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DECEMBER 1, 2018 Stay connected
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City of Stonecrest cracking down on dilapidated structures
L-R: Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary, property owner Salim Damani, Code Enforcement Manager Alejandro Ferrell and Officer William Kirkland. Photo provided
Some upset over buildings with historical ties
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he demolition of two dilapidated structures located at the intersection of Browns Mill and Klondike Roads is drawing both praise and criticism from residents in the city of Stonecrest. Property owner Salim Damani, who has been working with city code enforcement officers since late last year, began demolishing the buildings after receiving a court order to remove them by Dec. 13 or bring them into compliance with city codes. Damani owns all the property at the intersection, except the northeast corner where a gas station once sat. Damani met with Mayor Jason Lary, Code Enforcement Manager Alejandro Ferrell and Officer William Kirkland at the demolition site on Nov. 29 to discuss his future plans for the property, said Communications Director Adrion Bell. Damani said he bought the property in 2005 with plans to build a CVS or a Walgreens but the market took a downturn in 2008 and his plans were halted. The property is nearly 30 acres if you total all three intersections “I still have dreams for this entire property. I am married to this property. It is my soul,” Damani said. Damani said that he is open to a coffee shop or a Dunkin Donuts for the northwest corner, which housed a building destroyed yesterday. Across the street, Damani hopes to build a CVS or similar drugstore. His largest parcel is at the southeast corner of the intersection. Damani wants to attract a grocery store for this part of his land. While some like Jessica Cooper commented “Awesome!” and Gary Jordan said “Wonderful!” on the city’s Facebook page, others said the buildings should not have been removed because they were historic landmarks. Stonecrest resident Dave Marcus weighed in on social media writing in a post: “This building is one of very few commercial buildings (possibly the last, now) that is constructed using the crazy quilt pattern that is found only in the Stonecrest area, which is part of the reason that the building is part of the Klondike National Register Historic District.” Marcus forwarded a screenshot of a
post from Greg Mann, who said one of the buildings belonged to his grandfather who built it in 1934. “Only store, gas station, butcher shop, hardware store for 10 miles. He gave credit and provided food and such to people who paid him when they could. A really well known and liked man in the community. He also founded Snapping Shoals EMC and was president till his death in 1970,” Mann stated in the post. Marcus suggested the city work to preserve and re-purpose the building “so that we can have both history and usefulness, without the eyesore. Certainly the city could take on getting the grass cut and perhaps painting the building so it isn't such as eyesore. The City could even buy the land, for the price of land alone, and then work to get the building repurposed.” Damani said that he wasn’t aware of any historical prestige that was attached to the property. The buildings are damaged structurally, making it extremely hard to bring them within city codes for safe occupancy, according to Ferrell. Kirkland pointed out a hole in the exterior side wall of the last remaining structure that concerned him. “This is a safety issue,” Kirkland said. “What if a child playfully crawls in there?” Mayor Jason Lary listened to Damani’s concerns and some of the zoning struggles encountered with DeKalb County. “We are going to do everything to make your dreams of a quality development come true. We are going to make it happen and help move Stonecrest forward with more new developments,” Lary said. Damani said that he plans to continue demolition if the weather permits and the lot should be completely cleared by December 7th. Bell said Damani plans to continue the demolition, which was delayed because 811 contractors had to mark the area for underground utilities. Damani said that he will save some of the historic bricks and polygon-shaped granite from the structures. He and the mayor agreed to build a small historic monument commemorating the locations with the help of the residents who are in favor of preserving the history of the Klondike Intersection.
Photos by Glenn L. Morgan
DeKalb celebrates 11th annual tree lighting
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eKalb County’s Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center is all decked out with beautifully decorated Christmas trees. DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson presented the 11th Annual Tree Lighting celebration on Nov. 27. The event included free food provided by Bojangles restaurant, a visit from Santa, and vignettes from the musical stage production, Stepp Stewart’s “A Soulful Christmas” for the community to enjoy. Johnson also is celebrating his “Tree of Love” event at the Gallery at South DeKalb mall. This year will mark the 20th anniversary that Johnson reaches out to the community to help “adopt” needy children for Christmas by having the public select names from the Christmas tree at the mall and present toys and other presents to the kids during a closing ceremony on Dec. 15, noon to 3 p.m., at the mall, 3801 Candler Road, Decatur.
Atlanta man sentenced 25 years for armed robbery of a DeKalb Waffle House
Jason Philpot, a 10-time convicted felon, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for the armed robbery of a Waffle House and assault on police officers after leading them on a high-speed chase after the robbery. According to U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak, Philpot, 38, and his accomplice entered the Waffle House on LaVista Road in Tucker on Sept. 30, 2014, shortly after 10:30 p.m. Philpot wore a black mask and carried an assaultstyle rifle while his accomplice wore a Jason Philpot green mask and carried a handgun. The robbers approached two waitresses at gunpoint and demanded that the women provide money from their cash registers and relinquish any personal cash. Philpot and his accomplice then emptied the cash register, took the waitresses’ tip money, demanded access to the safe, and forced the waitresses to accompany the robbers to the rear of the restaurant before placing the women on the floor at gunpoint. A Waffle House employee standing outside the restaurant saw the robbers flee and called 911, alerting a nearby DeKalb
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Thanksgiving Eve murder suspects arrested by DeKalb Sheriff’s units The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office has arrested two suspects in the murder of a man at a Citgo gas station in Lithonia on the eve of Thanksgiving Day. Arrest warrants for both suspects allege that the victim, Traveon Quandarius Smith, 20, was lured out of a vehicle by one of the suspects Monty Marquies Nelson Richard S. Pierre-Hayes on Nov. 21 at a gas station located at 301 North Stone Mountain Road in Lithonia. Smith was then shot multiple times in the back and head, causing his death. Warrants say that surveillance video recorded the incident. An arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 23 charging 24-year-old Monty Marquies Nelson of Stone Mountain with felony murder. An arrest warrant issued on Nov. 24, also charged 35-year-old Richard S. Pierre-Hayes of Stone Mountain with felony murder. Investigators from the DeKalb Sheriff's Fugitive and S.W.A.T. Units located and arrested Nelson and Pierre-Hayes without incident at their homes on Nov. 27. Both suspects were taken to the DeKalb County Jail.
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County police officer. The officer encountered the robbers and unsuccessfully attempted to stop them before they escaped in a car driven by the defendant. Philpot and his accomplice then led multiple police officers on a high-speed car chase through a busy commercial area. Philpot eventually crashed his car. He and his accomplice fled on foot and fired at the pursuing officers. The defendants fired 11 rounds at police officers before Philpot was arrested at a nearby hotel and his accomplice was apprehended in a brush area close to the hotel. Philpot pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of the restaurant, but proceeded to trial on the offenses of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence–the armed robbery–and being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. A jury convicted him of the offenses on Aug. 4, 2017. The jury acquitted Philpot’s accomplice of all charges related to the Waffle House robbery and his accomplice subsequently pleaded guilty to committing the armed robbery of a McDonald’s restaurant that occurred days before the Waffle House robbery. Philpot’s accomplice received a sentence of 10 years in prison.
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Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant
New Birth celebrates new chapter Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, mega church leader, to take helm of New Birth on Dec. 9 The Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant will preach for the first time as the new pastor-elect of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday, Dec. 9, 9:30 a.m. Bryant is leaving the Empowerment Temple Church in Baltimore, a mega church he founded in 2000 with 43 people and grew to 12,000 members, making it the fastestgrowing church in the history of the AME church. Bryant, 47, will preach his final sermon at the Empowerment Temple on Dec. 2. Bryant succeeds Bishop Eddie L. Long, who passed away on Jan. 15, 2017 after a battle with cancer. Thomas W. Dortch Jr., chairman of the board at the church, said Bryant had been selected by a vote among board members. The board announced
the appointment of Bryant in a news release on Nov. 19. “Dr. Bryant embodies the rare balance of spiritual gifts and practical educational experiences that connects pastoral leadership and discipleship teaching with prophetic preaching and courageous social action,” the news release stated. “Dr. Bryant is equipped and poised to initiate theological revival, decisive commitment and rededication to the teachings of Jesus the Christ as the foundation for personal living, family stability and community development.” Bryant is not only known as a riveting speaker, but has earned a reputation as a social justice activist. Prior to pastoring, he served as the national youth and college director of the NAACP for six years, leading
Rockdale awarded $27 million for new water pollution control plant Rockdale County has been awarded a $27 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) to finance the construction of a new water pollution control plant. The construction of the new plant is set to begin in the first quarter of 2019 and expected to be completed within 1824 months, county officials said. The construction of the 3 milliongallon-per-day water pollution control plant will replace an outdated 450,000 gallon-per-day treatment plant and increase the county’s overall wastewater treatment capacity by 2.55 million gallons. The county will pay 1.89 percent interest on the 20-year loan. “With this loan, Rockdale is better positioned to satisfy the wastewater treatment needs of its current residents and business owners as well as be perfectly positioned to accommodate the wastewater treatment needs of future residents and businesses in the community,” said Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr.. “This sets us up for better economic growth by being able to further improve Rockdale County’s award winning stewardship of its water resources.” The CWSRF, a federal loan program administered by GEFA, provides communities throughout Georgia with low-interest loans to fund wastewater infrastructure and water pollution control projects. The program is jointly funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Georgia. Eligible projects include a variety of stormwater and wastewater collection and treatment projects. These projects conserve and improve water resources and facilitate economic growth and development. “The federal water and sewer programs administered by GEFA assist local governments with improving their environmental infrastructure. Through the Clean Water program, affordable financing helps cities and counties improve water quality,” said GEFA Executive Director Kevin Clark. The construction for the new plant is set to begin in the first quarter of 2019 and set to be completed within 18-24 months.
about 70,000 young people worldwide on non-violent campaigns. In 2012, he led peaceful protests on behalf of the family of Trayvon Martin, the African-American Florida youth whose shooting death by a neighborhood watchdog sparked protests around the nation. In 2015, he helped lead protests against police brutality in the wake of Baltimore resident Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody. Bryant earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and a Masters of Divinity from Duke University. He studied at Oxford University in Great Britain and earned a doctorate from The Graduate Theological Foundation. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is located at 6400 Woodrow Road, Stonecrest.
Rockdale sets 2019 Entrepreneurship Summit
Rockdale County government plans to help those looking to go in to business and small businesses seeking to grow through a summit it plans to host early next year. Rockdale County, in partnership with Georgia Power, will present the "Small Business Entrepreneurship Summit” in 2019. The summit will be held at Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 Culpepper Dr. SW, Conyers. Entrepreneurs have the option of choosing from three consecutive Saturdays to attend: Feb. 16, Feb. 23 and March 2, 2019, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The summit will provide attendees with the tools needed to start or grow their business. Patrons can follow three color-coded tracks (red, blue and green) to their entrepreneurial goals. Each track will have workshop speakers and the day will end with lunch and a keynote speaker. The keynote speakers are: Feb. 16: Irvin T. Clark, vice president Economic Development and Dean, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Newton County campus Feb. 23: Michael R. Washburn EVP, Chief Credit Office March 2: Ashley Rivera, managing director, Atlanta Regional Commission CATLYST Tickets for the event are available at Eventbrite.com/small-businessentrepreneurship-summit.
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Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs
Dozens of women in business gathered at the Georgia State Capitol recently for Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, which was hosted by State Rep. Pam Stephenson (D-Decatur), Nicole Garner Scott, founder and president of 100 Female Entrepreneurs, and Tiara L. Johnson, founder and CEO of One Million Dreamers, author and blogger. The Nov. 16 event, which organizers called one of the largest gatherings of women in business under the Gold Dome, provided attendees the chance to learn more about the 100 Female Entrepreneurs Atlanta Chapter, which launched in 2018. The national business league’s mission is to accelerate female entrepreneurs by providing tools to profit and opportunities to share their influence and validate their dreams. Photos by Yasmin Watts
DeKalb BOC approves construction of senior center on Elam Road
DeKalb to host final recycling roll cart exchange event
A new $7.8 million state-of-the-art senior center that will be constructed on Elam Road in Stone Mountain moved a step closer to reality after a 5-2 vote by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. “This will be an asset that will be used and enjoyed by the citizens of DeKalb County maybe for the next 25 to 30 years,” said DeKalb Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, who represents District 4, and pushed for the new senior center. Commissioner Steve Bradshaw The proposed senior center will be located on a 2.7-acre, county-owned parcel at 4875 Elam Road, Stone Mountain. The location was chosen following a feasibility study, county officials said. Developers plan to work on design and engineering January through May and begin construction in June. The project is expected to be completed in December 2019. “Commissioner Bradshaw is to be commended for his vision and efforts to bring this new center to reality,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said. “The programming and amenities of this proposed center will allow the seniors of District 4 to enjoy companionship, organized physical activity and many other benefits of having a senior center in their community.” The energy-efficient and sustainable 21,000-square-foot facility will feature an indoor swimming pool, approximately 100 parking spaces, a covered main entrance drop-off area, service entrance and pedestrian plaza. “This new senior center, with the added amenity of a swimming pool, is long overdue in District 4,” Bradshaw said. “Our senior citizens deserve a wonderful new facility in which to meet, greet and recreate. I am gratified that we got to move this process forward.” In the coming months, community meetings will be scheduled so that constituents can offer their ideas about the senior center. Meeting dates will be published in Commissioner Bradshaw’s District 4 newsletters. To sign up for updates, email Robin Flieg at rlflieg@dekalbcountyga.gov.
The DeKalb County Sanitation Division will host its final recycling roll cart exchange event on Dec. 8, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., at North DeKalb Mall, 2050 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur. The mandatory recycling bin tradein deadline is Dec. 28. Existing recycling subscribers will have an opportunity to complete the mandatory recycling bin trade-in process, by exchanging an 18-gallon recycling bin for a complimentary 35-gallon recycling roll cart, or upgrading to a 65-gallon recycling roll cart for a one-time $15 prepaid fee. New recycling subscriptions can also be processed during the event. Only 500 roll carts will be available, and requests will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants unable to obtain a roll cart during the event can submit a completed subscription form onsite. The requested roll cart will be delivered to the service address within 10 business days after the event. All event participants are required to complete a recycling subscription form, which can be obtained by visiting www.dekalbsanitation. com, and will be available at the event. Roll cart exchange requests can also be submitted by mail; online by visiting www.dekalbsanitation.com; in person at the Sanitation Division’s administration building, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; or by emailing sanitation3720@dekalbcountyga.gov. A recycling subscription form must be completed and is available online. The exchange process must be completed by Dec. 28, 2018. For more information, contact the Sanitation Division’s customer service team at 404-294-2900 or sanitation@dekalbcountyga.gov, visit www.dekalbsanitation.gov, or follow the Sanitation Division on Twitter @ DKalbSanitation.
DeKalb Youth Services to host art showcase
DeKalb Commissioner Gregory Adams, Pinch of Excellence collaborate on “Bags of Love” drive for homeless
The DeKalb County Human Services Department’s Office of Youth Services will host a “Sights N’ Sounds” Arts Showcase on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m., at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur. The Arts Showcase will feature work of DeKalb County high school students who participated in the “Sights N’ Sounds” arts pilot program. Students will perform original songs they have written, produced and recorded while participating in the program. The Arts Showcase is open to the public and there is no cost to attend. To learn more about current youth programs provided by the Office of Youth Services, call 404-687-7195.
Rockdale chairman Nesbitt to host fourth “Shop Talk” Dec. 8
Rockdale County Chairman, Oz Nesbitt, Sr., will host the fourth Shop Talk forum on Saturday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at DT’s Barber Shop, 1240 Sigman Road N.W., Conyers. This fourth event in the series will feature the following speakers to answer questions and concerns from a candid audience: • George Levett, Coroner • Cynthia Willingham, Board of Elections Director Shop Talk is a grassroots approach to getting to Oz Nesbitt know the community by interacting and engaging in an “open air” dialogue. The series will also be introducing elected officials to those who may not know who they are, what their roles are and their duties and responsibilities.
DeKalb County Commissioner Gregory Adams is partnering with Pinch of Excellence’s CEO, Michelle Stanton, on the “Bags of Love” drive to assist the homeless. Bags of Love is a clothing drive that will provide homeless citizens in DeKalb with sleeping bags, hats, gloves, heavy duty socks and other garments needed for the winter weather. The donations to help 250 homeless people were collected through November at the Manuel Maloof building in downtown Decatur. Homelessness is a global concern and is seen Gregory Adams right here in DeKalb. In January 2018, volunteers, including 80 from DeKalb, found 3,572 homeless people in metro Atlanta, a 12 percent decrease from January 2016. In 2011, Atlanta’s homeless population was 5,987. While there is a decrease, there is still a great need for services to assist those who find themselves homeless. Allen Mitchell, DeKalb County’s Director of Community Development, said the number has been trending downward because of collaboration and communication among groups that work with the county’s homeless population. “We must continue to work in collaboration and assisting in every way possible to eradicate the problem. Homelessness is a universallyspread issue and only together can we change the problems that causes homelessness,” said Adams. For more information, contact Commissioner Adams’ office at 404-3712899 or via email at gregoryadams@dekalbcountyga.gov.
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Businesswoman Lorraine Harrison named Woman of the Year at we3 Conference Lorraine Harrison was recently named the 2018 Woman of The Year at the second annual we3 Women’s Conference in Rockdale County. Harrison was presented the award by the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the conference and High Priority Plumbing and Services, Inc., which sponsored the award. In receiving the award, Harrison, who owns About Marketing and publishes the About Conyers magazines was recognized as an a womanwho has distinguished herself, her profession, and her commitment to uplifting women in the Conyers-Rockdale community and the surrounding areas. Other finalists were Darlene Hotchkiss, Hedrick Family Dentistry and Susan Paul Smith, Rockdale County Board of Education. More than 250 women attended the conference, which was held at Discover Point Church in Conyers. Attendees experienced the empowering messages of women leaders in the community. Janelle Brown with Life Designer University was the keynote speaker. Her topic was “Find Your Passion”. The conference also included a session with a diverse panel of successful, local business women following their purpose and passion. The panel included Darby Johns – Darby Johns Designs; Kacey McClure – 4Sarah, Inc.; Dr. Nancy WilliamsOharme - Dr. Nancy’s Body Soul Essentials; and Elly Dalton – Retired Edward Jones Advisor. For more information about the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, and to learn more about future Chamber events, visit www.conyers-rockdale.com or call 770-483-7049.
Dresden Elementary School principal, Dr. Jesse Berger, school staff, DWM staff, and fourth and fifth-grade students pose with “No FOG, No Clog” backpacks. Photo provided
“No FOG, No Clog” campaign launched at DeKalb public schools DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has partnered with the DeKalb County School District to reduce sewer spills. The county worked with the school district to develop the “No FOG, No Clog” public education campaign for more than 102,000 elementary, middle and high school students. Nearly 60 percent of all spills are caused by fats, oils and grease, or FOG, poured down sink drains. FOG coats the inside of pipes and eventually forms a blockage leading to a spill.
RCPS Specialty and Choice application deadline nears
The application deadline for Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) 2019-20 School Specialty and Choice programs is Dec. 21. The application is available online only at www. rockdaleschools.org/specialtyandchoice. Students living in Rockdale County may apply for specialty programs outside of their assigned neighborhood school zone. For those without a computer or internet access, the RCPS Student Registration Office at 1143 West Avenue will be able to provide assistance during regular business hours to access the online application. Applicants to the Academy for Performing and Visual Arts at Davis Middle School and the Academy for Performing and Visual Arts at Heritage High School must schedule an audition time while they are filling out their application. Traditional programs such as Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, Rockdale Career Academy, Rockdale Open Campus and Rockdale Virtual Campus are not included in this application process and have separate applications and deadlines. Students and parents should see a school counselor for more information about the non-traditional programs. Please visit the School Specialty and Choice webpage at www.rockdaleschools.org/ specialtyandchoice for more information or email rcpsinfo@rockdale.k12.ga.us.
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OP/ED
Is the new ATL transit authority a bad deal?
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By Ed Williams
he Atlanta region now has a new transit authority to make decisions on public policy and funding for transit projects in metro Atlanta. The question is whether the new ATL authority is a bad deal for citizens? Allow me to provide some background. The Georgia General Assembly created the new Atlanta-region Transit Link (ATL) authority when it passed HB930 this past spring. The new law that was created gerrymandered board member districts and put a group of people in control who are not exclusively elected by the voters. The ATL authority was set up to serve Fayette, Cherokee, Ed Williams Clayton, Coweta, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale counties with a 16-member board serving 4-year terms. The new law provides for 10 members to be appointed by a caucus of state legislators, County Commission chairs and mayors, while six others are appointed by state level officials including the governor and lt. governor and Speaker. The difference between the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and the new ATL authority is that future projects will not have to be approved by local governments. As an example, this authority will have the power to extend contract obligations up to 50 years in a limited region of the metro Atlanta area. The ATL is a state authority, which is inconsistent with the Home Rule provision in the constitution of counties and municipalities to provide for public transportation through supplemental powers. There was no referendum to provide for the ATL transit authority to legally control any of the political subdivision’s assets or transit systems. There are no clear guidelines concerning qualifications of its members. Many of the current board members have conflicts of interests, and some are serving in dual public positions with different oversight and duties. How did we end up with elected officials who represent districts that are beyond the boundaries of a county or city where they live? Where in the Constitution do local elected officials have the authority to serve in two elected offices of different authorities or subdivisions of the state at the same time? This regional authority is designed to dilute voters’ self-determination by using a special configuration of these regional authorities. The authority is seeking buy-in from the local government by allowing some of the local officials a seat at the table, while their voters will be served upon the menu. If the ATL authority is allowed to continue in its current form, the state will wield authority and taxation will be on cruise control at the local level just like it is on the federal level. The ATL authority is certainly needed, however, there are several things that need to be addressed in the law and how it is implemented. Metro-Atlanta citizens need a better deal. What we have now are ATL board members represented by people who do not ride buses or trains and are not accountable to voters and know very little about transit. Ed Williams is chair of Concerned Citizens for Effective Government.
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