Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
Volume 19 Number 7
www.ocgnews.com
july 1, 2013
FREE
Good Samaritans buy championship rings for Miller Grove High
M
By Joshua Smith
iller Grove High School’s boys’ basketball team is finally sporting its State Championship rings— rings the team has been waiting for since March when they made history by winning the state championship five years in a row. Head Coach Sharman White presented the rings to the team on June 21, after two businessmen stepped in to cover the expense. White credits On Common Ground News with “waking up the community.” Even after school let out for summer, the champions remained without their rings because they didn’t have enough sponsorships—until their story was told in On Common Ground News. “I appreciate the story from the bottom of my heart. As soon as it came out, I started getting calls,” said White. “The next day, two local business owners, who want to go unnamed, cut the checks for us right in front
The Miller Grove basketball team’s fifth state championship ring shines brightly at a June 21 ring presentation in Lithonia.
of the school. They didn’t want anything from us, no shirts or nothing. It was an amazing day.” White surprised the team with the rings by telling the team they needed to come to the school to congratulate teammate Kyre Hamer for signing with Campbell University, located in Buies Creek, N.C. But when the team showed up, all were surprised when Coach Sharman rolled out a draped cart carrying the rings. See Miller Grove, page 5
Photos by Joshua Smith/OCG News
Miller Grove teammates, coaches and managers show off their new “bling.” See their reaction to the surprise presentation at www.ocgnews.com or facebook.com/ocgnews.
Skyview Atlanta Ferris wheel expected to open in late July By Joshua Smith
ATLANTA—It’s not exactly Asia’s Singapore Flyer, but the new Skyview Atlanta Ferris Wheel is being touted as a way to see Atlanta’s skyline like never before. The big wheel, at nearly 200 feet, is set to open in downtown Atlanta sometime in July. The Atlanta City Council approved the installation of the Ferris wheel on May 20. Councilman Kwanza Hall said the city is not spending any money on the project because it is a private project on private land. Two St. Louis businessmen are behind the project. Skyview Atlanta spokesman Jason Evans says the Ferris wheel is something the whole family can enjoy, with views of the city they probably haven’t seen before. The Ferris wheel was initially in Paris, later moved to Pensacola, Florida and is now being dismantled in Pennsylvania, to come to Atlanta. The wheel has “42 gondolas” or passenger cars. Each gondola can hold up to six people in it. Evans originally expected the Ferris wheel to open for rides by the Fourth of July weekend, but the opening has been pushed back due to the discovery of a Georgia Power duct below the parking lot where the wheel will stand. Almost a half a million pounds of rock and cement must be added to level off the pavement in the parking lot. “We expect SkyView Atlanta to open the second or perhaps the third week of July. We are not committing to an exact date at this time because we want to be more certain about the completion of the construction,” Evans said. “We had originally hoped to be open July 2, in time for the exciting Fourth of July weekend in Centennial Olympic Park. Sadly, we are not going to make it quite that soon.” Evans said, however, the takedown of the structure in Pennsylvania is “progressing rapidly.” “We expect all of the containers to hit the road at the same time and arrive in Atlanta in a long caravan,” said Evans. The Ferris wheel ride will cost $13.50 for adults; $12.50 for senior citizens; $12.15 for members of the military; and $8.50 for children. Admission will be free for children under 3 years old. Each ride lasts about 15 minutes. The Ferris wheel will be located at 168 Luckie Street, N.W., Atlanta. See Ferris Wheel, page 5 INSIDE: p Community
News.................P 3
Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
DeKalb County officials are reviewing preliminary plans to revive the former Hardee’s restaurant as a doughnut haven.
Krispy Kreme eyes Wesley Chapel Road in South DeKalb DECATUR—Plans are under way to bring Krispy Kreme Doughnuts to Wesley Chapel Road in South DeKalb. The space under consideration is the former Hardee’s restaurant, which is located at 2269 Wesley Chapel Road in the Kroger shopping plaza. Attorney Kathy Zickert, who handles zoning matters, is requesting a special land use permit to allow the Krispy Kreme to build a drive-through as required by county ordinances. It wasn’t clear at On Common Ground News’ deadline, however, the owner or entity Zickert is representing in the transaction. The DeKalb County Commission is scheduled to vote on the application on July 16. DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson, whose District 3 includes Wesley Chapel Road, said the doughnut store would be a welcome addition to the area. The restaurant has been closed and boarded up for years. Johnson said plans call for an attractive, allbrick building. Krispy Kreme is known for its famous glazed, yeast-raised doughnut called the “Krispy Kreme Original Glazed®. There are 19 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Georgia. The Wesley Chapel store would be the only Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in DeKalb County. Investment to begin operations ranges from $928,000 to $1.8 million, according to the company’s web site. – Valerie J. Morgan
CONTACT THE NEWSROOM: Phone: (678) 526-1910 n Fax: (678) 526-1909 n E-mail: editor@ocgnews.com p People..............................P
7
p Business...........................P
8
p We Worship.......................P
9
p Health
& Wellness..........P 10
p Classifieds......................P
11