CrossRoadsNews, March 18, 2017

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Getting close to nature Kids 8 to 12 can participate in a half-day of Junior Ranger activities at Arabia Mountain as part of Monadnock Madness. 10

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

Copyright © 2017 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

March 18, 2017

Volume 22, Number 47

www.crossroadsnews.com

Lary and ‘the Jason 5’ benefit from mystery benefactors

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

RDEC’s motives were unsuccessful.

RDEC’s titular focus on “education,” a function that is not in the purview of the Stonecrest’s municipal charter, has only raised more questions – and eyebrows.

On one side of the full-color mailers the Reform DeKalb Education Coalition sent to thousands of Stonecrest households is a photo of mayoral candidate Jason Lary and his short biogra-

In the final weeks of campaigning for the new city of Stonecrest, an Atlanta-based firm is spending heavily to support a controversial “slate” of candidates, a move that is leaving voters mystified and raising questions about shadowy interest groups seeking to influence the March 21 election.

CrossRoadsNews has learned that the Reform DeKalb Education Coalition, Inc. (RDEC) poured approximately $20,000 into producing and distributing slick campaign mailers that began arriving in mailboxes across the freshman city in the last two weeks.

Although the historic election is taking place more than 12 miles away in neighboring DeKalb, the return address on the RDEC mailers is for a $900,000 private residence on a hilly Buckhead enclave in Fulton County. Please see MYSTERY, page 2 Several attempts to reach company officials to explain

Glossy campaign mailers supporting six candidates for Stonecrest mayor and council were sent out two weeks before the March 21 special election.

Operation Clean Sweep clears 50 tons on day 1

Initiative to clean 137.6 miles of county roads

The Operation Clean Sweep crew chiseled away at builtup dirt, trash and grass along Stone MountainLithonia, Redan and Panola roads at the March 11 kickoff.

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Muck, gunk, debris and all the stuff caking up along DeKalb County curbs are getting the boot.

O p e r at i o n C l e a n Sweep, which kicked off March 11, began chiseling away the built-up debris that DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond says blocks the flow of stormwater into county drains and contributes to standing Michael Thurmond water on the roads leading to potholes and other issues.

Right after Thurmond and Commissioners Gregory Adams, Steve Bradshaw, Mereda Davis Johnson, and Kathie Gannon made speeches to signal the start of the initiative, dozens of county workers fanned out along Please see INITIATIVE, page 4

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

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CrossRoadsNews

Election

March 18, 2017

“It’s easily $12,000 to design, print and mail 30,000 copies.

Mailing is a fixed cost … $7,200.”

DeKalb lawmakers seeking term limit for Stonecrest mayor

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

A local bill to amend the city of Stonecrest’s charter is seeking to add term limits on the mayor, redraw council district lines, and limit the mayor to tie-breaking votes.

It made it out of the DeKalb Delegation in the Georgia House on Wednesday.

State Rep. Doreen Carter, who is sponsoring the legislation, said she

and other legislators have been inundated with calls about the fact that the Stonecrest charter lacked term limits for the mayor, something that is common among cities in the county and the state.

“We are just addressing key issues brought to us by constituents,” Carter said Thursday. “This is what constituents have contacted us about. This is what they want.”

Doreen Carter The amendment seeks to

limit the mayor to two consecutive four-year terms.

Carter, who represents House District 92, said some of the current council district lines seem unwieldy and don’t group voters well.

“We are suppose to have people in communities of interest,” she said. “We are going to try to do that.”

The current charter, approved on April 21, 2016, also allows the mayor to vote on every issue before the city council. The amendment will limit the mayor to voting

only to break a tie.

Stonecrest residents approved the new 29-square-mile city with a population of 50,000 in the Nov. 8, 2016, referendum. The new city went into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Its first election for mayor and city council takes place March 21.

Because it’s a local legislation, Carter said she expects it to become law before the General Assembly’s current session ends.

“It’s tight, but it could be in Rules Committee by Monday,” she said.

Lary’s chief rival says mailer shows six as an ‘unofficial slate’ MYSTERY,

from page

1

phy. Depending on each voter’s address, the flip side of the same mailer features a photo and bio for, respectively, Diane Adoma, Eric Hubbard, Plez Joyner, George Turner and Jimmy Clanton Jr., the same candidates who have been closely associated with Lary since before the city’s inception. When asked, Lary and the five candidates who were featured in the mailers said they were clueless about the RDEC, or who is behind the group.

“I needed those mailers,” said Adoma, who is running against Tammy Grimes, Lloyd Morrison and Richard Stone for the District 5 council seat. “I don’t know where they came from, but I was glad to have them.”

Plez Joyner, a candidate running in District 2, described the mailers as “a pleasant surprise.” Joyner, whose rivals are candidates Alexis Morris, Gretchen Jones-Torbert and Rob Turner, said he had only a minor complaint about the mailers: “They misspelled my wife’s name.”

Lary and four of the five council candidates who appeared on the coalition’s mailers said their photographs and other information had seemingly been cut-and-pasted from the Internet and their campaign websites without their knowledge or consent. Hubbard, who is running for Council District 3, said his website was under construction and he was contacted by a representative of the RDEC, a person whom he did not identify.

Lary has repeatedly insisted he’s not running in tandem with the quintet of candidates, a denial that the five city council hopefuls in question have either echoed – or at times, confirmed – at various campaign stops.

However, the RDEC mailers indicate a coordinated – if unsolicited – effort to throw

Reform DeKalb Education Coalition lists its Agent, CEO, CFO and secretary as Joanna Mallios, now Gomez, and its 1805 Lenox Road N.E. address at this house in Buckhead.

dollars spent.

A source who asked not to be identified confirmed that Mallios-Gomez worked for a political pollster and campaign consultant named John G. Garst, who is well-known in state Republican circles.

Contacted by telephone on March 16, Garst said he was “in the middle of something,” and promised to call back. By press time Thursday, he did not.

Thousands spent on mailers While Garst and the RDEC remain a mystery, there’s no doubt that the company is putting its money where its mouth is.

Don Jackson, owner of Best Print and Design, a Decatur-based print shop has experience with campaign mailers, and while he did not print the RDEC mailers, he said it represented a substantial investment.

“It’s easily $12,000 to design, print, and mail 30,000 copies,” Jackson said. “The mailing is a fixed cost and that is $7,200.”

The glossy 9-inch wide x 6-inch deep mailers have left Stonecrest voters wondering who’s behind the RDEC; what, if anything, they expect from the candidates they are endorsing if they win; and whether the company is operating in violation of state campaign laws.

Reform DeKalb Education Coalition has not registered as a PAC nor has it filed campaign disclosures detailing its expenditures during the run-up to the Stonecrest election. Maxine Daniels, DeKalb Registration Elections director, referred questions about the company to the Georgia Government Transparency Campaign Finance Commission which also had no record of it.

“There is no committee registered under Reform DeKalb Education Coalition, Inc.,” said Maria Bazile, the state commission’s

significant support behind Lary and the can- same sprawling ranch-style home on Lenox didates who some skeptical Stonecrest resi- Road address in Buckhead that matches the dents have jokingly dubbed, “The Jason 5.” address on the mailers sent to Stonecrest voters.

Coalition remains mystery Further digging shows that Mallios marCandidates Clanton and Adoma said ried Brian Gomez in October 2016, and that they tried to research their benefactors, but he owns, and or, lives at the Lenox Road adlike CrossRoadsNews had little luck find- dress where the RDEC is headquartered. No ing helpful information about the RDEC, telephone number was available at press time which is registered as a private company on for Mallios or Gomez and CrossRoadsNews the Georgia Secretary of was unable to reach Mallios for comment.

State’s website.

While the Reform DeKalb Education The state’s records Coalition is not registered as a political show that Joanna Malgroup, Mallios is a registered lobbyist with lios, who is listed as the the Transparency Commission under her company’s Agent, CEO, married name Joanna Gomez.

CFO and Secretary, regOn March 16, her status was listed in red istered it as a corporate on the Transparency Commission’s website entity on Oct. 8, 2015. as “Lobbyist is Inactive,” and four disclosures RDEC’s offices are at the Joanna Mallios filed by her for Jan. 1 through Feb. 28 list zero CONTINUED, next page

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CrossRoadsNews

March 18, 2017

Election

“Let’s show up and vote. That’s a sure way to tell people what we think of them.”

Low turnout expected for March 21 Stonecrest election

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

More than 38,992 registered voters in the new city of Stonecrest can go to the polls on March 21 to pick their first mayor and five-member city council, but election officials predict that a mere fraction of them will do it.

“Most special elections have 3 [percent] to 5 percent turnout,” Maxine Daniels, DeKalb Registration and Elections director, said Thursday.

The low prediction is bolstered by the low early voting turnout since Feb. 27. A day before early voting ended on March 17, only 321 voters – less than 10 percent of Stonecrest’s registered voters – had cast ballots.

Stonecrest voters per district District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Total

6,647 8,187 8,180 8,148 7,830 38,992

Candidates and political pundits had hoped for a larger turnout given the fact that this is the inaugural election for the new city of Stonecrest.

State Rep. Doreen Carter, whose House District 92 includes a portion of the new city, said March 16 that she is encountering constituents who still don’t know that the

city was created, that they live in it, and that there is an election on Tuesday.

Jimmy Clanton Jr., a District 1 candidate, said he is very disappointed about the low early voting.

“Given all the noise on Nextdoor [the neighborhood internet portal that connects dozens of neighborhoods in the city], I expected more people to have voted,” he said Wednesday.

Instead, Clanton said people seem more concerned about negative things than voting.

“They talk trash and won’t take a minute to vote,” he said. “Let’s show up and vote.

That’s a sure way to tell people what we think of them.”

Of 38,992 registered Stonecrest voters,

the county elections office considers 31,097 active voters because they cast ballots in the past two DeKalb elections.

On election day, March 21, all 19 precincts in the city will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Runoffs, if needed, will take place April 18.

A sample ballot is available at www.dekalbvotes.com. Residents can verify if they live within the new city and their council district at http://stonecrestcityalliance.com/dmap. html and search by their street address. Voters also can search for their district at www. stonecrestcity.com.

Winners of the March 21 election will make up the first elected government of the new city of 50,000.

County says Sugar Creek golf course will be upgraded and repaired

By Terry Shropshire

Sugar Creek Golf Course loyalists and DeKalb County say they held a “positive, productive” meeting at Parks & Recreation headquarters about how to renovate and repair the course and restore the once-beloved gem to acceptable playing standards.

Sugar Creek, located on Bouldercrest Road near I-285 in South DeKalb, had deteriorated steadily over the past several years – despite being managed by the same contractor that oversees Mystery Valley Golf Course in Stone Mountain.

As reported in the Feb. 18 issue of CrossRoadsNews, Sugar Creek once attracted golf aficionados, novices and older players from miles around.

But a steady downward spiral resulted in greens that were shoddy and run-down, most of the nearly 50 golf carts didn’t work, and weeds had taken over in the bunkers.

Once the pride of southern DeKalb

County, Sugar Creek had become, in the words of its most frequent users, “easily the worst course in town.”

Larry Anderson, a Sugar Creek customer and volunteer at the course, said he is now optimistic that county authorities and others will nurse Sugar Creek back to health.

“It seems to me that Mr. [Marvin] Billups and Ms. [Paige] Singler are a real service to the public, that they are trying to get something done, to make a difference, at least for Larry Anderson us,” Anderson said.

“They are just as aware, as we are, that Cornerstone, the management company, breached their contract, that they didn’t keep the course up,” he said, adding that nearly 30 of the 46 golf carts do not work.

Billups and Singler declined to comment for this report.

Andrew Cauthen, public information officer for DeKalb County, said Parks and Recreation has pledged specific actions “to bring the course up to par”: n Provide dirt to some of the low-lying areas. n Remove trees and debris. n Repair the sprinkler system. n Ensure that the contractor rolls and cuts the greens. n Order new ball washers. n Maintain the cart paths and bridges. n Handle the Cornerstone controversy.

Andrew Cauthen Cornerstone is charged with management and upkeep of Sugar Creek.

“We are looking at legal options of how to address the problems at Sugar Creek Golf Course,” Cauthen said.

Joe Price, who has been playing at Sugar Creek for more than 20 years and has reportedly walked the course more than 600 times, said he was impressed with Parks and Recreation officials’ pledge to remedy the conditions at Sugar Creek.

Most of all, the golfers were relieved that Sugar Creek will remain open.

“They said they had no intention of closing the golf course, they said that’s not their intention, which a lot of us were thinking, because it was going so badly that we thought they would,” Price added.

Georgia Hyman, who’s been playing at Sugar Creek since Bill Clinton was in office and volunteers as a handyman making minor repairs, said the course was willfully allowed to languish without upkeep.

“What happened to Cornerstone and Sugar Creek is … Sugar Creek got handed to them. They never wanted Sugar Creek. It was part of the package deal of the contract with Georgia Golf Partners. And they reneged.”

Head of coalition that sent out Stonecrest mailers registered as lobbyist FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Compliance, Information and Training Manager.

Asked if an organization which endorses candidates is required to file disclosure reports, Bazile said it would depend on the type of committee.

“For example,” she said, “a ballot committee would register and report locally

once crossing $500. But a PAC is exempt from registration and reporting until they cross $25,000 in contributions and expenditures to candidates and public officials. An Independent committee would register at first penny.”

Garst’s relationship with the RDEC is still unclear. Since 2011, he has been registered as a lobbyist with Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission. Among the four active

clients listed on his disclosure form are CPS Strategies and the Eagles Landing Educational Research Committee (ELERC), which lists its purpose is listed as “education” and its offices and phone number in Stockbridge.

Like the Stonecrest Alliance did successfully, the Eagles Landing group is also advocating for the establishment of a new city in Henry County that would be carved from the City of Stockbridge’s existing municipal

borders. ELREC’s cityhood effort mimics the same message used to promote the City of Stonecrest. Both tout the benefits of lower taxes, improved economic development and better code enforcement.

Over the last two weeks, the Stonecrest City website has been soliciting the opinion of residents about education, even though its charter does not call for its own school district.

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CrossRoadsNews

Community

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

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker General Manager Curtis Parker Managing Editor Terry Shropshire Assistant Editor Brenda Yarbrough Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Editorial Intern Rosie Manins Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoads­News, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings.

The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers.

The concept, design and content of CrossRoads­News are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

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March 18, 2017

“We strive to do the best we can for our students, and we are headed in the right direction.”

Johnson slams ‘Trumpcare’ after CBO report

By Terry Shropshire

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) has denounced what he calls the “Pay More for Less” health care bill proposed by Republicans in Congress and supported by President Donald Trump.

Also referred Hank Johnson to as “Trumpcare,” the bill purports to replace the Affordable Care Act, widely known as “Obamacare,” that the GOP reviles.

However, the Congressional Budget Office, whose Republican director was appointed by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, dissected the GOP plan and released a report detailing “devastating” consequences of the proposed health care reform plan.

“After all of the Republicans’ hollow promises, the cruel reality of

their wretched ‘Pay More for Less’ bill has been exposed for all to see,” Johnson said. “‘Trumpcare’ will result in millions of hard-working families losing their coverage.

“Trumpcare also reduces access to affordable health care by defunding Planned Parenthood, which will make it more difficult for women, expectant mothers and children to have their health care needs met,” Johnson added. “To make matters worse, Trumpcare gives millionaires and billionaires a deficit-busting tax break, while kicking 24 million Americans off their health care. Rather than finding meaningful solutions, this plan will instead result in less coverage, fewer protections and higher costs for all consumers.”

Johnson, whose 4th District includes parts of DeKalb, Gwinnett and Rockdale counties, called the GOP health care plan “an abandonment of working families.”

The CBO calculates that under the GOP plan:

n24 million people will lose their health insurance, including 14 million people by the end of this year. n19 percent of the non-elderly population will be uninsured by 2026, compared to 10 percent by 2026 under current law. n The bill will slash Medicaid spending by $880 billion over the next 10 years. nA 64-year-old with an income of $26,500 in the individual market would pay $12,900 more for health insurance each year. nDefunding Planned Parenthood will cause many women to lose access to basic health care, family planning services and contraceptives that would prevent unplanned pregnancies. nTrumpcare awards $600 billion in tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, including $2.8 billion to the 400 richest families in America.

“The fact is, a lot of people are going to see their health and their pocketbooks suffer under this disastrous plan,” Johnson said.

“Georgia families will be devastated if Republicans get their way, and I will oppose changes to the Affordable Care Act that reduce its ability to provide affordable and accessible health care to the millions of Americans across the county who now benefit from it.

“Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the number of people without health insurance has dropped significantly, but Republicans have been more interested in fulfilling their campaign pledge to repeal and replace Obamacare rather than fine-tuning the existing law so that it better serves Americans.”

He said Trumpcare “eliminates Medicaid expansion, strips millions of Americans of their coverage, and shifts an estimated $370 million in Medicaid costs to the states.”

“Medicaid coverage is especially critical for the elderly and their families,” he said. “Trumpcare is a prescription for making millions of Americans pay more for less.”

AdvancED wants 5-year accreditation for DeKalb Schools AdvancED will recommend that the DeKalb School District receive a five-year renewal of its accreditation after an intensive review of its academic instruction and financial viability, a preliminary report shows.

A team of 25 educational professionals from four states – Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama – spent four days over the past week visiting 31 schools and interviewing more than 1,400 stakeholders.

Superintendent R. Stephen Green and the Board of Education were notified of the achievement on March 15 during the preliminary report from AdvancED, an organization that accredits more than 32,000 educational institutions worldwide. Stakeholders were interviewed during visits to

both schools and administrative centers.

The district was most recently accredited in January 2016. The review team that visited DeKalb will make a recommendation to the AdvancED Commission, which will finalize the district’s accreditation in June 2017.

Green said the more comprehensive renewal is a clear example of the district’s evolution.

“Our team is elated that AdvancED was able to see what we’ve known: Our staff is rapidly improving at providing quality Stephen Green leadership, enhancing deep teaching and learning for our students,

and utilizing taxpayer resources effectively. We have earned accreditation by doing the right thing,” Green said. “DCSD has a clear purpose. We know who we are, and we know who we aren’t.

As AdvancED noted: We are taking deliberate and strategic actions to ensure that every child, every day is being prepared and achieving success for their future.”

The district was recognized for having two Powerful Practices that denote excellence. One recognition went to Coralwood Center for delivering highly effective specialized learning for special needs preschool students.

Green also was recognized for being a “visionary leader who is passionate, supportive, inclusive, instructionally focused, and dedicated to making decisions that are

in the best interest of students,” in the words of the AdvancED Review Team.

The team determined several overall themes, including a laser focus on curriculum and instruction, building trust, a sense of hope, layers of purposeful support, and intensified communications efforts.

The district scored at or above the average for reviewed institutions in three core areas: teaching and learning impact, leadership capacity and resource utilization.

“Today is a great day for DCSD – its students, families, employee team and community,” Green said.

“We strive to do the best we can for our students, and we are headed in the right direction.”

For more information, visit www.dekalbschoolsga.org.

Next up for Clean Sweep: Panola, Snapfinger, Salem roads INITIATIVE,

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Stone Mountain-Lithonia, Redan and Panola roads with shovels to bump the curbs.

Twelve miles later, dump trucks hauled away more than 50 tons of dirt, sand, grass and debris.Two street sweepers also made their debut, sweeping curbs on the route.

The sprucing up of county roads is part of a $24.9 million initiative approved in the county’s $1.3 billion budget for 2017. Operation Clean Sweep, which will clean 137.6 miles of county roads and stormwater drains, includes the leasing of four street sweepers, a front-loader dump truck, trailer and other equipment, personnel and overtime costs. It also will remove litter and cut grass in the county rights of way.

Street sweepers and other heavyduty equipment helped clear buildup along curbs and storm drains on March 11. The initiative includes cutting grass in county rights of way.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Marcus Kellum, DeKalb Beautification director, said March 11 was “a good day” in DeKalb County.

“Today is the start of something incredible,” he told county employees and a small group of community and civic leaders who gathered for the 8 a.m. kickoff at Wade Walker Park. “This is not a one-day effort.

This is an effort that is going to carry through for years going forward because we are excited about this and we know what we need to do and we are ready to do it.”

Kellum said multiple departments – Roads and Drainage, Sanitation, Infrastructure, Keep DeKalb Beautiful, Code Enforcement, and

Public Safety – are now all working together to beautify the county.

Thurmond, who dedicated the kickoff to Keep DeKalb Beautiful volunteer Cynthia Houston, said the true goal is for individuals, neighborhoods, community associations, fraternities and sororities to take up the mantle and help the county get the job done because removing litter starts in your back yard.

The initiative continues March 18 with an Operation Clean Sweep crew working on Panola, Snapfinger and Salem roads.

To find out when Operation Clean Sweep will be on a street near you, visit www.dekalbcountyga. gov/clean-sweep.

Cynthia Houston inspired Clean Sweep. Page 11

index to advertisers Blissful Travel Agency....................................12 Blue Bubble Home Services...........................12 Brock Tours & Travel.....................................12 Brooks & Assoc............................................... 2 Comcast.......................................................... 5 Committee to Elect Eric Hubbard................... 3 Committee to Elect Jason Lary.....................1, 2 Committee to Elect Plez Joyner...................... 3 Committee To Elect Rob Turner.......................1

CRAM Academy.............................................12 DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court......... 11 DeKalb County Tax Commissioner’s Office.....6 Fabric Joint, LLC.............................................12 Forever Pink Foundation................................9 Georgia Tax Source........................................12 Google............................................................ 7 JenCare........................................................... 8 Johnson Hopewell Coleman LLC...................12

MARTA............................................................6 Partnership For Community Action................9 The Samuel Group.........................................12 Holistic Health Management Inc.............Inserts Rite Aid...................................................Inserts Walgreens...............................................Inserts Committee to Elect Alexis Morris........... Online Committee to Elect Diane Adoma.......... Online Committee to Elect Eric Hubbard.......... Online

Committee to Elect George Turner........ Online Committee to Elect Jason Lary............... Online Committee to Elect Jazzmin Cobble....... Online Committee to Elect Jonathan Phillips..... Online Committee to Elect Plez Joyner............. Online Committee To Elect Richard Stone........ Online Committee to Elect Tammy Grimes....... Online Feld Entertainment Inc.......................... Online Greenforest Community Church............ Online

March 18, 2017

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Finance

Legislative, LSBE updates at business forum State Rep. Billy Mitchell of Stone Mountain and DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond will provide legislative and LSBE updates at the South DeKalb Business Association’s forum on March 22 at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia.

It begins at 6 p.m.

To RSVP, email joinus@ Billy Mitchell SDBA-inc.org.

Mitchell, who represents House District 88, will discuss legislation in the General Assembly session, and Thurmond will offer details on the DeKalb County Local Small Business Enterprise Ordinance.

The “DeKalb First� LSBE Ordinance was enacted on Sept. 27, 2016, by the Board of Commissioners with the intention of providing earned revenue to local certified businesses through its competitive bid process (www.dekalbcountyga. gov/purchasing-contracting/dekalb-firstlsbe-program).

The event is sponsored by C.E.R.M. – Corporate Environmental Risk Management.

The nonprofit SDBA was formed to improve operating conditions and the environment within South DeKalb and metro Atlanta by providing forums to promote business exposure, disseminate information, and advocate on behalf of the business community.

The center is at 2538 Panola Road.

Contact Richard Younge at 678-743-5032 or Anna Henderson at 770-366-3349.

CrossRoadsNews

March 18, 2017

“In our central district, we want to create that live-work-play thing that you want to hear about in Atlanta.�

Avondale gateway project breaks ground The construction of a multimillion-dollar mixed-use development building in the heart of Avondale Estates is going to transform the city’s business district, the mayor and business leaders proclaimed at the groundbreaking on March 10.

Located on the shoulder of College Avenue leading into the city center, the fourstory project includes 197 apartments, 8,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and an acre gateway park. It is projected to be completed in May 2018.

Mayor Jonathan Elmore didn’t try to hide his excitement with how the city’s socioeconomic paradigm will be shifted positively by the development at 2718 E. College Ave. “It’s a turning point in our city’s history,�

Elmore said. “Economically, it’s going to add new residents in the middle of our business district who we desperately need to roam around, drink coffee, eat dinner [and] use our businesses.�

The development also will include a space to preserve the mature trees, a rear parking deck with additional on-street parking, and generous sidewalks and street trees to enhance the pedestrian experience.

Elmore can’t speculate on the type of businesses that will fill the retail space, but he said he can assure residents the development

Avondale Estates officials and South City Partners break ground on March 10 for a mixeduse development on College Avenue.

will infuse the area with positive energy and leisure options. “I’m not sure what that’s going to be, but that’s going to be pretty exciting,� the mayor added. “In our central district, we want to create that live-work-play thing that you want to hear about in Atlanta. And if you don’t have people working there, it’s hard to keep it invigorated 24 hours a day. And we’re really happy to have new residents here.�

Elmore’s sentiments are shared by John Long, a partner of South City Partners that

bought the property. The company closed on the project and demolished three buildings. “It’s a great addition to the gateway to Avondale Estates,� Long said, adding that it has no affiliation with the mixed-use development at Avondale MARTA station. “I don’t think it’s inconsequential. I think it’s relevant in that there will be a critical mass of development at the MARTA station. We were fortunate to be across the line [from Decatur] and they are not. And that will work to our advantage. And we’re excited about that.�

Free resume writing workshop, employment assistance Job seekers looking for an edge can attend a free resume writing workshop with on-site employment assistance on March 25 at Grace Church for All Nations in Stone Mountain.

To register, visit https://yourehiredresumeworkshop.eventbrite.com.

Part 1 takes place 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. with presenter Andrew Cauthen, communications

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manager for the Office of the DeKalb CEO. Cauthen, who is also an elder at the church, will show participants how to use action words and bulleted sentences to make their resume “pop,� structure the content of the resume around a specific job objective, and highlight the job seeker’s strengths and best features.

Part 2 takes place 10:30 a.m. to noon. The WorkSource DeKalb Mobile Unit team will be on-site to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and provide access to job search assistance.

The event is sponsored by the ProWriter’s Studio public relations. The church is at 650 Rowland Road. Call 404-510-4634.

Atlanta_Decatur_LPOTCOTM_10_5x16_ad_OT.pdf

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Wellness

March 18, 2017

“Georgia residents need to be aware of flooding dangers and make sure they know the proper ways to prepare and stay safe.�

Nutrition Month promotes healthy diet rich in fruits, veggies

The amount of produce that should be eaten varies by age, gender and activity level.

Young and old can find help to make better food and beverage choices as National Nutrition Month shines a spotlight on eating a healthy diet and being physically active. “Put Your Best Fork Forward!� is this year’s theme.

A recent CDC study highlights when, where and how U.S. adults and children are eating a healthy diet. Those who are not getting enough fruits and veggies can take small steps toward meeting recommended amounts, including adding more fruit to their usual breakfast routine or adding veg-

etables to meals.

Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of many leading causes of illness and death, add important nutrients to the diet, and help with weight control.

The recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study shows that adults get most of their fruit during breakfast and snacking whether they eat recommended amounts or not. Children tend to eat fruit throughout the day. Dinnertime tends to be when adults and children eat most of their

vegetables.

The amount of fruits and vegetables that should be eaten varies by age, gender and activity level.

Recommendations in the latest edition of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans were developed to provide a better understanding of food and nutrition so that consumers can make informed decisions about healthy foods and drinks.

The 2015-2020 edition is available at dietaryguidelines.gov. Also visit www.choose­ myplate.gov.

Georgians urged to be prepared as spring rains bring risk of flooding Georgians can learn about their risks and prepare for the possibility of flooding this spring as the state observes Flood Safety Preparedness Week through March 18.

After an extremely dry 2016 in Georgia, flooding may not be on many people’s minds, but the same above-normal rainfall necessary for drought recovery can result in widespread flooding, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency says.

In January 2017 alone, areas of Georgia saw more than double the amount of normal rainfall compared to the 30-year average, the National Weather Service says. GEMA’s Ready Georgia campaign is urging all Georgians to be prepared. “Given the heavy rainfall we are already seeing this year, it’s important to know your risks for flooding and take precautions Homer Bryson now,� GEMA/HS Director Homer Bryson said in a March 10 statement. “Georgia resi-

Metro Atlanta has seen flooding in recent years.

In January 2017 alone, areas of Georgia saw more than double the amount of normal rainfall compared to the 30-year average.

File

dents need to be aware of flooding dangers and make sure they know the proper ways to prepare and stay safe.�

To minimize property damage, injury or even death, Ready Georgia offers tips to help before, during and after floods: n Know your area’s flood risk. If unsure or to check if flood insurance is required, visit www.ready.ga.gov/Get-Involved/Emergency-Management-Agency-Contacts or www.

Dr. Jonathan Flacker

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JenCare Senior Medical Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Jonathan Flacker to its practice.

Dr. Flacker specializes in providing care to Atlanta’s seniors, and he loves learning about his patients. “Understanding what their lives have been OLNH LV WKH Ć“UVW VWHS WR KHOSLQJ WKHP EH KHDOWKLHU Ĺ?

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floodsmart.gov. n Familiarize yourself with terms used to identify a flood. A watch means there is the potential for flooding based on current forecasts. A warning means a flood is imminent or occurring. A flash flood warning means the flood is expected to evolve quickly. If local authorities advise you to evacuate, do so immediately. n Build a disaster supplies kit and prepare a

portable Ready kit. n Plan how you will leave and where you will go if you are advised to evacuate. This includes arrangements for pets. Set up a communications plan in case your family is separated. n Stay alert to changing conditions and forecasts. Monitor local news, NOAA Weather Radio (www.weather.gov/nwr) or the Ready Georgia mobile app. n Move to higher ground. Do not drive around barricades and never drive through standing water. n Stay away from downed power lines to avoid the risk of electric shock or electrocution. n Do not return home until local authorities say it is safe. Even after floodwaters recede, roads and bridges may be weakened and could collapse. Buildings may be unstable, and drinking water may be contaminated.

Use common sense and exercise caution.

For more information, visit http://ready. ga.gov/be-informed/floods-and-flash-floods and floodsafety.noaa.gov.

March 18, 2017

Youth

9

CrossRoadsNews

“I hope that prospective black students and other students of color will see Emory Law as a place of community and inclusion.”

Chamblee Middle DeKalb students win Atlanta Dream essay contest describing the impact of 21 statement. “We had a tough time selecting MLK Jr. High senior competing in state Catrina Dr. Martin Luther King our winners. It will be an honor to recognize McQueen and our winners at our 2017 home opener.”

Jr.’s historic speech.

Hightower Elementary Reading Bowl Each student will receive a visit to their T h e c ont e s t w a s fifth-grader Morgan Elise Chamblee Middle School is advancing to the state Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl competition this weekend in Athens after winning first place in the middle school grouping at the annual divisional competition.

Arabia Mountain High also earned a top honor, taking second place among high schools at the divisional competition held March 4 in Conyers. The state competition will be held on March 18.

The reading bowl was created by Helen Ruffin (1935-2014), a library media specialist in DeKalb County, to encourage her students to read using books nominated from the Georgia Children’s Book Awards.

Her vision was to have teams composed of students from different schools compete to test their knowledge of the selected books.

The reading bowl is open to Georgia students in grades four through 12.

Visit www.dekalbschoolsga.org/helenruffin-reading-bowl.

presented by Belhaven Roberts penned winning University and Georgia entries in the Atlanta Power, and the judges Dream’s “I Have a Dream” included Theresa Wenessay contest. zel, president of the AtTheir essays and an Catrina McQueen Morgan Roberts lanta Dream, three-time entry by Atlanta Public Schools’ Annie Davis of Inman Middle WNBA Eastern Conference champions.

“We are excited about the participation in were selected from more than 400 students from 46 schools expressing their dream and our 2017 essay contest,” Wenzel said in a Feb.

school from the franchise and also will be recognized prior to the Dream’s home opener against the Chicago Sky on May 21 at McCamish Pavilion on the Georgia Tech campus.

Catrina, a senior, will be eligible to receive a $500 scholarship from the Atlanta Dream Youth Foundation.

For more information, visit http://dream. wnba.com.

Emory Law Journal has its first black editor-in-chief J.D. candidate Janiel Myers has been named editor-in-chief of the Emory Law Journal, the first black person to hold the position at the law school’s oldest publication.

Myers, who is active in the Emory Black Law Students Association, cochairs its Academic and Professionalism Success.

“I hope my appointment will have

a future impact on the diversity at the law school,” Myers said in a March 9 statement. “I hope that prospective black students and other students of color will see Emory Law as a place of community and inclusion when making their admission decisions.”

Robert Schapiro, dean and Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law, called the appointment “an important mo-

ment” for the law school and journal.

Myers, who was born in Jamaica and recently naturalized as an American citizen, will work as a summer associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges this year. She plans to focus her career of service as a bankruptcy lawyer and later professor and mentor.

Emory Law Journal was founded in Janiel Myers 1952. Visit www.emory.edu.

Paddle Georgia training program has scholarships for k-12 teachers Teachers in grades k-12 have until April 15 to apply for Paddle Georgia Educator Scholarships for a weeklong canoe/kayak camping adventure and environmental education training.

Applications are available at www.garivers.org/paddle_georgia. Winners will be announced April 20.

The program, which is sponsored by Mo-

hawk Carpet Foundation, Williams Transco and the Coosa River Basin Initiative, will provide complimentary registrations valued at $425. The journey begins June 17 on the Etowah River near Dawsonville and ends 120 miles downstream on the Coosa River in Rome on June 23.

Scholarship recipients will paddle for seven days while receiving training in Project

WET environmental education curriculum and Georgia Adopt-a-Stream water monitoring protocol.

Joe Cook, Paddle Georgia coordinator, said the goal is to have teachers use their experiences on the river and in the workshops to incorporate environmental education in their classrooms.

The annual canoe and kayak journey takes

place on a different Georgia river each year.

In its first 12 years, the nonprofit Georgia River Network has guided more than 4,000 people down 14 rivers and generated more than $400,000 for river protection. More than 70 Georgia educators have participated in the scholarship program.

For more information, email joecookpg@ gmail.com or call 706-409-0128.

10

Scene

CrossRoadsNews

Hotspots are portable, rechargeable devices that patrons can connect to their laptop, smartphone or tablet to access the internet for free.

12 women to be recognized as DeKalb Hidden Figures

Junior Ranger Day on March 19, part of the Monadnock Madness celebration, includes a hike and activities that can earn participants a Junior Ranger badge.

Junior Ranger Day at Arabia Mountain Kids 8 to 12 can participate in a half-day of Junior Ranger activities on March 19 at Arabia Mountain as part of the Monadnock Madness celebration.

The program begins at 1 p.m. RSVP is required – visit http://www.brownpapertickets. com/event/2863330.

Participants will hike some mighty monadnocks (a special type of mountain formed from hardened lava), learn about small-yet-mighty plants, and look out for local creatures with Ranger Robby as host.

The fun activities involve themes related to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area.

Kids and their families can complete activities featured in the Junior Ranger Activity Journal and receive the Junior Ranger badge.

Participants will meet at the DavidsonArabia Preserve Nature Center, 3787 Klondike Road in Stonecrest. For more information, including fees, visit www. arabiaalliance.org or call 770-492-5220.

Libraries offer hotspots for checkout DeKalb Public Library patrons can stay even more connected with mobile hotspot devices – a new library service .

Hotspots are portable, rechargeable devices that patrons can connect to their laptop, smartphone or tablet to access the internet for free through the device’s wireless signal.

They will be available to library cardholders ages 13 and older.

Patrons will be able to borrow one for

March 18, 2017

Nadine Ali

C. Cumberbatch

Debra DeBerry

Philippa Ellis

Cynthia Hale

Tracy Hutchinson

Anne Lerner

Vanessa Long

Jennifer Parker

M. Surratt-Walters

Twelve women who have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life in DeKalb County will be recognized at the Hidden Figures of DeKalb Awards Ceremony on March 23 at the Porter Sanford III Katerina Taylor Performing Arts Center in Decatur.

District 7 Commissioner Gregory Adams is host for the ceremony, which honors accomplishments of women who have improved the lives of others and have advanced the arts, the sciences, education, politics, and their community, celebrating the many women throughout DeKalb for their hard work that may sometimes go unnoticed.

Honorees are Jennifer Parker, editor and publisher of Cross­Roads­News; the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, founding and senior pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church; Katerina Taylor, president and CEO of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce; Myra Surratt-Walters, founder of Greater Works Inc.; Anne Lerner,

a member of the Tucker City Council, District 3, Post 2; Vanessa Long, widow of Bishop Eddie Long, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church; attorney Philippa Ellis, wife of former DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis; Lani Lani Wong Wong, chair of the Atlanta Regional Chapter of the National Association of Chinese-Americans; Tracy Hutchinson, interim deputy director of Public WorksSanitation; community leader Carleen Cumberbatch; Nadine Ali, assistant treasurer of the DeKalb NAACP; and Debra DeBerry, clerk of DeKalb Superior Court.

The program, which is free to attend, begins at 11 a.m. To register, visit https://www. eventbrite.com/e/commissioner-gregoryadams-hidden-figures-of-dekalb-awardsceremony-tickets-32333052029.

The center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive.

For more information, visit www.commissionergregoryadams.com or call Ashlee D. Wright at 404-371-2204.

28 days at the Flat Shoals Library, 4022 Flat Shoals Road in Decatur; Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road in Stonecrest; Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore St. in Decatur; and Chamblee Library, 4115 Clairemont Road in Chamblee.

Contact the branches to check for availability.

For more information, visit www. dekalb­library.org.

“Seventy Years of Sharing History” at the March 21 Lunch & Learn will chronicle the DeKalb History Center’s growth from a small historical society established in 1947.

DeKalb History Center marks 70th year Residents can help the DeKalb History Center celebrate its 70th anniversary at the Lunch & Learn on March 21 in the Historic DeKalb Courthouse.

“Seventy Years of Sharing History,” which is free and open to the public, begins at noon.

Participants can bring their lunch.

On Jan. 17, 1947, a group of local citizens gathered in the Grand Jury Room of the DeKalb Courthouse in Decatur to form a historical society and 23 paid memberships were established, commencing 70 years of collecting, preserving and sharing DeKalb’s history.

Attendees will learn about the center’s

growth from a small local historical society into the largest repository of DeKalb County history with archival and collections facilities, programs, and exhibits striving to reflect the full cultural history of the county.

DeKalb has transitioned from an agricultural economy based around farms, quarries, small industries, and towns into one of the most diverse counties in the state of Georgia.

The celebration continues on March 24 with a fundraiser from 6 to 8:30 p.m. that includes a silent auction. The center is soliciting donations for the auction.

The courthouse is at 101 E. Court Square.

Visit www.dekalbhistory.org.

11

CrossRoadsNews

March 18, 2017

People

“The reason we are standing here is because when you are doing good, you never know who is watching.”

Cynthia Houston inspired DeKalb’s Operation Clean Sweep Initiative

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Cynthia Houston, who has been picking up trash in her Stone Mountain neighborhood for more than 16 years, got roses and gratitude from DeKalb County government on March 11 at the kickoff of its Operation Clean Sweep Initiative to beautify the county.

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond said that the first time he saw Houston picking up trash alone along Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road was 14 years ago.

“Through rain, through hot, through cold, through summer, in the evening, in the morning, there is this beautiful petite lady out there picking up trash,” he said. “You have inspired a CEO. You have inspired a County Commission.

You have inspired a county government. You are alone no more because we are in it with you.”

Thurmond said he chose to launch the cleanup in Stone Mountain because of Houston, who has been picking up trash in her neighborhood near Wade Walker Park where the ceremonial kickoff took place. Thurmond was joined by DeKalb Commissioners Mereda Davis Johnson, Stephen Bradshaw, Kathie Gannon and Gregory Adams.

“The reason we are standing here is because when you are doing good, you never know who is watching,” he said.

After the kickoff, two street sweepers, two dump trucks and dozens of county workers armed with shovels began scraping years of built-up dirt and trash off curbs on Stone Mountain-Lithonia. Some picked up trash.

Houston, a full-time administrative assistant, said she took it upon herself to clean up her neighborhood because she saw Stone Mountain deteriorating. Two to three days a week, she starts in her Stonington Trace subdivision and works her way down Stone Mountain-Lithonia to Rockbridge Road, sometimes beyond. She picks up trash in front

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Keep DeKalb Beautiful volunteer Cynthia Houston receives flowers from DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond at the March 11 kickoff of Operation Clean Sweep in Stone Mountain. Thurmond said Houston inspired the county’s cleanup initiative.

of homes and businesses, from empty lots and along the roadway, filling about six large bags per week. Two Keep DeKalb Beautiful Adopt-a-Road signs bear her name.

“I didn’t want my current environment to mirror my

former environment,” she said, adding that she came from a large city with lots of crime and trash. “I thought that if I cleaned it, people might want to join me, and if they don’t, that’s OK. If you don’t do it, nobody else will.”

of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Legal Notices 02/25, 03/04, 03/11, 03/18

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM1283-4 Schaquita Morris filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Dec. 30, 2016 to change name(s) following minor child(ren) from: Kateerah Monea Woods White to Kateerah Monea Woods-White. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA 19-12-1(f)(2) and (3).

Dated: Dec. 29, 2016 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 03/25

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2121-7 Baby Green filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Feb. 08, 2017 to change name from: Baby Green to Earl William Green. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Jan. 20, 2017 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 3/25

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2089-7 Lisa Michelle Williams filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Jan. 24, 2017 to change name(s) following minor child(ren) from: Sydney Milan Brown and Ava Elise Brown to Sydney Milan Williams and Ava Elise Williams.

Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA 19-12-1(f)(2) and (3).

Dated: Jan. 24, 2017 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 03/25

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2089-7 Lisa Michelle Williams PLAINTIFF VS Kennard Darius Brown DEFENDANT To:

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Feb. 13, 2017.

You are hereby notified that on Feb. 08, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Petition to change names of minor children, Sydney and Ava Brown. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Lisa Michelle Williams, 219 Buchanan Terrace, Dec., GA 30030.

Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Feb. 13, 2017.

Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 13th day of Feb., 2017 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 03/25

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM1368-7 Destiny Upshaw PLAINTIFF VS Alton Upshaw DEFENDANT To: 1716 Ellington St. Decatur, GA 30032

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Feb. 09, 2017.

You are hereby notified that on Jan. 17, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Destiny Upshaw, 2454 Shiloh Dr., Decatur, GA 30034. Answer in writing within sixty

(60) days of Feb. 09, 2017.

Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 9th day of Feb., 2017 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 03/25

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 16FM13201-7 Paola Mendoza PLAINTIFF VS Hector Rangel DEFENDANT To: Hector Rangel Unknown

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Jan. 05, 2017.

You are hereby notified that on Dec. 22, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce, fallen out of contact for more than 5 years.. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Paola Mendoza, 3602 Meadowglenn Village Ln., Apt. C, Atlanta, GA 30340.

Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Jan. 05, 2017.

Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 6th day of Feb., 2017 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 03/25

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2348-1 Clifton Phillips, Jr., filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Feb. 16, 2017 to change name from: Clifton Phillips, Jr., to Clifford Phillips. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Feb. 08, 2017 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 03/25

Notice of Petition to

CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2593 Courtney Falcon Hardt filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court to change name from: Courtney Falcon Hardt to Cleo Falcon Ledvina Hardt. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Jan. 04, 2017 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 03/25

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2517-10 Shelia Largen, a/k/a Shelia Smith filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Feb. 22, 2017 to change name from: Shelia Lois Largen to Shelia Lois Smith. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Feb. 09, 2017 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 3/25

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of MINOR CHILD(REN) in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 16FM12298-3 Noelani Reynoso-Carrasoco filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Nov. 23, 2016 to change name(s) following minor child(ren) from: Marquez Davis to Marquez Reynoso Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within the time prescribed in OCGA 19-12-1(f)(2) and (3).

Dated: Nov. 22, 2016 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 03/25

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court

Civil Action Case Number: 16FM11196-6 Tavish Liggons PLAINTIFF VS Sharika C. Stevenson DEFENDANT To: Sharika C. Stevenson

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Feb. 13, 2017. You are hereby notified that on Oct. 21, 2016, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Tavish Liggons #1001001150; Jenkins Correctional Center, 3404 Kent Farm Dr., Miller, GA 30442. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Feb. 09, 2017.

Witness the Honorable J.P. Boulee; Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 22nd day of Feb., 2017 03/04, 03/11, 03/18, 03/25

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2437-7 Julie Marie Brown PLAINTIFF VS Byron Brown DEFENDANT To: Byron Brown 1158 Applegate Lane Sandy Springs, GA 30350

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated 24th day of 2017. You are hereby notified that on 17th day of Feb. 2017, the abovenamed Plaintiff filed suit against you for Abandonment. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon Plaintiff Julie Marie Brown-PRO-SE an Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of the first date of publication.

Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr.; Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 24th day of Feb., 2017 03/11, 03/18, 03/25, 04/01

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2661-1 Johnny Allen PLAINTIFF VS Shirley Allen DEFENDANT To: Shirley Allen

2000 Bouldercrest Rd., C1 Atlanta, GA 30315

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Feb. 02, 2017. You are hereby notified that on Feb. 24, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Johnny Allen, 2000 Bouldercrest Rd., Apt. C1, Atlanta, GA 30315. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Feb. 06, 2017.

Witness the Honorable Courtney L. Johnson; Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 6th day of Mar., 2017 03/11, 03/18, 03/25, 04/01

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2820-2 Monica Ozara Brooks filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Feb. 23, 2017 to change name from: Monica Ozara Brooks to Ozara Yemoja Ode’. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Feb. 23, 2017 03/11, 03/18, 03/25, 04/01

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2822-2 Sylvia L. Barnes filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court to change name from: Sylvia Lynette Barnes to Sylvia Lynette Rowe. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Oct. 02, 2016 03/11, 03/18, 03/25, 04/01

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM2851-1 Michael Gante filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Feb. 23, 2017 to change name from: Michael Gante to Michael E. Gantt. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Feb. 22, 2017

12

CrossRoadsNews

March 18, 2017

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