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VOLUME 25, NUMBER 35
DECEMBER 13, 2019
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Miss Nigeria receives keys to the City of Stonecrest
M
iss Nigeria, Olutosin Araromi, visited Stonecrest City Hall, two days after competing in the Miss Universe 2018 Pageant in Atlanta. Mayor Jason Lary presented Aaromi with keys to the city and congratulated Araromi for her participation in the Dec. 8 pageant, along with Araromi’s roommate, Zozibini Tunzi, Miss South Africa, who took the crown at the pageant. “It was a great honor to meet Miss
Nigeria. On behalf of the City of Stonecrest, I presented her the keys to our city to show our appreciation and support for what she and Miss Universe and others like them represent as role models for young, black women around the world.” Miss South Africa beat out 89 other contestants for the Miss Universe 2019 crown. She was joined by Miss Puerto Rico, Madison Anderson, and Miss Mexico, Sofia Aragon, as the top three contestants.
Mayor Jason Lary honors Miss Nigeria, Olutosin Araromi on Dec. 10.
Flooding at Grady Hospital prompts closure of 62 patient beds
Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News
DeKalb seniors bring warmth to holidays with blankets of love By Mackenzie N. Morgan The East Lake Family YMCA Active Older Adults senior group (AOA) has spent the past year putting their sewing needles to good use with one goal in mind— to bring a little extra warmth to the less fortunate during the holiday season. The group will be gifting
over 50 handmade blankets to local homeless shelters, hospital patients and families in need. Fitness instructor and AOA member Ranette “Ray Ray” Clark, 56, helped launch the program nearly two years ago after a member suggested starting a knitting program. Other members with different niches from knitting
to crochet to looming came together to form the collective and to offer others the opportunity to learn. “Our blankets are 100 percent handmade with love. This project is very special to us because it gives us a chance to share our skills while helping others,” said Clark.
SEE YMCA page 7
Gunman convicted in fatal shooting of 6-year-old Decatur boy
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by guilty plea in the murder and aggravated assault case against a Decatur man accused of killing a 6-year-old boy and attempting to strike a police officer with his car. During plea proceedings on Dec. 11, Meshon Williams, 18, entered a guilty plea to charges of felony murder, aggravated assault (eight counts), fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The extensive list of charges against Williams stems from a series of events spanning several days in May 2018. On May 5, 2018, police responded to a ‘person shot’ call in the 3000 block of Sweetgum Lane in Decatur. The victim, Z’Mari Mitchell, was lying on his living room floor suffering from a single gunshot wound to his head. The child was rushed to the hospital, but died four days later from his
injuries. The investigation revealed that defendant Williams drove a group of teen girls to the home to confront the victim’s sister over a social media spat involving a boy. After a brief altercation, the teens fled the home into a waiting vehicle with the Williams behind the wheel. Shortly after taking off, Williams stopped the vehicle, exited the car and began firing toward the victim’s home, with at least one bullet piercing through the wall and striking the young boy.
SEE GUNMAN page 2
Grady Memorial Hospital is making significant progress in its recovery following the break of a pressurized 24-inch diameter water pipe on Dec. 7, DeKalb Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson shared in her electronic newsletter. Repairs to the pipe were complete by Dec. 9, Monday morning, and visitation restrictions were lifted Tuesday. Electrical repairs continue in the affected patient care tower, and may take up to three weeks to complete. During that time, 30 percent of the hospital elevators will remain out of service, officials said in a release. Cleanup and repairs have begun in the patient units significantly damaged by flooding. “We hope to reopen 62 beds to patient care within a week. There are 158 beds located in damaged units that will be off-line for several months of repair and restoration work. Those efforts have already begun,” hospital officials said. “We continue to work collaboratively with metro area providers on any additional patient transfers, keeping the best interest of the patient at the forefront of our decisions.” The hospital moved several patients from water-damaged areas to other units at Grady, as well as discharged some patients home. Forty-five Grady patients were accepted by other hospitals for inpatient care and nearly 30 were safely transported to post-acute care facilities. “We are grateful that some Atlanta hospitals have been able to step in and deliver patient care during our emergency. We recognize the serious burden these institutions experienced as they collectively provided care to those who were not able to come to our emergency department via ambulance,” the hospital stated. “Grady averages over 450 emergency room visits per day however, due to our diversion status, we have only been able to care for about 200 patients per day who arrived at our emergency room on their own.” The hospital said it is working with its hospital partners, the state, and emergency management agencies to eliminate full diversion at Grady.