VOLUME 22 NUMBER 47
FREE
MARCH 11, 2017
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
South DeKalb pastor honored as noted music composer
Prayer vigil, new prosecution team for Anthony Hill case
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group of supporters held a prayer vigil outside the DeKalb County Courthouse for Anthony Hill, the U.S. Air Force veteran who was shot to death by former DeKalb County Police Officer Robert Olsen. “He was not killed on foreign soil, he was killed right here in the United States,” said Amos King, who led the vigil and heads Justice for Veterans. “I can’t say why the officer pulled Pastor James C. Ward his revolver and shot Anthony Hill. There was no threat. Anthony Hill ames C. Ward of Antioch was unarmed.” Lithonia Missionary Baptist The group of about 15 supporters Church has been inducted gathered on March 9, commemoin the Best Sellers’ Club as a noted rating the two-year anniversary of music composer. The South DeKalb Hill’s murder. The vigil was held one pastor, who is celebrating his 22-year day after DeKalb County District anniversary this month at Antioch-LiSherry Boston announced she had thonia, was inducted after selling assembled a new team of attorneys more than 100,000 copies of sheet to prosecute the case. music he composed. Hill, who was in treatment for bipoPastor Ward collaborated with lar disorder, was naked and unarmed Victor Johnson to compose “King when he was shot to death outside Jesus is Alive,” which has sold more an apartment complex on Chamblee than 50,000 copies, and worked with Heather Sorenson to compose “O Sing Unto the Lord,” which has sold 50,000 copies and was recorded at the state-of-the art Disney Studios in Orlando, Florida with Disney’s orchestra. Sorenson performed the piece last May at a concert, which n his inaugural State of the was held with the Covington-CoCounty address, Rockdale nyers Choral Guild and James C. County Chairman Oz Nesbitt Ward Chorale. The sheet music won expressed his desire to work more the prestigious JW Pepper Editors’ closely with stakeholders and outlined Choice award for the Neo-Classical his vision to fight crime, deter blight category. Pastor Ward also worked with the and boost economic development. Nesbitt said while some of his renowned Mark Hayes to compose goals are long-term, others could be “Preach On, Preacher,” which was recorded at in Indianapolis, Indiana at accomplished immediately. Nesbitt announced, for example, The Lodge, one of the world’s prethat the county and the city of Conyers miere recording studios. The selection was published by Lorenz Music would jointly host job fairs this spring under a Mark Hayes special imprint. and fall. Nesbitt said the collaboration came about after the Board of Com“I give God the glory. I’m very missioners accepted an invitation to humbled to be honored in this way. attend the city’s planning retreat in This type of honor validates what January, a few weeks after he took God is doing in you,” said Pastor office. Nesbitt called the retreat “hisWard. toric,” saying the leaders had a proPastor Ward, who holds double bachelor’s degrees—one in philoso- ductive, three-day meeting where they phy and one German literature--from shared concerns and ideas about how Morehouse College, sang in the Glee to move the county forward. Now, Cub when he was a student. He also the BOC, city officials and Rockdale School District leaders are meeting earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of monthly to mobilize resources, “laying New Orleans and a Master of Divini- all the dead cats on the table,” Nesbitt ty degree from the New Orleans Bap- said. “We are working together. tist Seminary. He holds an honorary “You’re going to see collaborative results,” Nesbitt said in his March See Antioch, page 7 9 address hosted that morning by
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Supporters pray for justice in Anthony Hill police-involved murder case. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
Tucker Road on March 9, 2015. A grand jury indicted Olsen on Jan. 21, 2016 in connection with Hill’s death. Olsen was charged with felony murder (two counts), aggravated assault, violation of oath by public officer
(two counts) and making a false statement. District Attorney Boston said the new prosecution team for the case is See Prayer vigil, page 11
State of the County Address
Rockdale’s new BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt touts leading with a spirit of collaboration
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Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt speaking the morning seession of the County Address Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce and Council for Quality Growth. The county address was one of two Nesbitt delivered that day. Nesbitt said he envisions establishing a public-private partnership to boost economic development and bring more shopping, lodging and dining. He said the initiative includes utilizing the county’s parks to host concerts, festivals and other events and hiring a deputy director of operations and a deputy director of marketing communications and tourism as
part of the initiative. “Every time development candidates come in to Rockdale County, they are looking at parks and recreation sites and they’re always asking for parks and recreation information. If it’s important to them, it should be—and it must be—important to us,” Nesbitt said. The chairman praised Sheriff Eric Levett for reducing the crime rate in See State of the County , page 9