CrossRoadsNews, September 6, 2014 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

Volunteers needed

Education milestone

Residents lined up to ask questions on Sept. 2 about the DeKalb School System’s plans to become a charter district. 3

DeKalb Watershed Management and the city of Doraville are seeking volunteers to help remove trash and debris from Nancy Creek on Sept. 20. 4

Georgia Perimeter College, which has five campuses and the University System of Georgia’s largest online program, is turning 50. 8

Eager for information

SCHOOLS

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

September 6, 2014

Volume 20, Number 19

www.crossroadsnews.com

Wesley Chapel Library to finally reopen mid October By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

Families, students and other library patrons will have to wait another six weeks for the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library to reopen. The popular branch library first closed May 24 after copper thieves raided its air conditioning unit. The unit was repaired and the library reopened on June 17. Two days later, thieves struck again and the library has been closed since. Altogether, the Wesley Chapel Library has been closed for 16 weeks. Alison Weissinger, the DeKalb Public

Library director, said Sept. 3 that while the opening won’t happen this month, “there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Weissinger said that a new system/unit is on order and the contractor is prepping the site so Alison Weissinger that workers will be ready to do the installation once the unit is delivered. “I cannot make any promises, but we are hoping for everything to be resolved and up and running by mid-October,” she said.

Wesley ChapelWilliam C. Brown Library has been closed for 16 weeks after copper thieves struck twice.

Hari Karikaran, DeKalb’s Facilities Management director, said after the second attack, the HVAC unit, which was installed when the Wesley Chapel Library opened in December 1990, was unsalvageable. “They tore it up,” he said. Karikaran said the new unit being purchased will have no copper in it. “Refrigeration technology has changed,” he said. “We are getting a chiller without copper.” Given the length of time the library has been closed, Weissinger said they are disPlease see LIBRARY, page 4

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

MedShare ships supplies to Ebola hot spots Third U.S. health worker infected with deadly virus By Ken Watts

On Sept. 5, South DeKalb-based nonprofit MedShare airlifted 3.5 tons of medical supplies from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for the Ebola epidemic front lines in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The shipment of pharmaceuticals, surgical masks, shoe covers, bouffant caps, full coverage gowns, sterilization wraps and surgical gloves, and self-sealing bio-hazard bags and body bags will help treat patients, protect medical workers, and keep the outbreak from spreading further. Since the Ebola outbreak was detected in March in West Africa, about 3,500 people have been infected and more than 1,900 have died, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization. Ebola, a deadly viral disease transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or animal, kills up to 90 percent of people infected. It starts with fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches two days to three weeks after contracting the virus. Typically, vomiting, diarrhea and rash follow, along with decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys. Infected people may begin to Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews bleed internally and externally. Nearly half of the deaths have occurred Volunteers sort medical supplies at MedShare’s Decatur office. The nonprofit airlifted 3.5 tons of medical supplies to West Africa on Sept. 5. in Liberia, where U.S. missionaries Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, a hygienist, Mass., contracted the Eb- warehouse facility on Clifton Springs Road Thorpe, and Guinean-American Communiwere infected while treating Ebola patients ola virus while delivering in Decatur, MedShare is working with the ties United President Aboubacar Balde asked at the ELWA Hospital operated by Charlotte, babies at ELWA Hospital. Coca-Cola Africa Foundation to help West for help for their countries. MedShare’s relief operation is made N.C.-based SIM USA, a global mission orgaSacra had been in Africa countries hard-hit by the outbreak. nization, in Monrovia, Liberia. MedShare’s shipments come a week possible by a $200,000 donation from the Liberia for a month. At They were both flown to Emory Universipress time Thursday, he after an urgent appeal from Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and donated ty Hospital and successfully treated. Writebol was being flown to the representatives of Liberia, Sierra Leone and medical supplies from hospitals in the was sent home on Aug. 19, and Brantly was University of Nebraska Guinea. At an Aug. 27 news conference at the Atlanta area and from the Kimberly-Clark released Aug. 21. Medical Center in Omaha Georgia Capitol, Liberia’s Honorary Consul Corp. MedShare, founded in 1999, collects Rick Sacra On Sept. 3, SIM announced that a third Cynthia Lynn Blandford, Sierra Leone’s for treatment. U.S. health worker, Dr. Rick Sacra of Holden. From its 50,000-square-foot office and Honorary Consul Cynthia Oremi Jarrett- Please see EBOLA RELIEF, page 6

Community

CrossRoadsNews

September 6, 2014

“Far too often we see the impact of gang violence … spilling into schools, neighborhoods and homes.”

Boyer facing up to 40 years on fraud charges Gang members indicted in infant’s death By Ken Watts

Former DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer pleaded guilty on Sept. 3 to federal charges of mail and wire fraud and is facing more than 40 years in jail. She will be sentenced on Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. in federal court. In addition to prison time, Boyer, who represented the affluent North DeKalb District 1 for 22 years, faces a $500,000 fine and restitution. Boyer, 57, is accused of pocketing more than $90,000 in taxpayer money. During the 30-minute plea hearing in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Orinda Evans in Atlanta, Boyer showed no emotion. After the hearing, she tearfully hugged friends and relatives who turned out to support her. When the judge asked if she understood the charges and the implications of her guilty plea, Boyer replied, “Yes, your honor.” Evans then asked if she knowingly defrauded the people of DeKalb County. “Yes, your honor,” she replied again. Evans told Boyer she could face up to 40 years in prison but that prosecutors had recommended she receive a lesser sentence based on her guilty plea and other factors. Court documents released Thursday said Boyer and prosecutors reached a deal that gives her 18 to 24 months in prison. The final decision on sentencing is up to the judge. Boyer is cooperating with the ongoing federal investigation. On Aug. 25 when she abruptly resigned her seat, Boyer said in a WSB-TV interview that she was sorry. “I’ve betrayed the people and I’ve abused my position of power,” she said. Because of her plea, there was no grand jury indictment, but in their court filing of the criminal charges, prosecutors accused Boyer of engineering a two-year kickback scheme in which a phony consultant/adviser invoiced her for $78,000 and deposited 75 percent or $58,000 of the funds to her personal bank account. “Advisor” kept about $20,000 for himself, prosecutors said. She also is accused of abusing her county-issued Visa purchasing card for personal purchases, including family ski trips to Colorado. The mail fraud charge stemmed from the invoice scheme in which the county mailed payments of $1,500 to $5,000 between late 2009 to late 2011 to the “advisor,” who was unnamed in the criminal filings, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which examined the payments from Boyer’s office, said the

Former DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer, who pleaded guilty on Sept. 3 to federal mail and wire fraud charges, will be sentenced on Dec. 3. She faces a $500,000 fine and restitution.

payments on the phony invoices were made to evangelist Rooks Boynton. In the complaint, U.S. Attorney Sally Yates said Boyer used her $250,000 office operating budget to pay the consultant, claiming that he gave her advice and did research on transportation, legislative issues and Grady Hospital. “Based on requisition requests from Boyer, DeKalb County mailed, via the United States Postal Service, approximately 35 checks to Advisor for consulting services that were never performed,” the complaint said. The wire fraud charge came from Boyer’s use of her P-Card between October 2010 and February 2014 to “make more than 50 personal purchases” totaling more than $15,000 for family airline tickets, rental cars, a ski

resort booking and personal cell phone charges. The wire fraud charge stems from a May 30, 2012, electronic payment on her P-Card purchases for a $344.60 airline ticket for travel unrelated to her duties as a commissioner. Boyer, who was DeKalb’s longestserving commissioner, resigned the day before her bond hearing. Jeff Brickman, her attorney, said she knows what is ahead of her. “Mrs. Boyer is well aware there is a possibility she could go to prison,” he said after Boyer’s bond hearing on Aug. 26. Federal prosecutors say the case against Boyer is part of a larger investigation into corruption in DeKalb government.

Suspect in Aug. 16 slaying sought Crime Stoppers Atlanta is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Demetrius Eugene Carter, who is suspected in the Aug. 16 shooting death of Kevin Antonio Barnes. Investigators have a warrant for Carter’s arrest and he is being sought by the DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office Fugitive Squad. Barnes was shot to death on Quincy Lane in Decatur. Anyone with information about the Aug. 16 incident and the whereabouts of Carter is asked to call the DeKalb Sheriff ’s Office at 404-298-8200. Demetrius Carter

Two members of the Bloods street gang were indicted Aug. 2 by a DeKalb grand jury on eight counts in the shooting death of 9-month-old KenDarious Edwards Jr. Devin Thomas and Marco Watson face malice murder, felony murder and felony aggravated assault charges for firing on three unarmed women K. Edwards Jr. and the infant after allegedly kicking down the back door of their home on To-Lani Farm Road in Stone Mountain on May 10. The indictment says that shots fired by Thomas and Watson struck the women multiple times Devin Thomas and killed the baby. Tracy Smith, Tanyika Smith and Teniqua Clark were seriously wounded but are recovering. Police believe the crimes were acts of intragang retaliation and that Watson and Thomas targeted the family members Marco Watson of fellow Blood gang member Oslushla Smith just days after Smith allegedly murdered Thomas’ associate, Alexis Malone. The baby was the nephew of Oslushla Smith. DeKalb District Attorney Robert James said the “senseless act” ended the life of an innocent child and that his office will continue its pursuit of justice for the baby. “Far too often we see the impact of gang violence and other mindless acts of terror spilling into our schools, neighborhoods and even our homes,” James said. The indicted gang members face other felony charges, including possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act. The street gang statute, officially known as Georgia law O.C.G.A. 16-15-4, was enacted in 2010. It slaps more punishment on gang members charged with taking part in criminal activity.

September 6, 2014

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“My purpose was not to retaliate against him; it was to try and clear my name against these accusations.”

South DeKalb residents curious, skeptical about charter proposal By Ken Watts

Parents, teachers and stakeholders were full of questions on Sept. 2 when the DeKalb School System held its charter district forum at Towers High School in Decatur. The group of 130 people wanted to know how local school governance teams will operate, how much autonomy they would actually have, what central office’s role would be, and whether charter school policies would exclude some students. The Towers event was one of five the district held around the county to garner input from residents as it prepares to petition the Georgia Department of Education for charter district status. The School Board is expected to vote on the issue in October, ahead of the district submitting its proposal to the state by Nov. 1. If approved, DeKalb with its 100,000 students would become the largest charter system in the state beginning with the 20152016 school year.

Superintendent Michael Thurmond believes a charter system would give local schools greater autonomy and the ability to develop innovative classroom approaches to improving student achievement. Region 3 Superintendent Trenton Arnold, who hosted Tuesday’s forum, is also in charge of organizing the petition. Nikole Allen, who lives in Decatur, said she wants the district to commit to class size reduction as part Trenton Arnold of any charter proposal. She said small class size is a priority among many parents in her neighborhood near Midway Elementary. Former School Board member Jesse “Jay” Cunningham said he’s worried about the readiness of schools for local governance. He said some school councils are not functioning. “My question is: Will steps be taken to

make sure they are capable so we don’t find ourselves behind the eight ball when it comes time to file the charter petition?” Cunningham said. Arnold said there will be differences between district charter schools and existing start-up and conversion charters. “Some decisions will continue to come from the central office,” he said. “Local councils won’t have everything dumped on them.” Another parent, recalling the district’s issue with its accrediting agency, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, wanted to know whether a charter district will have to be accredited in the same way as a traditional district. Arnold said accreditation rules don’t change. “A charter district would have to be accredited just as we are now,” he said. Sundra Burdette, also of Decatur, said a charter district should make sure that resources are divided equitably between

schools in the predominantly white north and the mostly black south ends of the county. “We have a resegregated county and the schools reflect that,” Burdette said. “I just don’t want to see an even wider gap between the haves and the have-nots.” Arnold said the School Board would still control attendance boundaries and funding. District officials also held meetings at Lithonia High in Lithonia, Lakeside High in Atlanta, Dunwoody High in Dunwoody, and Stephenson High in Stone Mountain. Arnold said community feedback will be presented to the Board of Education on Oct. 6. He said the board could vote on pursuing the charter school system idea at that time or make its own suggestions to the district’s petition. For more information, visit http://www . d e k a l b. k 1 2 . g a . u s / w w w / d o c u m e n t s /flexibility-options/flexibility-advisorycommittee/executive-summary.pdf.

Commissioner files libel suit against resident in ethics case District 2 Commissioner Jeff Rader has filed a libel lawsuit against Tim Brantley, who brought an ethics complaint against him. Rader’s lawsuit, filed July 23, says Brantley made false and defamaJeff Rader tory statements accusing Rader of using his political office to benefit himself and his former employer, Jacobs Engineering, a county contractor.

Rader is seeking at least $100,000 in damages. Brantley, who filed the ethics complaint against Rader on July 1, responded with a new ethics complaint alleging retaliation. At its Aug. 14 meeting, the DeKalb Ethics Board threw out Brantley’s complaint against Rader, saying that it lacked specific unethical action by Rader that could be investigated. Rader, who was elected to the BOC in 2006, said that he recused himself from voting on matters related to Jacobs. He said on Sept. 2 that he felt compelled to act to protect his

name. “I feel like that type of allegation can’t go unanswered,” he said. “My purpose was not to retaliate against him [Brantley]; it was to try and clear my name against these accusations.” Rader said no county funds are being used to pursue his case against Brantley. Rader was a senior planner with Jacobs Engineering from 2007 to 2013. On Aug. 20, Brantley filed another ethics complaint against Rader. In the latest complaint, he said Rader’s

lawsuit was an attempt to retaliate against him and prevent the public from filing complaints with the Board of Ethics. “Rader’s actions against me can be construed as an effort to produce a chilling effect on the public’s willingness to pursue their legal obligation and right to make accusation to the DeKalb County Board of Ethics regarding their concerns related to perceived unethical behavior of a public official,” Brantley said. The Ethics Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 13.

393 police officers

you You may not see us, but we’re nearby. Maybe just a few seats away. To make sure you have a pleasant, uneventful ride. We could use your eyes, too. If you see something that’s not right, call us. We’ll take it from there.

Use MARTA’s See & Say App. If you

See Say

something

Chief Wanda Dunham

Txt MPD: (404) 334-5355 or Call (404) 848-4911 if you see something out of the ordinary.

CrossRoadsNews

Community

”I think the only way you restore ethics and integrity is by electing people that have ethics and integrity.”

MARTA rail work to affect travel times

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

Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Staff Writers Jennifer Ffrench Parker Ken Watts Graphic Design Curtis Parker Copy Editor Brenda Yarbrough Advertising Sales Kathy E. Warner Billing Clerk Catherine Guy 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 CrossRoadsN ews are copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. Advertisements are published upon the representation that the advertiser is authorized to publish the submitted material. The advertiser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless from and against any loss or expenses resulting from any disputes or legal claims based upon the contents or subject matter of such advertisments, including claims of suits for libel, violation of privacy, plagiarism and copyright infringement. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

September 6, 2014

DeKalb Watershed Management and Doraville are hosting the Nancy Creek cleanup on Sept. 20 and they are seeking volunteers.

Volunteers needed for river Volunteers are needed on Sept. 20 to help clean up Nancy Creek in Doraville. DeKalb Watershed Management and the city of Doraville are hosting the three-hour cleanup, which will begin at 9 a.m. at the Homeland Drive Greenspace, 2646 Homeland Drive. Volunteers will help remove trash and debris from Nancy Creek, which flows into the Chattahoochee River. They should be prepared to get in and out of the stream, wade in knee-deep water, and walk over

rocks and logs. Closed-toe shoes are required. Hats, work gloves, bug repellent, and clothes that can get dirty are recommended. Anyone younger than 18 must have a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information or to register, contact Michael O’Shield, environmental education specialist, at msoshield@dekalbcountyga.gov or 770-724-1456.

Jester seeking District 1 seat Former DeKalb School Board member Nancy Jester is seeking the DeKalb Commission District 1 seat vacated by Elaine Boyer. Je s te r h a s filed a Declaration of Intent to Collect Campaign Donations with the DeKalb Election Office. Nancy Jester Maxine Daniels, the county’s election director, said Sept. 4 that she is the only one to file paperwork so far. Jester was among six School Board members removed from office by Gov. Nathan Deal in 2013 in the wake of AdvancEd placing the school district on accreditation probation. She was elected to the School Board in 2010. She ran unsuccessfully in May

for the Republican nomination for the state school superintendent. Boyer, who pleaded guilty to federal wire and mail fraud charges on Sept. 3, resigned from the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 25. She served District 1 for 22 years. With more than two years left on her term, a special election will take place with the Nov. 4 general election. Jester announced her candidacy on Sept. 4, saying she wants to restore credibility and integrity to DeKalb County and particularly to the District 1 Commission seat. If elected to the commission, Jester said she will be a “fiscal hawk” looking at bloat and waste in DeKalb. “I think the only way you restore ethics and integrity is by electing people that have ethics and integrity,” she said.

MARTA riders will face service adjustments and longer wait times on the transit agency’s East and West lines from Sept. 8 to Sept. 14. MARTA says it will conduct significant “state of good repair” upgrades along the Blue and Green (East-West) lines beginning Sept. 8. To minimize service disruptions, the work will take place during offpeak hours and on the weekend. All Green Line trains will terminate at Ashby station on Sept. 8-12 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and after 7 p.m. Customers traveling to Bankhead station must transfer at Ashby station to continue their trip. Customers are advised to listen closely for train operator announcements and pay attention to signage at the station platforms. Real-time train arrivals will be available on the free MARTA “On the Go” mobile app that can be downloaded on Apple and Android devices. Information also will be posted at www.itsmarta.com. Technology work will be done as part of the Train Control Sys-

tems Upgrade, a seven-year capital improvement project to completely overhaul automated train control computer systems. Once completed, this project will improve on-time performance and real-time arrival information, MARTA said. Significant track maintenance will be done on Sept. 1314 that MARTA says will result in longer-than-normal weekend wait times on the Blue and Green lines. Customers are advised to allow extra time for their trip. Blue and Green line trains will run on a 22-minute, singletracking schedule. Red and Gold line trains will operate on a special 20-minute, single-tracking schedule. The track work is part of an $80 million capital program to renovate all 48 miles of MARTA rail. Earlier this summer, similar track work was done on the Red and Gold lines. As individual sections are repaired, trains share a single track in the affected area.

MARTA service interruptions

Travel and scheduling reminders: n East-West trains will run from H.E. Holmes to Five Points and Indian Creek to Five Points. To continue in either direction, customers must transfer at Five Points. n Customers traveling on the East or West lines through Five Points station will have to exit the train and cross the center platform to board another train to continue their trip. Additional time will be allowed for customers to transfer trains. n Customers traveling to Bankhead station will transfer at Ashby station to continue their trip to Bankhead. n Candler Park, Five Points, Georgia Dome, Georgia State, Inman Park and King Memorial will have additional MARTA personnel, including police, on the platforms to assist customers. For more information, visit www.itsmarta.com.

Smith joins voter project The Rev. LaSalle Smith “Reverend Smith is has been named DeKalb a seasoned pastor, acCounty coordinator of complished musician, the Voter Empowerment effective community Collaborative. organizer, and devoted The Rev. Albert E. civil rights activist,” Love, the VEC’s president Love said. and CEO, said Smith Smith was most rewill work primarily with cently a candidate for LaSalle Smith clergy and communityDeKalb sheriff. based organizations and will be Love said Smith also will responsible for coordinating and facilitate the VEC’s Candidates organizing nonpartisan voter College and Future Voters of registration, voter education and America program in DeKalb get-out-the-vote activities. County.

Copper-free HVAC to be installed at Wesley Chapel branch LIBRARY,

from page

cussing holding a mini-reopening celebration/reception when the library is ready to reopen. Wesley Chapel Library was one of eight county facilities and 16 school buildings attacked by copper thieves over the summer. Repair and replacement of the air condiCirculation Audited By

tioning units have cost the county and the DeKalb School System more than $1.5 million. County properties included the Flat Shoals, Redan-Trotti and Hairston Crossing branch libraries; the Community Achievement Center in Decatur; and the Redan Recreation Center in Lithonia. School properties attacked by

the copper thieves were Rainbow, Dunaire, Edward Bouie, Fairington, Midvale, Murphey Candler, Oak View and Pine Ridge elementary schools; Columbia, McNair, Miller Grove, Redan, Salem, Stephenson and Druid Hills middle schools; and Martin Luther King Jr. High. Copper tubing also was stolen from air conditioning units at a

number of area churches, including Hillcrest Church of Christ and Green Pastures Christian Church in Decatur and Antioch AME Church in Stone Mountain. DeKalb Police believe most of the thefts are the work of one or two individuals caught on security videos. Police have yet to catch them.

index to advertisers Atlanta Senior Center......................................6 Comcast.......................................................... 5 Connie Stokes for Lt. Governor, Inc................6 DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court.................... 10 DeKalb Medical...............................................9 Georgia Health Services Network...................9

Georgia Perimeter College............................. 8 Georgia Piedmont Technical College.............. 2 Golden Care Errand Services, LLC................. 11 Holland Trucking........................................... 11 I-Storage........................................................ 11 Johnson Hopewell Coleman LLC................... 11

Macy’s............................................................12 MARTA............................................................ 3 The Law Office of B.A. Thomas..................... 11 Wells Fargo..................................................... 7 Best Buy Co. Inc......................................Inserts Holistic Health Management Inc.............Inserts

Life Line Screening.................................Inserts Walgreens...............................................Inserts Walmart..................................................Inserts Connie Stokes for Lt. Governor, Inc....... Online The Davis Bozeman Law Firm, P.C......... Online

Art Director__________ Account Manager__________ Production Manager__________ Production Artist__________ Images Purchased o _____ DPI o Comp Made o

CrossRoadsNews

September 6, 2014

Have you ever tried to type a 500-word essay with just your thumbs? Kids do better in school when they have Internet at home.

AFFORDABLE INTERNET

With Internet Essentials from Comcast, your family can: SM

• Do homework • Get online tutoring

• Type book reports • Take online classes

• Email teachers • Research colleges

You may qualify for Internet Essentials if your child is eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program.

To learn more or apply, visit: InternetEssentials.com Or call: 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376)

a month + tax

A LOW-COST

COMPUTER

149

+ tax

Available at initial enrollment

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Limited to XFINITY® Internet Economy Plus service for new residential customers meeting certain eligibility criteria. Advertised price applies to a single outlet. Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. After initial participation, if a customer is determined to be no longer eligible for the program but continues to receive Comcast service, regular rates will apply. Subject to Internet Essentials program terms and conditions. Internet Essentials is a program to provide home Internet service for families. It is not a school program, and is not endorsed or required by your school. Your school is not responsible for Internet Essentials accounts. Call 1-855-846-8376 for restrictions and complete details. ©2014 Comcast. All rights reserved.

No price increases No activation fees • No equipment rental fees • •

FREE

INTERNET TRAINING InternetEssentials.com/learning Online, in person and in print

CrossRoadsNews

Community

September 6, 2014

“The containers will have syringes, needles, sutures and all kinds of primary care materials as well as medicines.”

Volunteers needed to sort, pack medical supplies for Africa EBOLA RELIEF,

from page

surplus medical supplies from U.S. hospitals and other medical facilities and sorts and packages them with the help of volunteers to send to more than 95 developing nations. The cargo planes also carried pharmaceuticals from Map International, a global Christian health organization based in Brunswick. Officials say the Sept. 5 shipment is the first of many. An even larger shipment will follow it in the next week. Nell Diallo, MedShare corporate and international relations vice president, said six 40-foot containers with about 12,000 pounds of medicine and other items, plus beds and supplies to help comfort patients, will be sent by sea. Diallo said that once patients contract Ebola, their immune systems break down and they’re Nell Diallo subject to a lot of other diseases. “So the containers will have syringes, needles, sutures and all kinds of primary care materials as well as medicines,” she said on Sept. 3. Diallo said MedShare’s airlift and container shipments will deliver badly needed support for under-equipped medical facilities in the stricken areas. Andrea Berry, MedShare marketing and communications director, said donated medical supplies come from boxes that have been damaged but the items are still under sterile seal and safe to use. “Other times, surgical supplies are left unused in the operating room when surgeries are postponed or canceled at the last minute,” Berry said.

Photos by Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Donated medical supplies are stored in MedShare’s Clifton Springs Road warehouse. Another shipment to West Africa is planned in the next week.

Simon Dibley, MedShare logistics manager, inspects body bags at the warehouse. MedShare is working with the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation to help Ebolastricken West Africa.

Federal regulations prevent U.S. hospitals from using the equipment in later procedures once it’s been taken out of the box. “The valuable supplies would be thrown away if they weren’t donated to us,” Berry said. Volunteers are needed to sort and package medical goods. Visit www.medshare.org or call 770-323-5858 for more information.

Join Us For...

A Conversation About School Choice

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Overcomers Christian Fellowship Church 7373 Covington Highway, Lithonia, GA 30058

Elect

CONNIESTOKES "Lt. Governor " November 4, 2014

Panelists

Jobs Right Now “for real” Contribute at www.conniestokes.com Ph 404-867-8021 Paid for by Connie Stokes for Lt. Governor, Inc

GRAND OPENING SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Wekesa O. Madzimoyo

Michael Thurmond

Dan Weber

Co-Director, AYA Educational Institute

Superintendent, DeKalb School System

Executive Director, The Charter System Foundation

The DeKalb School System wants to become a Charter System. What is this, and what will it mean for your child’s education? Moderator: Jennifer Parker

CrossRoadsNews Editor/Publisher

ATLANTA SENIOR RECREATION CENTER 7316 Covington Highway • Lithonia, GA 30058 770-912-0415

Open House 10am – 2pm Box Lunches Will Be Served

Days of Operation Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. Until 3 p.m.

Opportunity for Audience Questions

Membership $25.00 Per Month

Forum Sponsored by: The City of Lithonia • CrossRoadsNews The South DeKalb Improvement Association

For More Information or to Register for the Open House, Call Sabrina Hughes @ 770-912-0415

Complimentary Parking • Snacks And Box Lunch

September 6, 2014

CrossRoadsNews

We are a collection of smalls. Homes, main streets and communities. They’re our foundation. Our building blocks. Brick by brick, they make our whole greater. They’re why Wells Fargo invests in our communities a little differently. Because small, personal measures offer huge meaning for the people and communities we serve. And with every business, neighborhood and community supported, you’d be surprised how it all adds up to something bigger. Sometimes a single kitchen can kick-start a local economy with new businesses. A handful of seeds can sow a community garden of well-being. A single job can support thousands more. And the list goes on from there. Last year we worked with over 18,500 non-proﬁts and schools from the San Francisco Bay Area to Tampa Bay, donations that totaled more than $275 million. But offering a helping hand can also mean lending your own hand to a cause. So Wells Fargo Team Members volunteered nearly 1.7 million hours in their local communities last year. Little by little we can do a lot. Because small is huge. Visit www.wellsfargo.com/stories to see how big small can be.

CrossRoadsNews

Youth

September 6, 2014

“I am excited to see the long-term impact of how celebrating GPC’s rich history will inspire the future.”

Georgia Perimeter College celebrating 50 years Scholarships Georgia Perimeter College is turning 50 years old and Dr. Houston Davis, the University System of Georgia executive vice chancellor, was in town this week to help the college kick off its landmark anniversary celebration. Davis was special guest speaker at the Sept. 5 Fall Convocation on the Clarkston campus. Other anniversary events include a living history project and a 1960s symposium Houston Davis in February and a college-wide festival in April in 2015. During convocation, Georgia Perimeter’s interim president, Dr. Rob Watts, gave the annual state-of-the-college address, and Academic Affairs Vice President Ron Stark provided a college update. The college was founded in 1964 when the DeKalb Board of Education officially opened DeKalb College, the first and only public two-year college in the state controlled by a local school district. Twenty-two years later, DeKalb College joined the University System of Georgia, and in 1997, the USG Board of Regents changed its name to Georgia Perimeter College to reflect its expanding mission and its service throughout metro Atlanta. The GPC moniker became official in fall 1998. Today, Georgia Perimeter has five campuses – Decatur, Clarkston, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, and Newton County – plus the University System’s largest online program. It serves more than 21,000 students and during its history has helped more than 350,000 students toward their dream of earning a college degree. Barbara Disney, 82, former college human resources director, was one of the first employees hired by the DeKalb Board of Education when the school doors opened on Sept. 28, 1964, in Clarkston. Disney joined past and present employees at Friday’s anniversary celebration kickoff. The celebration allows the college to honor the anniversaries of its opening, its dedication and the first graduating class in 1966. Its 2014 freshman class will be its 51st graduating class.

for nursing students

Georgia Perimeter College, founded in 1964 when the DeKalb Board of Education officially opened DeKalb College, has five campuses plus the University System’s largest online program.

Collins Foster, GPC alumni director and 50th anniversary co-chair, says that acknowledging and honoring the past are very powerful exercises. “I am excited to see the long-term impact of how celebrating GPC’s rich history will inspire the future,” said Foster, who is cochairing the anniversary celebration with Bill Moon, GPC business professor and department chair. “Knowing where you started is the first step toward a better way forward.” The college’s Decatur Campus, formerly known as South Campus, opened in 1972, the year the college became DeKalb Community College and students enrolled in DeKalb Area Technical School were able to enroll in dual vocational and collegiate programs. As growth continued both for DeKalb County and the college, the Dunwoody Campus, formerly North Campus, was added and began operation in 1979. In 1985, DeKalb Vocational-Technical School was placed under the governance of a new statewide board for vocational-technical schools with daily operations remaining under the control of the DeKalb County School System. Students enrolled in specific Associate of Applied Science degree programs continued dual enrollment in the college, and the technical school, which is now known as Georgia Piedmont Technical College. In 1986, when DeKalb County relinquished its support, the college was accepted

by the Board of Regents as the University System of Georgia’s 34th member institution. During spring 1993, Georgia Perimeter College in cooperation with Clayton State College, DeKalb Technical College and Rockdale County Public Schools formed the Rockdale Center for Higher Education, which offered credit and non-credit courses. In November 1997, when the Board of Regents approved changing the name of the college to Georgia Perimeter College, the names of the campuses were changed to identify the cities in which they are located. In December 2001, Georgia Perimeter College’s Lawrenceville Campus, along with its partners at the Gwinnett University Center, relocated from the MacCleod Industrial Park on Sugarloaf Parkway to a 177-acre campus at 1000 University Center Lane. In 2007, Georgia Perimeter discontinued offering courses at the Lawrenceville Campus and the site became Georgia Gwinnett College, a new four-year USG institution. In summer 2007, the Rockdale Campus was relocated to a larger new campus in Newton County and renamed the Newton Campus. GPC began offering classes in Alpharetta in a building owned by Georgia State University. Through the years, the college has expanded its class and service offerings to citizens in north Fulton County. For more information, visit www.gpc. edu.

Launch your educational future. visit gpc.edu/secondhalf

It’s not too late to register or apply for second-half classes at Georgia Perimeter College. You have until September 22 to submit all documents. Now’s your chance to join more than 21,000 students who call GPC home. Second-half fall classes start October 13, so what are you waiting for?

A BETTER WAY FORWARD CrossRoadsNewsAd9-6.indd 1

8/27/14 5:44 PM

Nursing students can apply now through Sept. 15 for the Dr. W. Mark Coppage Nursing Scholarship. The scholarship provides up to $5,000 payable to the nursing school chosen by the recipient. It is open to students actively enrolled in a nursing program for initial licensure. The scholarship administered by DeKalb Medical honors the memory and the principles of Coppage, who died in 1989 in an automobile accident in Florida. Since it was established in 1993 by an anonymous donor, more than 135 scholarships totaling more than $334,000 have been awarded. DeKalb Medical said that in his lifetime, Coppage gave without boundary of his time, talent, resources and love. As part of the Coppage Nursing Scholarship application package, applicants must submit an essay discussing their commitment to making a difference in their community; their concern for humanity; their ability to balance a medical, academic model of learning while stressing the compassionate nature of medicine; and the leadership abilities and the attributes they possess that mirror Coppage’s qualities. Last year’s winners are studying at Georgia Southern University, Gordon State College, Auburn University at Montgomery and Georgia State University. Select 2014 applicants will be invited to interview with the Mark Coppage Scholarship Committee in the fall. For the application and more information, visit www.dekalbmedical.org/ foundation/scholarships.

Youth volunteer award deadline coming up Youth volunteers can apply for the prestigious Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and a chance to win a $5,000 grant for their favorite charity and $5,000 as a top national winner. Entries are being accepted through Nov. 4. Applications are open to middle and high school students in grades five through 12. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, is celebrating its milestone 20th year. It is the nation’s largest youth volunteer recognition program. Top national winners also get a gold medallion and a crystal trophy for their nominating organization. Students chosen as Local Honorees receive a Certificate of Achievement from their schools or organizations. Applicants 14 years and younger with 50 hours of service and those older with 100 hours also will receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award. State Honorees get $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip with a parent or guardian to Washington for national recognition events. Last year, more than 30,000 youth participated, and 102 State Honorees are named from 230 finalists. Next May, the top 10 youth volunteers will be named. For more information and to apply, visit spirit.prudential.com or call 1-877525-8491.

September 6, 2014

Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

“There is an urgent need for a protective Ebola vaccine, and it is important to establish that a vaccine is safe.”

Ebola vaccine trials under way on healthy adults in the U.S. Testing of a vaccine to prevent Ebola virus is under way in the United States on healthy individuals. The testing on 20 healthy adults ages 18 to 50 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases comes as a third U.S. missionary has been infected with the virus in West Africa. The pace of human safety testing for experimental Ebola vaccines was expedited in response to the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. Since the epidemic started in March 2014, about 3,500 people have been infected and more than 1,900 have died in Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Charlotte, N.C.-based SIM USA said Tuesday that another of its missionaries, Dr. Rick Sacra, 51, who was delivering babies at ELWA Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia, was infected. He is being flown to Omaha, Neb., for treatment. Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly, who were treated successfully at Emory University, also were infected at the same hospital. NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci said the National Institutes of Health is playing a key role in accelerating the development and testing of investigational Ebola vaccines. “There is an urgent need for a protective Ebola vaccine, and it is important to establish that a vaccine is safe and spurs the immune system to react in a way necessary to protect against infection,” he said. Fauci said the best way to prevent the spread of Ebola infection is through public

Walk of HEROes taking registration Online registration is now open for the eighth annual Walk of HEROes 5K Walk/ Run taking place on Sept. 20 at the Oakhurst Community Center in Decatur. The event, presented by the DeKalb CSB and the Brighter DeKalb Foundation, raises funds for the DeKalb Community Service Board’s mental health, substance addiction and developmental disabilities services for uninsured or underinsured people. A fun warm-up starts at 8:30 a.m. with Michelle Bernard and WNBA’s Chamique Holdsclaw. The 5K starts at 9 a.m. and the tot trot at 10. Drawing prizes, medals and ribbons will be given at the end of the race. Register for the run/walk at www.active. com/decatur-ga/walking/races/walk-ofheroes-5k-2014?int=. For booth rentals, visit http://dekcsb.org/get-involved/walkof-heroes-5k. The Oakhurst Community Center is at 630 East Lake Drive. For more information, contact Kashima Peters at kashima@my socialhostess.com or 404-453-3466.

Screenings for bone fractures, strokes Adults can get screened for stroke or bone fracture risk on Sept. 13 at North Decatur United Methodist Church. Life Line Screening will identify potential cardiovascular conditions such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk also is offered and is appropriate for both men and women. The screenings, sponsored by DeKalb Medical, take 60-90 minutes to complete. Packages start at $149. Pre-registration is required. North Decatur UMC is at 1523 Church St. in Decatur. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.lifeline screening.com or call 1-877-237-1287.

health measures, including good infection control practices, isolation, contact tracing, quarantine, and provision of personal protective equipment. “However, a vaccine will ultimately be an important tool in the preAnthony Fauci vention effort,” Fauci said. “The launch of Phase 1 Ebola vaccine studies is the first step in a long process.” CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden said the “tried-and-true public health interventions, strong supportive medical care and the rapid testing of Ebola vaccines and antiviral treatments can help to reduce suffering now and in the future.” The human testing of the Ebola vaccine is taking place at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md.. It is the first trial in a series of accelerated safety studies of Ebola vaccines. Participants will be divided into two groups of 10 participants each. One group will receive an intramuscular injection of the NIAID/GSK experimental vaccine. The second group will receive a single injection of the same vaccine but at a higher dose. The early stage trial is testing a vaccine co-developed by NIAID and GlaxoSmithKline. It will evaluate the experimental vaccine’s safety and ability to generate an immune system response in healthy adults. It also will examine an experimental Ebola vaccine developed by the Public Health Agency

of Canada and licensed to NewLink Genetics Corp. The others are to launch in the fall. The trials are conducted in healthy adults who are not infected with Ebola virus to determine if the vaccine is safe and induces an adequate immune response. The National Institutes of Health also is partnering with a British-based international consortium that includes the Wellcome Trust and Britain’s Medical Research Council and Department for International Development to test the NIAID/GSK vaccine candidate among healthy volunteers in the United Kingdom and in Gambia and Mali. Discussions also have been started with Nigerian Ministry of Health officials about

conducting a Phase 1 vaccine safety study among healthy adults in that country. The NIAID/GSK Ebola vaccine candidate is based on a type of chimpanzee cold virus, called chimp adenovirus type 3 – ChAd3. The adenovirus is used as a carrier, or vector, to deliver segments of genetic material derived from two Ebola virus species: Zaire Ebola and Sudan Ebola. This vaccine is referred to as a bivalent vaccine. The Zaire species of the virus is responsible for the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The NIH said Ebola genetic material in the vaccine cannot cause a vaccinated individual to become infected with Ebola. Visit www.nih.gov for more information.

Headline goes here like this one

Doc Talks

Upcoming Seminars at DeKalb Medical Celebrating Women’s Health: Ladies’ Night Out to Empower Women to Make Health a Priority Tuesday, September 23, 2014 | 6:00–8:00 p.m. Community Room | Hillandale campus Our expert panel of doctors will offer information on a wide range of women’s health topics such as healthy aging, breast cancer, fitness and nutrition, menopause and more. Come early and receive a complimentary bone density scan of the heel which indicates whether you may need further osteoporosis testing.

Solutions for Painful Knee Conditions Tuesday, September 30, 2014 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. DeKalb Medical Theatre | North Decatur campus Join Dr. Jeff Traub, a DeKalb Medical orthopedic surgeon, as he talks about the latest advances in knee replacements and the treatment of knee conditions. People wishing to take a tour of the Joint Solutions Center should meet in the Theatre at 5 p.m. Call 404.596.4772 or visit www.dekalbmedical.org to register.

For a referral to a DeKalb Medical physician or to reserve your space for these free seminars, please call 404.596.4772. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is free. www.dekalbmedical.org

dekalbmedical

CrossRoadsNews

Scene

September 6, 2014

“Church volunteers have been working … to gather stories to tell about the people and families at First Baptist.”

Nunn hangs with mayors at book festival U.S. Senate candidate Michelle Nunn shares a light moment with Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson and Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett at the AJC Decatur Book Festival on Aug. 30. Nunn, a Democrat, is vying with Republican David Perdue for the seat being vacated by Saxby Chambliss. An estimated 90,000 book lovers attended the two-day book festival.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Nation remembers Sept. 11 victims

Lou Walker seniors ready for Senior Center Month Seniors will be fired up all month long at the Lou Walker Senior Center’s observance of National Senior Center Month. The theme of the festivities, which kicked off Sept. 3 with interim CEO Lee May reviewing his first year in office, is “Seniors don’t retire, they refire!” There was a Game Day on Sept. 5, and the center’s Photography Exhibit will be on display Sept. 12-24 at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive in Decatur (404687-2731). A photography exhibit reception takes place on Sept. 14 at the Sanford Center from 4-7 p.m. Showdown with Motown! powered by the sounds of 2unes, takes place noon-4 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the Lithonia center. Partygoers should come dressed in ’60s, ’70s or ’80s attire. On Sept. 23, LWSC fitness director Tyrone Bailey hosts National Fall Prevention Day at noon. An AARP technology workshop takes place 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. on Sept. 24. Participants will learn to use tablets and smartphones. To register, visit http://aarp.cvent.com/aarptek georgia or call 1-877-926-8300 or register. The Lou Walker Center is at 2538 Panola Road. For more information, call 770-322-2900.

Sept. 11 will be the 13th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the U.S. Pentagon that killed almost 3,000 people on U.S. soil and caused at least $10 billion in property and infrastructure damage. In New York, a major ongoing focus is on the completion of the new One World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan. In 2013, construction workers placed the final pieces high atop New York City’s newest skyscraper, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at a symbolic height of 1,776 feet. The single skyscraper replaces the iconic Twin Towers that were destroyed in the series of four coordinated terrorist attacks launched on the United States by the Islamic terrorist New York City’s newest skyscraper, One World Trade Center, replaces group al-Qaeda on Sept. 11, 2001. the iconic Twin Towers that were destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001. In cities and neighborhoods across the country, solemn ceremonies and events are planned evThe country has been placing less emphasis on the ery year to mark the day considered among the darkest events of that fateful day and focusing more on the natuin America’s history. ral resilience of the United States in the face of profound Observances include the Delaware Military Acad- tragedy. Volunteerism and community service are being emy’s Remembrance Ceremony with 570 cadets taking promoted as positive steps to commemorate the lives part. lost on Sept. 11.

Legal Notices 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/06

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV7813-1++ Carlos R. Clark filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on July 23, 2014, to change the name from: Corey Roberta Clark to Corey Roberta Clark. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: July 23, 2014 Corey R. Clark Petitioner, Pro se 507 Walden Walk Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30088 (818) 239-2998 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/06

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV7747-8++ Barbara Ann Nicholson filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on July 30, 2014, to change the name from:

Barbara Ann Nicholson Arbogast to Barbara Ann Nicholson. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: July 30, 2014 Barbara A. Nicholson Petitioner, Pro se P.O. Box 190872 Atlanta, GA 31119 (404) 213-2351 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/06

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV8018-3++ Raymond Dementrus Jones filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on August 8, 2014, to change the name from: Raymond Dementrus Jones to Raymond-D’Ontario Dementrius Jones. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: August 8, 2014 Raymond Dementrus Jones Petitioner, Pro se P.O. Box 297 Stone Mountain, GA 30086 (470) 315-5068

8/23, 8/30, 9/06, 9/13

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV7998-2++ Adebola Alabi filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on August 8, 2014, to change the name from: Adebola Oluwayomi Alabi to David Adebola Oluwayomi Alabi. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: August 8, 2014 Adebola Alabi Petitioner, Pro se 2177 Tudor Castle Way Decatur, GA 30035 (404) 438-4860 8/16, 8/23, 8/30, 9/6