COMMUNITY
WELLNESS
Victoria needs a trained seizure dog to warm her mom of her attacks, and the family needs help picking up the $24,000 tab. 6
It is now the law. Kids as old as 8 years must be properly restrained in automobiles. Gov. Deal inked the law to make it so with a lot of help. 9
Pooch for Victoria
Copyright © 2011 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
New rules on restraints
May 14, 2011
SCENE
Jazz on the lawn Through July 2, jazz musicians will fill Wonderland Gardens with the sweet sound of music, so bring your blankets and hang out. 10
Volume 17, Number 2
www.crossroadsnews.com
DeKalb pays tribute to police officers killed in line of duty By Carla Parker
A silver bell pealed after the names of 39 fallen officers were read aloud at a May 11 ceremony on the grounds of the historic DeKalb Courthouse in Decatur.
of fallen officers. Among those remembered were the late Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown, a 22-year police officer who was gunned down in his driveway on Dec. 15, 2000, three days before he was to be sworn into office; Officers Eric C. Barker and Ricky L. Bryant Jr., who were slain in 2008; and 36 other fallen law enforcement officers from the DeKalb Police force; the forces of the cities of Decatur, Clarkston, Doraville and Stone Mountain; and from MARTA, the DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office and the DeKalb Marshal’s Office. Ellis said the ceremony was a celebration of their lives and service. “We want to always remember them as
DeKalb police officers killed in the line of duty were remembered on May 11 with a roll call, honor guard and three-gun salute during the county’s annual Officers Memorial Service on the grounds of the historic DeKalb Courthouse. CEO Burrell Ellis, members of the De Kalb Police Department, elected and public officials, and family members witnessed the commemoration of the lives of the fallen officers. The ceremony also included a rendition of “Amazing Grace” by a bagpiper and the ringing of a silver bell after the names of the 39 officers were read aloud. A large wreath also was displayed at the county’s memorial wall that lists the names Please see MEMORIAL, page 5
Carla Parker / CrossRoadsNews
DOT Heats Up Summer Commute This weekend, the I-20 West ramp to I-285 North is scheduled to close day and night between 9 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
I-20/I-285 north ramp to close all weekend for repairs By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Reduced lanes. Bumper-to-bumper traffic. Sweltering temperatures. Welcome to the summer commute for I-20 and I-285 motorists over the next three months. And this fall, the massive $30.9 million I-20 Collector/Distributor Lanes project will kick off, causing more travel blues for the next two years. The Georgia Department of Transportation said this week that it is gearing up to top off the section of I-20 between Columbia Drive and Turner Hill Road and to repave I-285 between the Ashford Dunwoody and Chamblee Tucker exits. The commute for DeKalb residents and other interstate travelers is shaping up to be a bear. But GDOT spokesman Mark McKinnon said it’s all necessary work that must be done now, when temperatures are high enough to lay asphalt and to stem more highway deterioration that will cost more. “If we don’t repair these roads when it is needed, it will be more expensive and more time-consuming,” McKinnon said Thursday. “What is key here is that when it is done, people will be pleased.” Work crews were expected back on I-20 in South DeKalb starting at 9 p.m. on May 13 to lay down an inch-and-a-half of asphalt on the 9.8-mile project that was halted last fall when frigid weather set in. The $28.6 million joint venture project by E.R. Snell Contractors Inc. and Pittman Construction began June 18 last year. This weekend, the I-20 West ramp to I-285 North is scheduled to close day and night between 9 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m.
Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Monday. Several westbound lanes also will be closed on Saturday and Sunday between Panola Road (Exit 71) and Wesley Chapel Road (Exit 68) to seal joints in preparation for the final layer of asphalt for the resurfacing project. The closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. On Saturday, one right lane will be closed. On Sunday, two left lanes will be closed. McKinnon said interstate traffic will be detoured south on I-285 to turn around at Flat Shoals Parkway to head north on I-285. He said local residents should use alternate routes and avoid I-20. “We are expecting congestion,” McKinnon said. “It’s going to be pretty busy and pretty heavy out there, and motorists should plan ahead before they go out.”
The restart of the project could be delayed by rain this weekend. Meteorologists are forecasting a 60 percent chance of rain all weekend. “If it’s raining heavily, they won’t be able to work,” McKinnon said. “They are watching the weather and they will make the determination Friday evening.” Once the work starts, McKinnon said it will take the crews four to five weekends of work to lay the final top “with that smooth surface that motorists like to drive on.”
in June between Ashford Dunwoody Road, near Ga. 400, to Chamblee Tucker Road, near Spaghetti Junction. It is scheduled for completion by Jan. 1. I-285 carried more than 275,000 vehicles daily, and McKinnon said the work will be restricted to weekday nights and all weekends, between 9 p.m. Fridays and 5 a.m. Mondays.
Collector/Distributor Lanes The congested I-20/I-285 interchange between the Columbia Drive and Wesley Chapel Road exits will be getting a remake to I-285 repaving The I-285 project includes repairing eliminate the significant weaving that takes bridge joints and resurfacing more than six now place between I-20 eastbound traffic miles of the interstate between Ashford Dun- exiting at Wesley Chapel and vehicles enterwoody and Chamblee Tucker roads. The $10.9 million project will kick off Please see PAVING, page 5