CrossRoadsNews, March 26, 2016 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

WELLNESS

SCHOOLS

Sweet talk

Green scene at GPTC

The debate continues over the consumption of regular table sugar vs. the use of artificial sweeteners amid safety concerns. 6

Georgia Piedmont Technical College launched its Go Green initiative, promoting clean transportation, at the Clarkston campus. 7

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

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

March 26, 2016

Volume 21, Number 48

www.crossroadsnews.com

Nine-month wait for Super District 7 special election By Ken Watts

The special election to fill the newly vacant Super District 7 seat on the DeKalb Board of Commissioners will not take place until Nov. 8. The DeKalb Board of Elections voted unanimously on March 21 to schedule the election at the same time as the general and presidential elections. The decision leaves the seat without a commissioner for nine months and the BOC with six commissioners. The last time the BOC had six commissioners, during the two-and-a-half-year vacancy of the District 5 seat, it was crippled by stalemate 3-to-3 votes on many issues. Stan Watson, who held the seat since

2010, resigned March 11 when he qualified to run for DeKalb tax commissioner. He had two years left on his four-year term. The DeKalb County Ordinance says a special election must be held “no sooner than 29 days and no later than 45 days after” a vacancy occurs, but DeKalb Elections Supervisor Maxine Daniels said there isn’t enough time to prepare for a special election by May 24. Daniels said Georgia statute 21.2.540 also requires that the special election be a “stand alone” election, not part of the primary ballot. She said scheduling the Super District 7 vote and the primary on the same day would strain county resources by requiring it to rent additional voting machines and hire at least 500 extra workers.

“It’s too much of a risk to try pulling enough staff and equipment together in that short time,” she said March 23. “The process would be a burden for the county’s nearly 200 precincts and potentially confusing for voters.” Maxine Daniels The DeKalb Legislative Delegation, which does not want a repeat of the stalemate caused by the District 5 vacancy in 2013 to 2015, says nine months is too long for the seat to be vacant. In March 14 letters to Daniels, members of both the House and Senate delegations urged a quick special election for the seat. “We the members of the House Del-

egation of DeKalb County are formally requesting that the election for the vacancy in Commission District 7 be filled during the May 24, 2016, General Election Primary, which falls between the 29 day minimum and 45 day maximum as outlined in the county’s organizational act,” the letter over the signature of delegation Chairman Howard Mosby said. The Senate Delegation wrote a similar letter. Daniels said Thursday that qualifying for the election will be set after the May 24 election. “The call, which also sets the qualifying period, must be done at least 90 days before the election,” Daniels said. “We will do it long before that.”

Kohl’s leaving Stonecrest, Northlake malls DeKalb stores among 18 being shuttered By Ken Watts

Kohl’s department stores are leaving the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia and Northlake Mall in Tucker. The Northlake store at 4820 Briarcliff Road is closing June 19. The Stonecrest store at 2929 Turner Hill Road is scheduled to close Nov. 1. The Menomonee Falls, Wis.based chain also is closing its Roswell store at 2342 Holcomb Bridge Road. The three Atlanta stores are among 18 under-performing stores that will shutter nationwide this year after a disappointing fourth quarter. The company said in February that profits from the quarter that included holiday shopping were down 20 percent and that sales would be flat this year. Kohl’s, which operates 1,144 stores in 49 states, said the 18 stores represent less than 1 percent of total sales and that the closings will cut costs by about $45 million. While Kohl’s sales increased 0.8 percent to $6.39 million, its profits fell to $296 million or $1.58 a share, down from $369 million or $1.83 a share a year earlier. Kohl’s CEO Kevin Mansell said at the time that the decision to close stores is a difficult one. “We evaluated all of the elements that contribute to making a store successful and we were thoughtful and strategic in our approach.” Macy’s, which closed its North DeKalb Mall store last year, and Sears and JCPenney also are shuttering stores, all part of a larger retail trend that analysts credit to the growing number of customers who shop online instead of in brick-and-mortar stores. Each metro Atlanta store employs 80 to

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

The Kohl’s department store at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia is scheduled to close Nov. 1. The Northlake store is set to close June 19.

100 workers, and Kohl’s said they will be eligible for transfer to other locations or severance packages if they decline to move. News of Kohl’s closing at the Mall at Stonecrest comes in the wake of the relocation of the Best Buy from the Stonecrest area to Conyers in February. Corina Becker, who has shopped Corina Becker

at the store since it opened, said it seemed to be doing well. “They have a lot of customers,” said Becker, who lives in Ellenwood. “It’s gonna hurt the whole mall when they leave. A lot of people shop at Stonecrest because of Kohl’s.” Carolyn Clark, who lives in Decatur, said the store offers qual-

ity clothes and appliances at a good price. “I’ll miss having this store within easy driving distance,” said Clark, who lives off Wesley Chapel Road. “It’s just unfortunate that we’ll have to go across town.” Kohl’s opened both its Stonecrest and Northlake stores in March 2008 after acquiring stores vacated by Parisian, which went Please see KOHL’S, page 4

CrossRoadsNews

Community

March 26, 2016

“Our team is diligent in its pursuit of excellence and professionalism. It is our privilege to serve DeKalb citizens.”

Jackson, Watson honored for years of public service Lithonia Mayor Deborah A. Jackson and former DeKalb Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson were honored March 24 as Mayor of the Year and Commissioner of the Year, respectively, at the 19th Annual Georgia Minority Business Awards at the Georgia International Convention Center. Jackson, who is on her second fouryear term as mayor, was recognized for her tenacity and ability to bridge the gap between business and politics in DeKalb County. Her involvement with Lithonia dates back to 2002 when as a consultant she helped the city obtain a Livable Centers Deborah Jackson Initiative study grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission. As a council member, she coordinated the work of the citizen-led Lithonia Redevelopment Committee to update the comprehensive plan. She also was active in the effort by Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment to stop the building of a biomass gasification plant in the area and served as an adviser to the community group. She was named in the 2014 Who’s Who in Black Atlanta Section on Environmental & Sustainability and is a 2011 graduate of Leadership DeKalb and a 2013 graduate of the ARC’s Regional Leadership Institute. Watson, who served on the Board of Commissioners from 2010 to March 11, 2016, has been active in DeKalb for more than 30 years. He is a former member of the Georgia General Assembly, serving for 12 years, and is former chair of the DeKalb House Delegation and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. Stan Watson On the BOC, he served as a deputy presiding officer and chair of its Public Works Committee, providing leadership to DeKalb’s Capital Improvement Projects and oversight of the Federal Consent Decree. He also served on BOC’s Planning and Economic Development Committee and is a board member of the Community Achievement Center and DeKalb Community Service Board.

e e! v r c e a s p e R rS u o Y

Sheriff Jeffrey Mann (center) and staff pose with commissioners after receiving proclamation recognizing his office’s “Triple Crown” accreditation.

Sheriff ’s Office celebrated for ‘Triple Crown’ The DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office received a proclamation from the DeKalb Board of Commissioners recognizing its “Triple Crown” accreditation from three accrediting organizations. Commissioners presented the proclamation to Sheriff Jeffrey Mann

at its March 22 meeting for “meeting the highest standards of professional management, performance accountability, and operational integrity” from the American Correctional Association, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement.

Mann said he appreciated the commission’s public commemoration of the department’s achievements. “Our team is diligent in its pursuit of excellence and professionalism,” Mann said. “It is our privilege to serve DeKalb County citizens, and they deserve no less than our best.”

The hunt for eggs is on at Wade Walker Park Children will be on the hunt for “the golden egg” at District 4 Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton’s inaugural Easter Eggstravaganza on March 27 at Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain. The free community event takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Activities include children’s face painting, a game truck, a moonwalk, a county fire truck, music, food, and the Easter Eggstravaganza egg hunt. Prizes will be given to the kids who find the golden egg and to winners in three age groups – 2-4, 5-6, and 7 and up. The park is at 5585 Rockbridge Road. For more information, email sbsutton@dekalbcountyga.gov or call 404-371-4907.

Kids can win prizes at District 4 Commissioner Sharon Barnes Sutton’s inaugural Easter Eggstravaganza on March 27 at Wade Walker Park.

Educating & Empowering

Expos

at the Mall at Stonecrest Family & Back to School Expo July 23, 2016

Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo October 15, 2016 Limited number of exhibitor spaces available. Book yours today! Call 404-284-1888 for more information.

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March 26, 2016

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“The new VISTAs will build on work started last May to identify and bring resources to the community in asset-building and access to healthy food.”

Applicants sought for AmeriCorps positions in city of Lithonia Young adults interested in community work can apply for two temporary full-time AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America positions with the city of Lithonia. The one-year positions come with a monthly stipend of $1,026 and health and other benefits. Successful applicants will work with the Lithonia community in the areas of financial literacy, safe housing and healthy living. Outside employment is permitted during the assignment but must not conflict with responsibilities to the VISTA project. The two positions were approved by the

State Office of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Lithonia’s VISTA project – Lithonia Action to Build Community – focuses on the CNCS goals of Economic Opportunity and Healthy Futures. Mayor Deborah Jackson said the city is glad it is able to recruit to fill the VISTA positions again. “The new VISTAs will build on the work started last May to identify and bring resources to the community in the areas of asset-building and access to healthy food resources,” she said. “He or she will comple-

ment the work done by our other VISTA members who are focusing on job training and small-business development.” An educational award also is available to volunteers upon successful completion of the program. Each year, AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 young Americans in intensive service at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faithbased groups nationwide. It places volunteers into intensive service positions where they learn valuable work skills, earn money for education, and develop an appreciation for citizenship.

Since its founding in 1994, more than 900,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.2 billion hours in service. Visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/ programs/americorps and click on Find Opportunities Now. The positions start May 27 and the deadline for applications is April 4. Successful applicants must be available to attend VISTA training from May 23-26. For more information or to apply, contact City Administrator Eddie J. Moody at eddie.moody@lithoniacity. org or the mayor at deborah.jackson@lithoniacity.org or call 770-482-8136.

County bonds earn Moody’s Aa3 rating DeKalb Clerk offering free e-file training Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a Aa3 rating to DeKalb County’s $143.7 million Special Transportation, Parks and Greenspace and Libraries Tax District General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2016. Moody’s maintains a Aa3 rating on the county’s outstanding general obligation unlimited tax-backed and parity debt issued through various public authorities. The outlook is stable. The Aa3 rating on March 10 reflects the county’s recent increases in reserves but ongoing limited financial operations. The rating also considers the county’s substantial and diverse economic and employment base, anchored by a stabilizing institutional presence, and a manageable debt profile. The stable outlook acknowledges the county’s improved financial position, which is projected to remain below formal targeted levels through fiscal 2016, and reflects Moody’s expectation that the financial

position will continue to improve, albeit at a slower pace than the last two fiscal years. The outlook also reflects the recent stabilization in the tax base following several years of declines. Factors that could lead to an upgrade: n Significant improvement in reserves. n Tax base growth. Factors that could lead to a downgrade: n Future tax base declines. n Return to structural imbalance, resulting in a decline in reserves or cash. Bonds are secured by the county’s unlimited general obligation pledge levied within the Special Tax District, which accounts for about 83.5 percent of the county’s total assessed value. Bond proceeds will be used to refund the county’s outstanding Series 2006 bonds for an expected net present value savings equal to 15 percent of refunded par, with no extension of maturity. Visit www.moodys.com.

MARTA recruiting police officers

MARTA is recruiting police officers on March 31 at the Gwinnett Career Center in Norcross. The recruitment event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2211 Beaver Ruin Road, Suite 160. Interested applicants should visit www.

employgeorgia.com and create an Employ Georgia account and resume or log into their existing account. Select the Job Search tab and Search Jobs at the top of the page. Enter the Job ID no. 259044236 for Transit Police Officer, and select Go to view the job details and apply.

implementation of the new case Attorneys, their staff and anymanagement system, Odyssey. one who files documents with the “This has long been a goal for DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court me that our county utilize and benOffice can attend a free e-file CLE efit from the best,” DeBerry said. workshop on April 1. Tyler Technologies, a leading The lunch and learn training provider of end-to-end information will walk participants through management solutions and services filing their real estate, legal briefs for local governments, is currently and other documents electroniDebra DeBerry the only e-file vendor in the United cally to the clerk’s office. The session, sponsored by DeKalb States with an established portal. Participation is free, but to reserve a seat Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry and Tyler Technologies, begins at noon by March 30, contact Annette Taylor at atayin the Maloof Auditorium in downtown lor@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-371-2251. For more information, visit www.dksuperiDecatur. DeBerry said it is exciting to begin orclerk.com.

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Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Assistant Editor Brenda Yarbrough Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Graphic Design Curtis Parker CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers. The concept, design and content of CrossRoadsNews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

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March 26, 2016

“We’re counting on classroom relationships – and investing heavily in them – to turn around academic metrics.”

Zeroing in on the classroom to avert state takeover By Dr. R. Stephen Green

State politicians have drawn their bows and taken aim at our schools. A state constitutional amendment on the November ballot, if passed, would create a statewide Opportunity School District that would allow state authorities to take control of schools they determine to be underperforming. In our school district, they’ve targeted 24 schools – deemed “failing” by the state – based on standardized testing. Many of us here in the DeKalb District believe that standardized tests may not fairly take into account, or accurately measure, the extreme complexity of education and learning in a district like ours, with 135 schools and 102,000 students from 180 nations and with 144 languages. Whatever the measure, at this time 24 DeKalb schools wear the OSD target on their backs as do 30 Atlanta public schools. In Atlanta’s system, the possibility of OSD takeover spurred a major overhaul and restructuring. We hope it brings the desired results for young people in that system. “I think efforts like the Atlanta Public School System is making will indicate that their schools should be shielded if they are making progress and if they’re trying to make progress,” Gov. Nathan Deal told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an article on March 4, 2016. In DeKalb, we’re making progress too. But we’ve chosen a different approach. We believe the answer to boosting performance lies in a most obvious place – the classroom. We see no single, magic answer – just a laser focus on raising the quality of instruction and learning. We’ve already gone through our own restructuring, a result of the devastating impact of the Great Recession. Until 2013, the DeKalb District operated at a deficit. At one point, authorities placed us on probation, one step before losing accreditation. Today, after much work, we

Help needed to find Lithonia murder suspect

The DeKalb County Sheriff ’s Office is seeking the assistance of the public in locating Jeffrey Clinton Smith, who is wanted in connection with the shooting death of Micah Crews in Stone Mountain. Crews was shot on Jan. 22 on Russwood Avenue. Smith, 26, of Lithonia is wanted on a murder charge. A warrant was issued for his arrest. For tips or more information, call Crime Stoppers at 404-577TIPS (8477).

“No outside agency, governmental or otherwise, can provide the care, nurturing, and emotional support needed to inspire our students to higher achievements. Only student relationships with superb teachers and principals can do that.” Dr. R. Stephen Green

have finances under control with fiscal integrity, and we can even point to a modest budget surplus. We have a solid plan and a commitment, though our system remains at a crucial stage of recovery, needing resources for aging classrooms, teacher pay, safety, and support services. Why have we chosen our “bestof-class classrooms” approach instead of closing schools and combining classrooms? Our approach validates and affirms our confidence in our greatest educational asset – our DeKalb teachers and administrators. We strongly believe their abilities and talents will be what it takes to bring students to achievement levels that rip away the OSD target … and its stigma. Our approach involves an inside-out – not outside-in – examination and action plan. The DNA of effective instruction begins inside the classroom. It takes rigor, relevance, and relationship, with relationships being the most important. We’re counting on classroom relationships – and investing heavily in them – to turn around academic metrics. No outside agency, governmental or otherwise, can provide the care, nurturing, and emotional support needed to inspire our students to higher achievements. Only student relationships with superb teachers and principals can do that. We see these relationships, this foundation, already firmly established in our most challenged schools. We now will build on that foundation. To support our students and our strategy, we’ve taken a number of steps, and we’ve already seen quantifiable progress. First, we partnered with the

Georgia Department of Education and the Metropolitan Regional Educational Service Agency to help our system create leaders of teaching and learning. Our joint focus on making curriculum, instruction, assessment, and accountability the top priorities in DCSD can surely be considered a successful start for the improvements we need. We created a tiered system to support principals in addressing critical issues that may arise in their schools. We support teachers and administrators in those schools with a strong, data-driven dashboard system that monitors student progress and performance. Think of it as a “scholastic stethoscope,” closely examining every vital sign needed for growth and progress in student outcomes. Progress? Absolutely. Since 2013, we’ve seen a 103point increase in SAT scores. We’ve made a return to full accreditation too, and we’ve given across-theboard teacher and principal pay raises so that the talent in front of classrooms stays competitive with that in other metro Atlanta districts. Since 2013, we’ve seen an 11-point increase in graduation rates. From 2014 to 2015 alone, we increased the high school graduation rate from 62.6 percent to 70.9 percent – a strong one-year showing by any measure. We shifted resources to support the 24 schools most challenged with academic achievement (and others), and we focused efforts on improving classroom attendance. We want to make sure that students get the full academic and social benefits of the classroom each day. We can show progress in these and other ways. We also see challenges, however, that threaten the long-term success of our efforts.

County sets new rules for stray cats, dogs

The stray animal hold has been reduced from five days to three as a revised animal services ordinance took effect March 15 in DeKalb. Major changes also include: n Trap, neuter and return community cat program – stray cats will be examined, vaccinated, sterilized, ear tipped and may be returned to the area where trapped. n Health certificates required – the owner of any dog or cat that is sold or exchanged for valuable consideration is required to provide the new owner with a current, valid Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. The OCVI must be available for review by a potential new owner or animal control officer at the time the animal is listed for sale or exchange. Visit www.onedekalb.com for more rules.

First, we must retain qualified and effective teachers. To build the best schools, we need the best teachers. Our pay and incentive raises will help, but keeping and attracting great teachers takes a combination of compensation, benefits, and the support of our communities. So that’s a second challenge – continuing to build partnerships among school leaders, teachers, students, and parents. Great education starts with engagement. Aligning the full energy and expectations of all the individuals who play roles in the education of a child gives us our best shot at creating a whole citizen for tomorrow. Finally, we must maintain high expectations for student engagement and learning. There’s no substitute in education for holding kids accountable. And there’s nothing in education more valuable than learning that one reaches lofty goals through hard work. We’re confident that our energetic and focused efforts to get schools off the “failing” list will be successful. Our own ambitious goals say it best: n In 2016, the number of schools qualified as OSD-eligible will decrease – to zero. n All targeted schools will meet state standards. n Targeted high schools will have a graduation rate at or above the rest of the state. n Taking the OSD target off our back begins and ends with improving classroom instruction and outcomes. Based on the progress our students are showing – their scholastic results, their engagement in our schools, and their growth as responsible and accountable individuals – we strongly believe that our “schools should be shielded,” in the words of Gov. Deal, from OSD takeover. We have taken a strong step in the right direction. Our progress will continue. Dr. R. Stephen Green is superintendent of the DeKalb County School District.

Mall confident it will find a replacement KOHL’S,

from page

out of business in the summer of 2007. Kohl’s bought the Parisian locations from Belk, which acquired the chain from Saks and shuttered all of its DeKalb stores. In Lithonia, it is one of five anchors at the 1.3 million-square-foot mall, along with Macy’s, Dillard’s, JCPenney and Sears. Donald Bieler, the mall’s marketing director, said that while they are disappointed to see Kohl’s leave, they are confident they will find another anchor store to replace it. “We always look at these situations with optimism,” Bieler said March 21. “This opening allows us to search all types of retail and development in order to meet the needs of our market and our customers.”

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George’s Landscape Maintenance.................. 8 Georgia Piedmont Technical College.............. 3 Johnson Hopewell Coleman LLC................... 8

National Ltd. Services...................................... 8 Westgate Resorts............................................ 3 Wright Vision Care..........................................6

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CrossRoadsNews

March 26, 2016

Community

Johnson says some waste disposal companies have been exploiting a loophole in EPA rules regulating coal ash.

Coal ash landfill bill seeks safeguards for residents, environment its regulations for municipal landfills under the Solid Waste Disposal Act before these facilities begin accepting tons of coal ash deposits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The lack of equivalent protections at municipal landfills to protect air, groundwater and surface water from coal ash contamination threatens the health and environment of communities here in Georgia and throughout the United States where these landfills are receiving coal ash,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said, adding that low-income and minority communities, where the landfills are located, face a greater risk of toxic chemical exposure when coal ash is disposed in inadequately protected facilities. In addition to forcing the EPA to reconsider how it classifies coal ash, Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

bill would amend the municipal solid waste landfill criteria to protect communities by minimizing coal ash dust originating from the landfill as well as during transportation and other ash management and material handling activities. It also seeks to institute groundwater monitoring and proper cleanup requirements; install weekly, monthly, and annual inspection requirements; prohibit placing coal combustion residuals within five feet of groundwater; and keep the public informed of all actions by including public posting of monitoring data, corrective action plans, and inspection reports on a publicly accessible website. For more information, visit http://hankjohnson.house.gov.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson has introduced a bill to protect citizens from dangerous coal ash being disposed in municipal landfills that are not equipped to handle the toxic substance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not want Georgia residents or anyone in America, regardless of income, neighborhood, race or ethnicity, to be unfairly and unreasonably exposed to toxic chemicals because coal ash is being deposited Hank Johnson in inadequately protected facilities near their homes and communities,â&#x20AC;? Johnson said March 22, right after he introduced the Coal Ash Landfill Safety Act. Johnson recently wrote a letter to the

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights urging it to recommend that more be done to protect citizens who live near such landfills from the potential exposure to the toxic substances found in coal ash, which contains known carcinogens arsenic, lead and mercury. Johnson says some waste disposal companies have been quietly exploiting a loophole in the new EPA rules regulating coal ash that allows them to dump toxic coal ash into municipal solid waste landfills. He said that unlike coal ash ponds or other facilities built specifically for dangerous materials, municipal landfills have no such protections in place, such as proper lining to prevent groundwater seepage. Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bill would force the Environmental Protection Agency to re-examine

April 4 hobnob with candidates

Former officer wants out of prison during appeals

Business leaders and others can hear from candidates at a Political Hobnob on April 4 at the Wild Wing Cafe in Dunwoody. The event is co-hosted by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and the Dunwoody Perimeter Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Governmental Affairs Council in preparation for the May 24 primary election. The forum takes place 5:30 to 7 p.m. Candidates will have two minutes to speak. To register to speak, email Jeffrey@ Perimeterchamber.com or call 678-2449703. The restaurant is at 4788 Ashford Dunwoody Road. For more information, visit www.dekalbchamber.org.

Former DeKalb Police Sgt. Anthony Robinson is seeking to get out of prison while he appeals his 10-year sentence. Robinson, a 15-year veteran officer, was convicted in February for the 2011 beatings of detained teenage burglary suspect Travarrius Williams. He was scheduled to have a bond hearing on Anthony Robinson March 25 in DeKalb Superior Court Judge Clarence Seeligerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s courtroom, but the hearing was postponed. District Attorney Robert James is opposed to bond, but DA spokesman Marcus Garner said Robinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s release is at the

By Ken Watts

judgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discretion. On Feb. 26, a jury found Robinson guilty on two counts of felony violation of oath of office, three misdemeanor counts of simple assault, and one misdemeanor count of simple battery in a November 2011 incident at police headquarters in Tucker. As part of the 10-year sentence, Seeliger ordered Robinson, 49, to serve two years in prison. A mistrial was declared on four other counts after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Robinson was one of three officers charged in the case. Former DeKalb Officers Blake Norwood and Arthur Parker entered guilty pleas in February to one count of making a false statement and one count of violation of oath of office in connection with the beatings. They were both sentenced to 10 years of probation and community service

under the First Offender Act. They also cannot work anymore as law enforcement officers. Robinson ordered Norwood and Parker to beat 18-year-old Williams, who was handcuffed. Williams had accused Robinson of wrongly arresting his brother. Prosecutor Buffy Thomas said in her opening statement at the trial that Robinson said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let people disrespect us like that in our house.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Thomas said Robinson ordered Norwood and Parker to â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;take [Williams] behind the shed and tighten him up.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? The shed refers to the area where officers parked their off-duty vehicles. Parker interpreted that as a command to â&#x20AC;&#x153;beat him up,â&#x20AC;? the prosecutor said. Robinson also ordered and participated in the beatings of three juveniles in a separate incident, Thomas said.

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CrossRoadsNews

Wellness

March 26, 2016

“This course is a wonderful experience. It balances basic psycho-education and skill training with emotional support, self-care and empowerment. ”

Sugar 101 – The real thing versus artificial sweeteners Dear EarthTalk: What should I know about artificial sweeteners before I opt for them for myself or my kids in place of regular ol’ sugar? – Gretchen Abdow, Philadelphia These days, it’s incredibly easy to consume a huge daily dose of sugar. Grabbing a nonfat, grande latte at Starbucks before work will start your day off with 18 grams of sugar. A Chobani Strawberry-on-the-Bottom yogurt with an 8-ounce can of Sprite in the afternoon will add 41 grams; and a 32-ounce bottle of Gatorade and an Almond & Apricot KIND bar at the gym shovel in another 65.5 grams. Consuming these common foods and beverages will bring your daily sugar intake to a total of 124.5 grams. “Our ancestors probably consumed 20 teaspoons [100 grams] of sugar per year and we now consume that much per day,” says Dr. Sandy Seeman, a naturopathic doctor who also works at Campbell’s Nutrition in Des Moines, Iowa. “We cannot continue to consume this amount of sugar and not have it impact our systems. Something has to change.” To avoid tooth decay, obesity, diabetes and other ailments associated with excess sugar intake, Americans have turned to artificial sweeteners, including aspartame (Equal), saccharin (Sweet’n Low), sucralose (Splenda), acesulfame potassium, neotame and others. But the potential dangers of such sweeteners have been controversial since

The potential dangers of artificial sweeteners have been controversial since the 1970s.

the 1970s, when saccharin was linked with bladder cancer in laboratory rats. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, more than 30 human studies have since shown that those results were irrelevant to humans and that saccharin is safe for human consumption. The FDA stands by the safety of the sweeteners it approves, referring to aspartame on its website as one of the “most exhaustively studied substances in the human food supply,” with 100-plus studies supporting its safety. The FDA also says that more than 90 studies support the safety of acesulfame

potassium, while about 110 studies were reviewed in approving sucralose, 113 for neotame, and 37 for advantame. “About the only way this stuff could harm you is if you were run over by a truck that was delivering it,” says Josh Bloom, director of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the American Council on Science and Health, when discussing the recent FDA approval of advantame on his blog. But Dr. David Ludwig, an obesity and weight-loss specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital, says artificial sweeteners are far more potent than table sugar and high-

fructose corn syrup, and overstimulation of sugar receptors from frequent usage may limit tolerance for more complex tastes, causing people who routinely use artificial sweeteners to start to find less intensely sweet foods (such as fruit) less appealing and unsweet foods (such as vegetables) downright unpalatable. In other words, overuse of artificial sweeteners can make you shun healthy, filling and highly nutritious foods while consuming more artificially flavored foods with less nutritional value. New York Times bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman suggests that if you have a desire for something sweet, have a little sugar, but stay away from “fake” foods. “Sugar-containing foods in their natural form, whole fruit, for example, tend to be highly nutritious – nutrient-dense, high in fiber and low in glycemic load,” he said. “On the other hand, refined, concentrated sugar consumed in large amounts rapidly increases blood glucose and insulin levels, triglycerides, inflammatory mediators and oxygen radicals, and with them, the risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses.” For more information, visit www.campbellsnutrition.com, www.fda.gov and www. acsh.org. EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of Earth Action Network, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.earthtalk.org. Email questions to question@earthtalk. org.

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Family caregivers of individuals with serious mental health conditions can attend a free training course to help with their care. NAMI DeKalb is sponsoring the Familyto-Family Education Program, a 12-week series of classes that start April 12 and end June 21. The curriculum was written by an experienced family member mental health professional, and the course will be taught by Cynthia Moorer, NAMI DeKalb co-president, a Cynthia Moorer family member volunteer who has taken intensive training as an instructor. “This course is a wonderful experience,” Moorer said. “It balances basic psychoeducation and skill training with emotional support, self-care and empowerment. We hope families with relatives who have a serious mental illness will take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

The series is designed specifically for parents, siblings, spouses, teenage and adult children, and significant others of individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. It is not appropriate for individuals who themselves suffer from a major mental illness. It will cover information about schizophrenia, the mood disorders (bipolar disorder and major depression), panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder; coping skills such as handling crisis and relapse; basic information about medications; listening and communication techniques; problemsolving skills; recovery and rehabilitation; and self-care around worry and stress. To register and for location information, contact Dianne Hiltman at hiltmans@gmail. com or 678-468-9430. The mission of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is to promote recovery and improve the quality of life for those afflicted by mental illness by providing support, education and advocacy. Visit www.namidekalb. com or call 404-604-2350.

Food pantries open doors in Lithonia

Lithonia residents can get help with meals at a food pantry at Christ Our Hope Catholic Church. A nonprofit under the banner of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Georgia is operating the pantry on Tuesdays from 8 to 11 a.m. Call 678-892-6163 for an appointment. The church is at 1786 Wellborn Road.

‘Harvest of Eden’ The St. Paul AME Worship Center in Lithonia is opening its “Harvest of Eden Food Pantry” on the fourth Thursday of each month. Hours of operation are 4-6 p.m. Call 770-482-4361 to preregister and bring valid identification. The church is at 1704 S. Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road.

Aerobics class at Family Life Center Females 17 and up can attend the “Shaping Up With Starlite” low-impact aerobics class beginning April 5 at the Fulton/DeKalb Family Life Center in Decatur. The class is offered on Tuesdays and

Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The nonprofit center is at 3300 Memorial Drive, Building D, Suite 4. For more information, including fees, contact Susan Byrd, community coordinator, at 770-572-4899.

CrossRoadsNews

March 26, 2016

Schools

“We are encouraging more students, faculty and staff to lessen our carbon footprint by going electric.”

GPTC launches electric charging stations By Ken Watts

Georgia Piedmont Technical College chose St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 as a launch date for its Go Green initiative promoting clean transportation. President Jabari Simama hosted a ribboncutting ceremony to introduce its two new electric vehicle charging stations in the conference center parking lot at GPTC’s DeKalb campus in Clarkston. A high-tech 2016 BMW i-8 hybrid was plugged into one charger and a 2016 all-electric BMW i-3 was charging at the other one. Both were on loan from Nalley BMW of Decatur. The new stations, provided by Atlantabased EnviroSpark Energy Solutions, are designed to transmit a full or near-full charge on electric vehicles in two to four hours. “We’re encouraging more students, faculty and staff to lessen our carbon footprint by going electric,” Simama said. “It’ll also move us closer to our goal of being a leader in campus sustainability.” Georgia Power gave the college a $1,000 rebate on electric service. Sadie Dennard, manager of external af-

Dr. Jabari Simama, GPTC president, hosts a ribbon-cutting ceremony to introduce two new electric vehicle charging stations on March 17 in Clarkston.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

fairs at Georgia Power and chair of the GPTC board of directors, said the utility has seen a growing need for the charging stations. “Atlanta is the second-largest market for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles,” Dennard said. “In response to demand, Georgia Power has expanded the infrastructure needed for electric vehicle charging stations.” Simama also introduced the college’s new DASH shuttle service that will carry students

from the Kensington MARTA station on Memorial Drive to GPTC’s DeKalb campus in Clarkston. Elsewhere, the shuttles carry students to its South DeKalb campus on Wesley Chapel Road and to the Covington campus in Newton County. GPTC gradually will switch over to alternative fuel shuttles. “We’re making a commitment, as we phase out older vehicles in our fleet, to replace them with electric vehicles,” he said.

S.M.I.L.E. program for girls now accepting applications High school girls interested in the Summer Mentoring Initiative in Legal Education program have to apply by April 15. DeKalb State Court Judge Stacey K. Hydrick is accepting applications for her fifth annual S.M.I.L.E. program. Hydrick developed the free program specifically for high

school girls interested in learning more about the criminal and civil justice system. Participants meet Fridays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3-July 29 in Hydrick’s courtroom (2A) in the Judicial Tower of the DeKalb Courthouse, 556 N. McDonough St. in Decatur. The program includes speakers from the

Solicitor General and Public Defender offices; Atlanta Legal Aid; Probation Department; Women’s Resource Center; Superior Court, Magistrate Court, and Juvenile Court; and DeKalb Police DUI Task Force. Visit www. smiledekalb.com, email tdarisaw@dekalbcountyga.gov or call 404-371-2350.

Congressional art contest’s prize is college scholarships High school students in the 4th District have until April 15 to enter the nationwide arts competition sponsored by members of the U.S. House of Representatives. More than $20,000 in college scholarships are up for grabs and the overall winning work in each district’s competition will be displayed for a year in the U.S. Capitol. Original artwork must be delivered April 15 to Rep. Hank Johnson’s Lithonia office, 5700 Hillandale Drive, Suite 120. The dis-

trict includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale, Gwinnett and Newton counties. The college scholarships are $10,000, $5,000 and $2,000 at the Art Institute of Atlanta and $3,000 per year at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Works may be: n Paintings, including oil, acrylics and watercolor. n Drawings, including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (charcoal and pastel drawings are recommended

to be fixed to the surface). n Collage, must be two dimensional. n Prints, including lithographs, silkscreen and block prints. n Mixed media, use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor. n Computer generated art. n Photography. For more information, including rules, visit https://hankjohnson.house.gov/servingyou/art-competition or call 770-987-2291.

Citizens needed for E-SPLOST review panel DeKalb residents are needed to serve on the special 12-member Advisory Committee for E-SPLOST, the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Education. DeKalb School District officials say the committee will provide citizen review of the voter-approved SPLOST project list. Qualified candidates must live within the boundaries of the School District, may not be members of the Board of Education or employees of the School District, and may not have any economic interest in any of the district’s projects. Experience in accounting, architecture, auditing, construction, engineering, finance, k-12 education, legal, planning, project management and/or real estate is desired. Members must be volunteers who can dedicate at least two hours to monthly meetings, generally in the evenings. They also must pass a background check and sign a non-disclosure agreement. Interested residents can submit their information at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/ splost-iv/oversight-committee. Online applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. April 8.

Stone Mountain cadets compete

Cadets from the Stone Mountain High Navy JROTC are participating in a Region Wide JROTC Drill Competition at Six Flags Over Georgia on March 26. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the amusement park in Austell, and 15 to 20 schools will participate. On March 30, there will be the NJROTC annual inspection at the school, 4555 Central Drive in Stone Mountain. The three-hour event begins at 10 a.m. with about 120 cadets participating. For more information, email snsi@ smhsnjrotc.com or call 678-676-6363.

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CrossRoadsNews

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Legal Notices 03/19, 03/26, 04/02, 04/09

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++16CV2990-4++ Devona Stevens Plaintiff Vs. Malcolm Stevens Defendant To: Malcolm Stevens

1787 Whitehall Forest Ct. Atlanta, GA 30316 By Order of the Court for service by publication dated Mar. 07, 2016 you are hereby notified that on Mar. 01, 2016, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of the Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attorney whose name and address is: Devona Stevens, 2051 Flat Shoals Rd., #0-10, Atlanta, GA 30316. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days

of Mar. 07, 2016. Witness the Honorable Gail C. Flakes, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 8th day of Mar., 2016 03/19, 03/26, 04/02, 04/09

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++16CV2848-3++ Chitaka Weekly

March 26, 2016 Name: Justine Pruitt 4522 Snapfinger Woods Dr., Apt. #6211 Decatur, GA 30035 770 771-4187 03/19, 03/26, 04/02, 04/09

Notice of Petition to Change Name of ADULT

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++16CV2915-2++ Justine Pruitt filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on 2015 to change name from: Justine Rebekah Pruitt to Juntina Rebekah Pruitt. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: August 18, 2015

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++16CV3146-7++ Michael James Charlston Magee filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Mar. 04, 2016 to change name from: Michael James Charleston Magee to Michael James Charleston. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: Feb. 29, 2016 Name: Michael J. Charleston Magee 6136 Hillandale Dr., Apt. #1312 Lithonia, GA 30058 678 499-3874

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