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FREE VOLUME 24 NUMBER 37

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

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Historic Town Halls

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Winfrey stumps for Abrams at DeKalb County’s Porter Sanford Center

alk show host and global media celebrity Oprah Winfrey came to Georgia to rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Winfrey fired up a packed crowd at DeKalb County’s Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in Decatur, telling them she wanted to be part of Abrams’ historic bid for governor of Georgia. “Nobody told me to be here. Nobody even asked me to be here. I called her (Abrams) three days ago. I told her I wanted to come here and give my support and that is why I’m here,” Winfrey told the cheering audience. Several top elected officials attended the rally including Congressman Hank Johnson, Congressman John Lewis and DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. Winfrey went on to say why it was imperative that voters, especially blacks, go to the polls on election day. She said those who sit at home and do not go out to vote disregard their history and disrespect their

Stacy Abrams(left) seated with Oprah Winfrey(right). Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/ OCG News

ancestors who never had the chance to vote. The Nov. 1 town hall meeting was one of two held in the metro Atlanta area where Winfrey joined Abrams in stumping for votes to become the

nation’s first black female governor. Before attending the DeKalb event in the late afternoon, the pair held a town hall meeting at the Cobb Civic Center Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta.

At both events, Winfrey discussed critical issues at stake in this year’s election including Medicaid expansion, quality affordable health care and jobs for Georgians. Winfrey’s town hall meetings preceded former President Barack Obama’s scheduled Nov. 2 visit to Atlanta to get out the vote for Abrams and other Democrats. Thousands of people stood in line at various locations to try and snag a free ticket to attend the Obama rally. On the Republican side, Vice President Mike Pence led three rallies for Brian Kemp near Dalton, Augusta and Savannah on Nov. 1. President Donald Trump confirmed plans to host a rally for Kemp in Macon on Sunday, Nov. 4. In addition to Abrams and Kemp, Libertarian candidate Ted Metz is running for governor in the hotly contested race. More photos and video of Oprah Winfrey’s visit at www. ocgnews.com.

Low Income Home Energy Gang members to be sentenced in Stone Mountain home Assistance Program now invasion, murdered baby open to elderly, disabled Hit ordered from prison

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pplications are now being accepted for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. The federally-funded program assists low-income, elderly and disabled Georgians with heating bills through direct payments to home energy suppliers. Beginning Nov. 1, 2018 residents aged 65 and older or those who are homebound can apply for assistance through the Department’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. All other eligible residents may apply for assistance beginning Dec. 3. Funds are administered through local Community Action Agencies on a first-come, firstserved basis until all funds are exhausted. In 2018, the LIHEAP program spent over $48 million to assist more than 140,795 clients with their heating bills. Depending on income and household size, those who qualified for the program received between $310 and $350 toward their home heating bills. To qualify, a family’s annual income must be less than or

equal to 60 percent of the median income for a Georgia family. For a household of one, the income threshold is $22,839; the income threshold for a household of five is $50,948. Those seeking assistance must contact their local Community Action Agencies. All applicants must provide the following: 1. Most recent heating bill or statement of service from their heating providers; 2. Social Security numbers for each member of the household; 3. Proof of citizenship for each member of the household; 4. Proof of income for the last 30 days for each adult member of the household. Proof of income can include, but is not limited to, a paycheck stub or a letter granting public assistance. 5. Social Security or unemployment benefits for all household members, if applicable. For more information on the program, contact the Division of Family and Children Services at 404-6573426. To find a Community Action Agency in your area, visit http:// www.georgiacaa.org

Christopher Antonio Florence

Marco Fernando Watson

Two high-ranking Georgia members of the ‘Bloods’ affiliated ‘Sex, Money, Murder’ gang are scheduled to be sentenced by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams, on Nov. 13 for their part in a deadly Stone Mountain home invasion where a 9-month-old baby was murdered and three women were shot while trying to protect the baby. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on Oct. 29 against Kenneth “K.G.” Jackson, 33, and Christopher “Trillz” Florence, 33, on charges of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and weapons offenses for the murder of nine-month old Kendarious Edwards. Marco Fernando Watson, 39, a third defendant, was convicted of weapons offenses in connection with the crime, the DeKalb District

Kenneth Jackson

Attorney’s Office said. The incident happened on May 10, 2014 at the To Lani Farm Road home of the child’s grandmother. The armed gunmen, Florence and Devin “Rico” Thomas (previously convicted), stormed the home with weapons drawn. The child’s mother, grandmother and another woman who was visiting the home, ran to a bathroom and hid inside of the bathtub while trying to shield the child. The gunmen opened fire, striking the women and the baby multiple times. The victims were transported to the hospital where the infant later died. The women were wounded, but survived, as did the victim’s teen aunt, who escaped the gunfire by hiding in an adjacent bedroom. She called 911 for assistance,

SEE GANG page 5


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Gresham Recreation Center to host annual canned food drive

DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs encourages residents to join in the fight to combat hunger in the community by donating nonperishable food items. Citizens are asked to drop off donations at the Gresham Recreation Center, 3113 Gresham Rd. SE, Atlanta. All items will be accepted now until Saturday, Nov. 17. For more information, contact Wannetter Terrell, Gresham Recreation Center director, at 404-244-4890.

Lucious Sanders Recreation Center to host coat drive DeKalb County Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs is accepting new or gently-used coats for its first coat drive now until Friday, Nov. 30. As the temperature starts to drop, the Department of Recreation Parks & Cultural Affairs is working to provide some comfort to those in need. Citizens are encouraged to drop off coat donations at the Lucious Sanders Recreation Center, located at 2484 Bruce Street, Lithonia, noon to 8 p.m. For more information, contact Marcus Byams, Recreation

Citizens can now livestream Rockdale 23 from county website Rockdale citizens and stakeholders can now view Rockdale Channel 23 live from the county’s website. Since the channel’s inception, only citizens with the Comcast cable service could watch the lineup scheduled on Rockdale 23. The streaming service offers an alternative for those without Comcast cable. Citizens and stakeholders can access the Rockdale 23 Channel stream from the county’s homepage of the website: www.rockdalecountyga.gov. Select the “Watch Live 23” icon or go to the link: https://rockdalegov. viebit.com. Videos also can be accessed on demand at https://vimeo.com/ rockdalegov.


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PUBLISHER Glenn L. Morgan

gmorgan1@ocgnews.com

EDITOR Valerie J. Morgan

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ADVERTISING MANAGER Richard S. Hill

richardhill@ocgnews.com

STAFF WRITER Mackenzie Morgan

mackenzie@ocgnews.com

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

NOVEMBER 3, 2018 • PAGE 3

Partners gather to celebrate renovation of historic Lyon farmhouse

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epresentatives from the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, DeKalb County government, contracting firm F. H. Paschen, the City of Stonecrest and others gathered on Oct. 30 to announce the beginning of the project to stabilize the oldest homestead in DeKalb County. Work on the $225,000 project should be completed by March 2019. The Lyon Farmhouse, part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in Southeast DeKalb, will undergo renovations to secure the aging structure. The Lyon Farm has been identified as a future site for tourism and youth education around DeKalb history. Connected to the broader Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, the homestead will eventually tie directly into Atlanta’s Beltline through the Arabia Mountain PATH, a multi-use trail currently 33 miles long. Once revitalized, the Farmhouse will connect greater DeKalb including the City of Stonecrest’s urban and suburban present with its rural past. The Lyon Farmhouse was initially built in the 1820s then expanded in 1853 and again in 1893. The Lyon family owned and lived on the property until

About the Lyon Farmhouse:

2003 when it was purchased by the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM). By 2016, a worsening state of disrepair resulted in its placement on the Georgia Trust’s “Places in Peril” list, following which the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously authorized funds for the stabilization of the farmhouse. Repairs will predominately involve stabilization of the foundation and replacement of rotten framing, siding and the roof. Historic preservation of the Lyon Homestead has been – and will continue to be – a collaborative process, said Arabia Alliance Executive Director Mera Cardenas. “So many people have done so

DeKalb, City of Dunwoody reach EMS service agreement DeKalb County has taken another step to improve countywide emergency ambulance service by entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Dunwoody mayor. “The lives and safety of our citizens are our number one priority,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. “Mayor Denis Shortal and I have worked cooperatively to ensure the highest level of countywide emergency ambulance service.” “My main objective is to get Dunwoody citizens to the hospital on time and to make sure they receive an enhanced level of Emergency Medical Services. I have worked closely with DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond to come up with an agreement, and I look forward to presenting it to the City Council,” states Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal. The agreement contains the following key provisions: Defined response times: Defined response times for Advance Life Support calls will include a nine-minute or less, 90 percent response time for critical life threating calls and 15 minute or less, 90 percent response time for basic life support calls. Dedicated ambulances: Two ambulances are already stationed at Fire Stations 18 and 21. A third will be posted at Fire Station 12. These units will be dedicated to the service areas of those fire stations which include Dunwoody and parts of Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville. The county will also add one additional ambulance unit during the peak hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Friday, to meet the needs required by the increased daytime population in the Perimeter Center area. Technology upgrades: Ambulances stationed in Dunwoody will be equipped

with upgraded technology, including: GPS capabilities, radio-frequency identification gate access and traffic signal preemption devices. The costs for the upgrades will be shared between the City of Dunwoody and DeKalb County. Greater collaboration: The cities within the DeKalb Municipal Association will have an opportunity to give input and review the county’s 2019 request for proposals for a new ambulance transport contract. Monthly reporting: DeKalb County will provide monthly reports to the City of Dunwoody that track ambulance response times. The agreement will be effective for a one-year term and will automatically renew until a new ambulance provider is selected after the 2019 request for proposal process. The Dunwoody City Council is scheduled to review and vote on the Memorandum of Understanding at its Monday, Nov. 5, council meeting. The current ambulance transport contract ends Dec. 31, 2018, and DeKalb County is preparing to issue a request for proposals for the future delivery of ambulance transport services. DeKalb County has made significant improvements to ensure countywide coverage for all residents. In May 2018, the county reached an agreement with American Medical Response that resulted in additional investments that included $1.3 million in improved services, one additional ambulance unit in Dunwoody and Stonecrest and a cash payment of $596,000 to the county. The county also hired a consultant to evaluate its ambulance transport services and make recommendations for best practices for its emergency medical system.

much to be sentinels for this place,” Cardenas said. At the Oct. 30 event, attendees reflected on the importance of the homestead itself, as well as the importance of the National Heritage Area. “FH Paschen is very excited to work with the Arabia Mountain Alliance and DeKalb Watershed on this historical house renovation. This is especially gratifying for me because I am able to give back to the community that I grew up in. I hope this project is something the entire community can be proud of,” said Wayne Thompson, Operations

Manager for Paschen’s Georgia office.

The Lyon Farmhouse was built by Joseph Emmanuel Lyon, a former British soldier who was awarded 100 acres for taking the Oath of Allegiance after being captured and serving with the patriots during the American Revolution. Lyon originally built a log cabin on the property in the 1820s. It was expanded in 1853 and again in 1893, creating the structure that stands today. Built in a vernacular architecture style, the house and various outbuildings reflect a self-sustaining farm where cultivating cotton, apples, muscadines, pears, lemons, sorghum, and bees were a part of life. The homestead is the last remaining intact farm of what once made up the agricultural area called Flat Rock.


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“Votin’ In the Valley” offers free rides World of Coca-Cola offers free admission, family to Toney Valley polling precinct discount to military vets The Toney Valley Civic Association in South DeKalb is offering rides to residents who need transportation to the Toney Elementary School polling precinct, 2701 Oakland Terrace, Decatur on election day.

Those who need a ride on Nov. 6 may call 404-573-1238 before Election Day schedule pick-up. Riders will be provided a sample ballot as well as a “Know Your Candidates” card, provided courtesy of The People’s Agenda. The volunteer drivers will be available from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on election day to respond to calls for rides to the poll. In addition to the organized free rides, the Civic Association’s “Votin’ In The Valley” project also included reminder calls about the early voting sites.

100 Black Women Decatur-DeKalb to present STEM event for high schoolers The Legacy Program of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Decatur-DeKalb Chapter, Inc. is partnering with Atlanta Gas Light Company to present a free community STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics event. High school students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to attend the event, which will be held on Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur. There will be a panel discussion with the community, students and STEM professionals from Atlanta Gas Light Company promoting the importance of careers in STEM and encouraging academic excellence.

Free caregivers workshop set for DeKalb families The DeKalb County Human Services Department and DeKalb County Public Library will host a caregiver workshop entitled “You Are Not Alone: Support and Resources for Care Partners” on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 6 to - 7:30 p.m. at the Avis G. Williams Library, 1282 McConnell Drive in Decatur. The workshop is open to 45 attendees. Dinner will be provided. The Dementia Spotlight Foundation is a supporter for the event. The month of November is nationally recognized as Family Caregivers Month. The session will feature DeKalb resident and author, Nancy Kriseman, a licensed clinical social worker, as the presenter and she will focus on the Mindful Caregiver and offer care partner tools and discuss self-help for care partners. Caregivers are people who provide direct support to children, seniors or anyone who is chronically ill and in need of assistance with activities of daily living which include bathing, grooming and dressing. They also provide help with shopping, housekeeping and other errands. There are approximately 140,000 people with Alzheimer’s living in Georgia and over 8,250 people with some form of dementia living in DeKalb County. It is estimated that caregivers who are not paid to help their loved ones contribute approximately $7 billion annually for their service. There is no fee to attend the workshop, however, registration is required. Members of the public may register online at www.dekalblibrary. org or via telephone by calling 404-508-7190, ext. 2257.

The World of Coca-Cola grants complimentary admission to all military members (active duty, reserves and retirees) year-round, but to show gratitude on Veterans Day to the men and women who serve the U.S., the attraction is extending a special offer to their loved ones as well. From Nov. 1-11, members of the Armed Forces may purchase up to four half-price general admission tickets for their friends and family to join them in visiting the attraction in downtown Atlanta. Tickets may be purchased with a valid Armed Forces ID card at the attraction’s ticketing windows. Veterans Day Parade The 37th Annual Georgia Veterans Day Parade will begin in downtown Atlanta on Saturday, Nov. 10, 11:11 a.m. The parade will pass directly in front of World of Coca-Cola, where the Reviewing Stand will be located, on Baker Street SE. Veterans Day Festival Following the parade, a free Veterans Day Festival will take place from noon-2:30 p.m. in Pemberton Place – just outside of World of Coca-Cola. The festival is open to the public and will feature a variety of exhibitor tents, as well as a performance by the 116th Army Band.

Springfield Baptist, Newrock Legal Society to host Veterans’ Resource Forum Springfield Baptist Church in partnership with the Newrock Legal Society will host a Veterans’ Resource Forum for all veterans, spouses and families of veterans from the metro Atlanta area. The resource forum will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 9 a.m. to noon, at Springfield Baptist Church, 1877 Iris Drive SE, Conyers. Resources will include understanding your veteran benefits, disability benefits, career resources, education, health care and legal resources. For more information, call 770-929-1111.

CITY OF STONECREST PUBLIC HEARING FY 2019 BUDGET

 404-218-6445

A Public Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2019 proposed City of Stonecrest Municipal Budget will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 5, 2018. Adoption of the FY 2019 City of Stonecrest Municipal Budget will be held at a Special Called Meeting on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Both meetings will be held at Stonecrest City Hall, 3120 Stonecrest Blvd. Stonecrest, Georgia. All residents wishing to speak on this subject may do so at the public hearing meeting. A copy of the proposed budget will be available for review in City Hall, City Manager’s Office and on the City’s webpage. www.stonecrestga.gov


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New signs identify locations for moms to leave newborns

The Georgia Board of Human Services has approved a rule change providing for the development and posting of signs indicate a medical facility or other authorized location is a designated “safe place” for a mother to leave her unwanted newborn. The rule takes effect Nov. 1. The signage is related to Georgia’s Safe Place for Newborns law, which allows a mother to leave her newborn (within 30 days of birth) at a medical facility, fire station or police station in the state. The law specifying the requirements for creating and placing the signage was signed by Gov. Nathan Deal as part of House Bill 513 (HB 513). The law that specifies the requirements for the signs in Georgia is referenced in the Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.)19-10A-8. For more information on the rule change or to view the sign, go to https://dhs.georgia.gov/safe-place-newborns-signs.

GANG continued from page 1 investigators said. Investigators said Jackson, the gang boss, authorized the home invasion from his prison cell in Jackson, Georgia where he was serving time for a series of burglaries. The shooters were searching for a gang member who had reportedly murdered an associate without permission from Jackson. Investigators said Jackson ordered the hit on the home of the missing man’s mother in hopes of finding him. Jackson and Florence each faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 105 years. Watson faces 10 years in prison for his conviction on weapons offenses. Devin Thomas, who testified at trial, is serving life plus 20 years in prison for his role in the crime. The case was prosecuted by Lance Cross, Director of the District Attorney’s Major Case Unit, along with Senior Assistant District Attorney Oto Ekpo. DA Investigators Waine Pinckney and C.D. Smith led the investigation with assistance from Detective J.D. Paden of the DeKalb Police Department.

NOVEMBER 3, 2018 • PAGE 5

City of Atlanta, community partners to develop housing units to combat homelessness

The City of Atlanta and Atlanta Housing have announced a new partnership to develop 550 permanent housing units to help the city’s chronically homeless population. The HUD-funded initiative, HomeFirst, is a collaboration that also involves Invest Atlanta, the United Way Regional Commission on Homelessness, and Partners for HOME, a public–private entity commissioned by the City to proactively manage the continuum of care for Atlanta’s homeless population. “The fight to end homelessness cannot be won by any one organization or entity. We are committed to building sustainable public-private partnerships that can impact the lives of Atlantans across all sectors” said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “While the City has made good progress, continued investments in long-term developments are essential to ensure homelessness in Atlanta is brief and nonrecurring.” The federally-funded HomeFirst initiative will be administered by Partners for HOME, a public–private entity commissioned by the City to proactively manage the continuum of care for Atlanta’s homeless population. The initiative builds on the $50 million investment unveiled in 2017 and focuses on assisting the chronically homeless through permanent placement and project-based rental subsidies. Additionally, the grant funds support services including behavioral health, skill development and social connectivity. The collaboration also involves Invest Atlanta and the United Way Regional Commission on Homelessness. “This is the first braided investment of its kind. By blending the operations expertise of Atlanta Housing, services from the philanthropic community and the leadership of Mayor Bottoms, this innovative partnership will enable us to effectively address chronic homelessness in Atlanta,” said Cathryn Marchman, executive director of Partners for HOME. Brandon Riddick-Seals, interim President and CEO of Atlanta Housing, praised Bottoms for making combatting homelessness a top priority. “The incidence of homelessness in Atlanta is finally declining, and we are committed to continuing our efforts not only to get people off the streets, but to also provide the services they need to thrive,” said Riddick-Seals. “Mayor Bottoms is blazing trails with respect to promoting public-private collaborations to address this issue in our community, and Atlanta Housing is excited to partner in this initiative and support those with the most urgent needs.” For eligibility standards and development requirements, please log on to the Partners for Home website, https://partnersforhome.org/pshpipline/. Contact Partners for HOME Executive Director Cathryn Marchman with questions.


PAGE 6 • NOVEMBER 3, 2018 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

Rockdale’s Constitutional Corner

What is the Office of the Sheriff?

By Rockdale Sheriff Eric J. Levett

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hen people hear the word Sheriff, who do you think they immediately visualize? The Sheriff of Nottingham from the days of Robin Hood? Sheriff Pat Garrett, who served in Lincoln County, who killed Billy the Kid? The fictional Sheriff Andy Griffith of Mayberry, the model of community policing before the term was invented? As a citizen of Rockdale County, you should know what a Sheriff is, what makes the Office of the Sheriff unique in law enforcement, why it should be called the Sheriff’s Office and not a Sheriff’s Department, and why it is important to preserve its direct accountability to the citizens via the election process. In Georgia, the Sheriff is both a constitutional and a county officer. The constitutionality of the office derives primarily from English Common Law. The status as a county office is drawn from a number

of general constitutional provisions relating to the office. There are four constitutional/county officers in the state of Georgia: Sheriff, Probate Judge, Clerk of Superior Court and the Tax Commissioner. The Office of the Sheriff is the oldest office known to the common law system. Constitutional officers are elected and are not subordinates or employees of the county. All county officers have general constitutional standards required of all of them. However, there are many specific constitutional standards that relate only to the Office of Sheriff. The first mention of sheriff dates back to 600 B.C. in the Bible in Daniel 3:1, which recounts the presence of the sheriff at the setting up of the golden image by the Chaldean King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. Although some say this is just a mere translation, it’s in the Bible, and it’s clearly saying that sheriffs have been around before Christ. Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, American sheriffs were assigned a broad range of responsibilities by colonial and state legislatures. Some responsibilities, such as law enforcement and tax collecting were carried over from England. Others were added, such as overseeing the jails and workhouses. As America moved westward, the concept of the county jail and office of the sheriff moved also. The sheriff was desperately needed to establish order in the lawless territories

where power belonged to the fastest draw and most accurate shot. Most western sheriffs kept the peace by virtue of their authority rather than by their guns. In 1784, Georgia adopted the common law and statutes of England that were in use prior to May 1776. The Constitution of the State of Georgia, common law, and the General Assembly control the authority, rights, and duties of the Sheriff. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office is believed to be the oldest law enforcement agency in Georgia, and one of the oldest in the United States, having been established in 1732. Because there were no policies or guidelines for sheriffs to follow, a Denver, Colorado police chief and local sheriff developed a set of guidelines to follow. • Never hit a prisoner over the head with your pistol, because you may afterwards want to use your weapon & find it disabled. • Never attempt to make an arrest without being sure of your authority. • When you attempt to make an arrest of a desperado, have your pistol in your hand or be ready to draw when you make yourself known…¬“It is better to kill two men than to allow one to kill you.” • After your prisoner is arrested & disarmed, treat him as a prisoner should be treated – as kindly as his conduct will permit. You will find that if you do not protect your prisoners when they are in

your possession, those whom you afterwards attempt to arrest will resist you more fiercely • Never trust much to the honor of prisoners…nine out of ten of them have no honor. Many do not understand the difference in a Sheriff’s Department and the Sheriff’s Office. The Office of the Sheriff is a constitutional office that holds exclusive power and authority. It is more than another department of county government. The operations are the sole responsibility of the sheriff, not the local county government. County department heads are subordinate to the county administrator or manager because they are a division of county government, and work for the department head and for the board of commissioner. In other words, there is no such thing as a Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff is the duly elected and lawfully commissioned chief law enforcement officer of the county and has the DUTY to preserve the peace and protect the lives, persons, property, health and morals of the people; the keeper of the jail; and lastly, the arm and the sword of the honorable court. As your elected Sheriff, I will continue to uphold my constitutional office with dignity while maintaining my responsibility to you, the citizens. I take this role seriously and proudly, and fight daily to preserve Rockdale County’s Office of the Sheriff.


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NOVEMBER 3, 2018 • PAGE 7

CITY OF STONECREST PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH 2018 AT 6:00 P.M. & CITY OF STONECREST MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, PUBLIC HEARING: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH 2018 AT 7:00 P.M. The following petition(s) within the City of Stonecrest are scheduled for Public Hearings as stated above at STONECREST CITY HALL, 3120 STONECREST BLVD STONECREST, GA 30038 LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:

RZ-18-006 William R. Probst 6206 Covington Hwy MU4 (Mixed-Use High Density) Request to change the zoning from MU-4 to MR-1 for the construction of 94 townhome units.

LAND USE PETITION: TMOD 18-0006 PETITIONER: City of Stonecrest PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT: To allow addition of residential dwellings as part of mixed-use development projects in Tier (3) of the Stonecrest Overlay District

CITY OF STONECREST BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, PUBLIC HEARING: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH 2018 AT 6:00 P.M. STONECREST CITY HALL, 3120 STONECREST BLVD LITHONIA, GA 30038 The following Variance Petitions located within the City of Stonecrest is scheduled for Public Hearing as stated above. STONECREST CITY HALL, 3120 STONECREST BLVD LITHONIA, GA 30038 LAND USE PETITION: PETITIONER: LOCATION: CURRENT ZONING: PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT:

V-18-005 Dekalb Realty Holdings, LLC c/o Battle Law 7218 Covington Hwy M (Light Industrial) District Request to reduce 75’ transitional buffer.

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

V-18-007 Lashley Tractors 6953 Covington Hwy C-1 (Local Commercial) Request to exceed maximum ground sign height and sign development standards.

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

V-18-009 Rocklyn Homes 6024 Covington Hwy MR-2 (Med Density Residential) Request to covert transitional buffer to landscape buffer.

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PAGE 8 • NOVEMBER 3, 2018 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM

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