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VOLUME 19 NUMBER 43
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DeKalb school district is off probation ....page 5
JANUARY 25, 2014
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Lawmaker pitches State of DeKalb County Address drug tests for food Interim CEO Lee May: ‘We are strong’ stamps applicants
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By Valerie J. Morgan
Interim DeKalb CEO Lee May delivered his ven as controversy swirled State of the County address to business around DeKalb County’s leaders during a luncheon at Emory leadership, interim CEO Lee Conference Center Hotel and then later May spoke positively and that day, he addressed the community at large at the Porter Sanford Performing confidently about the county’s future, Arts Auditorium in Decatur. urging stakeholders to stay the course. “The state of DeKalb County is that we are strong, we are innovators and we are leading the charge in Greg Morris - YES Rahn Mayo - NO smart government,” May told a soldout crowd at the ticketed State of the By Valerie J. Morgan County Address luncheon hosted by the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 23. South Georgia lawmaker has The crowd applauded May at least filed a bill that would require 30 times during his speech. applicants to pass a drug “The foundation for a robust test before receiving food stamps or economic recovery has been laid, and Medicaid. we must now stay the course to realize State Rep. Greg Morris, a the benefits of our labor,” May said. Republican who represents Vidalia, Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News As May opened with a Biblical called House Bill 772, “common sense story about Nehemiah rebuilding the legislation.” last July to replace Ellis while he to be in disarray. The wall of education walls of his native land, suspended “Hard working Georgians expect is suspended, told business leaders in our county has become vulnerable DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis and their tax dollars to be used responsibly that the bible story of Nehemiah to the enemy of mediocrity and failure. District Attorney Robert James were and efficiently,” said Morris, who was particularly relevant to DeKalb. The wall of safety and security has in Superior Court Judge Courtney serves as chairman of the Banks & The 38-year-old son of a pastor said become vulnerable to the vagabonds Johnson’s courtroom battling in a Banking Committee. “Under no everyone must make a concerted effort of lawlessness and disruption. The corruption case. circumstance should the government to change DeKalb’s course and rebuild. wall of prosperity is being threatened Just before the hearing, Ellis, fund someone’s drug habit. HB 772 is “He (Nehemiah) understood the by high rates of unemployment and his wife, Philippa, and his mother, common sense legislation.” power of collaboration; he understood hopelessness. The wall of beauty and State Rep. Rahn Mayo, a Democrat Roberta Ellis, were joined by about the power of unity,” said May. “So cleanliness of our county is being 30 supporters for a prayer vigil led by who represents DeKalb County’s Nehemiah sought the support of threatened by the enemy of litter and Cynthia Hale, pastor of Ray of Hope District 84, said he sees pitfalls with leaders, and everyday people alike to abandoned and overgrown properties. Baptist Church in Decatur. Members of the bill, namely that it targets a federal assist in the re-building of the wall. The wall of ethics and integrity is the group wore “I Support Burrell Ellis” They did it together! The story tells us program and unfairly scrutinizes the being threatened by the accusations of buttons on their coats as they stood in poor. that not only did they rebuild the wall, corruption and dishonesty.” the freezing cold and prayed. “This is something that has been they did it in record time.” May pointed to the DeKalb School Meanwhile, May, who was brewing and talked about for a while, Said May: “…So here we stand as appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal but that’s going to be tough to pass a county with various walls that appear See May, page 9 because food stamps are federally funded. It’s not a state program,” Mayo said. “And if we’re going to go to that extent, we should have our state lawmakers who receive state benefits and compensation face the same kind of scrutiny.” Mayo said anecdotal stories about abuse of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have raised concern and prompted By Valerie J. Morgan lawmakers to look at making changes to the program. he DeKalb County Jail has launched a new, high tech “The thought is that people are visitation system. Sheriff Thomas Brown says DeKalb trading their food stamps for currency is joining other correctional facilities around the state that they are using to support their and the country with the launch of its “video visitation” for lifestyles,” Mayo said. “I still believe inmates. The DeKalb jail implemented the new system on that drug testing may be a little extreme Jan. 15. for such a sharp assumption. And again, Visitations where guests see the inmates through glass if we’re concerned about protecting partitions will only be used rarely—by clergy, attorneys and the integrity of the program, we ought other special exceptions. When visitors go to the jail now, to make elected officials face the same they will use computer stations for web-based video chats accountability.” with inmates. Once the new system is fully operational, Photo by Glenn L. Morgan/OCG News The bill comes just months after visitors can chat from their home or office—anywhere they DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown demonstrates the new technology the $11 cut from food stamp checks have a computer connected to the internet. installed at the DeKalb County Jail for inmate visitations. went into effect on Nov. 1, when the “It just adds another feature for that mother or recession-era boost in funding expired. grandmother or loved one, who, because of a great distance, “It’s going along well. We have had some delays, Congress is looking at cutting as cannot visit in person,” Brown said. “It doesn’t matter if you though. Overall, I would give it about a B+,” said Mann. much as $90 a month from 850,000 you’re in Savannah or Tokyo. You can log on.” “We are working to get to the point so that the visits are food stamps recipients. The measure is The video visitations also will help deter misconduct prescheduled.” part of a farm bill that aims to cut $9 including fighting, flashing and other banned behavior, The jail has installed 26 computer cubicles in its newlybillion from food stamps over the next Brown said. designed visitation area and 144 computers on the floors 10 years. “Sometimes, you have girlfriends going to see the same where inmates are located. Visitors log on for their webGeorgia has soared from having guy and fights break out as they are passing one another based video chats and follow the prompts, which are in the 15th-highest proportion of food along the corridor, Brown said. “Other times, they will try English and Spanish. stamp recipients to the sixth-highest as to flash or expose themselves when they’re at the glass The video chats are free to visitors who come in a depressed economy took its toll. Last partitions. This will resolve all of that.” person and attorneys who need to reach inmates. Securus year, a record 1.9 million low-income Deputy Chief Jeff Mann, who worked on the Technologies charges $20 for 30 minutes of conversation for Georgians received food stamps each procurement and recommendation for the technology, said those who don’t want to come in person. month to help them pay for the cost of the jail is still working through some of the bugs. He said the Brown said the new system will return millions to food. system should be fully operational in a few weeks and jail officials will begin publicizing a call-in number for people to See Video, page 9 See Food Stamps, page 9 make prescheduled video visitations.
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DeKalb goes high tech with video visitation, glass partitions fading away
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