CrossRoadsNews, May 17, 2014 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

VOTE 2014

GRADUATION

The primary campaign season heads into its final weekend as voters prepare to go to the polls on May 20. Section B

Smiles will be plentiful over the next few days as DeKalb County schools hold graduation ceremonies for nearly 6,000 seniors. Section C

The Ochiobi name echoed across the stage at Georgia Perimeter College when four siblings received associate’s degrees on the same day. C6

Decision time upon us

Happy days abound

A family affair

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

May 17, 2014

Volume 20, Number 3

www.crossroadsnews.com

Four candidates for sheriff loan $61,665 to war chests By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Four of the eight candidates seeking the high-profile DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office top job have loaned themselves $61,665 in pursuit of the office that manages an annual budget of $77 million. In campaign disclosures filed with the DeKalb Election Office between March 14 and May 9, incumbent Jeff Mann and his challengers – Dale Collins, Ted Golden, Tony Hughes, Vernon Jones, Melody Maddox, Melvin Mitchell and LaSalle Smith – say they collected a total of $248,879 in campaign donations.

rest of the loans. Smith reported a loan of $6,267, a n d Hu g h e s , $5,398. Jones collected the most cash, $96,620, followed by Ted Golden Tony Hughes Vernon Jones LaSalle Smith Mann, who reJones, a former DeKalb County CEO, and ported contributions of $72,358. Golden reported $28,185 in contriburetired federal agent Ted Golden accounted for the bulk of the loans. Each reported loan- tions. Hughes reported netting $22,941, and Mitchell, an Atlanta Police officer, reported ing $25,000 to their campaigns. Smith and Hughes accounted for the campaign donations of $9,250.

Smith, owner of a security business, reported contributions of $9,225, and Maddox, the only woman in the field, reported contributions of $6,490. Collins, a former DeKalb sheriff ’s lieutenant, raised the least, $3,810. Even though he is in a special election for sheriff, Jones reported collecting campaign contributions for the primary race. In a May 5 email responding to questions from CrossRoadsNews about the discrepancy, Jones said: “There has been some confusion regardPlease see CONTRIBUTIONS, page A5

Fatal shooting of baby linked to earlier killings Neighbor Eric Crumbley and his 4-year-old son, King, stop by a makeshift memorial on the steps of a house in Stone Mountain where a baby was shot to death.

Three charged in prior slayings at party, in park By Ken Watts

A string of gun violence in Stone Mountain culminated May 10 in the death of a 9-month-old baby boy. The baby, Kendarius Edwards, died of a gunshot wound during a home invasion that critically wounded three women, including one who is four months pregnant. DeKalb Police say three or four men with their faces covered with Kendarius Edwards bandanas kicked in the back door of the house on To Lani Farm Road about 10:30 p.m. The terrified women grabbed the baby and locked themselves in an upstairs bathroom, but the gunmen kicked in the door and fired at the victims at close range. The infant was rushed to the hospital but did not make it. The women, whose identities have not been released, are ages 36, 23 and 21. They are expected to survive. The 21-year-old is believed to be the baby’s mother. The attack was the third in a chain of fatal shootings beginning on May 3. Police say it may have been retaliation for one of the earlier incidents. Residents along To Lani Farm Road say

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

they are alarmed by the increasing violence in the neighborhood off Redan Road over the past year. Neighbor Eric Crumbley, who had stopped by a growing memorial of stuffed animals and flowers on the steps of the house on Wednesday, said a baby’s death is hard to take.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” said Crumbley, who had his 4-year-old son, King, with him. “A 9-month-old hasn’t done anything to anybody.” Investigators believe that the shooting may have been related to a fatal shooting on May 3 in which a man named Michael Phillips was killed.

In that incident, police responded to the Mountain Lake Apartments on North Hairs ton Road in Stone Mountain. Authorities believe that shooting began with a brawl when uninvited guests arrived at a party in the complex. Please see SHOOTINGS, page A3

Paid for by Tom Brown for Congress Treasurer George Coletti

CrossRoadsNews

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Senior Olympics under way

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DeKalb baby boomers and golden agers are showing off their skills at the Senior Olympics now under way through May 23 at venues across the county. The Games, presented by the DeKalb Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs, kicked off May 16 at Agnes Scott College in Decatur. They feature individual events and team sports in track and field, billiards, Wii bowling, bowling, golf, basketball free throw, basketball 3-on-3, singles and doubles tennis, table tennis and ballroom dancing. On May 19, participants 50 and older will compete in swimming and water volleyball

from 10 a.m. to noon at Beulah Baptist Family Life Center, 2340 Clifton Springs Road in Decatur. Country western dancing takes place 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Mason Mill Recreation Center, 1340 McConnell Drive in Decatur. A Health and Safety Information Expo takes place May 23 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur. There also will be a line dance jamboree and closing event. For a schedule of events, visit http:// www.dekalbcountyga.gov/parks/pr-seniorolympics.html.

Cookbook for seniors unveiled Seniors 55 and older can sample delicious recipes at the official cookbook release for the DeKalb Public Library Senior Advisory Board and Decatur Active Living on May 22 at the Decatur Recreation Center. The “Senior Living Cookbook” release,

part of the Older Americans Month Series, takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Registration is required and the class limit is 50. The Decatur Recreation Center is at 231 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. To register, call 404-508-7190, Ext. 2257.

Tennis program seeks kids to play Kids ages 10 to 13 have until May 23 to apply for the Team B.L.U.E. Inc. Mentor Program in tennis. The program includes field trips, guest speakers, a tournament, and a National Junior Tennis & Learning Skills Curriculum. Requirements include a report card and recommendation letter. An essay is optional.

“Come on and be a part of the vision” First Afrikan Church is an Afrocentric Christian Ministry that empowers women, men, youth and children to move from membership to leadership in the church, community and the world. Praise & Devotion Worship Service Sundays at 10 a.m. Join us for Bible Study Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

5197 Salem Road Lithonia, GA 30038

Team B.L.U.E. – Born Leaders United for Education – offers programs in underserved metro communities that address the core physical, emotional and character needs of youth and families. For more information and to register, visit www.teambluetennis. com or contact coach Amani Mitchell at 770-597-1066.

770-981-2601 “We are building far beyond our years.”

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Put CrossRoadsNews to Work for You! Call 404-284-1888 for Advertising Rates & Information

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Community East Metro CID officially formed The East Metro DeKalb Community Improvement District is officially on its way. The DeKalb Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution May 13 to form the East Metro DeKalb CID. The proposed CID covers 39 square miles with 203 property owners with more than 400 parcels of commercial and industrial property valued at over Lee May $146 million. In a Community Improvement District, commercial property owners tax themselves 2 to 5 mills annually to improve infrastructure, transportation, public safety and beautification. With those funds, the CID can leverage up to 10 times more in funding from local, state and federal governments. Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May said he was pleased with the East Metro CID formation. “We have been working for this outcome for a long time,” May said. “I am ecstatic about the East Metro DeKalb CID and economic progress it will introduce to this area.” Organizers say the CID will be a powerful publicprivate partnership leveraging matching dollars from local, state and federal government agencies, helping to increase property values, reviving businesses, creating jobs and enhancing the overall quality of life in southeastern DeKalb. Funds generated by the self-taxing district will be earmarked for major improvement projects such as infrastructure, transportation, public safety and beautification. Van Jakes, who owns multiple McDonald’s restaurants within the CID, called it a positive step for South DeKalb. “Once I heard about the CID concept, I knew this was the tool the area needed to foster economic development and growth,” he said. For more information, visit www.eastmetrocid.com or call 404-684-7031.

CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

“Once I heard about the CID concept, I knew this was the tool the area needed to foster economic development and growth.”

MARTA crack down on fare evasion begins Beginning May 17, MARTA patrons will no longer be allowed to board unattended buses at rail station bus bays. The change is part of MARTA’s new fare evasion policy. Bus riders will only be allowed to pay their fares and board buses when an operator is present. When the driver leaves the vehicle for a break, the doors will be secured. Customers who have already paid can remain aboard. However, patrons waiting to pay their fare and board the bus must wait until the operator returns. Edward L. Johnson, MARTA’s chief administrative officer, said the measure was implemented to ensure that everyone is getting the same benefit from paying their fares. “This new policy is really about basic fairness,” Johnson said in a May 14 stateEdward Johnson ment. “The vast majority of our customers pay their fare and have every right to expect that everyone else is also paying to ride the system.” Johnson said the change will be an adjustment for its

customers. “We’re committed to reviewing the policy to ensure that it’s working as intended,” he said. A public education campaign is under way to inform passengers about the new policy. MARTA employees are distributing fliers and talking one-on-one with customers on buses, trains and in stations throughout the system. Most other major transit systems, including local bus systems that feed into MARTA, do not allow customers to board the bus if the driver isn’t present. The fare evasion policy is an extension of Ride With Respect, MARTA’s code of conduct launched last year to improve the overall transit experience. Since then, most of the suspensions that have been issued have been for fare evasion, a crime that is costing MARTA an estimated $3.5 million a year in lost revenue. MARTA says that passengers caught deliberately participating in or enabling fare evasion will be penalized to the fullest extent possible, up to and including being banned from riding the system. For more information, visit www.itsmarta.com.

No suspects held in 9-month-old baby’s death SHOOTINGS,

connections to it. On May 10, police received an anonymous phone call about a dead woman Police arrested in Decatur. InvestiKem on t a e Cu l l gators believe that ins, 18, in connecwoman, 19-year-old tion with the May Alexis Malone, was 3 shooting. They a witness to the May say 16-year-old Cu3 shooting and may trez Johnson and have been lured to a 19-year-old Oslushla park on Agape Way Smith are considered in Decatur by Kayla persons of interest in Oslushla Smith Dixon, a witness to Kayla Dixon the May 3 shooting. Police say Smith and Johnson had the May 3 attack. Dixon made her first court appeareither lived in the To Lani Farm Road house where the baby was killed or had ance on Wednesday in DeKalb Magisfrom page

trate Court. She is charged with murder in the park shooting. Her arrest warrant says she persuaded Malone to go to the park on May 10 with Smith, Johnson and Cullins, knowing Malone would be killed. The teen was hit in the head with a brick and shot several times. Smith, who appeared with Dixon in court, also is charged with two counts of murder in the park attack. His warrant accuses him of firing the fatal shots in the Malone case. He also is charged in the slaying at the party. Police had not arrested any suspects in the baby’s death by press time Thursday.

Forum 2346 Candler Rd. Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007

www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphic Design Curtis Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner Cherie Esteves Billing Clerk Charmyne Montfort Circulation Manager Jami Ffrench-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.

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May 17, 2014

“If you don’t want to do that, you have a choice: Don’t run for office.”

Learn more about candidates courting your vote By Jennifer Parker

As we head to the polls on May 20 to select the people who will manage our school district and jail and represent us in Congress, at the state House and on the County Commission, let’s pick carefully. Choosing our elected officials isn’t a popularity contest. It shouldn’t be based simply on name recognition or on who has money to buy the biggest and most signs. As we have found out quite painfully in DeKalb County, if we don’t choose carefully, we end up with people at the helm who have no vision for the county, no plan to get us into the future, and a county in decline. We live in an age where information is readily available. As voters we should take the time to find out as much as we can about our candidates, and we should question them about their qualifications and backgrounds. And when we encounter discrepancies in their public disclosures, we should hold them accountable. After 20 years of covering politics in our county, I am struck this election season by the high incidence of candidates who are hiding behind post office boxes, have not bothered to file disclosure reports, and some who may have even lied on their reports. If we elect them and they proceed to mess up, are we going to look for them in a postal box? If you want privacy, don’t run for public office.

If we can’t trust our candidates to be transparent in completing a personal financial statement or campaign contribution disclosure, can we expect them to be transparent when they are in charge of spending millions of dollars of taxpayers’ funds? Jennifer Parker

As I See It Jennifer Parker

If you run, your address is public information. And yes, we expect you to declare your assets truthfully. If you don’t want to do that, you have a choice: Don’t run for office. In our May 10 front-page story about the personal financial disclosure reports, it became clear that not all of the candidates had reported all of those holdings. In one case, former CEO Vernon Jones even reported owning a property that he sold in August 2001. We would have taken his statement at face value but for the fact that he did not check the box that asked for the value of the property. In searching for the county’s assessed value of the property, the Tax Commissioner’s Web site showed that he had sold the property. So it was no “overt and overthe-top scrutiny of Vernon Jones versus any other candidate for public office reporting” that led to that finding.

Quick Read

Senior Olympics under way

DeKalb baby boomers and golden agers are showing off their skills at the Senior Olympics now under way through May 23 at venues across the county.

Cookbook for seniors unveiled

Seniors 55 and older can sample delicious recipes at the official cookbook release for the DeKalb Public Library Senior Advisory Board and Decatur Active Living on May 22 at the Decatur Recreation Center.

Learn more about candidates courting your vote A4 As we head to the polls on May 20 to select the people who will manage our school district and jail and represent us in Congress, at the state House and on the County Commission, let’s pick carefully.

Had Jones checked the box, we might not have discovered that he no longer owns any property in DeKalb County – at least not in his name. Some candidates also have not reported all of their expenditures. Around the county, you see large signs and billboards, and multi-page mailers show up at your home, but none of the cost is reported on their expenditures, or their level of expenditure clearly exceeds the amount of campaign contributions they have reported. We know that it is easy to shirk the law and pay the paltry fines, but is that really the message we want to send the voters? Falsifying information on disclosure reports is a crime. But even more importantly, it speaks volumes about the character of the person attesting to the information in front of a notary public. If we can’t trust our candidates to be transparent in completing a personal financial statement or campaign contribution disclosure, can we expect them to be transparent when they are in charge of spending millions of dollars of taxpayers’ funds? For sure, ownership of assets is

not a requirement to run for office, but if I have never run a business, office or department, or have not managed my own personal financial information well, can I be expected to manage an office with a $77 million budget? I think that’s a reasonable question. If I am not truthful on my disclosures, if I shirk or skirt the law when I am running for office, can I be expected to be truthful and lawabiding when I get into office? In private enterprise, a corporation with $77 million a year in annual revenues would not hire a CEO who has no experience managing a budget that size. Why should the voters be different? Perhaps if we were paying more attention to who we “hire” to run our government, and holding them accountable, our county and school system wouldn’t have landed in the mess we have found ourselves. As a voter who is headed to the polls on Tuesday, I can say that after hearing them at forums, there were a few candidates that piqued my interest. But I lost interest pretty quickly when I checked and found they had not filed any disclosures or are hiding behind postal boxes. In the next few days, please take some time to find out more about the people asking for your vote. Our ancestors fought, bled and died for the right to vote. Let’s not squander our votes. Jennifer Parker is CrossRoadsNews’ editor and publisher.

Activity brisk as election season winds down B1

Candidates for sheriff share their visions for the office B6

DeKalb voters will head to the polls on to May 20 to vote in the primary, nonpartisan and special elections.

As voters head to the polls on May 20, we asked the eight candidates for DeKalb sheriff what they would like the voters to know about them before they cast their ballots.

These candidates are in contested races on the DeKalb County ballots in the May 20, 2014, Democratic and Republican primary elections.

Watson, Henson stand on their records of service B3 DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson and state Rep. Michele Henson are two of the county’s long-serving elected officials.

Stone Mountain couple challenge Watson, Henson B3 Stone Mountain couple Gregory and Jacqueline Adams are seeking seats on the DeKalb Board of Commissioners and in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Seniors bid goodbye to high school C1 The strains of Pomp and Circumstance are in the air as 5,954 DeKalb County seniors head to graduation ceremonies through May 21.

Ochiobi siblings graduate from GPC together C6 They are not quadruplets. But when the graduate roll was called on May 12 at Georgia Perimeter College’s commencement ceremony, the name “Ochiobi” was said four times in a row. That’s because David, 26; Grace, 24; Darlene, 22; and Gift, 19, all received associate’s degrees from GPC.

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It’s For Them DeKalb.................................... B7 Jeff Mann for Sheriff.....................................B5 R. Alexander Fitzhugh for DeKalb Sch Bd.....B5 Tony Hughes for DeKalb County Sheriff.......B2

ELECTION SECTION Committee to Elect Atticus LeBlanc.............. B3 Committee to Elect Henry “Hank” Johnson..B8 Committee to Elect Multiple Board Members....B4 Friends of Jacqueline Adams........................ B7 Friends of Kyle Williams................................ B7 Friends of Larry Johnson..............................B6 Friends of Stan Watson.................................B5 Friends of Thad Mayfield..............................B6 Gregory Adams DeKalb Co. Commissioner..B2

GRADUATION SECTION Abena Bryan................................................. C3 Aurielle Brooks............................................. C2 Billy Mitchell for State Representative........... C7 DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court.................... C3 Dlawren Hicks Graduation Ad....................... C2 Jordan Whitening - Grad Ad......................... C3 Joseph Bell Jr. Graduation Ad...................... C7 Savannah State University............................. C7 Shontae Mangaroo....................................... C2

The Gallery at South DeKalb......................... C7 INSERTS & ONLINE Best Buy Co. Inc......................................Inserts Dish Network..........................................Inserts Holistic Health Management Inc.............Inserts Walgreens...............................................Inserts Walmart..................................................Inserts Committee to Elect “Hank” Johnson...... Online Friends of Stan Watson.......................... Online Gregory Adams DeKalb Commission..... Online Gregory B.Levett & Sons....................... Online Ted Golden for DeKalb County Sheriff... Online Tom Brown for Congress....................... Online Tony Hughes for DeKalb Co. Sheriff...... Online

CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

Vote 2014

With the grace period, disclosures for the May 20 primary, nonpartisan and special elections were due by April 7.

Some donations exceed maximum set by law for elections Sheriff contributions through May 9

The eight candidates seeking the office of sheriff reported raising $248,879 in campaign contributions in disclosure reports filed between March 14 and May 9. Four of them have loaned themselves $61,665. Candidate Vernon Jones Jeff Mann Ted Golden Tony Hughes Melvin Mitchell Melody Maddox Dale Collins LaSalle Smith* Totals

CONTRIBUTIONS,

Contributions $96,620 $72,358 $28,185 $22,941 $9,250 $6,490 $3,810 $9,225 $248,879

Loans $25,000 0 $25,000 $5,398 0 0 0 $6,267 $61,665

Cash on Hand $36,668 $56,295 $10,927 $16,756 $9,250 $2,482 $2,075 $6,267 $140,720

$2,500 each from Fausto Urrutia, a Douglasville sales accountant; Jesus Diaz, listed ing this election, including how can someone as self-employed in Atlanta; Robert Blazer, having incumbent status and never been listed as self-employed from Gulf Breeze, elected. We are researching your question Fla.; and Barbara Blazer, self-employed from Decatur. and will respond immediately.” He never offered an explanation and through press time Thursday had not filed Bail bonding companies Both Mann and Jones attracted strong an amended report. support from the bail bonding industry that services inmates and their families. Mann Some donors exceed limits For local races, the Campaign Finance Act got contributions from several “bonds” sets the maximum campaign contributions companies and individuals totaling $7,150. per person at $2,500 for primary and local Jones got $4,500 from five companies and elections and $1,300 for primary and local individuals with “bonds” in their names or occupation. election runoffs. Mann’s contributors were A-Action Bail, Jones attracted the largest single donations. He reported 11 contributions of BBH Bonding, Delta Jet Bonding and Access $2,500. Some of his donors also exceeded the Bonds of Decatur; Brian Connors, owner of maximum contributions limit per election. DeKalb Bonding Spec. of Alpharetta; and His biggest contributors, Jarrett S. & Raymond Suddeth of Atlanta DeKalb BondRebecca L. Gorlin Family Ltd. Partnership ing, with a Monticello, Ga., address. Suddeth and Jarrett Gorlin, owner of Tag Aviation, gave $1,000 each for his company and for who both listed the same Sandy Springs, himself as the owner. Jones’ contributors were A 2nd Chance Atlanta, address, gave him a total of $7,600. The contributions were split evenly between Bail Bonds of Atlanta; Access Bonds and 911 the company and the individual. Each gave Bonding LLC of Decatur; Brian Connors, listed as a bail bondsman from Alpharetta; $3,800 on Jan. 17 and 22. Stephen Been, who built a lot of homes in and Derrick Harrington, a bail bondsman DeKalb County during Jones’ CEO admin- from Raleigh, N.C. Lawyers, another group that services istration, also gave him $3,800 on Feb. 25. jail inmates, gave Mann $5,358 and Jones, Been now lists his company as Atreus Homes, $4,650. located in Atlanta. Jones also got $2,500 contributions from Peyton Stanley of Gold Dome Link Inc. in At- Smaller School Board contributions In contrast, candidates for the DeKalb lanta; Lawrence Nelson of Lang Construction School Board, which manages a budget of Services in Tucker; Richie Kitrell of Helicopmore than $1 billion a year, netted vastly ter Express Inc. in Chamblee; John Hopkins smaller campaign contributions. of Prostar Management of Youngsville, N.C.; Twenty-two candidates are seeking seven Nishita Patel of McDonough; Benjamin Peasant of Bottom Line and Associates of seats on the School Board, but through press Washington, D.C.; and West End Discount time May 15, only 14 of them – Marshall Orson, Jerrie Bason, Michael Erwin, Atticus Pharmacy in Atlanta. West End Pharmacy also gave Jones LeBlanc, Karen Carter, Jim McMahan, Ella $1,300 on March 12, and its sister company, Smith, Jay Cunningham, Thad Mayfield, Candler Pharmacy, also gave him $1,300 for Vickie Turner, Bridgeman Bolger, Melvin Johnson, Lee Dukes, and Joyce Morley – had a total contribution of $5,100. Mann received four contributions of filed campaign disclosures. from page

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DeKalb School Board

Eight of the 22 candidates running for School Board have not filed Campaign Contributions Disclosure Reports. Of the 14 who filed, four reported zero contributions and three reported loans of $5,769. The state’s Campaign Finance Act requires all candidates to file disclosure reports. Candidate District Contributions In Kind Loans Cash on Hand Stan Jester* 1 NA NA NA NA Don McChesney* 2 NA NA NA NA Marshall Orson 2 $16,203 0 0 $15,579 Jerrie Bason 3 $1,150 0 0 $1,708 0 Michael Erwin 3 $500 0 0 0 Jarrod Jordan* 3 NA NA NA NA Atticus LeBlanc 3 $10,605 $1,346 0 $10,529 Willie Mosley, Jr. 3 NA NA NA NA Karen Carter 4 $0 0 0 0 Jim McMahan 4 $525 0 $3,790 $525 John Oselette* 4 NA NA NA NA Ella Smith 4 0 0 $271 0 Pia Bhatti* 5 NA NA NA NA Jay Cunningham 5 $1,975 0 0 $1,134 R. Alexander FitzHugh* 5 NA NA NA NA Thad Mayfield 5 $1,173 0 0 $374 Vickie Turner 5 $450 0 0 0 Bridgeman Bolger 6 $513 0 0 $63 Melvin Johnson 6 $6,700 0 0 0 Kim Ault* NA NA NA 7 NA Lee V. Dukes 7 $1,274 $34 0 $85 Joyce Morley 7 $0 0 0 0 Totals $41,068 $1,346 $5,769 $28, 290 * No 2014 Report on DeKalb Election Web site

In filings to the DeKalb Election Office, they reported raising a total of $41,068 in cash and $5,768 in in-kind contributions. The top fundraisers were Orson, LeBlanc and Johnson. Orson reported campaign donations of $16,203; LeBlanc, $10,605; and Johnson, the School Board chairman, reported raising $6,700. The eight candidates who have not filed campaign disclosures are Stan Jester, who is unopposed for the District 1 seat; Don McChesney, who is opposing incumbent Orson for the District 2 seat; Jarrod Jordan and Willie Mosley Jr., who are among three challengers to incumbent Michael Erwin in the District 3 seat; John Oselette in the District 4 race; Pia Bhatti and R. Alexander FitzHugh in the District 5 race; and Kim Ault in the District 7 race. In addition, three candidates – incumbents Carter in District 4, Morley in District 7, and Smith in the District 4 race – reported no donations, loans or expenditures. Three candidates, Bason in District 3 and McMahan and Smith in District 4, reported

loans totaling $5,769. McMahan loaned himself the most, $3,790; followed by Bason, who reported loans of $1,708; and Smith, $271.

Penalties for late filings With the grace period, all campaign donation disclosures for the May 20 primary, nonpartisan and special elections were due by April 7. Candidates who flout the law face fines of up to $1,375 after a five-day grace period. The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission says late fees are automatic for late filings of campaign contribution disclosures. Candidates whose disclosure reports are six to 14 days late pay a fee of $125. The penalty rises to $250 for reports that are 15 to 44 days late, and to $1,000 on the 45th day after the due date. In addition, candidates who fail to comply with the law could face misdemeanor charges. Those who knowingly file false statements face felony charges. More Election Coverage, C1-8

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CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014 This the 24th day of April, 2014 5/3, 5/10,5/17,5/24

Notice of PUBLICATION

Legal Notices 5/3,5/10,5/17,5/24

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

Court. This the 5th day of May, 2014. 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4311-1++ Vivan Denise Smith aka Vivan Denise Clark filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on April 22, 2104 to change the name from: Vivan Denise Smith to Vivan Denise Clark. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: April 22, 2014 Vivan Denise Smith Petitioner, Pro se 5492 Sigman St Stone Mountain, Ga 30083 (404) 592-8614

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4204-3++ Kelly Ne Veil Johnson filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on April 17, 2014 to change the name from: Kelly Ne Veil Johnson to Kelly NeVelle Johnson. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: April 17, 2014 Joseph Kaufmann Attorney for Petitioner

5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31

5/3, 5/10,5/17,5/24

NOTICE OF Publication

Notice of PUBLICATION

Civil Action # ++14CV2817-3++ Carol Smith Plaintiff Vs. Micheal Angelo Smith Defendant 5451 Biffle Road Stone Mountain, Ga 30088 By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated May 2, 2014 you are hereby notified that on March 11, 2014 the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for: Compliant of Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is Carol Smith 5456 Biffle Road Stone Mountain, a 30038. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of, May 2, 2014 Witness the Honorable Cynthia J. Becker Judge of the DeKalb Superior

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3617-3++ Kim Terry Plaintiff Vs. Chidi Enyobi 4420 Dallisct Stone Mountain, GA 30083 Defendant By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated April 21, 2014 you are hereby notified that on April 2, 2014 the above name filed suit against you for: Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is 6906 Shadow Ridge Ln Stone Mountain, Ga 30087. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of April 21, 2014. Witness the Honorable Clarence F. Seeliger. Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

In the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

This the 22th day of April, 2014 4/26, 5/3, 5/10, 5/17

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3699-8++ Princess Holder filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on March 26, 2014 to change the name(s) of the following minor children from: Kennedi Holder to Kennedi Fracois from Kinsely Holder to Kinsely Francois. 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: March 26, 2014 Princess Holder Petitioner, Pro se 7226 Wheeler Trl Lithonia, Ga 30058 (678)-254-8440 5/3, 5/10,5/17,5/24

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV3738-3++ Gloria Harris Plaintiff Vs. Olvsevn Fakoya 3310 Gisborne Road Atlanta, Ga 30319 Defendant By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated April 21, 2014 you are hereby notified that on April 7, 2014 the above name filed suit against you for: Compliant for Divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is 2912 Aspen Wood Atlanta, Ga 30360.

Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of April 21, 2014. Witness the Honorable Clarence F. Seeliger. Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 22th day of April, 2014 5/3,5/10,5/17,5/24

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4438-3++ Velda Glennece Perrin aka Velda Glennece Perrin filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on April 24, 2104 to change the name from: Velda Glennece Perrin to Velda Glennece Day. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: April 24, 2014 Velda Glennece Perrin Petitioner, Pro se 2838 Cordite Loop Snellville, Ga 30039 (404) 797-1294 5/3, 5/10,5/17,5/24

Notice

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV2760-3++ Traylyn J. Smith Petitioner Vs. Ajah B. Bryant Respondent By Order of the Court for service by publication dated April 24, 2014 you are hereby notified that on March 7, 2014 Traylyn J. Smith filed suit against you for Legitimation and custody. You are required to file with the clerk of the Superior Court, and to serve upon the Petitioner’s attorney, Lindsey M. Siegel, Atlanta Legal Aid Society, 246 Sycamore Street, Suite 120, Decatur, Georgia 30030-3434, an answer in writing within sixty (60) days of April 24, 2014. Witness the Honorable Clarence F. Seeliger, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court, Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit.

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 13CV9647-2-6++ Stacey Brown Plaintiff Vs. Donald Kemp 3800 Flat Shoals Pkwy Decatur, Ga 30034 Defendant By Order of the Court service for service by publication dated April 23, 2014 you are hereby notified that on September 13, 2013, 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 plaintiffís attorney whose name and address is Stacey Brown P.O Box 16183 Atlanta, Ga 30321. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of April 23, 2014. Witness the Honorable Asha F.Jackson. Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 29th day of April, 2014 5/10, 5/17,5/24,5/31

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4235-2++ Makki Mohamed Elbashir filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on April 17, 2014 to change the name(s) of the minor child(ren) from: Retaj Makki Elagab to Retaj Makki Elbasjir. 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: April 17, 2014 Name: Makki M Elbashir Address: 3207 Henderson Mill Road Apt-N4. Atlanta, Ga 30341 (678)-887-8560 5/17, 5/24,6/7,6/14

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4861-9++ Willie B. Lovelace filed a petition in the

DeKalb County Superior Court on May 8, 2014 to change the name from: Willie B. Lovelace to Willie B. Harris, Jr. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: May 5, 2014 Willie B. Harris aka Willie B. Lovelace 1533 Van Epps St Atlanta, Ga 30316 (404) 622-1183 5/17,5/24,5/31,6/7

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4935-2++ Dora Goldman filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on May 8, 2104 to change the name from: Dora Goldman to Thelma D. Steele. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the petition was filed. Dated: May 8, 2014 Dora Goldman Petitioner, Pro se 4309 Sherwood Oaks Drive Decatur, Ga 30034 (770)- 593-2308 5/17,5/24, 5/31,6/7

Notice

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4862-9++ Serina Taylor Avant Petitioner Vs. Wayne Avant Defendant Wayne Avant 5226 Golfcrest Circle Stone Mountain, Ga 30083 By Order of the Court for service by publication dated May 12, 2014 you are hereby notified that on March 8, 2014 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 Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Serina Taylor Avant 831 Martin Ct SE Atlanta, Ga 30315. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of May 12, 2014. Witness the Honorable Mark Anthony Scott, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 12th day of May, 2014

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CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

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May 17, 2014

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May 17, 2014

www.crossroadsnews.com

Activity brisk as election season winds down

Jennifer Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Early voting ended on May 16, and now it comes down to Tuesday, May 20, when voters will decide who will win seats in several local, state and Congressional races. By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb voters will head to the polls on to May 20 to vote in the primary, nonpartisan and special elections. The county has 455,716 registered voters but turnout is expected to be less to be 25 to 30 percent. Through May 14, only 10,696 people had made it the early polls that opened April 28. The last day to vorte early was May 16.

Among the hot local DeKalb County races are the Fourth District contest between incumbent Congressman Hank Johnson and retired DeKalb Sheriff Tom Brown, the special election for DeKalb Sheriff and the races for all seven DeKalb School Board seats. Incumbent DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson is facing a challenge from Stone Mountain police officer and pastor Gregory Adams, and 24-year State Rep. Michele Henson is facing Jacqueline Adams in the race for the House District 86 seat.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

District 42 candidates Kyle Williams (left) and Elena Parent discuss the issues at a forum held at Agnes Scott College.

Other incumbents facing challenges are State Reps. Ernest Coach Williams and Dee Dawkins Haigler, and Sen. Gloria Butler. Williams is being challenged Ivy Green; Haigler by Diane Adoma, and Butler by Mark Anthony Williams. With eight candidates vying for Sheriff, and five contenders for the District 5 School Board race, election watchers are anticipating a runoff, which is scheduled for July 22. All neighborhood polling precincts will open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

CurtisParker/CrossRoadsNews

A young volunteer carries political signs after a meet-and-greet.

Voters should bring photo identification to the poll. Acceptable ids are a Georgia drivers license, even if expired; valid US Military or tribal, state or federal-issued photo ids; a valid U.S. passport, or photo ids from any branch, department or agency of any county, municipality, board or authority of the state. Before you go to the polls check your registration and find your polling precinct at http://mvp.sos.state.ga.us or by calling 404-298-4020.

Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Political signs adorn a window sill outside a forum for school board candidates sponsored by Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s For Them DeKalb.

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CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

2014

Guide to primary, nonpartisan and special elections

These candidates are in contested races on the DeKalb County ballots in the May 20, 2014, Democratic and Republican primary elections. This information includes the office they are seeking, the salary for the office, party affiliation, age and occupation. Candidates who are running unopposed are not listed.

(D) = Democrat (R) = Republican (I) = Incumbent

“East Metro Atlanta’s Weekly Newspaper” 2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007 www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com These candidates are in contested races on the DeKalb County ballots Guide to the and in theThe May2014 20, 2014, Democratic Republican elections. of Electionsprimary is a publication

CrossRoadsNews Inc., East Metro Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper. Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Reporters Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Graphics Editor Curtis Parker © 2014 CrossRoadsNews, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted without written permission of the publisher.

U.S. House of Representatives Salary: $174,000

4th District Thomas E. “Tom” Brown (D) Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (D) (I) U.S. Senate

Salary: $174,000

Democrat O. “Steen” Miles (D) M. Michelle Nunn (D) Branko “Rad” Radulovacki (D) Todd Anthony Robinson (D) Republican Paul Collins Broun (R) Arthur A. “Art” Gardner (R) J.P. “Phil” Gingrey (R) Derrick E. Grayson (R) Karen C. Handel (R) J.H. “Jack” Kingston (R) David A. Perdue (R) Governor

Salary: $139,339

John D. Barge (R) J. Nathan Deal (R)(I) David E. Pennington III (R)

Secretary of State Salary: $123,636

Gerald B. Beckum (D) Doreen Carter (D)

Commissioner of Insurance Salary: $120,394

Keith G. Heard (D) Elizabeth N. “Liz” Johnson (D)

Public Service Commissioner Salary: $116,452 (To Succeed Lauren McDonald)

Douglas T. Kidd (R) Charles C. “Craig” Lutz (R) Lauren W. “Bubba” McDonald (R)(I)

State School Superintendent Salary: $123,270

Democrat Tarnisha L. Dent (D) Marion Spencer “Denise” Freeman (D) Jurita Forehand Mays (D) Alisha Thomas Morgan (D) R. “Rita” Robinzine (D) Valarie D. Wilson (D) Republican Mary Kay Bacallao (R) Ashley D. Bell (R) Michael L. “Mike” Buck (R) Sharyl H. Dawes (R) Allen Bowles Fort (R) Nancy T. Jester (R) T. Fitz Johnson (R) Kira G. Willis (R) Richard L. Woods (R)

Georgia Senate Salary: $17,700

40th District - Democrat Tamara Y. Johnson (D) Benedict I. Truman II (D) 40th District - Republican Richard D. “Dick” Anderson (R) Francis R. “Fran” Millar (R) (I) 42nd District Elena C. Parent (D) R. Kyle Williams (D) 44th District Gail P. Davenport (D) (I) Marcus Eugene Davis (D) 55th District Gloria S. Butler (D) (I) Mark Anthony Williams (D) 79th District James Bradley “Brad” Goodchild (R) Thomas K. “Tom” Taylor (R) (I) 80th District Catherine S. Bernard (R) Michael J. “Mike” Jacobs (R)(I) Georgia House Salary: $17,700

86th District Jacqueline L. Adams (D) Michele Henson (D) (I) 87th District Ivy J. Green (D) Earnest L. “Coach” Williams (D) (I) 91st District Diane D. Adoma (D) D. “Dee” Dawkins-Haigler (D) (I) Special Election for Sheriff

Salary: $114,040 (To Fill the Unexpired Term of Thomas Brown, Resigned)

Dale Bernard Collins (D) Ted Golden (D) R. “Tony” Hughes (D) Vernon Jones (D) Melody Maddox (D) Jeff Mann (D) (I) Melvin Mitchell (D) LaSalle Smith Sr. (D)

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners Salary: $38,374

Super District 7 Gregory Adams (D) Stan Watson (D) (I) Democratic Party Questions

n Should Georgia raise the state

minimum wage above the current $5.15 an hour? n Should Georgians’ federal tax dollars be returned to Georgia to fund Medicaid expansion and relieve the indigent care burden on our hospitals?

n Should the Constitution of Georgia be amended to create an independent ethics commission, not tied to the Governor’s office, legislature, or other elected office, to more effectively police potential ethics violations by elected officials? n Should the Constitution of Georgia be amended to make the education budget Georgia’s first funding priority?

Nonpartisan General Election DeKalb County Board of Education Salary: $18,500

District 2 Don McChesney Marshall Orson (I) District 3 Jerrie D. Bason Michael A. Erwin (I) Jarrod Jordan Atticus LeBlanc Willie R. Mosley Jr. District 4 Karen Carter (I) Jim McMahan (I) John Oselette Ella “Coach Smith” Smith District 5 Pia “Chaz Afzal” Bhatti Jesse “Jay” Cunningham R. Alexander Fitzhugh Thad Mayfield (I) Vickie B. Turner District 6 Bridgeman Bolger Melvin Johnson (I) District 7 Kim Ault Lee V. Dukes Joyce Morley (I) City of Clarkston Special Election Goods Freeport Tax Exemptions Shall the City of Clarkston be authorized to enact a Freeport Exemption to exempt goods in the process of being manufactured from taxation? Inventory Freeport Tax Exemptions Shall the City of Clarkston be authorized to enact a Freeport Exemption to exempt inventory of finished manufactured goods still held in the possession of the original manufacturer from taxation? Finished Freeport Tax Exemptions Shall the City of Clarkston be authorized to enact a Freeport Exemption to exempt finished manufactured goods destined for distribution out of state from taxation? Level 2 Freeport Tax Exemptions Shall the City of Clarkston be authorized to enact a Freeport Exemption to exempt retail business inventory from taxation?

Vote

CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

2014

“I want to be your eyes and ears in the district. I want to represent my community.

Incumbents Watson, Henson stand on their record of public service By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb Commissioner Stan Watson and state Rep. Michele Henson are two of the county’s long-serving elected officials. On May 20, voters will have to pick between them and two opponents, Stone Mountain couple Gregory and Jacqueline Adams. Watson, who first entered public office in 1996 as a state representative from South DeKalb, is the incumbent Super 7 commissioner representing the eastern half of the county. He was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2010 after an unsuccessful run to be DeKalb CEO in 2008. Henson was first elected to the Georgia House in 1994 and is the longest continuously serving member of the DeKalb Delegation. Both say they stand on their record of public service. Watson, who celebrates his 60th birthday on May 17, says he wants the voters to remember his service when they go to the polls. “I have a heart to serve,” he said. “Yes, I get tired sometimes, but I keep going because I want the county to get better.” He also wants voters to remember that he has experience in the state Legislature and knows how to mesh it and the County Commission to better serve the community. Watson says that despite what his opponent says, he has always been accessible and that he regularly attends meetings in the four cities in his district – Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain and Doraville – and numerous community meetings. He also points to his monthly First Saturday Community Breakfast that he has hosted

Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson says he regularly attends meetings in the four cities in his district and community meetings.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

10 times a year for 17 years and the seven community cleanups he sponsors annually. “I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves and go to work,” he said. Watson chairs the DeKalb Board of Commissioners’ Public Works Committee that oversees the county’s $1.35 billion Capital Improvement Plan that is overhauling its water systems. He said he has championed the Tucker, Stone Mountain and East Metro Community Improvement Districts and has been doing double duty covering his district and District 5 that has been without full representation since Commissioner Lee May was appointed DeKalb interim CEO. If he is re-elected, Watson said he will continue to push for economic development in the district. Specifically, he wants to work with the DeKalb School System to build a civic center in the Stonecrest area so DeKalb high

schools don’t have to go outside the county to hold their graduation ceremonies and so that the county can attract large events. He also would like to see the county go after the Braves Double A Farm Club for its Southeastern Athletic Complex on Covington Highway and build a sound stage to film TV commercials and movies.

‘I want to see my area get better’ After 24 years in the Georgia House, Henson says she still wants to keep serving. “There is still a lot of things to work on to make the county better,” she said. Henson, who has lived in the same house in Stone Mountain for 35 Michele Henson years, says there has been decline in the county.

“We need to bring it back so it can again be a place we can be proud to call home,” she said. “As a resident, I want to see my area get better.” Henson, who lives two blocks off Memorial Drive, says she has worked tirelessly over the years with Code Enforcement, the county and PRISM to improve the corridor. “I protested when they tried to put nightclubs in our area,” she said. “I work with all who are interested in making the area better. I have done my best to help keep Memorial Drive from going down more.” Henson says she is accessible and involved but has not been going around the district singing her own praises. “I am not tooting my own horn and patting myself on the shoulder,” she said. “I am busy working.” She points to a long list of bills that she has written and co-written and supported, including the bill that outlaws celebratory gunfire, a hotel/motel sales tax law that the county and the DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau wanted, and legislation controlling cell phone towers on school property. She also has been active on the ART Station board of directors for 15 years and the Stone Mountain Women’s Club, among other organizations. If she is elected for a 13th term, Henson said she will push for affordable and accessible health care for all citizens and encourage the state to accept Medicare expansion. She said that voters should pick her again on May 20 because she has a proven record of service. “I have the knowledge and the performance, and I have seniority,” she said. “I have been a strong advocate for my constituents.”

Stone Mountain couple seeking to unseat Watson and Henson By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Stone Mountain couple Gregory and Jacqueline Adams are seeking seats on the DeKalb Board of Commissioners and in the Georgia House of Representatives in the May 20 primary election. They are the only couple on the ballot, and both are challenging well-liked and entrenched elected officials. Gregory Adams, who shares the same name of a well-known DeKalb Superior Court judge, is challenging Super District 7 Commissioner Stan Watson. His wife is up against 24-year state legislator Michele Henson. The Adamses, who are pastor and first lady of Deliverance Temple Tru COGIC in Austell and hold leadership positions in the denomination, are unfazed by the stature of their opponents. They have lived in Stone Mountain for 23 years and say they are running to help revitalize the area. Gregory Adams, who ran for DeKalb CEO in 2012, said he is opposing Watson, whom he once supported for the District 7 seat, because he is dissatisfied with the way he is managing the district. “I supported him in 2010 because I thought he would do a good job but he hasn’t,” Adams said. “But Stan has never

Gregory Adams is challenging Commissioner Stan Watson, and Jacqueline Adams is seeking state Rep. Michele Henson’s District 86 House seat.

been in my community. He is missing. He is absent. That’s it in a nutshell.” Adams, who is an Emory University Police officer and a former DeKalb Police officer, said Watson and the other commissioners have allowed communities to form cities because residents are tired of taxation without representation. He says the residents want clean government and more than a monthly breakfast meeting. If he wins the seat, Adams says he will focus on safety and be visible all across the district that covers half of the county

from north to south. “When I moved here 23 years ago, DeKalb was a vibrant county,” he said. “Now, it is dilapidated houses, abandoned buildings and two many houses that are vacant. The main issue to tackle is economic development.” Adams said that residents should pick him on May 20 for positive change. “I am the ‘three P’ guy,” he said. “I am a preacher, police officer and politician. I left the comforts of the pulpit to hit the pavements to serve the people. As an elected official, I will be serving the people.”

 Choose any school in the county for your child  Complete Transparency of school district expenses  Donation of Salary to Churches & Charities in DeKalb serving Children

www.electatticus.com Paid for by The Committee to Elect Atticus LeBlanc

Challenge to longtime legislator Jacqueline Adams says she is running for the District 86 House seat to bring representation to the district. She says that Henson, the longest continuously serving member of the DeKalb Delegation, has been absent and inaccessible to constituents. “We have taxation without representation,” Adams said. “She never responds to telephone calls or emails. She may do a good job at the Capitol but we don’t hear about it.” Adams, who owned a hair salon on Gresham Road for 23 years and a nonemergency transportation service for five years, said small businesses need help and she wants to champion them and children’s issues in the Legislature. She says she has watched Memorial Drive decline as businesses such as Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Publix and numerous shops in the Memorial Bend shopping center close and no one did anything about it. “I want to be your eyes and ears in the district,” Adams said. “I want to represent my community. I want to do economic development. I want to work with our commissioners and the Legislature to build up the neighborhood.”

CrossRoadsNews

Vote 2014

May 17, 2014

“This district has a place at the table to be a progressive advocate and to be a voice and not just be a vote.”

Variety of experience among four challenging appointed incum Voters in the DeKalb School Board District 3 will be picking a board member from a slate of four candidates that includes a businessman, a communituy activist, an educator, and a substitute teacher. Incumbent board member Dr. Michael Erwin, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Nathan Deal, is running for his first elected office. He is being challenged by Jerrie Bason, a substitute teacher with the school district, Jarrod Jordan, a non profit director, Atticus LeBlanc, a businessman and community volunteer, and Willie Mosley, Jr., a community activist, who has been trying for years to win a seat on the school board and the county commission. Erwin, was appointed to the seat in 2013, when Deal removed long-time district representative Sarah Copelin- Wood and five other boardmembers. Erwin, who is on faculty at Georgia Gwinnett College, says he wants to continue serving on the board to facilitate the positive momentum that he and other appointed boardmembers started. “We went from furlough days, from a

Jerrie Bason

Michael Erwin

Jarrod Jordan

deficit to a surplus,” he said at an April forum hosted by Leadership DeKalb. “We want to keep a balance budget. We want to keep putting the tools and resources in place to help our students succeed. We want to see academic growth.” While the school system has made progress, Bason it is still in a vulnerable position. If elected she said she will advocate for more decentralization and financial and educational reforms. “We must put more money in our schools if we want our schools to thrive and if we want to increase student performance,” she said.

Atticus LeBlanc

Willie Mosley, Jr.

LeBlanc says the May 20 school board election is an historic opportunity for the county. The father of three boys, said he is running because he is unsatisified with the board’s leadership and the results that we were gettingin DeKalb. “I understand a lot of the financial issues that we are facing today, and most importantly I am focused on improving student achievement,” he said. “I am volunteering my time for this position so that I an improve student achievement and get better results than what we see. Jordan, who graduated from Stephenson

High School in 1998, aid his teachers prepared him for college and life and he wants that for students today. “Over the last 10 years we have seen a precipitous decline in the quality of the public school system in DeKalb County,” he said. “ I don’t think the students in the system today have the same opportunities that I had 16 years ago when I graduated from high School.” The new School Board will hire the district’s next superintendent, and the four says they would look for someone with a track record of working in a system similar to DeKalb’s. Jordan said students need “wrap-around services” to support them. “The leadership in DeKalb still believe that we are a suburban county,” he said. “Well this problem that exist in the city now exist in DeKalb County, and we have to adapt our leadership to fit and match the new reality.” LeBlanc said the county new superitendent should be focussed primarily on improving student achievement. “We are moving to a charter system,” he said. “We should find someone who has experience in charter systems, especially experience in decentral-

What you should know about District 5 School Board candidates Vickie B. Turner 22 year resident of DeKalb. 24 years as an educator. Founder and headmaster of Augustine Preparatory Academy of Atlanta. Co-pastor of Augustine Chapel with her husband Robert Turner II. “I have a commitment to operate with the utmost integrity and teachers, students and parents will drive every decision that I make. I want people to know that I’m committed to stay the course and to stay focused and engage everyone at the table in productive dialogue for the good of the DeKalb County School system. And I will work as diligently as I can to find the right leader to be the next superintendent and take our school system to a place of prominence and excellence.”

Keep Your Current School Board Members

As voters go seat to identify

R. Alexander Fitzhugh Grew up in DeKalb and graduated from Towers High School. A parent, community volunteer and long-time activist in the school system. Has served every year since 1999 on PTAs, school councils. Is a member Father Being Involved (FBI) and other countywide educational planning committees. “I want the people to know that I am connected to the community through my involvement with the PTA. I’ve proven that I am trustworthy and care about the education of our children and will bring those qualities to the board. And I am a deeply religious man and all decisions and my conscience will not allow me to do anything that is detrimental to the well being of our students.”

Thad Mayfield [In A senior partner at FOCOM, inc., business development firm. A resident of and a long-time participant in DeKalb Georgia business communities and ci Served three terms on the Georgia Commissi

“I have volunteered 28 years of service to DeKalb Schools and through SPLOST to build new schools. I’m a business person who b district is off academic probation and on solid financial ground, we performance.”

District 42 Senate hopefuls s Melvin Johnson District 6

Joyce Morley District 7

Karen Carter District 4

Michael Erwin District 3

We currently serve on the DeKalb County School Board. Along with the other Board members, we have made major accomplishments over the course of the past fourteen months! To date, this Board has: • Put students first • Moved from accreditation probation to accreditation warning • Improved the budget development and monitoring process • Established a balanced budget

• Eliminated draining legal expenses • Reduced work place reduction (furlough) days • Helped to increase and improve operational efficiency • Helped to reestablish community trust and confidence

We need your support and your vote, in order to continue the excellent progress made thus far, in our efforts to return the DeKalb County School District back to its previous status as one of the highest-ranking systems in the nation.

★ Election Day May 20th ★ Paid for by Friends of Melvin Johnson, Joyce Morley 4 School Board, Friends of Karen Carter and Michael Erwin 4 School Board

By Ken Watts

Attorney Kyle Williams and nonprofit executive Elena Parent are vying to replace Sen. Jason Carter in District 42. At a May 6 forum at Agnes Scott College, the two Democrats sought to convince voters Elena Parent that they would be a stronger progressive voice for the district that stretches from Buford Highway to the north, Candler Park to the west, East Lake to the south, and Decatur to the east. Parent, who lives in Chamblee, is a former state representative who unseated a Republican in 2010 to take the House District 81 seat.

She left the House in 2012 rather than run against her friend and former law firm co-worker, state Rep. Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta), after Republicans redrew the political map and combined their districts. If she wins the seat on May 20, Parent said that after electing Kyle Williams Carter governor in November, she intends to champion a number of issues. “We’re going to go down to the Capitol and fully fund the school year, fully fund and expand pre-k, raise the minimum wage and expand Medicaid and I can do all that with your help,” she said. Williams, who works with a Decatur law firm that handles land

May 17, 2014

Vote 2014

CrossRoadsNews

mbent in School Board District 3 izing the control process within county.” LeBLanc, a self-described “big proponent” of school choice, says principal should be empowered to manage their schools, and their teachers. “And teachers should be free to teach the way they want to teach,” he said. “They know the students better than we do and better than any board member ever would.” Bason says the superintendent should come from a district with similar demographics as DeKalb. “I think the person needs to be more of a listener,” she said. “I also believe the person need to make a long-term commitment.” Erwin said the district needs to find a superintendent who will continue the initiatives put in place by the school board. “We need a superintendent who will continue to build community and business relationships,” he said. “We need a superintendent, who is going to be able to deal with a diverse community such as ours, who will be a great manager of people.” Mosley said his superintendent must be a leader, not a follower. “He must have four basic things: discipline, leadership, priority, and accountability,” he said. “He must be able to respond on the spur of the

moment, and must be able to work with the board.” For the district to return to full acrediation, Erwin said board has “to stay in its lane” and not to be the day-to-day manager of the school system. “That was one of the major conflicts that we had with SACS.” he said. “The second thing is to follow the action items given by SACS.” Bason said that a strong board that takes a district-centered approach to decision making important. “It is going to be imperative that the board remain united in building consensus and compromise,” she said. “Sometimes we can get us in trouble when we are not listening to each other.” Jordan said Deal’s appointment of the board members was sobering for the county. “That wake up call allowed our county to elicit better qualified candidates to be on the school board,” he said. “So I don’t think we are going to have an issue in terms of the old board, new board and completing the SACS requirements.”

o to the polls on May 20, we asked the five candidates for the District 5 De Kalb School Board three things they want every voter to know about them before they cast their ballots.

Jesse “Jay” Cunningham Former School Board member. 50-year resident of DeKalbs. Lives in Lithonia. “I was founder and co-president of the South DeKalb Parent council and served as PTSA president at Martin Luther King High School. I was elected to two terms on the DeKalb School Board first in 2006 and re-elected in 2010 with over 65 percent of the vote. I was able to secure $280 million in construction for new schools, renovations, additions and elimination of school trailers and updating technology district-wide.”

Pia “Chaz Afzal” Bhatti, who is also a candidate for the District 5 seat did not respond.

ncumbent] a Georgia-based f Lithonia since 1984, b, Metro Atlanta and ivic organizations. ion on Equal Opportunity.

communities. I have helped raise over $1 billion believes in getting things done and now that the e need to improve teacher morale and student

stump as a progressive voice use issues, is a veteran community activist. He has served on the city of Decatur Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Zoning Rewrite Task Force; on DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis’ transition team; and on the board of the Decatur Education Foundation. The 10-year Decatur resident ran unsuccessfully for the Decatur City Commission District 2 in 2009. If elected, he would become the state’s first openly gay male senator. Williams wants to continue District 42’s long tradition of progressive advocacy on issues such as education, civil rights, marriage equality, and the environment. “This district has a place at the table to be a progressive advocate and to be a voice and not just be a vote,” Williams said. “This district has a position to speak up and say

that gutting our schools is unacceptable, disrespecting our teachers is unacceptable, listening to politicians as opposed to our own educators, scientists and our own doctors is unacceptable. That’s why I’m running.” Both candidates are well-funded headed into the primary. As of March 31, Parent had the edge with $140,965.19 cash on hand to Williams’ $104,464.51. Parent has received endorsements from more than a dozen state lawmakers and DeKalb County officials. Williams’ campaign has taken a more doorto-door approach, shaking hands with local residents and talking to community leaders. “We’ll build the grass-roots support to win this,” Williams said. “Don’t get distracted by who’s supporting who – what matters is who turns out on Election Day.”

Vote 2014

CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

Candidates for sheriff share their visions for the office As voters head to the polls on May 20, we asked the eight candidates for DeKalb sheriff what they would like the voters to know about them before they cast their ballots. Here are their responses. Vernon Jones’ response was taken from his Web site.

Dale Bernard Collins, 55 MARTA Police training coordinator 40-year resident of DeKalb County. Lives in Conley. 26 years of service. Retired from DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office in 2010 as a lieutenant. Now MARTA training coordinator. Took leave of absence to run for sheriff. “I am a 26-year veteran of the DeKalb Sheriff Office. I worked, managed, trained and supervised in every division. I have worked in the jail’s emergency service. I managed court services and the jail divisions, and I am ready to work. I have vast experience. No one else that’s running has my experience. “I haven’t sat behind the desk. I have been on the streets. I have worked in every division. “And most importantly, you need someone who is going to do the right thing. “I know what’s going on, and I know what needs to be done.”

R. Tony Hughes, 42 DeKalb Police officer Born and raised in DeKalb County. Lives in Stone Mountain. 18-year veteran of the DeKalb Police Department and a former detention officer with the DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office. “I am an experienced law enforcement officer. I am an honest man with the experience to move this county forward. I have a realistic, comprehensive plan to bring about change in public safety in the county. “If elected, I will collaborate with the police departments to keep our streets and schools safer and cleaner. DeKalb wants a leader of public safety, not a politician. We need someone who is committed to our public safety and will not abandon this early to go to seek another job. “If you vote me in for four years, I am obligated to serve you for four years. I believe this county is ready for a public servant who is a leader of public safety and not a politician and that’s who I am.”

Ted Golden, 54 Retired federal agent 24-year DeKalb County resident. Lives in Lithonia. Raised three boys in DeKalb School District and was president of band booster clubs at Southwest DeKalb and M.L. King Jr. High School. Retired with 28 years of service from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration on Jan. 25, 2014, to run for DeKalb sheriff. “I am committed to this county and to solving our problems. “I possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the job. My background is both local and federal law enforcement, which makes me extremely qualified. “I want to put a cop in every school because parents should know that their kids are safe at school. “More than 70 percent of the people in the jail have not finished high school. There is an open door between the schoolhouse and the jail house and our kids are crawling through. We have got to cut it off. It takes a village to raise a child and it’s time to call out the village. “If we can fix our issues with education, it will solve a lot of the problems in the jail and I will collaborate with the school system, the CEO and the police to make this happen.”

Vernon Jones, 53 Consultant 30-year resident of DeKalb County. Lives in Lithonia. Former DeKalb County CEO for eight years and served as a state representative for eight years. Self-employed consultant. “As your next sheriff, I will clean up our streets, keep our citizens safe and make DeKalb a better place. I am committed to protecting seniors. I will reduce daytime crimes involving youth, create ‘Clean DeKalb’ detail and deputies will be visible in your neighborhood. “As your sheriff, I will commit to increasing the Sheriff Department’s participation in DeKalb County’s war on crime. “I will be committed to supporting and augmenting not only the DeKalb County Police Department, but all of the law enforcement agencies throughout DeKalb.”

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Larry Johnson DeKalb District 3 Commissioner Celebrating 12 Years of Dedicated Service!

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Serving Decatur, East Lake, Edgewood, Ellenwood, and Kirkwood. I will continue to work hard for you.

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Experience, solutions among criteria cited most often Melody Maddox, 47 Former college assistant police chief Lifelong resident of DeKalb County. Lives in Decatur. Has 24 years of law enforcement experience. Spent the past six years as assistant chief of police with Georgia Piedmont Technical College. Pursuing a doctorate in business administration. Resigned in November 2013 to run for sheriff. “I will move quickly to address concerns of residents and employees. I will establish strong partnerships between all county law enforcement agencies and schools. I will include youth educational programs and post-release inmate development initiatives. “I will run an efficient, customer-friendly administration and improve departmental morale and relations between employee and employer. I will bring leadership with a level of integrity, honesty and humility and justice. I am no-nonsense and I believe in transparency. I will be the positive leadership that is needed in DeKalb County today.”

Jeff Mann, 51 Lawyer and incumbent sheriff 23-year resident of DeKalb County. A former DeKalb assistant county attorney, he ran the day-today operation of the DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office Jail, Field, Court and Administrative divisions for 14 years. He was chief deputy sheriff, highest non-elected position in the office, for 10 years before his appointment as sheriff on Feb. 28. “I am the only candidate with 14 years of executivelevel management experience running the day-to-day operations of the department. That experience translates into an unblemished record. There has been no hint of impropriety, fiscal or otherwise. There has been no hint of mismanagement. And we have obtained and maintained the triple crown accreditations that only one percent of sheriff departments nationally have. We are operating on excellence, recognized by the National Sheriff Association. “Keep me your sheriff because of those factors.”

JACQUELINE L. ADAMS

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 86

VOTE

REPRESENT • ADVOCATE FOCUS

MAY 20TH

I will represent District 86, and work with legislators to continue to make our county a place we all can live, enjoy, and raise our families. As an advocate, I will work to improve the quality of life in DeKalb County,focus on improving our education system, and continue to pursue quality healthcare to Georgia families. I will work to assist the DeKalb Ethics Board and independent auditors' agencies that work to establish public trust. I will work with residents, businesses, and churches to address issues that affect us the most:

YOU HAVE THE POWER • TIME FOR A CHANGE PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT JACQUELINE L ADAMS

Affordable and Accessible Healthcare • Quality Education • Quality Jobs

LEARN MORE WWW.ADAMS4ACTION.COM

V te

Tuesday, May 20

Watch the Board of Education candidate videos and find out more about your candidates at

www.itsforthemdekalb.org.

Melvin Mitchell, 53 Atlanta Police officer 20-year resident of DeKalb County. Has more than 30 years experience with Atlanta Police Department, was executive director of the Police Athletic League. “I am compassionate about people. I want people to feel safe in DeKalb County again. I want to ensure that the violent offenders who are wanted are apprehended and taken off the street. “And I am passionate about working with youths to give them an alternative from drugs, crime, jail and gangs. I have worked with the Police Athletic League for six years to foster and mentor youths. I will partner and collaborate with all the police chiefs in the county to ensure it’s safe.”

LaSalle Smith, 66, business owner Lifelong resident of DeKalb County. Lives in Lithonia. Has 40 years in law enforcement with the Atlanta Police Department, the FBI and the GBI. President and CEO of his own security firm, Georgia Security Professionals LLC. “I am committed to work to make DeKalb County the safest place in the nation for individuals and families to live, play and work and for businesses to run and be productive without fear of becoming victims of criminal activity. I want to put professionalism back into politics. “As your sheriff, I will do all within my powers, working in concert with all entities, law enforcement, other criminal justice and governmental agencies, the school system, businesses, communities, neighborhoods and faith-based organizations, in an effort to make DeKalb County the greatest county in these United States of America to live, conduct business, work and enjoy life as a whole.”

HANK20 14! �

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CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

E N DOR SED BY PRESID EN BARACK T OBAMA

Rep. John Lewis: “We need Hank’s leadership...his vision...his commitment. We need his dedica�on now more than ever before. He will always do the right thing. I know where this young man stands. I know his heart. He will never, ever let the people of this district down.” –– Rep. John Lewis Hank delivers for veterans, seniors and families – with more than $32 million in cons�tuent services.

Hank delivers on the House Judiciary and Armed Services commi�ees, and is known as a champion of consumers, workers and the middle class.

Hank delivers for homeowners, helping more than 1,700 prevent foreclosure and Hank was named one of the 100 Most keep their homes. Inﬂuen�al Georgians by Georgia Trend Hank delivers for the Fourth District with magazine. more than $250 million for teachers and schools, public safety, roads, bridges and transporta�on.

Hank takes care of home ﬁrst by helping the people of the Fourth Congressional District with large and small issues aﬀec�ng our daily lives.

Hank’s growing seniority in Congress posi�ons him strategically to be even more eﬀec�ve for us – and for all of Georgia.

Let’s deliver Hank back to Washington on May 20 so he can continue working for us. HankForCongress.com 404-447-7475 Paid for by the Commi�ee to Re-Elect Henry “Hank“ Johnson for Congress.

ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

Salute to the Class of 2014 May 17, 2014

Section C

www.crossroadsnews.com

Step Into the Future

Seniors bask in accomplishments, bid goodbye to high school

Kelli Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews

The spirit of the graduation season is captured in the balloons of these Columbia High seniors. The class will graduate on May 17 at Georgia State. There are 262 students in the senior class.

Kelli Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Cedar Grove High girls (above) and Columbia High boys (left) step lively in their caps and gowns. Graduation day is May 17.

Jami Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Gateway to College seniors graduated on May 13 at Georgia Perimeter College-Clarkston.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Miller Grove seniors graduate on May 17 at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Southwest DeKalb seniors snap selfies in a sign of the times. Graduation day is May 19.

Kelli Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Class

CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

of 2014 Congratulations on 16 awarded full-ride Gates Scholarships your achievement!!

Dr. Shantaé Fontané Mangaroo M.D.

So proud, Winston, Jacqueline,Antwae Mangaroo

Congratulations Aurielle Brooks Valdosta State University Graduate

A member of the Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society in Social Sciences; The National Society of Leadership and Success - Sigma Alpha Pi; VSU German Club founder; Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity - President VSU Chapter and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. We are so proud of you!!! Mom and Dad

Congratulations

D’Lawren Hicks

Chamblee Charter High School Class of 2014

We are so proud of you!!!! Mom and Dad

Established 1995 2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007

www.crossroadsnews.com editor@crossroadsnews.com

The 2014 Graduation Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews Inc., South DeKalb’s award-winning weekly newspaper. Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphic Design Curtis Parker Reporters Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts The content, design and concept for CrossRoadsNews is copyrighted and no parts of it should be copied, reproduced or duplicated without the express written permission of the publisher.

Circulation Audited By

“This is an opportunity to build a better life, not just for my family, but for the world around me.”

Sixteen DeKalb high school students are getting full-ride 2014 Gates Millennium Scholarships to attend the college of their choice this fall. The seniors are from nine high schools, and six of the schools – Arabia Mountain, Clarkston, Lithonia, McNair, Stone Mountain and Southwest DeKalb – are in south DeKalb County. Arabia Mountain has four recipients – Njeri Bennett, Amera Dixon, David Shoneye and Juwan Thompson, the highest number of any DeKalb school. Clarkston and Stone Mountain have three Peri Green each. Chamblee, Cross Keys, Dunwoody, Lithonia, McNair and Southwest DeKalb have one each. Clarkston’s Gates Scholars are Muhozi Aimable, Tluang Cer, and Kim An Ta. The Stone Mountain recipients are Ekue Kagni, and Vy Huynh and Thi Thong who are the school’s valedictorians. The other Gates Scholars are Peri Green, Southwest DeKalb; David Smith, Lithonia; Deona Clayton, McNair; Ashton Jordan, Dunwoody; and Juwan Thompson Chao Lin, Cross Keys. Juwan Thompson, Arabia Mountain’s student government president, Mr. Arabia and a student representative on the DeKalb Board of Education, said he will be attending Syracuse University this fall. His intended major is supply chain management or engineering and minor in corporate marketing. He said the scholarship is life-changing. “This is an opportunity to build a better life, not just for my family, but for the world around me. I promised my parents that I would work hard to get my undergraduate career paid for, and I ended up receiving funds to cover my master’s and doctorate degrees. It is truly a blessing,” he said. Southwest DeKalb’s Peri Green is headed to the University of Miami to major in computer engineering. During her school career she was active in student government, serving as junior and senior class president. She was captain of the varsity tennis team; president of Sisters in Action Community Service group; and a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Young Rosewood, and Beta Club. Peri said that ever since she could talk, her mother, Pyper, instilled in her that she needed to get a full ride to college. “That was always my No. 1 goal, to go to college for free,” she said. “I knew coming into ninth grade that I had to work twice as hard in everything I did if I wanted to accomplish that goal.” Each scholar gets a good-through-graduation scholarship to

DeKalb’s Gates Scholars

These 16 DeKalb County students were awarded full-ride college scholarships, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, on May 1. Student Njeri Bennett Amera Dixon David Shoneye Juwan Thompson Yusra Ahmedin Muhozi Aimable Tluang Cer Kim An Ta Chao Lin Ashton Jordan David Smith Deona Clayton Vy Huynh Ekue Kagni Thi Thong Peri Green

High School Arabia Mountain Arabia Mountain Arabia Mountain Arabia Mountain Chamblee Charter Clarkston Clarkston Clarkston Cross Keys Dunwoody Lithonia McNair Stone Mountain Stone Mountain Stone Mountain Southwest DeKalb

College Auburn University Rice University Georgia Tech Syracuse University Emory University University of Georgia Agnes Scott College University of Georgia Sewanee University Elon University College of the Holy Cross Tuskegee University University of Georgia Truett-McConnell College University of Georgia University of Miami

pursue a degree in any undergraduate major at the accredited college or university of his or her choice. It also covered postgraduate studies up to doctorates, if the recipient chooses to continue studying. Nationwide, 1,000 students were selected from 44 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories. The Gates Millennium Scholarship, funded by a $1.6 billion grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is a flagship scholarship program of the United Negro College Fund. DeKalb School Superintendent Michael Thurmond said the scholarships are both recognition of achievement and an investment in the futures of the students. “These worthy students were chosen because of their strong leadership skills, commitment to community service and overall academic achievement,” Thurmond said in a May 7 statement. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF’s president and CEO, said that today more than ever, it is important that young people get the education they need to remain competitive in the 21st century. “For the 20,000 young men and women who will attend college as Gates Millennium Scholars, the financial support, leadership training, mentoring and academic and social support they receive will enable them to become college graduates and our next generation of leaders,” Lomax said. For more information, visit www.UNCF.org.

2014 Graduations Countywide, up to 5,954 DeKalb County seniors will receive diplomas and certificates of attendance at commencement exercises.

School Seniors Graduation Date Arabia Mountain 301 Monday, May 19 Cedar Grove 204 Saturday, May 17 Chamblee Charter 323 Wednesday, May 21 Clarkston 280 Tuesday, May 20 Columbia 262 Saturday, May 17 Cross Keys 211 Tuesday, May 20 DeKalb Alternative School 8 NA DeKalb Early College Academy 37 Friday, May 16 DeKalb School of the Arts 67 Wednesday, May 21 Destiny Achievers Academy 42 Sunday, May, 18 Druid Hills 308 Monday, May 19 Dunwoody 319 Tuesday, May 20 Elizabeth Andrews 244 Monday, May 19 Gateway to College 26 Tuesday, May 13 Lakeside 376 Saturday, May 17 Lithonia 273 Wednesday, May 21 McNair 170 Monday, May 19 Miller Grove 333 Saturday, May 17 Martin Luther King Jr. 368 Tuesday, May 20 Redan 275 Wednesday, May 21 Southwest DeKalb 310 Monday, May 19 Stephenson 363 Tuesday, May 20 Stone Mountain 231 Monday, May 19 Towers 217 Thursday, May 22 Tucker 406 Tuesday, May 20 Total 5,954

Time Location 7 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church 10 a.m. Georgia State University 5:30 p.m. North DeKalb Stadium 5:30 p.m. Hallford Stadium 4 p.m. Georgia State University 7:30 p.m. Adams Stadium NA NA 6 p.m. AIC Auditorium 6:30 p.m. Emory Schwartz Center 3 p.m. AIC Auditorium 5 p.m. Atlanta Civic Center 7 p.m. North DeKalb Stadium 7 p.m. AIC Auditorium 11 a.m. GPC-Clarkston - Library Auditorium 10 a.m. Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church 9 a.m. Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church 5:30 p.m. Hallford Stadium 10 a.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church 7 p.m. Georgia Dome 10 a.m. Georgia Dome 6 p.m. Georgia Dome 5 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church 2 p.m. Georgia Dome 6:30 p.m. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church 7 p.m. Gwinnett Arena

CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

Class

of 2014

“God bless every one of them. And congratulations to all the parents and stakeholders who prayed and supported them.”

Up to 5,954 seniors lining up for diplomas across DeKalb By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

The strains of Pomp and Circumstance are in the air as 5,954 DeKalb County seniors head to graduation ceremonies through May 21. This year, students will line up for their diplomas and certificates at venues from Hallford Stadium to the Georgia Dome, New Birth Missionary and Greater Travelers Rest Baptist churches, Emory Schwartz Center and the Arena at Gwinnett. The final number of 2014 graduates who will get high school diplomas was not available at press time Thursday. The Class of 2014 is being celebrated for achievements that include hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships. This year, the top students, the class valedictorians and salutatorians, boast grade point averages up to 4.2. Sixteen seniors from nine schools, including Clarkston High salutatorian Kim An Ta, got full-ride Gates Millennium Scholarships. Kelli Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews In a year when the School District was re- Members of Cedar Grove High’s graduating class attend pre-commencement exercises on Sunday at Greenforest Baptist Church in Decatur. moved from probation and claimed the No. 1 and No. 5 spots on the list of the state’s top schools, Superintendent Michael Thurmond said that there is much to celebrate. Thurmond said he is very proud of the class and its accomplishments. “God bless every one of them,” he said Thursday. “And congratulations to all the parents and stakeholders who prayed and supported them.” DeKalb School Board Michael Thurmond Chairman Melvin Johnson, who will present diplomas to Stephenson and Stone Mountain graduates on May 19, said this is a historic year for graduates. “This year we are off probation. I am excited about the opportunity they have graduating from an accredited school district.” Johnson said he wants to remind graduates that their departure from high school is only one phase of their development. “They have done well to graduate. I congratulate all of them, but they must remember that dreams will only be fulfilled if you take action. You must use this as a steppingstone to pursue goals and dreams.”

Congratulations

Justin Whitening Marbut Theme School 5th grade graduate

Continue the great academic achievements! We are proud of you! – The Whitening Family

Congratulations!!

Abena Bryan

Emory Law School Graduate!

CrossRoadsNews

Valedictorians

May 17, 2014

“I saw a look in my mother’s eyes I had never seen before. Her eyes sparkled like stars.”

The 2014 More than 5,954 DeKalb Schools seniors are departing DeKalb high schools this week. Some will diplomas in the next few days at graduation ceremonies in stadiums, churches, and arenas. On these

Arabia Mountain (Magnet)

Cedar Grove

New citizen

Clarkston

By Rebecca Rakoczy

Fatima Koko was just 7 years old when her family emigrated from Sudan to the United States to escape persecution. She spoke no English when she started elementary school in Avondale Estates. “It was a major culture shock,” she recalls. “I don’t think I was bullied, but I was aware that they thought I was different.” Her family is of Nubian descent, an African minority group experiencing ethnic and political persecution in Sudan. Fatima said she learned English fast. “When all the kids would be playing outside, and I would be inside, learning how to read and write,” she said. “My father really emphasized learning the language and didn’t want us to lag behind.” Flash forward 10 years to May 12, when Fatima received her associate degree in psychology from Georgia Perimeter College and to May 16 when she gets her high school diploma from DeKalb Early College Academy. She was one of nine students in DECA’s 2014 class of 14 to get associate degrees from GPC. Fatima said she learned about the DeKalb Early College Academy as a middle schooler and immediately applied when she reached high school age. DECA students study at the academy, located in Stone Mountain at the DeKalb School System’s headquarters, for their first two years of high school, then take classes at GPC’s Clarkston Campus during their junior and senior years, which count for both high

Dallas Turner

Ashjah Hall

Phat Chang

For Dallas Turner, the idea of an engineering and music degree at Northwestern University is the most natural thing. The Arabia Mountain High Magnet valedictorian plans to pursue a dual major in mechanical engineering and oboe performance at the Evanston, Ill., university. His path to engineering came from the influence of his parents, both of whom were science and technology majors, and from the interesting projects he had in class. Dallas said he rose to the top of his class with a 4.23 GPA because he took his teachers’ advice. “They heavily emphasized that you take AP and Honors classes, and I listened.” – Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Ashjah Hall will take a giant step toward her dream of being an entrepreneur when she begins college this fall. Cedar Grove’s 2014 valedictorian will major in marketing at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. Ashjah, who has a 3.84 GPA, hasn’t yet decided on a specific career, “but I think I would enjoy the challenge of business ownership.” Ashjah, whose club activities include the National Honor Society, Beta Club and Cedar Grove’s Dance Team, said she will urge classmates to “aim to inspire” in her valedictory speech. “We should inspire future generations so that they can be better than us. And if they’re better than us, the good possibilities for humanity are endless.” – Ken Watts

Phat Chang is the first valedictorian in his family. His parents, Vong Chang and Mui Sang, who emigrated from Vietnam to the United States when he was a year old, were very excited when they got the news that his 4.193 GPA had earned the top spot at Clarkston High. “I saw a look in my mother’s eyes I had never seen before,” he said. “Her eyes sparkled like stars.” Phat is headed to Emory University in the fall to study pre-medicine. Phat said his high school, which is DeKalb County’s most diverse, taught him to be understanding of different viewpoints and to be respectful of all of them. – Jennifer Ffrench Parker

DeKalb School of the Arts

Columbia (Resident)

Martin Luther King Jr.

Miller Grove

Emma Rary Emma Rary is very, very proud that she made the top of her class at the DeKalb School of the Arts in Avondale Estates. Her 4.19 GPA was enough to edge out two other students in the running for valedictorian. She said she was able to do it by being focused and organized. “I kept a list and I didn’t get hyperfocused on the little things,” she said. Emma is headed to Tulane University in New Orleans on a $30,000-a-year academic merit scholarship. Emma credits her teachers with helping her to get the top GPA, saying they “encouraged me to try for things like the Governor’s Honors Program and to take AP classes.”

Mikirra Bullard Mikirra Bullard’s GPA hovered around 4.0 since the early weeks of her senior year, so she can’t honestly say that she was surprised when she nabbed the resident valedictorian spot at Columbia. Still Mikirra, who finished with a 4.082, said she was deeply moved. With her sights set on a career in medicine as an ob/gyn, she will become a biology major at Georgia State University this fall. For her valedictory address, Mikirra said she will tell her classmates that their future is in their hands. “It’s not about where you come from,” she said. “It’s where you’re going. So never let someone else’s ideas about you dictate your future.”

Janae Williams Janae Williams wants to become an influential leader in media and has a plan to make it happen. The Miller Grove valedictorian is headed to Howard University in Washington, where she’ll major in media management. “The ultimate goal is that eventually I want to become a prominent figure, a CEO over a major television or entertainment company,” said Janae, who finished with a 4.069 GPA. In her valedictory speech, Janae will recognize classmates who might otherwise go unrecognized. “I want to remind them to remain humble in their lives and that we all have special talents and abilities that can help make life better.”

– Jennifer Ffrench Parker

– Ken Watts

Indigo Gill Indigo Gill says her mother cried tears of joy and her father took to Facebook and Instagram to tell the world about his daughter, the valedictorian. “They’re both very excited and proud, of course,” she said, “but I told them when I was in eighth grade that valedictorian was my goal.” Indigo, who finished with a 4.327 GPA, will study premed at Xavier University in New Orleans on a $76,400, full-tuition four-year scholarship. Eventually, she plans a career as an ob/gyn. She says health careers run in the family. “My grandmother is a midwife in New York,” she said. “At first that’s what I wanted to be, but she and my mother encouraged me to be a doctor.” – Ken Watts

– Ken Watts

CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

Valedictorians

“They are always behind me, ready to help on late-night projects and motivate me to do better on each assignment.”

Valedictorians get

pages and on C7, we feature the valedictorians of the 2014 class. These are the top students from their schools. They rose to the top of their classes by earning the highest grade point averages in their school.

n gets diploma, degree

SW DeKalb (Magnet)

SW DeKalb (Resident)

Damian Horton

Darsan DeShazier

Damian Horton knew he had a chance for top-of-the-class honors in the Southwest DeKalb High Magnet program but didn’t know which one for sure until the day administrators told him. “I knew I had a shot at salutatorian or valedictorian,” said Damian, who finished with a 4.05 GPA. “When we found out I was valedictorian, my parents and extended family were so excited, very proud.” Damian will attend Florida State University where he’ll major in computer and electronic engineering. He credits his parents, Robin Wells and Floyd Horton, for helping him to be successful in school. “They pushed me all my life to keep improving and to become a successful person,” he said. – Ken Watts

Darsan DeShazier made headlines in April when she signed a four-year basketball scholarship worth more than $100,000 to Palm Beach Atlantic University. Now the co-captain of the Southwest DeKalb High Lady Panthers is resident valedictorian. She said her parents are very proud of her. “My daddy was speechless and my mother was in tears,” said Darsan, who earned the top spot with a 3.8 GPA. She plans to major in either accounting or business and become an entrepreneur. She was a member of Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, Beta Club and math club. She and her teammates helped feed the homeless and cooked meals for seniors at nursing homes. – Ken Watts

New naturalized citizen Fatima Koko will receive her high school diploma from DeKalb Early College Academy on May 16. She got an associate degree in psychology from Georgia Perimeter College on May 12. Her family is of Nubian descent.

school and college credits. While at GPC, she became involved in the Psychology Club, which fueled her interest in the discipline. Fatima will continue her studies as a junior at the University of Georgia this fall. “I am leaning toward clinical psychology at UGA, but we’ll see,” she says. Although she was very young when she left Sudan, Fatima has developed a passion for helping her countrymen. “I’m a representative in a network of people all over the U.S. who help the people in Sudan by donating money and school sup-

plies,” she says. This summer, she will travel to Ohio to be a delegate at a Nubian cultural conference. The fourth of seven children, Fatima has two brothers and four sisters. She recently became a naturalized U.S. citizen in a special ceremony in downtown Atlanta. The honors student and Phi Theta Kappa member said she is grateful for her experience at GPC. “I think I’ve built a really good foundation here,” she said. “I will be able to transition easily when I get to [University of] Georgia.” Rebecca Rakoczy writes for Georgia Perimeter College.

Redan

Stephenson

Towers

Tucker

Tykeria Davidson Tykeria Davidson will cherish her memories of her time at Redan High School but is eager to get on with the next phase of her education. Tykeria, who topped her class with a 3.9 grade point average, will attend the University of West Georgia in Carrollton in the fall to study nursing. “They have a great nursing program at West Georgia,” she said. “It’s a career I’ve always wanted and the chance to help others appeals to me.” She said her family is proud that she is valedictorian. “My parents and other relatives are very excited and proud of my accomplishment and the hard work it took to achieve it,” she said.

Zoe-Ann Robertson This fall, Zoe-Ann Robertson will attend Cornell University on a full-ride scholarship worth more than $254,000. “My family is very excited and very proud of me,” said the Stephenson valedictorian. “It’s still sinking in.” Zoe will graduate with a 4.125 grade point average and major in biological sciences. “I want to go into surgical oncology,” she said. As she takes the next big step in her life, Zoe is still thinking of her classmates. “I encourage them to stay true to themselves even when faced with obstacles that life will toss their way,” she said.

Aliyah Copeland Aliyah Copeland closed in on her valedictorian status at Towers High last September with a 4.0 GPA. Aliyah attributes her academic success to personal traits she learned from her parents and the positive influence of her big sister, Shea-Von, a nursing student at Georgia State University. “I was impressed with how she set goals, worked very hard and achieved success,” said Aliyah, who also will enter GSU’s nursing program this fall. Aliyah said she hopes her classmates are able to savor this moment in their lives. “My message to them is that anybody can achieve excellence as long as they’re willing to commit to the hard work,” she said.

Ummar Jamal Ummar Jamal is both thrilled and humbled that he is the 2014 valedictorian at Tucker High School. He did it with a 4.35 GPA. Now he is headed to the University of Georgia to major in biology premed with HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships to cover the $8,300-a-year tuition. During high school, Ummar was president of the Beta Club, a member of the National Honor Society, and Habitat for Humanity and Interact. He credits his academic success to his parents. “They were a big influence on me,” he said. “They are always behind me, ready to help on late-night projects and motivate me to do better on each assignment.”

– Ken Watts

Class

CrossRoadsNews

of 2014

May 17, 2014

“We sometimes have taken up to 22 credit hours a semester, and 90 percent of those classes were science. It was crazy.”

Ochiobi siblings graduate from Georgia Perimeter together By Rebecca Rakoczy

They are not quadruplets. But when the graduate roll was called on May 12 at Georgia Perimeter College’s commencement ceremony, the name “Ochiobi” was said four times in a row. That’s because David, 26; Grace, 24; Darlene, 22; and Gift, 19, all received Associate of Science degrees from GPC. The four siblings, who took classes at GPC Clarkston Campus, all majored in biology and all graduated with honors. They all have been accepted into the University of Georgia. Nigerian by birth, the students immigrated to the United States in 2010 to be with their mother, who lives in Marietta. They are all permanent residents of Georgia. While they came to the United States for a “change of environment,” David said they picked GPC because of its reputation as a good school where they could get individualized attention from the teachers. Gift, the youngest, had not completed high school when she came to the United States but that didn’t stop her from attending GPC. After preliminary testing, she took the GED, passing at age 16. She joined her brother and two sisters when they enrolled at

David, Grace, Darlene and Gift Ochiobi graduated from Georgia Perimeter College on May 12 with Associate of Science degrees. They all have been accepted into the University of Georgia.

the college in 2011. They often car pooled to the highest GPA. To complete their associate degrees in two years, Darlene said they went classes when their schedules allowed. The siblings, whose GPAs range from 3.5 on accelerated schedules. “We sometimes have taken up to 22 to 3.8, studied together and competed for

Seven to attend U.S. academies Stephenson High 2014 graduate Darien Johnson is on her way to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., with a scholarship that is worth about $250,000. Darien was one of 14 seniors from the 4th District nominated this year by U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson. So far, seven of them have received appointments to attend a service academy – Military Academy (West Point), Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy. Since 2007, Johnson’s nominees have been awarded more than $13 million in service academy scholarships. Johnson, whose district includes portions of DeKalb, Rockdale, Newton and Gwinnett counties, said making the nomination is easy, but it is a long, difficult road to secure the appointment. “All of our outstanding nominees possess the kind of leadership skills necessary to be successful in school, business and in life,” he said. “Graduating from a service academy ensures a good career after graduation and opens doors for the rest of their lives.” The other seniors receiving appointments to military academies are Chamblee High’s Xavier Hightower to the U.S. Naval Academy; Newton High’s Brendan Brown to the U.S. Naval Academy; Creekview High’s

credit hours a semester, and 90 percent of those classes were science,” she said. “It was crazy.” In between classes, the Ochiobis often tutored other students in the college’s math, engineering and science lab. Grace also worked as a supplemental instructor for a chemistry course. And they all became involved in STEP, the National Science Foundationfunded Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program, as well as the college’s MESA – Math Engineering, Science Achievement – program. The science-focused programs encourage students to apply for undergraduate research positions at four-year universities. This summer all four siblings will be undergraduate researchers: Grace and David will work at Georgia State University, while Darlene and Gift will do separate research projects at Emory University. While the siblings did not have anyone in their family involved in a science field, they said their interest was inspired by famous physician Ben Carson. David and Gift plan to become doctors, and Grace and Darlene hope to work in the field of pharmacology. Rebecca Rakoczy writes for Georgia Perimeter College.

University of Phoenix scholarship

Stephenson’s Darien Johnson (with U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson) will attend Air Force Academy.

Benjamin and Jack O’Donnell to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; and Parkview High’s Shaquille Vereen to the U.S. Air Force Academy and Jonathan Stoves to the U.S. Naval Academy. Students receive a Bachelor of Science degree, are commissioned as second lieutenants, and serve in the military for a minimum of five years. Each year, members of Congress may nominate up to 10 candidates per opening. Service academies usually make appointments by March 31 of each year. For more information about the nomination process, visit hankjohnson.house.gov/ serving-you/military-academy-nominations or call 770-987-2291.

Brooks wins Foot Locker award Nadaysia Brooks of Stephenson High, who plays volleyball and basketball, is one of 20 student athletes selected nationally to receive a $20,000 Foot Locker scholarship. Nadaysia, who is graduating with a 3.9 GPA, was captain of her volleyball and basketball teams, president of the Beta Club, treasurer of the Student Council, a track trainer, and a volunteer with schooland community-based organizations. She plans to attend Howard University and study accounting. “This scholarship gives me even more Stephenson’s Nadaysia Brooks won a $20,000 motivation to go to college, do well there Foot Locker scholarship for sports and activism. and grow,” she said on May 15. strate excellence in school, on their teams, The Foot Locker Scholar Athletes pro- and in their communities. For more inforgram honors student athletes who demon- mation, visit http://www.footlocker.com.

Atlanta-in-DeKalb resident received a GED at age 21. Jackie Jackson has been awarded She was selected from more a full-tuition scholarship from than 160 Boys & Girls Clubs staff, Boys & Girls Clubs of America parents and alumni applicants and and the University of Phoenix to is among 80 BGCA-affiliated stucomplete an undergraduate or dents who have received scholarmaster’s degree. ships to the University of Phoenix BGCA says many adults still over the past two years. need additional education oppor- Jackie Jackson Jackson said BGCA believes in tunities to pursue career goals. the person she is destined to be. Jackson, 44, one of only 30 recipients She has been on her own since age 13. nationwide, plans to pursue a bachelor’s “As I continue my journey toward selfdegree in business administration with a empowerment through the knowledge of a concentration in marketing. great education, I look forward to following A service coordinator at the BGCA the path of my predecessors, helping those National Headquarters in Atlanta, where who need it the most.” she has worked for more than nine years, For more information, visit GreatFutures Jackson left school in ninth grade, then .org and www.phoenix.edu/scholarships.

SWD Roman lands tennis scholarship Kaylin Roman, who lettered four years in tennis at Southwest DeKalb High, is going to Johnson C. Smith University on a tennis scholarship. Kaylin, who is graduating with a 3.2 GPA, will join former teammate and fellow Southwest DeKalb alum Jasmine Riddick, who recently completed her sophomore season at the Charlotte, N.C., school. Kaylin completed the 2014 regular season with a record of seven wins and one loss while competing primarily at the Singles 1 position. She finished the season ranked seventh overall in DeKalb County’s Singles category. In addition to being a standout performer on the school’s tennis team, Kaylin was president of Mu Alpha Theta math club and captain of the varsity cheerleading squad. She also was recruited by Savannah State, Stillman, and Benedict. Her tennis scholarship marks the sixth such award for the Southwest DeKalb tennis program in the past two years. Former Tennis Panthers who received scholarships include Riddick (2012); Felicia Penn (2012) - Tuskegee University; Kalin Harrison (2012) - Fisk University; Odell McCree (2012) - Fisk; and Quadarris Kennedy (2012) – Fisk. Southwest DeKalb hosted a Tennis Scholarship Signing Ceremony for Kaylin Kaylin Roman of Southwest DeKalb High is headed to Johnson C. Smith University this fall. on May 7 at the Decatur school.

Class

CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

of 2014

More 2014 Valedictorians Arabia Mountain DeKalb Early (Resident) College Academy

Columbia (Magnet)

Tecora Lawrence

Editor’s Note: These valedictorians missed the interview deadline for their profiles to be included in this edition, but they still deserve a pat on the back for their accomplishments.

Lithonia

Ronald McNair Sr.

Stone Mountain (Co-valedictorian)

Kristin Jamison

Justin Jenkins

Vy Huynh

Thi Thong

No Photo Available

Fabian Flowers

Naud Ghebre

Congratulations, Joseph E. Bell, Jr.!

Congratulations to the Class of 2014

Bachelor of Science Biology major with a minor in Chemistry

May God’s blessings continue to flow as you embark on the next phase of your lives.

Magna Cum Laude

Love, Mom, Chelsea and Catherine

Rep. Billy Mitchell District 88

Congratulations to the Class of 2014!

PO Box 88 • Stone Mountain, GA 30086 • 404.656.0126 (O) • 770.465.8888 (Fax) billy.mitchell@house.ga.gov

CrossRoadsNews Salutes You!

The Gallery at South DeKalb Congratulates the Following 2014 Graduates A TO Z KIDS Amber Delk

Southwest DeKalb High School

DTLR

Janae Gaylord College

Rodriquez McCoy

Miller Grove High School

Aneisha Raglan

Miller Grove High School

FLORI ROBERTS BY BRIE ASHLEY Ashley Ray

Georgia State University

FOOTACTION Tony Rogers

Mt. Zion High School

JARMAN Kristen Ghant

Columbia High School

Keely Bryant

Cedar Grove High School

LADY FOOTLOCKER Brianna Nichols High School

Shenika Ray

Georgia State University

MACY’S Tawaina Alston College

PICCADILLY Tolulope Adebayo Emory Law

RAINBOW Damian Tennyson Mays High School

UNICA Keshauna Hodges

Columbia High School

Class

CrossRoadsNews

May 17, 2014

of 2014

Scenes from Pre-commencement and Graduation Ceremonies

Kelli Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews

A Cedar Grove High senior sports multiple honor cords. The class graduates on May 17.

Kelli Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Columbia Highâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Class of 2014 will graduate on May 17 at Georgia State University. There are 262 members in the senior class.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Southwest DeKalb girls beam as they mug for the camera. They bid farewell to high school on May 19.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Seniors at Miller Grove High are all smiles. They will graduate on May 17 at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia. The class boasts 333 members.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

The boys in the Class of 2014 at Southwest DeKalb High line up. The class, which graduates on May 19 at the Georgia Dome, includes a Gates Scholar among its 310 members.

Kelli Ffrench-Parker / CrossRoadsNews

The faces of two Columbia seniors are hard to read â&#x20AC;&#x201C; pensive, sad, playful? They graduate on May 17.