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Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary(right) said he is looking forward to Robert Haygood, manager of Browns Mill Recreation Center, overseeing camp this summer.

Fox 5 News Anchor Alyse Eady reveals that she was in foster care. Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News

Helping Kids in Foster Care

Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary:

City continues partnership with Browns Mill Rec staff

“We are investing in our children. We’re going to put children first.” –DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond

By Valerie J. Morgan The city of Stonecrest has reached an agreement with DeKalb County to run this year’s summer camp at Browns Mill Recreation Center.

Mayor Jason Lary said after working with the county’s senior parks officials, he and city staff members were able to work out delaying the city’s takeover of Browns Mill until after summer camp ends. The city will not bring in the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta as a new vendor to oversee the summer camp program this year, he said.

Lary said officials reached the agreement to keep Browns Mill staff in tact this summer on May 1.

“Based on public input, I just thought it was best to allow the Browns Mill staff to continue in their roles so there would be no disruption to the parents and children,” said Mayor Lary. “We want this to be a smooth transition for everyone involved. We really care about the staff members who work there and we want the community to know we hear their concerns.”

The new plan comes after heated debates with the City Council, staff members and stakeholders. Constituents and stakeholders had expressed concern at the April 22 City Council meeting, and the April 25 community meeting at Browns Mill that the city would not have ample time to vet new employees and train them, ensure the quality of the program would not be compromised and parents would have time to properly plan for a new fee structure.

City Parks Director Sean DePalma said at both meetings, however, that the city’s costs for camp would be lower than what the county currently offers. He said the city also would provide a hot lunch and a variety of activities with the Boys & Girls Club as the new vendor. DePalma said the city had begun negotiations with the Boys & Girls Club because it did not want to leave parents scrambling to find a camp just weeks before school closes. He said the city’s initial negotiations included the county removing itself from providing summer camp at Browns Mill but retaining the opera-

SEE STONECREST page 7

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DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond addresses audience at Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur.

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond announced at his April 27 community State of the County address that organizers have raised $10,000 to help support the 904 DeKalb children who are in Georgia’s foster care program.

The fund raiser was the focus of Thurmond’s community breakfast address, which was hosted at Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur that Saturday morning. Earlier in the week at the address with business leaders, Thurmond discussed improvements in the county’s infrastructure, the transformation of a $24.7 million deficit spending into a $112 million rainy day fund, and the county’s turnaround into “an oasis of brotherhood,” with Thurmond declaring that “DeKalb is rising.”

Thurmond’s community address had a different flavor.

SEE CEO page 7

DEKALB PARKS AND REC’S KITES FESTIVAL TAKES FLIGHT

M

other Nature blessed the “Kites Over DeKalb” festival with a gorgeous, spring day on Sunday, April 27. DeKalb County Parks and Recreation hosted the free inaugural event at Wade Walker Park in Stone Mountain.

The festival, which was rescheduled due to rainy weather on April 13, attracted a cross-cultural crowd of children and adults, who tried their hands at kite flying.

A rainbow of kites—from small ones that cost a buck to the large, very ornate dotted the blue sky. Some of the

smallest kite enthusiasts ran with all their might to get their kites off the ground, while others took pleasure in blowing soap bubbles or just running in their socks.

In addition to flying kites, festival goers had the chance to visit kite decorating and face painting stations, jump in a bounce house, grab a bite to eat from food vendors and enjoy a D.J. and of course, the wonderful outdoors.

Photo essay by Mackenzie N. Morgan/OCG News

PAGE 2 • MAY 3, 2019

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14-year-old identified in pellet gun shooting at Wynbrooke Elementary A 14-year-old male has been identified as the suspect in the April 25 pellet gun shooting where 10 children were attacked after lunch while they were on the playground at Wynbrooke Elementary Theme School in DeKalb County.

Authorities said in an April 30 news release that the DeKalb County Schools’ Police had obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect. As of May 2, however, the suspect had not been taken into custody, a spokesperson for the DeKalb School District said.

DeKalb Superintendent Investigators identified the suspect the day after the R. Stephen Green shooting and executed a search warrant and retrieved the pellet gun that was allegedly used in the incident.

Officials said the shooter is facing nine counts of aggravated assault, but that number could be upgraded to 10.

Nine of the children taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston were in good condition and none had to stay in the hospital overnight, according to hospital spokeswoman Ayana Isles. One child was picked up by parents, officials said.

SEE SHOOTING page 4

18-year-old suspect arrested on multiple counts of murder The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Adonis Lewis, 18, of Decatur on a bench warrant issued

by DeKalb County Superior Court for Failure to Appear at an arraignment on March 5, 2019.

Lewis is charged with malice murder, three counts of felony murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, Conspiracy to Violate the Georgia Controlled Substance Act and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Adonis Lewis On April 29, the Sheriff’s Office Uniform Section and the DeKalb County Police Department South NET Team located and arrested Lewis without incident at a Decatur residence and transported him to the DeKalb County Jail.

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MAY 3, 2019 • PAGE 3

DeKalb’s Public Safety Director to serve as interim Police Chief

PUBLISHER Glenn L. Morgan

D

gmorgan1@ocgnews.com

EDITOR Valerie J. Morgan

editor@ocgnews.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill

richardhill@ocgnews.com

STAFF WRITER Mackenzie Morgan

mackenzie@ocgnews.com

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.

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On Common Ground News P.O. Box 904 Lithonia, GA 30058 (678) 526-1910 www.ocgnews.com

DeKalb County to open new Ellenwood Library May 6 DeKalb County Public Library will open its new County Line-Ellenwood Branch on Monday, May 6, at 11 a.m. The new library is located at 4331 River Road, Ellenwood.

Patrons, Friends of the Library and county officials will be on hand for the ribbon-cutting event.

“We are pleased to open another library branch in DeKalb County that will embrace the county’s diversity through New branch manager public programming,” said DeKalb County Felicia Fulks CEO Michael Thurmond.

Designed by R.L. Brown & Associates and built by Hogan Construction Group, the 12,000-square-foot library has meeting space, Wi-Fi, public computers, study rooms, cozy reading areas and a collection of more than 20,000 new books, DVDs, audiobooks and music CDs. Felicia Fulks, a senior librarian with the DeKalb Library System, will be the new branch manager.

Funding for construction is from the 2005 bond referendum that has been instrumental in upgrading several DeKalb branches throughout the county.

The County Line-Ellenwood branch is the 23rd location in the DeKalb Library system. The most recent was the Stonecrest branch, which was built in 2011.

Library hours will be Monday - Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Thursday - Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

WASHED AWAY Sinkhole repairs on Rowland Road expected to take six to eight weeks

A portion of Rowland Road in the city of Conyers collapsed after heavy rains in April. Now, city officials say it will take six to eight weeks to repair.

The city of Conyers has awarded the bid for repairs to Peach State Construction in the amount of $484,000. Pittman Construction submitted a bid of $511,000.

Officials said heavy rainfall in a short period of time on April 19 resulted in a sinkhole on Rowland Road, between East View Road and Pine Log Road. The road was closed to through-traffic as City Public Works and Transportation engineers evaluated the roadway and conducted a hydrology study to determine the extent of the repairs needed to the pipe running beneath the road that was installed in 1991. The pipe conveys the water of Boar Tusk Branch.

The road project is being completed under the city’s procurement policy as a result of an emergency.

Funding for the road repair is through SPLOST dollars. Barring any unexpected delays due to weather or complications in repairs, the work is expected to take six to eight weeks to complete, officials said.

“Thanks to consultation between our Public Works crew, Conyers Police and Rockdale County Fire

eKalb County’s Public Safety Director Joseph “Jack” H. Lumpkin will serve as interim police chief until a replacement is hired, DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond announced.

Lumpkin will temporarily take over the duties of James Conroy, who retired on April 30. Thurmond said the interJoseph “Jack” H. Lumpkin view process is underway for the position.

Appointed in January 2018 by Thurmond, Lumpkin oversees police, fire rescue, animal control, emergency management, 911 and medical examiner services.

Lumpkin has more than 40 years of experience in Georgia law enforcement including police chief positions in Savannah-Chatham County, Athens-Clark County, Albany and Toccoa. He most recently served as the chief of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department from 2014 to 2018.

He presently serves on the board of directors of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He previously served as a vice president for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers (NOBLE). The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police recognized Lumpkin as Police Chief of the Year in 2014 and he was recognized by Georgia NOBLE in 2003 as Police Officer of the Year.

Lumpkin received degrees from Brenau University and Columbus State University and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia as well as leadership programs in Athens, Toccoa, Albany and Savannah. He also is a 2017 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Executive Institute, which is designed for senior FBI leaders and heads of local, state, federal and international agencies with over 500 sworn officers.

CITY OF STONECREST MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, MAY 28TH 2019 AT 7:00 P.M. CITY OF STONECREST, 3120 STONECREST BLVD STONECREST, GA 30038 The following petition(s)/amendment(s) within the City of Stonecrest is scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above.

LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:

SLUP-19-001 Dileane Matthews 3317 Panola Road R-100 (Residential Med Lot) District Applicant is requesting to a special land use permit for the operation of a personal care home for four to six people.

CITY OF STONECREST BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, MAY 21ST 2019 AT 6:00 P.M. STONECREST CITY HALL, 3120 STONECREST BLVD LITHONIA, GA 30038

Department and their foresight in closing the road prior to the collapse, we are fortunate no one was injured,” said Mayor Vince Evans. “While the unexpected emergency repairs to this roadway means we’ll have to push back other projects we had anticipated completing in 2019 like updates and improvements to our city parks, this is a pressing need that we have no choice but to make a priority.”

Rowland Road at East View Road will be open to allow residents access to the Bonner Park playground and tennis courts, but through-traffic remains prohibited to school traffic accessing Rockdale County High School, C.J. Hicks Elementary School, and the Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology.

All school traffic must continue to access Rowland Road via Pine Log Road.

The following Variance Petition located within the City of Stonecrest is scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above.

LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: REQUEST:

V-19-001 Franklyn Champagne 5714 Southcrest Lane R-100 (Residential Med Lot) District To encroach into the 75’ stream buffer for the construction of a concrete driveway.

LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:

V-19-002 Colin Jones 3585 River Rock Road RSM (Small Lot Residential Mix) District To encroach into the rear yard setback for the construction of a deck.

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PAGE 4 • MAY 3, 2019

Rockdale Water Resources proposes revised customer deposit policy

R

ockdale Water Resources (RWR) is proposing changes to its customer deposit policy. The changes will be presented to the Board of Commissioners at the May 7 Work Session. The board will vote on the measure at its May 14 meeting. The changes will affect both residential and commercial customers.

The proposed revised policy for residential customers is as follows: • Deposits for residential customers would be determined by a soft inquiry, which doesn’t negatively impact the customer’s credit.

• Depending on the inquiry, either no deposit would be required or the current standard deposit.

• If a deposit is applicable, it would be determined by meter size per rate schedule.

• Deposits for customer with no valid state issued picture ID or Social Security Number would pay a standard deposit, which is not applied until account is terminated.

• Deposit will be automatically applied to account after 12 months of no penalties, no disconnections and no returned checks, or otherwise applied to final bill, if applicable • This policy does not apply to any location participating in the Landlord Agreement Program Immediately following BOC approval, a list of approved residential customers will be developed to begin applying deposit credit to their perspective accounts if no penalties, no disconnections and no returned checks exist.

A soft inquiry to determine if deposit is required, would begin in June. Al Ford, RWR Customer Service General Manager, said the department has upgraded software to accommodate improvements.

The proposed revised policy for commercial customers states: • The deposit will be determined by meter size only.

• A deposit refund will only be applied to account after terminating service and a refund check will be processed for any remaining credit balance and forwarded to address provided.

The BOC work session will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m., at Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers.

The BOC voting session will be held Tuesday, May 14, 10 a.m. – Assembly Hall, 901 Main Street, Conyers.

SHOOTING continued from page 2 As of May 2, DeKalb Schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green had not held a news conference to discuss the shooting. Communications staff, however, said Green and school police held an informational session for parents on April 30.

Former DeKalb CEO Lee May, whose daughters attend Wynbrooke, said he was pleased with the informational meeting.

“I feel like they listened to the parents. It was a good exchange,” said Lee. Lee said the informational meeting was a stark contrast to what happened on the day of the shooting.

“When all of this happened, communications with the parents and the media, for that matter, was the biggest problem,” said May. “I found out from another parent who sent a text to me. When I arrived at the school, a helicopter was flying overhead, the media was out in front of the school and parents were trying to find out what was going on. No one from the school district had communicated anything with the parents.”

May said authorities told parents at the meeting that police had done an assessment and determined from that assessment that some type of barricade is needed between the school and the community surrounding Wynbrooke.

May said no details were provided about the barricade but parents were told any updates concerning security and the shooting would be communicated.

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DeKalb Youth Commission accepting applications The Office of Youth Services is accepting applicants for the 2019 DeKalb County Youth Commission. The application deadline is Wednesday, July 17.

The Youth Commission is a leadership program that provides youth with opportunities to learn about the roles of county government, participate in civic and community activities, and represent the views of DeKalb County youth.

There are currently 18 vacancies on the DeKalb County Youth Commission.

The program is open to DeKalb County residents entering grades 1012. To register, contact Jashawn Williams, youth services coordinator at 404-687-7108 or jrwilliams@dekalbcountyga.gov.

Bike Safety Rodeo set May 11 The DeKalb County Department of Youth Services will host a bike safety rodeo on Saturday, May 11, 9 a.m. to noon at the Wade Walker Park YMCA, 5605 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain.

DeKalb students are encouraged to bring their bikes for a bike safety check provided by the DeKalb County Police Department. Helmets also will be provided to participants by the DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department.

Registration is not required and open to DeKalb County youths ages 6 to 12 years old.

For more information, contact Jashawn Williams, youth services coordinator, at 404-687-7195 or jrwilliams@dekalbcountyga.gov.

Stonecrest Library Friends sets “Super Book Sale” The Stonecrest Library Friends, 3123 Klondike Road, will host its “Super Book Sale” on May 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the branch.

A variety of books will be available including fiction/non-fiction, crafts, textbooks, romance, magazines, encyclopedias, books on tape/CD, DVDs and VHS. All funds received benefit the Stonecrest library programs for children and adults. For more information, call 404-482-3828.

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MAY 3, 2019 • PAGE 5

DeKalb County School District to honor 2019 valedictorians and salutatorians

T

he DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will honor its valedictorians and salutatorians for the 2018-2019 school year on Thursday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m., at the Robert R. Freeman Administrative & Instruction Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain.

The graduating senior student with the highest cumulative grade-point average is designated the senior class valedictorian at each school. Similarly, the senior student with the second-highest gradepoint average is designated the school’s salutatorian.

The DeKalb County Board of Education and DCSD Superintendent/CEO Dr. R. Stephen Green will formally honor the district's Class of 2019 valedictorians and salutatorians at the special event.

The principals from each high school will introduce the honorees for their campus. Following is the list of each high school’s valedictorians and salutatorians: Arabia Mountain High School Janae Baker – Valedictorian – Magnet Arantza Pena – Valedictorian Daija Jackson – Salutatorian – Magnet Kamaya Walker – Salutatorian Cedar Grove High School Chloe Dixon – Valedictorian Audrey Choutpoen Nsangou – Salutatorian Chamblee Charter High School Sherwin Shirazi – Valedictorian – Magnet Eshaan Agrawal – Valedictorian Lee-San Sun – Salutatorian – Magnet Debajyoti Das – Salutatorian

Clarkston High School Evanné J Casimir – Valedictorian Paw Thaw Thaw – Salutatorian Columbia High School Keonna Timmons – Valedictorian – Magnet Christina Lewis – Valedictorian Serenity Williams – Salutatorian – Magnet Brandy Jackson – Salutatorian

Rebecca Zhang – Salutatorian McNair High School Taniya Scott – Valedictorian Kathy Romero - Salutatorian Miller Grove High School Rashon Poole – Valedictorian Breonna Lenon – Salutatorian

Cross Keys High School Deanna Lin – Valedictorian Amanda Perdomo – Salutatorian

Redan High School Ar’Monii Price – Valedictorian Seinab Mohamed – Salutatorian

DeKalb Early College Academy Kelsey Brew – Valedictorian Aaron Patterson – Salutatorian

Southwest DeKalb High School Madison Grant – Valedictorian – Magnet Gabrielle Huff – Valedictorian Sarah DeBruhl – Salutatorian – Magnet Sarah Sileshi – Salutatorian

DeKalb School of the Arts Mariya Kurbatova – Valedictorian Ella Biehn – Salutatorian Druid Hills High School Sabina Iqbal – Valedictorian Haris Miller – Salutatorian Dunwoody High School Madeline Tapp – Valedictorian Caroline Shewmaker – Salutatorian Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Jasmine White – Valedictorian Mikaili Williams – Salutatorian Lakeside High School Zoe Weiss – Valedictorian Shani Edmond – Salutatorian Lithonia High School Alexandra Hamilton – Co-Valedictorian Sara Nunez – Co-Valedictorian

Stephenson High School Mychal Anderson – Valedictorian Rochelle Hall – Salutatorian Stone Mountain High School Bawi Par – Valedictorian Haileyesus Ayalew – Salutatorian Towers High School Deion Kelly – Valedictorian B leaka Martins – Salutatorian Tucker High School Usman Saeed Jamal – Valedictorian Leah Whitmoyer – Salutatorian Tapestry Public Charter School Xavier Butler – Valedictorian Avery Lamberson – Salutatorian

PAGE 6 • MAY 3, 2019 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

Historic “Windows Speak” project showcases gateway to Atlanta’s black businesses

S

weet Auburn Works (SAW) has launched the first in a series of events and exhibitions about life on Auburn Avenue, the gateway to the black business community in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Life Insurance Company’s “Windows Speak Project” offers a visual narrative of the history of the company depicted in 15 windows of the original Atlanta Life Insurance Company office buildings located at 148 Auburn Ave. The Windows Speaks exhibition, which kicked off on May 2, will remain a permanent addition to the façade of the historic buildings, which housed Atlanta Life’s offices from 1920-1980.

The exhibition includes the legacy of entrepreneur and founder / president Alonzo Franklin Herndon, who became Atlanta’s first African American self-made millionaire and pioneered the insurance company from its inception in 1905 until 1927; Norris Bumstead Herndon, who served as president and led the business through periods of explosive growth, profitability and community involvement from 1927 to 1973; and Jesse Hill, Jr., who continued the tradition of business excellence and community service from 1973-1995. Hill was presi-

Atlanta Life Insurance Company’s project, “Windows Speak,” displayed from the original historic office buildings on Auburn Avenue, provides a look into the legacy of Atlanta Life.

dent of Atlanta Life and also served as chairman of the board. The three chief officers of Atlanta Life were synonymous with the company’s brand during their terms.

The exhibit includes portraits, group photographs, structures and other digital imagery visible to those who travel along Auburn Avenue between Courtland Street and Piedmont Avenue. Each image measures roughly 70 x 40 inches.

These pieces of photographic art were created by the nationally-acclaimed artist, Amalia Amaki. .

CITY OF STONECREST PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, MAY 7TH 2019 AT 6:00 P.M. STONECREST CITY HALL, 3120 STONECREST BLVD LITHONIA, GA 30038 CITY OF STONECREST MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: MONDAY, MAY 28TH 2019 AT 7:00 P.M. CITY OF STONECREST, 3120 STONECREST BLVD STONECREST, GA 30038 The following petition(s)/amendment(s) within the City of Stonecrest is scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above.

LAND USE PETITION: LOCATION:

TMOD 19-0003 Stonecrest Overlay Stonecrest Overlay

PROPOSED AMENDMENT:

Staff is recommending a text amendment to the Overlay to amend the prohibited and permitted uses, setback requirements, design standards, to establish distance requirements and to clarify and simplify the text of the Overlay. Staff also recommends a map amendment to change the boundaries of the Overlay as a whole and the boundaries of Tiers 1-5.

LAND USE PETITION: LOCATION:

TMOD 19-0004 Telecommunications Regulations City-Wide

PROPOSED AMENDMENT:

Updating 4.257 Wireless Telecommunications of Article IV (Use Regulations) of Chapter 27 (Zoning) of the code of The City of Stonecrest, Georgia to Comply with requirements of Federal rulings and State and Federal Laws on Telecommunications Facility Regulations. Small Cell Tower regulations, Revised Special Administrative Review Process And Tracking of Telecommunications Facilities.

LAND USE PETITION: LOCATION:

TMOD 19-0002 City Wide

PROPOSED AMENDMENT:

Revision toTable 4.1 Use Table to adopt a new table in its entirety, to add provisions regarding child caring home, child caring facility, new support structure from 51 feet to 150 feet, new support structure from 50 feet up to 199 feet, and small cell installatiosn (new support structures of collaction) on private property or ROW), and for other purposes.

LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:

SLUP-19-002 Franklyn Champagne 5714 Southcrest Lane R-100 (Residential Med Lot) District Applicant is requesting a Special Land Use Permit to operate a personal care home for four to six individuals.

Building one of the exhibition includes images of the million-dollar ALI team, ALI Department heads, Alonzo Herndon with Booker T. Washington, Alonzo Herndon with sociologist W.E. B. DuBois at Niagara Falls; and Norris and Adrienne Herndon; Building two includes images of Helen Collins, former chairman of the board; Edward L. Simon, former chairman of the board and former auditor; E.M. Martin, former senior vice president and CEO and secretary of the board;

and Henrietta Antonin, who served as vice president of public relations. Antonin, who pent 46 years at Atlanta Life, was the face that welcomed the public to the insurance company, and she was deeply involved in the politics and the arts of the city. Antonin worked closely with Jesse Hill during the time of the sit-in movement, bailing out those who were arrested in Atlanta and surrounding areas in Georgia.

The Historic District Development Corporation (HDDC) was organized in 1980 to rehabilitate and revitalize the residential and commercial property known as the “Sweet Auburn/Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District.” The district is considered one of the most significant neighborhoods, not only in Atlanta, but in the country, according to preservationists and historians. Attracting nearly 1 million visitors from across the nation and around the world, the Historic District includes the legacy of the neighborhood that nurtured Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sweet Auburn has been designated a “National Treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Atlanta Life was strategically positioned where Peachtree meets Sweet Auburn.

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MAY 3, 2019 • PAGE 7

STONECREST continued from page 1

Rockdale seeks public input on strategic survey

tions of Browns Mill Aquatics facility until the end of summer.

In a 5-1 vote at its April meeting, the City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement to begin the process to acquire Browns Mill, along with eight other parks from DeKalb County government. Parks is one of three services, along with planning and zoning and code enforcement that the new city is required to take over under the Stonecrest charter.

The city plans to spend an estimated $42,000, which amounts to $100 per acre, for the nine parks that are located within the city limits.

The City Council in a 4-2 vote also approved a Memorandum of Understanding for the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta to run the summer camp program at Browns Mill.

Lary said, however, no contract has been signed with the Boys & Girls Club. He said the city would continue discussions with the community to gather more input.

“We’re still planning to buy Browns Mill. It will still be a part of the city’s park system,” Lary said. “Keeping the summer program in tact the way it is now just gives us more time to hear from constituents and have a smooth transition.”

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners is seeking the public’s input on ways to improve the quality of life in the county.

Recently, the board appointed members to the Rockdale County Strategic Plan Taskforce, a team charged with collecting citizen input through a survey to improve the Rockdale community. The survey went live on the county’s website (rockdalecountyga.gov) on May 1 and will be available through June 20.

The survey asks citizens and stakeholders to give feedback in the following subject areas: Public Safety, Economic Development, Quality of Life, Transportation/ Infrastructure, Education/ Workforce Development, and Transparency.

“We need to be proactive in establishing the County’s plans for the future. The citizens have every right to be put first in this process,” Rockdale Board of Commissioners (BOC) Chairman Oz Nesbitt said. “This survey gives every resident of Rockdale County the opportunity to voice their opinion regarding the vision of where they work, live, and play.”

Strategic Plan Taskforce members and county ambassadors will promote the survey at the following upcoming events: • Taste of Conyers – May 4 • E-Recycling & Paper Shredding – May 11 • BOC on the Road Meeting at Honey Creek Elementary School – May 21 • S.P.A.R.C. Rockdale 2019 – May 23 • Costly Mill Park Beach Opening Day – May 25 • Dog Park grand opening, Richardson Park – June 1 • 2019 Rockdale Employment Summit – June 7 • BOC on the Road Meeting at Barksdale Elementary School– June 18 In addition to appearances at community events, theBOC will make presentations at town hall meetings across Rockdale, sharing the importance of the strategic survey and how the community can take part. The dates for the town hall meetings follow: • Thursday, May 9, 6 p.m., Commissioner Sherri L. Washington, Post 1, Hightower Trail Elementary, 2510 GA-138, Conyers • Thursday, May 16, 6 p.m., Commissioner Doreen Williams, Post 2, Fire Station 2, 778 Bell Road, Conyers • Thursday, May 23, 6 p.m., BOC Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr., Rockdale County Auditorium, 903 Main Street, Conyers • Thursday, June 20, 6 p.m., Strategic Plan Town Hall Finale, J.P. Carr Community Room, 981 Taylor Street, Conyers

Piedmont Rockdale to launch ‘Walk with a Doc’ in Conyers Piedmont Healthcare’s initiative, “Walk with a Doc,” is now being offered in Conyers. Walk with a Doc helps the community get active and have better access to physicians.

The monthly walks will be held at Wheeler Park, 1350 Parker Road, Conyers. All members of the community are invited to attend and have one-on-one time with a Piedmont physician.

Tamica White, M.D., will host the next walk on Tuesday, May 14. Dr. White is a general surgeon with Piedmont Tamica White, M.D Physicians Surgical Specialists Conyers and has over 10 years of experience providing a wide range of surgical services. She has advanced training in oncoplastic breast reconstruction, minimally invasive surgery and the surgical treatment of non-healing wounds.

White earned a medical degree from Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School and completed a general surgery residency at Georgetown University Hospital. She completed a fellowship in thoracic surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Walkers are encouraged to gather at the park by 8:45 a.m. as the walk begins promptly at 9 a.m. The physician hosting the walk will take a few minutes at the beginning of each walk to talk about his or her specialty before leading the group around the Parker Road complex.

Although the event is free, registration is required by calling 877-5273712 or visiting piedmont.org/docwalk. Registration is available on site.

Stonecrest finalizes purchase of city’s first property to halt undesired development Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary and city attorneys have finalized the purchase of an 8.8-acre land tract on the corner of Evans Mill and Salem Roads, officials announced on May 2. The purchase was initiated after residents expressed their disapproval of a proposed gas station and convenience store at the 5987 Salem Road site.

The property owner, Shawn Ali, applied for a permit and was moving forward with his commercial development when the mayor approached him about selling the property. The mayor worked with Councilman George Turner and presented the idea to the public during the mayor’s “Straight Talk” meeting on March 18. Residents overwhelmingly supported the purchase.

Lary then proposed a resolution for a council vote and on March 25, the council passed the measure to purchase the land for its appraised value of $350,000.

“The purpose of the purchase was so that everyone in the scenario could win. The citizens didn’t want a gas station on that corner,” Lary said. “We have the money to purchase park land using our SPLOST funds. The purchase gives us space for a park and the unique opportunity to transform one of the city’s most dangerous intersections with a safety control device or a roundabout,” Mayor Lary explained.

The city staff is in the process of evaluating and selecting traffic engineering companies to determine the intersection’s safest options, according to city engineer Ken Hildebrandt. The possibilities include a traffic light, roundabout, or other road construction measures, city officials said.

CEO continued from page 1 “I don’t have another State of the County Address in me this week,” Thurmond said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Thurmond said he and his wife, Zola, wanted to let the community at large know about a personal commitment he is making as CEO to one of DeKalb’s most vulnerable population: DeKalb’s children.

“We decided to make this(the breakfast address) meaningful. We’ve had state of the county events, I suppose, for decades, but at the end of the day, the question is “Are we making a difference in the community? The way you define difference is not how I live or how we live, buty ou have to look to the people who are most vulnerable and the most needy,” said Thurmond. “…I will not stand by and allow the drug dealers, the pimps and gang bangers to be the only ones in our community recruiting our children…We are investing in our children. We’re going to put children first.”.

Thurmond said he was moved by the stories shared by Fox 5 News Anchor Alyse Eady, who served as mistress of ceremony for the community breakfast, and Major Danny L. Jordan of the DeKalb County Police Department’s South Precinct. Both, Eady and Jordan, revealed how they were in foster care as children and urged support of children who are in state custody.

“We would like to believe that every child has a loving home with all of the materials that they need to strive and prosper, but it’s just not true,” said Thurmond, who thanked the former pageant winner, who was crowned Miss Arkansas 2010 and police major.

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