CrossRoadsNews, June 27, 2009 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

WELLNESS

SPORTS

With metro Atlanta temperatures soaring to the upper 90s, the DeKalb Board has launched a campaign to help residents beat the heat. 7

As if winning a state title wasn’t enough, Miller Grove rising sophomore Tony Parker went to Argentina and came back with a gold medal. 8

Keeping it cool

SCENE

More gold for Parker

June 27, 2009

Africa’s mining dilemma “End of the Rainbow,” a film about global companies and the minerals they extract from Africa, will be screened at the APEX Museum in Atlanta. 9

Volume 15, Number 8

Former Grady CEOs battling

www.crossroadsnews.com

DeKalb’s budget shrinks again By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

A deposition containing juicy quotes in Otis Story Sr.’s lawsuit against Pam Stephenson and the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority, and her counter suit against Story for slander, made news this week ahead of a June 26 arbritation hearing.

Leaked deposition in lawsuit contains juicy revelations By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

State Rep. Pam Stephenson is hoping for a settlement soon of her slander lawsuit against former Grady CEO Otis Story Sr., and his lawsuit against her and the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority. Stephenson – who lives in Lithonia and represents House District 92 that covers portions of South DeKalb – hired Story for the Grady job in May 2007, and succeeded him eight months later when he was fired by the board she chaired. She was the health system’s fifth CEO since 2000. Story filed suit in Fulton County Superior Court in May 2008, claiming that Stephenson orchestrated his firing so that she could take his $600,000-a-year job. He called her conduct “willful, malicious, fraudulent, wanton, oppressive, reckless.” The parties and their lawyers have met several times over the last year in settlement talks and were scheduled to meet again on June 26. Stephenson said Thursday she is still hopeful the lawsuits can be settled so that the parties can move on. “I just want him to go on with his life, and I doggone don’t want to talk about this anymore,” she said. To Stephenson’s surprise, her countersuit for slander and a number of juicy quotes from a May 13, 2008, deposition of lobbyist Daniel Copeland made news this week. “When the AJC called, I was totally surprised,” she said. “It’s been out there for a year.” Last year this time, Stephenson, who is also a lawyer, was at the center of controversy over the multiple roles she held at the hospital, her salary and her qualifications. At the time, she was CEO of the cashstrapped safety-net hospital, chairwoman of the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority that ran the institution, state legislator, and vice chairman of the nonprofit Grady Memorial Hospital Corp.’s board.

The Stephenson/Story saga May 2007 – Otis L. Story Sr. becomes Grady’s fourth CEO in seven years. Jan. 2008 – Grady fires Story and Pam Stephenson becomes CEO. May 2008 – Story sues Stephenson and Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority. June 2008 – Pam Stephenson sues Story for slander. June 26, 2008 – Arbritation hearing set.

“ ‘That bitch tried to destroy me...,’ ‘the B wouldn’t let me eat my own food.’ ” – Daniel Copeland, on what Otis Story said about Pam Stephenson. “My thought is that his people put it out there to dog me out.” – Pam Stephenson, chairwoman, The Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority. She served as CEO for eight months before being replaced. Today, whe retains all her other positions. Stephenson said she believes the deposition – in which Copeland recounted conversations in which Story called her the B-word and said she was a sexually available woman with whom he could have slept – was leaked to the press. “My thought is that his people put it out there to dog me out,” she said. In the deposition, Copeland told Story’s lawyer Lee Parks that during a golf tournament sponsored by 100 Black Men of DeKalb, Story told him that Stephenson “was out to get him.” He said Story went on at least nine or 12 holes while they were playing golf. “It got worse by the 17th hole,” he said.

Copeland said Story made “autocratic statements.” “You know, ‘that bitch tried to destroy me, and stuff like that,’” he said. “…They fired him and took his dinner away. He didn’t get to eat the food, ‘the B wouldn’t let me eat my own food.’ I was like Otis, hold it down.” The lawsuit says that Stephenson met with Story over dinner Jan. 28, 2008, the day he was fired, and provided him with a letter containing the reasons for his termination. It said she told Story he must sign a pledge of confidentiality to receive the letter, but he refused. Story is suing for breach of contract and is asking for $1.8 million in severance pay, a $60,000 signing bonus and unspecified punitive damages. Atlanta print and television media reported the juicy bits from Copeland’s deposition after it was posted on atlantaunfiltered.com, a website that reports on the malfeasance of elected officials. At the time of her slander suit, Stephenson said that she did not know all Story was talking about in his lawsuit but that she had to counter-sue because he sued her personally. “In law you have to do that just to protect your rights,” she said. The DeKalb lawmaker said that it was only during the discovery process that she found out what he had said to Copeland about her. She said in court papers that the assertions were false and damaged her professionally. She also found out more when a client told her they were terminating business with her law firm worth $150,000 a year because she had fired Story when he spurned her advances. “I knew it meant my reputation had been impugned,” she said. “I knew that.” If arbitration fails, the lawsuits are scheduled to go to trial next month.

The DeKalb County budget just keeps shrinking. On Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners approved mid-year adjustments that decreased the budget to $606.7 million – a $9.9 million reduction from the $616.6 million it approved in February. Altogether, the 2009 budget is $19 million less than the 2008 budget, which was $635.4 million. Commissioner Connie Stokes, who chairs the BOC’s budget, finance and audit committee, said balancing this year’s budget has been a very challenging process. Connie Stokes “In these tough economic times, we are forced to do more with less,” she said. To arrive at the reductions, county employees will take one unpaid holiday at a savings of $1.2 million. Commissioner Larry Johnson said CEO Burrell Ellis will pick the holiday, but that it will most likely be the Friday after Thanksgiving. The BOC also found $1.8 million in additional reductions by eliminating encumbrances, took $3 million from its budgetary reserves, and $1.4 million from a payment reduction to the Building Authority for Juvenile Court. It said unspent bond funding will make up the difference for the reduction of payment to the Building Authority. The budget adjustments were achieved without raising taxes and with the commissioners providing 90 percent Homestead Option Sales Tax (HOST) for property tax relief. Ellis said he was encouraged that the BOC adopted his proposal to cut the budget by $9.8 million and transfer the funds to the development department to enable it keep operating at a minimal level until the economy rebounds. “I thank the Board of Commissioners for doing that today,” he said. “I think it was the right thing to do.” The dramatic mid-year adjustments were brought on by the declining revenues from sales taxes, the impact of the new city of Dunwoody on its tax base, a reduction in the county’s tax digest from the unprecedented numbers of foreclosures, and a new state law that forced the county to account for it in its property assessments. The state also withheld $15.8 million in Homestead Tax Relief Grants (HTRG), which is increasing property taxes $200 to $300 for homeowners this year.

CrossRoadsNews

Community

June 27, 2009

“This is not even a ‘black’ issue. It’s about artists, period, so Maroon Five is going to get paid, just like Kid Rock is going to get paid.”

Crackdown on drunk drivers DUI task force units from across metro Atlanta will be cracking down on drunk drivers over the Fourth of July holiday as part of Operation Zero Tolerance, which kicked off on June 19. The statewide campaign is designed to raise driver awareness about the deadly consequences of drunk driving. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety says one in five fatal crashes a year in Georgia is alcohol-related. During Operation Zero Tolerance, police will conduct waves of concentrated patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the state until July 5. Wreckers will be standing by to tow away vehicles impounded from drunk drivers. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is also encouraging motorists and passengers to buckle up. It says that safety belts are still the best protection against drunk drivers. “Whether it is summer vacation or a cross-town trip to the mall, responsible driving should be as much a holiday tradition as annual fireworks celebrations,” the office said. “So drive sober, plan for a designated driver and buckle-up!”

Free HIV tests to be available Free OraQuick Rapid HIV testing will be available June 27 at the Mall at Stonecrest as part of National HIV Testing Day. The event is sponsored by the DeKalb Board of Health and Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Nu Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The noninvasive test will be offered noon to 4 p.m. on the mall’s lower level in front of Macy's. There will also be HIV prevention information and other health resources and giveaways. HIV Testing Day is a nationwide effort to educate the public about HIV/AIDS and make it easy for individuals to learn their HIV status. For more information, call Paris Ponder at 404-889-2599. STAND Inc. is also offering free HIV tests on June 27 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 3423 Covington Highway. Call 404-2849878.

McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews

Speakers at the June 22 musicFIRST town hall meeting to support the Performance Rights Act included (from left) George Clinton, Rhymefest and Katheryn Townsend.

War of words escalates over radio payments bill By McKenzie Jackson

Congressman Hank Johnson escalated the war of words between himself and Radio One founder and chairwoman Cathy Hughes this week by calling her a “pimp.” Johnson, who represents the 4th District, which includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale and Gwinnett counties, did not mince words at the June 22 musicFIRST town Hank Johnson hall meeting to support the Performance Rights Act at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center. “Don’t believe the hype, ladies and gentlemen,” he told the audience of more than 200 that included a number of musicians and singers. “This bill is all about fairness. “If you got a job, you don’t work for free and neither should the artists, who have been pimped. And one of the biggest pimps around is madam Hughes.” Johnson said Hughes, who owns 54 radio stations across the country, is playing the race card. “She is saying, ‘They are trying to hurt black radio, they already put three out of existence,’ ” he said. “Well, the bill isn’t even law yet. And those three stations were sold to the Catholic Church.” If the bill passes, radio stations will pay $500 to $5,000 a year depending on their annual revenues for unlimited use of music. The money would go to musicians and singers who are not covered by the royalties paid to recording companies. Talk radio stations, who play only snippets of songs, and religious broadcasters are exempt. Non-commercial stations, such as

college stations, would pay $1,000. Hughes, an ardent opponent of the bill, has mounted a virulent campaign against Johnson and other sponsors of the bill. During a May appearance on the “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” Hughes said the bill would put a majority of black-owned stations out of business and would impact Radio One’s income by 35 percent. Cathy Hughes “Everyone at Radio One just took a salary cut, and we have implemented furloughs every other Friday,” she said. In an open letter to the employees of her stations, Hughes said the music that listeners now get for free would cost millions of dollars. “In the midst of this economic depression, black radio stations simply do not have that financial ability,” she said. Johnson was one of a dozen panelists who defended the Performance Rights Act at the town hall meeting. Others included Michigan Congressman John Conyers, Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, songwriter and rapper Rhymefest, music legend George Clinton, Grammy nominated singer/ songwriter and Decatur resident Dionne Farris; National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences vice-president Daryl Friedman; guitarist and music director Peter Stroud; Kendall Minter, an entertainment, intellectual property and new media attorney; Atlanta Federation of Musicians vice president Jimmy Patterson; and professional union performer Barry Stolze. Conyers, chair of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, introduced the bill on Feb. 4 and has been promoting it all over the country.

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Supporters such as musicFIRST, a group established by musicians and singers to push for the passage of the bill, say the US is one of only five countries where radio stations don’t pay for use of their talent. “The only countries that artists do not get paid for performance rights, for performing the music that you hear on radio is America, China, North Korea, Rwanda and Iran,” said Rhymefest, who co-wrote Kanye West’s Grammy winning “Jesus Walks.” “When you watch Seinfeld, the writers get paid to write, Jerry Seinfeld gets paid to perform what they write. Do you know that radio makes $16 billion a year?” Rhymefest, whose real name is Che Smith, said people will use “black” to rile people up. “This is not even a ‘black’ issue,” he said. “It’s about artists, period, so Maroon Five is going to get paid, just like Kid Rock is going to get paid, just like Talib Kweli and Rhymefest are going to get paid. So why is this just about Black radio?” Farris, known for her 1995 hit single “Hopeless” from the movie “Love Jones,” said the bill plugs an 80-year-old loophole. “If you are a mime you can get a performance royalty, but if you are someone who does a sound recording you are not on the list. It is time for us to catch up with ourselves and close this gigantic gap.” Jackson Lee said the fee that radio stations would have to pay is a business expense. “It’s the cost of doing business,” she said. “It’s a write-off.” Conyers said 99.2 percent of people agree that artists should get paid. “This is not hard stuff,” he said. “It does not involve war and peace. This is another wrong we are correcting and this what we are in the business of doing in Congress.”

Community

CrossRoadsNews

June 27, 2009

“We want to help our citizens feel good about their government. We to restore the integrity and public trust that DeKalb County citizens deserve.”

New board, office to tackle transparency, accountability in county Jennifer Ffrench Parker

A volunteer board of seven DeKalb citizens will be picking an inspector general to ferret out waste, fraud and abuse in county government. Members of the seven-member Board of Transparency & Accountability gathered for the first time at a press conference on Wednesday called by DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis to introduce them. The members, who will serve a two-year term, are Neville Anderson Sr., a CPA who owns his own company; Donald Byrd, chief operating officer of Vista Realty Partners; Elizabeth Kiss, president of Agnes Scott College; Celena Matlock, director of financial compliance for Turner Broadcasting System; attorney Jonathan Weintraub; Joseph Williams, pastor of Salem Bible Church in Lithonia; and former Commissioner Gale Walldorff, who will chair the board. Ellis says the board’s creation fulfills a recommendation of his transition team and is important to promote integrity and accountability in county government. It also comes in the wake of a 2008 Forensic Audit by KPMG that found that $5.4 million in county contracts were awarded to vendors without bids. Ellis said that since he became CEO, a number of concerns have come to his attention, including the operations of the police department, which he dealt with rapidly and decisively.

Neville Anderson

Elizabeth Kiss

Joseph Williams

J. Weintraub

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Members of Burrell Ellis’s transparency team include (from left) Celena Matlock, Donald Byrd and Gale Walldorff.

“Some we are investigating,” he said. “Some we have looked into and have made known to the public, but I can tell you they are coming in at a rapid pace, so we felt the need to have a dedicated team.” Ellis said he looked at best practices in local governments across the country, and that neighboring counties like Cobb and Gwinnett have an inspector general and DeKalb doesn’t. “We thought it was important in order to promote integrity and to ensure transparency in our government,” he said. “We want to help our citizens feel good about their government. We to restore the integrity and public trust that DeKalb County citizens deserve.” The board will investigate allegations of mismanagement and abuse in county projects, programs and contracts and promote ethics,

honesty, accountability and efficiency in county departments. It will aid in establishing an Office of Transparency and Accountability, and interview and select a paid inspector general to head the office. Ellis said some of the dozen auditors now in the county’s Division of Internal Audit and Licensing will be shifted to the new office to make it “virtually budget neutral.” He said no one in the office will lose their jobs. “We think we can do it and we think we can do it without costing DeKalb taxpayers,” he said. Ellis said he has no candidate in mind for the job, and no idea how much the inspector general will be paid or how big the office will be. He said he expects the board to bring him recommendations by the fall. He said the board and the office were being set up by the

CEO’s office under his authority in the Organization Act and recommendations from the board will be sent to the BOC. Walldorff said that as a county commissioner, she championed transparency and is honored to serve. She served on the audit committee with Ellis when they were county commissioners. “This is not a new concept for him,” she said. “He has always been committed to transparency.” Commissioners Kathie Gannon, Lee May, Larry Johnson and Sharon Sutton, who attended the press conference, said they were hearing about the board’s creation and its members for the first time but had heard Ellis talk about his intention to appoint one. May said he wanted to see the board’s structure and responsibility and get a better understanding of

what an inspector general and the office’s funding structure before offering an opinion. “I have a number of questions,” he said. “ Having an inspector general report to this quasi board. I don’t what that constitutes,” he said. “Is he creating a department? He can’t create a department without the Board of Commissioners’ approval. It will be interesting to see what the structure will look like, to see what the funding mechanism will look like. He is saying he is changing some responsibilities of the auditors but you don’t want to leave the true audit function that the auditors have been playing and leave them lacking. So there is a number of questions that must be asked.” Gannon said she was on the audit committee with Ellis and Walldorff in 2007 when the concept was first introduced and that it was in the transition report. She said she is glad Ellis is taking lessons learned from the other side and implementing them. “There is waste, and probably fraud and mismanagement in the county’ s programs,” she said. “This is a really good way to pull from impressive people in the community to look at how can we take information from employees and citizens and use that information in a way that leaves people secure in their jobs but can investigate in a fair-handed way so that it is one step removed from the CEO and from the finance department or wherever.”

Forum

CrossRoadsNews

June 27, 2009

This was a very complicated financial issue that obviously had long-term impact on both the school system and the county government.

Economic growth tied to education gains 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

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The Great Recession is reaping a bitter harvest of job losses and deep budget cuts throughout Georgia’s public education and training system. Although federal stimulus dollars are providing some temporary relief, more than $1 billion in state funding has been slashed from Georgia’s K-12 and post-secondary education budgets. Budget shortfalls have forced educational leaders to institute furloughs and/or layoffs. “Nonessential” classes in music and foreign languages are disappearing. Sadly, athletic and enrichment programs for students with disabilities are being reduced or eliminated. As Georgia’s budget crisis deepens, economists are making dire predictions of continuing declines in state revenues. Absent a quickerthan-expected economic rebound, additional federal stimulus or new sources of revenue, more draconian budget cuts are inevitable. Georgia’s public education and training system is standing at the proverbial crossroads between continued progress and a return to mediocrity. Further reductions in state education budgets will cripple the development of Georgia’s 21st century workforce. Now is not the time to drastically reduce investments in our children’s future. Ironically, this severe economic downturn presents Georgia with an unprecedented opportunity to increase our competitive advantage by improving the quality of our most valuable economic development resource – Georgia’s workforce. A thorough and thoughtful debate must be had regarding the potential impact of additional budget cuts to Georgia’s public education and training system. The critical question must be raised: Should Georgia’s political,

Further reductions in state education budgets will cripple the development of Georgia’s 21st century workforce. Now is not the time to drastically reduce investments in our children’s future. Michael Thurmond, Georgia Labor Commissioner

educational and business leaders support accessing alternative or new funding streams to protect and improve the quality of public education in our state? The result of this critical and long-delayed debate will shape and define Georgia’s economic future. I am convinced that Georgia’s return to economic growth and prosperity will be dependent on the expansion of state education and training opportunities. Despite the economic downturn, strategic investments in cost-effective programs will assure the development of a skilled and productive Georgia workforce. I offer three examples where increased funding will pay huge dividends: n Expand parental involvement initiatives. Fledgling school-based parent involvement programs are critical to the long-term development of our children and educational system. Students whose parents are involved in their educational careers have higher high school and college graduation rates, regardless of their socioeconomic status. n Promote increased respect for school-to-work initiatives. Geor-

gia’s high school co-enrollment programs, apprenticeships, internships, technical, career and agricultural programs are important tools in preparing students for the workforce. School-to-work initiatives, like the Georgia Department of Labor’s Jobs for Georgia Graduates (JGG) program, help reduce the dropout rate. JGG provides “at risk” students with pre-employment and job development training. During the 2008 school year, 95 percent of JGG’s 794 participating seniors from 36 schools earned a high school diploma. n Strengthen Georgia’s technical and two-year colleges. For high school graduates not interested or ready to enter a four-year college, two-year and technical colleges are solid options. These institutions are academically sound, less expensive and graduates start their careers sooner than four-year college graduates. Two-year and technical colleges also provide educational opportunities for adult workers seeking a change of career or expansion of their skill sets. Michael Thurmond is the Commissioner of Labor for Georgia.

Thanks for covering the information on the Development Authority and the Sembler project. You did a great job in pointing out the issues. I would like to respectfully point out one correction. Judy Turner The second paragraph states that the authority was set to approve the 20-year tax abatement for Sembler. Although you probably were led to believe this, it was not the case in the minds of most of the Authority Board members. We were ready to listen to the presentation prepared by an independent analyst, ask for the recommendation of the economic development professionals who work with us and discuss the issue. This was a very complicated financial issue that obviously had long-term impact on both the school system and the county government. Our goal was to understand it thoroughly and do what was in the best interest of the county. I believe we achieved that. Judy Turner is vice chair of the DeKalb Development Authority.

What’s on your mind? We welcome your comments on issues of importance to the community. E-mail us at editor@crossroads news.com, or post your comments on crossroadsnews.com. Please include a contact number where we can reach you if necessary. Your contact information will not be published. Submissions may be edited for clarity or space. We do not publish anonymous letters.

Quick Read

Crackdown on drunk drivers 2 Preparation keeps losses to a Basketball standout adds gold 8 DUI task force units will be cracking down minimum if disaster strikes 6 medal to collection on drunk drivers over the Fourth of July holiday as part of Operation Zero Tolerance, which kicked off on June 19.

Dialog escalates over radio payments bill 2 Congressman Hank Johnson escalated the war of words between himself and Radio One founder and chairwoman Cathy Hughes this week by calling her a “pimp.”

Now that the 2009 hurricane season is under way, the Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses, home owners and renters to write down their emergency preparedness plan.

Three months after helping his team capture a state basketball title, Miller Grove’s Tony Parker has added a gold medal.

Fireworks displays to light up 9 Firms cited for bogus sales 6 skies for Fourth of July Three Georgia businesses will no longer be holding illegal going-out-of-business sales.

The nation turns 233 years old on July 4 and there will be plenty of fireworks to celebrate.

Superintendent urges support Campaign offers remedies for Film at APEX examines global 9 for arrested principals 5 rising temperatures 7 extraction in Africa Superintendent Crawford Lewis has asked school system employees to reach out to and support the two former Atherton Elementary principals arrested last week.

As near-record heat continues to scorch Georgia and the Southeast, the DeKalb Board of Health has launched a “Keep It Cool, DeKalb!” campaign.

Misconduct cited in firings 5 Coach retires after 11 years 8 Circulation Audited By

Sembler vote was not a done deal

Two DeKalb police officers lost their jobs and a third was demoted after an investigation alleging sexual misconduct.

One of the longest-active girls basketball coaches in DeKalb won’t be pacing the sidelines next season.

“End of the Rainbow” will be screened on July 2 at the APEX Museum in Atlanta.

Lithonia filmmaker’s short movie selected for festival 9 Lithonia-based actor and filmmaker Dwayne Boyd is at the annual American Black Film Festival in Miami, Fla., with his debut film, “4 Minutes.”

index to advertisers 1.2.3 Discount Fabrics...................................... 6 Alpha Climate Control......................................11 2009 Adoption & Family Expo.........................2 DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau..............3 Diversified Marketing Service Inc..................... 6

Ella’s Caring Hands Adult Day Care.................11 Georgia Department of Transportation............5 Malcolm Cunningham Ford.............................11 Natasha Brown/Health Market......................... 6 Newburn Reynolds Photography....................10

North Georgia Orthodontics.............................7 Padgett Business Services................................ 6 Raleigh Rucker Funeral Home........................10 Saint Philip AME Church...................................5

Salt & Light Truth Center..................................5 Sulton Pediatric Group....................................10 The Law Office of B.A. Thomas.......................11 Wright Vision Care............................................3

Community

CrossRoadsNews

June 27, 2009

“We stand by our officers and hold them to the highest standards, and we will not accept anything less.”

Superintendent Lewis urges support for arrested Atherton principals DeKalb School Superintendent Crawford Lewis has asked the school system’s employees to reach out to and support the two former Atherton Elementary School principals arrested last week in the cheating scandal at the Dr. James Berry school. Former principal Dr. James Berry and former assistant principal Doretha Alexander were arrested on felony charges of falsifying and altering a government document. In a June 24 memo to “all DeKalb employees,” Lewis said he was both concerned and surprised that this investigation was elevated to the front page of Sunday’s AJC newspaper and warranted a probe by the district attorney’s office. “Dr. James Berry and Mrs. Doretha Al-

exander are good people who made a grave mistake,” he said. “They both acknowledged their involvement and accepted their consequences. They have served the DeKalb School System with distinction for many years.” Doretha Alexander He told employees that it is important that they know that the school district was not consulted nor played any role in the arrests of the two. “While we do not condone their actions in any way, they should be allowed to move on with their lives.” Lewis said. “DeKalb County School System is a family, and during difficult times family should come together. As a family, I am asking the entire system to reach out to Dr. Berry and Mrs. Alexander and show your support. An e-mail, card or

phone call will go a long way towards showing Dr. Berry and Mrs. Alexander that we still care about them.” Berry and Alexander are accused of changing answers on the June 2008 CRCT mathematics retest taken by 32 fifthgraders. The Decatur school is one of four elementary schools being investigated by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement over changed answers on the Criterion Reference Competency Test. The students’ average point gain was 72 after failing in the spring. The other schools are in Fulton County, Atlanta City Schools and Glynn County. Berry, a 21-year employee of the school system, was the Atherton’s principal for four years. He resigned on June 11. Alexander,

who has been with the system for 22 years, was reassigned. Berry was arrested at his home on June 19 and is out of jail on a $15,000 bond. Alexander turned herself in to DeKalb Police on June 18 and has posted a $1,500 bond. In a June 19 statement, DeKalb School spokesman Dale Davis said the arrests were a surprise to the school district. “We did not receive notification prior to the arrest,” he said. Robert Moseley, the school system’s deputy chief superintendent, said last week that news of the cheating was devastating. “We were shocked and extremely disappointed,” he said. “It is a very, very serious incident but it was isolated and we dealt with it swiftly and decidedly.”

Sexual misconduct cited in firings Two DeKalb police officers lost their jobs and a third was demoted on June 5 after the police department’s Office of Internal Affairs completed an investigation into a case involving accusations of sexual misconduct. Officers Corey Lowe-Williams and Gregory Rivera were fired and Sergeant Walter West was demoted to the position of Master Police Officer. All three of the officers were stationed at the department’s South Precinct on Candler Road in Decatur. The investigation began in March after misconduct was reported to internal affairs. Rivera and Lowe-Williams were terminated for allegedly having sex while Rivera was training a recruit. Rivera was on duty several times when he visited an off-duty

Lowe-Williams at her home. At least once, Rivera made an on-duty house call and made a police trainee under his charge wait in the squad car. West, who was Lowe-Williams’ supervisor, allegedly made inappropriate comments to Lowe-Williams after she told him she wanted to end her relationship with Rivera and asked him to get involved. Acting Police Chief William O’Brien said misconduct by officers, on, or off duty, will not be tolerated. “We will always be fair in investigating allegations against our officers, but if it is determined misconduct has taken place, swift and appropriate action will be taken,” he said. “We stand by our officers and hold them to the highest standards, and we will not accept anything less.”

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Restrictions on watering eased a bit With the recent rains, outdoor water restrictions in DeKalb County have been softened a bit. Residents can now water their grass and gardens three days a week using odd and even-numbered addresses. Odd-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, while even-numbered and unnumbered addresses can water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. On assigned days, water use can occur at any time, but landscape watering is

prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Francis T. Kung’u, DeKalb’s director for Watershed Management, said that by taking the initiative to conserve water, DeKalb residents have saved nearly 5.7 billion gallons of water since January 2008. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division first imposed the water restrictions April 19, 2007 in the wake of a Level Two drought statewide. For more information, visit www.dekalbwatershed.com.

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It is the policy of the Georgia Department of Transportation to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 49 Code of Federal Register, Part 26 and related statutes and regulations in all federally funded program activities. To this end the Georgia Department of Transportation requests comments from the public concerning the State Transportation Board’s proposed overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal in the award of any federally assisted Department of Transportation contract. In accordance with the provisions of Section 26.45 (g) (2) of 49 C.F.R., Part 26, the Georgia Department of Transportation is proposing a 12% overall annual goal for federally assisted projects for the 2009 - 2010 federal fiscal year. The goal will be established at 10% race conscious and 2% race neutral as established in Section 26.51 of 49 C.F.R., Part 26. In accordance with 49 C.F.R., Part 26, the Georgia Department of Transportation soliciting your comments on the fiscal year 2009-2010 DBE goal set for federally funded transit projects for the state of Georgia. In this regard the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) goal is being recommended at 10.5%. This goal is to be obtained by race neutral means. All comments and or information shall be sent to the address below. The analysis and methodology for the Department’s overall goal is available for inspection during normal business hours at the Georgia Department of Transportation for 45 days following the date of this Public Notice. All interested individuals, partnerships, corporations, associations, governmental entities, and public and private organizations are invited to present any data, views, or arguments concerning the proposed DBE goals in writing to the Georgia Department of Transportation by forwarding such correspondence to the attention of:

Please call 404-631-1972 to make an appointment to come in and review this information. All such written submissions received on or before July 31, 2009 shall be considered.

Finance

CrossRoadsNews

June 27, 2009

Consumers are victimized because they end up paying higher prices for merchandise that they believe has been greatly discounted.”

Preparation keeps losses to a minimum if disaster strikes

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life and property.” In the aftermath of last year’s midwest floods, and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike – which pounded parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas last summer – the SBA approved more than 23,000 disaster loans totaling $1.2 billion. It says that disaster preparedness for businesses and homes should include:

your business and home. Business and home owners should review their policies to see what is not covered. Businesses should consider “business interruption insurance,” which helps cover operating costs during the post-disaster shutdown period. Flood insurance is essential. To find out more about the National Flood Insurance Program, visit www.floodsmart.gov. Make copies of important records. It’s a good idea to back up vital records and information saved on computer hard drives, and store those items at a distant offsite location. Computer data should be backed up routinely. Copies of important documents and CDs should be kept in fireproof safe deposit boxes.

A solid emergency plan Find evacuation routes from your home or business and establish meeting places. Make sure everyone understands the plan beforehand. Keep emergency phone numbers handy. Business owners should designate a contact person to communicate with other employees, customers and vendors. Ask an out-of-state friend or family member to be your “post-disaster” “Disaster Survival Kit” point of contact – a person to call to The kit should include a flashprovide information on your safety light, a portable radio, extra batand whereabouts. teries, a first-aid kit, nonperishable packaged and canned food, bottled Adequate insurance water, a basic tool kit, plastic bags, Disaster preparedness begins cash, and a disposable camera to with having adequate insurance take pictures of the property damcoverage, at least enough to rebuild age after the storm.

For more tips for businesses, homeowners and renters, visit www.sba.gov/disasterassistance, or the Institute for Business and Home Safety at www.disastersafety.org. To learn more about developing an emergency plan, visit www.ready. gov or call 1-800-BE-READY to receive free materials. The SBA makes low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and non-farm businesses of all sizes. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged real estate. Individuals may borrow up to $40,000 to cover losses to personal property. Non-farm businesses and nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged business assets and real property. Small businesses and nonprofits suffering economic losses as a direct result of the declared disaster may apply for a working capital loan up to $2 million, even if the property was not physically damaged. For more information the SBA’s disaster assistance program, visit www.sba.gov/disasterassistance.

Firms cited for bogus ‘out-of-business’ sales Three Georgia businesses will no longer be holding illegal goingout-of-business sales. The companies, which include Ben Haverty’s Furniture-Xpress LLC in Chamblee, reached a settlement this month with the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs. Joe Doyle, the state Consumer Affairs administrator, said in a June 3 statement that the businesses held going-out-of-business sales with no intention of closing but as a strategy to increase store traffic. “Not only has the agency seen going-out-of-business sales linger on for many months, but some stores have even augmented their inventory during a ‘liquidation sale,’ ” Doyle said. Under Georgia law, a goingout-of-business sale may not last longer than 90 days, and at the end of that 90-day period, the store may no longer conduct business of that nature at that location. Doyle said that when companies hold illegal going-out-of-business sales, they hurt ethical businesses by drawing away customers who are responding to false promises of

price reductions and time-limited bargains. “And consumers are victimized because they end up paying higher prices for merchandise that they believe has been greatly discounted,” he said. Doyle said the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs will continue to take action against companies who conduct these illegitimate sales. The Office of Consumer Affairs says that Ben Haverty’s FurnitureXpress ran a going-out-of-business sale for longer than 90 days and that when investigators put the business on notice, it reopened the store as an “outlet” but continued to use the word “liquidation” on receipts and other literature. The agency said the company also conducted deceptive sales price comparisons in which the original prices referred to were not the actual former prices. In its settlement, Ben Haverty’s Furniture-Xpress agreed to modify its sales practices to comply with the Fair Business Practices Act and to reimburse the agency $5,000 for administrative and legal expenses.

The other companies in the settlements are Shinco Trading International Inc. which does business as retail rug dealer Cyrus Fine Rugs in Atlanta, and Furniture World of Dallas Inc., a Dallas, Ga., retail furniture store. The Consumer Affairs office says that before shutting its doors, Shinco allegedly conducted a “going-out-of-business” sale for nearly 6 months. In its settlement, it agreed to cease operating its retail business and to reimburse the Office of Consumer Affairs $25,000 for administrative expenses. Furniture World allegedly ran a going out of business sale for more than four months and advertised a “Total Liquidation Closeout,” while at the same time augmenting its inventory with furniture from an affiliate store. It has agreed to cease doing business and to reimburse the agency $10,000 for administrative expenses. Consumers can report illegal going-out-of-business sales to the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs at 404-651-8600 or 800869-1123.

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CrossRoadsNews

June 27, 2009

Wellness

Serious heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion can be prevented with adequate measures.

‘Keep It Cool’ campaign offers tips for summer heat By McKenzie Jackson

As near-record heat continues to scorch Georgia and the southern United States, the DeKalb Board of Health is advising county residents to beat the heat with its “Keep It Cool, DeKalb!” Excess Heat Education campaign. With the official start of summer on June 21, temperatures this week in metro Atlanta and across the Southeast soared to the upper 90s and into the 100s with heat advisories extending from eastern Nebraska to Florida. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say nationwide, heat accounts for about 400 deaths annually, mostly during the summer months. This year’s weather projections indicate a hotter-thanaverage summer. Dr. Leslie Richmond, DeKalb’s acting district health director, said extreme heat can cause heatrelated illnesses and problems for the elderly, young children, allergy sufferers and for families who lack air conditioning. “The ‘Keep It Cool, DeKalb!’ campaign provides a list of cooling centers located at public facilities throughout the community where people can go to stay cool,” he said. There are more than 30 cooling centers in South DeKalb, including the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia, the Browns Mill Recreation Center in Lithonia, the Tobie Grant Center in Scottdale, the Clarkston Library, the Covington Library, the

Residents are encouraged to drink plenty of water and other fluids to deal with summer’s heat.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

These tips will help you beat the heat n Seek shade – Stay out of the sun during peak hot times, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest and at the most damage. n Cover up – When in the sun, dress in lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that covers as much skin as possible. Rub on sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB protection, and wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears and neck. n Never leave children, seniors or pets in a parked car during periods of intense heat. n Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, even if

Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library, McNair High School, the South DeKalb Health Center, and fire stations around the county. Richmond said serious heatrelated illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion can be prevented when adequate measures are taken in time. Symptoms of heat exhaustion

you don’t feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Avoid beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine. n Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the sun’s peak hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. n Check on your neighbors, especially frail and/or chronically-ill seniors and those with special needs. Be sure they have plenty of water and if they don’t have air-conditioni ng, help them find a nearby cooling center. n Recognize the symptoms of heat-related illness including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

include clammy skin, dizziness, fainting, nausea, heavy sweating, weak pulse, headache and exhaustion. The body temperature will seem normal. Symptoms of heat stroke include dry skin, nausea, weak pulse, confusion and fainting, shallow breathing and an elevated body temperature.

The Board of Health says 911 should be called if someone passes out or has a temperature above 105 degrees. For cooling center hours of operation and locations, call 311 or visit www.dekalbhealth.net. For more information on the "Keep It Cool, DeKalb!" campaign, call 404-294-3700.

Volunteer day at free clinic Supporters of healthcare reform will gather on June 28 for a volunteer day at the House of Grace Healthcare Clinic in Decatur. The free clinic for low-income adults is sponsored by Bethesda Baptist Church and is located the campus of Atlanta Belvedere Seventh Day Adventist Church, 3567 Covington Highway in Decatur. State Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield is hosting the 2 p.m. to 5 Stuckey Benfield p.m. volunteer effort at the clinic, which is open two days a month and encourages clients to adopt healthy lifestyles to alleviate chronic illnesses. The clinic is run by volunteers. At the June 28 event, volunteers can help start a community garden on the property, donate nonperishable food items for the clinic’s food bank, clothing for the clinic’s patients, and office and clinic supplies. They can also encourage health professionals to volunteer for the clinic and sign up supporters for President Barack Obama’s healthcare initiative to provide medical coverage to 46 million uninsured Americans. For more information, call Benfield at 404-964-7025 or Sharon Sudduth at 404-377-0735.

CrossRoadsNews

School

June 20, 2009

“We were not surprised. We were shocked and extremely disappointed.” Workers are installing walls and other renovations at the DeKalb County School System’s Mountain Industrial Center in Tucker, to make space for the system’s administrative and school board offices.

McKenzie Jackson / CrossRoadsNews

DeKalb Schools’ headquarters moving By McKenzie Jackson

Starting in January, the DeKalb School System’s central offices and Board of Education offices will be relocated to Stone Mountain. The $3 million move to the school system’s 262,000 square feet Mountain Industrial Center, will consolidate programs, maximise use of the building and reduce expenses. Workmen from Nix-Fowler Constructors Inc., have begun a renovating the building to accommodate the new administrative and board offices. Patricia Pope, the school system’s chief operations officer, said the move will consolidate the administration in one building from the three it now occupies on North Decatur Road in Decatur.

Administrative programs including the superintendent offices, area assistant su perintendents, finance department, human resource depart- Patricia Pope ment, facility supervision, public relations, the training center and conference room will move, along with the Board of Education offices and board room. The renovation, which was approved by the school board in February, is part of a $31 million renovation at the center. The Mountain Industrial Center will also house the Elizabeth Andrews High School and DeKalb Elementary College Academy

(DECA). Both schools will open there at the beginning of the 2009-10 school year on Aug. 10. The center, at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, near US 78, will continue to house the school system’s Drivers Education Center and bus maintenance facility. The bus-driver training facility will be relocated to the school system’s campus on Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain, at a cost of $1.5 million. The school district purchased the Mountain Industrial Center from Patillo Construction in 2002 for $10 million. Pope said the move is a permanent one for the school system. She said no decision has yet been made on what will be done with the North Decatur Road property.

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Principal resigns in wake of CRCT cheating scandal By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Atherton Elementary School in Decatur will have a new principal this fall in the wake of a CRCT cheating scandal. Dr. James L. Berry, who was the school’s principal for four years, quit last week after admitting that he tampered with the June 2008 CRCT mathematics retest at the school. Robert Moseley, the school system’s deputy chief superintendent, said Thursday that news of the cheating was devastating. “We were not surprised,” he said. “We were shocked and extremely disappointed. It is a very, very serious incident but it was isolated and we dealt with it swiftly and decidedly.” Atherton is one of four elementary schools being investigated by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement over changed answers on the Criterion Reference Competency Test. The other schools are in Fulton County, Atlanta City Schools and Glynn County. The state is recommending that the results of more than 100 students from the four schools be thrown out. Preliminary audit results reveal that someone at the schools deliberately changed the answers on the fifth-graders’ tests by erasing wrong answers and replacing them with right ones. Moseley said that 32 students

James Berry

Robert Moseley

took the retest at Atherton. The average point gain was 72. The other schools had gains of 16 to 57 points. Mosely said the students were cheated by the administrators. “No teacher or students were involved in the testing violations,” he said, adding that a number of parents had called the school. “We are going to try to restore the confidence of the parents,” he said. On Wednesday, District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming said her office would investigate the incident. Moseley said that announcement changed everything. “Before the DA’s announcement we had a little more leeway, but in the light of the investigation, we can’t say much more about it,” he said. Moseley said that they are interviewing candidates and hope to have Berry’s replacement on board by July 1. He said assistant principal Doretha Alexander has also been reassigned while they investigate whether she was involved.

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June 20, 2009

Ministry Anniversary events set at Ray of Hope Ray of Hope Christian Church is marking its 23rd anniversary with a special morning service and afternoon festival on June 28. The festivities culminate four weeks of celebration under way since June 1. The Rev. Dr. William Curtis from Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., will be the guest speaker at the 10 a.m. anniversary celebration, and the Rev. Dr. Trini Massie, his church’s minister of music, will serve as guest psalmist. After the service, jazz saxophonist Ron James will perform at the Blockfest on the church grounds. The 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. festival will include food and fun. Ray of Hope was founded in 1986 by the Rev. Cynthia Hale, who still leads the congregation as senior pastor. The first meeting took place with four people in her Lithonia apartment. Today, Hale leads more than 3,500 people, with about 2,000 people in attendance each Sunday. Other anniversary activities include a Dance Jubilee 2009 Extreme, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 23 at the church, and an All White Platinum Affair at 7 p.m. June 26 at the Holiday Inn in downtown Decatur. Tickets are $35 for the All White Platinum Affair. Ray of Hope is at 2778 Snapfinger Road in Decatur. For more information, call 770-696-5100.

CrossRoadsNews

“This café will embrace the arts to encourage those in attendance to reflect and ‘feel’ a connection between their heart’s passion and service for the betterment of our people.”

Dinner series explores identity through artistic expression Mausiki Scales Music lovers will find plenty & The Common to satisfy at the Wednesday Night Ground Collective Call Cafe at First Afrikan Presbywill perform terian Church through Aug. 12. Black Belt Blues The intimate dinner cafes, on Aug. 5 at First hosted by the church’s Center for Afrikan Church. Afrikan Biblical Studies, began June 17 with Kelly Love Jones, features jazz and other singers. Itihari Toure, the center’s director, says the dinner café is using the creative and rhythmic medium of music to engage in community reflection about who we are and what our purpose is visuals to encourage those in atten- and service for the betterment of in the world. “This café will embrace the dance to reflect and ‘feel’ a connec- our people,” she said. On June 24, Meroy Myra will arts of music, spoken word and tion between their heart’s passion

perform Songs of Sankofa. On July 15 Songs of Love & Power will draw attention to HIV/AIDs education. Songs of God’s Spirit will focus attention on revitalizing the black church on July 22 and on Aug. 5, Mausiki Scales & The Common Ground Collective will perform Black Belt Blues. Call Café culminates on Aug. 12 with Pan-Afrikan Unity Songs on Aug. 12 featuring Joseph’s Quote. The focus will be on Haiti. Tickets are $7 in advance. First Afrikan Presbyterian Church is at 5197 Salem Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770-981-2601.

Gospel talents to raise money for Morris Brown Recording artist Marvin Sapp, who has six Grammy and Stellar awards, will headline a June 27 Gospel Extravaganza benefiting Morris Brown at Saint Philip A.M.E. Church in Atlanta. The concert, which starts at 7 p.m., will feature talented gospel musicians including L’Tanya Moore, Anya Dixon & the Singers of Morris Brown College, Maurice Culpepper and the Showers of Blessing Choir, Kevin Lemons and Higher Calling Choir, and minister Darius Paulk. Sapp will perform with the Georgia Mass Choir. The concert is hosted by Education Online Services, which helps colleges and universities maximize online higher education. Tickets are $35 and proceeds benefit scholarships for incoming and returning students at the financially beleaguered school. Saint Philip A.M.E. is at 240 Candler Road, at the intersection with Memorial Drive. For more infor- Marvin Sapp will perform with the Georgia Mass Choir at the June 27 fundraiser for Morris Brown College. mation, call Jacqueline Pollard at 404-739-1010.

Written by

Bobby Simmons,

“Daughters of The Light” is an inspirational novel about a young girl Nua who loses both parents as an infant. This book is a must read as Nua serves as a guide through this thing we call life.

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CrossRoadsNews

June 20, 2009

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Reader Notice As a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertisement that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. They may have records or documented complaints that will serve to caution you about doing business with those advertisers. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaranteed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good to be true – it may in fact be exactly that. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertisers. Thank you.

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