Award, and Mary-Pat Hector and Students Against Violence Everywhere executive Carleen Wray and its student and program participant Gabrielle AllenDestroismaisons will get the Coretta Scott King ANGEL Award. Civil rights icon Doris Crenshaw, founder of the Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute in 2008, is receiving the Christine King Farris Legacy of Service Award, and actor, producer and humanitarian Edward James Olmos is getting the Yolanda D. King Higher Ground Award. King Center CEO Bernice A. King said this year’s honorees have made notable strides toward improving the quality of life for all. “The Salute to Greatness Award recognizes national and/or international individuals and corporations that exemplify excellence in leadership, pursue the universal quest for social justice and worldwide peace in the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr.,” she said. The annual gala is the King Center’s biggest fundraiser. Lowery, 95, helped create the SCLC with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Ralph D. Abernathy in 1957. He was a chief organizer of the Selma-to-Montgomery marches in 1965 that led to passage of the Voting Rights Act. With his late wife, he co-founded the Joseph and Evelyn Lowery Institute, which provides a platform for citizens to learn the important principles that underlie nonviolent advocacy. Lowery received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 from President Barack Obama. He is also a recipient of the NAACP’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center Peace Award.
Celebrate the Dreamer
A-Destroismaisons
Joseph E. Lowery
Doris Crenshaw
Edward Olmos
Jelinek became Costco CEO in January 2012. He is being recognized for his company’s charitable contributions, commitment to sustainability and employee volunteering programs. Costco, which budgets 1 percent of pretax profits for donations, gives grants to charities that focus on children, education and health or human services. In 2015, it gave more than $31 million. Hector, 19, lives in Stonecrest. She is national youth director of the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network. She has been an activist since age 10 when she founded Youth in Action and began to mobilize young people across the country to take a stand on issues like bullying, gun violence and drugs. In 2013, she launched the Think Twice campaign after the senseless shooting deaths of a 14-year-old Grayson High student in Loganville and a 15-year-old student in Chicago and was awarded a $50,000 Peace First Prize grant to take the campaign national. Hector, a sophomore at Spelman College, is majoring in political science and women’s studies. Wray and Allen-Destroismaisons are being honored for their work with the Raleigh, N.C.-based nonprofit SAVE, which engages students in grades k-12 in violence prevention efforts. Crenshaw is CEO of the leadership
Georgia’s NAACP president to keynote DeKalb celebration Georgia NAACP President Francys Johnson will speak to residents, employees and leaders at DeKalb County’s 33rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on Jan. 13. The free public event starts at 10 a.m. in the Maloof Francys Johnson Auditorium. It honors King’s life and legacy ahead of the Jan. 16 federal holiday marking his 88th birthday. The theme is “King’s Legacy of Peace With Justice for Our World.”
Johnson, a civil and criminal lawyer, is senior minister at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Pembroke and Magnolia Missionary Baptist Church in Statesboro. He has worked for the NAACP in various roles, including state legal redress director, state executive director and Southeast regional director. Johnson is the convener of the Moral Monday Georgia Movement, a multi-issue, multiracial, nonpartisan coalition of organizations aimed at restoring positive morality to public discourse, policy and politics. The Maloof Auditorium is at 1300 Commerce Drive in Decatur.
Flippin to headline MLK Breakfast The Henry County NAACP is hosting its fourth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast at the Shiloh Baptist Church Education Center, 253 Macon St. in McDonough, at 10 a.m. on Jan. 14. The speaker is the Rev. Dr. William E. Flippin Sr. of the Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Atlanta. The cost is $25 per person or $150 for a table of six. For more information, visit www.henrycountyganaacp.com or call Sarah Billups at 770-506-4390. William Flippin Sr.
Mary-Pat Hector
Craig Jelinek
development institute that addresses educational policy issues affecting African-Americans. Olmos, an Oscar-nominated actor, supports causes like stewardship of the Carleen Wray oceans, national conservancy, wildlife and Latino culture. The gala, which starts at 6 p.m., is in the Centennial Ballroom. The hotel is at 265 Peachtree St. N.E. in downtown Atlanta. For tickets, visit www.thekingcenter.org or call 404-526-8911.
On Jan. 16, the nation will observe the 32nd Martin Luther King Jr. Day with volunteer work, parades and speeches. The national holiday celebrates the 88th birthday of King, who was born on Jan. 15, 1929. The Baptist minister led the 1960s civil rights movement that opposed segregation and fought for voting and civil rights for African-Americans. King, who grew up on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, was assassinated at age 39 on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. Martin Luther King Day, observed the third Monday in January, was first cele-brated in 1986. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.
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Wellness
CrossRoadsNews
“We are building upon efforts to expand access to naloxone for first responders and others who encounter overdoses.” Nineteen Georgia Piedmont Technical College practical nursing graduates participated in the “pinning ceremony.”
GPTC pins 19 graduates as LPNs Nineteen students participated in Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s official “pinning ceremony” in December as its 2016 Class of Licensed Practical Nurse Graduates. The graduates took the Florence Nightingale pledge after successfully completing the three-semester program. Georgia Piedmont’s practical nursing program runs two sessions each year. One
January 7, 2017
session starts in August and the other begins in January. Each session is open to 28 students who meet the entrance requirements. Practical nursing graduates are employed in many areas, including nursing homes, hospice, IV therapy, home care, medical offices and in research. For more information, visit www.gptc. edu.
8 students get first white lab coats Eight Cedar Grove High students have earned medical credentials as part of the Reach One Each One High School Youth Medical Mentoring Program at Grady Memorial Hospital in conjunction with the Morehouse School of Medicine and the Emory School of Medicine. DeKalb School District participants Derek Brown, Anarah Huger, Sha’Quandra Hutchinson, Kamryn McClendon, Chelsea Porter, Jasmine Powell, Jada Quintons and Jada Rogers received their first white lab coats on Dec. 8. In total, 34 Atlanta area students graduated from the program in fall 2016. The program is led by Dr. Omar K. Danner, trauma surgeon and surgical critical care specialist at Grady and associate professor of surgery at the Morehouse School
of Medicine. Reach One Each One includes “an overview of the path to medical school; comprehensive exposure to the field of health care; explanation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; a health care professional career day; a financial literacy seminar compliments of Fifth Third Bank; a tour of MSM and Emory Medical School; skills lab with hands-on simulation, knot tying, and casting; and multidisciplinary clinical rotations in emergency medicine, internal medicine, neuroscience and critical care, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery/ anesthesia.” As part of completing the STEM-based program, students also received a certificate and a book. Mentoring continues after the program.
Lifesaving drug for opioid overdoses now available over the counter Gov. Nathan Deal has expanded access to a lifesaving drug, naloxone, for overdoses in an effort to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic. In a request to the Georgia Pharmacy Board, Deal asked that the emergency drug used to reverse opioid overdoses be removed from the dangerous drug list and rescheduled as a Schedule V exempt drug, and the Nathan Deal board approved the emergency rule. At the same time, Deal directed the Department of Public Health to issue a standing order to allow naloxone to be dispensed over-thecounter by pharmacists across the state. Opioids include the prescription painkill-
ers oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and methadone; fentanyl, a synthetic opioid pain reliever that can be made illegally; and the illegal drug heroin. In a statement before the Georgia Senate Opioid Abuse Study Committee on Nov. 9, John Horn, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, said DeKalb County had only nine heroin overdose deaths in 2013 and jumped to 27 in the first 11 months of 2015, with 21 of those involving fentanyl. Deal said Georgia and the country are experiencing an opioid abuse epidemic. “In the fight against this trend, naloxone has come to be considered an important and lifesaving tool in treating opioid overdoses,” Deal said in a Dec. 16 statement. “We are now building upon our previous efforts to expand access to naloxone for first respond-
ers and others who regularly encounter overdoses as they are occurring by placing this tool in the hands of Georgians, especially parents, who are both firsthand witnesses and victims of opioid overdose.” Deal said his administration will continue working to implement similar efforts to save lives across the state, citing the 21st Century Cures Act, a bipartisan health care legislation that includes additional federal funding for states to fight the opioid crisis, that was signed into law. “Funding from this legislation will expand access to naloxone and help lower its price,” Deal said. Naloxone does not produce a high and adverse effects are rare in therapeutic doses, health officials say. Deal signed the Georgia 911 Medical
Amnesty Law in 2014, making Georgia the 19th state to extend legal protections to those who administer naloxone to someone experiencing an overdose. Deal intends to introduce additional legislation in the upcoming session to continue fighting the opioid epidemic in Georgia. DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald called naloxone “a powerful weapon in the fight against the increasing epidemic of opioid abuse that poses a threat to public health in Georgia.” “The governor’s deci- Brenda Fitzgerald sive action to make this drug accessible to anyone in a position to assist persons at risk of overdose will save countless lives.”
CrossRoadsNews
January 7, 2017
Finance
7
In DeKalb County, there were 1,661 initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, down 3.3 percent from October.
CashFlow game offers fun way to learn about investment strategies Adult patrons can learn about investing in a fun way at CashFlow: Play the Game on Jan. 11 at the Flat Shoals Library in Decatur. It takes place 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – call or visit the branch to register. Investing is a skill many can’t learn from a book. CashFlow is an interesting and experiential way to teach investing and wealth building – manage assets and liabilities, trade stocks, and fight your way out of the rat race. The library is at 4022 Flat Shoals Parkway. For more information, call 404-244-4370.
Pathways at Urban League Culinary arts Job seekers can sign up for the Urban League of Greater Atlanta’s apprenticeship for Pathways 2 Empowerment Orientation that begins Jan. 9. To register, visit http://ulgatl.org/orientation. The 9:30 a.m.-to-noon session takes place at 229 Peachtree St. young adults N.E., Suite 300, in Atlanta. Pathways 2 Empowerment provides customized services, including job readiness assessment and workshops, resume development, online job search, interview skills training, dressing for success workshops, free one-on-one business coaching, job referrals, and job placement. ULGA offers a wide variety of programs designed to deliver practical, relevant and impactful solutions to equip individuals and families with the education and skills they need to move up the economic ladder. For more information, email info@ulgatl.org or call 404-6591150.
DeKalb residents ages 18-24 who are interested in a food industry career can apply for a paid culinary arts apprenticeship offered by Workforce Development in association with United Youth of America. The Riverdale-based nonprofit UYA’s mission is to serve the needs of underprivileged children, youth and young adults ages 5 to 24. For more information about the ongoing apprenticeship, visit www.uyoa.org and click on Courses, or email awilson@uyoa.org.
Metro Atlanta unemployment rate dips to 4.8 percent in November Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate in November declined to 4.8 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 5 percent in October. The rate in November 2015 was 4.9 percent. In DeKalb County, there were 1,661 initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, down 57 or 3.3 percent from 1,718 in October. In November 2015, there were 1,981 first claims for an over-the-year decline of 320 or 16.2 percent. The number of metro Atlanta jobs increased by 19,200, or 0.7 percent, to 2,711,900 in November. Most of the job gains came in a sector associated with holiday hiring – trade, transportation and warehousing,
11,500. Other sectors that showed increases include professional and business services, 3,000; government, 1,600; manufacturing, 1,200; financial activities, 1,000; information services, 900; education and health services, 700; leisure and hospitality, 200; and other services, 100. Construction lost 1,000 jobs. Over the year, 68,200 jobs were added, a 2.6 percent growth rate, up from 2,643,700 in November 2015. Most of the job growth came in professional and business services, 20,700; education and health services, 10,500; leisure and hospitality, 9,500; trade, transportation and warehousing, 9,200; construction, 6,600; government, 5,600; financial activities, 5,400; manufacturing, 1,700; and
information services, 1,400. The number of employed residents increased by 7,851 to 2,818,541. The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs, grew by 1,851 to 2,960,745. The number of unemployed residents declined by 6,000 to 142,204. Since the beginning of 2016, Atlanta’s labor force has grown by 106,319, and in the same period, 102,518 more residents have become employed. The number of initial claims for UI rose by 313, or 2.7 percent, to 11,855 in November. Over the year, claims were down by 2,402, or 16.8 percent, from 14,257 in November 2015.
Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.1 percent. Heart of GeorgiaAltamaha had the highest at 6.3 percent. Georgia’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate for November was 5.3 percent, up from 5.2 percent in October. It was 5.5 percent in November 2015. The U.S. rate is 4.6 percent. Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the Georgia Department of Labor’s online job listing service, Employgeorgia.com, to search for jobs or recruit new employers. In November, 42,278 new job openings in Atlanta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 62,905 new job openings were posted. For more information, visit dol.georgia.gov. Plaintiff Vs. Nicholas Davis Defendant To: Nicholas Davis 2821 Zane Gray Dr. Atlanta, GA 30316 By ORDER of the Court for service by publication dated Nov. 28, 2016, you are hereby notified that on Nov. 23, 2016, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court and to service upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Noelani Reynoso-Carrasco, 3539 Robins Landing Way, Apt. 8, Decatur, GA. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days Nov. 28, 2016. Witness the Honorable Clarence F. Seeliger, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 16th day of Dec., 2016
of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: ++16FM11769-3++ Tceeola Smith filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Nov. 03, 2016 to change name from: Tceeola Marquita Smith to Iceeola Marquita Livingston. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: Nov. 03, 2016
Legal Notices 12/24, 12/31, 01/07, 01/14
Notice OF PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: ++16FM12513-1++ Julius D. Watson
Plaintiff Vs. Angenola Watson Defendant To: 5864 Quebec Ave Minneapolis, MN By ORDER of the Court for service by publication dated Dec. 09, 2016, you are hereby notified that on Dec. 06,
2016, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court and to service upon the plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: 2323 Ousley Ct., Decatur, GA 30032. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days Dec. 19, 2016. Witness the Honorable Courtney L.
Johnson, Judge of the DeKalb Supe rior Court. This the 13th day of Dec., 2016
12/31, 01/07, 01/14, 01/21
Notice OF PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
12/31, 01/07, 01/14, 01/21
Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court
Civil Action Case Number: ++16FM12294-3++ Noelani Reynoso-Carrasco
Marketplace MARKETPLACE RATES Place your MarketPlace line ad here – up to 20 words for $25. Additional words are $3 per block of five words (maximum 45 words). Boxed Ads (with up to 3 lines bold headline): $35 plus cost of the classified ad. Send ad copy with check or credit card information and con tact phone number (if different from ad) to MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to marketplace@crossroadsnews.com. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.
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CrossRoadsNews
8
January 7, 2017
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