VOLUME 22 NUMBER 7
FREE
MAY 14,2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
Rebirth of the Tupac Amuru Shakur Center
New owner launches business incubator, inflatables play place for kids under way
City of Lithonia to be included in Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails
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he City of Lithonia will soon get two roadway markers so tourists and others will know of its role in the Civil War. And State Rep. Doreen Carter says she’s happy she’ll be able to walk about a block from her house and see one of the signs that designate Lithonia as part of the Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails. “This is really exciting for me. We’ve heard stories that Sherman’s troops camped in my backyard,” said Carter. “It will proState Rep. Doreen Carter vide a great economic boost to the areas with the increase in history tours throughout the state. It puts Lithonia on the map and it will help benefit merchants in our downtown area as James Burnett stands in the parking lot of the former arts center, 5616 Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain, where he is opening the Elite Executive Center and Jumps R Us. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG people explore historic sites.” News General Tecumseh William Sherman’s infamous “March to the Sea” campaign wound its way through captured Atlanta areas, inBy Valerie J. Morgan “Since Afeni’s death, we have had so many cluding Lithonia, in 1864. The troops burned enemy military targets, people stop by to visit, including media who want buildings, civilian homes and other property as they made their way ames Burnett is redeveloping the to know what will happen to the property,” Bur- to the Savannah port. long-neglected Tupac Amaru Shakur nett said. “They are excited to see the work that is The Georgia Department of Transportation is funding the trails, which are part of a web of driving routes across the state. Georgia’s Center for the Arts in DeKalb County. going on. The property had fallen into disrepair, trails are part of a larger network, the Civil War Heritage Trails, The Stone Mountain businessman purchased the the grass was tall, it was a mess. We’ve clean it which also includes driving routes throughout South Carolina and Memorial Drive property last December and now up. We want to do something positive to remem- Alabama. ber Tupac and his mother’s legacy. It’s a piece of he has embarked on a project to pay homage to Carter was instrumental in connecting Lithonia Mayor Deborah the late rapper icon and his mother, Afeni Shakur, history.” Jackson with officials of the Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails. The Lithonia City Council approved the right-of-way for the two markers who died of a suspected heart attack on May 2. Tupac Amuru Shakur Center page 8 at its May 2 meeting. She was 69.
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Mission Possible: County leaders launch beautification unit to keep DeKalb clean
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eKalb County has launched its Keep DeKalb Beautiful Beautification Unit, a one-stop shop that will include code enforcement, the county’s Foreclosure/ Vacant Property Registry, and mowing and herbicide crews. Its mission: to give DeKalb a beautiful new image. The county officially opened the unit on May 12 at 1807 Candler Road in Decatur. The building, which had been vacant for years, formerly served as DeKalb’s office for Community Development. Marcus Kellum, the county’s former code enforcement administrator, was announced as the new director of the beautification unit. “We will have 190 people in this unit. That’s a lot. Not only is it pulling people together, we’ve invested in hiring to enhance our beautification efforts,” said DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May. May said he also has tasked the county’s legal department with putting more teeth into DeKalb’s ability to assist code enforcement officers with sign litter, which he considers a big problem, especially in South DeKalb.
DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May plants flowers at the Beautification Unit on Candler Road. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
Meanwhile, Kellum said he is looking forward to heading up the new office and commended county leaders for pulling all of DeKalb’s beautification resources under one roof. “This is the natural synergy that we always needed,” Kellum said. “I’m looking forward to some great
projects, some really incredible things we can do as a unit to change the way DeKalb County looks, to focus on beautification and to prove to folks that we care about our county.” DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson, who also attended the kickoff, said it will not only take county employees
but everyone in the community working together to make a difference. “I’m excited for helping to push the ball forward. I’ve been fighting for this for years. It’s in District 3 and 6. For me, it’s the gateway to South DeKalb,” said Johnson. “When you come down Candler Road, it should be the epitome of beautification.” DeKalb Commissioner Kathie Gannon, whose District 6 includes Candler Road, said she is hoping the new unit will help to educate the community on how it can take more pride in keeping the areas clean. “We have a lot of education to do,” said Gannon, as she pointed out that a motorist was emptying an ashtray out of the window. “This is our county and we need to start picking up after ourselves. There are entirely too many fastfood restaurants without garbage cans and people walking around with fastfood in their hands and when they’re done, they throw it.” To participate in DeKalb’s ongoing beautification initiative, contact Nichole Simms at jnsimms@dekalbcountyga. gov or call 404-371-2552.