FREE VOLUME 24 NUMBER 43
DECEMBER 22, 2018 Stay connected
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DCSD to provide students free daily meals and snacks during Winter Break A processional that included DeKalb County law enforcement and others from around the state also was held for Officer Flores on Saturday, Dec. 15. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan
DeKalb Police Officer Edgar I. Flores remembered with emotional tributes
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eKalb County Police officers and other public safety personnel traveled in a more than a milelong motorcade from the Public Safety headquarters in Tucker to All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody to honor fallen Officer Edgar I. Flores on Dec. 18. A packed crowd, which included Governor-Elect Brian Kemp, attended the DeKalb memorial service. Emotions ran high and tears flowed as tributes were made saluting Flores. Police Chief James Conroy presented Flores’ family the Medal of Honor, the highest award given to an officer. “We are a family. We’ve got honor guards here from as far away as Dallas, Boston. Chicago is here, and Chicago tragically lost two last night in an incident. Yet here they are to support us,” Conroy said. DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond; Major KD Johnson, Commander of the South Precinct; and Officer Justin Hamilton, who was flanked by members of the police academy who graduated
with Officer Flores. Said Hamilton as he fought back tears in remembering his last shift with Flores: “We said goodbye and I told you that I would see you later and we gave each other a hug. If I had known that would be the last time I would see you, I would have hugged you harder.” Officer Flores’ brother, Alex Flores, also spoke during the service. “He was an amazing brother, son, boyfriend, role model, friend and most importantly, a police officer,” said Alexis Flores. “He fought for what he believed in. He fought for equality. Unfortunately in that fight, he lost his life.”
Harris Blackwood presented a proclamation to the family from the Governor’s office. Officer Flores would have turned 25 years old on Dec. 17. He was engaged to be married. He had only been on the police force for a year and a half. He died in the line of duty while working a routine traffic stop on Candler Road in South DeKalb on Dec. 13. Officer Flores had pulled over Justin Taylor, 33. Taylor suddenly led on foot and shot the officer in the head as the officer pursued him. A short time later, police arrived on the scene and tracked Taylor, shooting him during the pursuit. He also died. Indi, a K-9 officer that was shot during the chase, pulled through surgery and attended Officer Flores’ funeral with his handler. The crowd stood to its feet as Indie walked to Officer Flores’ casket. The funeral in DeKalb was one of two held for Officer Flores. A funeral also was held on Dec. 19 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Flowery Branch.
DeKalb’s war on blight: Nearly 300 properties demolished
Since January 2017, DeKalb County’s blight remediation program has demolished or abated 292 vacant, abandoned or poorly maintained properties. The county’s efforts to eradicate blight has increased seven-fold from the previous year, 2016. In 2019, the county plans to conduct a first-ever comprehensive study of blighted properties in DeKalb. Approximately 139,000 parcels will be reviewed. “Fighting blight and beautifying DeKalb County improves quality of life and the health of our citizens,” said CEO Michael Thurmond. “The county has significantly increased our efforts to revitalize DeKalb by dedicating funding for blight programs and enhancing our partnership with the judicial system.” DeKalb Blight Remediation Program Gets Results
DeKalb County Demolition and Abatement Properties
2016 2017 2018 (YTD) Demolitions 36 105 31 Abatements 7 48 108 Total 43 153 139
At the beginning of 2017, Thurmond allocated $3.8 million in funds approved by the Board of Commissioners to enhance blightfighting initiatives and address derelict properties in DeKalb.
SEE BLIGHT page 7
DeKalb County demolished 31 properties in 2018, including 521 Warren Avenue, Scottdale, GA. The Demolitions and Abatements Task Force was established to create a coordinated and expedited approach to wipe out blight in DeKalb. Photos provided
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he DeKalb County School District (DCSD) will provide students with free meals and snacks during the Winter Break, thanks to the district’s School Nutrition Services’ Holiday Giving schedule. Daily hot lunch, on-the-go breakfast and snack services will go uninterrupted during Winter Break on Dec. 26, 27, 28 and 31, as well as Jan. 2 and 3. The meals will be provided free of charge to all children in the DeKalb community at two locations: Stone Mountain Elementary and Woodward Elementary. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. on the scheduled dates. A non-perishable breakfast will be provided for students to take home. In addition, families are invited to take part in nutrition education training, interactive activities, a backpack giveaway, and free vision screening. The vision screenings will take place at 9:30 a.m. until noon on Dec. 27 at Stone Mountain Elementary, and on Jan. 3 at Woodward Elementary. In addition, on Dec. 28, at both schools, “Back Pack Meals”– made up entirely of nonperishable food items will be provided to students. Officials say research shows that students who have access to meals during breaks have a reduced risk of experiencing adverse outcomes and physiological conditions, such as impaired concentration, health and wellness, as well as cognitive and emotional development. “When we talk about ‘wraparound’ services at DeKalb County School District, we are talking about providing opportunities for success by any means necessary,” said DCSD Superintendent R. Stephen Green. “Thanks to our School Nutrition Services, students who rely on the district for their daily meals will continue to receive them without interruption. We will continue to support our community, and take education in DeKalb County to new heights.”