VOLUME 23 NUMBER 43
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JANUARY 20, 2018
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According to State Rep. Vernon Jones, more than 1,000 people–from former Sam's Club employees to vendors and concerned citizens–packed the Jan. 16 town hall meeting to get answers regarding the store's sudden closing. Jones (dark suit, far right image) fielded questions while Glen Wilkins, director of public affairs for Wal-Mart, responded. Photos by Travis Hudgons/OCGNews
Stonecrest Sam’s Club Abrupt Closing State Rep. Vernon Jones: More than 1,000 turn out for town hall
By Valerie Morgan
T
here were so many people who turned out for the Jan. 16 town hall on the abrupt closing of the Stonecrest Sam’s Club that State Rep. Vernon Jones took a short intermission and asked people to leave in order to give others a chance to come inside the Stonecrest Library auditorium. “We want to give as many as possible the chance to ask questions and hear the answers,” said Jones, who held the town hall after an outcry from the community who learned of the store’s demise on Jan. 11 when it abruptly closed. Many in the community found out the store was closed as they arrived to shop or report to work that day. Others found out as national media outlets reported the closings around the country. Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary, who held a news conference outside the store on the morning it closed, expressed his outrage. He witnessed employees who
were in tears and shocked customers who were turned away by a security guard. “Unbelievable. You don’t do people like this. You don’t just close the doors on people who have supported you for years with no warning,” Lary said. DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson criticized Walmart Corp. for not sending a top official who could answer the public’s questions in detail. “If Sam’s Club or Walmart Corp. wanted you all to know the answers, he (Wilkins) would have had them here tonight. I think it’s a bunch of whitewashing,” said Johnson, adding that the only way to make it clear to Walmart and Sam’s Club that the community won’t stand for this kind of disrespect is to “hit them in the pocketbook.” Jones said more than 1,000 people attended the town hall. They left angry. Glenn Wilkins, public affairs and government relations manager for Walmart, the parent company for Sam’s Club, told the audience the company
is not reversing its decision, citing underperformance as the main reason for the store’s closing. “It was a financial decision. You put the numbers together. It wasn’t performing great… I know there are other opinions out there but it was purely based on the numbers,” Wilkins said. Wilkins said officials made the decision to close 63 Sam’s Clubs around the nation, saying it was reviewing its business strategy. He said the stores closed down on Jan. 11 without warning to employees or the public. The Stonecrest Sam’s Club was the only one closed in Georgia, he said. It opened in 2003. “We notified the associates when they came in and we notified members when they came in as well. No one had advance notice. They walked in and we had the opportunity to talk with them at that time,” Wilkins said. Wilkins said the employees are being paid for the next 60 days. They’re SEE TOWN HALL, page 6
The Levett family poses with David Manuel (far right), interim deputy director of DeKalb’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs at the Porter Sanford Arts Center. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/ OCGNews
DeKalb’s Porter Sanford Arts Center celebrates 10-year anniversary By Mackenzie N. Morgan
T
he Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center is celebrating a decade of the performing arts in South DeKalb with a calendar filled with events. David Manuel, interim deputy director of DeKalb Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs, said that 2018
will be jam-packed with programs from now until the annual “Urban Nutcracker” musical, which will be held in December. “We’re having events all year round. This is our way of saying thank you to the community for helping us celebrate 10 years of bringing the best of arts and culture to South DeKalb,” said Manuel, who has been over the Porter Sanford for seven years.
The DeKalb arts center kicked off the festivities on Jan. 6 with the “New Year, New Life” concert featuring music artists Kenny Latimore and Jukebox Atlanta. The free event was emceed by Sasha the Diva from KISS 104.1 FM and sponsored by Greory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Home. This year’s lineup will include a newly minted spin on the Jungle Book SEE ANNIVERSARY, page 6
Mereda Johnson to hold town hall on proliferation of store closings DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson will host a town hall meeting to discuss the proliferation of store closings in South DeKalb. The meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 22, 6 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road. “People are in a panic. I’m bringing in county officials and others to discuss the store closings that are happening in our area,” said Johnson. Johnson said Andrew Baker, DeKalb’s director of planning and development, Chief Operation Officer for DeKalb County Zach Williams and Ray Gilley, president of Decide DeKalb Development Authority will be on hand to field questions. Commissioners Steve Bradshaw and Gregory Adams also will attend the meeting. The Stonecrest Sam’s Club closing comes on the heels of other stores in South DeKalb closing including Kroger at 965 N. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain (closed Oct. 13, 2017); Publix, 2075 S. Hairston Road, Decatur (closing March 3, 2018); and Wal-mart supermarket, 6152 Covington Highway (Jan. 30, 2018).
PAGE 2 • JANUARY 20, 2018 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Vickie B. Turner and Rob Turner
Photos by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
DeKalb leaders provide updates at Turners’ inaugural community breakfast
V
ickie B. Turner and Rob Turner held their inaugural monthly community breakfast, “The Cultural Exchange,” on Jan. 14 with several elected and appointed officials, community leaders and constituents in attendance at Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur. Among the speakers were Congressman Hank Johnson, DeKalb Schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green, State Rep. Howard Mosby, and Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary. Vickie Turner, who represents District 5 on the DeKalb School Board, and her husband, Rob Turner, who represents Stonecrest City Council’s District 2, said they launched The Cultural Exchange as a way for constituents and local leaders to connect s every second Saturday of the month. Stan Watson, a former DeKalb County commissioner and State Representative, had held a monthly Community Cabinet breakfast meeting in South DeKalb for 20
years until 2016 and the Turners say they want to resume what he started. Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents Georgia’s Fourth District, and his wife, DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, who represents the county’s District 5, brought greetings at the Turner’s first meeting. The congressman denounced President Trump’s latest racist remarks criticizing immigration from Haiti, El Savador and Africa to the U.S. News agencies around the world reported Trump calling the group “sh—hole” countries. “We have a Hurricane Category 5 that sits in the White House—Washington D.C. It’s not about the country they were talking about, it’s more about the people,” Johnson said. “He (basically) said ‘We don’t want them. Get rid of them. Don’t bring them here.’” Despite the President’s remarks, Johnson said that he and other leaders remain vigilant in their tasks.
“...Even though things look bad, that’s when we know we’ve got to get to work and turn up the burners and work even harder.” Johnson told the audience he was holding a meeting later that day to discuss new federal tax legislation that could have a negative impact on millions of Americans. State. Rep. Howard Mosby said he is looking at introducing a bill to decouple the federal tax codes from the state’s tax codes to help taxpayers avoid “a backdoor tax increase.” Mosby said those who take a standard deduction on their federal tax returns would have to do the same on their state tax return. Likewise those who itemize on their federal tax returns also must itemize on their state returns. DeKalb County Schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green provided an update on the district’s progress under his leadership so far. Green said the district has achieved full
accreditation for five years—through 2022, touting increases in SAT, ACT and CCRPI scores, as well as an increase in graduation rate, specifically praising Arabia Mountain High School in the city of Stonecrest for having the highest graduation rate in the district (99 percent). Green also said about half of the 25 DeKalb schools had been removed from the takeover list targeted by Gov. Nathan Deal’s proposed Opportunity School District. “We’re about results. We’re about outcomes,” said Green. “We will continue to improve and continue to get better.” Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary discussed the abrupt closing of the Stonecrest Sam’s Club. The next community breakfast meeting will be held on Feb. 10. The time and location will be announced in On Common Ground News. To view the video of the entire meeting, visit www.ocgnews.com
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JANUARY 20, 2018 • PAGE 3
Gilbert Turman, former DeKalb principal and civic leader, passes PUBLISHER Glenn L. Morgan
gmorgan1@ocgnews.com
EDITOR Valerie J. Morgan
editor@ocgnews.com
ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill
richardhill@ocgnews.com
STAFF WRITER Mackenzie Morgan
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PRODUCTION MANAGER Travis Hudgons travis@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. 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.
On Common Ground News P.O. Box 904 Lithonia, GA 30058 (678) 526-1910 www.ocgnews.com
Gilbert Turman, a former principal of Southwest DeKalb High School and founder of the South DeKalb Neighborhood Coalition, has died, On Common Ground News learned at deadline. Mr. Turman died at home at 11 a.m. on Jan. 18, friends said. He was 77. Dr. Melvin Johnson, who was Mr. Turman’s supervisor for many years, remembered him as a “true community servant.” Mr. Turman served not only at Southwest DeKalb High School but McNair Middle and Columbia High School. “Everybody respected
Photo by Travis Hudgons
Gilbert Turman
him as a great administrator. He looked out for everyone,” said Johnson. In 2017, DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis returned to office and honored Mr. Turman and several others as community champions who had a positive impact
on the community. Mr. Turman, through the South DeKalb Neighborhood Coalition, fought against the expansion of landfills in South DeKalb and he served as the volunteer advisory chairman of the county’s Code Enforcement Advisory Council. Mr. Turman began his education career in 1962 as a teacher and head football coach in Newton County. In the DeKalb County School District, he served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and area superintendent in the DeKalb School District.
Dr. Catherin Turk, a retired area executive director for DeKalb County Schools, said she first met Mr. Turman when he taught in Newton. “We both worked in Newton before we went to DeKalb. I got to know him as a teacher and a parent. Our sons played football together and later we both worked at Columbia High School in DeKalb,” Turk said. “He was a wonderful person. He had a great sense of humor. He was straightforward, very involved in civic activities. He always wanted to make the community better.”
Stonecrest City Council elects George Turner as new mayor pro tem The Stonecrest City Council in a 5-0 vote elected George Turner as its new mayor pro tem on Jan. 16 over the objections of Councilmember Diane Adoma, the out-going mayor pro tem. “…I am adamantly upset that this Council have chosen to ambush this particular topic without giving me any notification,” Adoma said. “…I am abstaining from this vote today because we have a council who feel like they don’t have to be accountable to the people nor the charter
George Turner
nor the Constitution and I will not cast a vote today to remove me as a legal, sitting
Rockdale to host meet-and-greet for new DA Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt is hosting a meet-and-greet to welcome the Honorable Alisha Adams Johnson as the new District Attorney in Rockdale. The meet-and-greet will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 6 p.m., at J.P. Carr Community Center, 981 Taylor St., Conyers. Johnson became Rockdale’s first African American and the county’s first woman to hold the seat after she was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal in December to fill the unexpired term of Richard Read, who announced his Honorable Alisha Adams resignation. Johnson Johnson received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College. During her third year of law school at Georgia State University, she began her internship with the Rockdale County District Attorney’s office. Johnson was named an assistant district attorney in Rockdale County upon graduation from law school.
Stonecrest mayor collaborates to secure Amazon bid With the announcement that Atlanta has made Amazon’s finalists’ list for its second world headquarters known as HQ2, Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary said he is ever optimistic about securing the bid. Lary said the Georgia Economic Development’s Office includes metro Atlanta and thus, Stonecrest. Amazon officials have narrowed the list from 238 to 20 cities, news outlets reported on Jan. 18. Lary said he is collaborating with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to win the Amazon bid for the metro area. “I said we have more land and you have more rail,” said Lary. “We are stronger together versus Mayor Jason Lary separate as both areas have unique assets.” Stonecrest made national news when it offered to de-annex 345 acres and create the city of Stonecrest, Georgia as a way to lure the retail giant’s headquarters and 50,000 jobs to the area that will have average salaries of $100,000 a year. Stonecrest launched a marketing campaign using geo-fencing through a Seattle-based firm to produce a web-based information video and site visit invitation directly to Amazon executives. Amazon’s headquarters are located SEE AMAZON, page 6
mayor pro tem without valid cause.” The mayor pro tem conducts meetings and carries out other duties in the mayor’s absence. Adoma said she had a right to serve two years as mayor pro tem, based on an opinion by City Attorney Tom Kurrie, who acknowledged his opinion but also stated the council did not have to abide by it. Clanton said the council should follow the city’s charter, which states that the council elects the mayor pro tem at the first
regular meeting of the year following a municipal election. Three council members’ terms expired on Dec. 31: Councilmembers Adoma, Jazzmin Cobble and Jimmy Clanton. They were all installed during a specialcalled meeting on Jan. 3. The Jan. 16 meeting marked the first regular meeting for the new year, following the elections. Clanton and George Turner said the city charter states the two-year term for mayor pro tem is effective after each municipal election is held.
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Deltas to host human trafficking forum in DeKalb on Jan. 25
Photo provided
Rep. Hank Johnson hosts “teach-in” on new tax laws Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) recently held a tax teachin as part of a nationwide effort to communicate to constituents what the new tax law means to families, jobs and economic growth. More than 80 constituents attended the meeting, which was held at C. Fitchett Municipal Complex Main Auditorium in Lilburn on Jan. 13. Johnson represents Georgia’s Fourth District, which includes DeKalb, Rockdale and parts of Gwinnett County. Johnson hosted Wesley Tharpe, research director of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute; Caroline Fohlin, professor of economics at Emory University; Louis Partain of the AFL-CIO; Ian McCarthy, assistant professor of economics at Emory University and Thomas Smith, associate professor of finance at the Goizueta Business School, Emory.
“I voted against this GOP tax scam for numerous reasons but mostly because it gives 83 percent of the tax cuts to the wealthiest one percent, eventually raises taxes on 86 million middle-class families, gives a $1.3 trillion tax break for corporations and explodes debt by at least $1.8 trillion,” said Johnson. “And now to pay for these tax cuts to the wealthy, Republicans in Congress are going to try to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. That’s unacceptable. It was good to come out into the community to explain what this tax plan means to working Georgians.” “Democrats want real, bipartisan tax reform that puts the middle class first with A better deal: Better jobs, better wages, better future,” said Johnson. “This plan is more trickle-down, voodoo economics. Americans deserve a better deal than this.”
DeKalb Library awarded prestigious NEH grant for children’s programming DeKalb County Public Library has been awarded a $50,000 matching grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to expand its programming aimed at young children. The Humanities Access Grant is one of 17 totaling $1.3 million awarded nationwide by NEH in December to “outstanding cultural programs for young people, communities of color and economically disadvantaged populations.” The DeKalb library system will use the grant to expand its early childhood literacy outreach programming. The funds will allow the system to offer the PRIME TIME Preschool program at four branches between 2018 and 2020. Developed by the Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities in 2011, the program uses trained staff to help prepare low-income preschool children for success in reading and school. Over a sixweek period, children 3 to 5 years old and their families are introduced to award-winning books and literacy–based activities that encourage a love of reading and the library. Gina Jenkins, the Library’s youth service coordinator, will lead implementation of the PRIME TIME Preschool program. She says the research-based program has a proven track record of success. “A PRIME TIME Preschool impact study found that children who participate in the program showed gains in factors contributing to school readiness, including a gain of 28 percent in the number of words correctly recognized from the books read during the six sessions,” she notes. The DeKalb system already has had success with similar programming. Since 2006, the Library has regularly offered PRIME TIME Family Reading Time at its Chamblee branch and, on occasion, at a few other branches as well. This program, also developed by the Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities, uses similar methods as PRIME TIME Preschool to encourage reading and love of the library among children and their families. However, at the Chamblee branch, the program focuses on elementary-age children whose families speak Spanish as their first language. The DeKalb Library Foundation will raise the matching $50,000 for the PRIME TIME Preschool grant over the next two years. The Foundation annually raises more than $150,000 from individuals, corporations and grant funders to support DeKalb Library literacy initiatives.
The Decatur Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host a human trafficking forum on Jan. 25, 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the DeKalb County School District’s Auditorium, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain. This forum is presented in collaboration with Street Grace, DeKalb County School District, and DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson. The goal of the community forum entitled, “Break the Shackles of Human Trafficking: Educate, Engage, Advocate,” is to increase awareness of the pervasiveness of human trafficking. The panel who will discuss the issue includes: Bob Rodgers, President and CEO of Street Grace; Michele Rickett, president and CEO of She is Safe and co-author of the best-selling and award winning book, “Forgotten Girls: Stories of Hope and Courage;” Margie McGill, Tabitha’s House and survivor of human trafficking; A'Sheika L. Penn, deputy chief and Juvenile Court Assistant District Attorney, DeKalb County; Jashawn Williams, project manager for DeKalb County Office of Youth Services and owner of Project Escape; and Brian Johnston, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. In Georgia, between 200 and 350 adolescent girls are sold online per month, according to reports provided by Street Grace. The organization said 91 percent of Georgia minors were enrolled in school at the time of their exploitation. The forum is free and open to the public. Anyone interested in protecting children and young adults from becoming victims of human trafficking is encouraged to attend. To help prepare forum material, interested participants are urged to RSVP using: bit.ly/HumanTraffickingDST. Those interested in connecting to the community forum via social media are encouraged to use #Trafficking and #DemandAnEnd to join the conversation. To learn more, contact forum coordinators at 770-987-2812 or socialaction@dstdac.org.
Arabia Alliance announces new board members The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance announces the election of two new members to its Board of Directors. Joining the non-profit board are Sue Sanders and Joel Thibodeaux. “We are very pleased to welcome these two outstanding leaders to the board. The talent and diverse experience they bring to the table will further strengthen the Arabia Alliance,” said Board Chair Ron Williams. Sanders, director of Recreation & MainteSue Sanders nance for Rockdale County, oversees all financial, personnel and operational matters for Parks & Recreation, Animal Control, Senior Services, Capital Projects, Recycling, Fleet Maintenance, Building Maintenance and Park Maintenance. Sanders also serves as the Recreation and Senior Services Departmental Adviser to the SPLOST Committee. In addition to her departmental duties, Sanders was recently assigned as special project manager for the Judicial Center Expansion project. Prior to her current role at the county, Sanders also served as the Deputy Director of Joel Thibodeaux Recreation & Maintenance, Deputy Director of Public Works, Assistant Director of Park Maintenance. Sanders also worked in Public Services & Engineering and Rockdale Water Resources during her 16-year tenure at Rockdale County. Joel Thibodeaux, Chairman Emeritus of the Governor’s Commission on Stonecrest. Thibodeaux serves as the Director of Audits & Compliance at the DeKalb County School District and recently co-founded the Stonecrest Schools Foundation, a non-profit committed to community support of public schools in the city of Stonecrest. Thibodeaux spent 14 years in corporate accounting and finance at PGi and Exide Battery before changing focus to public finance in 2010. Joel worked multiple legislative sessions as a program analyst in the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office, primarily covering natural resources, agriculture, and transportation, along with economic development and tax reform. A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, he is a 29-year resident of DeKalb County. He and his wife, Stacey, moved to South DeKalb shortly after marrying in 1988. They have two adult children and a grandson, and have lived in the Stonecrest area since 2002. Thibodeaux is the former president of the Savoy Chase/Saddleridge HOA. He attends Christ Our Hope Catholic Church in Lithonia where he serves on the parish’s Finance Council and Stewardship Ministry and is treasurer of the Men’s Ministry. The Arabia Alliance appreciates the dedicated service of two members who are no longer serving on the board: Jackie Lundsford, who resigned after retiring as Rockdale County’s park director, and George Turner, a Stonecrest City Council member who retired at the end of his term on the board. For more information about Arabia Alliance and the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, visit www.arabiaalliance.org.
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JANUARY 20, 2018 • PAGE 5
A historic path: DeKalb walking trail named after Michelle Obama
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By Travis Hudgons
ozens of people braved the cold weather to join DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson and other officials and community leaders for the plaque unveiling ceremony of the historic naming of the Michelle Obama Walking Trail at Georgia State University-Perimeter College campus. The ceremony was held on Jan. 13. The walking trail is the first in the country named after former first lady Michelle Obama. Those in attendance expressed their excitement for the occasion. Inspired by Obama’s “Let’s Move” health initiative—a public health campaign to reduce childhood obesity, Commissioner Johnson said he wanted a walking trail to honor Obama and her passion of physical fitness. “This is very significant to DeKalb…. It’s all about walking and wellness,” Johnson said. Paula Tate, director of the Heart of South DeKalb Festival, said she was excited to attend the historic ceremony. “The magnitude of this is just awesome,” Tate said. Tate said people in the community should come out and use the trail and enjoy the beauty in South DeKalb. The 3.8 mile trail begins on the college campus and connects to the Barack Obama Magnet School, ending at the Gresham Recreation Center. Johnson said the trail highlights the natural beauty in DeKalb and is a gem in the community. “I want [people] to start walking clubs, bring their children and grandparents—we’re a let’s move county.”
The plaque shows an image of Michelle Obama riding through a trail.
L-R: DeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson; DeKalb’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Interim Director Marvin F. Billups, Jr.; Vineet Nagarkar, project manager; and Revonda Cosby, greenspace manager stand by the newly unveiled plaque for the Michelle Obama Trail located at Georgia State University-Perimeter College on Clifton Springs Road in Decatur. Photos by Travis Hudgons
Rockdale’s Historic MLK Day Celebration
Josie Dean, who heads Rockdale County’s Think Tank civic organization, worked with local officials to host the first-ever MLK Day Parade on Main Street in Conyers. The historic event was supported by a cross-section of the community. Following the parade, a celebration and awards program were held at the Rockdale Auditorium. Photos by On Common Ground News Publisher Glenn L. Morgan and Staff Writer Mackenzie N. Morgan
PAGE 6 • JANUARY 20, 2018 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Rockdale’s Constitutional Corner
Can my weapons carry license be revoked?
TOWN HALL, continued from page 1
By Clarence Cuthpert Jr. Rockdale Probate Judge On many occasions applicants for a Georgia Weapons Carry License have asked “Can my weapons carry license be revoked?” Another frequently asked question is “Can my application for renewal be denied even though my initial application was approved? The answer to both questions is yes! If, at any time during the period for which the weapons carry license was issued, the judge of the probate court of the county in which the license was issued shall learn or have brought to his or her attention in any manner, any reasonable ground to believe the licensee is not eligible to retain the license, the judge may, after notice and hearing, revoke the license of the person upon a finding that such person is not eligible for a weapons carry license pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129(e) A conviction for a disqualifying offense under State or Federal law, or an adjudication of falsification of application, mental incompetency, or chronic alcohol or narcotic use will result in a revocation. After the licensee receives notice from the Court that a hearing has been scheduled, even if he/she choose not to attend the hearing but is determined to be ineligible to retain a weapons carry license, the license will be revoked. Following the official revocation, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess a license which has been revoked, and any person found in possession of a revoked license, except in the performance of his or her official duties, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. O.C.G.A. § 16-11129(e)(1). Also, if the judge of the superior court or state court hears
James Defriece, vendor at the Stonecrest Sam’s Club, said that he lost nearly $50,000 when the store closed. Defriece said he distributed $2,500 worth of product at 6 a.m. on Jan. 11 and the store closed at 9 a.m. Store representatives asked the vendor to come pick up his belongings the same day. Photo by Travis Hudgons/OCG News
a case involving a person who is convicted of any crime or involved in any matter which would make him or her ineligible to retain a weapons carry license, the judge shall inquire whether the person is the holder of a weapons carry license. If so, the judge shall determine the county of the probate court which issued or renewed the license, then of the county that most recently issued such person a renewal license. In most cases, the judge of the superior court or state court will require the person to surrender the license to them, notify the judge of the probate court of the issuing county of the matter which makes the licensee ineligible to retain the weapons carry license, and return the license to the said court. O.C.G.A. § 1611-129(e)(2). So, for the reasons outlined above, the answer is yes, the Probate Judge has the authority to revoke your Georgia Weapons Carry License or deny your request for renewal of the same. Throughout each month, the clerk of courts, tax commissioner, sheriff and probate judge— Rockdale’s elected constitutional officers—discuss topics relevant to their respective roles
Rockdale Planning & Development to host comprehensive plan open house Rockdale County Department of Planning and Development, with the Atlanta Regional Commission, will hold an open house event to kick off the County’s Comprehensive Plan for the next 20 years. The Rockdale 2040 Plan first Open House will be held Jan. 25, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., in the Rockdale County Government Annex Building, 1400 Parker Road SE, Conyers. The public is invited to attend anytime during the hours of the open house, as there will be multiple sessions to give feedback on the economic and infrastructure development for Rockdale County. During the open house, the Planning and Development Department will provide posters, maps, and comment cards requesting detailed input from citizens on several topics, including economic development, social issues, land use, housing and more. Citizen input will aid the County in outlining goals, enhancing coordination, and planning for future growth and progress in these areas. The County has also posted a survey, at http://bit.ly/2CTL7Lm. All citizens are encouraged to take the survey to participate in the Comprehensive Plan Process. The Comprehensive Plan will be the guiding document used as the community’s vision for development. To shape that vision input is needed from all sectors of the community. There are multiple opportunities for citizens to be involved in the process. The timeline for the plan is nine months, culminating with the Board of Commissioners adoption in the fall of 2018. For more information: Contact Kellie Littlefield, County Planner, at 770-278-7140 or e-mail: kellie.littlefield@rockdalecountyga.gov.
getting double pay for the next two weeks. They will get a 2017 bonus, plus a one-time bonus. He said some employees were offered the chance to work at another Sam’s Club or Walmart. Faye Coffield, a long-time resident in the area, said she doesn’t believe that the Stonecrest store was underperforming and asked if Walmart would provide information on all the Georgia stores revenues to Rep. Jones. “I’m old-school civil rights so I only shop where I’m respected and in my neighborhood,” Coffield said. Wilkins said Walmart would not disclose those numbers because it is proprietary information. Asked why the store closed without warning, Wilkins could not explain why. “I don’t know how you give advance notice,” Wilkins said. “We notified the associates when they came in and we notified members when they came in as well. No one had advance notice. They walked in and we had the opportunity to talk with them at that time.” Asked if the closings were only in minority communities, Wilkins said no.
“We closed three clubs in Alaska, we closed a store in Scottsdale Arizona, we closed a store in Vermont, we closed a store in Houston and Indianapolis. If you look, it’s all across the country. It’s as diverse as our portfolio,” Wilkins said. One person in the audience who identified himself as an employee at the Stonecrest store said he did not think it possible that the store was underperforming. “You said it was based on numbers. I worked at that store. It does not make less than $100,000 per day. Per day,” he said. “If that store doesn’t make money at $100,000 a day? They push us. They push my people to get that money… You can’t tell me that store is not making money.” Wilkins told the man that he didn’t say the store wasn’t making money, angering the crowd further. Jones said he wanted Wilkins to take back to corporate officials the public’s concerns. “We sure want Walmart to know that we don’t want Sam’s Club closed, and even if they made that decision, what can we still do to get the doors back open,” said Jones.
ANNIVERSARY, continued from page 1 in partnership with the Alliance Theater. In addition to art performances, the DeKalb arts center is slated to host its annual Hidden Figures Award ceremony honoring local female trailblazers this March as well as a host of concerts, plays, art exhibits and the forthcoming opening of an on-site amphitheater. The center’s black box theater will be outfitted as a juke joint for a special jazz music series later this year. “We’re trying to be an arts center that really supports the community and we’re excited about where we’re going,” said Manuel. The Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center is named for the late DeKalb County commissioner who served from 1994-1999. He was the first elected African American presiding officer of the DeKalb Board of Commissioners. The 500-seat theater is located in the historic Candler Road district at 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. For more information, call 404-687-2731.
AMAZON, continued from page 3 in Seattle. “We’re really excited that our efforts are paying off. Members of the Georgia Economic Development Office applauded our marketing and branding efforts and credited us for helping shine a positive light on this area,” said Lary. Stonecrest officials say the next step is for the finalists to prepare for site visits from Amazon executives. The finalists are as follows: Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Indianapolis, Indiana; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Montgomery County, Maryland; Nashville, Tennessee; Newark, New Jersey New York City, New York; Northern Virginia, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; Toronto, Ontario; Washington, D.C.
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