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VOLUME 23 NUMBER 45
FEBRUARY 3, 2018
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Published Since April 1995
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Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties
Mother sentenced for murder in baby’s hot car death
Dijanelle Fowler
Dijanelle Fowler, the 25-year-old mother who left her 13-month-old daughter in a car for six hours during a hair appointment, plead guilty on Jan. 31 and will serve 15 years for the child’s death. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said Fowler entered a non-negoti-
ated guilty plea to charges of murder in the second degree, cruelty to children in the second degree, and concealing the death in connection with the death of her daughter, Skylar Fowler. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Linda Hunter, who presided over the case,
sentenced Fowler to 20 years to serve 15 years in prison with the balance on probation. The court rejected the State’s recommendation of a 40-year prison sentence. District Attorney Boston expressed disappointment with the sentence. “Baby Skylar deserved
more. This family deserved more,” said Boston. “Dijanelle Fowler made a conscious decision that day which cost an innocent child her life. We believe our recommendation was appropriately aligned with the facts and circumstances of this SEE SENTENCED, page 3
Salem Middle School’s Symphonic Band to perform at Carnegie Hall
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By Mackenzie N. Morgan
alem Middle School’s Mighty Lions Symphonic Band will make history in March by becoming the first middle school band from the city of Stonecrest to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The band is seeking to raise $80,000 to help pay for transportation, lodging, concert attire, and meals for the five-day trip for nearly 60 students and a dozen chaperones. Alicia Scurry, who is the parent of an eighth-grade clarinet player at Salem Middle, said she is ecstatic about the opportunity for the band to play at Carnegie Hall. “I’m extremely proud of all of them. They are all my babies. When these kids get in music mode, they will put you in awe,” said Scurry, who also serves as president of Salem Middle School’s Band Booster Association. Scurry, a native of New York, said she contacted Carnegie Hall to inquire about opportunities for gifted young musicians after the band received a standing ovation at a spring concert last year. “This band has always been instructed to play at a level, which is higher than expected for a middle or even high school band, and they have been rewarded with this invitation
Salem Middle School’s Band Director H. T. Monte conducts members of the band during a rehearsal . Photo by Travis Hudgons/OGC News
MARTA to roll out new hightech buses, mobility vans
SEE BAND, page 3
Georgia kicks off annual video contest to fight opiod crisis
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and partners are launching the fourth annual “We’re Not Gonna Take It” MARTA has announced plans to replace 25 video contest to combat opiod percent of its bus and paratransit fleet over the next abuse. The contest, which runs six years. from Feb. 1 through March MARTA will introduce 387 buses and 211 15, is open to high school and mobility vans from now until 2024. The new buses feature Wi-Fi, high definition security cameras, high college students enrolled at a Georgia-based institution capacity heating and air conditioning, including sponsored by a qualified adult. heated entry and exit floors to prevent icing, and Entrants should create a video mobile ticketing. The new mobility vans have or radio submission no longer three wheelchair positions, non-slip flooring, and than 30 seconds. ambulatory seats with three-point seatbelts. “Opioid abuse and misuse “We are excited to introduce these state-of-theart buses and vans to MARTA’s fleet,” said MARTA is affecting all Georgians, Chief Operating Officer Rich Krisak. “The vehicles and we have to join together to strengthen our response to are safer, more comfortable, and feature upgrades this modern day epidemic,” that make the ride more enjoyable for passengers said Carr. “Georgia’s young and operators.” A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new fleet will people can lead awareness and be held on Feb. 5, 10 a.m., at the Five Points Station change. Every year, students continue to surprise us with in downtown Atlanta, on the Alabama Street side. their level of professionalism The new vehicles roll out in March. They were and creativity. This year, we paid for with the local sales tax collected in Fulton, are really looking forward to DeKalb, and Clayton Counties, and the City of expanding the program to the Atlanta. collegiate level and think it will
be one of the best years yet.” On average, approximately 175 Americans, including four Georgians, die every day due to opioid overdoses. In October 2017, Carr created a statewide Opiod Task Force to bring stakeholders together to confront this issue head on. The contest, created by former Attorney General Sam Olens in 2014, is part of the comprehensive effort to raise awareness of the dangers of the opioid epidemic in Georgia.
Video submissions should highlight the dangers, risks and consequences associated with opioid misuse and abuse, the availability of resources and/or the 911 Medical Amnesty and Expanded Naloxone Access Law, established in 2014 to reduce overdose deaths. Representatives from the sponsoring organizations will choose winners in four categories: best high school video submission, best high school radio submission, best college video submission and best college radio submission. Last year, over 200 videos were entered. Winners will be announced this April. The winning submissions will be aired on television and radio stations across the state, thanks to our office’s partnership with the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and the Healthcare Distribution Alliance.