CrossRoadsNews, September 13, 2014 by CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

COMMUNITY

WELLNESS

SCENE

Wynbrooke Theme School parents stood in silent protest before the DeKalb School Board over teacher cuts they say have led to overcrowding. 6

GPTC’s “Be ACTive” initiative helps faculty, staff and students make healthy choices for their mind, body and spirit. 8

Photography and pottery students at the Lou Walker Center are displaying their work at the Porter Sanford Center through Sept. 21. 10

Standing up for students

Nourishing mind and spirit

Photos, pottery on display

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

September 13, 2014

Volume 20, Number 20

www.crossroadsnews.com

Ellis attorneys, prosecutors seek unbiased jury for trial By Ken Watts

Suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis is fighting charges that he shook down county vendors for campaign contributions and retaliated against those who didn’t give.

prejudged Ellis in the 14 months since Gov. Nathan Deal suspended him from office. Both sides also were seeking to eliminate jurors who have strong feelings about the methods investigators used to gain evidence against Ellis or the tactics Ellis is accused of using to get contributions. They questioned 40 potential jurors each day, bringing them into the courtroom one at a time. Prosecutors and defense attorneys quizzed potential jurors about confidential informants, clandestine recordings and aggressive sales tactics. Much of District Attorney Robert James’ case against Ellis is built around informants

The jury of 12 men and women who will decide the fate of suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis was expected to be seated by Sept. 12. The weeklong task of seating the jury from a pool of 200 got under way Sept. 8 in DeKalb Superior Judge Courtney Johnson’s courtroom. Ellis is fighting charges that he shook down county vendors for campaign contributions and retaliated against those who didn’t give. The challenge for the three-member prosecution team and Ellis’ five-member defense team was to find jurors who have not Please see ELLIS, page 2

DeKalb joins nation in commemorating 9/11 DeKalb’s 14-minute observance on Sept. 11 took place at the 9/11 Memorial sculpture in front of Public Safety Headquarters in Tucker.

Local observance called a reminder U.S. is still at risk By Ken Watts

On the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, DeKalb Police, firefighters and residents remembered the victims in a solemn ceremony devoid of spoken words. The 14-minute observance attended by county leadership began at 8:46 a.m., the precise moment in 2001 that al-Qaeda terrorists flew American Airlines Flight 11 – the first of four hijacked airplanes – into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York and changed America forever. Minutes later a second hijacked plane – United Airlines Flight 175 – slammed into the World Trade Center’s South Tower. It was followed by the crash of United Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon in Washington. The fourth airplane – United Airlines Flight 93 – came down in Shanksville, Pa., after passengers fought with the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 Americans, including 343 firefighters and 60 New York and Port Authority police officers, died in the attacks. The ceremony was punctuated by the marching boot steps of a police color guard, the playing of taps and the sound of emergency alert tones as flags were lowered to half-staff. As a DeKalb police officer and firefighter silently laid the wreath at the county’s 9/11 Memorial sculpture in front of DeKalb Public Safety Headquarters in Tucker, interim CEO Lee May, members of the Board of Commissioners, Public Safety first responders and residents stood silently. Hundreds of miles away at the White House, President Barack Obama observed a moment of silence from the South Lawn. “We carry on because as Americans, we do not give in to fear. Ever,” Obama said. And at ground zero, the site of the World Trade Center in New York, relatives of the

victims took two hours to read the names of everyone who perished there. Across metro Atlanta and the nation, similar 9/11 ceremonies took place. After the ceremony, May called the first responders to the 9/11 attacks “true American heroes.” “It is imperative we always remember the significance of their acts of courage and sacrifice,” he said. The DeKalb memorial, where the ceremony took place, was completed and dedicated in 2011 on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy. It includes a 2-foot piece of a steel I-beam from the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers. Artist Curtis James Miller designed the 12-foot-tall phoenix rising from the ashes to honor all the 9/11 victims, and especially the first responders who died trying to save others. After the local ceremony, Dr. Cedric

Alexander, DeKalb’s deputy chief operating officer for public safety, said the local memorial observance was a reminder that the nation is still at risk. “Those of us who work in public safety pass this sculpture every day,” he said. “It reminds us of the supreme sacrifices that were made on 9/11 and of the men and women of police and fire who go out every day and protect the domestic security of this nation.” Alexander said the memorial has had a unifying effect. “We must always remember that we are Americans together, all of us,” he said. “No matter what our differences, we stand together and we fight together.” DeKalb police, firefighters and the community raised $30,000 for the DeKalb memorial. Doug Harms, a fire apparatus operator and a six-year department employee, conceived the project and received the piece of

steel from the World Trade Center site. He said the idea for the outdoor memorial grew when the steel beam arrived. “Originally we were just going to put together a small display inside our building, but then we got the piece of steel from the World Trade Center and the idea for an outdoor memorial took off,” he said after Thursday’s ceremony. Public Safety workers maintain the site’s grass, shrubbery and landscaping. Educational plaques including flight information from each of the hijacked airplanes and a timeline of the hours leading up to and during the attacks are part of the display. After the ceremony, Mary Jane Scherra, a Tucker Garden Club member, read the inscriptions around the base of the statue. She said she was moved by the ceremony and sculpture. “I never want to forget what happened that day,” she said.

CrossRoadsNews

Community

September 13, 2014

“We’re interested in making it easy and accessible for people to vote. We’re trying to see if the time has come for it.”

DeKalb Elections Board OKs Sunday voting at 3 sites By Ken Watts

For the first time in DeKalb, early voters will be able to cast ballots on a Sunday for the Nov. 4 general election. The early polls will open Oct. 26 at three locations – at the Gallery at South DeKalb and the DeKalb Elections Office in Decatur, and at the Chamblee Civic Center in Chamblee. The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections voted 3-2 on Sept. 11 to allow the historic Sunday vote in hopes of boosting voter turnout. Members Samuel Tillman, Leona Perry and Michael Coveny favored the Sunday vote. Catherine Gilliard and Baoky Vu opposed it. Fulton County announced Sept. 10 that it is holding Sunday voting on Oct. 26, and Lowndes County approved it on Sept. 9. Elections Director Maxine Daniels said officials are extending weekend voting to Sunday to see whether it encourages more people to vote in an off-year election when overall turnout is traditionally very low. “We’re interested in making it easy and accessible for people to vote,” she said. “We’re trying to see if the time has come for it.” She said Sunday voting is legal in Georgia. “This is our chance to see how it will

work, whether it’s cost-effective to have this kind of voting and whether people will come out,” she said. Republicans, including Gov. Nathan Deal, who is in a tight race with Democrat Jason Carter, have come out against the Sunday vote. “It’s certainly the departure from the norm. And it apparently has a partisan purpose behind – at least they admit it has a partisan purpose behind it of trying to increase the Democratic turnout,” Deal said on Sept. 10. “I don’t think anything that has to do with elections should be tilted one way or the other for partisan purposes.” Vu, vice president of the DeKalb Republican Party, said some might object to Sunday voting on religious grounds and the move might be seen by some in the community as the board being influenced by Democratic politics. “We’re not a puppet of the CEO or any other county leader and I want to make sure that we have an understanding among the electorate that this is a body that is supposed to be nonpartisan and independent,” he said. State Sen. Fran Millar (R-Atlanta) was more blunt in a Facebook post this week. He said church buses will be used to transport people directly to the mall to vote after

Fran Millar

church. “If this happens, so much for the accepted principle of separation of church and state,” he wrote. Millar also said he would like to “see more educated voters than a great increase in the num-

ber of voters.” “Now we are to have Sunday voting at South DeKalb Mall just prior to the election,” he wrote in the post. “Per [political columnist] Jim Galloway of the AJC, this location is dominated by African-American shoppers and it is near several large African-American mega churches such as New Birth Missionary Baptist. Galloway also points out the Democratic Party thinks this is a wonderful idea – what a surprise. I’m sure Michelle Nunn and Jason Carter are delighted with this blatantly partisan move in DeKalb.” Millar, who is white, promised to end Sunday balloting in DeKalb when lawmakers assemble in the Capitol next January. DuBose Porter, Georgia Democratic Party chairman, accused Millar of wanting to stifle votes in black neighborhoods. “He alludes that African-American voters are less educated,” said Porter, who is also

white. “There is no way he can explain this in any good context.” Tillman, the elections board chairman, said after the meeting that he was mystified by Millar’s remarks. “I don’t know how he reached his conclusions,” he said. “Did he think that we were only going to make Sunday voting available at South DeKalb mall?” Tillman said the board had been studying the Sunday voting idea for several months. “We had always planned to open at least three Sunday voting locations including [predominantly white] North and Central DeKalb,” he said. “Millar made that statement before we had even announced our proposal but it’s politics. I understand he’s playing to his base.”

Sunday voting sites Sunday voting will be offered Oct. 26 from noon until 5 p.m. at: The Gallery at South DeKalb, 2801 Candler Road in Decatur. The DeKalb Elections Office, 4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300, in Decatur. The Chamblee Civic Center, 3450 Broad St. in Chamblee.

Jurors quizzed on informants, secret recordings, aggressive sales tactics ELLIS,

from page

and recordings. At least two people on Tuesday indicated that personal hardship might prevent them from serving on a jury for a trial that could last for weeks. One man identified in court only as “Ju-

ror 53” told prosecutors he has a problem with confidential informants. “It bothers me if they’re getting something out of it for personal gain and not doing it out of good will or duty,” he said. When Assistant DA Lawanda Hodges asked him to elaborate, he said he had heard about informants trying to get the victim to

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talk about whatever they’re looking for. “If you’re looking for something wrong, you’ll usually find it,” he said. Hodges asked the juror whether he could put aside his feelings about the method of gathering evidence and weigh the value of the information in a fair and impartial manner. The juror said that he could. Juror 53, who is African-American, also noted in his written questionnaire responses that he has read “The New Jim Crow,” a bestselling book that criticizes the treatment of people of color in the criminal justice system, especially young black men. “Can you listen to witnesses and evidence in a case and form your own opinions?” asked defense lawyer John Petrey. Again, the juror indicated that he could. Prosecutors and defense lawyers also asked jurors whether they have worked in telemarketing or sales, which could be relevant because Ellis is accused of aggressively seeking campaign donations by telephone

calls. Deal suspended Ellis on July 16, 2013, after a grand jury indicted him on felony counts ranging from bribery to theft and perjury. District 5 Commissioner Lee May has been serving as interim CEO. The trial is expected to feature secretly recorded conversations of Ellis’ discussions about county contractors. Jurors also will hear from business people who will testify about how Ellis allegedly linked campaign contributions to government jobs. Prosecutors allege that Ellis instructed the county’s director of purchasing and contracting, Kevin Walton, who is an unindicted co-conspirator, to prevent some companies from getting business because they didn’t contribute to his campaign. Ellis has denied any wrongdoing. Johnson moved the trial from June to give Ellis’ attorneys time to provide a witness list and other discovery documents for prosecutors in the case.

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September 13, 2014

Community

CrossRoadsNews

“We are here to let our elected officials know we’re watching you – how you do business, how you represent the people.”

Pastors speak out about corruption cases in DeKalb By Ken Watts

A coalition of DeKalb’s most prominent pastors said they are fed up with the county’s negative image and will meet with DeKalb political leaders to discuss the recent spate of corruption cases against elected officials. They also are calling for 30 days of prayer for the county’s leadership. The group, which calls itself Right Choice, represents 25 churches with a combined membership of 50,000. On Sept. 9, a dozen leaders spoke out at a news conference outside the Historic DeKalb Courthouse in downtown Decatur. It is the same group that partnered with DeKalb Police to offer mentoring, academic tutoring and social guidance to at-risk youth in summer 2013 during a spike in youth crimes in DeKalb. Bishop Quincey Carswell, pastor of the Covenant Church in Decatur, said their members have told them they are upset about the constant media stories of alleged wrongdoing by DeKalb elected officials. “The eyes of Georgia are on DeKalb County,” Carswell said. “We do plan to sit down with our elected officials, the commissioners if need be, the district attorney, whoever, and let them know they are accountable to the people. They are not here to spend the taxpayers money as they wish. We are servants and so are they.” The Rev. Collette Gunby, pastor of Green Pastures Christian Ministries in Decatur, said her “heart is broken” but Collette Gunby they’re not stepping forward to point fingers at anyone. “In our court system, we are innocent

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

Members of the Right Choice coalition that represents 25 churches are calling for 30 days of prayer for the county’s leadership.

until proven guilty,” she said. “We’re not here to establish guilt or innocence, but we’re here as a community to say that we care and we are going to do whatever we can with the masses we represent to make sure our county is secure and to make DeKalb the best county that it can be.” The pastors stood a short distance from the DeKalb Courthouse where jury selection was under way for the corruption trial of suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis. They had no comment on the Ellis case,

the guilty plea of former DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer, or ethics complaints that dog members of the Board of Commissioners. They’re concerned about the toll complaints are taking on the county’s image. The churches represented at the news conference were Good Shepherd New Day Fellowship Church and New Life Baptist in Lithonia; Anointed Word Church of God in Christ in Decatur; Fairfield Baptist Church in Lithonia; Clarkston First Baptist; Rehoboth Baptist in Tucker; New Piney Grove Baptist

in Decatur; New World Harvest Church in Stone Mountain; and Stronghold Christian Church, Gospel Tabernacle Cathedral and St. Paul AME in Lithonia. Carswell said the meeting with elected officials will happen in the next two weeks. “We represent people and these are some of the largest churches in this county,” he said. “We’re here to let our elected officials know we’re watching you – how you do business, how you represent the people, and we want more accountability.”

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CrossRoadsNews

September 13, 2014

“Thank you for the great work and news coverage you continue to provide. It is very much appreciated.”

We must work to restore trust in DeKalb government 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.

By Lee May

The past few years have been tough ones for DeKalb County. It is outrageous that anyone would violate the public’s trust, and it is frustrating to realize that our county has refused in years past to identify and correct bad behaviors. It is maddening that the people of DeKalb have had to endure a shaming of DeKalb County government over the actions of a few. The truth, as they say, hurts. For years, DeKalb CEOs have looked the other way when it came to BOC spending. The BOC, of which I have been a member since 2006, talked a good game of auditing and oversight, but when the rubber met the road, could not reach a consensus on pulling the trigger on hiring someone to do the job. Part of the issue that caused these problems is inherent in DeKalb’s structure of government, which before now has produced a laissez-faire style of oversight. Elected officials simply cannot control other elected officials in the same way an employer can control an employee. This is one reason I have been an advocate for changing DeKalb’s form of government and why I created the Government Operations Task Force to deal with this issue and several others DeKalb

“The larger issue has been a wholesale lack of leadership to work together to become the open, transparent and responsive government that we all say that we want.” Interim CEO Lee May

is facing. It remains my expectation that this task force will make substantial recommendations to our government which will provide a framework on which we all become accountable. However, the larger issue has been a wholesale lack of leadership to work together to become the open, transparent and responsive government that we all say that we want. I share the collective frustration of our residents. The practice of government in DeKalb County has allowed much of what has been exposed recently by the media to go unchecked. To address the issues, this administration implemented several safeguards and oversight to find incidents of wrongdoings and address them quickly. The direct actions we have taken to address the malaise we find ourselves in at the present moment are as follows: n Facilitated appointments of a full complement of Board of Eth-

ics members to ensure consistent quorums. n Increased Ethics Board funding from $15,000 to over $200,000. n Created full-time positions: chief integrity officer, investigator, and staff for the Board of Ethics. n Increased funding for District Attorney’s Office by $197,000 to expand its Public Integrity Unit. n Revised P-Card policies to cover all cardholders, including elected officials, which require annual training and annual audits of all cardholders. n Revised purchasing policies to make the process for purchasing goods and services more efficient and transparent and created a list to ban vendors who violate our policies or fail to complete work. n Restructured the Purchasing & Contracting and Finance departments to provide greater oversight and transparency. n Implemented a new ethics policy for the administration to cover meals, travel and tickets for all employees under the CEO’s power,

including myself. Admittedly, these changes have only occurred under my administration and only affect conduct moving forward. Much of the spending irregularities discovered by the press date back several years and cover multiple administrations. Those cases are now being investigated by federal prosecutors, the local district attorney and the DeKalb Board of Ethics. In due time, these agencies will take appropriate actions as needed. Furthermore, we will be taking additional measures as circumstances warrant. Make no mistake: I am and I remain very concerned about improper and illegal spending in DeKalb County. The repercussions go far beyond the acts themselves. It impacts everything from job creation and business recruitment to federal funding allocations. It is imperative that all elected officials – myself included – continue to do everything possible to correct the underlying problems and restore the public’s trust in DeKalb County government. It takes years to build trust but only a day to destroy it. Our job moving forward is to restore that trust, day by day, in DeKalb County. Commissioner Lee May has been serving as interim CEO of DeKalb County since July 13, 2013.

PSA promoting civic pride in South DeKalb applauded

Show Your PRIDE, South DeKalb! R Don’t Litter R Mow, Trim & Paint R Clean to the Curb A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE FROM CROSSROADSNEWS

CrossRoadsNews ran this public service announcement in its Aug. 30 issue that urged South DeKalb residents to help beautify their communities.

Thanks CrossRoadsNews for the public service announcement that Our society relies heavily on the media for information – informaappeared in the Aug. 30 issue on Page 4. Thank you for including this in tion that informs decisions and sometimes behavior, so CrossRoadsNews your publication. stepping up and taking the position of promoting civic pride is to be The work of instilling pride in the community cannot all be done by commended. “the government.” It takes committed individuals to carry the banner Thank you again. and to keep the charge moving forward. Morris E. Williams is DeKalb’s deputy COO/infrastructure.

Editor congratulated on East Metro CID appointment My congratulations to Jennifer Parker on appointment to the board of the East Metro DeKalb CID. The CID is a tremendously important initiative for South DeKalb which I believe can and will position the area for an economic renaissance that is long overdue. I wish her and her fellow board members much success in the months ahead as they

try to get the CID off the ground. Secondly, I noticed this weekend that CrossRoadsNews carried a public service message that encouraged citizens in South DeKalb to not litter and take the small steps needed to improve the appearance of their communities. I am a member of several organizations that invest countless

hours and volunteers in removing litter along the streets, medians and thoroughfares in the county. Although this is a necessary task, we believe that the bigger challenge is educating citizens about litter reduction and the value and benefits this has on neighborhoods, property values and quality of life. Your message certainly goes

a long way in conveying that in a simple yet forceful manner. Thank you for the great work and news coverage you continue to provide. It is very much appreciated by the residents and citizens in South DeKalb. Ken Taylor is vice chairman of the South DeKalb Improvement Association.

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September 13, 2014

Community

“In order to compete in an ever-globalizing economy, you got to continue your education after you graduate.”

Michelle Obama promotes higher education in Atlanta visit By Ken Watts

Ga. voters must register by Oct. 6 Unregistered Georgians have less than one month to register to vote in the Nov. 4 general election. The deadline to register is Oct. 6. Residents with a valid Georgia driver’s license can register at https://registertovote. sos.ga.gov/GAOLVR/#no-back-button. The “GA Votes” app also allows Georgians to register to cast their ballots. Using the MVP feature on the app, Georgia voters can view their specific sample ballot, find their polling locations, check voter registration status and track the status of their absentee ballot. The information is available on mobile devices on Apple and Android platforms. To find the app, search for “GA Votes” in the Apple app store or the Google Play store.

Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews

First lady Michelle Obama spoke to students at Atlanta’s historic Booker T. Washington High.

“We once had the highest graduation rate,” he said. “Now we rank 12th.” From Atlanta, the bus tour visited schools in Birmingham and Huntsville, Ala., and Chattanooga, Tenn. The first lady said she and Duncan picked Booker T. Washington High as a kickoff point

for the motivational tour because it is a good example of a school that has already taken steps to give its students a head start on the path to higher education. When it was founded in 1924, Booker T. Washington High was the first public high T:7.446” school for African-Americans in Georgia.

Dhani Jones Sports Honoree (not shown) Iyanla Vanzant Inspirational Honoree

Kevin Liles Entertainment Honoree Henry Coaxum McDonald’s Owner/Operator Honoree Gabrielle Williams Community Choice Youth Honoree

Al Sharpton Humanitarian Honoree

Will Packer Arts & Entertainment Honoree

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First lady Michelle Obama kicked off her “Reach Higher” education initiative at Atlanta’s historic Booker T. Washington High School on Sept. 8 with a rousing call to action for students. Obama urged students of the school that counts the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. among its graduates to take the tough courses, work hard now, and do everything they can to pursue a post-secondary education. She told them that a high school diploma is no longer enough. “In order to compete in an everglobalizing economy, you got to continue your education after you graduate from high school,” she said. “Fortunately, there are many paths you can take, whether it’s a specialized training program, a four-year school like Georgia State, Emory or Clark Atlanta or a community college like Atlanta Metro State. The important thing is that you go somewhere.” The first lady is hoping that message resonates with low-income students across the country. She and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who accompanied her on the visit, told the Atlanta students that no matter who they are or where they come from, higher education is the best way to take charge of their future. “There’s a lot you need to be doing right now to prepare yourself for those next steps,” Obama said. “And that’s why this isn’t an ordinary pep rally, this is what we’re calling a ‘prep rally,’ because if you want to succeed in the days ahead you have to prepare yourself today, and you gotta know how to rally if you get knocked down along the way because it’s gonna happen.” Obama told the students that she overcame her humble beginnings on the south side of Chicago where she grew up in a poor family but set her sights on getting into Princeton University. “So I sketched out a plan to get there, which classes I needed to take, when I needed to take my SATs, when I needed to apply for financial aid, and I worked hard to execute that plan, even though my school was halfway across the city and I had to get up at 5 in the morning to get to school at 7,” she said. “I had to work up the nerve to ask for help if there was something I didn’t understand in class and believe me there was plenty, but I studied hard and made it to Princeton. If I can do it, you can do it.” Duncan, who was leading a bus tour of federal education officials highlighting the administration’s innovative academic programs, said Reach Higher is aimed at answering President Obama’s call to ensure that by the year 2020, America once again has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

Today, its academic program is divided into small schools: banking, finance and investments, health sciences and nutrition, a Senior Academy, and an Early College Academy in which high school students earn college credits. Obama said that a freshman or sophomore needs to start talking with their parents and guidance counselor about their plans. “If you’re a junior or senior, you need to be studying for your SATs or ACTs, filling out the FAFSA financial aid form and working on your college admissions essay,” she said. Halfway in her speech, the first lady paused to call for a medic when a student fainted in the middle of the crowded gym. “She’s OK?” Obama asked. “It’s OK. That happens to a lot of people who have to stand up for a long time. We need one of our medics here. We have a young girl who fainted.” After a few seconds, the girl was able to stand and walk away with medics. After the rally, the first lady appeared at an Atlanta fundraiser supporting Michelle Nunn, who is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. She also spoke briefly at a voter registration rally before heading back to Washington.

Schools

CrossRoadsNews

September 13, 2014

“Thirty to 34 students in a classroom is unacceptable in any school, not just Wynbrooke, but any school.”

Wynbrooke parents protest loss of teachers, large class size By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

For the first four weeks of the new school year, Anthony Owens was in Felecia Thomas’ fourth-grade class with 18 other students at Wynbrooke Theme School. But on Sept. 8, when Thomas was reassigned to Shadow Rock Elementary, he and his classmates were divvied up among the remaining three fourth-grade classes at the elementary school in Stone Mountain. He and five other classmates were sent to Donnica Martin’s class, making it a class of 32 students. Asked how he likes his new class, Anthony struggled for right words. “It’s big,” he said. His mother, Brenda Payne, is not happy with the development. She and other parents were notified on Sept. 4 that three Wynbrooke teachers – a third-grade teacher, a fourth-grade Brenda Payne teacher and an instructional specialist – were being reassigned to other schools because Wynbrooke’s enrollment had fallen to 731 students, down from a projected 850 students. On Sept. 8, Payne took Anthony with her to the DeKalb School Board meeting to stand in silent protest with 18 other parents as the school’s PTA leadership addressed the School Board during the public comment period. Payne said school enrollment is down because the district did not admit all the students who wanted to attend. “They have waiting lists,” she said. “Why didn’t they pick from the waiting list?” In a Sept. 10 email responding to questions from CrossRoadsNews, Pat Copeland, the district’s magnet and theme school programs director, said Wynbrooke Theme School’s 2014-2015 enrollment is 743 students. She said the school has a waiting list of 79 students – 48 for pre-k, 13 for fourth grade, and 18 for fifth grade. In her comments Monday to Superintendent Michael Thurmond and School Board members, Wynbrooke PTA Co-president Tanya Smith said the loss of teachers has impacted third- and fourth-graders. “Thirty to 34 students in a classroom is

At the Sept. 8 School Board meeting, Wynbrooke Theme School parents stage a silent protest of teacher transfers because of low enrollment.

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

unacceptable in any school, not just Wynbrooke, but any school,” she said. “That is not a great learning environment for our kids.” Smith said parents – who stood in silence as she spoke – are concerned that the waiting lists at many theme schools are not being released so that the students who want to attend the schools can do so. Tanya Smith She said Wynbrooke Theme School was projected to have more than 800-850 students and the principal hired two additional teachers to accommodate the enrollment, but the students on the waiting list were not accepted, precipitating the “low enrollment” situation at the school. Smith said that the theme school model has worked. “You asked for parental involvement, we have done that,” she said. “You ask for rigor, we have done that. The students have worked very hard. Please look at the numbers at the magnet office and make sure that there is consistency with all theme schools.” Tore Carter, a parent and first-grade teacher, questioned the wisdom of removing and sending a teacher to a school with a smaller fourth-grade class and smaller class size.

“The fourth-grade teacher that is being transferred is leaving a class with 19 students going to a class of 15,” Carter said. “If low enrollment at Wynbrooke is an issue, why is she leaving a larger class going to a smaller class. Does this make sense. The teacher is also leaving a fourth grade with 125 enrolled, going to a school with 101 fourth-graders enrolled. Again, if Wynbrooke enrollment is an issue, why is she being transferred to a school with lower enrollment?” Carter said she wanted to know why Wynbrooke was not allowed to pull from its waiting list like other choice schools. “DeKalb School for the Arts and Wads worth were allowed to pull from their population, but we were not allowed to pull children from our local feeder schools,” she said. Carter said teachers also are now feeling uncertain about their positions at the school. “Will other grade levels potentially face the same fate,” she asked. “Will we come in one morning and be told that we are being transferred from a school we love to another school because of low enrollment?” Carter appealed to the School Board to reconsider the decision. “We all know that increasing the class size is not beneficial to the student,” she said, “nor is removing a teacher in Week 4 of the

school term.” After the meeting, Payne said 34 children in a class is not a good situation. “You are asking us to all crawl into a rat hole,” she said. With such large classes, Payne says the room also is not physically big enough to accommodate everyone. “The kids are sitting on top of one another,” she said. “Plus they are fourth-graders and you can’t tell them not to ask a question. If 10 of them ask one question each and it takes three minutes to answer the question, that is 30 minutes. When are you going to teach?” Payne is hoping that parents’ presence at the School Board meeting will prompt the district to reconsider its decision to take away their teachers. “We want them to give us our teacher back,” she said. Aba Simmons, whose 5-year-old son Jacob is in kindergarten, said she wanted to make sure that the district does not continue to put kids in such large classes. “If they don’t stop it now, it will continue,” she said. “We want to be proactive.” Andre Wiggins, whose daughter Anasa is in third grade, said he doesn’t want his child in a class that large. “I don’t want anybody’s child to be in a class with 34 kids. That’s just too many.”

September 13, 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.

Wellness

Emory treating 3rd patient for Ebola Emory University Hospital is treating its third Ebola patient who was admitted on Sept. 9. The unidentified patient, who arrived in a protective suit, is a World Health Organization employee, but Emory spokeswoman Janet Christenbury said the hospital can’t release more information because of patient privacy laws. The WHO said Tuesday that the American contracted the Ebola virus while working with one of its teams in Sierra Leone. So far, U.S. hospitals have taken in four American patients infected with the Ebola virus. Dr. Richard Sacra, a missionary with Charlotte, N.C.-based SIMS, is being treated at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He was working at the same clinic in Liberia where two other U.S. missionaries, Nancy Writebol and Dr. Kent Brantly, contracted the virus. Writebol and Brantly were successfully treated at Emory and released Aug. 19 and 21. Doctors caring for Sacra say his condition is improving. Since the Ebola outbreak began in West Africa in March, more than 4,000 people have been infected and more than 2,200 have died. Guinea and Sierra Leone have been hard hit, but Liberia has recorded the highest cumulative number of reported cases and deaths. Emory’s third Ebola patient landed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta on Sept. 9 and was able to walk into the building with assistance. Emory’s specially built isolation unit operates in collaboration with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to treat patients who are exposed to certain serious infectious diseases. The hospital’s Web site says the unit is physically separated from other patient areas and has unique equipment and infrastructure that provide an extraordinarily high level of clinical isolation. Dr. Aneesh Metha, an Emory infectious disease expert, said the team learned a lot from treating Brantly and Writebol. “We were confident of our ability to safely take care of the first two patients when they arrived. We have the same level of confidence and security this time,” Metha said.

CrossRoadsNews

September 13, 2014

“When our bodies are healthy, we are able to enjoy life more – whether we’re involved in work, volunteer or play activities.”

‘Be ACTive’ all over Georgia Piedmont Faculty, staff and students can now engage in healthy choices to nourish their mind, body and spirit with Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s “Be ACTive” initiative. The college, which is based in Clarkston, has installed walking tracks at its Clarkston and Newton campuses and hosted “Healthy Choices Fairs” with workshops and exhibitors offering information on farm-fresh foods and fitness demos. The college also has provided reusable containers for salads and water. The Be ACTive program is the brainchild of Nisha Simama, wife of Georgia Piedmont President Jabari Simama. She said Be ACTive is designed to encourage the GPTC family and the communities it serves to choose a healthy lifestyle. “When our bodies are healthy, we are able to enjoy life more – whether we’re involved in work, volunteer or play activities,” she said. “Our plan at Georgia Piedmont is to serve as a catalyst for developing a healthy mind-set and encouraging healthy choices.” At the Aug. 20 Healthy Choices Fair

“Be ACTive” encourages the GPTC family and communities to make healthy choices.

on the Clarkston Campus, Simama hosted a “Nourishing the WHOLE You” panel discussion featuring CDF Executive Director Jeremy Lewis and ANP: A Natural Path founder and CEO Elaine Reedy. Exhibitors included a Natural Healing Affair, Isagenix, Oakhurst Medical Center, Fresh Harvest, Aqua Massages, Healthways, Curves and the

Wade Walker Park Family YMCA, and local farmers’ markets offered fresh fruits and vegetables for purchase. For more information or to become a partner, contact Cynthia Dorsey Edwards, vice president of community engagement & public affairs, at edwardsc@gptc.edu or 404-297-9522, Ext. 1112.

Therapist to discuss massage, share techniques Licensed neuromuscular therapist Safiyah Walcott will discuss the ancient healing method of massage on Sept. 20 at Stonecrest Library in Lithonia. The two-hour program, Massage Therapy: Healing for the Mind, Body and Spirit, is sponsored by the Friends of the Stonecrest Library. It begins at 11 a.m. Walcott, who is the owner of Atlanta-based

Safiyah’s Massage and Rehabilitation Therapies, will explain how massage works to improve quality of life. Participants will get tips on massage techniques that eliminate high pain levels, increase flexibility, and improve energy levels. Call or visit the branch to register. The library is at 3123 Klondike Road. For more information and to register, call 770-482-3828. Safiyah Walcott

September 13, 2014

Wellness

CrossRoadsNews

“Support for men who batter means holding them accountable for their actions in a way that does minimal harm to their victims.”

Victims of domestic violence need compassion By Jean Douglas

When we see suffering, as we have this week in a high-profile domestic violence assault, many of us are motivated to relieve that suffering by learning more about what we can do to help. This is called active compassion and women experiencing domestic violence need you to use your compassion in three major ways. First, we need compassion from you – the kind that comes person-to-person from a friend, sibling, parent, pastor, mentor and sometimes even a stranger. We need people in our lives who truly want us to be free from suffering. When you are helping a loved one navigate an abusive relationship, ask yourself: n Will what I am about to do or say really alleviate her suffering? n Will asking me why I didn’t leave sooner make my life better? n Will auditing my choices lessen my burden or cause me more pain? n Will washing your hands of me when I don’t follow the path you want me to walk improve things for me or you? It can be really difficult to watch someone you care about suffer. If you truly care about them, dedicate your energies to ending that suffering by embracing them with love and patience as they make choices for themselves and their families. But compassion can’t stop there. We need societal compassion as well – the kind that creates a culture where I can watch a film, listen to a song, hear a joke, or move through the world without constantly being told that my life doesn’t matter. I don’t need to see any more women’s bodies used as decoration or as a reward for a man’s actions. I need men to hear me, to really listen to what I am telling you about my life, my experiences, and how the world looks and feels to me as a woman. I need my neighbors to value my life over my partner’s career, how our culture appears to outsiders or the reputation of our church. I want to live in a compassionate world where my suffering pains you, too, and I have the

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice’s assault on wife Janay, captured on video, has propelled domestic violence into the spotlight.

“It can be really difficult to watch someone you care about suffer. If you truly care about them, dedicate your energies to ending that suffering by embracing them with love and patience as they make choices for themselves and their families.” Jean Douglas

opportunity to be happy and fully human. Finally, I want the men in my life to share that compassionate world. Men need your support, too, including those who are abusive. Support doesn’t mean applauding or overlooking abusive actions. Support for

men who batter means holding them accountable for their actions in a way that does minimal harm to their victims, supporting their efforts to change, and creating a culture that allows men to express their pain, anger, and other emotions in more fruitful ways

than violence. If I am asking you to see me as fully human, I want you to see my brothers, sons, and partners as fully human, too, with a right to be free from suffering, including the suffering caused by harming others. Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence provides support and services to women and children experiencing domestic violence in the Greater Atlanta area. If you are in an abusive relationship or suspect that a friend or loved one may be experiencing domestic violence, please call our 24/7 confidential hotline at 404-688-9436 to learn more about our services. Jean Douglas is executive director of the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, a Decatur-based nonprofit whose mission is ending violence against women.

State program improves kids’ activity levels, health during school day Health Empowers You! a grant program to improve children’s activity levels and health during the school day, is working, Georgia first lady Sandra Deal said Sept. 4. Georgia State University professors who evaluated the program found increased activity levels, increased aerobic capacity, improved body mass index percentiles, and improved knowledge of important physical activity concepts among students at the 39 elementary schools that participated. While childhood obesity is a serious threat in Georgia, Deal said the Health Empowers You results prove that it is not an insurmountable challenge. “By taking simple actions during the school day, we can help students get active, improve their health and have fun doing it,”

she said. Deal and Public Health Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald reported the findings at Bethlehem Elementary in Locust Grove. The findings of the program informed Georgia SHAPE’s new Power Up Brenda Fitzgerald for 30 program. Fitzgerald said the impact of the program won’t be limited to the 39 schools that participated last year but will affect children across the state. “The scientifically researched methods and results will be used to inform statewide programs moving forward, and they will be a valuable tool,” Fitzgerald said.

The Georgia Department of Public Health administers Georgia SHAPE, which is designed to combat childhood obesity. Health Empowers You! created by the nonprofit HealthMPowers, provides professional training, curMorgan Kendrick riculum and resources to enable teachers to increase physical activity among their students during the school day as well as before and after school. It was funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia Foundation. Morgan Kendrick, the foundation’s president, said the program has proven results that make a significant impact on the health

of children across Georgia. “Investing in kids’ health is investing in their future,” Kendrick said. “This program ensures that kids enter the classroom ready to learn and succeed.” Findings from Health Empowers You! were used to guide training and resource development for the state’s new Power Up for 30 program, which is part of the Georgia SHAPE initiative. Power Up for 30, a voluntary program, encourages Georgia’s elementary schools to include an additional 30 minutes of physical activity each day. So far, 316 schools have signed up to participate. For more information, visit www.georgia shape.org.

CrossRoadsNews

Scene

September 13, 2014

“We hope it will serve as a model for future partnerships between seniors and the performing and visual arts community.”

Series examining Muhammad’s life Jonathan A.C. Brown’s book “Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction” will be the topic of discussion at Let’s Talk About It: Muslim Journeys on Sept. 16 at Scott Candler Library in Decatur. T he d is cu s sion , which takes place from 6 to 8 p.m., will be facilitated by Imam Plemon El-Amin. El-Amin will discuss Plemon El-Amin Brown’s analysis of the prophet’s life and his place in Islamic scholarship (siras) and traditions (sunnah). In “Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction,” Brown also explains some of the different interpretations of Muhammad’s life within Islamic and Western thought. The Muslim Journeys reading and discussion series is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and supported by Georgia Humanities Council and One Region Atlanta. The library is at 1917 Candler Road. For more information, call 404-286-6986. Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Bob GlickSmith positions a photo at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center with help from photographers Sharon Dowdell and Harold Kenney.

Seniors’ photos, pottery on show for 2 weeks Thirty student photographers and potters from the Lou Walker Senior Center are showcasing their work at a two-week exhibit under way at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in Decatur. The exhibit, “Celebrating the Visual Artistry of the Lou Walker Senior Center,” opened Sept. 12 and will be on display through Sept. 21. It is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bob GlickSmith, the exhibit’s curator and photography teacher, says 23 photographs taken by students and seven pieces of pottery and ceramics created by students will be on display.

The exhibit is the eighth mounted by the students, but this is the first time it has been displayed at the Sanford Center. It features compelling portraits of people and animals, landscapes and buildings, and artistic and utilitarian pieces of pottery and ceramics. GlickSmith said the exhibit at the Sanford Center is breaking new ground. “We hope it will serve as a model for future partnerships between seniors and the performing and visual arts community,” he said. The joint exhibit, which blends two- and three-dimensional art into one cohesive

event, features the work of advanced photography students taught by GlickSmith, a professional photographer, and the Advanced Pottery & Ceramics class taught by John Shultz. Visitors can purchase their favorites. GlickSmith, who has taught photography to retirees who frequent the Lou Walker Center since April 2011, said all the pieces are for sale. Photographs are $175 and pottery and ceramics are $300 each. An artist reception takes place Sept. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. The Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center is at 3181 Rainbow Drive.

‘Tie That Binds’ at Stonecrest Library A day of inspiration, celebration and healing will take place on Sept. 20 at Stonecrest Library in Lithonia. Angel of God Outreach is hosting “The Tie That Binds: Mending the Broken Pieces” from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with Bishop Hassan El, Pastor Andrew Momon, and MC Bennie Morton. Organizers say the program will celebrate men and includes a neck-tying demonstration as a spiritual representation of a rite of passage and spiritual healing for the brokenhearted. The library is at 3123 Klondike Road. Call 678-964-5536 for more information.

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Reader Notice As a service to you – our valued readers – we offer the following information: This newspaper will never knowingly accept any advertisement that is illegal or considered fraudulent. If you have questions or doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. They may have records or documented complaints that will serve to caution you about doing business with those advertisers. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaranteed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good to be true – it may in fact be exactly that. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with any advertisers. Thank you.

CrossRoadsNews

September 13, 2014

People

“Though some think the United States should be an exception to this, the Constitution actually supports that.”

Wills lectures on government, arts Pulitzer Prize-winning author, journalist and historian Garry Wills will present a public lecture on “Government and the Arts” on Sept. 18 at Emory University. The lecture, which starts at 7 p.m., takes place at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. It is free to attend, but registration is required at https://secure. www.alumniconnections.com/ olc/pub/EMR/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=177427. Garry Wills Wills is this semester’s distinguished visiting professor in the Alonzo L. McDonald Family Chair on the Life and Teachings of Jesus and Their Impact on Culture in the Candler School of Theology. His lecture will focus on the relationship between government and the arts – specifically, whether government should fund the arts. Wills says there is a long history of states supporting the artistic as well as the intellectual life of

‘Belle City’ author to talk

their citizens. “Though some think the United States should be an exception to this, the Constitution actually supports that,” he said. A lifelong Roman Catholic, Wills is professor emeritus of history at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Throughout his five-decade career, he has written extensively on politics, religion and culture, penning nearly 50 books on subjects as wideranging as Nixon, St. Augustine, the papacy, and the modern presidency. His 1993 book, “Lincoln at Gettysburg,” won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction, and he was awarded the National Medal for the Humanities in 1998. Wills was born in Atlanta and grew up in Michigan and Wisconsin. In addition to his public lecture, he is teaching a course, “Augustine on the Trinity,” and will address other small groups during his McDonald Chair tenure. The Glenn Memorial UMC is at 1660 N. Decatur Road in Atlanta.

Author, playwright and journalist Penny Mickelbury will discuss the Southern interracial saga “Belle City: A Novel” on Sept. 17 at the Decatur Library. The talk, sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book, begins at 7:15 p.m. “Belle City,” Mickelbury’s first non-mystery, tells the story of star-crossed lovers Ruth Thatcher, who is black, and Jonas Thatcher, who is white. The interracial, intergenerational saga of love, land and loss spans nearly a century. It begins in 1917 when Ruth and Jonas are farm children and ends in 2005 as their descendants struggle Penny Mickelbury to unravel and understand the legacies of the pair. Mickelbury, who has just returned to Atlanta, her hometown, after a long absence, is the author of 11 mystery novels in three successful series: the Carol Ann Gibson Mysteries, the Mimi Patterson/Gianna Maglione Mysteries, and the Philip Rodriguez Mysteries. Her short stories have been included in several anthologies and collections, among them Spooks, Spies and Private Eyes: Black Mystery, Crime and Suspense Fiction; The Mysterious Naiad; and Shades of Black: Original Mystery Fiction by African-American Writers. The library is at 215 Sycamore St. in downtown Decatur. For more information, call 404-370-3070.

9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4

Notice OF PUBLICATION

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4132-3++ Jermere A. Miller Plaintiff Vs. Rosie Miller Defendant To: 3693 Church Street Clarkston, GA 30021 By Order of the Court for service by publication dated July 21, 2014 you are hereby notified that on April 17, 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: Jermere A. Miller, 1883 Singer Way, Lithonia, GA 30058. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of July 21, 2014. Witness the Honorable Clarence Seeliger, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 22nd day of August, 2014

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV8666-9++ Timothy Johnson Plaintiff Vs. Sheryl Denise Johnson Defendant To: By Order of the Court for service by publication dated September 9, 2014 you are hereby notified that on September 4, 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: Timothy Johnson, 4446 Sims Road, Ellenwood, GA 30294. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of September 9, 2014. Witness the Honorable Mark Anthony Scott, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 9th day of September, 2014

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Legal Notices 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: ++ 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 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 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/04

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV8667-7++ Frank Hudelleston, Jr., filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on September 4, 2014, to change the name from: Frank Hudelleston, Jr. to Johnny Frank Huddleston.. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and

file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: September 3, 2014 Johnny Frank Huddleston Petitioner, Pro se 425 Saint Ives Street Stone Mountain, GA 30083 (404) 501-9677 8/23, 8/30, 9/6, 9/13

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

9/6, 9/13, 9/20, 9/27

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV8448-7++ Jeneva Givens Plaintiff Vs. Aaron Givens Defendant To: 4646 Cedar Keys Lane Stone Mountain, GA 30083

By Order of the Court for service by publication dated August 29, 2014 you are hereby notified that on August 27, 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: Jeneva Givens, 1883 Singer Way, Lithonia, GA 30058. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of August 29, 2014. Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 29th day of August, 2014

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV8787-10++ Adebowale R. Danmilola, filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on August 11, 2014, to change the name from: Adebowale Rukayat Danmilola to Rukayat Adedamilola Adebowale. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed. Dated: August 11, 2014 Adebowale R. Danmilola Petitioner, Pro se 4562 Central Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 (404) 940-2722

DeKalb County Sheriff Office

Jeffrey L. Mann, Sheriff 4415 Memorial Drive • Decatur, GA 30032

8/23, 8/30, 9/6, 9/13

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

Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV7891-2++ Huronda P. Gordon Smith Plaintiff Vs. Jessie James Smith Defendant To: Cobbs Creek Drive Decatur, GA 30032 By Order of the Court for service by publication dated August 14, 2014 you are hereby notified that on August 11, 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: Huronda P. Gordon Smith, 7029 Red Maple Lane, Lithonia, GA 30058. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of August 14, 2014. Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 18th day of August, 2014

in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Sex Offender

Demetrius Burton Jeffrey Hines Bobby Baccus 2404 Northlake Heights 2050 Peachtree Industrial 415 Creekview Drive Circle Court, 325 Stone Mountain, GA Atlanta, GA 30345 Chamblee, GA 30341 30083 Charge of Statutory Rape. Charge of Sexual ExploiCharge of Sexual Convicted on 8/8/2002 tation of Children. Battery Against Child Convicted on 1/4/2012 Under 16 YOA. Convicted on 12/20/2007

Sex Offender

Melvin Murphy 1874 Fairpointe Trace Stone Mtn, GA 30088 Charge of Criminal Sexual Conduct 3rd Degree, Child Under 15. Convicted on 7/24/2006

Mathew Sellers 1122 Dobbs Drive Atlanta, GA 30316 Charge of Assault 2nd Degree 4th. Convicted on 2/4/2011

Sex Offender

Tiffanie Blow 4815 Buford Hwy Atlanta, GA 30341 Charge of Sexual Battery. Convicted on 5/28/2008

Dwayne Grate 3386 Columbia Trace Decatur, GA 30032 Charge of Child Molestation. Convicted on 4/14/2010

Sex Offender

Walter J. Johnson Jr. 2565 Newhaven Street Atlanta, GA 30345 Charge of Aggravated Child Molestation. Convicted on 2/3/1997

Sex Offender

Arthur Pledger 601 Briar Lake Court NE Atlanta, GA 30345 Charge of Rape 3rd Degree 2cts. Convicted on 3/31/2009

Sex Offender

Jimmy Thompson 4590 Gulf Vista Circle Decatur, GA 30035 Charge of Sexual Abuse. Convicted on 1/8/1996

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Sex Offender

Tellis White 3330 Mountain Drive Pinetree Circle Apt #93 Decatur, GA 30032 Charge of Rape. Convicted on 5/4/2001

CrossRoadsNews

September 13, 2014

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