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VOLUME 23 NUMBER 36
DECEMBER 2, 2017
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
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DDS receives Mother of murdered postal worker mourns grant to replace loss of youngest daughter state’s remaining antiquated court By Mackenzie N. Morgan data systems
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he Georgia Department of Driver Services has received a $299,463 grant to convert court systems that are still using paper to transmit conviction data to an electronic system. DDS Commissioner Spencer R. Moore said the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) grant award provides for ongoing support for the Georgia Electronic Conviction Processing System (GECPS). The secure, electronDDS Commissioner ic transmission Spencer R. Moore of conviction data enables Georgia courts to post conviction data to individual driving records within 10 days, meeting federal requirements, Moore said. “These funds will help augment our court outreach efforts and ultimately improve the timeliness, completeness, and accuracy of court-reported convictions that qualify for addition to a driver’s driving record,” said Moore. GECPS requires each court to submit convictions in a standard format, and then correct and resubmit any convictions containing errors. To date, 890 courts of 900 total courts have adopted the GECPS process. The grant allows DDS to provide training on the GECPS and help the remaining paper citation filers convert to the electronic process. For more information on GECPS, visit the DDS website at www.dds.georgia.gov.
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ugenia Terrell-Grant can’t find the words to express the deep hurt she feels as she mourns the loss of her 22-year-old daughter, Tyrika Terrell, who was killed by a man with whom she was trying to end a relationship. At On Common Ground News’ deadline, that man, 22-year-old Quantez D’Ante Tyre, was wanted by DeKalb County police and the FBI. Tyre allegedly shot Terrell on Nov. 27, around 6 p.m. outside of her job at the U.S. Postal Service on Wesley Chapel Road in Decatur, police said. Her body was found near the loading dock, authorities said. Terrell, who lived with her mother, stepfather and brother in Covington, had only worked as a Postal Service carrier assistant for about 30 days, her mother told On Common Ground News. She said her daughter was the youngest of three girls. She had two brothers. Terrell-Grant said her daughter had been trying to break up with Tyre because he was very abusive. “He shot her in the head four times,” said Terrell-Grant. “He had threatened to kill her. He had asked me if he could stay at my home and I told him no.” Terrell and Tyre had a 6-monthold daughter, T’kyrra, together. Terrell-Grant, who is disabled, said she is now raising the baby, who was born prematurely at 29 weeks gestation and has several health challenges. “My granddaughter is all I have left of my daughter,” said TerrellGrant. Terrell-Grant said the suspect’s mother had reached out to offer her
Tyrika Terrell Photo via Facebook
condolences but the pain of losing her daughter was still too fresh for her to begin reconciliation. The wake for Tyrika Terrell will be held on Sunday, Dec. 3, 1 – 5 p.m., at New Love Missionary Baptist church, 758 Dill Ave., Atlanta. The funeral will be held on Monday, Dec. 4, 1 p.m., at New Love. RW Andrew Mortuary is handling the funeral arrangements. Tyre is considered armed and extremely dangerous. The suspect is 5 feet 8 inches tall and 160 pounds. Anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of Tyre is asked to call the DeKalb County Police Department at 770-724-7850 or Crimestoppers at 404-577-TIPS. All tips will remain anonymous. The public is asked to make donations to assist the family via www.GoFundMe.com (Tyrika Terrell Memorial Fund) or by dropping off donations at RW Andrew Mortuary, 1832 Washington Ave, Atlanta.
Quantez D’Ante Tyre
Anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of Tyre is asked to call the DeKalb County Police Department at 770-724-7850 or Crimestoppers at 404-577-TIPS
Live music fills MARTA stations during holiday season MARTA will feature live music from local musicians at eight rail stations through the end of 2017. The 20 musicians were selected during a two-day audition held at Five Points Station in September. Their live performances during the holiday season are part of MARTA’s reinvigorated arts program developed to enhance the ridership experience through visual and performance arts. The music represents different genres and will be performed live, daily from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Five Points, Hamilton E. Holmes, Kensing-
ton, Lindbergh, North Springs, and West End Stations and on Falcons game days and New Year’s Eve at Dome and Peachtree Center Stations. Please refer to the attached calendar for details. “Atlanta is an incredible hub of dynamic talent in the arts,” said MARTA Arts Administrator Katherine Dirga. “Offering live music to our patrons makes the holiday commute more enjoyable and provides a large audience for local musicians.” One percent of MARTA’s annual budget is allocated for arts-related programs.
DeKalb-based Nubian Sounds, who played during one of MARTA’s Artbound programs in November, were among the musicians selected to play for the holidays.
Photos provided
Jennifer Warrilow played at the Five Points Station on Nov 20.