VOLUME 22 NUMBER 43
FREE
FEBRUARY 4, 2017
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
City of Decatur Municipal Court offers amnesty to drivers
DECATUR—The City of Decatur Municipal Court is offering amnesty to drivers who have outstanding violations. The amnesty program, which began Feb. 1 and goes through May 1, offers individuals the chance to resolve past-due traffic citations and active bench warrants for failure to appear in court. Failure to appear in court may result in a driver’s license suspension. The goal and purpose of the amnesty program is to help restore as many drivers as possible to legal status to drive on Georgia roadways and to avoid more harm to their driving history with additional charges and fines. Amnesty will save drivers money as well because warrant and other fees, if any, will be waived. Individuals with outstanding violations may walk in to the Decatur Municipal Court Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For those who are unable to go to the court during the week, the following Saturdays court options are available: Feb. 11 and 25, March 11 and 25 and April 8 and 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additionally, on Saturday, March 25, 9 a.m., a full court session is scheduled for individuals with outstanding violations and warrants to resolve their outstanding violations without facing any additional charges or costs. Any person with a failure to appear warrant who pays the fine to resolve the original citation violation will receive documentation to submit to the Department of Drivers Services to have their driver’s license reinstated, if suspended. If the original violation such as DUI, suspended driver’s license or no insurance requires a mandatory court appearance, individuals should appear on Amnesty Saturday, March 25, 9 a.m., as well. The court encourages anyone who believes they may have an outstanding matter in the City of Decatur Municipal Court to take advantage of the Amnesty Program. The City of Decatur Municipal Court is located at 420 W. Trinity Place, Decatur. For more information, call 678-553-6655 or visit the city’s website at www. decaturga.com.
Falcons Fever
Atlanta fans celebrate 51st Super Bowl
Photo by Glenn L. Morgan /OCG News
S
tudents and faculty at Georgia Piedmont Technical College were among the fans who have shown their pride for the Atlanta Falcons’ NFC Championship win and the 2017 Super Bowl LI. Every since Atlanta learned the Falcons were going to the Super Bowl in Houston, the city has been
awash with red and black and happy fans cheering on the Dirty Birds to “Rise Up” in the big game against the New England Patriots. Even Gov. Nathan Deal has gotten in on the act. Deal proclaimed Feb. 3 as Falcons Friday at the state capitol. DeKalb County CEO Michael
Thurmond declared Atlanta Falcons Day in DeKalb. To celebrate, Thurmond scheduled a pep rally for Feb. 3 for county employees featuring food, music and special appearances from former Atlanta Falcons and the original Atlanta Falcons Bird Lady at the Manuel Maloof Auditorium in Decatur.
MEET THE STONECREST CANDIDATES Rep. Vernon Jones to moderate Stonecrest political forum
State Rep. Vernon Jones
STONECREST—The 20 candidates running for elections in the newly-created city of Stonecrest will square off in debates at their first political forum on Feb. 11. The forum will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Stonecrest Library, 3123 Klondike Road.
State Rep. Vernon Jones, who is co-sponsoring the political forum with On Common Ground News, will introduce the candidates. Three candidates are running for mayor and 17 are seeking one of five City Council seats. Jones, who will serve as moderator, will be joined by State Representatives Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia) and Pam Stephenson (D-Decatur). “I am honored to be the moderator of this political forum,” said Jones. “Since Stonecrest cityhood won at the ballot box in November, folks in southeast DeKalb have been curious about who would step up as their next municipal leaders. I believe it’s prudent to bring the candidates together with their future constituents and allow them to address our issues and express their vision for the future of Stonecrest.”
Legislation allowing a referendum vote to decide Stonecrest’s existence was approved by the General Assembly last year and approved by voters in November. The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections has scheduled a hearing on Feb. 9, 4:30 p.m., to determine if Mary-Pat Hector will be allowed to run for the Stonecrest City Council, Post 4 seat. One of the candidates in that race, George Turner, Jr., is challenging Hector ‘s qualifications—her age—to hold office. Hector is 19. The board must determine if Hector must be 21 to serve. Advance voting for the Stonecrest elections will be held Feb. 27-March 17 at DeKalb County’s main voting precinct, 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur. Election Day is March 21 and voters may go to their assigned precincts on that day.