Community
Community Auditor: DeKalb Commissioner BarnesSutton’s P-card purchases compliant
Community Dividends pay off for DeKalb students who practice recycling Page 6
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SERVING DEKALB, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY AND ROCKDALE COUNTIES
VOLUME
EHC to host sustainable Gingerbread House competition
20 NUMBER 33
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DeKalb sheriff asks GBI to review death of recruit after training exercise
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By Valerie J. Morgan
eKalb County Sheriff Jeff Mann said he has asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) to review the death of recruit George Ward, a 29-year-old who died of a heart attack following a training exercise last year. Mann said although he has not personally spoken with Ward’s family, who are in the Virgin Islands, he said he is sorry for their loss. Mann said he remains confident the DeKalb Sheriff’s Office’s response to the incident was appropriate, but he is asking the GBI to review the case to clarify concerns from Ward’s family and the public.
“I have complete faith in the training program and the training commander,” Mann told On Common Ground News during a Nov. 13 interview. “I’m 100 percent confident, they did nothing wrong.” Questions surrounding Ward’s death arose after WSB-TV began investigating a tip and released a video this week showing activities leading up to Ward’s death. Ward was struggling during the training exercises and even struggling to walk, the video shows. Ward also was the only recruit seen in the video wearing a pink hat and a pink shirt. See Recruit, page 9
Sheriff Mann released this statement to the media: “In the spirit of transparency and in a further effort to clarify concerns by Mr. Ward’s family, as well as to assure the public that the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has acted appropriately, I have today conferred with Vernon Keenan, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, who upon my request has agreed to conduct a formal DeKalb Sheriff Jeff Mann investigation into this unfortunate incident. I remain confident that the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office’s response to the incident was appropriate and met with our high standards of professionalism.”
Labor of Love Georgia Child Support Services launches new phone number The Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Child Support Services will soon begin using a new phone number. Beginning Nov. 25, those in need of assistance regarding child support services should dial 1-844-MYGADHS (1844-694-2347). The Georgia Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) collects child support on behalf of 388,649 families in the state. The program works to promote parent accountability and self-sufficiency while reducing the public’s responsibility for providing financial and medical support to children. Clients have fast access to case/ payment information; can receive updates on the status of a case; and obtain information regarding payments/direct deposits applied to their case by calling the DCSS Contact Center at 1-844-MYGADHS. Those in need of assistance for services administered by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) can continue to contact DFCS at 1-877-423-4746 or at www.dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov. Customers are always able to make payments and submit applications at any local child support office. To contact the Division of Aging Services, dial 1-866-55AGING—that is 1-866-552-4464.
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
L-R: RCCA volunteers Beth Rehbein, Leen Swinson and Josie Dean stand with founder Siddiya Swift as they prepare for the non-profit’s Nov. 20 mobile food pantry.
Volunteers welcome the chance to give back to Rockdale’s mobile food pantry
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By Joshua Smith
hether lifting pounds upon pounds of food for needy families or setting up Christmas decorations for a free community party, volunteers with the Resource Center for Community Action (RCCA) in Conyers say they enjoy doing what they do because it’s for a good cause. Josie Dean, who has been volunteering since RCCA started about six years ago, says she returns every month to help because she remembers the hardships her family experienced when she was growing up. “This is a great way to give back. I was raised in the projects of Augusta with 10 brothers and sisters and I remember what it was like to stand in those government
lines. Somebody had to help feed me and clothe me and I never forget that so I feel like I have to do my part to give back,” said Dean, who stays active in the community. RCCA founder Siddiya Swift and about 20 to 50 volunteers come together once a month to distribute food and other items at what they call a mobile food drive. The Home Depot and local grocery stores donate many of the items. U-Haul also donates a truck to haul all the goods. The RCCA sets up the mobile food pantry at the Rockdale government annex on Parker Road in Conyers. For Beth Rehbein, who has been volunteering for about five years, the RCCA serves as a perfect example of her personal philosophy that she lives by: “If everybody does a See Food pantry, page 9
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NOVEMBER 15, 2014 PAGE 3
Community News
NOVEMBER 15, 2014 VOLUME 20, NO. 33 EDITOR/PUBLISHER Valerie J. Morgan editor@ocgnews.com GENERAL MANAGER Glenn L. Morgan gmorgan1@ocgnews.com STAFF WRITER Joshua Smith joshsmith@ocgnews.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill richardhill@ocgnews.com
ABOUT US
On Common Ground News is published weekly by On Common Ground, Inc. The newspaper serves DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale and Henry counties. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or the newspaper’s advertisers. No portion of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. We reserve the right to reject material and advertisements we deem inappropriate.
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Conyers names new Main Street manager
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n an effort to continue its focus on preserving and promoting historic Olde Town Conyers, the city of Conyers has named Brittany Evans as manager of the Conyers Main Street Program. Evans comes to Brittany Evans Conyers following four years in Sylvester, Georgia where she acted as the executive director for the Downtown Sylvester Main Street Program. Her time spent in southwest Georgia included successfully completing the two year process of Sylvester earning designation as an official Main Street Start-Up
City by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Evans also launched a downtown local farmers market, which received two grants from the United States Department of Agriculture, and coordinated other special events and festivals. She previously served as the Better Hometown director in Metter, Georgia. Since 2009, Evans has worked with local governments on downtown marketing, planning, economic development, improving streetscape infrastructure and preserving the heritage of downtowns. Evans holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and a Master of Public Administration degree both from Georgia Southern University. “I love to work with people, beside people and most of all, for the people of the community,” Evans said. “As a public
servant, I am passionate about improving the amenities and life of the downtown community. I look forward to meeting the merchants of Olde Town Conyers and building public and private partnerships in Conyers and Rockdale County.” Evans will oversee the operations of the Conyers Main Street Program in the historic commercial district with guidance from the Conyers Main Street Board and work closely with the Conyers Downtown Development Authority. The Conyers Main Street Program office is located in the Conyers Welcome Center and historic depot at 901 Railroad Street. Volunteers are always welcome to participate in Main Street sponsored events and programs. Those interested in volunteering may contact Brittany Evans at 770-929-4239 or brittany.evans@ conyersga.com.
Lithonia appoints new city DeKalb DA seeks death penalty for baby’s murder administrator, chief of police Devin Thomas will now face the death penalty for the murder of 9-month-old KenDarious Edwards Jr. The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty on Nov. 12. “Because of the egregious nature of this senseless crime, my office had no choice but to Devin Thomas seek the death penalty regarding the death of an innocent baby,” said District Attorney Robert James. Two members of the Bloods street gang were recently indicted on eight felony counts after being charged with Edwards’ death. Thomas, who will turn 19 on Nov. 21, and Marco Watson face malice murder and felony aggravated assault charges for opening fire on three unarmed women and the now deceased infant in their DeKalb County home on May 10, 2014. According to the indictment, the gunfire initiated by Thomas and Watson struck the women multiple times and ultimately killed Edwards. The crimes were acts of intra-gang retaliation – Watson and Thomas targeted the family members of fellow Blood gang member Oslushla Smith just days after Smith murdered Defendant Thomas’ associate Alexis Malone. The murdered child was the infant nephew of Oslushla Smith. “This meaningless act ended the life of an innocent child,” added James. “My office will continue our pursuit of justice for little KenDarious Edwards Jr.” The two gang members face additional felony charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, and violation of the street gang terrorism and prevention act.
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he City of Lithonia has appointed Eddie J. Moody to serve as City Administrator and Captain Roosevelt Smith as the city’s new Chief of Police. Moody had served as Lithonia’s Chief of Police since December 2012. Mayor Deborah Jackson said she and the City Council decided to make the appointments from within the existing staff in recognition of the commitment that had been demonstrated over the past two years to improve the quality of services within the city. Moody, Jackson said, came out of retirement from the DeKalb County Police Department to return to the community he in which he grew up. Running a major organization such as the DeKalb Police Department has helped to shape his administrative acumen and the ability to work with different personalities, Jackson said. As the City Administrator, Moody will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city. All department heads, including the police chief, will report to him. He will work with the mayor and council to implement the city’s priorities; help develop strategies to
improve city services; and be an advocate for the city. Smith brings 27 years of experience to the position of Chief of Police. Starting with his graduation from the Clayton County Regional Police Academy in 1987, he rose from a patrol officer to become a Deputy Chief at Morris Brown College in 2010. Captain Smith joined the Lithonia Police Department in 2013 and has worked diligently to improve the level and quality of training for the officers. Both, the city administrator and police chief positions, are currently budgeted at about $47,000 for this year, Jackson said. “The City of Lithonia is very excited to have someone like Eddie Moody, who has a tremendous level of experience and an impeccable reputation, willing to move from Chief of Police to the City Administrator position,” said Jackson. “The Council and I are very confident that both, Mr. Moody and Mr. Smith, will work well together to establish the high standards expected by the residents. We will continue to see a new and improved Lithonia develop under this administration.”
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NOVEMBER 15, 2014
Coming Up Koinonia Ministries invites the community to a night of prayer on Monday, Nov. 24, 7 p.m., 3996 Covington Highway, Decatur. The church, under the leadership of Minister Roy C. Moffett, is hosting the night of prayer to ask for healing, peace and unity all over the world. The world, he said, is under serious Satanic attack. Said Moffett: “This is not a sign carrying rally. This is not a street demonstration. It is not a preaching service. We simply want people to be mindful of II Chronicles 7;14:If my people, which are called by His Name are humbling ourselves, seeking His face and praying and believing that He will hear from heaven and heal our land.” The church is encouraging pastors and members of other churches to attend the prayer meeting. The doors are open to anyone who wants to attend.
ATLANTA Learn about a career in being a sports agent The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System’s Wolf Creek branch, 3100 Enon Road, Atlanta, will host a free workshop, “A Career as an Athlete Representative,” on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. If you have always dreamed of becoming an Athlete Representative (AR)/ Sports Agent and you are passionate about sports and business, then this may be the workshop for you. In this session, authorized Athlete Representative Juanita Bryan will give you a brief look at what goes on behind the scenes and insight on the requirements of becoming a successful AR. Reservations are required for seating purposes. 404-613-4255.
Transitional center seeks soap donations Presbyterian Women of the Hillside and First Presbyterian Partnership will be collecting bath-sized bars of soap throughout the month of November at 1328 Peachtree St., N.E., Atlanta. The soap collected will be provided to the chaplain of the Atlanta Metro Transitional Center. The soap will be distributed at the Atlanta facility as it continues to help women leaving prison to prepare for life “on the outside.” Soap may be placed in collection bins at the church or brought to the Community Ministries office on the second floor of the Smith Building. 404-892-8461.
DEKALB Wesley Chapel Library to host Heritage Festival program The Friends of the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library will host a Community Unity Day on Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join the Friends for fun-filled hours of family games, visit the library’s video lounge and view the heritage video on the life of Dr. William C. Brown and other African-American greats. There will be refreshments, door prizes, Friends membership table and rare books for sale. The library is located at 2861 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur. For more information, call 404-286-6980.
Larry Johnson prepares for annual ‘Tree of Love’ DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson will host a kickoff event to gain support for the 16th Annual Tree of Love for the community on Saturday, Nov. 22, 12 – 2 p.m., at The Gallery at South DeKalb Mall, 2801 Candler Road, Decatur. Shoppers, community leaders and business owners are invited to make this holiday season special for less fortunate children by taking a child’s name from the “Tree of Love.” After taking the name, you purchase a gift and return it to the mall on Saturday, Dec. 20, during mall hours. The commissioner will also host a toy drive for the Tree of Love on Saturday, Dec. 6, 12 – 2 p.m., at the Decatur Wal-Mart, 3580 Memorial Drive, Decatur. “Come out and help make a difference in the life of a child. This is your opportunity to provide a holiday filled with good cheer, love and presents for young children in need,” said Johnson, who represents District 3. “We would be overjoyed if you could participate in one of the two kickoff celebrations.” For more information, call 404-371-2988 or 404-371-2425.
GWINNNETT GCPS invites community to review foreign language resources Parents, community members, and staff are invited to review and provide input on proposed curriculum resources—including student textbooks, digital resources, and related teacher resources for the Gwinnett County Public Schools’ foreign language materials. Materials for students in grades 6-12 will be reviewed. The review will run through Friday, Nov. 21, on weekdays from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., with additional review opportunities on Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m,. and on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 20, 5 – 8 p.m. During the review, print and digital resources can be reviewed at GCPS’ Instructional Support Center in the hallways between buildings 100 and 200. “GCPS holds an extensive review before adopting resources for classroom use. Parents, community members, teachers, and administrators for alignment with the school system’s Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum review resources submitted by publishers,” said Ryan Queen, director of Instructional Resources and Support. “During the review, GCPS staff and members of the Gwinnett community will review student textbooks, digital resources, and associated teacher resources for Foreign Language for grades 6-12.” Based on all input gathered from this review, a recommendation will be made to the Gwinnett County Board of Education for adoption of resources. More on the review and PDF documents related to the review can be found at www.gwinnett. k12.ga.us or by calling Ryan Queen at 678-301-6828.
Residents offered water conservation tips Gwinnett County residents are invited to attend a free workshop, “Homeowner H2O: Water Conservation,” on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 7 – 8 p.m., at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center’s Auditorium, 75 Langley, Lawrenceville. With more than 800,000 residents using water resources each day, officials say conservation efforts are more important than ever. At this water conservation workshop, County staff will discuss how to make sure you’re using the right amount of water for your vegetable and ornamental plantings. Some concepts to be discussed are basic irrigation systems and scheduling; soil moisture; field capacity; and evapotranspiration, especially as these concepts apply to home gardens. 678376-6722.
ROCKDALE Conyers City Council to meet The City of Conyers will hold a council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 7 – 8 p.m., with Mayor Randy Mills, at the city council chambers, 1194 Scott St., Conyers. Some meeting discussion topics include goals to keep Conyers safe, downtown improvements and strategies to keep taxes low for Rockdale residents. The meeting is open to the public and residents are invited to attend and comment. 770-483-4411.
Democratic Party honors “Blue Academy” graduates The Rockdale County Democratic Party will host a graduation ceremony for students who completed its “Blue Academy” on Saturday, Nov. 22, 9 a.m. at the group’s headquarters, 1264 Parker Road, Conyers. “Despite our state and national results, we have just come through a very successful election season for Rockdale County,” said acting Rockdale Democratic Party Chairman Tommy Plummer. “I am proud of the role played by academy alums and our graduates.” The graduates are: Elaine Edwards, Rodger Hudson, Jacquiline JohnsonDickson, Toni Smith, Shannon Weaver and John Williams. For more information, visit www.rockdaledems.org.
Beulah Missionary Baptist celebrates 118 years of ministry Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, 2340 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur, is hosting events to celebrate its 118th church anniversary throughout November. On Sunday, Nov. 16, the church hosts “Future Sunday.” Youth and young adults will lead 7:30 and 10:45 a.m. worship services. At 7 p.m., the church will kick off a revival on Nov. 16 and it will conclude on Nov. 18, 7 p.m. Each night, Dr. Maurice Watson, pastor of the Beulahland Bible Church in Macon, will be the guest revivalist. The church welcomes the Rev. Reginald Sharpe, a minister at the Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church in Decatur, to deliver an inspirational message on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m. The anniversary celebration concludes with “Fellowship Sunday” on Nov. 23 at the church’s 7:30 and 10:45 a.m. services where Pastor Tellis Chapman of the Gaillee Baptist Church of Detroit will serve as the guest speaker.
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NOVEMBER 15, 2014 PAGE 5
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Attack on Rockdale Probate Judge Mays a ‘public lynching’ I can no longer sit and remain silent as I watch what is taking place in Rockdale County. On Oct. 17, 2014, I was absolutely shocked to read in The Rockdale Citizen, Probate Judge Charles Mays was facing a legal demand for back wages from a woman named Freya Pearson. A similar article also ran on Oct. 18, 2014 in The Rockdale News. Both articles were based on a letter that was submitted to the newspapers by Attorney Michael Waldrop, who is representing Pearson. It was very interesting to read Waldrop’s statements that were quoted as facts. Things like, “Ms. Pearson has approached you countless times asking
and even begging to get paid,” and “Ms. Pearson has been denied a key to the home, has had the power turned off by your family members when she was washing clothes, she and her child have been denied access by your family members to the most basic cooking utensils, her child has been treated and spoken to harshly by those within your family, and the list could go on and on.” Then my mouth fell wide open when I read the most appalling quote, from Waldrop. It sounded more like something you’d hear in a mafia movie, as opposed to what you would hear from a licensed, professional, attorney. And I quote, “I will undertake to demonstrate to you what the full weight
of the law can feel like when it is brought down upon you.” Really? You see, anyone who has ever taken a class in journalism will tell you that a key rule is that you steer clear of writing stories based on legal action someone is planning to take, instead writing about lawsuits that have actually been filed. A real case with teeth should have resulted in a lawsuit. But no, instead, Waldrop and Pearson filed 5 applications requesting that warrants be served on Judge Mays. Not a lawsuit, but warrants? But then I read an article in On Common Ground News and got to hear Judge Mays’ side of the story. That is
when my eyes started to completely open! This is purely a civil situation and should be treated that way in court. If not, then anyone could say that somebody owes them money and then take out a warrant for their arrest. These warrants, in my opinion, are all frivolous, and no judge, what-soever, should even bother to take them seriously! In my opinion, Attorney Waldrop is purely attempting to disrespectfully hold a public lynching of this sitting Judge. Sincerely Disappointed, Lacy Monroe Conyers
Auditor: DeKalb Commissioner Barnes-Sutton’s P-card purchases compliant
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eKalb County Commissioner Sharon BarnesSutton used her county-issued credit card, also known as a” P-card,” exclusively for county-related purchases, according to an audit conducted by O. H. Plunkett & Co., P.C.. The audit concluded that all of Barnes-Sutton’s county credit card purchases complied with the existing P-Card policy in effect at the time of use. In all, DeKalb commissioners spent a combined $4.6 million with a little over $718,000 spent via P-cards--15% of their budgets (other than employee costs) over a 10-year period, according to the report. The audit found that Barnes-Sutton provided receipts for more than 70% of the purchases she made with her county-issued credit card. “We were able to provide documentation for all services that were rendered by vendors in District 4 since I took office in 2009 and the auditors determined that the evidence of the work provided by the vendors in fulfilling their contracts during my administration was indeed appropriate,” said Barnes-Sutton.
DeKalb County Commissioner Sharon Barnes-Sutton
The report indicated that the P-Card expenditures for District 4 additionally included expenditures that occurred during the time before Commissioner Barnes-Sutton served as the District’s Commissioner. There were no receipts provided for P-Card
transactions during the four years prior to her term in office that accounted for more than $30,000 of District 4 expenditures listed in the report. “I have sought to be very responsible with taxpayers’ money” said Barnes-Sutton. “There are two ways of spending for Commissioners. Either checks can be ordered for purchases from our purchasing department or we and/or our district designates can make purchases with our P-Card. According to the audit report, it costs the county more to process checks through the purchasing department than it does to have County employees use purchasing cards.” According to the audit, during the five years since her taking office, Commissioner BarnesSutton’s total P-Card expenditures were an average of $14,121 annually and were mostly used for business travel related expenses and office operating expenses. Office operating expenses included office equipment, furnishings and supplies used in employee’s residence for county business.
DeKalb, Rockdale NAACP branches elect leaders John Evans was re-elected as president of the DeKalb NAACP for another two years. The branch held elections on Saturday, Nov. 8. Other officers and executive Committee members elected were: Teresa Hardy, First Vice President; Cherry Willis, Second Vice President; Zepora Roberts, Third Vice President; Louise Thomas, Secretary; Shelby Hall, Assistant Secretary; James Wilson, Treasurer; Al Chatman, Assistant Treasurer. Members at large: Dennise Thomas Allen, Ann Brown, Gilbert Garland, Brad Hubbert, Gina Mangham, Vivian John Evans Moore, Waymon Norwood, Jr. Angela Patrick, the Rev. Darryl D. Roberts, and D. E. Smith. Installation of officers and Executive Committee Members will be announced at a later date. The Rockdale County branch also held elections this month, choosing Gary King as its new president. King served as the First Vice President of the group for several years before being elected president last week. King is a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Conyers. He will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 1 p.m., at Rock Temple A.M.E. Church in Conyers. Michael Minkoff will serve as First Vice President.
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NOVEMBER 15, 2014
Photos by Joshua Smith/OCG News
Dividends pay off for DeKalb students who practice recycling
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By Joshua Smith
tudents and their school staff members were all smiles on Nov. 12 when DeKalb County officials passed out checks to five schools that recycled paper, plastics, wood, glass and other materials as part of the “DeKalb Makes Recycling Simple” program, a monthlong competition between 17 DeKalb schools. “We wanted to see how much could be recycled from our students. More than 52,000 tons of materials were recycled,” said Keep DeKalb Beautiful (KDB) Director Gordon Allen Burkette. “All these kids deserve to be commended. All the children in the pilot program are winners in our book.” DeKalb Schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond congratulated the students for all of their hard work during a program that was held at district headquarters in Stone Mountain. “I am so excited about this partnership between the school system and the county. This is just one of the things we are working on to make the county better. The district as a whole has recycled more than 100,000 pounds of waste through these activities. That’s incredible,” said Thurmond. “We hope our students recommend these activities to their parents and family members at home and reach out to DeKalb County government for their free recycling bins. I thank all of the schools that participated and working with us to
make this program a success.” Burkette says because of the success of the pilot program, KDB plans to implement the program in the near future with the entire DeKalb School system, teaching students about the importance of protecting the environment. Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May said although there were five winning schools, all of the schools deserved to be commended for addressing an important issue in the county. “This is just great because we really want to encourage all of DeKalb County to participate in having a sustainable county. That comes from recycling,” said May. “We have to make sure we
promote recycling in every way we can. It’s critical.” May and Thurmond issued the checks to the top five schools that recycled the most materials. Instead of students tossing waste in the garbage cans at school, they sorted waste by used recycling bins. The winning schools were: Cedar Grove High School (5th place), which received a $600 check for recycling seven pounds per student. The school has about 1,100 students. Clarkston High School (4th place), which received a $700 check for recycling 10 pounds per student. The school has about 1,538 students.
Arabia Mountain High School (3rd place), which received an $800 check for recycling 13 pounds per student. The school has about 1,360 students. DeKalb Early College Academy, which teamed up with Elizabeth Andrews High School, came in (2nd place). They received a $1,000 check for recycling 16 pounds per student. DECA has about 200 students and Elizabeth Andrews has about 673 students. The first-place check of $2,000 went to Livsey Elementary School for recycling 20 pounds per student. The school has about 400 students. Monies were allotted to the schools through DeKalb County government and the office of the CEO, KDB and DeKalb County Sanitation. Other sponsors provided T-shirts, goodie bags, refreshments and other items to make the event possible. The Southwest DeKalb High School drum line performed several football game favorites during the check presentation event. Some students also signed up to be on teams to continue recycling at their schools “We have committed to sustainability and the initiated teams will help that commitment happen at our schools. Materials from the campus will continue to be sorted and placed in the proper place,” said Kareem James, a 15-year-old sophomore at Cedar Grove High School. “We know that what we do now will keep the county healthy and keep us healthy in the future.”
DeKalb officials unveil long-awaited signal at Flat Shoals Parkway DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May and County Commissioner Stan Watson unveiled a new traffic signal on Flat Shoals Parkway on Nov. 13. “Following a number of traffic accidents and a pedestrian death, neighborhood residents rallied to get a traffic signal installed to prevent future incidents,” said May. “This signal is the first in this part of DeKalb County to have flashing yellow left turn arrows, which is a new standard and adds additional safety for left-turning traffic.” Also in attendance to help cut the ribbon on the grounds of the new traffic signal were State Representatives Pam Stephenson and Rahn Mayo, as well as representatives from DeKalb’s Roads and Drainage Department and county police officers. “The signal was placed in flash mode a week ago, alerting drivers, and is now completely operational to provide additional safety to the residents of DeKalb County,” said Commissioner Watson, who represents Super District 7.
NOVEMBER 15, 2014 PAGE 7
EHC to host sustainable Gingerbread House competition The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center (EHC) will host its fifth annual Sustainable Gingerbread House Competition and Exhibit. Designers are asked to create environmentally-friendly houses that highlight sustainability and green building design using edible and natural materials. “This is a great opportunity for families, businesses, civic groups, students and/or individuals to get into the holiday spirit and show off their gingerbread building talents and green building ingenuity,” said Jason West, director of programming. At least three sustainable building elements must be included in the design of the gingerbread house, such as solar panels, rain barrels, a green roof, windmills, etc. Participants may use a traditional gingerbread recipe, a recipe for dog biscuits, bird seed cakes or any other edible product. The structure can also include birdseed, pine cones, leaves, twigs or anything from nature.
Entries in the EHC Sustainable Gingerbread House Competition must contain a minimum of three sustainable elements. This entry from a previous year included candy cane rain chains and a vegetated roof made from coconut shavings and gumdrops.
There are multiple categories for entry including: Pre-K to 2nd Grade (group and individual); 3rd
to 6th grade (group and individual); teen (group and individual); adult (group and individual); family
(group); and professional (group and individual). The overall winning entry will receive a $50 gift card from the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center Foundation. Each participant must complete an electronic entry form, which can be accessed online at www.gwinnettEHC. org by Nov. 30. Contestants are asked to deliver gingerbread houses to the EHC between on Sunday, Nov. 30, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; and on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; or between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4. Judging will take place during the week of Dec. 8. Awards will be announced on the EHC website (www.gwinnettEHC.org) on Dec. 15. Entries will be available for viewing at the EHC until Jan. 5, 2015. For more information about this event, contest rules and/or the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.
Gwinnett County parks named No. 1 in state The Georgia Recreation and Park Association recognized Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation as the No. 1 park agency in the state serving populations of 150,001 during the group’s annual conference held Nov. 3-6 in Jekyll Island. “I tell people everywhere I travel that Gwinnett has the best parks system, staff, volunteers and supporters you will find anywhere—and this award affirms that sentiment Gwinnett County,” Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash. Gwinnett is one of the fastestgrowing counties in the state and among the most culturally diverse in the Southeast. “Gwinnett has risen to the challenge
of serving a growing community and one that is becoming increasingly diverse through public-private partnerships, alternative funding mechanisms, creative planning, design and development and resident input,” said Gwinnett Parks and Recreation Operations Director Tina Fleming. Gwinnett took home three other awards. GRPA recognized Kidsplosion for outstanding minority programming. The organization is one of Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation’s community partners and provides underserved areas with creative summer camp programs and connects the community with various programs
within the park system. In addition, Jason Duncan won the Facilities and Grounds Distinguished Professional Award and the Aquatics Distinguished Professional Award went to Jason Cutchins. “Kidsplosion helps us reach so many more children with recreation opportunities who may not otherwise be able to participate, and I am pleased they received this much-deserved recognition,” said Fleming. “And I am proud GRPA chose to recognize Jason Duncan and Jason Cutchins for their dedication to Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation and the exceptional service they provide to the residents of Gwinnett County every day.”
DONALD TRIMBLE MORTUARY & KINGDOM OF CHRIST CHURCH MINISTRIES PRESENTS:
Christmas Miracles Toy Drive
WALMART, 2427 GRESHAM ROAD, S.E. ATLANTA, GA 30316
SATURDAY, NOV. 29, 2014 • 11 A.M. - 2 P.M. Donald Trimble Mortuary, Kingdom of Christ Church Ministries and The Reggie Gay Gospel Show will be “on location” at Walmart, 2427 Gresham Road, S. E. Atlanta, Georgia 30316. Toys collected will be placed in one of the Donald Trimble Mortuary hearses. Walmart will have coordinated $10, $15 and $20 toys packs for people to buy and contribute. Metro Atlanta churches; especially congregations in East & South Dekalb County are asked to collect toys from members; deliver to the “toy drive” on SAT NOV 29 2014 from 11AM-2PM. Individuals and local businesses are asked to contribute too. Churches and ministries that participate will be acknowledged on The Reggie Gay Gospel Show on AM 1480 WYZE, Atlanta; WATC-TV 57, Atlanta.
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PAGE 8
NOVEMBER 15, 2014
Rockdale Clerk of Court reminds vets to register discharge papers
Gwinnett to purchase E.E. Robinson Park from City of Sugar Hill Gwinnett County commissioners have agreed to purchase E.E. Robinson Park from the city of Sugar Hill for $10 million. The sale of the land and existing facilities is expected to close next month. The 53-acre park includes youth and adult baseball/softball fields, tennis and volleyball courts, a pavilion and covered playground, amphitheater, restroom/ concession building, more than 500 parking spaces, maintenance and storage buildings and an area for future expansion. “Gwinnett County is very happy to partner with the City of Sugar Hill. Adding E.E. Robinson Park to our park system helps meet our mission of providing firstclass parks and recreation services countywide,” said Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash. Gwinnett County’s long-range plans have shown a need for an active community park in the Sugar Hill area, officials said. The Lanier Youth Athletic Association will use the park to expand youth sports in the Lanier School Cluster. “The sale of E.E. Robinson to Gwinnett County is good for the taxpayers of Sugar Hill and Gwinnett County,” said Sugar Hill Mayor Steve Edwards. “The park will still be in the city, just like the new Level Creek Park a few hundred yards down the road, and has the capacity to accommodate the future growth of this area of the county. Gwinnett County is recognized across the country for its worldclass parks and recreation services. All park users will benefit from improvements and maintenance to the park as part of the County’s recreation master plan. Our recreation department will now focus their attention on maintaining and improving Gary Pirkle Park and other opportunities in Sugar Hill.” Sugar Hill will continue to host its annual July 3rd Sparks in the Park Celebration and its traditional Easter Egg Hunt in the park. Gwinnett County also agreed to keep the name of the park and the various named and dedicated playing fields. Gwinnett County’s system of 46 parks and historic sites received national recognition this year as a finalist for the National Recreation and Park Association’s Gold Medal award. The County won the award in 2010.
Rockdale County Clerk of Courts Ruth A. Wilson is urging military veterans to record their DD-214 military discharge papers at the courthouse. The service is offered free of charge to all vets who live in Rockdale. “I have discovered that many veterans do not know about this service and have not had their DD-214s recorded here,” Wilson said. “Although veterans may have recorded their DD-214 in their hometown or in a county or state far away from Rockdale County, we encourage them to record them here as well.” The procedure is simple, Wilson said. Veterans should Rockdale County Clerk of take their DD-214 to the courthouse first floor Real Estate Courts Ruth A. Wilson Division of the Clerk’s Office. “If there comes a time your loved ones need a certified copy, then we will be able to provide one for them,” Wilson said. “It would not be necessary to contact another county or state to obtain your record. This is a free service to all our veterans that we are delighted to provide. You paid it forward for all of us. We appreciate your service and sacrifice.” Form DD-214 is issued by the Department of Defense when a person is discharged by the military. It is a condensed version of the vet’s service record including length of service, overseas service, training, medals, commendations and character of service. The DD-214 is required proof of service for VA benefits and also useful in obtaining non-VA services such as jobs, Social Security benefits, burial benefits and military funeral honors. If your discharge papers have been lost or destroyed, your local county veteran’s service officer can help you replace it. For more information, call the Clerk’s Office Real Estate Division at 770278-7861 or visit the Clerk’s website at www.rockdaleclerk.com.
RITA TECH offers how-to for non-profits RITA TECH, INC will host “How To Start and Manage A Nonprofit Organization,” a one-day business development training course, on December 6, 2014, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Memorial Drive Office Center, 5300 Memorial , Ste 201, Stone Mountain, GA 30083. The course is designed for anyone interested in developing a non-profit organization that will generate revenue rather than relying solely on grants and donations for sustainability. Participants will learn: Starting and Building a 501c3 Organization, Building A Social Model, How to Become a Social Entrepreneur, Board Development and Staffing, Developing Commercial Products and Services to Meet the Needs of Your Clients, How to Turn Your Mission Into Revenue, Attract New Clients, Create New Levels of Services and Improve Your Organization’s Competitive Advantage. Who should attend: churches, foundations, youth associations, home owners associations, charter or home schools, fraternities, sororities, PTAs, CHDOs CDFIs, motorcycle clubs, corporations wanting to start a foundation, organizations who are just receiving their 501c3 number or have been dormant for less than three years. The cost to attend is $149. Participants must register by emailing their name, organization, address, phone number, email address and the number of participants planning to attend the course to: info@ ritatech.org. For more information, call 678-965-3589 ask for Nonprofit Training or visit www.ritatech.org
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NOVEMBER 15, 2014 PAGE 9
GPTC honored for marketing, public relations
Recruit continued from page 1
The television station’s investigation and video prompted the DeKalb medical examiner to change Ward’s manner and cause of death from natural causes/heart attack to “undetermined.” Ward died on May 22, 2013. The day before, Ward’s second day on the job, he and 11 other recruits had gone through a physical training exercise at Hallford Memorial Stadium in Decatur, Mann said. Ward became ill as he was leaving the stadium and EMS was called to transport him to the jail’s medical staff and then the hospital, Mann said. Ward died the next day. Mann said Ward had passed a physical before starting the job. He was training to work at the jail, where deputies come in contact with inmates and often have to break up fights. “You have to be in tip-top shape, physically, mentally and emotionally. Sometimes, inmates attack one another as well as officers who are on duty,” Mann said. Mann described the exercise routine recruits undergo as “para-military training” consisting up push-ups, sit-ups, leg lifts and other maneuvers. He said Ward was having some problems the day he was in training but that were not deemed serious at the time. “As I understand it, he (Ward) was spitting in a bin or trash can that morning. He said he had some kind of congestion or sinus problem. When he was asked if he was O.K. to continue, he said he was,” Mann said. When asked why Ward was forced to wear a pink hat and pink shirt as he was seen wearing in the video, Mann said that Ward was singled out so the training commander could monitor him. “They made him wear that color--in this case, it was pink--because he was having some problems. It’s not unusual for a recruit to be singled out and forced to wear a different color, if they are having trouble keeping up,” Mann said. “It’s rigorous training similar to the military. People are in your face. You’ve go to be physically fit to do the job.” Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May called the video troubling, but said he would like to get a lot of questions answered before jumping to any conclusions.
Georgia Piedmont Technical College received four awards of excellence during the 2014 Annual Conference of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR), which was convened in Nashville, Tennessee. Awards were made in the following categories: Level of Award Award Category The Project Silver Promotional Campaign 2014 Commencement Silver College Branding Initiative Be ACTive Bronze Promotional Campaign Design Media Production Technology Bronze Media Success Story Honda Motorcycles
There were more than 500 entries from 50 colleges in 11 states and 3 islands. These awards recognize professional excellence in the area of Marketing, Public Relations and Communications. In addition, Zaundra Brown, GPTC’s director of public relations and information, was appointed to serve as a member of the NCMPR District 2 Council, which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Bermuda, British
Virgin Islands and The Bahamas. “While our department received the awards, we submitted and accepted them on behalf of our President, Dr. Jabari Simama, our college and our colleagues. They give us the stories to write and the activities and events to market and publicize. Congratulations go to all our students, faculty and staff Zaundra Brown who work with such commitment that we have such great entries to submit,” said Cynthia Dorsey Edwards, vice president, Community Engagement & Public Affairs. “And, we are very pleased Zaundra Brown was appointed to the District 2 Council. She will represent us well.” The National Council for Marketing & Public Relations is a professional organization for individuals involved in marketing, communications, public relations and enrollment management at community, junior and technical colleges. NCMPR has more than 1,550 members from more than 650 colleges across the United States, Canada and other countries.
Stonecrest Target slated to close The Target store near the Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia is among 11 underperforming stores scheduled to close by Feb. 1, 2015, the retail giant has announced. “The decision to close a Target store is only made after careful consideration of the long-term financial performance of a particular location,” the company said in a statement. “All eligible store team members are being offered the option to transfer to other Target stores.” Employees who choose not to transfer will receive severance payments, according to
the statement. Each store currently employs about 100 workers, officials said The 11 stores will bring to a total of 19 Target stores that have closed around the nation this year. Target has struggled over the past year as computer hackers stole 40 million customers’ credit and debit card records, damaging the store chain’s reputation. Gregg Steinhafel, a 35-year veteran of Target and chief executive, resigned after Target disclosed the breach on Dec. 19, 2013. Here’s a list of the 11 stores closing: Lithonia, Georgia
8109 Mall Parkway Lithonia, Ga.
Highway Southfield, Mich.
Castleton, Indiana 8448 Center Run Drive Indianapolis, Ind.
McHenry, Illinois 1860 N. Richmond Road McHenry, Ill
Monroe, Michigan 2121 N. Monroe St. Monroe, Mich.
Bay City, Michigan 4135 Wilder Road Bay City, Mich.
Clinton, Iowa 2900 S. 25th St. Clinton, Iowa
Austin, Minnesota 1701 18th Ave. N.W. Austin, Minn.
Wichita East, Kansas 301 S. Towne East Mall Drive Wichita, Kan.
Calumet City, Illinois 1717 E. West Road Calumet City, Ill.
Northland, Michigan 21400 Northwestern
Carrolton, Texas 2620 N. Josey Lane Carrollton, Texas
Food pantry continued from page 1
Photos by Joshua Smith/OCG News
L-R: While volunteers load up a donated truck with the supplies for the needy, other RCCA volunteers join founder Siddiya Swift in sorting donated items and restocking the shelves at the non-profit.
little bit, nobody has to be in need.” “I love this because I feel that there’s a great deal of people in the Rockdale/Newton community who can’t get service like this. A lot of places can only help once every 90 days and I think we help fill that void. Everything that Siddiya does is from her heart and it’s to try to make sure that the people of the community are served, their needs are met and nobody’s going hungry,” said Rehbein, who is retired and lives in Conyers. “I’ve had people almost in tears saying thank you. People have lost homes or jobs and don’t know where their next meal is coming from. I remember one sweet old man that was so frail that came up to me personally to say thank you. I love being a blessing to people like that. I love these people. They see our hearts and they know we are giving from a pure heart.” Somewhat of a newcomer, Lenny
Swinson has volunteered with the group for about two months and is bringing Santa to the RCCA Christmas party. He says there is no other place he would rather be. “There’s no other place that really gives you this kind of opportunity to reach out to those who are less fortunate and share stories and testimonies. It really makes me feel good on the inside,” said Swinson, an entrepreneur in Conyers. “I always try to have light-hearted conversation with the people and the smiles on their faces, you can see that they genuinely appreciate what Siddiya and what everybody is doing here. It really gives you a good feeling. We are really excited about the Christmas party coming up.” On Nov. 20, the Resource Center for Community Action will provide the community with about 500 turkeys and boxes of canned foods.
On Dec. 13, RCCA will host its 3rd Annual Community Christmas Celebration where food, music, games, raffles and pictures with Santa will be provided free of charge. Swift is asking the public to pitch in to help those who are less fortunate. She said with people coming from Rockdale, Newton, DeKalb, Monroe, McDonough, as well as different parts of Atlanta and Oxford, the organization is expecting hundreds seeking help. “This holiday season we are in need of canned goods, turkeys, juice and we really are in need of someone out there who could let us use their walk-in freezer or provide a freezer to store the turkeys. We also need clothing and coats to give out at the Christmas party,” said Swift. “Whatever a person chooses to donate will be greatly appreciated and will be given to a needy and deserving family.” Taja Ross-Freeman has received
food from the pantry for herself and her son and says when she gets back on her feet, she plans to volunteer with RCCA. “You know everybody goes though hard times now and then and some people can make you feel so bad for being in need. It can just make you go home and cry,” said Ross-Freeman of Atlanta. “You don’t find places like this often. I really appreciate them and hope that someday I can be blessed enough to be on the other end helping others.” The next RCCA mobile food pantry will be held on Thursday, Nov. 20, 12 – 4 p.m. while supplies last at the county’s Cooperative Extension Building, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. The annual Christmas party on Saturday, Dec. 13, will be held at the same address from 12 – 4 p.m. If you can volunteer your time, supplies or give a monetary donation, call 770-7601346 or visit RCCA on Facebook.
PAGE 10
NOVEMBER 15, 2014
DeKalb Geographic Information Systems hosts GIS Day R.L. Brown
Alvin Dollar
Frances Edwards
Cynthia Hale
Jan Selman
Michael Thurmond
Ralph Simpson
Watson, Johnson set to present Trail blazers Super District 7 DeKalb County Commissioner Stan Watson and U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) will co-host the 4th Annual Trail Blazers Leadership of Excellence Awards on Thursday, Nov. 20, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. This year, Watson and Johnson will recognize construction giant R.L. Brown; altruist Alvin Dollar; former school board chair Frances Edwards;
Pastor Cynthia Hale; political activist Jan Selman; DeKalb educator Ralph Simpson; and DeKalb Schools Superintendent Michael Thurmond as the 2014 Leaders of Excellence for their immense contributions to the county. The Trail Blazer Leaders of Excellence Award is presented annually by Watson and Johnson to the deserving leaders whose hard work and efforts make great impacts on the community and others. Each year, nominees are selected in the
areas of business, citizens, faith based community, government, and our youth. “This reception and program pays homage to the special service these champions give to make a difference in the lives of the many people that have and will be touched by their commitment and dedication to our communities and the greater cause,” said Watson and Johnson. The event is free and the community is encouraged to attend. R.S.V.P. is not required.
Atlanta Technical College to host art contest for K-12 Atlanta Technical College is now accepting entries for the 19th annual Manufacturing Appreciation Week (MAW) student design competition. The contest is open to all area elementary, middle and high school students. Designs must be received by the Atlanta Technical College Office of Communications, located at 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, SW, by Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. The artwork submitted to Atlanta Technical College will be entered in the statewide competition where winners will be chosen in elementary, middle and high school groupings. The first-, second- and third-place and honorable mention winners in each category will be recognized at the Governor’s Awards Luncheon on April 14. First-place winners will be presented with monetary scholarships in the amount of $500. Secondplace winners will receive $300 scholarhips; third-place winners, $100 scholarships; and honorable mention awardees will receive $50 scholarships. MAW designs should celebrate the manufacturers located in the state of Georgia. Entries must comply with the following guidelines established by the Technical College System of Georgia. The size of the submission must be 11”x 17.” Art may
be created with paint, watercolors, pencils, markers, crayons, charcoal, etc. but should be completely dry before shipping. Submissions from high school students may be computer-generated. All work must be flat, and objects cannot be glued or pasted to the entry. Designs will not be returned to contestants. The following information must be included on the back, upper-right corner of each submission: The student’s name, grade, school, teacher, phone number to the school, contact number for parent/guardian and the words, “Atlanta Technical College submission.” Artwork must be received by Wednesday, Jan. 14, for consideration. Submit entries via mail or delivery to: Atlanta Technical College, 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, Attention: Office of Communications – Building B. For more information contact Terreta A. Rodgers, Director of Communications and Marketing at 404-225-4604 or trodgers@atlantatech.edu. For more information on Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week or the MAW student design competition, visit www.georgiamaw.org.
DeKalb County’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Department will hosts GIS Day to promote GIS awareness on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the Manuel Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. GIS Day is an annual global event to learn more about the field of geographic information systems and the important contributions it makes in the fields of science, technology, information, and the humanities. GIS technology allows us to visualize, manage, and analyze spatially-linked data. Examples include census data, natural resource management, crime analysis, business analysis, and asset management. “We believe that the value of a good GIS relies in its ability to give solutions by providing the most accurate, up-to-date information allowing decision makers to pursue well-informed decisions,” said GIS Director Stacy Grear The event will include food, prizes, and GIS demonstrations, and citizens will be able to learn if their tax bills will be impacted by recent annexations. Citizens can also find floodplain information for their property. The event is free and open to the public. GIS Day is principally sponsored by the National Geographic Society, the Association of American Geographers, University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, the United States Geological Survey, the Library of Congress, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett– Packard, and ESRI. For more information, contact DeKalb GIS at 404-371-2257.
NOVEMBER 15, 2014 PAGE 11
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NOVEMBER 15, 2014
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