WELLNESS
SCENE
FINANCE
U.S. schoolchildren are consuming way too much sodium, putting them at risk of developing hypertension and heart disease, the CDC says. 6
A photo of canoeists on the South River wins a spot on the North Georgia Water District’s 2015 calendar. 9
Katerina Taylor is the first woman to be named president of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce in the group’s 75-year history. 11
Too much of a good thing
Date with destiny
Ground-breaking leader
EAST ATLANTA • DECATUR • STONE MOUNTAIN • LITHONIA • AVONDALE ESTATES • CLARKSTON • ELLENWOOD • PINE LAKE • REDAN • SCOTTDALE • TUCKER
Copyright © 2014 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
September 20, 2014
Volume 20, Number 21
www.crossroadsnews.com
Witnesses say Ellis pressured them for contributions By Ken Watts
Suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis has denied charges that he shook down county vendors for campaign contributions and penalized those who didn’t give.
not guilty. Hodges said Ellis used his power over an appointed agency head to get a list of vendors and phone numbers to use for soliciting campaign contributions. “He also tried to use that power over vendors to raise money for his 2012 reelection campaign and then he threatened to pull lucrative work from companies that didn’t pay up,” she said, adding that Ellis was relentless. She also said that Ellis lied to a special purpose grand jury about those threats to vendors.
The first witnesses took the stand this week in the long-awaited corruption trial of suspended CEO Burrell Ellis in DeKalb Superior Court. Assistant District Attorney Lawanda Hodges set the tone in her opening statement for what will be a long, complex case, saying that the trial is about “power, punishment and perjury.” Ellis, who was suspended from office on July 16, 2013, is facing charges that he shook down county vendors for campaign donations and penalized those who didn’t give. Ellis has denied the charges and pleaded Please see ELLIS, page 3
Ken Watts / CrossRoadsNews
U.S. launches major Ebola epidemic initiative President Barack Obama announces a strategy to quell the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, including military support, training more health care workers, and setting up more facilities in the region.
Obama comes to DeKalb to make announcement By Ken Watts
President Barack Obama came to DeKalb County on Sept. 16 to announce a major U.S. response to the Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 2,400 people and infected thousands in West Africa. Speaking at the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after a briefing on the deadly virus, Obama said that at the request of the Liberian government, the United States is establishing a military command center in Liberia to support civilian efforts across the region. More than 3,000 U.S. military personnel will be sent to the hardest-hit countries – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea – to help. “Our forces are going to bring their expertise in command and control, in logistics, in engineering,” the president said. Obama said the response is similar to what the United States did after the Jan. 21, 2010, earthquake in Haiti. He said that the U.S. response to the Ebola epidemic is the “largest international response in the history of the CDC.” The Ebola outbreak began in March, and Obama said the hard truth is that in West Africa, it is now an epidemic “of the likes that we have not seen before.” “It’s spiraling out of control,” he said. “It is getting worse. It’s spreading faster and exponentially. Today, thousands of people in West Africa are infected. That number could rapidly grow to tens of thousands.” If the outbreak is not stopped now, Obama said we could be looking at hundreds of thousands of people infected, with profound political, economic and security implications for all of us. “So this is an epidemic that is not just a threat to regional security,” he said. “It’s a potential threat to global security if these
countries break down, if their economies break down, if people panic. That has profound effects on all of us, even if we are not directly contracting the disease.” He said the world is looking to the United States for leadership and that it is taking steps to control the outbreak, address the ripple effects on local economies and communities to prevent a massive humanitarian disaster, and build up the weak public health systems that have collapsed in the affected countries. While it is a daunting task, he said that the world knows how to fight Ebola virus disease. “It’s not a mystery,” Obama said. “We know the science. We know how to prevent it from spreading. We know how to care for those who contract it. We know that if we take the proper steps, we can save lives. But we have to act fast. We can’t dawdle on this one.”
Obama said Maj. Gen. Darryl Williams, commander of U.S. Army forces in Africa, will lead the U.S. command center in Liberia and arrived there on Tuesday. Obama’s plan also involves the training of as many as 500 health care workers a week to fight Ebola and setting up nearly 20 facilities with 100 beds each in the region. He said that the United States is going to create an air bridge to get health workers and medical supplies into West Africa faster, establish a staging area in Senegal to help distribute personnel and aid on the ground more quickly, build additional treatment units with new isolation spaces, and train thousands of health workers so they can effectively and safely care for more patients. “Personnel from the U.S. Public Health Service will deploy to the new field hospitals that we’re setting up in Liberia,” the president said. “And USAID will join with interna-
tional partners and local communities in a Community Care Campaign to distribute supplies and information kits to hundreds of thousands of families so they can better protect themselves.” Obama said U.S. scientists continue their urgent research to find new treatments and vaccines. “Today I’m calling on Congress to approve the funding that we’ve requested so that we can carry on with all these critical efforts,” he said. Speaking before the president’s visit to the CDC, administration officials said funds for the effort would likely come from $500 million in overseas contingency operations, such as the war in Afghanistan, that the Pentagon already has asked Congress to redirect to carry out humanitarian efforts in Iraq and Please see EBOLA, page 6
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CrossRoadsNews
Community
September 20, 2014
“People want to know what they did and for them to be held accountable for their actions. That’s what the citizens want.”
Ethics Board says complaints will go forward By Ken Watts
Larry Danese
Nancy Jester
Tom Owens
5 candidates qualify for District 1 seat Four Republicans and an independent are seeking to replace Elaine Boyer on the DeKalb Board of Commissioners. Wendy Butler, Larry Danese, Nancy Jester, Tom Owens and Holmes Pyles qualified Sept. 8 to 10 for the special election that will be held alongside the Nov. 4 general elections. Butler, a land use attorney, lives in Atlanta. Danese, a retired electrical and nuclear engineer, lives in Brookhaven. He was a candidate for Brookhaven mayor in 2012. Jester, a former DeKalb School Board member, is an actuarial consultant. She ran unsuccessfully in May for the Republican nomination for state school superintendent. She lives in Dunwoody. Owens, a Vietnam veteran, lives in Doraville. Pyles, who is running as an independent, is a retired state government employee. He lives in Stone Mountain. The seat covers 140,000 people in Dunwoody, Brookhaven and Tucker. Boyer, who represented the district for 22 years, resigned on Aug. 25 amid a federal investigation into her abuse of her county-issued purchasing card. On Sept. 3, she pleaded guilty to federal mail and wire fraud charges for theft of $90,000 and misusing her county-issued purchasing card for personal purchases. The winner of the special election will finish Boyer’s term of office, which expires in 2016.
Ethics complaints against former DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer and her chief of staff, Robert Lundsten, are moving forward despite Boyer’s resignation on Aug. 25 and her guilty plea to federal fraud charges. Boyer and Lundsten have been accused by Doraville resident Tom Owens and Joe Elaine Boyer Newton of Gwinnett County of abusing their county-issued debit cards for personal benefit. The Board of Ethics voted Sept. 15 to deny motions filed by attorneys for Boyer and Lundsten to dismiss the complaints. Owens’ complaint, which he filed on April 2, said Boyer and Lundsten had a pattern of misusing their county-issued purchasing cards. Ethics Board Chairman John Ernst said the board had no choice but to proceed with the hearing. “We have stated that we had jurisdiction at the time of filing,” Ernst said. “We believe we have met our rules, and for us to back off that now when there could be other [P-card] cases out there is not our place to decide.” Boyer’s attorney, Anne Lewis, asked the board to dismiss the complaint against Boyer because she is no longer in office. Lewis argued that the statute that created the Ethics Board limited its jurisdiction to elected officials, appointed officials and employees. “It is a matter of black letter law that an agency cannot expand its jurisdiction Anne Lewis beyond which the Legislature has given it,” Lewis said. “An agency cannot apply a substantive law retroactively.” The ethics complaint against Lundsten alleges he used his purchasing card for meals, towing charges and a cable TV bill. Lundsten’s attorney, Kathryn Zickert, told the board
that Lundsten didn’t violate any ethical standards. Boyer pleaded guilty on Sept. 3 to federal charges of wire fraud and mail fraud after being accused of conspiring between September 2009 and November 2011 to “defraud DeKalb County” by authorizing 35 payments for false invoices “for consulting services that were never Robert Lundsten performed.” Boyer also was accused of authorizing more than $78,000 to a financial “advisor” who then funneled about 75 percent or $58,000 of the money into her personal bank account while keeping about $20,000 for himself. Boyer, who faces up to 40 years in prison, will be sentenced in December. The Ethics Board could hold a final hearing on Boyer and Lundsten at its Oct. 15 meeting. Newton, who co-filed the ethics complaints against Boyer and Lundsten, said that the Ethics Board had no choice but to proceed with the cases. “There are almost 300 of these P-cards floating around,” Newton told reporters after the board meeting. “What the board determines here is going to affect what’s Joe Newton going to happen presumably with several other employees and commissioners.” Newton said there is also a question as to whether Boyer is still eligible for a government pension. “There are still issues about her retirement,” he said. “The board should retain jurisdiction and finish its job.” Owens, the other complaint filer, said there is a broader issue at stake. “People want to know what they did and for them to be held accountable for their actions,” he said. “That’s what the citizens want.” Owens is now a candidate in a special election to replace Boyer. He was one of five candidates to qualify for the election that takes place Nov. 4.
September 20, 2014
Community
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CrossRoadsNews
“The conversation got really difficult. He was reaching out for his personal reasons.”
McNair gunman to serve 20 years School bookkeeper charged with theft “He tried killing himself at Michael Brandon Hill, who least nine times, and he was in terrorized students and staff at and out of state custody as a Ronald E. McNair Discovery child,” she said. “He turned up Learning Academy on Aug. 20, at area hospitals seeking psychi2013, was sentenced to 40 years atric medication.” – 20 years in prison and 20 on Months before Hill attacked probation. the school of 800 students, he DeKalb Superior Court Judge was burned in an apartment fire Mark Scott delivered the sentence and became homeless. Sept. 16 after Hill pleaded guilty. Michael B. Hill “Mr. Hill’s only intention that day was Hill, 21, entered the Decatur elementary school with an AK-47 and nearly 500 to harm himself,” Deets said. She said Hill did not fire any shots bullets and repeatedly fired at police from inside the school before school book- close to the police officers who quickly keeper Antoinette Tuff persuaded him to swarmed the school. State officials will evaluate Hill for surrender. At the sentencing hearing, Hill’s de- mental illness and create a treatment plan fense attorney, Annie Deets, said he has a while he’s in prison and during the 20-year history of mental illness that started when probation sentence that follows. Hill said little during the sentencing he was 7. She said Hill was abused by his late father and lived with a mother who hearing. At times, he rocked slightly in a courtroom chair. abused drugs and alcohol.
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
Stephine Barkley of McDonough has been arrested for allegedly stealing $15,000 of student activity funds from Lithonia High. Barkley, a bookkeeper at the school on Phillips Road in Lithonia from November 2007 to Aug. 21, was arrested on Aug. 27 on charges of theft by taking. The missing funds were discovered by a DeKalb School District audit. The district said Sept. Stephine Barkley 18 that Barkley was immediately terminated and its investigative files were turned over to the DeKalb district attorney for prosecution. “We have documented that approximately $46,000 in student activity school funds have not been accounted for,” the district said. “The internal investigation will continue to
examine school and financial records until all missing funds are identified.” In her signed confession, Barkley said she began taking school deposits during the 20132014 school year to pay her rent and day care bills for her children. “It was almost like an addiction to take money from the deposits,” said Barkley, whose duties as school bookkeeper included payroll, purchasing, school accounting, deposits, attendance and registration, and withdrawals. She said she also worked as cheerleading sponsor for the 2013-2014 school year. Barkley said she never kept track of the money she took but estimates that she may have taken about $15,000. “I tried to put some of the money back around December and January,” she said. Barkley was released from DeKalb County Jail on Aug. 17 after posting a $2,500 bond. It was unclear at press time Thursday when she would be tried.
Jurors hear vendors’ testimony in suspended CEO’s corruption trial from page
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Hodges wrapped up her opening statement by playing a brief clip from a recording of Ellis telling the county employee over contracts to cut off a vendor who refused to contribute to Ellis’ 2012 re-election campaign, or to “dry him up.” Defense attorney Dwight Thomas told jurors the evidence will show that Ellis did nothing to enrich himself during his time in office and did not take kickbacks from county vendors. He said the vendors’ telephone numbers that prosecutors say Ellis broke the law to get were available to any citizen just for the asking. “There will not be one single piece of evidence that Burrell Ellis asked for a bribe or solicited a bribe,” Thomas said. “There will be no evidence Burrell Ellis willfully lied to a special purpose grand jury. There is no evidence Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis took, stole or skimmed any political funds from any campaign.” Thomas also said there is no proof that any vendor lost a contract because they didn’t contribute to Ellis’ 2012 campaign. “Burrell Ellis at all times ‘acted within the power and the scope and the responsibilities’ of the CEO’s office,” Thomas said. Thomas claimed Ellis didn’t have the authority to revoke contracts of more than $50,000, and once jurors hear secretly recorded conversations in their entirety – rather than just the snippet prosecutors played in their opening statement – they will understand that Ellis was not threatening anyone.
‘I was worried about my job’ Among the first witnesses called by prosecutors on Tuesday was Eneida Robles, a former employee of Power and Energy Services of Austell. Robles described a tense conversation she had with Ellis in 2012 when she told him her company would not contribute to his reelection campaign. The contract Power and Energy Services had with DeKalb County to service Department of Watershed Management generators was relatively new and she feared she would lose her job after Ellis threatened to withhold business. Robles testified that she took three calls from Ellis asking to speak with one of the company’s owners. Each time she told Ellis co-owner Brandon Cummings was out of the office on a service call, as were her instructions. She said she was told to treat calls from Ellis as a solicitation. When Ellis made a third call a few days after the first two, Robles said she checked with her boss before giving Ellis a response to his request. “When I got back on the phone, I told
him that at this time we were not interested in his services, in providing campaign funds, that we could not contribute to his campaign,” she testified. “He was pretty angry with the fact that he couldn’t get Brandon on the phone. He told me, ‘If you don’t want to service DeKalb County, then I will contact the purchasing manager over there.’ When I said again we could not contribute, he got more angry. The tone was not a good tone.” Minutes later, a call came from the head of DeKalb’s purchasing office, Kelvin Walton, she testified. “I was pretty much worried about my job because I thought I had cost them the contract,” Robles said. Soon the calls to service DeKalb County generators stopped, Robles testified. “They told us we couldn’t service DeKalb County until further notice,” Robles said. “I knew our service people were not going out to any annuals [yearly inspections].”
Hold issued on authorizing work Robles’ boss Brandon Cummings testified on Wednesday that the county stopped calling Power and Energy and began using another contractor, Prime Power, to service its generators. Cummings recalled his own conversation with Ellis in September 2012. Cummings said the call, recorded by an investigator with the District Attorney’s Office, was “uncomfortable.” “The conversation got really difficult,” Cummings said. “He was reaching out for his personal reasons.” He said Ellis was asking for a $2,500 contribution to help retire debt that he said remained even though Ellis had won the seat in the 2012 summer primary. There was no Republican running in the November general election. Cummings pointed out to Ellis that he was based in Cobb County and not DeKalb, and it would make more sense that if he were to give to a political campaign it should be to elected officials running in the county that was home to his company. Ellis responded he could follow that logic but in reverse, asking, “Why is DeKalb County doing business with a Cobb County business?” “He had already said he’s going to cut it [the contract],” Cummings said, adding that he worried about being able to pay his employees. “When I realized he reaffirmed the threat and the actions that were already there, I tried my best to keep it together. I’ve never had a call like that before,” Cummings said. Through his questions, Thomas tried to suggest that Ellis repeatedly called the Austell company because Cummings had not been direct when he spoke with the CEO the first time he called for a contribution. Thomas
also suggested that Ellis called back several times because company secretary Robles told him that the business would not be giving his campaign any money “at this time.” Also Wednesday, Joe Basista, retired director of the Department of Watershed Management, testified that a hold was issued on authorizing work for an Austell vendor who had declined to contribute to the re-election campaign of Ellis. Basista was asked not to say in his testimony the reason he was given for cutting off Power and Energy Services, but he said the order came from the head of the county purchasing and contract office, Kelvin Walton.
Fall Convocation
ELLIS,
“He [Walton] said he was closing the system down on Power and Energy Services,” Basista testified. “We didn’t cancel the contract. We were directed to stop issuing work authorizations.” On Thursday, Trina Shealey, co-owner of National Property Institute, which had a contract with the county in 2012 to rehab foreclosed homes, said she believed Ellis was going to cancel her company’s contract with the county unless he received a campaign contribution. Testimony was scheduled to continue on Friday. Judge Courtney Johnson said the trial could last four to six weeks.
To All Alumni of DeKalb Area Vocational School (1961 - 1963) DeKalb Area Technical School (1963 - 1972) DeKalb Community College-Technical Division (1972 - 1986) DeKalb Technical Institute (1986 - 2000) DeKalb Technical College (2000 - 2011) Georgia Piedmont Technical College (2011 - 2014)
Please join President Jabari Simama for
fall Convocation
Bridging from Our Past, Building for Our Future
Thursday, october 23, 2014 11:00 a.m. Georgia Piedmont Technical College Conference Center, DeKalb Campus 495 N. Indian Creek Drive Clarkston, GA 30021
RSVP by October 16, 2014, to Seddrick Hill at hills@gptc.edu or (404) 297-9522 ext. 1828 Celebratory lunch to follow
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Forum
CrossRoadsNews
September 20, 2014
My sense is that we have certain commissioners who are trying to parlay a part-time job into a full-time livelihood.
Accountability, reform needed in county 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 Kathie Gannon
Interim CEO Lee May’s Sept. 13 Forum column needs a counterpoint to provide a wider perspective. It has been over a year now that DeKalb has been tarnished by a litany of problems. In light of these revelations, interim CEO May has taken some small steps forward to give the county administration a bit more accountability. I can certainly appreciate his desire to let the public know about the changes that he has made as interim CEO. However, I have to take exception to him rewriting the history of overseeing Board of Commissioners spending. While he was the District 5 commissioner, Lee May was chairman of the Finance, Audit and Budget Committee. The previous chair was Elaine Boyer. Both then-Commissioners May and Boyer held hostage, in committee, proposals made by two members of the BOC to hire an independent auditor who could investigate how taxpayer funds were spent. The Board of Commissioners is a separate branch of government and as the legislative body we are
“From my perspective, checks and balances are a positive feature of our government. Changing the form of government and placing power solely in the BOC will not solve our problems.” District 6 Commissioner Kathie Gannon
in charge of creating the policy and ordinances for the executive branch/CEO to follow (except for purchasing, which is solely under the CEO). It is a structure that provides for checks and balances if those in public office do their part. For Mr. May to lay blame at the foot of previous CEOs and the government structure is less than candid. Blaming the form of government is an effort to convince citizens that the structure of government is causing our problems rather than the people holding the power. From my perspective, checks and balances are a positive feature of our government. Changing the form of government and placing power solely in the BOC will not solve our problems. As chairman of the Audit Com-
mittee, Commissioner May had the perfect platform to request independent audits and investigations. As CEO he has an even broader platform to give support to the needed reforms that are already being advocated in our communities. For example: n An independent auditor who reports to a citizens board should be a priority for DeKalb County government. The city of Atlanta and many other governments have such positions and they quickly pay for themselves from savings in waste and fraud. n The Board of Ethics should be free from the control of the CEO and the BOC as to its appointments and the hiring and delegating the duties to its staff. n Encouraging the establishment of a real public Anti-Corruption
Unit, in collaboration with the GBI and FBI and Police Department, to investigate known concerns. n Support for an Ordinance of Procurement to allow the BOC to work with the CEO on transparent procedures that then become law to mandate accountability. People want meaningful reform. It will take our citizens to demand accountability and participate in reform activities. Join with those in the four or more citizens groups that are currently working on these efforts. The interim CEO has a task force of elected officials and others looking for solutions – scrutinize their recommendations. We who are elected must continue to support efforts to clean house such as my resolution requiring an audit of our own past spending. We also need to enact policies for our future spending. And it will take engaged DeKalb voters in November to fill the District 1 BOC position, and again in 2016 as we vote for several district positions and the office of CEO. Stay tuned. Step up. Please be a part of the solution. Kathie Gannon represents Super District 6.
Using county cards for personal expenses violates basic rule By Stephen Bradshaw
I taught a graduate-level class called Public Service and Democracy as an adjunct professor for the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. One of the textbooks that I taught from was “The Responsible Administrator” by Terry L. Cooper, which presented various ethical scenarios that my students had to wrestle with. It was always fascinating for me to listen to my students discuss these issues in that it provided a very compelling insight as to what was considered to be ethical behavior and what was not. My major takeaway was the following: People don’t learn to be ethical in public office. People bring their ethics – or lack thereof – to office with them. There are multiple opportunities for improper or even illegal behavior with so much money at stake. Consequently, someone with a propensity for unethical behavior or an entitlement mentality is far more likely to act upon such temptations. As someone who has spent many years in the private sector, I have completed and submitted countless expense reports. Whether
“If any commissioner needs remedial training on how to document and manage expenditures, they have absolutely no business being in such a responsible position.” Stephen Bradshaw
I was issued a corporate credit card or used my own, the construct was pretty simple. Any legitimate business expenses were accurately documented and the receipts for said expenses were attached to an expense report that I signed vouching for the legitimacy of those expenses. The report was then submitted to my boss for approval. The bottom line is simple: You don’t mess around with expense reports because it’s morally wrong, and legally, it’s just not worth it. In DeKalb County, our commissioners manage significant office budgets and millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money. If any commissioner claims ignorance of the simple construct highlighted above and therefore needs remedial training on how to document and manage expenditures, they have absolutely no business being in such a responsible position.
Even my former students know that. Moreover, DeKalb County commissioner is a part-time job and it is paid as such. But, my sense is that we have certain commissioners who are trying to parlay a part-time job into a full-time livelihood. Simply stated, the numbers don’t add up. If someone is retired or independently wealthy, so be it. But if someone is in the midst of their prime income-earning years, then serious consideration should be given to taking on such a challenge and potential income sacrifice. If at some point we as citizens want to change the county commissioner’s role to a full-time job (which I seriously doubt) and pay them $100,000 per year, then so be it. But maybe until such time, we as citizens should be a little more discerning about the actual motivations of the people who seek those
positions. Of course, there are the apologists who will argue that the DeKalb County structure is flawed and therefore lends itself to such bad behavior. The structure may in fact be flawed. However, my response to that line of argument is twofold: n No operating structure is perfect. If someone is dishonest or has an entitlement mentality, that will become self-evident sooner or later no matter what the structure may be. n I simply refer you to the words of my maternal grandmother who used to tell me: “Son, do not cover up wrongdoing.” Those words still resonate with me. Whatever happened to the concept of our elected leaders serving as responsible stewards of our money? When will our elected leaders stop making headlines for misdeeds? Isn’t anyone else sick and tired of it, like I am? Irrespective of the structure or any other faulty reasoning, the apologists need to stop making excuses for bad behavior. My former students intuitively know that too. Stephen Bradshaw lives in Stone Mountain. He was a candidate for the DeKalb District 4 seat in 2012.
index to advertisers Art Awakening............................................... 11 Avon.............................................................. 11 Braids By Theresa.......................................... 11 Chapel Hill Orthodontics.................................6 DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court......................9 DeKalb County Watershed Mgmt.................... 3
Circulation Audited By
DeKalb County Watershed Mgmt.................... 5 Georgia Military College.................................6 Henry Mitchell, CPA, PC................................. 11 JenCare Medical Centers................................. 5 LawnMax, Inc................................................. 11 Macy’s............................................................12
Mini Mall........................................................ 11 Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center.......... 8 Soul Discount Fabrics..................................... 11 The Mall at Stonecrest.................................... 7 The Samuel Group......................................... 11 Best Buy..................................................Inserts
Walgreen’s..............................................Inserts Walmart..................................................Inserts Allstate - Rochelle Bridges Johnson....... Online Decatur Business Association................. Online Georgia Military College........................ Online
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September 20, 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.
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Wellness
CrossRoadsNews
September 20, 2014
“Reducing sodium intake will help our children avoid tragic and expensive health problems.”
Kids, teens consuming way too much sodium daily Most U.S. schoolchildren are eating more sodium than recomand caregivers as well as schools, mended, putting them at risk for developing high blood communities and places that pressure and heart disease later in life, a new CDC sell, make or serve food are Vital Signs report finds. all encouraged to take steps More than 40 percent comes from 10 to ensure more low-sodium common foods – pizza, bread and rolls, options. cold cuts/cured meats, savory snacks, For example, parents can sandwiches, cheese, chicken patties/nugestablish healthy eating habits in gets/tenders, pasta mixed dishes, Mexican their children by providing a diet mixed dishes, and soups. high in fruits and vegetables without Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the national added sodium. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the Schools and school districts can sodium is coming from processed and restaurant food, implement food purchasing policies and not the salt shaker. standards that reduce sodium in foods and “Too many children are consuming way too much Culprits include cold cuts, pizza, and put lower-sodium alternatives in vending machines, sodium, and the result will be risks of high blood chicken nuggets and tenders. school stores and cafeterias. They also can strive to meet or pressure and heart disease in the future,” Frieden said exceed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nutrition standards for on Sept. 9. “Reducing sodium intake will help our children avoid foods served during the school day. tragic and expensive health problems.” Kevin Concannon, USDA Food, Nutrition The Vital Signs report uses data from the CDC’s and Consumer Services undersecretary, said 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examinathat because of the Healthy, Hunger-free tion Survey. Kids Act and the work of schools, students Key findings include: are now receiving healthier meals and snacks with less sodium, sugar and fat and more whole n U.S. children ages 6 to 18 eat an average of 3,300 grains, fruits and vegetables, lean protein and milligrams of sodium a day before salt is added at the low-fat dairy. table. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that chil“This report demonstrates the importance of continuing to move dren eat less than 2,300 mg per day total. forward in their efforts to improve nutrition in schools and to ensure n Most sodium is already in food before it is purchased or ordered. About 65 percent that children and teens nationwide have access to safe, nutritious meals and comes from store foods, 13 percent from fast-food and pizza restaurant foods, and 9 percent snacks during the school day.” from school cafeteria foods. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov. To help reduce the amount of sodium children are consuming daily, the CDC says parents
Author’s grief workshop at library Time ripe to get disaster-ready Individuals coping with grief can join author Selma Calaman for her Sept. 27 workshops, “Take Time to Give a Care – Understanding the Impact of Grief,” at the Stonecrest Library. The workshops, sponsored by the Friends of Stonecrest Library, are inspired by her book of the same name, which was written in memory of her daughter, Anika Vai, and her closest “sister-friend,” Deloise. Workshop A begins at 3 p.m. in the auditorium. Dance, mime, spoken word and
vocal performances by local artists are scheduled. The book and workshop series cast an intimate look at the burdens and blessings of family and friends during the crisis of grief. Calaman offers “an insider’s view” of the grief journey and provides valuable tips on helping a loved one heal from emotional devastation. The library is at 3123 Klondike Road in Lithonia. For more information, call 770-482-3828.
Seniors can reduce fire injury risk Every year, more than 1,100 Americans 65 years and older die in home fires, but fire rescue officials say that with prevention education, senior residents have the power to stop a fire before it starts. During National Preparedness Month, being observed in September, officials are focusing attention on 65- to 74-year-olds. The U.S. Fire Administration says this group is twice as likely to die in a fire as the rest of the population. Here are some tips to reduce the risk of death and injury from fire: n Be extra careful when cooking. Do not leave food unattended and don’t wear loose clothing, like shirts with big sleeves, when cooking. n Never use the stove or oven to heat your home. n Double-check the kitchen to be sure the
oven and all appliances are turned off before going to bed or leaving the house. n Never smoke in bed. n Replace mattresses made before the 2007 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard. n Keep combustible materials, like drapes and clothing, at least three feet away from your heater. n Never overload outlets or extension cords. n Install a smoke alarm or make sure the one you have is working. n Prepare an escape plan and practice it twice a year. Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two escape routes from their bedrooms. For more information, visit www.usfa .fema.gov or www.ready.gov or call the DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department at 678-406-7750.
Individuals, families and businesses can learn about emergency preparedness on Sept. 21 in Emory Village between traffic circles. During the 2:30-to-7:30 p.m. session, DEMA staff will provide information on family and business emergency preparedness. It is hosted by DeKalb Emergency Management Agency as part of its observance of National Preparedness Month. Emory Village is in the Druid Hills/ Emory University area along North Decatur and Oxford roads. Sue Loeffler, DEMA’s director, said it’s important for DeKalb residents to take time during National Preparedness Month to get disaster-ready. “Taking a few easy proactive steps to get ready can help ensure the safety of you and your family in the event of an emergency,” she said.
Other sessions include: n NWS Storm Spotter Class – Sept. 23
from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at DeKalb County Fire Rescue Headquarters, 1950 W. Exchange Place in Tucker. Registration is encouraged. For more information, call Dena Glover at 770-270-0413. n Emory CERT Class – Thursdays from 7 to 9:30 p.m., Sept. 25 to Nov. 13, at the Claudia Nance Rollins Building in the Rollins School of Public Health on the Emory Campus, Room CNR 4001. Registration is required. For more information, contact Robert Swanson at 678-406-7858 or raswanson@ dekalbcountyga.gov. For more information, visit www.face book.com/DeKalbCountyEMA or www .ready.ga.gov or call 770-270-0413. For preparedness on the go, download the upgraded mobile app www.ready.ga.gov/mobileapp.
Obama praises CDC, Emory staff EBOLA,
from page
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in West Africa. The officials said it would take about two weeks to get U.S. forces on the ground in Liberia, the country hardest-hit by the Ebola epidemic. To reassure Americans, Obama said that chances of an Ebola outbreak here in the United States are extremely low. “We’ve been taking the necessary precautions, including working with countries in West Africa to increase screening at airports so that someone with the virus doesn’t get on a plane for the United States,” he said. “In the unlikely event that someone with Ebola does reach our shores, we’ve taken new measures so that we’re prepared here at home.” He said flight crews have been trained to identify people who are sick and more labs across the country now have the capacity to quickly test for the virus. “We’re working with hospitals to make sure that they are prepared and to ensure that our doctors, our nurses and our medical staff are trained, are ready, and are able to deal with a possible case safely.” Before concluding his remarks, Obama said that the scenes we are witnessing in West Africa today “are absolutely gutwrenching.”
“In one account over the weekend, we read about a family in Liberia,” he said. “The disease had already killed the father. The mother was cradling a sick and listless 5-year-old son. Her other son, 10 years old, was dying, too. They finally reached a treatment center but they couldn’t get in. … These men and women and children are just sitting, waiting to die, right now. And it doesn’t have to be this way.” Air Force One landed at 1:50 p.m. at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport where the president was greeted by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves, and Clayton County Commission Chairman Jeff Turner before his motorcade headed to the CDC. Obama toured the CDC campus on Clifton Road in DeKalb County and got a briefing on the agency’s efforts to fight the outbreak in the stricken countries. The president praised the CDC for its work and commended the staff of Emory University Hospital for their treatment in August of U.S. missionaries Dr. Tim Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who were infected by Ebola while working in Liberia. Both recovered from the illness. Obama met with Brantly in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 16 before heading to Atlanta.
CrossRoadsNews
September 20, 2014
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Ministry
CrossRoadsNews
September 20, 2014
“I’m here because of a very strong pull to this very specific church once Elward was called home to be with the Lord.”
New pastor fills old friend’s shoes
Church hosts international Sunday
By Njeri Fuller Boss
By Jennifer Ffrench Parker
The Rev. Richard Allen Farmer, who will be formally installed as the new pastor of Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Stone Mountain on Sept. 27, is a self-described “vibrant lover of Jesus.” Farmer, who arrived at the church nine months ago, has a spirit that cannot be bottled, spoiled or shamed. He has been using it to re-energize a congregation that was stunned by the sudden death of their longtime beloved leader, the Rev. Elward Ellis, who died in a car accident on May 12, 2012. Now Farmer, a slender and sprightly 62-year-old who knew Ellis for 35 years, teaches and preaches from the pulpit of his longtime friend and colleague. He says there are no coincidences with “Papa God.” “I’m here because of a very strong pull to this very specific church once Elward was called home to be with the Lord,” he says. Over their long personal and professional friendship, Ellis called on Farmer several times to fill the Crossroads pulpit in his absence. Now as he fills the pastoral role at the church, located on the hilltop at the corner of Redan and Panola roads, Farmer says that he misses his friend. His arrival at the church on Jan. 1 culminated a yearlong search by the church’s pastoral nominating committee. When members announced his nomination in a Dec. 15, 2013, letter to the congregation, they said Farmer’s unique qualifications were evident to them. “We believe God has called him to be the spiritual leader who will spur us on to love and good works, continuing to press on to fulfill Crossroads’ mission,” they wrote. Church members overwhelmingly voted in Farmer as their next pastor. He said recently that he took the job because Crossroads Presbyterian was a known entity to him. “I liked the people here,” he said. “I thought they were trying to do good work and ministry, and though small, they were taking with great seriousness the job of mission and ministry.” His 11 a.m. installation ceremony on
Overcomers Christian Fellowship in Lithonia will celebrate its multicultural membership at its annual international service on Sept. 28. Among the church’s congregation are natives of the United States, Nigeria, Liberia, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Barbados, Panama, Guyana, and the Dominican The Celebration of Nations on Sept. 28 honors the 18 countries Republic. represented at Overcomers Christian Fellowship in Lithonia. The Celebration of Nations, which is in its 10th year, includes Road home. At the first gathering, there a national dress showcase and a sumptuous were two adults and three children. The church quickly outgrew his livall-you-can-eat buffet of national foods from the 18 countries worldwide represented at ing room, and in March 1998 it moved to 813 Main St. in Stone Mountain, then the church. Apostle Benny Mo- to 6751 Rockbridge Road, also in Stone moh, the church’s founder Mountain. It acquired its current 12.5-acre campus and pastor, will preach at the 10 a.m. worship ser- in February and relocated to Lithonia. Momoh, who is from Nigeria, said the vice. It will be followed by the parade of native garbs church is growing by leaps and bounds. “The Lord has been so faithful to us and the buffet of national food prepared by church and has added immensely to our numBenny Momoh bers,” he said. members. Today, the church has more than 300 Jae Fulcher, the church’s secretary, said the annual Celebration of Nations is very members. The Celebration of Nations popular and that the community is invited starts at 10 a.m. The church is at 7373 Covington to worship with them in their new location Highway in Lithonia. For more informaand share in the festivities. Momoh started the church in May 1997 tion, visit www.ocfinternational.org or call in the living room of his South Hairston 770-465-8687.
The Rev. Richard Allen Farmer will be installed as Crossroads Presbyterian pastor on Sept. 27.
Sept. 27 will be followed by a “Friends and Families Day” on Sept. 28 to introduce him to the community. Farmer, a New York native who began studying the piano at age 11, is a classically trained musician. He enjoys many styles of music. In the 1980s, he was pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Pittsburgh. Twelve years before coming to Crossroads Presbyterian, he traveled around the world as an itinerant minister and concert musician based out of Dallas, where he lived with his wife, Rosemary, and college-age son, Timothy. Since arriving at Crossroads Presbyterian, Farmer has worked to create an air of anticipation. “We are expecting surprises,” he said. “We are expecting good things to happen. We are expecting the unexpected.” He said he wants community residents to visit the church, and each Sunday, he personally welcomes visitors and invites them for a brief reception after 11 a.m. service. The day starts with Bible study for all ages at 9:30 a.m. “I want people to come that I did not know were even thinking about us, thinking about visiting us, or thinking about returning to us,” Farmer said.
“Come on and be a part of the vision” First Afrikan Church is an Afrocentric Christian Ministry that empowers women, men, youth and children to move from membership to leadership in the church, community and the world. Praise & Devotion Worship Service Sundays at 10 a.m. Join us for Bible Study Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
5197 Salem Road Lithonia, GA 30038
770-981-2601 “We are building far beyond our years.”
Rev. Dr. Mark A. Lomax
9
CrossRoadsNews
September 20, 2014
Scene
“It is important to remember that the need to preserve our parks for future generations isn’t limited to a single day.”
DeKalb offers free pet adoptions Families looking for a pet can adopt for free through the end of September during DeKalb’s “Fall in Love” adoption special. LifeLine Animal Project, which manages the county Animal Services facility, is offering the promotion because of the high number of animals at the shelter. Adoption counselors will ensure that the cats and dogs are being placed in good homes. Shelter Director Susan Feingold is optimistic that the promotion will result in many homeless pets finding their forever homes. “With up to 30 animals entering the shelter daily, we urgently need public support to
help us save lives,” Feingold said in a Sept. 16 statement. “By waiving adoption fees, we hope to see a record number of people coming into the shelter and giving our wonderful animals a new life.” LifeLine Animal Project CEO Rebecca Guinn says that free adoptions tend to create a buzz of excitement and bring more people into shelters. The dogs and cats up for adoption have been spayed or neutered and vaccinated and have microchips, a $200 value. To see animals available for adoption, visit www.dekalbanimalservices.com /adopt-a-pet.
“Your State Parks Day” encourages Georgians to volunteer at state parks. At Panola Mountain State Park on Sept. 27, volunteers will help plant native wildflowers.
Volunteer opportunities on State Parks Day Sept. 27 is “Your State Parks Day” across Georgia, and individuals and families can visit state parks for free all day. In addition to waiving the regular $5 entry fee, the parks are encouraging people to volunteer. Projects include planting native wildflowers at Panola Mountain State Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To pre-register, call 770-389-7801. Participants will meet at the Alexander’s Lake parking area to sign in. Panola Mountain State Park is at 2600 Ga. Highway 155 S.W. in Stockbridge. Your State Parks Day, sponsored by the nonprofit Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, is Georgia’s annual celebration of National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands. Friends Executive Director Andy Fleming said the annual observance is about providing opportunities to practice stewardship through volunteer projects at parks and
historic sites. “It is important to remember that the need to preserve our parks for future generations isn’t limited to a single day,” Fleming said. “It is our hope that the individuals and families who volunteer with us on Sept. 27 will continue to make a difference at parks throughout the year.” Becky Kelley, state park director, said volunteers are crucial to the park system, helping with everything from landscaping and trail maintenance to junior ranger programs for children. “We wouldn’t be able to offer the activities and facilities that we do without our volunteers and Friends members,” Kelley said. “Even those who come out for a few hours during Your State Parks Day are making a difference. Many have such a good time that they come back as regular volunteers.” For volunteer projects, visit www .GeorgiaStateParks.org/stateparks-day.
South River Watershed Alliance President Jacqueline Echols’ photo, “Canoeing the South River,” will be featured for June in the North Georgia Water District’s 2015 Water Reflections Calendar.
South River makes 2015 calendar “Canoeing the South River,” a photo by South River Watershed Alliance President Jacqueline Echols, will be the June cover shot for the North Georgia Water Conservation District’s 2015 Water Reflections Calendar. Echols’ photo of canoes of people gliding down the South River was a winner in the photo contest that asked individuals or organizations to share their appreciation of their water resources, including the South River; Lake Lanier; Allatoona Lake; and the Chattahoochee, Flint, Yellow and Etowah rivers. The SRWA also received a check for $100.
Two ‘must-read’ book lists revealed The 2014 lists of books that every Georgian and every young Georgian should read have been released by the Georgia Center for the Book at DeKalb Public Library. Compiled by writers, educators, librarians and media representatives from the GCB Advisory Board, the lists include fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children’s literature of prize-winning authors and illustrators like Lynn Cullen, Amber Dermont, James Dickey, Natasha Trethewey and Drew Jubera. Joe Davich, the Georgia Center for the Book’s executive director, said the lists are valuable assets and tools for parents, teachers, librarians and readers of all ages. “The lists are a wonderful way to honor
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 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 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4
Notice OF PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County
the extraordinary talent we have here in Georgia and an opportunity to reach readers across our state with diverse lists of books that celebrate Georgia’s literary heritage in a magnificent way,” he said. Because the depth and diversity of work being produced in the state and by Georgians is so astounding, Davich said the Georgia Center for the Book will now release new lists annually. For more information, visit www.dekalb library.org.
See both lists at www.crossroadsnews.com
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
Legal Notices 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/04
The calendar will be available later this year. The contest’s $500 grand prize winner was “Reflections,” a photo of the Chattahoochee River taken by Dave Di Cristina of Avondale Estates. It will be featured in February. Eleven finalists received $100 each. More than 120 entries were submitted for the contest, which was open to professional and amateur photographers 18 years of age or older. Visit www.facebook.com/pages/Metro politan-North-Georgia-Water-PlanningDistrict/226553984033262 to see all of the winners.
9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/4
Notice OF PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
State of Georgia
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
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 9/20, 9/27, 10/4, 10/11
Notice OF PUBLICATION in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia
Civil Action Case Number: ++ 14CV4468-7++ Kallie Dunovant Plaintiff Vs. Saymar Peters Defendant To: By Order of the Court for service by publication dated September 11, 2014 you are hereby notified that on April 25, 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: Kallie Dunovant, 3222 Christian Springs Drive, Lithonia, GA 30038. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of September 11, 2014. Witness the Honorable Daniel M. Coursey, Jr., Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court. This the 11th day of September, 2014
10
CrossRoadsNews
Youth
September 20, 2014
“Students can take a few seconds to be scanned by a college and then use the rest of their time talking to the representative about that school.”
PROBE College Fair at Stonecrest
Mobile app competition seeks student entries Georgia middle school and high school students interested in technology can enter the 2014 Health IT Student Innovation Award Competition for a chance to win cash prizes for their schools. The theme is Youth Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation and teams of two to four students are to design a mobile app to encourage lifelong wellness. The deadline is Oct. 3. The competition is sponsored by the Health IT Leadership Summit in conjunction with the TAG Education Collaborative, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the state Department of Education. Middle school entries must be submitted to kdion@ tagonline.org and high school entries to mrobertson@ tagonline.org. Finalists will present their mobile app at the Nov. 20 Health IT Leadership Summit at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel. For rules and procedures, visit www.tagedonline. org. To register a team, visit http://healthitchallenge2014.eventbrite.com.
Hands-on learning at GPTC’s STEMFest Students in grades six through 12 can attend STEMFest: A Celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and the Arts on Sept. 27 at Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Clarkston. The free event begins at 9 a.m. in the conference center. It is presented by the Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Activities include hands-on experiments and demonstrations on STEM and the arts. Register at http://dekalbstemfest.eventbrite.com. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is at 495 N. Indian Creek Drive. For more information, visit www. gptc.edu or call 404-297-9522.
The annual fall community carnival at E.L. Bouie Theme School on Oct. 4 includes an NBA 2K Tournament, fun rides and food. Vendor tables are available.
‘Real carnival’ rides for Bouie Hundreds of parents, kids and friends of E.L. Bouie Theme School will converge on the annual fall community carnival on Oct. 4. The popular event, chock-full with carnival rides and food, takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be moonwalks, a rock-climbing wall, obstacle course, cake walk, photo booth and an NBA 2K tournament. The menu will include a fish fry, hot dogs, cotton candy and Italian ice. Adrienne Clark, who started the fall carnival in 2002, when her kids attended the school and she was the PTA’s fundraising chair, is back this year managing the event for the PTA. She said they will have “real carnival” rides, including a Tilt-a-Whirl. Clark says they have space for only 20 vending tables and that those who want them should reserve early or by Sept. 25. The 6-foot tables are $25 each. Proceeds benefit PTA projects at the school. There also will be gift baskets available for people who want to get a jump on their holiday and special events shopping. This year, the fall carnival will include an NBA 2K tourney for 16 competitors. The slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis or until Sept. 29. Registration is $20 per person. The tournament’s grand prize is a newly released NBA 2K 2015. To register for the NBA tournament, call Nicole Johnson at 404-569-4733. For vending spaces and more information, contact Adrienne Clark at adrienne. clark@hotmail.com or 770-912-9264. The school is at 5100 Rock Springs Road in Lithonia.
High school juniors and seniors can speak with representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities at the PROBE College Fair on Sept. 22 at the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia. The college recruiting event, which is in its 12th year, takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. with Romina Torres-Aranda, associate director of admissions at Georgia State University, as host. Students can register in advance for the college fair at www. gaprobe.org/students R. Torres-Aranda to get a unique bar code that college representatives will scan at their tables during the fair for students requesting more information. Bill Smith, PROBE executive director, said the bar codes and scanners will help students make the most of the event. “Instead of spending their time handwriting on hundreds of interest cards, students can take a few seconds to be scanned by a college and then use the rest of their time talking to the representative about that school,” he said. To maximize their time, seniors should preregister for the fair, research the colleges they are interested in and make a list of questions to ask each school. For a list of attending colleges and universities, visit www.facebook.com/ georgiaprobe under the Events tab. The Mall at Stonecrest is off I-20 at Turner Hill Road. Visit www.gaprobe.org.
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11
CrossRoadsNews
September 20, 2014
Finance
“My goal is to drive progression in DeKalb through business advocacy, collaboration, community, and a diverse high-performing staff.”
Taylor makes DeKalb Chamber history The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce’s new president, Katerina Taylor, is the first female to head the group in its 75-year history. Taylor, a former SunTrust vice president, replaces Leonardo McClarty, who left the chamber after 9 1/2 years in May to take a job in York, Pa. Taylor joined the chamber’s executive team Katerina Taylor in 2012 as director of memberships and had been serving as interim president since McClarty’s departure. She said she is excited about the opportunity to lead the chamber. “My goal is to drive progression in DeKalb through business advocacy, collaboration, community, and a diverse high-performing staff,” she said in a Sept. 17 statement. “I have an outstanding board of directors that have been supportive as the chamber has been in transition.” Board Chairman John Shelton said they went through an exhaustive search and Taylor rose to the top of the list.
“Her knowledge of the local market, goal orientation and high energy level made her the optimal candidate for the position,” said Shelton, who is DeKalb Medical’s president and CEO. The chamber’s executive board said it named Taylor permanent president not only for her long list of accolades and achievements but also for the enhancements she has made since joining the executive team two years ago. Taylor redesigned the new member reception program and increased attendance and engagement by 20 percent. Earlier this year, she oversaw all details of the 76th annual meeting, tripling gross revenue and doubling the chamber’s net profit. She also started Women Executive Leaders of DeKalb, the chamber’s first women’s resource group, to foster collaboration among women-owned businesses. Taylor has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Texas Wesleyan and an MBA in Finance from Argosy University. She serves on numerous nonprofit boards, including United Way of Greater Atlanta, CHRIS Kids, and Boy Scouts of America.
Expo for construction industry Contractors and other construction professionals and entrepreneurs can attend the free Construction & Business Expo on Sept. 25 in Atlanta. The 10 a.m.-to-4 p.m. expo, which is in its sixth year, takes place at the Ramada Plaza Capitol Park Hotel. Doors open at 9 a.m. The event, sponsored by the Georgia Black Constructors Association-Atlanta Chapter, is free to attend, but registration is required at www.GBCA-MetroAtl.org. Sessions include Branding Your Business,
Getting Small Business Bonded, Obtaining Business Loans With the SBA, and OSHA 2014 Updates. Participants will learn how to do business with Georgia Power; the federal government; DeKalb, Fulton and Cobb county governments; the Atlanta Watershed Department; and East Point and College Park city governments. The hotel, formerly Holiday Inn at Turner Field, is at 450 Capitol Ave. For more information, call 678-750-3486.
Rainbow PUSH conference returns Activists and business and civic leaders can hear about positive change, community engagement and economic stabilization at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s 15th annual Creating Opportunity Conference on Oct. 2-4 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. “Discovery to Recovery: Thriving in a Changing Economy” is the theme for the conference, which is presented by the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Registration is required. Speakers and presenters include MSNBC contributor Goldie Taylor; Greg Street of V-103; Salem Bible Church’s Rev. Jasper
Williams; Rolling Out magazine CEO Munson Steed; DeKalb Schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond; Goodwill Industries of North Georgia CEO Ray Bishop; attorneys Daryl Parks and Robert Patillo; Larche Communications CEO Diane Larche; N.C. state Sen. Floyd McKissick Jr.; and Partnership for Southern Equity’s Nathaniel Smith. The Hyatt Regency Atlanta is at 265 Peachtree St. N.E. For more information and to register, visit www.rainbowpush.org or call 404874-1280.
SDBA hosting networking mixer Georgia Tech professor Ronald L. Johnson will be the guest speaker at the South DeKalb Business Association’s networking mixer on Sept. 24 at Marbar Beachside Cantina in Decatur. The event gets under way at 6 p.m. Johnson teaches at Tech’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He served for 32 years in the U.S. Army and is a retired deputy commander general-COO. He oversaw an $18 billion reconstruction program in Iraq. Other invited guests include Monte Ed-
wards, executive vice president and partner at minority-owned construction management company SRS Inc., a contractor for redeveloping Fort McPherson. Participants will get information on how to engage and expand industry and government partnership, including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers business opportunities and creating business models that work. The restaurant is at 314 E. Howard Ave. To R.S.V.P., contact Dominique Dieujuste at 678-994-3588 or Anna Henderson at 770366-3349.
Seminar for community agencies DeKalb Workforce Development is presenting a Community Resources Symposium on Sept. 24 in celebration of Workforce Development Month. The 10 a.m.-to-2 p.m. seminar promotes collaboration among community agencies. It also provides an opportunity for community partners and agencies to showcase their services to DeKalb residents.
Register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=b6jmfnj ab&oeidk=a07e9s79exe361b6e82. DeKalb Workforce Development is in Building 4 at 774 Jordan Lane in Decatur. For more information, visit www.dekalbworkforce.org or contact Alexis Millen at ayancey@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-3714996.
Legal
JHC
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down, $510 per mon. call 24/7 1-888-269-6795 x165
LEGAL NOTICES Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Yaruel B. Brisker please contact Andrew H. Wiebelt II, Attorney at (504) 821-8481.
REAL ESTATE Want to sell your home? I pay cash - quick close - any condition. Call today. 678 250 9675 (no text) tyler@apextkhomes.com
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Place your MarketPlace line ad here – up to 20 words for $25. Additional words are $3 per block of five words (maximum 45 words). Boxed Ads (with up to 3 lines bold headline): $35 plus cost of the classified ad. Send ad copy with check or credit card information and contact phone number (if different from ad) to MarketPlace, CrossRoadsNews, 2346 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30032, or e-mail to marketplace@ crossroadsnews.com. Our deadlines are at noon on the Friday one week prior to publication, unless otherwise noted.
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Attorneys
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opportunities
Peace Baptist Church located at 1399 Austin Dr., Decatur, GA has received a 21st Century grant award.
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We are currently taking applications for an External Evaluator. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and proposal to: gsims@ peacebaptistchurch.org or mail to Gwen Sims, 1399 Austin Dr., Decatur, GA 30032.
Call 404-284-1888 today for advertising rates & information.
Senior Services
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Errand Services For Seniors • Grocery & Personal Shopping • Prescription Pick up & Delivery • Address and Mail Letters • Check-in Calls for Security • Auto Care – Drop Off/Pick Up auto for service
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12
T:10.5”
CrossRoadsNews
September 20, 2014
Stay front and center of the best in Black entertainment.
T:16”
This month, XFINITY® catches up with R&B’s best-kept secret — KEM. Get concert highlights, photos and KEM-inspired videos, all leading up to the simulcast presentation of TV One’s HelloBeautiful.com Interludes Live: KEM. Enjoy an exclusive performance and interview with the soulful singer himself, online only at CelebrateBlackTV.com. Show premieres September 27th at 8/7c on TV One and at CelebrateBlackTV.com.* *Check local listings for date and time confirmation.
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