VOLUME 21 NUMBER 47
FREE
MARCH 5, 2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
Efforts to rename Pine Lake Post Office for fallen officer moves forward
to President Obama’s desk for his signature. The measure – H.R. 3274 – is supported by the entire Georgia House of Representatives congressional delegation. The Pine Lake Post Office is located located at the intersection of Rockbridge Road and Spring Drive. Last year marked the 10th anOfficer- Francis Manuel Ortega niversary of Officer Ortega’s death. City officials have been working with ongressman Hank Johnson Congressman Johnson to find a way says the bipartisan resoto honor Ortega. lution to rename the Pine Ortega, 25, was shot and killed in Lake Post Office in DeKalb Counfront of the Post Office while conty in honor of fallen police officer ducting a routine traffic stop on Aug. Francis Manuel Ortega has passed the 11, 2005. The gunman shot Ortega U.S. House of Representatives. and then ran inside the building and The resolution now goes to the killed himself in a shootout with poSenate for approval before heading lice, according to news reports.
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Ortega was a part-time officer of the Pine Lake Police Department and a full-time officer at Georgia Regional Hospital. Ortega was survived by his parents, Francisco and Luz Ortega, his sister, Joann, and his children, Frankey and Kaylie. “Officer Ortega made the ultimate sacrifice and gave his life for the protection of his community,” said Johnson, who was a DeKalb County commissioner in 2005 when the incident occurred. “Officer Ortega’s commitment to justice and willingness to face danger when others turned away, his desire to stand up for what was right – not what was easy, and his compassion for those in need should be applauded, commended and recognized in perpetuity.”
Clinton, Trump emerge as front runners but some Republicans like Rubio, too
By Valerie J. Morgan
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emocrat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republican businessman Donald Trump claimed victories in their parties’ primaries on Super Tuesday, with each winning seven states including Georgia. Clinton swept DeKalb and neighboring Rockdale counties, according to initial results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. She received a total of 82,348 votes (71.49 percent) in DeKalb, while garnering 7,930 votes (78 percent) in Rockdale. Bernie Sanders came in second in DeKalb’s Democratic contest with 32,572 votes (28.28 percent) and he
earned 2,212 votes (21.76 percent) in Rockdale. Although Rockdale’s Republicans chose Trump, who captured 3,785 votes (41 percent), DeKalb’s Republicans supported Marco Rubio, who earned 8,231 votes (41.17 percent). DeKalb’s Democratic voting total was 115,184. Republican voters totaled 44,280, the Secretary of State’s Office elections results show. In Rockdale, the voting totals for the two parties were close. Results show 10,165 Democrats voted in the election, while 9,221 Republicans participated. Statewide, 1, 292, 715 Republicans cast ballots in the Presidential Preference Primary, while 761,148
Hillary Clinton
Democrats participated. As frontrunners, Clinton and Trump appear headed for a showdown in November, according to political analysts. To win their parties’ nominations, candidates must have a certain number of delegates who will vote at the national conventions this summer.
Donald Trump
Democratic candidates must have at least 2,383 delegates to win the nomination. Republican candidates must have 1,237 delegates to be the nominee. Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose See Super Tuesday, page 6
Former DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis is released from prison
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Burrell Ellis
ormer DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis has been released from state prison. Ellis was granted an early release on March 1, after serving eight months of an 18-month sentence at Long State Prison located in Ludowici, GA, near Savannah. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson sentenced Ellis last July after a jury of six men and six women found him guilty of perjury and one count of attempted theft by extortion. Ellis was cleared of five other counts including extortion and bribery. Ellis was tried twice, his first trial ending in a mistrial when jurors could not reach a decision on any of the charges. Prosecutors said Ellis tried to pressure county vendors into contributing to his 2012 re-election campaign and blocked those who didn’t contribute from getting county contracts. Prosecutors also said Ellis lied to a special purpose grand jury when he was asked about his role in county contracting, resulting into the perjury charge. Ellis maintained his innocence throughout both trials, saying he made phone calls to vendors but threatened no one. Ellis, whose sentence included probation, 300 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine, is appealing his conviction, his attorney Anthony Lake told On Common Ground News on March 3. Although Ellis, an attorney, did not lose his license, his license was suspended until his appeal is completed, sources close to the case said.