CrossRoadsNews, June 25, 2011

SPORTS

WELLNESS

SCENE

Former Clarkston shooting guard Shanisha Mitchell hassigned a full athletic scholarship to play at Faulkner University in Alabama. 5

Because fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber, diabetics can enjoy many as long as they keep track of portion sizes. 8

A documentary about reconciliation efforts among blacks and whites more than nine decades after a race riot will be screened June 26. 9

On to the next level

Copyright © 2011 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

Sweet enough for diabetics

June 25, 2011

Healing after a riot

Volume 17, Number 8

www.crossroadsnews.com

Stone Mountain pulls plug on July 4th parade after 28 years

By Donna Williams Lewis

Families who looked forward to the annual Fourth of July Parade in Stone Mountain for the past 28 years, will have to find another one to watch this year.

several years ago.”

The parade, held continuously since 1983, also took a major hit in 2007 when WSB ended its legendary Salute 2 America parade through downtown Atlanta.

For many years, the two parades shared resources, with several bands and groups performing in both.

Stone Mountain fed and housed them at the city’s old Rock Gym. After performing in Stone Mountain, their buses would get a police escort to Atlanta for the WSB parade. Organizers say that after WSB’s parade ended, signing up bands to go to Stone Mountain became difficult.

Parade chairman Paul Hollis said the

The July Fourth parade in the village of Stone Mountain has been a red-white-andblue icon in DeKalb County for a generation.

But its floats and bands and extra-large portion of politicians won’t be marching down Main Street this year.

The parade, at least for the time being, has ended.

“It all has to do with the economy,” said City Councilwoman Nan Nash, who announced the parade’s demise in her monthly e-mailed newsletter.

Nash said the city could not afford to help fund the parade as much as it had in the past and “sponsors fell by the wayside Please see PARADE, page 4

Property Values in Free Fall Justin Lewis saw the appraised value of his home on Panola Road go from $120,000 in 2010 to $52,000 in 2011.

Some see home assessments drop 50% or more “It’s almost like a punch in the gut when you hear how low homes are going for in our area. I think our entire area is undervalued.”

Wendall Ervin, President Hidden Hills Civic Association

By Donna Williams Lewis

Justin Lewis bought a home off Panola Way in May 2010 for $120,000.

A few months later, DeKalb County appraised the home at $110,700.

At the beginning of June, when his 2011 tax statement came, the county again lowered the appraised value of his home, to $52,000.

“It was kind of hard for me to believe,” he said.

Across DeKalb, homeowners were stunned by their 2011 appraised property values, which plummeted overall by 13 percent from last year.

The county mailed 227,371 notices this month, and many of them showed lowered property values.

New state legislation requiring distressed property sales to be factored into appraisals has helped to drive property values down in DeKalb, which has seen unprecedented foreclosures as the real estate tsunami and economic depression engulfed homeowners over the last three to four years.

Calvin C. Hicks Jr., the county’s chief appraiser, said they made some fairly substantial changes in the appraised values of homes.

“I have received an awful lot of calls from people who said, ‘I think it was a little low, I’d

Carla Parker / CrossRoadsNews

like it to be a little higher,’ ” he said.

Lewis lives in Lithonia, where home values dropped by 30 percent.

In Stone Mountain, property values are down even lower, by 34 percent.

Wendall Ervin, president of the Hidden Hills Civic Association in Stone Mountain, says it’s been painful for many homeowners.

“It’s almost like a punch in the gut when you hear how low homes are going for in our area,” he said Wednesday. “I think our entire area is undervalued.”

Lower appraised values mean that property owners will pay less taxes, but even with that prospect, many are preparing to appeal their values.

Lewis is one of those thousands of DeKalb residents who are expected to appeal their 2011 value. He says he is looking

to raise it, even though it would mean paying more taxes.

In most cases, the deadline to file an appeal is July 11. By Tuesday this week, homeowners had filed 4,000 appeals.

Last year, about 10,000, or 20 percent, of homeowners appealed their 2010 appraisals.

With his wife, Kia, now unemployed, Lewis said Wednesday that he may have to sell his home. He doesn’t want that $52,000 number figuring into an already painful scenario.

A county Animal Services worker, Lewis understands that the lower property values mean the county will have less revenue, which could impact employees jobs.

“They’re doing furloughs, dropping jobs,” he said. “People are losing health benefits. I’m concerned about the cutbacks I have to take

as an employee.”

Millage increase to up taxes A $3.3 billion-decline in the county tax digest is anticipated this year, and CEO Burrell Ellis has proposed a millage increase of 4.35 mills to help cover an anticipated $55.6 million gap in the budget.

A DeKalb home valued at $100,000 in both 2010 and 2011 would be charged $121 more in taxes under the CEO’s millage proposal.

The same home would pay $71 more even if its value has dropped to $90,000; at $80,000, it would pay $21 more. If its value has dropped under $76,000, the homeowner would pay nothing more.

Public hearings on the tax rate will be Please see VALUES, page 2

2

Community Suspect held, another sought in shooting of DeKalb officer A 21-year-old man who police say robbed and shot an off-duty DeKalb Police officer is in custody.

Officer Landers Burton, who has been with the department for three years, was attacked and shot in the buttocks shortly before midnight on June 13 at the Landmark at Mountain Landers Burton View complex on Green Bark Circle West in Stone Mountain.

Police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said the suspect is awaiting a police lineup and would not be identified until after that was done.

She said the suspect was arrested June 14 and charged with aggravated assault and armed robbery.

Parish called the incident “an armed robbery that elevated to a shooting” when Burton tried to defend himself.

Police are looking for another man who fled in a vehicle after stealing the officer’s wallet.

The second suspect has not been identified, and the investigation is continuing.

Burton, 32, was taken to Atlanta Medical Center, where he underwent surgery on June 14.

He was in critical but stable condition.

CrossRoadsNews

June 25, 2011

“If we get the money we will have a cushion because we don’t have money to pay for anything.”

Student’s video, essay could win school $20,000 Murphey Candler Elementary fifthgrader Rodshai Johnson is asking the public to help her school win $20,000 from Big Lots’ Lots2Give campaign.

The retailer is offering 30 schools the opportunity to showcase their creativity with a short video and brief essay explaining why their school needs financial support. The videos are posted online through July 4 for public voting.

Winning schools will share $100,000 in cash prizes, which include a $20,000 grand prize, four $5,000 first-place prizes, and 30 second-place prizes of $2,000.

Rodshai created a 90-second video explaining why Murphey Candler needs funds for after-school clubs with the assistance of library media center specialist Sue Levine.

The student council president, who is a member of the technology club, wrote the song and selected the music for the “Money for Mustangs!” video. In it, she named all of the clubs and their needs, which include new uniforms for the safety patrols; guest

Rodshai Johnson’s video is one of 30 in the running for a $20,000 grand prize in Big Lots’ Lots2Give campaign.

speakers for the Young Ladies of Distinction meetings; netbooks for the Techno Scholars; the science club, which needs tools for experiments; and the Beta Club, which needs money to attend the Junior Beta Club Convention in Macon.

When Rodshai found out that the school was nominated for a chance at the grand prize, she was beside herself with excitement.

DA donates emergency cell phones when seconds can truly make DeKalb County District Atthe difference between life and torney Robert James has donated death,” he said.

216 cell phones from his office to The 911 Cell Phone Bank, the 911 Cell Phone Bank to become an initiative of the nonprofit emergency cellular phones for senior Charitable Recycling Foundacitizens and victims of abuse. tion, has also partnered with the The gift includes older model cell National Sheriffs’ Association, phones, previously used by the Disthe National Association of Tritrict Attorney’s Office, and personal ads and the National Organizacell phones donated by employees. Robert James James said the phones will provide victims tion for Victim Assistance (NOVA).

All donated phones are cleared, of abuse and elderly citizens with a lifeline to cleaned, and programmed only for emerfirst responders in case of emergency.

“We are putting these phones to good use gency 911 calls.

Levine said the fifth-grader got involved with the project after noticing that teachers were paying out of their pockets for supplies for after-school clubs.

“If we get the money we will have a cushion because we don’t have money to pay for anything,” she said.

Voting is allowed three times per day through July 4. To vote for Murphey Candler, visit http://bitly.com/murphcan.

Meeting to discuss biomass plant vote Citizens for a Safe and Healthy Environment, an ad hoc community group, will meet June 28 to discuss legal options in the wake of the DeKalb Board of Commissioners’ approval of a biomass gasification plant in Lithonia.

The June 28 meeting starts at 7 p.m. at St. Paul AME Church, 2687 Klondike Road in Lithonia.

For more information email cshe. dekalb@gmail.com or call Jewel Crawford at 404-849-1578.

More than 4,000 appeals have been filed with county so far VALUES,

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1

held at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on July 5, and at 10 a.m. on July 12. The hearings will be at the Maloof government building in Decatur.

Barbara Lee, a retired school principal who lives in Lithonia, said the county is going to need the tax increase.

“With the depth of the cuts they’ve made, they’re going to get a tax increase,” she said.

Twenty-four years ago, her 5,000-squarefoot house in the Hunters Pace subdivision was valued at $203,500. It climbed to $304,000 in 2009.

This year, the county appraised her house at $202,000.

“I lost $102,000 and we have done that much in upgrades,” Lee said. “They don’t list the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms. They say we have no fireplaces. The information is wrong, period.”

Lee said she and at least three of her neighbors “who have experienced the same horror” will appeal. They want the county to increase their appraisals upward, even if they will pay more in property taxes.

“I plan to jump in with both feet,” she said. “[Right now] I may see another $1,000 a month reduction in my taxes, but look at how much valuation is lost per month. $100 per month – you spend that much on hot dogs and hamburgers.”

Hicks, the county’s chief appraiser, said people who can do so should avoid selling their homes right now and wait for market conditions to improve and for distressed homes “to get flushed out.”

To those who must sell, he says “very few people use our data exclusively.”

To help decide whether your appraisal makes sense, Hicks said homeowners should check out sales on their street and in their community and factor in vandalism and poor home maintenance. He said those conditions also property values down.

Larry Hannans, president of Decatur-

John Scorza of Stone Mountain thought the county had made a mistake when he saw his home value drop by $100,000 this year.

How to appeal n Deadline: 45 days from the notice date on the county assessment letter. For most people, that is July 11. n Use an optional form or write a letter stating that you’re appealing and, if possible, why you disagree with the county’s valuation. n Include your parcel identification number; address; daytime phone number; any supporting documentation; and your intention to appeal to either the Board of Equalization, a hearing officer, or to arbitration.

Carla Parker / CrossRoadsNews

based Right Source Realty Corp., specializes in distressed properties.

“A lot of people are abandoning their property because they feel like it’s a toxic asset,” Hannans said.

“If your property is declining, your taxes should also be declining,” he said. “You don’t want to continue to pay those tax costs from the previous year.”

But that bottom-line figure from the county can be hard to swallow.

Nadine Rivers-Johnson, an on-site manager and a resident of the Mainstreet community in Stone Mountain, says her five-bedroom Spanishstyle stucco home has lost $64,000 in value in the last four years.

N. Rivers-Johnson She bought the house in 2003 for $160,000. Its value peaked at $194,000 in 2007, before the mortgage crisis.

Today’s county-appraised value of her home is $130,000.

“If I could pick this property up and

put it in Avondale or the East Andrews part of Buckhead, it would be double its value,” Rivers-Johnson said.

John Scorza, also of Stone Mountain, thought the county had made a mistake when he saw his home value drop by $100,000 this year.

Scorza bought his six-bedroom, threebath home off North Hairston Road for $115,000 in 1989. By 2009, its value had increased to $175,000.

“Understandably, we dropped down to $154,000 last year,” he said. “This year we dropped down to $54,000.… In reality, you couldn’t buy the materials and rebuild the home for that.”

Scorza has decided not to appeal because he expects the county millage rate to be increased.

“They’re going to get it out of you,” he said. “They’re not willing to make cuts.”

Instead, he focuses on lessons learned from the stock market.

“You’ve never really lost money until you sell the house,” Scorza said. “It’s just a book value, a paper value.”

n For more information about those three avenues of appeal and for a link to the optional appeal form, visit http:// web.co.dekalb.ga.us/PropertyAppraisal/ appeal.html. n Property Appraisal Department: 404371-0841.

Home values plummet Home values in DeKalb County plummeted 13 percent this year. Of DeKalb’s 10 cities and unincorporated area, only Chamblee had an increase.

Below are the changes in home values from 2010 to 2011: Unincorporated..........................- 17.6 % Avondale...................................- 19.0 % Atlanta........................................ - 15.2% Chamblee..................................+ 57.4 % Clarkston.................................... - 18.5 % Decatur....................................... - 0.8 % Doraville....................................... - 7.6% Dunwoody................................... - 6.6% Lithonia...................................... - 29.9% Pine Lake ...................................- 16.8% Stone Mountain...........................- 34.1% Source: DeKalb County

June 25, 2011

Community Habitat, director part company After just nine months on the job, John Shaffer has quit as executive director of DeKalb Habitat for Humanity.

The housing nonprofit announced Shaffer’s departure effective on July 14.

In its June 17 statement, it did not say why he was leaving John Shaffer so suddenly.

Shaffer’s arrival last September was heralded with great fanfare. He was a social activist from Colorado who raised more than $2 million in federal, state and local grants at his last job with the Rocky Mountain Human Services Coalition. The board had great hopes that he would pump new life into the nonprofit.

At the time, Kimberly Cameron, president of the nonprofit’s board of directors, said Shaffer would add a new dynamic to the affiliate of Habitat International, “providing strong leadership in resource development and community development which are both sorely needed in DeKalb Kimberly Cameron County.”

On Thursday, she said he did not meet those goals.

“It was just not working out,” she said. “It was mutual parting of the ways.”

Now Cameron said the board is going back to drawing board to assess the nonprofit’s structure and determine where it needs to go from here and the type of director and staffing it needs.

In its 22-year history, DeKalb Habitat has built 60 homes – 15 of them in the last two years.

In its statement, the board wished Shaffer well in his future endeavours said the nonprofit’s work will continue uninterrupted during the transition.

“We are very thankful for a strong team of volunteers paired with our operations manager, Jan Winfield, and Vista volunteer Hal Corlew, who work together to keep the affiliate running strong,” it said in the statement.

Steve Henson takes control of Senate Democrats Caucus State Sen. Steve Henson of Tucker is the new Senate Minority Leader in the Georgia Legislature.

The Senate Democratic Caucus elected unanimously on June 20.

Henson, who is in his 17th year in the Geoergia Senate, said he is honored to serve and will work hard to push for fair and forward-thinking solutions to Steve Henson Georgia’s issues.

“I look forward to working with my fellow Senate Democrats and with the entire Georgia state government toward a better Georgia,” said Henson, whose Senate District 41 includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.

He replaces Sen. Robert Brown of Macon, who stepped down from his Senate seat earlier this month to run for mayor.

Henson previously served as Democratic whip and was replaced in that position by Sen. Vincent Fort of Atlanta.

Democratic Caucus chairman Sen. Doug Stoner of Smyrna called the transition seamless.

“Both Steve and Vincent bring valuable leadership skills to our caucus team,” said Stoner, who represents Senate District 6.

The Senate Democratic leader works as the head of the Democratic Caucus and as a liaison for the caucus as it works with other government officials. The Democratic whip is charged with gathering and counting Democrat’s votes.

For more information, e-mail steve.henson@ senate.ga.gov or call 404-656-0085.

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CrossRoadsNews

“I just always felt we would be successful in this because what was being done was just so wrong. Stopping it was a just thing for them to do.”

Snapfinger Lake homeowners stop access road After two years of fighting, residents of Snapfinger Lake subdivision in Decatur have succeeded in permanently stopping an illegal road through their neighborhood.

Margaret Williams, the homeowners association president, called Georgia DOT’s decision to remove the access road it was building for Wilson Welding’s truck Margaret Williams through their subdivision a victory.

“I am just elated about it,” she said Wednesday. “I just always felt we would be successful in this because what was being done was just so wrong. Stopping it was a just thing for them to do.”

DOT spokesman David Spear said Thursday that they will remove the road as qucikly as possible.

“We shouldn’t have built it, and we are going to move it as quickly as we can,” he said Thursday.

Residents found out in 2009 that the DOT planned to connect Wilson Welding to Snapfinger Road through their

subdivision as part of a $10.1 million widening project,. Residents argued that the connector road was illegal because county ordinances prohibit truck traffic through residential properties, but they were ignored by county and state government officials.

Spear said DOT will provide a curb cut on Snapfinger Road for the Wilson Welding in front of his business and will return the property where the access road was being built to its natural state.

“We will re-vegetate the property,” he said.

Larry Anderson, a lawyer who lives in the subdivision, said two years ago everyone told us it was a done deal and couldn’t be changed.

“This shows that if you are strong and have elected officials Larry Anderson who represent you, you can effect change.”

But Anderson said citizens have to do the research and make people in government aware that they know what’s going on.

“Our elected officials listened to us and they made it possible for county and state employees to hear us,” he said.

Anderson said Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson and District 43 state Sen. Ronald Ramsey brought county and state employees to the table to hear them.

GDOT engineer Gerald Ross visited the site Monday and committed to removing the road and returning the property to its natural state.

Spear said Thursday that DOT is now negotiating with the contractor to do the work needed to make the opening in the median for Wilson Welding and closing off the road from the neighborhood to the business.

“Construction on this will probably begin in the fall, but the additional landscaping will be later after growing conditions are better,” he said. “ DeKalb County will be handling the landscape.”

Williams said residents succeeded because they were untied.

“We pulled together as a neighbors and pursued our fight and we were successful,” she said.

Legal Notice

If You are African American and Suffered Farm Loan Discrimination by the USDA between 1981 and 1996, You may be eligible for money from a $1.25 billion class action Settlement Fund (Heirs/Kin may be included) There is a proposed class action Settlement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) involving racial discrimination against African American farmers between 1981 and 1996. This Settlement is only for certain people who tried to file a late claim in the original Pigford case, or their heirs (kin) and legal representatives.

The current Settlement (sometimes called Pigford II) provides benefits to some of those late filers.

received a payment in the original Pigford case.

What does the Settlement provide?

You may be eligible for a substantial cash payment and USDA loan forgiveness from the Settlement. You will need to file a claim to be eligible for these benefits. The claims deadline may be as early as February 28, 2012. The Court has appointed lawyers to help you file a claim under the Settlement. You do not have to Am I included? pay them or anyone else to help you with the claims process. These attorneys will ask the You may be included if you: • Between 1981 and 1996, were discouraged or Court for fees and expenses of between 4.1% prevented from applying for or were denied a and 7.4% of the Settlement Fund, and the Court USDA farm loan or other benefit, or you were will decide how much they are paid. You may given a loan with unfair terms because of racial hire your own lawyer, if you wish, at your own expense. If you have questions or need more discrimination, • Were eligible for a payment in the original information, call 1-877-810-8110.

Pigford case, and What else should I know?

• Submitted a late-filing request that was denied The Court will hold a hearing on September or never considered because it was late.

1, 2011 to consider whether to approve the If you are the heir or kin of someone who Settlement and a request for attorneys’ fees and died who fits this description, you may file a expenses. If you want to object to or comment claim for a payment that would become part on the Settlement or appear at the hearing, you of the deceased person’s estate. If you are not need to file a letter with the Court by August sure if you (or someone for whom you are the 12, 2011. If the Court approves the Settlement, legal representative) are included, please call you will not be able to sue the USDA about your 1-877-810-8110. You are not included if you farm loan discrimination claims in the future.

For more information or to begin the claims filing process:

Call: 1-877-810-8110

Visit: www.BlackFarmerCase.com

4

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

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CrossRoadsNews

June 25, 2011

“Nobody wants to see a parade full of politicians, especially when they go through once and get back in line again.”

Fourth of July celebrations abound in metro area

By Carla Parker

Fire up the grill. Fly the flag and dress in red, white and blue.

It’s the nation’s 234th birthday on July Fourth and time to celebrate with parades, cookouts and fireworks.

The festivities begin July 2 with Stone Mountain Park’s 44th annual Fantastic Fourth Celebration on the Memorial Lawn. The three-day event, July 2-4, begins at 10 a.m. daily.

Fireworks will shoot nightly at the end of the new 42-minute “Lasershow Spectacular” featuring surround-sound music, colorful lasers, flame cannon and special effects precisely choreographed to music. The new show is enhanced with digital projection that adds 3D-like effects without the glasses.

Stone Mountain Park is at U.S. 78 in Stone Mountain. For more information, call 770-498-5690.

Pied Piper Parade Downtown Decatur is celebrating the nation’s birth with its annual Pied Piper Parade, fireworks and musical concert.

The parade begins at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave., and ends at the Community Bandstand on the Decatur Square, 101 E. Court Square.

Decatur commissioners will lead the parade in a mini-fire truck.

Neighborhood and community organizations can join the parade by either making a float, riding a bike, skating or walking.

At 7 p.m. the Callanwolde Concert Band will perform, followed

Fireworks will light up the sky at numerous Independence Day festivities in DeKalb and Atlanta.

by a fireworks show at 9 p.m. from the top of the DeKalb County parking deck. For information call 404-371-8386 or email Katie.Abel@ decaturga.com.

Fabulous Fourth The eighth annual Fabulous 4th Festival at the Georgia International Horse Park begins at 5 p.m.

July Fourth with children’s activities, military displays, arts, crafts, vendors and car shows.

The free event also will include a special performance by the Georgia State Defense Force Band along with guests from the Greater Atlanta Patriot Band. At dark, a large fireworks display will fill the sky.

The Horse Park is at 1996 Centennial Olympic Park in Conyers.

For more information, call Rebecca Hill at 770-860-4188.

Fireworks at New Birth Fireworks will light up the sky

The footrace begins at 7:30 a.m.

For more information, visit www. peachtreeroadrace.org.

Largest fireworks display The annual Fourth of July Celebration at Lenox Square kicks off at 6 p.m. on July Fourth with live music from bands including The Regulars Band, Sons of Sailors, and Party on The Moon! A kid zone will be filled to the brim with activities for children. Lenox Square boasts the largest fireworks show in the southeast. The display takes place at 9:40 p.m. with thousands of fireworks bursting in the air for approximately 20 minutes, accompanied by a patriotic musical soundtrack. Lenox Square mall at New Birth Missionary Baptist is at 3393 Peachtree Road N.E. in Church during its Family and Atlanta. For more information, call Friends Homecoming Celebration 404-233-6767. on July 2.

From 4-9 p.m., the free event Centennial Olympic Park will feature a grill and bake-off, a A full day of July Fourth activihot dog eating contest, an outdoor ties begins at 2 p.m. at Centennial concert, games and more activi- Olympic Park in Atlanta with face ties. painting, inflatables, stilt walkers The church is at 6400 Woodrow and more.

Road in Lithonia. For more inforVisitors can relax on the Great mation, call 770-696-9603.

Lawn and cool off in the worldfamous Fountain of Rings.

Peachtree Road Race The free musical entertainment For the 41st year, 60,000 runners begins at 4 p.m. with performances and walkers will participate in the by local band von Grey, The Regu2011 Atlanta Journal-Constitution lars Band, rock band the Key and Peachtree Road Race on the Fourth last year’s American Idol runner up of July.

Crystal Bowersox.

Spectators can cheer on the runThe evening culminates with ners as they run the 6.2-mile course the AirTran Airways Fireworks down Peachtree Street from Lenox Spectacular.

Mall to 10th street near Piedmont Centennial Olympic Park is at Park in Atlanta.

265 Park Ave. West N.W. in Atlanta.

The event includes a wheelchair For more information, call 404race, which begins at 6:45 a.m. 223-4412.

‘I will miss the little children who would watch the parade’ PARADE,

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city last year contributed about 50 percent of the money for the parade, annually budgeted at about $8,000 to $10,000. The money paid for transportation, public address needs, insurance, postage and other expenses, Hollis said.

The parade was not included in the city’s 2011 budget, Hollis said.

“I was basically told in so many words that there would be no parade,” he said.

Stone Mountain Mayor Pat Wheeler said money was available in a line item for events but the committee didn’t ask for it.

“They just never really came to say they wanted to have a parade,” she said.

Interest in the parade has been declining across the city, she said.

“Just about everyone said it had become very political,” Wheeler said.

“Nobody wants to see a parade full of politicians,” Nash said, “especially when they go through once and get back in line again.”

Hollis, who has been involved with the parade since the ’90s, said he’s not bitter about its end. He’s

Georgia’s Virtual Vault / Georgia Secretary of State’s Office

The first parade included a bicycle brigade and a convertible carrying the winner of the town’s “Miss Firecracker” contest.

just “a little disappointed,” he said, particularly for the parade committee’s 15 members.

“I will miss the little children who would watch the parade, smiling and waving their flags,” Hollis said. “It was good, clean fun.”

That’s what Kathryn Wright had in mind when, as president of the Stone Mountain Woman’s Club, she launched the city’s first July Fourth parade.

The first parade was a short one,

with a bicycle brigade, a little band comprised of Georgia Tech boys, and a convertible carrying the winner of the town’s “Miss Firecracker” contest.

The parade’s grand marshal was Woman’s Club member Lucille McCurdy, the first woman to receive the “Mr. DeKalb” citizenship award.

After its first year, Dr. George Coletti took the parade’s reins, holding them for nearly 20 years.

At its peak, the parade had 140 units, Coletti said.

Hollis rattles off the names of some of the many participants.

Among them were high-profile World War II veterans, Civil War re-enactors from both sides of the battle, the vice mayor of Oklahama City (after the bombing), and the high school bands.

“The most consistent of all was [Atlanta’s] Frederick Douglass High School band,” Coletti said.

Coletti, now the city historian, left his parade chairman post years ago to concentrate on writing his 706-page book, “Stone Mountain: The Granite Sentinel,” published in 2010.

Wright believes the parade could return someday.

“Stone Mountain had a couple of bad years, but it’s really growing, with a lot of new people,” she said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if another organization takes it under its wing and starts it again.”

She’s sad there’ll be no parade this year.

“But I’m also relieved,” she said.

“I can spend July Fourth with my family. They all run the Peachtree Road Race.”

Circulation Audited By index to advertisers Acts of Valor Salon.........................................6 Best Buy Co. Inc......................................Inserts Cake Café Atlanta............................................6 Cato Services.................................................. 11 Chris M Toles, Attorney................................. 10 Felecia’s Hair Care for Childred..................... 11

Flat Shoals Foot & Ankle Center..................... 8 Georgia Preventive Health.............................. 8 Hillcrest Church of Christ.............................. 10 Holly Hill Homeowners Association.............. 10 Kinsella Media................................................ 3 Malcolm Cunningham Auto Gallery..............12

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The Law Office of B.A. Thomas.................... 10 The Samuel Group........................................ 10 The Soul Project........................................... 10 Traveling Greens Travel................................ 10 Wells Fargo..................................................... 7

June 25, 2011

Sports

“She has a lot of upside; she can shoot it, and she has a lot of work ethic. Her leadership and skill set will add to the team.”

Shanisha Mitchell said she is excited to be taking her basketball talents to Faulkner University in Alabama.

DeKalb has four in MLB draft

By Carla Parker

Four former DeKalb baseball players got calls from the majors during the 2011 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

MLB teams drafted former Redan High School players RaShawn RaShawn Payne Payne, Patrick Smith and Deion Williams during the draft on June 6-8.

Former Dunwoody High School player Chris Epps also heard his name called in the draft.

Smith was the first to be drafted.

The outfielder was Deion Williams taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 14th round as the 437th pick. He was an integral part of Redan’s 2010 Class AAAAA playoff run to the Final Four.

Smith, who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox as the 1,313th pick a year ago as a graduating senior from Redan, moved his draft status up almost 900 spots after batting .303 with 48 RBI, 13 doubles and 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts as a freshman at Middle Georgia College in 2011.

The second of the former Redan players taken in the draft was graduating senior shortstop Deion Williams, who got the call in the 16th round by the Washington Nationals as the 487th pick of the draft. Williams, the preseason No. 5-ranked player in Georgia, is a signee with Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fla., and will make the decision between going pro or continuing his education at Santa Fe. Williams was the starting shortstop on

Redan’s Class AAAAA Final Four team in 2010, and batted .350 with one homerun, seven doubles, 20 RBI and 26 runs scored as the Raiders reached the Class AAAA state playoffs in 2011.

Payne, Georgia SouthPatrick Smith ern University’s centerfielder, the third Redan grad to get the call, was drafted by the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants in the 35th round; he was the 1,077th pick overall.

Payne finished the 2011 season at Georgia Chris Epps Southern batting .314 with 39 RBI and six homers. He hit .494 in four years at Redan and was also selected the South MVP of the 2007 DeKalb County Senior All-Star Classic after going 4-for-5 with five RBI in the doubleheader. He hit for the collective cycle in the two games with a single, double, triple and home run.

It was the third consecutive year that Payne was selected in the draft.

Former Dunwoody outfielder/pitcher Chris Epps of Clemson University was drafted by the Houston Astros with the 1,360th pick in the 45th round. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 28th round of the 2007 draft.

Epps finished the season strong for Clemson as the co-captain batting .292 with 42 RBI and 10 home runs, and was 11 of 14 in stolen base attempts after a slow start to the 2011 season. Epps played a key role as pitcher and outfielder in Dunwoody’s 2007 Class AAA state championship.

Redan’s Phillips playing in WNBA ByCarla Parker

Porsha Phillips made history on June 4 when she became the first DeKalb Schools graduate to play in the Women’s National Basketball Association.

Phillips, a 2006 Redan High School graduate, was selected by the San Antonio Silver Stars with the 30th pick in the WNBA draft on April Porsha Phillips 11. She made her WNBA debut with the Silver Stars against the Tulsa Shock, and had two points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the 93-73 win.

Phillips led Redan to the 2005 Class AAAAA championship game where the Lady Raiders lost to Collins Hill High School. The Lady Raiders went 104-27 during Phillips’ four seasons, including appearances in the 2006 Class AAAAA Final Four and the 2003 and 2004 Class AAAAA quarterfinals.

Phillips’ four-year high school career to-

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CrossRoadsNews

tals include 1,646 points, 923 rebounds and 444 blocked shots. She averaged 18.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 2.8 steals during the 2005 run to the championship game.

She was named Third Team All-America as a senior by Parade Magazine, USA Today and Street and Smith Magazine. She was also named to the McDonald’s All-America and WBCA All-American games.

The three-time DeKalb County Player of the Year (2004-06) signed with LSU in 2006 and finished with 143 points as the Lady Tigers went to the NCAA Women’s Final Four in 2007 before transferring home to the University of Georgia.

At Georgia, she averaged 10.8 points and led the SEC in rebounds (10.7) and free throw percentage (.807). Her play earned her consensus All-SEC First Team honors by the SEC Coaches and Associated Press.

Phillips finished her collegiate career with 1,128 points, 985 at Georgia.

Phillips follows in the footsteps of brothers Brandon and P.J. Phillips, who are both playing professional baseball.

NFL players to be at football camp A number of NFL players will be in Clarkston on June 25 for a free “Playbooks & Pledges” football camp at Hallford Stadium.

Players like San Diego Charger Patrick Watkins, Minnesota Viking Cord Parks, and Decatur native and former Baltimore Raven Daniel Wilcox have confirmed attendance Cord Parks Patrick Watkins Daniel Wilcox for the camp, sponsored by the Jerry Clark Foundation and DeKalb County Police Department and the Sheriff ’s Office Police Athletic League Plus (PALS). will take place at 4 p.m. after the camp.

During the 9 a.m.-3 p.m. event, kids ages Only 150 slots are available and pre6 to 14 years old will get instruction, drills registration is required. and game experience from the pros and get Hallford Stadium is at 3789 Memorial to take Marquel’s Pledge.

College Ave. in Clarkston. To register, visit A flag football game between the DeKalb www.jerryclarkfoundation.org.

Clarkston grad signs with Faulkner

By Carla Parker

Clarkston High School graduate Shanisha Mitchell will take her basketball talents to Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala., in the fall.

With her family and friends in attendance, the 18-year-old shooting guard signed a full athletic scholarship to play for the Lady Eagles on June 10 at Berean Christian Church. The former Clarkston leading scorer, who averaged 11.9 points per game last season, said she is looking forward to starting her college career.

“I’m really excited about going to the next level,” she said.

Faulkner head coach Reed Sutton said Shanisha is a good fit for the team.

“She has a lot of upside; she can shoot it, and she has a lot of work ethic,” Sutton said. “Her leadership and skill set will add to the team.”

Shanisha, who played at Clarkston for four years, also played AAU basketball with

the Running Saints for five years. Besides her shooting ability, Shanisha believes her leadership can help the Lady Eagles win games.

“I was captain for two years [at Clarkston],” she said. “I believe I can carry the team.”

Shanisha credited her mom, Wynn Baskin, for getting her this far in her basketball career.

“She was the one who took me to my games,” she said. “If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be here.”

Baskin said she she knew Shanisha would be successful.

“I’m proud that she was able to be positive and do good in school and in basketball,” she said.

Shanisha will major in sports management at Faulkner. After her college career, Shanisha said she plans to travel overseas to play basketball in Spain.

“I will come back to the U.S. to start my career in sports management but I will go back overseas to play basketball,” she said.

6

CrossRoadsNews

Finance

June 25, 2011

“It is extremely important that parents take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their child’s precious and helpless identity.”

Jobless rate stayed steady in May Georgia’s jobless rate remained unchanged at 9.8 percent in May as job growth continued.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said June 16 that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate equalled April’s rate which was revised from the preliminary 9.9 percent. A year ago in May, the state’s jobless rate was 10 percent.

Butler applauded the slight declines in the state’s jobless rate over the past six months.

“More businesses are slowly beginning to expand their work force, illustrating a gradual increase of confidence in the economy,” he said.

In May, the number of payroll jobs increased 3,400 to 3,834,500, up one-tenth of a percentage point, from April’s 3,831,100.

Most of the new jobs were in leisure and hospitality with smaller increases in retail trade, health care, manufacturing, and construction.

Most of the jobs lost over the year were in government, construction and financial

services.

For the third consecutive month, the number of long-term unemployed workers declined. There were 251,800 long-term unemployed Georgians in May, down 3,000, or 1.2 percent, from 254,800 in April. However, the number of longterm unemployed remains 11.6 percent higher than the 225,700 in May of last year. The long-term unemployed account for 54.7 percent of Georgia’s 460,172 jobless workers.

In DeKalb County, 3,631 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in May, up 116, or 3.3 percent from April. That was a decrease of 432 initial claims, or 10.6 percent, in claims filed in May 2010.

May marked the 46th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.1 percent.

For more information, visit www.dol. state.ga.us.

Meeting on business opportunities Small business owners, contractors and job seekers can get information about upcoming opportunities and jobs that will be created by the $1.3 billion DeKalb Watershed Management Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) at a June 27 Small Business Forum.

DeKalb Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson is hosting the 7-to-9 p.m. forum at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia.

Speakers include DeKalb County director of purchasing Kelvin Walton, public works director Ted Rhinehart and director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, Melvin Everson.

The forum is free and there will be opportunities for comments and questions.

The Lou Walker Senior Center is at 2538 Panola Road. For more information, call 404-371-3681.

MARTA fares to increase Oct. 2 MARTA patrons will see a base fare increase from $2 to $2.50 effective Oct. 2.

The MARTA board of directors approved the increases on June 22 as part of its FY 2012 budgets. It adopted an operating budget of $413.76 million, a capital budget totaling $185.5 million, and $143.7 million in debt service.

A weekly pass will increase from $17 to $23.75, and a monthly pass will rise from

$68 to $95. MARTA board Chairman Jim Durrett said the board had to make some hard choices.

“This has been a very difficult decision for the board because, as a service-based industry, we do not want to make changes that have a negative impact on our customers,” Durrett said.

For more information, visit www.itsmarta.com or call 404-848-5000.

Watch for child credit poachers identity,” Elsberry said.

Unscrupulous businesses are The BBB urges parents to folselling inactive Social Security low a the following steps to secure numbers to people who use the their child’s identity: numbers to establish fake credit.

Many of those numbers belong to n Be aware of how to obtain your children and the Better Business child’s credit report. Getting access Bureau is warning parents to be to your child’s records is a differon the lookout for signs that their ent process from obtaining your child’s identity has been comproown. The credit report of children Fred Elsberry mised. younger than 13 cannot be obThe group says that most of the numbers tained using the congressionally mandated are assigned to children under the age of 18 free credit report web site. The easiest way who have not started using them yet and to obtain your child’s records is through the scheme may lead to significant debts for Trans Union. children and ruined credit rating. n Recognize the signs of trouble. Watch Debix, an identity-theft monitoring out for red flags that indicate there might company, examined the records of 40,000 be a problem, such as your son or daughter children and found an alarming 4,000 cases receiving pre-approved credit card offers or of tainted identities. Last year, 8.1 million calls from collection agencies.

Americans became victims of ID theft, re- n Know what to do if you suspect that your sulting in losses of $37 billion, a 2011 report child has fallen victim. The Federal Trade from Javelin Strategy and Research found. Commission recommends that every parIt is more difficult to find out how many ent check their child’s credit report on their children are actually affected by identity theft 16th birthday. and Fred T. Elsberry Jr., the Atlanta Better If suspicious activity is found, parents Business Bureau, said that it’s “terrifying” to must contact all three credit bureaus and think that a child’s identity could be com- request a report immediately. From there, prised because they have a clean record. depending on your state’s credit freeze rule, “It is extremely important that parents placing a freeze should be considered. take the necessary precautions to ensure the For more information, visit www.bbb. safety of their child’s precious and helpless org/us/bbb-news.

Hoffman takes leave of DeKalb Tech DeKalb Technical College presifaculty and staff who are dedicated dent Dr. Robin W. Hoffman is retirto the college and the students we ing July 31. serve,” she said.

Hoffman, who has been at the Prior to joining DeKalb Tech as college since 2004, is leaving to bethe program director and instruccome vice president of the Southtor for the Medical Laboratory ern Association of Colleges and Technology Program, she was a Schools Commission on Colleges, practicing medical technologist the accrediting agency for colleges specializing in clinical chemistry Robin Hoffman in 11 Southern states. and hematology.

In the June 8 statement announcing her Before becoming acting president in departure, Hoffman spoke of DeKalb Tech’s February 2004, she served in several vice proud reputation and thanked the faculty president postitions at the Clarkston and and staff for their devotion to its students. Covington campuses, and dean of instruc“I am so grateful for the privilege of tion. working with such a remarkable group of She begins her new job on Aug. 15.

DeKalb resident takes helm at SSU Dr. Cheryl Davenport Dozier is the new interim president of Savannah State University.

Dozier, who lives in Stone Mountain, replaces Dr. Earl G. Yarbrough Sr., who had been president since July 2007.

Cheryl Dozier University System of Georgia chief academic officer Susan Herbst said SSU will be in good hands under Dozier’s leadership.

“Most of our university leaders across this state know her from superb leadership on the system-wide diversity initiative, so like me, they are familiar with her tremendous intellect, her charisma, and most of all, her

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Dozier, a tenured professor in the School of Social Work, was assistant vice president of academic affairs at the Gwinnett University Center from 2002-2006. She served as director of the interdisciplinary Ghana Study Abroad Program from 2003-2010.

She also served as the lead co-principal investigator for the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, a $4.9 million National Science Foundation program seeking to broaden participation of minority students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics since 2007.

Dozier was recently elected president of the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education.

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CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

June 25, 2011

“There were never plans to close the clinic. We don’t know where that rumor started.”

Fruits offer nutritious benefits that even diabetics can enjoy Summer is here and is about to reward us with its bounty of sun-ripened, luscious, lip-smacking fruit.

The good news is that even diabetics can partake.

The American Diabetes Association says that fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber, and that diabetics can enjoy summer’s bounty as long as they keep track of them as they do all carbohydrates.

The key is to keep an eye on portion sizes, and pick fresh fruits over fruits canned in syrups or other types of added sugar.

If you are using the glycemic index (GI) to manage your diabetes, it says most fruits are a good choice if you watch portion sizes.

For example, eat a slice of watermelon, not the whole fruit.

Here are eight of the best fruits for diabetics. They top the chart because they offer low carbs and a low GI if you manage your Some of the fruits praised by nutritionists include (above, clockwise from left) berries, pears, portion sizes.

Berries Whether you love blueberries, strawberries or other type of berries, you can indulge.

The ADA says that berries are a diabetes superfood because they’re packed with antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, and they are low-carb. Three-quarters of a cup of fresh blueberries has 62 calories and 16 grams of carbohydrates. A parfait with alternating layers of berries and plain nonfat yogurt makes a great dessert or breakfast.

Cherries This low-carb, low-GI choice can safely be included in your diabetic diet. A dozen sweet cherries has 59 calories and 14 grams of carbohydrates. Cherries, especially tart ones, are packed with antioxidants, which

oranges, kiwis, and peaches (below).

may fight heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Cherries can be purchased fresh, frozen, canned or dried. Many canned and dried fruits contain added sugar, so be sure to check the labels.

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Apricots This summer fruit staple is a good source of fiber. One apricot has just 17 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrates. Four fresh apricots equal one serving and provide more than 70 percent of your daily vitamin A requirement. Try mixing diced apricots into hot or cold cereal or toss some in a salad.

Peaches Fragrant, juicy peaches are a warm-weather treat.

They contain vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber. Peaches are delicious on their own or tossed into iced Apples Toss one in your purse or tote bag if tea for a fruity twist. For a snack, whip up a quick smoothie by pureeing peach slices with you’re on the go – a small apple has just 54 low-fat buttermilk, crushed ice, and a touch calories and 14 carb grams. Apples also are

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loaded with fiber and they’re a good source of vitamin C and potassium. The skins are full of antioxidants.

Oranges One orange has all the vitamin C you need in a day. This low-GI choice contains only 15 grams of carbohydrates and 62 calories. Oranges also contain folate and potassium, which can help normalize blood pressure. Other citrus fruits like grapefruit are also great choices.

Pears Unlike most fruit, pears actually improve in texture and flavor after they’re picked.

They are a good source of potassium and fiber. Store them at room temperature until they’re ripe and perfect for eating (then they can be stored in the refrigerator). Sweeten up your next spinach salad with pear slices.

Kiwis This bright green fruit with the fuzzy brown skin is a good source of potassium, fiber and vitamin C. One large kiwi has about 56 calories and 13 grams of carbohydrates.

They are available year-round and will last in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Grady says child clinic staying open Grady Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic at Piedmont Hall will not close on June 30.

Advocates for Responsible Care (ARxC) sent out a warning earlier this month that the clinic was closing, but Grady Health System spokeswoman Denise Simpson said Wednesday that the clinic, which provides care to chronic and severely mentally ill children and adolescents in DeKalb and Fulton counties, was never targeted for closing.

“There were never plans to close the clinic,” Simpson said. “We don’t know where that rumor started.”

The clinic, which serves 600 to 1,200 patients per year, specializes in treating psychological trauma and autism. It is also a training center for more than two-thirds of the child psychiatrists in Georgia.

In a June statement to the media, ARxC said the Grady Hospital System was quietly taking steps to close the clinic and urged a transparent transfer-of-care plan for each patient. In an update on its website, ARxC said Grady recently decided against the closing and provided no reasons.

For more information, visit www.advocatesforresponsiblecare.org.

Free HIV tests to be offered June 27 Free rapid HIV testing will be available on June 27 at STAND Inc.’s Covington Highway location in Decatur.

The nonprofit STAND says the free testing is part of its observance of National HIV Testing Day. Refreshments and music will be available during the 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. event and test results will be available in an hour.

African-Americans make up 29 percent of Georgia’s total population, but account

for 76 percent of all new AIDS cases in the state.

STAND says that with treatment, people with HIV/AIDS are living longer, healthier lives but many are unaware of their status.

Treatment can be beneficial with early detection, which is why testing is important.

STAND is at 3423 Covington Drive, Suite D, in Decatur. For more information, contact Raymond R. Duke at 404-284-9878, Ext. 242, or Michael Banner at 404-288-4668.

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June 25, 2011

Scene

CrossRoadsNews

9

“We thank all the participants for creating these inspiring works of art to offer our customers and the community an enhanced transit experience.”

Local art for MARTA commuters

NSAA Awards for six scholars

MARTA riders can peruse some local art in a “Light Up Atlanta” exhibit on display in six stations throughout June.

C.H. Briggs, a leading local distributor of specialty building products, commissioned the placement of seven sculptural pieces – some illuminated – in the Decatur station and five other MARTA stations.

Each piece was created by members of the Atlanta architecture and design community to reflect how the city inspires them.

The futuristic designs are made almost entirely of DuPont Corian, a durable and flexible solid surface material that has broad appeal and myriad applications among architects and designers.

The seven designers – including Jim Ferguson, whose “Whirling Dervish” is on display at the Decatur station. design, “Whirling Dervish,” is on display at the Decatur station – were exhibits. chosen because of their accomplishments in “We thank all the participants for creatthe field of design as well as their personal ing these inspiring works of art to offer our histories in Atlanta. customers and the community an enhanced MARTA CEO Beverly A. Scott said transit experience.”

MARTA is excited to work with C.H. Briggs For more information, visit www to transform the stations into public art .itsmarta.com.

Six scholars who have contributed to the development of black studies and black studies centers across the country will be recognized June 26 at the seventh annual Nsaa Cultural and Educational Excellence Awards at First Afrikan Church in Lithonia.

Lisa Flagg James P. Garrett Charles Jones The awards ceremony, which also recognizes the 2011 graduUniversity and ating class and students who its founding diare being promoted to higher rector, Dr. James grades, takes place at the church’s Turner, will get 10 a.m. worship service. the Nsaa ExcelThis year’s honorees are Dr. lence EducationJames P. Garrett, principal orgaal Culture award, nizer of the first Black Student and an Excellence Union at San Francisco State, Josiah Pamoja in Educational Bernard Stringer and Bernard Stringer, the first Advocacy award degree recipient in African American will go to the National Council of Black Studies.

Studies.

Josiah Pamoja, a Unity Council memNsaa means “excellence” in the Akan ber with the African Community Centers language of Ghana. It is an adinkra symbol for Unity and Self-Determination and that is the logo for First Afrikan’s Center for co-chair of the Clark Atlanta University Afrikan Biblical Studies. Each year, the Nsaa Africana Studies Organization’s commu- Awards recognize educators, students and nity service committee, and Lisa Shannon community practitioners and leaders who Flagg, a graduate teaching assistant in consistently demonstrate excellence in their Georgia State University’s departments leadership, cultural or academic education of African American Studies and History and in their service to our community. will pick up Excellence in Educational First Afrikan Church is at 5197 Salem Pursuits awards.

Road. For more information, call 770-981The Africana Center at Cornell 2601.

Film on race riot to be screened

Animal works by self-taught artists

“Forgive The documentary “Forgive or or Forget” Forget,” which explores the recondeals ciliation efforts among black and with the white residents more than nine reconciliadecades after the 1919 Elaine, Ark., tion efforts Race Riot, will be screened June 26 following in Atlanta-Fulton Central Library’s race riots auditorium. in Elaine, The 3 p.m. screening is hosted Ark., in

by Sankofa Spirit’s “Movies With 1919. a Mission.” The film explores the social, political, racial, and economic challenges preventing dialogue The auditorium is at 1 Margaret Mitchell and reconciliation among black and white Square N.W., Atlanta. For more informaresidents in the racially divided Delta town tion, visit www.sankofaspirit.com or call of Elaine, Ark. 770-234-5890.

Art and animal lovers can view the “All Creatures Great and Small” exhibit at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s T gates through April 2012.

The paintings, sculptures and mixed-media creations are the work of American self-taught artists such as Howard Finster, Mose Tolliver, Jim Lewis and Ted Gordon. Also on The “All Creatures Great and Small” exhibit is in the display are the works Georgia natives airport’s T Concourse.

Michael Crocker, Finster, Willie Jinks, R.A. The exhibit is displayed along the north Miller and O.L. Samuels. corridor of the T gates, opposite Gates T12– They are part of the Georgia Museum T14. of Art’s permanent collection, and the colFor more information, visit www.georlection of Carl and Marian Mullis. giamuseum.org.

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CrossRoadsNews

June 25, 2011

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Reader Notice As a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertisement that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. They may have records or documented complaints that will serve to caution you about doing business with those advertisers. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaranteed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good to be true –­ it may in fact be exactly that.

This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertisers. Thank you.

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

11

CrossRoadsNews

June 25, 2011

services

“Advertising Works in CrossRoadsNews”

AUTOMOTIVE

Marketplace FOR RENT/LEASE

Junk Cars. Scrap Metal. Old Appliances Removal. Property Clean up. High Pressure Wash.

Commercial & Residential. Towing. All Over Scrapping Service.

Call Malik or Bertie 404-771-9215 or Hubert 404-610-5504.

Business Opportunities $$ Get Paid to Socialize $$ Put your social networking skills to the test. Earn cash for what millions do everyday for free. To receive detailed information contact Catrena at cburvick@gmail.com

COMPUTERS www.jonatech.net Computer repair & sales, spyware, virus removal. Diagnostic fee $35.00.

Jonatech 678-918-4445. VISA & MC cards accepted

DeKalb 1 Bd rm Basement Apartment Private entrance, Lv rm, Kitchen, Br W/D Connection $650.00 mo $350.00 dep Utilities Included 770-873-4579 Lithonia- 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse. $900/month + $600 deposit. Section 8 ok. Near schools, Mall, Walmart, Marta, I-20. 770-786-7148/404-2845831.

FOR SALE Decatur Home For Sale: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, family room with fireplace, formal living room, separate dining room, country kitchen, full basement and more.

Priced at $109,000. Call Nathan at 404-286-4802 or 404-7356176. LBJ Realty.

EMPLOYMENT

REAL ESTATE

Looking for a nice clean salon?

Styling With Passion Salon seeks 3 licensed stylists with clientele.

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1-888-269-6795 x190 KW realty.

NICE!

MARKETPLACE RATES Place your MarketPlace line ad here – up to 20 words for $25. Additional words are $3 per block of five words (maximum 45 words). Boxed Ads (with up to 3 lines bold headline): $35 plus cost of the classified ad. Send ad copy with check or credit card information and contact phone number (if different from ad) to MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to marketplace@crossroadsnews.com. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.

hair care / salons

Beautiful Babes Hair Care for Children

Ms. Felecia

• PRESS & CURL • BRAIDS • QUICK WEAVES • HEALTHY HAIRCARE Call for Monthly Specials

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beautifulbabeshaircare.vpweb.com ADULTS ACCEPTED

“We have partnered with CrossRoadsNews in our marketing endeavors for close to 10 years, and have seen excellent results.

“CrossRoadsNews has been a powerful and needed voice in the community for many years.”

Kelvin M. Samuel, President The Samuel Group, Inc. Colony Square, Atlanta Commercial Real Estate Secured Loans • Investment Property Loans • Business Consulting

“We Get The Deals Closed!” www.thesamuelgroupinc.com

travel

DEEP SEA FISHING TRIP GULF OF MEXICO $395 pp Trip Is Valued At $2,500 • Limited Time Only Leaves Friday Night And Returns Sunday • Charter Bus from Atlanta to Dauphine Island (Al, Gulf Coast) • One Night Hotel Accommodations/Double Occupancy • All Fishing Tackes Included Rod/Reel/Bait Etc. • Deck Hands on Board for Cleaning and Packing Your Catch • 40 Passenger 65-ft. Vessel.

• 7-8 Hours Deep Sea Fishing • Optional Casino Trip

Church Groups • Fraternities • Sororities

Contact: Micheal with Cato Services 678-608-9925/mikeshep99@hotmail.com

subscription

VISIT US IN OUR NEW LOCATION 4118 Snapfinger Woods Drive • Decatur, GA 30035

Don’t Miss An Issue.

(Off Wesley Chapel, Near I-20)

hair care / salons

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Traditional Camp • Travel Camp

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12

CrossRoadsNews

June 25, 2011

at MalcolM cunninghaM auto group...

every pre-owned Vehicle is hundreds Below Blue Book Value!

BASED ON 2011 KELLEY BLUE BOOK VALUE. EXAMPLE: 2010 FORD FUSION STK#P9681 KELLEY BLUE BOOK VALUE IS $19,175 - $2180 MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM DISCOUNT, YOU PAY $16,995 PLUS TAX, TAG AND TITLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT.

all used Vehicles are clearly Marked and priced to Sell!

Malcolm Cunningham Ford 2009 Ford

FOCuS SES

Lots of goodies, Stk#P9638

4 Day Sale on

ly!

MalcolM cunninghaM lincoln

Malcolm Cunningham Auto Gallery

2008 LincoLn MKX

2007 Mercedes-Benz E-350 Sport Package

LincoLn certified pre-owned, Stk#111534A

Sunroof, Sport Wheels, Leather, and More! Stk#A1575 stOCk phOtO

12,986

$

2005 Ford

F-150 SuPErCAB xLT 4x4

A must see, Stk#118054A

2010 Ford

EdGE SEL

1997 Lincoln

2005 Volkswagen

Extremely Nice, One owner!

Stk#L11238A

All the toys, Stk#115501A

TOWN CAR

TOUAREG

5486 15,386

$

All the toys, Stk#P9617

$

2008 Lincoln

2008 Lincoln

Drives like new! Stk#P9705

Loaded with all the toys!

Stk#P9674

MKZ

17,986

$

2009 FOrd FOCuS SE

Stk#111053A ........................................................................

2010 TOyOTA CAMry SE

Stk#P9661 ............................................................................

2007 FOrd ExPEdiTiOn EL xLT

Stk#P9655 ............................................................................

2008 FOrd F-150 SuPErCAB xLT

Stk#P9636 ............................................................................

2008 FOrd ESCAPE xLT

Stk#P9643 ............................................................................

2010 FOrd MuSTAnG COnv.

Stk#P9676 ............................................................................

Prices Plus, Tax, Tag And Title.

13,999 $16,982 $17,982 $17,986 $17,991 $23,986 $

5675 Peachtree Industrial Blvd

770-621-0200

MKX

19 986 24,982

$

$

,

10,986 $14,982 $16,982 $18,982 $18,986 $19,982

2005 Mercury Grand Marquis Ls $ Premium, stk#L11333a ..............................................

2008 Mercury Mariner

stk#P9668 ..................................................................

2011 Hyundai sonata GLs

stk#P9662 ..................................................................

2008 Ford exPLorer xLt

stk#P9666 ..................................................................

2008 Ford F-150 suPercrew xLt

stk#118057a ..............................................................

2008 Ford exPLorer

eddie Bauer edition, stk#P9670.................................

Prices Plus, Tax, Tag And Title.

5675 Peachtree IndustrIal Blvd

(770) 621-0200

www.MalcolmCunninghamFord.com WWW.MALCOLMCUNNINGHAMLINCOLN.COM

23,569

1970 Chevrolet C-10 Pickup Runs Great, Stk#A0007A ................................................................ $1899 2007 Ford Escape XLT Auto, Gas Saver, Power Windows, Power Locks, And More! Stk#A1435A..... $11,785 2006 Ford Freestyle 7 Passenger, Gas Saver, Family Fun, Stk#A1576A ......................................... $12,785 2006 Pontiac GTP Sporty, Sunroof, Chrome Wheels, and More! Stk#A1606 ..................................... $12,888 2008 Nissan Altima Auto, Power Windows, Power Locks, Tilt, CD, Nice! Stk#A1538 ....................... $14,995 2010 Ford Focus Gas Saver, Nice Ride, Sporty, Stk#A1563 ............................................................. $14,995 2006 Dodge Durango Auto, Power Windows, Power Locks, CD, 3rd Row, Family Fun! Stk#A1599 .. $15,888 2009 Mazda 6 New Look, Gas Saver, Stk#A1596 ............................................................................. $15,995 2010 Mazda 6 New Body Style, Ride in Style, Stk#A1601.................................................................. $16,750 2006 Mercedes C-230 Sport Sunroof, Leather, Auto, Sporty, Stk#A1577 ............................. $16,995 2009 Honda Accord Auto, Power Windows, Power Locks, Gas Saver, Stk#A1597 ............................ $16,995 2008 Mazda CX-7 Gas Saver, Drive the Whole Family in Style. Stk#A1589 ..................................... $16,995 2010 Toyota Camry Auto, Power Windows, Power Locks, CD, Gas Saver, Stk#A1604 ....................... $16,995 2010 Ford Fusion Auto, Power Windows, Power Locks, Sporty, Stk#A1598 ....................................... $18,888 2007 Dodge Charger R/T Sunroof, Leather, Reverse Camera, Chrome Wheels, Stk#A1608 ......... $19,888 2009 Dodge Challenger Sporty, Stk#A1602............................................................................... $19,995 2009 Cadillac CTS Luxury at its Best, Sunroof, Fine Leather, and More! Stk#A1549 ....................... $21,985 2007 Lexus ES 350 Pearl White and Loaded! Stk#A1599 .............................................................. $22,995 2007 Mercedes-Benz E350 Extra Clean, Sunroof, Navigation, and More, STK#A1575 ............ $23,569 2007 Infiniti FX-35 A Spaceship on Wheels, A Must See! Stk#A1605 ............................................. $23,888 2008 BMW 528i Leather, Sunroof, Must See and Drive, STK#A1573 ............................................... $27,858 Prices Plus, Tax, Tag And Title.

I-20, Exit Wesley Chapel To Snapfinger Woods Drive Service Hours: Monday-Saturday 7AM-7PM

770-987-9000

www.MCAutoAtl.com

4C (10.5”) X 16” 26667-MCFO (6-25) Crossroads FC (lm)

12,986

$

27,991

$

$

For Only...