VOLUME 23 NUMBER 2
FREE
APRIL 8, 2017
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
DeKalb panel to feature Al Sharpton DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson is inviting the community to attend a panel discussion she’s hosting, “The State of America and the Future of Our Youth and Senior Citizens,” featuring the Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network. The panel discussion will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia. In addition to Sharpton and Johnson, the panel will include DeKalb Commissioner Gregory Adams; State Representatives Pam Stephenson and Doreen Carter; and Lithonia Mayor Deborah Jackson. Johnson said the panel discussion is critical in light of President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to domestic spending for programs that benefit youths and seniors.
Rev. Al Sharpton
First 90 Days
DeKalb CEO Mike Thurmond tackles water bills, litter, jobs for youths
Conyers sisters big hit on social media
S
ome of the country’s top talk shows are after 6-year-old Dani and 5-year-old Dannah Lockett. Just a few weeks ago, the two Conyers sisters who are students at Fairview Elementary School, made a video with their mom, Dannella Lockett. They were discussing Dannah’s “breakup” with her kindergarten boyfriend. The little drama queens sounded like teens giving “advice” to each other, all the while making facial expressions in their “Say What?” video. The video went viral, generating over 10 million hits. The video begins with a question that every parent asks their children: “How was school today?” But Lockett’s daughters give her an earful that is both insightful and funny: The five-year-old explains she was “dumped.” “We never expected it to get so many hits. We put it on Instagram and everybody started sharing it- and the calls from radio and television began coming in,” said Dannella Lockett, who owns a hair salon, Healthy Hair Studio, located on Salem Road in Conyers. Dannella said the girls have interviewed on V-103 radio and are scheduled to tape for the Steve Harvey television show in a few days. They now have a YouTube page, an See Conyers sisters, page 6
DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. Photo by Glenn l. Morgan
DECATUR—They applauded him more than 25 times, often erupting into laughter and chorusing “Amen” at his candor. It was DeKalb County’s CEO Michael Thurmond’s first State of the County address and with encouragement from the audience, he ditched his prepared “political speech” and instead spoke from his heart. Thurmond’s address on April 4 came on the 49th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and he paid homage to the civil rights leader and other foot soldiers, thanking them for tearing down the walls of discrimination. In his address, Thurmond, 64, discussed growing up in the rural South, the descendant of sharecroppers, to underscore his upbringing as a hard worker and his determination and commitment to fixing DeKalb’s water billing crisis—his No. 1 priority during his first 90
‘Hate Committee’ gang members convicted in DeKalb killing spree
days in office. Thurmond acknowledged the county has been flooded with complaints about inaccurate high water bills, the result of faulty meters, inefficient software, improper readings and other human error. “For the last 90 days, all—most—of what I’ve dealt with are water meters, trash and sewage,” said Thurmond, dispelling the notion that being CEO is a high profile job removed from the grit and grunt work. Thurmond said, however, he is certain that DeKalb can and will fix the problem. “Let me tell you how I know we can fix it: Because there are cities and counties all over America—all over the world—that have figured out how to send out accurate water bills,”
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the conviction by jury trial of two members of the Hate Committee gang who were charged in connection with a deadly crime spree spanning two days. Jurors returned guilty verdicts April 6 against Joseph Broxton, 22, and Daniel Pena, 24, on multiple counts of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, criminal attempt to commit armed robbery and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, in connection with the shooting deaths of three people and gunshot injuries to three others following a series of attacks during the summer of 2015. Defendants Broxton (a.k.a. ‘Lil Joe) and Pena (a.k.a. Island) were members of the ‘Hate Committee,’ a local subset of the nationally-known ‘Gangster Disciples’ street gang. The two were ordered by gang leaders to seek out “viola-
See Water bills, page 6
See Gang, page 5
PAGE 2 •APRIL 8, 2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Rent-to-Own Heating & Air Program Expands to Rockdale, Clayton and DeKalb Counties
T
he National Sustainable Energy Group (NSEG) has expanded its Rent-ToOwn, Heating and Air Conditioning Program for homeowners in Rockdale, Clayton and DeKalb County. The program has 5000 slots available. Over 350 homeowners have been assisted in DeKalb County. We have recruited additional NATE/EPA Certified heating and air contractors to keep pace with the call volume said Percy Brooks, CEO of the NSEG. It’s truly amazing for $89.95 a month a homeowner will not have to suffer the hot and humid high 80’s and 90 degree temperatures this summer said Brooks. Qualification for approval: Homeowner property taxes must be current. Monthly payments range from $89.95 to $109.95 depending on the size of the heating & air conditioning unit and upgrades. All Goodman heating and air units come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Approval and installation can be completed within 5 business days. We are extremely honored to be able to assist so many homeowners that had given up on securing consumer financing to purchase a heating and air conditioning unit. We view this alternative option as one of the finest in the country said Brooks. I’m sure that we will exceed our goal of assisting 5000 homeowners across the Metro Atlanta area. We are expecting to see a record high of 50+ days of temperatures in the high 80’s and 90’s this summer season. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for homeowners. Our customer testimonials have been heartfelt said Brooks. The program meets the EPA requirements for the new R-410A refrigerant upgrades. It also improves the quality of life and increases property value for homeowners. Our major objective is to share our program among the Faith-based community and Homeowners Associations (HOA’s) said Brooks. We needed an alternative option for homeowners with less than perfect credit, who paid their property taxes on time, but couldn’t obtain traditional consumer financing for heating & air service. We all hit speed bumps in life. Our typical client has lived in their home for an average of 12+ years said Brooks. Energy home improvements are among the most expensive home improvement projects for homeowners said Brooks. There are over 120,000 homeowners without heating & air service and over 700,000 units working at less than 40% capacity or less. We see this as an excellent opportunity for homeowners to rent and relax. 404-220-8719 * percybrooks.meb@live.com * www.hvachomesystem.com Paid Advertisement
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On Common Ground News is published weekly by On Common Ground, Inc. The newspaper serves DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale and Henry counties. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or the newspaper’s advertisers. No portion of this newspaper may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. We reserve the right to reject material and advertisements we deem inappropriate. On Common Ground News
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APRIL 8,2017 • PAGE 3
Antioch-Lithonia MBC sends thousands of bibles to underdeveloped countries
By Mackenzie N. Morgan
Antioch-Lithonia Missionary Baptist Church has set a record in collecting bibles in an effort to meet a deficiency in Christian literature overseas. For weeks, dozens of volunteers at the church worked together to collect thousands of bibles to send to poor nations around the globe. Pastor James C. Ward said this year will mark the fourth year that the Lithonia church has participated in the “Bible Jamboree,”,collecting some 2,809 bibles from the church’s congregants, outpacing last year’s donations of 1,706 bibles. “The word of God is very important and we want to spread the gospel to the entire world. This is part of the great commission to spread the word and we believe we should do
that,” said Pastor Ward. Through its partnership with Love Packages, a Christian organization based in Butler, Illinois, Antioch-Lithonia seeks to share the word of God with people around the globe. Aside from bibles, Love Packages recycles Sunday school materials and a variety of printed Christian literature that would have otherwise sat collecting dust on a shelf or have been thrown away. Ward said the bible initiative provides church members with a tangible way to practice what Christianity is all about. Deaconess Frances Anderson, who teaches the women’s Sunday school class, said she enjoys receiving testimonies and stories from all over the world about how happy people are to have a bible of their own for the first time.
Fourth annual “Lend-A-Ham” giveaway set
Rockdale Chairman Oz Nesbitt is ready to fill a second freezer with hams that will be given away to seniors. Photo by Glenn L. Morgan
Rockdale County Chairman Oz Nesbitt, Sr. will host the 4th Annual Easter ham giveaway on Sunday, April 9, 3 p.m., at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center, 1240 Dogwood Drive S.W., Conyers. The “Lend-A-Ham” initiative offers one free ham to seniors in need. Last year, more than 300 hams were given away. Nesbitt says he hopes to help as many seniors as possible this year and he is encouraging people to drop off their donations up to the day of the event. “We have one freezer that is full but we still have another freezer to fill. We really want to help our seniors and show them that we care,” said Nesbitt. . Donors may drop off hams daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Courtesy Ford, next to Wal-Mart, 1636 Dogwood Drive SE, Conyers. Donations will be accepted until Sunday, April 9, 1 p.m. Event organizers said that donations are not limited to hams and may include turkeys and other meats as well. The meats will be distributed to seniors who sign up at the Haydel Senior Center on the day of the giveaway. For more information, contact Melissa Tims, who is helping to organize the event, at 770-335-6157 or favor14.mm@gmail.com.
“We’re participating in something that’s much bigger than we are. It just makes you feel good on the inside that you’re doing something to get the word out,” Anderson said. Anderson said that one of the newsletters she received from Love Packages stated that the organization has shipped over 1,641,505 pounds of Christian literature to places such as the Philippines,
Haiti, the Bahamas, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Liberia, Uganda, South Africa, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Jamaica, and Thailand. Pastor Ward said that in some countries, bibles are so scarce people tear them apart and swap individual books of the bible amongst themselves just so everyone can read the Scriptures. Ward, who owns over 100 translations of
the bible, said owning a bible is a luxury in nations plagued by poverty and war. “Most of us have several bibles at our house. It’s amazing how some people don’t have one bible. People walk miles to get one and they treat it like a diamond ring or a Rolex. We just think we’re supposed to have cars, electricity, and running water and we forget there are people
who don’t have food, so a bible is the last thing on the priority list,” said Ward. Pastor Ward went on to say that besides poverty, some countries under religious sanctions prohibit the use of a bible, making access to a bible incredibly difficult. Several of Antioch-Lithonia’s ministries pitched in and donated hundreds of bibles in a church-wide competition to see who could gather the most bibles. Siblings Kennedi and Jaden Anthony, who are 9 and 7 respectively, donated 520 bibles alone. Pastor Ward said he is thankful for the opportunity to minister to people around the world through this ministry and appreciates his church’s enthusiasm in participating in the bible giveaway and for being good stewards of the Word.
PAGE 4 •APRIL 8, 2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Coming Up
Compiled by Mackenzie N. Morgan.
During the first half of the event, children will enjoy games and arts and crafts, followed by a glow in the dark Easter egg hunt. The egg hunt for children 2-5 will begin at 8:15 p.m.; ages 6-9 at 8:45p.m. and ages 10-12 at 9:15 p.m. Be sure to bring a basket and a flashlight. Space is limited and preregistration is encouraged. Parents are free and must accompany children. Children, ages 2 to 12 are $6 each, parents are free. For more information, call 678-277-0890.
Centerville Community to host Easter “Eggstravaganza” The Centerville Community Easter “Eggstravaganza” will take place on Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. to noon at Redeemer Church, 3750 Zoar Church Road, Snellville. The free event will feature inflatables, face painting, and egg hunts separated by age group. Egg hunts for ages 0 – 3 years will be at 10:30 a.m.; 4 – 6 years at 11:20 a.m.; 7 – 10 years at noon. Snacks will be available while supplies last. Bring a basket, camera, and blanket. For more information: 770-979-2467.
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny ATLANTA
Children’s Museum brings Easter to life for little ones The Children’s Museum of Atlanta will offer a special Easter program on Saturday, April 15, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 75 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, Atlanta. Attendees will learn about the resurrection of Jesus and how Easter came to be. The event will include fun activities such as a bunny hop relay race, spoon and egg race, story time, art, music and dance. For the full schedule of events or more information, visit www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org. .
DEKALB
South DeKalb Police Precinct Community Outreach to host egg hunt
Enjoy a warm, delicious breakfast with the Easter bunny on Saturday, April 15, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 West Crogan Street, Lawrenceville. Kids will make a craft and receive a keepsake photo taken with the Easter Bunny. Seating is limited and parents or guardians must attend with children. All ages are welcome. The cost is $15 per person and guests must pre-register by April 11. For more information, call 770-822-5450.
ROCKDALE | STOCKBRIDGE
Conyers Egg-a-Palooza Easter egg hunt set Join Rockdale County Parks & Recreation for Egg-A-Palooza on Saturday, April 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Johnson Park, 1781 Ebenezer Road, Conyers. There will be egg hunts, bounce houses and more. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter baskets. Egg hunt for 2-5 years old will begin at 12 p.m. and 5-12 years will begin at 12:30 p.m. The cost to participate is $3. For more information, call 770-278-7529.
The South DeKalb Police Precinct Community Outreach in partnership with Georgia State University (GSU) will host an egg hunt for children ages 9 and under on Saturday, April 15, noon to 2 p.m., at the GSU campus on Panthersville Road, Easter hike and hunt set Decatur. The event is open to children 9 and under who must be accompanied by an adult. Families are invited to a special Easter hike and hunt on Saturday, April There will be a scavenger hunt and special eggs containing surprises. The hunt 15, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Panola Mountain State Park, 2620 Highway 155 will be divided by ages. SW, Stockbridge. If you or your organization would like to provide eggs or help in hiding them, contact Marjorie Clay (marjorieclay@bellsouth.net). Ages 2 and under, 3-6, and 7-12 will have their own trails to search for eggs and prizes. Parents must register in advance. The cost is $5 to participate and $5 to Easter Sunrise Service at Stone Mountain Park set park. For more information, call 770-389-7801 or visit www.gastateparks. Experience peace and serenity at the annual Easter sunrise service atop org/panola. Stone Mountain on Easter Sunday, April 16, 7 a.m. at Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd Stone Mountain. Guests are invited to hike the mountain or take the Skyride to the top of Please check with the event organizer the mountain to watch the sun rise and to enjoy an inspirational Easter
Clarkston Community Easter Egg Hunt set The Clarkston Community Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.,t Milam Park, 3867 Norman Road, Clarkston. Clarkston First Baptist Church is sponsoring the free event, which will feature free food, games and prizes. The egg hunt will begin at 12:30 p.m. Individuals should bring their own baskets. For more information, call 404- 292-5688.
GWINNETT
Glow in the Dark Easter egg hunt Experience the thrill of nighttime Easter egg hunting on Friday April 14, 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., at the Rhodes Jordan Park soccer fields, 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville.
before you go. To submit your event to Coming Up, email editor@ocgnews.com. We choose events that are free or a nominal cost to our readers.
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Wesley Chapel Library to host “Keeping Kids Out of Prison” seminar
Watchdogs for Justice (WFJ), a nonprofit organization established for the specific purpose of “Keeping Kids out of Prison,” will conduct a free seminar on April 22, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur. Watchdogs for Justice is a group of attorneys and juvenile advocates who joined forces to offer tips to youths, their parents, and concerned citizens on how to stay out of the system. The seminar will consist of interactive skits that are based on actual court cases. Most of the kids can relate to the stories based on their own personal experience or that of a friend or relative. WFJ also makes use of the stories in its crime-prevention books, which show clearly how one wrong decision can have lifetime tragic consequences. Participants will also learn about their Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights and what to do when stopped by the police. Teens and tweens, parents, and concerned community members are invited. For more information, call 678-412-2299 or visit www.watchdogsforjustice.org.
Federal funds available to assist low-income with energy bills Partnership for Community Action, Inc. is accepting applications from low-income families who need help with their energy bills. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides those who meet federal income guidelines $310 or $350 toward gas or electric bills for the once-a-year assistance. Rockdale and Newton County residents may apply at 1261 Commercial Dr. Suite A, Conyers. Copies of these documents are needed to complete the application: • Proof of income for all household members 18 and older for the last 30 days, 90 days, if irregular income. If no income, a Zero Income Form will be provided at the time of the appointment. All household members with no income must be present during the appointment time. • Most recent home heating bill • Most recent electric bill. • Verification of Social Security cards for all household members or some other legal proof of Social security number. Tax returns are not an acceptable document. • A Secure and Verifiable document is needed for the person applying for the household only to prove identity and citizenship. Bringing copies of these documents, along with the originals, will expedite wait time at application intate. Appointments for DeKalb and other areas can be made by calling PCA’s customer service line at 404.537.4300 or by visiting www.pcaction.org.
East Metro Atlanta Home and Garden Expo set in Conyers The second annual East Metro Atlanta Home and Garden Expo will be held on Saturday, April 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers. The expo, which is pet friendly, offers activities for the entire family including presentations by home improvement and landscaping experts, exhibits, a plant section, and children’s crafts provided by Home Depot and Habitat for Humanity and face painting and inflatables. More than 4,000 people attended last year’s event and crowds are expected to return this year, organizers say. One of the biggest attractions is Georgia gardener Walter Reeves, who will present onstage at 11 a.m. Reeves offers advice on WSB’s Lawn and Garden Show, Atlanta’s best source of weekly gardening information. He also writes a popular weekly column of garden tips in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Living Section, has hosted PBS’ Gardening in Georgia television show, and is the author of several books. “We are excited to bring a fun-filled event like this to our community and are thrilled with the diversity of exhibitors and assortment of activities that we’ll have this year,” said Allie Young, publisher and owner of eMetro Times, which is hosting the expo. Several local businesses will be represented at the expo. You can view a full listing of vendors at www.emetrohg.com/exhibit-list/. Admission to the Home and Garden Expo is free. Parking is $5. For more information about the expo, visit www.emetrohg.com.
APRIL 8, 2017 • PAGE 5 Gang continued from page 1
tors,” and commit other crimes in the Central Drive area of Stone Mountain. Violators were deemed to be people who didn’t follow gang rules or those who were pretending to be Gangster Disciple members. July 3, 2015 The pair’s crime spree began on July 3, 2015 when Defendants Broxton and Pena attempted to rob victim Edward Chadmon at the Stone Mountain Inn. The victim was fatally shot while trying to defend himself. July 30, 2015 2:00 a.m. In the early morning hours of July 30, 2015, Broxton, Pena and other members of the Hate Committee were cruising the Central Drive area searching for people to kill based on their orders. They stopped at the Hairston Square apartment complex and summoned a male victim to their vehicle. As he approached, the victim was shot five times by Defendant Broxton. He survived his injuries. July 30, 2015 6:22 a.m. Approximately four hours later, Defendants Broxton and Pena ambushed a third victim, Oliver Campbell, who was sleeping in his truck at a Candler Road gas station. Campbell, whom the pair attempted to rob, was awakened from his sleep and shot twice—once in his neck and once in his leg. He died at the scene. July 30, 2015 8:50 p.m. Later that evening as the defendants were driving near the Wynview apartment complex near Central Drive, they spotted someone they believed to be a rival gang member. The two parked their stolen vehicle, exited, and opened fire on the suspected rival, who returned gunfire. An innocent bystander, who was standing near her front door, was shot in the leg during the melee. She survived. July 30, 2015 9:30 p.m. In the final violent act of the day, Defendants Broxton, Pena and other Hate Committee gang members opened fire on two innocent victims sitting on the patio of a unit in the Landmark apartment complex off Bent Tree Loop. Rocqwell Nelson was fatally shot six times. A female companion sitting next to him at the time of the shooting was struck eleven times. She survived. Defendants Broxton and Pena were arrested following an extensive investigation of the case. Two other Hate Committee gang members, who were also indicted in connection with these crimes, entered guilty pleas prior to trial and were subsequently sentenced. Several other Hate Committee members face federal prosecution. “I hope these convictions send a strong message. Gang violence will not be tolerated in DeKalb County,” said District Attorney Sherry Boston.” We remain committed to aggressively prosecuting gang-related crimes in our community and creating a safe environment for our citizens.” Broxton and Pena will be sentenced on May 19, 2017 by DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Daniel Coursey. Each faces multiple life without parole prison terms. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief ADA Lance Cross and Senior ADA Dwayne Brown, with assistance from DA Investigators W. Pinckney, C.D. Smith, Chris Franklin, Richard Randolph and Victim Advocate Marva Coward. Detectives T. Cribbs and B. Kershaw of the DeKalb Police Department led the initial investigation.
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DeKalb’s “Operation Clean Sweep” tops 100 tons of debris removed
During the past four Saturdays, Operation Clean Sweep crews have cleared more than 110 tons of debris from major DeKalb County roadways. “Many of DeKalb’s departments work hard day-to-day to remediate blight and improve the appearance of the county, but this isn’t a problem we can tackle alone,” said DeKalb Beautification Director Marcus Kellum. “We can do the heavy lifting, but we need communities to come together to adopt a road or hold community clean-up days.” Operation Clean Sweep is targeting arterial roadways before turning a focus to collector, then residential, streets. Crews clear grass, trash and debris from roadway drains a curbs, mow rights-of-way and remove litter. To date, crews have cleared more than 110 tons of debris from 25 miles of roads. On Saturday, April 8, crews will continue clearing county roads at DeKalb Medical Parkway and Hillandale Drive. Motorists are reminded to drive with caution around employees and equipment. Find updates on Operation Clean Sweep at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/ clean-sweep. Adopt-a-Programs and community cleanups can be organized with the help of Keep DeKalb Beautiful. For more information, contact 404-294-2010 or kdb@dekalbcountyga.gov.
said Thurmond, adding DeKalb doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel; it only needs to reach out to experts who already have the knowledge. “We’re going to fix this issue. Because you as citizens have every right to expect accurate water bills,” Thurmond said. The leader of Georgia’s fourth-largest county, comprised of 735,000 residents, apologized for not delivering his prepared script on April 4 at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in Decatur. Just a week earlier, Thurmond delivered his State of the County address to business leaders. But he didn’t need to apologize. Constituents who attended his evening address appreciated what he told them during his 32-minute talk, which drew applause after applause after applause as discussed his motivation for fixing DeKalb’s problems. He said he who grew up in a family of 11 with no plumbing. “It was so bad we were jealous of the folks who lived in the projects because at least they had indoor bathrooms,” Thurmond quipped. Thurmond said he has not only focused on fixing the county’s water billing crisis during his first 90 days, but also cleaning up litter—especially in South Gwinnett County to host supplier networking event DeKalb. He said his administration can’t do it alone, though and he made a plea for residents to pitch in and do their part. Gwinnett County Government’s Purchasing Division will host the 11th “I need your help. I need you to recruit your neighbors and just do your Annual Supplier Symposium on Tuesday, April 11, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the neighborhood. We’ll do the heavy lifting,” said Thurmond. Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, LawrencevThurmond also called on the community to help address his third priority: ille. The event is free. putting young people to work this summer through a DeKalb Workforce DevelThe symposium is designed to give potential vendors an opportunity opment program, which is paying $9 an hour to youths who are hired by private to network with County agencies, understand County purchasing processes employers, nonprofits and churches. He said all employers need to do is provide and learn about current and upcoming projects. placement for the youths. The program pays the salaries. Prospective vendors can meet and talk with numerous buyers and “The drug dealers and the pimps shouldn’t be the only ones recruiting our contracting officers from the Purchasing Division as well as representachildren,” said Thurmond. tives from various County departments and other agencies, including cities, Thurmond closed his State of the County address by taking questions from neighboring counties and the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce. the audience. Participants can register as a vendor to learn about and discuss upcoming Thurmond said in a news release he would give an update on the water projects. billing issue on Tuesday, April 11, 6:30 p.m., at the Maloof Auditorium 1300 “This symposium will allow new vendors to learn how to do business Commerce Drive, Decatur. He canceled the April 5 community update because with the County, and will allow current vendors to keep abreast of changes of inclement weather. The rescheduled meeting will be the first of three 30-day in the procurement process,” said Purchasing Director Bryant Davis. “With progress reports on Thurmond’s “New Day Project” to correct the problems of more people familiar with the opportunities and the purchasing procedures inaccurate billing. we have, the greater the competition and the greater the savings for our Thurmond said approximately 8,000 DeKalb water and sewer customers, taxpayers.” who have had their bills held because of unverified billing data, will begin reAttendees can register online for this event at www.gwinnettcounty.com ceiving regularly scheduled bills beginning the week of April 10. and view current open projects and businesses opportunities along with a “With the support of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, we have how-to-manual for doing business with Gwinnett County. developed a short- and long-term strategy to restore trust and integrity to the Conyers girls water billing system,” Thurmond said. “The root causes of the water billing problem include inadequate planning, staffing and training, as well as inefficient continued from page 1 billing software, defective water meters and insufficient communication.” Instagram page, and several remixes have been made, putting the girls’ Beginning the week of April 10, affected customers will begin receiving conversation with Mom to rap music with various young people dancing to their January and February monthly and bimonthly bills. These will include a letter from CEO Thurmond detailing some of the causes for the delayed bills and the story. Recently, the girls took pictures with their pastor and the first lady of recent corrective actions. A copy of the letter is attached. their church, Bishop Gary Hawkins, Sr. and his wife, Pamela, after worship Held bills will not be assessed late fees or other penalties for late payment. service at Voices of Faith Ministries. Several church members congratulated Extended payment terms only will be available for the held bills. Any balance them and took pictures. They smiled and posed for the cameras as Dannah that was due prior to September 2016 will still be due and will carry forward on hammed it up, striking various poses. the January/February bill. “They are very dramatic, but so are my other two daughters, who are DeKalb County has a total of 194,000 water and sewer customers. In Sep15 and 14,” said Dannella Lockett. “They haven’t taken acting lessons or tember 2016, approximately 37,000 accounts could not be independently verified anything. That’s just the way they are.” as being accurate. Dannah says she doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows On Feb. 28, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved CEO up—maybe a ballerina teacher or a cop. She’s too young to know right now, Thurmond’s recommendation to fund the New Day Project. she insists. Dani, on the other hand, said she’d like to be a cop to help peoCustomers needing an extension to pay their bills should contact the Utility Customer Operations Center at 774 Jordan Lane in Decatur, or call (404) ple. Guess what. They’ve made a video about that too. Check out Dannah’s Break Up and other videos at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av83z378-4475 to speak with a customer service representative. For more informavwYSlM tion, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov/waterbilling.
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Atlanta Technical College to host “smart money” author Leslie Royal
A
tlanta Technical College will host Leslie E. Royal, author of “Leslie’s Lane The Book!: Your One Stop Internet Resource Guide to Links for Jobs, Inspiration, Discounts, FREE Stuff, Scholarships, Travel & More!” Royal, whose blog, Leslie’s Lane, is devoted to smart money resources, has written for Essence, Fortune, Black Enterprise, Upscale, Dream Fearlessly, The Wall Street Journal, Chron.com and other publications. Leslie E. Royal Atlanta Technical College’s event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Monday, April 24, noon to 1 p.m., at 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, Building G (in the library), Atlanta. Lane’s presentation is part of Money Smart Week, a public awareness campaign observed nationally April 22-29 to assist consumers in managing their finances. “I work very hard to ensure that I provide information and resources that consumers find helpful in their daily lives,” said Royal. “… I am especially honored and excited about partnering with Atlanta Technical College for National Money Smart Week. I’m of the opinion that we can have fun and enjoy life while managing our money exceptionally well.” Royal said her “smart money” book provides links to websites that offer countless dollars in savings and more than 500 job sites with openings and opportunities for career advancement. The social media handle is @MoneySmartWeek. Hashtags include #MoneySmartWeek and #MoneySmart. The social media handle for Atlanta Technical College is @AtlTechCollege. For more information about the college, visit www.AtlantaTech.edu.
APRIL 8, 2017 • PAGE 7
“Take a Child to the Bank Day” to offer students financially literacy
Saturday, April 15, is going to be all about the money—at least t for Atlanta-area youths, as local banks and financial institutions team up to host the inaugural Take a Child to the Bank Day. Participating branches of SunTrust Bank and Citizens Trust Bank will welcome students in grades 7-12 for an inside look into the world of personal finance. Branch staff and volunteers will discuss how a branch works, as well as important financial literacy topics including: saving and investing basics. Additionally, bank executives will speak with students about career opportunities in banking and finance, and how banks can partner with them in the future to help fund their entrepreneurial dreams. Drawings will be held to award cash prizes to help kickstart students’ personal savings or checking accounts. Take a Child to the Bank Day is a program of financial management firm Mosaic Advisors and is being presented in partnership with personal finance coaching firm, The Master’s Playbook. The program is made possible through the financial support of SunTrust Bank, Citizen’s Trust Bank, and Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens (Post 3 At-Large). “Take a Child to the Bank Day empowers our kids to control their own financial futures, including the importance of saving and good credit,” Dickens said. “This early introduction to financial literacy gives our children the ability to be active participants in society and to improve their chances of building their personal assets. I am pleased to sponsor this Day because it lines up well with the financial wellness workshops I held last year for young professionals.” “Kids deserve an opportunity to develop healthy views towards money at early stages in life, and to carry healthy relationships into adulthood in ways that empower families and change communities,” says organizer Rashida Winfrey of Mosaic Advisors. Interested parents may register their children to participate in the free, educational opportunity by visiting http://bit.ly/TACTTBDay. Participating branches are listed below, with additional branches being added based upon community registration. SunTrust Bank Morningside Heights 1845 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta Citizens Trust Bank 75 Piedmont Ave. Ne, Atlanta 3705 Cascade Road, Atlanta
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Community C.A.R.E.S. Foundation, Inc. elects new board
New marshal appointed for DeKalb County State Court
Joyce Broadwater is the newly-elected president of the Community C.A.R.E.S. Foundation (CCF), Inc., which is dedicated to providing college scholarships and enrichment programs to high school and middle school students in Newton and Rockdale counties. Broadwater comes with a wealth of experience, having served on other nonprofit boards and as a board advisor. Broadwater has a background in financial services and is a small business Joyce Broadwater owner. The 2017 CCF board officers are: Alfreda Williams, 1st vice president; Bresha Shaw Franklin, 2nd vice president; Sharmange Goff, treasurer; Gale Burgess, assistant treasurer; Lynn Daniels Koffi, secretary; and Kim Bridwell, assistant secretary. The board members are: Joy Jackson Guildford; Sharron Porter; and Shermanetta Carter. “All of the board members embody the spirit of community and bring talent, expertise and energy to the board table. I am fortunate to have them by my side as we continue to grow our organization,” said Broadwater. CCF, in collaboration with Chi Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., sponsors the annual China Affair luncheon fashion show as one its main fundraisers. Over the past 12 years, proceeds from the luncheon have enabled CCF to provide more than $107,650 toward the education and development of youth in surrounding counties. This year’s event will take place April 22, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Stone Ridge Event Center, 1750 Stone Ridge Drive, Suite A, Stone Mountain. For more information, visit www.comunitycaresfdn.org.
DeKalb County State Court announced the appointment of Richard I. Berkowitz to marshal of the DeKalb County State Court, effective April 1, following the retirement of Marshal R. S. Mann, who served DeKalb County law enforcement for 34 years. As marshal, Berkowitz will be responsible for leading the Marshal’s Office as it carries out its State and Magistrate Court law enforcement duties. Berkowitz has dedicated more than 24 years to serving and protecting the citizens of Georgia and DeKalb County through his work in law enforcement. Berkowitz began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. His last 12 years at the Sheriff’s Office were spent assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Squad. Berkowitz joined the DeKalb Marshal’s Office in 2009 as chief deputy and assisted Mann in transforming the DeKalb Marshal’s Office through technological advancements and progressive operating initiatives. Berkowitz currently is president of the DeKalb County Chiefs’ Association, a network of all law local, state and federal enforcement agencies that operate within DeKalb County. Berkowitz is a 31-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force and currently is in the Air Force Reserves. He is assigned to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations as a special agent and holds the rank of chief master sergeant (E-9). Berkowitz earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from the Community College of the Air Force, a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Georgia State University and a master’s of public administration degree from Columbus State University. He is a graduate of the 240th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy and the Georgia Command College, Class 44.
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APRIL 8,2017 • PAGE 9
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Express Oil Change and Tire Engineers held their ribbon cutting on Tuesday, March 7th. They are located at 1725 Hwy 138 SE, Conyers, GA 30013. They can be reached by calling (770) 922-8458, or check out their website at www.expressoil.com.
ARC Homes Realty Group, LLC held their ribbon cutting on Thursday, March 23rd. They are located at 1701-B Ellington Road, Conyers, GA 30013. They can be reached by calling (404) 8213455, or check out their website at www.georgiamls.com/agentsite/index.cfm?SiteID=AHRG01..
Kelly Services held their ribbon cutting on Wednesday, March 8th. They are located at 875 Flat Shoals Road, Suite 155, Conyers, GA 30094. They can be reached by calling (770) 929-8986, or check out their website at www.kellyservices.com.
D&D Comfort Solutions, LLC held their ribbon cutting on Thursday, March 23rd. They are located at 1701-B Ellington Road, Conyers, GA 30013. They can be reached by calling (678) 263-3779, or check out their website at www.danddcomfort.com.
Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles held their ribbon cutting on Monday, March 13th. They are located at 1040 Flat Shoals Road, Conyers, GA 30013. They can be reached by calling (770) 285-6591, or check out their website at www.nanaschickenandwaffles.com.
Decorating Den Interiors held their ribbon cutting on Thursday, March 23rd. They are located at 1701-B Ellington Road, Conyers, GA 30013. They can be reached by calling (770) 687-2886, or check out their website at www.sharonfalcher.decoratingden.com.
Circle of Angels Hospice, Inc. held their ribbon cutting on Tuesday, March 14th. They are located at 2817 Hwy 212 SW, Conyers, GA 30094. They can be reached by calling (770) 679-1899.
Nationwide Insurance held their ribbon cutting on Thursday, March 23rd. They are located at 1701-B Ellington Road, Conyers, GA 30013. They can be reached by calling (678) 203-0280, or check out their website at www.clwesleygroup.com.
Sleep Number held their ribbon cutting on Tuesday, March 21st. They are located at 1550 Hwy 138 SE, Suite 300, Conyers, GA 30013. They can be reached by calling (470) 2000570, or check out their website at www.sleepnumber.com.
U S Mortgage Corp held their ribbon cutting on Thursday, March 23rd. They are located at 1701-B Ellington Road, Conyers, GA 30013. They can be reached by calling (678) 6871892, or check out their website at www.kerrysidberry.com.
PAGE 10•APRIL 8,2017 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
DeKalb’s D.A. raises donations, awareness to end domestic violence
WRC’s Jean Douglas is pictured with DA Sherry Boston. The group photo includes members of the DA’s executive staff. . Over $4,000 was raised from this year’s Love Run 5K benefit hosted by DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston. The D.A. presented the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) to End Domestic Violence a check for $4,188.15. WRC Executive Director Jean Douglas accepted the donation on behalf of the organization. Nearly 350 people participated in the second annual event to help end domestic violence. The 5K kicked off from the Decatur Square with
runners and walkers following a certified course through the historic downtown and surrounding scenic neighborhoods. “We are excited about partnering with the public in a fun and healthy way to focus attention on a very serious issue impacting our community,” said District Attorney Boston Boston, who created the Love Run in 2016 while serving as DeKalb County Solicitor-General. According to national statistics, one in three
Georgia NCNW assists Albany tornado victims
The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. State of Georgia celebrated Dr. Dorothy Irene Heights 105th birthday by distributing items for the tornado victims in Albany, Georgia. Donations for the April 1 “Warming Hearts and Homes” initiative included dishes, diapers, baby wipes, toiletries, cleaning supplies, school supplies, shoes, clothing, feminine products, and linen. The initiative was a collaboration for sections for NCNW and spearheaded by Columbus Section President, Kimberly Scott and National Vice Chair of NCNW, Lois Keith. Participating sections included the DeKalb Section, (Attorney Saundra Davis Forest, President); Columbus Section (Kimberly Scott, President); Rockdale/Newton County Section (Rhonda Taylor, President); Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Section (Tiffany Vinson, President); and Henry/Clayton NCNW (soon to be chartered (Olayinka Olubunmi, President). Other partners were NCNW Affiliate AKA - Chi Tau Omega Chapter (Joy Jackson-Guilford, President); East Metro Orchids – Former State Rep. Dee Dawkins Haigler, President Lois Keith, Event Chair-National Vice President of NCNW Dr. Kimberly Scott, Event Co-Chair Sharah Denton, Interim State of Georgia President, NCNW and National Vice Chair of Young Adults/Collegiates. NCNW Georgia would like to thank Second Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Albany, under the leadership of Pastor Theodus Drake, for the opportunity to give back to those in need.
teens experiences some type of abuse in his or her dating relationships. Sadly, only 33 percent of teens report that abuse. Ms. Boston says early intervention is the key to prevention. “We must do all we can to raise awareness and provide resources to educate young adults about healthy relationships. Knowing the warning signs can prevent unhealthy relationships from escalating to potentially dangerous levels,” said DA Boston.
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APRIL 8,2017 • PAGE 11
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