Celebrating Our 18 th Year Anniversar y
Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
Volume 19 Number 2
www.ocgnews.com
April 15, 2013
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Conyers’ Kevin Ware returns to Louisville after championship win
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By Valerie J. Morgan
ow that the University of Louisville Cardinals are the NCAA basketball champions, Kevin Ware is back on campus getting down to the business of final exams. His mother and stepfather, Lisa and Wesley Junior of Conyers, say the whole family is still basking in the limelight as fans continue to Voices of Faith congratulate them Ministries Bishop on the Cardinals’ Gary Hawkins 82-76 victory over the University of Michigan Wolverines. “I am so hoarse. I’ve talked so much to so many people. Everyone was pulling for them and even though he’s back at school, people are still calling,” said Lisa Junior. “We’re just so thankful for all of the prayers and support.” Junior said Ware, a sophomore, has been preparing to take final exams. He has had to be careful as he maneuvers around on crutches. Ware and the team left Atlanta on April 9, the day after the Cardinals defeated the Wolverines at the Georgia Dome. Ware experienced what many in the sports world are calling one of the worst injuries during a play when he broke his right leg during the Elite 8 win over Duke University on March 31. Ware jumped to try and block Duke’s Tyler Thornton’s 3-point shot, but as Ware landed, his right leg snapped between his ankle and knee, the bone breaking almost at a right angle, tearing through his flesh. “I don’t remember feeling any pain, but I could tell it was bad from the look on my coach’s face. He went to help me up and he looked at my leg and got big eyed,” Ware told On Common Ground News during an interview at his Buckhead hotel room. “I was shocked from the look on his face. I’m looking around seeing all of these guys crying.” Ware met with On Common Ground News Publisher Glenn L. Morgan and his pastor, Bishop Gary Hawkins of Voices of Faith Ministries, which has campuses in Stone Mountain and Conyers. Ware and his family are members of the church’s Conyers location. “I just wanted him to know that we were all praying for him and to tell him how much we love him,” said Hawkins. “It was good to see him. There was such an outpouring of support for him.” Ware said he received telephone calls from celebrities and VIPs from throughout the U.S. He even received a call from First Lady Michelle Obama, but he was so groggy after his injury, he doesn’t remember what she said. “I was out of it when she called. I asked for her to call me back during one of my interviews with the media,” Ware said laughing. “Can you imagine the First Lady calling me? And me asking if she could call me back.” Ware said of all the people who called him, he was most surprised and impressed to hear from rapper Lil’ Wayne.
“I couldn’t believe it. Lil’ Wayne called me,” Ware said, beaming as he lay in his hospital bed. Doctors expect Ware’s leg to heal within 12 weeks and then he will go through therapy. Ware’s mother said the injury is one that she will never forget. She and her husband were in Conyers when the accident happened, watching the game on television. “When it happened, I was devastated because I couldn’t be there with him. I couldn’t do anything for him. I felt so helpless,” said Junior. “They took him to the hospital and when I finally got through to him, he said ‘Mom, calm down. I’m O.K.’ We were on a plane the next day.” Ware said even though the scene was shown repeatedly in news reports, he did not watch the footage. He blocked what happened from his mind to stay focused on winning. “I feel like if I see the video, it would just haunt me and that’s the last thing I need to focus on,” Ware said.
Jesse Cunningham seeks reinstatement to DeKalb School Board Movement to repeal Georgia’s ‘20-2-73’ law grows
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By Valerie J. Morgan
ith the deadline looming this month, Jesse “Jay” Cunningham said he plans to petition Gov. Nathan Deal to reinstate him to the DeKalb County School Board. He may be the first DeKalb school board member to ask Deal to give him back his $18,000-a-year job, which he lost after the governor suspended him and five other board members in February. The governor Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News Jesse “Jay” Cunningham addresses people attending a community forum. named six replacements who have never held public office. to remove the six school board governor,” said Walker. “Until we The suspended board members. A citizens group, headed get the law repealed, I’m going to members had to wait 30 days after by Tom Coleman, a South DeKalb do everything that I can to fight it as the governor’s actions to seek resident, has raised more than unconstitutional.” reinstatement, the Georgia Attorney $15,000 through its 1 Person 1 Vote At On Common Ground News’ General’s Office said. The petition Legal Defense Fund to assist former deadline, none of the other board period, which began March 27, ends school board chair Eugene Walker. members—Donna Edler, Nancy Jester, April 26. Cunningham said he plans to Prominent Attorney Thomas A. Cox Pam Speaks and Sarah Copelinmeet the deadline. has filed a suit in state Supreme Court Wood—had announced if they would “This is a voting rights issue. on Walker’s behalf, challenging the seek reinstatement. If we don’t ask to be reinstated, constitutionality of 20-2-73. Cox has Meanwhile, the Southern attorneys have told us that legally, we a history of successfully challenging Association of Colleges and Schools cannot challenge the constitutionality constitutional issues. (SACS), which cited the district of the law that was passed in 2011,” Walker is adamant that the lawsuit with financial mismanagement and said Cunningham. “I’m filing the is not about putting him back on the governance problems, is working with petition because I don’t believe it is school board. He said, however, if the new board to resolve the problems. right for the governor to step in and needed or instructed by his attorney, Walker said the problems are remove anyone who has been elected. he would also petition the governor to ones that the board members who That’s why we have elections and return to the board as part of his fight were removed were already working recalls. Voters are the ones who should to repeal the 2011 law. to resolve. He said none of the SACS decide.” “I am working for our voting findings involved criminal wrongdoing Cunningham joins a growing rights. Period. Suspending and on the part of the school board. movement afoot to repeal Georgia’s replacing the school board is See Cunningham, page 9 20-2-73, which allowed the governor not a right you just give to the
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On Common Ground News Publisher Glenn L. Morgan visits church member Kevin Ware while the Louisville Cardinals were staying at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Buckhead. Ware remained in good spirits, despite his leg injury.
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