CrossRoadsNews, September 16, 2017

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY

SPLOST wish list

Monument under fire

The DeKalb Board of Commissioners is fine-tuning its proposal for a 1-percent tax that will likely be on the Nov. 7 ballot. 4

More than 300 protestors marched in downtown Decatur seeking removal of the “Lost Cause” Confederate monument. 6

Let’s Keep DeKalb Peachy Clean Please Don’t Litter Our Streets and Highways

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

Copyright © 2017 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.

September 16, 2017

Volume 23, Number 20

www.crossroadsnews.com

CEO Thurmond declares state of emergency in DeKalb

By Angelina T. Velasquez

employees and the resources we receive,” he said.

The storm downed trees and power lines, and at its peak closed 81 roads and landed more than 176,400 Georgia Power and Snapping Shoals EMC customers in the dark.

Georgia Power says it will take several days to reconnect everyone. County officials say employees are working in partnership with Georgia Power employees to restore power to customers as quickly as possible.

Through midday Wednesday, nearly 62,000 homes were restored, but 108,000 Georgia Power customers and 6,400 city

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond, center, signs a declaration of a local state of emergency Wednesday. With him are from left are Police Chief James Conroy, DeKalb Emergency Management Agency Chief Sue Loeffler and Fire Rescue Chief Darnell Fullum.

DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond declared a state of emergency in the county on Sept. 13, following extensive damage across the county when Tropical Storm Irma battered DeKalb and Georgia on Sept. 10 and 11.

The declaration clears the way for the county to be eligible for additional state and federal resources to assist with emergency response, debris removal and recovery.

Thurmond says the county took the brunt of Irma’s hit in metro Atlanta.

“Our ability to recover as soon as possible depends on the hard work of our dedicated Please see EMERGENCY, page 2

DeKalb County Photo

DeKalb hit hardest by Irma in metro Atlanta Damage estimates put at hundreds of thousands

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker and Rosie Manins

Irma, which ravaged Florida as a Category 4 hurricane last weekend, swept through DeKalb County and Georgia as a tropical storm on Sept. 10 and 11 leaving downed trees and power lines and thousands of residents without electricity in its wake.

Through Wednesday noon, county officials say that power has been restored to nearly 62,000 homes, but 108,000 Georgia Power customers remain in the dark.

Snapping Shoals EMC, which has 6,400 customers in Stonecrest, said that on Tuesday it had 50,000 customers without electricity across its system.

DeKalb County government does not yet have estimates of storm damage across the county but officials expect it to run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

At the height of the storm on Tuesday, more than 85 roads were closed across the county including more than a dozen in South DeKalb.

By Wednesday, only 11 were still closed, including five in Decatur, Lithonia and Stone Mountain.

Since Monday afternoon, more than 130 tons of debris, including 180 trees, have been cleared and more than 75 roads reopened.

Through 3 p.m. Thursday, DeKalb had 20 roads closed and 112 trees to remove.

The county says that 68 of the trees are entangled in wires, and for the safety of county crews, Georgia Power Co. must first confirm they are de-energized before they can be removed.

County spokesman Andrew Cauthen said the county hoped to have all roads cleared of debris and reopened as soon as possible.

At least two families ­– Patrice Dunn and her five children, ages 2 to 14, and Rosa Kitchens and her grandchildren ­– were left

DeKalb County is still recovering after high winds from Tropical Storm Irma knocked down trees that destroyed homes, blocked roads and caused power outages.

Rosie Manins / CrossRoadsNews

homeless by the storm when huge trees fell on their homes in Decatur.

A tree fell on Dunn’s brick home Monday afternoon, narrowly missing her 14-year-old daughter Teecyara and trapping them in the house on White Oak Drive until neighbors freed them.

Kitchens was in bed with her two granddaughters on Monday when she saw the ceiling above her bed begin to crack.

She was able to push the children out of the bed before the tree crashed through.

The tree limbs damaged the length of her

home including two bedrooms, a bathroom, dining room and back porch but the whole family escaped with their lives.

DeKalb County and City of Decatur schools, Georgia Piedmont Technical College and county offices which closed Monday and Tuesday in anticipation of the storm, stayed closed a third day Wednesday.

On Wednesday, DeKalb Schools said all its schools and offices would remain closed for a fourth day on Thursday and employees were not to report to work because some 32 district campuses remained without power as

of noon Wednesday, down from 62 at noon on Tuesday.

Superintendent Dr. R. Stephen Green said safety is key and that right now, there are several challenges – buildings and homes without power, and fallen power lines and trees on school roofs and grounds – that present a potential threat to students and employees.

“We remain hopeful to reopen our schools and offices soon,” Green said, “but not at the Please see IRMA, page 2

2

Community

CrossRoadsNews

September 16, 2017

Irma will go down in history as one of the most devastating hurricanes ever.

Rosie Manins / CrossRoadsNews

Bettye Smith (above) surveys the trees downed in her yard on Old Hickory Street in Decatur. County officials continue to caution residents to avoid downed power lines and exercise caution.

One DeKalb County resident among 60 deaths attributed to storm IRMA,

from page

1

expense of our students and staff.”

Green expressed gratitude to the numerous DCSD staff members who he said have worked tirelessly to remove debris, secure their campuses and restore their capacity.

He said teams of DCSD employees have been assessing the status of schools and working with appropriate organizations to reopen schools as quickly and safely as possible.

Across Florida, Irma will go down in history as one of the most devastating hurricanes ever. It caused the evacuation of more than 6 million people, submerged cities and

neighborhoods under water, left more than 6.7 million people without electricity, and destroyed homes, businesses, boats, sidewalks and streets.

The Florida Keys, Marco Island, MiamiDade County, Naples, Key Largo and Jacksonville were among the hardest hit areas.

In the Florida Keys, 65 percent of the homes were damaged or destroyed.

The vicious hurricane also wreaked havoc in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbuda and Cuba, leaving devastation and homeless people in its wake.

Irma comes in the wake of Hurricane Harvey which submerged Houston and destroyed neighborhoods on Aug. 25. Its

death toll continues to climb and was at 60 through Sept. 4.

Irma killed 23 people in the United States, 18 of them in Florida, including eight elderly residents, aged 71 to 99, at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills nursing home, who died in sweltering heat because of the lack of air conditioning at the facility after Irma.

At least one DeKalb County resident died as a result of the storm.

A 74-year-old man was killed in a fire at his home, in the 2500 block of Appomattox Drive in Decatur, on Wednesday morning.

The man’s power went out Monday and he had been using candles.

At least two other people were killed in Georgia.

Damage total for the two hurricanes is now estimated at $75 billion.

County officials continue to caution residents to avoid downed power lines, exercise caution and stay off roads to allow emergency crews, first responders and power company workers to restore services and ensure public safety.

To report a downed tree in the road, call 404-294-2911.

DeKalb County only removes trees in public rights of way. Citizens requesting help on private property should call 404-294-2311 week days, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Downed trees and lines, power outages continue to plague parts of county EMERGENCY,

from page

1

of Stonecrest customers remained without electricity, the most of any metro Atlanta county. Across its system, Snapping Shoals said it had 50,000 customers without power.

Since the storm hit, DeKalb crews have removed more than 38 tons of trees and debris to the Seminole Landfill. But more than 100 trees remain down across roads and in county rights-of-way. Through Wednesday, only 11 roads, including portions of Snapfinger Road, Columbia Drive and Gresham

Road were still closed.

Property owners are responsible for removing downed trees from their properties.

County spokesman Andrew Cauthen said that the county expects trees to continue falling as result of Irma’s impact. He said residents can report downed trees in roads or county rights-of-way at 404-294-2911.

Power outages should be reported to Georgia Power at 888-891-0938.

For up-to-date information about DeKalb’s recovery from Tropical Storm Irma, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/Irma.

Crews have removed more than 38 tons of trees and debris to the Seminole Landfill. But more than 100 trees remain down across roads and in county rightsof-way.

CrossRoadsNews

September 16, 2017

Community

3

“The tree was cracking and popping just before it fell, it was like God was giving us a warning.”

Tree crashes into Decatur home; family of 6 barely escapes disaster

By Rosie Manins

Rosie Manins / CrossRoadsNews

Patrice Dunn’s 14-year-old daughter was lying on her bed just seconds before this tree came crashing through the roof.

Lithonia’s stolen tractor, similar to this one, was used to mow grass along city rights-of-way.

City of Lithonia’s lone John Deere tractor stolen

By Jennifer Ffrench Parker

On Sept. 10, while DeKalb County residents were hunkering down for then-Tropical Storm Irma, Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson saw the city’s lone John Deere tractor secured behind the city’s locked fence.

On Monday, when winds picked up and trees and power lines were crashing to the ground across the county, the tractor – acquired just over a year ago – was missing.

Two days later, it was still missing.

“The tractor was there on Sunday,” Jackson said Wednesday. “On Monday, it wasn’t.”

There was also a huge hole in the fence and a broken lock. Jackson finally had to face the realization that the green and yellow tractor was gone – stolen.

“It’s nowhere to be found,” she said.

The tractor would have come in handy cleaning up trees downed by Irma. The city of 1,200 people also uses the tractor with a large mower to cut grass along the city’s rights of way and city parks.

Luckily, the city was able to get help from DeKalb County crews to remove trees that were blocking a few city streets.

Jackson is appealing to the thief or thieves to return the city’s property.

“We would like our tractor back,” she said, stopping shy of “no questions asked.”

“We will have a few questions,” she said.

Jackson said she doesn’t want the tractornappers to return the tractor where they found it.

“We fixed the fence,” she said. “We don’t want to do that again.”

If you have seen the missing tractor or have information about its location, call the city of Lithonia at 770-482-8136.

Patrice Dunn is thanking God her five children are alive, after a huge tree fell on their South DeKalb home Monday, crashing through the roof and into Dunn’s teenage daughter’s bedroom.

Teecyara Dunn, a 14-year-old Druid Hills High ninthgrader, was lying on her bed just seconds before the tree came through the roof, its limbs piercing her mattress.

Patrice Dunn The single mom, who had a hip replacement two months ago and can’t work, says she heard the tree trunk “popping” about 4 p.m. and screamed for her daughter to get out of the bedroom.

“The tree was cracking and popping just before it fell, it was like God was giving us a warning,” she said. “I screamed my daughter’s name and she ran into the hallway and just as I grabbed her we heard this loud boom – it sounded like a bomb. She could have died.”

Dunn, who is raising her five children, ages 2, 3, 8, 13 and 14 years, on her own, was at the four-bedroom brick home with all of them when the tree in their front yard succumbed to Hurricane Irma’s wrath on Sept. 11.

Dunn says she called 911 at 4.15 p.m. and waited almost three hours before police and fire officers turned up at 7 p.m. to turn off the electricity, due to the hazard of live wires.

“We were trapped in the house,” Dunn said. “There were branches and other stuff blocking the door and luckily our neighbors ran over to see if we were okay.”

She said her daughter escaped with only the nightgown she was wearing.

“All her possessions are destroyed, but I just thank God that we’re alive because the tree could have taken out my whole house,” Dunn said.

Dunn and her children stayed at a neighbor’s Monday night and have spent the last few nights at a Tucker hotel, thanks to the generosity of several of her neighbors, but they are still looking for somewhere to stay this weekend and beyond.

“We don’t know what to do,” Dunn

said. “Our neighbors were nice enough to let us stay, but the kids can’t bathe, they don’t have any clothes, we don’t know what to do right now,” Dunn said Sept. 12.

Dunn, who is from Louisiana, says she doesn’t have any family in Georgia whom she can stay with.

“Me and my kids don’t have anywhere to go,” she said. “I love this area, this neighborhood, but I guess I’ll have to find somewhere else.”

Her son’s birthday was Sept. 13.

Dunn says she had just paid all the bills for the month and stocked up on groceries because of the storm.

“So I have about $800 worth of groceries in my house that are going to spoil because my power is shut off,” she said.

Dunn rents the property at 2519 White Oak Drive and has insurance but isn’t sure what will happen to her family right away.

“The living room and kitchen are livable but the kids’ rooms on the other side of the house aren’t livable and the upstairs is now downstairs in my daughter’s room.

The police and fire officers said we can’t stay here.”

CrossRoadsNews

4

Community

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 Angelina T. Velasquez Editorial Intern Tekia Parks Front Office Manager Catherine Guy Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams

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September 16, 2017

The county will control about 60 percent of the money, roughly $360 million over six years.

DeKalb fine tuning project list for SPLOST vote

By Rosie Manins

A new 1 percent tax hike proposed for DeKalb County is set to generate about $100 million a year for road upgrades and other public safety capital projects such as new fire and police stations.

The DeKalb Board of Commissioners is fine-tuning its proposal for a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) that will likely be on the Nov. 7 election ballot for voters.

If approved, DeKalb’s SPLOST, which would take effect in 2018, will mean a 1 percent sales tax hike, from 7 percent to 8 percent, excluding medication and unprepared food.

It will be the only SPLOST in Georgia to exclude food, DeKalb officials say.

DeKalb commissioners, CEO Michael Thurmond and the county’s 13 mayors agreed Sept. 6 that the tax should be for a period of six years, generating about $600 million total.

Eighty-five percent of the money – about $510 million – will be used for road, transportation and public safety infrastructure upgrades, such as repaving, repairing and resurfacing roads, upgrading bridges and maintaining and improving fire and police precincts and equipment.

The remaining 15 percent – about $90 million – will be spent on other capital project upgrades such as public park and recreation center improvements.

The county itself will control about 60 percent of the money, roughly $360 million over six years.

DeKalb’s 13 cities will receive the remaining 40 percent of the funds – about $240 million over six years – based on a population distribution formula, and city governments will determine how to spend their portion.

DeKalb has a backlog of more than 400

Officials have reportedly earmarked about $140 million for repaving more than 300 miles of potholeinfected roads in unincorporated areas.

miles of roads in poor condition, estimated to cost about $180 million to fix.

Elected officials have reportedly earmarked about $140 million for repaving more than 300 miles of pothole-infected roads in unincorporated areas.

DeKalb County currently receives about $4 million per year for road repairs, enough to repave about 10 miles of damaged streets.

There are several other specific proposals for SPLOST money, including a $56.7 million request from DeKalb Fire & Rescue and a $15.9 million request from county police.

Fire & Rescue wants to repair 20 fire stations, rebuild and possibly relocate seven stations, build three new stations, deploy

DeKalb SPLOST at a glance: n 1% sales tax hike, from 7% to 8%, starting 2018 n Generating $100 million annually over 6 years n Excludes medication and unprepared food n 85%, about $510 million, to be spent on road, transport and public safety improvements and capital projects. n 15%, about $90 million, to be spent on other community capital projects like park and recreation center upgrades. n 60%, about $360 million, controlled by county. n 40%, about $240 million, controlled by municipalities. n Cities allocated funds according to population distribution formula. n County wants to repair about 300 miles of damaged roads, costing about $140 million. n Fire department wants $56.7 million to build new stations and relocate or repair existing stations, replace outdated radios, deploy rapid response vehicles and plan a new training academy. n Police department wants $15.9 million to purchase and fit-out new vehicles, build a new evidence facility, repair damages in several premises and plan a new training academy.

five new rapid response vehicles, replace outdated radios and help plan a joint fire and police training academy.

Fire Chief Darnell Fullum said the proposal will aid the department, which has 26 fire stations countywide, in obtaining a “Class 1” Insurance Service Office rating, which will lower commercial and residential property insurance fees.

Currently DeKalb Fire & Rescue has an ISO rating of 2, which was lowered from 3 in September 2016.

Fullum says DeKalb fire services are stretched thin and several areas of the county are not within either five miles of a fire station or 1,000 feet of a water hydrant – requisites for achieving the top ISO rating.

Police Chief James Conroy is asking for $15.9 million in SPLOST money to purchase and outfit 100 new vehicles, replace the department’s evidence and property facility in the Robert T. “Bobby” Burgess Building on Memorial Drive, undertake maintenance and repairs at four police premises, and help plan for the joint training academy, expected to cost $25 million to build.

Chief Conroy says the Bobby Burgess Building currently houses evidence and property for well over a million criminal cases and a larger storage facility is needed.

He says the police department’s headquarters in Tucker, the Bobby Burgess Building, and Tucker and East precincts are in dire need of repairs inside and out.

Commissioners and mayors are in the process of agreeing upon the exact project list and distribution of funds, before they vote Sept. 26 to add the SPLOST proposal to the Nov. 7 ballot.

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September 16, 2017

“Sunday’s march is not only to fight against the symbol of white supremacy in Decatur Square, but also to challenge institutionalized racism.”

300 demand removal of Confederate monument

Nobantu Ankoanda (left), founder of the Collard Greens Festival, dishes up collard greens ice cream at the 2016 festival in Lithonia.

By Rosie Manins

More than 300 marchers descended on downtown Decatur on Sept. 10 demanding that DeKalb government remove the “Lost Cause” Confederate monument in Decatur Square.

With Tropical Storm Irma bearing down on DeKalb Sunday, the large multicultural crowd of men, women, teenagers and children armed with placards shouted for democracy and called for an end to the public celebration of America’s Confederate past.

The messages on their homemade signs, banners and placards denounced hate and called for action.

Protesters gathered at Beacon Municipal Center at 105 Electric Ave. at 6 p.m. for speeches from organizers and leaders of supporting organizations that included the DeKalb County, Atlanta and Beacon Hill chapters of the NAACP. They booed Attorney General Jeff Sessions when a speaker called him a “living monument to racism,” and chanted “shut down ICE” (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and “undocumented, unafraid.”

At 6:45 p.m. the crowd, organized into a procession led by students, made its way along West Trinity Place, Commerce Drive and Clairemont Avenue chanting “this is what community looks like,” “hate free Decatur” and “take it down.”

Half an hour later, they arrived at the 30-foot Lost Cause obelisk which has stood outside the historic DeKalb County Courthouse since 1908.

As the sun disappeared into the evening sky, the words “dismantle white supremacy” was projected with lights onto the courthouse behind the gathering.

More than half a dozen people from a variety of social organizations spoke to the crowd. DeKalb County Commissioners, who will make the decision, were not visibly present, but District 5 Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, who has called for the monument’s removal, was scheduled to speak.

Sunday’s march and rally was organized by Hate Free Decatur, which petitioned the DeKalb Board of Commissioners on Aug. 22 to remove the monument from the public square, owned by DeKalb County.

The petition presented to the BOC had more than 2,000 signatures. It came in the wake of the Aug. 12 Charlottesville, Va., violence in which a white supremacist killed a woman with his car.

Hate Free Decatur was created at a vigil for Charlottesville victims, held at the Lost Cause monument in Decatur Square Aug. 13.

The following week, another petition with almost 1,000

Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews

Lithonia festival is all about the collards

Rosie Manins / CrossRoadsNews

Protestors gathered at the “Lost Cause” monument on Decatur Square to advocate for its removal.

signatures - asking for the Lost Cause obelisk to remain – was also presented to commissioners. Those petitioners don’t want to see history, Confederate or otherwise, lost with the removal of monuments. Instead they are advocating better contextual education.

The Decatur Square obelisk and other Confederate monuments are protected under state law, and their removal would likely require a legislative amendment.

Before the march began Sunday, Sara Patenaude, a Hate Free Decatur founder, said the timing of Hurricane Harvey and Irma added weight to the anti-Confederate movement and that many march supporters were partnering to aid hurricane evacuees.

“Sunday’s march is not only to fight against the symbol of white supremacy in Decatur Square, but also to challenge institutionalized racism, which includes the fact that those most vulnerable during a national disaster such as Hurricane Irma, are poor people of color,” Patenaude said.

Legal Notices 08/26, 09/02, 09/09, 09/16

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

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM7346-3 DeLeon Mosely filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on July 12, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following minor child(ren) from: Darius Josiah Ferguson to Darius Josiah Mosely. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: June 22, 2017 08/26, 09/02, 09/09, 09/16

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

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM8758 QuaSheeka Miller filed a petition in the DeKalb County Superior Court on Aug. 15, 2017 to change the name(s) of the following minor child(ren) from: Madison Eileen Miller-Rhodes to Madison Alana Rhodes; Madelynn Elana Miller-Rhodes

to Madelynn Elana Rhodes. Any interested party has the right to appear in this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Aug. 04, 2017 08/26, 09/02, 09/09, 09/16

Notice of Petition to CHANGE Name of ADULT in the Superior Court of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM8733 Sherry Ann Sands filed a petition on Aug. 8, 2017 in the DeKalb County Superior Court to change name from: Sherry Ann Sands to Sherry Ann Lewis. Any interested party has the right to appear In this case and file objections within 30 days after the Petition was filed.

Dated: Aug. 08, 2017 08/26, 09/02, 09/09, 09/16

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

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM8268 Lynn Lockwood PLAINTIFF VS Willie P. Lockwood DEFENDANT To:

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Aug. 08,

2017. You are hereby notified that Aug. 01, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Lynn Lockwood, 118 Greenwood Place, #F, Decatur, GA 30030. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Aug. 08, 2017.

Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 17th day of Aug., 2017

(60) days of Aug. 18, 2017.

Witness the Honorable Clarence F. Seeliger, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 21st day of Aug., 2017 09/02, 09/09, 09/16, 09/23

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

Civil Action Case Number:

08/26, 09/02, 09/09, 09/16

17FM8754 Tyanna Owens PLAINTIFF VS Marqious Muckle DEFENDANT To:

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Aug. 21, 2017.

You are hereby notified that Aug. 15, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: Tiyanna Owens, 2103 Lown Farm Lane, Lithonia, GA 30058. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Aug. 21, 2017.

Witness the Honorable Asha F. Jackson, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 23rd day of Aug., 2017 09/09, 09/16, 09/23, 09/30

Notice of PUBLICATION in the Superior Court

of DeKalb County State of Georgia

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM8666-4 Megan Stewart PLAINTIFF VS Kenneth Stewart DEFENDANT To: 98 S. MLK, Apt. 123 Las Vegas, NV 89101

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Aug. 21, 2017. You are hereby notified that Aug. 11, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: 4070 Greenstone Ct., Decatur, GA 30035. Answer in writing within sixty (60) days of Aug. 21, 2017.

Witness the Honorable Gail C. Flake, Judge of the DeKalb Superior Court.

This the 28th day of Aug., 2017

DeKalb County Sheriff Office

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

Civil Action Case Number: 17FM5580-3 Siesta George PLAINTIFF VS Jeffrey George DEFENDANT To: Jeffrey George 3707 Church St. Clarkston, GA 30021

By ORDER of the Court service for service by publication dated Aug. 18, 2017. You are hereby notified that May 18, 2017, the above-named Plaintiff filed suit against you for divorce. You are required to file with the Clerk of Superior Court, and to serve upon the Plaintiff’s attorney whose name and address is: 3937 Underwood Rd., Conyers, GA 30013. Answer in writing within sixty

Collard greens aficionados can sample delicious ice cream made from the popular southern greens, shop for fresh vegetables, help crown the King and Queen of Greens, patronize cultural and arts vendors and view live performers at the eighth annual Collard Greens Festival on Sept. 23 in the city of Lithonia.

The free festival, which takes place noon to 8 p.m. at the Lithonia City Park and Amphitheater, is being hosted by city of Lithonia for the fourth consecutive year. It promotes healthy eating and living, and the rich culture, history and traditions of African and African-American food and music.

Mayor Deborah Jackson said Discover DeKalb is helping the city promote the festival this year and she expects it to be the biggest so far.

“We are very excited to have this sort of cultural activity on this side of town,” Jackson said.

The festival includes the Collard Greens Cook Off Contest, in which cooks compete for a $500 first prize for the best-tasting collard greens. A panel of judges, including Jackson, will pick the winner. The audience will also get to taste the entries.

Live bands, a deejay, and dancers from Kilombo School in Decatur will perform. There will also be vendors of art, books, clothing and jewelry.

A new feature this year is a wellness and sustainability pavilion offering health screenings, information about healthy living practices, solar energy and organic gardening, and opportunities for youth to share their visions for a greener future.

The Lithonia Amphitheater is at 2515 Park Drive.

For more information visit www.collardgreensculturalfestival.com.

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

Sex Offender

Sex Offender

Sex Offender

Sex Offender

Ricky Mosley, 4516 Tudor Castle Ct., Decatur GA 30035; Charge of Aggravated Assault with Intent to Rape; Convicted 07/05/2017 The DeKalb Sex Offenders List is published by the DeKalb County Sheriff Office. For more information call the Sex Offender Unit at 404-298-8130.

David Doud, 4042 Waldrop Hills Dr., Decatur GA 30034; Charge of Child Molestation; Convicted 06/01/2016

Delmacio Pilcher, 4845 Plymouth Trace, Decatur GA 30035; Charge of Statutory Rape; Convicted 03/15/2016

Emilio Bastilio, 830 Leland Ct., Stone Mtn. GA 30083 Charge of Rape; Convicted 02/29/2008

CrossRoadsNews

September 16, 2017

Finance

7

“I’ve wanted to see if there’s something else that gave me passion – that I wanted to wake up every day energized about.

MARTA chief leaving for Goodwill Tips for portable generator safety County Fire Rescue Depart- can’t enter the home through windows, doors of N. Georgia; interim CEO named mentDeKalb urges customers without power who or other openings.

Keith Parker, who has been MARTA’s CEO for almost five years, has resigned to become president and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia.

He will assume the new role this fall.

Parker, who became Keith Parker head of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority in December 2012, will be replaced by Elizabeth O’Neill, MARTA’s legal counsel and a longtime employee, while the transit system launches a nationwide search for his permanent replacement. She has been with MARTA for 22 years.

MARTA’s Board of Directors unanimously approved O’Neill for the interim position on Sept. 7.

Robbie Ashe, MARTA board chair, said O’Neill’s appointment will help ensure a seamless transition.

“One of Keith Parker’s many strengths has been his ability to assemble a world-class senior management team,” Ashe said. “Supported by Parker and newly named deputy general manager Arthur Troup, O’Neill will help ensure a seamless transition and carry MARTA forward as we launch a national search for a permanent chief executive.”

Parker, 50, who is widely credited for turning the once beleaguered transit agency

around, told local media he has been looking for a new project he can be passionate about.

“I’ve been a transit executive or in the city manager realm for the past two decades,” he told the AJC and WSBTV on Sept. 8. “I’ve Elizabeth O’Neill wanted to see if there’s something else that gave me passion – that I wanted to wake up every day energized about and go to bed every night with it on my mind.”

Parker has served on the Goodwill of North Georgia Board of Directors. The nonprofit helps people find employment through its career centers and training programs.

He says he is humbled by its vote of confidence in appointing him president and CEO after a nationwide search.

“I am excited by the opportunities ahead,” he said. “Goodwill has been doing great work in this community for many years, and the foundation and the momentum – built by Ray Bishop and his team – can afford us opportunities for even greater impact that most nonprofits can only dream of.”

Bishop, Goodwill of North Georgia’s current president and CEO, will retire in October after 27 years of service.

MARTA has not announced Parker’s departure date.

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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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are using portable generators to take precautions when operating the machines.

More than 170,000 DeKalb electric customers lost power during the height of Tropical Storm Irma on Sept. 10 and 11, and power companies say it will take days to restore everyone’s electricity.

DeKalb Fire & Rescue says if generators are not operated properly, citizens are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shock or electrocution, and fire hazards. Fire Chief Darnell Fullum says users must follow manufacturer’s instructions and that generators must be used outside “where there is plenty of ventilation.”

Below are several precautions to take when operating a portable generator: n Generators should be operated in wellventilated locations outdoors away from all doors, windows and vent openings. n Place generators so that exhaust fumes

n Install carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions for correct placement and mounting height. n Turn off generators and let them cool down before refueling. Never refuel a generator while it is running. n Store fuel for the generator in a container that is intended for the purpose and is correctly labeled as such outside of living areas.

Between 1999-2012, portable generators were linked to more than 85 percent of non-fire carbon monoxide deaths associated with engine-driven tools. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says 23 percent of generator-related fatalities involve African Americans.

For more safety tips, visit http://www. nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/safetyin-the-home/portable-generators.

After Irma comes the clean up DeKalb residents encountering fallen tree limbs and yard debris created by Irma, the hurricane turned tropical storm, are urged to be careful.

Emergency management personnel point out that the storm debris may include live electrical wires brought down by fallen trees and other hazardous waste.

Items requiring special disposal include pool chemicals, tires, automobile batteries, bicycles, PVC pipe, explosives, pressurized gas cylinders, petroleum based liquids, large household appliances, lawn and garden supplies, and off-road gas-powered equipment.

The Better Business Bureau offers these debris removal tips: n Branches, trees and vegetative waste should be separated from other debris and sent to a permitted disposal site. n Construction debris can be taken to the nearest construction and demolition landfill and permitted municipal solid waste landfills. n Hazardous waste should be placed in a clearly labeled container and sent to a facility permitted to store, treat, or dispose of it.

For more tips, visit www.bbb.org/atlanta/ or call DeKalb Sanitation Division at 404294-2900.

CrossRoadsNews

8

September 16, 2017

ONE DAY SALE

SHOP 9AM-10PM FRI & SAT, SEPT 15 & 16 Hours may vary by store. See macys.com & click on stores for local information.

FREE SHIPPING ONLINE WITH $25 PURCHASE Valid 9/15-9/16/17. Exclusions apply; see macys.com/freereturns

20

$

OFF TILL 2PM

YOUR PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE

THOUSANDS OF GREAT NEW FINDS, JUST IN TIME FOR THE ONE DAY SALE!

Limit one per customer. Valid 9/15 till 2pm or 9/16/17 till 2pm.

In store only. Exclusions apply.

JUST FOR MACY’S CARDHOLDERS! USE YOUR CARD & GET AN

EXTRA % OFF

20

SELECT SALE CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

EXTRA 15% OFF

SELECT SALE JEWELRY, WATCHES, SHOES, COATS, SUITS, DRESSES, LINGERIE, SWIM FOR HER, SUIT SEPARATES & SPORT COATS FOR HIM AND HOME ITEMS. Use your Macy’s card 9/15-9/16/2017. In store only. Exclusions apply.

EXCLUDES ALL: Deals of the Day, Doorbusters, Everyday Values (EDV), Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, specials, Super Buys, athletic clothing/shoes/accessories, baby gear, reg.-price china/crystal/silver, cosmetics/fragrances, designer handbags, designer jewelry/watches, designer sportswear, electrics/ electronics, furniture/mattresses, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, select licensed depts., previous purchases, restaurants, rugs, services, smart watches/jewelry, special orders, special purchases, select tech accessories, toys, 3Doodler, American Rug Craftsmen, Apple Products, Ashley Graham, Avec Les Filles clothing, Barbour, Brahmin, Breville, Brooks Brothers Red Fleece, COACH, Demeyere, Destination Maternity, Dyson, Eileen Fisher SYSTEM, Fitbit, Frye, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Judith Leiber, Karastan, kate spade new york, Kenneth Cole shoes, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, littleBits, Locker Room by Lids, Marc Jacobs, select Michael Kors/Michael Michael Kors, Michele watches, Miyabi, Movado Bold, Natori, Nike swim, Original Penguin, Panache, Rimowa, Rudsak, Sam Edelman, Shun, Spanx, Staub, Stuart Weitzman, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, The North Face, Theory, Tommy John, Tory Burch, Tumi, UGG®, Vans, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford & Wüsthof; PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Birkenstock, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA & Tommy Bahama. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer except opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item.

This coupon has no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash or applied as payment or credit to your account. Extra savings % applied to reduced prices. Purchase must be $50 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees.

60-85% OFF Orig.* prices

CLOTHING FOR HER, HIM & KIDS. PLUS, HOME ITEMS & NEW STOREWIDE SELECTIONS

50-75% OFF Orig.* prices

WOMEN’S & MEN’S SHOES LAST ACT!

LAST ACT!

ORIG. 60.00 SAVE 72% DEAL 16.73

ORIG. 49.50 SAVE 81% FINAL 8.96

PRICES SO LOW, NO NEED TO USE A COUPON! THE PRICE YOU SEE IS THE PRICE YOU PAY. Plus tax

EXTRA DISCOUNTS DO NOT APPLY.

ONE DAY SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 9/15-9/16/2017.

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